DR. STRANGELOVE Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The BOMB CAST AT BURPELSON AIR FORCE BASE General Jack D. Ripper.............Base Commander Major Mandrake.....................Executive Officer to General Ripper Colonel "Bat" Guano................Battalion Commander Private Charlie....................Base Security Team Private Tung.......................Base Security Team Sergeant...........................Base Security Team *** IN THE WAR ROOM Merkin Muffley.....................The President General "Buck" Schmuck.............Air Force Chief Admiral Percy Buldike..............Navy Chief General "Flash" Faceman............Army Chief Ambassador de Sade.................Enemy Ambassador Von Klutz ) ) Zlat ) ) Frankenstein ) ) Cadaverly ) ) Didley )................Presidential Aides ) Turgidson ) ) Crudley ) ) Waffel ) ) Moffo ) WAR ROOM (Continued) Kulnick ) )................Presidential Aides Funkel ) Assorted Military Aides - about 30 altogether M.P. Orderly Major Nonce........................General Schmuck's Aide *** IN THE B-90, "LEPER COLONY" Major "King" Kong................Pilot Captain "Ace" Angst..............Co-Pilot Lieutenant.......................Bombardier Lieutenant Quentin Quiffer.......Defense Systems Officer (D.S.O) Lieutenant "Binky" Ballmuff......Navigator Lieutenant Terry.................Radio-Radar *** OTHERS Colonel Puntrich.................Air Command Duty Officer Miss Milky Way...................A Secretary Miss Pietraszkiewicz.............Switchboard Operator GENERAL NOTES: 1. The story will be played for realistic comedy - which means the essentially truthful moods and attitudes will be portrayed accurately, with an occasional bizarre or super-realistic crescendo. The acting will never be so-called "comedy" acting. 2. The sets and technical details will be done realistic- ally and carefully. We will strive for the maximum atmosphere and sense of visual reality from the sets and locations. 3. The Flying sequences will especially be presented in as vivid a manner as possible. Exciting backgrounds and special effects will be obtained. 1 MAIN TITLE CARD - A WEIRD, HYDRA-HEADED, FURRY CREATURE SNARLS AT CAMERA ROLL-UP TITLE "NARDAC BLEFESCU PRESENTS" Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the BOMB a MACRO - GALAXY - METEOR PICTURE 1a MOVING SHOT - THROUGH BLACK, STARRY, PERPETUAL NIGHT OF THE UNIVERSE The motion is straight ahead; passing at varying distances are stars, planets, asteroids, moons, aerolites and meteors. At great distances we see fantastic whirls of light indicating a vast nebula, or we see the incredible, dazzling billion-star clusters of another galaxy. MUSIC - WEIRD, EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL, ELECTRONIC SOUNDS NARRATOR The bizarre and often amusing pages which make up this odd story were dis- covered at the bottom of a deep crevice in the Great Northern Desert by members of our Earth Probe, Nimbus-II. NARRATOR Our story begins sometime during the latter half of Earth's so-called Twentieth Century. Simple nuclear weapons had been invented, but used only twice to finish the so-called Second World War. The Earth appears ahead of us, continually growing to reveal the shape of its continents and oceans. NARRATOR We deal with the period following this, which was chiefly marked by the fact that though every nation feared surprise attack, the full consequences of nuclear weapons seemed to escape all governments and their people. The Earth is quite close now, its circumference almost filling the screen. NARRATOR The quirkish author of this ancient comedy seems intentionally to have omitted the names of specific countries, possibly in the hope it would land a certain Universality to his theme. Geographic details fill the screen. CUT TO 2 DAY - AIR SHOTS - B-90 STING RAY BOMBERS Magnificent, swept-wing, eight-jet, Mach 2 aircraft. NARRATOR In order to guard against surprise attack, the nation in question kept seventy-five B-90 Sting Ray bombers air-borne, twenty- four hours a day. They were armed with a full load of nuclear weapons. 2a DAY - B-90's TAKING OFF NARRATOR As part of this air-borne alert, thirty-five B-90 Sting Ray bombers of the Air Command's 843rd Bomb Wing left the Burpelson Air Force Base, fourteen hours before. 3 B-90 STING RAYS - FLYING NARRATOR The aircraft were now dispersed from the Persian Gulf to the Arctic Ocean. They had only one geographical factor in common. They were all assigned targets inside enemy territory. 4 DAY - B-90 "LEPER COLONY" at 30,000 FEET NARRATOR One of the 843d's aircraft, the "Leper Colony," was approaching its Positive- Control point, Bear Island, a small dot in the Barents Sea, where it would turn around and head for home. 5 DOWN VIEW - STING RAY - FLYING SHOT NARRATOR Each Sting Ray carried a bomb load of fifty megatons, or fifty million tons of TNT, equal to fifteen times the total explosive force of World War Two, or twenty-five thousand times the explosive force of the Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. 6 REAR VIEW - STING RAY - FLYING SHOT NARRATOR The long, tense hours which always passed with such agonizing slowness during the twenty-four hours of an air-borne alert, now began to move quicker, as the mission passed its halfway mark. 7 FRONT VIEW - STING RAY - FLYING SHOT NARRATOR The crew of the "Leper Colony" knew they guarded the peace of the world just as surely as they knew the price they must pay within themselves to do it. 8 CU - MAJOR "KING" KONG - PILOT - INT. STING RAY He is a sharp-eyed, steady veteran flyer. CAMERA PULLS BACK showing MAJOR KONG, absorbed in a copy of "Plaything" magazine and absently munching a sandwich. We feature a photograph. PHOTOGRAPH - DOUBLE FOLD OF NUDE BLONDE Miss Milky Way, Plaything of the Month, a top government stenographer and part-time model. CAMERA PULLS BACK - CAPTAIN "ACE" ANGST showing CAPTAIN "ACE" ANGST, the co-pilot, reading another copy of "Plaything" and taking healthy bites out of an apple. He is a lean, bronzed, muscular type. The plane cruises on auto-pilot. 8a NAVIGATOR - LIEUTENANT "BINKY" BALLMUFF - READS "PLAYTHING" A burly, hoarse-voiced man in his early thirties, he sips coffee and chews on his sandwich. 8b RADIO-RADAR- LIEUTENANT TERRY TOEJAM - READS "SUNSHINE AND LOVE" A tall, curly-haired, meticulous man in his late twenties, he nibbles a piece of cake. 8c BOMBARDIER - LIEUTENANT LOTHAR ZOGG - A NEGRO A short, bull-necked man in his early thirties, smoking and dunking a cake. He reads "Nitelife" magazine. 8d D.S.O. - LIEUTENANT QUENTIN QUIFFER - READS "HI-JINKS" The Defense Systems Officer, LIEUTENANT QUENTIN QUIFFER, a blond, pleasant mid-Westerner. He eats chocolate crackers from a box. 8e NAVIGATOR - LIEUTENANT "BINKY" BALLMUFF He idly glances at his charts without putting down his copy of "Plaything" and snaps his intercom button. LIEUTENANT BALLMUFF Three minutes to turning point. Heading will be three-three-five. (back to "Plaything") 8f MS - PILOT - MAJOR "KING" KONG He glances up from his copy of "Plaything" and with the easy grace of a veteran pilot, leans forward and changes his gyro heading. MAJOR KONG Roger. Heading three-three-five. (back to "Plaything") 8g CU - RADARSCOPE There are a number of them. This one is the maximum search radar. The outer rim of the scope reveals a small point of light. At the same moment an electronic tone alarm directs the attention of the D.S.O. from his reading to the scope. 8h CU - D.S.O. LIEUTENANT QUENTIN QUIFFER LOOKING UP FROM "HI-JINKS" He studies the scope calmly and frowns. 8i CU - RADARSCOPE The D.S.O. moves a strobe marker to the blip. 8j CU - D.S.O. Quickly figuring on pad. LIEUTENANT QUIFFER (routinely) Bogey at one-four-five, approximately a hundred and thirty-five miles. 8k CU - NAVIGATOR - LIEUTENANT "BINKY" BALLMUFF Turning his copy of "Plaything" over so as not to lose his place, plots a position. We see that the radar contact is between the "Leper Colony" and the enemy coast. LIEUTENANT BALLMUFF Probably another radar surveillance job. 8l CU - PILOT Without looking up from his copy of "Plaything". MAJOR KONG (absently) Yes, that's probably what it is. 8m CLOSE RADARSCOPE The blip suddenly vanishes as the scope goes completely white. LIEUTENANT QUIFFER (calmly) He's showing off his ECM - jamming us out. MAJOR KONG (still absorbed in "Plaything") I wonder why he's doing that? LIEUTENANT QUIFFER I was thinking the same thing. Shall I give him a taste of ours? MAJOR KONG (still reading) Why should we do that, Quentin? LIEUTENANT QUIFFER (goes back to "Plaything") Yes, I suppose you're right, King. 8n CU - THE CRM - 114 This is the most highly guarded Air Command secret device. It is an automatic code receiver which displays three letters and three numerals. It suddenly whirrs and clicks into life, displaying three letters and three numerals. 8o CU - LIEUTENANT TERRY TOEJAM Looks up slowly from his magazine, leans forward and jots down the coded message. He carefully flips through a code book. LIEUTENANT TOEJAM Major Kong, we got a message from base. 8p CU - PILOT MAJOR KONG (still reading) Good. 8q MS - LIEUTENANT TOEJAM RAPIDLY DECODES THE MESSAGE LIEUTENANT TOEJAM I've decoded it, Major Kong. MAJOR KONG Good. LIEUTENANT TOEJAM It reads: Wing to hold at X-points. 8r CUTS TO CREW The magazines are lowered in slow motion. 8s CU - BOMBARDIER - LIEUTENANT LOTHAR ZOGG LIEUTENANT ZOGG (into intercom) I wonder why the're doing that. 8t CU - PILOT - MAJOR "KING" KONG MAJOR KONG (wisely) They have their reasons. 8u CU - NAVIGATOR - LIEUTENANT "BINKY" BALLMUFF LIEUTENANT BALLMUFF But we've been up fourteen hours. I'm beat. 8v CUTS TO CREW Who mumble ad-libs of agreement with the Navigator. Then slowly, each man goes back to his magazine and his lunch. 8w CU - LIEUTENANT LOTHAR ZOGG - READING LIEUTENANT ZOGG (sighing) Probably an exercise. LIEUTENANT TOEJAM (reading) Probably. MAJOR KONG (reading) They have their reasons. VARIOUS CUTS And now the six-man crew is still again, pondering the mysteries of beautiful women and calmly digesting their lunch. MAJOR KONG (wistfully to co-pilot) Ace, do you think she's really a top government secretary? He refers to the double fold-out of Miss Milky Way. CAPTAIN "ACE" ANGST (cynically) Yeah, I'll bet she holds the world's horizontal short-hand record. SUPERIMPOSE TITLE: "BURPELSON AIR FORCE BASE HEADQUARTERS 843rd BOMB WING" 9 NIGHT - EXT. MOONLIT VIEWS OF BASE - VARIOUS CUTS While the Wing is air-borne, the staff work is heavy, and the ground crews work overtime to refit aircraft. The runways are clear, and only the giant cicadas and the occasional whine of an electric tool break the stillness of the starry desert night. 10 INT. BASE COMBAT OPERATIONS CENTER It is sunken fifty feet below the administration building. Six officers man the command bridge. A loud buzzer. MAJOR MANDRAKE lifts special phone. MAJOR MANDRAKE Combat Operations Center, Major Mandrake speaking. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER This is General Ripper speaking. MAJOR MANDRAKE Yes, sir. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER Do you recognize my voice? MAJOR MANDRAKE Certainly, General. Why do you ask, sir? 11 INT. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER'S OFFICE Large, plush, part Air Force, part big executive - swank office decorations and furniture. A name-plate on his desk reads, "General Jack D. Ripper". GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER (sharply) Why do you think I ask? MAJOR MANDRAKE I don't know, sir. We just spoke a few minutes ago. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER (ruffled) Youddon't think I'd ask if you recognized my voice unless it was important, do you, Major? MAJOR MANDRAKE No, sir. The scene will intercut between MANDRAKE and RIPPER. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER Good. Has the Wing confirmed holding at X-points? MAJOR MANDRAKE Yes, sir. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER All right, Major. I'm putting the base on condition Red. MAJOR MANDRAKE Condition Red! GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER That's right. I want this flashed to all section immediately. MAJOR MANDRAKE Yes, sir. What's up, General Ripper? A significant pause. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER You're a good officer, Major Mandrake. You have a right to know. It looks like we're in a shooting war! MAJOR MANDRAKE A shooting war! GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER Yes, Major. This looks like it's going to be it. MAJOR MANDRAKE But...what kind of a shooting war? Have they hit any of our cities yet? GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER Major, that's all I've been told. Just got it on the red phone. The base is to be sealed tight. And I mean tight. MAJOR MANDRAKE Yes, sir. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER. That includes all communications and phones - incoming as well as outgoing. MAJOR MANDRAKE What if someone wants to call us? GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER Let me worry about that, Major. I've still got my red line to the Air Command. MAJOR MANDRAKE That's right, sir. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER We don't want to be vulnerable to saboteurs calling up and pretending to be different people from the President down, do we? MAJOR MANDRAKE You're right, sir. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER No calls from inside out. No calls from outside in are even answered. No calls. MAJOR MANDRAKE I understand, sir. Nothing comes or goes without your personal say-so. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER (harshly) No calls at all. With or without my say-so. My voice can be imitated too, Major. MAJOR MANDRAKE Yes, sir. I just thought of something, sir. How do I know I'm talking to you now? GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER Who do you think you're talking to? MAJOR MANDRAKE To you, sir. But how do I know? GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER Are you trying to be insubordinate? MAJOR MANDRAKE No, sir. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER I hope not. Now, as soon as you do what I told you, have Plan-R radioed to the Wing. MAJOR MANDRAKE Plan-R???? GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER Are you hard of hearing, Major? MAJOR MANDRAKE No, sir. Plan-R to be radioed to the Wing. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER As soon as you've done that, shut down the communications center. Lock it up and assign the personnel to base security details. MAJOR MANDRAKE General Ripper, if I shut down the communi- cations center, there'll be no radio or teleprinter contact with Air Command head- quarters or anyone, for that matter. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER Are you questioning my orders, Major? MAJOR MANDRAKE No, sir. I'm just bringing the facts to your attention, sir. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER You're a good officer, Major, and you're perfectly right to bring these facts to my attention. MAJOR MANDRAKE Thank you, sir. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER Now, as soon as you've done that, double- up on all base security teams. Our enemies are plenty smart, and there might even be an attack on the base by saboteurs. MAJOR MANDRAKE Yes, sir. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER And lastly, all privately owned radios are to be immediately impounded. They can be used to issue instructions to saboteurs. Air Police will have lists of all owners. 12 DAY - AIR SHOT - B-90 "LEPER COLONY" 13 DAY - INT. B-90 - VARIOUS CUTS The crew is still wistfully absorbed in their magazines. 13a CU - CRM-114 It whirrs to life again. Clicking off three letters and three numerals. 13b CU - LT. TOEJAM - RADIO He idly glances up at it. Sighs, reaches for his code book and starts decoding. He frowns. LT. TOEJAM Hey, King. Somebody at Burpelson has a very perverted sense of humor. MAJOR KONG (reading) Yeah? LT. TOEJAM I just got another blast on the CRM-114, and the damned thing decodes: Wing Attack, Plan-R. 13c CU - PILOT - MAJOR "KING" KONG He looks up pensively. MAJOR KONG Wing attack, Plan-R? 13d MASTER SHOT LT. TOEJAM Wing attack, Plan-R. That's exactly what it says. MAJOR KONG (lets magazine fall in lap) Check your code again. No one at base would pull a stunt like that, Terry. LT. TOEJAM That's what I'm doing, and it comes out the same. There is a pause as they think of the unthinkable. LT. "BINKY" BALLMUFF (standing) You must have made a mistake. LT. TOEJAM That's what it decodes. Come and see for yourself, Binky. Wing attack, Plan-R. The whole crew comes up and hunches over the CRM-114. The plane cruises on auto-pilot. LT. LOTHAR ZOGG (softly) Well, I'll be damned. LT. TOEJAM (holding out code book to pilot) Here, check it yourself. 13e CU - MAJOR KONG His cheek muscles twitch under his bronzed face. He is the picture of leadership. He turns away from the men for a moment, stares thoughtfully into space, then turns back determinedly. MAJOR KONG (with quiet dignity) Then this is it. LT. QUIFFER What? MAJOR KONG (solemnly) War. LT. QUIFFER (awe-struck) War? CAPTAIN ANGST (nodding gravely) Yes, that must be what it is. LT. BALLMUFF (aghast) War? LT. ZOGG (stunned) What else could it be? LT. QUIFFER Maybe it's an exercise. LT. BALLMUFF Yeah, to see if we're on our toes. MAJOR KONG (wisely) No, they wouldn't send us in with bombs on an exercise. LT. QUIFFER Maybe they want to test our loyalty. CAPTAIN ANGST But we got the Go-code. It's never been given to anyone before. MAJOR KONG (scowling) No, this looks like the real thing. LT. TOEJAM (philosophically) Yeah, it sure looks like the real thing, all right. They all soberly reflect on the wider implications of the news. The BOMBARDIER cracks his knuckles. LT. ZOGG (shaking his head) It's going to be rough on the folks back home. LT. BALLMUFF Yeah - real rough. They all shake their heads in melancholy agreement. LT. TOEJAM I wonder how it started? CAPTAIN ANGST Yes, how could it have started? THE D.S.O. shatter the calm dignity of the crew by raising his voice. LT. QUIFFER The bastards must have hit us! LT. BALLMUFF Yeah - but why would they do that, Quentin? LT. QUIFFER How do I know? But they must have. We wouldn't have started it. LT. ZOGG He's right. We wouldn't have started it. LT. QUIFFER (beginning to shout) They must have clobbered some of our cities already! LT. ZOGG He's right. They must have clobbered some of our cities already. LT. QUIFFER The dirty, stinking, rotten, sons of B's!! They might have clobbered Marge and the LT. QUIFFER (cont) kids already! 13f CU - MAJOR KONG He studies LT. QUIFFER with a jaundiced look. MAJOR KONG (John Wayne) Okay, cut it, Lieutenant Quiffer! If you speak once more before I give you per- mission, you'll face a general court martial when we get back. (looks around) And that goes for everyone else. He pauses for effect. 13g CU - D.S.O. LIEUTENANT QUENTIN QUIFFER looks down sheepishly. 13h CU - MAJOR KONG MAJOR KONG (John Wayne) Boys, we've got a mission to carry out. It's not exactly a pleasant one, but our country's counting on us, and we're not going to let 'em down. 13i FULL SHOT - THE CREW LT. QUIFFER I'm sorry, Major Kong. I guess I was way out of line. MAJOR KONG (extending his hand) Forget it, Quentin. It can happen to the best of us. Now let's get squared away. With various ad libs of agreement, the crew scramble back to their action stations. 13j VARIOUS SHOTS - CREW LIEUTENANT BALLMUFF opens a small safe and searches out a thick 8 x 10 sealed envelope marked "Plan-R", from among a dozen others. He shoots an inquiring look to the pilot and gets a nod. He breaks open the seal and distributes individual folders to each of the crew. MAJOR KONG Give me a first rough course as soon as you can, Lieutenant Ballmuff. LT. BALLMUFF Roughly, one-zero-five. I'll have it plotted in a minute, Major Kong. 13k MS - MAJOR KONG He adjusts the gyro, banks the big plane, and opens his folder. MAJOR KONG (reading from his folder) Okay. Check these points. Complete radio silence. To ensure that the enemy can't plant false transmissions and fake orders, the CRM-114 is to be switched into all receiver circuits. The three code letters of the period are to be set on the alphabet dials of the CRM-114, which will in turn block any transmissions other than those preceded by the code letters. You got it? LT. TOEJAM Roger, I'm setting up the CRM-114. MAJOR KONG Primary target the ICBM base at Laputa. One weapon fused for air burst at ten thou- sand. Second weapon to be used if first malfunctions. Otherwise the secondary gets it - the airfield outside of Karnak. Fused air burst at ten thousand. LT. BALLMUFF I've got the heading, Major. One-three-eight. MAJOR KONG Roger. One-three-eight. While he talks, other CUTS to the crew prepraring for battle. MAJOR KONG In about twenty minutes we start losing height to keep under coastal radar. Cross in over the coast low-level, continue low- level on zig-zag legs to primary, and climb for bomb run. (pause) Any questions? LT. ZOGG I've got one. MAJOR KONG Shoot, Lothar. LT. ZOGG Our targets are a missile complex and an airfield - not cities, right? MAJOR KONG That's what I said. LT. ZOGG Well, if there's a war, they must have hit us first. MAJOR KONG What's your point, Lothar? LT. ZOGG Well, if they hit us first, they've probably fired off their missiles and got their planes off the ground already. We'll just be hitting empty real estate. MAJOR KONG Are you saying our order don't make sense? LT. ZOGG Hellnno, Major. I was just trying to think the thing through. MAJOR "KING" KONG Lothar, you're down in the pay books as a bombardier, and you're a damned good bombardier. In fact, you're the best damned bombardier in 843rd Wing. 14 15 15a COLONEL PUNTRICH He sits at a table a phone. Six other officers are around him. COLONEL PUNTRICH Hello? This is Colonel Puntrich of Air Command Headquarters. Please connect me with General "Buck" Schmuck. 16 NIGHT - EXT. MODERN HOTEL DISSOLVE 17 SWITCHBOARD IN HOTEL The night GIRL is reading a paperback murder mystery. SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR I'm sorry, sir. General Schmuck is asleep and he isn't taking calls until eight-thirty. COLONEL PUNTRICH What is your name, young lady? SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR Ceida Pietraszkiewicz. COLONEL PUNTRICH What did you say? SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR Ceida Pietraszkiewicz...P...I...E... T...R...A...S...Z...K...I...E...W... I...C...Z. COLONEL PUNTRICH (he pronounces it perfectly) Now look here, Miss Pietraszkiewicz, this is Air Command Headquarters calling. DISSOLVE 18 OMITTED 19 NIGHT - INT. HOTEL ROOM - GENERAL "BUCK" SCHMUCK Phone rings. He wakes slowly, coughing from too many cigarettes. He snaps on the bed lamp and picks up the phone. The night table contains tissues, nose drops, and a glass of water. There is a pretty blonde asleep in the next bed, Miss Milky Way, Plaything of the Month! GENERAL SCHMUCK (angrily) Yes! COLONEL PUNTRICH General Schmuck? GENERAL SCHMUCK Yes! Who the hell is this? Miss MILKY WAY, about nineteen, appears from under the blankets of the adjoining twin bed. She yawns and stretches, revealing her astonishing body. She is indeed the same girl we saw featured in the "Plaything" fold-out-inside the B-90. COLONEL PUNTRICH This is Colonel Puntrich, sir. Duty officer at Air Command. I'm sorry to disturb you, sir. MILKY WAY (yawning) Who is it, Buck, honey? GENERAL SCHMUCK (covering mouthpiece) Go back to sleep, baby. COLONEL PUNTRICH What did you say, sir? She smiles, crosses over next to the General, and begins playing with his ear. He shrugs her off, playfully. GENERAL SCHMUCK I didn't say anything. What's the meaning of disturbing me at this hour, Colonel? COLONEL PUNTRICH General Schmuck, we monitored a trans- mission about six minutes ago from Burpelson Air Force Base, HQ 843rd Wing. It was apparently directed to their Wing on air- borne alert. It decoded as - Wing attack, Plan-R. She begins kissing his neck. GENERAL SCHMUCK Colonel, you're not drunk, are you, man? COLONEL PUNTRICH No, sir. GENERAL SCHMUCK Then why bother me with this nonsense? Get in touch with the base commander. She pulls him flat on the bed. COLONEL PUNTRICH We tried to contact General Jack D. Ripper at the base, but all their communications are dead, sir. She sprawls on top of him. GENERAL SCHMUCK Well, that's ridiculous. If the teleprinter and radio links are out of order, just pick up a phone and pay for a call. COLONEL PUNTRICH I know it sounds crazy, sir, but we tried, and nobody answers any of the telephones. GENERAL SCHMUCK sits up. GENERAL SCHMUCK Does the threat board show anything? COLONEL PUNTRICH Well, that's the funny part of it, too, sir. It doesn't show a damned thing. 20 NIGHT - EXT. LONG SHOT - BURPELSON AIR FORCE BASE Buttoning-up activity continues as the men listen to the GENERAL's broadcast echoing on a public address system. GENERAL RIPPER (public address system) I want to impress on you the need for watchfulness. A commie will try any trick to breach the security on this base. 21 PERIMETER FENCE - 10-MAN SECURITY DETAIL Digging in a machine gun about ten yards outside fence. The riflemen are spread out at 5-year intervals and are digging foxholes. GENERAL RIPPER (p.a.) He may come individually, or he may come in strength. He may come in the uniform of our own troops. 22 ANOTHER AREA - PERIMETER FENCE - 8-MEN SECURITY DETAIL They set up another light-machine gun. A squad of riflemen dig in too. GENERAL RIPPER (p.a.) Trust no one, whatever his rank, who is not known to you personally. 23 AIR POLICE - INT. HANGAR Collecting radios. GENERAL RIPPER (p.a.) Anyone or anything that approaches within two hundred yards of the perimeter is to be fired upon - without challenge. 24 INT. COMMUNICATIONS CENTER - MAJOR MANDRAKE The last of the staff are leaving. GENERAL RIPPER (p.a.) There are to be no exceptions to these orders. Last of all, I want to say I know all of you are worrying about your families here on the base and all over the country. 25 INT. GENERAL RIPPER'S OFFICE GENERAL RIPPER Well, you can be sure other men are defending your families elsewhere with the same unyielding spirit we're going to show here at Burpelson. Good luck to you all. RIPPER flicks the mike button and sinks wearily back into his chair. He lights a cigarette and inhales with satisfaction. 26 INT. COMMUNICATIONS SECTION - MAJOR MANDRAKE Snaps off his desk lamp and walks down the long, deserted room, double-clicking various power switches. He picks up a small transistor radio and idly snaps it on. A pop song ends and a disc jockey begins his commercial. 26a CLOSE - MAJOR MANDRAKE He tunes in a few other stations. All programs are normal. MANDRAKE frowns, thinks for a moment, and suddenly dashes out of the room. 27 NIGHT - EXT. IMPRESSIVE GOVERNMENT BUILDING Key personnel begin to arrive in cars which screech to stop. 28 NIGHT - INT. GOVERNMENT BUILDING HALL - VARIOUS SHOTS Officers hurrying to their tasks. M.P.'S guard re- stricted areas. 29 INT. WAR ROOM - (SEE PHOTO) 30 INT. WAR ROOM COMMAND BRIDGE A very large conference room. One wall is an enormous soundproof glass panel opening onto the various electronic displays in the War Room. Enter, PRESIENT MERKIN MUFFLEY, in a fury. Rising around a very large, polished wood conference table are the Chiefs of Staff, Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as various military and civilian senior aides - about twenty altogether. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY (seething) Good morning, gentlemen. Please sit down. They sit. There are readable nameplates in front of each officer. GENERAL "BUCK" SCHMUCK Good morning, Mister President. The PRESIDENT scowls. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Now, what the hell's going on? Four-Star Air Force General, "BUCK" SCHMUCK, stands and assumes his maximum dignity. GENERAL "BUCK" SCHMUCK Well, Mister President. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY What kind of trouble? GENERAL "BUCK" SCHMUCK Well, sir, about forty-six minutes ago one of my base commanders, General Jack D. Ripper, sent out attack orders to the thirty-four B-90's of the 843rd Bomb Wing, under his command. Note: 1. The name Schmuck appears on page 1431 of the 1961-62 Manhattan Telephone Directory. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY General Schmuck? GENERAL "BUCK" SCHMUCK Yes, sir. He issued attack orders to -- A paroxysm of rage seizes the President, MERKIN MUFFLEY, as he pounds his fist on the table, knocking over his nameplate. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY May I be stupid enough to inquire WHY IN HELL THE BASE COMMANDER OF THE 843d BOMB WING DID A THING LIKE THAT ??? GENERAL "BUCK" SCHMUCK To be perfectly honest, Mister President, we really aren't sure. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY You aren't sure! GENERAL "BUCK" SCHMUCK Not exactly, sir. You see, Colonel Puntrich at Air Command HQ received a call from him about twenty minutes ago. He asked General Ripper if he had issued the Go-code and the attack order, and General Ripper said: (he reads from a piece of paper) "Sure, the orders came from me. They're on their way in, and I advise you to get the rest of Air Command in after them. My boys will give you the best kind of start, and you sure as hell won't stop them now." Then he hung up. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Damn it! Damn it! I've been telling you all for years you've got too damned many psychoes in the service. GENERAL "BUCK" SCHMUCK Be fair, Mister President. Didn't we initiate the Human Reliability tests for all personnel handling nuclear weapons? PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Buck, when I told you to give them right up to the top, you said we couldn't insult a general officer by asking him to pass a test to see if he's a psycho. GENERAL SCHMUCK It was a honest mistake, sir. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY I presume the planes are armed? GENERAL SCHMUCK I'm afraid so, Mister Presient. Being part of the air-borne alert, each plane is carrying a full load - about fifty megatons apiece. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Well, what about the Positive Control, the safety catch? Don't the planes automatically come back unless they get a second order? GENERAL SCHMUCK That's right, sir. But the planes were at their Positive Control points, ready to turn around when General Ripper issued the final Go-code. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY And I suppose there's some reason why you haven't recalled them? GENERAL SCHMUCK Yes, sir. The base commander, General Ripper, selected Plan-R? PRESIDENT MUFFLEY What the hell is Plan-R? GENERAL SCHMUCK Well, sir, Plan-R is an emergency plan to be used by lower echelon commanders if higher echelons have been knocked out by a sneak attack. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Why can't you cancel it? GENERAL SCHMUCK Once the orders have been given, Plan-R requires any new orders to be received on the CRM-114 in the aircraft. But the CRM-114 will not receive any transmissions unless they are preceded by the proper three-letter code group. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY And I suppose you're going to tell me you don't know what the three-letter code is. GENERAL SCHMUCK Mister President, to guard against espionage, the three letter of the code group for Plan-R are always selected by the lower echelon commander himself, just before each mission. They are sealed in the various attack plans and are known only to the lower echelon commander and his deputy. In this case the deputy is air-borne with the Wing, and General Ripper refuses to recall the planes. The PRESIDENT shakes his head, wrathfully. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY How soon until the enemy finds out what's going on? GENERAL SCHMUCK We estimate the planes should be entering their coastal radar cover in about twenty-five min- utes. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY How could you let this happen, General Schmuck? GENERAL SCHMUCK Mister President, I know you think I've let you down, but we had to have a Plan-R. If we completely centralized the command and control, all a potential aggressor would have to worry about was knock- ing out maybe half a dozen headquarters and the Capitol, and we'd be out of business. We'd have planes and missiles just sitting there while we were getting clobbered. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Then there's no chance for recall? GENERAL SCHMUCK I should say practically none, though we have our communications center plowing through every possible three-letter combination. The trouble is that there are about seventeen thousand permutations, and it will take us approximately four and a half days to go through them all. There is a knock at the door. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Yes, what is it? M.P. CAPTAIN Excuse me, sir. But the mess orderlies are outside with the breakfasts everyone ordered. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY (waspishly) Captain, do you think the mess orderlies would mind waiting a few minutes until we have finished our little meeting? M.P. CAPTAIN (confused) No, sir...I mean, yes, sir. I'm sure they wouldn't. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY (shouts) Thank you, Captain. Now shut the damned door! He shuts the door. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY (Cont) I want to talk to the base commander, what's his name? GENERAL SCHMUCK General Jack D. Ripper, sir. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY I want to talk to General Ripper. GENERAL SCHMUCK But we can't communicate with the base. The PRESIDENT leans back and thinks for a moment. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY General Faceman, are there any troops stationed near the base who are not under General Ripper's command? All eyes go to GENERAL "FLASH" FACEMAN, the Army Chief. GENERAL "FLASH" FACEMAN I believe so, Mister President. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY (in burning sarcasm) Is it possible for you to know definitely, General? GENERAL "FLASH" FACEMAN Yes, sir. I can confirm it, but I believe there's a Special Services outfit stationed just on the other side of town, about seven miles away. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY General Faceman, I want you to get on the phone yourself and speak to the officer in charge -- GENERAL FACEMAN Yes, sir. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY (rapid fire) Please don't say "yes, sir" until I've finished speaking. Tell him to get himself and his men moving immediately. I don't even want them to waste time dressing. Just have them carry their weapons and ammunition, and move 'em out by any available means of transportation. If they don't have enough vehicles, commandeer cars off the highway. I want them there within fifteen minutes. And if he can't get them all there, get as many as he can. I want them to enter the base, locate General Ripper, and immediately put him in telephone contact with me. You understand, don't you, General? GENERAL FACEMAN (starts out of room) Yes, sir. One thing, Mister President. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Yes? GENERAL FACEMAN Under a condition red alert, the base will probably be sealed off and defended by the base security troops. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY I am aware of what a condition red alert implies. GENERAL FACEMAN Well, sir, they may not allow the Special Service troops to enter the base. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY (sarcastically) That's a very wise deduction, General. GENERAL FACEMAN Thank you, sir. But what shall I tell them to do if they are denied entrance? The PRESIDENT rocks in his chair looking as if he were about to explode. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Under the circumstances, General, what would you think they should do? GENERAL FACEMAN Well...I suppose penetrate the base by force. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY You see, you knew the answer all the time, General. GENERAL FACEMAN But that would mean some of our own boys will get hurt, Mister President. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY What do you suppose is going to happen if General Ripper's planes start bombing their targets? GENERAL FACEMAN That certainly would be a problem, sir. CADAVERLY Mister President, how do you feel about Civil Defense? PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Civil Defense...Hm-mmm...We don't want to cause an unnecessary panic. CADAVERLY Shall we allow the situation to mature a bit, sir? PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Yes, I think that's the wisest policy for the moment. 31 EXT. FLYING SHOT - B-90 STING RAY Tilting down toward the sea. 32 INT. B-90 LT. BALLMUFF (navigator) Make rate of descent fifteen hundred per minute. That should slide us in nicely under their radar cover. MAJOR KONG adjusts trim, throttling back slightly to maintain correct speed. We see the rate of descent indicator steady at 1500, speed steady at Mach one-three on the Machmeter. MAJOR KONG Steady at fifteen hundred per minute. Speed steady at Mach one-three. The navigator, LT. BALLMUFF, glances at his Ground Position Indicator, on which certain of the pilot's instruments are duplicated. LT. BALLMUFF Roger, maintain. MAJOR KONG Lothar, take your checks now. LT. ZOGG Okay, Major. LT. ZOGG, the Negro bombardier, is sitting in the midst of his equipment, which comprises several radioscopes and a battery of buttons and switch gear, as well as several banked rows of lights. He goes through the checks quickly, at ease wit the familiar equipment and a familiar task. LT. ZOGG Main search radar all green. Set for maximum range, maximum sweep. Again CUT between the pilot and bombardier, as bombardier calls each piece of equipment in turn, and pilot checks them on his list. LT. ZOGG Both electronic detectors set to swing from stud A through H. We see, on the bulky electronic detector, a small rotor arm moving rapidly through the sequence of stud settings, and flicking back to start again. MAJOR KONG A through H is correct. LT. QUIFFER (D.S.O.) Main interference linked to electronic detector. Fight interference on readi- ness state. MAJOR KONG Check. LT. QUIFFER Missile and plane flight path computer showing four greens. We see the four lights winking on an off in rotation on the computer. MAJOR KONG Check. LT. QUIFFER Zombies set to knock out local air defense four hundred miles from primary. LT. ZOGG Target approach radar tuning is right. All approach transparencies are checked, one through twenty-five. We see bombardier take one of the transparencies, slide it over approach radarscope. MAJOR KONG Check target approach. LT. ZOGG Bomb doors circuit is green, bomb release circuit is green, bomb fusing circuit is green. MAJOR KONG Check, all bomb circuits green. Okay, Lothar. LT. ZOGG When do you want to arm the bomb for the primary, Major? MAJOR KONG As soon as I've checked over the route. About five minutes. All right? LT. BALLMUFF In thirty seconds count-down clock should read eight-three minutes, King. 32a COUNT-DOWN CLOCK Pilot's hand sets clock to "83" 33 DAWN - LS - BURPELSON AIR FORCE BASE All the security details are in position, and everything is covered by a peaceful hush. 34 CU - GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER POINTING A 45 AUTOMATIC - INT. HIS OFFICE He gestures with the gun in a weirdly amiable way. GENERAL RIPPER Sit down, Major Mandrake. 34a MASTER SHOT MAJOR MANDRAKE closes the door behind him and sits. MAJOR MANDRAKE (smiling nervously) What's the gun for, General Ripper? GENERAL RIPPER Please don't take any notice of this weapon, Major. I love all weapons, and as of late, I've just taken to keeping a loaded weapon nearby at all times. MAJOR MANDRAKE (laughs shakily) Sort of like a new hobby, huh, General? GENERAL RIPPER That's right, Major. MAJOR MANDRAKE still holds the little transistor radio which softly plays a rock and roll tune. He smiles, idiotically. GENERAL RIPPER (softly) I see you're playing your radio, Major. Isn't that contrary to my instructions for the personnel of this base? MAJOR MANDRAKE Oh, it's not my radio, sir. I picked it up in the communications center. GENERAL RIPPER I didn't mean for anyone to play anyone else's radio either, Major. MAJOR MANDRAKE Yes, sir. General, can I ask a question? GENERAL RIPPER Certainly, Major Mandrake. You're a good officer, and you can ask me a question any time you want to. MAJOR MANDRAKE Well, General Ripper, sir -- I was thinking -- we're on a condition red, aren't we? GENERAL RIPPER That is correct, Major. MAJOR MANDRAKE And a condition red means enemy attack in progress, doesn't it? GENERAL RIPPER You know the regulations well, Major. MAJOR MANDRAKE Well, sir, I was thinking, if an enemy attack is in progress, how come the radio's still playing music? It's supposed to go off, and all we should hear are Civil Defense broadcasts. GENERAL RIPPER That's a good question, Major. Maybe if you think hard, you can think of the answer yourself. MAJOR MANDRAKE (timidly) Well, I was thinking, maybe an enemy attack is not in progress? GENERAL RIPPER And if that were true? MAJOR MANDRAKE wrinkles his forehead apprehensively. MAJOR MANDRAKE (cautiously) But then, sir, why have you issued the order: Wing attack, Plan-R? GENERAL RIPPER Because I thought it proper, Major. Why else would you think I'd do it? 34b CU - MAJOR MANDRAKE - AS THE FULL TRUTH SINKS IN MAJOR MANDRAKE You mean you are...starting...the War, sir? 34c MASTER SHOT GENERAL RIPPER Suppose that were the case? MAJOR MANDRAKE (awe-struck) But -- why...that would be an awful thing to do, sir. GENERAL RIPPER Perhaps, Major. Perhaps. Pour me a scotch and soda, please. And help yourself to whatever you like. MAJOR MANDRAKE rises unsteadily and goes to the built-in wall bar. GENERAL RIPPER Don't fret about it, Major. There's nothing anyone can do about it now. I'm the only one who knows the three-letter code group for the CRM-114. MAJOR MANDRAKE I know that, sir. GENERAL RIPPER We've come a long way since World War II, Major. And the lessons we've learned are all in Plan-R. MANDRAKE's hands tremble as he pours the drinks. MAJOR MANDRAKE I suppose they are, sir. GENERAL RIPPER You're damned right they are. MAJOR MANDRAKE How much soda, sir. GENERAL RIPPER Just a squirt. He gives a squirt. MAJOR MANDRAKE That about right? GENERAL RIPPER (accepting drink) Perfect. Thank you, Major. And now let's drink a toast. MAJOR MANDRAKE pours himself a big slug and keeps it straight. MAJOR MANDRAKE (raising his glass) What shall we drink to, sir? GENERAL RIPPER (with the eyes of a zealot) To peace on earth. They touch glasses. MAJOR MANDRAKE General Ripper, can I ask another question? GENERAL RIPPER Ask away, Major. MAJOR MANDRAKE Well, General -- I was wondering, why are you doing this? I mean why do you want to start the war? GENERAL RIPPER I've given it alot of thought, Major. Don't think I haven't. MAJOR MANDRAKE No, sir. I mean I didn't think you hadn't given it a lot of thought. GENERAL RIPPER Do you remember what Clemenceau once said about war? MAJOR MANDRAKE I don't think so, sir. GENERAL RIPPER He said war was too important a matter to be left to Generals. MAJOR MANDRAKE I see. GENERAL RIPPER When he said it, fifty years ago, he might have been right. But today, war is too important to be left to the politicians. Do you follow me, Major? MAJOR MANDRAKE I'm trying to, sir. GENERAL RIPPER You see, Major, at this very moment, while we sit and chat, a decision is being made by the President in the War Room. He knows that the enemy will pick up our planes on their radar in about twenty minutes. MAJOR MANDRAKE But when they do, sir, won't they hit back with everything they've got? GENERAL RIPPER If we haven't taken any further action, they certainly will. Doyyourhappen to remember the statistics on our casualties in the event of a full-scale enemy attack? MAJOR MANDRAKE Well, I think I remember reading the report on that. Wasn't it something like a hundred and sixty million? GENERAL RIPPER That's close enough, Major. MAJOR MANDRAKE But then why do you want to kill a hundred and sixty million of our people, sir? GENERAL RIPPER You're being dense, Major. I certainly don't GENERAL RIPPER (Cont) want to kill so many of our people. And neither does the President. Now look, Major Mandrake. What happens if the President immediately orders our entire missile force to hit enemy airfields, missiles and bases? MAJOR MANDRAKE I suppose we might catch them off their guard. GENERAL RIPPER Our missiles would impact before my planes were even discovered by the enemy, wouldn't they? MAJOR MANDRAKE I guess so. GENERAL RIPPER I know so, Major. I know so. And add to that, the whole Air Command force being committed to clobber everything they've got. MAJOR MANDRAKE But even then, we wouldn't get everything. I mean some missiles would abort, or they'd miss their targets, or maybe the enemy have some secret bases we don't know about. GENERAL RIPPER You're absolutely right. You forgot to mention their nuclear subs. But it wouldn't matter. Sure we wouldn't get off without getting our hair mussed, but we'd prevail. I don't think we'd lose more than fifty million people, tops. MAJOR MANDRAKE (hesitatingly) But if you just let things alone, we wouldn't lose anyone. GENERAL RIPPER Major Mandrake, I guess you don't follow what's going on too closely, do you? MAJOR MANDRAKE Where, sir? GENERAL RIPPER (smiles patronisingly) Where? Everywhere, Major. Everywhere. MAJOR MANDRAKE nods, blankly. GENERAL RIPPER (Cont) Have you read much about the disarmament talks, Major? MAJOR MANDRAKE Well, I know they've been going on for years, and they haven't gotten any place. GENERAL RIPPER Not yet, Major. Not yet. MAJOR MANDRAKE And I guess they won't until they agree to let us inspect inside their country. GENERAL RIPPER You're very naive, Major. Don't they say they want disarmament? MAJOR MANDRAKE Yes, sir. But so do we. GENERAL RIPPER But we mean it because we are a peace- loving country. Are they a peace-loving country, Major. MAJOR MANDRAKE I don't know, sir. But they're just as anxious to avoid a nuclear war as we are. War just doesn't make sense any more, for anybody. GENERAL RIPPER But war doesn't make sense precisely because the weapons can kill an entire country -- right? MAJOR MANDRAKE Right. GENERAL RIPPER (the prosecutor makes his point) Then don't you realize the Bomb gives us Peace not War? And, if that's the case, I ask you again: Why do they want disarmament? MAJOR MANDRAKE (despairing) Well, sir, like I said, for the same reasons we do. I mean, all the experts say the most likely way for War to start nowadays is by an accident, or a mistake, or by some mentally unbalanced person -- (lets his voice trail off) MANDRAKE's discretion was unnecessary for it would never occur to GENERAL RIPPER that anyone would think him mentally unbalanced. GENERAL RIPPER Go on, Major. MAJOR MANDRAKE (gaining confidence) I was just going to say, as long as the weapons exist, sooner or later something's going to happen -- and that'll be it for both countries. GENERAL RIPPER I've heard the arguments. Like Napoleon's quote, "There's one thing you can't do with a bayonet, and that's - sit on it." MAJOR MANDRAKE That's right, sir. And don't forget in a few years a lot of other countries will have the bomb. What if they start something? GENERAL RIPPER Go on, Major. You fascinate me. MAJOR MANDRAKE Well, sir, I remember an example that pointed out that if a system was safe on 99.99% of the days of the year, given average luck it would fail in thirty years. MAJOR MANDRAKE pauses to look for daylight. RIPPER returns his gaze, steadily. GENERAL RIPPER I still ask, why do they want disarmament? MAJOR MANDRAKE Well, for the same reasons we do, sir. Don't you see? GENERAL RIPPER No, Major, I don't. They have no regard for human life. They wouldn't care if they lost their whole country as long as they won. MAJOR MANDRAKE Gee, sir, that last remark doesn't exactly make all the sense in the world. GENERAL RIPPER (angrily) Major, you're talking like one of them! MAJOR MANDRAKE (shook) Well, I'm not, sir. Honestly, sir. GENERAL RIPPER Don't be offended, Major. Our President holds the same views. MAJOR MANDRAKE Don't you think he knows something about this, General Ripper? GENERAL RIPPER I'll tell you what I do think. If they say they're for disarmament, I say anyone who says they're for disarmament is either a traitor or a damned fool. MAJOR MANDRAKE But, General, we're on our toes. We haven't agreed to anything for years. Inffact, a a lot of people say we never will. GENERAL RIPPER But if they suddenly opened up and gave us the inspection we want, we'd agree, wouldn't we? MAJOR MANDRAKE If they gave us what we think we need, yes, I guess we would. GENERAL RIPPER And you'd like to see that? MAJOR MANDRAKE General, what's good enough for the President and all the experts he's got working on the thing, is good enough for me. GENERAL RIPPER Do you think we'd cheat? MAJOR MANDRAKE No, sir. I'm sure we wouldn't. GENERAL RIPPER Do you think they would cheat? MAJOR MANDRAKE Look, sir. I'm no expert on the subject, but I've read some pretty sharp ideas the big boys have. Like, say, both countries agreeing to a million dollar reward and international protection for anyone who gives evidence of cheating to the inspectors. You can't hide those things without a lot of people knowing about it. And if I were going to try and hide a few, I wouldn't want to depend on the fact that some poor slob isn't going to run and blab for a million bucks. We're as smart as they are, and if they cheat, or even hold back information, we'd pull right out. GENERAL RIPPER (shaking his head) Major, I hate to say this, but I think you've been enemy indoctrinated, and you don't even know it. 35 DAWN - EXT. GOVERNEMT BUILDING 36 INT. WAR ROOM - COMMAND BRIDGE Air Force General "BUCK" SCHMUCK is speaking as the scene opens. The huge, polished wood table is neatly spread with the remains of breakfast. Eggs and bacon, melon, toast, silver thermos jugs of coffee, pastries, and glasses of ice water. GENERAL "BUCK" SCHMUCK In conclusion, I should like to observe that: One, our hopes for recalling the 843rd Bomb Wing are next to nothing. Two, in about fifteen minutes the enemy will be making radar contacts with our planes. Three, when they do, they will go absolutely Ape, and strike back with everything they've got. Four, if prior to this we haven't done anything to suppress their retaliatory abilities, we will suffer virtual annihilation - in round numbers a hundred and fifty million killed. Five, if we immediately launch an all-out missile attack on their bases, we stand an excellent chance of catching them off guard. In that event, we will destroy the bulk of their retaliatory strength, prevail in the struggle, and suffer relatively modest and acceptable civilian casualties. He pauses and confidently looks around the table. The PRESIDENT stares at him inscrutably. GENERAL "BUCK" SCHMUCK If I may, I'd like to illustrate my conclusion with a very brief story. (a squinty-eyed smile) I played guard on my high-school football team. I wasn't particularly big for the line, and my coach once told me something I've never for- gotten. "Schmucko" he said - that was what they called me in those days - "Schmucko, always remember this. The harder you hit the other fellow, the less you'll get hurt." (confidently checks each game) My recommendation is that we follow General Ripper's action to its logical end. In other words, to hit the other fellow as hard as we can! No one says anything. ADMIRAL PERCY BULDIKE What's your estimate of casualties if we strike first? ADMIRAL PERCY BULDIKE is a model of the crisp, tough Navy man. His lean, rugged features are lit by an obvious intelligence. GENERAL "BUCK" SCHMUCK Under those circumstances, oh, I'd say for us twenty to fifty million, depending on the breaks. For the enemy, something on the order of fifty million, if we stick to military targets. ADMIRAL PERCY BULDIKE You are very casual about those figures, General Schmuck. GENERAL "BUCK" SCHMUCK Not at all, Admiral Buldike. Naturally, we all deeply regret such a sad loss - and let me be the first to say, I don't like the idea one bit that we'd be clobbering their women and children. But quit a few of their bases are very close to cities and towns, and to would be unavoidable. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Well, gentlemen, do you concur with General Schmuck? There is a nervous silence. GENERAL "BUCK" SCHMUCK Mister President, regretable as such a choice is, there is a quantitative difference between fifty and a hundred and fifty million of our dead. PRESIDENT Buck. Suppose I said to you I was going to cut away one quarter of your body - but not to worry because you'd still be three-quarters good, even if that three-quarters was rather monstrously deformed and helplessly crippled. GENERAL SCHMUCK I don't think that's a fair analogy, sir. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Admiral Buldike? The ADMIRAL squirms. ADMIRAL BULDIKE (shaking his head) I don't know...I just don't know. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY General Faceman? He hesitates like a poker player deciding whether to make a call. GENERAL FACEMAN (cooly) I'm afraid I have to flatly disagree with General Schmuck's proposal. I don't see how we can just cold-bloodedly hit them. Enter TURGIDSON, a senior Presidential aide. All eyes turn to him. TURGIDSON Mister President, I've got their Ambassador waiting upstairs. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Good! Any difficulty? TURGIDSON I'm afraid so, and he's having a fit about the squad of M.P.'s. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Can't be helped. Have him brought down here right away. TURGIDSON (exits) I'd better do it myself. PRESIDENT SCHMUCK You're not going to let him in here - in the War Room? PRESIDENT MUFFLEY The Ambassador is here on my orders. GENERAL SCHMUCK But he'll hear everything we're saying. And if he just looks out of that window, he'll see everything we're doing. (SCHMUCK refers to the War Room proper) PRESIDENT MUFFLEY (scowls) That's the idea, General Schmuck. (turns to ZLAT, another senior aide) Zlat! ZLAT Sir? The PRESIDENT looks up at a row of clocks which indicate world time zones. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Zlat, it's three-forty-five in the afternoon their time. Put through a blitz priority telephone call to Premier Belch. Try him at his office. ZLAT (hesitates) We've never communicated with him on such an informal basis before. It's possible he won't take the call. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY If they won't, Zlat, you'll tell whoever you get on the phone, a couple of dozen of their cities may be taken out within the next hour and a half. He'll take the call. ZLAT (exits) Yes, sir. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Frankenstein! Another senior civilian aide. FRANKENSTEIN Yes, sir. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Frankenstein, I'll need a complete communications system set up between this room and the Premier. At least a dozen telephone circuits, radio, tele- printers - the works. FRANKENSTEIN I don't think any of the maintenance or installation men are in at this hour of the morning sir. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY (sourly) Try, Frankenstein! Try! FRANKENSTEIN (exits, unhappily) I'll try, sir. But I don't think it'll do any good. A phone rings. 36a VARIOUS SHOTS - EVERYONE FREEZES ADMIRAL BULDIKE is closest to the phone. ADMIRAL BULDIKE Hello?...Yes...Who is this?...I see ...Just a moment. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY (softly) Is it him? ADMIRAL BULDIKE (covering phone) No, sir. I believe it's personal for General Schmuck. GENERAL SCHMUCK (puzzled) Personal? ADMIRAL BULDIKE Yes. A Miss Milky way, I think she said. GENERAL SCHMUCK closes his eyes slowly, then assumes a very businesslike look and takes the phone. GENERAL SCHMUCK Hello?...Yes, Miss Way...No, that's quite all right...Uh-huh...I'm a little tied up right now, Miss Way. CUT TO 36b MISS MILKY WAY - FABULOUSLY SPRAWLED ACROSS HER BED - INT. HOTEL ROOM MILKY WAY (southern accent) Buck, I know you're a General and everything, but if you don't learn to behave in a more gentlemanly way, I'm going to have to give up being a typist and take that movie offer... Well, what's so important (imitating him) Yes, Miss Way. Yes, Miss Way. Well, look now. I'm going to take a bath and have breakfast and you come back here soon, you hear me, "Buck" Schmuck? 37 DAY - AIR SHOT - B-90 "LEPER COLONY" 38 INT. B-90 LT. LOTHAR ZOGG Bomb arming circuits are green, Major Kong. MAJOR KONG Lieutenant Toejam, are you ready for Bim and Bam? LT. TOEJAM Ready, Major. 38a VARIOUS CU - INSERT INTERCUTS The actual arming is depicted as needing initial action by three of the and bombardier, simultaneously. MAJOR KONG Primary arming switch. LT. TOEJAM Primary arming switch. 38b VARIOUS CU - INTERCUTS Both pilot and radio depress a switch guarded by a safety trip, marked "l". On the bombardier's control panel two greenlights glow. LT. ZOGG Primary circuit is live. MAJOR KONG Primary trigger switch. LT. TOEJAM Primary trigger switch. Pilot and radio again depress a switch marked TRIGGER. Again two green lights glow on bombardier's control panel. He depresses his own trigger switch. A third green light appears. LT. ZOGG Primary trigger circuit is live. Radio has now finished his part in the action. He picks up a computer but does not use it, merely holding it as he listens, like the rest of the crew, to the remainder of the arming pro- cedure. LT. ZOGG Release first safety. MAJOR KONG First safety. The two operate their switches. Two lights again glow on safety bank of panel. LT. ZOGG Second safety. MAJOR KONG Seond safety. The second pair of lihts glow on Safety bank. Only one pair now remains unlit. LT. ZOGG Fusing for ten thousand air burst. MAJOR KONG Check, ten thousand air burst. We see bombardier turn nob setting. Needle creeps round dial to ten thousand. Bombardier presses in succession three control buttons marked: Electronic, Barometric, and Time. He waits while the appropriate three lights glow on. LT. ZOGG Electronic, barometric, and time fusings all set for ten thousand air. Pauses, pushes back hair. LT. ZOGG Master safety. MAJOR KONG Master Kong. Bombardier and pilot now press the last remaining switch, clearly marked "MASTER SAFETY". The two remaining lights on Safety panel glow, and bombardier glances quickly at the banked rows of glowing lights. LT. ZOGG Primary bomb is live. MAJOR KONG All right, Lothat, that does it. Master safety on now until bomb run. LT. ZOGG Master safety on. They put the master safety switches up, and on the bombardier's panel we see the two final lights go off. 39 DAWN - BURPELSON AIR FORCE BASE 40 VARIOUS CUTS - DEFENSE TEAMS WAITING 41 MACHINE GUN POSITION Fifty yards outside wire perimeter fence, a first-sergeant and two privates are hunched over a .30 calibre air-cooled machine gun. 41a THEY SEE DOWN ROAD About three hundred yards away, a jeep and three troop trucks cautiously approaching. PRIVATE STIFFSOCKS How do we know they're saboteurs? SERGEANT BLUNT (peering through binoculars) How do you know they're not? PRIVATE TUNG Shut up, Charlie. You heard what the General said - two hundred yards. The vehicles continue closer. SERGEANT BLUNT (swinging binoculars) There's eight more trucks on the North road! We see the eight trucks about two miles away. PRIVATE STIFFSOCKS I suppose they must be subversives or saboteurs. Why else would they suddenly be coming at four in the morning? PRIVATE TUNG Natch. 41b OTHER CUTS AROUND BASE PERIMETER of base defense teams watching over their weapons. 41c VARIOUS CUTS - ACTION SEQUENCE SERGEANT BLUNT (calmly) Okay, Stiffsocks, open up. The machine gun fires three longish blasts which spray across the path of the land jeep. It swerves into a ditch and turns over. The convoy stops and we see troops leap out of the trucks, dis- persing into the fields on each side of the road. Many are only partly dressed. Two men drag the injured from the overturned jeep. 41d VARIOUS CUTS - TROOPS WAITING The scattered firing gradually stops. All we hear are insects and the distant sound of the second truck convoy. A loudspeaker suddenly clicks on in the distance. COLONEL "BAT" GUANO (loudspeaker) This is Colonel "Bat" Guano of the 701st Special Service Battalion. Why are you men firing on us? Silence. PRIVATE STIFFSOCKS Should we answer? SERGEANT BLUNT Keep down, you dope, and open up on the first one who shows his head. COLONEL "BAT" GUANO This is Colonel Guano. We are on a mission from the President. We want to enter the base and speak to General Ripper. Silence. PRIVATE TUNG Brother, that's a beauty. A special mission from the President. SERGEANT BLUNT I'll say one thing. You've got to give the enemy credit for organization and planning. 41e VARIOUS CUTS Two hundred yeards away a skirmishing party of a dozen or so men, widely spaced about thirty yeards apart, rises out of the grass and begins to work its way forward. PRIVATE STIFFSOCKS (under his breath) They've got guts too. The machine gun fires. Three men are hit immediately, the others dive for cover. The firing stops. Ten seconds of silence. COLONEL "BAT" GUANO This is Colonel Guano. Men, you are firing on your own troops. Unless you surrender within sixty seconds, I am under orders to return your fire. 42 DAY - FLYING SHOT - B-90 "LEPER COLONY" 43 INT. B-90 - NAVIGATOR is hunched over his master search radarscope. See coastline coming at top of tube. LT. BALLMUFF We should be crossing the coast in about six minutes. MAJOR KONG Thanks, Binky. Can you see Bromdingna Island yet? LT. BALLMUFF (concentrated on scope) I don't think so. He adjusts the brilliance of the radarscope. 43a RADARSCOPE We see two flashes of light. 43b VARIOUS CUTS - ACTION SEQUENCE LT. QUIFFER (D.S.O.) Missiles! Sixty miles off, heading in fast. Steady track, they look like beam riders. MAJOR KONG Roger, keep calling them. (to co-pilot) Knock off auto-pilot, Ace. The co-pilot reaches forward and flips two switches. CAPTAIN "ACE" ANGST Auto-pilot off, King. MAJOR KONG Lock ECM onto master search radar. LT. QUIFFER (flipping switches) ECM locked to master search radar. He looks at the large ECM (Electronic-Counter-Measures) control panel. It is an electronic marvel with all the appropriate blinking lights, gauges, and oscillographs. He speaks to himself. LT. QUIFFER (to ECM) You big, beautiful brain, you better start thinking. He gives the panel a pat. CAPTAIN ANGST Where do you suppose they were fired from? MAJOR KONG Quentin, have you picked up any aircraft? LT. QUIFFER Just the missiles. MAJOR KONG They must have been fired from Bromdingna - probably one of their new Vampire - 202's. They've got a range well over a hundred miles. LT. QUIFFER Forty-five. Still coming straight and fast. Twelve o' clock. MAJOR KONG Speed? LT. QUIFFER Between Mach 3 and 4. MAJOR KONG Call them every five miles. LT. QUIFFER Thirty-five, still straight. 43c VARIOUS CUTS TO CREW during sequence, as they sweat it out. LT. QUIFFER Twenty! Twelve o' clock and straight. 43d VARIOUS CUTS TO RADARSCOPE tracking the missiles. LT. QUIFFER Twenty! Twelve o' clock. MAJOR KONG Maximum ECM! The bombadier flips six switches. Various indicators light up. LT. ZOGG Maximum ECM. LT. QUIFFER Fifteen! Twelve o' clock. While D.S.O. watches it approach. LT. QUIFFER 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, - Pilot sharply banks the huge jet. 44 DAY - AIR SHOT - B-90 IN STEEP DIVING BANK 44a INT. B-90 Plane still in steep, diving bank. LT. QUIFFER Four miles, three...they're turning in on us! They're coming in! The pilot throws the plane in a violent S-ing, corkscrewing maneuver. There is a deafening EXPLOSION in the cabin. 45 DAWN - GOVERNMENT BUILDING Limousine and jeeps are scattered near the entrance which is guarded by six M.P.'s. 46 INT. WAR ROOM - AMBASADOR DE SADE AMBASSADOR DE SADE (hysterical) Mister President, I demand to be taken back to my embassy at once. The AMBASSADOR is clad in striped pyjamas and black, velvet- collared coat. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Please be calm, Ambassador De Sade. AMBASSADOR DE SADE (bitterly) You will not get away with this vicious attack on our peace-loving people. The AMBASSADOR yammers away under the PRESIDENT's speech. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Waffel! WAFFEL Sir! PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Please see how they're getting along on the call to Premier Belch. WAFFEL (exits) Yes, sir. AMBASSADOR DE SADE Premier Belch will not be fooled by this fantastic lie. GENERAL SCHMUCK (doubling his fists) Mister President, are you going to let this stooge talk to you like this? The PRESIDENT steps in front of the AMBASSADOR to protect him. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY General Schmuck! Ambassador De Sade is here as my guest. He is to be treated with the proper respect. GENERAL SCHMUCK skulks off, scowling. GENERAL SCHMUCK If you say so, sir. The AMBASSADOR was obviously afraid SCHMUCK was going to slug him. AMBASSADOR DE SADE (turns after SCHMUCK) War-mongering bully! Don't think you're going to intimidate me! PRESIDENT MUFFLEY All right, Mister Ambassador! But you must treat General "Buck" Schmuck with the respect due him. The AMBASSADOR slumps down in his chair, miserably. AMBASSADOR DE SADE (pathetically) Can I have a glass of water? PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Certainly - how about some breakfast? AMBASSADOR DE SADE (shrugs interestedly) Possibly some coffee? PRESIDENT MUFFLEY (gesturing) Moffo! MOFFO, a clean-cut aide. MOFFO (steps forward) Would you like anything else with it, Mister Ambassador? AMBASSADOR DE SADE (unhappily) I reall shouldn't. I'll ruin my diet. MOFFO Oh, surely you can break your diet a little today, sir. AMBASSADOR DE SADE (shrugs, sourly) All right - I'd like orange juice, three fried eggs turned over, bacon, toast, coffee, and some sweet rolls. MOFFO and pencil catching up. MOFFO I'll have it brought right down. AMBASSADOR DE SADE (grudgingly) Thank you. Oh - and can you bring me a pack of AMBASSADOR DE SADE (cont) cigarettes - any filtered brand? Exit, MOFFO. ADMIRAL BULDIKE (holds out a pack) Here, have one of mine. The AMBASSADOR takes a cigarette. ADMIRAL BULDIKE lights it with his Ronson. AMBASSADOR DE SADE (exhaling) Thank you, Admiral. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Now, Mister Ambassador. In a very few moments we should have Premier Belch on the phone. I intend to tell him exactly what has happened. I merely want you to authenticate certain facts for him. AMBASSADOR DE SADE (looks up suspiciously) The food - you wouldn't put - anything in it, would you? PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Don't be ridiculous. AMBASSADOR DE SADE I have your word, Mister President? PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Yes, of course. GENERAL SCHMUCK (savagely, from across the room) We don't operate like you KGB boys. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Knock it off will you, General? (to CRUDLEY, an aide) Crudley, find out what's holding up that call! Exit CRUDLEY. AMBASSADOR DE SADE Where are you trying to reach him? PRESIDENT MUFFLEY At his office in the Capitol. AMBASSADOR DE SADE If he's not there, try... (thinks) 87 - 43 - 56. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Did you get that, Kulnick? KULNICK nods and exits. During the next speech, AMBASSADOR DE SADE sidles up to the huge plate-glass window opening out to the War Room. As he talks, he sneaks out a Minox camera, and takes a picture. AMBASSADOR DE SADE His office won't have that number. It's a very special phone number, and the Premier can't trust his secretary not to tell his wife. GENERAL SCHMUCK has see him take the photograph and strikes like a cat, grabbing for the camera. GENERAL SCHMUCK (grappling for camera) Okay, pal - I'll take that! The both fumble for the tiny camera. AMBASSADOR DE SADE Don't you dare touch me! What the devil do you think you're doing? GENERAL SCHMUCK I caught you red-handed, Mister Ambassador. AMBASSADOR DE SADE Give that back to me. GENERAL SCHMUCK (flourishing camera) What do you think of this, Mister President? (triumphant) I told you we shouldn't let him in here. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY What's the meaning of this? AMBASSADOR DE SADE I am sorry. Sub-miniature photography is my hobby. It's amazing what excellent en- largements you can make from the negative. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY (annoyed) I'll hold this, if you don't mind. You can have it back when you leave. 47 DAY - AIR SHOT - B-90 A thin wisp of smoke trails from inside port pod. 48 INT. B-90 All dialogue comes rapid-fire, amidst coughing, wiping eyes, etc. MAJOR KONG (flipping switches) Shutting down three and four. CAPTAIN ANGST Fire systems operating on three and four. LT. QUIFFER (looking in scope) Radar okay. No more missiles. CAPTAIN ANGST (flipping switches) Everyone on emergency oxygen. MAJOR KONG (flipping switches) All right...we're still flying. I'm taking her down to the deck. 49 DAY - AIR SHOT - B-90 - STEEP DESCENT 50 INT. B-90 MAJOR KONG Give me revs for maximum speed at sea level. LT. BALLMUFF You know what that'll do to our fuel consumption. MAJOR KONG Can't help it. What's the wind like? LT. QUIFFER Shouldn't be bad. Might even help. But my guess is we're going to have to paddle our way back. MAJOR KONG We'll worry about that later. Okay, I'll take damage reports. 51 INT. GENERAL JACK D. RIPPER'S OFFICE The popping of small arms fire outside. RIPPER still has MAJOR MANDRAKE at the mercy of his .45. Stray bursts of small arms fire have smashed the windows, and occasionally a few shots tear up the wall. Both men are on the floor. GENERAL RIPPER is philosophically drunk and very sentimental. GENERAL RIPPER (sitting on the floor) You know, when I was a kid, I used to read a lot. I loved to read. One of my favorites was the "Jungle Book" by Kipling. Did you ever read it, Major? MAJOR MANDRAKE lies flat on the floor and trembles with fear. MAJOR MANDRAKE I don't think so. A rifle shot splatters the window again. MANDRAKE flinches. GENERAL RIPPER You should. In particular, read the story of the little mongoose, called Riki-tiki-tavi, because of the noise he made. He was taken in as a house pet. In the garden of the house lived a couple of cobras, and pretty soon the mongoose kills the male cobra because he's laying for the man of the house. MAJOR MANDRAKE manages a brave but idiotic smile. GENERAL RIPPER But the female cobra is left, and she's got a clutch of eggs which will hatch a dozen young cobras. She decides Riki has to go. She says so, and she means it. The little mongoose weighs up the odds. He can handle the cobra if she comes after him. He just has to keep his eyes open and be ready for her at any time. But once the eggs hatch and the young cobras become dangerous - he's gone. He can't handle that many at once. A longish burst of automatic fire rakes across the wall, window height, dropping three framed 8 x 10 photographs of Air Force Generals. GENERAL RIPPER So he waits his chance, and when the female cobra is causing mischief somewhere else, he breaks the eggs. He has to kill the young cobras since it's just a matter of time before they kill him. So he acts and he lives. He is safe, the people in the house are safe. They can live their lives in peace. GENERAL RIPPER is glassy-eyed with emotion. MAJOR MANDRAKE nods, stupidly. GENERAL RIPPER Major, pour two more drinks, please. MAJOR MANDRAKE creeps to the bar. GENERAL RIPPER (as if MANDRAKE were somehow derelict in his duty) Major, those are my boys out there dying. MAJOR MANDRAKE (making drinks) Yes, sir. Why don't you stop the fighting, sir? GENERAL RIPPER looks at his watch and begins to nod. He keeps nodding for about thirty seconds. GENERAL RIPPER You're a good officer, Major Mandrake. You think of your men first. MAJOR MANDRAKE crawls over with the drinks. GENERAL RIPPER (raising glass, moodily) To peace on earth, Major. MAJOR MANDRAKE (mumbles) Peace on earth. They drink. RIPPER starts nodding again. RIPPER picks up the p.a. mike and fumbles for the switch. GENERAL RIPPER This is General Ripper speaking. There has been an unfortunate mistake. You have been fighting our own troops. They are not saboteurs. You will cease fire immediately. I repeat, cease fire imediately. Good work, men. I'm proud of you. Shuts off button. MAJOR MANDRAKE General, now that you've done that, I beg you to recall the Wing. GENERAL RIPPER Major, I happen to believe in a life after this one, so I believe I will have to answer for what I have done. I think I can. They touch glasses and drink. GENERAL RIPPER (choked with pride) Major, go out there and stop the fighting. MAJOR MANDRAKE exits, closing the door behind him. 51a CU - GENERAL RIPPER Tears roll down his gallantly insane face. He picks up his .45 automatic. 52 INT. WAR ROOM A telephone is placed on the conference table. ZLAT (speaking in a strange foreign language) He covers the mouthpiece. ZLAT (excited) They've got Premier Belch on the line. He's at that other number. (makes an inappropriately suggestive hint) but his interpreter is with him. You'll actually talk to him, and he'll shoot a simultaneous translation from you to the Premier, and vice vrsa. The PRESIDENT takes a deep breath, sits down, and takes the phone. He thinks for a moment, forces a relaxes look, and speaks. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Hello...Hello...Premier Belch...How are you? ...This is Merkin...Yes, Merkin Muffley. How are you?...Merkin Muffley...Sure it is ...Just a second, will you hold on a second? to AMBASSADOR DE SADE. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY He doesn't believe me. (hands phone) Please don't tell him more than that. DE SADE nods worriedly. AMBASSADOR DE SADE (we hear a strange foreign language understanding the name Merkin Muffley) I told him the call was genuine. DE SADE hands the phone back. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Hello?...Yes...Uh-huh...certainly I understand ...Oh someone tried it on you once before... Look, Belch, I'll tell you why I called... Hello...Hello...Can you hear me?...Say, could they turn the music down a little?...Oh, well, could they stop playing?...Oh, good, I thought we lost the connection there for a minute... yes, I hear you very clearly...Well, look... (clears throat) You know how we've always talked about the possibility of something going wrong?...With the H-bomb...uh-huh...that's right...Well, it happened...Hello?...Can you still hear me?... What?...Not missiles - planes...that's right... B-90's...That's right...Thirty-four of them... In about an hour and a half...uh-huh...Uh-huh ...Uh-huh...Well, how do you think I feel about it?...I know that...Uh-huh...Uh-huh...Well, why do you think I'm calling you?...to work some- thing out on this disarmament thing...Uh-huh... Sure, but you haven't been reasonable...Uh-huh... Uh-huh...Look Belch...Look, we're wasting time... Uh-huh...a base commander...We're not sure... Well, we think he's gone psycho...Had a mental breakdown...We're trying to do that...We're doing that right now...Well, we've got our fingers crosses...we're hoping...We're trying that too... Uh-huh...Uh-huh...Uh-huh...That's not fair for you to say...We're doing everything we possibly can ...Certainly...Sure I can imagine...Uh-huh... PRESIDENT MUFFLEY (cont) Uh-huh...Uh-huh...Look, there's something else. We want to give your Air Staff a complete rundown on the targets, flight plans, and defensive systems of the planes ...No, it's on the level...Sure I hate to do a thing like that, but at this point it's got to be a case of one hand scratches the other...co-operate...Right now...Who should they call?...The People's Central Air Defense Headquarters?...Where?...In Karnak?...Right... You'll call them first...Uh-huh...Do you happen to have the phone number?...Just ask Karnak information?... (he gestures to GENERAL SCHMUCK who exits the room) What's that?...Yes, I'm listening...Uh-huh... Uh-huh...a hundred thousand megatons...Cobalt- Thorium-G casing?...What's that for?...Uh-huh ...Uh-huh...Irrevocable and automatic?...Uh- huh...Why didn't you let us know?...Sure I know the Party Congress is next week...Certainly I understand..but what are we supposed to do about it now?...Right...Okay, well, how long will it take for you to get back to your office?...Right, well call me back as soon as you do...BEdlock 3- 3333, extension, 2497...If you forget, just ask for me...Right...Bye-bye. Hangs up phone. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY (to AMBASSADOR DE SADE) The Premier says that've got a Doomsday Machine that can kill all human life on earth- is that true? 53 INT. AIR COMMAND COMMUNICATIONS CENTER About a dozen Air Force language experts are communicating via radio, giving the information. 54 DAY - B-90 "LEPER COLONY" - FLYING SHOT - SEVERAL CUTS 55 INT. WAR ROOM All eyes are directed to AMBASSADOR DE SADE. AMBASSADOR DE SADE (shaking his head) It was to have been announced at the party congress next week. I did not know the fools would make it operational until then. DE SADE is plainly shaken and swallows some iced water. GENERAL FACEMAN (skeptical) Well, what the hell is a Doomsday Machine? AMBASSADOR DE SADE (pale) May I have a cigarette? GENERAL FACEMAN gives him a cigarette and lights it, as he continues. AMBASSADOR DE SADE (shaking his head) Well, it's ridiculously simple, really. As you all know, the intense, lethal radio- activity from a so-called normal nuclear device dissipates itself at a certain rate. Something like __________after the first hours, ___________after twenty-four hours, until at the end of a week, it's just________ of its lethal dose. He takes a deep drag on the cigarette, holds it, and exhales. AMBASSADOR DE SADE Well, it has been explained to me that, if you add a thick Cobalt-Thorium-G jacket to a nuclear device, the radio- activity resulting from such a nuclear explosion will retain its lethal power for a hundred years. AMBASSADOR DE SADE (continuing) Our scientists calculated that the detonation of fifty of our biggest nuclear devices, jacketed in Cobalt-Thorium-G would enshroud the earth in a hundred years of lethal radio- activity from which no human life could escape. In ten months the Earth would be as dead as the Moon. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Where is this...thing? AMBASSADOR DE SADE It is buried somewhere in the Grudd Mountains. GENERAL SCHMUCK (suspiciously) Do you mean to say you'd set it off in your own country? AMBASSADOR DE SADE Naturally. It would kill us just as surely even if we set it off in your country. But this way we know it's safe, and we don't have the problem of delivering it. GENERAL SCHMUCK Mister President, I can't buy this malarkey; they wouldn't set the damn thing off. Why should they? AMBASSADOR DE SADE You're absolutely right. We wouldn't. No sane nation ever would. That's why it was designed to trigger itself automatically. GENERAL SCHMUCK Then all you have to do is untrigger it. AMBASSADOR DE SADE Ah, but if we were able to untrigger it, that would be defeating its purpose. All our enemies would have to do, would be to warn us in advance that they were going to violate one of our unalterable triggering conditions. We would bluff, naturally, but in the end we would be insane not to untrigger it. Now we can say: There is no point trying to intimidate us, we don't control the Doomsday Machine. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY (scornfully) Mister Ambassador, what on earth possessed your country to build this weapon? AMBASSADOR DE SADE First of all, economic reasons. It was cheap. The entire project cost just a fraction of what we spent in a single year on our various space and missile programs. It also seemed ideal in most other respects. It was terrifying, convincing, automatic, and extremely simple to understand. He puffs the cigarette. AMBASSADOR DE SADE Still, any of our leaders opposed it on the grounds: Yes, all well and good, but what happens if it has to be used? He sighs. AMBASSADOR DE SADE But, finally, one factor tipped the scales. We received information from a very re- liable source that your country was going to build one. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY That's preposterous! We have no such program! AMBASSADOR DE SADE The source was...shall we say, completely reliable. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY The report is entirely untrue. I can assure you of that. GENERAL SCHMUCK Damn it, Mister President. I've been warning for years that we're still riddled with traitors. While the following dialogue continues, MOFFO enters with a large tray of food. As unobtrusively as possible, he places it on the conference table, and AMBASSADOR DE SADE pulls up a chair with gusto. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Funkel! A thin-faced, studious man steps forward. FUNKEL Yes, sir. PRESIDENT MUFFLEY Do we have anything like this in the works? FUNKEL I'd heard some talk, but I wouldn't like to say for sure, Mister President. PRESIDENT What??? Funkel, you're suppose to be my scientific advisor! Don't you know? FUNKEL Perhaps Didley, in Weapons Evaluation might know. DIDLEY, a short, crew-cut, studious chap in his early forties, smoking a pipe. DIDLEY (smiling manfully) I'm afraid not, sir. But possibly Von Klutz in Research and Development? VON KLUTZ (firmly) I haven't heard of it, sir! AMBASSADOR DE SADE Perhaps you gentlemen would like to check with the source? GENERAL SCHMUCK You mean you'll tell us his name??? AMBASSADOR DE SADE It's not a he, General. It was an article in the "Times" about a year and a half ago. VARIOUS AD LIBS What? The "Times"?? I always knew it had subversive tendencies. AMBASSADOR DE SADE We get much of our most dependable information from the "Times". As I recall the article said a Doctor Otto Strangelove, at the Bland Corporation, was working on the idea. Naturally, you could not expect us to believe he would be doing such a thing as a hobby! There is a soft knock, and the door opens without waiting for a reply. MAJOR NONCE, one of GENERAL SCHMUCK's Air Force aides, enters. GENERAL SCHMUCK Yes, Nonce. What is it? MAJOR NONCE (factually) Gentlemen, we have just received word that the base at Burpelson has surrendered. 56 INT. GENERAL RIPPER'S OFFICE The scene opens as if on a still photograph. MAJOR MANDRAKE stands motionless and expressionless in the bullet-splattered office. CAMERA moves and reveals GENERAL RIPPER grotesquely sprawled, face down, on the floor behind his desk, the .45 nearby. MANDRAKE kneels next to RIPPER and confirms he is dead. MANDRAKE rises and leans on the desk. He sees a wallet of photographs neatly laid out, obviously RIPPER's mother and father. Examining the clutter on RIPPER's desk, he notices a ruled yellow legal-size tablet. There are a number of boxes, heavily drawn. CAMERA moves in closer to tablet. We see a repetition of the phrase "Peace on Earth." It is scribbled about eight times. 56a COLONEL "BAT" GUANO - ENTERS - PYJAMA TOP AND BATTLE GEAR A tough, crew-cut, youngish (35) Battalion commander. Carbine slung over his shoulder, helmet hanging from carbine, he swaggers into the office standing for a moment, hands on hips, surveying the scene. MAJOR MANDRAKE is seated at the desk, staring off into space and apparently babbling utter nonsense. MAJOR MANDRAKE (weirdly) Peace On Earth...Peace On Earth... Peace On Earth... He doesn't acknowledge COLONEL "BAT" GUANO's presence. COLONEL GUANO stares at him suspiciously. COLONEL "BAT" GUANO (softly) Major?...Major? I'm Colonel "Bat" Guano, 701 Battalion. MAJOR MANDRAKE (pinching the bridge of his nose and grimacing) Come in...come in... Peace On Earth... Peace On Earth...yes... COLONEL "BAT" GUANO Why are you saying that phrase over and over again? MAJOR MANDRAKE I think that just might be it! Although it could be Riki-Tiki-Tavi. COLONEL "BAT" GUANO (scowls, suspiciously) What are you talking about, Major? MAJOR MANDRAKE (starting to babble) The three-letter code group. Or maybe some combination of the three letters. P...O...E, or P...E...O, or E...O...P... let's see, there would be six possible combinations. COLONEL "BAT" GUANO (shouting) Get a grip on yourself, Major! MAJOR MANDRAKE It might still be worth trying Riki-Tiki- Tavi. R...T...T...There's only three combinations of -- T...T...R, or T...R...T... COLONEL GUANO gives MAJOR MANDRAKE an open-handed whack in the face! MANDRAKE lets out a howl of pain. COLONEL "BAT" GUANO Now, snap out of it, fella! MAJOR MANDRAKE (holding face) Who the hell do you think you are, sir??? COLONEL GUANO (John Wayne) I did that for your own good, fella. Now I'm not going to pull rank on you. When this is over, I'll be happy to step outside with you and settle this thing. Right now my orders are to locate General Ripper and put him on the phone with the President. MAJOR MANDRAKE Well, you can't do that because he's dead. He points to the floor behind the desk. COLONEL GUANO steps forward and looks at the body. He kneels and examines the body, suspiciously. COLONEL GUANO moves carefully to the other side of the desk, unslings his carbine, and covers MAJOR MANDRAKE. COLONEL GUANO Do you have any witnesses, Major? MAJOR MANDRAKE What? COLONEL GUANO What happened, Major? Some kind of private beef between the two of you? MAJOR MANDRAKE (incredulous) Look, I didn't shoot him! COLONEL GUANO We'll have to leave that up to the C.I.D. boys, won't we, Major? MAJOR MANDRAKE Look, Colonel. I've got to talk to somebody at Air Command. COLONEL GUANO Don't worry, Major. Your rights will be fully protected. MAJOR MANDRAKE Colonel, don't you know what's going on? COLONEL GUANO Sure I do. There was some kind of mutiny on the base, and you killed General Ripper. MAJOR MANDRAKE Look, General Ripper went off his rocker and ordered the 843rd Bomb Wing to attack with H-bombs. COLONEL GUANO (smiles) You must think I'm an awful sap, Major. (MAJOR MANDRAKE starts to move) Just sit down, fella, and keep your hands on the desk! MAJOR MANDRAKE Didn't they tell you? COLONEL GUANO (shaking head) They told me, Major. And I didn't hear anything about any atomic attack. MAJOR MANDRAKE (talks slowly and simple) Look, Colonel. You keep me covered, but let me just pick up this red telephone that connects to Air Command headquarters. Okay?...I won't play any tricks on you... Okay? COLONEL GUANO can't think of any good reason not to. COLONEL GUANO Okay, fella. But just move slow and don't do anything that might surprise me. MAJOR MANDRAKE Sure...sure, Colonel. Now look, I'm picking up the phone...nice and slow. Right?...Hello? ...Hello? (he clicks the receiver) Hello?...Hello?...Gee, it must be edad. Probably the lines were hit during the fighting. COLONEL GUANO watches him like a hawk. MAJOR MANDRAKE Now look, I'm picking up this ordinary telephone. See?...Hello?...Hello?... Nuts, the lines must still be disconnected. (he smiles idiotically) The General had us disconnect... (he lets his voice trail off when he sees RUDLEY's weird look of hatred and suspicion) MAJOR MANDRAKE (desperately) Look, Colonel. Maybe it's too late. Maybe they've sent Air Command in already. But we've got to try to con- tact somebody. COLONEL GUANO On your feet, fella. I've got to get outside and see how my men are. MAJOR MANDRAKE Okay, Colonel. But look, there's a pay phone just outside in the hall. Maybe that works, huh? Maybe it'll work? What do you think? COLONEL GUANO You've wasted enough of my time, fella. MAJOR MANDRAKE (snaps his fingers) Wait a minute. The President!! That's it! The President!!! COLONEL GUANO (suspiciously) What about the President? MAJOR MANDRAKE He wanted to talk to General Ripper, didn't he? COLONEL GUANO (the wheel turns slowly) So what? MAJOR MANDRAKE Well, I'm General Ripper's Executive officer. He'll want to talk to me. COLONEL GUANO's mind is not prepared for this new twist. He cocks his head to one side and studies MANDRAKE. MAJOR MANDRAKE Don't you see? He'll want to talk to me! And if he finds out that you wouldn't let MAJOR MANDRAKE (Cont) him talk to me...Well, I'd say you'd be in for a pretty severe reprimand, Colonel. QUICK DISSOLVE 56b PHONE BOOTH IN HALL - MANDRAKE AND GUANO MAJOR MANDRAKE is seated in the booth, illuminated by a bright flourescent overhead, his hand on the half-closed door. COLONEL GUANO leans against the door jamb, listening. His carbine points down, but his grip indicates he isn't taking any chances. MAJOR MANDRAKE (a lot of change spread out in front of him) Operator, this is Major Mandrake at Burpelson Air Force Base. I would like to place an emergency call to Merkin Muffley at the Capitol. That's right, the President ...Try the War Room. He smiles, hopefully, at COLONEL GUANO's sinister face. MAJOR MANDRAKE That's right, operator, the President... Operator, how much will that be for the first three minutes?...Two dollars and twenty-five cents? He quickly counts his change and sees it's not enough. He starts fumbling through his pockets. No more change. MAJOR MANDRAKE Look, operator, can you make this a collect call? That's right, Major Mandrake from Burpelson...They aren't allowed to?...Tell them it's terrifically important...Just a second... He opens the door and addresses COLONEL GUANO. MAJOR MANDRAKE Colonel, they aren't allowed to accept any collect long-distance calls. The operator MAJOR MANDRAKE (Cont) says it's policy. I need fifty-five cents. COLONEL GUANO (contemptuously) I wouldn't carry loose change going into combat. MAJOR MANDRAKE looks around desperately. A Coke machine stands next to the phone booth. MAJOR MANDRAKE Operator...How much would the call be station-to-station?...Thirty-five cents cheaper?...I'd still be short twenty cents ...Just a second, operator... (covers mouthpiece) Colonel, shoot the lock off the Coke machine. (he points) There's bound to be enough change in there. COLONEL GUANO (weakly) That's government property, Major. MAJOR MANDRAKE Colonel, remember, a reprimand from the President can be pretty serious to a career officer...Just a second, operator, I know I have it somewhere. COLONEL GUANO apologetically fires a shot into the coin box. Coins spill on the floor in profusion, as well as a stream of Coke in the COLONEL's sputtering face. 57 DAY - B-90 - FLYING SHOT - SEVERAL CUTS As the "Leper Colony" presses on. 58 INT. WAR ROOM Enter, GENERAL "BUCK" SCHMUCK. GENERAL SCHMUCK (with quiet majesty) Mister President, Gentlemen, we are saved. AD LIBS (overlapping)