" So, how was it?" " Good." " You're going to go ahead?" " Full steam." "Anything I can do to change your mind?" "Nope." "No way." "You know, there's an old saying that, uh... no matter how hot it gets up there during the day... there's not a damn thing to do at night." "That's right." "What are you going to do at night in the middle of nowhere?" "Sleep like a winner." "Doug, you're a city boy with a low threshold for boredom." "You'll be back in two weeks." "MAN:" "Can you come in the office a minute?" "DOUG:" "I got people waiting upstairs." "What I wanted to tell you is that..." "Senator Parker's flying in for the dedication tonight, and he's almost guaranteed the urban renewal contract." "Do you know what that means?" "Skyscrapers like this all over the country." "You design them, I'll build them." "Jim, I think you suffer from an edifice complex." "You'll never leave." "Right after the party, watch me burn my black tie." "MAN:" "Glad to see you back." "Doug, I can't understand it." "The dampers won't stay open." "Whatever happened to hello?" "Hello." " How are you?" " Good." " You look like it took." " Hi, Mr. Roberts." "Just a second." "We're going to miss you." "Duncan know?" "He's all smiles." " What electromagnets went in?" " Doug." " Thompson g-4s." " Shouldn't they be g-12s?" "Oh, no." "That's what comes from this damn last-minute panic." "I'll fix it." "Keep running into groundwater on that Atlanta job." " Bring the designs in." " How about Chicago's specs?" "[Everyone talking]" "In a minute, guys." " Well, hello." " Welcome back." "Are you taking any calls?" " She's here?" " Mm-hmm." "No, I'm not taking any calls." "Are we going to talk at all?" "No." "It's my lunch hour." "Well, I'm not a cheeseburger, you know." "WOMAN, LAUGHING:" "You're better." "All protein, no bread." "All I need to go with you is about eight glasses of water." "All I need to go with you is in that suitcase." "What's in that suitcase?" "I got about $140 worth of vulgar underwear for you." "First things first." "That's nice." "Years from now, when they talk about this... and they will... remember to tell them that it was my idea." "You got change for a 50?" "Sorry." "That's the smallest I have." "Not a chance." "Let's see what we got here." "Oh, um... 25... 50... 60... 70... 75... 85... 95." "That's it exactly." "Catch your tip next time." "[Trolley bell clanging]" "Hello, Mrs. Allbright." "Hi, Phillip." "We won't be so messy tomorrow." "Tomorrow we'll try charcoals." "Mommy wants to know if you'll have dinner with us tonight." "Thank you, but I'm going up to the party in the tower." "Aren't you coming?" "Mommy says thanks, but she doesn't go to parties since daddy died." "Here, let me take that paint off." "Bye." "How are you, Phillip?" "[LOUD MUSIC PLAYING] Sorry." "What was that?" " I said how are you?" " OK." "[Woman laughs]" "Good-bye." "OK." "I'll get on it right now." "Mr. Callahan, we still got any g-12 electrodes in stock?" "Yeah." "Main storeroom." "OK." "Booster pump, zone one." "110." "Check." "Main generator, zone one." "I don't get any reading." "Try the auxiliary generator." "What the hell..." "Go ahead." "Ah, here we are." "Are there offices on this floor as well as apartments?" "I wouldn't like that." "No." "The business offices only go as high as 80." "From the 81st floor here up to 120, it's exclusively residential." "The apartment I want to show you is 8145." "Say, Bill, tune in the main utility room." "OK." "Something's screwed up." "The sensor didn't trip the fire department alarm." "Why should it?" "You can see for yourself..." "there's no fire." "Well, the sensor indicates there is." "Plus Wes just called." "They're having wiring problems." "You better stay with it." "I want you up there with me." "We can do good things together." "What's the matter?" "Hello?" "Dave's leaving." "They offered me Managing Editor." "Oh, that's nice." "I mean..." "Well, I guess we got ourselves a situation." "It seems." "See, Doug, I want the kind of life you're talking about, a place where our kids can run around, grow, and be free." "But?" "I want this job." "I've wanted it for five years." "I've worked for it for five years." "Now suddenly it's there." "You see, I have ideas, Doug." "I can do something with it that hasn't been done before." "I guess I want both, and I can't have both, can I?" "I don't know." "[Telephone beeps]" "Yeah." "Where?" "I'll be right there." "Let's hold this off till tonight, hmm?" "What happened?" "We kicked on the auxiliary, and this shorted out." " Power off?" " Yeah." " What about that?" " It should have been conduit." "Give me a pair of dikes." "JIM:" "I know." "I know." "Callahan called me." "Now, just how bad is it?" "DOUG:" "Depends on how good your imagination is." "Jesus Christ!" "The specs called for conduit safety covering." "How many fuse terminals did you check?" "How many do I have to?" "[Lntercom buzzes]" " Yeah." " Mr. Bigelow's here, sir." "OK." "Send him in." "One piece of scorched wire from a burned-out circuit breaker... is hardly conclusive." "Maybe not, but I'm worried about what other shocks we're in for." "Will..." "Doug..." "J. D..." "Wait till you see this." "What happened?" "Somebody hang the wallpaper upside down?" "We have an equipment problem." " No problem in the tower?" " Could be." "Doug, you're just guessing." "All right, but I want to talk to your son-in-law right away." "OK." " Get me Roger Simmons." " Yes, sir." "We'll check this out, I guarantee you." "We're all going to check it out." "I'm missing something." "We damn near had a fire." "Yeah." "A fire." "In this building?" "Come on." "You know we haven't finished installing the safety equipment." "The party should've been put off." "Hold it, Will." "[Lntercom buzzes] Everybody's overreacting." " Yes?" " Mr. Simmons is out, sir." "Out where?" "WOMAN:" "They don't know, but I left word for him to call." "JIM:" "OK." "We'll talk to Roger tomorrow, then we'll decide what to do." " That's OK, isn't it?" " No." "It won't wait." "Try zone one again." "Damn it, we've got to get these electrical systems on the beam." "Our whole security program's loused up without them." "Don't go away." "[Doorbell chimes]" "Doug!" "Well, what a surprise." "Where's that electrical genius of yours?" "I called his office, the club, the marina, everywhere... no luck." "What's he done?" "I'll get you a drink." "He must have done something because my father called." "I haven't heard him that upset in years." "DOUG:" "Any idea where he is?" "Well, my husband's territory ranges rather widely." "It's roughly equivalent to that of the timber wolf... anywhere within a 50-mile radius." "But if you want to wait, he'll show up." "He has to." "His clothes are here." " Can I get you a drink?" " No, thanks." "I guess you don't plan to tell me what Roger's done." "[Door closes]" "Hi, Doug." "ROGER:" "Honey." "WOMAN:" "Hello." "What are you drinking these days?" "DOUG:" "Nothing right now." "ROGER:" "Well, welcome back from the wilderness." "To what do we owe the pleasure?" "DOUG:" "Callahan was testing a backup generator." "There was a power surge and a systems failure." " How can that be?" " It can't be, theoretically... unless you've been screwing with the electrical specifications." "That's being rather blunt, isn't it?" "You betcha." "Then you'll understand my being equally blunt." "What the hell business is it of yours, anyway?" "I'm just wondering what kind of kickbacks were involved." "I don't have to take crap from you." "We had an electrical flare-up in the main utility room." "Some of that wiring wasn't exactly what I asked for." "Every wire is strictly up to code:" "Inspected and approved." "The code's not enough for that building, and you know it." "I asked for installations way, way above standard." "You live in a dream world." "I deal in realities." "I want your wiring diagrams and copies of your work orders." "It would take weeks and someone with more clout to make me." "In my office." "Tomorrow, 9:00." "They say he used to wrestle grizzly bears in Montana." "Of course, he was younger then, probably in better condition." "You must have enjoyed all this immensely." "No, I didn't." "Actually, I'm depressed for both of us." "What did you expect me to do, punch him in the nose?" "Roger, if you've done anything to dad's building, God help you." "Maybe I don't need God's help, or your old man's, not anymore." "So don't expect me to shake every time Daddy barks... even if that's what you want me to do." "All I want is the man I thought I married." "But we're running out of reasons to stay married, aren't we?" "It's getting late." "We mustn't miss the party." "[Trolley bell clanging]" "OFFICER:" "Stand back, please!" "MAN:" "Give me a wide camera angle." "OFFICER:" "Stand back, please." "Everybody, back of the ropes." "Hi." "7:30 sharp." "I hope you like your men prompt." "At my age?" "I only care that they show up at all." "Oh, nonsense." "You be a good girl, Elke." "I left some milk in the kitchen." "See you later." " Did you find Simmons?" " Yeah, I found him." "Did he or didn't he change your specs?" "He didn't admit it, but 2 bucks will get you 10 he did." "Payoffs and kickbacks are the only way he could have swung it." "Well... here you are." "Your original specs." "Zone one only, but we got to start somewhere." "The son of a bitch gave us an impossible job." " Susan." " Hello, Dan." "Good show." " How are you, dear?" " Jim, congratulations." " It's magnificent." " Thank you." "Uh, I'll meet you out front." "I'd like to talk to Susan for a minute." "Right." "Find me the architect who designed you, and who needs Doug Roberts?" "I do." "MAN:" "Ladies and gentlemen, this is a gala evening." "The entire city is in a holiday mood." "The list of luminaries tonight reads like a "who's who."" "There are leaders from society and government, stars of screen and television." "And now just arriving, the honorable Gary Parker, chairman of the Federal Urban Renewal Commission." "The senator flew in from Washington for the dedication." "Senator Parker, ladies and gentlemen." "We'll try to get him to the microphone to say a few words." "PARKER:" "Thank you." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Thank you very much." "I'm honored to be here tonight." "This magnificent building represents another landmark... in a long succession of landmarks for this great city." "You got him in the bag." "I'm deeply appreciative of being here at this historic moment." "Thank you." "[Applause]" "Thank you." "MAN:" "Now, ladies and gentlemen, it's Mr. And Mrs. Roger Simmons." "Mrs. Simmons is the daughter of the builder, Jim Duncan." "PARKER:" "How are you?" "JIM:" "Nice to see you, senator." "Where were you all day?" "I wasn't aware the leash was that tight." "When I get time, I want to ask you a few questions, and I expect some straight answers." "MAN:" "Now, ladies and gentlemen, Mayor and Mrs. Robert Ramsay." "[Applause and whistling]" "I thank you very much." "I hereby dedicate this magnificent Glass Tower... tallest building in the world." "Oh..." "Ha ha!" "We'll make it." "That's it." "All right, Callahan?" "Hit them." "Oh!" "This way." "JIM:" "After you." "MRS. SIMMONS:" "This is really going to thrill you." "Come on, Dan." "I'm going by the office." "I'll be up in a few minutes." "That's incredible." "I've never seen the bridge like that." "[Everyone talking excitedly]" " It's absolutely unbelievable!" " It's astonishing!" "WOMAN:" "How did it go, Mr. Bigelow?" " Fine, thank you." "Good night." " Good night." "SECOND WOMAN:" "Shall I leave you a night line?" "You can disconnect." "I've had it with phones today." " Good night." " Good night." "Lorrie, sorry to break into your evening, but one letter has got to go out." "See you Monday, Janet." " Good night, sir." " Good night." "I never thought he'd come back before the party." "You could've left 10 minutes ago and missed him." "It's all right." "I'm not doing anything tonight." " Have a nice weekend." " Thanks." "You, too." "Hello." "Hi." " Promise me something?" " What?" "If I ever start taking you for granted, do something about it." "And what do you suggest?" " Cut off the phone lines." " Mm-hmm." "Pour coffee down my neck." " Tweak my nose?" " Mmm." "I promise." "WOMAN, SINGING:" "We may never love like this again" "Don't stop the flow" "We can't let go" "We may never love like this again" "And touch the sky" "Though we may try" "So while we're here, let's give our all" "Release the dreams inside us" "And set them free" "Oh, while we're here, let's leave a mark" "There's a candle in the dark" "It's here to guide us" "We may never love like this again" "But through the days" "Beyond the haze" "I see you..." " Hi there." " Marge, how's the family?" " Just fine, thank you." " Good." "Gary." "GARY:" "Yeah." "JIM:" "Would you excuse us?" "MAN:" "See you later." "I've got a surprise." "Politicians don't like surprises." " Carlos." " Yes, sir." "Oh." "What can I fix you, Mr. Duncan?" "I want you to meet Senator Parker." " Carlos, great pleasure." " A great honor, Senator." "Show him what you've been hiding back there." "Yes, sir." "Oh." "'29!" "That's all you're going to drink tonight." "A whole case?" "What you don't drink, we'll ship back to Washington." " Open a bottle." " Yes, sir." "How did you ever come by a whole case?" "Come on, Jim." "It's nothing." "Let me guess:" "You're looking for someone?" "Have you seen him?" "I've ordered for Patty and me." "What can I get you?" "Nothing now, thank you, Roger." "Susan, tell me, what does a girl do in San Francisco... when her old man decides to leave for two years?" "Beats me, buddy." "No head-hunting?" "I've had a little trouble making that work." "Could we discuss that tomorrow at lunch?" "No." "You must miss your villa." "Well, yes and no." "It gets rather dull in the south of France." "Nothing but swimming, yachting, partying, and that sort of thing." "Believe it or not, they fight over the few eligible bachelors, even such old scraps as I." " No false humility, please." " Shall we?" "I, uh..." "I decided to come back to the reality of San Francisco... to regain my perspective and my humility... and spend more time at the one thing I'm good at... the stock market." "Monte Carlo's loss is San Francisco's gain." "Thank you." "Do you, uh..." "do you believe in destiny?" "I believe in all good things." "There must be a reason for my coming back home." "Meeting you." "This can't be right." "It's too hot." "We better leave it off." "[Telephone rings]" "Utility." "Wes." "Doug." "I'm on 83 with Will." "We've got a wiring problem." "An overload could be trouble." "Shut down as many zone-one systems as you can." "I can't." "We've got all the lights on for the ceremony." "All... you mean, the whole building?" "We're taking the overload just fine." "Well, shut it down right away." "I can't do that without a direct OKfrom Mr. Duncan himself." "I'll accept the responsibility." "Turn off the goddamn lights." "What about the lights in the tower for the party?" "I didn't say kill all the power, just the overload." "Yes, sir." "We better get down to 81 and check the relay system." "They turned on everything in the building." "There's something on 81." "[Alarm sounds]" "Bill, phone it in just in case our automatic lines are out." " I'll be in 81." " Got it." "[Alarm rings]" "[Sirens]" "[Horns honking]" "[Alarm beeps]" "Hey!" "Aah!" "Get those drapes!" "Smother it!" "Try to smother it!" "Pull it around." "Pull it over him!" "Come on!" "Get some water on that fire!" "Turn it on!" "Oh, my God." "Oh." "Down." "Duck." "Stay low." "Call an ambulance for this man." "Damn it, man!" "Call an ambulance!" "I want everybody off this floor." " What about the fire department?" " They're on their way." "Get that ambulance!" "Let's get him in the elevator." "Try not to touch him." "Try to get him by his belt." "Hello." "This is 81." "We've had an accident." "A man's been burned." "Get an ambulance." " Yes, right away." " Call Duncan in the tower." "You got a lot of people up there." " What?" " Do it now!" "It's Mr. Roberts." "Yeah, Doug." "We were getting worried about you." "Susan's here, Senator Parker, the mayor and his wife." "Everybody wants to know why the great architect isn't here." "Never mind that." "Will Giddings has been pretty badly burned." "Will Giddings burned?" "How?" "I've got an ambulance coming, but get those people upstairs down on the ground floor." "What for?" "We got a fire here!" "Well, I think it's under control, but..." "Well, then, why the urgency?" "Urgency?" "Dunc, if that fire was caused by fluky wiring, we could get fires breaking out everywhere!" "Doug, I think you're overreacting." "Now, I feel sorry for Will Giddings, but he'll be taken care of." "But I am not going to concern myself with a fire in a storage room on 81 because it can't possibly affect us up here, not in this building." "Have someone call me when the fire department arrives." "Meantime, get in your dinner jacket and come join the party." "Now, come on!" "What building's on the corner of Montgomery and..." "Oh, Jesus." " The Glass Tower." " What?" "The Glass Tower!" "I sure hope that fire's on the first floor." "Did you ever fight one in a high rise?" "Yeah." "Is it as rough as I hear?" "It's like being inside a chimney." "[Horn honking]" "People!" "Hell, they got here before we did." "Don't anybody ever stay home anymore?" " Get some hands over here." " Yeah." "You understand I want you over that way?" "Mike, she's running a lot of smoke." " 81st floor, right?" " Right." "We've got lobby control, second alarm is in." " Set up a forward command." " Got it." " Chief." "This is Roberts, the architect." "What have we got, Kappy?" "Fire started 81st floor, storage room." "A bad one." "Smoke's so thick, we can't tell how far it's spread." "What about your exhaust system?" "Should have reversed." "Must have been a motor burnout." " Sprinklers?" " They're not working on 81." " Why not?" " I don't know." " Jim?" " Yes, sir." "Give us a refresher on your stand pipe system." "We got outlets on every floor..." "3 and 1.5 inch." "GPM?" "1,500 from ground to 68, 1,000 from 68 to 100, and 500 from there to the roof." "These elevators are programmed for emergency service?" " These two are." " What floor are your plans on?" "79." "My office." "That's 2 floors below the fire." "That'll be our forward command." "Men, take up the equipment." "Let's go." "OK." " Whew." "Architects." " Yeah, it's all our fault." "You know there's no sure way to fight fires over the 7th floor, but you guys keep building them as high as you can." "Hey, are you here to take me on or the fire?" "What about the 81st floor?" "You got everybody out of there?" "I want to see all your floor plans... 81 through 85." "Gotcha." "I'm worried about all those beams and that glass." "Chief, 81 is evacuated, but it doesn't look good up there." "Give me a list of your tenants." "Don't worry about that." "We're moving them out now." "Not live-ins, business tenants." "We looked up there, too." "The majority haven't moved in." "Those that have aren't working at night." "I want to know who they are, not where." "What does that got to do with anything?" "Do you have wool or silk manufacturers?" "In a fire, wool and silk give off cyanide gas." "Do you have any sporting goods manufacturers?" "Table tennis balls give off toxic gases." " You want me to keep going?" " One list of tenants coming up." "Thank you." "What have we got?" "Elevator bank, central core." "Service elevators over here." "Air conditioning ducts, 6 inches." " Pipe alleys here?" " 1, 2, 3, 4, 5." " This is south?" " South." " Any construction in 81?" " Nope." "Anything that could blow up... like gasoline, kerosene, fabric cleaner?" " I don't think so." " Good." "I'll be up on 81." "For what it's worth, this is one building I figured wouldn't burn." "Neither did I." "And they're celebrating..." "a party." "Party?" "What party?" "Where?" "In the Promenade Room." "300 people." "Why didn't you get them out?" "Why don't you talk to Duncan?" "He ain't listening to me." "I will." "Here he is now." "This is Duncan." "A battalion chief?" "I'll watch out for him." "Thank you." "Ted, take your men down." "Check that hallway." "Jack." "Jack, how bad?" "I don't like the looks of it." "It's running the ceiling." "Work it around." "Up there." " I'll be up topside." " Right." "Jack." "Watch yourself." "Keep it high." " You looking for me, Chief?" " Lf you're Duncan, yeah." "I am." "Everything under control?" "You've got to move these people out." "Oh, now, just how bad is it?" "It's a fire, mister." "All fires are bad." "Well, I don't believe you're familiar... with the many safety systems we designed into this building." "We've got them all." "It's your building, but it's our fire." " Let's get these people out." " I don't think you're listening." "There's no way for a fire on 81 to reach here in this building." "OK, I'll do it." "Hold it." "The mayor's out there." "Do you want me to pull rank?" "When there's a fire, I outrank everybody here." "One thing we don't want is a panic." "I could tell them, but you ought to." "Make a cool announcement to all your guests... and tell them the party's being moved below the fire floor." "Right now." "Patty, you and Susan stay right here where I can find you." "Don't leave this table." "You I want to talk to." "Did you change any of Doug's electrical specifications?" " I most certainly did." " For God's sakes, why?" "The reason should be obvious, especially to you." "We've got a fire, and if it was caused by anything you did," "I'm going to hang you out to dry and then hang you." "Would you please stop playing?" "Stop playing, will you?" "Ladies and gentlemen..." "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?" "It seems that we have a small fire... in one of our storage rooms 50 floors below." "Now, I assure you there's no danger, but in accordance with the fire department's orders... a purely precautionary procedure... we're going to move the party down to the lobby for a while and we'll be serving cocktails and champagne... in our Continental Room." "But I promise you, dinner will not be delayed." "Now if we can all move to the elevators." "Now, ladies and gentlemen, there's no reason to rush." "Senator Parker, you and your party." "It's really all right." "Stay here." "I'll be right back." "Lisolette!" "Lisolette." " How's it going, Chief?" " Better get ready." "Pull out the floor plans on 82." " We got problems." " Fire lapping up?" " Yeah." "Are com lines set up?" " Phone jacks on every floor." "I'm going to plug into your P.A. System." " How about your emergency setup?" " Battery-powered standby system." "Can you splice these lines into our 2-way communication panel?" " Sure." " No problem?" " No problem." " How long will this take?" " A minute." " Not bad." "Here's our problem." "The fire's lapping here, going up through the window." "Get down!" "What the hell was that?" "Come on!" "The building's going!" "They're trapped." "We need help." "Bring a line!" "Pull them out." "Pull them out." "Put the fire out." "Knock it out." "Battalion two to forward command." "Urgent." "Forward command." "Go ahead." "Explosion on 81." "Fire headed toward elevator vents." "We need more crews fast." "They need relief on 81." "Hit it." "They're on their way." " Done." " You better call Duncan." "Tell him to stop people from using that express elevator, or somebody's going to get killed." "Kappy, ring in a third alarm." "I want some rescue squads here and choppers." "We're going to need them to get..." "Come on, fireman." "[Firemen coughing]" " I'll be on 81." " Fine." "Fire's moving toward the main shaft." "Use the scenic elevator." "Don't overload it." "OK, Doug." "I don't like the way you talked to me." " You drunk?" " Not yet." "Out of my way." "You didn't talk like this two years ago, running over budget, out of money?" "Did you ask me how I could shave $2 million off electrical costs?" "Shut up and help with these people." "Let me ask you, dear father, am I the only subcontractor you encouraged to cut corners?" "Where did you save the other 4 million... in Doug's original budget?" "[Everyone talking]" "DUNCAN:" "Everyone!" "PEOPLE:" "Shh!" "Please." "Please." "Hold it." "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry." "You'll have to move back into the Promenade Room." "We'll be taking you down by the scenic elevator." "These express elevators can be activated by fire." "With the probability of short circuits, the cars might stop on the floor where the fire is." "So, please, we'll use the scenic elevators over there." "[People yelling]" "DUNCAN:" "For God's sakes, get out of there!" "Please." "Back." "[Sirens wailing and horns honking]" " Looks bad, Jack." " It is." "I got a couple men hurt." "Fire's spreading down all corridors." "I got a third alarm in." "What about this ceiling?" "Must have just happened." "I'll check the other corridors." "Let's pull it down before it falls down." "Bring it out." "Take it down." "Empty all the water out." "Pull them down." "Chief, it's out of control." "We're losing it." "Bring in another line." "[Tank alarm bell rings]" "Get another tank." "[People screaming]" "[Coughing]" "Angela." "Angela." "Phillip!" "Phillip, open the door!" "[People screaming]" "Do you have any brilliant ideas I can use upstairs... to explain where I've been all this time?" "I think what you might do is walk right up to him... and say, "J.D., I'm sorry for the delay," ""but my secretary had an urgent personal problem."" "What happens if he asks what the problem was?" "Hmm." "[Dan laughs]" "He won't." " You know what astonishes me?" " What?" " You make love with a girl..." " Mm-hmm." "And afterwards there's no visible evidence, nothing to mark the event." "I mean, look at you." "You look like you could be going to church." "In this outfit?" "I love you." "Did you leave a cigarette burning?" "That's not a cigarette." "Jesus." "Get some towels." "Stuff them under the door." " Dan." " Yeah." "OK." "Yeah." "Right." "What did they say?" " Help is on the way." " Oh." "There's nothing to worry about." "We'll just sit tight and wait till they get here." "I won't panic." "Not to worry, baby." "Please just join the end of the line." "SUSAN:" "Oh, no, madam." "Please." "WOMAN:" "I can't find my daughter." "She's here somewhere." " They're aware of that." " She's wearing a purple dress." " I've got to find her." " I promise you they'll find her." "Now, only 12 at a time." "I'm sorry." "That's it." "It won't be too long." "MAN:" "What's she doing on 87?" "Forward command?" "I want to speak to Jernigan." "Harry." "Jernigan." "What?" "Damn it, man, you should have sent a man up there." "How do you expect her to hear a phone call?" "She's deaf." "Sure, the kids can hear." "I don't know, maybe they were in the shower when you called." "Stay where you are." "I'll get them down." "MAN:" "All my men are committed." "I need fresh crews now!" "HARRY:" "Still got people on 87." "I'll get them down." "I'll give you a hand." "Turn your face away." "There never were any firemen, were there?" "I said that to make it easier on you." "I switched off the phones." "There's no way to call out." "Nobody knows we're up here." "I always did want to die in bed." "Nobody's going to die." "At least they'll never find out about us, will they?" "I used to run the 100 in 10 flat." "[Fire roaring]" "Don't go." "I'll be back with the whole fire department." "On your mark." "Dan!" "Aah!" "[Coughing]" "Aah!" "Aah!" "It's going down that corridor!" "[Coughing]" " You all right?" " They're in there!" " The mother and two children." " We'll get them." "Wait a minute." "Please, Mrs. Mueller, please stay back." " What do you think?" " I don't know." "Give it a kick." "I'll take the back." "[Coughing]" "I got Mrs. Allbright." "Anybody in here?" "[Coughing]" "It's OK, kid." "It's OK." "Come on." "He's OK." " Mo-mom." " Your mom's all right." "Mr. Jernigan took her downstairs." "Anybody else?" "My si... my sister." "Where's Angela?" "He'll get her." "Angela?" "Angela." "Angela?" "Angela." "Angela, where are you?" "[Crying]" "It's going to be OK, Angela." "Oh, thank God you're all right, Angela." "Got to get away." "[Sirens]" "[Alarm rings]" "[Sirens]" "Hold it right here." "Hold it right here." "All right." "Don't press the pause button." "[Riders gasp]" "Everybody, just calm down." "Take it easy." "It'll take a couple hours to get everyone down." "I suggest those with stout hearts and trim waistlines... start using the stairs." " That's 135 floors." " All downhill." "It's closer than they told us." "Let's try the south exit." "That might be clear." "Carlos." "Help us try to get this thing open." " It's stuck?" " Yeah." "Let me try to kick it." " I'll call security." " Yes, sir." "Battalion 38 responding to fourth alarm." "Where are those choppers, Kappy?" "The Navy's been alerted." "Why do they make these goddamn things so heavy?" "You want it easy, Chief?" "I don't see why they couldn't design a survival suit for us... like they did for football players." " Who pays to see us play?" " Yeah, yeah." "Let's go to work." "I need two men to go to the tower room." "A door's jammed I want cleared." "OK, you got it." "Timmy, I want you with me." "Get two men... make sure they got 30 minutes of air." "There's going to be glass sailing all over this city." "Call the police, have them move those barricades 4 blocks back." " Got it." " Let's hit it." "Yo!" "Security guard!" "Anyone here?" "Hello?" "Security." "Say, kitty, I almost missed you." "PHILLIP:" "Ow!" "Keep away from the walls." "There's a fire on the other side." "[Hissing]" "Wait a minute." "It's a ruptured gas line." "Get back!" "Aah!" "Oh, my God!" "Is there any way you can get down?" " I think I can." " Phillip!" "Let him try." "There's no other way." "Come on, Phillip, come on." "That part's easy." "Come on, boy." "Easy does it." "Get your foot over there." "Ease down." "Come on, Phillip." "Come on, Phillip." "Your foot's just a couple inches away." "There you go." "Easy, now." "Easy, now." "Don't look down." "That-a boy." "Come on." "I got you." "I got you." "We were supposed to have fire drills, but nobody ever told me anything." "[Coughing]" "We were supposed to have fire drills, they said, but they never did." "It's going to be all right." "It's going to be all right." "It's going to be all right." "Are you all right?" "I got up all right, but I'll have trouble getting down." "You think you could help me?" "Could you hold on around my neck real tight?" "Oh, no." "Come on, give it a try." "Put your arms around me and tell me what to do, OK?" "Put her legs down." "[Angela whimpering]" "OK, Hold on tight." "Hold on real tight, now." "Come on." "Hang on." "Just hold on tight, honey." "Hold on." "Hold on." "OK." "Hold on tight, now." "It's going to be OK, now." "PHILLIP:" "Hold on." "DOUG:" "Easy, now." "PHILLIP:" "Hold on, Angela." "DOUG:" "I've got ahold of you." "PHILLIP:" "Arms around my neck." "That-a girl." "Nurse!" "Bring him over here." "[Coughing]" "Mrs. Mueller, you've got to try." "Take it slowly, now." "You got about a foot to go." "Feel around with your feet, now." "Can you see it?" "Hold on to that pole and grab my belt." "Try to get your left hand over there." "A half a foot." "6 inches." "Try to swing now." "Just try to pendulum." "Can you swing?" "Come on, just get to me over here." "ANGELA:" "Mrs. Mueller!" "Are you all right?" "All right, let's go." "[Fire roaring]" "[Angela crying]" "Come on." "Come on." "[Exhaustedly] I'm coming." "I'm coming." "MAN:" "Are you OK?" "Nobody's going to get down this way." "Oh, God, we're cut off." "Well, the only way is up." "Come on." "Let's go." "Chief O'Hallorhan." "Inside." "Security phone." "On the right." " Chief O'Hallorhan right away." " I'm trying to get through now." "[Angela crying]" " Can't we go down?" " No." "The fire's below us." "This will put us right underneath under the promenade." "Come on!" "[Telephone rings]" "Jim, get that phone." "Check the ventilating systems over here." "Jack." "Yeah?" "I'll send up another truck company." "Pull this ceiling and vent that other side." "It's for you... the air patrol officer for the copters." "Thank you." "Jack, I'm going to get some relief for you and your men." "This is O'Hallorhan." "Who am I speaking to?" "Chief Flaker, sir." "U.S. Navy air rescue." "It's about time." "We could use rescue choppers." "I'll order them right away." "I'd like to set up next to the forward command center." "No, too dangerous." "Stay out of those elevators." "Then we'll trot right up the stairs." "Just trot right up to 79, huh?" " Standing by in the lobby, sir." " Thank you." "How the hell..." "They won't hear us." "There's 300 people." "It's a fire door." "It's over 21/2 inches thick." " Maybe I could crawl through." " Will we be able to go with you?" "It leads to a pipe shaft that's 135 floors straight down." "PHILLIP:" "Use this." "Phillip, take care of these ladies." "They're your responsibility now." "I'll tell him." " Chief?" " How does it look on 65?" " They're getting it contained." " It's still below us." "Let's take a look." "OK, watch the electrics." "[Whistles]" "Come here!" "The generator's blown, but the backup should have kicked on." "See what's holding up our starters." "What happened?" "Where the hell are we?" "[Everyone talking]" " Push it!" " I'm pushing." "Security, this is Duncan." "Have the main breakers gone?" "Whole system's failed." "What's the last report on the firemen getting here?" "Are they on their way?" "Hold on to me a second." "Hold on." " Christ, it's one of our men!" " Oh, God." "OK, OK." "We'll go down by rope." "Better get it." "Sir?" "We're going to rappel to 65, get on top of that elevator, use it for an exit." "Why not pry open the doors at this level?" "I don't think so." "I can't make it." "I'll fall." "I know I'll fall." "OK... then you better go first." "When you fall, you won't take any of us with you." "Let's go to work." "Check all rooms in that corridor." "Check this room." "Tear it down." "See?" "Just like we taught you in training." "OK, open it up." "Of course I read you!" "I don't know where he is, but if I see him, I'll tell him." "Must be an easier way to get to a fire." " Not for us." " Mike, where have you been?" "We had a little trouble." "Navy flight commander needs you in the lobby." "65 floors, just walk right down?" "Only 5." "An elevator on 60 is running on auxiliary power." " You've got this controlled?" " We're getting there." "You men stay with the chief." "Tell him I'm on my way." "Oh, Mike..." "This one of your men?" "MIKE: "Dan Bigelow." Nope." "Must be a civilian." "O'Hallorhan's on his way." " Look!" " There's another one there!" "Hey, Carlos, give me that security phone." " Mr. Roberts, how'd you get in?" " I'll give it to you later." "Give me O'Hallorhan." "That's OK." "Anybody will do." "The south stairwell is blocked with cement, for Christ's sake." "Can you send somebody to break it loose?" "They're on their way?" "How..." "OK." "Oh... oh, my lord." "Elke." "My poor cat." "She's still in the apartment." "I'm sure the fire didn't get that high." "She'll be all right." "[Footsteps]" " Oh, hello, ma'am." " Oh, hello." " How are you doing?" " Fine." "We're glad to see you." "That's the door right there." "It's blocked with cement." "OK." "We're gonna have to blow that thing." "DOUG:" "Mrs. Mueller?" "PHILLIP:" "It's Mr. Roberts." "DOUG:" "Mrs. Mueller?" "Phillip?" "FIREFIGHTER:" "We hear you!" "We're going to blow this door!" "Get everybody clear." "You've got about 30 seconds." "Understood?" "Understood." "OK, ma'am, let's get down there out of the way." "Please go back." "They're going to dynamite this door." "Step back, please." "We're blowing up the exit door." "OK, get down low." "What explosives are you using?" "It's plastic." "C-4." "Blow a hole in anything." "Here." "Shine this on the bag." "That's it." "Keep it over here." " Is there going to be a bang?" " Nothing to worry about, baby." "You'll be safe." "OK." "Everybody ready?" "DOUG:" "Good going, guys." "Hey!" "You all right?" "I'm James Duncan." "Can we get down that way?" "Not a chance." "The stairway below is completely gone." "[Everyone talking]" "DUNCAN:" "Everyone, listen!" "CARLOS:" "Hold it down." "DUNCAN:" "Listen!" "I've been informed by the fire department... that there's no possibility of using this stairway to get out." "[Crowd sighs]" "Now, I'm..." "I'm sorry." "Patty!" "There's still a chance we can get out of here." "Didn't you hear my father?" "We can't get out that way." "Are you coming or not?" "No." "If you have to have permission to save your life, go ahead." " I'm getting out." " Roger, you..." "WOMAN:" "We're going to die." "I know it!" "[Coughing]" "Aah!" "Aah!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "Let's go." "You guys, hose the ceiling." "You two, in there!" "I guess you thought I stood you up." "It crossed my mind." " You sure you're all right?" " Mm-hmm." "Doug, those helicopters..." "they'll get us out, won't they?" "Sure, if there's not too much wind." "Some party." "Doug..." "Hmm." "Ta-da!" "Can I get you anything else?" "No?" "[Coughing]" "Damn!" "The choppers are here, but those high winds make landing risky." "Get some men on the roof of the Peerless Building." "I want a breeches buoy up to the Promenade Room." "We can't shoot a line that distance in this wind." " Shoot it from a chopper." " I'll get right on it." "Don?" "Chief, the ceiling fell on him." "By the time I got there, he was covered with hot stuff." "[Coughing]" "Pretty ridiculous spectacle, right?" " There's no way down." " Thank God you're all right." " Roger, what are we going to do?" " I know what I'm going to do." "Get quietly drunk." "If you're responsible for this, I know what you must be feeling." "You don't know the meaning of the word." " Responsible?" " Feeling!" "You know about responsibility." "It's a family trait." "The Duncans are big on responsibility, on the surface." "That's not fair!" "I don't think it's wrong to feel a sense of duty." "Sometimes, when you turn the exact same phrase, lift an eyebrow the same way," "I see and I hear your father." "The two of you... one!" "Like a great big tree and a baby tree where the acorn fell." "Roger, I came over here because I thought you might need me." "Right now..." "What I need most... is this." "L..." "I promised myself if I ever saw you again," "I'd make a full confession." "No." "But thank you." "But you don't know anything about me." "But I do." "You're penniless, you have no villa in the south of France, no antiques coming, no paintings." "But, Harlee, I don't care." "I'm a cheap tinhorn." "A two-bit con man." "Not cheap." "Maybe unsuccessful." "But don't you see?" "Your heart isn't in it." "How can you cheat people effectively... if you don't enjoy cheating?" "I brought you up here tonight to sell you 1,000 shares in Greater Anaheim Power  Light." "Is it a good investment?" "There is no Greater Anaheim Power  Light." "Only the certificate I had printed." "I think you'd have admired the artwork." "Beautiful engraving." "I'd like to see it." "It's in my jacket." "I took the jacket off." "It was needed elsewhere." "You see what I mean?" "I can't even deliver a phony stock certificate." "Did you hear what I said?" "Every word." "Then tell me you're shocked, or at least disappointed." " But I'm not." " You must be!" "Harlee, I'm not." "OK." "I'll be right back." "Give me a few minutes with Doug, dear." "Sure." "Will Giddings is dead." "He died 20 minutes ago." "Oh, boy." "Oh, I wonder how many more will be dead by tomorrow." "I thought we were building something... where people could work, live, and be safe!" "If you had to cut costs, why didn't you cut floors instead of corners?" "Now, listen..." "any decisions that were made... for the use of alternate building materials... were made because I have a right to make those decisions... if I remain within the code, and goddamn it, I did!" "[Laughing] The building code." "Jesus." "The building code." "That's a standard cop-out when you're in trouble." "I crawled around up there." "Duct holes weren't fire stopped!" "Corridors without fire doors, and the sprinklers won't work." "And an electrical system that's good for what?" "It's good for starting fires." "Hoo!" "Where was I when this was going on?" "I'm as guilty as you and that goddamn son-in-law of yours." "What do they call it when you kill people?" "Come on, move it!" " Who is it?" " Chief O'Hallorhan." "What happened?" "Part of the central core blew." "We've got in the fifth alarm." "The helicopters." "It's too windy." "We want to set the breeches buoy up on the Peerless Building." "What can we do?" "Move all combustible material away from the window." "OK, gotcha." " Nobody's on those drapes." " Right." "Let's get on it." "Jake, give me a hand." " Did you reach her?" " The phones are all out." "Just a little while longer, and we'll all be home together." "If only I could've talked to her, let her know we were thinking of her... told her how..." "how precious she is to us." "She's still such a child." "She doesn't even know... where I keep the key to the safety deposit box." "How will she get into it?" "I mean, uh... if she should have to." "The things you think of." "You want to help me?" "Here he is." "Chief, wind velocity's down." "We're going to try a landing." "Bill, get Roberts." " Yeah." " Get 10 people on the roof." "Have the rest stand by in groups of 10 for airlifting." "Will do." "Put these where they can get them easily." "Get me paper and a pencil, that brandy snifter, too." " Are they going to land?" " They're going to try." "We'll send the kids first, and then the women." "Number this up to 100 or so." "High-rise roulette." "High-rise roulette." "That's right." "Doug, there may not be time to tell you..." "There will be." "I'll go tell everybody." "Pass those out when you're ready." "There's going to be a lot of wind when that chopper lands, so stay in one group." "Stay back!" "Stay back!" "Look out!" "[Angela crying]" "MAN:" "Paula!" "WOMAN:" "David!" "Roberts!" "Roberts!" "Chief O'Hallorhan wants to speak to you." "All right, make way." "Pardon me." "Coming through!" "Here he is now." "Yeah." "Now, look, Roberts, I know those pilots are dead and..." "It was just awful up there." "Our best chance now is the breeches buoy." "I told my firemen to knock out a window." "They'll shoot a line from a chopper." "OK." "You guys got a pair of clippers?" " Uh, yeah." "Sure." "What for?" " I want to try something." "Step back." "They're going to knock out the windows." "Step back." "Oh..." "May I have your attention, please?" "We've activated a gravity brake on that outside elevator." "There's no power to bring it up, but we can get 12 people down." "PARKER:" "Which 12?" "The same group from the roof, and two additions... the woman who saved the children's lives... and a fireman..." "I want a trained man in there." "All right, let's move out." "Marge." "Here, take this." "You can get out of here." "What are you doing?" "I'm sorry." "I want you out of here." "So you can stop worrying?" "What about me worrying for you?" "It's the only way you can help me." "Help me." "If you... if you ask me to go to the North Pole or even the cliffs of Mendocino, I'd go." "What if I ask you tomorrow?" "Please." " Ma'am, I'll take her." " Thank you." " Come on, Phillip." " All right." "I'll never let you go anywhere without me again." "I don't want to, ever again." " I'll meet you in the lobby." " I'll be waiting." "We're still a lady short." " You've got to go." " I don't want to leave you." "Honey, I'll make it." "I promise you." "Have I ever broken a promise to you?" "Good luck, honey." "Please." "All set, everyone?" "All right, here we go." "Hey, out of sight." "Yeah, it's coming." "Let's untie this!" "Pull in the rest of the line!" "Hold it right there!" "We need another 20 feet of that main line!" "Tie this off!" "That's it!" "Bring it in a little more." "That's it." "Hold it." "Brace yourselves." "Watch your heads!" "Grab it!" "Take it back and secure it!" "OK." "All right." "Let it go." "Let it go." "Go on!" "Take it out!" "OK." "Take up on it." "How about the main line... secured?" "Good!" "Aah!" "Chief!" "Explosion above 110 blew the scenic elevator off its track." "It's hanging by a cable." " How many people in it?" " Loaded." "I'd say about 12." "What are you going to do?" "Flaker." " Flaker!" " Sir." "Can you get me a chopper with a winch and cable?" "Have them pick me up on the roof of the Peerless Building." " We got it." " Yeah." "We'll try and get a hitch on that elevator, drop it down to the deck by the chopper." "Mommy, Mommy!" "I won't cry if you won't cry." "OK!" "OK." "Let her go!" "Look out below!" "All right." "Let's pull it in here!" "Pull it in!" "Let's haul that chair in!" "Come on, haul it!" "That's it!" "All right." "Keep her going!" "Hold it right there!" "Who's next in order?" "I am." "I am!" " Come ahead." " I can't do that." "Yes, you can." "I'm going to fall." "I can't." "Yes, you can." "Don't let go of me." "Don't let me fall." "Don't let go!" "Aah!" "Aah!" "Don't, please." "Don't let go of me." "Oh... oh..." "All right!" "OK, here she comes." "All right, bring that chair in easy." "Easy, lady." "That's it." "OK, hold it right there." "OK." "Lower the cable." "Grab that hook!" "Steady it." "Hook on the torch." "Lash it tight." "This is O'Hallorhan." "We read you, Chief." "I want you to pick me up... and set me down on the scenic elevator." "Then pick up the scenic elevator... and very gently set it down on the street." "Can you handle the weight?" "I think we can." "We'll find out in a hurry." "OK." "Hook it." "OK." "Take it away." "How much time do we have?" "Bob, I wish I knew." "Goddamn it, Jim, you built the place." "I just don't think all of us are going to make it." "Well, I guess I'm next." "I don't suppose you'll let me stay." "Come on." "I'll see you soon." "I love you." "Let it go!" "FIREFIGHTER:" "Will this hold it?" "O'HALLORHAN:" "It better." "We have to cut the cable." " What's your number?" " 68." "47." "Aah!" "Aah." "Aah!" "That was close." "[Siren]" "Here." "Mrs. Ramsay." "You'll be all right." "Oh, please." "Please, tell my husband I'll be all right." " Tell him I'll be all right." " I will." "I'll be seeing him at home later." "I will." "I promise." "MAN:" "Let's go." "Oh, there she is!" "She's all right!" "Watch the ladder." "Move out!" "[Coughing]" "Hey, Mike!" "The deputy wants to see you." "Mike, look, we've been checking... the situation in the Promenade Room." "We figure they have 17, maybe 18 minutes left." "It'll take three hours to get them down by breeches buoy." "They're going to die if something's not done." "We might have the answer." "Mr. Johnson's a structural engineer." "Tell the chief your calculations." "The structural strength of the risers in the Promenade Room, in my opinion, could withstand the explosion." "What explosion?" "Chief, we've got the copter ready on the plaza." "We'll handle that." "Do your job." "Yes, sir." "What explosion?" "We can blow the tanks two floors above the Promenade Room." "They hold more than enough water to drown the fire." " You're crazy." " It's the only way." "How do you know it'll work?" "You could kill everybody there." "I don't think so." "You don't think?" "When you take into account the stress and load factors..." "Wait a minute." "Hold it." "Mike, we've already made the decision." "Someone has got to go up there, rig the charges, and blow them." "Only two people are qualified for that... you and Connors." "They just brought Connors down." "He's on his way to the burn center." "Now, under the circumstances, we can't order you to go up." "I'm just laying it out for you." "But you... you see how it is, don't you?" "How do I get back down?" "Oh, shit." "The women are gone." "We are going next." "You've all got numbers, and you're going to take your turn." "And if it's any consolation..." "I'm going to be the last one out along with my son-in-law." "[Telephone rings]" "[Ring]" "[Ring]" "Roberts." "It's out of control, and it's coming your way." "You got about 15 minutes." "Now, they want to try something." "They want to blow those water tanks above you... to kill the fire." "How will they get the explosives up here?" "They'll find some dumb son of a bitch to bring it up." "Hang on." "I'll tell them." "They want to try blowing up the water tanks above us." "It'll mean water, steel, and concrete." "If they don't try, we'll burn." "The fire's out of control." "They figure we got 15 minutes." "Some of us might survive." "We got no options." "[Explosion]" "Come on." "Let's go." "Get that line!" "Get off!" "Crazy bastards." "Drop this line!" " Let go!" " It's not going to work!" " Oh!" " It won't hold everybody!" "Get off!" "Get off!" "Get the hell out of there." "No!" "No!" "Get off!" "Aaah!" "Chief!" "Yeah." "We just lost the breeches buoy." "There was panic up here." "It's under control now." "I'm going to set down on the roof." "I'll need you up there." "I know where to place charges, but I don't know how." "I know how." "OK." "See you up there." "You're going to have to tie yourselves down." "Ropes, tablecloths, belts, anything you can find." "For God's sakes, don't tie yourself up to a lot of glass." "That's the '29." "Try it." "It's OK." "Doug, I... never thought a thing like this could happen." "Sure." "ROBERTS:" "Hey!" "How much time do you think we got?" "O'HALLORHAN:" "10 minutes." "Maybe less." "We'll have to blow the floors as well as the tanks." "All right." "This is your detonator." "You're running instantaneous, I'm running delayed." "Here you go." "This is your explosive." "This is the timer." "After you throw the wire, we'll splice it into the timer, set it, then it blows." "You set your explosive... like this." "Take your detonator... pull the plug... toss it." "Got it?" "I got it." " Good luck." "See you later." " OK." "Thanks." "Here you go." " How much you setting it for?" " 5?" "I think we can make that." "[Ticking]" "That's it." "Tie yourself down, goddamn it!" "You'll never make it through there." "How much time?" "31/2." "Air." "Here." "I'm burning up!" "Let's go!" "Fireman." "Aah!" "Bob!" "Bob!" "Oh, God!" "[Groaning]" "Excuse me." "She was in the elevator with you, the fine-looking lady..." "Mrs. Mueller." "Have you seen her?" "I'm sorry." "She's dead." "Lise." "Lise!" "Lise!" " Claiborne." " What?" "[Crying]" "I didn't want you to see him." "You know there's nothing that any of us can do... to bring back the dead." "All I can do now is pray to God that... he can stop this from ever happening again." "I don't know, maybe they just ought to leave it the way it is, a kind of shrine to all the bullshit in the world." "We were lucky tonight." "The body count's less than 200." "One of these days they're going to kill 10,000... in one of these firetraps, and I'll keep eating smoke and bringing out bodies... until somebody asks us... how to build them." "OK." "I'm asking." "You know where to reach me." "So long, architect."