The Astronaut's Wife

I hate this part.

You're still here but I know you're going and I hate that.

Well, I'll call you, baby.

Don't tease me.

I miss you so much when you're gone.

Well, I miss you too, baby.

Listen, last time Streck told me...

...if I bellyached about you for one more minute...

...he was gonna toss my ass right off the ship.

You tell Streck your ass belongs to me...

-...and he can keep his hands off it. - All right.

My class wants you to come by when you get back.

I think I can arrange a visit if you're nice.

How nice?

You like fruit?

Yeah.

Well...

- Come here a minute. Come here. - Ha, ha. Ha, ha.

Ain't that a peach?

Hm?

Is that for me? Ha-ha-ha. - That's for you.

Victory, this is Mission Control.

All systems are go.

Flight commander, all computers are functioning.

The crew of Victory has been given a go...

...for orbit operations by Mission Control.

Crew members are doing well...

...and all systems of the orbiter are performing satisfactorily.

Three, two, one, zero and liftoff.

Mission Control, we have left the pad.

Roger that, Victory.

You are go for throttle up.

Mission Control, this is Victory. We have throttled up.

It's a fine day for flying, Houston.

All systems are go.

Pineapples!

What do they have in Kansas? Corn.

Yes, corn. And what about Georgia?

- What do they have in Georgia? Peaches.

Very good.

- And what do we have here in Florida? Oranges!

And rocket ships.

Yes, Calvin, and rocket ships.

- Mrs. Armacost, you have a phone call. - Thank you, Brian.

Okay, let's go to page seven.

And work quietly, okay?

Hello. Mrs. Armacost.

Yes, this is Jillian Armacost.

Mrs. Armacost, NASA communications.

We have your husband for you.

Go ahead, commander.

Jillian? - Spencer?

Yeah, I told you I 'd call. It's amazing, isn't it?

- Yes, amazing. - Hey, Jill.

- Yeah. - What are you wearing?

Spencer.

Come on, now. Ain't nobody else listening.

Uh, not exactly, commander. Including Houston and JPL...

...there are about 300 folks on the line today.

It's a nice day down there? - Beautiful.

Can you see outside, Jill?

Yeah.

Fifteen seconds, commander.

I'm right above you.

- You looking up, honey? Ten seconds.

Won't you smile for me, huh?

I already am.

He called you from outer space?

Well, technically, from Earth's orbit but, yes.

He called me from the orbiter.

Stanley won't call me from the Beef and Brew...

-...and you get a call from outer space. - Heh-heh-heh.

The Earth's orbit, whatever.

Technically speaking, Jill, you scored.

I don't get it. We grew up in the same house.

You land Johnny Rocket boy. I get different versions of...

...Throws-Up-On-Himself Elmo.

I bet he's good at the little things too, isn't he?

What little things?

Just those little things that mean so much.

It's true. You know, men are like parking spaces.

The good ones are taken...

...and all the available ones are handicapped.

What?

Spencer.

And now, back to our program. Nan, something happened.

Come on.

Keep checking.

Mrs. Armacost, I'm Sherman Reese from NASA. Um...

- It's your husband. - What's happened?

Well, we'd like you to come with us.

- We have a car. Something about Spencer!

Please, Mrs. Armacost.

- Captain Streck's wife is already there. Jill!

The director wants--

The condition of Armacost and Streck...

...as well as the rest of the shuttle crew is at this time unknown.

Reporting live from NASA...

ls my husband dead?

I don't know anything about your husband.

- Is my husband dead? - Ma'am, I just don't know.

Then take me to someone who does.

- He's dead. I know he's dead. No, they're not dead.

They're not dead. Shh.

- What have they told you? - Nothing.

They won't tell me anything.

Mrs. Streck, Mrs. Armacost.

- First, your husbands are alive. - Oh, thank God.

They're back on the orbiter...

...and we're gonna bring them down immediately.

What happened up there?

Your husbands were outside the orbiter...

...performing some repairs on a satellite.

There was an explosion and we lost contact with both astronauts...

...for about two minutes.

- You lost contact? - What?

- What do you mean, lost contact? - After the explosion...

...they drifted behind the shuttle.

We had to bring the craft around 180 degrees to get them.

- They were all alone? - But now, they're back on the shuttle...

...and they'll be back down here as soon as we can manage it.

Uh, Mr. Reese here will stay with you until we can get you to them.

They were all alone out there, Jillian.

It's okay. They're alive.

This will give you a view from the shuttle as they land.

Would you like me to get you the linkup?

I'll get the linkup.

Twenty-five seconds to re-entry interface.

Flight controllers will be closely watching...

Maintain descent.

[MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY OVER LINKUP]

Wind shear, this is minimum trajectory.

Velocity at 2600 LBP.

At 235 knots, maintaining descent. At 220.

Eight at 215, five at 210, two at 200.

One foot.

Ground Control, this is Victory. We are down.

He's breathing on his own. His vital functions are good.

As far as we can tell, there has been no brain damage.

It should only be a matter of time before your husband regains consciousness.

- So he's gonna be okay? - Absolutely.

And what about Alex?

Captain Streck is an older man than your husband.

There was a tremendous strain on his heart.

Natalie.

Jillian.

Jillian.

Hey.

- Hi. - Hey.

- Hey, you. - Hey, you.

I missed you so much.

How are you?

- I'm all right. - Yeah.

- Yeah, I'm all right. - Good.

I gotta pee.

- I gotta pee. - Yeah.

I'll see what I can do for you.

Where's Alex?

Is he all right?

Spencer.

Spencer.

Spencer, what is that?

Did you feel that?

- Alex. - My God, what is that?

Alex. Honey, I'm here.

Goddamn it!

- What can I do? Gonna need a change here.

Alex!

Jesus! Hold him.

Help him!

Epi.

Essentially, he's still at zero.

- Aah. Nothing.

- Charging, 300. Clear.

Good job.

We got him. Clear.

Hold off on that intubator.

Stand by with some dopamine.

Let's get an EKG prepped.

What did you say?

Well, I told that bloated fast-food-eating motherfucker...

...we'd never have gotten to be heroes if he hadn't cut our budget...

...and forced us to put that piece of shit exploding satellite up in orbit.

- Really? - Yeah.

And then what happened?

Aw, he said he'd never been talked to like that before by anybody.

I said I didn't give a rat's ass and if he ever called me again...

...I would track him down...

...roust him out of his bunk, pull his pants around his ankles...

...and spank him with a hanger in front of his wife and children.

- Well, that's real subtle. - Yeah, I thought it would be subtle.

Wanna tell me what you really said to the President?

Yeah.

- I thanked him for his call. - Mm-hm.

Then I asked him what he was wearing...