For All Mankind (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 6 - Home Again - full transcript

Gentlemen, I hope I'm not intruding.

Oh, lookie here, boys.

Gene Kranz,
the new director of Johnson Space Center,

deigns to visit us common working stiffs.

I thought what the hell,
I'll drop by and say farewell.

Plus,
I wanted to personally congratulate you

on finally getting a command of your own,
Mike. You earned it.

I appreciate that, Gene.

Hey, listen,
you tell Neil that I guarantee

we'll do a better job of landing
than he and Buzz.

I think everyone did a better job
of landing than he and Buzz.



Gentlemen, Godspeed.

Houston,
this is Cape Kennedy Launch Control.

We are approaching T minus one hour
ten minutes and that's a hold.

Scheduled hold for flight handoff.

Copy that, Kennedy. Holding at one hour
and ten minutes for flight handoff.

CAPCOM,
do you have our settlers on the line?

I do indeed, Deke.

Jamestown Base, this is Houston.
Patching you into the big board.

Do you read? Over.

Houston, this is Jamestown Base.
We read you.

You better not start
the festivities without us.

Wouldn't dream of it, Ed.

Administrator Weisner is
just getting his speech out now.

Harry's doing the speech?
This is gonna take hours.



I'll keep it brief, Gordo.
I know you have a short attention span.

This is a big day.

An important day for our country.

A day a lot of people said
would never come.

But it's also a big day here at NASA.

And it is only proper that
we should recognize it as an important one

in the annals of our program.

Because today

a woman becomes one of our
flight directors for the very first time.

She earned her place at this desk

through her dedication and commitment
to the highest standards of this program.

By the depth of her technical
and professional knowledge.

But most of all,
by the leadership she demonstrated

during the establishment
of Jamestown Base.

Her ability is unquestioned.

Her character and integrity are
of the highest order.

And so, ladies and gentlemen,
on behalf of President Kennedy,

it is my honor and privilege
to present to you

our new White Team flight director
for the launch of Apollo 23,

Irene Hendricks.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, all.

I can only say
that I stand on the shoulders of giants.

And I'm proud to lead this group
of exceptional professionals.

Now, let's get back to work.
We've got a mission to launch.

I want those ascent trajectory updates,
please.

Let's go.

And Irene, now that you're in charge,

we've got a few bones
we'd like to pick with you.

Like the shower.

And the food.

And the defective thermal ice drill bits.

And the food.

And about 5,000 other things
we'd love to hand over to Apollo 23

when they get here next week.

Okay, guys. Message received.

And I'll be happy to
take all your complaints

as soon as we get this bird up
and on its way to the moon.

That bird was supposed to get here
two weeks ago.

Day one, already behind, Irene.

I'm gonna file your complaint
in the appropriate receptacle, Gordo.

- Charlie, let's cut that video feed, okay?
- Yes, ma'am.

But now we leave our coverage
of Apollo 23 at the hold point

to return to our special report.

We are down to the final minutes

in the vote to ratify the Equal Rights
Amendment in the Illinois State Senate,

and the tally is very close.

Passage of the ERA was declared
a top priority of President Ted Kennedy

in his inaugural speech,

and the last two years
have seen a flurry of activity

as his administration
put on a full-court press

in statehouses around the country.

As of today,
36 states have ratified the amendment,

leaving it only one state shy.

Supporters had actually written off
the state of Illinois

until Republican Governor Ogilvie,
in a surprising turn,

threw his support
behind the amendment early last year...

Yes, I knew it!

Which has created
something of a political...

Just a moment.

And I'm getting word
that the final vote is being cast now.

And the vote...

is yea.

I think we're looking at a bad actuator.

Should only be a few minutes
before we swap it out,

and then we'll clear the tower.

I got nowhere to be.

It's a beautiful machine.

I hold in my hand
the prime crew of Apollo 24.

Why do I get the feeling there's a reason
you're keeping me in suspense?

Don't know what you're talking about.

The astronauts are,
in ranking of seniority...

Ellen Waverly, mission commander,

Harrison Liu, and...

Deke Slayton.

What?

Come on, Deke. What are you doing?

My medical clearance for flight status,
signed, sealed and delivered.

You've had a heart condition
since Mercury. Everyone knows that.

Which has officially been noted as no
longer a flight risk by the medical staff.

As attested to in the document
in your hand.

The president isn't gonna like this.

He's gonna think
it's some kinda publicity stunt.

He can argue with the flight surgeon
if he doesn't like it.

And as chief of the astronaut office,

I'm assigning Deke Slayton
to prime crew on Apollo 24.

Far as I'm concerned,
that's the final word.

Jesus.

I know this must be
very disturbing to hear.

Well, I mean this is completely
unacceptable behavior.

I can assure you they both
will be severely punished for it.

I think I'm not that concerned
with their punishment per se.

I'm more interested in getting
to the emotional roots

of this kind of antisocial behavior.

Antisocial? Well...

They're not psychopaths.

They blew up some toilets
with cherry bombs.

It's a prank,
and they'll be punished for it.

I think we need to explore

whether there are issues at home
that might be underlying this.

And I would really like to include
Mrs. Stevens in these discussions,

since her son is one of the boys involved.

Well, Mrs. Stevens is unable to attend,
due to the demands of her job.

Yes, she's an astronaut.
I'm aware of that.

As is her husband,

and my husband, both of whom are
on the moon at this moment.

I'm aware of that too, Mrs. Baldwin.

And I can only imagine the stresses and
strains that must put on both families.

Oh, we manage.

Thank you
for bringing this to my attention.

I can assure you,
I will handle it from here.

- Well...
- Thank you.

Thank you for your time, Mrs. Baldwin.

Not a word out of either one of you
until we are home.

And then we will discuss
the appropriate consequences

for the vandalization of school property.

Let's go.

- Yes, ma'am.
- Yes, ma'am.

I wish I could see my dad's face today.

Last Thanksgiving, we had a huge fight

about whether ERA meant
we'd all have to use the same bathrooms.

Well, it'd be a lot cleaner.

John Stennis is gonna fight
the whole "women in combat" thing

on the Armed Forces Committee,
just you watch.

He may be a Democrat,
but he's still from Mississippi.

Well, Mississippi, California, whatever.

No way Americans are gonna watch their
daughters march off to war, believe me.

Used to say that about women in space too.

It's all just a matter of time.

It's the Equal Rights Amendment, Pam,
not the Gay Rights Amendment.

You can both be as cynical as you like,
but the winds of change are blowing.

Actuator swap-out and test is complete.

We're closing up and exiting the tower.

I'll check in when we reach the ICC.

I'm hungry.

Do they still have those double-decker
cheeseburgers...

FIDO,
do we have updates on launch winds yet?

Yes, Flight.
Just got the balloon data from the Cape.

- We're within launch parameters.
- Keep an eye on the data.

Last flight we came close
to exceeding angle of attack limits.

Oh, my God.

- Oh, no.
- I'm not sure. I'm just seeing it now too.

Lock the doors.

Sixty days have now passed

since the shocking explosion of Apollo 23

on the launchpad at Cape Kennedy.

The tragic deaths of 12 members
of the ground crew

caught in the tower during the explosion,

including Gene Kranz, the newly appointed
director of Johnson Space Center,

continue to cast a pall
over the entire program and the nation.

The three astronauts who were
pulled away from the exploding vehicle

by the emergency launch escape tower

are still recovering
from injuries sustained

when their damaged command module
landed on the beach instead of the ocean.

Meanwhile, the three astronauts stranded
in the Jamestown Base

continue to do experiments
and do maintenance work

on America's first manned habitat
on the moon.

Astronauts Baldwin, Stevens and Poole
have been receiving resupply provisions

via unmanned Titan rockets while
they wait for NASA's board of inquiry

to identify the cause
of the Saturn V explosion.

But there can be no relief crew
for the astronauts

until the board certifies the fleet of
Saturn rockets ready to fly once again.

The FBI continues to be concerned
at the possibility

that KGB operatives
might have sabotaged Apollo 23

as a way of delaying work
on the Jamestown Base.

To that end,
we would like to begin interviews

with some of your support personnel
here at JSC

and at NASA facilities at Cape Kennedy,
JPL, and around the country.

- I understand.
- I don't.

All due respect, but why is
the FBI still going down this rabbit hole?

We know the cause.
And it wasn't some Russian secret agent.

You think you know the cause.

And our investigation's already turned up

numerous instances of breaches of
security protocol at NASA facilities,

any one of which could have allowed
Soviet agents

access to highly classified information

on the future military expansion
of the Jamestown Base.

All right.

Special Agent Donahue has been given
wide latitude by the Department of Justice

to follow any lead that could be related
to security breaches here at NASA,

and I'm sure the entire board of inquiry
will give him full cooperation.

Thank you all for coming.

Can't wait to leave all this behind.

Got an extra seat?

Weisner's looking for ya.

Great.

Gotta look at that every day now, huh?

Keeps his memory alive.

No, it doesn't.

You know what it does?

It says just how insignificant
we are in this room.

What's that supposed to mean?

If an astronaut had died on that pad,

there'd be a hell of a lot more
than a plaque and a picture.

After Apollo 1,
you couldn't turn on a television

or look at a magazine
or newspaper for months

without seeing the faces of those guys.

Like "American heroes."
"Best of the best."

"The nation mourns."

But one of us dies,

one of the faceless,
nameless grunts in Mission Control,

and it's picture and a plaque

and then back to Happy Days
and Six Million Dollar Man.

Those other 11 guys who died with Gene?
You know who they are?

They're just the other 11 guys.

Have you been drinking, Bill?

I'm not on duty.
And it's none of your goddamn business.

How'd you get in here?

Oh, sorry. My father let me in.

Octavio Rosales? He's one of the janitors.

Oh, Octavio. Yeah, I know who that is.

He talked to one of the security guards
who said it was okay.

Did he?

Logarithms. Hated those.

They're not too difficult.

Not yet.

You wanted to see me, Mr. Weisner?

Have a seat, Miss Madison.

The board of inquiry would like you to
collect an outside report

that was prepared on the Saturn explosion
and bring it to us.

What do you mean by "collect"?

Exactly that.
Collect the report and bring it to us.

So, I'm a messenger now?
It's one thing to be passed over,

but I didn't count on being demoted
to the mail room.

Miss Madison, we've talked about that.

Irene Hendricks was
the most qualified person

to become White Team flight director...

Even though she's been with the agency
for less than five years,

while I started at NASA in 1966.

I'm sorry. Really, I am.

But I'm afraid the book is closed
on that subject.

Fine. But I'm not a messenger.

This is a delicate situation.

Two months ago,
the board asked an outside expert

to conduct a thorough analysis
of the entire Saturn program.

Someone who could provide an overview

of the development and operational systems

and give us a unique perspective.

Now that analysis is finished.

Word on the street is
you have convincing evidence

that metal fatigue in the second stage
LH2 fill-drain valve caused a leak,

leading to the explosion.

I dislike gossip.

But in this case, the rumors are true.

We're ready to restart the Saturn
production line and correct the flaw,

but the existing fleet of rockets

will have to be taken apart
and repaired before they can be flown.

So, you can imagine the urgency
for the board to issue its recommendations

and get Saturn flying again.

All we need is
this last systems analysis report.

Why can't this outside expert
just mail in his findings?

Or have one of your flunkies
go pick it up?

He will only give the report to you.

No.

He won't give it to anyone else.

I don't wanna see him.

This isn't personal. He built
the Saturn V, and we need his analysis.

The man is a war criminal.
He should be prosecuted...

That is your opinion.

And it is not one that is shared
by the majority of the board.

We need the report prepared
by Dr. von Braun,

and he has informed us
that he will only give it to you.

So, I'm afraid that I'm going to have
to ask you to go and get it for us.

The Soviet Union announced today
that its own moon base, called Zvezda,

has received its first crew
of three cosmonauts

and is now fully operational.

The Zvezda Base, also situated
on the rim of Shackleton Crater,

is eight miles northwest
of the American Jamestown Base.

Today marks the first time

when crews from the USSR and the US

are on the lunar surface at the same time.

It would be a profound mistake to

allow our boys

to communicate with
the Soviets on the moon...

Mr. President.

I, uh...

certainly understand
your point of view, and...

I appreciate the advice...

but that's not really
the purpose of my call.

I want to let you know...

that I've decided to pardon you

for all crimes
that you may have committed

in connection with the Watergate break-in.

You what?

I've decided it's in the best interest
of the nation

not to prosecute
former political opponents

in the criminal justice system.

Don't get on your high horse with me.

I don't want your fucking pardon.

I don't need your permission, Dick.

It's a done deal.

You better watch yourself, Teddy.

Maybe spend a little less time in.

Palm Beach.

I put a deposit on that apartment.

You what?

Gordo, we talked about this.

I thought we agreed to wait till I got
back before we took any big steps.

Oh, it's just a deposit.

You didn't tell the boys, right?

No, of course not.
Of course not, that's...

that's something
we'll have to do together.

I don't know, Trace.

I just think
you're jumping ahead of things.

They don't even know
when we're getting back from here.

I know.
That's why I didn't want to lose it.

I mean, it's a great price,
perfect location,

it's near the boys' school,
our house, even JSC.

Then why don't you move into it then?

Oh, so you and Sheila can finally have
the house to yourselves?

Like I would ever lay a hand on Sheila.
She can't even cook.

Wow.

Hey. You think there's any way
you could smuggle another bottle

onto the next resupply rocket?

Not... a... chance.

I couldn't get near a resupply rocket.

New security rules.

The FBI's everywhere
looking for commies under the bed.

It's ridiculous.

Hey. What is that?

No. Gordo, what's that noise?

- Noise?
- Yeah.

Dani's taking a shower.

Well, don't forget to wash her back.

I don't wanna screw Danielle.

Okay?

It's great talking to you, Gordo.

I'll see you next time.

Trouble in paradise?

Sorry, Dani.

Don't worry, Gordo.
I don't wanna screw you either.

Should go apartment hunting up here.

As you know, the FBI is assisting
with the investigation

into the Saturn V accident.

I was hoping you might be able
to answer a few questions for me.

Sure.

Mr. Wilson, are you familiar with an area
of Houston called the Montrose District?

Yeah, it's downtown, isn't it?

That's right.

Do you frequent that area?

Have any relatives or friends
in that area?

No. It's not really my scene.

So, you've never been to an establishment
called the Bayou Landing?

Don't think so.

The Bayou Landing is a dance hall.

Okay.

For homosexuals.

Is that right?

We've had it under surveillance
for a few months now.

The whole neighborhood
is turning into a hotbed

for radicals and communist sympathizers.

Lots of European types.

Bikers, artists...

militant homosexuals.

In Houston?

An anonymous source reported seeing
someone matching your description

entering the establishment
last Saturday...

around 1:00 a.m.

Now, do you have any recollection of that?

Me? No.

I'm a Republican.

And a Methodist.

Don't hang out with a lot of bikers,
artists, or militant homosexuals.

And where were you?

Last Saturday?

Home in bed.

Can you prove that?

Ask my girlfriend.

That would be...

Ellen Waverly.

Dating three years.

Three years is an awfully long time.

Most girls would've dragged a man
down the aisle by now.

Well, Ellen's not most girls.

Besides, it's hard to save for a ring
on a government salary.

I'm sure you can understand.

I think I do.

This guy is trouble.

I've sailed through
50 security clearances.

I know these guys.

And this one...

This one is just dying to find
a coven of little NASA fairies to bust.

Why does he care so much?

The feds see it as a security risk.

If you have a secret,
the Russians can use it to blackmail you.

He'll be talking to you eventually,

and he's gonna be looking
for ways to trip you up.

Don't believe anything he tells you.

I can't believe this. Well, isn't...

Isn't lying to the FBI a crime?
Am I gonna be committing a felony here?

Yes, you are.

It's that, or...

you can tell them the truth.

And get us both shitcanned outta NASA

and held up as degenerate perverts
before the whole world.

Okay, I better get our story straight.

Where was our first date?

Come in, won't you?

All right, I'm here. I don't know
what it is you want, but I'm here.

Did you go by your house?

The new owners have let the front yard
become quite... untidy.

- Please.
- Not everyone can afford a gardener.

Yours needs to do a better paint job
on the mailbox.

Your father never used a gardener.
Not once.

He kept it up himself,
all the way to the very end.

He took pride in that.

He was... a good man, your father.

Please tell me we're not here
to talk about my father.

I tried to talk to you at his funeral,
but you left without a word.

I had work.

Now, what's this about?

My dinner.

Anna left me one of her casseroles
before she took Josef to Disney World.

Have you been?

Walt's vision is extraordinary.
A great man.

Such a shame he did not live to see it.

I'm not staying for dinner.

I believe I have a good burgundy
to go with it.

Hello? Any lost boys hereabouts?

We're in here.

- Hey, Mom.
- Hi, sweetheart.

What's this?

Pinewood Derby.

Pinewood Derby? Didn't y'all just do that?

That was a year ago, Mom.

- It's all right. Time flies, right?
- Yeah.

Well, the race isn't for three weeks,

but I told the boys if they want
to be ready, they better get started.

Three weeks.

On the 10th.

I checked your schedule
with Deke's office.

You'll be at Marshall
prepping your payload for 25,

but I got it covered, all right?

- Thank you.
- Of course.

Hey, Shane,
you are gonna chop your arm off.

Go and get the whetstone from your
father's toolbox and sharpen that knife.

Yes, ma'am.

Well, it's... That's great.

Thank you for taking them
to the pack meeting.

It was a den meeting, Mom.
Pack meetings are only once a month.

Right.

Hey, Danny, I think someone's
forgetting to tell his mom the big news.

I finished my Arrow of Light badge.

Get out of here. Really?

Wow. I thought that took a long time.

- Do you remember their den mother, Carol?
- Yeah.

Yeah,
she said he finished all the requirements

faster than she's ever seen anyone.

I was proud of him.

I'm proud of you too, Danny.

I'm gonna tell your daddy
next time I talk to him, okay?

Okay.

I think we got to get going.
Where's your brother? Where's Jimmy?

Oh, he was exhausted, so I put him down
in Shane's bed. He's sleeping.

Thanks.

- Let's go, Son.
- Can I spend the night?

Please. I really wanna work
on my racer with Shane.

Oh, honey, I think Mrs. Baldwin
probably needs some quiet time.

Trace, it's fine. It's all right.

I mean, all the boys bunk together
anyway and so it's not really a problem.

And, you know what, I'm making enchiladas.
You should stay for dinner.

I'd love to...

but I've got an early day tomorrow.

You have fun.
And you mind your manners, all right?

I love you.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome. I'll see you soon.

You have barely touched your food.
Anna will be hurt.

Don't do that.

Anna is a lovely, gentle woman,

and I won't have you manipulate me
in her name.

Why do you find it
so hard to simply talk to me?

I've known you
practically your whole life.

You learned how to play the piano
right over there.

Peter came to Jesus and asked,

"Lord, how many times shall I forgive
my brother when he sins against me?

Up to seven times?"

Jesus answered,

"I tell you not seven times,
but 77 times."

Is that what you want?

Forgiveness, is that it?

Okay.
I forgive you for all of your many sins.

There. Are we done now?

Can I have my report so I can go?

I only want you to listen
so that I can tell you things.

Important things
your father wanted you to know.

Then why didn't he tell me himself?

Why?

That man had every opportunity
to tell me whatever he wanted.

A whole lifetime.

And now I'm supposed to hear some words
from beyond the grave delivered by...

By...

Margo, I only want to fulfill a promise
I made to a friend of many years.

Will you allow me to do that?

Your father and I met in the faculty
club bar in the spring of 1951.

You had a lively debate
about Mozart and Strauss

and a beautiful friendship was born.

I know the story.

He was a brilliant physicist.

Uncommon insights
into the nature of matter.

I tried to recruit him to work with me
on the Redstone rocket many times,

but he always refused. Do you know why?

Because he was a small man
with small ambitions.

No.
He was a damaged man with broken dreams.

This is what broke him.

Now, I do not pretend to understand
his feelings about this,

and I certainly did not share
his perspective,

but I always respected him.

He loved you very much. You were
the most important thing in his life...

Don't do that.

Don't try and polish up his act
now that he's gone.

My whole life, he barely
gave me the time of day, and now,

"You were the most important thing
in his life." Please.

These are facts.

Facts you did not have
when you were growing up.

Facts which your father
did want you to have

but could not find a way to tell you.

To explain why he could
appear remote at times.

"Remote at times"? "Remote"?

You know what mattered to my father?

His stamp collection.

He'd come home at 5:30 every night
on the dot, have two martinis.

Not one, not three, but two.

And he'd then spend
the rest of the evening in his study

with his records and his stamp collection.

That was it.
That was his life, nothing else.

Not my mother, not me. Nothing.

When I graduated college,

the first woman in my family
on either side, by the way,

you know what he did?

He gave me a desk calendar.

That's how important I was to him.

And now I'm supposed to feel bad
because he died a lonely old man?

Well, I'm sorry.

But isn't there something in your Bible
about reaping what you sow?

Yes.

And your father reaped the whirlwind.

During the war...

he did some very secret work
for the government.

He worked on advanced radar systems
for the Army Air Corps.

I know because my mother told me about it.

She didn't tell you everything
because she didn't know.

He told me only

because I too had a top secret clearance
and was a man of science,

so perhaps he felt
I could understand his experience.

He started working on radar in 1942,

but within the year, he was recruited
on something much bigger...

by Robert Oppenheimer.

Your father worked
on the Manhattan Project.

That's not true.

These are his files.

He worked with John von Neumann
to devise a method

whereby a plutonium core could be
compressed into a critical mass

through a spherical implosion.

It was brilliant work.

Such complex calculations

were thought outside the realm
of the possible when they began.

Their work led directly to the creation
of the weapon that was used on Nagasaki.

- Fat Man.
- Yes.

The bombing had
a profound effect on your father.

It shook him to his core.

In retrospect, he felt as if he'd been
a participant in something horrific.

Something evil.

He and I discussed the moral ramifications
of the atomic bomb many times.

I tried to tell him
that he had saved millions of lives

by avoiding the invasion of Japan.

He would not hear of it.

He retreated from the world.

And from you. Your mother.

It was only at the end of his life
that he decided...

you should know the truth.

But he could not bring himself
to tell you.

So...

he asked me to tell you after he died.

I've been thinking.

Maybe we should take a break for a while.

"Take a break"?

This FBI thing has you all wound up,
doesn't it?

Yeah.

Something else?

No, I mean, it's the FBI and...

I don't know.

Say it.

I don't know where this is going.

"This"?

Oh, did you mean this?

Well, I don't know.
Where would you like it to go?

I don't know.

I mean,
I'm not sure that it can go anywhere.

And, you know, it...

it could be just a...

Just a phase.
Kissing girls is just a phase for you?

Maybe.

Yeah, I remember that.

It was about eight or nine years ago.

I thought it was just a phase.

Something I'd do for a while
and then it'd pass.

But it didn't.

It's who I am.

I know. I get that.

But you still might what?
Are you gonna grow out of it, Ellen?

No, it's not about growing out of it.

I didn't say that. I'm just...

It's all still very new to me.

Sometimes it doesn't even seem
like it is me.

Like I'm someone else when I'm with you.

Well, so do I.

I feel like someone different
when I'm with you.

Does that scare you?

No.

May I keep this?

Of course.

Thank you.

And thank you for...

telling me.

Now may I have your report so I can go?

You will return tonight?
It's a long drive.

- Perhaps you could stay.
- No.

This... doesn't just...

wipe everything away between us.

Can't you see that?
What you did in the war...

it's not the same as what my father did.

A comparison I do not invite.

Let us leave this acrimony.

I saw your talent
when you were but a little girl.

You remember?
You were struggling with geometry?

Don't.

I told you that mathematics
was like music.

I will never forget the look on your face.

Stop.

When you started to take piano lessons,

it was like the world
suddenly opened up to you.

You began to see God's invisible strings

and how they connected
all the constructs of the universe.

I gave you that insight.

I encouraged you, challenged you
and pushed you when your father could not.

Could not... but wanted to.

I appreciate all that. I do. Okay?

Thank you.

Is that enough?

You are wasting your talent.

Wasting your God-given gifts.

- I've done pretty well.
- But not as well as Irene Hendricks.

Yes, I do stay in touch
with what is happening back at the ranch.

- I'll get there.
- Where? Flight director?

What is your goal?
Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years, I'll be running NASA.

No, you will not.

Allow me to be blunt.

You are not what is called
"a team player," Margo.

You have many strengths.

Intelligence, intuition,
cunning, determination.

I'm part of the team in Mission Control.

Because I was your mentor.

And because the late Gene Kranz
looked kindly upon you.

Nonetheless, now you have seniority,
experience, impeccable credentials.

So why were you passed over
for flight director?

Why?

- I don't know.
- Yes, you do.

It is because you do not play the game.

You resist forming the social bonds
necessary to be seen as a team member.

Because you see them
as trivial and unimportant,

insisting that merit and merit alone

is the only important metric
for advancement.

Therefore, you are not,
and will never be seen as a team leader.

Well, thanks for the pep talk.

I'll manage somehow.

Can I have the fucking report now?

Hiding in plain sight the whole time.

Always the classics with you.

You hold the key to your own success
in your hand at this very moment.

What am I supposed to do? Cross out your
name on the report and write my own?

It's not about whose name
is on that report

but what happens
to the information it reveals.

Meaning what?

The board believes the explosion was
caused by the second-stage LH2 valve.

- Do you think it was something else?
- No.

The valve is the culprit.
That much is obvious.

The question is why did it fail?

Defects in the manufacturing process.

Yes, but again, why?

Do you know why the thousands of
contractors and subcontractors

who supply the Saturn V

are spread across
the continental United States?

Do you think it's an accident

that so many are located
in key congressional districts?

NASA gave the contract for the valve to
the wrong company for political reasons?

When I was reviewing the supply chain
for the Saturn as part of my analysis,

I was puzzled to find that the LH2 valve
was manufactured by Kirkland Aerospace,

a company located in Rockford, Illinois.

I was puzzled because
I remembered that contract.

I had given it to a company
from Colorado Springs in the mid-'60s.

Then, in early 1973,
NASA changed contractors.

So... why the change?

You don't need to read the report. Think.

Why give a contract
to a company in Illinois?

What was politically important about
that state to the administration

that had just taken office in 1973?

The Equal Rights Amendment.

Everyone was surprised
that a Republican governor

suddenly threw his weight behind the ERA.

You're saying it was because
NASA moved a contract to Illinois?

A huge contract.

And in a district where he needed support
for his own re-election campaign.

It's all in the report.

My God.

Gene died for a political vote?

Not only Gene. Eleven other men.

You knew him because
he worked in Mission Control,

but I knew every man on that tower.

This is gonna cause a firestorm in NASA.

In Congress. The White House.

If it is made public.

Why wouldn't it be? The board's
whole report will be made public.

Because it holds the potential
to do great harm to the president,

Administrator Weisner will take my report,
classify it as top secret and bury it,

never to be seen again.

I don't believe that.

Weisner may not be the best administrator
we've ever had, but he's not that cynical.

Weisner is a political creature.

His only loyalty is to Kennedy.

And he will not allow Teddy's
great achievement of passing the ERA

to be stained
by this sort of ugly politics.

So... the only question that remains is
who will benefit from this situation.

What are you saying?

Every political system is flawed.

And every bureaucracy is corrupt.

Do you have to tell him?

- He's gonna be really mad.
- Maybe you should've thought about that

before you went around smashing
water meters with Danny Stevens.

It was his idea.

Don't you dare rat out your friend
just to save your butt, mister.

That is not how we raised you.

Please don't tell Dad. Please.

Sit right here
and wait until I call you in.

Don't move. Understand?

Yes, ma'am.

So did you talk to the doctor?

Lieber? Yeah.

So what'd he say?

The same as all the other doctors.

You know,
there's a chance that it could work,

but of course,
he can't offer any guarantees.

No one can.
But he's got a great track record.

So you gonna move forward?

Why don't we just talk about it
when you get home?

I have enough on my plate right now.

All right.

Besides I can't really get pregnant
without you.

You better not.

You okay?

What do you mean?

I'm fine. It's just long days.

Never-ending maintenance.

So... where's Shane? Is he there?

No. Webelos meeting.

It's Pinewood Derby time.

I love the Pinewood Derby.

Wish I could be there for that.

Well, we do too.

You know, Shane asked me the other day,

"Why can't Dad just come home?"

You know, I explained to him that,
you know, after the rocket blew up,

it meant that a relief crew can't come
and take your place.

But you know Shane.

He knows all the details of NASA
and he said,

"Well, isn't the LEM right there
on the surface"

and the command module waiting in orbit?

I mean, that's their lifeboat.

"Just tell Dad to take his lifeboat
and come home."

Smart kid.

Yeah.

What should I tell him?

Tell him it's like being in the navy.

Someone gives you an order,
you carry it out.

My orders are to hold this post
until I'm properly relieved.

So, that's what I'm gonna do.

Hold until relieved.

I'll tell him.

- Hi, Bob.
- Hi, Bob.

Hi, Bob.

Sorry, just a minute. What's up?

Sorry to interrupt.

I just finished the PLSS recharge,

and I think I've got just enough time
to do some apartment hunting

before it's time for "Hi, Bob."

- Hi, Bob.
- Hi, Bob.

Okay. Just watch your O2 this time.

Aye, aye, sir.

What's with all the "Hi, Bob" stuff?

Oh, yeah.

It's from The Bob Newhart Show.

They haven't sent you anything else
to watch?

We've been asking,

but so far it's just the same
six episodes of Bob Newhart.

It's kind of the highlight of the day,
to be honest.

And every time someone says that phrase,

we all got to say it.

It's kinda dumb, I know, but...

And Gordo's apartment hunting?
Is that part of the show or...

No. He likes to take
these long walks outside.

Calls it "apartment hunting"
for some reason.

Just clears his mind.

It's a healthy thing.

Pretty close quarters up here.

So sometimes you just need to get outside,
you know?

Hon, I don't wanna keep you
from Bob and Emily...

And Howard and Jerry and Carol.

- Love you.
- I love you too.

Your father's very disappointed in you.

You're grounded for three weeks. Let's go.

Well, Dr. von Braun certainly
writes a compelling report.

What are you gonna do with it?

I know that this assignment
wasn't easy for you, Margo.

And I just want you to know that
the board of inquiry is very appreciative

of the enormous
personal sacrifice it entailed.

And I appreciate it as well.

Mr. Weisner...

will Dr. von Braun's findings be included

in the final report
on the explosion of Apollo 23?

I am classifying this report
as top secret as of this moment

on my authority as NASA administrator.

You're bound by oath
as a government employee

not to reveal any of your knowledge
about this report,

or even that it exists.

Doing so could open you to being charged
with revealing classified information

and spending 20 years
in a federal penitentiary.

Do I make myself clear, Miss Madison?

Every system is corrupt.

I made a copy.

I could have you arrested right now.

And I have a friend who will mail it to
The New York Times tomorrow morning

unless I personally tell them not to.

What do you want?

What I deserve.

Flight director.

There aren't any openings
on the Red, White or Blue teams.

Make one.

You need one of these.

It's called a slide rule.

Come see me in my office in... 20 minutes,
and I'll show you how to use it.

Thank you.

What's your name?

Aleida.

I'm Margo.

- Do you play the piano?
- No.

You're gonna learn.

No one's ever been here before.

No one's ever seen this before.

Now I have.

- Jamestown Base.
- Jamestown Base.

Heading back to the barn.