Pulse Rate, December 2, 2003

By Michele Blackburn

Wedding plans, a dereliction case and a new relationship makes for this special Tuesday night episode titled Pulse Rate.

Harm and Mac are sent to the USS Gilcrest in the Mediterranean Sea when Seaman Duncan is killed after a piece of radar equipment is started while he's working on it. After it's proven that PO Yates was derelict in his duty by smoking instead of being on the bridge when the accident happened, Mac wants to get him not only for dereliction of duty, but manslaughter.

These charges upset Harm and he starts making inappropriate comments about Mac's addiction in inappropriate places referring to her falling off the wagon twice and then telling her in court that 'addicts are annoying'.

Meanwhile the Admiral isn't having a better time of it when he finds that hiring Jen to plan his and Meredith's wedding is not only causing him problems, but a lot of money. Jen also finds that going to Mac and Harm on their views of marriage isn't any better. Both of them had different views. Harm's tickled me the most (See quotes for both views). Finally, Meredith spoke to AJ and Jennifer and told them that she wanted a small wedding. AJ agreed and Jennifer apologized for going overboard.

While things were going on back at JAG, we got to see Mikey at Annapolis. Okay, I don't understand why this part was put into the show unless they just wanted to use MB again. This time he was dating his roommate Kevin's sister. WHAT IS IT WITH MIKEY AND HIS FRIEND'S SISTERS? Does anyone remember when he dated Victor Galindez's sister? Anyway, Mikey or should I say Mike and Kevin's sister, Cassie, decided that they would concentrate on their schooling.

Meanwhile, back at JAG, PO Yates was struggling with more than just the case. He collapsed after pasting several nicotine patches on his body and then after that he decided to go cold turkey. Mac's questioning of Yates led her to discover a fling between Yates and Ferrari.

While doing some more research after court, Mac found that PO Atwood was also working in the room the day of the accident. Ferrari took over for Yates when he went to smoke. Atwood had purposely discarded of the tag that told the officers in the room some one was working topside on the radar equipment. Because the tag was missing, Ferrari turned on the radar equipment and Seaman Duncan was killed. Ferrari admitted that Atwood was jealous and that he threatened her if she said anything.

While waiting for the elevator, Mac informed Harm that Atwood admitted to what he did and it only proved to her that they should remain friends. This led Harm to ask 'a friend' to dinner. Mac told him she was having dinner with Clay. His cell phone rang before he could get on the elevator. Mac looked rather annoyed and jealous as he answered the phone and she closed the elevator. BTW, it was Mattie on the phone. I guess Mattie will be enjoying that bowl of pasta with Harm.

However, it was Harriet that brought the show home when she realized family was the most important thing after talking to an officer overseas who asked her to call his wife and tell her that he loved her. She and Bud left work early to pick up their kids and spend some time together.

Note: Did anyone notice that Mac wore her wedding ring and engagement ring during the court room scene? It's very visible during one shot where Mac's holding up her hand.

Best Quotes Of The Show:

"I know what else they say. ' The cable guy is always late.' "~ PO Demato

(to Coates)
"Are you a r--romantic?"~Admiral

(about a wedding dress)
"That looks like a parade float."~Meredith

(about the same wedding dress)
"It looks like a cantaloupe blown up by a--"~Admiral
"Landmine, sir."~Coates

"Getting married is simple. Staying married is complicated."~Admiral

"It's just like old times. You and me. Sea Duty. We ought to get out of Washington more often."~Harm

"I left my baggage in Paraguay."~Harm
"And some deep dark secret you left stateside, but I'll respect your privacy on that one."~Mac
"I guess there's a first time for everything."~Harm

(to Mikey about his home life)
"It's like living in Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey circus."~Bud

(over the phone)
"These are people that are used to traveling on luxury tour buses. I can't tell them they'll have to potty in a bucket in the back of a C-130."~Harriet

"When did Harriet start talking like Carson Daly?"~Mikey

"Married men live longer."~Mac

"There is no gum in the courtroom. Swallow it."~Harm

"I'm planning the Admiral's wedding."~Coates
"That's a losing proposition."~Harm

"Someday some guy is going to fall madly in love with you, buy you a ring and ask you to marry him."~Harm
"I hope so, sir."~Coates
"Then you'll spend the equivalent of a down payment on a house on a party that your friends will all go to out of obligation. You'll wake up the next morning with fifteen toasters, a champagne hangover, you'll look at the lump next to you in bed and think 'Oh, my God I could have bought a house for the amount of money I spent to tie myself to this for the rest of my life.' "~Harm
"Have your relationships been going badly, sir?"~Jennifer

"A woman scorned is a force of nature. You ought to know."~Mac

"Well, hey, good friend, whadya say to a platonic bowl of pasta?"~Harm

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