Target's in sight. Here we go.
(indistinct radio transmission)
(beeping)
Good sh**ting, Deadeye.
Let's get a cold one.
Roger that.
Whoo! 100% fun, Gerter!
(over radio): Stick to my six.
(alarms beeping)
Damn it to hell!
Eject! Eject! Eject!
Following in his
father's footsteps
as a Naval aviator,
Lieutenant Commander
Harmon Rabb, Jr.
Suffered a crash while
landing his Tomcat
on a storm-tossed
carrier at sea.
Diagnosed with night blindness
Harm transferred to the Navy's
Judge Advocate General Corps
which investigates, defends
and prosecutes the law of the sea.
There, with fellow JAG
lawyer, Major Sarah MacKenzie,
he now fights in and
out of the courtroom
with the same
daring and tenacity
that made him a
top g*n in the air.
The Captain's pretty depressed
about the accident, sir.
It's the first time
one of his men
has been called on the carpet.
He was happy to here you
were investigating, though.
You trained with
him, right, sir?
I did.
Then you know how much
the Captain loves
his flyboys, sir.
Flyboys?
Oh, excuse the
inappropriate terminology, sir.
I got to work on that.
( tires squealing)
Question, Lieutenant.
sh**t, sir.
What did you do in
civilian life, anyway?
Drove a cab, sir.
Right.
How were you...?
Commissioned?
Captain Hochausen
pulled me out of
the administration office,
recommended me for
Officer Candidate School.
Said I had the mettle to settle.
I think that's how he put it.
Anyway, I help him
out when he needs me...
Drive him around, run
errands for him, stuff like that.
You all right back
there, Lieutenant?
Actually, you know, if you
could you slow down...?
Who is it you look like, sir?
You like Thai food, sir?
Me, too. Boy, I wish
they had a place
around here.
They chicken-fry
everything here, sir,
even the salad.
We'll be switching
to the Captain's car now, sir.
He's not here?
We're going to his house.
Uh, how far is that?
About 30 minutes.
I can do it in 20.
HOCHAUSEN: Harm!
RABB: Captain.
Looking crisp, Commander.
Starch in the boxers, sir.
( laughing)
Lieutenant, is my
car in one piece?
Yes, so far, sir.
Then you are joining us
for dinner... no arguments.
You won't get one.
Welcome back, Harm. Hi, Gail.
Even under the circumstances.
Roger, that. Gail...
This is Lieutenant
J.G. Bud Roberts.
Hello, Bud.
It's a pleasure, ma'am.
And this is The Hawk.
I've heard a lot about you, sir.
And you came anyway.
Commander Rabb
says you're the best
flight instructor in the Navy.
I hope he's not claiming
he was my best student.
He really didn't specify, sir.
Smart answer, Lieutenant.
Hey, Cap, remember the time
you came up my back seat?
Told me you
wouldn't say anything
unless I was screwing up, right?
Ten minutes into the flight,
I haven't heard anything.
I figure I'm acing it, right?
Suddenly he clobbers me
in the back of the helmet
with his flight stick.
He'd unscrewed it,
put a note through it
said, "Plug in your headset."
( all laughing)
I'd wager there was
another word between
"your" and "headset."
( Captain laughing)
You remember the drill.
Every six months I
take my junior instructors
out on a tune-up ride
to blow the dust off 'em.
Lieutenant Judd
was your wingman.
Correct.
Can you take me
to the point of the
accident, Captain?
Where were you
when he clipped
the telephone pole?
Leading.
He didn't see it?
Couldn't avoid it.
A severe downdraft
sucked it into his path.
Now, if he was below your wing
how did you avoid the same fate?
A few meters
made the difference.
So you were
ascending in formation
you're approaching the ridge
the turbulence swept
under you and caught him.
That's actually better
than the way I put it.
Think you could get that
put in writing for me, Captain?
It's always better when
I see things on paper.
Sure. I'll have Lieutenant
Schiparelli drop it by.
You know, we told
Admiral Locksley
it was an act of God.
Next thing I know
you show up to investigate
Peter Judd on an Article 32.
The F.A.A. is breathing
down our necks, sir,
because of the
civilian casualties.
The Lieutenant's
wife is pregnant.
He doesn't need the
F.A.A. to remind him
that this is a tragedy.
I stand by him, Harm.
He's my best junior instructor.
If anybody could have
avoided that pole, it was him.
I take it back.
You'd have missed it
and made an overseas call
at the same time.
( both chuckle)
I'll see you later.
RABB: What exactly
happened up there, Lieutenant?
You should ask
Lieutenant Judd, sir.
He was at the wheel.
You were in the back seat.
I'm asking you.
( chuckles): He's a cowboy, sir.
Shouldn't be allowed
to drive a Buick
let alone an F-14.
You saying he was flat-hatting?
An end zone dance, sir.
He was rocking and whooping.
When did he do that?
After the strike.
Where was Captain Hochausen?
Not sure, sir.
I lost him.
So you don't know if
the Lieutenant stayed
with the Captain's pull-out?
All I know is the
Lieutenant was pulling
a hell of a lot of Gs, sir.
How many?
Enough to almost black out.
That's when we hit the pole.
Next thing I know
I'm here.
That was my first
and last punch-out.
The knee's blown, sir.
I'm grounded.
I'm sorry, Lieutenant.
SCHIPARELLI: Commander!
Affidavits from
Captain Hochausen, sir.
Thank you, Lieutenant.
Captain must like you, sir.
He usually puts
off his paperwork.
Well, I like the Captain.
Oh, I gotta put my hat in
the ring with you there, sir,
'cause he's like a father to me.
Has me over to
the house for dinner.
Last year for my birthday
he had a New York pizza
delivered on the mail run
just for me.
The pizza here,
sir, it's disgusting.
Doughy, gloppy.
Should be banned.
And the toppings...
Don't even get me
started on the toppings.
If I were president I
would seriously consider
some sort of
a*t*matic sterilization
for anyone who ordered
pineapple and Canadian bacon.
That's a point of
view, Lieutenant.
You from The Big Apple?
The Bronx.
Why do they call it that, sir?
Do you know?
No, I don't know.
When I think of New York
fruit doesn't come to mind.
Like, no fruit.
Nothing even fruity.
The big cheese, maybe.
The big noise.
The big hurt.
Lieutenant, are you
presently available?
Yes, sir, I am.
Because Lieutenant
Roberts could use a lift
over to weather control.
Uh, actually, sir, I was
planning on walking over.
I'm sure the Lieutenant
would be happy
to give you a ride, Bud.
Yeah, no problem.
That's okay. I could
use the exercise, sir.
Bud, I need that
information yesterday.
Yes, sir.
We'll be there before
you can blink, sir.
I know a shortcut
across the tarmac.
( sniffles)
Excuse me, sir, this
is an investigation site.
I'm going to have to ask you
to refrain from touching
or handling anything.
This belonged to my son.
Mr. Lanier, I, uh,
I'm deeply sorry
for your loss, sir.
Uh, Lieutenant
Commander Rabb... JAG.
Mac...
I thought you were in Pensacola.
I was.
The Admiral called me in.
Lieutenant Judd
requested representation.
I wish that this had never
happened, Commander.
This is Mr. Lanier
husband and
father of the victims.
Were you flying this plane?
Yes.
Why'd it go down?
Don't worry, Mr. Lanier.
Before this is over, sir
I promise you'll have an
answer to every single question.
MACKENZIE: I only
received the order last night.
RABB: You can't
pick up the phone?
What would you
have said, don't come?
So, how's the Hawk?
He have you over for dinner yet?
Don't bother, Mac.
I know you're
old friends.
He supports your boy.
Well, that couldn't be
very encouraging for you.
I interviewed Lieutenant Judd
and I have reason to believe
that he's not responsible
for this accident.
Oh, yeah? What's his story?
That a severe downdraft
caught him off guard.
That wouldn't happen to be
the Captain's version, would it?
Yeah, it would.
His Rio says he was hotdogging.
That doesn't preclude
the interference
of a downdraft.
Mac, turbulence is
nothing new to pilots.
If he was caught off guard,
he wasn't paying attention.
He was following his leader.
RABB: He was lagging behind.
Because of a downdraft.
Sir, should I order lunch?
So, you were
scoring the exercise
on the day of the accident
correct, Lieutenant? Yes, sir.
From your vantage
point in the bunker
did it look to you
like Lieutenant Judd
was hotdogging?
I don't know I'd
call it that, sir.
The Lieutenant has an
aggressive style of flying.
I'm not in the mood for
semantics, Lieutenant.
May I speak freely, sir?
Please.
Lieutenant Judd once
accidentally cut a phone
line with his tail fin...
Put, uh, half the
county out of service.
The Admiral investigated...
Eventually dropped it.
See, the thing was, the
Lieutenant had left out
an important piece
of information.
He was upside
down at the time...
Upside down, 30 feet
above the deck at 500 knots.
( chuckling)
So, in your opinion
Lieutenant Judd is an
irresponsible aviator.
No, he's a good one, sir.
Which is it, Lieutenant?
Sir, I'm a scorekeeper.
I'm qualified to judge whether
a sh**t hits the target.
Lieutenant Judd usually does.
RABB: There's no getting
away from it, Captain.
Lieutenant Judd has a
major rep as a cowboy.
Are you concerned
with his reputation
or the evidence?
Okay, let's talk evidence.
Flight records indicate
he had a takeoff
mishap on July 24.
He jettisoned his
external fuel tanks
onto the runway.
He didn't check his
drop t*nk switches?
He didn't see them.
The warning lights
were too dim...
Instrument panel was
in full morning sun.
Too dim?
You never once
considered pilot error?
I can tell the difference between
a problem and an excuse.
Come on, one more.
Come on.
Yeah, yeah.
Captain, even if the
downdraft can be proven
your ability to clear
the ridge before he did
suggests he was
late on his pull-up.
He's in trouble for being late?
If he wasn't
pulling Major Gs, why
was Gerter blacking out?
I have no idea.
Cap, I'm just trying
to make some sense of this.
You're looking for a
bogie that isn't there, Harm.
Now, wait, I'm not trying
to be difficult, really.
The problem is
I'm talking to you
like we're still
flying together.
I forget you gave up your wings.
I keep my hours up.
I can tell.
You still know how
to lock in a target.
Some instincts
you never lose, huh?
(chuckling)
I had a good teacher.
(chuckling)
(country music playing)
Damn.
Corner pocket.
MAN: That's game.
That was fast.
Now, if you could
play like you look...
Hey, be nice.
Got a need for
competition, honey.
A little eight ball, Blevins?
I know that game.
You're out, Angel.
SCHIPARELLI:
No, you can't do that.
I came here to play
pool. I want to play pool.
The sign on the door
says, "ladies welcome."
That's why I'm here.
It's a unisex game. Hey,
do you ever shut up?
You've had your shot.
Now it's Blevins' turn.
Anyway, we play for drinks.
Why don't we play partners,
her and I against you two?
If that's all right with you.
Can you play?
I'm all right.
Question is, do you fly?
Sometimes.
What's your ride?
Tomcats.
( yawning)
( Harm chuckling)
Hornet pilots.
But of course.
Well, then we have to play.
Not for drinks.
Money?
Uh-uh.
Your boots.
My boots against your pants.
Add her bra and we got a deal.
Hey, now.
Break.
You feeling lucky?
Hey, look at that.
( gasping)
I just figured out
who you look like, sir.
He's an actor.
He's in that medical drama.
What was it called?
He did that episode where
he had to stick his hand
into the patient's chest
cavity and massage his heart.
I can't think of his name.
I had his poster on my wall.
It's the eyes.
What?
Something wrong?
No.
You sure?
'Cause you're not...
Hey, Mac.
Stop by for a drink?
You know better than that.
Now, where's my head?
Uh, this is Lieutenant...
Schiparelli.
Major MacKenzie's
defending Peter Judd.
Good evening, Major.
Good evening. May I ask
what your duties
are here, Lieutenant?
Sure, I work in the
public affairs office
and I help out
the Captain when I can.
I'm sorry, and what would that
have to do with the Commander?
He needs help getting around?
Apparently not.
SCHIPARELLI: May I ask you
what you mean by that, ma'am?
Mac,
we played pool tonight...
Beat the pants off a
couple of flyers from El Toro.
Is that what you do in
your spare time, Schiparelli?
Hustle Marines?
No, ma'am.
I usually prefer a challenge.
Uh, we'll probably
need a ride around 9:00
If that's all right with you.
Don't you need me
to drive you back, sir?
Uh, no, I'll, uh, catch
a ride with the Major.
I'll see you in
the morning, huh?
Good night, Lieutenant.
Could have been, sir.
(grunting)
Gee, I'm sorry, sir.
I didn't know you'd
be here tonight.
That's okay, Bud.
Bumped into Mac, why
shouldn't I bump into you tonight?
Well, I don't think your
night's over yet, sir.
I think you should take a look
at these wind conditions
from the day of the accident.
Oh. No, wait. I'm sorry.
That's not what I
wanted to show you.
Um, wait...
Ah! Here it is.
Um, no.
Where did it...?
Bud, I'm losing brain
cells every second.
Ah, okay. Here it is, sir.
Now, the updated convective
sigmets noted area forecasts
of clear air at the ridge
with wind gusts
of up to 30 knots.
Now, since air flow
is far worse on the
leeward side of a ridge
and the Captain
and Lieutenant Judd
were ascending on the
windward side of the ridge,
that meant they were
caught in an... Updraft.
Gusts on the windward side
tend to force you up and not down.
Apparently Lieutenant
Judd and Captain Hochausen
are confused what
side of the mountain
they were on, Bud.
Well, how can that be, sir?
How, indeed, Bud?
How, indeed?
Morning, Lieutenant.
Good morning, sir.
You got a minute, Captain?
Yeah. Have a seat.
Can you give me a sense
of the power of the downdraft
the day of the accident?
Well, that would be a
question for Lieutenant Judd.
You said you felt
some turbulence, sir.
I shook a little.
How much is a little?
Where you going with this?
Can you prove Lieutenant Judd
was caught in a downdraft, sir?
No more than you could prove
you and I are having
this conversation.
We are a witness
to each other's story.
Well, I'm having problems
with the story, Captain.
You're having
problems believing me
and quite frankly,
I'm resenting it.
Captain, I can personally
attest to the aid and support
you give your men
but if you are helping
Lieutenant Judd
avoid responsibility, sir...
The short version, Commander.
You're protecting him.
From unfounded speculation.
It is my job to
investigate, Captain.
( sighs)
I have seen too many good pilots
skewered by rule-book
barons and ignorant C.O.s.
If you don't give a man
room to make mistakes
you take away his
ability to learn from them.
What about consequences?
You don't believe a man
should learn the
price of his mistakes?
You remember when you
almost lost your flight status
because of the high
noon gunnery competition?
Judge declared
you were sh**ting
inside the minimum range.
The command was unwilling
to tolerate a major
safety violation.
Until it was determined
I was within range, Captain.
Until I convinced
him it didn't matter.
You were the best
aviator out there.
You deserved a second chance.
I saved your windswept
butt, Commander.
( tires screech)
Morning, Lieutenant.
Hello, sir.
ROBERTS: Thanks a lot!
No problem. Good day, sir.
You surprised me, Bud.
I didn't think
you had much faith in
the Lieutenant's driving.
Well, the tech pub library is
only a mile and a half away, sir
and I took my contacts
out before I got in.
What were you
doing at the library?
I was reading up on some
aircraft maintenance manuals
to see if anything
jumped out at me.
Do you know there's such a thing
as a G-measuring device?
Yeah, it's a gauge on
the instrument panel.
Yes, sir, but that one
can be reset by the pilots.
What I'm talking about
is a thing called a, uh...
a statistical accelerometer.
Statistical accelerometer.
Where have I been, Bud?
It's a little device that...
It's the device the maintenance
crews put in the wheel well.
It keeps a permanent record
of vertical velocity.
This will dispel or
substantiate Gerter's claim
that they were pulling Major Gs.
That's what I was thinking, sir.
Good work, Bud.
Great work, Bud.
RABB: Morning, chief.
How are you doing today?
MAN: Oh, I could
be richer and younger
but I have a good time.
How's it coming
with the postmortem?
Well, sir, I can tell you
she crashed and burned.
You didn't happen to find a
statistical accelerometer...?
In fact, we did.
You want to take a
peek, Commander?
The, uh, crew found
her in a scorpion nest
about a quarter mile away.
Hell of a scorpion.
Okay. Final numbers show
at the time she hit the pole
she was pulling, let's see...
seven Gs.
Wow. That'll suck the enamel
right off your teeth.
Can I see that, chief?
Yes, sir.
That would confirm
Lieutenant Gerter's story
wouldn't it, sir?
One for the evidence box, Bud.
Thanks, Chief.
No problem, Commander.
Lieutenant Judd was
in a seven-G pullout.
There's no way he was on
Captain Hochausen's wing.
It looks to me like your
guy was playing catch-up
grayed out and lost control.
Grayed out?
Heavy Gs narrow the
cone of vision, ma'am.
Without peripheral spectrum,
you're flying with blinders.
Well, that's speculation,
Commander.
His Rio testified that
he was hotdogging
and this proves he
was pulling major Gs.
Well, what about the Captain?
What about him?
Did his plane have a
statistical accelerometer?
Um, sorry,
but the device
seems to be missing.
How could that happen?
Don't know, ma'am.
That's an inadequate
answer, Petty Officer Rivas.
I'm inclined to agree
with you, ma'am.
I wish I could be more helpful.
I'm as confused as you are.
Maintenance personnel
are the only ones
with official access
to the aircraft.
Incorrect, Mac.
You're forgetting the pilots.
Thanks, Rivas.
You are reaching...
There is no way
that Lieutenant Judd
could have tampered
with the evidence.
Did I say that?
I think the Major's right, sir.
The fact is... I
think the Captain...
Lieutenant. Yes, sir?
Do you mind if I talk
while you interrupt?
Sorry, sir.
Now, Bud, I think
you and I concur.
It is conceivable that the Hawk
knowing he was pulling less Gs
took his own
statistical accelerometer
to protect his wingman.
MACKENZIE: But if it's missing
we can't substantiate that.
Yes, we can.
Do you want to bring me
up to speed, Commander?
Well, I don't know if you
want to go this fast, Mac.
HOCHAUSEN: This is a hell of
a way to waste taxpayer dollars.
RABB: We want an exact duplicate
of the strike exercise on
the day of the accident.
Wind conditions won't duplicate.
Let's do it anyway.
Your call, Commander.
You know, Mac, if
you're not feeling up to it
it's not too late
to have someone
more experienced
put in the back seat.
Are you suggesting
I can't handle this?
Don't "semper fi"
me on this one, Mac.
She's no biplane.
They put me through the drill.
I know what buttons to push.
Okay, so long as
they're not mine.
Hey, Mac, how you doing?
Mac?
Yeah.
You all right?
Yeah.
Sure?
Yeah.
HOCHAUSEN:
Two, this is the lead.
I'm popping up.
Roll in to the left.
Target in sight.
Roger, one.
Scorer noted ten feet at 9:00.
Bull's-eye. I'm done.
MACKENZIE: We're
not going to make it!
RABB: How was it for you, Mac?
( vomiting)
HOCHAUSEN: Just
cleared it, didn't you?
That would be correct.
Yeah. A sudden downdraft
you would have popped that pole.
Looks that way.
Listen, I want to let this go
and put it behind us, okay?
Let's take them in.
Which one of those
landings should I count?
Now, that I didn't expect.
As I've been saying
we all make our
share of mistakes.
It's called being human.
Well, I'm going
to drain a draft.
Anybody want to join me?
No, I better stay
with the Major.
You go on.
How you feeling, Major?
Lighter.
(laughs)
I apologize for all the
flying jokes I ever made.
How many Gs was
that... 12 million?
Seven Gs.
Lieutenant Judd was following
his leader over the ridge.
What do you mean?
The Captain had to pull
seven Gs just to clear it.
He never specified his
G-count when I questioned him.
The Hawk didn't steal the
statistical accelerometer
to protect Judd.
He did it to divert
attention from himself.
What? He almost
got away with it, too.
You're losing me.
I probably would
have overlooked it
if he hadn't landed high.
That's a mistake
reserved for rookies
or veterans with
diminishing skills.
And... If a young
buck like Gerter
passes out at seven Gs
what do you think
that'll do to a man
20 years his senior?
Yeah, but he was okay up there.
Until touchdown.
Captain's vulnerable
to mistakes...
The kind of mistakes
that cause one to
misjudge landings
and the height
of telephone lines.
Are you saying
that he led Lieutenant
Judd into that pole?
Oh...
Come on, let's sit down.
Put your head between your legs
and breathe deep.
It'll pass in a couple minutes.
That is what you're saying.
That's incredible.
Your investigation just changed
from wingman to leader.
That-that'll put us on
the same side, Harm.
Where you going?
To test my theory.
( tires squeal)
Take a stroll?
You spend a lot of
time with Captain...
I shouldn't have
kissed you, sir.
It was a teenage
stunt, incredibly stupid.
There was no excuse for it
and I'm so mad at
myself because I...
Lieutenant.
You seized the moment.
That's why you're an officer.
( chuckles)
( chuckles)
Now, what can you tell me
about Captain Hochausen
that might help me
with my investigation?
Like what, sir?
Is he having problems
with mental alertness?
No, sir.
What about sleep?
Is he getting enough?
Does he appear
fatigued? No, sir.
Any problems with his eyesight?
Lieutenant?
Sir, the Captain
knows what he's doing.
Yeah, but can he see
what he's doing up there?
You take him out
of a plane, he'll die.
He may die if I
don't take him out.
He may take a couple
of people with him.
Now, specifically, Lieutenant
what do you know?
Well, sir... between
you and me...
For the record.
Sir, you're not
making this easy.
I think the Captain
cheats on his eye exam.
He's been doing it
the last few years.
He told you this?
No. I overheard him on the phone
with another senior aviator.
They-they trade techniques
on how to pass the tests.
Like what? I don't know.
I just get bits and pieces.
Sir, if you think
this has anything...
Thank you, Lieutenant.
I appreciate your candor.
MAN: What do you want
to talk to a gimp retiree for?
Is your life that uninteresting?
How's the new hip, sir?
Indestructible.
It's the flesh and
bone around them
that's disintegrating.
Cognac?
No, thank you, Admiral.
Well, I'm not going to ask
if you mind if I indulge
'cause frankly, I
don't give a damn.
( chuckling)
How long has it been?
Since I graduated
flight school, sir.
Bet you thought you'd be
landing on my gravesite.
Oh-ho, it is my
personal belief, Admiral
that you will outlast us all.
( chuckling)
Prosit.
Having fun in Washington?
Are you jiggin' and JAGgin'?
Oh, it's stimulating, sir.
What about your old man?
You any closer to finding
out what happened to him
or are those stiffs on the Hill
still running you around?
I have some new leads.
Here's to the Hammer...
wherever he may be.
So, why am I talking
to you, Harmon Rabb?
You flew into your 50s, right?
One of the few.
You ever have any
problems with your eyesight?
I didn't, but the base
optometrist failed to agree.
You ever fudge
an eye exam?
Are your peepers going?
Uh, no, sir.
I'm investigating a crash.
I know about it.
Terrible thing.
No, Commander, I did not.
Know anyone who did?
Well...
it's been known to be done.
The majority step
down when it's time.
What do you know about
the techniques used?
This is about Gary
Hochausen, isn't it?
Yes, sir.
A good man.
A friend.
Two civilians died, Admiral.
Here you go.
All right. Not bad.
Bring the heat now.
Come on! Come on!
Now, watch it.
There you go.
Let the old man show you.
Come on.
Whoa!
Harm! Are you
joining us for dinner?
Can we have a
word in private, Cap?
Is that a "no"?
This is official, sir.
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
It is my personal
belief that you are now
and were at the time
of the training accident
physically unsuitable
to be flying category one.
What are you talking about?
I'm in better shape
than my trainees.
I didn't come here to
argue with you, Captain.
I came here to tell you
that this makes you
personally culpable
in the accidental deaths
of Melanie and Joshua Lanier.
Now, if you cooperate
I can talk to Admiral Locksley.
He'll support your resignation,
and you can escape public...
Drop the attitude, Commander.
And get the hell
out of my shorts.
What is this crap?!
Gary, I need you
to trust me on this.
You want to kick
my ass into oblivion.
Why am I talking to you?
'Cause you're in trouble,
and I'm trying to help.
Let me explain how that works.
Don't try to exploit my loyalty.
I'm not Lieutenant Judd.
No, you definitely are not.
You convinced him
he could take a fall
and not jeopardize his career,
and then he covered your tracks
by stealing the
statistical accelerometer
from your own aircraft.
What the hell happened
to you, Captain?
You were the most squared
away officer I ever met.
What changed that
would cause you
to place your flight status
above your principles?
Nothing changed!
Honey...
I haven't lost a
skill, an instinct
or a millisecond
off my reaction time.
I know how hard it is to give
it up, Captain. I've been there.
I don't have to
give anything up.
I'm every damn bit as
good as I've ever been
and I can do it
with my eyes closed
and my stick between my toes.
We all have our
limitations, sir... even you.
Well, that's the difference
between you and me, Commander.
I overcame mine.
I'm still in the air.
And what if that were your
wife and child in that car?
You do what you have to do.
My story stands.
Your handiwork, Lieutenant?
I don't have to
speak to you, sir.
That's okay.
I'll do the talking.
I'd like to tell you a story.
It's about a young aviator
who was mentored
by a senior instructor.
This mentor liked this
young man very much...
So much so that he
covered for the aviator's
occasional mistakes.
It came to pass, however
that the mentor
himself made a mistake
so, he went to his protégé
and he asked him
to return the favor.
The problem was,
it was a big mistake.
People died.
The question for the aviator now
was should he stand by the man
who stood by him
or should he do
what he felt was
right in his heart?
You know who I'm
talking about, Lieutenant?
No, sir.
I'm talking about myself.
And I've made my decision.
Care to know what it is?
Ted Lanier deserves
to know the truth
about the death of his family.
I owe him that as a human being
as a representative
of my country
and as a man who
hopes to one day
have a wife and
child of his own.
You can relate
to that, can't you?
Excuse me, sir.
I have to use the head.
( sighing)
SCHIPARELLI: You
wanted to see me, Major?
At ease.
Lieutenant, I think it's
time we patched things up.
I'd like that, ma'am.
Admiral Locksley's
decided to send the charges
to an Article 32 hearing.
How does that involve me?
The Commander has informed me
that you have possible
incriminating evidence
involving Captain Hochausen.
I'm sorry, Lieutenant.
I'm obligated to
reveal new information
to opposing counsel.
You want me to testify
against my mentor?
If it means clearing
Lieutenant Judd
of sole responsibility, yes.
If it wasn't for
Captain Hochausen...
This is bigger than
your relationship
with the Captain, Lieutenant.
Pardon me, sir, but aren't
you speaking for yourself?
There's a difference
between loyalty
and being indebted to someone.
Captain would have us believe
they're one and the same.
Permission to speak freely, sir?
This sucks.
HOCHAUSEN: At that
point, a severe downdraft
swept under my fuselage and
caught Lieutenant Judd's Tomcat
which dropped
approximately ten meters
causing it to hit
the telephone pole
at the western
edge of the ridge.
RABB: Let the record reflect
that I am handing the
witness exhibit one...
A report from base
weather control
stating turbulence
was on the eastern side
of the ridge.
The western, or windward side
was not considered
hazardous to even private
let alone supersonic aircraft.
Weather control was not
flying with us, Commander.
Are you suggesting the downdraft
was undetectable, Captain?
By electronic instrumentation.
You mean, like a
phantom wind, Captain?
No. It was quite real.
RABB: Sir, isn't Lieutenant
Judd using this wind
to avoid a charge
of pilot error?
It wasn't pilot error,
it was a downdraft.
Magnified by my wake turbulence.
I could sense it.
It was there.
If the prosecution is finished
the defense would like to
call to the stand Lieutenant
Tina Schiparelli.
The prosecution is not
yet finished, Counselor.
Captain, I'd like to
discuss those senses.
Isn't it true, sir
that on the day of the accident
your diminished depth perception
caused you to lead
Lieutenant Judd
to a point too
close to the ridge
and that it was
this action, not
the wind conditions
which caused him to have neither
the time nor the space he needed
to avoid striking the top
of the telephone pole?
No, Commander, that is not true.
Let the record reflect
that I am submitting
exhibit two:
a stipulation of fact signed by
myself and Major MacKenzie
stating that on
the day of the flight
re-creation, Captain Hochausen
seriously misjudged his landing.
You've never done
that, Commander?
Yes, sir, I have, and
as a result, I no longer
fly at night.
Captain, what is the General
visual response
to heavy G-forces?
The cone of vision
is... narrowed
peripherals are reduced.
Is this why all pilots undergo
such rigorous eye exams?
It is.
What is your vision, Captain?
20/20.
Are you familiar with
a technique called...
"the deep squeeze"?
I am not.
Apparently
if you squeeze your eyes
with your lids shut
it momentarily changes
the shape of the eyeball.
Gives you one second
of 20/20 vision...
Enough time to
read an eye chart.
Are you familiar
with the technique
now that I've described it, Cap?
No.
I'm told some senior aviators
use it to pass their eye exam.
None that I know of.
Let the record reflect
that I am...
standing on a line
previously marked
by the base ophthalmologist.
This is a common
eye chart, Captain.
I know what it is.
Please read
the fifth line for me, sir.
These are not
clinical conditions.
The doctor has assured me
they're sufficient,
Captain. Please.
"F-Z-B-D-E."
Very good, sir.
Next two lines.
"H-O-F-
L-C-T-A-P-E-O-T-F-Q."
And now, the 20/20 line.
"T-Z-V-E-C-L-G-N."
There's another technique
I haven't yet mentioned.
Since these eye charts
are relatively uniform
the individual simply
memorizes them.
Read the line again, Cap.
Please.
"I-F-L-Y-
N-A-V-Y."
The line was altered, Captain.
I submit to the
convening authority
that Captain Gary Hochausen
was unable to properly determine
the correct range of
the oncoming ridge
endangering his
wingman in the process
and inadvertently
causing the deaths
of Melanie and Joshua Lanier.
Unusual prosecutorial
approach, Commander.
I couldn't do it to her, Mac.
She'd agreed to testify.
Yeah, it would have
been like putting a knife
in the hand of Brutus.
So, you stabbed him yourself.
I would have preferred
to do it my way.
Well, we both lost, Mac.
Lieutenant Judd lied.
He was manipulated.
He's still facing
disciplinary action.
( sighing)
Good day for flying.
Or thinking.
You torpedoed me, Commander.
We have to do what
we have to do, Captain
in combat and in life.
Who fed you that load?
You did, first time I met you.
Well, at least I went
down in a dogfight.
I know this changes
things, Captain.
It doesn't mean that one
day we can't mend fences.
Yes, it does.
03x04 - Blind Side
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Follows the exploits of the "judge advocates" in the Department of the Navy's Office of the Judge Advocate General, based in the Washington metropolitan area.
Follows the exploits of the "judge advocates" in the Department of the Navy's Office of the Judge Advocate General, based in the Washington metropolitan area.