Designated Survivor (TV Series)

Grief (2018)

Rick Roberts: General

Quotes 

• Tom Kirkman : Who are these people?

  General : Trying to get a handle on that, sir. The Army for the Liberation of the People, it's a guerilla movement; 30,000 soldiers.

  Tom Kirkman : Rebels?

  General : Yes, sir. Forty years of skirmishes, but they haven't made much headway.

  Tom Kirkman : Looks to me like they've upped their game.

• Tom Kirkman : Kendra, what's the legality of military action against rebels in another country?

  Kendra Daynes : If American lives are at stake, the rules of war will allow it, sir, especially if the foreign sovereign is unwilling or unable to act.

  Tom Kirkman : And with President Ortega, am I correct in assuming the latter?

  Lyor Boone : No, it's both. I mean, he doesn't have the firepower, but even if he did, he can't be seen as actively helping America to attack Cuban citizens, even those that oppose him. His grip on power's loose enough as it is.

  Senator Sanchez : But he won't stand in our way. I've interfaced with his top advisors. Ortega has given us access to his ports.

  Tom Kirkman : General, is it your opinion that military action will secure the safe release of the hostages?

  General : Sir, our consensus is that the show of overwhelming force will bring the rebels to heel.

  Tom Kirkman : But you can't guarantee it.

• Tom Kirkman : What other options do I have, aside from military?

  Emily Rhodes : Ransom, sir.

  Lyor Boone : Which is a non-starter.

  Tom Kirkman : No, Lyor. The killing of Americans is a non-starter. We've got Congressmen, Senators, business leaders. My National Security Advisor. This is a mess. We're running out of time. I want options. Come on, people.

  Emily Rhodes : What about recon mission?

  Lyor Boone : That's good, that's good. We can buttress our data. Then we'll know exactly what we're getting into if you deploy military assets.

  Tom Kirkman : Could still be mistaken as aggression. What about a camera-equipped drone?

  General : It won't work because of the canopy, sir, but a single Blackhawk infrared camera is low altitude.

  Tom Kirkman : A single one?

  General : Yes, sir.

  Tom Kirkman : Okay. Let's find out what we're really dealing with. Try it.

• Emily Rhodes : Secretary Braden said the funds have been made available.

  General : Sir, all that remains is for you to okay the wire transfer.

  Tom Kirkman : Where do we stand on the release of the hostages?

  General : We have Ramon Bravo's promise that he'll put them on a bus to Marti International Airport as soon as he can confirm receipt of the funds.

  Tom Kirkman : Can we corroborate that there's a bus at the site?

  General : No, sir, we cannot.

  Senator Sanchez : Mr. President, we're not going to be able to corroborate anything.

  Lyor Boone : Sir, the essence of ransom is blind faith. Bravo will either keep his word or he won't.

• Tom Kirkman : General, cancel the wire transfer.

  General : Sir?

  Tom Kirkman : How long will it take you to get your men ashore?

  General : 45 minutes, sir.

  Tom Kirkman : Bring the fleet in as close to land as possible. If a show of force doesn't get the insurgents to back down, send in the Marines.

  General : Yes, sir.

  Senator Sanchez : I'll have a Congressional statement of support ready to issue.

  Tom Kirkman : Good.

  [Sanchez leaves, and Kirkman follows her out] 

  Emily Rhodes : What the hell just happened?

  Lyor Boone : He made the hard decision, but the right one. I think the president's back.

  Emily Rhodes : Hallelujah.