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

Orlean speaks to Randall from a helicopter and offers him and one other person a place on the escape ship; he declines.

Scene 187 of 205 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Randall
President Orlean

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:58 into a 2:06 film

The story so farBefore scene 187

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.
Scenes 165–181
Kate and Randall see the comet themselves, reconnect, and return to June’s home as the BEAD mission begins.
Just before
Scene 184
At dinner, the family welcomes Randall home and jokes about his sudden fame.
Scene 185
Officials learn the comet remains intact; Orlean and Isherwell leave the control room as staff abandon their posts.
Scene 186
From the presidential helicopter, Orlean places a satellite-phone call as the failed mission unfolds.
Scene 187
This scene

187INT. THE MINDY DINING ROOM - MICHIGAN - CONTINUOUS

Randall moves towards their phone. INTERCUT

RANDALL

I got it!

PRESIDENT ORLEAN

Hello. There’s a ship.

(let’s it sit there)

In case we were wrong. And clearly

we were wrong.

RANDALL

Of course you have a ship.

PRESIDENT ORLEAN

It holds 2,000. It has state of the

art cryo-chambers and it’s set to

find the nearest earth like planet

in a goldilocks zone. There’s room

for you and one other. Brie, your

wife. Your call.

RANDALL

I’m good, but thank you for the

offer. You have fun with Jason.

PRESIDENT ORLEAN

Jason?

She realizes who he is talking about.

PRESIDENT ORLEAN (CONT'D)

Oh shit.