The Bedford Incident (1965)

Eric Portman: Commodore Wolfgang Schrepke - Deutsche Marine

Photos 

Quotes 

• [after Finlander orders an anti-submarine rocket armed] 

  Commodore Schrepke : This is insane!

  Captain Finlander : Now don't worry, Commodore. The Bedford'll never fire first. But if he fires one, I'll fire one.

  Ensign Ralston : [launching the rocket]  Fire One!

• Captain Finlander : He didn't surface during the night, he couldn't, we must've been directly over him. So he's out of breathing air. Staying down, he couldn't charge his batteries, so he can't run. And there he is. So you see, Commodore, we've accomplished the most important step. We've made him desperate.

  Commodore Wolfgang Schrepke, Deutsche Marine : He's certainly desperate. That is the danger. You are dealing with a desperate force.

  Captain Finlander : And we're a determined force.

  Commodore Wolfgang Schrepke, Deutsche Marine : YOU are in the power here, Eric. It is not a force, it is just you.

  Captain Finlander : Uh, you mean you're trying to say that, uh, you consider ME desperate.

  Commodore Wolfgang Schrepke, Deutsche Marine : No, Captain. To be frank, I consider you frightening.

• Commodore Schrepke : That permission specifically said "if the sub is still in territorial waters", is that not so?

  Captain Finlander : A matter of interpretation, Commodore.

  Commodore Schrepke : But the Russian is in international waters. The ocean is free, my captain.

  Captain Finlander : Yeah, so it is.

  Commodore Schrepke : So you have lost your opportunity. It was magnificent -

  Captain Finlander : Look, if I catch a man robbing my house and he makes a break for the street, do I let him go just because he made it to the sidewalk?

• Ben Munceford : I've heard a lot about you, Commodore, but I never expected I'd meet you.

  Commodore Schrepke : Is that so?

  Ben Munceford : Not aboard an American destroyer.

  Commodore Schrepke : (Is) that so surprising in these times?

  Ben Munceford : I guess not, if one can make the switch mentally. But I, uh... I still connect you with... Hitler's navy.

  Commodore Schrepke : Your pardon: Admiral Dönitz's navy, sir.

• Commodore Schrepke : [Entering the ship's dispensary]  Your captain informs me a prescription given by the former medical officer should be renewed by yourself.

  Lt. Cmdr. Chester Potter M.D., U.S.N. : I see. A prescription?

  Commodore Schrepke : Sure. A prescription.

  Lt. Cmdr. Chester Potter M.D., U.S.N. : [searching the medical files]  Schrepke? Is that it?... Here we are... Nothing there.

  Lt. Cmdr. Chester Potter M.D., U.S.N. : It looks like Lt. Hirschfeld didn't make any notation of the prescription, or the nature of the condition it's supposed to treat.

  Commodore Schrepke : That's all right, Commander. The doctor and I had an understanding.

  Lt. Cmdr. Chester Potter M.D., U.S.N. : I see. Well, what was the medicine?

  Commodore Schrepke : Schnapps.

  Lt. Cmdr. Chester Potter M.D., U.S.N. : [a bit confused]  Schnapps?

  Commodore Schrepke : Yes, schnapps. You carry brandy in your medical supplies, do you not?

  Lt. Cmdr. Chester Potter M.D., U.S.N. : Well, yes, of course. But why do you have to have schnapps?

  Commodore Schrepke : I really don't know, Commander. I've had three schnapps a day ever since I joined the Navy in 1931. Even when I was a prisoner of war, your English allies were kind enough to let me have my schnapps.

  Lt. Cmdr. Chester Potter M.D., U.S.N. : I'm afraid I'll have to check this with Captain Finlander.

  Commodore Schrepke : It was he who suggested you see me. Sorry if I troubled you.

  Lt. Cmdr. Chester Potter M.D., U.S.N. : No, no, it's all right... Mac, will you fill that, please?

  Lt. Cmdr. Chester Potter M.D., U.S.N. : Commodore, you realize there's nothing personal about this. I'm sure you can see that I have to exercise caution in the matter. If the crew got wind of this there'd be a hell of a raid on the dispensary.

  Commodore Schrepke : You're wrong, Doctor. Not on this ship.