================= THE RIGHT STUFF ================= THERE WAS A DEMON THAT LIVED IN THE AIR. THERE WAS A DEMON THAT LIVED IN THE AIR. THEY SAID WHOEVER CHALLENGED HIM WOULD DIE. THEIR CONTROLS WOULD FREEZE UP, THEIR PLANES WOULD BUFFET WILDLY, AND THEY WOULD DISINTEGRATE. THE DEMON LIVED AT MACH 1 ON THE METER, 750 MILES AN HOUR, WHERE THE AIR COULD NO LONGER MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. HE LIVED BEHIND A BARRIER THROUGH WHICH THEY SAID NO MAN COULD EVER PASS. THEY CALLED IT THE SOUND BARRIER. THEN THEY BUILT A SMALL PLANE, THE X-1, TO TRY AND BREAK THE SOUND BARRIER. MEN CAME TO THE HIGH DESERT OF CALIFORNIA TO RIDE IT. THEY WERE CALLED TEST PILOTS. AND NO ONE KNEW THEIR NAMES. WHISKEY KILO 28, PREPARE TO DROP. ROGER, GROUND CONTROL. THIS IS WHISKEY KILO 28, LOWERING AND LAUNCHING NOW. MACH .92... .93... .94... HIT A MILD BUFFET THERE. MACH .95... .96... .97... .98! .99! DO YOU WANT TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY? NEGATIVE. WHISKEY KILO 28 ISN'T DECLAR-- NO. GO AWAY. NO! NO! " LORD, GUARD AND GUIDE THE MEN WHO FLY " " THROUGH THE GREAT SPACES IN THE SKY " " BE WITH THEM ALWAYS " " IN THE AIR " " IN DARKENING STORMS " " OR SUNLIGHT FAIR " " LORD, HEAR US WHEN WE LIFT OUR PRAYER " " FOR THOSE IN PERIL " " IN THE AIR " " AMEN "" [WHINNIES] [WHINNIES] HEY, PONCHO, I WAS LOOKING AT THE PICTURES. HOW COME A FANCY PILOT LIKE SLICK DOESN'T HAVE HIS PICTURE UP? WHAT DOES IT TAKE? YOU HAVE TO DIE, SWEETIE. YEAGER, YOU OLD BASTARD. DON'T STAND THERE IN THE DOORWAY LIKE SOME LONESOME, GOD DAMN, MOUSESHIT SHEEPHERDER. GET YOUR ASS HERE AND HAVE A DRINK. I GOT YOU SOMETHING. OH. COME HERE. SLICK, YOU COULD BE THE FIRST. THE MAN WHO BREAKS THE SOUND BARRIER WILL BE ON TOP. SLICK, YOU'RE THE BEST CIVILIAN PILOT AROUND. AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON. GET THAT HELMET? YEP. YOU'RE OUR CHOICE. IT MIGHT WORK. I'LL LOOK LIKE THE GALLOPING GHOST IN THIS. SOME SAY THE SOUND BARRIER CAN'T BE BROKE. ENGINEER WILL SAY IT'S AN ABSOLUTE, LIKE THE FIRMNESS OF THE EARTH. SOUND BARRIER'S A FARM YOU CAN BUY IN THE SKY. THEY'LL SAY YOUR CONTROLS WILL FREEZE UP. ANYBODY WHO TRIES BREAKING IT WILL AUGER IN. WELL, MAYBE IT CAN'T BE BROKE. THEN AGAIN... MAYBE IT CAN. MAYBE IT CAN ONLY BE BROKE FOR A SPECIFIED SUM. HOW MUCH? 150,000. COME ON, SLICK, GIVE US A BREAK. NON-NEGOTIABLE... AS USUAL. WHAT DO WE DO NOW? THAT GUY IN THE CORNER... YEAGER'S HIS NAME. SOME KIND OF WAR HERO. HE SHOT DOWN FIVE GERMANS IN ONE DAY. A NATURAL-BORN STICK AND RUDDER MAN. HE'S AIR FORCE PRESS LIAISON, I THINK. ANY PROBLEMS WITH HIM? ONLY ONE-- WHAT'S THAT? HOLDING HIM BACK. MAJOR. SAY THERE, YEAGER. SIR? WE WERE TALKING TO SLICK ABOUT THE SOUND BARRIER. THAT RIGHT? THE X-1 IS READY TO HAVE A GO. IT'S GOT THE ANSWER TO GO BEYOND MACH 1. IF THERE IS ANY BEYOND. SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK, YEAGER? HALF THESE ENGINEERS NEVER BEEN OFF THE GROUND. THEY'RE LIABLE TO TELL YOU THE SOUND BARRIER'S A BRICK WALL IN THE SKY. I DON'T BELIEVE THE DAMN THING EVEN EXISTS. A DRINK FOR MR. YEAGER. NO, THANKS. I GOT ONE. WANT TO TRY IT? I MIGHT. SINCE, AS YOU SAY, THIS SOUND BARRIER DOESN'T REALLY EXIST, UH, HOW MUCH... HOW MUCH YOU GOT? I'M JUST JOKING. THE AIR FORCE PAYS ME. WHY, SURE, YEAGER, BUT-- SO WHEN DO WE GO? WELL, HOW ABOUT TOMORROW MORNING? I'LL BE THERE. SEE YOU THERE. HOW MUCH AR YOU PAYING HIM? I THINK IT'S $283. A WEEK? A MONTH. THAT'S NOT BAD. NOT BAD. FIRST FELLA TO BREAK THE SOUND BARRIER IS GOING TO GET A FREE STEAK. I'LL HAVE MINE MEDIUM RARE, PLEASE. HONEY, YOU EVER BEEN CAUGHT ON THE DESERT ALONE? I NEVER HAVE. I DON'T THINK I EVER WILL. NEVER DID MEET THE MAN WHO COULD CATCH ME OUT THERE. I'M HALF JACK RABBIT. FORGET IT, FLY-BOY. YOU'D NEVER CATCH ME. I BELIEVE I WILL. CAN'T BE DONE. COULD I ASK YOU SOMETHING? FORGET IT, SWEETIE. SHE'S HIS WIFE. COME ON, BABY. COME ON, BABY. GIDDYUP. COME ON. HYAH! COME ON, COME ON! GIDDYUP. GO ON! GLENNIS, I'LL GET YOU, GIRL! I'LL GET YOU! COME ON BACK HERE! GLENNIS! COME ON! RUN, RUN, RUN! CAN'T HIDE FROM ME, GIRL! COME ON. HEY! COME ON! COME ON! GET YOU NOW, GIRL. OH, NO. MORNING, TIGER. WHAT YOU TWO BEEN UP TO? WHERE'S RIDLEY? HE'S OVER THERE WAITING ON YOU. RIDLEY... CAN I TALK TO YOU? SURE. MORNING. SEE, I GOT ME A LITTLE PROBLEM. UH, A HORSE THREW ME LAST NIGHT, AND I DINGED MY GOD DAMN RIBS UP. HOW BAD? I BROKE A COUPLE OF THE SONS OF BITCHES. I WON'T BE ABLE TO LEAN OVER TO SHUT THE DOOR. YOUR LEFT SIDE O.K.? YEAH. I DON'T WANT THEM KNOWING, 'CAUSE THEY'LL FIND SOMEBODY ELSE. I'LL FIX YOU A HANDLE. THANKS, MAN. MR. RUSSELL, CAN YOU HELP ME OUT? WE GOT A SMALL EMERGENCY. I NEED TO BORROW YOUR BROOM HANDLE. WOULD YOU HOLD THIS? I THINK THAT'LL WORK. THANK YOU, SIR. PUNCH A HOLE IN THE SKY. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK. MORNING. GOOD MORNING, SIR. HOW YOU FEELING? JUST ABOUT RIGHT. MRS. YEAGER. THERE SHE IS, ALL BRIDLED AND SADDLED AND READY TO GO. YOU GOT ANY BEEMANS? I GOT A STICK. LOAN ME SOME. I'LL REPAY YOU. FAIR ENOUGH. HEY, LOOK, STICK THIS IN THE HANDLE. TAKE YOUR GOOD ARM AND WHANG IT DOWN. O.K. THANKS, BUDDY. [GROANING] PRE-DROP CHECK LIST COMPLETE. 10, 9... 8, 7, 6... 5, 4, 3... 2... 1... DROP! THERE YOU GO, BUDDY. PUT THE SPURS TO HER. ALL RIGHT. HERE WE GO. MACH .91. .92. .93. HIT A MILD BUFFET. THE USUAL INSTABILITY. SAY, RIDLEY, MAKE A NOTE. ELEVATOR EFFECTIVENESS REGAINED. .95. .96. WE GOT SOME MORE BUFFETING. A LITTLE MORE COMMOTION. GETTING KIND OF WOBBLY HERE. .98. SHE'S GETTING REAL ACTIVE! .99! WHAT'S THAT SOUND? OH, GOD. HE BOUGHT THE FARM. THAT'S IT. WE'RE BACK TO SQUARE ONE. HEY, WAIT A MINUTE. RIDLEY, MAKE ANOTHER NOTE, WOULD YOU? MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS MACHMETER. JUMPED OFF THE SCALE. GONE SCREWY ON ME. GO AHEAD AND BUST IT. WE'LL FIX IT. I THINK YOU'RE SEEING THINGS. I'M STILL GOING UPSTAIRS LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL. HA HA HA HA! WE DID IT! WE FINALLY BROKE THE SOUND BARRIER! WE DID IT! GREAT! OPERATOR, I'M CALLING LONG DISTANCE TO LOS ANGELES. WHO ARE YOU CALLING? THE PRESS. THE SOUND BARRIER'S FINALLY BEEN BROKEN. NO! NO PRESS. NO WORD GOES BEYOND THE FLIGHT LINE. THIS IS BIG NEWS! WE NEED COVERAGE OF THIS! SORRY. NO PRESS. THOSE ARE ORDERS. NATIONAL SECURITY. BUT THE WAR'S OVER. LOOK, PAL, THEY DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO KNOW. WHO? THE RUSSIANS, MAYBE. THE RUSSIANS? THEY'RE OUR ALLIES. WELL, ANYWAY, SOMEONE FIGURED IT OUT THAT WAY, AND THAT'S THE WAY IT IS. CHUCK, YOU'RE OUR MAN! YOU'RE THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE! WE WANT YOU TO FLY ALL OUR PLANES! YEAGER, WHAT YOU BEEN DOING, HEDGEHOPPING? WHOO! AROOOOOO! AHH! HA HA HA HA! HOLD IT. WORD WILL GET OUT, MAJOR. MAYBE NOT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BUT PRETTY SOON EVER FIGHTER JOCK, EVERY ROCKET ACE, EVERY RAT RACER WILL BE HEADED THIS WAY, EACH ONE WANTING TO PUSH THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENVELOPE AND GET TO THE TOP OF THE PYRAMID. AROOOOOO! AROOOOOO! " I'VE GOT A ROCKET IN MY POCKET " " AND A ROLL IN MY WALK " " OH, BABY, DON'T BUZZ ME " " WITH THAT TOP-40 TALK... "" EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE. THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE. THEY'RE GOING FASTER AND FARTHER HERE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE. HEY, HEY, DOWN. I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE. SOON WE'LL GO RIGHT UP THAT OL' LADDER, JUST LIKE WE DID AT LANGLEY. WE? YOU MEAN YOU. HEY, HON, WE'RE A TEAM. I MOVE UP, YOU MOVE UP... RIGHT TO THE TOP OF THE PYRAMID. SLOW DOWN, GORDO. YOU'RE SCARING THE GIRLS. COME ON! YOU'RE SCARING THE GIRLS. YOU ARE. COME ON, TRUDY. WHO'S THE BEST PILOT YOU EVER SAW, HUH? WHO'S THE BEST PILOT? STOP. YOU'RE LOOKING AT HIM, BABY. NOW, CHEER UP. HEY, HAVE I EVER LET YOU DOWN? [JET FLYING OVERHEAD] GORDO! GOD. [SNORING] [SIREN] " O, HEAR US WHEN WE LIFT OUR PRAYER " " FOR THOSE IN PERIL " " IN THE AIR "" HI THERE, POPS. PANCHO'S, EH? WELL, LOOK WHO'S HERE. MA'AM. DEKE, THAT'S 62 MEN IN THE LAST 36 WEEKS. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT AVERAGES? AVERAGES ONLY APPLY TO AVERAGE PILOTS. IS THAT GUS GRISSOM FROM LANGLEY FIELD? WHAT'S AN ACE LIKE YOU DOING IN A PLACE LIKE THIS? IF IT AIN'T HOT DOG. GORDO COOPER, RIGHT? YEAH. GORDO THINKS HE'S ONE OF THOSE HOT DOG PILOTS. GUS, YOU HAVE A SHORT MEMORY. I AM NOT ONE. I AM THE HOT DOG MAN HIMSELF. GUESS YOU'RE SHY TO TELL HOW I WOULD WAX YOUR TAIL. WAX MY TAIL? YEAH. YOU WERE JUST IN MY SHADOW. THAT'S RIGHT WHERE YOU'LL ALWAYS BE. WHAT ARE YOU TWO ROOKIES GOING TO HAVE? ROOKIES? NOW, HOLD ON, SIS. YOU'RE LOOKING AT A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME. IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU'LL IMMORTALIZE US BY PUTTING OUR PICTURES ON YOUR WALL. DID I SAY SOMETHING WRONG HERE OR... WE GOT TWO CATEGORIES OF PILOTS AROUND HERE. WE GOT PRIME PILOTS THAT GET THE HOT PLANES, AND WE GOT PUDKNOCKERS WHO DREAM ABOUT GETTING THE HOT PLANES. WHAT ARE YOU TWO PUDKNOCKERS GOING TO HAVE? SCOTCH. YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! THE MACHINE BROKE! IT'S THE MAN. HE WAS DEAD BEFORE HE WENT UP. HO! GOOD ONE, SON. NOW FIRE IT IN HERE. LOOK AT OLD YEAGER. ON TOP OF THE PYRAMID FOR FIVE YEARS. WHENEVER SOMEBODY GOES FASTER, HE GOES UP AGAIN. HE STAYS THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE. GOOD ONE. YOU KNOW... SOMETIMES ALL IT WILL TAKE IS JUST THE SOUND OF A TRUCK STARTING, AND I THINK... THAT'S THE CRASH TRUCK. ANYWAY, I'M REALLY GLAD WE COULD TALK. I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE NIGHTMARES. YEAH, ME, TOO. NOBODY EVER WANTS TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING HERE. EVERYBODY'S ALWAYS TRYING TO, YOU KNOW... MAINTAIN AN EVEN STRAIN. WELL, YOU MARRY A FIGHTER JOCK AND YOU MARRY THE MILITARY. [JET] ONE THING, THOUGH. THE MILITARY OWES ME FOR ALL THIS. ONE DAY I EXPECT THE MILITARY TO MAKE GOOD. WELL, IT SURE AIN'T YOUR AVERAGE DULL LIFE. I WENT BACK EAST TO A REUNION. ALL MY FRIENDS DISCUSSED THEIR HUSBANDS' WORK-- HOW DOG-EAT-DOG AND CUTTHROAT IT WAS ON MADISON AVENUE AND PLACES LIKE THAT. CUTTHROAT. I WONDERED HOW THEY WOULD HAVE FELT IF EACH TIME THEIR HUSBAND WENT TO MAKE A DEAL, THERE WAS A ONE-IN-FOUR CHANCE HE WOULDN'T COME OUT OF THAT MEETING. I'M GOING HOME TO MY FOLKS IN SAN DIEGO. WHAT DID GORDO SAY? HE MAINTAINED AN EVEN STRAIN. LOOK AT THEM OUT THERE. YOU'D THINK THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SPORTS. MEN. SOMETIMES THEY'RE JUST SUCH... ASSHOLES. SOMETIMES THEY SURE ARE HANDY ASSHOLES, THOUGH. YEAH, SOMETIMES. SOMETIMES. HEY, HONEY! YOU WANT A HOT DOG? I'M LEAVING, GORDO. YOU READY FOR A HOT DOG? BUN'S READY. HEY, LOOK AT THAT! YEAH, THAT'S D558, PHASE 2. SCOTT CROSSFIELD. IT SURE AS HELL IS. JEEZ! WHOA! MAN, HE SCORCHED THAT ONE, DIDN'T HE? GOOD GOD! HE'S PUSHING THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENVELOPE. MUST BE GOING FOR A RECORD. HE'S SHOOTING FOR MACH 2, I HEARD. ON THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE WRIGHT BROTHERS' FIRST HISTORIC FLIGHT, ANOTHER HISTORIC FLIGHT TAKES PLACE AS SCOTT CROSSFIELD STREAKS ABOVE THE CALIFORNIA DESERT. MACH 2, ALMOST 1,500 MILES PER HOUR, AND A NEW WORLD'S RECORD. ALL-AROUND CONGRATULATIONS COME FROM A PREVIOUS RECORD-HOLDER AS HE SHAKES THE HAND OF THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE, SCOTT CROSSFIELD. AND THERE'S A COMRADESHIP OF SPEED. TO SCOTT CROSSFIELD, THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE. TO THE D558, PHASE 2. DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE NEWLYWEDS WHO DIDN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VASELINE AND PUTTY? ALL THEIR WINDOWS FELL OUT. COMPLIMENTS OF PANCHO'S, SCOTTY. THANK YOU, FRED. THE REAL TEST WASN'T MACH 2. THAT DEMON LIVES AT ABOUT 2.3 ON YOUR MACHMETER. ALL RIGHT. BUT MACH 2 WAS THE MAGIC NUMBER, LIKE 60 HOMERS, LIKE BATTING .400. PRESS LIKES A NICE, ROUND NUMBER. THEY DON'T CARE UNTIL THE NEXT MAGIC NUMBER. YOU NEED MORE THAN RECORDS THESE DAYS. YOU NEED COVERAGE. COVERAGE? YOU MEAN THEM ROOT WEEVILS THAT CRAWL AROUND POPPING CAMERAS? THOSE ROOT WEEVILS WRITE HISTORY. LET THEM WRITE HISTORY, AND LET THE PILOTS FLY THE AIRPLANES. PILOTS. YOU KNOW WHAT REALLY MAKES YOUR ROCKET SHIPS GO UP? THE AERODYNAMICS ALONE ARE SO COMPLICATED-- FUNDING. THAT'S WHAT MAKES YOUR SHIPS GO UP. I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING, AND YOU GUYS, TOO. NO BUCKS, NO BUCK ROGERS. WHOEVER GETS THE FUNDING GETS THE TECHNOLOGY. WHOEVER GETS THE TECHNOLOGY STAYS ON TOP. FLY-BOY, LET'S DANCE. I'LL DRINK TO THAT. " WHEN AN OLD FRIEND " " I HAPPENED TO SEE " " I INTRODUCED HER " " TO MY LOVED ONE " " AND WHILE THEY WERE DANCING " " MY FRIEND STOLE MY SWEETHEART " " FROM ME " " I REMEMBER THE NIGHT... " HE'LL BE GOING AFTER CROSSFIELD SOON, WON'T HE? HE'LL GO AFTER THAT DEMON LIVING IN THE THIN AIR. " I HAVE LOST " " YES, I LOST MY LITTLE DARLIN' " " THE NIGHT THEY WERE PLAYING " " THE BEAUTIFUL " " TENNESSEE WALTZ "" HEY, RIDLEY, YOU GOT ANY BEEMANS? EVEN BEFORE MACH 2, SHE'LL BE MIGHTY UNFORGIVING, SO WRING HER OUT THIS TIME. GOT ANY GUM? I GOT A STICK. LOAN ME SOME. I'LL REPAY YOU. FAIR ENOUGH. THANK YOU. UP AROUND 20,000 FEET, AND BUILDING SPEED. 210 MILES AN HOUR. O.K., DROP HER, RIDLEY. ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL. HERE WE GO AGAIN. 3, 2, 1... DROP. NUMBER THREE COMING ON NOW. GOT 7 SECONDS ON 150 RIGHT NOW. I'VE GOT YOU IN SIGHT, CHUCK. GOING OUT OF SIGHT... NOW. MACH 1. NUMBER FOUR. THERE GOES MACH 2. 2.1. SORRY, SCOTTY. HEY, CHUCK, YOU GOT HER. EASE IT BACK. BRING IT IN. I'M GOING TO PUSH THIS ENVELOPE... SEE WHERE THAT OLD DEMON LIVES. GOD! COME IN, CHUCK! SAY AGAIN, CHUCK. OVER. DO YOU READ, CHUCK? OVER. DAMN! HE'S UNCORKED IT. MAYDAY! MAYDAY! ALERT ALL GROUND CREWS. CHUCK, TALK TO ME! MAYDAY! MAYDAY! ALERT ALL GROUND CREWS! COME IN, CHUCK! DO YOU READ ME, CHUCK? OVER. OVER! SAY AGAIN, CHUCK. OVER. OVER. UH... I'M FIGHTING BAD HERE. I'M, UH...DOWN TO 25,000 OVER TEHACHAPI. I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN MAKE IT BACK. WHAT HAPPENED? I BUSTED THE CANOPY WITH MY HEAD. I'M GETTING O.K. NOW. WE SURE CHASED THAT OLD DEMON THIS TIME. THAT'S AS FAST AS A MAN CAN GO. WHAT'S NEXT, RIDLEY? IT'S CALLED SPUTNIK. WE KNOW. SIT DOWN. AND AS I WAS SAYING, WHOEVER CONTROLS THE HIGH GROUND OF SPACE WILL CONTROL THE WORLD. THE ROMAN EMPIRE CONTROLLED THE WORLD BECAUSE IT COULD BUILD ROADS. LATER, THE BRITISH EMPIRE WAS DOMINANT BECAUSE IT HAD SHIPS. IN THE AIR STAGE, WE WERE POWERFUL BECAUSE WE HAD THE AIRPLANE. NOW THE COMMUNISTS HAVE ESTABLISHED A FOOTHOLD IN OUTER SPACE. SOON THEY'LL HAVE SPACE PLATFORMS TO DROP NUCLEAR BOMBS ON US, LIKE ROCKS FROM A HIGHWAY OVERPASS. HOW IN THE HELL DID THEY GET AHEAD OF US? I THINK WE'RE READY. IS THERE A LOOSE PLUG OVER THERE ANYWHERE? HERE IT IS. I'LL GET IT. SENATOR JOHNSON'S RIGHT. THIS IS ARMAGEDDON, THE DECISIVE BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL. WE'RE ENGAGED IN A STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL! THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. THIS FOOTAGE WAS ASSEMBLED FROM SOURCES OPERATING UNDERCOVER AT GREAT RISK. VERY GREAT. WE'RE FORTUNATE THIS MATERIAL DIDN'T PERISH WITH A COUPLE OF MEN. THIS IS FOOTAGE OF THE RUSSIAN KORABL ROCKET AND THE GERMAN SCIENTISTS THEY CAPTURED. WAS IT THEIR GERMAN SCIENTISTS THAT GOT THEM UP THERE FIRST? NO, IT WAS NOT, SENATOR. OUR GERMANS ARE BETTER THAN THEIR GERMANS. THAT'S TITOV ON THE RIGHT. ON THE LEFT, GAGARIN. TITOV'S ON THE LEFT. OH. THEY BEAR A GREAT RESEMBLANCE TO EACH OTHER. IF THE SOVIETS DO PUT A MAN UP, IT'LL PROBABLY BE THE ONE ON THE LEFT-- GAGARIN. TITOV. ISN'T THAT THEIR DESIGNER? YES. LET US SEE HIM AGAIN. THEY'VE DEVELOPED A PROGRAM OF STUPENDOUS DIMENSIONS, AND HE'S CLEARLY THE GENIUS BEHIND IT ALL. I DON'T INTEND TO GO TO SLEEP BY THE LIGHT OF A COMMUNIST MOON. GET THAT MORON OFF OF THERE! NO, NO. OFF. DRAPES, PLEASE. WE COULD HAVE ORBITED A SATELLITE A YEAR AGO IF WE'D BEEN ALLOWED. NOW WE MUST GET SOMETHING UP THERE. WHAT? BY COMBINING OUR AVAILABLE ROCKETS-- THE REDSTONE, THE ATLAS-- WE COULD LAUNCH A POD. A POT? A POD! WE WOULD BE IN FULL CONTROL OF THIS POD. IT'LL GO UP LIKE A CANNONBALL, AND COME DOWN LIKE A CANNONBALL SPLASHING DOWN IN THE OCEAN WITH A PARACHUTE TO SPARE THE SPECIMEN INSIDE. SPACEMAN! SPECIMEN. WELL, WHAT KIND OF A SPECIMEN? A TOUGH ONE. RESPONSIVE TO ORDERS. I HAD IN MIND A JIMP. JIMP? WHAT THE HELL IS A JIMP? CHIMP--A CHIMPANZEE, SENATOR, AN APE, HUH? THE FIRST AMERICAN INTO SPACE IS NOT GOING TO BE A CHIMPANZEE. WHO WOULD YOU PUT INTO SPACE, MR. PRESIDENT? MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE FILM OF STRONG CANDIDATE POSSIBILITIES. MAY WE? WE'D LIKE TO RUN IT BY YOU. O.K. THESE PEOPLE WOULD BE EXCELLENT IN SPLASHDOWNS. WATCH THE ONE ON THE RIGHT. NO, ON THE LEFT. RIGHT. DON'T EMBARRASS ME. THESE PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCED IN HANDLING MACHINERY, AND THEY ALREADY HAVE HELMETS. AND THEY'RE QUITE COMFORTABLE IN CONDITIONS OF FLAME. NOW, THIS IS PERSONNEL WHO HAVE VERY WELL-DEVELOPED EQUILIBRIUM. GOOD MIDDLE EAR. ALSO VERY EASY TO WORK WITH. THEY'D BE RESPONSIVE TO ORDERS. LOOK AT THE MAN WITH THE HOOD. BECAUSE HE WORKS WITHOUT EYESIGHT, HIS OTHER SENSES HAVE SHARPENED. IN SPACE, THERE'S LITTLE NEED FOR EYEBALLING. THE CANNONBALL EFFECT YOU MENTIONED-- WE'RE DOING SOME THINKING ABOUT PUTTING A COUPLE INTO ORBIT. UH...POSSIBLY ADDS EMOTIONAL STABILITY. THIS INDIVIDUAL COMBINES MANY PLUS FACTORS-- EASE WITH FLAMES, COMFORT AT HEIGHTS, AND AGILITY IN THE SPLASHDOWN PHASE. NO! NO! NO! I WANT TEST PILOTS! YOU CAN'T DEAL WITH THEM. I'M SURE WE CAN DO BETTER WITH ANOTHER TYPE OF MAN, A MORE MANAGEABLE TYPE, PERHAPS. THIS WILL ONLY COMPLICATE THINGS. WITH A MAN, WE MUST GUARANTEE A SAFE RETURN. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU'D BE WISE TO RECONSIDER. NO, LYNDON. LOOKS LIKE WE'RE HEADING FOR SOME AIR BASES. ONLY THE ONE WITH THE GREAT TEST PILOTS. I WAS THERE ONCE BEFORE, AND I HOPED I'D NEVER HAVE TO GO BACK. IT'S A GODFORSAKEN SPOT ON THE DESERT IN CALIFORNIA, SOME PREHISTORIC THROWBACK OF AN AIRFIELD CALLED EDWARDS. THEY'VE GOT SOME MAD, MONK SQUADRON HERE LIVING IN RAT SHACKS, TERRIBLE CONDITIONS. CORRUGATED TIN, BARE BONES, LOW RENT. HERE'S WHERE THEY HANG OUT. PANCHO'S HAPPY BOTTOM RIDING CLUB. IT'S CALLED HAPPY BOTTOM RIDING CLUB? HOW DID IT GET THAT NAME? ASK PANCHO. LOCK UP? YEAH. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MEET THE LIASON OFFICER HERE. THEY ARE EXPECTING US. THEY? WHO'S THEY? THE BEST... GIVE ME THAT. THE WORLD'S BEST TEST PILOTS. HERE? THEY GOT SOME LITTLE BROTHERHOOD. THEY THINK THEY GOT THE RIGHT STUFF. YOU MEAN, HEROISM, BRAVERY? ARE THERE SNAKES HERE? YEAH, IN THE BUSHES. THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN BRAVERY. WHAT DO THEY SAY IT MEANS? THEY DON'T SAY ANYTHING. THEY DON'T TALK ABOUT IT. YOU MEAN TO OUTSIDERS? TO EACH OTHER. TO OUTSIDERS, THEY SAY EVEN LESS. ANYWAY, THEY'RE ALL HERE, INCLUDING THE ACE OF ACES HIMSELF. WHO'S THAT? YEAGER. NEVER HEARD OF HIM. WELL, THESE MUST BE OUR GENTLEMEN FROM WASHINGTON, SCOUTING FOR ASTRONAUTS. WELCOME TO EDWARDS. SCOUTING FOR LAB RABBITS IS MORE LIKE IT. I DIDN'T QUITE GET WHAT YOU SAID. WHAT I SAID WAS LAB RABBITS. WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? WHAT YOU NEED IS A LITTLE LAB RABBIT TO CURL UP INSIDE YOUR DAMN CAPSULE WITH HIS HEART GOING PITTER-PATTER AND A WIRE UP THE KAZOO. I DON'T HOLD WITH IT. YOU WANT A PILOT TO BE A BALLISTIC MISSILE AND THEN SPLASH DOWN, POSSIBLY GET LOST AT SEA. THERE'S SOME THINGS YOU CAN'T CHANGE. SOME PECKERWOOD'S GOT TO TAKE THE BEAST UP. SOME PECKERWOOD'S GOT TO LAND IT. THAT PECKERWOOD IS CALLED A...PILOT. YOU'RE MIGHTY RIGHT. THEY SMELL PANIC. THAT'S ONE THING THEY DON'T RESPOND TO. MAYBE IF WE TALK PRIVATELY TO YEAGER-- THAT'S YEAGER? ANY ASTRONAUT WILL BE SPAM IN A CAN. I'LL DRINK TO THAT. YEAGER DOESN'T FIT THE PROFILE. DOESN'T FIT? HE DIDN'T GO TO COLLEGE. WE'RE ONLY TAKING COLLEGE PERSONNEL. FORGET ABOUT WALKER AND CROSSFIELD AND THE OTHER CIVILIAN PILOTS. THE SECUR... THE SECURITY CLEARANCE TAKES TOO LONG WITH THOSE PEOPLE. AND BESIDES, THEY SEEM A LITTLE TOO INDEPENDENT. YOU MEAN, FOR THIS SPACE RACE, YOU DON'T WANT OUR BEST PILOTS? I DIDN'T SAY THAT. WE WANT THE BEST PILOTS THAT...WE CAN GET. HEY, Y'ALL WANT A WHISKEY? NO, THANKS, FRED. JUST COFFEE. I'D LIKE A COCA-COLA. COKE? IN A CLEAN GLASS. THERE'S AN OLD SAYING, "NEVER REFUSE A COMBAT ASSIGNMENT." WELL, THERE SURE IS A LONG LINE OF SHIT-HOT ROCKET ACES AROUND HERE. A LONG LINE. HEY, HOT DOG, WHAT THE HELL'S "ASTRONAUT" MEAN ANYWAY? STAR VOYAGER. STAR VOYAGER GUS GRISSOM. I KIND OF LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT. YOUR NAME IS? MY NAME JOSE JIMENEZ. WHO'S GOING TO TAKE ON THE RUSSIANS? EVER SEEN BILL DANA, JOSE JIMENEZ? HE'S A CRACK-UP. I AM CHIEF ASTRONAUT OF THE UNITED STATES... INTERPLAN... PLAN... TER... MY NAME JOSE JIMENEZ. YOU HAVE SOME SPACE EQUIPMENT WITH YOU. WHAT IS THAT CALLED-- THE CRASH HELMET? OH, I HOPE NOT. GET HIM OFF. EVERYBODY'S ALREADY LAUGHING AT US. CHILD SINGER, EDDIE HODGES! I WANTED TO SEE THIS SHOW. WHO, THAT KID? AND HIS PARTNER, WINNER OF FIVE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSSES AND HOLDER OF THE COAST-TO-COAST SUPERSONIC FLIGHT RECORD, FROM THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, MAJOR JOHN GLENN! THAT GUY. O.K., O.K. NOW, CAN YOU TELL US... WHAT'S THAT SONG? " " " STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT. [BUZZ] STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT. HE'S NOT SO DUMB, HUH? MAJOR, EDDIE HAS A LITTLE PROBLEM WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND. DID YOU EVER HAVE A PROBLEM LIKE THAT? YES, I DID, BOB. I LIKED A GIRL IN MY CLASS, BUT OTHER GUYS DID, TOO. SHE DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION, BUT I KEPT AFTER HER. YOU GOT HER TO NOTICE YOU? YES, I DID. IN FACT, I GOT HER TO MARRY ME. [APPLAUSE] THEY LOVE THE GUY. MM-HMM. YOU'RE CLEAR TO LAND AT 180 DEGREES. JOSE JIMENEZ ON APPROACH. SAY AGAIN. MY NAME JOSE JIMENEZ. YEAH, SHEPARD. I ALMOST FORGOT. YOU'RE CLEAR AT 180 DEGREES. SOME BOYS WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT BEING AN ASTRONAUT. THEY WANT TO MAKE ME AN ASTRONAUT? OH, I HOPE NOT. ARE YOU SURE THE NAVY'S GOT GOOD PILOTS? THEY CALL THEM AVIATORS IN THE NAVY, SAY THEY'RE BETTER THAN PILOTS. GENTLEMEN, MEET ALAN SHEPARD. WHAT? MEET ALAN SHEPARD. THE MAN WE CAME TO SEE. WELL... IT'S A PLEASURE. I GATHER YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT OUR PROJECT. IT'S GOT THE HIGHEST PR... PRIORITY. IT'S A HAZARDOUS... UNDERTAKING. IN FACT, IT'S EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. IT'S SO HAZARDOUS... THAT IF YOU DON'T VOLUNTEER, IT WILL NOT BE HELD AGAINST YOU. IT SOUNDS DANGEROUS. IT IS. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. COUNT ME IN. THERE'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME? I'M AFRAID THERE'S NO SIMPLE WAY TO EXPLAIN THAT TO YOU. IT'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. THANK YOU, NUMBER 21. HUH? NUMBER...22, PLEASE. YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE IT. PLEASE, SIT RIGHT THERE. PUT YOUR ARM RIGHT UP HERE. EXCUSE ME. YOU JOHN GLENN? YES. SCOTT CARPENTER. I THOUGHT I RECOGNIZED YOU FROM THOSE TV SHOWS. I HAD A GOOD TIME DOING THEM. I GUESS WE'RE HERE FOR THE SAME REASON, HUH? HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THEY'VE GOT PLANNED FOR US? UH, NO. LET ME CHECK IT OUT. WHAT HAVE YOU GOT SCHEDULED? WE'RE NOT FREE TO REVEAL ALL THE TESTING. I DON'T GET THIS-- SENDING US HERE ON A BUS DISGUISED AS CIVILIANS. COME ON, GUS, CUT IT OUT. THIS OPERATION'S SUPPOSED TO BE HUSH-HUSH. WE GOT TOP-SECRET ORDERS TO BLEND IN WITH THE PATIENTS, SO SHUT UP, WILL YOU? THERE MIGHT BE RUSSIAN AGENTS HERE. THEY DON'T LOOK VERY RUSSIAN TO ME, GUS. ALL WE GOT HERE IS YOUR LOCAL GENTRY. THEN YOU GOT YOUR NAVY AND MARINE PILOTS OVER HERE. GUS, NOBODY'S UP TO AIR FORCE STANDARDS. THEY GOT SOME 50-ODD GUYS TRYING OUT FOR 7 SPOTS. AFTER THEY PICK US THREE, THERE'LL ONLY BE FOUR OPEN. SOUNDS RIGHT. WHERE DO WE GO? GO IN THAT DOOR. WHO ARE YOU? MY NAME... JOSE JIMENEZ. YOU TALKING TO US, BUDDY? ALL AIR FORCE PILOTS GO IN THAT DOOR. WHEN THEY ALL GO IN, THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME. BUT WHEN THEY ALL COME OUT, THEY ALL LOOK DIFFERENT. HOW'S THAT? FELLA, I SAID, HOW'S THAT? WHEN THEY ALL COME OUT... THEY ALL LOOK SCARED. BUENOS DIAS, GONZALES. YEAH. BUENAS DIAS, YOURSELF. WOULD YOU COME THIS WAY? THAT GUY DOESN'T FOOL ME A BIT. YOU MEAN THAT MEXICAN GUY? THAT GUY'S NAVY ALL THE WAY. LOOK! THERE'S ANOTHER SWABBO HERE. I'M GOING TO OPEN THE BOX. DON'T PUT YOUR FINGERS IN THERE! THIS BABY IS VICIOUS. LOOK AT THIS. REAL SWABBO SENSE OF HUMOR. LET'S SEE WHAT THERE'S TO BE SCARED ABOUT HERE. THE BALL MUST BE MAINTAINED IN THE POSITION BETWEEN THESE TWO LINES. YOU MAY BEGIN...NOW. THE RECORD IS 91 SECONDS. HAH! 93 SECONDS. READ IT AND WEEP. TERRIFIC, SCOTT. DARN GOOD. YOU WERE PROBABLY JUST GETTING WARMED UP, JOHN. NEXT TIME, I'D DOUBT I'D WIN. HEY, DID YOU HEAR THAT? WE'RE COMPETING WITH ARCHIE AND JUGHEAD. [HONK] YEOW! LET ME OUT OF HERE! LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT, PLEASE! PLEASE, LET ME OUT. PLEASE, LET ME OUT. LET ME OUT. LET ME OUT. TWO-NINE. GUYS, I GOT THIS WHOLE THING FIGURED OUT. THE DRILL HERE-- NUMBER 3. THE DRILL HERE IS TO SEE WHO CAN DRILL THE BRAINS OUT OF NURSE MURCH. 19. YOU'RE NUTS. SHE THINKS WE'RE ALL A BUNCH OF MISERABLE PUDKNOCKERS. THIS IS ONE FIGHTER JOCK WHO IS NOT A MISERABLE PUDKNOCKER. SHE'S A WOMAN SUSCEPTIBLE TO CHARMS LIKE ALL THE REST. HI, DOC. YOU WANT--YOU WANT WHAT IN THERE? SPERM. WHAT FOR? SPERM MOTILITY FACTORS. YEAH, BUT, UH... NURSE, UH... HOW AM I, UH... SUPPOSED TO, UH... THE BEST RESULTS SEEM TO BE OBTAINED THOUGHT FANTASIZATION ACCOMPANIED BY MASTURBATION FOLLOWED BY EJACULATION. WELL, THAT SOUNDS EASY ENOUGH, BUT, UH... TELL YOU WHAT. IF I GET STUCK IN THERE... YOU MIND COMING IN AND HELPING ME OUT A LITTLE BIT? PLEASE RETURN IT TO THE LAB. UH... YEAH. OH...GOD. [HUMMING] HEY, CUT OUT THE HUMMING IN THERE. YEAH... [HUMMING] GREAT. O.K. KNOCK IT OFF IN THERE. [HUMMING THE MARINE HYMN] O.K., GLENN. I KNOW THAT'S YOU. KNOCK IT OFF 'CAUSE I'M TRYING TO CONCENTRATE. [HUMMING THE MARINE HYMN] [HUMMING THE AIR FORCE HYMN] [HUMMING THE MARINE HYMN] [HUMMING THE AIR FORCE HYMN] [HUMMING LOUDLY] [HUMMING LOUDLY] MY! THAT WAS QUICK. THERE'S PLENTY MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM. YOU WANT TO SEE ME AGAIN, NURSE? I'D LIKE TO MEET YOUR WIFE. UH... MY WIFE? YES. YOU'RE MARRIED, AREN'T YOU? UH, YEAH. SURE. I'M MARRIED ALL RIGHT. HAPPILY? YEAH. A REAL STABLE RELATIONSHIP, TOO. GOOD. I'D LIKE TO MEET YOUR WIFE. YOU'D, UH... YOU'D LIKE TO, UH... MEET MY WIFE... TOMORROW. TOMORROW? UH... TOMORROW'S NO GOOD. TOMORROW. " GOOD GOLLY, MISS MOLLY " " SURE LIKE TO BALL... "" I NEED YOU, TRUDY. I'M TALKING ABOUT A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME. A FRESH START. THIS ASTRONAUT THING IS THE BEST WAY FOR US TO MOVE UP THAT LADDER. IF WE PLAY OUR CARDS RIGHT, WE COULD GO ALL THE WAY. WE? YOU MEAN YOU. I MEAN WE. WE'RE A TEAM. HAVE I EVER LET YOU DOWN BEFORE? YEAH. YEAH? TRUDY... WHO'S THE BEST PILOT YOU EVER SAW? HUH? HUH? YOU'RE LOOKING AT HIM. YOU'RE LOOKING AT HIM. HA HA HA! AH HA HA HA HA! I KNOW. I KNOW. I KNOW. AH HA HA HA HA! WELL, YOU'RE ALL SET. I SAID YOU'RE STABLE, WELL-ADJUSTED, ATTENTIVE. I LIED. THAT A GIRL. WHAT DID SHE SAY? SHE LAUGHED. SHE KNOWS YOU TOO WELL, GORDO. COME ON, LET'S FACE IT. SOME WOMEN HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MEN, YOU KNOW? YEAH. I KNOW. AT SECRET LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT AMERICA, 56 PILOTS ARE AT THIS VERY MOMENT VYING TO BE CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE FIRST MEN TO GO INTO SPACE. THESE ARE THE MOST MODERN TESTS IMAGINABLE, THIS IS THE MOST RIGOROUS PHYSICAL TESTING EVER DONE TO HUMAN BEINGS. THEY'RE BEING SUBJECTED TO EVERY KIND OF STRESS OUR DOCTORS AND ENGINEERS CAN INVENT. THESE MEN ARE PREPARING THEMSELVES FOR THE ORDEAL OF CAPSULE LIFE. THEY'LL BE GUIDING A NEW MACHINE THROUGH A STRANGE AND HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT. THEY WILL FACE EMERGENCIES NO MAN CAN FORESEE. MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW WILL BE CHOSEN. THESE ARE MEN WHO WILL HAVE TO FACE ANY DANGER FOR THEIR COUNTRY. NO INDIVIDUAL WILL HAVE EVER BEEN SO ADEQUATELY PREPARED FOR AN EVENT IN ADVANCE. AND EACH MAN KNOWS THAT WHOEVER SURVIVES THIS COMPETITION IS DESTINED TO BECOME A LEGEND IN HIS OWN TIME. HERE, HOLD THIS. AND HOLD THIS LIKE THIS. WHEN THAT CLAMP'S RELEASED, THAT BALLOON INSIDE YOU DEFLATES. DEFLATES? WHERE'S THE JOHN? TWO FLOORS UP. GONZALES WILL TAKE YOU THERE, BUT WAIT HERE WITH HIM. GONZALES. HOW'S IT GOING, GONZALES? GONZALES? GRRRRR. POR FAVOR! COME ON. AHH. FASTER. FASTER. FASTER! COME ON. OH, JESUS. GOOD DAY, COMMANDER SIR. YOU PRICK. PUSH THE BUTTON. PUSH THE BUTTON. LET'S GO, LET'S GO! COME ON, COME ON, COME ON! JESUS. HURRY UP. OPEN. OPEN. YOU KNOW, MR. SHEPARD, ME AND MY FRIENDS THINK YOUR JOSE JIMENEZ IMITATION IS A-OK. BUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH IT IS B-A-D. OH, YOU'RE RIGHT! OH, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! OPEN! TELL ME SOMETHING, MR. GONZALES, YOU EVER HAVE ANY EXPLOSIONS DOING THIS? ALL THE TIME. IT'S A MESS. HMM. TELL ME SOMETHING ELSE, MR. GONZALES. HOW AM I DOING? I THINK YOU'LL MAKE IT. I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE AN ASTRONAUT. [TOILET FLUSHES] LADIES AND GENTLEMEN... AFTER A LONG... AND UNPRECEDENTED SERIES OF EVALUATIONS... WHICH TOLD OUR MEDICAL SCIENTISTS OF THEIR SUPERB ADAPTABILITY TO THEIR UPCOMING FLIGHT, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU SEVEN AMERICANS... GENTLEMEN ALL! VIRGIL I. "GUS" GRISSOM! LEROY G. COOPER! DONALD K. SLAYTON! JOHN H. GLENN, JR.! MALCOLM S. CARPENTER! ALAN B. SHEPARD, JR.! WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR.! AMERICA'S MERCURY ASTRONAUTS! HOLY SHIT. SMILE, GUS. WE'RE HEROES. YEAGER OUGHT TO SEE THIS. SEVEN ROOKIES SOLD AS THE HOTTEST NUMBERS IN FLYING, AND ALL THEY'VE DONE IS SHOW UP FOR THIS. FOLLOWING THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE KITS, THOSE OF YOU WITH P.M. DEADLINES HAD BETTER DASH TO YOUR PHONES. NOW WE'LL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS DOWN HERE. GENTLEMEN, I'D LIKE TO KNOW FROM EACH OF YOU WHETHER YOUR WIVES AND CHILDREN HAD ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS. UH, MR. SLAYTON? UH... UHHH... MINE THINK IT'S FINE. THANK YOU. MR. SCHIRRA? UH, THEY... THEY'RE ALL FOR IT. HEY! THIS WAY. I DON'T THINK ANY OF US COULD GO ON WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS IF WE DIDN'T HAVE GOOD BACKING AT HOME. MY WIFE'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THIS HAS BEEN THE SAME AS IT'S BEEN THROUGH MY FLYING. IF IT'S WHAT I WANT, SHE'S BEHIND IT. AND BY GOLLY, MY KIDS ARE, TOO. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS. LOOK AT THEM OUT THERE. THEY'RE EATING IT UP. UH-HUH. I WAS RAISED BELIEVING YOU ARE PLACED ON EARTH MORE OR LESS WITH A 50/50 PROPOSITION. THIS IS WHAT I STILL BELIEVE. WE'RE PLACED HERE WITH CERTAIN TALENTS AND CAPABILITIES. IT'S UP TO US TO USE THOSE TALENTS AS BEST YOU CAN. IF WE USE OUR TALENTS PROPERLY, I THINK THERE IS A POWER GREATER THAN ANY OF US THAT WILL PLACE OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR WAY. WHEN I-- WHEN I THINK OF ORVILLE AND WILBUR WRIGHT, STANDING ON A HILL AT KITTY HAWK TOSSING A COIN TO SEE WHICH ONE WOULD TAKE THE FIRST AIRPLANE FLIGHT, AND THEN I THINK OF US HERE TODAY... I JUST THANK GOD I LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE THE BEST IN A MAN CAN BE BROUGHT OUT. I MEAN THAT. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO SECOND SOME OF THE THINGS MR. GLENN HAS SAID HERE TODAY. I THINK THAT WE ARE ALL VERY, VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE'VE BEEN, SHOULD WE SAY, BLESSED WITH THE TALENTS FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. I THINK WE'D BE MOST REMISS IN OUR DUTY IF WE DIDN'T VOLUNTEER FOR SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS THIS IS TO OUR COUNTRY AND TO THE WORLD IN GENERAL RIGHT NOW. ONE OF OUR AIR FORCE BOYS. DON'T YOU AGREE, DEKE? I AGREE ABSOLUTELY WITH GORDO, BUT WE'RE NOT SAYING ANYTHING NEW. WE'RE JUST SAYING THE SAME THINGS THAT NEED TO BE SAID AGAIN AND AGAIN WITH FIERCE CONVICTION. DO ANY OF YOU GO TO CHURCH REGULARLY? YES. AS FAR AS CHURCH GOES, I ATTEND REGULARLY. GENTLEMEN, WHICH WILL BE FIRST INTO SPACE? " ALLELUIA " " ALLELUIA " " ALLELUIA ALLELUIA " " ALLELUIA " THE BEST WILL BE FIRST! " FOREVER AND EVER " " AND LORD OF LORDS " " FOREVER AND EVER " " AND HE SHALL REIGN FOREVER " " AND EVER AND EVER " " KING OF KINGS " " AND LORD OF LORDS... "" SHARE IT, BROTHER. FUCKIN'-A, BUBBA. THIS IS IT. THIS IS FOR AMERICA. THIS IS FOR LIFE. THAT'S IT. MRS. GRISSOM! MRS. GRISSOM! GOOD, GOOD, GOOD! THESE ARE THE GREATEST PILOTS IN AMERICA. HOW MUCH DO THEY MAKE? $7,000, $8,000 A YEAR? TOPS. HMM. WITH THIS ONE DEAL, I'M GIVING THEM $500,000 SPLIT SEVEN WAYS OVER THREE YEARS. HOW DOES THAT SOUND? I WANT THEM TO MEET MY PEOPLE WHO'LL WRITE THEIR TRUE STORIES. THESE STORIES WILL APPEAR IN LIFE MAGAZINE UNDER THEIR OWN BY-LINES. FOR EXAMPLE... "BY BETTY GRISSOM." OR... "BY VIRGIL I. GRISSOM." OR-- GUS. WHAT WAS THAT? GUS. NOBODY CALLS ME BY THAT OTHER NAME. GUS? AN ASTRONAUT NAMED GUS? WHAT'S YOUR MIDDLE NAME? IVAN. IVAN. WELL... MAYBE... GUS ISN'T SO BAD. MIGHT BE SOMETHING THERE. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. YOU CAN BE GUS. I BET FOR ALL THAT MONEY, THEY COULD CALL YOU VIRGIL, COULDN'T THEY? THEY SURE COULD ME. WELL, WHAT'S WITH HER? SHE SEEMS SNOBBY. I DON'T GET IT. I GET IT. SHE'S MRS. CLEAN MARINE. I'M GOING BACK TO THE CAPE TOMORROW. I WISH TO HECK IT WASN'T OFF-LIMITS TO WIVES, ANN. THERE'S SO MUCH WORK TO DO ANYWAY. MORE TESTS, TRAINING, STUDYING. WH...WH...WH... WH...WHA... WHAT ABOUT... AFT... ...AFTER? AFTER HOURS, I'LL RUN A LOT. I'M GOING TO GET UP TO FIVE MILES A DAY. THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL LONG BEACH THERE. IT'S CALLED COCOA BEACH. YOU CAN RUN FOREVER. SCOTT CARPENTER WILL RUN WITH ME. HE'S A GOOD GUY. REAL PHILOSOPHICAL. WH...WH...WH... WHAT ABOUT... THE... THE OTHERS WILL GET THE JOB DONE AND KEEP THE MICKEY MOUSE TO A MINIMUM. BOY, THEY'RE GOOD MEN. GOOD MEN. THEY'LL ALL GIVE 100% WHEN THE TIME COMES. GUESS THEY THINK I'M KIND OF A... GUNG-HO TYPE. EDDIE ATTABOY. HARRY HAIRSHIRT. WHAT, YOU AGREE? YOU AGREE? MY OWN WIFE? DO YOU THINK I'M A DUDLEY DO-RIGHT? HMM? DO YOU? YEAH? WELL, THAT'S ME, I GUESS. A LONELY BEACON OF RESTRAINT, SELF-SACRIFICE IN THE SQUALL OF CAR CRAZIES. IT'S IMPORTANT TO AMERICA TO GET A MAN UP THERE FIRST. I'M PLANNING ON BEING THE FIRST MAN TO RIDE THE ROCKET. 9, 8... 7, 6... 5, 4... 3, 2... 1...IGNITION! 4... 3... 2... 1... ZERO! " BA-DA-BA-LA-BAMBA " " BA-DA-BA-LA-BAMBA " " A LITTLE BIT OF LIMBO " " A LITTLE BIT OF SOMBA " " YEAH, A LITTLE BIT OF LIMBO " " A LITTLE BIT OF SOMBA " " YOU'RE DOING LA BAMBA " " YA LIBA CALIBA " " COME GO WITH ME " " COME GO WITH ME " " COME GO WITH ME " " COME ON, BABY, MAKE IT " " I WANT TO BAMBA AND SHAKE IT " " BAMBA WITH ME " " COME GO WITH ME " " COME GO WITH ME " " HERE SHE GOES NOW " " BA-BA-BAMBA... "" WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN ROCKET TRAVEL? TO ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE ROCKET TRAVEL IS THE BLAST-OFF. I ALWAYS TAKE A BLAST BEFORE I TAKE OFF. OTHERWISE, I WOULDN'T GO NEAR THAT THING. WHAT'S WITH YOUR FRIEND HERE? HE LOVES ED SULLIVAN. " I DON'T KNOW " " IF IT'S CLOUDY OR BRIGHT " " BUT I ONLY HAVE EYES " " FOR YOU " " DEAR " " YOU ARE HERE " " AND SO AM I... " FOUR DOWN. THREE TO GO. " ...PEOPLE GO BY " " BUT THEY ALL DISAPPEAR " " FROM VIEW " " AND I ONLY HAVE EYES " " FOR YOU "" I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO PUT THIS PROGRAM IN A BAD LIGHT. WE'VE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME. I'M SORRY, BUT I WON'T STAND BY AND LET OTHER PEOPLE COMPROMISE THE WHOLE THING. WE KNOW THIS COULD LEAD TO SOMETHING UNFORTUNATE. WHAT'S TICKING YOU OFF? I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PLAYING AROUND. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE YOUNG GIRLS. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE COOKIES. I'M TALKING ABOUT KEEPING OUR PANTS ZIPPED AND OUR WICKS DRY AROUND HERE. MR. GLENN, YOU'RE WAY OUT OF LINE. DON'T FOIST YOUR VIEW OF MORALITY ON ANYBODY ELSE. EACH MAN HAS VOLUNTEERED TO DO A JOB AND IS DEVOTING LONG HOURS TO PREPARE FOR IT AND GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY, SUCH AS MORALE TOURS OF FACTORIES. AND BRINGING GIRLS TO YOUR ROOMS. AND FORGOING ANY ORDERLY FAMILY LIFE. AS LONG AS A MAN USES GOOD SENSE, WHAT HE DOES WITH HIS ZIPPER IS HIS BUSINESS! JUST A MINUTE! I'M FROM LIFE MAGAZINE. YOU CAN'T ENTER. THEY'RE DISCUSSING SCIENTIFIC PROBLEMS. WHAT A PILOT DOES WHEN HE'S NOT FLYING-- JOHN'S RIGHT. WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, WE'RE PUBLIC FIGURES. PEOPLE WILL LOOK UP TO US. WE'VE GOT A TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY. YOU CANNOT TELL A PILOT WHAT TO DO. WAIT A MINUTE! YOU GOT IT WRONG. THE ISSUE HERE AIN'T PUSSY. THE ISSUE HERE IS MONKEY. WHAT? US--WE ARE THE MONKEY. WHAT GUS IS SAYING IS WE'RE MISSING THE POINT. WHAT GUS IS SAYING IS WE ALL HEARD THE RUMOR THAT THEY WANT TO SEND A MONKEY UP FIRST. WE DON'T WANT TO THINK THEY'D SEND A MONKEY TO DO A MAN'S WORK. BUT GUS IS SAYING THEY'RE SENDING A MAN UP TO DO A MONKEY'S WORK. US? A BUNCH OF COLLEGE-TRAINED CHIMPANZEES? FUCKIN'-A, BUBBA. GUS IS SAYING THAT WE GOT TO CHANGE THINGS. HE'S SAYING WE ARE PILOTS! WE KNOW MORE ABOUT FLYING THIS THAN ANYBODY ELSE, SO WE HAVE TO ALTER THE EXPERIMENT. THAT COMES DOWN TO WHO WILL CONTROL THIS THING. WHAT GUS IS SAYING IS WE'VE GOT TO STICK TOGETHER. THESE TESTS WERE DESIGNED TO DECONDITION, TO DESENSITIZE, TO ADAPT OUR FEARS. SINCE WE HAVE DEVELOPED A FULLY-AUTOMATED VEHICLE, ALL WE SEEK FROM THE OCCUPANTS IN THE CAPSULE, YOU SEE, IS DATA. THE SO-CALLED, UH--ASTRONAUT WOULD MERELY BE A REDUNDANT COMPONENT, JA? IN HERE, YOU CAN SEE THESE CHIMPS ARE CAPABLE OF MANY OF THE SAME TASKS AS MEN. AND THEY ARE MUCH MORE COOPERATIVE. THEY ARE BEING PUT THROUGH EVERY PHASE OF THE ASTRONAUT TRAINING. AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED, THE QUESTION STILL REMAINS, WHICH ONE WILL BE FIRST-- THE MAN OR THE MONKEY? WE SHALL SEE. WHAT'S THE DELAY HERE? LOOK, WE'VE GOT DEADLINES! TAKE IT EASY WITH THAT. UH, WHERE YOU PLANNING ON PUTTING THE WINDOW? WINDOW? THERE'S NO WINDOW. NO WINDOW? WHAT ABOUT THE HATCH? THE HATCH? YEAH. THE HATCH! WE NEED A HATCH WITH EXPLOSIVE BOLTS. THERE IS SOMETHING YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND. THIS IS THE FINAL FORM OF THE CAPSULE. NO HATCH. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE AUTOMATIC CONTROLS WENT OUT? BACKUPS. CHECKS. THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN. I SAID, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF IT DID? THE PILOT WOULD HAVE TO FLY IT BACK. THIS IS THE WAY IT IS. YOU KNOW, I WONDER HOW THE PRESS WILL FEEL ABOUT THIS. WHAT DO THE PRESS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS? DO YOU BOYS KNOW WHAT MAKES THIS BIRD GO UP? FUNDING MAKES THIS BIRD GO UP. THAT'S RIGHT. NO BUCKS... NO BUCK ROGERS. AND THE PRESS OVER THERE-- HEY, OVER HERE! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! RIGHT HERE! HEY! COOPER! THEY ALL WANT TO SEE BUCK ROGERS. AND THAT'S US-- BUCK ROGERS. YOU SEE, THOSE FELLOWS OVER THERE HAVING BEEN MAKING US OUT AS THE SEVEN FINEST AND BRAVEST PILOTS IN ALL AMERICA. IF THE STORY WERE TO COME OUT IN THE PRESS THAT WE WERE NOT BEING ALLOWED TO FLY AS PILOTS-- WE WANT A WINDOW. JA, THERE COULD MAYBE BE-- UH--IN FUTURE CAPSULES, BE A WINDOW, UH--HERE. NO, THAT'S WHERE THE HATCH WITH EXPLOSIVE BOLTS GOES. THE HATCH WITH THE EXPLOSIVE-- JA, A HATCH WITH EXPLOSIVE BOLTS ON THE CAPSULE. THAT IS A SPACECRAFT, SIR. WE DO NOT REFER TO IT AS A CAPSULE. SPACECRAFT. JA. A HATCH WITH EXPLOSIVE BOLTS ON THE-- SPACECRAFT. THERE... AND THERE WILL BE PITCH AND YAW THRUSTERS WHICH WILL ENABLE THE ASTRONAUT-OCCUPANT-- THE PILOT. ASTRONAUT-PILOT. JA. THE ASTRONAUT... PILOT... TO HAVE SOME-- TO HAVE... CONTROL... OF THE RE-ENTRY PROCEDURES. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE IT. YOU WOULDN'T MIND IF WE HAD THE PRESS HERE TO TAKE A FEW PHOTOS BY OUR SPACECRAFT? GOOD IDEA, JOHN. [WHISTLES] GLENN'S WAVING US IN. HEY, WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM? FELLAS, WE'RE DOING THIS FOR THE COVER OF LIFE MAGAZINE. I LIKE THAT. ARE YOU READY? BEAUTIFUL! SMILE. SMILE. HOW ABOUT TURNING AROUND? SMILE. PERFECT. PERFECT. O.K. THANK YOU. SMILE. ONE MORE TIME. SMILE. SMILE. WHICH ONE OF YOU IS GOING TO BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE THE FIRST TO BE LAUNCHED INTO SPACE? SMILE. O.K. YAY! YAY! YAY! THERE HE IS... CAPTAIN HAM. GRINNING LIKE A POSSUM EATING A SWEET POTATO. DOES HE LOOK LIKE THE KIND OF GUY WHO WOULD PUT DOO-DOO IN THE CAPSULE? HAM IN A CAN. AMERICA'S FIRST ASTRONAUT. LOOK AT HIM. YOU TAKE A MONKEY WITH HIS WITS. YOU CAN MAKE A DEMOCRAT A POLITICIAN. I DON'T KNOW. I THINK HE'S BETTER-LOOKING THAN CROSSFIELD. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE THIS GUY AS YOUR CO-PILOT? WE GOT TO BE THERE IN TWO HOURS. " OFF WE GO " " INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER " " FLYING HIGH " " INTO THE SUN " " HERE THEY COME " " LOOKING TO STEAL OUR THUNDER " " ATTA-BOY, GIVE THEM THE GUN "" [SPEAKING RUSSIAN] GAGARIN WENT UP THERE! WE KNOW. SIT DOWN. [SPEAKING RUSSIAN] ALL RIGHT, GIVE THEM A BREAK. COME ON, BOYS. IS IT TRUE YOU'D HAVE GONE UP? AND WE'D HAVE BEAT THE RUSSIANS? WHY DID WE SEND A MONKEY? WE SHOULD BE FORTHRIGHT, GRACIOUS, AND MAGNANIMOUS ABOUT THIS. THE RUSSIAN GUYS BEAT THE PANTS OFF US. NOW THAT THE SPACE AGE HAS BEGUN, THERE'S PLENTY OF WORK. WHO WILL BE THE SECOND MAN? YOU MEAN THE FIRST FREE MAN? WE KNOW IT'S GLENN. JUST TELL US WHEN. THAT'S A SECRET. I'M TIRED OF BEING FORTHRIGHT, GRACIOUS, AND MAGNANIMOUS. I'M TIRED OF THESE STUPID QUESTIONS. I'M TIRED OF ENGINEERS TELLING US WHAT WE CAN'T DO. I'M TIRED OF MONKEYS. YEAH. I'M SICK OF BEING SECOND TO THOSE DARN RUSSIANS. IT'S ABOUT TIME WE-- GOT SOMEONE UP. THAT'S RIGHT. FUCKIN'-A, BUBBA. EXACTLY. LET'S GET THIS MOVING. I'M TIRED OF MESSING WITH PEOPLE IN THE HIERARCHY. WE'RE READY TO GO. IN THESE THREE WEEKS SINCE THE RUSSIAN GAGARIN'S FLIGHT SURPRISED EVERYBODY HERE, ONE WRETCHED EVENT HAS FOLLOWED ANOTHER. PEOPLE ARE SAYING OUR ROCKETS ALWAYS BLOW UP, THAT OUR BOYS ALWAYS BOTCH IT, THAT THIS ISN'T THE TIME FOR DESPERATE DEEDS, THAT THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE READY? YET HERE SITS A ROCKET, WAITING IN THE NIGHT. ONE AMERICAN ASTRONAUT WILL CLIMB ABOARD IN THE GREATEST DEATH-DEFYING STUNT EVER BROADCAST. THE IDENTITY OF AMERICA'S FIRST ASTRONAUT HAS BEEN KEPT SECRET. THE QUESTION EVERYONE HAS ASKED IS, WHO WILL BE FIRST? NOT VERY FUNNY, JOHN. NO? I THOUGHT-- BUT I DO APPRECIATE IT, JOHN. I SURELY DO. VAYA CON DIOS, JOSE. DEAR LORD, PLEASE DON'T LET ME FUCK UP. I DIDN'T COPY THAT. SAY AGAIN, PLEASE. I SAID, EVERYTHING'S A-O.K. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT YOU SAID. HE SAID EVERYTHING IS A-O.K. HE SAYS EVERYTHING IS A-O.K. THERE YOU ARE. ALL STATIONS, BEACONS ARE ON. AUTO RETRO JETTISON SWITCH--ARM. ROGER. AUTO RETRO JETTISON SWITCH--ARM. RETRO HEATER SWITCH--OFF. ROGER. RETRO HEATER SWITCH--OFF. LANDING BAG SWITCH--AUTO. ROGER. LANDING BAG SWITCH--AUTO. THIS IS IT, LADIES. THIS IS FOR LIFE MAGAZINE. PERFECT. LOUISE! THEY'RE GOING AFTER YOUR DIAPER SERVICE MAN. STOP THAT! STOP IT! QUIT PUSHING ME! WE DON'T HAVE A DIAPER SERVICE MAN. GET BACK! OH, MY LORD. OH, LOUISE, YOUR LAWN. LEAVE THOSE DIAPERS ALONE! NOW, COME ON! SHUT THAT DOOR! WHY ARE THEY HERE? WHAT DO THEY WANT? WE'RE AT THE HOUSE OF ASTRONAUT AL SHEPARD WHO WILL BE CANNONBALLED-- [TELEPHONE RINGS] YES? MRS. SHEPARD, EVERYTHING'S A-O.K. NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. JUST--JUST SOME DELAYS. WHAT KIND OF DELAYS? THERE'S ANOTHER HOLD FROM NASA. ANOTHER DELAY. ALAN SHEPARD SITS THERE, PATIENTLY WAITING. WHAT IS GOING THROUGH HIS MIND? GORDO... GORDO, I HAVE TO URINATE. URINATE? OH, BOY. WE DIDN'T THINK OF THAT. IT'S ONLY A 15-MINUTE FLIGHT. IT'S BEEN HOURS. COULD HE URINATE IN HIS SUIT? THAT'S DANGEROUS. INTRODUCING LIQUID INTO THE OXYGEN OF THE CAPSULE AND THE SUIT MIGHT CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT AND A FIRE. NO. TELL HIM HE CANNOT. THEY PROMISE WE'LL STOP AT THE NEXT GAS STATION. REQUEST THAT YOU REMAIN IN A HOLDING PATTERN. JUST A SMIDGEN? HALF A CUP. AND NOTHING IN IT? THAT'S FINE. ALAN HAD FOUR CUPS OF COFFEE BEFORE HE LEFT THIS MORNING. ALL THIS WAITING'S DRIVING ME CRAZY. I HAD A LITTLE ACCIDENT. [TOILET FLUSHES] REQUEST PERMISSION TO RELIEVE BLADDER. GORDO? GORDO? THE MAN HAS GOT TO GO. IT'S EITHER THAT, OR WE GO PRY HIM OUT. DO IT IN THE SUIT. JOSE, PERMISSION GRANTED TO WET YOUR DIAPERS ANYTIME, SON. [BEEP BEEP BEEP] SUIT THERMOMETER SAYS FREON FLOW JUMPING FROM 30 TO 45. LEFT LOWER CHEST SENSOR. NO SHORT-OUT. MOVING UP BACK. WELL... I'M A WETBACK NOW. TO PROCEED IS QUESTIONABLE. FIX YOUR LITTLE PROBLEMS AND LIGHT THIS CANDLE! HE'S RIGHT. LIGHT THIS CANDLE. HE SURELY IS. LIGHT IT. YES. RESUME THE COUNTDOWN. ALL SYSTEMS GO! T MINUS 10 SECONDS... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... IGNITION! YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY, JOSE! LIFTOFF. THE CLOCK IS OPERATING! WE'LL TALK TO ONE OF THE ASTRONAUT'S WIVES, IF NOT LOUISE SHEPARD HERSELF. LOUISE, WHAT ARE YOU FEELING? WHOA. HE'S RE-ENTERED THE ATMOSPHERE. THE G FORCES ARE BUILDING UP. LOUISE, HE'S COMING DOWN! OH, WE ALMOST MISSED THIS! 8... THAT'S 9. MMMM...O.K. I'M O.K.! O.K.! O.K.! O.K.! O.K.! I'M O.K.! THE VICE PRESIDENT, WHO IS CHAIRMAN OF OUR SPACE COUNCIL, THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE SPACE COMMITTEE WHO ARE WITH US TODAY, AND THIS DECORATION WHICH HAS GONE FROM THE GROUND UP. LOUISE, WHAT WAS JACKIE LIKE? SHE'S VERY NICE. WE TALKED ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS. MY GUS GOES UP NEXT. I CAN'T WAIT TO TALK TO JACKIE. YOU'LL LOVE HER. SHE'S SO NICE. " WIE EINST LILLI MARLENE " " WIE EINST " " LILLI MARLENE "" OH, ALAN. MR. SHEPARD? MR. SHEPARD, SIGN HERE. THANK YOU. OH, GUS. I JUST NEVER REALIZED THAT A GRUFF, MEAN, SON OF A BITCH LIKE YOU COULD BE SO POPULAR. HOW'D YOU GET TO GO UP BEFORE ME? EVEN BEFORE MR. CLEAN THE MARINE. CHARM, HOT DOG. PURE CHARM. WATCH THIS. HEY, SIS, HOW ARE YOU DOING? SO-SO. HOW YOU DOING? I AIN'T DOING ANYMORE. DAMN THING'S DRAGGING IN THE MUD, AND I CAN'T GET IT UP. THAT'S CHARM, GUS. THAT'S PURE CHARM. MISS, YOU WANT THIS? THEY SELL THOSE IN DIME STORES. NOT ONE THAT'S BEEN IN OUTER SPACE. I'M TAKING THESE UP THERE WITH ME TOMORROW. WOULD YOU LIKE A SOUVENIR AFTER I GET WRITTEN UP IN THE HISTORY BOOKS? I MIGHT, IF IT'S BEEN IN OUTER SPACE. SEE YOU AFTER OUTER SPACE. ALL RIGHT! HOT DOG, LISTEN. YOU GOT TO THINK AHEAD TO THE FUTURE. FOLKS LIKE THINGS THAT HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN THERE. RIGHT. I'LL GIVE YOU ONE OF THESE DIMES I'M TAKING UP THERE SO YOU CAN DREAM ABOUT OUTER SPACE. JUST MAKE SURE YOU DON'T SCREW THE POOCH, GUS. OH, GOD, LOOK AT THIS! GO GET 'EM, DEKE. GUS GRISSOM HAS REACHED THE APEX... RELAX, GIRL. HE'LL BE COMING DOWN WITH VALUABLE DATA. HE WILL BE RE-ENTERING THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE NOW. LIBERTY BELL SEVEN. LIBERTY BELL SEVEN. THIS IS HUNT CLUB ONE. OVER. WE'RE IN ORBIT AROUND THE CAPSULE. OVER. ARE YOU READY TO HOOK ON? THIS IS HUNT ONE. ROGER. JUST WAITING FOR YOUR O.K. TO COME IN. ROGER. I'VE UNPLUGGED MY SUIT, SO I'M KIND OF WARM NOW. HUNT CLUB ONE. ROGER. ONE. ROGER. BLOW THE HATCH AFTER WE HOOK ON. GET READY. 15 FEET ON THE HOIST. IF YOU'RE READY FOR ME TO BLOW THE HATCH, I'LL HAVE TO TAKE MY HELMET OFF. SAY AGAIN, LIBERTY BELL. WAITING FOR YOUR O.K. TO HOOK ON. WHO DESIGNED THIS? LIBERTY BELL, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU. I CAN'T GET IT OFF. LIBERTY BELL. THIS IS HUNT CLUB ONE. WAITING FOR YOUR O.K. HEY, WHAT HAPPENED? HEY! HE'S O.K., HE'S O.K. GO FOR THE CAPSULE. HELP! I'M SINKING! HEY! GET THE CAPSULE. HE CAN FLOAT IN THAT SPACE SUIT. GOT TO HAVE THE DATA. THROW DOWN A LINE! HELP! THROW DOWN THE LINE OVER HERE! HEY! I'M SINKING! HEY, FORGET THE FUCKING CAPSULE! WE CAN'T PULL THIS MUCH WEIGHT. IT'S FULL OF WATER. HEY! HELP ME OVER HERE! HELP! WE'VE LOST IT! BLOW THE CABLE! BLOW THE CABLE! COME BACK HERE, DAMN IT! THROW A LINE DOWN! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. I WAS JUST LYING THERE. IT JUST BLEW! THE HATCH JUST BLEW. MUST HAVE BEEN A TECHNICAL MALFUNCTION. THE CAPSULE WAS ROCKING AROUND A BIT. I DON'T SEE HOW I COULD HAVE HIT THAT BUTTON. NO. I WAS JUST LYING THERE, AND IT JUST BLEW. THANK YOU, MR. GRISSOM. WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK? EXPLOSIVE HATCHES HAVE BEEN ON JET FIGHTERS FOR 10 YEARS. THEY'VE BEEN WRUNG INSIDE OUT, SUBJECTED TO TRIAL BY HEAT, WATER, BY SHAKING, POUNDING. WE EVEN DROPPED THEM FROM A HEIGHT OF 100 FEET ONTO CONCRETE. AND NOT ONE OF THEM HAS EVER JUST BLOWN. [BAND PLAYS] AREN'T WE GOING TO THE WHITE HOUSE? NO. ISN'T THE PRESIDENT COMING? GUS? NO. NO TICKER-TAPE PARADE IN NEW YORK? UH-UH. NOT EVEN ONE IN MITCHELL, INDIANA? NOPE. NO JACKIE? MM-MMM. YAY, GUS! BY ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL IS AWARDED TO CAPTAIN VIRGIL I. GRISSOM... WHO DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY VALOR ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. THESE ACTIONS REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THE AIR FORCE, AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. YO, GUS! THAT A BOY, GUS! PROUD, BOYS? HEY, LOOK! THEY FILLED THE REFRIGERATOR! PRETTY GOOD, HUH? PRETTY GOOD. A FULL REFRIGERATOR! I CAN SEE THIS AFTERNOON SHAPING UP JUST GREAT! AND THE REST OF THE DAY! WHAT DO THEY WANT ME TO DO? COOK? AND THEN RISK MY KIDS' LIVES BY CROSSING THAT HIGHWAY TO THE WORST BEACH IN FLORIDA? I WANTED TO EAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE! I WANTED TO TALK TO JACKIE ABOUT... THINGS. I'VE GOT TO GO TO THE HOLIDAY INN FOR SOME BEER CALL WITH THE GUYS. NO! GUS! ALL THOSE YEARS OF TEST FLYING. ALL THOSE TIMES I WAITED! ALL THOSE TIMES YOU WEREN'T THERE! THE MILITARY PROMISED, AND NOW THEY ARE WELSHING ON THAT DAMN COMPACT! I AM FINALLY MRS. HONORABLE ASTRONAUT, BUT THEY'RE TREATING ME LIKE I'M... HONORABLE MRS. SQUIRMING HATCH BLOWER! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG! THE HATCH JUST BLEW! IT WAS A TECHNICAL MALFUNCTION! WHY IN HELL WON'T ANYONE BELIEVE ME? I--I KNOW THAT. OH, BUT... GUS, I MEAN, ARE THESE THE GOODIES? IS THIS HOW THE MILITARY PAYS OFF? HUH? OH, GUS, THEY OWE YOU. BUT THEY OWE ME, TOO. THEY OWE ME. THEY OWE ME. THEY OWE ME SO MUCH! HEY, GUS! GUS! GUS! COME OUT, GUS! OH, NO! HEY, GUS, COME ON! COME ON OUT! HOW ABOUT AN INTERVIEW? BETTY, COME ON OUT! COME OUT ON THE BALCONY! LET'S HAVE A FEW WORDS! WE WANT SOME PICTURES! GUS, COME ON OUT! I LOVE YOU. WE'RE HERE WITH VIRGIL I. GRISSOM AND HIS LOVELY WIFE BETTY. GUS HAS JUST RETURNED FROM OUTER SPACE. BETTY, HOW DO YOU FEEL? I'M SO PROUD OF HIM. HE WAS WONDERFUL. WE'RE ALL VERY PROUD OF GUS GRISSOM. GUS, WAS THE TRIP A SUCCESS? IT WAS A-O.K. MY GOD. HE LOST HIS CAPSULE, BUT HE'S KEEPING HIS STORY. AND TO RECAP YESTERDAY'S DRAMATIC EVENTS, WE SEE HEROIC GUS GRISSOM SHOUTING TO SAVE THE CAPSULE FIRST. THAT A BOY, GUS. PULL THAT STUFF IN FLIGHT TEST, IT'S ALL OVER, FRIEND. I SAY HE SCREWED THE POOCH. WELL, SOMETIMES YOU GET A POOCH THAT CAN'T BE SCREWED. THE PRESIDENT'S GOT PROBLEMS WITH CUBA. HE DOESN'T WANT THE ASTRONAUTS' IMAGE TARNISHED. THESE GUYS WILL NEVER FAIL. THESE ASTRONAUTS ARE OUR DAVIDS. THEY'RE JUST DOING WHAT MONKEYS HAVE DONE. MONKEYS? YOU THINK A MONKEY KNOWS HE'S SITTING ON A ROCKET THAT MIGHT EXPLODE? THESE ASTRONAUT BOYS, THEY KNOW THAT, SEE? I'LL TELL YOU, IT TAKES A SPECIAL MAN TO VOLUNTEER FOR A SUICIDE MISSION, ESPECIALLY ONE ON TV. OLD GUS, HE DID ALL RIGHT. THOUGH THE CAPSULE WAS LOST, OUR NEW HERO WAS SAVED. PRESIDENT KENNEDY HAS STARTED A MORE AMBITIOUS SPACE PROGRAM. THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US MADE CERTAIN THIS COUNTRY RODE THE FIRST WAVES OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, THE FIRST WAVES OF MODERN INVENTION, AND THE FIRST WAVE OF NUCLEAR POWER. AND THIS GENERATION DOES NOT INTEND TO FOUNDER IN THE BACKWASH OF THE COMING AGE OF SPACE. WE MEAN TO LEAD IT. [SIREN] YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS HATED FLYING. WHEN I MET YOU, YOU WERE ALREADY A PILOT, SO I NEVER HAD A COMPLAINT COMING. WHEN YOU WENT UP IN THOSE PLANES, ME AND THE KIDS... WE NEVER HAD ANY INSURANCE EXCEPT A COUPLE MONTHS' PAY IN CASE ANYTHING EVER HAPPENED. I ALWAYS HATED ALL THAT TALK ABOUT INSURANCE. THE GOVERNMENT SPENDS ALL KINDS OF TIME AND MONEY TEACHING YOU PILOTS TO BE FEARLESS, BUT... THEY DON'T SPEND A GOD DAMN PENNY TEACHING YOU HOW TO BE THE FEARLESS WIFE OF A TEST PILOT. BUT I GUESS I LIKED IT. I GUESS I LIKED THE KIND OF MAN WHO COULD PUSH THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENVELOPE. FLY-BOY. BUT I NEVER COULD STAND A MAN WHO WAS ONE OF THOSE "REMEMBER WHENS." THOSE BITTER GUYS THAT JUST SIT AROUND THINKING ABOUT OLD TIMES. IF I EVER SEE THAT HAPPENING... I'M GOING RIGHT OUT THE FRONT DOOR... AND YOU'LL NEVER CATCH ME. YOU KNOW, I'M A FEARLESS MAN, BUT I'M SCARED TO DEATH OF YOU. OH, NO, YOU'RE NOT... BUT YOU OUGHT TO BE. [TELEPHONE RINGS] ANNIE, WHAT IS IT? THE RUSSIANS HAVE SENT TITOV UP. TITOV'S UP. HOW LONG? A DAY. A DAY? A WHOLE DAY? HE'S ORBITING OVER OUR COUNTRY RIGHT NOW. WE NEED A MAN IN ORBIT. WE'RE GOING WITH THE ATLAS. WE HAVEN'T HAD MUCH LUCK WITH THAT ROCKET. WE CAN'T TAKE ALL THE PRECAUTIONS WE'D LIKE. WE'RE READY. IT'LL BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I SAID WE'RE READY. 100%. THANK YOU, JOHN. INSIDE THIS TRIM, MODEST, SUBURBAN HOME INSIDE THIS TRIM, MODEST, SUBURBAN HOME IS ANNIE GLENN, WIFE OF ASTRONAUT JOHN GLENN, SHARING THE WORLD'S ANXIETY AND PRIDE AT THIS TENSE MOMENT, BUT IN A PRIVATE WAY ONLY SHE UNDERSTANDS. [KNOCK ON WINDOW] [KNOCK KNOCK] THE VICE PRESIDENT WOULD LIKE TO SEE MRS. GLENN. HE'S ASKING FOR YOU AGAIN. TELL HIM...N-N-NO. I'M SORRY. SHE SAYS NO. IT'S IMPORTANT. THE VICE PRESIDENT MUST SEE HER. NO. AFTER THE MISSION'S SUCCESS, THE VICE PRESIDENT WILL SPEAK WITH ANNIE GLENN. MEANWHILE, JOHN GLENN WAITS FOR BETTER WEATHER SO HE CAN UNDERTAKE THIS HISTORIC MISSION. KNOW WHAT THE RUSSIANS REALLY WANT? NO, SIR. THEY WANT OUR PECKERS IN THEIR POCKETS. SHE STILL SAYS NO. NO? DIDN'T YOU TELL HER I'LL BRING IN ABC-TV, NBC-TV, CBS... TV? HER WORDS--AND MINE-- WILL BE HEARD BY MILLIONS. LET'S GET IN THERE! LET'S GET A REACTION! WHERE ARE THEY GOING? I THINK THE FLIGHT'S BEEN CANCELED. CANCELED? WHY, THAT'S PERFECT. I WILL GO IN AND CONSOLE HER ON NATIONWIDE TV. I'LL PAY HER A SYMPATHY CALL. YES, SIR. THE VICE PRESIDENT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SYMPATHY CALL IF HE COULD. N-N-NO. NO. WHAT DO YOU MEAN, NO? WHAT DO YOU MEAN, NO? GET NASA ON THE LINE. I'M GOING TO BUCK THIS PROBLEM RIGHT TO THE TOP! TO THE TOP? DAMN RIGHT! SOMEBODY BETTER TELL HER TO PLAY BALL! HI, GUYS. JOHN, THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH YOUR WIFE. IS IT SERIOUS? WE THINK SO. WE'VE GOT HER ON THE PHONE. ANNIE, IT'S ME. ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG. JOHN...JOHNSON... W... WANTS...M-M-ME... ON... T...V. THE VICE PRESIDENT? TELL HER TO LET HIM IN, JOHN. IT'S IMPORTANT, JOHN. IT MEANS A LOT. HUH? GO AHEAD. THAT'S IT. ANNIE. LISTEN TO ME. ARE YOU LISTENING? IF YOU DON'T WANT THE VICE PRESIDENT TO COME INTO THE HOUSE, THEN THAT'S IT AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. THEY'RE NOT COMING IN. I'M BACKING YOU UP. YOU TELL THEM THAT, O.K.? I DON'T WANT JOHNSON TO SET ONE TOE INSIDE OUR HOUSE! O.K. YOU TELL THEM THAT ASTRONAUT JOHN GLENN TOLD YOU TO SAY THAT. ALL RIGHT? YES. I'LL TALK TO YOU SOON. YOU CAN'T DO THAT. YOU'VE GOT TO THINK OF THIS PROGRAM! YOU'RE WAY OUT OF LINE! I'M OUT OF LINE? YES, SIR! I'M RUNNING THIS SHOW! I'LL CHANGE THE ORDER OF FLIGHT ASSIGNMENTS! WHO WILL YOU GET? WHO WILL I GET? YOU HEARD WHAT HE SAID. TAKE IT EASY, FELLAS. STEP ASIDE, PAL. PILOTS. PANSIES! COWS! GLADIOLAS! ISN'T THERE ANYBODY WHO CAN DEAL WITH A HOUSEWIFE? " WALTZING MATILDA " " WALTZING MATILDA " " OH, COME A-WALTZING MATILDA WITH ME " " AND HE SANG AS HE WATCHED " " AND WAITED BY THE BILLABONG... "" WALTZING MATILDA. I THOUGHT HANK WILLIAMS WROTE THAT. WE DON'T KNOW WHO WROTE IT. IT'S AUSTRALIAN, HUH? YEP. GOOD DAY, MATE. HI. WHO ARE YOU GUYS? WE'RE ABORIGINES. ABORIGINES, EH? HI. WHO ARE YOU? ME? I'M AN... I'M AN ASTRONAUT. ASTRONAUT. YEAH. WELL, WHAT DO YOU DO HERE, ASTRONAUT? I CAME UP HERE BECAUSE A BUDDY OF MINE IS GETTING READY TO FLY OVERHEAD UP IN OUTER SPACE. I'LL BE TALKING TO HIM ON THAT DISH. FLY OVER? YOU BLOKES DO THAT, TOO? YOU DO THAT YOURSELF? NOT ME, MATE. SEE THAT OLD BLOKE THERE? HE KNOW. HE KNOW THE MOON, HE KNOW THE STAR, AND HE KNOW THE MILKY WAY. HE'LL GIVE YOU A HAND. HE KNOW. WE'LL SURE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET. STAND BY FOR A FINAL 10-SECOND COUNT. T MINUS 10, 9... 8...7...6... THE CLOCK IS OPERATING. THEY'RE UNDERWAY! GOOD LORD, RIDE ALL THE WAY. GOD SPEED, JOHN GLENN. ZERO-G, AND I FEEL FINE. THE CAPSULE IS TURNING AROUND. OOHHH! THAT VIEW IS TREMENDOUS! I CAN SEE CLEAR BACK, A BIG CLOUD PATTERN WAY BACK ACROSS TOWARDS THE CAPE. MAN, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT! ROGER, FRIENDSHIP SEVEN. YOU HAVE A GO, AT LEAST SEVEN ORBITS. ANDIAMO, AMIGO. ROGER, AL. UNDERSTANDS GO. AT LEAST SEVEN ORBITS. THIS IS FRIENDSHIP SEVEN. SPEED IS 17,500 MILES PER HOUR... AND WE'RE MOVING INTO NIGHT. THERE'S A FULL MOON RISING. I CAN ALMOST TOUCH IT. FRIENDSHIP SEVEN, DO YOU READ? HELLO, FRIENDSHIP SEVEN. FRIENDSHIP SEVEN, COME IN PLEASE. THAT SURE WAS A SHORT DAY. SAY AGAIN OVER, PLEASE. THAT'S THE SHORTEST DAY I'VE RUN INTO. KIND OF PASSES RAPIDLY, HUH? YES, SIR. I SEE SOME LIGHTS DOWN THERE IN AUSTRALIA, GORDO. WHERE ARE THEY FROM? ALL OF PERTH AND ROCKINGHAM TURNED THEIR LIGHTS ON FOR YOU. OTHER LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON HERE AND THERE. THEY SHOW UP VERY WELL. THANK EVERYBODY FOR TURNING THEM ON, WILL YOU? WE SURE WILL, JOHN. WE SURE WILL. HEADING TOWARDS DAYBREAK. LOT OF CLOUD COVERAGE TODAY. MAN, IT'S BEAUTIFUL. [BEEP BEEP BEEP] POSSIBLY IT'S THE HEAT SHIELD. IT'S LOOSE. IF IT COMES OFF... IF IT COMES OFF, HE'LL BURN UP. HE'LL FRY WHEN HE RE-ENTERS. MUNCHEA, THIS IS CAPE. WE'RE SHOWING SOME TROUBLE HERE. THERE'S A WARNING LIGHT, POSSIBLY A LOOSE HEAT SHIELD. CHECK YOUR STATUS LIGHTS IMMEDIATELY. HE'S COMING, MATE. JOHN, CAN YOU HEAR ME? FRIENDSHIP SEVEN, COME IN, PLEASE. LET'S TRY SOMETHING, ANYTHING. FRIENDSHIP SEVEN, COME IN. THIS IS FRIENDSHIP SEVEN. DO YOU READ ME? OVER. WAIT A SECOND. I SEE SOMETHING STRANGE OUT HERE. OH, MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS! WHAT THE HECK'S THAT? SPARKS AND NEEDLES ALL OVER THE SKY. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I'M IN UP HERE. I'M IN A MASS OF VERY SMALL PARTICLES THAT ARE BRILLIANTLY LIT UP, LIKE THEY'RE LUMINESCENT. I NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE IT. THERE'S A SHOWER OF THEM. THEY'RE ALL LIT UP. THEY SWIRL AROUND THE CAPSULE. THEY'RE BRILLIANTLY LIGHTED. YOU DON'T THINK THESE COULD BE ALIVE, DO YOU? THEY LOOK LIKE FIREFLIES OR SOMETHING. WHOA. WHOA! MAYBE SOME AIR FORCE EXPERIMENT WENT AMUCK. HAVE OUR ASTRONOMERS BEEN WRONG? HELLO, CAPCOM, DO YOU READ ME? THIS IS MIRACULOUS! COULD IT BE THOSE FIREFLIES? OF COURSE NOT. FIREFLIES? HELLO, CAPCOM? ROGER, FRIENDSHIP SEVEN. WILL YOU CORRELATE THE ACTIONS OF THE PARTICLES WITH THE ACTION OF YOUR CONTROL JETS? DO YOU READ? I DO NOT THINK THEY CAME FROM MY CONTROL JETS. THAT'S A NEGATIVE. I TELL YOU WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. I'LL GET SOME PICTURES OF THESE GUYS. THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. YOU GUYS PROBABLY THINK I'M NUTS DOWN THERE. THEY'RE VERY BEAUTIFUL. THEY'RE LIKE FIREFLIES ON SUMMER NIGHTS. THEY JUST DANCE AROUND. GET OUT OF HERE! GET OUT OF HERE, YOU GADGETS. HEADING INTO DAYBREAK NOW. ANOTHER DAY. LEAVING THE FIREFLIES BEHIND. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY WERE. THIS IS FRIENDSHIP SEVEN. DO YOU READ ME? WHAT A NIGHT! HOW LONG WILL YOU KEEP HIM IN THE DARK? WHAT SHOULD WE TELL HIM? TELL HIM THE CONDITION OF HIS CRAFT. JOHN GLENN IS INTO HIS THIRD ORBIT. THE FLIGHT IS GOING AS PLANNED. NO HUMAN HAS EVER BEEN SO WELL-PREPARED. THE KEY WORD ON THIS FLIGHT IS "OPERATIONAL." EVERYTHING IS A-O.K. WE HAVEN'T BEEN TOO LUCKY WITH THE ATLAS ROCKET. SOME SAY WE HAVEN'T TAKEN ENOUGH SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. IS THIS TRUE? NO. IT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE. THE CRITICAL POINT IS THE RE-ENTRY. IF THE CAPSULE IS NOT ANGLED WITH THE BLUNT END DOWN, IT WILL BURN UP. THERE'S ONLY ONE HOPE. IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO LEAVE THE RETRO-ROCKET PACKAGE WHICH COVERS THE HEAT SHIELD ON. THE STRAPS MAY HOLD THE HEAT SHIELD IN PLACE. BUT IF THIS FAILS... JOHN, YOU'LL FLY-BY-WIRE FOR RE-ENTRY. WE RECOMMEND YOU DO THE BEST YOU CAN TO KEEP A ZERO ANGLE. OVER. RE-ENTRY? ONLY THREE ORBITS? OVER. THAT IS CORRECT. OVER. DO YOU HAVE ANY REASON? OVER. NO. THIS IS CAPE FLIGHT'S JUDGMENT. ROGER. DO YOU HAVE A TIME FOR JETTISON RETRO? OVER. JOHN... WE'RE NOT SURE YOUR LANDING BAG IS DEPLOYED. IT'S POSSIBLE TO RE-ENTER WITH THE RETRO-PACKAGE ON. WE SEE NO DIFFICULTY WITH THAT RE-ENTRY. DO YOU READ? ROGER. UNDERSTAND. I'LL LINE UP AS CAREFULLY AS POSSIBLE, SEE WHETHER THE SCANNERS WILL CORRECT IT IN TO GET GOOD RETRO-FIRE ATTITUDE. IF NOT, I'LL CORRECT IT MYSELF. OVER. ROGER, FRIENDSHIP SEVEN. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE LINED UP. HERE WE GO. [HUMMING] WHAT'S THAT? THAT SOUND? HUMMING. IT'S HIM. IT'S ALL RIGHT. HE DOES THAT. [HUMMING BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC] AAH! [HUMMING] AAH! JOHN? HE CAN'T HEAR YOU. HE'S HIT THE IONIZATION BLACKOUT. NO COMMUNICATIONS ARE POSSIBLE FOR A FEW MINUTES. THEN WE'LL KNOW. FRIENDSHIP SEVEN, THIS IS CAPE. DO YOU READ? FRIENDSHIP SEVEN, THIS IS CAPE. DO YOU READ? FRIENDSHIP SEVEN, THIS IS CAPE. DO YOU READ? AUTOMATIC SYSTEMS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING... [HUMMING] [BAND PLAYS BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC] FINALLY SHOWED UP. THE ONE WE'VE WANTED, WITH THE BIG ENGINE. IF WE'D ONLY HAD ONE A FEW YEARS BACK. THE BAD NEWS IS THE PROGRAM'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE SCRAPPED. FROM NOW ON, THE ASTRONAUTS IN HOUSTON HAVE GOT THE ONLY TICKET, BARRING, OF COURSE, SOME UNFORESEEN EVENT. I HEARD THE RUSKIES SET A RECORD OF 114,000 FEET GOING STRAIGHT UP. NOBODY CARES ABOUT THOSE RECORDS ANYMORE. ALL THEY WANT IS CAPSULES IN OUTER SPACE. I GOT A FEELING THIS PLANE MIGHT BEAT THAT RUSSIAN RECORD. YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT. AND HERE THEY COME! LOOKY HERE WHAT I BROUGHT YOU! MR. AND MRS. JOHN GLENN! ALAN SHEPARD! GUS GRISSOM! SCOTT CARPENTER! DEKE SLAYTON! WALLY SCHIRRA! MR. AND MRS. GORDON COOPER! SMILE, HONEY. MY FELLOW CITIZENS... AMERICA'S... MERCURY... ASTRONAUTS! MY FRIENDS, WELCOME TO HOUSTON, YOUR NEW HOME. YOUR NEIGHBORS HERE AND I, WE'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU THIS LITTLE BARBECUE. TEXAS STYLE! [BAND PLAYS YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS] SINCE YOU BOYS ARE RELOCATING HERE, TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION, MR. SHARP'S CONTRIBUTING THE LAND, THE CONTRACTORS WILL CONTRIBUTE THE HOMES, THE FURNITURE AND DEPARTMENT STORES WILL FURNISH ALL THE FURNISHINGS. THAT'S WONDERFUL. WHICH ARE YOU? SHEPARD. OH, YEAH? WELL, WHICH ONE'S GLENN? HE'S THE ONE I WANT TO MEET. HE'S RIGHT OVER THERE. EXCUSE ME. EXCUSE ME, TOO. LOUISE... I'M GOING TO GO TO THE MOON, I SWEAR TO GOD. I'M ON MY WAY. I MEAN IT. HI, LITTLE GAL. DAMN GLAD TO MEET YOU. HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT YOU GALS. JOHN GLENN. HOWDY. I WANT TO MEET YOU, TOO. SORRY, LITTLE LADY. WE GOT IT. STEAK... ALL THE TRIMMINGS. JUST LIKE PANCHO'S. YEAH. STEAK TASTES ABOUT THE SAME. ONLY THERE'S A LOT MORE TRIMMINGS NOW. YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY. I GOT ME 25 GRAND A YEAR FOR A MAGAZINE CONTRACT, GOT A FREE HOUSE WITH FURNISHINGS, GOT ME A CORVETTE, A FREE LUNCH FROM ONE END OF AMERICA TO THE OTHER, AND I AIN'T BEEN UP THERE YET. YEAH. I NOTICED THAT. YOU NOTICED THAT I HADN'T BEEN UP? I GUESS THEY'RE SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST. I GUESS SO, HOT DOG. I GUESS SO. JUST WATCH YOU DON'T SCREW THE POOCH. UH-OH. MR. COOPER! THERE HE IS. BIG SMILE. WE'RE TALKING TO GORDON COOPER, THE NEXT AMERICAN ASTRONAUT TO ORBIT THE EARTH. SINCE YOU'RE THE LAST OF THE ORIGINAL SEVEN AND THE LEAST WELL-KNOWN, TELL US, WHO WAS THE BEST PILOT YOU EVER SAW? WHO WAS THE BEST PILOT I EVER SAW? WHO WAS THE BEST PILOT I EVER SAW? WELL, I'LL TELL YOU... I SEEN A LOT OF THEM. MOST OF THEM ARE PICTURES ON A WALL. WHAT DID YOU SAY? PICTURES ON A WALL, BACK AT SOME PLACE... THAT DOESN'T EVEN EXIST ANYMORE. MR. COOPER, SPEAK UP. SOME OF THEM ARE... RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM, AND SOME OF THEM ARE STILL OUT THERE SOMEWHERE, DOING WHAT THEY ALWAYS DO-- GOING UP EACH DAY IN A HURTLING PIECE OF MACHINERY, PUTTING THEIR HIDES OUT ON THE LINE, HANGING IT OUT OVER THE EDGE, PUSHING THAT ENVELOPE AND HAULING IT IN. BUT THERE WAS ONE PILOT I ONCE SAW WHO I THINK TRULY DID HAVE THE RIGHT-- HOW CLOSE WERE YOU TO NOT HAULING IT BACK? WHO WAS THE BEST PILOT I EVER SAW? WELL, UH...YOU'RE LOOKING AT HIM. HEY, RIDLEY. YEAH? YOU GOT ANY BEEMANS? I MIGHT HAVE ME A STICK. LOAN ME SOME. I'LL PAY YOU BACK LATER. FAIR ENOUGH. I THINK THERE'S A PLANE OVER HERE WITH MY NAME ON IT. NOW YOU'RE TALKING. HEY, WHAT'S THAT? ANYONE GOT CLEARANCE? WHAT KIND OF A PLANE IS THAT? AIRCRAFT ON RAMP, DID YOU FILE A FLIGHT PLAN? DID YOU FILE A FLIGHT PLAN? I'M TAKING HER UP FOR TESTING. ANY OBJECTIONS? HEY, IT'S YEAGER. NO, SIR. NO OBJECTIONS. YOU ARE CLEAR TO TAXI. HE MUST HAVE CLEARANCE. RIGHT? YEAH, SURE. HE MUST. IT'S HERE SOMEPLACE. NOW, IN HONOR OF THESE, THE GREATEST PILOTS IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO PRESENT TO YOU MISS SALLY RAND! STRETCH IT, STRETCH IT. COME ON. YOU CAN DO IT. NOW, JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE. 1O4,000. THERE YOU GO. CHRIST, ALMIGHTY! SIR, OVER THERE. IS THAT A MAN? YEAH, YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT IT IS. [SNORING] UH...GORDO? GORDO! HUH? UH-HUH? WE HATE TO DISTURB YOU, BUDDY, BUT WE'VE GOT A LAUNCH HERE. UH-HUH. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE WATCHING. WE JUST THOUGHT MAYBE, UH... YEP. WELL, NO SWEAT. LET'S GO. READY WHEN YOU ARE, JOHN. 100%. O.K. T MINUS 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1. GO. GO, HOT DOG, GO! UP WE GO INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER. 30 SECONDS, AND FUEL IS GO. OXYGEN IS GO, CABIN PRESSURE TOPS, ALTIMETER IS WORKING. HAVE A GOOD RIDE, BUDDY. GO! THE SUN IS COMING THROUGH THE WINDOW NOW. OH, LORD, WHAT A HEAVENLY LIGHT. THE MERCURY PROGRAM WAS OVER. FOUR YEARS LATER, ASTRONAUT GUS GRISSOM WAS KILLED, ALONG WITH ASTRONAUTS WHITE AND CHAFFEY WHEN FIRE SWEPT THROUGH THEIR APOLLO CAPSULE. BUT ON THAT GLORIOUS DAY IN MAY, 1963, GORDO COOPER WENT HIGHER, FARTHER, AND FASTER THAN ANY OTHER AMERICAN. 22 COMPLETE ORBITS AROUND THE WORLD. HE WAS THE LAST AMERICAN EVER TO GO INTO SPACE ALONE. FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, GORDO COOPER BECAME THE GREATEST PILOT ANYONE HAD EVER SEEN. CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY WARNER BROS., INC. CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, INC. CAPTIONS COPYRIGHT 1986 THE LADD COMPANY PUBLIC PERFORMANCE OF CAPTIONS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE ----------------------------