Capt. Jack Ross I don't think your clients belong in jail, but I don't get to make that decision! I represent the government of the United States without passion or prejudice, and my client has a case.
Played by Kevin Bacon 
A Few Good Men (1992) · 96 quotes
A Few Good Men (1992) · 96 quotes
6th most-quoted character in A Few Good Men (1992): in 12 of its 96 quotes
Most scenes with: Lt. Daniel Kaffee (9), Lt. Col. Matthew Markinson (8), Col. Nathan R. Jessep (4)
Lt. Kaffee is gonna try to put on a little magic act here. He's gonna try a little misdirection. He'll astound you with stories of rituals and dazzle you with official-sounding terms like Code Red. He might even try to cut into a few officers for you. He'll have no evidence, mind you, none . . . but it will be entertaining.
More lines from Capt. Jack Ross
2 quotes Capt. Jack Ross Capt. Jack Ross Your boys are going down, Danny. I can't stop it anymore.
Scenes with Capt. Jack Ross
9 scenes
Why did Markinson go U.A.?
Ross We'll never know.
You don't think I can subpoena Markinson?
Ross You can try, but you won't find him. You know what Markinson did the first seventeen of his twenty-six years in the Corps? Counterintelligence. Markinson's gone. There is no Markinson.
...
Ross Look, Danny, Jessep's star is on the rise. Division will give me a lot of room on this one to spare Jessep and the Corps any embarrassment.
How much room?
Ross I'll knock it down to Involuntary Manslaughter--two years. They're home in six months.
No deal. We're going to court.
Ross No, you're not.
Why not?
Ross Because Danny knows that even though he's got me by the balls out here, in a courtroom, he loses this case.
Bailiff
All rise.
Ross Too late.
Ross I have here the Marine Corps Outline for Recruit Training. I'd like you to turn to the chapter on "code reds".
Well, you see, sir, "code red" is a term we use, just down in Gitmo--
Ross Oh, then, we're in luck. Marching Orders/Standard Operating Procedure, Rifle Security Company, Guatanamo Bay, Cuba. I'm sure we'll find it in there.
You won't find it in there, either, sir.
Ross Cpl. Barnes, I'm a Marine. You mean to tell me there's no manual, no set of instructions that tells me, as a Marine, one of my duties is to perform "code reds?"
No, sir. No book, sir.
Ross No further questions.
[As Ross returns to his seat, Kaffee gets up and snatches the Rifle Company SOP out of his hand]
Cpl. Barnes, turn to the page in this book that tells me how to get to the mess hall.
Lt. Kaffee, that's not in the book, sir.
You mean the whole time you've been at Gitmo, you've never had a meal?
No, sir. Three squares a day, sir.
Then how did you find the mess hall if it wasn't in this book?
Well, sir, like everybody else, I just followed the crowd at chow time, sir.
No further questions.
Colonel, when you learned of Santiago's letter to the NIS, you had a meeting with your senior officers, is that right?
Yes.
The Platoon Commander Lt. Jonathan Kendrick, and the executive officer, Lt. Colonel Matthew Markinson
Yes.
And, at present, Colonel Markinson is dead, is that right?
Ross Object! I would like to know exactly what the defense council is implying.
I'm implying simply that, at present, Colonel Markinson is not alive.
Ross Surely, Colonel Jessep doesn't need to appear in court to confirm that information.
I just wasn't sure if the witness was aware that 2 nights ago Colonel Markinson took his own life with a .45-caliber pistol.
The witness is aware, the court is aware, and now the court members are aware. We thank you for bringing this to our attention. Move on, Lieutenant.
These are phone records from Gitmo for September the 6th, and these are 14 letters that Santiago wrote, in 9 months, requesting, in fact begging, for a transfer. Upon hearing the news that he was FINALLY getting his transfer, Santiago was so excited that do you know how many people he called? Zero. Nobody. Not one call to his parents saying he was coming home. Not one call to a friend saying "Can you pick me up at the airport?". He was asleep in his bed at midnight, and according to you, he was getting on a plane in 6 hours. Yet everything he owned was hanging neatly in his closet, and folded neatly in his footlocker. You were leaving for one day, you packed a bag and made three phone calls. Santiago was leaving for the rest of his life, and he hadn't called a soul, and he hadn't packed a thing. Can you explain that? The fact is there was no transfer order, Santiago wasn't going anywhere, isn't that right Colonel?
Ross Object! Your honor, it is obvious that Lt. Kaffee's intentions this afternoon are to smear a high ranking Marine officer with the hopes that the mere appearance of impropriety will win him points with the court members. Now, it is my recommendation that Lt. Kaffee be reprimanded for his conduct and that this witness be excused with this court's deepest apologies.
Judge Randolph Overruled.
Ross Your honor--
Judge Randolph Your objection is noted.
Colonel? [Jessep chuckles] Is this funny, sir?
No, it's not. It's tragic.
Do you have an answer?
Absolutely. My answer is I don't have the first damn clue. Maybe he was an early riser and liked to pack in the morning. And maybe he didn't have any friends. I'm an educated man, but I'm afraid I can't speak intelligently about the travel habits of William Santiago. What I do know is that he was set to leave the base at 0600. Now, are these really the questions I was called here to answer? Phone calls and foot lockers? Please tell me you have something more, Lieutenant. These two marines are on trial for their lives. Please tell me that their lawyer hasn't pinned their hopes to a phone bill. [Kaffee hesitates, dumbfounded] Do you have any other questions for me, Counselor?
Judge Randolph Lt. Kaffee? Lt.! Do you have anything further for this witness?
Excuse Me! I didn't dismiss you.
I beg your pardon?
'm not finished my examination. Sit down.
Colonel.
What's that?
I'd appreciate it if he would address me as "Colonel" or "Sir". I believe I've earned it.
Judge Randolph Defense Counsel will refer to the witness as "Colonel" or "Sir."
I don't know what the hell kind of unit you're running here.
Judge Randolph And you will refer to this court as "Your Honor" or "Judge", and I'm quite certain I've earned it. Take your seat, Colonel.
What do you want to discuss now, my favorite color?
Colonel, I have just one more question before I call Airman O'Malley and Airman Rodriguez. If you gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched, and your orders are always followed, then why would Santiago be in danger? Why would it be necessary to transfer him off the base?
Santiago was a substandard Marine. He was being transferred because--
That is not what you said, you said he was being transferred because he was in grave danger.
That's correct.
You said he was in danger, I said "grave danger?" You said "is there another kind?"--
I recall what I said--
I can have the court reporter read back to you--
I know what I said! I don't have to have it read back to me like I'm--!
Then why the two orders? Colonel?
Sometimes men take matters into their own hands.
No, Sir. You made it clear a moment ago that your men never take matters in to their own hands. Your men follow orders or people die. So Santiago shouldn't have been in any danger at all, should he have, Colonel?
You snotty little bastard.
Ross Your Honor, I'd like to ask for a recess!
I'd like an answer to the question, Judge.
The court will wait for an answer.
If Lt. Kendrick gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched, then why did he have to be transferred? Colonel? Lt. Kendrick ordered the Code Red, didn't he, because that's what you told Lt. Kendrick to do!
Ross Object!
And when it went bad, you cut these guys loose!
Lt. Kaffee!
You got Markinson to sign a phony transfer order! You doctored the log books!
Ross Dammit, Kaffee!
You coerced the doctor!
Consider yourself in contempt!
Colonel Jessep, did you order the code red?!
You don't have to answer that question!
I'll answer the question. You want answers?
I think I'm entitled.
You want answers?!
I want the truth!
You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You?! You, Lieutenant Weinberg?! I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives! You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall! You need me on that wall! We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline! I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said, "Thank you," and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!
Did you order the Code Red?
I did the job I was sent to do--
Did you order the Code Red?!
You're god damn right I did!!
The court members will retire to an anteroom until further instructed.
MP All rise!
What is this? I did my job, I'd do it again. I'm gonna get in a plane and go back to my base.
You're not going anywhere, Colonel. MP's, guard the Colonel.
MP Yes, sir!
Captain Ross.
Ross Colonel Jessep, you have the right to remain silent--
What is this? I'm being charged with a crime? Is that what this is? I'm being charged with a crime?! This is funny. That's what this is. This is-- [leaps towards Kaffee, MP's restrain him] I'm gonna rip the eyes out of your head and piss into your dead skull! You **** with the wrong Marine!
Ross Colonel Jessep, do you understand these rights as I have just read them to you?
You ****in' people. You have no idea how to defend a nation. All you did was weaken a country today, Kaffee. That's all you did. You put people's lives in danger. Sweet dreams, son.
Don't call me son. I'm a lawyer and an officer in the United States Navy. And you're under arrest, you son of a bitch. The witness is excused.
Ross Airmen Cecil O'Malley and Anthony Rodriguez, what exactly were these guys going to testify to?
Unless 'm mistaken, they were going to testify under oath that they had absolutely no recollection of anything.
Ross Strong witnesses.
And handsome too, dontcha think?
Ross I'll see you around campus. I gotta go arrest Kendrick.
Tell him I say hi.
Ross Will do.
Capt. Ross You have proof?
I have the defendants.
Capt. Ross And I have 23 Marines and a lieutenant with four letters of commendation.
Why did Markinson go U.A.?
Capt. Ross We'll never know.
Wait, I can't subpoena Markinson?
Capt. Ross You can try, but you won't find him. You know what Markinson did for 17 years? Counterintelligence. Markinson's gone. There is no Markinson.
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