Rain streaks across the windshield until the wipers clear it,
revealing a busy freeway ahead.
There is an OPENED WHITE BINDER next to a MOTOROLA DYNATAC
CELL PHONE on the passenger seat.
Two hands are gripped tightly on the steering wheel. The
driver, DAVE HARLOW, (male, late 40s) sees an AIRPORT
DEPARTURE SIGN.
CELL PHONE RINGS.
Dave reaches for it quickly and answers.
DAVE HARLOW
Yes, this is Dave.
He listens closely. The sudden look of defeat on Dave’s face
seems to hint toward bad news on the other end of the
conversation.
DAVE HARLOW (CONT’D)
Are you sure?
(pause)
I don’t think that’s a good-
He’s interrupted. Whatever the news may be, Dave clearly
doesn’t want to accept it.
DAVE HARLOW (CONT’D)
Yes, sir.
Dave veers the car into the far left lane and spots the
AIRPORT EXIT SIGN.
He looks over at the WHITE BINDER and shuts it.
INSERT - WHITE BINDER HEADER, which reads: “NEVADO DEL RUIZ.”
INT. COLOMBIAN VILLAGE - HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Through an opened window, a LARGE STRATOVOLANCO GLOWS IN THE
DISTANCE.
SUPER: Nevado Del Ruiz - Stratovolcano - Armero, Tolima
Colombia - November 13, 1985 - 11:30pm
Lying in her bed is a little girl, OMAYRA SANCHEZ, (age 13.)
Her mother walks into the room from the hallway.
ALL DIALOGUE IN SPANISH
OMAYRA SANCHEZ
I can’t sleep.
OMAYRA’S MOTHER
What’s wrong?
Omayra looks toward her OPENED WINDOW. She points toward it
now. Her mother walks over to it slowly.
Through the window, NEVADO DEL RUIZ VOLCANO is seen glowing
and rumbling in the distance. Suddenly, the window begins to
rattle.
Her mother’s eyes grow wide right as the walls of the bedroom
begin to DISINTEGRATE AROUND THEM.
Both Omayra and her mother SCREAM as a FLOW OF THICK DARK
WATER AND MUD, MOVING AT TREMENDOUS SPEEDS, SPLIT APART THEIR
HOME IN SECONDS AND THEY ARE SWEPT AWAY.
CUT TO BLACK.
Genres:
["Drama","Disaster"]
Ratings
Scene
2 -
Echoes of Loss
EXT. COLOMBIAN VILLAGE - MORNING
The sun begins to rise over the distant mountains barely
shining its beams through the VOLCANIC ASH CLOUD.
There are CRIES FOR HELP. BUILDINGS LAY SPLINTERED, ENCASED
IN THICK MUD THAT HAS BLANKETED THE ENTIRE VILLAGE. CARS ARE
SMASHED INTO PIECES OF TWISTED METAL. A GLIMMER OF LIGHT
REVEALS BODIES OF THE DEAD ENTANGLED IN THE WRECKAGE.
RESCUE CREWS begin to arrive. Following behind the group is a
JOURNALIST (female, mid 30s) SNAPPING PHOTOGRAPHS of the
tragedy that has just unfolded.
RESCUE WORKER
¡Aqui! ¡Sigue viva! Vamos a
sacarla.
The journalist watches a rescue worker rush over to
something. She follows behind.
Omayra Sánchez has her hand free but she’s buried up to her
neck in the thick mud and debris. The rescue worker tries
pulling her out but she doesn’t budge. He tries again but
Omayra CRIES OUT IN PAIN.
The journalist now approaches her, bends down to her level,
and takes ahold of her hand and smiles as if to tell her
everything is going to be okay.
EXT. COLOMBIAN VILLAGE - LATER
TWO HANDS REMAIN GRASPED as Omayra sings a quiet lullaby and
the journalist awaits word from the rescue workers speaking
amongst themselves inaudibly in the distance.
SUPER: Three Days Later
THE LULLABY STOPS.
The journalist turns her attention toward Omayra and that’s
when she sees the little girl’s hand go limp in hers. SHE’S
DEAD. The Journalist stands up and begins to SNAP PHOTOS.
SERIES OF SHOTS:
1. SNAPS A PHOTO OF A ROOF STICKING FROM THE MUD
2. SNAPS A PHOTO OF A CAR WRAPPED AROUND A TREE
3. SNAPS A PHOTO OF ARMS AND LEGS STICKING FROM THE MUD
The journalist turns back toward Omayra, whose eyes have gone
eerily dark, almost black. She pulls the camera up.
4. SNAPS A PHOTO OF THE NOW DECEASED OMAYRA SANCHEZ
CUT TO BLACK.
OPENING TITLES: “VOLCANO COWBOYS”
FADE IN:
INT. HOUSE - DINING ROOM - AFTERNOON
FOUR PICTURE FRAMES sit on a wooden shelf.
INSERT - FIRST PHOTO - A Filipino man, who will soon be known
as Ray (mid 40s) holding a GEMSTONE.
INSERT - SECOND PHOTO - Ray and his coworker, who will soon
be known as BAYANI (early 30s, also Filipino) are holding a
SEISMOMETER.
INSERT - THIRD PHOTO - Ray is standing next to another man
who will soon be known as CHRIS NEWHALL (male, Caucasian, mid
40s) and a large smoking stratovolcano in the distance.
INSERT - FOURTH PHOTO - Ray is next to his WIFE and FOUR
CHILDREN.
The shelf begins to SHAKE. The picture frames rattle. They
begin to topple over onto the floor and shatter and that’s
when a DOZEN FEET scurry past the broken glass. The entire
shelf finally collapses just as the last pair of feet scamper
by.
Ray (now in his 50s) is hunched under the dining table with
his WIFE and FOUR CHILDREN, with their arms wrapped around
him as the entire house JOLTS VIOLENTLY BACK AND FORTH.
EXPLOSIONS, SIRENS, ALARMS, SCREAMS.
INT. OLD PICKUP TRUCK - DOWNTOWN - SAME TIME
Two pairs of hands turn the wheel sharp left. BAYANI (male,
early 30s, Filipino scientist) narrowly avoids a CRASHING
STREETLIGHT. He glances out of his window and watches an
ENTIRE APARTMENT BUILDING COLLAPSE. People are fleeing from
the entrance as debris rains above them.
DEBRIS BLASTS at Bayani’s truck, CRACKING THE WINDSHIELD. HE
PULLS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE and exits.
EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - STREET CORNER - SAME TIME
There is so much dust and debris covering the recently
collapsed building as Bayani stares helplessly at the
wreckage.
He finally takes a step forward and rushes into the dust and
smoke. There are SCREAMS, CRIES FOR HELP, and in some
moments, TOTAL SILENCE as Bayani searches through the
towering smoldering debris pile.
Bayani suddenly stops.
Lying there in front of him, lifeless, is a WOMAN, who will
soon be revealed to be Bayani’s wife. Tears begin to well up
in Bayani’s eyes. He covers his face as he begins to sob
uncontrollably. PARAMEDICS PULL BAYANI AWAY and they all
disappear into the cloud of dust.
Genres:
["Drama","Disaster"]
Ratings
Scene
3 -
Aftershocks of Grief
EXT. STREET CORNER - NEIGHBORHOOD - SAME TIME
A DOOR OPENS on a house at the corner of the street revealing
Ray, as he slowly exists his home. Ray wipes his eyes and
sees it now. A CITY DOWNTOWN IN RUIN. BUILDINGS HAVE
COLLAPSED. CARS ARE SMASHES. SIRENS ECHO.
Ray’s family exit the house now as they slowly gather around
him.
SUPER: Quezon City, Philippines - July 16, 1990 - 4:26PM
EXT. CEMETERY - MORNING
Bayani is in tears, barely holding it together it seems as
Ray approaches him with a loving arm around his shoulder. He
pulls him close to comfort him.
INSERT - GRAVESTONE, which reads: “HANA REYES, 1952 - 1990.”
EXT. QUEZON CITY - DOWNTOWN - DAY
Entire buildings lay in waste. Seen digging through the
wreckage are Ray and Bayani.
Ray turns toward the road and sees UNITED STATES ARMY
VEHICLES driving down the road slowly to avoid the debris.
The trucks do not stop to help. Bayani watches the vehicles
drive by.
Ray sees a PHOTOGRAPH of Bayani and his wife lying on the
ground. He picks it up and turns to face Bayani.
He hands Bayani the PHOTOGRAPH. Bayani takes it and stares at
it longingly.
EXT. MOUNTAIN RANGE - MORNING
HUGE JETS OF STEAM SHOOT FROM A LARGE CRACK IN THE EARTH.
Just beyond the steam, stands Ray and Bayani. Ray points
toward the FISSURES. The vents are deafening as they stare
hypnotically.
SUPER: One Year Later - April 2, 1991
Ray glances over at Bayani but Bayani remains fixated on the
fissures.
RAY
When did it start?
BAYANI
Shortly after the earthquake.
RAY
Do you think it’s connected?
BAYANI
We should look into it.
RAY
I think we need to contact the
USGS.
That gets Bayani to finally looks over at Ray, slightly
annoyed.
BAYANI
Where were they a year ago?
Genres:
["Drama","Disaster"]
Ratings
Scene
4 -
Tremors of Change
INT. USGS HEADQUARTERS - OFFICE - MORNING
INSERT - DOOR NAMEPLATE, which reads: “CHRIS NEWHALL.”
INSERT - PHOTOGRAPH of CHRIS NEWHALL (mid 40s, and his wife,
GLENDA (mid 40’s, Filipino ethnicity) and their son (age 10)
on a desk.
BACK TO OFFICE - CHRIS NEWHALL is sitting at the desk,
skimming through a PAMPHLET. He closes it.
INSERT - PAMPHLET, which reads: “LAHARS & PYROCLASTIC FLOWS”
BACK TO OFFICE - Chris’s eyes move toward the CALENDAR on his
desk. He flips from APRIL to OCTOBER and reveals in red
sharpie written across a date, “LAST DAY IN OFFICE! FREEDOM!”
PHONE RINGS. Chris answers.
CHRIS NEWHALL
Igneous and Geothermal Processes
Branch, this is Chris-
INT. PHIVOLCS BUILDING - RAY’S OFFICE - SAME TIME
Ray sits at his messy desk with papers, maps strewn about.
SUPER: Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology -
Quezon City - Philippines
RAY
It’s been awhile
INTERCUT - TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
CHRIS NEWHALL
Holy shit, Ray! How long has it
been?
RAY
Over a year.
CHRIS NEWHALL
Has it really been a year? How’s
the wife and kids?
RAY
They’re good. We’re good. Slowly
putting things back together.
(beat)
My fax, did you get it?
CHRIS NEWHALL
I did, I did, I’m sorry. I have
this conference in Washington --
Office duties. You know how it is.
RAY
Grass isn’t always greener, huh?
CHRIS NEWHALL
I have to get out of here, Ray.
RAY
Well, maybe this is your chance.
Chris finally finds the FAX and scans over it quickly.
CHRIS NEWHALL
Do you think it’s unrest with Taal?
RAY
No. We’ve been monitoring Taal.
CHRIS NEWHALL
Maybe it’s just aftershocks.
RAY
These aren’t near Luzon.
CHRIS NEWHALL
What are the coordinates?
Ray looks at a MAP on his desk, spotting it with his finger.
RAY
15.1429° North, 120.3496° East.
Chris quickly finds his PHILIPPINES TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP in his
drawer. He rolls it out showing it faded and worn. He finally
spots the location: “MOUNT PINATUBO.” He’s quiet now.
RAY (CONT’D)
Bayani thinks she might be waking
up.
CHRIS NEWHALL
He’s already back at work?
RAY
It’s all he’s got left, Chris.
(beat)
He thinks it might be big.
CHRIS NEWHALL
And what do you think?
Ray collects his thoughts.
RAY
You can call me paranoid about what
happened last year -- but if that
earthquake woke up Pinatubo...
(beat)
Sometimes the ones that have been
sleeping the longest are the most
dangerous.
Chris wasn’t prepared for this conversation right now.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
5 -
Tensions in Volcanic Monitoring
INT. USGS HEADQUARTERS - DAN’S OFFICE - LATER
INSERT - PLAQUE, which reads: “Dan Miller - Program Director -
Volcano Disaster Assistance Program”
BACK TO OFFICE - DAN MILLER (male, 50) is sitting at his desk
when he looks up at Chris Newhall, sitting across from him.
DAN MILLER
I understand you miss being out in
the field but sending out a warning
signal off of a whim is not how we
operate anymore.
Chris points out a specific location on the MAP OF PINATUBO.
CHRIS NEWHALL
Look at the dendritic drainage
patterns. It’s a clear sign of
large eruptions.
Dan is growing more and more annoyed. He now reaches into his
drawer and pulls out a separate TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP. He rolls
it out over the PINATUBO MAP revealing... “LONG VALLEY
CALDERA - MAMMOTH LAKES, CA”
BACK TO OFFICE - Dan points at a geographical pattern.
DAN MILLER
The Long Valley Caldera was no
different. The entire town of
Mammoth sits within it. I found
deposits as far out as Nevada,
Chris, so I get it. But you can’t
forget about the consequences of a
false alarm.
CHRIS NEWHALL
I’m not asking to evacuate any
cities or cause a panic. I’m simply
asking for permission to look into
this-
DAN MILLER
-Sometimes that’s all it takes.
INT. VDAP HEADQUARTERS - MONITORING ROOM - DAY
The ambient sound of monitoring equipment fills the room.
A PEN slowly writes on a NOTEPAD. Dave Harlow (now older by a
few years and the graying beard is proof of it) glances over
at the SEISMOGRAPH DRUM. Suddenly, another NOTEBOOK is
slapped down in front of him. He looks up, revealing LOCKHART
(male, mid 30s) standing next to him.
LOCKHART
Tiltmeter measurements are off.
DAVE HARLOW
Rule number one of tiltmeters,
they’re always off. Rule number
two, never trust them. Rule number
three-
EWERT (O.S.)
-Never publish their data.
JILL EWERT (female, early 30s) is sitting at a different desk
but never turns her attention toward the other two.
LOCKHART
Okay, smartass, if you know it all,
explain to me why everyone at the
Survey calls Dave a “Meatball.”
EWERT
A “Meatball” is someone who is
experienced with volcano
emergencies-
DAVE HARLOW
-In other words, I know what the
hell I’m doing-
EWERT
-It’s also someone who has very
little published work -- or as the
common folk call it, all brawn and
no brain.
Lockhart laughs at Dave’s expense but a CRUMPLED UP BALL OF
PAPER hitting him in the back of his head quiets him up
quickly. It was his TILTMETER MEASUREMENTS.
DAVE HARLOW
Our careers have always been about
how often our names appear in
science magazines and never about
how many lives we save.
Dave looks at Lockhart.
DAVE HARLOW (CONT’D)
How many lives have you saved?
Lockhart doesn’t have an answer to that.
THE PHONE RINGS NEXT TO DAVE and he glances over at it.
Genres:
["Drama","Disaster","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
6 -
Tremors of Danger
INT. VDAP HEADQUARTERS - DAVE’S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER
Dave rummages through his desk drawer, PHONE against his ear.
DAVE HARLOW
You know the Survey isn’t going to
put up $100,000. The equipment is
US Aid property anyway -- What
about the State Department in
Manila?
INT. USGS HEADQUARTERS - CHRIS’S OFFICE - SAME TIME
Chris is leaning back in his chair, hair messy, coffee mugs
spread about his desk.
INTERCUT - TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
CHRIS NEWHALL
They have their hands full with the
Gulf War.
DAVE HARLOW
What about Ray and his team?
CHRIS NEWHALL
They don’t have the resources to
handle something this big.
DAVE HARLOW
How big are we talking?
There is a long pause.
EXT. MOUNT PINATUBO - CRATER - MORNING
The crater is massive, many miles wide, and a thick cloud of
volcanic smog fills the air. Bayani, wearing a GAS MASK,
holds a rope tightly in his grip, looking down the steep
crater where Ray is slowly being lowered.
Ray looks up and gives Bayani a thumbs up to continue to
lower him. Ray is holding a COSPEC DEVICE (A large
rectangular shaped equipment for reading SO2.) Ray finally
comes to a stop at a large rock shelf. He places the COSPEC
DEVICE on a TRIPOD. He begins aiming it toward the center of
the crater.
Suddenly, THE GROUND BEGINS TO SHAKE around Bayani. Ray loses
his footing and slips. Bayani loses his grip on the ROPE.
Ray slides down the crater a few meters until the ROPE
CATCHES ON A SAFETY CLIP that is embedded in the side of a
rock. Ray is now dangling, clinging to the rope.
He looks up and sees the COSPEC DEVICE teetering on the edge
of the rock shelf. It begins to shimmy forward as the
earthquake continues. Ray begins to quickly climb up hoping
to move past the COSPEC DEVICE but it’s too late.
The COSPEC DEVICE tips over the edge and FALLS VIOLENTLY
toward Ray, who thinks quickly and pushes himself off a rock
to gain enough leverage to narrowly avoid getting smashed by
the device. The COSPEC DEVICE crashes to the bottom of the
crater.
Bayani finally extends out his hand and grabs Ray and pulls
him back to his feet at the crest of the crater. They both
take a huge sigh of relief.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
7 -
Urgent Warnings
INT. PHIVOLCS BUILDING - RAY'S OFFICE - DAY
INSERT - TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP, which reads: “KRAKATOA VOLCANO”
BACK TO OFFICE - Ray’s fingers scan across the dendritic
drainage systems as his other hand holds a PHONE.
RAY
Krakatoa had 13,000 times the
nuclear yield of the Little Boy
bomb. It dropped the Earth’s
temperature for five years, Chris.
Ray puts the MAP of PINATUBO next to the MAP of KRAKATOA and
the similarities are clear.
RAY (CONT’D)
Pinatubo is not only the same size
but shares almost the same
historical patterns. When they
erupt it’s not just local damage.
It’s global.
INT. CHRIS’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - SAME TIME
Chris glances over from the PHONE and sees his wife Glenda
helping their son with his homework at the kitchen table. He
turns his attention back toward the phone.
INTERCUT - TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
CHRIS NEWHALL
What’s the population of Angeles
City?
RAY
300,000 and 20,000 at Clark Air
Base but that’s an estimate -- They
won’t return my calls.
CHRIS NEWHALL
What are the rates now?
RAY
30 to 180 earthquakes a day -- I’m
ready to order an evacuation six
miles out.
CHRIS NEWHALL
You have to slow down. As far as we
know it could simply be purely
hydrothermal-
RAY
-Or the ascent of magma.
Both are quiet for a moment.
CHRIS NEWHALL
We can’t jump to conclusions.
RAY
We need the VDAP.
CHRIS NEWHALL
I can’t just drop everything and go
to the Philippines!
Chris looks over toward the kitchen table and just as he
suspected, Glenda has her attention toward him now.
RAY
We need you here, Chris.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
8 -
Tremors of Concern
INT. USGS HEADQUARTERS - PATTY LIPMAN’S OFFICE - LATER
BACK TO OFFICE - PATTY LIPMAN (female, early 40s) is sitting
at her desk, clearly aggravated based on her demeanor.
PATTY LIPMAN
The Survey doesn’t want another
misstep.
DAN MILLER
I gave Mammoth Lakes a 1%
probability of an eruption -- the
same likelihood as an 8.0
earthquake on the San Andreas Fault
-- The lowest level of alert!
Dan TOSSES A NEWSPAPER at Patty Lipman.
INSERT - NEWSPAPER - LA TIMES, which reads: “Mammoth Lakes,
CA Destined For Eruption!”
BACK TO OFFICE - Patty Lipman has nothing to say about it.
DAN MILLER (CONT’D)
The LA Times took my words and
printed fiction. I never meant to
cause a panic.
PATTY LIPMAN
Explain that to the businesses that
went bankrupt.
DAN MILLER
Did you know a Mammoth real estate
agent told me I should watch what
I’m saying because somebody would
put a bomb in my car?
(beat)
I know what it’s like to make a
mistake. But I also know what it
takes to get it right.
Patty slides a few PAPERS to Dan. He looks down at them at
the information listed. Patty reads it out loud.
PATTY LIPMAN
Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica.
They’ve already sent out inquiries
for VDAP assistance. If those
inquiries turn into formal
requests... We have enough to worry
about on our own continent.
Dan has a look of defeat.
INT. HOUSE - KITCHEN - CLARK AIR BASE - NIGHT
COLONEL STUDER (male, mid 40s, neatly dressed) is sitting at
his dining table across from his WIFE (age 40) and his SON
(age 10.)
SUPER: Clark Air Base - Philippines - 3 Miles West of Angeles
City
COLONEL STUDER’S WIFE
Janice said her husband saw more
smoke coming from the mountain.
COLONEL STUDER’S SON
Billy said he saw cracks in the
road.
COLONEL STUDER
Local Filipino geologists have
called but the general is refusing
to take a meeting with them.
COLONEL STUDER’S WIFE
Janice said the air may be toxic
around the mountain and maybe even
unsafe here.
COLONEL STUDER’S SON
Billy said lava could reach our
house.
Colonel Studer takes an aggressive drink of his wine then
clears his throat.
COLONEL STUDER
Both of you need to stop hanging
out with the Millers.
There’s a quiet moment but the son breaks the silence again.
COLONEL STUDER’S SON
Do you know anything about
volcanoes, dad?
Colonel Studer finishes chewing.
COLONEL STUDER
No. I do not.
COLONEL STUDER’S SON
Then maybe you should call someone
that does.
THE TABLE BEGINS TO SHAKE from a very mild earthquake
startling the family. It ends quickly.
EXT. CHRIS’S HOUSE - BACKYARD - DAY
Chris is throwing a baseball with his son.
CHRIS’S SON
Mom says Uncle Ray is in trouble.
CHRIS NEWHALL
Uncle Ray is just having some
trouble with an angry volcano.
CHRIS’S SON
Are people going to get hurt?
Chris hesitates to answer.
GLENDA (O.S.)
(yelling)
It’s for you!
Chris turns his head, sees Glenda hanging halfway outside the
backdoor, holding the PHONE.
Chris is accidentally smacked in the head with the BASEBALL.
INT. CHRIS'S HOUSE - HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
Chris holds an ICE PACK against his head while holding the
PHONE in the other.
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - COLONEL STUDER’S OFFICE - SAME TIME
Colonel Studer is now holding the PHONE.
COLONEL STUDER
How soon can you get here?
INTERCUT - TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
Chris wasn’t ready for that question.
CHRIS NEWHALL
I think it would be a good idea to
contact the local Filipino
geologists first.
COLONEL STUDER
I’m not asking them. I’m asking
you. What exactly do you need?
Genres:
["Drama","Disaster"]
Ratings
Scene
9 -
The Weight of Ambition
INT. USGS HEADQUARTERS - CHRIS’S OFFICE - MORNING
A FAX MACHINE IS PRINTING. Chris quickly retrieves it and
begins to read it out-loud to the PHONE.
CHRIS NEWHALL
“This mission asks that you come to
the Philippines to help us with
Mount Pinatubo. We have a maximum
of $20,000 for this effort. Do not
feel that you have to spend it
all.”
Chris laughs.
INT. VDAP HEADQUARTERS - DAVE’S OFFICE - SAME TIME
Dave is not laughing. He places the PHONE on his forehead in
frustration. He speaks to it again.
INTERCUT - TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
DAVE HARLOW
Well, if you’re going through with
it, you’re going to need to deploy
equipment that may never be
returned and before you even get
your plane ticket you’re already
$80,000 in the red.
CHRIS NEWHALL
That’s why I need your help
convincing him.
He hits his forehead with the phone.
INT. CHRIS’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - MORNING
A SUITCASE ROLLS ALONG THE FLOOR. Chris stops short of the
door and spots Glenda sitting at the table.
CHRIS NEWHALL
One month. That’s it.
GLENDA
You’re lying. You have no idea how
long you’ll be gone.
Glenda glances outside the backyard and sees her son throwing
the baseball up in the air to himself.
GLENDA (CONT’D)
Are you going to tell him?
CHRIS NEWHALL
Do you think this isn’t hard for
me?
GLENDA
It’s hard for him -- for us!
(beat)
Ever since you’ve been back in the
office you’ve been looking for an
excuse to get back out in the
field. It looks like you got your
wish.
CHRIS NEWHALL
You have family there - Ray’s
family -- You know he wouldn’t have
called if this wasn’t big.
(beat)
I have to go.
GLENDA
Then go.
Chris turns away and leaves, looking outside the window at
his son one last time.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
10 -
Tensions Over Team Selection
INT. BAR - NIGHT
Two beers are placed on the table as Dan Miller sits across
from Chris and Dave.
DAN MILLER
Who has to break the news why all
the tiltmeters are in the
Philippines?
DAVE HARLOW
Nobody is going to miss those
anyway.
CHRIS NEWHALL
I already have my team selected,
Dan. Lockhart, Ewert-
DAVE HARLOW
(surprised)
-No -- Ewert’s staying with me.
CHRIS NEWHALL
I need you both.
DAVE HARLOW
This is my last chance at salvaging
my career, Chris. If we don’t get
this published-
CHRIS NEWHALL
-I don’t want this to be another
Armero tragedy either. You were the
point man-
DAVE HARLOW
-Don’t even go there with me! I was
on my way to the airport when the
Survey pulled the plug-
CHRIS NEWHALL
-And I don’t want to make that same
mistake!
DAVE HARLOW
Take Lockhart. He knows these
instruments well and you’ll need
his energy. But Ewert and I -- I’m
sorry, Chris.
DAN MILLER
So you have a team of two-
CHRIS NEWHALL
-Three.
(beat)
Rick Hoblitt.
DAN MILLER
Bullshit. He won’t agree to it.
CHRIS NEWHALL
I have family there, Dan. Please.
Dan lowers his head. He understands what is at stake.
DAN MILLER
Look, I’ll buy you a little bit of
time but if I can’t get approval
before the Survey finds out you’re
already there -- It’s over. And I
don’t just mean this mission, I’m
talking about our careers. If we
fuck this up it’s over for all of
us.
Dan Miller gets out of his seat and begins to walk away but
stops. He turns back.
DAN MILLER (CONT’D)
And do yourself a favor, keep Rick
Hoblitt out of this. His days
chasing after angry volcanoes are
over.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
11 -
Eruption Excitement
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - HILLSIDE - MORNING
INSERT - NOTEBOOK, which reads: “6:26am - Summit not visible.
At least rain stopped.”
BACK TO HILLSIDE - RICK HOBLITT (early 30s, shaggy hair)
stops writing because his stool begins to wobble. He looks up
at the SUMMIT OF MOUNT ST. HELENS just as the clouds begin to
part.
SUPER: Coldwater Observation Post - Mount St. Helens - 10
Years Earlier - Spring 1980
STEAM SUDDENLY SHOOTS FROM THE TOP OF THE VOLCANO.
RICK HOBLITT
Holy shit!
Rick grabs the RADIO as he watches the STEAM shoot from the
crater.
RICK HOBLITT (CONT’D)
This is Coldwater, we have our
first eruption, over!
A small smile sneaks onto Rick’s face.
RICK HOBLITT (CONT’D)
(to himself)
It’s one hell of a show.
Dan Miller (10 years younger, longer hair, less grays) is
standing in the corner of the office while ROCKY (male, late
50s) is seated at his desk.
ROCKY
Do you realize you’re the only
person in the world hoping for this
volcano to explode?
DAN MILLER
I have been staring at a rock under
a microscope for six months.
Rocky laughs. A PHONE RING interrupts them. Rocky answers.
ROCKY
(talking to the phone)
This is Rocky.
(pause)
I thought the earthquake was 15
miles north? Yeah, yeah, I’ll tell
him.
ROCKY (CONT’D)
(looking at Dan now)
Mullineaux said Mount St. Helens
had a small eruption.
Dan starts doing a little jig from pure excitement.
ROCKY (CONT’D)
(talking to the phone)
Yeah, he’s excited. He’s dancing.
Yeah, actually dancing, I’m not
kidding.
Rocky hangs up. He looks at Dan continuing to dance.
ROCKY (CONT’D)
Okay, can you stop now?
Genres:
["Drama","Historical"]
Ratings
Scene
12 -
Eruption of Doubt
EXT. FOREST SERVICE HQ - MORNING
A large crowd of people block the brick building as Rocky,
Dan Miller, and now MULLINEAUX (mid 60s, gray hair, seasoned
volcanologist) speed walk through the crowd and arrive to the
front entrance where Rick Hoblitt is already standing there
to greet them.
SUPER: US Forest Service Headquarters - Vancouver, Washington
INT. FOREST SERVICE HQ - HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
Mullineaux, Rocky, Dan, and Rick are escorted down a long
hallway by the FOREST SERVICE MANAGER (short, glasses, unsure
of himself.) They walk and talk.
FOREST SERVICE MANAGER
What the hell was it?
DAN MILLER
St. Helens is clearing her throat.
RICK HOBLITT
A phreatic eruption. With all that
snow and ice on the peak and this
volcano warming up, that water gets
locked inside and becomes
superheated.
The forest service manager isn’t following and rick realizes
it.
RICK HOBLITT (CONT’D)
Imagine putting a gallon of milk
inside of a refrigerator and it
suddenly flashes to steam.
Still nothing from the forest service manager. They arrive at
a conference room entrance and stop. He looks at Rick,
awaiting for him to elaborate.
RICK HOBLITT (CONT’D)
It would blow the walls off your
kitchen.
INT. FOREST SERVICE HQ - CONFERENCE ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Mullineaux, Rocky, Dan, and Rick are standing in front of a
crowded room of all walks of life -- POLICE OFFICERS, PARK
RANGERS, STATE DEPT. EMPLOYEES, TIMBER OWNERS, LOGGERS,
REPORTERS...
The TIMBER OWNER (of course he’s in flannel) stands up.
TIMBER OWNER
Will it erupt soon!?
MULLINEAUX
We cannot predict that.
A STATE DEPT. EMPLOYEE (dressed in a suit) stands up.
STATE DEPT. EMPLOYEE
You mean to tell me that we as a
nation can send a man to the moon
but you can’t predict if a volcano
will erupt or not?
MULLINEAUX
That is correct.
The MURMURS in the crowd get louder until a logger speaks.
LOGGER
It’s a mountain! A mountain! My
entire family has lived and worked
on St. Helens their entire lives!
How dangerous can it really be!?
Rocky steps in.
ROCKY
I understand how difficult it is to
have four strangers show up at your
doorstep and announce that you have
an active volcano in your backyard
but I promise we are going to do
our best at monitoring the
situation and educating everyone in
the process.
COUNTY POLITICIAN
It’s just a bunch of crooks cooked
up by the federal forestry service!
LOCAL RESIDENT
Or one of them environmentalists to
delay the big development at Spirit
Lake!
That one gets a good cheer from the crowd.
TIMBER OWNER
I’ll tell you all what it is! It’s
a bunch of liberal scientists
trying to take away our American
freedoms!
Genres:
["Drama","Disaster","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
13 -
Urgent Preparations: Mapping the Hazard Zone
INT. FOREST SERVICE HQ - MULLINEAUX & ROCKY’S OFFICE - LATER
A TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP OF MOUNT ST. HELENS is rolled out on a
desk. Mullineaux, Rocky, Dan, and Rick are gathered it.
MULLINEAUX
We need to map out a hazard zone.
DAN MILLER
Rick’s your guy.
Rick, at first caught off guard, but appreciates the trust
Dan Miller has in him. He begins to trace his hand from St
Helens peak down the slopes.
RICK HOBLITT
We can assume that future eruptions
will roughly be of the same
frequency and scale as those which
occurred in the past.
THE EVENTS RICK BEGINS TO DESCRIBE COME TO LIFE IN FLASHES
SERIES OF SHOTS:
RICK HOBLITT (CONT’D)
Thousands of tons of melted snow
and ice would flow like a tidal
wave.
1. A DAM IS DESTROYED BY A VIOLENT RUSHING WALL OF WATER.
RICK HOBLITT (CONT’D)
Pyroclastic flows would blast
outward a hurricane speeds. Nothing
will survive within this circle.
2. A GIANT BLACK CLOUD OF ASH RUSHES DOWN A CLIFF.
3. TREES ARE BLOWN OVER BY THE HURRICANE WINDS
With the tension in the room now palpable, Mullineaux looks
at Rocky.
MULLINEAUX
We’re also going to need an expert
in explosive volcanoes.
ROCKY
Who do you have in mind?
INT. AUGUSTINE ISLAND VOLCANO - HELICOPTER - DAY
The turbulent wind and snow through the window clears
revealing a snow covered volcanic island in the distance.
SUPER: Four Years Earlier - Augustine Island Volcano, Alaska -
January 22, 1976
DAVID JOHNSTON (Male, mid 20s, dressed in winter gear) looks
over at his field assistant HARRY GLICKEN (early 20s, also
dressed in full winter gear) but neither say a word.
EXT. AUGUSTINE ISLAND VOLCANO - SUMMIT - CONTINUOUS
The HELICOPTER landing gear makes contact with the icy
surface as the HAUL DOORS open and the wind and snow rushes
in. David and Harry struggle to exit in the BLIZZARD
conditions.
David waves toward the helicopter pilot signaling him to take
off. The HELICOPTER raises up but an INTENSE GUST OF WIND
SLAPS IT DOWN VIOLENTLY as the ROTORS CLIP THE GROUND and
DISINTEGRATE. The SKIDS FLY IN ALL DIRECTIONS. The HELICOPTER
CRUMBLES AND ROLLS down a small steep incline leaving just a
plexiglas and aluminum ball with a pilot trapped inside.
Unbeknownst to them, the HELICOPTER stops short of a massive
cliff. Harry removes his PICKAXE that was attached to the
side of his pack and rushes to the windshield of the cockpit.
The helicopter teeters on the edge. He smashes it open as
Dave moves from behind and pulls the pilot free from the
wreckage just as the helicopter tips over the edge and falls
into the misty bottom with a loud CRASH and BOOM. The three
men give out a sigh of relief.
EXT. AUGUSTINE ISLAND ALASKA - SUMMIT - LATER
David and Harry help the pilot hike up the steep slope.
Through the mist they spot a SHED. They slowly approach it.
INT. AUGUSTINE ISLAND ALASKA - OLD SHED - LATER
The ground shakes beneath them and the wind is roaring
outside. Duct tape is patched over a hole in the ceiling by
David.
A cooled LAVA BOMB is picked up by Harry.
The pilot rummages through old rations from a crate.
EXT. AUGUSTINE ISLAND VOLCANO - CRATER - LATER
David, carrying his COSPEC DEVICE, slowly peaks over the
crest of the crater.
He sets down the COSPEC DEVICE and aims it toward the crater.
The ground shakes beneath his feet. He can sense this volcano
is incredibly unstable.
INT. AUGUSTINE ISLAND VOLCANO - OLD SHED - MORNING
EMPTY CANS now lay around the shed. The rations are gone.
SUPER: Three Days Later
David, Harry, and the pilot look exhausted and are shivering.
DAVID JOHNSTON
SO2 is decreasing.
Harry slowly looks over at David.
HARRY GLICKEN
Maybe she’s settling down.
All of a sudden the sound of ROTORS SPINNING is heard
thumping outside their shed.
David opens the shed door revealing a RESCUE HELICOPTER
landing next to them.
Genres:
["Drama","Action","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
14 -
Tensions Erupt: Science vs. Stubbornness
INT. RESCUE HELICOPTER - MOMENTS LATER
David, Harry, and the pilot are sitting in the back as they
watch the island volcano move further away as the helicopter
lifts off when SUDDENLY A FLASH OF LIGHT and a massive
EXPLOSION is seen coming from the volcano’s crater.
The helicopter strafes and avoids falling LAVA BOMBS as
smaller rocks pelt the exterior. They narrowly escape.
INT. UW - SEISMIC MONITORING ROOM - DAY
Harry Glicken looks at the SEISMOMETER DRUM then glances over
at David Johnston who is sitting at his desk looking at the
SO2 REPORTS.
SUPER: Four Years Later - Spring 1980 - University of
Washington Seismology Headquarters
HARRY GLICKEN
The quakes are happening right
beneath her.
DAVID JOHNSTON
High levels of hydrogen sulfide
too.
MALONE (late 50s, David and Harry’s supervisor) approaches
them.
MALONE
So it’s associated with magma?
David looks up and nods with agreement.
MALONE (CONT’D)
I made a deal with the Seattle
news. I promised them a story if
they gave us a chopper.
(beat)
The Survey wants someone to
represent us.
Both David and Harry perk up.
DAVID JOHNSTON
We’re in. I mean, are you asking
us?
Malone loves the enthusiasm but he looks at exclusively at
David.
MALONE
I’m asking you, David.
Harry understands. He looks at Dave.
HARRY GLICKEN
You’ll be all right without me.
DAVID JOHNSTON
We do this as a team.
INT. HELICOPTER - LATER
David and Harry look up at the SEATTLE NEWS CREW seated on
the other side (all dressed in WINTER PARKAS.)
They turn their attention toward the window where MOUNT ST.
HELENS snowy peak is visible.
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - FRONT ENTRANCE - MORNING
A CLOSED SIGN hangs on a gate at the entrance as a crowd of
people congregate around the road snapping pictures.
DAVID JOHNSTON (O.S.)
This mountain is heating up. Magma
is rising. It looks like there is a
very good chance at a large
eruption.
A FORD BRONCO moves past the line of cars and crowds of
people and stops at the gate. The PARK RANGER opens it and
the Bronco continues through.
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - NORTH SLOPE - PARKING LOT - SAME TIME
A HELICOPTER has landed on a parking lot and standing a few
meters away, the Seattle news crew is holding CAMERAS and
microphones, pointing at a nervous David Johnston.
DAVID JOHNSTON
If there is an explosion, it is
possible that very, very hot
incandescent debris could come down
on all sides-
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - NORTH SLOPE - BACKROAD - SAME TIME
Rick exits the Bronco and looks at Mount St. Helens from a
distance, while bending down, and scooping up a handful of
dirt from the road.
DAVID JOHNSTON (O.S.)
-But right now, there’s a very
great hazard that on this side, the
north side, that the glacier is
breaking up. That could produce a
very large avalanche.
Rick’s palms opens as the wind takes the dirt away.
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - NORTH SLOPE - PARKING LOT - SAME TIME
The CAMERA OPERATOR peeks around his viewfinder and looks at
David, waiting for him to have a closing statement.
DAVID JOHNSTON
This is not a good site to be in.
INT. LOCAL BAR - NIGHT
INSERT - TELEVISION, which shows: DAVID JOHNSTON’S INTERVIEW
DAVID JOHNSTON
(on TV)
The fuse is lit but we don’t know
how long it is.
BACK TO LOCAL BAR - Mullineaux, Rocky, Dan, Rick, David, and
Harry are all sitting around a high top table.
HARRY GLICKEN
That’s a great line!
They all share a laugh as the WAITRESS walks over holding two
more pitchers of beer to their surprise.
The waitress sets down the beer at their table as the
volcanologists see the old man at the bar, HARRY TRUMAN (age
83) starting to gather his coat to leave.
WAITRESS
He’s the owner of the Spirit Lake
Lodge at the base of St. Helens. He
insisted.
Harry throws on his coat and walks toward the exit but stops
short. He turns back toward the volcanologists.
HARRY TRUMAN
I stuck it out for fifty-four years
and I can stick it out another
fifty-four! Not a god-damn thing is
gonna make me leave me home!
Especially no archeologists!
He exits with a SLAM.
David Johnson corrects him even though he’s already left.
DAVID JOHNSTON
Volcanologists. We’re
volcanologists.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
15 -
Eruption of Emotions
INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - MORNING
A TELEPHONE RINGS on the table.
MARIAN (female, mid 30s, 8 months pregnant) answers the
phone.
MARIAN
Hello?
INT. FOREST SERVICE HQ - KITCHEN - SAME TIME
Rick holds a phone up to his ear and smiles.
RICK HOBLITT
Hey, baby.
INTERCUT - TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
MARIAN
I saw the news about the eruption.
RICK HOBLITT
A small one. For now.
MARIAN
What are you thinking?
Rick takes a moment to collect his thoughts.
RICK HOBLITT
I’m thinking I want St. Helens to
go back to sleep so I can come
home.
Marian laughs.
RICK HOBLITT (CONT’D)
I don’t have a good feeling about
this one, Marian. I don’t know if
I’m ready for this. I’ve always
been so buried in the literature
and history of the science but when
one finally wakes up-
MARIAN
-You don’t know what to do.
Marian knows Rick all too well.
MARIAN (CONT’D)
You told me Pliny the Elder wasn’t
ready when Mount Vesuvius erupted
yet his letters were the first
pages of volcanology in history.
You’ll find your way, Rick.
RICK HOBLITT
It was Pliny the Younger, not
Elder.
Rick smiles, knowing he’s being a smart-ass.
MARIAN
(laughing)
That’s not my point.
RICK HOBLITT
Pliny the Elder was killed at
Pompeii.
That puts a sobering mood into the conversation.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
16 -
Eruptions of Memory
INT. RICK’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - MORNING
A HOMEMADE VOLCANO STARTS TO BUBBLE UP.
INT. RICK’S HOUSE - OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
A TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP OF MOUNT ST. HELENS is on a desk. Rick,
(now 10 years older, with a graying beard) draws a large
circle around the volcano.
SUPER: Denver, Colorado - 1991
RICK HOBLITT’S DAUGHTER (O.S.)
Dad! Dad! Dad! Hurry!
Rick, startled, rushes out of the office.
INT. RICK’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
RICK’S DAUGHTER (age 10) stands next to the HOMEMADE VOLCANO
excitedly.
Rick rushes into the kitchen and puts his arm around her.
RICK HOBLITT
You did it!
They both watch the volcano erupt on the kitchen table.
RICK HOBLITT (CONT’D)
You know the real thing is the
changes of physical properties,
rather than a chemical reaction --
the acid reacts to the sodium
hydrogen and it produces carbon
dioxide -- Did I ever tell you I
was supposed to be a chemist? Dan
Miller talked me out of it. His
dorm was next to mine.
RICK HOBLITT’S DAUGHTER
He’s the one that sent you to
Indonesia where you almost got
killed?
RICK HOBLITT
Is that what mom told you?
THE PHONE RINGS, interrupting them. Rick walks over and
answers.
RICK HOBLITT (CONT’D)
This is Rick...
(pause)
Find someone else.
Ewert glances over at Dave, who is focused on his writing.
EWERT
When I left for graduate school I
didn’t think I would ever come back
here.
DAVE HARLOW
Just skip to the reason why you’re
telling me this.
EWERT
Nevado del Ruiz -- That’s why.
Dave looks up from his desk right as Ewert lays down a PHOTO
of Omayra Sanchez, the same girl the journalist had taken.
EWERT (CONT’D)
23,000 deaths.
DAVE HARLOW
We sent hazard maps but the
Colombian government never got them
distributed in time-
EWERT
-They should’ve had a two hour
warning. That volcano didn’t kill
those people, the lack of a
response did.
(beat)
Do you believe you’re doing the
right thing by staying here or are
you just doing this for you?
DAVE HARLOW
I’m trying to protect our careers-
EWERT
-Your career.
Dave stays quiet now. He contemplates to himself.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
17 -
Tensions at PHIVOLCS
EXT. MANILA AIRPORT - RUNWAY - MORNING
A mosquito lands on an arm, bites, and it’s instantly
slapped. Lockhart (wearing cutoff jean-shorts and flip-flops)
looks at the smashed bug. He then sneezes. The sun hasn’t
even risen yet and the runway lights illuminate the loading
area.
SUPER: Manila, Philippines - April 23, 1991
A crate is lifted and placed in a tactical cargo truck.
The CARGO DRIVER (wearing green camouflage) is skeptical as
he watches Chris and Lockhart loading the CRATES.
CARGO DRIVER
I’d like to know if I’m carrying
any hazardous material.
LOCKHART
Just seismometers, geophones,
tiltmeters-
The cargo driver is clearly not following along.
CHRIS NEWHALL
Nothing hazardous.
An ARMED SUV pulls up and Lockhart notices the thick, tinted
windows.
LOCKHART
Are we expecting combat?
CARGO DRIVER
You never know.
The driver walks away leaving Lockhart to wonder -- he looks
at Chris and quietly mouths: “What the fuck?”
INT. DOWNTOWN QUEZON CITY - ARMORED SUV - LATER
Through the window a street sign reads, “QUEZON CITY.”
Chris and Lockhart are seated in the back looking out at the
city as it passes by.
EXT. DOWNTOWN QUEZON CITY - PHIVOLCS BUILDING - LATER
The SUV comes to a stop right outside a large rundown
building.
SUPER: Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
The volcanologists exit the SUV and enter the building.
INT. PHIVOLCS BUILDING - HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
Ray leads Chris and Lockhart through the tight hallway,
passing various monitoring rooms. They finally reach an
office at the end of the hallway.
WRITTEN IN SHARPIE ON WHITE TAPE ON THE DOOR: “RAYMUNDO
PUNONGBAYAN”
INT. PHIVOLCS BUILDING - RAY'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER
Ray peeks into the hallway one last time and realizing how
conspicuous he seemed.
RAY
The others aren’t happy you’re
here.
LOCKHART
I’m not happy I’m here either.
Chris picks up the latest SEISMIC DATA from Ray’s desk.
CHRIS NEWHALL
(looking at the DATA)
This can’t be right.
Chris looks at Lockhart.
CHRIS NEWHALL (CONT’D)
The earthquakes are three miles
northwest of the steam vents. It
doesn’t make sense that these
fumaroles are being heated by a
plug of magma that far apart.
Chris hands the DATA to Lockhart.
LOCKHART
They don’t have enough stations
setup-
Bayani walks into the room, clearly annoyed and agitated with
the sight of the American scientists. He rips the DATA from
Lockhart’s hand.
BAYANI
Who the hell are you?
LOCKHART
I’m Lockhart, nice to meet you.
Lockhart extends his hand to shake Bayani’s, despite the
tension. Bayani ignores his gesture.
LOCKHART (CONT’D)
I don’t know about here but in
America it’s customary to shake the
other guy’s hand.
BAYANI
This isn’t America.
Ray steps in.
RAY
Bayani and I set up the seismic net
ourselves.
CHRIS NEWHALL
It’s not about the quantity, it’s
where they’re located-
RAY
-Without a helicopter we’re limited
to what we can each by car.
Chris understands and nods.
CHRIS NEWHALL
The way I see it, we have three
jobs to do. First is setting up a
bigger seismic net. Secondly, we
need to review Pinatubo’s historic
records. Once we know Pinatubo’s
past and present, we have to
educate everyone about the
consequences of a large eruption
RAY
And people can be stubborn.
BAYANI
Especially Americans.
Chris and Lockhart look at Ray and Bayani with slight concern
on their faces. Is this new partnership going to work?
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
18 -
Tension at Clark Air Base
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - ARMORED SUV 1 - DAY
A cone-shaped VOLCANO is seen above a green countryside
through the SUV window.
Chris points it out to Lockhart while the two of them sit in
the back seat.
The walls of a military base come into view through the SUV
window as it pulls into a gated entrance.
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - ARMORED SUV 1 - CONTINUOUS
Through the window, the stark contrast of where they just
were outside the walls to the now picturesque suburban
America, with a Baskin Robins, Pizza Hut, rows of beautiful
homes that parallel the street, and people walking around
dressed nicely, men clean shaved.
SUPER: Clark Air Base
Lockhart smirks at the sight of it all.
LOCKHART
It’s like a heritage USA theme park
that was built from the memory of
what they thought American was
like.
CHRIS NEWHALL
Easy, Lockhart.
LOCKHART
We’re definitely the only ones on
this base with beards.
A STREET SIGN reads: “MARYLAND STREET. ”
EXT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - LATER
The tactical cargo truck is already being unloaded by
numerous military personnel. Chris and Lockhart oversee the
unpacking next to a TWO-STORY HOUSE.
COLONEL STUDER (O.S.)
Is this thing going to blow or
what?
Colonel Studer approaches the two volcanologists.
CHRIS NEWHALL
That’s why we’re here, sir.
COLONEL STUDER
I’m Colonel William Studer, we
spoke briefly on the phone.
He looks at Lockhart’s CUT-OFF JEAN-SHORTS AND FLIP-FLOPS.
COLONEL STUDER (CONT’D)
So this is the best team you could
find?
CHRIS NEWHALL
I’d like to say so, sir.
LOCKHART
The best of the best.
(saluting)
-- Of the best.
Chris slaps Lockhart’s saluting hand down.
Colonel Studer looks at the building.
COLONEL STUDER
It was a communication center
during the Vietnam War. Has it’s
own generator, air-filtering
system.
LOCKHART
Is it bomb-proof?
COLONEL STUDER
It’s never been tested.
Lockhart hasn’t heard good news since we arrived and his look
says it all.
Colonel Studer watches crates being unloaded.
COLONEL STUDER (CONT’D)
Make sure you keep your doors
locked. I don’t know how these
locals keep getting in but I’d
imagine that stuff would sell for a
pretty penny. We have a saying on
the base, “everything’s already
stolen, they just haven’t taken it
yet.”
(beat)
And don’t leave the base without
armed escort.
That gets Lockhart’s attention.
COLONEL STUDER (CONT’D)
Not too long ago we had three
personnel assassinated just outside
the gate -- Filipino Guerrillas.
LOCKHART
(looking at Chris)
Filipino Guerrillas, Chris. Got
that?
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
19 -
Mission to Mount Pinatubo
EXT. CLARK AIR BASE - HELICOPTER PAD - MORNING
An ARMY HUEY HELICOPTER sits on a landing pad and the ROTORS
are starting to spin.
Chris and Lockhart walk toward it (wearing HELMETS AND COMMS)
A door gunner manning an M60 MACHINE GUN side-mounted on the
Huey sees Lockhart approaching him.
LOCKHART
Are you gonna shoot the volcano?
The gunner doesn’t answer.
Chris is holding a COSPEC DEVICE and he sizes it up against
the barrel of the gun.
DOOR GUNNER
Can I help you?
CHRIS NEWHALL
If you don’t end up using it, it
might come in handy.
The door gunner isn’t following and Chris finally boards.
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - HELICOPTER - COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
A CLARK AIR BASE PILOT (in his HELMET AND COMMS) glances
toward the back.
CLARK AIR BASE PILOT
(sarcastic)
Colonel Studer said I’m going to be
your private chauffeur during your
stay at Clark.
(beat)
So just head straight for the
dangerous active volcano, right?
BACK IN THE HAUL - Chris and Lockhart laugh.
CHRIS NEWHALL
That’s right.
INT. MOUNT PINATUBO - HELICOPTER - DAY
The COSPEC DEVICE is mounted on the front of the M60 as Chris
swivels it toward the volcano crater. Lockhart is watching
Chris.
LOCKHART
You got the safety on right?
CHRIS NEWHALL
(to the pilot)
Do another round -- I want to make
sure these readings are accurate.
The COSPEC DEVICE recenters on the crater again.
EXT. MOUNT PINATUBO - VALLEY - LATER
Lockhart places the TILTMETER in a hole.
CHRIS NEWHALL
Did you charge the battery?
Lockhart looks at Chris.
LOCKHART
Of course I did.
Lockhart connects A CAR BATTERY to the TILTMETER.
Chris places a GEOPHONE inside of a hole, eyeing the leveler.
Lockhart walks over with a bucket of cement and pours it into
the hole. He watches Chris walks approach a giant wall of
dirt.
CHRIS NEWHALL
(Still facing the canyon)
These deposits are thirty feet
thick at least. That’s a ton of
material for being ten miles from
Pinatubo.
Chris chips a piece of CHARCOAL from the canyon wall and
places it inside a JAR and closes it:
INSERT - JAR, which reads: “MOUNT PINATUBO”
Storm clouds roll in from the distance. THUNDER CRACKS.
Genres:
["Drama","Action","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
20 -
Tensions at Clark Air Base
EXT. CLARK AIR BASE - FRONT ENTRANCE - DAY
Rain is starting to pour.
An unsteady hand is placed on a HOLSTERED HANDGUN.
Ray and Bayani are sitting in his truck, looking out of the
window at the guard.
CLARK AIR BASE GUARD
Get out of the car now!
The Clark Air Base Guard finally unholsters his HAND GUN and
now points it toward the vehicle.
CLARK AIR BASE GUARD (CONT’D)
I will use lethal force!
Chris comes sprinting to the scene in the rain.
CHRIS NEWHALL
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! What’s going on?
CLARK AIR BASE GUARD
These man are claiming to be
scientists.
CHRIS NEWHALL
They are!
(looking at Ray)
Show him your I.D.!
BAYANI
We did!
CHRIS NEWHALL
(looking at the guard)
When what the hell is the problem
here? Let ‘em in!
The Clark Air Base Guard is slow to lower the gun and he
takes a breath. Everyone takes a breath.
The gate opens and Ray and Bayani finally drive in clearly
shaken.
EXT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - MOMENTS LATER
A custom SIGN mounted to the side of the house: “PINATUBO
VOLCANO OBSERVATORY - PHILVOLCS-USGS WITH ASSISTANCE FROM
USAID-USIF - SHAKE ‘n BAKE with the BEST. ”
Rain continues as Ray and Bayani pull up to the house.
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - LIVING ROOM - LATER
Chris guides Ray and Bayani into the living room revealing
the entire interior turned into a mobile monitoring station,
with COMPUTERS, MONITORS, SEISMOGRAPH DRUMS, and ANTENNAS.
Lockhart is working with the equipment.
LOCKHART
Welcome to PVO!
BAYANI
We almost got shot back there!
LOCKHART
What?
Chris nods and then looks at Ray.
CHRIS NEWHALL
It won’t happen again.
LOCKHART
Maybe if your people stopped
assassinating our people everyone
would be on better terms.
BAYANI
What do you expect when you plant
an American base in a place you
shouldn’t.
LOCKHART
If it wasn’t for this base we
wouldn’t even be here helping your
ass!
BAYANI
We never asked for your help!
LOCKHART
You called us!
Bayani, in surprise, immediately turns to Ray.
BAYANI
You didn’t trust your own team to
get the job done? Where the hell
was US aid after Luzon?
CHRIS NEWHALL
If this was happening in the US I
would expect you to be there for us
too!
(beat)
And your team was right, by the
way. The geometry of the cloud
cluster doesn’t look volcanic.
RAY
What about the COSPEC readings?
CHRIS NEWHALL
High levels of SO2.
RAY
So magma is close to the surface-
CHRIS NEWHALL
-But the quakes are too far apart
and too infrequent. We’re getting
mixed signals from her.
LOCKHART
Story of my life --
BAYANI
So you’ve solved nothing so far.
LOCKHART
We just got here!
CHRIS NEWHALL
Enough!
Everyone finally gets quiet.
CHRIS NEWHALL (CONT’D)
We are in this together, whether
you like it or not. We’re all
searching for the same answers.
Chris walks over to the window and sees MOUNT PINATUBO in the
distance.
CHRIS NEWHALL (CONT’D)
Pinatubo is breathing but we don’t
know if she’s going to hold her
breath or exhale next. If we want
to get this right, and we have to
get this right, we have to start
trusting each other.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
21 -
Volcanic Tensions
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
That same JAR reading: “MOUNT PINATUBO,” is now sitting in
front of Dan on a restaurant table.
He looks up and sees Rick Hoblitt enter the building and
approach his table, clearly looking reluctant to join
A glass of whiskey is slid to Rick to cheer him up.
RICK HOBLITT
You promised it wasn’t work
related.
DAN MILLER
-It’s about getting this right.
Rick finally takes a seat.
DAN MILLER (CONT’D)
The Survey has tightened up, Rick.
Pinatubo is a fine line and we’re
all balancing on the tightrope.
(beat)
I don’t want to get this one wrong.
RICK HOBLITT
How do you suppose you’re going to
get it right?
DAN MILLER
I don’t. But I know you can.
Rick shoots the whiskey.
RICK HOBLITT
This is why I like working with
extinct volcanos. All science and
no politics.
DAN MILLER
At least do me a favor.
Dan slides the JAR to Rick.
DAN MILLER (CONT’D)
I know it’s hard to let go of past,
Rick. I sure as hell haven’t let go
of it either. But maybe it’s time
we both try.
EXT. MOUNT KILAUEA - MORNING
LAVA EXPLODES INTO THE SKY AND FALLS BACK DOWN.
Standing in the distance are two VOLCANOLOGISTS dressed in
their silvery LAVA PROTECTIVE SUITS. Neither of their faces
are visible through the face shielding.
SUPER: Mount Kilauea - Hawaii - 1980
One of the scientists, who will soon be known as DON SWANSON,
bends down to collect a sample of the fresh red lava and
places it into a large container.
His partner, who will soon be revealed to be a younger PATTY
LIPMAN, turns to speak to him.
PATTY LIPMAN
I got a call from Vancouver. They
have some unrest in the Cascades.
DON SWANSON
When do we leave?
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - HILLSIDE - MORNING
Two TENTS are next to one another.
David finally stumbles out of his TENT holding an empty
bottle of BOURBON. He wipes his eyes and rubs his head which
must be pounding. He looks up at St. Helens and stops
walking. He looks worried now. He quickly grabs his
BINOCULARS.
DAVID JOHNSTON
Rick! Rick! Wake up!
There is rustling in the other tent. Rick now stumbles out,
slipping his shoes on quickly.
RICK HOBLITT
What? What’s going on?
He walks up next to David as David hands him his BINOCULARS.
Rick slowly raises them up. His eyes grows wide.
Another CAR pulls up and Harry Glicken exits holding COFFEE.
Harry sees David and Rick rushing to their vehicles.
HARRY GLICKEN
What the hell did I miss?
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
22 -
Eruption Tensions
INT. FOREST SERVICE HQ - CONFERENCE ROOM - LATER
The forest service manager has a look of concern as Rick,
Dan, Mullineaux, and Rocky are gathered around him.
FOREST SERVICE MANAGER
Is this a sign of something
serious?
MULLINEAUX
Not exactly.
RICK HOBLITT
We don’t know that yet!
Dan steps in to avoid Rick getting in over his head with his
superiors.
DAN MILLER
What Rick means is, we need more
time to figure out what exactly is
going on.
RICK HOBLITT
I know what’s going on! St. Helens
is inflating and it’s a sure sign
of an explosive eruption!
Rocky steps in now.
ROCKY
Easy, Rick. We already have our
hands full playing PR. We don’t
need to jump to any conclusions
right now.
RICK HOBLITT
What the hell are you guys talking
about? This is serious!
MULLINEAUX
It takes more than one guy’s
opinion to persuade the Survey to
dump more money into this
operation.
DAVID JOHNSTON
Two opinions.
Rick appreciates David’s support at least. He looks over at
Dan now.
RICK HOBLITT
Do you agree with this?
Dan is hesitant as he glances at Rocky and Mullineaux,
knowing very well he doesn’t want to disagree with them.
DAN MILLER
I think Mullineaux and Rocky have a
point, Rick. We don’t want to cause
mass hysteria from a gut reaction.
RICK HOBLITT
You once told me to trust my gut.
DAN MILLER
I also told you, you worry too
much.
RICK HOBLITT
I worry about this being bigger
than anything we ever imagined.
MULLINEAUX
Which is why we brought in a few
more experts.
Entering the room is DON SWANSON, and PATTY LIPMAN, the two
volcanologists from Hawaii, both dressed in Hawaiian shirts.
MULLINEAUX (CONT’D)
This is Don Swanson and Patty
Lipman from the Hawaiian Volcano
Observatory.
ROCKY
These two work with the most active
volcanoes in the world.
Dan Miller seems agitated by the idea that more experiences
volcanologists were needed.
DAN MILLER
HVO get jealous of our mountain?
Rocky can tell Dan is pissed.
ROCKY
We wanted the best, Dan, from every
department.
DON SWANSON
We also know you Denver folks work
in a different timescale -- slow.
DAN MILLER
Cascades are a different monster
than what you’re used to dealing
with-
PATTY LIPMAN
-And ya’ll are used to working with
dead ones so tell me what
experience you bring?
MULLINEAUX
All right, that’s enough.
ROCKY
So what’s our plan?
PATTY LIPMAN
The chemical composition of
volcanic rock can reveal the
presence of magma moving to
shallower levels, especially around
the edge of the crater.
Don turns to face Mullineaux and Rocky.
DON SWANSON
Do we have access to a helicopter?
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
23 -
Tension Over Mount St. Helens
INT. HELICOPTER - COCKPIT - MORNING
A hand grabs the PITCH CONTROLS.
An OLD HELICOPTER PILOT (gray hair, wearing a VIETNAM VETERAN
BADGE on his helmet) looks at MOUNT ST. HELENS through the
window.
OLD HELICOPTER PILOT
Not sure how I feel about this.
BACK IN THE HULL - Don shrugs it off.
DON SWANSON
Rocks and ash pelting the side
isn’t much different than NVA
gunfire, old man. Just get as close
as you can!
Don Swanson grabs his YARDSTICK that has a SOUP LADLE
attached to the end.
Don Swanson nods as Patty Lipman grabs the back of Don’s
shirt as Don extends his body almost completely outside the
helicopter.
Don sees steam begin to build in the crater. Patty Lipman’s
grip loosens. Don drops an inch forward but Patty adjusts her
grip.
The SOUP LADLE reaches one last time, scooping up some ash.
PATTY LIPMAN
(to the pilot)
Let’s go! Let’s go!
The helicopter strafes away from the summit right as another
SMALL PHREATIC ERUPTION SHOOTS UP INTO THE SKY.
DON SWANSON
Yeehaw!
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - NORTH RIDGE HILLSIDE - EVENING
Harry and David are sitting next to one another glancing at
St. Helens in the distance as the sun sets behind the
cascades.
DAVID JOHNSTON
SO2 is decreasing yet the mountain
is inflating.
Harry looks over at David.
HARRY GLICKEN
You have that same feeling you had
with Augustine, don’t you?
DAVID JOHNSTON
I have a feeling there could be a
great tragedy here if we’re not
careful.
INT. FOREST SERVICE HQ - KITCHEN - EVENING
Dan is pouring himself some coffee when Rick walks over to
him.
DAN MILLER
Coffee?
Rick clearly isn’t in the mood.
RICK HOBLITT
What the hell was that back there?
DAN MILLER
You have to learn to play the game,
Rick.
RICK HOBLITT
You brought me here because you
trusted me.
DAN MILLER
I do trust you. But the Survey
doesn’t make decisions based on
instinct.
(MORE)
DAN MILLER (CONT’D)
The sooner you understand that,
realize this is a team sport, the
faster you’ll move up in this
business.
RICK HOBLITT
You know I don’t care about that. I
care about getting his right.
DAN MILLER
And so do I. But I also know if we
jump to conclusions too soon and
they aren’t accurate there’s no
going back.
(beat)
Rocky and Mullineaux brought in Don
and Patty because they’re starting
to lose trust that we can handle
this on our own.
Dan hands Rick a cup of Coffee.
DAN MILLER (CONT’D)
I’m on your side, Rick. But this is
a delicate situation.
RICK HOBLITT
I don’t want to be on the wrong
side of history.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
24 -
Haunted by Ashes
EXT. MOTEL - AFTERNOON
The sun is blotted out by a sky thick of ash. Ash rains down
on the street.
Rick, dirtied face, with a tired look in his eyes, wipes his
face with his hand. He now sees a traffic jam of cars and
people on the streets fleeing for their lives. People are
carrying CHARRED BODIES. Rick looks beyond the chaos at a
straight-line view of a MASSIVE ERUPTING VOLCANO in the
distance.
It EXPLODES! EXPELLING HOT ASH AND ROCK. A PYROCLASTIC FLOW
SURGES DOWN THE SLOP TOWARD THE VILLAGE. It heads straight
for Rick but he’s frozen. The PYROCLASTIC FLOW moves closer
and closer.
Finally, a hand reaches out and grabs Rick’s arm and pulls
him to safety. RICK WAKES UP.
INT. RICK’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
RICK SNAPS AWAKE, breathing heavily, and sweating. He turns
to see Marian already awake and looking at him.
MARIAN
Which one was that?
Rick takes a deep breath.
RICK HOBLITT
Indonesia.
MARIAN
That was a bad one.
Rick gets out of bed.
RICK HOBLITT
They’re all bad.
SUPER: Ten Years Later - Spring 1991
INT. RICK’S OFFICE - LATER
A LIGHT SWITCH TURNS ON.
Rick rolls out the MAP OF MOUNT PINATUBO on his desk. He
starts to scan it slowly.
Marian enters the office by his surprise as she places a cup
of coffee on his desk next to the map.
MARIAN
I thought you were done chasing
them?
RICK HOBLITT
I am.
She looks at the map again.
MARIAN
You’re still trying to solve it,
aren’t you?
RICK HOBLITT
It’s about protecting the people I
care about.
MARIAN
And who is going to protect you
from yourself?
Rick ignores that.
MARIAN (CONT’D)
Does our daughter know?
RICK HOBLITT
THERE’S NOTHING TO KNOW!
Rick slams the COFFEE CUP back onto the table, spilling a
little on the MAP, and startling Marian and even himself. He
realizes he was out of line with that tone.
RICK HOBLITT (CONT’D)
I’m sorry.
Marian leaves the office.
Rick looks down at his desk, wipes the coffee away and sees
the JAR that reads: “MOUNT PINATUBO” written on it, the same
one Dan had given to Rick at the restaurant.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
25 -
Eruption Imminent
INT. RADIOCARBON LABORATORY - DAY
RADIOCARBON DATING MONTAGE -- RADIOCARBON LABORATORY -- DAY
SERIES OF SHOTS:
1. WEARING HIS LAB COAT, RICK CAREFULLY REMOVES THE CHARCOAL
FROM THE JAR
2. RICK INSPECTS IT UNDER A MICROSCOPE. HE BEGINS THE
CHEMICAL CLEANING PROCESS
3. HE PUTS THE SAMPLE INTO A QUARTZ COMBUSTION TUBE WITH A
SMALL WIRE OF COPPER OXIDE AND THEN PLACES THE COMBUSTION
TUBE INTO THE VACUUM LINE. HE SEALS THE TOP WITH A BLOW TORCH
4. A TINY CAPSULE IS PLACES IN A LARK MUFFLE FURNACE WHICH
READS: “900 Degrees.”
5. THE SMALL CAPSULE IS ATTACHED TO ANOTHER VACUUM LINE AND
RICK ADDS HYDROGEN INTO THE GRAPHITE REACTION VESSEL
6. THE IRON CATALYST HAS THE LEFTOVER DEPOSITS DISTRIBUTED TO
MULTIPLE SMALL CAPSULES
7. RICK HOLDS UP THE TINY CAPSULE OF LITTLE BLACK PIECES OF
GRAPHITE AND LOOKS AT IT CLOSELY
8. THE TARGET HOLDER GOES INTO THE ACCELERATOR
9. RICK EXITS
INT. RICK’S HOME - OFFICE - NIGHT
Rick’s fingers are typing vigorously on his keyboard. He
brings the coffee mug up to his mouth, about to take a sip,
but stops when he spots something on his MONITOR.
RICK HOBLITT
(disbelief)
Oh my god.
INT. VDAP HEADQUARTERS - DAVE'S OFFICE - DAY
David is anxiously tapping his foot on the floor. He’s
holding the phone up to his ear. He glances over at Ewert who
is listening in on the conversation in the corner of the
office.
DAVE HARLOW
How many times has she erupted?
RICK HOBLITT (O.S.)
Only three from what I can tell.
Roughly every thousand years, give
or take.
DAVE HARLOW
When was the latest?
INT. RICK'S HOUSE - HALLWAY - SAME TIME
Rick hesitates. His daughter is waiting by the door with her
BACKPACK.
RICK HOBLITT’S DAUGHTER (O.S.)
(growing impatient)
C’mom, we’re going to be late!
INTERCUT - TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
DAVE HARLOW
Rick, when was the last eruption?
RICK HOBLITT
Fifteen hundred years ago.
DAVE HARLOW
Jesus. This mountain is cocked and
loaded.
(Dave looks up at Ewert)
Pack your bags.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
26 -
BBQ Under Pressure
EXT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - BACKYARD - AFTERNOON
A VHS TAPE is inserted into a TAPE DECK.
INSERT - TELEVISIONS, which shows: “VARIOUS FILM ERUPTIONS
WITH KATIA AND MAURICE KRAFFT (famous French volcanologists)
STANDING IN THE FOREGROUND”
BACK TO BACKYARD - Dave Harlow flips the burger patties on
the grill.
Colonel Studer is watching the SMALL TELEVISION, standing
next to him is his son, wife, and Chris Newhall.
CHRIS NEWHALL
They’re French volcanologists. They
agreed to pay us a visit once
they’re done working on Mount Unzen
in Japan.
DAVE HARLOW
They’re famous for getting close.
Lockhart walks up next to Colonel Studer with half a hotdog
in his mouth.
LOCKHART
(mouthful)
-Infamous for getting too close.
CHRIS NEWHALL
They were the first to film a
pyroclastic flow.
COLONEL STUDER
I’m sorry, pyro-plastic-what?
Ewert joins in.
EWERT
Pyro-CLASTIC. Avalanche of hot
gases and rock that moves at 100
miles per hour with temperatures
reaching 1,000 degrees.
COLONEL STUDER
And can this reach Clark?
CHRIS NEWHALL
20% chance it extends more than
fifteen miles. 30% for the lahar.
COLONEL STUDER
Lahar?
Colonel Studer is not following and Ewert notices.
EWERT
Volcanic mudflow-
DAVE HARLOW
-But there is a clear difference
between being prepared versus panic-
EWERT
-But what we’ve learned is
sometimes it’s not enough to get
the science right either. It has to
be trusted.
GENERAL GRIME (O.S.)
THE SKY IS FALLING! THE SKY IS
FALLING!
GENERAL GRIME (late 50s, stern) arrives at the BBQ with his
WIFE and TWO DAUGHTERS (age 10 and age 13). Colonel Studer
salutes him.
GENERAL GRIME (CONT’D)
Chicken Little -- My girls always
loved that story. An evacuation is
tall order, gentlemen.
(now addressing Chris)
You got any kids?
CHRIS NEWHALL
I do, sir.
GENERAL GRIME
So you can imagine how difficult it
is to have some stranger tell them
to abandon their home.
Dave steps in now.
DAVE HARLOW
We’re only asking to be prepared,
sir-
GENERAL GRIME
How do you prepare to move 20,000
people?
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - LIVING ROOM - LATER
Dave closes his WHITE BINDER that now reads: “MOUNT
PINATUBO.”
Ewert intercepts him right as he’s about to walk out of the
door.
EWERT
Let me handle the conference.
DAVE HARLOW
That’s not a good idea, Ewert.
EWERT
Why the hell not?
DAVE HARLOW
Do you want me to spell it out for
you? Because there’s a room full of
military men who aren’t going to
trust a god-damn word of what you
have to say.
Lockhart perks up from his MONITOR.
LOCKHART
We have an issue!
Ewert and Dave both say “WHAT!?” at the same time.
LOCKHART (CONT’D)
I lost signal on one of the
tiltmeters.
DAVE HARLOW
Take Ewert.
EWERT
Just give me a chance.
Dave is so aggravated right now. He takes a breath.
DAVE HARLOW
Fine.
Dave looks over toward Lockhart.
DAVE HARLOW (CONT’D)
What the hell are you waiting for?
Lockhart jumps out of his seat and Dave reluctantly hands
Ewert his WHITE BINDER.
DAVE HARLOW (CONT’D)
Good luck.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
27 -
Urgent Warnings: The Mount Pinatubo Crisis
INT. ANGELES CITY - CITY HALL - HALLWAY - SAME TIME
Ray and Bayani rush down the long hallway toward a large door
to a conference room. Ray knocks. Nobody answers.
SUPER: Angeles City - 12 miles southeast of Clark Air Base
Ray goes to knock again but the door swings open revealing a
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER (Filipino ethnicity, wearing a suit.)
ALL DIALOGUE IN FILIPINO
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
We’re in the middle of a meeting
right now.
RAY
This is very important.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
A lot of things are but there is a
line and right now you two are at
the back of it.
BAYANI
Please. It’s about Mount Pinatubo-
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
-Of course it is... It still has to
wait.
RAY
Then we’ll wait right here.
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - CONFERENCE ROOM - LATER
INSERT - PROJECTOR SCREEN, which shows: A MAP OF MOUNT
PINATUBO
BACK TO CONFERENCE ROOM - A SHARPIE begins to draw a straight
line from Mount Pinatubo to Clark Air Base, then writes:
“8.2.”
A circle is drawn around the perimeter of Mount Pinatubo.
One last bigger circle is drawn around the perimeter of the
smaller circle. It writes: “15 miles.”
Chris Newhall and Ewert, the sole woman in the room, stands
next to the OVERHEAD PROJECTOR, looking out at the crowd of
colonels, sergeants, and General Grime and Colonel Studer
sitting at the front.
CHRIS NEWHALL
It’s just over eight miles from
Pinatubo to the residential area on
Clark.
Ewert points at the biggest circle.
EWERT
There is a 99 percent chance of
safety behind this line.
General Grime is clearly not happy with that.
GENERAL GRIME
Believe it or not, when I was
younger I was a fighter pilot. If
you had given me the odds of 99%
then I would’ve told you that I see
that as a 1% chance at being 100%
dead.
That get a few laughs in the room.
Chris and Ewert do not laugh. This is going to be a lot
harder than they imagined.
GENERAL GRIME (CONT’D)
I might not know a goddamn thing
about volcanoes but I do know how
to make tough calls and evacuating
on the basis of shaky scientific
predictions is a tough call.
EWERT
The Colombian government didn’t
heed our warning either and a lahar
buried that town! We don’t need
another tragedy-
COLONEL STUDER
-Another tragedy?
CHRIS NEWHALL
-A plan has to be in place. That’s
all.
GENERAL GRIME
And as soon as word gets out that
there is even a remote possibility
the end of the world happens.
(beat)
It’s bedlam.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
28 -
Pressure Points
INT. BASE OF PINATUBO - ARMORED SUV 2 - SAME TIME
Lockhart glances over at Dave who is driving the SUV.
LOCKHART
Why don’t you trust tiltmeters?
Dave continues to focus on the road.
DAVE HARLOW
We used them at Long Valley Caldera
in Mammoth California. Rick and I
thought they would give us an
accurate measurement of the magma
movement of subsurface reservoirs.
LOCKHART
I’m guessing they didn’t.
DAVE HARLOW
Word got around town that magma was
on the move to the surface. The
entire town went into a panic.
Shops shutdown, people left their
homes, businesses went bankrupt.
Once we realized it was a false
reading... It was a big mess. Dan
took the fall for it.
LOCKHART
You got a lot riding on Pinatubo.
DAVE HARLOW
We all do.
Dave turns down another dirt road.
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - CONFERENCE ROOM - SAME TIME
There are murmurs in the crowd as Chris and Ewert start
losing the room.
CHRIS NEWHALL
It takes time for us to understand
the magnitude of these events. Each
volcano is different-
GENERAL GRIME
-This isn’t a science lab! You
might’ve had the time and
flexibility to study at your own
pace before but we don’t have that
luxury here!
CHRIS NEWHALL
I understands-
GENERAL GRIME
-We have several hundred thousand
military vehicles and 20,000 people
that need answers and not just
quickly, they need to be accurate!
My two girls depend on it.
EWERT
We understand what is at stake here-
GENERAL GRIME
-I don’t think you do.
Ewert realizes this isn’t just about the disagreement of
their presentation, it’s also about her being a woman.
GENERAL GRIME (CONT’D)
This is a military operation. You
are part of that chain now. But
right now you’re at the bottom of
it.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
29 -
Tension at Mount Pinatubo
INT. BASE OF PINATUBO - ARMED SUV 2 - SAME TIME
The tall grass makes visibility almost impossible.
DAVE HARLOW
You forgot to charge the battery
again didn’t you?
LOCKHART
It’s not the battery.
Through the windshield, Lockhart sees a PICKUP TRUCK parked
and THREE ARMED FILIPINO MEN pulling the TILTMETER out of the
ground. They arm their AK-47s at the arriving SUV.
DAVE HARLOW
Holy shit.
Dave slams on the brakes.
Lockhart and Dave look at one another then back toward the
armed Filipino men.
LOCKHART
Let’s forget about it.
Dave reaches for the door handle.
LOCKHART (CONT’D)
What the hell are you doing?
Dave exits the vehicle with his hands raised in the air. He
takes a step forward but stops when AK-47S aim at him.
FILIPINO GUERRILLA
Tumigil ka! Tumigil ka! Huwag kang
lalapit!
Lockhart exists the vehicle.
FILIPINO GUERRILLA (CONT’D)
Kamay sa hangin!
One Filipino Guerrilla points toward his men motioning for
them to continue retrieving the TILTMETER from the hole.
DAVE HARLOW
You see that mountain, right
there!?
(pointing at the summit)
This device is the only way we know
if it’s going to erupt!
The Filipino guerrilla raise his AK-47 at him again.
FILIPINO GUERRILLA
Tumahimik ka! Tumahimik ka!
Lockhart points at Mount Pinatubo.
LOCKHART
You see that? Boom!
(motioning explosions with
his hands)
Kaboom! Ahhh! Run for your life!
Lockhart continues motioning his hands as if fireballs were
raining from the sky.
The Filipino man looks toward the peak of Mount Pinatubo.
DAVE HARLOW
We need this device. Please.
FILIPINO GUERRILLA
Warning?
DAVE HARLOW
Yes. It’s a warning system.
The guerrilla motions to the others to put it back.
FILIPINO GUERRILLA
Ibalik mo.
They place the TILTMETER back into the hole.
Lockhart, hands still raised, walks over to it and switches
it back on. The light doesn’t turn on.
LOCKHART
Okay, maybe I did forget to charge
it.
Lockhart looks at the Filipino guerrilla’s PICKUP TRUCK.
LOCKHART (CONT’D)
But I have an idea.
Genres:
["Action","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
30 -
Evacuation Efforts and Denied Funding
INT. ANGELES CITY - TOWN HALL - HALLWAY - SAME TIME
Ray and Bayani are still seated and staring at the closed
door.
ALL DIALOGUE IN FILIPINO
RAY
Chris and I worked on the Mount
Mayon eruption together.
BAYANI
You evacuated 73,000 people?
RAY
And if Chris didn’t back me on that
those 73,000 people would’ve been
back in their homes when Mayon
erupted. They didn’t want to leave
but we had a feeling and we got it
right.
BAYANI
They cry for help when they think
there might be a problem but hate
us when we tell them there is one.
INT. BACK ROAD - ARMORED SUV 2 - LATER
Dave drives while Lockhart quietly stares forward.
Dave looks in the REAR-VIEW-MIRROR at the three Filipino
guerrillas sitting cramped in the backseat.
DAVE HARLOW
(looking toward the back)
Thanks again for the battery and
sorry about your truck.
FILIPINO GUERRILLA
Walang problema.
DAVE HARLOW
If an order comes to evacuate,
don’t ignore it. You all get the
hell out of here, okay?
Dave looks over at Lockhart.
DAVE HARLOW (CONT’D)
Way to handle it back there.
Lockhart nods.
DAVE HARLOW (CONT’D)
(jokingly)
I hope the tiltmeter was worth it.
INT. ANGELES CITY - CITY HALL - HALLWAY - LATER
THE DOOR OPENS and the council member exits and sees Bayani
and Ray still waiting.
ALL DIALOGUE IN FILIPINO
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
I’m sorry but the city council is
unable to meet with you today.
We’ve come to the conclusion that
these experiments that your geology
department has been asking us to
fund is all but a thesis project --
not a warning sign.
(beat)
We don’t need a bunch of scientists
starting mass hysteria.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
31 -
Echoes of Trust and Tension
EXT. RICK’S BACKYARD - NIGHT
A small fire illuminates the backyard.
Rick tosses another log into the fire as he sits alone.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a SMALL PIECE OF
METAL that seems to be broken in half. He looks closely at
it.
INSERT - SMALL PIECE OF METAL, which has the etched in
letters of an incomplete word: “COLDWAT”
BACK TO BACKYARD - Appearing out of the shadows, with the
fire now glowing against her face, Rick’s daughter approaches
him.
RICK HOBLITT
You can’t sleep either?
Rick pulls up an extra folding chair and his daughter takes a
seat. Rick’s daughter takes a moment before speaking.
RICK’S DAUGHTER
I saw the map on your desk.
Rick realizes now what’s bothering her.
RICK HOBLITT
It’s not what it looks like-
RICK’S DAUGHTER
-You promised you weren’t going to
do this anymore.
RICK HOBLITT
I never said I was leaving-
RICK’S DAUGHTER
-You’re lying again!
Rick gets quiet.
RICK’S DAUGHTER (CONT’D)
Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
Rick’s daughter stands up from her seat and walks back toward
the house. Rick watches he enter.
He looks back at the fire again.
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - HILLSIDE - MORNING
A TILTMETER sits alone on the side of St. Helens.
SUPER: Ten Years Earlier - 1980
Harry bends down and scopes it out. He pulls the RADIO up.
HARRY GLICKEN
Everything looks good, over.
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - NORTH RIDGE HILLSIDE - SAME TIME
BINOCULARS are watching Harry from a distance. They finally
lower revealing David, now holding the RADIO.
David grabs the DATA from his pocket. He scans it.
DAVID JOHNSTON
Get back to Coldwater, over.
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - HILLSIDE - SAME TIME
Harry feels a RUMBLE beneath his feet. He looks down and sees
the dirt and ash slowly move and his shoes losing balance.
HARRY GLICKEN
Oh god.
Harry catches himself as he falls from the unstable ground.
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - HILLSIDE - SAME TIME
David sees ash and dust billow above the crater. He grabs the
RADIO.
DAVE HARLOW
(to the RADIO)
Are you all right!?
HARRY GLICKEN (O.S.)
I’m good, over. I’m good.
David Johnston slowly lowers the BINOCULARS.
DAVID JOHNSTON
This mountain is a ticking-time-
bomb.
INT. FOREST SERVICE HQ - HALLWAY - SAME TIME
An office door is ajar and Dan Miller and Rick are peaking
into the room where Patty Lipman and Don Swanson are each
going over data.
Don is looking through a MICROSCOPE and Patty is writing on
the WHITEBOARD, and both are still wearing Hawaiian shirts.
Dan whispers to Rick.
DAN MILLER
(whispering)
They got spoiled with Kilauea’s
activity and now they don’t have
the patience like we do. They’re
adrenaline junkies-
PATTY LIPMAN
-We monitor one of the most active
volcanoes in the world which is
another way of me saying we have
experiences that your team doesn’t.
Don Swanson looks up from his MICROSCOPE.
DON SWANSON
And you’re gonna have to speak a
little softer if you’re going to
talk behind our back -- or I guess
in this case, directly to us.
Genres:
["Drama","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
32 -
Tensions Erupt at Forest Service HQ
INT. FOREST SERVICE HQ - OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
Dan finally enters their office.
DAN MILLER
Mauna Kea and Kilauea are child’s
play next to the Cascades.
Don Swanson rolls up his sleeve revealing a massive scar.
DON SWANSON
Lava bomb - what do you have to
show for it?
DAN MILLER
Multiple publications.
DON SWANSON
Then go write an essay about St.
Helens instead.
DAN MILLER
If you want to take over this
operation why don’t you start by
answering some calls for once!
PATTY LIPMAN
We didn’t come here to be PR -- You
Denver folks seem to have a handle
on it.
DAN MILLER
Do either of you own different
shirts or is that it?
DON SWANSON
Why don’t you go carbon date
something and get to me in ten
years.
Dan SWIPES THE MICROSCOPE OFF THE DESK AND IT SHATTERS
AGAINST THE WALL. Rick rushes in and pulls Dan back.
Rocky and Mullineaux rush in after hearing the commotion.
MULLINEAUX
We have a volcano that God only
knows when it’s going to erupt, a
giant bulge on the north side that
might come crashing down at any
moment, and I’ve been on the phone
all goddamn-morning trying to keep
timber workers from getting too
close! I already lost my shit
today, I don’t need anyone else
losing theirs!
David rushes into the office now.
DAVID JOHNSTON
Tiltmeters are showing extreme
movement on the north slope and
geometers are showing a 250-foot
change!
ROCKY
This week?
DAVID JOHNSTON
Just today!
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
33 -
Urgent Warnings: The Lituya Bay Threat
INT. PSU - COLLEGE LECTURE HALL - MORNING
INSERT - PROJECTOR SCREEN, which shows: “1958 Lituya Bay
earthquake and megatsunami aftermath footage.”
SUPER: Penn State University - Geology Department
BACK TO LECTURE HALL - BARRY VOIGHT (male, clean shaved, 43)
points with a yardstick at the images on the screen.
BARRY VOIGHT
The strike-slip earthquake took
place on the Fairweather Fault and
triggered a rockslide of 90 million
tons into the narrow inlet of
Lituya bay.
He changes the image.
BARRY VOIGHT (CONT’D)
The sudden displacement of water
resulted in a megatsunami with the
height of 1,719 feet. That’s taller
than the Empire State Building.
Barry Voight’s attention is pulled away at the waving DEAN at
the corner of the room.
BARRY VOIGHT (CONT’D)
Excuse me for a moment.
Barry Voight walks over to the dead.
The dean whispers something into Barry’s ear. Barry now seems
concerned. He walks back over to the class.
BARRY VOIGHT (CONT’D)
Class dismissed.
INT. FOREST SERVICE HQ - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
Barry Voight is now shuffling through research papers at the
end of the long table where Rocky, Mullineaux, Dan, Rick, Don
Swanson, Patty Lipman, and David Johnston are sitting.
DON SWANSON
(whispering)
That’s Jon Voight’s brother.
PATTY LIPMAN
Like Midnight Cowboy Jon Voight?
DON SWANSON
Yeah -- or Deliverance Jon Voight.
Barry finally looks up at the volcanologists.
BARRY VOIGHT
Every landslide has an inflection
point and once it reaches that
limit -- I’ll need my own team of
surveyors to re-measure the rates.
ROCKY
We’re scraping at the bottom as it
is. The Survey won’t fund it.
BARRY VOIGHT
Then heed my warning -- the north
slope is primed to fail. If it
continues to inflate and it reaches
the point of no return, it will be
poised to be one of the biggest
landslides in history.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
34 -
Tensions Rise in the Kitchen
INT. FOREST SERVICE HQ - KITCHEN - DAY
Coffee is brewing but that doesn’t stop Rocky from pulling
the pot out early, burning his hand in the process.
RICK HOBLITT
The north slope would fall into
Spirit Lake.
David holds out his coffee cup for Rocky to refill.
DAVID JOHNSTON
We also have to discuss the risk of
a lateral eruption.
That catches everyone by surprise.
DAVID JOHNSTON (CONT’D)
These cascades volcanoes are junk
piles -- Conduits can find
weaknesses in the structure, moving
toward the sides instead of the
summit. A landslide could uncork a
cataclysmic eruption event.
RICK HOBLITT
St. Helens is a champagne bottle
lying on its side and it’s pointing
right at Coldwater.
(MORE)
RICK HOBLITT (CONT’D)
It changes every hazard map we’re
released to the public.
Rocky and Mullineaux look at Dan now.
ROCKY
And what do you think about this?
Dan looks at Mullineaux and Rocky and then at Rick. He nods.
DAN MILLER
I agree with Rick and David. We
need to readjust the hazard maps.
MULLINEAUX
How far?
RICK HOBLITT
Twice the distance at least.
MULLINEAUX
Jesus Christ.
Rick is confused by Rocky and Mullineaux are so furious.
RICK HOBLITT
What do you want us to say?
MULLINEAUX
You’re not the one that has to
communicate to the Survey and ask
for more money!
ROCKY
You’re also not the one picking up
the phone every day, explaining to
these people why they can’t go to
work, why they can’t go back to
their homes.
MULLINEAUX
We’ll lose all credibility if we
change the hazard maps.
Rocky looks at Patty and Don.
ROCKY
What do you two think?
PATTY LIPMAN
I think we’re the most qualified
people in this room and I think
these three bozos are overreacting
right now.
DON SWANSON
I think it’s all bullshit.
DAN MILLER
Screw you!
PATTY LIPMAN
If we would’ve been invited here
sooner we would’ve had this entire
clown-show under control!
Don Swanson nods and agrees.
DON SWANSON
We’ve been working from behind
since we arrived!
ROCKY
All of us have been trying to play
catchup since St. Helens started
talking!
Everyone is quiet now for a moment as Mullineaux steps
forward.
MULLINEAUX
There’s only one of us who has seen
a volcano of this magnitude up
close.
Mullineaux looks at David.
MULLINEAUX (CONT’D)
What would you have us do, David?
David looks around at everyone in the room.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
35 -
Reflections on the Ridge
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS NORTH RIDGE HILLSIDE - EVENING
A COLDWATER II SIGN is stuck into the ground by Rick.
A few feet away David and Harry are seated next to one
another looking out at St. Helens.
SUPER: Mount St. Helens - Coldwater II Observation Post
A half bottle of whiskey is poured into three tin cups. Rick
walks over to Harry and David and takes a seat.
RICK HOBLITT
Did you always want to do this?
DAVID JOHNSTON
Sleep next to an active volcano?
Harry and Rick laugh.
DAVID JOHNSTON (CONT’D)
I wanted to be a photographer. My
mom worked for the local paper and
she got me a part-time job when I
was nine. I always dreamed of
shooting for National Geographic.
RICK HOBLITT
What changed?
DAVID JOHNSTON
One thing led to another and I was
at Washington pursuing my doctorate
in volcanology with an emphasis on
the explosive ones.
HARRY GLICKEN
That’s where we met.
David and Harry cheers their whiskey glasses.
DAVID JOHNSTON
I’ve been trying to solve the
correlation between gas readings
and future eruptions. Maybe there’s
a way to predict it.
RICK HOBLITT
Did you know Augustine was going to
erupt?
DAVID JOHNSTON
Right before we got rescued the SO2
plummeted to almost zero. 24 hours
later Augustine exploded. The shed
we were taking refuge in was
completely incinerated. We wouldn’t
have survived.
(beat)
But I wouldn’t have changed what
happened there. If one of these
mountains decides to go while I’m
on it, what was there before might
not remain but my coordinates will
be there forever. Everyone will
know exactly where I stood -- What
I stand for.
FADE OUT.
INT. SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - DAY
A SCIENCE FAIR is happening at the school gym. Rick watches
his daughter from a distance start her presentation with her
HOMEMADE VOLCANO. He smiles but soon all sound begins to fade
out.
SERIES OF SHOTS:
1. RICK HEARS A RUMBLE IN THE DISTANCE
2. HE CLOSES HIS EYES NOW TRYING TO GET OUT OF HIS OWN HEAD
3. A MASSIVE BURNING CLOUD OF ROCK AND ASH SHOOTS INTO THE
AIR
4. A PYROCLASTIC FLOW TUMBLES DOWN A CLIFF
5. TREES ARE BLOWN OVER LIKE BLADES OF GRASS IN THE WIND
6. A FILIPINO CITY CRUMBLES TO THE GROUND AS A PYROCLASTIC
FLOW BURNS EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH
7. A MILITARY BASE IS HIT BY A 50 FOOT WAVE OF MUD
8. A BOBBLE HEAD ON THE DASH OF THE CAR MELTS AWAY
CUT TO BLACK.
EXT. MOUNT SAINT HELENS - FRONT ENTRANCE - MORNING
A crowd of people are waiting by the gate yelling at the park
rangers and police officers
SUPER: One Month Later - May 1980
RESIDENT 1
Let us back in! We have rights!
Rick’s FORD BRONCO exits the open gate right as a few
tourists run past the guards and chaos ensues. Through the
window, Rick sees the commotion as he drives away.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
36 -
Facing the Abyss
INT. FOREST SERVICE HQ - MULLINEAUX & ROCKY'S OFFICE - LATER
Mullineaux hands Rocky and INVOICE.
MULLINEAUX
We’re spending $2,000 a day plus an
additional $300 for the helicopter.
The well is drying up, Rocky.
Rocky lowers his head and takes a deep breath.
ROCKY
When did we lose sight of what is
important?
MULLINEAUX
What is important?
ROCKY
The science.
Dan Miller enters the office and slaps down a WASHINGTON POST
NEWSPAPER on Mullineaux’s desk.
INSERT - WASHINGTON POST, which reads: “This apocalypse
refuses to cooperate.”
BACK TO OFFICE - Dan looks at Rocky and then Mullineaux.
DAN MILLER
How can the press release bullshit
like this!?
ROCKY
Close the door.
DAN MILLER
What the hell is going on?
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - CRATER - DAY
A COSPEC device is balancing on the edge of the crater. The
steady hand of David slowly adjusts it toward the smoldering
center of the crater. David steps away from it for a moment.
In David’s hand, SO2 READINGS. He looks at it again.
INSERT - SO2 DATA, which reads: “Mount St. Helens, March:
573, April: 425, May: 320”
BACK TO CRATER - David pulls out another set of SO2 readings.
INSERT - SO2 DATA which reads: “Augustine, February: 759,
March: 428, April: 150”
DAVID JOHNSTON
It’s just like Augustine.
INT. FOREST SERVICE HQ - HALLWAY - LATER
Rick walks down the hallway peering into a few offices and
sees bankers boxes and things suspiciously packed away.
INT. FOREST SERVICE HQ - DAN'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER
Rick hands Dan Miller a SHEET OF PAPER with estimates on it.
DAN MILLER
What is this?
RICK HOBLITT
It’s my formal request.
Dan grabs the paper, skims over it quickly.
RICK HOBLITT (CONT’D)
It’s for the surveillance system.
If it’s approved nobody will be
needed at Coldwater II anymore.
Dan crumbles the paper into a ball and tosses it in the
trash.
DAN MILLER
The Survey was never going to spend
$40,000 on a video system. They
can’t even afford you anymore.
Rick is coming to the realization quickly.
DAN MILLER (CONT’D)
The Survey wants a skeleton crew.
RICK HOBLITT
They’re actually convinced St.
Helens is slowing down-
DAN MILLER
-Because she is. HVO is even seeing
slight deceleration. It’s
deflating. Tilt stations show no
consistent activity as of late. St.
Helens’ vital signs are as well
monitored as a patient in an
emergency room, Rick.
RICK HOBLITT
Who is going to remain?
DAN MILLER
David from UW, Don from HVO-
RICK HOBLITT
And you’re representing us --
DAN MILLER
Mullineaux has his daughter’s
graduation and Rocky is heading
back to Denver to work on his essay
on St. Helens -- with you.
(beat)
You got your wish, Rick. You’re
going home.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
37 -
Shifting Ground
INT. FOREST SERVICE HQ - KITCHEN - LATER
INSERT - TELEVISION, which shows: HARRY TRUMAN’S INTERVIEW
INTERVIEWER (O.S.)
(on TV)
What are you gonna do if it gets
really bad? I mean, if the danger
becomes really great?
HARRY TRUMAN
(on TV)
I’m gonna sit right here and pour
myself another Swindler’s and say,
“come and get me.”
BACK TO KITCHEN - Rick sees David approaching him holding SO2
readings.
DAVID JOHNSTON
I think St. Helens is pressurizing-
RICK HOBLITT
-They’re sending me home, David.
David stops. He can’t believe it.
DAVID JOHNSTON
What?
RICK HOBLITT
Dan just told me. Rocky and
Mullineaux are dissolving the team.
DAVID JOHNSTON
This is bullshit! We shouldn’t be
turning out back on this!
Rick nods as David finally cools off and comes to terms with
it.
DAVID JOHNSTON (CONT’D)
I’m sorry, Rick.
RICK HOBLITT
Don’t be. It’s no mistake why
they’re keeping you here. The
Survey only wants the best.
DAVID JOHNSTON
Take these. You can use it for your
essay.
David hands Rick the SO2 READINGS.
Rick looks at them.
INT. STATION WAGON - DAY
David turns the wheel down a dirt road and spots another
vehicle parked on the side.
A photographer, who will be known as REID BLACKBURN (holding
a CAMERA on a tripod) hears David’s STATION WAGON pull up.
DAVID JOHNSTON
Are you with the press?
REID BLACKBURN
National Geographic.
DAVID JOHNSTON
No shit -- Good luck up there.
REID BLACKBURN
You too.
Reid Blackburn watches David drive up the mountain.
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - NORTH RIDGE HILLSIDE - EVENING
Harry Glicken is sitting on a stump jotting down notes in his
NOTEBOOK when he hears David’s STATION WAGON drive up and
park. David exits.
HARRY GLICKEN
Where’s Rick?
DAVID JOHNSTON
He’s going home.
Harry’s head drops down.
DAVID JOHNSTON (CONT’D)
They’re sending you home too.
The bad news keeps on coming for Harry.
Harry extends his hand to shake David’s. David grabs his hand
and shakes it but to Harry’s surprise gives him a hug as
well.
DAVID JOHNSTON (CONT’D)
I’m sorry, Harry.
HARRY GLICKEN
It’s all right. Rocky and
Mullineaux already told me they
wouldn’t have a position for me
once I was done with school.
(beat)
But it’s all right. Rick told me
he’d setup a meeting for me with
some French volcanologists he
knows. I’ll see you around, David.
Silhouetted against the backdrop of Mount St. Helens and the
setting sun, Harry slowly walks toward his car and drives
away.
FADE OUT.
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - NORTH RIDGE HILLSIDE - MORNING
Two stumbling pairs of feet try sliding into untied
boots.Mount St. Helens is very clear and David looks up at
it.
SUPER: Mount St. Helens - May 18, 1980 - 8:30AM
The RADIO is sitting on the ground.
DON SWANSON (O.S.)
(on the radio)
How are things up there? Vancouver,
over.
David’s hand reaches for the RADIO.
DAVID JOHNSTON
(to the radio)
Oh, it’s very nice, over. You can
see the mountain clearly.
DON SWANSON (O.S.)
(on the radio)
Very good, over. I’ll be out there
this afternoon to relieve you,
Vancouver out.
David takes a seat on his bench and begins to write in his
notebook. The GROUND BEGINS TO SHAKE BENEATH HIS FEET.
DAVID JOHNSTON
Whoa -- that’s a good one.
David continues to write. ANOTHER JOLT. David tumbles off the
bench.
DAVID JOHNSTON (CONT’D)
Okay -- you have my attention --
David picks himself up, looking toward the mountain -- His
eyes grow wide as he witnesses the ENTIRE NORTH SIDE OF THE
MOUNTAIN BEGIN TO SEPARATE AND SLIDE DOWN.
From David’s point of view, it’s an unbelievably massive
amount of land being moved. It’s almost inconceivable in
size.
THE GROUND SHAKES EVEN HARDER KNOCKING DAVID DOWN.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
38 -
Eruption's Embrace
INT. SPIRIT LAKE LODGE - SAME TIME
The whiskey ripples in Harry Truman’s glass and he braces
himself from the massive earthquake.
ALL GOES BLACK outside his windows as they shatter.
EXT. SPIRIT LAKE LODGE - SAME TIME
200 FEET OF MOUNTAIN CRUSHES SPIRIT LAKE IN A FLASH. An 820
FOOT TSUNAMI SHOOTS STRAIGHT INTO THE SKY FROM SPIRIT LAKE as
all the water is displaced in seconds. IT CRASHES DOWN ON THE
SURROUNDING HILLS.
ENTIRE FORESTS ARE FLATTENED BY IT.
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - NORTH RIDGE HILLSIDE - SAME TIME
David’s hand is pressed against the soil and the dirt
trembles between his fingers. He reaches for the RADIO,
stands, and looks out at Mount St. Helens.
DAVID JOHNSTON
(to the radio)
Vancouver, Vancouver. This is it!
(pause)
Vancouver! This is Johnston, over!
Everything goes silent. Everything moves in slow motion.
SERIES OF SHOTS:
1. SUDDENLY A MASSIVE DIRECT BLAST OF BLACK ASH AND ROCK
SHOOTS FROM THE NORTH SIDE OF MOUNT ST. HELENS
2. DAVID JOHNSTON’S HAIR IS BLOWN BACKWARDS, HE SQUINTS
3. BOULDERS THE SIZE OF HOUSES, TREES, ENTIRE FORESTS EVEN,
ARE HOISTED UP LIKE A DARK TIDAL WAVE OF DEBRIS AND FIRE AND
ITS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR COLDWATER II AND DAVID
4. SUDDENLY A SECOND MASSIVE EXPLOSION OF THICK BLACK ASH
SHOOTS OUT LATERALLY TOWARD DAVID
5. DAVID DOESN’T MOVE -- HE’S FROZEN -- HE KNOWS HE’S STARING
DOWN THE BARREL OF A GUN
6. THE GROUND A FEW MILES CLOSER IS RIPPED FROM THE EARTH TO
THE BEDROCK BELOW -- IT’S INCOMPREHENSIBLE IN SCALE
7. FORESTS AND CHUNKS OF MOUNTAIN THE SIZE OF SPORTS
STADIUMS, DISMEMBERING IN MIDAIR, TURNING EVERYTHING INTO
OILY BLACK CHURNING CLOUDS OF 300 DEGREES
8. SEVENTY-EIGHT SECONDS AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE BEGAN, THE
HURRICANE OF STONE, ICE, WOOD, AND FIRE REACHES COLDWATER II
9. DAVID’S EYES SLOWLY CLOSE. HE KNOWS IN A SPLIT SECOND OF
SOUNDLESS DARKNESS HE WILL BE CONSUMED
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - NORTH RIDGE - SAME TIME
A RADIO is in a hand and is pulled up to Reid Blackburn. He
sees David standing on a hillside right as Coldwater II and
David is sandblasted from existence. He knows David is dead.
REID BLACKBURN
(to the radio)
Gentlemen, the, uh -- camper and
car sitting over to the south of me
-- it’s covered.
A PYROCLASTIC FLOW SURGES toward Reid Blackburn like fumes
flowing out of a beaker. It moves at a fantastic rate,
impossible speeds. It THROWS ROCKS AND BOULDERS ahead of it.
Grabbing his CAMERA and RADIO, Reid slides into his car.
INT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - NORTH RIDGE - CAR - CONTINUOUS
The PYROCLASTIC FLOW is seen through the windshield now as
Reid holds up the RADIO as he hunkers down.
REID BLACKBURN
(to the radio)
It’s gonna get me too -- I can’t
get out of here -- I’m not gonna
make it --
He closes his eyes as the PYROCLASTIC FLOW reaches his car.
Everything is dark now as ash and rock pelt the exterior.
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - NORTH RIDGE - CAR - CONTINUOUS
ALL FOUR TIRES MELT. The car drops onto its frame. The
windows shatter. ASH FLOWS INTO THE SHATTERED WINDOWS. THE
BOBBLE HEAD ON THE DASH MELTS AWAY.
CUT TO BLACK.
Genres:
["Disaster","Action","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
39 -
Eruption Chaos
INT. FOREST SERVICE HQ - MONITORING ROOM - MORNING
Don Swanson walks into the room sipping his coffee. He passes
a SEISMOGRAPH DRUM and sees the PEN SLASHING on all sides
rapidly.
He drops his coffee mug on the floor and it shatters.
INT. HARRY GLICKEN’S CAR - SAME TIME
The left side mirror shows Mount St. Helens erupting as Harry
slams on his brakes, swerves into the other side of the road,
and makes a dangerous u-turn.
EXT. CAMPSITE - SAME TIME
SERIES OF SHOTS:
1. A GROUP OF CAMPERS ARE RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES
2. TREES BEGIN TO RAIN DOWN ON THEM
3. THEY ARE CRUSHED IN SECONDS
4. A BLACK CLOUD OF ASH OVERWHELMS THE ENTIRE AREA
EXT. FOREST - SAME TIME
5. THREE TIMBER WORKERS ARE WALKING DOWN A PATH HOLDING
CHAINSAWS
6. A FOURTH TIMBER WORKER COMES RUNNING BY
7. ALL FOUR ARE CONSUMED IN THE PYROCLASTIC FLOW
8. SKIN IS BURNED -- HAIR IS SINGED OFF
9. TREES TURN TO CHARCOAL
10. A CHAINSAW DROPS TO THE GROUND
11. FOUR BODIES LIE SMOLDERING IN THE FLATTENED FOREST
EXT. CREEK - SAME TIME
12. A TENT IS NEAR A RIVER
13. A MASSIVE WALL OF WATER, MUD, BOULDERS
EXT. DAM - SAME TIME
14. THE LAHAR MOVES TOWARD A DAM
15. IT DISINTEGRATES THE DAM IN SECONDS
16. IT SURGES DOWN THE RIVERS AND VALLEYS DESTROYING FORESTS,
BRIDGES, CARS -- EVERYTHING
17. IN THE DISTANCE, MOUNT ST. HELENS CONTINUE TO SHOOT OUT
ASH INTO THE ATMOSPHERE
Genres:
["Disaster","Action","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
40 -
Descent into Despair
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - PARKING LOT - LATER
A helicopter is primed to take off. Don Swanson sprints
toward it but he’s intercepted by Harry Glicken to his
surprise but neither need to say a word. They board the
helicopter and it takes off immediately.
INT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - HELICOPTER - MOMENTS LATER
A massive Plinian eruption column is rising from the now
broken Mount St. Helens. The north flank of the mountain is
missing having collapsed and blasted away.
The new Spirit Lake two hundred feet above the old lake and
its surface thick with trees stripped of bark and branches is
seen in the hazy distance.
Harry looks around frantically at the landscape.
Don Swanson continues to look at the devastation from the
other side. He can’t find it either. He can’t find anything.
HARRY GLICKEN
Where is it? Where is Coldwater II?
They spot a car just below their position.
HARRY GLICKEN (CONT’D)
We gotta set it down!
IN THE COCKPIT - The old veteran pilot slowly pulls the pitch
controls and lowers.
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - FOREST - CONTINUOUS
Two PARAMEDICS appear out of the mist and pull two bodies out
of the window of the car but the bodies are charred and
neither look like David.
INT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - HELICOPTER - CONTINUOUS
Don turns back to face Harry.
OLD VETERAN PILOT (O.S.)
We’re kicking up too much debris! I
gotta pull up!
HARRY GLICKEN
We gotta find David!
Harry is pissed.
OLD VETERAN PILOT (O.S.)
It’s too dangerous!
DON SWANSON
He’s right, Harry.
HARRY GLICKEN
What the hell are you talking
about!?
DON SWANSON
It’s gone! It’s not there anymore!
Harry closes his eyes as tears drip down his cheek.
DON SWANSON (CONT’D)
David is gone -- He’s dead. I’m so
sorry.
He looks over at Harry who is inconsolable at the moment.
INT. UW - SEISMIC MONITORING ROOM - MORNING
A PHONE RINGS and Malone rushes to it and answers. Malone’s
expression turns into sadness within seconds.
INT. FOREST SERVICE HQ - DAN’S OFFICE - SAME TIME
Dan sets the PHONE DOWN on his desk.
He takes a breath and exhales. He picks it up again and dials
another number.
INT. RICK’S HOUSE - NURSERY - SAME TIME
His NEWBORN DAUGHTER smiles at Rick while she is rocked in
his arms.
Marian walks up to the door from the hallway holding the
PHONE and Rick sees her. Marian takes their daughter and
continues to rock her to sleep as Rick exits with the PHONE.
INT. RICK'S HOUSE - HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Rick places the phone slowly against his ear. He speaks but
there is no sound.
With his back against the hallway wall, he drops down to the
floor in defeat. Tears well up in his eyes.
Rick finally looks up and sees Marian’s hand reaching for
him.
He grabs her hand and Marian pulls him back up to his feet.
She wraps her arms around him in a warm embrace.
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - MORNING
SUPER: Two Weeks Later
The sun is slightly blotted out by the thick ash.
Rick is digging up Rock and Ash with his shovel. He looks
over and sees Harry, also digging next to him. Rick takes a
short break.
He turns and sees MAURICE and KATIA KRAFT, (the famous French
volcanologist from the video,) approach them. They wave to
Rick.
Rick shakes their hands and introduces Harry Glicken to them.
Harry shakes their hands.
Rick smiles for once, having hopefully helped Harry land a
career with the two French volcanologists.
Rick now focuses on the now collapses Mount St. Helens and
looks at the misty, fractured corner where the eruption and
eventual avalanche washed over the land.
FADE TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Action"]
Ratings
Scene
41 -
Torn Between Duty and Family
INT. RICK'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - MORNING
A cup of coffee is placed on a table in front of Rick as
Marian sits across from him.
SUPER: 1991
Rick looks down at an OLD NEWSPAPER.
INSERT - NEWSPAPER, which reads: THE SEATTLE TIMES - “MOUNT
ST. HELEN’S DEATH TOLL REACHES 57”
BACK TO KITCHEN - Rick looks over at Marian now.
RICK HOBLITT
Only two people were killed inside
the hazard zone.
Marian stays quiet.
RICK HOBLITT (CONT’D)
That’s why I have to go.
She looks up, clearing not wanting to hear that.
MARIAN
Maybe I don’t want you to be
another casualty on a hillside.
(starting to cry)
Maybe I don’t want our daughter to
grow up without a father. I -- I
don’t know what we would do without
you...
INT. RICK'S HOUSE - HALLWAY - LATER
Rick’s daughter (age 10) has tears in her eyes. She looks
down at the PAPER she’s holding and it has the COORDINATES.
RICK HOBLITT
You’ll know exactly where I am.
Rick’s daughter is sobbing now.
Tears well up in Rick’s eyes but he just wipes them away.
He finally walks toward the door and exits.
INT. USGS HEADQUARTERS - DAN’S OFFICE - MORNING
Spread all around Dan’s desk are various NEWSPAPERS and
ARTICLES.
INSERT - NEWSPAPER, which reads: “Millions of dollars lost,
economic recovery to take years... ”
INSERT - NEWSPAPER, which reads: “Dan Miller received death
threats... Bomb threats... ”
BACK TO OFFICE - Dan slowly looks up from his desk. He takes
a deep breath.
INT. USGS HEADQUARTERS - PATTY LIPMAN'S OFFICE - LATER
Patty Lipman (older now by ten years) is sitting at her desk
when she looks up at Dan Miller, sitting across from her.
PATTY LIPMAN
You have taken the only mobile
volcano-monitoring equipment the
Survey owned!
DAN MILLER
Technically, they belong to the
State Department-
PATTY LIPMAN
-They belong here! And the only
source of funds available that I’m
able to pull from is to curtail the
field season of other geologists
that have been planning for years!
Patty Lipman takes a breath.
PATTY LIPMAN (CONT’D)
How am I going to justify that for
a volcano that might have a slight
fever!?
DAN MILLER
You’ve been against me ever since
St. Helens-
PATTY LIPMAN
-And you were against us. But this
time it’s bigger than you and me.
(beat)
Call them and tell them it’s over.
Or I will.
Dan lowers his head in defeat.
INT. GRASSLAND - ARMORED SUV - DAY
A long field of grass stretches for miles and then Clark Air
Base comes into sight. Rick, sitting in the back, taps the
driver on the shoulder and he pulls over.
EXT. OUTSIDE CLARK AIR BASE - RIVERBANK - MOMENTS LATER
Rick scoops a handful of the gray and tan sediment from the
bank and inspects it in his palm. He then turns his attention
toward Mount Pinatubo.
Genres:
["Drama","Disaster"]
Ratings
Scene
42 -
Tremors of Tension
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - HALLWAY - SAME TIME
Chris looks defeated while holding the PHONE.
CHRIS NEWHALL
What the hell do they want!?
DAN MILLER (O.S.)
Money and answers and so far we’re
0 for 2.
CHRIS NEWHALL
The last thing we need is the
Survey undercutting us back home!
We need more time!
Chris slams the PHONE down and walks into the living room.
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Chris walks into the living room right as Ewert perks up from
her MONITORING STATION.
EWERT
Guys -- they’re getting shallower.
The quakes are moving along the
line. I think another conduit is
opening.
Dave perks up now from his station.
EXT. MOUNT PINATUBO - CLIFFSIDE - SAME TIME
Lockhart has a safety rope wrapped around his waist and it’s
connected to a SAFETY CLIP on a rock wall. He holds the rope
steady as Bayani slowly CONNECTS THE BLUE WIRE TO A CIRCUIT
BOARD on a piece of MONITOR EQUIPMENT that is on the edge of
a cliff.
LOCKHART
Make sure it’s wired correctly.
BAYANI
It is!
LOCKHART
Then why is the blue wire connected
to the green wire?
Bayani looks at it again.
BAYANI
Shit.
LOCKHART
Don’t worry about it. I got it.
Lockhart starts moving toward the DEVICE as Bayani moves
aside.
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME
Dave and Ray are gathered around Ewert’s MONITOR as she looks
at a SEISMOGRAPH DRUM and DATA next to it.
RAY
I don’t believe it. It’s directly
under the fumaroles now.
Dave looks at his SEISMOGRAPH DRUM again but the PEN ISN’T
MOVING. Dave kicks the drum in frustration.
TILTMETERS MEASUREMENTS are slapped down on the table in
front of Dave by Chris.
CHRIS NEWHALL
It’s inflating. Magma is filling
the reservoir.
Dave looks at the TILTMETER DATA. He looks back up at Chris.
He grabs the TILTMETER DATA, CRUMPLES IT INTO A BALL, and
THROWS IT AGAINST THE WALL.
DAVE HARLOW
We’re not making the same mistake
twice!
Ewert looks concerned again at her station.
EWERT
I’m seeing two clusters now!
Dave rushes over to her MONITOR and looks for himself.
DAVE HARLOW
Volcanic quakes can move from place
to place but two happening
simultaneously at different
locations --
(looking at Chris now)
That’s not possible.
RICK HOBLITT (O.S.)
Unless the earthquakes are all
related to the same body of magma.
Rick brings everyones attention to the front door.
A smile even sneaks onto Dave’s face which is rare these
days.
DAVE HARLOW
Son of a bitch...
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - GENERAL GRIME’S OFFICE - SAME TIME
General Grime is sitting at his desk. He looks down at the
various pages of volcanic research.
INSERT - VOLCANIC RESEARCH, which reads: “MOUNT ST. HELENS
TRAGEDY, VOLCANO WARNING BRINGS ECONOMIC WOES TO CALIFORNIA
RESORT.”
BACK TO GENERAL GRIME’S OFFICE - Colonel Studer is standing
in the corner of the room awaiting word from General Grime.
GENERAL GRIME
Loss of life, economic fallout --
General Grime looks up at Colonel Studer.
GENERAL GRIME (CONT’D)
Where the hell did you find these
guys?
General Grime is clearly annoyed and Colonel Studer has
nothing to add.
General Grime pours two glasses of whiskey.
GENERAL GRIME (CONT’D)
The Secretary of Defense is saying
we’re overreacting -- have our
tails between our legs. The entire
world is watching now.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
43 -
Urgent Warnings: The Pinatubo Threat
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - LATER
A blank sheet of paper is laid out on the dining table and
Rick begins to draw a giant circle and then a small volcano
on the top of it.
RICK HOBLITT
If these quakes were each on the
ends of one underground plug of
molten rock, it would mean there
was a magma lake beneath Pinatubo.
He draws two paralleling lines from the volcano to the center
of the circle as Dave, Chris, and Ray try to keep up.
RAY
That explains why the earthquakes
weren’t always happening near the
fumaroles but that would be over
fifty cubic kilometers.
RICK HOBLITT
Precisely and if we assume ten
percent of the magma from the
chamber would release during an
eruption, Pinatubo would produce
five cubic kilometers of material.
Ray looks over at Chris.
RAY
It’s just like Krakatoa.
DAVE HARLOW
You’re talking about one of the
largest volcanoes in history.
RICK HOBLITT
Yes. I am.
CHRIS NEWHALL
This is massive. That would be-
RICK HOBLITT
Ten time larger than St. Helens.
(beat)
It’s time to call a level four
emergency.
That catches everyone off-guard.
DAVE HARLOW
Whoa, whoa, whoa, Rick. Slow down
now. You’re guaranteeing an
eruption within days!
RICK HOBLITT
Blame it on St. Helens but I think
there’s a 10 percent chance
Pinatubo erupts with little to no
warning at all.
DAVE HARLOW
We needed your expertise on
stratigraphy not making radical
decisions!
CHRIS NEWHALL
That’s enough!
The tension in the room is palpable now. Everyone is quiet
for a moment.
CHRIS NEWHALL (CONT’D)
If Rick thinks we should be at a
level four I’m sure he has a good
reason for it.
Chris looks at Rick.
CHRIS NEWHALL (CONT’D)
Let’s hear it.
RICK HOBLITT
I saw the deposits in the riverbank
just outside these walls. They were
poorly sorted -- a clear
characteristic of volcanic debris.
Clark Air Base was built on ancient
pyroclastic flows.
Rick removes three sets of SO2 readings.
INSERT - SO2 DATA, which reads: “Augustine, Mount St. Helens,
and now Mount Pinatubo -- The readings share similar
patterns.
BACK TO ROOM - Rick points out the matching patterns.
RICK HOBLITT (CONT’D)
SO2 is plummeting. 5,000 tons to
206. Pinatubo is just like
Augustine and St. Helens.
(beat)
She’s no longer freely degassing.
She’s pressurizing.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
44 -
Rumble of Redemption
EXT. MOUNT PINATUBO - CLIFFSIDE - SAME TIME
Lockhart CONNECTS THE BLUE WIRE. THE GREEN LIGHT TURNS ON.
THERE’S A RUMBLE COMING FROM THE PEAK OF PINATUBO.
LOCKHART
Did you hear that?
Bayani looks around. He notices rocks begin to loosen around
the cliff side.
THERE’S A SONIC BOOM!
Lockhart looks up and sees MASSIVE BOULDERS starting to break
free from the cliff side and fall toward them.
Bayani, acting quickly, pushes Lockhart out of the way from a
falling BOULDER but the MASSIVE ROCK CRUSHES BAYANI’S LEG! HE
SCREAMS IN AGONY! MORE ROCKS BEGINS TO FALL DOWN THE
CLIFFSIDE, NARROWLY MISSING LOCKHART AND BAYANI. DUST AND ASH
FILL THE AREA.
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - GENERAL GRIME’S OFFICE - SAME TIME
TWO WHISKEY GLASSES DROP AND SHATTER!
General Grime and Colonel Studer hide under their desk.
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME
THE HOUSE SHAKES AND THE WINDOWS RATTLE.
Rick rushes to the WINDOW and sees ASH SHOOTING FROM PINATUBO
in the distance.
Ewert is holding the RADIO.
EWERT
Lockhart, come in, over!
There’s no response.
EWERT (CONT’D)
Lockhart, come in!
There’s still no response.
DAVE HARLOW
Jesus Christ.
EXT. MOUNT PINATUBO - CLIFFSIDE - SAME TIME
Lockhart grabs Bayani and pulls him free from the pile of
rocks and that’s when Lockhart notices the BONE STICKING FROM
BAYANI’S LEG.
Lockhart picks up Bayani and caries him down the hill.
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME
STATIC ON THE RADIO as Chris, Ray, Dave, Ewert, and Rick
crowd around it.
EWERT
(to the RADIO)
Lockhart, come in, over!
Dave grabs the RADIO from Ewert.
DAVE HARLOW
Lockhart, answer the God-damn-
radio!
LOCKHART (O.S.)
(static)
This is Lockhart --
(static)
Bayani’s hurt bad, over --
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - HOSPITAL - LATER
Bayani is lying on the hospital bed with his leg propped up.
Various monitoring equipment is hooked up and surrounding
him.
Lockhart walks into the room and that gets the attention of
Bayani.
LOCKHART
How are you doing?
Bayani nods.
BAYANI
You saved my life back there.
LOCKHART
What the hell else was I supposed
to do, leave you there?
Bayani smirks.
BAYANI
I’m sorry.
That catches Lockhart off-guard.
LOCKHART
Sorry -- about what?
BAYANI
Not trusting your team.
Lockhart understands but he doesn’t care about that right
now.
BAYANI (CONT’D)
Not trusting you.
Lockhart nods.
BAYANI (CONT’D)
I’m sorry.
Bayani extends out his hand to shake Lockhart’s. Lockhart
walks over and shakes his hand.
Genres:
["Drama","Action"]
Ratings
Scene
45 -
Eruption of Tension
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - LIVING ROOM - LATER
General Grime and Colonel Studer are seated at the large
dining table.
GENERAL GRIME
Would this be similar to a nuclear
blast?
Rick, sitting across from them, looks up.
RICK HOBLITT
It would be like 13,000 nuclear
bombs detonating at once.
General Grime has a look of great concern on his face now.
GENERAL GRIME
Why do I get the feeling we may not
be anywhere near far enough away
from this volcano.
Chris walks over and lays down a MAP.
INSERT - MAP, which shows: “PAMPANGA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, 18
KILOMETERS WEST OF ANGELES CITY.”
BACK TO MARYLAND ST. LIVING ROOM - Chris circles it with a
sharpie.
CHRIS NEWHALL
(now facing General Grime)
If you’re looking for 100%, that’s
the safe zone-
GENERAL GRIME
-None of this happens until we get
authorization from the Pentagon!
Let me remind you that the job of a
scientist is to educate the
decision makers, not make the
decisions!
RICK HOBLITT
And if I were you I would make the
decision to start moving dependents
off base immediately.
Once again, Dave paces around the room in frustration.
DAVE HARLOW
Rick -- for god-sakes --
GENERAL GRIME
-I’m sure you’re aware of the story
of The Boy Who Cried Wolf?
RICK HOBLITT
I am. The sheep get eaten at the
end of that story.
GENERAL GRIME
The military is willing to take
mitigating steps but by God
something better happen! If it
doesn’t -- I’ll make sure your team
will be held in front of a
committee investigating this
disaster.
Dave looks at Rick, shakes his head in disappointment and
Colonel Studer and General Grime notice.
DAVE HARLOW
I think my two colleagues here need
to discuss amongst the team before
coming to any more conclusions.
CHRIS NEWHALL
What is there to discuss, Dave?
You’ve seen the measurements!
DAVE HARLOW
And it changes daily! Pinatubo is
toying with us!
RICK HOBLITT
Volcanos can teeter from
catatrasophe to quiescence. You
know that.
DAVE HARLOW
I also know the fallout of calling
this wrong!
RICK HOBLITT
And I know what it’s like to turn
our back on this!
A PHONE STARTS RINGING.
Lockhart and Ewert look up from their monitoring stations.
They can feel the tension.
It RINGS AGAIN and there is an awkward silence in the room.
LOCKHART
Is someone going to answer that?
Chris takes a step toward the hallway but Dave moves past
him.
DAVE HARLOW
I’ll get it.
Dave walks over to the PHONE and answers.
DAVE HARLOW (CONT’D)
This is Dave.
Everyone is waiting now and listening.
Dave has the same look of defeat when he was told to turn
around at the airport before leaving for Colombia.
DAVE HARLOW (CONT’D)
I understand.
Dave hangs up the phone. Everyone is looking at him now.
DAVE HARLOW (CONT’D)
It’s over. They’re shutting us
down.
Dave’s face is growing red. He walks over to Chris and gets
right in his face.
DAVE HARLOW (CONT’D)
You already knew and didn’t say a
goddamn thing!
CHRIS NEWHALL
Because you know it’s bullshit!
DAVE HARLOW
If the Survey’s pulling the plug,
that’s it! It’s over!
CHRIS NEWHALL
Then go! Nobody is stopping you!
DAVE HARLOW
I’m stopping all of this!
Dave looks over at Ewert and Lockhart now.
DAVE HARLOW (CONT’D)
You have two young volcanologists
in here who are risking everything
for this!
(beat)
You’re ruining their careers!
CHRIS NEWHALL
They don’t want to make the same
mistakes you’ve made!
Dave shoves Chris. Chris retaliates and shoves Dave back.
Dave charges Chris and they scuffle for a short moment before
Rick pulls Chris away from Dave as Lockhart and Ewert rush
over to pull Dave away from Chris.
It’s bedlam at PVO.
Rick continues to hold Chris back.
Ewert and Lockhart hold Dave until he frees himself but
finally starts to calm down.
Everyone takes a breath and cools down.
Lockhart looks at General Grime and Colonel Studer.
LOCKHART
Little known fact, volcanologists
can erupt without warning as well.
General Grime looks at the team.
GENERAL GRIME
I think we’re all but done here.
It’s time for your team to go home.
Colonel Studer doesn’t seem to agree with General Grime.
COLONEL STUDER
General, I don’t feel good giving
up on this either.
GENERAL GRIME
(surprised)
What?
COLONEL STUDER
I’m just not certain we should be
taking orders from someone that’s
10,000 miles away.
CHRIS NEWHALL
I agree with the Colonel.
GENERAL GRIME
And if their prediction is wrong
and this falls apart, the public
lambasting will be on me!
COLONEL STUDER
But if this volcano erupts and we
don’t evacuate...
RICK HOBLITT
You won’t survive.
DAVE HARLOW
(looking at Rick)
Dan warned us about getting you
involved.
RICK HOBLITT
Dan is the one who asked me. He
knew you needed me.
DAVE HARLOW
Bullshit!
EWERT
Everyone shut the hell up!
Everyone does just that. Ewert addresses the entire room.
EWERT (CONT’D)
You all might think we’re hoping
this volcano erupts but that’s not
the truth. We’re just as concerned
about causing social disruption as
we are about lives lost. We’re
trying to be right on the mark. We
don’t want any false alarms. We
don’t want big evacuations that
turn out to be all for nothing. We
pay a lot of attention to our
credibility, to try to have a
pretty damn-good-basis for the
pronouncements we make, and to try
to have the people like you, who
have to act on them, to understand
what the evidence is so you know
how to make the right call.
Ewert looks at everyone in the room.
EWERT (CONT’D)
If there is anyone in this room
that doesn’t think Pinatubo is
going to erupt, the door is right
there.
General Grime gets up from his seat and tirelessly walks over
to the window, looks out at Mount Pinatubo, the ASH CLOUD
ABOVE IT, then flops into a chair in the corner of the room.
GENERAL GRIME
This volcano shit is just about my
limit.
(MORE)
GENERAL GRIME (CONT’D)
I’ve had troops assassinated just
beyond these walls, there’s a
goddamn Filipino revolution
happening in the hills all around
us -- and now this volcano is
threatening to erupt.
Lockhart walks over to General Grime and places his hand on
his shoulder.
LOCKHART
(jokingly)
You’re fortunate to have so many
rich life experiences, sir.
Dave glances over at Ewert and gives her a proud nod.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
46 -
Urgent Warnings and Imminent Danger
INT. ANGELES CITY - CITY HALL - HALLWAY - DAY
The city council member is walking down the hallway when
she’s immediately stopped by Ray and she sighs at the sight
of them.
DIALOGUE IN FILIPINO
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
Please, I don’t have the time today-
RAY
-You’re right. There isn’t much
time left.
Ray’s voice echoes through the hallway.
RAY (CONT’D)
Do you want 300,000 deaths on your
hands1?
That gets the city council member to finally listen for a
moment.
RAY (CONT’D)
That’s only the estimates for
Angeles City. You can add another
50,000 from the neighboring
villages around Pinatubo.
The city council member is still aggravated.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
And if you’re wrong-
RAY
-We won’t be.
(beat)
I was lucky to survive the Luzon
quake but my colleague -- I’ve seen
what it’s like to lose everything --
If you ignore this it will be the
biggest natural disaster in human
history. And it won’t be the
scientists who got it wrong.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
What is it you need us to do.
RAY
I need you to trust me.
INT. MOUNT PINATUBO - HELICOPTER - MORNING
Rick is seated next to General Grime and Colonel Studer.
GENERAL GRIME
(facing Rick)
What the hell are we looking for?
RICK HOBLITT
A cryptodome forming. It’s an
extrusion of lava that is so rigid
that is can literally stand up like
a obelisk-
GENERAL GRIME
-In English.
RICK HOBLITT
If we see a black spike in the
crater, Pinatubo has hit another
mile stone -- an eruption is
underway.
The three men look out the side at the fuming crater that is
spitting out plumes of ash.
The wind clears the ash for a moment and Rick spots the BLACK
SPIKE sticking out of the crater.
RICK HOBLITT (CONT’D)
I’ll be damned.
(pointing it out)
There is it.
Colonel Studer is coming to a realization. He looks at
General Grime.
COLONEL STUDER
Do it tomorrow -- Do it tomorrow.
They’ll call you a hero. Our kids
will get out of school early.
He laughs. General Grime wasn’t ready to hear that but he
knows what must be done.
GENERAL GRIME
And what if the Secretary of
Defense doesn’t authorize it?
COLONEL STUDER
Then screw the Secretary of
Defense.
There is a long table that has various USGS chiefs and
directors seated, including Patty Lipman, and finally at the
very end, the USGS PRESIDENT, (male, early 60s, balding.)
He doesn’t look happy.
USGS PRESIDENT
I just got off the phone with
Washington D.C. They got word that
Clark Air Base in the Philippines
is planning an evacuation on the
basis of your team’s prediction.
Having them ask me, and I quote,
“what the hell is your team doing
in the Philippines?” was not
something I was prepared to answer
first thing in the morning. I don’t
know what compelled you to go
behind the Survey’s back but this
problem is now bigger than you.
The USGS President holds up a sheet of paper.
USGS PRESIDENT (CONT’D)
Just looking at the list of names --
Chris Newhall. He has history
working with Raymundo Punongbayan.
Chris’s wife is Filipino for Christ-
sake -- of course he’s the head of
the snake. And Dave Harlow -- he
hasn’t published a single piece of
work in his 13 year career. How is
that even possible?
DAN MILLER
I cannot address the technical
merits of Harlow’s publication
record but I can assure you that
during emergency situations,
international crisis response teams
feel very comfortable with his
judgement-
USGS PRESIDENT
And Rick Hoblitt. You’re old pal
from college. You were both
involved at St. Helens as well as
the Long Valley Mammoth incident.
He stood beside you when you
decided yo flip that poor little
town on its head and declare the
apocalypse.
Dan has nothing to say and can only take this public beating.
USGS PRESIDENT (CONT’D)
Your little band of cowboys
couldn’t have been picked worse it
names were randomly drawn from a
hat! It ends today.
Dan Miller starts to walk away but he stops short at the
door. He turns back to face the USGS president.
DAN MILLER
The Survey keeps threatening me
with “what ifs.” What is a volcano
crisis arises here -- What is
there’s unrest in Central America --
(beat)
Tell me, sir, would you even answer
the call?
The USGS president doesn’t have a response to that. Dan has
made a valid point.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
48 -
The Descent of Doom
EXT. MOUNT UNZEN - VALLEY - DAY
A MASSIVE VOLCANO CONTINUOUSLY PUMPS OUT ASH DOWN THE SIDE OF
ITS STEEP SLOPES.
SUPER: Mount Unzen - Nagasaki, Kyushu, Japan - June 3, 1991
From a distance, Harry Glicken (10 years older) watches the
PYROCLASTIC FLOW tumble down the side on Unzen.
He looks over his shoulder and sees MAURICE and KATIE KRAFFT
setting up a TRIPOD and CAMERA.
HARRY GLICKEN
Helluva show today!
Not far, stands a GROUP OF FORTY JAPANESE JOURNALISTS.
Another pyroclastic flow surges over the summit and and
journalists react with excitement.
Looking through BINOCULARS, Harry sees another surge but it
suddenly changes directions. It’s massive.
The BINOCULARS lower. He looks over at the journalists as
they start to run for their lives.
He sees Maurice Krafft take the camera off the TRIPOD but
Katia pulls Maurice away from the equipment.
They both start running now.
Harry watches the giant pyroclastic flow head straight toward
them.
There is no escape. They cannot outrun it.
The ash surge moves as an unstoppable speed. It will hit them
in seconds.
The CROWD OF JOURNALISTS ARE CONSUMED IN THE ASH CLOUD.
MAURICE AND KATIE KRAFFT’S CAMERA MELTS AWAY.
Harry squints his eyes as darkness envelops him.
The entire valley where they all stood is now charred and
black.
CUT TO BLACK.
EXT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - DAY
A massive evacuation is underway. A parade of cars, transport
vehicles, civilian vehicles are slowly moving down the
street.
General Grime hugs his two daughters. His wife walks up to
him and gives him a hug and kiss. He then watches them enter
a vehicle.
Rick watches Colonel Studer pick up his son and hug him.
Colonel Studer guides his son into the same vehicle General
Grime’s family had just entered. It finally drives off.
Colonel Studer turns back and makes eye contact with Rick.
COLONEL STUDER
You got any kids?
Rick nods.
RICK HOBLITT
A daughter -- about his age.
COLONEL STUDER
Right now he’s the only thing that
matters to me. If you’re right
about this -- thank you.
Chris looks over at Ray and Bayani (in crutches) who are
watching the parade of cars go by.
CHRIS NEWHALL
Make sure your team is nowhere near
this mountain. We don’t need two
more lives in danger.
Ray shakes Chris’s hand.
RAY
Thank you for taking my call.
BAYANI
Thanks for making the call.
That gets Chris to smile and shake Bayani’s hand as well.
Suddenly, Lockhart rushes out of the Maryland St. house.
LOCKHART
There was an incident at Unzen!
Katia and Maurice Krafft are
missing! Harry Glicken was with
them too.
Genres:
["Drama","Disaster"]
Ratings
Scene
49 -
Riding the Tiger
INT. USGS HEADQUARTERS - DAN'S OFFICE - LATER
A glass of whiskey is poured into a glass.
Dan is sitting at his desk looking at the heavy pour holding
a PHONE.
DAN MILLER
You’re making the right call.
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - HALLWAY - SAME TIME
Rick holds the PHONE, relieved to hear that.
INTERCUT - TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
RICK HOBLITT
(jokingly)
Why did you have to talk me into
dropping out of chemistry?
DAN MILLER
You needed to get out of the lab.
A few tears well up in Rick’s eyes.
RICK HOBLITT
Nothing has changed since St.
Helens has it? Science is the truth
until it’s an inconvenience.
DAN MILLER
All we can can hope for is someone
willing to believe us.
RICK HOBLITT
You believed in Chris.
DAN MILLER
They believed in you.
Rick lowers his head and closes his eyes as more tears drop
from them.
RICK HOBLITT
(crying)
And here I am -- playing with
another loaded volcano... And I’ve
just lost three more friends.
Dan has nothing else to add. He takes a sip of his drink.
EXT. CLARK AIR BASE - EVENING
SERIES OF SHOTS - CLARK AIR BASE AFTER EVACUATION:
1. THE STREETS ARE EMPTY
2. BASKIN ROBBINS AND PIZZA HUT HAVE “CLOSED SIGNS”
3. THE AIRFIELD IS EMPTY OTHER THAN A SINGLE HELICOPTER
REMAINING
4. ONLY A FEW ARMED GUARDS ARE ON PATROL AT THE GATE
5. THE MOVIE THEATER SIGN READS “NEXT SHOW ‘LAST DAYS OF
POMPEII’ AND NEXT TO THAT IS ‘FATHERS DAY BRUNCH’
6. THE MARYLAND ST. HOUSE HAS LIGHT BLEEDING FROM THE WINDOW
SHINING OUT
7. JUST BEYOND THE HOUSE, IN THE DISTANCE, MOUNT PINATUBO
CONTINUES TO SHOOT OUT ASH
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Only a single monitor remains on and one SEISMOMETER DRUM
next to it.
SUPER: June 12, 1991 3:30AM
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Lockhart stumbles out of one of the bedrooms. He slowly walks
toward the bathroom and enters, shutting the door behind him.
The toilet finally flushes.
The door opens and Lockhart slowly walks toward the sound of
an ACTIVE SEISMOGRAPH DRUM
IN THE LIVING ROOM - Lockhart wipes his eyes and sees the
SEISMOGRAPH DRUM showing intense activity. His eyes widen.
LOCKHART
Holy shit! Holy shit!
Rick, Chris, Dave, Colonel Studer and General Grime rush into
the living room and Ewert rushes to her MONITOR.
INSERT - COMPUTER MONITOR, which shows: INFRARED VIDEO OF A
MASSIVE ASH CLOUD SHOOTING ABOVE PINATUBO
BACK TO LIVING ROOM - Ewert looks over at the group.
EWERT
Ash cloud at thirty-thousand feet
and volcanic lightning!
Lockhart sees a few MONITORING STATIONS go offline.
LOCKHART
We lost the signal on a few
stations!
Rick rushes to the window. He opens it quickly. He can see
the VOLCANIC LIGHTNING ILLUMINATING THE SKY ABOVE PINATUBO.
THERE IS A DISTANT RUMBLE HEARD.
RICK HOBLITT
I know that smell.
(turning toward the group)
Pinatubo has ejected it’s first
pyroclastic flow.
General Grime and Colonel Studer look at Rick.
GENERAL GRIME
What do we do now?
RICK HOBLITT
Volcanoes don’t move from dormancy
to catastrophe in a straight line,
General. It’s often a roller-
coaster. It’ll rev up, then back
down, then rev up again. We’re
riding the tiger now.
FADE TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
50 -
Tremors of Uncertainty
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - LIVING ROOM - EVENING
A PEN CONTINUES TO SLASH ACROSS THE SEISMOMETER DRUM.
SUPER: June 13, 1991 - 9:00PM
Rick stares at the SEISMOMETER DRUM longingly.
RICK HOBLITT
The drums are still beating.
Lockhart walks over to Dave and holds out a HAT.
LOCKHART
Are you in?
Dave nods and drops a $1 into the hat where multiple dollar
bills are piled inside.
LOCKHART (CONT’D)
What time?
DAVE HARLOW
Put me down for 9:30pm.
Lockhart writes on a notepad: “Dave - 9:30pm”
General Grime walks over with curiosity and slight confusion.
GENERAL GRIME
What the hell is this?
LOCKHART
Eruption pool -- Pick a fifteen
minute window for the cataclysmic
event.
GENERAL GRIME
You’re telling me what happened
yesterday wasn’t the big one?
Rick overhears General Grime.
RICK HOBLITT
No -- not yet.
Colonel Studer joins in.
COLONEL STUDER
Will there be a warning before it
happens?
Everyone now looks at Rick. They know he was involved at St.
Helens so this one hits close to home.
RICK HOBLITT
After St. Helens collapsed, it led
to an explosive decompression from
the subterranean cryptodome. If
Pinatubo continues to expand, a
cataclysmic eruption is imminent.
Lockhart opens an MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) and pulls out a
packet of grape jelly.
GENERAL GRIME
Can it reach Clark?
RICK HOBLITT
There’s a chance it falls short.
GENERAL GRIME
-But it’s possible?
RICK HOBLITT
If Pinatubo were to match its
biggest eruption in its history --
Lockhart slaps the packet of grape jelly in General Grime’s
hand.
General Grime looks at it in his palm in confusion.
LOCKHART
You better put that jelly in your
pocket, because if we have a worst-
case eruption, we’re all toast.
Colonel Studer drops $1 into the hat.
COLONEL STUDER
Put me down for 10pm.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
51 -
Tremors of Decision
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - LIVING ROOM - MORNING
The hat holds a pile of dollar bills now as Maryland St.
shakes and rattles from the frequent earthquakes.
SUPER: June 14, 1991 - 8:40AM
Lockhart is looking at his MONITOR.
LOCKHART
Goddamnit! We just lost the
repeater signal!
Ewert looks at her MONITOR then out the window.
EWERT
The whole seismic net is down.
INSERT - TELEVISION, which shows: WEATHER RADAR OF A MASSIVE
STORM MOVING TOWARDS THE PHILIPPINES
BACK TO LIVING ROOM - Ewert increases the volume.
EWERT (CONT’D)
This is a nice wrinkle.
Dave walks over to the TV to see for himself.
DAVE HARLOW
If this storm intercept Pinatubo --
He looks over at Chris.
CHRIS NEWHALL
These roofs won’t hold.
Rick looks up from the table.
RICK HOBLITT
And it only gives us a small window
to take a flight-line out to fix
the signal.
CHRIS NEWHALL
You’re not going out there, Rick.
If Pinatubo collapses it will send
out a pyroclastic flow in all
directions.
RICK HOBLITT
We can’t rule out a caldera forming
eruption either. We’ll have no way
to monitor it!
Colonel Studer looks at Dave.
GENERAL GRIME
Should we move off base?
DAVE HARLOW
Yes. We all should.
Rick is growing agitated.
RICK HOBLITT
David, Harry, the Kraffts -- they
would say it was worth the risk.
DAVE HARLOW
And look what happened to them!
Everyone gets quiet. Chris, once again, has to be the leader.
CHRIS NEWHALL
If anyone doesn’t feel comfortable
staying, move out and we’ll
rendezvous at Pampanga Agricultural
College.
Ewert is still transfixed on the TELEVISION WEATHER REPORT.
EWERT
If we’re going to fix the signal we
have to do it now.
Colonel Studer stands up.
COLONEL STUDER
I’m staying as long as they’re
staying.
General Grime is surprised.
GENERAL GRIME
Well, I’m not letting you go down
with the ship alone.
Colonel Studer looks at Rick.
COLONEL STUDER
I’m going with you. I wouldn’t risk
putting one of my pilots out there
if it wasn’t safe enough for me.
In the corner of the room, the Clark Air Base Pilot is
sitting alone, clearly not enthusiastic about the situation.
CLARK AIR BASE PILOT
It’s not safe for anyone --
Everyone seems to ignore the pilot.
Lockhart and Ewert walk over to Rick.
LOCKHART
I’m going.
EWERT
Me too.
Dave steps in front of them both.
DAVE HARLOW
No you’re not.
LOCKHART
I know these instruments better
than anyone.
EWERT
We’re in this together.
Dave looks at Rick and Ewert.
DAVE HARLOW
You both have your whole career
ahead of you-
LOCKHART
-And what about yours?
DAVE HARLOW
I never had one.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
52 -
Thunderous Escape
INT. MOUNT PINATUBO - HELICOPTER - LATER
Dave is holding some kind of DUCT-TAPED ELECTRONIC.
Rick and Colonel Studer are sitting on the other side.
A GIANT MUSHROOM CLOUD OF ASH IS FUMING FROM THE SUMMIT OF
PINATUBO.
TO THE WEST - A MASSIVE TYPHOON STORM SYSTEM MOVES IN FROM
THE HORIZON.
IN THE COCKPIT - The pilot looks up and can’t even see the
top of the ash cloud at 80,000 feet. He looks down at his
FUEL GAUGE - ALMOST EMPTY.
INT. MOUNT PINATUBO - HELICOPTER COCKPIT - MOMENTS LATER
The helicopter is sitting on the grassland while the engine
remains on and the rotors continue to spin.
The pilot looks at the FUEL GAUGE again. ALMOST EMPTY. He
looks up and sees Rick, Dave, and Colonel Studer near a
GENERATOR and SEISMOMETER.
CLARK AIR BASE GUARD
We’re running on empty here!
EXT. MOUNT PINATUBO - VALLEY - CONTINUOUS
Colonel Studer holds his THUMB UP and acknowledge the pilot
from a distance.
COLONEL STUDER
Let’s wrap this up!
Dave rigs the ELECTRONIC DEVICE on the GENERATOR. He SWITCHES
IT ON. THE GREEN LIGHT TURNS ON.
He holds up the RADIO.
DAVE HARLOW
(to the RADIO)
Let me know when you have a signal,
over!
There is STATIC on the RADIO.
Rick keeps his eye trained on the RUMBLING MOUNT PINATUBO.
COLONEL STUDER
It’s time to go!
Dave tries the RADIO again.
DAVE HARLOW
(to the RADIO)
PVO, do you read me, over?
STATIC ONLY. Dave turns to face Rick.
DAVE HARLOW (CONT’D)
What the hell do we do?
CLARK AIR BASE PILOT (O.S.)
We won’t have enough fuel to get
back to clark!
COLONEL STUDER
We’re going now!
Dave continues to look at Rick.
DAVE HARLOW
Rick?
THE RADIO SIGNAL BECOMES CLEAR.
EWERT (O.S.)
Dave, come in, over -- we have --
(STATIC)
Signal -- We have --
(STATIC)
We have good signal! I repeat, we
have signal!
COLONEL STUDER
Move! Move! Move!
Dave, Chris, and Colonel Studer quickly board the helicopter.
It rises fast.
INT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - HELICOPTER - CONTINUOUS
The BOLT OF GREEN AND BLUE LIGHTNING FLASHES BY. It HITS THE
TAIL ROTOR.
The HELICOPTER loses control and DAVE FALLS OUT OF THE SIDE
but rick and Colonel Studer’s hands grab Dave’s shirt. They
pull him back in.
IN THE COCKPIT - INSTRUMENTS ARE GOING CRAZY. THE FUEL GAUGE
IS EMPTY NOW
CLARK AIR BASE GUARD
I gotta set her down!
BACK IN THE HULL - Dave catches his breath.
The distance between their current position and Clark Air
Base is a few miles at least.
Rick spots it. The FILIPINO GUERILLA’S PICKUP TRUCK.
Genres:
["Disaster","Action","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
53 -
Race Against Eruption
EXT. MOUNT PINATUBO - VALLEY - MOMENTS LATER
The helicopter slowly lowers.
Rick, Dave, and Colonel Studer exit quickly as the pilot
opens his SIDE HATCH and exits. All four men rush to the
PICKUP TRUCK.
BOOM!
The men are thrown to the ground by a massive shockwave.
Rick slowly composes himself and turns to look at Mount
Pinatubo with his ears still RINGING. A MASSIVE CATACLYSMIC
EXPLOSION ERUPTS FROM MOUNT PINATUBO HAS BEGUN. ASH SHOOTS
80,000 FEET IN THE AIR IN SECONDS AS THE GROUND SHAKES AROUND
THEM.
Rick is pulled up to his feet by Dave. Colonel Studer and the
Clark Air Base Pilot are already next to the PICKUP TRUCK.
INT. MOUNT PINATUBO - VALLEY - PICKUP TRUCK - CONTINUOUS
Dave hops in. Keys are in the transmission. He turns it.
Nothing.
DAVE HARLOW
The Tiltmeter! Grab the battery!
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME
Chris is looking out the window. Holding the RADIO. He sees
the giant column of ash rising.
CHRIS NEWHALL
It’s the big one --
Ewert looks out of the window now.
EWERT
I don’t see the helicopter --
Ewert grabs her RADIO.
EWERT (CONT’D)
(to the radio)
Can you read me, over!
DAVE HARLOW (O.S.)
(static)
We ran out of fuel!
Lockhart looks at Ewert in fear.
INT. MOUNT PINATUBO - VALLEY - PICKUP TRUCK - SAME TIME
Dave pulls the RADIO up close.
Rick is waving for Dave’s attention through the windshield.
Rick points behind Dave, motioning to turn his head. Dave
looks in the rear view mirror and sees the MASSIVE
PYROCLASTIC FLOW SURGING OVER THE CRATER, DOWN MOUNT
PINATUBO, AND HEADED STRAIGHT TOWARD THEM.
Dave quickly pops the hood open and exits the vehicle.
EXT. MOUNT PINATUBO - VALLEY - CONTINUOUS
Rick opens the hood. No battery.
Rick rushes to the tiltmeter.
Colonel Studer and the pilot are watching this MASSIVE
BURNING CLOUD OF ASH get closer to their location.
CLARK AIR BASE PILOT
Dear god --
Rick rips the CAR BATTERY out of the TILTMETER. He rushes
over to Dave.
He hands it to Dave. Dave forces the battery into place as
Rick quickly attaches the positive and negative wires.
Rick jumps in the driver’s seat.
INT. MOUNT PINATUBO - VALLEY - PICKUP TRUCK - CONTINUOUS
Rick STARTS THE ENGINE. The Clark Air Base pilot jumps in the
middle seat and Colonel Studer jumps in the passenger seat.
Dave looks at them through the window. There is no backseat.
He decides to jump in the truck bed. He slaps his hand
against the window.
DAVE HARLOW
Drive!
Rick steps on the gas.
THE PYROCLASTIC SURGES TOWARD THEM AT TREMENDOUS SPEEDS.
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME
STATIONS BEGIN TO DISAPPEAR ON THE MONITOR in a pattern that
follows the pyroclastic flow’s movement.
CHRIS NEWHALL
They’re dropping -- Pyroclastic
surge -- They won’t outrun it.
Chris looks out the rattling window with great concern.
INT. PICKUP TRUCK - SAME TIME
Rick looks in the rear view mirror as the PYROCLASTIC FLOW
MOVE CLOSER.
COLONEL STUDER
Can we outrun it!?
RICK HOBLITT
No --
Rick SWERVES onto another dirt road around a pot hole.
RICK HOBLITT (CONT’D)
But we can try to get to Clark
before it hits us!
CLARK AIR BASE PILOT
Let’s try our best!
EXT. PICKUP TRUCK BED - CONTINUOUS
Dave is holding on for his life. He looks out at the
PYROCLASTIC SURGE and sees MASSIVE STREAKS OF LIGHTNING OF
EVERY COLOR STRETCHING OUT AND SCORCHING THE LAND. Dave slaps
the window repeatedly until the pilot turns and slides it
open. Dave puts his face up against the window.
DAVE HARLOW
Faster! Faster! Faster! Faster!
Faster! Faster! Faster! Faster!
RICK HOBLITT
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
Genres:
["Action","Thriller","Disaster"]
Ratings
Scene
54 -
Race Against the Lahar
INT. PICKUP TRUCK - CONTINUOUS
Rick reaches over, grabbing the rear window latch.
Rick Shuts the sliding window to shut Dave up for a second
then quickly swerves onto another paved road.
They hear Dave tumble against the truck bed wall which
prompts the pilot to look over his shoulder and pot Dave
still there.
Rick looks at the pilot for a quiet confirmation that Dave is
indeed still alive. The pilot nods and gives a thumbs up.
They see an APPROACHING RIVER. A BRIDGE. Just upstream is a
40 FOOT HIGH, 200 FOOT WIDE LAHAR RUSHING TOWARD THEM!
The LAHAR IS CARRYING BOULDERS, TREES, DEBRIS.
NG BOULDERS, TREES, DEBRIS.
COLONEL STUDER
We’re not going to make it --
RICK HOBLITT
Yes we are --
COLONEL STUDER
NO WE’RE NOT!
RICK HOBLITT
YES WE ARE!
COLONEL STUDER
NO WE’RE NOT!
Rick looks at the SPEEDOMETER. 70 MPH.
He drives onto the bridge. The massive LAHAR is just a few
meters away.
The Clark Air Base pilot is SCREAMING now.
EXT. PICKUP TRUCK BED - CONTINUOUS
Dave looks over the side and sees a massive LAHAR barreling
toward them as they cross the bridge.
The PYROCLASTIC FLOW IS SURGING ACROSS THE RIDER a few meters
away.
The PICKUP TRUCK crosses the bridge just the the LAHAR
DISINTEGRATES IT INSTANTLY and the PYROCLASTIC FLOW CROSSES
OVER THE RIVER AND NOW LAHAR.
The PICKUP TRUCK turns onto the main road. Dave sees the
pyroclastic flow finally lose some speed.
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. SAME TIME
Lockhart exits the kitchen holding a BAG OF POPCORN. He
starts eating it next to General Grime.
General Grime looks at him in shock, shaking his head and
Lockhart notices.
LOCKHART
What -- I always eat popcorn during
this part of the movie.
INT. PICKUP TRUCK - CONTINUOUS
Rick swerves left as the Clark Air Base entrance is in sight.
He looks into the left side mirror. The pyroclastic flow is
still surging.
The ash cloud reaches the corner of Clark Air Base and flows
over the walls.
Rick PLOWS THROUGH THE CLOSED GATE and it flies over Dave’s
head.
Rick GRABS THE RADIO.
RICK HOBLITT
PVO, we gotta get out of here now!
Genres:
["Action","Thriller","Disaster"]
Ratings
Scene
55 -
Stormy Escape
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME
Through the window, Chris sees the PICKUP TRUCK slam on its
breaks just outside.
Chris GRABS A CASE OF 7 UP SITTING ON THE COUNTER and Colonel
Studer sees him.
GENERAL GRIME
Are you going to get thirsty on the
way there?
Ewert, Lockhart, General Grime, quickly follow Chris and rush
out of the house.
EXT. CLARK AIR BASE - MARYLAND ST. - CONTINUOUS
It’s almost pitch black from the ash cloud and typhoon
colliding.
Pouring rain and ash is coming down in globs of mud.
Two ARMORED SUVs are parked outside next to the PICKUP TRUCK.
Rick, the Clark Air Base Pilot, and Colonel Studer exit the
PICKUP TRUCK and head for the SUVs.
Dave crawls out of the back of the trunk and Chris arrives
just in time to see him.
DAVE HARLOW
Don’t ask!
Dave starts to enter the driver’s side when he looks at Rick.
DAVE HARLOW (CONT’D)
Your turn to ride in the damn
trunk!
Chris hands Rick the CASE OF 7 UP and rick opens the trunk
quickly and tosses it in and then crawls in himself.
Chris enters the passenger side.
Colonel Studer and the Clark Air Base pilot sit in the
backseat of Dave’s SUV.
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - ARMORED SUV 2 - CONTINUOUS
Lockhart is already sitting in the driver’s seat. Through the
rear-view mirror, General Grime is seen taking a seat in the
back.
Ewert finally enters the passenger seat.
Ash and rain continue to mix, dropping mud all over the
windshield and windows.
INT. CLARK AIR BASE - ARMORED SUV 1 - CONTINUOUS
Dave flips the wipers on. It splatters mud all over the
window making visibility impossible.
PUMICE STONES ARE THUMPING AGAINST THE ROOF.
Dave swerves around an abandoned car that was left in the
middle of the road. Then he exits a different GATE to leave
Clark Air Base.
He opens his window and uses his hand to wipe the side mirror
clean, and spots the second SUV following closely behind.
IN THE TRUNK - Rick grabs a can of 7 UP and hands it upfront.
RICK HOBLITT
Use this --
The pilot grabs it and cracks it open.
CLARK AIR BASE PILOT
(about to take a sip)
Thanks --
Chris reaches back, grabs the can from the surprised
helicopter pilot.
Chris rolls down the window and hangs out the side.
A PIECE OF PUMICE HITS THE WINDSHIELD. Dave loses control for
a moment.
Chris grabs the roof pull handle to keep himself from falling
out.
CHRIS NEWHALL
Keep it steady for Christ sake!
DAVE HARLOW
You don’t think I’m trying!?
Chris reaches toward the windshield and pours the 7 UP on the
glass. It clears the mud for a moment.
Genres:
["Action","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
56 -
Collision Course
INT. ARMORED SUV 2 - SAME TIME
Lockhart is swerving around abandoned cars, barely able to
see the red tail light of the SUV they’re following.
LOCKHART
I can’t see shit!
Lockhart swerves again.
IN THE BACK - General Grime is drinking a SODA but it’s
pulled out of his hands and away from his mouth.
GENERAL GRIME
What the hell!?
Ewert opens the window now, stretches out, and pours the soda
on the windshield.
SHE IS PUMMELED BY A LARGE PUMICE STONE ON HER BACK AND DROPS
THE CAN ON THE ROAD.
She pulls herself back in and reaches toward her back. She
looks at her hand and it’s covered in blood. Lockhart looks
over and sees it.
LOCKHART
Are you okay?
EWERT
I’ll be all right.
Lockhart narrowly avoids another abandoned car, barely trying
to keep up with Dave leading the way.
INT. ARMORED SUV 1 - SAME TIME
IN THE TRUNK - Rick sticks his head up again.
RICK HOBLITT
At least I drove a little faster.
DAVE HARLOW
You almost threw me off the back!
RICK HOBLITT
We made it didn’t we!?
DAVE HARLOW
Barely!
The thick ash and mud are accumulating quickly again.
PUMICE CONTINUES TO BOUNCE OFF THE WINDSHIELD.
THE WINDSHIELD STARTS TO CRACK.
DAVE HARLOW (CONT’D)
We’re never going to make it there
in this shit!
RICK HOBLITT
Wanna pull over and let me drive!?
Dave turns his head and shouts.
DAVE HARLOW
Be my guest!
At that moment, Dave sees a FILIPINO WOMAN HOLDING A BABY AND
SHE’S STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
DAVE HARLOW (CONT’D)
Oh shit!
Dave SLAMS ON THE BRAKES. RICK SMASHES AGAINST THE BACKSEAT.
INT. ARMORED SUV 2 - SAME TIME
Lockhart is white knuckling the steering wheel.
EWERT
Look out!
Lockhart SLAMS ON HIS BRAKES BUT REAR-ENDS THE ARMORED SUV IN
FRONT OF HIM.
Everyone jolts forward.
INT. ARMORED SUV 1 - SAME TIME
IN THE TRUNK - RICK IS ONCE AGAIN TOSSED WILDLY
The Clark Air Base Pilot was about to drink another can of
soda but loses it and it splashes on him and Colonel Studer.
Dave and Chis get whiplash as they are jolted forward.
Everyone takes a breath after being rear-ended.
CHRIS NEWHALL
(looking at Dave)
Are we good?
Dave nods.
CHRIS NEWHALL (CONT’D)
(looking towards the
back)
Is everyone good back there?
RICK HOBLITT
Yeah --
Chris grabs the RADIO.
CHRIS NEWHALL
Everyone good?
Genres:
["Action","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
57 -
Safe Havens
INT. ARMORED SUV 2 - SAME TIME
Ewert catches her breath then looks at Lockhart. Lockhart
nods and shakes it off.
LOCKHART
We’re good.
EWERT
(to the RADIO)
We’re all good --
Lockhart sees the woman. He rolls down the window.
LOCKHART
Get in! We have room!
The Filipino woman and her baby quickly jump into the
backseat.
LOCKHART (CONT’D)
It’s only a quarter mile from here!
We’re almost there!
EXT. PAMPANGA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE - MOMENTS LATER
A massive crowd of people are gathered outside as they slowly
make their way into the building.
Two SUVs pull up to the building.
The volcanologists and Filipino woman and her baby exit and
follow General Grime and Colonel Studer into the front
entrance.
INT. PAMPANGA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE - CONTINUOUS
A large gathering of Filipino residents, US military
personnel, and American civilians are gathered just inside.
The volcanologists, two generals, and the pilot walk in
between the crowd.
INT. PAMPANGA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE - FLOOR 2 - MOMENTS LATER
The volcanologists and two generals enter a room with
MONITORING EQUIPMENT, COMPUTERS, VARIOUS MILITARY PERSONNEL
working PHONE-LINES.
The Room glows with green fluorescent light sticks. Everyone
drops their bags and exhales.
General Grime sees his two daughters running to him and he
holds them close.
Chris watches this take place. He even sees a few tears in
General Grime’s eyes.
Rick Sees Colonel Studer’s son and wife rush over to him.
INT. USGS HEADQUARTERS - DAN’S OFFICE - LATER
THE DOOR OPENS and Patty Lipman is revealed to be standing at
the entrance.
Dan doesn’t even look up from his desk.
PATTY LIPMAN
I just got word from the
Philippines. Clark was in the
damage path -- Pyroclastic flows
and lahars reached the base.
Dan finally looks up from his desk.
PATTY LIPMAN (CONT’D)
Your team got it right. Everyone
was evacuated. There were no
casualties on the base.
(beat)
The Survey was wrong, Dan. I was
wrong. You were right.
A subtle but satisfying smile sneaks onto Dan’s face.
Genres:
["Drama","Action","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
58 -
After the Eruption
INT. CHRIS’S HOME - KITCHEN - SAME TIME
THE PHONE RINGS. Glenda rushes to it and answers.
INT. PAMPANGA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE - FLOOR 2 - SAME TIME
Chris is holding a SATELLITE PHONE.
INTERCUT - TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
GLENDA
Are you safe?
CHRIS NEWHALL
Yeah -- we’re safe.
GLENDA
(light-heartedly)
You’re lying.
She knows Chris too well. Chris’s son overhears his dad on
the phone.
CHRIS’S SON (O.S.)
Is that dad?
Chris hears his son over the phone and smiles.
CHRIS’S SON (O.S.) (CONT’D)
Hey dad!
CHRIS NEWHALL
So good to hear from you, buddy.
CHRIS’S SON
Did the volcano erupt?
CHRIS NEWHALL
It sure did.
CHRIS’S SON
Did you and uncle Ray save
everyone?
Chris waits a moment to answer. He looks over at his team.
Dave is talking to Ewert and Lockhart, comforting them. He
then turns to see Rick, alone in the corner.
CHRIS NEWHALL
-- We did -- We saved everyone.
Dave looks at Lockhart and Ewert.
DAVE HARLOW
You guys did a helluva job.
Ewert finally smiles. Lockhart nods.
LOCKHART
(laughing)
Can we go home now?
Further away, Rick, in the corner, with his back turned
toward the group, is sobbing.
He covers his face. This has all finally caught up to him.
The past. The present. The losses. The successes and self-
reflections.
Walking up behind Rick to comfort him is Chris. Rick turns
around, finally revealing his tears. Chris grabs Rick’s
shoulder to comfort him and nods with understanding.
CHRIS NEWHALL
We couldn’t have done this without
you.
FADE TO:
EXT. MOUNT ST. HELENS - NORTH. RIDGE HILLSIDE - DAY
A shovel digs into the gray ash and scoops it away. Rick
looks at Mount St. Helens which is now missing the north
flank.
His shovel suddenly hits something metal. He stops, bends
over, and retrieves it.
Dan Miller walks up next to Rick and they both look at the
piece of “Coldwater II Camper Door Sign.”
They both look up toward Mount St. Helens now right as the
sun finally shines through.
Genres:
["Drama","Action"]
Ratings
Scene
59 -
Embracing Legacy: A Journey Through Grief and Celebration
INT. DAVID JOHNSTON’S CHILDHOOD HOME - DAY
Rick and Dan Miller are warmly greeted by TOM and ALICE
JOHNSTON (David Johnston’s parents) as they enter the house.
INT. DAVID JOHNSTON’S CHILDHOOD HOME - KITCHEN - LATER
Rick hands Alice Johnston a few PHOTOGRAPHS OF DAVID JOHNSTON
AT COLDWATER II and she looks at them, wiping tears from her
face. Alice grabs Tom’s hand and holds it tight.
INT. DAVID JOHNSTON’S CHILDHOOD HOME - BEDROOM - LATER
Rick and Dan enter David’s room, guided by his father.
Tom Johnston shows them old NOTEBOOKS, PHOTOGRAPHS...
Written on the back of the door is Theodore Roosevelt’s MAN
IN THE ARENA QUOTE and Rick sees it.
Rick and Dan slowly disappear from the room as David Johnston
is now standing there alone, looking at the Man In The
Arena speech on his door.
EXT. CLARK AIR BASE - DAY
SERIES OF SHOTS - CLARK AIR BASE AFTER THE ERUPTION
1. A FOOT OF ASH FILLS THE STREET
2. THE REMNANTS OF A LAHAR, THAT WASHED INTO THE STREET IS
SEEN, HAVING PUSHED ABANDONED CARS TO THE SIDE
3. ASH IS PILED UP ON THE BASKIN ROBBINS, THE PIZZA HUT, THE
THEATERS
4. MARYLAND ST. POV MONITORING HOUSE HAS ALL OF ITS WINDOWS
SHATTERED AND A FOOD OF ASH ON THE LAWN
DAVID JOHNSTON
It is not the critic who counts;
not the man who points out how the
strong man stumbled or where the
doer of deeds could have done them
better. The credit belongs to the
man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and
sweat and blood --
EXT. CEMETERY - MORNING
Bayani is standing next to his wife’s GRAVESTONE.
He looks at the PHOTOGRAPH that Ray had found.
He finally places the PHOTOGRAPH on the GRAVESTONE and walks
away. He can finally let go.
INT. VDAP HEADQUARTERS - MONITORING ROOM - DAY
Lockhart slaps down a RESEARCH PAPER HEADER in front of Dave.
INSERT: RESEARCH PAPER, which reads: The Eruption of Mount
Pinatubo - by: Rick Hoblitt, Chris Newhall, Andy Lockhart,
Jill Ewert, Raymundo Punongbayan and Dave Harlow...”
DAVID JOHNSTON (V.O.)
-- who strives valiantly; who errs
and come short again and again; who
knows the great enthusiasm, the
great devotion; who spends himself
in a worthy cause --
BACK TO MONITORING ROOM - Lockhart and finally Ewert pat Dave
on the back. Dave is finally published after all these years.
EXT. CHRIS’S HOUSE - BACKYARD - DAY
Chris, Glenda, and their son are playing baseball in the
backyard.
DAVID JOHNSTON (V.O.)
-- who, at the best, knows in the
end of the triumph of high
achievement and who at the worst,
if he fails, at least fails while
daring greatly -- so that his place
shall never be with those timid
souls who know neither victory nor
defeat.
Ray arrives with his wife and four children and are greeted
with hugs and high fives. Chris pats Ray on the back and
hands him a cold beer.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
60 -
A Heartfelt Reunion
INT. RICK’S HOUSE - OFFICE - DAY
A FAX IS PRINTING. Rick’s daughter quickly reaches for it.
INSERT - FAX, which reads: COORDINATES - “39°59'59.6"N
105°17'02.3"W”
BACK TO RICK’S OFFICE - She quickly looks at a map. She
carefully traces her finger across it.
She comes to the realization quickly. THE COORDINATES ARE HER
HOME ADDRESS.
She turns around and standing at the door is Rick. She rushes
to him and hugs him. Rick has tears in his eyes as he
embraces his daughter.
Marian appears at the office entrance and sees Rick and her
daughter sharing a hug.
She smiles.
FADE TO BLACK.
INSERT -- POST CREDIT INFORMATION --
When Mount St. Helens erupted on
May 18, 1980, it exploded with a
force nearly eight times more
powerful than the largest nuclear
bomb ever detonated.
57 people were killed... including
volcanologist David Johnson.
12 days before Mount Pinatubo
erupted, volcanologist Harry
Glicken, Maurice & Katie Krafft
were killed on Mount Unzen on June
2, 1991 along with 39 journalists.
Mount Pinatubo hit its cataclysmic
phase on June 14, 1991. The
eruption was ten times larger than
St. Helens.
An estimated 20,000 personnel and
civilians from Clark Air Base and
60,000 Filipino residents were
evacuated two days before the
eruption.
Typhoon Yunya’s heavy rains mixed
with Pinatubo’s ash fall collapsed
roofs around the countryside
killing 847 people.
If it wasn’t for the Filipino and
American scientists who accurately
predicted the eruption and acted
with evacuations, the death toll
could have been 300,000.
This team of volcanologists called
themselves...
The Volcano Cowboys.
MUSIC CUE - “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I
Feel Fine)” by: R.E.M. begins to play...