INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS
[intriguing music playing]
RADIOACTIVE EMERGENCY
[dog barking in distance]
[man] Oh yeah, sure, man… You're trying out for Atlético?
[Carlinhos] Next Sunday, yeah. I didn't go before 'cause I needed cleats.
[scoffs] So where are they?
I don't have 'em yet. But if today works out, I'll buy 'em.
So I guess whatever we're getting's gotta be worth something…
I'm telling you man, it's good stuff.
Fine, but listen, man. If you're really as good as you say,
you wouldn't need cleats in the first place, know what I'm saying?
[Carlinhos] You're full of shit.
GOIÂNIA, GOIÁS BRAZIL
-[man] Pamonha! -Can't play on a pitch without cleats.
-[Carlinhos] You're an expert now? -No one's playing barefoot!
-Come on! -I didn't need them.
-[man] How you doing, guys? -[both] Hey!
Pamonha, here! Get 'em while they're fresh!
[birds chirping]
[soft, intriguing music playing]
SEPTEMBER 13, 1987
-Through here? -[Carlinhos] Yeah.
GOIÁS RADIOTHERAPY INSTITUTE
-[man] Hey, look. -That's worthless. Leave it.
Worthless? No way. Look how big this is, Carlinhos.
Put it down! Come here.
You're just messing with me, right, man?
No, I'm telling ya.
There's serious money here.
I'll show you.
Hey, Carlinhos?
Did this place used to be a hospital?
-Feels like it's haunted or something. -Don't be stupid, man. Come on.
It's just through here.
[tense music playing]
Check it out.
That thing?
[sinister music playing]
-Listen. -[hollow, metallic tapping]
You hear that? [chuckles]
That's lead, dude. That's worth a ton of money.
This doesn't make any sense, I mean…
Tell me, who's gonna leave something in an abandoned dump like this,
especially if it's valuable?
Who needs lead if you have gold? Huh?
Now would you stop yapping and get the tools? Come on.
-I can't believe you… -C'mon!
I bet you 100 we rip this thing open and there's absolutely nothing inside.
[Carlinhos] Wow, way to be a downer…
Here, grab the wrench.
Yeah, this'll do the trick. At least we'll be done pretty soon.
Hang on a sec.
You know what you're doing?
C'mon, Carlinhos, I know how to work, all right?
Yeah, I know, that's why I'm asking. 'Cause you're usually shit.
[both laughing]
-Oh, that's real nice… -Now look.
[intriguing music playing]
[grunts]
[grunting]
Here, drop it.
[tense music playing]
[tools banging]
5 DAYS LATER
There's aluminum mixed in with the lead, but I could maybe do… For you?
Let's say 1,300.
This thing was a pain in the ass. C'mon, 2,000.
No way, what do you want from me? You know I gotta pay my boys. 1,500.
C'mon, Evenildo, there's plenty of lead…
And I gotta buy new cleats too.
It's your lucky day.
1,750. You won't get better than this.
And to sweeten the deal, how about another 50
so you can buy something nice for your mom.
Huh? Cash.
Seventeen hundred and fifty.
And 50 for your ma, okay?
And you, Lucio…
-Thanks, Mr. Evenildo! -Get yourself a beer on me.
Hey! Where's your smile, kid? You just made some money!
It's fine, Carlinhos. I'll come tomorrow to pick up the carts.
Well, yeah, you better, I'm not bringing them to you!
-See ya! -[Evenildo] All right, bye for now.
Buy yourself a new hat, huh?
He won't shut up about my hat, fuckin' guy!
[laughing]
[distant church bell tolling]
-[clanging] -[uneasy music playing]
Lift a bit, yeah.
Lift it up for me. Yeah.
[strains] Come on. [grunts]
[grunts]
[music continues]
[ominous music playing]
No, sweetheart, I'm almost done, I'm closing up now, okay?
Bye.
[dog barking in distance]
[kisses]
[exhales]
[mysterious music playing]
What the…
What is this?
Oh my God…
[cicadas singing]
[dog barking in distance]
[traditional music playing]
10 DAYS LATER
[woman coughing]
[woman vomits]
Tininha?
What is it?
[coughing continues]
Hey, everything okay?
[coughing continues]
Open up.
I feel so sick, I can't stop throwing up.
Ah shit.
It must've been that shrimp. I told you, it was no good.
-Yeah, well, I was sick before that. -Yeah?
-Uh-huh. -Have some boldo tea.
I'll brew some.
Hey, by the way, have you seen my shiny pot around?
Shiny pot what?
That glowy metal thing. You haven't seen it?
-Nope. -In the living room.
Then go look in there, why don't you?
You haven't seen it?
-Mm-mm. -You messing with my stuff?
[Tininha] Great, here we go.
See? It's not here.
Son of a…
Listen. Just tell me, you… you didn't throw it away?
-For the love of-- -Evenildo!
You've been carting that damn thing with you everywhere you go.
It's probably at the scrapyard!
You should have never brought that demon whatever-it-is home in the first place.
-Demon? What? -Yes, Evenildo, it's evil.
That thing is making us all sick, and you don't believe me, you never do!
-[chuckles] -You're laughing at me right now!
No…
-Just, when you get mad, you light up. -No.
Listen, that thing is leaving the house today, I promise you.
-Hm. -I found a guy who wants to buy it,
he'll pick it up soon.
-Mm-hm. -Your husband is just that good…
-Gonna make a killing. -That's good.
-You know what I'm gonna do? -No idea, could you…
You don't wanna guess?
Ah… I'm gonna open up a little place just for you, and call it Tininha's.
You're gonna be famous!
-And with your cooking… -[chuckles]
-…we're gonna make so much money. -Mm…
I'll quit that old scrapyard, and I'll manage your restaurant.
-Yeah, sure. For sure. -Okay?
Mmm, you smell good…
Don't start. I'm not in the mood, just go away.
Let's go to the bedroom.
I'm not going anywhere, I haven't washed the dishes.
All right, well… You sure you haven't seen that pot?
No, Evenildo.
Raimundo!
-[Raimundo] Yeah? -You seen my shiny pot?
-No, sorry. -Really?
-Nope. -Well, shit.
[Raimundo] How would I know where you left it?
Ah! It's probably at the scrapyard.
[Raimundo] There you go.
[door closes]
[exhales]
[coughs] Raimundo?
[continues coughing]
[Raimundo] Yes, Mrs. Antônia?
Come here, please. I need some help.
-Could you grab that bag for me? -You got it, Mrs. Antônia.
[Raimundo grunts]
It's heavy.
-Should I take it out this way? -Yeah, go ahead.
[Raimundo] This thing weighs a ton.
-[uneasy music playing] -Be careful.
GOIÂNIA CITY HALL
[bus brakes hiss]
-[Raimundo] Over here, Mrs. Antônia. -Let's find a seat.
I'm sorry, excuse me.
-Good afternoon. -[man] Hello.
[Raimundo] Yeah. Sorry, sorry. Excuse me.
[Antônia] Excuse me, sir.
Pardon me, sorry.
[Raimundo] Sorry, sorry. Sorry.
[Antônia] You go ahead.
-[Raimundo grunts] -[bus accelerating]
[passengers talking indistinctly]
[jingling]
In the name of the Father, Son, holy ghost… Aparecida.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
She's been here two hours and says she's not moving until someone talks to her.
And I've gotta go, I've gotta get to the salon.
-Has she told you what it's about? -No.
[Raimundo whispers] Go ask her then.
-I'll see what I can do. -Okay.
-Good afternoon. -Hello.
How are ya?
Listen, I'm sorry, but we're just about to close.
Well, if you haven't closed yet, you're not closed.
-Can you please just hear me out? Okay? -Yeah.
-Of course, uh… it's Mrs., uh… -Antônia.
Antônia.
How can I help you, Mrs. Antônia? I'm Jânio.
Well, sir, it's this thing. It's been poisoning people for days.
The boys who work with my husband are all in the hospital now.
-Uh-huh. -Carlos and Lúcio as well.
And now I'm sick, my husband too…
-We're all throwing up, it's not good… -Right. Okay, Mrs. Antônia, I understand,
but what is it?
Some cursed thing my husband bought at the scrapyard.
-Like a piece of… metal? -Yes.
I doubt it's that, it might be your septic system, or--
-No, not that. -Might be a problem--
-I know what the problem is. -Food poisoning?
-Not the food. -Something spoiled?
This is happening to families in different houses, we're all sick.
-It can't be everyone's food! -He's not gonna listen to us, let's go.
I'm just trying to understand what this is all about.
-Doesn't fuckin' look like you're trying. -Raimundo!
Ever since this evil demon pot arrived, everyone's gone to the hospital.
-It has to be this. -How can a piece of metal--
-C'mon, Mrs. Antônia. -I'm just trying to--
-He won't help, let's go. -I'm dizzy.
Oh, hey. Take a breath, okay? Have a seat.
-Cristina! Bring a glass of water. -I feel nauseous…
[Cristina] Here! Here.
-Have some water. -[Raimundo] Are you okay?
-Good, breathe, Mrs. Antônia. -[Cristina] Feel better?
-I need some air. -[Cristina] Yeah.
[Jânio] Let's get you some air.
Deep breaths, you're all right.
-Cris, put the chair over there, please. -Got it, Doctor.
-Here we go. -[Cristina] Have a seat.
Just breathe, okay, you'll be fine--
-[retching] -Hey, whoa!
[Cristina] Oh!
Aw geez. Mrs. Antônia, just have a seat, please.
-I don't want to. -Breathe, okay? More water.
-Cris, water, please. -I don't wanna sit.
I don't want water! For the love of God, I want to get rid of this thing!
Okay, we'll get rid of it for you, but please, just sit for a bit, would you?
I'm not gonna sit down.
All right, you won't sit, that's fine.
-Just around the corner is a clinic. -No.
Take her there and leave the bag with us.
Listen, I will go right now if you promise to get rid of this thing.
Mrs. Antônia, I promise you that we'll dispose of it.
Listen, you have to promise me you'll go to the clinic for your nausea.
-But you do believe me? Please! -Yes, I believe you.
I'll take care of it myself.
-Put it down there. -Good, just there.
-You'll have someone examine it, right? -I promise I will, yes.
-Be careful, sir. -Let's go.
-Just up the street, okay? -[Raimundo] I know.
How are you feeling now? Better?
[intriguing music playing]
[music fades]
[traditional country music playing]
[man on radio] This is Savannah Sun Radio. Good morning, Goiânia!
We're back with our exclusive interview with Governor Roberto Correia.
Sir, given the serious economic crisis we're currently facing,
what can we expect for the future of Goiânia?
[Roberto] It's true,
there is inflation throughout the country and a strike at the General Hospital.
DAY 1
However, there's good news to be had.
BEGINNING OF THE RADIOACTIVE EMERGENCY
Thanks to the efforts of agribusiness owners, as well as government investments,
we have brokered a deal to have a record harvest in Goiás next year.
People of Goiás, when no one else believed in us,
I believed in us.
While the rest of the country is stuck in the mud, we're soaring.
Watch out, São Paulo!
[door opens]
Ready for breakfast?
Your dad is waiting.
[whines]
[woman] Aw! [laughs]
Aw, gosh, look at this guy.
He's such a drama queen.
You're just like…
your dad.
When did you turn into him?
How much do you wanna bet that he's gonna start complaining
-about how we never visit? -Mm-hm.
Then he'll complain that we didn't bring a present.
-Mm? -He will. I know him. [laughs]
But you know…
as a matter of fact, you did…
bring him a present.
What present?
A present.
You really have no idea?
-No. -You haven't guessed?
Mm-mm.
♪ Cha-cha-cha-chaaa ♪
[emotional music playing]
How did this happen, Bianca?
I think you know.
Are you happy?
I'm pretty sure…
I'm happy about it, yeah.
[laughing]
[both laughing]
My sweetheart.
You're gonna be a mom.
And you'll be a dad.
[laughing]
Oh, I love you so, so much,
this is crazy, I just love you…
Should we go and tell your dad?
We should… Maybe we should wait a bit to tell him.
Oh. [laughs]
Once we're back in Rio, we'll tell him then.
[laughing]
-You're just saying that. -We will, seriously!
[ominous music playing]
-Morning, Cris. -Good morning.
Listen, that lady who came yesterday,
-Mrs. Antônia, remember? -Mm-hmm.
-I remember. -We haven't heard from her?
Thank goodness we haven't.
Nobody's touched that bag outside, have they?
-No… -Okay.
Mrs. Antônia Quadrado?
Yes.
-You were saying you've been vomiting? -Mm-hmm.
-Dizzy spells? -Oh yeah.
-And some hair loss? -Lots.
-Lots? -Yeah.
Okay.
-And what are these? -Ah, they hurt a lot, Doctor.
Right. Can I see your other hand?
[she groans]
-Did you get burned? -No.
You weren't burned?
-No. They just appeared… -Huh.
And there's another, here.
How long have you had these?
Oh, a few days now.
-A few days. -Mm-hmm.
[man vomiting and coughing]
[troubling music playing]
[nurse] The doctor will see you soon.
Can I make you more comfortable?
There you go.
[baby crying]
[indistinct chatter]
-Ay! -Happy birthday, Dad. Cheers.
-To your health. -Long may he live and reign!
Ah, well thank you, my dear. [laughs]
I have to tell you, I'm honored, you know?
-[both chuckle] -You're both here,
came all the way from Rio to Goiânia for my birthday.
-Mm-hm. -Just for me.
-Yeah, well, it's a special occasion. -Happy birthday.
Though it has been quite a few years since you've visited me, son.
Yeah…
No. We came last year, didn't we? It was last year, wasn't it?
-Uh-huh. Christmas Day. -Christmas. Right.
But you're not staying just two days again?
-You know how work is. -That's right.
I'm not complaining, that's all right. [laughs]
Now as for my present,
I know exactly what's at the top of my list. For both of you.
There's an opening for a professor position,
here, at the University of Goiânia, just down the street.
The pay is good.
And the cost of living here, you know, I mean… it's so much lower.
You could maybe move into the neighborhood.
Son, with your education,
you could be a professor at that university tomorrow!
But if you have to keep hunting for a job…
Dad, I already told you,
I'm going to take as many interviews as I have to get a job in my field. Okay?
I'm not just trying to find a job,
I'm a nuclear physicist. There's nothing for me here.
Nothing except your family, right?
[clears throat awkwardly]
[quietly] Oh honey, just let this go, all right? We're celebrating, aren't we?
We came all the way here…
Yeah, you know? Let's just tell him.
-No. -It'll put us all in a way better mood.
-C'mon. -No.
[phone ringing]
No.
Hello?
Hey, Márcio. It's Ricardo. How are ya?
Dr. Cabeça! To what do we owe the honor, Doctor?
-Who is it? Who is it? -It's Cabeça, I grew up with him.
-Heard you were in town. -Just for a few days.
Listen, I'm calling you because
we've had a bunch of patients come in with the same symptoms.
Dizzy spells and migraines, some hair loss, vomiting.
Then I remembered you specialized in nuclear physics, right?
Mm-hmm.
So I was thinking about what could be causing these symptoms
and I'm wondering if it's some kind of poison
from a radioactive source.
No. No, it can't be, because
for the patients to have those symptoms, it'd have to be acute poisoning.
[kettle whistling]
They would've needed to be exposed to an enormous dose, no way.
Right… But I also got a call from the Director of the Health Department
about one of the patients who was transferred here,
and she's blaming it on
some kind of capsule that she left over at the Health Department.
Look, since you're in town anyway, would you mind popping over there for me?
No, Cabeça, I'm in town because it's my dad's birthday.
I'm sorry, I can't.
The director can pick you up. Please?
I promise you'll be back home in an hour.
Okay, I'll do it, just make sure he stops by Nuclebrás to pick up a scintillometer.
And I have to be back in an hour, no later.
-Sure. -What now?
-You're not leaving. -Thanks so much.
-I can explain. -What'd you say?
-We're good. It's nothing. -Okay.
-Baby… -Right, talk soon. Bye.
Right. See ya. Bye.
Sorry.
[intriguing music playing]
The worst part is she threw up on my shoe.
Right. Did you see what was in the bag?
No way, I didn't want to open it.
Better safe than sorry, right?
[machine crackling]
What's that noise?
[laughs]
-The scintillometer, it's totally normal. -Okay.
[crackling intensifies to low squealing]
Hey, that's… that's really weird.
Whoa, that's a shitty noise. What's wrong with your machine?
[squealing continues]
The damn thing must be broken.
-What? -It's not working.
We're gonna need another one.
Chicão… Let's go back to Nuclebrás.
And we were right there… C'mon, let's go.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
[unsettling music playing]
[dial tone sounding]
[rotary phone dialing]
[line ringing]
[man on phone] Fire Department.
[scientist] You sure you know how to use this thing?
It's not a Geiger counter, it's a scintillometer. Way more sensitive.
-It reacts to the slightest radiation. -[crackling]
The Doctor has a PhD in nuclear physics from abroad.
He knows how to use one of these.
And I can tell you for sure this one isn't working properly.
Seems to be working fine for me.
[crackling continues]
Do you have another one you can lend us just to be sure?
I do.
-[man] What is it? -[Cristina] I don't know.
But whatever it is, I don't want it.
Please just take it away.
I don't know… dump it in the river.
[tense music playing]
[horn honking]
-What's with the traffic? -[Jânio] I dunno. It's weird though…
Yeah, for sure.
[low squealing]
[tense music playing]
-[car horns honking] -[squealing continues]
[squealing getting higher in pitch]
-[Jânio] It's that bag! -[Márcio] Wait! Stop!
-Stop! -Hold on! Put that bag down right now!
Cris! Cris, no one was supposed to touch it!
I didn't touch it, I called the firefighters.
-It's going in the river. No, no, no! It's radioactive!
-Oh no! -Radioactive?!
It's incredibly dangerous, we have to put it back right now!
It can't go back to the Health Department.
-So we contaminate somewhere else? -My patients!
You'd throw it in the river and contaminate the city?
-Jânio, you ever heard of Chernobyl? -Chernobyl?!
Jânio, stop! Listen. Listen to me.
-We've all got to evacuate. -I don't have--
This thing's exceeded the capacity of the scintillometer.
Everyone here, you and me, we've been exposed to it.
We have to get them out!
We can't risk not evacuating the building, if we don't, people are gonna die!
Jânio!
Okay.
You! That bag has to go back into the alley right now!
-You two! -Let's go!
Get to the other side of the street!
You all need to get away!
Stay back!
-[bell ringing] -Attention! We are evacuating right now!
I want everyone out front, now!
Out! Come on, out! Everyone out right now!
Stay calm! Out front!
Yeah, this way! Come on, move! Evacuate, please. Hey!
Everybody move, right now!
[people clamoring]
[Márcio] Listen to me. You need to find out where this thing came from,
where it's been and who's picked it up,
because plenty more places are probably already contaminated, we have to act fast.
Ah! Mrs. Antônia. That's the lady who brought the bag here.
She said her husband bought it off someone at his scrapyard.
Ah! She left the address of the place here.
Yeah, here we go…
Listen, Márcio. You're the physicist. You're the expert,
I don't know anything about this, man. Nothing!
You have to come with me, help me out.
Can you help?
[distant siren wailing]
[uneasy music playing]
[low squealing of scintillometer]
[Jânio] Just here.
[heightened squealing]
[squealing continues]
Well?
This place is super contaminated too.
-[squealing stops] -Then we can't go in there, can we?
We're already exposed. Yeah?
We shouldn't be around it anymore.
How dangerous is this for us right now? Be honest.
Imagine this radioactivity like a…
like a bonfire.
Okay.
How much you get burned by it depends on
its distance, how big it is, and how much time you spend near it.
But with fire, you can feel it.
-You feel the burn. -Of course. I understand.
But with radiation, you don't feel a thing.
Nothing.
Even though it's incredibly dangerous,
you only feel the effects much later on.
But just like any bonfire,
the more that you can stay back, the less exposure you have,
well… the better.
I can't determine how much we've been exposed
without knowing the source and how much it's giving off…
And we have no data yet.
But what I can tell you is that if there are people in there,
we have to get them out as soon as we can.
Let's get this over with, c'mon.
[tense music playing]
[Márcio] Hello?
Hello?
Heya!
-How you doing? -Yeah, just a sec, I'll be right with ya.
-Morning. Can I help you? -Morning. Yeah, um…
We're looking to speak with a Mr. Evenildy. He works down here, right?
It's Evenildo, my man, Evenildo… You're talking to him.
Yeah.
Uh, Mr. Evenildo, we're from the Health Department.
Your wife, Mrs. Antônia? She brought something to us…
You know about this?
The item in question is incredibly dangerous.
It's emitting radiation and has already contaminated this place.
You're talking about here?
Who are these guys, Evenildo?
Hold on, is that… is that a gun? Who are you with? You police?
A gun? No, no, no, no.
It's not a gun, not a weapon. And we're not police.
We're trying to identify where exactly this object came from, that's all.
The man's talking like a cop, see? You two think I'm dumb or what?
[Jânio] Mr. Evenildo, we're with the Health Department.
We're not with the police.
Look, if you don't have anything you wanna sell, the exit's that way.
Have a good one.
Your wife's still in hospital, right?
Other affected people are being treated there too.
This whole scrapyard is contaminated, I swear.
We're looking at really, really, really high levels.
Mr. Evenildo, listen, the two of us are here to help.
All of you need to get out of here right away.
Hold up a minute, just wait. No one is leaving here, no.
You guys are trespassing on my property.
-[Jânio] We're not-- -Anyway, you can't even
be here without a warrant.
-Do you have a warrant? -Ah, no, it's fine.
-You have to help us. We don't have time-- -Listen, we're staying outside.
Mr. Evenildo, you can relax.
No one is going in, and you don't have to leave now, okay?
But we need to pinpoint where that thing came from and where's it been.
We need to follow its trail.
It hasn't been anywhere. You satisfied now?
This is serious. People could be killed!
Look, you picked this thing up somehow, right?
Are you calling me a thief?
No, I'm not calling you anything,
I'm honestly just trying to… I just need this information.
Then let's settle this shit, man!
Look, the boys brought it in here, and then I bought it off 'em.
-You saying that's a problem? -There's no problem, okay?
Just tell me where the boys are.
[intriguing music playing]
There's two guys who come around here sometimes, Carlos and Lúcio.
-What're you doing? -What's the problem? They didn't rob us!
-What is it? -They might be cops!
[Márcio] Guys, guys, please!
Do you happen to know where they might've picked it up?
I do.
[Márcio] That's great.
This used to be a radiotherapy clinic, right?
[Jânio] Yeah, it was shut down three years ago.
[scintillometer crackling softly]
[tense music playing]
Motherfucker…
The capsule is missing.
There's no radiation here?
No.
Which obviously means they didn't open the capsule here…
I don't get it. How the hell could they have left such dangerous equipment behind?
SECRETARY OF HEALTH
I've already got the press all over me because of what you did.
Now you wanna evacuate a whole neighborhood?
The scrapyard in question is highly contaminated, Mr. Secretary.
Sir, we need to evacuate the entire area so we can analyze and decontaminate it.
I don't have the power to do that.
Well then, just… call the Governor, sir!
What if it's nothing?
Will you take responsibility if it turns out there's no danger?
Listen, sir, I can promise you, what we're dealing with is not nothing.
Mr. Secretary, please.
The readings outside the yard are already far above normal.
[tense music playing]
[man] A nuclear bomb? No. No, we don't have any in Brazil.
[girl] But what if the US decides to attack?
CNEN NATIONAL NUCLEAR ENERGY COMMISSION
-[boy 1] Yeah? Or the Soviets? -[man] Ha!
No, look…
those at the forefront of nuclear energy research did not do it for war.
Yeah, but Chernobyl blew up, right?
The Chernobyl disaster was an accident, it was not a bomb.
[boy 2] Could the Angra power plant explode in a similar way?
[laughs] No, no, no. No.
Things are under control there, I assure you. All right?
Wow. I thought working with nuclear physics would be more exciting.
But it is!
-Yes. It's quite a thrill. -[phone ringing]
And there's never a dull moment, you know. Seriously.
[woman] National Nuclear Energy Commission.
Right, let's see what you've learned.
What? An accident in Goiânia?
Slow down, please.
I-I'm having trouble following.
Just one moment, please. Line 2.
-Uh, Rita, would you pass me the, um… -Of course.
-Yeah. -Here we are.
Here, Rita.
[suspenseful music playing]
Good. Thank you.
Uh, okay now. Can you repeat the name of the clinic for me?
One more time, please.
[Márcio] The Goiás Radiotherapy Institute.
Uh-huh.
Ah. Looks like it was closed three years ago.
There was indeed a cobalt machine there,
but our records say it was removed from the site.
You sure, Doctor?
Because I was just there and I saw an abandoned shell.
What? But that would mean…
Mean what?
Yes. There was another machine at the clinic.
And I don't see anything confirming it was removed. No records…
I can't say for certain it ever left the site.
Did it also use cobalt?
No, it was Cesium-137.
Mm. One of the Chernobyl isotopes?
Yes, that's right.
Solid or powdered?
Looks like it was one of those obsolete ones. Powdered.
But… there's no record of its status.
How's that possible?
Find César for me immediately. I need to talk to him right now.
César is at the Vienna Congress.
I'll try to get in touch.
Hello, Márcio?
The cesium in question is housed inside a steel and lead capsule.
The canister is heavy, extremely heavy.
Nobody would be able to move it from the site without proper equipment.
It's impossible.
It's possible, sir. I can assure you.
[exhales]
IRD - INSTITUTE OF RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
All right, everyone, I'd like you all to meet our new intern!
WELCOME, ESTHER IRD IS PLEASED TO HAVE YOU
[laughing] Just kidding.
Esther's actually worked here for many years,
because if you don't know, she revolutionized the whole institute.
Trust me when I say this woman is
the foremost authority on dosimetry in Brazil.
So much so that São Paulo nabbed her a few years ago,
but I fought to bring her back here!
[polite laughter]
-Esther, welcome back. -Thank you.
The floor is yours if you'd like to… make a speech, I guess.
Oh… my goodness. [laughs]
For those of you who don't know me, despite any outward appearances,
I am truly hoping that you come to see me as a partner and perhaps even a friend.
Because I believe that science is a collaborative activity.
And hopefully during this time together, we'll all learn as a team.
-Aw! -Thank you.
[applause]
Let's get back to work, yeah?
-Thank you. -Well done!
-Ah. -Excuse me…
Dr. Orenstein's called to ask for a list of specialized equipment.
Really? What for?
Apparently there's been an incident in Goiânia.
Governor, believe me when I say there's enough radiation out there to be serious.
The scintillometer was overloaded,
and while it's sensitive, it's less precise.
We might be dealing with an enormous dose, we can't be certain.
"Can't be certain"? What do you mean?
Imagine a meat scale you'd find in a butcher's shop.
It can measure up to 20 pounds, right?
But if you step on the thing, it can't handle it.
It'll break.
We couldn't tell if you weigh 20 or 200 pounds.
The scintillometer works based on the exact same principle, sir.
What I do know is that these people are being exposed to radiation non-stop.
What I don't know is the quantity.
So we have to do it this way.
Evacuate, and then immediately isolate anyone who's contaminated.
Contaminated?
Can I borrow your pen?
Sure.
So, Governor. Imagine this is the source.
And the ink inside is the radioactive material.
As you approach the source, you become
irradiated.
But if you move away from the source, you cease being irradiated,
and it won't spread to anybody else.
You… you could have lunch with the secretary, no problem.
But if the source is opened…
I understand. If the ink…
the material inside gets out and falls on me, I'll start spreading it further.
Exactly, sir.
But this isn't like ink… It's powder.
It's powdered cesium,
which is even more fine than a single grain of sugar,
but still very highly radioactive.
If it somehow ends up on someone's skin or their clothing,
if they ingest or breathe it in, they're contaminated,
and they become a source themselves.
Sir, we have to take the scrapyard crew
-to a hospital right away. -Yeah.
And there's the team at the Health Department who were exposed, too.
Yeah, all of them. No, no, no, no, wait, hang on.
We can't take them to the hospital. If they're around more people,
that's more potential contamination vectors we could face.
Maybe we should… isolate them all somewhere safe.
We have to… Is there somewhere set up for this kind of emergency?
Uh…
There's the stadium, potentially?
Hm. Jânio, you…
I-I need you to take the necessary steps to prepare the stadium for these people.
-Of course, Governor. -And you, Souza,
I want you to arrange for their transport there.
Mm-hm. Right, I'll do that, sir, but…
he's the specialist here.
Márcio, I'll need you to assist me in coordinating all of this.
Uh, no, you want Dr. Orenstein. He's CNEN.
-He's coming from Rio. He can help. -Hang on. You're not CNEN?
Me? Oh, no, no, no. I'm just here for my father's birthday.
[exhales]
Márcio, you know we never visit him.
And you disappear on his birthday to do a favor for some guy,
some old neighbor you haven't spoken to in ages? Seriously?
[Márcio] Honey, it's bigger than that.
The Governor's asked me to help,
I can't just refuse, you know?
The Governor?
-Yeah, orders straight from the Governor. -Márcio?
-Yeah. -Is he okay?
Everything's okay, Mr. Zé, yes.
-He'll be a little late. -All right.
-Our transport's here, let's go. -I'll just be a second.
Your father's home. Just came in with fresh bread.
The cake's on the table.
Baby, I'm really sorry, I have to go. I'm sorry, love you.
[dramatic music playing]
[man] Evenildo, look at my hand.
The burn's in the same place where I touched that powder you had here.
Everyone who's touched that thing is feeling sick now.
Antônia, the boys, they're in the hospital.
And you wanna sit here and pretend it's something else making us sick?
[woman] And João too. He was throwing up yesterday.
And Celeste's been sick ever since that thing came into our house.
All they can keep down are potatoes… João, Claudinei, and Celeste, all three.
I get it, okay? I've got some kind of allergic reaction too.
-[woman] Uh-huh. -But that thing's gone now, it's all over.
No need to worry, end of story. It can't hurt us anymore.
Tininha is gonna be showing up soon, all right?
Her and the kids'll get better and we'll all go back to normal.
Now what I'm actually worried about is those two guys.
I didn't like the way they were talking to us…
Trying to scare us away from the scrapyard.
You believe that bullshit?
But if that thing is giving off radiation, like those guys said,
we could end up like Chernobyl.
-[woman laughs] -Wow, Raimundo, look around, all right?
You see a nuclear power plant?
I'm just saying, João.
[door buzzing]
-Keep quiet, everyone. -[man] You're not gonna see who it is?
Go on, answer.
[door buzzing again]
Darlei, I told you to stay quiet!
[buzzing continues]
[uneasy music playing]
You still think they came because they want to help us?
Good evening. I'm Emerson Souza, the State Secretary of Health.
Since when does the Military Police deal with health stuff?
We need to evacuate this house right away.
All of you have been contaminated with cesium-137.
I thought you told me that you weren't with the police, man.
I'm not a cop. No, I swear. I was telling the truth.
But look. My name is Márcio and I'm a nuclear physicist,
and he really is the Secretary of Health.
Your house is highly contaminated, you have to believe us.
First it was my scrapyard.
And now you're saying my house. So what's next, huh? What?
Listen to me. Every minute you remain in this house,
the risk to your health increases and the danger gets worse.
That capsule you picked up had powder in it, right?
That powder is radioactive.
It sticks to your clothes and your skin and your hair,
and if you don't get treatment soon, it can kill you.
This device… is called a scintillometer.
What it does is measure radiation levels.
-[low squealing] -You hear this sound?
That confirms that your house is contaminated.
We're telling the truth. I need you to trust me.
Where do you plan to take us if we go with you?
Somewhere safe, away from the contamination.
-To the hospital where Antônia is? -[Souza] No, no.
First to a screening center,
then anyone who needs medical care will go to the hospital.
A screening center? With the cops outside my door?
What's all this, huh?
You saying we're criminals? I'm not leaving my house.
Look, I'm sorry to put it this way, but you don't have a choice.
All of you have to come with us or you'll contaminate others.
No! You can't force me to leave my own house!
[squealing intensifies]
-[high-pitched mechanical squealing] -Mommy… Mommy, my head hurts.
Come to Mommy, sweetie.
[squealing intensifies]
[very high-pitched squealing]
Claudinei, you too.
[troubling music playing]
Come on, honey.
[music stops]
Let's go.
[melancholy music playing]
[siren wailing]
[intriguing music playing]
MILITARY POLICE
[Jânio] Good evening, everyone.
I need you all to come with me, please. Okay? Follow me.
[Evenildo] What are we doing here?
It's for your own good.
Hey, man, we got kids back here. Kids!
[Jânio] I know, I know. There's room for all of you.
-[Darlei] C'mon, João. -Yeah, coming.
[Jânio] Okay? Follow me.
Come on, Celeste. It's okay…
[Jânio] This way.
[indistinct chatter on walkie-talkie]
Would you all come this way? Thank you.
Just that way, across the field.
Those two firefighters will take you to the shelter. Okay?
Thank you.
[music continues]
-[soft music playing] -[indistinct party chatter]
Mr. Zé? Is it time for the birthday cake?
[Zé] What about Márcio?
Oh, Márcio can't make it back just yet.
But you must be so tired…
We'll save him a piece of the cake for later.
No, no, no! I want to wait for him.
[man on TV] We interrupt this program…
[Zé] Wait, what's that? Whoa, whoa. Turn-turn it up, Antônio.
Prisma Breaking News.
There has been a radioactive contamination incident in Goiânia.
-Radioactive? -[man] What did they say?
Members of the family have been evacuated from their home by military…
It's Márcio! It's Márcio! Oh!
We'll bring you the latest information as it becomes available.
[police siren blips]
Thank you.
-Good evening. -Sir.
[intriguing music playing]
Would you explain to me how this whole thing could've happened?
That's something that will take time to find out.
Right now, we need to act quickly and decisively
to prevent a tragedy.
Are you Márcio?
No, Doctor, I'm Emerson Souza, the Secretary of Health.
-Mm. Mm. -It's good to meet you.
Márcio… is this young man here.
Good evening. I'm Márcio, Doctor, we spoke on the phone.
I've read all your articles, I'm truly honored to meet you.
I wasn't expecting you to make me feel so old. [chuckles]
Márcio, what criteria have you used to determine which houses to isolate?
Well, there was no established protocol.
-Mm-hm. -I used the maximum allowable radiation
as a guide, so 0.1 millirems inside the houses, and 0.5 outside.
I only had a scintillometer.
So I couldn't accurately measure the degree of radiation.
He… Look, the kid said he knew what he was doing.
No, no. He does. [laughs] He does.
I would've done the very same thing in his position.
Now we have two tasks that will be very important to carry out.
We need to prevent the spread of more cesium
and isolate the victims.
The priority was getting them out of the contaminated site,
and now that's done, we have to screen all of them thoroughly.
We must identify the contaminated and determine who needs medical care.
Then we bring those patients to an isolated hospital ward
as soon as possible.
Many are already at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases.
But have they been isolated? Completely isolated?
Secretary, it's imperative they be completely isolated.
Márcio, I need to see the cesium source
to better understand the extent of the problem.
-It's at the Health Department. -Wait.
Hasn't the boy already taken the measurements?
Didn't you say he was right about it all?
This Geiger counter, Governor, mine, is far more precise.
It can measure high doses with much greater accuracy.
It's like his is a pharmacy scale and mine is a butcher's.
All right, all right, I think I get the picture.
Shall we head out?
Yes, yes, let's go.
Hey, come here a sec. Come here.
[Márcio] Go ahead, I'll catch up with you.
[distant siren wailing]
[dog barking]
[soft clicking and crackling]
[clicking intensifies]
[clicking continues]
clicking intensifies again]
[further intensifying]
[flat tone sounding]
[machine turns off]
The Geiger counter maxed out over there.
This is very bad.
We've got to move it, now.
That's impossible.
Handling the source directly is out of the question.
We can't even get close.
And where would you take it? You can't dump it!
Yes, I'm well aware of that,
but we can't just leave a bomb in the middle of the city!
We have to remove it tonight.
It's usually secured inside a lead capsule to contain the radiation. Isn't it?
But we can't melt lead out here, can we?
I'm going to need a tube, a big one, made of concrete.
Like the ones that are used for sewage.
With a very big opening to fit over the chair. And a concrete mixing truck.
It's so that the-the radiation can be contained with concrete.
So if we cover the bag with a concrete tube
and then pour more concrete over top of it,
it'll keep both the powder and the radiation more contained.
And it'll be so heavy it'll be impossible for anyone to move it.
Now, concrete alone is not enough to contain all the radiation.
This building, the Health Department, is going to have to remain closed.
But where we are, the perimeter around it, would be safe for now.
It's the only way this gets resolved before morning, Governor.
This can't be in place forever. You'll have to move it eventually.
Governor, I promise you, I won't leave Goiânia
until I've handed the city back to you safe and sound.
Márcio. C'mere.
I'm sorry, but you've been exposed enough today that I'll have to check you.
I know. Of course.
I… Please, just let me tell you something.
I talked to one of the victims.
The cesium was handled by more people than the ones in isolation.
It's been spread out and shared with friends and neighbors.
It's worse than we feared.
We're going to need a lot more boots on the ground for this fight.
We'll have to undergo an exhaustive contact tracing effort, it's the only way.
-Hold out your arms, please. -[machine switches on]
[slow clicking]
Ah… You're not contaminated. That's a relief.
[fast clicking]
Your shoes, take them off. Now, quickly.
Put them in here.
Be careful.
Right, careful now.
Here's what you do.
You take that bag and throw it over the Health Department's wall,
it's shut down anyway. Go.
[grunts]
[shoes thud]
All right, Márcio, that's plenty for today.
Head back home, take a shower, eat something… But don't go anywhere.
I'm going to need you tomorrow.
And thank you for today.
I'll be here.
[dog barking in distance]
[engine accelerates]
[dog barking]
[Zé] Well, sure, but it's my house, I can wash a few dishes!
-No, Mr. Zé, why don't you lie down? -And leave you to do all the dishes?
-I'll be fine… -[door opens]
Is that Márcio?
-Son! What are you… I don't understand. -Dad, listen to me.
Things got seriously messed up, but I'm fine.
-[Zé] We saw you on the TV! How messed up? -Hey, why are you naked? What happened?
Look, I'm completely fine, but I need you both to listen.
-Just hang on. -You need to tell us the truth!
-Why are you in your underwear? -Look at you!
Where were you?
We need to know, Márcio.
It's not going to be just the two of us anymore.
-You'll be a dad soon, you need to think-- -What?
Sorry, Dad, it's just… I promise we were gonna tell…
We were going to tell you…
How long have you known you were going to be parents?
I had no idea.
-Oh, I'm sorry… -You're going to be a father!
Congratulations!
No, I'm okay, stop, Dad, I'm fine.
I need you both to trust me that everything's fine, okay?
I'm great, I just really need a shower.
And I'm going to go do that right now.
-A grandchild? -[door closes]
-Sorry, I didn't want it to be like this… -No, it's okay…
Aw!
[emotional music playing]
[woman singing in Portuguese] ♪ If this street were mine ♪
♪ I would have, I would have it paved ♪
♪ With little pebbles Shiny little pebbles ♪
♪ So my So my love could walk on it ♪
♪ On this street On this street there’s a little forest ♪
[coughing]
♪ That is called That is called loneliness ♪
♪ Inside it, inside it there’s an angel ♪
[phone ringing]
♪ Who stole, who stole my heart ♪
[phone continues ringing]
Hello?
Hi, Beny, it's César.
How are things down there? Has the source been isolated?
No, but they're doing it right now.
Listen, César, if we don't get a team down here, we're done.
Technicians, doctors, physicists, equipment too, I'll send a list.
Yeah, that's fine.
And we have to notify everyone. All of them.
Argentina, Oak Ridge, the IAEA, everyone.
[César] You'll have access to all of CNEN's resources.
But listen, we need to fix this.
Have you mapped out the hot spots?
We've gone ahead and isolated what we've mapped out so far.
But this source was open for more than two weeks.
César… we know it's already spread.
But if the cesium spreads even further through the city…
through the streets, or via water…
All right. I'll have my flight to Brazil rescheduled as soon as I can.
If we don't act as quickly as possible,
we're gonna be facing a disaster Brazil's never seen before.
[tense music playing]
[music intensifies and stops]
[dramatic music playing]
music ends] sic playing]