Operation Avalanche

For we meet in an hour of change and challenge,

in a decade of hope and fear,

in an age of both knowledge and ignorance.

The greater our knowledge increases, the greater our ignorance unfolds.

So it is not surprising

that some would have us stay where we are a little longer.

To rest, to wait.

But this city of Houston, this state of Texas,

this country of the United States

was not built by those who waited and rested

and wished to look behind them.

We choose to go to the moon.

We choose to go to the moon.

We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things,

not because they are easy, but because they are hard.

With this one speech, John f. Kennedy escalated our cold war

with the Soviet union to outer space.

Now, if we do not land a man on the moon by 1969,

we will have broken JFK's promise.

And in the eyes of the world, the Soviet union will win the cold war.

To make matters even more difficult,

the CIA has discovered a leak

coming out of the space program.

Top secret American research is showing up in Soviet briefings,

which means the KGB has implanted a mole inside NASA.

If the Russians are able to steal our technology, they could beat us to the moon.

Just as they beat us into space with the sputnik satellite in 1957.

The director of NASA, James Webb, denies the presence of this mole,

which means the CIA must move in a team undercover.

That's where we come in.

Allow me to introduce Owen Williams,

and myself, Matt Johnson.

We joined the CIA through the bright recruits program

and have been working together ever since.

Along with our camera team, we make up the CIA's av department.

Currently, we are finishing operation deep red.

The probe into film director Stanley Kubrick.

But this mission is not using us to our full potential.

We are asking to be transferred off of operation deep red,

and on to operation zipper.

The mission into NASA to find the mole.

Because of our filmmaking background, we would make...

Okay, stop.

Stop.

What is this supposed to be?

Okay. It's a... It's a pitch film.

It... so... it's for operation zipper. I think...

Operation zipper's already been assigned.

We know it has.

I think the agency is making a mistake

with sending a scientist into NASA.

Well, your opinion means nothing.

Yeah, okay. Just... just...

If you watch the rest of this film, you'll see... I've seen enough.

But we have an amazing plan for finding the spy. I'm sure you do.

Boles, we worked hard on this. You're seriously not going to watch the rest of this?

No. Can we show it to Brackett?

No.

Okay.

This was a long shot.

We've only been here for one year.

We'll get on missions like this in the future.

I thought this was going to work.

You knew that it wasn't a great chance. Yeah, you should...

Jared, you should have cut when

you saw it wasn't going good.

You're supposed to be filming so that...

I didn't even notice.

Yeah. Hey.

Okay, I got an idea.

We need to send someone who will look like they have no idea what's going on.

Us, as a documentary film crew.

We can pretend we are from the national education... Okay, we have to go.

We got to go.

Is this a good idea?

Andy? It's a good... Hey. It's a good idea.

Are you ready? What if they fire us?

What's your first line?

Oh, uh, your plan is to send... Okay, I'm fine.

Okay. Let's go.

Everyone here?

Boles...

Carry on. Thank you.

Good morning, everyone.

Hello, my name is special agent Matt Johnson, and what you're about to watch

is a film detailing the connections between Stanley Kubrick

and the film Dr. Strangelove or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb.

Conclusion, Stanley Kubrick is not a spy.

Thank you.

Are there any questions?

That covers it. Uh, what's next?

Actually, director Brackett, I'd like to make a pitch for

major research to be moved onto operation zipper next.

What the hell are you doing?

You guys are trying to put a...

Field agent inside NASA posing as a scientist, and...

Agent Williams and I don't think it will work.

This mole, if he's there,

could have been at NASA since the early 60s.

He's going to spot one of our guys pretending to be a rocket scientist instantly.

We need to send people

who are going to look like they have no idea what's going on.

Us.

As a documentary film crew.

We can pretend that we're from the national education television network,

filming the definitive Apollo documentary.

We're there to chart the race to the moon. Smart idea.

But no Soviet mole's gonna let anyone openly film 'em.

Well, director Brackett, we're filming you right now through the window.

You're going to have to buy us better cameras, though.

Jesus Christ.

Okay, here we go.

Let's hope they buy this.

Ready?

Whoa!

- Hi! - Hi!

Just let us get our stuff.

Yeah, yeah!

You need help, Andy?

Do you mind if we film this?

Yeah, why not.

Here, at the end of the hall on the right...

Oh, man.

That's mission control?

Yeah, actually. We'll have to get in there later.

Hmm.

Hi.

We're a documentary film crew.

We're a documentary film crew.

Jared, make sure you're getting this crisp and in focus,

I don't want to have to edit together out of focus stuff, please.

- Sorry. - No problem.

Your office is just right here.

Okay, here you go.

Wow!

You guys don't need anything else?

No, uh, we'll come find you if we do. We'll just get set up.

Thanks, Sharon.

Bye!

She bought it. We're a documentary film crew.

You see how they look at us? See how they look in the cameras?

Yeah.

This is the best mission I've ever been on in my life.

This is, uh... This is Matt.

Mike. Nice to meet you.

And, uh, this is Jared.

They're filming a documentary about the, uh... The Apollo mission.

Oh, okay!

So, we basically are asking about what you do, and... Sure!

And... and I'm ready. Yeah. Okay.

Well, I work here in the public affairs office,

and one of my duties is

the media products, specifically still photos.

And I stood up in the theater in sugar land and I said,

"don't eat those meatballs! He did not wash his hands."

I had to...

I appreciate your time. Before we launch to the moon, come back and see us, okay?

I will. Okay.

Thanks, guys. That's a wrap. We got it.

All right, and mark it.

- Milt interview. - Take one.

Thanks, Owen.

So, I guess you can start just by telling us your name.

Milt Heflin.

And what is it you do here at NASA?

Huh. Uh...

Okay.

Shut the door.

Guys, can we get a shot of just the lounge being busy?

I know you're all working, but if you want to just...

Busy, like there's some activity.

Or, do whatever feels natural.

And action.

No, don't look at the cameras. Just keep sitting. Just keep standing there.

Part of Sato's controversial south-east Asia...

the north Vietnamese

decides to accept us offers...

spread over 600 feet to become a gigantic pool of flames

a fire extinguisher called purple k, three tragic fires aboard aircraft...

One second, Mr. Webb. We're good?

Mr. Webb, tell me, what does it mean

when people say the Russians are ahead of us in the space race?

Well, I think it means that the job of

landing something on the moon

where there's no atmosphere,

and using a rocket to slow it up,

and having the equipment still work

is a very difficult job.

Uh, I think it means the Russians are trying, just like we are...

Where's this guy's office?

But I think the real meaning is...

Two more pieces.

- Come on, Jared. - Got it, got it!

Okay, hold on.

I'm fine, I need light.

Ready?

Test, test, test, test...

then you get to talk about how to go forward. To do it.

Uh, I am not much interested,

and I don't think it's very realistic to talk about technological interchange,