Original subtitles

[Radio] top stories.

The unprecedented criticism of president foster

by the veteran chairman

of the joint chiefs of staff general Lloyd

at the national press club yesterday.

Let's just say that on this issue

president foster and i have agreed to disagree.

General Lloyd stated

that the president's lack of support of the military

would leave the country vulnerable and crippled

at this time of high global uncertainty.

The president wants to shrink the armed forces

and put this peace dividend into his domestic program.

The general believes there is no...

So what's the program today?

Polish the doorknobs,

cut the grass and...

Wash mom's car.

Then to your room. No TV.

Now go change your clothes.

Yes, sir.

Good morning.

[Turns off radio]

Why is everything always an order?

He knows what he did.

Can't lick a problem if it licks you first.

Mac, he's 13.

He was born into this family. He didn't enlist.

Todd.

[Door opens]

You handle yourself properly today.

Watch the game together tomorrow.

Orlando's going to win 4-zip.

No way. Knicks are going to take it.

Character!

O.k.?

O.k. see you later.

All right. Love you.

Mr. secretary, with all due respect,

we're not the only ones questioning the president's indesicion..

The chairman of the joint cheifs of staff

publicly criticized the president for not signing the bill.

As far as general Lloyd's remarks go, you in the media

have taken his aggreement to disagree with the president out of context...

Morning, Billy.

Morning, colonel.

Situation normal?

Uh...we lost another one in Bolivia last night.

Any friendly casualties?

Goodness, no. That wouldn't be nice.

Bolivia's fine. The Knicks got their back against the wall.

Hey, who's the old man like?

Not into it.

Negative. he's into it big time.

"Call on slam dunk.

All bets in by 8 pm Saturday."

He's got a betting pool on the finals.

Been sending stuff out all week

under his personal code. Blue 6 code.

You get caught plugging into his code,

you know what's going to happen.

You should see who's got a share.

Cross at tampa. Jacobs at NORAD. Allen at fort benning.

Mucho brass. Everybody's already in.

Has he said anything about it to you?

To me? Nah. You can ask him. He wants to see you.

What, he's here... On a Sunday?

Yeah. bookie's best day.

You wanted to see me, sir?

Sit down, Mac.

Ah, it's days like this that I wish

I never accepted this lousy job.

The only problem is...

I can't bear the thought of anyone else having it.

The intel is the president loses his job first.

Is that the intel? Well, we'll know next Tuesday,

my day on the carpet.

Uh...should have kept my big mouth shut!

Spoke up. Straight. Honest.

It's time somebody did.

Publicly? hmm?

Commander-in-chief?

I don't think it's perceived as an attack, sir.

The president may be a good man,

but he doesn't know shit about national defense.

At least when his wife was alive,

he had a reality barometer.

The way things were going election day,

nobody bothered to ask him about it. Here.

I used to know who my enemies were.

Who'd have guessed five years ago

that Iran and Iraq would be allies?

The next fight in the middle east...

It's going to make the Gulf war look like a family picnic.

When it comes, we won't be ready.

Look at this. We're cops. We're builders.

We're health-care providers.

Worst of all...

We're politicians.

Sucks.

Ah.

Hell, let's not mince words.

It's what my son always says...

About everything.

Mac, uh...

Last couple of weeks, uh...

You've been kind of tense.

You're not uptight about the alert this weekend, are you?

No.

It's Todd.

He's 13.

He's working at an appliance store, kraemer's.

He stole eight video recorders.

Took him months.

He doesn't know why he did it, and neither do I.

But somehow, it all...

Comes down to me being a bad father.

He's a good kid.

Mac...

Good kids often lose their way.

Don't be so hard on yourself.

I've been trained that way. I'm a marine, sir.

It sucks. I like that.

You going to watch the playoffs this weekend, sir?

Playoffs. would you believe it?

I don't even know who's playing.

Mr. president. Mr. president!

Dave.

Mr. president, can you tell us

what you thought of the latest CNN poll?

My chief of staff, miss corcoran, likes to say

that a poll is what you hang a politician from.

I don't pay attention to them.

It's a different number every day.

One last question. Helen.

General Lloyd has publicly accused you

of turning your back on the military.

Would you care to comment?

General Lloyd's remarks were taken out of context

and blown way out of proportion.

But make no mistake about it...

The general was freelancing.

But I am smart enough to know

when I'm being shot at by a professional,

and I'm still in one piece.

Thank you for asking.

Thank you.

Well, Betsy, from one herd of jackals to the next.

The cabinet, Mr. president.

With 29% approval rating,

you can't tell them what to do.

If you don't build a consensus, you pay a price.

I thought the cabinet was supposed to be the president's team.

You bet.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Steven.

Harry.

We have a lot of ground to cover in a short time, as usual,

so I suggest we get started right away.

Let's begin with something easy--

taxes.

Well, as you all know,

I have on my desk right now

a bill that gives a huge budget increase to the military.

Suppose I just don't sign it?

Suppose some of that

goes over to domestic, to farm subsidies,

to policing our streets?

Do you really think that's wise, sir?

I don't know, art. What do you think?

If you do that, Mr. president,

I'm told that our readiness and force structure

will suffer severely.

That sounds just like general Lloyd's position.

If you veto that bill, Mr. president,

you will get a huge public reaction.

Then I'll take the heat, Tom.

I know most of you don't like this idea.

And I'm not going to ask for a show of hands,

but I will need the support of everyone in this room.

We're going to need to pull together on this.

Now let's be clear...

About what we will not do.

We will not any longer

defer our urgent domestic needs

in order to satisfy the inflated demands of the military.

We will not add $40-60 billion to the budget

without having any idea where the money's coming from.

I ran on a pledge to cut the deficit.

That's why we're all here today.

I'm going to do it... Or I'll die trying.

Uh, let's not talk about death.

Taxes is depressing enough.

Why, Walter, i always thought that death

was a vice-presidential obsession.

Where is it written

that if your president's from the heartland,

your vice-president has to be a back room boy from the east?

It was a winning combination.

But a terrible marriage.

I should have gone with Charlie Potter.

He gets things done.

Are we pushing too hard?

We don't have a choice.

If things don't change remarkably,

there won't be a second term.

We've come a long way, Betsy.

I couldn't have done it without you.

Thank you, sir.

Central command.

Yeah.

It's colonel Casey from the joint staff.

I need the deputy commander, please.

O'Malley.

Colonel O'Malley. Yeah.

We noticed a little item up here

preparing a readiness report for the alert this weekend.

It's just a routine exercise,

but it says here you guys ordered live ammo.

Not exactly standard.

Well, that's classified.

Excuse me?

I'm sorry, colonel. No one but general Allen

is authorized to discuss that operation.

Maybe you can call back tomorrow.

Sure. tomorrow's fine.

[Ring]

Hello. Walter.

Yeah.

Mac Casey.

Hey, Mac. The rising star.

I got the duty.

How's the puzzle palace?

Look, Walt...

I'm checking out this live ammo request.

Jesus, Mac. I wish you guys would get it together.

You added the live ammo for your slam dunk thing. Remember?

For slam dunk.

Yeah. it's the damnedest thing.

We're training more for seizure than defense.

Come.

Mac.

This will only take a moment.

Yesterday, i ran across a little glitch in the printouts.

There was live ammo ordered for some operation

called slam dunk?

I'm sorry you got left out, Mac.

It was the president's idea to keep this one on the short list.

Slam dunk is a covert exercise

we're running with the CIA.

It's extremely sensitive, Mac...

Extremely sensitive.

A team is practicing

to go into a third world country

to seize a nuclear weapon.

I could show you the file if you're curious.

I wouldn't mind taking a look. Thanks.

Can I have it now, sir?

I'll shoot it to you e-mail.

You'll have it tomorrow morning.

Thank you, sir.

Standby.

15 points down.

Take a shot or give it up.

So what was your program today?

I saw the therapist.

Yeah?

Like her?

Well, she's o.K.

Don't lock your knees.

Did she ask you lots of questions?

Well, sh-she asked if

I felt a rush...

When I was stealing.

And I told her i felt awful.

And she says, "why?"

And I say...

"'Cause...

I knew I'd get caught."

Take your hands out your pocket.

Take a shot.

Then she says...

"Why did you do it?"

And you say...

What?

'Cause...

'Cause i--

'cause i couldn't stop.

And she asked how we get along.

How do we get along?

You're close to fouling out.

Try to stay in the game, Todd.

Try to stay in the game.

Take your shot or give it up.

I don't think the son of a bitch can shut up

even if he wants to. He's a born politician...

And not a bad one at that.

Name one successful general who isn't.

Well, I've rapidly lost my appetite for the daily battle.

What would happen to my poll numbers

if I were to fire a living legend?

You'd become nostalgic

for the days when you had 29%.

On the upside,

Lloyd will be retiring soon with full honors,

and you'll have one less problem,

though replacing him may be a problem

since you've almost run out of women.

Very good, Mr. secretary.

Where would I be without you, Charlie?

I've been advised, general, to fire you.

I frankly know of no reason why, sir.

But you know I serve at your disposal, Mr. president.

Yes, but you've gone and got yourself

a pretty good constituency.

I'm asking a lot of the American people already.

I can't liquidate their captain marvel.

[Chuckles]

The people want to know they're defended.

They are, at a cost of 230 billion a year.

May I remind you, Mr. president,

that the sole purpose of our military

is to wage and win wars

and protect our shores from foreign aggressors?

You are a compassionate man, sir,

but you are withholding funds

which will leave our military degraded.

You are recklessly placing this nation

in a position of weakness.

And may I remind you, general,

that I, with the help of congress,

will make policy.

You will follow it.

If you want my job, go out and get yourself elected!

I have no interest in becoming president.

My sole concern is there be a country left to defend.

Another war's coming, and when it does,

we'll have to call on Israel to defend us

because our own forces

will have become impotent in the interests of social experiments

and global public relations.

Keep your opinions to yourself, general,

or confine them to this office.

Thank you.

It's after midnight, right? Say quarter to 1:00.

I leave her there parked, right, in that driveway?

The white house. It's late at night. She's alone.

I come back with this envelope.

I say, "we got to rush this out to the CIA at Langley."

And this gets you laid?

I am 6 for 6 on this.

Uh, yes, sir.

Situation normal?

Uh, yes, sir.

How's the traffic on the old man

and his betting pool?

Uh, something came in this morning.

Correct me if I'm wrong,

but reagent Alpha one--

that's an advanced chemical disabling weapon, right?

Yeah. what's the point?

It's been o.K.'D for the alert.

Don't ask me why, but national command authorized it.

Punch up where general Lloyd is. Now.

[Door opens]

[Footsteps]

It was good seeing you two playing ball together today.

He's getting better.

He's starting to realize what he did wrong.

You know, I'm sorry.

You know, the way I've been lately.

It's just I've got so much on my mind.

Is this, um, about seeing Todd's therapist tomorrow?

Do we need this?

I don't know this woman.

She doesn't know us.

She knows Todd. He likes her.

Said I'd be there.

So I'll be there.

Mac.

Thanks.

[Ring]

[Ring]

Good morning. Chief of staff's office.

May I help you?

Chief of staff, please.

Who's calling, please?

This is the... Director of current operations at the Pentagon,

colonel Mac Casey.

Tell her it's urgent.

And private, please. Thank you.

What's so urgent?

Betsy?

Betsy, I need to talk to you.

That's it? No hello, how are you?

Where are you, anyway?

This is really important.

It's a matter of national security.

Aren't you pretty far out of channels, Mac?

You have a boss. Talk to him.

I can't.

Jesus, Mac. What the hell is going on?

Can't you give me some idea?

Yeah. I need to talk to you in person.

You and everyone else.

Betsy, you've known me for a long time.

I've been a marine for 19 years.

By me calling you, i may be throwing it all away.

Hang on for a second, Mac.

[Speaking softly]

Betsy?

Grant memorial. 8:00.

Oh. o.K.

Uh...

Can you make it 8:30?

This is not a negotiation, colonel.

O.k.

Grant memorial. 8:00.

See you then. Bye.

Office of the Attorney General. Please hold.

Secretary Potter to see you.

Good morning, Sarah.

Good morning.

How are you?

Fine, thank you, Mr. secretary.

Good, good.

Charlie, come in. Sit down.

Thank you, Sarah.

The general tells me

that you have misgivings, Arthur.

I have always had misgivings, Charlie.

The constitution is...

Is in my care.

Others before us have tried to manipulate the constitution,

but, Jesus, this thing makes them look like a Sunday picnic!

I, uh...

I can't be a part of subverting the constitution, Charlie--

not as a means to an end,

even if that end is saving the country itself.

Oh, my.

You should reread the constitution, Arthur.,

I have.

You unleash this thing...

How do you know what will ultimately happen?

Because I control what happens.

What if something goes wrong?

Arthur, nothing is going to go wrong.

You have a backup plan.

I don't want to hear about that,

including that exercise this Saturday, you hear?

Very well.

I understand you have misgivings, Arthur.

What I need to know is

what do you intend to do about them?

Nothing.

Do I have your word on that?

Yes.

Damn you!

I respect that, Arthur.

Afternoon, general.

Admiral. come on in.

Good afternoon, general.

Oh, Mac, uh, you can sit this one out.

Colonel, there appears to be a lot of pressure

at home right now.

Todd talks about you a great deal.

Seems clear you've always had a strong relationship.

He's my son and I love him.

But I don't see what that's got to do with this.

Don't you?

Look, doctor,

I'm sure you're very good at what you do.

But I don't think this is getting us anywhere.

Todd made a mistake.

He's got to deal with his punishment, learn from it,

and move on.

Right, Todd?

You and your dad live by a pretty tough behavior code,

don't you, Todd?

I guess so.

Did you ever wonder what would happen

if you failed to live up to that code?

I'd get in trouble.

Was it possible you were trying to test things,

see if your dad still loved you just as much,

even after you got caught?

Todd.

We'll watch the game together tonight.

You're leaving?

Now?

I got to go. I'm really sorry.

How could you do this?

I'll be there for tipoff.

Save me a seat, huh?

Sorry.

I was just getting ready to leave.

Anybody but you, I'd be gone by now.

It wasn't exactly convenient accommodating your schedule.

You got exactly six minutes.

Make it good.

Have you ever heard of a...Classified covert exercise

involving the military and the CIA called slam dunk?

Could the president have approved this exercise

without you having known?

The political answer? Sure.

The truth? No.

Last Sunday, i learned

that general Lloyd was operating a betting pool

over the NBA playoffs.

Pentagon's always got betting pools. So what?

The general told me he doesn't even know who's playing.

Betsy, that's not like him.

He's never lied to me before.

The same day, i noticed that, um...

Live ammunition had been ordered

for this weekend's alert.

So I did some checking,

and I found out two things.

First--that they were training more for seizure

than for protection,

second--

this live ammunition was ordered for this operation slam dunk.

And?

I talked to the general.

Told him that...

There must have been a communications glitch,

because I was not informed of the situation.

And?

He said that the president wanted the list short on this.

Said he'd send me the file, but he hasn't.

Go on.

General Lloyd...

Has been meeting privately

with secretary Potter,

other members of the cabinet.

Doesn't add up.

You have absolutely nothing but your own conjecture.

Standard exercise calls for 10,000 men.

This weekend, we're deploying 100,000 troops

into the 12 major cities of this country.

And there's one more thing.

What's that?

The troops have been armed with chemical weapons.

I need to talk to the president.

Hi.

How are you?

Good to see you.

And now, our guest this evening,

Arthur Daniels,

the Attorney General of the United States.

Always a pleasure, ma'am.

Ambassador. how are you?

Honey, I'm going to call you in the morning.

[Gasps]

Mr. Daniels!

Mr. Daniels!

Sir...sir!

Get him on his back.

1...

2...

3...

Somebody call the paramedics.

Come on, man!

101 to 101.

No!

We interrupt this program for a special report.

This is Iris gitter in front of the Watergate Plaza

in Washington, D.C. where, just moments ago,

U.S. Attorney General Arthur Daniels collapsed and died...

Hello?

Police are closing off the area.

People are still leaving the fund-raising event

that the attorney general was attending.

He had no previous record of heart problems.

Mac, it's for you.

Now back to you in the studio.

[Basketball continues]

Yes?

Our friend would like you to come for a visit.

East gate. 40 minutes.

Right. 40 minutes. I'll be there.

Ready?

[Knocking]

Mr. president, colonel Mac Casey.

Please sit down, colonel.

I prefer to stand. Thank you, sir.

Tell me about the general.

Sir, this is very uncomfortable for me

because it concerns a superior officer that I admire and respect.

Understood.

The general believes that war's inevitable...

And the next time, we will lose

because we have lost our ability to fight.

I'd like to ask you a question, sir.

Go ahead.

Yesterday... i saw a private memo.

An advanced chemical disabling weapon called reagent Alpha one

had been authorized for this weekend's alert.

Only the national command authority can do that, sir.

I didn't order it.

The only other person with that authority is secretary Potter.

Yes, sir.

Now let me ask you a question.

You believe general Lloyd is a hero.

Yes, I do.

Can a hero be a traitor?

I'm afraid he could be.

So you think there's a military plot

to take over the government.

Naked military takeover.

Not in this country. The people would never stand for it.

The men at arms are just regular American kids.

They wouldn't stand for it either.

There has to be something more.

The military action has to be supporting something...

Something within the law that the people could accept.

The Attorney General...

He died of a heart attack, sir?

Art Daniels just had his physical a week ago at Bethesda.

We asked about it.

He was in perfect health.

The kgb...

Used to use smoke and prussic acid.

Death was instantaneous. Looked like a coronary.

Our boys could have done the same thing.

You believe art Daniels was assassinated?

What I do not believe in, sir, is coincidence.

Maybe Daniels found out.

Maybe he was even involved in it.

Maybe he just had a heart attack.

Maybe.

Mac has a list of 22 names.

They're the commanders of the exercise this weekend.

He thinks they'll make a move during the alert.

If it is true, all you can do is fire them...Now.

What about the other generals?

Do I trust them

just because colonel Casey hasn't found their names yet?

If I fire my top 22 generals,

claim they're traitors without proof...

You could be impeached.

It's a possibility, sir.

And a chance you might just have to take.

Sir, we don't know what they're planning,

but what they'd do to protect themselves

if they suspected that we knew...

They might move it up. They might go immediately.

We tip our hands right now,

we are giving up our tactical advantage of surprise,

and, frankly, sir, that is the only advantage that we have.

What are we supposed to do with our tactical advantage?

Find out who they are, what they're planning,

and how to stop them in 69 hours.

You're career military.

You're general Lloyd's protege.

Why didn't you join them?

They didn't ask me.

If they had.

The military exist

to support and defend the government.

Not to be the government, sir.

Should I worry about where your loyalties lie?

I'm here.

I'm the one who blew the whistle, sir.

[Disengaging car alarm]

Good night, sir.

Stop!

Sorry.

What time did you get in last night?

What?

Mac, you've done classified work before.

You've always told me something.

It's different.

How?

Is there something you should let me know?

If I could, I would.

I see.

You run out on us twice in one night.

You don't come back home until 3 A.M.?

Honey...

For 15 years...

Did I ever give you trouble like that?

I never thought so.

I'm no angel, Jean.

I may be a lousy father...

But I promise I'll be there for him.

I'm trying really hard

to believe that.

Good morning, Mr. president.

How does it look this morning?

Did our colonel have a bad dream?

I'm afraid it's not going to go away.

Thank you.

What amazes me is

that this thing hasn't leaked yet.

I want you to scrub my meeting with John instead.

Fullerton smoked to the press

that I'm working on foreign affairs for a change.

Tell me about Casey.

Are you confident about him?

I've known him for a long time.

We're making a big bet on one man.

Should we bring back the national security adviser from Kiev?

Nope. Charlie Potter would smell a rat.

I thought Charlie was my friend.

If we get lucky-- find a guy who's not a conspirator--

how do we know he'll even help us?

FBI? secret service?

If Daniels could have been in on it.

Why not the FBI?

Why not anybody?

We might get a hand from Daniels' private secretary,

Sarah something.

She's not too bright.

I'll make up a story, give her a call.

[Band plays]

[Telephone rings]

Yeah?

Colonel Casey, please.

Yeah, he's right here. Hang on.

Mac?

Yeah?

Hello.

Please hold for the chief of staff.

The Attorney General's secretary

is a Sarah mccann.

You'll be meeting her tonight

at the justice department.

O.k.

Ninth street entrance, 7:00.

That'll give the building time to clear.

Your name is wycliffe-- Philip.

I--i got to go.

I saw you checking out of the white house last night.

What are you, special adviser to the president?

It wasn't me, pal.

Mac?

Sir?

Did you forget something, sir?

You've been working too hard.

Just take care of this briefing,

then take a three-day pass

and spend time with the family.

That's an order.

Thank you, sir.

Mr. wycliffe?

I'm Sarah mccann.

Could he have had another appointment book...

A private one maybe?

No. just that one, i think.

Did you know Lloyd kimaroff?

Just that once.

Can you remember anything about that--

how the general looked when he went in--

when he came out?

The Attorney General's mood after the meeting.

Well, they fought.

I heard raised voices through the door,

but I couldn't hear any words.

And when they came out, they were smiling.

Sarah...

Could you...Sit down for a second?

Thank you.

What did miss corcoran tell you about the situation?

Miss corcoran didn't call me.

The president called me... Himself.

He said I should give you anything you ask for,

and to keep this a secret

because Mr. Daniels had some enemies,

and that you were defending Mr. Daniels' good name.

He wasn't a perfect man,

but he was a good man.

You see,

the president said

for you to give me whatever I ask.

What we're looking for...

It's a secret.

So I don't know what to ask.

You know.

This wasn't anything like Watergate.

This was just for his memoirs.

And he wouldn't have written anything

until after everyone had retired.

And then he would have handled everything with...

Integrity.

I need the tapes, Sarah...

Especially the ones from Tuesday.

He didn't give them to me.

They're at his house...

I think.

Is there anybody there?

No. after the divorce, he lived--

he lived by himself.

I have a key.

[Door closes]

Scorched tapes and ashes.

Damn!

At least it proves we're right.

This thing does go deeper than the military.

It proves it to us-- not the country.

Now we're down to 48 hours.

45.

I'll update the president.

O.k.

What's the matter? Are you tired?

You run. You run home.

Run home now.

I don't have time to explain. Now, go.

We just want to talk to you.

[Clock chiming]

Colonel Casey!

Who are you?

Call me...Jake.

Jake.

Would you prefer Joe?

No.

Jake is fine.

I didn't know you guys were still in business.

Yes. we Russians have a great respect for our traditions.

What am I doing here?

You are colonel Lyle MacArthur Casey,

and you are tracking your own superior, general Lloyd,

and reporting back to the white house.

That is why I wish to speak with you.

We know that you are facing a conspiracy in your government, colonel.

We wish to help.

President foster is a humanitarian,

sympathetic to the plight of my people.

And a militarily controlled U.S.

Is not in our best interests.

Fort benning.

Here is NORAD.

Now tampa.

Troop movements,

all from this morning.

How'd you get these photographs?

We accessed your high resolution satellite.

Very simple.

Next...

Hunting lodge...

Blue Ridge mountains.

Four meetings in six weeks--

always these very same men.

You know, colonel,

the Pentagon is the best news manager in the world.

Your general has all he needs--

the politicians,

the military,

public opinion,

and...the next president.

Vice president...

Kelly.

Walter Kelly.

Why am I not surprised?

And Jack giddings,

more money than god and the moral sense of an ant.

Fire everybody in sight,

the whole fucking cabinet.

I can't fire the vice president,

and I can't fire Jack giddings.

What's worse, i can't prove anything.

What about these photographs?

You want me to go on TV and say,

"i got these photos from the Russians of our bases,

which incriminate the most popular hero in the United States."

The vote to impeach would end gridlock.

It'd be unanimous and bipartisan.

And then Walter Kelly waltzes into the oval office

through the front door.

We still have some time, sir.

Go back to your friends, Mac.

There's got to be more.

Get me some proof i can use.

We're down to 35 hours. We have to do something.

I know what I'm doing.

[Intercom]

Yes?

Excuse me, sir.

The president's on line 1.

Good afternoon, general.

Good afternoon, Mr. president.

I'll come straight to the point.

I want to cancel the alert this weekend.

If I may, sir, um...

This exercise is vital to our readiness,

as we discussed.

I agree, general.

I'm not suggesting we cancel it indefinitely,

but, with everything that's happened,

I want to postpone it.

The final decision's up to you, sir,

but...i cannot endorse your decision.

I'd take that under consideration, general,

but I'm afraid my decision is final.

I want it canceled.

Goodbye, general.

[Click]

Bye, Mr. president.

Arthur Daniels had the same respect for life,

family, and god

as for the law he swore to uphold.

He left us a legacy of decency--

decency in every aspect of his life.

For those of us who knew him,

we learned to admire and respect him.

We shall miss him greatly.

Let us pray.

Unto thee, o lord,

do I lift up my soul.

O, my god, i trust in you.

Let me not be ashamed.

Let not mine enemies triumph over me.

Let none that wait on me be ashamed.

Let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

Show me thy ways, o lord,

teach me thy paths.

Consider mine enemies,

for they are many,

and they hate me with cruel hatred.

So keep my soul and deliver me.

Let me not be ashamed,

for I put my trust in thee...

I thought you were off.

I'm here to see you.

Let your son, Arthur Daniels,

be with you today.

1 and...

Ready...

Aim...

Fire!

Ready...

Aim...

Fire!

Ready...

Aim...

Fire!

Ready...

Aim...

Fire!

Ready...

Aim...

Fire!

Try it again.

Present.

Arms...

Order.

Arms...

It's unfortunate that this was necessary.

We're going to get our hands dirty

no matter how antiseptically we do this.

We're shutting it down.

Try it again.

I've already gone

where no lieutenant's gone before.

Try it again, lieutenant.

Colonel, this ain't kosher.

Damn it, Billy, you just...

You go have a cup of coffee, o.K.?

Bob, we're in agreement.

This thing is a go for tomorrow.

Colonel...

Lieutenant...

Sir?

Was that colonel Casey?

No, sir.

He's on a three-day pass, sir.

Thank you, lieutenant.

Carry on.

Sir.

If I don't get some hard proof

by 8:00 tomorrow night,

there'll be no second chances.

We came forward to you.

Why would I hold back?

Hard proof.

It compromises some other interest of yours?

Maybe an agent you have in place?

Hypothetically speaking,

if such an agent existed,

I presume one could bargain.

One can always bargain.

[Coach] come on. All the way now.

All the way.

Oh, yeah!

Jordan almonds.

I'm addicted.

I need a witness to testify, Jake.

The agent in place

has been a problem to us

for reasons that i cannot say.

Going to the other side, is he?

Let's just say emotional problems.

Let me think on this.

The third baseman...

My child!

[Shouts]

I love this game!

The Russians are hoping for a deal.

Get me proof...

And their agent goes home.

I'm to be contacted on that.

Let's pray it's soon...

Because with 20 hours to go, we've got nothing.

The ultimate would be a confession--

someone inside the conspiracy.

Why would anybody do that?

Especially since they'd be confessing to treason.

Maybe even murder.

I keep thinking about art Daniels.

One thing he would never do

is go against the constitution.

We live in a highly evolved democracy.

They're going to have to do something

to give this thing the appearance,

the illusion of legality.

Amendment xxv, ratified after Kennedy...

"Presidential disability and succession act,

"section 4.

"Whenever the vice president

"and a majority of either the principal officers

of the executive departments--"

sound like the cabinet, sir?

Keep reading.

"Or of such other body

"as congress may by law provide,

"transmit to the president pro tempore of the senate

"and the speaker of the house of representatives

"their written declaration that the president

"is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office,

"the vice president shall immediately assume

"the powers and duties of the office

as acting president."

Just by sending a letter,

you can be removed from office?

If I write a letter

saying that I am not disabled,

I don't automatically get my job back.

The other side gets four days

to say that I am disabled-- which they will--

and then the congress gets 21 days

to meet and vote on it.

And through all that time,

Walter Kelly,

that backbiting...

Remains president.

I'll be damned, that's it.

That's what, sir?

They want a new president they can control.

The xxvth amendment makes it legal.

That's their cover.

This letter was delivered at 8:00 this evening.

Accordingly, i speak to you now...

As your president.

We are going to try the issues

of will foster's mental and emotional stability.

Not tonight. These issues will be tried in the congress,

as required by our constitution.

And the system will work its will in this crisis

as it has in others.

Every man is imperfect by nature,

and every nation throughout history

has been ruled by men.

Every nation but ours.

I have, therefore, decided,

in consultation with other government leaders,

as a purely temporary measure,

that for the next 72 hours

there will be a dusk to dawn curfew.

The writ of habeas corpus

will be suspended during this time.

Accordingly, our joint chiefs of staff--

[producer] we may want to change that.

It smells of a military junta.

When you say you place the power into their hands,

there's a sense that you're giving up control.

Wrong. you're the president.

They're simply your traffic cops.

So, I've given orders to...Mm-hmm.

And lighten up the tone through this section.

Let the words carry the power.

It's a purely temporary measure.

They don't like will foster

any more than we do,

but he is the elected president.

You're simply letting them off the hook.

They'll feel relieved.

That's what they want to feel.

Nurture that.

Let's do it again.

Sarah.

Mr. wycliffe.

When I was young,

if somebody told me

that I was going to end up as a spy...

Oh, well...

Jake ordered me...

To cooperate with the president.

That's why I told you about the tapes.

You got to help us now.

Meaning?

You got to testify what's on those tapes.

Well, it won't prove anything.

Arthur never said anything incriminating.

No, no. You're all we've got.

If the CIA discovers my role in the justice department,

what's going to happen to me?

The president promised. You'll be protected.

No. I need to think about this.

Hey! you're not listening.

You got to tell the president what you know now.

No.

[Gunshot]

[People screaming]

[Woman] oh, my god!

[Horn blares]

Jean!

Todd!

Jean!

Todd!

Jean!

Mac? what's the matter?

Get Todd. Go to your mother's.

Why?

I can't explain right now.

Todd, take care of your mother, o.K.?

Mac, please tell me what's going on!

[Telephone rings]

Don't answer that!

Hello?

Yes, sir. Dad, it's general Lloyd.

Just go! You gotta go! I love you, but go.

Both of you, go now!

Mom, where are we going?

[Into phone] You want to talk to me, talk in a public place.

One hour, you pick it.

Fine.

Huh!

Hey,

don't worry.

Anybody asks, all I saw was my empty desk.

What do you mean?

I've been transferred to Hawaii, effective immediately.

I put in for it a few years ago,

but I never heard anything.

Now suddenly...

You take care, o.K.?

You, too.

[Beeping]

[Jet flies overhead]

This is symbolic.

We could've met over a beer,

like a couple of marines.

Here is better, in front of the marines who died

defending the things you're trying to destroy.

Leave the speeches to the politicians.

If there'll be any left after you.

[Chuckles]

What have you been doing, Mac?

I've been watching your covert exercises.

It was agreed that only generals would know.

That's why you were left out of the discussions.

Potter is no general.

Jack giddings is no general.

You've been managed.

You won't get what you want

unless they get what they want.

We all want the same thing,

a country secure from foreign aggression.

We can have that

as long as we have a country worth fighting for.

Who'd fight for Jack giddings or Potter? Count me out.

You would stand by and watch

everything we fought and died for

betrayed by a man who never wore a uniform.

He is the elected president.

It will be put to the people...

By way of referendum.

We'll still be a democracy.

No. it will be a scam.

Mac, you're a fine soldier

and a good man.

Don't make the wrong choice.

You got to stop this thing, general.

It's too late.

Power will change hands

by constitutional process.

Don't get caught in the path

of righteous change, son.

You are a traitor.

This conversation's academic.

If you'll excuse me,

it's my turn to go to the white house.

[Gunshot]

[Gunshot]

[Tick tick tick]

[Tires squeal]

[Horns honk]

[Arguing and shouting]

This is an exercise.

This is only an exercise.

Thank you for your cooperation.

This is an exercise.

This is only an exercise.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Mr. president.

It's time.

Bring 'em in.

Hello, Betsy.

Mr. secretary.

General.

The president will see you now.

You've had a long run, Mr. president,

but it's over.

If you try to stay in office now

it will only get worse. You'll be isolated.

And no one in congress

is going to risk alienating the voters by backing you.

If you have any respect for the office, you'll resign.

You are some piece of work.

I'm a patriot, Mr. president.

Why don't you have any faith in the system of government

you're so hellbent on protecting?

You win a mandate at the ballot box.

You don't steal it after midnight when its back's turned.

This game has been played

everywhere else in the world.

I guess i just took it for granted

that it could never happen here.

I want your resignation, Charlie.

Walter's,

the cabinet,

the joint chiefs--

every snake in the nest.

Including you, general.

Why is that, Mr. president?

Murder, for one.

That's absurd.

Is there anything else?

Treason!

I presume, Mr. president...

You are prepared to back up that charge.

I canceled this weekend's alert, general.

You have disobeyed a direct order.

In addition, you have used defense funds

to plan a covert military operation--

designation, slam dunk--

whose sole purpose was to overthrow the presidency.

I beg your pardon, Mr. president,

but every detail for slam dunk was authorized

by your secretary of defense here,

who is in the national chain of command.

It seems to me, Mr. president,

that I made a note in my diary

the day we decided to go ahead with slam dunk.

Nothing treasonous in that.

What proof do you have that we're conspiring

to overthrow the presidency?

I can't fire Walter, I'm sorry to say.

But both of you and the rest of the cabinet

are hereby terminated forthwith.

You mean, before we sign the letter?

The letter's already been sent, will.

Walter's been president for over an hour.

Your failures of judgment can no longer be indulged.

I'll see you in hell first.

That's a date.

I didn't think you'd mind.

What have you got, Mac?

Not much time, Mr. president.

Go ahead.

You start calling.

Order back the troops,

kill the letter, cancel the telecast.

And when you are done calling,

this whole thing, it never happened.

And if we don't?

What'll you do?

I'm going to confess.

I'm going to confess to my complicity

in ou plot.

To the press.

To the networks.

A military plot to overthrow the government,

led by these gentlemen.

I know all the details.

I have a request...

For live ammo for slam dunk.

I will explain how Arthur Daniels was murdered,

causing his body to be exhumed.

And I will confess to the ordered murder

of his secretary Sarah myself.

The post

will find

memos...

In general Lloyd's private code

tucked away in some very interesting files.

There's a memo from Lloyd to Daniels.

It sets up most of the plot--

clear about my involvement

and, of course,

yours.

Who's going to believe you?

Nobody knows who you are.

You're just another colonel.

So was Oliver north.

People are funny.

They won't believe an accusation from the president,

but they'll believe a confession from just about anybody.

You'd go all the way with this?

Career, family--

you'd lose it all.

I'll lose it all anyway if you're in charge.

Here's what we're going to do.

We're going to stagger the resignations

over the next year.

I'm not going to fire you.

Not yet.

First, you're going to stand behind me

while I announce the general's resignation,

which I want now.

Alert the networks, get everything ready.

I want to talk to the nation in 10 minutes.

I don't propose, general,

that the country ever find out

just how close you came to tearing it into pieces.

Mac.

Sir.

Thank you.

Make sure the general carries out my order.

Yes, sir.

Let's go.

You've got some phone calls to make.

[Door opens and closes]

Do you know who Judas was, colonel?

Yes.

I know who Judas was.

He was a man i worked for and once respected...

Until he disgraced the four stars of his uniform.

My fellow Americans,

tonight I must announce with deep regret

that I have asked for and accepted

the resignation of general r. Pendleton Lloyd

as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

I have the highest regard for the general.

However, he recently conceded to secretary Potter

and to me

that our differences are just too great to reconcile.

That being the case,

I had no choice

but to accept his resignation.

In recent months,

there has been abroad and in this land

a whisper that we have somehow lost our greatness.

Well, it is not so.

We must not allow ourselves

to be persuaded

to exchange our liberties

for anyone else's order.

We must not be dismayed

if democracy, even in crisis,

is an untidy form of government.

We are united

in remaining strong and proud,

peaceful,

and committed to laying down our lives

for our way of life if need be.

Thank you.

Good night

and god bless you.

And god bless the United States of America.

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Captions copyright 1994 home box office, a division of time Warner entertainment company, l.P.

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