The Final Countdown Page #5

who's supposed to be intelligent.

Do I? "The attack on Pearl Harbor

was far from a surprise for many people

among them, the prominent

and ambitious Samuel S. Chapman

who had only two weeks before

publicly argued for an increase

in our strength in the Pacific.

Ironically, the senator disappeared

and was presumed dead

following the attack

he had foreseen so clearly.

Had he lived,

it's very possible

Chapman could have been Roosevelt's

running mate in the 1944 election

and upon his death, the next

president of the United States."

Now if that doesn't come under

the heading of trying to beat history

I don't know what does.

Lasky, I realized who we had

the moment I heard his name.

Why'd you keep it to yourself?

I don't have your appetite

for playing God with the world.

What was I supposed to do,

throw him back in the sea?

At least that would have

preserved

the natural order

of history as you've written it.

Go to hell, Lasky.

Go to hell yourself.

I wanna meet Chapman.

Goddamn it.

If this wasn't happening to me,

I wouldn't believe it.

- Who the hell are these people?

- The navy.

Yeah, the navy, yeah.

But what part of it?

I've never seen machines

like they got onboard this thing.

And where have they been

developing aircraft like that?

The navy would have to

appear before my committee

and I've never even heard

a whisper about it.

Rocket planes and that thing

they pulled us out of the sea with.

And naming this ship after Chester Nimitz,

an active-duty admiral.

What the hell's

going on here?

Yeah, Roosevelt.

He owns the military.

That's it.

That's exactly who.

F.D.R. has wanted the United States

in this war since it started

but he knows there's no way

it's gonna happen

except in response to an attack.

- You always said the Japanese would attack.

- That's right.

And who's sitting out here

with no press

while the White House takes

all the credit for raising the alarm

and being ready

to hit back?

- Obviously, we are.

- Goddamn it!

Anything?

Whoever he is,

he's either too scared

or too well briefed

to talk about it.

Excuse me.

All right, Corporal.

Commander, I demand to know

why we're being held prisoners.

Here wait. I got him.

Jesus Christ!

No, don't!

Oh, my God.

The prisoner has shot one,

maybe two of your men.

Move in!

Captain, prisoner

grabbed a weapon.

He shot one of my men,

maybe two.

We're in position.

The area is sealed off.

Stand by.

Get Lieutenant Kajima

up here on the double.

Can't we get a translator

down here, for God's sakes?

How the hell do we know what he's saying

if we can't understand him?

We need a translator to tell him

we need a translator.

Maybe that's just what

he's trying to tell us.

All right, Dick, Lieutenant Kajima is here.

Put it on the box.

Ask him what he wants.

He wants access

to a radio, sir.

Does he say why?

Because he wants to

warn his commander

about us.

He repeats the demand.

- Or else?

- He will kill again.

Do you think there's a chance

they might believe him?

There's no chance if things remain

the way they are.

Tell him we agree.

- You son of a...

- No! Don't shoot! Back off!

Don't shoot!

Back off! Back off!

Don't shoot!

What the hell's

going on down there?

He says one more attempt to trick him

and the girl is dead.

There'll be no tricks. He can use

the radio room if he frees the girl.

Says he doesn't believe you.

Why don't you tell him

what's going on here, Commander?

You're an expert on what's

gonna happen tomorrow

tell him about it,

for God's sakes.

Go on, tell him!

We got nothing to lose!

Go ahead, tell him.

left the Coral Isles north of Japan.

The carriers were

the Akagi, Kaga, Shokaku

Zuikaku, Hiryu, Soryu.

Tomorrow at dawn,

these carriers will send 353 planes

to attack Pearl Harbor.

How in the hell

do you know all that?

Your code is

"Climb Mount Niitaka."

What's going on?

Please, Miss Scott,

don't ask me any questions.

There isn't anything

I can tell you at this time.

All right?

Where's Charlie?

Where's my dog?

We'll find him,

Miss Scott.

He can't get off

the ship.

Casualties will be moved

down to secondary triage.

I wanna get out of this bathrobe

and into some clothes!

Will somebody please get me

some clothes? For God's sakes!

- Chief, get the senator some clothes.

- Yes, sir.

Senator, Matt Yelland,

commanding officer.

Where and how did you get

all this information I've been hearing?

- And is it true?

- Yes, sir.

Did you inform

Pearl Harbor Command?

- No, Senator.

- Why the hell not?

Well, the reasons are a little complicated,

but, uh, believe me, Senator

this carrier is capable of handling

any attack should it occur.

One carrier

against a whole fleet?

What kind of an idiot

do you take me for?

- Senator, calm down.

- The hell with you.

Tell Pearl Harbor what's happening here,

or I'll talk to them.

Very well.

Dan, set up the communications

in my inport cabin.

Wouldn't you like to talk to them

with some clothes on?

- Thank you, Captain.

- Follow me, sir.

- Are you all right?

- Yes, sir, I'm fine.

Can you do that, Captain?

Contact Pearl Harbor

back in 1941.

I think so.

- Then what do you do?

- One step at a time.

Yeah. Like a minefield.

This is, uh, Senator Samuel S. Chapman

of the United States Senate

onboard

the aircraft carrier Nimitz.

Captain Yelland

is here with me.

- You're on what?

- I repeat.

I am Senator Samuel S. Chapman

onboard the U.S.S. Nimitz.

All right,

whoever the hell you are

use of military frequencies

by unauthorized personnel is a felony.

Now just a minute here, sir.

As we have no aircraft carrier Nimitz

and no Captain Yelland

I suggest, a**hole, that you stop

impersonating some other a**hole

and get off the air.

You're wasting our time.

How dare you talk to me that way!

Captain, tell him who you are.

Speak to them!

You, what are you doing here?

You're a civilian.

Yes, sir, I'm with

the Department of Def...

I mean, the Navy Department.

That's more like it.

What's going on here?

I'm afraid I'm just

an observer here, sir.

I couldn't tell you anything more

than you already know.

What's happening here?

Who are you people?

- join him in his inport cabin.

- Thank you.

I'll wait outside

while you change.

Please, I really don't want to

be left alone right now.

I'll just be a minute.

Just exactly what is it you do

for the senator, Miss Scott?

I work for him, Commander.

I'd like to think I'm more

than just a secretary.

I write most of his speeches,

and in general, I'm his assistant.

It's quite an accomplishment

for a woman in your day...

this day and age.

Let me tell you something.

I'm ambitious and very capable.

That's a combination

that's not much appreciated.

It's a man's world.

I'm sure you'll agree.

It certainly is, Miss Scott.

I spent a lot of time

trying to hide the way I look

hoping to be recognized

for my ability.

- How's it going so far?

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