“[Legasov and Shcherbina's helicopter approaches the Chernobyl plant]

Legasov: [Sees the reactor, horrified] What have they done?

Shcherbina: Can you see inside?

Legasov: I don't have to. Look. That's graphite on the roof. The whole building's been blown open. The core's exposed!

Shcherbina: I can't see how you can tell that from here.

Legasov: Oh, for God's sakes! Look at that glow! That's radiation ionizing the air!

Shcherbina: Well, if we can't see, we don't know. [to the pilot] Get us directly over the building!

Legasov: Boris, if we fly...

Shcherbina: Don't you use my name!

Legasov: ...directly over an open reactor, we'll be dead within a week! Dead!

Pilot: Sir?

Shcherbina: Get us over that building, or I'll have you shot!

Legasov: [to the pilot] If you fly directly over that core, I promise you, by tomorrow morning, you'll be begging for that bullet! [the pilot considers this, and changes course]”