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A Few Good Men
At Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba, United States Marine Private William Santiago dies after being tied up and beaten in the middle of the night. Lance Corporal Harold Dawson and Private First Class Louden Downey face court-martial, accused of murder. Their defense is assigned to United States Navy JAG Corps Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee, who has a record of expedient plea bargains but no courtroom experience. Santiago died after breaking the chain of command to ask for a transfer. The base's second-in-command, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Markinson advocated for it, but the base commander, Colonel Nathan Jessep, ordered Santiago's platoon commander, First Lieutenant Jonathan Kendrick, to "train" Santiago on the grounds that the entire platoon is at fault for Santiago's substandard performance.
Kaffee's co-counsel, Lieutenant Commander Joanne Galloway, suspects Dawson and Downey carried out a "code red": a violent extrajudicial punishment. Galloway is bothered by Kaffee's blasé approach, and Kaffee resents Galloway's interference. Kaffee and Galloway question Jessep and others at Guantanamo Bay and are met with contempt. Kaffee negotiates a plea bargain with the prosecutor, US Marine Judge Advocate Captain Jack Ross. Dawson and Downey would be sentenced to two years for involuntary manslaughter, including six months of confinement, enabling them to avoid a possible life sentence if convicted at trial. Dawson is openly disrespectful of Kaffee, and Dawson and Downey refuse the "dishonorable" deal, insisting Kendrick gave them the "code red" order and that they never intended to kill Santiago.
Initially intending to be removed as defense counsel, Kaffee unexpectedly enters not guilty pleas at the arraignment. Markinson secretly meets Kaffee and says Jessep never ordered Santiago's transfer. The defense establishes that Dawson had a motive to implement the order; he previously received a negative performance review from Kendrick and was denied promotion after disobeying an order and smuggling food to a confined marine who was restricted to water and vitamins. Through Downey, Kaffee proves that illegal "code reds" had previously been ordered.
Under cross-examination, Downey admits he was not present when Kendrick gave the supposed "code red" order, so he cannot verify Dawson's account. Ashamed that he failed to protect Santiago and unwilling to testify against Jessep, Markinson commits suicide. Kaffee laments the loss of Markinson's testimony and his decision to risk long sentences for Dawson and Downey. Co-counsel Lieutenant (junior grade) Sam Weinberg recommends not calling Jessep as a witness but Galloway encourages Kaffee to put him on the stand, despite the possibility of a court-martial if he challenges a high-ranking officer without evidence. After Weinberg and Galloway leave, Kaffee has an epiphany while looking into his closet. He runs outside to tell them he will call Jessep as a witness.
In court at the Washington Navy Yard, Jessep is unnerved when Kaffee points out an inconsistency in his testimony – that Guantanamo marines would never disobey his order to "not touch Santiago" yet he ordered Santiago off the base because he feared for Santiago's safety. Kaffee also questions Jessep's claim that Santiago was to be put on a flight to the US because Kaffee's realization was that the uniforms and personal effects in Santiago's wall locker were not packed on the night he died despite Santiago supposedly being scheduled to depart at six o'clock in the morning. Frustrated by the exposure of his lies and the intensity of Kaffee's questions, Jessep extols the military's – and his – importance to national security, angrily exclaiming, "You can't handle the truth!" Kaffee pointedly asks if Jessep ordered the "code red", which Jessep heatedly admits. Jessep is arrested, then tries to assault Kaffee. He is restrained by military police and is read his rights.
Dawson and Downey are cleared of murder and conspiracy but convicted of " conduct unbecoming " and will be dishonorably discharged. Downey does not understand what they did wrong; Dawson says they failed to defend those who were unable to fight for themselves. Kaffee tells Dawson it is not necessary to wear rank insignia on one's arm to have honor. Dawson demonstrates newfound respect for Kaffee and acknowledges his status as an officer by rendering a salute. Kaffee and Ross exchange pleasantries before Ross departs to arrest Kendrick for perjury and conspiracy.