Touched by an Angel (1994–2003): Season 7, Episode 5 - Finger of God - full transcript
A storm chaser is excited when there are storms and tornadoes predicted in the area because he hopes it will save his job.
Cumulonimbus... heading east.
Yeah, we're in for some weather.
They look so
different from this side.
The clouds or the people?
Both, I suppose.
The slightest breeze can turn
either one into
something different.
That's nature, baby.
That's the way
the Father made it.
The wind can pick up
itty-bitty seeds and spread “em
over the whole countryside.
Or it can rip a field so badly,
it'll never grow
anything at all.
You just never know which
way the Wind's gonna blow.
I knew it!
It's going to be
worse than I thought.
Yes.
We'd better get going.
I thought my assignment
was here with him.
Well, Calvin is
the storm chaser.
And if we find a
storm, he'll find us.
Last night, the tractor
was right side up...
and two miles away.
To think it was just sitting
in a field somewhere,
minding its own business,
and then a tornado comes
along and swish, picks it up
and carries it through the sky,
and then poof, it
lands down here.
Must have been very
confusing for you, huh?
Monica, you've never
been in a tornado, have you?
No.
They're very scary things.
They can tear through
some open field.
They can also rip through
a crowded classroom.
They don't know the difference.
It's Darby's field.
Do you see it?
The one with the beautiful tree.
That's where it's gonna happen.
Just remember, the only
thing that's more frightening
than living through a tornado
is living through one alone.
That's why you have
to make it to that tree.
With Calvin?
Whatever it takes.
Just be there, okay?
So I don't have to be.
♪ When you walk ♪
♪ Down the road ♪
♪ Heavy burden ♪
♪ Heavy load ♪
♪ I will rise ♪
♪ And I will walk with you ♪
♪ I'll walk with you ♪
♪ Till the sun
don't even shine ♪
♪ Walk with you ♪
♪ Every time, I tell you ♪
♪ I'll walk with you ♪
♪ Walk with you ♪
♪ Believe me, I'll
walk with you. ♪
♪♪
God, You up there?
This would be real
good time to show up.
You're a woman, JJ.
You see? That's
why you the sheriff.
What would you get for a
25th wedding anniversary?
Well... depends.
Who am I married to?
Me.
In that case, what you'd
probably want most is a break.
Well, let me think.
You could take her
on a trip or something.
Where'd you go on
your honeymoon?
Stock car races, Daytona.
Oh, man.
- You gotta be kidding me.
- Hey, hey, we had great seats.
Oh, get out of here!
- Morning.
- Morning.
Coffee?
Uh, tea, please, and...
and one of those sticky buns.
Mm. That is some
car you got out there.
Yeah, that's my baby.
We've been through
a lot together.
Hey, Calvin.
Calvin?
Still got that
morning-after special?
Never thought of you
as a drinking man, Cal.
Yeah, well, I just started.
You out with that
twister last night?
Story of my life.
Where'd it touch down?
Just outside of Shawnee.
Made a little skid mark
across Tim Wilson's back 40.
First twister to actually
land here in two years,
and you missed it?
Uh, excuse me.
Excuse me?
Uh, are you Calvin
Chillcut, the tornado man?
Technical term is storm chaser.
Well, I found something
that belongs to you.
It's a little sticky, but...
How the heck did this get here?
This must've blown five miles.
Well, there's quite a
breeze blowing out there.
Did you read it?
I read enough to know
why you got a hangover.
And if you want to feel better,
there are two
things that you need:
the right breakfast...
Uh, could we have a glass
of orange juice, a raw egg
and a bottle of hot
sauce over here, please?
If you trying to
cure his hangover,
I got a better one then that.
I'm sure you do.
Now this will fix the
hangover in your head,
and then you've got to fix
the hangover in your soul.
Because I know drinking
didn't make you feel this way.
It's this letter.
Did I hear someone
mention the soul?
Yes, you did.
Let me guess: You
must be working
for that big revival
meeting coming to town.
I got you people
all figured out.
You see, that's
how they work it.
They send in advance people
to get your soul all
shook up on Monday
just so's they can come
in and fix it on Saturday.
Am I right?
You one of those God people?
That would not be inaccurate.
Howdy, Joe!
Hey, JJ.
A little early to be
knocking off, don't you think?
Yeah, yeah.
I can't keep my men
up on the scaffolding
with the wind that bad.
We in for more weather, Calvin?
I don't know.
I didn't check Doppler today.
I don't think you'll need the
radar; just look up at that sky.
Yep, there's a storm coming.
And you just gonna sit there?
My time is up.
I have to cease and
desist, so I'm ceasing.
They told you you have
to turn in your tornado
equipment tomorrow,
not today.
It's too late now.
I'm out. That's right.
I lost my grant.
No more research money,
no more fellowships.
The guys in Washington
finally realized that
I been wasting my time here
waiting for the big one to hit.
It never did, so... I'm out.
But you'll get
something else, right?
I mean, they'll send
you to study hurricanes
or volcanoes or
something, won't they?
I study tornadoes, JJ.
That's what I do.
That's all I've ever done.
Two pointless years here...
six months in Dallas,
couple seasons in Kansas,
and I got nothing to
show for any of it, so...
I'm finished.
There are other jobs, Calvin.
Yeah.
What am I gonna do now...
sell, uh, shoes in some
strip mall in Oklahoma City?
No, it's over for me.
Well, I guess so,
if you've given up.
But I've got news for you:
The wind is blowing out there,
which means there's a chance
for something
interesting to happen;
something to make your little
Doppler winger-dinger thing
sit up and take notice.
It's something you don't
know, but God knows.
You don't know what you
going to find, but God does.
And if that's not
enough for you, try this:
you're not gonna
find anything at all
if you sit here wallowing
in this great pool of self-pity.
Amen on that.
Maybe you're right.
Anything could happen out there.
Anything.
Her name's Tess.
She's with that
big revival thingy
that's coming to
town on Saturday.
Drink this up.
Ooh...
Cell's tracking north-northeast
at about six miles per hour.
1:17 p.m., Doppler indicating
a series of storms lining up
all on the same north-
northeasterly track.
Starting to pick up some
rotation in the first cell.
Where you headed?
I haven't made up my mind yet,
but I'm definitely
going in your direction.
Okay.
But I can't guarantee
how far I can take you,
'cause if the storm
comes up, I got to follow it.
Oh, that's okay.
I'm not in any hurry.
Excuse me.
I'm sorry, but I've never
actually hitchhiked before.
Am I supposed to drive?
No, I just want to
check something first.
So how does this work,
when you follow a storm?
Do you sort of sneak up on it?
It's my job.
I track tornadoes.
At least I try to.
Caught me on my last day...
barring a miracle.
I believe in miracles.
Hitchhikers usually do.
Never seen a
miracle myself, but...
as long as the
wind is blowing...
anything can happen.
Lone Ranger to base.
You out there, Lucy?
- Calvin, where are you?
- I'm in the field.
Calvin, you're not
authorized anymore.
You gotta turn your equipment...
Uh, the letter said tomorrow.
Yeah, we got rotation
increasing in a storm cell
about 20 miles
south-southwest of Boley.
Shear's approaching 70 knots
and the sky is going green.
We got a rope on the ground!
Copy that, Lone Ranger.
NWS in Norman
has issued a warning.
Yee-hoo!
Fasten your seatbelt.
What is it?
It's my miracle.
Oh, no, I gotta get home.
See you.
Sheriff Guthrie,
come in, please.
I'm here. Go ahead.
Sheriff, we got a tornado...
What's going on?
Tornado.
We can go a whole
year without a single one
and then get two or
three or four in a day.
It's really weird.
What kind of word is that?
You don't spell
"choir" with a Q.
That's how you spell it when
it means a sheaf of paper.
Now that's what I mean!
Shouldn't we be doing something?
Oh, yeah, everybody's
going to their shelters.
Okay.
Where is yours?
We don't have one.
We don't need one.
You'll see.
Come on.
So let's stick with this one,
and I'll be talking to you.
10-4.
We got another twister
out by the highway.
Now, it's bigger than
the one that hit last night.
It ought to pass right by us,
but y'all ought to take cover.
Well, just to be safe.
I have never closed
this place down
on account of some dumb wind,
and I am not about
to start now, Ernie.
Well, now I know that, but
I had to say it anyway, JJ.
Looks like Calvin
finally got his tornado.
Sheriff...
My wife and little girl were
driving in today from Atlanta
for my birthday.
Now... I don't know.
They-they might be out
there on the highway right now.
What are they driving?
It's a '79 Monte Carlo.
Okay, I'll put a word
out on the radio, okay?
Are they picking you up
at the construction site?
We were gonna meet
right here for lunch.
Well, then you
better wait right here.
You'll probably be safe.
I mean, after all, this is
a lucky place, right, JJ?
You better believe it.
Okay.
All right.
Excuse me.
Uh, what did the sheriff mean
by "This is a lucky place"?
If there's a tornado
within 50 miles of here,
this is the place you run to.
'Cause tornadoes go right by us.
They go over us.
They've even split in
half and gone around us.
We've never been
actually hit by one.
Whole town could get wiped out;
we'd never feel a thing.
That's why we
don't need a shelter.
This diner right here...
It's the luckiest
place on earth.
Hmm.
I see.
Oh, sweetie, it's okay.
We're almost there
for Daddy's birthday.
You gotta be careful
in this kind of weather.
One minute it's clear,
the next second it's
raining cats and dogs.
You can see a funnel a
mile away, think you're safe,
and then, all of a
sudden, it turns, and boom,
it's on top of you in a second.
Hey, Cal, you there?
You must really love your work
to do something so dangerous.
Hey, Ernie, you see what I see?
Yeah, the weather bureau
says it's gonna pass right by,
but I thought I'd get
your professional opinion.
I agree. As long as
it keeps up steam,
it looks to stay a couple
miles east of the main road.
Still gonna get some garbage
dumped on you, though.
I'd wear a hardhat,
if I were you.
According to my wife,
that's what my head is for.
Hey, if you're following
that thing out by the highway,
keep an eye out for Joe's wife.
She's in a '79 Monte Carlo.
She's driving down
alone with the baby.
She's probably a little spooked.
Will do. You button
that place up now.
Roger. Will do.
Here comes rain. Hop in.
Who's Joe?
Joe's one of those decent
guys who works hard,
raises a family, goes
to church on Sunday,
has a beer every Friday
night with the guys,
and dies in bed when he's 92.
Shoot!
Where'd it go?
There.
Joe's best chance for
an exciting life is to fall off
of one of those construction
girders he walks around on.
At least he'd have a few moments
of something thrilling
before it was all over.
That's a terribly
cynical outlook.
Well, you tell me:
Would you rather
live a long boring life
or a short exciting one?
Let me guess.
You're living the
short exciting one.
No, I'm living the
long depressing one,
punctuated by the
occasionally exciting moments
of really, really bad luck.
I don't believe in luck.
I thought you
believed in miracles.
Same difference.
Not at all.
It's hard being separated
from your family,
isn't it, baby?
I miss 'em like crazy.
But a job came up and...
it was only gonna be six months.
The pay was too good to pass up.
Mm.
Ooh, can you hear it?
It's gonna be close.
Excuse me?
Am I the only one that believes
God had a reason for
inventing the storm cellar?
Don't get your bloomers
in an uproar, Tess.
In all the tornadoes,
in all the years,
JJ has never even
had a broken window.
Mm-mm. Mm-mm. Old Man Stratton
threw his teeth through
that window right there
when that potato salad
went bad, you remember that?
We're talking about
storm damage, you idiot.
Well, it wasn't luck
that protected this
place, you know,
and I would appreciate it
if you would keep my
bloomers out of this.
So if it wasn't
luck, what is it?
I would call it
the grace of God.
Then tell me one thing:
Why God let bad things
like tornadoes happen?
Ask any gardener.
You have to prune the
trees to get the best fruit,
and nature has a
way of pruning, too,
and it's only bad when
it's inconvenient for us.
I believe that.
When we plant ourselves
right in the way of nature,
then we want to blame God
for not making
exceptions for us.
That's right.
So, Tess, if a tornado comes by
and smashes your
beautiful red convertible
into “me, "My-bitty bits,
you're okay with that?
Yes, because I know
that God can take anything
that happens in this world
and turn it into something good.
Now, it may not be
exactly clear right away
how He's going to do that,
but I believe one
day, I will understand.
And that's why I'll take
luck instead of God.
Luck doesn't keep you waiting.
You have it or you don't.
We're in here, and
we're gonna be fine,
and those poor
schmoes out there,
forget it.
Oh, Joe, man, I'm sorry.
I know they're gonna be
fine; I'm sure of it, I'm sure of it.
They'll be here any minute.
♪♪
Lucy, this is Lone Ranger.
We are in the bear cage.
Watch yourself, Calvin.
First cell just
passed Darby's Field.
Still headed east toward Boley.
Serious debris.
First cell?
We've got a rotation
in a second cell.
Could be a sister,
waiting to drop in.
Invite the whole family.
We got plenty of gas
and nothing left to lose.
Over.
Did she say there was a
tornado in Darby's Field?
Yeah.
I-I can't explain
this right now,
but it's really,
really important
that we get there, that
we get there right now,
to Darby's Field.
Ernie?
Mobile one.
Ernie, you there?
- What?
- Hey, Ernie...
I'm eight miles out
on the country road.
I got one headed your
way and another one
picking up steam.
Well, I hope you're
getting everything
you need over this thing
to save your miserable job.
'Cause something good
gotta come off of this mess.
Oh, my God.
- Oh, my...
- What is it?
Ernie?
I think I just found
the Monte Carlo.
Holy cow, Ernie!
Another couple of feet and
that car would have landed
- right on top of you.
- Yeah, another 20 feet,
it would've landed
on us, right smack
in the middle of that diner.
That's my car.
Oh, Laura.
Where's my baby?
There's nobody in it.
Oh, good... Joe, it's empty.
You see?
This car just missed us.
Didn't I tell you this
diner was lucky?
And didn't I tell you
God was protecting us?
Listen to me, baby, it's a
good thing that it's empty.
She's right.
All the seat belts are inside.
Laura... must've
unhooked the baby car seat,
- ran for cover before...
- That's right. She probably saw
the tornado coming
and ran for shelter.
Until it passed.
She must be
scared half to death.
I'm gonna get the
state police on this.
She's got to be somewhere
near the main highway.
Sheriff Guthrie, come in.
You're needed at the shelter
at the high school right away.
I gotcha. 10-4.
You guys... stay inside.
Calvin says that there's
another one on its way.
Sounds like it's gonna get
worse before it gets better.
Don't worry, Joe.
We're gonna find Laura.
Everything's gonna be just fine.
Can't sit here.
I'm gonna go look for 'em.
Joe, you shouldn't
be driving right now.
God'“ protect me.
I know that He will,
baby, but I also know
it's gonna be awfully
hard for one man trying
to find his family while
he's trying to concentrate
on driving through a storm!
Why don't you be
your brother's keeper?!
Come on, Joe. I'll drive.
Come on.
Shouldn't you be saving this
up for the revival on Saturday?
Absolutely not.
Maybe we should turn
around and start looking
- for Joe's family.
- No, the cops'll do that.
I got to stick
with this tornado.
She's either dead or alive,
and there's nothing
I can do about that.
But I can save my job.
I can imagine what Joe must
be going through right now.
He won't be the first guy
that ever lost his family.
How did you lose
your family, Calvin?
I was 14.
We had a farm about 60 miles
the other side of Oklahoma City.
One of the Guernseys
was about to drop a calf.
I had aspirations
of being a doctor
back in those days, so,
I... I sat with her in the barn.
There were no warning sirens,
no claps of thunder, nothing,
just this big old twister,
came out of nowhere.
My parents started
yelling for me.
I ran to the barn door,
looked out, there it was...
already on top of us.
I couldn't move.
My mom was standing
by the storm cellar
with the trapdoor open.
I remember my dad
was running towards me.
That's the last thing
I saw before it hit.
It made this, uh...
screeching sound...
like some kind of demonic laugh.
Then it was over.
And I was all alone.
It laughed at me, Monica...
and I swore from that day on,
that the last laugh
would be mine.
That wind is kicking up again.
Yep.
But we are snug as
a bug in a rug in here.
Don't you worry.
Just a little insurance.
Looks like a little mess.
You really like what
you do, don't you, Tess?
This whole God business.
There's nothing more
satisfying than working for God.
It must be real nice.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- What can I get you?
- Uh, yeah,
just a coffee to go.
I can't remember when
we've had so many...
new faces in here.
Yeah, it's definitely
a... a day to remember.
That's a great jukebox.
It's an antique.
My mama got it in one
of those little shops on
the way down to Shawnee.
Ah. Where did you
say the shops were?
Well, you have to get
off the main highway,
take Rural Route
22... It's the back road.
Ah.
Uh, thank you.
- Oh, my gosh.
- What?
They're not gonna find
Laura by the highway, Tess.
Really?
She really loves antiques.
I remember when she
was up here last Easter.
She likes to get off
the main highway
and take the back
roads, so she can stop
at all those little shops.
- Well, then come on, let's go.
- Where?
And find her! We can't leave her
out there in the
storm with a little baby.
But it's not safe
out there, Tess.
I know it's not!
Can't we just call Ernie?
He's on the other
side of the county.
Now, you listen to me.
This is where
you're going to see
the difference between
putting your faith in luck
and putting your faith in God.
This is your chance, JJ.
God is asking you
to believe in Him.
To put your life in His hands.
Now, come on, let's go.
I'm scared.
I know you're scared.
Come on!
Oh, man!
Lucy, you there?
I'm tracking this system
20 miles due south of Boley.
This storm is breaking
through the cap.
That funnel is huge!
Looks like a piece of
the sky coming down!
It's tracking east-northeast
about two miles.
Got it, Cal.
It's all right, baby.
We're gonna be fine.
Just keep your eyes open.
We're headed for
our third tornado
in the last 24 hours, folks.
National Weather Service has
issued a tornado warning
for Boley, Hanford,
and all of Okfuskee County.
A major tornado has
been spotted on the ground
moving directly toward Boley.
All persons in the
Okfuskee County area
should take cover immediately.
This is an extremely
dangerous situation...
We have to go back, Tess.
Wait, baby. Look.
Tess.
That's her, Tess.
That's Laura!
I want my baby back.
I want her back.
I want her back.
There wasn't supposed to be
a third tornado!
Hey, Cal?
What do you got, Ernie?
Yeah, we found Joe's wife!
That's good news.
What about the baby?
Well, Laura says she was
carrying the baby
to an underpass
when the twister ripped
her right out of her hands.
But we're still looking for her.
Who is this?
Never mind.
Give it up, Ernie,
that baby's long gone.
Yeah, well, Joe hasn't given up.
You know, he's
got a lot of faith.
Yeah, well, it's
not gonna do him
any good out here.
You get those guys to safety.
There's another
twister on the ground.
We gotta try and find that baby
if there's still a chance.
Monica, a tornado
ripped an infant
out of its mother's arms.
God only knows where it is now,
but wherever it is, I
know for sure it's dead.
Talk about lousy luck.
That infant sure had it.
But at least it didn't
have it for very long.
Like some of us.
What are you doing?
Every once in a while,
a day comes along
when I don't like human
beings very much.
Get in. I'm driving.
Are you out of your mind?
What are you doing?
Pull over, now!
Emily.
What?!
The baby's name is Emily.
What are you talking about?
- Joe's baby?
- Yes.
That baby's gone with the wind.
Even if you find her, you're
not gonna find her alive.
You don't know that.
I don't know that.
There's hope.
Hope?!
Oh, my God.
My one lucky day
in my whole life.
The one day my
luck might change,
and I pick up the
miracle worker.
- Stop this truck, now!
- No.
Hey!
Hey. Hey!
Give me the keys! Monica!
Hey! Give me the keys!
It's sidewinding,
it's turning back.
Give me the keys!
We gotta get out of here!
Listen! Can't you hear it?
Hear what?
Listen!
Give me the keys.
Are you crazy?
Father.
You can't hear
because you won't listen.
H-Hear what?
What's going on?
God is here, Calvin...
with us, right now.
I am His angel.
I have brought you here
because you have so many storms
raging in your soul that
your heart has become hard,
and you can no longer
hear God's voice.
You listen only to
words that whisper
of good luck and bad luck,
instead of grace and blessings;
words that cry out for revenge
against what nature destroys,
rather than
proclaiming thanksgiving
for what God creates.
God...
God is angry with me?
God loves you.
He's not angry with you,
he's just saddened.
It didn't have to be this way.
You have spent your
whole life being tossed about
by every wind that comes along
not because of bad luck,
but because of bad choices.
There's a reason that
you haven't succeeded
as a storm chaser, you know.
Because it never
really was your dream
to understand tornados,
or to respect them, was it?
God put the desire
into your heart
to be a doctor,
to use your love of science
to heal and save lives.
But when you lost your parents,
all you wanted to do was to...
to hate nature, to defy it,
to try to control what
you cannot control.
And finally, there was
no room in your life
for miracles.
There was only
science, and luck,
and a life of revenge.
But Calvin, God, the
God who created you,
the God who loves you,
who understands you,
had a better life for you.
But you wouldn't listen.
Will you listen now?
Yes.
Yes, I will.
Good.
Because it's a beautiful sound.
Hey, Ernie.
I'm here, Calvin.
What do you got?
You anywhere near the diner?
We're on our way.
I got a surprise for you.
I got the baby.
What was that, Calvin?
What'd you say?
You got a surprise?
Holy...
I don't believe it.
M-My diner.
You all right, baby?
No.
I'm stupid.
My God, we could've
all been in there.
But you weren't.
And the reason you weren't
is that you put
your faith in God.
And even though you were afraid,
you stepped out and tried
to help somebody else.
Instead of relying on dumb luck.
Looks like God found a way
to cure me of that bad habit.
And save your
life in the process.
I guess we're gonna
have to buy a new game.
You have an uncanny grasp
of the obvious, Langford T.
Oh, my God, Emily!
She's okay.
I found her in that old elm tree
in Darby's Field.
Oh, my baby.
I can't believe it.
My baby.
It's a miracle, Joe.
An honest to God miracle.
That's what we were praying for.
Hi. Honey?
- I'm here, Ernie.
- I'm back. Uh...
I just wanted to make
sure that you were okay.
And I wanted you to know...
that I wouldn't trade...
the last 25 years...
for anything.
You know, I think on
Saturday I might just come by
and visit that revival
meeting of yours.
Baby, this was
the revival meeting.
♪♪
Are there any tornadoes left?
Always.
But not today.
Not today.
Yeah, we're in for some weather.
They look so
different from this side.
The clouds or the people?
Both, I suppose.
The slightest breeze can turn
either one into
something different.
That's nature, baby.
That's the way
the Father made it.
The wind can pick up
itty-bitty seeds and spread “em
over the whole countryside.
Or it can rip a field so badly,
it'll never grow
anything at all.
You just never know which
way the Wind's gonna blow.
I knew it!
It's going to be
worse than I thought.
Yes.
We'd better get going.
I thought my assignment
was here with him.
Well, Calvin is
the storm chaser.
And if we find a
storm, he'll find us.
Last night, the tractor
was right side up...
and two miles away.
To think it was just sitting
in a field somewhere,
minding its own business,
and then a tornado comes
along and swish, picks it up
and carries it through the sky,
and then poof, it
lands down here.
Must have been very
confusing for you, huh?
Monica, you've never
been in a tornado, have you?
No.
They're very scary things.
They can tear through
some open field.
They can also rip through
a crowded classroom.
They don't know the difference.
It's Darby's field.
Do you see it?
The one with the beautiful tree.
That's where it's gonna happen.
Just remember, the only
thing that's more frightening
than living through a tornado
is living through one alone.
That's why you have
to make it to that tree.
With Calvin?
Whatever it takes.
Just be there, okay?
So I don't have to be.
♪ When you walk ♪
♪ Down the road ♪
♪ Heavy burden ♪
♪ Heavy load ♪
♪ I will rise ♪
♪ And I will walk with you ♪
♪ I'll walk with you ♪
♪ Till the sun
don't even shine ♪
♪ Walk with you ♪
♪ Every time, I tell you ♪
♪ I'll walk with you ♪
♪ Walk with you ♪
♪ Believe me, I'll
walk with you. ♪
♪♪
God, You up there?
This would be real
good time to show up.
You're a woman, JJ.
You see? That's
why you the sheriff.
What would you get for a
25th wedding anniversary?
Well... depends.
Who am I married to?
Me.
In that case, what you'd
probably want most is a break.
Well, let me think.
You could take her
on a trip or something.
Where'd you go on
your honeymoon?
Stock car races, Daytona.
Oh, man.
- You gotta be kidding me.
- Hey, hey, we had great seats.
Oh, get out of here!
- Morning.
- Morning.
Coffee?
Uh, tea, please, and...
and one of those sticky buns.
Mm. That is some
car you got out there.
Yeah, that's my baby.
We've been through
a lot together.
Hey, Calvin.
Calvin?
Still got that
morning-after special?
Never thought of you
as a drinking man, Cal.
Yeah, well, I just started.
You out with that
twister last night?
Story of my life.
Where'd it touch down?
Just outside of Shawnee.
Made a little skid mark
across Tim Wilson's back 40.
First twister to actually
land here in two years,
and you missed it?
Uh, excuse me.
Excuse me?
Uh, are you Calvin
Chillcut, the tornado man?
Technical term is storm chaser.
Well, I found something
that belongs to you.
It's a little sticky, but...
How the heck did this get here?
This must've blown five miles.
Well, there's quite a
breeze blowing out there.
Did you read it?
I read enough to know
why you got a hangover.
And if you want to feel better,
there are two
things that you need:
the right breakfast...
Uh, could we have a glass
of orange juice, a raw egg
and a bottle of hot
sauce over here, please?
If you trying to
cure his hangover,
I got a better one then that.
I'm sure you do.
Now this will fix the
hangover in your head,
and then you've got to fix
the hangover in your soul.
Because I know drinking
didn't make you feel this way.
It's this letter.
Did I hear someone
mention the soul?
Yes, you did.
Let me guess: You
must be working
for that big revival
meeting coming to town.
I got you people
all figured out.
You see, that's
how they work it.
They send in advance people
to get your soul all
shook up on Monday
just so's they can come
in and fix it on Saturday.
Am I right?
You one of those God people?
That would not be inaccurate.
Howdy, Joe!
Hey, JJ.
A little early to be
knocking off, don't you think?
Yeah, yeah.
I can't keep my men
up on the scaffolding
with the wind that bad.
We in for more weather, Calvin?
I don't know.
I didn't check Doppler today.
I don't think you'll need the
radar; just look up at that sky.
Yep, there's a storm coming.
And you just gonna sit there?
My time is up.
I have to cease and
desist, so I'm ceasing.
They told you you have
to turn in your tornado
equipment tomorrow,
not today.
It's too late now.
I'm out. That's right.
I lost my grant.
No more research money,
no more fellowships.
The guys in Washington
finally realized that
I been wasting my time here
waiting for the big one to hit.
It never did, so... I'm out.
But you'll get
something else, right?
I mean, they'll send
you to study hurricanes
or volcanoes or
something, won't they?
I study tornadoes, JJ.
That's what I do.
That's all I've ever done.
Two pointless years here...
six months in Dallas,
couple seasons in Kansas,
and I got nothing to
show for any of it, so...
I'm finished.
There are other jobs, Calvin.
Yeah.
What am I gonna do now...
sell, uh, shoes in some
strip mall in Oklahoma City?
No, it's over for me.
Well, I guess so,
if you've given up.
But I've got news for you:
The wind is blowing out there,
which means there's a chance
for something
interesting to happen;
something to make your little
Doppler winger-dinger thing
sit up and take notice.
It's something you don't
know, but God knows.
You don't know what you
going to find, but God does.
And if that's not
enough for you, try this:
you're not gonna
find anything at all
if you sit here wallowing
in this great pool of self-pity.
Amen on that.
Maybe you're right.
Anything could happen out there.
Anything.
Her name's Tess.
She's with that
big revival thingy
that's coming to
town on Saturday.
Drink this up.
Ooh...
Cell's tracking north-northeast
at about six miles per hour.
1:17 p.m., Doppler indicating
a series of storms lining up
all on the same north-
northeasterly track.
Starting to pick up some
rotation in the first cell.
Where you headed?
I haven't made up my mind yet,
but I'm definitely
going in your direction.
Okay.
But I can't guarantee
how far I can take you,
'cause if the storm
comes up, I got to follow it.
Oh, that's okay.
I'm not in any hurry.
Excuse me.
I'm sorry, but I've never
actually hitchhiked before.
Am I supposed to drive?
No, I just want to
check something first.
So how does this work,
when you follow a storm?
Do you sort of sneak up on it?
It's my job.
I track tornadoes.
At least I try to.
Caught me on my last day...
barring a miracle.
I believe in miracles.
Hitchhikers usually do.
Never seen a
miracle myself, but...
as long as the
wind is blowing...
anything can happen.
Lone Ranger to base.
You out there, Lucy?
- Calvin, where are you?
- I'm in the field.
Calvin, you're not
authorized anymore.
You gotta turn your equipment...
Uh, the letter said tomorrow.
Yeah, we got rotation
increasing in a storm cell
about 20 miles
south-southwest of Boley.
Shear's approaching 70 knots
and the sky is going green.
We got a rope on the ground!
Copy that, Lone Ranger.
NWS in Norman
has issued a warning.
Yee-hoo!
Fasten your seatbelt.
What is it?
It's my miracle.
Oh, no, I gotta get home.
See you.
Sheriff Guthrie,
come in, please.
I'm here. Go ahead.
Sheriff, we got a tornado...
What's going on?
Tornado.
We can go a whole
year without a single one
and then get two or
three or four in a day.
It's really weird.
What kind of word is that?
You don't spell
"choir" with a Q.
That's how you spell it when
it means a sheaf of paper.
Now that's what I mean!
Shouldn't we be doing something?
Oh, yeah, everybody's
going to their shelters.
Okay.
Where is yours?
We don't have one.
We don't need one.
You'll see.
Come on.
So let's stick with this one,
and I'll be talking to you.
10-4.
We got another twister
out by the highway.
Now, it's bigger than
the one that hit last night.
It ought to pass right by us,
but y'all ought to take cover.
Well, just to be safe.
I have never closed
this place down
on account of some dumb wind,
and I am not about
to start now, Ernie.
Well, now I know that, but
I had to say it anyway, JJ.
Looks like Calvin
finally got his tornado.
Sheriff...
My wife and little girl were
driving in today from Atlanta
for my birthday.
Now... I don't know.
They-they might be out
there on the highway right now.
What are they driving?
It's a '79 Monte Carlo.
Okay, I'll put a word
out on the radio, okay?
Are they picking you up
at the construction site?
We were gonna meet
right here for lunch.
Well, then you
better wait right here.
You'll probably be safe.
I mean, after all, this is
a lucky place, right, JJ?
You better believe it.
Okay.
All right.
Excuse me.
Uh, what did the sheriff mean
by "This is a lucky place"?
If there's a tornado
within 50 miles of here,
this is the place you run to.
'Cause tornadoes go right by us.
They go over us.
They've even split in
half and gone around us.
We've never been
actually hit by one.
Whole town could get wiped out;
we'd never feel a thing.
That's why we
don't need a shelter.
This diner right here...
It's the luckiest
place on earth.
Hmm.
I see.
Oh, sweetie, it's okay.
We're almost there
for Daddy's birthday.
You gotta be careful
in this kind of weather.
One minute it's clear,
the next second it's
raining cats and dogs.
You can see a funnel a
mile away, think you're safe,
and then, all of a
sudden, it turns, and boom,
it's on top of you in a second.
Hey, Cal, you there?
You must really love your work
to do something so dangerous.
Hey, Ernie, you see what I see?
Yeah, the weather bureau
says it's gonna pass right by,
but I thought I'd get
your professional opinion.
I agree. As long as
it keeps up steam,
it looks to stay a couple
miles east of the main road.
Still gonna get some garbage
dumped on you, though.
I'd wear a hardhat,
if I were you.
According to my wife,
that's what my head is for.
Hey, if you're following
that thing out by the highway,
keep an eye out for Joe's wife.
She's in a '79 Monte Carlo.
She's driving down
alone with the baby.
She's probably a little spooked.
Will do. You button
that place up now.
Roger. Will do.
Here comes rain. Hop in.
Who's Joe?
Joe's one of those decent
guys who works hard,
raises a family, goes
to church on Sunday,
has a beer every Friday
night with the guys,
and dies in bed when he's 92.
Shoot!
Where'd it go?
There.
Joe's best chance for
an exciting life is to fall off
of one of those construction
girders he walks around on.
At least he'd have a few moments
of something thrilling
before it was all over.
That's a terribly
cynical outlook.
Well, you tell me:
Would you rather
live a long boring life
or a short exciting one?
Let me guess.
You're living the
short exciting one.
No, I'm living the
long depressing one,
punctuated by the
occasionally exciting moments
of really, really bad luck.
I don't believe in luck.
I thought you
believed in miracles.
Same difference.
Not at all.
It's hard being separated
from your family,
isn't it, baby?
I miss 'em like crazy.
But a job came up and...
it was only gonna be six months.
The pay was too good to pass up.
Mm.
Ooh, can you hear it?
It's gonna be close.
Excuse me?
Am I the only one that believes
God had a reason for
inventing the storm cellar?
Don't get your bloomers
in an uproar, Tess.
In all the tornadoes,
in all the years,
JJ has never even
had a broken window.
Mm-mm. Mm-mm. Old Man Stratton
threw his teeth through
that window right there
when that potato salad
went bad, you remember that?
We're talking about
storm damage, you idiot.
Well, it wasn't luck
that protected this
place, you know,
and I would appreciate it
if you would keep my
bloomers out of this.
So if it wasn't
luck, what is it?
I would call it
the grace of God.
Then tell me one thing:
Why God let bad things
like tornadoes happen?
Ask any gardener.
You have to prune the
trees to get the best fruit,
and nature has a
way of pruning, too,
and it's only bad when
it's inconvenient for us.
I believe that.
When we plant ourselves
right in the way of nature,
then we want to blame God
for not making
exceptions for us.
That's right.
So, Tess, if a tornado comes by
and smashes your
beautiful red convertible
into “me, "My-bitty bits,
you're okay with that?
Yes, because I know
that God can take anything
that happens in this world
and turn it into something good.
Now, it may not be
exactly clear right away
how He's going to do that,
but I believe one
day, I will understand.
And that's why I'll take
luck instead of God.
Luck doesn't keep you waiting.
You have it or you don't.
We're in here, and
we're gonna be fine,
and those poor
schmoes out there,
forget it.
Oh, Joe, man, I'm sorry.
I know they're gonna be
fine; I'm sure of it, I'm sure of it.
They'll be here any minute.
♪♪
Lucy, this is Lone Ranger.
We are in the bear cage.
Watch yourself, Calvin.
First cell just
passed Darby's Field.
Still headed east toward Boley.
Serious debris.
First cell?
We've got a rotation
in a second cell.
Could be a sister,
waiting to drop in.
Invite the whole family.
We got plenty of gas
and nothing left to lose.
Over.
Did she say there was a
tornado in Darby's Field?
Yeah.
I-I can't explain
this right now,
but it's really,
really important
that we get there, that
we get there right now,
to Darby's Field.
Ernie?
Mobile one.
Ernie, you there?
- What?
- Hey, Ernie...
I'm eight miles out
on the country road.
I got one headed your
way and another one
picking up steam.
Well, I hope you're
getting everything
you need over this thing
to save your miserable job.
'Cause something good
gotta come off of this mess.
Oh, my God.
- Oh, my...
- What is it?
Ernie?
I think I just found
the Monte Carlo.
Holy cow, Ernie!
Another couple of feet and
that car would have landed
- right on top of you.
- Yeah, another 20 feet,
it would've landed
on us, right smack
in the middle of that diner.
That's my car.
Oh, Laura.
Where's my baby?
There's nobody in it.
Oh, good... Joe, it's empty.
You see?
This car just missed us.
Didn't I tell you this
diner was lucky?
And didn't I tell you
God was protecting us?
Listen to me, baby, it's a
good thing that it's empty.
She's right.
All the seat belts are inside.
Laura... must've
unhooked the baby car seat,
- ran for cover before...
- That's right. She probably saw
the tornado coming
and ran for shelter.
Until it passed.
She must be
scared half to death.
I'm gonna get the
state police on this.
She's got to be somewhere
near the main highway.
Sheriff Guthrie, come in.
You're needed at the shelter
at the high school right away.
I gotcha. 10-4.
You guys... stay inside.
Calvin says that there's
another one on its way.
Sounds like it's gonna get
worse before it gets better.
Don't worry, Joe.
We're gonna find Laura.
Everything's gonna be just fine.
Can't sit here.
I'm gonna go look for 'em.
Joe, you shouldn't
be driving right now.
God'“ protect me.
I know that He will,
baby, but I also know
it's gonna be awfully
hard for one man trying
to find his family while
he's trying to concentrate
on driving through a storm!
Why don't you be
your brother's keeper?!
Come on, Joe. I'll drive.
Come on.
Shouldn't you be saving this
up for the revival on Saturday?
Absolutely not.
Maybe we should turn
around and start looking
- for Joe's family.
- No, the cops'll do that.
I got to stick
with this tornado.
She's either dead or alive,
and there's nothing
I can do about that.
But I can save my job.
I can imagine what Joe must
be going through right now.
He won't be the first guy
that ever lost his family.
How did you lose
your family, Calvin?
I was 14.
We had a farm about 60 miles
the other side of Oklahoma City.
One of the Guernseys
was about to drop a calf.
I had aspirations
of being a doctor
back in those days, so,
I... I sat with her in the barn.
There were no warning sirens,
no claps of thunder, nothing,
just this big old twister,
came out of nowhere.
My parents started
yelling for me.
I ran to the barn door,
looked out, there it was...
already on top of us.
I couldn't move.
My mom was standing
by the storm cellar
with the trapdoor open.
I remember my dad
was running towards me.
That's the last thing
I saw before it hit.
It made this, uh...
screeching sound...
like some kind of demonic laugh.
Then it was over.
And I was all alone.
It laughed at me, Monica...
and I swore from that day on,
that the last laugh
would be mine.
That wind is kicking up again.
Yep.
But we are snug as
a bug in a rug in here.
Don't you worry.
Just a little insurance.
Looks like a little mess.
You really like what
you do, don't you, Tess?
This whole God business.
There's nothing more
satisfying than working for God.
It must be real nice.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- What can I get you?
- Uh, yeah,
just a coffee to go.
I can't remember when
we've had so many...
new faces in here.
Yeah, it's definitely
a... a day to remember.
That's a great jukebox.
It's an antique.
My mama got it in one
of those little shops on
the way down to Shawnee.
Ah. Where did you
say the shops were?
Well, you have to get
off the main highway,
take Rural Route
22... It's the back road.
Ah.
Uh, thank you.
- Oh, my gosh.
- What?
They're not gonna find
Laura by the highway, Tess.
Really?
She really loves antiques.
I remember when she
was up here last Easter.
She likes to get off
the main highway
and take the back
roads, so she can stop
at all those little shops.
- Well, then come on, let's go.
- Where?
And find her! We can't leave her
out there in the
storm with a little baby.
But it's not safe
out there, Tess.
I know it's not!
Can't we just call Ernie?
He's on the other
side of the county.
Now, you listen to me.
This is where
you're going to see
the difference between
putting your faith in luck
and putting your faith in God.
This is your chance, JJ.
God is asking you
to believe in Him.
To put your life in His hands.
Now, come on, let's go.
I'm scared.
I know you're scared.
Come on!
Oh, man!
Lucy, you there?
I'm tracking this system
20 miles due south of Boley.
This storm is breaking
through the cap.
That funnel is huge!
Looks like a piece of
the sky coming down!
It's tracking east-northeast
about two miles.
Got it, Cal.
It's all right, baby.
We're gonna be fine.
Just keep your eyes open.
We're headed for
our third tornado
in the last 24 hours, folks.
National Weather Service has
issued a tornado warning
for Boley, Hanford,
and all of Okfuskee County.
A major tornado has
been spotted on the ground
moving directly toward Boley.
All persons in the
Okfuskee County area
should take cover immediately.
This is an extremely
dangerous situation...
We have to go back, Tess.
Wait, baby. Look.
Tess.
That's her, Tess.
That's Laura!
I want my baby back.
I want her back.
I want her back.
There wasn't supposed to be
a third tornado!
Hey, Cal?
What do you got, Ernie?
Yeah, we found Joe's wife!
That's good news.
What about the baby?
Well, Laura says she was
carrying the baby
to an underpass
when the twister ripped
her right out of her hands.
But we're still looking for her.
Who is this?
Never mind.
Give it up, Ernie,
that baby's long gone.
Yeah, well, Joe hasn't given up.
You know, he's
got a lot of faith.
Yeah, well, it's
not gonna do him
any good out here.
You get those guys to safety.
There's another
twister on the ground.
We gotta try and find that baby
if there's still a chance.
Monica, a tornado
ripped an infant
out of its mother's arms.
God only knows where it is now,
but wherever it is, I
know for sure it's dead.
Talk about lousy luck.
That infant sure had it.
But at least it didn't
have it for very long.
Like some of us.
What are you doing?
Every once in a while,
a day comes along
when I don't like human
beings very much.
Get in. I'm driving.
Are you out of your mind?
What are you doing?
Pull over, now!
Emily.
What?!
The baby's name is Emily.
What are you talking about?
- Joe's baby?
- Yes.
That baby's gone with the wind.
Even if you find her, you're
not gonna find her alive.
You don't know that.
I don't know that.
There's hope.
Hope?!
Oh, my God.
My one lucky day
in my whole life.
The one day my
luck might change,
and I pick up the
miracle worker.
- Stop this truck, now!
- No.
Hey!
Hey. Hey!
Give me the keys! Monica!
Hey! Give me the keys!
It's sidewinding,
it's turning back.
Give me the keys!
We gotta get out of here!
Listen! Can't you hear it?
Hear what?
Listen!
Give me the keys.
Are you crazy?
Father.
You can't hear
because you won't listen.
H-Hear what?
What's going on?
God is here, Calvin...
with us, right now.
I am His angel.
I have brought you here
because you have so many storms
raging in your soul that
your heart has become hard,
and you can no longer
hear God's voice.
You listen only to
words that whisper
of good luck and bad luck,
instead of grace and blessings;
words that cry out for revenge
against what nature destroys,
rather than
proclaiming thanksgiving
for what God creates.
God...
God is angry with me?
God loves you.
He's not angry with you,
he's just saddened.
It didn't have to be this way.
You have spent your
whole life being tossed about
by every wind that comes along
not because of bad luck,
but because of bad choices.
There's a reason that
you haven't succeeded
as a storm chaser, you know.
Because it never
really was your dream
to understand tornados,
or to respect them, was it?
God put the desire
into your heart
to be a doctor,
to use your love of science
to heal and save lives.
But when you lost your parents,
all you wanted to do was to...
to hate nature, to defy it,
to try to control what
you cannot control.
And finally, there was
no room in your life
for miracles.
There was only
science, and luck,
and a life of revenge.
But Calvin, God, the
God who created you,
the God who loves you,
who understands you,
had a better life for you.
But you wouldn't listen.
Will you listen now?
Yes.
Yes, I will.
Good.
Because it's a beautiful sound.
Hey, Ernie.
I'm here, Calvin.
What do you got?
You anywhere near the diner?
We're on our way.
I got a surprise for you.
I got the baby.
What was that, Calvin?
What'd you say?
You got a surprise?
Holy...
I don't believe it.
M-My diner.
You all right, baby?
No.
I'm stupid.
My God, we could've
all been in there.
But you weren't.
And the reason you weren't
is that you put
your faith in God.
And even though you were afraid,
you stepped out and tried
to help somebody else.
Instead of relying on dumb luck.
Looks like God found a way
to cure me of that bad habit.
And save your
life in the process.
I guess we're gonna
have to buy a new game.
You have an uncanny grasp
of the obvious, Langford T.
Oh, my God, Emily!
She's okay.
I found her in that old elm tree
in Darby's Field.
Oh, my baby.
I can't believe it.
My baby.
It's a miracle, Joe.
An honest to God miracle.
That's what we were praying for.
Hi. Honey?
- I'm here, Ernie.
- I'm back. Uh...
I just wanted to make
sure that you were okay.
And I wanted you to know...
that I wouldn't trade...
the last 25 years...
for anything.
You know, I think on
Saturday I might just come by
and visit that revival
meeting of yours.
Baby, this was
the revival meeting.
♪♪
Are there any tornadoes left?
Always.
But not today.
Not today.