[¶¶¶]
INUIT SHAMAN: Just south of the arctic circle,
out on the edge of the world
is a forsaken place of great beauty.
When outsiders came to this place,
they found it a cruel and unforgiving country.
They had come for the gold, to find their fortune.
Many left with broken dreams.
But the few,
the ones with strong hearts and iron wills,
learned the old ways.
Dog sledding was a way of life.
We relied on them,
and they relied on us.
SEPP: Hey, let's go, boy! Ha!
Hold the line, Togo!
INUIT SHAMAN: 1917 was the last year
for the Alaskan sweepstakes race.
His third straight victory in the all Alaskan sweepstakes.
No one is faster than Leonhard Seppala.
Go, boy! Whoo!
[cheering & clapping]
SEPP: Nice job, Gunnar!
[cheering and clapping continues]
Good race, Gunnar.
Good win.
Great race, Gunnar.
You did it again. [chuckles]
Togo got speed.
[cheering and clapping continues]
[¶¶¶]
INUIT SHAMAN: Seppala came to Nome for the gold.
But it was the native spirit he became one with.
The spring and summer we would hunt and fish
in order to survive the harsh winters.
We would live off the land.
The animals are what we relied on.
My people believe that every living thing has a spirit.
To take a life, you first had to honor the spirit...
and thank them for their sacrifice.
Seppala never found gold,
but he found a way of life within my tribe
and became one of us.
I'm pregnant.
[Kiana laughs]
What?
You're pregnant.
[Kiana chuckles]
Ah.
So if it's a girl, what do you want to name her?
Sigrid.
[both chuckling]
And if it's a boy?
It's not a boy.
KIANA: My feet dance because of you.
You're the sky.
Most beautiful [indistinct].
INUIT SHAMAN: We believe Anguta is an animal,
part wolf, part bear.
A creature that takes souls to their final resting place.
[baby cries]
Kiana!
[shouts] Help!
[eagle cries]
What happened? She's sick?
[woman singing softly]
Sepp.
How is she?
She doesn't have long.
Oh, no.
Hey, my love, I'm here.
I'm sorry I didn't get here faster.
Doing real good.
Can you open those eyes?
I know you can do this.
Just open those eyes.
There she is.
[woman singing softly]
Take care of her.
Don't go.
[Sepp cries]
Don't go.
[wolf howls]
[woman screams]
INUIT SHAMAN: The flu epidemic of 1918,
wiped out nearly half of my people.
Seppala set out to kill Anguta,
the very spirit that came for my people.
Yah! Let's go!
[bear growling]
[gunshot]
Damn you, God.
Damn you, God!
INUIT SHAMAN: He killed that bear,
but he never found the wolf.
He would always believe the wolf might return.
SEPP: Good boy.
Togo, let's go.
Number 12, last car, boys.
MAN: Grab the crane.
The rope.
Everyone outside.
Close the hatch.
Let's go.
I think you all know
this vein we're on is about tapped out.
She's just not producing enough for us
to keep her open anymore.
I promise you, all of you, I'll do my best
to find you work.
The Yukon Mine's gonna be runnin' full steam
all winter long, and the foreman over there
told me he could take most of you on.
Yukon Mine.
That's a thousand miles away, George.
I know. It's a long way from home, Gunnar.
But if you want to work,
it's all there is.
Uh, I'll go.
Yeah, me as well.
Charlie. Keep the faith.
Thank you.
Good luck to you.
It's gonna be a long winter.
Got a little Christmas bonus for you.
I'll see you in church.
Thanks, George.
Thank you, Sepp.
YUKA: What would you like Santa Claus
to bring you this year?
Hmm, I would really love a dress.
What kind of dress?
The one like Constance's dress.
We'll have to tell Santa Claus [chuckles].
What was my mommy like?
YUKA: She was the kindest woman I have ever known.
She was strong.
Really, really strong.
Kind of like a certain special somebody that I know.
She would be so proud of you.
[Sepp panting]
Yeah, let's go.
ALL: ¶ Silent night Holy night ¶
¶ All is calm... ¶
¶ Sleep in heavenly peace ¶
- ¶ Sleep in heavenly peace ¶ - Hah! Hah!
Good job, Sigrid.
Let's get over to Constance's house
and your dad's going to come pick you up, okay?
SIGRID: Okay.
Yeah!
And Sigrid Seppala wins the race.
Let's go.
Togo! Togo! I missed you, boy!
Hey, wh-where's my hug, Sig?
Just doing what you taught me, Daddy.
Dogs come first.
Thanks for watching Sigrid while I was gone.
You're welcome.
It's no trouble at all.
She's a beautiful child.
Yeah.
I would love it if Sigrid could make
the Christmas Eve service.
I have all the children singing up front.
SIGRID: Please, Daddy, please?
Please can we go to church? Please?
Uh, we'll see.
I had better get back to the hospital.
The last shipment of medical supplies
just came in for winter, and Dr. Welch will need
some help sorting through those crates.
Yeah.
Goodbye, Sigrid.
Bye Constance. Thank you.
CONSTANCE: You're welcome, sweetheart.
Bye, Leonhard.
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
Let's go, Sig.
SIGRID: Okay, Daddy.
Yeah.
[chuckles] Hee-hee-hee-hee.
[Constance and Sigrid laugh]
Hey, come on. Load up.
That's the last of it.
Are you sure?
That's the whole shipment.
Well, we seem to be short a few items.
But you go ahead.
I know you need to get the kids ready
for the Christmas service, I'll keep looking.
Thank you, Father.
- I'll see you there. - Okay.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[Dr. Welch sighs]
[church bell rings]
[indistinct chatter]
MAN: Merry Christmas, Father.
Merry Christmas.
[church bell chiming]
PREACHER: Good evening.
All rise and join me in prayer.
Loving Father, we are gathered here today
to have fun and fellowship, and to celebrate and remember
the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the songs of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and the worship of the wise men.
Lord, may the Christmas morning make us happy
to be your children, and the Christmas evening
bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven.
In Jesus' name we pray.
CHILDREN [singing]: ¶ Silent night holy night ¶
¶ All is calm All is bright... ¶
¶ Round yon virgin mother And child ¶
[¶¶¶]
[girl coughs]
[¶¶¶]
[girl coughs]
[¶¶¶]
Merry Christmas.
DR. WELCH: Merry Christmas, Leonhard.
Glad you came.
Thanks.
Daddy! Daddy! Constance got me a present.
SEPP: I see that.
Oh, isn't that kind of her?
CONSTANCE: Thank you for bringing Sigrid tonight.
Oh, thank you, for being so kind to Sigrid.
Merry Christmas.
Let's go. Let's go home.
Okay, Daddy.
After you.
Let's go, boy.
A dress! She got me a dress!
I told her I would love a dress for Christmas!
Well, isn't that nice?
Here. Eat your dinner.
You're not hungry, Daddy?
[Sigrid coughs]
SEPP: No.
Eat up.
Eat your dinner.
Do you miss Mama?
[sighs] Yeah. Every day.
Well, Constance would be a good mama.
Hey, we don't talk like that in this house.
You understand me?
I don't want to ever hear you speak like that again.
You got a mama.
Go. Go to bed.
Merry Christmas, boy.
Maybe you could cheer him up.
[Togo whimpers]
What?
[Togo whimpers]
SEPP: She does.
It's to bring you good luck for the race.
Merry Christmas.
HARRY DAVENPORT [over radio]: Hoping everyone has a healthy
and happy holiday season.
Oh, and this just in.
We have a report out of Newfoundland
that Santa's sleigh was seen
somewhere over the United States.
It's time to get tucked in boys and girls,
because Mr. Claus is on his way.
Daddy, I can't sleep.
Come here.
HARRY DAVENPORT [over radio]: This is Harry Davenport
signing off.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
There you go.
[music over the radio]
Merry Christmas.
Will you open your mouth please, Alice?
A little wider please?
Dr. Welch is going to make you all better baby.
You know what? You are a very,
very good patient, Alice.
As a matter of fact, Santa Claus told me
that you are at the very top of his nice list.
So he told me to give you this.
What's wrong with her?
I'm going to go back to the hospital
and pick up some medicine.
I'll be right back.
She'll be fine.
Thank you.
[Alice coughs]
[clattering]
[Dr. Welch sighs]
[Edgar screams]
YUKA: She's gone.
I'm so very sorry.
[Edgar screams]
[Yuka cries]
May I see her?
[Yuka cries]
[Edgar screams]
CONSTANCE: We're so sorry.
I will come back. I will be back.
Come, come.
CONSTANCE: What killed that little girl?
She died of diphtheria.
Diphtheria?
Yes, it's a bacterial infection
that attacks the respiratory system.
And it shuts down the airways
and the patient ultimately dies from suffocation.
Are you sure it's diphtheria?
Yes, I'm sure.
But don't we have the antitoxin?
Yes, we do. But it's expired.
What are we going to do?
Well, I'm going to bring all the children
showing symptoms up to the hospital immediately
and we'll-- I'll check on all of Mary's classmates.
George, we have a problem.
An Inuit girl died of diphtheria,
and I assume that there are many more infected
out in the sandspit.
Diphtheria?
Yes. It's highly infectious
and I have no antitoxin to fight it with.
I ordered more, but it didn't arrive
with the last shipment.
There isn't another way to cure it?
No. And you and I know what can happen
with the last flu epidemic.
This could be very, very bad.
It could be much worse if we don't get it here quickly.
Curtis, you just tell me what you want me to do.
We need help.
[panting] Are we able to get a telegraph through?
TELEGRAPH OPERATOR: Sure, George.
[Maynard panting]
WETZLER: Governor? - Hmm.
Sir, it's a telegram from the Mayor of Nome,
- very urgent. - From who?
WETZLER: From Nome, Sir, very urgent.
The mayor in Nome.
Read it to me.
"An outbreak of diphtheria is almost inevitable here."
Stop.
"I am in urgent need of diphtheria antitoxin."
Stop.
God, Nome. I almost forgot about Nome.
We haven't heard from them in years.
What would you like to do, Sir?
Ah, call every hospital down the coast
from Seattle to San Francisco and tell them to send
as much antitoxin as they can spare.
Okay, but... but Sir,
how are we supposed to transport it there?
We can't get it there by ship. The seaport's frozen over.
And... and Nenana's the last stop on the railroad,
that's at least 700 miles from Nome?
Look, just get the antitoxin.
Yes, Sir.
MAYOR MAYNARD: Thank you all for coming out.
Dr. Welch has some important news that affects all of us.
Doctor?
A young girl has died of diphtheria.
It's a very dangerous and contagious disease
and it's going to spread very rapidly through town.
If any of your young ones have a sore throat
or a high fever, any cold symptoms at all,
please send them to the hospital immediately.
Is it just the young ones or can the adults get it too?
Children are at the highest risk
because their immune systems aren't as developed as ours.
But adults can carry the disease without knowing it.
So I want you all to stay in your homes.
ELLIOT: What are we supposed to do?
How do we treat this?
Well, there-- there is an antitoxin
but I'm sorry, at the moment, we-- we don't have it.
[all speaking simultaneously]
Folks, folks, please, please quiet down.
We-- we we've contacted the governor.
How do we have not any of it?
And he-- and he's going to send us
the antitoxin as soon as possible.
I-- I assure you we're doing the best we can right now,
so just please do what the doctor says.
I think everybody just has to stay calm.
Stay in their homes.
We're going to do everything we can to--
to get this antitoxin here.
That's what we're trying to figure out.
So stay in your homes, because it will not spread
if you stay in your homes.
That's what I ask of you.
We will get it here.
Well, we should have enough antitoxin
by the end of the week.
The last thing we need is bad press,
so I'm hoping you will support our effort.
Well, I was hoping
you would finally see the light of day
and realize it was time for Alaska
to step into the modern age.
What do you mean by that?
I'm talking about an airplane.
[Governor Bone chuckles]
We can have that serum in Nome in two days.
Does this have anything to do with the fact
that you are a part owner of an airline by any chance?
I don't see that that is really relevant
to any matters at hand.
You have a problem.
I'm offering you a solution.
Subzero temperatures and Arctic winds
are not very conducive to your flying machines.
William, this is Alaska.
This is our chance, Governor.
Yeah. Well you don't have a plane,
and you don't have a pilot.
Now, to fly that distance in winter conditions,
I already checked.
I know.
You called Washington and they ignored you again.
No, they didn't ignore me.
[chuckles] Ignore me.
I can have a plane and a pilot ready by tomorrow.
Listen, the plane goes down with the serum on board,
we will be unable to help anyone.
My plane will make it.
And I guarantee you will be front page news on my paper.
Aren't you tired of playing second fiddle to the lower 48?
Oh, Jesus. What the hell does that have to do with anything?
THOMPSON: I'll make you a hero.
Hell this could even mean a second term.
Put you on the map so to speak.
I'll take your silence as a yes.
I want a test flight first.
If you can prove to me you can get a plane up there
and fly that distance,
I will consider flying up the serum.
You're a wise man, Governor.
Got a wire from the Governor's office.
They found the antiserum in Anchorage.
They want to fly it in by airplane.
We could possibly have it in a couple of days.
Thank you.
ANNOUNCER: Going live in five, four, three, two--
[over radio]: Hello, folks. This is Harry Davenport.
A sliver of hope for icebound Nome
as a doctor in Anchorage has discovered 300,000 units
of diphtheria antitoxin,
enough to fight off the epidemic.
Governor Bone had hoped
the serum could be delivered by airplane,
but the test run earlier today has proven
it is not a reliable option.
Cut off by land, cut off by sea.
And now the winged angel of mercy is stuck on the runway.
How will they get the medicine they so desperately need?
Nome needs our prayers.
This is Henry Davenport signing off.
[switches off radio]
We don't have time to wait.
If we don't get it here soon, things are going to be very bad.
Well, how much time do we have?
In two weeks, hundreds are going to be infected.
This town is going to be savaged.
This disease is fatal to children.
Daddy, what's going to happen to us?
Well, then, let's go get that medicine.
Nothing's going to happen to us.
Gentlemen, it is time for us to stop talking and take action.
We need to go get that serum ourselves.
How will you get the medicine here?
The sea is frozen over.
A ship couldn't get within a hundred miles.
We'll mush it in.
Dog sled? You can't be serious.
Hi, get out of the cold.
My father and George are meeting
with the town council at the saloon.
They're discussing the plans to get the serum here.
George asked me urgently to get you there.
I'm dead serious, Mr. Wells.
I'd much rather put our hopes in a man
and a-a good team of dogs than some damn flying machine
that can't even get off the ground.
It's possible. The railroad's still running.
We take the mail route
and-and the trains get it as far as Nenana.
MAN: One musher can never make it there and back.
It's 700 miles.
MAYOR MAYNARD: Not one musher.
A relay.
We station men at every roadhouse
along the way from here to Nenana.
DR. WELCH: George is right.
It may put lives at risk,
but at this point it's the best option we have.
We know these men.
We know what they're capable of.
Can you keep Sigrid?
CONSTANCE: Of course.
Okay, I'll be back.
Look, I have three children.
And I just don't know if this is the best option for us.
What if we wait another week and this weather passes?
Yes.
Then we can get an airplane up here in better weather.
You've got a nine-month-old, Elliot.
Do you really want to take that chance?
We are out of time.
What if they can't make it through the mountains
by dog sled?
And the serum gets lost. Then what?
We have to try.
Every day we wait, children are going to die.
I'm not going to let that happen.
I vote in favor.
Any more discussion?
Good.
Let's get started.
"Today officials tried a second attempt
"at delivering the serum by airplane.
"But the plane had mechanical difficulties
"and had to return to the landing strip
"shortly after takeoff.
"Ice-bound and all alone on the edge of the world
It's now up to the valiant mushers and the brave canines."
We need someone to meet them at the halfway point,
350 miles."
I'll do it.
Sepp, even you've said
that the Norton Sound and the mountain pass
never be taken when the weather's not right.
How you're going to do this in a storm?
I can't lose Sigrid.
The Norton Sound has killed many men,
but we need that serum and we need it now.
DR. WELCH: They're expecting temperatures
to drop to below 40 tomorrow night
and there's a blizzard dropping in from the north.
"As an Arctic blizzard pushes west,
"the drivers are enduring temperatures of 60 below zero
and hurricane strength winds."
Can the serum survive those conditions?
It can't stay frozen for too long
or the antitoxin will be destroyed,
but if it were thawed at each waypoint
and packed very carefully, yes, I think it would.
SEPP: I'm going to need somebody to stay with Sigrid.
I'll stay with her till this is over.
Thanks, George.
I'll have Togo ready.
Gunner, use my dogs and prepare a second team.
In case the storm takes a turn for the worse,
Balto's ready to lead a team.
I'll be ready.
Well, who should we get to run that first leg out of Nenana?
Wild Bill Shannon.
[rumble of train]
[¶¶¶]
[Sigrid coughs]
SEPP: Thank you for watching her.
Of course.
I met with George, your father, and Gunnar.
We all came up with a plan.
Going to run 20 mushers along the mail route.
About 700 miles.
Togo and I leave day after tomorrow.
You can do this?
Yes.
We're going to get that medicine here.
I, uh...
I'm really scared Sigrid's going to get this.
If that day comes, I will treat her like my own
and I will not leave her side.
But it won't come to that.
She loves you.
She talks about you all the time.
Just be safe.
We will.
[heavy winds blowing]
Constance, would you please check the patients
and take their temperatures?
Anybody over a hundred is first priority.
Of course.
Hi, Akina.
Now listen, we can't take such good care of you at your house.
So you're going to stay at my house for a few days, okay?
So say goodbye to Mommy and Daddy.
We'll get you well.
It's right here for you, Akina.
Love you so much.
Good girl, let's go.
[children coughing]
ILSA: Come on, baby. WOMAN: I love you, baby.
ILSA: It's okay. WOMAN: It's going to be okay.
ILSA: I'll take care of her. WOMAN: Okay, thank you.
Come here, sweetheart.
[¶¶¶]
[girl coughs]
[boy having difficulty breathing]
I'm gonna miss you Daddy.
I'll miss you too.
Take care of my Daddy, okay?
ALICE: Don't-don't leave me.
I'll be waiting right here for you baby,
when you're all better, okay?
CONSTANCE: We'll take good care of her.
Come with me now.
ALICE: I'm scared.
I promise, baby.
We're going to take good care of you.
- It's okay. - [Ruth cries]
SEPP: Hey, George.
Well, the serum's on the train bound for Nenana.
Good.
Weather seems to be holding.
It is for now.
I checked the weather report on the wire.
It's not good.
Well, we'll make it.
The team won't quit on Togo.
I know how you feel about that dog of yours,
but like a lot of us around here,
he's getting a little long in the tooth.
Maybe you could use another lead dog?
These temperatures, they'll freeze your lungs,
you-you know that?
George, I'm not going out there without him.
What is Togo?
Eleven? Twelve years old?
Yeah, he's twelve. And he's the best lead dog I got.
He's going with me.
What's this all about George?
We need that serum, don't we?
Yes, we do.
I can do it.
Oh, I know you can. But if anything bad happens out there,
you find a hole and you get down in it.
I will.
You just make sure each of those mushers
are at those checkpoints with fresh dogs.
I could do that.
Thanks for looking after Sigrid.
We'll be praying for you.
Thanks, George.
[¶¶¶]
It's dropping below 40.
Maybe you should wait until the morning to leave?
Oh, no thank you. No.
You know the rule of the forties?
No, I-I can't say that I do.
You never run a dog if it's 40 above or 40 below.
You run a dog when it's 40 above,
can overheat.
I saw one drop dead once.
You run a dog if it's 40 below, could burn its lungs out.
Not a pretty picture.
The air freezes and every breath you take
is like shoving a knife in your lungs.
Your legs go numb, your arms go numb.
You start to see things.
And if those dogs give out, they'll find you and them dead.
Oh, my.
But [clears throat]... but Mr. Shan,
that's...
that's why I think you should wait until tomorrow to leave.
Wait at least until the storm passes.
Then you can see the trail.
Besides, it's... orders from the governor.
The hell with the governor.
As soon as that medicine gets here, I'm leaving.
[train whistles]
[train running]
[train whistles]
MAN: Mr. Wetzler? - Yeah, yeah. Here.
Here you go.
It's the antiserum.
Hey.
[dogs barking]
Ready, Blackie?
All right, boy, let's go.
We better get this thing put together.
[dogs barking]
Hai!
[¶¶¶]
Yeah, it's going to be our toughest race yet, boy.
I know, I know you're ready to go.
I'm not going out there without you.
No man.
[¶¶¶]
Let's load up.
I'm not going to let anything happen to you.
[dogs whimpering and barking]
Let's go.
Come on, boy!
Hai!
[¶¶¶]
You asked me to prepare a plane for you
and to find a pilot,
and instead you were choosing to transport the serum with dogs.
I hope you know what you're doing.
You're willing to-to trust the lives of these poor souls
to a Stone Age solution.
Sled dogs, Governor, this is why Alaska is a laughingstock.
Well, I'm doing what I think
is best for the people in Nome.
It's the safest way, William.
And you may not agree with me at the... at the moment,
but getting that serum safely there is the key.
Now you couldn't even get your damn plane off the runway.
My engineer has found the problem
and we are working right now on a solution.
I just need another day.
We don't have time. They need the serum.
And they will have it. My plane will get it there.
Well, the mushers assure me
that they can cover the mail route in six days.
THOMPSON: The mail route, that's nearly 700 miles,
and you have an Arctic storm bearing down from the north.
The dogs will never make it.
GOVERNOR BONE: Yeah, well, I made my decision.
Then the fate of Nome lies in the hands of dogs, Governor.
I hope you're right.
GOVERNOR BONE: I hope so too.
Good bye, William.
SEPP: Hai! Let's go Togo.
[heavy winds blowing]
Whoa, whoa.
Come on, Skye. Hold that line. Let's go.
Good boy, good boy. Hai!
Hai!
I tell you, this cold is setting in my heart and in my bones.
You've been north of the Norton Sound,
50, 60 below, ain't you?
Aren't you a believer?
You think them dogs are going to make
700 miles in 80 below?
Don't you got money in an airplane somewhere?
Trying to put us all out of work?
You know what you don't need in Hell?
A devil's advocate.
MAN: Oh, my God.
[heavy winds blowing]
[Wild Bill breathes heavily]
DAN GREEN: Get the dogs. Get the dogs!
[Wild Bill breathes heavily]
Goddamn.
It's Hell out there.
[¶¶¶]
HARRY DAVENPORT [over radio]: Hold on a moment folks.
This has just been handed to me.
"Musher Wild Bill Shannon has just arrived in Whiskey Creek
"and passed the lifesaving serum off to Dan Green.
Brave souls indeed."
[heavy winds blowing]
Keep going boy, keep going.
Hai! Let's go.
[kids coughing]
Ruth, I promise you
I'm going to take as best care of her as I can, okay?
- Can I see her? - Not yet. Sorry.
[kids coughing]
Her fever's rising. A hundred and five.
Constance, bring me the serum.
The serum? It's expired. Will it even work?
We can try and keep their airways open,
but at some point...
Of course.
Thank you.
[¶¶¶]
What's the message?
"Where's the serum?"
[keys clicking]
[heavy winds blowing]
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Easy, easy.
Let's go. Let's go.
- "We have lost contact." - [typewriter keys clicking]
Get your papers, ladies and gentlemen.
- News out of Nome. NEWSBOY 2: Critical in Nome!
Critical in Nome! Two cents a paper!
[indistinct chatter]
- "We're running out of time." - [typewriter keys clicking]
GOVERNOR BONE: You got to speed them up.
[Governor Bone sighs]
No, the dogs are making progress,
they're just not fast enough.
We could be at Shaktoolik by the time Seppala gets there.
But Sir, that-that's risky.
What if there's no way to inform Seppala
of the change of plan? And in this blizzard,
those mushers could pass right by each other, Sir.
Well, I'm not going to sit here twiddling my thumbs
and getting blamed
- for an epidemic. WETZLER: Okay!
HARRY DAVENPORT [over radio]: This has just been handed to me.
"Musher Dan Green has just arrived in Whiskey Creek
"and passed the lifesaving serum off to Charlie Evans.
"Brave souls indeed.
"Bit by bit, mile by mile, they get closer and closer
"to the midway point of Nulato, Alaska.
"And from that point on, it will be up to Nome native
Leonhard Seppala."
They said your dad's name on the radio.
[Sigrid coughs]
HARRY DAVENPORT [over radio]: "He'll face the most dangerous
"leg of the relay over the unpredictable shifting ice
"of the Norton Sound.
"And then the treacherous passes of the Brooks Mountains.
"The fate of Nome will be in his hands.
But with 400 miles left to go, will he get there in time?"
Stay tuned, folks for more news out of Alaska.
This is Harry Davenport signing off.
[heavy winds blowing]
I'll take her to a bed.
You're okay. You're going to be okay, sweetheart.
Yeah.
You're going to be all right.
We're going to take care of you, sweetheart.
So sorry, Constance.
We're going to take care of you.
[¶¶¶]
DR. WELCH: Has he got the serum yet?
Temperatures dropped to 80 below,
and we don't know where Sepp is.
Lines are in and out.
I'm going to send Gunnar out there to try to find him.
You've seen it down there, George.
It's-It's very bad now.
We don't have much time, so do what you have to do, okay?
I will.
GUNNAR: Balto! Hai!
[dogs barking]
CHARLIE: Ah! I barely made twelve miles.
Get inside!
By the fire!
You need to get warm.
You're going through this?
Just as far as Ungalik.
Maynard wants us to stay there until the storm passes.
[Akina breathes heavily]
CHARLIE: What about Seppala?
Maybe he's in Ungalik already.
Come on!
[Akina heavy breathing]
[¶¶¶]
[Akina gasps]
[Dr. Welch cries]
[Dr. Welch exhales]
[heavy winds blowing]
I'm so sorry.
Anguta has called Akina home.
[Margaret cries]
She's gone.
[Margaret cries]
[Myles grunts]
[heavy winds blowing]
[Myles exhales]
Right there. Be careful. Gen-gentle, gentle.
[Myles breathing heavily]
Yeah.
I tended to the dogs.
[Myles breathing heavily]
Any news from Nome?
Myles, any news from Nome?
Siggy. Siggy's sick.
No. No.
Maynard got a telegraph through.
She's in the hospital with Constance.
Sepp, you can't go out like this.
- Not now. - Pack the crate.
Maynard wants you to stay in Ungalik
until the storm passes.
[sighs] Pack the crate.
Sepp, you're dead tired.
[shouting] I said pack the crate!
[Myles grunts]
Your daddy and Togo, they're going to come back.
And they're going to have some medicine for you.
And I started a new dress for you.
And it's pink and yellow, it's your favorite colors.
You're going to look so pretty.
He's going to be here real soon, okay? [sniffs]
Have to stay with me, sweetheart.
[sobs] You just hang in there, okay?
Do you have a quote for the evening edition?
[sighs] Oh.
"Our last hope rests on the dogs and their heroic mushers."
There's your quote, William.
THOMPSON: Thank you, Governor.
Oh, have a little faith, William.
You ever heard of that concept?
[Thompson laughs]
[puts phone down]
[winds howling]
[dogs barking]
¶ Sleep my child in peace That's heavenly ¶
¶ All through the night ¶
[labored breathing]
¶ Guardian angels God will send thee ¶
¶ All through the night ¶
- [dogs barking] - [heavy winds blowing]
Let's go, Togo!
[Constance singing]
- Go! - [ice cracking]
Faster, boys! Faster!
[ice cracking]
[Constance singing]
- [ice cracking] - [dogs barking]
SEPP: Ha! Ha!
[dogs barking]
[ice breaking]
[¶¶¶]
[Constance singing]
[choral singing]
Are the lines up?
They're in and out.
[winds howling]
[wolf howls]
HARRY DAVENPORT [over radio]: This is Harry Davenport
with another installment of the race against death.
Governor Bone of Alaska says that all hope
now rests on the dogs
and their heroic mushers.
But time is running out in faraway Nome.
And Leonhard Seppala is nowhere to be found.
And now all we can do is pray.
Pray for Leonhard Seppala.
And pray for the good citizens
of Nome.
[heavy wind blowing]
[dogs barking]
[wolf howling in distance]
[Sepp groans]
[dogs yipping]
[winds howling]
Hold, boy!
[dogs barking]
Hold the line, boy!
- [dogs barking] - [ice breaking]
Togo, hold the line.
[dogs barking]
[Sepp groans]
[ice breaking]
[Sepp panting]
Pull!
[winds howling]
[dogs barking]
Pull, boy! Pull!
[ice breaking]
[dogs barking]
Hold the line!
Pull!
[dogs barking]
Togo, hold the line! Pull!
[dogs barking]
Come on, boy! Pull!
[ice breaking]
[dogs barking]
[ice breaking]
[winds howling]
[Sepp groans]
Let's get home.
[dogs barking]
[heavy winds howling]
Let's ride.
[dogs barking]
[¶¶¶]
[heavy winds howling]
[¶¶¶]
[closes pocket watch]
[¶¶¶]
It's okay, Togo.
I got you.
Let's put you in the sled.
[Togo whimpers]
I know you're hurt.
[¶¶¶]
I need to get some air, father.
[heavy winds howling]
Come on.
Let's get out of the snow.
Come on. All right, come on.
[indistinct]
[¶¶¶]
[Sepp breathing heavily]
Come on, boy.
[¶¶¶]
SIGRID: Daddy, Daddy, wake up. Daddy.
[howling winds]
[Sepp shivering]
Come on, boy.
Don't give up now.
You got to lead us home.
Morning, Henrietta.
Morning.
[Maynard groans]
[Maynard sighs]
[Constance sighs]
Everyone is sleeping.
Good. Good.
Everyone except you and me.
Well, I closed my eyes for a while,
but the nightmares came back.
You know when the flu epidemic of '18 broke out,
they died by the hundreds.
We lost half of the Inuit population in this town.
[Dr. Welch sighs]
I mean, I was, I was helpless.
And now it's happening again.
You're doing such a good job. You can't blame yourself.
I delivered most of these children.
I brought them into this world and...
so, in a way...
they're my children too.
I feel the same way.
I love those little hearts out there like my own.
I love Sigrid like she's my own daughter.
[Constance sobs]
All of those children have helped us both
through difficult times.
And now it's our turn to help them.
Don't lose faith.
[¶¶¶]
[echoing barks]
[¶¶¶]
Is Sigrid okay?
Yeah, yeah, she's okay.
[dogs barking]
Balto, let's go!
[dogs barking]
[¶¶¶]
Sigrid,
Sigrid can you hear me?
Sigrid, Alice and five other children
have reached the point of unconsciousness
and the swelling in their throats is getting worse.
You have to keep replacing the compresses
to keep the swelling down.
And don't forget the neck, okay?
[¶¶¶]
Let's go, Balto, let's go!
No, stay with me honey.
[labored breathing]
[¶¶¶]
[dogs barking]
- Gee! Gee! Gee! - [dogs barking]
[¶¶¶]
Ilsa, can you stay with the children?
[¶¶¶]
- Whoa! MAYOR MAYNARD: You made it!
Balto, whoa.
Good job, Gunnar.
The medicine, it's here.
Easy, easy, easy.
Thank you.
Did you see Sepp?
He was behind me.
[dogs barking]
Let's go home, boy.
[Sepp breathing heavily]
[excited chatter]
There he is.
Incredible.
They're all intact. Not a single vial broken.
Doctor, is it going to work?
George, please get these people out of here.
We need quiet. Please, please.
Let's move. Let's move. All of you.
WOMAN: How long do we have to wait?
It's going to be at least a few minutes
for these to thaw out, before injecting.
Ilsa, I want you to go ahead of us
and sterilize their arms.
- And Constance. - Yes.
You prepare the syringes.
Yes, Father.
Let's go to work.
[all laugh]
[¶¶¶]
These seem be the most thawed.
We'll start with the worst cases first going bed to bed.
[¶¶¶]
Thank God.
Is... is Sigrid okay?
[¶¶¶]
SIGRID: Daddy. Daddy, wake up.
Daddy.
It's Sigrid. Wake up.
[¶¶¶]
Wake up.
[¶¶¶]
Daddy.
Can you hear me?
It's Siggy.
Take care of her.
[¶¶¶]
SIGRID: [whispers] Wake up.
[¶¶¶]
[whispers] Can you hear me?
Daddy.
Daddy, wake up.
It's Siggy.
The medicine worked.
I missed you, I love you, Daddy.
[¶¶¶]
You look so beautiful.
SIGRID: Thank you, Daddy.
Constance took care of me.
And Togo took care of you.
You saved a lot of lives, Sepp.
Togo brought you back.
[Sepp grunts]
I love you, Daddy.
I love you too, baby.
[Constance sighs]
I'm glad you're okay.
HARRY DAVENPORT [over radio]: Hello, folks.
This is Harry Davenport,
bringing you what I'm happy to say is the last installment
of the race against death.
Governor, the epidemic's been averted, Sir.
Nome's saved.
[Governor Bone sighs]
You did it Sir.
You have one very tough little girl.
But that doesn't surprise me, given her father.
Thank you.
Maybe I'll see you both at church on Sunday?
Yeah.
Yeah, I reckon we'll be there.
[applause and cheering]
BOY: Yippee! MAN: Whoo!
[indistinct]
[applause and cheering]
Sir, I have Calvin Coolidge on the phone for you.
He's on the line.
- The President? - Hmm-mm.
Oh, my.
Mr. President?
[woman panting]
[Governor Bone laughs]
You know, they say every dog has his day.
Well, for the noble sled dogs of Alaska,
- I'd say today was that day. - [cheering and applause]
Yay, I'm so happy!
Real proud of you, son.
- Thanks, George. - Proud of you.
[cheers continue]
[¶¶¶]
HARRY DAVENPORT: The entire world now breathes
a collective sigh of relief.
I think this editorial from the Daily News-Miner
sums it up best.
We thank those brave men and their valiant dogs
for saving so many lives.
But we owe them a bigger debt of gratitude
for showing us that anything is possible
when you have hope and courage.
The Stone Age.
[chuckles]
[¶¶¶]
HARRY DAVENPORT: This is Harry Davenport,
signing off.
Thanks for bringing my daddy home.
[¶¶¶]
INUIT SHAMAN: There was a higher Spirit
that guided those men and dogs
across the harsh conditions of our land.
Seppala would never see the wolf again.
His love for his dogs never changed.
And the wild spirit
would find good times ahead.
[¶¶¶]
[music fades out]