[static]
Hello,
this is Lou Vinetti reporting live from KJRX.
I don't know if anybody out there can hear me or not.
Only hours remain before Earth's magnetic field declines to zero,
and as most of you know by now,
once that occurs
solar radiation will destroy the atmosphere.
And God be with us all.
Turn the car off.
I think it's gone.
Start the car.
Dammit.
We'll have to go back.
Get out of the car now!
Come on! Jump!!!!!!!
Ahhh!!!!!!!
No!!!!!!!!
Flights across the globe have been grounded for 24 hours
as the comet Copernicus passes Earth,
which will be the largest celestial object
in recorded history to pass this close.
It is expected to create
a global electromagnetic disturbance.
When the comet was first discovered six months ago...
Good morning.
Hey, Miss Penny.
Hey, Cyn.
Zoe, that's Cynthia's order in the fridge over there.
Okay.
So I'm taking the science club
on a field trip to watch the comet.
I heard.
That's very brave of you.
You're coming along too, right, Zoe?
Yep.
Dad is letting me off work early so I can come, right, dad?
I suppose.
Next up to discuss what unforeseen dangers
we might be facing we are joined now via satellite
by our own Dr. James Mayfield.
Hey, look who's on TV.
Now, doctor, can you explain why you believe
it's possible that the comet could hit us
when almost everyone else has predicted
that it will pass us by.
Wait a minute, Lou, all I said was
that you can't you rule it out.
Having just passed the sun, gasses in the comet's icy core
will be heating up like a hot spring.
It will affect the comet's speed and trajectory
in ways that we just can't predict.
Fascinating.
Now I understand the storm's hazard department
has sent you to Northern Alaska to observe
the comet's swing-by.
That's right.
We'll be just inside the Arctic Circle where
the comet is expected to pass over its orbital fulcrum,
meaning the closest it will be to Earth.
It's a very exciting opportunity for us to observe
geomagnetic anomalies in the Earth's magnetic field.
Thank you, doctor.
That was local hero and astrophysicist, Dr. James Mayfield,
via satellite from Alaska.
Getting a signal?
Yep.
Logging in to the satellite.
Last two Cubans.
I'm saving them for a special occasion.
That's against the law you know.
Yeah well relax, Peter, we're in Alaska.
The U.S. Trade Embargo says no American citizen
can smoke a Cuban cigar anywhere in the world.
Alright, we're in.
Show time.
You could get ten years.
Good point.
I better smoke both of them.
Hey, Pam, satellite link is up.
You should be getting our EM readings.
Copy, James.
Reading it now.
(Newscaster): Across the globe eyes are looking skyward tonight.
Millions of teacher and students in every nation
get the chance to glimpse
something the great astronomers of the past
could only dream of.
Okay, everyone, I'd like to show you something.
Just as our planet has a magnetic field
so does the comet.
Geeze.
The comet's going to be going past Pluto
by the time this guy finishes.
[laughter]
Zoe, could you come up here, please?
Hold this up for me, please.
So we're going to imagine that this compass is Earth.
As the comet passes the magnetic fields interact
creating intense bursts of electromagnetic waves
which can interfere with modern technology,
so, ladies, no sulking if your boyfriend doesn't return
your text messages tonight.
Yo, it's a freaking comet, not your mother undressing.
Hey, move it.
Leave him alone.
Hey!
Stop it!
Stop.
Stop it!
You're both going to be reimbursing the school
for the cost of a new telescope.
This guy started it, Miss Penny.
No, I didn't.
He was picking on him.
It's Mrs. Mayfield now and I don't particularly care
who started it.
You're both paying for a new telescope.
I'll be contacting your parents about the exact cost.
It's bad enough you married my father,
now I can't even get fair treatment in class.
Go wait by the wait by the washroom, Shane.
The data is looking a bit fragmented.
The electromagnetic interference is coming on strong.
Yeah.
Our friend Copernicus seems unusually magnetic.
Where's my lighter?
Viewers are probably experiences increased interference
as Copernicus reaches what is expected to be
its closest proximity to Earth.
Comet is at orbital fulcrum.
It should be passing over your area in just a few minutes.
(Newscaster): We just got word that the comet has reached orbital fulcrum.
This is extraordinary.
(Newscaster): We will continue to broadcast...
[high pitched static sound]
(Newscaster): We may lose our signal.
We apologize for that.
[high pitched static sound]
An electromagnetic storm from the comet
is affecting our electricity.
[loud thunderous sound]
Whoa! Whoa!
We just had a surge in the electron acceleration.
The fields EM levels are skyrocketing.
The radiation belt is being pushed in to the atmosphere.
Pam, are you reading this?
Yes.
I'm measuring a radiation spike in the belt's safe zone.
4.5 million angstroms and rising.
Wait, that's odd.
I'm getting a second set of separate readings
from the comet.
Magnify sector LP4.
I see something in the tail.
Copernicus is fragmenting.
A piece of the comet is breaking away.
We can't see anything.
Can you read the fragment specs?
Projectile diameter is 300 meters.
Velocity of 30 kilometres a second.
What's the trajectory?
Descending at...
45 degrees.
It's going to hit Earth.
Use the belt's electron trajectory to triangulate
a point of impact.
Working on it.
Latitude 51.
Longitude 179.
James, that's only 100 miles from where you are.
James, did you hear what I said?!
Get out of there!!
Notify IEW to issue an alert.
Repeat, notify IEW to issue an alert.
Pam, do you copy?
Dammit!
Where is the projected point of impact?
I don't know.
I lost her.
Maybe I can amplify the signal.
Shockwave!
Get back in the car!
[dramatic music]
What's the point?!
We're dead!
We can't outrun this blast!!
Avalanche bunker at the bottom of the hill.
What?
Step on it, man!
[dramatic music]
[explosion]
[dramatic music]
Try and put in the data in case we don't make it.
[dramatic music]
James.
[dramatic music]
Peter, get out of there!
Come on!
[dramatic music]
(Newscaster): Reports of massive damage and casualties have been
coming in from Alaska.
Northern Canada and Eastern Russia.
Communication is still down throughout
these affected areas.
As the death toll rises we're getting estimates
the as many as a quarter million people may have perished
in this history-making disaster.
One piece of good news to report:
local resident Dr. James Mayfield
has miraculously survived the blast
despite being within a few hundred miles of ground zero
when the comet struck.
He is expected to be arriving home today.
James.
I thought I lost you.
It's good to be home.
Hey, buddy.
Hey, dad.
You okay?
Yeah.
Welcome home.
Thanks.
Who wants coffee?
I would love one.
Well, uh, I'm sure you guys have lots of science stuff
to talk about.
Shane, I just got home.
Sit down with us.
I'm kind of tired.
I feel like laying down.
He got into a fight and broke a telescope.
I'm making him and the other kid pay for it.
Sorry.
No, no.
Don't be sorry.
I don't envy either one of you.
I wouldn't want a step-mother for a teacher
or a step-son for a student.
Yeah, well now that you're home
you're going to have to do all the disciplining,
otherwise he's never going to let me get close.
Deal.
(Reporter): Of all the different scenarios that could happen
if a comet hit Earth, I wonder Mr. President,
does the impact of the comet create
any lasting effects the public should be concerned with?
We're still investigating that possibility,
but right now it doesn't appear that there's anything
the public needs to be worried about.
You've gotta be joking.
What?
A 300 metre projectile hits the planet at 30 kilometres per second
and he's saying there's nothing to worry about.
Maybe he just doesn't want to scare the public...
unlike some people I know.
My science advisors have reported
that the immediate crisis is over,
so the important thing for the American people to know
is that they are safe
and they can go on about their daily lives.
This is unbelievable.
James, I know you went through a terrible ordeal in Alaska,
but you're home now, so let somebody else
do the worrying for a change.
Enjoy being with your family.
You're right.
You're right as usual.
The United States of America stands...
[loud high-pitched sound]
What is that terrible sound?
[loud high-pitched sound]
[loud thunderous sound]
Is it an earthquake?
Take cover.
[loud thunderous sound]
Shane, you okay?
Yeah.
What?
What do you mean it's been classified?
Just what I said.
All the data we collected in Alaska
and uploaded to the government has been classified
and neither you nor I have the clearance to access it.
In fact, we shouldn't even be talking
about this right now.
The whole department is under a gag order.
The tremor we just had
was preceded by some kind of
EM disturbance which could mean there's been serious damage
to the magnetic field.
Yeah, I recorded an electromagnetic spike earlier
but I didn't know what caused it.
We need the comet data.
Who classified it?
The administration.
Great.
Not even a comet hit is immune to public spin.
Well maybe there really was some damage to the field
and they don't want to disclose it to the public.
We need to find out.
(Answering machine): You've reached the office
of the President's science advisors.
Due to extenuating circumstances
this office will not be taking calls until further notice.
[alarm ringing]
What are you doing up on the roof?
Tracking the sun.
And why would you be tracking the sun?
It's not where it's supposed to be.
Why would you say that?
Yesterday the sun set behind Eagle Peak.
What do you mean?
It's never set behind the peak.
Exactly.
[phone ringing]
Hello?
Hey, is this Shane?
Yeah, who's this?
It's Zoe.
I was just calling to tell Miss Penny
that the pastries are ready.
Pastries?
Yeah, we're donating them for the school's disaster fund drive
so she can pick them up whenever she wants.
Okay, yeah, I'll let her know.
Okay, bye.
Bye.
Zoe just called.
The pastries for the fund drive are ready.
You want me to go pick them up for you?
That would be great, Shane.
Thank you.
Can I help you?
How's it going?
Good.
You're here to pick up the stuff for your mom, right?
She's not my mom.
Okay.
Step-mom.
You have my sympathy.
I'd die if my dad married one of my teachers.
[phone ringing]
Hello?
Hey.
My God.
What is it?
The sun is ten degrees off where it should be
this time of year.
How could that be?
Okay, in like an hour?
You still meeting Kevin at the park today?
Uh, yeah.
Okay, bye.
Here it is.
Thanks.
I'll be at the park with Kevin.
Oh yeah?
Yeah.
I'll see you there.
Cool.
Hey, James.
Hey, Lou.
I haven't had a chance to talk to you since the interview.
So what's this great story you've got for me?
Remember how we used to come out here
and watch all those sunsets?
Maybe that's what you came out here for.
I came out here for the babes and the booze.
Do you remember how this sundial was always
right on the money?
Yeah, I remember.
[loud rock music] ♪♪♪
Hi, Shane.
Hey, Zoe.
What am I, chopped liver?
So Shane, buddy, I've got a little problem
because of you.
You see this car?
My dad's making me sell it to pay
for the stupid telescope you broke.
We broke.
Whatever.
The point is I think we can settle this little problem.
How's that?
Drag race.
You win me.
You win and I'll pay the $4,000 we owe for the telescope.
I win, you pay.
Come on, what do you think?
You're not afraid of getting your ass whipped, are ya?
You wouldn't win.
Ouch.
You hear that?
Greaser boy thinks he can beat me.
Let's do it.
[car engines revving]
Dr. Mayfield said his suspicion was first aroused
when he noticed the sun setting behind Eagle Peak.
Now I can tell you from my own experiences growing up here
that the sun has never set behind Eagle Peak before.
And then there's our trusty sundial
which has never been wrong...
until today.
[car engines revving]
[high-pitched sound]
Ready guys?
Get set.
[car engines revving]
[loud thunderous sound]
Ahhh!!!!!!!
[loud thunderous sound]
Ahhh!!!!!!!!!
[loud thunderous sound]
Get out!
Get out, James!
James, Get out!
You okay?
Yeah, you alright?
[out of breath]
I can't believe what just happened?
Poor Kevin.
Oh my God.
I can't get a reception, what about you?
Nothing.
What is that?
It looks like an aurora.
Here?
I thought those things only happened up north
in places like Alaska.
Something bad is happening.
Dr. Mayfield, what exactly is the problem with the axis
changing ten degrees?
I mean, so what if the sun sets ten minutes later.
A shifted axis tilt means the Earth's axis of rotation
is out of alignment with its magnetic poles.
This could have serious consequences
for the Earth's magnetic field.
The seismic activity and the electromagnetic
interference with communications that we've been experiencing,
this could all be just the beginning.
The beginning of what?
A catastrophic pole reversal.
You mean like what happened a million years ago
when the North and South Poles change places?
That's right.
Back to you.
[pounding]
Yeah.
Alright.
Alright already.
James, buddy, we are famous.
What are you talking about?
You don't know.
Know what?
You're story caught fire.
My report was picked up by all the big networks.
Really?
There is some weird crap going on all over this country
that the government does not want to talk about,
but your theory makes more sense
than these alien invasion stories
so the networks picked it up.
Good.
Maybe it will force the administration to come clean.
Yeah, well, anymore earth-shattering developments
I'm your man, right?
See you, Lou.
I'm your man, right?
See you, Lou.
I'm your man.
Good morning, gentlemen.
Good morning, Mr. President.
How are you, sir?
Who leaked the axis tilt to the press?
Dr. James Mayfield, sir.
Mayfield?
That's your son isn't it, General?
Yes, sir.
Dr. Mayfield is my son.
Then what the heck is he doing leaking classified information.
I'm sorry, sir.
I'm not aware of his activities.
We haven't spoken in nearly five years.
You don't say.
Well, maybe now would be a good time for a family reunion,
because if you don't put a muzzle on him, we will.
What exactly was his involvement with this?
Our Storm Hazard Research Department contracted Dr. Mayfield
to monitor the comet's effect on the radiation belt.
So wasn't this guy on the same gag order as everyone else?
Yes, sir, and his research was classified.
But to be honest, sir, the data he updated
could not have revealed an axis tilt as it was collected
prior to the comet hit.
Don't argue semantics with me, doctor.
A gag order is a gag order.
I don't need 400 phone calls coming in to the White House
every hour about a pole reversal that's not going to happen.
It's not going to happen, right, Dr. Elman?
It's a preposterous thought, Mr. President.
The consensus is that the Earth's axis
will slowly fall back in to place as it rotate.
Glad to hear.
However this doomsday hysteria is exactly why we need
to keep the people in the dark right now.
Your son?
Sir?
Is he smart?
Yes, sir.
How smart is he?
Too smart for his own good, sir.
That's what it sounds like.
You better bring him in.
Yes, sir.
James.
It's really happening.
All the telltale signs.
This is unprecedented.
What is?
The pole reversal.
Shane didn't come home last night.
Are you sure?
Yeah.
His car's not here,
his bed hasn't been slept in
and I can't reach him on his cell.
You said he was going to the park last night.
Oh my God.
I just heard on the radio that the park was ripped apart
by a major earthquake last night.
Let's go.
[siren wailing]
What's going on?
Dr. Mayfield, we need you to come with us
to the airbase, sir.
Base?
For what?
I don't know, sir, but we have an executive order
to take you to the base, by force if necessary.
I'll find Shane.
I'll call you as soon as I know what's going on.
This way.
Anything?
Nothing.
This is so weird.
I always get a signal here.
Hey, dad.
James.
Should have known you were behind this.
Long time no see.
Five years, not too long.
I guess it just seemed so to me.
Did you get my birthday card?
I did.
Thank you.
Very considerate.
How's your son?
He must be getting awfully big by now.
Yes he is.
You probably wouldn't even recognize him.
Probably not.
Have a seat, James.
So you've caused quite a stir in Washington.
How's that, sir?
Violating a government gag order for one thing.
I didn't violate any gag order.
That axis shift was my own research.
Don't play games with me, James.
You're either on the team or you're not.
Here we go.
You know full well the intent of a government gag order.
Everything you worked on was classified.
The public has a right to that information.
It's not your call, James.
You're a science rat.
You don't make policy.
Scaring the American public is against
this country's greater good.
You think you're a good soldier.
You're just a lapdog for political bosses.
You'd probably shoot me yourself if they told you
it would serve the greater good.
What am I doing here?
Obviously it's not because you miss me.
I had the President of the United States tell me today
that my son was a national security risk.
So what?
He wants to burn me at the stake?
Lucky for you, he wants to hear you out.
Oh, you mean he wants to cover his ass.
(Newscaster): Increased electronic interference continues
to be reported from around the world.
This new development coupled with the increase
of reported seismic activity and the appearance
of what seems to be auroras around the globe
has many people figuring for the worst.
Oh my God.
Are you guys okay?
What happened?
Where's your car?
This thin skin is the Earth's crust.
Spinning liquid in the core is the engine
which generates our protective magnetic field.
Dr. Mayfield, we didn't bring you here
for a geology class.
The shift in the axis tilt caused slippage
of the crust around the core.
Consequently the Earth is now out of alignment
with its magnetic field and the misaligned crust
is causing increased seismic activity.
Yes.
We're aware of all that.
We just want to hear specific evidence
pertaining to your far-fetched notion
of a pole reversal.
I'm assume you're aware of beached whales,
birds migrating in the wrong direction, bees swarming.
Yes, yes.
Creatures realigned with the magnetic field
for navigation were confused, a short-lived result
of the comet's temporary distortion
of the magnetic field.
Answer me this then Dr. Elman:
why are polar auroras
suddenly appearing in places they shouldn't?
Again, a temporary distortion of the magnetic field,
similar to what occurs when there is a bad solar storm.
What are we talking about here, gentleman?
Aurora Borealis?
Auroras normally occur when the earth's poles attract solar particles.
The fact that so many polar auroras are appearing elsewhere
indicates that new magnetic poles are developing.
I saw a polar aurora
here last night.
We are now sitting on a magnetic pole,
which explains all the electromagnetic interference
and the seismic activity we've been having.
Dr. Mayfield, many strange anomalies have occurred
in modern times without catastrophic consequences.
These fields are like rubber bands.
They bend and stretch and thin,
but inevitably they always return to their original state.
Only this time, Dr. Elman, the rubber band has snapped.
Mr. President, the mini poles indicate
a geo-magnetic reversal has started.
As the North and South Poles disintegrate
the magnetic field they support will collapse.
Static discharges will create electromagnetic shockwaves
which will fry everything electronic.
We will be thrown back into the Stone Age.
The North and South Poles will disappear
remerging at opposite ends of the globe,
at which point our protective magnetic shield
will be completely gone,
exposing us to cosmic rays which will incinerate the planet,
just like what happened on Mars.
Dr. Mayfield, must we be so melodramatic?
This is real science, Mr. President.
This planet has seen many geo-magnetic reversals,
just not since we've been here.
As a man of science I am sure you can appreciate the need
for thoughtful, rational discussion;
however, your melodrama and sensational media appearances
gives one the impression that your intention are perhaps
more to do with self-promotion.
I've had a long day, gentlemen.
Signing off.
What did you expect, James?
You just told them the world was going to end.
This isn't global warming, dad,
where we can spend years dragging our feet
and debating the facts.
They'll find out soon enough.
[high-pitched sound]
Wait.
[high-pitched sound]
That's the same sound I heard just before
the quake last night.
[high-pitched sound]
Stop the car.
Turn off the car.
My God.
I've never seen anything like this.
Save your data, everybody!!
[telephone ringing]
Storm Hazards.
What just happened?
Oh my god, James.
It was a massive 40 kilohertz EM pulse surge,
unlike anything we've ever seen.
40 kilohertz?
Yes.
All the cities that were hit were blacked out,
and not only that,
most of the satellites in orbit got fried.
What could possibly have created a surge like that?
It's gotta be connected to the polar auroras.
Were the hits random?
I don't know yet.
We lost power during the spike, which was lucky for us,
or else the EM surge would have fried everything.
We're just getting our emergency generators going.
We're pulling up data now.
I'm seeing about two dozen points where 40 mile wide
electromagnetic waves struck Earth.
Overlay the locations of the mini poles on your screen
and tell me what you see.
Overlay the locations of all detected mini poles.
Oh my God.
All the hit areas are where the mini poles are.
Then that's it.
The solar particles attracted by the poles
are building up massive electrostatic discharges.
Pam, your office has to tell all those hit areas to evacuate,
including Lindenville.
The discharges are going to get much stronger
as the field fails.
It's going to be hard to issue an alert
with a global blackout,
but we'll certainly do our best.
Can you run a timeline projection on your mainframe?
Give me a couple hours.
It will take a while to process the data.
James,
how do we stop this?
I don't know that we can.
We just had the first worldwide blackout in history
and you and none of your brain trust can explain why?
What we know right now for certain
are that the affected cities were struck by large
electromagnetic shockwaves.
Just as Dr. Mayfield had predicted.
General Mayfield, have you been able to locate your son yet?
Not yet, sir.
He's in one of the blackout areas.
Well I want to speak with him as soon as he's located.
Yes, Mr. President.
So, tell me Dr. Elman,
can you still say with a certainty
that we're not experiencing a pole reversal?
I don't have an answer right now, sir.
Are we going to see more of this?
Give me the worst case scenario.
Mr. President, until we've assembled our teams
I don't want to speculate on something
that's not my area of expertise.
Don't try to cover your ass with me, doctor.
We've got power outages across the country.
American lives are at risk.
So tell me, to the best of your ability,
are we going to see more of this?
I believe so, Mr. President.
Then I have no choice
but to declare Federal Marshall Law.
General Mayfield--
Yes, sir.
--you'll supervise west coast operations.
Yes, Mr. President.
We'll start setting up shelters in the affected areas.
James.
Thank God.
Did you find Shane?
Yeah, he was at the park.
I've been trying to call you.
Our cell phones are useless.
Only the landlines are working.
Where is he?
In the kitchen.
But one of the kids he was with last night was killed
in the earthquake.
Oh no.
What's going on?
There's no power and I saw an EM wave in the sky.
It's bad.
We have to get out of Lindenville.
Shane.
You okay?
What's happening, dad?
Is the world falling apart?
No, no.
Just going through a rough patch.
I've packed for us both.
I'm not going with you.
What do you mean?
I'm going back to the base.
What?
What are you talking about?
Why?
I have an idea and I have to talk to the President.
I don't want to, Cyn.
I just don't see that there's a choice.
You know what, you're right.
There is no choice because your family comes first.
No wonder Shane doesn't think you love him.
Listen to me.
This is not a drill.
This is the real deal.
The survival of the planet depends on actions
taken in the next 24 hours
and those so-called government science advisors
don't have a clue.
I have to do this, for us.
Okay, we're here,
smack in the middle of a mini pole's magnetic centre,
the most dangerous place to be right now.
Everywhere inside this circle is going to get bombarded
with EM pulses and torn apart by seismic disturbances.
I want you guys out of this circle as soon as possible.
Go to this town here, Little Brook, and wait for me.
What are you talking about, dad?
You're coming, right?
I can't.
I have to go back to the base.
I don't believe it.
You're abandoning us.
That sucks.
Shane, try to understand.
There's a global crisis going on.
You think I don't know that?
I saw one of my classmates crushed to death
in a car last night.
I know, I know.
I'm sorry.
So you don't care if the same thing happens to us?
Of course I do.
That's why I have to fix this.
We'll be okay.
Leave me alone.
Shane, come on.
If an EM wave hits turn the car off until it passes.
The electronics won't be short-circuited
as long as the power is off.
If the power is on, you and the car will fry.
How long will you be?
A day, maybe two.
Be careful.
Yeah.
You too.
Shane.
No, no, no.
Take those ear buds off.
Stay away from electronics.
You will get electrocuted
if an EM wave hits.
I'm serious.
It's dangerous.
Get rid of it.
I'll see you soon.
Hey,
I love you.
[radio] Everybody is advised to stay tuned
to this emergency broadcast channel.
Federal Marshall Law has been declared.
Lindenville residents are ordered to evacuate their homes
and take shelter at Lindenville Parish.
We repeat...
Why are they telling everyone to go to the church?
Didn't dad say it was dangerous to stay in town?
Oh, what's this?
Road's closed.
You're supposed to take shelter in the parish.
We're going to Little Brook.
Ma'am, we have orders to divert everyone
to the Lindenville Parish.
That's ridiculous.
It's not even safe there.
Ma'am, please.
Just back it up, okay?
Let's go.
[loud high-pitched sound]
Come on!
[loud high-pitched sound]
Turn the car off.
I think it's gone.
Start the car.
Dammit.
We'll have to go back.
[dramatic music]
Get out of the car now!
[dramatic music]
Come on! Jump!
[dramatic music]
Ahhh!!!!!!
No!!!!!!!!!!!!
[dramatic music]
Ahh!!!
[dramatic music]
I can't hold on!
Yes, you can!
Don't let go!!!
Help!
Anybody! Help!
[dramatic music]
Grab it.
[dramatic music]
Come on!
[dramatic music]
We need to evacuate everyone from the mini pole sites.
Evacuate?
We just started rounding up people for the shelters.
No, no, no.
You can't do that.
The plasma charges building up from the pole reversal
are escaping through the mini poles.
This whole area is going to get hit worse
and worse as the field fails.
Alright.
I'll notify the soldiers
but communications have been spotty.
What about the President?
Have you still been able to contact him?
Yeah, the emergency hotline is holding up.
Good.
I've got a crazy idea.
I need to access Storm Hazard's mainframe.
Follow me.
[telephone ringing]
Storm Hazards.
Pam, talk to me.
I'm briefing the President in a few minutes.
James, the computer projection...
it's not good.
I need to see whoever is in charge.
Inside this circle is the most dangerous place
on the west coast.
We're here,
the epicentre of the mini pole
creating the electromagnetic and seismic disturbances.
We need to move all these people outside
of this circle to here.
Where did you get this information?
My husband, Dr. James Mayfield,
he's a government astrophysicist.
He's briefing the President right now.
I haven't heard anything about this.
My orders are to keep everybody here.
I know, but I'm telling you it's not safe here.
Lindenville has become the magnetic centre
of a mini pole.
What is that, a mini pole?
[loud generator sound]
No, no, no.
Turn the power off.
The electricity will attract the next EM pulse.
You have to shut the generator down.
Shut it down?
I don't think so.
You're not listening to me.
We're in danger here.
Ma'am, Federal Marshall Law has been declared.
I can't just move hundreds of people
because you show me some map with a circle drawn on it.
You know what, call General Mayfield.
He'll vouch for everything I've just said.
Storm Hazard's lab just ran this projection.
This is what the magnetic field normally looks like.
This is what it looks like now, punctured by mini poles.
This is 12 hours out,
24 hours out,
48 hours out.
Magnetic field at zero gauss.
Gentlemen,
we have two days
before our planet loses its protective shield
and solar radiation burns us all to a crisp.
Anyone here take issue with Dr. Mayfield's projections?
No, sir.
Alright then,
so who here has a game plan to stop this pole reversal?
Alright.
This is the way I see it.
What if we detonate a nuclear explosion of a magnitude
equal to that of which the comet fragment hit Earth
in the opposing hemisphere so that it pushes back
with equal force?
Are you crazy?
How do we know it wouldn't make things worse?
What about fallout?
Fallout?
The pole reversal completes in 48 hours
and then it is bye-bye planet.
Does anybody else have a better idea?
That's what I thought.
That comet fragment hit us with the force of 100 megaton bomb.
We don't have a warhead that powerful.
What's the most powerful nuke in the US arsenal?
We have a new 50 megaton prototype
that's at the nuclear test site.
Okay, well can formulate a dual detonation
that will equal 100.
And?
We can't get through to the general.
Communication is down.
Well we can't just leave these people here.
This place is a ticking time bomb.
I suggest you find a cot and you chill.
Anything?
Nothing yet, sir.
Zoe.
Hey.
When did you get here?
Just a few minutes ago.
Excuse me, everybody.
Can I have your attention, please?
I'm Cynthia Mayfield, science teacher at Lindenville High.
Many of you know that my husband, Dr. James Mayfield,
is a respected astrophysicist.
He's told me that our town is the epicentre
of the electromagnetic and seismic disturbances happening
on the west coast and that it's very dangerous
to stay here.
We need to move outside the circle.
The nearest safe town is Little Brook.
You wanna step down from there, ma'am?
How come the soldiers don't know this?
Because their communications are down.
They're completely in the dark.
I'm not going to ask you again, ma'am.
Please listen to me.
We could all die here.
Get her off of there.
Is it true?
If you open your mouth about this to anyone again
you will be arrested.
Is that clear?
Yes.
And I don't want to see that map again.
Release her.
James, you'll be happy to know the bomber is on its way.
And two 50 megaton warheads will launch at 16:00.
[explosion]
[telephone ringing]
Yes.
What do you mean we lost the plane?
Yes.
Thank you.
An EM pulse took out the bomber.
The warheads exploded in mid air.
They have to try again.
Send another plane.
James, the skies are unflyable.
We'll lose them all.
They have to try.
Send 20 planes.
One might get through.
James.
James, you've got to think of something else fast.
There's got to be another way.
(Cynthia): We've got to get out of here.
Why would the soldiers keep us here if it isn't safe?
Because they don't anything.
They're just following their last orders.
Communications have gotten so bad
they can't even contact their superiors.
What do you want to do?
Dr. Mayfield was right when he said
the comet might hit Earth.
I think we should go.
We're in.
[whispering] Come on.
It's around here.
This one.
Those poor people.
I feel so bad leaving them.
You did everything you could, Cyn.
Gentlemen, I have a new plan that just might work.
We're going to detonate at the bottom of the ocean,
the Marianna Trench, the deepest point of the Earth's crust.
Dr. Elman?
Yes, the ocean crust is thin enough that the blast
could go right through to lithosphere and, yes,
it could conceivably push the planet back into alignment.
The Marianna Trench is over 36,000 feet deep, doctor.
How do you plan on getting there?
Submarine.
Unfortunately, doctor, we don't have any that are operational.
What do you mean you don't have any that are operational?
EM interference crippled the onboard computers
that control the nuclear reactors.
Are you telling me there's not a single sub out there?
That's right.
That's not exactly true, General.
The Russians have an old diesel sub they still train on.
She isn't pretty, but she's running.
She's on the west coast for an international training exercise.
[dramatic music]
Open that bunker.
I guess they're still ordering everyone to the church.
shhh...
[high-pitched sound]
I can hear it.
Hear what?
An EM pulse tone.
What's an EM pulse tone?
Electromagnetic shockwave.
It's a burst of electromagnetic energy
coming from the mini pole.
That sub should be in the harbour by now.
[high-pitched sound]
What is that noise?
A pulse tone.
Cut the engine, dad.
Now?
Stop the car right now!!
[high-pitched sound]
What was that?
[high-pitched sound]
There it is.
Oh my God.
Turn the car off, Michael!!
Turn it off!
Everything electronic has to be turned off:
cell phones, mp3 players, everything!
Get rid of your watch, Michael!
I hope those guys remember to cut their engine.
Cut your engine!
[screams]
Cut your engine!!!!!!!
I think it passed.
Michael, what's wrong?
Dad, are you okay?
Can you drive?
Sure.
James, check the engine.
We've got no time to waste.
The battery and starter are fried.
It looks like we're an hour from getting out of the circle.
We need to get my father to a hospital.
What's wrong?
He has a pacemaker.
I think the storm shorted it out.
Oh God.
How are we doing?
Good.
Give it a try.
[car horn]
[Russian accent] It is an honour, General Mayfield.
Captain Yolenkov, this is Dr. James Mayfield.
Captain.
[Russian accent] I see the resemblance.
There are two warheads in the back of that truck.
[speaking Russian]
[Russian accent] So, we work together to save world, no?
Yes.
Dr. Mayfield will formulate the detonation sequence.
[Russian accent] My ship, she's strong as ox, but not so fast you know.
Yes, we know.
The closest town is Clarksville.
We past it a few minutes ago.
Maybe they have a hospital.
No.
Don't go back.
I'm okay.
Just get out of the circle.
[high-pitched sound]
Oh no.
Not again.
[high-pitched sound]
(James): We've gotta get out of here fast.
Get out or I'll blow your head off.
Okay.
Get out or I'll kill all of you.
Please, my father is having a heart attack.
We need to get him to a hospital.
Get out or I'll put him out of his misery.
Take it easy.
We're going.
Get out.
Ahhh!!!!!!!!!!
Ugh!!!!!!!!
Dad!
[Russian accent] What are conditions in Mariana Trench?
Expect seismic activity like nothing you've ever seen.
You should warn your crew that the steam vents
will be heating up the ocean causing violent current shifts.
[Russian accent] All this from rock hitting Earth.
Technically, the comet fragment was made from ice,
but yes.
[Russian accent] So tell me, Dr. Mayfield, you plan to detonate these
bombs at one time?
No, not exactly.
In order to generate 100 megaton explosion
I need to formulate a detonation sequence
just milliseconds apart.
[Russian accent] You know that this vessel cannot outrun such a shockwave.
We know.
Your crew, captain, do they know?
[Russian accent] They have volunteered for this mission in order
to save their families.
Outrunning the shockwave is the least of our worries.
[sobbing]
It's fried, Shane.
You know you can't start a car without the battery.
Cars in the old days didn't have batteries.
They used to be started by hand cranks.
Yeah, well we don't have a hand crank
and this is a modern car.
You don't need a battery to drive either.
All we need to do is capture an electrical charge
that will help ignite the spark plugs.
And where are we going to get that from?
Have you ever seen anything like this?
No one has.
We're witnessing a geological event that hasn't happened
on a scale in millions of years.
[Russian accent] What creates such hell?
Massive tectonic movements.
[Russian accent] How will this affect the mission?
Well, it makes it nearly impossible.
[screams] Ahhh!!!!!!!!!
[intense dramatic music]
[screams] Ahhh!!!!!!!!!
[intense dramatic music]
[screams] Ahhh!!!!!!!!!
[telephone ringing]
[speaking Russian]
Dad.
I'm okay.
[Russian accent] We have lost one engine.
Power will be 50 percent.
Hi.
Can Shane really do what he says he's doing?
All I know is Shane loves working with cars.
He's the biggest greaser at our school.
Better hurry up with that, Shane.
[Russian accent] 100 meters from bottom.
Almost in position.
Dammit!
[Russian accent] We cannot stay at this depth very long.
Do you have a family, captain?
[Russian accent] Of course.
That's why we're going to stay here as long as it takes.
If we die from a crushed hull or a shockwave,
what difference does it make?
If we fail the whole world dies.
[beeps]
This is it.
We're on.
Okay, I've got to set the timer on the warheads.
[speaking Russian]
Here it comes.
Just about done.
I don't think I should be holding this anymore.
Almost there.
Shane.
Done.
Antenna.
Tape.
Come on.
We need to move away, Shane.
Shane, come on.
Let's go!!!!
[intense dramatic music]
[Russian accent] I feel happy dying knowing it was to save family on surface,
but I am sad that you must die with your son.
Until a few days ago
I hadn't seen James in five years, so...
We're on.
It's done, captain.
Fire when ready.
[speaking Russian]
[Russian accent] It will be impossible to outrun the shockwave
with one engine, but at least we'll die trying.
I think it's done.
We just have to pray that one static charge
has been trapped in the cylinder.
Come on, baby.
[car engine]
Yeah.
You're a genius.
We've got the greatest show on Earth here, dad.
It's a scientist's dream, isn't it?
Captain.
If you could take us in to that volcano,
a steam funnel might propel us up out of the shockwave's path.
[Russian accent] The hull is not designed for such temperatures,
but what have we got to lose?
[speaking Russian]
[intense dramatic music]
[Russian accent] Our temperature is rising.
The heat is expanding the metal.
[intense dramatic music]
Brace yourselves.
[intense dramatic music]
[screams] Ahhh!!!!!!!!!
[intense dramatic music]
[screams] Ahhh!!!!!!!!!
[intense dramatic music]
[explosion]
[intense dramatic music]
(President): Thanks to unprecedented cooperation between nations
we have survived the most catastrophic event
to ever threaten our existence.
The Earth has been healed.
The human spirit has triumphed,
despite all that has been lost.
But we will honour those lost
with our resolve to rebuild
and we will rejoice in what we have been given...
a chance for a new beginning.
10:00 am, perfect time.
And finally, our fragile planet owes a huge debt
to Dr. James Mayfield.
He's here.
Dad!
This is your grandfather.