[wind blowing]
[birds singing]
Doing good.
[blows]
[climbing partner] Yeah.
Keep going. Yeah.
Just on the left.
Left foot where your knee is.
Ugh... Agh... Huh!
[grunts]
Fuck!
Whoo-hoo-hoo!
You okay? Yeah, I'm fine.
Slipped on the hold.
[laughs]
Cogs beat the shit out of me, man.
Almost had it. Yeah. [grunts]
Nice one.
Ah, you made it look easy.
There's not a hundred people in this country
that could have made that move, man.
You're climbing two grades better than last time.
Yeah.
[climbing partner] Did I tell you I got a few sponsors looking at me?
Yeah? Yeah.
To climb out in Chamonix, man.
If I can make enough noise this summer, they should bite.
Nice one, man.
Got a couple of interviews lined up.
Planning on posting some big routes.
Yeah? Like what?
Like what?
Like Matterhorn,
Eiger
and the south face of Mont Blanc.
Ah, the big three.
It's quite an ask. Yep.
Which is why I need my climbing partner.
Ah, I can't, man. Even if I wanted to.
The internship starts on Monday. You know that.
Oh, yeah. Insurance, right?
It's just temporary.
It's gonna be temporary for the next 50 years, man,
if you're not careful.
Come on. Term's over.
This is our last real summer holiday.
Ever.
You can worry about next year next year.
What do you say?
Suit and tie...
or ice ax and crampons?
Twenty-two years on this planet, you still can't tie a tie.
Label's sticking out. Smarten up.
You've got a real opportunity here.
Fit in.
Keep up.
Ah, David.
This is my son, Michael.
All right, son, how you doing?
Give him the tour, would you?
See that?
Six grands' worth of kettle.
Shoes, another bag.
Whistle, three large.
See the Porsche outside? That's mine, innit.
I'm walking round this place with a hundred grand wrapped round me.
You know how I got it? On the fucking phones.
This is you.
Now, pick up the phone and dream big.
Carol, where's that latte?
I'd love to have a minute of your time.
Hello. [dial tone]
How we doing, boy? What we got?
That should have been done about 1:00. Yeah, but it's my first day.
Don't really care, buddy. I know.
Don't really care. Fake it till you make it.
[David] Any other cliché you want, mate. [phone chimes]
Hey, Mikey, Mikey!
Just want you to see what you're missing out here.
Look at that! Yee-hoo-hoo!
Mm?
[talking quietly]
All right.
[door opens]
[climbing partner] High pressure moving in.
One mountain, one week.
You'll be back in front of your computer before you're even missed.
[audience laughing on TV]
[door opens]
[office workers chattering] [phones ringing]
[coworker] I do appreciate you didn't break into your own house.
Yeah, right, mate. Yeah, yeah.
[upbeat rap plays]
[thunder rumbling]
[woman speaking French on radio]
[rap song continues]
[people chattering] [music playing]
Aaah, Mikey! There he is!
A postcard?
Ah, man, what, you traveled back in time to get this?
1984. I knew it would get your attention.
[Michael] A text would have been fine.
You ignore my texts, man.
All right, guys, a couple of quick intros.
Michael, say hi to Natascha. Natascha, say hi to Michael.
Hey. American?
Canadian. Yep.
[speaking French]
But don't get any ideas.
'Cause this is Leo, her boyfriend.
He's a climbing guide.
Alps, Andes, wherever you wanna die, man.
'Sup? Not Canadian.
California. Make a lot more money here than back home in the Sierra.
[Michael laughs] Well, Mr. Moneybags...
And this is Rudi. He's a snowboarder.
He should turn pro any day now, yeah?
Yeah, and then I can kiss my day job goodbye.
[speaking French]
I need money, bro. Gimme your watch, hmm?
[all laughing]
[speaking French]
Ah. Uh-huh.
A review on Tripadvisor
called me "a fucking prick". [laughing]
A review we can all trust.
Ha, fuck you!
It was my proudest moment. So what?
Yeah.
All right, brother, how long have I got you?
Five days. It's the best I could do, man.
Any longer and I'm out of a job.
All right, finish up, girls and boys.
Let's go climbing. 'Bout time.
[Natascha grunts] Let's go!
Wait. What, what, what, now? Yeah.
Man, I've just driven 500 miles. I've hardly slept.
What are you, like, 40?
We need to get you acclimatized, man!
Come on. This is it, Mikey!
Grab your kit, man.
We take the telecabin in 20 minutes, all right?
[Michael] Uh... Ha ha!
You're in Chamonix, baby!
[Rudi] Climbed anything of note out here, Michael?
[Michael] It's my first time in the Alps.
[Rudi] Fledgling, huh? Guess you must like babysitting.
Ah, Michael can handle himself.
He put up a new route on the Orion Face.
Orion Face? Never heard of it.
It's on Ben Nevis.
I did Scotland once. Never again.
Who the hell climbs in weather like that?
Yeah, well, any fool can climb when the sun's out.
We'll see.
[Michael] I can feel the altitude.
[laughs] I mean, come on.
You just ascended a third of Mount Everest in 20 minutes.
Push through, man. Couple of days, you won't even notice it.
[grunts]
Ah, au revoir, motherfuckers!
Yee-hoo! Be safe.
Au revoir. Tres bien.
Hey! Isa.
[speaking French]
Hey, Michael, this is Isabelle. She's one of us.
Not much of a climber, though.
And you're not much of a skier.
Ooh. [kissing noises]
[kissing noise] [JP chuckles]
[speaking French]
First day?
Yeah. [pants] [Isabelle laughs]
I can see that.
[Michael, Isabelle laugh]
He's used to climbing molehills in Scotland.
[scoffs] And Wales.
And Wales. Yeah, he's just finding out
what thin air tastes like, that's all.
[speaking French]
We're gonna see how the Englishman copes at altitude.
[laughs]
All righty. Well, good luck and be safe.
[Leo] You too. [Michael] Thanks.
[speaking French]
Hey, this is slow, Michael. Even for you. Come on.
I haven't acclimatized yet. Gimme a break.
[chuckles]
[JP] Don't get used to these baby rocks, Michael.
You won't find them on the Matterhorn.
[Michael] Shit. Well, I'd better go home then.
[JP] Too late, baby! I got you now.
Whoo-hoo! [echoes]
[Natascha] Hey, honey, JP's climbing faster than you.
If he tries to pass you, push him off.
I'll say it was an accident.
All right, let's go.
Hey, Michael,
look beneath your feet, man!
Yee-hoo-hoo!
[JP] Wait, wait, wait, wait!
[shutter clicks] Yeah!
That's a keeper, my friend.
You don't wanna wait for JP and Michael?
I need a beer. [laughs]
There's no bar up here last I checked.
They'll catch up. Okay.
Well, age before beauty.
Mwah. [laughs]
Come on, Mikey. Last few steps. Almost there.
Heh heh, yeah!
[sighs]
Yeah.
Whoo-hoo! [chuckles]
Welcome to the asylum above 4,000 meters! [echoes]
You nutter, huh?
Worth bleeding for?
[JP] That's the altitude, man. [Michael laughs]
Worth bleeding for.
Yeah. [grunts]
[Michael] This is only the beginning, mate.
Come on. We're gonna miss the last lift.
Ah, we'll make it!
Yeah, you might.
He looks fried.
[Michael] Well, I made it to the top, didn't I?
Yeah, and it beat the crap out of you in the process.
The Dent's a training climb.
There's no skills required, just big fat ropes.
Did you shit yourself while you were up there, Michael? You need a fresh diaper?
No, I already went. I'll save you one for the Matterhorn.
I love a good dick-measuring contest. I'll just get mine out.
Ugh, please don't. [JP laughs]
And you can put yours back in your pants for now, Leo, okay?
[Leo] Okay, okay.
Hey, don't worry about him.
The locals take a while to warm up. That's all.
He's about as local as I am.
Well, he's not French.
But this is Chamonix.
The only way to be one is to put in the time.
He's earned it.
Oh, right. Thank you, Laura.
[chattering]
[speaking French]
Mmm.
[laughs]
[both laughing]
Ah, man.
Who was that?
Mm. A client.
Like, just because I laugh at one of his jokes,
he thinks it's a come on.
I would. I know you would,
you little pig.
[laughs] Oh, ho ho! Okay.
Salut, Michael. Salut.
[speaking French]
Merci.
Santé. Santé. Santé.
So, what are we doing tomorrow?
I'm working tomorrow.
Leo's guiding. Uh... Oh.
What about you, Isa?
What?
I'm doing nothing. Why? [laughs]
Why don't you take Michael skiing, hmm?
He should get into the glacier every chance he gets.
I need him acclimatized for the Matterhorn.
Do you ski well? Well, you're not gonna have to babysit me or anything.
I won't. Keep up.
Ooh... [laughs] [Isabelle laughs]
Okay.
Okay, yes.
[motor whirring]
[Isabelle singing]
[sighs]
Hello.
Mm. Is that a Super 8?
Yeah.
Late '70s model.
[Isabelle] I just love the images.
Soft and imperfect.
There is no romance with digital.
You want to have a try? Sure.
You just have to squeeze the trigger there
and you're rolling. Okay.
[motor whirring] Hello!
Me? Yes, you.
I'm camera shy.
I don't know what to do.
[Michael] Oh, are you now?
I am.
Mm. [laughs]
So, what's the deal with you and Jean Pierre?
Are you like, uh...
Like? You know, dating or...
[laughs]
Well, we're good friends.
He's like a brother to me now, you know.
What do you mean now? [laughs]
You have so many questions!
I-- Uh--
Well, yeah, we've been dating.
Like two or three years ago.
And, actually, he was my first love.
Right.
Why?
Are you jealous, Michael?
Course not.
Liar.
[speaks French]
[radio chatter in French] [speaking French]
Jesus.
Poor bastards. [Isabelle] Come August,
they'll be dying almost every day out here.
[grunting]
Nice one.
[sighs] Yeah, man.
[exhales] The face is pretty loose.
Yeah. It will settle.
Plenty of good ice further up the route.
[Michael whistles] He's fast!
Definitely better than us.
Yeah, he's in a different league.
[speaking French]
Whoo-hoo-hoo!
Man, that's Damien Roux. The guy's a movie star here.
Yeah, he's pretty insane.
Oh, man, look at that!
That's climbing. All right.
I'll take the next pitch.
You sure? Yeah!
All right. But don't hang about.
I wanna be on the summit long before sunset, okay?
[blows]
[laughs]
[blows]
Agh!
[JP] Yeah, we made it, man!
[JP laughs] Yep.
[sighs]
Whoo! Well done.
[exhales]
Whoo-hoo!
Yes!
[sighs]
[breathing heavily]
Lucy would love this.
Your sister could have led that
with one hand tied behind her back, man.
Yeah.
This should have been her mountain.
Why do you think I sent the postcard, eh?
[laughs]
Oh, okay.
I'm gutted she never made it out here.
But you did.
That counts for something.
Yeah.
Yep.
You want a picture?
No.
This is enough.
Hell yeah.
[JP] Leo reckons the weather's breaking for the Eiger.
There's gonna be a window in the next couple of days, man.
[Michael] Don't start. You just climbed
the north face of the Matterhorn.
You can do this. [handbrake clicks]
I'm so tempted.
Stay one more day at least.
You know, we're heading to the Valley Noir in Italy tomorrow.
Yeah. It's kind of a tradition we have
to mark the summer solstice.
I know. You've said.
And it's the last chance to ski the glacier.
I've skied the glacier.
Not like this, my friend. Not like this.
Look, I'd love to, but I've gotta go.
I can't miss that ferry.
Yeah.
She likes you I think.
Who? You know who.
We went skiing, Jean Pierre, that's all.
Chamonix gossips, my friend. We went skiing!
Chamonix gossips! [laughs] We went skiing!
[PA announcement]
[Leo ] Ooh, it's baking down here now.
Yeah. Must be 80/85.
Gotta stop talking in Fahrenheit. No one understands!
Yes, please, sir. [laughing]
And feet.
Why do you use feet, bro?
Yep. I don't get it.
Meters and Celsius, honey.
Okay, it's fucking hot, man. [JP] Better.
But it's still cool up high.
That's what matters. Oui.
Yo!
[JP] Hey, Mikey! There he is!
[Michael] You good? [Rudi] Ca va?
Aha!
What about your job?
Ah, I'll get fired.
What about your father?
Well, he told me to follow my dreams.
Whoa, he actually said that?
No, he called me a cunt and hung up.
Ah. [laughs]. Well, life's not over yet my friend.
You're surfing. Hm?
Yo!
You coming up?
Ah, no, I didn't bring any skis.
I just came to say hi.
No way, man.
You can't miss this ride. [laughing]
You brought a spare pair? [laughs]
Thanks, man. You haven't seen what we're skiing yet.
Exactly! [laughing]
I'm ready. Whoo! On y va.
A ce soir.
Whoo-hoo!
Michael!
Ca va? [laughs]
Whoo!
Whoo-hoo!
[Isabelle] Allez! [laughs]
Whoo-hoo!
[Isabelle] Come on, Michael!
Oh, shit!
Shit!
Oh, shit!
[breathing heavily]
Oh, fuck.
[Leo] Michael!
You made a left through the ice tunnel?
Isabelle told me. That's fucking nuts, man!
Yeah, it was a wrong turn. No, no, no.
It's only a wrong turn if you don't make it out, right?
Did you hear about this?
He was skiing like he was Roger Moore or some shit.
[laughs] Heard he went full-on View to a Kill up there.
Almost like he's one of our own. Aw, Leo.
Anybody who climbs the north face of the Matterhorn in one day
gets my vote. [laughs]
Well, it was pretty messy, okay?
It can be messy.
It's a big fucking tick, man.
And that's all you're getting.
I'll take it. [laughs]
I bet that was hard for him.
Well, he sees a lot of fresh faces come up to Chamonix, Michael.
All gear and no idea.
You can't just expect him
to welcome you in with open arms.
Yeah. Gotta earn that.
[whispers] I think you just did.
Really? Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Oh, we all love you, Michael.
But I don't think I'm the girl you should be talking to right now.
Go get 'em, tiger.
Hello.
You look, uh, you look good tonight.
Only tonight?
N-- Not just tonight.
I'm sorry, I've, uh, I've had a few beers. [laughs]
Wow, you really know how to make a girl feel special.
No, come on. That's not what I meant.
You know what I meant. So what did you mean?
Well, I said it before, that you look--
you look beautiful.
You got anything else than I'm beautiful?
[laughs]
It's a bit lousy. Okay.
Okay, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Uh... Mm...
It was really special skiing with you today.
And what was so special about skiing with me?
The chase.
And what do you plan to do if you got me?
Hmm?
[rain pattering]
[thunder rumbling]
So, why did you come back?
Well, 'cause I wanted to climb and help JP realize his dream.
Mm. That's the only reason you stayed?
Well, it's not the only reason.
So?
Are you really gonna make me say it?
Yeah. [laughs]
Because I wanted to see you.
And I thought that maybe...
[birds singing]
[kisses]
Mm...
Good morning.
Did you sleep well?
Mmm...
[groans] I'm going for a swim.
Isn't it a bit cold?
No.
Ooh la la!
It's good!
Yeah?
[both laughing]
[Isabelle laughs]
Hey... Hey!
[laughs] So we're holding hands now?
Ah. You can let go anytime.
[kisses]
[church bell peals]
Then put it through the till like any other bar beer.
That's pretty much it. Got it.
It's a boring job but pays enough to get up to the glacier.
That's all that really matters, right?
[chuckles] Yep.
[Michael chattering]
[JP] There he is! With a whole new career.
How did it go, lover boy?
[laughs] All right, you don't have to say a word.
How's working with Béa?
Yeah, she's cool. Yeah, she's cool, man.
She's playing the same game as the rest of us.
Just waiting to become the next big thing.
How good is she?
Man, she was hot for a little while.
Then her sponsor got a crush on someone new.
Someone crazier.
She's gotta up her game though. Bust some big-ass routes.
Just like you, right?
Ah, Mikey, Mikey.
You know, if you stay in your comfort zone,
you'll stay here behind this shitty bar for the rest of your life.
Come on. You know, this life-and-death business
is very fickle.
It's Damien Roux. Hey, turn this up, would you?
[patrons cheering]
Yeah, Damien!
[speaking French]
[male patron] Yeah, my man!
[JP] Yes.
[cheering, applauding]
[dance music playing]
[music continues]
Harder ground's not stopping him.
He'll need to slow down on the crux pitch.
There's no shortcuts.
[wind whistling]
[grunts]
Holy crap!
This guy is nuts.
Wait, lemme see.
Wait. Lemme see!
[grunts]
[cheering]
Damien, you legend!
[screaming]
[speaking French]
[dance music blaring]
Turn the music off!
Turn the music off now!
Turn the goddamn fucking music off!
Don't make me come up there, asshole!
[music stops]
[reporter speaking French on TV]
[English reporter] Hero amongst the climbing fraternity,
veteran of the Alps,
Damien Roux has been killed
attempting a new speed record
on the route Divine Providence on Mont Blanc.
He is the latest victim in a string of accidents
to take place in the Alps this summer.
One moment he was just picking it to shreds,
unlocking all these moves and then...
I feel sick.
I feel a lot of things.
Surprise ain't one of them.
Dance music, a fucking DJ?
It wasn't climbing, it was a freak show
set up by his sponsors demanding bigger, bolder, scarier routes.
That's what we all came to see, Leo.
They pushed him too hard, man.
You saw those slick moves and the flashy touches.
That's showboating. No.
Damien is a legend. One of a kind.
Yeah, you keep telling a man that, he'll start to believe you.
Vanity is a deadly thing to bring into these mountains.
[knocking]
Come in!
Hello, hello! [Natascha] Hey!
Cold snap's kicked out a good dusting of snow on the Bernese Oberland.
Folks round Interlaken reckon the Eiger's gonna play ball.
Yeah? She's in condition?
About as good as you're gonna get right now.
If you want it perfect, wait till November.
Let's do this!
Michael?
We took 16 hours on the Matterhorn.
We could have done it in ten. The Eiger's twice the size.
You heard what he just said. We might not get another chance.
That's a risk that could end in disappointment, not-- not death, JP.
[sighs]
This is not about the Eiger.
It's about Damien Roux.
You know why he's dead, Michael?
'Cause free solo climbers
don't live to a ripe old age.
That's just a cold, hard fact of life.
No ropes, no partner.
Just a matter of time.
Me? I'd like to get back to some good, old-fashioned mountaineering.
Put yesterday behind us. Thank you.
[Leo] Yo.
That's what separates him and us.
And I'll be at the end of that rope,
babysitting you as always.
And just remember, Michael,
yes or no is the right answer.
I won't climb with you on a maybe.
You make your decision, we'll back you either way.
[birds singing]
Hey, Michael.
Hello. Hey.
It's not so bad here.
No, best hotel in Chamonix.
[laughs] And how is your room service?
You're looking at it.
Mm, cup of tea?
[laughs] No, no, no, I don't drink tea.
I'm not one of your English girls, Michael.
[laughs] Okay.
[speaks French]
Mm. In the backpack.
[laughs] The real gourmet stuff.
But I see something interesting.
Mm-hmm-hmm. Let's have a look.
[Michael chuckles]
[laughing] Oh, putain.
That's a strong look.
[laughs] I was young.
Oh, who's this?
She's very pretty.
Should I be jealous?
That's Lucy, my sister.
Mmm.
You do look a bit alike.
Same big, bright eyes.
Did I say something wrong?
[chuckles]
Uh, nothing.
She's not with us anymore.
Okay. I'm so sorry.
If you want, we can talk about something else.
It's okay.
Uh, I don't mind.
Are you sure?
Usually, uh, I can't stand talking about her.
I can barely even think about her without...
But out here, it's strange.
It's like she's with us.
I know it sounds silly. No, it's not.
So, she was a climber too? Yeah.
A good one.
When my mum died,
my dad...
kinda went off the deep end.
He was pretty horrible to be around.
Still is.
Her solution was to take us climbing.
So, she got you hooked.
She did.
When you climb,
it's like...
nothing else exits.
You know, there's no room for bullshit, grief, pain.
Only the present.
The next move.
And what happened to her?
We were on a climb in Scotland, and the weather turned.
Total whiteout.
It-- It was-- It was scary.
When we got back to the car park,
we were so buzzed that we'd made it back that we had a couple of beers.
Just a couple.
Take the edge off, you know.
She was in such a rush to get home.
She wanted to drive.
I just had this... feeling.
Like something bad was gonna happen.
And I did nothing.
[rumbling]
Michael, get down!
Ah, fuck!
[rumbling]
Fuck.
[rumbling continues]
Michael! You all right?
Yeah. [panting]
[ice cracking loudly]
Hey, hey, get in!
[grunting]
[grunts]
Whoa. [exhales]
The face is falling to fucking bits.
The sun is warming up the face, melting the ice.
All that compacted rock's come loose.
We need to stop climbing now. Bivvy at the Swallow's Nest.
[Michael] See how it is tomorrow.
[wind howling]
[Natascha] Oh, my God. All right now, you got this.
Just get to me.
All right, honey, I'm right here.
[Natascha grunts]
Okay. Quick as you can.
[rumbling]
[shouts] [Leo] Hey!
Hey, honey... [grunts]
All right, get to me.
[Natascha grunting]
[Leo grunts] I got you! Right, recover!
[Natascha grunts, gasps]
[groans]
Gimme some slack! [grunts]
Come on. Okay.
All right.
[whimpers]
Oh, my God! That was close.
I'm sorry for freaking out.
No, no, it's crazy. It's still coming.
[wind whistling]
[Leo on radio] JP, Michael, come in.
[radio bleeps] Yep, Leo.
How are you two doing? We're at Death Bivvy,
about to turn in for the night. You?
We're at Swallow's Nest.
Could've gotten further, but there's a lot of rockfall,
and we don't need to push it right now.
Yeah, it gets worse higher up.
It's too warm, there's not enough ice.
It's choppy as fuck.
Yeah, but should be fine if we get moving early enough.
It's your call, Leo. What are you thinking?
I mean, Natascha and I are above all the problems now.
We should be able to summit pretty easily tomorrow.
You guys still got all that bad shit in front of ya.
Do you suggest a retreat? Over.
Come on, man, he isn't saying that. What the fuck?
If you wanna go for the summit, you gotta keep your foot down.
Hit the face before the sun comes up.
Exactly what we're planning to do, Leo.
What are you doing? It's a fucking blitzkrieg on the ice fields.
Get them off the damn thing.
Hey, guys, you're still close enough to Railway Tunnel.
You might wanna consider a retreat
while you're still in a position to do so.
Fine, yes, we will.
Stay safe.
[Leo] Always. We'll meet you in Kleine Scheidegg tomorrow night
for a beer no matter what you decide.
Sure thing, sure thing. Out.
[radio bleeps]
It's gotta be their choice.
Do you think they'll turn back?
Did we?
A lot colder than yesterday. [Michael] Yeah.
Face looks pretty good. Yeah.
[clears throat] So, up or down?
[exhales]
I don't know, man.
Ah...
Couple hours and we could be having breakfast
with the best view in Switzerland.
Eggs, bacon, coffee.
Come on, man. I didn't come this far to eat eggs and fucking bacon!
Now, come on, at least let's try a couple more pitches.
See how it plays out. [exhales]
[JP] So...
up or down?
More like it.
[wind whistling]
[grunts, pants]
It looks loose.
Not so bad.
Small steps.
All right. Come on. Come across, man.
[rumbling]
Michael! Watch out!
[shouts] [grunts]
[Michael] Oh, fuck!
Michael! Get over here!
Hurry the fuck up, man!
Hurry up!
Michael! Come on, man!
[JP] Come on, come on, come on!
Forget the fucking ice screw and get over here! Hurry!
Michael! Get down!
[gasps]
[rumbling]
[grunting]
[straining]
[grunting]
[whimpers] Michael!
[shouting]
[shouts]
[shouts, grunts]
[grunts, groans]
No!
[panting]
Michael!
[grunts]
Michael.
[grunts] Michael!
Can you reach the face?
[straining]
[grunting] I can't get it, man!
[straining] Ah, fuck.
Try your ice axes!
[straining]
[panting]
[straining]
I can't reach!
Ah, fuck!
Putain! Merde!
All right! Hold on!
[JP] I'll rig a hoist!
Vite, vite, vite, vite, vite.
Allez, vite, vite, vite.
[straining]
[straining continues]
[straining]
I can't get it!
[straining]
[grunting]
[straining]
[panting]
[Michael panting]
[grunting]
[exhales]
I got you, brother!
[breathes heavily]
[straining]
[panting]
[both straining]
Fuck.
I'm calling mountain rescue.
[propellers whirring]
[radio chatter]
[radio chatter continues]
I'm all right. I'm not too bad.
I'm okay.
Yeah, I'm okay, I'm okay.
[radio chatter continues]
[JP] Natascha, Leo, lost to the Eiger.
We're all grieving.
The respect you commanded was indisputable.
As was the love. [cheering]
We can all go crazy trying to figure out what happened up there.
Was it a slip?
Was it a rockfall?
Did their gear fail?
The truth is, we'll never know.
But what we know
is that you guys were together at the end.
Whoo! We love you!
And we're fucking thankful for that.
[cheering] [JP] Yeah. Yeah!
And now, we raise our glasses,
Yeah! and we drink the biggest fucking toast we can!
To you guys! [cheering]
Leo!
Natascha!
We fucking love you!
Can you reach the top? Can you reach the top?
[crowd cheering, shouting]
[JP] We fucking love you!
[JP] We love you, guys!
[crying]
I just don't understand.
They're all laughing and drinking as if nothing happened.
It just doesn't feel right.
[JP whistles, grunts]
[zipper opening] Wakey, wakey!
Ah!
You ready?
For what?
Climbing. Come on.
Are you serious?
Two of your best friends have just been put in the ground.
This is how we honor them.
Come on. Grab your harness, get your gear.
Five minutes.
[sighs]
[Michael grunting]
[grunting]
[grunts, exhales]
Hey, what's going on?
Low-Lower me down, man.
Why? Lower me down!
[JP] What the fuck happened up there?
Look, I'm not in the mood for honoring anyone today.
[JP] Hey, what's the matter?
[Michael] What's the matter?
This place is insane.
People are dropping like flies.
Yeah, well, next summer, it will be the same, man.
Leo and Natascha may have died, but they died doing what they loved,
doing what they lived for. Doing what they loved?
Are you serious?
They died screaming, Jean Pierre.
Don't you get it?
That's why we come back out here.
When we climb, they're right here with us.
They're alive again. Don't you feel it?
Come on, you-- you can't quit now.
Not when we're this close.
The Eiger said no.
Fine, we have to respect that.
So we move on to the White Mountain.
I'm afraid.
I know you're afraid.
I'm afraid too.
But everything we ever wanted is on the other side of fear.
I'm doing this with or without you, Michael.
So make a decision.
I'm not sharing my headstone with some mountain, JP.
I can't do it.
Ca va? [barman] Comment allez-vous?
[speaking French]
[barman speaks French] Mm-hmm.
Jean Pierre told me that you're out now.
Yeah, it's over. Done.
I was thinking that maybe... we could take your car.
Just get away from here.
Be our chance to be alone and be ourselves.
Merci.
[sighs] Nine days,
that's all we have left, and I have to leave, you know.
I hate that.
We get together,
then life gets in the way.
It doesn't have to. Yeah, but it always does.
Doesn't it?
[scoffs] Come Christmas,
we would have gone our separate ways
and you won't even know what the fuck I look like.
[sighs]
This self-pitying drunk act,
it's boring.
Yeah. Yeah, it doesn't suit you.
That's not who you are.
That's not who I am? Mm-mmm.
I've known you for seven fucking days.
You don't-- You don't know who I am.
I don't even know who I fucking am, okay?
Enjoy.
See ya later.
[dance music playing]
[loud chattering, laughing]
Hey! Hey!
[cheering, whistling]
[TV presenter] One of the stars of the future, Jean Pierre Bourdain.
I hear you've got something pretty special lined up for later in the summer.
Ooh, yeah. Well, I've seen a new line on the Central Pillar of Frêney.
Reckon we'll give it a push, you know.
Just gotta worry what I'm gonna name it, that's all.
[crowd cheers]
Shh! Shh!
[shouting in French, shushing]
[TV presenter] Damien Roux was tragically killed
attempting a new record on Divine Providence.
How has his death affected the climbing community?
We're all bleeding, you know.
Damien was the best. Hands down.
You know, the way he was climbing,
the way he was living his life,
he's just one of my biggest inspirations, really.
Do you reckon you might be looking to set some speed records of your own
in the next couple of years? Ah, come on. Yeah, of course.
Well, if I can attract some sponsors, stay in mountain, keep on training every day...
You know, anything's possible, right? Watch this space.
Absolutely, man, come on. [crowd cheers]
[Rudi] Wait, wait, wait, wait! [speaking French]
[cheering continues]
Say hello to my new climbing partners!
[TV presenter] Well, mate, look, best of luck for the future,
and I'll see you guys very soon.
We're gonna climb that [bleep], baby.
Open your eyes, we are the [bleep] stars today.
[cheering] [shouting]
Whoo!
[distorted shouting]
[cheering echoes]
[rain pattering]
[tapping on window]
I just wanted to say that I...
What?
I probably deserved that.
And I can hit a lot harder. You got off lightly.
Did I? Mm-hmm.
Because I like you.
You like me?
[scoffs] Not right now.
You're insensitive, you're a drunk. Dumb connard.
That's all you are.
Canard? Yeah, connard.
I'm a-- I mean--
I'm a duck?
No. Asshole.
Yeah.
I already knew that.
Okay.
[door closes] [thunder rumbling]
[rainfall continues]
Get in.
[laughs] Oh, you smell so bad!
I can't... Oh, putain! Oh, no.
[laughs] Mmm!
You smell like a vat of wine. [laughs] It's disgusting. Yeah?
Yeah. Yeah.
Go brush your teeth. Oh!
[laughs] Go brush your teeth.
Please, go. Okay.
[sighs]
[door closes]
[bell chiming]
You thought a bit more about what we were saying?
You know, you and me getting off a few days.
I did, yeah.
And?
[sighs]
I need to go and see JP.
About what?
Mont Blanc. [scoffs]
But you said you were finished.
I'm his climbing partner, Isabelle. What do you want?
Well, from what I heard, you've been replaced.
With Béa and Rudi? Mmm.
They're not good enough.
He's not thinking straight.
[sighs]
I don't know, just...
[exhales] Maybe you could...
just talk him out of it, you know?
For me?
He won't listen.
You know that.
He's climbing that white mountain no matter what.
[Michael sighs] That's his choice.
[Michael groans] You know he's obsessional and unbending.
I can't believe I'm so stupid.
Once again...
none of us stood a chance against this place.
[wry laugh]
I owe him.
For what?
He was there for me when I needed him most.
Okay? He-- He--
he took me climbing, he kept me busy,
he kept me sane.
And now he's going to get you killed.
Lucy died because I did nothing.
I'm not gonna let that happen to my best friend, too. No.
[upbeat rap music plays]
[JP] Let's push.
Come on.
Yep, come on. I don't have all day, man. Come on.
[Rudi speaking French]
He's not so bad.
Yeah, well, it's only a 6c man.
Should be running up that thing! Hey, Rudi, you're shit.
[speaks French]
Come on, right foot.
I want back in.
Now you change your mind.
Yeah, only because I know you won't.
JP said you froze up climbing Maladiere.
Yeah, well, I wasn't feeling it.
You want us to put our lives on the line for how you feel?
No.
Just him.
You wanna tie in? Hmm?
Not bad. Not bad.
He's fast.
Hardly the south face of Mont Blanc, is it?
He's really fucking fast.
[whistles]
You may come in useful after all.
Let's go and knock this bastard off.
[breathes heavily]
Looking good! Moving fast! Hey. Yeah.
Feeling good, man.
Oh.
Oh!
What the fuck? [Rudi] Oh!
Guys! We've got a pair of jokers above us.
What the fuck are these idiots playing at?
They've been kicking rocks down on us the whole fucking time, huh?
[JP] You shouldn't be here, assholes!
[Rudi speaking French]
[Rudi] Merci, putain!
[partner speaking Italian]
[grunting]
[exhales, sighs]
[breathes heavily]
[speaking Italian]
[muttering]
Ahi. Ahi.
Okay. Uno.
[grunts]
Tre! Ah!
[gasps] [partner] Tino!
[grunts]
[yells] [gasps]
Attenzione!
[Rudi shouts]
[screams]
[JP] Look out!
[Béa screaming]
Béa! [screaming]
[JP] Béa!
[screaming]
[Béa, Tino screaming]
[liquid pouring]
[wind whistling]
[Isabelle gasps]
[thunder rumbling]
[broadcaster speaking French]
[Béa screaming]
[JP] Béa! Stay calm, Béa, okay?
Stay calm!
[Béa screaming]
Béa! Béa!
[speaking French]
[JP] Gimme some slack! Yeah!
[Rudi] JP! Yeah, I'm here! I'm here, I'm here.
I'm with you, I'm with you. [crying]
Give me rope.
[crying]
[JP speaking French]
Okay, coming! Coming!
It's okay, it's okay. I'm with you.
[Rudi] I'm coming! [Béa gasps]
[speaking French]
[Béa breathes heavily]
I'm coming. I'm coming, baby.
[JP] Breathe in, breathe out.
[Rudi speaks French]
Show me. Wha--
[groaning, whimpering]
Look at me. Look at me. Okay.
Don't look. Don't look.
Don't look, okay? Can you move it?
I got you. Béa, I got you. [thunder rumbles]
[crying, gasping]
Here, take these. Béa, take these. Ibuprofen?
It's not much, but it should take the edge off, okay?
[in French]
Okay, hey. Easy, easy.
We're gonna call the rescue and we're gonna have dinner tonight.
Okay? Easy. Don't worry.
[thunder rumbles]
[Béa screams, whimpers]
[Rudi speaking French]
[Rudi]
The storm has changed course. Yeah?
It's gonna be here within the hour.
Coming in from the west. Shit.
Means we won't see it till it hits.
Did you call Mountain Rescue?
They're sending a party on foot
but they have to come up from Courmayeur. Fuck.
They won't get here until tomorrow.
Well, then we retreat.
We dig in at the Eccles shelter and we wait.
No, we cannot turn back, man.
That's exactly what we're gonna do, Jean Pierre.
Climb's over. Michael,
right below us is the Frêney Glacier,
worst avalanche black spot on the whole massif.
[Michael] Yeah. [JP] Half an hour of snow is all it needs.
No, we bivvy on the face.
Wait for the storm to pass.
That's it.
[French radio chatter]
[Isabelle]
[thunder rumbles]
[speaking French]
[Béa breathing heavily]
[phone chimes]
[wind howling]
Shit!
What is it?
The rescue team are holed up at the Messina heart.
They can't continue.
They're gonna wait out the storm.
Should pass in a few hours.
[booming]
It's another avalanche. A big one.
Okay, there is no way down now.
[Isabelle]
[Claude]
[radio chatter]
[rescuer]
Isabelle.
[radio chatter continues]
[wind howling]
One, two, three.
[thunderclap]
One kilometer away!
I can't-- I can't feel my fingers.
[Rudi] Give me your hand. I got you.
[thunder rumbles]
[speaking French]
Okay.
[thunderclap] [all shouting]
Merde! Putain!
That's it. That's all our fucking water!
All of it! All of it gone!
Shut the fuck up.
Shut the fuck up! Shut the fuck up!
Both of you! It's gone, okay?
We're sitting on a giant lightning conductor,
we need to get the hell out of here. Now!
A rescue team will come.
In this?
They're playing cards in a cozy little hut
3,000 feet south of here, and you're stalling.
If we don't make a decision now, we die.
The only way down is up.
Look, we climb to the top of the Pillar.
We follow the ridge to the summit
and then we get to the Vallot Hut and we dig in.
Okay? Come on.
Two hundred meters in this storm?
It's fucking suicide, man! Béa has hypothermia!
We don't have enough time. You cannot climb!
Not in this! No, you can't!
You can't climb it! Fuck you! For fuck's sake!
Listen. Three years ago, Cairngorms,
we got caught in all fucking hell and I led us out.
Yeah. Yeah, he's right. He's right.
He led us out.
You have to trust me.
Rudi, I can do this.
[thunderclap]
[grunts]
[shouts]
[speaking Italian] Huh?
Rescue party? Are you the rescue party?
There is no rescue party! It's just us.
What happened?
Took a fall.
Broke his leg. Frost bite.
What about you?
One of us has a broken arm.
You dropped a rock the size of a house on us.
[Tino] The rock.
It broke like a rotten branch.
Can you help us?
You have a tough rope.
Michael's gonna pull you, but you have to climb!
All right, take it!
[Rudi] Go Béa! Go!
[JP] You can do it Béa! Go!
[groans]
Are you in? Yeah.
Fucking novices.
We cannot take these two with us. They're dead weight.
We have to try. No, we don't.
They're responsible for themselves.
They need our help, Jean Pierre!
They're gonna get us all killed!
I'm climbing to the next stance.
Tino, you're next!
Okay, I'm gonna pull you up on the rope.
Use your arms, your good leg, whatever will help me!
I'm gonna get you up this, all right? Pitch by pitch.
[thunder rumbles]
Come on. Get up!
Okay, safe!
Come on, Tino!
Take care. Take care!
Keep going! Come on!
Come on, try!
I'm sorry. Harder!
[groans]
Michael! It's not gonna work!
Fuck!
Tino, you have to do this.
There's no other way.
[thunderclap]
Give us a fucking chance! Piece of shit!
I couldn't limp across the street, my friend.
How do you propose I can traverse Monte Bianco?
My only chance is to wait here for the rescue party.
[coughs]
Get out of here while you still can. Please.
I stay with him. Angelo, please.
[Angelo] Shut up. Please! You don't need to.
You've said your piece. I'm staying.
You and me, we get lifted off this rock come the morning.
Right, boys?
[Béa] I got you!
[groaning]
[thunder rumbles]
We did it, Michael. How's your arm?
It's frozen below the elbow.
[Rudi] No! Béa! Béa
Béa! Béa!
Michael!
[Rudi] Fuck, putain! No!
Okay, JP! Clip on!
Go, JP!
Safe?
Okay!
[Rudi] Allez, go!
All right, clip in, clip in.
Okay. C'est bon. C'est bon. You're on.
Fucking hell.
[wind howling]
[JP] Come on, guys. Keep pushing!
[grunts]
[thunderclaps]
Hey, this is the summit, I think.
[Michael] You sure?
Well, we can't go no higher, Michael.
Guys, we need to dig a shelter right now!
The Vallot Hut is over there! A few hundred meters away!
Come on, we've gotta keep going.
Come on.
Okay, your call. Your fucking call! Come on.
[Lucy whispers, distorted] Michael.
Michael, help me.
[eerie, distorted voices]
[distorted murmuring]
[Rudi]
[both shouting in French]
What the hell have you just done?
Fuck you! [muttering in French]
That's his lifeline, you fucking-- Shut up!
He's gonna get us all killed, man!
Are you nuts? He's done what he wants.
[shouts]
[Rudi] Fuck you!
What the fuck have you done? Huh? Huh?
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Mike! Mike!
You wanna die, man!
Not with you.
[ice cracking]
[JP screams]
[breathing heavily]
Jean Pierre?
JP!
That could be hundreds of meters deep, man.
No way he survived this.
We're gonna find out.
[panting]
[Rudi shouting, indistinct]
[Michael] Jean Pierre?
[groans] Michael.
I can't move.
I'm fucked.
Stay there. Stay there.
I'm fucking dead, man.
You're gonna be fine.
Okay?
Rudi's gonna pull you up.
We're gonna get you out.
Okay Rudi! He's on!
Okay. Ready?
Here, ice ax. Take it, take it.
Fuck.
On three. Okay Rudi?
When I say go, pull like hell!
Three, two, one.
[both grunting]
Pull, Rudi!
Come on, JP.
Pull, Rudi!
Good job!
[thunderclap]
[JP groaning, whimpering]
[Michael] Rudi!
[thunder rumbles] I got you, JP! [grunts]
[screaming, grunting]
[both panting]
[Michael] Rudi!
Rudi!
[both groaning]
Rudi?
[wind howling]
[shivering]
Not like this.
Not here.
[soft scraping]
[grunting]
[panting]
[thunder rumbles]
I should have gone for eggs and bacon.
[all chuckle weakly]
Michael, I need you to do something for me.
When you see my parents, I want you to say that...
Don't say that, Jean Pierre.
We'll get you off this mountain.
Tell them I was happy.
Tell them you-- you did everything you could.
No way. All right, we're gonna rest here for a few minutes.
Then we're gonna get our energy back and I'll get you down.
I swear. We're all gonna die here!
If we die, we die together.
'Cause I'm not leaving.
It doesn't... doesn't hurt anymore.
Just rest here for a minute.
Just a couple...
[automated voice in French]
[crying]
[birds chirping]
Lucy?
[Lucy] I'm here.
[thunder rumbling] [wind blowing]
I'm so sorry.
No. Michael, don't be.
[Rudi, faint] Michael?
You have to go. Now.
No. [Rudi] Michael?
I can't go back there.
I don't wanna go back.
I wanna stay here. [Rudi] Michael? Michael!
I've missed you so much.
[Rudi] Michael! Michael!
Michael! Michael!
[thunderclap] Hey. Hey!
You cannot sleep. You sleep, you die.
If we stay here, we die!
All right? Come on.
Jean Pierre. Hey, wake up, man.
I couldn't wake him. Huh?
He's gone. No, shut up.
He's gone. Come on, man!
Come on! Michael.
Wake up! Michael.
Jean Pierre...
Michael!
Jean Pierre, wake up, man.
Michael. Michael! Wake up. What?
Michael! What do you want?
Listen to me!
Jean Pierre? He's gone, man!
He can't be.
Look...
I'm sorry.
[sniffles]
We need to go, man.
I won't leave you here, okay?
Okay.
[thunder rumbles]
[Rudi] Michael! Michael!
I see the hut! Follow me!
Follow me!
We can make it.
[speaking French]
Help!
[shouting in French]
[both grunt]
[thudding] [Rudi] Help!
[continues shouting in French]
Michael!
Sarah! [Sarah] Yeah?
[crying] Michael. Stay with me. Look at me.
[door opens]
Michael... [cries]
[French radio chatter]
Hello, you.
Béa...
Jean Pierre...
I tried to get them down.
I crossed over, you know.
If I wanted to die,
all I had to do was...
lie down
and sleep.
That's when I saw them.
What did you see?
Ghosts.
Waiting for me to fall.
But there was someone else up there, you know.
A presence...
that was keeping me alive.
Willing me on.
In the end...
there are no ghosts.
No...
guardian angels.
Just you...
and how much you have left in you to get home.
And you did.
[Mr. Beaudin] I'm told my son may never be found.
That Mont Blanc is now his grave.
[both speaking French]
How was Jean Pierre... at the end?
He died doing what he loved.
Not many of us have that privilege.
Is that what you believe?
[chuckles softly]
I'm not interested in beautiful fiction, Michael.
We were in hell.
We were making strange decisions up there.
Uh...
Decisions that now,
sitting opposite you...
I mean, they don't make sense.
[both speaking French]
He wanted me to tell you something.
That he was happy...
at the end.
He wasn't crying.
[sighs]
He wasn't in pain.
The last thing I saw on his face was a smile.
That's the truth.
[church bell tolling]
[PA announcement in French]
So...
I guess we just have to step away from this place.
Just like that?
Are we...
[sighs] You really wanna end it like this?
Do you really think I want to?
It has to.
I can't be part of this any longer.
I can't watch all the people I Iove die.
I won't. You won't have to, okay?
Come on. You and me,
let's go somewhere completely different and never come back.
I would love that.
But you're always going to carry that place in your heart.
You're going to miss it. No, I'm done with it.
All of it. No.
I promise. No.
You say that now.
Sooner or later, you'll be back on the mountain
and I'll be stuck in a hut
hoping that you make it back down.
That's it. It won't be like that.
I know.
["Melody Day" playing]
Because I'm not going to let it happen.
[sighs]
I fell in love with you, you know.
♪ Melody day What have I done? ♪
That's why I have to go.
♪ Now our hearts Are locked up tight again ♪
♪ And when I pray It's all begun ♪
But we will always have this place, right?
Okay.
[bus engine starts]
♪ Melody day Where have you gone? ♪
♪ All the hope I had Has gone away ♪
♪ And what we had Has come undone ♪
♪ And when you smile It melts away again ♪
♪ Be there ♪
♪ Melody day What have I done? ♪
♪ Now our hearts Are locked up tight again ♪
♪ And when I pray It's all begun ♪
♪ And when you smile It melts away again ♪
♪ Tell them, oh ♪
♪ Tell them I always knew why ♪
♪ So long ♪
[upbeat folk music playing]