Avalanche (1978) - full transcript

(mysterious music)

(swelling music)

(ominous music)

(suspenseful music)

(indistinct crowd chatter)

- Oh, I have a reservation.

For Caroline Brace.

- I don't see it here.

- Would you try Shelby please?

- Oh right, so who are
you, Shelby or Brace?

- Brace until I married
Shelby and then Shelby again,



Brace again after the divorce.

I don't feel like Shelby anymore.

- Okay I'll change the
reservation to Brace.

- Thank you.
- That's right,

I'll take care of that for you.

Please show Miss Brace to fourth floor.

- Caroline!

Caroline!

He's over there.

Oh Caroline, darling!

Oh.

Did David ask you here?
- Yes.

He didn't tell you?

- Oh no that boy never
tells his mother anything



except goodnight.

Are you gonna get back together?

- Oh, you had to ask.

Let me see, I have to
think about that one.

- Don't think.

What is this, some obscene proposal?

(chuckles)

- There's a lot of ground
to cover, it's all we--

- This person is called McDade.

- Hello.
- It's nice to meet you.

- He works here.

I always forget what your job is.

- Bookkeeper.

Excuse me, you really should--
- He's a bookkeeper.

Hardly a VIP escorting the
great man's mother around.

No offense, McDade.

I like you.
- Thank you.

There's a lot of ground we have to cover.

- Let the heart guide the head, McDade.

And have you got a fella?

- Two or three.

- Holy cow, are you gonna
turn into a swinger?

- (chuckles) Am I, let's see, could be.

How is the great man?

- Up to his ass in celebrity.

- Hey Gary, what brings
you to this opening?

You said you were gonna quit competition.

What decided you to turn pro?

- I just want to be part of
this whole fantastic thing

going on here.

- We assume that Mr Shelby--
- Hey Gary.

- Very attractive?
- Well she certainly help.

Besides, I've never
done the Golinda before.

- Try the suicide jump?
- Sure, why not?

- What about you, Bruce?

Are you gonna break that downhill
record of yours tomorrow?

- It wasn't part of the deal
but I'll do my best for you.

- Bruce, from the beginning
you seem to thrive on risk.

Have you ever known fear?

- Well I never thought about it.

I ski like I breathe or talk or make love.

- Oh, kinda makes me
wonder what you do best.

- Boy, I'll say.

He's established a record of that.

(crowd applauding)

- How are you?
- Bruce!

(chuckling)

- You look fantastic!

- Oh thank you.

Kathy, come and get in the picture.

Come on!
- Hey Kathy come on.

- You go ahead.
- How you doing?

A little nervous?
- A little.

- Wow, I can dig that, let me tell you.

- That skier is too fast for Tina.

- How do you girls feel about?
- Well I admit,

I do have my eye on the Show Me Awards.

- I just wanna do the best I can.

(soft piano music)

- It's terrific to see you.

The two of you together.

(mumbles)

- Hello dear.
- How are you today?

- Fine, sir.

- Mother, you and McDade
have a full schedule,

there's an awful lot to see around here.

- Can't we sit together awhile
and have a drink and talk?

- I would like to have
some time with Caroline.

- Come on, McDade.

Thanks for the tour.

- See ya.

Hi.

- Looking so good.

Hold the elevator!

(sighing)

- You're looking well,
maybe a little tired.

- Excuse me, Mr. Shelby?
- Yeah.

- Any chance of us getting
the shot of the Shelby trophy?

- Sure, get all the boys
together, meet me in my office.

- [Man] Excuse me.

- Come on, there's
something I wanna show you.

- Susan.
- Yes David?

Mr. Shelby?

- This is Mrs. Shelby.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

- Susan Maxwell, my secretary.

- Uh-huh.

- Oh, did you get ahold of Marty Brenner?

- Not yet.
- Try again.

- I just did.

- Well keep on trying.
- Okay!

- David.

It's just incredible what you've done.

All of it, incredible.

- Yeah (sighs).

Took a lot of time, a lot of effort.

(chuckles) You know.

Through the whole thing I
used to think a lot about

how we used to lie
around on Houston Street

and talk a lot.

Quiet elegance.

Planet, remember?

Well.

- Well.

I guess you got it.

- Oh, hell, Caroline.

Okay.

You registered as Brace.
- Yes?

It's who I am.

- I wanted to change it
back to Caroline Shelby.

- You can't do that.

- You could.

I wanna talk.

I don't even know what I wanna talk about,

I mean, can we just talk?
- Sure.

- This is the big one.

Four years ago I came out
here and I saw that mountain

out there and I knew, I'm climbing it.

I opened up this magnificent
country for myself

and for anybody who wants to join me.

(mumbles)

I fought like a son of a bitch.

I fought the bank, I
fought the government.

I fought even my own corporation.

Hell, I built an empire for them.

And then the environmentalists,

they say I'm destroying the environment.

Come here, come here, let
me show you something.

Here.

Look out here.

Does this look like I'm destroying?

I'm creating a beautiful life here.

It's a good thing that's happening.

- What's wrong, then?

- One of the planning
commissioners I had to deal with

is under investigation.

- What, about this?
- Oh no.

There's some other corporate connections.

- Yeah, and?

- (sighs) Well, I bought some of this land

from one of those corporations.

- Isn't that a matter of public record?

(phone ringing)
- Yes, and so is a

sizeable contribution I made
toward his senatorial campaign.

Hello?

Well keep trying.

(slams phone)

Damn it!

- So what are you gonna do?

- I'm gonna take you to
lunch, I don't wanna talk

about this mess, you're here, I...

I love that you're here.

I love you.

- Lunch, huh?
- Right.

And, how is your life,

are you still working for Harper's Bazaar?

- Vogue--
- Oh yes I mean Vogue.

(phone ringing)

Hello.

Right, send them in.

(chuckles) Press.

I'm David Shelby.

(mumbling)

Mr. Cavelli.

(soft orchestral music)

- I know, she's a little off center,

like she wasn't twirler last year.

She's getting it together.

Thatta girl, Kathy!

(screams)

- You all right, Kathy?

Need anything?

It doesn't mean anything at all.

It's all right, it's okay.

- No Leo, it's not.

I always do that to myself.

When I saw her.

- Yes, she'll get to you.

You forgot how beautiful you are.

Love yourself.

And when you're doing that spin,

you'll find your center and you'll let go.

And don't let anything
in the world guide you

off your center.

(frantic orchestral music)

- So miners are digging
for silver in the 1880s,

and the mountain avalanched.

Buried everybody.

No one's dared touch it since.

- Until David.

Of course.

David is amazing.

How did he ever convince
all those bankers?

- He didn't.
- He didn't?

- Nobody else would follow him up here.

He's all alone this time.
- Alone?

- Yes, he's risked everything he has.

All his personal holdings.

(whistles)
(chainsaw buzzing)

(trees crackling)

- In case you haven't
noticed, not only are we

out of doors--
(breathing raggedly)

And knee-deep in snow, but
we are also going uphill!

(breathing raggedly)

- Always uphill.

(chuckling)

You get to the top.

- Oh, if I had the strength,
I would write that down.

Oh!

- Well, this is important.

You can see.

Mr. Shelby shall ice fish.

He'll have an absolutely clear view.

- Well, he's just like his father was.

He has to be king of the mountain.

- [Pauly] Hey Mr. Thorne!

- [Nick] How ya doing, Pauly?

- You were right about that
salt lick, getting low.

The mountain carried down from Big Face

ever since the high wind.

- All right, I'll bring
you up one tomorrow.

Your boss say your captain's low?

- Yes sir.
- Mr. Shelby and the architect

decided it was desirable.

We want an absolutely unimpeded view.

- I see.

- [Pauly] How's that stick, Mr. Thorne?

- What are you doing this for, Pauly?

- Man's gotta eat.

(chainsaw buzzes)

(snowball crashes)

- What's the gimmick?

- There is no gimmick now.

That was the reaction of one stable snow

to the sound waves made by that saw.

In addition, Mr. McDada,
the slope is not stable.

With those trees missing, it's dangerous.

Good day.

- Who's he?

- I'm sorry, his name is Nick Thorne.

He's a photographer.

And well-known.

Got all the time in the world for nature.

None for its development.

(soft music)

(orchestral music)

(low rumbling)

- Are you kidding?

(avalanche rumbling)

(orchestral music)

- Oh!
- Very neat.

- Ah, piece of cake.
- You got lucky.

- [Bruce] Yeah.

- What are you doing up here,

I thought you were skiing Big Face?

- Just felt like practicing on
my own away from the crowds.

- I would check conditions.
- I just did.

- Artie, don't argue with me,
get your ass up here, damn it.

Well something is going on!

All right.

This morning, some snot nose
reporter started asking about

Maybrook and the clearance of
the land and I don't like it.

Well it could mean a lot!

I want you to get on
that plane with a file

and be up here by tomorrow night.

God it's hard to come down from that guy.

And don't give me that
I don't approve look.

- No, mm.

I don't approve or disapprove.

David, you're like
weather, you just happen.

I came to collect that lunch.

- My god, lunch.

Forgot.

(chuckles nervously)

- Supremacy tactics.

- One day it'll work, watch.

- Shelby!

I wanna talk to you.

- Oh, Nick.

Good to see you.

Someone I want you to meet, John.

- You're crazy to cut down those trees.

- Caroline, this is Nick Thorne.

You know his work.

- Oh yes, of course.
- And this is my wife,

Caroline--
- Mrs. Shelby.

Look, let me put it to you this way.

Without that cover,
everything below that place

you're building is open to a slide.

- Oh Nick, we'll talk about
it later this afternoon.

- Oh, that's what you said last week.

I wanna talk now.

- (sighs) I'm sorry, honey.

I have to talk to Nick.

20 minutes, a half an hour at the most.

Then lunch--

- David, I'll see you at dinner, okay?

Nice to meet you, Mr. Thorne.

- But it's next to the banquet,
we won't have any time.

- At least I know you'll be there.

- There's just not enough
hazard up on that salt

to carry on about
cutting down a few trees.

- There is a hazard, David.

Look, these mountains have
gotten along without you

for a long time.

- Oh, hello Tina.
- Hi.

- Go easy, huh?

- Okay.
- These mountains have gotten

along without you for a long time

and you come barreling
in here with big plans

to rearrange the whole thing.

- No, Nick.

Sharon.

- Sharon?
- Harry.

Scotch on the rocks, you want a drink?

- Nothing.

You're risking the lives
of everyone you are

inviting here to Sharon.

- That man works in
front of the commissions,

but now you have to deal with me.

I want people to enjoy this
land, not bury them in it.

- Oh Dave.
- Philip.

- How you doing, Nick?

Listen, David, I'm gonna
need the rosters for--

- Will you, as a professional,
tell this lunatic

about the reports?

- What reports--
- All of them,

the snow reports, the whole damn thing.

- Okay.

They just finished skiing the entire area

and all our data says it's fine.

- I don't wanna hear
about the surveys, Phil,

I know what they say.

What I'm asking you is why are you having

cleaned off old (mumbles)?

- Oh come on, Nick, I
settled that corners day ago.

- It's building.

You got a storm coming
in tonight and people

all over that slope, and
I don't know how you can

ignore that hazard.

- Hey now wait a minute.

I'm not ignoring anything.

Now there isn't a procedure
in the book I haven't covered.

- [Nick] You're stuck in the book, Phil,

you always were.

- That's right because it's my job.

- [Nick] Look, before the
slopes are open at least fire

a shell into that ledge before it pulls

the mountain down on us.

- Now you listen to me.

I love this place as much as you do

and you damn well know it.

And that storm should be over by morning,

and right now everything says we're fine.

- When was the last time you went up on

that mountain and just sat?

- Oh bullshit, Nick.

I work up there--

- Just go up there and sit, Phil.

- Ridiculous.
- Just sit, Phil.

Things aren't normal, there's a heaviness

and it's growing.

I can feel it.

- Oh for God's sake.

You want to panic the whole population

because you feel a heaviness?

Well let me tell you something,

I don't move with your premonition,
I move with my judgment.

Come on, Philip, I'll get
you your God damn papers.

(easygoing music)

(soft orchestral music)

- [Caroline] Hi there!

- Hello, Mrs. Shelby.
- Huh?

- I say, hello, Mrs. Shelby.

- Brace.

We're divorced.

- I knew I'd seen you someplace before.

- In the lobby.
- No, it was before that.

- Ah, on David's desk in a frame.

- That's right.

He's a tough guy.
- Yep.

- Do you like him?

- Let me see, I have to think about that.

I don't know.

I love him.

(chuckles) You know.
- Sure.

- Gosh, I hope there'll be a snow storm.

While I'm up here I wanna
see the whole works.

I love snow storms,
they make the world look

entirely different, don't you think?

- Different is better?

- What do you think?

- No, I think things look
pretty good from right here.

It's cold out here, aren't you cold?

- Yep, I'm freezing.

Come on inside.

Oh.

You coming to the party tonight?

Or do you hate that sort of thing?

- No, I don't hate that sort of thing.

I'm just not sure I
can celebrate all this.

- What do you celebrate?

(chuckles)

Well.

Maybe I'll see you sometime.

I hope you change your mind.

(indistinct chattering)

- [Radio Announcer] Six
inches of fresh snow.

12 degrees at the top.

Wind's at 40 miles per hour.

Chill factor, minus 16 degrees.

(mumbles) 114 inch base, 11 inches.

Fresh Powder, 20 degrees at the summit.

Cameron, 105 base, eight
inches Fresh Powder.

Icy conditions prevail Red Mountain.

- Sure wish you could come tonight, Bud.

- Oh I'd like to, David, but I better go

across to White Ice station.

My boys called me about some conditions.

I weren't sure what they're talking about.

The earliest I could get back is tomorrow.

- Hey there's Mark Elliot.

Excuse me, Philip.

Mark, good to see you.
- David.

Well it's good to be here.

- Well come on, let's get you settled.

Sammy, would you get Mr.
Elliot's luggage please,

room 509.

It's great, isn't it?

Gonna do a little skiing
while you're here?

- I'll try.

(chuckles)

When does your TV crew arrive?

- Noon tomorrow.
- Oh good.

Is Scott here?

- Everybody's here.
- Great.

- Including your wife.

- Tina's here?

- She arrived with Scott this morning.

Nobody knew she was coming.

- Kinda surprised.

Couple of months, that's
a long time for Bruce.

As a matter of fact, it's
a long time for Tina also.

- Yeah, well I'm embarrassed.

- Well there's no reason.
- And.

She'll be sitting at our table tonight.

With Bruce.

- That's showbiz.

(rock music)

♪ You are, you are somebody new ♪

♪ You are, you are the best ♪

♪ You are, you are somebody new ♪

♪ You are, you are the best ♪

♪ Now I found I can to talk to ♪

♪ When it reaches the (mumbles) ♪

♪ This game has come to an end ♪

♪ Is it difficult too? ♪

♪ Yeah oh yes ♪

(crowd applauding)

(indistinct chattering)

- I don't care for any of it.

- Oh David, eat, conquerors must eat.

- Oh you always have to have an opinion.

(mumbles)

- I'll have you on my show tomorrow night.

- It won't be your show if you do.

- But what would I say?

- You'll think of something.

- We're just gonna talk about exactly

what we're talking about.

- I really would prefer to be
on the show tomorrow night.

You got a terrific accident
yet you're still personal

with the people you talk to.

- You hear that?

I'm gonna have to kiss you for that.

(chuckling)

You're gonna have to repeat
exactly what you said

just now tomorrow night.

- Well I don't know.

- Excuse me, would you like to dance?

- Oh sure.
- All right.

(rock music)

- Where'd you get them?

- San Francisco, North Beach.

How are you?

- Never better.

♪ You are somebody new ♪

♪ You are, you are the best ♪

(ominous music)
(wind blowing)

- Well, who would have thought?

Nick!

Come join us.
- Thank you.

- I'll get another chair.

- Hey, I'm glad you decided to join us.

- You.

- Florence, this is Nick Thorne.

- Champagne?

- Mark Elliot, Mark Elliot,
pleasure to meet you.

- Pleasure--
- And Tina Elliot.

- Nick Thorne, you did that layout

in the National Geographic.
- Recent?

- About a month ago.

- Smithsonian.
- That's right,

on the grizzlies of the Aleutian.

- Kodiaks.
- Would you like to dance?

- Why?

- Oh (chuckles).

- Please.

- Thank you.

Look, I don't know how to
do this kind of dancing.

- That's okay, we'll think of something.

David is staring at me.

- I don't blame him.

- You dance very well.
- Considering.

I think you have this
idea I'm some kind of

wild man of the mountain.

(chuckling)

- Wild man of the mountain.

- Well, I wish you wouldn't
think of me quite that way.

- No, I rather enjoy that image.

(chuckling)

- What?
- David is staring

at Susan the more he stares at me.

- Does it bother you?
- No.

It liberates me.

- Do you ever have a really bad fall?

- Not since I was 15.

A fantastic instructor
taught me the art of falling.

- Did he ever explain, when
you're sure you're not falling

and you know you can't stop it.

You just have to go with it.

- He taught me never to resist.

- Aloha!

- Mother, this is not Hawaii.

- It is if I say so.

- You have to decide how to land.

- You mean the position of your body?

- Right, position of the
body is very important.

- I rather like it on my back.

- Sideways (mumbles).

- You fall sideways?
- Makes for a change.

- Far out.

(wind blowing)
(ominous music)

(crowd cheering)

- Good night everybody,
I'm gonna hit the sack.

It was a great party.
- Aloha!

- Good night, Mr. Elliot.

I'm looking very forward to
being on your show tomorrow.

- I'm looking very forward to having you.

- (chuckles) Good night.

Good night.
- Let's dance, honey.

- (sighs) Very good dance.

Took my breath away, oh.

Huh, what is this?

You hate dancing.

- Wait.

What's going on with you?
- Nothing, I'm fine.

- You just met the guy this afternoon.

(mumbles)

- So?
- Don't give me so.

You'll never get him away from the buffalo

and the deer and the antelope.

Who asked you, and who asked you?

- I just don't want to
see you screw yourself up.

- Don't worry, I won't.
- Won't though?

- I won't.
- Aloha, naughty Lloyd.

- Thank you.

- Do you even know what you're doing?

You must be tired of all this crap.

It took us years to grow up.

- About whom are you speaking?

- What's going on, I
only asked you to dance.

- You didn't ask me to
dance, you told me to dance.

You got to run the whole show.

You panic if you haven't
got complete control.

It's always the same thing.

I got to the point where
I didn't know what I felt

about anything.

- I just want to be with you.

What's wrong with wanting to be with you,

or you wanting to be with me?

- You stifle me!

I need some space, I need some room.

I've gotta make my own decisions.

Just leave me alone.

- I don't wanna leave you alone.

- Well that's a problem I can solve.

- Caroline!

(ominous music)
(wind blowing)

(rock music)
(people clapping)

(cork pops)

- Enjoy yourself, gonna hit the sack.

(moaning)

Thanks.

(rock music)

- Aloha!

(chuckling)

(gasps)

- Oh--
- I'm sorry.

- Oh, are you leaving?

- Yeah, I'm ready to escape.

- Let's.

- Yep, better bundle up.
- Uh-huh.

- You got your storm coming.

- Feels good.

(wind blowing)

- Does it make everything seem different?

(chuckles)

- No (chuckles).

Thank you.
- Watch your step.

(wind blowing)
(dog howls)

- [Caroline] Boy, what
a wild place to live.

- [Nick] You think so?

- It's exciting out here.
- Careful.

Right here, be careful.

(chuckling)

- Freezing.

(shivers)

(suspenseful music)

Boy.

(soft music)

- Hot chocolate, beer?

- Beer, please.

You built this house yourself, didn't you?

- [Nick] Yeah.

- Figures.

I like it.

I don't know if I could
handle the isolation though.

What is this thing?

- What's it look like?
- A goat?

- That's a ram.
- A ram.

I like your pictures, I really do.

- Thank you.

- Oh I see you have a,
what do you call it,

you do your printing here?
- Yeah.

Wanna take a look, go ahead.

- Yeah, thank you.

- That whatcha-ma-call-it is--
- Enlarger.

(chuckles)

(soft music)

- Thank you.

(soft music)

I don't know what to say.

- Can I give you a big hug?

- Did you ever see me
do my flying (mumbles)?

- I don't think I've ever
seen you do one more graceful.

- It's a spin that won me the gold medal.

- Oh it did.
(chuckles)

- I did everything they told me.

- That sounds real kinky.

- And a wonderful old fashioned lay back.

- I love it.
(chuckling)

- [Woman] Marvelous.

(chuckles)

Marvelous.

Spread eagle.

- [Bruce] What other heavy
moves you gonna lay on me?

- [Woman] Have you ever seen My Lady?

(mumbles)

It's too fast for me.

- [Bruce] You gotta be
fast to stay on top.

(both moaning)

- I like to go forward.

Taking moves one by one.

By one.

(wind blowing)
(rock music)

- Bruce, honey.

Bruce!

Bruce honey.

(sighing)

(wind blowing)
(suspenseful music)

(screaming and crying)

- Let me go--
- Tina.

- Let me go--
- Tina.

- Let me go!
- Baby, baby.

(Tina screams)

Tina!

(Tina crying)

(wind blowing)

(suspenseful music)

(objects crashing)

(suspenseful music)

(phone ringing)

- Hello, yeah.

What?

Well get a caterpillar up there,

we gotta get her fixed by noon.

That's right, I said by noon.

I'll be right there.

Good morning.

Morning.

We had a little trouble
with the rink last night.

- Would you like your orange juice?

- Yeah.
- Mhm.

(phone ringing)

Hello?

Ugh.

Yeah Marty, what?

I don't care about your pilot
in those weather conditions,

I want you and that file
on a plane up here tonight.

No, Marty, you.

Not the National Guard
or the Marine Corps, you,

and that file in your hot little hands.

Marty!

We are talking about a 10 year
multi-million dollar project

and you are telling me about clouds.

Well give another $500, see
how his vision improves.

(water splashing)

(soft piano music)

- Nick?

(wind blowing)

(soft piano music)

- [Radio Announcer] News
from Colorado and the west.

A blizzard that hit
southwestern Colorado last night

is nearly over.

(engine running)

(helicopter whirring)

- Good morning!

How do you feel?

- Pretty good.

- Sleep well?

(sighs)

I want you rating that on a scale of 10.

Seven?

Eight?

Nine?

Was she that good?

- Tina, either put that
apple down or throw it at me.

- It wouldn't hurt you
enough if I threw it.

- My ass hurts enough already.

Jealousy's the biggest pain in the ass.

- God damn you!

Stop acting as if you didn't
get away with anything,

you son of a bitch!

- This is what you usually
threaten to kill yourself.

- I'll cut you to shreds, you bastard!

- Why can't you play it
the way your husband plays,

he's got real style.

- Stop it!

(Tina screaming)

- (mumbles) Kill yourself.

(Tina crying)

(screaming)

- No, no, no, no.

(crying)

No, no.

(crying)

No.

(wailing)

I love you too.

- Tina.

Please.

(wind blowing)

- There he is!
- Morning, lady.

Have you seen Caroline this morning?

- No.
- Oh.

Well, I gotta get the world rolling.

Wanna come along?
- What?

- I'm going to work with the wonders.

Do you wanna watch?

- What are you going to
do, freeze the Red Sea?

- (chuckles) For you, anything.

- But not outdoors.

- Next year, indoors.

- Give me a little bit.
- Hey.

- Don't you drink too
many of those things.

- Right on!

(engine revving)

(indistinct chatter)

- [Announcer] We're just about
to start our first event.

The first international
snowmobile invitational,

featuring the Norwegian nutcracker.

(mumbles) Challenging Colorado's own--

- Bye.

- [Announcer] The man who
made snowmobile racing

a dirty sport.

(gunshot blasts)

(engines revving)

(man yells)

(grunts)

(suspenseful music)

(water splashing)

(suspenseful music)

- Get back.
- Bitch.

- [Woman] Bastard.

(crashing into tree)

- Try this.

(man screaming)
(suspenseful music)

(wind blowing)

- Goal!
(crowd yelling)

- [Woman] Come on, baby!

(metal cranking)

(wind blowing)

(metal slams)

(cannon blasts)

- [Announcer] You are seeing
some of the bravest jumpers

assembled here today.

Here in (mumbles) Sun Valley.

(crowd cheering)

That sky dive (mumbles)
sheer guns of nature.

Once you take off at 60 miles an hour,

you just start flailing your bowls like--

(crowd cheering)

With the ground when you hit it.

(indistinct announcement and cheering)

An early take-off, he's
in the air, off-center.

He's trying to regain his balance.

What the heck was that?

(crowd cheering)

All the way down the mountain.

All the way to (mumbles).

(cannon blasts)

(dramatic orchestral music)

(indistinct chattering and cheering)

- Woo!

Thank you.

Thank you, folks.

All right.

All right.

Well now that you've
cut the ribbon, Bruce,

I feel that it's only
appropriate that you be

the first man up.

(crowd cheering)

One.

I really don't wanna test it.

(crowd laughs)

And two, I mean it's quite
obvious from your record

that you need some kind of a head start.

I feel like Bruce Scott
is one of the finest

athletes in the world.

(crowd cheers)

His skill and dedication
to skiing have brought

a new kind of excitement
and given a very special

meaning to (mumbles).

I just like to say for all
your friends up here, Bruce,

and all your friends all
over the skiing world

that we owe you a great deal.

(crowd cheering)

- Mark, thank you.

Let's go up the slopes!

(crowd cheering)

- Hey Bruce!
- Ella.

- Can we have your autograph?

- Sure, ladies.
- All right.

(indistinct crosstalk)

- Right up on a chair--
- Right?

- I think you're gonna
bring a lot of pleasure

to a lot of people.

- I now wanna thank everybody

for making all of this possible.

Have a good day.

(crowd cheers)

(frantic orchestral music)

(crowd applauds)

- Good morning, gentlemen.
- Good morning.

- Good morning.

(soft music)

(audience clapping)

(audience cheers)

(suspenseful orchestral music)

- You did great.

That was really great.
- Thanks.

(indistinct radio announcement)

- What are they, asleep?

- No, Mr. Brenner, we're under the MRA.

We can't contact either
end because of the terrain.

- Oh for Christ sake.

(ominous music)

- Stay here and watch
Mommy and Daddy speed down.

- And finally, we have the 10th (mumbles)

who are patrons of the Colorado Cup.

(audience cheering)

Well ladies and gentlemen, this new lift

is now officially open.

So let's do some skiing!

How 'bout it, pal?

Gonna go up?

Miss Courtney!

Is it all right?

- Well if you really want to!

- And on, heh.

Well, I'm Mark, who are you?

- Jason.

(suspenseful music)

(soft orchestral music)

(audience clapping)

- Mr. Shelby I've made
this trip 100 times.

It's never been this bad.

- Could we have flown past?

- [Ed] No, I'm scared we're a
lot closer than we wanna be.

(soft orchestral music)
(audience applauding)

(suspenseful music)

- What does this mean?

- [Ed] We're losing power.

Our fuel's starting to fluctuate.

- Ed, find a place to sit this thing down.

(suspenseful music)

- How old are you?
- 16.

- Got an ID?
- Uh-huh.

- [Man] See you at the
bottom when I get down.

(indistinct crowd chatter)

(suspenseful music)

(crashing into snow)

(explosion blasts)

(suspenseful music)

(rocks rumbling)

- Look there's Bruce Scott!

(rocks rumbling)

(suspenseful music)

(objects crashing)

(screaming)

- [Announcer] Lake Champlain is next.

Coming up now, Gary!

For Gary, rated number two
ski jumper in the nation.

This is the first time on the (mumbles).

(indistinct announcement)

(screaming)

(suspenseful music)

(rocks rumbling)

(suspenseful music)

(rocks rumbling)

(people yelling)

(objects crashing)

(people screaming)

(electrical blast)

(people screaming in distance)

(rattling)

(wind blowing)

(soft orchestral music)

(people clapping)

(rocks rumbling)

(man yells indistinctly)

(people yelling)

(glass shatters)

(rocks rumbling)

- What is it?

(glass shatters)

(man yells)

(objects crashing)

(people screaming)

(objects clattering)

(screaming)

(wind blowing)

- Hey!

Can you hear me?

- Easy.

Easy now, easy Jason.

Move your arm, move easy.

I've got you.

Turn, turn.

Atta boy, it's okay, easy.

Good.

(sighing)

- Bill!

Bill!

(grunts)

You all right?
- Yes.

My neck.

(ragged breathing)

- How's it feel?

- I think it's okay.
- What are you doing up here?

- I was on my way up here,

worried about that crazy
thing when it broke.

- With an air plane that started to slide.

Looks bad.

- All right look, if you
get down there, the rink,

I'll get the hotel.

As quick as you can, yeah?
- You bet.

(grunts)

(soft music)

- Both doors are jammed.

(grunts)

- Oh terrific.

(plays piano notes)
Ah.

Hey!

- Gas.

(explosion bursts)

(objects crashing)

(screaming)

(alarms blaring)

(fire truck horn honking)

(objects clattering)

(brakes squeak)

(man screams)

(metal crashing)

(soft music)

- The worst.

- The power's out and
there was an explosion

in the kitchen and the
dining room's blocked off.

There may be some people trapped.

- Outside.

- Some guy's working on that right now.

- Right, have you seen my
mother, where's Caroline?

- No but David, there's a
gas leak in the kitchen,

it may be going into the dining room.

- [David] Well then we get
the boilers going full blast.

- David, the power is out.

- Steve, I want you to
take whoever you need,

get up the last rig, work
on that back up generator.

I want it operating.
- Yes, sir.

- Get blankets, sheets, all you can carry.

- Right.
- Get above the skating rink

as fast as you can.

Can't anybody get through to Cedar Falls?

- [Woman] We're completely cut off!

- Get her out of here and see if you can

make that thing work.

- Been trying, boss, we
can't get through anywhere.

- Well keep on trying!

(grunting)

You got any dynamite?
- What's going on?

- We're gonna have to
blast from the other side

of the hotel, people trapped inside.

- Oh Nick, you son of a bitch.

(soft music)

- [Steve] David!

You know, if we blast too close,

the whole damn thing could cave in.

- Well if we don't, we'll asphyxiate.

- Well what do you wanna do?
- Blast.

- [Henry] Mrs. Shelby.

- Florence, God damn it.

- That will do any good?

- I'm not gonna sit here.

I'm gonna dig us out.

(indistinct screaming)

- What's going on?

(fire crackling)
(explosion blasts)

- Well, we can blast maybe one more time.

And we better just dig.

- David!

David!

Are you all right?

(soft music)

Are you all right?

- Have you seen my mother?

- No, I don't know where she is.

(soft music)

- Oh my God.

- [Man In Blue] What are you gonna do now?

- We're gonna set up.

- What?

- We're gonna shoot this God damn thing.

Haul that stuff up here.

(soft music)

(people moaning)

- Are you all right?

- Has anyone seen my Jeanette?

- I'll see if I can find out.

(dog barks)

Harmon, it's Harmon's hat!

- Bruce!
(woman crying)

- Hey!

Hey!

Can you hear me?

(wind blowing)

(strikes piano notes)

- Oh.

McDade, we're...

Hm.

(playing piano song)

♪ If you were the only boy in the world ♪

♪ And I was the only girl ♪

(strikes piano notes)

(chuckles)

- No!

Don't go to sleep, Mrs. Shelby.

(grunting)

- Go, Phil.
- Okay.

(explosion blasts)

- [Henry] You all right?

(coughing)

- What is it, I bring
down the house again?

- I think they're dynamiting
the snow from outside.

- [Florence] Yeah?

Oh, it's cold.

- Well that's it, come on, we gotta dig.

(wind blowing)

(soft music)

- Florence.

(grunting)

(suspenseful music)

(grunting)

- [Steve] Take some of this, David.

(indistinct chattering)

- I'm over here!

I'm over here!

(suspenseful music)

(scraping ice)

(suspenseful music)

Mr. Shelby.

(soft music)

- Oh my God.

(wind blowing)

- Philip!

(grunting)

I got her.

Okay, easy, easy.

- Anything?

- I don't think so.

(winces)

- Over here!

(screaming)

(alarm blaring)

(fire crackling)

- She's starting to breathe.

(alarm blaring)

- Now you behave, huh?

- Get out of here, McDade.

- It's Henry, God damn it.
- Please, sir.

- Mom?
- I don't want that.

I want a bloody Mary.

- Put that back--
- She's all right.

And keep it on.

You had a scare.

- [Man] Please let's not crowd the lady.

- Please!

Charlie, get there with the chair lift.

(alarm blaring)

(suspenseful music)

(woman cries)

- He can't be dead.

He can't be!

(alarm blaring)

- [Man] We'll take the snow caps.

- Come on, grab ahold.
- It's slipping.

I've got it.

- Come on boys, we've got no time to lose.

(engine turning over)

Come on.

Come on guys, hurry up.

Move it!

(suspenseful music)

- It's gotta run like clockwork, guys.

You and you, start getting the net out.

Virgil, get us as close as you can.

Get right under and be ready to move.

Now let's go.

(suspenseful music)

- I can't hold it--
- Just hold on.

No, no, no, no, Jason.

Hold on, hold on, sweetheart.

Easy, easy.

Now listen to me, listen to me carefully.

You see that there's a net down there?

- Yeah.
- Okay, now,

all you have to do, you just have to,

you just have to close
your eyes and just jump

and they're gonna catch us, all right?

- I don't want to.

- I think that this is gonna
be the only way down right now.

Because I'm a little
more scared than you are,

would it be all right if you jump first?

- Yeah.

- I'm gonna come right
down after you, okay?

- You promise?
- Oh yes.

Oh I promise.

(line snaps)

Okay!

Now just close your eyes and jump.

- He okay?

The boy is safe!

Let go!

(suspenseful music)

- David!

- Just let go!

- Mark, come on!

- All right Jason!

(explosion blasts)

(screams)

- [Man] He'll live.

- [Man] How many?

- We don't know yet.

Hey.

What happened?

- There were slides all along the route.

We got cut off from near the unit.

We had to turn around but we
sent the plows out last street.

- Do you have Mrs. Shelby in there?

- No sir, she's in the lead unit.

- Do you know if she got through?

- [Bearded Man] The radio there
headed toward this bridge.

- Nick, let's go!
- Yeah.

(alarm blaring)

(suspenseful music)

(tires screeching)

(crashing)

(car smashing on rocks)

(blasting)

(gasps)
(explosion blasts)

(suspenseful music)

- Hang on, Caroline!

- [Nick] Dave, got a line coming.

(soft music)

Here it comes.

Grab hold.

- That's it, now the other arm.

That's right.

Now hang onto the rope.

(soft music)

- Here we go.

Keep coming, keep coming.

Got you.

(grunts)

(ominous music)

(helicopter whirs)

(soft music)

Good and chilled.

- How is he?

- He's all right, considering.

He's a fighter.
- Yeah, my God.

Look at this place.

- Yep, take years to reclaim it all.

I'm glad you were here.

It was important.

- Yeah, thanks.

- I like you.

Just the way you are.

- Take care of yourself, huh?

- Goodbye, Caroline.

(soft piano music)

- [Caroline] Hi.

- Hi.

I have nothing to say.

- Would you like some champagne?

- Sure.

What shall we drink to?

- We survived.

- Yeah.

We survived.

And I always thought survival meant

being king of the mountain.
(cork pops)

Well.

How is this for a quiet elegance?

- Nice view.

(mumbles)

- I do have something to say.

I caused all of this.

I am responsible.

- You've never said that.

David, I love you.

- [David] I know.

- A lot.

- Thank you, my friend.

- I have to go.

- Of course you do.

(soft music)

(soft orchestral music)

(dramatic orchestral music)