Previously on The Right Stuff.
You've seen us all up there on that machine. What have you noticed?
You're the slowest to react, and you take the longest to recover.
I wanna go into space, and I'd like your husband to help.
Jerrie Cobb is grooming a group of women to be astronauts,
and she asked me try out.
- Al? - I was with a girl. I saw a flash.
A camera.
I'm gonna take care of this.
- Shorty, it's John. - So, NASA knows about all this?
This is about being first.
I've saved your butt, Al! I've saved you! I've saved all of you, damn it!
So, this will be a peer vote.
If you could not make the flight yourself, who would you choose?
Al Shepard doesn't deserve this. I mean, he's selfish. He can't be trusted.
People need to know that. People who can do something
about it.
- How many more are there, John? - I was only...
You do realize the Manned Space Program is hanging by a thread.
Bob, I am trying to help you.
I'm trying to keep you from makin' a horrible mistake.
- Al Shepard is unfit to serve. - John, right now...
you're the one who seems unfit.
It's the Russians. I'm sorry, guys. They put a man in orbit.
Damn it.
Premier, Nikita Khrushchev,
declared Russia's support today,
for Communist leader, Fidel Castro, promising to lend the Cuban people,
all necessary assistance in beating back rebel forces
that have landed on a beach, known as The Bay of Pigs. As...
- Well, that's World War III. - What is Kennedy doing?
First Gagarin, and now this.
Been one hell of a damn week.
...delegates from across the globe,
declaring that the United States has committed no aggression against Cuba,
and no offensive has been launched from Florida
or any other part of the United States.
Al, I'm real sorry you're not the first man in space.
No, you're not.
To be frank, to have a disaster of this size occur,
this early in this president's administration,
I'm not sure how he recovers. But one thing is for certain,
it's gonna have to be something...
...extremely impressive...
...nearly 6,000
anti-Castro demonstrators...
...braved fierce debating...
Get dressed and meet me downstairs.
We got work to do.
- Now? - Now.
The situation in Cuba is bad, and it's getting worse every day.
There's a lot of rumors out there about the extent of our role,
and whether it goes beyond what the president's admitting, and...
those rumors are true.
The Cuban rebels, they were armed and trained by our government.
This is all gonna come out soon enough.
The move against Castro was an Eisenhower program.
Kennedy didn't support it,
but he also didn't have the guts to pull the plug.
- Sound familiar? - He tried to play the middle,
and he ended up with egg on his face in Cuba.
Same as he did with Gagarin and the Russians beating us into space.
You woke us up at four in the morning
just to tell us that the president is a coward?
We woke you up to tell you that he needs a win.
And he has decided that we are going to be that win.
Gentlemen, he's willing to do whatever it takes
to make this launch a success.
Now, the administration has not decided when they're gonna announce
the flight to the public, but chances are, it won't be until afterwards,
once they know that Al has landed safely.
Kennedy might have grown a pair, but they don't get big overnight.
And, John, it's been decided that you're the backup for this mission.
When do I go up?
Your mugs, gentlemen.
Two weeks.
Oxygen?
Eleven hundred. Go.
Oxygen. Power?
- Power. - Handle unlock.
Capsule separated.
Rate control. Pilot on manual.
Yawing to the right.
Roger that. You are go for retro sequence. Thirty seconds on my mark.
Thirty seconds...
Understand. Go.
I have a red fire retro light.
Do you copy?
Can you confirm that you've got ASCS in fly-by-wire?
I'm showing the spacecraft is tumbling.
Should I be in retro attitude bypass?
How long has that been on?
Scott.
- Scott. - Uh, just give us a second, Al.
Thirty seconds down.
Should I be in retro attitude bypass?
Scott.
Carpenter.
Yeah.
Were you in retro fire position?
What the hell just happened?
You weren't in retro attitude when we fired the...
Then why the hell did you fire it?
What is the point of having manual controls
if the ground fires the damn rocket without me knowing?
Well, Al, I thought we checked the attitude,
but I guess we didn't...
so, I'm going back through to check it...
Shut it down.
Why'd you stop it?
Because you've been on it longer than anyone else, ever.
What?
I wanna show you somethin'.
This is Jerrie Cobb.
She's a famous pilot. She's one of the best in the world.
And she's putting together a group of other pilots, all women...
to train for going to space.
And one of the other pilots is your mom.
Wait, you're gonna be an astronaut?
I hope so.
Just like Dad?
- What do you think about that? - You're really gonna do it?
Lady astronauts.
Astronauts. Ass-tronauts, if you will.
They're recruiting a whole team of them.
You know what? It might not be the worst idea.
Why couldn't a woman go to space?
Um, well...
- Uh... - Menstruation, for one thing.
I won't even let Margie drive the station wagon if I'm around.
You should've seen what she did to the neighbor's mailbox last month.
Imagine if that had been a Skyray.
Boys.
- Two scotches, neat. - Coming right up.
- Send 'em down. - Yes, sir.
- We need to talk. - Hi, Al.
He never confirmed the attitude.
You could have done it yourself.
If you want me taking my cues from the ground,
we both could use a man we trust on CAPCOM. Now...
I have nothing against Scott, personally.
But this is not his first screw-up.
He's not ready, and you know it.
Yeah...
It's not my call.
I'll run it up the flagpole. That's the best that I can do.
Chris.
There's something else we need to talk about.
Where did you get this?
John Glenn is not the only one who knows important people.
He's been warned.
He knows to stand down.
Let it go.
Chris... John is talented.
He belongs in the program.
But put yourself in my shoes. He's my backup.
He'll be the one checking the straps on my seat as I load into that capsule.
And now, I find out that he's been going around
trying to stab me in the damn back?
We took your side.
You won.
You're going to space.
I'm a travelin' man I've made a lot of stops...
...All over the world, and in every part
I own the heart...
- ...Of at least one lovely girl... - Scotty?
What's wrong with you?
It looks like someone shot your puppy.
I need your help.
Al got me taken off CAPCOM.
Demoted to flying chase.
Well, I'm real sorry, Scott.
John... you're connected.
Everyone respects you. Gilruth, Kraft, James Webb, they'll listen to you.
Shepard's right.
You weren't prepared.
Shepard's an arrogant asshole.
- You, of all people, know that. - Maybe.
But he is putting his life on the line here.
...When we walked in the sands Of the Waikiki and I held you, oh, so...
I think you're a good man.
Better than the rest of these guys.
And, yeah...
I think that matters.
Or at least it ought to.
- I told Rene how important it was... - ...being CAPCOM.
She was proud of me.
She's coming down here for the flight.
I don't know what to tell her now.
It wasn't just Annie for me.
Whole world thought I'd go first. Still thinks, as a matter of fact.
You know they're still taking bets in Vegas, right?
Oh, yeah.
I'm a two-to-one favorite, Scotty.
Think about that.
Can't just sit around crying, though, can we?
And you definitely can't go grousin' up the chain of command.
You're a Navy man...
and I'm a United States Marine.
So, what do you say we get our heads up and start acting like it?
Yeah.
Thirty-five hours!
I got a rock and roll gal And she rock and rolls all the time...
...I got a rock and roll gal...
- Did you get something? - I got one, thanks.
Certainly.
Evening, Major... Mrs. Glenn.
Hello, Eunice.
Hope you don't mind. I got you something.
Saint Christopher... patron saint of travelers.
Thank you, Eunice, that's...
...that is very thoughtful.
We all know it's you, John.
You'll be closer to the Lord than any believing man's ever been.
Get Him to bless this, will you?
Yes, ma'am.
She's a nice girl. She, uh... invited me to a service at her church, so, uh...
I know it's been hard for you...
having to pretend.
It'll get easier once everyone knows.
I'm fine.
It's really not so bad.
But I do think I'm gonna go for a little walk.
Love you.
...Took the rocket that dark, cold night The marquees read...
I wonder what that's about.
I know John puts on a brave face, but I think he's been hurt pretty bad
since Al got picked.
- Just like you? - Well...
I know how disappointed you were, but you've handled it well,
and that's why they picked you for CAPCOM.
- Yeah. You should have a seat. Um... - What happened?
I got a rock and roll gal And she rock and rolls all the time.
And if she keep on rockin' I know she gonna lose her mind.
Just got a stack of requests for press credentials.
Three hundred of 'em.
Kennedy's putting the launch on national TV live.
- What? - Live TV? No shit.
Has everybody in D.C. lost their goddamn minds?
Hey! Take a breath.
- You think this is the right choice? - It's the only choice.
We live in an open society with a free press.
We have to walk that walk now more than ever.
This fight with the Soviets is about more than just science and bombs.
- It's about... - A war of ideas. Sure.
Here's an idea for you. We have no clue how many cosmonauts
the Russians killed before they sent Gagarin back alive.
You're right. I don't know how many tries it took the Soviets,
but I know how many it's going to take us.
Because I know our team.
And I know we're better than whoever the hell the Russians have.
And I know we're ready.
I sure as hell hope you're right, 'cause if not,
we're about throw Al the most expensive funeral
in the history of TV.
Well, I guess Kennedy's nuts are growing pretty damn fast after all.
Let's just hope they don't get too big for his britches.
- Yeah. - Can you tell us
- who's goin' up? - Come on, boys,
you know I'm not allowed to spill the beans.
And you'll see him when he walks out of that hangar and gets in the capsule.
- That's Daddy. - So, then what...
what else can I tell you about me?
It's been recently reported that a group of women
will train to go to space.
Well, what do you men think about the idea of female astronauts?
Gordo has some strong opinions on this one, don't you now, Gordo?
We sent up a chimp, didn't we?
May as well send up a lady someday.
The only problem is that the spacesuit makes you look kind of plump,
and we know the gals aren't gonna like that.
One more, please.
Thank you very much.
Uh, I'll catch up with you all, I just gotta...
Clouds are getting lower in the west.
It's a bad sign.
- You're a weatherman now? - Pilots know clouds.
Pilots think they know everything.
You better show me some respect, Mrs. Shepard.
I'm about to be a national hero.
Once you're announced,
I'll have to share you with the whole world.
Does that bother you?
I was thinking about when you asked me to that dance in college.
- When you turned me down? - No. I mean...
when you showed up anyway.
You just...
you just walked straight up to me, and started talking like you were my date,
and I wasn't standing there next to poor old George Dietz.
Oh, God.
Well, old George might have minded, but you sure didn't seem to.
Well, I did mind. It was rude.
But I had never had anyone pay attention to me like that.
I knew what I wanted.
But you didn't have it yet.
Just like right now.
And that is when you are at your best. So, don't lose your focus.
You're not in that capsule yet.
Regarding the traffic in Cocoa Beach,
which is already backed up as far as Merritt Island,
and the sheriff's department expects it to get worse tomorrow.
Crowds are already lining up for the launch,
which is expected to...
Now, why'd your folks decide
to drive you all that way, Michael?
Because I had a dream.
What happened in this dream?
Jesus Christ came back to earth.
He was flying in a space capsule...
That is a remarkable dream, Michael.
Thank you. And that was Michael from Duluth, Minnesota, waiting for his...
A little gift in anticipation of your great success.
Courtesy of the Florida Growers Association.
Thank you. Oh.
Our hopes will be with you, Mr. Gilruth. You know, all of us.
- The entire free world. - That's very nice of you.
Yeah. Got it.
- We've got storms up and down the coast. - How far?
We've got one off the coast of Myrtle Beach, about 400 miles.
- What do you think? - I think it's Florida.
No one can predict the damn weather.
We go tomorrow on schedule.
At Cape Canaveral,
the countdown began early this morning.
Even if this experiment is a spectacular success,
it will still leave the United States second to Russia.
And if it's a catastrophic failure, there will be deep gloom
compounded by the tragic loss, perhaps, of human life.
We're told by President Kennedy and others who have all the facts,
that we may well fail...
- Oh. Hi, Rene. - Louise.
You know Scott worked hard to get that job as CAPCOM.
If NASA wanted to make a change, that would be one thing,
but this was just Al throwing his weight around.
Well, NASA isn't the one going up in that rocket, Al is.
He doesn't miss a chance to lord it over everyone.
But no one from NASA tried to stand in his way.
- Why do you think that is? - Because they know Al's a prima donna.
Scott wasn't ready.
Maybe he left that out when he told you what happened.
The truth is, he's never been ready for any of this.
Look at you.
You think you're so much better than the rest of us.
But my husband, he's a good man.
He wasn't the one that got caught with some tart in Tijuana.
There were photos, Louise.
And they would have been splashed all over the newspapers
if John Glenn hadn't stepped in and cleaned up his mess.
Al had to go crawling to him, begging.
So, my guess is, my husband's not the only one leaving things out.
You'll have to excuse me. I need to help my husband pack.
He's going to space tomorrow.
You proud of me, Lou?
You know I am.
Don't worry.
He'll be fine...
unless John kills him.
Tomorrow morning, the first American
will be launched into space, and the world still doesn't know who it is.
The potential astronauts are traveling together
to prevent a leak to the press.
Will this end in America's finest hour...
or tragedy?
"Rescue units on the scene report that Astronaut Alan B. Shepard"
"has perished today in the service of his country."
"Like Christopher Columbus and the men with whom he sailed."
"Astronaut Shepard undertook his mission knowing full well he might not return."
"His sacrifice will live on as an example to his fellow Americans"
"and free people the world over."
Hmm.
How about "heroic sacrifice"?
Cute. But I'm not LIFE Magazine.
This is strictly protocol, so just give me a yes or no.
"Like Christopher Columbus."
It's got a pretty nice ring to it.
It does.
Tough life, huh? Filet mignon for breakfast.
This is a big deal.
A day like today...
a man's gotta think about what's he's gonna say, you know?
You gotta have somethin' good, somethin'... memorable.
There he is. How'd you sleep?
Like a baby.
Excellent. That's what I like to hear.
This is just routine, Al.
Unless we find anything abnormal, your launch will go as planned.
Do you consider yourself a hero?
No, I'm just a man who's ready to fly his mission, Doc.
And your wife?
She'll be watching today. Are you worried for her?
Sixteen years as a test pilot's wife...
Louise can handle just about anything.
Good.
Any intrusive thoughts?
No, sir. Just a desire to leave this planet as quickly as possible
and come right back.
Every inch of the world has been picked over.
This is my chance to be the first at something memorable.
And I want it more than anyone, Annie.
Shepard passed his physical. You're done for now, John.
Well...
beautiful night to launch a rocket.
Cheers.
- Got it? - Yeah. I got it.
Feels about right.
Yep.
- How do they sound in Bermuda? - Testing now.
Sequencing A1 recorders to minute speed.
- Minute speed confirmed. - Flight copies. TC, this is flight.
Standing by for your next item.
- Tube. - Tube.
Better?
Yeah.
Good.
It just keeps comin', doesn't it?
What idiot decided to put this outfit in Florida?
We have two more storm fronts making their way along our coast.
- But, Bob? - Hmm.
We got a real solid shot at 30 good minutes right in between 'em.
0800.
You know the problem with oranges?
They're delicate.
One frost kills the whole crop.
Scrub this flight. We go again in two days.
But, Chris, if we get this wrong, the program is finished for good.
You know the problem with playing it safe, Bob?
You never know if you got it right.
No, I'm not gonna be one of the seven.
- No? - I'm gonna be the first man in space.
Okay.
To the space program.
Time to go.
- Here we go, boys. - Break a leg.
The Russians are flying clear to the moon. You guys can't even get
a rocket off the ground.
And for this, you gave up your Navy career.
Three, two, one, zero.
Bad news, Al.
I can't believe they scrubbed the launch.
I think they scrubbed the whole thing.
- Look, boys, the door's open. - The door's open!
Hey, hey, hey, come on.
Come on! Come on, let's go!
- There he is! - This way. Guys, come on!
- Quick, he's over here. - He went this way. Come on.
John?
- Hey. You're not supposed to be back here. - Secret's out.
Some of the boys spotted Al in his flight gear.
Sorry I didn't tell you, Loudon.
Brass wanted me to keep it hush-hush.
Well, I'm sorry, John.
It really should have been you.
Yeah. Well...
I hope you didn't lose too much money on me.
Some people say a man is made out of mud.
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood.
- Muscle and blood and skin and bone. - Muscle and blood and skin and bone.
- A mind that's weak. - A mind that's weak.
- And a back that's strong. - And a back that's strong.
- You load sixteen tons. - You load sixteen tons.
- And what do you get. - And what do you get.
- Another day older and deeper in debt. - Another day older and deeper in debt.
- Saint Peter don't you call me. - Saint Peter don't you call me
- 'Cause I can't go. - 'Cause I can't go
- I owe my soul to the company store. - I owe my soul to the company store
Excuse us.
Mrs. Shepard.
I'm...
I'm so sorry, Alan.
If they could've just held their nerve...
...I'd be out in Grand Bahama right now.
It's gonna take two full days...
...to recycle the fuel.
There's not a cloud in the sky.
And they're keeping me restricted to base now that everyone knows I'm the guy.
I have a flight back to Virginia today.
Did you hear what I just said?
Can't leave.
The press caught me. My name is out.
I mean, how would it look if you weren't here?
Now you're worried about how things would look?
I don't ever wanna hear about your indiscretions from anyone.
Do you understand?
Weezy...
Lou, come on.
- Just... - No.
I mean, there were photos, Alan?
Is it true that they would have been in the papers
if John hadn't fixed it?
Oh, my God.
What if our girls had seen that?
I love you, Alan.
I'm not gonna go through this again.
I can't just sit back and... smile,
and pretend to be your perfect little wife.
I'm going back home.
I know it's a drag, Al.
I'd be mad, too.
- Where are you going? - Out.
We're supposed to lay low.
- I need some air. - We're supposed to stay together.
I don't like it any more than you do, but those are our marching orders.
Al, I am your backup.
There's a thousand reporters out there. Where would we even go?
Well, it's peaceful up here. I'll give you that.
You know, when I was a kid, we had a grain elevator
next to the tracks in our town.
It was the tallest thing around for miles, and I used to, uh...
I used to go up there sometimes when I needed to think.
You know, everything looked so...
orderly from that height, you know?
It all made sense.
And whenever I'm feeling put out...
I just have to remember that...
it's just God's plan.
All of it.
You just weren't meant to go up today, that's all.
What do you think, John? You think it was God's plan
for you to send those letters?
You know, you're a great pilot, Al.
But I didn't write a thing in those letters that isn't true.
You're not the right man for this job.
And you wouldn't even be wearing that spacesuit
if I hadn't saved your bacon in San Diego.
Yeah, but that wasn't enough for you, was it, John?
To help me.
No, you had to make sure everyone knew about it.
That is exactly why no one likes you, John.
You're a miserable, sanctimonious ass, and it came back to bite you.
That's why I'm going up and you're not.
You really think anybody likes you, Al?
I mean, sure, you won that vote, but...
it had nothing to do with affection.
People may not like me, John... but they do wanna be me.
I don't wanna be you.
You can't even admit it to yourself.
But I know.
You wanna hurt me.
You want something bad to happen to me.
And I bet you'd love it if I just stepped on over the edge there, wouldn't you?
Took a little swan dive onto the cement? Of course, you would.
'Cause then you'd be first,
and that's all that really matters to you, John,
no matter how much you praise the flag or you thump the Bible...
- You're wrong. - Am I?
This right here is the difference between you and me.
I say what I want, and I do it.
But you, John, you sneak around people's backs
like a lying snake.
- Al. - Have you got what it takes
- to stand on the edge? - Al, step back.
To be the goddamn hero that you keep talking about?
- Al, get away from... - Hey!
Have some guts.
Admit what you want.
I can find love for you in my heart, Al.
I want you to know that.