Original subtitles

(range igniting)

(explosion)

♪

(siren)

♪

(yelling)

(flames crackling)

♪

(flames roaring)

♪

(muffled heavy breathing)

Hey.

What time is your flight?

8 a.m.

Bright and ugly.

Mhm.

And Jack and Charlie,

they're not joining us tonight?

It's just an elevator ride away.

No, they're downstairs.

Jack had some work to catch up on,

and, uh, Charlie's not so thrilled about me going to Miami

for four weeks.

Well, you know, he'll get a girlfriend soon enough

and he won't know whether you're here or there.

Uhh, Mr. Pellington, Charlie's eleven.

Close enough.

Uh, you know, you're not making me feel better.

But I'm just telling you the truth.

Now, you, go plan me another tower.

Deal, just finish this one.

The elevator has bugs.

Oh, well, just make sure they're not in the bed.

Mañana, Sam.

I'll see you there.

♪

♪

(elevator chimes)

(buttons beep)

(sigh)

(elevator chiming)

(buttons beep)

(exhale)

(elevator chiming)

(sh)

Beth: Look at Mama.

Charlie, look over here!

There's no hot water.

No.

Really?

Yeah, your super-sonic tankless water heater

just keeps flashing "error".

It's not mine.

Did you call the super?

Yes.

Yeah, he said something about a- a problem with electronic

systems and the sensors being off-line, I dunno--

Remember when things were just gas?

It runs on gas, it just has a computer that controls it.

Yeah--

Kinda feels like all brains and no heart.

Beth: Look at Mama!

Charlie, look over here!

Hard to remember when he was that little, huh?

Yeah.

I think I'm gonna paint the room when you're gone.

Might as well turn it into an office.

Come on, Jack.

Don't do this.

Not now.

I am not doing anything.

I'm just talking.

You know exactly what you're doing,

you're trying to make me feel guilty.

We have time.

Do we?

Beth: Hey, Charlie.

Aww.

(closing door)

(knocking)

Come in.

Gotta just machete this arachnid-beetle

before he goes radioactive.

In my day, we just had to get the frog across the road.

Was the frog packing a gun or knife?

Grenade?

No--

He was a frog with limited combat knowledge

and zero pockets for concealed weapons,

but he could jump on a lilypad like nobody's business.

Hey, lights out soon.

Okay, buddy?

Night, Dad.

You're going to bed already?

Yeah, I gotta wake up when the markets open.

G'night.

G'night.

So you're leaving again?

(sigh)

Miami is a big opportunity, Charlie.

That's what you said about Atlanta and then Indianapolis.

I mean who goes to Indianapolis?

Those were stepping stones.

The minor league, but Miami--

it's like your video game, if I can pull off Miami,

I'll be on a whole 'nother level.

But why do you have to be on another level?

Why can't you just be good here?

Well, it's just four weeks.

And I am good here.

We're good here.

(sigh)

Look, I'll call you before my plane takes off, okay?

I love you.

(video game fighting)

♪

♪

(door closing)

♪

(sigh)

♪

(sirens)

♪

♪

(opening locker)

♪

♪

♪

(sigh)

♪

(door opening)

♪

♪

(door closing)

♪

Concierge called.

Your car's downstairs.

Oh, thanks.

Beth, what are we doing?

It just seems so hard, you know?

And- and I know that it's been-

I know.

You're not happy.

Neither are you.

It's because all we do is fight, you know,

while we pretend not to fight for Charlie.

And I was thinking this morning and it- it hit me--

that even when we do all this fighting,

I think we've lost sight of--

What we're fighting for?

Yeah, I, uhh--

I took three melatonin,

and I was still up all night wondering the same thing.

(sigh)

Maybe this time apart's gonna be good for us, you know?

It'll just give us a little bit of space,

and a little bit of time to decide what we want to do.

and a little bit of time to decide what we want to do.

(sigh)

And hopefully, if we're lucky, it's gonna be the same thing.

(pager buzzing)

I gotta go.

Okay.

Safe travels, yeah?

Yeah.

I do love you.

You, too.

(sigh)

(door closing)

♪

(button beeps)

(elevator chimes)

(barking)

Morning, Mrs. Smith.

Good morning.

You, too, Sherman.

Good morning-- Beth.

You're up early.

What brings you to the 55th floor?

Oh, well, an elevator with a mind of it's own.

I pushed the pool button, and it brought me you.

Well, seems to be working now.

I told my son we shouldn't buy before completion,

but he said since my Preston was gone,

that- my home of forty-seven years was no longer safe.

Can you believe it?

He put me here in this pinball machine.

A lotta flash and all tilt.

Well, that's just kinks.

Every new building has kinks.

I'm sure they'll work it out soon.

I'm sure you're right.

What is it you do again?

Uh-- architect.

Ah, well, you would know.

I wish I did.

What was that, dear?

Oh, have a great swim.

Oh, thank you.

I swim, Sherman runs.

(chuckling)

Come on, come on!

(bark)

(sigh)

(button beeps)

(airplane ascending)

So, tomorrow, we'll see the first, uh, site contenders.

The first is a nineteenth century church,

second's a Spanish Mission dating back to the 1600s.

Same deal as the post office here.

We pay for restoration and preservation of a heritage site

against future tax breaks and the right to build up.

Pros and cons to both,

but both give us the necessary foundation space to--

--build a bunker to house Brad Pitt

until I can convince him I'm his soul mate.

What do you say?

Hmm?

Yeah, sounds good.

You haven't heard a word I've said.

I said "you, too" this morning.

U2, what, like Bono?

You're not making sense.

Jack said "I love you," and I just said "you, too,"

and ran out the door.

Yeah--

the problem is--?

I shoulda said "love".

I shoulda said the word.

You sound like every other married couple I know.

And they don't feel guilty.

Wait- you're not having an affair, are you?

No, I--

I shoulda said the word, Sam.

Call him.

(sigh)

(sigh)

(sigh)

(phone vibrating)

Hey, Mom.

Hey, honey.

Just waiting to board my plane, wanted to tell you I love you.

I love you, too.

Are you okay?

Yeah, yeah, is your dad still there?

I think so.

Hey, is that from you?

Beth: Just a little something to keep you out of trouble

while I'm away.

(bag rustling)

Fahrenheit 451!

Sick!

It's so cool.

Everything, and I mean everything, burns.

Okay, I'm having buyer's remorse.

You know it's a book, right?

Sure, but why read when you can play?

Okay, you are going to college.

Now, can I please speak to your father?

Charlie: Yeah, sure.

Dad?

Voice over P.A.: American Airlines Flight 1205,

non-stop to Miami, is now boarding at Gate 27.

That's us.

Dad!

Dad, mom's on the phone.

Hang on, Mom, he's just--

I'll hold it at three.

(sniffing)

Dad, do you smell that?

(sniffing)

Come on, Jack--

(loud explosion)

Charlie?

Jack?

What's going on?

I don't know--

Um--

(phone beeps)

(phone ringing)

News Anchor: This is Cheryl Andrews,

and we have breaking news--

There's been an explosion at Pellington Tower

in Chicago's West Loop.

Our Natalie Washington is on the phone and en-route.

Natalie--

Go.

♪

(sirens)

♪

(sirens blaring)

Go, go, go, go ,go!

(water spraying)

(commotion and crying)

Come on, come on.

Talk to me, Ray.

What's the situation in there?

My team is working 14.

We got 2 so far.

Mike's leading them down now.

Chief: We're lucky this building's one quarter occupied.

The alarm didn't go off.

Chief: There was electrical problems

so the operating system went off-line.

The computer ran the back-up systems, too?

Yeah, everything except the battery back-up

in the LED stairway.

I give 'em about four hours tops.

Gas, too?

Yeah.

(sirens)

♪

And judging by the accounts of the initial blast,

I'm guessing there was some residual build-up.

The computer controlled vapor recovery systems--

Yeah, it failed.

Pellington's people are working on getting the system

back on-line,

but they're having some issues.

Issues?

Healthcare is an issue.

Affirmative action is an issue.

This--

this is a four alarm headed to a five.

Hey, hey, hey.

Half-full.

I need you half-full, Ray, okay?

Now, we've got confirmation of fires

on 19, 27, 42, 47, and 55.

Yeah, and I can guarantee there's a half dozen more

that you don't know about.

(sighs)

God.

Why didn't they leave this place a post office?

Chief: Yeah, have you seen the new one?

They got a stamp machine that talks to you.

(laughs)

They call it "progress".

Progress, yeah, right--

Hold on.

(crackling)

Chief: What's goin' on, Ray?

♪

Chief: Come on, Ray, talk to me, talk to me.

Down!

Everybody down!

(loud explosion)

(groaning and coughing)

Ray.

(wheezy cough)

Can you move?

Ah- I think I cracked some ribs, Carter.

Get my jacket off.

Easy, easy.

(groans)

One, two-

(groans)

Good?

Okay.

Grab my helmet.

(coughing)

Easy.

Easy, easy, easy.

Come on, come on.

Answer the phone.

Charlie's Voicemail: Hey, this is Charlie.

I'm busy right now, but I'll call--

Um, I'll get out here.

Here you go.

(cars honking)

(groaning and commotion)

Let's get you down here.

There you go.

Man: Everyone goes home!

Sir--

Back there, how'd you know?

This your first fire, McAllen?

Second.

Tell him, Carter.

Aluminum stores thermal energy

until it's exposed to water.

And water triggers its release.

So it could be a toilet, pool, pipe, whatever.

And there's always water, McAllen.

Remember that, and maybe you'll see a third.

Yes, sir.

Ray.

Just Ray.

Yeah, lieutenant's not big on titles.

Why is that again, Ray?

Fire doesn't care who or what you are.

So why should I?

♪

♪

♪

Cop: Authorized personnel only.

My husband and son are in there.

There's an information tent right over there, ma'am.

I was one of the architects that designed the building.

Thank you.

I got someone coming in,

she says she's one of the architects of the building.

Let's get started on that secondary evacuation

from 44 down.

Excuse me, are- are you in charge here?

Yeah, who are you?

My son and husband are on the 55th floor.

Look, we went door to door.

If they were there, they're at the tent over there.

You went in the units?

Broke down the doors?

No, there was no time for that.

We went door to door.

Structural integrity's been compromised.

No, that's not possible.

How would you know that?

Because I drew that.

You built this tinderbox?

No, I didn't build it.

I designed it.

It was contracted out.

So you thought it was a good idea to put this monstrosity

on one of the city's oldest landmarks.

Look, I draw the plans.

The contracting department takes it over, okay?

Well, what can I say?

The best laid plans.

Until I get a better handle on the situation,

I will not risk the lives of my men.

No, no, hey, hey-

Please.

You gotta help me.

What's the unit?

It's 5518.

Okay. h

Yeah, okay, what?

I will look into it when I get the chance.

In the meanwhile, go to the information centre over there.

They could be waiting for you there.

Thank you.

(sigh)

Where would I find them?

Over there.

(breathless sigh)

Beth: There's no Davis.

There-there- there's no Davis!

The-

(worried breathing)

First step.

Excuse me?

First step is admitting you're powerless.

(laughs)

If that's your idea of a joke--

It's no joke.

There's fire and then there's that.

You were inside?

What floor's your family on?

55th.

The windows are stil intact up there, is that right?

Uhh--

Yeah, yeah, why?

Ray: Good.

Fire needs oxygen like an addict needs a fix.

What colour is the smoke?

(frustrated sigh)

It's black.

Last stages.

Subject to auto-ignition, flashover.

That's when the monster bares its teeth.

All you see is white light.

Looks like heaven, feels like hell.

I don't have time for this!

Ray: Look again.

What colour's the smoke on the 55th floor?

White.

Early stages.

Not as hot, not as toxic--

(pained breath)

--not as dense.

There's a chance we can get under it.

Meaning?

If your family survived the initial blow out,

their odds of surviving the fire are--

better.

Better, or good?

Better.

Can you help me, or not?

You wanna listen to the play by play?

It's the best I can do.

(sighs)

(coughing)

Charlie?

Charlie?

Charlie--

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie--

Charlie?

Charlie?

Charlie?

Charlie?

(coughing)

Charlie--

Charlie's fine, Charlie's fine, Charlie's fine.

Charlie's-

(loud groan)

(coughs)

♪

(groaning)

(chatter)

♪

Charlie--

Charlie.

What happened?

Char- Char-

Charlie, you okay?

Charlie, are you hurt?

Are you hurt?

No.

Okay--

good, good.

What's going on?

Ch- Charlie, the building's on fire.

I think the building's on fire.

I need you to do something for me, Charlie.

I want you- I want you to go to the door, Charlie,

and I want you- I want you-

I want you to feel if it's hot, okay?

Okay, Charlie?

Okay.

Don't open it, Don't open it.

(groaning)

♪

It's like a thousand degrees.

Charlie, get away from the door!

Charlie, come here.

Come here.

Come here, come here, come here.

Come here, son.

Come here, come here.

Okay, okay, that's good, okay.

Okay, let's get up, get up-

(agonized groan)

Ch- we gotta--

We gotta get out of here, Chalrie.

What do we do?

Okay, umm--

We have to get to the shower in our bathroom.

I remember Mom said the tiles were fire resistant.

We gotta get to the bathroom.

Come on, Charlie, help me up.

Charlie, you gotta help me up.

Help me up, buddy.

Let's go.

Up.

Agh!

Okay, okay, okay.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

You okay?

Yeah, yeah.

Okay.

Ow!

Grab your phone, Charlie, take your phone.

Okay, okay, it's okay, Charlie.

It's okay.

Let's go, let's go.

(grunts)

Let's go, okay.

Okay.

Let's get into the bathroom.

(groans)

(coughing)

(grunting)

Over here.

(shaky breathing)

Charlie, Charlie-

Hey, hey, hey.

Hey.

Relax.

Okay, I need you to do something for me.

Can you do something for me?

Yeah.

Okay, okay.

I need you-

I need you to take these towels,

I need you to soak them in water-

hey, hey, we're gonna be okay, eh?

Soak these towels in water,

you put one underneath that doorframe,

and you put one on that vent up there, okay?

It's not gonna stay.

Just try it, okay?

We're gonna figure this out.

Go.

'Kay?

There's no water!

Check the toilet.

Check if there's water in the toilet, Charlie.

(cough)

Yeah.

Okay, okay.

Okay.

Oh god.

(coughing)

Charlie, Charlie.

Give me- give me the cover from the toilet tank.

I gotta get some air in here.

Okay.

Okay, now do the vent.

Okay?

Just climb up there and put it on the vent.

(coughing)

(breathing heavily)

(grunts)

(cracking)

(grunts)

Okay, okay, it's staying for now.

Okay, good.

Good.

Charlie, give me your phone, give me your phone.

Okay, okay.

You're doing a great job.

And I promise you your allowance is gonna go up after this.

Okay.

Okay?

Just go- go in the shower,

you sit with your back against the wall, okay?

Cover your ears, this is gonna be loud, Charlie.

Okay, okay.

(grunts)

(glass smashing)

Dad!

It's okay.

It's okay.

(phone beeps)

(phone ringing)

911 Operator: 911, what is your emergency?

My son and I--

are trapped in the 55th floor--

of the Pellington Tower.

♪

Chief: We have confirmation of 2 individuals in 5518.18

Davis.

I need a 20 on the mother.

Anybody at that tent, is she there?

Negatory.

She was here, but she's gone.

(sigh)

Ray, you see her, you send her my way.

Ray: Copy.

Helicopter.

If they can get to the roof, I can get 'em.

That is a big if.

Go to three.

Going to three.

Chief: Alright, Ray, you listen to me.

Judging by the conditions of the rest of the building,

it'll be difficult to get a trained firefighter

to that roof.

Let alone an injured one.

It's too big a risk.

Chief, just let me talk to 'em.

I know what questions to ask, you know I do.

Let me quarter back this thing.

No risk.

You got my word.

This isn't your family, Ray.

It's not my family--

but it's somebody's.

(sigh)

(frustrated groan)

(sigh)

(heavy breathing)

(explosion)

♪

Okay--

Okay--

(grunts)

(phone beeps)

I'm gonna call your mom and let her know we're okay.

Oh god.

Come on, come on, come on.

Beth's Voicemail: You've reached Beth Davis,

please leve a message at the tone.

(phone beeps)

She must still be up in the air.

She has no idea what's going on.

No, no.

Can you imagine how much she'd freak out?

(laughing)

She's probably sitting there tearing into one of those

little packets of honey roasted almonds right now though.

(laughs)

She loves those things.

Yeah.

(exhales)

Okay--

(panting)

My phone--

Oh god.

No, no--

(sigh)

Okay.

Okay, think.

(frustrated groan)

Okay.

♪

Something- something in here.

Keys.

(sigh)

They've forgotten about us.

No, they didn't forget about us, Charlie.

(phone ringing)

See?

Charlie, put it on speaker, okay?

Hello?

Ray: Mr. Davis.

Ray Steele here.

I'm Jack.

Ray: Jack, I need you to

describe the conditions in your unit, alright?

Can you do that?

Don't leave anything out.

The flames, the smoke, the colour,

the positions, the motion.

You understand?

Yeah, um--

The smoke is white,

it's mostly up at the ceiling.

Uh, after the first explosion-

Explosion--

Did you smell gas?

Uh, yeah, um, it seemed like it was coming out of the vent

and it exploded above us and forced us onto the ground.

Is the fire in the vent now?

Yeah, I think so,

but it hasn't jumped into the room or anything.

That's good.

The sheet metal in the duct's containing it.

For now.

What about the hallway outside your unit?

My son touched the door, said it was hot.

Was there any buckling on the inside?

Any signs of melting?

No.

I don't think so.

What's- what's your name, son?

Charlie.

Ray: Okay.

Okay, Charlie.

Charlie, this is very important, alright?

Do you know for a fact or you just think there was buckling

or melting inside that door?

It's okay, Charlie.

I can't be certain.

Jack, can you get to the front door?

He's hurt.

Yes I can.

You could barely get in here.

Kid, you're not going.

No discussion.

Your dad can do it.

How do you know?

Because I know.

Because he wants to live and more importantly,

heants you to live too.

Ray, what do you need me to do?

Is there a bathrobe there?

Uhh-- yes.

Yes.

Ray: You got a hanging light fixture in the-

in the centre of your entry hall?

Uh-- yes.

Yeah, we do, why?

'Cause I want you to live, too.

♪

(panting)

(loud explosion)

(startled groan)

♪

♪

(coughing)

♪

(coughing)

Ray: You can do this, Jack.

We can get you to the roof

if we can get you through thatt oor.

Okay, hold on.

Hold on.

Yeah.

Yeah, okay.

(grunts)

Ray, it's hot.

It's very, very, very hot, Ray.

Ray: Alright, listen to me, Jack.e,

That may or may not be fire on the other side of that door.

Did you just say, "May or may not"?

You can't do any better than that?

That's the best I can do.

So the problem is we need to get you to that roof.

To do that, you need to get to the stairs,

and the only way is through that door.

Hey, Jack, you ever dated a woman with a temper?

Huh?

Crazy college girlfriend?

A one-night stand you couldn't stand?

(confused laughter)

No.

No, no.

No.

I've been with Beth since we were in high school.

What are you-

what are you talking about, Ray?

We're laughing, Jack.

Laughing releases endorphins.

Endorphins reduces pain.

High school sweetheart.

Love of your life.

Okay.

That's good.

That's good; you're gonna need that today.

I'm gotoa need you to stand on a chair

and rip down that light fixture from the ceiling.

Okay?

Can you do that for me?

Okay, okay.

Okay, Ray.

(grunting)

♪

Okay.

♪

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie, Charlie.

Okay.

Okay, just hold- hold that for one second.

Hold on.

Okay, go back, Charlie, go.

Go.

Okay, I've got it, Ray.

(grunts)

(crashing)

Dad!

(coughs)

Ray: Talk to me, Jack.

Tell me there's a hole in that ceiling.

Yeah, Ray.

There's a hole in the ceiling.

Good.

Good job, now for the hard part--

(coughing)

(walkie talkie going off)

♪

(fire crackling)

Charlie, I'm gonna need you to go back to the shower

and stay there until your dad tells you otherwise.

Okay, buddy?

Charlie, go.

Go.

Ray: Okay, Jack.

Jack, I'm gonna need you to get low

and lean flush against that wall, alright?

Okay, okay--

Okay, Ray.

(grunts)

(pants)

Ray: Okay, on three, you're gonna cover your face

with your hands and throw that door wide open.

Fire's gonna rise high if she has the space to do it.

The hole in the ceiling--

Exactly.

I hope you won't need it, but if you do,

it should buy you just enough time to shut that door before--

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Just remember to cover your face.

(fire crackling)

(walkie talkie going off)

Okay.

(loud explosion and glass breaking)

Oh god--

Okay.

♪

Ray, if something happens you have to come get Charlie.

Ray: Nothing's gonna happen, Jack.

(coughs)

Ray: Okay?

Mhm.

♪

One--

Two--

(alarm sounding)

(water sprinkling)

Ray: Jack, what's happening?

Talk to me.

(triumphant grunts)

Ray--

Wait, wait, wait, wait--

The power's on.

Ray, it's raining.

(laughing)

Jack: It's over, Ray.

Just--

Jack: Thank you.

Stop talking, Jack.

(alarm going off)

(walkie talkie going off)

(alarm going off)

Okay.

Okay.

Jack, take cover!

Take cover!

(loud explosion)

(glass breaking)

(electrical static)

Are you okay in there?

Jack!

Jack, talk to me!

Charlie!

Charlie!!

Are you okay?

What's happening?

I dunno--

Ray: Jack, are you okay in there?!

Are you good?!

Ray, we're okay.

What's going on?

Okay.

Come on.

Come on, Beth, think.

Fireman: Power surge.

Attempt to re-establish operating system has failed.

Back up system's toast.

Copy that, Chief?

Chief Connors, do you copy?

Come on, Beth, think--

think--

Well, the good news is that's not gonna happen again.

What's the bad news?

Ray: That that's never gonna happen again.

See, sprinklers in most buildings

aren't controlled by computers for this very reason.

'Cause if the system's fried, that's it.

All brains, no heart.

Dad--

Yeah, champ, what is it?

What is it?

(grunts)

♪

Ray, the door--

It's buckling, isn't it?

Yes.

Okay.

Okay, that's okay.

You've still got a three-wall barrier with the shower.

Just go back there and sit tight now.

Are you gonna get us out of here?

I'm gonna get you outta there, Charlie.

I'm gonna get you outta there.

Ray, how's that gonna happen?

I'm workin' on it, Jack.

I'm rkin' on it.

(coughing)

This is Beth Davis.

I'm on the 14th floor of Pellington Tower.

I need to speak to Chief Connors.

Right now.

(panting)

Come on, come on--

(sirens in distance)

You got my attention.

Chief, I'm gonna give it to you straight.

How's it gonna look to the press when they find out a woman

breached your secure perimeter and died on your watch?

(coughs)

I need your help.

♪

Hello?

Hello!

God--

(grunts)

First step is admitting you're powerless.

Beth, I'm gonna help you.

Thank you.

How'd you get in the building?

My deal with the city required 100% preservation

of the existing heritage site.

Ray: The post office.

Right, and that includes a defunct underground railway

for mail delivery.

It's right under the parking garage.

You say you're on the fourteenth floor?

Fifteenth now.

East Stairwell.

And it's clear?

Beth: For now.

You ever been in a fire, Beth?

Beth: Uh-uh.

No.

Ray: Well, it wants to survive--

and if that means killing you, then so be it.

Could be the flames, the smoke, the falling debris--

or a hundred other things you can't even imagine.

If you're trying to make me feel better, you're not.

Just letting you know what you're up against.

Okay, here's the deal.

If I tell you to do something,

you do it without question, okay?

My word is law.

And if the situation in there gets worse,

and I say to pull out, you pull out.

Do you understand?

Yeah.

Well, the first thing you should know

is that Jack and Charlie are in your unit, and they're okay.

You spoke to them?

I tried to get 'em to roof for an airlift, but--

there was no access.

(heavy breathing)

Ray: There's still time on the clock, Beth.

Fourth quarter, but there's time.

Fourth quarter, but there's time.

Now, what floor are you on now?

Coming up on 17.

17--

Okay, 19 through 24 is basically a furnace,

particularly through the Northeast corner

of the building.

Now, I want you to get off on 18 and go straight for

the West stairwell, okay?

Can you do that for me, Beth?

And what are you wearing?

I'm a married woman, Ray.

The lady's got a sense of humor.

That's good.

You're gonna need it.

Now, what are you wearing?

Is it loose, tight?

What's the fabric?

I found one of your guys' coats on, uh--

14.

Beth: Yeah, how'd you know?

It's mine.

All things work together for our good.

Heard that in a meeting once.

Whoever said that was never in a fire, were they?

♪

The ceiling's on fire, Ray.

Okay.

Are there large pieces of debris on the floor?

No, just- a lotta ember and ash in the air.

Okay, that's good.

That's good.

Beth, I want you to put the jacket over your head

and run as fast as you can to the West Stairwell.

Can you do that for me, Beth?

Beth?

♪

Yeah.

Okay, good.

Go.

Go now!

♪

(loud explosion)

♪

(distressed breathing)

I can't do this anymore, Ray.

Ray: Yes, you can, Beth.

Yes, you can.

And you're doing it, you're doing great.

Tell me about the day

you brought Charlie home from the hospital.

How much did he weigh?

Seven pounds, six ounces.

Ray: Seven pounds, six ounces.

Hair or no hair?

No hair.

No kidding, I was a baby baldie too once.

I bet he cried a lot those first few months, didn't he?

Oh, yeah.

Ray: And what'd you do to calm him?

I walked him, and I walked him, and I walked him.

I thought my legs were gonna fall off, but--

it worked.

Keep walking, Beth.

Keep walking.

(grunting)

♪

Ray: Just one foot in front of the other.

Step by step.

You got this.

♪

Is there any buckling in the door, Charlie?

Not yet.

Good.

Good.

(coughing)

Dad?

Yeah?

(shaky breath)

Are we gonna die here?

No.

No, we're not gonna die here.

Charlie?

Hey, Chuck, come here, sit down with me, okay?

Keep me company here.

(groans)

Hurts, huh?

Yes.

(laughs)

Wonder what it's like.

What?

Dying.

Mm-mm.

Charlie, we are not gonna die here.

Dad, we're fifty-five floors up in a burning building.

We can't go up, we can't go down.

What are we gonna do, walk through fire?

If that's what we have to do, then yes,

you and I will walk through fire together, Charlie.

You afraid?

Yeah.

Me too.

(laughs)

I am so afraid.

(laughs)

But we gotta be brave.

'Cause life is scary, eh?

When you were, uh, so small--

and you went into your own room for the first time,

into your own bed, you were afraid of the dark.

And I had to hold your hand--

every night, till you fell asleep, you know?

I dunno who needed it more, you or me.

(laughs)

So small.

You know when I was most scared in my life?

When?

The night that you were born.

Your mom almost died.

Really?

It was so scary.

Class three hemorrhage they called it.

30 percent of my blood supply.

And I was--

in shock, and confused.

I didn't know up from down.

And then I heard this little coo,

and I just knew I had to live.

I mean this little baby just went through twenty-one hours

of labor and trauma, and he was cooing.

Kids really have a way of putting things into perspective,

don't they?

You have kids, Ray?

Had.

A daughter.

I'm so sorry--

She would have been seventeen last week.

Yeah, she and her mother were--

killed in a car accident on the way to my in-laws.

I was supposed to drive 'em earlier, but--

I got tied up with a fire.

That's not your fault, Ray.

Yeah.

It is.

You know, I carry them with me into every fire?

Would you look in the inside pocket of my jacket.

(velcro rips)

♪

Beautiful.

Yep, they're with me every day.

And today--

Today they're with you.

♪

Yeah.

♪

Ray.

We need to talk.

Beth.

Give me a minute.

Keep walking, you're doing great.

Everything okay, Ray?

Ray--

Ray--

Are Jack and Charlie okay?

Ray?

(barking)

Sherman--

Sherman--

God, Maxine.

Come on.

Come on.

Okay.

What is it?

Called in the water bombers to stabilize the building.

Chief, no, what?

We do that,

we'll have a flashover on the second elevator for sure.

Yeah, that's the idea.

Then we get back in there safely and finish the job.

But we could kill at least three people

and who knows how many others are in there?

What do you think we've been doing for the last hour?

We've confirmed 98 percent of the residents have vacated.

There's only one more unaccounted beyond your three.

Oh, so, four.

We could kill four people.

Could, Ray.

Could.

If we don't and this building comes crashing down,

we will kill a lot more than four.

Not could.

Will.

You get her out of there, and that could becomes three.

♪

(coughing and barking)

Here, Sherman.

Maxine.

Maxine, what are you doing here?

Everybody's gone.

Yeah, because there's a fire, okay?

I'm gonna get you outta here, come on.

My Preston, my sister, Mom, Dad- everybody's gone.

Maxine, I want you to put your arm around me

and I want you to stand up, okay?

Too tired.

Come on.

Come on.

No-no-no.

You're not-

Ray: Beth, the whole building's in danger,

you have to get out of there now.

Maxine, honey, you're not making any sense.

Ray: Are you there?

Do you hear me?

Okay--

Okay--

What about your son?

How's he gonna feel when the police knock on his door

and tell him his mom's gone?

A son needs his mother.

(sigh)

(debris crumbling in distance)

Here.

(plays piano)

(plays piano)

(plays piano)

It's like Preston is here.

He is.

Yeah, he is.

Come with me, honey, okay?

Come on.

I gotcha.

Come on, Sherman.

Let's go.

Okay.

You got it.

Come on, Sherman.

Let's go.

Okay.

Beth, the whole building's in danger,

you have to get out of there now!

Beth!

By my estimation you have ten minutes.

Are you there?

Do you hear me?!

Jack and Charlie.

How are they?

Water bombers are in the air as we speak.

Okay, that's good a good thing, right?

Listen to me, Beth.

There's a lot of aluminum in the elevator shafts.

Aluminum stores thermal energy

and water can catalyze its release as a flashover.

In English.

Imagine a room where every molecule is a bomb

and they simultaneously ignite.

Your unit is far enough from the elevator shaft;

they should be okay.

Should?

Beth, you promised you'd listen to me!

We had a deal!

I'm tryin' to save your life here!

Come on!

Okay, um--

The west stairwell from 23 down, is it clear?

It looks like there's smoke between ten and twelve,

so stay low, otherwise, yeah, as far as we can tell.

Okay.

Smoke between ten and twelve.

Stay low.

Meet me at the exit.

Maxine, make sure to take Sherman s

and go as fast as you can.

My friend Ray will meet you outside the exit at the bottom.

Your husband and son are in the building.

You need to hurry.

♪

♪ Happy birthday to you

♪ Happy birth-

Jack: He's mortified!

♪ Happy birthday-

Jack: I'm gonna bring cupcakes to your class

until you get a girlfriend!

♪ Happy birthday to you

Jack: Oh, the pain on your young face, Charlie.

You were a little baby like this.

Happy birthday, let's get a cake.

Beth: Here, sweet boy.

Jack: And if you don't blow out all the candles--

(frantic breathing)

(phone ringing)

What?

(laughs)

Ray.

Jack, it's me.

Hi, Beth.

Hey.

Are you okay?

You guys okay?

He's fine.

He's fine.

I'm fine.

We're fine.

Charlie: Is that Mom?!

Yeah, come here.

Okay, look, I need you to sit still, okay?

We're gonna get outta here.

What do you- what do you mean?

Are you in the building?

Yeah, 24th floor.

Beth, get out of the building right now, you have to get out.

They're coming for us.

No--

No--

No one's coming.

It's too unstable.

But what do you-

But Ray said that he was gonna come.

Yeah, Ray's just a man.

This is--

This is a nightmare.

This is a nightmare, Beth.

Hey, no matter what happens--

I love you.

I love you, too, Beth.

Can you put Charlie on the phone?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Of course, of course, of course.

Mom!

Hey, honey.

I love you.

You know that, right?

Yeah.

I love you, too.

Are you scared?

Yeah.

Yeah, well, don't be.

Alright, look, it's just like one of your video games.

I'm coming to get you, and we're gonna get to that next level.

You hear me?

Yeah.

Good.

(loud explosion)

I gotta go, honey, okay?

(phone beeping)

♪

Come on, Beth--

♪

♪

Hey, guys!

Hey!

(frustrated sigh)

You lied.

Ray, I'm not leaving my family.

You're gonna die, Beth.

Maybe.

No, not maybe.

Well, then help me die, Ray.

Can you do that?

Can you just help me go out doing one good thing?

Water.

You need water.

And tile; it'll protect you from the explosion.

Where are you?

East stairwell, just past the 31st.

You're not gonna make it to the pool.

There's no time.

Clay Pellington has an office on the 33rd floor

with an executive bathroom.

Surrounded by tile and minimal glass?

Yes.

Ray: Water's off--

No, maybe not, he wanted a closed system.

He didn't wanna run outta hot water.

Okay, go, go!

It's really hot, Ray.

Ray: Alright, with the sleeve of the jacket

you're gonna open the door.

With the jacket over your head,

you're gonna run through the fire.

Excuse me?

It's not the flames that burn you, Beth,

it's the exposure to the radiating heat, alright?

If you run, you'll make it through.

I do it all the time.

Yeah, why do you do that again?

Just-just-

just do it, Beth, okay?

Just trust me, the clock's ticking.

(grunting)

Come on.

(grunting)

(fire crackling)

♪

(grunting)

♪

(panting and coughing)

It works.

Okay, run it and get in.

Okay.

Okay.

(blows out)

(water running)

So why?

Why what?

Why do you do it?

Why do you run into a burning building

when everyone else is running the other way?

My old man was a firefighter.

He doesn't talk about it much, but--

I remember the first time I saw it.

He had this scar, covered most of his back.

A burn?

Ray: Yeah, I must've been about five,

and it was all twisted and raised.

I don't remember asking him if he was one, but--

he said I did.

Was one?

A monster.

From the mouth of babes, right?

Anyway,

he sat me down and told me that the monster

was out in the world and that he fought it every day.

Huh, that's intense.

I wasn't scared.

I wanted to see it for myself.

So when I was--

I got a little older--

(grunts)

He took me on a ride-along.

I can see it like it was yesterday.

It was just an apartment building just--

consumed in flames.

A screaming mother--

restrained by the police.

And my dad--

walked into this black smoke.

And we're waiting and waiting--

all I could think of was,

"let him be okay, let him be okay," you know?

Then--

then we heard this wailing and out comes my dad

out of the smoke with- with something in his jacket.

The mother's baby?

Never has a baby's cry been so soothing.

Jack wanted another baby, Ray.

(sigh)

We even built the nursery in the new place,

my career just started to take off,

and I kept putting it off.

Putting him off.

God, I'm so stupid.

You know what I would give to hear that baby's cry right now?

Ray: The past is the past, Beth.

Smoke and ash, it's gone.

Beating yourself up over it isn't gonna help you,

or your husband, or your son.

Yeah, I know.

It's just that everything is so clear right now.

You know, when all this is gone, you know,

the only thing that matters-

Family.

I know.

(sniffs)

♪

(plane descending)

♪

Okay, it's game time, Beth.

When you hear the explosion, go under.

♪

(explosive splash)

(explosions and rumbling)

♪

(loud explosion)

(rumbling)

(fire crackling)

♪

♪

(gasping for air)

(panting)

Thank you, Ray.

♪

(grunts)

(grunts)

♪

♪

Beth!

Beth, are you there?

Beth!

(frustrated grunt)

Ray, Ray!

Ray?

Jack!

Jack, it was a flashover.

Are you and your son okay?

Yeah.

♪

Ray--

The door is buckling.

I'm coming!

Chief!

I can bring 'em down.

Just gotta get on that roof.

The fire might be diminished, that doesn't mean it's safe.

Chief, I can get down the north stairs

Chief, I can get down the north stairs

and bring 'em down the west.

I know I can.

I know I can.

The man lost his wife.

The boy lost his mother.

Please--

We can save 'em.

Half full, Chief.

Go.

Do it.

(panting)

♪

(explosion)

(lights buzzing)

♪

(panting and grunting)

Ray.

I wanna go with you.

No, it's too dangerous.

But you can't carry two sets of extra equipment on your own.

You're right, McAllen.

So give me one.

As a Lieutenant, that's an order.

But, Ray--

Better be on that bird.

(cough)

Charlie, look at me.

Charlie, looking at the door's not gonna help, okay?

Just look at me.

(grunts)

I'm gonna come down.

Come here, let's talk.

Let's talk.

You have a girlfriend?

No.

Are you sure?

Dad.

(laugh)

Okay.

Well, in a couple of years--

(cough)

You know, you are gonna fall in love.

It's terrible, you can't eat, and you just think about her

all the time, and you dream about her,

and then every time you see her

your stomach starts to flip around and you wanna puke.

It's the best.

I dunno, maybe it's gonna last for six or seven months,

and when it ends your heart is gonna hurt so much,

it's gonna break, and you're gonna feel like

the world is coming to an end, but it's not.

It is just setting you up for the real thing.

And if you're very, very lucky, son--

maybe it's gonna be that quiet girl in Calculus who's just

so impossibly beautiful, and she knows all the answers,

and sometimes she lets you look over her shoulder during a test.

Mom let you cheat off her?

Your mother took pity on me.

(laughs)

I love your mom so much.

I know.

It's so stupid.

Turn eighteen, too, you're gonna go off to college

and you're gonna learn all about Hegel's dialectic,

and you're gonna learn about Pavlov's dog

and you are gonna learn, unfortunately,

that McDonalds is not really the cure for a hangover

in spite what your friends say.

You're crazy, Dad.

Your mom's gonna cry when you leave--

Me too.

But they're gonna be- they're gonna be tears of joy,

even though we're gonna miss you so much.

But then before you know it,

you're gonna have your degree from Harvard, so.

Harvard--

No pressure.

Yale?

And you're- you're gonna meet someone, maybe there,

and they're gonna look at you in a way that makes you feel--

ten feet tall.

And she's gonna think you hung the moon, just for her.

And she's gonna be right.

And then you're gonna have a little baby,

and you're gonna hold it in your hands

and you're gonna look at it and--

It's gonna be the best thing that ever happened to you.

You're the best thing that ever happened to me.

I am so proud of you

and I cannot wait to watch you grow up.

We are going to get out of here.

What's Ray gonna do, Dad?

I do not know, but you just gotta keep believing

that Ray is gonna come and get us.

Can you do that?

Yeah.

(helicopter whirring)

♪

♪

♪

♪

(crashing)

(banging and grunting)

♪

♪

(fire roars)

♪

♪

(crash)

♪

♪

♪

♪

(echoing laughter)

♪

(panting)

(crash)

(panting)

Agh!

Jack, it's me, Ray.

(breathing heavily)

Alright, Jack.

There's a jacket in here I want you to put on Charlie.

Okay.

There's a helmet in here too.

What are you doing?

Don't worry about me.

They'll come for me.

Charlie.

Okay.

Charlie, come here, son.

I'll get the rest of that.

You got it?

Put that on.

Come here, Charlie.

Alright, listen, you're gonna go left

when you go out the front door,

head to the west stairwell.

Alright?

East and north are compromised.

There you go.

(groans)

Ray: Charlie, turn around.

You alright?

You got that?

Yeah.

Jack and Ray: Left. West.

Left. West.

Alright.

Okay.

Here you go, helmet.

Put that on.

I'll strap it up, put these gloves on.

Good, good.

You guys gotta go!

Thank you.

You're gonna be fine!

Go.

Charlie, stay with me!

Ray: Left!

West!

(coughing)

♪

(coughs)

♪

(fire crackling)

♪

(coughing)

♪

(flames roar)

♪

♪

(coughing)

Beth?

♪

Come here, baby.

There you go.

There you go.

There you go.

Breathe a minute.

You're okay.

You're okay.

Okay.

Charlie, we gotta get mom outta here, let's go.

We're gonna get you up, okay?

(grunts)

Come on.

Come on.

Up, up.

Let's go.

Come on.

(breathing heavily)

Never stop believing--

That's why we're here, baby.

You're why we're here, Beth.

I love you, Mom.

Oh, I love you, too, baby.

Where did you guys get these?

From Ray.

Where is he?

There wasn't enough equipment.

Beth, his guys are coming for him.

No, no.

(explosion)

Ah!

Beth, we have to go, he knows what he's doing, come on.

Charlie, keep going.

Let's go.

Okay.

Come on.

Let's go.

Okay.

Let's go.

Okay.

McAllen!

We're up.

(coughing)

We gotta find another stairwell.

Charlie, go, go.

Go.

Ugh, come on!

Well, we'll go back!

We'll find another way!

And go back into that?

No, no.

Um--

Oh, here.

Help me, help!

Come on.

Watch out, watch out.

(grunting)

Where's the elevator?

Down there.

There's no other way.

I'll go first.

We can't take the tanks down there.

No, no.

We're leaving them.

Beth--

Jack, if there were another way,

I would take it.

We're too close now not to make it.

You gotta trust me.

I do.

I do, I do.

You go first, I'll help Charlie?

Yeah.

(coughs)

Charlie, Charlie.

Here.

(coughing)

Arm.

You two have to take that.

Yeah, okay.

You scared?

No.

I climb down elevator shafts all the time in games.

I got this.

We got this.

Alright?

♪

Be careful, baby.

Yeah.

Watch out, Charlie.

Both: Okay.

Okay.

(breathing heavily)

♪

(grunts)

Jack: You got it?

Yeah.

Okay, Charlie.

Yeah, okay.

Just take your time.

Take your time with this now.

Okay?

Yeah.

Put your hand right here.

Reach with your left hand, okay?

Okay.

'Kay.

Just look at mom, okay?

Look where you wanna go.

Take your time, good.

Reach.

Yeah.

I got it!

Yeah.

Come on, honey.

Oh god.

Come on.

One, two, three, go!

(grunts)

Good, good, okay

(coughing and panting)

Alright, you good?

Yeah.

Okay, ready?

Okay.

(coughs)

You good?

(heavy breathing)

(grunts)

(rumbling)

Jack!

Beth, I'm okay!

Let's go.

Take your time.

(grunting)

Ahh!

Beth?

Beth?

Beth, here, gimme your hand.

Beth, gimme your hand, gimme your hand.

I got you,

I got you.

Don't let go.

Okay.

(yelling)

Don't let go, Beth!

Don't let go!

Beth, don't let go!

Beth, don't let go!

(bang)

It won't hold us all!

Jack: No.

No, Beth, don't let go!

No.

Beth, don't!

Don't!

♪

Beth, no!!!

Beth!!!

Mom!

Beth!

(splash)

(underwater reverberation)

♪

Jack: Beth!

♪

(gasping for air)

I'm okay!

Beth, are you alright?!

Beth: Yeah!

Okay.

Okay, hang on, Charlie.

Hang on.

(laughing)

I'm okay!

♪

♪

(flames crackling)

(helicopter whirring)

♪

♪

Beth?

Ray--

Where's Ray?

♪

♪

♪

♪

Shh-sh-sh-sh!

Hey, champ, he's sleeping.

Wanna meet your little brother?

♪

What's his name?

Ray.

His name's Ray.

♪

I like it.

Us, too.

Can I hold him?

Sure.

Jack: He's like a little football that cries.

(chuckling)

Here.

You done?

Come here, sweet boy.

Yeah.

Let's show him his room, he's gonna love it!

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪