Lookout (2025)

[bunniefuu]

-Hello?

Are you okay?

Hey, you need help?

- What makes you trust

a car insurance company?

A talking animal?

A talking carrot?

What about when

a company's customer...

Oh my god.

You scared

the hell out of me.

You shouldn't be standing

in the middle of the road.

All in your gear.

I could have easily hit you.

Elk season

doesn't start until next week.

Why are you

out here anyway, huh?

You out here all alone?

-Dale said I...

I can't talk to you.

-Who's Dale?

He here with you?

- Well that depends

on who's askin'.

I told him

to stay off

the access road

20 times last season.

Didn't I, Skeeter?

He ain't much

for listening but...

...he's an ace

with that crossbow.

-You doing a little hunting?

-No, no, ma'am.

Just a little scouting is all.

-Good.

Because I should remind you

that hunting off-season

is a criminal offense.

-No, we would never do

anything like that.

We're uh, conservationists.

-Hmm.

-Well this...

...is for, uh, self-protection.

You can never be too careful

out here in the woods.

There's a lot of...

...sick people out here.

-Now, see, right now

you're making an assumption.

Last I checked,

there's no law against us

testing out our gear.

-Try not to k*ll

anything until next week.

Yeah, right.

Go on.

Get!

Ranger.

-Oh! Hey there,

you must be Billy.

- I'm...

- Late.

-Melissa.

I'm really sorry about that.

I got caught up.

- Yeah, Captain Edgewood

isn't big on excuses.

Try and be on time

while you're out here

unless you like

getting chewed out.

Everything you need to know

is on the table.

It isn't rocket science.

-Yeah, I was kind of hoping

since I'm going to be

out here I would have

some time.

It's a long shift.

You basically do about six

minutes of actual work per day,

so you got time

to do whatever you want.

Just don't piss

Edgewood off,

or try not to anyway.

The hardest part is

not going crazy.

I mean, you'll definitely

go a little crazy,

but try and keep

yourself occupied.

You'd not believe the sh*t

you start seeing out here

after a whole month alone.

Keys.

-Oh, sorry, yeah.

-So, supply drop comes

once a week.

Your first one showed up

a couple of days ago.

Oh, and there's a sink,

but no running water.

-Thanks.

Thanks, Billy.

sh*t!

- Ranger Weston!

-Yes, sir?

- Well, sh*t indeed

I'm very relieved

to hear your voice, Ranger.

When 9 a.m. came

and went, I assumed

something truly apocalyptic

must have happened to you

to miss your

very first check-in

on your very first day

of your very first tower shift.

-I'm sorry, sir.

The battery was dead and

the backup generator was empty.

- The kind of

individual that excels

in your position is

a proactive professional

who checks their equipment

well in advance of needing it.

-I'm sorry, sir.

- It's your first day

so we'll chalk it up to you

being momentarily overwhelmed

by the significant

responsibility

that has been

placed upon your shoulders

for the next 30 days.

-I'm sorry, sir.

- I don't want

a sorry Ranger ,

I want a competent Ranger.

Understood?

-Yes, sir.

- Are you

going to do your job now

or are you waiting

for an invitation?

-Sorry, sir.

Yes. I mean I'm on it.

This is

Lantern Ridge Lookout Tower.

It's approximately 9:05 a.m.

Visibility is--

Jesus!

Are you still with us?

Or has the good Lord come

to take you away?

-No sir. I--

A bird just flew

into the window.

I think it's dead.

- Bury it so it

doesn't attract other animals.

-Yes, sir.

Visibility at Lantern Ridge

Lookout Tower is clear.

10-11 miles.

Copy. Five p.m. sharp.

- If that's convenient for you.

-Yes, sir.

It is, sir.

- Don't forget

to bury the bird.

This is Lantern Ridge Lookout

Tower for station.

- Go for station.

-Lantern Ridge Lookout Tower.

Five p.m.

Visibility clear.

8-9 miles.

- Copy.

- Blue Mountain

for Lantern Ridge.

Lantern Ridge, come in.

-Go for Lantern Ridge.

Go to channel 12 .

Edgewood doesn't like

unofficial chatter

on official channels.

- All right.

Welcome to Blue Mountain ,

Ranger Weston.

I can't tell you

how happy I am

to hear a new voice.

- It's been a long while.

-Thanks.

Roy, right?

- Yeah.

-Trouble in paradise?

- Yes and yes.

I'm sure you

saw it for yourself

when you got there.

You met Billy, right?

-Sort of.

I've never met anyone

who ran down

a flight of stairs

as fast as he did.

- Oh, yeah.

He was counting down

the minutes.

This isn't a good job

for someone

who can't remember

what it's like

to go 30 seconds without

a phone in their hand.

-Oh, come on.

We're not all lost causes.

- Oh, good.

This is good.

Whew!

After a month of only talking

to Billy and the captain,

I'm ready to talk

to a real human being.

-Wait, shouldn't

you be going home soon?

- No, not

for another two months.

I may be old

but I'm hardcore.

Three shifts in a row.

Every fire season.

-Wow, I don't know

if I should be impressed

or worried about you.

- Uh... probably both.

Everyone used to fight

over tower duty

but now it's a struggle

to get enough volunteers

to fill the schedule.

There's nowhere else

I'd rather be.

-Well, you and I

have something in common, Roy.

Because I volunteered

to take the shift too.

- Wow. I'll be damned.

Maybe there's hope

for your generation after all.

So you out here

to chase or to run?

-What do you mean?

- I mean, the way I see it

there are only two

kinds of rangers

who volunteer

for a tower shift.

The kind who are

chasing something

and the kind who are running

from something.

Which one...

Which one are you?

Wait, wait.

Actually don't tell me yet.

It'll give us something

to talk about tomorrow.

It was a pleasure to meet you,

Melissa.

-The pleasure was all mine, Roy.

- You have yourself

a peaceful

and pleasant evening.

-You too.

-Lantern Ridge

Lookout Tower for Station.

- Go for station.

-Lantern Ridge Lookout Tower.

It's 9 a.m.

Visibility is clear.

Approximately 18 miles.

- Copy.

-Good morning to you too.

Oh my god!

Are you okay?

-I don't have it.

I don't have it.

-What happened?

-I don't have it.

-You don't have what?

-I don't have it.

- Oh my god.

Your legs!

Oh!

- Look, you are burned

very badly.

You need medical attention.

You are not

going to get that out here.

You're in shock right now

and pretty soon

you're not going to be

able to walk.

It's okay.

Look at me.

It's okay.

-My tower is a bit

of a walk.

But we're going to get there

together just you and me, okay?

Nice and slow,

I promise.

Okay?

Nice and slow.

We're going to take

a deep breath in together

at the same time. Ready?

And let it out.

Good.

What's your name?

-Miss Conley.

-Melissa.

Come on,

let's get out of here.

Gotcha.

Okay.

Right there.

We're just going to walk

right around here, okay?

There you go.

There you go. You got it.

Okay, we're going to sit

right here, okay?

I'm going to help you.

Got it.

Oh yeah,

there you go.

Okay.

I'm going to go try to call

for some help, okay?

And try to find something

to soothe these burns.

-I don't have it.

I don't have it.

-Okay.

-I don't have it.

-Okay, just stay here

I'll be right back.

- Oh, sh*t!

Lantern Ridge

Lookout Tower for Station.

Lantern Ridge

Lookout Tower for Station.

It's an emergency.

- This is station.

What's your emergency?

-I found an injured hiker.

She has severe burns

on her legs.

She needs emergency

medical attention.

She's in shock.

- Copy.

Is the fire still burning?

-No fire.

Just the burned hiker.

- Copy.

Captain Edgewood's on patrol

not far from you.

Hold tight.

Station for Captain Edgewood.

-This better be good.

- There's an injured

hiker at Lantern Ridge Tower.

She needs emergency

medical assistance.

-What the hell is a hiker

doing at the tower?

I-I-I don't know, sir.

She didn't say.

-I'm on my way.

- Miss Conley?

Hey. Why don't we get

you back to the stairs, okay?

Come on.

Help's gonna be here soon.

Is there something out there?

Why don't we take a better look

at those legs, huh?

Come on. I got you.

Come on.

I got you.

It's okay.

-What happened?

-She has severe burns

on her legs

and she doesn't remember

how she got them.

She's in shock

and disassociating.

-I like your hat.

-I like it too, ma'am.

-Thank you, Captain.

-What the hell

are you doing?

-Excuse me?

-You are on fire watch, Ranger.

-I was finished

with the check-in

-and I thought--

-Stop. I'll say it again.

You are on fire watch, Ranger.

The check-in was done, sir.

Checking in is not your job.

Frolicking in the woods

is not your job.

Your job is to sit your a*s

in that tower

day and night

and watch for fires.

Wake up, have a banana,

watch for fires.

Read a book,

watch for fires.

Make some soup,

watch for fires.

Go downstairs for exactly

30 seconds to take a sh*t

and then march right back up

and watch for fires.

The most exciting part

of your day,

God willing there's no fires,

is talking to me

on that radio.

-Yes, I understand that--

-No, obviously

you do not understand,

so let me make it

perfectly clear.

Is it 1605?

-What?

-Is it the year

of our Lord, 1605?

-No.

-Are we enjoying a warm summer

evening in London?

Are we munching on c*ck

at the Globe Theatre?

-Am I William Shakespeare?

-No.

-Then why are you

prancing around like Titania,

the fairy queen

of the f*cking forest?

Get your sh*t together,

Ranger,

and start acting

like an adult.

-Yes, sir.

-And get that equipment

fixed by 5 p.m.

Load in, guys.

-Yes, sir.

-Lantern Ridge

Lookout Tower for station.

- Go for station.

-Visibility is clear, 15 miles.

It's 5.02 p.m.

- Copy.

I'll put down 4 p.m.

-Thank you.

- Yeah, no problem.

I don't have it.

What happened?

I don't have it.

I don't have it.

- Ranger Weston,

your presence is requested

on the lido deck.

Passengers and crew

are all excited

to see your moves

on the lido deck.

-Switching to five.

Hey, Roy, how was your day?

- Well,

just another day in paradise.

The sun shone,

the birds chirped,

nothing caught on fire.

-Not literally, anyway.

- Ah, I heard.

Yeah, I also heard that

the woman you helped today

is gonna be all right.

If you wouldn't have

found her,

she'd probably still be

out there alone.

-Thanks, Roy.

I needed to hear that.

You know,

if you think about it,

I'm kind of a hero.

- I didn't want

to say anything,

but I was thinking it.

-You know,

I'm actually really excited

for this storm.

There's always beautiful light

the morning after a storm.

- Are you a painter?

-Photographer.

- Look out, Ansel Adams.

We have ourselves

a photographer.

- Yep, the world's

first completely

disposable art form.

- Oh, no way.

Listen, there are billions

of people in the world,

but only one of them

has your perspective.

-Thanks, Roy.

- All right.

-Roy?

- It's mine!

Cop--

- Whoa!

What happened here?

Sorry, I didn't mean

to sneak up on you.

-I don't know.

-Maybe a bear?

I'm camping about

a half mile away.

Should I be worried?

-I don't think

a bear did this, no.

You said you were camping?

-Yeah. Um, I'm just at

the base of the ridge.

-Did you notice

anything unusual last night?

-Just one heck of a storm.

Besides, unusual is relative.

Something totally

horrifying to you

might be totally normal to me.

Um, I think I'm gonna go

pack up my camp, actually.

-Have a good one.

-Thank you.

Stay safe, Ranger.

Yeah, the forest is filled

with socially awkward loners.

Like I said,

runners and chasers.

-Yeah, I was just hoping

it would be more

of a metaphor,

and not me actually having

to run from someone chasing me.

- Yeah, well,

what are you running from?

Sorry,

I don't mean to pry.

My wife was a psychiatrist.

I guess, you know,

after all those years

I-I just can't help myself.

-Whoa, a doctor.

Get it, Roy.

That's right.

Dr. Maggie Walters.

Beautiful too,

and funny.

-A triple threat.

- She wished.

-Uh! Roy!

Oh man, deep down

she always wanted

to be an artist.

We started coming out here

every summer

so that she could paint,

but it turned out

she was a sh*t painter.

But we really fell in love

with this place.

We always said

we would retire out here.

-I thought you said

it was only

socially awkward loners

out here.

- That was us.

Alone, together.

-I'm so sorry, Roy.

- Oh, don't be.

It still hurts,

but when I sit up here

and the sun pours

over the mountains,

it spills out

over the forest,

I can't help but think

about how all of it,

Maggie, me,

these trees, the mountains,

it's all connected.

Tiny pieces

of a greater whole.

Sometimes it feels good

to feel small.

-You know, I meant to tell you,

I actually am out here

chasing something.

- I thought so.

-Everything just started

to happen

all at once in my life,

and I started to feel

like I was getting lost.

I thought I would be

able to find myself out here,

rediscover my passions,

but if I'm being honest,

what I'm really doing

is just running from myself.

- That's what those of us

in the biz

call a breakthrough.

-Maggie would be proud.

- Yeah, I think she would.

Go for station.

-Visibility clear. Eleven miles.

- Copy.

-You okay, Ranger?

- Oh, thank God.

-Let me help you.

Oh!

Thank you.

-Let's get you on your feet.

Come on.

Come on.

It's all right.

I don't think I can walk on it.

-Come on, let me help you back

to your lookout tower.

-I didn't tell you

I was in a tower.

-Yes, you did.

Yesterday.

-No, I didn't.

-Hmm.

I'm pretty sure you did.

-No. I didn't.

- Hmm. Maybe I put

two and two together.

A forest ranger

out here all alone

with no radio

and no vehicle.

Lookout!

-I appreciate your help,

but I don't need it.

-I'd really like

to help you back.

-I said no, thank you.

-I insist.

-Hmm.

-That's not very nice.

I'm not going

to tell you again.

We're going to your tower.

You have something

that I need.

-Are you finished?

Let's go.

-I believe the ranger

told you to f*ck off.

-Oh.

You two again.

Really getting sick of this.

-We need to get out

of here now.

If he comes any closer,

sh**t him in the f*cking heart.

-Where are we going?

-The truck's just up ahead.

-I will sh**t you.

-Give it back.

-Buck!

- Run!

- There you are.

What are you doing?

-It's not me!

-See you soon, Ranger.

- I told you there were

some sick people out here.

-What the hell was that?

- The devil.

-Where's Skeeter?

-Wait here.

I'll be right back.

- No, come on!

C'mon!

- Hey, as*h*le.

- Not so tough without

your little rock, are you?

-Hey, as*h*le.

-Why are you

dragging this out?

I know you're here.

You know I'm going to get

what I want.

You can just give it to me.

Or I can take it!

There's nowhere left

for you to run.

No little friends left

to help you.

There you are.

You leave her alone!

What the hell

did you do to me?

-What did I do to you?

I gave you a gift.

I showed you what's possible,

what your pathetic vessel

is actually capable of.

-You get out of here, Ranger.

I'm going to take care of this!

-Is that what

you're going to do?

You going to

take care of this?

-This one's for Dale...

and Buck.

-Do it.

-You're only making things

harder on yourself.

-Why are you doing this?

What do you want from me?

-I told you.

You have something

that belongs to me.

-I don't have sh*t

that belongs to you!

-You don't even know

what you have.

-What's your play here,

Ranger?

What are you trying to do?

-Wow, you are weak!

Weakness I can forgive,

but not stupidity.

-Don't be stupid, Ranger.

Tell me where it is.

-I already told you.

I don't have what you want.

You do.

-Oh, this?

It's just a fragment.

It's practically nothing.

You'll understand soon enough.

Who the f*ck are you?

-I'm Roy.

-Roy!

Hey! Is this what you want?

- No!

-Roy, don't move.

Don't move, okay?

Oh my God. Oh my God.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

Hey, look at me.

-Come on.

Come on!

What the hell is this?

-A rock.

-Enough!

Why are you doing this to me?

Give it to me now!

Now!

You can't keep running forever.

-I'm a chaser,

m*therf*cker!

-Roy?

The hell?

It's not over!

It's mine.

I won't stop.

Give it to me!

It's mine.

I'm so sorry, Roy.

I am going to k*ll you!

-I'm so sorry.

Come here!

-Huh?

Oh my god.

Roy, oh my god.

Hey. You're okay.

Let's get you out

of here, huh?

- Jesus!

- What happened?

- Shut up, Billy.

Ranger?

Come on, Melissa.

Let's go.

It's gonna be okay.

I'm gonna go upstairs

and get your things.

You just wait right here

and then I'm gonna come back,

take you home. Okay?

-Thank you.

- Yep.

- Whoa!

-Billy, get your a*s over here.

- Wow.

-It's gonna take a couple weeks

to get two new Rangers

out here to take over.

I'm gonna need you to cover.

Try to keep it together, Billy.

-Yes, sir.