[engine whirring]
Thanks for shopping.
-What a place to break down, huh? -Guess you need a ride.
Do you mind?
Hop in.
Well, it's too small for an alligator.
Too big for a lizard. What is it, a baby dinosaur?
It's a snake.
-What kind of snake? -A mean one.
Oh, great.
Look, it ain't getting out of there, so relax.
How far is the nearest town?
Little place called San Catalano. Just up ahead.
Okay, just drop me off there.
[tire bursts]
[tires screech]
[screams]
[man grunting and panting]
Hey, the crate's busted open.
-Hang on a sec. -[grunts] My leg.
[driver] Help.
[car door creaks]
[grunts]
[engine hisses]
Hang on, buddy. I'll be back as soon as I can.
[panting]
[man screaming in distance]
[hissing]
-[hisses] -[screams]
[snake rattles]
[country rock music playing on car stereo]
-Vic? -George.
-Nice to meet you finally. -Hey, how're you doing?
-You have any trouble finding us? -Nah, I just followed the signs.
"San Diego County's fastest growing community," huh?
Yeah, well, I hope it doesn't grow up too fast.
It's nothing like what you're used to.
Oh, by the way, I'm gonna be staying on for an extra week.
-Make sure you get squared away. -Good.
I'll take all the help I can get.
[bomb exploding in distance]
-What's that? -That, my friend,
is the reason I'm getting the hell out of Dodge.
I noticed that new development on the way into town.
How could you miss it?
I don't care what anybody says, I think it's a damn eyesore.
Now they got this "Phase Two," it's gonna be twice as bad.
Yeah, I heard Caltrans is gonna put a highway through here.
You know, when I first moved here, it was like paradise on Earth.
I mean, it was special. Now it's gonna be like every place else.
-Yeah, that's what they call progress. -Yeah, well, I'm in the vast minority.
Everybody else around here thinks Max Farrington's God.
Max Farrington?
I'm not gonna poison the well.
You'll meet him soon enough. Make up your own mind.
[bomb exploding in distance]
[man] We're all clear!
-Max, sales have been consistent. -Consistent isn't good enough.
We need sales to be booming and to get to the next level,
-no matter what it takes. -I'm already working a seven-day week.
I've given up having any kind of a social life.
There's not much of a social life to be had in this town,
but that's all gonna change. You watch.
Well, not that I'm in any kind of a hurry.
At least this job puts back what you put into it,
-unlike most relationships. -Oh, by the way,
Johnny's been asking about you.
-I don't think we have much in common. -I don't know.
I think he'd be a pretty good workout partner.
I'll stick with my Stairmaster, thank you very much.
Look, Mandy, I don't mean to be ragging on you,
but I've got a lot invested in this project
and now I'm starting to catch heat from the lenders.
I know. It's okay.
-Let's go to the picnic, huh? -Okay.
[engine starts]
[exhales]
[hissing]
[chattering indistinctly]
[woman] Um, I'm not sure, there's a two bedroom...
...you're not sure yet.
Now, is he gonna fight with it? Because he's gonna...
-No-- -...be used to her being around.
They make a wonderful couple.
You'll like it here. The people are real.
And if you need help, they'll be there for you.
Oh, sure. Oh!
George, I thought you were going fishing.
I am. First I have to break in our new Fire Chief.
This is our new Fire Chief.
Well, hello. It's very nice to meet you. I'm Vera.
Are you single?
[both chuckle]
Vera owns the local pet shop. You know, if a cat gets stuck in a tree,
they call Vera before the Fire Department.
Hey, did I hear something about a new Fire Chief?
-Mr. Mayor, have you met Vic? -So far, we've just talked on the phone.
Hey, now, I'm impressed.
I mean, you got the whole town out here to greet me.
Well, now that you mention it, follow me.
Oh, uh, to answer your question...
I am.
[chattering indistinctly]
[Mayor Parker] Oh, come on. Don't be shy. Come on.
Come on, come on. Follow me. [chuckles]
[through loudspeaker] Hello, folks.
Hello, kids. Hello, dogs.
Well, as we all know, our beloved and long-time Fire Chief
is retiring and going fishing.
I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our new Fire Chief,
Vic Rondelli.
So let's give him a sincere small-town welcome, shall we?
-[cheering and applauding] -[man] Whoo-hoo!
Thank you. Thanks very much.
Well, that really did sound sincere...
Listen, about being behind schedule and the pressure that we're under,
-that's just between you and I, okay? -Of course, Max.
-Oh, there's Bill. See you. -[Vic] I got a lot to learn
about this place and about all of you,
so you're welcome to stop by the firehouse anytime,
and introduce yourselves.
So, uh... Well, I'm gonna try to do the best job I can and, uh...
Well, the only thing I ask is somebody save a burger for me.
[crowd cheers and applauds]
[giggles]
He's adorable, don't you think?
Very.
[hissing]
[girl giggling]
[Mayor Parker] All of us enjoying our families...
[heart beating rapidly]
[Mayor Parker] ...enjoying this beautiful setting.
With so many new people moving here, planning is essential.
Especially if we wanna keep
-San Catalano the way we like it. -You know,
-I don't believe we've met. -No, we haven't.
But I already know all about you.
[chuckles]
Well, I've only been in town for an hour.
Welcome to small town, U.S.A.
[Mayor Parker] ...really do if we think about it.
Now, I wanna take this opportunity to introduce...
[rattling]
What's that?
I don't know. It's okay. It's cool.
Now I'd like to bring up a man whose vision gave us all this,
a man who is putting our little town on the map, Max Farrington.
[crowd cheers and applauds]
Whoo-hoo!
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, everyone.
Friend of yours?
Boss of mine.
[Max] ...the people of San Catalano to gather
and to get together with your new neighbors.
Now, we're not just about building homes,
we're about creating a total environment where you and your families can prosper.
-[hissing] -[boy groans]
[hissing and rattling]
Let's go somewhere else.
Wait. I just wanna check it out.
-[hissing and rattling] -[Max] ...video games, libraries,
in short, we're going to have the whole nine yards.
-[hissing and rattling continues] -[Max speaking indistinctly]
[hissing intensifies]
-[heart beating rapidly] -[hissing]
She's an important part of the Farrington team.
Makes my job a whole lot easier. If you've met her,
you can't help but love her, our VP in charge of sales and marketing,
-Ms. Mandy Stratford. -I'm on.
-[Max] Mandy? -[crowd applauds and cheers]
-Thank you, Max. -You're welcome.
Well, I just wanted to add a warm welcome to all of our guests
who are joining us today.
Please, feel free to mingle with the homeowners,
enjoy all of the food and ask me any questions
-that you might have. -[girl screaming]
[screaming continues]
[crowd clamoring]
[Mayor Parker] All right, folks. Let's take it easy.
[girl shouts] Over here! Over here!
[Mayor Parker] Let them take care of it. [girl] Help us!
[Mayor Parker] Let them take care of it. [girl] Please! [screams]
[chattering indistinctly]
[man] What's going on?
[girl shouting] Help! Please help! Please, please!
-Help, please. Please, it bit him. -What bit him?
A snake, it bit his arm. Please, help him!
It's okay, it's okay.
-Please! A snake! -What happened?
Oh, my God. What happened?
-[panting] He's dead. -What?
My guess he was bitten by a rattlesnake.
Did you see it?
-No. -I never heard of anyone dying
that quickly from a rattlesnake bite.
I am so sorry. If you need anything, please call me.
-[sobbing] -[people chattering indistinctly]
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. There are...
There are no words to describe how terribly I feel for you two right now.
[car engine starts]
I'm sorry, folks, but I need to get some information.
Look, uh, why don't... Why don't we go do this someplace else, okay?
Do you need a ride back to the station?
Yeah, sure.
[Vic] You know, I've never seen anyone die so quickly from a snake bite.
Do you know a lot about rattlesnakes?
I was Deputy Fire Chief in a suburb of Tucson.
We'd get half a dozen rattlesnake bites every summer. No one ever died.
Lacey said the snake was huge.
Well, I'm sure it looked huge to her.
Women tend to exaggerate these things.
Excuse me?
Well, you know how women are when it comes to snakes
-and spiders and mice. -No, I don't know. How are they?
Well, let me rephrase that. "Some women."
How 'bout "some people"?
All right, I'm sorry.
I'm just upset.
Yeah.
[car horn beeping]
Yeah. Thanks for the ride.
Welcome to San Catalano.
I wish it could've been a happier occasion.
Yeah.
[children playing in distance]
[Max] Just float it.
All right? If I have to pay the penalty, I will.
-I just can't discuss this right now. -[phone beeps]
-[sobbing] -[chattering indistinctly]
I know I'm new around here, but I just wanted to let you know
how sorry I am about Jake.
Thanks, Mr. Rondelli.
When you're up to it, um...
Well, I'd like to talk to you a little bit more about what happened.
What do you mean?
Well, about the snake. I mean, it's unusual for a rattlesnake
-to attack somebody, just-- -Jake didn't do anything wrong.
-[Vic] Well... -He just wanted to look at it.
Lacey, you okay?
Look, it's not that I don't believe you. My concern is for public safety
and if there's some abnormally aggressive rattlesnake out there,
-I've gotta-- -Excuse me.
Obviously, what you're talking about is upsetting her,
so why don't you go lightly.
Well, I'm sorry, it's just that...
Well, I... I need to know what happened.
That boy was the victim of a very tragic accident.
Now, case closed.
That's not your call, Farrington.
[Max] Your title is "Fire Chief," correct?
What does any of this have to do with a fire?
All right, guys. Enough.
Come on, I'll walk you back.
[scoffs]
Here, boy. Come on, come on. Here. Go, boy, go. Good dog.
Come here, come on, come here.
Good girl. Ya ready? Yeah?
Get it. Yeah.
[dog barking]
[hissing]
[barking continues]
[hissing]
[barking continues]
What's wrong, Buck?
[hissing]
[heart beating rapidly]
[hissing intensifies]
Mom!
[dog growling]
[phone rings]
Farrington.
Mrs. Holden, just... Just calm down.
Just... Just take a deep breath, okay? Everything's gonna be all right.
Have you called anyone else about this?
That's good. You just stay put, I'm on my way.
What's up?
Someone just found a snake under one of the houses.
-A rattlesnake? -She didn't say.
[door opens and closes]
You sure it didn't come from up on the hill?
Tammy said it came from under that house.
[sighs] All right.
[phone dials]
Yeah, Ken. It's Max. Look, I need you up at Phase One right away.
Holden house. No, no, right now.
-Yeah. -[phone beeps]
-What's up, Mr. Farrington? -[Max] You have a flashlight in there?
-[Ken] Yeah. -Grab it, you're gonna need it.
The Holdens' dog found a rattlesnake inside this foundation.
I'm gonna need you to go inside there and check it out for me.
-A rattlesnake? -Yeah.
Is that a problem for you, Ken?
-No, sir. -[Max] Good man.
Who're you calling?
Fire Department.
[sighs]
-[wood cracks] -[Ken grunts]
[hissing]
[breathes heavily]
-[grunts] -[hissing]
[hissing intensely]
[gasps]
[hissing continues]
[man] Use a pry bar.
[Max] What did you find?
There's a whole bunch of 'em in there.
All right. Let's get an exterminator up here, ASAP.
I want you to take this carcass and bury it somewhere. And be discreet.
[Mandy] Did you find anything?
Good news. No more snakes.
But just to be on the safe side, we're gonna go ahead
and fumigate this foundation here. And yours, too, Mrs. Holden.
-Why mine? -Well, it's always been a policy
of ours never to take any chances when it comes to our homeowners.
[Max] Ah, who called the Fire Department?
-I did. -Smart girl.
Sorry, Chief. False alarm.
-Well, Mandy said you found a rattler. -Yeah, a dead one. And nobody was hurt.
-Where is it? -Foreman's taking care of it.
Now, Mrs. Holden. While we're fumigating, I'd like you and your family
-to be my guests at the inn. -[Mrs. Holden] Great.
-How big was it? -Pretty big.
But you know women, we tend to exaggerate these things.
[chuckles]
I just felt it should be reported.
[sighs] Yeah, well, your boss probably wishes it hadn't.
Whatcha looking for?
Reports of rattlesnake bites or sightings.
You should talk to Jack Kelly.
I saw his exterminator truck up in Phase One.
[car horn beeps]
[people chattering indistinctly]
[man] I'll meet you at the car.
Jack.
-I'm Vic Rondelli. I'm the new Fire Chief. -Hi, Vic. Nice to finally meet you.
Oh, I hate spiders.
You know, I heard you were doing some fumigating up in Phase One.
-Did you find any snakes? -Sure did.
-Half a dozen actually. -Rattlesnakes?
Yeah, big ones, too. Well, biggest I've seen around here.
-You mind if I take a look at 'em? -Not at all,
-but we burned the carcasses. -Well, why'd you do that?
Well, that's what the client asked for.
-The client being Max Farrington? -[Jack] That's right.
I'll guarantee one thing,
I'll be getting a lot more work out of Farrington & Associates.
[birds chirping]
They found six more snakes under that one foundation.
We had a problem and we dealt with it. And no one's reported any more snakes.
That doesn't mean they're not out there. Look, you saw happened to Jake.
What if someone else in Phase One gets bitten?
That was a totally random incident.
And what if it wasn't?
Let's get the construction crew together and go on a snake hunt.
Right. And then word gets out that we have a snake problem.
Sales plummet, the company goes belly-up, it's over for me and you.
[scoffs] You're out of a job.
Then let's at least fumigate the rest of the homes.
That's a great idea.
I'll have the exterminator back up here again next month.
No, Max. This is a problem right now.
Look, we had a family of snakes living under one of our unfinished homes.
Those snakes are gone, end of story, hmm?
You're the boss.
[giggling]
[kids chattering indistinctly]
[dog barking in distance]
Hey, guys.
Hey, you haven't seen any snakes, have you?
Mmm-mmm.
They found a nest of rattlers under a house in the next block.
Until we figure out where the things are coming from,
I think it'd be a good idea if you played up on the pavement.
You know, I couldn't have said it better myself.
Did you know that the average adult length
of a western diamondback is four to five feet?
Although, some have been known to reach a length of seven feet.
Vera told me about a snake website on the internet.
All the snakes under that foundation were at least seven feet in length.
Means we're dealing with something very different.
But a western diamondback is the only snake indigenous to this area.
Yeah. Is your boss planning to post signs around here?
If there really is a problem, I'll get out there and post signs myself.
I'm gonna hold you to that.
[Mandy] How'd you find out about the nest?
Exterminator.
-Thought I'd go right to the source. -What're you gonna do about it?
Well, I'm gonna go on a little snake hunt.
Hey, you wanna come along?
I don't think I'm wearing the right shoes.
I got a spare pair of boots in the truck.
-Probably not my size. -Aw, come on.
Extra pair of socks or two, it'll be okay.
[chuckles]
All right.
I'm going on a snake hunt. Am I crazy?
All right.
[Mandy] Oh, lovely.
Are you sure you don't have anything in a ladies' size seven?
You know, you don't have to do this. I won't hold it against you.
Oh, no. I'm going. I'm going. I'm not crazy about snakes,
but I'll deal with it.
[Vic] All right.
They have pits below their eyes with nerve endings 1,000 times
more sensitive than human skin.
That's how they know whether an animal is prey or an enemy, from its body heat.
Although most rattlesnakes will flee in the presence of an enemy,
except for the tropical rattlesnake, which they say is the most aggressive.
I don't think we have to worry about too many tropical rattlesnakes
-around here. -[screams]
[Vic] Oh.
One of those tropical tree branches.
Now they're vicious.
-[chuckles] -Ha ha.
[sighs]
So, what will you do if we catch one?
I don't know.
Kill it, skin it, throw it on the barbecue.
You know what they say.
-Tastes like chicken. -Tastes like chicken.
I could make myself a cute little pair of snakeskin boots.
Cut off the rattle, make yourself a new keychain.
-Hey. -Whoa.
-[rattling] -Two o'clock. About 10 feet away.
We were just kidding.
Move back real slow.
[hissing and rattling]
[gasps]
[Vic] Stay still.
Don't move!
[panting] Vic...
[yelps] Get him!
-Got him. -[Mandy] You better have him.
[gasps]
[sighs in relief]
Are you okay?
Oh, yeah. I'm fine.
Would it be possible to helicopter me out of here?
I think this is my last snake hunt.
[hissing]
-[snaps] -[Mandy screams]
[squeals and gasps] Oh, God!
[panting rapidly]
Oh, God. It's already numb. It's already numb.
Can you suck out the poison?
I'd love to,
but there are no puncture marks.
-Really? -[Vic] Didn't make it through the boot.
[panting] Oh, that's good.
That's good. I'm gonna put my boot back on.
[panting] Can we go home now?
Yeah.
[rattling]
-[Mandy gasps] -[rattling continues]
-Did you hear that? -Yeah.
[rattling and hissing]
[gasps]
[squeals]
[heart beating rapidly]
[rattling continues]
They're everywhere.
-Let's go. -You stay behind me.
Let's go.
Let's run for it. Come on.
[Mandy] I don't hear 'em.
-Wow. That was pretty... -Intense.
[Mandy] Can we go home now?
[both panting]
You ever been to a herpetologist?
Excuse me?
Snake scientist.
-Never. -Well, there's always a first time.
Let's go.
[chattering indistinctly]
All right, Vic. Let's see what you got for me.
Crack that.
-[hissing] -Shut it.
-[snaps] -[gasps]
Definitely more aggressive than I've ever seen.
-This is no western diamondback. -Okay then, what is it?
Well, there is a test I can do.
Crack that for me.
[hissing intensifies]
All right, now grab that for me.
[hissing and rattling continues]
In terms of quantity and color, this is highly unusual.
Unusual good or unusual bad.
Well, scientifically speaking, it's rather remarkable.
This venom is much more like that of a tropical rattlesnake's,
which is about 50 times more toxic than any snake
found in Southern California.
[hissing and rattling]
Vic, I wish I could give you more answers,
but I need some time to study him.
Well, how's two hours?
I figured we'd go and get a bite to eat then stop here
-on our way back. -Well, I can't promise you anything.
Look, I know this is rushing you,
but the sooner we find out what we're dealing with, the better.
All right. I'll see what I can do.
Was that a backdoor way of asking me out to dinner?
Well, come on. You are hungry, aren't you?
Well, I'm hoping my appetite will return after we leave here.
No offense.
I never gave much thought to snakes before.
The reptile kind.
Speaking of which, how do you like working for Max Farrington?
Max has been really good to me.
I was going through a really rough time when he offered me this job.
Ah-ha, you were running away from something.
A bad relationship?
Okay. What did Vera tell you?
Well, it wasn't Vera. It was George, and welcome to Small Town, U.S.A.
It's all true.
I needed to make some big changes in my life and I did.
No regrets.
So, what else did he tell you?
[both chuckling]
What else do I need to know?
Oh, no. That's my deep dark secret.
What's yours?
Well, I thought you knew everything about me.
Not everything.
Ever been married?
No, not that I have anything against it,
but there's only been one woman I've ever known that I wanted to marry.
And?
She was married to someone else.
-Huh. That's complicated. -Yeah, well, it gets even worse.
Her husband oversaw my department.
Oh.
Now it's getting interesting.
-Yeah. -Yeah.
A girlfriend once told me that work is the best refuge for a broken heart.
-You believe that? -I do. For about 12 to 14 hours a day
then I go home to my empty house and I begin to wonder.
Hmm.
You know, San Catalano doesn't seem like the best place to meet eligible men.
Well, that's why I live there.
It's called self-imposed exile.
Ah.
Does it bother you that your boss made the exterminator
burn the remains of those snakes?
Look, I know what you're thinking.
Yes, we've had some construction setbacks.
No, homes aren't selling to their original projections,
but Max just doesn't want to alarm people.
Well, how about warning them for their own good?
Why do you think I went on that snake hunt with you?
If there's a problem, I wanna know about it.
-Even if it means going against your boss? -You don't know Max.
He may be under a lot of pressure, but in the end, he'll do the right thing.
[Dr. Watkins] This snake is a real killer. It has characteristics
of both the tropical rattlesnake and the western diamondback.
And yet it's neither one.
What it is, is a combination of both.
I contacted a colleague at the local zoo.
Someone in the reptile department remembered an incident
that happened 20 years ago.
The zoo had acquired an unusually aggressive tropical male rattlesnake
from the jungles of Costa Rica.
They decided to have it transferred to a research lab back east.
Now, apparently, the driver of that truck got into an accident
out where Highway 12 meets the 315.
That's just before you get to San Catalano.
Yeah, well, the rattlesnake got loose, bit the driver and another person,
and then disappeared into the hills. It was never seen again.
Unfortunately, both the driver and that other passenger died.
So, you're thinking that this tropical male
-mated with some western females? -Species seldom interbreed,
except under artificial conditions. Though it has been known to happen.
Well, then that's gotta be the answer.
-[snake hisses] -So, for the last 20 years,
some whole new rattler's been breeding in the hills around San Catalano.
[Mandy] But why are they only appearing now?
This is the time of year
that snakes start coming out of hibernation.
Well, wait. I read the files. You'd think there'd be some report
of people being bitten by rattlesnakes or dying from snake bites.
Well, this is earthquake country. I've heard of snake dens
being disturbed by earth tremors.
-Oh, my God. -What is it?
Well, there's a big new housing development
being built up there. They're using dynamite to grade the lots.
And this development is where the snakes have been appearing?
Yeah.
Well, in that case, it is very possible that this construction
has encroached in an area where these snakes
are used to hunting their prey.
[snaps]
You're sure it was one of these things that bit Jake?
Well, not absolutely, because we didn't catch that snake,
but based upon what Lacey said, we're pretty sure--
-That girl was hysterical. -The venom from a western diamondback
would've never killed someone that quickly.
It had to have been one of these mutant snakes.
Mutant snake. Okay.
Let's say you're right. What do you want me to do?
Get Max Farrington to suspend all dynamiting
and construction in Phase Two.
Then we get Dr. Watkins out here to do a thorough study.
-Any idea how long that would take? -Dr. Watkins understands the urgency.
He'll move as quickly as we need.
Shutting Max down, that's asking a lot. He's got deadlines to meet.
What's more important, his deadlines or the safety of this community?
Listen, I hear you. It's just that I don't want to act rashly.
Better safe than sorry.
[crickets chirping]
[hissing]
[rattling]
It's been quite a day.
Yeah. We should do it again sometime.
Sure. Let's just leave out the parts having to do with snakes.
[chuckles]
-[sighs] -You know...
I'm leaning towards inviting you in,
but I have a feeling I wouldn't get any sleep.
Well, what... What should we do?
We say good night, reluctantly.
I was afraid you were gonna say that.
-Good night. -Good night.
[Mandy] Vic,
would you mind checking under my bed for snakes?
I'm just kidding.
-Good night. -[Vic] Good night, Mandy.
I'll see ya.
You better.
[bomb exploding]
[gasps] Oh, no!
[man] Okay, let's settle down.
[hissing]
[hissing and rattling intensifies]
I've discussed it with the Mayor, and we've decided to continue grading.
But you have no idea what's going on here.
All I know is one person dies of a snake bite and you're ready
-to declare a national emergency. -There were seven of those things
under one of your homes and probably hundreds more.
That does not justify
-shutting down my entire operation. -Max, I saw--
So you're saying that your operation is worth more than people's lives?
Look, if I shut down, dozens of people are out of work
and it jeopardizes this town's whole economy.
-[scoffs] This is not about money. -Oh, it's easy for you to say.
-You have nothing at stake here. -Max, I was up in those hills.
-I saw those things with my own eyes. -[Max] I've already talked to Jack.
He's going to fumigate the rest of the homes in Phase One.
We're dealing with it.
-That's not enough. -Well, it's good enough for me.
Bottom line, Rondelli,
you do not have the authority to shut me down.
Whose side are you on, anyway?
Fuel stored too close to the explosives.
The shed isn't properly ventilated and you're one fire extinguisher short.
Okay, we'll get right on it.
These kind of violations give me the legal prerogative
to shut you down for 24 hours.
-Which is just what I'm doing. -[scoffs] You gotta be kidding.
He's shutting us down.
You wanna play hardball, huh?
[machinery whirring]
[man 1] We're gonna need a couple more. [man 2] Five more.
[people chattering indistinctly]
So, have they fumigated your house yet?
Well, they're coming over later this afternoon.
We've already shipped the kids off to grandma's.
Dave and I are spending the night at a B&B.
-Oh, some quality time, huh? -Oh, yeah.
-Anyway, I gotta run. -Okay.
That'll be all.
[garage door clunks and whirs]
-[garage door closes] -[hissing]
-[hissing and rattling] -[yelps]
[screams]
[panting and squealing]
[gasping and crying]
[tires screech]
[groans]
[tires screech]
-What's going on? -The Mayor called
and he didn't sound too happy.
We'll know more after this phone call.
[phone rings]
-This is Watkins. -Yeah, it's Vic.
Look, I'm gonna put you on speaker.
I'm here with George Mitchell, my predecessor.
We did some preliminary genetic testing and this rattlesnake
is unlike anything known. It's completely new to science.
You got any numbers on how many we might be dealing with?
This is just a rough estimate. But assuming they started breeding here
twenty years ago, we could be looking at anywhere between 25,000 and 35,000.
All right. Let's say
they put this new housing development where the snakes
were used to hunting for food.
Given the aggressiveness of that specimen,
do you think the snakes would attack anyone unprovoked?
No, the problem is they're disoriented and confused,
which means that they're more likely to attack first and ask questions later.
Vic, what really worries me here is they've just begun to come
out of hibernation.
This is only the first trickle.
In the next weeks, there'll be 100 times
-as many coming out to look for food. -I just came from Phase One.
A homeowner was bitten to death by a rattlesnake.
Listen, Vic, I just heard that. Maybe I better come out there.
Yeah, that'd be good. And, uh...
We need you here yesterday.
This is no random incident. We got ourselves a problem here.
I'm gonna need your help.
[radio chattering indistinctly]
[car horn beeps]
Here comes trouble.
What is going on here?
We're deploying a roadblock. No one but residents
and emergency personnel beyond this point.
-Well, on whose authority? -The Sheriff's and the Fire Department.
-Did you even think to consult with me? -There wasn't time.
-Dealing with a crisis here. -Two people are bitten by snakes
-and you call that a crisis. -They weren't just bitten. They died!
Look, I'm moving up our city council meeting
to eight o'clock tonight. We need to discuss this
-under calmer conditions. -Well, in the meantime,
I don't want anyone in San Catalano who doesn't belong.
You're gonna start a panic.
Okay.
You've got nerve, I'll give you that.
[radio communication continues]
[budgerigar chirping]
[birds chirping]
Hello? Vera?
Mandy. Remember what you said about posting signs?
She had two small kids.
You know, Vic, if these snakes really are hybrids,
they need to be studied.
Yeah. Well, right now we gotta get out and warn people.
Maybe we won't have to post those signs after all.
[reporter] How long are you gonna need to set up?
-About ten minutes. -Come on, let's go.
[phone ringing]
Farrington and Associates.
Sure. Please hold a moment.
[receptionist on intercom] Mr. Farrington, Mayor Parker's on one.
[intercom beeps]
Yes, Dean.
What?
[news reporter] San Catalano is facing a threat
that is turning the dreams of its residents into nightmares.
Reports of a deadly rattlesnake infestation have been circulating
throughout the community since the death last week
of a 17-year-old high school student who was bitten by a snake
in the woods near his home. Fire Chief Vic Rondelli
issued an official warning as he spoke to us
-earlier this afternoon. -I'll call you back.
[Vic on TV] We just want people to be aware.
People shouldn't take walks in the tall grass...
Karen, you get Mandy on the phone right now!
...windows shut at all times,
and keep your pets inside, too.
[reporter] The Evening News...
-[phone rings] -Right on cue.
...the latest casualty was a young mother of two
who was bitten by multiple snakes
-in the garage of her home. -Hello, this is Mandy.
Hi, Karen. Yeah, I'll hold.
Hello, Max.
Yeah, I know, we're watching it right now.
Okay, I'll be there in a minute. Bye.
-What a surprise, boss wants to see me. -You gonna be okay?
Yeah, I'm a big girl. I'll be fine.
On second thought,
can I just borrow one of these?
Why the hell didn't you tell me about this?
A woman's dead, Max. A woman with a husband and two kids.
And I feel terrible about that, but it does not justify
-setting off a panic. -So what're you gonna do?
-How are you gonna protect these people? -Well, obviously we need to be proactive.
What we don't need is some Fire Chief running around like a loose cannon.
Look, Max,
I know how to turn this whole thing around and make Farrington and Associates
look like the big heroes.
-I'm listening. -Okay.
We hold a press conference.
We invite snake experts, city officials, citizens.
We tell them that Farrington and Associates
is gonna be funding a scientific task force
to look into the problem and offer solutions.
That means we'd have to stop production.
Homeowners would be living in fear. New buyers will be pulling out of escrow
and prospective buyers, well, they're not gonna want to set foot here.
So what're you gonna do, Max, nothing?
[fax machine whirs]
You coming to the city council meeting tonight?
-Of course. -Good.
Make sure you bring your new friend, the fire chief.
What are you up to?
[upbeat music plays on radio]
[panting]
[hissing]
-[music continues] -[panting]
[rattling]
[heart beating]
[screeches]
[whimpers]
[hissing and rattling intensifies]
[whimpering]
[straining and crying]
[woman distantly] Help me!
[crying] Please, somebody help me!
[gasping and crying]
[screams] Please, help me!
-[snakes hiss and rattle] -[crying]
Please! Help me, please.
Please, help me in here!
Please! Please!
[screaming]
[crying] Please!
[screaming]
[whimpering and gasping]
I'm sorry to report that, despite all efforts to revive her,
Olivia Porter was pronounced dead at the scene.
All the more reason for this emergency session
of the city council.
Now, to begin with, we should start with the expert on snakes,
Dr. Matthew Watkins. Hopefully, he can shed some light on all this.
-Doctor? -Mayor.
Well, let me first start by saying that in the world of poisonous snakes,
there are two basic types of animal. The first attacks
the central nervous system, the other attacks the vital organs.
The venom of the specimen that I examined contains a powerful combination of both,
which means the snakes you're dealing with
are by far the most lethal I've ever encountered.
You only examined this one specimen, correct?
-It was the only one I had to examine. -Are you saying
that this is the very same snake that bit Jake Ellison?
Chances of that are pretty slim.
So, this specimen could be the exception and not the rule.
-It's too soon to know that. -Let's say this snake is the rule
and not the exception, what can we do to protect ourselves?
Well, first, you'd have to locate their dens.
One way would be to capture a snake,
implant it with an electronic homing device
and then follow it back to where it lives.
And then what? Kill them all.
I mean, shouldn't we be concerned about the balance of nature?
If we just wipe these snakes out, aren't we upsetting the whole ecosystem?
The ecosystem was already upset by the intrusion
of this tropical rattlesnake 20 years ago.
I have a better solution.
It's not a quick fix, but it's ecologically sound.
We import some of the rattlesnake's natural enemies,
like the kingsnake. They're immune to rattlesnake venom
-and harmless to us. -You wanna bring in more snakes?
Harmless snakes.
Here, I'll prove it to you.
Now, this is Henry.
Ew...
He's a kingsnake...
[group groans]
-...and he makes a terrific little pet. -Okay, Vera. You made your point,
-put your pet away. -[Vera] You'll love him.
Dr. Watkins, is that a viable solution?
With all due respect, if my estimates are anywhere near correct,
you'd have to import kingsnakes in by the thousands.
How long would it take to do what you're talking about
-with this homing device? -We had to euthanize the specimen
to do our analysis, so a new snake has to be caught.
Then that snake has to be sedated, a radio transmitter implanted.
The problem is it may take days or even weeks for it to return to its den.
Excuse me.
Three residents have already died, and every day more of these things
-are gonna be coming out of hibernation. -Mr. Rondelli, you'll get your chance
-when I open the meeting up to guests. -But these people need help now,
-tonight. -So noted, sir. Now, please.
Mr. Mayor, may I be recognized?
[Mayor Parker] The Chair recognizes Max Farrington.
Thank you.
I apologize for being late, but I had to wait at my office
for some documentation to arrive.
What I have here is a report from the committee on public safety.
-It's a watchdog group in Tucson, Arizona. -May I see that?
[Max] Now, according to this report,
Mr. Rondelli was given a strong reprimand for,
and I quote, "Willfully disobeying the orders
of a superior and conduct unbecoming a public official."
It also goes on to state that Mr. Rondelli negligently
put firefighters under his charge in harm's way.
-Now that's one side of the story. -[Max] It says the committee
was made up of impartial citizens.
-Impartial, my ass. -[Max] Mr. Rondelli,
this action against you is on public record.
However, I should remind everyone
that he neglected to put any mention of this incident in his resume
-when it was submitted here last November. -Yeah, because it was all a lie.
Is that the reason, Mr. Rondelli,
or is it because this report shows you as someone
who's given to reckless and impulsive behavior?
And if there is no truth to these findings,
then why would you try to keep it concealed from the city council?
[sighs]
[Max] Mr. Rondelli?
Look, folks. I'm not saying that we don't have a problem here,
but I think we should all try to keep it in the correct perspective.
Well, that's what I've been saying.
Now, apparently, the bulldozing and blasting being done
by my company has disturbed a number of rattlesnake dens in this area.
Okay, what's done is done. We don't need to sit around
and debate that. What we need right now
is a plan of action.
So first thing tomorrow morning with the help of all the volunteers
I can muster, Mayor, I'd like to go back into those hills,
find out where these things live and eradicate them, once and for all.
-[Mayor Parker] Here, here. -[council group applauds]
-Hey. -Hi.
So, you wanna tell me your side of the story?
-Doesn't matter. -Does to me.
Well, I got on the wrong side of someone in a position of authority.
And he tried to railroad me out of the department.
The husband of the woman you were in love with?
We got a call one night.
A fire in a single-family residence.
When we got there the roof was fully engulfed in flames.
Mother was hysterical.
The daughter was still inside.
I went in, my men followed.
We got the girl out.
But one of my men didn't make it.
So, he twisted it all around, made it look like I was negligent.
Thus, the tribunal,
thus, the reprimand.
And the woman?
Didn't work out.
-I'm sorry. -It took some time.
I got over it.
Well, I just wanted to make sure you were okay.
You know, I'm leaning toward inviting you to stay.
[scoffs] No.
No, I... I really should be alone tonight.
I was afraid you'd say that.
[birds chirping]
[Mandy] Ever been bitten before?
[Watkins] I don't know anyone in my profession who hasn't.
That's why I carry this.
Strongest anti-venom made.
I dropped some off at the hospital, too, just in case.
I brought some sodium cyanide along to try on these snakes.
I was thinking more like a nuclear bomb.
[gun fires]
[man] I got one over here! [man 2] All right.
-I... I think we're okay. -So we don't have to cancel the game?
Well, the only sightings have been clear on the other side of town.
I mean, why worry the kids when we don't have to, right?
[man] Check on your right.
-Where's this road go? -Old mining road.
[crowd cheering]
Now take your time. Don't hurry your wind-up.
-You stick with your best stuff. -Okay, Dad.
Go kick some butt.
[cheering continues]
[sighs]
[crowd cheering]
[Mayor Parker] We're gonna win today, right?
[children] Yeah!
I thought you'd be out with the snake hunters.
-Family comes first. -Uh-huh.
It's gonna be a good day today, I can feel it.
Let's go, Wild Cats!
[man] Keep it up, guys!
[gasps]
[boys laughing and groaning]
[laughing continues]
That's not funny.
[man] Keep it together.
Find anything?
-Water? -Thanks.
There you go.
-So, how's he doing? -Who?
Vic.
He's okay, I guess.
He went to school with my older brother.
I've known him for years.
Thing about Vic, he's a survivor.
Let's keep going.
[sighs]
[man] Move slow.
[crowd cheering]
Strike three! You're out!
That'll be you next year.
[crowd cheering]
Heads up!
[rattling]
-[snaps] -[man grunts]
[crowd clamoring]
-[snaps] -[screams]
[man groaning]
[choking]
Snakes!
Lance?
-Lance? -[Mayor Parker] Lance!
-Lance? -Lance!
Honey?
-Honey? -Lance?
[radio communication] Unit One, possible snake attack
at the baseball diamond. Respond, Code Three.
[siren wails]
[woman] Help!
-My... My son! -Where?
[Mayor Parker] Rondelli, over here!
Just stay calm.
[hissing and rattling]
[Mayor Parker] We're gonna get you.
[hissing continues]
You're doing great.
I want you to stay as still as you possibly can, all right?
I'm gonna pull you outta there.
We're gonna have to do this real carefully.
Okay, now. I'm gonna reach down real slow.
And I want you to try and grab my hand.
[hissing]
[softly] Hang on, buddy. One...
two, three!
[grunts]
Oh, thank God.
[rattling]
Thank you. Come on. Here we go.
-[man] Keep looking. -[cell phone rings]
This is Mandy.
-What? -[man 1] Check on your right.
Okay.
There's been a snake attack at the Little League game.
[man 1] I don't know, man.
-[man 2] Let's go. -You go on ahead.
I'm gonna check something out.
[hissing]
[hissing and rattling intensifies]
Why were our kids allowed to play here if this town is infested
with rattlesnakes?
Mr. Mayor? Would you care to answer that?
Look, the problems were all happening in Phase One.
-How did they get all the way across town? -Well, forget how.
The fact is these snakes could be anywhere.
Vic, could they use the antivenin?
No, it's too late.
You find anything up there?
Just some individual snakes. None of the dens.
Now four people have already died from these things
and your son was about to be number five.
I've gotta get to a phone, I gotta make some calls.
-Here. Use my phone. -Thanks.
Now you listen to me.
These things are gonna come out the hills by the thousands
and we're gonna have to get people the hell out of here.
-You mean an evacuation. -Well, you saw the way everyone panicked.
How many more are gonna have to die before you take this seriously?
I'll go to City Hall and make the announcement from there.
Thanks again.
And while you're at it, call the Governor's office.
We're gonna need all the help we can get.
You know...
Why don't you and Farrington go start evacuating all the residents
out of Phase One.
We got a ride down with somebody else. Max stayed behind.
I... I don't know where he is.
Well, you're gonna have to get started without him.
-He'll probably fire me. -[scoffs]
But there's more at stake here than my job.
[worker] Take it down.
[workers chattering indistinctly]
[chattering indistinctly]
Thanks a lot, folks. I appreciate this.
[woman] All right. Are you all set, honey?
-Yes. Honey, come on. Get in the car now. -All right. Let's go.
-[engine starts] -See you later.
[woman 1] That's for you, okay. [woman 2] All right.
[phone ringing]
-Have you heard from the Mayor? -Not yet. What's left to do?
We gotta block off the access roads leading to those canyons.
Let's dig out those barricades. Let's go!
[fireman 1] Yes, sir. [fireman 2] Let's go.
[Mayor Parker] I just got off the phone with the Governor.
He said we can count on him for whatever aid we need.
Great. We need a medevac chopper.
And more antivenom. As much as we can get our hands on.
What am I supposed to do with my animals?
-I can't just abandon them. -Don't worry.
I'll help you load them into your car. It should only be a couple of days.
-[whispers] I found Mr. Farrington. -Listen, I'm gonna be right over
to help you. I just need to deal with this first.
He's up at Phase Two with Ken. They're loading all the dynamite
into one of the trucks. I tried to tell him what was going on,
but he wouldn't listen. He's acting really strange.
-Max, what are you doing? -What I said I would.
I'm handling the problem.
-What does that mean? -[Max] You'll find out.
-Ken, can you tell me what's going on? -Look, all I know is Mr. Farrington
offered me a big fat bonus if I'd help him.
-Help him what? -[Ken] I guess he found those snake dens.
Let's go, Ken. It's gonna get dark pretty soon.
Two more people have been bitten.
[Max] It's simple.
You identify a problem, you address it. Then you make it go away.
Those are the principles I've built my career on.
This is not a business problem, Max. This is a nature problem.
Let us know if there's anything else we can do.
Where's Mandy?
Last I heard, she was evacuating Phase One.
I'm calling her cell phone now.
[cell phone ringing]
Mandy's.
[Mandy] I thought we covered this ground. [Max] We did.
We just ended it a little too soon.
I'm going to call Dr. Watkins. Get his... opinion.
[sighs]
[Mandy] Max, this really isn't a good idea.
What is this?
Come on. I'll show you.
[snakes hissing and rattling in distance]
[Max] Hear them?
-Oh, my God. -[Max] They're in there.
-What are you thinking? -Gonna get the dynamite inside there
and blow it, collapse the mine, crush 'em all to death.
Max, we need the experts to deal with this.
Okay. You just sit back here and watch then.
-Ken, you've gotta talk him out of this. -Hey, we're already here.
We might as well give it a shot.
-It's too dangerous. -[Ken] Max is the boss.
Vehicle One to base, come in.
[Mandy on radio] Vehicle One to base, come in.
Vehicle One to base, this is Mandy, come in.
Please respond.
Is anybody there?
[hissing and rattling]
[Mandy] Somebody, please.
Give it up, Mandy.
-Max, don't do this. -They're gone. It's all up to us now.
Give me a hand.
Let's get this fence out of the way.
I got it, I got it.
We've gotta get the dynamite as far back as we can.
[birds squawking]
[phone ringing]
-Vera's Pets. -Hi, it's Vic. Is Mandy with you?
No, but actually I'm... I'm expecting her to show up here.
-When was the last time you talked to her? -[Vera] Oh, about an hour ago.
Did you try her office?
No answer, and she doesn't have her cell phone.
[sighs]
[hissing and rattling]
[hissing continues]
I want you to pull forward and turn on the brights.
-Max-- -We have a chance
to end this all right now.
I need you.
Pull forward!
[engine starts]
Okay, let's go.
[mud splashes]
[hissing]
[hissing intensifies]
Slow!
[rattling]
[hissing and rattling]
Oh, my...
-[hisses] -[screams]
-[exploding]
[grunting]
[Mandy screams]
Ken!
Mandy! [groans]
[rattling]
[straining]
[grunting]
-[screams] -[hissing and rattling]
[hissing]
Max! Ken!
Can anybody hear me?
Vehicle One to base.
[radio static hissing]
Vehicle One to base, come in, please.
Hello, this is Mandy. I'm in trouble. I need help. Please, answer.
Mandy?
Is anyone there?
[Mandy on radio] Oh, God, can anybody hear me?
Please, somebody, pick up! Anybody!
[Mandy screams]
Oh, God, please, somebody.
Oh, God. [screams]
Please, somebody! If anybody can hear...
-Mandy? -[Mandy] ...then help me, please.
-Please, somebody. -Mandy!
-[Mandy] Oh, God. -Sorry about this, Max.
[Mandy] Please, please. I need some help.
Mandy!
[hissing]
-Mandy, is that you? -[gasps] Oh, Vera!
I can't believe it's you!
-Mandy, where are you? -I'm trapped
in an old abandoned mining shaft.
[hissing]
Max and Ken, I think they're dead.
You've gotta get Vic.
Slow down, honey. Now where are you?
Max found where the snakes are breeding. An abandoned mining shaft.
There are thousands of them.
He tried to blow them up with dynamite, but it didn't work
and there was an explosion. You gotta get me out!
-Where are the snakes? -They're outside,
but they're trying to get inside. Please hurry.
All right. I'll... I'll go find Vic. You stay put.
-Keep this radio on. -I'm not going anywhere.
[panting]
[engine starts]
[grunts]
[sighs]
Oh...
Henry.
You saved my life.
I've hiked a lot in this area. I think I know where it is.
Stay on this road. It's gonna bend to the left.
See, right over here.
[chattering indistinctly]
[fireman 1] Let's go! [fireman 2] Come on, guys, let's go!
Okay. It's totally blocked.
Well, don't sugar-coat it or anything.
-What are you gonna do? -We're gonna dig you out.
[squeals]
-How? -Well, I don't know,
but we'll think of something. You hang in there.
I'm hanging. I'm hanging.
Water seepage.
And we got a lot of earth to move.
Means we're gonna need some heavy-duty earth movers,
which are typically found...
At construction sites.
How are you doing?
I'm doing great. Can't they go any faster?
Honey, they're moving as fast as they can.
Hey, hey, hey. Be careful, be careful. The windshield's starting to go.
Sure this stuff'll work?
[Watkins] Should penetrate through skin.
The very least it's gonna immobilize them.
-Instantly? -Pretty quick.
Here you go, Vic.
Light.
Mandy, he's on his way in.
[Vera on radio] He'll hook you up to the bulldozer
-and drag the truck out. -[Mandy] Oh, no.
[hissing and rattling]
[hissing intensifies]
[Mandy gasps] No!
[screams]
[Mandy gasping]
-Mandy, we're gonna pull you out. -Oh, thank God.
[Vic] Just hang in there, okay?
Okay, Billy. I got it.
[hissing and rattling]
-Go! -Okay, Jack. Back it up.
-[hissing and rattling] -[Mandy grunts]
Easy, easy.
[gasps and whimpers]
[glass cracking]
Hey, stop! Stop! The windshield's starting to go!
Stop! Stop!
-[car horn blares] -Hold it! Hold it!
[gasping and whimpering]
Hurry!
No.
They're getting in.
[Vic] Hold on, I'm coming. I'm coming in.
[Mandy] Vic!
[hissing and rattling]
All right. I'm gonna open the door.
[Mandy screams]
-Get down! -[Mandy screams]
[logs clattering]
[hissing]
[whimpering]
[Vic] The door's blocked.
[screaming]
[Vic] I'm going around to the back. Hold on!
[Mandy screaming]
Hurry!
[hissing]
[Mandy] He's getting in!
Stay back!
[glass shattering]
[Mandy] They're getting in! [Vic] We're almost there.
[screams]
-[Mandy] Vic! -[snake rattling]
Vic!
[spraying]
All right. Let's go. Quick.
I'll pull you out. Come on.
[screams]
Okay.
I got you. All right.
Okay, hold on.
-[Mandy screams] -[Vic] We're almost there.
Let's go.
[hissing and rattling]
[grunts]
[both panting]
[chattering indistinctly]
[cell phone rings]
Yeah.
Mayor Parker said the National Guard are coming in
to smoke out the rest of the snakes in town.
[men talking indistinctly]
[engine rumbles]
Fire in the hole!
[explosions continue]
-Don't move. -What?
-Spider. -[exhales]
I hate spiders
[chuckling]