Disaster on the Coastliner (1979) - full transcript

Central Control,

Los Angeles.

Can I help you?

Yes, okay.

508 is 20 minutes

late from San Diego.

508 is twenty minutes late

coming out of San Diego.

You'll have to clear

that freight out of C-12

and let it by.

[SIGHING]

How's the job

going, Debbie?

Hmm? Oh, nothing to it after

the first couple of weeks.

That is, unless one

of your machines

breaks down.

Computers don't break down.

They just temporarily

malfunction.

[BUZZING]

Glad to have you

with us, Mr. Mitchell.

I'm Dr. Roy Snyder.

I was told six people,

Dr. Snyder. I see seven.

Oh, that's

Victor Prescott,

one of our

computer technicians.

He stayed on to check

on a fault prediction.

Fault prediction?

Nothing serious.

Everything's fixed now.

Thanks for

staying on, Victor.

VICTOR:

I'll see you tomorrow.

Six people.

For this whole section, huh?

This computer's fantastic.

It's programmed to do

a thousand items

in a split second.

It really does all the work.

We just program, monitor,

and provide a backup

system if it's ever needed.

What's its name?

Whose?

Well, you kind of people

usually give names

to your computers

and gadgets, don't you?

What kind are "our people"?

Eggheads.

Now, don't take offense.

I guess it just means

that you're smarter

than the rest of us.

You know, I've always heard

that to, uh, err is human

but to really foul things up,

you need a computer.

Fellow eggheads,

as you've been briefed,

the wife of the

Vice President

of the United States,

is scheduled to be

on board Southbound Three

out of San Francisco

for Los Angeles today.

Now, this is Al Mitchell of,

uh, believe it or not,

the Secret Service.

And he's here

to make sure we're all

friends of democracy.

I have a list of all

personnel cleared to be at

Central Control at this time.

All right, over there

on the desk, yeah?

Your name?Debbie Fox.

MITCHELL:

I have a Debbie Meyers.

That's her maiden name.

MITCHELL: Your name?

[MEWING]

If you'll just indicate

the general area

in which you'd

prefer me to remain,

I'll attempt to distract you

from your work

as little as possible.

Would the parking

lot be too far?

We don't usually have

anyone here the whole

time on these occasions.

I'm aware of that, Dr. Snyder,

but I prefer to anticipate,

not to be anticipated.

I feel like I'm back

in the '30s.

Nobody takes

trains anymore.

They do now.

That's only because

there's a strike. Tate.

WOMAN: Uh-oh.

Go ahead, lady.You need to see our tickets?

No, right over there

for tickets.

I just got the

tickets out of the...

Here's the tickets, sir.

It's quite all right.

Right over there for

the tickets. Thank you.

Need some

identification, please.

WOMAN ON PA:

Mr. Douglas,

please meet your party at

the railroad baggage claim.

[CHATTER ON PA CONTINUES]

Thank you, sir.

Paging Mr. Robert Florio.

Mr. Robert Florio,

please come to the white

courtesy telephone...

[MEWING]

Paging Debra Armstrong,

Debra Armstrong.

Please come to the white

courtesy telephone.

Trans-Allied Coastliner

nonstop to San Francisco,

now boarding Gate G.

All ticketed passengers for

the Trans-Allied Coastliner,

please proceed to Gate G.

Guess what? I love you.

MATT: Yeah, I... Me, too.

So do I.

PAULA: [LAUGHING]

You love you, too?

I always suspected it.

Come on,

you know what I mean.

Hey, I love you.

You know that.

You sound like

you're calling from

a phone booth.

Oh, Inspector Clouseau,

I am calling from

a phone booth.

You sound funny, baby,

are you alone?

Of course I am!

[SIGHING]

What are you doing

in a phone booth this

early in the morning?

I miss you so damn much,

I decided to hell with it,

I'm going to come up

and see you.

Honey, that would've

been a great idea,

but the airlines

are on strike.

Oh, isn't that too bad.

I guess I'll just have to

suffer the deprivations

of our forebears,

the pre-Boeing generation.

I'm taking the train up.

You know, we're...

drifting apart, you know?

Let's not lose each other.

Look, baby,

I want to see you too,

you know that.

But you know how

single-minded I get

at this point in negotiations.

It's just not a good time.

Well, that seems

to be most of the time

lately, doesn't it?

[SIGHING]

Can't we just drop it?

I'm not in the mood

for an argument.

Paula?

Paula?

No, operator.

I guess we got cut off.

WOMAN ON PA:

Trans-Allied Coastliner

nonstop to San Francisco,

now in final boarding

stages, at Gate G.

All aboard, please.

BOTH: Oh!

Excuse me.

It's all my fault.

It's all right,

but that...

Here we go, what, what...

I'm really terribly sorry.

What train are

you headed for?

I was going

to San Francisco but

I've changed my mind.

We better run, then...Oh, no.

We're gonna miss it.

Grab my bag,

will you, please?

No, I've changed my...You know what I've just done?

I'm not going

to San Francisco.

Have you got

everything there?

Can I have

my bag back?

You know, you better hurry.

Coming through, please.

Excuse me, we've got

a train to make.

PAULA: Can I

have my bag?

Excuse me. Come on,

quickly, quickly,

gotta make our train.

Excuse me, coming through...I'm not going on the train.

Come on!

How you doin'?

Do me a favor.

Keep an eye on that, will ya?Fine. What?

I forgot my lunch,

but I'll be back

in a minute.

Keep an eye on it.

Somebody might take it.

I'll be back!

[MUFFLED SCREAMING]

Hey, where's the

other engineer?

Davy, there you are!

Half the station's been

looking for you!

Come on, we have to board.But Mom...

Davy, get on

board right now.

Just wanted to say hi.

Mr. Talmadge?Ah, Mr. Simpson.

How are you?Nice to see you.

How are you?

Lobby's right this way.Okay.

Tell me, does the Vice

President's wife have any

special likes or dislikes?

You know, anything we can

especially do for her?

Well, uh...

They've been married

24 years today.

Well, that helps.Yeah.

Go right over here.Yeah.

What about privacy?

Ah, no, no, no,

we'll take care of that.

The seats we have

are just fine.

Well, if there's

anything else,

be sure to let us know.

Watch, it's slippery.

Now the engineer can

isolate himself totally,

from the rest of this train

with this safety door.

John, would you close

this for me please?

Thank you.

That's terrorist proof,

hijacker proof,

there's no way anyone

could get to the engineer

through that.

Very good.

John, you can

open it, please.

Thank you.

How you doin', John?

Sandy, fine! Just fine.

John Marsh,

Don Talmadge.

Hello, Don. Thank you.John. Nice to meet you.

Uh, Don's one of the

Secret Service men

assigned to the

Vice President's wife

on your trip to Los Angeles.

I met Bill Calvin last year.

Got to know him back then.

President had rented

the whole train

for his campaign.

We must've stopped

in every dink town between

here and Los Angeles.

Bill's assigned permanently

to the White House now.

I'll say hello to him for you.

John's been completely briefed

in all security procedures,

so there's no problem there.

Well, you saw

how the door closed.

This is the control.

Here is my radio.

That's tuned to a frequency

with the chief dispatcher

in Los Angeles.

That's where we got

the computer,

the board, all of that.

Then, right here,

this little microphone,

that lets me talk

to the conductor.

Well, very good then.

Talk to you later.

Thanks, John.

See you, Sandy. Right.

Acknowledged, Foxtrot.

Let me know when she's

all tucked in and secure.

Well, everything clear

in San Francisco.

There should be

no hold ups

from their end.

MAN ON PA:

Southbound Express

from Seattle, Tacoma,

Portland and Eureka

now arriving at track

number two.

Passengers may be met at

the Arrivals section adjacent.

Excuse me, do you mind?

I'm running late.

Ticket to Los

Angeles, please.

It leaves in five minutes.

Can you hurry?

[CHATTER ON PA CONTINUES]

Thank you.

MAN ON PA:

All aboard to Los Angeles

on Platform 9, please.

Whoa, whoa,

whoa, hold it.

I'mó What?

Hold it right there.

Just one minute, okay?

If I voted for her husband,

can I get on the train?

All right. Go ahead.Forget it.

Acknowledged, out.

The Vice President's

wife is now aboard

Southbound Three.

Does that mean

we have your permission

to start on schedule?

Show me which route

they'll take.

Just keep your eye

on that blinking

amber light.

That's the train.

[STARTING ENGINE]

There she goes.

Right on schedule.

[HONKING]

MAN:

Northbound 12 now leaving

Los Angeles, Dr. Snyder.

Excuse me. Coming through.

Sorry. Pardon me.

Could I get in

first, please?

Pardon me

Oh! I'm sorry.

Oh, excuse me, sir.

Have you met this

young lady over here?

She wants you.

She really wants you.

Come, let me show you.

Eh, the two of you've met?

Lovely young man.

You two should meet and

get to know each other.

Come on, sit over here.

Over here, it's really good.

Very nice...

Happy, huh?

[THANKING IN JAPANESE]

Sit down.

All right.

Tickets?

Excuse me. Did you see

anybody board the train

who looks like this?

No, sir.

I'll keep a lookout.

Thank you.

Tickets, please.

[INAUDIBLE]

How are you, sir?Fine.

Can I get you anything?

Yeah. Let me have a...

Give me a shot of vodka

with a water back.

Mmm-hmm.

[DEBBIE SCREAMING]

Mitchell, I bet you practice

that in front of the mirror.

Don't mind

Wyatt Earp here.

It's a bomb.

Not funny.

You mean to tell me that

you eat and drink in here

while you're on duty?

Mr. Mitchell, just so you

understand how things

work in this place,

and just for the record,

I'm in charge here.

Not today you aren't.

Let's not put it to a test.

Now, if you intend

to stay here,

I suggest you sit down,

relax, and have some pizza.

Thank you, Doctor,

that won't be necessary.

Incredible!

Our machines

don't eat either.

Now, who has it

without anchovies?

Listen, they didn't

have lemonade, so I

got you orange juice.

Can you make some ice tea?Yeah.

Say, am I wrong?

Those two trains are

traveling on the same

track, aren't they?

Well, right or wrong?

Northbound 12 out of L.A.

[MIMICKING TRAIN]

Southbound Three out of S.F.

[MIMICKING TRAIN]

Right here,

Southbound Three

switches onto this track,

parallel to the

Northbound L.A. track.

That's cutting it

pretty close, isn't it?

Not really. This board

isn't drawn to scale.

The computer compensates

by adjusting the speed

the lights move.

Actually, they will

meet about here.

There's a 90-minute

safety margin.

So if you forget

to pull the switch,

the engineer still has

time to hit the brakes.

Nobody pulls

switches anymore,

I thought I told you.

Yeah, that's right,

you did. Yeah, the,

uh, computer does it.

What happens if

that miracle machine

of yours blows a fuse?

Then, there are block towers

all along the line.

Two men in each making

sure everything is

where it ought to be.

Machine checks man,

man checks machine.

You know something, Mitchell,

the most dangerous

thing about riding

a train these days

is the drive to the station.

And delivering pizza

in here, of course.

Mom? Mom.

Oh, have a mint, Davy.

No, no, Mom,

it's not...

Take the whole pack, okay?

I'll tell you my name

if you'll tell me yours.

All right,

I'll tell you mine.

Stuart Peters,

known as Stu,

or Pete, or...

Whatever.

Paula Harvey,

known as Paula,

or Harvey or...

Or whatever.

Put it there, Paula.

It was

a different engineer.

I saw a different

guy up there!

You probably saw one

of the workmen up there.

But I'll check it out

in a minute. Okay?

You go take a seat.

Okay.

Smoke?

No, thank you,

I don't smoke.

Oh, what a coincidence.

Neither do I.

Then why did you

offer me a cigarette?

I didn't. I asked you

if you smoked.

Oh, well, l do.

I mean, I did, I quit.

l wasn't offering

you a cigarette,

I was asking

if you had one.

Do you? Cigarette.

I think I heard you say

you don't smoke.

Well, I can't if I don't

have a cigarette. Now I do.

Is that, uh,

Ms Harvey?

Miss? Hmm?

Mrs.?

You know,

what I'm asking...

Is there a Mr. Harvey?

Oh. Touchy subject, huh?

It's not a touchy subject,

it's...it's a,

a tender subject.

Well, in that case,

let's have a drink

in the club car.

I shall behave myself

at all times.

Pick up the first check.

You being the lady

you are, naturally,

you'll pick up the second.

Come on.

[LAUGHS]

Your lunch?

Thank you, sir.

Oh. Excuse me, please.

I don't believe I have

your tickets, folks.

Uh, Paula, give

him your ticket.

My ticket.

Thanks, honey.

We usually fly,

but with the air

controller's strike,

we thought

we'd give this a try.

I'm glad you could

ride with us.

Hope you have a nice trip.

Thank you.Thank you.

Ticket please.

May I help you, sir?

[EXHALES] What would

you like to drink?

Same thing I always drink

when we fly together.

Dry martini.

Bloody Mary.

Pina colada.

BARTENDER: How are you today?Fine, thank you.

Can I get you anything?Yes, a Harvey

Wallbanger, please.

Sure thing.

[CLEARING THROAT]

You know, when I decided

to take the train up to

San Francisco,

I had some sort of a

fantasy about, oh, eight

blissful hours of solitude,

time to think,

time to read,

and time to...

Be alone.

And time to be alone.

Yeah, you know.

So would you mind

telling me

what part I'm playing in

this little drama of yours?

What drama?

It's too bad.

I was hoping

you'd clarify that.

Thanks for the drink.Don't go.

If I don't go,

will you talk?

What do you want to know?

I want to know why

those policemen

are looking for you!

They're the private kind.

They're harmless.

They've been hassling me,

following me, it's terrible.

Well, I'd say

it's not exactly terrible,

it's embarrassing.

Why?

Why?

It's more like irritating.

Irritating.

Actually, the word is

"alimony." And divorce.

Don't forget divorce.

Alimony and divorce.

And divorce.

And war.

The leading causes

of human misery

ever devised by man.

I was going to leave town

for a couple of days,

and she...

She had her lawyers

put those bloodhounds on me,

as if I was gonna

skip out on my solemn

legal obligations.

Which, of course,

you'd never do.

Not me.

You're not gonna turn

me in now, are you?

For alimony? No.

Not unless

you owed it to me.

[SNIFFING]

Is that gardenia I smell?

That's gardenia.That's nice.

[MACHINERY BEEPING]

That's the switch point.

Southbound Three

switches over to

this track here.

[HONKING]

Snyder!

Were you putting

me on a while ago?

I want to know

what's going on.

What are you

talking about?

What is going on?

There must be a fault

on the board.

The computer wouldn't

let that happen.

First of all, it's the

computer that governs

the actual switching...

And it monitors itself.

It would've sent out an

alarm five minutes ago.

Plus activating

red stop lights

all along the line.

And you can see

the train is still moving.

Yeah, straight for that

northbound train.

Get me the engineer on

Southbound Three.

Southbound Three,

this is the Chief

Dispatcher, come in.

Southbound Three,

please respond to the

Chief Dispatcher, over.

MALE VOICE:

Southbound Three,

this is Chief Dispatcher,

do you read me?

Southbound Three,

I read you clear.

You've got

a clear run ahead.

No delays,

dry tracks all the way.

[HONKING]

Central. Put me through

to the Chief Dispatcher

in Los Angeles. Quick!

Chief Dispatcher, this is

Jersey Eight, come in please.

What's going on,

Jersey Eight?

There's something wrong.

Southbound Three

just passed me

on the wrong track.

I can't control the switches.

What about your OR?

The OR, the signal light,

the switches, nothing works!

Must be in your computer.

There isn't anything I can do!

Now we can't get through

to the engineer of the

northbound train.

What do you mean,

you can't get through?

All communications

are routed through

the computer.

And it's all gone

wacko, right?

The whole flaky system.

You can't control the train.

You can't even

communicate with it.

And you can't even

locate the damn train!

We know exactly

where the train is!

Once we locate the problem

with the computer,

we'll be able to talk

with the engineer.

You said this system

couldn't fail, Snyder.

Now that's not a load of

dishwashers on that train,

that's the

Vice President's wife!

[PHONE RINGING]Look, if you want to help,

get on that phone of yours

and tell your men what's

happening out there...

My unit can't be

patched into my

agents on the train.

They only have short

range field communication

among themselves.

DEBBIE: Doctor,

that was L.A. Union Station.

They just found

the engineer

that was supposed to be

on Northbound 12.

He was attacked

and left unconscious.

Well, then who...

Northbound 12, Northbound 12,

come in, this is the

Chief Dispatcher.

Come in and

identify yourself, over!

PRESCOTT:

I guess you're beginning

to get the picture.

What do you want to know,

Mr. Chief Dispatcher?

What's going on?

Who are you?

This is Victor Prescott.

And what's going on

is I'm running the show

right now.

You know the great thing

about computers,

they do exactly what

you tell them to do.

And I've reprogrammed

yours so neatly

that it'll take you guys days

to untie the knots.

I have the only radio access

to Marsh in the cab of

Southbound Three.

There's nothing

you can do about it, so

just sit back and wait!

I'll call you when

I'm ready to talk.

Vic... Prescott,

why are you doing this?

Okay, spell it out for me.

You heard what we heard.

Oh, I know what I heard.

Just want to be sure

I understand it.

Okay. Give me

a minute, will you?

I'll give you a minute.

How many do you want?

How many more

minutes do we have

before those two trains

smash into each other?

About 90.

Well, then,

do something!

If what we heard is true,

90 minutes isn't enough.

Not half enough.

What are you saying

to me, Snyder?

What he's saying is,

it's going to take

about four hours

just to get

into that board.

Well, then,

why don't we just

pull the plug

on the whole

lousy system and

work it by hand?

There's no plug to pull.

It has its own built in

power source.

Then put a bullet

through the damn thing!

Mitchell, will you shut up!

You're helping nobody!

All right, that makes

two of us, Doctor!

Listen, those aren't

the only two trains

controlled from here.

This whole sector's

wired into it.

And if we cut that computer

out without warning,

there'll be so much

collision and chaos,

those two trains will only be

a hundredth part of it!

So what are we

going to do?

Well, come on,

come on.

Not a half hour ago

you were boasting to me,

the machine checks man,

man checks machine.

Let's see it.

Oh, for...

Patch me into the

White House. Priority.

CONDUCTOR:

What makes you so sure

that he's on this train?

TATE: He phoned his partner

in San Francisco, told him

to meet the Northbound Three.

Trouble was, there was

a roomful of cops there

when he called.

Well, I've seen everyone

on this train, Sergeant.

I haven't seen him.

Okay.

Keep an eye out

for him, will you?

I'll keep looking.

[SIGHING]

How often

have you heard

a private detective

referred to as

"Sergeant"?

Those men are policemen

and they're looking for you.

Oh. Well, it couldn't have

been a very good story

because I didn't tell you

the whole story.

I left out a...

A few things.Like what?

Aw, you don't

want to hear it,

it's a soap opera.

Yeah, l want

to hear it.

You do?I do.

Well...

I went to my house

to get some of my

things, you know,

and, uh...

My ex-wife was there.

She's going out with a...

a new boyfriend,

and, well, we got into

an argument,

she and I, and...

He jumped in and I...

I clobbered him.

He was out!

Unconscious.

I got scared, I thought

maybe I'd killed him.

The ambulance came,

the paramedics

patched him up,

he was okay

in 15 minutes.

And he, uh,

swore out a warrant for

assault and battery.

Well, you know,

I'm no hero.

I stopped thinking

that way years ago.

So, I, uh...

jumped on the first

train out of town.

Well, but how come

you have all that money

in your briefcase?

I mean,

where did that come...[SHUSHING]

Money?

That money!

Oh.

Look...

I can't tell you

the truth right now.

But I will sometime.

What makes you think

there's gonna be

a sometime, huh?

Where you going?

Stretch my legs

and get some air.

And, honey, I'm gonna

need some cigarettes.

Davy! Where're you going?

To get a drink of water.

Young man, don't you

leave this car now.

We're going awful

fast, Ellis. What's up?

PRESCOTT:

I'll run the train.

Who are you,

and where's Ellis?

You take care of

the passengers.

What's going on up there?

[LINE DISCONNECTS]

Hello!

Hi, buddy.

[SIRENS WAILING]

[SHOUTING ORDERS]

Seal the exits,

nobody in or out.

Let's go. Spread out,

spread out!

C 7-1-7-0-8-7-4-0-3-2,

C 7-1-7-7-4-4...

The situation is totally

out of control here!

There's nothing they can do!

The situation is not

out of control!

Mitchell, why don't you

just shut up and stick

to what you know?

You've got two trains

headed for each other,

on the same track,

and "nothing is

out of control"?

You told me this thing

was idiot proof.

It is idiot proof,

but Prescott's no idiot.

He hasn't just punched in

a new program we can

weed out and change.

He scrambled the whole thing.

We don't know what he's done.

Well, then I'll find

somebody who

can unscramble it.

Nobody touches

this installation

unless I say so.

Snyder,

nobody does anything

from here on in

without my say so.

And that includes you.

Unless you want to be

carried out of here right now.

Red alert. All outlets,

technical sector.

[SIRENS WAILING]

They're waiting for you

on the 14th floor. Let's go!

Technical section... Yeah.You've been briefed? Okay.

Now, this is Snyder.

He'll give you all the

cooperation you need. Go.

Glad to have you with us.

All fault simulations

are negative.

The identification set

routines are normal,

and the data bus is clear.

Good luck.

Would you like

some coffee?

Yeah, maybe we better

have coffee all around.

No time for coffee!

Give us a couple

of screwdrivers.

Doubles, okay?

All righty. Doubles.

Hi.Hi.

My name's Matt. What's yours?Charlene.

Charlene. Nice to

meet you, Charlene.

Nice to meet you.

You going to L.A.?Yeah.

Me, too.

Where you from?

Oxnard.

Oxnard? Mmm.

That's a coincidence.

That's where I get

all my fresh fish.

Fresh fish?

Oh, yeah.

Aren't you into

Japanese food?

No, I've never tried it.

Oh, come on,

you've got to be

putting me on.

Oh, there's an art

to serving fresh fish. Sure.

You know, fish

isn't like beef.

No?Oh, yeah.

It's much more delicate,

and you have to be very

careful when you cut it

that you don't bruise it.

First of all, they take

a very sharp knife,

and make a nice

smooth cut through it,

cut it off in bite size pieces

and you take your chopsticks,

and dip it in this

incredible sauce...

McElroy.

This is the Chief Dispatcher

in Los Angeles.

Now listen,

and don't ask questions.

We've lost contact

with your engineer.

Call him on your intercom

and stop the train!

Stop the train!

Think I see what

he's done here.

What?

Well, I think I can

manage to get those

signals back in operation.

Red on the Southbound track.

That ought to stop them.

This is Southbound Three

calling Chief Dispatch.

Come in, Chief.

This is Chief Dispatcher.

What is it, Southbound Three?

My green straight away signal

has just changed to red.

Now what the devil

is going on?

Marsh, listen carefully.

We don't know

what's going on yet,

but I just got an urgent

message from security.

You may have

a terrorist situation

at your back.

We suspect an attempt by

armed terrorists to abduct,

the wife of the

Vice President of

the United States.

Follow the manual

under emergency procedures,

back of the book,

appendix three.

This red signal

means stop, man!

Don't worry about them.

The terrorists have

jimmied the light controls.

There's no danger.

Now read your instructions.

Everything all right?

Oh, uh...

[INTERCOM BUZZING]PRESCOTT:

Double check

that the emergency door

behind you is locked.

Check, the door

is locked!

It's been locked

since San Francisco.

Man, I do not like

this red signal!

I told you to ignore them.

A specially trained group

of anti-terrorist forces,

will be waiting for you at

the Los Angeles terminal.

The terrorists will do

everything they can,

to make you stop that train

before you get there.

It is absolutely vital

that you keep

that train rolling.

Repeat: Marsh,

under no circumstances

are you to stop that train,

until you reach Los Angeles.[INTERCOM BUZZING]

I understand.

MARSH:

All right, Tom,

what do you want?

John, now listen carefully.

The Chief Dispatcher

just called me

on the radio phone,

he says he can't

get through to you.

He's ordering you

to stop the train now.

Immediately!

Tommy, I've just

been talking to the

Chief Dispatcher.

I know the situation.

I know what's going

on back there.

I know that you're being

forced to say this.

Now, I wish

I could help,

but I'm going to do

what I've been doing

for the last 30 years.

I'm going to follow orders.

I'm going to keep

this thing rolling

right into Los Angeles.

John, your orders are

to stop the train now!

[LINE DISCONNECTS]

He hung up on me.

What?

He hung up. Excuse me.

Yeah.

Sir, sir, excuse me,

just a minute, please.

Stop, stop.

Look, I want you

to keep quiet about

this for a while, okay?

I don't want anyone

to know about this yet.

John?

John!

Mr. McElroy, Mr. McElroy!

Mr... Move.

John!

Chief Dispatch,

this is Southbound Three,

do you read me?

The terrorists are at

the safety door right now,

trying to break in.

Don't worry, they can't break

through. You're doing fine.

John!

[HONKING]

I don't want you to think

I'm using you, but do

you have a light?

Where did you

get the money

in that briefcase?

Paula.

No, don't think,

just say it.

I'm a...

I can't think

of a good word.

A thief.

Don't be harsh.

I deal in

negotiable securities.

Stockbroker.

More like money.

That's what

I said, a thief!

Not so loud.

I've done a lot of

things in my life.

I sort of take

advantage of opportunities,

if you know what I mean.

Oh, I know what you mean.

You're a con man.

Please. I just

don't think

it's morally right

to let suckers

keep their money.

I have this friend

in San Francisco.

Real nice guy,

you'd like him.

Well, maybe you wouldn't

like him, but I do.

He's an artist.

He's a real artist.

Why do I get the feeling

you're not talking about

a painter?

He makes plates.

Of money.

Counterfeit.

You couldn't tell

the difference.

What're you doing?

Do you want

to make a scene?

I was considering it.

I thought you'd promised

you wouldn't say anything.

I lied!

Look, we don't hurt

anybody but crooks.

You don't? Well, who do

you think gets stuck

with that bad money?

Shopkeepers!

It's their loss.

Listen, you can't

rationalize this,

no matter what.

Paula, I need you with me.

I really need you with me.

Just stick with me

a minute. Please!

Please.

PRESCOTT:

Chief Dispatcher,

are you listening?

Of course you are.

Get out your pencils,

I'm going to give you

guys a little help.

Forget Victor Prescott,

go to the company records

and look up Jim Waterman.

You may get lucky.

Vic, what's this all about,

why are you doing this?

Vic, we were friends.

I'll tell you this,

I got a job with you

because your internal

security is about as good

as your safety precautions.

It was no problem at all.

I want you to know that.

Got that okay?

Any luck with that

other engineer,

what's his name?

Marsh?

The man who hijacked

the train is Jim Waterman.

Waterman.

Should that name

mean something?

Oh, it goes back

six years,

before you took over

the chairmanship

of the company.

We had a derailment

in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Freighters tore loose

from the rest of the train,

jumped the track.

Plowed into

a group of houses.

Killed 37 people.

I remember that,

of course.

Although the official

inquiry totally cleared us,

there were still some

who accused us publicly

of criminal negligence.

In particular, one man.

Jim Waterman.

Well, he had

a wife and kid.

We all felt sorry for him...

but I mean,

the man was out of

his head with grief.

But we couldn't

let him go on saying

what he was saying.

We took him to court,

won the case.

Even paid for his

expenses afterwards.

Anyhow, the last

we heard of him,

he had a breakdown

and was hospitalized.

It's a very tragic story.

So, what is he trying to do?

Pay us back by killing

innocent people?

PRESCOTT:

Okay, now you know who I am,

I guess you'd like

to know what I want.

I want to be connected

to the office of the

chairman of this railroad.

I want to speak

to him directly.

No, that's not possible.

In a little more than an hour,

this train's going to collide

with the Southbound Three.

You're wasting minutes.

We might as well.

What have we got to lose?

[BUZZING]

Yes.WOMAN:

Mr. Hill,

Central Control has

Waterman on the line.

Put him right on, please.

WATERMAN:

Am I on? Hello.

Mr. Waterman,

this is Estes Hill.

How can I help you?

I want you to know why

I'm doing what I'm doing.

I think I know, Mr. Waterman.

Six years ago, Mr. Hill.

Mr. Waterman,

pardon me for interrupting.

I am well aware of

your personal tragedy,

the loss you suffered.

Believe me, if there were

anything we could do...

I want you and your railroad

to confess the truth.

I want you to admit

that you bribed

the investigator

who cleared the railroad

of negligence.

His name is Carlson.

HILL: But, Mr. Waterman,

it simply...

I want you to admit

that you bribed him.

That two years after

he saved your hide,

you gave him a fat job

with the company.

Mr. Waterman, I wasn't even

in the company at that time.

And if I thought

for one second...

You bribed him, admit it.

Is this true?

Does a man named Carlson

now work for this company?

Uh-huh.

What does he need

from us right now

to stop that train?

We want you

to stop the train,

Mr. Waterman.

Stop it now before other

people suffer the same sort

of tragic loss that you did.

We want you

to stop your train

and the Southbound, too.

There are wives

and children

on those trains.

Not my wife

and child, Mr. Hill.

If you care about

those people,

if you want me

to stop the train,

then you better

make that statement

admitting that you

rigged the investigation.

That's it.

Okay, Waterman.

I admit it.

Is that what

you want to hear?

And you'll retract

that statement as soon

as I stop the train.

I want you to call a press

conference and admit it

in front of reporters.

I have a small TV set here

with me in the cab.

I want to see you on it

and Carlson, too.

Especially Carlson.

White House is on the line.

Look, I'll do

everything I can.

I need time

and you haven't

given me much,

so I'm leaving the line now.

Goodbye, Mr. Waterman.

Mr. President.

Thank you.

We have just learned

that the engineer

who hijacked

the northbound train

is apparently a former

employee of the Trans-Allied

Railroad Company.

Both the FBI and railroad

company authorities

are investigating

the details of

the situation.

We will bring that to you

as soon as we have

the information.

However, it has

been confirmed

that the wife

of the Vice President

is on the Los Angeles

bound train,

along with several hundred

other passengers.

All attempts by authorities

to communicate with

the engineer of that train

have been unsuccessful.

The engineer of

the southbound train,

a loyal employee

for over 30 years therefore

is unaware

of the impending disaster.

Should an impact between

the two trains occur,

authorities calculate

it would be in the

East Lyme area.

A team of Secret Service

agents are desperately

trying to avert

what threatens to be

the worst disaster

in railroad history.

♪ Happy anniversary to you

♪ Happy anniversary to you

♪ Happy anniversary,

dear Amanda,

♪ Happy anniversary to you

AMANDA: How sweet.

Oh, how sweet.

Oh, my God.

What's the matter?

I don't know yet.

Let's have some cake.

I hate to break up your party,

but if you'd all take your

seats again. Thank you.

Sir, if you'll just join

the other passengers up

forward, I'd appreciate it.

Thank you.What's the problem?

It's security, sir.

You can take your

drink with you.

Mr. McElroy.Yes.

I want you to show me

where the PA system is.

Thank you, ma'am.

May I have the attention

of all the passengers please?

Your attention, please.

A very serious

situation has arisen

on this train.

Mitchell?

Mr. Mitchell.

Dr. Snyder's right,

there's no way to break

this thing on time.

Well, keep on it.

Yeah, I'll keep on it.

Don't expect anything.

Hold on. Okay,

I need some answers. Fast.

How thick is the glass

in the engineer's cabin?

What are you

thinking of doing?

Just answer the question.

I don't know

how thick it is.

I do know it's bullet proof.

Suppose we could lower

a man onto that train

with cutting equipment.

How long would it take him

to burn through that door,

into Marsh's cab?

I couldn't say for sure.

For a man who's supposed

to be the so-called genius

of this plant,

there's suddenly a whole lot

you don't seem to know!

Why don't you

just stop it!

You know, everybody is

getting sick and tired of

listening to you around here.

Before you get

too sentimental

over your boss,

just remember,

he's the guy who

hired Prescott,

or Waterman, or whatever

the hell his name is, right?

How fast is that

train moving?

About 120.

Hundred and twenty miles

an hour. Yeah.

I don't care about that.

Just get the nearest available

chopper and crew in the air

and get that train stopped.

[SIGHING]

Okay.

Somebody get me

the conductor

on Waterman's train.

Please?

Yes, sir, Mr. Mitchell.

Yeah, I understand.

Okay.

Thank you.

Excuse me, sir.

we're looking for this guy.

Looking for a man

with a mustache

and a briefcase, possibly...

I think it's time I found

a small room to hide in.

May I take a look at it?

Sir, look,

I need help.

Those two gentlemen

down there,

they're policeman.

Will you go

and get them

for me, please?

What, are you joking?

I've got to find

the men's room.

Look, we're having a problem.

I'm trying to avoid a panic.

Will you please go

do that for me?

Come on.

Your bag?Yeah.

Open it.Sure.

LeBoux.

Is that it?Could be.

Officer, I don't know

what this is all about,

but the conductor back there

is having a problem.

He's asking for help.What is it?

What is it?

All right,

what's going on?

We've got to clear

the forward coach

and fast,

without starting a panic.

There's trouble up front,

that's what I get from

Central Control.

All right, everybody,

please get to the back car.

No time to explain,

police business.

Move it quickly.

To the back car,

there's no time to explain.

TATE: Police business.

Don't panic,

just straight ahead.

LeBOUX: Come on, move it now!Move swiftly, please!

Step lively. Get your bags.

No time. Wake up,

wake up right away.

Just grab your bags and go.

Right away. Come on, wake up!

I don't know, I don't know.

Just keep... I don't know.

Rescue-copter 14

to Headquarters.

Okay, we're at 3000 feet.

I have Southbound

train in view.

I'm dropping down

to try and make contact.

[BRAKING]

Stop the train!

Stop the train!

Stop the train!

Chief Dispatch,

this is Marsh,

Southbound Three.

WATERMAN:

What is it, Marsh?

There's a helicopter

chasing this train.

What's going on?

Don't worry about it.

We sent it up there

for support and observation.

You just keep

the train rolling.

Stop the train!

[PANICKED SHOUTING]

Bartender, look, I want

everything out of this bar

that's not nailed down.

Bottles, glasses, everything.

I don't care, throw it off

the train if you have to.

All right, gentlemen,

you guys get these cushions,

as many as you can,

take them right here

to the corner.

We'd better get down.

Yeah, let's do.

Get on the floor.

Okay.Here.

You! Well, you, too!

What are you doing?

[SHUSHING]

We have enough

people here.

Please, everybody listen!

Don't panic!

You'll be fine.

Now just listen.

The people here, stay down.

Keep down as well as you can.

Everybody back here,

take the seats available.

If there are any kids back

there, will the people...

Amanda, come on.Please, no...

Amanda, don't give me

any problems, please.

Let's go.

I just can't.

You can do it.

Both of you sit down.

Come on.

Okay. Here you go.

One behind your head.

Lean back, lean back.

Okay, right there.

Okay, get all these ashtrays

out of here! Anything you can

move. Pick up everything.

Okay. Listen,

the computer's a loss.

Manual override can't be

worked to divert anything

onto existing track.

We've got 45 minutes left,

and I'm 45 minutes

from quitting.

Now, right here,

where the two trains

will collide,

is a big maintenance depot:

men, tracks, cranes.

Now, what if we were

to splice in a section

of track right here,

that would carry

Southbound Three

over onto the parallel line

in time to miss

the northbound?

Thirty yards of track.

Now, if it holds,

we have two trains

safely passing each other,

just like they do 1200 times

a day hundred times a day

from San Diego

to Bangor, Maine.

Thirty yards of track

in 45 minutes, you're as

crazy as Waterman is.

I'm not going

to waste time

arguing with you.

You mind if I

use your phone?

Okay, lean on it, men.

Just set that beam up.

You know where it goes,

fellows, let's move it.

All right, let's pick up

the background.

Keep it trim, keep it in.

[MACHINERY WHIRRING]

All right,

lean on it, men.

All right, let's dance!

Let's dance!

NEWSCASTER:

Police and fire officials

in East Lyme, California,

are bracing for

the expected

head-on collision

between the two Trans-Allied

passenger trains

which are calculated to crash

in the vicinity of the town.

The Governor in Sacramento,

has put the California

National Guard

on standby alert

in preparation for rushing

more men and equipment

to the crash site,

and has joined local

officials in issuing an

appeal to residents

to keep clear of the

railroad track area.

Okay, folks,

you have to step back

a little, please.

Back. Okay.

REPORTER: Mr. Carlson,Step back.

You care to comment

on the situation?

Get back.

[ALL CLAMORING]

Mr. Hill. Mr. Carlson.

Well, I know

how I look, sir,

but with your driver at

the door, and you yelling

down the phone at me,

what was I supposed to do?

Well, that's all right.

I appreciate your

cooperation, Carlson.

Here, sit down.

Give us a moment, fellows.

Of course, I'm as...

sorry about this whole

thing as you are.

Uh, now, wait a minute,

let's not start taking

things for granted.

You wanted me here,

I'm here.

I haven't agreed yet to go

through with this charade.

What, go on national

television and accuse myself

of criminal conspiracy?

Look,

none of us has any

choice in this matter.

This lunatic holds

every life on both

trains in his hands.

Unless you admit you took

a bribe when you wrote

that accident report,

they are all dead.

But it's a lie.

I didn't do it.

Right now, I don't care

whether you did or not.

Right now, you work

for this company!

And your next job is to face

these cameras in here

and give the performance

of your life!

Are you hearing me?

I'm calling my lawyer.

No time for that.

I've already had Hennessey

draw up something

for you to sign.

It says, in effect,

that you are making

this statement under duress.

It covers you against libel

for anything you might say.

Trust me, Johnny.

I don't like it.

I don't give a damn whether

you like it or not.

There are too many

lives at stake.

Now, you will sign

that statement.

All right, I'll do it.

But it's under duress.

[WHIRRING]

All right, we've got

to go 20 feet on either

side of that.

Okay, lean on it!

All right, you guys,

that ought to do it.

Just move it

down here now.

Give me that saw.

What do you think, Jeff?

I don't know.

But you pay me a buck-

fifty more an hour,

and I'll start

thinking for you.

Now, you just keep them

fellows dancing.

Pull them tracks

down there.

There we go, fellows,

let's get over there.

Bring them ties on over.

Get them over.

All right, sir,

Mr. Carlson,

you're on.

Six years ago, there was

a major railroad disaster

in New England.

After about a week

of investigation,

I was approached

by a man who said...

who did represent

the railroad company.

I didn't take money

but I did accept

the promise of a job

after a suitable interval.

This is the job I now hold.

I'll try and unhook the engine

from the rest of the train.

When I finally

prepared my report,

there were several...

false statements.

The first of these

concerned the state of

the track at the point

of derailment.

I can't get it loose.

The lever underneath

the engine.

Does it work the same way

as the one underneath

this one?

You've got it.

There's one

on both sides.

I can't go out there.

Hold on to me.

Paula, get back.

CARLSON:

Secondly,

the freight cars

were improperly loaded,

which in itself contributed

to the derailment.

REPORTER:

Is there anything else, sir?

Uh, no, sir.

That's all, thank you.

I can't get it, it's stuck!

Get back inside,

there's nothing you

can do out there.

Get back. Let me go.

So, we've finally

been candid.

You've heard the story

from those involved.

The only word I can use

for what transpired

is bribery.

Mr. Waterman,

I beg of you,

stop that train.

REPORTER:

This press conference

has been broadcast live

from Trans-Allied Headquarters

in Los Angeles.

That's all I wanted.

[SCREAMING]

Stuart!

Hey, and what about me?

PAULA: Stuart!

Hello? What's happening,

what's going on? Hello?

Hey! Hey, let me in!

Let me in!

[HELICOPTER APPROACHING]

MAN:

News Helicopter

Seven at KBEX,

proceeding to East Lyme,

California, for on

the spot coverage.

What do you think now?

I think we're

going to make it.

Just a-dancing

and a-prancing,

just a-grinning

and a-picking.

[LAUGHS]

Now this is what

they've done, huh?

That's what they're doing.

Doing?They haven't done it, yet.

Well, Marsh will be coming

at 100 miles an hour,

when he hits this point.

Is this crossover going

to be long enough,

or strong enough?

I hope so.

Well, maybe

when he sees

those workmen,

he'll stop.

Slow down, maybe,

but stop?

You and your damn computer.

JEFFERSON:

Move that bench

out of there!

There we go.

Let's get over there.

Bring them ties on over.

Get on over.

Go on now,

move them out!

Move them back.

Train's coming!

Train is coming!

Move them out.

Move them back!

Come on now,

move them out.

All right, train's coming!

Go on, move out!

We need room. Alley-oop!

Oh.

We got six minutes

to drive spikes, boys.

Six minutes of sweat,

then it's easy time

of the day, right, boss?

We pull this one off,

everybody gets

a week's paid vacation.

What do you say?All right!

All right, let's get

these rods off

of these ties.

Get the rods off

of them ties!

We ought to be using

twice the spikes.

She'll hold.

That train's moving

too fast for that

weld to hold.

This crossover's

not long enough.

You don't need us

no more, Captain.

Everybody clear the tracks.

Get out of here.

Drop that torch

and get out of here.

Get off the tracks, Jefferson.

I say she'll hold!

A $100 say she hold.

Let me hear you groan!

[ALL GRUNTING]

Groan!

Oh, my God!

[BRAKES SQUEALING]

Let me hear you pray!

[HONKING]

[ALL CHEERING]

Way to go!

All right!

Oh, that's wonderful!

Great! We've still got

one hell of a derailment

coming up here.

And this time, there's

nothing we can do about it.

But they're okay now,

aren't they?

Oh, yeah,

your job's over.

You can go.

You put $100 in my palm,

then we can shake

till Christmas.

Carry me until payday.

All right,

we got open track.

Let's close it!

Mr. Mitchell,

this is Rescue Copter

14 in East Lyme.

I have the engine in sight,

bridge cables are apparently

snapped, looks like a runaway.

We've got the suspect inside.

Now we've got some

crazy idiot on top.

Well, just keep on trying.

And I want them

both off that train.

That's right, both of them.

All right now, do it.

Who's the other one?

I don't know.

Another guy in there.

We got to get him out!

Get the other guy out!

Come on!

Hold on.

Give me your hand.

I'll pull you up.

Hold on tight.

Come on,

get your leg up.

Come on.

Hold on, hold on.

[SHOUTING]

COP: Hold them back.

Get back. All right, back!

Back! Get back!

STUART: Bring it closer.

One at a time.

Bring it in closer.

Bring it over here.

[SHOUTING]

Come on,

bring it in here.

Hey! Watch that

bridge. Hey!

Watch your head.

Get down!

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

We're running

out of track.

There's a river

coming up.

Jump!

Go for it!

FOREMAN: All right, give me

two inches of steel there,

tap it down, too.

All right, if the engine's

intact by the...

MAN: Come on,

get it on there.

Go on, do it again!

Get out of here!

All right,

get out of here!

Coming, Jefferson?

Go on, get some help!

Hang on!

No, I do not

anticipate calling

a formal press conference.

What I will do as

chairman of this company

is to give you my personal

guarantee that the whole

issue of that accident

in New Hampshire will be

thoroughly re-examined.

If it is found that

any employees

of this company were

involved in improprieties,

they will be dealt with

in a court of law.

Listen to me, John,

you keep a hold

of yourself.

There's no way they

can prove it. Never!

Hey, let me tell

you something.

I go down,

you're going with me.

TATE: How you doing?

Fine.

Well, they're towing us

back to L.A. We should be

in in about two hours.

Time for a drink?

VO and seven, please.

Bourbon and ginger.Yes, sir.

Stuart.

That's what you

called him, Stuart.

Stuart Peters,

that was his name.

Well, we thought you might

like to know that he made it.

He's okay.

[EXHALING IN RELIEF]

What was it you had

to arrest him for?

He ripped off some really

heavy weight con men.

Sold them play

money for real.

At least

he told me the truth

about something.

You realize

he saved our lives?

How do you explain

a guy like that?

You don't.

You drink to him.

What's he like?

I don't know.

He had a nice smile.

To Peters.Peters.

Want to borrow my comb?

There may be some reporters

waiting to see you.

Yeah.

And his honor the judge.

Right now

you're looking

pretty good.

You think so?

Sometimes you never know

who you're gonna meet.

Back, please. Back.

[SIRENS WAILING]

Snyder...

I want you to know

that I don't know

your first name.

Egghead.

You're okay.

Thank you. Thank you.

Well, can I ask you

if I can help you?

Well, I guess

we can help each other

sometimes. Okay?

Officer.Yes, ma'am.

I'm looking for a man,

the man who

saved everybody.

If they arrested him,

where would they

have taken him?

We can make a call

and I can get

a location on him.

Could we?Sure, come on.

Great. I...What did you say

his name was?

Peter Stuart

or Stuart Peters.

He gave people

a bunch of different names.

Oh.

Because he was

kind of a con man.

He was...

He was a hero.

I'm glad you said that.

Let's make that call.