Engage the 21st Heavy Tank Corps.
[ soldiers shouting ]
Brilliant!
Then you don't share my concern that there has been
an extremely high proportion of live ammunition issued?
Enough for a full-scale invasion?
I don't believe in questioning such matters.
Perhaps you should.
These are supposed to be war games, Colonel.
Not a war.
And I'm going to demand some answers.
Colonel Garva, sir.
What is it, Colonel?
Captain Souchek, sir.
He's asking some awkward questions.
What sort of questions?
Difficult questions, sir.
Concerning army ordnance figures,
shells and rockets expended,
stocks kept in magazines.
He is on his way to you, sir.
I see him, Garva. Thank you.
One last target, Lieutenant Udo.
Let us imagine a spy, an enemy intelligence officer,
is about to make a damaging report.
A helicopter strike, sir.
They'll take him out in seconds.
A hammer... to kill a gnat, Udo?
- [ snaps fingers ] - Prepare rockets.
OFFICER: Prepare rockets!
OFFICER: Two degrees west, two degrees north.
SOLDIER: Yes, sir!
Locking in.
- Fire. - OFFICER: Fire!
Aah!
Captain Souchek was a Gemini, I believe.
The auspices are not good for Geminis
when Mars is in the ascendant.
It's a time to take great caution.
[ theme music playing ]
A 1938 Phantom III.
V-12 engine,
coachwork by Hooper & Company.
Handcrafted luxury like this is hard to find these days.
The body was taken down to bare metal
and restored about five years ago.
But the interior's all original.
Have a look at the built-in jump seats.
[ beeping ]
MALE VOICE: Good morning, Jim.
The middle-European country of Sardavia has,
over the last few years, increased the size
of its armed forces out of all proportion to its economic
or strategic necessities.
Since this man, General Eli Szabos,
gained control of the military, he has constantly clashed
with the ruling Politburo,
and we believe he is planning an invasion
of the neighboring country Bucaraine,
which is rich in oil reserves.
This attack would be carried out under the cover
of the war games that Sardavia is holding
close to the Bucarainian border.
We also believe Szabos has long-range missiles
hidden on this base for a first strike capacity.
Your mission, Jim, should you decide to accept it,
is to prevent the invasion of Bucaraine,
and the domino effect it would have on world peace,
by exposing General Szabos' plans and frustrating
his evil ambitions forever.
As always, if you or any of your IM Force
should be caught or killed,
the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions.
This disc will self-destruct in five seconds.
Good luck, Jim.
[ rapid beeping ]
[ hissing ]
Because of the strategic importance
of the Bucarainian oil fields, this man,
an American agent, has been keeping our State Department
informed of developments.
He's been working undercover as Captain Eric Souchek
of Sardavian Intelligence.
But he failed to file his last scheduled report.
And now Souchek has disappeared.
Which could indicate he's found the location of these missiles.
Well, that's going to be your job, Max.
You'll have to infiltrate Szabos' base and find them.
Now, here's something else.
Like his greatest war hero, Adolph Hitler,
General Szabos is a true believer in astrology.
The stars control his every decision.
Every move is influenced by the advice given him
by his astrological consultant.
Could we get to these consultants, and influence him?
We can do better than that.
We'll bring in our own expert.
I've been studying astrology,
and I think that the Countess has a surprise or two
for the General.
Gentlemen, Countess Elena Treyvi.
The Treyvis were related to the crowned heads of Sardavia,
before the revolution.
We have little love for jumped-up peasants
like the General.
Well, neither have the Politburo.
Now, our forged request for observer status
as U.N. Representatives has been granted.
Good.
We don't have much time.
The war games have begun,
the Sardavian army is only a day's journey
from the border.
One day from the invasion of Bucaraine.
I hope you appreciate, gentlemen.
It was no easy task in obtaining observer status
for you at the war games.
We were sent by the United Nations.
United Nations has no authority in Sardavia.
Well, it seems that the only one
with authority in Sardavia is General Szabos.
Despite his ambitions, General Szabos
is a servant of the State and the Party,
like we all are.
Well, we are only here to observe, Commissar.
Whatever we see, rest assured,
you'll have a full and detailed copy of our report.
Thank you.
PHELPS [ distantly ]: Well, it looks like
the state of the country is good, Commissar.
Is this how a member
of the Royal Sardavian Family is treated?
Where is the manager of this wretched establishment?
May I help you, madam?
Do not "madam" me.
My title is Countess, and you will use it.
Sardavia is socialist republic, madam.
More's the pity.
This building was once the winter palace
of the Treyvi family.
My great-uncle would turn in his grave.
We have applied to the Politburo for renovations, madam.
You can begin renovations by straightening your tie.
An Aquarian, obviously.
My apologies, Countess.
The General will be totally involved
with urgent matters of command for the next few days.
You will inform General Szabos
of my close relationship
with Captain Eric Souchek of the Intelligence Service.
He shared with me certain information
that I'm sure the General would find most interesting.
If he's not interested, I'm sure the press will be.
MAN 1: No, I don't think so, 95...
MAN 2: Nine-two-two...
MAN 1: Testing...
[ indistinct conversations nearby ]
[ knocks ]
SZABOS: Come in.
Look, look, Colonel.
There isn't a single unfavorable sign in my entire horoscope.
Yes, sir.
Remarkable.
Sir, the Countess Elena Treyvi.
Who? What are you talking about, Garva?
I know no countesses.
Apparently, Captain Souchek did.
What are you trying to say?
This woman telephoned.
She claims to have talked to Souchek about...
your plans.
She is threatening to go to the press.
Threatening?
Let her threaten; the stars protect me.
She must know something, sir.
First the press,
then the Politburo.
You will, of course, ensure that no such thing happens.
[ indistinct conversations ]
Any way you have to, Colonel.
GUARD: May I help you?
U.N. Observers of the war games.
You may go through.
[ ♪ ]
[ soldier grunts ]
[ ♪ ]
Whether the United Nations approve or disapprove
of what we're doing here is of no importance.
What is important is the security of my country.
The war games are designed to ensure
that we are prepared and ready to defend ourselves.
Of course, General, the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.
Our information leads us to believe
that your armament is more offensive than defensive.
Ballistic missiles, for example.
A weapon is a weapon, and the best method of defense...
Is attack. Yes.
- So, who do you plan to attack, General? - [ clears throat ]
PHELPS: I beg your pardon, General, uh...
I'm afraid my associate is overstepping
the bounds of diplomacy.
Let him think what he likes.
You'll find no ballistic missiles on my base.
Stop that man!
- Stop him! - [ dogs barking ]
Stop him!
[ barking continues ]
[ soldiers shouting ]
[ groans ]
UDO: Who are you?
Stefan Lettner.
21st Light Infantry.
[ groans ]
You are a liar and a spy.
Handcuff him!
Colonel Garva will want to question him.
SOLDIER: Let's go!
Come on!
[ barking continues ]
Well, I have to say, General,
I've seen many military installations
and some in countries far larger and wealthier than Sardavia.
But never any more efficient or well planned than this.
A small country need not be weak.
And strategic planning makes up
for what is lacking in firepower.
Each soldier's icon represents
a full battalion of men.
Each bomber... a full wing.
With this map, I can control
the dispersal of troops, aircraft,
tanks, heavy weapons,
anywhere in Sardavia.
From border to border.
And beyond?
If necessary; one doesn't wish to meet an aggressor
on one's own soil.
Well, of course.
Then you do have the natural protective barrier
of the River Flumena.
Of course.
Here is Sardavia.
And here the inland sea,
protecting us from the northwest to the south.
And here, the Flumena,
separating us from Bucaraine.
These installations I'm seeing, uh... inside Bucaraine...
there are six of them.
What are they?
Strategic areas.
Railways, airfields, military bases, government buildings.
It's good to know your neighbor's strengths
and weaknesses.
And even though you've been allies for nearly 100 years.
You are a careful man, General.
Six first-strike targets.
You take those out, and your military could move
into Bucaraine virtually unopposed.
You seem to be inferring something.
I would suggest you remind yourself you're
a long way from home.
And a long way from the United Nations.
And, as you're obviously aware, such a first strike
would require missiles.
We have none!
OFFICER: Get moving!
Open up!
Inside!
SHANNON: I was only a child.
A baby when my family was forced to flee the country.
But Sardavia is my home.
It will always be my home.
In spite of General Szabos and the Politburo.
They will not be here forever.
JOURNALIST: Aren't you worried, Countess,
that General Szabos might see your words as treason?
I am not concerned with General Szabos.
He is a tyrant and a bully.
And I have information...
I have information
that will bring your high and mighty General to his knees.
GARVA: Stop! Stop this!
You are under arrest!
If anyone is caught reporting one word
of this reactionary madwoman's ridiculous accusations,
you will be arrested and jailed for treason against the state.
Now, we will see if your aristocratic airs and graces
stand up to a few years in a political prison.
JOURNALIST: Whose orders are these?
[ panting ]
You have stood up to interrogation very well.
Which leads me to believe that you have been trained
for just such a situation.
[ laughs ]
[ groans ]
Correct?!
I told you...
You were saying?
Now we will get the truth.
There is no Stefan Lettner in our army list.
No. [ chuckles ]
Your papers are forged.
You are a spy.
And for whom?!
Who sent you here?! And why?!
My name is Lettner.
Private Stefan Lettner,
21st Sardavian Light Infantry.
[ groans ]
I got confused
during the maneuvers; I could not get back to my unit.
What were you trying to find here...
in our base?!
Nothing, nothing!
[ chuckles ]
One hour.
One hour for you to think.
Make up a new lie,
and your life will be finished in just 60 minutes.
Tell us the truth,
and we'll see.
[ door closes ]
[ beeping ]
[ jet engine whooshing overhead ]
[ slow beeping ]
[ steady beeping ]
[ rapid beeping ]
[ beeping faster ]
I am the brain.
I am the nerve center.
I am the heart and soul of tomorrow's operation.
Well, we should all be grateful that tomorrow's activities
are really only war games
and not the real thing.
War is an art, gentlemen.
An art that distinguishes man from the animals.
Well, then I hope the games you're playing
bring you everything you deserve.
Pardon me, General...
but the package you asked me to collect...
it's here.
Oh, yes.
You'll excuse me, gentlemen?
The package, of course, must be Shannon.
Yeah.
Grant?
Bad news, Jim.
Max must have been picked up.
What?
You know where he is?
I'm tracking Max now, Jim.
Good, good.
We have to find out if Szabos has the missiles.
Is Shannon in?
Yes, Shannon's inside.
She's about to give General Szabos a lesson in astrology.
General Szabos,
Madam Elena Treyvi.
Countess Elena Treyvi.
Is it a custom among the decadent aristocracy
to read private and personal correspondence, madam?
One of the few joys left to us
by you and your socialist bully boys.
A very boring horoscope, I might add.
And extremely inaccurate.
I obtain my readings from the very best man in the country.
Well, then, perhaps you should ask him
why he has placed the confluence of Sagittarius
within the reign of Jupiter,
and today's date is,
if I'm not mistaken, the, uh, 16th?
You are not here to give lectures on astrology.
No, I'm not.
I'm here to discuss the matter of Captain Souchek,
and the information that he entrusted to me.
Information concerning your real plans for these so-called
"war games."
Did your stars predict this, General?
[ beeping ]
[ alarm blaring ]
[ soldiers clamoring ]
GUARD: Quickly!
Let's get the hell out of here!
Hey, man! This guy almost killed me!
He had a-a gun, and-and a grenade, and...
He went that way!
He scared the hell out of me, man!
Get him!
Do I scare the hell out of you?
What do you want? I'm naturally nervous.
Halt!
[ alarm continues blaring ]
Follow me!
Open the trunk.
Hold it, buddy, this is United Nations property here.
This base is Sardavian territory.
Open it now.
The keys to the trunk.
No, no way.
- This has gone far enough. - Get the keys!
- PHELPS: What's going on here? - Sir!
We were trying to locate that escaped spy.
In the trunk of my automobile?
General, is he suggesting the United Nations is somehow
conspiring against you in your sovereign territory?
Of course not.
Open the trunk.
This is an absolute insult to our organization.
Move!
OFFICER: Come with me.
My apologies, gentlemen.
No apologies necessary, General.
Thank you for your hospitality.
We'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow at the war games.
I'm sure we'll show you something very memorable.
[ sighs ]: Ah.
[ exhales ] You missed a couple of bumps back there.
Complaints, complaints.
This farmhouse has been evacuated
for the duration of the war games.
We've got a lot to do before dark.
Then let's get at it.
Nicholas? Photos.
Ah, yes.
This pen... is mightier than the sword.
[ beeping ]
That's all the circuitry you could ask for.
And then some.
Great work, Nicholas.
Thanks, Grant.
None of this should be happening!
As you can see, my horoscope is totally favorable.
The next few days are set to be
the most advantageous of my life!
I don't believe this.
You arrest me.
You put me in prison without a trial.
Then you wake me up in the middle of the night
and expect me to happily give you astrological advice.
All right.
I'll give you advice.
Change your astrologer.
He's obviously a fool.
He hasn't even considered your third house.
My third house?
Well, Scorpio is dominant.
And how can my third house be affected?
How can there be any other interpretation?
[ sighs ]: Look, I just want to sleep.
Give me your latest chart.
[ laughing ]: Oh! I don't... oh...
Why are you laughing?
You're using the Chaldean system.
What do you mean?
General, the Chaldean system's used in every woman's magazine
and television guide
to offer silly advice to even sillier women.
Tell me, General,
are you going to take a long sea voyage?
Are you going to meet a tall, dark stranger?
Don't you dare laugh at me!
The Chaldean system has been
discredited for the past 600 years.
General, you have some very unpleasant surprises
in store for you.
Judging from the location of the tank battalions
and the armored personnel carriers, I'd say he's
set to run straight down this road
with the main assault force,
under cover of the war games, of course.
And the Flumena River, he's still got to cross that.
Well, if Szabos has got missiles,
he's gonna take out those six major targets.
There'll be no opposition.
Bucaraine will be overrun,
and the oil fields will fall to Sardavia.
Yeah, thousands of people die in the process.
Let's make sure that doesn't happen.
Grant, what about the circuitry behind the war games board?
Can you do anything to sabotage it?
Well, I think I can rig the General's map
to show him exactly what he wants to see.
At the same time, change his orders from attack to retreat.
While his army's in chaos, the map will tell the General
that everything's going according to plan.
Countess, your knowledge of astrology is quite impressive.
Perhaps you can use it to save your life.
You want me to tell you your future?
If you do not...
believe me, I can predict yours.
And it will be very short.
You'll dispose of me, as you did with Captain Souchek.
Exactly.
Perhaps you should consider the offer.
Perhaps I should.
[ ♪ ]
How can you know so much about me, about my past?
Where did you get your information?
Every word of it is correct.
General, the stars are never wrong,
only those who interpret them.
Personally, I like to insure myself
against mistakes, as you do.
What do you mean?
Captain Souchek discovered your stock of missiles.
You're lying.
He took precautions, too.
He had them disarmed.
[ whispers ]: There's nothing.
Jim, we've been through everything.
There's not a missile in the whole armory.
They've got to be hidden somewhere.
[ ♪ ]
SZABOS: Garva? Garva?
Garva?!
GARVA: Yes, sir.
SZABOS: The missiles.
That traitor Souchek has disarmed them!
That-that is impossible, sir.
Don't tell me it's impossible!
Check them now!
Sir.
[ beeps ]
Nicholas? Max?
Colonel Garva's on his way to the armory.
Did Szabos buy Shannon's story?
Lock, stock and horoscope, baby.
Then Garva should lead us straight to the missiles.
Let's get out of here.
[ gruff shout ]
[ barking orders ]
Seven, seven...
three, eight, nine...
four, two.
Got it.
- Bingo. - Bingo.
[ beeping ]
Yes?
Shannon's done the trick.
Garva's led us straight to the missiles.
Good. You know what you have to do.
And Nicholas?
I know the mission comes first, but we have
- to get Shannon out of there. - Right.
Go.
SZABOS: Guard?
Take the Countess back to her cell.
We made a deal.
Deals are made to be broken, Countess.
But since you've been good enough to tell me
of Captain Souchek's treachery, I'll reward you.
In honor of your royal heritage...
I've decided that in a few short hours
you will die... heroically, in battle.
Take her away.
Yes, sir.
The missiles have not been touched.
The warheads are still fully armed.
All right, Garva, you know the plan.
At first light, the tanks and the APCs
drive straight for the bridge, under cover of the games.
As soon as they are dispatched, we launch the missiles.
And six strategic targets in Bucaraine will be destroyed.
With the opposition in chaos, the tanks will cross
the Flumena River, driving straight for
the oil fields and the Bucarainian capital.
Everything in their path will be destroyed.
Do you understand? Everything.
Blitzkrieg, Garva, blitzkrieg!
[ mechanical whirring ]
Grant, we're in place.
Nicholas is taking off the inspection panel.
Nicholas, you should see
a series of miniature panels in the lower left-hand aperture.
Circuit boards, right?
That's right.
Now, carefully, very carefully,
- ease the second board out. - Go ahead.
Nick!
Listen, man, you gotta be careful.
You so much as let the circuit boards touch,
you and Max are on the longest trip of your entire lives.
All right.
Easy.
[ sighs ]: You've got it.
All right, that was the easy part.
Listen up, because we've got five more of these to do.
Yeah, and only a few hours before dawn.
We got to get out of here.
They'll be coming soon for the missiles.
Yeah, I'm almost there.
Got it.
Now, you better go back to Jim, and I'm gonna rescue Shannon.
- Right. - Let's go.
[ mechanical whirring ]
[ knock at door ]
SZABOS: Come.
Everything is ready, General.
Good.
Then you're about to witness
the trial of the Chaldean system.
Sir?
Don't let it bother you, Garva.
Enough to know your stars have a promotion in store for you.
Thank you, General.
I shall try to earn it.
And the Countess?
Captain Udo is giving her a grandstand view of the battle.
Then we should let the games commence.
[ soldiers speaking indistinctly ]
OFFICER: Engaging troops in sector 14, sir.
[ indistinct conversations ]
11th Armored Corps, move to sector 37.
OFFICER: 11th Armored Corps, move to section 37.
Condition yellow.
- [ alarm blares momentarily ] - OFFICER: Condition yellow.
All commanders stand by for alert...
- OFFICER: Stand by, all comma... - Ten-minute countdown.
Commence!
- [ alarm blares momentarily ] - OFFICER: Countdown commencing.
Ah, gentlemen, just in time.
We're about to commence.
Well, I hope you don't have any accidents today, General.
I see you have the eyes of the world on you.
Accidents?
Warfare is an exact science, like astrology.
Whatever happens here today will not only be planned,
but predestined.
As for the television cameras,
they will be recording history.
Condition Red.
- OFFICER: Condition... Red. - [ siren wails briefly ]
[ ♪ ]
I hope you are not too uncomfortable, Countess.
[ chuckles ]
It will be for a short time only.
You see, you will be the first target.
Quite an honor, hmm?
It's one I could do without.
[ chuckles ]
[ Udo chuckling ]
[ chuckling continues ]
Watch for a red flare.
When you see that, you will have about, uh...
one-tenth of a second before the first rocket hits.
Enjoy...
[ grunts ]
[ ♪ ]
What?
Someone's got to the Countess.
Open fire.
OFFICER: Fire field rockets.
SZABOS: Advance the armored cavalry.
OFFICER: Armored cavalry, advance!
SZABOS: Sector three artillery, engage.
OFFICER: Artillery, engage.
OFFICER: Fire!
[ yelling ]
SZABOS: Flank attack, engage!
OFFICER: Flank attack... engage.
OFFICER: 23 degrees... 57...
Perhaps, gentlemen,
since there's no other way anyone can interfere,
I should inform you of what's happening.
As you can see, my forces are moving forward as planned,
carrying out the war games strategy.
Exactly as you said would occur.
With one minor variation.
[ indistinct voices ]
But, they will, of course, stop at the river.
That is the Bucaraine border.
No, they will not stop.
They will drive straight for the Bucaraine oil fields.
By the end of the day, those oil fields will be in my hands.
But you can't do that.
Bucaraine's not at war with Sardavia.
They will be.
The strategic commands have been fed into the computers.
At a single keystroke,
six missiles will strike at every strategic target
in Bucaraine.
The country will fall without a struggle.
[ ♪ ]
[ indistinct voices ]
You have seen history in the making!
Hitler's invasion of Poland pales into insignificance
besides what you're seeing here today.
And now I suppose you'll share your triumph
with the people of Sardavia, even the people of Bucaraine.
But of course.
I'll be hero of the people.
My place in history is assured.
I'm now ready to broadcast to the people
of Sardavia and Bucaraine.
MAN: Place the camera over here.
SZABOS: To the people of Bucaraine, I say lay down
your arms.
Soon, our conquering forces will be driving
in triumph through the wreckage of your streets.
It is useless to resist.
And my own people, the people of Sardavia...
too long have we suffered from the weak
and vacillating rule of our Commissars...
[ over television ]: These old men of the Politburo
who have refused the call of history,
who have allowed Bucaraine to grow fat and prosperous,
while Sardavia slept in the sun.
Call for a car, Comrade.
And a detachment of elite guards.
I will now confront these old men
of the Politburo with my demands.
God save Sardavia!
An historic day, gentlemen.
Yes, it certainly is.
Perhaps you'd be interested in seeing the actual disposition
of your invasion forces as they are.
Now, I think you'll find that things aren't all they seem.
My airborne troops, they've jumped too soon.
And your tanks seem to be in some disorder.
This can't be.
The map is wrong... My missiles...
The map is malfunctioning.
We've destroyed Bucaraine!
My troops have conquered...
You fools!
Ignore the map!
I've seen history!
It is in my stars!
The map is wrong!
Wrong, wrong!
The map is wrong!
Wrong!
[ guards shouting ]
General Szabos is expecting you, gentlemen.
I don't think the General's gonna need the stars anymore
to predict his future.
[ theme music playing ]