All language subtitles for Tornado

( Thunder rumbling )

Okay, my turn.

One, two, three,
four, five.

Okay.

( Radio playing
country music )

One, two, three.

Yellow.

One, two, three,
four, five.

Okay, my turn.
( Laughs )

One, two, three.

( Emergency broadcast beep )

We interrupt our regular programming

to inform you that
the National Weather Service

has issued a tornado warning for
old ham and parmer counties.

Residents in these areas are urged

to take proper precautions.

We now return you to
our regular programming.

**

( laughs )

Where are you going?

I'll be right back.

It's not supposed to be here.

Aah! Come on, come on.

Let's go.

Mommy! Mommy!

( Yelling )

Come on, guys! Come on.

( Screaming )

Hold onto mommy.

( Rumbling )

Careful, ma'am.

Watch your step.

There you are.

Thank you for flying with us.

Watch your step, sir.

I'm Samantha Callen.

Dr. Branson
must've sent you.

I'm Dr. Branson.

Oh. Well, so much
for introductions.

She's in the car,
Dr. B. Howdy.

Jacob Thorne,
meet Samantha Callen.

Jake. Pleasure
to meet you, ma'am.

Sam. Are we meeting
someone else here?

Well, the star
of our show, Patti,

just got in from St. Louis.
You're the last to arrive.

Well, I hope your flight
wasn't as bad as mine.

Actually, I drove.
I love driving.

He's afraid of flying.

No, I just have
a healthy respect

for atmospheric uncertainties.

So, how's the weather
in Washington?

Sticky. I've been trying to
familiarize myself with your work.

Well, I'm sure Patti
won't let us down.

Well, the science foundation
has every confidence

- in your work, Dr. Branson.
- Thank you.

You've been very supportive.

But you can understand why,
after six years,

they had to demand a field trial.

Now, frankly, at N.A.O.,
we think it's time

to make a final determination.

I'm sorry,

did you say "termination"?

Contrary to what you might've

heard, not all auditors

are heartless.

Now, these things are normally

done in a two-day turn around.

I've asked for a week.

Oh, a whole week.

Well, might as well find Bigfoot

and the guy from the grassy

knoll while we're at it.

How much do you know

about, uh, tornadoes,

Miss Callen?

Dr. where I come from,

the biggest weather problem

I have is that humidity

makes my hair frizzy.

Now, I was assigned

to your project two days ago,

and I'm doing the best I can

to catch up.

Well, this is just

the place for a crash course.

Welcome to tornado season.

Branson: This is,

um, Downtown Byron.

What do they call it, Jake?

"The Jewel of the Panhandle.

Sam: I'm dazzled.
Where's the mall?

Jake: Amarillo.

Good legs.

Excuse me?

Patti, I mean.

You see, I knew
right from the start

that she had to have strong legs
to withstand F-5 winds.

That's when I came up with

a titanium aerodynamic
superstructure

and the explosive bolts.

It took me a solid year
of research

just to get the bolts to fire
in the proper sequence

to maximize torque
stress reduction.

How much longer
before we get there?

About 20 minutes.
I took the scenic route.

Sam: So, what made you decide
to become a meteorologist?

Oh, I'm not.

No, Jacob is a, um...

Former top graduate student
of mine

at the University of Missouri.

Then I washed out
in the third year.

Nonsense. As far
as I'm concerned,

you're merely late for class.

So, what do you do
in the meantime?

I'm a chaser.

One of those guys
racing around in pickups

chasing after storms?

Waste of a fine mind,
if you ask me.

Well, we're all chasing one
thing or another, aren't we?

Sam, this is Oliver Nestle,
one of my graduate students.

Pleased to meet you, ma'am.

Now, there's a meteorologist.

Well, now, that's
one passenger unloaded.

Now you can swing me
by my hotel?

Hotel?

Well, I really don't
want to put you out.

We got plenty of room,
but suit yourself.

Nearest hotel is about,
uh, oh, 30 miles away.

Of course, it's really
just a truck stop,

but I'm sure I can get them

to put some clean sheets
on a hide-a-bed.

This is perfect.
I'll need a telephone.

Oh, we got telephones,
indoor plumbing,

all the modern conveniences.

Let me get your bags
for you, ma'am.

Oh, don't call me ma'am,

and I can manage
just fine, thank you.

It's up on the second story,
first door to your right.

Uh, in case you forgot,

we want her on our side.

As you can see, she's not
thrilled about the idea

of waiting around
for a tornado.

Well, I don't have to
tell you, of all people,

they don't run on timetables.

No, but the N.A.O. does.

Well, ephram says two days,
maybe less.

Good. The sooner,
the better.

Radio: ...Metropolitan area.

For today and tonight, Cumberland...

...enhancing the rain and
causing widely scattered

showers and thunderstorms
today and Friday.

The Austin Metropolitan
Forecast today --

cloudy with a 40% chance of showers,

high in the lower 70s,

north wind 10-15 miles per hour.

Tonight, cloudy with
a 60% chance of showers

and thunderstorms, possibly severe

with large hail and damaging wind.

Low in the lower 50s

and north wind at
10-15 miles per hour.

On Friday, prepare for rain

and thunderstorms.
Range at 100%.

Highs in the mid-50s...

Forty-five miles an hour and gusty.

In the extended forecast

Saturday, big racing clouds
with a chance of showers.

High in the 50s,
near 60 on Sunday.

Partly cloudy with
a slight chance of rain.

Low in the 40s and
highs in the 60s.

Monday...

( Radio broadcast continues
indistinctly in other rooms )

Shoot! Do I smell smoke?

Where there's smoke,
there's fire.

( Laughs ) Homebrew!

That's four-alarm
hot sauce.

He near about tore up 87
to deliver it, too.

Hey, Tex Fulton, I want
to you meet Sam Callen.

Of course, you know
Dr. Branson over here.

Did he say "Tex"?

Yes, ma'am, and this
here's Mattie Peck.

Pleased to meet you.
Welcome to Byron.

Y'all gonna motor
mouth all day,

or are you gonna eat barbecue?
It's over here.

- Go on, fill your face.
- You need some help, Jake?

Yeah, sure,
grab a knife there.

I don't believe I've ever met
anyone named "Tex" before.

Well, truth is,

I'm originally
from North Carolina.

Maybe they ought
to call you Carol.

( Laughs )

Tex will do
just fine, ma'am.

( Phone ringing )

Hello!

How you doin', jakey?

Hey, Zeena, how are you, girl?

Why aren't you down here tearing
into a rack of ribs with us?

Somebody's gotta mind
the store.

How are things looking up
there in Cliffside?

Oh, it couldn't be
more beautiful.

Talked to Todd this afternoon.

He said there's some minor cumulonimbus
activity out south of wayside.

Sure hasn't reached me yet.

Nah, we're looking at a no-show
day all the way around.

( Chuckles ) Well, Rudy
doesn't think so.

( Laughs )
Jacob, you're a caution.

Now, you, you save me
some ribs, now, you hear?

You know I will.

Thanks, Zeena. Bye.

Sam: Those beans
wouldn't happen to be made

with canola oil,
would they?

Fatback.

Uh, Ephram Thorne, I'd like
you to meet Sam Callen.

Pleased to meet you.

Uh, "miss," is it?

Why not! Around here,

a miss is as good as a mile!
( Laughs )

( Clears throat )

All right,
get in here, slim.

Pile 'em on
up here, yeah.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Helps counteract
grandpa's cooking.

Thanks.

Well, Dr. B., I'm sorry, but
today it seems like we're busted.

Hey! What's this gizmo
in my shed?

Well, time to meet
the guest of honor.

( Sam laughs )

This is Patti.

Well, looks aren't everything.

I'm sure she's got
a terrific personality.

( Chuckles ) To be honest,
the most difficult part

was coming up
with a name for her.

After six years of work,

I wanted something
truly special.

Patti, P-A-T-T-I,
stands for portable analyzer

of technical tornado information.

It's also my wife's name.

Took me weeks to realize
that, of course.

Oliver, why don't we
show them her brain?

May I?

By all means.

All the monitoring devices
are housed here,

in the control shell.

You have your digital barometer,

your ceilometer,

your electropotentionometer.

Ah, but check out the legs.

They're made of titanium alloy,
which allows for torsion

from the winds,
but won't break.

The bolt inside can be driven
up to two feet into the ground,

thereby allowing usto actually take
readings from within the vortex.

All we have to do is, uh, place her
directlyinto the path of a tornado.

Sam:
Is that difficult?

No, it's, uh,
damn near impossible.

Um, it's, uh, up to us
scientists to dothe impossible.

All this tornado talk
makes me thirsty.

Sure it wasn't your sauce?

Who's up for Jimmy Jack's?

What's a Jimmy Jack?

**

( woman singing country )

This place bitchin'or what?

Oh, definitely bitchin'.

We don't have anything like this
in Missouri, do we, Dr. Branson?

Ooh, how about a little salt,
there, darling?

Guess you don't have anything

like that, either,
do you, Ollie?

Behave yourself.
There are ladies present.

So, Jake, what was
your dissertation on?

Mm! Global warming.

Mattie: Let's dance.

Maybe it'll help to keep
your foot out of your mouth!

You know, Jake, as far as
Washington is concerned,

global warming
is just a nasty rumor

cooked up
by Grant-hungry scientists.

Well, that's fine,
but take Antarctica, for example.

This past january
the temperature

actually rose above freezing.

There were flowers growing
on the ice shelf.

Now, that's not rumor.

That's a fact.

Yes, floods, droughts,

earthquakes, hurricanes,
tornadoes...

All getting more severe,
more unpredictable,

which is precisely
why I invented Patti.

Early predictions
means early warnings.

Early warningsmeans lives saved.

So, why are tornadoes
always picking on Texas?

Well, could be the hats.

( Oliver laughs )

Now, this is...

Good old U.S. Of A. Now...

( Clears throat )

Cold, dry air travels
southeast from Canada.

Now, what happens is

it comes down across
the rockies here,

where it picks upmore cold air,

and then it continues on
unobstructed to the plains.

Now, this represents
warm, moist air

that travels north
from the gulf of Mexico,

right around
Brownsville here.

Once again, a straight, unobstructed
path to the plains, right?

Yes, and when these
two elements meet...

What happens is the cold,
dry air from Canada

rests directly on top of that
warm, moist air from the Gulf.

Yes, which leaves
one final element.

Jet stream.

Bingo!

Heavy weather.

Some genuine
kick-butt tornadoes.

And that is where our empirical
knowledge of tornado formation ends.

So, all in all?

All in all, basically
we know Jack.

Jimmy Jack.

Hello, Jake!

What brings you
to the Boondocks, Richie?

Family business.

You forget how boring it is.

Well, it looks like you guys are
having all the fun over here.

Sam Callen, Dr. Branson,

Oliver Nestle, meet the one

and only Richie Cochran.

Richard Cochran.

KLCA TV, Amarillo.
Pleased to meet you.

You're on TV, huh?

Oh, yeah, Richie's
the big city weather guy.

Broadcast journalist.
Weather's just temporary.

You're not
from around here, clearly.

The coast. East.

Well, Jake,
whatever are you

doing with folks
from the big city?

Well, we're from Missouri,

conducting a tornado
analysis field test.

Dr. Branson's a meteorologist.

He was my advisor
at grad school.

Did you ever get around
to finishing up that degree?

I've known this guy
since before he was a cowboy.

Finishing is not his forte.

But you, Sam?

You're much too pretty
to be a meteorologist.

I'm an auditor for the government.

Well, if you're serious
about finding a tornado,

you should come down
to the station sometime.

At klca, we have the most
up-to-date monitoring system

with complete access to
the national weather service.

Come to think of it, I'm taking a camera
crew to the NWS tomorrow morning.

What time should I pick you up?

Uh, Richie, her dance card's
getting pretty full.

- See, she's here on business.
- 10:00 will be fine.

What about your dance card tonight?

- Richie, it's full, okay?
- I can speak for myself.

Wanna dance?

Sure.

Love to.

Jake and I ran track
together in high school.

He was a fast starter.

I was a finisher.

* if five'll get you ten

* I'm going home alone again tonight *

* not from lack of opportunity... *

you have a real feel
for the weather.

I can thank my grandpa for that.

Some things you can't
learn in school.

Like dancing?

So, how did a tight-ass bean counter
from washington learn the Texas two-step.

How did a redneck good ol'
boy earn two-thirds of a PhD?

Hey, are we flirting?

( Laughs ) If we are,
we're rusty as hell.

Nothing a little oil won't fix.

Whoo!

Ah! Yes!

I just, I love dancing.

So, you, uh, drink much tequila
in Washington, do you?

Mostly chardonnay, why?

Ask me in the morning.

( Wind gusting )

( Rooster crowing )

( Chatter outside )

( Hammering )

( Sighs )

( Truck gate slams )

Morning!

How's that?

( Groans )

Scattered showers and
thunderstorms for today and Friday.

( Sighs ) There's nothing
like good, clean, country air.

Well, I guarantee you
you'll neverwant to leave,

especially after you've had some

of my world-famous
bacon and eggs.

Now, these contain a very
special ingredient,

passed down from generation
to generation.

Hey, hey, no peeking!

Well, good morning!

Prepare for heaven!
How about some eggs?

I've just seen hell.

Just coffee.

Hmm, are you sure?

Jake's very excited
about this dish.

It has a secret ingredient.
Cayenne.

You're not one of those
finicky easterners, are you?

No, I'm one of those
brutally hung-over easterners.

...chance of showers...

Uh...

I didn't...

Do anything I shouldn't have
last night, did I?

No, not a thing,

but you cantry again tonight.

...low in the 40s and 50s.

How many radios
do you have around here?

Curry.

I don't know, a dozen, easy.

They're spread all over
the house.

They're all on
24 hours a day,

and they're all tuned
to the weather station.

Every boy must have his hobby.

I've got it. Cilantro.

Doc, please,
you're blowing my cover.

Sounds like a pretty finicky
eastern secret ingredient to me.

Well, cooking is my real hobby.

Jake, come look at this.

These satellite picture
soutside of Denver

- look very promising.
- Ah-ha.

Oliver, why don't
you flag the hook?

- You got the coordinates?
- You betcha.

I believe your student's
going texan on you, doctor.

Yeah, it happens
to the best of us.

You know,
if the return moisture flow

and the vertical shift
picks up a few more knots,

we could have the super-cell
dynamics we need.

Yeah, see, that sucker
could bust a cap.

Ooh, when do you do the
super tornado fanatic handshake?

Damn!

Near about rear-ended that
poor excuse for a weatherman.

( Laughs )

( Groans ) I'm gonna
go freshen up.

Uh, Richie,
I don't think Sam

is feeling up to
this little field trip.

Maybe she'd like
to tell me that herself.

I mean, she hasn't
fully recovered

after last night, if,
uh, you get my meaning.

I'm ready.

Yeah, so am I.

Uh, maybe we could drop
you someplace, Jake.

I don't know how interesting
this is gonna be for you.

Nah, I'm always eager to learn
from real weather professionals.

That's, uh, that'S
an official police scanner.

In my racket it's around
the clock, ready alert.

Well, if it'snot asking too much,

can we be quietly on alert?

Yeah, sure.

That's the difference
between Chardonnay and Tequila.

When we're fully online,
we'll be connected

with every weather service
regional office in the country,

as well as
ncar and noaa and spc,

digital obs, satellite scanning,
the whole bit!

Are we boring you, Jake?

Huh? No, no. I was an armchair
weatherman myself once.

You were about to say?

Well, pretty soon, we won't
have to rely on the office

in Oklahoma to guide
our predictions.

We'll have
texas predictions

for Texas weather on the spot.

Well, what about chasers?

They'll be chasing their
own tails, totally obsolete!

That's not really the case.

Take the twister in Adrian.

Doppler detected
the storm coming,

had the hour on the nose.

They called it
for 3:30 P.M. exactly.

That's incredible.

Well, the only problem
is they had it

three counties away in parmer, so...

The warning box was off by 75 miles.

As I was about to say,
we'll always rely

on spotters and chasers.
That's the human factor.

But from here, we're gonna be able

to pin point the storm
formations much more exactly.

And get data up to you
in Amarillo so you can give

better, earlier warnings
to your viewers.

That's the theory, anyway.

Uh, I don't have to be back
at the studio for another hour.

How about some lunch?

I'll take a rain check.

Well, if you'd like
to find out more about

the ins and outs
of the weather game...

( Laughs )

Richie, why don't you
go judge a tractor pull

or whatever it is
you weather guys do

when you're off-camera?

Why don't you get a life?

I got one, thanks.

You know, it's been like
that since we were kids.

I'm sure eventually one
of you will outgrow it.

Besides being an eyeful,

she's got a good head
on her shoulders,

which is more than I can say
for present company.

don't get any ideas
about being a matchmaker.

Why not? Can't look
after you forever.

I've been editing this footage.

It's from my own
private collection.

The fugita wind damage scale

rates a storm's power
from a F-1 to an F-5.

This is an F-1.

An F-2.

( Panicky chatter )

F-3. Jacob, uh,
shot this, actually.

F-4.

And, finally...

Wind speeds over
300 miles per hour.

Cuts a path sometimes
over a mile wide.

That's what we call an F-5.

Otherwise known
as a killer tornado.

Do you name them?

What?

Like hurricanes.
Do you give them names?

You don't put a name
to what ain't human.

There's nothing human about a tornado.

It's just God's blind fury.

And you don't outguess itwith predictions.

Yes, but, um,
doppler radar pinpoints

the elements of a storm
before the tornado--

you can't guess weather sitting
at some dumb computer screen.

Doppler is only one
of our tools.

We have computer simulations
that are on the verge

of accurately predicting
the path of a me so cyclone!

With all of your fancy machines,

I mean all of them, you know
you still can't tell me

when a tornado is gonna come
and where it's gonna go.

- Yes, but --
- Yes, but nothing.

You see that barometer
out on my porch?

Now, that's all I need,
that and my senses.

'Cause sooner or later,

you gotta get outside
and smell the weather.

Look, let's not forget,

it doesn't take
a killer tornado to kill people.

15,000 people died in
North America this century alone,

and they all had the
benefit of a barometer!

Now, if Patti can save one life,

then our average would've
been worth while.

All the computers in creation
can't change nature.

Now, a tornado's got
a devil's heart

and a dead soul,
and until you seen that,

you ain't telling me
nothing about nothing!

Bit proprietary
on the subject, isn't he?

( Door slams )

Well, he's got his reasons.

Thought maybe it ran
in the family.

Now, what is that
supposed to mean?

Last night at Jimmy Jack's,
you kind of treated me

like your property.
( Chuckles )

( Clears throat )
Yes, well, I think

a change of scenery
would do us good.

Mattie has invited all of us over to
her folks' house for dinner tonight.

I could use some home cookin'.

Sorry, Oliver, we're going to
have to keep our eye on the prize.

Plenty of leftovers.

In the meantime, you just
keep playing pac man

'cause that's what
you're good at. Sam?

It blew in fast.

Roads are down. I'm pulling off.

This is big! Stay clear.

Well, Joanie,
that was terrific.

I can't remember
when I've eaten so much.

Well, honey, you're
nothing but skin and bones.

Don't they feed you
in New York?

- Washington.
- Uh-huh. Same difference.

How's the hunt going?

Well, nothing so far today,

but we've got some promising
developments from SPC.

You wanna come see my tree?

It's the best
climbing tree in Byron.

I bet it is.

Sam doesn't want to see
your stupid tree.

She just said she did.

Maybe later, monkey.

So, they got the speech
this afternoon.

You did?

Did his eyes bug out?

( Imitating ephram )
Tornado got a heart

and a soul and a gallbladder

and a stomach.

Tornado goes to the supermarket,

buys some groceries,
brings it home,

cooks up pancake
still break 'ist.

( Laughs )

Tornado eats them pancakes
with raspberry syrup.

Let's take a look
at that tree, huh, monkey?

Sure.

You climb pretty good
for a girl.

Well, so do you.
Just don't tell Jake.

It'll spoil his
image of me.

How do you like the view?

It's beautiful.

Just don't look down.

( Laughs )

I can see why you like
coming up here.

Go on ahead.
I'm right behind you.

Do you walk as good
as you climb?

Try me.

That was a nice thing
you did.

Climbing a tree
with a ten-year-old?

No, keeping Tex from going on
about a certain 70-year-old.

I don't like people
talking about ephram.

There's enough talk
as it is.

It's so peaceful.

Yep.

In Washington, there'd be

a thousand car alarms going off

and sirens
and the subway...

I'm surprised you'd even
notice, being from there.

Nobody's from Washington.
I'm from Indiana.

Ah, so you're not
a real yuppie.

Why not? As far as I can tell,
you're not a real cowboy.

Well, that's
'cause I'm a farmer.

You know that field
behind ephram's?

I got some soy
growing in there,

and one day I'm even thinking
of putting in some aloe.

Jake Thorne, soy and aloe farmer.

I don't buy it.

Oh, is that an official opinion?

I'm not saying
you're not good at it;

I'm just saying
your heart's not in it.

You know what I'm good at?
Sizing things up.

Anyway, that's what
they say at the office.

Size me up.

You weren't a PhD washout.
You were a walkout.

Fair enough.

But why would I do that?

I haven't figured
that part out yet.

Possibly you had
a falling out with Branson.

More likely, you felt
you owed ephram something.

Not bad.

Okay, you're so smart,
size yourself up.

Just your run-of-the-mill MBA,

nothing fancy,
not Harvard. Virginia.

Let me guess.
First in your class?

Fifth, but good guess.

You know what they call
meat the office?

The Terminator.

They bring me in whenever
they want to kill a program.

I'm the ultimate hatchet man.

Not much of a life sometimes,
killing other people's dreams.

Jake! This is Oliver!
Come in!

Jake! Jake!

Yeah, this is Jake.
I hear you. Go ahead.

This is Oliver. Come in.

Easy, Ollie.
I read you loud and clear.

I think we've got
some activity 15 miles NW.

Let me get the coordinates.

Zeena just called.

Her best guess is
35 wide by 101 tall.

All right, let's saddle up.

( Honking )

Doc, is she ready?

Oh, she's ready.
Let's go!

Let's load it up.

All right,
Jake, let's go.

Are you sure I can't help?

Ollie, get in the truck.

Is this dangerous?

- You got it?
- I got it.

Ready as I'll ever be.

Okay, all right?

Last one there buys the beer.

That'll be you!

Dr. B., we gotta move.

Very nice! Let's go!

Branson: The coordinates
point here.

Jake: Tex, this is it.

Tex: Copy.

Jake: Okay, guys,
let's do it.

Branson: All right, Jake.
You know what to do.

Come on!

Are there any warning sign
si should know about?

There's usually rain followed by a
brief calm. That's already behind us.

Then there's hail and strong
winds just before it hits.

Good.

I'm going to set
the firing mechanisms!

Okay, Oliver,
let's open her up.

It's what we've been waiting for.

It's breaking up.

Save your ammo, doctor.

False alarm.

Wait. All the data
pointed here!

I mean, we're looking
at F-2, F-3s at least.

Doc, this thing just
ain't gonna happen.

We busted.

Oh! I can't believe it,
with all that data!

Looks like we missed
this one, Dr. B.

Galveston, barometer
dropping rapidly.

I have extreme low pressure
and high seas.

( Rooster crows )

Hello.

Oh! Gave me a start
there, doc.

Ah, sorry.

Yeah, just must be
going deaf in my old age.

Well, I'm checking the voltage

on the electric current
for the charge sin the legs.

And you really think them
bolts will hold her down, huh?

Oh, I'm sure of it.

Uh-huh.

Well, 90% sure.

Uh-huh.

Would you believe
cautiously optimistic?

( Laughs )

( Beeps )

It's got to hold.

You know, um, you can take
a closer look if you like.

Oh.

( Chuckles ) She really
is a peach, ain't she?

Yes, well, the bolt sin the
legs are the key to everything.

And you really thought you had
yourself one yesterday, didn't you?

I'd have bet the rent.

You'd have lost.

Mm. All the pieces
were in place.

You a checkers man, doc?

Well, I prefer chess, but,
um, I can hold my own.

Uh-huh. You see,
weather is checkers.

It's a zig here, zag there,

jump all over creation.

The one thing it ain't
is smart.

It's like plowing
with a mule.

No sense trying
to outsmart it.

You just gotta dummy down
till you get what you're after.

Maybe you ought to stop

trying to outsmart
the weather, doc.

So, just dummy down

and nature will
take its course.

That is a pure de-natural
fact, sir.

Now, show me how this
contraption really works.

Okay, like I said,

notice here,
the Doppler link--

( knocking softly )

Yeah?

Well, I was gonna take you
up to see Zeena's place,

but, uh, looks like you
got a better offer.

It's not that I don't
enjoy standing

in the drizzle
with you, Jake,

it's just not what
I was sent here to do.

The truth is,
I've seen enough.

I'm leaving.

So, that's it, huh,
just like that?

You won't even give
Branson a fighting chance?

He's had six years of chances.

I don't see
that a few more days

will make any difference.

Sam, don't you even care
that the work he's doing

might actually help some people?

If you care so much,

why are you planning
a career in Soybeans?

One thing has nothingto do with the other.

I'll ask Oliver for
a lift to the airport.

No, I'll take you myself.

I want to see
with my own two eyes

that you are good and gone.

**

* I'm just an old-fashioned girl *

* in a modern-day world

the silence is getting pretty
thick, don't you think?

Try watching the clouds.

It's a great way
to pass the time.

You mean, like, that one looks

like a buffalo
and that one's Nixon?

No, I'm actually trying
to be serious here.

There's a certain Zento it.

I watch the cloud,
I become the cloud.

You know what I mean?

No, Jake, I don't
know what you mean.

Twelve months of the year
I look at numbers.

Oh, sure, sometimes
they let me go in the field

and see actual people,
but still,

I'm just still
supposed to see numbers.

So, what do you do for fun?

I'm a yuppie. I don't
have fun; I have stress.

No, you're a fake yuppie.

Well, the stress
is real enough.

I don't sit around reading
congressional quarterly.

I have parties, I have
brunch, I have friends.

Boyfriends?

Yes, there's no shortage
of boys on Capitol Hill.

Not too many of you
cow-country Marlboro men.

Sam, I'm from Chicago.

You want to talk about stress,

try being the only child
of two lawyers.

They still couldn't work
out their own divorce.

We're early.

I could stand a bite to eat.

Andy, honey, do you see
what I see?

Strong flowoff the Gulf.

We have anything new from SPC?

Not since 10:00.

Well, take a look at this.

You know, just to be safe,
we'd better get them

to issue a risk for severe
from Milburn to Dalhart.

Thanks.

Somehow, I still can't
see you on the farm.

Well, I did my time
away at college.

Missouri's gota killer
meteorology department.

Then why'd you come back?

My grandma died.

And you figured ephram
needed looking after?

It's not that simple.
I mean, it's not like

he was gonna throw himself
off a silo or anything.

Since grandma died,

he only sees
the dark side of nature,

so I figured he could use
somebody around

to help see life again.

And you'restaying because...

Sam, I'm not a fool.

I know in a certain sense
we're all, just,

I don't know, roadkill
here on tornado alley,

but there's a certain...

( Sighs ) A certain wonder
to it all, a certian mystery.

I mean, how can
the same tornado

smash a freight train
to splinters

and also pick up
a carton of eggs

and set it down
three counties away

without breaking
a single egg?

You know, for two people
who aren't supposed

to like each other,
we sure do talk a lot.

( Pager beeping )

Okay, Margie, thanks.

You got the word
to them at the farm?

I owe ya.

We got one, Sam.

Have a safe trip, huh?

I'm not flying if I could
be chasing a tornado.

( Honking )

Branson: Come on, Oliver,
get up front.

It's not safe
to ride back there.

Tex: Get up
in here, Ollie!

Jake: Slide in, grandpa.

I'm sliding.
I'm in. Let's go!

( Revving )

Jake: Stay with me, now.

Tex: What have you got
in mind, Jake?

Tex, if we get
on 385 north

to 54 east,
we'll keep on it.

Eprham's watching for
plow winds from the south.

Jake, there's no damn way it's
gonna tack all the way up to 54.

We got it now!
We gotta stay on it.

If it makes up to 54,
we ain't never gonna catch it.

Damn it, Tex,
I'm telling you,

just stay straight to 385.

It's gonna be a right turn,
and we'll circle it.

We'll go up and around.
We got plenty of time.

Copy that, Jake.

If the driving's this bad, how much
worse could the actual tornado be?

Huh!

Did you get an update
from SPC?

They get a watch out?

No, this came out of nowhere.

I think they've issued
a risk for severe,

- but that's about it.
- Over there!

It's gonna bea big one,
eh, grandpa?

You'd better believe it.

All right, Tex,
let's hit it!

All right, hold onto your hats.

- ( Phone ringing )
- Yeah? Hold on, Margie.

Tex, I got Margie on now.
Let me get back to you.

Yes, ma'am?

Jake, you on this critter?

Snuck right the hell
up on us.

We had it targeted
way west.

Yeah, I'm on it, maybe five miles
south of Milburn off 385 north.

The core is maybe two miles due north
of here, about 30 miles an hour.

Okay, I'm getting that down.

Now, listen, Jake.
I need to issue a warning stat.

Give me your best shot.
Where's it going?

It's gonna be
a right-turner, east.

Okay, east.

Margie, but it's unstable.

You've gotta get confirmation

from north of
Milburn asap, okay?

Will do.
Good hunting, Jake.

All right, hang on,
'cause we go.

Wow, it's really
picking up out there.

Yeah.

If the tornado hits us, the
truck will protect us, right?

If we see it coming, we bail out
and head for a drainage ditch.

- And if we don't see it coming?
- Get religion in a hurry.

( Screams )

Thank God for safety glass, huh?

I'm hoping to thank him
for better than that.

Tex, I'm heading up
towards Roseville.

Copy.

Keep your doors open.

Branson: My God,
look at that!

What would you call it, Jake?
F-3? Four?

That one is at least a four,
maybe even a five.

Give me that camera, Ollie.

Sorry, Dr. B.
This one was too fast for us.

Incredible.

You called it Dead-on, Jake.

That'sa right-turner.

Sam: Jake,
it's turning back.

Oh, no, no, no, no!

It's headed straight
for Roseville.

Margie, this is Jake.
I need a blast, Pronto.

Put the bike down, hurry!

Marty, look at this.

It's really blowing.

Jeez.

They haven't issued
a warning.

( Tornado siren wails )

( Baby crying )

Woman: Somebody, please!

Man: There's two of them
over there!

( People continue calling out )

They found him!

( Anguished yells )

- Tina? Tina?
- Over here!

This is Jake Thorne requesting
emergency medicalassistance.

We need medical evac
and personnel here asap.

Westbury hospital should be put
on alert for incoming casualties

and for a helicopter
to Dalhart General, copy?

Copy.

Man: We gotta get
more help in here!

Woman: Help us, please!
Help us!

Just, uh, try not
to move your arm, okay?

Look, uh, see if you
can find some bandages,

- sheets, anything.
- Okay.

Just take it easy.

Seen my wife?
You seen my wife?

Come on. Come on.
Walk over here.

Let's get some water.

( Crying )

It'll be all right.

Hey, we're not gonna leave you.

No, no, we're not
gonna leave you.

( Siren wailing )

( Helicopter buzzing )

Excuse us.
Coming through.

This one's going
straight to admitting.

And you were in your kitchen

when the twister struck?

We were gonna
go out early 'cause...

I don't remember why.

Normally I work on Thursdays.

When the tornado hit,
can you tell us what happened?

But where's my wife?
Where is she?

No, where is she...

Richard Cochran, KLCA TV.

Okay, just hold
till the next live feed.

Richie, what the hell are
you doing here with that camera?

don't preach at me,
Jake, not now.

That man's wife could be dead.

This is my job.

I get an assignment,
I do it. That's all.

Oh, I see, right or wrong,
it doesn't matter, does it?

This is news.
This is what the public wants.

Yeah, and you're only too happy
to Oblige, aren't you?

You can rot
in this jerkwater town

for all I care,
but I'm going places.

For your information, the network
called for a satellite pickup.

Maybe if you tornado-chasers

did your job
a little bit better,

I wouldn't be doing
this at all!

You haven't change done
little bit since high school.

You got all that right, Hoss.

I'm still a finisher,

and you are still a loser.

Better fix your hair
for the cameras, Richie.

It's a little messed up.

Branson: You're not going to
end the field trials, are you?

I don't know.

Well, I knew you were on
your way to the airport.

Please, there's no time
for bureaucratic double-talk.

I need more time.

And I'm just the messenger.

The message was written

long before I ever
set foot in Texas.

So, I was hoping against hope?

Oh, I should've guessed that.

For a scientist,
I can be extremely naive.

I didn't mean to put
you on the spot.

I know.

Just relax.
Relax.

You see it on TV, but
you don't see it at all.

Once you see it first-hand,

you never see it
in any other way.

How old were you
the first time?

I was playing in the parlor

with my sis
when I heard the roar.

Of course, being a boy,

I had to get me
a closer look,

so I'm out in the backyard.

And then all of a sudden
I can't move a muscle

because there, right
in front of my eyes,

I see a funnel forming,

then a second one,
and then another one,

like some
three-headed monster.

My mother's calling me,
and I'm calling her.

All you can hear
is that roar.

I watched my mother

get pulled up into that funnel.

That was the last
I ever saw of her.

I was five years old

when that monster came
and ate my world,

and now it'scoming again.

I overslept.

That rooster's falling down
on the job.

Jake.

If those people had
any warning at all,

even ten minutes.

They had a siren.
I saw it.

You can't blame
yourself.

I called it wrong, Sam.
I called it east.

How could you know
it was going to turn?

I mean, all anybody's
been telling me

since I got here is how
unpredictable they are.

You're not god. You did
the best you could.

I mean, what the hell good is
all this machinery and man power

if we just keep getting tricked
every time? Why even bother?

Do you really mean that?

Because in about five
minutes I'm going to get

a call from my office wondering
why I'm not sitting

at my desk filing
a termination report.

What should I tell them,
Jake, huh?

( Footsteps )

Oh, this is a bad time.

No, no, no.
Come on in.

Actually, Jake,
I was hoping

maybe you and me
could take a walk.

Yeah, sure.

I'll talk with Sam.

Big day yesterday.

I can't do it anymore, J.

I can't chase.

I didn't know, you know...

I didn't know
what it'd be like,

I mean, really, in real life.

I saw those people,
and suddenly it seemed

like I've been chasing
my own tail, going in circles.

I asked Mattie to marry me.

What? ( Laughs )
Hey!

Hey, Tex, that's great!

Well, then,
it's just as well.

Being a chaser, that's no work
for a family man, anyway.

All right!

He just came right out
of the blue!

He just showed up at my house

and woke all of us up

and asked me to set the date.

I mean, he wanted
to do it tomorrow.

I told him I needed
more time

'cause I gotta get
a dress and all,

so we decided we're gonna
do it in two weeks!

Oh, that's wonderful.
Congratulations.

I would really like it if you
could be here for the wedding.

Can you come?

Oh, that's very kind, Mattie,

but I might have to go back
to Washington on short notice.

- Oh, I know. Oh!
- ( Honking )

I just wanted you to
know that you're wanted.

( Honks )

Hey, there she is!
I just heard.

Congratulations.

Thank you!

Aw.

Bye-bye!

Good-bye.

Love blooms
in the Panhandle.

Tex is quitting.

I guessed as much.

How about you?
Are you quitting, too?

( Phone ringing )

Jake, there's something
you need to know.

The anti-environmental lobby
wants to pull the plug

on any project that even
acknowledges global warming.

So what are you saying?

We were finished
before we ever started?

I'm saying this could
cost me my job.

I need to know now.

Are you gonna quit, too?

I told Dr. Branson I was
gonna help him out,

and that's exactly
what I'm gonna do.

( Ringing continues )

What about you, Sam?

You gonna answer that call?

Imagining what the aloe's
gonna look like?

Oh...

Could be.

You're no more a farmer
than you are a chaser.

That's ephram's life.

He took me in, Sam.

I owe him.

don't wait too long, Jake.

You might end upbeing the person
you never wanted to be.

You mean like
the Terminator?

Yeah.

Aah!

Yeah, let'sgo on up.

- ( Thunder rumbling )
- ( Gasps )

Evenin'!

Oh, I was just going
to get a drink of water.

Excuse me.

Uh, could you, uh,
use something

just a Tad stronger?

You have no idea.

Come on in.
Sit yourself down.

Nightmare!

Yeah.

Yeah, you, uh, you won't tell
Jacob about this, will you?

You know, he's a little old
lady about my drinking,

and my doctor
ain't much better.

I promise.

Yeah, I used to have
em all the time,

real fire and
brimstone beauties.

I've never seena dead body before.

Here's hoping you
never see one again.

Hey, you play checkers?

Aw, of course you do.

Let's finish the game that
Jacob and me started.

Come on, relax you.
Your move.

Mm-hmm.

Do you think Patti's
going to work.

I've never known a machine
that can beat a tornado,

nuts and bolts
and computer chips,

all that man made stuff.

I wish doc well,
I sincerely do,

but I just don't think

that machine of his
will do it.

The only thing
that will beat a tornado

is flesh and blood.

The office called today.

They want me
to kill the program.

And?

I didn't take the call.

( Laughs )

Well, I tell you,

you have a great
heart, sugar,

but you are a lousy
checker player.

( Chuckles )

You know, Doc thinks one

of the weather piece
Sis missing,

but they're always
all there,

just hiding in plain view.

It's a question of
what you make of them.

Another one?

No, thank you.

I think I'm ready
to go back to sleep.

Now, now,
not so fast, slick.

First, king me.

( Chuckles )

- Good night.
- Good night.

King me, you rotten
son of a bitch.

This time, I'm gonna
be ready for you.

* girl, you say you're gonna leave *

* you're tired of
Nashville's empty dreams *

( chatter )

So, I sold all my IBM stock.

There's no way I was gonna
get into online services.

( Emergency broadcast beep )

We interrupt our regular programming

to inform you that
the national weather service

has issued a tornado watch
for the following counties...

Well, Andy, till they
upgrade to a warning,

- I don't even stop cutting.
- ( Phone ringing )

Hello? Yeah, Margie,
what do we have?

When? All right,
I'll be right there.

George, stop cutting.

( Yips )

( Dog barks )

We got big trouble, Jakey.
Rudy can smell it.

Hey, Zeena, easy.
Easy, easy.

Okay, now, what does
your barometer say?

Uh-huh. All right, thanks.
Keep us posted.

I don't get it.

We got
these satellite images

straight from
the national weather service

first thing this morning,
yet someone repositioned

this flag in the exact
same place last night.

You see this line?

This is the second wave
of a jet stream

which has been
building steadily,

almost like a bantam,
cascading, getting stronger.

All of which means
we could have a tornado.

All of which means
that last tornado

was just the first taste of
this whole massive weather system.

( Screen door opens, closes )

What I want to know
is which one of you

fortune tellers
flagged the stream?

I did, and it's
gonna be a killer

the likes of which
we ain't seen in many a day.

Ain't that right, Doc?

On a scale of one to ten,
if the last one was a five,

this would be...

Fifteen.

Look, if we can't get a commitment
from SPC, we box it ourselves.

( Knocking on window )

Take a look.

Oh, my!

Lord have mercy.

I don't see why we gotta go
all the way to Amarillo.

Tex Fulton,
there's no damn way

that I'm gonna get
my wedding ring

at the Byron Jewelry mall.

Well, what about that mall
over there in Dalhart?

don't they got a five
and dime over there?

- ( Laughs )
- Oh!

I'm warning you, boy.

( Tires screech )

You know, I got
this sudden urge

to see Mom and Dad.
Monkey, too.

Do you mind?

As long as it's for you,
darling, I don't mind a thing.

Listen, Richie, I know
you and I haven't

exactly been
compadres over the years,

but you've gotta come through
on this one.

The spc says the storm is south
of Amarillo and heading east,

but if you look at
the north end of the storm,

you'll see that it's
starting to lead the line.

These storms aren't gonna pass
anywhere near Byron.

They're gonna blow south
of Amarillo and my viewing area.

When did you become
such an expert.

Richie, look, I need you to
upgrade at least to a warning.

Look, don't tell me my business.

SPC has only
red-boxed it from...

Well, from Amarillo to Midland.

Until I get something more
from weather service,

I can't upgrade to
priority one on my own.

I'm telling you,
the storm is heading north.

That's not good enough.
I'm not gonna put

my careeron the line because
you got some feeling.

Wouldn't I look the fool
if I cut in with a false warning.

Jake, I've got Tex
from the road.

Put him on speaker. Don't
disappear on me, now, Richie.

Jake! Jake, you there?

Can you read me?

Yeah, Tex, I got you.
What's going on?

Mattie and I are
just north of Amarillo

on 87. There's
a storm out here.

It's a pretty big one.

You got any reports on it?

Tex, you're breaking up.

Yeah, it came up all of a sudden.

It looks like this could
be worse than the last one.

- Tex?
- ( Static dies )

You hear that,
Mr. Weatherman?

Tex always lands on his feet.

Yeah well, if one person gets injured
because of your incompetence,

I am gonna land on you
like a ton of bricks!

It's almost on us.
Get that belt off.

We gotta get out of the
truck and find a ditch.

Hold on, Mattie!

Mattie!

An enormous mesocyclone
has already developed.

We have reportsthat a few
twisters have touched down.

Most likely we're
looking at F-5s.

300 miles an hour, easy.

So, uh, when do we start chasing?

Sam, we don't have
to chase anything.

The storm is headed
straight for us.

I, uh, need to talk
to you about something.

You're wondering about the network
reaction to your satellite feed?

Did they like it?

Like it?
They went nuts.

I don't know how we're
gonna hang onto you here.

I am gonna frame this.

Listen, while we're
on the subject of tornadoes,

I think we might have
a big one on the way down.

Now, I'd like to go
on air with a warning.

Did we get something
from NWS?

Nothing official.

Then don't worry about it.
It'll blow over.

You're probably right.

I'm just wound
a little tight is all.

I'm sorry to bother you.

Of course, I want
the Reverend Swanbeck,

but Mattie think
she's too boring

so she's talking to that
Reverend Madden fellow

over in Dalhart.

I needan emergency cut-in now!

Let's place it right here.

Okay.

- Monkey, come on!
- Hurry! Hurry!

There was a woman said
on the TV a twister's coming.

David, what about Mattie?

The wind is out
of the south-southeast.

Good! This is
the best place for it.

Now, once I set the firing mechanism,
there's a ten-second delay.

( Beeping )

Okay, stand back!

No, no! One of
the pins didn't fire!

Unless all four are planted,
it won't hold!

- What do we do?
- I don't know!

I gotta check
the firing mechanism.

Dr. B.,
we're running out of time!

Yeah, I know, look, I need a driving
pin and a toolbox from the shed.

I'll get them!

Folks, we have got
to get moving now!

Hey, Sam, let's go!

Come on!

Dr. B.! Hey!

( Whistles )

I can't!

I have to fix the leg!

( Tornado siren wails )

- An octopus?
- No, it's a bat, see?

If it was a bat,
it should be upside down.

Wait, I'll stand on my head.

( Laughs )

( Cracking )

All right, honey,
what's this?

I don't know.

Well, come on, try.

David, I don't know.

( Screaming )

( Zapping )

I'm going to have
to shut it manually!

I don't know if there's
enough time!

You can do it!

Get inside now!

Grandpa!

Grandpa!

Come on, grandpa!

Forget it, Doc!

No, no, I need
another minute!

- Come on!
- No!

Come on, Doc!

Grandpa, please!
Come on!

- Leave me be!
- Come on!

We'll never make it!

Jake!

( Screaming )

Hang on!

Aah!

We're inside.

We're inside it?

It's all around us.

Oh, my God.

- Are you okay?
- I'm all right, I'm fine.

We gotta get to
that storm shelter now

before the other side
reaches us. Come on.

Hurry, Jake!
We don't have much time!

It's not gonna hold!

Jake: Okay, come on,
get inside!

Come on, Grandpa!

Please, Grandpa, now!

Come on!

- ( Glass shatters )
- I've gotta set the leg!

Grandpa!

Grandpa! No!

Grandpa!

Okay, everybody,
let's get the post mortems.

( Phone ringing )

NWS.

Oldham county reporting?

NWS.

Parmer county, go ahead.

What's the story?

( Barking )

What do you think, boy?

Maybe we'll start
a franchise.

Why haven't we
heard from them?

I'm sure they're fine.

We did all right.
No real damage.

Oh, thank heavens.
Mattie!

Hey, Mama!

I tell you, Tex'll do anything
to avoid getting married.

Hey, Monkey!

You okay, Sis?

Oh, I'll tell you,
it's gonna take more

than a little old bump on the head
to make me miss our wedding day.

And I will dwell in the house
of the lord forever. Amen.

Hey, if there's, uh,
anything that I can do...

You came through
just fine, Richie.

I was just
following your lead.

I think he went
the way he wanted to.

Or maybe the only way
he could.

I'll be he looked right into
the dead soul of that monster

and ripped out his
devil heart for good.

Patti never could've survived
that storm without you.

The measurements
she took that night

will allow us
to save many lives.

That is your legacy.

Jake, I don't know

if this is the right
time to bring it up,

but I have a departmental
fellowship

that's yours
for the asking.

Do think about it,
won't you?

I'll do that, Doc.

That'll be the day, when
Jake Thorne goes back to school.

Once a chaser,
always a chaser?

Once a Terminator,
always a Terminator?

I can't see
going back to it.

Truth is, right now
I can't see past

Tex and Mattie's wedding.

You know, I'll need a date.

How would you feel about
being chased for a change?

I could get
to like that just fine.