The Days (2023) s01e03 Episode Script

BASED ON TRUE EVENTS
- I'll help!
- Thanks!
- Ready?
- Okay. Here we go.
One, two
- Just a little more.
- Again!
One, two
FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI
NEAR UNIT 2
Let's try again.
- One, two
- Okay.
- Okay. Coming through.
- Okay.
We'll put the cables down here.
Hurry up!
- Let's turn it.
- Move slower.
- Slowly. Don't rush it.
- Okay.
Put it down there. That's it.
Hey! Hurry up
and give me the cables!
Yes, sir!
Put 'em down. Okay! One, two
Bring it out. Find the end.
But slow. Take your time.
Don't get the ends wet!
Copy that, sir.
We located a switchboard.
The one for the turbine building
in Unit 2 is working.
We're laying cables now.
What do you mean?
SEISMIC ISOLATED BUILDING
Unit 2 was unreachable
by the power supply car.
Because the roads are blocked?
TOEPCO HEAD OFFICE
Yes.
There's just too much rubble.
FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NUCLEAR POWER STATION
ROAD NEAR REACTOR BUILDING
HIGH PRESSURE MOBILE GENERATOR
ONE HOUR AND 40 MINUTES AGO
Turn the high beams on!
Back up the truck. Take another route.
We can reach the south side
of the building if we take the coast.
What's going on?
Was there a building here before?
NO. 1 CRUDE OIL TANK
The seaside oil tank?
So far, we've been able to get to the
south of the turbine for the second unit,
so we're running cables
to connect it from there.
Cables? But it's over 200 meters.
- That'll weigh a ton.
- Yes.
How will you do it?
We'll do it by hand.
It usually takes days,
and that's if they're using a crane.
Will they really be able to do it
in total darkness?
We have no other choice.
- Careful.
- Okay.
Hey! Be careful!
Whoa!
We won't see a tsunami
from that small aftershock.
- Let's go!
- Yes, sir!
Yes, sir.
Ide.
Can we get the cable through here?
It's crazy.
- Yes.
- Yamada, you good?
- Yeah.
- Still a long way to go.
We've got this, guys!
Yes, sir.
- Katayama!
- What happened?
Katayama disappeared!
- Find him!
- Yes, sir!
- Katayama! Where are you?
- Katayama!
- Katayama!
- Katayama, where'd you go?
- Katayama!
- Katayama!
Where are you? Katayama!
- Katayama! Katayama!
- Come on, man.
Hey, light up the heavy equipment!
Okay!
Manhole!
The manhole covers got carried away
by the tsunami. They're wide open!
Go find Katayama! Now!
Yes, sir!
- Katayama!
- Katayama!
- Katayama!
- Katayama!
- Can you hear us?
- Katayama!
- Hurry up and find him!
- Keep looking.
- Katayama!
- Katayama!
- Yes, sir!
- Katayama!
Katayama!
We found him!
Katayama!
Are you all right? Over here!
- Are you all right?
- Are you okay?
Look out! Careful!
It's a big one!
There's no choice.
Stop laying the cables for now.
- I'll make sure they're aware.
- Really?
Hold on, I'll put him on now.
It's Mr. Maejima, sir.
Unit 1's primary containment vessel
pressure's going up.
Unit 1 also?
What do you mean?
FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI
CONTROL ROOM FOR UNITS 1 AND 2
UNIT 1
11:50 P.M.: ELEVATION IN PRIMARY
CONTAINMENT VESSEL PRESSURE, 600 KPA
- Excuse me.
- Hey, is this for real?
Notification to staff.
As of 11:50 p.m., Unit 1's primary
Here, sir!
- Let them know right away.
- On it.
I'm sorry. It's likely
the IC currently isn't working.
That means
the cooling system's not on.
How long has the IC been stopped?
Pressure decreasing
in Unit 1.4.5 megapascals.
Hold on. The pressure's
decreasing too quickly.
EIGHT HOURS EARLIER
The temperature's declining
at over 55 degrees an hour.
It's cooling too quick.
- Cut the IC?
- Yeah.
Cut the valve according to protocol.
We'll see how the cooling's affected.
- Copy.
- Get a read on the generators.
We'll go.
Be careful.
There could be more aftershocks.
- Yes, sir.
- Copy.
Unit 1 IC deactivated.
Right after the quake
we opened and closed the valve a few times
to keep the temperature drop
under control.
- IC activated.
- Copy.
And then,
the tsunami caused us to lose power.
Bring the light here.
And if the valve was open
or closed after that
we couldn't determine it.
What? You couldn't determine?
Oh, that's right.
The parameters couldn't be read.
Your hands were tied.
Not exactly.
The water levels were above TAF,
and I let down my guard.
No, I'm sorry.
Uh
Well, then
Listen, uh
we're in trouble now.
Uh, as of 11 p.m.,
the car with the power supply
still has not been connected.
Uh, with visibility lacking at night
and the road situation due to the tsunami,
well, they're struggling to get it done,
and at this point, we still have no power.
You say they're struggling,
but do you have a plan?
Yes, approximately
when will the power return?
Yes. We want to know.
Unit 1 is also rising in air pressure.
You said Unit 1's cooling systems
were functional!
What's going on?
Worst-case scenario here, what'll happen?
If the pressure keeps rising in Unit 1,
the containment vessel
will be damaged in a few hours.
How will it be damaged?
Like a hole in it?
Radiation will be leaked into the air?
It's Chernobyl all over.
MUTSU CITY, AOMORI PREFECTURE
FAMILY HOME OF UNIT 4 OPERATOR KIRIHARA
Whoa.
Why isn't this cold?
Jeez, what's going on?
It's freezing in here.
What's up? Who called?
- Your granny.
- Grandma?
They were showing the names
of the missing people on the news
and Koki was one of them.
What?
Still won't turn on.
I wonder what she's talking about.
Koki and I talked
right after the earthquake.
Hmm. Oh, she probably just read it wrong.
You're right.
- Excuse me. Hello?
- Coming.
- Is anyone home?
- Yes!
- Oh, Miss Sekine.
- Atsuko.
- Yes?
- Have you heard the radio?
- Not yet.
- It's Koki.
On the radio they said,
"TOEPCO'S Koki Kirihara,
age 21, is missing."
What?
That was the central Control Room calling.
Unit 1's primary containment vessel
is at over 620 kilopascals in pressure.
DESIGN PRESSURE: 427 KPA
- It could explode any second.
- Uh-huh.
- It's only designed to withstand
- It might be out of water.
Are the radiation level's rising?
It can't last much longer.
Can I have your attention?
Can the MO valve still be moved?
To vent the reactor?
Yeah.
That's our only shot.
Vent it! We'll vent it!
Check if we can access
those valves remotely!
Hurry! Get it done!
EPISODE 3
Venting? What is that?
It means opening up a valve
to let some of the gas out
into the atmosphere
to decrease
the primary containment vessel's pressure.
Gas? What kind of gas?
Is it safe to let that stuff out?
Wetwell venting, it's called.
The gas will get filtered through water
before letting it out.
What does that mean then?
The amount of radioactive substance
in the gas should be minimal.
Mr. Ishizuka,
a minimal amount,
that suggests that it's safe, right?
No. Uh, well, it depends
on what you consider as safe.
Don't jerk us around here now!
How am I supposed to explain that?
Yes. As I thought,
they are quite resistant.
Yes.
Well, if radioactive substance
is in fact leaked out into the air,
our neighboring countries
will surely have a fit.
TO-OH ELECTRICITY POWER COMPANY
Yes, obviously.
We'll be the first country to do it
if we go through with it.
For now,
stay at the office of the prime minister.
And then contact me if anything changes.
Got it.
However, Vice President Murakami,
something else concerns me.
What?
Can they even manage to open up the valve
without any electricity?
The Control Room
can't just flip a switch to open it.
Even if it's approved
by the Prime Minister's Office,
how will they even do it?
FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI
MAIN ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING CORRIDOR
The main administrative
building's in worse shape than I thought.
Yeah.
Do you think we'll find a solution here?
We're going to find out.
In order to vent, we need information
about the valve's structure and wiring,
and the emergency operation room
hasn't got it.
Whoa.
Aftershock. Are you okay?
- Uh-huh. Everyone okay?
- Yes.
- Great.
- I'm good.
- Okay, move on carefully.
- Let's go.
I understand it roughly.
But how much radioactive substance
should they release?
How much will it be?
Yes, uh,
just a sec.
How wide should the evacuation area be?
Uh, so Well, it's, uh
- Mr. Minegishi, your thoughts?
- Well, uh, yes.
So in in the event of a disaster,
evacuation procedures
are in NISA's jurisdiction.
Can we keep the radius at 3 km.
or do we need to extend it?
Well, the thing is,
there are many other factors to consider,
including the wind direction
and the weather conditions.
- An exact number isn't easy.
- What are TOEPCO's guys saying?
Well, sir,
the primary containment vessel
could be destroyed if we do not act.
In order to stop that, venting's required.
Yes, I already understand
why you're doing it!
Now I'm asking you
what the consequences are.
You can't do it
and then say it was a risk.
Who do you imagine
will be held responsible?
And you're supposed to be experts?
The Nuclear Safety Commission
is just a technological advisor.
It is not in our scope of work
to organize information
and set safety definitions.
Sir,
according to the numbers
reported by TOEPCO,
a meltdown is already occurring
as we speak.
600 kilopascals of pressure
is far beyond the 427 kilopascals
that the vessel was designed to withstand.
With regard to Unit 1,
if the pressure keeps rising
and an explosion occurs, well, then,
it'll release large amounts of highly
concentrated radioactive substance.
Venting would be almost nothing
compared to that.
What do you consider large?
I can't say for sure,
but enough that no human
could go anywhere near it.
And if it happens,
we won't be able to approach
the reactors in Units 2 through 6 either.
All that we could do then
is sit and watch the nuclear reactors
lose control one by one.
Venting it is then.
Yes, sir.
NUCLEAR FUEL, HIGH-TEMPERATURE STEAM,
COOLING WATER, TURBINE, CONDENSER
DOCUMENT STORAGE ROOM
- Hey, everything all right?
- Yes!
- Are you all okay?
- Yes, I'm okay.
Over here!
Okay.
- There it is.
- Yep.
How's the plumbing and wiring?
It's just like I thought.
There's no other way.
Right.
The valve won't vent any other way.
Of course, I agree.
Yeah.
Since we don't have power,
there's no way to open either valve
using the switches
the Control Room has here.
To vent the reactor
we have to send someone in
and then
open them manually, by hand.
I need you to
choose the operators to go.
Yes, sir. Copy that.
All right.
Oh, hey, give that one a try.
WAKKANAI, HOKKAIDO PREFECTURE
Any news?
Regarding Koki Kirihara?
He's a station operator at Unit 4.
We still
haven't made contact with him.
Both cellular and personal
headset phone lines are down here.
He's missing.
What? What do you mean?
You're so cavalier.
Why didn't someone contact us right away?
My wife called me in a panic
after hearing it on the news.
Forgive us.
It's complete chaos here at the moment.
I assure you,
we're still searching for him.
Did you hear?
You think it'll be okay?
Who knows?
Unit 1's pressure level is dangerous.
If it explodes, I wonder what's next?
Oh, here we go.
As we feared, the primary containment
vessel's pressure is increasing.
The power company reported
that they need to open a valve
in order to
To release
the nuclear containment vessel's pressure.
Director Sasaoka is here
to explain in more detail.
Uh Uh, I am Sasaoka from TOEPCO and,
after much debate,
and consulting with
the Nuclear Safety Commission
and Industrial Safety Agency,
with a great deal of regret
for the citizens living in the area,
uh, the government has made the decision
to follow a standard protocol.
The pressure will be released gradually.
Uh, this procedure is in place and
it's what we've decided to apply
in this case.
Uh, first of all
the pressure will
be decreased in Unit 2.
But wasn't it Unit 1
that they said was in danger?
Uh-huh.
Venting will start with Unit 2 then?
I do PR for TOEPCO. My name is Ochi.
Please forgive us.
According to a recent report,
Unit 2's emergency cooling system
is in fact working.
Uh, venting might be necessary for Unit 1.
What? Hold on.
Radioactive substance
will get released into the air.
- Are they sure it's not harmful?
- When will they start the venting?
Um
The on-site workers have been instructed
that the process has to be completed
by 3:00 a.m. today.
But it's already
past 3:00 now!
Uh Uh, no. Well, you see Uh
That was actually just a reference time.
They have some preparations
to complete first, so
This is such a mess.
Did you warn the residents there yet?
It's happening currently.
I'll be sure to get that confirmed.
Sir, is something wrong?
NISA and TOEPCO are both worthless now.
And no one around here
will give us any straight answers.
Well, new information
doesn't really get to us here.
We could return
to the center for crisis management?
Fukushima's next.
You you will go, sir?
Yes.
Mr. Yoshida
has ordered us
to vent the vessel.
All of the local residents
will be ordered to evacuate.
Once they're gone,
we'll enter via the reactor building
in order to complete the vent.
Right now, we need to decide
who will be the operators to go in.
If you're willing to go inside
raise your hand.
I'll be the first.
Is there anyone else who will volunteer?
I'll volunteer to go with you.
Maejima,
you should stay.
We need you here
so you can keep leading us.
He's right.
Sir, you need to stay here.
We can handle it.
I'll go in as well.
I'm going too!
I'll go in too.
So will I.
I'm sorry, but I really don't want
to send in the young guys.
Did we get a current read?
No, that was the last report.
But I'm sure
it's gone up since then.
Three teams of two will go in
to open the valves.
Team number one
will be Furuya
and Osugi.
Gotcha.
All right.
The team going next
will be Shimoda and Kumagaya.
Third and finally
is Ozawa
and Tsuda.
Got it.
This is Maejima
from the Control Room of Units 1 and 2.
We've chosen our men with no issues.
We'll get ourselves ready to go in.
We have a report from Maejima.
They're preparing to go inside now.
All right, I want
all of them back safely, no questions.
Get the equipment.
Everything we've got in here!
Oxygen, survey meters,
and clothing. Masks too.
Get it all
to their Control Room.
And right away!
Yes, sir!
Can't you make him change his mind?
The prime minister can't leave his office
during a disaster!
And what if he gets exposed
to the radiation?
Any fanfare could delay work
at the site as well.
I've already tried!
He said he's made his decision.
You know him.
Once he's made up his mind, it's done.
Kataoka, is everything ready?
Yes. Got the helicopter.
The prime minister's on the way?
It would appear
he wants his own read on it.
No problem. Displaying all six sites.
Looks like the line is working.
Yeah. Hopefully the connection
continues to be stable.
But we can't
deal with him right now.
It's just too busy here.
Can't you just figure out how to decline?
He's insisting on it.
And if you refuse, he'll think
that we're trying to hide things.
He's already upset because we've been
so slow reporting to him.
That's the deal.
Anyway, he's in Tokyo,
and at 6 a.m., he's leaving there.
Deal with it.
Yep. All right then.
Have him bring his own protective gear
and mask with him though. Okay?
There's not enough equipment to give
to our workers here on-site as it is.
Yeah, well, I need you to cover that.
Come on now, sir. No!
A mask only gets a single use
due to the contamination.
What if we don't have enough
to take care of the actual workers here?
You have to get it done.
It's on you, Yoshida!
Uh, the prime minister
and his entourage are headed here.
Get ready to greet them.
- Yes, sir.
- Okay.
Where's that trash can?
There. Okay.
Are you rolling?
- Uh-huh.
- Keep filming.
- Okay.
- Great.
Yeah.
I can see it.
- Get some shots of him getting out.
- Okay!
Thank you for making the trip, sir.
I'm Ando from TOEPCO.
We're so sorry about this.
That's enough!
We don't have time for chitchatting!
How is it still not venting?
If the containment vessel bursts,
Fukushima's uninhabitable.
Yes, we're currently preparing to vent
as quickly as we possibly can.
Sir, wait.
- Go that way to decontaminate.
- Shoes off over there.
One at a time.
FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI
ENTRANCE TO SEISMIC ISOLATED BUILDING
Next, please!
Okay, backs of your feet.
Start from the head.
Okay, put it down. Other foot.
Okay. You're all clear.
- Over there, please.
- Stand still.
Next, please.
Can we please speed it up?
- There's still some left.
- Hurry it up!
Sir, we're almost done, I promise.
This way, please.
Please remove your shoes!
- Wait, please!
- We're moving now.
We don't have this kind of time!
Leave your shoes here and put these on.
What's taking so much time?
We're way past schedule.
SEISMIC ISOLATED BUILDING
Well, we can't measure
the water or pressure levels now,
so the workers have to go in
and check manually
and preparations are taking longer than
Yes, I'm aware.
You had all of that information
and you still said 3 a.m.
Since then, it's been over four hours!
Apologies, sir. We're working
as fast as we can to get it done.
I'm sick of hearing that nonsense.
How long will it be till you vent?
How much time do you need?
Uh
Yes, well, we're waiting for the power
to come back to open it electrically.
- Roughly three more hours.
- Three hours? What?
Why do you keep on postponing this thing?
Can you really get it done?
And then what's the next excuse
when those three hours are gone?
I promise we'll get it done.
I'm the manager, Yoshida, sir.
As I said, we will get it done.
- You're Yoshida?
- Yes, sir.
I'll explain.
In order to vent
the MO valve and
the AO valves must both be opened.
Usually, the MO valve is opened with
electric power and the AO valve with air.
The issue is
that there's no electric power.
So there's only one way.
We enter the reactor building,
go to the locations of the valves
and get them open
manually, by hand.
The first valve, the MO valve,
is on the second floor.
It's right over here.
And the second valve, the AO valve,
must be accessed
from the first floor of the building.
Heading for these stairs,
they'll walk all this way,
then go down to the first basement floor.
Next
they'll have to walk
halfway around the reactor.
This here
is the AO valve's location.
The radiation dose there
is at 150 millisieverts per hour
at the entrance of the building alone.
That's a great deal of radiation exposure
to take in under one hour,
as the annual limit is 100.
And around the AO valve,
the estimated levels
are at over 300 per hour.
The portable dosimeter is set
to sound the alarm at 80 millisieverts.
Even if they run back directly after,
they're only 20 away from 100.
We're not sure if they will
even make it back to Control.
They won't have light,
so they'll have to work
using headlamps and flashlights.
And the aftershocks keep rolling in.
So, who will you send?
The workers in the Control Room.
Exposure to radiation is certain.
They're a forlorn hope.
The very least
we can do
is get them
as ready as we can before then.
Please give us a bit more time.
I understand. Keep it going.
Okay.
Thank you.
So I'll go first
up that ladder on the second floor.
Okay, sounds good.
Once we're at the top,
we'll walk along the grating.
It'll be very narrow.
The oxygen tanks
will be in our way.
Then we'll see it.
And there are some handles.
I'll check on those numbers.
Okay.
Did you get any rest yet, Furu?
Like I could rest now.
You're not even sleeping, huh?
No. I'm not even tired.
Yes, sir.
The prime minister is here.
He took a helicopter
to the seismic isolated building.
During a national emergency
he's got lots of free time.
Right?
But I suppose
that's how serious this issue is.
What an ordeal.
Just because you were on duty today
and assigned to the Control Room
for Units 1 and 2.
Our first team to enter
Furuya, Osugi
thank you so very much.
And I thank
the young workers who volunteered.
Once we get the order to head in,
those three teams will go
and open up the valves.
Let's get it done.
If all else fails
I'll go in at the end.
Stop the camera.
I said stop it now!
I mean it.
No more filming, okay?
Forlorn hope.
Yes, this is Maejima.
The residents are all evacuated.
Okay.
The venting should start.
Copy that.
Team 1
it's time now.
- Yes, sir.
- Sir.