American Rhetoric: Movie Speech

"Men of Honor" (2000)

12 Steps

Captain Hanks: Please be seated, Senior Chief Brashear.

Chief Brashear: [Salutes the Court.]

Captain Hanks: Only the army salutes indoor, Senior Chief.

Chief Brashear: Sir, in the Navy I grew up in a salute is warranted given the gravity of this occasion, Sir.

Captain Hanks: Well, we're in a new Navy now, Senior Chief. Shall we begin? Senior Chief Brashear, one day the life of another diver may depend on you. You honestly feel that as a man -- you're almost 40. You have one leg. Can you really keep up with healthy divers half your age?

Chief Brashear: The question is, Sir, can they keep up with me?

***

Hearing Expert Witness: A number of experiments conducted at the Navy's experimental diving unit indicate that if the subject were to
become unconscious or deceased, the disparity between the buoyancy
characteristics of a prosthetic and the limb would hinder him in a free dive
mode.

Chief Brashear: You mean, if he drowned he wouldn't float right, yes?

Navy Expert: Yes, Sir.

Chief Brashear: Sirs, I promise if I am killed at sea I will make every effort to die like a Navy man.

[A newly designed Navy diving suit is wheeled into the courtroom.]

Captain Hanks: I just thought you should see the future of Navy deep-sea diving. This is the latest HeO2 mixed-gas rig. It weighs 290 pounds. The men who want to use it, before they can even begin the diving qualifications, will be required to walk 12 steps, unassisted. Could you do that, Senior Chief Brashear?

Chief Brashear: Yes, Sir, I could.

Captain Hanks: Well, I see. As much as I hate to prolong this another day I will in the interest of thoroughness make arrangements for you to demonstrate your contention.

Chief Brashear: Here, Sir. Now.

Captain Hanks: Senior Chief Brashear, I hardly think this is the appropriate venue f[or] --

Chief Brashear: I want them all to see, Sir.

Master Chief Sunday: Captain Hanks, Sir, I completely concur with your assessment. These slippery floors alone prohibit such a demonstration, Sir.

Captain Hanks: Chief Sunday, haven't you had enough trouble in your career? Your advice is as unwelcome as your presence.

Chief of Naval Personnel Hearing Member: Who is this man?

Master Chief Sunday: Chief Leslie W. Sunday, Sir.

Chief of Naval Personnel Hearing Member: You swam out of the Saint Lo at Leyte Gulf. Held your breath for four minutes.

Master Chief Sunday: Five, Sir.

Chief of Naval Personnel Hearing Member: He can stay.

Captain Hanks: Fine. Irrelevant. Gentleman, Sirs, returning to the issue at hand. This is not the time or place for Senior Chief Brashear -- Excuse, me Chief, is there a problem?

Chief Brashear: Captain Hanks, I have spent most of my life in the Navy trying only to succeed. However, my quest has come at a great personal loss to those who love me. They, too, have made sacrifices. They, too, have endured great pains to support me. If I walk these 12 steps today, reinstate me to active duty. Give me my career back. Let me finish it -- and go home in peace.

Captain Hanks: Senior Chief Brashear, pursue the business of the modern Navy --

Chief Brashear: Forgive me, Sir, but to me the Navy is not a business. We have many traditions. In my career I've experienced most of them, some good, some bad. However, I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for our greatest tradition of all.

Captain Hanks: And which one is that?

Chief Brashear: Honor, Sir.

Captain Hanks: Get on with it, Senior Chief.

***

Master Chief Sunday: Tenders, hat the diver....

Master Chief Sunday: Navy diver, stand up.

Captain Hanks: Leave him.

Master Chief Sunday: Captain, if I recall the Navy regulation manual correctly, the diver may be helped to his feet. This is a lot of brass to sling up from a seated position, Sir.

Captain Hanks: It's spun copper, Chief. We haven't used brass in a decade. And the new manual states the diver must rise unassisted.

Master Chief Sunday: That's what it says in the new book, Sir?

[Captain Hanks gestures in agreement.]

Master Chief Sunday: If I may ask, Captain, how would you know?

Captain Hanks: I wrote it.

Master Chief Sunday: Yes, Sir.... Navy diver, stand up...

Square that rig and approach rail:

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

[Captain Brashear's cadence falters and his leg comes close to completely buckling.]

Captain Hanks:  Gentleman, his leg. Please? Gentlemen. John Navy diver stand down.

Master Chief Sunday: Diver, you will disregard. This is my detail. God damn it, cookie, move your ass! I want my 12!

[Captain Brashear regains his composure and stands upright on both legs]

Master Chief Sunday: Nine. The Navy diver is not a fighting man -- he is a salvage expert

Ten.

If it's lost underwater, he finds it. If it's sunk, he brings it up. If it's in the way, he moves it!

Eleven!

If he's lucky, he will die young, 200 feet beneath the waves for that is the closest he will ever get to being a hero. Hell, I don't know why anybody would want to be a Navy diver. Now you report to the line, cookie.

[Twelve.]

At ease. Tenders, unhat that diver.

Captain Hanks: The United States Navy proudly reinstates Senior Chief and diver Carl Brashear to full active duty.