Category 5 (2014) Movie Script

I can't believe he's doing this.
Charlie, are you really that
surprised?
I'm surprised Mary hasn't
talked any sense into him.
Danny doesn't have a job
right now.
That house is all they've got.
Nothing is worth your life.
[THUNDERCLAP]
God, look at this flooding.
So what's the plan?
[THUNDERCLAP]
We get them, we get out, or
we're all dead.
I mean, you can't play around
with these things.
I'm not gonna gamble with our
lives.
[THUNDERCLAP]
We are currently urging all
residents of Southern
Mississippi and Louisiana to
take shelter as soon as possible.
If you have not already
evacuated...
May god be with you.
[THUNDERCLAP]
What happened?
It's okay, honey.
We need to get to a room with
no windows.
This thing's coming at us fast.
Come on.
Mom?
It's okay, baby, come on.
You need to stay here and
take care of mom, okay?
I'll be right back.
Danny!
Hey, Danny, open up!
Danny, open the door!
Danny, come on, open up!
Danny!
Who's out there?
Danny, it's me, Charlie.
Open the door.
It's boarded up.
Yeah, I can see that.
Just open the damn door.
All right, hold on a second.
What the hell are you doing?
I said we got to go.
I'm gonna stay and hold down
the fort.
You're putting everybody in
danger.
The guys on the radio were
saying this thing's already
weakened to a cat three.
We used to have parties in a cat
three, remember that?
I don't care.
What if that's wrong?
This is a sturdy house.
Don't do this right now, Danny.
Where are you gonna take us?
Don't do this right now.
Where are you gonna take us
that's sturdier than this home?
Think about your family.
I am thinking about my family.
Danny, can I talk to you for
a second?
Talk some sense into him.
I'm trying!
Please talk some sense into
him, let's go.
Baby, we talked about this.
I told you I'd stay with you
through hell or high water.
You don't know how bad this is gonna get.
And look at our daughter,
Danny, please.
Okay.
All right, listen, Charlie.
Take Victoria.
Okay?
But you got to swear to me
you'll protect our little girl.
Like she's my own.
Go around to the side of the
house.
I'll drop down the rope ladder.
Listen to me, Danny.
Is there anything I can say to
get you to change your mind?
This is all we have.
And I have to protect it.
So come on.
Shake my hand.
I'll see you in the morning.
How about that?
Come here, man.
I love you, man.
I love you too.
Mary, you take care of him.
All right, we're fine.
Let's go.
Charlie, let's go.
Victoria, come on.
All right, we need to get up
these stairs, let's go!
Dad, where are we going?
You're going with your uncle
Charlie.
What do you mean?
I mean, it's time for us to go.
I don't have time to discuss
this.
Dad, I don't want to go.
I know you don't want to go.
It's not up for discussion.
Why are we doing this?
We should stick together.
Okay, we should all leave.
We have so much here we need to protect.
What about me?
[SIGHS]
Come on.
That's why you're going with
uncle Charlie.
Listen, we got to get going,
baby.
Hold on. Hold on.
Listen, we love you.
All right?
You're gonna be fine.
And we're gonna be okay too.
This is the key to the house
I grew up in.
When you wear this, you'll
always be home with us.
Okay?
Please don't do this.
You guys, please don't do this.
Please don't go. No!
You're gonna be fine, baby.
Come here, love.
It's gonna be okay.
[CRYING]
This is worse than anyone
thought.
The catastrophic storm has
laid waste to New Orleans
and the Mississippi Gulf coast.
Looting, crime, murders,
and martial law have swept over our city.
Homes being swept away, the
streets are flooded.
Hundreds are dead.
Thousands are injured.
Countless more remain missing.
This is Michael Scott Shannon
reporting.
[LAUGHING]
[LAUGHING]
[FAINT VOICES]
[THUNDERCLAP]
Is everything okay?
Yeah.
Yeah, everything's fine.
Just, um... I just had a bad
dream, that's all.
Well, if you need anything,
I'm here to help.
Thanks, Julia.
I know you are.
I really appreciate it.
I'll see you in the morning.
How about that?
You okay, honey?
Yeah.
Why?
I don't know.
You just seem a little tense.
Campaign getting in your head?
Oh, no.
No, it's not that.
It's that storm brewing down at pops'
kind of has me on edge a little bit.
Yeah.
Me too.
I figure maybe if I go on a
run, I might be able to knock
back a little stress.
Sounds good.
I'm gonna take a shower.
I had a long day at work.
Yeah, you deserve it, baby.
I'll see you in a bit.
I'll be back soon.
All right.
[SOFT GUITAR BALLAD]
[SIGHS]
They warned you well
that I ain't no good
I've been around
a time or two
I put you through hell
and I'll just let you down
and maybe I was born to run
in the forever setting sun
that was me then
old habits are meant
to break
and I know that I
I let you down
but that was me then
and this is me now
I shouldn't have run
I was the one
who have should have tried
run till the end
I'll chase you
till it breaks my heart
[RUMBLING]
I ain't gonna stop
'cause I've gone too far
over the edge
fallen too hard
this time around
I won't stop loving you
and I know that I
I let you down
but that was me then
and this is me now
I shouldn't have run
I was the one
who have should have tried
run till the end
I'll chase you
till it breaks my heart
run till the end
I'll chase you
till it breaks my heart
Hey, bud.
Hey, chas.
[SIGHS]
What's going on?
They drop this thing down to a
tropical storm?
Yeah, I guess so.
[GROANS]
How's that book coming along?
It's really boring.
Hoping they might postpone the
beginning of school with the
storm on the way and everything.
Postpone school?
It's gonna be a rainstorm in
Mexico.
What... what are you doing?
Turning off the TV so you can
do a little reading.
Oh, that's what this is about?
No, this is about school
starting next week.
I'll just cliff note it.
No, you're not gonna cliff
note it.
You want a driver's license?
I want good grades.
End of discussion.
Whatever.
No, don't "whatever" me.
This is about your future.
My future's so bright, chas,
I have to wear sunglasses at
night.
But it doesn't involve school.
Really?
Yeah.
What's it involve?
I'm gonna be a famous dj,
travel around the world
entertaining people.
[LAUGHS] Great.
My son, the traveling idiot.
Look, Ethan.
You know, you never talk to
Victoria like that.
I'm sorry, okay?
When she wanted to run off and
become a stupid little news reporter.
Ethan, don't walk away from me.
How is it any different from
what I want?
Besides the fact that it might
embarrass you.
That's not fair.
Oh, I forgot.
She's your perfect little niece.
Look, it...
You just don't treat her the
same way.
That's not the same.
She's your perfect little niece.
That's not fair.
I know.
That's not fair.
Let's just talk about this for a second.
Ethan!
Don't walk away from me!
Ethan!
What was that all about?
I'm just trying to get him to
do his homework, that's all.
Charlie.
Oh.
[WHIMPERS]
Are you okay?
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold
on.
Ethan.
[GLASS BREAKING]
Mom?
Ethan.
Mom.
[CLEARS THROAT]
[PHONE VIBRATING]
Oh, my god.
[GASPS]
Excuse me.
Sorry.
Excuse me.
[SIGHS] Okay.
[SIGHS]
What the heck happened?
The gods have spoken.
I'm sorry?
Earthquake out in the Gulf.
All right, what are we
talking about here?
9.2 Richter measurements at
the epicenter.
That's impossible.
That's hundreds of times greater
than loma prieta.
The whole top blew off of this one.
Double the force of mount St.
Helens.
The explosive power of almost
1,000 atomic bombs went off in
the Gulf this morning.
Fortunately for all of us, it
was deep underwater.
The last time something even
rumbled in the Gulf was 1957.
You know, despite your
encyclopedic knowledge of all
things weather, Victoria, your
maps are a little old-school,
and you should think about
upgrading.
I like the feeling of the old
charts.
Okay.
What is that?
What is, um, what?
What is that?
Lava.
They're saying it's a pretty
massive flow, a gigantic amount
pumping out from the earth's
crust.
Oh, boy, and it is spreading
fast.
Check it out.
Temperature increase of 20 degrees
per hour near the epicenter.
How deep is that water where
the fault line is?
100 meters.
It's not deep enough to
contain the spread.
Nope.
But the Tsunami warnings have
been negligible.
Okay, so no Tsunami warnings.
What about Caroline?
What about her?
Where's the eye?
Well, there isn't really an
eye to this storm.
It's more of a tropical
depression.
Just the coordinates, Pete,
please.
Okay, okay, okay.
Just hang on a second, I...
I got this.
Um, the eye of the storm, if you
could call it such, would be at
about...
23.341 north by 92.128
west, more or less.
Well, is it more or less?
5% margin of error.
Good enough for me.
You know, I'm surprised you
don't still use an abacus.
[CLEARS THROAT]
What are you doing now,
Magellan?
We're all ears, Ms. Dupuis.
Victoria, what's going on?
Talk to us.
Okay, um...
Okay, here's what I'm thinking.
The thermal readings indicate
that the high temperatures in
the troposphere are resulting
from the lava heat.
And in this case, those high
temps and conditions could be
reaching all the way into the
stratosphere because of the co2.
So that's gonna cause an enormous
amount of atmospheric lift.
And traveling at 20 kilometers
an hour under the sea, that's
gonna collide with our tropical
depression somewhere around here.
It's called a cyclogenesis.
Common occurrence, just a rare
cause in this case.
So what?
Pardon me if I'm wrong here.
That wave of low pressure is
gonna hit Caroline in only...
3 1/2 hours.
And then what happens?
Well, then things could get
interesting.
What do you mean, "interesting"?
Unbelievable.
Hey, Victoria.
Victoria.
Hey, Victoria.
Victoria.
Wait up.
Victoria, where are you going?
Victoria, hey.
What are you doing?
There's a chance that
Caroline is gonna hit gulfport.
I realized it just as we were talking.
Okay. And?
And my grandfather lives in
gulfport, Pete, and he's too old
and stubborn to leave.
Even if a hurricane was coming,
he wouldn't evacuate unless, I
don't know, I was there to
convince him.
You heard professor brown.
He said there's, like, a 1 in 50
chance that's gonna happen.
I mean, the guy got a phd from
Berkeley.
He's kind of smart.
I know, I just...
I have a gut feeling about this
one.
You have a gut feeling?
Mm-hmm.
Yes.
I mean, this could be our chance
to really shine here, Pete.
Think about it, Victoria dupuis
and Pete Keller, ahead of the
curve.
I mean, we're never gonna make a
name for ourselves by just
sitting this one out.
So what exactly are you
talking about?
Do you have the keys to the
white monster?
Oh, my god, no way.
Come on!
Don't even think about it.
Come on, we're allowed to use
it for school projects.
Yeah, we're allowed to use it
for projects here in Dallas.
We're not even supposed to take
it off of the campus.
But this could be our shot.
I mean, how many journalism
students do you know who could
say they shot footage from
inside a hurricane?
We can pick and choose our jobs
the minute we get out of school.
And plus we'd really be helping
people.
This is such a stupid idea.
Fortune favors the bold, Pete.
I mean, people's lives are at
stake here.
My family, when we went through
this...
I'm sorry, I can't do it.
I'm here on scholarship.
I've got way too much to lose.
You're gonna have to call your
grandfather and tell him what's going on.
Sorry.
I don't know what you want me to
tell you.
[SIGHS]
Fire and molten lava spewing
from an underwater earthquake.
Uncle Charlie, I'm telling you,
it's going to be really bad.
You have to get ahold of him.
Well, are you sure?
I mean, how do you know?
I know.
I know it sounds crazy, but this
thing is going to switch paths.
I've never been so sure about anything.
Well, at least you're in
Texas, and you're safe, right?
I know.
Somebody needs to get ahold of
him.
Please let me know if you get
ahold of him.
Yeah.
Okay.
Love you, uncle Charlie.
I love you too.
Okay.
Bye.
What was that all about?
Victoria seems to think that
the storm is gonna change paths
and possibly turn into a
hurricane.
Change paths to where?
Maybe gulfport.
But she's convinced it's gonna
be pretty strong.
No offense, but how could she
possibly know that?
I don't know, Ethan, maybe
because she studies.
Studying doesn't make
her nostradamus. Ethan.
I'm just saying, you'd think
the professionals at a weather
station might figure this out before
a girl in college knows something.
You know what, I've had
enough from you.
Thank you.
Oh, okay.
Look at where the hurricane
is now.
Can we at least give it until
tomorrow before we start jumping
to conclusions?
You should listen to mom.
She's smarter than you are.
Ethan, that's enough.
I'm out of here.
[SIGHS]
Babe, we all know Victoria can be
a little overzealous sometimes.
Wouldn't you agree?
[SOFTLY] Yeah.
You don't like being told no,
do you?
I don't like being prevented
from doing what's necessary.
This is far from necessary.
Maybe to you.
I spoke to professor brown.
He thinks your numbers may be
correct.
Did he say we can use the Van?
Not exactly.
What does not exactly mean?
It means that we're violating
at least three student codes of
conduct just by being in this
garage right now.
We could get expelled.
Okay, well, you don't have to
come with me.
Just tell him you couldn't stop me.
Victoria...
I'm coming with.
Thank you!
Okay.
You're doing the right thing.
Yeah, I sure as hell hope so.
And as you can see, there are
multiple variations of the
possible new paths this storm
system could take.
Nothing quite like this has ever
happened, not since we've been
able to track these storms with
satellites.
The underwater volcano eruption
and subsequent heating of the
water may create the perfect set
of ingredients that tropical
storm Caroline needs to increase
in size and power over the next
12 hours.
So today will be a historic one
in terms of our understanding of
hurricane science and,
specifically, global
thermodynamics.
We'll all just have to wait to see
what happens next as the day unfolds.
I think I'd better call pops.
Yeah, I think you should.
Two of the possible paths look like
they're headed straight for Mississippi.
[PHONE RINGING]
Honey?
Come on, pops, pick up the
phone.
Is he not answering?
[SIGHS]
So typical.
Maybe his phone got knocked
out in the earthquake.
No, no, he's just stubborn,
that's all.
He's a creature of habit.
What do you want to do?
[SIGHS]
I got to go down there.
Gulfport is six hours away. What
would you do if it was your dad, babe?
All right, go.
Get pops out of there.
Get back here as soon as
possible.
Maybe you'll be in a better mood
then.
I'll be in a better mood when
my family starts taking these
storms a little more seriously.
You're not gonna get me a car?
Fine.
I'll just take yours, chas.
See how you like it.
Charlie, be safe.
And call me from the road.
Crap!
When I was a little girl
there were things my...
Hey.
Oh, thank you.
There you go.
So how we doing?
It just strengthened to
hurricane-force winds.
Yeah? What's it clocking at?
78 and counting.
[WHISTLES]
Wow. Ladies and gentlemen,
we got a storm brewing here.
You okay?
Yup.
Yeah, I'm good.
[SIGHS] I just hate
to say I told you so.
Yeah, well, when you're
right, you're right.
We should really get going, huh?
I mean, this thing is not
slowing down.
Yeah, well, neither are we.
Hang on.
All right. Oh, I'm gonna stay
back here and keep working, okay?
Yeah, yeah.
And drive safely, please.
There are no seatbelts back
here.
Says the girl who is leading
me into the eye of a hurricane.
[ENGINE STARTS]
[SIGHS]
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
Pops, it's your son.
I'm pretty sure you don't need that
gun that's in your hand right now.
Come on in, smart-ass.
[KNOCKING]
Pops, I know you're here.
It's me, Charlie.
Of course it is.
Nobody else leaves eight
messages.
How are you, Charlie?
Do you ever answer your phone?
No.
Hey, Ethan.
Ethan, buddy, are you okay?
Ethan, open the door.
All right, I'm coming in.
Ethan, I made you dinner.
Ethan?
Charlie, pick up, pick up.
There's a pretty good storm
brewing, and it's headed right
for gulfport.
No, I heard the news last
night at the bowling alley.
They said it's just a tropical
depression.
Well, things have changed a little
bit since the bowling alley, pop.
This thing's gonna be serious.
And it's headed here.
Did you get up on the wrong
side of the bed today?
Pops, no, I didn't.
But I did drive six hours to
come see you, because you don't
answer your phone.
[PHONE RINGING]
Oh, speaking of which.
Hold on.
Oh, it's Ellie.
Hey, babe.
Charlie, I can't find Ethan
anywhere, he's gone.
What?
Charlie, what... what's going on?
You're... you're kidding me.
Oh! No, no, no! I got to call you back.
I think I got him.
Charlie. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
Hey, hey!
Are you freaking kidding me?
Huh?
What are you doing?
No, don't just stare at me.
Get out of the car.
How do you even know how to do
this, huh?
Oh, unbelievable, both of you.
You teach my kid how to hot-wire
a car?
What's the matter with you?
Everybody needs to know how
to hot-wire a car.
You never know when it's gonna
come in handy.
No, can we just go, please?
There's a big storm bearing down
on us.
That's what I was trying to tell
you inside, pops.
I'm not leaving this house.
No, you are leaving this house.
It's not a discussion.
Charlie, I know you still
feel guilty about what happened
to you and your brother.
But it is what it is.
He made that choice.
I lost Danny because of a bad decision.
I'm not about to let that happen
again.
Do you understand me?
You can't keep doing this to
yourself.
I'm doing what I should've
done a long time ago.
Now let's go.
Listen to me.
I'm not leaving this house.
[BIRDS SQUAWKING]
Well, maybe.
Wow.
Yeah.
Damn.
Where are they all going?
It's not where they're going.
It's where they've been that I'd
like to know.
I got some boards out back.
I want you to get them and help
me board up those windows and
doors, all right?
Well, look at you, Mr.
Changing my tune.
Yeah, I'm changing my tune.
Animals are a hell of a lot
smarter than we are.
Can we just board this place up
quickly and get out of here, please?
[SIGHS]
This is quickly?
[BIRDS SQUAWKING]
Just make sure that's on.
Yeah. Now it's good.
Ready?
Yup.
Here goes.
Okay, just got the first shot
lined up.
You look great.
Okay. Thanks.
You ready?
Yeah.
Okay.
Rolling.
[CLEARS THROAT]
This is Victoria dupuis, live
here on the ground in downtown
gulfport, Mississippi.
It's eight hours after the most
violent underwater volcano in
recorded history occurred in the
Gulf of Mexico.
Here in Mississippi, all eyes
are on hurricane Caroline as she
grows larger 100 miles south of
the coast.
Now whether she'll change course
and head north has yet to be seen.
But the entire coast is eagerly
waiting for more information on
the storm and the potentially
devastating effects it could
have on the local communities
here.
I personally lost my parents in
the aftermath of hurricane
Katrina.
And I have wanted to bring early
warnings to communities ever
since that day and to be on the
ground during the storm, to
understand what they went
through, and how we can be
better prepared.
We'll be reporting on this storm
system throughout the day.
This is Victoria dupuis, on the
ground in gulfport, Mississippi,
ahead of the curve.
Cut.
That was really good.
Hey.
Hey, come here.
Come here.
You were wonderful.
What's wrong?
I just... I just can't believe
I'm back here right now.
I'm so sorry I made you come
here.
This is so stupid.
No, no, no, not at all.
I-I wanted to come.
I'm glad I'm here.
Okay.
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
How long did you say it would
take to get to your
grandfather's from here?
Um, I don't know, maybe a
half hour.
He lives right over the bridge.
All right, well, we'd better
get going if we want to
get there in time. Yeah.
Let's pack up.
Okay.
But I want to get this footage
uploaded and online first.
I think it's important that the
rest of the world sees what's
gonna happen here.
By rest of the world, do you
mean all 12 people who might be
watching our tiny web show
online?
Yes, all 12 of them.
All right, come on, toss me the mic.
Does this tape... is it finished?
Do I just push here?
You know, just... Okay. Boom.
Let's do this.
We need to get out of here.
Yeah, I know.
I just want to get one more shot
before we get to pops' house.
All right, just tell me where
to go.
I'll do the driving.
Okay. Deal.
This is Victoria dupuis, live
here on the ground in downtown
gulfport, Mississippi.
It's eight hours after the most
violent underwater volcano in...
You did it anyway.
Why am I not surprised?
Here in Mississippi, all eyes
are on hurricane Caroline as she
grows larger 100 miles south of
the coast.
Now whether she'll change course
and head north has yet to be seen.
But the entire coast is eagerly
waiting for more information on
the storm and the potentially
devas...
That's... that's good, yeah.
[PHONE RINGING]
Yeah?
Hey, Scott.
I got something I think you
ought to take a look at.
You still down there on the Gulf
coast?
Yeah, I got a lot going on
right now.
Is this important?
What can I help you with?
No, I know you're busy.
It's a student of mine.
Do you have a pen and a moment
to take a look?
Anyone have a pen?
In an odd, related story,
we've connected with a pair of
students via their g4 Internet
connection, streaming from an
old college news Van.
They drove all the way from
Dallas, Texas to the beaches of
Mississippi earlier today.
A video they shot was used by
meteorologists here at our
station to confirm that the
outer bands of the storm are
actually closer than anyone
thought.
Here in Mississippi, all eyes
are on hurricane Caroline...
I can't believe they're
airing this right now.
This is so cool.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
Now whether she'll change course
and head north has yet to be seen.
But the entire coast is eagerly
waiting for more information on
the storm and the potentially
devastating effects it could have
on the local communities here.
I personally lost my parents in
the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.
And I have wanted to bring early
warnings to communities ever
since that day and to be on the
ground during the storm, to
understand what they went through,
and how we can be better prepared.
[HORNS HONKING]
[THUNDERCLAP]
Here she comes.
Guys!
Guys!
I'm almost done.
One second.
No, mom... mom is here.
What are y'all still doing
boarding up?
We need to get out of here.
Ellie, what are you doing here?
The storm, I just heard on
the radio.
It's a category four now.
It's an hour away.
Pop, we're staring at a cat
four.
That's impossible.
I just heard it on the radio.
We got to find a safer place
to go now.
[THUNDERCLAP]
[SIREN BLARING]
It's a little late for that.
Okay, everybody in the house
now.
No!
No, we need to get out.
Ellie, we'll talk about this inside.
What about the plan to evacuate
that you and I talked about?
The storm is on us now!
Charlie.
Let's go, pops.
They'll never take this house.
Never.
Okay, we rolling?
Yeah. You got this?
Yeah, the light's on.
Yeah, okay. All right, come on.
Let's do this.
This is Victoria dupuis.
This is my cameraman Pete
Keller.
We are back with you, deep
inside hurricane Caroline.
We are getting amazingly low
barometric pressure readings.
Winds are steady at 105 miles
per hour.
Our radars are registering
anomalous propagations, which
pretty much means that there is
something big right outside the
outer bands of this storm cell.
The strength of this
hurricane is truly incredible.
The effective temperatures on
ground level are boiling hot,
the result of a fiery August
portal.
Our e.H.I. Levels are
peaking at 3.5.
That means the likelihood of
downbursts are greatly
increased.
It's truly remarkable to
think that not, like, what, 12
hours ago this was just a small
tropical depression.
Now all signs are showing that
this is developing into a solid
category five storm sys...
We're actually in quite a...
Quite a bit of danger right now.
We're minutes away from moving
our Van to a safer location
away from the beach, where the
winds are just getting more and
more intense by the minute.
This thing is really howling.
We will be back with you
every 20 minutes, reporting on
this storm.
Once again, this is Victoria
dupuis and Pete Keller, ahead of
the curve.
All right.
We got to get out of here.
Okay. Let's do this.
I'll get the camera.
You okay?
Yeah, I'm good, I'm good.
You okay? All right.
I'm gonna drive.
Okay, okay.
I'll stay back here.
There's some readings that I want
to jot down we can use later.
All right.
You were right.
The e.H.I. Levels are
completely off the chain.
Victoria, be careful out there.
[GARBLED AUDIO]
I know! Just like a toy truck.
I know.
[TIRES SCREECHING]
Pops, do you have to keep
doing that?
We're all terrified enough as it
is.
I'm not terrified.
And charlie's the one freaking out.
Ethan.
All of you go ahead and be
quiet for a minute, will you?
You're giving me a headache.
Pops.
You hear that?
That right there is the single best
home security system known to man.
Stop it.
God.
You got one of these?
It's the universal language of
fear.
Are you finished?
You ain't gonna find a safer
place to ride out the storm than
right here, right here in this
home.
You can count on it.
Pops.
Pops, I want you to think about
what you're doing to us right now.
[THUNDERCLAP]
[CHUCKLES]
Go sit down, baby.
I know what I'm doing.
Spooky outside, isn't it?
Are you okay?
How we doing up there?
I can't see anything.
I can't hold her!
Just hold her steady. Try to keep
it in the middle of the street.
I'm trying to do that.
The wind's blowing too hard.
Victoria, what's going on out there?
Oh, my god! Oh, my god!
Victoria!
[TIRES SCREECHING]
[SCREAMS]
3.5.
That means the likelihood of
downbursts are greatly increased.
It's truly remarkable to
think that not, like, what, 12
hours ago, this was just a small
tropical depression.
Now all signs are showing that
this is developing into a solid...
Do you think they're gonna be
okay?
I don't know.
There's got to be something
else we can do to help.
Julia, just about all we can
do right now is pray.
She's gonna make it through
this.
I know, but there's got to be
something else we can do.
This is Victoria dupuis and
Pete Keller, ahead of the curve.
If you won't say anything, I
will.
What do you want me to say?
He's not gonna move.
That's your answer?
No, that's his answer.
All right.
Pops... enough is enough.
I'm at my wits' end here.
[LAUGHS]
I can see that.
We are all gonna drown if we
stay here.
And I cannot let that happen to
my family.
This house is gonna end up on
the other side of the highway
when it's all said and done,
and you know that.
I built this house.
It's sturdy as a brick.
[THUNDERCLAP]
[SIGHS]
Nobody freak out.
Charlie, there's a lantern by
the fireplace.
It isn't safe here.
Listen to your grandson if
you won't listen to me.
Do you really want to put us
through this?
You know we would never leave
here without you.
We'd never leave you alone.
And you are putting us all in danger.
Really?
Pops, please.
You need something, little man?
Come on, pops.
Why can't you just listen to them?
We can't separate now, and we're
not leaving you, okay?
So just listen to us.
I'm begging you.
Sit down!
All right.
You did good, little man,
speaking up.
Tell you what, we'll find some
higher ground.
The last thing I want to do is
see you guys hurt on account of
me.
[SIGHS]
Okay, thanks.
Ethan, you heard your grandpa.
Come on.
We're leaving.
Let's go.
How far away are we?
Well, if that damn bridge
didn't get taken out, we
would've been there an hour ago.
It just ripped in half.
I've never seen anything like that.
Yeah.
And if my son would start
driving like a man, we'll be
there in 20 minutes.
Seriously, pops?
I can barely see as it is.
Charlie, watch out!
[TIRES SCREECHING]
Is everybody okay?
Yeah.
Yeah, we're okay.
You think there's anybody in
there?
Only one way to find out.
We got to get out of this
vehicle now.
All right.
Hey!
Anybody in here?
Anybody in here?
Ethan, don't go out there.
Is there a door down there?
I'll go check it.
Okay, stay here.
Be careful.
Hey, is anyone in there?
Hello?
Anybody in there?
Open up.
Look out, look out.
Stand back.
Ellie, be careful.
Come on, mom.
Hurry up.
Come on, pops.
Hey, anybody in here?
No!
Jesus.
Get back, get back!
You shot my dad.
Yeah, and I'll shoot you too!
No looters.
There ain't nothing here for you.
We're not looters.
We were stranded in the
hurricane.
Hold still, pops, okay?
Don't move.
Shut up!
Everybody just shut up.
Come out with your hands up,
slow.
Slow.
I said slow.
Who are you?
I got nothing.
Who are you?
What are you doing here?
We needed to find some higher
ground, okay?
We ended up here.
Look, man, my son's trapped
under that beam.
Can you help me?
Yes or no.
I can help you.
I'm a doctor.
But you have to let me check him
out first.
Who did I hit?
Me, you son of a... pops.
Pops?
Put the gun down, okay?
Put the gun down.
What are you doing, walking
in here with a shotgun?
What do you expect me to do?
I expected you to fire a warning shot.
That was a warning shot.
Ellie, help the kid.
I've been through a lot worse
than this.
Would you hush and let me
take care of you?
It's just a sissy
nine millimeter.
I'm lucky it wasn't a .45.
Ellie, just take care of him,
all right?
My son is hurt.
Please, hurry.
Ellie, help the kid now.
It's just a scratch.
It is not a scratch.
I got this, pops.
Just let her help you.
Show me where your kid is.
Right over here, man.
Okay.
Damn.
Do you think we could even lift
this thing up together?
I don't know what we're gonna do,
but we need to get this off of him now.
Okay, okay, okay.
It's probably gonna be a lot
heavier than you think.
Ellie, I need you over here now.
I'm coming.
Ellie, help the kid.
All right, Ethan, look.
I need you to come over here, and I want
you to apply pressure to his wound, okay?
A lot of pressure, as hard as
you can press.
There's gonna be a lot of blood.
But it went through, and it
didn't hit any vital organs.
All right?
Yeah, I'm okay.
You are lucky.
You're the luckiest son of a
bitch I know.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Listen, do you think we could
lift this thing up and move him
out without hurting him any
more?
[THUNDERCLAP]
Yeah.
I just hope the whole thing
doesn't come down.
You're okay, kiddo.
I should be telling you that
right now.
Yeah, but then you'd be lying.
You know something, you've
turned into a fine young man.
You look at your dad, everything
he does, everything he's doing.
That's a hero.
We need to hurry.
He's been breathing kind of funny.
He's probably got a few
broken ribs.
What's your name?
Joanna.
Okay, Joanna, what I need you to do
is grab him by the belt loop, okay?
Okay.
When I say go, we're gonna pull him
out of here in one clean movement.
And on my count. Ready?
One...
Two...
Three.
[ALL GRUNTING]
Good job.
Good job, buddy, okay?
You're doing a great job. Joanna.
Yes.
Joanna, it's gonna be fine,
all right, it's gonna be fine.
Okay.
A day like today, that's what
separates the men from the boys.
You're a man now.
In my book, anyway.
And I'm damn proud of you.
I'm just doing what I can do
to help.
Yeah, just keep it up.
I'm gonna go check on pops.
Joanna, everything's gonna be
fine.
Do you have a first aid kit?
Yes.
Yeah? Go get it.
Okay.
Okay, make sure there's lots
of tape and bandages.
Okay, okay.
You're doing good, sweetie.
You're gonna be great.
Okay, you're doing a great job,
buddy.
Does it hurt to breathe?
Mm-hmm.
Yeah. We're gonna fix that.
That's right, buddy.
She's gonna take care of you, I
promise.
We love you.
You're gonna be fine.
And we're gonna be okay too.
[ECHOING] We love you.
Pete?
Pete.
Pete!
Pete.
[GRUNTS]
Pete.
Pete!
Pete?
[SIGHS]
It's been over an hour since
her last broadcast.
They said they were gonna update
it every 20 minutes.
They might not be able to get
a signal out there.
I hope so.
It's gonna be okay.
[COUGHING]
How you doing, old man?
I've been better.
Yeah.
That kid's in bad shape too.
Look, as soon as ellie's done
over there, she's gonna come
over here and try to doctor you
up a little bit, all right? Yeah.
Think they got something to
drink around here?
Pops, we're in a bar.
I'm sure there's stuff to drink.
But you don't need that right
now.
It's just gonna make you bleed
more.
Yeah, but it would make me
feel better.
[LAUGHTER]
Yeah.
All right, I'll work on that.
She's gonna take care of you.
She's gonna take care of you.
Okay, okay.
Great.
All right, this is great.
This is gonna hurt.
It's gonna hurt a lot at first.
But when we get done, you're
gonna feel a lot better, okay?
In the meantime, what I need you
to do, buddy, is stay real
still, okay?
I need some high-proof alcohol.
Do you have that?
Yeah. All right.
Look at me.
I haven't told you this in a long
time, but I really love you.
Well...
This is a hell of a time.
[LAUGHTER]
When we get out of here...
[THUNDERCLAP]
Charlie, we need to get out
of here.
Is there a room in here with
no windows?
You guys, go.
The kitchen's that way. Go!
All right, pops, we got to
get out of here.
Ethan, grab pops.
Let's go.
Let's go, come on.
Let's go, let's go, let's go.
[CRASHING, GLASS BREAKING]
Get up, get up, get up!
Yeah.
Absolutely.
She was in my class just
yesterday afternoon.
She had some crazy ideas about the
storm, which actually came true.
And then she just left.
Hold on a second.
When's the last time you saw
her?
Yesterday, around 11:00 A.M.
She came to our room and said
she needed to go warn her
grandfather, that he may be in danger.
I guess her grandfather lives
down there or something.
Her roommate is here right now, so why
don't you just ask her the questions?
Okay.
Hello.
Yes.
Yes, her grandfather lives down
there.
She lost her parents in Katrina,
and she couldn't stand to lose them too.
I don't care about all that.
Somebody needs to get down there
to check on them now.
Hello?
Hello?
We've just received a new
video from the two university
students trapped deep inside
hurricane Caroline.
Hey, wake up.
Everybody, wake up.
It's Victoria.
This is Victoria dupuis.
[GROANS]
This is more of an s.O.S.
Message than an official report.
We are deep inside hurricane Caroline.
As you can see, my cameraman,
Pete, is... is unconscious,
and we really need some help.
So, anyone that's out there,
please, we are at bay St. Louis
bridge and highway 98.
This is well beyond a category
five storm as we speak.
Winds are probably about 200
miles per hour.
Um, uncle Charlie, aunt Ellie,
Ethan, and pops...
Just know that I was doing what
I really love the most when
things went... i'm so sorry.
[CRYING]
Hey. We're gonna get you
over here in this chair.
[GROANS]
Ethan, shut the door.
Okay, okay.
Sit you down right here, okay?
Yeah.
Just get down, don't move.
Hey!
Just stay here, okay?
Just rest for me.
Hey, my husband's out there.
Ricky!
It's all right.
He's all right.
Hey, hey, hey.
Ricky, Ricky. Stop.
It's too dangerous out there.
Okay, just stop.
Ricky, Ricky.
Stop, stop. Listen to me.
Listen to me, stay calm.
It's too dangerous to go out
there right now, okay?
Your son needs you.
Stay with your son.
Joanna, he needs you to be strong.
Your son is stable right now,
but you need to watch him
carefully so that we can take
him to the hospital when all of
this blows over.
Listen to me.
We're gonna get through this
together, all right? Just stay calm.
Get me that bottle over
there, huh?
Pops, I need to dress that
wound now, okay?
[SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
Go easy on that, pops, okay?
Damn.
It's really howling out there.
Is there a radio?
Yeah, over there.
Over there.
Ow.
Sorry, pops.
Right there.
We got to try to get this
thing cranked up.
[STATIC, FREQUENCIES SWEEPING]
Is it over?
No.
Unless we're in the middle of
it.
Is it enough time to take my
son to the hospital?
No, the bridge was knocked out.
We're not going anywhere till
the rescue units get here.
[RADIO RECEIVING SIGNAL]
Guys, I've got something.
They've allowed their last
transmission to come through,
and we just received this
disturbing report from our two
heroic amateur reporters, deep
in the eye of hurricane
Caroline.
This is more of an s.O.S.
Message than an official report.
We are deep inside hurricane
Caroline.
I know that voice.
Wait, is... is that Victoria?
Is unconscious.
And we really need some help.
So, anyone that's out there,
please, we are at bay St. Louis
bridge and highway 98.
Why isn't she in Dallas?
This is well beyond a
category five storm as we speak.
Winds are probably about 200
miles per hour.
Um, uncle Charlie, aunt Ellie,
Ethan, and pops, just know that
I was doing what I really love
the most when... i'm so sorry.
[SIGNAL INTERFERENCE]
She's not even ten minutes
down the road.
Look, we don't have any time,
pops.
Where is that exactly?
You just go down the main
road till you get to the bridge.
She's right there, follow the
main drag, quarter of a mile.
Right there, you can't miss it.
Thanks.
Wait.
Charlie, what are you doing?
I'm going to get Victoria.
No.
What do you want me to do,
leave her there?
It's my brother's daughter.
I promised I'd keep her safe.
Dad, I'm coming with you.
Ethan, no!
No, what if he needs my help?
What if victoria's in more
trouble than we think she is?
We don't know what's out there.
Listen to me.
We're in the middle of this
thing right now.
It's gonna be okay, all right?
It's calm.
I don't have much time, but I am
going.
Charlie.
You be careful.
And come back.
It's gonna be okay.
Hey... we're coming back.
We're getting Victoria.
We'll be right back.
Please find my husband.
We don't have much time, son.
This thing's coming back.
[PHONE RINGING]
Aunt Ellie?
Victoria?
Oh, my god.
I can't believe I got through.
Are you okay?
Are you safe?
Um...
Yeah.
It's pretty bad out here.
I know, sweetie.
We heard you on the radio.
Charlie and Ethan are on their
way to get you right now.
Well...
I don't hear any wind.
Are we in the eye?
Yeah.
It probably means we've got
about a 20-minute window.
Are you with anybody?
Are they safe?
Yeah, I'm with my friend Pete.
He's unconscious.
What should I do?
Did he get hit on the head?
Yeah.
Yeah.
What should I do?
Okay, listen.
You need to keep his head
elevated, okay, sweetie?
And you need to watch his
breathing.
Yeah.
If he stops breathing, you
need to perform cpr, okay?
Like I taught you.
Remember?
Yeah. Yeah.
You need to be there for him
right now, sweetheart.
You need to stay strong, okay?
Okay.
Like your mama was there for
your daddy that night.
[GIGGLING]
[SOBBING]
I love you.
I miss them so much.
I know you do, sweetheart.
I know you do.
I just wish that they were
here with me right now.
Maybe they are.
I can remember the day that your
daddy met your mama like it was
yesterday.
He was so excited.
He was sure that he'd finally
met the one.
And he'd known her for about two
days.
He said to me, "Ellie, I would
move mountains for this woman.
I would fight an army of men all
by myself just to keep her safe."
And then when you arrived,
he told me the exact same thing.
[SOBBING]
Just like what you're doing
right now.
Where are you?
Victoria.
Aunt Ellie.
[THUNDERCLAP]
Aunt Ellie.
[SOBBING]
We've had no transmission
from our two brave student
reporters on the ground near
gulfport, Mississippi, leaving
some to speculate whether
Victoria dupuis and Pete Keller
are now alive, dead, or in
serious peril.
As the strong backside of this
category five storm system
passes over gulfport and makes
its way north, our thoughts and
our prayers go out to all the
residents of those regions as
this super storm makes its way
north, leaving a wake of
unprecedented destruction behind
it.
The national guard is standing
by for an immediate
search-and-rescue operation as
soon as the winds are safe for
helicopter travel.
Please stay tuned for more
up-to-the-minute coverage of
this terrifying event as the
story unfolds.
Victoria!
We're in here.
I'm right here.
Uncle Charlie, I'm right here.
Victoria, are you okay?
Come on.
Back here, back here.
Charlie.
Hold that up.
Is he hurt?
Yes. He's hurt.
Be careful.
I don't know how bad.
Okay.
Let's get him out of here.
Are you all right?
I'm okay.
We need to get out of here
now.
Open the door.
Okay, okay.
[THUNDERCLAP]
[THUNDERCLAP]
Please wake up, Pete.
Pete, wake up.
Please don't do this to me.
Pete.
Wake up, Pete.
Pete, please wake up.
[MOANING]
Oh, my god.
Oh, my god, he's awake.
Oh, my god.
Where am I, where am I?
Pete, you're okay.
[MUMBLING]
It's okay.
Pete, I got you.
We're in my uncle's car, all
right?
We're gonna be okay, all right?
I was having the weirdest dream.
We were on a date.
You took me to a planetarium.
[LAUGHS]
We were laying there, looking
up at the stars.
And you kissed me.
Oh, really?
[LAUGHTER]
Yeah.
That sounds really nice.
It was really nice.
I'm really happy I came with
you.
[LAUGHS]
I think that injury's really
going to your head.
Just hang on, kids.
We're almost there.
Thanks.
[THUNDERCLAP]
They should've been here by now.
Have faith, Ellie.
They'll be here.
Something's gone wrong.
I just know that something's
gone wrong.
[DOOR OPENING]
Charlie?
Oh, god.
Oh, god.
You okay?
Yeah.
I told you we'd come back.
How did they get you out of
the house?
[CHUCKLES]
It wasn't easy, baby.
But everything's all right now.
We're all together.
And that's all that matters.
Yes, sir.
I'm so sorry.
We looked everywhere, but we
couldn't find him.
[CRYING]
We did everything we could.
I'm so, so sorry.
[HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING]
Hi.
Hi.
Are you okay?
Yeah.
You okay?
I'm good.
'Cause you look good.
[LAUGHTER]
Thanks.
How do I look?
You look good.
Yeah?
Yeah.
Are you just saying that?
[CHUCKLES]
So planetarium, huh?
Yeah, about that...
Roger that. Victor Charlie
one returning for fuel stop.
[HELICOPTER APPROACHING]
Do you hear that?
Hear what?
Do you hear that?
Ellie, wake up.
Wake up.
It's a helicopter.
It's a helicopter.
Come on, come on.
Joanna, how do we get out of
here?
How do we get on the rooftop?
Over there.
Okay, everybody, let's go
now... to the roof!
Let's go.
Come on.
All right, here we go, kids.
All right, all right.
Let's go.
[GROANS]
We haven't begun to
investigate the hundreds of
compelling stories out there,
but today we have a unique one.
You know her as Victoria dupuis,
ahead of the curve.
I'm so proud of you, sweetheart.
You're so brave.
Your mama would be so proud.
All right, it's your moment to
shine.
You tell them your story.
All right.
But as it turns out, there
was a lot more to her harrowing
story than even we knew.
Victoria, why don't you tell us
about the strange and unique
circumstances that brought you
and cameraman Pete Keller down
to gulfport from Dallas to cover
this terrifying perfect storm and
the risks you took to get here.
Thanks, Ken.
This is Victoria dupuis, here on
the ground in gulfport, Mississippi.
That's usually my line.
But, no, I think you're getting
the hang of it.
[LAUGHS] Okay.
Nicely done.
Trying to.
Thanks.
Well, it's really a crazy story.
I don't even know where to
begin.
But, first of all, I think it's
important to tell everyone at
home that the horror is far from
over here.
It will take years to repair.
And there are countless other
issues that need to be
addressed, even as we speak.
But I think the most important
thing is the spirit of hope
that's felt by each and every
one of us here... a spirit that
can't be squashed... and we will
keep fighting.
But we need your help.
We knew about a day and a
half before it hit it was gonna
be a cataclysmic event.
Most of the people that wanted to stay
said, "oh, I was safe here in Camille.
And we had no water.
So I'm gonna be great."
We thought a hurricane was
coming.
We said, "let's, you know, get a
couple bottles of Tequila and
have a hurricane party."
That's what we do in
Mississippi, you know.
I think that's what a lot of
people do.
We were gonna have fun.
And then we were gonna go back
to work and do our thing.
It...
It didn't happen that way.
I got a call from the
intergovernmental affairs office
at the white house that said,
"what's your opinion as to where you all
are from a vulnerability standpoint?"
And I said, "well, the best I
can tell you is that I believe
you can just write us off."
The house was shaking.
The roof was tearing.
And the house was taking on
water and no electricity.
And I couldn't go anywhere,
because I was stuck.
When I answered the
telephone and someone told me
they were on a roof, and they
were pregnant, and they had
children, and could I come get
them, could I help them?
It was just horrific. As a matter of fact,
after the storm, we had to go, you know,
and offer assistance to the
dispatchers that took those 911 calls.
Most hurricanes are 2, 2 1/2
hours, and they go on through.
This one just stayed for nine to
ten hours.
And you couldn't tell when it
started, when it'd end, 'cause
it was so long.
Honestly, I thought it was over.
I thought I was done.
I didn't know if my family was
alive, if I had a home anymore.
And, you know, I got lucky.
The house made it through.
The structure of the house made it through.
The house was destroyed.
The town was destroyed.
We went from the 21st century
to the 18th century in nine
hours that day.
That's how much devastation we
had.
I had seen so many "after the
hurricane" walks that I thought
I knew what I would expect.
Typically, the trees are
stripped of all the leaves, and
there's, you know, debris and
shingles and stuff, like, everywhere.
So I said, "you know, that'll be
what we'll see."
And it was just beyond that.
We have a duty to protect our
citizens, the people in our community.
And when we do that, we put our
lives on the line.
But we try to make our families
safe before we do it.
All of the funeral homes were
destroyed.
And there was no water.
So we would pack bodies in body
bags and then put them in
refrigerator trucks till there
would be a funeral.
And I asked him about my family.
And he said, "I don't know.
We haven't heard from them."
A lot of people died.
A lot of people were hurt.
A lot of people lost everything.
It was terrible.
But it was also the kind of
thing that, as a community, we
said, "you know, we're gonna
survive this.
If it doesn't kill us, we are
going to survive."
He told me to turn around.
And I looked at him kind of funny,
like, "what are you talking about?"
And he said, "turn around."
And when I did, my wife and
daughter and her boyfriend were
walking across the street.
And then I knew everything was
gonna be okay at that point.