1
Frank: Is yours done?
Jason: Yeah, I think I got a hand of it.
Frank: You better. The boss will chew my head off if these cores get
messed up.
Jason: Don't worry.
Frank: We're at 26 feet.
Jack: You let Jason operate the drill?
Frank: Yeah, he can handle it.
Jason: I didn't do anything.
Jack: Give me your hand! Let go of the drill!
Frank: Forget it, Jack! It's too late! You're not gonna make it! Jack!
Jack! Give me your hand! I've got you! What were you thinking?
Jason: - What's happening?
Frank: - The whole damn shelf is breaking off! That's what's
happening!
2
Jack: Well, we"ve found in these ice cores evidence of a cataclysmic
climate shift, which occurred 10,000 years ago. The concentration
of these natural greenhouse gases in the ice cores... indicates that
runaway warming pushed the planet into an ice age... which lasted
two centuries.
Delegate 1: I'm confused. I thought you were talking about global
warming, not an ice age.
Jack: Yes, it is a paradox, but global warming can trigger a cooling
trend. Let me explain. The Northern Hemisphere owes its climate to
the North Atlantic Current. Heat from the sun arrives at the equator
and is carried north by the ocean. But global warming is melting the
polar ice caps and disrupting this flow. Eventually it will shut down.
And when that occurs... there goes our warm climate.
Delegate 2: Excuse me. When do you think this could happen,
professor? When?
Jack: I don't know. Maybe in 100 years, maybe in 1000. But what I
do know is... that if we do not act soon, it is our children and
grandchildren will have to pay the price.
Vice President: And who's going to pay the price of the Kyoto
Accord? It would cost the world's economy hundreds of billions of
dollars.
Jack: With all due respect, Mr. Vice President, the cost of doing
nothing could be even higher. Our climate is fragile. At the rate
we're burning fossil fuels and polluting the environment... the ice
caps will soon disappear.
Vice President: Professor Hall... our economy is every bit as fragile
as the environment. Perhaps you should keep that in mind before
making sensationalist claims.
Jack: Well, the last chunk of ice that broke off... was about the size
of Rhode Island. Some people might call that pretty sensational.
3
Crowd: Stop global warming! Stop global warming!
Reporter: I'm at the Global Warming Conference in New Delhi...
where, if you can believe it, it's snowing. The coldest weather on
record has thrown the city into chaos... with numbers of homeless
people freezing to death.
Jack: Taxi!
Terry: I enjoyed your testimony, professor. It was very spirited.
Jack: Oh, thank you. That's what we're here for, right? Put on a
good show?
Terry: Quite. I was wondering if I could talk to you about your
theory on abrupt climate shift. The name's Rapson. Terry Rapson.
Jack: - Professor Rapson? Of the Hedland Center?
Terry: - That's me.
Jack: I've read your work on ocean currents.
Terry: - What do you say to a spot of tea?
Jack: - Absolutely. If we can hail a cab.
Terry: Over here.
4
Reporter (TV): Welcome back to Glasgow, Scotland, where
Manchester United... leads 3- 1 over hometown Celtic.
We return 63 minutes into the second half as Manchester United...
looks to put the game out of reach. Let's get back to our
commentator... Donald MacFarland.
Jeanette's husband: What? Yeah. - I just closed my eyes for a sec,
man.
Dennis: - Yeah.
Jeanette's husband: The baby kept us awake all night.
TV: - And still.
Jeanette's husband: - Yeah! Dennis? NOMAD buoy 4311 is showing
a temperature drop of 13 degrees.
Dennis: - Yeah? Where is 4311?
Jeanette's husband: - Well, it's... - Georges Bank.
Dennis: - It's rough seas out there. Must have knocked it about.
Kick that bloody ball. Come on! Come on, kick it now. Kick it! - Kick
it!
Terry: - Are the lads winning?
Jeanette's husband: Hello, professor. How was India?
Terry: Oh, you know what these scientific gatherings are. All
dancing girls, wine and parties.
5
Reporter: The fury of Hurricane Noelani stunned weather experts
yesterday... slamming into the unprepared island chain with a
cataclysmic force never before witnessed. Meteorologists already
believe this to be the strongest hurricane ever recorded... The
storm that will surely leave a wake (aftermath) of death...
Lucy: Are you gonna get that? - Hello?
Jack: - I just saw that Sam got an F in calculus.
Lucy: I'm aware, Jack. I get a copy of his report card too.
Jack: Sam is a straight-A student. He doesn't fail classes.
Lucy: I don't have time to talk about this right now.
Jack: Well, maybe you ought to make time.
Lucy: Excuse me, I'm not the one who's away for months and
months at a time.
Jack: I just don't understand.
Lucy: I'll let him explain it to you. Can you take him to the airport in
the morning?
Jack: - Sam's getting on a plane?
Lucy: - He joined the Scholastic Decathlon Team. - They're
competing in New York.
Jack: - Sam joined a team?
Lucy: - Yeah, I think there's a girl involved.
Jack: - Oh.
Lucy: Look, can you pick him up at 8:30? I gotta go because I'm on
call tonight. Jack, please don't be late. I don't want him taking a
taxi again.
Jack: All right. Okay. I'll be there. Okay? I'll be there.
6
PA: This morning's weather staff meeting has been moved to level
four, conference room B.
Tom: Jack? I know you have a talent for rubbing people the wrong
way... but why, why for the love of God would you aggravate the
vice president?
Jack: Because my 17-year-old kid knows more science than he does.
Tom: Perhaps, but your 17-year-old kid does not control our budget.
- It doesn't matter if he hates you.
Jack: - My son doesn't hate me.
Tom: You're missing the point. What I am trying to tell you is that
Raymond Becker pulls our budget...
Jack: - Oh, shit!
Tom: - Wait... Will you...? Jack.
Sam: Oh, my God.
Jack: - I'm sorry I'm late.
Sam: - Dad, it's OK, but the cab's already here.
Jack: That's okay. I'll take care of it.
Sam: What are...?
Jack: - Here you go. I'm not angry. I'm disappointed.
Sam: - Do you want to hear my side of it?
Jack: - How can there be two sides?
Sam: Look, I got every question right on the final. The only reason
Mr. Spengler failed me... is because I didn't write the solutions.
Jack: - Why not?
Sam: I do them in my head.
Jack: - Did you tell him that?
Sam: - I did. He didn't believe me. He said if he can't do them in his
head, I'm cheating.
Jack: Oh, that's ridiculous. How can he fail you for being smarter
than he is?
Sam: That's what I said.
Jack: You did? - How'd he take it?
Sam: - He flunked me, you remember?
Jack: Oh, yeah. Sam, I'm sorry. I jumped to conclusions. I'm gonna
call this guy and have a word with him. We're gonna get this whole
thing straightened out.
Man on the street: Hey, you can't park there.
Sam: - Don't worry about it.
Jack: - Sam? Sam.
7
Houston: Parker, this is Houston. We're seeing some bad weather
over Canaveral. It doesn't look like you're coming back this week.
Your wife's gonna give me an earful.
Parker: Roger that. Hey, come take a look at this storm system. It's
enormous.
Laura: You all right?
Brian: He's afraid of flying.
Sam: I'm fine.
Brian: You know, statistically, the chance of a plane going down
because of turbulence... is less than, what, one in a billion? Or is it
a million? - I can't remember if it's a...
Laura: - Shut up, Brian.
Listen, Sam... don't pay attention to him, okay? Everything's fine.
They're still serving drinks.
8
PA: Folks, it appears we're gonna have a bit of a bumpy ride here
for the next few minutes.
We ask you... Please fasten your seat belts and put your tray
tables... and seat backs in their upright positions until we get
through this. Thank you.
Passengers: Whoa!
Attendant: Grab it. Watch out!
Laura: Sam? Sam. Sam. Can I have my hand back?
9
Jeanette: I can't believe I'll spend two weeks alone with my mom.
Jeanette's husband: Be patient with her. She's been looking forward
to this holiday.
Jeanette: I know.
Jeanette's husband: I love you.
Jeanette: I love you too.
Jeanette's husband: Hey. Hey, hello. Bye-bye.
Reporter: The cause of this extreme weather remains a mystery,
although some meteorologists... believe sunspots are to blame.
Hundreds are missing...
Terry: This is very odd. There's a buoy registering a 13-degree drop
in ocean temperature.
Jeanette's husband: Oh, yeah, that's right. That buoy malfunctioned
the other day.
I'll put a calling to see if there's any ship near Georges Bank to get
it.
Terry: This buoy isn't in Georges Bank. It's just off Greenland.
Jeanette's husband: What? - What are the odds of two buoys failing?
Terry: - Remote. Make that three.
10
Vagrant: Just another typical day in New York City. Traffic jam, 10
blocks long. Look here, Buddha. These people, and their cars, and
their exhaust... and they're just polluting the atmosphere.
Laura: Excuse me, sir. We're really late.
Driver: We're almost there.
Brian: - We're only two blocks away.
Sam: - Let's walk.
Man in the zoo: What's gotten into them?
Man 2: I have no idea. They're all worked up today.
11
Host: In 1532, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro... defeated
this Incan emperor at the Peruvian highland town of Cajamarca.
What is his name? Time.
Brian: Montezuma.
Laura: No, no, Montezuma was in Mexico, not Peru. It's, like, Antasomething.
Sam: - Atahualpa?
Laura: - That's it!
Host: Time's up. Correct answers, please.
That's five points for Woodmont and five points for Pinehurst
Academy. Next question. In what year did Louis Quatorze ascend to
the throne of France?
Sam: This place is so retro, it might actually be cool if it were on
purpose.
Brian: Yeah, look at all these nerds.
Laura: Hey.
Sam: Hey. You look beautiful.
Laura: Thanks. This place is incredible. Do you believe this is their
cafeteria?
J.D.: You played a great first round.
Laura: So did you. These are my teammates, Sam and Brian. - I'm
Laura.
J.D.: - Oh, I'm J.D.
Laura: - Your school's amazing.
J.D.: - Would you like... Would you like a tour?
Laura: Sure. That'd be great. Could you hold this for a sec?
Sam: Yeah, sure.
Laura: Thanks.
Brian: Man, you got some serious competition.
Sam: Please.
Brian: - And I'll bet he's really rich too.
Sam: - Shut up.
12
Jack: - Who is it?
Terry: - Terry Rapson here. Sorry to call you so early.
Jack: No, professor, it's all right. What is it?
Terry: Well, we've found something extraordinary. Extraordinary
and disturbing, that is. You recall what you said in New Delhi about
how polar melting... might disrupt the North Atlantic Current?
Jack: Yes.
Terry: Well... I think it's happening.
Jack: What do you mean?
Terry: One of our NOMAD buoys registered a 13-degree drop... in
surface temperature the other night. I've sent you an e-mail.
Jack: Hold on.
Terry: At first we thought it was a malfunction. But there are four
more across the North Atlantic showing the same thing.
Jack: This is unbelievable.
Terry: You predicted it would happen.
Jack: Yes, but not in our lifetime. This is too fast.
Terry: There are no forecast models remotely capable... of plotting
this scenario, except yours.
Jack: My model is a reconstruction of a prehistoric climate shift.
It's not a forecast model.
Terry: It's the closest thing we have. Nothing like this has ever
happened before.
Jack: At least not in the last 10,000 years.
13
Reporter: As I predicted yesterday, the swell off Hurricane Noelani
is incredible. These waves are even bigger than I imagined. Just
take a look.
Woman: - Shouldn't you be monitoring the weather or something?
Man: - This is L.A. What weather?
Woman: Wait. What's that noise?
Man: What noise? Honey, I'll be right back.
Reporter: The Coast Guard closed the beaches, as waves have
grown too big for...
Man: - L.A. Weather Center.
Tommy: It's Tommy. I'm calling at the beach...
Man: I'm in the middle of something, Tommy. What do you need?
Tommy: There's hail the size of golf balls coming down here.
Reporter: A low-pressure system along the California coast... is
creating a cyclonic system across the L.A. Basin.
Jeff: - Yeah?
Man: - Boss, turn on The Weather Channel right away. - I think we
have to issue a tornado warning.
Jeff: - What are you talking about?
Reporter: Palmdale and Lancaster are reporting wind speeds in
excess...
Jeff: - Hold on a second.
Reporter: - Conditions highly unusual for California.
14
Jack: We're building a forecast model, we need...
Tom: What?
Jack: Priority access to the mainframe for two days, maybe three.
Tom: - Oh, is that it? Anything else?
Jack: - We need it immediately.
Tom: I would say that you've lost your mind... but you've been this
way for the past 20 years.
Jack: - Tom, this is important.
Janet: - What's this forecast model you're building, if you don't
mind my asking?
Tom: Janet Tokada, this is Jack Hall. Janet's a hurricane specialist
with NASA. Jack's a paleoclimatologist, and I have absolutely no
idea what he's up to. Booker. What's going on here?
Booker: They just issued a tornado warning in Los Angeles.
Reporter: Breaking news as we prepare to go live to Los Angeles.
Mixed reports are coming in about some extreme weather occurring
in the area. Okay, we're now going live to our Fox affiliate in Los
Angeles.
Lisa: We have live coverage now from our Fox 11 chopper. Are you
there, Bart?
Bart: Yes, I'm here. These tornados are forming so fast...
Lisa: - Bart!
Bart: - What? Oh! Oh, my God. Lisa, are you getting this on camera?
This tornado just erased the Hollywood sign. The Hollywood sign is
gone. It's just shredded.
Lisa: Bart, what can you see? Is anyone hurt?
Bart: I wouldn't be surprised. There is so much damage down there.
And there are people down there taking pictures.
Jeff: Hey, what the hell are you guys doing? Go for cover! You can't
stay here! Get out of here!
15
Tony: What you're seeing are two actual tornados striking Los
Angeles International Airport.
Wait. It looks like they've joined and formed one large tornado.
Man: - Tommy!
Tony: Oh, my God! Holy shit!
Reporter: I'd like to urge all of our viewers to stay away...
Tommy: - Jeff, where are you?
Jeff: I'm on Yucca and Vine. I'm on my way now.
Tommy: You're on TV. You're in the middle of it.
Jeff: God! Oh, my God!
Tommy: You gotta get out of there, man.
Reporter: That bus just got dropped on top of that Porsche! Oh, my
God. I hope no one was in that car.
Lisa: For our national audience just joining us now... we are going
live to downtown Los Angeles right now. Tony?
Tony: If you look over there behind me, that's a tornado. Yes, a
twister in Los Angeles. It's one of many tornados that are
destroying our city. There's another one. That's the Los Angeles
skyline. It's unbelievable! It's huge! I've never seen anything like it.
Woman: What's happening?
Tony: It looks like some sort of... huge, horrific, terrifying
nightmare, only this is the real thing.
16
Vice President: Yes, I'm looking at it right now. - Yes, it is. President: What's happening?
Vice President: I'll call you back. Mr. President, Los Angeles has
been devastated by a series of tornados. On top of that, the FAA
(Federal Aviation Administration) wants your approval to suspend
all air traffic.
President: - What do you think we should do?
Vice President: - Until we can figure it out... I don't think we have
much choice, sir.
Reporter: What you're seeing is what's left of downtown Los
Angeles.
Brian: Hey, man, I just got off the phone with my mom.
Excuse me, you guys. I'm really sorry, but we need to change the
channel.
Reporter: The FAA has grounded all air traffic in the United States.
Unfortunately, the order came too late for two planes... brought
down by severe turbulence in the Midwest. - The first flight...
Sam: So much for "one in a billion."
17
Tom: All right. All right, listen up, everybody. Listen up, please.
We've got a lot of work to do, and we don't have much time... so
let's get started, please. Vorsteen?
Vorsteen: All our grid models are worthless.
Researcher 1: I don't think grid models are gonna be a lot of help
here. Canadians report tremendous circulation moving from the
Arctic. In Siberia, there's a low-pressure system never before seen.
And Australia just saw the strongest typhoon ever recorded.
Researcher 2: - Hang on, are you saying that these things are
interconnected?
Researcher 1: - We have to consider the possibility.
Researcher 2: The only force strong enough to affect global weather
is the sun.
Tom: - What's NASA have to say?
Janet: We've already checked. Solar output is normal.
Jack: - What about the North Atlantic Current?
Tom: What about it?
Jack: I got a call last night from Professor Rapson at the Hedland
Center. He thinks the current has changed.
Researcher 3: Oh, come on, Jack. How could that be?
Jack: The current depends upon a balance of salt and freshwater.
Tom: - We all know that.
Jack: Yes... but no one is taking it into account how much
freshwater has been dumped into the ocean... because of melting
polar ice. I think we've hit a critical desalinization point.
Janet: It would explain what's driving this extreme weather.
Jack: Hedland had some pretty convincing data. They've asked me
to feed it into my paleoclimate model to track the next set of events.
Tom: Hold on, Jack. Are you suggesting these weather anomalies
are gonna continue?
Jack: Not just continue. Get worse. I think we're on the verge of a
major climate shift.
18
Jack:
Tom:
Jack:
Tom:
Jack:
Tom, what are you gonna tell the Administration?
- What do you expect me to tell them?
- The government has to make preparations now.
- You have a theory.
- Give me the mainframe. I'll prove it.
Tom: No. You have 48 hours.
Janet: - Professor Hall.
Jack: - Yes.
Janet: - I think your theory may be correct.
Jack: - Walk with me.
Janet: Just a few weeks ago, I monitored the strongest hurricane on
record. The hail, the tornados, it all fits. Can your model your work
on factor in storm scenarios?
Jack: - We haven't had the time.
Janet: - Well, maybe I can help.
Jack: - Welcome aboard.
Janet: - Thanks.
Jason: Hi, I'm Jason.
Janet: - Hi.
Jason: Hi.
Lucy: Do you have Peter's CT (computerized tomography) scan
results?
Nurse: Yeah. The treatments shrunk the tumor 20 percent.
Lucy: - Is his eyesight better today?
Nurse: - No. No change.
Lucy: - Hi, Peter. How are you doing today?
Peter: - A little better.
Lucy: Good. Let me listen here. Can you read that?
Peter: No, but I remember the story from the pictures.
Lucy: You do?
Peter: My mother used to read it to me.
Lucy: She must be very proud of you. You've been such a brave,
big boy.
Peter: - Thank you.
Lucy: - You're welcome.
19
Jason: - Here you go.
Janet: - Thank you.
Frank: Jack, you've been working for 24 hours straight. You're the
only one who hasn't taken a break.
Jack: Maybe I'll try to shut my eyes for a while. Call me when you
get the results.
Janet: Frank, is he always so obsessive?
Jason: - Yeah. Frank: - Yes.
Janet: Does he ever lighten up?
Jason: - Not really. Frank: - No.
Janet: - How long have you been working together?
Jason: - Well, Frank's been working with him... since the Stone Age,
but I've only had to endure two years of servitude.
Jason: Jack. Jack, we got the results.
Jack: Six to eight months? That can't be.
Janet: That time scale isn't in months. It's in weeks.
20
Reporter: Flooding has slowed transportation and has caused
numerous closures, including the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels.
Sam: The plumbing in the school is really old. With this rain, the
sewage got stopped up.
Jack: Where are you staying tonight?
Sam: They're finding a place for us with kids here in New York City.
Jack: Are you sure you can't get home any sooner than tomorrow?
Sam: Well, look, Dad, I would if I could, you know. It's just... This
smell is unbearable, Dad.
Jack: Stop kidding around! I want you home.
Sam: Dad, I'll be on the train. Do me a favor, OK. Just don't worry
about me. I'll figure it out.
Jack: All right, son. I'll see you tomorrow.
Laura: Hey, Sam, guess what? We got a place to stay.
Sam: Great.
Reporter: So far, the terrible weather hasn't hit D.C. area, but local
residents aren't taking any chances... as people stock up for what is
already being billed as... the worst storm season on record.
Tom: - Better be sure about this, Jack. - My ass is on the line.
Jack: - You saw the model.
Tom: And I hope to God it's wrong.
Tom: - Mr. Vice President.
Vice President: - Tom.
Tom: - You know Professor Hall.
Vice President: - Yes, we've met.
Tom: Professor Hall has some information I think you should look at.
Jack: We just got these results from our simulation model. - They
explain what's causing this severe weather.
Vice President: - I'll read it later. - I have a meeting with the
director of FEMA (Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association)...
Jack: - This is very urgent, Sir. Our climate is changing violently.
It's gonna happen over the next six to eight weeks.
Vice President: You said this wouldn't happen for another 100 years.
Jack: - I was wrong.
Vice President: - Well, suppose you're wrong this time.
Jack: I wish I were, but you're aware of what's happening all
around the world.
Vice President: We're making all the necessary preparations for this
storm. What more do you expect?
Jack: You have to start thinking about large-scale evacuations right
now. Especially in the Northern states.
Vice President: - Evacuations?
Jack: - Yes.
Vice President: Have you lost your mind, Hall? I have to go.
Jack: Mr. Vice President! If we don't act now, it's going to be too
late.
Tom: Come on, Jack.
21
Laura: Thanks for bringing us here.
J.D.: I couldn't let you leave New York without seeing the Natural
History Museum.
Sam: Of course not. It's a fine collection of stuffed animals.
Brian: Hey, guys, check this out. "The body of this mammoth was
found perfectly preserved in the Siberian tundra... with food still in
its mouth and stomach... indicating that it froze instantly while
grazing."
Reporter: It's been 24 hours now since the snow started falling
across the British Isles... and over Northern Europe. And it shows
no signs of letting up.
Jeanette's husband: No, no, no. You've got to stop worrying. No, no.
It's fine. We've got plenty of supplies. We're just snowed in. Yeah.
No, it's all right. It's all right. No, you stay where you are. I'll be
fine. Yeah, I love you too. Okay, bye.
Dennis: - Hey. How's Jeanette?
Jeanette's husband: - Oh, fine. The ferry just landed.
Dennis: Must be nice in Spain. Wish I was there.
Reporter: An elite RAF (Royal Air Force) search-and-rescue team
has been deployed by helicopter... to airlift the royal family to
safety.
Dennis: - Yeah, you think they'll come get us since we got snowed
in? - Not likely.
Terry: Luckily we've got our own genny (an electricity generator),
enough tea and biscuits to sink a ship. Oh, we'll be fine. As long as
the loo (toilet) doesn't back up again.
22
Pilot: We've got zero visibility. Maintain heading and speed.
Pilot: - What's our heading? - 035, sir.
Pilot: Approximately 40 kilometers from Balmoral Castle.
Pilot: We've lost visual contact with you.
Pilot: - This gauge can't be right.
Radio: - Wind speed has dropped to zero. We have vertical walls of
cirrus cloud formations.
Pilot: - What the hell is going on?
Pilot: - The bloody fuel lines are starting to freeze. Port engine
pressure is dropping. The rotor rpm is dropping. We've got a
flameout on the starboard side as well.
Pilot: Prepare for crash landing. Select emergency fuel. Come on,
you bastard! Come on!
Terry: What I'm about to say is supposed to be confidential.
Several hours ago, three helicopters went down over Scotland.
They crashed because the fuel in their lines froze.
Jack: - At what temperature does...?
Terry: - Negative 150 degrees Fahrenheit. We had to look it up. The
temperature dropped phenomenally fast. On the ground, people
froze before they could get out of their cars.
Jack: Can you get a satellite picture of Scotland two hours ago?
Terry: We've got mountains of data... but nowhere near enough
computer power to analyze it. Can you help us?
Jack: Send us what you got. We'll do our best.
Terry: Thanks, Jack. Bye for now.
Janet: This is Scotland at the time the temperature dropped.
Jack: This thing looks just like a hurricane.
Janet: Only hurricanes don't form over land.
23
Harold: - Good evening, sir.
J.D.: Hey, Harold. - Thanks, Victor. See you in the morning.
Victor: - Right, sir.
Harold: - Terrible weather.
J.D.: - Tell me about it. (Sounds like I need you to tell me about it.
It's obviously so.)
Laura: Wow. You live here?
J.D.: Just on the weekends. It's my dad's place. He's kind of never
around, so...
Sam: Where is he?
J.D.: Skiing in Europe with my stepmom.
Laura: Is this you and your brother?
J.D.: Yeah, that's when we took a bike trip together.
Brian: It's been raining like this for three days now.
Man in the street: Come on, hurry up.
Vagrant: I'm just standing here.
Guard: You can't stay here.
Vagrant: I never liked this neighborhood anyway.
Reporter: It's a mob scene here at Grand Central Station.
Over half the platforms are flooded and service has been suspended
on all trains. With planes still grounded and trains now out of
service... that's bad news for the...
J.D.: Hey, Victor's coming to pick me up. You guys want a ride to
the train station?
Sam: Not anymore.
Reporter: In Nova Scotia earlier today the ocean rose by 25 feet in
a matter of seconds. What we have feared for the past few days has
indeed happened. The cold front moving from the Arctic... has
created an enormous storm system in Canada... which, incredible
as it sounds, looks more like a tropical hurricane...
J.D.: I gotta go pick up my little brother. Do you guys want a ride?
Laura: - Where is he?
J.D.: - He's in a boarding school in Philadelphia.
Reporter: If this system moves south... we could see a wind-driven
storm surge that could threaten the entire Eastern Seaboard.
J.D.: Okay, bye. Victor's stuck in traffic over on Fifth Avenue.
It'll be easier to head out of town if we meet him over there.
Brian: - You mean walk? - No, not in this.
Sam: We should take the stairs.
J.D.: We're on the top floor.
Brian: I guess we're walking.
24
Laura: Maybe we should just stay here.
Harold: I think the young lady is right, sir.
Sam: No. We need to get home.
Man in the Zoo: Hey, Cesar, come here.
Cesar: What are you doing?
Man in the Zoo: The wolves, they're gone.
Reporter: Just to give you an idea of the situation... which seems to
be becoming worse with each passing minute: At the moment, we
have flooding in most parts of the island. We've got traffic snarl-ups
because the electricity is now out... to almost every part of
Manhattan. No traffic signals. Car accidents, at least two hundred.
And lower Manhattan, we've been told, is virtually inaccessible.
Woman: Can you call Mom? Will you please phone her for me?
Guard: Hey. That dog can't come in here.
Vagrant: Come on, man. It's pouring out there.
Guard: I don't care. Read the sign.
Vagrant: It's supposed to be a public library.
25
Sam: Come on, guys, this way.
Man 1: Excuse me. Your bag. Goddamn 1500-dollar waterproof
raincoat.
Man 2: - Please, shut up, man. - There must be rats everywhere.
Man 3: That's because it's New York. Hey! Hey! - Open up, big papa.
Bus driver: It's out of service. It's out of service.
Man: - No, no. I'll give you a 100 dollars to put it into service.
Bus driver: - You don't have to do that.
Man: No, really. It's yours. I won't have it, I won't have it.
God, I love buses. This is so much fun. This is gonna be the bomb.
J.D.: Hello? - I can't reach my driver. I lost the signal.
Laura: This is insane. We're not gonna be able to drive anywhere.
We just have to go back to the apartment.
Brian: - Yeah, I vote for that.
Sam: What? Are you kidding? We have to get higher! Come on. Up
to the library.
Policeman: Calm down. I can't understand what you're saying. If
you stay calm, ma'am, I'll get you out. The door is jammed! I don't
speak French!
Sam: Hey, where's Laura?
J.D.: - She was just right there. - She's right there! Right there, see?
Sam: What is she doing?
Policeman: Tell them to cover their eyes.
Radio: There is a wall of water coming towards New York City.
Everybody...
Policeman: - What?
Laura: - Her bag's in the cab. Their passports.
Policeman: Forget about it.
Laura: - I'll get it for her.
Policeman: - Come on.
Sam: Oh, my... Laura! Laura!
Brian: - Sam.
J.D.: - No! Brian, no!
Sam: Laura! Laura, look! Come on. Come! Come on!
Brian: Sam!
26
Jeanette's husband: Professor.
Terry: Thank you.
Jeanette's husband: - Is that Neville's handiwork?
Terry: - Neville's way beyond stick figures. - He's 6 already.
Jeanette's husband: - Oh.
Terry: No, this masterpiece belongs to my second grandson, David.
Jeanette's husband: God. I can't believe Neville's 6 already.
Terry: You won't believe how fast they grow.
Dennis: I've got Jack Hall on the phone. They've run the data we've
sent them. Here he is.
27
Terry: Jack, were you able to recreate the thermal cycle?
Jack: Yes. The storm's rotation... is pulling super-cooled air all the
way down from the upper troposphere.
Terry: But shouldn't the air warm up before it reaches ground level?
Jack: It should. But it doesn't. The air's descending too rapidly.
Terry: Is this an isolated incident?
Jack: I'm afraid not. We've located two other supercells in addition
to the one over Scotland. There's one over Northern Canada... and
another one over Siberia.
Terry: And do we know their projected paths?
Jack: Yes. Our previous estimates of six to eight weeks weren't
even close. This one storm is going to change the face of our planet.
Here's a projection of 24 hours out. This is 48 hours out. And in
seven to 10 days... When this storm is over... we'll be in a new ice
age.
Terry: My God.
Jack: Professor... it's time you got out of there.
Terry: I'm afraid that time has come and gone, my friend.
Jack: What can we do?
Terry: Save as many as you can.
Frank: Jack... something's happened in New York.
28
Woman: No, the power is out. I've been in here all day.
Policeman: - Who needs help?
Woman: Here. Over here.
Vagrant: What? This is the last one. Enjoy it. Greedy.
Operator: All circuits are busy at this time.
Laura: Listen, thanks for coming back for me. It was really brave. I
guess I better return her bag.
J.D.: Sam? Just tell her how you feel.
Sam: Yeah. - Did you reach your little brother yet?
J.D.: - No, there's still no service. Damn cell phones.
Sam: Excuse me. Are there any pay phones on the upper floors?
Librarian: No, no, no. - There are some on the mezzanine.
Sam: - Great.
Librarian: - But I think it's underwater.
Laura: - Where you going? Power's out.
Sam: Older payphones draw power directly from the telephone line.
29
PA: There will be an emergency meeting of all NOAA department
heads...
Lucy: Oh, God. I've been trying to reach Sam.
Jack: So have I.
Lucy: I tried to call you but couldn't get through.
Jack: It's been a madhouse around here. Come on.
Laura: Are you sure about this?
Sam: It works.
Jack: I love that picture.
Lucy: Yeah, so do I.
Jack: Where was that taken?
Lucy: Miami.
Jack: Well, where was I? I don't remember that trip.
Lucy: Sam and I went with my sister. You were in Alaska... doing
research on your doctorate. Remember what he was like when he
was that age?
Jack: Everything was "one more." One more bedtime story. One
more ride on my shoulders. "One more, Daddy."
Frank: Jack. Sam's on the phone. Line four.
Jack: - Sam?
Sam: - Dad!
Jack: - Where are you? Are you all right?
Sam: - I'm all right. We're at the Public Library.
Lucy: - Sam, it's Mom. I'm so happy you're okay.
Sam: - Mom. Can you call Laura and Brian's parents and tell them
we're all right?
Lucy: Yes, of course.
Jack: - Sam, what's that noise?
Laura: - Sam? Sam?
Sam: What is going on out there, Dad?
Jack: Sam. Sam, listen to me. Listen very carefully. Forget what I
said about trying to head south. It's too late for that. The storm is
just gonna get worse. It's gonna turn into a massive blizzard with
an eye in the center, just like a huge hurricane. Only the air will be
so cold, you could freeze to death in seconds.
Laura: Sam?
Sam: - Well, what should we do?
Jack: - Listen to me, son. Do not go outside. Just burn whatever
you can to stay warm, and try to wait it out. I will come for you. Do
you understand me? I will come for you.
Laura: Sam? - Sam, come back!
Jack: - Sam? Sam, did you hear me? Did you hear me?
Lucy: Sam? - Tell me he's gonna be okay...
Jack: - He's gonna be all right. He's gonna be all right, you
understand?
Laura: I thought you'd drowned. Let's find some dry clothes for you.
Come on.
30
Jack: Where'd you store the arctic gear?
Frank: You can't make it to New York, Jack.
Jack: I've walked that far before in the snow.
Frank: This is not the same. Jack, this is not the same. Lucy, tell
him.
Jack: I have to do this.
Lucy: I know.
Sam: My hands are shak... shaking.
Laura: - That's okay. Here. Here. Come here.
Sam: What are you doing?
Laura: I'm using my body heat to warm you. If we let the blood
from your arms and legs rush back to your heart too quickly... your
heart could fail.
Sam: Where did you learn that?
Laura: Some of us were actually paying attention in health class.
How are you feeling?
Sam: Much better.
Tom: Frank told me about Sam. I'm not gonna try to talk you out of
going, but there's something I need you to do first. You have to
explain your results to the Administration.
Jack: - I already tried that, Tom.
Tom: - I know. This time will be different. You're gonna brief the
president directly.
Policeman: - Is that the last of it?
Laura: - Yeah, pretty much.
Policeman: Okay.
Laura: We also found this radio, but I don't think it works.
Brian: Let me see it.
Vagrant: Buddha, keep quiet. You ain't even supposed to be in here
anyway.
Sam: Come on, guys. Oh, my God.
31
Jack: The basic rule of storms is they continue... until the imbalance
that created them is corrected. In this case, we're talking about a
global realignment. This superstorm will last seven to 10 days.
When it's over, ice and snow will cover the entire Northern
Hemisphere. The ice and snow will reflect sunlight. The Earth's
atmosphere will restabilize... with an average temperature close to
that of the last Ice Age.
General: Well, what can we do about this?
Jack: Head as far south as possible.
Vice President: That is not amusing, professor.
Secretary: Where do you suggest they go?
Jack: The farther south they go, the safer they'll be.
Texas. Parts of Florida that aren't flooded. Mexico would be best.
Vice President: Mexico? Maybe you should stick to science and leave
policy to us.
Tom: Well, we tried that approach. You didn't want to hear about
the science when it could have made a difference.
President: What exactly are you proposing, professor?
Jack: Evacuate everyone south of that line.
President: What about the people in the North?
Jack: I'm afraid it's too late for them. If they go outside... the storm
will kill them. At this point... their best chance is to stay inside to
try to ride it out. Pray.
Jack: What do you think he'll do?
Tom: I don't know.
Tom: Jack... thanks... and good luck.
Jack: You too. We're all gonna need it.
Vice President: We can't evacuate half the country because one
scientist thinks the climate is shifting.
Lady: - Every minute we delay is costing lives.
Vice President: - What about the other half of the country?
Lady: If Professor Hall is right about this storm... sending troops
north will create more victims. We need to save the people we can
right now.
General: We take the same approach in triage (A system used to
allocate a scarce commodity, such as food, only to those capable of
deriving the greatest benefit from it) on the battlefield. Sometimes
it's necessary to make difficult choices...
Vice President: I don't accept abandoning half the country as
necessary.
Tom: Maybe if you listened sooner, it wouldn't be.
Vice President: Bullshit. It's easy for him to suggest this plan. - He's
safely here in Washington.
Tom: - His son is in Manhattan. I just thought you should know
before you start questioning his motives.
President: We're going to follow Hall's plan. - General.
General: - Sir?
President: Give the order for the National Guard to evacuate
Southern states.
General: Yes, sir.
President: Vivian... get me my wife.
32
Dennis: Sorry, mates, but we're just about out of petrol.
Jeanette's husband: Hey. Is there any chance... that it'll run... on
this?
Terry: Are you mad? That's a 12-year-old Scotch.
Jeanette's husband: Gentlemen. To England.
Terry: To mankind.
Dennis: To Manchester United.
Jeanette's husband: I just... I just wish I could have seen him grow
up. You know?
Terry: The important thing is he will grow up.
Dennis: Amen.
Policeman: Maybe you should have somebody help you with that.
Brian: Sir, I am president of the Electronics Club... the Math Club
and the Chess Club. Now, if there's a bigger nerd in here, please,
point him out.
Policeman: I'll just leave you alone to work on it, okay?
Vagrant: Come on, Buddha, come on. Do your business. Look,
there's nobody around. OK, you know what? I'll turn around. I won't
look. I promise. What? Hey, man, there's people out there. I was
walking my dog. There's hundreds of them. They're walking on the
snow.
Policeman: Where they all going?
Man: They're getting out of the city before it's too late.
Policeman: All right, everybody. Quiet down. When was the last
time anyone got a signal on a cell phone?
Girl: I got through to my cousin in Memphis an hour ago. They're
being evacuated to the South.
Policeman: We should get moving too. The water is frozen over
enough to walk on. We should get going before the snow gets too
deep. Everyone, wrap yourselves up as fast as you can.
Sam: We shouldn't go.
J.D.: Why not, Sam? Everyone's leaving.
Sam: When I talked to my dad, he told me to stay inside. The
storm will kill anybody caught in it.
Laura: - Then you have to say something.
Sam: - I know.
Sam: Excuse me, sir, you're making a mistake.
Policeman: What? Hey, listen, son, we're all scared here, but we've
got no other choice.
Sam: - That's not it. - Get ready to go.
33
Sam: If these people go outside, they will freeze to death!
Policeman: Okay, what is this nonsense?
Sam: It's not nonsense. All right? Look, this storm is gonna get
worse. And the people who are caught outside will freeze to death.
Man: - Where are you getting this information?
Sam: - My dad's a climatologist. - He works for the government. Man: So what do we do?
Sam: We stay inside, we keep warm, and we wait it out.
Policeman: The snow is getting deeper by the minute. We'd be
trapped here without food, supplies...
Sam: - It's a risk, yeah...
Policeman: - An unnecessary risk.
Sam: No, no. It's not.
Policeman: We've wasted enough time talking about this. Come on.
Let's go.
Sam: - Look, look. Just look for a second.
Policeman: - Come on, everybody...
Sam: One second. The storm is gonna get bad. It's gonna get really,
really bad. You're not gonna be able to survive it. Believe me. Sir,
please just stay. Just stay. Just don't...
34
Nurse: - She's set to go. - Come on, straight to the back, guys.
Jack: It'll be impossible to reach each other. Leave a message for
me at the embassy in Mexico City.
Lucy: Okay, I will.
Jack: I love you.
Lucy: I love you, Jack. Tell Sam I love him so much. God be with
you.
Nurse: - Doctor Hall?
Lucy: - Yeah.
Nurse: We haven't been able to reach Peter's parents. - I'm gonna
try later, okay?
Lucy: - Okay. Thank you.
Frank: I got it.
Jack: You're supposed to be on a bus heading south.
Frank: I've been watching your back for 20 years. You think I'd let
you go alone?
Jack: All these years I thought I was watching your back.
Frank: Where are the keys?
Jack: In the truck. Where do you think you're going?
Jason: Neither one of you know how to navigate worth a damn.
Without me, you'll end up in Cleveland.
Janet: I'll try to give you updates on the storm as it heads your way.
Good luck, Jack.
35
Reporter: Breaking news (Currently happening or impending news)
from the U.S.-Mexico border.
Just half an hour ago, Mexican officials closed the border... in the
light of (in consideration of) so many U.S. Refugees who are fleeing
south... in the wake of (as a consequence of) the approaching
storm. These people came in anticipation of crossing into Mexico.
Instead, they've been met with closed gates.
Male Reporter: And now, in a dramatic reversal of illegal
immigration... thousands of people are crossing the Rio Grande into
Mexico.
The scene unfolding here behind me is one of desperation and
frustration. People have abandoned their cars, grabbed their
belongings... and they are wading across the river illegally into
Mexico.
Laura: Here it is. This fireplace probably hasn't been used in about
100 years.
Sam: All right.
Librarian: - What are you doing?
Sam: - What did you think we would burn?
Librarian: - You can't burn books.
Man: - No, absolutely not.
Sam: You want to freeze to death?
Girl: I'll go get some more.
Brian: I'll help you.
Man: I'm going with them.
36
Sam: Okay, do you have a cafeteria or a lunchroom?
Lady: Just an employees' lounge with a few vending machines.
Sam: We're not gonna last very long on M&M's and potato chips.
Vagrant: What about the garbage cans? There's always something
to eat in the garbage.
Man: Friedrich Nietzsche? We can't burn Friedrich Nietzsche. He was
the most important thinker of the 19th century.
Girl: Please. He was a chauvinist pig in love with his sister.
Man: He was not a chauvinist pig.
Girl: But he was in love with his sister.
Brian: Excuse me? You guys? Yeah, there's a whole section on tax
law down here that we can burn.
Reporter: After hours of uncertainty, the traffic is now moving
smoothly... from the United States into Mexico. This is only possible
because the president was able to negotiate a deal... to forgive all
Latin American debt in exchange for opening the border. Now,
multitudes of American families are feeling a rush of relief...
37
Nurse: Lucy?
Lucy: Is Peter's ambulance here?
Nurse: No.
Lucy: - Why?
Nurse: - They've all gone.
Lucy: - What?
Nurse: - In the confusion... I don't know what happened. People
started to panic, and they left and...
Lucy: - God.
Nurse: - There's a policeman with a snowplow. - He's waiting
outside.
Lucy: - God. Peter can't be moved in anything but an ambulance.
Nurse: I called and left a message for the county ambulance service.
Lucy: Okay. Okay, you should go, and I'll stay and wait.
Nurse: Lucy, no. - No.
Lucy: - No, you should go. He's not gonna wait forever. It's okay.
Nurse: I'm sorry.
Lucy: - It's okay.
Nurse: - All right.
38
Girl: You all right?
Laura: Yeah, I'm fine. I just... I cut my leg the other day.
Sam: Did you get a signal?
Brian: Yeah, for a minute.
Sam: And?
Brian: Man, this storm is everywhere. It's hit the entire Northern
Hemisphere. Europe is buried under 15 feet of snow... and they say
it's gonna get just as bad here. I mean, I don't think your dad's
gonna make it.
Sam: No, he'll make it. He'll make it.
Radio: The White House has ordered a national disaster alert... for
all Northern states. Continued exposure to the approaching storm is
deadly. Remain indoors and take all measures to stay warm,
burning any fuel sources... until the storm is over. Roads are
impassable across New York State... as far south as Pennsylvania...
Jack: Where are we?
Jason: Looks like we're just north of Philadelphia.
Jack: Look out! You guys okay?
Jason: - Yeah.
Frank: - Yeah.
Radio: - Once again, roads across the...
Frank: Sorry, boss.
Jack: Unpack the snowshoes. We're walking from here.
39
Policeman: Come on, ma'am. Let's get up and get going.
Man: We've only made it to Brooklyn. Maybe we should just turn
back.
Man 2: Why? Half the city's frozen under water. There's nothing to
go back to.
Policeman: Time to get up and keep moving.
Man: What we should've done is stayed in the library.
Policeman: Okay, guys, let's get moving. Wake up.
Sam: What are you doing?
Vagrant: Insulating. Newspaper's best, but this'll do. You know, you
spend some years on the streets and you learn how to keep warm.
Hey.
Sam: Thanks.
Laura: I got one. Your favorite vacation.
Sam: Besides this one? All right. I went to Greenland with my dad
on one of his research trips a few years ago... and the ship broke
down, and we got stuck. And it rained constantly.
Laura: That sounds really boring.
Sam: But actually really nice, you know? Just me and my dad
hanging out for 10 days.
40
Jack: Frank! Are you all right?
Frank: I'm fine. I just dropped in to do a little shopping. I gotta lose
this sled.
Jack: Hold on! We'll pull you up. Jason! You've got to support
Frank's weight.
Jason: Okay, I'll try. Okay, I think I have his weight now.
Jack: I'm coming to you.
Jason: The glass is breaking!
Frank: Too much weight. It's not gonna hold.
Jack: No. No. Frank. I can get you out. Don't do it!
Jason: - No, Frank, no!
Jack: - Frank, no! Frank!
41
Girl: What have you got there?
Man: A Gutenberg Bible. It was in the rare books room.
Girl: You think God's gonna save you?
Man: No. I don't believe in God.
Girl: You're holding onto that Bible pretty tight.
Man: I'm protecting it. This Bible is the first book ever printed. It
represents the dawn of the age of reason. As far as I'm concerned,
the written word is mankind's greatest achievement. You can laugh.
But if Western civilization is finished... I'm gonna save at least one
little piece of it.
42
Ambulance driver: We heard somebody was left behind. - We
brought an ambulance.
Lucy: - Thank God. Thank you so much for coming.
Sam: Hey. Hey, are you all right? You look like you have a fever or
something.
Laura: I'm fine. I just can't sleep. My mind keeps going over all
those worthless decathlon facts. - It's pretty stupid, huh?
Sam: - No, it's all right. I guess you just haven't had time to adjust
yet.
Laura: How am I supposed to adjust, Sam? Everything I've ever
cared about, everything I've worked for... has all been preparation
for a future that no longer exists. I know you always thought I took
the competition too seriously. You were right. - It was all for
nothing.
Sam: - No, no. I... No, I just... I just said that to avoid admitting
the truth.
Laura: Truth about what?
Sam: About why I joined the team. I joined it because of you.
Laura: Hey.
43
President: I know. I know.
General: - Mr. President.
President: - All right.
General: I'm sorry, sir, we can't wait any longer. We're the last
ones.
President: All right.
Pilot: Mexicali Control, this is Delta 26. We're carrying an urgent
message for high command. Request priority for landing zone one.
Controller: Roger that, Delta 26. Transport will be waiting.
Corporal: - Sir.
Officer: - Thank you, corporal. - Sorry for the delay, sir. - Carry on.
Madam Secretary.
Secretary: Raymond. The president's motorcade got caught in the
storm. They didn't make it.
44
Sam: And she wouldn't wake up this morning. I... I mean, last night
she only had a fever. I don't understand.
Girl: She's awfully pale.
Vagrant: None of us has had anything real to eat in days.
Man: - I tell you it's hypothermia.
Vagrant: - But how can it be hypothermia? - We've all been in...
Brian: - Maybe it's the flu.
Librarian: No, no, it's not the flu.
Brian: And how do you know?
Librarian: Books can be good for things other than burning. All right,
let's look what are her symptoms?
Sam: I told you that she has a fever and her... She's got a really
cold sweat.
Librarian: How's her pulse?
Girl: - It's really fast.
Librarian: - Does she have any injuries? Like a cut that might have
gotten infected?
Girl: She was complaining about a cut on her leg a few days ago. I
didn't think anything of it.
Sam: Oh, my gosh.
Librarian: That's blood poisoning. Septicemia. She could go into
septic shock.
Vagrant: I've seen that before. That can get bad.
Lady: She needs a massive dose of penicillin... or a broad-spectrum
antibiotic immediately, or...
Sam: Or what?
45
Parker: I've never seen anything like it. There's no point of
reference. All I can see is cloud cover.
Astronaut: What are you doing?
Parker: Taking infrared image of thermal currents. Send to Houston,
Korolev, your weather service.
Astronaut: I'll help you.
Janet: Tom? Tom, wake up. I just received some satellite images
from the space station. You better take a look.
Tom: How big is this thing?
Janet: The vortex is 50 miles in diameter. And growing. The two
cells over Europe and Asia are even bigger.
Tom: Good God.
Janet: This one's gonna hit New York inside an hour.
Jack: Jason! Are you all right? Jason!
46
Librarian: - What are you doing?
Sam: - There's gotta be medicine on that ship.
Man: I thought you said it was too dangerous to go outside.
Sam: I know I did.
Brian: Where did you find those chairs?
Sam: Why?
Brian: I'm going with you.
J.D.: Me too.
Sam: Come on, damn it!
J.D.: - It's all in Russian. I...
Sam: - I know.
Brian: - Hey, hey, hey, guys. I found it.
Sam: - What? How do you know?
Brian: Because it says "penicillin" on the bottle. Hey, wait. This is
the mess hall. - We should find some food here.
Sam: - We don't have time.
J.D.: Listen, none of us are gonna survive much longer without food.
Including Laura.
Sam: Okay.
Brian: - Sam, over here.
Sam: - What?
Brian: Bingo.
Sam: Brian?
Brian: - I'm okay.
Sam: - What happened?
Brian: All I did was open up the cupboard.
Sam: - Well, we can use it. - Put food in it. Pull him in, Brian!
Brian: - You all right?
Sam: - Oh, my God, there's more.
J.D.: My leg.
Brian: Here, use this.
47
Janet: It should be over New York by now. Satellite readings are
showing a temperature drop of 10 degrees per second.
Sam: You guys... I think we're in the eye of it. We gotta get back
right now. Look, I'm gonna go outside, and I'm gonna lure the
wolves out of the room. When they leave, you lock the door.
Brian: Good luck.
J.D.: - Brian, hurry.
Brian: - I need something.
J.D.: Come on, hurry!
Sam: Brian! Brian, open the door! We have to get out of here now.
Brian, get the supplies.
48
Sam: Oh, shit. Let's go! Pull, Brian! Take the medicine to Laura.
We're almost there. Come on! Brian! Close the door!
Don't let the fire go out!
Girl: What's happening?
Vagrant: Buddha, come away from the door. Come, Buddha, come!
Sam: More books! More books!
49
Jason: How long have I been out of it?
Jack: Couple hours. How do you feel?
Jason: Okay. What happened?
Jack: Well, we had to get inside in kind of a hurry, so I sort of
pushed you in.
Jason: I should be used to you pushing me around.
Jack: Good to have you back.
Jason: What are you doing?
Jack: The eye of the storm has passed, and we're 40 miles from
Manhattan.
Jason: Jack, shouldn't we wait one more day?
Jack: Sam may not have one more day.
Jason: What do you think's gonna happen to us?
Jack: What do you mean?
Jason: I mean us. Civilization. Everybody.
Jack: Mankind survived the last Ice Age. We're certainly capable of
surviving this one.
50
Jack: All depends on whether or not we're able to learn from our
mistakes. I sure as hell would like a chance to learn from mine.
Jason: You did everything you could.
Jack: I was thinking about Sam.
Jason: Jack, you know the chances of Sam...
Jack: I made my son a promise. I'm going to keep it.
Houston: Parker, this is Houston. Do you read?
Parker: Roger, mission control. Go ahead.
Houston: We've got scattered reports that the storm is dissipating
over North America. Can you confirm?
Parker: Affirmative. It's finally clearing. We're over Europe right
now. I can see landmass for the first time in days.
Jack: How much further is it to the library?
Jason: It should be... right here. I'm sorry, Jack.
51
Jack: Sam?
Laura: Who is that?
Sam: My father. You made it.
Jack: Of course I did.
EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Tom: Mr. President. I've just received a shortwave radio
transmission from Jack Hall. He made it to New York. He says there
are survivors.
President: Thank you, Tom. That's... That's good news.
These past few weeks have left us all with a profound sense of
humility... in the face of nature's destructive power.
For years, we operated under the belief that we could continue...
consuming our planet's natural resources without consequence.
We were wrong.
I was wrong.
The fact that my first address to you comes from a consulate on
foreign soil... is a testament (strong evidence)to our changed reality.
Not only Americans... but people all around the globe are now
guests in the nations... we once called The Third World.
In our time of need, they have taken us in and sheltered us.
And I am deeply grateful for their hospitality.
52
President: We mourn the loss of a spirited (full of energy,
enthusiasm, and determination) leader whose courageous order to
evacuate...
Lucy: Peter? Hey, you feeling okay today?
President: For days, we've despaired (lost hope) about the fate of
the people... who are trapped in the North.
Today, there is cause for hope.
Only a few hours ago, I received word that a small group of people...
survived in New York City against all odds (against a lot of
problems)... and in the face of tremendous adversity (difficulty;
misfortune).
I've ordered an immediate search-and-rescue mission... to bring
them home and to look for more survivors.
Tom: Jack! It's good to see you. Come on, let's go get on board.
Parker: Look at that.
Astronaut: What?
Parker: Have you ever seen the air so clear?