A woman Marine recruit dies under suspicious circ*mstances during boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. Harm investigates while Meg checks out basic training from a different viewpoint -- while undercover as a recruit. Harm soon begins to distrust the official appraisal of the death as an accident. Both Harm and Meg accumulate evidence, and Meg survives threats and attempts against her life and limb. The two of them together assemble the pieces of the truth.
♪ [bugle blowing]
[can clanging]
(Carrington) GET ON OUT, RECRUITS!
BAIL OUT AND WAG THOSE TAILS!
I DON'T CARE IF YOU WERE
DREAMIN' OF PRINCE CHARMIN'.
IT IS 0500 AND ALL
YOU'VE GOT IS ME,
140 POUNDS OF TICKED-OFF
DRILL INSTRUCTOR
LOOKIN' TO KICK
SOME PRISSY BUTT!
I WANT THOSE RACKS TIGHT
AND THIS AREA SQUARED AWAY.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?
(recruits) MA'AM, YES, MA'AM!
READY, MOVE!
[sighing]
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM
WITH PRIVATE WHITLEY?
SERGEANT GONZALES.
ARE YOU TAKING PERSONAL TIME
THIS MORNING, PRIVATE WHITLEY?
MA'AM, NO, MA'AM!
THE PRIVATE MEANS YES, MA'AM!
MAKE UP YOUR MIND,
PRIVATE. WHICH ONE IS IT?
MA'AM, WHICH ONE WHAT, MA'AM?
IS IT, "YES, MA'AM" OR "NO,
MA'AM," PRIVATE WHITLEY?
WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER?
MA'AM, COULD YOU REPEAT
THE QUESTION, MA'AM?
(Carrington) THE QUESTION IS,
DO YOU REALIZE THAT THIS IS
PARRIS ISLAND, NOT HILTON HEAD?
PRIVATE WHITLEY, YOU HAVE EXACTLY
30 SECONDS TO MAKE THAT RACK SO TIGHT
I CAN BOUNCE A QUARTER OFF IT,
OR I WILL BOUNCE YOUR HEAD
OFF THE SIDE OF THIS BULKHEAD.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME, OR DO I
NEED TO TRANSLATE THIS INTO IDIOT?
(Whitley) MA'AM, NO, MA'AM!
(Gonzales) MOVE IT!
PRIVATE JOHNSON!
IS SOMETHING AMUSING YOU?
MA'AM, NO, MA'AM!
THEN I SUGGEST
YOU WIPE THAT SMILE
FROM YOUR PATHETIC EXCUSE
FOR A FACE OR I WILL DO IT FOR YOU.
MA'AM, YES, MA'AM.
AS YOU WERE.
WHAT A SURPRISE.
SERGEANT,
SHULER'S MISSING.
DOES ANYONE KNOW
WHERE PRIVATE SHULER IS?
(all) MA'AM, NO, MA'AM.
PRIVATE JOHNSON, OVER HERE.
MA'AM, PRIVATE
JOHNSON REPORTING TO
THE DRILL INSTRUCTOR
AS ORDERED, MA'AM.
CHECK THE HEAD. YES, MA'AM.
I WILL HAVE PRIVATE SHULER
FIELD-DAYING THAT HEAD
UNTIL IT'S SHININ' SO BRIGHT
I CAN SEE MY SMILIN' FACE.
MA'AM, PRIVATE SHULER
IS NOT IN THE HEAD, MA'AM.
CARRY ON.
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THE
PENALTY FOR GOING AWOL IS?
PRIVATE WHITLEY.
MA'AM, YES, MA'AM!
GOING AWOL IS A
COURT-MARTIAL OFFENSE, MA'AM.
GET OUTTA HERE!
WHEN I FIND SHULER, A
COURT-MARTIAL IS THE LAST THING
SHE'S GONNA HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.
[sighing]
(Gonzalez) STAFF SERGEANT.
(Carrington) SHULER.
(Gonzales) OH, MY GOD!
[panting]
(Lindsey) THE STATE
DEPARTMENT IS NOT HAPPY
WITH YOUR HANDLING OF
THE CAG'S COURT-MARTIAL.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND
HOW THE DEFENDING COUNSEL
WOUND UP PARACHUTING INTO BOSNIA.
THE BOSNIA RESCUE WAS AN
INTEGRAL PART OF OUR DEFENSE, SIR.
THAT'S WHAT I TOLD 'EM,
THAT OCCASIONALLY
CIRc*msTANCES DICTATE
THAT WE HAVE TO ACT
BEYOND THE COURTROOM.
WELL PUT, SIR.
THEN STATE WANTED TO LOOK AT
YOUR CASES FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
AND WANTED TO KNOW IF
STAGING JAILBREAKS IN IRAQ,
FLYING MISSIONS IN F-14s,
AND RECOVERING
STOLEN NUCLEAR WEAPONS
QUALIFY AS "OCCASIONALLY."
WELL, THEY SAY THE
NAVY IS NOT JUST A JOB,
IT'S AN ADVENTURE.
I TOLD THEM THAT IF THEY
DIDN'T TELL ME HOW TO RUN JAG,
I WOULDN'T TELL THEM
HOW TO RUN STATE.
REALLY, SIR?
I COULDN'T BELIEVE I SAID
IT EITHER, LIEUTENANT.
BUT STILL,
A ROUTINE ASSIGNMENT WOULDN'T BE
SUCH A BAD IDEA FOR YOU, COMMANDER.
3 DAYS AGO, A FEMALE RECRUIT
HALFWAY THROUGH BOOT CAMP
WAS FOUND HANGING DEAD
FROM A RAPELLING TOWER.
ACCIDENTAL DEATH, SIR?
THAT'S WHAT THE PROVOST MARSHALL
ON PARRIS ISLAND CONCLUDED.
THEN THE RECRUIT'S PARENTS RECEIVED AN
ANONYMOUS LETTER SAYING SHE WAS MURDERED.
ANY IDEA WHO SENT IT, SIR?
PROBABLY ONE OF THE RECRUITS.
THE LETTER ALSO STATED THAT
ONE OF THEIR DRILL INSTRUCTORS
WAS MISSING THAT NIGHT.
IT COULD BE FROM A
DISGRUNTLED RECRUIT
WHO WANTED TO EXPLOIT THE
DEATH, GET THE D.I.s TO EASE OFF.
THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF FEMALE
DRILL INSTRUCTORS PUSHING TOO HARD.
MEG, COMPLAINTS FROM
RECRUITS WHO COULDN'T HACK BOOT
ARE AS OLD AS THE NAVY ITSELF.
COMMANDER, YOU LEAVE
FOR PARRIS ISLAND ON FRIDAY.
WHAT ABOUT ME, SIR?
YOU'LL BE APPROACHING
THE INVESTIGATION
FROM A DIFFERENT
ANGLE, LIEUTENANT.
(Cline) ABOUT 20% OF WOMEN
RECRUITS CAN'T CUT IT.
SHULER KNEW SHE'D BE DROPPED
IF SHE COULDN'T PASS
THE RAPELLING TOWER.
SO SHE SNUCK OUT TO PRACTICE ON
HER OWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
WHICH D.I.s WERE
ON DUTY THAT NIGHT?
ONE OF THE DRILL INSTRUCTORS
WAS ON EMERGENCY LEAVE,
SO THERE WERE ONLY TWO.
SENIOR DRILL INSTRUCTOR
STAFF SERGEANT CARRINGTON
AND SERGEANT GONZALES.
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THEM?
ALL THIS IS IN MY
REPORT, COMMANDER.
WELL, YOUR PERSONAL
IMPRESSIONS AREN'T, MAJOR.
STAFF SERGEANT CARRINGTON
IS MARRIED TO THE CORPS.
HAS 15 YEARS IN.
SHE'S TOUGH, BUT
FAIR. GOES BY THE BOOK.
SERGEANT GONZALES?
SHE'S DIFFERENT,
BUT JUST AS SOLID.
SHE HAD 2 TOURS AS A D.I.
SHE'S APPLIED FOR THE ENLISTED
COMMISSIONING PROGRAM.
SHE'S SMART, DEDICATED.
SHE'LL PROBABLY GET SELECTED.
[leader sounding-off]
ANYTHING UNUSUAL
ABOUT EITHER OF THEM?
TROUBLE IN THE PAST, OFFICIAL
COUNSELING, REPRIMANDS FILED?
NO, COMMANDER.
CAN THE D.I.s CORROBORATE EACH
OTHER'S WHEREABOUTS THAT NIGHT?
THEY WERE ASLEEP IN THE DUTY
HUT AT THE END OF THE SQUAD BAY.
SINCE WHEN ARE THE
D.I.s SUSPECT IN THIS?
I DIDN'T SAY THEY WERE, MAJOR.
I'M GOING TO BE BLUNT,
COMMANDER RABB.
I KNOW YOUR REPUTATION.
YOU'RE A HEAVY-HITTER.
IF JAG SENT YOU DOWN HERE,
THEN THEY MUST BELIEVE THERE'S MORE
TO THIS THAN I CONCLUDED IN MY REPORT.
I CAN ASSURE YOU, MAJOR, NOTHING
COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
PICK 'EM UP AND PUT 'EM DOWN!
(all) PICK 'EM UP
AND PUT 'EM DOWN!
PARRIS ISLAND'S MY HOMETOWN!
PARRIS ISLAND'S MY HOMETOWN!
1,2,3,4.
1,2,3,4.
I LOVE THE MARINE CORPS!
I LOVE THE MARINE CORPS!
5,6,7,8.5,6,7,8.
SISSIES AND WIMPS
ARE WHAT I HATE!
SISSIES AND WIMPS
ARE WHAT I HATE!
MOVE IT!
IF YOU DO NOT START
LOOKING LIKE WARRIORS,
I WILL RECYCLE YOU
TO ANOTHER PLATOON,
AND YOU WILL RESTART
BOOT ALL OVER AGAIN
FROM THE BEGINNING!
YOU MUST SATISFY ME OR YOU
WILL NEVER LEAVE THIS ISLAND.
AND DON'T GET ANY BRIGHT IDEAS
BECAUSE WE HAVE A SWAMP SO DEEP,
IT'LL TAKE YOU DOWN
QUICKER THAN YOUR BOYFRIEND.
IF MY MAN'S OUT THERE, AIN'T
NO SWAMP GONNA STOP ME.
I AM YOUR ONLY WAY
OUT! YOU ARE PATHETIC!
YOU ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT
TO THE CORPS!
OH, YOU'RE GONNA MAKE
ME PUKE MY BREAKFAST.
I'D PAY TO SEE THAT.
[recruit snickers]
EVERYBODY, HOP, MOP, STOP!
WHAT'S SO FUNNY,
PRIVATE MACINTYRE?
MA'AM, NOTHING, MA'AM.
ARE YOU SAYIN' THAT I'M
A LIAR? MA'AM, NO, MA'AM.
THAT I AM HARD OF
HEARING? MA'AM, NO, MA'AM.
I DO NOT LIKE SICKBAY
COMMANDOS, PRIVATE MACINTYRE!
YOU THINK BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T
FINISH BOOT WITH YOUR FIRST PLATOON,
THAT NOW YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE A FREE PASS AT MY EXPENSE?
MA'AM, NO, MA'AM.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD
HAPPEN, PRIVATE MACINTYRE,
IF I WERE TO BEAT YOU WITHIN
AN INCH OF YOUR LIFE RIGHT HERE?
MA'AM, NO, MA'AM. NOTHING!
YOU WOULD BE A BLIP
ON THE RADAR SCREEN!
BUT I AM NOT GONNA DO
THAT, PRIVATE MACINTYRE!
WHAT I AM GOING TO DO IS
MAKE THIS ENTIRE PLATOON
RUN AN ADDITIONAL 2 MILES!
IF I CAN'T KEEP YOU
QUIET, THEY WILL!
DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?
(all) MA'AM, YES, MA'AM.
DOUBLE-TIME. HUT!
LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT. LEFT,
RIGHT, LEFT. LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT.
LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT.
[birds chirping]
SO PRIVATE SHULER
PRACTICING BY HERSELF
FELL AND GOT HER HEAD
CAUGHT IN THE ROPES.
SIMPLE AS THAT.
YOU EVER SEEN IT HAPPEN BEFORE?
WELL, I'VE SEEN 'EM
LET GO AND FREEFALL.
I'VE SEEN 'EM LOSE
THEIR FOOTING,
SMACK INTO THE TOWER FACE FIRST.
BUT NEVER ANYONE ACTUALLY
HANGING THEMSELVES.
NO.
COMMANDER, I HAVE A
STAFF MEETING IN 15 MINUTES.
ON RAPPEL!
MAJOR CLINE? YES, COMMANDER?
PUT YOUR HAND
BETWEEN THESE LINES.
WHAT'S YOUR POINT?
WELL, IF YOU HAVE A HARD
TIME GETTING YOUR HAND IN,
HOW DID PRIVATE
SHULER GET HER HEAD IN?
YOU KNOW, SHULER COULD HAVE GOTTEN
THE LINES TANGLED AROUND HER NECK
BEFORE SHE JUMPED OFF.
KIND OF HARD TO DO ACCIDENTALLY.
WHAT IF IT WASN'T AN ACCIDENT?
WHAT IF SHE DID IT ON PURPOSE?
KIND OF A BIZARRE
WAY TO COMMIT SUICIDE.
LAST YEAR WE HAD A RECRUIT
WHO TRIED TO KILL HIMSELF
BY RUNNING INTO A BRICK
WALL OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
WHY DIDN'T YOU INCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY
OF SUICIDE IN YOUR REPORT, MAJOR?
FOR HER FAMILY'S
SAKE, COMMANDER.
BESIDES, I DON'T
THINK IT WAS A SUICIDE.
NEITHER DO YOU.
NO, SIR. I DON'T.
I THINK IT WAS MURDER.
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER RABB,
THIS IS SERGEANT GONZALES.
AT EASE, SERGEANT.
YOU WERE ON DUTY THE NIGHT
PRIVATE SHULER DIED? YES, SIR.
SERGEANT CARRINGTON AND I
WERE IN THE DUTY HUT SLEEPING, SIR.
WHICH IS WHY YOU DIDN'T HEAR
PRIVATE SHULER LEAVE THE SQUAD BAY.
YES, SIR.
NONE OF THE RECRUITS ON FIREWATCH
THAT NIGHT SAW HER LEAVE EITHER.
THE SQUAD BAY'S
DARK AT NIGHT, SIR.
YOU CAN'T SEE FROM
ONE END TO THE OTHER.
BUT IF SHULER WERE QUIET, SHE COULD
HAVE SLIPPED OUT THE BACK HATCH?
YES, SIR. WHERE WERE YOU STANDING
WHEN YOU FIRST SAW THE BODY?
THIS WAY, SIR.
[recruits sounding-off]
RIGHT HERE, SIR. I ALERTED
SERGEANT CARRINGTON.
WHAT DID SHE DO?
NOTHING, SIR. SHE
JUST SAID, "SHULER."
BUT THAT TOWER'S TOO
FAR TO SEE WHO IT WAS.
WELL, SHULER WAS MISSING, SIR.
SO WE JUST ASSUMED IT WAS HER.
WHAT DID YOU AND SERGEANT
CARRINGTON DO AFTER THAT?
WE RAN OUT AND
GOT HER DOWN, SIR.
BUT ISN'T IT PROPER PROCEDURE TO
CALL THE PROVOST MARSHALL FIRST?
WELL, THERE WAS A CHANCE
SHE WASN'T DEAD, SIR.
BUT SHE WAS.
YES, SIR. THANK YOU, SERGEANT.
YOU HAVE SOMETHING
TO ADD, SERGEANT?
(Gonzales) SIR, GIVEN
THE CIRc*msTANCES,
I THINK IT WAS NATURAL FOR SERGEANT
CARRINGTON TO ASSUME IT WAS SHULER, SIR.
I AGREE.
AS YOU WERE, SERGEANT.
OBVIOUSLY YOU DON'T.
NO, NO, I... NO, I DO.
I'M JUST WONDERING
WHY SHE FELT SHE HAD
TO MAKE A POINT OF IT.
(Carrington) KEEP THE
LINE MOVIN', PRIVATES.
I CAN'T BELIEVE I HEAR SOMEBODY'S
VOICE IN THIS CHOW HALL.
I KNOW NOBODY'S TALKIN'.
I OWE YOU FOR NOT RATTING
ME OUT TO CARRINGTON.
IT'S NO PROBLEM.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
VIRGINIA. FALLS CHURCH.
I HAD A COUSIN FROM THERE.
DO YOU KNOW SALLY WILLEBY?
UH, NO. SO, UM,
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
PHILADELPHIA. HALF THE
PLATOON'S FROM THERE.
HOW'D YOU END UP ON A
MEDICAL RECYCLE? PNEUMONIA.
THEY PUT ME IN THE
HOSPITAL FOR A MONTH,
NOW I GET TO FINISH
WITH YOU GUYS.
YOU SURE IT ISN'T BAD LUCK?
CARRINGTON AND
GONZALEZ CAN'T BE THAT BAD.
[scoffs] CARRINGTON IS.
DID SHE HAVE IT IN FOR
THE PRIVATE I REPLACED?
YOU HEARD ABOUT SHULER.
YEAH. I HEARD IT
WAS AN ACCIDENT.
MMM-HMM.
YOU THINK IT WAS SOMETHIN' ELSE?
YO, BLONDIE.
THE NEXT TIME YOU SCREW UP,
YOU AND I ARE GONNA
HAVE A LITTLE NIGHT VISIT.
LEAVE HER ALONE.
YOU WANT SOME OF ME?
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
ARE YOU STRAIGHT?
UH-HUH. ARE YOU?
BREAK IT UP, RECRUITS!
WHAT WAS THAT? JOHNSON.
SHE'S FROM SOUTH PHILLY.
IN CASE YOU COULDN'T TELL.
(Carrington) THIS IS PATHETIC!
I'VE SEEN MORE IMPRESSIVE PIECES
OF HUMAN WASTE FLOATING IN
MY TOILET BOWL THIS MORNIN'.
NOT ONE OF YOU HAS SHOWN ME
YOU HAVE ONE-TENTH OF
WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A MARINE.
MOVE IT! MOVE IT! MOVE IT!
(Gonzales) KEEP THOSE
BUTTS DOWN! COME ON!
MOVE IT! MOVE IT!
KEEP THAT BUTT DOWN!
(Carrington) GET GOING, LADIES!
[grunting]
(Gonzales) WHAT ARE YOU
WAITING FOR? COME ON!
LET'S MOVE IT! I DON'T
SEE THEM! LET'S GO!
JOB WELL DONE, PRIVATE JOHNSON.
YOU ARE WELL ON YOUR WAY.
MA'AM, YES, MA'AM.
A MARINE PUTS THE
CORPS ABOVE HERSELF.
IT IS "GOD, COUNTRY, CORPS!"
NOW GET YOUR SELFISH ASS BACK INTO
THAT PIT AND HELP OUT YOUR FELLOW RECRUIT!
MA'AM, YES, MA'AM.
[groaning]
(Gonzales) MOVE!
LET'S GO! LET'S GO!
[Gonzales shouting]
[grunting]
YOU'RE ONE SAD RECRUIT!
(Gonzales) MOVE, MOVE, COME ON!
I'D BETTER NOT SEE ANY
RECRUITS FALL OFF THESE BARS!
COME ON!
YOU WILL NOT FALL OFF
MY MARINE CORPS BARS!
HURRY UP! HURRY
UP! LET'S MOVE IT!
COME ON, YOU BUNCH OF SISSIES!
[grunts]
[recruits clamoring]
COME ON. COME ON, MOVE, MOVE!
[groaning]
[whistle blowing]
ON YOUR FEET, PRIVATE!
I SAID ON YOUR DAMN FEET!
MA'AM, SHE'S TRYING, MA'AM!
EXCUSE ME, PRIVATE?
MA'AM, SHE'S DEHYDRATED!
SHE NEEDS WATER, MA'AM!
PRIVATE MACINTYRE, TAKE THAT
CANTEEN AWAY FROM PRIVATE WHITLEY.
POUR IT OUT! MA'AM, YES, MA'AM.
WHITLEY, MOVE OUT!
PRIVATE MACINTYRE, DO YOU THINK
THAT YOU KNOW BETTER THAN ME
WHAT'S RIGHT FOR MY RECRUITS?
MA'AM, NO, MA'AM.
DO YOU THINK THAT I HAVE
SOMEHOW STOPPED PAYING ATTENTION?
MA'AM, NO, MA'AM.
THAT IS FORTUNATE, BECAUSE A
MARINE SHOULD ALWAYS BE ALERT.
I WILL DEMONSTRATE WHY!
IF I WERE NOT PAYING ATTENTION,
I MIGHT NOT NOTICE
THAT ONE OF MY RECRUITS
WAS OUT SLOPPIN'
AROUND LIKE A PIG!
ISN'T THAT RIGHT,
PRIVATE MACINTYRE?
MA'AM, YES, MA'AM.
ON YOUR FACE AND GIVE ME 20!
YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA
GET YOUR NAILS DONE,
AND GET A MASSAGE AND
PICK UP YOUR STRIPES.
WELL, THERE IS A PROBLEM
WITH THAT PLAN, PRIVATE,
[grunts] AND THE PROBLEM IS ME!
DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?
[panting] YES, MA'AM.
I CAN'T HEAR YOU!
MA'AM, YES, MA'AM. I
STILL CAN'T HEAR YOU!
(Meg) MA'AM, YES, MA'AM.
STAFF SERGEANT CARRINGTON,
BRING YOUR PLATOON IN.
AYE, AYE, SIR.
PLATOON, FALL IN TO THE
ROAD. ON YOUR FEET, PRIVATE!
YOU ARE FOLLOWING IN
PRIVATE SHULER'S FOOTSTEPS.
SO YOU WILL PICK UP WHERE SHE
LEFT OFF. FIELD-DAYING THE HEAD.
MA'AM, YES, MA'AM.
(Harm) AT EASE, STAFF SERGEANT.
HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE PRIVATE SHULER'S
PERFORMANCE, STAFF SERGEANT CARRINGTON?
POOR TO UNACCEPTABLE, SIR.
BUT YOU HADN'T DROPPED HER YET.
I GIVE THE RECRUITS EVERY OPPORTUNITY
TO PROVE THEY CAN BE MARINES.
TO ME AND THEMSELVES.
IN YOUR OPINION,
SHULER WAS NOT
MARINE CORPS CALIBER.
NO, SIR. NOT IN MY OPINION.
AND YOU CONSIDERED IT
YOUR JOB TO PROVE THAT.
IT'S MY JOB TO WEED OUT THE
RECRUITS WHO DON'T HAVE IT.
AND MAKE THE REST MARINES.
[chuckling] I SAW YOUR WORK
ON THE OBSTACLE COURSE.
YOU DON'T GO EASY ON 'EM.
IF THE CORPS ACCEPTS
LESS FROM WOMEN,
THAT'S WHAT THE CORPS WILL GET.
WELL, WHAT THE CORPS HAS NOW
IS A RECRUIT ON HER WAY
BACK TO HER PARENTS IN A BOX.
NO RECRUIT IS ALLOWED OR
ENCOURAGED TO WORK-OUT ON THEIR OWN.
IT WAS A STUPID MISTAKE.
NOT ONE THAT ANY OTHER
RECRUIT WILL REPEAT.
NOW YOU DON'T SOUND
TOO BROKEN UP ABOUT IT.
WE CAN'T ALLOW OURSELVES TO GET
EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED TO THE PRIVATES, SIR!
OR YOU COULDN'T BREAK THEM DOWN?
WE BREAK THEM DOWN TO BUILD
THEM BACK UP AS MARINES, SIR.
YOU UNDERSTAND THESE
ARE NECESSARY QUESTIONS.
YES, SIR!
IT MUST BE HARD TO KNOW
EXACTLY HOW HARD TO PUSH,
WHAT THE LIMIT IS.
THE HARDEST PART
OF THE JOB, SIR.
LIKE WALKING A
TIGHTROPE. YES, SIR.
WHAT DOES A D.I. DO
WHEN, BY ACCIDENT, SOMEONE
FALLS OFF THE TIGHT ROPE?
IT'S UNLIKELY, SIR. THERE
ARE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE.
BUT ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN,
DON'T THEY, STAFF SERGEANT?
YES, SIR.
SO IF A RECRUIT WERE TO DIE
UNDER THESE CIRc*msTANCES,
YOU AGREE THE D.I.
SHOULD COME FORWARD
AND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT
THE DEATH WAS AN ACCIDENT.
YES, SIR.
BECAUSE IF SHE CAME
FORWARD TOO LATE,
THE CHARGE WOULD BE MURDER.
AND THERE WOULD BE
NOTHING I COULD DO TO HELP.
UNDERSTOOD, STAFF
SERGEANT? UNDERSTOOD, SIR.
SO TELL ME, STAFF
SERGEANT. CAN I HELP YOU?
YES, SIR.
[recruits sounding-off]
YOU CAN LET ME GET
BACK TO MY PLATOON, SIR.
VERY WELL, STAFF
SERGEANT. DISMISSED.
AYE, AYE, SIR.
[door opening]
[door closing]
20 MINUTES OF FREE TIME LEFT!
(man #1 on T.V.) I THOUGHT I
GAVE YOU ORDERS NOT TO USE...
[sighing]
(man #2 on T.V.) YES, SIR.
YOU KILLED THAT SAND
FLEA, DIDN'T YOU? YES, SIR.
YOU MURDERED IT,
DIDN'T YOU? YES, SIR.
YOU MURDERED THAT
POOR LITTLE OLD SAND FLEA
AFTER I TOLD YOU TO LET
IT EAT ALL IT WANTED TO,
DIDN'T YOU? YES, SIR.
AND IF WE'D BEEN IN
COMBAT YESTERDAY
YOU WOULD HAVE GIVEN
AWAY THE WHOLE PLATOON.
AND WE'D ALL BE DEAD JUST
BECAUSE OF YOU, WOULDN'T WE?
YES, SIR.
I LOVE THIS PART.
I'M SORRY... SORRY?
A DEAD MARINE IS
NEVER SORRY, OWENS.
A DEAD MARINE IS JUST DEAD.
YOU PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
TRAINING ALL DAY AND YOU THINK...
[crickets chirping]
[door opening]
[footsteps echoing]
YO, BLONDIE!
OOPS. BETTER GO
BACK OVER THIS PART.
CLEAN IT UP.
IN YOUR DREAMS, BLONDIE!
BITCH!
[both grunting]
(Gonzales) KNOCK IT OFF!
PRIVATE MACINTYRE, GET
DOWN AND CLEAN THIS MESS UP.
MA'AM, YES, MA'AM.
PRIVATE JOHNSON, GET
DOWN AND HELP HER!
MA'AM, YES, MA'AM.
PRIVATE MACINTYRE, YOU'LL GET
YOUR FREE TIME PRIVILEGES
BACK WHEN YOU FINISH!
MA'AM, THANK YOU, MA'AM.
PRIVATE JOHNSON,
YOU JUST LOST YOURS
FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.
MA'AM, YES, MA'AM.
YOU'RE DEAD, BITCH!
(Harm) DO YOU THINK THE
D.I.s WERE ESPECIALLY HARD
ON PRIVATE SHULER?
(Johnson) NO, SIR.
FIRST TIME I SAW SHULER, I
KNEW SHE DIDN'T BELONG HERE.
SHE WAS DRAGGIN' THE
WHOLE PLATOON DOWN!
(Harm) ANYTHING ELSE
YOU'D LIKE TO ADD, PRIVATE?
SIR, SHULER SAID SHE GAVE
UP COLLEGE TO COME HERE.
BAD IDEA, SIR.
THANK YOU, PRIVATE.
THAT'LL BE ALL. DISMISSED.
AYE, AYE, SIR!
(Harm) NEXT RECRUIT!
SIR, PRIVATE MACINTYRE
REPORTING AS ORDERED, SIR.
CLOSE THE HATCH
BEHIND YOU, PRIVATE.
I'M FINE. I CAN SEE THAT.
AND, UH, ACCORDING TO
THE REST OF THE PLATOON,
SO ARE CARRINGTON AND GONZALES.
YOU'RE AN OUTSIDER. THEY'RE
NOT GONNA TELL YOU ANYTHING.
HOW ABOUT YOU, THE INSIDER?
CARRINGTON REALLY
HAD IT IN FOR SHULER.
SHE SPENT HALF HER TIME
FIELD-DAYING THE HEAD.
AND I FOUND THIS
THERE LAST NIGHT.
HER FAMILY SENT IT
FROM THE LOCAL PAPER.
SHE MUST HAVE HIDDEN
IT UNDER THE LOOSE TILE.
WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT?
MAYBE SHE WAS AFRAID
CARRINGTON WOULD RIDE HER ABOUT IT
IF SHE FOUND IT.
HARM, IF SHULER WAS MURDERED,
THAT D.I.'S MY PRIME SUSPECT.
THIS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH WHAT I SAW ON THE
OBSTACLE COURSE THIS MORNING?
NO! CARRINGTON IS OVER THE EDGE.
SHE'S BEEN TARGETING SHULER
MAKING AN EXAMPLE OF HER.
SHE WAKES SHULER UP
AND GETS HER OUT ON THE
RAPELLING TOWER TO TRAIN HER.
SHULER DOES SOMETHING TO MAKE
HER ANGRY AND CARRINGTON SNAPS.
YOU DON'T THINK IT
WAS AN ACCIDENT?
YOU DON'T GET THOSE ROPES
AROUND SOMEONE'S NECK BY ACCIDENT.
IT'S POSSIBLE CARRINGTON
WAS TRYING TO SCARE SHULER.
WELL, IT'S GONNA
BE HELL TO PROVE.
THAT'S WHY I'M ON THE INSIDE.
I'M NOT SURE YOU
STILL NEED TO BE.
I'M MAKING IT, HARM.
AND DON'T TELL ME THAT'S
NOT WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT.
YOU NEVER HAD TO GO THROUGH
RECRUIT TRAINING BEFORE.
I WENT TO OFFICER'S
CANDIDATE SCHOOL.
YEAH, WELL, YOU OUGHT TO KNOW
BY NOW IT'S NOT THE SAME THING.
AND YOU'RE STARTING
IN THE MIDDLE,
WITHOUT THE CONDITIONING
THE REST OF THE PLATOON HAS.
MEANING I DIDN'T LOOK LIKE I
COULD HANDLE IT OUT THERE.
MEANING IT WOULD BE
PERFECTLY UNDERSTANDABLE
IF YOU WANTED TO PULL OUT NOW.
CARRINGTON IS DANGEROUS AND
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
I CAN DO IT. I WANT TO STAY IN.
[sighs]
IT'S YOUR FUNERAL.
(Carrington) SCHOOL CIRCLE!
(recruits) SCHOOL
CIRCLE, AYE, AYE, MA'AM.
THIS IS A PUGIL STICK.
LIKE YOUR RIFLE,
IT CAN BE THRUST,
BACKHANDED OR FOREHANDED
INTO YOUR OPPONENT.
UNLIKE YOUR RIFLE, A BLOW
TO THE HEAD WILL NOT KILL YOU.
MATCHES ARE ONE-ON-ONE.
RECRUIT AGAINST RECRUIT.
DO I HAVE A
VOLUNTEER TO GO FIRST?
MACINTYRE.
MA'AM, YES, MA'AM.
IF YOU INSIST.
DO I HAVE A VOLUNTEER
TO GO AGAINST HER?
MA'AM, THE PRIVATE
VOLUNTEERS, MA'AM.
(Carrington) VERY GOOD, PRIVATE.
BOTH OF YOU INTO THE PIT.
THIS IS HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT.
AGAINST YOUR ENEMY IN
BATTLE. SO THERE ARE NO RULES.
YOUR ENEMY WANTS TO KILL YOU.
YOUR JOB IS TO DO IT FIRST.
FOR OUR PURPOSES, A
KILL WILL BE A HEADSHOT.
FIRST CLEAN HIT TO THE
HEAD AND THE MATCH IS OVER.
GO!
[recruits cheering]
[both grunting]
(Carrington) LET'S SEE WHAT
YOU'RE MADE OF, MARINES.
COME ON, MACINTYRE.
(Carrington) THIS IS
NOT A DANCE! HIT HER!
[both grunting]
NOT YET.
[Meg groaning]
JOHNSON'S NOT GOING FOR A
HEADSHOT. SHE'S JUST BEATING HER UP!
UH-HUH.
[all cheering]
[Johnson groaning]
[panting]
[whistle blowing]
[recruits clapping]
I WENT THROUGH EVERYTHING IN THERE
AS SOON AS THE BODY WAS DISCOVERED.
IS THIS FOOTLOCKER,
THE WAY YOU FOUND IT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
WELL, SOMEONE GOT
TO IT BEFORE YOU.
NOW, HOW DO YOU
KNOW THAT, COMMANDER?
WELL, THERE'S NO LOCK, MAJOR.
EVERY RECRUIT ON THE ISLAND HAS
A PADLOCK ON THEIR FOOTLOCKER,
OR ANYTHING OF
VALUE COULD BE STOLEN.
I'VE BEEN GOIN' OVER
SERGEANT GONZALES AND
CARRINGTON'S SERVICE RECORD BOOKS.
I DIDN'T AUTHORIZE
ACCESS TO THOSE.
NOW, MAJOR, YOU TOLD ME YOU'D DO
EVERYTHING YOU COULD TO HELP OUT.
I ASSUME THAT MEANT THE
SERGEANT'S S.R.B.s I HAD ASKED FOR.
IS THERE A PROBLEM?
NO, COMMANDER. NO PROBLEM.
I JUST HADN'T GOTTEN
AROUND TO IT YET.
NOW MAJOR, YOU TOLD ME THAT
NEITHER DRILL INSTRUCTOR HAD
ANYTHING UNUSUAL IN HER RECORD.
ALL D.I.s GET COMPLAINTS
FROM RECRUITS. YOU KNOW THAT.
MAJOR, WHY ARE YOU
PROTECTING THE D.I.s?
I'M NOT, COMMANDER.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE
THEIR CAREERS RUINED
BY A JAG LAWYER
LOOKIN' FOR HEADLINES.
NOW HAVE YOU GOT
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
BEFORE I GET BACK
TO WORK, COMMANDER?
YEAH.
COULD YOU GET ONE
OF YOUR, UH, PEOPLE TO
GET ME A COMPLETE COPY OF
THE PENN TRIBUNE FOR THIS DATE?
YEAH. I'LL HAVE
IT TAKEN CARE OF.
THANKS.
♪ [bugle blowing]
(Gonzales) KEEP THE
LINE MOVING, PRIVATES.
(Gonzales) THAT JAG OFFICER
SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY NOW.
RELAX. HE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING.
WELL, HE KNOWS THAT ONE OF
US WAS OUT OF HERE THAT NIGHT.
HOW?
A LETTER FROM ONE
OF THE RECRUITS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER.
THERE'S STILL NO
WAY HE CAN FIND OUT.
[watch alarm beeps]
LET'S GET 'EM BACK FROM CHOW.
[door opening]
[door closing]
[thunder rumbling]
WHAT AM I HOLDING?
PRIVATE WHITLEY?
MA'AM, A GAS MASK, MA'AM.
YOU ARE A GENIUS, PRIVATE.
CORRECTLY USED,
THE GAS MASK WILL PROTECT YOU
FROM THE LESS DANGEROUS GASES
CURRENTLY DEPLOYED
ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY USELESS AGAINST
NERVE GAS AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL AGENTS.
SO WHY ARE WE NOT TRAINING IN FULL
BIO-WARFARE SUITS? PRIVATE JOHNSON.
MA'AM, BECAUSE THE PRIVATES
HAVE TO LEARN TO CRAWL
BEFORE THE PRIVATES
CAN WALK, MA'AM.
THAT'S RIGHT, PRIVATE.
MANY OF THE GASES ARE
ODORLESS AND COLORLESS.
THEREFORE YOU WILL NOT KNOW
THAT YOU ARE BEING EXPOSED
UNTIL YOU BEGIN TO
NOTICE SOME SYMPTOMS.
SERGEANT, THE CANISTERS.
YOU WILL DON AND CLEAR
WHEN THE SERGEANT GIVES THE
ORDER TO DO SO AND NO SOONER.
AM I UNDERSTOOD?
(recruits) MA'AM, YES, MA'AM.
SERGEANT, THE GAS.
THE MARINE CORPS HYMN.
(all) ♪ FROM THE
HALLS OF MONTEZUMA ♪
♪ TO THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI ♪
♪ WE WILL FIGHT OUR
COUNTRY'S BATTLES ♪
♪ IN THE AIR, ON LAND, AND SEA ♪
♪ FIRST TO FIGHT FOR
RIGHT AND FREEDOM ♪
[recruits coughing] ♪ AND TO
KEEP OUR HONOR CLEAN ♪
♪ WE ARE PROUD
TO CLAIM THE TITLE ♪
♪ OF THE UNITED STATES MARINES ♪
[all coughing]
♪ HERE'S HEALTH TO
YOU AND TO OUR CORPS ♪
♪ WHICH WE ARE PROUD TO SERVE ♪
♪ IN MANY A STRIFE
WE'VE FOUGHT FOR LIFE ♪
♪ AND NEVER LOST OUR NERVE ♪
♪ IF THE ARMY AND THE NAVY ♪
♪ EVER LOOK ON HEAVEN'S SCENES ♪
♪ THEY WILL FIND THE
STREETS ARE GUARDED ♪
♪ BY UNITED STATES MARINES ♪
DON AND CLEAR!
[recruits coughing]
[heavy breathing]
[grunting]
[Meg gasping]
WHAT THE HELL ARE
YOU DOING, MACINTYRE?
CORPSMAN!
[birds chirping]
THE DOCTOR SAID,
EVERY SERIES, 1 OR 2 RECRUITS
LOSE THEIR MASK IN THAT EXERCISE.
IT WAS PULLED OFF.
SOMEBODY TRIED TO KILL ME.
MEG, INHALING
TEARGAS WON'T KILL YOU.
NO, BUT A CHOKEHOLD WOULD.
I'M PULLING YOU OUT. NO!
MEG, SOMEONE TRIED TO KILL YOU.
THEY MUST KNOW WHO
YOU ARE. NOT NECESSARILY.
I HAD A RUN-IN WITH ONE
OF THE RECRUITS. JOHNSON.
SHE SAID SHE WAS GONNA GET ME.
DO YOU THINK SHE'S
INVOLVED IN SHULER'S DEATH?
NO. I STILL THINK IT
WAS CARRINGTON.
I OVERHEARD HER WITH GONZALES.
THEY KNOW ABOUT THE LETTER.
MAJOR CLINE'S THE ONLY
ONE ON THE ISLAND WHO KNEW.
MAYBE HE'S INVOLVED WITH THEM.
[knocking at door]
(Meg) JUST A MINUTE!
[door opening]
COME IN.
THE DOC SAYS
YOU'RE FIT FOR DUTY.
SERGEANT GONZALES SENT ME TO
ESCORT YOU BACK TO THE PLATOON.
[sighing] I WAS HOPING
FOR THE NIGHT OFF.
I THOUGHT A MONTH IN SICKBAY
WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH FOR YOU.
AH, YEAH. SO DID I.
BUT THAT WAS UNTIL I MET
STAFF SERGEANT CARRINGTON.
OH, YEAH. SHE'S GOT IT IN FOR
YOU LIKE SHE DID FOR SHULER.
YOU DON'T THINK HER DEATH
WAS AN ACCIDENT, DO YOU?
THE NIGHT SHULER DIED,
I SAW ONE OF THE D.I.s COMING
BACK INTO THE SQUAD BAY
JUST BEFORE DAWN.
STAFF SERGEANT
CARRINGTON? I'M NOT SURE.
BUT WHICH EVER ONE IT WAS,
I'LL BET SHE WAS ON THE
RAPELLING TOWER WITH SHULER.
♪ [bugle blowing]
WE'D BETTER MOVE IT.
I'LL MEET YOU OUT FRONT.
OK.
[door closing]
WELL,
IT LOOKS LIKE WE FOUND
OUR LETTER WRITER.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH. YOU HAVE
TO LET ME REJOIN THE PLATOON.
ALL RIGHT. ANOTHER 24 HOURS.
BUT DON'T LET CARRINGTON AND GONZALES
GET YOU ALONE. YOU READ ME, LIEUTENANT?
FIVE BY FIVE, SIR.
[crickets chirping]
[door closing]
[door closing]
[man chattering]
I DON'T KNOW. IT'S GETTING
REALLY COMPLICATED.
LISTEN. RELAX.
[sighing] WELL, HE'S JUST...
OH, MY GOD. (Cline)
COMMANDER RABB.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH YOUR INVESTIGATION.
I FIND THAT VERY HARD
TO BELIEVE, MAJOR.
I WOULD, TOO, IN YOUR PLACE.
YOU'VE BEEN OBSTRUCTING MY
INVESTIGATION FROM THE BEGINNING.
WITHHOLDING FILES,
PASSING INFORMATION
ON TO THE D.I.s.
NOT BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO
COVER UP THE SHULER INCIDENT.
WHY? BECAUSE YOU'RE HAVING AN
AFFAIR WITH AN ENLISTED WOMAN?
NOT AN AFFAIR, COMMANDER.
WE'RE MARRIED.
MARINE CORPS POLICY PROHIBITS
FRATERNIZATION BETWEEN
OFFICER AND ENLISTED RANKS,
MUCH LESS MARRIAGE.
IT WOULD BE THE
END OF OUR CAREERS.
BUT WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU'VE
FALLEN IN LOVE AND IT'S NOT ALLOWED?
SO THAT'S WHY YOU APPLIED
FOR, UH, A COMMISSION.
IT WAS THE ONLY WAY
TO STAY IN THE CORPS, SIR.
I WOULD'VE MADE IT, TOO.
WHERE WERE YOU THE NIGHT
PRIVATE SHULER WAS KILLED?
I WAS HERE, SIR,
WITH MAJOR CLINE.
I CAN VOUCH FOR THAT.
WELL RIGHT NOW, MAJOR, YOUR
CREDIBILITY ISN'T RUNNING VERY HIGH.
I'LL DO ANYTHING.
I'LL SUBMIT AN OFFICIAL
STATEMENT, I'LL TAKE A POLYGRAPH.
SHE WAS HERE WITH ME, COMMANDER.
WELL, THEN THAT LEAVES STAFF
SERGEANT CARRINGTON WITH NO ALIBI.
I KNOW SERGEANT CARRINGTON, SIR.
SHE DIDN'T DO IT. GREAT.
MAJOR CLINE SAYS
YOU DIDN'T DO IT.
YOU SAY STAFF SERGEANT
CARRINGTON DIDN'T DO IT.
THEN WHO THE HELL DID IT?
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
IS THIS FOR ME?
I'M SORRY. UH, IT CAME
IN THIS AFTERNOON.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING
TO DO, COMMANDER?
ABOUT US? I DON'T KNOW, MAJOR.
IF YOU'RE TELLING THE TRUTH
AND I FIND THE MURDERER, MAYBE...
[creaking]
[birds cawing]
[water lapping]
JOHNSON!
JOHNSON?
[gasping]
(woman) HELP! HELP! HELP ME!
HELP!
JOHNSON, DON'T STRUGGLE,
YOU'LL JUST SINK FASTER!
WHITLEY?
LIGHTS ON!
WHAT THE HELL'S
GOIN' ON? LIGHTS ON!
PRIVATE MACINTYRE'S
RACK? OVER HERE, SIR.
STAFF SERGEANT, WHERE
IS YOUR FIREWATCH?
(Gonzales) MACINTYRE'S
NOT HERE, SIR.
PRIVATE JOHNSON, YOU WERE
SUPPOSED TO BE ON FIREWATCH!
MA'AM, THE PRIVATE WAS OUT
HAVING A CIGARETTE, MA'AM.
DID YOU SEE PRIVATE
MACINTYRE LEAVE?
SIR, THE PRIVATE SAW SOMEONE HEADING
TOWARDS THE OBSTACLE COURSE, SIR!
YOU WILL BE FIELD-DAYING
THAT HEAD TILL THE YEAR 2000!
[panting] MACINTYRE,
YOU HAVE TO HELP ME.
[gasping] IT'S...
IT'S PULLING ME IN!
(Meg) WHAT DID YOU THINK
YOU WERE DOIN' OUT HERE?
GETTING OFF THIS ISLAND.
WHY?
MACINTYRE, HELP ME, PLEASE!
WHY ARE YOU TRYING
TO GET OFF THE ISLAND?
I HEARD YOU TALKING WITH THE
JAG OFFICER IN THE HOSPITAL.
I KNOW YOU FOUND
THE CLIPPING ABOUT ME.
YOU MUST HAVE FIGURED
IT OUT LIKE SHULER DID.
[sobbing] PLEASE
HELP ME! PLEASE!
YOU KILLED HER?
I'M GONNA DIE! PLEASE!
DID YOU KILL HER?
YES. YES, I DID. PLEASE
HELP ME. PLEASE.
HANG ON.
HOLD ON.
PLEASE!
[exclaiming]
PLEASE!
[Whitley groaning]
OH! PLEASE HELP ME! PLEASE!
STRETCH YOUR ARM OUT. COME ON.
[exclaiming]
[screaming]
STRETCH YOUR ARM OUT.
COME ON. REACH FOR ME!
COME ON! REACH FOR ME!
[grunting]
I'M TRYING!
COME ON!
[groaning]
OH! YOU SAVED MY LIFE.
MACINTYRE.
SEMPER FI.
[screams]
DO OR DIE.
WHITLEY!
(Meg) WHITLEY!
GRAB HER!
MEG!
(Meg) WHITLEY!
MEG!
WHITLEY!
MEG!
GIVE ME YOUR HAND!
GIVE ME YOUR HAND!
NOW, PULL! PULL!
[groaning]
WHITLEY KILLED SHULER.
[panting] I KNOW. THAT NEWSPAPER
ARTICLE SHULER'S PARENTS SENT HER,
ON THE FLIP SIDE WAS A STORY
AND ENOUGH OF A PICTURE
THAT SHULER RECOGNIZED
WHITLEY WAS WANTED FOR MURDER.
SERGEANT GONZALES
HAS WHITLEY SECURED.
[sighs]
SO IT'S OVER?
NOT QUITE.
STAFF SERGEANT CARRINGTON,
I'D LIKE YOU TO MEET
LIEUTENANT J.G. AUSTIN.
MA'AM.
I KNOW IT WASN'T PERSONAL.
YOU WERE JUST DOING YOUR JOB.
YES, MA'AM.
THAT'S BECAUSE I THOUGHT PRIVATE
MACINTYRE HAD A FUTURE IN THE MILITARY.
I JUST DIDN'T REALIZE
HOW RIGHT I WAS, MA'AM.
NICE TO MEET YOU, STAFF
SERGEANT CARRINGTON.
IT'S NOT EASY FOR ME TO SAY
I WAS WRONG, COMMANDER.
BUT I WAS WRONG.
EVEN THOUGH I DON'T BELIEVE OUR
MARRIAGE AFFECTED MY INVESTIGATION,
I'LL NEVER BE SURE.
NEITHER WILL I.
SO YOU ARE GONNA
TURN US IN, SIR?
I'LL ASSUME THAT IF
YOU DON'T RECEIVE
YOUR COMMISSION IN
A MONTH, SERGEANT,
YOU'LL REPORT YOURSELF.
[laughs]
THANK YOU, SIR!
YOU HAVE OUR WORD
ON THAT, MR. RABB.
GOOD LUCK, SERGEANT GONZALES.
I'LL LOOK FORWARD
TO SEEING YOUR NAME
ON THE PROMOTIONS
LIST IN THE NAVY TIMES.
YES, MA'AM.
LIEUTENANT.
YOU WANT TO FINISH YOUR
TRAINING WITH THE PLATOON?
UH, NO, THANKS.
(Johnson) PLATOON, HALT!
PLATOON, LEFT!
BUT I WOULD LIKE
TO SAY GOOD-BYE.
PLATOON, ATTENTION!
AND SALUTE!
SEMPER FI, MARINES.
READY 2!
(recruits) SEMPER FI, MA'AM.
The scenario you provided seems to revolve around a woman Marine recruit's suspicious death during boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, and subsequent investigations by Harm and Meg. The key concepts and elements in the article cover various aspects of military training, drill instructor behavior, potential foul play, investigative procedures, and legal implications.
Military Training and Boot Camp:
- The depiction showcases the intense, rigorous training environment at Parris Island for Marine recruits.
- It illustrates the strict discipline, physical demands, and psychological pressure exerted by drill instructors on recruits during boot camp.
Investigation and Suspicious Death:
- A female recruit dies under suspicious circ*mstances during training, initially labeled as an accidental death by the Provost Marshall.
- Harm investigates the case, questioning the official appraisal and delving deeper into the possibility of foul play after an anonymous letter suggests murder.
- Meg goes undercover as a recruit to gain a different perspective and collect evidence related to the recruit's death.
- Both Harm and Meg accumulate evidence, surviving threats and attempts against their lives while working together to uncover the truth.
Drill Instructor Behavior and Dynamics:
- Depiction of various drill instructors, including Staff Sergeant Carrington and Sergeant Gonzales, their behavior towards recruits, and the discipline they enforce.
- Highlighting the differences in their training methods, personalities, and the impact they have on the recruits' experiences during boot camp.
Legal Implications and JAG Involvement:
- JAG officers (Judge Advocate General's Corps) are involved in the investigation, suggesting potential legal ramifications and military justice concerns.
- Discussions around the handling of court-martial cases, involving high-stakes situations like staging jailbreaks, flying missions, and recovering stolen nuclear weapons, reflecting the complexities of military law.
The investigation also delves into individual recruit performances, suspicions of mistreatment, potential motives, and the challenges of proving foul play within a highly regulated military training environment.
