Countdown (1967) - full transcript

'Apollo 3, Houston.
Do you read?'

Apollo 3, Houston.
Do you read?

'Roger, Houston.
Apollo 3.'

'Apollo 3, all systems are go
down here, gentlemen.'

'Lee, do you read?'

We read you, CAPCOM.
You talk too much.

- We're all go up here, too.
- 'Roger.'

Third orbit coming up

at 0-2-4-5-2-2.

I want a short status report,
Rick. Take the third orbit.

'Apollo 3, Houston.
Lee?'



Yeah.
Yeah, Apollo 3.

'There's a hold on your next
orbit. Stand by to copy.'

Hey..
Hey, Houston.

Come on, we gotta go up here

for the first 17 orbits.

'Gotta hold, sorry.'

Ask for another orbit.
Then we can--

Making on-board decision
on this.

We are still go.

'Relay protest.
Stand by to copy.'

Hell, no!

Apollo 3, this is Ross.

'Ross, I've got a good orbit.'

'Why don't you check
your lights down there'



'for malfunction?'

I know all about your
mission, uh, Pilgrim.

- Scrub it.
- Say again.

'Yes, Chiz. You heard it right.
Abort the mission.'

U-um, g-give it a chance.

I'll make, I'll-I'll make
another check. Come on.

I mean, that's why they got us
up here instead of computers.

'This mission is
my responsibility.'

Get your helmet on
and get back on the couch.

- You got a red there.
- 'Okay, go ahead.'

...crackin' out
and it's a phony.

We are aborting now.

Roger.

Lee's heartbeat
jumped 20 beats.

- How's Chiz?
- Up, too, but not as much.

Rick unchanged.
What's this all about?

Uh, I want you to skip
Chiz's medical, Gus.

I wanna get to him
as quickly as possible.

Nine, eight, seven

six, five, four

'three, two, one.'

'SPS thrust on.'

Roger.
Got a firing.

'Good here, Apollo 3.'

All out.

What the hell is the idea
with the sun so bright?

You ever take
a 1000 watt candle

that's what you're gonna
get up there.

Lee. Uh, Rick.

- That couch still isn't right.
- Rick.

Hell, I'm breaking
my back in there.

Why did they torpedo
this thing?

- I don't know I'm just
- the doctor.

- Hi.
- Jose's here, too.

Hop in the back seat.
Put the towel on you, huh.

What went wrong?

I don't know
what the hell it was.

Chiz knows.

Come on, break it up.
Break it up!

Hey, Lee!

Stop by at the house
after dinner.

We have to meet.
Will you?

Hello, Mickey.
How you doing, Stevie?

Hi.

- What was it all about?
- I don't know.

Oh, I, I like Terry,
you know.

Chiz, bring the water!

I don't know.
She's so...intense.

Thank you.

It's like, and this is true,
you go over there

'and the first thing you know
she's got a little niche'

'for your toothbrush,
that kind of thing.'

'And I'm thinking,
what's happening?'

Hello, hello, hello.

Mr. Cute Personality.

Thank you.
Name it.

Uh, tequila.

Hey, Lee, let's go!

Okay.

Uh, the secret word
was Pilgrim.

I, I figured that out.

What's the deal, Chiz?

We're gonna send a man
to the Moon.

- You're kidding?
- Hey, man.

One man all the way.

It's called Pilgrim.

'They started it
three years ago'

'as an emergency backup
to Apollo.'

Um, the word that lingers
there somewhat is "Emergency."

By 4 a.m. tonight,
the Russians will have

a one-man mission
circling the Moon.

We expect them to put a three-
man Voskhod up there to land

'in the next lunar cycle,
three to four weeks.'

'We'll be ready in three.'

'That's, uh, shavin' it
kinda thin, isn't it?'

'Keep it quiet long enough,
we'll get a jump off.'

That's why so few people
have been cut in.

Thanks, lady.

- You want more?
- No, thanks, honey.

So you're the Moon-man,
is that it?

'Yeah, going to the Moon.'

That's why
they scrubbed us today

to get me back
and into pre-flight.

Do I hear "Congratulations?"

Oh, sure.
I think that's great, Chiz.

I-I'd like to hear
how you're gonna do it.

On an uprated Saturn,
with a new third stage

and a new landing stage
for one man

twice the space,
twice the life support.

- What gets you back?
- 'You do.'

I stay up there till you come to
ferry me home in Apollo.

Ten months, a year
...eight months.

A Gemini landing
cannot work

without an atmosphere
and a body of water--

You know what it is?
You know what it is?

It's a 240,000 mile dive
into a dry pool.

Oxygen-hydrogen retro system.

- 'It'll hover like a cat.'
- And then what do you do?

You live off the land with
a bow and arrow? Hell, Chiz--

'Once you get up there, you get
in a shelter, you're set.'

Well, you can quit saying "You"
'cause I'm not going anywhere.

Alright, now listen.

A week before Pilgrim goes,
we send up a shelter stock

with food, oxygen,
all life-support systems

on the same type of bird.

Everything's in here.

'There's systems,
communications'

trajectories

and Dunc is my backup.

Now, the shelter has a flashing
beacon and a radar signal.

And Surveyor will probably
spot it, too.

'Now, if I don't locate it
with all that'

I complete a figure-eight
around the Moon, swing back

and re-enter behind
the beefed up heat shield.

Now, three days later I'm
getting stoned on a kerry

while the band plays.

You've started up
an LSD research team?

You haven't even asked
the good questions yet

and all the answers
are in here.

You'll wanna read it.

The path of the Voskhod

as indicated and confirmed

by the Jodrell Bank Observatory
in England

indicates that the original
estimates are probably correct

that this will be
a lunar orbiting mission

and not a lunar landing.

The Russian government has
still made no announcement

concerning the
Voskhod flight.

Our own tracking network
is locked on

to the Russian
space vehicle

and reports as to its
position are being released.

'However, no official
announcement has been made.'

'This is Clete Roberts
at the Cape.'

Phew! I really feel
sorry for Jean.

Hmm?

I said I really feel
sorry for Jean.

I just put myself
in her position.

Phew! One year.

What if it were you?

Me?

Same.

I think
I'll give her a call tomorrow.

Yeah.

Yeah, she is a tough babe.

Sure.
I mean, we're all tough.

Ross, good to see you.

Dr. Ehrman.
Come right this way.

Mr. Croyden, I believe
you know Ross Duellan.

- How are you, sir?
- This is Dr. Ehrman.

- It's a great pleasure.
- Gentlemen.

Shall we go right in?

The Russian's name
is Alexis Plekhanov.

- He's a geologist.
- That's unproved.

He's had no military training..

And no one knows that for sure.

Thirty-four,
specialist in lunar terrain.

He wasn't before, he is now.

A civilian, Mr. Duellan,
that's the operative word.

We expect their three-man shop
to be all civilian.

All beside the point.

There is no time
to train a new man

and the two men we have trained
have military titles.

Well, if it's that flat, we
oppose it. You're wasting your--

You won't accomplish
anything this way.

If your men had started
consulting State

on these projects, we, uh

we could have told you
just when it was initiated.

Have you no civilian
somewhere in the--

He has to be in a capsule
and ready to go in three weeks.

So we chose our best, most
experienced Gemini astronaut.

Now, he just happens to hold
a commission in the Air Force

but he is employed by us

and we are definitely
a civilian--

But he is still
in the Air Force.

- Now, what are we discussing?
- Dr. Ehrman.

They have just
sent a scientist.

They are going to send
three scientists.

We cannot send a colonel,
an Air Force colonel.

Nor can we send a man
who is inadequately trained.

- Must he be inadequate--
- I'd rather take my chances.

The State Department
can't stop us.

Now, Chiz, Colonel Stewart
has trained a year and a half

he knows the mission
and the equipment. He's ready.

- 'I chose him.'
- Yeah, sit down.

I'll put the man up there.

You worry about
the public relations.

The public relations
is everybody's problem.

What sustained your program?

Public relations, public
acceptance, public revenue.

And your programs,
whatever they are.

'We feel very strongly'

'that even a technical
military connection'

could be used against us.
Unfair, yes.

But there were two or three men
in the Gemini training program

who were not in
any military status.

We prefer that one of them

one who could be brought up
to qualification.

Alright, Mr. Nogrady,
I think it's quite clear.

'You're saying,
to come up with a civilian'

or the program is jeopardized.

- Is that correct?
- Consider it.

The cost is enormous in money.
There is risk of life.

That should justify that,
Mr. Duellan.

Let us make more points,
accomplish as much as possible.

'Our space program
is non-military.'

'We can demonstrate that.'

Three weeks.

Some civilian..

'...who could be trained.'

What are you doing here?

- Just checking.
- Anything new?

They say it's gonna orbit
the Earth once before re-entry.

Might be visible.

I was down here
around 3 a.m.

just to make sure
he swung around the moon.

- Afraid he might land?
- Yeah.

- Did you read the manual?
- Excuse me, gentlemen.

MSFN says the Russian
has re-entered

somewhere in Siberia.

- Well?
- Huh?

The manual?

Uh, Pilgrim's possible

but so is digging at the
Grand Canyon with a teaspoon.

Hey, you'll be
at Gus' party?

For a while.
My schedule's changed.

Lee.
I wanna talk to you.

I thought you were
in Washington.

'Mick.'

- Lee?
- 'Yeah.'

Why are you home so early?

Uh, well, I, uh,
sprung myself.

Oh.

Well, you're just in time
to help me zip my dress.

See, I can't reach it.

Uh, where are you going?

Oh, Blair thought she'd get
something organized today.

'So Jean and Mary and I
are gonna drive into Houston'

'just scrounge around.'

'Thought I'd let Stevie have
lunch at, uh, Billy Tass's.'

Who's Billy Tass?

He's just a boy in Stevie's
age group at camp.

You, uh, speak to Jean?

- How does she sound?
- 'Fine.'

She mention that
Pilgrim thing?

I knew it.

- I just knew it.
- What?

They, uh..

...want me to go.

Mick?

Why did I know that?

Well, look, uh,
Chiz, Chiz couldn't go.

They wouldn't let him.

- What did you tell 'em?
- I didn't.

I know what
you told 'em.

You told 'em
you'd think it over.

And I know what you're gonna
tell 'em later--

Don't tell me
what I told them.

Excuse me.
What did you tell them?

Um, I-I-I listened.
I didn't say anything.

When you're afraid
of something, it happens.

The mere fact that you're afraid
of it makes it happen.

Mick, there are
no commitments.

I know. Yeah.

The Russians are
using civilians.

'So the White House felt that
for the first one anyway'

'we should use a civilian.'

- You're safe?
- Um, yes.

I'm-I'm safe.

Look, I-I've studied
this thing and, uh

and, uh, they can put that thing
up there, that much will work.

The rest, I-I don't know.

But do you think
it's worth a try?

Well, I haven't
decided yet, Mick!

Well, I should be the one
to fly it, damn it.

- Why didn't you tell 'em?
- The reasoning behind--

That's easy, they let
the Eskimos and the Moroccans

they think I'm up there
building a cobalt bomb.

Now, a civilian wouldn't do it.

He might invent one,
but he wouldn't use it.

Why not just send the voice of
America up there and do it right

or send some babe
with big beautiful teeth

and a stack of pop tunes?

I know the machine, I know
the mission, I know my skills.

I know the bird.
Now, who should I talk to?

Who really calls the shots,
the White House or the Russians?

Because they're sending
some damn geologist!

Uh, Stegler is the only
other logical choice.

Lee wouldn't do it.

He knows it's mine,
he knows what it means to me.

- And he doesn't like the odds.
- Excuse me, Colonel Stewart.

- Uh, Mr. Duellan.
- As a friend.

He thought it over. He's been
asked. I just heard from him.

Betty, let me get back to you.
Just a minute.

♪ When John Henry
was a little baby ♪

♪ Sitting on his mama's knee ♪

♪ He looked at the sky
and the moon got in his eye ♪

♪ He said ♪

♪ The moon is gonna be
the death of me mama darling ♪

♪ The moon is gonna be
the death of me ♪

♪ Well they put John Henry
on the space team ♪

♪ He got a pretty white
pressurized suit ♪

♪ They made him a major
the very next day ♪

♪ 'Cause the colonel's wife
though he looked cute ♪

♪ Colonel's wife thought
he looked cute ♪

♪ Sorry about that colonel ♪

♪ So the colonel said ♪

♪ I don't go for this jazz
at all baby ♪

♪ I gotta get rid
of this John Henry boy ♪

♪ So the colonel said ♪

♪ Johnny we gotta make
a moon shot ♪

♪ Or the Russians
will leave us behind ♪

♪ So get ready soon and we'll
drop you on the moon.. ♪

Uh, would you like a drink,
sweetheart?

No, I just wanna go home,
please.

Hey, hey. You don't, you don't
understand the executive mind.

You don't understand
anything about it.

The one thing I do understand

I understand why
you stinking bureaucrats

pull that top secret stuff

is because you're afraid the doc
is gonna say no, right?

That's what I mean.
That's what I mean.

- Gus.
- What?

You see Chiz around
anywhere?

Not since Ross pulled him
out of his medical.

Hey, hey, hey, you called me
a stinking bureaucrat.

Let me tell you something.
Let me explain something.

I don't think you understand..

♪ They took John Henry
to the launch pad ♪

♪ He blasted off with a whirl ♪

♪ And I heard him say
as the booster fell away ♪

♪ The man in the moon
is a girl ♪

♪ And she's gorgeous ♪

♪ Yeah the man in the moon
is a girl ♪

Hey, Chiz. Where you been?

Hey, lady, let's go.

Hey, you just got here!

Let's go! Come on!

Look.

- Hey, Gus.
- Alright.

Well, look.

It was either go along with 'em
or Pilgrim would be called.

- 'They made that very clear.'
- 'It's clear.'

I told them
what my doubts would be.

I told them I'd probably
chicken out

the second things
didn't look right.

I told them you should do it.

Well, that's all
the explanation I owe you.

- Quit.
- No, I won't do that.

Quit.
They'll give it back to me.

Be my...be my backup, Chiz.

I need you very badly
for that.

You're the specialist
on Pilgrim, I know that.

I kinda want you for my backup.

That I can't do.

Good luck.
I can't be your backup.

You'll just have
to forgive me about that.

Hey, Chiz.

Chiz.

Let Rick back you up. We don't
have any time to recruit.

- Rick won't buy it.
- Okay, then stay with Dunc.

'It looks like a toy
next to Apollo.'

- 'What?'
- 'A toy.'

It's no toy.

Strike out last night, Lee.
I wanna be backup.

You're not gonna make it.
You don't have a prayer.

You've too much to learn
in no time.

Yeah, it's been
a long time.

The pressure suit, it will
be clumsy. Now it's easy.

Left hand on the hatch,
left foot through.

Swing your butt
and glide in.

Ease down.

'You'll have to wear
that capsule'

'like you wear your own skin.'

'Your reflexes can't
assimilate that fast.'

You have to learn the systems
well enough to know them

when you can't remember
your own name.

You won't.

When you find out
how much you don't know

we'll see how bad
you wanna go.

I'll be right on your tail.
I'll scrub you.

Look, when it comes to the point
where I figure I can't make it

I'll get out so fast
it'll blind you.

This'll be hard enough at best,
Lee. Stay with Dunc.

- Let him pick.
- Alright, Chiz.

It's up to him.
He picks.

And when it cracks
if you don't scrub him

I'll go over your head.

Okay, friend.

I wanna set up your new
training schedule right away.

- It's been set up.
- It was.

We're gonna have to double our
efforts now, you understand?

Okay, teach,
anything you say.

'We're flying to St. Louis
in an hour.'

'I wanna get you
in that training camp.'

Now, our target area
is in Oceanus Procellarum

the Sea of Storms.

We're still receiving signals
from our Six Surveyor

we'll home in on that.

There is evidence
the Russians are also using

that Surveyor as
a navigational beacon.

How do you like
that, taxpayers?

Now, xix days before
Pilgrim launch

six days and fourteen hours..

...the shelter capsule
will be launched from the Cape.

Now, the astronaut will be
approaching the moon

just before lunar sunrise.

That's to give him
the best chance

of sighting
the shelter beacon.

If he fails
to sight the shelter..

...he merely orbits
the moon

comes back into the
gravitational influence

of the Earth
and it brings him back.

If he lands..

...he activates
the shelter.

It contains micro
meteoroid protection.

Now, inside the shelter
are the life-support systems

to maintain the astronaut
for two months.

Additional supplies
will be shot to him periodically

using the same type
cryogenic landing stage.

For how long?

Uh, until Apollo's
lunar landing is ready

perhaps ten months,
perhaps a year.

You want him to make a manual
landing after a three-day trip?

- Gus--
- Yes?

How you gonna have your man
weightless for three days?

He'll be soaking wet.

He'll have
bilateral conjunctivitis

from oxygen bathing
his eyes

and you want him
to find this beacon?

'All of a sudden
he turns on the brakes'

he gets slammed in the chest
with twice his Earth weight.

Don't you boys
check these programs out

'with aeromedical?'

Biomedical and aeromedical
experts have been

in on the planning
from the beginning.

Why not the flight sergeant?
I didn't see it.

Who's the astronaut?
Chiz?

He was.

Lee Stegler
is the Pilgrim astronaut.

No, you'll not, Gus. You'll take
it and you'll make no noise.

I'll tell you why, you hold
the naval commission--

I also happen to have
a medical degree.

Excuse me, Dr. Scavo.
Mr. Nogrady called--

I'm not talking to..

Get these down to Dr. Ehrman
right away.

- But he's gonna--
- I'll get back to him later.

Hey, listen, Ross.

Oh, Gus, cut it out,
will you?

- Betty.
- 'Yes, sir.'

- 'When did Nogrady call?'
- 'He called 20 minutes ago.'

Ross, I'd..

Well, if he calls back,
hold him off.

I've gotta talk to Walter Larson
right away. Get him.

Will you listen to me
for just one minute?

Now, I'm a doctor, Ross

and you're asking me
to help feed this boy

into a sausage machine and tell
him that it doesn't hurt.

- Now, I cannot do that.
- Gus, I know it's got risks.

I just want the chance to talk
to the people in Washington--

No, Gus, no.
Now, I've had enough threats--

I-I'm gonna
tell you something.

I don't give a damn
about your problems!

I'm thinking about Lee, I just
want a chance to talk to these--

Well, no,
you won't talk to anyone!

And you won't go over
my head, by God.

And listen carefully, Gus.

Now, I've got a job to do here
and I'm gonna do that job

with or without you.

Now, if you want
to stay in this program, Gus

you'll stop fighting us
and do your job.

Now, keep your
opinions private.

Open your mouth
to do anything but eat

and I'll see to it
that you're court-martialed.

Yes, what is it?

'Mr. Larson isn't
in his office.'

Well, damn it, find him!

Now, if you feel
that you can't work with us

then I'll relieve you
of the responsibility.

You'll relieve me
of responsibility?

How you go about that,
move a pin on your T.O. chart

write a special order?

'How you go about it, Ross?'

How do you relieve me?
Lee's my friend.

How do you relieve me
of that?

Stop making friends.

- Hi, Chiz.
- Good to see you.

- Hi, Gus!
- How are you?

- Hello, Lee.
- Hey, uh..

Chiz, tell him how I did, huh?

When you get used
to those auugs

you can land him
on whipped cream

and not make a mark. Ha.

- Tell him how I did, Chiz.
- You did fine.

Uh, Ross wanted
to give these schedules

of the training devices
to you.

Listen, I-I had an idea.

Rather than coming back
and forth here all the time

I'm just gonna
put a trailer out here

so that I can stay in there
and wait for you

and I can cook breakfast
and coffee and everything.

And everything?

You know, that thing is small,
but it functions beautifully.

You know, I'm getting,
getting the feel of it.

It, it's very much
like a good woman.

Just like you.

It was a little
rough at first

but after you get
used to it..

I'm-I'm, I'm real
happy with it.

The, the capsule,
real secure.

I can tell.

I guess you're not
too happy, huh?

If you're happy, I'm happy.
Just don't get too happy, huh?

Well, look, we made
a bargain, a promise

that if anything doesn't
look right to me, I'd get out.

Right?

I love you.

I-I mean, that, that
was the deal, alright.

When it doesn't look right,
I, I get out.

- Right.
- Well..

Look, you say hello to Stevie
for me, give him a little kiss.

I will.
Take care.

Gus, you, uh, checked
the shelter and the chamber?

- What's the matter?

Come on, get in.

He's hooked up now.
Safety's in the primary airlock.

Roger.
Attention, all stations.

This is Pilgrim shelter
activation test A9-35.

On my mark,
begin surveillance cameras.

Mark.

Okay, Lee.

'Now, Lee, your first big problem'

'when you land up there
is to find this thing.'

'Your survival shelter.'

'Now, look up at the top.'

'That's your rotating beacon.'

'That's what you're gonna
have to home in on.'

'Remember it good.'

How's he doing?

Give us a reading, Gus.

Temperature about 250 below.

Chamber pressure

down to ten to
the minus eight.

He's got two hours of oxygen
in the bio-pack.

Take it easy, friend,
you're gonna have

a long time in that shelter.

'What's he doing?'

'Every time he gets that
Peter Pan ring on'

he thinks he can fly.

'I misjudged..'

'Don't abort this thing yet,
I can get back.'

This is no game.

Stand by, Lee.
I can have help in a minute.

Alert medical.

No, I want him to get out

of this fix himself.

Get some help in that airlock.

Leave him alone.
He'll be alone up there.

Body heat rate increasing.

Heart rate 120.

Damn, he must have got it
caught on that ladder.

Suit's loosing pressure,
down to 3.5 PSIA.

Fact, he's not making it up.

Lee, get on the emergency
supplier pack.

Drop him off that rig,
can somebody do that?

Alright, let's [indistinct]
and get some help in there.

Release the Peter Pan.

- He's in bad trouble.
- No, he'll make it.

Don't screw up
the project, damn it.

You've got no project
if he is dead.

He can live about two minutes

on the oxygen
that's in his suit.

He can make it to the shell,
they'll let him go.

Get the safety man
in the primary airlock

to put him on emergency air!

Ninety seconds
of emergency O2 remains.

'Suit pressure 3.3 PSIA.'

I'm running this.
Let him work it out.

- I'm what?
- I said you're vetoed!

Get in, air safety.

Who'll be there
to help him on the moon?

Not a soul.

Full safety.
Problem's cleared.

I wouldn't advise letting him
in there for three days

without my checking
him over.

He's alright now, Gus.

Hi, Jean.

Hi.

Back early.

- Who, Lee and Chiz?
- Uh-huh.

Weren't they supposed
to come back today?

Well, not till tonight.

Hey, Mickey!

Come on in, I'll catch ya.

Thank you, Jim.

- Hi.
- Hi.

- Is Lee coming?
- Yeah, yeah, they--

Oh, I didn't think they were
coming until 8 o'clock tonight.

No, well, they made it back.
Uh, Jean..

So we're, uh, packing..

What's going on, huh?

Mickey, look,
I don't like to give advice

but I'm gonna
give you some right now.

Shoot.

Get Lee out of
this project.

Oh, Gus.

If Lee says we're going to the
moon, we're going to the moon

until Lee says we're not
going to the Moon, okay?

I don't care what Lee says.
Lee doesn't understand.

- Lee. How'd it go?
- Hey.

Listen, there are a few things
I wanna go over with you.

So come over
when you can, alright?

Lee!

- How you been?
- Fine, fine.

I was ready for you tonight.
Stevie's gonna be gone.

- Hey, how'd it go?
- Uh, uh, real good.

A little more head room
over the couch would help.

- I can hardly sit up.
- Yeah.

Components are okay

uh, placement has to be modified
a little bit.

Did you bring
your suit with you?

Huh, no.

- What did you do to your leg?
- Uh, nothing.

What do you mean
what did you do with your leg?

Well, uh, it just
twisted a little bit.

Listen, there are some things
I wanna go over that checklist.

Oh, not now, not a chance.

See you later.

I don't think he has afraid
of being ready in time.

Don't tell him, tell Ross.

What's the matter with him?

Oh, you know,
he's a doctor.

- Hey, Gusso!
- Yeah?

- Got a minute?
- Barely.

- I'll buy you drinks.
- What for?

I don't have a story for you.
Talk to Larson.

My friend, McDonnell Aircraft
just delivered

a modified Gemini capsule
to the Cape.

I hear it's going
on a booster.

And the next manned shot
is scheduled in two months.

They're building
a press right now.

Oh..

They're putting something
in the auditorium.

We're sending a guy
to the Moon in a Gemini.

Been very little static about
the Russian swing around.

Great deal of silence.

Look, I can give you
the names of those who've, uh

suddenly dropped out
of Apollo routine.

I can tell you
the name of the program.

It's Pilgrim.

Look, doc, I don't have
the whole story

but I'm gonna print
what I have.

I told you,
talk to Larson.

- Knock off cabin thermostat.
- Thermostat out.

Pilgrim, stand by for injection
and report attitude.

Three simulations
in two days.

Crank in cabin pressure failure

uh, giving an erroneous signal.

Rick, give him
oxidizer level red.

Level red.

'Coming in to retro position.'

'Uh, you lousy..'

Maneuver controller off.

Attitude control direct.

'Event timer stopped.'

Hey, what's, uh..
What's with the thermostat?

'Thirty-second mark. Five..'

Hey, there's something, there's
something with the thermostat.

- Four, three, two..
- 'It's not.. Just..'

- Wait a minute.
- 'One.'

- Just wait!
- 'Mark.'

He punched them late,
lost a second.

Thermostat control
has been lowered.

Is it too late
for a midcourse correction?

No, no,
it's correctable.

Hey, I don't know what
you're throwing at me, CAPCOM.

Thermostat is out.
Cabin pressure is dropping.

- 'Ten, nine..'
- I have oxidizer red!

I have a signal red!

Five, four, three, two..

'Do not inject!'

- Mark.
- 'Acknowledge, CAPCOM.'

Damn it, acknowledge.

Relax, Lee,
you're just aborted.

He threw everything at me

but an electrical fire,
and a missile attack.

It was nothing
he couldn't work out

in the translunar phase.

You gave me five seconds

to judge that
oxidizer problem.

I had control.

Who guaranteed
you enough time?

- He panicked.
- No, I had control.

You could've taken
a trip to the sun, boy.

You could've been sucked in,
you're out of it.

That was a j..
That was a justified abort.

- Damn it, I know that.
- I'm not gonna do it, Chiz.

Is that what these
papers are?

He'll either panic or dump
the mission. I've proved it.

I'm the only one who wants it
bad enough to make it.

You read these training reports,
you will make out he can't.

Listen to me for a minute.

Now if you hand me an evaluation
saying Lee can't cut it

I'll pass it on disclaimed
and disapproved.

And even if I
scrubbed him, Chiz

they wouldn't put you
in his place.

Now, listen to me, damn it.

We just have to shut it down!

It’s not a question here of
who's the better man?

The only question is whether Lee
can fight at all with safety.

From what I've seen, he can.

Now, Lee's bright,
he's agile, he's fast

and you've run into that.

Lee, I want to
hear it from you.

'You say you can do it?'

Yes.

Ross.

Walter, please.

In my sleep.

Well, you should
take him back, Chiz.

- I want you to reconsider this.
- Ross.

This is just a reflection
of your own ego.

Ross. I don't know how it
got out, but it leaked.

Oh, damn it.

Wait a minute, Chiz.
Chiz, wait a minute!

- Who figured out this story?
- Seidel.

Seidel? Seidel is here
all the time!

Didn't you bring him in
and brief him?

Close the door and wait a minute
will you, Chiz?

- 'I brought on the services.'
- 'No.'

'And you don't know
how it leaked'

'how Seidel got the story?'

Two days more and we could've
had an unbeatable edge.

Well, those men should have
been brought in and told

and sworn to secrecy.

You just can't keep
a project this size--

Is your buzzer off?

Mr. Nogrady is calling
from Washington.

That's two days of secrecy
we lose. Alright.

- Uh, does this change anything?
- No.

Be prepared to leave for the
Cape tomorrow as planned,
Lee.

The day after tomorrow
the shelter goes

'five days later you fly.'

Alright.

- 'Hey, you want me to leave?'
- 'I don't want you to leave.'

'Hello. Close the door,
will you?'

You couldn't
make this mission, Chiz.

You got the guts,
but you haven't got the brains.

Hey, aren't you getting
a little old

for that mouse
around your neck?

- Who? Jose?
- 'Yeah.'

But mom won't buy me
a real one.

Uh-huh. I see.

Right in there.

'Good catch.'

'You know where
I'm going, son?'

- 'No.'
- 'To the Moon.'

'Oh, yeah? Apollo?'

'No, no, something else,
something right away.'

- 'To the Moon?'
- 'All the way.'

'And back?'

Well, if everything is alright
up there, I'll stay for a while.

'Maybe as long as a year.'

- 'Where on the Moon?'
- 'The Sea of Storms.'

Hey...that's not far

from Copernicus. Is it?

They wouldn't let me go along.
Would they?

You'll stay here
and take care of your mom.

I thought that was supposed
to be your job.

Yeah, well,
now I've elected you.

I got you.

Walter, there's a rumor
they're gonna scrub the mission.

Oh, Joe,
you know better than that.

Please.
Please, please..

'Make way.'

'Come on, boys, will you?'

Okay.

'This is the launch
of Pilgrim Lunar Shelter.'

'Ten, nine, eight, seven'

'six, five'

'four, three'

'two, one.'

'Ignition.'

'Lift off.'

'This is Pilgrim control test
1-5-0-1.'

'Temperature 82 degrees.'

'Wind five knots southwest.'

'Barometric pressure 29.94.'

Jean?

- Did you seen Lee around here?
- Yeah.

They're, around
here somewhere.

♪ April in Paris ♪

♪ Chestnuts in blossom ♪

♪ In blossom ♪

Uh, Mickey,
how do you feel about it?

You know, a lot of wives
have told their husbands

to take a trip to the Moon.

Mickey, do you plan
on staying down--

Lee?

The Russians have launched.

What? When they..
W-wh-when they--

Six-six hours ago.
Come on.

Hey, Lee, did you see our
Lee Stegler Pilgrim special?

Ham, turkey and coleslaw.
Naturally no chicken.

- Hey, good luck, Lee.
- Hey, see you tomorrow, Lee!

Hey, what did I do,
say something wrong?

He doesn't like
ham, turkey and coleslaw.

He likes chicken.

♪ Face to face ♪

♪ Mm mm mm ♪

♪ La la lee ♪♪

Well..

They went about
six hours ago.

We caught her right away
this time.

What?

The Russians, uh, launched.

They're gonna
get there first.

So I guess
that's the end of Pilgrim.

So what does that mean, Lee?

Um, well, nothing.
Nothing's been cancelled.

That's only
a matter of time, isn't it?

No.
Why should it be?

Lee, you know there can only be
one first man on the Moon.

You don't have a reason now,
you wouldn't be a martyr

just a possible suicide.

Su? Wh-what difference
does it make?

It's-it's not suicide.

Look, as long as the decision
to land stays with me

it's an
acceptable proposition.

What do you mean,
acceptable proposition?

Suppose you get hit
by a meteor

suppose you get
a blast of radiation

and you cook..

Well, you could
suppose anything.

Well, you suppose
that you fall on your back

and you can't get up because
the bio-pack holds you down--

Would you cut it?
Cut it.

Or how would you like
to get hit in the left eyeball

by a dust-sized particle
or a rock

going 70,000 miles an hour?

'Alright, shut up, alright?'

Gus?

Is that what you were trying
to tell me the other day?

When? Huh?

Look, what I wanna know is

did you get into this
one step at a time, Lee

or did you jump in
over your head?

- Lee.
- Huh?

If you knew all these
things all along..

...you were lying like hell
to me, weren't you?

Honey, it could happen.

It could happen.

I mean, so-so can a lot
of things happen. Accidents..

They're not, they're not..
You talked to her?

- I tried, yes.
- No, not to me, huh?

Well, Ross ordered me not--

Ross ordered you
not to talk to me

but you could talk to her?

Look, I wanted to stop you

but you wouldn't
listen to me, either.

Y-you, you leaked the story,
too, then.

Oh, come off it! I don't know
what you're talking about.

You know, Chiz,
Chiz at least was honest.

I don't give
a damn about it.

Alright, what are you talking
about? Come off it!

I want you to survive.
I value you.

Um...you think I've been
lying to you, is that it?

'I mean, you think
I lied, huh?'

Oh, Lee.

- Lee.
- Is that all?

- Is-is that all? Hmm?
- I guess that's all.

Yeah, well, then you've got
nothing to say, have you?

Have you?

Uh, you, you said

"Oh, Lee" I think.
Hmm?

Lee, what happened to all
the caution you promised me?

What do you expect me to do?

Smile?

Yeah, you smile.

You got that?

Hmm?

If it kills you,
you just smile.

'Smile!'

Hey, honey.

Everything that could
go wrong has.

Well, the Russians
are doing very well.

Dr. Ehrman's opinion is that

the unqualified radar beacon
on our shelter

substantially reduces
our probability of success.

It looks bad.

But it's not officially
a postponement

until we get the definite word
from Washington.

Everything else
is still working.

The beacon is still up.

Even if we decided,
we still got a guidance problem.

Look, we have a Surveyor up
there, we could get it fixed.

- You still got a--
- Russians are halfway there.

What do you wanna go for,
to congratulate them?

They are going to have
to land in sunlight.

Now, that's gonna be
a problem to them.

They had a shortcut, uh

to-to get
the shot off early.

Now I say that their chances are
lousy and ours are still good.

The Surveyor can't find it,
we don't have a shelter.

We know it's north and east
of Hansteen, approximately.

The only thing, the only
thing that has been added

to the risk of survival..

'The only thing are the odds.'

The odds of, of-of me
aborting the mission

when I get there.

Now, we accepted that risk
from the start.

It's up there, it's warm,
it's working. We're ready.

I mean, so we're second,
better by three days and a year.

- Now, you don't see that, huh?
- No, I don't.

I'll be in Washington all day
tomorrow, Lee.

I'll back your point of view.

We'll just proceed and see.

'The three-man Russian ship'

'is expected to land
tomorrow morning.'

'And as usual, Moscow has
released no information.'

'Even though the Russians
will be the first on the Moon'

'Washington has
made the decision'

'to go ahead
with project Pilgrim.'

'So Lee Stegler will launch
tomorrow morning as scheduled.'

'This the latest news
from Washington.'

Hey.

Uh, where you been?

- Just went for a drive.
- Oh.

- Uh, you left the TV set on.
- Oh, stupid.

Well, where'd you go?

No place to go.

I can't even go to the pool.

'Cause I dive off the board

with microphones
in their hands saying

"Do you really think
he'll come back, Mrs. Stegler?"

Boy, they got neighbors after
me, dull ones, too.

The, uh, P.I.O. men down here say
you've got a great image, honey.

Oh, don't you believe it.

Oh, the public will
never forgive me

for having a mother
who was divorced

and a father who drank too much

and, dear, I am a blonde.

And believe me,
blondes have more fun.

You're the,
uh, American dream.

'Oh, brother.'

Why don't we just play
the scene out right here?

We could and, you know,
be headlines tomorrow

because some guy is probably
up in the air conditioner

and he's, you know,
with his creepy, peepy

it'll be on network
television tomorrow.

The headlines will be

"Astronaut, uh,
takes wife to motel

kisses her goodbye
and blasts off to the Moon!"

- It's--.
- Honey.

- Come on, honey.
- Oh, Lee.

Oh, I'm sorry, Lee.

You wanted a good girl.

They, um...
wouldn't let me see you.

Yeah, that's right.

You'd be surprised
what those big shots can do.

Move the world, I heard.

Can you spend the night?

Uh, not-not all night, no.

'If I'm..'

'If I'm honest
with myself, Mick..'

'...I know I got sucked in.'

'I promised you caution,
but uh..'

'Well..'

It's easy, it's really easy.

I never had to choose.

There wasn't a time when I had
to weigh the mission

on one side, my life
with you and Stevie

on the other.

I knew I'd be back, I never had
a thought of not coming back.

It's not fair but, uh..

That's the way
it's gonna be.

Because I, I can't cope
with a choice like that one.

I'm letting it slide.

I don't believe
I won't be back.

I spent years..

...thinking of myself
taking that trip.

I always thought I'm the guy
that's gonna do it.

That's why, uh..
If I, uh..

'If I don't
make this trip, Mick..'

'...then, who the hell am I?'

'Forgive me.'

'Forgive me.'

'Be sure to wake me
before you leave.'

Okay, let's go.

If you take care and don't blow
your luck, I'll see you again.

God go with you, Lee.

- Right this way.
- Goodbye, Lee.

Hey.

You forgot something, here.

'I can see
I'm not gonna be alone.'

'Who's idea was this?'

Stevie wanted to know
if Jose couldn't

go to the Moon.
Why not?

Yeah, why not?

Have a good trip.

'Yeah, Chiz.'

Now you've been ordered not to
land unless you see the shelter

and don't get any cute ideas.

'Cold helium
and controlled helium..'

'...both at flight pressure.'

Control voltage on.
Control computers on.

Control accelerometers on.
Q-ball system on.

Send switch-11 on.

'Retro sequence selector off.
Retro sequence clock read out.'

'Zero, zero.'

'Capsule recorders on.'

T minus 13 minutes,
30 seconds and counting.

Preliminary calibration command
on for five seconds.

Give cal start.

Verified flight sequence
is zero indication.

Are you ready?

Cannot verify IU at this time.

What's the problem, Frank?

We got a no go here
at pre-check.

'It could have been a noise
impulse, a onetime only'

'or it could be
an intermittent problem.'

'We're checking all inputs.'

'I'd hate to have to hold
the count.'

Well, what is it?

'We'd better hold.'

We are holding
at 13 minutes and 2 seconds.

There's a faulty readout,
in your guidance computer.

We're trying to run it down.

At about 50 minutes before
they have to postpone launch?

'We are clear.'

'S-C-124..'

- '...30 seconds..'
- 'Roger.'

Count resumes at T minus 14.

Going to automatic sequence.

We're giving you four seconds
to start lifting after commit.

'Otherwise, abort.'

'Roger.'

Ten

nine

'eight'

'seven'

'six'

'five'

'four'

'three'

'two'

'one.'

'Fire.'

Roger, I have lift off.

Clock is operating.

'Roger. Clock going.'

Little bit of vibration
feels good anyway.

Roll okay.

'Three, two, one, mark.'

Roger.

Backup clock
started running good.

Altimeter up off the peg.

Give you a hack
in 30 seconds.

Coming through the clouds now.

'You look good here.'

Mark 30, okay.
Fuel, okay.

Oxygen, okay.

All systems appear to be go.

Some noise building now.

Clear blue sky.

'Cabin pressure,
14.7 and dropping.'

'A beauty, Lee?'

Okay, 25 amps
and power looks good.

'Your pitch is 56.'

Roger. Pitch is good.

Fill the pitch program
starting now.

Sky is blackening.

'Roger.'

'Pitch 34, lovely.'

Roger.

She's nosing slow
and easy now.

Sun coming through the window.

Wow, oxygen is go.

Cabin pressure sealed at 5.5

and holding.

'Roger.'

'Confirmed, very good.'

'Pitch, minus four.'

'Roger.
I agree on pitch.'

Houston confirms,
all go for orbital coast.

Nice, sweet trajectory.

Apogee 148 miles.

Injection into lunar trajectory
in ten minutes.

Altitude of spacecraft
will be

120 miles over Johannesburg.

Almost perfect.

Now, all we have to do
is thread the needle.

Fifteen seconds to injection.

Ten

nine

'eight'

'seven'

'six, five'

'four'

'three'

two

one.

'Fire.'

Engine start.

Eight tenth G.

'Ignition confirmed.'

Vibration building.

How's, uh, how's my flight path,
CAPCOM, huh?

How's, how's my,
uh, flight path?

'Hold on.'

Huh?

'Hold on.'

Man, this thing is,
uh, shaking badly.

I, uh, I don't, I can't tell
if she's gonna hold together.

'Hang on.'

Speed is over 21,000.
Hey, I don't know.

'We're an expected
300 from ignition.'

'Hold it together.'

It's a wild horse, CAPCOM.

It's bumpy as hell.

Still gaining.

It's too late
for this boost, Chiz.

Another minute
and she's gonna buckle.

'Be prepared for manual cut off
if you get in trouble.'

Smoothing out a little.

Uh, she's smoothing out.

What-what about my path?

'Your path is fine,
on the wire.'

Coming up to, uh, cut off.

Just like advertised.

I feel separation.

Separation confirmed.

Our velocity is 24,515.

Houston Fido confirms
nominal cut off conditions.

'Right.'

Right out of the ball park.

Have a good trip.

'Lee, this is Thompson
at the Cape.'

'Chiz and his group have
left to catch their plane'

'for Houston mission control.'

'They will take over
your flight from there'

'in approximately three hours.'

'Until then, we will
continue control from here.'

Yes, we'll be controlling
from Houston mission control

for the rest of the flight.

I'll set you fellows
up a press headquarters

once we get there, okay?

Hey, say what's this?

This is a specially
chartered plane.

This stuff isn't rationed.

Just got a report
from Houston control.

He's right on the button.

We got a body temperature
reading yet?

No, I didn't get
any medical report.

Well, I want one.

What was that?

Nothing, nothing.

But this only thing
I don't understand

Is why we have two drinks
maximum on a flight.

There's never a time
a guy needs..

My dad had
a furniture store there.

I still, I still go there.

I like it.

'All the sunshine..'

- Hey.
- Hello!

Lee's been keeping up
a running commentary

ever since insertion.

They've been trying
to get him to nap

but he won't.

He never was
much of a napper.

It looks good,
it really does.

Well, I guess it's best
not to talk about it.

Chiz.

I'm sorry.

I really am.

I guess I was afraid
that if I start to talk

then I'd never stop.

Just turn inside out.

You know, when all
this first started

I wasn't gonna put
any pressure on.

I was gonna open my
eyes real wide

'and say, "Darling, this is a
wonderful thing you're doing.'

I'm proud of you."

Then when it got down to it,
down to the moment of truth

I tried to stop him,
I really did.

I tried to stop him too,
you know.

I tried to break him
every way I could.

Well, Chiz, you're
the one who'll be in

the Apollo to bring him back.

No, I don't think
it'll be me.

I have a feeling you only get
one chance in this business.

One time out.

Lee's doing fine,
honey, he really is.

Pilgrim, we'll be
coming to a short

status report in two minutes.

Got a mouth full of spaghetti
and meat sauce.

I want you to fire that chef.

Hold on.

We've planned you a midcourse
correction for the 20th hour.

- 'Roger!'
- CAPCOM, this is Ehrman.

Go ahead, Gus.

I'd like another round
of isometric exercises.

Pilgrim, Ehrman requests another
round of isometric exercises.

What about my dinner,
can I eat my dinner?

'Uh, uh, give in a little,
will you, Lee?'

Beginning isometrics.

Biceps.

What do you want me
to do with that?

- Check these out.
- Okay.

'Ahem, see now, where was I?'

Oh, the, uh, the midcourse
correction has begun

the cryogenic fueled
landing engine will

push the capsule
into a slightly changed path.

You're, you're blocking us,
you're blocking us.

This would be
to minimize the air

'and get the astronaut the best
possible view of the area'

where the shelter
would be found.

Now to abort, he, uh,
he just doesn't fire again.

And he'll, he'll figure eight.

'If you get any
voice command from me'

'punch in and override
the automatic.'

'Roger.'

Nine, eight

seven, six

'five, four'

'three, two'

'one. Mark.'

I've got, uh..

Well, that sun is, uh..

I've, I've got no light.

'Well, they should be firing.'

I've, I've got no light, uh..

I felt the thrust
but my fire..

Engine fire indicator isn't on.

'Should I override?'

Systems?

Confirmed firing.

No, firing's confirmed.

'Rick, come here.'

'Uh, Pilgrim,
your trajectory's fine.'

'You're sure no color
or light at all?'

'Negative.'

'Lee, check the bulb,
check the breaker.'

'If it's a short
we'll find it.'

'Roger'

- What do you think it is?
- 'I don't know yet.'

Should this show up
on any of the breadboards?

It should, let's take
a look at it anyway.

I'm riding this thermostat

down here for
the last ten minutes.

Trying to keep the temperature
constant in here, I'm losing.

'Understand.'

What do you mean "Understand?"

What's the word down there?

'We're doing it
as fast as we can.'

Say again.

I said, we're doing it
as fast as we can.

If the solenoids jam,
we get a warning indicator.

We should.

If it jammed
in a closed position..

Then he's still
draining his batteries

and he's in one hell of a spot.

Let's try and run through
the simulation record

and find a comparable
problem here.

It can't be done..

We have no record
of malfunction.

That malfunction
could be anywhere.

Power could be
draining here, or here.

- He loses heat, he loses radio.
- Heat and radio.

All the automatic
sequencing nowhere--

- 'You've gotta find it.'
- Alright.

Here, show him the big
board.

'Set me up all
the electrical sequences'

'in that spacecraft,
from A-9, A-16

'through 0250.'

I think his thermostat's
off.

Radio transmission
is deteriorating.

- Any change?
- Radio transmission's faulty.

It keeps cutting out.

Lee, this is Chiz.

Do you read?

'Uh, what's, what's the..

Uh, have you had any sleep
since the first break?

Negative, we got plenty to do.

'You'll be sleeping a while.'

'Now listen we believe
that there's, uh'

'some arc...at the launch.'

Repeat, rep..

At the launch
there was some arcing

and you're losing
electrical power.

There's no way to repair without
a risk of the retros firing

and sending you out
of trajectory.

You'd never get back.

- What?
- 'You'd never get back.'

'I want you to cut off
as many electrical systems'

'as possible.'

As possible?

'Right.'

'Attitude control
will be normal.'

Now go on to suit pressure
and heat, and let your cabin--

'Repeat, repeat.'

Go on to suit pressure
and heat

and let your cabin
temperature go down.

And turn the thermostat down.

'Thermostat down.'

'Right.'

'Roger. On manual.'

Now I want you to cut
off your radio transmitter

and other RF systems,

except Bio-Med.

- 'Set your, watch for--'
- Uh, what? Repeat.

'Set your stopwatch
for four hours'

'and we'll make contact then.'

Oh, that's,
that's too long I think.

'I-I didn't read. Repeat.'

Um..

I-I don't think, uh

that I should be
cut off that long.

Don't fight me now, Lee,
you've got other things

to worry about,
I said I'd get you there.

'I'm, uh, Ahem!'

'I'm worried.
I'm afraid, uh..'

'I'm afraid these
controls might freak out'

'when the temperature drops.'

He's doesn't wanna
cut off his radio.

That's his only lifeline.

Lee, you're
instructed to sleep.

Now set your timer.

we'll take a status report
every four hours.

Trust me.

You got to hell,
I don't want to sleep--

'Cut it off.'

Going on suit pressure.

Resume radio contact
in four hours.

We got a couple of hours,
you're gonna get some sleep?

Um, no, I think
I'll stick around.

Okay, well, call me
if anything.

Honey, it's alright.
I got some fresh clothes.

You'll feel better
if you change.

Okay.
Thank you.

Is that his heart beat?

That's chest.

Left side.

What's that?

Respiration.

'Breathing.'

'Blood pressure.'

Temperature.

We take intermittent
readings.

You see, we're watching
him constantly, Mickey.

He's doing very well.

'Functioning beautifully.'

But everything's all wrong.

They'll find a way
to fix it.

Uh, Pilgrim control
now reports that

uh, Astronaut Lee Stegler
having successfully

completed his
midcourse maneuver.

He's now observing
a period of radio silence.

Plan for this stage
of the mission,

he'll be uh,
sleeping, exercising.

Uh, I know you're all
interested in the three-man

Russian ship Voskhod.

Well, they should have
landed on the Moon

twelve to fourteen hours ago.

But up to now,
no word has been received.

Now, while Lee Stegler
is sleeping

we'd like to make
perfectly clear to you

the plan of Pilgrim project.

Now, when Lee Stegler
lands on the Moon

he'll immediately make his way
to this survival shelter.

'Which contains all the
necessary life support systems.'

'He'll find it by means
of this rotating beacon.'

Once inside the shelter
he'll remain there until

we send up another
survival shelter

or until the Apollo team
goes up to get him.

Uh, the telemetry
aboard the shelter

will notify us immediately

the minute he's safely inside.

Uh, for those of you, who'd like
copies and photographs

of this shelter, why, there
are some here on the table

'and any other paraphernalia
you may think you might need.'

'In one hour, I want you
to start raising the thermostat.'

'Raise thermostat.'

Raising thermostat.

Raise it at 30 degree jumps.

Uh, I, I don't think, I can
depend on these sequences.

- 'Never...sequences..'
- Wha-what? Repeat.

'Don't, ne-never mind sequences
we'll talk you through.'

'Told you, we'll get you there.'

I understand.

Roger all instruments.

Give visual report.

'Uh, getting...good...
read off..'

'but, but,
nothing from shelter.'

'Roger.'

We have you at
600 miles lunar altitude.

Any sighting of the shelter?

No, I, uh..

I don't see the beacon.

I estimate another six minutes
to reach maximum viewing angle.

Swing her around
and sight from the window.

'How's it handling?'

Uh, it's a little
sluggish, maybe some

freeze up in the attitude jets.

'How's it handling?
Say again.'

'Lee, how is it handling?
Do you read?'

'How is it handling?'

Oh, my God.

'Do you read me?
How is it handling, Lee?'

Operational, operational.

'Difficulty...here.'

- 'Repeat.'
- 'Do you read?'

'Uh, it's fantastic, Chiz.'

'No sign of beacon.'

'Tell me if you've sighted.'

Do you read?
Have you sighted the shelter?

'Uh, negative, negative.'

We'll, get into
retrofire position.

He's right on trajectory.

'Retrofire position.'

Repeat.

'Get into retro fi..'

- 'Do you read?'
- Roger, roger, roger.

'Have you sighted, Pilgrim?'

The monitor's giving a great
view of the surface.

'I'm covering
the entire impact area.'

'I have not.'

'Repeat, I,
I have not, sighted..'

'Wait a minute and repeat.'

'Difficulty in
reading you is severe.'

I want that signal
hyped up so we can hear it.

The signal to noise is too low
he hasn't got the voltage.

'You've got three minutes, friend.'

'Have you sighted the she..'

Checking up, uh,
towards Hansteen.

'There're some reflections.'

No, I, I don't see them now.

'Do you re..'

'Do not land if you..'

Repeat.

- Huh?
- 'Do not land..'

'If you don't see it.'

Haven't found it.

Uh, look for the blinky, you
should be able to see it now.

- Don't land unless you see it.
- 'Haven't found it.'

Under no circumstances
attempt to land

'unless you have
a confirmed sighting.'

Verify, verify before you land.

We feel you're getting weaker.

'Cannot read you, Chiz.'

'Is there anything, Lee?'

Commit comes in 65 seconds.

'Um..'

I, I can't see it, uh..

'It's within 20 miles. Look!'

'You don't have any more
time to play around.'

'Ninety sec, now forget it and'

'put her into
lunar orbit, Pilgrim.'

'Do you read?'

I, uh,
I believe I see it.

Uh, give me,
give me retro fire count.

'I don't understand.
I want a confirmation.'

'Give some verification.'

'I, I, I believe
I see it east of Hansteen.'

'Give me a count.'

'Verify..'

I said count.

'Fifteen seconds
to thirty seconds..'

Twenty seconds to fire.

'Fifteen seconds.'

Ten

nine, eight, seven

six, five, four

three

'two, one.'

'Fire.'

Engine firing.

He cut the cord
he can't come back.

'Ignition confirm,
firing and deceleration.'

'Do you read, Pilgrim?'

Pilgrim control.

Do you read?

One thousand feet.

Hovering.

Altitude rockets
are firing.

Still hovering.

Is he alright?

Fast, hard.
I think he's blacking out.

Come on, Lee, come on.

How long has that thing burned?

Five hundred feet.

Going very easy.

'Landing gear activated.'

'Rate of descent
seven feet per second.'

'Cut off.'

Zero altitude.

He's down.

My God, he's made it.

Hold it, hold it
just a minute, everybody.

'May I have your
attention please?'

Mission control reports

that Pilgrim has just landed
successfully on the Moon.

Pilgrim, Pilgrim control.

Do you read?

Pilgrim?

Pilgrim control.

Do you read?

Pilgrim?

Pilgrim control?

Do you read?

Pilgrim?

Pilgrim control?

Do you read?

Oh, let's see he's got another

almost three hours
of oxygen left.

Two hours and forty minutes.

He couldn't have
reached the shelter.

If he started
to activate it

we'd have received
telemetry on it.

He didn't see it,
I knew it when he landed.

He said, "Believe I've sighted."

That's an old
fighter pilot phrase.

What you say when you
fire into the dark

and hope you hit a target.

"I believe I have sighted."

Why would he land
without being sure?

Yeah, Chiz, you tell him.

Why would he land
without being sure?

I told him not to land
unless he was sure.

He didn't have
anything to prove to me.

Gus, knock it off.

Look..

The man made his decision

that's why he was
there in the spacecraft.

No matter how it's programmed,
but when the time comes

the man makes the decision.

He sees that lunar
surface like clean snow.

Nobody's touched it yet.

Gravitational pull
of the Moon is very strong

to the mind
with imagination.

That's why Stegler
is sitting there now

waiting for his
oxygen to run out.

Anybody with the courage
to go would have landed.

What's the mystery?

There's no mystery
that's why Stegler is there.

Coming in?

I don't know where I
should be while he is dying.

He won't.

You had exactly
one hour to play that game.

Time stopped.

Have you talked to Stevie?

What would I tell him?

Safe landing.

Alright.

Then what do I say to
his next question?

You just gonna sit here?

New Moon, full Earth.

I'm sorry?

The phases of the Moon
are the opposite

of the phases of the Earth

'He sees us big.'

You have no right
to cheer me up.

There are no storms

on the Sea of Storms,
are there?

No storms.

Will he come..

Hey, gentlemen.

We know Lee Stegler's
on the Moon.

But radio communication
is out, he has approximately

forty five minutes of oxygen
left in his bio pack

in which to find
and activate the shelter.

I just received word that the
shelter had not been activated.

Lee Stegler has less than
seven minutes of oxygen left.

Um..

However since radio
communication is out

why, we're not exactly
sure of his status

and uh, it's,
it's possible that..

Well, we'll-we'll keep you
informed certainly

when anything, anything, uh,
of any definite, uh, nature..