The Right Stuff (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 4 - Advent - full transcript

Previously on The Right Stuff...

Would we like to test
the Mercury-Redstone System for years?

Yes. But are we afforded
such a luxury with the Russians?

- We are not.
- I understand there'll be brass

from Wright-Patt.

And Walt Hollings,
the 12th District Congressman...

-No.
-No what?

Be a part of the team, John.

They're only taking men
with stable families.

If they know we're separated,
I'll wash out. We could start over.

Really, the person who I should be
questioning is, um, Lurleen.



The capsule prototype arrives tomorrow.

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

Where's the window? How are we
supposed to fly if we can't see?

-It's controlled from the ground.
-I can see the stars, Cam.

What the hell just happened?

Deep into the space race
with the United States,

Russia has just announced
an astonishing achievement

that has touched the imagination
of the entire world.

They have successfully launched
the space rocket called Luna 3

- with astounding result.

For the first time
in the history of human civilization,

pictures have been taken
on the hidden side of the moon.

With Russian scientific ingenuity,
they have been able

to transmit photographs
300,000 miles to Earth.



It is simply breathtaking.

This triumph puts great pressure
on the United States

to catch up with the Russians,
who always seem to be one step ahead

- of the NASA program.

President Eisenhower must be
aware that he is on the brink

of losing the space race.

And to Mr. Khrushchev
and the Russian people,

the warmest congratulations
on this stunning triumph

for mankind and for history.

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six,

five, four, three, two, one.
Mission start.

Roger. We have lift off.
Fuel is go. One point eight Gs.

Cabin pressure is 14 PSI. Oxygen is go.

She's looking a little low there, Gordo.

Engine performance off nominal.

Trajectory off nominal.
Engine performance low.

Trajectory low. Abort.

Roger. Activating abort handle.

- Eject the capsule, Gordo.
- Come on.

Gordo, hit the chicken switch.

Gordo, abort. Abort.

-You're dead. Why the hell didn't you...
-I tried.

It's not like we're actually flying
this damn thing.

One more test launch before the holidays
and they wanna give it to von Braun?

It's not just any launch.
It is our most crucial launch yet.

Our rockets keep exploding.

The children of our astronauts watched one
blow up right in front of them.

Washington is gonna pull our funding
if we don't get this right.

It's all part of the process.
We've never done this before.

Yeah, and they don't know if we ever will.

Von Braun built the Redstone for us,
the V2 for Hitler,

and one thing I can assure you
is the Germans did not lose the war

because of bad engineering.

-Yeah. But he's an...
-Chris.

You will use him, and I do not care
whether you like him or not.

He's a Nazi. I don't trust him.

He's also the best goddamn
rocket scientist in the world.

The Russians are lapping us in this race,
and we got a lot of catching up to do.

-Look, Mr. Kraft, I was just explaining...
-Why'd you want pilots?

-For what?
-For any of this shit?

Doesn't take a pilot to sit
in a tin can pressing buttons

hoping the damn rocket doesn't blow up.

If something goes south in a plane,
there are options.

There's a million different things
you can do before you punch out.

But there is nothing we can do
in that capsule.

-Guys...
-Only choice we got is to flip

the chicken switch
and pray you all wired it right.

-I just burned up in the trainer.
-We want a ship we can actually fly.

Gentlemen, we understand how you feel,
but you do not realize

what we're up against.

Look at this.

The moon?

The far side.
The side that's never been seen before.

The Russians put a probe into lunar orbit
and took this photo.

It will be on the front page
of every newspaper

in the world any day now.

- But how can they...
- Well, for starters, I'm guessing

their guys don't go crying
up the chain of command

every time their egos
don't get properly stroked.

This program will go away
if we don't catch up to the Russians.

-All right. This is the place?
-Trains, planes, yeah.

-I love it. Let's do it.
-Yeah.

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh

Hey.

-O'er the fields we go
-No.

-No? She's a Betsy Wetsy doll.
-Laughing all the way

She wets her own diaper.
The kids will love it.

You asked for my help with this,
didn't you?

So drop the cocky fighter jock routine.
You don't know anything about dolls.

What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight

-Really?
-Trust me.

My little cousins are crazy
about these things.

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way

My God.

-Oh, what fun it is to ride
-All right.

In a one-horse open sleigh, hey

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way

Who's the third one for?

Louise's sister died.
So, her daughter's staying with us.

For how long?

Just staying.

Wow. That's... a long time.

How old?

I think eight.

It's what Louise wants.

Eight?

Poor kid.

She's gonna need a lot more
than just a Barbie.

Now arriving,
bus number 22 from Richmond.

Twenty-two now arriving from Richmond.

Watch your step, sweetie.

Go on, now.

Thank you, sir.

Judith.

Oh.

-You... you got a little something.
-A lady gave me chocolate on the bus.

We will get you sorted out.

I'll take that. This way.

-Hey, where's Von Braun?
-In the bathroom. Come.

Christopher, is that you?

What's the outlook?

Forecast came in. High winds overnight
above 2,000 feet

but they should clear by sunrise,
so we are go for launch at 0900.

That's what you said two days ago.

I'm just the flight director, Wernher.
I don't control the weather.

Obviously not.

Is your team gonna be ready
to go tomorrow?

We've been ready all week.

Our rocket has been ready for months.

Stakes are pretty high here.

Just making sure.

I'm just a launch director, Chris.

-I'm aware of the stakes.
-Great. 0900 then.

T-minus 15.
T-minus ten, nine.

Eight, seven,

six, five, four, three, two...

What was that?
What the hell just happened?

The abort system activated
the escape tower,

but the booster's still on the pad.

It's still powered up,
it's just sitting there.

Blockhouse, what's happening?

English. Speak English. Damn it.
What the hell is he saying?

They're trying to figure out...

-They're looking for a gun.
-A gun?

Get out of the way!

- Stop!
- Out of the way! Move!

No!

Stop! Stop!

No!

No!

What the hell are you thinking?

Wernher!

What the hell are you thinking?

The rocket is fully fueled.
The self-destruct charges are armed.

Shooting holes in the booster
will relieve the pressure

and prevent the whole thing
from exploding.

Unless it explodes when you shoot it.

I suppose that could happen.
What do you suggest?

Nothing.

Nothing. We... we do nothing.

We wait for the battery to run down
and let the oxidizer boil off.

-That will take 12 hours.
-Fine.

Because no one is going anywhere

until we figure out
why your rocket didn't fly.

I can tell you why it did not fly.

Because of your hardware,
and possibly your procedures.

Because there's certainly nothing wrong
with my rocket.

Excuse me.

Merry Christmas, Christopher.

Mr. Schirra, a few questions, please.

Hey.

Thank you.

Can I have just a moment?

Hey!

Mr. Cooper!

Mr. Cooper!

- What are you doing here?
- Sign this, Mr. Cooper.

Just read the card.

- Lurleen!
- Mr. Cooper.

Mr. Cooper, sir. Please.

A moment of your time, please.

One with the children.

Oh, yeah, yeah.
With the kids. That's...

Smells good in here. Mm.

Where's Judith?

Martha.

We've decided to call her Martha.

Every couple tries to stop
Rockin' around the Christmas tree

We're, uh, changing her name?

-Judith is too close to Julie.
-It'd be confusing.

Later we'll have some pumpkin pie
And we'll do some caroling

Huh.

- Hello, Uncle Alan.
- Hey, there.

Sit here, darling.

When you hear
Voices singing, let's be jolly

White sails.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Rockin' around the Christmas tree

So sad. Mom didn't make you any bacon.

I don't like Nixon either,
but he will keep spending on NASA.

I'm afraid about Kennedy, too.

He's got no ties to the program.
It's Eisenhower's baby.

It was a Redstone that failed
this time, Annie.

That on top of the Russian moon picture,

we don't exactly look like a winning horse
right now.

We're gonna be vulnerable
when that new administration gets in.

I may have to put my support behind Nixon.

You're serious?

They'll make me first, Annie.

His people said,
if I publicly support him, it'll be me.

But he wants an answer soon.

Wh... why come to you

-and... and not Shepard or...
-Because I'm a Democrat.

All those other guys except Carpenter,
they're gonna back Nixon anyway.

You... you're winning... already.

That's why.

You have power.

Use it.

Kennedy does... doesn't like the program?

I've been asking around. He's...

Apparently, he's very skeptical.

So, change his mind.

She's more like my sister than I realized.

I never thought
I would actually miss her.

What time do your parents get here?

The later, the better.

-O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
-Dad? Dad?

-Dad? Have you ever seen Santa Claus?
-No, no, no.

I've... I've never seen him but, uh...

you know, I flew with a few guys
at Edwards, they did.

Thought they did anyhow.

'Cause he flies so fast,
way faster than any plane.

That's how he gets to every house
in the world in one night.

No way. Not in every house.

No, you're right.
Only the houses of good girls and boys.

He doesn't go to Russia.

Hey, sure he does, sweetie.

Santa knows that kids over there
aren't really any different, okay?

-O Christmas tree
-Let's try these lights out.

See if they work, okay?

I got this end.

- Have you got it?
- Yes.

Okay.

Okay. Let's see.

Okay. You guys got to count me in, okay?

-Three, two, one.
-Two, one.

Look, Mommy.

So neat!

Whoa, they're so pretty.

Okay. Bring them on over here.

Let's, uh...

Let's get them on the tree.

Here, take it from me.

Honey, they're here.

- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas, Bart.

Hello, sweetheart. The house looks lovely.

- Oh, thank you.
- Merry Christmas.

Renza, you look beautiful.

Thank you. Girls.

Same size as always, I see.
Make you look a lot bigger on TV.

Merry Christmas, Dad.

- Grandma. Grandpa.
- Oh, the heathens.

The heathens are upon me.

Call in the cavalry,
I need reinforcements.

Oh, you are so beautiful.

Oh, hello.

You must be Judith.

We're calling her Martha now.

Martha?

Hello, Martha.

Well, why don't we all go
in the living room?

That's a good idea.

- After you.
- Girls.

Yes, sir.
Yeah. No, I'm sure that's right.

It's just, uh, well,
Senator Kennedy is a hard man to reach.

Got you. Bang!

- Right, well...
- Bang, bang, bang.

I think he needs to understand...

- Bang. Bang.
- ...just how important

the manned space program is for winning.

- Lyn and Dave, out.
- Okay. Okay.

Yes. He needs to understand just
how important the manned space program

is to winning, and...

Yeah. I understand. Of course.

Merry Christmas.

Congressman. Hi, John Glenn.

No, I understand. Merry Christmas.
Yes, sir. Hi, Major John Glenn.

Well, thank you for your time.
Merry Christmas.

I'm sorry. Happy Hanukkah.
Hi, Major John Glenn.

Well, thank you for your time.
Merry Christmas.

Congressman, yes. John Glenn.
Yes, sir. Merry Christmas.

So I got the old heifer
up into his room

and I snuck out the back
before Granddad got out of the tub.

Thank you.

Now, you girls,
aren't growing up on a farm,

so you may not know,
but a cow will walk upstairs...

but it will not walk downstairs.
Mm, mm-mm.

I thought that was pretty funny too,
until my father told me

that I would be sleeping in the barn
until that cow came down.

I had to bribe half the kids
in the village

to come help me lower her down
by ropes.

Well, you could've just pushed her
out the window,

you would've had steaks for a year.

Uh.

Now, that is a Navy man solution
if I ever heard one.

Taking the easy way out.

It's kind of like if a little girl's name
is inconvenient, you just change it.

What do you think about that, Martha?

Do you like that name?

Did you pick it?

-Let's talk about something else.
-No. I wanna hear her opinion...

'cause I'm guessing no one else has asked.

You're making her uncomfortable.

Oh.

Mind your elbows.

This is my house, Dad.

I'll handle the discipline.

Mm. Doesn't seem to me
like you're handling much

of anything around here.

There's no flag on the pole out front.

I couldn't help but notice that.
That's some example you're setting.

But of course, discipline has never
really been your strong suit, has it?

You know what I think...

Dad.

I think you're jealous.

Yeah. 'Cause what I'm doing now
is more important

than anything you've ever done.

Did you read that in Life magazine, Son?

What exactly is it you've done?
You haven't done anything.

Your little space program has never been
more than an empty show.

And now it's turning into a punchline.

Even the press that used to fawn
all over you, they're starting to laugh.

The Russians are flying clear to the moon.

You guys can't even get a rocket
off the ground.

And for this,
you gave up your Navy career.

Where does that put you
when the next war comes?

You gonna defeat the Soviets
with your press conferences

and your staged photoshoots?

I'll go get the dessert.

Forgot to mention that...

...Martha's all settled
into the guest room.

You and Mom will have to find a hotel
for the night.

-Sorry.
-Ugh...

I'm gonna head out and uh, get us a tree.

We already have a tree.

Yeah, well, I hate that thing.
I want a real one like always.

I want a real tree, too.

It might be hard to find one
on Christmas Eve but, uh...

I'll drive around and take a look.

Get a big one.

Mom?

-Mom, it's your turn.
-Hm.

Sorry. Okay, four.

Okay.

One...

- One, two, three...
- You... No, this is mine.

- You have to go right here.
- One, two...

Feliz Navidad, Ramon.

Scotch.

Deke.

Slayton, the spaceman.

What are you doing here?

I'm supposed to meet the wife
and kids in Miami.

Should have left ahead of the weather.

Marge's probably gonna kill me.

But she'll definitely kill me
if I die in a wreck

trying to drive through this storm.

Yeah. Women! Can't live with them,
but reindeer don't know how to cook.

Cheers.

My flight was cancelled
this afternoon, regrettably.

But they damn well
better get me home tomorrow morning.

What happened with the Redstone yesterday?

Go ask your friend, Mr. Kraft.

He's out at the blockhouse
trying to discover what went wrong

as if he's ever going to.

This man understands nothing but...

wishes to control everything...

'cause you and your colleagues
are all too aware.

-With the capsule, you mean?
-Yeah.

But do you know why?

He wishes to be the pilot himself.

That's his dream...

but he could not accomplish it...

because one of his hands is deformed.

So now he insists on piloting the capsule
from Mercury Control.

I know it's upsetting to you
and the other men, believe me.

I understand just how you feel.

Ramon, two.

Yeah.

Yeah.

You put it there
and you forgot I can't read big words.

Here.

Um. Timmy...

- ...this whistled at me when I passed

and said it wanted you for Christmas.

It's signed Santa.
I guess it's from Santa Claus.

Santa Claus, Mom!

You've lost weight.

Tell me how you thought
this would go, Lurleen.

Play the movie for me.

I haven't seen this one, Trudy...

so I don't know how it ends.

Donald left me.

That's all.

My folks took the kids in
but they won't take me

because they're ashamed.

Okay.

I understand.

Now I know exactly why you're here.

At least you won't go home empty-handed.

Merry Christmas.

How did you think
this was gonna go, Trudy?

Play the movie for me.

You might be able to fool Life magazine...

but you can't fool me.

I know exactly what your marriage is.

And deep down, so does Gordo.

Getting banged at lunchtime
for a couple of months

doesn't make you his damn soulmate.

You were a great trophy for him.
But that's all you should have ever been.

Pilot...

hard enough having one of those
in the house, and I ought to know.

You never wanted to support Gordo.

You wanted to be him.

That's not what a man needs in a wife.

You think every man needs the same thing?

I'm not talking about every man.

Lurleen?

Lurleen?

Lurleen, are you there?

What are you doing here?

Thought maybe you could use a drink.

I don't know, Deke.

I thought if I compared the data
on the tapes

to the original graph lines, maybe...

I'd find a discrepancy.

Maybe get some sort of clue

as to why we cannot get a rocket
off the ground.

Don't they have the same telemetry
in Virginia?

Yeah. Yeah. Lenny and the guys are,
they're going through it up there.

Just... Yeah, I thought, I...

should stay here.

Hmm.

Ran into von Braun at the bar.

-He's got a lot to say about you.
-Yeah?

Am I getting a lump of coal
in my stocking?

Hmm.

Part that caught my interest.

He says you couldn't make it as a pilot...

and that's why you wanna fly
the capsule from down here.

That's what you came here
to talk about, Deke?

Said you washed out
on account of a bad hand.

I dropped my peanut butter
and jelly sandwich into a trash fire

when I was three.

Burned my hand to a crisp
trying to pull it out.

Must have been one hell of a sandwich.

Von Braun is right.

Navy rejected me from flight training.

I guess the guy's got me all figured out.

Caught it in a hay mower when I was five.

Only one you can lose
and still be a pilot.

Screw von Braun.

Never liked that Nazi anyway.

He's getting soaked at the bar
in a Santa Claus beard

while you're out here working.

I can tell you who I'd rather have
as a wingman.

You're gonna help us get control
over this shit or what?

- Bang, bang! Got you. Got you. Got you.
- Bang, bang, bang!

- Hello?
- Bang, bang.

What? Mr. Kennedy?

- Bang, bang. Bang.
- Uh. Yes.

Bang, bang. Bang.

- I got you so many times.
- Bobby then.

-No, I won.
-Yes, I got you.

I'm sorry. Excuse me. Hey. Hey.
Come here. Hey.

Yeah. That's right. Christmas Eve.
Hey, Lyn, Dave. Out. Go.

Uh-huh.

The... That's right.
The Natives are restless.

Uh. Well, look, I just...
I think with this election coming up,

it's important for us Democrats to, uh...

Uh-huh!

I know.

Bobby, listen.

Let's say your brother
gets the nomination...

does he wanna win Ohio in the fall?

A Merry Christmas
to you, uncle. God save you.

Humbug I said, and humbug I mean.
Merry Christmas?

What right have you to be merry?
You're poor enough?

What right have you
to be dismal? You're rich enough.

- Humbug.
- Now, uncle, don't be cross.

What else can I be
when I live in such a world of fools?

Merry Christmas.

What's Christmas time but a time
for paying bills without money?

A time of finding yourself a year older
and not an hour richer?

If I could work my will,
every idiot that goes about

with "Merry Christmas" on his lips,
should be boiled with his own pudding

and buried with a stake of holly
through his heart.

Jesus, Trudy, where were you?

Do you still love me?

Of course I do. How could you even ask?

I went to the motel.

And then you know I wasn't there,
don't you?

But you called.

I didn't... I didn't go to her.
I came back home.

Because you had to.

To protect your image.

I mean, you would never get to space
with a busted marriage.

Or... maybe even because you love
the girls.

I don't know.

But none of that
is what I'm asking. Me.

-Do you still love me?
-Yes.

Okay? Yes. I love you.

What is it you want me to say?

That I never felt anything
for Lurleen? Well, I did.

Okay?

But I made my choice.

Trudy, I didn't get you back
so I could go to space.

It's the other way around.

The first thing I thought
when I got that call from NASA

was that maybe, just...

just maybe, this might give me
one last shot with you.

So, yes...

I love you.

-Joy to the world, the Lord is come
-Hi, Emily. This is Barbie.

-Barbie, this is Emily.
-Let earth receive her King

Hi, Barbie. Hi, Emily.

Let every heart prepare Him room

Hey.

Come help me with something.

Okay.

Now...

you know what this is.

Do you know what it means?

America?

Yeah.

But not just the country.

An idea.

Freedom to choose your own life.

My dad showed me how to do this
when I was your age.

This will be your special job from now on.

You wanna help me hold this?

Stars on top. Red on the bottom.

Raise it all the way up.
I'm gonna give you this.

Yup.

That'll do it.

Come on down here.

Tie this down right here.

That's good.

Raise the flag every morning.
Lower it when the sun comes down.

You think you can do that?

It's good to have a routine.

Helps organize your day.

It's even better if it makes you think
of something important.

How long am I going to stay here?

This is your home now, Martha.

You're gonna stay here for good.

Then...

I don't want you to call me Martha.

I wanna choose my own name.

Oh, yeah?

What'd you have in mind?

Alan.

Alan?

A girl named Alan.

Might get you into some trouble
down the road.

How about Alice?

Yeah?

Good to meet you, Alice.

Club soda. Make it a double.

Evening, John.
You look like the cat who ate the catnip.

Can you keep a secret, Scotty?

Got a special guest coming tonight
who just might be

the next President of the United States.

Dick Nixon's coming here?

-I can't stand that Quaker weasel.
-No, no, no, no, no, no.

John F. Kennedy.

You know, my wife thinks
he's better-looking than Elvis.

No. No. Hey. No. Keep it under your hat.

I want it to be a surprise
when he shows up.

Rene, come here.

Sir, I know I don't have to tell you
that people in the Heartland

feel this mission is darned...

Jack.

Jack.

Jack, folks back in Ohio...

Practicing your New Year's sermon, John?

Mr. Glenn...

Senator Kennedy sends his regrets.
He was unavoidably detained.

My name is Jerome Wiesner.

Shall we?

That's not John F. Kennedy.

Uh, no. This is Senator Kennedy's
special advisor

on all matters of science,
Dr. Jerome Wiesner.

It's good to see you.

Nice to meet you.

Jack asked me to be here
because he has some questions,

shall we say,
about the manned space program.

Did you invite this guy here?

Let's get you a drink, shall we?

Ladies and gentlemen,
the 1960s are about to blast off.

Now. Now.

If there's one thing I'm guessing
you people know how to do,

it's a countdown.

- Ten, nine...
- Nine,

eight, seven, six,

five, four, three, two, one.

Happy New Year!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear

For auld lang syne

We'll take a cup...

John. Happy New Year.

Happy New Year.

For auld lang syne