When one man’s insanity threatens the world, can a war room of politicians and generals stop the inevitable?
Watch the original version of Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Prologue:
In the early hours of the morning, General Jack D. Ripper sat in his office, pouring himself a glass of water. He had just received a report that the Soviet Union was polluting America’s “precious bodily fluids,” and he knew that something had to be done to protect the nation. With a look of determination on his face, he picked up the phone and dialed the secretary of defense.
“Hello, this is General Ripper speaking. I need to speak with the secretary of defense immediately.”
The secretary of defense was sleeping at the time, but he was quickly awoken by the urgent tone of Ripper’s voice.
“What is it, General?” he asked, his voice groggy.
“The Soviet Union is polluting our precious bodily fluids,” Ripper replied. “I need your authorization to launch a nuclear strike against them immediately.”
The secretary of defense was taken aback by Ripper’s request. He knew that launching a nuclear strike would be an extreme measure, and he didn’t want to make a hasty decision.
“General, I need you to explain to me why you believe a nuclear strike is necessary,” he said.
Ripper explained his theory about the Soviet Union’s plot to pollute America’s bodily fluids, and the secretary of defense listened in disbelief. He knew that Ripper was a bit eccentric, but he had never heard anything like this before.
“General, I can’t authorize a nuclear strike based on this theory alone,” he said. “We need to investigate this further before we take any action.”
But Ripper was not satisfied with the secretary of defense’s response. He hung up the phone and went into action.
Chapter 1: The Mad General
General Jack D. Ripper was a man on a mission. He had convinced himself that the Soviet Union was out to destroy America, and he was determined to take action before it was too late. As the commander of Burpelson Air Force Base, he had the authority to launch a nuclear strike against the Soviet Union without the President’s approval. And that’s exactly what he planned to do.
Ripper sat in his office, surrounded by maps and charts of the Soviet Union. He had been up all night, obsessively studying the data, trying to find any evidence to support his theory that the Soviet Union was planning an attack. His eyes were bloodshot, and his hands trembled as he poured himself another glass of water.
“General, we’ve received a message from the Pentagon,” a young officer interrupted. “They’re requesting an update on the status of the base.”
“Tell them everything is under control here,” Ripper replied, his voice sharp. “We’re doing everything we can to protect America from the Soviet threat.”
The officer nodded and left the room, and Ripper turned his attention back to the maps. He had already given the order for the bombers to take off, and he knew that there was no turning back now. He was a man possessed, convinced that he was doing the right thing for his country.
As the hours passed, the tension in the base grew. The pilots and crew members knew that they were about to embark on a mission that could mean the end of the world as they knew it. They tried to remain focused, to do their jobs as best they could, but the fear was palpable.
Meanwhile, in Washington, the President was asleep in his bed, unaware of the impending disaster. His advisors were still trying to reach Ripper and get him to stand down, but he was not responding to their calls. They knew that they had to act quickly if they were going to prevent a nuclear war.
As dawn approached, the bombers took off, their engines roaring as they soared into the sky. Ripper watched with a sense of pride and satisfaction, knowing that he had done his duty for his country. But little did he know that his actions would have catastrophic consequences for the world.
Chapter 2: Crisis in the War Room
The President sat at the head of the table, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He had just received word that General Ripper had ordered a nuclear strike on the Soviet Union, and there was no way to recall the bombers carrying the weapons.
Around him, his advisors were frantically trying to figure out a way to stop the attack. They were all shouting at each other, arguing over the best course of action.
“We need to contact Ripper and tell him to call off the attack,” one of the advisors said.
“But how do we do that?” another responded. “We don’t have a direct line to him.”
The phone on the table suddenly rang, causing everyone to jump. The President picked it up hesitantly, not sure what he would hear on the other end.
“Mr. President,” a voice said on the other end of the line. “This is Colonel Bat Guano, from General Ripper’s base. We’ve had a bit of a problem.”
“What kind of problem?” the President asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
“Well, sir, it seems that General Ripper has locked himself in his office and won’t come out. He’s been ranting and raving about the Russians and their plot to destroy our precious bodily fluids. We can’t get him to listen to reason.”
The President thought quickly, trying to come up with a plan. “Can you break into the office?” he asked.
“We’ve tried, sir, but the door is reinforced. We can’t get in.”
The President hung up the phone and turned to his advisors. “We have to come up with a way to get Ripper out of his office,” he said.
“I have an idea,” one of the advisors said. “We can call in a group of Marines to storm the office and take him into custody.”
“But that could be seen as a hostile act,” another advisor said. “We don’t want to escalate the situation any further.”
The Russian diplomat, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, spoke up. “Perhaps I can be of assistance,” he said in his thick accent.
The President looked at him skeptically. “How do you propose to help?” he asked.
“I have a relationship with General Ripper,” the diplomat said. “We met several years ago at a diplomatic conference. Perhaps I can reason with him and get him to stand down.”
The advisors all looked at each other, unsure if this was a good idea. But they didn’t have any other options.
The diplomat was taken to General Ripper’s base, where he was allowed to enter the office. The door was locked behind him, and he was alone with the crazed General.
“General Ripper,” he said calmly. “I understand that you are concerned about the Soviet Union, but this is not the way to handle this situation.”
Ripper glared at him, not saying anything.
“You have to understand that a nuclear strike will only lead to the destruction of both our countries,” the diplomat continued. “We need to find a way to resolve this peacefully.”
Ripper’s expression softened slightly, and he began to listen to the diplomat’s words.
Meanwhile, back at the war room, the President and his advisors were waiting anxiously for any news. They didn’t know what was happening inside the office, but they hoped that the diplomat could reason with Ripper.
After what seemed like hours, the diplomat emerged from the room. Everyone in the war room held their breath, waiting to hear what had happened.
“General Ripper has agreed to stand down,” the diplomat said with a smile. “He realizes the gravity of the situation and has agreed to work with us to find a peaceful solution.”
The room erupted in cheers and applause. The President breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that they had narrowly avoided a catastrophe.
But the crisis was far from over. There were still bombers carrying nuclear weapons towards the Soviet Union, and they had to find a way to stop them before it was too late. The President and his advisors quickly got to work, trying to come up with a plan. But they knew that time was running out.
Chapter 3: The Planes Take Off
Tension hung thick in the war room as they watched on the screens as the bombers carrying the nuclear weapons began to take off. The President sat solemnly in his chair, his brow furrowed in worry, while his advisors and high-ranking military generals stood around him, frantically trying to come up with a solution.
General Turgidson was pacing back and forth, his eyes darting between the screens and the President. “Mr. President, we have to do something!” he exclaimed, his voice filled with urgency. “We can’t just sit here and watch as those planes fly towards the Soviet Union!”
The President looked at him, his expression calm despite the chaos around him. “I know, General,” he said. “We are doing everything we can to stop those planes. But we must also consider the possibility of a second wave, in case these planes get through. We need to be prepared for the worst.”
General Turgidson scoffed. “The worst? The worst has already happened! We’re talking about a nuclear war here, Mr. President! We need to stop those planes!”
The President turned to his Russian counterpart, Ambassador de Sadesky, who was sitting quietly in the corner. “Ambassador, is there anything your government can do to stop this?” he asked, his voice calm and measured.
Ambassador de Sadesky shook his head. “I’m afraid not, Mr. President. We were not informed of this plan, and we have no way of intercepting the bombers.”
The President sighed. “Then we have to rely on our own resources.” He turned to General Beringer. “How long until those planes reach their target?”
General Beringer checked his watch. “Approximately an hour, Mr. President.”
The President nodded, his mind racing with possible solutions. “Gentlemen, we have to stop those planes. Is there any way to intercept them?”
General Turgidson stepped forward. “Mr. President, we do have a plan. We can send in fighters to shoot down the bombers.”
The President looked at him skeptically. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Won’t that escalate the situation even further?”
General Turgidson shrugged. “It’s a risk we have to take, Mr. President. Otherwise, we’re looking at total nuclear annihilation.”
The President thought for a moment before making his decision. “Alright, General. Send in the fighters. We have to try everything we can to stop those planes.”
Meanwhile, on board one of the bombers, Major Kong was preparing his crew for the mission ahead. “Alright, boys,” he said, his thick Southern drawl filling the cockpit. “We’re on our way to deliver some freedom to those commies. Now, I don’t need to remind you how important this mission is. We have to make sure our bombs hit their targets. So, let’s get to it!”
The crew nodded, their faces set in grim determination. They knew what was at stake, and they were determined to see the mission through.
As they approached the Soviet border, they received a warning from Soviet air defense systems to turn back. But Major Kong knew there was no turning back now. He had a job to do, and he was going to see it through.
Back in the war room, the fighters had taken off and were racing towards the bombers. The tension was palpable as everyone watched the screens, waiting to see if the fighters could intercept the bombers in time.
Suddenly, the screen went blank, causing everyone to hold their breath. For a moment, there was silence in the war room as they waited to see what would happen next.
Then, the screen flickered back to life, showing the fighters hovering over the site of the bombers. The radio chatter was frantic as they attempted to communicate with the bombers, but it was too late. The bombs had already been released.
The war room erupted into chaos as everyone tried to process what had just happened. The possibility of a nuclear war had just become very real, and everyone knew that the consequences would be catastrophic.
As the planes disappeared from the screens, a solemn silence descended over the war room. The President sat quietly in his chair, his head bowed in sorrow. The reality of what had just happened was beginning to sink in, and he knew that there was no easy way out of this situation.
Suddenly, General Turgidson’s phone rang, causing everyone to jump. He answered it quickly, his voice tense as he listened to the person on the other end.
“Mr. President,” he said, turning to face the room. “We have confirmation that one of the bombs detonated over its target. We’re still waiting to hear about the other two.”
The room fell silent once again, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on them all. It was clear that the situation was far from over, and they had a long road ahead of them if they were going to prevent further disaster.
Chapter 4: The Doomsday Machine
The tension in the war room was palpable as the Soviet ambassador, Alexei de Sadesky, revealed the existence of their Doomsday Machine. General Turgidson, the President, and the other officials were stunned into silence.
The ambassador explained that the Doomsday Machine was an automated system that would trigger a devastating retaliation if the Soviet Union was attacked with nuclear weapons. The machine was capable of destroying all life on Earth, and there was no way to turn it off once it was activated.
General Turgidson was skeptical. “Now, I don’t believe every tin-horn dictator who goes around threatening to blow the world up,” he said. “But I do believe the Soviets have built a Doomsday Machine.”
The ambassador confirmed that the machine was real and activated. He also revealed that the Soviet Union had kept its existence a secret, in order to prevent the US from launching a first strike and triggering the machine.
The President was stunned. “How is it possible?” he asked. “No one told me about this.”
The ambassador explained that the Russian Premier had ordered the construction of the machine in response to the US’s development of a nuclear arsenal. The machine was designed to ensure mutual destruction and prevent any country from gaining an advantage in a nuclear war.
General Turgidson was agitated. “Mr. President, we must not allow a mine shaft gap!” he said. “I mean, suppose, there’s a mine shaft, and in it there’s two people. Now, wait a minute, suppose we only had two people in the U.S.A. with the knowledge to operate a Doomsday Machine.”
The President shook his head. “General, what you’re saying is that we have two choices: either we launch a full-scale attack now and hope we can disable the machine before it triggers, or we do nothing and wait for the Soviets to trigger it themselves.”
The ambassador interjected. “I’m afraid you’ve watched too many of our movies, Mr. President. The Doomsday Machine is not a device that can be disarmed, or tampered with. It is designed to detect any attack and retaliate automatically.”
The room was silent. The gravity of the situation had sunk in. The US and Soviet Union were locked in a stalemate, with neither side able to launch a first strike without triggering their opponent’s Doomsday Machine.
General Turgidson was pacing back and forth. “We can’t just sit here and do nothing!” he exclaimed. “We must at least make a show of force, to let the Soviets know we mean business.”
The President shook his head. “General, we can’t risk a nuclear war on a bluff,” he said. “We need to find a way to defuse this situation.”
Dr. Strangelove, who had been silent up until this point, suddenly spoke up. “Mr. President, I have a plan,” he said.
Everyone turned to look at the former Nazi scientist.
“I propose that we create a new society in the mineshafts,” he said. “We can select a few hundred thousand of the most skilled and intelligent people from all walks of life, and they can retreat to the mineshafts to await the end of the world. There they will work to rebuild society and repopulate the Earth.”
The President looked at Dr. Strangelove incredulously. “You’re proposing that we abandon the surface of the Earth and live like moles for generations?” he asked.
Dr. Strangelove nodded solemnly. “It is the only way to ensure our survival as a species,” he said.
The room was silent for a moment. Then General Turgidson spoke up. “Mr. President, I’m not saying we wouldn’t get our hair mussed,” he said. “But I do say no more than ten to twenty million killed, tops. Uh, depending on the breaks.”
The President turned to the ambassador. “Is there any way you can call off the machine?” he asked.
The ambassador shook his head. “It is automatic and cannot be stopped,” he said.
The President sighed. “Dr. Strangelove, I want you to develop a plan for the mineshaft society,” he said. “And General Turgidson, I want you to come up with a plan for a limited nuclear strike, if and only if it becomes absolutely necessary.”
The room began to clear out, with everyone deep in thought about the grave situation they found themselves in.
As they left, Dr. Strangelove lingered behind. “Mr. President,” he said. “There is one more thing I must tell you. The Doomsday Machine is not only real, but it is also linked to a secret code that can trigger it manually. It was put in place to prevent any rogue commander from launching a first strike without authorization.”
The President stared at him in disbelief. “You knew this all along?” he asked.
Dr. Strangelove nodded. “Yes, Mr. President. But I did not think it was relevant until now.”
The President rubbed his forehead wearily. “Dr. Strangelove, I don’t know what to think of you,” he said. “You’re a brilliant man, but your morality is questionable.”
Dr. Strangelove bowed his head. “I can only say that I am doing what I believe is necessary to ensure our species’ survival,” he said.
The President nodded. “Get to work on that plan,” he said. “We may need it sooner than we think.”
Chapter 5: Strangelove’s Solution
As chaos rages in the war room, Dr. Strangelove emerges from the shadows with a radical solution to save humanity. He proposes that a select group of individuals retreat to underground mineshafts where they will live out their days, isolated from the nuclear wasteland above.
At first, the President is incredulous. “You’re suggesting we abandon the surface world?” he demands. “What kind of a life is that?”
Strangelove is unfazed. “It is the only way to ensure the survival of our species,” he insists. “We will need a carefully selected group of men and women with a wide range of skills and expertise. Physicists, engineers, doctors, biologists, farmers, artists, musicians. They will form a new society, one that will rebuild and repopulate the Earth when the time is right.”
The President is still skeptical, but the Russian diplomat is intrigued. “It is an intriguing proposal,” he says. “I have heard of similar experiments in my country, where scientists have conducted experiments in deep underground bunkers. The results were promising.”
The President relents and agrees to consider Strangelove’s plan further. The group begins to discuss the logistics of such a project. They would need to identify suitable mineshafts, transport supplies and equipment underground, and select a group of people who are both physically and mentally capable of living in such a confined space.
Strangelove has already begun work on selecting the individuals who will make up the new society. He proposes a rigorous screening process, one that will test not only physical fitness but also mental agility and problem-solving skills. He envisions a group of people who will not only be able to survive underground but thrive in such an environment.
The group debates the morality of such a plan. Is it fair to select a small group of people to survive while the rest of humanity perishes? What happens if the people underground are not able to reproduce or adapt to their new environment?
Strangelove is undeterred. “It is simply a matter of scientific selection,” he says. “Those who are chosen will be the best of the best, the cream of the crop. They will be the ones who are most likely to succeed in rebuilding society.”
The group begins to discuss the practicalities of living underground. They would need to develop a closed-loop life support system, one that would recycle air, water, and waste. They would need to create an artificial ecosystem, with plants and animals that can survive in such an environment. They would need to provide entertainment and education for the inhabitants, to ensure that they do not become socially isolated or mentally unstable.
As the discussion continues, Strangelove becomes more and more animated. He has always been fascinated by the idea of creating a new society, one that is free from the constraints of the past. He sees this as an opportunity to create a utopia, a new world that is free from war, pollution, and inequality.
The President is still hesitant. “It’s a risky plan,” he says. “We are essentially putting all our eggs in one basket. What happens if something goes wrong? What happens if the mineshaft is breached, or if the life support system fails?”
Strangelove is quick to respond. “We will have redundancies, fail-safes, and backup systems,” he says. “We will be prepared for any eventuality.”
The group continues to debate the merits of Strangelove’s plan. Some are skeptical, whereas others are intrigued by the possibility of creating a new society. As the discussion draws to a close, the President agrees to fund further research into the feasibility of the project.
Strangelove is elated. He sees this as a first step towards creating a new world, one that is free from the constraints of the past. He begins to consult with scientists and engineers, to develop a detailed plan for the mineshaft society.
As the war room dissolves into chaos once more, Strangelove retreats into his own world, dreaming of a future where humanity can start anew.
Chapter 6: Mutiny on the Bomber
The bomber carrying the nuclear weapons was nearing its target in the Soviet Union. The pilots, Major Kong and Lieutenant Lothar Zogg, were focused on their mission, but one of them was beginning to have doubts.
Lieutenant Zogg had served in the military for years, but the thought of dropping a nuclear weapon on innocent civilians was weighing heavily on his conscience. He knew that if he didn’t take action soon, it would be too late.
As Major Kong started to arm the bomb, Lieutenant Zogg made his move. He grabbed a gun from the cockpit and aimed it at his superior officer.
“What the hell are you doing, Zogg?” Major Kong shouted.
“I can’t do this, sir,” Zogg replied. “I can’t drop a bomb on innocent people.”
Major Kong tried to reason with Zogg, telling him about the importance of their mission and the greater good they were serving. But Zogg was resolute.
“I’m sorry, sir, but I have to stop this,” Zogg said.
In a panic, Major Kong tried to disarm Zogg, but the gun went off. The bullet hit the fuel line, causing the plane to start to shake and sputter.
As the plane descended towards the ground, Major Kong desperately tried to regain control. But it was too late. The bomber crashed into the Soviet Union, with the nuclear weapon still armed and ready to detonate.
Back in the war room, the President and his advisors were watching the events unfold on a screen. They saw the bomber crash and knew that the nuclear weapon was still active.
“Mr. President, we have to consider the possibility of a second strike,” General Buck Turgidson said.
The President was visibly upset, but he knew that they had to act quickly.
“Get me Dr. Strangelove on the line,” he said.
As they waited for the call to connect, the war room was filled with tension. They knew that if the nuclear weapon detonated, it could trigger a global catastrophe.
Finally, Dr. Strangelove’s face appeared on the screen. He looked disheveled and manic.
“Mr. President, I have a plan,” he said.
The President listened as Dr. Strangelove explained his idea for creating a new society in mineshafts. He talked about the need for a select group of individuals to repopulate the Earth, and the importance of preserving the human race.
The President was hesitant, but he knew that they had to do something.
“Alright, Dr. Strangelove. Let’s get started.”
As the war room sprung into action, trying to implement Dr. Strangelove’s plan, they were still holding their breath. The fate of the world hung in the balance.
In the end, the nuclear weapon did not detonate. But the events of that day left an indelible mark on those who witnessed it. They knew that the threat of nuclear war was very real, and that it could happen at any moment.
As they left the war room, the President and his advisors were somber. They knew that they had narrowly avoided disaster, but they were also aware of the fragility of their situation. They had to do everything in their power to prevent a similar catastrophe from happening again.
Chapter 7: The Nuclear Detonation
The room fell silent as the screen showed the blinding white flash from the nuclear detonation. The speakerphone echoed with the sound of the blast. Everyone in the war room stood still, frozen in shock at what they had just witnessed. The president was the first to find his voice.
“What happened? Can anyone tell me what happened?”
The room remained silent. No one dared to speak, all eyes were fixed on the screen. The President picked up the phone.
“Get me General Turgidson.”
The phone rang a few times before it was picked up.
“Yes, Mr. President?”
“General, what on earth just happened? Why did one of our weapons detonate?”
“I’m not sure, Mr. President. We’re trying to get in touch with the bomber crew to find out what happened.”
“Well, find out quickly. We need to know what went wrong.”
The President put the phone down and looked around the room.
“Does anyone have any ideas about what could have happened?”
Dr. Strangelove raised his hand.
“Mr. President, I believe I may have an explanation. It’s possible that the bomb’s fail-safe was not properly set, and that it detonated due to a malfunction.”
The President looked at him incredulously.
“Are you telling me that we may have just destroyed an entire city because of a malfunction?”
Dr. Strangelove nodded gravely.
“I’m afraid it’s a possibility, Mr. President.”
The President turned to General Turgidson.
“General, what’s our next move?”
“We need to find out what happened with the bomber crew and assess the damage.”
The phone rang again. The President picked it up.
“Yes?”
“Mr. President, we have one of the bomber crew on the line. He’s requesting to speak with you.”
“Put him through.”
The speakerphone crackled to life.
“Mr. President, this is Captain Mandrake.”
“Captain, what the hell happened up there? Why did that bomb detonate?”
“I’m not entirely sure, sir. We were having some difficulty with the communications system, and I had to physically go and pull the manual release mechanism to disarm the bomb. But it was too late. The bomb had already detonated.”
The room was silent. No one dared to speak.
“Captain, can you give us any more information about what happened?”
“I’m sorry, sir. That’s all I know.”
The President put the phone down and turned to the room.
“Gentlemen, we have a serious problem on our hands. We need to assess the damage and come up with a plan to prevent this from happening again.”
The room erupted into a frenzy of activity as people rushed to their phones and computers, trying to determine the extent of the damage. The President took a deep breath and looked out the window, wondering how they could have let things get this far.
As the hours ticked by, the full extent of the damage became clear. The bomb had detonated over a major city, and the casualties were in the hundreds of thousands. The President knew that they had to act quickly to prevent this from happening again.
He called a meeting with his top advisors, including General Turgidson, Dr. Strangelove, and the Russian diplomat. They spent hours discussing different strategies and solutions to prevent a similar disaster from happening again.
In the end, they agreed on a plan to disarm all nuclear weapons and to establish a system of international cooperation to prevent any nation from acquiring or using nuclear weapons. It was a long and difficult road, but they knew that it was necessary to prevent the destruction of life on Earth.
As the war room emptied out, the President looked out the window, wondering if they had done enough. He knew that the world would never be the same again, but he hoped that they had done enough to prevent a similar disaster from happening in the future. He only wished that they had found a way to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Chapter 8: The Aftermath
The President sat in his office, staring out the window at the devastation that had been wrought upon the world. The nuclear strike had caused untold destruction and loss of life, and the President knew that it was his responsibility to lead the recovery effort.
He took a sip of his coffee and turned to his advisors. “What’s the status of the Doomsday Machine?” he asked.
One of his advisors cleared his throat. “It’s still active, Mr. President. We’ve been in touch with the Soviet Union and they’ve agreed to work with us to find a way to deactivate it.”
The President nodded. “Good. And what about the survivors? Have we found any?”
His advisor shook his head. “Not yet, sir. We’re still trying to get a handle on the extent of the damage. It’s going to take time.”
The President sighed. “I know. But we have to do everything we can to help those who are still alive. We have to try and rebuild.”
As the weeks and months passed, the world slowly began to recover. Relief efforts poured in from around the globe, and people worked tirelessly to clean up the debris and rebuild the cities that had been destroyed.
But the world was forever changed. The threat of nuclear war loomed over everything, and people lived in fear that it could happen again at any moment.
The President knew that something had to be done. He called together the leaders of the world’s nuclear powers and proposed a new treaty, one that would limit the number of nuclear weapons each country could possess and ensure that they were only used in the most dire of circumstances.
It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it was a start. And as the years passed, the world slowly began to heal.
Dr. Strangelove watched from his wheelchair, a small smile on his face. He had been right – humanity was resilient. They had survived the end of the world and had come out stronger for it.
But he also knew that they had to do better. They had to find a way to prevent something like this from ever happening again.
And so, he poured himself into his work, developing new technologies and strategies for preventing nuclear war. He knew that it was a long shot, but he also knew that he had to try.
And as he worked, he couldn’t help but wonder what the future held for humanity. Would they continue down the path of destruction, or would they find a way to overcome their differences and build a better world?
Only time would tell. But one thing was certain – they had learned a valuable lesson. They had learned to stop worrying and love the bomb.
Some scenes from the movie Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb written by A.I.
Scene 1
Characters:
– Dr. Strangelove, a brilliant but eccentric nuclear scientist
– General Jack D. Ripper, a deranged and paranoid military leader
– President Merkin Muffley, a calm and rational leader
– Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, a British officer stationed at the US base
– Colonel “Bat” Guano, the head of the base’s security forces
Setting:
The story takes place at a US military base in the 1960s during the height of the Cold War.
Scene 1: The Mad General
FADE IN:
Dr. Strangelove is sitting in a dimly lit lab, surrounded by scientific equipment. He’s studying a glowing vial of radioactive material when his phone rings.
Dr. Strangelove: (answering) Yes, hello?
General Ripper: (over the phone) It’s done, Doc. The order’s been given.
Dr. Strangelove: (alarmed) What order?
General Ripper: (angrily) The order for a nuclear strike on the Ruskies! Those goddamn commies have been polluting our bodily fluids for too long!
Dr. Strangelove: (shocked) General, you can’t be serious! That’s madness!
General Ripper: (calmly) I’m dead serious, Doctor. And I’ve already given the code to the bombers. There’s no turning back now.
Dr. Strangelove: (frantic) But there must be a way to stop them! We can’t let this happen!
General Ripper: (smiling) Sorry, Doc. It’s too late. You should have thought of that before you made it so easy for those boys in the Pentagon to steal your precious bodily fluids.
Dr. Strangelove hangs up the phone and stares into space in horror.
FADE OUT.
Scene 2
Characters:
President Merkin Muffley (male, 50s)
General Buck Turgidson (male, 40s)
Dr. Strangelove (male, 60s)
Russian Ambassador Alexei de Sadesky (male, 50s)
Setting: War Room, Pentagon
Dialogue:
INT. WAR ROOM – DAY
President Merkin Muffley sits at the head of the table. General Buck Turgidson paces back and forth, while Dr. Strangelove sits in a wheelchair off to the side.
PRESIDENT MUFFLEY
(intense)
What do we do?
GENERAL TURGIDSON
(struggling to keep his composure)
We have to shoot down those bombers.
DR. STRANGELOVE
(nervously)
Ah, gentlemen, I have a plan.
PRESIDENT MUFFLEY
Hope we have time, Dr. Strangelove.
DR. STRANGELOVE
(explaining)
Well, we can’t stop the bombs from dropping, but we can limit the damage. I have been working on a contingency plan for such an event.
GENERAL TURGIDSON
(skeptical)
What kind of plan?
DR. STRANGELOVE
(excitedly)
A plan for a secret society!
PRESIDENT MUFFLEY
(sternly)
Go on.
DR. STRANGELOVE
(explaining)
We will have selected hardworking individuals with sought-after skills retreat into underground bunkers, where they will wait out the nuclear winter, and then emerge to rebuild society.
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR ALEXEI DE SADESKY
(interjecting)
I don’t mean to interrupt, but the Soviets have a Doomsday Machine.
GENERAL TURGIDSON
(alarmed)
A what?
DR. STRANGELOVE
(grinning)
Ah, yes, the Doomsday Machine. The ultimate deterrence. It’s designed to trigger automatically and destroy all human and animal life if anyone uses nuclear weapons.
PRESIDENT MUFFLEY
(alarmed)
Dear God.
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR ALEXEI DE SADESKY
(pleadingly)
But it is not a bluff. I assure you, Mr. President. It is real and it works.
GENERAL TURGIDSON
(to Dr. Strangelove)
Can we disarm this Doomsday Machine?
DR. STRANGELOVE
(sadly)
Unfortunately, no. But we can still save some lives.
PRESIDENT MUFFLEY
(resting his chin on his hand)
How do we choose who will go into these bunkers?
DR. STRANGELOVE
(determined)
We will select people based on their intelligence, skills, and genetics. We will have a new generation of superhumans.
GENERAL TURGIDSON
(rolling his eyes)
Oh, this is just great.
The War Room falls silent as the President considers Dr. Strangelove’s plan.
FADE OUT.
Scene 3
FADE IN:
INT. WAR ROOM – DAY
The room is filled with tension as the President and his advisors frantically try to stop the nuclear strike. A map of the Soviet Union is on display, with the location of the bombers marked.
PRESIDENT
(to General Turgidson)
What options do we have left, General?
GENERAL TURGIDSON
We can try to shoot down the planes before they reach their targets, but it’s risky.
DR. STRANGELOVE
(leaning in)
Or we can let the bombs drop and then use a mineshaft gap to create a new society.
The room falls silent as everyone turns to look at Dr. Strangelove.
PRESIDENT
(skeptical)
What are you talking about, Dr. Strangelove?
DR. STRANGELOVE
(excitedly)
It’s a plan I’ve been working on, sir. We can use mineshafts to protect ourselves from the radiation, and a select few of us can repopulate the Earth.
The President considers the proposal for a moment before turning to General Turgidson.
PRESIDENT
Can we shoot down the planes and still have time to implement this plan?
GENERAL TURGIDSON
(nodding)
Yes sir, but we’ll need to move fast.
PRESIDENT
(to the room)
Alright then, let’s do it.
The room erupts into action as the President’s plan is set into motion. As everyone frantically works to shoot down the planes and prepare for the aftermath, Dr. Strangelove mutters to himself.
DR. STRANGELOVE
(to himself)
A new society. It’s the only way to survive.
FADE OUT.
Scene 4
FADE IN:
EXT. SOVIET EMBASSY – DAY
A group of government officials, led by President Muffley, arrive at the Soviet embassy to meet with Ambassador de Sadesky. They are greeted by a group of Soviet soldiers standing guard outside the building.
PRESIDENT MUFFLEY
(to the soldiers)
We’re here to speak with Ambassador de Sadesky. We’ve come to discuss the nuclear situation.
SOVIET SOLDIER
(looking at his watch)
He’s expecting you. Follow me.
The group is led inside the embassy.
INT. SOVIET EMBASSY – DAY
The group is led to a meeting room where Ambassador de Sadesky is waiting for them.
PRESIDENT MUFFLEY
(to the ambassador)
Thank you for agreeing to meet with us, Ambassador.
AMBASSADOR DE SADESKY
(smiling)
Of course, Mr. President. It’s important we work together to prevent a nuclear war.
PRESIDENT MUFFLEY
(nodding)
Agreed. Now, can you tell us more about this Doomsday Machine?
AMBASSADOR DE SADESKY
(sighing)
It’s a device that is set to trigger an automatic nuclear response if there is a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. It’s designed to be completely unstoppable.
PRESIDENT MUFFLEY
(alarmed)
But that means if we launch a nuclear strike, it will trigger the machine and destroy the world!
AMBASSADOR DE SADESKY
(nodding)
Yes. In the event of a nuclear war, there can be no winners. We must find a way to prevent this from happening.
PRESIDENT MUFFLEY
(determined)
We will do whatever it takes to prevent a nuclear war. Thank you for your time, Ambassador.
The group stands up to leave.
AMBASSADOR DE SADESKY
(calling after them)
Good luck, Mr. President. The fate of the world is in your hands.
FADE OUT.
Scene 5
FADE IN:
INT. WAR ROOM – DAY
DR. STRANGELOVE, the eccentric German scientist, steps forward to address the group.
DR. STRANGELOVE
Gentlemen, we have a way to save humanity. We must retreat to mineshaft communities and wait out the nuclear fallout.
The President looks at Strangelove skeptically.
PRESIDENT
How long would we have to wait?
DR. STRANGELOVE
In theory, we could survive underground for a hundred years or more.
GENERAL TURGIDSON
But what about the survivors outside? They’ll be left to suffer.
DR. STRANGELOVE
We can’t save everyone, General. But we can save the best and brightest. We would need a carefully selected group of individuals to repopulate the Earth.
PRESIDENT
And who decides who’s worthy enough to survive?
DR. STRANGELOVE
We do. We’ll need scientists, doctors, engineers, and of course, women.
The room falls silent as everyone considers Strangelove’s proposal.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. MINESHAFT – DAY
The selected group of survivors are gathered in the underground mineshaft, armed with the knowledge and tools necessary to rebuild society.
DR. STRANGELOVE
Welcome to our new home. Our mission is simple: to rebuild society and ensure the survival of the human race.
The survivors look around, marveling at the technological advancements and provisions in the mineshaft.
PRESIDENT
But what of those left behind? The ones who didn’t make it into the mineshafts?
DR. STRANGELOVE
We can only hope that they’ll survive long enough for us to help them rebuild.
The group of survivors look determined, ready to face the challenges of rebuilding a new world.
FADE OUT.
THE END.
Scene 6
Characters:
– President of the United States
– Dr. Strangelove
– Colonel “Bat” Guano
– Major Kong
– Lieutenant Zogg
– Colonel “King” Kong
Setting: The cockpit of a bomber plane carrying a nuclear weapon
Dialogue:
INT. BOMBER PLANE – DAY
Major Kong signals to his team in the cockpit as they prepare to drop a nuclear bomb on the Soviet Union. Suddenly, Lieutenant Zogg enters the cockpit and informs them of the mutiny.
LIEUTENANT ZOGG
Major, we have a situation. One of the crew members has had a change of heart. He’s trying to abort the mission.
MAJOR KONG
[interrupting] Abort the mission? Who the hell gave that order?
LIEUTENANT ZOGG
The President, sir.
Major Kong looks visibly upset, but Dr. Strangelove steps in to offer a solution.
DR. STRANGELOVE
Gentlemen, I have an idea. Have you ever heard of a mineshaft gap?
COLONEL “BAT” GUANO
[confused] A mineshaft gap?
DR. STRANGELOVE
Yes, it’s a gap we can exploit. You see, the Soviet Union has been building mineshafts for years to protect their citizens in case of a nuclear attack. We can do the same thing, but with a select group of people who will preserve the future of humanity.
MAJOR KONG
Whoa, whoa, whoa. You’re talking about the end of the world here.
DR. STRANGELOVE
Precisely! We must be proactive, Major. We must create a new society, a better society, with those who will survive.
COLONEL “KING” KONG
And who decides who gets to live in this new society?
DR. STRANGELOVE
I do, Colonel. I have a list of essential personnel who will be chosen to repopulate the Earth.
The team looks at Dr. Strangelove with skepticism as he continues to explain his plan.
DR. STRANGELOVE
We will store all the necessary supplies, food, and water, deep within the earth. And who will be in charge, you ask? The Strategic Air Command. We will take control of the government, and with the mineshaft gap, we will start anew.
The team looks at each other, unsure of what to do next.
MAJOR KONG
Alright, doc. Tell me more about these mineshafts.
As they continue to discuss the details, the plane continues to fly towards the Soviet Union, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.
