A Few Good Men (1992)
Wolfgang Bodison: Lance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson
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Quotes
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Downey : [after the verdict was read] I don't understand... Colonel Jessup said he ordered the Code Red.
Galloway : I know but...
Downey : [nervously] Colonel Jessup said he ordered the Code Red! What did we do wrong?
Galloway : It's not that simple...
Downey : [anxiously] What did we do wrong? We did nothing wrong!
Dawson : Yeah we did. We were supposed to fight for people who couldn't fight for themselves. We were supposed to fight for Willy.
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Dawson : [to Danny in the interrogation room with Joanne and Downey present] We joined the Marines because we wanted to live our lives by a certain code, and we found it in the Corps. Now you're asking us to sign a piece of paper that says we have no honor. You're asking us to say we're not Marines. If a court decides that what we did was wrong, then I'll accept whatever punishment they give. But I believe I was right sir, I believe I did my job, and I will not dishonor myself, my unit, or the Corps so I can go home in six months... Sir.
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Capt. Ross : Why did you go into Santiago's room?
Galloway : The witness has rights!
Capt. Ross : The witness has been read his rights, Commander.
Judge Randolph : The question will be repeated.
Galloway : Your Honor!
Capt. Ross : Why did you go into Santiago's room?
Downey : Hal?
Capt. Ross : Did Lance Corporal Dawson tell you to give Santiago a Code Red?
Downey : Hal?
Capt. Ross : Don't look at him!
Downey : Hal?
Dawson : Private, answer the captain's question!
[Private Downey turn back and answer Captain Ross's question. Captain is mean and grudge]
Downey : Yes, Captain, I was given an order by my squad leader, Lance Corporal Harold W. Dawson, United States Marine Corps, and I followed it.
[Captain Ross hears a good answer. What's wrong with Commander Galloway while she's objecting. And Lieutenant Kaffee is silent and listen to Downey's testimony]
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Kaffee : [in an interogation room] Did you assault Santiago with the intent of killing him?
Dawson : No, sir.
Kaffee : What was your intent?
Dawson : To train him, sir.
Kaffee : To train him to do what?
Dawson : To train him to think of the unit before himself. To respect the code.
Kaffee : What's the code?
Dawson : Unit. Corps. God. Country.
Lt. Weinberg : I beg your pardon?
Dawson : [speaking slower] Unit. Corps. God. Country. Sir.
Kaffee : The government of the United States wants to charge you two with murder. And you want me to go to the prosecutor with unit, corps, God, country?
Dawson : That's our code, sir.
Kaffee , Lt. Weinberg : It's a code.
Kaffee : [while packing up their belongings] We'll be back. You guys need anything? Books, papers, cigarettes, ham sandwich?
Dawson : Sir, no thank you, sir.
Kaffee : Harold, I think there's a concept that you'd better start warming up to.
Dawson : Sir?
Kaffee : I'm the only friend you've got.
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Kaffee : [Sarcastically to Harold as he enters the interogation room] looks like someone hasn't been playing and working well with others.
Dawson : Sir yes sir
Kaffee : What's a code red?
Dawson : A code red is a disciplinary engagement
Kaffee : What's that mean exactly?
Dawson : A marine falls out of line then it's up to his unit to get him back on track.
Kaffee : What's a "garden variety" code red?
Dawson : Sir?
Kaffee : You say "sir" and I turn around to look for my father, People call me "Danny", people called my father Daniel Kaffee, "garden variety", "basic", what's a basic code red?
Dawson : A marine refuses to obey the orders he's given on a regular basis.
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Kaffee : [to Dawson and Downey in the interrogation room referring to the government's offer of a plea bargain deal in exchange for a lesser sentence with Joanne present] here's the story: the government's offering involuntary manslaughter, you'll get two years, home in six months
Kaffee : [after Dawson and Downey remain silent for several minutes, sarcastically] wow Kaffee you're the greatest lawyer in the world, how can we ever thank you, fellas did you hear what I just said? You're going home in six months.
Dawson : I'm afraid we can't do that sir
Kaffee : do what?
Dawson : make a deal sir.
Kaffee : what are you talking about?
Dawson : we did our job and if that has consequences then I'll accept them, but I won't say that I'm guilty sir.
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Lt. Weinberg : [to Dawson in the interrogation room with Danny and Downey present] on the night of August 2nd, did you fire a shot across the fence line into Cuba?
Dawson : yes sir
Lt. Weinberg : why?
Dawson : my "mirror" engaged, sir
Kaffee : his mirror"?
Lt. Weinberg : [to Danny] for every American century post there's a Cuban counterpart, they're called "mirrors. "Lance Corporal is claiming his mirror was about to fire at him
Kaffee : Santiago's letter to the NIS said you fired illegally, he's saying that guy, the "mirror," he never made a move.
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Galloway : [in the interrogation room, after Dawson criticizes Danny and enraging him causing him to respond with a profanity] Alright, at ease, let's sort this thing out. There was a platoon meeting on September sixteen at four in the afternoon, Lieutenant Kendrick said he gave strict instructions that nothing was to happen to Santiago, no is this true?
Dawson : [Dawson and Downey remain silent]
Galloway : I want you to speak freely
Dawson : Ma'am that's correct, then he dismissed the platoon then we all went to our rooms.
Galloway : And what happened then?
Dawson : Lieutenant Kendrick came to our room Ma'am
Kaffee : When?
Dawson : About five after the meeting broke sir, about 1620.
Kaffee : And what happened then?
Dawson : Lieutenant Kendrick ordered us to give Santiago a code red.
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Kaffee : [to Dawson in the interrogation room, referring to Joanne, after he refused the government's plea deal] Did she put you up to this?
Galloway : [sitting nearby] No.
Dawson : We have a code sir...
Kaffee : [interrupts him] Oh well, zip a dee doo dah you and your code, plea not guilty, you will be in jail for the rest of your life.
Kaffee : [after Dawson remains silent for a few minutes, pleading with him] I'm telling you you'll be home in six months, do it, six months, it's nothing, it's a hockey season.
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Kaffee : [to Dawson after waving his hand in front of Downey's face and not responding in an interrogation with Sam present] does he ever talk?
Dawson : sir PFC Downey will answer direct questions you ask him
Kaffee : swell, private Downey, the rag you stuffed in Santiago's mouth, was there poison on it?
Downey : no sir
Kaffee : silver polish, Turpentine Anti-Freeze?
Downey : no sir, we were just going to shave his head sir
Kaffee : when all of a sudden?
Downey : we saw blood dripping down his mouth, and we pulled the tape off, and there was blood down his face sir. That's when Lance Corporal Dawson called the ambulance
Kaffee : [to Dawson] did anyone see you call the ambulance?
Dawson : no sir
Kaffee : were you there when the ambulance arrived?
Dawson : yes sir, that's when we were taken under arrest.