HONOR & BETRAYAL.........PART
38
INT
BRIG'S
GYMNASIUM
2130
HOURS
Concealed by the deep shadows of the darkened hallway outside the
gymnasium, a man observes Rabb and Tate as Harm works out on the exercise
equipment.
Dressed in a sweat drenched tank top and gym shorts, Harm works out
on the bench press. Tate is standing at the head of the bench carefully
(spotting) watching Harm for exhaustion as he lifts the weights arms length
above his chest and then slowly lowers them to his chest. After
completing a set, his arms begin to quiver slightly from the
strain.
RABB
(raising the weights
above his head a final time)
Ok........take
it!
Tate immediately responds by taking firm
hold of the exercise bar and lifting it out of Harm's
grasp.
TATE
(as
he places the weights in the rack above the bench)
Not bad for an older guy,
Sir!
Still flat on his back, Harm shoots Tate a bit of a
contemptuous glare.
RABB
(sitting up)
Well, thanks!......Even though I'm not sure that was meant to be a
compliment!
TATE
(awkwardly, as he hands Rabb a towel)
No Sir!........I mean, yes Sir!......I mean..... I didn't mean to
imply that you were .....old, old........just that you were in good shape for
......(he falls into silence knowing his words are only worsening his
predicament)
RABB
(smiling, as he finishes Tate's
sentence)
An older guy!.....(accepting the towel from Tate and wiping the
sweat from his forehead) Yeah, I got that, Corporal! (pauses,
laughing slightly at the Corporal's embarrassment) Aah, don't sweat
it, Corporal, I know what you meant! And I guess from the
perspective of someone your age, well...... I
am.........."old"!
TATE
Not old Sir, just.......
RABB
(smiling)
Older!
TATE
Yes.......Sir!
RABB
Well, now that we got that straight, I guess I better go grab
a shower while I still have a chance!
TATE
Yes, Sir! Good idea!
As two men begin to walk toward the gymnasium door, the
unidentified person that had been eavesdropping on their conversation hastily
walks off down the hallway.
Leaving the gymnasium, Rabb and Tate walk silently toward the
locker room. Feeling the need to make conversation, Tate finally
speaks up.
TATE
(curiously)
Scuttlebutt has it that you're facing a psyche eval tomorrow
morning, Sir! Is that true?........I mean if you don't mind me
asking.
RABB
Scuttlebutt, Corporal?
TATE
Yes, Sir.
RABB
Well, Corporal, .....(turning to him with a smile) when have
you ever known scuttlebutt to be anything but the truth?
TATE
Never, Sir!
RABB
Well, I guess that answers your question
then, Corporal.
With that, the two men walk in silence to the locker
room.
*****************
INT
MAC'S APT
2345 HOURS
Sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and a newspaper
in front of her, Mac is running down the list of apartments for rent and
circling the ones that are of interest to her with a red
pen. At her feet, Jingo is sprawled out fast
asleep. Somewhat exhausted, Mac gazes up from the newspaper rubbing her
eyes from the strain of staring at the fine print for a long period of
time. Taking in a deep breath, she rubs her eyes a second time and
then places the pen on the table. As she reaches down to pet Jingo,
the sudden ringing of the telephone startles her. Catching her
breath, Mac reaches over and to answer it on it's second ring.
As she lifts it off the receiver, she notices that Jingo remained unmoved by the
sound.
MAC
(smiling at Jingo as she places the phone to her
ear)
Hello!
She pauses momentarily waiting for a response. Receiving
none, she repeats her greeting.
MAC
H e l l o!
Again receiving no response, Mac places the phone back
on the receiver. Shrugging her shoulders with indifference, Mac studies
the list again.
MAC
(gazing down to Jingo)
You know, Jingo.......with a little
strategy, I think I can arrange to get to see all these apartments before 1700
tomorrow. What'd you think?
Jingo remains unresponsive to Mac's inquisition.
Turning back to the newspaper, Mac closes the classified pages and then notices
a small photograph of Harm printed beside one of herself. Above it,
the caption reads; "Defense Counselor Assaults Client".........and in
finer print...."What Motivated Him To Violence".......by Melanie
Blake. Totally frustrated with just a brief scan of the article, Mac
walks to the trash can and tosses the newspaper into the trash.
*****************
INT
INTERVIEW ROOM
0958
Harm gazes out onto the grassy area outside the barred window in an
effort to find some means to ease the anxiety that seemed to want to consume
him. Impatiently awaiting the arrival of the psychologist who would
conduct his evaluation, his only solace can be found in the
ordinarily insignificant things that he would have normally never had the time
to appreciate. Just the little things like the delicate flowing
effect created by the wind as it blew gently over the blades of grass, the
white puffy clouds overhead that moved ever so slowly across the deep blue sky
and the two tiny birds that swept down from a nearby tree limb for a quick bath
in a nearby puddle beside the walkway. A sudden
appearance of a white van frightening the tiny birds, they immediately take to
flight as the van pulls into a parking spot a few feet from the window where
Harm stands. As the vehicle door opens, and a man steps out,
Harm recognizes the driver as Master Sergeant Durant. Durant
glances toward Harm seemingly aware of the fact that he is being
watched. Their eyes meeting only
momentarily, Durant turns away and walks off down the the
walkway to the front door where he enters the building and disappears from
sight. The man somehow unnerving Harm, he turns away
from the window and anxiously begins to pace the floor. A quick gaze
at his watch, Harm sighs impatiently.
At length, Harm hears the sound of footsteps outside
door. As the door opens, Master Sergeant Durant appears in the
doorway. Speaking over his shoulder to someone outside in the
hallway, Durant eyes remain focused on Harm.
DURANT
Ma'am........your patient awaits you.
Harm watches curiously as Durant opens the door fully inviting a
still unseen woman into the room. Upon entering, Harm's mouth drops open
in astonishment as his eyes behold Lieutenant Commander Jordan Parker.
Jordon slipping off her coat as she enters with case file and briefcase in hand,
gazes up to see Harm with an equally astonished expression on her
face.
DURANT
(at length, noting their expressions and the awkward silence
between the two officers)
Ma'am, for security purposes, I can arrange for the prisoner
to be put in shackles or for an SP to be present in the room during the
evaluation. Whichever you prefer, ma'am!
Agitated by Durant's insistence, Rabb's eyes meet
Durant's. Still recuperating from the initial shock of learning that
Harm was the subject of her evaluation, Jordan gazes from Harm to
Durant further disturbed by the Master Sergeant's suggestion of imposing
security measures.
PARKER
Ahh.......no, ...really.....That won't be necessary!.....Thank you
Master Sergeant!......I'll take it from here.
DURANT
(persistently)
Are you sure, ma'am? We don't usually like leaving women
officers alone with.......
RABB
(agitated by Durant's persistence)
She said you could leave, Durant!
Durant shoots Rabb an contemptuous glare.
JORDAN
(noting the tension between the two
men)
It's ok, Master Sergeant, .......really! I'll be
fine!
DURANT
Yes, ma'am. (his eyes finally turning to Jordon).....If you
need me I'll be right outside this door.
Durant turns and leaves the room shutting the door behind
him.
For a long silent moment, Harm and Jordan stare at one another in
disbelief, neither knowing what to say to each other.
RABB
(his eyes fixed on her, but maintaining his
distance across the table from her)
How long have you been back?
JORDAN
I flew into Andrews just this morning. Got
caught in a nightmare of traffic on the beltway. That's why I was late
reporting in.
RABB
What happened to Spain?
JORDAN
I guess they needed me here more!.......So, how are
you?
RABB
Fine, .....you?
JORDAN
Fine!
RABB
(noticing Jordan's uneasiness)
You didn't know I was the subject of this evaluation,
did you?
JORDAN
No! The XO was unavailable when I got here and I was
handed your case file by the Master Sergeant right before I walked in
here.
The two exchange glances between them each obviously uncomfortable
with the situation at hand.
RABB
(awkwardly)
Look.....ahh.......not that I don't trust your integrity as a
psychologist or anything, but I don't think this is going to work,
Jordan! ....I mean it'll be a conflict of interest at best
and....and...
JORDAN
(somewhat offended)
Ok!....That's fine with me!.......Not that I agree
with you. I mean these psyche evaluations are pretty standard stuff and
there's no question as to whether or not I can be objective here!
RABB
Jordan, that's not what I meant.....I
JORDAN
(interrupting him)
Yes it is, Harm!.......But if this is something you want over with
in a hurry, I really am your best shot! You see, I do know for a
fact that there's only one full time staff psychologist on board at the moment
and that he's got a full case load. Earliest he could see you would
be approximately three weeks.
RABB
Jordan, .....I've only got twelve days left in here.......
less depending on the results of this psyche evaluation.
JORDAN
Well, then I must be looking better and better to you all the time
them, Commander! (smiling) Besides, I've always wanted to know just
exactly what makes you tick, and here's my chance!.......That is unless you'd
rather finish out your twelve days in here!..(curiously) ......What did you do
to get yourself in here, anyway?
RABB
It's a long story, Jordan! (he pauses
for a long moment noting her amused expression) So you're it, then?
JORDAN
(emphatically)
Looks that way!
RABB
(surrendering)
Fine!........Let's get this thing over with as painlessly as
possible, shall we?!
JORDAN
I'll do my very best, Commander!.....(indicating the chair across
the table from her) Why don't you sit yourself down, make yourself
comfortable and then we can get started.
Harm sighs deeply, then reluctantly takes a seat in
the chair directly across the table from Jordan. She begins to remove a
few items from her briefcase and methodically lays them out on the surface
of the table.
JORDAN
(needling)
I sure hope you like looking at pictures, Commander!
Already resenting the situation, a total look of disdain passes
over Harm's expression.
**********************
INT
ADMIRAL'S OFFICE
1130 HOURS
Admiral Chegwidden slips the phone back onto the receiver and gazes
to the four officers that are present in his office. Lieutenant Colonel
Becker and Commander Imes are seated in the chairs before the Admiral's
desk; Lieutenant Roberts and Lieutenant Commander Mattoni are
standing behind Becker and Imes.
ADMIRAL
(addressing Becker)
Colonel Lehman understands our position and has agreed to allow
both Commander Rabb and Lieutenant Malory to attend this meeting of
yours, Colonel! They'll be transported here to JAG Ops via the
brig's van at 1330 hours.
MATTONI
I sure hope the Lieutenant's story boasts all that he claims, Sir,
otherwise I'm afraid Peterson's going to walk even with the new
evidence.
ADMIRAL
Has forensics confirmed anything on that yet?
IMES
No Sir. The agent working on it promised the results no
later than tomorrow morning, so we should have something in hand before court
reconvenes Sir.
MATTONI
Even if forensics confirms traces of drugs in the carpet
fibers, Peterson's defense counsel will more than likely argue against
it's admittance into evidence based on the fact that the Colonel found it and
the length of time in which the opportunity existed for the evidence to have
been fabricated.
BECKER
Then it all comes down to Lieutenant Malory, then and it's my
belief that he has something on Peterson that surely will see the man's
conviction.
ADMIRAL
Only at the expense of letting another guilty man off a murder rap,
Colonel! (as he stands, Imes and Becker do likewise) But
unfortunately, it's how the system works sometimes.
ROBERTS
(verbalizing his thoughts after listening quietly to the entire
conversation)
Yah, well, sometimes the system sucks!
His remark drawing everyone's attention, Bud quickly realizes
that he's expressed his opinions out loud and in front of five of his senior
officers.
ROBERTS
(gazing to the Admiral
apologetically)
Sir!.........Sorry Sirs....ma'am!......I guess I was thinking out
loud!......I mean.....I know that ours is the greatest legal system in the
world, Sir!........It's just that sometimes ......well, things just
........
ADMIRAL
(interrupting Bud's babbling)
Lieutenant, I think we get the
picture! And your comment isn't exactly without
merit.
ROBERTS
It isn't Sir?
ADMIRAL
No, Lieutenant!.....The system's definitely not without flaw,
but for the most part, it does work!..... (heading toward the door
of his office) As for this meeting, it's over people! You're
dismissed!
Upon reaching the door, AJ opens it and walks out into the
outer officer where Tiner is sitting busily working at his desk. As the
four officers file past , the Admiral pauses before Tiner's desk.
ADMIRAL
Tiner, any messages?
TINER
(handing him a small note)
Just a Miss Melanie Blake from the Washington
Herald, Sir!
ADMIRAL
(tearing the note from Tiner's hand, and crumbling it up)
Tiner, I've told you that I have no desire to speak to the
woman! She has a way of manipulating the truth into whatever suits her and
I refuse to be the next victim in one of her
stories.
TINER
Yes Sir!.....But she said she'd be willing to
print a retraction of her first story if you gave her an
interview.
ADMIRAL
A retraction!
TINER
Yes Sir!
ADMIRAL
A little late considering the damage she may have
inflicted on the integrity of this office.......not to mention her soiling the
reputation of a good officer.
Noting the irritation in his CO's voice, Tiner falls into
silence.
ADMIRAL
(noting Tiner's hesitance)
What is it, Tiner!
TINER
Sir?
ADMIRAL
You obviously have something on your mind, so let's hear
it!
TINER
Yes Sir!........ahh......well, Sir......with all due respect,
Sir,....... but maybe if this office hadn't shut out the press when the
incident occurred in the first place, it may have avoided any
misunderstanding and prevented the kind of story that Miss Blake ended up
printing,....Sir!
ADMIRAL
(after momentarily considering Tiner's words
momentarily)
Well, that may be true, Tiner, but their responsibility is making
sure that what they print is the truth. Lack of information shouldn't be a
license for them to print half truths, speculations or assumptions. And
that's what Mz Blake... did! (he pauses for a long
moment)...But.......you're right!.....Maybe it'd be a good idea to set Mz
Blake straight. Go ahead and set up an interview. Maybe
this office can use her to put the proper spin on this
thing.
With those words, Admiral Chegwidden walks out into the
bullpen.
**************
EXT
APARTMENT COMPLEX
FALLS CHURCH
1132 HOURS
Mac and Harriet walk out of the lobby door of the apartment house
and head down the walkway.
MAC
I don't know, Harriet! After viewing four apartments, I'm
finding my old one a whole lot more appealing by the moment.
HARRIET
I'd have to agree with you on that one! (pointing back
at the building as they walk toward the parking lot) This one had
absolutely no character and seemed rather expensive for a one bedroom if you ask
me! (she pauses for a long moment, then gazes to Mac) You
know, I could check if anything's available in my apartment complex.
It's pretty rare, but I could check it out.
MAC
I don't know, Harriet!....I was hoping to find something closer to
work! One winter of driving my vet to work in the snow's been
enough. No......if I GO through the trouble of moving at all, I want it to
be to my advantage.
HARRIET
(as they reach Mac's vet)
Well, onto the next one then!
MAC
(gazing to Harriet noting her weary expression)
I know, Harriet!.......It's tedious, isn't it! I'd forgotten
just how much so!........Look, you're all set with the sitter until 1500 hours,
right?
Harriet nods affirmatively to Mac's question.
MAC
Well, why don't we grab some lunch and then we can go on to
see the next apartment.
HARRIET
Good idea!.......I'm starved!
As they opened the doors of the vette, Melanie Blake approaches
them from the other side of the parking lot.
BLAKE
(calling out to Mac)
Colonel Mackenzie!
Mac gazes in the direction of the voice and observes Miss
Blake heading toward her.
MAC
Oh God!.........Get in, Harriet!.......Hurry up!
The two women hastily climb into the car. As Miss Blake steps
up her pace to make it to Mac's parked vehicle, Mac revs up the Vette's engine,
backs the car out of the parking spot and peels out past the approaching
reporter. A look of disdain passing over her face, Blake watches the vet
skid out of the parking lot.
**************
INT
BRIG'S INTERVIEW ROOM
1222 HOURS
Jordan closes her briefcase as Harm stands and makes his way around
the table.
JORDAN
(as she stands to meet him)
There!.....That was pretty painless, wasn't it?
RABB
Depends on ones perspective,
Commander! What I can't figure out is how in the world you can
determine a man's state of mind from the battery of tests you just put me
through.
JORDAN
(smiling)
You'd be surprised, Harm!
RABB
(drawing closer to her)
Really!? ....And just exactly what did they
tell you about me?
JORDAN
That's for the psyche evaluation, Harm!......But
don't worry, you proved to be pretty much your normal self!
RABB
(suspiciously)
Is that good?
JORDAN
(with a note of sarcasm as she lifts
her jacket off the back of a nearby chair and collected her
briefcase) For you, I'd have to say yes to that, Commander!
RABB
(baffled)
Well, that tells me a lot!
JORDAN
(she laughs a little and then starts for the
door)
It tells you all you need to know, Commander! Well, I've got
another eval to do and I'm already fifteen minutes behind my scheduled
appointment. (she gazes to him affectionately) You take
care!
She opens the door and walks out of the interview room leaving Harm
baffled as to what he saw in her eyes.
Walking to the door, he gazes after Jordan as she heads down the
hallway. It is then that Harm becomes aware of the two SP's
standing nearby and Durant sitting in a chair across the hallway. His eyes
on Jordan as she walks away, Durant stands and walks to Rabb.
DURANT
(his face in Rabb's as he intently gazes after
Jordan)
Why I'd do just about anything to get me a piece
of a woman like that!......Wouldn't you, Commander?
Waiting for Harm's response, Durant continues to look off down the
hallway. However, Harm refrains from responding in any manner except
in the return of a cold, hard stare to the side of Durant's face.
DURANT
(turning to Rabb, their eyes meeting in mutual
contempt)
But then by the looks I saw the two of you exchanging in that
interview room, it'd be my guess that you already had yourself a
piece of that one!
Refusing to allow Durant to provoke him, Harm remains silent,
only his eyes conveying the anger that is slowly welling up in
him.
DURANT
( noting Rabb's demeanor)
You'd love to hit me, wouldn't you? (mockingly
adding) ...........Sir!
Over Durant's shoulder, Rabb observes Lieutenant Roberts make the
corner at the end of the hallway and approach them.
RABB
(beneath a calm facade, he attempts to
suppress the deepening anger within him)
You know, Durant, you've been trying to provoke me to do just that
since the moment I walked into this place! What is you, anyway?
DURANT
(arrogantly smiling back)
Have I been doing that to you, ....Sir?.....Provoking you?
Before Harm can respond, Lieutenant Roberts approaches
Rabb and Durant. On a hanger underneath a sheer plastic bag, he is
carrying a set of office dress blues.
ROBERTS
(interrupting their conversation as he approaches)
Commander Rabb!
Rabb's eyes slowly turn away from Durant to see Bud walking hastily
toward him. As he draws nearer, Durant and the two SP's
come to attention.
RABB
(as Bud reaches him)
Lieutenant Roberts. (turning to
Durant) Just in time.
ROBERTS
(with some confusion)
Excuse me, Sir!
RABB
Nothing, Bud!
ROBERTS
(addressing Durant and the 2 SP's)
As you were!
As Durant relaxes, he observes the uniform that Bud's holding
beside him.
BUD
Were you expecting me, Sir?
RABB
Not at all, Bud, but it's good to see you anyway!.......(noting
Durant curiously looking over the uniform) Is there something
specific you came here to see me about, Lieutenant?
ROBERTS
Yes Sir! (glancing quickly to the other three
men) Ahh, is there somewhere we can talk privately, Sir!
RABB
(Indicating the interview room)
Sure Bud!
With that, the two men enter the interview room and shut the door
behind them.
RABB
So, what's up?
ROBERTS
Malory's ready to accept a plea bargain, in
exchange for his testimony, Sir!.... A meeting's been set up for 1400
hours this afternoon for all parties involved.
RABB
Here?
ROBERTS
No Sir!......JAG ops! Commander Imes and Commander
Mattoni will be attending as well, Sir! They want to hear what Malory has
to say first hand.
RABB
Well, I sure can't blame them for that! (noting his uniform
underneath the clear plastic bag) So what's this?
ROBERTS
(gazing to the freshly dry cleaned uniform
underneath the plastic covering)
Your uniform, Sir!........I thought it'd be more ....well,
.......professional for you to be in uniform, Sir!
RABB
Not to mention less embarrassing!
ROBERTS
(awkwardly)
Well,.....that, too, Sir!....
RABB
Bud, I do appreciate the gesture, but we have to keep a low profile
on this given Peterson's threats toward
Malory.
ROBERTS
And you're leaving the brig in uniform could certainly draw
some attention.
RABB
It could! And the last thing Malory needs is for
Peterson to find out about this meeting.
ROBERTS
Sorry, Sir! It looks as though I may have already drawn
attention to you by carrying the darn thing in here, Sir!
RABB
I doubt it, Bud!......But if it did, it's too late to worry
about that now! Just take it with you and I'll change when I get to
the office.
Bud turns toward the door and opens it.
RABB
And Bud! (as Bud turns back to him) Thanks!
Bud acknowledges Harm's appreciation with a slight grin as he
walks out of the room.
*****************
INT
JAG OPS INTERVIEW ROOM
1438 HOURS
Sitting before a microphone, Lieutenant Malory voluntarily gives up
information in regards to Captain Peterson. Present and
sitting at the conference room table are Rabb, Becker, Mattoni, and
Roberts. By the expressions on everyone's faces, Malory's testimony
against Peterson has been compelling and Harm's agitated demeanor is all too
obvious as he sits in a chair directly opposite that of Lieutenant
Malory.
MALORY
(perspiration slipping down his forehead, as he addressed
Rabb)
You don't understand, Commander, Captain
Peterson has ways of manipulating people into doing whatever he wants them
to, Sir! You gotta believe that!
RABB
(angrily)
That doesn't excuse what you did, Lieutenant! And by
withholding this information, you've put others at risk!
MALORY
I'm sorry, Sir!........I........
Loosing control, Harm slams his fist down onto the surface of the
table.
RABB
(furiously)
Damn it, Lieutenant!........Sorry just doesn't cut
it!
His anger so consuming him, Harm abruptly pushes his chair out from
underneath him, and walks off toward the barred window. There is a
long moment of silence that passes between the startled officers seated around
the table. At length, Becker stands and walks to
Harm.
BECKER
(in a calm tone of voice)
Commander, this is hitting us all on some sort of
personal level here!........ So come on.... lets try and lighten up a
little!
RABB
(echoing as he gazes to Becker)
Lighten up!......(quickly gazing back out the
window trying to control the anger he felt welling up in him) You want me
to lighten up? (he turns back to Becker) That SOB has withheld
information on known criminal acts that Peterson's committed over a three year
period! (walking toward the table his eyes meeting Malory's)
What's worse, he's admitted to being an accomplice on at least one
occasion! (agitated to the extreme, Rabb backs away from the table
in disgust)............God, I've got to get out of here......Or..... I
swear........
Without completing his words, Harm turns and hastily walks
toward the door. Grabbing hold of the door knob, he yanks the door open,
only to find the doorway immediately blocked by one of the two SP's
standing outside the door. Becker hastily follows
after Rabb, taking hold of his right upper arm and pulling Harm away
from the door.
BECKER
(addressing the SP as he closes the
door)
Everything's ok here, Sergeant!
Concerned over Harm's outburst, Bud stands and walks toward the two
men. Mattoni, and Imes sit in disbelief at Harm's
outburst.
MATTONI
(leaning toward Imes and whispering in her
ear)
I't looks as though Harm's not up to this
one!
IMES
(in agreement)
Maybe it's time the Admiral relieve him of some of his
duties! Namely.......this one!
They both gaze at one another in agreement.
BECKER
(holding Rabb's arm firmly)
Look, do you want to get this bastard or not?
RABB
(with anger and determination, he jerks his arm out of
Becker's grasp)
Yah!.....You know I do! (gazing with disdain
toward Malory) But not at the expense of letting Malory off the
hook.
BECKER
If you want Peterson convicted, then there's not
much of a choice, now is there! Even with the so called new evidence that
Imes and Mattoni may or may not have. This Ryerson character's
going to probably manage to create reasonable doubt in the minds of the jury as
to it's relevance given the elapsed time and the opportunity for the evidence to
have been fabricated.
A knock comes upon the door of the conference room. Roberts
opens it to reveal Corporal Tate standing in the doorway.
TATE
(noting the tension between the
officers)
My apologies for the interruption, ma'am, Sirs! but I wanted
to be certain that everything was ok in here!
Becker searches Rabb's eyes for a moment.
BECKER
Everything's fine, Corporal, thank you!
With those words, the Corporal retreats from the room, closing the
door behind him.
ROBERTS
Commander, Colonel Becker's right!.....Getting Malory to testify is
the only way to assure Peterson's conviction on the rape charges. And
isn't that what we all want Sir?
Harm walks away from both of the men. Becker following him
closely.
BECKER
We were talking about reducing the charges against Malory from
second degree murder to voluntary manslaughter!........Is that offer still on
the table or not?
RABB
(at length)
By his own admittance, he's purposefully held back some of what he
knows. ....So I say, let's let him testify first......and then we'll
see!
MALORY
(in protest)
NO!......That's not good enough! I'm
stretching out my neck here as it is and that means I want assurances......not
maybes or promises! I'll only testify if I'm assured that the charges
against me are reduced and that I've got immunity on any rape
charges! And......I want out of here NOW, Commander!......You
know Peterson's threatened me!
BECKER
And I told you that I'm working on that transfer,
Lieutenant!.... I should have you out of the brig no later than noon
tomorrow.
MALORY
If I'm still alive, Sir!
RABB
(disdainfully)
Oh, I'm sure you'll be just fine, Lieutenant, because
guys like you never really seem to get what they deserve.
Malory gazes to Rabb further unnerved by his remark.
RABB
What I want to know is are any corroborating witnesses to your
version of the truth, Malory? .......Will either of the
women involved in any of these rapes come forward to testify?
MALORY
I won't give up any names, Commander...not until I
get assurances!...But yah, one of them will!........She hates me, for my part in
all this, but she hates Peterson more!
RABB
Well lets hope so, because I do believe that the jury's going
to have a hard time believing a man of your repute, not to mention the fact that
your testimony is being offered as part of a plea bargain.
ROBERTS
What about the second victim, Lieutenant?......Will she
testify?
MALORY
No....well, at least I don't think she
can!.........Last I heard she was in a mental health facility for attempting
suicide. She's been in and out like three times since it happened.
RABB
I guess destroying people's lives is one of
Peterson's favorite past times.
BECKER
So, do we have an agreement,
Commander?
RABB
For the sake of lynching Peterson, I guess I'll have to submit to
your demands, Colonel! (pausing for a long moment, then with disdain in
his demeanor, he addresses Malory) But one of these days, Lieutenant,
you'll have to face the consequences for what you've done and I sure as hell
hope that it will be more sooner than later!
*****************
INT
BRIG/ MALORY'S CELL
2236
Malory is sound asleep on his rack when footsteps are heard coming
down the hallway. Reaching the door to Malory's cell, a shadowed figure of
man pauses to unlock the cell door. Stirring on his rack at
the sound of the cell door opening, Malory's eyes open wearily to
observe the darkened figure of a man standing over him.
MAN
Hey, ......Lieutenant!
Stunned, Malory studies the darkened
face of the man standing over him.
MALORY
What the hell!
MAN
Come on!.....Off your rack!.....Commander Rabb wants to have a long
talk with you!
MALORY
What?.......Now!?
MAN
Yeah, now!....Come on, get up!
MALORY
(begrudgingly pushing off his bed
covers)
Okay, okay, damn it! Just give me a second to put some pants
on!
Dressed in boxer shorts and tank top, Malory sits up on his rack
attempting to make out the identity of the SP standing over
him. Malory sluggishly slips
on a pair of pants then is hastily ushered out of the cell and down the
hallway.
******************* To be Continued
**********