Game Changer

Joyner-Kersee won gold over Soviet Irina Belova

in last night's race.

And in Houston, more questions are being asked

in the wake of the Polaris hotel disaster

and the tragic deaths that occurred in Earth orbit.

NASA has vowed a full investigation

and review of its safety certification process,

while some in Congress are questioning NASA's lack of oversight.

Can you please turn that off?

- The tragedy has left the public asking-- - Yes, ma'am.

Ms. Baldwin.

Thank you for coming all the way out here.

Sure.

I am-- I'm truly sorry about Sam.

Thank you.

You two built something amazing together.

It's why I asked you here.

Is it not enough?

No, it's very generous.

So generous it makes me wonder why.

Our company's reputation is in tatters.

I mean, our debtors are calling in their loans.

I mean, if you were gonna sell Polaris off for parts,

you would make me a lowball offer.

But you are not just in this for the money.

No.

You know, I read somewhere you're testing a new methane engine.

From what I know,

methane doesn't offer much advantage for trips to the moon.

But it does to Mars.

From what I can tell, Helios doesn't have a ship

that could support a crew for a two-year trip.

So you must be five years away from building one.

Seven, actually.

But if you were to acquire a ship that could support human life,

let's say my hotel, and attach your new engines to it...

That's a fascinating theory.

You seriously think you can do it?

My dad came to this country with just a few shillings in his pocket.

And he got a degree and became an engineer.

He believed what Jack Kennedy said.

"In America... anything is possible."

I can still remember him sitting in that living room that night in '69,

glued to the TV,

watching the Soviets plant their red flag on the moon.

The tears were rolling down his cheeks.

I had never even seen him cry before.

Being first, it meant something.

But you are going up against the two wealthiest,

most powerful nations in the world.

And if they divide up Mars like they did the moon,

we'll never end this destructive cycle. This "us... versus them."

In Kenya, there's a Kiswahili word, " harambee ."

It means "stronger together." Mutual responsibility.

That is what Helios is all about.

That! That's what's gonna push mankind to make the next leap forward.

Colonizing Mars, and the moons of Saturn and Jupiter.

I suppose now your price goes up.

That was a great speech.

I mean, it was worth at least another 10%.

Okay, Karen Baldwin. Done.

I'll have my lawyers draw up the paperwork.

Congratulations.

Five, four, three, two, one.

Make a hole, people! Coming through!

I need to see the generalissimo right fucking now.

She's not available.

- She still in Huntsville? - Yes.

Well, maybe you can explain this bullshit to me.

I-- I can't, 'cause I don't read-- I don't read braille.

I'll bet you transcribe every word the mistress of darkness spews from her lair.

What, she think I wouldn't notice this gem buried at the end?

"Astronaut candidates must conform to criteria

to be established by the Astronaut Candidate Qualifications Committee."

Ha! Committee of handpicked stooges, no doubt.

Of all the backstabbing, underhanded--

You're overreacting.

The committee is merely an advisory board that's ju--

Bullshit!

This is a power grab. Plain and simple.

- She's trying to force my hand. - Force your hand?

The Mars mission.

Our fearless leader needs to remember one thing.

I decide who goes up and when,

no matter what she writes in any goddamn memo!

Come on, Ollie. Let's go.

Listen, with your getting doctorates in advanced robotics

and your lunar experience, I think you are ideally suited

to command the Mars '98 mission.

The second mission to Mars.

So let me get this straight.

My advanced qualifications actually worked against me going first?

Well, yeah. They kinda did.

I don't suppose the fact that you and Ed go way back--

Don't go there, Dani. You and I go just as far.

I know.

But you're wrong on this one, Molly.

Well, it's my call, and that's how I see it.

Yeah, there's no argument you'd be better at handling the science.

Someone with your qualifications will be invaluable

once the first flight's proven it can be done

and we start building the infrastructure for a permanent base.

But Ed is first, last and always a test pilot.

And he's used to handling the unknown.

And a first flight to Mars

is full of huge unknowns.

He might not be the guy who's gonna find life on Mars.

But he is the guy who, I think, has the best chance of getting the mission done

and bringing everyone home alive.

This sucks.

Yeah, it does.

And I totally understand if you don't wanna lead his backup crew.

So you think about that, you let me know.

I don't need to think about it.

I'll back him up.

Whatever the program needs, whatever Ed needs,

I'll be there.

Now, as you can see, we can make methane, hydrogen and oxygen

from the atmosphere and water resources on Mars.

Now, the question I pose to you is

which technology offers the best trade-off for a long-duration Mars mission

with the goals we discussed?

Now, remember, it's not just about mass.

Keep in mind the power requirements for liquification, transportation

and storage in each case.

D-mail your analyses to me by next Wednesday.

Belay that, children. You can submit your work to Ken Muriata.

He will be taking over this class from now on.

Why?

Wasn't my call.

The Astronaut Candidate Qualification Committee has concerns

about your availability for the next couple of years.

Don't fuck with me, Molly.

Now, why would I do that, Admiral?

Because you're drunk with power.

I never should've given you that job.

Well, we all make decisions we regret.

I hope this doesn't turn out to be one of mine.

Seriously?

That's right.

Edward Baldwin is gonna command America's first mission to Mars.

Holy shit.

Holy shit!

- Do not fuck this up. - Fuck this up.

Hey there.

Danny! What are you doing here?

Came to pick up Mom's astronaut pin from Sam's office.

I remember the day that she got that.

Sam was always so proud of your mom. You know that?

He was proud of you too.

Way you pulled your life together after everything.

It's really great.

Glad you were able to sell the company.

At least you're walking away with some money.

Well, that's thanks to you.

If you hadn't have turned off that thruster, I--

I wouldn't even be standing here.

It wasn't completely altruistic. Saved my own ass too.

Guess I better get going.

Hey, Danny?

At the reception...

why did you play it?

Play what?

That song.

It was Amber's idea.

She's a Billy Swan fan too.

Well, it's a great song.

Yeah.

Good night.

- Karen? - Yeah?

I lied just then.

About the song. About you and me.

- About everything. Look, just listen. - Danny--

Okay, the day of the wedding, I felt sick to my stomach.

I didn't know exactly what it was

until I was out there with the world spinning below me, but...

in that moment, I wasn't thinking about Amber.

- I don't want to hear this. - All I was thinking about was you.

- That's not okay. - It's the truth.

- I don't care. I don't wanna hear it. - I thought about your eyes.

- What? Oh, my God. - The smell of your hair, your lips.

- Go. Get out of here. - How I might never see you again.

Hey! Stop it, right now. Stop it!

That's enough!

Jesus, I thought that you moved beyond all of this!

I tried.

You don't know how hard I tried.

Okay, well, I'm not going through it again.

You're not gonna start calling me in the middle of the night again

and showing up at my house drunk.

It's not gonna happen, okay?

You have to move on.

Please.

It was a mistake, okay? I'm sorry.

It never should have happened.

Is it because of Ed?

What?

I saw the way you both were at the wedding.

I can't believe you're gonna get back with that son of a bitch.

Oh, my God, Danny.