MovieChat Forums > A Few Good Men (1992) Discussion > "You don't have to answer that question!...

"You don't have to answer that question!" "I'LL ANSWER THE QUESTION."

posted 8 years ago by IceboxMovies
15 replies | jump to latest

This part of the movie always bugs me. Jessup could have easily gotten away with everything at the end -- Kaffee is in contempt, the judge is allowing Jessup to remain silent -- and then Jessup suddenly destroys himself by agreeing to answer Kaffee's question.

I know the whole scene is built around Kaffee assuming that Jessup is "pissed he has to hide" and secretly wants to admit that he ordered the Code Red, but Jessup has already done such a good job of covering things up (he even made a whole flight disappear!!!) that it feels uncharacteristically stupid of him to play into Kaffee's hands after Kaffee has already been held into contempt. It felt so contrived.

[–] Silent_Bob01 8 years ago

It's an extremely contrived scene.

A Few Good Men is a very entertaining and (mostly) well-acted movie that I've re-watched countless times on cable TV, but I've NEVER bought that Jessup would take the bait that easily.

[–] mikeyg24 8 years ago

I agree and I've discussed the point here many times. Jessup was arrogant; he wasn't dumb! And in fact it's a question he would definitely have anticipated. 'OK I'm going to say I gave an order Santiago wasn't to be touched. He's going to ask then why did he have to be transferred, to which I'm going to say because he was a *beep* poor excuse for a Marine and I wanted his ass gone'! Also Jessup probably didn't even have to think of it himself. He didn't make a flight disappear on it's own so he obviously had very influential people behind him.

If you dip your foot into a pool of piranhas don't cry when you lose a toe!😞🐟

[–] IceboxMovies 8 years ago

I'm reading the third draft of Aaron Sorkin's screenplay, and what surprises me is that Kaffee *doesn't* actually get held in contempt in this draft. Here's how it reads:

KAFFEE
If Kendrick told his men that Santiago
wasn't to be touched, then why did
he have to be transferred?

Jessep is looking at O'MALLEY and PEREZ.

KAFFEE
(continuing)
Colonel?

JESSEP says nothing.

KAFFEE
(continuing)
Kendrick ordered the code red, didn't
he? Because that's what you told
Kendrick to do.

ROSS
Object!

RANDOLPH
Counsel.

KAFFEE will plow through the objections of ROSS and the
admonishments of RANDOLPH.

KAFFEE
And when it went bad, you cut these
guys loose.

ROSS
Your Honor --

RANDOLPH
That'll be all, counsel.

KAFFEE
You had Markinson sign a phony
transfer order --

ROSS
Judge --

KAFFEE
You doctored the log books.

ROSS
Damnit Kaffee!!

KAFFEE
I'll ask for the forth time. You
ordered --

JESSEP
You want answers?

KAFFEE
I think I'm entitled to them.

JESSEP
You want answers?!

KAFFEE
I want the truth.

JESSEP
You can't handle the truth!

^^I wonder if it was Rob Reiner who asked Sorkin to revise the script so that Kaffee actually gets held in contempt? Maybe, Reiner thought it would make the script more interesting. I think it detracts from the script's suspense, though.

It would have been better if Kaffee had not even accused Jessup at all. IMO, the scene would have been better if it had cut simply from Kaffee asking Jessup why Santiago needed to be transferred, to Jessup immediately asking, "You want answers?"

IMO, all the dialogue in the middle -- with Kaffee going beyond his legal limits and being held in contempt -- should have been cut out.,

[–] HawkeyeDJ 8 years ago

Kaffee going beyond his legal limits and being held in contempt -- should have been cut out.

I disagree. This was a study in contrasts.

First, there is Kaffee in his "Gurly White Uniform" who has never been in combat, never stood a post. Hell, he's never even defended a court martial, let alone a murder trial. His client even thinks he has no honor, no code.

Then, there are the defendants. They are stuffed so full of honor, code, loyalty, Corps that they are willing to let these officers sell them down the river for the rest of their lives rather than cop to a lesser crime and be done with it. Not the brightest bulbs on the string.

Then, there are the officers who think they know better than the chain of command how to lead and train Marines. So, they utilize a training method which has been prohibited by the chain of command. When things go badly for a Marine, all that honor, code, loyalty crap goes out the window as these officers scramble to save their own asses.

The inexperienced Kaffee finds himself having to defend someone who holds him in contempt against officers who are willing to commit perjury and a whole lot more to save themselves. There comes a point in which Kaffee must decide how much honor and loyalty he himself has. Is he willing put it all on the line for his reluctant client at the risk of his own career?

When it is all said and done, the mighty and the evil are brought down and the two men at the defense table have a new found respect for one another.

For me, it's not about whether Jessup blows his cover with his outburst. It's about the contrast in the two men in that exchange. It's arrogant contempt vs virtuous tenacity, courage vs cowardice, Honor vs hypocrisy, truth vs lies.

[–] IceboxMovies 8 years ago

The inexperienced Kaffee finds himself having to defend someone who holds him in contempt against officers who are willing to commit perjury and a whole lot more to save themselves.

Uh... HawkeyeDJ... I think you've misunderstood me. I'm not talking about Kaffee's clients holding him in "contempt".

I'm talking about when the judge literally holds Kaffee in contempt of court: "Consider yourself in contempt!"

My point is that Jessup would never blow his cover after Kaffee has already been held in contempt of court, and the judge has assured Jessup that he can be silent. If Jessup was so hellbent on covering up his crimes that he would even make a whole flight disappear, it's difficult to believe he would suddenly spill the beans even after Kaffee has violated the judge's demands.

[–] doubl3 8 years ago

Plus it doesn't matter that he was willing to answer it. If the judge felt like it should not be answered, who cares what the person testifying thinks of answering it.

[–] IceboxMovies 8 years ago

If the judge felt like it should not be answered, who cares what the person testifying thinks of answering it.

You don't understand.

My point is that if Jessup was refusing to tell the truth beforehand, it's awfully contrived of him to admit everything even after the judge has held Kaffee into contempt of court. At that point, Jessup could have easily remained silent and gotten away with everything.

[–] Paul_Ke 8 years ago

Your point is well taken, Jessup was saying and doing all the right things until the end. That's what made it such a desperate hail-mary pass by Kaffee at the end. It was a long shot, but it worked. Here's why:

Jessup proved that he was emotionally reactive and (emotionally unstable) during the brunch scene. When Jessup felt that Kaffee wasn't "asking him nicely" he let his emotions get the better of him. He should've just given the paperwork to Kaffee and stayed quiet, but he stupidly shot his mouth off and made a big deal about "You have to ask me nicely."

This gave Kaffee the clue that Jessup has a sensitive spot which could be manipulated.

During the climatic courtroom scene, the button-pushing begins. Kaffee tells Jessup to sit down and says: "I haven't excused yet." You know this has to make Jessup crazy inside because Kaffee is ordering him around like he has more authority than Jessup does.

The flight officers that Kaffee keeps threatening to call to the stand to get their testimony is another button-pusher. It's a total bluff on Kaffee's part, of course, but Jessup doesn't know this, and it's sure to be adding to the tension, fear, and rage inside of him.

Jessup goes into his angry, impassioned rant about our country needing someone to guard the walls, and Kaffee just sits back and lets him work himself into a fury, so much so Jessup in his rage finally tells Kaffee that he did give the order, because like Kaffee said, Jessup partially wants to tell him that he gave the order, because he's proud of it and thinks in his mind it was the right thing to do, and these idiots around him just don't understand.

Was it stupid of Jessup? Yes. Was it inconsistent? Not really.

Because it was stupid and unnecessary of Jessup to go on his "ask me nicely" rant at the brunch, but his emotions control him.

It was stupid and unnecessary for Jessup to go on his "we have walls" rant, but his emotions control him.

[–] IceboxMovies 8 years ago

I guess I just have a hard time believing that Jessup would still go into such a rant after the judge has already held Kaffee into contempt of court. If Sorkin and Reiner had cut out the part where the judge holds Kaffee into contempt and then assures Jessup he can remain silent, the scene would make more sense.

But yeah, it's understandable that the brunch scene would provide Kaffee with a clue to the sensitive subject which he knows can tick Jessup off.

[–] GiovanaSamara 7 years ago

Exactly, Paul_Ke.
Sometimes people don't pay attention to the emotional/attitudinal innuendos that movies throw at them.
It was clear to me that Jessup was so full of himself and so sure of his mighty role, that he believed to be above reprimand. He had to do what he had to do to keep everyone's safety. In his mind, he wasn't to be questioned.
Proof of that is when he has told the truth (and incriminated himself completely) he still gets up and is ready to leave the court as if that didn't matter at all. "I did what I had to do".

[–] HawkeyeDJ 7 years ago

It was clear to me that Jessup was so full of himself and so sure of his mighty role, that he believed to be above reprimand.

Jessup wasn't as smart as he thought he was, either. He looks pretty foolish when confronted with the two apparently contradictory orders (Santiago was not to be touched and my men always follow my orders, and Santiago had to be transferred because he was in grave danger from the men who always follow my orders).

So, when he decides to change gears and set up the 'command decision' explanation in anticipation of the two airmen testifying that there was an earlier flight, Jessup failed to realize the implications, that his subordinate Kendricks had already testified that no code red order had been issued. Therefore, Jessup totally screwed Kendricks.

It's one thing to think you can get away with hanging two pathetic junior enlisted out to take the rap, but there is no way you're going to get a zealot Marine Lt. like Kendricks to take a perjury rap all by himself. Two Marine officers issued an illegal order that resulted in the death of an enlisted Marine and then conspired to mislead the investigation.

Not exactly a career enhancing move.

[–] IceboxMovies 7 years ago

It was clear to me that Jessup was so full of himself and so sure of his mighty role, that he believed to be above reprimand. He had to do what he had to do to keep everyone's safety. In his mind, he wasn't to be questioned.

Then why did he cover up the crime in the first place?

Sometimes people don't pay attention to the emotional/attitudinal innuendos that movies throw at them.

You shouldn't jump to conclusions about me so brashly. If you had read this entire thread, you would know that I'm aware of the details in this movie; I'm just saying that some of them don't add up.

[–] spielman54 7 years ago

Because it doesn't matter if the judge says you don't have to answer it....the question has already been posed and the Colonel has already been made to look like a fool. He's already been caught saying that his men follow orders but then found to have given two orders. He is embarrassed and made to look bad. He feels he needs to answer it to show how he can justify his actions....whatever they may be....as being the right actions and in the best interest of the country. He has reached that level of arrogance, and now has a snotty little punk in his girlie white uniform daring to question him. He answers because he has gotten to the point where he can't even see how anything he does...illegal or not...can be questioned.

Oops.

[–] HawkeyeDJ 7 years ago

/\/\/\/\/ THIS /\/\/\/\/\



For you to insult me, I would first have to value your opinion.

[–] IceboxMovies 7 years ago

Because it doesn't matter if the judge says you don't have to answer it....the question has already been posed and the Colonel has already been made to look like a fool. He's already been caught saying that his men follow orders but then found to have given two orders. He is embarrassed and made to look bad. He feels he needs to answer it to show how he can justify his actions....whatever they may be....as being the right actions and in the best interest of the country. He has reached that level of arrogance, and now has a snotty little punk in his girlie white uniform daring to question him. He answers because he has gotten to the point where he can't even see how anything he does...illegal or not...can be questioned.

But once again: If Jessup felt that way, then why did he cover up the crime in the first place?

Had Jessup simply remained silent, the judge would have found Kaffee guilty of contempt, and the trial would have ended right there.