The Right Stuff (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - Single Combat Warrior - full transcript

Previously on The Right Stuff...

These are the Mercury astronauts.

- I'm not gonna be one of the seven.
- No?

I'm gonna be the first man in space.

LIFE will tell your stories, gentlemen.

We will take the public on a journey
from the kitchen table to Pluto.

It's 25,000 dollars a year.

This is a fresh start for us.

I'm Alan Shepard, astronaut.

- You Dee?
- Second Lieutenant O'Hara.

Only my friends call me "Dee."



We're supposed to send a man
to space inside a year

and we are already a month
behind schedule.

Heat check, go.

All launch systems
are green.

Go.

- Stand by.
- Fuel is go.

- FIDO.
- Go.

- Network.
- Go.

- RSO.
- Go.

- Capsule system.
- Go.

- Recovery.
- Go.

TC, this is Flight, we are go for launch.

- Roger, go for launch.
- We are go.

Five, four, three, two, one.



Ignition. Lift off.

- Confirm lift off.
- That is confirmed.

Flight, charge off floor.

Flight,
I have a red light on capsule...

Flight, we see sustainer's not responding
to pitch and roll program.

Are you seeing a board sequence
initiated on board, FIDO?

- Flight, I show negative capsule set.
- Flight, TM frame loss from Goddard.

What the hell is going on? Anyone?

And can you confirm
the relay is green?

- Sending destruct command.
- Wait.

Have you confirmed trajectory data?

Is the rocket headed
for civilian population?

Flight, MA-1 is still within range
to destruct...

You are about to kill an astronaut, son.
Are you sure?

Flight altitude decreasing.
Now at 14K.

Separation is yellow.

Standby. Loss of radar contact.
Break up of MA-1 nine miles downrange.

Hope nobody has family
in Titusville.

Mr. Hutmacher,
did you confirm trajectory data?

Or did a little angel whisper in your ear?

I confirmed good traj and flight...

- But you hesitated.
- No.

- Yes, I did.
- Do not hesitate in this room.

I ask you a question,
you give me an answer.

Yes, no, go, no go.

- That's it. You're a machine.
- Don't second-guess me.

- What the hell did you say?
- You're not acting like a machine.

I was about to abort,
and you second-guessed my judgment.

Ah, guys, this is a sim.

It's just a game, right?

Lunney.

Uh, the test was designed
to simulate multiple corrupted feeds

with physical damage to the comm link.

From what?

Large birds.

Is that funny?

We will keep running this simulation
until we get it right.

We have a public launch
of a test rocket

in four days. Press will be there.

Representatives of your federal government
will be there.

The wives and children
of our astronauts

will be there.

If we don't get these procedures
down cold,

we really could blow up Titusville,
or Orlando, or Tampa.

We will get this right.

Is that clear?

Is there any hesitation about that?

Again.

They're training us
on this machine called the MASTIF

that's supposed to make you feel
like you're tumbling in space.

You can cut it.

Compared to what we do,
it's a carnival ride.

The average fatality rate
of a Navy test pilot is 23 percent.

But any pilot you're talking to
is still alive.

Which means he isn't average.

I mean, that's about the shape of it.
You make it sound heroic.

Well, we can always rewrite it
if it don't. Right?

They're ready for you, Al.

What's the best time?

It's always about beating something
with you guys, isn't it?

Well, everybody likes a winner, Dee.

- What if you don't win?
- Hasn't happened yet.

All right, Commander.
Triple-axis control.

Abort switch is on the left stick
if you need it.

Roger that.

Al, Al. Abort.

Commander, abort.

Get him down.
Have medical check him.

That baby ain't so bad. It's like floating
in a tube down the Lazy Hole River.

Hell, I could've put my feet up,
taken a nap.

Yeah, try that next time.

God, I picked the wrong time
to quit smoking.

You didn't quit smoking.

Sure I did.

So, is this MASTIF how they pick
who's gonna be first?

No way.

- Thing is a toy.
- So, what then?

We've been at it for months,
and they still haven't told us.

It's probably, you know,
who's the best overall.

- And who's that? You?
- Right about now, it might be. Yeah.

Would you please
shut your damn mouth, Gordo?

Are you okay?

- What?
- Are you okay?

I won't pretend
we're not a competitive bunch.

I mean, none of us would be
in this program if we weren't, but...

I do think that we're all aware
in our own individual ways

that this thing is bigger
than any one of us,

and that tends to bring out
the best in men.

You know, service to a cause
greater than yourself,

and I can't think of a better cause
than this one right now.

For our country we love,
and for this grand adventure we're all on.

How was that?

You write this stuff in advance?

Well, just trying to be helpful.

- What's in there?
- Oh. Well, that's my mistress.

Oh.

You ready?

Sure am.

Nothing much to report,
just a few...

- training kinks to work out.
- How are you faring?

I don't know anymore.

- It isn't Glenn, is it?
- No.

No, it's not John,
it's not about anyone else, it's...

It's about me.

What are you talking about?

I just need to practice.

What does LIFE have you wearing
for the photo shoot?

- Pink.
- No.

- Hey, at least it's not white.
- Good Lord, yes.

The girls and I can't wait to finally see
what you've been up to down there.

I'll see you Saturday, Lou.

My girl in pink.

Don't push yourself too hard.

Okay?

Now, why don't you...

Why don't you finally come down tonight,
hang out with all of us?

I don't know.
It's not really my thing.

Early to bed and all that.

Hey, look. Boys are gonna do
what the boys are gonna do.

Don't mean we have to be a part of it.

Well, you sit that close to the fire,
and you're bound to get burned.

You've seen what happens
in that pool, right?

Our kids are gonna be swimming in that
in two days.

- Doesn't that bother you?
- Yeah, I guess. I don't know.

What's with you two, anyway?

It's just...

old Air Force stuff.

Gus, he's got a chip on both shoulders.
It's what makes him good.

He's competitive.
Hey, John, come down tonight.

Or, I tell you what, tomorrow night.
Friday nights are even better.

You know, our families
are gonna be in town

for the test launch,
and it's gonna be family time.

But for now, just...

Hey, live a little.

Easy care cotton
piqué shirtwaist dress

with dressmaker details.

Is it blue?

- They say it has to be blue.
- Yes. Light blue.

- And they can deliver in time?
- No.

I have to go to town.

I'm sorry you can't pick your own dress
for this photo.

And don't worry, okay?
You're gonna put the other gals to shame.

- Even Scott's wife?
- Come on.

She got nothing on you.

Incoming!

John?

Are you okay?

Yeah. It's just not my world down here.

But I do love you, Anna Margaret.

I love you, too.

I'll see you soon.

...but these distant planetary bodies,

and maybe the entire
new solar systems and galaxies.

What new discoveries
might be in store for mankind?

Seats have all been made
to your specs, fellas.

How do they feel?

It's not like an airplane seat, is it?

Are these the final versions?

No, we'll use them
to make the fiberglass seats,

which will then be custom-fit
into each of your capsules.

And so, where are the controls gonna be
if we're on our backs like this?

Stick hereabouts?

The, uh, the capsule prototype
arrives tomorrow.

You'll have a chance to see
for yourself then.

There's no graceful way
to get out of that, huh?

Mercury Capsule to Mercury Control.

Clock is running and we are underway.

Fuel is go.

Oxygen, go.

Well...

this is one beautiful ride.

Well, Control, I have to say
that flying this thing

is one heck of an honor and a privilege.

I'd like to thank each...

Kiss me, Major Glenn.

Ooh, delicioso.

What the hell are you gonna do
with that thing anyway?

Kids are coming in town.
I'm gonna scare the hell out of them.

Hey, John, we're gonna go
grab a bite, do you...

Hey. Those...

- Those guys are just messing around.
- Yeah.

- Okay. See you later.
- Mm-hmm.

Gordo, if I don't see you
with a girl tonight, I'll start to worry.

Damn it.

Commander, abort.

Shepard, abort.

Hit it again.

Okay. Start it up again.

Dear God, it's hot down here.

- We should get you a swamp cooler.
- Why the hell are we testing an Atlas?

- Those rockets are too dangerous.
- You are on Air Force property.

Air Force wants to fly an Atlas.

But that is not what we're sending
to space first.

It doesn't make sense.

Your team is ready for this, yeah?

Yeah. On rails.

These are good.

Chris...

try and relax.

Lunney.

Gather the men.

Let's go, Ryerson.

Good, Myers, your ball.
Lunney, your ball.

Your ball. That's okay. That's okay. Hey.

It's a good shot.
It's a...

Teamwork now, teamwork.

It's important.
That's why we're screwing up in control.

Let's go, Ryerson. Here we go.
Here we go.

See if you can handle this.
Service.

Good. Back over. Good.
McCauley, give him some space.

Hutmacher, wake up.

All right, Jensen. That's yours.
Goddammit, Jensen.

If the ball comes to you,
you got to hit it, all right?

No hesitation, Jensen.

- All right. Good. Here we go, Ryerson.
- All right, gentlemen. Service.

Good. Mine, mine.

Jensen, that's your ball. Damn it.
Out of his way, McCauley.

You got to take control.
No hesitation, Jensen.

Come on.

Flight, you okay?

Jesus Christ.

That's enough for today.

Geez, man. What's wrong with you?
It's just a game.

That's a great article.

And your lovely family,
your two little ones?

Uh, Lyn and Dave. Yeah. They're, uh...

Looking forward to having them down
for a couple of days.

You were the only one
who, um, mentioned the Lord.

You know, you should really
come on by tonight to the Living Grace,

our little excuse for a church.

It's A1A and. Uh, Indianola.

- Okay.
- Okay. And...

Yeah, maybe.

Uh, thank you. Thank you, Eunice.

Um. Now, do you think he's coming in
at all today or, uh, should I...

What happened here?

Something on your mind, John?

Uh, well...

I'm sure we're all, uh, looking forward
to a very successful launch tomorrow.

- Put that back.
- I was think...

Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth signed that ball.

I don't want you touching it.

Well, uh...

Well, anyway, um...

I understand there'll be brass
from Wright-Patt.

And Walt Hollings, the 12th
District Congressman, just so happens

- that my hometown is...
- No.

"No," what?

You're going to tell me
what a great idea it would be

for you to show Walt around
as a representative of the project.

- I'm saying no.
- Why?

Be a part of the team, John.

Anything else?

That's all she wrote, Chief.

Thanks for hearing me out.

Hey, little girl

'Round here somewhere.

Hey, little girl.

Never gonna let you go.

Stay right here.

I want you near...

Behold, mighty astronauts.

Unflinching prospectors
of the last unexplored realm,

- specimens, and unimpeachable...
- Can it, Wainwright.

- The hypocrisy doesn't bother you?
- Not especially, no.

Well, you just take the pictures.

Hell. I don't know
if it's little green men or...

big purple unicorns,

but there's weird stuff
flying around up there, Lunney. I know.

Well, something else is on your radar now.

Not from around here, are you?

And what makes you say that?

Because you look lost.

I'm Patricia.

GORDON; Gordo.

Why don't you come keep me warm?

I'm going out.

I could use a pack of smokes.

I'll be back tomorrow.

Where are you going?

They sure got a lot of rooms here?

Oh, yeah. The whole...

Whole building's full of them.

And which one's yours?

I, uh...

I don't... I don't know, Patricia.

You don't know which one's yours?

What are you doing?

- I'm a married man.
- Huh.

You just gonna stand there
and watch me swim?

Woo!

Oops.

Who got the pool?

Geronimo.

- Gordo, what happened?
- No way.

Hey, Gordo. Who's your friend?
Does she have a friend?

Who wants to race?

I know. Because I had
felt it blackening my soul.

Come. Join us, brother.

- Hello.
- It's a real honor.

Hi.

It blurs our vision,

clouds our senses.

Through prayer, we scheme, and we yearn.
Oh, yes, we do.

And we say, "Jesus, help me, please."

"So that I may walk beside you
and keep you in my loving heart."

Now, I ask each of you to take the hand
of the person beside you.

Brother, sister, and stranger.

And wish each other well
in the name of our Savior.

- I wish you well.
- I wish you well.

- I wish you well.
- You, too.

I was on an F-100
a couple of years back.

Nose jumping on takeoff,
pitched up so high, I couldn't see shit.

Then, she starts to roll right over.

Oh, the Sabre Dance.
Heard those planes can do that.

- Sounds dangerous.
- It's real dangerous. Yeah.

So, I had to go full power, kick,
opposite rudder,

jam the nose back down.

And then she rolled right over and bounced
off the runway, and I...

I almost bought the farm.

But luckily,
I'm one of the best pilots around.

I tabled her a little bit more
and sure enough...

blue skies and I'm flying.

Wow, Gordo.

That really is something...

dangerous.

My turn. I got a good one.

So...

turns out... Gordo and I have
flown together before.

Yeah. At Lowry Field.

I come out on the tarmac,

and there's Gordo, smiling ear to ear.

T-33 is all gassed and goosed.
Tells me he's done the pre-check,

which of course he has
'cause it's his job.

So anyway, we're just barely
off the runway

when we lose power.

Yeah, smacked down hard,

collapse the gear,
burst into flames, boom.

Talked to the ground crew later.

They said Gordo
didn't do a pre-check.

I don't know how I got out alive.
I mean, there I am,

doused in two tons of foam
and this idiot's all shrugs and saying,

"Want a story, huh, Gus?
Skin of our teeth."

What's the matter, Gordo?
I thought you love stories.

You're doing the pre-checks
on the test rockets, huh?

If so, I'm gonna wear a flak jacket.

You're not the best, Gordo.

Not even close.

What's wrong with you guys?

You just wanna screw each other?

Well, if you're looking to screw him,

you're wasting your time.

He's just a window shopper.

John.

- So glad you could come.
- Well...

First man in space?

- I just know it.
- We'll see.

Thank you, Eunice.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Redheads, huh?

- Sorry?
- What did we do to deserve it?

Well, it hasn't held me back.

I don't know. It's like...
it's like being left-handed.

- You just stick out.
- And what if I told you I was left-handed?

I wouldn't tell anybody.

They seem like nice enough people.

What, you don't know them?

No. I'm just, uh, checking in with Jesus.

Oh.

Well, I know Him pretty well.

I, uh, never realized He liked
bowling so much.

Well...

blessed are the pinsetters, I guess.

Actually, I'm, uh...

just a little bit lonely, so...

Yeah.

Yeah. I get that.

I'm Dot.

Like, uh, over the "I."

I'm John.

The Presbyterian.

I wasn't looking, I just stood up
and banged my head on the flange.

What are you doing here so late?

It has to be ready for inspection
before the launch tomorrow.

- Well, get someone to do it for you.
- I'm the someone someone gets. So...

You think what I did was stupid?

- It's not for me to say.
- Don't give me that.

You have an opinion.

My opinion is you want me
to be scared of you, and I don't know why.

You've seen us all up there
on that machine,

what have you noticed?

That you're the slowest to react

and you take the longest to recover.

And if you were to, um...

If you were to examine one of us
and you found something,

what would you do?

I would make sure you understood
that anything you told me in confidence

would remain private.

Unless it jeopardized you or the project.

Why should we trust you?

Do you trust anyone?

- I trust myself.
- That sounds lonely.

Says the girl working late
on a Friday night.

I'm sitting here, aren't I?

I'm talking to you.
The way I'm talking you,

you can call it trust,
you can call it whatever you want.

- How much do you drink?
- Enough.

Sleeping okay?

Off and on.

Women?

Yes.

Any dizziness, hearing loss?

Then you're fine.

Oh, um...

Help me with one last thing.

What have they got you selling anyway?

Men's magazines.

The, uh, you know, the naughty kind.

- Pointy brassieres on the cover...
- Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

...lots of ladies.

- Sorry. I say stupid things sometimes.
- That's fine.

And, um, what are you doing out here?

I'm in aviation.

And, um, how long have you been married?

- Sixteen years.
- Oh.

She's a good woman.

How did guys meet?

I was two, she was three.

- We played in the crib together.
- Okay.

Oh, God, I didn't realize
how strange that must sound.

No, I don't think it sounds strange.
Sounds like Kismet.

You ever seen that movie, Kismet?

The musical? Yeah.
Yeah, I have, actually.

Isn't that how life should be?

Knowing you have a destiny
instead of just...

floating around.

Oh, boy.

Looks like they're closing up on us.

Yeah.

I know it doesn't look like much,

but it's mostly old folks
who just mind their own business.

Well, Dot, I, uh...

I hope you, uh...

You know, I hope you, uh, find your place.

I hope you do, too.

What do you mean?

You just seemed a little...

I don't know, empty,
when you came in tonight.

Like you needed something so bad

and you knew
you weren't ever gonna get it.

No. No.

No, I... I don't feel that way.

Then how come we're sitting here?

Like I said,
everybody just minds their own business.

I wish you well.

Well...

Isn't this just the cutest little car?

Al, you finally got it.

Kill it.

Yeah, I'm okay.

You're okay.

Just needed to practice.

Gentlemen, it is my honor
to present to you...

the Mercury Project capsule.

Let's get a look inside.

Where's the window?

Window? Uh...

There are two small portholes
on either side.

How are we supposed to fly
if we can't see?

You don't.

You just sit there...

with thermometers in our asses.

It's controlled from the ground.

What the heck?

Ladies, my name is Henri Landwirth.

These are compliments of the Starlite.

Oh, is that a Mai Tai?

- Yes, please.
- Cheers.

What color did they put you in?

Oh, they put me in yellow,
but, honestly, who looks good in yellow?

Uh, they're here.

"Gentlemen, it's controlled
from the ground."

Yeah, it's like they said,
we're Spam in a damn can.

Hey, don't worry, we'll fix it.

Oh, well, gee golly, John.
My confidence is reinstated.

Now that's what
I'm talking about, honey.

Oh, what happened here?

Uh, you know, I told you
there were some kinks.

Did you get them all worked out?

I think so.

- Howdy, stranger.
- Howdy, miss. You, uh, new in town?

I came to see the astronauts.

Well, it just so happens
you, uh, found the best one.

Just my luck.

- Dad!
- Hey, baby girl.

- You ready to see a real rocket blast off?
- Uh-huh, watch this.

- Just like me.
- Yeah.

I mean, if a congressman
from our district

is gonna be at the launch, it's obvious
that I should represent the program.

I don't understand that they can't see it
as an opportunity for us to make an...

- Am I talking too much?
- Mm.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

You girls have any idea
where Mrs. Carpenter is?

Only her hairdresser knows for sure.

It's so lovely on you.

- I look like I'm in a high school prom.
- No, you look amazing.

- Sorry I'm late.
- Hey.

Where do you want me?

Right to the right
in front of Mrs. Cooper.

- Hang on. Hi, Rene.
- Hi.

Wow, what a dress.

Yeah, right in front
of Mrs. Cooper, uh, right there.

- Right in front of Trudy.
- Thank you.

- There you go.
- Thank you.

You all look lovely.

Okay, ladies, smile.

All right. Roger, at heat.
What is the present count?

Tower is clear.

That's a no go
for position check.

- Mr. Hutmacher.
- Flight?

Listen up.

I don't care if your nerves
are frayed to a nub,

or you hate my guts.

What matters to me in this room
is that you care.

- Mr. Ryerson?
- Yes, Flight.

Get your stuff together and clear out.

- I'm sorry, what?
- I don't play games, son.

You think a sim doesn't matter,

or you think teamwork
isn't the real thing?

I sure as hell don't trust you
on a launch. Get out.

- Yes, sir.
- Lunney?

You know the procedures?

- Uh, yes, sir.
- Take systems.

All right. Let's get started.

TC, this is Flight.
What's the count?

Okay, thirty seconds, 308,
your number.

All right. Let's hear it.

- FIDO?
- Go.

- Network?
- Go.

- RSO?
- Go.

- Blockhouse?
- Go.

- Capsule system?
- Go.

- Recovery?
- Go.

Ladies and gentlemen,

all systems are go
for this first unmanned test flight

of the Mercury-Atlas rocket.

Congressman Hollings.

- Major.
- Glad you made it down safe.

How would you feel about a private tour?

That would be very nice.
Thank you, Major.

You see that.

That's a real capsule on top,
like the one I'm gonna ride in.

- You had...
- Remember Big Deke?

- That's actually normal.
- Right...

- It's quite normal.
- ...right there.

Who's that?

Just one of the nurses.

Who's he talking to?

Some politician.

How come you're not doing that?

What the hell would I say?

T-minus ten seconds.

Nine, eight, seven,

six,

five, four, three,

two, one.

Lift off.

There I go. You see me?

FIDO, how's it looking?

- Flight, we're looking good.
- Good. Capsule systems?

- Good to go.
- T-plus 20.

Commencing pitch and roll program.

- Good to go.
- We're all a go.

T-plus 30.

Sixteen K.

Right about now,
I'm feeling about 4Gs.

- Turbo is about to kick in.
- Altitude 19K, looking good.

That's good.

Twenty-three K.

Altitude 30K.

Oh, yes.

- Way up there.
- Two miles downrange.

Approaching max q...

What?

- Flight, I...
- FIDO?

Cover of the Earth is coming into view.
I can see the stars, Cammie.

I'm almost in space.

No.

What happened?

What the hell just happened?

Report LR status, report LR...

Cut-off stays the same.

Dad. Dad, what happened?

Children, quickly.
Grab your things.

What... how did this happen?