12 O'Clock High (TV Series)

Appointment at Liege (1964)

Robert Lansing: Brig. Gen. Frank Savage

Quotes 

• Maj. Gus Denver : [Desperately offering excuse for loss of three crew, killed on his plane during that day's mission]  General, I had an inexperienced co-pilot.

  Brig. Gen. Frank Savage : 'HAD' is the correct word. Don't worry -- it won't happen again. You're grounded until further notice.

  Maj. Gus Denver : General, that's not fair.

  [pleading; desperate] 

  Brig. Gen. Frank Savage : Next time you try to kill yourself, Denver, you find a bridge someplace and you jump off it alone. Those nine men you tried to take with you today might have had other plans.

• Brig. Gen. Frank Savage : ...alright, what do you wanna know?

  Liz Woodruff : I wish you could tell me.

  Brig. Gen. Frank Savage : Tell you what?

  Liz Woodruff : What are your troubles?

  Brig. Gen. Frank Savage : I decided one of my men was self-destructive. So, I grounded him, to save his life and the life of his crew.

  [pause] 

  Brig. Gen. Frank Savage : But I did it on a hunch, Liz, a personal opinion. If I'm wrong I should rescind the order.

  Liz Woodruff : Frank, why were you put in this job? Wasn't it so you could exercise your opinion?

  [pause] 

  Liz Woodruff : Aren't hunches based on experience?

  [pause] 

  Liz Woodruff : So, if you continue to do what you think is right would that be destroying yourself -- or, remaining true to yourself?

  Brig. Gen. Frank Savage : [soft music begins underscoring the tender, serious exchange, yet Liz brings Savage to actually smile]  You're a very astute kid... That's what I like about you -- you sweep away 'the cobwebs' like a good broom.

  Liz Woodruff : [eyes roll]  General, you don't often pay compliments, but when you do they're memorable.

  [the couple's embrace tightens and they kiss -- meaningfully and not-hurriedly]