important
we establish a few facts
so these people can make
a fair decision.
First, were you not the chief test
pilot for the lunar shuttle XR-2300?
Yes.
On the fifth of October this year,
that shuttle crash-landed.
Were you not the pilot
on that flight?
Yes, but I wasn't...
And, Mr Striker, is it not true
that that crash was a direct result
of your incompetence?
No! The problem was with that ship,
not with me.
The wiring was shorting out
under high temperatures.
That thing was a flying deathtrap.
The fact is, gentlemen, nothing
serious was wrong with that ship.
Ted Striker folded up
on the approach.
That's a lie!
Order! Order!
On March 5, 1980, flight 209 into
Chicago lost its crew in midair.
And on that fateful night,
Ted Striker saved that plane.
I'd like to call one of the
passengers from that flight,
if it pleases the court.
Do you swear on the Constitution
to tell the whole truth,
and nothing but?
I do.
Would you describe, in your own
words, what happened that night?
Mr. Striker performed exceptionally
The passengers were very concerned
The pilots were incapacitated
So Mr. Striker took control
And landed that plane safely
Golly!
I know I wouldn't be alive today
if it wasn't for Mr Striker.
I find it difficult even now to think
about that night over Chicago.
Please try, Mrs Hammen.
It's very important.
Well...
we lost the crew...
and...
the food poisoning
made us all very ill.
I lost control. We all did.
And then... the bad weather...
And the lightning...
I've got to get out of here!
Calm down! Get a hold of yourself!
Stewardess, please,
let me handle this.
I've got to get out!
Calm down. Now get back to your seat.
Calm down! Get a hold of yourself!
Doctor, you're wanted on the phone.
Everything's going to be all right.
Now just calm down.
I've got to get out of here!
This is very important!
Let the court handle this!
Will you please control yourself?
Bailiff, Valium.
I flew with Striker during the war.
I'll never forget the night
we bombed Macho Grande.
Striker was a squadron leader.
He brought us in low,
but he couldn't handle it.
Buddy couldn't handle it.
Was Buddy in your crew?
Buddy was the bombardier,
but Striker couldn't handle it.
- And he went to pieces.
- Andy went to pieces?
Andy was the navigator.
Buddy went to pieces.
- It was awful, how he came unglued.
- Howie came unglued?
No, Howie was the best tail gunner
in the outfit. Buddy came unglued.
- And he bailed out?
- No! Andy hung tough. Buddy bailed.
How we survived was a miracle.
Then Howie survived.
No. Afraid not.
We lost Howie the next day.
Over Macho Grande?
No. I don't think
I'll ever get over Macho Grande.
Those wounds run... pretty deep.
Ted and I were very close once.
We had the kind of relationship
where we laughed and laughed
and laughed all the time.
Do you know what that's like?
Yes. Yes, I do.
Then things started to come apart.
He was obsessed with that shuttle.
He started to talk about it
all the time, even at night in bed,
and I guess that's when
the real problems started.
Please elaborate.
Well...
at first...
sex between us
was a wonderful experience -
the way he touched me...
He was so gentle.
He'd unbutton my blouse...
and then...
and then...
We drifted apart.
I'm sorry. I can't go on.
At the request of this court,
Mr Striker has undergone
a psychiatric examination.
The court calls Dr Franklin Stone.
Can you give your impression
of Mr Striker?
I don't do impressions.
My training is in psychiatry.
Of course.
In your opinion, Doctor, was Ted
Striker competent to fly the shuttle?
The defendant suffers
from chronic psychological stress
and in a pressure situation
can snap like that.
- Like that?
- That's it.
He's a danger to himself and others,
and needs treatment.
Mr Striker.
This court recommends that
you be confined to an institution
for treatment until such time as you
are deemed fit to re-enter