Original subtitles

- Hey, Mildred, come here a minute and listen to this.

- And so the cogs of an intricate federal machine

began to revolve, the task of finding out about the intent

of this foreign achievement eventually ended up

in the office of the Central Intelligence Group.

- We believe it was fired from a base

in the Caspian Sea area.

Using their prototype ICPM as the rocket power

to put the satellite in its present orbit.

We quadded each circuit of the globe

to be in a southwest, northeast direction

and to take 96 minutes.

That's about all we know,

except that it is broadcasting on two common frequencies

and the signal is not coded.

What we do not know is whether it is sending out code

while over Russia, and if it is,

what information it may be giving.

We think at the moment, it may be nothing more

than a device with propaganda,

but they may have a big jump on us.

I'll let Dr. Hemlic explain.

- The Intercontinental Missile Program has been held up

awaiting some way to get a report on three vital points

to do with outer space.

One, the exact density of the air,

the altitude the missile will travel.

Second, the effect of radioactivity on such a rocket.

Third, the, ah, do the other planets

exert enough gravitational pull to cause deviation

in the navigational equipment.

The whole purpose of a world satellite

is to find the answers to these questions.

The first country to obtain this information

will be able to fire a successful missile within six months.

You may as well answer it, General.

That's all I have to say.

- Watkins here.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Right away. Yes, sir.

Pencil, please. Thank you.

Yes, sir.

- The political pressures

regarding this matter were terrific.

Consequently, it wasn't long

before a top secret coded message reached the desk

of George White, Chief of the European Bureau

of the Central Intelligence Group.

- "Thank you very much for your kind cooperation.

Yours truly, George White."

Would you have that typed up and see

that it gets on the courier plane to Washington, please?

- Yes, sir.

- Hello? Oh, yes, will you send him in?

I've been waiting for him.

- How you doing, John? - Hi, how are you, George?

- Good to see you. Sit down.

- Thanks. Well, what's up?

- John, I sent for you because you're the best

agent we have. - Thanks, George.

But what's the job?

When you start passing out compliments,

I figure there's usually something pretty big up.

- Something big is up.

Washington has been on my back for weeks

to get somebody into Moscow.

They wanna find out if the Reds

are really on the right track with their satellites.

- Well, aren't these satellites just a good

propaganda move on their part?

- We hope so, but they may be getting data

that would put them way ahead of us.

- Well, what do you want me to do?

You're gonna be flown into Russia,

then make your way to Moscow.

There you'll contact one of our agents.

It's all in here.

Incidentally, destroy that after you've read it.

- Yeah, I will.

- The agent is a girl,

but we think that she's the right one for the job.

- A girl? Now that sounds interesting.

- Remember John, we want information, not a repetition

of that affair in Vienna.

- Oh, that was completely different.

Seriously, George, when do I go?

- Right now.

I'll drive you to a little airport outside of town.

One of our best pilots will take you

on a special civilian plane.

And John, I have no need to tell you,

if you're caught, we'll have to say

that we never heard of you.

- I've been through that before. Remember?

Is it okay if I stop by my apartment

and pick up a toothbrush? - Sure, let's go.

- White drove Manston

to a tiny civilian airfield.

Here, they met the pilot who was to fly the agent

as far into Russia as was practicable.

They were using a civilian plane with civilian markings

to avoid as much suspicion as possible,

and with the slim hope that if caught, they could pretend

to be two innocent civilians who had strayed off course.

White himself was not happy as the little plane

lifted into the air.

It is never pleasant to send a personal friend

into such danger, but this job had to be done

and the best man had to do it.

During the flight, all papers were first memorized,

then destroyed except for the false ones

that identified the two men as tourists.

It was not possible to proceed all the way to Moscow,

the ultimate destination.

The range of the little plane was not sufficient.

Also, the vicinity of the Russian capital

was too heavily guarded for a landing.

Therefore, it was necessary to put down

soon after crossing the border of the Soviet Union.

There was a small, vacant pasture

which the pilot had used before.

After leaving the plane, Manston could expect

no further help until he reached his contact.

This meant traveling by the most inconspicuous ways

possible, walking when necessary

and keeping constantly on the alert.

At this rate, Moscow lay one to five weeks away.

The capitol was apparently peaceful

and prosperous under its present regime,

but a tension was growing and rumors

were beginning to spread about the possibility

of the military taking over control of the government.

The people were not in favor of this,

but military minds do not often consider the desires

of the laymen when making their plans.

Once Manston got to the metropolitan area of Moscow,

he found it easier to get about,

as there were many tourists from the Western European

countries in and around the Russian capitol.

His instructions had been clear, go to a certain cafe

and wait for a chance to make contact with the agent

who was to act as his intermediary.

On the surface, Manston was calm, but underneath

was a growing fear that perhaps the political situation

would disintegrate so quickly,

he would be unable to complete his mission.

As the girl appeared, his immediate concern

was to establish contact without being observed.

On this action hinged the success of his entire mission.

Oh-ho

Yo-hey-ho

Hey-uh

- Hey!

- Good job!

- Yay! - Nice job!

- Yeah!

- Bravo!

- Yeah! - Nice job!

- Nice job!

- Hello. - Did anyone see you?

- No, I waited 'till the porter went upstairs

to the floor above.

Oh, you look different in these clothes.

- May I verify your papers?

What are your plans?

- First, I must find out if you feel the same way now

as you did two years ago when you contacted

our legation in Turkey.

- Yes, I do. I haven't changed my mind.

My family was killed resisting the Germans.

I escaped to Turkey and later married one of your airmen.

He was killed in an accident,

and that's when I made my decision.

I was told to return here and I would be contacting,

but why have they waited so long?

- You were being saved for the big one,

and this is the big one.

Through your contacts, we have to find out

if the Reds have gained any advantage through Sputnik,

and if so, how much?

- Well, I can tell you this much now.

They have all the information they want.

- How do you know that?

- In a way, even your Mr. George White

in Germany hasn't learned.

Last month, I became the mistress

of the Minister of Defense.

When the pig gets drunk, he talks.

- What a setup.

- I don't know exactly what data they've received

from the satellite, but I heard him say it was enough

for the engineers to complete their missile design.

They all seem very elated.

- Ah, I wouldn't wonder.

Look, I'm gonna have to get this back

to headquarters as quickly as possible.

It'll take them a couple of weeks to contact me

with further instructions.

In the meantime, I think it would be best if I stayed here.

That is, if you don't mind.

- I don't mind, but in this case, well,

I want to help all I can, but

when Joseph gets drunk, he comes here.

And for your own sake, I don't think you'd want

to overhear some of the things that happen.

- Look, in this business,

I have to do a lot of things I don't like to do.

If you can stand it, so can I.

Okay, roommates?

- Okay.

- I know they've received at least some

of the data they needed.

I'm sure now they're ahead of us.

I know the budget cut slowed you down.

Good Lord, man, I'm not blaming the aircraft industry.

I'm only asking you all to redouble your efforts.

All right, as soon as our satellite is up,

you'll get the data you need.

But in the meantime, Arthur, just guess.

And for all our sakes, guess right.

- The aircraft industries did respond.

Extra shifts were added. New factory space became available.

Most important of all, the inventive

and manufacturing genius of American industry

was turned to the job at hand,

to build a successful intercontinental missile.

New manufacturing techniques, many of which

were still only in the planning stage,

were pushed to completion and put into effect.

It was now possible for a section or even an entire factory

to be completely controlled from one central point.

Automation meant that every stage of manufacture

could be minutely inspected during every production process.

Fantastic standards of accuracy

and unbelievable production records became commonplace.

With many different models becoming available,

it remained for the final testing

to indicate which design had sufficient potential

to be developed into a production model.

Not only did the final model have to be capable

of probing deep into space in search

of vital scientific data, its military potential

was to be such as to discourage enemy attacks

on the North American continent

and on the millions of American people.

As construction reached a peak, so did the tension.

Millions upon millions of dollars of the taxpayer's money

had been spent without adequate proof

that such a project was even feasible.

Before an intercontinental missile could be successful,

engineers had to solve many new and insoluble problems.

One of the most important was the design

of the nose columns.

So far, no material had been able to withstand

the tremendous heat generated by the rocket

reentering the Earth's atmosphere.

Costly as it was, the only way to make progress

was by testing, testing, and testing still again.

As each new design was ready to be proved in actual flight,

it was sent to Cape Canaveral.

With it went the engineers who designed it,

nervously awaiting the few moments that would spell success

or failure for their months and years of painstaking work.

A failure would have to be retested later.

A tremendous cost.

A successful flight would add one

or two more precious scraps of data

to America's steadily growing fund of information

about rockets and their behavior.

- Four, three, two, one.

- No. No!

No.

- I'm sorry. I got rid of him as fast as I could.

- Oh, don't worry about me. I'm okay.

You look like you got the worst of it.

All right, tell me, did you find out anything?

- Yes, I did, but I'm afraid it's not good.

There has been a split in the Presidium.

Tomorrow, the military are going to push for a showdown.

They want to strike as soon as the missile is finished

and while your country is still unable to retaliate.

- Well, when will their missile be ready?

- I don't know. A lot depends on the vote tomorrow.

- Hard to believe that a group of civilized men

could sit around and calmly discuss

how to murder five or six million others.

- For the first time, we're ahead of the world.

Such a power can do unbelievable things.

- Well, it looks like you maybe picked the wrong side.

- I'm happy with my choice.

- The Marshall has called this meeting

to consider the use of Sputnik for military purposes.

He now turns to the Minister of Economy

and asks his opinion.

The Minister replies that he doesn't feel

that the economy can stand a war at this time.

Maybe in 10 or 20 years.

Marshall replies that the time is short. That's impossible.

The Marshall now asks his staff and the Defense Minister

if they concur with him in this, and they say that they do.

However, the other ministers do not agree.

The Marshall is very annoyed and asks them

why it is they feel they can't go along

with him in this action?

He emphasizes that he has the punch,

the advantage of surprise and the first rockets.

Marshall emphasizes that a destroyed New York

would give full and absolute control of America to them.

- America.

- Our agent in Moscow has gotten this information through.

There's a new clique assumed power in the Kremlin,

the militarists, and they're considering launching

a missile as soon as they can.

Now I'll lay my cards on the table.

If we can't come up with something better

within a reasonable time, this country is going to witness

the most frightful disaster it has ever seen.

You've got to give me the answer.

You've got to give me something.

- We've whipped the problem with the skin friction

on the warhead.

Now that we have our own satellite up,

we can modify the navigational equipment.

And we're working on a device to protect the rocket

from meteorites and radioactivity.

But give us time, we will give you your missile.

- "Time?" We have no time.

- And we have the money that was appropriated

for such worthy projects as cheese price supports.

You would've had our ICBM long ago.

- I know, but you realize

what a peacetime general is up against.

But Eric, at any rate, you now have all the resources

of the country behind you.

- Yeah.

- And God Grant that we may not be too late.

- Ah. Ah, geez.

Ah.

- He's asleep.

When he's like this, nothing can awake him.

- I wish I knew what was going on inside that brain of his.

- Perhaps you will.

He's going on an inspection trip to the missile site,

and he wants me to go with him.

- When?

- He leaves on the train in the morning.

That's why the celebration tonight.

At the slightest excuse, he drinks,

and when he's drunk, he wants me.

Not for a nice party or dinner,

but only here.

Why can't he go home to his wife?

- Oh, don't think about it.

Sometimes when I'm in that closet and he's out here,

I'd like to come out here and...

- It has to be. I really don't mind.

- But I do.

- Far to the north, lay this fully operational

missile base, standing ready,

an intercontinental missile,

capable of completely destroying a city

thousands of miles distant.

- Watkins? Oh, hi, dear.

No, why don't you go ahead and eat without me.

We're testing tomorrow.

Oh, I'll be here all night finishing this paperwork.

Well, why don't you and Helen take in a movie?

Honey, I just have to get these reports out tonight.

I know, I know. We've been through all this before.

Okay, good night.

- Each test flight had its accompanying tensions,

but this was the most important flight yet to be scheduled.

Several entirely new concepts of missile design

were incorporated into this one model.

Due to the tremendous pressure being exerted

by both military and civilian agencies

as a result of the alarming military situation,

certain component parts were incorporated into this bird

without being exhaustively pretested,

which up to now was standard operating procedure.

Time was running desperately short.

The hopes of America and the millions of dollars invested

in the missile race up to this point,

depended on the successful flight of this one missile.

Not only was it important that the satellite

be successfully launched into orbit

for propaganda and scientific purposes,

but at the same time, a rocket itself

would be proved capable of carrying

a nuclear warhead to any point in the world.

Everything had to work without fail.

- So we were just switching to radar controls

and everything went boom.

Does not mean we do not have a successful missile

that can pinpoint a target 6,000 miles away.

It was just bad luck.

- "Bad luck?" That's putting it mildly.

I was counting very heavily on this test.

- I'm sure we have an operational missile.

One more test will prove it.

In two weeks, we'll be ready to try again.

- "Two weeks?" We don't have two weeks.

If this test had been successful,

I really think we had a chance to go ahead of the Reds,

but now the fate of this country

is hanging on a very thin thread,

their failure or our chance at sabotage.

- Who are you? What do you want?

- Well, Tanya sent me. Ah, look at the note.

I was awfully afraid I'd missed you.

She's run away from the Minister.

- Where is she? - She's up near Leningrad.

She asked me to bring you there.

- How? - By train.

We can make the journey in several short trips.

That way we won't need any travel permits.

There's a train that leaves at 8:30.

I've got the tickets. Will you come?

- I guess I have to trust you.

My name's Johnny Manston.

- Morris Steele, British Intelligence.

- "British Intelligence?" How did you get mixed up in this?

- We rather like to keep our hand in everything.

Actually, we've been trying to make contact

with Tanya ever since she took up with the Minister.

Luckily, I had my chance on the train.

She says it's imperative that you join her.

That's what the note's for.

- Well, I'm glad you made it.

She says they're about ready to fire the missile.

- We better go then. - Hmm, okay.

I guess I haven't got time to wait

for any further orders from Germany.

- The Marshall says that newspapers

are informing the world that the American attempts

to launch their rocket ended in failure.

He says that he has called them here

to conclude their arguments

and finalize the new military position

of the Russian rockets.

- Careful.

He's over there.

This is as far as I go.

John wants to do the job on his own. I think he's right.

You see, these woods are so filled with guards,

alone, he'll stand a better chance.

Give him this. Wish him luck.

- Thank you. Will you be contacting us again?

- I'll try to set contact in Moscow.

Tell him to be careful.

You know, I sort of like the guy.

- Oh.

Hi. - Johnny.

You're safe. I was worried.

The police are thick in this area.

- Oh, we had a few rough moments,

but Morris got us through all right.

I owe him quite a lot.

- Why did you send him back?

- Because it's a one-man job.

It'd be tough enough for one, let alone two.

Have you any further news?

- They're gonna fire the rocket at New York tonight.

- "New York tonight?"

Aren't they afraid of retaliation?

- The test missile crashed on takeoff.

Our military feels it'll be three weeks

before you can put up another.

- We don't need rockets. Our Air force can still drop bombs.

- The Kremlin is positive that none

of your aircraft can get through.

Our anti-aircraft rockets have proven

a hundred percent effective.

- Did Morris give you the TNT?

Where's the site from here?

- I'll show you.

- I told you, I must do it by myself.

- You couldn't possibly get in there alone.

I've got to go with you, no matter what happens.

Do you understand?

- I think I do.

All right.

- Really, old boy. I don't know what you mean.

Nobody said I couldn't walk out here.

- The power stations and the controls are over there,

but they're heavily guarded.

I think we'd have a better chance

of getting in the compound from the other side.

- Uh-huh. Okay, let's go.

- So you're an Englishman.

Let me see your papers authorizing you to be in this area.

- Well, ah, actually, all I have are...

- Mr. Steele, might I ask you why you're in this district

when your papers clear you only to Leningrad?

- Well, actually, I'm afraid I lost my way.

- I am not amused.

Do you realize the seriousness of being found

on this military reservation?

- Yes, I do, and, and I'm sorry.

In fact, if you give me one of your chaps

to show me the way back to the main road,

why I'll be on my way to Leningrad

and attend to my business.

- Perhaps you were spying on us.

Sabotage, maybe. Were you alone?

- Of course I was alone.

- Look, nobody told me at the embassy

that I couldn't go out and take a bit

of a walk in the woods.

I simply lost my way.

- You are lying.

You will tell me who was with you.

- I've told you before, I was alone.

What else could I say to you?

- We'll see.

I'll deal with you later.

- Come on. Step down here.

That's it, come on. Right across now.

Yeah.

- Don't stop! Come on, come on!

- Johnny, Johnny go on! I'm all right!

Don't worry about me!

- Ooh!

- Hey, Tanya! I tell you, we did it!

Where are you, Tanya?

- Bill, I'm frightened. Please don't go in today.

Lots of men are staying home until these air raids are over.

- I can't work over the phone like they can. You know that.

Besides, I have to go.

- Just like you had to go to Korea

and before that, Formosa.

We were younger then. Now we have little Bill.

You have to face your responsibilities.

- That's what I'm doing.

Pat, in case of a raid, there's nothing

I could do for you and Bill.

Here you'll be safe.

But I can be of help on the air.

Pat, in a real emergency,

people will have to depend on radio completely.

Besides, you can't believe all those phony stories

and rumors the papers pick up and print.

- Maybe I'm silly.

If anything should happen to you, I don't know what I'd do.

- Don't worry. Nothing's going to happen to me.

Well, there's my train.

Please, Pat. Don't worry.

- Well, so long, honey.

- Mm.

So if you want me

to go out with you tonight, you gotta wear a tie.

I'm tired of everyone thinking my husband's a bum.

- I am a bum. Except for one thing.

- What's that? - I'm a rich bum.

I got 20 bucks. I'm gonna blow it all on you tonight.

- 20 bucks or not, you're gonna wear a tie.

- Okay, I'll get a special one just for you

with a new dame painted on it.

- Very funny. Very funny.

- I'll see ya.

- Good morning, my boy. - Good morning, sir.

Why did you ask me to meet you here?

- I'm taking no chances.

I'm paying you well. Don't leave under any circumstances.

How's the market? - Oh, just fine

With the war scare on, you really should make a killing.

- Thanks. That's good, good.

- Good morning out there.

This is Bill Deal again with the news and views of today,

and I must say for the first time in a long time,

the outlook is brighter.

The Middle East and the Far East are quiet,

at least temporarily, and the Kremlin

through their foreign office has made it known

that they're open for discussion on matters

that have long been in disagreement.

Perhaps the large advances we have recently made

in our missile program has caused

this new thinking on their part.

The successful launchings of our many satellites

apparently has closed the gap in the missile race

that has existed since they first launched

their Sputnik 1 many months ago.

It seems apparent that the new powers in the Soviet Union

are far more interested in peace

and an ending to the Cold War than their predecessors were.

It is reported that a very important meeting

will take place in the Kremlin at 8:30 PM Moscow time today.

That will be about three hours from now, so we'll try

and have something for you in the afternoon news.

Now for some local happenings...

- The Marshall is asking the Captain

if he has double-checked everything,

mechanical and electrical.

- He says, "Now listen carefully, Captain.

There cannot be a mistake.

This is a great moment in your life."

- "All right, start the countdown."

- "Gentlemen,

the ultimate decision has been made."

- Yes, I know it's important,

but the general is on his way from the Pentagon.

One moment, please.

Here he is now. On two-line, sir.

- Watkins here?

Yes.

Yes.

Are you sure it's not an aircraft?

Yes.

Yes. Have you got a plot on its direction?

Uh-huh. I see, yes.

Okay. Keep me informed.

Defense Command, please.

Hello, hello? This is General Watkins.

Now listen, I want a red alert for every area

east of the Mississippi River.

No further phone service except

for civil defense in the military.

Put this on all teletypes.

"At 1400 hours Eastern Standard Time,

the Reds fired a missile aimed

at the eastern seaboard of the United States.

The missile will hit its target in about 10 minutes.

No other facts are known,

but we'll try to keep you informed."

One more thing.

Alert all emergency forces in the country.

We're going to need them.

- It's not another of those things.

- I think they're stupid.

- So she says I'm a bum because I don't wear a tie.

I went out and I bought it.

Man alive is she gonna love this.

- Come on, you guys.

- Yeah, sure. - Let me see.

This one here's too much.

- Wow.

- Attention, everyone. This is a red alert.

This is a real raid.

The Russians have aimed a rocket attack at us.

I repeat, this is a red alert.

Anyone listening to me now, switch to Civil Defense 640

or 1240 on your dial and follow instructions.

I repeat, switch to 640 or 1240 on your dial

and get your instructions from Civil Defense.

This is a raid, take shelter

and do not make any phone calls.

Please keep the lines free for military calls only.

You have about eight minutes.

Take cover and listen on 640

or 1240 on your dial for further instructions.

- Attention, attention. This is a real raid.

Your lives are in danger. Take cover immediately.

Attention, this is a real raid.

Take cover immediately. Attention, attention.

- To those of you still listening, follow these instructions

if you can't get underground,

cover yourself with wet newspapers

and lie still until the blast is subsided.

Don't touch or eat anything, and above all,

keep calm and follow instructions.

All radios should be turned to Civil Defense

at 640 and 1240 on your dial.

- Okay, let me have it.

That's what I thought. Yes.

The New York area.

Okay. Thanks.

Buzz bombs, kamikazes. We could always shoot it.

This thing is coming straight down.

Hold it.

There's a slim chance.

Nike Controls, please.

This is General Watkins here. Yes, yes, General Watkins.

When this missile shows on your scopes,

I want you to fire every Nike you have.

I know you can't hit it at that speed, but try.

Please, try.

If only we had an operational anti-missile device,

we might give some hope to those people out there.

- Maybe the Nike will hit.

- No. There's no chance of that.

This thing is coming in at 18,000 miles an hour.

Nothing can stop it.

- Taxi, taxi, taxi, taxi, taxi!

- Help me.

- The president has called a meeting

of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss retaliation

for this unwarranted attack.

The White House has been moved

to its emergency headquarters,

and all military personnel are asked to report

to their bases as soon as they safely can.

The teletypes are dead.

All we can do now is wait.

This is Bill Deal signing off.

Pat, dear, if you can hear me.

It just dawned on me that I probably won't

see you or little Bill again.

This is because I've been stubborn.

I'm sorry because I really love you.

- General Watkins.

Okay, I'm sure you did.

They missed with the Nikes.

Get me the White House.

- The suburban areas were spared,

but metropolitan New York City

was almost completely destroyed

with a death toll of well over 3 million.

Regardless of possible disagreements over conference tables,

in spite of the selfish interests of political factions

or special interest groups,

we cannot let this be the end.