Fail-Safe Page #7

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We can compensate for that.

The adjustment is minor.

The premier is on the line, sir.

Yes, Mr. Chairman?

We have only

a little time left, Mr. President.

His voice is subdued, sir.

It's not angry.

It's subdued.

How shall we use this time?

He sounds sorrowful, sad.

What luck

are your fighters having?

Luck?

No luck at all.

We have shot down

only one of your bombers.

What about the other five?

May be yes, maybe no.

Your masking devices

are better than we had thought.

Hundreds of targets

have appeared on the radar.

Perhaps they are decoys.

Perhaps they are real bombers.

Many of my experts

are convinced that they are real.

They urge me to release

our own bombers at once.

Why don't you, then?

- Good question.

- Why haven't you counter attacked?

I am gambling

that you are sincere.

My generals are not so happy

with me about this...

as I'm sure your generals

are not so happy with you.

But there is time

for common sense.

I must have proof,

Mr. President.

Neither of us wants war...

but we must be convinced

that this is...

truly a mistake...

that your intentions are not hostile

and that there is a chance for peace.

Mr. Chairman,

let me ask you something.

Just before our planes took off

from their fail-safe point...

there was a white flash

on our plotting board.

We think this is connected

to some mechanical failure...

that might have activated

their "go" signal.

Could this have been caused

by your radio interference?

They're arguing

with him again, sir...

telling him not to answer...

the information is too secret.

Was it your jamming that kept us

from getting through to our planes?

I do not know

about this jamming.

I think he does.

We cannot be responsible

for your mechanical failures.

Is it possible?

Could it have happened?

You asked for proof, Mr. Chairman.

This could be it.

They're arguing back and forth.

"Don't trust you. "

"Have to trust you. "

"It's a trick. "

We're paying for our

mutual suspicions, Mr. Chairman.

I realize that,

but the wall must be broken.

We have to break it down now.

We can't afford not to trust each other.

We jammed your radios...

with a special device

even I did not know about.

I suppose I must be

very proud of our scientists.

It was more effective

than anyone dreamed.

But why?

Why this time?

We have computers, like yours.

They computed that this time

your alert might be real.

On what grounds?

Probability.

The law of averages.

They have their own logic.

It is not human, but it is positive,

so we listen.

Will you lift the jamming so I

can talk to the group commander?

- Will he return on your command?

- There's a chance.

I'll give that order.

General Bogan.

Yes, Mr. President.

Put me through

to Group Six, fast.

Right away, sir.

- What's the group commanders name?

- Colonel Jack Grady, sir.

- Does he have a wife?

- I'll see, sir.

Turkey One, this is Ultimate One.

Can you hear me?

Turkey One, this is Ultimate One.

Can you hear me?

- Yes, sir, he does.

- Find her.

If I can't persuade him,

maybe she can.

- Yes, sir.

- Turkey One, can you hear me?

Turkey One, this is Ultimate One,

Can you hear me?

I have an important message.

Turkey One, can you hear me?

Turkey One, can you hear me?

Turkey One, can you hear me?

This is Ultimate One.

They've stopped jamming us.

This is Turkey One. I am not

authorized to receive messages.

Colonel Grady, this is

the president of the United States.

The mission you are flying has been

triggered by a mechanical failure.

It is a mistake.

I order you

and the other planes...

to return at once.

Do you hear? At once!

Colonel Grady, I repeat.

This is the president.

I can no longer receive

tactical alterations by voice.

I know that, but...

What you're telling me, I've been

specifically ordered not to do!

Damn it, Grady,

this is the president!

He's still on, sir.

Mr. Chairman,

I think it would be wise...

for you to remove yourself

from Moscow...

so that you'll be

out of danger.

It will allow us

to continue negotiations...

even if the worst happens.

I have made those arrangements.

His voice is tougher.

Unfortunately,

we cannot remove Moscow.

It remains here,

open to your bombs...

and when it is destroyed...

it's people dead because there's

no time to evacuate them...

where shall we negotiate,

Mr. President?

Shall I come to Geneva, hat in hand,

begging for peace?

I offered you help.

You refused it.

I offer it again. We will help you

shoot down the planes.

Set up your conference line.

I'll come back on the phone

when I'm a safe distance from Moscow.

Activate the Ultimate One/Red One

Touch Phone, please.

Can we stop them, sir?

Fire. Fire.

Before he gets off

one of those slow ones.

Colonel, knock that off, or I'll

have you taken out of this room.

Two down.

Four to go.

- Excuse me, sir.

- Yes?

Every minute we wait

works against us.

Now, Mr. Secretary.

Now is when we must send in

a first strike.

We don't go in

for sneak attacks.

We had that done to us

at Pearl Harbor.

And the Japanese

were right to do it.

From their point of view,

we were their mortal enemy.

As long as we existed,

we were a deadly threat to them.

Their only mistake was that

they failed to finish us at the start...

and they paid for that mistake

at Hiroshima.

You're talking about

a different kind of war.

Exactly. This time,

we can finish what we start.

And if we act right now...

our casualties will be minimal.

Do you know what you're saying?

Do you believe that Communism

is not our mortal enemy?

You're justifying murder.

Yes, to keep from being murdered.

In the name of what?

To preserve what?

Even if we do survive, what are we,

better than what we say they are?

What gives us the right to live, then?

What makes us worth surviving,

Groteschele?

That we are ruthless enough

to strike first?

Yes!

Those who can survive

are the only ones worth surviving.

Fighting for your life

isn't the same as murder.

Where do you draw the line

once you know what the enemy is?

How long would the Nazis

have kept it up...

if every Jew they came after

had met them with a gun in his hand?

But I learned from them, General Black.

Oh, I learned.

You learned too well, Professor.

You learned so well that now

there's no difference...

between you

and what you want to kill.

Yes, Mr. President.

Contact our ambassador

to Moscow.

Also the Soviet delegate

to the United Nations.

Hook them onto my line.

When the Soviet premier

comes back on the phone...

put us all on together.

Yes, Mr. President.

Is the Touch Phone open

between Omaha...

and the Soviet

command headquarters?

- Yes, sir, all ready.

- Keep it open.

General Black.

Yes, Mr. President.

Remember your Old Testament?

A little.

Remember the story

of the sacrifice of Abraham?

Old what's-his-name

used to use it in chapel...

at least twice a year.

I remember, sir.

Keep it in mind

the next few hours.

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