The Final Countdown

-RADIO:

-'Pearl Tower, Tomcat 2-0-0 requesting clearance for departure.

-'Runway 0-9, over.

-2-0-0, Pearl Harbor Tower.

'You are cleared runway 0-9.

'Wind 0-4-5 at 8.

'S-H-3 approaching from the right. Have a nice day.'

Mr Tideman.

Mr Lasky, AWP Barney Finansky.

Mr Lasky, I'm Richard Tideman's executive assistant.

-Are you going with me?

-No. Mr Tideman just wanted to see you off.

-Is that him in the car?

-Yeah.

Well, we've never met. Can I introduce myself?

It isn't necessary, Mr Lasky. As I said, he came to see you off.

Well...thank him for me.

Mr Lasky.

Take a look, sir.

Arizona Memorial.

TANNOY: '..there were only 289 survivors.'

Russian trawler.

What's it doing?

Not doing much fishing.

THEY LAUGH

-I'll take it, sir.

-Mr Lasky, I'm Commander Dan Thurman,

-Executive Officer. Welcome aboard.

-Thank you.

Now, follow me to the bridge.

-TANNOY:

-'Stand clear, spot 3 Heli 7-3-3 rotating.'

-Give me 25 knots of wind over the deck.

-Aye, Captain. All ahead, full.

-Aye aye.

-Indicate 1-0-0 rpm.

-Indicate 1-0-0 rpms. Aye, sir.

Central bridge, all ahead full, 1-0-0 rpm.

-Continue fixed-wing recovery.

-'Aye, Captain.'

-Let's bring the CAG aboard.

-Victor 2-0-0, your signal is Charlie.

-Set 5-2, Tomcat.

-Set 5-2, Tomcat.

'Tomcat 2-0-0, I'm on approach and lined up.'

'2-0-0, slightly right.

-'You're down and locked.

-Add power.

-'All indicators green.

-Hold there.

'Hold it. Slightly left.

'In the middle. Looks good.'

-TANNOY:

-'Get below. We still have aircraft to land.'

You're on assignment from Tideman Industries to the defence department?

-Yeah, that's right.

-What is your job?

-I'm a systems analyst.

-Efficiency expert, right?

-Yeah, you could say that.

-That's a quick change in the weather.

-Yeah. It sure is.

HE SIGHS

-Hi, CAG.

-It's getting a little strange out there, boys.

-Welcome aboard, Mr Lasky.

-Thank you, Captain. Are we headed for a squall?

-Not an official one.

-Sir, this is Commander Damon, Operations Officer.

-How do you do, Mr Lasky?

-Fine.

-And Lt Perry, Officer of the Deck.

-How do you do?

-Mr Lasky's looking at how we do things on the Nimitz.

-We'll give you whatever help we can.

-Thanks.

Our departure was delayed two days

-at the request of your mysterious boss.

-Sorry, Captain, but Mr Tideman

is as much a mystery to me as he is to the rest of the world.

-Two days.

-Maybe the fact that Tideman helped design and build this ship

affords him special privileges.

-Corporal Kullman will escort you while you're aboard ship.

-This way, sir.

-Oh, Mr Lasky.

-Yes, sir.

-I'd be delighted if you'd join me for dinner.

Thank you, Captain. I'd like to.

THUNDER RUMBLES

Was Black Cloud's forecast this morning for clear skies and sunshine?

-I'll bet he wishes it wasn't, sir.

-Hand me that weather report, please.

Thank you.

-Sir.

-Mm?

What do you think it is?

It wasn't there on the morning run.

-Check all projection lenses and if it's not there, check all receivers.

-Aye aye, sir.

VOICE ON RADIO SPEAKS RUSSIAN

Nimitz? Who's that?

-The Russian trawler.

-What's he want?

A big fish!

THEY LAUGH

You've been assigned navigator's cabin.

Connects with Commander Owens, our Air Wing Commander.

Your luggage has been delivered, sir.

-I'll be just outside, sir, if there's anything you need.

-Thank you.

Hello?

"Pacific At War, Commander Richard T Owens."

-Very well. Captain.

-Mm?

-We're having communication problems

-with the incoming flights.

-What do you mean?

It's interference from the storm, sir.

-Get Black Cloud up here.

-Yes, sir.

Sunshine and clear skies(!)

-Anything else you'd like to see?

-I beg your pardon.

-What the hell are you doing in my cabin?

-I'm sorry.

You're Commander Owens. I'm Warren Lasky. They put me next door.

Oh, yes. Mr Lasky, the one thing we cherish aboard a ship is privacy.

Maybe it's because we get so damn little of it.

I understand. I hope you'll forgive me.

Er, you know, from what I've read, your manuscript is very good.

-I mean, really, very good.

-Thank you. You a historian, Mr Lasky?

I'm a bit of everything, I guess. I work for Tideman Industries.

What exactly is your job aboard this ship?

I look at the way you do things and if I can think of any alternatives,

I write a report and submit it to the Department Of Defense.

-Think you'll find some?

-Well, there are always alternatives, Commander.

Mr Lasky, please don't look for them in here.

Excuse me.

THUNDER RUMBLES

-Boss, CAG's here.

-Hi, Dick.

-George, any further word from Stanton?

He's inbound, but we can't talk to him. His radio's garbled.

-Just wish he had more experience.

-PHONE RINGS

Yes, Captain. Yes, sir. He's right here.

-CAG.

-Yes, Skipper?

How many planes have you got in the air?

'One. Our newest pilot, Stanton.'

Get him aboard quick. I wanna get out of this weather.

Right away, Skipper. He wants him down now. Keep trying.

Try again on 4-1-2. See if you can reach him.

-Sir.

-Black Cloud, you've been doing unauthorised rain dances again, huh?

Take a look at the scope, sir.

The water temperature's down five degrees

and even the barometer's giving improper readings.

It should be down and it's way up.

-What the hell is that?

-It seems to have a cycle, sir.

One run, it's there, the next, it's clear.

One, there, the next, it's clear. I've never seen anything like it.

Head the destroyers back to Pearl Harbor.

-No need for them to go through this.

-Yes, sir.

Keep her in the wind till we get that Corsair aboard. He's a new pilot.

All units at Romeo-Alpha, this is Kilo-Bravo.

LIGHTNING

'This is 4-1-2. I have an unsafe hook indicator, over.

'1-2, unsafe hook. Recycle your hook.

'Negative. I've tried that.

'4-1-2, your transmission's poor, say your fuel state.'

-Captain, that Corsair can't get his hook down. We need the barricade.

-Rig it.

Air ops, on the flight deck.

'We have a Corsair in trouble, can't get his hook down.

'This is not a drill.

'I repeat, this is not a drill.

'Now, rig the barricade. All on deck, all on deck.

'This is not a drill.'

'All personnel off the deck, now.'

'Barricade coming up. Clear the area.

'Clear the flight deck.'

-Dick, do you see him out there yet?

-Yeah, there he is. Here he comes.

Heads up, green deck, land aircraft.

My God! Look at that.

HIGH-PITCHED SHRIEKING

THEY SCREAM

-Have Central come up on the JA.

-Yes, sir.

-Steady as she goes.

-Steady as she goes, aye.

Central bridge, pick up the JA.

-'Aye, sir.'

-Where's that plane?

I don't see it, Captain.

-Sound general quarters.

-Aye, Captain.

-Bosun.

-Aye.

-Sound general quarters.

-Aye, sir.

WHISTLES

ALARM WAILS

'General quarters, general quarters.

'All hands man your battle stations.

'General quarters, general quarters.'

-What the hell's going on?!

-General quarters, sir. Come with me.

Time, plus four.

-Make sure all stations are manned and ready.

-Yes, sir.

Got him! Right there. Coming in. A-7 Corsair.

Heads up. He's inbound for the barricade. To the barricade.

Barricade activated.

All right.

ALARM BLARES

Crash on deck. Crash on deck. Respond now.

'Let's get out there and watch for fire.'

SIRENS BLARE

-Go back to course 3-5-0.

-Aye aye, sir.

OK. Take her down.

'All personnel on the flight deck, let's turn to.'

-Is this the last known position of our destroyer before the storm?

-Yes, sir.

-Skipper.

-Dan, go down and check out the threat board.

-Keep me posted.

-Right.

-Get CAG up here.

-Yes, sir.

-I wanna talk to St Pat fleet.

We're down across the board. Antennas check out, but we're off air.

Any word from our destroyers?

Just some code transmissions in the 200-metre band. We're dead as a doornail.

-Ops, what's our radar picture?

-Radar shows us clear, sir.

Clear? Can't you see that Russian trawler?

I have the signal officer on deck, but no sightings.

-Keep me advised. Navigator, what's our pos?

-2-7-0, Captain.

-280-miles west of Pearl Harbor.

-Oh, Dick.

Launch a Hawkeye to check ship's communications,

a Crusader to make a photo run over Pearl and put two Tomcats on alert.

-Aye aye, sir.

-Captain. Captain.

Hey, what happened?

Frankly...I don't know.

Lieutenant, have the heads of all departments meet me

-at CBIC immediately after the launch.

-Aye aye, sir.

-Mr Lasky, I want you to stay with me.

-Captain's off the bridge.

-It's a code.

-Can you break it, Chief?

I think someone's putting us on.

-Why?

-Because I learned this code at Great Lakes.

-It's ancient.

-Thanks, Chief.

'Stand clear at 0-12. Hawkeye rotating.'

'Off the bow, stand clear.'

'7-3-6 lifting.'

MEN SHOUT

Hold it! Hold it! Hold it!

-Go hold your horn!

-Who said that?

All we wanna know is, what's going on?

-Whatever it is, you'll be told.

-When?

-When the skipper's ready.

ALL MUTTER

-Hey, what's going on?

-Attention on deck.

Carry on.

Gentlemen, we're at general quarters

because I don't have any idea what's happened.

But I don't exclude the possibility of war.

-A nuclear strike?

-Possibility.

Now, what action has been taken?

There's nothing on the threat board,

-no significant damage and the crew's in good shape.

-Air Wing is intact.

First team's ready. E-2 is showing the area clear

-and recon should be coming up on Pearl soon.

-George?

Reactor is stable. All readings are normal.

Capable of maximum speed, Captain.

-Roy?

-We can transmit and receive,

-but we can't reach anybody.

-Why?

Tried everybody. St Pat. I even took a crack at the White House.

We have some low-band transmissions, manual stuff with very low power.

-We'll have to re-tune to transmit at that range.

-Get on with it.

-Ops?

-All radars up. All weapons systems check out. We're ready, sir.

-Mr Lasky, you have anything to add?

-No, sir. Not at this time.

Skipper, I have a report coming in now, sir.

'Flight level 2-5-0, camera rolling.

'There doesn't appear to be any damage.

'Seems to be some unusual shipping traffic.

'I'll make another pass for a close up, over.'

-ETA to Nimitz, 12 minutes, sir.

-We're picking up some weird traffic

on the AM entertainment circuit, but the signal strength is very weak.

'It's no use! I tried and tried and I can't get him to go to sleep.

'The polar bear's gotta go to sleep. He's supposed to be hibernating.'

-Jack Benny?

-'Where is he now?'

-'Upstairs reading Esquire.

-LAUGHTER

'Esquire? Well, take it away from him.

-'Oh, come now. He's been around.'

-LAUGHTER

Roy, tape and monitor all transmissions.

Ops, I want a closer look on all air, surface and sub-surface contacts within 250 miles of this ship.

Put some tankers and a medium-sized strike force

-on a 30-minute alert.

-Aye aye.

-Any questions?

The ship's still at general quarters. Request permission

-to go to condition three.

-Granted.

I'll be on the bridge. I want answers.

Attention on deck!

'Secure from general quarters. Set condition three.'

-I stand relieved.

-Very well.

PHONE RINGS

-Bridge.

-Captain's on the bridge.

Captain, CIC reports of surface contact

bearing 3-5-0 degrees at 1-3-0 miles.

-I want an ID on the surface contact.

-'Yes, sir.'

-Launch the ready alert.

-'Aye, sir.'

ENGINES ROAR

'All hands on flight deck.'

-RADIO:

-'..which, translated,

'means a worldwide reduction of armament

'to such a point

'and in such a thorough fashion,

'that no nation will be in a position

'to commit an act of physical aggression

'against any neighbour

'anywhere in the world.'

What the hell's the matter with him?

-He's asking us to trust our enemies and he knows better.

-You're right.

MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO

Hey, Laurel. You finished that very quickly.

Well, I hope so. Let's see. Where were we? Erm...

And therefore... And therefore... Oh, here we are.

"If he does support my programme, let Senator Chapman be assured now,

"that I am fully aware of those qualities in him,

-"which recommend him as cabinet material."

-That says it exactly.

-You agree?

-Miss Scott, you should have been a diplomat.

-I thought I was.

You've cooked up a compromise that'll make your boss the next Vice President of the United States.

-I better type this up before you try to improve it.

-Thanks, Laurel.

Arthur, will you leave her enough clothes on not to catch cold?

-She's too valuable to me right now.

-You slept with her yet?

-What kind of a question is that to ask a married man?

-You son of a gun!

-I better go check what she's doing.

-Oh, sure.

Have another drink and stop thinking about how much

-everybody else is getting.

-Thanks.

-See you later.

We swung it, Laurel. How about that? We really swung it.

-Did you tell him you were sleeping with me?

-What?

Laurel. I wish I was, but I'm not gonna lie about it.

People assume we are, anyway. I guess I'll have

-to live with the fact.

-Fact?

-Of what they think.

You're a strange girl, Laurel. You give more back talk

and less co-operation than any girl on Capital Hill.

I don't know why I put up with you. I don't know why I don't fire you.

I'm the best assistant you'll find and you're still more interested in politics than sex.

DOG BARKS

Charlie.

What is he barking at?

Charlie, what is it?

Shush. Listen.

ENGINES ROAR IN DISTANCE

DOG BARKS

ENGINES ROAR LOUDLY

-They had US markings.

-You sure of that?!

-I thought so, too.

Their speed! Are they ours?

I don't know. If they are ours, they're a closed secret.

-I want enquiries made as soon as we return.

-Yes, Senator.

DOG BARKS

Bridge.

Skipper, the F-14's are on top of the contact.

Alert-1, this is Eagle-1. What have you got?

'Er, we've overflown the craft, sir.

'A civilian yacht flying the US flag, about 50 feet in length,

-'old but in mint condition. Over.

-'Hold observation position.

'Dispatching A-6 tanker for refuelling.'

'Stand clear.'

'A-6 tanker departing.'

-RADIO:

-'One, two, three jabs to the mouth.

'Lewis with a right to the head. Left to the body.

-'Brings it up to the head.'

-Hey, who's that fighting?

-I don't know.

'A right to the head. Lewis is staggered by a right to the jaw.

'He almost goes down. There's the bell ending round 12.'

ADVERT JINGLE PLAYS

Let's get some air.

Captain's off the bridge.

I don't know.

Dan, what's this all about? What do you make of it?

Nostalgia broadcasting on the armed forces band.

Broadcasting after a strike? Nah.

Excuse me.

-Captain.

-Yes?

-Sir, is it possible that this could be part

-of some secret naval manoeuvre?

-Of course not.

There are a few people who'd like to watch us work under pressure.

-What are you saying, Dan?

-The Department Of Defense sent him here.

-Maybe they gave him something to watch?

-That makes more sense.

Wait a minute. You may be the victims of some kind of joke,

but whether the Pentagon's behind it or the Kremlin or men from Mars,

I promise you, I'm as much in the dark about it as you are.

-Captain, we've got something you may want to hear.

-In the plot room.

-Aye.

-RADIO:

-'The Germans are retreating on the 70-mile front in Russia.

'However, forces were reported 200 miles from Moscow

'and long-range artillery fire was heard in the suburbs of Moscow.

-'Meanwhile, in Washington...'

-What the hell's going on here?!

Sir, I think you ought to see these. Aerial reconnaissance photos

-of Pearl Harbor.

-Turn that off!

-Yes, sir.

-That'll be all, you.

-It's not Pearl Harbor.

-Sure as hell is.

Look at that old battle rig.

It's a memorial now.

It's the Arizona.

-But...she's completely intact.

-That's right.

-Get Mr Lasky back up here.

-Yes, sir.

-What's the matter with you?

-I was just on the bridge.

They're scared, real scared.

-What happened?

-It's crazy.

The Russians. Us. Even the Germans.

We've finally done it.

-Done what for Christ's sake?

-War. We're at war.

You're always talking shit.

Mr Lasky, I want a straight answer.

I don't give a damn about any orders you've had elsewhere.

-Is there something you've held back?

-Absolutely nothing, Captain.

All right. I accept that.

Here's a photo taken by our pilots less than an hour ago.

-May I suggest something, Captain?

-I'm wide open.

Ask Commander Owens to come up here

and bring the photos he's using to illustrate his book.

-Why?

-I think he'll have something very interesting to show you, sir.

All right.

'Tanker, you got two thirsty Tomcats. What have you got?

'I've got the hard stuff. Pull right in.'

'Good contact.

'Green light. Fill up, check the oil and clean the windshield, over.'

-Dick, where'd you get these?

-I got them from the Smithsonian, sir.

They're old photos of Pearl.

-Just like these.

-Not like these.

That was taken less than an hour ago.

I don't understand. These are pre-World War II pictures.

This is the fleet that was destroyed.

Sir, CIC reports two bogeys at low altitude, distance 125 miles.

-Have our fighters take an ID pass.

-Aye, Captain.

Have our fighters investigate and identify 0-9-0. Signal Buster.

Aye, sir. Alert-1, this is Eagle control.

'Vector 2-1-0 for the bogey. Bogeys going slow.

'Your signal is Buster. I say again, your signal is Buster.

'Roger, Eagle control. Alert-2 now completing refuelling. Vectoring 2-1-0. Out.'

That's the Arizona, Tennessee, West Virginia.

You're saying that these are both photographs of Pearl Harbor

on December the 6th, 1941, hm?

Yes, sir.

Our reconnaissance plane has just taken pictures

of something that hasn't existed... for over 40 years.

Sir, we've got ID on the bogeys.

-Captain's on the bridge.

-What button?

-11, sir.

Alert-1, this is Eagle-1. What have you got?

-'Two Japanese Zeros, sir.

-Two what?!

'Two trophy-class, Mitsubishi A6Ms in original condition,

'complete with all markings. They look brand new, sir.'

-Have you been spotted?

-'Negative. We're on their six-o'clock high.'

-Stay in visual contact. Take no action without clearance.

-'Willco, Eagle-1. Out.'

-Jack Benny and Rochester.

-And newscasts from World War II.

Somebody, for some reason,

wants us to believe that we're back in 1941. Now, who wants it?

-The Russians.

-Oh, Dan.

-Maybe.

Excuse me, Captain, but we also have to consider

-one alternative possibility.

-What's that?

The possibility that what's happening is real.

-That's ridiculous.

-Maybe, but we have some pretty strong evidence, sir.

Let's not write off an explanation for it because we don't like it.

Now, how would that be possible, Mr Lasky? Could you explain that to me?

No, sir. I can't, but we know that movement through time

-is possible. Einstein proved it.

-In theory.

-In theory.

All we have to do is go through a storm at sea and bingo!

We're cleverer than Einstein?

What sort of storm was that? Nothing like I've ever seen.

Nothing like ANY of us have ever seen.

There are forces in the universe that we're only now beginning to understand.

Understand through science, not superstition.

There are black holes, antimatter, curved space.

Things that are as strange to us as electricity

would've been to people in the Middle Ages, or this ship in World War II.

Crew's anxious for an explanation too.

We've gotta get a clearer picture of all this.

Let's go to CIC.

-Hey.

-What is it?

-Listen.

-What is it?

ENGINES HUM

-It's those planes again.

-No, no, no.

Different noise entirely.

There they are.

-They're not ours, are they?

-No. Certainly not.

They have Japanese markings.

They're coming in again.

Laurel, ask the captain to radio Hawaii.

Find out about Japanese fighter planes in the area.

Yes, Senator.

-Oh, God! They're shooting!

-Argh!

-DOG BARKS

-Oh, God!

Oh, my God!

-Oh, no!

-The captain send the message?

We've gotta get off this boat.

Come on, Laurel.

'Eagle control, this is Alert-1.

-'They just strafed the hell out of that yacht!'

-Why attack a yacht?

Their job's to destroy anything with a radio that can warn Pearl Harbor.

Providing you and Mr Einstein are correct.

Dick, where would the Japanese fleet be at this time

on December the 6th, 1941?

Well, they'd be off the scope, but a guess would be around about here.

-Excuse me.

-They'd be here, in the north-west sector.

Let's get this settled. Have the E-2 check it out.

-I want to see if the Japanese task force is out there.

-Yes, sir.

'Eagle control, Alert-1. They're making another run.

'They'll shoot that yacht to pieces!

-'Request permission to arm and fire.'

-For God's sake...

-Negative.

DOG BARKS

-Charlie!

-No, Laurel, not now! Come on!

Those planes are coming in. Come on.

Let's go! Come on, Harvey!

'Eagle control, they blew it to bits. They hit the fuel tank!'

-Any survivors?

-'Stand by.

'Affirmative. One, two, three Mae Wests.

'They're gonna hit them in the water! Request permission to fire!'

This is Eagle-1. You are clear to arm, but do not fire.

'Throw them off, play with them, but don't fire.

'Affirmative.'

-Sam!

-All right!

-Sam!

-It's all right. I'm all right.

-Look out!

-Oh, no! They're coming again!

Harvey, get that lifejacket off and dive!

-I can't swim!

-Here they come!

Harvey!

Harvey!

-Harvey!

-He's dead.

-DOG WHINES

-It's OK. Easy, boy.

Up you go.

'That woke 'em up.'

'I think we should give them another shot.'

'Why the hell are we playing with these guys?'

-Radar shows enemy planes heading on course 2-2-0.

-2-20.

Skipper, they're heading straight for us

and we've got an armed strike force just sitting on the deck.

Alert-1, this is Eagle-1.

You're clear to fire. Splash the Zeros.

-I say again, splash the Zeros.

-"Yes, sir."

This has got to be a dream.

"Eagle control, Alert-1."

"Splash two."

"Repeat, splash two."

"Possibly one survivor in the water."

Captain, the E-2 is coming up on Charlie.

"Eagle control, we have multiple radar contacts

picking up on 4-5-6 heavy."

"Possible carriers and twenty-four escort ships."

"South-Easterly heading."

"Negative radio or radar emissions."

"Over."

-That is the Japanese attack force.

-Yeah.

I guess now we know.

Look, Dick, take personal charge of a rescue team.

Keep the survivors isolated.

-Crazy situation. Look, you know what I want.

-I understand.

-Keep the fighters airborne to cover the rescue.

-Aye, sir.

Track and report all movements of the Japanese task force.

-Aye, sir.

-Still think it's a dream?

-It's a nightmare.

-Let go!

-Forget the damn dog!

-Boss, 3-6.

-"Go ahead, 3-6."

Two survivors. We're waiting to pick up CAG.

-"CAG?! What the hell is he doing in the water?"

-Dammed if I know.

Charlie!

You all right, ma'am?

-How are you feeling, sir?

-What the hell kinda machine is this thing?

-What's your ship?

-It's an aircraft carrier. AW Commander Richard Owens.

-Sam Chapman.

-Senator Samuel Chapman?

That's right. Sure am glad you were out here.

Yes, sir.

"On the flight deck. Clear the flight deck."

"7-3-6 inbound."

OK, Senator. Watch yourself. Watch your head.

Hang on to me, sir.

-It's all right, ma'am.

-I'll take the dog for you, sir.

TANNOY CONTINUES

Little bastard.

Mind the store. I'm going forward.

Holy cow!

It's the whole Japanese fleet.

Have these things returned to the Japanese pilot. Get this translated.

Aye, sir.

Captain's on the bridge.

Mr Lasky. Gentlemen.

Captain's off the bridge.

We can't ignore it any longer. Every man on this ship

knows that we have visual contact with the Japanese fleet

approaching Pearl Harbor on December the 6th, 1941.

-What do we do about it?

-What we do is blow them out of the water.

The USS Nimitz declares war on the Japanese empire?

That's what we'd be doing, but they haven't attacked Pearl Harbor yet.

They only evidence we have that they intend to is in the history books.

It opens up some amazing possibilities.

Think of the firepower of the USS Nimitz back in 1941.

What kind of possibilities, Mr Lasky?

Possibilities for the future, Mr Owens.

Think of the history of the next 40 years.

I have a suspicion history will be more difficult to beat than you imagine.

I'm talking about the classic paradox of time.

Imagine I go back and meet my grandfather before he got married and had children.

We have an argument and I kill him. If that happens,

how am I ever gonna be born?

And if I can never be born, how can I go back and meet my grandfather?

I'm not half the theorist you are, Mr Lasky,

but I have a gut instinct that things only happen once, and if they have happened,

then there's nothing we can do to change them, nor should we try.

How are you gonna avoid it? It's happening, we're involved!

For Christ's sake, what is this?! Some Princeton debating society?!

We are in a war situation!

This is a United States warship, or at least it used to be!

Or will be, or what-the-hell ever!

Oh, goddamit! You can drive yourself crazy thinking about this stuff!

-Jesus, I must be dreaming!

-Now, hold it, hold it.

All right. Let's all calm down.

Let's take it one step at a time and by the book.

If the United States of America falls under attack,

our job is to defend her,

in the past, present or future.

-And after that?

-After that, we take our orders

from the Commander-In-Chief of the United States Armed Forces.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt?

MAN SPEAKS JAPANESE >

MAN RESPONDS IN JAPANESE >

-Everything all right?

-You in command?

I'm a doctor. Ship's commander is Captain Yelland.

-I'm sure he'll be down to see you soon.

-I hope so.

-You both seem none the worse for your little mishap.

-Mishap?

-You call getting a boat shot from under you and three people dead a mishap?

-Are we at war?

-KNOCK AT DOOR

-I'm not in a position to tell you. ..Yes?

Charlie! Charlie!

Oh, Charlie, am I glad to see you.

-DOG BARKS

-Doctor,

please inform the captain that Senator Samuel Chapman, co-chairman

-of the defense committee, would like to see him now.

-Of course, Senator.

Doctor, I believe I said now!

First, a vitamin shot. Now, if you'll both roll up your sleeves.

-Senator?

-You can take your needles, Doctor,

and whatever's in them and get the hell out of here!

Corporal.

What the hell are we? Prisoners?!

Holy shit!

PA: HIGH-PITCHED WHISTLING

"Smoking light is lit in all authorised spaces."

HE SIGHS

Son of a...!

So, history may be tougher to beat than I imagined.

You're a real pain in the ass.

-You take a lot of risks for someone who's intelligent.

-Do I?

"The attack on Pearl Harbor was far from a surprise for many people,

"among them, Senator Samuel Chapman,

"who had argued for an increase in our strength in the Pacific."

"The senator disappeared following the attack

"he had foreseen so clearly. Had he lived, it's very possible

"Chapman could have been Roosevelt's running mate in the 1944 election

"and, upon his death, the next president of the United States."

If that's not trying to beat history, I don't know what is.

-I knew who we had the moment I heard his name.

-Why keep it to yourself?

I haven't your appetite for playing God! Should I have thrown him back?!

That would've preserved history... as you wrote it.

-Go to hell, Lasky.

-Go to hell yourself. I wanna meet Chapman.

Goddammit!

If this wasn't happening to me, I wouldn't believe it.

-Who the hell are these people?!

-The navy.

The navy, yeah. But what part of it?

I've never seen machines like they've got on board this thing

and where have they been developing aircraft like that?

The navy would have to appear before my committee

and I've never even heard a whisper about...

rocket planes and that thing the pulled us out of the sea with.

And naming this ship after Chester Nimitz, an active-duty admiral!

What the hell's going on here?!

Roosevelt. He owns the military.

That's it. FDR has wanted the United States in this war since it started.

But he knows it won't happen except in response to an attack!

-You said the Japanese would attack.

-That's right and who's sitting here

with no press while the White House takes credit for raising the alarm

-and being ready to hit back?

-Obviously, we are.

Goddammit!

-Anything?

-He's either too scared or too well briefed to talk about it.

Excuse me.

-All right, Corporal.

-Commander, I demand to know why...

-DOG BARKS

-Charlie!

-Whoa, whoa. I got him.

Jesus Christ!

-No, don't!

-DOG BARKS

Oh, my God!

-He shot maybe one or two of your men.

-Move it.

Captain, prisoner grabbed a weapon.

He shot one of my men, maybe two.

We're in position and the area is sealed off.

Stand by. Get Lt Kajima up here on the double.

HE SPEAKS JAPANESE

Can we get a translator down here, for God's sakes?

How the hell do we know what he's saying if we can't understand him?

We need a translator to tell him we need a translator.

HE SHOUTS IN JAPANESE

Maybe that's just what he's trying to tell us.

HE CONTINUES IN JAPANESE

HE CONTINUES IN JAPANESE

HE CONTINUES IN JAPANESE

All right, Dick, Lt Kajima's here.

Put it on the box.

Ask him what he wants. HE SPEAKS JAPANESE

HE SPEAKS JAPANESE

He wants access to a radio, sir.

-Does he say why?

-Because he wants to warn his commander...

..about us.

HE SHOUTS IN JAPANESE

He repeats the demand.

-Or else?

-He will kill again.

Do you think they might believe him?

Well, there's no chance if things remain the way they are.

Tell him we agree.

HE SPEAKS JAPANESE

HE SPEAKS JAPANESE

HE SHOUTS IN JAPANESE

HE SHOUTS IN JAPANESE

-You son of a bitch!

-No! Don't shoot!

-SHE SCREAMS

-Don't shoot. Back off. Back off!

'What the hell's going on down there?'

HE SPEAKS JAPANESE

He says one more attempt to trick him and the girl is dead.

There will be no tricks. He can use the radio room if he frees the girl.

HE SPEAKS JAPANESE

HE SPEAKS JAPANESE

'He says he doesn't believe you.'

Why don't you tell him what's going on here, Commander?

You're an expert on what's gonna happen. Why don't you tell him?

-Go on! Tell him! We got nothing to lose!

-Dick.

-'Yes, sir.'

-Go ahead.

'Tell him.'

26th November, six carriers left the Kuriles, North of Japan.

HE SPEAKS JAPANESE

The carriers were the Akagi, Kaga, Shokaku,

Zuikaku, Hiryu, Soryu.

Tomorrow at dawn, these carriers will send 353 planes

to attack Pearl Harbor.

How in the hell do you know all that?

HE SPEAKS JAPANESE

Your code is...

Climb Mount Niitaka.

< HE SPEAKS JAPANESE

Argh!

What's going on?!

Please, Miss Scott, don't ask me any questions.

There isn't anything I can tell you at this time.

Are you all right?

Where's Charlie?

Where's my dog?

We'll find him, Miss Scott.

He can't get off the ship.

'Casualties coming through.'

'Down to secondary triage.'

I wanna get out of this bathrobe and into some clothes!

-Will somebody please get me some clothes, for God's sake!

-Chief,

-get the senator some clothes.

-Yes, sir.

Senator, Matt Yelland, commanding officer.

Where and how did you get all this information I've been hearing?

-And is it true?

-Yes, sir.

Did you inform Pearl Harbor command?

-No, Senator.

-Why the hell not?

The reasons are a little complicated, but believe me, Senator,

this carrier's capable of handling any attack should it occur.

One carrier against a whole fleet?

-What kind of an idiot do you take me for?

-Calm down.

-To hell with you.

-Tell Pearl Harbor what's happening here or I'll tell them.

-Very well.

Dan, set up the communications in my in-port cabin.

Wouldn't you like to talk to them with some clothes on?

-Thank you, Captain.

-Follow me, sir.

-Are you all right?

-Yes, sir. I'm fine.

-Can you do that, Captain?

-Hm?

Contact Pearl Harbor... back in 1941?

I think so.

Then what do you do?

-One step at a time.

-Yeah.

Like a minefield.

This is Senator Samuel S Chapman of the United States Senate

on board the aircraft carrier Nimitz

-and Captain Yelland is here with me.

-'You're on what?!'

I repeat, I am Senator Samuel S Chapman

on board the USS Nimitz.

'Oh, right. Whoever the hell you are, use of military frequencies

'by unauthorised personal is a felony.'

-Now, just a minute here, sir.

-'As we have no aircraft carrier Nimitz and no Captain Yelland,

'I suggest, asshole, that you stop impersonating some other asshole

'and get off the air. You're wasting our time!'

How dare you talk to me that way?! Captain, tell him who you are! Speak to them.

You. What are you doing here? You're a civilian.

I'm with the Department of De... I mean, the navy department, sir.

-That's more like it. What's going on?

-I'm just an observer here, sir.

I can't tell you anything more than you know.

What's happening here?

Who are you people?

The captain requests that you and Miss Scott

-join him in his in-port cabin.

-Thank you.

-I'll wait outside while you change.

-Please,

I really don't wanna be left alone right now.

I'll just be a minute.

Just exactly what is it you do for the senator, Miss Scott?

I work for him, Commander.

I'd like to think I'm more than just a secretary.

I write most of his speeches. In general, I'm his assistant.

That's quite an accomplishment for a woman in your... This day and age.

Let me tell you something, I'm ambitious and very capable.

That's a combination that's not much appreciated.

It's a man's world, I'm sure you'll agree.

-It certainly is, Miss Scott.

-I spend a lot of time hiding the way I look,

-hoping to be recognised for my ability.

-How's it going so far?

Let me put it this way, if the way I look gets me in the door, God help them when I get through it.

You're a remarkable woman, Miss Scott.

Shall we?

Yeah.

"Area clear. Bearing 0-4-2 degrees."

Captain, they bear 0-4-2 degrees.

Range 1-8-2 miles. Course 1-8-0. Speed 12.

'Very well. Keep me advised.'

Laurel, are you all right?

-I'm Matt Yelland, skipper of this ship...

-Thank you for the hospitality

but I insist that you fly Miss Scott and myself to Pearl immediately.

-Very well. Lieutenant.

-Yes, sir.

Follow this officer, he'll see that you're fully equipped

-and then escort you to the hangar deck.

-Thank you, Captain. Laurel.

-Charlie?

-Forget about the dog. He'll be all right.

Wait a minute, Captain. I think you're making a big mistake here.

That man mysteriously disappeared on December the 7th, 1941.

That's today. Now, at the present time, he is the front runner

for the vice-presidential spot on the Democratic ticket in 1944

and if he survives, he's certain

to become president when Roosevelt dies in April, 1945.

Don't you think he'd be safer to stay on this ship with us, for the time being?

My job is to make decisions here, now,

not worry about what politician may be in the White House in four years,

-or 40 years ago!

-But, sir...

-And I don't like having two civilians on my ship when I'm about to do battle!

-You've got three civilians.

-You're free to go with them if you like.

Dick...

Just got enough time to drop them off on a deserted spot on this island.

-Not Pearl, sir?

-Hell, no! It'd be a whole lot safer there.

We'll equip them to look after themselves till it's over.

I'll feel a lot easier with them off my hands.

Yes, sir.

Dick, be sure you're back by 0700.

I want my best man commanding that strike force.

Yes, sir.

WHISTLING ON INTERCOM

'Now hear this. Now hear this.

'All hands stand by for a special announcement from the captain

'in 15 minutes.'

What are you doing here, Mr Lasky?

I wanna go to Pearl Harbor with you.

Wait a minute. You're not going to Pearl, are you?

Do they know?

No.

ALARM WAILS

ANNOUNCEMENT ON TANNOY

Captain, enemy fleet 170 miles North, North-West Pearl.

'The Japanese fleet now bears 0-5-5 degrees, 162 miles.'

-Look at all those Hornets.

-Yeah. It's gotta be the real thing.

'One-four. One-four.'

This is the captain. I'm speaking to every man aboard this ship.

'In the past few hours, many things have happened,

'but rumours of nuclear attacks

'and a third world war are totally untrue.

'We have no reason to believe that any aggression has been taken

'against our homes and families.

'I believe that what we have stumbled across is not man-made,

'but a phenomenon of nature.

'One that can't be explained.

'This phenomenon is a storm which the Nimitz went through

'less than 18 hours ago.

'The storm has had some effect on time as we know it.

'It... It created a portal,

'a door into another era.

'Today is December the 7th, 1941.

'I'm sure we're all aware of the significance

'of this date, at this place in history.

'We're about to fight a battle that was lost

'before more of you were born. This time,

with God's help, it's going to be different.

Good luck.

-DOG WHINES

-Hey, Charlie.

Good boy. Where you been hiding?

You wanna come with me? Come on, boy.

'Eagle control, this is 7-3-6. Destination three minutes, over.'

'Roger, 7-3-6.'

All right, let's move it!

This isn't Pearl Harbor!

Following orders, Commander?

That's right, Senator!

-Is Commander Owens in the air yet?

-'No, sir.'

-Let me know the moment he's airborne.

-'Yes, sir.'

-Why didn't you go with them?

-I wasn't invited.

-Skipper, time to go.

-Then, let's go.

-To Pearl Harbor.

-You shoot that in here and we're all going up.

Then, you better do what I say. Take off. Now!

HE GRUNTS

I lost it! I lost the helo!

-What?

-I tell you, I lost it. It just disappeared from the scope.

-What do you mean it disappeared?!

-'That's it.

-'One second it was on the scope, the next it was gone.'

-Search party?

-It's too late. Turn the Nimitz into the wind.

-Aye aye, Captain.

Launch aircraft.

Yes, sir, Captain. Let's go.

You've got green lights. Get 'em in the air.

ENGINES ROAR IN THE DISTANCE

'Victory 2-1-0, Zulu 5-Bravo.

'Vector 1-2-0. Estimated time to intercept 0740, over.'

'Zulu 5-Bravo, this is Victory 2-1-0.

'Nine minutes to intercept.'

Sir, I think you ought to see this.

Suddenly appeared behind us.

I don't believe this. It's starting again!

Do you think we can outrun it?

Should we even be trying to outrun it?

'Six minutes to intercept.'

-Change course to 1-8-0.

-Aye aye, sir.

-All ahead flank speed.

-Steady course 1-8-0.

-Come to course 1-8-0, aye, sir.

-All ahead flank indicate 1-2-5 rpm.

All ahead flank indicate 1-2-5 rpm.

THUNDER RUMBLES

'Zulu 5-Bravo, this is Victory 2-1-0. I have enemy bandits

'on radar approximately four minutes to intercept.'

2-1-0, this is Zulu 5-Bravo. You're cleared to arm.

When we changed course, the storm changed course! It's following us and growing at the same time!

-I'm recalling those planes.

-Wait a minute, sir. You can't do that.

-What?

-You've got an incredible opportunity here.

We know where all the mistakes are gonna be made.

-You've got the power to correct them.

-You stay outta this.

Scrap the mission.

Get those planes back.

Your signal is Buster. Your signal is Buster.

'Read you loud and clear.'

'Strike force, this is strike leader.

'Return to base. Mission aborted.'

'Mission aborted? But we can see 'em!

'Shoot! They're gonna let the Japs do it again.'

'This is the captain. Now, hear this men.

'We've been through it once, now we're going again.

'Prepare for approaching storm.'

HIGH-PITCHED SHRIEKING

-RADIO:

-'We interrupt this programme

'to bring you a special news bulletin.

'The enemy fighters appeared over

'Pearl Harbor at about 7:55am.

'December 7th, 1941.

'A date which will live in infamy.'

Any contact with our planes?

-'No, sir.'

-Keep trying.

-Dan, get me a damage report.

-Right, Skipper.

-Get a phone check with all stations. Do you still have rudder control?

-Bridge has.

-Very well.

All stations, bridge, contact.

-There they are!

-Where?!

-Low. On the horizon!

WHISTLING ON INTERCOM

Stand by to render honours to port. USS Arizona.

-WHISTLING

-'Attention to port.

-'And salute'

-WHISTLING

'Two. Carry on.'

'Pacific fleet arriving.'

BELL RINGS

'First fleet arriving.'

'Carrier Group 8 arriving.'

WHISTLING

-What the hell's going on here?

-I don't know where to begin.

Ships getting lost in the middle of the Pacific. What kinda Navy is this?

He'll never believe it.

DOG WHINES

-Captain, the admirals have departed.

-Thank you.

You seem to have a 40-year-old dog on your hands.

-Yeah, you could say that.

-HE LAUGHS

-Good luck, Mr Lasky.

-Thank you, Mr Thurman.

-You know, in a way, Captain, I think we're lucky.

-How's that?

At least we came back to the same world we left.

Most of us have.

Did Commander Owens have any family?

No-one.

Lasky, you've been a pain in the ass.

HE LAUGHS But I'm glad to have known you.

-Thank you. I appreciate that.

-Good luck to you.

DOG BARKS And you, too.

DOG WHINES

-Wait a minute, boy. Here. Charlie! Charlie, come back here!

-Charlie!

Mr Lasky, Mr and Mrs Tideman would like you to join them.

Mr Tideman.

Welcome back, Mr Lasky.

Laurel. Commander Owens.

Please, join us.

We have a lot to talk about.