Ascension

- So, what's this test supposed to do?

Just say the first thing that comes to your mind.

Father.

- I was a baby when he died in that fire.

Rage.

Ancient history.

Ascension.

Trap.

- Chin up! Back straight!

I should be able to draw a line

From your earlobe to your ankle.

Jackie, the seams of your stockings are a disgrace.

Mmm! Never bend at the waist.

It's graceless.

Remember:

Poised, elegant, confidant.

- Don't you just love their uniforms?

They always look so perfect.

I'm thinking about apprenticing.

If spending 6 months

Learning to put on lipstick and talk in a breathy whisper

Is your idea of fun.

- Not everyone aces their apt test, Nora.

There's no way I'm gonna end up cutting hair like my mom.

Besides, stewardesses get all the prettiest clothes.

- Have you seen Lorelei?

She said she'd be here.

- Are you coming to the party tonight?

- To toast the glorious tin can? No thanks.

- Try not to drool on the decorations, Nora.

Take off.

Hello!

Nixon! Bordeaux!

What's bordeaux?

Wine.

There's only 25 bottles

Of chateau st-cloud '59 left.

After tonight, there'll be 24.

- So, do you have what I came for?

Mmm! Yeah!

I'll be in my cabin at 21:00 after your little party.

- Your cabin off the slaughter stalls...

Enticing!

Is that funny to you?

We had an understanding!

It's not funny, Stokes.

It's sad.

Commander Gault!

- Mrs. Vanderhaus, are you alone this evening?

It seems her husband

Was assigned the midwatch suddenly.

Lorelei...

- Captain's orders. Not my idea.

I'd say it's a shame that your sister's unaccompanied

When she looks so stunning tonight.

And you're stunning too, of course.

- Lorelei's not happy with me.

We both have issues

With the other's taste in men.

- Yeah, I'm just not feeling it.

The time has come for mankind

To take longer strides.

We must move further down the line.

We must reach for the stars.

Imagine the greatest journey ever undertaken,

A century-long sojourn to a new world

Completed by the grandchildren

Of the brave souls who embarked on this adventure.

Our eyes must be focused on the stars

If we are to have any hope

Of surviving this arms race, this space race,

Indeed, this human race.

Have you seen Lorelei?

- No, no. I'm sure she's around somewhere.

Esteemed colleagues, friends,

Ladies and gentlemen, i give you...

Ascension.

Lorelei!

Lorelei?

Lorelei?

Lorelei?

Dad!

Why is my father restrained?

- Restrained. "the quality of mercy is not strained.

"it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

"upon the place..."

- He was agitated earlier. That's why we called.

His visitor seemed--

- Visitor? I'm his only visitor, and he barely knows I'm here.

- I don't know the man, but he's still on the grounds.

I passed him just outside talking on his phone.

- Why are you harassing my father?

You're the son, Harris.

Look, um...

I'm really sorry about what your father's going through,

The stroke, and what it's done to him.

It must be hellish to see him that way.

I'm Mark Hayes.

And I didn't mean to upset him.

I've admired Dr. Enzmann for years.

I'm doing my dissertation on his work.

You're an academic.

Yeah.

I'm finishing my PhD.

On the history of the early space program.

It's tragic to me

That most people don't know who your father is.

He inspired me.

He inspired me too.

- Yeah, I guess it's kind of hard to top a dad

Who escaped from the nazis,

And then developed rockets for NASA, huh?

Hmm!

- You ever hear of Project Ascension?

- I haven't heard those words in years.

- Your father was convinced

That the US could launch an interstellar spacecraft

Right then in the '60s with the technology we had.

I mean, you can't go faster than the speed of light,

So the original crew would never see the new world,

But their descendants would.

Quite a dream dad had!

I think he did it.

- I was taking you seriously.

- No, wait a minute! Look! Wait, wait, wait! Look, look, look!

They had the means, right? Kennedy was a fan.

Think of what it might be like! A mission like no other!

And imagine the people that went:

Hundreds of people out there in space

In a world that never knew the summer of love,

Betty Friedan, the autobiography of Malcolm X, The Clash,

Fresh from father knows best exploring the universe.

- I work for the government.

Do you have any idea how incompetent it is?

Do you really think that they could do something like this

And no one would know?

- Ascension was the military.

It was top secret.

What do you do?

- I'm an engineer. I evaluate government contracts.

- Look, before you write me off,

Go see one of your father's old associates,

Whoever's still alive.

Maybe they'll talk to you.

- Thanks, but I'll skip humiliating myself.

- You could claim your father's legacy for him.

This is real...

And the world should know.

Do you have what it takes

To make a difference?

Apply for a safety officer apprenticeship today.

Good morning, ladies!

On Ascension, safety is our priority.

- XO, sir, I've been looking for you.

You weren't in your quarters last night.

- I didn't sleep there, obviously.

Is that an issue?

No, sir, of course not.

It's just, the captain's been looking for you.

Carry on.

What happened?

- It looks like she fell and hit her head.

I'm sorry, Duke.

- How am I gonna tell my wife her sister's dead?

- Every kid on this ship knows this place

Like the back of their hand.

What are you saying?

- I'm saying it's hard for me to believe it was just an accident.

Marks on her wrists... It could be from a rope.

- Wow! Agatha Christie would be impressed!

Or have you been reading Raymond Chandler?

All right, then!

You're chief safety officer. What's your theory?

- She had too much to drink at launch day.

She came out here for a midnight swim

Like we all did when we were kids...

- Hmm! - ...Only she slipped.

Like Dr. Bryce said, an accident.

- Take her to the medical centre.

She's been out here way too long.

- You really believe this wasn't an accident?

- Look, I know it may sound crazy--

- I want you to look into it.

If there is the slightest chance,

We need to be sure.

- Captain, I don't have any experience with this.

Nobody does.

- Vanderhaus is your chief safety officer.

Why don't you get him to do it?

- He's handled nothing worse

Than petty theft or a drunken brawl.

She's family. He can't entertain the idea.

He won't be happy.

- Look, I can't worry about his feelings, Gault.