[rumbling]
[ethereal music playing]
[man] How you feeling, Emma?
Uh, repairs are underway.
I'm confident the ship will be good to go and will remain on schedule.
That's... that's great, but I asked about you, not the ship.
I already debriefed with Darlene.
Emma, I'm asking how you're feeling
about what happened on the way to the Moon.
[computer chimes, beeps]
Squared away.
It's natural to second-guess your response to a crisis.
Who called it a crisis?
What would you call it?
There was a problem. We dealt with it.
Look, um... [sighs] ...no disrespect, Putney,
but I've got a checklist as long as my arm to get through
before tomorrow's launch, so--
And you feel ready?
Good to go.
-How much time? -About 30 seconds. Let's go!
-Yes! -There you go.
-[Emma] Okay, yeah. -[man] Let's go! Pass it!
-Come on! Come on! -Go! Go! Go! Go!
[man] Let's go! Let's go!
-You got it! Pass! -Pass!
-[man] Come on, Lex! -[Emma] Come on!
-Let's go, Lex! You got it! -[Emma] You got it!
-[man] Go! -[Emma] Take the shot, Lex!
-Take the shot, Lex! -Lex, take it! Take it!
-[Emma] Take the shot! -[man] Go! Go!
[girl] Here!
What?
[whistle blares]
It's all right. It was a good game!
-[Emma] You were eating that girl's lunch. -I know.
-It's just that you had it, you know? -She was wide open!
Yeah, but you gotta be the one that wants to take the shot!
Guys, let's discuss the post-game analysis later.
Right this way.
-Hi. -[crowd chattering]
Hey, Matt.
It's your ball, Em.
Take the shot.
[kisses]
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,
one last time before they launch to the Moon,
the crew of the Atlas, our inaugural mission to Mars.
[female reporter] This mission is billed as an international collaboration,
yet the official language is English, the commander is American...
Look, I mean, it's not a secret, right, that the United States have taken on
the greatest financial burden of all five nations, but, uh...
you know, Emma's our commander
because she is the most phenomenal astronaut and leader.
[male reporter] Cosmonaut Popov,
you have logged more time in space than anybody else alive.
How do you feel about taking orders from someone younger and less experienced?
Well, uh...
...when you put it like that...
[audience laughing]
No, no, no. I'm staying. I'm staying.
[laughs]
[male reporter] Or conversely, Kwesi Weisberg-Abban.
-Yes? -[male reporter] You'll be the only one
up there with absolutely no experience in space.
Yes, but...
perhaps what I can bring,
the hope of growing life on Mars, will make up for what I lack.
Kwesi's being modest. He happens to be one of the world's leading botanists.
And, uh, Dr. Wang is among her nation's finest chemists.
We've all trained together for two years,
and I have absolute confidence in every member of this crew.
Except for maybe Ram, who is an expert at crashing experimental air force jets.
But he promises to do better with the Atlas.
Spoken like a true navy pilot.
I didn't even know these guys had planes.
[laughter]
[in Mandarin] Dr. Wang, it has been determined
that you will be the first person to set foot on Mars.
As your fellow countryman, I am elated.
Can you tell the people of China how you feel?
[in English] Yes, I'm elated.
[male reporter 2] How about your family?
It's an honor to represent my family,
my country,
and the world.
Don't worry. When she opens up, she doesn't stop talking.
[laughter]
And, Emma, how about your family?
How do they feel about you leaving them for three years?
[tsks]
My husband has been in this with me every step of the way.
We both trained to be astronauts,
and if it were not for health reasons, he might be the one going up.
Instead, as chief engineer of our rocket,
he'll be with us in Mission Control.
A recent study predicts a 50-50 chance you won't survive this mission.
-How, then, do you-- -[Ram] What?
[Ram chuckles] Wait, is it too late to change my mind?
[reporter] How, then, do you respond to critics
who say that the money spent on this mission
could be better spent on social imperatives here on Earth?
Education, health care...
Why should we care more about Mars than we do our own planet?
We shouldn't.
Of course we should care about social imperatives.
But in the US alone,
we spend a trillion dollars each year on the military,
and mostly in case the countries represented here
decide to blow each other off the face of the Earth.
This mission, it cost a fraction of that,
as we work together,
repurposing those same tools of destruction for discovery.
At this very moment, there's a team of astronauts on the Moon,
mining polar ice caps for fuel and water.
Water that will be pumped into the hull of our ship
to shield us from radiation,
allowing us to travel safely from the Moon to Mars.
Reaching Mars...
might prove to be the greatest achievement.
Not only for science but for the future of our planet.
And not to mention one hell of a ride.
[crowd cheers, claps]
[Emma gasps] Isn't this fancy? Who did this?
-[Emma chuckles] -[laughs]
[sighs]
You don't have to put that away.
No homework at dinner.
No cell phone at dinner. Nice try though.
[Lex] Here's a math question for you.
Okay.
Is there really a 50-50 chance you'll die?
Lex, journalists...
they just need to be provocative. They're trying--
Honey, I'm gonna be working with people like your dad.
You know, the smartest...
engineers and scientists in the world.
Yes, there are risks with the job. I mean, space is--
I'm not gonna let anything happen to your mom, sweetie.
I know every inch of that ship, and I'm gonna be right there.
Mission Control isn't right there.
You're right. It isn't.
And, um...
there is always a chance that, you know,
that I don't make it.
[Lex sighs]
[Matt sighs]
[door hinge creaks]
Hey.
Do you wanna talk any more about...
No.
If that's okay?
Yeah.
Yeah, of course it's okay.
Hey... I got you a present.
[Emma inhales]
That's the Earth,
the Moon,
and Mars.
And the string...
is me making my way back to you.
So, just remember...
the further away I get,
I'm actually just getting closer to being back to you.
[Emma sighs]
[piano music playing]
[continues playing]
I couldn't lie to her.
You did what you felt was right.
No.
She's gonna continue to hear things from other people,
and I'd just rather her hear them from us.
And you know the risks more than anyone.
You know, I'd still go in a heartbeat if the docs would let me.
And you will make it home.
I know this because you are a phenomenal astronaut.
I knew it the first moment I saw you in that T-38.
-You were fangs out all the way. -[Emma chuckles]
You always were a sucker for a fast girl.
-Hmm. -[Emma chuckles]
Every time you've launched has been the worst day of my life.
I'm standing there...
watching everyone cheering, waving their flags,
and me knowing, in about five minutes...
the person I love...
who is my life...
could be blown to pieces.
[inhales]
So, no.
I don't want our daughter to think about that.
I just want her to stand there, cheering,
talking about her mom, who's a freakin' hero.
And who'll be home soon.
["The Maze" by Manchester Orchestra playing]
♪ I notice you when you're noticing me ♪
♪ Breaking the habit You're watching me sleep ♪
♪ Oh, give me some time Let me learn how to speak ♪
♪ I'm a maze to you ♪
♪ Wish me a wonder and wish me to sleep ♪
♪ You don't have to wander To hear when I speak ♪
♪ There is nothing I've got when I die That I keep ♪
♪ It's amazing ♪
♪ Somebody said it's unspeakable love ♪
♪ It's amazing ♪
Don't go.
I'll be right back.
It's only three years.
Mm-hmm. Okay, I guess I won't miss you then.
[chuckles] Fine.
I won't miss you either.
I love you, shithead.
[inhales] I love you more.
[Matt moans]
[ethereal music playing]
[beeping]
[woman] Welcome to Lunar Base Alpha, Emma. How's the view?
[beeping]
Commander Green?
Sorry, Houston.
I just... [sighs]
I wish I had the words to describe what I'm seeing.
[sighs] It's a hell of a privilege to be up here.
[beeping]
[woman] We can't imagine a better person for this job.
-[ethereal music continues] -[inaudible]
[heels clacking]
[woman] Matt.
What's the sitrep on our little mishap?
Is it a one-time thing or do we have a real problem?
We've been at it all night. We should have an answer within the hour.
How's she sound?
She's fine. She's good.
What about you? Get any sleep?
Hundred percent.
Same with the ship, I hope?
Every mission has a screw-up, Darlene. They just got theirs out of the way early.
Mmm.
[Darlene] How we doing?
Darlene wants an update.
[Emma] Uh, looking good. In 24 hours, we will be go for launch.
There's no better word in the English language than "go."
Darlene is happy.
[Emma] I live to make Darlene happy.
-Tell her to head on inside. -Mmm.
[woman] Atlas, you are good to report to base.
Copy.
[low rumbling]
[computer chimes]
[air hisses]
[dramatic music plays]
So, you're saying it wasn't just smoke but an honest-to-God fire on board?
Jack, another 30 seconds, we are all barbecue.
Misha, why are you being so dramatic?
I'm dramatic?
Lu?
-We would be dead. -Thank you very much.
-[air hisses] -[airlock clicks]
[Misha] Here's what happened...
[Ram] Commander, welcome to one-sixth gravity.
-[Emma] Where's Kwesi? -He's, uh... He's still adapting.
[Kwesi coughing, retching]
Kwesi has a... delicate constitution.
[sighing]
Oh.
Apologies.
Apparently, I'm a better scientist than astronaut.
You'll adjust. Gravitational change affects everyone.
[Misha] Not me.
I felt great my first time up.
[Emma] Well, clearly, you're the king of space...
and have an enormous dick.
Guilty. [clears throat]
On both counts.
[chuckles]
[Jack] Commander Green, can I give you a hand?
No, I got it.
-Hell of an operation you got here, Jack. -Well, we're doing our best.
You know, being a gas station on the Moon is not as cool as going to Mars,
but when you're a lowly backup, you know, you do what you can.
-Yeah. -[chuckles]
Uh, Kwesi.
As soon as you're feeling up to it, start loading MREs onto the ship.
Aye, Commander.
Mission Control wants to debrief each of us individually.
Ram, you're first up.
Misha, Lu,
I need you to assess any damage to the ship after last night's incident.
Yes?
Nothing...
Commander.
You're saying you weren't there when it happened?
[Ram] I was in the command module.
I was confirming our coordinates for landing,
and by the time I unstrapped and arrived on scene, it was over.
Well, what did you see when you arrived?
[beeping]
[Misha] Okay, steady. Steady!
-Go! -[Emma gasps]
Like I said, the leak had been contained, and any potential danger was averted.
Nothing else?
Nothing else.
Thank you for your time.
Can I, um...
Can I just say something?
You know, I've seen Emma do things in training
that seemed superhuman.
I mean, for one, she held her breath underwater
a full minute longer than any of us.
And when I asked her how she did it,
she said she imagined the scenario the exercise was designed for,
which I think was a splashdown landing, where one of us starts to drown.
Now, she held her breath that long because that's the amount of time
it would have taken her to rescue the crew.
So, no.
No, I don't believe she would ever put us in danger.
Or get rattled.
[computer chiming]
-[monitor chimes] -[Lex] Hey, Mom.
Hey, sweetheart. How was the game?
Dominated! Four-zip. We kept them in their half of the field the whole game.
That's awesome.
I wish I could have been there to see it.
[Lex] You okay, Mom?
Yeah. Yeah, you bet.
Hey, is your dad around?
Uh, he got pulled in for a shift. Some NASA drama as usual.
Melissa's here.
Did you know she played Division I?
Yeah, of course I knew. Why do you think I picked her to be our crew support?
I figured if she could kick my butt, she could kick yours.
[both laugh]
How's it going up there?
Oh, guys...
you gotta check this out.
[ethereal music playing]
Wow.
[gasps]
It's amazing, Emma.
[Melissa] You know you chose the right mission
when your pit stop is the Moon.
-So, Annie and I were... -[static]
What's that, honey?
Can you hear me?
Honey, what?
-Can you-- -[tablet chimes]
[ethereal music playing]
Oh. [exhales]
Your debrief's confidential. You don't have to tell me anything.
I told them the truth, Emma. You saved my life.
-I appreciate you saying that. -[Misha] Excuse me.
Not sure everyone else's report will be quite so glowing. [chuckles]
Uh... [sighs]
She froze.
As simple as that.
I need to understand exactly what happened
so we can identify any problem areas with the ship or the crew--
Excuse me. Excuse me. The ship will be fine.
Start at the beginning.
Lu and I were in the galley when I noticed the alert.
[groans]
[Lu] Ay, ay, ay...
[alarm sounds]
-[Lu] What? -Chemical leak! Fire bag, now!
[suspenseful music playing]
[water running]
[Misha] Quickly.
[Misha] I attended to emergency.
It was pre-treat, the chemical we use to recycle--
Yeah, I... I know what pre-treat is.
Then you know it becomes like a firebomb in an oxygen-rich ship.
-[Kwesi] Agh! -[Lu] Kwesi.
Kwesi! Here!
I've got him, Lu. I got him. Get the bag!
Kwesi, hey! Hey! Look at me. Look at me. Hold onto this.
[Misha] Now, pre-treat is acid. To put out fire, you need water, yes.
But lots of it. You must suffocate flames.
[under breath] Oh God. Please, God, no.
[Misha] She didn't even move.
[Misha] Steady. Steady. Go!
An experienced astronaut doesn't remove panel.
It's because of Commander Green's inexperience, we almost burned alive.
Now, Kwesi is new. I expect nothing from him.
Commander Green... [sighs]
[tsks] ...not a good leader.
Misha and I were in the galley.
I told him what must be done to suffocate the fire.
The bag and towels were your idea?
Of course. I'm chemist.
-Fire bag! -[alarm blaring]
But before we could respond...
Wait!
You're saying Emma started the fire?
Pre-treat is acid.
Whatever on that cloth was accelerant.
-If she had let me do my job-- -So--
So your issue isn't that she failed to respond.
It's the opposite.
My issue is that she was
hysterical and reckless.
[man] We've got a situation.
[scoffs] You don't think I'm aware of that?
Misha and Lu talked to their directors.
The Chinese want her replaced.
The Russians would prefer she's shot.
I talked to both of them.
Their stories don't sync up.
Meanwhile, Kwesi says she saved them all, and Ram is sure she was solid.
-Even if he wasn't there. -Darlene...
they want her gone.
-You're not seriously-- -I told them I'd think about it.
-George-- -We do have a trained backup on the Moon.
Jack Willmore is not...
Look, there is a reason we chose Emma over him.
I am not starting an international incident.
And I am not replacing our commander 24 hours before launch.
You wanted an update on the leak?
We figured out a patch and sent Misha the procedure.
[sighs]
Excellent.
How can you even contemplate--
-Matt... -This...
...is Emma's mission.
And it's gonna stay that way. Right now, I need you to go home.
You haven't slept in 24 hours. You look like shit.
I need you fresh for tomorrow's launch.
And I need you to nip this in the bud.
I will.
[panting]
[ethereal music playing]
[Emma] Look, um, no disrespect, Putney,
but I've got a checklist as long as my arm to get through
-before tomorrow's launch, so-- -And you feel ready?
Good to go.
How's the crew?
There's some dissension. Um, you know, Misha...
He can be a dick, but I've got that under control, I think.
Wait. Talk about the dissension.
Ram's okay.
And Kwesi's having some trouble adjusting, but, um...
-Misha and Lu are... -[Putney] Blame you.
[sighs] Yeah. I can only imagine what they said about me.
-What do you think they said? -That I'm a...
shrill, cowardly bitch.
Look, I know what's going on here.
You're supposed to determine whether I'm fit to lead.
Are you?
[jazz music playing]
Hey, baby.
Hey, so tomorrow night, for the Mars launch party,
I know you have to work,
but can I have your credit card for ordering the pizza?
Salvatore's already has the order, but nice try though.
So, I can't decide which picture to post on my Instagram for the invitations.
There's that one of me and Mom on horseback from last summer.
Annie says I look really hot in the one on the beach, but I don't know.
I think I look kinda fat.
Oh my God. My phone is blowing up.
I have, like, a million followers since Mom became, like, this superstar.
[muffled] Would you guys be weirded out if I became...
-Honey... -Dad!
Dad! [panting]
[Misha grunts]
I asked him to help.
I've only been in that sweaty simulator. Wanna get a taste of the real thing.
-[Misha] I assume you can patch a leak? -Yeah, apparently, better than you.
-[SATCOM chimes] -I'll take it.
No need for you to go out if you're not feeling up to it.
I promise not to throw up on the command console.
[Ram] Emma, it's Ground.
Melissa's on the line.
My crew support Melissa?
Melissa, what's wrong?
An hour ago, Matt had an event. We think it was a stroke.
He had to be intubated, and he's still critical.
Oh my God.
Did one of his cavernomas bleed?
[Melissa] That's what the doctors believe. He's getting an MRI now.
Where's Lex? Does she know?
She was there when it happened. It was Lex who called 911.
-[Emma] Okay, I need to speak to her. -[Melissa] She's in the ICU.
They don't allow video calls in there, but I'll set you guys up to talk.
Um...
Was he conscious when they found him?
Yes.
Oh, that's good.
Do they know if there's any damage?
It's too soon to know anything.
[somber music playing]
I want that link set up to Lex in the ICU, I wanna speak to Matt's doctors,
and I want the private number
to the head of vascular neurology at Baylor.
[Melissa] I'm on it.
[chimes]
[phone ringing]
Hello.
-[Emma] Dr. Lawrence Madigan? -[sighs] Speaking.
This is Commander Emma Green of Lunar Base Alpha.
A car will be by shortly to transport you to Houston Methodist.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Excuse me.
Uh, who is this? How did you get this number?
I'm sorry. I'm calling from the Moon. I'm part of the Atlas mission to Mars.
I'm... I'm... I'm on the Moon.
My husband, Matt Logan, a NASA engineer at Mission Control,
he has CCM disorder with multiple lesions, and he's just had a stroke.
[woman] Atlas, this is Houston.
-I... I'm sorry. Could you just-- -[Emma] Just hold on a sec.
Houston, Atlas, over.
[woman] Lex is set up to talk in the ICU.
We couldn't set up the visual, but our audio is up and running.
Great. One sec.
Matt's doctor, he'll meet you at the hospital and brief you on his case.
-Do you understand? -[Madigan] Yes.
Great. I'll check in with you soon, okay?
Can you please put them through to my phone?
-[woman] Emma, I'm so sorry. -Thank you.
-[Lex] Mom? -Hi. Hey, baby.
I'm right here. I'm... I'm... I'm right here.
-They said he had a stroke. -I know, honey.
You don't understand. He was fine one second,
and the next, he was on the ground and he couldn't move.
Mom, you're not still going, are you?
I, um...
Uh, nothing like this has ever happened before.
Mama, I don't care.
Dad has tubes coming out of him. [sniffles]
I know you're scared.
[inhales sharply]
I'm scared too. I just need, um...
I just need a minute to figure things out, okay?
-Mom, he's going into surgery! -Now?
No, I...
I don't know when. They're waiting for some doctor.
They found this lesion or something.
It's not bleeding anymore, but they wanna operate.
[sobs]
Okay, um...
Okay, listen to me.
[sobbing] Mom, I need you here.
I know, baby, and, um...
I wanna be there. I wanna be there more than anything,
but I can't be right now.
So I need you...
to be strong, stronger than you've ever been in your life.
Okay?
[sobs]
I love you.
You and your father mean everything to me, and I'm gonna be there for you, okay?
[sobbing] Okay.
Can you please, um...
[sniffles]
...put the SATCOM over near your dad?
[machine beeping]
Here. Here's Dad.
Matt?
I don't know if you can hear me, my love.
The doctors don't think that you're able, but...
[sighs]
[exhales] ...you know, personally, I think you're doing that thing where...
you, um, you pretend not to hear me and then...
you wait till I get annoyed
and you recite back word for word everything I just said.
[Emma sighs]
I'm sure you just want me to shut up now so you can concentrate on getting better.
[Lex gasps]
Um...
Hold on a sec.
[piano music playing]
[nurse] Excuse me, honey. We need to take him now.
-[sobs] -Mom, they're...
They're taking Dad now.
You got this, Matt.
Do you hear me? You got this.
[Misha] Oh, it's bad. Really bad.
-Look at the gasket. -Nice.
[Lu] We've already seen how she reacts in an emergency.
How's she gonna command now, under this kind of stress?
-[Misha] We need a real commander. -Oh, you mean like you, for instance?
Why not? 'Cause I'm Russian?
No, because you're not in line to command.
Well, he is.
The Americans were wrong to pick Emma over you, Jack.
-Well-- -It's not too late.
[Ram] I'm sorry?
We can call Ground, tell them we have full confidence in Jack.
I... I did train for this, but...
So, you're talking mutiny.
Who's dramatic now?
Can we take a moment to have some empathy? Her husband just had a stroke.
[Misha] Exactly. She needs to go back home--
We're 20 hours from launch and behind schedule.
I want that system repaired within the hour.
Fine. I will give Houston progress report.
[Emma] No, you won't.
I'll debrief Houston...
and relay any updates.
That is all.
[mutters in Russian]
[in English] Language.
[ethereal music playing]
[Emma] He should be out of surgery in a couple hours.
[Darlene] Matt's a fighter. He's gonna be okay.
In the event he's not,
you should be prepared to issue a transfer of command.
-Emma-- -Jack Willmore has the same training I do.
-He's completely qualified. -Yes, he is.
He's also happy to take advantage of your personal crisis to take your seat.
That's not the person I want leading this mission.
Tell that to the crew.
-Wa... wait. No. If this is about Misha-- -It's not.
-And... and what happened aboard-- -It's not.
It's about Matt.
You knew taking this job demands terrible sacrifices,
and I need you to remember it's worth it.
No astronaut has ever abandoned a mission.
You will be spitting in the face of every woman who has ever--
You're talking feminist bullshit?
My husband just had a stroke.
My daughter's terrified. My family needs me, Darlene!
I'll be in touch when we know something definitive.
[soft music playing]
[piano sounds]
-You like that? You like that? -[baby huffing]
Did you like playing the piano?
-Hey. -Hey, babe.
How'd it go?
Oh, it went okay.
[Matt sighs]
-You know you aced it. -[Emma] Hi, honey.
No, they had me doing parabolic puke spins all day
until my head was spinning so bad I could barely get the spacesuit on,
let alone tread water for ten minutes.
My honey pie, sugar pie, honeybunch.
[baby groans]
Maybe you and I'll just stay home and...
bake cookies and read storybooks while Daddy goes to Mars.
Not in this lifetime.
What is it?
[sighs]
I'm out.
What?
I tested positive for CCM.
Apparently, I do have my dad's bad gene.
But he didn't know he had it until last month,
and he didn't show any signs until he was well into his seventies.
I know. NASA won't take the risk.
But it's not fair.
I'm sorry. God, you're the best.
Well, now you're the best.
Hey.
You just have to do this for both of us now, okay?
[George] We are less than 24... Would you please calm down?
We are 24 hours away from launch. There is no turning back.
-We must come to some sort of resolution. -It would be a disaster
-to change the game plan at this stage. -[speaking Russian]
You don't think you're being unreasonable?
[speaking Mandarin]
-[in English] She's saying-- -Yes, thanks. I got the gist.
-I need to talk to you. -One minute.
I know you're worried,
but I promise you, there is no one more capable
nor more committed to your astronauts than Emma Green.
I need to speak with you, now.
Would you excuse me?
[chatter]
You can't be serious.
If the people on the other side of this wall...
I'm about to get on the phone and assure the president we are still on track.
I wanna say I can fix this,
but I'm honestly not confident she's 100 percent.
[George] Okay, let me think.
All right. I want Putney to evaluate her,
I want the full prognosis from that surgery,
and I don't want anyone else to know about any of this.
Roger that.
[Emma] I assume you've spoken with Darlene.
-[Putney] And George. -They want you to convince me.
They want my evaluation,
but I'm not here for them, Emma. I'm here for you.
Mm-hmm.
Believe it or not, I want what's best for you.
How can you know what's best for me?
I don't know what's best for me.
I mean...
The only thing I've ever known for sure in my life
is that I wanted to be on the first mission to Mars.
And now you will.
With a husband who's critical,
a daughter I abandoned,
and a crew that thinks I tried to kill them.
Emma...
...what happened?
Just tell me.
[sighs]
[Emma] Everything was going great.
["Three Little Birds" playing]
The crew was settling in.
They were starting to really enjoy themselves.
♪ Singin' don't worry... ♪
[Ram] Cristiano!
[Misha] And a save!
[Emma] I mean, the ship was flying itself.
♪ Every little thing Gonna be all right... ♪
[Emma] Misha was as happy as I'd ever seen him.
Lu was a natural in space.
Even Kwesi had started to get his sea legs.
[Putney] Then what?
We were less than ten hours from touching down.
[piano music playing]
[alarm sounds]
This is Commander Green. Chemical leak in the berth passageway.
[tense music playing]
[drill whirring]
Kwesi, wait!
[grunting]
-I'm here. I'm taking your arm. -Emma?
-I... I can't see. -I'm bringing you up.
-[Emma] Kwesi. -[Kwesi] I can't see.
[Misha] Kwesi! I got him, Lu.
-Up! Up! -Get the fire extinguisher!
No! Water! Quickly, now!
Fire is the sum of all fears in space.
I didn't think there was time to wait.
[tense music playing]
[grunts]
[panting]
It turns out there's a chemical anomaly I didn't know.
Sweat from my shirt ignited the pre-treat.
Misha and Lu knew only a lot of water would put it out.
[Misha] Steady. Steady.
[Emma] And they were right.
[Misha] Okay, steady. Steady.
-Go! -[Lu gasps]
[Emma] It was over in seconds.
Like magic.
[Lu panting]
[Emma] I was reckless and impulsive.
It wasn't my area of expertise.
-And I had no business trying to-- -Trying to save them?
No, I escalated the crisis. I could've killed everyone on board.
That was me at the top of my game.
How am I gonna function now with all this shit going on?
Here's what I see. You reacted quickly.
You pulled your crewmate out of harm's way.
You acted as a commander should
and moved toward danger without any thought of your own safety.
You threw yourself at the problem.
But I didn't fix it.
Like you couldn't cure your mom's cancer.
Like you can't cure Matt's CCM.
What's your point?
That you're human.
I'd want you leading my team if the shit hit the fan, Emma.
But in the end,
this is your decision.
No one can make it for you.
[Rachel Maddow] Tell us some of the challenges
facing the astronauts
on this eight-month-long journey to Mars.
It's a long time. I think the biggest challenge is gonna be
that they're really gonna be, no kidding, away.
And that means away from our planet, away from their family...
You trained to be one of them, but you decided not to go, right?
[TV shuts off]
Right.
Why?
It's complicated.
Okay, I know you're supposed to be, like, my temporary mom,
but do you have to say everything she says exactly like she says it?
Because when Mom says, "It's complicated,"
she really means she just doesn't wanna talk about it.
Uh, well...
He's out of recovery. The surgery went well.
[sighs]
Let's call your mom.
Can I talk to him?
[Madigan] He might be a little woozy, but you can try.
Dad?
[Melissa] Emma, I have Lexi and Matt for you.
[Emma] He's out of surgery?
Yeah. He's good.
He's right here.
Commander Green, this is Dr. Madigan. We were able to remove the lesion.
-Oh my God. -Matt is awake and responding.
Do you know if, uh...
if the stroke caused any damage? Is he gonna be okay?
We're gonna run some tests soon.
It's too early to know anything definitive.
Well, thank you. Thank you so much, Doctor.
Are you coming home?
Yes.
[sighs]
[Madigan] I'll leave you to talk privately.
Matt, I want you to get some rest. I'll be back in the morning.
[Emma] Um, is Melissa there?
Yeah, I'm here.
You'll, uh... You'll take Lex home with you tonight?
Yeah, I got the guest room all set up.
[Emma sighs]
I'll see you in four days then.
-I'll wait outside for you, Lex. -Okay.
Mom?
Are they still gonna be able to fly the mission without you?
Oh, don't worry about that, hon.
It's taken care of.
Dad, what's wrong?
Honey, is something wrong?
Dad, what is it?
Maybe you should call one of the nurses.
No, he... He's trying to take off his mask.
I think he wants to talk to you.
Matt?
Honey?
I can't... I can't hear you.
He can only whisper, so this is Dad, not me.
I miss you.
I wanna see your face.
Dad?
What?
What... what did he say?
He said he needs you...
to do your job.
Matt, I made my decision.
What's going on? Please tell me. I can't hear anything.
-[sniffles] -[Matt] We're gonna be okay.
[Emma] Alexis?
[sobs]
He says that...
that this is who you are.
And that someday, I'm gonna be who I... I'm gonna be.
[sobbing] And that he's gonna be okay.
And that he's gonna be okay, and that we're gonna be okay.
I need you...
to go.
Matt...
[sighs] ...you're not in a position...
It's not your decision.
-[Alexis] It's not your decision either. -Matt...
That wasn't Dad.
That was me.
I'm with Dad. I think you should go too.
[sobs]
[melancholy music playing]
Okay.
[sobbing]
Puppets?
Entertainment for grandchildren.
[speaking Russian]
[in English] What is the ring?
[speaking Mandarin]
[in English] Women hold up half the sky.
Hmm.
[inhales] Gift from your husband?
From a friend.
You're bringing your Torah?
Yes, as a reminder of things I will miss.
To tether me to the Earth.
The things I'll miss, I can't actually take with me.
[Kwesi] Like what?
Sun,
oysters, uh, wine...
What else? Women.
-Hello. -Gentlemen.
[Ram] Long walks, uh... live music.
-I already mentioned women? -Relax, boys. We have three years.
Come on, Misha.
-You know what I'll really miss the most? -Women?
[Ram laughs]
Status update?
System checks are all complete, and, uh, we're back on schedule.
More importantly, how's your husband?
Doing well, thank you.
Kwesi, how you feeling?
Ready to go, Commander.
Lu, make sure everything's battened down in the common room.
Misha, triple-check every latch and drawer.
We start fueling in 15 minutes.
Something you guys wanna share?
No...
Commander.
I know you don't trust me.
But if we're gonna survive the launch, much less the mission,
we need to figure it out.
You're right.
We don't trust you.
Well, then you better learn.
Emma, I forgot to say,
uh, Houston asked if you could say a few words before launch.
To who?
To the world.
[ethereal music playing]
Say cheese, astronauts.
[Ram] Live in five... four...
-[Emma] What am I supposed to say? -Three...
Just be you. One.
This is Commander Emma Green, here on the Moon,
which is obvious.
But there are so many others who can't be here,
at home...
and around the world.
It's because of their work and sacrifices that we are standing here today.
Getting to Mars
might be the hardest thing that humankind has ever tried.
It requires...
the best of us...
from all of us.
And maybe it's not our nature
to work together.
But the future
demands otherwise.
And we will come together now in pursuit of a dream
that was once thought to be impossible.
[uplifting music playing]
[Emma] And if we can do this,
we can do anything.
We've been grimly reminded...
of the extraordinary challenges that await us.
But we will reach the surface of Mars.
And we will...
return home.
-GNC? -Go.
-SATCOM? -Go.
-INCO? -Go.
-[Darlene] PROP? -Go.
-THOR? -[woman] Go.
-Surgeon? -Go.
-[Darlene] EGIL? -Go.
Confirming all systems go for launch in T-minus ten...
nine, eight...
seven, six, five...
-[rumbling] -...four...
[Emma] We will return home.
[rumbling]
[epic music playing]
[radio chatter]
[epic music continues]
Go, you fucker.
Go.
[rumbling]
[rumbling subsides]
[oxygen pumping]
[ethereal music playing]