"Going After Francesca" is an episode of JAG that first aired on October 13, 1998. Directed by Alan J Levi. Written by Stephen Zito.
CWO Dillard (Steve Rankin) is accused of selling Stinger missiles to the Afghans, is charged with Articles 121, 108, 106a. Lt. Commander Rabb defends, Major MacKenzie prosecutes. Francesca Paretti (Giuliana Santini), Admiral Chegwidden's daughter, is kidnapped. Chegwidden thinks Dillard knows something. Dillard is gunned down and dies just after saying Luscino Antinori's name.
Rabb and Chegwidden go to Monte Santa Maria Tiberina to rescue Francesca. Antinori (Jim Pirri) gets Rabb and Chegwidden to drop their weapons, but then Francesca shoots him.
Tropes
- Bilingual Bonus: Most of the dialogue in Italian is subtitled, but there are a few minor courtesies and asides that are not translated.
- Captain Obvious: After Dillard is killed, Chegwidden says that "Dillard's status" needs to be updated in the paperwork. "But Dillard's dead," Roberts says. "Nothing gets by you, lieutenant, does it?" Chegwidden retorts.
- Continuity Nod to "Heroes": "It's a lot of firepower for a lawyer," the armory officer says of the weaponry Rabb asks for. "Obviously you've never seen him [Rabb] in the courtroom," Chegwidden says, referring to the incident in the earlier episode, in which Rabb shot off a submachine gun in the courtroom to prove conclusively it could not have jammed.
- First-Name Basis: Near the end of the episode, when Chegwidden and Rabb are about to confront Antinori, Chegwidden mentions that they're about to violate various international laws, as well as the status of forces agreement with Italy. "You better call me A. J.," the admiral says to Rabb.
- The Mafia: Turns out that both Francesca's stepfather and her beau are involved with the Mafia.
- Paper Destruction of Anger: Francesca rips up Luscino's photo. Chegwidden's ex-wife, Marcella Paretti, did the same to Chegwidden's photo years ago.
- Plea Bargain: Rabb asks the judge to confer with Mac about a deal for Dillard, but Dillard decides to wait to hold off on.
- Roaring Rampage of Rescue: Chegwidden and Rabb for Francesca.
- We Need a Distraction: The mafia pull this on the Admiral by having two of their thugs dress up as US Navy sailors and harass a local woman. While Chegwidden is busy chewing them out, Francesca is grabbed.
