The Last Ship quotes

CAPT Tom Chandler

I want details about what happened after you received the cure. You can keep fighting us, thinking we're monsters, or you can cooperate, help us figure out what went wrong and how to fix it.

Takehaya

I heard the call over the radio. The Americans are coming with the cure. We rushed to the port, thousands of us. Survivors. The ships arrived. American ships. And we lined up to receive our injections. They told us to spread out, to pass the cure on to the rest of our people. Soon... there was no way to tell who had the cure and who did not.... because everyone died.

But other than the U.S. Navy, who had custody of the cargo once it landed? Could someone have tampered with the doses on the pier?

Takehaya

No.

How can you be so sure? We delivered to dozens of countries on this ship. We always worked with the local partners...

Takehaya

I was a local partner, Captain. My crew was there. We'd made sure everyone received a dose. I was in charge. I was responsible.

That's why you wanted those ships out of Okinawa. That's why you wanted to punish the people that brought you the cure. But why work with Peng?

Takehaya

I did not work with Peng.

Oh, come on. The coincidence is too great. You kidnapped my men in Haiphong at precisely the same moment Peng blows up my plane in Hong Kong?

Takehaya

I do not call that coincidence, Captain. I call that luck.

US President Jeffrey Michener

My fellow Americans, by now, many of you heard about the reports from Florida and my time spent there. I wanted to take a moment to tell you the truth directly from me. I did not know that my son, Brian, was the carrier of the Red Flu at the time. I did bring him down to Florida from an area that I knew could be infected. As a father, I acted out of desperation. But as a public servant, I was derelict in my duties. Now, as your President, I humbly offer my sincerest apology.

Contrition from the President. Since the release of that statement an hour ago, St. Louis White House remains on virtual lockdown, with no comments from his aides and no further information to support the President's statement. At this time of uncertainty, I will continue to pursue this story wherever it leads. Jacob Barnes, AMT News.

CAPT Mike Slattery

That's what Peng's hoarding. He could fire those missiles over uncured populations, so when the cure finally does arrive... It doesn't work.

Sasha Cooper

That boat was headed to Taiwan on a run. Jesse saw the missile near Vietnam.

Takehaya

And my wife saw the mist in Japan. By the time we got to the ports to receive the cure, it was already too late.

And how certain are you of this intelligence?

CAPT Tom Chandler

Fairly certain. Peng is too smart to do this out in the open. He'd build and transport these weapons out of sight to conceal his involvement.

And what do you need from me?

Sir, Shackleton and Hayward have been running in circles since this whole thing began. I'd like them to join us. We're gonna need them to take on Peng and what's left of his navy.

My understanding is that President Michener once offered you those ships and you turned him down, choosing to run this operation solo.

Yes, sir.

And since then, you've left a lot of bodies in your wake, many of them American sailors. Captain, we don't know each other well, but you need to know that if my first act in office is to declare war on China, I'd like to base it on something more than the testimony of smugglers and pirates.

Of course, sir.

Go to this Paraiso island, find the source of these missiles, tie it to Peng, and I'll do everything in my power to help you finish him off. Consider those two ships under your command.

Thank you, sir.

Good luck.

Kara, glad I caught you.

Secretary Rivera. What brings you to my office?

I'm worried, Kara.

About what, sir?

About you, about whose team you're on.

Sir, I am just as committed to the recovery of the United States as I was when I first landed in St. Louis with Captain Chandler.

Ah, yes. The great Captain Chandler. The legend, the man that we devoted enormous amounts of time and resources to get out of trouble.

I understand your concern, sir, but now that Captain Chandler has uncovered a genocide in Asia...

A-Alleged genocide. Kara, you have to remember, we're living in a post-apocalypse. Facts and truths are just as much the victim of this plague as everything else. Right now, the best thing we can do is focus on the American people.

I'm not sure exactly what you're suggesting. Can you be more specific?

What I'm suggesting, Kara, is that while everyone is looking eastward, our country is collapsing beneath our feet. And when the chips fall, it's important you know who your friends are. Is that clear enough?

Yes, sir.

I'm glad.

Mr. President, through no fault of your own, you've stepped through the looking glass into the birth of a new America. The pandemic, the millions of deaths, the complete collapse of law and order demands a revolution of governance.

Revolution? You mean coup d'etat. Who are you working with? Castillo?

Castillo, Price, Wilson, Croft. America can no longer be governed by a central power, not now. Each region must look after itself.

Sons of bitches. I knew it.

Relax, Howard. This is a good thing. You knew that Michener was moving too fast, that America wasn't healthy enough to go back to the way things were. There are no states. There are no cities. There are only tribes scrambling out of the mud over the bodies of 300 million dead Americans. Face it, Howard... Democracy is a luxury that we can no longer afford.

This is crazy. I mean, what the hell are you talking about?

By now, Senator Beatty and Secretary Rivera are dead. If you try to contact any of your allies in the city, the consequences will be swift... As swift as they were for Jeffrey Michener.

You're insane. That's it. Y-You've gone completely insane.

Do you understand me, Howard? Your family, your friends... None of them will be safe if you do not play ball. Take a minute and think about it before you make any decisions you'll later regret. Everybody likes you, Howard. It's a big table, and there's a place for you at it as long as you go with the program. Have I made myself completely clear? This office is your home now. I'll see you in the morning. We've got a lot of work to do.

Maybe that's what the dots are.

No. The dots are prisons. Check them out.

Benton, Arkansas.

Yep.

Bismarck, North Dakota. Big Spring, Texas.

Yep and yep. 46 prisons for a population our size? All maximum security. And they're spread out evenly in the territories.

There's controlling the troops, hoarding the food, and expecting people to resist.

Beatty must've been getting cold feet. That's why he didn't go to the funeral.

That's why he was trying to get to Rivera.

Captain Chandler... Before we begin, you're entitled to make an opening statement.

CAPT Thomas Chandler

I've spent half my life in the Navy. Like you, I did everything right. Worked my way through the pipeline just to get my chance to lead. Nathan James was my first command. Suddenly... I was thrust into a situation that no one can prepare you for. The world was turned upside-down, and all the rules were thrown out. But... the Navy taught me many things. Most importantly, it taught me to adapt. I had to make some difficult decisions. God knows I made some mistakes. But never once did I waver from what I knew to be right... The core values that run through all of our veins. Honor... courage... commitment. And I served my sailors as they served me and as we all serve this great country of ours. I didn't ask for this. I could've taken this uniform off at any time. But I always believed in the work that we were doing as a team, and the decisions that I was making as a captain. And though my tactics changed to address an insane world... my resolve and my dedication to the Navy never faltered. I stand by my record.

What the hell is this? [sees that the men are all from the Nathan James] I see. This was never about your guilt or innocence.

You forced our hand here, Captain. There was a moment today... where I actually had my doubts. Thank you for removing those for me. When the chips fall, if I'm proven wrong, I'll face justice from a higher power than you. Cooper, Green, please remove the officers and sequester them in Helo Bay 2.

Lt Danny Green

Gladly.

Captain, I need you to set a new course for Japan.

CAPT Mike Slattery

Yes, sir.

CAPT Tom Chandler

Peng's only destroyer now belongs to me. You should know Cobra Team found a payload of anti-cure missile on board. According to the crew, that's the last of it.

Takehaya

So... it is done. The rest of Asia won't suffer as we did.

Let's get you home.

Takehaya

I am home, Captain Chandler. I want to remain here... [Exhales deeply] On Japanese soil.

Takehaya.

Takehaya

Kaito. My name is Kaito. Like my son.

... We are strong people, and we have survived worse than this. And those who still love life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness have come together and formulated a plan to move forward. So in the absence of any working federal government, and deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, your regional leaders, Price, Castillo, Wilson, and Croft hereby call for the immediate suspension of the government of the United States. Each region will be able to govern itself and focus on reconstruction until such time as a central authority can be safely reestablished.

CAPT Thomas Chandler

Yeah. In other words, never.

By the time you hear these words, control of the Armed Forces will have been split among the regional leaders, and I would like to assure you that the military turnover has been peaceful, thanks to an unprecedented collaboration between the nation's highest-ranking generals and your four regional leaders. All enlisted men and women are to report to regional military offices immediately to become part of one of four localized armies under the command...

Captain, I can't get the generals on the line... Any of them. I tried to raise an entire Naval base. It's a coup, Captain.

Thank you and God bless.

Those men are already dead.

If there's no military, what's that mean for us?

It means we're all alone.

CAPT Mike Slattery

We lost our country, Tom.

Not yet. Captain, set a course for Naval Base San Diego, all ahead full. Take us home.

Tom Chandler. Saved America from the virus, and they loved you for it. Then they got hungry. They miss things like heat, clean water, and Wi-Fi. They don't have any time for heroes now. So do your victory dance, and when the filthy masses turn against you, give me a call. I'll show you how to keep them in line.

CAPT Thomas Chandler

But I will never cooperate. Here's the deal, Manuel... From here on out, you no longer get to decide what you will and will not do. See, you had the chance to kill me, again, and you blew it... again. So you will cooperate.

And why is that?

Your army turned on you without hardly a shot fired. Once your partners find out you lost control of your region and Beatty's... They will cut you out like the cancer you are. And let's not underestimate the "filthy masses." Once they hear what you're really about, you'll need more than an army to keep them in line. But we can always drop you back off at the depot, see for ourselves.

You're a good man. [dies]

Go ahead. Take me away. It won't matter. Somebody else will take my place, somebody who sees the world for what it is and seizes the opportunity. The people are too wounded and scared to think for themselves. Today they follow you, but tomorrow, they will find another golden calf to worship. That much I've learned. Are you so naive? Captain, ‭you didn't save the world. You unleashed the worst in human nature. You really want to save the people, you need to terrorize them. You need to take them by the neck and shake them. You need to be more terrible so that they don't have to be, and deep down inside, you know it's true. The America you believe in is gone!

I speak to you today a humbled man. I've made mistakes. I was silent when I should have spoken out. I ran when I should have stood and fought. But in adversity, we find strength and courage. The great Naval Captain Nimitz once said "God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right, even though I think it hopeless." Stand with me. Fight with me. Because together, we can move forward. Together, we can be strong again.

[holds apple] So this could be one of the world's last apples?

Nah, virus hasn't hit apples yet.

Yet?

Six months ago, we said the same thing about corn.

You are leaving. I can see it in your eyes.

CAPT Tom Chandler

Alex told me that I couldn't run from destiny. I left home because I was confused... between justice and revenge.

And now?

I want both.