Death Watch - 57

[An important episode which explains Harms back-story on Diane Shonke as well as flushing out Krennick's story using flashbacks. It also gave producers the ability to use much of the footage shot in the final episode of year one and never shown due to cancellation] Harm looked at his letters, cards and memorabilia of Diane Shonke his former girlfriend who was murdered and who was the "spitting image" of Mac. As he was loading his weapon M came to his apartment for a planned working dinner. He tried to put her off but she saw the weapon, the pictures of Diane and demanded an explanation. H told her with the story with flashbacks. He met Diane at the academy. He went for his wings and she to "crypto" school. They "missed more than they connected" but were going to spend the week at her parents cabin to "discuss their future together." Diane stood midwatch on the bridge of the Seahawk with Cdr Holbarth their first night back in port, then left the ship followed by an anxious Lt Lamb. Ensign Bud Roberts was watch officer as well. The next morning, coming back from breakfast at a diner, B found Diane dead in her car. H and Meg investigated with NCIS agent Brian Turque (tur - kay) who continually tried to protect his turf from the "hot shot." When he realized H and Diane knew each other he demanded he be released from case. Chegwidden said "only God and I can release one of my investigators- and he hasn't asked." Krennick suggested that she go take lead and H take orders from her. C told her she "was devious," but said ok. When M ragged H about K being enticing H said that it wasn't about sex. "I was a rival, the hotshot. It was about power and she wanted to control me with sex." She wanted the "admirals chair." M said that B told her "H threw her more red lights than on the beltway at rush hour." H said "I wouldn't get involved with a superior officer any more than you would."

K excluded H from interviewing Lt Lamb, a key witness who had lied and said he was chasing her because he had a date with her that weekend. Lt Sarah Williams said Shonke felt she was being stalked. K confronted Holbarth about not reporting Shonke's harassment complaint and H ran after Lamb who had left the ship. He confronted Lamb in the diner and accused him. When he denied it H slugged him and told a chief to report his indiscretion to the XO. Lamb declined to press charges. M took Hs weapon from him and said "it was lucky that you didn't have a weapon or you might have shot an innocent man." H told her that Krennick was going to send him to a captains mast to "distance myself from you." When he said it could ruin his career, she said "better yours than mine." But K started being stalked! She thought it was Lt Lamb doing it but they found him dead with a suicide note on the computer. M said "but you didn't believe it was suicide did you?" H said the computer keys had been wiped, the gun was different, and the gunshot was on the right side but Lamb was left handed!. H left into the rain and into his car but M followed, still demanding that he "prove his case" to her. She said that she already was an accessory- especially if he pulled the trigger tonight. H said he had just found out two weeks earlier by checking Lambs service record. M exclaimed "why would all THREE of you miss that?!" H said because "we were too busy dealing with each other." Turque had returned Shonke's letters to him, after he had read them, in an effort to "part like men." H led M into the conclusion that Turque was on the Seahawk during the trip and his change of attitude was because the case was closed. She surmised that Turque was the killer and H said he had a letter in the apartment that showed it. When M got out of the car, H drove off.

Dripping wet, M had B come into JAG. He had passwords and codes to use government databases. He admitted that he had been on the Seahawk and knew about the case and that Turque wasn't on board! In fact he wasn't in town at all. M asked B "what was she like?" He said looked identical but "talked different and was a lot more fun." [i.e. you're more squared away.] B discussed the two other suspects were Lt. Williams (for being suspected of being gay) and Holbarth (because when K talked about his not reporting Shonke's harassment charge- he was really sweating). They found that Holbarth was onboard the destroyer Sheppard which docked tonight at Norfolk. H waited for Holbarth to come off the ship and confronted him. He showed him a letter that he had finally read from Shonke's lock box. It was unsigned, inadmissible in court, but was a draft of the original which was sent to Holbarth. It said that "your failure to address my complaint leaves me no recourse but to seek redress through channels. Will file complaint when we dock." He had tried to talk her out of it while standing watch with her, then, failing that, sent Lamb after her to talk her out of it thus setting him up as the fall guy. Then he killed Lamb as a suicide. Holbarth said this assumption would be thrown out of court and H said "I'm not going to court" as he pulled out his weapon. Just then M called "don't do it harm" through the mist dressed in Harriet's dry uniform that she had changed into. Holbarth, thinking she was an apparition, panicked saying "I didn't mean to… I'm sorry…" and backed up off the dock. He was crushed between the pier and the hull. As they stood on the dock H kissed M. She said, "I know you were kissing her." He didn't disagree.

Tiger Tiger - 55

Bud and Harm were on a Tiger Cruise aboard the USS Stockdale with Josh. B said he was 11 when his father, a cook, took him aboard the Arleigh Burke and he was seasick the whole cruise. Annie won't let Josh have anything to do with the navy so they tell her that the "sailing" they were going on for the weekend was aboard a naval vessel. Josh spotted a life boat flashing SOS and the castaways were brought on board. One was "pregnant" and in labor. While H was notifying JAG B was to watch Josh, who didn't always do as he was told, and he slipped away from the group to another hanger to see a Sea Hawk helicopter. The pregnant Rosalita was really a terrorist carrying explosives strapped to her and weapons. Along with Miguel Cortez and others they took over the ship and killed several guards. The XOs daughter, Erin Terry, noticed one terrorist (Cuban "liberators") out of uniform but not in time to prevent their capture. Erin was used by Miguel as leverage to obtain the firing key to missiles from her mother. They planned on blowing up Castro while he was speaking at a stadium full of people. H had gone to retrieve Josh so they were alone in a hanger when the ship was taken over. They worked to set up a remote antenna for the Seahawks radio so they could get help. H climbed along the ledge, outside the ship to retrieve his cell phone from his locker. Josh disobeyed and climbed the pipes to set up the antenna alone and had to be rescued by H. Rosalita had all the rest of the children, B and some others in a hold with Semtex strapped to her armed by a remote detonator. She sang "lullaby's" to them ready to "go to sleep."

Miguel shot the captain and the XO gave him an old key. Miguel old her "that's why females don't belong on combat ships." Chegwidden received Hs message and called both Mac and Annie into his office. Annie was appalled to find out about Hs lie. The SECNAV, C and M watched the ship on television from long range surveillance by a P3 aircraft. The SECNAV said that a SEAL team would do a HALO insertion and under a full moon at 20 knots C called it a suicide mission. There were also Tomcat's ready for interception of any missile fired so C told him that he "was signing those children's death warrants." Annie asked M if H had ever lied to her. She said that he had "misled" her but that "H was the one who she would want with her son in this situation." Annie said, "if it wasn't for him, Josh wouldn't be in this situation" and asked her if it was her son, how would she handle it. M said "I would hold it in, but that's probably why I'm an alcoholic."

H told Miguel that his cell phone didn't work out at sea just as it rang on a "patch" from the P3 to C. C picked up on the situation quickly and had M pretend that it was a wrong number while he had the P3 cut their relay. Talking with H, Miguel said that his father was the former presidents banker and when Castro took power he was made to choose between his son and his hands. "He didn't count on the son's hands," he said. So this wasn't just liberation but revenge and he was going to take out thousands just to get one man. They found that it was the wrong key and the XO gave them the right key saying "not for Castro." H realized that Miguel had no control over Rosalita and radioed to Josh to do something then get out of the hanger because that was how the men were going to escape. When the missiles were fired then destroyed by the Tomcats, H negotiated the release of the children, with his word that the terrorists helicopter wouldn't be shot down. Rosalita refused to leave the children saying this was to be her last mission. Before she could flip the switch H shot her between the eyes. The escaping Helicopter went down at sea because of the water that H had told Josh to put in the fuel tank. Annie was inordinately angry with H and told him that she could forgive him lying to her "but not teaching my son to do it too." "You turned Josh against me," she said, "which is unacceptable. My challenge will be to deal with never seeing you again… don't call me." While she was storming away, B flew in bubbling about having proposed to Harriett and her saying yes." He asked H to be his best man just as Josh & Annie were walking out of his life.

The Stalker - 54

Being dumped by M for dishonesty Dalton Lowne began calling and following Mac to "get her back" not realizing he (and she) were being stalked themselves. At JAG Harm backed him down and told him to "let her go, walk away." H & M were defending CPO Anthony Sevalis, an electronics expert, for assaulting a prostitute. M though he was guilty and showed it with disgust. The Victim, Alicia Mars, picked Sevalis out of a lineup but Sevalis denied hitting her. Bud aced his law finals, and was given greater duties. He was to give Harriet some of his old duties. Chegwidden invited everyone to his house on Thursday, informal attire. He intended to introduce his daughter Francesca Pareti but didn't tell anyone. Dalton persistently called M and said "even God forgives more than that." She finally answered and agreed to meet at McMurphy's for "one last talk." He was met by a "mugger" outside the bar, mugged and fatally shot. M came out and he died in her arms forcing her to say she loved him. Detective Coster, who investigated told M that whoever it was may have done her a favor.

Francesca visited at JAG and backed into Hs car then refused to give him her name claiming it was his fault. He apparently was smitten with her as he foolishly let her just leave the scene. Ms apartment was found ransacked and with a graffiti message of "even God forgives," Dalton's last words. Coster advised that a man was stalking her and though he loved her so others might be in danger. She wouldn't tell him anyone else that she even "fantasized about." H found a bug in Ms phone which she stepped on and demolished. He thought Sevalis had set the bug so threatened him. M began getting stalker phone calls and H suggested that they flush him out using M as bait offering to "cover her six." She had Coster pull off surveillance. Francesca called to date H but he said that he had to go to his bosses dinner party and said that he was "sort of involved with someone who was in Orlando." M was alone, went to a bar and drank them came to JAG where she insulted H. He told her that she "wasn't just a drunk, she was a mean drunk."

B showed up at the party without a tie and Ht had to tell him that "informal isn't the same as casual." Of course he obsessed through the night that he didn't have a tie and Mattoni told him that he thought the Admiral was really upset. M didn't show up so H went to her apartment and found her alone and in the dark. He talked her into going to the party and said he would "watch her six." Francesca was introduced and H called her "diabolical" for not telling him who she was. C & M met in the bedroom going for aspirin and nearly kissed but C said "this is a mistake," and M agreed. Coster called M to say he had found the stalkers location. She left to meet him, H following. Coster took her to a warehouse basement and disabled her with a tazer, tied her up and forced alcohol into her mouth. H came, having followed with tracking equipment, and was tazed as well. He fought, dazed, and was able to disable Coster who eventually confessed and was sent to prison. H talked to the prostitutes pimp who said he had beaten the hooker. He returned the tracking device Sevalas had loaned him and apologized.

Chains of Command - 53

Master Chief Sullivan (MC), of the Seahawk, was again charged with sexual harassment, similar to the "crossing the line" incident (season two). This time by an air controller, PO Douglas, who was in trouble for letting an F14 run out of fuel, then was promised intervention in exchange for sex. Mac (M) and Harm (H) were sent to investigate by Chegwidden (C), and Bud (B) was forced to go along, despite his studying for a law class exam. B was preoccupied and ignored Harriet's (Ht) attempts at "lovey dovey" in the office, to her annoyance and name calling. B related that former captain Ross had resigned unexpectedly 1 year short of 30 and just as he had been tapped for Rear-Admiral. The current captain said the MCs record was spotless and the Air Boss was indignant at the charges saying "no one saw this coming." Douglas said that she was adjusting to and enjoyed carrier life, admitted her "screw up" then that the MC had offered to "make the problem go away" in exchange for sex. She took him up on his offer but, talking to a friend the next day, decided to "come clean." H said that it was her word against the MC and she said "there are probably other" giving him a list of names. The MC denied all allegations but became very defensive telling M that "'you people' have an axe to grind." He said that "in the old days they considered it unlucky to have a women on a ship," and "if you ask me it still is." M told him that "in the old days it was considered appropriate to castrate the village pervert," and "if you ask me it still is."

Making their report to C they were surprised that Dalton Lowne had been hired as MCs attorney. Lowne refused to tell M who had hired him and she told him to "stay at arms length." Ross said he had been asked by MC to be a character witness. He said that he was no longer in the navy so he could say what he thought, surprising H due to his record of promoting women to good positions. Ross' wife told H that she knew his father. Latham came to Hs apartment and told him that it was the founder of National Patriot's Foundation, Lane Black, who had hired Lowne in order to discredit women in the military. B accused Ht (who was assigned to help Lowne) of "peeking" at his case papers. She called him a "jerk" and he told her that "not everybody can be born with a silver spoon in their mouths." Despite what M told him, Lowne showed up at her apartment, ostensibly to "plead his case with her." While she was out of the room he rummaged on her desk and stole case information. B closed blinds and doors "so others wouldn't hear" when he told H that of the 67 women he checked he only found one, Jane Klee, who "wouldn't come forward voluntarily." She had filed charges against MC but later withdrew them and Capt Ross found her a "plum assignment at the pentagon." Latham returned with word that Black had hired investigators who intended to "tear Douglas to pieces." Lowne called a press conference and threatened to "reveal all the other officers he had found that weren't charged" if the "MC were found guilty." M blew up at his attempt to justify his action and told him "it was over." He retorted that he "wouldn't let her go." B wouldn't believe that Ht didn't have anything to do with the leak and their argument again turned into name calling, him finally telling her that he "didn't like the dresses she wore which made her look like his grandmother."

Lowne revealed that Douglas had two previous "screw-ups," including being drunk, and was disciplined by the MC; and, that she had previously filed sexual abuse charges against her step-father which were dropped. H was upset that she had allowed him to be blindsided but she said that her step-father had been guilty. When her own mother covered for him the cops let it dropped. B found a "pattern" of promotions in the list Douglas had given them. When H cross examined Ross, he had given special consideration in transfers and promotions to 17 women. When Lowne objected and H couldn't get the information in, he saw Mrs. Ross leave the courtroom. He followed her and learned that she was an alcoholic, her husband had retired to see that she got help, that MC has snuck her alcohol from the commissary and had "destroyed my husband." H appealed to her integrity and she agreed to testify. Instead, however, Ross came back up and finally admitted that he had covered for the MC because Sullivan was blackmailing him about sleeping with a woman while he was underway. The MC was found guilty.

M, H and B ended the episode by all fortuitously coming together in the same bar, after they had all chosen the same juke box song (What becomes of the brokenhearted). B said that Ht was mad at him and M was subdued about the issues with Lowne. B groused at H because he still had Annie, but H told them "it didn't look good now" and "the only ones that I have are you two." They retorted together: "imagine how that makes us feel." H advised B that "nothing with a woman is great ALL the time. Hell you're lucky with 5 good days a month." Then M chimed in trying to restrain herself. H quickly backtracked about men and women "You know with the opposing sex" being different. The conversation grew quiet just at the point in the song where they all knew the words; and, one by one, they started singing, lowly, along with the music. [The final scene is truly a JAG classic with them all singing in refreshing, intimate conversation.]