2012 Written by Roland Emmerich & Harald Kloser Second Draft February 19th, 2008 OVER BLACK We listen to the immortal music of Mozart's Adagio of the Clarinet Concerto in A. FADE UP EXT. THE SOLAR SYSTEM Space, infinite and empty. But then, slowly all nine planets of our Solar System move into frame and align. The last of them is the giant, burning sphere of the sun. Just as the sun enters frame, a solar storm of gigantic proportion unfolds. The eruptions shoot thousands of miles into the blackness of space. FADE TO BLACK 2009 FADE UP EXT. COUNTRY SIDE/INDIA - SUNSET Mozart's concerto filters from a jeep's stereo, fighting the drumming sounds of the monsoon rain. PROF. FREDERIC WEST, 66, listens to the music. An Indian BOY playing by the roadside steers his wooden toy ship across a puddle. The Professor turns to his driver, pointing to the boy. PROF. WEST Watch out! But it's too late. The jeep drives straight through the puddle at full speed, sinking the boy's toy ship. In the background, the jeep stops in front of a building. The driver jumps out, leading the Professor towards its entrance. The sign at the door reads: `Institute for Astrophysics - University of New Delhi'. 2. INT. NAGA-DENG MINE/INDIA - SUNSET An endless mine shaft. An old elevator cage comes to a grinding halt. When Prof. West steps out we see that he is accompanied now by a nervous DR. SATNAM TSURUTANI, 32. PROF. WEST How deep are we? SATNAM 8200 feet. Used to be an old copper mine, Professor, sir. As Prof. West follows Satnam, he takes in the unusual setting for this science lab. PROF. WEST Helmsley told me that the neutrino count doubled during the last sun eruptions. SATNAM Correct, sir. But that is not what worries me... They enter a large room with low hanging ceilings. A small group of WHITE COATS look up from their computers, which all show images of the solar storm we witnessed earlier. SATNAM (CONT'D) There was a new solar storm, so strong that the physical reaction got even more severe. PROF. WEST How can that be? SATNAM We don't know, Professor, sir. Satnam walks over into another room. There he opens a hatch on the floor and hot steam rises. SATNAM (CONT'D) The neutrinos suddenly act like... microwaves. Prof. West slowly steps closer. When he discovers that the water in the tank below is boiling, his face goes pale. CUT TO: 3. EXT. LARGE TERRACE/WASHINGTON D.C. - EVENING A major fund raising party is under way. The setting is spectacular. A terrace overlooking the Washington Mall and the Capitol Building. ADRIAN HELMSLEY, 32, stands with a group of young POLITICAL AIDES. He is the only African-American among them. One of the aides spots CARL ANHEUSER, 58, White House Chief of Staff, working the crowd. POLITICAL AID #1 Look at Anheuser. Anyone would think he was President. Did you hear, he wants us to sign in and out like school boys? ADRIAN I still can't believe that Wilson chose him of all people to run the White House. POLITICAL AID #2 Why not? Anheuser owns the Senate and the Congress. ADRIAN Shame he's such a pompous ass. ANHEUSER (O.S.) Somebody mention my name? Adrian turns to see Anheuser smiling. ADRIAN (SHOCKED) Yes sir... No, sir. ANHEUSER Which one is it? ADRIAN We were talking about what a great speech you gave tonight. Well done, sir. ANHEUSER It's Helmsley, right? I'll remember that. Anheuser walks away with a dangerous smile. POLITICAL AID #2 That guy scares the shit out of me. At that moment Adrian's cell phone rings. (CONTINUED) 4. ADRIAN (into the phone) Professor West? PROF. WEST (O.S.) I've been trying to reach you! INT. LIVING ROOM/SATNAM'S HOUSE - NIGHT Prof. West is on the phone. In the background we make out Satnam's family around the dining room table. PROF. WEST Listen, Adrian. The situation is much worse than we thought... Satnam quiets his little son. It is the boy we saw earlier with his toy ship. INT. HALLWAY/WHITE HOUSE - DAY Adrian follows Anheuser through a hallway of the White House, papers in hand. ADRIAN Sir, the President needs to know this. ANHEUSER Helmsley, how long have you been on the job as science advisor? ADRIAN Four months this week. ANHEUSER I would say that's enough time to learn that we have rules here. You'll just have to wait until the quarterly science briefing. ADRIAN If this is about what I said last night, I am truly sorry, sir. ANHEUSER So you didn't like my speech? Exasperated, Adrian holds out the papers to him. ADRIAN Can you please have a look at this, sir? It's really important. (CONTINUED) 5. Finally, Anheuser rips the papers out of his hands and starts to walk away, reading. Suddenly he slows down. ANHEUSER Who wrote this? ADRIAN An Indian astrophysicist I graduated with from Harvard and Prof. West, the preeminent geologist in the US. ANHEUSER Who else knows about it? ADRIAN No one, sir. ANHEUSER Let's keep it that way, Helmsley. Anheuser walks away. FADE TO BLACK 2010 FADE UP EXT. SEVILLE/SPAIN - DAY G8 Summit. Riot police control the unruly crowd with water cannons. We see PROTESTERS with Anti Globalization signs behind a fence. A convoy of limousines is approaching a historic building. INT. BIG HALL/ALHAMBRA - DAY We follow the American delegation into the conference room, where the other G8 delegations are seated around an enormous table. The President of the United States, THOMAS F. WILSON, 56, doesn't sit down. He addresses the room and everybody goes quiet. PRESIDENT WILSON (O.S.) Good Morning... For the first time we see the President's face. He is African- American. (CONTINUED) 6. PRESIDENT WILSON (CONT'D) I hereby present a motion to meet privately with my seven fellow Heads of State, kindly excluding the rest of the delegates. A murmur erupts. The Russian President SERGEY MAKARENKO, 62, whispers to one of his interpreters. RUSSIAN INTERPRETER Mr. Makarenko wishes to have his interpreters present. President Wilson looks over to the Russian Colleague. PRESIDENT WILSON Mr. President, judging from the conversations we've had in the past, I can assure you, your English is absolutely fine, for what I have to say. As the Russian President waves his interpreter away, all the international delegates leave as well. The huge doors of the hall close. A secret service officer in the sound booth switches off the recording equipment to the chamber. The President gathers himself. PRESIDENT WILSON (CONT'D) Six months ago I was made aware of a situation so devastating, that at first, I refused to believe it. (PAUSE) However through the concerted efforts of the brightest scientists of several nations, we have now confirmed its validity. Dead silence. PRESIDENT WILSON (CONT'D) The world as we know it, will soon come to an end. CUT TO: EXT. CHO MING VALLEY/TIBET - DAWN A huge Chinese military helicopter blasts through a majestic mountain valley in Tibet. We are at the top of the world. (CONTINUED) 7. A Chinese COLONEL, wearing dark sun glasses, watches from the chopper as the army forces the evacuation of the villages and monasteries. VOICE (O.S.) (in Chinese) You will have new houses, electricity and running water... EXT. VILLAGE/TIBET - DAY Someone speaks on a megaphone in the village square as villagers are evicted by soldiers and herded into trucks. VOICE (O.S.) ... Some among you will even have the chance to work for the glorious People's Republic of China building the biggest dam project in the world... NENG PANG, a young monk, 18, is loaded into a truck together with his PARENTS, both in their 60's. EXT. SCHOOL/TIBET - DAY Neng's older brother, LIN PANG, 25, is part of a huge crowd of young men and women staying behind by a Tibetan school building. He turns and yells after the truck. LIN I will send you money mother. The Colonel with the dark glasses steps up, addressing the masses. COLONEL Who can read and write? Eager hands fly up in the air. An official makes notes. COLONEL (CONT'D) Who can weld? Lin's hand shoots up in the air. We hear a siren echoing through the mountains and suddenly an explosion. Lin turns. In the BACKGROUND, a series of explosions punch enormous holes into the side of the mountain, showering rock everywhere. FADE TO BLACK (CONTINUED) 8. 2011 FADE UP INT. DORCHESTER HOTEL/LONDON - DAY A MAN in a dark suit walks through a hallway of the Dorchester looking like your typical MI-6 agent. The decor is plush and luxurious. He's stopped by two security men who frisk him. INT. PRESIDENTIAL SUITE/DORCHESTER HOTEL - DAY Heavily ringed fingers flip through a folder. MI-6 OFFICER (O.S.) Has his Highness had the opportunity to study the dossier? A SAUDI PRINCE looks up and nods without expression. SAUDI PRINCE You must understand I have a very big family. Mister... MI-6 OFFICER Isaacs. SAUDI PRINCE Mister Isaacs, one billion dollars is a lot of money. MI-6 OFFICER I'm afraid the amount is in Euros, your Highness. CUT TO: INT. LOUVRE/PARIS - NIGHT A group of dark figures in overalls walk past famous Renaissance paintings. They stop at the Mona Lisa. MANFRED PICARD, 63, head of the French National Museums, stands by LAURA, a young African-American woman in her late 20's. They observe the specialists opening the case of the famous painting. A whoosh of air as the vacuum seal breaks. MANFRED PICARD Laura, I'm putting a lot of trust in your people. (CONTINUED) 9. Laura answers in almost perfect French. LAURA There are too many crazy people who could hurt her, Manfred. The World Heritage Foundation has done this all over the world. In the BACKGROUND the Mona Lisa is taken off the wall and replaced with a perfect replica. Picard still looks uneasy. He watches as the real Mona Lisa is sealed into an airtight case. MANFRED PICARD And she'll be safe now? Tucked away in the Swiss Alps? LAURA Perfectly safe. Picard looks suspicious but says nothing. The CAMERA MOVES IN on the face of the fake Mona Lisa until all we see is her mysterious smile. FADE TO BLACK 2012 FADE UP FUZZY TV IMAGES: Lifeless bodies encircle a huge fire pit. They resemble the rays of the sun. In the background we see the famous step pyramids of Tikal. NEWSCASTER (O.S.) ... The mass suicide was discovered by a BBC documentary crew in the ancient Mayan city of Tikal... Many of the dead are women and children looking peaceful and are surrounded by colorful flowers. NEWSCASTER (CONT'D) ... the victims were said to have adhered to the Mayan-Quiche Calender which predicts the end of time to occur on the 21st of December this year, due to the sun's destructive forces... The CAMERA slowly pulls out and we are in-- 10. INT. JACKSON'S APARTMENT/LOS ANGELES - EARLY MORNING A shabby apartment in Silverlake. The TV is on. NEWSCASTER (O.S.) ... Strangely enough, scientific records do support the fact that we are heading for the biggest solar climax in recorded history... A small tremor rocks the apartment and the dishevelled face of JACKSON CURTIS, 33, pops up from behind the couch. He fell asleep at his laptop last night. JACKSON Oh no. Not again. One look at his watch and he is off running. He throws some clothes and a toothbrush in a bag. His cell phone rings. JACKSON (CONT'D) Hello?... What do you mean? I'm not late. It's not even 10:30... Jackson turns off the TV and darts towards the door, stopping only to slide his laptop into a knapsack. As he turns, he stumbles over a stack of books, all shrink-wrapped and identically titled: `Farewell Atlantis'. JACKSON (CONT'D) Damn it! (into the phone) Kate, I'm on my way... For god's sake... Frustrated, he kicks them out of his way and exits. We hold on the books and realize that Jackson's photograph is on their back covers. EXT. JACKSON'S GARAGE/LOS ANGELES - EARLY MORNING The phone call continues as Jackson opens the garage door, struggling to pack his old SUV with camping equipment. JACKSON They're kids, Kate, going on vacation. It's not a doctor's appointment... it's supposed to be fun. You remember that, right? Fun? He tries to start the engine, but the battery is dead. Frustrated, he hits the steering wheel. 11. EXT. JACKSON'S STREET/LOS ANGELES - EARLY MORNING Jackson runs across the street with his camping equipment, throwing it into the trunk of a stretch limo parked by the curb. JACKSON ... I know it's mosquito season at Yellowstone, Kate. I'll pick some up on the way. He notices a deep crack in the asphalt. His neighbors, an elderly couple, stand there and stare at it. NEIGHBOR Merrill, we should move back to Wisconsin. Jackson gets into the limo and speeds off. INT. STREETS/LOS ANGELES - EARLY MORNING Jackson drives through LA with the radio on. RADIO HOST (O.S.) ... Those shake-proof coffee mugs are a genius idea, and they just show the true nature of us Californians. We pass a family frantically loading boxes into a van. RADIO HOST (O.S.) (CONT'D) We'll not bow to little inconveniences like these so called `mini-quakes'... Jackson passes a man in a wheelchair. He's holding up a cardboard sign: `Repent - The End is Near'. EXT. KATE'S HOUSE/LOS ANGELES - MORNING Jackson stops and honks in front of an upscale Westwood home. RADIO HOST (O.S.) ... If you have a funny `mini-quake' story you wanna share, call Lisa & Randy at 1-800... Jackson switches the radio off. Two kids NOAH, 10, and LILLY, 7, come running down the driveway. They slow down, as they see the limo. NOAH Jackson, what is this? (CONTINUED) 12. JACKSON Don't call me Jackson, Noah, I'm your father. Lilly yells from inside the limo. LILLY (O.S.) Noah! Look! Daddy's got Space-Busters in the car... and Space-Busters 2. Awesome! Their mother, KATE CURTIS, 32, a beautiful woman appears. KATE So what, you're a chauffeur now? What happened to the temp work? JACKSON This is better hours for me. Means I can still write. KATE Of course. Kate's new boyfriend, GORDON SILBERMAN, 43, pulls out of the garage in his Porsche wearing his Bluetooth. GORDON (on the phone) Simone, how many times have I told you, we don't do Lipo on Fridays. It's too messy. Jackson smiles bitterly. Gordon waves at the kids. GORDON (CONT'D) Have fun guys. And watch out for those bears. (to Jackson) Nice car. Jackson waves grudgingly as Gordon pulls away. KATE Noah needs to read twenty pages from his book each day... She follows Jackson to the car with a bag of pull-up diapers. KATE (CONT'D) ... and Lilly has to put these on, before she goes to sleep. JACKSON Still? (CONTINUED) 13. He shuts the trunk and gets back behind the wheel. She looks at him seriously. KATE Jackson, they've been really looking forward to this you know. Don't let them down. He nods as the car pulls away. CUT TO: EXT. SHIP DECK/SAN FRANCISCO HARBOR - DAY HARRY HELMSLEY, 73, and his partner TONY DELGADO, 68, board an enormous cruise ship, the `Freedom of the Seas'. Harry is African-American, Tony is Italian. He carries a large case. They pass a poster: `Jazz Night with Harry Helmsley & Tony Delgado'. HARRY So this time we'll hit the Japs. TONY So what? HARRY Well Tony, electronics are cheap there and... you could visit your boy Will. TONY Afternoon ladies... TONY shoots a charmers smile at a couple of older single ladies on sun loungers. They smile back coyly. HARRY Are you even listening to me? TONY Yes unfortunately I am Harry. HARRY I heard from Audrey you're a grandpa now. TONY Why don't you keep your nose out of my family. You're cramping my style. HARRY He married a Japanese girl - how is that the end of the world? You should at least go see him. (CONTINUED) 14. TONY Why? Do you see your boy? HARRY Not as much as I'd like. DC is a long way. But at least we talk. TONY What about? HARRY Life, how short it is... Suddenly they're thrown off balance by a large swell that pulls the massive `Freedom of the Seas' away from the landing, about ten yards. The next moment, the ship slams back against the dock with an earthshaking BOOM. TONY What the hell was that? A murmur goes through the crowd. Luckily nobody is injured. CUT TO: INT. LAURA'S BEDROOM/D.C. - EARLY MORNING The phone rings twice before Laura switches on a light. We catch a glimpse of a framed photo of her and Adrian. She answers the phone. MANFRED PICARD (O.S.) Laura? They lied to us. LAURA Manfred is that you? EXT. STREETS/PARIS - NIGHT Picard is speeding in his Peugeot, anxiously checking his rear view mirror. MANFRED PICARD I had my suspicions. I should have said something. They are following me. LAURA (O.S.) Who is? MANFRED PICARD They may be listening to us too. Laura the Heritage Foundation is a sham. (CONTINUED) 15. Picard's car approaches a tunnel. LAURA (O.S.) What? MANFRED The art you collected, it's not in the Alps. The Peugeot enters a tunnel. LAURA (O.S.) Then where is it? A huge blast rips through the tunnel as his car explodes. SMASH CUT TO: EXT. ROAD/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY JACKSON AND LILLY (singing along to the RADIO) `We all live in a Yellow Submarine...' They're driving through the glorious landscape of Yellowstone National Park. Noah sits in the back with headphones on playing Space-Busters 2. As they pass over a ridge, the music station is overpowered by a talk show filtering through. We hear a raspy and excitable voice. RADIO HOST ... After what is going on in La-La- land with all those surface cracks, I told myself: Get your stupid ass to Yellowstone. I don't want to miss all the great fun, when it finally blows... Lilly reaches for the dial of the radio. LILLY What happened to the music? JACKSON Hang on, sweet pea, let daddy listen to this for a moment... Jackson corrects the dial to get better reception. RADIO HOST ... There's been government people flying in and out all morning. And trust me, they did not look happy... (CONTINUED) 16. A huge black helicopter brushes over the limo. RADIO HOST (CONT'D) ... Folks, always remember, you heard it first from Charlie. They watch in awe as the chopper disappears behind a ridge. CUT TO: INT. OVAL OFFICE/WHITE HOUSE - MORNING Laura bursts in and heads straight for the TV. The President looks up from his desk. LAURA You have to see this. Sally the President's Secretary enters, flustered. PRESIDENT WILSON It's alright Sally. Sally closes the door as Laura turns up the TV. CNN ANCHOR ... Mr. Picard had been the director of the French National Museums for 24 years. As fate would have it his assassination took place in the same Paris tunnel where Princess Diana died in 1997. The President comes around his desk. Laura looks at him distraught. LAURA I just talked to him, Dad. He told me the world Heritage Foundation is a sham. Is that true? The President shoots an anxious look across the room. Laura turns and suddenly realizes that Adrian is standing in the corner. LAURA (CONT'D) You knew too? You sleep with me and you didn't say anything? Adrian looks ashamed. LAURA (CONT'D) I can't even look at you. Either of you! (CONTINUED) 17. PRESIDENT WILSON Honey, calm down. LAURA A man was killed! I want the truth Dad. Right now. CUT TO: EXT. FOREST TRAIL/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY A dense forest trail. We hear Lilly before we see her. LILLY (O.S.) Daddy, where are we going? JACKSON To a very special place, Lil'bee. It's a lake. A place where mommy and daddy fell in love. (winking to Noah) Remember the book I gave you? NOAH I don't want to know where you and mom had sex. I'm not ready for that, Jackson. JACKSON I'm your dad, Noah. LILLY (O.S.) Daddy! Jackson runs to catch up with Lilly who has reached a fence with a `keep out' sign posted. JACKSON This wasn't here before. Jackson starts to climb the fence. NOAH Don't you see the signs? JACKSON It's fine guys. EXT. RIDGE/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY Jackson and his kids crest a ridge. They look down on a parched basin with cracked terrain. (CONTINUED) 18. JACKSON It's gone. The whole darn lake is gone. I swear you guys there was a lake here. The kids roll their eyes. EXT. EMPTY LAKE BED/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY A puddle of water is all that remains of the lake. Jackson and the kids walk into the basin, unaware of being watched THROUGH BINOCULARS. Jackson spots an electronic measuring device and crouches to have a closer look. Elsewhere in the lake bed, we see sand seeping through CRACKS in the ground. NOAH (O.S.) Jackson! When he looks up, he sees heavily armed soldiers coming towards them from all sides. JACKSON It's okay, Noh'. Through the BINOCULARS, we see Jackson and his kids arrested and led over a ridge. With this we reveal an ENORMOUS RESEARCH FACILITY with hundreds of tents and vehicles surrounding a massive drilling tower. EXT. RESEARCH FACILITY/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY Adrian Helmsley and Prof. West exit the drilling tower, both studying papers. Adrian notices Jackson and his kids nearby, being interrogated by an OFFICER. ADRIAN I'll be with you in a second, Professor. Adrian walks towards them. Jackson stares at the officer with defiance. OFFICER ... And then you climbed over a posted fence? Just like that? NOAH I told you. (CONTINUED) 19. JACKSON Isn't this supposed to be a National Park? There shouldn't be fences. What are you guys doing around here anyway? ADRIAN (O.S.) We're geologists... Jackson turns and sees Adrian standing there. ADRIAN (CONT'D) I'll handle this officer. Thank you. The officer reluctantly hands him Jackson's license. JACKSON So, where did the lake go? ADRIAN That's what we're trying to find out. We think this whole area has become potentially unstable. I would advise you to take your kids and leave, Mr... He throws a look at Jackson's drivers license. ADRIAN (CONT'D) ... Curtis. He looks up at Jackson with renewed interest. ADRIAN (CONT'D) Are you by any chance the Jackson Curtis, the author of `Farewell Atlantis'? JACKSON (SURPRISED) Yeah, that's me. Jackson straightens up proudly. Lilly smiles. ADRIAN What a coincidence. I'm reading your book, as we speak... first third, around day 300, when the shuttle loses communication with earth and drifts off into space. JACKSON You're one of lucky 422 who bought it. ADRIAN Actually I didn't buy it. My father gave it to me. (CONTINUED) 20. JACKSON Oh, I see. Prof. West waves at Adrian from one of the container labs. Adrian hands back Jackson his drivers license. ADRIAN Officer, can you return them to the campgrounds, please. (to Jackson) Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Curtis. Jackson and his kids look after Adrian hurrying away. LILLY He was very nice. JACKSON Yes he was, Lil'bee. EXT. FOREST TRAIL/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - LATER Jackson and the kids walk back to the campgrounds when suddenly CHARLIE FROST, 62, a crazy looking guy with binoculars around his neck, stands in their way. CHARLIE FROST What did the government guys tell you? Jackson looks at him, instinctively picking up Lilly. JACKSON They think it's not such a good idea to climb over their fences. They feel the area is unstable. Charlie bursts out laughing. CHARLIE FROST Unstable! Ha-ha! They say its unstable! That's funny... With this he turns around and leaves. EXT. TENT/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DUSK Jackson is sitting on a camp chair, right outside the tent. He's on his laptop, looking enquiringly at an aerial picture of Yellowstone on Google earth. In the background we see the kids are in the tent. (CONTINUED) 21. NOAH There are mosquitos in here. Did anybody spray the tent? Jackson looks up, remembering he forgot the spray. JACKSON We'll get some of that tomorrow. For tonight just put your head under the blankie. LILLY Daddy you said you weren't gonna work on your book. JACKSON I'm not Honey, I promise. Are you wearing your pull-ups? Lilly nods as Jackson walks over and tucks her into bed. He kisses her good night. He turns and is surprised to see Noah typing a text on his cell phone. JACKSON (CONT'D) Did mommy buy you that? NOAH No... Gordon gave it to me for my birthday. Jackson takes the phone from out of Noah's hands. JACKSON Noah. Things like a cell phone have to be discussed in the family. NOAH (BITTER) What family? Jackson reads the message Noah has typed `Hey Gordon, Camping Sucks!'. Hurt, Jackson hands back the phone. JACKSON Go to sleep guys. EXT. RESEARCH FACILITY/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DUSK Commotion. The base packs up. Adrian and Prof. West duck low as they board a chopper. Adrian is on the phone. ADRIAN ... You have to immediately inform the President, Mr Anheuser. The readings look much worse than I expected. (MORE) (CONTINUED) 22. ADRIAN (CONT'D) Plus Satnam's neutrino figures from India confirm... We hear Anheuser, yelling. ANHEUSER (O.S.) ... But you guys said... ADRIAN We were wrong! By five or six months... A second later the chopper lifts off. INT. LIMO/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DUSK Jackson has his laptop open with the cursor blinking away on the words `Chapter Seven'. But he can't concentrate on writing after what Noah has said. A chopper flies overhead. Jackson follows it's path over the campsite and his eyes fall on an American flag fluttering on top of a massive radio antennae. This belongs to an RV truck. Through the RV's window, Jackson sees the silhouette of Charlie Frost, the guy with the binoculars, speaking into a microphone. Curious, Jackson flicks on the radio and twists the dial. ON THE RADIO (Charlie's voice) ... We have a listener calling in. Bill from Cooke City, you're on the Charlie Frost Show. (Bill's voice) I wanted to know, where will this all start? Jackson is intrigued. He puts his laptop down. ON THE RADIO (CONT'D) (Charlie's voice) Well, something like this could only originate in Hollywood, Ha-Ha! But seriously, they've got the earth cracking under their asses already, Bill. Jackson climbs out of his car and starts towards the RV. He can still hear the radio. ON THE RADIO (CONT'D) (Bill's voice) Our family believes in the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (MORE) (CONTINUED) 23. ON THE RADIO (CONT'D) We have nothing to fear, Charlie. (Charlie's voice) Good for you Bill, good for you! INT. CHARLIE'S RV/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DUSK Charlie hits a switch. Music starts playing. The Doors, `The End'. CHARLIE FROST ... This is Charlie Frost reporting live from Yellowstone National Park, soon to become the world's largest active volcano. Charlie is about to take a bite of his sandwich, when there's a knock on the door. Jackson sticks his head in. JACKSON Hi. Mind if I join you? CHARLIE FROST I only got a few minutes. Charlie bites into his sandwich as Jackson looks around at all the equipment. JACKSON I just heard part of your broadcast... Mind me asking a question? What exactly is it... that will start in Hollywood? CHARLIE FROST (CHEWING) Actually it's gonna be the whole west coast... JACKSON What are you talking about? CHARLIE FROST The apocalypse, the end of days. The Mayans knew it, the I Ching and the Bible, kind of... Charlie looks at his watch. CHARLIE FROST (CONT'D) I got to eat... Just check my blog. You can download it for free. Charlie clicks on his laptop. CHARLIE FROST (CONT'D) ... However, we do take donations. (CONTINUED) 24. A crudely animated film starts to play. Charlie narrates on screen in an overly dramatic fashion. CHARLIE'S VOICE In the year 2012 a cataclysmic event will unfold. Caused by an alignment of the planets in our solar system that only happens every 640,000 years... Just imagine the earth as an Orange... Charlie appears as an animated figure holding an orange. CHARLIE'S VOICE (CONT'D) ... our sun will begin to emit such extreme amounts of radiation, that the core of the earth will melt - that's the inside part of the Orange, leaving the crust of our planet free to shift. On screen the middle of the orange shrinks, now the skin moves freely around it. CHARLIE'S VOICE (CONT'D) In 1958, Prof. Hapgood named it `Earth Crust Displacement'... A faded portrait of a scientist appears on screen. CHARLIE FROST ... and Albert Einstein endorsed it... The infamous photo of Einstein, sticking out his tongue. CHARLIE FROST (CONT'D) The forces of mother nature will be so devastating it will bring an end to this world on winter solstice 12-21-12. The film ends with an image of the whole earth covered with water. Charlie shuts the laptop. CHARLIE FROST (CONT'D) Pretty neat, huh? It's a big hit on YouTube. I did the animation myself. (PAUSE) I know what you're thinking. But all the governments know about this. JACKSON If they all knew, don't you think somebody would tell us? (CONTINUED) 25. CHARLIE FROST They can't. Just think about it. First the stockmarket would crash... Charlie opens a can of beer. Phsssh! CHARLIE FROST (CONT'D) Then the economy... boom. The dollar... boom. And then the people in the streets... (mimicking gun fire) Boom, boom! Pandemonium, revolution, war! They would never tell us. Beer? Jackson shakes his head still struggling to digest this. CHARLIE FROST (CONT'D) Only if you're some Sheik, Bill Gates, or maybe one of those Russian billionaires do you stand a chance to buy a seat. JACKSON A seat? CHARLIE FROST (INTENSELY) They're building spaceships, man. JACKSON Oh... I see. CHARLIE FROST No really... One of my listeners, a geography professor at UTSC, has even figured out where they're building them. He sent me a map. JACKSON Well... Charlie, I think I gotta go. My kids are sleeping. Charlie looks at him bug eyed. CHARLIE FROST Get them out of Yellowstone, man. It's gonna get ugly here. JACKSON Night, Charlie. As Jackson exits, Charlie gets back on the air. (CONTINUED) 26. CHARLIE FROST Sorry for the delay, folks. But even in times like these, a man has got to eat... CUT TO: EXT. PARKING LOT OF SUPERMARKET/LOS ANGELES - NIGHT Westwood. The parking lot of Gelson's is nearly empty. Eerie silence. Suddenly some of the cars begin to shift in place from an unseen force. A small CRACK creases the asphalt and slowly crawls towards the brightly lit supermarket. INT. BETWEEN AISLES/SUPERMARKET - NIGHT Muzak is playing. Kate and her boyfriend Gordon are shopping late. She picks up some pull-ups for Lilly, Gordon steps up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. GORDON Why don't we make a baby? He reaches up and touches her breasts. KATE Stop it! We're in public. Gordon lets go of her with mock disappointment. GORDON Honey, I created them. And now suddenly I can't touch them? Kate pushes him away and moves on. A few customers are paying at the checkout stand. BEHIND THEM: Huge glass windows reveal cars slowly sliding into the ever widening crack in the parking lot. Nobody inside notices. Gordon catches up with Kate. GORDON (CONT'D) You always act strange after he shows up? KATE Just because I don't care for your arrogant humor doesn't mean I'm acting strange. He is the father of my kids. (CONTINUED) 27. GORDON Maybe biologically. Can I remind you what that guy did? First you gave up med school to have Noah... Then you practically raise him and Lilly by yourself while he sat glued to a laptop writing that junk. KATE Some of his stuff is actually... He's published Gordon. GORDON (MOCKINGLY) Yeah, published! You know your mother was right. You've always been drawn to guys with lofty dreams and empty pockets. But not this time right, sweetheart? Kate smiles awkwardly and picks up a can of soup. The shelf in front of her shakes for a moment. KATE Did you see that? GORDON See what? Kate slowly puts the cans of soup into her cart and looks around. Gordon senses a problem between them. GORDON (CONT'D) You know Kate, we have to keep working at this... our relationship. Because I won't end up being just a re-run of you and Jackson. (PAUSE) I mean Honey, I feel like... something is pulling us apart? Before Gordon finishes his sentence-- A violent ROAR! From front to back, the entire supermarket rips open right between Kate and Gordon. The few customers scream in horror at the sight of the huge crevasse forming beneath them. Kate and Gordon are thrown up against opposite aisles holding on for dear life. They cling to the columns as the shelves fold into the ever widening crack... CUT TO: 28. INT. CONVENIENCE STORE/YELLOWSTONE - MORNING Jackson puts down some groceries at the checkout. JACKSON Just stop scratching. You'll get them infected. He smiles at the female cashier behind the counter who does not look friendly. JACKSON (CONT'D) Something for Mosquito bites please? CASHIER Before or after? JACKSON What? The woman looks at Lilly and Noah with their red lumps. CASHIER I'd get before and after. She slams two mosquito products on the counter. LILLY (POINTING) Look! Mrs. Birnbaum, my teacher is on TV! On the store's TV: A heavy-set blonde WOMAN, 45, speaking to a reporter in front of Gelson's. NOAH That's our supermarket. The gap in the ground is enormous now, at least half a mile long and 200 feet wide. JACKSON (WORRIED) Kids, we have to pack up and go find mommy. CUT TO: INT. HALLWAY/WHITE HOUSE - MORNING President Wilson and Anheuser walk towards the Situation Room. (CONTINUED) 29. ANHEUSER Sir, you have to initiate the boarding process immediately. PRESIDENT WILSON Is this even possible? What's our information from China? ANHEUSER They estimate four of the ships will be ready for launch. The President is shocked by this news. PRESIDENT WILSON Only four? ANHEUSER If it's alright with you sir, I'll brief the panel about the new development. PRESIDENT WILSON I'd rather have Adrian do that. They trust him. I told him to be in on the meeting. Anheuser fumes as they enter the situation room. INT. SITUATION ROOM/WHITE HOUSE - MORNING Flat screens line the walls. A video conference is under way with each of the G8 members represented. PRESIDENT WILSON Ladies and Gentlemen, we all knew this day would come. But we never imagined it would come this soon. He looks over to Adrian. PRESIDENT WILSON (CONT'D) I would like to pass this over to my science advisor, Adrian Helmsley. Adrian steps up and gathers himself. Anheuser watches. ADRIAN I'll make this brief... Pointing to a set of charts. (CONTINUED) 30. ADRIAN (CONT'D) ... According to our latest data from Yellowstone, the temperature of the subterranean crust of the earth, the cement that holds our landmass in place, is increasing at a rapid rate, much faster than anticipated... All the heads of state are glued to his words. ADRIAN (CONT'D) ... This causes extreme polar instability. The magnetic fields have decreased by more than 80% over the last 48 hours. The German Chancellor, a woman, interrupts. GERMAN CHANCELLOR How much time do we have, Mr. Helmsley? Adrian glances to Professor West, standing in the back. ADRIAN Two, maybe three days if we're lucky. The Prime Minister of Italy breaks in, upset. ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER How can you speak about luck in such a situation? ANHEUSER Apologies Prime minster. He's still new to the job. President Wilson steps up. PRESIDENT WILSON Nevertheless, Mr. Antonioni, we have to make an immediate decision. We hear CHEERING and APPLAUSE. BOXING ANNOUNCER (O.S.) Introducing the 320 pound muscle machine from the Ukraine... CUT TO: INT. BOXING ARENA OF MGM GRAND/LAS VEGAS - NIGHT The arena is filled to its max. The crowd is on its feet. (CONTINUED) 31. BOXING ANNOUNCER ... and tonight's challenger for the heavy weight world championship of the world. Here he is... Mister Zultan Balashin! The crowd ROARS as the boxer and his entourage enter. The CAMERA moves in on a tall man with blonde clean cut hair. He is well built, wearing designer clothing from head to toe. YURI KARPOV, 45, stereotypical Russian oligarch. He approaches the ringside corner and whistles. YURI Zultan! The nervous boxer turns. ZULTAN (in Russian) Ah, finally, Yuri. I thought I would not see you. Yuri hits the boxer's gloves. Zultan is nervous. His coach steps in. COACH He needs to concentrate now, Mister Karpov. YURI You shut up... when I talk to my boy, understand? COACH Yes, Mr. Karpov. YURI Good... That is good. (in Russian to the BOXER) Zultan my friend. Do not forget. We are fighters. We never go down. We always stay on our feet... Zultan just keeps nodding, pumping himself up. YURI (CONT'D) ... No matter who is hitting us. No matter how hard. GONG. First Round. The fight is on. YURI (CONT'D) Now, go kill the bastard. (CONTINUED) 32. Yuri walks to his seat, sitting down next to his trophy: TAMARA, 28, blonde, wears the shortest mini one can imagine, designer shoes, handbag, glasses and boobs. In her lap she holds CAESAR, a tiny dog wearing a diamond collar. In the ring the boxers maul at each other. Yuri's cell phone beeps. It's a text message: START BOARDING PROCEDURE Yuri's whole demeanor changes. Without a word, he gets up and walks out of the arena. TAMARA Yuri bear... where are you going? Yuri does not respond as he squeezes through the crowd. Zultan, the boxer, notices Yuri leave. In that split second distraction, he is hit HARD and goes down for the count. The crowd ROARS! CUT TO: EXT. WESTWOOD/LOS ANGELES - SUNRISE Jackson has driven all night. The sun rises, a giant glowing orb. PUBLIC RADIO NEWS (O.S.) ... Caltech believes that the incident in the Westwood supermarket has released most of the surface tension... EXT. KATE'S HOUSE/LOS ANGELES - EARLY MORNING Jackson pulls up. The kids are asleep. PUBLIC RADIO NEWS (O.S.) ... It looks like life in the city will soon be back to normal, Mayor Gonzales said at an early morning news conference from his home in Hancock Park. Jackson switches off the radio and wakes his kids gently. JACKSON Lilly, we're home sweetie. (to Noah) Wake up big man. (CONTINUED) 33. Kate heads to the car. Still sleepy, the kids grab their stuff and run into her arms. KATE Oh honey, I'm so glad you're back... And you too, darling. JACKSON We tried calling but - LILLY (O.S.) I'm hungry Mummy. KATE At least it looks like the Mosquitos ate well. She looks at Jackson and softens. KATE (CONT'D) Wanna come in? Gordon appears at the door. Jackson watches painfully as Noah runs and gives Gordon a big hug. His cellphone beeps with a message. YURI (O.S.) Where are you Curtis? INT. PRESIDENTIAL SUITE/LAS VEGAS - EARLY MORNING Yuri stands at a huge window overlooking the strip talking into his phone. JACKSON (O.S.) Back in Westwood, Mister Karpov. YURI Good. That is good. I'm sending the Gulfstream to pick up Alec and Oleg. Tamara hovers in the background packing her Louis Vuitton luggage. Caesar, her little dog, watches from the bed. TAMARA (in Russian) Tell him to bring Caesar's raincoat, it's in the Range Rover. Yuri brushes her off. 34. EXT. STREET/BEL AIR - MORNING While talking to Yuri, Jackson is standing in front of the open trunk, changing into his chauffeur suit. YURI (O.S.) Curtis, make sure you get my boys as fast you can. EXT. MANSION/BEL AIR - MORNING A palatial home. Completely gaudy. The twins, ALEC and OLEG, wait impatiently. They are 12 years old and wear identical clothing by Dior. ALEC Curtis, you are late. Jackson ignores him and starts throwing the luggage into the limo. The other twin notices his muddy sneakers. OLEG Careful with our stuff. Don't get it dirty. EXT. STREETS/LOS ANGELES - MORNING Ahead of the limo a crowd has formed in the streets, singing songs and chanting about the end of days. A SKINNY MAN with a ponytail preaches from the scriptures. PREACHER ... There will be famines, pestilences and earthquakes, sayeth the Lord. Jackson has to maneuver through the people. Banners read: `Prepare for the End'-- 'You cannot escape his judgement'-- Alec looks up from his video game, annoyed. ALEC Curtis, can't you go faster? JACKSON Are you guys blind? I can't run people over. OLEG Why not? They're idiots anyway. Jackson shoots these spoilt brats an angry look. 35. EXT. SANTA MONICA AIRPORT/LOS ANGELES - MORNING Jackson stops in front of the Gulfstream. SASHA, 40, Yuri's Russian pilot is expecting them. SASHA Hey Jackson. Took you a while... Jackson mutters under his breath as he unloads the luggage, dropping one of them on Alec's foot on purpose. ALEC Ouch! Be more careful! The other twin has noticed Jackson's intensions. He gets into his face. OLEG Now you're laughing, Curtis. But we are going on a big ship. (PAUSE) We will live... and you will die. Oleg grins back at Jackson as the jet door closes. The Gulfstream taxis onto the runway. As Jackson turns back to the car a fine surface crack shoots across the tarmac. We hold on his face as it hits him like a ton of bricks: THE CRAZY RADIO HOST, CHARLIE FROST WAS RIGHT! Frantically Jackson looks around and spots a MAN in overalls working on a twin engine Cessna. He runs to him. JACKSON Where can I rent a plane? The man points to a shabby office building. CUT TO: INT. KITCHEN/LOS ANGELES - MORNING Kate is in her kitchen cooking breakfast for the kids. Gordon watches the Governor on the news. GOVERNOR (with Austrian ACCENT) ... just this morning my people at Caltech told me that in the last 36 hours we had basically zero earthquake activity in Southern California, which is very rare... (CONTINUED) 36. The phone rings. Kate picks up. EXT. STREETS/LOS ANGELES - MORNING Jackson drives like crazy. JACKSON ... Kate, we have to get out of LA! I've rented a plane for us. Get the kids ready! I'll be there in five. KATE The kids have plans today... JACKSON Are you kidding me! KATE No I'm not! Noah has music at 2 and Lil' has Karate. Gordon rolls his eyes and mutters. GORDON Not that we'd expect him to remember. JACKSON (SCREAMING) California is going down! Pack up the kids! KATE You're crazy! The Governor just said we're fine now. JACKSON The Governor's a meathead, how would he know anything? Kate listen! You gotta trust me over some politician. Come on. INT. KATE'S HOUSE/LOS ANGELES - MORNING Kate slams the phone down. Lilly stops eating. LILLY Mommy, why are you so angry with Daddy? LAURA Because your daddy is a lunatic, darling. On the TV, the interview comes to an end. (CONTINUED) 37. GOVERNOR ... it looks to me, like the worst is over. That moment a MASSIVE QUAKE hits Los Angeles. Everybody dives under the table. ON TV: The news casters and the Governor do the same. A few seconds later the signal cuts out. Gordon pulls Kate and the kids close as the earth shakes violently for 20 seconds. EXT. KATE'S HOUSE/LOS ANGELES - MORNING Jackson flies into the driveway and runs into the house. INT. KATE'S HOUSE/LOS ANGELES - MORNING When he enters, Lilly immediately runs into his arms. The next tremor hits. Cracks form on the kitchen floor. JACKSON We have to leave! Noah, let's go! KATE I think we're safer here! JACKSON Noah, now! Kate please... The whole house rides up and down like on a wave. GORDON I think he's right. Finally Kate pushes her son out from under the table. They all scramble out of the house in a panic. Kate is cut on the shoulder by falling glass but she hardly notices. EXT. KATE'S HOUSE/LOS ANGELES - MORNING As they storm out of their front door the house crumbles behind them. JACKSON Get in the car! The whole street starts to buckle. Left and right the houses are shaken and smashed like toys. (CONTINUED) 38. Just before the wave of destruction can reach them, Jackson tears out of the driveway. EXT. STREETS/LOS ANGELES - MORNING Jackson maneuver's the limo through the crumbling neighborhood. Right in front of their eyes, streets disappear, trees fall, electrical lines snap. Sewer pipes burst in front of the car. NOAH Holy shit! Jackson has to turn on the windshield wipers. EXT. SANTA MONICA AIRPORT/LOS ANGELES - MORNING The limo crashes through a gate onto the tarmac, coming to a stop in front of a twin engine Cessna. JACKSON Damn it! Where's the pilot? Kate turns to Gordon. KATE Gordon, you know how to fly. GORDON I... had a couple lessons... JACKSON Did you cover taking off? GORDON Yeah. JACKSON That's good enough for me. They start running, when Jackson remembers something and heads back to the Limo. He grabs his knapsack from the front seat fumbling to zip his laptop back inside it. Kate shouts. KATE (O.S.) Jackson, what are you doing? JACKSON I'm coming. He jumps out of the car and races back after them. Behind Jackson the hangar starts to disintegrate. (CONTINUED) 39. IN THE DISTANCE A gigantic fissure forms in the earth, shooting towards Santa Monica airport. Gordon fumbles with the controls, Jackson yells from the copilot seat. JACKSON (CONT'D) Come on, come on... GORDON (pointing at the INSTRUMENTS) But I'm supposed to check all these first... Jackson reaches over and slams Gordon's hand down and the plane lurches forward. As the Cessna speeds onto the tarmac the control tower goes down and explodes. Noah discovers the giant crevasse forming behind them. NOAH Guys, behind us! As the plane accelerates, the giant crack closes in on them. Gordon's hand trembles on the throttle control. Everybody screams on top of each other. EVERYBODY Gordon! Damn it! Lift off! Gordon gathers his courage and pulls the lever. The plane almost rockets into the air just as the ground beneath them gives way. They hover for a moment, almost caught in mid-air as the widening crevasse beneath them fights to suck them into the bowels of the earth. Gordon fights to maintain control but they begin to be pulled down. The daylight vanishes. Debris and mud smashes into the plane from all sides. The canyon walls erupt. GORDON I can't get it up! Taking desperate measures, Gordon nearly rips the control stick out of its joint - with a lurch the Cessna lifts out of the abyss. (CONTINUED) 40. They all take a deep breath only to realize that now they are flying directly into the collapsing towers of downtown Los Angeles! Like a roller coaster, Gordon manages to weave the little plane through the tumbling high rises. They dive one last time to evade the plummeting US BANK TOWER, the tallest building on the west coast. All are dead silent as they watch the whole of Los Angeles crumble beneath them. Kate covers Lilly's eyes. NOAH (in total shock) That was amazing, Gordon! Jackson looks at Kate and notices her cut. JACKSON Are you okay? KATE (brushing it off) I'm fine. How did you know this was gonna happen? JACKSON I didn't. (To Gordon) Do we have enough fuel to make it to Yellowstone? The plane veers off in a northeasterly direction. Behind them the destruction of Los Angeles continues. CUT TO: EXT. FREEDOM OF THE SEAS/PACIFIC - DAY The gigantic cruise ship plows through the Pacific. We hear lounge music... INT. BAR/FREEDOM OF THE SEAS - DAY Adrian's father Harry and his partner Tony are on stage. Harry on the piano, singing, Tony playing the bass. A waiter brings drinks. Water for Harry, and a brightly colored cocktail for Tony. WAITER You got fans Tony... (CONTINUED) 41. Tony raises his glass to two old ladies who are sitting at the bar. WAITER (CONT'D) There's a call for you Harry. Want me to take a message? HARRY (while still playing) I'll be right there. The waiter nods. A few more bars of music, then applause. HARRY (CONT'D) (into the microphone) Thank you ladies and gentlemen. Let's hear it for the one and only Tony Delgado... And I'm Harry Helmsley and we'll be back after a short pit stop. Applause. Harry rushes off stage. ADRIAN (O.S.) Dad... what I have to tell you is very serious... INT. HALLWAY/WHITE HOUSE - DAY Adrian is standing in a dark corner. Behind him people are packing up, carrying boxes. ADRIAN You remember when I told you about the dam in China? Well, it's happening much sooner than we anticipated. INT. GALLEY/CRUISE SHIP - DAY Harry's face has turned serious. ADRIAN (O.S.) The President has ordered us to clear out the White House. HARRY Hah... About time someone cleaned up that mess. INT. HALLWAY/WHITE HOUSE - DAY Adrian fights back the tears. (CONTINUED) 42. ADRIAN Where are you, dad? What exactly is the course of the `Freedom' right now?... HARRY (O.S.) It's all good, Adrian. Don't worry about your old man. You have more important things to do now. INT. GALLEY/CRUISE SHIP - DAY There's a tremor in Harry's voice. HARRY You know, your mom and I, we had a hell of a great life... and a hell of a great kid too. (PAUSE) And the `Freedom' is a pretty big ship you know... Don't write your old man off, just yet. INT. HALLWAY/WHITE HOUSE - DAY A tear runs down Adrian's face. HARRY (O.S.) ... Besides, I could never leave Tony alone. You know how he can't keep decent time by himself. Pause. ADRIAN I love you, dad. INT. GALLEY/CRUISE SHIP - DAY Harry bites his lip. HARRY Love you too, son. INT. BAR/CRUISE SHIP - DAY Back in the lounge, Tony has finished his cocktail. Harry walks up and hollers at the barkeeper. HARRY Hey Herb. Get me a double Jack on the rocks. (CONTINUED) 43. TONY After twenty-five years on the wagon? HARRY Why not? Who cares how long we do certain things? How long we drink booze, how long we talk to people... Or how long we don't talk to people. Harry grabs Tony by his shirt. TONY Woah!... Harry, what's the matter with you? Let's go. We're back on. Harry pulls him even closer. HARRY Call your kid, you stubborn old ass. (PAUSE) I'm not going back on that stage unless you promise to call him. WAITER (INTERRUPTING) Tony, the ladies are waiting for you. HARRY Promise me, Tony... please. Harry stares him down. TONY Yeah, maybe I should call him... Harry smiles, downs his bourbon and walks back on stage. CUT TO: INT. ADRIAN'S OFFICE/WHITE HOUSE - DAY Adrian enters his office. The TV is on. NEWS ANCHOR ... There is little we know at this point, but the earthquake registered at 10.1 on the Richter scale. The whole of the Western seaboard was hit... Assistants stare at the news in shocked disbelief, some of them are crying. Prof. West appears at the door. ADRIAN (pointing at the TV) Have you seen this? (CONTINUED) 44. Prof. West silently nods and beckons Adrian, who follows him down the hall into a dark control room. They look at a wall- sized high def monitor. PROF. WEST We have satellite images. Here's the sequence we've got so far. On the monitors, detailed satellite imagery displays how the monstrous quake unfolds, leaving California sliding into the sea. ADRIAN Any news from Yellowstone? PROF. WEST Anytime now. CUT TO: EXT. RESEARCH FACILITY/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY The base is abandoned but for a few structures and the enormous drilling tower. Gordon manages to land the plane next to what looks like a fueling station. Jackson leaps out checking the pump. JACKSON Guys, there's fuel! Fill her up and I'll look for Charlie. KATE You're sure about this? JACKSON Kate, everything this guy said so far has happened. I'll be right back. Jackson runs off towards the hills. LILLY Daddy wait! I wanna come with you! Lilly runs after him. Jackson picks her up. KATE Lilly! Come back! JACKSON It's fine! I'll take her. Kate watches as they disappear, worried. Noah and Gordon have started to fuel the plane. 45. EXT. CHARLIE'S RV/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY Jackson and Lilly find Charlie's RV with it's door hanging open. They enter. The key is in the ignition. The radio transmitters are on, but Charlie is gone. Jackson fiddles with the switches and Charlie's voice comes on. CHARLIE'S VOICE ... I am standing here at the highest point on what is the rim of this super volcano... JACKSON He's got to be close by, Lil'bee... Jackson jumps behind the wheel and turns the ignition. LILLY Let's go back, Daddy. JACKSON Listen to me. We have to find Charlie. He's got a secret map, you know, like Jack Sparrow in `Pirates'. That catches her interest. JACKSON (CONT'D) Lil', we have to work as a team now, okay? You have to help me. Jackson passes her his mobile phone. Lilly nods. He throws the RV into gear and they speed off over the bumpy terrain. In their dust, we see the earth fissuring! INT. RV/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY Jackson drives like a bat out of hell. CHARLIE'S VOICE ... The last time this baby blew, was 640,000 years ago... JACKSON Dial Mommy's number, sweetheart. Jackson tears up the mountain looking for Charlie. EXT. EMPTY ARMY BASE/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY Kate's phone rings. (CONTINUED) 46. LILLY (O.S.) Hi mommy... KATE Where are you, honey!? INT. RV/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY Jackson hears the stress in Kate's voice. He hisses at Lilly. JACKSON Tell her we'll be back in ten minutes. LILLY (EXCITED) We're looking for a secret map, mommy. Jackson grimaces. EXT. RESEARCH FACILITY/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY Kate tries to keep it together for Lilly. KATE Let me speak to your daddy, darling. LILLY (O.S.) Daddy can't talk right now, he's driving really fast... INT. RV/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY The RV runs over a boulder. Lilly hits the roof. LILLY Ouch! KATE (O.S.) LILLY! In the background Kate hears the voice of Charlie Frost. CHARLIE'S VOICE ... I tell you guys, any minute now... any minute the fireworks will start... KATE (O.S.) Who's in the car with you? Who's that man screaming? LILLY He's not in the car. He's on a mountain waiting for fireworks. (CONTINUED) 47. Lilly spots Charlie way up on a ridge. He has erected his ten foot radio antenna with the flag fluttering on top. LILLY (CONT'D) (to Jackson) There he is! Up there! JACKSON You're the best, darling. Give Daddy the phone... (into the phone) Kate I am sorry, I can't talk... The road ends just below the mountain peak. KATE (O.S.) Bring back my child, Jackson! NOW! Jackson sees Charlie up above, broadcasting. He hangs up the phone and jumps out of the RV. JACKSON You wait here for me! You watch the ship while Captain Curtis talks to the pirate. Okay? LILLY (UNCERTAIN) Okay... Jackson climbs up to Charlie. EXT. MOUNTAIN PEAK/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY Charlie has his broadcasting equipment strapped to his body. The antenna's flag is whipping in the wind. CHARLIE FROST (into his mic) ... I wish you guys at home could see this on TV... He notices Jackson and muffles the microphone. CHARLIE FROST (CONT'D) How did you make it up here? Thought you were toast. JACKSON The spaceships Charlie, where are they? CHARLIE FROST You can't make it there. (CONTINUED) 48. JACKSON We have a plane. We can get you out of here too. Let's go Charlie! All around the landscape begins to collapse. A three mile crater forms, revealing the awe-inspiring sight of the super- volcano. CHARLIE FROST You'll never make it out in time. Just stay and enjoy the big bang. That your kid? Jackson discovers Lilly standing behind him, staring at Charlie with her big brown eyes. Jackson grabs Charlie lifting him off the ground. JACKSON Where is that god damn map! CHARLIE FROST Easy, easy. Watch the mic... I don't know. Somewhere in my camper. A low rumble builds to a rapturous thunder as MILLIONS OF BIRDS tear into flight. CHARLIE FROST (CONT'D) Wow! Look at that!... (into his mic) Fly birdies fly! This marks the last day of the United States of America folks and by tomorrow... The mouth of the volcano starts to break apart revealing molten lava underneath. CHARLIE FROST (CONT'D) ... the last of mankind. Soon they'll see us from a million miles away, out there in the milky way... Jackson grabs his wide eyed daughter and races down the mountain. EXT. BELOW MOUNTAIN PEAK/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY Jackson and Lilly jump into the RV and races off, with Charlie's broadcast still playing. CHARLIE'S VOICE ... The ash cloud will travel everywhere. (MORE) (CONTINUED) 49. CHARLIE'S VOICE (CONT'D) First the lights will go out in Vegas, then Dallas, St. Louis and then Washington DC... Jackson's cell phone rings and he picks up. JACKSON We're on our way. EXT. RESEARCH FACILITY/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY KATE Jackson, things are really looking bad here! In that instant, the air around them vanishes, as if sucked from the landscape into a vacuum. THE BIGGEST EXPLOSION THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN... At least in the last 640,000 years. To them, all this occurs in total silence. The sound of the eruption has not reached them yet. They are frozen, unable to comprehend what is happening. EXT. MOUNTAIN PEAK/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY The explosion begins to resembles an atomic mushroom. CHARLIE FROST ... it's beautiful, kids! Just beautiful! The sound waves reach Charlie, throwing him to the ground. EXT. DIRT ROAD/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY The RV flies over the rugged terrain. Everywhere the earth is cracking, falling apart. Jackson struggles to swerve around the disappearing landscape. LILLY (SCREAMING) It's following us! Lilly has discovered the expanding ASH CLOUD behind them. JACKSON Just don't look back, Lil'bee! The THUNDERING sound envelopes them! On the radio, the voice of Charlie is getting shrill. (CONTINUED) 50. CHARLIE'S VOICE Majestic!... Oh yeah! EXT. MOUNTAIN PEAK/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY Charlie slowly tries to stand again, silhouetted against the cloud of dust and fire towering above him. Flaming rocks fly towards him. When they hit the ground, they detonate like fire bombs. CHARLIE'S VOICE Oh baby! It's coming! EXT. DIRT ROAD/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY Rocks plummet like comets around the RV as Jackson races over a collapsing bridge. On the radio, in his delirious state, Charlie begins to sing... CHARLIE'S VOICE `This is the end, my friend'... Yellowstone looks like a war zone. The RV dodges the bombardment of fire and rock. EXT. MOUNTAIN PEAK/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY Huge tree trunks and glowing boulders fly at Charlie through the ashes. He screams at the top of his lungs. CHARLIE FROST ... Folks, always remember, you heard it first from Charlie. A second later, Charlie's radio antenna comes spinning like a scythe through the air. It decapitates Charlie in an instant. EXT. DIRT ROAD/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY The radio cuts out. The forest and the camp grounds are mown flat by the extreme force of the ASH CLOUD. In the rear view mirror Jackson sees it gaining on them. JACKSON LILLY! DOWN! A firebomb hits the RV, ripping half the roof off. Lilly barely makes it under the dashboard. (CONTINUED) 51. JACKSON (CONT'D) Stay down there, Lil'! We're almost there! Just keep looking at daddy. Jackson spots the little Cessna in the distance. EXT. EMPTY ARMY BASE/YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - DAY At the entrance to the airstrip a huge crevasse forms, cutting the RV off from reaching the plane. Lilly sticks out her head. LILLY Mommy! Jackson swerves wildly to miss the crack, sending Lilly flying out. Without thinking, he lets go of the wheel, lunging after her and pulling her back inside. JACKSON Stay down darling. Jackson races the RV alongside the forming crack. Spotting a narrow point in the crevasse, he makes a decision. Slamming the accelerator down, he races towards it at full speed. Moments later the RV is airborne! Kate watches, too shocked to scream. A few drawn out seconds. Then the RV touches down, crashing 200 feet from the plane. Kate runs towards the wreckage of the camper. Lilly jumps out, racing into her mom's arms. Jackson turns and sees the cloud approaching. JACKSON (CONT'D) You guys go! I'll be right there! Kate pulls Lilly back to the plane. Jackson jumps into the back of the RV scavenging through the shelves, looking for Charlie's map. Kate lifts Lilly onto the wing of the plane. Gordon revs up the engines. NOAH Give me your hand, Lil'. Noah pulls his little sister into the cockpit. (CONTINUED) 52. Fiery rocks rain from the sky, detonating to the right and left of their plane as Kate climbs in. GORDON We have to take off! NOAH No! LILLY Where's daddy?! GORDON Kate, I'm sorry but if we wait we'll all die! Gordon pushes the throttle. The plane starts to move. Kate screams. KATE Gordon! Wait! Back in the RV, Jackson is frantically going through the masses of books and papers on the shelves. Finally, a map. He unfolds it. But it's only of the London underground system. He throws it to the ground and finds another. This time he's lucky! There are markings everywhere. As he races to the door, the ground gives way beneath the RV. Kate and the kids watch it disappear from sight. KATE (CONT'D) JACKSON! NO! Noah begins to cry and Lilly clings to her mom. Gordon just stares, paralyzed. The ASH CLOUD is almost upon them! Gordon takes action and accelerates the plane. Kate turns back. A hand emerges from the crevasse. Then another, holding a map. Her face lights up. LILLY It's daddy! Jackson pulls himself up and sprints towards them, the map in his hand. KATE Jackson! Here! Kate leans out of the cockpit reaching for him. (CONTINUED) 53. NOAH Faster Dad. You can make it! GORDON Kate, grab him for god sake. We're almost out of runway. Using every last ounce of energy, Jackson leaps onto the wing and is yanked into the plane by Kate. Just at that moment, the plane lifts off. Jackson falls into the cockpit, completely out of breath. Lilly crawls over and hugs him. JACKSON Thanks for waiting guys. Now all eyes are glued to the speedometer. 180... 190... The violent ASH CLOUD is hitting their tail rudder. The plane swerves wildly! Gordon gets it back under control. The speedometer finally creeps towards 200 mph and the CLOUD slowly falls back. Everybody breathes a sigh of relief. KATE So, now that you got your map, where are we going? Jackson unfolds it and takes a look. Hundreds of markings clutter the map. In the left corner he discovers a large letter C followed by H - I - N - A. He looks up. JACKSON We're gonna need a bigger plane. CUT TO: INT. WEST WING/WHITE HOUSE - LATE AFTERNOON The White House is being evacuated. Amidst the chaos stands Anheuser. Adrian puts down a phone and looks at him. ADRIAN Just a few minutes ago Yellowstone erupted, sir. The ash cloud will reach Washington in roughly 7 hours. Maybe 6. We have strong easterly winds... ANHEUSER And the crustal displacement? (CONTINUED) 54. ADRIAN No one knows, sir. Anheuser starts walking, Adrian trails behind. ANHEUSER Let's get the government airborne and... I mean now. INT. OVAL OFFICE/WHITE HOUSE - LATE AFTERNOON Anheuser and Adrian burst into the Anteroom of the Oval Office. The President's secretary, SALLY, 55, is packing. ANHEUSER Where is the President, Sally? Sally looks up stone faced. SALLY He said he wanted to spend a few minutes alone. I think he's over at the chapel. ANHEUSER The whole North American continent is about to perish, and Wilson decides to go to church! Adrian shoots an angry look at Anheuser. ADRIAN He's praying sir. Which considering the circumstances is not a bad idea. ANHEUSER Maybe. But right now I need the leader of the free world off his knees and on Air Force One. Wheels up 1900 hours. Can I leave that with you Helmsley? Anheuser walks away. Adrian and Sally exchange a look. SALLY I really don't like that man. INT. CHAPEL/WHITE HOUSE - SUNSET Adrian finds the President standing near the front of the chapel. ADRIAN Mr. President? We need to get you out of Washington immediately. (CONTINUED) 55. President Wilson stays with his head bowed. PRESIDENT WILSON Now matter how idealistic you are taking office. You lose your innocence behind that desk. (PAUSE) Laura was right. People have died because of the decisions I made. ADRIAN That's not your fault sir. He turns to face Adrian. PRESIDENT WILSON You sound like Anheuser. This quietly affects Adrian. PRESIDENT WILSON (CONT'D) Laura's never looked at me like that before. Only once... When I told her, her mother had died. You knew the first lady? ADRIAN A little. PRESIDENT WILSON You know what she said to me that night we brought her to the hospital? (PAUSE) `Tommy... I think you should do a lottery. Every one should have a chance to go'. That's what Dorothy said to me. That's what we should have done. ADRIAN There would have been chaos, sir. President Wilson looks Adrian in the eyes. PRESIDENT WILSON You know what I believe, Adrian. I believe nature should choose for itself, from itself. Adrian takes this in. PRESIDENT WILSON (CONT'D) Don't let her go. You'll regret it if you do. Prove to Laura what kind of a man you are. And I'll do the same... You go now. And watch your back for Anheuser. (CONTINUED) 56. Adrian stares at the President in disbelief. ADRIAN But sir? PRESIDENT WILSON Go. That's an order Helmsley. A tense moment before Adrian starts to walk away. Just as he exits the chapel, Wilson calls after him. PRESIDENT WILSON (CONT'D) Would you tell my daughter... there's nothing on earth that I cherish more than her. We hold on President Wilson's face. CUT TO: EXT. LAS VEGAS - SUNSET Most of Las Vegas is destroyed. A 200 foot wide canyon now divides sin city along its famous strip. The towering casinos still teeter along the canyon's rim. All forms of emergency rescue operations are deployed around the city. In the FOREGROUND, we see Las Vegas International Airport, its runway cut dramatically short. Large pieces of tarmac continue to break off into the crevasse. EXT. AIRFIELD/LAS VEGAS AIRPORT - SUNSET Gordon maneuvers his plane through the chaos. Airplanes are strewn about the runway. Passengers everywhere. GORDON I told you we should have gone to my parents' in the Rockies. KATE Gordon's right. Look at this mess. Jackson looks around frantically. JACKSON You don't understand, it's our only chance. (CONTINUED) 57. GORDON This isn't one of your crazy stories now. How the hell are we gonna make it to China? NOAH Gordon, without Jackson, we'd never have made it out of California. Silence. Noah is right and they know it. They taxi past a private jet whose front wheel is stuck in a hole in the tarmac. We hear a dog barking and the CAMERA finds Tamara, with Caesar in her arms. YURI (O.S.) Careful with the landing gear! (in Russian) Tamara, get the boys out of the way! An airport tow truck attempts to pull Yuri's Gulfstream jet out. Sasha, the pilot, helps. A safety announcement echoes through the whole area. VOICE (over loudspeaker) Attention! The US National Guard has informed us, that an extremely hazardous ash cloud is headed towards the city of Las Vegas. Tamara looks scared and secretly reaches for Sasha's hand. They share an intimate look, no one else sees. VOICE (CONT'D) We strongly advise every one to move indoors immediately... The tow truck driver panics and runs inside. We move in on Yuri. For the first time he looks helpless. In the background, Jackson and his family join the panicked crowd heading towards the terminal building. Firemen and rescue workers usher them forward. FIRE MAN Let's move people! Inside the terminal! Jackson and his family are swept along. CUT TO: 58. INT. AIR FORCE ONE/ARLINGTON AIRPORT - DUSK Adrian rushes up the stairs of Air Force One, approaching one of the flight officers. ADRIAN Where's Anheuser? OFFICER In the command center, sir. Adrian moves on. INT. COMMAND CENTER/AIR FORCE ONE - DUSK Adrian enters. Anheuser immediately senses something is amiss. ADRIAN The President is not coming. I couldn't convince him to. Everyone in the room looks up, speechless. ANHEUSER So, the captain doesn't want to leave his sinking ship? (PAUSE) Well, Mr. Helmsley, we just learned that the Vice President's chopper crashed 80 miles north of Atlanta. Adrian is shocked. ADRIAN What about the Speaker of the House? ANHEUSER In this chaos... I have no idea! ADRIAN But she's Commander In Chief now. Sir, I just think - Anheuser moves in dangerously close. ANHEUSER I don't care what you think, Helmsley. Laura quietly enters the Command Center, as Anheuser and Adrian stare each other down. (CONTINUED) 59. ANHEUSER (CONT'D) Your ass only made it into the White House, because your old man knew the First Lady... and because of all that affirmative action bullshit. Anheuser takes it even further. ANHEUSER (CONT'D) There was a white kid, much more qualified than you. Just so you know. Adrian's face is ashen. LAURA (O.S.) Where is my father? Everyone turns to Laura. Silence. ADRIAN He wanted to stay with his people. Suddenly, the engines of Air Force One turn over. Laura panics. LAURA We have to go back! Adrian tries to hold her close to him. Anheuser sees this intimate moment and gives a suspicious, questioning look. A second later Laura pushes Adrian away. LAURA (CONT'D) Let me get out. Mr. Anheuser - tell the Captain. ANHEUSER There is a protocol for just this situation Ms. Wilson and I'm afraid we'll have to follow it to the letter. Anheuser turns to an officer. ANHEUSER (CONT'D) Tell the Captain, to take off immediately. Laura looks at him incredulously. CUT TO: INT. AIRPORT TERMINAL/LAS VEGAS AIRPORT - DUSK Emergency lights illuminate the densely populated terminal. (CONTINUED) 60. RESCUE WORKER People, stay away from the windows! One of the rescue workers yells, pushing Jackson and his family back. Frustrated, Jackson turns to Kate and Gordon. JACKSON We can't get stuck here. Suddenly a voice... VOICE (O.S.) Dr. Silberman? What are you doing here? They all turn and stare at Tamara, holding her little dog against her plump breasts. Kate gives Gordon a look. GORDON (EMBARRASSED) She's a patient, honey. JACKSON (SARCASTICALLY) Nice work. But when Jackson discovers Yuri behind her, his tone suddenly changes. He gets in Yuri's face. JACKSON (CONT'D) You bastard. You knew it all along! (at the twins) You and those spoiled rotten sons of yours... Sasha comes running in and cuts through this. SASHA I found us a plane, an Antonov. They were just about to take off, but the tower didn't let them. YURI Can you still fly that thing? SASHA Sure... But I need a copilot. Lilly chimes in. LILLY Gordon is a pilot. (CONTINUED) 61. Before Gordon can protest Jackson picks up Lilly. JACKSON Let's go! They burst through the emergency exit, setting off an alarm. Emergency personnel yell after them. RESCUE WORKER Hey! Stop! You can't go out there! Come back! But they keep on running. Sasha now leads the way. EXT. AIR FIELD/LAS VEGAS AIRPORT - DUSK They race around the corner and come to a halt. Before them, a Russian freight plane of enormous size-- The ANTONOV 225, the biggest aircraft in the world. NOAH Wow, that is a big plane. YURI (PROUDLY) It's Russian. Sasha, who has run ahead turns back and sees: A MASSIVE GREY WALL OF ASH moving towards the airport. SASHA Guys, follow me! They all run after him up the stairs. INT. COCKPIT/ANTONOV - DUSK Sasha enters the cockpit and puts on the headset while readying the plane for takeoff. SASHA (into the mic) You'll find folding seats on each side of the cargo hold... INT. CARGO HOLD/ANTONOV - DUSK SASHA (O.S.) ... Sit down and buckle up! They all scramble to get into their seats. (CONTINUED) 62. NOAH Wow! Look at those! They discover the cargo they are carrying-- Sports cars, SUV's, concept cars and luxury models, some of them are labeled `Las Vegas Auto Show 2012'. YURI We had VIP tickets for that. The six engines of the Antonov come roaring to life. INT. COCKPIT/ANTONOV - DUSK The plane is starting to move. Gordon sits uncomfortably in the copilot's seat. SASHA You check the main bus for the hydraulics. I'll balance the tanks. GORDON Uh... What? Sasha reaches over and does it himself. SASHA Work the radio and keep an eye on the fuel, okay? Gordon nods and puts on the headset, trying to focus. INT. TERMINAL/LAS VEGAS AIRPORT - DUSK People start SCREAMING, when they discover the menacing WALL OF ASH racing towards them. RESCUE WORKER Move back, people... down on the floor! EXT. RUNWAY/LAS VEGAS AIRPORT - DUSK The nose of the Antonov turns onto the runway. This humongous plane suddenly looks small against the wall of ash. INT. COCKPIT/ANTONOV - DUSK Gordon is panicking. GORDON We have to get going! (CONTINUED) 63. Sasha hits the throttle. SASHA (CALM) We're going, we're going. A deafening THUNDER emanates from the engines. INT. CARGO HOLD/ANTONOV - DUSK Everybody grabs their seat as the vibration of the aircraft builds. EXT. RUNWAY/LAS VEGAS AIRPORT - DUSK The Antonov steadily gains speed as it rumbles down the cracked and uneven runway. The canyon that has swallowed half the city looms ahead. And behind them the volcanic cloud bears down. INT. COCKPIT/ANTONOV - DUSK Sasha stares down the gap ahead, determined. Gordon's face is as white as a sheet. GORDON We're not gonna make it! SASHA Shut up! We will! INT. TERMINAL/LAS VEGAS AIRPORT - DUSK The violent cloud has finally reached the airport. The terminals are hit by flying debris. Seconds later, Yuri's Gulfstream is whipped through the air, shattering the huge windows into a thousand pieces. People are thrown like rag dolls as the jet explodes in a massive fireball. INT. CARGO HOLD/ANTONOV - DUSK Kate and Jackson hold their kids tight. Tamara clings to little Caesar and Yuri to his twins. 64. EXT. RUNWAY/LAS VEGAS AIRPORT - DUSK The Antonov lumbers heavily towards the inevitable drop off on the horizon. The runway is way too short... And to make matters worse, the ground begins to move again, slowly arching the tarmac upwards, creating a crooked ramp at the end of it. INT. COCKPIT/LAS VEGAS AIRPORT - DUSK A drop of sweat trickles down Sasha's forehead as he pulls back the wheel. Gordon holds on for dear life as the huge plane barely lifts off, veering sideways. EXT. CANYON/LAS VEGAS - DUSK The Antonov is on a collision course with the crumbling casino towers along the other side of the rim. INT. COCKPIT/ANTONOV - DUSK SASHA GOVNO! (shit). Help me pull! Gordon grabs the wheel on his side, helping Sasha pull up the beast of a plane. EXT. CANYON RIM/LAS VEGAS - DUSK Very slowly the plane starts to rise and Sasha's face lights up. They barely make it over a casino called `Paris; Las Vegas'. But the plane clips its wheels on a high metal structure right behind it, ripping away part of the landing gear. INT. COCKPIT/ANTONOV - DUSK After some struggle, Sasha manages to steady the Antonov. Gordon's face is green as he looks back. GORDON Was that the Eiffel Tower? Sasha looks over and grins. He grabs the microphone. (CONTINUED) 65. SASHA Ladies and gentlemen, we are on our way to China. CUT TO: EXT. YAK LA MONASTERY/TIBET - DAY An ancient monastery built atop a solitary mountain rock. In the distance, the sun glistens off the peaks of the Himalayas. NENG PANG, a young monk, 20, sits with his superior and teacher LAMA YAK LA, 65. They have tea beneath a huge bronze bell. LAMA YAK LA (in Chinese) Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it, Neng. NENG But Lin is my brother. He is working inside the big tunnels, where the ships are made. The Lama remains silent. NENG (CONT'D) What is in your wisdom for us to do, great Lama... if Lin is right, if our world is indeed coming to an end? Instead of answering, the Lama serves him more tea. When the cup is full, the Lama doesn't stop pouring. Neng watches the tea overflow until he can no longer restrain himself. NENG (CONT'D) It's full, great Lama. It can hold no more! The Lama stops pouring and looks at Neng. LAMA YAK LA Like this cup, Neng, you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you wisdom unless you first empty your cup? Neng bows his head in embarrassment. The Lama smiles to himself and takes a chain from around his neck. On it hangs a set of rusty car keys. (CONTINUED) 66. LAMA YAK LA (CONT'D) Be careful with the clutch. It tends to slide. The Lama throws him the keys and the young monk catches them, smiling from ear to ear. They bow to each other and Neng runs off. Lama Yak La looks after him as a father would. He gets up and strikes the bronze bell with a wooden mallet. EXT. HOUSING PROJECT/TIBET - DAY As far as you can see is a series of identical little houses. The house in the foreground has a chicken coop in the garden. Mrs. Pang enters the coop. We last saw her when the village was being evacuated. She grabs one of the hens. She places its head on a woodblock and picks up a rusty hatchet. Just about to strike, she hears a strange RATTLING noise. An old truck comes driving towards the house. Behind the wheel sits her son Neng. She puts down the hatchet, yelling. MRS. PANG (in Chinese) Bata! Neng is coming! The young monk jumps out, quickly bowing. NENG Mother, I got a message from Lin. He wants us to meet him in Cho Ming, at the west gate. He says he can get us on one of the ships he is working on. Mrs. Pang is still holding the chicken by its throat. MRS. PANG I thought Lin is working on the dam? NENG The dam is a ship, Mother. The government lied to us. There will be a big flood. The chicken hangs limp in Mrs. Pang's hand. MRS. PANG Not here in the mountains... Let's eat first. The hen panics as she puts its head back on the block, raising the hatchet again. (CONTINUED) 67. NENG No mother! We must pack up right away. NENG'S MOTHER We took a trip with the Laem Song ferry once. Your father was throwing up the whole way. The door opens and Mr. Pang appears. MR. PANG Neng, I did not know you were coming for dinner. At that moment the hatchet drops with a THUD! CUT TO: EXT. ANTONOV/OVER THE PACIFIC - NIGHT The majestic Antonov is flying high in the Pacific skies. OLEG (O.S.) Look, the new Bentley. INT. CARGO HOLD/ANTONOV - NIGHT The boys are exploring the huge freight deck. Caesar, the little dog, is traipsing along. Alec, Oleg and Noah marvel at a stylish mixture of luxury and performance cars. ALEC Our dad had one on order. We were supposed to get it next year. OLEG But then he cancelled it again, because of the ships. Noah points to a 2012 Aston Martin parked further back. NOAH If I was rich, I'd get one of those. OLEG We have one. How many cars does your family have? NOAH My Mom's boyfriend has a Porsche, a Carrera 4. (CONTINUED) 68. ALEC Our parents are divorced too. The boys share a moment of understanding. NOAH Nothing we can do about that. Noah reaches for the door of the Bentley. To his surprise, it opens. NOAH (CONT'D) Wow... look at this. Noah jumps into the car. KATE (O.S.) Be careful, Noh'! Kate and Lilly are still belted in next to Tamara. Jackson and Yuri sit on the other side of the Antonov. TAMARA How did you meet Dr. Silberman? He's great, isn't he? KATE I think for the same reasons you did. You know, after breast feeding two kids... Kate looks at Tamara. KATE (CONT'D) Did your husband ask you to get your's done? TAMARA We are not married. And we probably never will... But he paid for them. KATE I bet he did. They laugh. LILLY What did the man pay for mommy? KATE Nothing, Lil'bee. Kate looks over at Jackson who's trying to make sense of Charlie's map. Tamara catches her looking. (CONTINUED) 69. TAMARA What's your situation? Kate lets out a sigh. KATE Way too complicated... On the other side of the plane, Yuri has been watching the two women talk. YURI They seem to like each other. JACKSON I guess... So tell me Mr. Karpov - how much did you pay? YURI One billion euro, per seat. JACKSON That's disgusting. YURI You know Curtis, I wasn't always businessman. I am a boxer. Was my only playing when I was a boy, back in Murmansk. My coach... (SMILING) ... his name also Yuri... He always said: `Someone wants to beat you... he has to kill you first'. Yuri puts his hand on Jackson's shoulder. YURI (CONT'D) What would you have done, if you rich like me? Just look at your gorgeous kids. And call me Yuri... Yuri offers his hand but Jackson doesn't shake it. Sasha's voice comes over the radio. SASHA (O.S.) Hi guys. The plan is to refuel in Hawaii. So, buckle up... Gordon and I will do the rest. INT. COCKPIT/ANTONOV - NIGHT Gordon turns to Sasha. (CONTINUED) 70. GORDON Let's get this straight, Sasha. I'm not a pilot. I'm a plastic surgeon. I just took some lessons to overcome my fear of flying. SASHA Why did you give up? GORDON It didn't work. Gordon points to the declining altimeter. GORDON (CONT'D) What about the wheels we lost at take- off? SASHA There's 14 on each side. Some of them must still be there. With that, Sasha commences the landing procedure. EXT. ANTONOV/OVER HAWAII - NIGHT The Antonov dives into a thick layer of clouds. SASHA (O.S.) Still nothing from the tower? INT. COCKPIT/ANTONOV - NIGHT Gordon shakes his head. The two pilots stare ahead watching as the clouds slowly change color, from yellow... to orange. They stare out the window in disbelief. INT. CARGO HOLD/ANTONOV - NIGHT Gordon comes climbing down the metal ladder whispering to Jackson and Yuri. GORDON Guys, you really oughta take a look at this. Jackson and Yuri follow Gordon back into the cockpit. The women exchange a worried glance. 71. INT. COCKPIT/ANTONOV - NIGHT When Jackson and Yuri enter, they don't believe their eyes. YURI What is that? SASHA The State of Hawaii! YURI Not good. That is not good. EXT. ANTONOV/OVER HAWAII - NIGHT From above we watch as the Antonov flies over an endless ocean of fiery red lava. The Islands of Hawaii have turned into one big volcano. INT. COCKPIT/ANTONOV - NIGHT JACKSON How much fuel do we have? SASHA Not enough. We'll have to make a water landing somewhere in the South China Sea. GORDON At least we won't need our landing gear. Yuri wonders. YURI What about it? GORDON We lost it all... in Vegas. EXT. ANTONOV/OVER HAWAII - NIGHT The damaged landing gear slowly retracts into the vast belly of the Antonov as it veers off to the east. CUT TO: INT. PRESIDENTIAL CABIN/AIR FORCE ONE - NIGHT Adrian knocks quietly and sticks his head around the door. Laura is sitting in her father's chair. (CONTINUED) 72. ADRIAN Can I come in? LAURA I've got nothing to say to you. ADRIAN But I do... Adrian enters. He has his travel bag in one hand. He looks at Laura and gathers himself. ADRIAN (CONT'D) Your Dad and I... we were trying to protect you. LAURA (EXPLODING) I'm a big girl Adrian. I don't need protection. You used me. You guys had me gallivanting around the world, as part of your little cover-up. ADRIAN But you were doing a good job. LAURA Sure, if your name's Da Vinci or Picasso. But if you're some young talent in Podunk, Texas, sorry you're not famous enough. People like you and Anheuser and my father - you think you can play God. Adrian takes a moment, he's desperate to make her see. ADRIAN You know what your father believed. That nature will choose itself from itself. LAURA That's bullshit and you know it. It's the fittest, the richest and the strongest that survive. ADRIAN That's not true. Adrian glances down and spots Jackson's book poking out of his bag. (CONTINUED) 73. ADRIAN (CONT'D) What would you say were the chances of a first time, middle-aged writer, who barely sold 500 copies of his novel making it on board this plane? LAURA Zero. What's your point? Adrian pulls out the book from his bag. He shows her. ADRIAN It's called `Farewell Atlantis' and it's a fantastic read. It's part of our legacy now. Laura takes this in. The plane's intercom cuts through the moment. INTERCOM (O.S.) Mr. Helmsley, Prof. West requests your presence immediately. Adrian takes a breath, but before he leaves - ADRIAN What if I tried to sort some of this mess out? I need to know you can forgive me... Laura looks at him sadly, but with a little hope. LAURA I need to know that too, Adrian. Adrian moves for the door. He stops. ADRIAN One more thing. Your father told me you were the most precious thing to him in the whole world... You are to me too. As Adrian exits, we hold on Laura's conflicted face. CUT TO: EXT. WHITE HOUSE/WASHINGTON D.C. - NIGHT The cloud from the Yellowstone eruption has hit Washington D.C. hard. Pennsylvania Avenue resembles a war zone. A ten inch layer of ash lies on the ground. The gates of the White House are wide open, with ash-covered rescue workers running about, resembling ghosts. 74. INT. WEST WING/WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT The President has turned the whole West Wing into a shelter. He walks through the packed rooms assisting where he can. An old African-American LADY holds a crying young girl. President Wilson kneels down to her. OLD LADY She can't find her mother. PRESIDENT Why don't you two girls make yourself comfy on that big couch? I'll see what I can do. The child nods. The President gets up. PRESIDENT WILSON Sally, can you take care of them. I'll go check with the Red Cross... As he leaves, the old lady looks up at Sally and smiles. OLD LADY No wonder the First Lady fell for him. I knew Miss Dorothy Jones long before the President, when she was still singing jazz down in Atlanta with Harry Helmsley. SALLY I know, she was amazing. EXT. FRONT LAWN/WHITE HOUSE - NIGHT The President walks up to the Red Cross tents placed on the front lawn. He stops one of the Red Cross volunteers. PRESIDENT WILSON Who can help me with missing persons? Without looking up, the young guy responds. RED CROSS VOLUNTEER Sorry man, I'm busy right now. He then recognizes who he's talking to. RED CROSS VOLUNTEER (CONT'D) I mean, of course sir. I didn't realize... What can I do for you, Mr. President? The President pats him on the shoulder. (CONTINUED) 75. PRESIDENT WILSON Don't worry about it. You're doing a great job son... A deep, low rumble begins, stopping everybody in place. As it builds, the President grabs onto a tent pole to secure himself. He looks out over Washington D.C. His eyes grow wide... The National Mall bends like rubber. The towering Washington Monument breaks into pieces. An even more deafening sound makes him turn-- The Capitol Building rises from behind the trees, lifted up by earth's incredible force. As the whole building breaks apart, the President is thrown to the ground. CUT TO: INT. COMMAND CENTER/AIR FORCE ONE - DAY All the officers and scientists are glued to monitors that show satellite images from all over the globe. Adrian and Prof. West stare in disbelief. SCIENCE OFFICER The capitol was hit by a 9.4. Laura enters the command center unnoticed. COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER We lost communication with the White House, sir. She stands there frozen, emotionless. She looks over to Anheuser, who is shouting orders. Another officer hands him a phone. LIEUTENANT #2 President Makarenko for you sir. He's just entered Chinese air space. Anheuser takes the phone and after a beat answers. ANHEUSER That's affirmative, Mr. President. Until communication is restored, I am in command. Adrian and Laura look to each other baffled. (CONTINUED) 76. ANHEUSER (CONT'D) ... It seems all other Heads of State are en route, however there are unconfirmed reports that the Italian Prime Minister has also decided to stay behind and trust in prayer rather than action... CUT TO: EXT. ST. PETER'S SQUARE/ROME - DAWN Pope Benedict XVI holds mass in St. Peter's Basilica. Millions of followers flood Vatican City. It's a sea of candles. Amidst the mass of believers we see the Italian Prime Minister Antonioni with his family clinging to him. They all are praying. A low RUMBLE. People look around frightened. In the distance we hear SCREAMING. INT. SISTINE CHAPEL/CEILING - DAWN A few cardinals huddle together in silent prayer under Michelangelo's famous fresco. Most prominent above them is `The Creation of Adam'. The cardinals look up in horror as the rumbling intensifies. A crack forms on the ceiling, shooting straight through God touching the finger of Adam. Then the whole fresco breaks apart. EXT. ST. PETER'S SQUARE/ROME - DAWN The people in St. Peter's square begin to panic-- The entire Vatican is lifted up in the air. We hold on the Prime Minister and his family, as the basilica collapses onto the fleeing masses. CUT TO: EXT. MOUNT CORCOVADO/RIO DE JANEIRO - DAY The giant statue of `Christ the Redeemer' on Mount Corcovado. Behind it, we see Rio de Janeiro being obliterated by violent quakes. (CONTINUED) 77. The famous statue of Jesus Christ begins to topple over and crashes down the mountain. CUT TO: EXT. MOUNTAIN PASS/TIBET - NIGHT Neng Pang, the young Tibetan monk drives his truck up a bumpy mountain pass. His parents huddle in the back of the pick-up. The steering wheel is vibrating badly in his hands as he slides the clutch and downshifts. As the vehicle slows on the steep incline, the vibrations become much worse. Neng worries that the truck may be breaking down. He pulls up and switches off the engine but to his surprise the steering wheel continues to vibrate. Looking out the windshield, he sees the whole earth shaking violently. NENG (in Chinese) Hold on back there! Rocks fall all around them. CUT TO: INT. THE ANTONOV - NIGHT Jackson sits inside one of the luxury cars and tries the radio. Kate opens the passenger door and gets in. JACKSON Couldn't sleep huh? Me neither. KATE Anything? JACKSON Nothing, just static. Not even an emergency signal. KATE I can't think about what's going on down there. Jackson switches off the radio. KATE (CONT'D) I wanted to thank you. For coming back for us. (CONTINUED) 78. JACKSON I couldn't have left you... Silence. They both look out through the front windshield at Lilly and Noah curled up together. KATE Do you think people change? JACKSON By `people' are we talking about me? KATE Do you think you've changed since we separated? JACKSON Well I certainly eat a lot more cereal now... KATE You know, you always had tunnel vision. You could always just block things out and write. You blocked all of us out Jackson. He thinks about this and can't help asking. JACKSON Do you love him? Gordon... KATE I love him enough. Kate gets out of the car and shuts the door. He watches her go. CUT TO: INT. COMMAND CENTER/AIR FORCE ONE - DAY The computers buzz with the incoming data. COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER ... Cho Ming reports the first tremors, however none higher than 5.0. Anheuser looks relieved. Then the big news hits. SCIENCE OFFICER #1 The crust has begun to shift, Prof. West. PROF. WEST By what degree? (CONTINUED) 79. SCIENCE OFFICER #1 1.2 percent, but still moving. ANHEUSER Any clue what to expect next, Professor? PROF. WEST Once the movement of our land masses comes to a halt, we expect the formation of tidal waves, sir... proportional to the magnitude of the corresponding quakes. Adrian looks distressed as he turns to one of the officers. ADRIAN Do we have any news from the Japanese seaboard? Laura notices Adrian's concern. SCIENCE OFFICER #2 We've recorded two quakes averaging 8.3. She grabs Adrian's hand. Anheuser sees this and his suspicions about them are confirmed. A cold little smile appears on his face. CUT TO: INT. SALON/CRUISE SHIP - NIGHT Tony is watching TV with a group of passengers. Harry has just entered and stands near the back of the room. A TEENAGE BOY with bad acne searches for an available channel that is still broadcasting. He finds a news program with lousy reception. NEWSCASTER ... Tokyo seems to have taken the severity of the hit... Unconfirmed reports indicate that the entire island of Japan is below water... The signal gets weaker. Harry watches Tony slowly stand up. As he turns to his friend, his knees begin to buckle. His face is pale. TONY I called... But I never got through. (CONTINUED) 80. HARRY I'm so sorry. Tony only stares back at him. Behind them, the TV rolls to the side, as the whole room begins to tilt. Harry grabs on to the door frame, as the passengers along with Tony fall like dominoes. HARRY (CONT'D) Tony!! As the ship rolls to the side, Harry finds himself hanging from the door frame now 20 feet off the ground. He's barely able to pull himself up and roll onto the middle deck. EXT. MIDDLE DECK/CRUISE SHIP - NIGHT On his back, Harry is shocked to see the star field and the moon shifting across the sky. An eerie sound fills the air. A gigantic swell has formed off to his right. It's a mountain of water. Harry turns to see another gargantuan swell close in from the other side of the `Freedom of the Seas'. CUT TO: EXT. SHIBAM/YEMEN - DAY The old walled city of Shibam is in ruins. The 2,000-year-old towers lie on the desert ground. Hundreds of believers have gathered to pray towards Mecca. As they raise their hands to heaven in unison, they slow their motion and the chanting dissipates. They stare into the distance not knowing if what they see is reality or only a mirage. A monstrous tidal wave rises from the desert sands thundering towards them. CUT TO: EXT. WHITE HOUSE/WASHINGTON DC - NIGHT President Wilson's body lays between the rubble. As he slowly regains consciousness, all he can hear is the flapping sound of the collapsed Red Cross tents. (CONTINUED) 81. As President Wilson gets to his feet, he sees-- A tidal wave come sweeping over the remains of the Washington Mall and it carries with it the battleships of the 14th Fleet of the US Navy that were anchored in Chesapeake Bay. The President looks ahead, calm and peaceful. PRESIDENT WILSON I'm coming home Dorothy... The CAMERA follows the aircraft carrier `USS John F. Kennedy' as it slams broadside into the White House. CUT TO: INT. COMMAND CENTER/AIR FORCE ONE - DAY Hushed voices. Anheuser, Adrian and Prof. West stand amongst a group of officers and analysts. COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER #1 All global ground communication has ceased sir. COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER #2 The only signal our satellites are picking up are coming from the vessels in Cho Ming. ANHEUSER At least some good news. Anheuser turns to Adrian. ANHEUSER (CONT'D) Would our science advisor care to give us his assessment? ADRIAN We expect enormous tsunamis to reach landfall in every continent. The Cho Ming area will be impacted in approximately six hours. He nods to one of the analysts, who types in a couple of commands. ADRIAN (CONT'D) ... and it looks like the crust has shifted by nearly 23 degrees in a south- westerly direction. Here's the computer simulation. (CONTINUED) 82. Everybody stares as the graphic illustrates what happened to planet Earth. ADRIAN (CONT'D) Our data also shows, that our earth's poles have reversed their magnetic fields... (POINTING) ... These are their new positions. Anheuser looks at the monitor, then turns to Adrian. ANHEUSER So Helmsley, what you're telling us here is that... the north pole is now somewhere in Wisconsin? Silence. Adrian clears his throat. ADRIAN It's the south pole, sir. An ALARM SIGNAL goes off-- CUT TO: INT. COCKPIT/ANTONOV - DAWN A red light blinks on the plane's instrument panel. YURI (O.S.) What's that? SASHA Engine failure. GOVNO! Two of six are down. We must get ready. Yuri and Jackson are standing behind the pilots. JACKSON Let's go wake up the kids. Yuri nods and they make their way back to the lower deck. INT. CARGO HOLD/ANTONOV - DAWN Jackson's family are all asleep in their seats, Lilly in her mom's lap. She looks like a little angel. Jackson can't bear to wake them. He caresses Lilly's face. NOAH (O.S.) Why do you hate Gordon? Jackson turns to see Noah is awake. (CONTINUED) 83. JACKSON What are you talking about? I don't hate Gordon. NOAH But you don't like him either. JACKSON I don't know him that well. NOAH But I know him. He's really nice. You should talk to him more often. You guys would get along really well. This breaks Jackson's heart. He pulls Noah tightly to his chest. JACKSON I'll give it a try, Noah. I promise. Kate opens her eyes. KATE Is it time? Jackson nods. KATE (CONT'D) Wake up Lil'bee. We're getting ready to land. On the opposite side of the aircraft, Yuri and Tamara help the twins get into their life vests. Noah is suspicious. NOAH What's wrong? Jackson looks at his kids. They both look scared. JACKSON Sasha told us, it could get a little bumpy... and wet. The Antonov jerks to the side. Two more engines out. Alarm signals flash. EXT. ANTONOV - DAWN The remaining two engines barely hold the plane in the air as it dives into the clouds. 84. INT. CARGO HOLD/ANTONOV - DAWN Jackson and his family huddle together. He puts his arms around Lilly and Noah. JACKSON Your daddy has to tell you something. In the background, Gordon climbs down from the cockpit. He is about to speak when he hears Jackson's voice. JACKSON (CONT'D) I know that with my writing and work I didn't have a lot of time for you both... Jackson glances at Kate. JACKSON (CONT'D) I wasn't there for you, the way I should have been. Jackson looks Kate directly in the eyes. JACKSON (CONT'D) ... And I am so very sorry for that. Gordon watches as Kate pulls the kids and Jackson tight. For the first time, they seem a little like the family they once were. GORDON (O.S.) Jackson, Yuri... I think you guys should come back up here. INT. COCKPIT/ANTONOV - DAWN First Jackson and then Yuri enter the cockpit. Sasha points out of the window. SASHA Don't ask me how that happened. Behind them Yuri and Jackson stare at the snow covered mountains of the Himalayas. SASHA (CONT'D) There's no more ocean, and it looks like we're pretty close to where we wanted to go. GORDON It's as if the whole earth shifted by 1500 miles... (CONTINUED) 85. JACKSON No shit. (BEAT) It's called 'Earth Crust Displacement' Gordon... Prof. Hapgood, 1958. Jackson brims with joy. JACKSON (CONT'D) Way to go Charlie! A JOLT! SASHA We lost our last two engines. The plane drops rapidly, nearly scraping the tip of a mountain. Sasha and Gordon are doing all they can to keep the Antonov in the air. A vast glacier spreads out in front of them. SASHA (CONT'D) I'll shoot for that glacier. Drain the brake fluids. It's going to get rocky... There, the blue levers! The plane plummets, loosing altitude fast. SASHA (CONT'D) Listen up guys! This may sound a little crazy, but here's what you got to do... INT. CARGO HOLD/ANTONOV - DAWN Jackson and Yuri come running. Yuri yells at his boys. YURI (in Russian) Get up! Follow me! TAMARA Yuri bear, what are we doing? YURI We're taking the Bentley! INT. COCKPIT/ANTONOV - DAWN Sasha is struggling with the gyrating wheel. The glittering snow field comes flying towards them. (CONTINUED) 86. SASHA CHTO ZA... Gordon! We're still too fast! Sasha pulls the Antonov back up. SASHA (CONT'D) Now! Open it! Gordon yanks with all his might. A loud NOISE. INT. CARGO HOLD/ANTONOV - DAWN The cargo door drops open. The Antonov is extremely close to the glacier's surface. Jackson tries to start the Bentley, but nothing happens. Everyone screams in panic. YURI SHUT UP EVERY ONE! They all go quiet, except for a few muffled barks from Caesar. Yuri speaks towards the dashboard, slowly and clearly. YURI (CONT'D) Engine... start... The motor revs to life. Yuri looks at Jackson. YURI (CONT'D) Voice control... Sold me on it. INT. COCKPIT/ANTONOV - DAWN Sasha barely holds on. He yells at Gordon. SASHA Your turn Gordon! Go! Make sure that they make it out of here before I touch down! GORDON What about you?! SASHA I'll be fine! I have to land this thing! Gordon hesitates. SASHA (CONT'D) What are you waiting for! (CONTINUED) 87. Sasha nods at him reassuringly. Gordon bolts out. INT. CARGO HOLD/ANTONOV - DAWN The cargo door scrapes against the glacier, hurling ice everywhere. The Bentley roars. YURI (O.S.) Push it Curtis! JACKSON We're waiting for Sasha and Gordon. Noah turns and sees Gordon. NOAH Tamara! Open the door! Gordon jumps in. Tamara yells at him in desperation. TAMARA Where's Sasha? GORDON He said he'll be fine and we should get out of here before he touches down. Yuri notices Tamara's distress as she keeps looking back to the cockpit. Jackson slams the pedal down trying to gain as much speed as possible to soften their landing. LILLY Daaadddy! The Bentley shoots out the back of the plane. As it hits the snow, the air bags deploy cushioning the passengers. The Antonov hits the ice and catapults the rest of the luxury cars out of the back cargo hold. They barrel past the Bentley like skittles, narrowly missing it as they fly off in opposite directions. The plane skids across the glacier, clipping its wing and causing the aircraft to break apart. Sasha has no control anymore and watches helplessly as he shoots towards the ledge in the Antonov, plunging into the deep. The plane crashes and explodes. 88. EXT. GLACIER/TIBET - DAWN As the snow settles we see that the glacier is scattered with luxury cars tomb-stoned in the snow. The Bentley is half buried. We hear Caesar barking. JACKSON (O.S.) Everybody okay back there? KATE (O.S.) We're all fine. The door opens and Jackson climbs out, looking around. Just above the wind, he hears the SOUND OF HELICOPTER BLADES. One by one the others appear behind Jackson and stare at a surreal sight-- Several Chinese Mil-26 choppers airlift animals over the mountain pass. GIRAFFES, ZEBRAS, EVEN ELEPHANTS hang by huge straps from these flying machines. One of the smaller helicopters veers from the transport fleet and lands near the Ben