Dante's Peak - Plot

Plot

The movie opens with Dr. Harry Dalton (Pierce Brosnan) a volcanologist, & his associate/partner Marianne trying to escape an erupting volcano in Columbia. While trying to escape the ash & falling debrie Marianne is killed.

4 years later Harry is sent by his boss Dr. Paul Dreyfus (Charles Hallahan) to check out volcanic activity in a small town called Dante's Peak which is situated beside a dormant volcano. Harry arrives in town & meets the mayor Rachel Wando (Linda Hamilton) who has two children Graham & Lauren. Before Rachel can show him the hot springs, they go to drop of the children to Rachel's mother-in-law Ruth (Elizabeth Hoffman) who lives on the mountain. Ruth suggests that they all go visit the hot springs. Harry notices that the trees are dying & when Lauren screams they discover dead squirrels. Graham is about to jump into the springs when Harry stops him, noticing two bodies having being boiled by the water. Harry sees this as a bad sign, tells Rachel to call a town meeting & informs Paul of the situation.

As Harry is advising putting the town on alert, Paul stops him & tells him he is overacting & that for now they will just observe. While Paul & his team are setting up & monitoring the volcano Harry & Rachel become close. After a week & no major activity Paul decides they can monitor the volcano back home & tells everyone to pack up. Harry goes to say goodbye to Rachel, they almost kiss but Lauren needs a glass of water. Rachel points out the water is wrong & Harry discovers by visiting the main water supply the volcanic activity has leached sulfur into the water. They all then realise the volcano is defiantly going to explode, its only a matter of time. While informing the town to evacuate the top of the volcano explodes which causes widespread panic. While trying to get to Rachel's children they drive through panicked evacuees, a river & the ash cloud. Paul & his team evacuate the town with the help of the national guard but as they try to leave town via the bridge Paul & his van get stuck on a bridge which is washed away by the swelling river.

Arriving at Rachel's house they find the children missing. Graham & Lauren drove up the mountain to Ruth who refused to leave the mountain. After reaching Ruth's house & finding the children, a river of lava destroys Ruth's house forcing them to the lake. The lake which has been turned to acid starts eating away at the boat & propeller. They are almost at the other side when the propeller gets eaten away. Trying to save everyone Ruth jumps in the lake and pulls the boat to the dock seriously injuring her legs. Ruth dies due to the shock & trauma. After finding a truck at a ranger station Harry, Rachel & the children make it back into town as the volcano erupts. Harry drives the truck into an abandon mine that had been Graham's hideout to escape the pyro clastic cloud.

Harry has an beacon in the truck that will help his team locate & rescue them all. He tells Racehl & the kids he will be back, he reassures everyone that when they get out he will take them deep sea fishing. As he returns the truck to activate the beacon. The mine collapses seperating him from Rachel & the children. He activates the beacon while the truck is crushed by the weight of the debrie. Eventually they are all rescued & reunited with Harry reiterating his promise to take them deep sea fishing.