I never said it was clever. I said it was necessary. Because you're right. They will strike again, and they will be stronger. Now we have two options from there: We roll over and take it and they kill us all next time, or we step up our game and they just leave a dent.

[She knows what he's saying, though. Trust me, she's had that same argument, in the past.] If rolling over and playing dead would keep them the hell of our backs, I'd be all for it. The people here don't need a fight they can avoid. But it wouldn't, and you know that.

[There's a pause, contemplating, deciding. Then, in a less 'military' tone:] Did anyone ever get that collar off?