Original subtitles

Okay, Audrey.

Ready for calibration.

You got it, Doc.

Commencing calibration.

You keep calling me "Doc,"

I'm gonna have to find a new research assistant.

How long have you been threatening that?

Yeah, but this time, I mean it.

Fine. Dr. Cooper, then .

I know how much you love your title.

Tracking.

One-two-one-five.

One-two-one-five?

Check.

Huh. "1215." Magna Carta.

Come on, Doc!

It's a document,

where King John proclaimed liberties to the people.

It's a forbearer to our constitution.

Yeah, I know what the Magna Carta is,

but since it has nothing to do with dioxide sensors

or anything we're doing here, for that matter,

guess what, you're fired.

Anything?

It's a thing of beauty.

Depth, pressure... composition.

All in a day's work.

Wait-wait-wait.

Are you getting anything on the surface?

Uh, no. Why?

Our seismic sensors are showing some activity.

You're right on top of it.

Uh, Matthew?

I'm seeing a major subsurface CO2 spike.

Uh, yeah. Me too.

Trans Nova Oil's

new laser drill

makes it possible to penetrate deeper than ever before,

opening vast reserves previously unattainable.

The Paxton Well

promises oil deposits larger than those of Saudi Arabia.

The site itself is housed

in the safest, cleanest environment ever conceived.

There's no derrick.

The entire operation is underground,

eliminating any surface disturbance.

In fact, the well itself

is powered by its own hydro-electricity.

Not good enough.

Folks, nobody cares

about drill technology

or an operations room that's 200 feet underground.

Well, I'm sure our stockholders do.

Exactly my point!

We're not selling our stockholders

on the benefit of this well, Jennifer.

We're selling our critics...

The petitioners, the protesters,

the ones who don't want us here.

We will never pacify those people.

All we've done is embolden them by conceding

to every concession, and what's that gotten us?

- Another injunction. - We located our office...

here, locally, in Paxton, to show them

that we're not just a corporate logo.

We're... a neighbor.

Which means we have to be good neighbors.

We need to earn it.

The drill site is located on a national preserve,

which is already one strike against us.

Jobs and the environment...

This community cares about both, so we have to deliver both.

We need to communicate that.

A new era... different kind of company.

I almost think you mean that.

We have to mean it!

Look, we can build all the parks we want,

fund music programs,

but these people will never welcome us as neighbors, Oliver.

Our focus should be congress

and getting the injunction lifted.

It's been seven months

since the infrastructure was completed.

We're bleeding.

Which is just what I'm talking about.

All we need...

is Senator Bryce.

And Bryce is up for re-election, is he not?

He listens to the voters,

the people who live and breathe in this community.

We convince them.

That's how we get the injunction lifted.

Have you heard back from Senator Bryce?

Mm. I'm emailing him again right now, but...

How do you spell "recalcitrant?"

I don't even know what it means.

It's basically having a bad attitude towards authority.

Well, that's not a very helpful thing

to say to a senator, Emily.

Mm, I'm not. I'm saying it about myself.

You know, a little self-deprecation

can go along way.

Oh, well, I'll remember that.

He can't ignore me forever.

He will.

Thank you. Thank you Mayor Bennett, members of the Council,

but most of all, thanks to all of you,

the good people of Paxton.

- Yeah! - Whoo!

I came here personally

so that I could get to know your community

and meet you face-to-face.

And I came here with one agenda...

Let's get you back to work!

Yeah!

And I'm very happy to contribute to your community.

This new park

is a reminder that we are partners.

I know that we've had our ups and downs,

but it's your support that has made it possible

for us to fulfill our promise.

So call your senators,

call your representatives, and let them know

that, together, we are helping to make this country

independent of foreign oil.

Let's keep working together, let's go forward together.

Enjoy your park!

Thank you!

Thank you! Thanks, mayor.

Did you know

he was coming to Paxton himself?

People will see right through the manipulation.

It's obvious.

He sells the product, Emily.

And you say he's a con artist,

but I'm not so sure other people are gonna see it.

And I'm not so sure anymore that this video

is worth our time.

Well, we need to show congress that there isn't support here.

They need to see Trans Nova is trying

to buy their way out of the injunction.

The whole thing is a con!

Except you can't make the argument

that they haven't done their part.

We'll lose credibility.

Done their part? Seriously?

By, what? Drilling on

what used to be protected land?

Putting us and the environment

at risk?

Okay. Calm down.

Obviously, they've cast their spell on you, too.

Who are you talking to, Em?

I've been leading this fight since the very beginning.

I hate those bastards.

But guess what?

For the first time,

an oil company's actually listened to us.

We've made a difference.

And what if it is as clean as it promises to be?

Every green initiative that we care about

is gonna take a backseat.

People will be more than happy in

their gas-guzzlers,

paying a buck-fifty a gallon.

So you'd prefer a catastrophe to prove your point?

As long as they're drilling, it already is a catastrophe.

So what did CalTech say?

They agree with USGS.

They said the crystal lake event

is a one-time anomaly,

the water samples are back to normal,

and there's no additional venting.

All right, well, what caused it, then?

Minor tremor under the lake

breached a pocket of gas.

That tremor wasn't strong enough to release

that much CO2 that quickly.

All that gas had to have already been trapped at water level

by another stronger event.

There's something else going on here.

But there's no record of any other seismic activity.

U-unless it happened prior to their last report?

Of course.

It's getting worse, isn't it?

Why don't you go check with CalTech?

Dr. Cooper?

Hey, Dr. Cooper! Hey.

I'm Emily Booth.

We met briefly at the first senate hearing.

Yeah, I know who you are.

I... I'm sorry, okay? I know I was rude.

I-I just want to ask you a few questions

about what happened at Crystal Lake.

The dead fish?

We know of other cases where underground drilling

released toxic gasses to the surface.

The drill's been shut down

for five months, so.

Right, but they were drilling for two months

before we shut them down.

Well, you know mother earth

is a living, breathing creature.

Sometimes underground gasses vent.

I mean, that kind of volume is a little extreme,

but it does happen.

Bad day for the fish.

No, it's not just "a bad day for the fish."

Could those gasses have been released anywhere else?

Well, as of right now, they haven't.

"As of right now"?

I'm sorry, Dr. Cooper,

but I'm just a little bit concerned here.

I mean, we have a responsibility to the people in this community.

There's no indication

that this was anything else but a one-time event.

I'm sorry if that's inconvenient for you.

You think that this has nothing to do with the drilling?

No.

Like you would admit that anyway, right?

I'm sorry, what?

How can someone in your profession

work for them?

You should be on our side, Dr. Cooper.

Oh! I see. So you think there's...

There's, what, only two sides?

Really? You think that you're the only one

interested in making sure they toe the line up there?

Let me tell you something.

My family has been here for four generations.

This is my backyard, too.

Oliver.

How soon?

Thank you, Tom.

We got the votes.

We're back up and running.

That's great.

Hey!

Come here, you.

Ohh! I'll be right in, okay?

So what time will you pick him up?

Nice try.

I'll wait in the car.

Seriously, Todd?

How long do we have to do this?

You're a convicted felon.

I was arrested for protesting.

For destruction of government property, wasn't it?

That has nothing to do with this.

Right, well. This wasn't your only arrest, Emily.

The courts ruled. Gotta live with it.

Hi.

God, I missed you.

So... what do you want to do?

Should we, um, should we play a board game?

You can pick.

Do you have any video games?

No, I don't have any video games.

How are things at your dad's?

Like always.

You know, it's not my choice

that I can't see you that often, Dylan.

But it was your choice to go to jail.

Remember when you got detention?

You got in trouble

because you were sticking up

for another kid who was being bullied, right?

Well, detention was kind of like jail.

That's what happened to me.

Our planet...

Our environment is bullied every single day,

and I was just sticking up for it.

That kind of make sense?

Yeah, I guess.

Hey, so, I have stuff to make

peanut butter-and-potato chip sandwiches.

Your favorite.

I'll go make you one.

Yeah?

You watching this?

No, what?

They lifted the injunction.

They're going to resume drilling.

He's got them in his hand as well.

I swear to God, I'll blow up that well myself.

Okay, don't say that, Em.

People'll think you're serious.

Look, we have other tactics.

This is not over.

Okay?

I'll be right there, sweetie, okay?

Uh, listen, I'll call you right back, okay?

Hey. You heard?

Well, we need to block their access now.

No!

Okay.

Dylan?

I'll call you back.

Ready to go?

Dylan!

Dylan! Wait!

What's up, Hank the Tank?

Eric. Remember in high school?

I remember you... "Hank the Tank."

Hank the Tank!

I bet you that still gets under your skin,

doesn't it?

It's time for you to move back.

Look at you now!

All dressed up in your uniform.

Protecting what?

Land that's already supposed to be protected.

Does that mean anything to you?

Means something to us, man!

To you, it's just a job.

Is that your excuse?

Yeah. Yeah, that's my excuse.

Guys like me,

we actually have to have to work for a living to pay our bills.

You should try it sometime.

That's good, man.

Thing is, when I wake up in the morning,

it's not the food on my table that I worry about.

It's the clean food and water

on everyone's table!

You should try that, Hank the Tank.

Why don't you try stepping back with your little friends?

Yo! They lifted the injunction!

These bastards are gonna start drilling again!

Well... not here, not now!

Not here, not now!

Not here, not now!

Morning, Ana.

Hi.

I made eggs.

Mm.

Your first full day back in awhile,

so you'll need a...

You'll need a good breakfast.

Thanks.

Talk to Mr. Larson yet?

He's going to get back to me.

Really? You know, when I spoke with him,

he said that, uh,

they're short a couple nurses,

and he really wants you back.

Oh...

Ana, stop.

It was today.

I know. I know it was today.

Of course, I know that.

Just... come on. Don't. Don't set the plate.

I just need to. Okay?

Okay.

I don't have to go in, you know. I could call them.

I think it's great you're going back to work today, Hector.

They'll understand.

Take your mind off things.

Today is a good day for you to go back to work.

I'll be fine.

I will.

I know that you think this has been too long.

I just...

have to do it my way, you know?

It's not too long.

It's never gonna be too long.

I just thoughthat if you went back to work,

it'd be a good thing.

You'll get a chance to put your mind on other things, too.

Yeah, I don't want my mind on other things.

And I know you don't understand that, Hector.

I do, though. Ana, I understand.

Welcome back, Hector.

How's she doing, Glen?

Valves are open.

Smooth so far.

Have we pushed past that granite yet?

Yeah. So far, it's moving through that substrata

faster than we thought.

Yeah? How's the heat?

Below levels.

Beautiful.

We keep this pace up,

we could end up with a fat bonus in our pockets.

Bonus?

Yeah. I spoke with Mr. Booth this morning.

He's really happy with our program over here.

Yeah. This is the easy part, Hector.

We got a ways to go before we reach the target.

We'll get there.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

You felt that, obviously?

- What was that? - I don't know.

Heat, pressure, viscosity,

it's all reading normal.

Let's just check the condenser valve here.

Ah, it's a little low, but we're still in the green.

Could be a lateral plate.

Nah, the gage would've picked that up. Unless...

No, no, if it says it's normal, it's normal.

Hector...

You and I both know once we reach...

Shut up!

You and I both

signed our name in the same place, right?

- Right? - Yeah.

Okay.

But I'm starting to feel like

I'm getting second thoughts.

Glen... stop!

I think people should know what we're doing up here.

We've all been out of work a couple of years here.

We need this now.

Don't go doing anything stupid.

You got it?

- Got it. - Got it.

Let's get back on it.

Wha...

The location of the aneurism

won't allow for endovascular coiling,

which would've been less invasive.

Sorry.

That leaves surgical clipping

as our only option,

otherwise the pressure

in the aneurism is gonna continue to build

until it bursts.

It's a procedure that allows us

to essentially channel the blood around the other blood vessels.

Will it work?

Mm-hmm. There's risk...

Particularly where it's positioned,

and there could be side-effects.

But you've got a ticking time bomb in there, Matthew.

I want to schedule this

for no later than Wednesday.

Jesus, Dave, how... how risky?

We got plans on Thursday.

It could take a year before it bursts,

or it d be a week.

But it will burst.

This is your best option.

I'm sorry, I have to take this.

Hello? This is Matthew.

How many?

Yeah. I can be there in an hour.

Look, tell them to stay away from there, okay?

Alright. Thanks. Bye.

Sorry. I have to go. It's an emergency.

I'll call you from the road. Thanks.

All right.

- Hector! - Yeah.

Haven't seen you in awhile.

How's it going up there at the well?

Aw, pretty good so far, I guess.

Well, that's good.

It's nice to see

you guys up and running again.

Maybe people will come around

and start spending some money.

- There you go. Cheers. - Cheers.

Another?

Yeah. Why not?

What's eatin' you, man?

Dev.

Five years ago today.

Just let him drink.

Cheers, bro.

On me.

Hey, Chris.

Hey, buddy, thanks.

How's Glen working out?

He holding his own?

Mm-hmm. Yeah. Pretty good.

He knows what he's doing.

Well, if he starts slacking off,

let me know and I'll straighten him out.

Yeah, I'll do that.

Hector...

I didn't mean to surprise you like this.

I just got out last week.

I've tried calling you a few times.

Nobody wants you in here, man.

I'm talking to my brother, Chris.

Is he talking to you?

Go back out the way you came in.

Every day, man.

Every day, Hector, every day, I live with it.

Yeah?

Me too.

Ana?

I saw Samuel.

He's out,

and he's back in town here.

I don't want to hear his name mentioned again

in this house.

Ana...

He's my brother.

Well, he's not my family.

Not anymore.

Excuse me, sir.

Learn the truth about Trans Nova.

Thank you. Have a good day.

Excuse me.

- No. - No?

Hi. Learn the truth about Trans Nova Oil.

Thank you.

I'll take one.

Hi.

Can we talk?

Emily, it's been 10 years.

Even just a "hello" would be a good start.

What are you even doing here?

Why are you in Paxton?

For you, ironically.

The injunction, the protests...

I'm the head of the company.

I have to be here.

But I knew that you would be here,

and I wanted to come.

And Dylan.

I haven't even met my own grandson.

It wasn't me

that hasn't returned the phone calls.

It's not me that doesn't want to talk to you.

I see you're still angry at me, but it's been years, Emily.

Yes, you're right, dad, I am still angry.

You can read all about it.

Yeah, we're on a conference call tomorrow

with Representative Hennessey.

What, how do I know he's gonna come to the protest?

Oh, because I promised him a case of beer.

Look, let me call you back.

Okay? Okay. Bye.

That was Lisa.

She's got dozens committed

to the sit-in over at Indian Creek.

So why can't she get a couple of dozen people over

at the Paxton Well?

Well, the fire's

sort of burning itself out on that one.

Yeah, because we're letting it.

Okay, well, what else can we do?

We can come up with something else.

This can't be perceived

as a personal vendetta against your father, Em.

You think that's what this is about?

Seriously?

Everything that I have worked for?

Everything that I've sacrificed?

Of course not.

You're just as passionate about this as anyone else here,

but there is not so much as a coffee stain up there.

But we know their past violations,

and how many times have they just walked away

from their messes before?

This is not going to be any different.

And that's his pattern, isn't it?

Walk away? Leave a mess?

Don't they all?

Em.

Screw you.

What time?

Hey. Can I talk to Dylan?

I just wanted to say hello.

Well, I'm allowed to talk to him on the phone, Todd.

Okay, I'm sorry.

Look, will you please just have him call me?

Yeah, I really feel bad about what happened.

It won't happen again.

Em. Jerry just heard on his police scanner

something about a bunch of dead cows out on a farm

near Maple Grove.

Maybe you just got what you're looking for.

I'll go and check it out.

Matthew, thanks for coming.

No problem. What've we got?

Dead livestock.

We think it might be some kind of gas,

but I don't know,

I've never seen anything like this.

They were alive not more than 15 minutes

before I found 'em like this.

Do me a favor.

Keep your family away from here, would you?

Ricky!

Back in the house.

Hey, Dean, stand up. Stand up.

CO2 hovers in low pockets, like bubbles,

it'll kill you in seconds.

Dad?

Dad! Dad, the dog!

It's gas! Get up!

Hey, hey, hey, hey! Don't do that!

- Stand up! - Ricky! Stop!

Get him out of here!

What's that for?

Just stand back.

CO2's heavier than air.

This smoke should help us see where the gas pockets are.

How long do we have to stay away?

I don't know.

Until we find out where it's coming from,

it's just too dangerous.

This is an unusual thing to happen,

though, right?

Hasn't been lately.

Look, I'm going to request a geothermal reading,

see if we can't pinpoint where this thing vented.

The gas seems to be dissipating a little bit already.

- I'll try to come back tomorrow. - Sounds good.

Dr. Cooper!

Do you have any idea what killed these cows?

Think it has something to do with the dead fish?

Ma'am, you'll have to leave. This is private property.

It was gas, wasn't it?

Do you know where it's coming from?

We don't know. Soil and water samples

won't come back for a couple more days...

But there was no contamination last time.

What do you mean, last time?

In closer to Maple Grove.

People have been getting sick,

but the samples all come back clean.

Something ain't right around here,

but it beats the hell out of me.

- Ma'am. - Yeah.

So, how many cases?

Two were transported in serious condition.

Others seemed to move through it rather quickly.

And you don't think

that it could be salmonella or e-coli?

Children and the elderly in particular

are still getting sick,

but only here.

It hasn't affected anyone else

outside this area.

What about the CDC?

It's not contagious.

Whether it's in the air or the ground, I don't know.

But I also don't know what else to do.

Well, I was told your office was responsible for the testing.

Our department

was responding to a state request.

We collected samples, yes.

Well, what about the actual testing?

Ah, let me see.

In this case,

it was contracted out to a private lab.

Why is that?

Well, quite often, we have to.

We don't have the resources to handle every case.

Okay, well, does the state regulatory services

monitor the testing?

Well, they adhere

to all regulations, of course.

What's the name of the lab?

Hold on. Uh...

Company called Genco, based out of Atlanta.

Okay. Well, thank you.

Sure.

Uh, I just can't tomorrow.

No, I understand,

but I have things I have to get off my plate here.

No, no new symptoms.

Do you understand

that we've had two major vents

in the last 48 hours?

Yeah. Monday could work. Sure. Thank you.

Suggests an unusual seismic pressure release?

I understand. No activity, no stress. Got it.

Alright. Thanks, doc. Bye.

Okay. Thank you very much.

So, we need approval from USGS

for a satellite thermal reading,

which could take two or three days.

What's Monday?

Oh, just a follow-up.

What'd the doctor say?

Uh, that I shouldn't be concerned.

Just migraines.

Why are you lying, Matthew?

Why don't you go check with CalTech

on any new seismic activity

our remote sensors might've missed?

So, genco's parent company is YVX Enterprises.

And who sits on the board of YVX?

A man named Ronald Forge.

Who also sits on the board of...

Trans Nova Oil.

Uh, it gets better.

YVX has holdings in several research companies,

two of which, Lycon and QHTT,

they received grant funding from...

Trans Nova.

You have one guy sitting on both boards?

That doesn't prove that he cooked the research findings.

It's hardly circumstantial.

They have oversight.

It's not like they're operating in a vacuum.

What about Lycon and QHTT?

Corporations offer research grants all the time

to all sorts of companies.

Now, Lycon,

they're working on ways

to break down oil compounds for better clean-up.

So, you just...

You think this whole thing is a coincidence?

The dead cows, fish? People getting sick?

And the company that's supposed to determine

whether or not there's any contamination

has ties to Trans Nova?

We've filed 13 lawsuits against Trans Nova.

They've heard it all.

E.P.A. reports on the drill are clean,

and they're not friendly with oil companies.

Until you can prove a link to all this,

it's not enough.

Why can't we just say there is?

You know, we put them on the defensive.

The more they have to explain themselves,

the more guilty they're gonna sound.

It's unethical.

No. What they're doing is unethical.

Thought you believed that.

I'll need the rest of the E.P.A. documents by Monday.

Talk to jeannine, she'll have them ready.

Alright.

Hey! Excuse me?

Emily?

Is there anyone who isn't on your payroll?

He's an advisor.

We hired him to comply with federal regulations,

as we've always done.

Right. Are you paying off the labs as well?

The testing in Maple Grove?

Genco?

You know, people are getting sick, dad,

so why don't you try telling the truth for once?

Do you think that's something we would do?

Everyone is watching Trans Nova,

every company wants to emulate

what you're doing here,

so, yes, I think that's something you would do.

What's a few sick people and some dead cows

when there's billions at stake, right?

You're not that ignorant, Emily.

You drive a car, like everyone else.

You heat your home.

People take it for granted, they expect it.

They bitch and moan when gas goes up another nickel.

They vilify our profits,

but we have invested more funding in green energy

than any company in the world.

We... we see the writing on the wall!

But it's not going to happen overnight.

The world needs oil.

Cheap oil!

And guess what?

Clean oil. That's what you wanted.

That's what we're delivering.

Yeah, you're right. I'm not that ignorant.

And I know you'll get that oil at any cost.

But, you know, when people can't

breathe the air, or drink their own water,

when is the cost too high?

Anything?

Well these two anomalies,

although unusual, not unheard of.

I'm just having a hard time making a connection here.

Well, I don't believe in coincidences.

Yeah, well, life is a coincidence, so.

Oh, come on. You don't believe that.

You think all of this is just one big accident?

Well, tell you what.

When there's a few less stupid people on the planet,

I'll give your theory on intelligent design

a little more thought.

Intelligent or not,

there's definitely gotta be design to it.

Why?

Well, I'm... I'm not saying that we don't make choices.

I mean, look at me.

But why do I make these choices?

'Cause it's all been worked out

by something, or someone, well beyond our grasp.

And what about all the people that draw the short straw.

Who decides that?

That's the mystery, doc.

That's been the conundrum

since we started walking upright.

We need to petition USGS for more sensors,

keep a closer eye on any new activity.

You're fun.

Ah, do it.

A beer, please.

You've got some balls, man.

Why do you show your face in this town?

'Cause I live here.

Got as much right as you do.

I'll have a draft.

I think a draft beer sounds great.

I'll take one of those, Devon.

Frickin' tree-hugger.

Thank you.

Cheers.

Do you know who I am?

Samuel Janen.

Five years ago,

you took seven tourists into the old mines without authority.

Four of them died from poisonous gas.

It was manslaughter, wasn't it?

Involuntary.

One was them was your brother's eight-year-old son.

Thanks for the beer.

Hey. Look. Just wait. Please?

What do you want, lady?

To ask you some questions.

People are getting sick,

and I think it has something to do

with the Paxton Well.

You, more than anybody, might know what's happening.

It was an accident, what happened.

I think everybody knows that.

Do they?

So then why did you come back?

I have my reasons.

May have been five years,

but it was a life sentence for what I did.

Living somewhere else isn't going to change that.

You were a miner.

You knew every inch of those tunnels.

How could that much gas have been leaking

without you knowing?

There was a tremor that morning.

I felt it,

just like I'd felt a hundred like it before.

There was never any problem,

but that morning, there were gasses that vented

into the one tunnels that I didn't test,

the only one I didn't test,

and before I knew it, it was too late.

I carried him...

I held him in my arms when I got out.

There was oxygen in the truck, and I did everything I could.

They had to pr...

They had to pry him out of my hands.

For five years, that prison cell felt like...

It felt like those tunnels caving in every night.

I've spent my whole life underground,

and now I can't so much as walk into a bar

without feeling the walls crashing in.

I sleep outside...

So I can feel the wind and know that the air is clean.

I'll never go back down there again.

I'm sorry.

I don't know your brother, but...

maybe this needs to happen between the two of you,

on his terms.

Well, you asked why I came back.

So, you... you think

that it was a tremor that caused the leak?

Volcanic. Volcanic gasses.

So these people that are getting sick in Maple Grove,

do you think it could be

due to an increase in volcanic activity?

Well, it could be.

Enough gas to poison people in a mine is one thing,

there's nowhere for it to escape.

But above ground...

It dissipates. Unless it's...

Unless what?

Unless it's not so dormant.

Dylan?

Is this Emily booth?

Yeah, speaking. Who's this?

I shouldn't be talking to you right now.

I shouldn't be talking to anybody.

Excuse me.

What's your name?

Listen, my name's not important.

What's important

is that I know things that the public doesn't.

Like what?

Like what we're doing up there.

Do you... Do you mean the Paxton Well?

So, what? So, what, do you work there?

Is the well causing the gas leaks?

No, you don't get it.

The gas leaks, they're nothing

compared to what could happen.

I'm not an expert, I don't really know,

but at these depths...

Are you... are you drilling deeper than permitted?

Look, why don't we talk? We can meet face-to-face.

They're lying to the public.

Alright?

It's all a bunch of lies.

Hello? Hello!

Dr. Cooper?

Dr. Cooper, open up! It's important.

I'm sorry for the way that I spoke to you the other day,

but I really need to talk to you.

May I come in?

Uh... looks like you already have.

Spring cleaning?

Yeah, something like that.

What can I do for you?

During the senate hearing,

you said that there was a danger

drilling to certain depths in this area.

Why?

Engineers use thermal technology

to find oil deposits.

Unfortunately, oil can be easily mistaken

for compressed magma.

And you could set off an eruption.

And you think that could happen here?

In theory, but it's unlikely.

Why that?

Well, depth, for one.

They're not drilling deep enough to reach magma.

Number two,

it would pretty much take a perfect scenario

of, you know, compressed magma,

drill points, chamber vents, etc.

But the gasses that we've seen here recently,

isn't that evidence of that kind of scenario?

Well, there are a lot of scenarios

that have nothing to do with that drill.

You're trying to connect dots that don't exist.

Well, aren't you trying to connect those same dots?

I mean, you were concerned

out at that farm.

Or are you just

doing another report for Trans Nova Oil?

Okay. Thank you very much.

Okay, no, I'm sorry.

What... what if I have proof that

they're drilling deeper than permitted?

Look, I check the E.P.A. reports every day.

They're not, alright?

They're doing everything to code.

I know I can be rude,

and I know I can be pushy,

and I even know I'm wrong half the time,

I don't think I'm wrong with this.

There's something happening at that well.

If I'm wrong, I'll walk away,

they can take as much oil as they want.

If I'm right,

we could be standing on a ticking time bomb.

And you think you can prove this?

Yeah, with your help.

So, looking for what vented the CO2 that killed the fish,

there was a small substrate shift

at 20,000 meters.

Measured at 3.7.

The hypocenter was directly under the well site,

but that was just over five months ago.

And the drill was shut down when?

April 22nd. Earth day.

Well, that event could've easily have released the CO2

that eventually found its way to the lake.

But now check this out.

The incident at the farm?

Almost the exact same event.

20,000 meters.

Are you sure that's all this guy had to say?

Just he thought that they were drilling

at depths that could be dangerous.

Doc, E.P.A.

"Doc?"

Cute.

Daniel, what do you got?

Well, I took another look.

We have an hourly monitor on the well site

and their specs are at code or above.

Well, has there been a physical inspection?

Yeah. Last week.

Nobody's climbing down there with a tape measure,

if that's what you mean.

But the computers don't lie.

We have double-redundancy on the Paxton Well.

There's an insider at the well

who says they're drilling deeper

than 10,000 meters.

Seriously? What can I say?

Either the computer's lying or he is.

We stand by our monitoring, Matthew.

Alright. We'll get back to you. Thanks.

So, you sure it wasn't some crackpot

who just wants to say anything to shut down the well?

Yes, I'm sure.

Well, if we don't have him,

we don't have a link.

Dylan!

Hey!

Hey, you.

I'm really sorry about the other day.

I got you something.

I put a bunch of games on here.

Oh, wow.

There's an account, if you want to get more.

Dad said I can't have a phone,

and they're not allowed at school.

One more detention,

and I could get suspended.

Okay, well,

let's just keep it between us until I talk to your dad, okay?

Just promise you'll answer if I call.

I will.

Mom?

Thanks. This is cool.

You're welcome.

Hello?

Can you meet me?

Yeah! Where?

Hector, um...

Keep an eye on number four compressor.

It was tweaking a little earlier.

- It's reading "normal" now. - Alright.

I got a dentist appointment.

Dentist? What, now?

Yeah. I gotta go, man.

Alright.

Hey.

You didn't answer your phone.

Yeah, I have to be in Portland in the morning.

He called back. He wants to meet.

Who's he?

This is Matthew Cooper, he's a geologist.

He needs to hear this.

Cooper? He works for Trans Nova Oil.

Wait a second!

I signed off on that well. I need to know the truth.

Alright. Listen.

Nobody cares about the oil at 10,000 meters.

They're after the oil at 25,000.

There's enough there to rival the middle east.

How could they be drilling that deep

without anyone knowing?

Every piece of data that comes from that well site,

all the pertinent information...

Like the depths, temperature, volume, friction...

It all comes through the computers.

Now, those computers have been reprogrammed

to say anything that Trans Nova Oil wants 'em to say.

- The data's wrong. - Yeah, well, that...

I mean, that violates every single code.

Who cares what violates?

Once we start pulling oil from those reserves,

cleanly and safely,

there's not an administration in the world

that could put that toothpaste back in the tube.

Trans Nova Oil will be happy to pay the fine.

25,000 meters, are you sure?

Yeah. Yeah. I run the drill.

I'm one of two people at the site who knows.

Yeah, well, your geologists got it wrong.

I did my own analysis when they built that thing.

What they think they're seeing at 25,000 meters

isn't oil, it's magma,

potentially compressed magma.

Even with the most sophisticated equipment in the world,

it's tough to tell the difference.

Well, there was vibration.

It could... it could be

that it was subterranean interference.

You know, it could've been a natural tremor.

Our indicators say normal, but...

I'm convinced it's something else,

a reaction of trapped gas.

I've felt it before, not quite like this, but...

Yeah. I think

we're getting pretty close to something very big.

I gotta get outta here.

We have to go with this.

I can't do that.

I can't do that.

You try to force me to do that, I'll deny everything.

I've given you all I have. You'll figure it out.

So 25,000 meters?

Assume it's a substrate compression,

highly compressed.

Is that magma?

Well, that's what they think is the oil deposit.

How can they not know the difference?

Well, this method of extraction is new.

They start with thermal detection,

but, you know, that can only go so deep.

The rest is calculated

with state-of-the-art software,

but the variables are the same.

Right. So how do you tell if it is magma?

Uh, depth, compression,

other gasses we've been able to test.

Experience. I certainly hope I'm wrong.

You know, most people think that when lava gets out,

that's when the pressure's released.

Well, that's not always true.

It's the release of underground gasses

that can increase combustion and cause a chain reaction.

Along the entire caldera...

Which doesn't necessarily make one big boom,

it could set off 50 small ones.

Did my homework.

Well, "small" being relative, but still,

"small" enough to wipe out five square Miles,

and multiply that by 50.

Unless...

Unless what?

This.

Worst-case scenario.

The entire caldera erupts,

not just a handful of small ones.

The last time that happened was 200,000 years ago,

and it completely flattened a thousand square Miles.

It'll change life as we know it.

You can go in now, Hector.

Alright. Thank you.

Hector.

Thanks for coming in after work like this.

I'm sure you're tired.

Come. Have a seat.

You want a drink?

Oh, no, thank you.

Oh, well, I'm gonna have one.

I'm up on the daily reports.

We're very happy.

I've meant to come up and see you boys, but

there's always fires to put out down here.

We're still stretching our legs in Paxton.

Good people, though.

Yeah, I understand that, Mr. Booth.

No, no, no. "Oliver," please. Sit.

Okay.

Uh, hey, I don't want

to bring up anything uncomfortable,

but someone just told me

that you lost a son a few years back.

Yeah.

I'm very sorry to hear that.

Thank you.

I lost my daughter, in a way.

Not what you experienced, of course.

It was a falling out.

A long time ago.

You probably know who she is.

I've heard of her, yes.

Of course you have.

It's no secret.

She's been a thorn in our side...

ever since we proposed this site.

How's that for irony?

An oil man's daughter is a die-hard environmentalist.

Mm.

You've never met?

No. No.

I just thought, you know, small town,

people know each other.

Listen, Hector.

The reason that I ask is because

you need to realize

that if you ever come into contact with Emily,

if she ever approaches you,

uh, for information,

that her motives are not always

as righteous

as she leads people to believe.

As said, I'm not on her "most admired" list.

But look...

we're in this together.

You've been trusted with sensitive information,

which is why you signed a confidentiality agreement,

but more importantly,

we shook hands, you and I,

so, obviously, there won't be a problem.

Mm-mm. No, sir. No problem.

Good.

Hey, say hi to your wife for me.

It's Ana, right?

Yes. Yeah. I will.

Alright. Thank you for coming in.

You're welcome. Thank you.

So what are you gonna do?

I'm just gonna go to work and keep my mouth shut.

Well, and if your instincts are right?

They're not. I'm wrong.

They've got millions invested in this thing.

They're not gonna jeopardize everything.

Not unless it's safe.

I never should've contacted her.

Well, she doesn't know who you are!

I don't know.

All that press five years ago.

I-I think she recognized me.

I don't know.

I'm getting paranoid.

Hey...

We are having a son.

What?

Really?

Yes.

And I spoke to Mr. Larson

about going back to work at the hospital.

Just... just part-time, until the baby's born.

Ah, now, there's that smile I've been missing.

You have been so patient with me.

I love you.

I love you too, baby.

Don't have to feel guilty.

It's 100% recycled.

Come on, man.

You can't be that blind to what's going on here.

Don't you understand the consequences?

They're not going to stop with this.

They do this here, they can do it everywhere.

Then what's left?

Is that really worth a job with these people?

When I'm trying to make insurance? Rent?

Can't afford to buy

a frickin' birthday present for my little girl?

Yeah. Yeah. It's worth it.

That's what I lose sleep over.

Those are my responsibilities.

What do you got?

It's what I don't have.

Apathy...

Hank the Tank.

It still gets under your skin, doesn't it?

I was one of those guys in high school

who called you that.

Court order says you all need to be across the street!

Come on, man! Here's your chance!

Retribution.

"Hank the Tank!"

Hank the Tank! Hank the Tank!

Yeah!

It's already posted online!

You lose!

Is Hector available?

Please. Please, wait.

He doesn't want to talk to you.

I know, but it's really important that I speak with him.

Just leave us alone, okay?

I think something is happening at the well

and I think that your husband might be in danger.

Just please, have him call me.

Hector speaking.

She was here.

Looking for you.

Thanks.

Matthew?

Yeah. Yeah. I'm on my way.

What we usually look for in the subduction zone

is what we call "land-breathing"...

It's ground elevation caused by subterranean pressure.

Do you think that's happening here?

Well, we haven't seen any, but with all this CO2,

it's definitely worth another look.

Even a few inches could be alarming.

Your grandfather,

he used to work in the mines, right?

I read that he helped

petition the federal government

to designate most of this land

as a national preserve.

That's quite the history.

When you said this was your backyard,

you weren't kidding.

Yeah. My grandfather was a pretty great guy.

When I was a kid, he used to bring me rocks,

and it could be the most boring,

most plain rock you've ever seen,

he had a story for it.

Its history,

how it connects to everything around us.

Used to always say,

"it's not just a rock. It's not just land.

"It's who we are.

"It's what will become of us.

And it'll be here long after we're gone."

I think he wanted that to belong to everyone, you know?

So when Trans Nova moved in,

I wanted to be on the inside,

to make sure they did things right.

Anything?

No. We probably won't know

until we compare it with the satellite imagery, then we'll...

- Did you feel that? - Yeah.

Is it an earthquake?

No. I don't think so.

What the hell is that?

Come on.

What?

We gotta go. Let's line up.

Decide who you're sitting with. One at a time.

Hey! One at a time.

Hey! Give that back to him. Stop it.

Get on now.

Let's go. Come on.

Dylan. Come on.

Okay, make sure you have your backpacks and lunches.

There are bathroom facilities at the park,

but it's about an hour drive, so if you have to go, go now.

Once you pick a seat, stick to it until we get there.

And remember, no cell phones, video cameras, or iPods,

unless you like detention.

Hey, Dylan?

Is your mom coming?

I don't think so.

Okay.

Mr. Booth? Mr. Booth.

I need to talk to you right away.

Dr. Cooper, I've got some people

I'm going to meet at the mayor's office.

Can't it wait until this afternoon?

No. Actually, there's a major problem

developing at the well. You need to shut it down.

I'm sorry.

I thought I heard you say "shut it down."

- Listen to me. - Hey! Hey.

First of all, you lied to me.

You're drilling deeper than 20,000 meters.

But more importantly,

what you think is a large oil deposit

is, in fact, compressed magma.

Now, if you rupture that chamber,

you could cause a catastrophic volcanic event.

I would be very careful, Dr. Cooper.

It doesn't matter how you slice it,

you still signed off on this well.

Yeah. That's exactly right, and that's why

you're gonna shut it down!

Listen to me! A magma drop-out

opened up less than 10 Miles away from here.

Do you know what that means?

It is a precursor to a major eruption.

We've already contacted USGS, the mayor and the governor.

Can you prove this has anything to do with our well?

You're our expert, Dr. Cooper.

I want your professional opinion.

I can tell you what I do know.

If what's happening here continues,

this entire caldera on which we're standing right now,

where thousands of people go to school,

go to work, camp, hike, and fish,

is gonna go up in a series of eruptions

that'll make Mount St. Helens

look like a fifth-grade science project.

Shut it down.

Just listen to me.

We have multiple level-four ventings.

Dr. Cooper is requesting

a geothermal testing of the entire caldera.

This is an escalating event that needs immediate attention!

Look, I just...

I can't authorize something like that without...

Sir? Sir. Just... take a look outside your window

just take a look at the bright-blue sky,

because it's not gonna be there much longer

if you don't get this done.

Without the proper paperwork,

there's nothing I can do.

Geez!

Look, if we post this now, there might still be time.

Tell people to evacuate Paxton?

It'll cause a panic.

We have to do something.

Can you imagine the liability?

The gasses are venting now.

And where are the police?

They're investigating,

but there's still too much red tape.

Exactly! For a reason.

Dr. Cooper has already contacted other agencies.

That guy who works for the oil company?

You're riding his wave now?

Look. We have to warn people. We're the only ones

that will say what's actually going on here.

No, "we" don't.

I can't put us out on a limb like that, Emily. I'm sorry.

♪ She'll be coming 'round the mountain ♪

♪ when she comes

♪ she'll be comin' 'round the mountain ♪

Tommy! Hey. No.

♪ She'll be comin' 'round the mountain ♪

♪ when she comes ♪

You don't want to sing, Dylan?

♪ When she comes

♪ she'll be riding six white horses ♪

♪ when she comes

♪ she'll be riding six white horses ♪

So USGS is coming,

although they didn't sound like

they were in a hurry.

There's "paperwork" involved.

Can they shut down the drilling?

No. No. They'd have to go through legal channels.

By the time Washington gets off their ass,

it'll be too late.

You okay?

Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.

Look, we need this guy, Hector, okay?

He's the operations manager at the well.

He either needs to come out or shut it dowmself.

So how do we get to him?

As of now, I still work for them, right?

Let's go.

Hey, Dylan.

Anything you want to talk about?

Like what?

Whatever you want.

You're a good student.

One of the smartest kids I know.

But lately, your grades haven't really shown that...

Or your interest in anything, for that matter.

I just want to know what's going on.

Maybe I'm not that smart.

You can talk to me.

I think it has to do with your mom, right?

My dad will barely let me see her.

And you're kind of mad about it?

I guess.

That's okay.

Tell you what.

When we get back, let's sit down,

and you write your parents a note,

write it all down,

everything you're feeling,

and you can decide if you want to give it to them or not,

but if you at least see it for yourself,

it'll help.

Trust me. Deal?

Okay.

Cool. In the meantime, why don't you go

collect some more of those spruce cones?

Use 'em for your class presentation.

It's a pinecone.

Ah! Ha. See?

Back off! Give 'em some room!

Another report for the damn E.P.A., Dr. Cooper?

Yeah. Something like that.

My God.

Edward, call Mr. Booth.

Tell him we're there sooner than we thought.

I'm on it.

I'm surprised my father hasn't

blocked your access yet.

Yeah, but we're not inside yet.

But if Hector doesn't listen...

We'll have to find the off-switch.

Look at the size of it.

How's the pressure?

- Normal. - Ramp it down.

We've got a spike at 16,000 meters.

Thermal readings are racing.

Increase viscosity 20%.

20%. Still rising.

Take it to 40. 40!

Where's our coolant?

It's there, but we're losing volume!

Four and five can't keep up!

Friction levels are still reading the same.

How's the pressure?

The same! Doesn't make any sense.

Where's the heat coming from?

Maybe we have a bad component.

Oh, my God!

Excuse me, Oliver.

Can I get you to sign these, please?

All right.

This is Oliver.

Mr. Booth, we've had a major breach.

We need to detonate

and cap now.

Well, slow down, Hector.

What the hell are you talking about?

We've drilled into a highly compressed lava chamber.

It's not oil down there.

It's molten lava, it's coming up the chamber.

We need to cap it now.

Wait. Can't you just shut down the valves?

It's past that.

If we wait, the lava moves up, possibly to the inner chamber.

We need to cap it right now.

Oliver, that will compromise the entire rig.

Hector, we have triple-redundancy there.

Detonating the cap is a last resort...

Hector! Hector?

Initiate detonation.

You're serious?

Just do it. Get them out of there.

Aw, they're not picking up!

Get somebody up there.

Tell Jeannine to get me on-line with them!

Okay. Right away.

Can you call security?

- Set? - Do it.

Turn off those damn alarms now!

Everybody to the top! Everybody, get to the top, now!

Seal the compartment.

Implement safety procedures.

Get out now! Everybody to the top.

Come on! Let's go!

Make sure the auxiliary vents are on!

Glen!

The pumps are still out!

Why is there smoke?

Audrey!

Epicenter 10 miles northwest of the well site.

I'm patching into USGS now.

Audrey! Your readings are wrong!

The epicenter's at the well site!

- It's right on top of us. - It's coming this way.

Audrey!

Everybody, let's get back on the bus.

Andrea, come on.

Let's go! Hurry. Come on, guys, let's go.

Base, this is 1-9-8-6.

Glen! Make sure the valves are open!

Make sure the valves are open! Do it!

As soon as two goes down, go to system three!

Go manual! Forget automatic! Go manual!

It's accelerating.

CO2's off the dial.

How are we gonna get outta here?

Just give me a minute.

It will be right at the edge of the blast area!

Audrey!

- Check the phone lines. - Check 'em.

Anything?

Nothing. There's no response. There's no response!

- Edward? - There's nothing.

We got to get in there!

There may still be people alive...

Don't open that door!

They're dead out there.

We try to get out, we're dead, too.

Just take it easy.

You can see, behind me here,

through the trees, a large plume of ash,

and it's very close.

We felt a major earthquake just seconds...

No! I want the control room.

Well, keep trying.

Has anyone gotten up to the well?

They were 10 minutes away.

I tried calling, but they're not picking up either.

Track down the sheriff.

Tell him we had a distress call

just ments before we lost all communication.

Maybe he'll send a deputy.

And we need to get back online with their computer.

Everything's down.

Well, somebody has to figure it out.

Those computers may be

the only way we're gonna reach those boys.

What are we gonna do about Atlanta?

What about Atlanta?

Well, corporate's gonna be wanting us

to think about a strategy here, Oliver.

Strategy? We don't even know what happened here yet!

Right now, I want eyes and ears on the ground up there

so that we can figure out what happened.

The sky's already darkening,

the ash plume rising higher and higher.

It's hard to see here.

I'm trying to get a better view.

Pan back to the tree-line.

Police are trying hard to get people out of here.

And the wind has picked up.

And it keeps coming.

Come on.

Let's get inside.

Where's Dylan?

Oh, no, he's gone!

Dylan! Dylan!

Dylan! Come on! Come on!

As you can see, there's a better view...

Go, go, go, go, go, go!

Audrey!

Matthew? I just got off with CalTech.

It's worse than we thought!

Increased activity throughout the Ring of Fire.

The Ring of Fire? What...

About 75% of the world's volcanoes.

Hank? Hank?

I can't breathe.

Where are the others?

I don't know where anyone is,

I lost them.

There is... There is no one else.

Come on. Come on. We gotta go.

We gotta go. Come on. Come on!

The well's gone, Oliver.

They're all gone.

Well, still, all communications are down.

Then... how are they gonna know

we're alive in here?

They're not.

My son... He's out there.

He was on a field trip.

Matthew!

Come on!

Close them! Close the windows.

We don't have much time!

It won't close!

My window won't close.

Help me!

Matthew!

How long do you think that will hold?

I don't know.

The heat sensors have been knocked out.

There's no way outta here.

Are you okay?

Yeah...

Let's see. Let's see.

No, I'm fine, Dr. Cooper.

No, you're not fine.

Sit down. Sit down.

Okay.

Volcanic ash is made

out of microscopic shards of glass.

It'll get into that wound and cut it,

it'll make it fester.

We need to clean it, okay?

We were lucky.

We were on the edge of the blast range.

Any closer,

and our lungs would already be infected,

being cut by that ash with every breath.

Well, it's pretty much still like breathing poison.

We have to get out of here.

How close is too close?

You mean for your son?

Yeah.

Look, the best thing we can do

is get back into town.

I'm sure he's there, at the school, okay?

Come on. Ome on.

Is anybody hurt?

Tommy's hurt.

- Oh, no! - Oh, no, Tommy's hurt!

Does anyone have a picnic blanket?

I have one.

Okay...

Under his head.

Hello? Can anybody hear this?

Why are these geysers happening here?

The eruption was miles away.

Well, a caldera is basically like

a giant volcano crater.

It can spread for miles.

When it erupts,

it doesn't just erupt in one place, like a stratovolcano,

like Mount St. Helens,

it can erupt in many different places,

basically wherever that compressed magma

can find a way out.

Right. So these geysers,

they're, like, smaller explosions?

Essentially.

And the Ring of Fire?

The Ring of Fire

stretches from Yellowstone to Indonesia.

It's about 75% of the world's volcanoes.

Now, there is a scenario that's improbable but possible,

where one eruption could trigger the rest.

And if that happens?

It's what's called an "E.L.E." "Extinction-Level Eevent."

==sync, correction by dcdah== for www.addic7ed.com