Path of Destruction (2005) - full transcript

Here, come up the aisle a bit, Jim.
I can't lift this by myself.

Check that gauge.

Yeah.

I'll wing it.

- Careful up there.
- Yeah.

Getting nothing on this thing here,
but there we go.

Just turn that there. Good.

Hey, slow down your walk.

- Bring it up. Easy...
- Let it go.

Here, I've got it saved.

Shot contest down in the lounge.
You in?



Sorry, boys. I've got a date
with a hot shower and a good book.

How'd you like
a good man instead, huh?

As tempting as that sounds, Speedy,
I think I'll take a rain-check.

- It's Eric.
- Oh, hey, come on in.

Oh, damn, you clean up nice.

Now, what did I tell you about that
when I got you this job, huh?

You keep goin' around
looking and smelling like that

you're never gonna pass
for a rig jockey.

So now, just 'cause I work here now,
I gotta stink like you?

Okay, now, I stink?

Okay, this is some
All-American man-funk.

Yeah, it's funky all right.

So, what's up?
You ready for primetime, yet?

Hardly.
I just got an e-mail from my boss.



Apparently, when I said,
"leave of absence," he heard I quit.

So I had to give my office
to someone else.

Okay, look, you know what,
don't even worry about that.

Where would WNYP be
without their star reporter?

- You mean its Queen of Fluff.
- Well, I think your Fluff's great.

Like my breaking news piece on
the opening of Iran's first Hooters?

Okay, well, you've got to admit.
I mean, orange veils, hot pants?

I mean,
that's a hell of a combination.

Wait... Why are you so vicious?

Four-thirty-nine and counting.
How're we doing?

Culture appears stable.

Twenty-eight replications.
Two more and we are golden.

Two more and it's home to mommy.

I thought I told you
never to call me mommy.

Besides, we're never gonna
make this deadline.

A deadline we were never going
to meet in the first place.

Not for the kind of money
Stark's paying.

Hell, those things
get to eat more than we do.

As soon as they stop, so do we.

Once you break this story

you're gonna be right up there
with Diane Sawyer.

What story? I still don't have
any concrete proof

that Starkcorp's using oil rigs
to dump chemical waste.

Without it, I might as well
sell my piece to the Travel Channel.

Oh, don't be like that.
Maybe this will help you.

What?

Just consider me your black Santa.
Merry Christmas.

- What is this?
- This is what happens

when the guys on the bridge forget
to log off their system.

I just grabbed everything I could.

Performance analysis, test results...

replication data?

There must be 50 pages
of classified ecology reports here.

It's all mixed in
with a bunch of weather data.

The only constant
seems to be something called SERENA.

SERENA? Maybe a different rig

or an oil spill Starkcorp's
trying to cover up?

Whatever it is, I bet this guy
could tell us.

Nathan McCain. His name's all over
these documents. Look at all this.

So I did all right, then?

You did more than all right.

I mean, staying an extra week
just to get me on this rig.

And now, this?
Yeah, I owe you, again.

Okay, look.
You don't owe me anything.

You just gotta break this story

and keep this on the DL
or it's my ass.

I mean,
Samara's seven months pregnant.

I lose this job, she'll kill me.

You're gonna make a great dad.

Yeah, well,
we'll see about that, huh?

I'm gonna go grab a beer
down in the lounge, so...

hey, don't work too hard, okay?

Always.

- What are you down to?
- Hey, it's good.

- Hey, give me a hot sauce.
- You love talking.

What's going on, guys?

Get ready to have your money
get taken, your wives, your food.

- Bring it on. Set 'em up.
- Let's do it.

Why? What do we got today?

We've got a problem.

Thirty-one replications.

- What?
- And they're not stopping.

That's impossible.

Purge it and shut down
the entire system. Now!

It's eating through
the containment wall.

Wait, where are you going?

We have to make sure
the lab is sealed off!

You go right ahead,
I'm getting the hell...

- Give me my money.
- Yes.

Give it now.

Oh, my god.

Hold on.

Go!

Let's get out of here!

Go!

There's a fire!

My knees!

Yo, time to get out!

Help me, let's get out!

Help me!

- Get out now.
- Get out!

- What's happening?
- Fires broke out on level four!

The whole rig's going up
like a dead Christmas tree! Come on!

- Go!
- Get out!

Get on the boat!

Get out and on!

Get on!

Dr. Thornton to Emergency.

Dr. Thornton to Emergency, please.

Excuse me, can you tell me
what hospital this is?

Hi, hon. How you feeling?
You're in St. Alvin's Hospital.

You were brought in this morning
with some others from the oil rig.

You said there are others.

My friend, he was on the rig with me.
Can you check?

Sure. What's his name?

Eric. Eric Lambert.

Okay.

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Out of 284, only 14 are survivors.

As for the spill, Mr. Stark

it appears to be under control
at the moment.

Good.

Clean-up efforts.

Between clean-up efforts
and the loss of the rig itself

including an estimated
26,000 barrels of crude

we're looking at a net loss...

we're looking at a net loss
of approximately 14 million.

Anybody hungry?

Anybody?

No?

I can wait.

Mr. Stark?
A Ms. Chang is on Line Three.

No calls.

All right, what about
the status of SERENA?

Nine strains were being stored
in the lab

only one of which was active

and in a highly unstable capacity
at that.

Most likely, all of the strains

would have been destroyed
in the accident.

Then you tell me how in the hell

something like this
could've happened?

Well, sir, the safety record
aboard the Aeolus

isn't exactly
what you would call impeccable.

- I know that Krieger.
- Of course, sir.

But perhaps if we had...

Sir, I have a call
from Robert Trenton from Fidelity.

Dammit, Candace,
Mr. Stark clearly said no calls!

Stuff it, Krieger! Put Mr. Stark on.

It's for you, sir.

Tell Trenton I'll do
the conference call in two hours.

Now, you're gonna tell me
what we can salvage out of this mess.

By all accounts,
the Aeolus trials were successful.

We're on the verge of increasing the
speed of the disassemblers tenfold

as you requested.

It's simply a matter
of refocusing our efforts.

Well, you better get crackin'.

Because our investors like Trenton
are gonna want to know

what I've been spending their money
on for the past two years.

Only good thing about the Pentagon
pulling out their funds

is that they've been off my ass.

Sir, if I may?

Thank you.

I think we need
to start thinking preemptively

in the name of damage control.

You see, it's only a matter of time
before the media

ties Starkcorp to that rig
and comes looking for a statement.

So, I've taken the liberty
of picking out a tie

which I think is appropriate
for the occasion.

Now, to me, this grey one says

"I feel your pain,
but let's move on together."

- Burn that thing, boy.
- Yes, sir.

We do need a cover story.

Something to get the wolves
off our trail.

Something or somebody
to blame this thing on.

Well, if it was one of our wells
in the Middle East

I'd say we could take
the terrorist angle, but...

on the Northern Slope,
that's not really an option.

Why the hell not?

Well, because the idea
of an Al Qaeda terrorist

running around
somewhere in the Arctic

is a little hard to swallow.

Well, I don't really care
what you can swallow.

You gotta start thinking
outside the box.

Eco-terrorist.

Big Bird to Nest,
I'm approaching the coastline.

Negative on thermal. I'm reading
pretty cold from up here.

Better go ahead and take
some pictures for us, anyway.

Yeah, well, maybe I'll get lucky

and catch some
topless sunbathing Eskimo babes.

Nest, we're gonna have to call
this one on account of weather.

Roger that, Big bird.

Engine one is out.
It's like something's controlling me.

Big Bird to Nest! Mayday!

Turning now to a story we've been
following since early this morning

the devastating collapse
of the oil rig Aeolus

off the north Alaskan coast.

We go live
to correspondent Michael Burke.

WGBC has just learned that A-Pex LLC

the company which owned
and operated Aeolus

is, in fact, a subsidiary of fuel
giant Starkcorp International.

Meanwhile, the death toll
has risen to 234

in what some are already calling
the worst oil-related disaster

since the Exxon-Valdez

one that Starkcorp CEO Roy Stark
has told the public

he firmly believes is the result
of industrial sabotage.

Would you give him some room, please?

Thank you.

The eco-terrorists responsible

for this despicable act of cowardice

will be hunted down

and brought to justice.

Here at Starkcorp, our goal continues

to be to develop safe, efficient

cost-effective fuel alternatives

for the 21st century.

Now, I hope you'll all join me

in remembering the crew

of the Aeolus...

and keep their families

in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you.

- Mr. Stark?
- No questions, please.

- No, that's enough.
- Which eco-terrorists...

What are you hiding?

Morning, partner!

It's almost 5.00.
And we're not partners.

I asked for someone who at least
a working knowledge of meteorology.

They send me you.

Somebody certainly woke up
on the wrong side of the cold front.

What you really need
is a pick-me-up. Here, have some.

- Oh, get that thing away from me.
- You know, I still don't understand

what you have
against Big Moe's Burgers.

You never tried one.

Do you know how unhealthy
that stuff is for you?

It's on a whole wheat bun, man.

You really need
to start livin' a little.

Yeah, and you need to show up
on time for once, Terry.

You know, why don't you come with me
to The Beaver Trap Gentleman's Club.

Better yet, they make house calls.

No offense, Terry, but I've
got Britney to keep me company.

You're a regular sadomasochist, man.

First, you ask to be stationed
out here in the ass-end of Alaska

thus depriving yourself

of the two greatest things left
about this country

Fruit Loops and G-strings.
And then you insist on naming

every single one of
these weather systems after a woman.

You know what you need?

You need a real woman that
can blow up to 45 miles an hour

if you get my wind-drift.

What's this?

Send a message to the boys
in Seattle. Tell 'em to bundle up.

Britney's gonna get a push from this
cold front coming out of the Yukon.

Touch down in Vancouver, 120.

It's gonna freeze 'em
in about four or five hours.

What do you care, man?
They're Canadians.

And look at this,
something hitched a ride on her back.

It's coming down hard and fast.

- Where?
- Right here.

About 200 miles north of us.

Come here, please.

- This...
- What now?

Let's get inside! Please, here!

- Something...
- That way.

- Inside!
- They're gonna hurt.

- Come in!
- Get inside! Get inside now!

Come on!

- Where are they from?
- I can't do it!

Please work, come on.

Yes. Gotcha.

Miss, what are you doing?

This computer
is for hospital staff only.

- All right.
- Where are you going?

Miss, please. Where are you going?

Don't. You haven't been discharged.

Who's she?

It's one of the Aeolus survivors.
Her name's Katherine Stern.

She's a reporter.
Or she was until three weeks ago.

And as you can tell
by these photos, she's small-time.

She's really attractive,
if you ask me.

- Keep it in your pants, boy.
- Yes, sir.

What's she doing on my rig?

Yes, apparently, she was brought on
after the last rotation.

She was brought on
by an Eric Lambert.

Yes, over here.

He led a protest
against our Kelvin Thomas

oil processing plant last year
while he was working for us.

And nobody fired the son of a bitch?

Apparently, no.
He was on the list to get fired

after the next rotation.

Well, let's put him on the list
after this rotation.

You don't have to.
He's missing, presumed dead.

I think we might have just found
our eco-terrorists.

- Do we have any proof of that?
- Get her on the plane to me.

Me and Ms. Stern
need to have a little talk.

Take that!

Why don't you leave
your ex-wife alone?

Not till I wipe that alimony smile
off her face.

Look at this thing.

This is unlike any other storm system
I've ever seen in my life.

It jumps in Britney's path
out of nowhere, disrupts her flow

forces her to make landfall

and turns her
from a basic storm-front

into something
resembling a Class 3 monsoon

in a matter of minutes.

Let's just call it a day, you know?

Terry, you were
five hours late today.

Now, you wanna leave early?
What you got? A hot date?

You bet your little Doppler, I do,
Spice Channel Ginger Lynn Marathon.

All Ginger, all the time.

Yeah, go ahead. Go home, Terry.

I'm gonna stay here, look through
the rest of these documents.

There's gotta be something I missed.

Okay, I'll tell you what.

I'm gonna cut the coffee pot off
on my way out.

Oh, and we're all out of Skittles.

Thank you, Terry.

Sir, Ms. Stern left...

- Whoa, take a breath, boy.
- Thank you, sir.

Ms. Stern left St. Alvin's hospital
hours ago.

Where'd she go?

A taxi driver thinks he took her
to the train station.

Well, we'll just have somebody
waiting on her when she gets there.

All-righty. You call up the media

and tell them we're ready
to identify our perpetrator.

What the...

Well, the formation must've originated

somewhere over the Chukchi.

Now, the signature AWIPS
is picking up

indicates it's gone from meso
to synoptic

yet it remains totally non-deciduous.

In English, Doc. For those of us
who don't speak Weather Channel.

Well, this thing may look like
a storm cloud

but it does not act like one.

So what are you saying?
That I've gotta tell all of Alaska

just to be on the lookout
for some funky cloud?

No, what I'm saying
is that whatever this thing's up to

I have a feeling that the hailstorm
was just the beginning.

Look, Doc. I'm a big golfer.

And when I retire in a few years

I'm gonna spend every day
I got coming to me playing.

And in my experience,
when a weatherman has a feeling

I don't cancel my tee-time, Doc.
I just bring along an umbrella.

Colonel, you don't understand.
This thing is a complete anomaly.

It's totally unpredictable...

So, you don't know
what the hell it is.

That's correct.

Well, what in the hell is Uncle Sam
payin' you for, son?

You were a day late
and a dollar short yesterday.

It cost me a good man
and a plane because of it.

I'm aware of that, sir

and that is why I think
that it's very imperative...

Well, look, thanks for the call,
okay, Doc?

And be sure to get back to us
with the weekend weather forecast.

The train leaving for Anchorage,
1024, Track Number 6.

Anchorage, 1024, Track 6.

Hey, what's going on?

And now, we go live to Seattle,
where, just moments ago

Starkcorp CEO Roy Stark
addressed the media.

Whether Ms. Stern harbors a grudge
against Starkcorp

or against the achievements
of corporate America in general

the point is she has no qualms
about carrying out her agenda

no matter who it harms.

And that makes her
a very dangerous woman.

Officials are now seeking
this woman, Katherine Stern

a former WNYP reporter

who is thought to be
one of the eco-terrorists

accused of being responsible
for yesterday's oil rig disaster.

The train for Fairbanks,
1204, Track 7.

At 1204, Track 7.

Come here, baby.

They don't know where she is.
They don't know what she knows.

You just can't get good help
these days.

Unless Anchorage was her destination
all along. In which case...

In which case?

Oh, right.

Well, in which case, she may be
attempting to seek some answers

from one of our former associates
now residing in Palmer.

- Nathan McCain?
- Yeah?

Katherine Stern.
I need to talk to you about SERENA.

Did Terry send you?

Listen, I respect your line of work,
but I have no money.

Cut the crap, Doctor.

I need to know everything you know
about SERENA.

I'm sorry. I'm afraid I don't know
who or what you're talking about.

Really. Not according
to Starkcorp International.

Well, that's quite a story.
But I still don't understand

why you're telling it to me
instead of the police.

You wanna see what I've got or not?

The floor is yours.

How did you get these documents?

So, you recognize them.

I asked you how you got these.

And I ask you. What is SERENA?

These are my calculations,
and these are my theories.

And they've been
completely appropriated.

It's cannibalized to the point
I hardly recognize my own work.

I have no idea what this is.

Well, that makes two of us.

All right, well,
let's start with the obvious.

How would your work wind up
in the mainframe system

aboard a Starkcorp-owned oil rig
in the middle of the Chukchi Sea?

Well, I did some consulting for them
two years ago.

They said they needed my help

in developing new ways of reducing
environmental impurification.

It's okay, you can say oil spills.
I won't be offended.

They threw a bunch of hypotheticals
at me.

I crunched the numbers.
I came up with this.

Okay, so they knew what they wanted.

They just didn't know
if it was feasible.

And they had you do
the heavy lifting.

But what's the end result?

Well, my understanding was that
it was being, in part, funded

by the military
until they pulled the plug.

The military?
Okay, but what were they funding?

I don't know.

If you had to take a guess?

- I don't guess.
- Try.

Well, they were interested in it

because it was
a biological anti-pollutant

maybe something to stop oil spills.

Of course,
I'm sure a military application

would be far more insidious,
especially if...

Oh, my god.

If it's airborne...

- If what is?
- This, right here.

Whatever this is right here,
they were keeping it on that rig.

It was released into the atmosphere
during the accident.

Say hello to SERENA.

Is this fun or what, huh, boys?
Hey, I tell you what.

As soon as I'm finished with this,
we'll get ourselves a fire going.

Cook up some eggs and hash browns?
What do you think of that?

And then, once it gets a little dark

I'll tell you guys
some scary stories.

- When do I get a turn?
- When I lose.

But you never lose.

Then I guess you'll never get a turn.

And in the morning,
we're gonna go fishing.

So if you're saying this thing
rises and falls

according to the sun's heat

then at least we'll get a breather
in another 10 hours or so?

No, it's probably going to be
too late by then.

This thing's clearly been
making up for lost time.

Since Sunday, we've been tracking
these three major storm fronts, okay

all poised to merge
right here in Seattle.

It's an area with a notoriously
unstable marine climate.

Throw our cloud and its amazing
saturation capacity into that mix

who knows what's gonna happen?

You took my advice. Good man!

Katherine, this is Terry Nash,
my assistant.

Terry Nash, this is Katherine Stern.

I know who you are.

You're the terrorist chick
all over the news.

You're a terrorist?

Actually, my official title
is eco-terrorist.

- What?
- Okay, which part of

"They're framing me
and I need your help" wasn't clear?

No, I don't know, how about the part
where you forgot to mention

I'd be aiding
and abetting a fugitive?

You have the right to remain silent.

Anything stupid you say
can be definitely used against you

in an effort to get lucky
with this chick.

I'm beginning to think
that coming here was a big mistake.

- Yeah, no kidding!
- I'll you what.

I'm gonna go wait behind the wall
and just listen just a little bit.

I thought maybe you'd care.

Maybe you'd want to get
to the bottom of all this.

Look, lady, I just met you, okay?

You don't know a damn thing about me.

Oh, really. Well, let's see.
I know you're single.

I know you've never lived
anywhere longer than 18 months

except for the two years
you worked for the Air Force.

You don't even own a car.

Your parents died
in an automobile accident

when you were... 12.

And according to Starkcorp...

you're responsible for the cloud.

- They can't do this.
- No, but they did.

Welcome to the wonderful world
of unscrupulous corporate tactics.

Now, what are you doing?

Look, we're in the same boat here,
whether you want to admit it or not.

And the way I see it,
we've got two options.

We can stand around here

and bitch about it
to each other all day

or we can take this to somebody

who can help us do something
about it.

So what do you say?

Hey, you guys, you expecting company?

'Cause two MIB's
just pulled up out front.

Those are the guys who were
waiting for me at the train station.

We gotta go.

- Where?
- Anywhere that's not here.

Keys!

Thank you. I owe you one.

Okay. You pay for the gas and don't
change any stations on the dial.

You dump everything on that computer.

- Take the stairs.
- Follow me.

Well, hey, there, fellas.
I'm sorry to disappoint you

but I'm not buying
any magazines today, you know?

Where is she?

I've been asking myself
the same question my entire life.

- There's a problem.
- What?

I don't drive a stick.

Hey, fella, I'm Terry Nash.

Folks call me... Terry Nash.
Where are my manners?

Would you guys like some coffee
or something, a bear claw or...

No caffeine for you.
You're an herbal tea man, right?

I got plenty of that, too.

I'm gonna have to clean that up.

We'll never be able to outrun them
in this piece of crap!

I'm sorry. Next time,
we'll take a luxury getaway car

I promise.

They're right behind us. Go! Come on!

Watch the road!

I am! I'm fine.
I've done this before!

Really?

No.

- What is that?
- It sounds like your cell phone.

Don't answer that,
it's a stolen phone.

You really are a fugitive,
aren't you?

I'm gonna die.

Great. Construction delays.

Watch out!

Jeez, what's next, a fruit stand?

Hang on.

A sharp corner up here. Be careful.

I've got an idea.

All right, get ready.

I wasn't ready
for the last thing you did.

Lamarck Weather Station,
Terry speaking.

- Hey, it's me.
- Me who?

- It's me, Nathan.
- Prove it.

You're a woman-chasing,
beer-guzzling buffoon

who once accidentally dated
a transvestite.

Man, you are on a cell phone.
Anybody could be listening.

Where are you guys?

We're somewhere outside of Juneau.

We gotta get this disk
into the right hands.

Hey, listen to me, what's the status
on our mystery formation?

Wow, there is crazy weather
all over the place.

A bunch of satellites are down.

Listen to me, Terry. I need you
to take that Starkcorp information.

Yeah.
You've been holding out on me, man.

Since when did you become
an expert on nanotechnology, man?

- What do you mean?
- I poked around the files.

I hope you don't mind.
This is pretty complex stuff, boss.

- What is it?
- SERENA's a nanotech program.

Nano-who?

Hello?

Terry!

Can you hear me now?

Can you hear me now?

Colonel, we're getting
multiple reports

of extreme weather conditions,
plus, some really strange sightings.

Trees buildings, it's like
they're just being erased, sir.

- I want everyone on full alert.
- Yes, sir.

Okay, so what you're telling me
is this thing, this formation

is actually made up of a bunch
of little robots that eat things?

That's the simple version, yes.

I'm guessing that's not a good thing.

Not if you put stock
in the Gray Goo Theory.

The what?

The Gray Goo Theory.
Some scientists believe

that nanotech is nothing more
than a Pandora's Box.

I mean, that we might one day
inadvertently create

a single nanomolecule
that is capable of multiplying

and then eating everything
on the planet.

Trees, animals, people.

So, basically what you're saying is

we're dealing
with Pac-Man on steroids.

Yeah, that's the video arcade version
of it, sure.

We gotta get out of here!

The disk! Hold on!

- Katherine!
- Yeah?

- Are you okay?
- No.

Come on, we've gotta get cover.

What is this stuff?

So that's how the weathermen
do it, huh?

Probably.
I'm not a weatherman, though.

Sorry. Meteorologist.

Actually,
I'm a climatological theorist.

So basically, a weatherman.

It's amazing you can take
eight years of graduate training

a PhD in mathematics and physics,
and condense it to weatherman.

So, what exactly does a...

- Climatological theorist.
- Yeah, that.

What sort of stuff of things
does the government have you doing?

I provide reports that, you know

might help in regards
to military operations.

Look at this.

All the more reason why we need
to tell our side of the story

make sure they nail Stark
to the wall for good.

I don't care about that.

I don't know about you, but
I didn't come here for vindication.

I came here because I thought
I could help people.

I lost my best friend on that rig.

And not only that,
his wife lost her husband

and his unborn child lost his father.

Exposing Stark's
not gonna change any of that.

No.

But maybe it'll keep it
from happening again.

Friends of yours?

Let's find out. Come on!

Excuse me! Hi, I'm Nathan McCain!

I'm with Lamarck Meteorological
Research Station in Palmer.

It's imperative
we talk to Colonel Miller.

It's a matter of global security.

Really? Global security?

Dr. McCain, are you telling me

that all of this
is because of some robo-germ?

Well, it's a little more complicated
than that, sir.

But the language of the documents
Ms. Stern has recovered

clearly indicates an intent
to develop and utilize nano-agents.

Nano-agents that are multiplying.
They are heading your way right now.

It is imperative that you evacuate
the state of Washington immediately.

Son, I don't know what kind
of fantasy world you imagine

the US Armed Forces operates in

but do you have any idea
of the mass hysteria would result

if I issued
an order of that magnitude?

No. But I promise you
that people will die if you don't.

Sir, I know how this sounds, okay?
But you have to believe us. I...

Dr. McCain?

Dr. McCain, come in.

Come in, Dr. McCain.

We lost contact. Radar's picking up
interference all over the place.

Damn it!

Oh, god.

This is Stark.

We have been watching the news
with great interest, Mr. Stark.

We have concerns regarding
the incident in the Chukchi Sea.

Everything with SERENA
is right on track.

I'm assured we'll have
damn good samples

of both cultures
no later than tomorrow.

So, how about you and me
try to lock down the money?

We have discussed this
at great length.

There is still the matter
of the demonstration

which you had
originally promised to provide.

Oh, come on,
you've seen this product.

You know what she can do.

In a lab setting, yes.
But the people I represent

have a very specific task
in mind for SERENA.

One that requires
that her tenacity and capability

first be tested
in a natural environment.

I'm gonna have to call you back.

Mr. Stark,
we still need to discuss...

Watch it, number one.

- What's going on?
- Let's determine.

Oh, my god.

Oh, watch out.

Honey!

- It's gonna break.
- Yeah, it's breaking now.

- Tell us, I'm scared right now!
- Come on.

- Run!
- Travis, go!

They're gonna break any second.
They're gonna break!

That glass is gonna...

- Run!
- Run!

Is that it?

What is it doing?

It looks like it's getting ready
to attack.

What happened?

One of our rotors just gave out!

It's melting through the glass.

It's in the precipitation.

It's used itself
to seed the storm cloud.

What, on purpose?
You gotta be kidding me!

These are like little gnats!
How could they be that smart?

Because they share the same brain.

Are you're sayin' this crap
can eat through metal, too?

I'm saying it can eat through
just about anything!

Move aside!

I can't keep her up much longer!

Slam the door!

- I hope you know what you're doing!
- Not really!

I thought you were in the Air Force.

You think I know how to fly?

What else do they do
at the Air Force?

Well, I've seen this done
a thousand times!

It can't be that hard!

Just try to keep us level!

What do you think I'm trying to do?

What? Nathan? Come on, wake up!

Nathan! Listen to me,
we've got to get out of here.

Now! Come on!

Are you okay?

We're back up and running at
about 60% capacity, Colonel.

I want to talk to Nathan McCain.

Hey, better watch your step.

I'll be fine. I just have to...

- Calm down, sir. John!
- Okay?

- Somebody, help. I'm bleeding.
- Thanks.

Hey. How're you feeling there, ace?

Sorry about the bumpy landing.

It's actually kind of harder
than it looks.

Okay. You know what, you got us down.

That's all that counts.

And you saved my life.

Let's call it even.

So, it must be kind of frustrating
for you

being in the middle of the story
of the century

without a mike or a camera.

Not really.
I kind of wish there were no story.

Listen, I'm gonna see what I can do
about getting us a ride outta here.

- Yeah, okay.
- So...

See ya in a minute.

- We're here at Seattle City.
- We're here at the Command Center

where rescue crews
are working feverishly...

Meanwhile, downtown is devastated.

Buildings were on fire.

The Space Needle has collapsed

and there are reports
of hundreds of deaths.

Hey, Doctor.

There you are! Hey, I found some guys

who're taking supplies
down to Aberdeen.

They said they'd give us a lift.

- Okay.
- What is that?

Something even better
than those documents, proof!

- Let's go.
- Yeah.

Nathan McCain and Katherine Stern
to see Colonel Miller.

We've been expecting you, Doctor.

What the hell are you doing?

We've been looking for you two.

We got caught in the thick of it
in Seattle.

- Your pilot...
- I heard.

Katherine Stern, sir.

I know who and what you are...

- Ms. Stern.
- I'm not a terrorist.

We found this on her, sir.

We are both here to help, sir.

Well, this better be good.
The Pentagon's looking for answers.

We just need access to a microscope.

Oh, and if you wouldn't mind?

Here's what we're up against.
Not especially imposing, I realize.

This particular cluster

was retrieved
from the mouth of a deceased victim.

A young woman. Late teens, maybe 20.

She had braces on her teeth
and traces of burns around her mouth.

And these things, they were immobile
when you found them?

- Yes.
- So they can be killed?

We believe so.

We're not exactly sure how,
but we're working on it.

Look, are we talking
about the release

of some kind of weapon
of mass destruction or not?

We don't think so, General.

However, in the wrong hands,
they could be utilized as one.

Then what the hell are these things
doing to the weather?

Well, weather is controlled
not by the clouds

but by the particles
within the clouds.

And you're saying we can expect
more of these superstorms?

I'm saying we can expect
a single mass

that spans the circumference
of the entire globe.

Meaning activity
that'll make the storm

that just took out half of Seattle
look like a spring shower.

A worldwide disaster.

So, can you help?

Maybe, but we need to get to
the bottom of whoever created this.

Well, if we're talking about
getting some concrete answers

then I think it's time we see
somebody who can supply them.

Mr. Stark, there are people
here to see you.

Do I look like I want to see anybody?

Sir, it's a Colonel Miller
from Whittendale Air Force Base.

He wants to meet with you
regarding SERENA.

Well, you just tell him
I left the building.

I'm afraid it's too late for that.

Let me ask you something.

You think I'm gonna go down alone?

Oh, no. Of course not, sir.

We burn together, boy.

Mr. Stark. Thanks for agreeing
to meet with us.

Oh, glad to have you.
Anything you need, just say the word.

I am surprised to see Ms. Stern here.

I figured you'd have a date
with the FBI.

Maybe you should just pretend
I'm not here.

Wishful thinking.
What would a pretty girl like you

want to stir up all this trouble for?

I'm not the one conducting dangerous
Nano experiments on an oil rig.

Nah, I don't have any idea
what you're talking about

but I do know
you're directly connected

with the sabotage on my rig.

And whose idea was that?

Ms. Stern, we're here to gather
information, not make accusations.

Why, thank you, Colonel.

I was hoping I'd have the opportunity

to speak directly with the research
team working on the project.

Well, I'm a hands-on kind of guy.

Interesting office you have here.

It's no secret that my company

has been on the cutting edge
of Nano Research for quite a while.

Of course, the US government
pulled their funding two years ago.

So we've created
a little maintenance program

to keep the research alive
in case the government

would like to come back onboard.
Dr. Van Owen?

Please, watch carefully.
Nothing up my sleeve.

This particular strain
are speed-assemblers.

Interesting. What else do they do?

Just keep your eyes on the flower.

When the program ended, we were able
to produce nano-specimens.

It looks like there's more of 'em
now than there was before.

They're self-replicating.

Nifty, huh?
That's where they get their name.

SERENA. Self-Replicating
Nanomolecular Agent.

So, what were you experimenting with
on the Aeolus Oil Rig?

Experimenting?

The Aeolus was merely used
for storage

because of its location
and cold environment.

And what were you storing on Aeolus?

Disassemblers.

I was afraid you were gonna say that.

You were storing nano-materials
on an Arctic oil rig?

Yes, because it was approved

by the US government,
the Department of Defense.

And SERENA was there quite happily
for two years until you came along.

Nanoparticles are solar-reliant.

They have the ability
to store a small amount of energy.

But without a consistent source,
they're useless.

What better place to store
the material than an Arctic rig?

The average temperature
is less than 15 degrees below zero

and there is less than
five months of sun a year.

Well, what confuses me, gentlemen

is how the agents were able
to stay active in the Arctic.

And I hate to put the spotlight
on the little lady, but again...

I assure you
I had nothing to do with it.

- We're looking into it.
- Good. Because the program

was shut down over two years ago
by the United States government

so I would assume
that no further research was done.

You assumed correctly, sir.

Good. Then I would also assume that
as soon as you have some answers

you'll get back in touch
with us immediately.

Oh, you bet. In fact,
we'll send you some samples

for your research personnel.

Now, if you'll all excuse me,
I've got a lot to do today.

Certainly.

We are hearing that the devastation
captured earlier today

is the worst
and most bizarre storm system

to hit the Pacific Northwest
in over 100 years.

Destruction has so far claimed
countless lives

and left thousands of others
homeless.

All shelters are currently full.
The Governor has asked

that the Federal government
declare a state of emergency.

Government officials
are combining efforts

to explain the devastating storm
that hit Seattle

and is now moving south-southeast.

For the latest updates,
stay tuned to this station.

Roy, what are you doing?

Housecleaning.

I hope we're not burying ourselves
any deeper.

I mean, it is not unreasonable
to say that we had the right

to continue limited research
under the maintenance mandate.

I don't want to talk about that
right now. Anything else?

No.

They contain a sample
of each culture.

The case
has a self-destruct mechanism

in the event the integrity
of the samples is compromised.

Okay.

This is the self-destruct code that
both activates and deactivates it.

- Got it.
- You realize that

in the event of a purge

if the self-destruct has been
activated, it cannot be stopped.

You also realize
that it could be activated

from distances up
to three hundred miles

using a twelve hundred
megahertz radio transmission.

Kirk, I got it.

Roy, are you sure
you don't need my help on this?

We have numerous teams qualified
to deliver this

to the United States military
without you doing it personally.

Yeah, you know,
accountability is a lost art.

I'm gonna do this myself.

The material in this form
is still highly dangerous.

I would certainly feel
more comfortable

if a security team
were to accompany you in...

There's a warm front coming out
of Mexico forcing it further inland.

At which point, it'll most likely
hitch a ride on the jet stream

across North America.

And there's no stopping it.

The Pentagon gave us the go ahead
to begin air strikes

using air gas explosives.
With any luck at all

we'll be able to tear this thing
apart before it knows what hit it.

- Colonel, I'm not sure that...
- Look, I'm not sure

about anything anymore either,
but what alternative do we have?

I don't know about you,
but I don't see a damn thing up here.

Roger that. Pea soup.

What the... Are you seein' this?

Yeah, I see it,
but I don't believe it.

Sir, this is Eagle 1 to base

we have visual confirmation
of the target.

Engage at will, Lieutenant.

Roger that.

Direct hit!
She's has to be coming apart!

You got to be kidding me...

It destroyed him, sir.
We have a plane down.

Repeat, plane down!

We dropped our entire load
on this thing!

Negative response.
I repeat, negative response.

Bring it on home, Lieutenant.

Yes, Mr. Stark?

The situation has changed.
I'm gonna need payment and asylum.

You are requesting political asylum
in the Republic of China?

I am requesting secure residence
exempt from United States law.

I understand the situation
you now find yourself in, Mr. Stark.

However, my government
is still concerned

that without a proper test...

If your government wants to know
what this thing can do

tell 'em to turn on the news.

Uncontrolled chaos
is not useful to us.

I can control it.

We will expect proof of that
before we finalize our transaction.

- Of course.
- Good day, Mr. Stark.

General, I think it's time
that we prepared ourselves

for the distinct possibility that
the Titan Four is our only solution.

What? Titan as in Titan missile?

This thing has taken everything
we've thrown at it.

Wait a minute.

You're actually considering firing
a nuclear missile at this thing?

Yes! We're not talkin'
about rubber bands and paper clips.

Well, neither are we.

Well, in case you two haven't noticed

we're running
a little low on options!

Well, that doesn't mean

you need to try to erase one mistake
by making an even bigger one.

Well, it's all we've got
at the moment.

And if you two come up
with something better

why in the hell
don't you just let me know?

What about casualties?

Minimal, if we act quickly.

But in a few hours,
that storm will be right over LA

and then we're talking about
putting 11 million people

within the blast radius
of a nuclear bomb.

I am sorry, Mr. President

but I cannot give you
any better alternatives.

Mind if I join you?

Sure.

It's getting kinda stuffy in there.

Hey, are you okay?

I was thinking about my friend, Eric.

I'd almost forgotten about him
in the middle of all this.

He wasn't supposed to be
on the rig last week.

It was supposed to be his week off.

But he was trying to help me
become a real reporter.

I'm so sorry, Katherine.

I mean, if it was me

and I know I can't exactly
put myself in your shoes exactly.

But if I was trying
to figure this all out

I mean, I'd probably start
by asking myself

what I was doing
on that rig in the first place.

I was trying to find a story
that mattered.

For once, I wanted to do something
that made a difference.

Well, in that case,
I'd say you're doing pretty well.

Well, what do you want me to do?
I mean, you can't just leave.

Boy, are you still trying to tell me
what I can and can't do.

- Of course not, sir.
- CYOA.

- CYOA?
- Cover Your Own Ass.

Sir, they're gonna come looking
for you.

What do you want me to say?

You're a bright boy.
You'll think of something.

But, sir...

Oh, Lord.

Shoot.

What is it?

That girl that...

You said there were burns in her
mouth where you found the particles.

Is it possible
she was struck by lightning?

I don't know. Maybe. Why?

An EMP?

An Electro-Magnetic Pulse.

Yeah, I know what it means, son.

I can't believe
I didn't think of this before.

The nano-particles,
they're like micro-computers.

What does an EMP
do to a micro-computer?

Erases it. Destroys it.

Yes, and lightning has the ability
to create a natural EM pulse.

The girl that you found
must've been struck

by an air-to-ground current while
these things were attacking her.

Her braces acting like a conductor,
the lightning struck

created a pulse,
and it kills the particles.

Just where do you propose

to find an aircraft
capable of delivering an EMP device?

I mean, the moment
it launches the thing

its own electronics
will also be destroyed.

It's a suicide mission.

Some of us are willing
to take that chance, General.

No.

No! You can't do this!

General, firing a nuclear weapon
at this thing is a bad idea.

Okay, the radiation disbursement
of a detonated warhead

is not gonna be accurate enough
to kill this thing.

It's like trying to take out
a swarm of bees with a shotgun.

We do not have an alternative plan.
You understand?

Well, listen to me!

All we have to do is pull the
particles into a concentrated mass.

In my business,
it's called cloud-seeding.

It is the same general principle
as your idea.

Except that thousands of people
won't die of radiation fallout

before we know
whether it works or not.

An EMP detonation will work!

You just have to give us enough time
to find a way to deliver it.

Time is the one thing
we no longer have.

But we do have Icarus.

She's the only thing we've got
that's impervious to EMP.

That was nearly 20 years ago,
Colonel.

She's been sitting in a hangar
ever since.

They've kept her air-worthy.

At 1400 hours. If Icarus
is not ready by 1400 hours

we launch.
And that's the best I can do.

Close it.

- It's big!
- Yeah, it's nice.

She's made out
of composite paper material.

- Paper?
- Icarus. Made of paper and plastic.

It was considered
a first-strike weapon.

We had to classify it black ops.

The program had to be buried,
but not enough to be scrapped.

But it had to be put on ice.

Like Stark's Nano program?

Sort of.

How long is it gonna take
to get her up in the air?

The plane's already being prepped.

I've got an EMP being flown in
from our base in Helena.

And we're supposed to do this
on zero sleep

with a skeleton crew in 90 minutes?

Seventy-eight minutes and counting.

Piece of cake.

Physical systems, clear.

Colonel Miller.

Where's my EMP device?

ETA, ten minutes.

- They're doing the best they can.
- That's just not good enough!

Colonel.

Look, I just need five more minutes.

We can't do it. We have our orders.

Damn it, I know this can work,
if you'll just give me...

I'm sorry, Tom.

Get back with that plane

and have them put the damn pedal
to the metal, you understand me?

Yes, sir.

I'm gonna get this bird in the air
if it's the last thing I do.

General, we've locked in
on the target's signature

and are prepared to begin
missile launch cycle on your mark.

My fellow Americans.

As I am sure you are all aware,
our planet has been besieged

by a series of strange weather
phenomena over the last 36 hours.

Initially, these incidents
were deemed unrelated and isolated.

But recent information
has come to light

indicating that these super-storms
are being caused

by a cloud of highly destructive
biochemical matter.

Currently, the cloud is being tracked
off the California coastline

where it appears to be moving inland.

Along the way, the weather
on the coast will be disrupted.

Even more damage may occur

when it hits landfall
within the next 45 minutes.

Now, there is no need to panic.

A dedicated group of men and women

are working in the target areas

around Los Angeles

to prepare for the storm.

To that end

and based upon intelligence

supplied by a number of officials

I have authorized
an immediate plan of action.

At 2.00pm, Eastern Standard Time

we will launch an attack
at the cloud.

We believe this will successfully
neutralize the particles

knocking it off course
and rendering it harmless.

Commence launch sequence.

Yet, whatever occurs,
we will be prepared for it.

And we will survive it.

As a nation and as individuals.

May God bless us all.

They're ready for you, Ma'am.

All right.

- All systems operational.
- Let's go catch us a cloud.

We are scheduled to land in Beijing
in 12 hours and 45 minutes

as long as we don't have
any weather issues.

What is it, Mr. Stark?

I'll be in Beijing at 9.30 am,
your time.

And you have it?

Yeah, of course,
I've got the sample thing

but you're not going
to get the control

until I'm comfortable
with my arrangements.

Are we clear on that?

- Of course.
- Good.

- Oh, great.
- What are you doing?

You have no authority to be
in Mr. Stark's office, Van Owen.

- What are you looking for?
- Nothing.

Maybe evidence that could implicate
you in an investigation, Krieger?

I don't know what the hell
you're talking about.

So where is he?

A meeting.

His entire empire is in collapse,
and he's in a meeting?

I don't think so.

Where are the samples
he was to give to Colonel Miller?

I don't know.

You have no authority to go in there.

This is all the authority I need.

- Where's he going with the samples?
- I don't know!

Do you realize what will happen

if he sells those samples to someone
other than the US government?

I don't know! I don't know anything.
Do you understand?

You and I are going to go to jail
for a very long time

unless we find Stark
and those samples.

Do you understand?

General. It's Colonel Miller
from Whittendale Air Force Base.

He says the Icarus is airborne.

So, how many times
have you flown this thing?

Personally?

None. My last combat mission
was Desert Storm.

Fantastic.

All right!

He's on his company jet
on the way to Beijing.

- Who's with him?
- No one.

He's meeting some Chinese officials
when he lands.

Federal Agents, Mr. Stark!
Put your hands in the air!

I can't get a lock on the cloud.

The interference from
the nano-particles is getting worse.

You're supposed to be my eyes, Doc.
You gotta help me out here.

Hang on. I'm gonna try something.

Whatever you're gonna do,
you better do it fast.

- Damn it.
- Talk to me, Doc.

We better hurry.
The cloud's headed inland.

And it looks like it's picked up
a few hitch-hikers along the way.

Coordinates! Where is she?

Coming right up!

It just passed over Big Sur.
We should be right on top of it.

My god.

Don't shoot!

I'll tell you everything
you want to know.

Hang on! We're going in.

We've only got a few minutes before
the cloud coordinates an attack

and we're all history.

Let's do this! Arm the device!

If somebody had ever told me
the words "Arm the device"

were gonna come out
of somebody's mouth aimed at me...

Oh, god. I only touched
what you told me to, I swear!

It's not you. It's them.

I think we've made it angry.

We're approaching Santa Monica.

Another ten minutes and
we'll be over downtown Los Angeles.

That can't be good.

Prepare to deploy the device
on my mark.

We need the coordinates
on the missile now.

- Give it to me fast.
- We need it now.

Five. Four. Three. Two.

Now!

- What happened?
- They must've eaten through the hull

compromised the deployment
mechanisms!

Not eat, it's disassemble!

Whatever the case is,
it's not working.

The Titan missile is still closing!

Is there any other way
to detonate the EMP bomb?

Colonel, two minutes
until we enter LA airspace!

Now, we are the bomb!

Sir, missile warhead separation
in three minutes.

This is Sinclaire.

Tell the President the missile
is on target and will continue

unless I receive
an authorized abort command.

Guys, it looks like
we've got company.

Oh, god.

Katherine.

You've got to focus. You can do this.

- What do I do?
- Make sure she's still armed.

- We're still armed!
- Good.

See the yellow lever
on your right side?

- Yeah.
- On three, pull it.

One. Two.

Pull!

You next, McCain!
I'll be right behind!

What is our present distance
from Los Angeles at detonation?

- Less than 80 miles, sir.
- No. That's inside safe distance!

I know, sir.

Disassemble this.

- Abort!
- Abort!

Let's go.

Help me.

- Katherine!
- Hey, Nathan!

Save me!

- Save me.
- Are you okay?

Yeah, are you okay?

Looks like rain.

Looks like snow.

Is it over?

It's over.

In the wake of CEO Roy Stark's death

in an airplane accident

the assets of fuel giant

Starkcorp International

were seized today, as were the files

of Dr. Kirk Van Owen

Starkcorp's Chief Scientist in charge

of Research and Development.

Van Owen

and Executive Officer John Krieger

were discovered shot last week

in an apparent shoot out

with each other
in the executive offices

of this very building.

This bizarre fall
from grace follows news

that the EPA and federal government

intend to review
the operational records of Starkcorp

in connection with the recent
weather phenomena.

And finally, I would like to make

a special mention

that Air Force Colonel

Thomas R. Miller

was posthumously awarded

the Medal of Honor

for his courageous sacrifice

in the ending
of this ecological crisis.

This is Katherine Stern reporting.

Man, she is a total hottie.

Yep. I never said that she wasn't.

What is that you're eating
right there?

It's green. Is it Brussels sprouts?

Oh, yeah. I mean, I have
a whole new lease on life, man.

No more burgers, no more booze.

I mean, you get a pine tree
up the ass

it really changes
your perspective on life.

- Good for you, Terry.
- Absolutely.

- Knock-knock.
- Hey.

Had to see
if you were feeling better.

Oh, yeah, my sponge bath fantasy
come true.

And I see that you are.

They have nurses
for that kind of thing.

Did you see the nurse on this ward?

She looks like Jabba the Hutt
in a white uniform.

Well, if you're getting
a sponge bath from Jabba the Hutt

- we're gonna go for a walk.
- Sure.

Hey, there's no need to leave
on my part.

I feel very comfortable
with my naked self. Where you going?

Come on back! I hear her coming!

She's got real big hands.
Please come on back!

So, when do you start
your WNYP prime-time anchor gig?

What, and give up stripping?

Well, if you're ever
in this neck of the woods again

we should go grab a meal
or something. I mean, you eat.

Often, yes.

You know, I don't actually start
'til next week.

So do you wanna maybe?

Go get something to eat now?

- Yeah?
- Sure.

- Do you wanna walk or drive?
- Well, let's see.

You crashed the car,
I crashed the helicopter.

I think we should probably walk.

Good. I've always wanted to go out
with a weatherman.

Climatological theorist.

Translator: IYUNO