Vertical Limit Page #3

Brian Maki did a high-atmosphere

analysis of the last 4 decades.

Most years there's a 9-to-12-day lull

before the fall storms.

On August 2nd, we calculate

an 82% chance of fine weather.

Give me odds like that

in the oil business, I'd be rich.

Who's the leader, Mr. Vaughn?

Who makes decisions that mean

other people live or die?

Who plays God, so to speak?

There can be only one leader.

It's always the best climber.

I've made it clear to everyone

that Tom McLaren is that man.

Even the Pakistanis agree.

They're giving you a 21-gun salute.

Okay, let's party!

Thanks for that, Elliot.

You climb as good as you talk,

we'll get you there.

You know that old guy

who was asking questions?

Montgomery Wick.

Remember Dad used to talk about him?

They were in the service together...

Of course, I remember.

I miss him, Annie.

I miss him just as much as...

I can't talk about it.

You never have.

There's nothing to say.

He's gone, Peter.

Look, you can blame me all you want...

...but that last cam would've failed.

It held the two of us.

You want to do this?

Okay, fine, let's do it.

You didn't give it a chance.

- He knew it wouldn't hold either.

- Of course he didn't.

We were his life.

He would've died rather than take

a chance anything might happen to us.

I think we owed him the same.

But I did what I thought was right.

If you're so right, why haven't

you climbed? Or been to his grave?

I'm not going up there for a TV show.

I'm going up there for him.

I want to be the person

he always wanted me to be.

When I'm up there, I feel close

to him.

I touch his soul.

Take care up there.

This is it.

Wish you were going with me.

Not this time. Take care up there.

It'll be a great day for Texas.

And Scotland.

What is it?

Spindrift coming off the top.

That's local. If something was coming

in, it'd show on the other peaks.

Your sister's fine, man.

You look after yourself.

You too. Thanks for everything.

Understood, Tom.

You guys take good care up there.

Thanks, base. Out.

Well, you heard it.

Computer model shows it's building.

That's a concern.

We're about an hour from

the bottleneck, right?

Let's kick it and get up there.

Gets any worse,

we'll shelter under the ice cliffs.

If it comes in fast,

we're totally exposed out here.

It's not fast.

He said it's slow-moving.

There's a 70% chance

it'll turn east and miss us.

I'm not gonna risk a storm.

Not at 26,000.

We're not suggesting anything stupid.

The weather could turn.

The odds are with us.

We're five hours from the summit.

We turn back now, that's it.

We've lost our window.

I know. Elliot, I'm aware of that.

It's my responsibility.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes