The Twisters (2024) Movie Script
1
Dr. Evans, please listen to me.
Topeka is in trouble.
James, I know you think
your tornado indicator
numerical algorithm is going
to revolutionize science,
but 30 years of experience
tells me to trust my readings.
And I'm not seeing anything
to suggest a tornado.
As you can see, temp is nominal,
pressure is stable,
and winds are negligible.
There's no rear flake,
downdraft, nothing.
That's because our current tech
only has a total detection rate
of 60% on average
and a 70% false alarm rate.
TINA's pot is 96% with 5% FAR
and is currently predicting
an F2 tornado
within the next 7 minutes
centered in Topeka, Kansas,
with a 98.3% accuracy.
Dr. Evans, I've put countless
hours of research into this.
I've used research you yourself
did with Professor Bennett.
You know TINA is the future.
You must issue a warning.
AI may be the future,
but it is not the present,
and I'm not issuing any warnings
based on some untested software.
Well, I have to at least warn
the people I care about.
Hey, James,
I really can't talk right now,
but I will call you
back in a few.
I know. TINA's online today.
Exactly. Professor Bennett,
you need to seek shelter
immediately.
TINA's predicted an F2 tornado
about to hit Topeka.
Wait. What?
James, I don't see
any inflow bands
or feel a change
in the barometric pressure.
- Are you sure?
- Yes.
You need to get inside
as soon as possible.
Okay.
Okay, I'm heading
to the shelter now.
Better safe than sorry, right?
I'll call you from inside.
Dr. Evans,
even Professor Bennett
is taking this seriously.
And I'm taking facts seriously,
not some untested software.
Well, as head
programmer here, I...
As your boss here,
I'm telling you
that issuing a false warning
can be very dangerous.
TINA is way too cutting-edge
to be useful right now.
Once you work the kinks out...
That's what they said
about using microwaves
to beam solar energy from space,
and that...
Took years to be operational,
so be patient.
Hey, you guys see this?
- Drop in pressure.
- Something strange is going on.
Strong winds with moisture
buildup at latitude 39.050980.
Longitude minus 95.670433.
Topeka?
I need more data from you
before I can proceed.
We need to get this information
exactly right
before we can alert
the authorities.
TINA confirms the mesocyclone
is underway,
causing temperature differential
at the edge of the downdraft.
An F2 tornado will be
destructive and build very fast.
We have less than five minutes.
Have the Topeka office issue
an imminent tornado warning.
Hello. Rosemary speaking.
Alert the National Guard
to start evacuations.
Yes, ma'am.
Oh, my God.
Oh, no!
Oh! Ah!
The rapid gathering
of low-level air moisture,
creating the inflow bands
and spiraling formation
is astonishing.
The dew point usually says
it's around 3.2.
This is showing a dew point
of negative 8.3.
- It's happening too fast.
- Oh, we've got a tornado
that's about to happen
in Pleasant Hill.
- Well, we better tell it...
- Another in Warrensburg.
That can't be correct.
The rate of atmospheric
disruption can't be accurate.
According to TINA, dozens
of cyclone storm clusters
are forming across the entire
Midwest over the next 12 hours.
What in God's name is going on?
The damage to rural and city
areas has been catastrophic.
Rescue crews are hard at work,
but preliminary reports from
Topeka paint a grim picture.
What's the status?
I need info now.
The tornado caught
everyone off guard.
Over 60 dead and counting.
Property damage in the millions.
I'm sorry.
I just got off the phone
with the National Guard
who are already putting
shelter in place and EVACs.
Good.
I also double-checked
TINA's findings.
Because you're right.
The amount
of cyclonic regeneration
needed to cover the entire
Midwest is impossible.
But?
I had TINA run thousands
of mathematical models.
Arctic sea ice
is rapidly melting,
causing the jet stream
to be pulled further north.
That should reduce
the amount of tornadoes.
Correct, but the ENSO is also
an atmospheric variable
to consider.
Why?
The El Nio Southern Oscillation
is in the Pacific Ocean.
While it manifests
in the Pacific,
it's a chain-reaction process
that shuffles
global weather patterns,
pushing warm moist air north.
Colliding with the cold Arctic
air mass generating a low SIE.
Creating
a once-in-a-generation event
of massive instability
across the entire Midwest
for the next 12 hours.
We're talking massive tornadoes
lasting for hours
on one end of the scale
and smaller tornadoes
popping up without warning
at the other end.
What data set are you using?
I thought TINA only predicted
the appearance
and size of a tornado.
It did, but now TINA uses data
from another
sensor weather network
currently being rolled out.
Your sister's next-gen network.
Yes.
Her network has
sensors positioned
all throughout the Midwest,
and they're all bi-directional.
And TINA has access to
this full, complete network?
The network is incomplete.
There are still sensors
that need to be upgraded
to bi-directional variants.
Once that happens,
TINA will be able
to predict tornadoes
from the Gulf of Mexico
all the way to the Canadian
border with 100% accuracy.
Then that's the plan.
You need to get ahold of Erica
and get this system up
and running as soon as possible.
We use to work together.
Her hardware, my software.
Since the incident
we haven't spoken.
Then how are you using
her hardware?
She hasn't changed
her credentials.
So if she finds out,
she can kick you off,
and TINA will be useless.
Not useless, just not as useful.
Look, I understand
what you two went through
was very devastating,
but she has the hardware
and you have the software.
You need to call your sister
and work out
your dysfunctional relationship.
This is bigger
than the two of you.
There's millions
of lives at stake.
Understood.
Hey, you've reached Erica.
Just leave me a message
at the tone.
Erica, it's James again.
Call me. It's an emergency.
Text Erica.
Erica, call me ASAP.
It's an emergency.
James here.
I see your location on SR 350,
20.2 miles west of Lone Jack.
TINA shows an F1
has developed in your location.
I have the same reading.
Do you have a visual?
Negative.
Wait. I have a visual.
It just popped up out of nowhere
like the one in Topeka.
- What's that?
- Debris is falling from the sky.
Are you okay? James.
James, respond. Are you okay?
I'm fine.
The funnel's gone.
I have clear skies.
This climate instability
is stranger than predicted.
Can you continue?
Yeah.
After seeing the tornado
pop up out of nowhere,
we've got to get this network up
so we know exact locations.
What's your ETA to Lone Jack?
20 minutes.
Okay. Let me know
when you've reached Erica.
After the devastating news
coming out of Topeka today,
I'm here with
Dr. Erica Garland of NOAA
to tell us what is being
done to prevent
such a loss of life
and property in the future.
Doctor?
Excuse me. I'm sorry.
Just some odd readings.
But yes, what happened in
Topeka today is heartbreaking.
Any loss of life
is unacceptable.
The key is warning times
so people can get to shelter.
And that's why I have
been finishing up
the installation of a network
of next-generation sensors
to help predict severe weather
events much faster,
especially tornadoes.
And, Doctor, how exactly does
your network of sensors
help us to predict
such extreme weather events?
Well, this sensor network
is a bi-directional network,
far more accurate
than any current technology,
allowing for better prediction
and more relevant
real-time data collection
such as informing if you're
dealing with an F1 or an F5.
Of course, Midwesterners,
we know that F1 and F5
are at opposite ends
of the Fujita scale.
Yes, that's correct.
The Fujita scale assigns
the tornado strength
a number starting from F0,
meaning that your winds,
they can start
at 85 miles per hour,
causing light damage,
all the way to an F5
with winds starting
at 200 miles per hour,
destroying everything
in its path.
So, Doctor, what was
the rating of the tornado
that hit Topeka today?
That was an F2.
Unfortunately, that tornado
developed so fast
that people were unable
to get to safety.
My hope is that we can use this
network to alert authorities
and power an app
on people's phones,
giving them at least
a 40-minute head start
instead of the current
13 minutes.
That information,
it's life or death.
And if available,
an app like that,
it may have saved
countless lives in Topeka.
Thank you, Dr. Garland.
I'm Claudia Santiago
with TABN Kansas City News.
Back to you in the studio.
And we're out.
Thank you so much for your time.
Thank you.
- So?
- It was pretty good.
Erica.
I just feel
like we need to be doing more.
What do you want, James?
Your sensors and my AI
are predicting
an unprecedented set
of storm cells
developing in the next 12 hours.
I've tried to call you and text
you, but I've got no response.
Yeah, well that's because
I blocked you, James.
Why hasn't NOAA sent out
a shelter-in-place order?
We have. The amount of area
needed to prepare is vast.
It takes time to align the
agencies and get them active.
So why are you here?
What do you mean,
your AI and my sensors?
I used TINA with your sensors.
- You did what?
- I know. I'm sorry.
But it was the only way I could
get a full accurate prediction.
Plus we can determine
the length of the storm as well.
- James!
- Look, I know you're upset
with me and you're furious
and you can yell at me later.
But Dr. Evans sent me here
to help you finish
installing your sensors
as soon as possible
and get TINA's AI downloaded
to the network
so we can predict these
tornadoes with full accuracy
and help the emergency
services teams
and anyone else
who can't get out.
Look, I know that my sensors
are real and accurate,
but your artificial intelligence
and all those large
number sets, it's BS.
That's where science
turns to probability.
I fixed the error in the code.
TINA is an exponential leap
in the algorithm.
Your mistake cost us
the lives of six people
and you destroyed my life.
Erica.
I'm sorry.
And maybe someday you'll
realize that and believe me,
but today...
Today we have to work together,
otherwise millions of people
are going to die.
Excuse me. You're saying you
knew about today's tornado?
It's a little more complicated
than a sound bite.
How do you know this
isn't just a lucky guess?
Check the data.
It also predicted another
tornado before it happened,
before I could see it.
Is that right, Dr. Garland?
Can you please just give us
a little space?
What's happening?
The SIE is pulling the ENSO
warm air mass up north
from the Gulf of Mexico.
And it's causing massive
instability across the Midwest.
No, that's not correct.
The sensor IDs are referenced.
Check it against your own data.
Okay, yeah, no,
the data is lining up,
but this is predicting something
that has never happened before.
Because it's a combination of
two massive weather anomalies
creating a once-in-a-generation
occurrence.
Please, what exactly
are you saying?
Look, it's not conclusive, okay?
It's... It's...
There is preliminary evidence
that's showing
a massive series of storm cells
just all up and down
Tornado Alley.
Yes, but isn't that normal
for this time of year?
Yes. Tornadoes are normal.
But what's not normal
is the potential
of dozens of F5 tornadoes
with wind speeds
of over 400 miles per hour.
Look, if you are correct about
this, without this network,
we won't be able
to alert the military,
emergency services, or citizens.
I'm not wrong about this.
Fine.
But this is about
protecting lives,
not repairing our relationship.
Fair enough.
Okay.
All right.
So we have updated sensors
here and here.
We need to upgrade
here and here.
TINA is predicting
an F3 tornado in our location.
- When?
- Now.
Look, I know that
my sensors are accurate.
Are you sure that you actually
programmed it correctly?
Yes, Erica.
TINA is a predictive AI program
using your sensors.
But nothing is happening
here, James.
Barometric pressure is nominal.
No inflow bands are indicating
any air-moisture movement.
Check again.
What does your sensor say?
Air pressure is changing now.
Barometric pressure,
it's dropping like a stone.
I hate to say it, James,
but I think that your software,
it might be right.
It's happening again.
I know. I know. But we need
to get into that farmhouse.
- Let's go.
- But...
No, no, just go.
We are right behind you.
- No, I gotta film this.
- No, no. You don't. Okay?
We need to get everything secure
and we've got to get inside.
Come on.
Go. Get inside. Let's go.
Go! Go! Hurry! Come on! Move!
Come on.
Get in! Move! Go!
Get in there!
Everybody, grab on to something!
James, find something to hunker
everybody down with!
- James!
- He's still upstairs!
- No!
- Oh, my God.
Snap out of it, James!
Come on!
Go! Go! Run! Go!
Hold on!
This is just the beginning!
- What now?
- Relax, relax.
How am I supposed to relax?
He's just out here
from California.
Okay, okay, listen to me.
That is an F3 up there.
We need to hunker down
until it passes.
Stay in the middle of the room
and away from the walls.
This is just like
an earthquake, okay?
How is this like an earthquake?
Steve, Steve, relax! Hold on!
Earthquakes are over
in a matter of seconds.
We're all gonna die!
- Shut up!
- Listen to me!
We are going to make it if
we stay calm and don't panic.
Do you understand?
Listen to me, buddy.
You got this, buddy.
- Hang on. Hold on.
- Stop pacing! Sit down.
Hold on.
Hold on!
Everybody, hold tight!
- Steve!
- I can't hold on!
Help!
- I'm coming!
- Help!
- Steve!
- I can't hold on!
- Hold on! Stay calm!
- Steve! Steve!
I can't hold on!
Grab a rope! Get a rope!
Here! Grab this!
- Got it!
- Grab this!
I don't think I can do this!
Just stay calm, please!
I don't think I can do this!
You got this, man! Tie it!
- Strap in, Steve!
- I can't do it!
Steve, come on, man! Do it!
Steve!
Help me!
Steve! Hang on!
- Watch out!
- Steve!
Steve! Steve, watch out!
No!
I can't believe we're never
going to see Steve again.
He was a good kid.
The best.
I can't keep doing this,
Erica. We lost another one.
I know. I know,
but we have to keep going.
Otherwise, we're going to lose
a lot more if we don't.
Yeah.
Dr. Evans, are you seeing this?
Yes. TINA's predicting four
massive F5s that will converge
into the largest tornado event
ever recorded.
It looks like they're all
joining together near Wichita.
That's where the last sensor is.
Well, you need to get there
as fast as you can
and get your sensor
up and running.
We need a way to stop these
tornadoes from converging.
The sensors are meant
for detection, not prevention.
We need options.
These tornadoes
will be as destructive
as six Hiroshima
nuclear explosions,
sending over 100 terajoules
of energy across the Midwest.
Even with evacuations in place,
the loss of life
would be massive.
You need to get those
sensors up and running
and give me options,
and think outside of the box.
- Understand?
- Understood.
Well, give me updates.
I'm off to make sure
that the military
has evacuations
and its own game plan.
How are we supposed
to stop a tornado, James?
- She's asking the impossible.
- Nothing is impossible.
We just haven't
figured it out yet.
Let's get that sensor upgraded
and then we can worry
about the impossible.
We just need a ride.
You can, um...
You can use the news van.
It's built for severe weather,
and I don't want anybody
else getting hurt, so...
Thank you.
One condition.
We're going with you.
Deal.
Okay. Um, the bad news is,
Steve had the keys.
You don't have an extra set?
No. Have an extra set
back in KC,
but it does us
no good, so, um...
Do you think
that you could hotwire it?
No. This is
a digital ignition.
So I would need either a code
or a clone of the key, so no.
If it's digital,
I can hack it with my tablet
via the Bluetooth
and Wi-Fi system.
It's going to take some time.
What other choice do we have?
Let's do it.
Okay.
All right.
I'm going to run an algorithm.
- I'll check in a minute.
- All right.
While we have the time,
we may as well get back
to the impossible.
Okay.
Let's get back
to the basic principles.
What causes a tornado?
Temperature differences
around a mesocyclone.
So if we wanted
to stop a tornado,
we would need to normalize
the temperature differential.
Yeah.
Okay, but maybe by adding
additional amounts
of energy to change
the thermodynamic gradients
within the vortex.
Exactly. Blow up the
Clausius-Clapeyron equation,
like blowing up a burrito
in the microwave.
Anything?
No. Dead stick.
I'll try another algorithm.
We don't blow up tornadoes
because it's too destructive.
As destructive
as four F5 tornadoes?
Good point.
Okay, so assuming we
move forward with this,
how do we target the tornadoes?
We can use my sensors.
Okay, we can adjust
the telemetry data
and change it
from a sensor network
into a targeting network.
So now we would have
a targeting system
to another algorithm,
just like you're doing now.
Perfect.
Try it.
Still nothing.
Here comes another algorithm.
So we target the source
with your sensor network.
Now we just need an energy
source to target the cyclone.
Too bad we can't put it
into a giant microwave.
It's your example.
Wait, I was just talking to
Dr. Evans about solar satellites
that beam energy waves
down to Earth as microwaves.
So we use TINA
to identify the tornadoes.
And have your sensor network
target them.
Theoretically, we could use
those satellites
to blast those tornadoes
with microwave beams.
We would need military and
government approval, of course.
Science is solid,
if a little unorthodox.
Okay, so we've got a plan.
I'll let Dr. Evans know
and she can get military
approval for the satellite use.
Try it again.
- That's it.
- We got it.
All right, let's get in the van.
Let's get to Wichita
and upgrade that next sensor.
We've only got 10 hours
and 37 minutes
to calibrate all the sensors.
Wait, you're changing
the purpose of the sensors?
Yes, we'd be using the sensors
as a targeting system
to pinpoint
the tornado's location.
Then use the satellites
to overload the tornadoes
with microwaves,
thus ending the formations.
Well, I asked you for choices
and you gave me one.
That's definitely thinking
outside of the box.
I'm going to have
to contact the joint chiefs
and see what's possible.
Maybe get a military liaison
here to help coordinate.
I'll let you know
if we can do this.
- Encouraging?
- We'll find out.
Hey, James.
You're a veteran storm chaser.
So what happened
back at the farm?
You froze for a moment and then
seemed to get back into it.
You don't have
to answer that, James.
It's okay.
PTSD.
But then I knew I had to do
what I could to help.
Sorry I couldn't
help Steven in time.
It's not your fault.
It's not anybody's fault.
No, it was my fault this time.
Like it was last time.
We need to stay focused, James.
No need to explain.
Thanks.
But it helps me
to talk about it.
What if I don't want
to talk about it?
It was the worst day
of my life, James.
Mine, too.
We both lost a lot that day.
Okay, then tell her.
Erica and I were on a team
chasing storms
all over Tornado Alley.
Retrieving the most accurate
information we could gather.
My best friend, Dan,
was on that team.
On one particular chase...
we were tracking an F4.
All the data we were
getting was amazing.
But...
Erica felt it was too dangerous
and too unpredictable
to follow the tornado anymore.
Dan and I felt the information
we were gathering
was worth the risk.
I did everything I could
to talk Dan out of continuing.
He believed in the cause.
And he went.
Our team, minus Erica,
took off in two trucks
after the tornado.
Dan took one truck,
and I was in the other.
We were getting fantastic data.
Until out of nowhere the tornado
turned into an F5.
It was a monster.
Wait, you're talking about the
El Reno tornado, aren't you?
We were on
our planned escape route
when the tornado turned,
and Dan and I decided it was
statistically safer to split up.
Dan took the team in one truck.
I was by myself in the other.
That way the data would survive
if something happened
to one of the trucks.
That's when we were driving
our separate ways.
And I watched
the tornado turn...
and devour Dan's truck,
killing everybody inside.
Oh, my God.
And just when I thought
it couldn't get any worse...
the tornado changed course.
It blew my truck off the road
and flipped it into a ditch.
Jesus.
I broke 18 bones in my body.
But I was the lucky one.
I survived.
That's horrible.
I'm so, so sorry, Erica.
I told you.
You wouldn't listen.
We lost our team
and I lost everything.
I know.
But that is why I've
improved the algorithm.
Why your sensors
are so important.
I took the data from that
tornado and used it for good...
so that nobody ever has
to go through that again.
Just tell yourself
what you want, James.
But you buried yourself inside,
refusing to deal,
hoping to hide
from the pain of life
while I was outside,
facing my pain.
We're almost there.
Let's get ready.
Let's focus on balancing out
the gyros on the sensor,
and then you can download
your software, okay?
Once it's calibrated,
it should be able to communicate
with the network,
and then we can head to
the last sensor in Independence.
It should only take
about 30 minutes at most
to get the sensor upgraded.
We'll see. The internals
are the same,
but some of the enclosures
are different.
Either way, we're gonna
need to move quickly.
We've got a two-hour drive
to Independence.
Because we can't use air transpo
with these unpredictable storms.
I know.
Can you hand me the wrench?
Good news.
Dr. Evans says the joint chiefs
approved use
of the microwave satellites.
All set. Your turn.
This should take only
a couple of minutes to download.
Hey.
I get that you're upset.
I'm upset, too.
But we can't let that affect
how we're working together
right now.
I need all of you, Erica,
if we're going to fix this,
not just the part of you
that's upset with me.
I'll pack up and we can get
to the next sensor.
You know,
this might actually work.
About earlier...
Hey, no.
Let's just move forward.
James, we have to hurry.
That wall cloud
is building quickly.
Look, I don't know how long
this van is gonna hold up.
We need to move. Let's go.
- James!
- I know!
- I'm going as fast as I can.
- Well, go faster!
The whole state is on the line,
the whole Midwest!
I'm aware!
Done.
It's upgraded, calibrated,
and live on the network.
All right, let's get in the van!
Erica!
- Erica, are you okay?
- No! No!
Without this dish,
we won't be able to upload the
local data to the satellites.
We won't have
a complete network.
You said there
was redundancy on the network.
There is, but this sensor
station is a nexus node,
and it is primary
for the network to work.
If that sensor fails,
there is no network.
You two okay?
Look, we need to leave.
No! We can't
until we fix this dish.
- No, no, you said that...
- I know what I said.
But if we don't fix this,
then everything we've done
won't matter.
Take my tablet.
Help me get this in the van,
see if we can get it fixed.
- Come on!
- It's on. Let's go!
Damn it.
It's worse than I thought.
The transducer's been shattered.
How badly does that affect us?
A lot. Transducers
change one form of energy
into another form of energy.
It's the way we send information
from the sensors back to NOAA.
And without it,
the sensors, they won't
be able to communicate
with the satellite
and the network.
Well, here.
I got some backup transducers
for our satellite dish.
- Will that work?
- No.
No, unfortunately,
your hardware,
it's not compatible with ours.
The dynamic range is different.
Can I help with software?
No. It's a hardware issue.
All the way
down the signal path.
Nothing is compatible.
I mean,
the only way that it would work
is if we used
the news van's satellite relay
and all of their electronics.
We would have to cannibalize
their entire satellite rig
down to the interface.
Do it.
We are stopping
those tornadoes from converging.
Do whatever you need to do
to get the sensor to work.
Really?
Yeah. Claudia's right.
Anything we can do to help,
just let us know.
We would have to use
your satellite dish
and most of your electronics.
Yeah. That's fine.
- Just... Yeah. Let's go.
- Okay, then.
- Mm-hmm.
- Okay. Let's do it.
I'm gonna download the software,
and then you can finish.
Okay.
We need to get it up on the pole
so we can get a better signal.
I got some ratchet straps
in there.
You think that'll work?
Yeah, that's great.
Here you go.
- I'm done. You're up.
- Okay.
Put it up on the pole.
- Take it up.
- Lift it up.
TINA's predicting
a flash tornado
at our location
in the next 45 seconds!
How is this
an early warning system?
These aren't regular storms
or circumstances!
We gotta focus!
Almost there.
Tornado!
Go! I've got this!
Get to the van!
No! No, I am not leaving you!
- It came loose.
- Come on! We gotta hurry!
That's as tight
as it's gonna get!
- We gotta go! Let's go!
- Come on!
The sensor held!
It's getting closer!
Go. Go. Go!
The tornado's gaining!
Move it or we're dead!
Hang on!
We need to find shelter ASAP!
Can't we just go
in a different direction
away from the tornado?
We have to keep
the same heading!
Otherwise, every turn
that we take
is another mile away
from the next sensor.
Look! Look!
There's a parking garage
up ahead.
- No! Not a parking garage!
- Why not?
Because we could get stuck
if the entrance gets blocked.
Maybe, but we are absolutely
going to be wiped off
the face of this earth
if we don't find cover now!
- It's a bad idea.
- Make a decision.
Just look around. We don't have
any other options, James.
- Fine.
- Go!
Everyone okay?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
Does anyone else have signal
to call for help
or Dr. Evans,
let her know we won't be able
to reach the signal now?
No.
Then we're on our own.
We'll have to wait
until the tornado subsides
before we look for a way out.
Dr. Evans.
Thank you very much.
General Murphy,
thank you for coming to NOAA,
and thank you for the approval
to use
the satellite constellation
to try to stop these tornados.
More importantly,
my presence here
is to liaise directly
with the military,
streamline
your command structure.
What are your thoughts
on the plan?
I think
it's an unorthodox solution,
but the science is strong.
Well, I'm all behind
solutions, Doctor.
And if I get to shoot
at a problem and solve it,
all the better.
I got your status report
about losing contact
with your scientists
on the ground.
Any updates?
No, sir. Nothing.
No responses.
If they're dead and we can't get
these sensors up and running
to target this tornado,
what's our backup?
I've reviewed
all of our options.
Our best plan B is to seed
the storm with silver iodide.
I've already been on the phone
with the proper authorities
to put that in place.
Silver iodide. Isn't that
what they use to make it rain?
Why would we want that?
It impregnates the storm clouds
with ice nuclei,
cooling the warm moisture,
stopping the formation
of mesocyclones
and, thus, tornado funnels.
Seems pretty straightforward.
Why hasn't it been done yet?
Logistics. Due to the size
of the storm fronts,
we've had to locate
all the silver iodide
from across the country,
have it delivered
to the closest Air Force Base
to be loaded onto aircraft
to disperse it.
How many planes do you need?
It should take 30 aircraft
to seed the 500 square miles
of storms
with the amount of silver iodide
we've delivered
to the Air Force.
Why wasn't this done
in the first place?
This amount of silver iodide
has never been seeded before.
It could cause
an ecological disaster
if these storms change direction
and the silver iodide
misses the storms.
If this lands
on the ground, sir...
Well, I'll call the Air Force
and make sure those planes
are loaded and in the air ASAP.
I think anything we can do
to weaken the storm
is only gonna help us.
Agreed.
If we don't hear
from the scientists
by the T minus 2-hour mark,
we're gonna have to go ahead
and seed the storms.
We're just gonna have
to take the risk.
We're stuck down here like rats.
I told you
not to go underground.
Let's just focus
on how we're going to get out.
Exactly how are we
gonna get out?
The tornado has parked itself
directly above us, James.
We haven't had a chance
to check out the blockage yet.
Exactly. That tornado
is sitting right on top of us.
We could have easily outrun it
if Doug had just driven faster.
Excuse me?
Don't blame Doug.
We wouldn't be in this mess
if you'd just listened to me
in the first place.
The last time I listened to you,
my fianc died.
Got it. Thank you.
The planes are approved.
Where are we
on the silver iodide?
We've got eight hours
before the tornados converge
and another 30 minutes
before the last
of the silver iodide arrives.
Cutting it close.
They still have
to load the planes.
- What it is?
- According to TINA,
the four tornados
that are headed for convergence
are moving faster than before.
They will combine
in less than five hours.
Damn it.
That cuts our time by a third.
We can't wait for the last
of the silver iodide.
We have to launch
that seeding squadron now.
I'll inform the airfields.
This is General Murphy.
Launch 'em now.
- What's this?
- I scouted for supplies,
but only came across
these bags of fertilizer.
James, you're right.
We have to go.
We have to get out of here.
This place is settling.
I don't know how long we have
until it collapses.
We have no communication
with Dr. Evans either.
Those F5 tornadoes are coming
in the next few hours,
and we have to stop them.
I know, but we can't rely
on our tech.
But we have no other option.
Back to the basics.
What would Professor Bennett do?
He always used to say KISS:
Keep It Simple, Stupid.
I know. It's funny, right?
We had these farmer boys
that were also coders
in the class,
and they always laughed
and replied,
"Or you could just blow it up."
What does that coding term mean?
It's not a coding term.
They literally meant blow it up.
They would get fertilizer
from the AG school
and they would grab something
from the junkyard,
take it into an empty field
and...
Every time they were upset.
I forgot
that you went to a school
in the middle of nowhere.
Well, you were lucky.
You went to the big fancy school
to study the latest scientific
stuff like the Tesla coil.
Oh, hey, hey.
That's the largest Tesla coil
in America.
It's still standing.
While you were over there
just playing with cow poop.
It was fertilizer, not manure.
You'd be surprised
the amount of explosive
you can make with that stuff.
Oh.
That's it.
What?
We'll blow our way out of here.
With what?
Fertilizer.
Okay, but won't that just make
the debris move even more?
Not if we place it
strategically.
Okay.
We don't have time to waste.
We're gonna need Doug.
Let's get him.
Thanks for sticking up
for me back there,
but you know I can take care
of myself, right?
Of course. You stuck by me
for all of this.
It's the least I can do.
You kidding me?
Wouldn't miss this for anything.
There's more? We're never
gonna get out of here!
Claudia?
No!
Claudia!
- Doug! No!
- Oh, my God.
I gotta...
- No, no, no, no. Hey, hey.
- I gotta help her.
No. She's gone.
There's nothing you can do.
Get him back to the van.
Doug, I've figured
a way out of here,
but I'm gonna need your help.
- How many more we need?
- All of 'em.
You sure this is gonna work?
It's the only option we've got.
That's the last of 'em.
Doug, I'm sorry about Claudia.
You don't know
how to siphon gas, do you?
Of course I do.
I need a fuel source
to ignite this.
No need.
I got a gas can in the truck.
Never know when
you'll need extra fuel.
- Go grab it.
- Got it.
Hey.
Can I help with anything?
Can you find me a lighter?
Okay.
Here you go.
It's about three quarters full.
Perfect.
All right, I got the lighter.
Here you go.
Perfect.
All right.
You guys should get
behind the van.
Cover your ears tight.
There's gonna be a lot
of air compression and heat.
Is the van gonna be okay?
Should be.
Wait a minute. Should be?
Well, I've strategically placed
the fertilizer on this side
so the explosion
goes away from the van.
So in theory, it should be.
Like a Claymore?
Yes.
- Let's go.
- All right.
All right.
Come on.
- You good?
- Yeah.
James, come on!
Come on.
Everyone okay?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
Let's get to that last sensor.
Be careful
driving through that rubble.
Copy that.
Where is everyone?
Looks like
the evacuations worked.
You checked to see
if we have any signal?
I am reconfirming
the exact GPS coordinates
for the next sensor, but...
Head for Independence, Doug.
Dr. Evans?
Dr. Garland.
We thought we lost you.
I've been trying to contact you
for over an hour.
We had to find shelter
and got trapped,
but we're back on the road.
TINA's confirmed
the tornados have sped up.
You only have four hours
to get to that last sensor.
What?
I've sent a squadron of aircraft
to stop them before they combine
or at least slow them down.
The aircraft have been rigged
to seed the tornados
with silver iodide.
That's great.
How far away are you
from the next sensor?
200 miles.
James, that doesn't give you
much time
to get to that last sensor.
You have to hurry.
Go as fast as possible.
Copy that.
- You heard her. Let's move.
- I'm on it.
Copy that.
Our seeding squadron
has arrived.
Now we can act.
They're headed
for the first tornado right now.
Captain Morales,
give me a sit rep?
13 klicks
from the drop zone, General.
Extreme winds are creating
non-optimal flying conditions.
Pinpoint accuracy may suffer.
General Murphy, I'm not sure
we're fully prepared for this.
Captain Morales,
your target zone is flexible
within two to five klicks
for payload dispersal.
We have to get rid
of these tornadoes
before they emerge into an F6.
Copy that, sir.
We'll get to the target.
Copy that, Captain.
Proceed with caution.
Will do.
Bravo, Charlie,
tighten formation
on approach of drop zone.
Copy that, Captain. Roger.
We've arrived
at the drop zone, General.
Execute.
Copy that.
Bravo, Charlie,
drop payload on my mark
in three,
two,
one, mark.
Payload successfully launched.
I repeat, payload...
I'm hit!
Aah! I've lost control
of the plane!
I'm going down!
What's happened?
We've lost them.
All of them.
Then our only hope
to stop these tornados
is with the targeting sensors
and microwave bombardment.
We have 33 minutes
before these four tornados
converge into a super tornado.
- Be ready to get moving.
- Copy that.
It looks like
they just left everything as is
as soon as the evacuations
and shelter-in-place order
went out.
Let's get this sensor
up and running.
- Where is it?
- It should over be here.
No! No, no, no!
God, no! The sensor station,
it's destroyed.
No, we should be good.
We can just swap out
the sensor core with a new one.
No, just look at it.
It was struck by lightning,
so all the electronics
that were supporting
the sensor core, they're fried.
We're not gonna be able
to stop the tornadoes now!
Hey, hey, hey, listen to me!
We're gonna be fine. We just
need to get out of the rain,
get the circuit board
back to the van,
and see what we can do.
Go!
Come on.
You guys okay?
What do we have available to us?
We have your computer
and we have my last sensor,
but we need a power supply,
logic board,
a hard drive, receivers,
transmitters,
and on top of all that, a dish.
We're screwed.
No, no, no. We've got all
that right here in the van.
Are you suggesting that we build
a whole new sensor station?
Yes.
Okay, so we can use
your computer
with TINA already installed
as the brain,
and we use the truck as is
for all the electronics.
I mean, it's already designed
to send and receive signals.
But we still need a dish,
a parabolic-shaped dish
to gather and send signals
to and from the receiver.
Those discs on the Ferris wheel
passenger pods
are the same shape as a dish.
You're a genius.
They must have left here
in a hurry. They left this.
Still has a round
in the chamber.
Ruger American Black Bolt.
It's a nice weapon.
Good balance.
Long-range capability.
What about the keys?
Left those, too.
Flip all the signal switches
to the null setting.
- All of them?
- Yes.
It'll help clear the pathway
to the processor.
Done.
We're in.
Make sure the circuits are dead
as we're patching.
We can't afford to lose
any of these logic boards.
- Understood, Doc.
- Okay.
It's a little too easy.
Never going
on a Ferris wheel again.
Well, welcome to the club.
Hold this.
Let's get this.
- Go.
- Get it into place.
We only have 18 minutes
until the tornadoes converge.
We have to activate that sensor
so we can get
the satellites in place.
And if this doesn't work...
You need to leave now.
Wait, what?
No. I'm not leaving.
Let me help you guys, please.
James is right.
You parked the van
in a protected spot.
We'll be safe in it long enough
to get the sensor up.
Yeah? And then what, hmm?
Look, I can't lose anyone else.
Please, just take
the tanker truck
and head west
as fast as you can.
You'll be safer that way.
Fine. Fine.
Since you're
so stubborn about it.
Glad Pop taught me
how to drive big rigs.
You guys be safe, all right?
See you on the other side...
hopefully.
Let's get
these final connections made!
Let me see.
This one goes to...
Okay! We're ready for power!
Here we go.
- Moment of truth!
- Do it.
Yes!
Check the readings!
We're up and running!
Let's move!
No!
We don't have time!
No, we have to fix it!
Otherwise,
the satellites won't work,
the tornadoes will converge,
and we won't be able
to stop them!
- All right.
- Get this.
Okay.
We gotta make sure it stands up.
- Sensor.
- Sensor.
Let's get this in there.
Plug it in.
- Get the wires reattached.
- I got it. I got it.
That's good. Hook it here.
Okay. All right, we got it.
- Let's go.
- Go! Go!
Look for cover.
There!
That?
What other options
do we have, James?
There's nothing!
- Watch your head!
- Watch your head!
Get in! Get in! Get in!
Hold on!
Hold on!
Hang on, you guys. I'm coming.
Erica, you okay?
Erica.
Oh, God.
Erica. Hey!
Oh, God.
Erica, come on. Come on.
I can't lose you, too. Come on.
Come on.
I got you.
Come on.
Come on. Stay with me.
Stay with me.
Hey. Hey, hey.
Hey, Erica. Hey.
Oh... Oh, my God.
Oh, God.
Are you okay?
- I don't know.
- Easy, easy.
I think I hurt my wrist.
Can you stand?
I think so. I think so.
Come on. Come on.
Come on. Come on.
Come on. I got you.
Come on.
We gotta get to shelter.
Those tornadoes
are gonna converge any minute.
Hey. You guys okay?
You're not supposed to be here.
I think I am.
That's fair enough.
Look, um, I think that I may
have sprained my wrist,
but otherwise,
I think we're okay.
All right, let's go that way.
I'll wrap it up.
Okay.
I'm okay.
- Grab a seat over here.
- Okay.
Let's see.
You guys took
a hell of a ride, huh?
All right.
I can't get through
to Dr. Evans.
We need to fire
those satellites now!
No, J-James, I don't think
any of us have signal.
It is no use.
We're out of time.
The tornadoes are converging
into one super tornado.
I've got a signal.
Dr. Evans,
the sensor network is online.
Understood.
Dr. Evans, listen to me.
We lost our local control.
We need you
to initiate the targeting
- and satellites right now.
- Roger that.
Initiate microwave
satellite bombardment.
Target signal has been acquired
by the full network.
The microwave constellation
is locked and loaded.
Fire.
Is it working?
It's hard to tell.
It'll take some time
for the microwaves
to heat up the air sufficiently.
Come on.
I see some movement.
- Where?
- Three o'clock.
Some degradation is happening.
It's working!
The tornadoes are dissipating!
It worked!
We did it.
Good job, guys.
Well done, you two.
Thank you, Doctor.
We'll be sending out an EMS team
to your location ASAP.
We'll get inside
and send our GPS coordinates.
Make sure to preserve
all local data
so we can codify
and expand this network
when you guys get back.
Understood.
I'm classifying this
"process in action of fact."
Until we have thoroughly
examined this new system,
no one is to speak about
or report about it.
You got that, Doug Cameron?
Um, yes, sir.
I'm currently a cameraman
without a camera,
so no problem.
Good. Although
I have to tell you,
it's a hell of a system.
- Thank you, sir.
- Thank you, sir.
Uh...
maybe I was too fast
to misjudge your AI.
I'll forgive you this time.
It's always a learning curve
with new... new AI.
I just... I want to say that...
James.
Look.
James, TINA's readings show
that while the microwave
bombardment worked,
the additional heat
created a vacuum,
sucking in massive amounts
of warm air,
creating more tornadoes. Over.
How many more storms
is TINA predicting?
Forty.
Wait, did I hear that correctly?
Yes, 40 F5 tornadoes,
30 miles wide.
A 1,200-mile-long
wall of destruction.
300-400 mile-an-hour winds.
The eastern half of the country
will be destroyed.
That's not a wall.
That's
a 1,600-mile-long tombstone.
Dr. Evans,
we have to get to safety.
We're back in the truck.
I've patched my phone
through the CB radio.
Can you hear us? Over.
Yes, we can hear you.
EVAC warnings have been given
for the East Coast
and shelter-in-place warnings
for the rest of the Midwest.
Over.
The microwave
satellite constellation
is charging
for another attempt. Over.
No, we just did that.
It only made things worse.
We have to make a change
in the variable
or the microwave bombardment
will just continue
to make more tornadoes.
How long 'til you
can hit the tornadoes
with more microwaves?
Thirty seconds. Over.
Spread the field
of microwave saturation by 20%.
Set vectors
at plus-2.0 off center.
Full power with max diffusion.
Over.
Roger that. New vectors
are set and calculated.
Satellites are primed,
locked, loaded,
and ready to fire.
Fire!
The ionic bonds are too strong.
Dr. Evans,
the tornadoes are too large.
The ionic bonds are too strong
to dissipate them.
We... We need to disrupt
the energy cycle.
What does that mean, exactly?
I need to know
how we're gonna fix this.
The electrochemical bonds
that are holding
the tornadoes together
need to be broken apart.
Dr. Garland,
what's your suggestion? Over.
Come on, James. Think.
Keep it simple.
Or you could just blow it up.
That's it.
We need to blow them up.
Drop a large conventional bomb
in the middle
of all these tornadoes.
A MOAB, several of them.
It's the only thing that will
have enough energy to do that.
Wait, wait. You want to drop
the Mother of All Bombs
into that thing, hmm?
The largest non-nuclear ordnance
the U.S. military has.
Really?
Yes.
No, a MOAB's too strong,
let alone multiples of them.
We can't do that. It's too many
civilian casualties.
All the areas
are under evacuation
or "shelter in place"
underground.
These are non-nuclear weapons,
and they're being fired
from several thousand feet
in the air.
Everyone on the ground
will be safe.
Still, I don't know
if I can make that call. Over.
The massive tornado is causing
enough destruction on its own.
Any damage done by the bombs
would be insignificant
by comparison.
I'll get the go-ahead from above
and scramble the bombers
to be ready.
I'll make sure the bombers
fly high above the storm
this time.
Over and out.
Ah.
What else can we do
to weaken these ionic bonds
for these tornadoes,
help the MOAB
as much as possible?
The idea you had
of blowing the tornado up
reminds me
of a quick and dirty way
we used to put out
oil well fires.
My pop used to talk about that
all the time.
You mean blow them up using TNT?
Yeah.
It would extinguish
the combustion.
What if we reversed that?
Are there any gas lines
in the path of the tornado
that we could ignite?
The science is there,
but... it's not practical.
I'm not sure if a gas line
would hold up
against the tornadoes' front.
Besides, it's like
summoning lightning
to do the work for us.
- That's it.
- What?
Lightning.
Where are we?
We're about there.
Go here.
We don't have time for a detour.
No, we are just a few miles
away from my old college,
where they have
exactly what we need
to weaken the ionic bonds
of those tornadoes.
The Midwest's largest...
Largest Tesla coil.
Yes.
Dr. Evans, we've just arrived
at the University of Kansas'
Tesla coil.
Erica thinks
that augmenting the energy
with the tornadoes
while we drop the bombs
will break up the ionic bonds,
but the timing
has to be precise.
General Murphy has scrambled
the bombers, and they're close.
Call me when you're
set and ready. Over and out.
Let's go.
I'll get the power
up and running
while you guys prep the coil.
I'll tell you what to do.
All right.
All right, come here, Doug.
All right,
you're gonna make sure
that all of the switches
in each bank are active.
You're gonna flip up
each switch to turn it on.
- Okay?
- All right.
All right. All banks are active.
Waiting to turn on
the Tesla coil
at Dr. Evans' command.
James, are you ready?
The tornado wall
is closing fast.
You've got 15 minutes
before it gets closer.
We're ready.
Activate the Tesla coil.
Light it up.
Tesla coil is fully active
at two gigajoules.
Tesla coil activated.
On my mark.
Three, two,
one,
mark.
Execute bombing.
Ascending now
to deliver the payload.
It's working.
Almost there.
Come on!
The front changed course.
The Tesla coil,
it's drawing it towards us.
I'm shutting it down!
I don't understand.
This should have worked.
They shut down the Tesla coil!
What do they think
they're doing?
Get them back on the phone.
What are we missing?
We don't have enough explosives.
What if it's
not about how many...
but the placement?
Maybe the bombs were too high
in the funnel's structure.
And, like Doug said
with the oil wells,
- we need a ground explosive.
- Yeah.
But, James, there are
way too many tornadoes.
We can't hit them all.
What if we don't have
to hit them all?
What are you talking about?
What if there's
an internal structure
that is holding
all of the tornadoes together
and feeding them
and it's just one tornado
that's leading them all?
So, we find the prime tornado
that's holding
all of these storms together...
We can stop them all.
Okay, but...
No, how do we know
which tornado is
the prime tornado?
The Tesla coil is
pulling the storm cell
closer to us.
The tornado in the front
has to be the prime tornado.
We separate that
from the rest of the tornadoes,
they'll all follow, and we can
attack them separately.
That sounds great, but what are
we gonna use for explosives?
We don't have time to make
another fertilizer bomb.
The tanker truck.
I can rig it to explode
at the base of the tornado.
Okay, how exactly
is blowing up that tanker
gonna stop that giant wall
of tornadoes, huh?
All those bombs we threw at it
didn't do squat.
First of all, we're attacking
the prime tornado
holding all
of the other tornadoes together.
Second, it's the placement.
The tanker truck
is lower to the ground,
where the tornado
is most vulnerable,
and third, the tanker truck
is just one part
of a three-pronged attack.
It's just, we have
to time it precisely
for everything to work.
All right.
So, how are we gonna
blow up the tanker?
I'm sure I can find something
in here to make a small IED.
We just need a way
to remote-detonate it.
The rifle I found.
I can set off the IED,
but that just leaves,
how are we gonna get
the tanker to the tornado?
- I'll drive it.
- What?
No-no-no-no, look,
I'm the only one that knows
how to drive that truck.
Let me do it.
No, I am not risking
anybody else's life.
Besides, you're the only person
that can take that shot.
And you have to stay here
and run the Tesla coil.
It makes sense. It's logical.
I have to do this.
I can't lose you, James.
You won't.
Okay.
Let's rock.
All he's gotta do is
just point this at the tornado.
We got one round left.
- Then we'd better make it count.
- I will.
You're gonna have
to hit it here.
It'll cause a chain reaction,
blowing up
the compressed gas in the tanks.
- I got this.
- Ready?
Tornadoes are
just four miles away.
We got less than three minutes
to pull this off.
Dr. Evans, General,
be ready to fire on my mark.
Understood.
Two gigajoules.
Three gigajoules, almost there.
Ten gigajoules,
power's maxed, hit it!
Where's James?
Still driving.
He's getting closer.
Just a little closer.
Come on. Come on. Come on.
Almost there.
The power's about
to fry the circuits!
We have to discharge
the coil now!
- Doug!
- He's still driving!
Come on.
I can't lose you, James.
I trust you.
This is for Professor Bennett.
And Claudia.
And Steve.
And Dan.
All right, I saw
the driver's door open!
It's hard to tell
if he made it out though.
Shoot!
Prime tornado's down!
Fire now!
Fire!
We did it!
James.
Congratulations, Doctor.
Congratulations, General.
James!
James! James, wake up!
You gotta wake up!
James, wake up! Wake up!
Please.
Wake up, oh... Oh, my God.
Are you okay?
- Did it work?
- Oh, God.
Yeah. Yeah.
All 40 of the tornadoes
are completely destroyed.
- Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa.
- Whoa.
- Let me give you a hand.
- I got it.
No, you don't.
You don't always have to do
everything yourself, you know?
Thank you.
I thought we lost you.
I'm not that easy to get rid of.
TINA was a huge success.
Thanks to your sensors
and his marksmanship.
Thank you.
Claudia would've been proud.
All she ever wanted to do
was help people.
We've all just lost so much.
I'm glad we can be a part of
something that help save lives.
And now we have a tool
to help predict tornadoes.
Thanks to my sister.
Couldn't've said it better
myself, bro.
Get in here.
Oh!
Dr. Evans, please listen to me.
Topeka is in trouble.
James, I know you think
your tornado indicator
numerical algorithm is going
to revolutionize science,
but 30 years of experience
tells me to trust my readings.
And I'm not seeing anything
to suggest a tornado.
As you can see, temp is nominal,
pressure is stable,
and winds are negligible.
There's no rear flake,
downdraft, nothing.
That's because our current tech
only has a total detection rate
of 60% on average
and a 70% false alarm rate.
TINA's pot is 96% with 5% FAR
and is currently predicting
an F2 tornado
within the next 7 minutes
centered in Topeka, Kansas,
with a 98.3% accuracy.
Dr. Evans, I've put countless
hours of research into this.
I've used research you yourself
did with Professor Bennett.
You know TINA is the future.
You must issue a warning.
AI may be the future,
but it is not the present,
and I'm not issuing any warnings
based on some untested software.
Well, I have to at least warn
the people I care about.
Hey, James,
I really can't talk right now,
but I will call you
back in a few.
I know. TINA's online today.
Exactly. Professor Bennett,
you need to seek shelter
immediately.
TINA's predicted an F2 tornado
about to hit Topeka.
Wait. What?
James, I don't see
any inflow bands
or feel a change
in the barometric pressure.
- Are you sure?
- Yes.
You need to get inside
as soon as possible.
Okay.
Okay, I'm heading
to the shelter now.
Better safe than sorry, right?
I'll call you from inside.
Dr. Evans,
even Professor Bennett
is taking this seriously.
And I'm taking facts seriously,
not some untested software.
Well, as head
programmer here, I...
As your boss here,
I'm telling you
that issuing a false warning
can be very dangerous.
TINA is way too cutting-edge
to be useful right now.
Once you work the kinks out...
That's what they said
about using microwaves
to beam solar energy from space,
and that...
Took years to be operational,
so be patient.
Hey, you guys see this?
- Drop in pressure.
- Something strange is going on.
Strong winds with moisture
buildup at latitude 39.050980.
Longitude minus 95.670433.
Topeka?
I need more data from you
before I can proceed.
We need to get this information
exactly right
before we can alert
the authorities.
TINA confirms the mesocyclone
is underway,
causing temperature differential
at the edge of the downdraft.
An F2 tornado will be
destructive and build very fast.
We have less than five minutes.
Have the Topeka office issue
an imminent tornado warning.
Hello. Rosemary speaking.
Alert the National Guard
to start evacuations.
Yes, ma'am.
Oh, my God.
Oh, no!
Oh! Ah!
The rapid gathering
of low-level air moisture,
creating the inflow bands
and spiraling formation
is astonishing.
The dew point usually says
it's around 3.2.
This is showing a dew point
of negative 8.3.
- It's happening too fast.
- Oh, we've got a tornado
that's about to happen
in Pleasant Hill.
- Well, we better tell it...
- Another in Warrensburg.
That can't be correct.
The rate of atmospheric
disruption can't be accurate.
According to TINA, dozens
of cyclone storm clusters
are forming across the entire
Midwest over the next 12 hours.
What in God's name is going on?
The damage to rural and city
areas has been catastrophic.
Rescue crews are hard at work,
but preliminary reports from
Topeka paint a grim picture.
What's the status?
I need info now.
The tornado caught
everyone off guard.
Over 60 dead and counting.
Property damage in the millions.
I'm sorry.
I just got off the phone
with the National Guard
who are already putting
shelter in place and EVACs.
Good.
I also double-checked
TINA's findings.
Because you're right.
The amount
of cyclonic regeneration
needed to cover the entire
Midwest is impossible.
But?
I had TINA run thousands
of mathematical models.
Arctic sea ice
is rapidly melting,
causing the jet stream
to be pulled further north.
That should reduce
the amount of tornadoes.
Correct, but the ENSO is also
an atmospheric variable
to consider.
Why?
The El Nio Southern Oscillation
is in the Pacific Ocean.
While it manifests
in the Pacific,
it's a chain-reaction process
that shuffles
global weather patterns,
pushing warm moist air north.
Colliding with the cold Arctic
air mass generating a low SIE.
Creating
a once-in-a-generation event
of massive instability
across the entire Midwest
for the next 12 hours.
We're talking massive tornadoes
lasting for hours
on one end of the scale
and smaller tornadoes
popping up without warning
at the other end.
What data set are you using?
I thought TINA only predicted
the appearance
and size of a tornado.
It did, but now TINA uses data
from another
sensor weather network
currently being rolled out.
Your sister's next-gen network.
Yes.
Her network has
sensors positioned
all throughout the Midwest,
and they're all bi-directional.
And TINA has access to
this full, complete network?
The network is incomplete.
There are still sensors
that need to be upgraded
to bi-directional variants.
Once that happens,
TINA will be able
to predict tornadoes
from the Gulf of Mexico
all the way to the Canadian
border with 100% accuracy.
Then that's the plan.
You need to get ahold of Erica
and get this system up
and running as soon as possible.
We use to work together.
Her hardware, my software.
Since the incident
we haven't spoken.
Then how are you using
her hardware?
She hasn't changed
her credentials.
So if she finds out,
she can kick you off,
and TINA will be useless.
Not useless, just not as useful.
Look, I understand
what you two went through
was very devastating,
but she has the hardware
and you have the software.
You need to call your sister
and work out
your dysfunctional relationship.
This is bigger
than the two of you.
There's millions
of lives at stake.
Understood.
Hey, you've reached Erica.
Just leave me a message
at the tone.
Erica, it's James again.
Call me. It's an emergency.
Text Erica.
Erica, call me ASAP.
It's an emergency.
James here.
I see your location on SR 350,
20.2 miles west of Lone Jack.
TINA shows an F1
has developed in your location.
I have the same reading.
Do you have a visual?
Negative.
Wait. I have a visual.
It just popped up out of nowhere
like the one in Topeka.
- What's that?
- Debris is falling from the sky.
Are you okay? James.
James, respond. Are you okay?
I'm fine.
The funnel's gone.
I have clear skies.
This climate instability
is stranger than predicted.
Can you continue?
Yeah.
After seeing the tornado
pop up out of nowhere,
we've got to get this network up
so we know exact locations.
What's your ETA to Lone Jack?
20 minutes.
Okay. Let me know
when you've reached Erica.
After the devastating news
coming out of Topeka today,
I'm here with
Dr. Erica Garland of NOAA
to tell us what is being
done to prevent
such a loss of life
and property in the future.
Doctor?
Excuse me. I'm sorry.
Just some odd readings.
But yes, what happened in
Topeka today is heartbreaking.
Any loss of life
is unacceptable.
The key is warning times
so people can get to shelter.
And that's why I have
been finishing up
the installation of a network
of next-generation sensors
to help predict severe weather
events much faster,
especially tornadoes.
And, Doctor, how exactly does
your network of sensors
help us to predict
such extreme weather events?
Well, this sensor network
is a bi-directional network,
far more accurate
than any current technology,
allowing for better prediction
and more relevant
real-time data collection
such as informing if you're
dealing with an F1 or an F5.
Of course, Midwesterners,
we know that F1 and F5
are at opposite ends
of the Fujita scale.
Yes, that's correct.
The Fujita scale assigns
the tornado strength
a number starting from F0,
meaning that your winds,
they can start
at 85 miles per hour,
causing light damage,
all the way to an F5
with winds starting
at 200 miles per hour,
destroying everything
in its path.
So, Doctor, what was
the rating of the tornado
that hit Topeka today?
That was an F2.
Unfortunately, that tornado
developed so fast
that people were unable
to get to safety.
My hope is that we can use this
network to alert authorities
and power an app
on people's phones,
giving them at least
a 40-minute head start
instead of the current
13 minutes.
That information,
it's life or death.
And if available,
an app like that,
it may have saved
countless lives in Topeka.
Thank you, Dr. Garland.
I'm Claudia Santiago
with TABN Kansas City News.
Back to you in the studio.
And we're out.
Thank you so much for your time.
Thank you.
- So?
- It was pretty good.
Erica.
I just feel
like we need to be doing more.
What do you want, James?
Your sensors and my AI
are predicting
an unprecedented set
of storm cells
developing in the next 12 hours.
I've tried to call you and text
you, but I've got no response.
Yeah, well that's because
I blocked you, James.
Why hasn't NOAA sent out
a shelter-in-place order?
We have. The amount of area
needed to prepare is vast.
It takes time to align the
agencies and get them active.
So why are you here?
What do you mean,
your AI and my sensors?
I used TINA with your sensors.
- You did what?
- I know. I'm sorry.
But it was the only way I could
get a full accurate prediction.
Plus we can determine
the length of the storm as well.
- James!
- Look, I know you're upset
with me and you're furious
and you can yell at me later.
But Dr. Evans sent me here
to help you finish
installing your sensors
as soon as possible
and get TINA's AI downloaded
to the network
so we can predict these
tornadoes with full accuracy
and help the emergency
services teams
and anyone else
who can't get out.
Look, I know that my sensors
are real and accurate,
but your artificial intelligence
and all those large
number sets, it's BS.
That's where science
turns to probability.
I fixed the error in the code.
TINA is an exponential leap
in the algorithm.
Your mistake cost us
the lives of six people
and you destroyed my life.
Erica.
I'm sorry.
And maybe someday you'll
realize that and believe me,
but today...
Today we have to work together,
otherwise millions of people
are going to die.
Excuse me. You're saying you
knew about today's tornado?
It's a little more complicated
than a sound bite.
How do you know this
isn't just a lucky guess?
Check the data.
It also predicted another
tornado before it happened,
before I could see it.
Is that right, Dr. Garland?
Can you please just give us
a little space?
What's happening?
The SIE is pulling the ENSO
warm air mass up north
from the Gulf of Mexico.
And it's causing massive
instability across the Midwest.
No, that's not correct.
The sensor IDs are referenced.
Check it against your own data.
Okay, yeah, no,
the data is lining up,
but this is predicting something
that has never happened before.
Because it's a combination of
two massive weather anomalies
creating a once-in-a-generation
occurrence.
Please, what exactly
are you saying?
Look, it's not conclusive, okay?
It's... It's...
There is preliminary evidence
that's showing
a massive series of storm cells
just all up and down
Tornado Alley.
Yes, but isn't that normal
for this time of year?
Yes. Tornadoes are normal.
But what's not normal
is the potential
of dozens of F5 tornadoes
with wind speeds
of over 400 miles per hour.
Look, if you are correct about
this, without this network,
we won't be able
to alert the military,
emergency services, or citizens.
I'm not wrong about this.
Fine.
But this is about
protecting lives,
not repairing our relationship.
Fair enough.
Okay.
All right.
So we have updated sensors
here and here.
We need to upgrade
here and here.
TINA is predicting
an F3 tornado in our location.
- When?
- Now.
Look, I know that
my sensors are accurate.
Are you sure that you actually
programmed it correctly?
Yes, Erica.
TINA is a predictive AI program
using your sensors.
But nothing is happening
here, James.
Barometric pressure is nominal.
No inflow bands are indicating
any air-moisture movement.
Check again.
What does your sensor say?
Air pressure is changing now.
Barometric pressure,
it's dropping like a stone.
I hate to say it, James,
but I think that your software,
it might be right.
It's happening again.
I know. I know. But we need
to get into that farmhouse.
- Let's go.
- But...
No, no, just go.
We are right behind you.
- No, I gotta film this.
- No, no. You don't. Okay?
We need to get everything secure
and we've got to get inside.
Come on.
Go. Get inside. Let's go.
Go! Go! Hurry! Come on! Move!
Come on.
Get in! Move! Go!
Get in there!
Everybody, grab on to something!
James, find something to hunker
everybody down with!
- James!
- He's still upstairs!
- No!
- Oh, my God.
Snap out of it, James!
Come on!
Go! Go! Run! Go!
Hold on!
This is just the beginning!
- What now?
- Relax, relax.
How am I supposed to relax?
He's just out here
from California.
Okay, okay, listen to me.
That is an F3 up there.
We need to hunker down
until it passes.
Stay in the middle of the room
and away from the walls.
This is just like
an earthquake, okay?
How is this like an earthquake?
Steve, Steve, relax! Hold on!
Earthquakes are over
in a matter of seconds.
We're all gonna die!
- Shut up!
- Listen to me!
We are going to make it if
we stay calm and don't panic.
Do you understand?
Listen to me, buddy.
You got this, buddy.
- Hang on. Hold on.
- Stop pacing! Sit down.
Hold on.
Hold on!
Everybody, hold tight!
- Steve!
- I can't hold on!
Help!
- I'm coming!
- Help!
- Steve!
- I can't hold on!
- Hold on! Stay calm!
- Steve! Steve!
I can't hold on!
Grab a rope! Get a rope!
Here! Grab this!
- Got it!
- Grab this!
I don't think I can do this!
Just stay calm, please!
I don't think I can do this!
You got this, man! Tie it!
- Strap in, Steve!
- I can't do it!
Steve, come on, man! Do it!
Steve!
Help me!
Steve! Hang on!
- Watch out!
- Steve!
Steve! Steve, watch out!
No!
I can't believe we're never
going to see Steve again.
He was a good kid.
The best.
I can't keep doing this,
Erica. We lost another one.
I know. I know,
but we have to keep going.
Otherwise, we're going to lose
a lot more if we don't.
Yeah.
Dr. Evans, are you seeing this?
Yes. TINA's predicting four
massive F5s that will converge
into the largest tornado event
ever recorded.
It looks like they're all
joining together near Wichita.
That's where the last sensor is.
Well, you need to get there
as fast as you can
and get your sensor
up and running.
We need a way to stop these
tornadoes from converging.
The sensors are meant
for detection, not prevention.
We need options.
These tornadoes
will be as destructive
as six Hiroshima
nuclear explosions,
sending over 100 terajoules
of energy across the Midwest.
Even with evacuations in place,
the loss of life
would be massive.
You need to get those
sensors up and running
and give me options,
and think outside of the box.
- Understand?
- Understood.
Well, give me updates.
I'm off to make sure
that the military
has evacuations
and its own game plan.
How are we supposed
to stop a tornado, James?
- She's asking the impossible.
- Nothing is impossible.
We just haven't
figured it out yet.
Let's get that sensor upgraded
and then we can worry
about the impossible.
We just need a ride.
You can, um...
You can use the news van.
It's built for severe weather,
and I don't want anybody
else getting hurt, so...
Thank you.
One condition.
We're going with you.
Deal.
Okay. Um, the bad news is,
Steve had the keys.
You don't have an extra set?
No. Have an extra set
back in KC,
but it does us
no good, so, um...
Do you think
that you could hotwire it?
No. This is
a digital ignition.
So I would need either a code
or a clone of the key, so no.
If it's digital,
I can hack it with my tablet
via the Bluetooth
and Wi-Fi system.
It's going to take some time.
What other choice do we have?
Let's do it.
Okay.
All right.
I'm going to run an algorithm.
- I'll check in a minute.
- All right.
While we have the time,
we may as well get back
to the impossible.
Okay.
Let's get back
to the basic principles.
What causes a tornado?
Temperature differences
around a mesocyclone.
So if we wanted
to stop a tornado,
we would need to normalize
the temperature differential.
Yeah.
Okay, but maybe by adding
additional amounts
of energy to change
the thermodynamic gradients
within the vortex.
Exactly. Blow up the
Clausius-Clapeyron equation,
like blowing up a burrito
in the microwave.
Anything?
No. Dead stick.
I'll try another algorithm.
We don't blow up tornadoes
because it's too destructive.
As destructive
as four F5 tornadoes?
Good point.
Okay, so assuming we
move forward with this,
how do we target the tornadoes?
We can use my sensors.
Okay, we can adjust
the telemetry data
and change it
from a sensor network
into a targeting network.
So now we would have
a targeting system
to another algorithm,
just like you're doing now.
Perfect.
Try it.
Still nothing.
Here comes another algorithm.
So we target the source
with your sensor network.
Now we just need an energy
source to target the cyclone.
Too bad we can't put it
into a giant microwave.
It's your example.
Wait, I was just talking to
Dr. Evans about solar satellites
that beam energy waves
down to Earth as microwaves.
So we use TINA
to identify the tornadoes.
And have your sensor network
target them.
Theoretically, we could use
those satellites
to blast those tornadoes
with microwave beams.
We would need military and
government approval, of course.
Science is solid,
if a little unorthodox.
Okay, so we've got a plan.
I'll let Dr. Evans know
and she can get military
approval for the satellite use.
Try it again.
- That's it.
- We got it.
All right, let's get in the van.
Let's get to Wichita
and upgrade that next sensor.
We've only got 10 hours
and 37 minutes
to calibrate all the sensors.
Wait, you're changing
the purpose of the sensors?
Yes, we'd be using the sensors
as a targeting system
to pinpoint
the tornado's location.
Then use the satellites
to overload the tornadoes
with microwaves,
thus ending the formations.
Well, I asked you for choices
and you gave me one.
That's definitely thinking
outside of the box.
I'm going to have
to contact the joint chiefs
and see what's possible.
Maybe get a military liaison
here to help coordinate.
I'll let you know
if we can do this.
- Encouraging?
- We'll find out.
Hey, James.
You're a veteran storm chaser.
So what happened
back at the farm?
You froze for a moment and then
seemed to get back into it.
You don't have
to answer that, James.
It's okay.
PTSD.
But then I knew I had to do
what I could to help.
Sorry I couldn't
help Steven in time.
It's not your fault.
It's not anybody's fault.
No, it was my fault this time.
Like it was last time.
We need to stay focused, James.
No need to explain.
Thanks.
But it helps me
to talk about it.
What if I don't want
to talk about it?
It was the worst day
of my life, James.
Mine, too.
We both lost a lot that day.
Okay, then tell her.
Erica and I were on a team
chasing storms
all over Tornado Alley.
Retrieving the most accurate
information we could gather.
My best friend, Dan,
was on that team.
On one particular chase...
we were tracking an F4.
All the data we were
getting was amazing.
But...
Erica felt it was too dangerous
and too unpredictable
to follow the tornado anymore.
Dan and I felt the information
we were gathering
was worth the risk.
I did everything I could
to talk Dan out of continuing.
He believed in the cause.
And he went.
Our team, minus Erica,
took off in two trucks
after the tornado.
Dan took one truck,
and I was in the other.
We were getting fantastic data.
Until out of nowhere the tornado
turned into an F5.
It was a monster.
Wait, you're talking about the
El Reno tornado, aren't you?
We were on
our planned escape route
when the tornado turned,
and Dan and I decided it was
statistically safer to split up.
Dan took the team in one truck.
I was by myself in the other.
That way the data would survive
if something happened
to one of the trucks.
That's when we were driving
our separate ways.
And I watched
the tornado turn...
and devour Dan's truck,
killing everybody inside.
Oh, my God.
And just when I thought
it couldn't get any worse...
the tornado changed course.
It blew my truck off the road
and flipped it into a ditch.
Jesus.
I broke 18 bones in my body.
But I was the lucky one.
I survived.
That's horrible.
I'm so, so sorry, Erica.
I told you.
You wouldn't listen.
We lost our team
and I lost everything.
I know.
But that is why I've
improved the algorithm.
Why your sensors
are so important.
I took the data from that
tornado and used it for good...
so that nobody ever has
to go through that again.
Just tell yourself
what you want, James.
But you buried yourself inside,
refusing to deal,
hoping to hide
from the pain of life
while I was outside,
facing my pain.
We're almost there.
Let's get ready.
Let's focus on balancing out
the gyros on the sensor,
and then you can download
your software, okay?
Once it's calibrated,
it should be able to communicate
with the network,
and then we can head to
the last sensor in Independence.
It should only take
about 30 minutes at most
to get the sensor upgraded.
We'll see. The internals
are the same,
but some of the enclosures
are different.
Either way, we're gonna
need to move quickly.
We've got a two-hour drive
to Independence.
Because we can't use air transpo
with these unpredictable storms.
I know.
Can you hand me the wrench?
Good news.
Dr. Evans says the joint chiefs
approved use
of the microwave satellites.
All set. Your turn.
This should take only
a couple of minutes to download.
Hey.
I get that you're upset.
I'm upset, too.
But we can't let that affect
how we're working together
right now.
I need all of you, Erica,
if we're going to fix this,
not just the part of you
that's upset with me.
I'll pack up and we can get
to the next sensor.
You know,
this might actually work.
About earlier...
Hey, no.
Let's just move forward.
James, we have to hurry.
That wall cloud
is building quickly.
Look, I don't know how long
this van is gonna hold up.
We need to move. Let's go.
- James!
- I know!
- I'm going as fast as I can.
- Well, go faster!
The whole state is on the line,
the whole Midwest!
I'm aware!
Done.
It's upgraded, calibrated,
and live on the network.
All right, let's get in the van!
Erica!
- Erica, are you okay?
- No! No!
Without this dish,
we won't be able to upload the
local data to the satellites.
We won't have
a complete network.
You said there
was redundancy on the network.
There is, but this sensor
station is a nexus node,
and it is primary
for the network to work.
If that sensor fails,
there is no network.
You two okay?
Look, we need to leave.
No! We can't
until we fix this dish.
- No, no, you said that...
- I know what I said.
But if we don't fix this,
then everything we've done
won't matter.
Take my tablet.
Help me get this in the van,
see if we can get it fixed.
- Come on!
- It's on. Let's go!
Damn it.
It's worse than I thought.
The transducer's been shattered.
How badly does that affect us?
A lot. Transducers
change one form of energy
into another form of energy.
It's the way we send information
from the sensors back to NOAA.
And without it,
the sensors, they won't
be able to communicate
with the satellite
and the network.
Well, here.
I got some backup transducers
for our satellite dish.
- Will that work?
- No.
No, unfortunately,
your hardware,
it's not compatible with ours.
The dynamic range is different.
Can I help with software?
No. It's a hardware issue.
All the way
down the signal path.
Nothing is compatible.
I mean,
the only way that it would work
is if we used
the news van's satellite relay
and all of their electronics.
We would have to cannibalize
their entire satellite rig
down to the interface.
Do it.
We are stopping
those tornadoes from converging.
Do whatever you need to do
to get the sensor to work.
Really?
Yeah. Claudia's right.
Anything we can do to help,
just let us know.
We would have to use
your satellite dish
and most of your electronics.
Yeah. That's fine.
- Just... Yeah. Let's go.
- Okay, then.
- Mm-hmm.
- Okay. Let's do it.
I'm gonna download the software,
and then you can finish.
Okay.
We need to get it up on the pole
so we can get a better signal.
I got some ratchet straps
in there.
You think that'll work?
Yeah, that's great.
Here you go.
- I'm done. You're up.
- Okay.
Put it up on the pole.
- Take it up.
- Lift it up.
TINA's predicting
a flash tornado
at our location
in the next 45 seconds!
How is this
an early warning system?
These aren't regular storms
or circumstances!
We gotta focus!
Almost there.
Tornado!
Go! I've got this!
Get to the van!
No! No, I am not leaving you!
- It came loose.
- Come on! We gotta hurry!
That's as tight
as it's gonna get!
- We gotta go! Let's go!
- Come on!
The sensor held!
It's getting closer!
Go. Go. Go!
The tornado's gaining!
Move it or we're dead!
Hang on!
We need to find shelter ASAP!
Can't we just go
in a different direction
away from the tornado?
We have to keep
the same heading!
Otherwise, every turn
that we take
is another mile away
from the next sensor.
Look! Look!
There's a parking garage
up ahead.
- No! Not a parking garage!
- Why not?
Because we could get stuck
if the entrance gets blocked.
Maybe, but we are absolutely
going to be wiped off
the face of this earth
if we don't find cover now!
- It's a bad idea.
- Make a decision.
Just look around. We don't have
any other options, James.
- Fine.
- Go!
Everyone okay?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
Does anyone else have signal
to call for help
or Dr. Evans,
let her know we won't be able
to reach the signal now?
No.
Then we're on our own.
We'll have to wait
until the tornado subsides
before we look for a way out.
Dr. Evans.
Thank you very much.
General Murphy,
thank you for coming to NOAA,
and thank you for the approval
to use
the satellite constellation
to try to stop these tornados.
More importantly,
my presence here
is to liaise directly
with the military,
streamline
your command structure.
What are your thoughts
on the plan?
I think
it's an unorthodox solution,
but the science is strong.
Well, I'm all behind
solutions, Doctor.
And if I get to shoot
at a problem and solve it,
all the better.
I got your status report
about losing contact
with your scientists
on the ground.
Any updates?
No, sir. Nothing.
No responses.
If they're dead and we can't get
these sensors up and running
to target this tornado,
what's our backup?
I've reviewed
all of our options.
Our best plan B is to seed
the storm with silver iodide.
I've already been on the phone
with the proper authorities
to put that in place.
Silver iodide. Isn't that
what they use to make it rain?
Why would we want that?
It impregnates the storm clouds
with ice nuclei,
cooling the warm moisture,
stopping the formation
of mesocyclones
and, thus, tornado funnels.
Seems pretty straightforward.
Why hasn't it been done yet?
Logistics. Due to the size
of the storm fronts,
we've had to locate
all the silver iodide
from across the country,
have it delivered
to the closest Air Force Base
to be loaded onto aircraft
to disperse it.
How many planes do you need?
It should take 30 aircraft
to seed the 500 square miles
of storms
with the amount of silver iodide
we've delivered
to the Air Force.
Why wasn't this done
in the first place?
This amount of silver iodide
has never been seeded before.
It could cause
an ecological disaster
if these storms change direction
and the silver iodide
misses the storms.
If this lands
on the ground, sir...
Well, I'll call the Air Force
and make sure those planes
are loaded and in the air ASAP.
I think anything we can do
to weaken the storm
is only gonna help us.
Agreed.
If we don't hear
from the scientists
by the T minus 2-hour mark,
we're gonna have to go ahead
and seed the storms.
We're just gonna have
to take the risk.
We're stuck down here like rats.
I told you
not to go underground.
Let's just focus
on how we're going to get out.
Exactly how are we
gonna get out?
The tornado has parked itself
directly above us, James.
We haven't had a chance
to check out the blockage yet.
Exactly. That tornado
is sitting right on top of us.
We could have easily outrun it
if Doug had just driven faster.
Excuse me?
Don't blame Doug.
We wouldn't be in this mess
if you'd just listened to me
in the first place.
The last time I listened to you,
my fianc died.
Got it. Thank you.
The planes are approved.
Where are we
on the silver iodide?
We've got eight hours
before the tornados converge
and another 30 minutes
before the last
of the silver iodide arrives.
Cutting it close.
They still have
to load the planes.
- What it is?
- According to TINA,
the four tornados
that are headed for convergence
are moving faster than before.
They will combine
in less than five hours.
Damn it.
That cuts our time by a third.
We can't wait for the last
of the silver iodide.
We have to launch
that seeding squadron now.
I'll inform the airfields.
This is General Murphy.
Launch 'em now.
- What's this?
- I scouted for supplies,
but only came across
these bags of fertilizer.
James, you're right.
We have to go.
We have to get out of here.
This place is settling.
I don't know how long we have
until it collapses.
We have no communication
with Dr. Evans either.
Those F5 tornadoes are coming
in the next few hours,
and we have to stop them.
I know, but we can't rely
on our tech.
But we have no other option.
Back to the basics.
What would Professor Bennett do?
He always used to say KISS:
Keep It Simple, Stupid.
I know. It's funny, right?
We had these farmer boys
that were also coders
in the class,
and they always laughed
and replied,
"Or you could just blow it up."
What does that coding term mean?
It's not a coding term.
They literally meant blow it up.
They would get fertilizer
from the AG school
and they would grab something
from the junkyard,
take it into an empty field
and...
Every time they were upset.
I forgot
that you went to a school
in the middle of nowhere.
Well, you were lucky.
You went to the big fancy school
to study the latest scientific
stuff like the Tesla coil.
Oh, hey, hey.
That's the largest Tesla coil
in America.
It's still standing.
While you were over there
just playing with cow poop.
It was fertilizer, not manure.
You'd be surprised
the amount of explosive
you can make with that stuff.
Oh.
That's it.
What?
We'll blow our way out of here.
With what?
Fertilizer.
Okay, but won't that just make
the debris move even more?
Not if we place it
strategically.
Okay.
We don't have time to waste.
We're gonna need Doug.
Let's get him.
Thanks for sticking up
for me back there,
but you know I can take care
of myself, right?
Of course. You stuck by me
for all of this.
It's the least I can do.
You kidding me?
Wouldn't miss this for anything.
There's more? We're never
gonna get out of here!
Claudia?
No!
Claudia!
- Doug! No!
- Oh, my God.
I gotta...
- No, no, no, no. Hey, hey.
- I gotta help her.
No. She's gone.
There's nothing you can do.
Get him back to the van.
Doug, I've figured
a way out of here,
but I'm gonna need your help.
- How many more we need?
- All of 'em.
You sure this is gonna work?
It's the only option we've got.
That's the last of 'em.
Doug, I'm sorry about Claudia.
You don't know
how to siphon gas, do you?
Of course I do.
I need a fuel source
to ignite this.
No need.
I got a gas can in the truck.
Never know when
you'll need extra fuel.
- Go grab it.
- Got it.
Hey.
Can I help with anything?
Can you find me a lighter?
Okay.
Here you go.
It's about three quarters full.
Perfect.
All right, I got the lighter.
Here you go.
Perfect.
All right.
You guys should get
behind the van.
Cover your ears tight.
There's gonna be a lot
of air compression and heat.
Is the van gonna be okay?
Should be.
Wait a minute. Should be?
Well, I've strategically placed
the fertilizer on this side
so the explosion
goes away from the van.
So in theory, it should be.
Like a Claymore?
Yes.
- Let's go.
- All right.
All right.
Come on.
- You good?
- Yeah.
James, come on!
Come on.
Everyone okay?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
Let's get to that last sensor.
Be careful
driving through that rubble.
Copy that.
Where is everyone?
Looks like
the evacuations worked.
You checked to see
if we have any signal?
I am reconfirming
the exact GPS coordinates
for the next sensor, but...
Head for Independence, Doug.
Dr. Evans?
Dr. Garland.
We thought we lost you.
I've been trying to contact you
for over an hour.
We had to find shelter
and got trapped,
but we're back on the road.
TINA's confirmed
the tornados have sped up.
You only have four hours
to get to that last sensor.
What?
I've sent a squadron of aircraft
to stop them before they combine
or at least slow them down.
The aircraft have been rigged
to seed the tornados
with silver iodide.
That's great.
How far away are you
from the next sensor?
200 miles.
James, that doesn't give you
much time
to get to that last sensor.
You have to hurry.
Go as fast as possible.
Copy that.
- You heard her. Let's move.
- I'm on it.
Copy that.
Our seeding squadron
has arrived.
Now we can act.
They're headed
for the first tornado right now.
Captain Morales,
give me a sit rep?
13 klicks
from the drop zone, General.
Extreme winds are creating
non-optimal flying conditions.
Pinpoint accuracy may suffer.
General Murphy, I'm not sure
we're fully prepared for this.
Captain Morales,
your target zone is flexible
within two to five klicks
for payload dispersal.
We have to get rid
of these tornadoes
before they emerge into an F6.
Copy that, sir.
We'll get to the target.
Copy that, Captain.
Proceed with caution.
Will do.
Bravo, Charlie,
tighten formation
on approach of drop zone.
Copy that, Captain. Roger.
We've arrived
at the drop zone, General.
Execute.
Copy that.
Bravo, Charlie,
drop payload on my mark
in three,
two,
one, mark.
Payload successfully launched.
I repeat, payload...
I'm hit!
Aah! I've lost control
of the plane!
I'm going down!
What's happened?
We've lost them.
All of them.
Then our only hope
to stop these tornados
is with the targeting sensors
and microwave bombardment.
We have 33 minutes
before these four tornados
converge into a super tornado.
- Be ready to get moving.
- Copy that.
It looks like
they just left everything as is
as soon as the evacuations
and shelter-in-place order
went out.
Let's get this sensor
up and running.
- Where is it?
- It should over be here.
No! No, no, no!
God, no! The sensor station,
it's destroyed.
No, we should be good.
We can just swap out
the sensor core with a new one.
No, just look at it.
It was struck by lightning,
so all the electronics
that were supporting
the sensor core, they're fried.
We're not gonna be able
to stop the tornadoes now!
Hey, hey, hey, listen to me!
We're gonna be fine. We just
need to get out of the rain,
get the circuit board
back to the van,
and see what we can do.
Go!
Come on.
You guys okay?
What do we have available to us?
We have your computer
and we have my last sensor,
but we need a power supply,
logic board,
a hard drive, receivers,
transmitters,
and on top of all that, a dish.
We're screwed.
No, no, no. We've got all
that right here in the van.
Are you suggesting that we build
a whole new sensor station?
Yes.
Okay, so we can use
your computer
with TINA already installed
as the brain,
and we use the truck as is
for all the electronics.
I mean, it's already designed
to send and receive signals.
But we still need a dish,
a parabolic-shaped dish
to gather and send signals
to and from the receiver.
Those discs on the Ferris wheel
passenger pods
are the same shape as a dish.
You're a genius.
They must have left here
in a hurry. They left this.
Still has a round
in the chamber.
Ruger American Black Bolt.
It's a nice weapon.
Good balance.
Long-range capability.
What about the keys?
Left those, too.
Flip all the signal switches
to the null setting.
- All of them?
- Yes.
It'll help clear the pathway
to the processor.
Done.
We're in.
Make sure the circuits are dead
as we're patching.
We can't afford to lose
any of these logic boards.
- Understood, Doc.
- Okay.
It's a little too easy.
Never going
on a Ferris wheel again.
Well, welcome to the club.
Hold this.
Let's get this.
- Go.
- Get it into place.
We only have 18 minutes
until the tornadoes converge.
We have to activate that sensor
so we can get
the satellites in place.
And if this doesn't work...
You need to leave now.
Wait, what?
No. I'm not leaving.
Let me help you guys, please.
James is right.
You parked the van
in a protected spot.
We'll be safe in it long enough
to get the sensor up.
Yeah? And then what, hmm?
Look, I can't lose anyone else.
Please, just take
the tanker truck
and head west
as fast as you can.
You'll be safer that way.
Fine. Fine.
Since you're
so stubborn about it.
Glad Pop taught me
how to drive big rigs.
You guys be safe, all right?
See you on the other side...
hopefully.
Let's get
these final connections made!
Let me see.
This one goes to...
Okay! We're ready for power!
Here we go.
- Moment of truth!
- Do it.
Yes!
Check the readings!
We're up and running!
Let's move!
No!
We don't have time!
No, we have to fix it!
Otherwise,
the satellites won't work,
the tornadoes will converge,
and we won't be able
to stop them!
- All right.
- Get this.
Okay.
We gotta make sure it stands up.
- Sensor.
- Sensor.
Let's get this in there.
Plug it in.
- Get the wires reattached.
- I got it. I got it.
That's good. Hook it here.
Okay. All right, we got it.
- Let's go.
- Go! Go!
Look for cover.
There!
That?
What other options
do we have, James?
There's nothing!
- Watch your head!
- Watch your head!
Get in! Get in! Get in!
Hold on!
Hold on!
Hang on, you guys. I'm coming.
Erica, you okay?
Erica.
Oh, God.
Erica. Hey!
Oh, God.
Erica, come on. Come on.
I can't lose you, too. Come on.
Come on.
I got you.
Come on.
Come on. Stay with me.
Stay with me.
Hey. Hey, hey.
Hey, Erica. Hey.
Oh... Oh, my God.
Oh, God.
Are you okay?
- I don't know.
- Easy, easy.
I think I hurt my wrist.
Can you stand?
I think so. I think so.
Come on. Come on.
Come on. Come on.
Come on. I got you.
Come on.
We gotta get to shelter.
Those tornadoes
are gonna converge any minute.
Hey. You guys okay?
You're not supposed to be here.
I think I am.
That's fair enough.
Look, um, I think that I may
have sprained my wrist,
but otherwise,
I think we're okay.
All right, let's go that way.
I'll wrap it up.
Okay.
I'm okay.
- Grab a seat over here.
- Okay.
Let's see.
You guys took
a hell of a ride, huh?
All right.
I can't get through
to Dr. Evans.
We need to fire
those satellites now!
No, J-James, I don't think
any of us have signal.
It is no use.
We're out of time.
The tornadoes are converging
into one super tornado.
I've got a signal.
Dr. Evans,
the sensor network is online.
Understood.
Dr. Evans, listen to me.
We lost our local control.
We need you
to initiate the targeting
- and satellites right now.
- Roger that.
Initiate microwave
satellite bombardment.
Target signal has been acquired
by the full network.
The microwave constellation
is locked and loaded.
Fire.
Is it working?
It's hard to tell.
It'll take some time
for the microwaves
to heat up the air sufficiently.
Come on.
I see some movement.
- Where?
- Three o'clock.
Some degradation is happening.
It's working!
The tornadoes are dissipating!
It worked!
We did it.
Good job, guys.
Well done, you two.
Thank you, Doctor.
We'll be sending out an EMS team
to your location ASAP.
We'll get inside
and send our GPS coordinates.
Make sure to preserve
all local data
so we can codify
and expand this network
when you guys get back.
Understood.
I'm classifying this
"process in action of fact."
Until we have thoroughly
examined this new system,
no one is to speak about
or report about it.
You got that, Doug Cameron?
Um, yes, sir.
I'm currently a cameraman
without a camera,
so no problem.
Good. Although
I have to tell you,
it's a hell of a system.
- Thank you, sir.
- Thank you, sir.
Uh...
maybe I was too fast
to misjudge your AI.
I'll forgive you this time.
It's always a learning curve
with new... new AI.
I just... I want to say that...
James.
Look.
James, TINA's readings show
that while the microwave
bombardment worked,
the additional heat
created a vacuum,
sucking in massive amounts
of warm air,
creating more tornadoes. Over.
How many more storms
is TINA predicting?
Forty.
Wait, did I hear that correctly?
Yes, 40 F5 tornadoes,
30 miles wide.
A 1,200-mile-long
wall of destruction.
300-400 mile-an-hour winds.
The eastern half of the country
will be destroyed.
That's not a wall.
That's
a 1,600-mile-long tombstone.
Dr. Evans,
we have to get to safety.
We're back in the truck.
I've patched my phone
through the CB radio.
Can you hear us? Over.
Yes, we can hear you.
EVAC warnings have been given
for the East Coast
and shelter-in-place warnings
for the rest of the Midwest.
Over.
The microwave
satellite constellation
is charging
for another attempt. Over.
No, we just did that.
It only made things worse.
We have to make a change
in the variable
or the microwave bombardment
will just continue
to make more tornadoes.
How long 'til you
can hit the tornadoes
with more microwaves?
Thirty seconds. Over.
Spread the field
of microwave saturation by 20%.
Set vectors
at plus-2.0 off center.
Full power with max diffusion.
Over.
Roger that. New vectors
are set and calculated.
Satellites are primed,
locked, loaded,
and ready to fire.
Fire!
The ionic bonds are too strong.
Dr. Evans,
the tornadoes are too large.
The ionic bonds are too strong
to dissipate them.
We... We need to disrupt
the energy cycle.
What does that mean, exactly?
I need to know
how we're gonna fix this.
The electrochemical bonds
that are holding
the tornadoes together
need to be broken apart.
Dr. Garland,
what's your suggestion? Over.
Come on, James. Think.
Keep it simple.
Or you could just blow it up.
That's it.
We need to blow them up.
Drop a large conventional bomb
in the middle
of all these tornadoes.
A MOAB, several of them.
It's the only thing that will
have enough energy to do that.
Wait, wait. You want to drop
the Mother of All Bombs
into that thing, hmm?
The largest non-nuclear ordnance
the U.S. military has.
Really?
Yes.
No, a MOAB's too strong,
let alone multiples of them.
We can't do that. It's too many
civilian casualties.
All the areas
are under evacuation
or "shelter in place"
underground.
These are non-nuclear weapons,
and they're being fired
from several thousand feet
in the air.
Everyone on the ground
will be safe.
Still, I don't know
if I can make that call. Over.
The massive tornado is causing
enough destruction on its own.
Any damage done by the bombs
would be insignificant
by comparison.
I'll get the go-ahead from above
and scramble the bombers
to be ready.
I'll make sure the bombers
fly high above the storm
this time.
Over and out.
Ah.
What else can we do
to weaken these ionic bonds
for these tornadoes,
help the MOAB
as much as possible?
The idea you had
of blowing the tornado up
reminds me
of a quick and dirty way
we used to put out
oil well fires.
My pop used to talk about that
all the time.
You mean blow them up using TNT?
Yeah.
It would extinguish
the combustion.
What if we reversed that?
Are there any gas lines
in the path of the tornado
that we could ignite?
The science is there,
but... it's not practical.
I'm not sure if a gas line
would hold up
against the tornadoes' front.
Besides, it's like
summoning lightning
to do the work for us.
- That's it.
- What?
Lightning.
Where are we?
We're about there.
Go here.
We don't have time for a detour.
No, we are just a few miles
away from my old college,
where they have
exactly what we need
to weaken the ionic bonds
of those tornadoes.
The Midwest's largest...
Largest Tesla coil.
Yes.
Dr. Evans, we've just arrived
at the University of Kansas'
Tesla coil.
Erica thinks
that augmenting the energy
with the tornadoes
while we drop the bombs
will break up the ionic bonds,
but the timing
has to be precise.
General Murphy has scrambled
the bombers, and they're close.
Call me when you're
set and ready. Over and out.
Let's go.
I'll get the power
up and running
while you guys prep the coil.
I'll tell you what to do.
All right.
All right, come here, Doug.
All right,
you're gonna make sure
that all of the switches
in each bank are active.
You're gonna flip up
each switch to turn it on.
- Okay?
- All right.
All right. All banks are active.
Waiting to turn on
the Tesla coil
at Dr. Evans' command.
James, are you ready?
The tornado wall
is closing fast.
You've got 15 minutes
before it gets closer.
We're ready.
Activate the Tesla coil.
Light it up.
Tesla coil is fully active
at two gigajoules.
Tesla coil activated.
On my mark.
Three, two,
one,
mark.
Execute bombing.
Ascending now
to deliver the payload.
It's working.
Almost there.
Come on!
The front changed course.
The Tesla coil,
it's drawing it towards us.
I'm shutting it down!
I don't understand.
This should have worked.
They shut down the Tesla coil!
What do they think
they're doing?
Get them back on the phone.
What are we missing?
We don't have enough explosives.
What if it's
not about how many...
but the placement?
Maybe the bombs were too high
in the funnel's structure.
And, like Doug said
with the oil wells,
- we need a ground explosive.
- Yeah.
But, James, there are
way too many tornadoes.
We can't hit them all.
What if we don't have
to hit them all?
What are you talking about?
What if there's
an internal structure
that is holding
all of the tornadoes together
and feeding them
and it's just one tornado
that's leading them all?
So, we find the prime tornado
that's holding
all of these storms together...
We can stop them all.
Okay, but...
No, how do we know
which tornado is
the prime tornado?
The Tesla coil is
pulling the storm cell
closer to us.
The tornado in the front
has to be the prime tornado.
We separate that
from the rest of the tornadoes,
they'll all follow, and we can
attack them separately.
That sounds great, but what are
we gonna use for explosives?
We don't have time to make
another fertilizer bomb.
The tanker truck.
I can rig it to explode
at the base of the tornado.
Okay, how exactly
is blowing up that tanker
gonna stop that giant wall
of tornadoes, huh?
All those bombs we threw at it
didn't do squat.
First of all, we're attacking
the prime tornado
holding all
of the other tornadoes together.
Second, it's the placement.
The tanker truck
is lower to the ground,
where the tornado
is most vulnerable,
and third, the tanker truck
is just one part
of a three-pronged attack.
It's just, we have
to time it precisely
for everything to work.
All right.
So, how are we gonna
blow up the tanker?
I'm sure I can find something
in here to make a small IED.
We just need a way
to remote-detonate it.
The rifle I found.
I can set off the IED,
but that just leaves,
how are we gonna get
the tanker to the tornado?
- I'll drive it.
- What?
No-no-no-no, look,
I'm the only one that knows
how to drive that truck.
Let me do it.
No, I am not risking
anybody else's life.
Besides, you're the only person
that can take that shot.
And you have to stay here
and run the Tesla coil.
It makes sense. It's logical.
I have to do this.
I can't lose you, James.
You won't.
Okay.
Let's rock.
All he's gotta do is
just point this at the tornado.
We got one round left.
- Then we'd better make it count.
- I will.
You're gonna have
to hit it here.
It'll cause a chain reaction,
blowing up
the compressed gas in the tanks.
- I got this.
- Ready?
Tornadoes are
just four miles away.
We got less than three minutes
to pull this off.
Dr. Evans, General,
be ready to fire on my mark.
Understood.
Two gigajoules.
Three gigajoules, almost there.
Ten gigajoules,
power's maxed, hit it!
Where's James?
Still driving.
He's getting closer.
Just a little closer.
Come on. Come on. Come on.
Almost there.
The power's about
to fry the circuits!
We have to discharge
the coil now!
- Doug!
- He's still driving!
Come on.
I can't lose you, James.
I trust you.
This is for Professor Bennett.
And Claudia.
And Steve.
And Dan.
All right, I saw
the driver's door open!
It's hard to tell
if he made it out though.
Shoot!
Prime tornado's down!
Fire now!
Fire!
We did it!
James.
Congratulations, Doctor.
Congratulations, General.
James!
James! James, wake up!
You gotta wake up!
James, wake up! Wake up!
Please.
Wake up, oh... Oh, my God.
Are you okay?
- Did it work?
- Oh, God.
Yeah. Yeah.
All 40 of the tornadoes
are completely destroyed.
- Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa.
- Whoa.
- Let me give you a hand.
- I got it.
No, you don't.
You don't always have to do
everything yourself, you know?
Thank you.
I thought we lost you.
I'm not that easy to get rid of.
TINA was a huge success.
Thanks to your sensors
and his marksmanship.
Thank you.
Claudia would've been proud.
All she ever wanted to do
was help people.
We've all just lost so much.
I'm glad we can be a part of
something that help save lives.
And now we have a tool
to help predict tornadoes.
Thanks to my sister.
Couldn't've said it better
myself, bro.
Get in here.
Oh!