Don't Look Up · written by Adam McKay · 2021

The situation room celebrates the successful launch as Isherwell urgently summons Orlean aside.

Scene 117 of 205 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Dr. Oglethorpe
Peter Isherwell
Randall
President Orlean

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:08 into a 2:06 film

The story so farBefore scene 117

After PhD candidate Kate Dibiasky discovers a comet on a direct collision course with Earth, she and Professor Randall Mindy try to persuade a politically distracted President, a media-saturated public, and a powerful technology company to stop it before impact.

Scenes 1–7
Kate and Randall work within the familiar routine of astronomy and university research.
Scenes 8–26
They discover the impact deadline and need the government and public to respond, but Orlean refuses immediate action.
Scenes 27–60
Kate and Oglethorpe take the warning outside official channels, entering the press and television world to reach the public.
Scenes 61–72
The scientists navigate conspiracy claims, arrest, and political reversal as Orlean finally announces a deflection mission.
Just before
Scene 114
Orlean honors Randall’s discovery and he declares the mission ready; Isherwell arrives with political access as the countdown begins.
Scene 115
Shuttles and satellites blast off from Kennedy Space Center.
Scene 116
Drask sings as he rides the shuttle into the sky.
Scene 117
This scene

117INT. WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM - SAME TIME

Everyone cheers and high fives.

DR. OGLETHORPE

We didn’t lose any satellites.

Margin of error was for two to

malfunction.

PETER ISHERWELL

Madame President can I speak to you

outside for one second?

She’s engrossed by the screens showing liftoff.

RANDALL

The success probability has already

increased to 81%.

PETER ISHERWELL

(in his real voice)

Janie. Now!

PRESIDENT ORLEAN

I’m so sorry. Of course Peter.