Outbreak

The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes 1967 Africa: Daniels and team witness the horror of the Motaba virus firsthand, establishing the viral threat and military containment protocols that will define the film.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.

The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Daniels receives word of a new outbreak in Zaire with Motaba-like symptoms showing 100% fatality. The ghost from 1967 has returned, threatening a global pandemic.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.

The First Threshold at 33 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to The virus reaches Cedar Creek, California via an infected monkey. Daniels chooses to pursue the host animal against orders, committing fully to stopping the outbreak even if it means defying his superiors., moving from reaction to action.

At 64 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False defeat: Daniels discovers McClintock has known about the virus all along and possesses a 1967 serum - but it doesn't work on the mutated strain. The conspiracy is revealed and the military solution (bombing Cedar Creek) is set in motion., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.

The Collapse moment at 96 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Daniels, Salt, and Casey become fugitives, stealing a helicopter. They've lost their authority, their positions, and face court-martial or death. The bomb is armed and the window for saving Cedar Creek is nearly closed., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.

The Second Threshold at 102 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Breakthrough: They find Betsy and extract antibodies. Daniels synthesizes what he learned about viral science with his moral conviction - he now has both the cure AND evidence of the conspiracy to stop the bombing., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.