Lookout

Hello?

Are you okay?

Hey, you need help?

- What makes you trust a car insurance company?

A talking animal?

A talking carrot?

What about when a company's customer...

Oh my god.

You scared the hell out of me.

You shouldn't be standing in the middle of the road.

All in your gear. I could have easily hit you.

Elk season doesn't start until next week.

Why are you out here anyway, huh?

You out here all alone?

Dale said I...

I can't talk to you.

Who's Dale?

He here with you?

- Well that depends on who's askin'.

I told him to stay off

the access road 20 times last season.

Didn't I, Skeeter?

He ain't much for listening but...

...he's an ace with that crossbow.

You doing a little hunting?

-No, no, ma'am. Just a little scouting is all.

Good.

Because I should remind you that hunting off-season

is a criminal offense.

-No, we would never do anything like that.

We're uh, conservationists.

Hmm.

Well this...

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

You can never be too careful out here in the woods.

There's a lot of...

...sick people out here.

-Now, see, right now you're making an assumption.

Last I checked, there's no law against us

testing out our gear.

-Try not to kill anything until next week.

Yeah, right.

Go on.

Get!

Ranger.

-Oh! Hey there, you must be Billy.

- I'm... - Late.

-Melissa. I'm really sorry about that.

I got caught up.

- Yeah, Captain Edgewood isn't big on excuses.

Try and be on time while you're out here

unless you like getting chewed out.

Everything you need to know is on the table.

It isn't rocket science.

-Yeah, I was kind of hoping since I'm going to be

out here I would have some time.

It's a long shift.

You basically do about six minutes of actual work per day,

so you got time to do whatever you want.

Just don't piss Edgewood off,

or try not to anyway.

The hardest part is not going crazy.

I mean, you'll definitely go a little crazy,

but try and keep yourself occupied.

You'd not believe the shit you start seeing out here

after a whole month alone.

Keys.

Oh, sorry, yeah.

-So, supply drop comes once a week.

Your first one showed up a couple of days ago.

Oh, and there's a sink, but no running water.

Thanks.

Thanks, Billy.

Shit!

Ranger Weston!

Yes, sir?

- Well, shit indeed I'm very relieved

to hear your voice, Ranger.

When 9 a.m. came and went, I assumed

something truly apocalyptic must have happened to you

to miss your very first check-in

on your very first day of your very first tower shift.

I'm sorry, sir.

The battery was dead and the backup generator was empty.

- The kind of individual that excels

in your position is a proactive professional

who checks their equipment well in advance of needing it.

I'm sorry, sir.

- It's your first day so we'll chalk it up to you

being momentarily overwhelmed

by the significant responsibility

that has been placed upon your shoulders

for the next 30 days.

I'm sorry, sir.

- I don't want a sorry Ranger ,

I want a competent Ranger.

Understood?

Yes, sir.

- Are you going to do your job now

or are you waiting for an invitation?

-Sorry, sir. Yes. I mean I'm on it.

This is Lantern Ridge Lookout Tower.

It's approximately 9:05 a.m.

Visibility is--

Jesus!

Are you still with us?

Or has the good Lord come to take you away?

No sir. I--

A bird just flew into the window.

I think it's dead.

- Bury it so it doesn't attract other animals.

Yes, sir.

Visibility at Lantern Ridge Lookout Tower is clear.

10-11 miles.

Copy. Five p.m. sharp.

- If that's convenient for you. -Yes, sir.

It is, sir.

- Don't forget to bury the bird.

This is Lantern Ridge Lookout Tower for station.

Go for station.

Lantern Ridge Lookout Tower.

Five p.m.

Visibility clear.

8-9 miles.

Copy.

- Blue Mountain for Lantern Ridge.

Lantern Ridge, come in.

Go for Lantern Ridge.

Go to channel 12 .

Edgewood doesn't like

unofficial chatter on official channels.

- All right. Welcome to Blue Mountain ,

Ranger Weston. I can't tell you

how happy I am to hear a new voice.

- It's been a long while. -Thanks.

Roy, right?

Yeah.

Trouble in paradise?

Yes and yes.

I'm sure you saw it for yourself

when you got there.

You met Billy, right?

Sort of.

I've never met anyone who ran down

a flight of stairs as fast as he did.

Oh, yeah .

He was counting down the minutes.

This isn't a good job for someone

who can't remember what it's like

to go 30 seconds without a phone in their hand.

Oh, come on.

We're not all lost causes.

- Oh, good. This is good.

Whew!

After a month of only talking to Billy and the captain,

I'm ready to talk to a real human being.

-Wait, shouldn't you be going home soon?

- No, not for another two months.

I may be old but I'm hardcore.

Three shifts in a row.

Every fire season.

-Wow, I don't know if I should be impressed

or worried about you.

Uh... probably both.

Everyone used to fight over tower duty

but now it's a struggle

to get enough volunteers to fill the schedule.

There's nowhere else I'd rather be.

-Well, you and I have something in common, Roy.

Because I volunteered to take the shift too.

Wow. I'll be damned.

Maybe there's hope for your generation after all.

So you out here to chase or to run?

What do you mean?

I mean, the way I see it

there are only two kinds of rangers

who volunteer for a tower shift.

The kind who are chasing something

and the kind who are running from something.

Which one... Which one are you?

Wait, wait. Actually don't tell me yet.

It'll give us something to talk about tomorrow.

It was a pleasure to meet you, Melissa.

The pleasure was all mine, Roy.

- You have yourself a peaceful

and pleasant evening.

You too.

-Lantern Ridge Lookout Tower for Station.

Go for station.

Lantern Ridge Lookout Tower.

It's 9 a.m.

Visibility is clear.

Approximately 18 miles.

Copy.

Good morning to you too.

Oh my god!

Are you okay?

I don't have it.

I don't have it.

What happened?