Give Me The Missile Key

Give Me The Missile Key 

Crimson Tide

[Following the rebel Russian submarine's attack, which damaged the Alabama's communications equipment]

Hunter: Captain? Got the EAM.

[Ramsey sees the EAM message which is shown incomplete]

Hunter: What do you think?

Ramsey: I think there's nothing on this.

Hunter: Yes, sir. It, uh, got cut off during the attack.

Ramsey: Then it's meaningless.

Hunter: Sir, this is an EAM pertaining to nuclear missiles.

Ramsey: No, Mr. Hunter, that's a message fragment.

Hunter: Because it got cut off during the attack, sir. The message could mean anything. It could be a message to abort. It could be a message--

Ramsey: Could be a fake Russian transmission.

Hunter: Which is exactly why we need to confirm it, sir. All I'm asking for is the time we need to get back on line.

Ramsey: Calm down, Mr. Hunter.

Hunter: I am calm.

Ramsey: You don't appear to be calm.

Weapons: Conn/Weapons: Missile systems ready to launch in four minutes.

Ramsey: Step aside, seaman.

Seaman: Yes, sir.

[Faint Radio Transmission]

Ramsey: We have orders in hand, and those orders are to make a preemptive launch. Every second that we lose increases the chances, that by the time our missiles arrive, their silos could be empty, 'cause they've flown their birds and struck us first.

Hunter: Yes, sir.

Ramsey: You know as well as I do that any launch order received without authentication is no order at all.

Hunter: Captain... National Mili…

Ramsey: [continues to talk over Hunter] That's our #1 rule. That rule is the basis for the scenario we've trained on time and time again.

Hunter: Yes, sir.

Ramsey: It's a rule we follow without exception.

Hunter: Captain, National Military Command Center knows what sector we're in. They have satellites looking down on us to see if our birds are aloft. And if they're not, then they give our orders to somebody else. That's why we maintain more than one sub. It's what they call "redundancy."

Ramsey: I know about redundancy, Mr. Hunter. [walks off]

Hunter: All I'm saying...

[Crew stares at Hunter before he meets with Ramsey again, speaking discreetly]

Hunter: All I'm saying, Captain, is that we have backup. Now, it's our duty not to launch until we can confirm.

Ramsey: You're presuming that we have other submarines out there ready to launch. But as captain, I must assume that our submarines could have been taken out by other Akulas. We can play these games all night, Mr. Hunter, but I don't have the luxury of your presumptions.

Hunter: Sir...

Ramsey: Mr. Hunter, we have rules that are not open to interpretation, personal intuition, gut feelings, hairs on the back of your neck, little devils or angels sitting on your shoulders.

Hunter: Captain...

Ramsey: We're all very well aware of what our orders are and what those orders mean. They come down from our Commander-in-Chief. They contain no ambiguity.

Hunter: Captain, sir...

Ramsey: Mr. Hunter, I've made the decision. I'm captain of this boat. Now shut the fuck up! Damn. [over the intercom] Weapons/Conn: Shift targeting to target package SLBM 64741/2. This is the Captain.

[Ramsey gives the intercom to Hunter]

Hunter: ...Captain, I cannot concur.

Ramsey: Repeat my command.

Hunter: Sir, we don't know what this means. Our target package could have changed.

Ramsey: You repeat this order or I'll find somebody who will!

Hunter: [stares at Ramsey] Hell no, you won't, sir.

Ramsey: You're relieved of your position. COB, remove Mr. Hunter from the control room. Get Lieutenant Zimmer in here now!

Hunter: No, sir, I do not concur and I do not recognize your authority to relieve me on the command under Navy regulations.

Ramsey: COB, arrest this man and get him out!

Hunter: Captain Ramsey, under operating procedures governing the release of nuclear weapons we cannot launch our missiles unless both you, and I agree.

Ramsey: [shouting over Hunter] COB, what're you waiting for?!

Hunter: Now this is not a formality, sir! This is expressly why your command must be repeated! It requires my assent, I do not give it! And furthermore, if you continue upon this course, and insist upon this launch without confirming this message first...

Ramsey: [shouting over Hunter] Son of a bitch... As commanding officer of the USS Alabama I order you to place the XO under arrest under charges of mutiny!

Hunter: I will be forced, backed by the rules of precedents...

Ramsey: [shouting at the Chief of the Boat, over Hunter] I say again, as commanding officer of the USS Alabama, I order you...

Hunter: -authority and command, regulation 08150H6 of the Navy regulations, to relieve you of command, Captain!

Ramsey: -to place the XO under arrest, under charges of mutiny! [Silence all round]COB!

Chief of the Boat: Captain, please, the XO is right. We can't launch unless he concurs.

Ramsey: [reading EAM] "To the USS Alabama: Rebel-controlled missiles being fuelled. Launch codes compromised, dissidents threaten to launch at continental United States, set DEFCON 2. Immediately launch ten Trident missile sorties." They're FUELING THEIR MISSILES! We don't have time to fuck around!

Hunter: Sir, I think you need time to think this over.

Ramsey: I DON'T HAVE TO THINK THIS OVER!

Hunter: Captain, I relieve you of your command of this ship. COB, escort the Captain off the bridge, I'm assuming command.

Ramsey: You're not assuming anything!

Hunter: CHIEF OF THE BOAT, Captain Ramsey is under arrest — lock him in his stateroom!

Chief of the Boat: Captain, please...

Hunter: NOW, COB!

Chief of the Boat: Aye, sir. Mitchell, Walker, take the Captain below.

[Ramsey goes to leave, then turns and throws his missile key to Hunter]

Ramsey: You're out of your league, Hunter. You're not ready to make difficult decisions yet.