Project Blue Book

Hey, McManus, training's over. What do you say we start some trouble?

I think you miss the War.

And I'm low on fuel, need to head back. Last wheels down buys beers?

You go ahead. I got one more stop to make.

Now what?

It's the playoffs. Got to support the home team.

Down by ten? Come on, guys.

You just need a little encouragement.

Go, Titans!

Whoo!

This is KKJH in San Diego.

Control? This is flight niner-one-five.

Is there any other aircraft in the vicinity?

Fargo tower. Negative, Coop.

Nothing but open sky between you and Bismarck.

Okay.

Come on.

Control! Control.

I came here to give you these facts.

It is no concern of ours how you run your own planet,

but if you threaten to extend your violence,

this Earth of yours will be reduced to a burned-out cinder.

Your choice is simple.

- Join us and live in peace... - All right, turn that thing off.

- Turn it off! - ...or pursue your present...

- I can't take any more of this. - Well, get used to it.

There are 15 more just like it in production right now.

It is very compelling.

The point is Truman assembled this group

to control the narrative on this issue, not Hollywood.

And we are losing that war.

Well, maybe stop admitting defeat all the time,

and you won't feel that way, Mr. Secretary.

The public knows there's something going on now.

- The deeper we try and bury it... - The safer we'll be.

Need I remind you we don't even know what the hell we're dealing with here.

Let Hollywood be the distraction.

It's the situation in Fargo we need to be worried about now.

Sir.

- Sir? - Is he in?

Yes, but he's in the file room. I can get him.

- General. - At ease.

- I like what you've done to the place. - Thank you, sir.

Month in, figured I should decorate a little.

I thought you said you weren't gonna get too cozy,

this just being a pit stop on your way to a post in D.C.

No, sir. I am fully committed to Project Blue Book.

We have a situation in Fargo.

Pilot of ours claims to have gotten into a dogfight

- with an alien craft. - A pilot of ours?

Evidentially, the plane has the battle scars to prove it.

- I'll get down there right away. - I need you to meet with someone first.

Name's Dr. J. Allen Hynek.

Teaches astrophysics at Ohio State.

You've done great work for us,

but I think it's time we got you a partner.

- I've heard of him. - Did some things for us during the War.

He's a real genius. Dedicated his life to the sky.

If you get someone like Hynek to give the press

- the logical explanations that we need... - The public sleeps better at night.

I understand, sir.

Fair warning, though... I hear he's a bit odd, kind of quiet.

So appeal to his intellect in the interview.

You should be able to close the deal.

He's not on board yet?

No.

So don't let me down.

The past cannot be changed.

But the future is yet in our power.

Artificial satellites launched into space.

They will explore the upper atmosphere,

create a vast communications network,

and, yes, one day put a man on the moon.

Now, when we launch these objects into the sky...

and we will race the Russians to get there...

we will need to track their progress.

This satellite tracking camera system

is an instrument for the collection of trajectory points.

It will provide angular measurements at the line of sight to any object

and permit us to obtain accurate positional data.

Professor Hynek...

But in order for it to fulfill its potential,

it will require financial support.

Professor, how does this figure into your pitch?

It was in the file that you laid out for me earlier.

I'm so sorry. That, um, that be... that belongs to my son.

He sometimes... he goes through my things.

He likes the drawings and the graphs, and he loves Flash Gordon.

Well, given the science fiction we're discussing, I suppose it is appropriate.

Well, there is a big difference between science fiction

and informed speculation, Roger, although both do require an open mind.

Well, Professor, as head of our astronomy department,

I suppose you would know.

So please continue.

As I was saying, the, uh...

the future is yet in our power.

I'm so sorry to interrupt.

Professor Hynek, there's an urgent call for you from the Air Force.

Uh, excuse me, gentlemen.

July of '47, Roswell, New Mexico.

Are you familiar with it?

Yeah, this was that crashed Army weather balloon.

Do you remember the first reports?

Invasion of the Spacemen. My son wouldn't stop talking about it.

Yeah, when that story hit, it jammed phone lines nationwide.

Even broke a few switchboards in the process.

War of the Worlds all over again. Who could forget that?

You said on the phone

- that this concerned my research. - Indianapolis, '48.

A man sees strange lights, calls the cops.

Papers catch on, the whole town goes nuts.

Turns out to be migrating geese.

Oregon, '49.

Fisherman swears he sees a metallic disk covering the state park.

Turns out to be a water tower.

Uh, about two weeks ago in Manhattan,

a college kid sees this "unearthly anomaly."

Do you know what that is, Doc?

- That's the Moon. - Bingo.

It took four Coast Guard vessels combing the Hudson for two days

to arrive at that same astute determination.

That is why you're here.

Our nation is suffering from a form of mass hysteria right now,

one we can't afford.

Not with Russia breathing down our necks

in a nuclear arms race on the brink of disaster.

When people panic,

communication channels jam, police can't do their jobs,

and the border patrol literally chases the Moon.

How would you like to help the U.S. Air Force

instill rational scientific thinking back into our public consciousness again?

Um, how?

For starters, come with me to Fargo.

Pilot there by the name of Henry Fuller

claims to have gotten into a dogfight with an alien spacecraft.

You want me to investigate flying saucers?

I want you to help me prove to the public the truth.

They don't exist.

Captain, I already have a full-time job,

and a grant that I'm applying for with people who are depending on me.

Thank you for the offer, but this is really not my field.

Thought you were smarter than that.

"Genius" is what I was told.

In my experience, that doesn't always mean intelligent.

- What are you trying to say, Captain? - I'm trying to say...

I think you're missing out on a great opportunity here.

- I just told you this wasn't my field. - You think I started out here?

I was a pilot in the Air Force, ten years.

Flew countless missions during the War... that was my field.

Never imagined I'd be doing this.

But you know why I did it?

Because this is a chance to show the world the truth.

Kind of like Newton did when he proved the world was round.

- Pythagoras. - Come again?

Pythagoras was the first to suggest the Earth was round.

Newton is better known for discovering the law of gravity.

But you knew that already, didn't you?

You are good at this. Persuasion.

I studied a little psychology. It's how I got the job.

- I know people. - Then tell me this.

If these saucers don't exist, then why so many reports?

Why are people lying about what they see in the skies?

I never said they were lying. I just think they're misinformed.

But if they had the right teacher, someone they can trust,

who can help clarify what's really going on up there...

Okay, Captain.

But I have three conditions.

So you're still keeping yourjob at the University.

Of course. Nothing is more important than that.

- Well, what about the second? - A paycheck.

I can use the extra money to help secure the grant

for my satellite tracking camera.

Maybe even an extra vacation this year.

- And the third condition? - Recognition.

The study of the flying saucers has never been done before.

- Because they're not real. - Yes, but that's never been proven.

Not scientifically. With my credibility, I can do that.

And maybe even get what my heroes Galileo, Kepler never did.

Recognition in my own lifetime.

You know, when I first met you...

I knew you were special.

- A little crazy, but... - Eccentric.

- I am eccentric. - Okay.

But if this can help the world see what I see in you?

I support it.

What's going on?

Why are you packing?

I have to leave town for a few days. For a new job.

- What is it? - Well, um...

You know how Flash Gordon is always fighting

these evil spacemen in your comics?

Well, it's going to be a little bit like that.

- That sounds silly. - Yeah, you're right, it does.

Okay, come on. Bed time.

Come on, evil spaceman.

- Hon, remember to call me. - I know. Okay.

Don't worry, Mrs. Hynek. I'll bring him back in one piece.

Captain, I saw in the case file this pilot, Fuller,

he flew during the War.

Yeah, twice decorated.