I just saw this film for the first time, despite hearing about it my entire life. It certainly was enjoyable, but one thing stuck with me after the movie: what happened to Arnold, Harding, and all the scientists towards the end of the film? Maybe I missed something, but don't we just stop seeing them after a certain point? What happens to them once Hammond, Malcolm, Grant, Ellie, and the kids leave by helicopter?
shareWell Arnold is mauled by Raptors attempting to restart the power. The last we see of him is his arm. Everybody else, including Harding, left the Island for the weekend on the boat Nedry was supposed to pass the embryos to. At one point we hear Arnold over the PT system advising all remaining personnel to make their way to the dock.
Hey! You're not old enough to drink! Now go and die for your country!!!
Arnold gets killed by raptors, everyone else leaves on the last boat due to leave that night at 7pm. so by the time the power has gone out everyone is already at the dock waiting to get on the boat and away from the incoming danger. as far as what happens once the main characters leave on the helicopter, the Island is nuked in the book but this isn't shown in the movie.
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There was a final scene written for Arnold
and sets were made where he would be
attaked and eaten by raptors while
walking to the maintenance shed to restore the power. However speilberg never got the chance to shopt this scene as the hurricance which occurred on the island while filming damaged a lot of the sets so this scene couldn't be shot. Hennce why you only see his severed arm in the scene with Ellie. There was actually a severed leg which ellie would come across aswell but this was also cut.