The Six Million Dollar Man (1974–1978): Season 5, Episode 3 - Deadly Countdown - full transcript
FLIGHT COM:
It looks good at NASA One.
B- 52 >PILOT:
Roger.
BCS Arm switch is on.
FLIGHT COM:
Okay, Victor.
B-52 PILOT: Landing Rocket Arm switch
is on. Here comes the throttle.
Circuit breakers in.
STEVE:
We have separation.
B-52 PILOT:
Inboard and outboards are on.
I'm comin' forward with the side stick.
FLIGHT COM:
Looks good.
PILOT:
Ah, Roger.
STEVE:
I've got a blowout in damper three.
SR-71 PILOT:
Get your pitch to zero.
STEVE:
Pitch is out. I can't hold altitude!
B-52 PILOT: Correction. Alpha Hold is oil“.
Threat selector is emergency.
STEVE: Flight Com. I can't hold it!
She's breaking up! She's breaking...
ANNOUNCER:
Steve Austin. Astronaut.
A man barely alive.
Gentlemen, we can rebuild him.
We have the technology.
We have the capability
to make the world's first bionic man.
Steve Austin will be that man.
Better than he was before.
Better, stronger, faster.
(MAIN TITLE THEME)
(MAJESTIC MUSIC)
White Bird to Grey Fox.
White Bird to Grey Fox.
White Bird to Grey Fox.
White Bird to Grey Fox.
Grey Fox to White Bird.
Grey Fox to White Bird.
Go ahead, White Bird.
We have power on both boosters.
We are ready to synchronize.
Over.
Ready to synchronize.
Test for maximum power.
Over.
We are ready.
Now turn on the first booster.
OSCAR: I don't want to hear
that it's impossible.
Take it easy, Oscar.
I understand your problem.
I don't think you
do understand, David.
We have an intelligence report...
that says there may be an attempt
to sabotage the launch.
The best protection against
sabotage is to schedule it...
earlier than anyone expects.
But to have the 1-B ready
for launch in six days...
is cutting four days
out of our schedule.
Order three shifts,
the O.S.I.'s paying the bill.
I want Colonel Austin
and Dr. Russell up there in six days.
Nancy, I want a meeting with the
Saturn 1-B systems engineers...
and the launch staff in the
conference room in 30 minutes.
No, no, you can cancel that.
And I want around-the-clock shifts
on Pad B starting tomorrow.
Right.
Thank you, David.
Well, all of a sudden,
I've got a lot of work to do.
Make yourself at home.
I just hope we can pull it off.
You always have before.
I get the feeling there's more
to this than what you told Dave.
I'm afraid so, pal.
This is the satellite that
we sent up last year.
The nation's Missile Defense Program
depends on it...
and it's beginning to malfunction.
That's why I want to
get you up there...
link up with it
and replace the satellite's brain.
Now I understand the rush.
Dr. Leah Russell, who designed
the satellite's new brain...
will be your co-pilot.
She'll fine tune the system
after the link-up.
Sounds good.
There’s just one more thing.
This orbital satellite
wasn't designed for link-ups...
and you'll have to enter
through this emergency hatch.
Oscar, when I open that hatch...
the pressure release could
blast us into the next galaxy.
That's why I want you to use your bionics
to prevent the hatch from blowing...
and vent the pressure
gradually, like this.
The success of this mission
depends on you, Steve.
Nobody else can do it.
Good thing we've got some time...
that impulse booster
is giving me a lot of trouble.
Just so long as we're
ready for the launch.
I'd give half my bonus
to see their faces...
when we snatch that bird
right out of their hands.
It will be a considerable
shock to them, won't it?
MATTHEWS:
It's Webster.
Yeah, what is it, Webster?
We got problems.
The launch has been moved up.
It's goin' in six days, not ten.
You positive?
I just returned from a meeting.
McGrath has put extra crews on the pad...
and a Colonel Steve Austin is gonna
do the repair work on the satellite.
If this thing falls apart, it means
a one million dollar investment...
and a ten million dollar
payoff down the drain.
What're our chances
of being ready in six days?
Are you serious?
(SCOFFS)
Delay the launch.
We can't be ready in six days.
But be careful.
Whatever you do, it has to
look like an accident...
that causes a delay,
not an FBI investigation.
Well, that just leaves the
Saturn 1-B or Steve Austin...
and I can't get close
enough to the 1-B... not now.
Well, that leaves Austin.
It's worth $25,000.
All right.
All right, get on with it.
Yes, sir.
On its side,
it's like a sleeping giant.
But when it's standing up...
Well, I could never do it.
I could never ride
one of these things.
Well, that sure
gives me confidence...
being as you're one of the guys
that puts these things together.
Well, you know what I mean, Steve.
Yeah, I sure do.
I've been away from
these birds so long...
that I've been feeling a little uptight
myself ever since Oscar told me...
I was going for another ride.
How do you get yourself to do it?
I don't know.
I keep telling myself
it's like riding a wild bronc.
I'm gonna stay on,
make it go where I want it to...
that I'm in control.
Well, the truth is the Saturn 1-B
is like 34 million horses.
Well, the day before the
launch is when that hits me.
It scares me.
I still don't know how you do it.
Say, when am I gonna
meet Dr. Russell?
This evening.
She came in from
Houston last night.
I got in touch with you because
you once worked at the space center...
and you know their routine.
When you called you said this had
something to do with a guy...
named Austin,
Steve Austin, that right?
Yeah, I understand he caused you
a bit of discomfort in the past?
Discomfort?
12 years of it...
Florida State Prison.
How'd you like to settle the score
and get paid for the pleasure?
How much?
$25,000.
Now, the way you do it
is your business.
But it must look like an accident.
Just $5,000 in here.
Oh, you'll get the rest...
when I get word that
Steve Austin's been killed...
accidentally.
(STEAM HISSES)
(STEAM HISSES)
LEAH:
I hope that's not too much steam.
Oh, no, that's fine.
I'm sorry !
Last time I bunked here, it was
kinda like West Point, you know?
That's also changed.
Yeah.
You must be Steve Austin.
You must be Dr. Russell.
That's right.
Very pleased to meet you,
Colonel Austin.
It's my pleasure.
I'll come back later.
Oh, I don't mind, if you don't.
I mean, we're gonna be living together
in that space capsule for some time.
Well, I guess you're right.
What's it like out there, anyway?
In space, I mean.
It's ah... it's quiet...
Peaceful and exciting
all at the same time.
Physically demanding?
Over the long haul, yes.
I was afraid you'd say that.
Are you worried?
About getting this 30-year-old body
through those stress lab tests.
Something tells me
you're gonna make it.
How'd you ever get into
designing brains for satellites?
My parents taught me
trigonometry instead of the ABC's...
read me logarithms
instead of fairy tales.
And I entered Oxford
when I was 17.
I know it's stupid...
silly, actually...
but I'm very frightened
about going off into space.
You'll do just fine.
Welcome aboard.
Last quarter coming up.
You've got to do it in 1:33,
so start pumping it out.
That's got it.
1:28, five seconds to spare.
That's terrific.
Hey, you see, you made it.
That's what the man said.
I knew there was some zip left
in that 30-year-old body of yours.
What do you say, Colonel?
How about showing us
how it's really done?
No, no, I don't
want to show you up.
After that,
you're going to have to.
I took mine already
at the O.S.I. Headquarters.
Steve, I need some
for my records here.
Absolutely.
Come on, Colonel.
Come on.
I'll wire you up.
(COMICAL MUSIC)
Her security clearance
is at least a six, right?
Mmm-hmm.
Well, I think you're right.
It's as good a time
as any for her to find out.
Give me a hand with this,
will you, Steve?
Okay, Steve. Hit it.
(DYNAMIC MUSIC)
How am I doing?
You're not.
You have to be kidding.
Never been more serious in my life.
Now, get cracking, Steve.
Come on, Colonel!
Turn on the steam!
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
Well, it looks normal.
I don't believe it.
It's not possible.
How did you do that?
Well, something about a challenge
just gets my adrenalin flowing, I guess.
Come on, Colonel.
There has to be a better
explanation than that.
Well, we're due at the
High Altitude Chamber next.
We'll talk on the way.
See, there's a part of this old legend
not too many people know about.
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
Let's go through this
by the numbers, okay?
Yeah, you have a new kid
on the block.
By the numbers, you got it.
We always do a manually stepped run
the first time, anyways.
I'll take it first.
(GAS HISSING)
PIERCE:
Ready to initiate procedure.
STEVE:
Standing by.
What's happening out there?
I don't know.
The auto-sequence kicked in.
Hit the override!
I did, nothing happened.
He'll suffocate in there.
Do something!
Hurry! Hurry!
(ALARM SOUNDS)
He's not getting any air.
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
Pull this out! Hurry!
Are you alright?
I can't figure it!
Contact McGrath.
I want security to check
on this right away.
WEBSTER: He's what?
You better give me that again.
You heard me.
Austin's alive.
I missed him.
Well, take another shot.
Maybe, in a couple of weeks.
No. We need him knocked out now.
What's the rush?
If he's still on deck,
something goes before we're ready.
So you just stay on it.
No way.
They're alerted now.
I'll end up back in prison.
All right, you stay on the job,
you get the rest of your money now.
Not enough if I get caught.
Look, if something goes wrong...
there'll be another $25,000
in it for you.
And you forget that we ever talked.
What's my guarantee?
The money will be placed
in your bank account today.
You bought yourself a deal.
He'll get Austin this time,
for sure, Mr. Shanks.
He'd better.
Our backers would get very unpleasant
if that satellite brain were launched...
before we can control it.
Security boys turn up anything?
As far as we can tell,
it was an accident.
Some kind of electronic mix-up.
Couple of reversed
circuit boards.
Are you sure that someone didn't get in that
control room and switch these boards?
Our security has never
been penetrated before.
There's never been
a better reason before.
(SIGHS)
Well, do we go back to work?
We have no choice.
I don't want to, but we have to
keep the mission on schedule.
White Bird to Grey Fox.
White Bird to Grey Fox.
We are ready.
Let's patch into their flight computers.
SUPERVISOR:
This is pre-flight test.
(RADIO CHATTER)
I have a guidance indicator light.
Standing by for guidance update.
(ELECTRONIC WHIRRING)
It's working perfectly.
One down and one more to go.
(ELECTRONIC WHIRRING)
(BIONIC EYE SOUND EFFECT)
(WEAK BIONIC EYE
SOUND EFFECT)
SUPERVISOR:
That's 6-niner-3-5, copy?
That's... that's a copy.
I thought maybe I damaged it
when I got knocked across the HAC.
It's functioning perfectly, Steve.
Perfect.
Well, how do you figure it?
It has to be the
flight guidance signals.
They must interfere with the
bionic mechanism in some way.
That kinda like the way a microwave oven
messes up a pace-maker?
The theory's the same, yeah.
So every time we update the guidance
program, it will happen again, right?
Most likely.
Now that I know what causes it,
Rudy, I'd like to stay with this one...
and keep it just between us.
Long as you keep me informed...
as long as it's a momentary aberration and
none of your other bionics are affected.
Okay?
Thanks, Rudy.
Thanks a lot.
Okay, Steve.
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
Hey!
What's Colonel Austin, the astronaut,
doing hanging around here?
Astronauts hang around here a lot.
Yeah? Why?
Well, a lot of them do.
Especially the day before going up.
It's kinda like a ritual
with some of them.
So Colonel Austin, too?
Oh, yeah.
You can bet anything that he'll
be here the day before a launch.
Hey, how about that?
(LOUNGE MUSIC)
It's a history of the space program.
Dave's been at the
Cape from the beginning.
So am I,
from my beginning, I mean.
He has commendations from
every president since Kennedy.
I was a baby, then.
The Medal of Freedom.
He's especially proud of that one.
And the one on the wall
he got at the White House.
I've been watching you,
young lady.
You better stop bragging so much.
I'm proud of you.
She positively embarrasses me.
Steve, I hear you had an
uphill battle with the treadmill.
Well, you see, I have aged.
It just doesn't show.
He owes that all to me.
We didn't want an old-timer
on this project
but he's all our budget would allow.
We don't have to
listen to this nonsense.
Come on.
I have a confession to make.
This is not a place to confess.
You have the perfect spot?
Yeah. Tailor-made for post brunch
cocktails and confessions.
(INAUDIBLE DIALOG)
You don't mean that.
12-foot long rattlesnakes.
Sure, they used to come out and sun
themselves up there where the road is now.
Of course, when we first
came training down here...
there wasn't a road there then
and hardly any people.
Just 12-foot long rattlesnakes.
Yep.
And alligators.
Big alligators.
You know, they used to get under
cars and flip 'em over just for fun.
This is when the
space program first started?
Yep, came here all the time.
Lots of confessing going on
in those days, huh?
Well, I had a lot to confess.
And I think
I have a confession now.
Not before I say
what I have to say.
You mean about turning up the
resistance setting on the treadmill?
You see, when Dr. Wells
was wiring you up for the...
You knew. All the time.
Colonel Austin, you're a rat.
Yeah, well, that doesn't make
me a bad person...
and besides,
you see I don't lie.
Now there's a 12-foot
rattlesnake if I ever saw one.
Don't put it anywhere near me.
What are you talking about?
(MAJESTIC MUSIC)
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
(RADIO CHATTER)
SUPERVISOR:
We are now testing escape procedures.
This is a test for escape procedure.
Attention, all personnel on Deck 2.
We'd like you to initiate
emergency procedure.
First you re-start the computer and...
Than I deactivate the cyro tanks,
got it, sorry.
This is Mission Director,
what's going on up there?
I'm afraid it's me,
I can't seem to concentrate.
Emergency alert is well
worth the effort, Leah.
I know... I just...
Give me a minute,
will you, Dave?
I don't know what's
the matter with me.
That happens often
with emergency alert.
We hope that we never need it...
so sometimes our minds
refuse to cope with it.
I think I understand.
I never take out insurance when I fly.
STEVE: Exactly.
Feeling better?
Back on the line here,
standing by.
Okay, let's give it another go.
Ready.
Well, missed you at lunch.
Hi.
Hi.
I wasn't hungry.
Oh, you come here
to work up an appetite?
Oh, it's so frustrating.
I felt so dumb in that capsule today.
Well, forget it.
You'll catch on.
I tried.
It keeps gnawing at me.
You can't keep coming to
my rescue during the mission.
Well, you're right.
What you need is a co-pilot
you can depend on.
Well, you're right again.
I do.
Look, it's just pre-launch jitters.
You'll feel better tomorrow.
Seriously, Steve.
Perhaps I shouldn't be doing it at all.
Hey now, wait a minute.
Look, as commander
of this flight...
I order you to allow me
the pleasure of one last rescue.
What you need is a little RATS.
Oh oh, another space-age acronym.
Uh-huh.
Remote Area Training Structure.
We'll go there this afternoon
after we finish work.
And now, back to work.
Yes sir, Colonel,
you can rescue me anytime.
Feeling more relaxed?
Very.
Good.
I always used to come here just
to get away from all that hardware.
Why don't we just send a polite note
to Oscar and Dave McGrath...
saying due to circumstances
beyond our control...
we are unable to attend
the launch of the Saturn 1-B.
Wouldn't that just frost them.
They'd probably never find us here.
Well, that's a good idea,
but they'd find us and just in time.
Hmm. You know,
I just remembered something.
There's something I have to do.
I'll be right back.
Alone?
I'm a creature of habit.
It's a little ritual I go through
before every launch.
I promise I'll be back.
Okay.
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(MOTORCYCLE CRASHES)
Richman!
Well, who you working for now?
Nobody.
Come on. Did you learn anything
in 12 years? Cooperate.
I learned Austin, how to hate.
My friends, my job.
You cost me everything.
You should have thought of that when
you were stealing those components.
Now, who's paying you?
Satisfaction.
That's my pay.
And I'd do it again.
I guess you didn't learn anything,
did you? Come on.
I'm concerned for the safety
of your man, Oscar.
I appreciate that, David, but you
know the priority of this mission.
And now you know why we want
nothing to do with military launches.
Who needs this?
Dave, if this was an attempt
to interfere with the launch...
and not a grudge thing,
we've got it stopped.
There's no reason to abort now.
And there's no time
for another attempt.
Well, it's your show.
Whatever you want.
I'll run a check on Richman
just to be sure.
But let's tighten up security
on this base and get on with it.
All right. It's a go.
BECK:
They're moving that rocket up to the pad.
Looks like we've lost.
SHANKS:
No we haven't.
We'll find another way
to stop that launch.
Melissa?
Melissa?
(PHONE RINGS)
McGrath?
What's this all about?
It's about keeping your daughter alive.
Who are you?
What do you want? Money?
An explosion.
You're gonna blow up
that rocket on the pad.
I'm... You're out of your mind.
Maybe, but you'll cooperate if you want
to see your daughter alive again.
(DIAL TONE)
(RADIO CHATTER)
(PHONE RINGS)
McGrath.
Daddy.
Melissa, are you all right?
She's depending on you, McGrath.
Yeah, coffee would go
real good right now.
Well, how you doing?
You decide to
go along for the ride?
Well, I'd like to but while you
and Leah are taking your ride...
I'm going back to Washington,
another emergency.
Hey, where's Rudy?
He's on his way to Washington.
Well, you guys sure
lead busy lives.
It's a living.
Where's McGrath?
He never lets a launch go up
without shaking everybody's hand.
He's probably got his nose in some
console over at Mission Control.
Now I'm beginning
to think nobody cares.
I do.
Good luck, pal.
Thanks.
(RADIO CHATTER)
(RADIO CHATTER CONTINUES)
SUPERVISOR: T minus five minutes and
counting, swing arm and white room away.
That's a copy, swing arm
and white room away.
Launch escape tower armed,
and keyed for jettison.
SUPERVISOR: T minus
four minutes and holding.
Are we cleared for launch?
(RADIO CHATTER)
Cleared for launch.
SUPERVISOR: T minus three minutes,
30 seconds and counting.
Feeling good.
SUPERVISOR: We have automatic
initiation of propellant pressurization.
(ALARM SOUNDS)
We have a warning light on Second Stage
hydrogen pressurization.
SUPERVISOR: Copy that.
(ALARM SOUNDS FASTER)
Our instrumentation is reading normal.
Stand by for verification.
We should have had
release valve cycling by now.
SUPERVISOR:
We're working on it, Mac.
STEVE: Copy that, let's get
the white room back to the bird.
Just in case.
SUPERVISOR:
Commencing that now.
Have we tried the hard line
to the valves yet?
SUPERVISOR: Negative.
Well, let's do it.
SUPERVISOR: Hard line in.
(ALARM SOUNDING)
Negative response to that.
Maybe it's a faulty sensor.
Maybe we should...
Steve, I'm scared.
I don't like it.
Abort.
Abort the mission.
(LOUD ALARM SOUNDING)
Hit the LET.
I did, nothing happened.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Steve, Steve!
Steve.
(SIRENS WAILING)
(END THEME MUSIC)
It looks good at NASA One.
B- 52 >PILOT:
Roger.
BCS Arm switch is on.
FLIGHT COM:
Okay, Victor.
B-52 PILOT: Landing Rocket Arm switch
is on. Here comes the throttle.
Circuit breakers in.
STEVE:
We have separation.
B-52 PILOT:
Inboard and outboards are on.
I'm comin' forward with the side stick.
FLIGHT COM:
Looks good.
PILOT:
Ah, Roger.
STEVE:
I've got a blowout in damper three.
SR-71 PILOT:
Get your pitch to zero.
STEVE:
Pitch is out. I can't hold altitude!
B-52 PILOT: Correction. Alpha Hold is oil“.
Threat selector is emergency.
STEVE: Flight Com. I can't hold it!
She's breaking up! She's breaking...
ANNOUNCER:
Steve Austin. Astronaut.
A man barely alive.
Gentlemen, we can rebuild him.
We have the technology.
We have the capability
to make the world's first bionic man.
Steve Austin will be that man.
Better than he was before.
Better, stronger, faster.
(MAIN TITLE THEME)
(MAJESTIC MUSIC)
White Bird to Grey Fox.
White Bird to Grey Fox.
White Bird to Grey Fox.
White Bird to Grey Fox.
Grey Fox to White Bird.
Grey Fox to White Bird.
Go ahead, White Bird.
We have power on both boosters.
We are ready to synchronize.
Over.
Ready to synchronize.
Test for maximum power.
Over.
We are ready.
Now turn on the first booster.
OSCAR: I don't want to hear
that it's impossible.
Take it easy, Oscar.
I understand your problem.
I don't think you
do understand, David.
We have an intelligence report...
that says there may be an attempt
to sabotage the launch.
The best protection against
sabotage is to schedule it...
earlier than anyone expects.
But to have the 1-B ready
for launch in six days...
is cutting four days
out of our schedule.
Order three shifts,
the O.S.I.'s paying the bill.
I want Colonel Austin
and Dr. Russell up there in six days.
Nancy, I want a meeting with the
Saturn 1-B systems engineers...
and the launch staff in the
conference room in 30 minutes.
No, no, you can cancel that.
And I want around-the-clock shifts
on Pad B starting tomorrow.
Right.
Thank you, David.
Well, all of a sudden,
I've got a lot of work to do.
Make yourself at home.
I just hope we can pull it off.
You always have before.
I get the feeling there's more
to this than what you told Dave.
I'm afraid so, pal.
This is the satellite that
we sent up last year.
The nation's Missile Defense Program
depends on it...
and it's beginning to malfunction.
That's why I want to
get you up there...
link up with it
and replace the satellite's brain.
Now I understand the rush.
Dr. Leah Russell, who designed
the satellite's new brain...
will be your co-pilot.
She'll fine tune the system
after the link-up.
Sounds good.
There’s just one more thing.
This orbital satellite
wasn't designed for link-ups...
and you'll have to enter
through this emergency hatch.
Oscar, when I open that hatch...
the pressure release could
blast us into the next galaxy.
That's why I want you to use your bionics
to prevent the hatch from blowing...
and vent the pressure
gradually, like this.
The success of this mission
depends on you, Steve.
Nobody else can do it.
Good thing we've got some time...
that impulse booster
is giving me a lot of trouble.
Just so long as we're
ready for the launch.
I'd give half my bonus
to see their faces...
when we snatch that bird
right out of their hands.
It will be a considerable
shock to them, won't it?
MATTHEWS:
It's Webster.
Yeah, what is it, Webster?
We got problems.
The launch has been moved up.
It's goin' in six days, not ten.
You positive?
I just returned from a meeting.
McGrath has put extra crews on the pad...
and a Colonel Steve Austin is gonna
do the repair work on the satellite.
If this thing falls apart, it means
a one million dollar investment...
and a ten million dollar
payoff down the drain.
What're our chances
of being ready in six days?
Are you serious?
(SCOFFS)
Delay the launch.
We can't be ready in six days.
But be careful.
Whatever you do, it has to
look like an accident...
that causes a delay,
not an FBI investigation.
Well, that just leaves the
Saturn 1-B or Steve Austin...
and I can't get close
enough to the 1-B... not now.
Well, that leaves Austin.
It's worth $25,000.
All right.
All right, get on with it.
Yes, sir.
On its side,
it's like a sleeping giant.
But when it's standing up...
Well, I could never do it.
I could never ride
one of these things.
Well, that sure
gives me confidence...
being as you're one of the guys
that puts these things together.
Well, you know what I mean, Steve.
Yeah, I sure do.
I've been away from
these birds so long...
that I've been feeling a little uptight
myself ever since Oscar told me...
I was going for another ride.
How do you get yourself to do it?
I don't know.
I keep telling myself
it's like riding a wild bronc.
I'm gonna stay on,
make it go where I want it to...
that I'm in control.
Well, the truth is the Saturn 1-B
is like 34 million horses.
Well, the day before the
launch is when that hits me.
It scares me.
I still don't know how you do it.
Say, when am I gonna
meet Dr. Russell?
This evening.
She came in from
Houston last night.
I got in touch with you because
you once worked at the space center...
and you know their routine.
When you called you said this had
something to do with a guy...
named Austin,
Steve Austin, that right?
Yeah, I understand he caused you
a bit of discomfort in the past?
Discomfort?
12 years of it...
Florida State Prison.
How'd you like to settle the score
and get paid for the pleasure?
How much?
$25,000.
Now, the way you do it
is your business.
But it must look like an accident.
Just $5,000 in here.
Oh, you'll get the rest...
when I get word that
Steve Austin's been killed...
accidentally.
(STEAM HISSES)
(STEAM HISSES)
LEAH:
I hope that's not too much steam.
Oh, no, that's fine.
I'm sorry !
Last time I bunked here, it was
kinda like West Point, you know?
That's also changed.
Yeah.
You must be Steve Austin.
You must be Dr. Russell.
That's right.
Very pleased to meet you,
Colonel Austin.
It's my pleasure.
I'll come back later.
Oh, I don't mind, if you don't.
I mean, we're gonna be living together
in that space capsule for some time.
Well, I guess you're right.
What's it like out there, anyway?
In space, I mean.
It's ah... it's quiet...
Peaceful and exciting
all at the same time.
Physically demanding?
Over the long haul, yes.
I was afraid you'd say that.
Are you worried?
About getting this 30-year-old body
through those stress lab tests.
Something tells me
you're gonna make it.
How'd you ever get into
designing brains for satellites?
My parents taught me
trigonometry instead of the ABC's...
read me logarithms
instead of fairy tales.
And I entered Oxford
when I was 17.
I know it's stupid...
silly, actually...
but I'm very frightened
about going off into space.
You'll do just fine.
Welcome aboard.
Last quarter coming up.
You've got to do it in 1:33,
so start pumping it out.
That's got it.
1:28, five seconds to spare.
That's terrific.
Hey, you see, you made it.
That's what the man said.
I knew there was some zip left
in that 30-year-old body of yours.
What do you say, Colonel?
How about showing us
how it's really done?
No, no, I don't
want to show you up.
After that,
you're going to have to.
I took mine already
at the O.S.I. Headquarters.
Steve, I need some
for my records here.
Absolutely.
Come on, Colonel.
Come on.
I'll wire you up.
(COMICAL MUSIC)
Her security clearance
is at least a six, right?
Mmm-hmm.
Well, I think you're right.
It's as good a time
as any for her to find out.
Give me a hand with this,
will you, Steve?
Okay, Steve. Hit it.
(DYNAMIC MUSIC)
How am I doing?
You're not.
You have to be kidding.
Never been more serious in my life.
Now, get cracking, Steve.
Come on, Colonel!
Turn on the steam!
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
Well, it looks normal.
I don't believe it.
It's not possible.
How did you do that?
Well, something about a challenge
just gets my adrenalin flowing, I guess.
Come on, Colonel.
There has to be a better
explanation than that.
Well, we're due at the
High Altitude Chamber next.
We'll talk on the way.
See, there's a part of this old legend
not too many people know about.
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
Let's go through this
by the numbers, okay?
Yeah, you have a new kid
on the block.
By the numbers, you got it.
We always do a manually stepped run
the first time, anyways.
I'll take it first.
(GAS HISSING)
PIERCE:
Ready to initiate procedure.
STEVE:
Standing by.
What's happening out there?
I don't know.
The auto-sequence kicked in.
Hit the override!
I did, nothing happened.
He'll suffocate in there.
Do something!
Hurry! Hurry!
(ALARM SOUNDS)
He's not getting any air.
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
Pull this out! Hurry!
Are you alright?
I can't figure it!
Contact McGrath.
I want security to check
on this right away.
WEBSTER: He's what?
You better give me that again.
You heard me.
Austin's alive.
I missed him.
Well, take another shot.
Maybe, in a couple of weeks.
No. We need him knocked out now.
What's the rush?
If he's still on deck,
something goes before we're ready.
So you just stay on it.
No way.
They're alerted now.
I'll end up back in prison.
All right, you stay on the job,
you get the rest of your money now.
Not enough if I get caught.
Look, if something goes wrong...
there'll be another $25,000
in it for you.
And you forget that we ever talked.
What's my guarantee?
The money will be placed
in your bank account today.
You bought yourself a deal.
He'll get Austin this time,
for sure, Mr. Shanks.
He'd better.
Our backers would get very unpleasant
if that satellite brain were launched...
before we can control it.
Security boys turn up anything?
As far as we can tell,
it was an accident.
Some kind of electronic mix-up.
Couple of reversed
circuit boards.
Are you sure that someone didn't get in that
control room and switch these boards?
Our security has never
been penetrated before.
There's never been
a better reason before.
(SIGHS)
Well, do we go back to work?
We have no choice.
I don't want to, but we have to
keep the mission on schedule.
White Bird to Grey Fox.
White Bird to Grey Fox.
We are ready.
Let's patch into their flight computers.
SUPERVISOR:
This is pre-flight test.
(RADIO CHATTER)
I have a guidance indicator light.
Standing by for guidance update.
(ELECTRONIC WHIRRING)
It's working perfectly.
One down and one more to go.
(ELECTRONIC WHIRRING)
(BIONIC EYE SOUND EFFECT)
(WEAK BIONIC EYE
SOUND EFFECT)
SUPERVISOR:
That's 6-niner-3-5, copy?
That's... that's a copy.
I thought maybe I damaged it
when I got knocked across the HAC.
It's functioning perfectly, Steve.
Perfect.
Well, how do you figure it?
It has to be the
flight guidance signals.
They must interfere with the
bionic mechanism in some way.
That kinda like the way a microwave oven
messes up a pace-maker?
The theory's the same, yeah.
So every time we update the guidance
program, it will happen again, right?
Most likely.
Now that I know what causes it,
Rudy, I'd like to stay with this one...
and keep it just between us.
Long as you keep me informed...
as long as it's a momentary aberration and
none of your other bionics are affected.
Okay?
Thanks, Rudy.
Thanks a lot.
Okay, Steve.
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
Hey!
What's Colonel Austin, the astronaut,
doing hanging around here?
Astronauts hang around here a lot.
Yeah? Why?
Well, a lot of them do.
Especially the day before going up.
It's kinda like a ritual
with some of them.
So Colonel Austin, too?
Oh, yeah.
You can bet anything that he'll
be here the day before a launch.
Hey, how about that?
(LOUNGE MUSIC)
It's a history of the space program.
Dave's been at the
Cape from the beginning.
So am I,
from my beginning, I mean.
He has commendations from
every president since Kennedy.
I was a baby, then.
The Medal of Freedom.
He's especially proud of that one.
And the one on the wall
he got at the White House.
I've been watching you,
young lady.
You better stop bragging so much.
I'm proud of you.
She positively embarrasses me.
Steve, I hear you had an
uphill battle with the treadmill.
Well, you see, I have aged.
It just doesn't show.
He owes that all to me.
We didn't want an old-timer
on this project
but he's all our budget would allow.
We don't have to
listen to this nonsense.
Come on.
I have a confession to make.
This is not a place to confess.
You have the perfect spot?
Yeah. Tailor-made for post brunch
cocktails and confessions.
(INAUDIBLE DIALOG)
You don't mean that.
12-foot long rattlesnakes.
Sure, they used to come out and sun
themselves up there where the road is now.
Of course, when we first
came training down here...
there wasn't a road there then
and hardly any people.
Just 12-foot long rattlesnakes.
Yep.
And alligators.
Big alligators.
You know, they used to get under
cars and flip 'em over just for fun.
This is when the
space program first started?
Yep, came here all the time.
Lots of confessing going on
in those days, huh?
Well, I had a lot to confess.
And I think
I have a confession now.
Not before I say
what I have to say.
You mean about turning up the
resistance setting on the treadmill?
You see, when Dr. Wells
was wiring you up for the...
You knew. All the time.
Colonel Austin, you're a rat.
Yeah, well, that doesn't make
me a bad person...
and besides,
you see I don't lie.
Now there's a 12-foot
rattlesnake if I ever saw one.
Don't put it anywhere near me.
What are you talking about?
(MAJESTIC MUSIC)
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
(RADIO CHATTER)
SUPERVISOR:
We are now testing escape procedures.
This is a test for escape procedure.
Attention, all personnel on Deck 2.
We'd like you to initiate
emergency procedure.
First you re-start the computer and...
Than I deactivate the cyro tanks,
got it, sorry.
This is Mission Director,
what's going on up there?
I'm afraid it's me,
I can't seem to concentrate.
Emergency alert is well
worth the effort, Leah.
I know... I just...
Give me a minute,
will you, Dave?
I don't know what's
the matter with me.
That happens often
with emergency alert.
We hope that we never need it...
so sometimes our minds
refuse to cope with it.
I think I understand.
I never take out insurance when I fly.
STEVE: Exactly.
Feeling better?
Back on the line here,
standing by.
Okay, let's give it another go.
Ready.
Well, missed you at lunch.
Hi.
Hi.
I wasn't hungry.
Oh, you come here
to work up an appetite?
Oh, it's so frustrating.
I felt so dumb in that capsule today.
Well, forget it.
You'll catch on.
I tried.
It keeps gnawing at me.
You can't keep coming to
my rescue during the mission.
Well, you're right.
What you need is a co-pilot
you can depend on.
Well, you're right again.
I do.
Look, it's just pre-launch jitters.
You'll feel better tomorrow.
Seriously, Steve.
Perhaps I shouldn't be doing it at all.
Hey now, wait a minute.
Look, as commander
of this flight...
I order you to allow me
the pleasure of one last rescue.
What you need is a little RATS.
Oh oh, another space-age acronym.
Uh-huh.
Remote Area Training Structure.
We'll go there this afternoon
after we finish work.
And now, back to work.
Yes sir, Colonel,
you can rescue me anytime.
Feeling more relaxed?
Very.
Good.
I always used to come here just
to get away from all that hardware.
Why don't we just send a polite note
to Oscar and Dave McGrath...
saying due to circumstances
beyond our control...
we are unable to attend
the launch of the Saturn 1-B.
Wouldn't that just frost them.
They'd probably never find us here.
Well, that's a good idea,
but they'd find us and just in time.
Hmm. You know,
I just remembered something.
There's something I have to do.
I'll be right back.
Alone?
I'm a creature of habit.
It's a little ritual I go through
before every launch.
I promise I'll be back.
Okay.
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(MOTORCYCLE CRASHES)
Richman!
Well, who you working for now?
Nobody.
Come on. Did you learn anything
in 12 years? Cooperate.
I learned Austin, how to hate.
My friends, my job.
You cost me everything.
You should have thought of that when
you were stealing those components.
Now, who's paying you?
Satisfaction.
That's my pay.
And I'd do it again.
I guess you didn't learn anything,
did you? Come on.
I'm concerned for the safety
of your man, Oscar.
I appreciate that, David, but you
know the priority of this mission.
And now you know why we want
nothing to do with military launches.
Who needs this?
Dave, if this was an attempt
to interfere with the launch...
and not a grudge thing,
we've got it stopped.
There's no reason to abort now.
And there's no time
for another attempt.
Well, it's your show.
Whatever you want.
I'll run a check on Richman
just to be sure.
But let's tighten up security
on this base and get on with it.
All right. It's a go.
BECK:
They're moving that rocket up to the pad.
Looks like we've lost.
SHANKS:
No we haven't.
We'll find another way
to stop that launch.
Melissa?
Melissa?
(PHONE RINGS)
McGrath?
What's this all about?
It's about keeping your daughter alive.
Who are you?
What do you want? Money?
An explosion.
You're gonna blow up
that rocket on the pad.
I'm... You're out of your mind.
Maybe, but you'll cooperate if you want
to see your daughter alive again.
(DIAL TONE)
(RADIO CHATTER)
(PHONE RINGS)
McGrath.
Daddy.
Melissa, are you all right?
She's depending on you, McGrath.
Yeah, coffee would go
real good right now.
Well, how you doing?
You decide to
go along for the ride?
Well, I'd like to but while you
and Leah are taking your ride...
I'm going back to Washington,
another emergency.
Hey, where's Rudy?
He's on his way to Washington.
Well, you guys sure
lead busy lives.
It's a living.
Where's McGrath?
He never lets a launch go up
without shaking everybody's hand.
He's probably got his nose in some
console over at Mission Control.
Now I'm beginning
to think nobody cares.
I do.
Good luck, pal.
Thanks.
(RADIO CHATTER)
(RADIO CHATTER CONTINUES)
SUPERVISOR: T minus five minutes and
counting, swing arm and white room away.
That's a copy, swing arm
and white room away.
Launch escape tower armed,
and keyed for jettison.
SUPERVISOR: T minus
four minutes and holding.
Are we cleared for launch?
(RADIO CHATTER)
Cleared for launch.
SUPERVISOR: T minus three minutes,
30 seconds and counting.
Feeling good.
SUPERVISOR: We have automatic
initiation of propellant pressurization.
(ALARM SOUNDS)
We have a warning light on Second Stage
hydrogen pressurization.
SUPERVISOR: Copy that.
(ALARM SOUNDS FASTER)
Our instrumentation is reading normal.
Stand by for verification.
We should have had
release valve cycling by now.
SUPERVISOR:
We're working on it, Mac.
STEVE: Copy that, let's get
the white room back to the bird.
Just in case.
SUPERVISOR:
Commencing that now.
Have we tried the hard line
to the valves yet?
SUPERVISOR: Negative.
Well, let's do it.
SUPERVISOR: Hard line in.
(ALARM SOUNDING)
Negative response to that.
Maybe it's a faulty sensor.
Maybe we should...
Steve, I'm scared.
I don't like it.
Abort.
Abort the mission.
(LOUD ALARM SOUNDING)
Hit the LET.
I did, nothing happened.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Steve, Steve!
Steve.
(SIRENS WAILING)
(END THEME MUSIC)