"Captain, debris field 2000 yards off the starboard bow." "Whatever it was, there's a survivor." "There's a person out there." "Boatswain, is there a Coast Guard cutter in the vicinity?" " Negative, sir." " I have the con." "Right standard rudder, steady on course, 165." "All engines ahead two-thirds." "Right standard rudder, steady on course, 165." " All engines ahead two-thirds, aye." " Very well." "Sir, that will put us inside Cuban territorial waters." " Understood." " Steady on course, 165, sir." "Sir, we have visitors off the port bow." "Cuban PTG approaching at high speed." "They're heading for us, sir." "I don't think they see the survivor." "Signal Bridge, tell them to stand clear." "No response, sir." " Second message..." " Bridge, CIC." "Approaching vessel has fire-control radar and high-PRF track mode." "Captain, they're looking to rumble." "This is the captain." "Train the main battery on the PTG." " Sound general quarters." " Sound general quarters, aye." "General quarters, general quarters." "All hands man battle stations." "Such amazing news." "You have a little brother." "Someone you can trust and confide in." "Beat up." "That's great." "I don't know how great my mother's gonna think it is." "When you gonna tell her?" "I don't know if I am." "It can only hurt her." "Oh, don't you think she has a right to know?" "You know, enough of me talking about me." "Let's talk about you." "Did you miss me?" "Yes." "Between periods of hating you for leaving me to go to destinations that I can't even pronounce." "I could make it up to you." "Okay." "You can be the barbarian, I'll be the milkmaid." "No." "Oh, no." " Hello?" " Commander." "Grab your gear and be in my office in an hour." "I'm sending you and Lieutenant Roberts ASAP to the Caribbean." "We've got an investigation of alleged act of aggression against a Cuban naval vessel." "Sir..." "Oh, I'm sorry." "You just got back from Russia." "Have you slept yet?" "No, sir." "Make it an hour and a half." "Yes, sir." "This destination you can pronounce." "You look like Maxwell Smart." "I figured since you only spend time with spies, I thought I'd give it a shot." "Well, come in and kiss me." "It works." "There you are, mate." "How are you?" "Well, it works a little too well, I think." " Thanks for taking care of him." " Well, my pleasure." "And for putting up with all that nonsense that happened before I left." "I know that you felt left out." "It's a new day, Sarah, and I've got you apologising." "Life is good." "Oh, I found a beauty place down at Rock Creek Park." " I've already moved in." " That was fast." "Well, I only had two criteria." "A great view and room for a king-sized bed." "What are your plans for tomorrow?" "Oh, I'm spending the day with my boyfriend." "Good, because he's taking you to a brunch being held in his honour by the boss of his new firm." "I really need you there, Sarah." "Then I'll be there." "Flight Bravo, stand by on 424, lockdown." "Welcome to the Dace, gentlemen." "Is that Cuba off your stern, XO?" "We've got Cuba up our stern, commander." "That's why you're here." "As soon as we showed them our 76, they showed us their wake." "We went by, picked up the refugee, returned to international waters, and notified the chain of command." "And, apparently, we made it all the way up to SECNAV." "A Cuban official with a loud voice delivered that message." "They lit us up, commander." "My book tells me to go to general quarters." " Well, we read the same book, sir." " Good." "Are we done?" "Not quite, sir." "It's not like I don't have the time." "We're steaming around here in circles." "This is gonna be the longest transit time from Gitmo to Key West in recorded history." "Could you tell us when you first saw the vessel?" "As we were approaching the girl." " Radar didn't pick them up before, sir?" " They had just come around the point." "Did they make an attempt at a rescue, sir?" "We don't think they saw her." "They were more interested in spanking us for being in their backyard." "According to the deck log, you were half a mile in, sir." "On the assumption that the right-of-assistance entry would protect my six." "Did you attempt to signal the Cuban vessel about the girl?" "There was no time for that." "You signalled them to back off, though, twice." "We were in the middle of the rescue." "What would you be implying with this line of questioning?" "I'm just trying to determine the intent of both parties, sir." "Can you tell me where I stand?" "We have to follow up with your subordinates and talk to the girl but you seem to be on solid ground." "About the girl." "How long can I grant her a temporary refuge?" "Until the INS arrives, sir, and determine her immigration status." "They're on their way." "She has less than 24 hours of freedom before they send her back." "How do you know they'll send her back, sir?" "Her feet are wet, lieutenant." "They never touched U.S. Soil." "She and Elian can grow up in tyranny together." "Think of it this way." "You spot a cat stranded in your neighbour's tree." "You don't see anyone around so you climb the fence to rescue the cat." "Just then your neighbour appears, but instead of thanking you, he threatens you with a shotgun." " Is that the way you saw it?" " That's the way it happened." "The captain made us proud." "After what we've seen go down," " it couldn't have been handled better." " What have you seen, commander?" "Coast Guard intercepts boats every week out here." "We've witnessed refugees swallow rat poison and threaten to immolate themselves rather than be sent back." "Picking up the girl and backing off that boat meant a lot to us." "You do realise she's feet wet, XO?" "Asylum is unlikely." " Does the captain know that?" " He's the one who told us." " It's gotta be hard for him." " Why is that?" "He's Cuban-American." "Hates Castro." "Sickbay is third hatch on the right, gentlemen." "Thanks." " So, what am I thinking, lieutenant?" " You're wondering, sir, if Captain Berroa backed down the Cuban vessel in order to pick up the girl before they spotted her." "Yeah." "And am I thinking that's an issue?" "Well, not a legal one, sir." "The girl's life was in immediate danger." "The captain was obligated under international law to effect a rescue and temporary refuge is appropriate under naval regulation Article 0939." "The interference of the Cuban vessel appears immaterial." " What's my opinion on the captain?" " That I couldn't tell you, sir." "I respect him because he's clever enough to stay true to his principles without breaking the rules." "Should have got that one, sir." "As you were." "I'm Commander Rabb, this is Lieutenant Roberts." " We're with JAG." " Petty Officers Tippit and Montanez." "I'm acting senior corpsman while the chief is on emergency leave." "I've been assigned to be the girl's interpreter, sir." "Good." "How is she?" "Not bad, sir, considering what she's been through." "I'm keeping a close watch for pneumonia." " What's her name?" " Reynalda Mantilla, sir." "Reynalda." " Is she aware of what's going on?" " Pretty much, sir." "What has she told you so far?" "There was she and her father in a 12-foot skiff, sir." "Trying to make it to relatives in Miami." "They sank in total darkness, 11 miles out." "Her father took off his pants, tied off the openings, and blew air into them so she could use them as a flotation devise." "Twenty minutes later he was gone." "She spent the rest of the night being poked by sharks." " Where's the mother?" " She died when the girl was 3, sir." "Is Reynalda up for answering a few questions?" "Great." "Ask her which ship she saw first, the American frigate or the Cuban patrol boat?" "The Dace, sir." "She wants to know if you're going to take her to the U.S., sir." "JAG on the Bridge." "Pine Tree, this is Greenfield 24." "This is Pine Tree." "State your purpose." "Request permission to land and offload INS representative." " Sir?" " Permission denied." "Send them back, XO." "Greenfield 24, this is Pine Tree." "Permission denied." "Pine Tree, Greenfield 24 requests clarification." "Captain, may we have a word in private, sir?" "XO, it's your Bridge." "Aye, aye, sir." "Greenfield 24, this is Pine Tree, continue in the hover path." "I waved her off because there is no need for the INS aboard this vessel." "I am personally delivering Reynalda Mantilla to the United States where she belongs." "Captain." "Sir, I am obligated to inform you that if you continue on this stated..." "Under what article of the UCMJ would I be subject to court-martial?" "Article 92, sir." "Violating general orders and wilful dereliction of duty." "Can you tell me what naval regulations guarantee the right to seek freedom from political oppression?" " None." " That's why I'm doing this." "Captain, is this really the way you wanna end your naval career?" "On principle, yes." "Sir, what if I told you there may be another way?" "Reynalda has said she has family in Miami, sir." "The INS could determine since her father is dead, she's better off in the U.S. With them." "And if they determine otherwise?" "Captain, I'm not selling insurance, just reason." "Well, sir, the lieutenant and I believe that Captain Berroa acted lawfully and in accordance with the rules of engagement when he trained his gun on the Cuban vessel." "Yeah, but Cuba is claiming that we were the aggressor." "They would be wrong, sir." "Senior officers aboard ship and the refugee herself back up the captain's account." "Well, the SECNAV got a 3 a.m. Call from the president." "He's having Elian Gonzalez nightmares and doesn't want that girl anywhere near U.S. Soil." "Is he making this our issue, sir?" "Mine." " Keep me apprised." " Will do, admiral." "Sir, may I ask why you didn't tell him about the helicopter incident?" "Because Captain Berroa reversed his decision, lieutenant." "So you're just gonna let him slide, sir?" "I'll watch and wait." " Hey, Mic, good to see you." " Good day, mate." "There she is." " Hey." " Be in touch." "See the Bentley parked in the driveway?" "Couldn't see it over that lady's diamond." "How does she keep her arm from falling asleep?" " You all right?" " Sure." "So what do you say we start with the person who bought her the diamond?" "Why not?" " There he is." " Larry." "Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie." "Sarah, Larry Kaliski, senior partner of Ryan, Price and Segal." " My pleasure." " Oh, well." "I have to say that when Mic told me you are a Marine JAG," "I expected John Wayne in a dress." " Are you looking for a job?" " No." " Mind if I take him away for a second?" " I'm not his boss." "You are." "Oh, you're very good." " Mic, come on." " I'll be right back." "Take a look over there." "What do you think?" "Oh, yeah?" " Am I wrong?" " Hell of a nice package, Mic." "Yeah, she is." "I've talked to the girl but outside of proof of persecution or a serious medical condition, I see no INS precedent" " for granting her asylum." " So you'd be sending her back?" "According to the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, she has relatives in Cuba who have the means to care for her." " That's good enough for us." " But if she had set foot on U.S. Soil?" "She could have applied for asylum under the Cuban Adjustment Act." "Well, why didn't that work for Elian Gonzalez?" "He's 6 and not considered old enough to understand the implication of his choice." "Reynalda's 13." "A Circuit Court of Appeals ruling determined that a 12-year-old Russian boy was capable of making such decisions in his own interests." "Well, she can't take advantage of that because she's feet wet." "I admit that it all seems arbitrary, lieutenant, but when refugees are desperate enough, they generally find a way." "That went pretty well." "Were you talking about me to Larry Kaliski?" " Yeah." "He likes you." " In what way?" "He thinks you're the complete package." "Sharp, smart and sexy." " He's not wrong." "You are." " Is that why you were gloating?" "Gloating?" "I have a right to be proud of you, Sarah." "Mic, I came here as a favour to you." "I came because I had to." "You wanted to be with me." "But you knew how uncomfortable I was gonna be." "Wait a minute." "This day was about me." "Four hours when I didn't have to pursue you or excuse myself while you spoke to your colleagues." "Or take care of your dog." " I apologised for that." " That's how you see me." "A moon-aced admirer who massages your ego" " and helps you forget your past." " That is not true." "Look, I work for this man now." "This is a bloody good opportunity and I'm not going to jeopardise it because of something that happened to you before I was in your life." " Mic, you are wrong about..." " Sarah, leave it." "Get in the car." "Excuse me, captain." " At ease." "How is she?" " Better, sir." "Petty Officer Montanez is monitoring her condition." " What do you think it is?" " I'm not sure, sir." "There's no fever." "We purged her of the seawater she ingested." "Could be parasites." "Hard to say." "What if it's something more serious like organ damage?" "That would require testing more sophisticated than what we have onboard, sir." "Ma'am, it's my understanding that INS regularly admits refugees to U.S. Hospitals for treatment." "Under urgent medical circumstances only." "Well, we have a girl with stomach pains and no credible means of diagnosis." "When did these symptoms first occur, corpsman?" "I was in the stockroom at the time, sir." "The captain was with her when it happened." " Is there anything further?" " No, sir." " Then that will be all." " Yes, sir." " Do you recall the time, captain?" " About 15 minutes before you arrived," "I came down to see how she was doing." "She was looking a little queasy but talkative, even animated." "Then suddenly, she gripped her stomach and collapsed on the floor." "Mrs. Vitagliano, if Reynalda were admitted to a U.S. Hospital, would she be considered feet dry?" "Yes, commander." "Ma'am?" "Your decision." "Can we get that helicopter back?" "Commander, I was expecting you." "Captain, I have a question about the girl." " Do you have a family?" " No, sir." "I thought as much." "You and I are alike in that way, in a lot of ways in fact." " Captain, about he girl, sir..." " If I had started a family," "Reynalda could have been my daughter, commander." "But instead, she was born under a system where families turn each other into the police." "I'm aware of the conditions in Cuba, sir." "Are you aware what those conditions do to the soul?" "I know you are, captain." "You care what happens to this girl?" "You care about naval regulations, sir?" "Cite one for me, commander." "Personnel of the Department of the Navy shall neither directly nor indirectly invite persons to seek asylum or temporary refuge." " You think I've done that?" " You tell me, sir." "Well, I wanted to comfort her, to let her know that there were other Cubans who had grown up without blood families." "I did not suggest she fake an illness." " Sir, I saw you wave off..." " I break rules cleanly, commander." "If I do it, you'd know it." "I don't cheat." " Well, sir, you wanna tell me...?" " Corpsman just called." "Reynalda's running a fever." "It's up to 102 and climbing." "You're welcome to check for yourself." "How the hell did this happen?" "There's a loophole in the 1995 Cuban Migration Accord, sir." "That's not a loophole, that's a black hole." "Anyone can fake a stomachache." "The girl is sick, Mr. Secretary." "Not half as sick as the president's gonna be." "Well, sir, as I'm sure the admiral has indicated, there's a little we can do to affect the outcome." "I can assure you, though, sir, her illness does appear legitimate." "Commander, is that the general alarm?" "General quarters, general quarters." "All hands man your battle stations." "Yes, sir." "The Bridge is sounding general quarters." "I'm gonna have to cut this short." "We're manning battle stations, sir." "Battle stations." "I'll order in lunch." "JAG on the Bridge." "She's on an intercept course, sir." "They're back, commander." "Let's make her eat our wake." " All engines ahead full." " All engines ahead full, aye." "Captain, those boats are built for speed." "Sir, you're not gonna try and outrun it, are you?" "I'm gonna run her out of gas, commander." "Captain, they're signalling us." ""Orlando Mantilla alive in Cuba."" "Who's Orlando Mantilla?" "That would be the girl's father, lieutenant." " All engines stop." " All engines stop, aye." "The State Department confirms the message." "Orlando Mantilla was picked up by a garbage scow, eight miles off Havana." " He's dehydrated but awake and lucid." " Has he made a statement, captain?" "He wants to be reunited with his daughter." "And he will be." "The girl appears to be stable now and the INS doesn't like to interfere with the rights of a non-abusive parent." "Ma'am, Reynalda needs treatment." "I would like to proceed with the plan to bring her to the hospital at NAS Key West." "I don't think we should take the Cubans at their word." "What are you suggesting?" "That they've conscripted some stand-in for the real Orlando Mantilla?" "Or that the real Orlando Mantilla is being controlled by Cuban officials." "Why would they have to force him to ask for his daughter back?" "I'm sure he wants to be with her, lieutenant." "But in the United States, where they were originally headed." " He's in Cuba now, captain." " I agree with the skipper, ma'am." "If the Cuban government is sincere, they could send her father to us." " The loophole has closed, gentlemen." " This is not Elian Gonzalez's father." "Orlando Mantilla wants to be free." "Orlando Mantilla and his daughter are alive." "They should thank God for their blessings and try to immigrate legally." "Cuban immigration to the U.S. Is far from automatic." "There's a lottery involved, and then authorities can delay applications at will." "Captain, you've stated your case." "Now let me do my job." "First thing is, you tell the girl her father's alive." "Ma'am, sir, may I suggest that before we do anything, we verify the existence of the father and the veracity of these statements?" "Fair enough." "Thank you, commander." "You may very well have given that family a reprieve." "Hi, this is Sarah." "Leave me a message and I'll call you back." "Sarah, it's Mic." "I was too angry to talk about it in the car but I'm ready now." "I'm at 1711 Connecticut Avenue, Apartment 906." "Mic, I'm sorry." "L..." "You're fiddling, lieutenant." "What's up?" "Sir, do you support the captain's position?" "I support an informed process, Bud." "This has nothing to do with the captain." " You've been awfully helpful to him." " Yeah, it seems that way." " Sir, that's my point." " I'm not paying favourites." "Well, I'll bet you the captain thinks you are, sir." "It appears you were one step ahead of us, commander." "The Cuban government just invited me to Havana" " to interview Orlando Mantilla." " I've suggested she be accompanied by a representative of the United States Navy." "We'll hold off telling Reynalda until we return." "That's a good idea, ma'am." "Good luck." "I don't think you understand." "The captain suggested you come with me." "With blessings from the secretary of the Navy." "This is a ZNN special bulletin." "You are watching a live video feed from Cuba of President Fidel Castro speaking with what is assumed to be an official American delegation." "Although they won't comment directly on the nature of the visit," "Cuban authorities indicate that the thawing of U.S." "Cuban military tensions might be forthcoming." " My God." " From Havana, this is Chuck DeCaro," " ZNN, on special assignment." " Hi." "Tiner wasn't at his desk so we just..." " Was it tonight?" " Seven sharp." " Not tomorrow?" " But Danny's out of town tomorrow." "Well, I apologise." "A.J. Chegwidden." "I'm usually more appealing without egg on my face." "Yeah, I understand." "Last semester I pulled an all-nighter for a poli-sci exam and, well, at breakfast, I fell asleep in my omelette." "It's great meeting you." "Your mother's told me a lot about you." "Says you have good character." "You told him I had good character?" "Remember the time your friend Troy stole a bag full of Army men from a toy store and you brought it back?" "Well, yeah." "It was because I told him to steal a model of the Enterprise." "Good evening, Mr. Mantilla." "How are you feeling?" "He is better." "Says we're taking good care of him." "Why isn't he in a hospital?" "This is one of the president's residences." "He felt Mr. Mantilla could recover here in peace." "He's receiving excellent medical attention." "He's asking about Reynalda." "She has a fever and stomach cramps." "And we plan to take her to the United States for treatment." "May we speak with Mr. Mantilla privately?" "You speak Spanish, commander?" "Well, I speak a few words, two of which are Estados Unidos, neither of which did I hear you say." "I don't understand." "He's questioning your translation skills." "May I suggest that you improve them or tell Mr. Mantilla that his daughter will be waiting for him in our country." "Ask him what he did after he escaped and his boat capsized." "He blew air into his pants so his daughter would stay afloat." "But he got tired and grabbed onto a wooden seat." "The waves were big." "And he couldn't hold on to her." "He says he's stupid." "Should I let him know what you're trying to tell him about his daughter?" " Yes." " Please." "Will they bring Reynalda here?" "Ask him if he would still like to go to the United States with Reynalda." "I'll answer that." "He has been offered a good job here with more money." "So you're saying that you won't let him leave?" "I don't make those decisions." "He says he's happy to be in Cuba as long as his daughter is with him." "These orders come straight from the SECNAV himself, sir." "In accordance with Orlando Mantilla's wishes," "Reynalda is to be returned to him in Cuba." "We could send her back on the PTG, captain." " They duped you." " Sir?" "As soon as Reynalda arrives and is out of sight of the cameras, her father will be in prison." "Captain, the INS monitors returned refugees with the full cooperation of the Cuban government." "Replace the word cooperation with control, ma'am." "Captain, we need to tell Reynalda that her father is alive" " and he wants her back." " He may be alive but he speaks with Castro's tongue, commander." "What the hell happened to your objectivity?" "Don't tell me Fidel bought you with a Cohiba" " and a television camera?" " This is not a forum, captain." " You are under orders." " Stand down, commander." "I am the highest authority on this ship." "And the only one who's lived under a communist dictatorship." "And if anyone here believes they have a better understanding into that world, speak up." " Helmsman." " Yes, sir." " Give me a heading to Key West." " Aye, aye, sir." "We're going home." "Captain, let me ask you something." "Why do you think you have the right to separate father and child?" "What gives you the right to bring them together under totalitarian rule?" "The father's wishes." "Even if we could believe that to be true, ma'am, they'd be selfish wishes." "If I were in his position," " I'd want her to live under a free flag." " Do you have children, captain?" "No, I don't, lieutenant." "With all due respect, sir, I don't think you know what you would do." "When my parents heard the Cuban youth were being sent to schools in East Germany, they put me on a Pedro Pan flight to Miami." "I was 4 and a half." "Emotional reasons aside, captain..." "I can't put them aside." "My father died in prison." "My mother had heart failure at 38." "Bridge, Radio Control." "We have the secretary of the Navy and the judge advocate general for the captain." " Patch it up." " Aye, aye, sir." "Mr. Secretary, this is Captain Berroa of the USS Dace." "Captain, I have been informed by NAS Key West that you're presently on course to that facility." "That's correct, sir." "Your orders are to head to Guantanamo." "I understand, sir, but I believe that I have a greater duty to act in the best interest of the refugee." "Reynalda Mantilla is running a high fever and deserves the finest medical care available." "It was always her father's intention that Reynalda reach the United States." "We're accommodating those wishes." "Finally, most of the men and women on this vessel are alive today because the United States opened its arms to their ancestors." "Reynalda Mantilla has been denied the same privilege because she wasn't lucky enough to reach our shores." " I don't give a rat's..." " Sir, before you continue," "I should advise you this conversation is being heard on the Bridge." "You arrogant son of a..." "Captain, A.J. Chegwidden, judge advocate general." "I have to tell you that you are in violation of a direct order, which can result in court-martial, dismissal, and hard labour at Leavenworth." "I can't obey the order, sir, not in good conscience." "Hold on." "Mr. Secretary, he's fallen on his sword." "I advise you to relieve him of duty." "That should go through chain of command." "Well, yes, sir, but by that time he'll be docking at Key West." "I would deal with it now, while you have him on the line." "This is the secretary of the Navy speaking." "Is the X O on the Bridge?" " Yes, sir, I'm here." " Your name and rank?" "Commander William Crozier, sir." "Commander Crozier..." " Stay on course." " Aye, sir." " This can't work, captain." " What commander?" "Trying to prevent the secretary from replacing you with the XO, sir." "For all I know, the secretary was inviting the commander to his birthday." "You'd be the only person on this Bridge who believes that, captain." "So be it." "XO, I advise you to get the secretary back on the horn and receive your orders." " Commander." " I heard you." "Commander, this is more than an issue for Captain Berroa." "This is a crusade." "You may wanna consider it." "Is it worth your career taking a dive for his principles?" "You don't have to be Cuban to agree with the captain." "Just spend a day out here watching refugees being sent back." "I care what happens to this girl." "Well, what about what this girl feels and thinks?" "She doesn't even know her father's alive." "Sir, we need to tell her." "Don't complicate it for her, commander." "If she gives up her freedom now, she'll regret it when she's older." "With all due respect, sir, that's speculative." "I need to be sure before I put my career in jeopardy." "Reynalda, I represent the Immigration and Naturalization Service." "Your father was found alive at sea." "He was rescued and brought to Havana." "Yeah." "We visited him and he told us that he wants us to bring you to him." "She says she wants to go to the United States." "Well, ask her if she realises that she'll be separated from her father." "She believes she will see her father, that they had an agreement." "The one who made it to the U.S. Would stay." "The one who didn't would keep trying." "Excuse me, captain." "XO, I have a flash precedence message" " from the secretary of the Navy." " I'll take that." "Captain." " Master-at-arms?" " Yes, sir." "Commander Crozier is under arrest." "Confined to quarters until further notice." " Sir?" " That's an order." "Aye, aye, sir." " What are you doing, captain?" " He's saving your career, XO, by preventing you from disobeying an order to take control of the ship." "If you're under arrest, you can't answer one way or the other." "Well, sir, you have what you want now." "I hope it's enough." "This is the captain." "Inform Radio to send this message to the U.S. Organisation Cubano Americana." "The American frigate the USS Stanley Dace will be arriving in the morning at NAS Key West" " with a rescued Cuban girl." " Aye, aye, sir." "Come in." "Oh, it's beautiful." " Sarah..." " I'm sorry." "I was being selfish and insecure." "You did have the right to expect more from me." "You're wrong about how I think about you." "The truth is that you challenge, in the best way, my preconceptions about men." "You were gonna say something?" "I was gonna accuse you of being selfish and insecure." "Do you love me, Sarah?" "Yes." "Is that because I love you?" "That's because you are you." "Are we okay?" "What are you doing?" " Adding another light." " Why?" "To celebrate another week of having each other in our lives." "I'd hoped to appeal to reason, captain." "How reasonable would you be if your principles were on the line?" "Well, I wouldn't disobey a direct order, sir." "She's free." "Doesn't that mean anything to you?" "To all of us, captain." "That's never been in question." "The commander, the lieutenant and myself, however, are driven by reason." "You're not." "And that's where you stand alone." "Captain Berroa, I'm Rodney Conger with the State Department." "Excuse us." "Captain, I have orders to put this girl on a helicopter" " and send her back to Cuba." " Once she touches the dock, she'll be feet dry." "Now, we will do this with or without your cooperation." " Her father wants her back, sir." " Mr. Conger, I'm Janet Vitagliano." "I'm from the INS." "The girl is aware of her father's decision but she wants to be here nonetheless." "Now, she does have the right to choose for herself based on..." "The ruling from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals." "We're in the Eleventh, ma'am." "I'm sorry but this order comes from the top." "The parents' wishes are binding and you're overruled." " Not if the parent is abusive." " I'm sorry?" "Reynalda's father put her to sea in a boat that was too small, recklessly endangering her safety." " He was trying to get her to the U.S." " Almost killed her." "We have 200 witnesses aboard this ship that will attest to that." "That is not child abuse." "Leaving a child alone in a car for ten minutes is child abuse, Mr. Conger." "What are the consequences of these charges, ma'am?" "An INS hearing." "I suggest you take Reynalda into your custody for processing." "I could do that." "If her father wants to contest the charges, he can come here and testify." " Okay, this all amusing but..." " Mr. Conger, this has been a very long day." "Now shut up and get out of our way." "Thank you, both." "You're an annoying man, captain." "And you're welcome." "I knew you'd step up when it counted, commander." "You see, we are alike." "The only difference is you're smarter." "Well, sir, I would take a moment." "It's gonna be rough from this point on, captain." "Captain." "Mrs. Vitagliano, it's been a pleasure, ma'am." "Well, commander, if I wasn't too old, too short, too married..." "Never mind."