By Dawn's Early Light 1990 quotes

Condor

Admiral, we're supposed to take his word for it?

Colonel Fargo

Mr. President, historical fact: The Soviets have always been willing to take massive losses to achieve victory.

Harpoon

Colonel, this isn't the 1950s. They're not looking for new worlds to conquer. [to Condor] Mr President I have a very hard time believing the Soviets want this war more than we do. Recall some of our bombers and see how the Soviets respond.

Condor

Hmm, well I -

Colonel Fargo

Mr. President. There is another solution. Cut the head off the chicken.

Harpoon, I don't know if the President will make it to Andrews. All our military bases have been hit. Who's available to succeed?

Harpoon

General, the vice-president and most of the Cabinet are in northwest Washington. We've been unable to contact. The only one we are sure of is the secretary of the interior; he was inspecting a wilderness preserve near Baton Rouge.

And the FBI are out looking for him?

Harpoon

And the Army, E-4's two hours from touchdown in Baton Rouge.

Alice, you're reading our new target projections in your display?

Alice

I got everything I need, sir.

And the current impact in the area clear to you, yes?

Alice

Yes, sir.

Well, I've done about all I can. You and Harpoon take it from here. Old buddy?

Alice

Yeah, Clay?

Happy Hunting!
[Alice looks at monitor showing the radar display showing SAC headquarters go to snow, indicating that it is destroyed]

Alice

Turn the bombers. See what happens.

Condor

You don't understand what's going on here, do you? If we stop now, we lose. This president has the determination to wage a nuclear war until an acceptable outcome is achieved.

Alice

Acceptable to whom, Sir?

Condor

Acceptable to me, and the American people. Now you put another bomber on the henhouse, fast. Did you get that?

Alice

I hear you, Sir.

Condor

You put out general orders, to bring down Polar Bear One. Did you hear that?

Alice

Yes, Sir.

Condor

You don't sound convinced, General.

Alice

I don't believe I am, Sir.
[Colonel Fargo whispered to Acting President] : We have a capability to give the orders from here.

Condor

Fine, fine. We can send the orders from here.

Alice

I suggest you do that, Sir.

Condor

Am I hearing you correctly?

Alice

I believe you did.

Condor

General, you're fired.

Alice

We got a Two One Zebra.

Colonel Sam

Jesus! You're kidding.

Alice

Wish the hell I was.

Captain Moreau

I think we have to face up to the reality...

Major Cassidy

If we are lucky, reality is a firing squad.

Captain Moreau

And if we are unlucky?

Major Cassidy

Planet of the Apes, Darlin'. Remember Two One Zebra?.

Well, I've done about all I can. You and Harpoon take it from here. Old buddy?

Alice

Yeah, Clay?

Happy Hunting!! [Screen aboard "Looking Glass" aircraft goes to snow, indicating that SAC Headquarters has been destroyed.]

Harpoon

Recall some of our bombers. See how the Soviets respond.

Condor

Hmm.

Colonel Fargo

Mr. President. There is another solution. Cut the head off the chicken.

Major Cassidy

What am I supposed to do? Shoot you? Eject you? Put you down on the ice?

Captain Moreau

Turn the plane, Major. That's what I want you to do. Turn the plane.

US President

No, General. This is my responsibility. I will not act precipitously on the basis of some goddamn computer.

The goddamn computer will be destroyed in twenty-one minutes along with everyone here.