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

Orlean asks for a pilot, and Oglethorpe explains that Washington wants a hero despite Randall’s preference for remote controls.

Scene 79 of 205 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

President Orlean
Randall
Dr. Oglethorpe

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 57 min into a 2:06 film

The story so farBefore scene 79

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 76
Orlean says the bill will fund a NASA and military deflection mission.
Scene 77
Randall welcomes the spending bill’s approval by Congress.
Scene 78
Orlean describes launching decommissioned shuttles and satellites carrying nuclear explosives to divert the comet.
Scene 79
This scene

79INT. OVAL OFFICE - TWO NIGHTS PRIOR

PRESIDENT ORLEAN

But we’re gonna need a hero. A

pilot.

RANDALL

Shouldn’t the mission all be done

using remote technology?

DR. OGLETHORPE

Washington’s always gotta have a

hero.