The First (2018) s01e01 Episode Script

Don't do this.
It's done.
And it's final.
Let me tell my crew.
Go home.
We'll show you the language when it's ready.
Okay.
My turn.
lncoming call.
Incoming call.
lncoming call.
Hagerty.
Good morning, Captain Hagerty.
This is Aaron Shultz from The New York Times.
I was wondering if I could - How did you get this number? - We had it on file.
A colleague of mine did an interview a few years Not doing press today.
As the original commander of the mission, would you like t End call.
TV.
Screen on.
An estimated 2 billion people are watching around the world to witness this historic moment The launch of the first human mission to Mars.
In just a few short hours, the five astronauts of Providence 1 will leave Earth to embark on their 2 1/2-year journey to Mars and back.
We're now gonna take you live to the launch center in Louisiana, where Laz Ingram, the founder and CEO of VISTA, is joining us.
Good morning, Ms.
Ingram.
Thanks for having me.
It's been a long road getting here.
Yes, eight years since NASA awarded us the Mars contract.
Eight very challenging years.
Walk us through what we can expect in the days and months ahead.
Gladly.
Once the crew has achieved orbit, they'll dock with the Mars Transit Vehicle.
The astronauts will climb aboard and conduct what we call a shakedown A rigorous series of diagnostic tests And then they'll initiate the first long burn, sending them on their way.
Seven months later, they'll arrive at Mars, descend to the surface, spend 18 months before they launch in the MAV back to the Transit Vehicle and make their journey home.
But aside from accomplishing the feats Mute.
the very first human looked up at the stars and wondered in whatever language she spoke on, "What is it? What's out there?" These are the answers that we continue to search for.
I just have to ask, and I'm sure everyone else wants to know, what is going through your mind right now? Too much to How can I possibly reply? That's irrelevant.
But none of this would be happening without you.
Are you happy? Nervous? I'm focused.
We still have a lot of work ahead of us.
Well, congratulations, Ms.
Ingram.
We know that you're busy and need to get to the launch.
Thanks for spending some time with us this morning.
It's been an absolute pleasure.
Thank you.
And we're off.
Mm.
- Weather? - Weather is a go.
No constraints for launch.
- TDL weather.
- Flight, the only TIL center, beginning in launch window 1-A.
Crosswind of the others - are out of limit.
- Okay, let's wait and see how things progress.
Are we go for crew to proceed to the launch pad? We are a go.
Flight crew has arrived at pad surface and are entering the elevators.
Copy.
Range? On stage, confirm that we are a go.
Weather continues to look very good.
Shallow seas.
If we go 10 minutes later we'll have two-way as well.
Copy.
Let's give crew maximum flexibility.
- Wait 10 to 15.
- Copy.
That should do it.
In just a minute, you'll see them coming across.
Copy.
Awaiting report.
- Standby process to RL.
- Copy.
FPM sealing tank, pressurization complete.
Copy that.
What do you think? Fuck it.
Call CAPCOM.
Secure line.
Calling CAPCOM, secure line.
Sir.
Patch him to me.
Roger that.
He wants 30 seconds with the crew, non-public.
What for? Uh, just some words, wish them luck.
LC says they can swing it.
We owe him as much.
Fine.
That's a go.
Stand by.
We'll have a window in just a moment.
Putting you through now.
Matt, we've got a surprise for you all.
Please don't tell me we have a weather hold.
Skies couldn't be clearer.
- Hags, is that you? - Last time I checked.
Well, hot damn.
This is a nice surprise.
How y'all doing in there? Snug as bugs.
Well, I just called to say Godspeed.
I'm watching and I'm with you in spirit.
How we looking on TV? Real good.
Even Kwame.
You mean you don't miss the mustache? Not for a second.
- Any final words of advice? - Just do whatever Mattie says.
- Listen to the man.
- And don't clog the shitter.
He's talking to you, Lou.
I guess, so I'm never gonna live that down, huh? - Not for another 2 1/2 years.
- Yeah, thanks, Tom.
Sorry to break up the party, but we need to clear the line.
All right, you guys, nothing sentimental here.
Just do your thing.
You got this.
Means a lot, Tom You calling us.
Never mind that.
Now, go make some history.
And we're off.
Thank you.
End call.
Well tell me you wouldn't have missed me if I'd gone.
Pressure.
- Pressure steady at 15 32.
- Systems A.
- Systems A go.
- Systems B.
- Systems B go.
- Systems backup.
- Backup go.
- Weather.
Weather is still observed and forecast to be go.
Listen, you guys, uh, I just want to say, it's it's an honor to share this tin can with you all.
Ah, don't make us puke before we get up there.
No, I mean it.
Seriously, I couldn't ask for a better crew.
T-minus 9 poll is complete.
Resume count on my mark.
3, 2, 1, mark.
GLS auto-sequence has been initiated.
Okay, Mattie, we're feeling pretty good down here.
On behalf of everyone on the ground, it's an honor to assist as you embark on the longest journey any humans have ever taken.
Matt Luis Adrienne Cathleen Kwame Godspeed, good luck.
Try to have a little fun up there.
You guys make that easy.
And thanks.
Thanks to you, and thanks to the thousands of men and women who give their souls, their hearts, and their lives in the cause of exploration.
Okay, let's light this fire.
Providence is ready to launch.
Thank you, sir.
Let's get going.
That was a very nice speech, Matthew.
Yeah, fuck off.
Did you write that all by yourself? Hell no! Ellen wrote that for my ass.
- Of course she did.
- Hey, what can I say? I married up.
90 seconds, people.
White Room's pulling back.
Here we go, folks.
One minute downstairs.
- You getting nervous? - Do I look nervous? Cabin pressure is probably gonna give us an alarm.
LOX and hydrogen-filling valves are closed.
And there it goes.
- Disregard.
- Copy.
- T-minus 30 seconds.
- Range green.
Stable at step 3.
Status check.
- Providence is a go.
- Launch team is go for launch.
Handoff to Providence computers has occurred.
Solid rocket booster nozzle steering check in work.
- 15.
- Let's do it.
Go for main engine start.
T-minus 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 Four at 100.
3, 2, 1 There goes tower.
We have liftoff for Providence 1.
And thus marks an historic moment for humanity The first manned mission to Mars launching to escape Earth's gravity on a voyage to the red planet.
The dreams of billions are with them.
Four at 104.
- Vista, roll program.
- Roger.
Roll, Providence.
Four at 72.
Go, you son of a bitch.
Looking good from here, Providence.
Throttle up to 104.
Roger go.
Throttle up.
Standby for staging.
The dirt beneath our feet it pulls down on every step.
It brings everything back to the center.
There is confusion in the grandstands here at the liftoff of Providence 1.
- Call Kayla.
- I'm being told that Mission Control will be reviewing what All circuits are busy.
Try again.
All circuits are busy.
Try again.
All circuits are busy.
Try again! Open! Folks, all of this has got to go before the families arrive.
Champagne.
Get the champagne off the table.
Coming through.
Don't say anything.
Are they all ready? - Everyone's ready.
- Thank you.
State and Defense have been notified.
Got a call with the president in 10.
Well, then, let's speak after.
I need to Okay.
Everyone, your attention, please.
Our machine failed us.
Five brave explorers have been lost.
And, um, as much as we all knew that was a possibility I'm, um I'm utterly shocked, as I'm sure all of you are, as well.
We have counselors available for anyone who needs them.
And, in fact, any of your needs, please take them to HR.
The most important thing is that we support one another as a team, and, um that we d-don't descend into despair.
This is the moment.
No alarm at separation? It has to be the booster separation motors.
The outer shell should have been able to withstand at least 50,000 pounds of blast pressure from each motor.
We had three layers of redundancy.
If there was any kind of mechanical malfunction or pressure deviation, the automatic abort would have initiated.
It just doesn't Doesn't make sense.
How can we have a separation malfunction without any data showing any abnormality? If we had a sensor issue with one of the motors, the other ones would've picked it up.
That's what I don't understand.
We've modeled thousands of different scenarios.
I-I can't even imagine what we might have missed.
Could you give us a second, please? Sure.
You can't put this on yourself.
It was my design.
There were thousands of people involved in that design.
And I led them.
And they need a leader now.
We need to keep it together.
If we do, then they will.
What can I do? H-How can I help? - I'm all right.
- Are you sure? Yeah.
Yeah, I'll get the booster team at the build facility, get some eyes on the hardware.
Okay, thank you, everyone.
Let's stop the work till the families get through.
Tried to call.
Lines were jammed.
- Green room's ready.
- Thank you.
Hey, you.
You hungry? I'm No.
Thanks.
How about you? You hungry? Yeah? Come here.
Last time I saw you, you were about that big.
Here.
Climb up there.
You're an astronaut, like Dad? I used to be.
You like ham? How about chicken? My daughter doesn't like meat, either, so watch what we'll do here.
And this And now you've got a double-cheese sandwich.
There you go.
Who gets to decide? To decide what? Who dies.
Here.
I'll show you something.
Your turn.
Perfect.
Okay.
You want to take it back and sit with your mom? - Did you ask him to come? - He was here when we arrived.
It would mean a lot to them that he's here.
Do you want to talk to him? No.
And the families? Yeah, well We're gonna wait an hour or so before they get briefed.
Well, whatever you think is best.
- Anything I can tell them? - Not right now.
Um I'll check in later.
End call.
He waves his finger at me.
"Mom, I'm going to be too big to fit in my seat.
" I say, "You'll thank me.
I know how bad this freeze-dry is.
" Then after dinner, we have presents for the birthdays he'll be gone.
He says, "No.
Bad luck.
" I say, "No such thing" Will you stop? I need a drink.
They have nothing to drink.
Translating to the SSU.
How they driving? So far, so good.
Got that last turn on AP Alpha, moving on.
Luis, we copy your checks on AP Alpha.
Next will be AP Bravo H2.
Copy.
Luis, wave to the folks back home.
Hey.
Take a look.
Man, wish we could do this every day.
Never gets old.
Never.
Gentlemen, heads up for sunset.
Roger, Vista.
We'll finish up here and start heading back.
Lucky bastards, aren't we? Pause.
lf you can sign it tonight, great.
Or take it home and run it past your personal counsel.
I'll leave this here.
Either way, if you have any questions or your counsel wants to reach out, we are on standby - Have you spoken to Laz? - A little while ago.
- Well, is she coming? - I don't know.
She said she's at a meeting.
- She should be here.
- Well, I agree.
I'll be back in a minute.
My office.
You could have called.
You wouldn't have answered.
What is it? We're in the middle of a briefing meeting You know that they're loading soon.
Yeah.
Well, you need to say something.
We still don't know what happened.
I'm I'm not talking about answers.
You've got to give them more than lawyers.
- You know the protocol.
- Screw the protocol.
You got to shoulder some responsibility here.
That's exactly what I'm doing.
I mean with the families.
Why are you inserting yourself into this? Because I know them.
'Cause I selected them, I trained them.
Because I was supposed to be able to They have crew assigned.
Everything is being taken care of.
Crew's not the same as you.
They need to hear from you.
And say what? Show them that it fucking hurts.
Of course it hurts.
So show them that.
You're not helping.
I know you think you are, but you're not.
Why are you afraid of them? Why can't you look them in the eye? I have a briefing to get back to.
- Lt can wait.
- No, it can't, actually.
And this is holding things up.
Coward.
Fine.
My first year at NASA Columbia happens.
That was pure hell.
That's when I started smoking.
I didn't know you did.
Well, I quit.
But I always bring one to a launch.
Oh, no, thanks.
You do know how ugly this is gonna get, right? It looks fine.
- You want me to drive you home? - No.
It's okay.
- Are you sure? - Yeah.
I really appreciate it, Tom.
I am so sorry for your loss.
Thank you.
Ellen, anything 24/7.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
This is obscene.
What did she lose, huh? Tell me.
She lost nothing.
Come on, let's go.
Huh? How much did you make? - Let him go! - Let's go outside.
- Please.
- I know you're feeling What do you know?! Guillermo, please! Come on, tell me! Then you tell me! You tell me! You tell me! I know.
It's okay.
I was gone a long time.
I'm very sorry, ma'am.
It's a terrible loss.
Yeah.
One of these days, you're gonna tell me why you want to touch God.
You don't believe in God.
You want to be God.
Forward, top speed.
Back up.
Hey.
You You kept my hand ID in the door.
I was at this guy's place.
We had it on, you know, on the TV.
For a second, I was like Thought about Mom.
About when When we would watch and how scared we'd get when you Even for a second, I was like, "What if he's gone?" Like, not not the thing, but just, like Like, if you were gone I wouldn't even know.
You're high.
Whose place? What? Where you were at.
Just a friend sort of.
Not really a friend, I guess.
Hmm.
I thought you'd left town.
I've been back for a while.
Gonna eat something? I shouldn't have come here.
I don't feel good.
What's far is near.
So close, it's just beneath the skin breathing pulsing racing waiting for you to find it.