Recap / JAGS 04 E 09 People V Mac

"People v. Mac" is an episode of JAG that first aired on November 17, 1998. Directed by Tony Wharmby. Written by Larry Moskowitz.

Major Sarah MacKenzie's husband Chris Ragle (Joe Lando) shows up one night at her doorstep (she never bothered to start divorce proceedings). He is then followed by loan sharks who beat him up. To get him out of her life for good, Mac gives Ragle a plane ticket and $3,000, and tells him to shove off.

However, a day later, Chris shows up again, blackmailing Mac about an affair she supposedly had with Lt. Colonel John Farrow (Ben Murphy). Farrow then arranges a meeting with Ragle to buy him off for good. But apparently, something happened during the meet and Ragle is dead.

Both Mac and Farrow are suspects. Commander Rabb agrees to defend Mac, while Lt. Commander Mic Brumby (Trevor Goddard), the new exchange officer from the Royal Australian Navy, is assigned to defend Farrow. The two of them butt heads when Brumby suddenly sandbags Rabb by trying to pin the whole thing on Mac. Ultimately, the curious case of the missing payoff money leads Rabb to find a crucial witness, Benny Turpin (Chuck Vennera).

Tropes

• Answer Cut: Rabb asks Mac "Why did you go to him [Farrow]?" Cut to Farrow answering "Because she [Mac] trusted me.
• Continuity Nod:
  • To "The Good of the Service": Farrow says of his court-martial in that earlier episode: "No punishment awarded, remember?" But he does feel punished with his current assignment.
  • To the previous episode: Latham and Rabb discuss the congressional hearing about Operation Scirocco.
    Latham: You've been avoiding me.
    Rabb: Yes.
    Latham: Well, at least you respect me enough not to lie.
    Rabb: Well, you can deal with the truth. That's one of the things I like about you.
    Latham: What else do you like about me? Besides the obvious.
    Rabb: Your integrity.
    Latham: Please.
    Rabb: You're not afraid to admit when you're wrong.
    Latham: Especially when I'm wrong in front of the whole country?
    Rabb: Bobbi, I'm sorry about the sarin investigation.
    Latham: Forget it. It was the best thing that could've happened in my career. We know how Americans love a good mea culpa. We're working on my "I was arrogant, but I'm humble now" speech. How's that for integrity?
    Rabb: I think it will probably get you into the Senate.
• Commuting on a Bus: Commander Ted Lindsey (W.K. Stratton), acting head of the JAG office for much of season 1 before the arrival of Admiral Chegwidden, returns in this episode after three seasons away. He's assigned to prosecute Mac and Farrow and will reappear sporadically for the next few seasons.
  • Lindsey gets to make a crack about the series' gradual journey into Crime Time Soap territory, after witnessing Rabb and Brumby nearly coming to blows in Chegwidden's office:
    Lindsey: Things certainly have gotten interesting around here since I've been away, Admiral.
    Chegwidden: You don't know the half of it.
• Hurricane of Puns: Rabb is assigned Lt. Moss's indecent exposure case. In the elevator, someone sings "Moon river, wider than a mile..."
  Rabb: Wipe that smile off your face, lieutenant. A charge like this could ruin a man's career.
  Roberts: Yes, sir. I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of it. I have to go type some briefs. No pun intended, sir.
• Loan Shark: Turpin. At one point he describes his profession as "financial aid."
• One of Our Own: Mac this time (compare the earlier "People v. Rabb").
• Permission to Speak Freely: Brumby asks this of Chegwidden, who gives an unusual response.
  Brumby: Permission to speak freely, sir?
  Chegwidden: What the hell have you been doing?
  Brumby: All you lot, Rabb, Roberts, even you, admiral, sir, you're all Mac's friends. But you're all a little bit in love with her. Not that I blame you, but it clouds your judgment, sir. Have you considered the possibility that she is guilty?
• Shout-Out to Sir Galahad from the Sir Lancelot myth: Brumby asks Farrow if he was playing Sir Galahad when he went to Mac's rescue.