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

The drones attach and several fail, prompting Orlean to ask Isherwell how many more losses the plan can sustain.

Scene 179 of 205 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Flight Director
President Orlean
Peter Isherwell
Jason

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:55 into a 2:06 film

The story so farBefore scene 179

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.
Scenes 73–122
Their warning appears to win official action and a national launch, though Randall’s celebrity role and BASH’s access undermine the effort.
Scenes 123–164
The mission turns back; BASH substitutes mining for deflection, Kate is silenced, Randall’s family breaks apart, and a rival mission fails.
Scene 172
Randall arrives at June’s home with groceries and asks to share dinner, choosing his family over the prestige that separated them.
Just before
Scene 176
Randall asks June to host a family dinner; she welcomes him back and they embrace after his apology.
Scene 177
June, Randall, Kate, and Yule prepare dinner as Oglethorpe arrives with wine.
Scene 178
BEAD drones race through deep space toward the comet.
Scene 179
This scene

179INT. BASH LAUNCH CENTER - TWO HOURS LATER

The BEAD drones approach the comet.

FLIGHT DIRECTOR

BEADS have approached optimal

escape velocity.

They’re now approaching Comet

Dibiasky and are ready for

attachment mode.

The BEADS spread out and their hooked drill arm extends. TWO MORE OF THE BEADS FAIL TO ATTACH and spin away from the comet into each other EXPLODING.

FLIGHT DIRECTOR (CONT'D)

BEADS 8 and 27 are lost due to

lateral control malfunction.

PRESIDENT ORLEAN

Okay so now, Peter, we’re six

drones down. Is this thing still

gonna work?

PETER ISHERWELL

Well, the engineer’s assured me

that yes, 24 drones is enough.

JASON

How many can we lose?

PETER ISHERWELL

(hesitates)

How many more?