The Great Alaskan Race (2019) Movie Script
Just south of the arctic circle,
out on the edge of the world
is a forsaken
place of great beauty.
When outsiders
came to this place,
they found it a cruel
and unforgiving country.
They had come for the gold,
to find their fortune.
Many left with broken dreams.
But the few,
the ones with strong hearts
and iron wills,
learned the old ways.
Dog sledding was a way of life.
We relied on them,
and they relied on us.
Hey, let's go, boy!
Ha!
Hold the line, Togo!
1917 was the last year
for the Alaskan sweepstakes
race.
His third straight victory
in the all Alaskan sweepstakes.
No one is faster
than Leonhard Seppala.
Go, boy! Whoo!
Nice job, Gunnar!
Good race, Gunnar.
Good win.
Great race, Gunnar.
You did it again.
Togo got speed.
Seppala
came to Nome for the gold.
But it was the native spirit
he became one with.
The spring and summer
we would hunt and fish
in order to survive
the harsh winters.
We would live off the land.
The animals are
what we relied on.
My people believe that
every living thing has a spirit.
To take a life, you first
had to honor the spirit...
and thank them
for their sacrifice.
Seppala never found gold,
but he found a way of life
within my tribe
and became one of us.
I'm pregnant.
What?
You're pregnant.
Ah.
So if it's a girl,
what do you want to name her?
Sigrid.
Sigrid.
And if it's a boy?
It's not a boy.
My feet dance because of you.
You're the sky.
Most beautiful.
We believe Anguta is an animal,
part wolf, part bear.
A creature that takes souls
to their final resting place.
Kiana!
Kiana!
Help!
What happened?
She's sick?
Sepp.
How is she?
She doesn't have long.
Oh, no.
Hey, my love, I'm here.
I'm sorry
I didn't get here faster.
Doing real good.
Can you open those eyes?
I know you can do this.
Just open those eyes.
There she is.
There she is.
Take care of her.
Don't go.
Don't go.
Don't go.
Don't go.
The flu epidemic of 1918,
wiped out
nearly half of my people.
Seppala set out to kill Anguta,
the very spirit
that came for my people.
Yah! Let's go!
Damn you, God.
Damn you, God!
He killed that bear,
but he never found the wolf.
He would always believe
the wolf might return.
Good boy.
Togo, let's go.
Number 12, last car, boys.
Grab the crane.
The rope.
Everyone outside.
Close the hatch.
Let's go.
I think you all know
this vein we're on
is about tapped out.
She's just not
producing enough for us
to keep her open anymore.
I promise you, all of you,
I'll do my best
to find you work.
The Yukon Mine's
gonna be runnin' full steam
all winter long,
and the foreman over there
told me
he could take most of you on.
Yukon Mine.
That's a thousand miles away,
George.
I know. It's
a long way from home, Gunnar.
But if you want to work,
it's all there is.
Uh, I'll go.
Yeah, me as well.
Charlie.
Keep the faith.
Thank you.
Good luck to you.
It's gonna be a long winter.
Got a little
Christmas bonus for you.
I'll see you in church.
Thanks, George.
Thank you, Sepp.
What would you like Santa Claus
to bring you this year?
Hmm, I would really love
a dress.
What kind of dress?
The one like Constance's dress.
We'll have to tell Santa Claus.
What was my mommy like?
She was the kindest woman
I have ever known.
She was strong.
Really, really strong.
Kind of like a certain
special somebody that I know.
She would be so proud of you.
Yeah, let's go.
Hah! Hah!
Good job, Sigrid.
Let's get over
to Constance's house
and your dad's going to come
pick you up, okay?
Okay.
Yeah!
And Sigrid Seppala
wins the race.
Let's go.
Togo! Togo!
I missed you, boy!
Hey, wh-where's my hug, Sig?
Just doing what
you taught me, Daddy.
Dogs come first.
Thanks for watching
Sigrid while I was gone.
You're welcome.
It's no trouble at all.
She's a beautiful child.
Yeah.
I would love it
if Sigrid could make
the Christmas Eve service.
I have all the children
singing up front.
Please, Daddy, please?
Please
can we go to church? Please?
Uh, we'll see.
I had better
get back to the hospital.
The last shipment
of medical supplies
just came in for winter,
and Dr. Welch will need
some help sorting through
those crates.
Yeah.
Goodbye, Sigrid.
Bye Constance. Thank you.
You're welcome, sweetheart.
Bye, Leonhard.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Let's go, Sig.
Okay, Daddy.
Yeah.
Hee-hee-hee-hee.
Hey, come on. Load up.
That's the last of it.
Are you sure?
That's the whole shipment.
Well, we seem
to be short a few items.
But you go ahead.
I know you need to get
the kids ready
for the Christmas service,
I'll keep looking.
Thank you, Father.
- I'll see you there.
- Okay.
Merry Christmas, Father.
Merry Christmas.
Good evening.
All rise and join me in prayer.
Loving Father,
we are gathered here today
to have fun and fellowship,
and to celebrate and remember
the birth of Jesus,
that we may share
in the songs of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and the worship of the wise men.
Lord, may the Christmas
morning make us happy
to be your children,
and the Christmas evening
bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Leonhard.
Glad you came.
Thanks.
Daddy! Daddy!
Constance got me a present.
I see that.
Oh, isn't that kind of her?
Thank you
for bringing Sigrid tonight.
Oh, thank you,
for being so kind to Sigrid.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
Let's go.
Let's go home.
Okay, Daddy.
After you.
Let's go, boy.
A dress!
She got me a dress!
I told her I would
love a dress for Christmas!
Well, isn't that nice?
Here.
Eat your dinner.
You're not hungry, Daddy?
No.
Eat up.
Eat your dinner.
Do you miss Mama?
Yeah. Every day.
Well, Constance
would be a good mama.
Hey, we don't talk like that
in this house.
You understand me?
I don't want to ever hear you
speak like that again.
You got a mama.
Go. Go to bed.
Merry Christmas, boy.
Maybe you could cheer him up.
What?
She does.
It's to bring you
good luck for the race.
Merry Christmas.
Hoping everyone has a healthy
and happy holiday season.
Oh, and this just in.
We have a report
out of Newfoundland
that Santa's sleigh was seen
somewhere
over the United States.
It's time to get tucked in
boys and girls,
because Mr. Claus
is on his way.
Daddy, I can't sleep.
Come here.
This is Harry Davenport
signing off.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
There you go.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
Will you open your mouth
please, Alice?
A little wider please?
Dr. Welch is going
to make you all better baby.
You know what?
You are a very,
very good patient, Alice.
As a matter of fact,
Santa Claus told me
that you are at the very top
of his nice list.
So he told me to give you this.
What's wrong with her?
I'm going to go back
to the hospital
and pick up some medicine.
I'll be right back.
She'll be fine.
Thank you.
She's gone.
I'm so very sorry.
May I see her?
We're so sorry.
I will come back.
I will be back.
Come, come.
What killed that little girl?
She died of diphtheria.
Diphtheria?
Yes, it's a bacterial infection
that attacks
the respiratory system.
And it shuts down the airways
and the patient ultimately
dies from suffocation.
Are you sure it's diphtheria?
Yes, I'm sure.
But don't we have the antitoxin?
Yes, we do.
But it's expired.
What are we going to do?
Well, I'm going
to bring all the children
showing symptoms
up to the hospital immediately
and we'll... I'll check
on all of Mary's classmates.
George, we have a problem.
An Inuit girl
died of diphtheria,
and I assume that there are
many more infected
out in the sandspit.
Diphtheria?
Yes.
It's highly infectious
and I have no antitoxin
to fight it with.
I ordered more,
but it didn't arrive
with the last shipment.
There isn't
another way to cure it?
No. And you and I know
what can happen
with the last flu epidemic.
This could be very, very bad.
It could be much worse
if we don't get it here quickly.
Curtis, you just tell me
what you want me to do.
We need help.
Are we able
to get a telegraph through?
Sure, George.
Governor?
- Hmm.
Sir, it's a telegram
from the Mayor of Nome,
- very urgent.
- From who?
From Nome, Sir, very urgent.
The mayor in Nome.
Read it to me.
"An outbreak of diphtheria
is almost inevitable here."
Stop.
"I am in urgent need
of diphtheria antitoxin."
Stop.
God, Nome.
I almost forgot about Nome.
We haven't heard
from them in years.
What would you like to do, Sir?
Ah, call every hospital
down the coast
from Seattle to San Francisco
and tell them to send
as much antitoxin
as they can spare.
Okay, but... but Sir,
how are we supposed
to transport it there?
We can't get it there by ship.
The seaport's frozen over.
And... and Nenana's
the last stop on the railroad,
that's at least 700 miles
from Nome?
Look, just get the antitoxin.
Yes, Sir.
Thank you all for coming out.
Dr. Welch has some important
news that affects all of us.
Doctor?
A young girl
has died of diphtheria.
It's a very dangerous
and contagious disease
and it's going to spread
very rapidly through town.
If any of your young ones
have a sore throat
or a high fever,
any cold symptoms at all,
please send them
to the hospital immediately.
Is it just the young ones
or can the adults get it too?
Children are at the highest risk
because their immune systems
aren't as developed as ours.
But adults can carry
the disease without knowing it.
So I want you all
to stay in your homes.
What are we supposed to do?
How do we treat this?
Well, there...
There is an antitoxin
but I'm sorry, at the moment,
we... we don't have it.
Folks, folks,
please, please quiet down.
We... we we've contacted
the governor.
How do we have not any of it?
And he...
And he's going to send us
the antitoxin
as soon as possible.
I... I assure you we're doing
the best we can right now,
so just please do
what the doctor says.
I think everybody
just has to stay calm.
Stay in their homes.
We're going to do
everything we can to...
To get this antitoxin here.
That's what
we're trying to figure out.
So stay in your homes,
because it will not spread
if you stay in your homes.
That's what I ask of you.
We will get it here.
Well, we should have
enough antitoxin
by the end of the week.
The last thing
we need is bad press,
so I'm hoping
you will support our effort.
Well, I was hoping
you would finally
see the light of day
and realize
it was time for Alaska
to step into the modern age.
What do you mean by that?
I'm talking about an airplane.
We can have that serum
in Nome in two days.
Does this have anything to do
with the fact
that you are a part owner
of an airline by any chance?
I don't see that
that is really relevant
to any matters at hand.
You have a problem.
I'm offering you a solution.
Subzero temperatures
and Arctic winds
are not very conducive
to your flying machines.
William, this is Alaska.
This is our chance, Governor.
Yeah.
Well you don't have a plane,
and you don't have a pilot.
Now, to fly that distance
in winter conditions,
I already checked.
I know.
You called Washington
and they ignored you again.
No, they didn't ignore me.
Ignore me.
I can have a plane and a pilot
ready by tomorrow.
Listen, the plane goes down
with the serum on board,
we will be unable
to help anyone.
My plane will make it.
And I guarantee you will be
front page news on my paper.
Aren't you tired of playing
second fiddle to the lower 48?
Oh, Jesus. What the hell does
that have to do with anything?
I'll make you a hero.
Hell this could even mean
a second term.
Put you on the map so to speak.
I'll take your silence as a yes.
I want a test flight first.
If you can prove to me
you can get a plane up there
and fly that distance,
I will consider
flying up the serum.
You're a wise man, Governor.
Got a wire
from the Governor's office.
They found the antiserum
in Anchorage.
They want to fly it in
by airplane.
We could possibly have it
in a couple of days.
Thank you.
Going live in five,
four, three, two...
Hello, folks.
This is Harry Davenport.
A sliver of hope
for icebound Nome
as a doctor in Anchorage
has discovered 300,000 units
of diphtheria antitoxin,
enough to fight off
the epidemic.
Governor Bone had hoped
the serum could be delivered
by airplane,
but the test run earlier today
has proven
it is not a reliable option.
Cut off by land, cut off by sea.
And now the winged angel
of mercy is stuck on the runway.
How will they get the medicine
they so desperately need?
Nome needs our prayers.
This is Henry Davenport
signing off.
We don't have time to wait.
If we don't get it here soon,
things are going to be very bad.
Well, how much time do we have?
In two weeks, hundreds
are going to be infected.
This town is going
to be savaged.
This disease
is fatal to children.
Daddy,
what's going to happen to us?
Well, then, let's go
get that medicine.
Nothing's going to happen to us.
Gentlemen, it is time for us
to stop talking and take action.
We need to go
get that serum ourselves.
How will you
get the medicine here?
The sea is frozen over.
A ship couldn't get
within a hundred miles.
We'll mush it in.
Dog sled?
You can't be serious.
Hi, get out of the cold.
My father and George are meeting
with the town council
at the saloon.
They're discussing the plans
to get the serum here.
George asked me urgently
to get you there.
I'm dead serious,
Mr. Wells.
I'd much rather
put our hopes in a man
and a-a good team of dogs
than some damn flying machine
that can't even
get off the ground.
It's possible.
The railroad's still running.
We take the mail route
and-and the trains get it
as far as Nenana.
One musher can never
make it there and back.
It's 700 miles.
Not one musher.
A relay.
We station men
at every roadhouse
along the way
from here to Nenana.
George is right.
It may put lives at risk,
but at this point
it's the best option we have.
We know these men.
We know what they're capable of.
Can you keep Sigrid?
Of course.
Okay, I'll be back.
Look, I have three children.
And I just don't know if
this is the best option for us.
What if we wait another week
and this weather passes?
Yes.
Then we can get an airplane
up here in better weather.
You've got a
nine-month-old, Elliot.
Do you really want
to take that chance?
We are out of time.
What if they can't make it
through the mountains
by dog sled?
And the serum gets lost.
Then what?
We have to try.
Every day we wait,
children are going to die.
I'm not going to
let that happen.
I vote in favor.
Any more discussion?
Good.
Let's get started.
"Today officials
tried a second attempt
"at delivering the serum
by airplane.
"But the plane
had mechanical difficulties
"and had to return
to the landing strip
"shortly after takeoff.
"Ice-bound and all alone
on the edge of the world
It's now up to the valiant
mushers and the brave canines."
We need someone to meet them
at the halfway point,
350 miles."
I'll do it.
Sepp, even you've said
that the Norton Sound
and the mountain pass
never be taken
when the weather's not right.
How you're going to do this
in a storm?
I can't lose Sigrid.
The Norton Sound
has killed many men,
but we need that serum
and we need it now.
They're expecting temperatures
to drop to below 40
tomorrow night
and there's a blizzard
dropping in from the north.
"As an Arctic blizzard
pushes west,
"the drivers are enduring
temperatures of 60 below zero
and hurricane strength winds."
Can the serum survive
those conditions?
It can't stay frozen
for too long
or the antitoxin
will be destroyed,
but if it were thawed
at each waypoint
and packed very carefully,
yes, I think it would.
I'm going to need somebody
to stay with Sigrid.
I'll stay with her
till this is over.
Thanks, George.
I'll have Togo ready.
Gunner, use my dogs
and prepare a second team.
In case the storm
takes a turn for the worse,
Balto's ready to lead a team.
I'll be ready.
Well, who should we get to run
that first leg out of Nenana?
Wild Bill Shannon.
Thank you for watching her.
Of course.
I met with George,
your father, and Gunnar.
We all came up with a plan.
Going to run 20 mushers
along the mail route.
About 700 miles.
Togo and I leave
day after tomorrow.
You can do this?
Yes.
We're going to get that
medicine here.
I, uh...
I'm really scared
Sigrid's going to get this.
If that day comes,
I will treat her like my own
and I will not leave her side.
But it won't come to that.
She loves you.
She talks about you
all the time.
Just be safe.
We will.
Constance, would you please
check the patients
and take their temperatures?
Anybody over a hundred
is first priority.
Of course.
Hi, Akina.
Now listen, we can't take such
good care of you at your house.
So you're going to stay at
my house for a few days, okay?
So say goodbye
to Mommy and Daddy.
We'll get you well.
It's right here for you, Akina.
Love you so much.
Good girl, let's go.
- Come on, baby.
- I love you, baby.
- It's okay.
- It's going to be okay.
- I'll take care of her.
- Okay, thank you.
Come here, sweetheart.
I'm gonna miss you Daddy.
I'll miss you too.
Take care of my Daddy, okay?
Don't-don't leave me.
I'll be waiting
right here for you baby,
when you're all better, okay?
We'll take good care of her.
Come with me now.
I'm scared.
I promise, baby.
We're going to take
good care of you.
- It's okay.
Hey, George.
Well, the serum's on the train
bound for Nenana.
Good.
Weather seems to be holding.
It is for now.
I checked the weather report
on the wire.
It's not good.
Well, we'll make it.
The team won't quit on Togo.
I know how you feel
about that dog of yours,
but like a lot of us
around here,
he's getting a little long
in the tooth.
Maybe you could
use another lead dog?
These temperatures,
they'll freeze your lungs,
you-you know that?
George, I'm not going out there
without him.
What is Togo?
Eleven?
Twelve years old?
Yeah, he's twelve. And
he's the best lead dog I got.
He's going with me.
What's this all about George?
We need that serum, don't we?
Yes, we do.
I can do it.
Oh, I know you can. But if
anything bad happens out there,
you find a hole
and you get down in it.
I will.
You just make sure
each of those mushers
are at those checkpoints
with fresh dogs.
I could do that.
Thanks for looking after Sigrid.
We'll be praying for you.
Thanks, George.
It's dropping below 40.
Maybe you should wait
until the morning to leave?
Oh, no thank you. No.
You know the rule
of the forties?
No, I-I can't say that I do.
You never run a dog
if it's 40 above or 40 below.
You run a dog
when it's 40 above,
can overheat.
I saw one drop dead once.
You run a dog if it's 40 below,
could burn its lungs out.
Not a pretty picture.
The air freezes
and every breath you take
is like shoving a knife
in your lungs.
Your legs go numb,
your arms go numb.
You start to see things.
And if those dogs give out,
they'll find you and them dead.
Oh, my.
But...
but Mr. Shan,
that's...
that's why I think you should
wait until tomorrow to leave.
Wait at least
until the storm passes.
Then you can see the trail.
Besides, it's...
orders from the governor.
The hell with the governor.
As soon as that medicine
gets here, I'm leaving.
Mr. Wetzler?
- Yeah, yeah. Here.
Here you go.
It's the antiserum.
Hey.
Ready, Blackie?
All right, boy, let's go.
We better get this thing
put together.
Hai!
Yeah, it's going to be our
toughest race yet, boy.
I know, I know
you're ready to go.
I'm not going out there
without you.
No man.
Let's load up.
I'm not going to let anything
happen to you.
Let's go.
Come on, boy!
Hai!
You asked me
to prepare a plane for you
and to find a pilot,
and instead you were choosing to
transport the serum with dogs.
I hope you know
what you're doing.
You're willing to-to trust
the lives of these poor souls
to a Stone Age solution.
Sled dogs, Governor, this is
why Alaska is a laughingstock.
Well, I'm doing what I think
is best for the people in Nome.
It's the safest way, William.
And you may not agree with me
at the... at the moment,
but getting that serum
safely there is the key.
Now you couldn't even get your
damn plane off the runway.
My engineer
has found the problem
and we are working right now
on a solution.
I just need another day.
We don't have time.
They need the serum.
And they will have it.
My plane will get it there.
Well, the mushers assure me
that they can cover
the mail route in six days.
The mail route,
that's nearly 700 miles,
and you have an Arctic storm
bearing down from the north.
The dogs will never make it.
Yeah, well, I made my decision.
Then the fate of Nome lies
in the hands of dogs, Governor.
I hope you're right.
I hope so too.
Good bye, William.
Hai! Let's go Togo.
Whoa, whoa.
Come on, Skye.
Hold that line. Let's go.
Good boy, good boy. Hai!
Hai!
I tell you, this cold is setting
in my heart and in my bones.
You've been north
of the Norton Sound,
50, 60 below, ain't you?
Aren't you a believer?
You think them dogs
are going to make
700 miles in 80 below?
Don't you got money
in an airplane somewhere?
Trying to put us all
out of work?
You know what you don't need
in Hell?
A devil's advocate.
Oh, my God.
Get the dogs.
Get the dogs!
Goddamn.
It's Hell out there.
Hold on a moment folks.
This has just been handed to me.
"Musher Wild Bill Shannon has
just arrived in Whiskey Creek
"and passed the lifesaving serum
off to Dan Green.
Brave souls indeed."
Keep going boy, keep going.
Hai! Let's go.
Ruth, I promise you
I'm going to take as best
care of her as I can, okay?
- Can I see her?
- Not yet. Sorry.
Her fever's rising.
A hundred and five.
Constance, bring me the serum.
The serum? It's expired.
Will it even work?
We can try and keep
their airways open,
but at some point...
Of course.
Thank you.
What's the message?
"Where's the serum?"
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Easy, easy.
Let's go. Let's go.
- "We have lost contact."
Get your papers,
ladies and gentlemen.
- News out of Nome.
- Critical in Nome!
Critical in Nome!
Two cents a paper!
"We're running out of time."
You got to speed them up.
No, the dogs
are making progress,
they're just not fast enough.
We could be at Shaktoolik
by the time Seppala gets there.
But Sir, that-that's risky.
What if there's no way
to inform Seppala
of the change of plan?
And in this blizzard,
those mushers could pass
right by each other, Sir.
Well, I'm not going to sit here
twiddling my thumbs
and getting blamed
- for an epidemic.
- Okay!
This has just been handed to me.
"Musher Dan Green has just
arrived in Whiskey Creek
"and passed the lifesaving
serum off to Charlie Evans.
"Brave souls indeed.
"Bit by bit, mile by mile,
they get closer and closer
"to the midway point
of Nulato, Alaska.
"And from that point on,
it will be up to Nome native
Leonhard Seppala."
They said your dad's name
on the radio.
"He'll face the most dangerous
"leg of the relay over the
unpredictable shifting ice
"of the Norton Sound.
"And then the treacherous passes
of the Brooks Mountains.
"The fate of Nome
will be in his hands.
But with 400 miles left to go,
will he get there in time?"
Stay tuned, folks
for more news out of Alaska.
This is Harry Davenport
signing off.
I'll take her to a bed.
You're okay. You're
going to be okay, sweetheart.
Yeah.
You're going to be all right.
We're going to take care of you,
sweetheart.
So sorry, Constance.
We're going to take care of you.
Has he got the serum yet?
Temperatures dropped
to 80 below,
and we don't know where Sepp is.
Lines are in and out.
I'm going to send Gunnar
out there to try to find him.
You've seen it
down there, George.
It's-It's very bad now.
We don't have much time,
so do what you have to do, okay?
I will.
Balto! Hai!
Ah!
I barely made twelve miles.
Get inside!
By the fire!
You need to get warm.
You're going through this?
Just as far as Ungalik.
Maynard wants us to stay there
until the storm passes.
What about Seppala?
Maybe he's in Ungalik already.
Come on!
I'm so sorry.
Anguta has called Akina home.
She's gone.
Right there. Be careful.
Gen-gentle, gentle.
Yeah.
I tended to the dogs.
Any news from Nome?
Myles, any news from Nome?
Siggy. Siggy's sick.
No. No.
Maynard got a telegraph through.
She's in the hospital
with Constance.
Sepp, you can't go out
like this.
- Not now.
- Pack the crate.
Maynard wants you
to stay in Ungalik
until the storm passes.
Pack the crate.
Sepp, you're dead tired.
I said pack the crate!
Your daddy and Togo,
they're going to come back.
And they're going to have
some medicine for you.
And I started
a new dress for you.
And it's pink and yellow,
it's your favorite colors.
You're going to look so pretty.
He's going to be here
real soon, okay?
Have to stay with me,
sweetheart.
You just hang in there, okay?
Do you have a quote
for the evening edition?
Oh.
"Our last hope rests on the dogs
and their heroic mushers."
There's your quote, William.
Thank you, Governor.
Oh, have a little faith,
William.
You ever heard of that concept?
Let's go, Togo!
- Go!
Faster, boys! Faster!
Ha! Ha!
Are the lines up?
They're in and out.
This is Harry Davenport
with another installment
of the race against death.
Governor Bone of Alaska
says that all hope
now rests on the dogs
and their heroic mushers.
But time is running out
in faraway Nome.
And Leonhard Seppala
is nowhere to be found.
And now all we can do is pray.
Pray for Leonhard Seppala.
And pray for the good citizens
of Nome.
Hold, boy!
Hold the line, boy!
Togo, hold the line.
Pull!
Pull, boy! Pull!
Hold the line!
Pull!
Togo, hold the line! Pull!
Come on, boy! Pull!
Let's get home.
Let's ride.
It's okay, Togo.
I got you.
Let's put you in the sled.
I know you're hurt.
I need to get some air, father.
Come on.
Let's get out of the snow.
Come on. All right, come on.
Come on, boy.
Daddy, Daddy, wake up. Daddy.
Come on, boy.
Don't give up now.
You got to lead us home.
Morning, Henrietta.
Morning.
Everyone is sleeping.
Good. Good.
Everyone except you and me.
Well, I closed
my eyes for a while,
but the nightmares came back.
You know when the flu
epidemic of '18 broke out,
they died by the hundreds.
We lost half of the
Inuit population in this town.
I mean, I was, I was helpless.
And now it's happening again.
You're doing such a good job.
You can't blame yourself.
I delivered
most of these children.
I brought them
into this world and...
so, in a way...
they're my children too.
I feel the same way.
I love those little hearts
out there like my own.
I love Sigrid
like she's my own daughter.
All of those children
have helped us both
through difficult times.
And now it's our turn
to help them.
Don't lose faith.
Is Sigrid okay?
Yeah, yeah, she's okay.
Balto, let's go!
Sigrid,
Sigrid can you hear me?
Sigrid, Alice and
five other children
have reached the point
of unconsciousness
and the swelling in their
throats is getting worse.
You have to keep
replacing the compresses
to keep the swelling down.
And don't forget the neck, okay?
Let's go, Balto, let's go!
No, stay with me honey.
- Gee! Gee! Gee!
Ilsa, can you
stay with the children?
- Whoa!
- You made it!
Balto, whoa.
Good job, Gunnar.
The medicine, it's here.
Easy, easy, easy.
Thank you.
Did you see Sepp?
He was behind me.
Let's go home, boy.
There he is.
Incredible.
They're all intact.
Not a single vial broken.
Doctor, is it going to work?
George, please get these
people out of here.
We need quiet.
Please, please.
Let's move. Let's move.
All of you.
How long do we have to wait?
It's going to be
at least a few minutes
for these to thaw out,
before injecting.
Ilsa, I want you
to go ahead of us
and sterilize their arms.
- And Constance.
- Yes.
You prepare the syringes.
Yes, Father.
Let's go to work.
These seem be the most thawed.
We'll start with the worst
cases first going bed to bed.
Thank God.
Is... is Sigrid okay?
Daddy. Daddy, wake up.
Daddy.
It's Sigrid. Wake up.
Wake up.
Daddy.
Can you hear me?
It's Siggy.
Take care of her.
Wake up.
Can you hear me?
Daddy.
Daddy, wake up.
It's Siggy.
The medicine worked.
I missed you, I love you, Daddy.
You look so beautiful.
Thank you, Daddy.
Constance took care of me.
And Togo took care of you.
You saved a lot of lives, Sepp.
Togo brought you back.
I love you, Daddy.
I love you too, baby.
I'm glad you're okay.
Hello, folks.
This is Harry Davenport,
bringing you what I'm happy
to say is the last installment
of the race against death.
Governor, the
epidemic's been averted, Sir.
Nome's saved.
You did it Sir.
You have one
very tough little girl.
But that doesn't surprise me,
given her father.
Thank you.
Maybe I'll see
you both at church on Sunday?
Yeah.
Yeah, I reckon we'll be there.
- Yippee!
- Whoo!
Sir, I have Calvin Coolidge
on the phone for you.
He's on the line.
- The President?
- Hmm-mm.
Oh, my.
Mr. President?
You know,
they say every dog has his day.
Well, for the
noble sled dogs of Alaska,
- I'd say today was that day.
Yay, I'm so happy!
Real proud of you, son.
- Thanks, George.
- Proud of you.
The entire world now breathes
a collective sigh of relief.
I think this editorial
from the Daily News-Miner
sums it up best.
We thank those brave men
and their valiant dogs
for saving so many lives.
But we owe them
a bigger debt of gratitude
for showing us
that anything is possible
when you have hope and courage.
The Stone Age.
This is Harry Davenport,
signing off.
Thanks for
bringing my daddy home.
There was a higher Spirit
that guided those men and dogs
across the harsh conditions
of our land.
Seppala would never
see the wolf again.
His love for his dogs
never changed.
And the wild spirit
would find good times ahead.
out on the edge of the world
is a forsaken
place of great beauty.
When outsiders
came to this place,
they found it a cruel
and unforgiving country.
They had come for the gold,
to find their fortune.
Many left with broken dreams.
But the few,
the ones with strong hearts
and iron wills,
learned the old ways.
Dog sledding was a way of life.
We relied on them,
and they relied on us.
Hey, let's go, boy!
Ha!
Hold the line, Togo!
1917 was the last year
for the Alaskan sweepstakes
race.
His third straight victory
in the all Alaskan sweepstakes.
No one is faster
than Leonhard Seppala.
Go, boy! Whoo!
Nice job, Gunnar!
Good race, Gunnar.
Good win.
Great race, Gunnar.
You did it again.
Togo got speed.
Seppala
came to Nome for the gold.
But it was the native spirit
he became one with.
The spring and summer
we would hunt and fish
in order to survive
the harsh winters.
We would live off the land.
The animals are
what we relied on.
My people believe that
every living thing has a spirit.
To take a life, you first
had to honor the spirit...
and thank them
for their sacrifice.
Seppala never found gold,
but he found a way of life
within my tribe
and became one of us.
I'm pregnant.
What?
You're pregnant.
Ah.
So if it's a girl,
what do you want to name her?
Sigrid.
Sigrid.
And if it's a boy?
It's not a boy.
My feet dance because of you.
You're the sky.
Most beautiful.
We believe Anguta is an animal,
part wolf, part bear.
A creature that takes souls
to their final resting place.
Kiana!
Kiana!
Help!
What happened?
She's sick?
Sepp.
How is she?
She doesn't have long.
Oh, no.
Hey, my love, I'm here.
I'm sorry
I didn't get here faster.
Doing real good.
Can you open those eyes?
I know you can do this.
Just open those eyes.
There she is.
There she is.
Take care of her.
Don't go.
Don't go.
Don't go.
Don't go.
The flu epidemic of 1918,
wiped out
nearly half of my people.
Seppala set out to kill Anguta,
the very spirit
that came for my people.
Yah! Let's go!
Damn you, God.
Damn you, God!
He killed that bear,
but he never found the wolf.
He would always believe
the wolf might return.
Good boy.
Togo, let's go.
Number 12, last car, boys.
Grab the crane.
The rope.
Everyone outside.
Close the hatch.
Let's go.
I think you all know
this vein we're on
is about tapped out.
She's just not
producing enough for us
to keep her open anymore.
I promise you, all of you,
I'll do my best
to find you work.
The Yukon Mine's
gonna be runnin' full steam
all winter long,
and the foreman over there
told me
he could take most of you on.
Yukon Mine.
That's a thousand miles away,
George.
I know. It's
a long way from home, Gunnar.
But if you want to work,
it's all there is.
Uh, I'll go.
Yeah, me as well.
Charlie.
Keep the faith.
Thank you.
Good luck to you.
It's gonna be a long winter.
Got a little
Christmas bonus for you.
I'll see you in church.
Thanks, George.
Thank you, Sepp.
What would you like Santa Claus
to bring you this year?
Hmm, I would really love
a dress.
What kind of dress?
The one like Constance's dress.
We'll have to tell Santa Claus.
What was my mommy like?
She was the kindest woman
I have ever known.
She was strong.
Really, really strong.
Kind of like a certain
special somebody that I know.
She would be so proud of you.
Yeah, let's go.
Hah! Hah!
Good job, Sigrid.
Let's get over
to Constance's house
and your dad's going to come
pick you up, okay?
Okay.
Yeah!
And Sigrid Seppala
wins the race.
Let's go.
Togo! Togo!
I missed you, boy!
Hey, wh-where's my hug, Sig?
Just doing what
you taught me, Daddy.
Dogs come first.
Thanks for watching
Sigrid while I was gone.
You're welcome.
It's no trouble at all.
She's a beautiful child.
Yeah.
I would love it
if Sigrid could make
the Christmas Eve service.
I have all the children
singing up front.
Please, Daddy, please?
Please
can we go to church? Please?
Uh, we'll see.
I had better
get back to the hospital.
The last shipment
of medical supplies
just came in for winter,
and Dr. Welch will need
some help sorting through
those crates.
Yeah.
Goodbye, Sigrid.
Bye Constance. Thank you.
You're welcome, sweetheart.
Bye, Leonhard.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Let's go, Sig.
Okay, Daddy.
Yeah.
Hee-hee-hee-hee.
Hey, come on. Load up.
That's the last of it.
Are you sure?
That's the whole shipment.
Well, we seem
to be short a few items.
But you go ahead.
I know you need to get
the kids ready
for the Christmas service,
I'll keep looking.
Thank you, Father.
- I'll see you there.
- Okay.
Merry Christmas, Father.
Merry Christmas.
Good evening.
All rise and join me in prayer.
Loving Father,
we are gathered here today
to have fun and fellowship,
and to celebrate and remember
the birth of Jesus,
that we may share
in the songs of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and the worship of the wise men.
Lord, may the Christmas
morning make us happy
to be your children,
and the Christmas evening
bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Leonhard.
Glad you came.
Thanks.
Daddy! Daddy!
Constance got me a present.
I see that.
Oh, isn't that kind of her?
Thank you
for bringing Sigrid tonight.
Oh, thank you,
for being so kind to Sigrid.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
Let's go.
Let's go home.
Okay, Daddy.
After you.
Let's go, boy.
A dress!
She got me a dress!
I told her I would
love a dress for Christmas!
Well, isn't that nice?
Here.
Eat your dinner.
You're not hungry, Daddy?
No.
Eat up.
Eat your dinner.
Do you miss Mama?
Yeah. Every day.
Well, Constance
would be a good mama.
Hey, we don't talk like that
in this house.
You understand me?
I don't want to ever hear you
speak like that again.
You got a mama.
Go. Go to bed.
Merry Christmas, boy.
Maybe you could cheer him up.
What?
She does.
It's to bring you
good luck for the race.
Merry Christmas.
Hoping everyone has a healthy
and happy holiday season.
Oh, and this just in.
We have a report
out of Newfoundland
that Santa's sleigh was seen
somewhere
over the United States.
It's time to get tucked in
boys and girls,
because Mr. Claus
is on his way.
Daddy, I can't sleep.
Come here.
This is Harry Davenport
signing off.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
There you go.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
Will you open your mouth
please, Alice?
A little wider please?
Dr. Welch is going
to make you all better baby.
You know what?
You are a very,
very good patient, Alice.
As a matter of fact,
Santa Claus told me
that you are at the very top
of his nice list.
So he told me to give you this.
What's wrong with her?
I'm going to go back
to the hospital
and pick up some medicine.
I'll be right back.
She'll be fine.
Thank you.
She's gone.
I'm so very sorry.
May I see her?
We're so sorry.
I will come back.
I will be back.
Come, come.
What killed that little girl?
She died of diphtheria.
Diphtheria?
Yes, it's a bacterial infection
that attacks
the respiratory system.
And it shuts down the airways
and the patient ultimately
dies from suffocation.
Are you sure it's diphtheria?
Yes, I'm sure.
But don't we have the antitoxin?
Yes, we do.
But it's expired.
What are we going to do?
Well, I'm going
to bring all the children
showing symptoms
up to the hospital immediately
and we'll... I'll check
on all of Mary's classmates.
George, we have a problem.
An Inuit girl
died of diphtheria,
and I assume that there are
many more infected
out in the sandspit.
Diphtheria?
Yes.
It's highly infectious
and I have no antitoxin
to fight it with.
I ordered more,
but it didn't arrive
with the last shipment.
There isn't
another way to cure it?
No. And you and I know
what can happen
with the last flu epidemic.
This could be very, very bad.
It could be much worse
if we don't get it here quickly.
Curtis, you just tell me
what you want me to do.
We need help.
Are we able
to get a telegraph through?
Sure, George.
Governor?
- Hmm.
Sir, it's a telegram
from the Mayor of Nome,
- very urgent.
- From who?
From Nome, Sir, very urgent.
The mayor in Nome.
Read it to me.
"An outbreak of diphtheria
is almost inevitable here."
Stop.
"I am in urgent need
of diphtheria antitoxin."
Stop.
God, Nome.
I almost forgot about Nome.
We haven't heard
from them in years.
What would you like to do, Sir?
Ah, call every hospital
down the coast
from Seattle to San Francisco
and tell them to send
as much antitoxin
as they can spare.
Okay, but... but Sir,
how are we supposed
to transport it there?
We can't get it there by ship.
The seaport's frozen over.
And... and Nenana's
the last stop on the railroad,
that's at least 700 miles
from Nome?
Look, just get the antitoxin.
Yes, Sir.
Thank you all for coming out.
Dr. Welch has some important
news that affects all of us.
Doctor?
A young girl
has died of diphtheria.
It's a very dangerous
and contagious disease
and it's going to spread
very rapidly through town.
If any of your young ones
have a sore throat
or a high fever,
any cold symptoms at all,
please send them
to the hospital immediately.
Is it just the young ones
or can the adults get it too?
Children are at the highest risk
because their immune systems
aren't as developed as ours.
But adults can carry
the disease without knowing it.
So I want you all
to stay in your homes.
What are we supposed to do?
How do we treat this?
Well, there...
There is an antitoxin
but I'm sorry, at the moment,
we... we don't have it.
Folks, folks,
please, please quiet down.
We... we we've contacted
the governor.
How do we have not any of it?
And he...
And he's going to send us
the antitoxin
as soon as possible.
I... I assure you we're doing
the best we can right now,
so just please do
what the doctor says.
I think everybody
just has to stay calm.
Stay in their homes.
We're going to do
everything we can to...
To get this antitoxin here.
That's what
we're trying to figure out.
So stay in your homes,
because it will not spread
if you stay in your homes.
That's what I ask of you.
We will get it here.
Well, we should have
enough antitoxin
by the end of the week.
The last thing
we need is bad press,
so I'm hoping
you will support our effort.
Well, I was hoping
you would finally
see the light of day
and realize
it was time for Alaska
to step into the modern age.
What do you mean by that?
I'm talking about an airplane.
We can have that serum
in Nome in two days.
Does this have anything to do
with the fact
that you are a part owner
of an airline by any chance?
I don't see that
that is really relevant
to any matters at hand.
You have a problem.
I'm offering you a solution.
Subzero temperatures
and Arctic winds
are not very conducive
to your flying machines.
William, this is Alaska.
This is our chance, Governor.
Yeah.
Well you don't have a plane,
and you don't have a pilot.
Now, to fly that distance
in winter conditions,
I already checked.
I know.
You called Washington
and they ignored you again.
No, they didn't ignore me.
Ignore me.
I can have a plane and a pilot
ready by tomorrow.
Listen, the plane goes down
with the serum on board,
we will be unable
to help anyone.
My plane will make it.
And I guarantee you will be
front page news on my paper.
Aren't you tired of playing
second fiddle to the lower 48?
Oh, Jesus. What the hell does
that have to do with anything?
I'll make you a hero.
Hell this could even mean
a second term.
Put you on the map so to speak.
I'll take your silence as a yes.
I want a test flight first.
If you can prove to me
you can get a plane up there
and fly that distance,
I will consider
flying up the serum.
You're a wise man, Governor.
Got a wire
from the Governor's office.
They found the antiserum
in Anchorage.
They want to fly it in
by airplane.
We could possibly have it
in a couple of days.
Thank you.
Going live in five,
four, three, two...
Hello, folks.
This is Harry Davenport.
A sliver of hope
for icebound Nome
as a doctor in Anchorage
has discovered 300,000 units
of diphtheria antitoxin,
enough to fight off
the epidemic.
Governor Bone had hoped
the serum could be delivered
by airplane,
but the test run earlier today
has proven
it is not a reliable option.
Cut off by land, cut off by sea.
And now the winged angel
of mercy is stuck on the runway.
How will they get the medicine
they so desperately need?
Nome needs our prayers.
This is Henry Davenport
signing off.
We don't have time to wait.
If we don't get it here soon,
things are going to be very bad.
Well, how much time do we have?
In two weeks, hundreds
are going to be infected.
This town is going
to be savaged.
This disease
is fatal to children.
Daddy,
what's going to happen to us?
Well, then, let's go
get that medicine.
Nothing's going to happen to us.
Gentlemen, it is time for us
to stop talking and take action.
We need to go
get that serum ourselves.
How will you
get the medicine here?
The sea is frozen over.
A ship couldn't get
within a hundred miles.
We'll mush it in.
Dog sled?
You can't be serious.
Hi, get out of the cold.
My father and George are meeting
with the town council
at the saloon.
They're discussing the plans
to get the serum here.
George asked me urgently
to get you there.
I'm dead serious,
Mr. Wells.
I'd much rather
put our hopes in a man
and a-a good team of dogs
than some damn flying machine
that can't even
get off the ground.
It's possible.
The railroad's still running.
We take the mail route
and-and the trains get it
as far as Nenana.
One musher can never
make it there and back.
It's 700 miles.
Not one musher.
A relay.
We station men
at every roadhouse
along the way
from here to Nenana.
George is right.
It may put lives at risk,
but at this point
it's the best option we have.
We know these men.
We know what they're capable of.
Can you keep Sigrid?
Of course.
Okay, I'll be back.
Look, I have three children.
And I just don't know if
this is the best option for us.
What if we wait another week
and this weather passes?
Yes.
Then we can get an airplane
up here in better weather.
You've got a
nine-month-old, Elliot.
Do you really want
to take that chance?
We are out of time.
What if they can't make it
through the mountains
by dog sled?
And the serum gets lost.
Then what?
We have to try.
Every day we wait,
children are going to die.
I'm not going to
let that happen.
I vote in favor.
Any more discussion?
Good.
Let's get started.
"Today officials
tried a second attempt
"at delivering the serum
by airplane.
"But the plane
had mechanical difficulties
"and had to return
to the landing strip
"shortly after takeoff.
"Ice-bound and all alone
on the edge of the world
It's now up to the valiant
mushers and the brave canines."
We need someone to meet them
at the halfway point,
350 miles."
I'll do it.
Sepp, even you've said
that the Norton Sound
and the mountain pass
never be taken
when the weather's not right.
How you're going to do this
in a storm?
I can't lose Sigrid.
The Norton Sound
has killed many men,
but we need that serum
and we need it now.
They're expecting temperatures
to drop to below 40
tomorrow night
and there's a blizzard
dropping in from the north.
"As an Arctic blizzard
pushes west,
"the drivers are enduring
temperatures of 60 below zero
and hurricane strength winds."
Can the serum survive
those conditions?
It can't stay frozen
for too long
or the antitoxin
will be destroyed,
but if it were thawed
at each waypoint
and packed very carefully,
yes, I think it would.
I'm going to need somebody
to stay with Sigrid.
I'll stay with her
till this is over.
Thanks, George.
I'll have Togo ready.
Gunner, use my dogs
and prepare a second team.
In case the storm
takes a turn for the worse,
Balto's ready to lead a team.
I'll be ready.
Well, who should we get to run
that first leg out of Nenana?
Wild Bill Shannon.
Thank you for watching her.
Of course.
I met with George,
your father, and Gunnar.
We all came up with a plan.
Going to run 20 mushers
along the mail route.
About 700 miles.
Togo and I leave
day after tomorrow.
You can do this?
Yes.
We're going to get that
medicine here.
I, uh...
I'm really scared
Sigrid's going to get this.
If that day comes,
I will treat her like my own
and I will not leave her side.
But it won't come to that.
She loves you.
She talks about you
all the time.
Just be safe.
We will.
Constance, would you please
check the patients
and take their temperatures?
Anybody over a hundred
is first priority.
Of course.
Hi, Akina.
Now listen, we can't take such
good care of you at your house.
So you're going to stay at
my house for a few days, okay?
So say goodbye
to Mommy and Daddy.
We'll get you well.
It's right here for you, Akina.
Love you so much.
Good girl, let's go.
- Come on, baby.
- I love you, baby.
- It's okay.
- It's going to be okay.
- I'll take care of her.
- Okay, thank you.
Come here, sweetheart.
I'm gonna miss you Daddy.
I'll miss you too.
Take care of my Daddy, okay?
Don't-don't leave me.
I'll be waiting
right here for you baby,
when you're all better, okay?
We'll take good care of her.
Come with me now.
I'm scared.
I promise, baby.
We're going to take
good care of you.
- It's okay.
Hey, George.
Well, the serum's on the train
bound for Nenana.
Good.
Weather seems to be holding.
It is for now.
I checked the weather report
on the wire.
It's not good.
Well, we'll make it.
The team won't quit on Togo.
I know how you feel
about that dog of yours,
but like a lot of us
around here,
he's getting a little long
in the tooth.
Maybe you could
use another lead dog?
These temperatures,
they'll freeze your lungs,
you-you know that?
George, I'm not going out there
without him.
What is Togo?
Eleven?
Twelve years old?
Yeah, he's twelve. And
he's the best lead dog I got.
He's going with me.
What's this all about George?
We need that serum, don't we?
Yes, we do.
I can do it.
Oh, I know you can. But if
anything bad happens out there,
you find a hole
and you get down in it.
I will.
You just make sure
each of those mushers
are at those checkpoints
with fresh dogs.
I could do that.
Thanks for looking after Sigrid.
We'll be praying for you.
Thanks, George.
It's dropping below 40.
Maybe you should wait
until the morning to leave?
Oh, no thank you. No.
You know the rule
of the forties?
No, I-I can't say that I do.
You never run a dog
if it's 40 above or 40 below.
You run a dog
when it's 40 above,
can overheat.
I saw one drop dead once.
You run a dog if it's 40 below,
could burn its lungs out.
Not a pretty picture.
The air freezes
and every breath you take
is like shoving a knife
in your lungs.
Your legs go numb,
your arms go numb.
You start to see things.
And if those dogs give out,
they'll find you and them dead.
Oh, my.
But...
but Mr. Shan,
that's...
that's why I think you should
wait until tomorrow to leave.
Wait at least
until the storm passes.
Then you can see the trail.
Besides, it's...
orders from the governor.
The hell with the governor.
As soon as that medicine
gets here, I'm leaving.
Mr. Wetzler?
- Yeah, yeah. Here.
Here you go.
It's the antiserum.
Hey.
Ready, Blackie?
All right, boy, let's go.
We better get this thing
put together.
Hai!
Yeah, it's going to be our
toughest race yet, boy.
I know, I know
you're ready to go.
I'm not going out there
without you.
No man.
Let's load up.
I'm not going to let anything
happen to you.
Let's go.
Come on, boy!
Hai!
You asked me
to prepare a plane for you
and to find a pilot,
and instead you were choosing to
transport the serum with dogs.
I hope you know
what you're doing.
You're willing to-to trust
the lives of these poor souls
to a Stone Age solution.
Sled dogs, Governor, this is
why Alaska is a laughingstock.
Well, I'm doing what I think
is best for the people in Nome.
It's the safest way, William.
And you may not agree with me
at the... at the moment,
but getting that serum
safely there is the key.
Now you couldn't even get your
damn plane off the runway.
My engineer
has found the problem
and we are working right now
on a solution.
I just need another day.
We don't have time.
They need the serum.
And they will have it.
My plane will get it there.
Well, the mushers assure me
that they can cover
the mail route in six days.
The mail route,
that's nearly 700 miles,
and you have an Arctic storm
bearing down from the north.
The dogs will never make it.
Yeah, well, I made my decision.
Then the fate of Nome lies
in the hands of dogs, Governor.
I hope you're right.
I hope so too.
Good bye, William.
Hai! Let's go Togo.
Whoa, whoa.
Come on, Skye.
Hold that line. Let's go.
Good boy, good boy. Hai!
Hai!
I tell you, this cold is setting
in my heart and in my bones.
You've been north
of the Norton Sound,
50, 60 below, ain't you?
Aren't you a believer?
You think them dogs
are going to make
700 miles in 80 below?
Don't you got money
in an airplane somewhere?
Trying to put us all
out of work?
You know what you don't need
in Hell?
A devil's advocate.
Oh, my God.
Get the dogs.
Get the dogs!
Goddamn.
It's Hell out there.
Hold on a moment folks.
This has just been handed to me.
"Musher Wild Bill Shannon has
just arrived in Whiskey Creek
"and passed the lifesaving serum
off to Dan Green.
Brave souls indeed."
Keep going boy, keep going.
Hai! Let's go.
Ruth, I promise you
I'm going to take as best
care of her as I can, okay?
- Can I see her?
- Not yet. Sorry.
Her fever's rising.
A hundred and five.
Constance, bring me the serum.
The serum? It's expired.
Will it even work?
We can try and keep
their airways open,
but at some point...
Of course.
Thank you.
What's the message?
"Where's the serum?"
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Easy, easy.
Let's go. Let's go.
- "We have lost contact."
Get your papers,
ladies and gentlemen.
- News out of Nome.
- Critical in Nome!
Critical in Nome!
Two cents a paper!
"We're running out of time."
You got to speed them up.
No, the dogs
are making progress,
they're just not fast enough.
We could be at Shaktoolik
by the time Seppala gets there.
But Sir, that-that's risky.
What if there's no way
to inform Seppala
of the change of plan?
And in this blizzard,
those mushers could pass
right by each other, Sir.
Well, I'm not going to sit here
twiddling my thumbs
and getting blamed
- for an epidemic.
- Okay!
This has just been handed to me.
"Musher Dan Green has just
arrived in Whiskey Creek
"and passed the lifesaving
serum off to Charlie Evans.
"Brave souls indeed.
"Bit by bit, mile by mile,
they get closer and closer
"to the midway point
of Nulato, Alaska.
"And from that point on,
it will be up to Nome native
Leonhard Seppala."
They said your dad's name
on the radio.
"He'll face the most dangerous
"leg of the relay over the
unpredictable shifting ice
"of the Norton Sound.
"And then the treacherous passes
of the Brooks Mountains.
"The fate of Nome
will be in his hands.
But with 400 miles left to go,
will he get there in time?"
Stay tuned, folks
for more news out of Alaska.
This is Harry Davenport
signing off.
I'll take her to a bed.
You're okay. You're
going to be okay, sweetheart.
Yeah.
You're going to be all right.
We're going to take care of you,
sweetheart.
So sorry, Constance.
We're going to take care of you.
Has he got the serum yet?
Temperatures dropped
to 80 below,
and we don't know where Sepp is.
Lines are in and out.
I'm going to send Gunnar
out there to try to find him.
You've seen it
down there, George.
It's-It's very bad now.
We don't have much time,
so do what you have to do, okay?
I will.
Balto! Hai!
Ah!
I barely made twelve miles.
Get inside!
By the fire!
You need to get warm.
You're going through this?
Just as far as Ungalik.
Maynard wants us to stay there
until the storm passes.
What about Seppala?
Maybe he's in Ungalik already.
Come on!
I'm so sorry.
Anguta has called Akina home.
She's gone.
Right there. Be careful.
Gen-gentle, gentle.
Yeah.
I tended to the dogs.
Any news from Nome?
Myles, any news from Nome?
Siggy. Siggy's sick.
No. No.
Maynard got a telegraph through.
She's in the hospital
with Constance.
Sepp, you can't go out
like this.
- Not now.
- Pack the crate.
Maynard wants you
to stay in Ungalik
until the storm passes.
Pack the crate.
Sepp, you're dead tired.
I said pack the crate!
Your daddy and Togo,
they're going to come back.
And they're going to have
some medicine for you.
And I started
a new dress for you.
And it's pink and yellow,
it's your favorite colors.
You're going to look so pretty.
He's going to be here
real soon, okay?
Have to stay with me,
sweetheart.
You just hang in there, okay?
Do you have a quote
for the evening edition?
Oh.
"Our last hope rests on the dogs
and their heroic mushers."
There's your quote, William.
Thank you, Governor.
Oh, have a little faith,
William.
You ever heard of that concept?
Let's go, Togo!
- Go!
Faster, boys! Faster!
Ha! Ha!
Are the lines up?
They're in and out.
This is Harry Davenport
with another installment
of the race against death.
Governor Bone of Alaska
says that all hope
now rests on the dogs
and their heroic mushers.
But time is running out
in faraway Nome.
And Leonhard Seppala
is nowhere to be found.
And now all we can do is pray.
Pray for Leonhard Seppala.
And pray for the good citizens
of Nome.
Hold, boy!
Hold the line, boy!
Togo, hold the line.
Pull!
Pull, boy! Pull!
Hold the line!
Pull!
Togo, hold the line! Pull!
Come on, boy! Pull!
Let's get home.
Let's ride.
It's okay, Togo.
I got you.
Let's put you in the sled.
I know you're hurt.
I need to get some air, father.
Come on.
Let's get out of the snow.
Come on. All right, come on.
Come on, boy.
Daddy, Daddy, wake up. Daddy.
Come on, boy.
Don't give up now.
You got to lead us home.
Morning, Henrietta.
Morning.
Everyone is sleeping.
Good. Good.
Everyone except you and me.
Well, I closed
my eyes for a while,
but the nightmares came back.
You know when the flu
epidemic of '18 broke out,
they died by the hundreds.
We lost half of the
Inuit population in this town.
I mean, I was, I was helpless.
And now it's happening again.
You're doing such a good job.
You can't blame yourself.
I delivered
most of these children.
I brought them
into this world and...
so, in a way...
they're my children too.
I feel the same way.
I love those little hearts
out there like my own.
I love Sigrid
like she's my own daughter.
All of those children
have helped us both
through difficult times.
And now it's our turn
to help them.
Don't lose faith.
Is Sigrid okay?
Yeah, yeah, she's okay.
Balto, let's go!
Sigrid,
Sigrid can you hear me?
Sigrid, Alice and
five other children
have reached the point
of unconsciousness
and the swelling in their
throats is getting worse.
You have to keep
replacing the compresses
to keep the swelling down.
And don't forget the neck, okay?
Let's go, Balto, let's go!
No, stay with me honey.
- Gee! Gee! Gee!
Ilsa, can you
stay with the children?
- Whoa!
- You made it!
Balto, whoa.
Good job, Gunnar.
The medicine, it's here.
Easy, easy, easy.
Thank you.
Did you see Sepp?
He was behind me.
Let's go home, boy.
There he is.
Incredible.
They're all intact.
Not a single vial broken.
Doctor, is it going to work?
George, please get these
people out of here.
We need quiet.
Please, please.
Let's move. Let's move.
All of you.
How long do we have to wait?
It's going to be
at least a few minutes
for these to thaw out,
before injecting.
Ilsa, I want you
to go ahead of us
and sterilize their arms.
- And Constance.
- Yes.
You prepare the syringes.
Yes, Father.
Let's go to work.
These seem be the most thawed.
We'll start with the worst
cases first going bed to bed.
Thank God.
Is... is Sigrid okay?
Daddy. Daddy, wake up.
Daddy.
It's Sigrid. Wake up.
Wake up.
Daddy.
Can you hear me?
It's Siggy.
Take care of her.
Wake up.
Can you hear me?
Daddy.
Daddy, wake up.
It's Siggy.
The medicine worked.
I missed you, I love you, Daddy.
You look so beautiful.
Thank you, Daddy.
Constance took care of me.
And Togo took care of you.
You saved a lot of lives, Sepp.
Togo brought you back.
I love you, Daddy.
I love you too, baby.
I'm glad you're okay.
Hello, folks.
This is Harry Davenport,
bringing you what I'm happy
to say is the last installment
of the race against death.
Governor, the
epidemic's been averted, Sir.
Nome's saved.
You did it Sir.
You have one
very tough little girl.
But that doesn't surprise me,
given her father.
Thank you.
Maybe I'll see
you both at church on Sunday?
Yeah.
Yeah, I reckon we'll be there.
- Yippee!
- Whoo!
Sir, I have Calvin Coolidge
on the phone for you.
He's on the line.
- The President?
- Hmm-mm.
Oh, my.
Mr. President?
You know,
they say every dog has his day.
Well, for the
noble sled dogs of Alaska,
- I'd say today was that day.
Yay, I'm so happy!
Real proud of you, son.
- Thanks, George.
- Proud of you.
The entire world now breathes
a collective sigh of relief.
I think this editorial
from the Daily News-Miner
sums it up best.
We thank those brave men
and their valiant dogs
for saving so many lives.
But we owe them
a bigger debt of gratitude
for showing us
that anything is possible
when you have hope and courage.
The Stone Age.
This is Harry Davenport,
signing off.
Thanks for
bringing my daddy home.
There was a higher Spirit
that guided those men and dogs
across the harsh conditions
of our land.
Seppala would never
see the wolf again.
His love for his dogs
never changed.
And the wild spirit
would find good times ahead.