Pressure (2026)

[bunniefuu]

Here, have one of these.

f*ck me.

Right.

Are you sure there's time?

There's time.

Thank you.

Did they say how long

you'll be gone for?

No, they didn't say.

I'm very proud

they chose you, Jim.

I'll be fine.

Go.

Okay.

Morning, sir.

Sir.

Group Captain Dr. James Stagg,

chief meteorological officer,

reporting for duty.

I.D. card and pass, please, sir.

Right this way, sir.

Welcome to Southwick House, sir.

I'm Andrew Carter

with the Met Office.

I'll be your ADC.

Mm-hmm.

I must admit it's a great honor

to meet you, Dr. Stagg.

I so enjoyed your paper

on terrestrial magnetism.

It's a fascinating subject.

It is, yes.

And here we are, sir.

Operations rooms

are upstairs, sir.

Teleprinters are in the cellars.

And our forecast room

is just through here.

-Where can I put this down?

-Anywhere, sir.

We'll have someone

take it to your tent.

What are these?

They're historical

analog charts.

I know what they are,

but what are they doing here?

Colonel Krick,

he requested them.

Well, which one is he?

Introduce me.

I believe he's with General...

Can you stop!

Stop the banging, please.

I believe

he's with General Eisenhower

at the moment, sir.

I'll call you back.

Sir.

What's coming through?

Soundings at 53 north,

35 west, sir.

Mm-hmm. Weather ship Hoste, yes?

Yes, sir.

Uh, Casey and Bryant here

are linked directly

to the teleprinter ops

at Dunstable and Bushy Park.

-Which one are you?

-I'm Casey, sir.

That's wrong, Casey.

Our American contingent, sir.

This is Flight Officer Murray,

Flight Officer Hamilton.

-Good to meet you, sir.

-They're on surface weather.

What, both of you?

Who's on upper air?

Uh, no one, sir.

No one's on upper air?

So that data just goes

unrecorded, does it?

I'll need both of you

on upper air at all times.

Uh, we were told to use

historical analog charts, sir.

Not by me.

Those weren't my instructions.

It's just, Colonel Krick

instructed us otherwise, sir.

Did he? Do I have an office?

Yes, sir.

It's just through here.

Ah.

Good afternoon, sir.

Uh, this is Group Captain Stagg.

He's just transferred

from Dunstable.

We've been very much

looking forward to his...

him joining us here.

Lieutenant Kay Summersby.

Motor Transport Corps.

Welcome to Southwick House.

Are we sharing an office,

or what?

No. I was just using it

temporarily.

Good, because I'll need it

exclusively.

Well, very good.

Can you see to it that

General Eisenhower knows

that I'm here?

And that I apologize

for my late arrival?

Yes, sir.

Sir.

Right.

Hello. Signals Department.

Switchboard speaking.

Yes, um,

Richmond 1-9-3-7, please.

I'm sorry, but all

outgoing calls are forbidden

without prior authorization,

sir.

Uh, no, no, I-I-I...

I need to speak with my wife.

I'm sorry, sir.

Hello?

Yes? Hello?

If you'd like to follow me,

please,

General Eisenhower

will see you now.

I wouldn't keep him waiting any

longer than you already have.

Group Captain Dr. James Stagg,

here at the express request

of General Eisenhower.

And all 265 vessels arrived

without issue, sir.

And we've assigned, uh,

five patrol craft

and three destroyers.

Let's get the job done.

Glad to hear it.

Lieutenant Summersby?

Sir, may I introduce

Group Captain James Stagg,

who finally made it in

from London?

Well, it's good to meet you,

Group Captain Stagg.

Welcome aboard.

Nice to finally put

a face to the name.

Have you got all the equipment

you need downstairs?

Equipment is not

the problem, sir.

What's the problem?

Um, well, it's time, sir.

I haven't really had any...

any time to establish

any clear picture.

Have a look, Group Captain.

I got 7,000 naval vessels,

130,000 ground troops,

200,000 naval personnel,

15 hospital ships,

8,000 doctors,

three airborne divisions

and a partridge in a pear tree.

Largest seaborne invasion force

in history.

Is it?

And do we have a date yet

for the invasion, sir?

We invade France Monday.

-This Monday?

-Correct.

Monday, June 5th, 0630.

That is D-Day,

which is in 61 hours from now.

Fate of the w*r hinges on this.

All the pieces of the jigsaw

are in place.

There's only one imponderable

that remains.

I need a forecast.

I'm... Yes, I'm concerned

that what you're asking me is

scientifically impossible, sir.

Uh, long-term forecasting is

really only ever

educated guesswork.

Monday is not long-term,

for Christ's sake.

Does Monday sound like long-term

to you, Lieutenant Summersby?

No, it certainly does not, sir.

Well, this is

Northern Europe, sir.

Anything over 24 hours is-is...

is considered long-term,

meteorologically speaking.

But I'll...

I'll do my best.

I don't want your best.

I already expect that.

I need certainty.

Churchill tells me

you're the best meteorologist

in the country

and that I should rely on you

over Colonel Krick.

You know him?

Only by reputation.

Well, Krick's been with me

since '42.

He's never steered me wrong,

so...

let's see how you measure up.

I need a forecast for Monday.

I need it first thing

tomorrow morning.

Y-Yes, sir.

Don't let me down.

Group Captain.

Let's go.

Group Captain.

He had a boogie style

that no one else could play

He was the top man

at his craft

But then his number came up

And he was gone

with the draft

He's in the Army now

a-blowing reveille

He's the boogie-woogie

bugle boy of Company B

They made him blow a bugle

for his Uncle Sam

It really brought him down

because he couldn't jam

The captain seemed

to understand

Because the next day

the cap went out

-And drafted a band

-Kay!

And now the company jumps...

Ladies and gentlemen,

Kay Summersby. Take over.

-Come on, Kay.

-Oh.

Dance with me.--

Like old times.

There you go.

There you go.

Oh, stick to piano, Irv.

I-I don't believe you've met,

uh, Group Captain Stagg.

Only by telephone.

Dr. Stagg, so nice

to finally meet you.

You're younger than I imagined.

You're shorter than I imagined.

Analogs.

I realize that, yes.

Every single weather chart

for Northern Europe since 1900.

Mm. Um, in my experience,

the weather never replicates

its own history.

Ah, well, try telling that

to a movie producer.

Remember Selznick, Kay?

Oh.

July '39.

David Selznick calls me up.

He's making a movie.

He wants a forecast

for a three-day period

in Beverly Hills.

The scene is...

the burning of Atlanta.

"I don't want to see

a drop of rain, Irv.

Not a drop. Not a drop."

Well, MGM calls me up.

They give me the dates.

I give 'em the forecast.

Beautiful weather.

I mean, just gorgeous.

Not a cloud in the sky.

Movie's a hit.

I get to meet Clark Gable.

Little picture-- I-I don't know

if you heard of it.

Called Gone with the Wind.

-You seen it, Stagg?

-No.

No? That...

That's crazy. Who hasn't seen

Gone with the Wind?

Me. I haven't seen it.

Well, you must.

I mean, it's a great picture.

It's great. I saw it with Ike.

Kay drove us...

to the London premiere.

-This is true.

-Great night.

So, did you meet Vivien Leigh?

Oh, we sure did.

-What was she like?

-What was she like?

Uh, she was cute.

The Allied High Command

has requested

our forecast

by 1:00 p.m. tomorrow.

Time and date of the invasion

to France

has been confirmed for Monday.

Monday. Monday.

June 5th, 6:30 a.m.,

so can we start, please?

Get rid of the piano. Thank you.

Is it bothering you, Dr. Stagg?

It's inappropriate.

Call this extension

if you need to speak

to General Eisenhower anytime,

day or night.

Is this his direct line?

Oh, no.

It's a direct line to me.

I handle all communication

with the general.

Can I have your attention,

please?

Bryant, can you put

the phone down, please?

Is that his name? Bryant?

Okay, go ahead.

I needn't, I hope,

have to stress to you

how crucial this forecast is,

but I do want to stress

one thing to you all

and one thing only:

Get me the data.

That's what counts.

Get me the latest readings

from every single base

within 2,000 miles of Normandy.

That's Paris, Galway, Reykjavk,

Boston, Washington, Lisbon...

...New York, Newfoundland.

You get the idea.

Get me the data

from every Met station,

every weather balloon,

every reconnaissance flight.

That's upper air.

That's surface air.

That's radar soundings.

That's sea temperature.

That's salinity. Everything.

If we've measured it,

then I want it.

That room there...

that's where I'll be.

Get me the data.

That's what counts.

700 millibars.

210. 28.

650 millibars.

Plus 19.

Observations

coming in from Spain.

Sea surface temp: 18 degrees.

Ten-tenths

stratocumulus and altocumulus

now rising in zero-two.

1-0-1-5 millibars.

Northwest wind, force five.

6-0-0 millibars.

Wind southwest, force four.

South Iceland

seven-tenths, 30,000 feet.

Southeast, force six.

1-0-1-8 millibars.

Say that again, please.

Repeat that.

-Are you getting the

L front temp? -No, I have...

Seven-tenths, stratocumulus,

3,000 feet, force six.

Southwesterly, force six.

We're still waiting on

the Greenland data, sir.

Just-just leave that.

Just leave that be.

What speed is L3 moving at?

25 knots.

Finished with that?

Ten StratoCu 3,000 feet,

southeast, force four.

1-0-1-3 millibars.

Radar soundings from 0930.

There's been no movement

from the main course.

Sir, the weather conditions

in Normandy.

These are from yesterday's

12 o'clock, sir.

Humidity reports.

And we have those folders

you requested...

There's nothing there.

Carter. It's done.

Good man.

Sir.

The latest completed maps.

Oh, come on.

Look at the analogs.

It's as plain as day:

calm, sunny weather.

Those analogs prove

absolutely nothing.

How can you say that?

It's right here.

Are you blind?

Look at it.

I don't need to look at it.

The chart is 19 years old.

Fine, that's-that's

40 years old,

27 years, uh, 15 years old.

That's-that's the point:

patterns over time.

Okay. Thank you.

I think what we need to do

is establish

what we already know today,

here and now.

Um, we have

two aggressive storms

stretching themselves

across the Atlantic

from Newfoundland to Normandy.

Agreed.

There is an area of

high pressure above the Azores.

That's what interests me.

But it's moving lethargically

and...

Your word, not mine.

I'm sorry, would you like

the floor again?

Me? No, it's your floor.

Go ahead.

We can't just base the forecast

on surface air

and, uh, analog charts.

We must also consider

the jet stream, which...

The jet stream?

Yes, the jet stream

currently hurtling its way

towards Europe

and dragging

both the storms with it,

likely spawning a third storm.

That jet stream.

Okay.

Which will inevitably mean

stormier conditions

over the next few days--

tomorrow, Sunday, into Monday.

Disastrous conditions

for an invasion.

Okay, thank you so much,

Dr. Stagg.

Now, this is a chart

for June 2, 1925.

Nearly identical conditions

to today.

Same depressions

in the Atlantic,

same high pressures

over the Azores.

Move ahead... three days

to June 5, 1925,

D-Day if you will.

Calm. Sunny weather.

1925 is entirely irrelevant

to what we're talking about.

I could've just as easily picked

June 2, 1904, or 1929.

You know as well as I do

that atmospheric conditions

can never be identical ever.

What I do know is who nailed

the forecast at Alamein

for the Western Desert campaign,

for the Tunisian campaign,

for Operation Torch.

I know who got it right

every g*dd*mn time in Cairo.

In Tripoli, Algiers,

Oran, Casablanca.

Do you know?

You?

Yeah. Me.

This isn't Casablanca,

Colonel Krick.

This is Northern Europe.

It doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter.

When the atmospheric conditions

are a match,

the weather follows suit.

Mark my words.

D-Day will be calm and sunny.

Nighty night, gentlemen.

Nobody move.

Back to work.

What do you make of Stagg?

Hmm.

Scottish.

Churchill says he's a genius.

Hmm.

Yeah, well...

men are too fond of that word.

Three-tenths Cu and StratoCu

at 2,000 feet,

cloud extending to West Wales.

Inflatable Shermans,

Spitfires, Long Toms

and troop carriers.

Just rubber and air, gentlemen.

But to a n*zi

reconnaissance plane,

utterly indistinguishable

from the real thing.

In North Africa,

I proved this time and again

with victory after victory

after victory.

Of course, it's not just about

crushing the enemy, gentlemen.

It's about deceiving him, too,

and deceive him we will.

We've conjured up phantom armies

across all of East Anglia,

thousands of fake supply depots,

false radio transmissions,

empty tents

and decoy campfires.

On D-Day,

dummy paratroopers

weighted with sand

will be dropped 15 to 20 miles

inland from the Normandy coast.

They explode on impact.

Only the chute remains.

With any luck, the enemy will

think our boys are running wild

through the French interior,

drawing great chunks

of their forces

right away from the beaches.

It's a little small,

don't you think, Monty?

Small?

It's a joke, Monty.

Yes.

What's small is our window.

The 12th SS Panzer

is already near Caen.

The 352nd Infantry Division

are heavily entrenched.

If we delay beyond Monday,

they will see right through

all of this.

Everything that we have done,

all our meticulous efforts,

will be for naught.

He's doubled his defenses

in as many weeks.

Every passing hour

makes our task more perilous.

Ideally, we bring D-Day forward.

Can't be done.

We are two days out.

The more prepared the enemy,

the more ruthless I must become.

Though it's not my wish,

if it means getting

more men ashore,

I may have to sacrifice

every last member

of my advance brigade.

Well, if I didn't

know you better, Monty,

I would've thought

you enjoyed saying that.

Yes.

But then again,

I've actually been to w*r.

Be that as it may,

you're the boss.

I am.

And the final decision on the

timing of D-Day will be mine...

and mine alone.

Pray for good weather.

The weather is irrelevant.

We must go,

whatever the weather.

George said that

she came over to him.

She came over to him, right?

Ah.

Thought I'd pop in

and identify myself.

Bernard Montgomery.

Oh, yes.

Hello. Uh, James Stagg.

All looking good for Monday?

Um, no.

No, no, no.

Can't say that we are, sir.

Well, can't be that bad, surely.

Well, you know

this country, sir.

Looks can be deceiving.

Hmm.

Do not sow doubt, Group Captain.

Battles are lost

when doubt enters the mind.

We'll cross the Channel

on Monday.

That is definite.

If D-Day is canceled,

we will lose this w*r.

Do you want to be

personally responsible

for losing this w*r,

Group Captain Stagg?

No, sir.

For Christ's sake.

Okay.

We ready to go?

Go where?

To the meeting.

And when we get to the meeting,

what will we be saying exactly?

Monday will be calm and sunny.

The barometer at Foynes

has been falling all morning.

Yeah, I saw it.

Minimal drop, insignificant.

I think it's significant.

Listen, pal.

I've been working with Ike

for three years.

-I know the guy.

-Mm-hmm. And?

He won't want uncertainty.

Right. Well, then I better

attend the meeting alone.

Are you kidding?

You can't do that.

That's not how that works.

Uh, you can't do that.

The responsibility for

the D-Day forecast is mine,

and it's not one that

I'm going to take lightly.

It's not yours.

Okay? It's ours.

Ours, jointly.

No, no. There's one

chief meteorological officer,

and it's not you.

You won't be attending

the meeting.

Is there anything else?

as*h*le.

Irv.

-How much time do I have?

-It's time.

What happened

with Colonel Krick?

Never mind Colonel Krick.

Well, they won't like this.

Well, I don't like this.

They're waiting for you,

Group Captain Stagg.

-Yes?

-Sir, he's here.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

Group Captain Stagg.

This is

General Bernard Montgomery,

commander in chief,

Allied land forces.

And here we have

Air Chief Marshal Leigh-Mallory,

commander in chief,

Allied Expeditionary Air Force.

This is Admiral Ramsay,

commander in chief,

Allied naval forces,

and Lieutenant General

Omar Bradley,

commander of

the U.S. First Army.

Where's Colonel Krick?

He's not attending, sir.

Why not?

Well, I believe it's my duty

to brief you all

on the forecast for Monday.

-He should be here.

-Shall I have him fetched?

My forecast will be the same

whether Colonel Krick

attends or not.

All right.

Going forward, I want him here.

Is that understood?

-Certainly, sir.

-Good.

What have you got?

Regrettably, we are faced

with a succession

of two aggressive storms

in the Atlantic

of unprecedented intensity

for this time of year.

My forecast, therefore...

Uh, excuse me.

My forecast, therefore,

for Monday, June 5th,

the proposed D-Day,

is as follows.

Wind, west-northwest, strong,

reaching force six,

possibly force seven.

Force seven? Are you sure?

No.

It's an estimate.

Cloud low.

Visibility poor.

Rain very likely.

Waves eight to 12 feet,

possibly with an increase

to 15 feet.

Confidence... poor.

Monday, June 5th

through at least

Tuesday, June 6th, falling...

...to very poor.

Stagg, I-I'm no weatherman,

but have you looked

out a window lately?

Well, the weather

in this part of Europe, sir,

can change very rapidly.

This poor visibility-- how poor?

Less than a mile,

or thereabouts.

Our paratroopers

require a full moon

to land on target.

Spring tides are essential

for landing our watercraft.

Do you realize,

Group Captain Stagg,

that Monday, June 5th is

the only date this calendar year

upon which these conditions

perfectly coincide?

I do realize. Of course, sir.

So, when exactly

do you suggest we go?

Well, as it relates

to the weather,

it's impossible to say.

As to the moon and the tides,

the next opportunity

would be June 18.

Two more weeks? Are you mad?

We can't keep our preparations

secret for that long.

It's just not possible.

Of course it isn't.

The enemy will be ready

and waiting.

They'll slaughter

every single last one of us.

That's an extremely

pessimistic forecast.

Are you absolutely certain?

No.

I'm not certain.

I'm confident

that the storms will come.

I can't be absolutely certain

as to when.

Not good enough.

If the storms come tonight,

then they may burn

themselves off by Monday.

If they come tomorrow,

then the weather will be...

exactly as I described.

We must go regardless.

This moment demands judgment

shaped by

actual b*ttlefield experience.

We can't risk another

Exercise Tiger.

My men are ready and primed

for the big match.

Get them onto the beaches

somehow, anyhow.

Leave the rest to me.

Reload me, please.

Let's go. It's time.

Monty.

You can think what you like,

and you can say what you like

to my face,

but don't you ever undermine me

in front of the men again.

Relax, old chap.

It's not as if

I'm telling them anything

they don't already know.

Tiger was a training op.

Dress rehearsal for D-Day.

Half those boys were

fresh out of the draft.

So I called in

live a*tillery to...

...toughen them up.

Naval command was

supposed to b*mb the beach

an hour before we landed.

There were delays, so we had to

push the start time back.

Our radios had a different

frequency from the Brits.

Our boys never got the message.

They walked right into it.

One mistake.

Just that one mistake.

Ike.

Ike, look at me.

You have to stop doing this

to yourself.

What's done is done.

When I close my eyes...

...all I can see is failure.

Well, look what the cat

dragged in.

Evening, sir.

Evening, Irv.

You doing all right?

Yeah. Can we talk?

What's on your mind?

Well, sir, I'm not sure

-if you're aware of...

-Ike!

Associated Press

have just announced

that we're landing

in France tomorrow.

CBS, Radio Moscow,

they've already picked it up.

-Get General McClure on this.

-Yep.

I want this cleaned up now.

And I want names.

Understood.

You were saying?

Stagg!

Stagg!

Everyone out!

Move!

Close the door behind you.

That, uh, forecast you gave...

...was that the view

of the British

and the American teams?

It was the view of

the Allied Meteorological Unit.

Don't give me

that mealymouthed crap!

Krick told me--

he just told me!--

the weather on Monday

is gonna be fine.

Just fine. Sunny and beautiful!

Well, Colonel Krick had no right

to speak on behalf of...

Wrong!

Colonel Krick has every right

to speak up if he thinks

that that will affect

the outcome of the invasion!

Is that clear?!

Is it?!

Yes, sir.

Who do you think

you are, anyway?

Who?

Ordering my man to stand down?

Pestering my staff

so that you can phone home?

May I respond, sir?

I'm all ears.

As chief meteorological officer,

I take full responsibility

for the recommendation made

at the meeting.

And it was precisely because

Colonel Krick and I disagreed

that I decided it would be

clearer and simpler

if I spoke alone.

Krick's forecasts have saved

thousands of lives.

Why on God's green earth

should I trust you?

Because Colonel Krick

has been lucky.

Good.

I like luck.

Why was he lucky?

He's been lucky because

he's been tasked

with forecasting

stable weather systems.

When patterns are predictable,

then yes, of course,

analog charts can be useful.

In North Africa,

he never made a mistake.

-Not once.

-Well, of course he didn't.

He was safe as houses there.

The conditions here, sir...

they're not comparable.

Look at the charts, sir.

Here, there are two--

not one but two--

major storms advancing towards

the Normandy coast

even as we speak.

That's nowhere near France.

No, sir.

Not yet.

I want a forecast

the two of you agree on.

Clear?

Yes, sir.

OPW confirmed full retraction.

Thank you.

Not at all, sir.

I didn't tell him about

you trying to call home.

Someone downstairs must have

leaked it, I'm afraid.

Okay.

He gets like that sometimes.

Just let it wash over you.

He won't even remember

what he said.

That how you deal with him?

Ah, he's nothing.

I was an ambulance driver

during the Blitz.

There were so many dead bodies,

we had to use a cinema

as a morgue.

-You just grow a thick skin.

-Hmm.

From ambulance driver

to aide

to the supreme commander.

Mm-hmm.

Driver, secretary,

aide, nurse.

Everything, really.

We've been together

for three years now.

I've been to Morocco, Algeria.

Must be exciting.

It has its moments.

So, these storms

you keep talking about--

how are you so certain

that they're coming?

I'm not certain.

You can't be certain

about the weather.

All we can do is

look to the evidence.

Do you know that weathermen are

traditionally a little boring?

How dare you say that?

Weathermen, maybe, but how can

the weather be boring?

It feeds us.

The weather.

Can destroy us.

Controls our daily life.

I don't think that's boring.

People ask, "When will it rain?

When will the sun come out?"

But what about,

"Why does it rain?"

"Why does the wind blow?"

"What's the wind?"

Excuse me.

Yes. Stagg.

Yes, go ahead. Repeat that.

Zero, zero, one, zero, four...

StratoCu at 2,000 feet.

Tops at 5,000 feet.

Good news or bad?

We're looking good, sir.

I couldn't disagree

with that more.

We're not looking good at all.

You know what, I am done

with this Scotch pessimism

of yours, this Highland gloom.

I'm not from the Highlands.

Well, your Lowland gloom, then.

I'm neither from the Highlands

nor the Lowlands.

Well, wherever it is he's from,

we're in good shape

for Monday, sir.

You see this?

This ridge of high pressure

has already moved in

from the Azores,

just as it did on June 3, 1925.

This is moronic.

This is actually moronic.

Oh, so I'm moronic now?

That's great, Stagg.

That's just great.

Just insult me right to my face.

I'm not insulting you.

I'm just describing you.

As a moron?

All right, enough.

As a confident moron, yes.

Oh, go to hell, Stagg.

You come in here,

-you think you're better

than us? -Hey! All right,

all right, all right,

that's enough.

Jesus Christ.

We have three hours.

Three hours until we

take this up with the C-in-Cs.

Now...

...go or not go?

Sir, what we need to consider...

No, no. No, no more considering.

No.

Go or don't go? Go or don't go?

That's it. Which is it?!

We should go, sir.

Stagg.

I'm sorry,

we'll have to call you back.

Understood.

Uh, uh, I-I'm sorry, sir.

It's for you.

Not now.

They say it's extremely urgent.

Yes. Stagg.

Sir, this is

Private Amy Haig from Signals

relaying a message from

the Dunstable Met Office.

Your wife was taken to the

maternity ward of St. Mary's.

-She is pregnant, yes?

-Yes.

Yes, that's correct.

Is the baby here?

Have I missed it?

Well, sir,

they felt you should know:

St. Mary's Hospital was bombed

earlier tonight.

There have been casualties,

sir, and they're...

they're still looking

for your wife.

Group Captain Stagg?

Is there any more information?

Not at this point, sir.

But there's been casualties?

Yes, sir.

Okay. Well, um...

Well, if you have any more...

information,

then let me know-- anything.

Of course, sir.

Thank you.

You're welcome, sir.

There a problem, Stagg?

No. It's irrelevant.

Good.

So, can I give the order?

What?

The order.

For Monday.

No.

N-No?

I mean, so you're saying

don't give the order?

Is that it?

Yeah, that... Yes.

Yes. I'm saying that...

I'm saying...

that the weather on Monday

will be extremely poor.

Let me tell you

my problem, Stagg.

Even I can see that

Krick's anticyclone

is on the move,

because it's right here

on the g*dd*mn map.

Now, our final meeting

is at 0400 hours,

and that will be

the absolute last opportunity

to change anything,

so unless you can prove

these storms are inbound,

we invade as planned

Monday, June 5th, 0630 hours.

Yes, sir.

Three hours, gentlemen.

You ready? You ready?

Yeah!

Oh...

The hi-de-h* man, that's me

How'd you like

to blow your top?

Dig yourself

some fine rebop?

Hi-de-hi, he-de-he

Oh, the hi-de-h* man,

that's me

Hi-de, hi-de, hi-de-hi

Hi-de, hi-de,

hi-de-hi

Hey-de, hey-de, hey-de-hey

Hey-de, hey-de,

hey-de-hey

He-de, he-de, he-de-he

He-de, he-de,

he-de-he

Hi-de, hi-de, hi-de-hi

Hi-de, hi-de,

hi-de-hi

Say, I hepped 'em in London

I hepped 'em in Holland

I hepped 'em in g*y Paris

Yes, sirree, yes, sirree

Oh, the hi-de-h* man,

that's me

Hi-de, hi-de, hi-de-hi

Hi-de, hi-de-hi

Oh-h*, de-h*-de

h*, de-h*-de

Hi-de, hi-de, hi-de-hi

Hi-de, hi-de,

hi-de-hi

The hi-de-h* man, that's me.

Dr. Stagg.

Come with me.

Come on.

We need you back there.

Come on.

You'll be all right.

-Yes.

-Mm-hmm.

Anything at all.

Yeah.

Uh, this just came through, sir.

I want to say something.

Yeah, what's that?

I think the way

you're treating Stagg is wrong.

I think if you keep it up,

he's gonna crack

and you'll lose him.

Then I'll work with Krick.

You know I like Irv,

but he-he's no match for Stagg.

Since when are you an expert?

Don't talk to me like that.

His wife is in the hospital.

-She's pregnant.

-In labor.

Hospital's bombed, yes.

I know. What else?

He doesn't know if his

pregnant wife is dead or alive.

Uh-huh. Yes.

-Let me find out.

-Find out what?

I can make it to the hospital

and back in a couple of hours.

-How are you gonna do that?

-It'll give him clarity.

No. No, I need you here.

It's just a couple of hours.

No.

Dismissed.

Dismissed, Lieutenant.

South Iceland,

seven-tenths StratoCu,

3,000 feet,

southeast force six.

...ten-tenths at 1,500 feet.

So we have warm sector

conditions over Ireland,

and low 9-9-6 is off

the northwest of Scotland.

It's the secondary low.

That's causing a low cloud base.

It's very high dew points

in that warm sector upstream.

No sign of frontal systems

moving north.

Not yet.

-They're about to start, sir.

-Just a couple more minutes.

Please.

I have the 1300 and 1800

surface air maps. Bryant.

It's okay.

We don't need the charts.

We still have

a little time, sir.

Irving, why don't you

start us off, please?

Yes, sir.

Gentlemen...

this is a chart

for June 3, 1925.

You'll notice here and here

a temporary weakening

of pressure over the Azores,

just as we're seeing today.

Now, within 24 hours,

that pressure reasserted itself,

and it cleared the storm

threatening Northern Europe.

As you can see...

...nearly identical patterns

occurred in 1904 and 1925,

and I can give you

plenty of others,

but the bottom line is this:

Tomorrow, Monday, June 5th,

is good to go.

Thank you.

Stagg?

You've got the floor.

Nobody here likes me very much.

I realize that,

and that's all right.

I don't expect you to like me,

but I do want you

to listen to me.

Um, I could stand here

and provide you

with yet more, uh, data--

the latest barometric readings,

the wind speeds,

the new upper-air soundings

that we've collated--

but none of it is going to make

a lick of difference, is it?

Is it?

Because you want

to believe that--

what Colonel Krick's just said,

that it's going to be safe

to land in Normandy tomorrow--

and so that's what you believe.

But everything

that he's just said

is pure, unadulterated...

horseshit.

You can muster

all the tanks and soldiers

and ships that you like.

You can assemble the greatest

armada that ever there was,

but if you invade tomorrow,

they're going to be washed away.

Because the storms that

I'm talking about are real,

and the jet stream

that's propelling them

towards the Normandy coast

is real,

and the wrath of nature...

...is real.

And if you ignore it,

then countless men

and countless boys...

That's it.

He's lost his bloody mind.

Why is it horseshit?

Yes, the weather was

as he described

in 1904 and 1925,

but he fails to mention 1916.

June 5th,

the Battle for Mount Sorrel.

Then, as now, there were

areas of high pressure

above the Azores,

but the storms came anyway.

Many people here will remember

that battle.

Chaos. Absolute chaos!

Thousands of lives lost!

Hell on earth! Torrential rain!

He's selecting the data

that suits him

and ignoring the rest,

and we must face the facts.

The facts!

However frightening they may be!

Well, if...

if not Monday, when?

Not before June 18.

Christ on a bike, he's still

talking about the 18th.

The 18th?

There is no 18th.

No 18th. No 18th!

None!

None, none, none, none, none!

The 18th is not an option!

Montgomery.

Bertie...

what is the worst

we can tolerate?

Waves of four to six feet

would be tolerable.

Anything over six feet...

impossible.

Stagg?

I'm estimating waves

of eight to ten feet.

Trafford, worst case?

Cloud base can't be lower

than a thousand feet,

or we're flying blind.

Cloud base will be

at least eight to ten-tenths

below a thousand feet.

Then don't fly.

Ramsay, you get us ashore,

our men will handle the rest.

-Without air cover?

-With or without.

Shut up, Monty.

We need to land,

is what we need to do.

If we don't land,

we have no fourth front,

-and without a fourth front...

-For God's sake, Monty.

With waves of ten feet,

we won't be landing anywhere.

Well, then, let's just start

the blasted Kraut lessons now,

then, shall we,

and all the goose-stepping?

And then maybe one day

years from now,

we can all yodel about

the time that we didn't...

Enough!

Krick, do you have

anything to add?

I'm telling you, sir, next week

is nothing but clear skies.

If you choose to postpone,

you'll regret it

for the rest of your lives.

I maintain my position.

And I maintain mine.

Then so be it.

D-Day will be postponed.

Ike.

I hate to bring this up,

but we have hundreds

of thousands of troops

ready to deploy down there.

Now, they've obviously

been briefed

as to the invasion plans.

Yeah,

that's a lot of loose lips.

Secure all troops.

-I repeat, secure all troops.

-I repeat,

all troops must be

detained at once.

No one leaves

until further notice.

No one leaves

until further notice.

I repeat, all troops

must be detained at once.

All troops must be

detained at once.

Secure them on board,

no exceptions.

You did the right thing.

Jesus.

Should've gone.

Ike.

All creatures

of our God and King

Lift up

your voice and with us sing

Alleluia, alleluia

Thou burning sun

With golden beam

Thou silver moon

With softer gleam

O praise him, O praise him

Alleluia, alleluia

Alleluia

Thou rushing wind

that art so strong

Ye clouds that sail

in heaven along

O praise him, O praise him

Alleluia, alleluia

Alleluia.

God, grant to the living...

...grace.

To the departed, rest.

To the nation,

peace and concord.

To us all, your servants,

the promise of eternal life.

Your blessing to unite us all

in your service

to our God

and to this, our country.

Light to guide us...

guide us on our way.

Courage to support us

and your blessing to unite us...

in service to you.

Amen.

Amen.

We can't keep the men

locked up like this, Ike.

Not for two more weeks.

Well, what do you want me to do?

Furlough 300,000 men

with the playbook for D-Day?

We might as well

tell the Nazis ourselves.

It's just an observation.

We will find a way, Trafford.

Hang in there.

Yes.

Sir.

So L2 and 3

have merged into one system.

Mm. And a new low

has intensified

east of Newfoundland.

Uh, sir?

Excuse me, Dr. Stagg?

The cold front appears to be

clearing western Ireland.

What?

It's clearing, sir.

What's the geostrophic gradient?

Uh, 40 knots north, sir.

So it's slowing.

Well, you can't be sure, sir.

We've only had one reading.

-Where'd it come from?

-Northwest Ireland.

Tell me specifically,

who... who recorded it?

What weather base?

A Miss Maureen Sweeney, sir.

-Blacksod Point.

-Show me.

Well, call her back.

Double-check it.

-Triple-check it.

-Sir.

Right now, please.

Can you ask, uh, Teleprinter Ops

to get me readings

from every base

within 500 miles

of Blacksod Point? Right now.

Can I get the latest

climate readings, please?

Yeah?

Um...

This just came in

from Blacksod Point.

Was it checked?

They're checking it now.

Could mean something,

could mean nothing.

Yes, but which?

What do you think?

Why are you asking me?

Look out the g*dd*mn window,

Stagg.

I'm asking you because

I need your expertise.

Please.

It's the fifth reading.

It is unusual.

Mm-hmm. Yeah, it is.

It's worth looking into.

Good.

Heavy frontal cloud, west of 35.

Blacksod Point

barometer fell overnight,

then slight rise by afternoon,

front offshore.

1-0-1-1 millibars.

Who do you got now?

Who are you speaking with?

I was just asking him about...

So, what are you doing now?

And get the result

for that one, please.

The low is moving

in the right direction, but...

-It's too close.

-Yeah.

Hamilton, when's the next chart

coming out?

Within the hour, sir.

Within the hour

is not good enough.

Can we get...

can we get Dunstable...

a result from Dun-Dunstable in,

please, soon?

It should've been with us

an hour ago.

What's the movement

on the cold front?

Still 30 knots, sir.

Have you ever seen

a progression like this?

Never. Winter, maybe.

Never this time of year.

StratoCu

lifting above 2,000 feet.

Sea surface

temperature, 15 degrees.

Data points up

to 400 millibars.

What are you looking for?

A gap,

because there's one there.

You call that a gap?

Yes, I call that a gap.

That's a very narrow gap.

A narrow gap is still a gap.

Thank you.

Do you see a gap?

I believe there's one

forming, sir, yes.

Yes, a gap. Thank you.

So, if this was a normal

forecast, would you call it?

Yeah.

I don't know. Uh, probably.

Yeah.

The only difference is

it's D-Day.

Big difference.

Call Eisenhower.

You wanted to see me?

Yes, sir.

There's been a development, sir.

It seems the storm

at Newfoundland is slowing.

We believe it's enough

to provide a... a...

a window

in the disruptive weather.

Um...

Well, if I may,

th-the cigarettes

are the Newfoundland storm,

the larger one of three.

My glasses here are

the two smaller storms.

Currently, the larger storm is

dragging the two smaller storms

away from the Normandy coast,

leaving a...

a gap in the weather of sorts

just long enough for us to land

in Normandy on Tuesday morning.

Tuesday?

As in 26 hours from now,

Tuesday?

Sir, if you just look

at the latest charts...

I don't want to look

at your damn charts.

It's a bunch of gobbledygook.

What I want is for you

to get down on your knees

and look me in the eye

and tell me,

"Tuesday morning, sir,

the sun's got his hat on."

Because in case

you haven't noticed,

there's a g*dd*mn hurricane

blowing out there!

Technically, it's not

a hurricane, sir.

Sunny weather, you say stop.

Hurricane, you say go.

Well, no. Well, yes, sir.

Yes, that's exactly

what I'm saying.

Send my men into...

into the storm?

Yeah.

They'll never see it coming,

sir, never.

A gap like this

in the storm-- never.

You're absolutely sure of that?

Are you absolutely sure

about that, Group Captain Stagg?

I'm sure there'll be a gap.

The weather won't be perfect...

but it'll do.

This is your official position?

My official position is this.

Go.

You should go, sir.

Okay, we'll go.

D-Day is Tuesday, June 6.

This is my statement...

-if all goes well tomorrow.

-Mm-hmm.

And...

this one if not.

-Hey.

-Hmm?

I've got a surprise for you.

Rare as nylons.

I have a good feeling

about tomorrow.

-You should get some sleep.

-Yes.

Yeah?

-0630 hours.

-0630 hours.

My men did all that bravery

and devotion to duty could do.

If any blame or fault

is attached to the attempt,

it is mine and mine alone.

That's what I wrote.

In case we fail tomorrow.

We won't.

Soldiers, sailors and airmen

of the Allied

Expeditionary Force...

...you are about to embark

upon the Great Crusade,

upon which we have striven

these many months.

The eyes of the world

are upon you.

The hope and prayers

of liberty-loving people

everywhere march with you.

In company with our brave allies

and brothers-in-arms

on other fronts,

you will bring about

the destruction

of the German w*r machine...

...the elimination

of n*zi tyranny

over the oppressed peoples

of Europe

and security for ourselves

in a free world.

You get any sleep?

Not a wink.

You?

Nope.

Your task

will not be an easy one.

Your enemy is well trained,

well equipped

and battle-hardened.

He will fight savagely.

60 seconds to H hour.

Radio silence ends in...

60 seconds.

But this is the year 1944.

Where you from?

Bracken Mountain,

North Carolina, sir.

-Bracken Mountain,

North Carolina? -Yes, sir.

The tide has turned.

The free men of the world

are marching together

to victory.

What's your name?

-Uh, Oiler, sir.

-Oiler. Where you from, Oiler?

I have full confidence in

your courage, devotion to duty

and skill in battle.

We will accept nothing less

than full victory.

Good luck,

and let us beseech the blessing

of Almighty God

upon this great

and noble undertaking.

Utah. Come in, Utah.

Utah, come in.

SHAEF main to Utah.

Come in, Utah.

Omaha Beach

control, do you read?

Utah, come in.

Utah, do you read?

Utah... hit by

machine-g*n fire. Casualties...

Heavy incoming fire

at Utah Beach.

What about the other beaches?

Serious

casualties at Omaha Beach.

How many casualties?

Westerly winds

causing course corrections.

Westerly winds

causing course corrections.

Visibility two miles,

ceiling falling to 1,500 feet.

Landing craft

swept off course at Utah.

Visibility two miles.

Ceiling falling to 1,500 feet.

Omaha sky still overcast...

...unable to locate batteries

lying on south beach.

-Keep moving!

-Keep pushing!

Move! Move!

Incoming! Take cover!

Cannot

unload due to heavy shellfire.

L1 section lost in water.

Second half moving forward.

...800 yards off the beach.

Omaha winds 14 knots west.

Taking heavy fire

at Gold and Omaha.

Many wounded at Dog Red,

needing immediate evacuation.

Cloud

ceiling low, around 500 feet.

Cloud ceiling

low, around 500 feet.

...find no targets

of opportunity...

Can find

no targets of opportunity

without endangering own landing.

We can't see a bloody thing!

Wind 18 knots, west, southwest.

Wind 18 knots,

west, southwest.

Clouds 800 feet,

beginning to rise.

-You're good. You're good.

-Am I gonna die?

No, we'll get you home.

You're good. You're good.

Waves moderating

at Utah, now two to three feet.

Ceiling lifting to 1,500 feet.

Clearer skies inland.

Keep pushing!

I don't care! Go!

Utah cloud ceiling clear.

Move up!

Two U.S. destroyers

are within one...

Move up!

Yes?

Mm-hmm.

What?

Thank you.

Footholds established

on all the beaches.

Our men are ashore,

with full air and naval support.

Hello. Signals Department.

Yes, St. Mary's Hospital

in Clapham, please.

I'm sorry, sir, but there are

still no outgoing calls

until security restrictions

have been officially lifted.

I believe...

I've arranged a car to take you

straight to the hospital.

Thank you very much.

I appreciate that.

Well, congratulations, Stagg.

Congratulations to you, too.

Good luck.

Thank you so much

for everything.

Ah, don't be silly.

I'm sorry I couldn't

have done more.

No, no, no.

We were busy.

Thank you.

No, no. You can't.

No! No!

Hello, Jim.

Hello, Liz.

Are you all right?

You okay?

Yeah?

Your son.

Oh.

Hello.

Hello, beautiful.