"For more than a year, ominous rumors had been privately circulating... among high-level Western leaders... that the Soviet Union had been at work on what was darkly hinted to be... the ultimate weapon:" "A doomsday device." "Intelligence sources traced the site of the top-secret Russian project... to the perpetually fog-shrouded wasteland... below the Arctic peaks of the Zhokhov Islands." "What they were building or why it was located in a remote, desolate place... no one could say." "General Ripper, sir." "Group Captain Mandrake speaking." "This is General Ripper speaking." " Yes, sir." " Do you recognize my voice?" "I do, sir." "Why do you ask?" "Why do you think?" "I don't know, sir." "We spoke just a few moments ago, didn't we?" "You don't think I'd ask unless it was pretty damned important, do you?" "No, I don't." "Let's see if we can stay on the ball." "Has the Wing confirmed holding at their fail-safe points?" "Yes, sir." "The confirmations have just come in." "Very well." "Now, listen to me carefully." "The base is being put on condition red." "I want this flashed to all sections immediately." "Condition red." "Jolly good." "Keeps the men on their toes." "This is not an exercise." "Not an exercise?" "I shouldn't tell you this, but you're a good officer and have a right to know." "It looks like we're in a shooting war." " Oh, hell." "Are the Russians involved?" " That's all I've been told." "It came in on the red phone." "I'm gonna follow orders and seal this base tight." "Now, I want you to transmit Plan R..." "R for Robert, to the Wing." " Plan R for Robert." " Is it that bad, sir?" " Looks like it's pretty hairy." " Yes, sir." "Plan R for Robert." "Last and possibly most important..." "I want all privately owned radios to be immediately impounded." "They might be used to issue instructions to saboteurs." "As I previously arranged, Air Police will have lists of all owners." "I want every one collected without exception." "After you've done that, report back to me." "In order to guard against surprise nuclear attack..." "America's Strategic Air Command maintains... a large force of B-52 bombers airborne 24 hours a day." "Each B-52 can deliver a nuclear bomb load of 50 megatons... equal to 16 times the total explosive force of all the bombs... and shells used by all the armies in World War II." "Based in America, the Airborne Alert Force... is deployed from the Persian Gulf to the Arctic Ocean." "But they have one geographical factor in common." "They are all two hours from their targets inside Russia." "Major Kong, I know you'll think this is crazy... but I just got a message from base over the C.R.M. 114." "It decodes as Wing attack Plan R. R for Romeo." "Goldie, did you say Wing attack Plan R?" "Yes, sir, I have." "Goldie, how many times have I told you guys that I don't want... horsin'around on the airplane?" "I'm not horsing around." "That's how it decodes." "I've been to one world fair, a picnic... and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I heard over earphones." "You sure you got today's code?" "Yes, sir." "There's gotta be something wrong." "Wait a second, I'm coming back." "Maybe you'd better get a confirmation from base." "Yes, sir." "Major Kong, is it possible this is some kind of loyalty test?" "You know, give the go code and then recall to see who would actually go?" "Ain't nobody ever got the go code yet." "Old Ripper wouldn't be giving us Plan R... unless them Ruskies had already clobbered Washington... and a lot of other towns with a sneak attack." "Yes, sir." "Major Kong, message from base confirmed." "Well, boys, I reckon this is it." "Nuclear combat toe-to-toe with the Ruskies." "Boys, I ain't much of a hand at making speeches." "But I got a fair idea that something doggone important... is going on back there." "I've got a fair idea of the kind of personal emotions... that some of you fellows may be thinking." "Heck, I reckon you wouldn't be human beings... if you didn't have pretty strong personal feelings about nuclear combat." "I want you to remember one thing." "The folks back home are counting on you." "And by golly, we ain't about to let them down." "Tell you something else." "If this thing turns out to be half as important as I figure it might be..." "I'd say you're all in line for some important promotions... and personal citations when this thing's over with." "That goes for every last one of you... regardless of your race, color or your creed." "Now let's get this thing on the hump." "We got some flying to do." "Buck, should I get it?" "Yeah, you'll have to." "Hello?" "Yes, General Turgidson is here, but he can't come to the phone now." "This is his secretary, Miss Scott." "Freddie, how are you?" "Fine." "And you?" "Oh, we were just catching up on some of the general's paperwork." "He's tied up." "I'm afraid he can't come to the phone." "Just a minute." "General Turgidson, a Colonel Puntrich calling." "Tell him to call back." "Freddie, the general says could you call back in a minute?" "He says it can't wait." "For Pete's..." "Find out what he wants." "The general is in the powder room right now." "Could you tell me what it's about?" "Just a second." "Apparently they monitored a transmission eight minutes ago... from Burpelson Air Force Base." "Right." "It was directed to the 843rd Bomb Wing on airborne alert." "It decoded as Wing attack Plan R." "Well, tell him to call what's-his-name, Base Commander Ripper." "Do I have to think of everything?" "The general suggests you call General Ripper, the 843rd base commander." "Oh." "All communications are dead!" "Bull!" "Tell him to do it himself." "The general asks if you could possibly try again yourself." "I see." "He says he's tried personally several times, but everything is dead." "Even the normal phone lines are shut down." "Fred?" "Buck." "What's it look like?" "Yeah?" "Well, are you sure it's Plan R?" "Huh." "What's cooking on the threat board?" "Nothing?" "Nothing at all?" "I don't like the look of this." "Tell you what you better do, old buddy." "You better give Elmo and Charlie a blast and bump everything up to condition red." "Stand by the blower." "I'll get back to you." " What's up?" " Nothing." " Where's my shorts?" " On the floor." "Where are you going?" "No place." "I thought I might mosey over to the War Room to see what's doing over there." "It's 3:00 in the morning." "The air force never sleeps." "Buck, honey, I'm not sleepy either." "I know how it is, baby." "Tell you what you do." "You start your countdown and old Bucky will be back... before you can say "Blastoff!"" "Your Commie has no regard for human life, not even his own." "For this reason, men, I want to impress upon you the need... for extreme watchfullness." "The enemy may come individually or he may come in strength." "He may even come in the uniform of our own troops." "But however he comes, we must stop him." "We must not allow him to gain entrance to this base." "Now, I am going to give you three simple rules." "First:" "Trust no one, whatever his uniform or rank... unless he is known to you personally." "Secondly:" "Anyone or anything... that approaches within 200 yards of the perimeter is to be fired upon." "Third:" "If in doubt, shoot first and ask questions afterwards." "I would sooner accept a few casualties through accident... than lose the entire base and its personnel through carelessness." "Any variation on these rules must come from me personally." "Now, men, in conclusion..." "I would like to say that in the two years... that it has been my privilege to be your commanding officer..." "I have always expected the best from you... and you have never given me anything less than that." "Today the nation is counting on us." "We are not going to let them down." "Good luck to you all." "Here's the attack profile, sir." "This is your attack profile." ""To ensure that the enemy cannot monitor voice transmission... or plant false transmission... the C.R.M. 114 is to be switched into all receiver circuits." "The emergency base code prefix is to be set... on the dials of the C.R.M." "This will block any transmission other than those preceded by a code prefix. "" "Stand by to set code prefix." "Roger." "Ready to set code prefix." ""Set code prefix."" "Code prefix set." ""Lock code prefix."" "Code prefix locked." ""Switch all receiver circuits to C.R.M. Discriminators."" "Switched to C.R.M. Discriminators." ""Check auto destruct circuits."" "Auto destruct circuits checked." ""Primary target:" "The I.C.B.M. Complex at Laputa." "Target reference:" "Yankee, golf, tango... 3-6-0." "Thirty megaton nuclear device... fused for air burst at 10,000 feet." "Twenty megaton nuclear device will be used if first malfunctions." "Otherwise, proceed to secondary target:" "Missile complex seven miles east of Borchov." "Target reference:" "November, bravo, Xray... 1-0-8." "Fused air burst at 10..." Check..."12,000 feet."" "Excuse me, sir." "Something rather interesting has just cropped up." "Listen to that." "Music." "Civilian broadcasting." "I think the Pentagon has given us an exercise to check our readiness." "I think it's taking things too far." "Our fellows will be inside Russian radar cover in about 20 minutes." "Listen." "Chock full of stations all churning it out." " Mandrake?" " Yes, sir?" "I issued instructions for all radios to be impounded." "You did, and I was in the process of impounding this when I switched it on." "I thought our fellows hitting Russian radar, dropping all their stuff..." "I'd better tell you because if they do, it'll cause a stink." "Group Captain, the officer exchange program... does not give you any special prerogatives to question my orders." "I realize that, sir, but I thought you'd be pleased to hear the news." "After all, let's face it." "We don't want to start a nuclear war unless we have to, do we?" "Please sit down." "And turn that thing off." "Yes, sir." "What about the planes?" "Surely we must issue the recall code immediately." "The planes are not going to be recalled." "My attack orders have been issued, and the orders stand." "If you'll excuse me for saying so, that would be to my way of thinking... rather an odd way of looking at it" "If a Russian attack was in progress... we would certainly not be hearing civilian broadcasting." " Are you certain?" " I'm absolutely positive." "What if it is true?" "I'm afraid I'm still not with you, sir, because I mean... if a Russian attack was not in progress... then your use of Plan R..." "In fact, your orders to the entire Wing..." "I would say, sir, that there was something dreadfully wrong somewhere" "Why don't you take it easy, Group Captain?" "Please make me a drink of grain alcohol and rainwater... and help yourself to whatever you'd like." "General Ripper, sir, as an officer in Her Majesty's Air Force... it is my clear duty under the present circumstances... to issue the recall code upon my own authority and bring back the Wing." "If you'll excuse me, sir." "Sir, I must ask you for the key and the recall code." "Have you got them handy?" "I told you to take it easy, Group Captain." "There's nothing anybody can do now." "I'm the only person who knows the three-letter code group." "I must insist that you give them to me!" "Do I take it, sir, you are threatening a brother officer with a gun?" "Mandrake, I suppose it never occurred to you... that while we're chatting here so enjoyably... a decision is being made by the president... and the joint chiefs in the War Room at the Pentagon." "When they realize there is no possibility of recalling the Wing... there will be only one course of action open." "Total commitment." "Mandrake, do you recall what Clemenceau once said about war?" "No, I don't think I do, sir." "No." "He said war was too important to be left to the generals." "When he said that 50 years ago... he might have been right." "But today... war is too important to be left to politicians." "They have neither the time, the training... nor the inclination for strategic thought." "I can no longer sit back and allow..." "Communist infiltration, Communist indoctrination..." "Communist subversion... and the international Communist conspiracy... to sap and impurify... all of our precious bodily fluids." "Staines, is everybody here?" "Mr. President, the secretary of state is in Vietnam." "The secretary of defense is in Laos, and the vice president is in Mexico City." "We can establish contact with them at anytime." "The undersecretaries are here." "Right." "General Turgidson, what's going on?" "Mr. President... about 35 minutes ago..." "GeneralJack Ripper, the commanding general... of Burpelson Air Force Base... issued an order to the 34 B-52s of his Wing... which were airborne at the time... as part of a special exercise we were holding called Operation Dropkick." "It appears that the order called for the planes... to attack their targets inside Russia." "The planes are fully armed with nuclear weapons... with an average load of 40 megatons each." "The central display of Russia will indicate the position of the planes." "The triangles are their primary targets." "The squares are their secondary targets." "The aircraft will begin penetrating Russian radar cover within 25 minutes." "General Turgidson, I find this very difficult to understand." "I understood I was the only one to order the use of nuclear weapons." "That's right, sir." "You are the only person authorized to do so." "And although I hate to judge before all the facts are in... it's beginning to look like General Ripper exceeded his authority." "It certainly does, far beyond the point I would have imagined possible." "Perhaps you're forgetting the provisions of Plan R, sir." "Plan R?" "Plan R is an emergency war plan... in which a lower echelon commander may order... nuclear retaliation after a sneak attack... if the normal chain of command has been disrupted." "You approved it, sir." "You must remember." "Surely you must recall, sir, when Senator Beaufort made... that big hassle about our deterrent lacking credibility." "The idea was for Plan R to be a sort of retaliatory safeguard." "A safeguard?" "I admit the human element seems to have failed us here." "But the idea was to discourage the Ruskies from any hope... they could knock out Washington, and yourself, as part of a sneak attack... and escape retaliation because of lack of proper command and control." "I assume the planes will return automatically... once they reach their fail-safe points." "I'm afraid not." "The planes were holding at their fail-safe points... when the go code was issued." "Once they fly beyond fail-safe, they do not require a second order to proceed." "They will continue until they reach their target." "Then why haven't you radioed the planes, countermanding the go code?" "We're unable to communicate with any of the aircraft." "Why?" "As you may recall, sir... one of the provisions of Plan R provides... that once the go code is received... the normal S.S.B. Radios in the aircraft... are switched into a special coded device... which I believe is designated as C.R.M. 114." "In order to prevent the enemy from issuing fake or confusing orders..." "C.R.M. 114 is designed not to receive at all... unless the message is proceeded by the correct three-letter code group prefix." "You mean to tell me you will be unable to recall the aircraft?" "That's the size of it." "However, we are plowing through... every possible three-letter combination of the code." "But since there are 17,000 permutations... it's going to take us about two and a half days to transmit them all." "How soon will the planes penetrate Russian radar cover?" " About 18 minutes from now." " Are you in contact with General Ripper?" "No, sir." "General Ripper sealed off the base and cut off communications." "Where did you get this information?" "General Ripper called Strategic Air Command Headquarters... shortly after he issued the go code." "I have a portion of the conversation transcript if you'd like me to read it." "Read it." "The duty officer asked General Ripper... to confirm the fact that he had issued the go code and he said:" ""Yes, gentlemen, they are on their way in and no one can bring them back." "For the sake of our country and our way of life..." "I suggest you get the rest of SAC in after them." "Otherwise, we will be totally destroyed by Red retaliation." "My boys will give you the best kind of start: 1,400 megatons worth." "And you sure as hell won't stop them now." "So let's get going." "There's no other choice." "God willing, we will prevail in peace and freedom from fear... and in true health through the purity... and essence of our natural... fluids." "God bless you all."" "Then he hung up." "We're still trying to figure out the meaning of that last phrase, sir." "There's nothing to figure out." "This man is obviously a psychotic." "I'd like to hold off judgment until all the facts are in." "General Turgidson, when you instituted the human reliability tests... you assured me there was no possibility of such a thing ever occurring." "Well, I don't think it's fair to condemn a whole program... because of a single slipup, sir." "I want to speak to General Ripper on the telephone." "That's impossible." "General Turgidson, I am becoming less and less interested... in your estimates of what is possible and impossible." "General Faceman." "Yes, sir?" "Are there any army units stationed near Burpelson?" "I'll just check, sir." "Hello?" "I told you never to call me here." "Don't you know where I am?" "Look, baby, I can't talk to you now." "My president needs me." "Of course Bucky would rather be there with you." "Of course it isn't only physical." "I deeply respect you as a human being." "Someday I'm going to make you Mrs. Buck Turgidson." "Oh, listen, you go back to sleep." "Bucky will be there as soon as he can." "All right." "Listen, don't forget to say your prayers." "Apparently, the 23rd Airborne Division... is stationed seven miles away at Alvarado." "General Faceman, I want them to enter the base, locate General Ripper... and put him in immediate telephone contact with me." "Yes, sir." "Mr. President?" "If I may advise." "Under a condition red, it is standard procedure that the base be sealed off... and the base defended by base security troops." "Any force trying to enter would certainly encounter heavy casualties." "General Turgidson, with all due respect for your defense team... my boys can brush them aside without too much trouble." "Mr. President, there are one or two points I'd like to make, if I may?" "Go ahead, General." "One:" "Our hopes for recalling the 843rd Bomb Wing... are quickly being reduced to a very low order of probability." "Two:" "In less than 15 minutes from now... the Ruskies will be making radar contact with the planes." "Three:" "When they do... they will go absolutely ape and strike back with everything they've got." "Four:" "If prior to this time... we have done nothing to suppress their retaliatory capabilities... we will suffer virtual annihilation." "Five:" "Lf, on the other hand... we immediately launched an attack on their airfields and missile bases... we'd stand a damn good chance of catching them with their pants down." "Hell, we've got a five-to-one missile superiority." "We could easily assign three missiles to every target... and still have a very effective reserve force for any other contingency." "Six:" "An unofficial study which we undertook of this eventuality... indicated that we would destroy 90% of their nuclear capabilities." "We would therefore prevail... and suffer only modest and acceptable civilian casualties... from their remaining force which would be badly damaged and uncoordinated." "General, it is the avowed policy of our country... never to strike first with nuclear weapons." "Well, Mr. President, General Ripper has already invalidated that policy." "That was not an act of national policy." "There are still alternatives open to us." "Mr. President, we are rapidly approaching a moment of truth... both for ourselves as human beings and for the life of our nation." "Truth is not always a pleasant thing." "But it is necessary now to make a choice:" "To choose between two admittedly regrettable... but nevertheless distinguishable postwar environments." "One, where 20 million people are killed;" "the other, 150 people killed." "You're talking about mass murder, General, not war." "Mr. President, I'm not saying we wouldn't get our hair mussed." "But I do say no more than 10 to 20 million killed." "Tops!" "Depending on the breaks." "I will not go down in history as the greatest mass murderer since Hitler!" "It might be better if you were more concerned... with the American people than with your image in the history books." "General Turgidson, I've heard quite sufficient from you." "Thank you very much." "Mr. President, they have the ambassador waiting upstairs." " Good." "Any difficulty?" " He's having a fit about the M.P.s." "That can't be helped." "Have him brought here straightaway." "Yes, sir." "Is that the Russian ambassador?" "Yes, it is, General." "Am I to understand the Russian ambassador... is to be admitted entrance to the War Room?" "That is correct." "He is here on my orders." "I don't know exactly how to put this, sir... but are you aware of what a breach of security that would be?" "He'll see everything." "He'll see the big board." "That is precisely the idea, General." "That is precisely the idea." "Staines, get Premier Kissoff on the hot line." ""Survival kit contents check." "In them you will find one.45 caliber automatic... two boxes of ammunition... four days concentrated emergency rations... one drug issue containing antibiotics... morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills... sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills... one miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible..." "$ 100 in rubles... $ 100 in gold... nine packs of chewing gum... one issue of prophylactics... three lipsticks, three pair of nylon stockings."" "Shoot, a fellow could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with that stuff." " You don't have any fresh fish?" " I'm afraid not, sir." " Your eggs are fresh?" " Yes, sir." "I will have poached eggs." "And bring me some cigars, please." "Havana cigars." "That will be all, sir?" "I'll see to it right away." "Try one of theseJamaican cigars, Ambassador." "They're good." "Thank you, no." "I do not support the work of imperialist stooges." "Oh, only Commie stooges, huh?" "Mr. President." "You're gonna let that lousy Commie punk vomit all over us like this?" "Mr. President?" "They haven't reached Premier Kissoff." "They don't know where he is... and he won't be back for two hours." "Try B-8-6-5-4-3 Moscow." "You would never have found him through his office." "Our premier is a man of the people, but he is also a man, if you follow." " Degenerate atheistic Commie." " What did you say?" "I said Premier Kissoff is a degenerate atheistic Commie!" " Have this ignorant fool..." " I'm sorry!" "Mr. President, I think they're trying the number." "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here." "This is the War Room!" "What is going on here?" "I demand an explanation." "This clumsy fool tried to plant that ridiculous camera on me." "You bet your sweets, Mr. Commie!" "Look at this, Mr. President." "This lousy Commie rat was taking pictures with this of the big board!" "Mr. Ambassador!" "This clumsy fool attempted to plant that ridiculous camera on me." "That's a damn lie!" "I saw him with my own eyes." "This is outrageous." "I have never heard of such behavior in the War Room before." "Mr. President, I think they're getting him on the line." "You got to hand it to those Commies." "Yeah." "Those trucks sure look like the real thing, don't they?" "I wonder where they got them from." "Probably bought them from the army as war surplus." "Okay, open up at 200 yards." "Tell him where you are and that you'll speak if I say anything untrue... but nothing more than that." "Alexi?" "Alexi, please." "I beg you." "But I don't have a phone." "Give him the phone." "I've done as you asked." "Be careful." "I think he is drunk." "Hello?" "Hello, Dimitri?" "Listen, I can't hear too well." "Could you turn the music down a little?" "That's much better." "Yeah." "Yeah." "Fine." "I can hear you now, Dimitri." "Clear and plain and coming through fine." "I'm coming through fine, too, eh?" "Good." "Well, then, as you say, we're both coming through fine." "Good." "It's good that you're fine... and I'm fine." "I agree with you." "It's great to be fine." "Now, Dimitri... you know how we've always talked about the possibility... of something going wrong with the bomb." "The bomb, Dimitri." "The hydrogen bomb." "Well, now, what happened is... one of our base commanders, he had a sort of..." "Well, he went a little funny in the head." "You know, just a little funny." "And he went and did a silly thing." "I'll tell you what he did." "He ordered his planes... to attack your country." "Let me finish, Dimitri." "Let me finish, Dimitri." "Listen, how do you think I feel about it?" "Can you imagine how I feel about it, Dimitri?" "Why do you think I'm calling you?" "Just to say hello?" "Of course I like to speak to you!" "Of course I like to say hello!" "Not now, but anytime, Dimitri." "I'm just calling up to tell you something terrible has happened." "Of course, it's a friendly call." "Listen, if it wasn't friendly, you probably wouldn't have even got it." "They will not reach their targets for at least another hour." "I am positive, Dimitri." "I've been all over this with your ambassador." "It is not a trick." "I'll tell you." "We'd like to give your Air Staff a complete rundown on the targets... the flight plans and defensive systems of the planes." "Yes, if we're unable to recall the planes..." "I'd say, well... we're just gonna have to help you destroy them, Dimitri." "I know they're our boys." "Listen." "Now, who should we call?" "Who should we call?" "Sorry, you faded away." "The Peoples Central Air Defense Headquarters." "Where is that, Dimitri?" "In Omsk." "Right." "Yes." "You'll call them first, will you?" "Do you happen to have the phone number on you, Dimitri?" "What?" "I see." "Just ask for Omsk information." "I'm sorry too, Dimitri." "I'm very sorry." "All right, you're sorrier than I am." "But I am sorry as well." "I am as sorry as you are, Dimitri." "Don't say that you're more sorry than I am... because I'm capable of being just as sorry as you are." "So we're both sorry, all right?" "All right." "Yes, he's right here." "Yes, he wants to talk to you." "Just a second." "What?" "What?" "What is it?" "What?" "The fools." "The mad fools." "What's happened?" "The doomsday machine." "The doomsday machine?" "What is that?" "A device which will destroy all human and animal life on Earth." "All human and animal life?" " Mandrake?" " Yes, Jack?" "Have you ever seen a Commie drink a glass of water?" "Well, I can't say I have, Jack." "Vodka." "That's what they drink, isn't it?" "Never water." "I believe that's what they drink, yes." "On no account will a Commie ever drink water... and not without good reason." "Oh, yes." "I can't quite see what you're getting at." "Water." "That's what I'm getting at." "Water." "Mandrake, water is the source of all life." "Seven-tenths of this Earth's surface is water." "Why, do you realize that... 70% of you is water?" "Good Lord." "And as human beings, you and I need fresh, pure water... to replenish our precious bodily fluids." " You beginning to understand?" " Yes." "Have you never wondered why I drink only distilled water... or rainwater, and only pure grain alcohol?" "It did occur to me, Jack, yes." "Have you ever heard of fluoridation of water?" "Yes, I have heard of that, Jack, yes." "Do you know what it is?" "No, no, I don't know what it is." "Do you realize that fluoridation... is the most monstrously conceived... and dangerous Communist plot we have ever had to face?" "Two can play at that game, soldier." "That's nice shooting, soldier!" "Mandrake, come here." "You calling me, Jack?" "Come over here and help me with this belt." "I haven't had very much experience... with those sort of machines." "I've only ever pressed a button in my old Spitfire." "In the name of Her Majesty and the Continental Congress, feed me this belt." "Jack, I'd love to come, but what's happened, you see... the string in my leg is gone." " The what?" " The string." "I never told you." "I've got a gammy leg." "Oh, dear." "Gone." "Shot off." "Mandrake, come over here." "The redcoats are coming." "When it is detonated, it will produce enough radioactive fallout... so that in ten months... the surface of the Earth will be as dead as the moon!" "Come on, De Sadesky!" "That's ridiculous!" "Our studies show even the worst fallout is down to a safe level after two weeks." " You never heard of cobalt theoium G." " What about it?" "Cobalt thorium G has a radioactive half-life of 93 years." "If you take 50 H bombs in the 100 megaton range... and jacket them with cobalt thorium G... when they are exploded, they will produce a doomsday shroud... a lethal cloud of radioactivity... which will encircle the Earth for 93 years!" "What a load of Commie bull." "I mean, after all." "I'm afraid I don't understand something, Alexi." "Is the premier threatening to explode it if our planes carry out their attack?" "No, sir." "It is not a thing a sane man would do." "The doomsday machine is designed to trigger itself automatically." "Surely you can disarm it somehow." "It is designed to explode if any attempt is made to un-trigger it." "Automatically?" "It's a Commie trick!" "We're wasting valuable time!" "Look at the big board!" "They're getting ready to clobber us!" "This is absolute madness." "Why should you build such a thing?" "There are those of us who fought against it." "But in the end, we could not keep up with the expense involved... in the arms race, the space race and the peace race." "At the same time, our people grumbled for more nylons and washing machines." "Our doomsday scheme cost us just a small fraction... of what we have been spending on defense in a single year." "The deciding factor was when we learned your country was working similarly... and we were afraid of a doomsday gap!" "This is preposterous!" "I've never approved of anything like that." "Our source was The New York Times." "Dr. Strangelove, do we have anything like that in the works?" "A moment, please, Mr. President." "Under the authority granted me... as director of weapons research and development..." "I commissioned last year a study of this project... by the Bland Corporation." "Based on the findings of the report... my conclusion was that this idea was not a practical deterrent... for reasons which at this moment must be all too obvious." "You mean it is possible for them to have built such a thing?" "Mr. President, the technology required is easily within the means... of even the smallest nuclear power." "It requires only the will to do so." "But how is it possible for this thing to be triggered automatically... and at the same time impossible to un-trigger?" "Mr. President, it is not only possible... it is essential." "That is the whole idea of this machine, you know." "Deterrence is the art of producing in the mind of the enemy... the fear of attack." "And so because of the automated and irrevocable decision-making process... which rules out human meddling... the doomsday machine is terrifying... and simple to understand... and completely credible and convincing." "I wish we had one of them doomsday machines." "But this is fantastic, Strangelove." "How can it be triggered automatically?" "It's remarkably simple to do that." "When you merely wish to bury bombs... there's no limit to the size." "After that, they are connected... to a gigantic complex of computers." "Now then, a specific and clearly defined set of circumstances... under which the bombs are to be exploded... is programmed into a tape memory bank." "Hmm." "Strangelove?" "What kind of a name is that?" "That ain't no Kraut name, is it?" "He changed it when he became a citizen." "It used to be Merkwurdichliebe." "Well, a Kraut by any other name, uh, Stainsey?" "The whole point of the doomsday machine... is lost if you keep it a secret!" "Why didn't you tell the world?" "It was to be announced at the Party Congress on Monday." "As you know, the premier loves surprises." "Stay with me, Mandrake." "All right, now feed me." "Feed me, boy." "Don't you think we'd be better off away from this flying glass?" "We're okay here." "Mandrake, do you realize that in addition to fluoridating the water... there are studies underway to fluoridate salt, flour... fruit juices, soup, sugar, milk, ice cream?" "Ice cream." " Children's ice cream." " Good Lord." "You know when fluoridation first began?" "No, I don't, Jack." "1946." "1946, Mandrake." "How does that coincide with your postwar Commie conspiracy, huh?" "It's incredibly obvious, isn't it?" "A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids... without the knowledge of the individual." "Certainly without any choice." "That's the way a hard-core Commie works." "Jack." "Tell me, Jack." "When did you first become..." "Well, develop this theory?" "Well, I..." "I first became aware of it, Mandrake... during the physical act of love." "Yes, a profound sense of fatigue... feeling of emptiness followed." "Luckily I was able to interpret these feelings correctly." "Loss of essence." "I can assure you it has not recurred, Mandrake." "Women sense my power... and they seek the life essence." "I do not avoid women, Mandrake." "But I do deny them my essence." "Yes, yes, Jack." "Cease fire!" "My boys must have surrendered." "There it is." "Jack, listen." "While there's still time, I beg you, let's recall the Wing and..." "Those boys were like my children." "Now they let me down." "No, not a bit." "I'm sure they all gave it their very best." "I'm equally sure they all died thinking of you... every man jack of them, Jack." "Supposing a bit of water has gone off, eh?" "Certainly one can never be too sure about those things." "But look at me." "Do I look all rancid and clotted?" "Look at me, Jack." "Look." "And I drink a lot of water." "I'm what you might call a water man." "And I can swear to you, my boy, swear to you... that there's nothing wrong with my bodily fluids." "Not a thing, Jackie." "Mandrake, were you ever a prisoner of war?" "Well, Jack, the time's running very..." " What?" " Were you ever a prisoner of war?" "Yes, I was, as a matter of fact." "Did they torture you?" "Yes, they did." "I was tortured by thejapanese." "Not a pretty story." "What happened?" "I don't know, Jack." "It's difficult to think under these conditions." "Well, what happened was... they got me on the old Rangoon-Inchinawa Railway." "I was laying train lines for the bloodyJapanese puff-puffs." "No, I mean, when they tortured you, did you talk?" "No, I..." "Well, I don't think they wanted me to talk, really, or say anything." "It was their way of having a bit of fun, the swine." "The strange thing is, they make such bloody good cameras." "Those clowns outside will give me a good going-over soon for the code." "Yes, you may have quite a point there, Jack." "I don't know how well I could stand up under torture." "The answer to that is, no one ever does." "And my advise to you is to give me the code now." "If those devils come back and try any rough stuff... we'll fight them together like we did just now on the floor." "You with your gun and me with a belt of ammo, feeding you." ""Feed me," you said, and I was feeding you, Jack." "You know, Mandrake..." "I happen to believe in a life after this one... and I know I'll have to answer for what I've done." "And I think I can." "Yes, of course you can." "Of course you can." "You can." "I'm a religious man myself, you know." "I believe in all that sort of thing and I'm hoping, you know, Jack..." "You've dropped your gun, Jack." "No, Jack, let me take that for you." "You know what I'm hoping?" "I'm hoping you're going to give me the code, boy." "You're going to wash and brush up?" "What a good idea." "Always did wonders for a man, a wash and brush up." "Water on the back of the neck makes you feel marvelous." "That's what we need:" "Water on the back of the neck and the code." "Supposing I play a little guessing game with you, Jack boy?" "I'll try and guess what the code is..." "Copilot to navigator." "I'm ready with the fuel figures now." "We have 109,000 total... 79,000 in the mains... and 30,000 in the auxiliaries." "And that works out to roughly... seven hours, 15 minutes endurance from this time." "D.S.O. To Captain." "I have an unidentified radar blip." "Distance: 60 miles." "Approximate speed:" "Mach three." "Looks like a missile tracking us." "Confirmed:" "Definite missile track." "Commence evasive action right." "Missile still closing range." "Distance: 50 miles." "Continue evasive action." "Lock E.C.M. To target intercept mode." "E.C.M. Locked to target intercept mode." "Missile still tracking and closing distance." "Range: 40 miles." "Continue evasive action." "Electronic Guidance Scrambler to blue grid." "Missile still tracking steady and closing distance." "Range: 30 miles." "Missile still closing true and steady." "Continue evasive action." "Range: 20 miles." "Missile still closing distance and tracking steady." "Attack range gate on maximum scan." "Range gate on maximum scan." "Range: 10 miles." "Missile track deflecting." "Continue evasive action." "Deflection increasing." "Range:" "Eight miles." "Deflection still increasing." "Range:" "Six miles." "Missile still deflecting." "Range:" "Four miles." "Range:" "Two miles." "Missile still deflecting." "Range:" "One mile." "Missile detonated!" " Start lever to cut off!" " Cut off!" "We're losin' power!" "Re-select essential power!" "Essential power re-selected." "The hatch is stuck!" "Hit emergency power!" " Extinguishers!" " Roger!" " Transfer switches!" " Transferred!" " Boost pumps off!" " Cut off!" "Fuel valves three, four and six!" "Give me full power!" "Peace on Earth." "P.O.E." "Purity of Essence." "O.P.O.E." "Put your hands over your head." "What do you think you're doing?" "Who are you?" "Put your hands over your head." "What kind of suit do you call that, fella?" "What do you mean, suit?" "This happens to be an R.A.F. Uniform... and I am Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, General Ripper's executive officer." "Where's General Ripper?" "He's dead, in the bathroom." "Where's the bathroom?" "Next to you." "I don't know what stupid game this is you're playing... but I've got a good idea what the recall code is... and I have to get in touch with SAC headquarters immediately!" "Put your hands over your head and keep 'em there!" "Go on." "Got any witnesses?" "What are you talking about?" "He shot himself!" "While he was shaving'?" "Now look, Colonel Bat Guano... if that really is your name... may I tell you that I have a very good idea..." "I think, hope, pray..." "what the recall code is." "It's some theme he kept repeating." "A variation on..." ""Peace on Earth" or "Purity of Essence," one of those." "Put your hands on top of your head." "Start walkin'." "Don't you know that General Ripper went mad... and sent the whole Wing to attack the Soviets?" " What are you talkin' about?" " I'll tell you what I'm talking about." "I'm going to pick up this red telephone, which is connected to SAC... and I hope..." "Blast." "Blast." "Shot away, I expect, by one of your men during this ridiculous fighting!" "Right." "All right, Charlie, I've been wastin' too much time on you." "I got a lot of wounded men outside." "Start walkin'." "All the radio gear is out, including the C.R.M. 114." "I think the auto-destruct mechanism got hit and blew itself up." "The fire is out." "The emergency power is on." "Everything checks out all right." "Will advise." "Roger." "Navigator?" "I've worked out our rate of fuel loss at approximately 1-6-2 per minute." "This gives us a radius of action sufficient to take out... primary and secondary targets, but we will not... repeat, not be able to make it back to any base or neutral country." "However, we would have enough fuel to ditch... at weather ship Tango Delta... grid coordinates 0-0-3-6-9-1." "Well, boys, we got three engines out." "We got more holes in us than a horse trader's mule." "The radio is gone, and we're leaking' fuel." "And if we was flyin' any lower, we'd need sleigh bells on this thing." "But we got one little budge on them Ruskies." "At this height they might harpoon us... but they sure ain't gonna spot us on no radar screen." "The other way." " Where are you taking me?" " To the main gate." "Colonel, I must know what you think has been going on here." " You wanna know what I think?" " Yes." "I think you're some kind of deviated "prevert."" "I think General Ripper found out about your "preversion"... and that you were organizing some kind of mutiny of"preverts."" "Now, move!" "On top of that, I don't know anything about any planes attacking Russia." "I was told to get Ripper on the phone with the President of the United States." "Now just one second." "You just said "the president."" "What about the president?" "The president wants to speak to General Ripper, doesn't he?" "Now, General Ripper is dead, is he not?" "I am General Ripper's executive officer... so the president will want to speak to me, won't he?" "There's a telephone box over there and the line may be open." "You wanna talk to the President of the United States?" "I don't want to talk to him, Colonel, I've got to talk to him." "And if you don't put that gun away and stop this stupid nonsense... the Court of Inquiry on this will give you such a pranging... you'll be lucky to end up wearing the uniform of a bloody toilet attendant!" "Go ahead, try and get the President of the United States on the phone." "Try any "preversions," I'll blow your head off." "Operator?" "This is Group Captain Lionel Mandrake." "I'm speaking from Burpelson Air Force Base." "Something urgent has come up and I want you to place a person-to-person call... with President Merkin Muffley in the Pentagon, Washington, D.C." "Burpelson 3-9-1-8-0." "No, I'm perfectly serious." "The President of the United States." "I'm sorry, I haven't got enough change." "Could you make this a collect call, Operator?" "Just one second, Operator." "They won't accept the call." "Have you got 55 cents?" "Do you think I'd go into combat with loose change in my pocket?" "Operator, look." "Is it possible to make this an ordinary trunk call?" "Well, what do you call it?" "You know..." "Oh, station-to-station." "Oh, blast!" "I'm still 20 cents short." "Operator, hold on." "I shan't keep you a second." "Colonel, that Coca-Cola machine." "I want you to shoot the lock off it." "There may be change in there." "That's private property." "Can you possibly imagine what is going to happen to you... your frame outlook, way of life and everything... when they learn you have obstructed a phone call to the president?" "Can you imagine?" "Shoot it off!" "Shoot with the gun!" "That's what the bullets are for, you twit!" "Okay, I'm gonna get your money for you." "But if you don't get the president on the phone, you know what's gonna happen?" "You're gonna have to answer to the Coca-Cola Company." "This is SAC Communications Control." "The recall code O.P. E... is being acknowledged "roger"... by elements of the 8-4-3 Bomb Wing." "These are the details." "Missions 12, 22, 30 and 38... are reported destroyed by enemy action." "All other missions have acknowledged recall code." "This is SAC Communications Control." "Over and out." "Gentlemen, gentlemen." "Gentlemen." "Mr. President." "I'm not a sentimentalist by nature... but I think I know what's in every heart in this room." "I think we all ought to bow our heads... and give a prayer of thanks for our deliverance." "Lord... we have heard the wings of the Angel of Death... fluttering over our heads from the Valley of Fear." "You have seen fit to deliver us from the forces of evil..." "Excuse me, sir." "Premier Kissoff s calling again and he's hopping mad." "Fuel flow on active engines and leakage has increased." "Now works out at 2-0-5." "Estimate remaining fuel... at 8-7-9-0." "Roger." "Confirm 2-0-5 per minute... and remaining fuel 8-7-9-0." "No, no, Dimitri, there must be some mistake." "No, I'm certain of that." "I'm perfectly certain of that, Dimitri." "Just a second." "You know what he says?" "He says one of the planes hasn't turned back." "He says according to information forwarded by our Air Staffs... it's headed for the missile complex at Laputa." "That's impossible, Mr. President." "I mean, look at the big board." "Thirty-four planes, 30 recalls acknowledged and four splashes... and one of them was targeted for Laputa." "Dimitri, look, we've got an acknowledgement from every plane... except the four you've shot down." "Hang on a second, Dimitri." "He says their air defense now only claims three aircraft confirmed." "The fourth may only be damaged." "Mr. President..." "I'm beginnin' to smell a big, fat Commie rat." "I mean, supposing' Kissoff is lyin' about that fourth plane... just lookin' for an excuse to clobber us?" "If the spaghetti hits the fan, we're in trouble." "Dimitri, look, if this report is true... and the plane manages to bomb the target... is this gonna set off the doomsday machine?" "Are you sure?" "Well, I guess you're just gonna have to get that plane, Dimitri." "I'm sorry they're jamming your radar and flying so low... but they're trained to do it." "It's initiative." "Look, Dimitri, you know exactly where they're going... and I'm sure your entire air defense can stop a single plane." "It's not gonna help either one of us if the doomsday machine goes off, is it?" "There's no point in you getting hysterical at a moment like this!" "Keep your feet on the ground when you're talking, Dimitri." "I am not..." "I am not getting..." "No, Dimitri, I'm just worried." "That's all." "Now look, if our Air Staffs say its primary target is Laputa... and its secondary target is Borchov, it's true." "You gotta believe it!" "Dimitri, can I give you just one word..." "Can I give you just one word of advice, Dimitri?" "Listen, Dimitri." "Put everything you've got into those two sectors, and you can't miss!" "Sir, if we continue to lose fuel at the present rate..." "I estimate we only have 38 minutes flying time... which will not even take us as far as the primary." "Doggone it, Sweets, you told me that you could get me to the primary!" "I'm sorry, sir." "That estimate was based on the original loss rate factor... not at 2-0-5." "I don't give a hoot in hell how you do it... you just get me to the primary, you hear?" "I'm sorry, sir, but those are the figures." "We'll be lucky to reach weather ship at Tango Delta." "Well, shoot!" "We ain't come this far just to dump this thing in the drink." "What's the nearest target of opportunity?" "Sir, if the rate of loss does not increase... we have a chance to reach target 3-8-4... grid coordinate 0-0-3-6-9-1... and possibly make it from there to the Tango Delta weather ship." "What kind of a target is that, anyhow?" "Sir, that's the I.C.B.M. Complex at Kotloss." "All right." "Designating new target: 3-8-4." "Give me a heading'on that just as soon as you get it worked out." "We'll keep our fingers crossed." "Remember, we're all in this together." "We're right behind you, we're with you all the way." "Yes." "We'll keep the line open." "All right, Dimitri." "General Turgidson... is there really a chance for that plane to get through?" "Mr. President, if I may speak freely." "The Ruskie talks big, but frankly we think he's short of know-how." "You can't expect ignorant peons to understand a machine like our boys." "That's not meant as an insult, Mr. Ambassador." "We all know how much guts the average Ruskie's got." "Look at all of them Nazis killed off, and they still wouldn't quit!" "Can't you stick to the point?" "Well, sir, if the pilot's good, see..." "I mean, if he's really sharp, he can barrel that baby in so low." "You oughta see it!" "It's a sight!" "A big plane like a 52!" "Vroom!" "Its jet exhaust frying' chickens in the barnyard!" " But has he got a chance?" " Has he got a chance?" "Hell, ye..." "Navigator to Captain." "Approaching target at distance 1-0 miles." "Switch from green grid to target orange." "Roger." "Ready for final bomb run check." " Take over, Ace." " Roger." " D.S.O. Ready." " Bombardier ready, sir." "Bomb fusing, master safety on." "Electronic, barometric, time and impact." "Bomb fusing, master safeties on." "Electronic, barometric, time and impact." "Fuse for ground burst." "Delay factor yellow three." "Fuse for ground burst." "Delay factor yellow three." "Bomb fusing circuits one through four, test." "Bomb fusing circuits one through four, test." "Lights on." "Bomb arming test lights on, one through four." "Bomb arming test lights on, one through four." "Engage primary trigger switch override." "Primary trigger switch override engaged." "Track indicators to maximum deflection." "Track indicators to maximum deflection." "Detonator set to zero altitude." "Detonator set to zero altitude." "Release first safety." "First safety released." " First safety." " Release second safety." "Second safety released." "Second safety." "Check bomb door circuits one through four." "Uh, bomb door circuits... negative function, lights red." " Switch in backup circuits." " Roger." "Backup circuits switched in." "Still negative function." "Engage emergency power." "Roger." "Emergency power on." "Still negative function." "Operate manual override!" "Roger." "Still negative function." "The Teleflex drive cable must be sheared away." " Fire the explosive bolts!" " Roger." "Still negative, sir." "The operating circuits are dead, sir." "Stay on the bomb run, Ace." "I'm goin' down below and see what I can do." "Stay on the bomb run." "I'm gonna get them doors open if it harelips everybody on Bear Creek!" "Target orange grid reference checks." "Target distance:" "Eight miles." "Roger." "Eight miles." "Telemetric guidance computer into orange grid." "Telemetric guidance computer into orange grid." "Target distance:" "Seven miles." "Correct track indicator:" "Minus seven." "Roger." "Seven miles." "Check G.P.I. Acceleration factor." "G.P.I. Acceleration factor set." "Target distance:" "Six miles." "Roger." "Six miles." "Pulse ident transponder active." "Pulse ident transponder active." "Target distance:" "Five miles." "Five miles." "Homing alignment factor to zero mode." "Homing alignment factor to zero mode." "Target distance:" "Four miles." "Roger." "Four miles." "Auto C.D.C. Into manual Teleflex link." "Auto C.D.C. Into manual Teleflex link." "Target distance:" "Three miles." "Roger." "Three miles." "Target in sight!" "Where in hell is Major Kong?" "What about Major Kong?" "Mr. President, I would not rule out the chance... to preserve a nucleus of human specimens." "It would be quite easy... at the bottom of some of our deeper mine shafts." "The radioactivity would never penetrate a mine some thousands of feet deep." "And in a matter of weeks, sufficient improvements in dwelling space... could easily be provided." "How long would you have to stay down there?" "Well, that's, you know..." "Cobalt thorium G." "Radioactive half-life of..." "I would think that possibly one hundred years." "You mean, people could actually stay down there for 100 years?" "It would not be difficult, Mein Fuhrer." "Nuclear reactors could..." "I'm sorry, Mr. President." "Nuclear reactors could provide power almost indefinitely." "Greenhouses could maintain plant life." "Animals could be bred and slaughtered." "A quick survey would have to be made of the available mine sites in the country." "But I would guess that a dwelling space... for several hundred thousand of our people could easily be provided." "Well, I would hate to have to decide... who stays up and who goes down." "Well, that would not be necessary, Mr. President." "It could easily be accomplished with a computer." "And the computer could be set and programmed... to accept factors from youth, health... sexual fertility, intelligence... and a cross-section of necessary skills." "Of course, it would be absolutely vital... that our top government and military men be included... to foster and impart the required principles of leadership and tradition." "Naturally, they would breed prodigiously." "There would be much time and little to do." "But with the proper breeding techniques and a ratio of, say... ten females to each male... they could then work their way back to the present gross national product... within 20 years." "But look, Doctor." "Wouldn't this nucleus of survivors... be so grief-stricken and anguished that they... well, envy the dead and not want to go on living?" "No, sir." "Excuse me." "When they go down into the mine, everyone would still be alive." "There would be no shocking memories... and the prevailing emotion will be one of nostalgia for those left behind... combined with a spirt of... bold curiosity for the adventure ahead!" "Doctor... you mentioned the ratio of ten women to each man." "Now, wouldn't that necessitate the abandonment... of the so-called monogamous sexual relationship?" "I mean, as far as men were concerned?" "Regrettably, yes." "But it is a sacrifice required for the future of the human race." "I hasten to add that since each man will be required to do prodigious... service along these lines... the women will have to be selected for their sexual characteristics... which will have to be of a highly stimulating nature." "I must confess, you have an astonishingly good idea there, Doctor." "Thank you, sir." "We ought to look at this from the military point of view." "I mean, supposing the Ruskies... stashed away some big bombs, see, and we didn't?" "When they come out in 100 years, they could take over!" "I agree, Mr. President." "They might try a sneak attack so they could take over our mine shaft space." "It'd be extremely naive of us to imagine that these new developments... are gonna cause any change in Soviet expansionist policy!" "I mean, we must be increasingly on the alert... to prevent them from taking over other mine shaft space... in order to breed more prodigiously than we do... thus knocking us out through superior numbers when we emerge!" "Mr. President, we must not allow a mine-shaft gap!" "Sir!" "I have a plan..." "Mein Fuhrer..." "I can walk!"