In 1995 Los Angeles, John’s mother Sarah is in a psychiatric hospital for trying to prevent “Judgment Day,” the prophesied nuclear apocalypse. John, living with foster parents, initially distrusts the T-800. After the T-1000 kills his foster parents, John teams up with the T-800 to rescue Sarah and stop Skynet’s creation.

Sarah learns that a microprocessor developed by Cyberdyne engineer Miles Dyson is crucial to Skynet. Despite initially planning to kill Dyson, Sarah ultimately helps him, and he assists them in destroying Cyberdyne’s lab. The T-1000 follows them to a steel mill, where it is finally destroyed by being pushed into molten steel by Sarah and the T-800. The T-800, knowing it must be destroyed to prevent Skynet’s creation, persuades John to lower it into the vat. The T-800 gives John a thumbs-up as it is incinerated. Sarah, now hopeful, drives off with John, reflecting on humanity’s potential for change.