Five Miles: The Storms Begin

Rating: PG-13

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Scene 1: The Storms Begin

EXT. CLOSE TO HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI- AFTERNOON

TEXT ON SCREEN: 1:10 P.M.

Jim is driving while Norra is looking at the radar. Storms are blowing up, moving southeast. They have been following a storm that has a supercell for a bit. They are live with the Weather Channel at this moment.

NORRA: The storm has been rotating for almost ten minutes. There's a wall cloud. There might be a good chance there will be a tornado warning for this storm.

Jim points to a lowering cloud that is starting to appear ahead of them. They are behind the supercell.

JIM: There's a funnel.

Norra points to her laptop. The warning has now been issued.

NORRA: Perfect timing. Radar indicated rotation. (looks at wall cloud) It will be a matter of moments before a confirmed tornado.

The funnel cloud has lowered, creating a small, firm tornado.

NORRA (CONT'D): It has touched down! Hattiesburg, Mississippi, this storm is moving 45 mph southeast. Take shelter now.

JIM: Remember that a line of storms will be coming in tonight. Please keep on watch.

>CUT TO:

Scene 2: Just Rain

INT. ESMERALDA'S ROOM- LATER

TEXT ON SCREEN: 1:21 P.M.

Esmeralda is turning her homework in a Google Classroom, looking at the answers that she circled on paper for her Biology class. She sighs after putting another answer into the form (dang multiple choice). She is listening to her music to keep herself somewhat entertained.

She hears rushing footsteps coming into her room. She puts her headphones down and looks at her door.

SASSIERE (O.C.): Es! Es! Es!

Sassiere opens the door and stops, holding the knob.

SASSIERE (CONT'D): It's starting to rain!

Esmeralda gets up and looks out her window. It was raining, but nothing exciting.

ESMERALDA: (dryly) Cool. It's just a shower, Sassiere.

SASSIERE: Check your radar, Ms. Weatherbug.

Esmeralda checks the radar on a weather app. She only sees it is just rain. No thunder or lightning. There are thunderstorms around them, but nothing near here.

Sassiere walks closer into the room to see what she is looking at on her phone.

ESMERALDA: (gestures to phone) See? Just rain.

SASSIERE: (let-down) Oh.

ESMERALDA: (teasingly) I've never seen you excited for rain since you were three.

Sassiere sighs.

SASSIERE: Dang it! I was really hoping for a storm.

She starts to walk out of Esmeralda's room. Esmeralda follows her, so she can shut her door.

ESMERALDA: (smiling) We will get one sooner or later.

Esmeralda shuts her door and turns her back against it with a wide grin. She chuckles mildly while looking up.

ESMERALDA (CONT'D): My God.

She starts to walk back to her computer.

Several minutes later, She hears distant thunder. Her headphones are not in, so she is able to hear it. It sounds the storm has passed. Esmeralda checks the radar again and sees that the rain escalated into a thunderstorm.

ESMERALDA (CONT'D): Figures.

Esmeralda puts her headphones back in and continues with her homework.

>CUT TO:

Scene 3: The Nadohead's First Chase

INT. TEAM NADOHEADS' RED TRUCK

TEXT ON SCREEN: 2:35 P.M. SEMMES, ALABAMA

A storm has also formed over the south Alabama border, already achieving severe status. The storm chasers decide to chase after it, hoping it will produce a tornado.

Jordon points to the supercell at the 11 o'clock direction

JORDON: Found one. I'm going to start live-streaming. Cameras and PC all linked up?

Dual Dialogue:

HAYDEN: Uh, yeah.

PAULINE: Yes.

Dual Dialogue ends.

JORDON: Good. Pauline, go.

Pauline starts the live stream on YouTube and Twitch. There are cameras set up outside and inside the truck. One facing Jordon, another facing Pauline. There are cameras outside on the front part of the truck and the back, which can be moved around.

PAULINE: We're live.

[Beat.]

JORDON: (keeps eyes on the road while driving) The Nadoheads are here! As you know, there is a high-risk day, and we are already at a cell. I suspect a tornado will drop within the next few minutes or so.

Lightning strikes near the red truck. Jordon turns the truck onto a dirt road. Loud thunder can quickly be heard after that.

JORDON (CONT'D): Dang! That was bright! Loud too.

HAYDEN: Should we pull over and record?

JORDON: We will wait until we see a funnel.

After some time of driving, they see a funnel develop.

JORDON (CONT'D): (gestures to funnel) There it is.

He starts to slow down to park on the side of the road. They are on a regular road now. Some cars drive by. Jordon and Hayden open their doors and grab their cameras. Jordon leaves his door open while both of them film.

The funnel begins to lower. Soon, they can see dirt rising up.

HAYDEN: It's on the ground.

Jordon moves in reverse as he walks back to his truck. He leans in at Pauline.

JORDON: Paulie, call it in!

PAULINE: (going to her phone) On it.

Jordon returns next to Hayden while Pauline is dialing 911. The tornado is a beautiful stone pipe with no precipitation around it. It's moving southeast just like from the storm in Hattiesburg.

HAYDEN: ...An eerie ballerina.

JORDON: Yeah... It's beautiful without lives being threatened... for now.

The tornado begins to shift toward their vehicle and getting closer. Hayden gets anxious.

HAYDEN: (tries to hide his fear) I think we need to get out of the path.

JORDON: (dismisses with his hand) Pft, it's still far away.

The tornado gets about several meters away. Hayden looks ready to run.

JORDON (CONT'D): Okay, now we can turn around.

Jordon and Hayden begin running as the sirens go off. They swing their doors as they rush inside. The vortex is close to the road. The winds can be felt.

PAULINE: Go in reverse for a bit.

JORDON: (buckling up) Got it.

Jordon goes in reverse, letting the tornado pass in front. They are far enough to see the ghost train and safe enough not to get hit.

As the tornado passes, it strengthens and starts to speed up.

PAULINE: Okay, it's far enough, catch up to it.

Jordon begins driving.

JORDON: On my way.

Jordon begins chasing the tornado. They are close to it, but it becomes a fast tornado.

JORDON (CONT'D): What the f? It's running.

HAYDEN: It hates us.

JORDON: I think it wants to race, or it's copying you.

While they keep going by, the roads become muddy. They see power flashes.

JORDON (CONT'D): By the way, Paulie, you forgot to put your little probe down.

PAULINE: Shit.

HAYDEN: Just gotta wait for the next one.

Jordon begins to floor it on the road, trying to catch up to the fast tornado.

JORDON: Screw it, I'm punching it.

HAYDEN: Should we just wait for the next one?

JORDON: No, Hayden. We are close to this one.

HAYDEN: You're definitely going over the speed limit.

JORDON: Did you have to say that during the livestream? (pause) I'm a trained driving professional. Do not attempt.

[Beat.]

HAYDEN: It tells people what you shouldn't do while chasing storms.

JORDON: Zip it, Hayden.

PAULINE: (to Jordon) Keep cool.

Eventually, Jordon goes too fast for his own good and swerves off the muddy road.

JORDON: No! No! Nooo! Sh-

The truck goes into a ditch, letting the tornado get really far away, heading into Mobile, Alabama. Jordon is gasping.

HAYDEN: Told you.

PAULINE: Jordon, settle yourself down before getting back on the road, or you could switch with Hayden.

Jordon glares at Pauline.

JORDON: With him, you will be 100 miles from the tornado.

[Beat.]

PAULINE: If it is distant and clear, you can still get photogenic shots.

HAYDEN: I can still get close...

Jordon keeps staring at her. He's trying to calm himself down quickly. Pauline looks at the online map and out her window.

PAULINE (CONT'D): It's heading towards Mobile.

>CUT TO:

Scene 4: Close Call

EXT: EVERSON HOUSE: PORCH- CONTINUOUS

Esmeralda and Sassiere are watching the rain fall. The storm is warned, of course. They heard the sirens and still went out the front porch. A loud clap of thunder can be heard, making Sassiere flinch.

SASSIERE: (raises fists in the air) Woooooo! Love it!

ESMERALDA: Satisifed?

SASSIERE: Yes!

Then, it starts to hail. Sassiere is about to leave the porch to catch them, but Esmeralda stops her, noticing their size.

ESMERALDA: No! Those things are large enough to damage your head.

Upon their appearance, they are the size of softballs. They hear glass breaking inside the house. Esmeralda clicks her tongue and goes into a deer-in-headlights look before going back to normal.

ESMERALDA (CONT'D): Welp, there goes the skylight in Mom and Dad's bedroom. Looks like they can't punish us for that.

Sassiere picks up the hail and throws it at Esmeralda, almost close to her throat.

ESMERALDA (CONT'D): (angrily, looking at her chest) Ow! That could've killed me! (stares at Sassiere) What was that for?! It's not a snowball! I will never throw at you without your approv-

Esmeralda stops as she notices the winds change direction, following towards the back of the house. They hiss and growl. Sassiere isn't paying attention to this change. Esmeralda swiftly opens the front door.

ESMERALDA (CONT'D): (urgently) Get back in the house!

Sassiere doesn't move. Esmeralda becomes panicked. She snatches her wrist.

Dual Dialogue:

ESMERALDA: (hurrying inside the house) Get in the house! Dang it!

SASSIERE: Ow!

Dual Dialogue Ends

INT. EH: ENTRANCE- CONTINUOUS

Esmeralda ushers Sassisere to the basement.

SASSIERE: (hurt) What was that, Esmeralda?!

Esmeralda and Sassiere look back as they watch a tornado cross their front yard. Leaves, twigs, and mud slam against their windows. Their windows rattle. They watch the winds change direction again, following the tornado.

Sassiere and Esmeralda slowly look at each other. Sassiere grins again.

SASSIERE: That is fat as you!

Esmeralda tugs the collar of her sister's shirt.

ESMERALDA: (yelling) That's not nice, Sassiere! I'm not fat!

Her sister's smirk never falters. It's angering Esmeralda at this point.

SASSIERE: Does that remind you of anyone?

[Beat.]

SASSIERE (CONT'D): If you don't like getting picked on by me, why do it to someone else?

ESMERALDA: Seriously? You're not the only one who treats me like sh-

Esmeralda falls silent, internally reflecting for a moment.