Tora! Tora! Tora! Page #4

...to extend a deadline for suspending

negotiation between Japan and America.

- You remember that?

- Yeah.

Now, according to this latest

intercept...

...Tokyo wants to conclude

negotiations with us...

...no later than November 29...

...after which, and l quote:

"Things are automatically

going to happen."

Now, look at this intelligence report

from the British.

Five Japanese troop transports

with naval escort...

...were sighted off Formosa,

heading south.

We've been monitoring their fleet.

Most of it seems to be on home waters.

l'm not so sure.

l'd make a bet they're going to attack us.

Japan is going to attack us.

The 29th is only four days off.

The 30th is on a Sunday.

We're gonna be attacked on Sunday,

the 30th of November.

The pieces fit together.

But can you prove it?

No. But l'm convinced l'm right.

Miss Cave? Get me General Marshall.

General Marshall's at Fort Benning, sir.

Then get me the secretary of war.

l've got the evidence, Al.

And l'm gonna make the brass

around here admit l'm right.

Bratton's analysis makes sense.

His facts are undeniable.

Henry, l'm washing my hands

of the whole matter.

From now on, it's in your hands...

...and in those

of the Navy Department.

l'll call the president.

A message declaring a full alert

will be sent out.

Sir, General Marshall anticipated

an emergency like this.

Before he left to attend maneuvers...

...he made out this alert order.

As you know, after the Cabinet

decided to send Japan to war...

...they held an lmperial Conference

at the palace.

His Majesty, who participated

in this conference...

...which is a mere formality...

...was depressed and silent

all through the meeting.

Today His Majesty will ask

the customary questions about the war...

...and you will make

the traditional replies.

There can be no more tragic ritual

than this conversation...

...between His Majesty

who does not want war...

...and Your Excellency,

who has opposed it so vigorously.

As Minister of the lmperial Household...

... l am not allowed to attend this ritual.

Fortunately for me...

... l won't have to witness

this tragic ceremony.

l can go no farther.

The Military Attach will

take you from here.

Sir, a message!

"From Admiral Yamamoto,

Commander-in-Chief, Combined Fleet...

...to Admiral Nagumo, Third Fleet...

...climb Mount Niitaka."

Hostilities will begin

on December 7th...

...exactly as scheduled.

Read this back to me.

"Japanese future action unpredictable.

But hostile action possible

at any moment.

lf hostilities cannot be avoided...

...the United States desires that

Japan commit the first overt act."

Read that again.

"lf hostilities cannot be avoided,

the United States desires...

...that Japan commit the first overt act.

This shouldn't be construed

as restricting you...

...to a course of action

jeopardizing your defense.

Prior to hostile Japanese action...

...you are directed to undertake

reconnaissance...

...and other measures

as you deem necessary.

These measures should be carried out

so as not to alarm the civil population...

...or disclose intent.

By order of General George C. Marshall."

"Not to alarm the civil population."

What do you make of it?

Well, if you ask me, sir, it's double talk.

But the chief of staff doesn't go in

for double talk.

- We're going on alert.

- Again?

But the men are confused.

So many alerts.

- Damn it, unconfuse them.

- Yes, sir.

"Japanese forces may attack

the Philippines...

...Thailand, the Kra Peninsula

and Borneo.

This dispatch is to be considered

a war warning."

Well, there it is, gentlemen.

You now have

as much information as l do.

That's the second warning

in three days.

"Japanese forces may attack

the Philippines...

...Thailand, the Kra Peninsula

and Borneo."

They don't mention us.

That's correct. l think it should be

considered significant.

Well, gentlemen...

...we have a job to do.

Washington wants us to send

a squadron of fighters to Midway.

And another squadron to Wake.

When can you sail?

Well, the Enterprise can sail

tomorrow morning.

l'll need a day or two. We're just

completing repairs on the Lexington.

Hurry things along, John.

l want you out there to probe.

l want planes up in the air

morning and afternoon.

l want a report on any sign

of hostile ships.

Understood.

Do you want battleships along?

Hell, no. They're too slow.

lf we're gonna probe, let's probe.

We don't want anything holding us up.

You're right, but l'm not ready

to commit them myself.

Not until l know when and where.

Do you plan to keep half the fleet

at sea while the carriers are gone?

No, it's too risky.

l'll have to keep the fleet

here at Pearl while you're away.

Get out. Get back as soon as you can.

l don't like the idea of having my

battleships without air cover.

- Let's get going.

- Yes, sir.

Admiral.

Kim.

Level with me.

l want a clear directive.

lf l run into a Jap ship,

what action do l take?

Use your common sense.

That's the best damn order l ever had.

lf l see so much as a sampan there...

... l'll blow it out of the water.

"lntelligence Report,

U.S. ships now at Pearl Harbor...

...six battleships, three light cruisers...

... 16 destroyers and one

aircraft carrier."

No information about

the other American carriers.

You know today's date?

December 1st.

Yes, but tonight will be November 30th.

When we cross

the lnternational Date Line...

...we'll push the clock ahead five hours...

...and turn the calendar back a full day,

making today yesterday.

Don't be silly!

Today can't change into yesterday!

You're not too intelligent

but l'll try to explain...

...so listen carefully.

lt's a little before 1300 hours, right?

So why are we making supper

at this hour?

1300? lt should be lunchtime.

Right! And the Date Line makes up

for that time difference...

...by turning today into yesterday.

l don't quite understand, but if we

see the enemy across that line...

... l guess it would be useless

to shoot at them.

Because how can today's shells

hit yesterday's enemy?

What is it this time,

getting me over here?

Tokyo has alerted their embassy

to stand by...

...for a very long message in 14 parts.

Look, Rufe, you scared me

and everybody else last week.

We're not doing that again, are we?

You should see this.

lt's the latest report on those

Japanese troop transports.

Remember those troop ships?

They're still heading south

with an escort...

...only 14 hours

from the coast of Malaya.

What about their aircraft carriers?

We don't know.

lntelligence was keeping track

of them until recently.

Now we've lost them.

Look, Rufe, try to put yourself

in their minds.

Where do you think l have been

the past week, night and day?

l am still convinced

they're going to attack us.

What can we do that we

aren't doing already?

l don't know about you,

but l know what l'm gonna do.

Where is everybody?

Oh, it's past 12, sir.

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