All language subtitles for The Brink Of War (2026)

Mr. President?

Mr. President.

Mr. President.

I failed.

I offered him
the deal of the century,

of human history,

and he's walking away
over one word, a single word.

Never should've trusted him.

Sir, the car is here,

ready to take him
to the airport,

but it's not over, not yet.

It's over.

The whole world living on hope.

Press will know by tonight.

Sir, when you recruited me,

you told me
we could make a difference.

You told me we could

make America safer
than when we found her.

It's over.

Ask him to come to Washington.

For what? More talk
that leads to nothing?

Maybe this place is haunted.

Ask him anyway, sir.
Please, in spite of it all.

We have maybe a minute left
until he comes out that door,

gets in that car,
and he is gone.

Do not let what happened
in that house, in that room,

over the last 30 hours
destroy our entire future.

All teams,
Rawhide has arrived.

He stays with the football.

- Establish position.
- The Brits gave it up.

Pictures falling off the walls
in the night,

the ambassador's wife
refused to stay.

They sold it back
to the Icelandic government.

Let me get this straight,
George,

of all the places on earth
you could pick for a meeting

about the fate
of the human race,

you picked a haunted house
in Iceland?

Not me, sir. Secret Service.

Perfect for security.

Nothing around but lava rock
and the North Atlantic.

Total isolation.

"Total isolation."

Can't blame Nancy
for staying home.

But I am blaming you.

Yes, sir.

Ready to begin?

Copy. All clear.

Hello, how are you?

- Good to see you.
- Mr. President.

- Good to see you.
- Welcome, sir.

- This is George Shultz.
- Hello, sir.

Should be in the same area.

We'll share this top floor,
Soviets are down the hall,

and here is
our conference room.

Any update?

Tight quarters.

I'm surprised you didn't
shove me in the basement.

You'll be pleased to know, sir,

that the basement,
in the spirit of this summit--

It's not a summit.

We've been having summits
for 40 years.

Nothing changes.

Actions speak louder
than words.

If this guy Gorbachev
wants to bluster and bullshit,

then...
...we'll just walk.

Call it a meeting.
And no press.

Sir, we can say no press,

but the leaders
of the two superpowers,

with 70,000 nuclear-tipped
ICBMs, IRBMs,

air-launched cruise missiles,

not to mention,

five million
active duty conventional troops

at their fingertips,
are having a... meeting.

Mr. President,
whatever we call it,

we have two days.

Perhaps you'd like to glance
at the briefing binders?

What, the basement...

You were saying,
what's in the basement?

That where you keep the ghosts?

Well, in a manner
of speaking, sir.

The CIA.

Ah, of course.

- And the KGB.
- Together?

Oh, well, that's got to set
a world record for awkward.

Or cooperation?

Have you met the CIA and KGB?

George, where's our team?

Yes, sir.

Let's be quick, gentlemen.

Max Kampelman.

Paul Nitze.

Richard Perle.

And Ken Adelman.

The entire State Department,
entire federal government,

at your disposal and you could
only find Democrats?

I'm actually a Republican, sir.

Well, that makes two of us.

I'm glad you're all here.

I-I know you gave up time
at home

for a weekend in a house
in Iceland.

But, hey,
I hear there are ghosts,

so it should be fun.

Let's talk about
how we open this thing.

We've agreed to begin
with formal statements, sir.

This is our basic boilerplate,

plus a few other ideas.

Uh-huh.

I'm going to move up
the human rights stuff.

I strongly suggest we don't
poke the bear first thing, sir.

You read the briefing binders?

The Russians are focused

on the Strategic Defense
Initiative.

Think it violates

the Anti-Ballistic
Missile treaty.

When, in reality,
SDI does nothing of the kind

and they're violating
the ABM already

with the radar installation
at Krasnoyarsk.

Being underestimated

is a tactical advantage, gentlemen.

Let's not make
that same mistake

with the new secretary-general.

Gorbachev is relatively young
for a Sov--

Considering the last three died
before I could even meet them,

I guess he must be.

Well, he acted for a while
in high school,

- then some in college.
- No kidding?

Not film like you,
just stage plays.

Explains his bombastic
speeches.

All those big hand movements.

At least you have something
in common, sir.

Yes, except for the fact
that we disagree

about free enterprise,
freedom of speech,

and freedom of just about
any kind.

Gentlemen,
can you trust an enemy?

Since the founding
of the Soviet Union,

they have concentrated
their foreign policy

on the, uh, coercion
of other nations.

And no nation,
not a single one,

that has become communist

has ever turned back
to democracy.

And because of that,

we face an enemy
that is ever-growing,

an octopus stretching tentacles
into even our own hemisphere.

Some of you,
except for this former Marine,

are too young to remember
the Second World War.

I am not.

A system,
no matter fascist or communist,

that subjugates every citizen,

denying them
not just basic rights,

but their God-given free will,

is a threat
not just to one nation,

but eventually to all nations.

So we have rebuilt
our military,

we have moved our Pershing
missiles into Germany

in defense of our NATO allies,

we have funded those committed

to the cause
of democracy and freedom

throughout the world,

and, now, finally,
we have begun scientific work

on a missile shield to protect
the American people.

We have done all this,

even though I have been called
a warmonger

by The New York Times
and even some of our allies,

even though
the atomic scientists

have the Doomsday Clock down to
five minutes 'til annihilation,

we have done all this...

because I believed
it would drive the Soviets

to the negotiating table.

But...

if we fail, if I fail...

well, then I will be
just a warmonger.

I will have endangered
the American people.

Which is the absolute opposite
of our goal.

We must find out
if we can trust this Gorbachev,

if we can make a deal with him,

if I can shake his hand
at the end of all this as the...

photographers click and flash.

If the capitalist press
finds out

you brought so many clothes,

they will confuse you
with Nancy Reagan.

Oh...

That doesn't look
like Karl Marx.

"A nuclear war can never be won
and must never be fought."

Who?

A quote from the leader
of our main enemy

when he addressed the Japanese
parliament three years ago.

Don't get your hopes up, Miliy.

It looked promising before,
in Geneva, and it fell apart.

"The production
of too many useful things

results in too many
useless people."

Karl Marx never had to deal
with Paris and Mitterrand.

Do you not remember?

I wore the same thing twice

and their press treated me
like a peasant.

In the West, people
are on the streets, begging,

yet I'm mocked
if I repeat a dress.

The hypocrisy.

But I will remind them
how sophisticated we are,

how we are strong,

as you will show him
in that room.

We gave Reagan the option
of London or Reykjavik.

He chose not the capital
of his main ally,

the British,

but this place,
that is equidistant between us.

This is a good sign, Raisa.

He chose it

because the only airport
is at their airbase,

forcing,
for the first time ever,

a Soviet premier to land
upon NATO military territory.

Their electronic warfare teams

must have enjoyed
themselves immensely

scanning all our communications.

He is arrogant
and uncompromising.

We have survived
the bloodletting

of the Revolution,

the onslaught of the Nazis,

and the purges
of that maniac Stalin.

We will survive electronic
warfare teams, my love.

I know you want
to accomplish great things

for our nation.

I can't accomplish anything
if we continue fighting

this Cold War
with the Americans.

The soil of the Ukraine
is as rich as their Iowa,

yet we continue to import
more and more of their grain.

Forty million tons
last year alone.

"Be bold and mighty forces
will come to your aid."

- Tolstoy?
- Goethe.

What a dissident reader
you've become.

Well, thanks to you, Miliy,

we no longer need to be
dissidents about what we read.

No heavy coat.
Take the light one.

You'll look like
you can't take the cold.

And you're Russian.

Well, I see they made
their own border.

CIA on one side,
KGB on the other.

That's the spirit
of cooperation?

Lao Tzu tells us

the journey of a thousand miles
begins with a single step.

Mr. President,
I'm Margaret Clancy.

How can I help you?

That your real name?

It is as far
as they're concerned, sir.

Ah. Well, then, Ms. Clancy,
I'd like to talk to my wife.

Well, sir, the best option
is a scrambler.

Ours isn't set up yet,

but there is one
in the Ambassador's residence.

And if I promise
not to tell Nancy

any classified nuclear secrets?

Well, sir...

Uh, that'll be fine
for the sat relay.

The switchboard at Langley

ought to be able to put you
through to the Lincoln Bedroom.

Ronnie? You look good on TV.

NBC says Air Force One
made a textbook landing

despite the winds.

I wish the Secret Service
would've brought the car.

It's got better armor.

Didn't think
we'd need it.

And the Ambassador's car
is fine.

I mean, we... we, uh, kicked him
out of his residence,

might as well take his car too.

Wonder where we sent him.

You're too trusting.

Well, if they launch
a first strike,

they take out Gorbachev too.

Seems unlikely, Nance.

And, uh, you know
I don't trust the Commies.

Listen...

Raisa Gorbachev is here.

Intelligence reported it
as we landed this morning.

Oh, Ronnie,
I should be there.

And you know
what this will look like.

It's fine. We're not doing
anything social.

There will be no pictures
of her

and him and me, and not you,
no loss of face.

I'm sorry, Nance.

Don't worry about it.

I've got lots
of work to do here.

Go be great.

Yes, ma'am. Love you.

Love you.

Yes, would you ask
my chief of staff to come by?

Yes, wake her if need be.
Thank you.

Convoy is on approach.

There it is in the formation.

Cameras?

Just our guy, Pete Souza,
and one for the Soviets.

Last time anyone gets
this close to the summit.

Meeting.

Good to see you, Mr. President.

And you're early, hm?

Always looking
for the advantage.

Well, we are politicians,
Secretary-General.

That we are, yes.

And I hope we can be partners
in peace

and begin the work

that the world and our peoples
expect of us on arms reduction.

I'm sure we will. Yes.

And, uh, did you hear
this place is haunted?

Must be a British joke, hm?

I don't see any ghosts.

I'll, uh, I'll let you get
settled with your staff

and then I'll, uh, I'll meet
you in that room there.

How much time do you need?
Half an hour?

Five minutes?

Unless you need more time

to recover
from your early arrival.

I'll be there.

- Did he say "reduction"?
- He did.

He mistranslated
the English word for "control."

He meant arms control.

Hell of a mistake to make
in the first minute, sir.

Gorbachev has been in the Party

and making moves
since he was a teenager.

He's too good for that.

Yeah.

There have been
countless agreements

about arms control, sir,

but in all of human history,

there has never been
a single pact

between peoples
on the reduction of arms.

This could be historic.

Your legacy.

Or it's a move meant
to throw us off our game

and he's just going to bullshit
for two days.

There's an old Russian saying,
George,

"Trust, but verify."

So...

we need a test

to see if he's serious
about change.

Yes.

I have the Rostropovich letter
in my briefcase upstairs.

Shall we begin?

Minister Shevardnadze.

Secretary Shultz.

I never imagined
I'd see the controls

for 70,000 nuclear weapons
in the same room...

a few feet apart.

I have always wondered
why you Americans

call it the "nuclear football."

Only a weak people need to be
afraid of their own creation.

Yes, we humans do have a way

of making the horrific
sound innocuous.

For example, "Gulag"...

sounds so much nicer

than "inhumane Siberian
torture prison."

Mr. General Secretary,

I have been impatiently
awaiting this meeting.

In the organizational plan,

it would evidently be expedient

to devote part of the time
to talks held one-on-one,

and part of the time

to the exchange of opinions

in the presence of our
ministers of foreign affairs.

Is this procedure acceptable
to you?

Yes, I agree with this.

As a matter of fact,

that is what we had in mind
when we suggested this meeting.

With what problems
shall we begin our discussions?

It seems to me we have
an entire series of problems.

I am referring to the problems

of intermediate-range weapons,
space,

and agreements
on the ABM defense,

as well as proposals
on strategic weapons.

Mr. President,
I believe it would make sense

to first conduct
a brief exchange of opinions

on the situation in the world

which has prompted me
to appeal to you

with the proposal
of this meeting.

Obviously we would be
willing to discuss

all questions

which the American side
feels necessary to raise.

Thank you, sir.

I would like to add
that, in my opinion,

we really will have to talk
about human rights.

Unlike other questions
which we have cited,

they have great influence
on how far we can go

in cooperation
with the Soviet side

in view of our public opinion.

Please continue
with your thoughts.

Human rights,

specifically questions
of exit from the Soviet Union,

are ever present in appeals
to my office.

Specifically, sir, I...

Well, you may know

that the National Symphony
in Washington,

a wonderful,
cherished orchestra,

has a cellist and conductor,
Mr. Rostropovich,

who hails
from the Soviet Union.

He left in 1974, I believe.

His birthday is coming up

and, uh, he has not seen
his sister, his only family,

in over ten years.

I have his letter here,
Mr. General Secretary,

from him, beseeching you...

to let her travel
to Washington...

for his birthday.

Hmm.

We will talk
about human rights, hm?

But now I would like
to express in principle

what problems concern
the Soviet Union

such as arms control,

including strategic arms,
medium-range missiles,

the ABM Treaty,

and the cessation
of nuclear testing.

Yes, I agree
with your approach.

However, it is important
that you know

the force of public opinion
in the USA.

We are a nation of immigrants.

One out
of every eight Americans

has some relations

with your vast Union
of Soviet Socialist Republics.

And, of course, I...

...I understand
this national spiritual tie

since I, as an Irishman,

feel these ties myself
with Ireland.

Therefore, I see that
all Americans are concerned

about what is going on
in your country

because we are all immigrants.

And it will be easier
to conclude agreements

on various arms questions

when public opinion
is not angered

by some events in the countries
of their cultural heritage.

However, I agree that these
problems are secondary

as compared with the problems
of nuclear arms.

Our situation is unique
in human history.

Here we are, the two of us,

sitting together in a room,

deciding whether there will be
peace or war in the world.

We both want peace,

but how will we achieve it?

How do we strengthen trust
and reduce suspicion

between our two peoples?

Hmm.

I will consider your request.

Thank you,
Mr. General Secretary.

I may continue?

- We're on channel two.
- Copy that.

For Pete's sake, Austin,

how many waffles did you have
for breakfast?

I gotta take a leak!

Oh, yeah,
as if this is the first time

you've seen
someone waiting in line.

You guys, you have to wait
in line for a loaf of bread.

KGB doesn't wait for bread.

Oh, yeah, no class warfare

when you have the only guns

and they're aimed
at the proletariat.

The water is very
pure and very clean.

It has a really high
mineral content

that is especially

- Bravo!
- Who are you with?

NPR. I'm-I'm Cleo.

You're The Times? London?

Yeah. Alexander.
How'd you... Uh, right.

Just, uh... I knew that.

It is so beautiful.

The water
is so beautiful. So blue.

Good morning.

Well, this is crazy. Right?

What?

The entire world's press
corps descends

on the tiny, freezing
strategic cornerstone

of the North Atlantic,

only to discover
a whole island with no hotels,

no motels,
no bed and breakfasts,

not even cars to rent.

Just an old church
with cots to sleep in,

and a complete media blackout
of the actual summit?

So instead of covering
the leader of the free world

and the leader
of the communist empire

alone in a room together
for the first time in 40 years

debating whether we're all
gonna die in a mushroom cloud,

we're left here
at a natural hot springs

watching water aerobics?

Madam Soviet First Lady?

Uh, The Times.
I have a question.

- Uh, no--
- Of course.

I would be happy
to answer any questions.

But I am not First Lady.

I'm sure Nancy Reagan
appreciates the title,

but in the Soviet Union,
we are all truly equal.

I am simply Raisa Gorbacheva.

Ah, yeah. Right.

Um, Mrs. Gorbacheva, how are
you enjoying your time here?

On behalf of the Soviet people,

I am very grateful and, uh,
hope we will become friends.

As Chekhov once said,

"We must trust
and believe in people

or life becomes impossible."

Oh, thank you, darling.

Where is your, uh, counterpart,
Mrs. Reagan?

I don't know.

I can't imagine leaving
my husband

at such a critical time
in our world's history.

Perhaps she doesn't feel well?

- Mrs. Gorbacheva!
- Mrs. Gorbacheva!

Any word from your husband?

For too many years,

there has been
an overly complex mechanism

of Soviet-American dialogue.

In this time,
this mechanism of dialogue

has been disrupted
several times,

and still we are not resolved
on the main questions

even though many, many words
have been said

regarding these questions.

I have been frustrated
for many years myself

with this lack of progress.

So now we find ourselves

in an increasingly
urgent situation,

and that is why
I have suggested

this meeting with you.

I was very struck

by your first campaign
for the presidency,

when you suggested
a Nuclear Zero option.

I wonder now
if this was merely rhetoric.

I wonder, Mr. President,

because despite
the millions of protestors

for peace in Western Europe,

despite the condemnation
of many allies

and the political costs
to Chancellor Kohl

and Prime Minister Thatcher,

you have moved intermediate
ballistic missiles

into Germany.

If launched,

these missiles are five
or six minutes from Moscow.

You would give me
five or six minutes

to respond to an attack?

What do you think would happen?

How am I to respond
to such aggression?

Are these the actions of peace?

Hm.

Thank you, Mr. Gorbachev,

for your sincere
and clear remarks.

I would remind you
that the United States

has placed its Pershing
missiles, our IRBMs,

in West Germany at the request

of a democratically
elected government,

and that our number, 108,

is less than half of the 279

that you have stationed
in Eastern Europe.

Yet we have nothing similar

threatening Washington
in five or six minutes.

Threatening the free peoples

of Brussels, Paris,
Rome, and London

is threatening Washington,
Mr. Gorbachev.

Such is the nuclear
umbrella policy

of our security agreements
with our allies.

An attack on one
is an attack on all.

Yes, I am familiar
with NATO Article 5.

However, we have discussed

many times the subject
of arms control.

We have many agreements.

Yes.

Are you suggesting such a thing
in Europe with the IRBMs?

To limit them, to control them?

No.

I am suggesting
that the Soviet Union

would be willing
to remove our IRBMs.

I am suggesting that we develop

an agreement
on arms reduction...

and that nuclear intermediate-
range ballistic missiles

in Europe

can be reduced...

to zero.

We would be open...

to discussing
such an agreement.

As the press blackout continues

here in Iceland,

the Soviet premier's wife,
Raisa Gorbachev,

was available for questions.

When asked why the First Lady
was not also available,

she suggested that perhaps
health concerns

had prevented Mrs. Reagan
from making the trip.

Mrs. Gorbachev...

Samantha, I'll need
my press secretary as well.

- Thank you.
- ...as she uses her time

to draw attention
to the cultural treasures

of this island country.

And what about
the missiles in Asia?

The IRBMs that have a range
of 1000 kilometers or less?

Our proposal
only concerns Europe.

There is a small problem.

I am not authorized
to negotiate

the nuclear forces of Britain
and France, Mr. Gorbachev.

I am aware

that you are neither
Mrs. Thatcher

nor Mr. Mitterrand.

So you are saying
that your proposal

would include only US
and Soviet Union weapons?

I am.

Britain and France
have the right to keep theirs

as a part of their own
defensive posture?

I would hope
you'd encourage them

to see that by withdrawing
our weapons,

we leave our Warsaw Pact
allies vulnerable.

That their NATO weapons
are an unaligned threat

and that there is then
no deterrence for us.

I would hope you would help
your NATO allies

to see that their weapons
were no longer necessary.

And you won't simply
paint over the Soviet flag

with an East German flag,

thereby, magically,

a Soviet missile
becomes an East German one?

I will not.

What assurances do we have?

My word
and that of the Soviet Union.

You'll forgive me,
Mr. General Secretary,

but we have a long history
of finding the USSR

to be cheating on
its international obligations,

including those
to the United States.

You have a long
history of suspicion of us

and a history
of covert activities

in sovereign nations
hostile to you.

I was sorry to hear

of your recent misfortunes
with the Contras.

I hope you will see
this proposal

as a bold new initiative
for peace.

There is a very old
Russian saying.

A proverb.

"Doveryai, no proveryai."

"Trust, but verify." Yes.

Yes.

How do you propose we do that?

Well, perhaps it's as simple
as letting American personnel

observe the removal
of your missiles from Europe.

This is not possible.

My military
will never allow an enemy

to observe our most closely
guarded technology.

How would it be different
if you were to observe us?

We would have the same problem.

But our military still reports
to our civilian leadership.

To me.

Does yours?

- "Trust, but verify"?
- Yes.

How did you say it?

We would be willing to discuss
such an agreement.

Now...

what about those IRBMs in Asia?

What happened to solidarity, comrade?

"From each according
to their ability,

to each according
to their need."

You do not need
to quote Marx to me.

How about, "life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness"?

You've heard of that one?

Yes, written by a slaveholder.

How conveniently capitalist.

Yeah, well,

at least he didn't massacre
20 million farmers like Stalin.

That's enough.

Go upstairs
and get me a coffee.

But you expect me
to abandon my Asian allies?

We have no intermediate
ballistic missiles in Asia,

at least not ones
that are nuclear-tipped.

What do you expect me
to withdraw?

I expect the United States
to have the same regard

for Soviet concerns
as you have for your own.

Are we not mutually assured
partners in destruction?

Shall we not be mutually
assured partners in reduction?

That's a great turn of phrase.

You mock me?

No, on the contrary,
Mr. Gorbachev, I salute you.

You have a better command
of English

than I ever could of Russian.

Let me ask you this.

What is the difference
between Brussels and Tokyo?

The sushi is better in Tokyo.

Yeah, yeah, well, yes,
that's very funny, sir, but no.

I mean, you have suggested

that we remove our nuclear
protection of Belgium

by removing
our Pershing missiles.

- Yes.
- And yet,

we have none protecting
our Japanese allies,

but you have ones
that could threaten them.

You have 6,500 nuclear warheads

aboard American submarines
all over the world.

More than 800 of which
are multiple reentry vehicles,

multiple warheads per missile.

And we know,
as equally as you do,

of the greater accuracy
of American missiles.

You're upset that we're good
at what we do?

I'm explaining
that you have submarines

in the Pacific defending Japan.

And you have
none threatening it?

The numbers are not equal.

We have more land-based IRBMs.

You have more submarines.

But you expect me
to withdraw my Asian missiles

while you offer no compromise,
be it submarine or otherwise.

I am not going to leave
our Asian allies,

none of whom have
nuclear forces of their own,

defenseless.

Yet you are asking me

to leave my Warsaw Pact
allies defenseless,

while I let your NATO allies
keep their nuclear weapons.

I am not asking anything
of you, Mr. Gorbachev--

you are asking me.

The arrogance of the Americans.

Uncompromising arrogance.

What are you suggesting?

I am suggesting

that while I have proposed

decoupling the question
of your NATO allies

and their nuclear forces

from the IRBM equation
in Europe,

I have agreed, have I not,

that they are separate
from the issue between us,

you are not allowing that Asia
is another separate issue.

How am I to compromise with you

when you will do nothing
of the sort with me?

It is near the time

for the first session

this morning to end,
Mr. Gorbachev.

Perhaps we should update
our foreign ministers.

And...

in the spirit of compromise,

I will advise mine that we wish
to pursue this deal

relevant to the European
IRBM reduction.

I'll ask him to have our staff
draft some language for it...

with your approval, of course.

This is satisfactory.

We will meet again
at 3:00 p.m.?

Of course.

Stand to, gents.

Gorbachev came to play.

What's going on?

Soviets are saying that they
will withdraw their IRBMs

from Eastern Europe
if we pull the Pershings.

- We're sure?
- That's unheard of.

- They suggested it?
- Gonna lose my bet, aren't I?

We have work to do.

Chancellor Kohl
is gonna throw a fit.

He just spent two years

and every last ounce
of political capital he has

to move them in there.

He had a million people
on the streets protesting.

We'll worry about him
when we have a deal.

For now, let's get started
on the details.

A phased withdrawal.

Seems right, but--

First priority is determining
how it would be certified.

"Doveryai, no proveryai."

"Trust, but verify"?

Russians will never
let a Yankee soldier

on their rocket pads
to observe.

Never happen.

- No.
- He didn't.

He knows
this could be his legacy,

the President's legacy,
our legacy.

There's plenty of room
on this boat

for all of our résumés
and reputations.

I'll see about getting us
some food.

You get to work on a proposal.

Shouldn't the boss be here?
Where is he?

He's doing the smart thing,
Perle, resting.

You know something about that.

Mm.

It's just chicken salad, friend.

Yes?

How are you?

What is that music?

I tried to find something
by Rostropovich,

but, uh, they don't have it.

I'm sure he'd play here
when you get home.

Well, let's see
if I can get his sister

out of the Soviet Union
for his birthday first.

Gorbachev isn't exactly Gandhi.

Are there reindeer in Iceland?

I'm pretty sure I'm staring
at a reindeer.

I don't know.

Well, I'm gonna have to inquire
about our ambassador.

He shouldn't be hunting the
rare, indigenous, endangered

Icelandic reindeer.

The environmentalist lobby

will never let me hear
the end of it.

Oh, Ronnie.

I don't think

the environmentalists
vote Republican.

Well, I won 49 out
of the 50 states, Nance.

Some of those votes
were Democrats.

Some of them care
about the environment.

She told reporters I was ill.

Raisa Gorbachev
is just enjoying the spotlight.

You know they don't even know
her name back home in Russia?

The KGB cuts her out
of pictures before the press,

well, what they call the press,
can, uh, print it in the paper.

She, uh, she doesn't exist
back there.

That's gotta be tough.

I'm not in this
for the spotlight.

I know. Yeah.

There is, uh, there's something
weird about reindeer.

Maybe just dead ones.

Santa's all wrong about them.

It's like a...

It is like a menagerie of death
in here.

What are you working on?

Oh, uh, nothing,
just some little stuff

my office has been planning.

Listen, I'll tell them

to issue a statement
that you're healthy.

No. I can take care of myself.

And I've got lots to do here,

and you've got a ball game.
You stay focused there.

- Love you.
- Okay, bye.

Bye.

Reagan shot at close range,

apparently by a...

- Sir.
- George.

What happened
to your shirt?

Chicken salad sandwich.

- Come on in.
- Uh...

Plenty of time for you
to change.

Something on your mind, George?
Speak up.

I've been going over the
proposal with our team, sir.

It's... it's been a big day
already.

You want to quit
while we're ahead?

The thought had occurred.

Every missile out of Europe?

That's a hell of a legacy.

Yeah.

Someday, you're gonna have
to explain to me

what "legacy" means to all
you East Coast blue bloods.

That means the next generation
is better off

because of something you did.

I'm sorry, sir, that came out
snarkier than I intended.

I didn't hire you
for your suits.

I hired you for your candor.

We, uh... We're not done yet.

You want to talk
about human rights again?

Yeah. I do.

Why? It'll only annoy him.

They-They'll try to avoid it.

Well, all the more reason.

If you poke the Russian bear
too hard, he will react poorly.

You trust me, George?

Of course, Mr. President.

Don't give me that
"salute-to-the-flag" answer.

I asked you a question.

Establishment
thinks I'm a warmonger,

dangerous.

What's the, uh, difference

between me and any
other chucklehead on TV,

except now I'm in the Oval.

I'm asking why you trust me?

New York boy, Princeton,
upper class,

you're part
of the establishment.

I trust you
because you're right.

It can't just be diplomacy.

The Soviets will not listen
to us unless we are strong.

Peace through strength.

We tried everything else.

Engagement, encirclement,
low-intensity conflicts.

Nothing worked,

until your military buildup.

You got us here, sir.
You got them to the table.

"If you can't make them see
the light..."

"...make sure
they feel the heat."

That was a good line.

Mm.

You tell me if you think
we should call it,

if we get right up
to that red line.

For now, let's see how far
they'll bend.

Let's see how today ends.

If it's a stalemate...

I'll reconsider.

Yes, sir.

We resume this afternoon

with our secretary of state,
George Shultz,

and your foreign minister,
Eduard Shevardnadze.

Mr. General Secretary,
we are pleased

with the morning's progress.

Our team believes
that we can find a way

to reduce the European IRBMs
to zero.

Thank you, Mr. President.
This is very good news.

I wonder
if now might be the time

to turn our discussions
to human rights,

for instance, Mr. Rostropovich.

We are a nation of immigrants.

We take their rights
and their families' rights

very seriously,
Secretary-General.

If we could discuss
his sister's visit--

As you stated before,

and as I stated before,

we would first like to continue

on the subject
of arms reduction.

Okay.

We have
a further proposal.

My foreign minister and I

have been discussing
the nuclear triad,

as you call it.

Yes, our strategy

relies upon a three-point
threat deterrence,

our land-based intercontinental
ballistic missiles,

our long-range strategic
air command of bombers

with their cruise missiles,

and our submarine-launched
missiles.

You have something similar.

We don't have nearly
the same numbers

of submarines or bombers.

Our strategy relies
almost entirely

on the, uh, overwhelming
superiority of our ICBMs.

Superiority? You have a number

that's vastly greater
than our own.

I might call it redundancy.

- Please, you insult--
- We could, however, reclassify

all these weapons as strategic
offensive armaments, hm?

In years past,
our predecessors,

going all the way back
to the advent

of the hydrogen bomb,

have tried to restrain

the development
of these weapons,

mostly the ICBMs,

but also the bombers
and other types,

to control
the expansion of arms.

- Yes?
- Yes.

They have failed.

We have tens of thousands
of these weapons anyway

all pointed at each other.

You propose a new plan
for these weapons?

We propose,

using this morning's
European plan as our guide,

to reduce these weapons
as well.

And, uh, you wanted
to quit while we were ahead.

You're not going to let me live
that down, are you, sir?

Never. Okay.

Your turn at bat, swing away.

We agree this would be
an admirable goal.

Perhaps by as much
as one third?

Or even by half?

Half?

Fifty percent?

That is correct.

In land-based ICBMs?

In all. Huh?

All parts of the triad.

Which would still leave you
a significant advantage

in land-based
and mobile-launched ICBMs.

We understand
and are prepared to discuss

how this goal
could be achieved.

What I am asking is,
is this of interest to you?

It certainly is.

Good. Good. Good!

We are making progress.

Seems like Christmas
has come early.

What-what does your religious
holiday have to do with this?

Nothing. I'm sorry,
I forget you're all atheists.

Although, it, uh...

Well, it seems to me
that the Party

is about the same as a church.

You're true believers
in the Party, right?

Sir, perhaps...

Please, continue with
your thoughts, Mr. President.

Well, I mean, you deny
religion as hokum,

bunk, nonsense,

and there can't be
an Almighty Party

when there's an Almighty God
above it,

so your people can't worship.

They, uh, they have to worship
the Party.

Mmm.

To paraphrase the words
of our, um, theology,

we believe religion
is a false prophet,

promising the people things

they ought to achieve
for themselves.

And yet you make them
stand in line

for bread and milk and shoes,

and then deny them
the hereafter

that would suggest that their,

well, their suffering
is temporary.

They have nothing
to look forward to,

this life or the next.

No wonder
they're so pissed off.

The Soviet people
are not pissed off.

Then why do they wanna leave?

Why do you have to keep them
locked up behind walls,

like the one in Berlin?

Why not tear it down?

This is western propaganda.

Your Voice of America.

Which you keep trying
to jam the signal of.

And we have nothing like it
attacking American ears.

You won't even let
our movies into your cinemas,

and yet you call
this free speech?

Hmm? Open debate?

Well, that's the difference, gentlemen.

The Republican Party
doesn't control

what goes on the radio or TV.
We don't have our own channel.

If you make something
that the American people

actually wanna watch,
I guarantee they'll play it.

Media companies don't care

if you're religious
or fascist or nihilist,

they just want to make money.

Yes.
The great American distraction,

making money.

And you are trying to distract
us from our purpose here.

This is pointless.

I, uh I got
an intelligence report

the other day from our CIA.

They were, uh,

they were assessing
your economic conditions,

tracking a bread line
in Moscow.

There was a guy, Boris,

and, uh, he was in front
of our agent,

and he got so pissed off

that he, uh,
he left the bread line.

He said he was gonna go find
you, Mr. General Secretary,

and bludgeon you
with a hammer and sickle.

Well, poor ol' Boris, he came
back about an hour later

and when our agent
asked him why,

he said the only line longer
than the one for bread

was the one to attack you.

You see, Mr. President,

you're not the only one with
public opinion problems, hm?

We both must answer
to the people.

Yes, but, uh, my people,
if they criticize me publicly,

don't get sent to the Gulag.

True.

And my people can't shoot me.

We must also ascertain
throw weight.

The amount of weight
the missile itself can carry,

how much a warhead,
or warheads, can weigh.

Your missiles can carry
a heavier payload,

so equal number of missiles

does not mean
equal number of warheads.

Let us discuss it.

Hold on, guys.

Perhaps I should
become a capitalist.

Then I could sell you time
in my restroom.

Colonel.

Détente, comrade.

Any idea why she's
looking at the Prose Edda?

The what?

The ancient Icelandic text.

Odin, Thor, Loki.

All their culture and religion
and things rolled into one.

Why would
you possibly know...

Oh, of course, NPR.

- Snorri Sturluson.
- "Snorry"? [chuckles] Come on!

That's the author
of the Prose Edda.

Snorri. S-N-O-R-R-I.

- Snorri Sturluson.
- Sturluson. Yeah.

So ask her.

Ask who what?

The Not First Lady of Russia.

She quoted Chekhov.

I expect she's got a reason
we're here

all looking at the Prose Edda,
so ask her.

- I see. And tell me--
- Mrs. Gorbachev!

- National Public Radio--
- American.

American National Public Radio.

Um, why are we here?

We are here to exchange
cultural knowledge, Ms. NPR.

The Prose Edda is a seminal
text in Norse history

and I am flattered
to examine it here

in the Land of Ice and Fire.

I'm sure you've seen
the press release.

Mrs. Reagan
is feeling just fine.

A rather terse
and unusual pronouncement

for a weekend
from the Administration.

You care to comment?

Well, I'm, uh, thrilled to hear
Mrs. Reagan is well.

I only wish she had brought
her good health here

so we could share
this incredible honor together,

viewing the Prose Edda.

What's it like staying
on a ship, Mrs. Gorbachev?

Why not a hotel?

I was told it is
for security reasons.

But I must tell you,

it is very romantic.

- Madam Gorbachev!
- Madam Gorbachev.

Huh. "Romantic."

That's one mental image
I won't get out of my head.

Ah, they're entitled
to their happiness.

Aren't we all?

I'm calling it.

I can't imagine my editor
will care.

Saturday afternoon on NPR
is always a dead zone.

- Let's find a bar.
- Schnapps!

Fifty percent reduction.

I think that
is considerable progress.

Imagine tomorrow,
Mr. General Secretary,

we will shake hands
for the cameras and say "deal."

I would like this very much.

But we must still discuss
your shield, hm?

The Strategic Defense
Initiative.

Perhaps it is too much
for this evening.

Uh, Mr. President,
you had been saying

that you wish to discuss
with your allies

the potential INF implications
in Asia.

Shall we adjourn
so that you may?

Yes, we will have
an answer quickly.

As we are able to assure you
that our eastern allies

will understand
our withdrawals in Europe.

I must warn you,
our NATO allies

are less subservient.

Didn't Mrs. Thatcher
thank you personally

for modernizing her arsenal?

And that you coordinate
your attacks

in the Soviet Union
and the Warsaw Pact

so as to avoid duplication.

You seem to know an awful lot.

That is how this game
is played, is it not?

Surely all of your intelligence

isn't wasted analyzing
bread lines?

No. It's not.

We also monitor
Russian treaty violation.

More waste, huh?

There have been none.

Trust, but verify.

As I have agreed we will do.

But you can imagine
the objections of my, uh, KGB.

And I...

I doubt I'll have an easy time
of it with our Congress.

You have your senators,
I have my generals.

We must convince them
that we are strongest together.

Yes, I suppose so.

Too bad we can't just get rid
of all of them.

Your senators?

No.

The nukes.

We're going to cut them by 50%
in the next ten years.

But that still leaves
thousands,

tens of thousands,
threatening the world.

Who's to say
who comes after us,

perhaps
the next general secretary

will want to renegotiate,

wish to build more, not less.

Or the next president.

Traditionally, throughout
the history of our republic,

new presidents have upheld

the treaties
of their predecessors.

But there is no law they must.

No.

No.

I'm not sure then I understand
what you're saying.

I'm saying good leaders
make things better now.

Great leaders make things
better for the future.

I'm saying...

why can't we just get rid
of all of them?

Every last one of the...

goshdamn contemptible things
once and for all!

I'm saying
why don't we make a deal

that the whole world
can rejoice,

a deal too good
for those who come after us

to reject or replace
or renegotiate?

I'm saying why don't we just
get rid of all of them?

I'm saying, are we going to be
merely good, Secretary-General,

or are we going to be great?

We would be willing to discuss
such an agreement.

All nuclear weapons reduced?

- To zero.
- In ten years?

- All.
- Comrade...

let's not be too hasty
with the atmosphere

of what we have achieved
here today.

Perhaps we should break
for the evening.

Nuclear Zero.

Every single nuclear weapon
on earth, gone.

Taken out of the silo,
off the sub, out of the bomber,

dismantled, junked,
warheads spun down.

In just ten years.

Peace on earth? Hm?

Good will to all men?

Your Christmas come early?

Amen.

- Well...
- Well, then let's do it!

Yes. [laughs] Let's do it.

It is impossible, gentlemen.

How would we even begin
to start?

We'll ask the experts

to make the arrangements,
handle the fine print.

You brought your experts,
they're upstairs

across the hall from mine.

They have a long night
ahead of them, huh?

Yes, I'd say they do.

We will meet tomorrow morning
to discuss the terms.

- And SDI.
- And human rights.

Good night,
Mr. General-Secretary.

Sleep well, Mr. President.

We're moving.

Not sure we're going to need
you much longer, Tim.

Sorry, sir?

Nothing. Thank you, Colonel.
I'll be out in a minute.

Yes, sir.

They, uh, make me do rehearsals
every few months.

You wanna know how it works?

How to end the world?
No, thank you, sir.

Well, you're in the line
of succession, George,

and I'm not bulletproof.

I know.

Try not to get shot again

before we get through
tomorrow, sir.

Yeah.

I'll assemble our team,

and get them caffeine,
lots of it,

get them in a room
with the Soviets.

Well, get them to zero.

Every nuclear weapon gone
from the face of the Earth

in just a few hours?

Congress is going to lose
their minds.

Joint Chiefs too.

And the CIA, and the DIA,

and I need to tell our allies.

Yes, do that tonight.

Get Thatcher and Mitterrand
and Kohl to sign off.

And if they don't?

I don't know, George.
We'll think of something.

But just, you know,
just get the team into it.

All right?
This is a better world.

We can leave America safer
than we found her.

"Peace on earth.
Good will to all men"?

Gorbachev actually said that?

The head of the worldwide
communist plot?

It upsets 50 years
of stable geopolitics.

A mutually assured
destruction works for a reason.

How the hell are we gonna
defend Western Europe

when they have overwhelmingly
superior conventional forces

that will just roll downhill,

thousands of T-72 tanks

right through Frankfurt
and Paris,

straight
to the English Channel?

Does any man here doubt

that the world would be safer
without nuclear weapons?

Hard to put the genie
back in the bottle,

and I've been doing this longer

than the rest of you
put together.

When we got here,
you all thought

this was a colossal waste
of a weekend.

- Well...
- Now, no denying it.

And yet, the General Secretary
of the Communist Party

of the Union
of Soviet Socialist Republics

has just offered us
the best deal

since Russia sold us Alaska.

Hell, maybe of all time.

Are we going to pass it by?

You've all trained
for high stakes negotiations.

This is it.

This is our Super Bowl.

Are you in or are you out?

I serve at the pleasure
of the President.

I serve at the pleasure
of the President.

So, who's going to lead
this moonshot?

- Paul.
- Paul.

Have you got
the scrambler set up?

You're kidding.

It looks like something
out of Get Smart.

Sorry about that,
Mr. Secretary.

What's the button
for Foggy Bottom?

Four.

This is the secretary.

Get me a line
to Ambassador Price in London.

Yes, this is the secretary.

Get me a line
to Ambassador Rodgers in Paris.

Richard, George Shultz.

Yes, it's late. Sorry.

Listen, you're gonna have
to get Helmut up as well.

Call me back when you have him.

The President has an update

from Reykjavík for the
chancellor.

His ears and yours only.

Wake him up.
Wake him up. Wake him up.

Move.

Holy shit.

Is that...

Marshall Sergey Akhromeyev.

Four time winner
of the Order of Lenin,

veteran of the siege
of Leningrad,

hero of the Soviet Union...

Chief of the General Staff
of the Soviet Armed Forces.

They brought their Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs

to negotiate?

Not intimidating at all.

Well...

I'm glad we voted on you, Paul.

I forgot to call.

You all right?

- Ronnie?
- I'm just...

I'm-I'm just tired.

How's the hand?

Fine.

Do they have a TV there
at least?

You need to take
your mind off things.

Well, I'm sure there's one
around here somewhere,

but I... I just don't think
Icelandic broadcasters

have Family Ties.

You know,
they say that Icelanders

don't have TV
at all on Thursdays.

Something about having time for
family and cultural awareness.

Can you imagine, whole country
with no TV for a night?

Well, thank goodness
it's Saturday.

I know how lonely
the job feels,

being responsible
for millions of people.

I'm so sorry
I'm not there with you.

It was a mistake.

Eh, it's okay. Uh...

I'm just fine.

I love you.

Good night.

Love you.

Good night.

I should've stayed on a boat.

This is different, hm?

You coming home after me.

We seize
the opportunities we have.

How many times
did you change today?

Eight already.

The models of Milan
have nothing on you.

Going back out?

Dinner with the prime minister
of Iceland.

How is it with your American?

Hmm.

You must trust and believe
in people.

Otherwise,

- life becomes impossible.
- Life becomes impossible.

You got a KGB report on me
at the hot springs?

What has happened?

I cannot say.

Are you being proud
or desperate?

I think you will say we have
something to be proud of.

Good.

Good.

Then you will be able to make
the changes we need

and our people will prosper.

You harbor no doubts?

Not about our nation.

Not about you.

Do you?

What?

You think the KGB

is now bugging
the Soviet premier's toilet?

I think the minister
of state security

chose this boat and not
the embassy for our lodging

so that we could not take long
walks away from microphones.

What preys upon your mind,
my love?

He seems genuine.

But you're not sure.

I offer him Nuclear Zero.

But I cannot tell.

I don't think
he will give up SDI.

Well...

I brought it up for the first
time at the close of day

and the look on his face
was clear.

SDI is a mirage.

Even his own people
don't think it'll work.

Don't let it distract you.

Nuclear weapons gave them
powered submarines

so quiet we cannot detect them.

The space race gave them
computers now so small

they fit on a desk.

If we cannot contain this SDI...

who knows
what terrible inventions

they will come up with.

And if we have to take
the arms race into space,

our people will starve.

Hmm.

Famine.

Like Stalin's time.

But your reforms--
perestroika, glasnost--

they are working.

We just need time.

The one thing we cannot beg,
borrow, or steal.

Hm.

Don't let them harm the rodina.

But even more, my love,

don't let us harm the rodina.

Even with the best
of intentions.

Our submarines have the ability

to protect our homeland
the longest--

Which is precisely why we want
them gone in the first round.

Can you not understand?

We must become
vulnerable together.

We think the opposite.

A slow drawdown,

several years of
confidence-building reductions

in other areas,
culminating in--

Let it be noted
it's the Americans

who wish to proceed cautiously
for the first time in history.

Why don't we proceed
with a different topic?

We proceed nowhere.

Well, it is supposed
to be haunted.

It is the wind from the sea.

I will go out to enjoy it
for a moment.

Reagan shot at close range,

apparently by a lone assailant.

How close are we?

Well, there's a reason
they trained

the astronauts here, sir.

Might as well be the moon.

How do you tell one mound
of lava rock from another?

I meant our team.

Oh, yes. Sorry.

Um, they're closing in.

- I want it done.
- Yes, sir.

Thatcher was telling me

her theory one time
at Chequers.

You heard this?
"Two lads and a pint"?

That like two guys and a beer?

She has this theory
that everything in the world

is actually decided
by two lads and a pint.

Or in her case,
two ladies and a whiskey?

It's not a bad theory.

Can we trust an enemy?
Can we trust Gorbachev?

If so, then in theory,

we can trust his word
to stick to this plan

until we can ink a treaty.

- And we can verify.
- Yes.

I want you to get me some
information on the refuseniks.

Sir?

- The refuseniks--
- I mean,

why do you want
that information?

Get me the information.

Yes, sir.

Good morning, Mr. President.

Good morning,
Mr. General Secretary.

I understand from my team that
we have made some progress,

but not all the progress.

I have instructed them
to continue.

As have I, for our side.

Good.

Then, for the moment,
shall we pick other topics?

- Human rights.
- Yes.

I have spoken with my ministers

about your maestro
in Washington.

They believe he would be
a bad person to appease.

He is very prominent

and his case would undoubtedly
cause unwanted attention.

Public opinion.

So perhaps now we can discuss
the ABM Treaty and your SDI.

Well, first, let me just say

that we are
particularly sensitive

to the travel rights
of the Soviet peoples,

not just Mr. Rostropovich.

And we are concerned,

especially with those who wish
to practice their religion,

enshrined
in our Bill of Rights.

There are small numbers
of Jewish peoples

wishing to emigrate to Israel.

The refuseniks, you call them.

Yes, and there are some
Christians, Pentecostals,

who wish to leave as well
to come to America.

Did you know
Jesus was the first socialist?

It's true.

The first to seek
a better life for all mankind.

So why would these Christians
want to leave my country

and go to yours?

You have homeless.

What do you mean?

Your citizens who are homeless
have no rights to housing.

We have no homeless
in the Soviet Union.

Your murder rates are enormous.

And...

...the less said about your
country's longstanding history

of racism, the better.

Well, unlike you,

we acknowledge, uh,
we have many faults.

And yet I'm the one that must
be lectured on human rights

and people without passports?

Well, then I would ask you

if they may not have
the freedom to travel,

why not give them the freedom

to form
their own political party?

Organize their future
in your country?

The Soviet people organized
this Communist Party.

Seventy years ago.

You think they might like
to try something else?

Your own party
has been around much longer.

Yes, but Republicans
can be voted out of office.

Your backstabbing
political gridlock

is something you wish us
to endure?

No, thank you.

"Democracy is the worst form
of government,

except for all the others."

Churchill had a rather
convenient horse in that race,

don't you think?

And Lenin,
like Marx before him,

suggested that socialism may
need to be global to succeed.

And so we see you

actively trying
to manipulate the elections

and futures of nations
around the globe.

And you do not?

In Chile? In Iran? In Angola?

And I suppose
you were just helping

the people of Cuba
and Poland and Vietnam

to choose
their oppressive regimes,

and Germany,
when you tore it in two?

You fly your U-2 spy planes

over our heads with impunity,

sail your Seventh Fleet

around the Pacific as if
it were your swimming pool,

and park your submarines
within sight of our shores,

and yet you expect
my people to trust you?

And seizing our journalist
in Moscow

only a few months ago?

Does that encourage trust?

I returned him!

Despite evidence
from my security services.

He was a spy.

The United States
will remain vigilant and strong

to the threats posed
by international communism

by the Soviet Union.

As we will maintain
our strength as well

in defense of socialism

desired by billions
all around the globe.

To defend those
who seek our way of life.

In all your speeches,

you deride us
as the "evil empire"

to be met by force
in every sphere.

I wonder, Mr. President,

who it is here that is trying
to expand his ideas by force.

You would do well to remember

that no such method
has ever succeeded on Russia.

Not by Napoleon, not by Hitler.

No one.

We are a strong people.

And we have learned
that strength

is how you win a war.

We're not trying to win a war.

We're trying to end one.

Perhaps a break, hm?

May I speak candidly,
Mr. President?

George, we're both exhausted,
just speak.

Let it go.

Don't blow this deal
over refuseniks

and Pentecostals and a cellist.

I love classical music,

and I dearly love the freedom

that comes
with being an American...

but...

he said Rostropovich left,

when we all know he defected.

And if his sister
was allowed to defect

at a birthday party
in Washington, DC,

it would be a public relations
disaster.

Gorbachev cannot take
that risk.

Sir, I'm truly afraid
that we could lose this deal.

Well, George,

what about
the millions of people

that'd still be oppressed?

Tell me good news, Democrats.

- Sir, I-I'm a--
- Yes.

Can we all agree

that this is a bipartisan
effort

to avoid World War III?

Just tell us.

The most stealthy, stable,

and, therefore, serious part
of the triad

is the submarines, sir.

They are impossible to track,

and therefore
cannot be targeted.

They are the absolute
last line of defense.

You can't get rid of the subs?

We're close.

Almost there, but, uh...

You're out of time.

Well, all right.

Give me what you got.

We're not giving up the game
on the ten-yard line.

We have already agreed

to unilaterally suspend
nuclear testing,

draw down our conventional
forces in Western Europe,

offered a 50% reduction
in all arms,

and agreed
to a Nuclear Zero future,

and still he tries
to distract you

with this dissident conductor.

Constantly evading SDI.
Constantly.

You must at least consider

that he is making you
the obstacle

and is not a partner in peace.

We should thank our teams.

They have not reached
a, uh, final agreement,

but they have come close.

We are indeed very close.

We've reached an agreement
in the first five years

to eliminate the SOA category
of land-based ICBMs.

And in the next five years

to dismantling
the remaining IRBMs

and cruise missiles.

Yes, which leaves only the
submarine-launched missiles.

We must first discuss SDI.

In regards to the
Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty?

The ABM treaty forbids SDI.

Well, we, uh,
we disagree

and, anyway, you...

you've already violated
the ABM at Krasnoyarsk

with your defenses
around Moscow.

We have no such defenses
in Washington.

Our defenses are exactly
matching to the letter

of the ABM treaty.

And it is not our fault
that you chose not to exercise

your rights under the treaty

to build such defenses
around your capital.

But the ABM treaty

specifically rejects the idea
of space-based weapons.

SDI is not solely space-based.

How are we to begin
to eliminate

our Strategic Offensive Arms

if you will have a "shield"
to defend yourself?

You could renege or launch
a first strike from a NATO ally

and we would be defenseless.

You are obsessed with this SDI.

What about the people?

It will make the people safer
for both our nations.

What if some rogue state
launches a missile?

The shield will protect us,
protect the American people.

You are free to develop
your own for your people.

You won't let them leave,
at least you can protect them.

Of course I care
about the people.

The Soviet people
are my responsibility.

But you cannot possibly believe

that their fate
is not tied to this shield,

which you have already
announced you intend to--

Mutually assured destruction
works from the point of view

that each side
must be vulnerable.

That the, uh, Sword of Damocles
not only hangs above us,

but must remain hanging
over us.

Why can we simply
not take the sword down?

This is what SDI will do.

"Men rise from one ambition
to the next.

First, they seek to secure
themselves from attack,

and then to attack others."

Machiavelli.

Are you suggesting
that we are building a shield

in order that once we have it

we can then strike you first
with impunity?

Well, why wouldn't you strike
the "evil empire"?

Look...

all we are asking

is that you do not develop
this SDI

during the ten years

that we are eliminating
these weapons,

so as not to gain an advantage.

This is not
an offensive weapon.

It is a shield.

It is a threat.

Mr. General Secretary,

are you coupling
the arms reduction

to the end of SDI?

I am.

It is the position
of the Soviet Union

that they are the same thing.

After the use of mustard gas
in World War I,

we developed a gas mask.

Why would you not want
a gas mask, a shield,

against nuclear missiles?

We owe it to the world
to develop this technology.

The world has gotten along
just fine without it.

This is absurd.

And how will you ensure

that your allies
do not strike us?

I will do everything
in my power

to get them to give up
their nuclear weapons as well.

But do you really believe
that their people

will let them keep them?

With the costs of maintenance
and dangers of mistakes,

when there is no longer a
threat from the Soviet Union?

I believe it is very difficult

for people to give up
their weapons of any kind,

including shields.

Gentlemen, I suggest
we take a short break.

- Perhaps--
- I would like to know

if the President is serious

about continuing
this discussion on SDI.

If he is serious
about compromise.

Isn't it beautiful?

The Icelandic horse
is the only horse in the world

that has a fifth gait
called the tölt.

Amazing.

Oh, is it? I'm still hungover.

I told you to quit
on the schnapps.

You did not.

Just watch.

You won't even spill
your coffee.

Or vodka!

Really think I’m gonna blow
schnapps chunks.

I can't believe you'd insult
Icelandic schnapps

by calling it chunky.

Do something.

Do something?
What do you want me to--

Distract me.

Mrs. Gorbachev!

I didn't mean shouting.

I have a question for you.

Of course, wonderful.
How can I help?

Well, the White House
released a statement

just before we got
in the vans--

The First Lady decided
to come here

to see the famous
Icelandic horse?

She's a little late.

Actually, sources say

that she's launched
a new national campaign

for breast cancer awareness.

It's a major new initiative

that she hopes can be a model
for the world.

What do you say
to the American people

and people across the globe

about your own efforts
this weekend

on behalf
of the Soviet peoples?

Not that this Icelandic horse
isn't important,

but it's not exactly
cancer prevention.

Mrs. Gorbachev,
have you spoken to Mrs. Reagan?

Would you like to meet
with Nancy Reagan?

No questions.

Mrs. Gorbachev must be livid,

her spotlight pulled
so hastily.

You mess with the bull.

How's it going?

Well, we're, uh, at an impasse.

Well, Mars is ascendant,
so we have that going for us.

Yes, yes.

They can't afford it.

What?

They can't afford to compete.

Not on SDI,
not on any of it anymore.

Isn't that what you wanted?

What you've been working
towards?

I know.

I've just gotta reach him.

I've gotta try, Nance.

Go be great.

Can we agree,
Mr. General Secretary,

that the, uh, issue of
submarines can be resolved

with our considerable
engagement

and commitment at a later date,
and that, uh, the main focus

of our last discussion
should be about SDI?

Yes.

Then I would like
to take us back to World War I.

The horrifying advent
of chemical warfare,

mustard gas and chlorine.

We have been over this before,
Mr. President.

And-And the development,
in a few years,

of the gas mask,

of chemical and biological
protection suits.

An anti-ballistic
missile system,

full of lasers,
counter-attack radars,

interceptors,
and satellite weapons

is hardly a gas mask.

But the principle is the same.

I returned to this
session under the impression

that you were serious
about compromise.

What if we gave it to you?

This is not serious.

I will give you the shield.

I will give you SDI.

Your Congress
will never allow it.

They will if it's coupled

with complete Soviet nuclear
disarmament.

Nor will your military.

I have told you,
they report to me.

Say nothing of your military
industrial complex.

What does that have to do...

You expect Lockheed
and Northrup

and all your other
defense contractors

to simply give up the license

to the most complex

and advanced military
technology ever developed?

I may not be a capitalist,
Mr. President,

but I do understand
how it works.

We can work that out.

This is a fantasy!

You have come in here
with a fantasy.

Or is this some trick?

You can't afford it,

you don't believe me

that we won't use it
to protect ourselves

and preemptively strike.

I'm telling you
that I won't give it up

because of rogue nations

and I will not have
future generations

of Americans live in fear.

We will give it to you.

You won't even
give us milking machines!

You have a stranglehold
on every technology

ever created in the West
so tight

that you will not sell us

basic agricultural
tractors, plows,

milking machines
for cows to us!

But you want me to believe

that you will give us

the most incredible American
science ever created

and that you will be able
to do this

over the objections
of your Congress

and your companies
and your Pentagon

and your citizens
and your allies and...

and you won't even sell
the machines

so that we can produce
more milk for our children!

I, uh... I will look
into the milking machines.

I-I...

Never, uh,

never occurred to me
that I might get assassinated.

Not once.

Nancy would, uh, bring it up
during the first campaign,

but I just never...

If I survived that bullet,

uh, it was for a reason,

a new mission, a purpose, so...

What if we agree...

not to deploy the system

for ten years?

SDI?

You will not deploy it

for the ten years that we are
eliminating these weapons?

And you will do everything
in your power

to persuade the British
and the French

to give up
their weapons as well

or else you'll not extend
your shield to them?

It will be very hard,

many of our allies are under
our nuclear umbrella.

As are ours.

We would all be exposed
together.

Yes. Okay.
I will talk with our allies.

I don't believe their peoples
will wish them to continue

when we have given them up.

Such is the peace-loving nature
of a democratic people.

Yes.

So...

we will both agree
to remove all warheads

over the next ten years.

Nuclear Zero.

And, of course,

your inspectors,
trust, but verify.

And, um, you can develop SDI

in the laboratory.

Not just the laboratory.

I'm sorry?

We will not deploy the system,

but we must be allowed
to test the shield

to know if it can work.

You can test it
in the laboratory.

Of course, but-but they must be
tested in the real world.

Progress cannot be made
in just a laboratory.

I mean, you think
we could launch

a man into space on a rocket

that just worked
on a simulation

in some scientist's lab?

So you will agree,
we can test the shield?

In the laboratory.

You will have inspectors
at our secure sites as well.

We would welcome them
to our testing grounds.

You put a man on the moon
in less than ten years.

Yes, I was just talking
about that.

Developed the atom bomb
in under five.

- Okay.
- Do you not see?

See what?

I cannot allow you to field test
a new weapons system...

Shield.

...this thing,
in the next ten years,

less time than it took you
to put a man on the moon.

I can't understand--
You will have inspectors.

If you're successful,

you could immediately deploy it,

and we would be right back
to where we are now.

You could order a strike.

We would be defenseless while
you hid behind your shield.

You can test it
in a laboratory,

just like any other
scientific advance.

And in the meantime,
if in the next ten years

some other state wants
to launch a missile

against my people,

we won't be able to prove

that it would be futile

except in some sort
of, uh, scientific journal.

We will be defenseless.

As would we.

It's one word.

"Laboratory."

It's one word.

It's one word that changes
everything for my people.

And my people.

Another generation
lost to the terror

and horror of waiting
for the bomb to drop.

Not if the bombs don't exist.

I-I don't know what else
I could have done.

Just say yes.

On this one point,
Mr. President...

...I cannot compromise.

Where are you going?

I'm afraid
I will not see you again.

Mr. President.

...apparently
by a lone assailant.

Mr. President.

Mr. President!

I failed.

I offered him the deal
of the century,

of human history,

and he's walking away
over one word,

a single word.

Never should've trusted him.

Sir, the car is here,

ready to take him
to the airport,

but it's not over, not yet.

It's over.

The whole world living on hope.

Press will know by tonight.

Sir, when you recruited me,

you told me
we could make a difference.

You told me
we could make America safer

than when we found her.

It's over.

Ask him to come to Washington.

For what? More talk
that leads to nothing?

Maybe this place is haunted.

Ask him anyway, sir.
Please, in spite of it all.

We have maybe a minute left
until he comes out that door,

gets in that car,
and he is gone.

Do not let what happened
in that house, in that room,

over the last 30 hours

destroy our entire future.

This is the red line, sir.

You asked me to tell you.

Well, this is it.

This is it.

You don't want
to be seen as a warmonger.

Sir, if we fail here,

there will be war.

And when that war is over,

there will be nothing left
on God's green earth

but smoldering, irradiated,
lifeless rock.

I know that
that is not what they want.

That is not what
any sane person wants.

It's not about want, George,
it's about need.

We need peace.

And that requires
the end of them.

Liberty, George,
only liberty equals peace.

You didn't come here

to negotiate
about nuclear weapons.

You came here
to try to prove to them

that they are
fundamentally wrong.

You came here
to end the Soviet Union.

I came here to show him
the contradiction.

That holding people at gunpoint

and claiming you're a utopia
is not possible.

No one is safe,

no free citizen anywhere
is safe,

until a system

that is based on the devaluing
of individual liberty,

that threatens everyone
with tyranny, is over.

We can talk about arms control,
arms reduction,

missile shields
'til Kingdom come,

but if they just admit
that they're wrong,

they admit that their perfect
Soviet commune is wrong...

if he admits
something as simple

as people want to leave...

then it's over, it crumbles.

We consign them
to the ash heap of history.

George, we just have
to show that it's possible.

Last night we had a deal

to rid the planet
of nuclear weapons, sir.

Ah, anything is possible.

May I suggest, sir,

that you retry your test
with Rostropovich's sister,

this time with a compromise.

Well, why should I compromise
when he won't?

Because, sir, good leaders
make the present better,

great leaders
make the future better.

He wants
to do great things too, sir.

He needs a partner.

Well...

what's the compromise?

That you'll send her back home.

And it won't be forever, sir.
Not if you're right.

Secretary-General.

Let Rostropovich's sister come
to his birthday in Washington.

Let her leave,
and I give you my word,

she'll return.

A journey of a thousand miles
doesn't start

with the most incredible
arms agreement in history,

it begins with a single step.

If you seek peace,

tear down this wall between us,
Mr. Gorbachev,

tear down this wall,

just this one time,
for this one woman,

and we will meet...

we will talk again.

The world thought
it was a failure at the time.

Even I had my doubts.

But a year later,

President Reagan
and Mr. Gorbachev

signed the first arms reduction
agreement in human history.

Since then, nuclear weapons
have been reduced

to less than 10%
of their Cold War peak.

Two years later,
the Cold War was over.

And just as President Reagan
had foreseen,

the Soviet Union ended

because our leaders

decided to build bridges
instead of bombs.

Rostropovich flew to Berlin

and, with a folding chair
and a borrowed cello,

played Bach
as the Wall came down.

A few years later,

Mr. Gorbachev visited me
out at Stanford.

I said, "When we first met,

the Cold War
was at its most dangerous point

and, three years later,
it was over.

What do you believe
was the beginning of the end?"

He replied with one word:

"Reykjavik."

Deal.