Hours

Hours

Year: 2013

Runtime: 97 min

Language: English

Director: Eric Heisserer

DramaThriller

When a devastating Category 5 hurricane hits New Orleans, one father finds himself in a terrifying situation. With no power and no access to medical assistance, he must do everything in his power to protect his newborn, premature daughter. Battling the storm and dwindling resources, he draws upon an immense amount of love and resolve to give her the best chance at survival.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Hours (2013)

Trace every key event in Hours (2013) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Birth, death, and evacuation during Katrina

Nolan rushes his wife Abigail to a New Orleans hospital as Hurricane Katrina approaches. Abigail dies in childbirth, and the newborn girl must be kept on a ventilator for two days. With the ventilator non-transferable, the hospital begins evacuating, leaving Nolan to face the crisis alone with his infant daughter.

2005, during Hurricane Katrina New Orleans hospital
2

Left alone with Abigail as the hospital evacuates

As Katrina tightens its grip, the hospital evacuates, and Nolan is left alone with his newborn daughter because the ventilator cannot be transported. He names her Abigail after her mother, and the two huddle amid the chaos while the power fails. With resources dwindling, Nolan realizes he must keep his daughter alive without outside help.

2005, during evacuation Hospital interior, New Orleans
3

A rare food break and sausage deal

In his search for food, Nolan encounters a cook heading toward a nearby hospital unaffected by the hurricane. The cook gives him change for vending machines and a sausage, a brief moment of normalcy amid disaster. This small mercy becomes a lifeline as the hours stretch on.

Early in the crisis Along streets of New Orleans
4

Power outage sparks generator quest

A nurse promises to bring back help, but basement flooding leads to a power outage that threatens the ventilator. Nolan must find a generator to power the baby's life-support, setting off a frantic scavenger hunt through a half-submerged hospital.

During the initial outages Flooded hospital basement
5

The hand-cranked generator becomes the lifeline

The generator must be hand-cranked every three minutes, and with each charge the battery life grows shorter. Nolan’s every move becomes a race against time as the ventilator fights to stay alive. He keeps improvising to squeeze more power from each turn.

Hospital basement
6

Sherlock the rescued dog joins the struggle

Nolan discovers a dog tangled in rope and frees it, naming it Sherlock. He feeds the dog with his sausage and the creature becomes an unexpected ally as he battles the chaos. The canine presence provides a glimmer of hope amid the struggle.

Hospital premises
7

Helicopters shot down from the roof

Nolan hears helicopters overhead and climbs to the roof to signal for help, but criminals shoot at the choppers and repulse any rescue attempts. The scene underscores how lawlessness compounds the disaster's tragedy. Nolan remains focused on keeping his daughter alive.

Rooftop of hospital
8

Radio help fails; outside help stalls

An ambulance sits outside, yet Nolan can only access an automated radio message for help. He realizes that external rescue is failing him as the city descends into chaos. He doubles down on keeping the baby alive with the limited power he has.

Outside hospital
9

Flooded basement ruins generator; near electrocution

Nolan finds a spare battery attempt in a flooded basement room, but the generator is ruined from immersion and almost electrocutes him. Desperation grows as the respirations of the baby become more fragile. He fights through the danger to keep the device operational.

Flooded basement room
10

Looters invade; nurse killed; adrenaline kicks in

Looters break into the hospital to steal food, drugs, and saline for the baby. One intruder robs and kills the nurse bringing supplies, escalating the danger Nolan faces. Exhausted and sleep-deprived, Nolan relies on adrenaline to stay awake.

Hospital interior
11

Violent confrontations with looters

Two more looters enter; Nolan overpowers one, takes his gun, and shoots the other. The violence underscores the collapse of order within the hospital as the storm rages outside. Nolan’s resolve to protect his daughter hardens.

Nolan's room
12

Crank breaks; mouth-to-mouth to save Abigail

After more than 40 hours without sleep, the crank finally breaks. Nolan administers mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to Abigail, trying to revive her as the ventilator runs out of power. He collapses, overwhelmed by shock and exhaustion, unaware of what comes next.

Hospital room
13

Paramedics arrive; father and daughter are handed their life

Sherlock returns with two paramedics who wheel Nolan out on a stretcher. When Abigail starts crying, the paramedics hand Nolan his baby, a moment that restores some hope in an otherwise devastating ordeal. The rescue marks a final turning point for both father and daughter.

Hospital corridor

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:17

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Hours Summary

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Hours Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Hours

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Hours

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More About Hours

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