Season: 6 Show: 24
Episode Title: "Adrift part I"
Original Air Date: 10/31/00

CBS Site:
Mac and Mic are in the midst of celebrating their impending nuptials when devastating news arrives regarding Harm, on the season finale.

Don't Scroll Down If You Don't Want to Know what Happens.

    It's the end of the day and Mac is about to go home. Harm asks if she is going to be in tomorrow and Mac says no, she is going to be too busy tomorrow. Harm says ok and tells her he'll see her at the wedding. Mac says no he won't, he'll see her at the rehearsal dinner. She starts to walk toward the elevator and Harm's eyes get big and Harm chases after Mac. He says he told her he wasn't coming to the dinner. Mac says they never talked about it. Harm says he has his 6-month carrier qualifications tomorrow morning. Mac says that Harm never told her. Harm thinks for a second and says he remembers he cleared it with the Admiral. Mac gets mad and starts walking for the elevator. Harm follows her and says he will be at the ceremony. Mac pushes the button for the elevator and Harm says it isn't his schedule, it's the Navy's. He will be back for the ceremony. Mac says what if the Navy changes the schedule. Harm tells Mac to him worry about it. Mac asks why do any of them have to worry about it? Why does this even have to come up? Mac says he only flies 2 or 3 times a year anyway, and he would miss her wedding over that? The elevator door opens and Harm says he didn't consider it a risk. Mac walks into the elevator and says that he just didn't consider it. Harm says that his carrier quals where arrange long before her wedding plans. He says, "Frankly if you need me at your wedding to make it work, maybe you should reconsider getting married." Mac has a blank look on her face and she pushes the elevator button. Harm realizes what he just said and says he is sorry. Mac tells him to have fun. The elevator door starts to close and Harm asks if she is even going to wish him good like. Mac just stares at Harm and lets the doors close. 
    Harm lands aboard the carrier and when he gets off the helicopter Skates is there to great him. They greet each other and Skates says that Captain Ingles wants to see him right away. 
    Mic is in Mac's apartment. Mic asks her when Chloe arrives. Mac says her plane lands this afternoon. Mic jokingly asks if she approves of them. Mac laughs and says she doesn't have a vote. Mic says that last time Chloe came she didn't really like him. Mac says that back then they weren't dating and she was fixated on Harm. Mic kisses her and says he has to go. Mac tells him that they have to call the restaurant and cancel one of the meals. Mic asks who isn't coming and she says Harm. Mic is OK with it says it's no problem. He doesn't say this with any emotion, not to say that he is happy Harm isn't coming. Mac is looking for an emotional response from Mic and says he has is carrier quals. Mic says it's easy, he'll take care of it. He kisses her again and puts his jacket on. Mac says that it isn't the kind of behavior you would expect from your best friend. Mic says he though he was her best friend. Mic doesn't get an answer and says, "Right?" Mac nods yes and says goodbye as he walks out the door. 
    Harm walks onto the bridge and meets Captain Ingles. The Captain introduces Harm to Captain Loftness. Loftness asks if Harm is a JAG and Harm says most of the time. Loftness asks how many strings did he pull to get into the fleet? Harm says he earned his wings. Loftness says he has a training squadron to grade and he doesn't need a Washington weenie to annoy him. Harm asks the Captain if that will be all. Ingles says he won't catch a break here. Skates says that she has flown with Harm before, he is a good pilot and has paid his dues. She doesn't need a break, just a fair shot. Ingles thanks Skates for her speech and tells her he is sure Loftness will keep that in mind.
    Mic and Bud go to the jewelry store to get the wedding rings. Mic gets them an tells Bud to guard them with his life. Bud say alright. Mic tells Bud that he is nervous. Bud asks why and Mic says that for the first time in his life he has everything he has ever wanted, and now he has no excuses. Bud tells him that he won't need any. Mic says if he runs into any problems at the ceremony… Bud says just do what he did at the bachelor party. Mic doesn't remember what he did and asks Bud what would that be. Bud tells him to rip off his shirt and start singing the Australian national anthem to the waitress.
    Harm and Skates are putting on their G-suites and Skates asks how Mac is doing. Harm says she is good, and softly adds she is getting married. Skates says good for her and asks when the wedding is. Harm says tomorrow. Skates asks if at least the wedding is in the afternoon and Harm says morning.
    Harriet is helping Mac get her wedding dress on. Harriet steps back and tells Mac she looks beautiful. Harriet says that she is so happy for Mac. Mac turns and looks in the mirror. Harriet asks if Mac is happy for herself. Mac says of course. Harriet says that it’s just that lately she has been quite. Mac wants to ask Harriet something and Harriet tells her to ask. Mac says that Harm is doing his carrier quals and will miss the dinner and come close on the wedding. Harriet asks if that has upset her? Mac asks if she is being unreasonable? Harriet says she knows about Harm and flying, everything else takes second place. The best thing she can do is not take it personally and wish him the best off luck. Mac loses her smile when she realizes that when she was in the elevator she didn't wish him good-luck.
    Loftness is briefing the crews about the 8 day traps they are going to each do. Harm then gets in his plane with Skate and they take off. They circle around the carrier and prepare to land. Loftness is an LSO (Landing Signal Officers.). Harm calls the ball and he is on a perfect approach. Loftness tells Harm he is too high. Another LSO looks back to see that one of the arresting wires isn't ready yet. Loftness yells at Harm that they have a foul deck and tells him to wave off. Harm applies full power but it is too late, even another LSO says to himself that it is too late. Harm touches down on the deck put pulls back on the stick and takes off again. Skates tells him that he made a good save. Loftness tells Harm to make the next landing his final. Harm can't believe what he is hearing and asks Loftness to repeat himself. Loftness says he is taking Harm out of the air.
    When Harm and Skates land Loftness comes ands asks Harm what he was doing up there. Harm says he just prevented an accident. Lockness says the point is he was high prior to landing. Skates says Harm was making the correction when Loftness waved them off. Harm says he was trying to be smooth. Loftness asks if he his doubting his judgment and Harm yells that he was making the correction as fast as possible, but he is not going to be talked into making a rookie mistake. Skates says he was coming down, and Loftness said himself that it is better to go high than hit the ramp. Loftness thinks for a second and says they can go back up. But he better catch a wire each time or he is sending him home. Harm goes on to make four perfect traps and everyone, including the LSO's, Air boss, and Captain, are rooting for Harm. 
    Mac and Chloe walk into the church and Mic is already there. Mic is excited to see Chloe, but Chloe isn't that excited to see him. Chloe has to go to the bathroom and Mac takes her. The priest, Bud, Harriet, and the Admiral arrive next. 
    Back on the carrier Harm and Skates go to eat. Skates jokingly asks if Harm was in the zone today or just trying to prove something. Harm sarcastically says he is just a "Washington weenie." Skates says they still have their night traps to do. Harm asks if she is worried and she says no, it's fun. She says she is going to miss it. Harm says, "Miss it." Skates says she met a guy, it's serious. Harm says he hopes she didn't make this decision too quickly (he also asked Mac that question many times about her marriage). Skates says he left and Harm says part of him still lives here. Skates asks if that is why he is missing his best friends wedding. Harm says he will be there.
    At the same time and Mic walks down the aisle Harm takes off on the carrier. Chloe walks down the aisle next and Harm makes his first trap. The Admiral walks Mac down the aisle and Harm makes his second trap. Harm makes his last trap and Mac and Mic kiss. 
    Harm is on Vultures Row when the Captain and Loftness comes. Ingles says that Harm has the best landing rate. Loftness says Harm did a good job and now he is free to go. It's just in time too because that storm is picking up. Loftness says they are shutting down flight operations till the storm passes. Harm says he needs to get to Andrews right away. Ingles asks what is it that can't wait. Harm says it is Mac's wedding. Loftness asks if he is the best man. Harm says no and Loftness asks what the problem is then. Harm says he just has to be there. Ingles says he will talk to the CAG. If he OK's it then he will be the first man out. Loftness says Skates has liberty this weekend and tells Harm that he can take her with him. Harm thanks them and they walk back inside.
    After the practice ceremony everyone walks back outside to their cars. When Bud is walking he drops his cell phone and breaks it. The storm is just starting there. Mic says he can't wait to her Bud toast tonight. Bud said he thought he would say the toast at the reception. Mic says Bud can give them all just a sampling tonight. Mic walks to his car and Bud tells Harriet that he hasn't even written the speech yet. The other cars start to drive off when Harriet sees that Bud left their cars lights on. Bud tries to flag down Mic but it is too late, everyone has left. Bud tells Harriet that he can't even use his cell phone to call for help because he dropped it. 
    Ingles is telling Harm and Skates, who are in their flight suites, that they have a storm approaching from the North, but they are able to outrun it. Harm thanks Ingles for letting them go. Ingles says he will see Skates on Monday and he will see Harm in 6 months. 
    Harm and Skates get back into their plane and take off. 
    At the dinner Mic and Chloe are sitting next to each other talking. The Admiral pours Mic a glass of champagne and pours Chloe a glass of ginger ale. Chloe says she wants to taste champagne and the Admiral tells her to ask him again in 8 years. When the Admiral walks away Mic tells Chloe she dropped her napkin. The napkin is in Chloe's lap but Mic tells her to look under the table. Chloe looks under the table and Mic gives her his glass of champagne and tells her she can take one sip. No one can see her under the table. Chloe takes a sip and doesn't like it and gets a weird look on her face.
    The radar on the carrier tells Skates that they are loosing them in the storm and tells them to alter course a little. Harm does after Skates tells him to. A low level oxygen warning light comes on and Skates tells Harm they should get below 10,000 feet. Harm does, but know they are more vulnerable to the storm. 
    The Admiral sees Mac just looking around the room. He comes up to her and asks what she is thinking about. Mac says nothing. The Admiral asks what are her long term plans. Mac laughs and says she just wants to get through the week. The Admiral asks if they have talked about a family. Mac says they want a child, just where and when is the question. The Admiral asks if they are thinking of Australia. Mac says they are going there on their honeymoon. Mac ask if he thinks it should be permanent and the Admiral says she should do whatever is best for her. The Admiral realizes that Mac hasn't really thought about where they are going to live and tells her that. Mac says she thinks about it everyday, she just never gets past the question. 
    Skates is talking to the control tower at Washington Center. The storm is pretty rough. Skates sees a storm cell in front of them and tells Harm to change course and he does. Skates sees more storms ahead on her radar scope. All of a sudden their Tomcat violently banks to the right and then levels off. Skates asks if Harm just did that and Harm says no. Skates asks what just happened and Harm says he doesn't know.  
    At the church a man stops to give Bud's car a boost. But Bud and Harriet's car still won't start. 
    On the Tomcat the autopilot is having problems and Harm must manually fly the plane. It is a very bumpy ride. There is a huge storm in front of them and they must now fly around it. 
    Renee comes to the party and Mac greets her. They both feel pretty awkward and there are many long pauses where nothing is said. 
    On the plane more systems fail. They decide to fly straight through the storm because Harm doesn't know how long the plane will fly. Skates radio's the control tower and informs them of their problems. The tower can't see them on radar so Skates makes a guess on where they should be. 
    On the carrier a woman comes to tell Ingles that they lost radar contact with Harm and Skates' plane in the storm. Ingles calls the air boss and tells him to assign air crews for search and rescue. 
    More systems start to fail on the plane. There is a closer airport but it is closed due to weather so they keep heading towards Andrews. The plane shakes again and the generator fails. Harm is flying using the trim tabs and Skates starts squawking an emergency signal. 
    Bud finally gets the car started just as the carrier picks up the emergency signal. 
    The plane is loosing airspeed and altitude. Harm says he doesn't have control of the plane anymore and he tells Skates that they will have to eject. They start checking their equipment and Skates sends out their position one more time. Skates says she's not a good swimmer and Harm tells her to just remember her survival training. At 500feet Skates pulls the ejection handle. The canopy blows off and Skates seat flies up… But Harm doesn't follow. He is still in the plane because his seat didn't go. Harm has to pull his handle himself and he flies up and his parachute opens. Because Harm ejected so late, he is far away from Skates. 
    At the dinner the Admiral start to say a speech because Bud hasn't arrived. Just as he starts Bud walks in dripping wet. Bud says he will do the speech. When he stands in front of everybody he goes blank. He looks at Harriet smile at him and he now know what to say. He says that he spent a lot of this year trying to figure out how things work in life… and he still has no idea. But he does know that four years ago the Admiral assigned him to help then Major MacKenzie and Lt. Commander Rabb on the Seahawk. The thing was he and his brother had tickets to a concert that he really wanted to go to. He couldn't find anyone that would take his spot on the Seahawk, so he had to go on the carrier and Mikey went to the concert. But on that carrier he met Harriet. Bud says that Mic and Mac getting together was a matter of destiny. 
    Harm lands in the ruff water and tries to stay afloat. His parachute lands on top of  him and he can't reach the surface. 
    On the carrier Ingles orders the launch of a Seahawk and a Viking. Loftness heading up the search in the Viking.
    Harm takes out his pocketknife and starts to cut the strings of his parachute. When he cuts the last string he pops on the surface and takes a deep breath of air, but is then pulled back down. There is one more string that got tangled around his foot. Harm struggles to reach down because his life vest is inflated and cut the rope. He finally cuts the rope and comes back to the surface. Harm swims toward his life raft and struggles to hold on to it with huge waves crashing on top of him.
    When everyone is congratulation Bud on his speech there is a phone call. The Admiral gets up to answer it. While he is on the phone Bud asks the Admiral if there is anything else he would like to add. The Admiral doesn't know how to tell them the news. He says that he was just patched through to Captain Ingles aboard the carrier Patrick Henry. Harm and his RIO were caught in a storm on a flight to Andrews. They are believed to have gone down at sea. Everyone just stares at each other. Renee asks why would they be flying in this weather. The Admiral says that Harm was trying to get back in time for the ceremony.
    The Air Boss is telling Ingles that the weather is getting worse. If things continue like this they will have to postpone the search until better weather arrives.
    At the dinner the priest is saying a prayer for Harm and Skates. One of the caterers comes with a telephone with a speakerphone. Mac asks the Admiral that if Ingles calls back could he asks Ingles to patch them through so they can hear the communications to and from the carrier concerning the search. The Admiral says OK. The Admiral goes to talk to Renee and Singer talks to Mac. Singer tells Mac that Harm is going to make it. Mac says he has in the past. Singer says that now he has an even better reason to come back… he has someone in his life. Mac gets uncomfortable because she thinks that Singer is saying that she is the "someone" in Harms life. Singer looks at Renee and Mac realizes that Singer is saying that that "someone" is Renee.
    The Viking radios the carrier and tells them that they see someone. Everyone is listening to this back at the dinner and Mac starts to smile. The Seahawk is sent to that position and the Viking drops flares around the person. The Seahawk spots a person in a raft and start to descend. The camera goes back to the dinner and everyone is gathered around the phone. We hear from the Seahawk pilot that, "We got him, we got him." The camera goes inside the helicopter and the person is Skates. Back at the dinner they hear that they have Skates and Mac looses her smile. The aircrew asks Skates if Harm is nearby and Skates says that she didn't see Harm eject. The helicopter is getting sever turbulence. Ingles thinks and tells the Viking to sweep the area one more time before quits. Mac can't keep quiet anymore and tells Ingles that in those conditions Harm could be very close. Ingles says that these conditions are dangerous for all. Mac says, "With all due respect…" Ingles cuts her off and says he isn't going to risk all those lives… Then the Admiral cuts him off and tells Ingles that no one is blaming him for stopping the search. The Admiral asks when will they launch again and Ingles says when the weather improves. The Admiral thanks Ingles then hangs up the phone. Mac starts to tear up and walks away from her guests. Mic follows her and she is in a room by herself and looking out the window. Mic stands in the doorway and asks if she is OK. Mac says she is fine, she just needs sometime alone. Mic pauses and says that if they found Skates, they will find Harm. Mic walks up behind her and tells her she should come back outside and be with the ones who love and support her. He puts his hand on her shoulder and turns her around to see that she is crying. She tries to stop crying but she can't.
    Harm is trying to hold onto the raft but the wind pushes it away from him. Harm just bobs up and down in the rough water as the camera starts to zoom out. Soon all we are able to see is the strobe light on his lifejacket and then the screen freezes.

    To Be Continued…