Liftoff. We have a liftoff.
That's one small step for man...
...one giant leap for mankind.
Good morning, Sunshine.
-Is your sister awake? -I don't know where she is.
You Iook Iike you had a wiId night.
-WeII, good morning, Your Majesty. -Good morning.
This time, no circIes on my pancakes.
Here we go. You guys are Ioopy in the morning.
-Good morning, Iadies. -Good morning.
I don't know about aII this free-range stuff.
I had a caIf headed for CaIifornia.
-There's circIes on my pancake. -Eat your breakfast, pIease.
-I don't Iike Jupiter. -I'm sorry, honey.
It started out as Venus, and it grew.
-I'm not gonna eat it. -I'm not gonna eat it.
GirIs.
You see, the pIanets are just not aIigned.
-Is Shepard up yet? -No, I think he's stiII sIeeping.
-Morning, sIeepyhead. -Dad.
You got an e-maiI from that weirdo at FueIFourU.
AII right. I think we may have our fueI.
What do you think about this sweater for my dad?
-I'd divorce you. -Is it the coIor?
Why don't you buy him a new arc weIder?
You want me to wrap that up, or shouId I just give it to you?
What makes you think your dad wouId wear a pink turtIeneck?
The coIor is saImon.
That's the coIor on the inside of a saImon.
I don't even think a fish wouId wear that coIor on the outside.
Arc weIder.
Here we are.
So is my favorite customer coming in?
WeII, you gonna Ioan me a cup of coffee?
Depends on how you're gonna pay me back.
Oh, how's rocket man?
-He's fine, Frank. Fine. -We're taking bets.
ReaIIy? What are the odds?
The bet is your husband wiII never do it...
...or he's gonna bIow himseIf up.
Nice.
Yeah, we're aII gonna become rich on Farmer's faiIure.
What bet do you wanna cover?
Why don't you cover this, Frank?
This space suit will allow me to control...
...the climate and the pressure that you need to be in space.
It's kind of Iike having your own personaI weather inside here.
Because in space, it's very, very coId.
Is there any questions?
Why don't you just put your hands down, and we'II just kind of wing it here.
-Start here in the front. You. -Did you buy it at Target?
No, I didn't buy it at Target.
Where did you get it?
ActuaIIy, someone was throwing it away, and I just picked it up.
Have you been to space?
No, not yet.
Stanley has been telling everyone about their daddy the astronaut.
We need more parents wiIIing to pIay dress-up...
...to encourage the kids to activate their imaginations.
Yes, ma'am.
So many parents just resort to dressing up as cIowns.
You've set a high standard with this costume.
WeII, I appreciate that.
You have a good day.
FueIFourU?
ApoIIo 1 3?
You never know with these onIine screen names.
I reaIIy appreciate you coming out here.
Breakdown for you here.
Ten thousand pounds of fueI. Is this correct?
Yeah.
-You pIanning on Iaunching a rocket? -Yeah.
-You're shitting me, right? -No.
-Something the matter? -WeII...
...ten pounds, 20 pounds, maybe even a hundred, that's not a probIem.
Ten thousand pounds, ten thousand probIems.
-When do you need it? -What's the damage?
Fifty grand.
Cash.
You're delinquent on six mortgage payments already?
I don't know if you understand how cIose you are to a forecIosure.
I don't think you understand how cIose I am to Iaunching.
Do you know how many times I've heard that?
Arnie, it's an emergency, okay?
Oh, do I know it's an emergen--
We probabIy have 1 5 emergencies written down right here.
Twenty. Twenty credit extensions. Who on earth gets 20?
I assumed more than haIf that debt from my dad.
And the bank assumes that you're gonna pay it back.
Can I give you some advice?
I have no money to pay for that advice, Arnie.
I don't wanna teII you how to run your business.
-WeII, then don't. -But I have to...
...because I'm your friend first and a banker second, aII right?
Now, foIks around here, they think you're crazy.
I happen to think you're a genius.
You got bad credit, but you got great character...
...and that rocket ship of yours is amazing.
But as a friend, I have to Iook you in the eye and say that...
...I think it's time you give it a rest.
Bye, ArnoId.
I need a payment, Farmer!
Okay.
Ladies and gentIemen, may I have your attention?
I'm going to the moon, and I'm bringing a baIIoon.
I'm going to the moon, and I'm bringing an oxygen tank.
-I beIieve you're going to the moon. -I'm going to the moon...
-...and I'm bringing Mr. Grump. -No. But not on the tabIe.
-You can't bring your hamster to the moon. -Yes, I can.
Yes, she can. I beIieve she's going to the moon.
I'm going to the moon, and I'm gonna bring sugar.
Hey, sweetie, the objective is to connect a common theme...
...based on what Daddy's bringing.
So I'm sorry, you can't go to the moon.
I never get to go.
Okay, my turn.
I'm going to the moon, and I'm bringing Sunshine.
WeII, since she hoIds air, I beIieve we're aII going to the moon.
-What is that button for, Daddy? -Oh, that button?
You girls better hang on. It's gonna be a bumpy ride.
We're taking off! We're taking off!
Oh, here we are. We're in space.
Isn't it beautiful out there?
Okay, what's that button for?
-That one? -Yeah.
That's a very speciaI button too.
That's the one that brings Daddy home.
We have to have that one, because if Daddy didn't have that button...
...I'd be up there for a Iong, Iong time.
Stanley, Sunshine, time for bed.
-Give me a hug, my angeIs. -Good night.
Good night. Good night, sweetheart.
See you in a IittIe bit.
-Hey. -Hey, honey.
-How's it going? -Pretty good.
I just don't know if these gadgets are gonna work untiI I Iaunch, you know.
You don't beIieve I'm gonna Iaunch it, do you?
I aIways beIieve you're gonna Iaunch the rocket.
-Someday. -WeII, someday's coming fast.
-CharIie, it's so Iate. -I've been working, baby.
CharIes, you didn't even take a shower. You smeII Iike the rocket.
-You couId've washed your hands. -I did. I washed my hands.
Look at this.
Look at that.
Honey, where's your w--?
Where's your wedding ring?
It's in the capsuIe somewhere.
-Oh, man, in the capsuIe somewhere. -WeII, honey, I--
WeII, it came off. I'II get it. Don't worry about it.
No, that's not a star. That's a shooting star.
How come you guys onIy eat the marshmaIIows?
-You don't Iike the cereaI? -Tastes Iike wood.
Here, a whoIe spoonfuI of marshmaIIows.
Yeah, but one piece of a cereaI.
One piece of a cereaI. Okay, we gotta get that. Oh, there we go.
You know what you guys started me on?
I don't put miIk on my cereaI anymore, and it's your fauIt.
-I don't put miIk on my cereaI. -Oh, hey, honey.
Hey. Look who's here.
Hey. Whoa, easy, easy. Take it easy.
-I Iove you, Grandpa. -Go ahead, sweetie.
-Go say hi. -What are you feeding them?
-Hi, Grandpa. -GirIs. My IittIe tiny peopIe.
Hey, HaI. How you feeIing?
I'm actuaIIy feeIing fine.
-Come sit down, HaI. Come on. -Here, Grandpa wiII waIk you over, okay?
Boy, you've made reaI progress.
Yep.
It's gonna take a heII of a Iot more than gunpowder...
...to get this particuIar aircraft in the air.
Yep.
I never knew it was this big.
WeII, you got yourseIf some mighty pricey metaI here, bud.
Yeah, weII, you gotta have the good stuff.
I'd have more than a carpet burn on my ass if I didn't protect it.
Farmer?
Hey, KarI. How you doing, man?
I'm gonna need your autograph for this Ietter.
Goddamn, it certainIy gets my attention.
-Appreciate it. I'II see you Iater, buddy. -See you.
What--?
-Farmer! -You want my house...
-...I'II give it to you brick by brick. -It was procedure, Farmer.
I didn't have a choice.
The bank wouIdn't stand for it a day Ionger, and neither wouId I.
You're way too overextended.
You're just a banker. A friend wouIdn't do what you did.
If I didn't care about you, I wouIdn't have sent it in. You got 30 days.
Open your eyes. Look at this as a wake-up caII, because the dream is over.
It's gotta stop now, before you Iose everything.
Farmer.
What's up, Chopper? How's your daddy?
Waiting for you. Want a ride?
No, it's aII right. FoIIow me.
What'd you do, Arnie?
How much does he owe the bank, Arnold?
-Over 600,000 doIIars. -600,000 doIIars?
He's dangerous. He threw a brick at me.
That's enough, ArnoId. That's enough. WiII the bank take an apoIogy?
-WeII? -I guess....
Farmer, give the bank an apoIogy.
Say you're sorry.
-ArnoId, I'm sorry. -Great.
Now, ArnoId, I'm going to administer Farmer's spanking in private.
Chopper, couId you see ArnoId out for me?
Assume the position.
You're not reaIIy gonna whack me with that thing, are you?
Come on. I've known you aII your Iife.
But I do see you putting your famiIy and yourseIf at serious risk.
One day it's a brick, the next day it's a buIIet.
Men have been known to do desperate things...
...when they're Iosing their ranches.
I'm gonna ask you to get...
...a psychiatric evaIuation.
Before ArnoId and me are comfortabIe with you in society, you gotta see a shrink.
Go over to the schooI, see Nurse Goode over there, and taIk to her.
Bring it back to me.
What'd they get you for?
SIeeping in cIass.
How about you?
I broke a window.
So, what do you wanna be when you get out of here?
I don't know.
-What do you mean, you don't know? -I don't know.
WeII, Iet me teII you something...
...you better know what you wanna do before somebody knows it for you.
Trust me.
Farmer. Nurse Goode can see you now.
Okay.
WeII, good Iuck.
CharIie Farmer.
Hey, Beth. I was supposed to give you this, the judge said.
Thank you. Okay.
Don't you think that they're a IittIe Iate in IabeIing you crazy?
Jumping off a bridge is crazy.
-Oh, and buiIding a rocket isn't. -I threw a brick through a window.
That's why I'm here.
WeII, how wouId you Iike it if we discussed your desire to Ieave the pIanet?
-Not particuIarIy. -Oh, CharIie.
I don't expect you to open up and start taIking in our very first session.
Session? There's sessions?
We're aII onions, CharIie.
We have many, many, many Iayers to get through.
See what I'm saying? And, just Iike...
...weII, when you peeI an onion, there may be tears as we come--
Beth, pIease stop it, okay?
Listen, my daddy never toId me that he Ioved me.
And, you know, I'm pretty sure that your daddy never did either.
The resentment that you feeI towards your parents...
...is not going to fueI your rocket.
-Are you done? -WeII, you're not getting it.
The rocket is not going to bring you a happy chiIdhood.
We aII just have to grow up and just take responsibiIity.
Remember during our high schooI prom, I asked you go to the moon with me?
WeII, shoot, CharIie, that was just about getting Iaid.
WeII, I'm stiII going.
We're not done, CharIie.
Is this considered another session?
Have you ever thought of going into teaching?
What the heII wouId I teach? What not to do?
No. CharIie, you couId inspire some young kid to do what you can't.
But I can, and I wiII, Beth.
I hate to be the one breaking it to you, but you are not an astronaut.
It didn't happen, and that's okay.
You know, the miIitary's not for everyone...
...but we aII just stiII Iove you, and you didn't faiI...
-...and don't Iook at it that way. -Oh, I don't.
-Oh, my God, do you need heIp. -Yes, you're right, I do need heIp.
I need to find Shepard because I gotta Iaunch in 30 days.
You have to find a way to channeI your anger...
...or eIse it wiII manifest itseIf into something...
...Iike, you know, a rocket ship.
CharIie Farmer.
Ms. Graham, I'm here to inspire a kid.
I couId use an engineer such as yourseIf at the house.
Why don't you get your things, and Iet's go.
Excuse me, but we're in the middIe of a history Iesson.
I apoIogize, Ms. Graham, but you're teaching him how to read history...
...and I'm gonna show him how to make it. You have a good day, hon.
-Where are we going? -Home.
Home? Do we see the--?
Where's the house? I don't see it anywhere.
WeII, it's a Iong ways to home.
Every one of you is now part of the Farmer space program.
If anyone feeIs that he or she is not fit to be in the Farmer space program...
...then you shouId say your piece now.
Does that mean we don't have to go to schooI?
Correct.
But every morning, we're gonna hoId cIass...
...and study your reguIar subjects...
...so when you return to schooI, you won't be behind.
-Yes, sir. -Any questions?
-Is that aII? -No, honey, not yet.
How big is it?
-It's big. -Big?
-So you've seen it? -Of course I have.
And you think that he'II Iet me see it?
-Depends. -Depends? On what?
It's not Iike I'm gonna go running aII over town, ''I've seen it.''
I'm teIIing. You toId.
Hey. You and PhyIIis been out pIaying?
What's going on?
Why aren't the chiIdren in schooI?
I'II address your issues after the briefing. We're not quite finished.
CharIes, you need to answer my question. What's going on?
Oh, hey, HaI. You wanna be part of the program?
-Sir? -The space program.
-CharIes. Bye, PhyIIis. -You guys are reIeased, okay?
I want you here tomorrow morning at 0500 sharp, okay?
Now, go back to the house. AII right.
They're going back to schooI tomorrow.
It's five weeks maximum, and they're back at schooI, I promise you.
You know that they're never gonna get the kind of education at schooI...
...that they can get here.
They don't even teach science in these schooIs anymore.
You know what Shepard's science teacher said to him? I mean, get this.
She said, ''Science isn't sexy.''
I mean, do you want your girIs to grow up onIy knowing when Mercury's in retrograde?
-You know? -What the heII happened to you?
It's five weeks maximum, and then they're back in schooI, I promise. Okay?
Unit 4-0 to Central.
Do we know how many entrances there are to this property?
I believe there are four entrances to the property. Four entrances.
I don't know if they're gated or not.
Suspect has been trying to secure rocket fuel, over.
Roger, we copy. Miller is about 1 00 yards out.
You should be able to see him. He's coming down the hill, over.
Be aware there are seven suspects. We have on visual suspect, one Jesus Garcia.
We copy that.
Killbourne, Mathis, currently securing the barn.
Can I heIp you?
-CharIes Farmer? -Yeah.
We're with the FederaI Bureau of Investigation.
Sir, we have been made aware, through eIectronic documents...
...that you have been searching for a high-grade fueI commonIy used...
...to Iaunch rockets.
Are you aware that you have an iIIegaI aIien working on your premises?
Pepe Garcia. Jesus Garcia.
If you cooperate, we could see to it...
...that Mr. Garcia could stay here with your family.
We're going to the moon.
-That's reaIIy rotten. -It's rather generous of us.
And where is that man going?
It's very simple, Mr. Farmer...
...it's illegal to try to obtain such a high-grade fuel for private use.
Anyone trying to acquire this kind of fuel has to be considered a threat.
This is the reaI deaI.
-WeII, I'm no threat. -WeII, how do we know...
-...you're not buiIding a warhead? -Because I'm not at war.
We just wanna Iet you know your IittIe rocket ain't gonna fIy...
...as Iong as we're doing this investigation.
Yeah.
I filled out the FAA application, sent it in over six months ago.
Sent aII my fIight pIans, iIIustrations of the vesseI...
...never heard anything back saying I couIdn't Iaunch.
They didn't think you were serious.
-WeII, how can they stop me now? -Jeez, Farmer.
With this Patriot Act, the way they've twisted the Iaws up so much...
...they can do whatever they pIease...
...as Iong as they feeI you're a threat to homeIand security.
What do you want me to do?
WeII, twist it some more. Isn't that what Iawyers are good at?
AII right. Did they say they were gonna press any charges?
WeII, no, not exactIy. They said I'm under investigation.
That means they're gonna be watching your every move.
Yeah.
I got a buddy in Manhattan.
He's a partner in one of these big firms that speciaIizes in cases Iike this.
-Give it a try. -Maybe he can...
...shed some Iight on the situation.
He owes me a favor. It won't cost you a nickeI.
Set it up. Grab the boom.
Going into space doesn't take NASA anymore.
Friends, we are here at the entrance of the space cowboy's ranch.
We are toId that behind me, in this barn, is a rocket...
...a rocket that CharIes Farmer wants to Iaunch into outer space.
After graduating from Meriwether Lewis High School...
...he continued his education at the University of Texas...
...where he received a degree in aerospace engineering.
Soon after, Charles Farmer enlisted in the Air Force...
...where he developed his skills as a pilot, flying such planes as the F-4 Phantom.
The rocketeer Charles Farmer was in fact training to be an astronaut...
...before he was discharged from the military.
-HeIIo. -Hey, what's up?
HoIy cow, Munchak. You didn't teII me your friend was CNN.
This is what he said. He said embrace the media, Farmer.
Invite them in. They're for your protection.
You want them on your side, Farmer.
All right.
He built the rocket. I'm sure he built a retractable roof.
-Really? -I don't think he'd build a rocket...
...and forget about the roof.
-UnIess he never pIans on Iaunching it. -Then why are we here?
Because if we aren't here, and he Iaunches...
...we're gonna Iook Iike asses.
And if he does, and we are here?
We stiII Iook Iike asses.
-There he is! -Mr. Farmer!
Mr. Farmer, quick question.
Listen, if you guys settIe down and ask your questions one at a time...
...I'II answer them to the best of my abiIity.
Is it important to you that peopIe know the importance of space traveI?
I'II put it to you this way. There are a Iot of peopIe in this worId...
...that think MichaeI Jackson had the first moonwaIk.
Mr. Farmer, when do you pIan on Iaunching your rocket?
-Soon. -Mr. Farmer, why are you doing this?
It's always been my dream.
The rocket is huge. It's really big.
He's more of an astro-nut.
-Who was it? -My wife.
She wants an autograph.
You hear about this? There's a guy in Texas building his own rocket in his back yard.
This guy is planning on launching himself into orbit.
Here's my question. Wouldn't it be easier just to say:
""Honey, I want a divorce""? Okay, wouldn't that be--?
That's not very funny.
Looks Iike a reaIIy beautifuI day today.
Afternoon high of 65, down to 35 tonight.
-Morning, HaI. -And if you're launching a rocket...
...the weather looks really good over most of the country.
This is what's known as the rocket graveyard.
Farmer gathered most of what he needed from places like this.
If you're looking to build a rocket, this is the place to start.
Farmer's rocket is housed in the barn that you're seeing below.
Due to the overwhelming interest, he has opened his barn to the public...
...allowing them to view the rocket themselves...
...only hoping to alleviate some of this congestion.
Can he do it? Well, sure he can.
Now, will he do it? That's to be seen.
There are lots of FAA regulations...
...that keep people from turning the sky into a playground.
But the astronaut's plans for space travel...
...first have to be approved by the FAA. A hearing has been scheduled.
How long will the government not allow you to launch your rocket?
-They're not stopping me. -Is it true...
...Elton John plans to re-release ""Rocket Man "" to help raise money?
This is exactIy what we didn't want to happen.
Let's get what we can on this guy. Find something.
We gotta get this space cowboy's head out of the cIouds.
Pack up, boys. We're going to Texas.
WeII, the man deserves a second chance.
AII right, more presents.
That's the Iast of it.
Hey, StanIey.
Why don't you change your hamster cage? Use paper--
Now, wait a minute. I'd Iike to see that. Come on, Iet me have a Iook.
Don't beIieve everything you read, honey. It just....
-I wanna read it. -I wish she had your paper, Pepe.
She can't read Spanish.
Your dad's right.
-Change your hamster cage. -Okay.
They caIIed us a cuIt. They said we were Iike a branch of the Moonies or something.
They think our famiIy's a bunch of space cadets.
I know. I know.
-How can they do that? -Because they can.
We are a normaI famiIy. We need to go teII everyone that it isn't true.
WeII, honey, we just need to show them, okay?
We got a winner here. It's a winner!
Hey, here you go, bud.
That's what I get?
Don't you worry about them.
Just forget about them, CharIes.
-Thank you. -For what, baby?
For this.
Excuse me. I wanna taIk to you about the ride.
Two tickets.
No, sir. I mean, if I wanted to buy this ride from you, how much wouId it cost me?
WeII, you can rent it for 500 a week.
-Can we taIk some business? -Sure.
-Yeah? -AbsoIuteIy. You gonna be around?
Yeah, I'II be here.
CoIoneI Masterson.
Up there in space, you get a totaIIy different perspective.
Different every time.
Different perspective of the Earth. Different perspective of yourseIf.
Every time's compIeteIy different.
It's just....
It's just beautifuI, is what it is.
BeautifuI.
You see the worId, and you reaIize how smaII we aII are.
Life-changing.
DefiniteIy Iife-changing.
This is good chicken, Audrey.
-Thank you. -You're about to make me start crying.
My Iast mission was on the Endeavor.
I don't know who they are.
It's the name of the space shuttIe CoIoneI Masterson fIew on.
We don't have a name for our rocket.
You don't?
You don't have a name for your rocket, Farmer?
WeII, we just hadn't got to that part yet.
We're gonna have to think of some names, aren't we?
Sunshine?
-Licorice. -Licorice?
Okay, who's for Licorice?
Okay.
Now, StanIey submitted the name of the Rockin' Rocket.
-Who wants Rockin' Rocket? -I Iike that.
UncIe Eddie has voted for everything we've said so far.
-I'm taking this as seriousIy as you are. -Okay.
Now, Shepard has decided, as you toId me before...
-...you wanna change your name? -Yeah, I'm changing my name.
I'II think about it more. I'm not sure what I want.
Okay. Pepe.
What does that mean?
It ain't gonna be the name of the rocket, so don't worry.
What does it mean, though? Because if we're aII going to vote on it--
It means ''the other woman,'' honey.
No. You are not voting for that name.
I think we shouId go out and see the other woman.
Son of a bitch, Farmer.
-You buiIt this thing? -BoIt by boIt.
That is some serious engineering.
You don't think they'd have brought you down here...
...if it was a bottIe rocket, do you?
Good grief.
-You're serious about this. -AbsoIuteIy.
Lookie here, you.
What happens...
...if the rocket doesn't Iaunch?
I know it's not the company Iine here. I know.
But I'm a dad, baby.
WeII, that's why he needs our support regardIess of the outcome.
It's not mandatory.
No, it's Iove.
What do you think?
I think that it is gonna be one sad-ass day up here in FarmerviIIe...
...when they hauI aII your hard work off to the junkyard.
I think that. What do you think?
You think they're gonna Iet you go up into outer space?
A civiIian?
They don't Iet civiIians go up into outer space.
Astronauts go into outer space.
ProfessionaI astronauts who have been trained...
...to withstand the pressures and the strain...
...and the emotionaI stress of Ieaving your famiIy behind.
Ed, you know my dad died. That's why I Ieft.
-Of course I know your dad-- -My famiIy needed me.
But if that was a test, you faiIed.
What do you think NASA was thinking?
This boy's gonna go into outer space. His dad dies, and he wants to go home.
I thought there's one person on this earth that might understand, and that's you.
I reaIIy-- I reaIIy didn't expect this.
What if I toId you I couId get you a seat on the shuttIe?
I'd say I don't wanna hitch a ride on the bus.
Forget that. Forget about hitching a ride on the bus, okay?
Forget the rocket. You forget the rocket that you put a Iot of hard work into.
You get these peopIe off your back, get these idiots with cameras out of here...
...then you go up into outer space the right way.
The safe way.
-You don't think I can do it, do you? -Forget that.
This is about money. Not even miIIions of doIIars anymore...
...biIIions of doIIars. 1 6.2 biIIion doIIars in this year's budget aIone.
-For what? -Who cares for what.
For whatever they want.
They're not gonna Iet you go up in your John Deere riding Iawnmower...
...into outer space and try and come back down...
...and make them Iook stupid. Do you think that's reaIIy gonna happen?
Don't answer me now. I don't want your answer right now.
But I want you to think about it.
Nice rocket, though.
Will Charles Farmer be allowed to launch his rocket?
That's why we're here today.
The FAA, FBI, CIA, the Department of Energy, and members of the military.
-They're all here. -What do you think about aII this?
Looks Iike we got home-fieId advantage, don't it?
They're not allowing cameras or the media inside during the hearing.
We are assembIed here to review an appIication...
...for the Iaunching of a spacecraft.
We'II be asking a series of questions. Answer to the best of your knowIedge.
Yes, sir.
Let's begin with your fIight pIan that you've submitted.
Your pIan is to do one compIete orbit of the Earth.
Once compIeted, the capsuIe wiII re-enter the atmosphere.
Sounds easy. SimpIe.
-Yes, sir. -WeII, it's not.
I wouId submit that's the gentIeman's opinion, not a statement of fact.
You are aware this is not a court of Iaw.
I am, but I'm not gonna sit here Iike a potted pIant.
I hope not.
As head of the FAA, my opinion might have some credence...
-...on the subject of space fIight. -Yes, sir.
You based your design on the AtIas rocket, yes?
-Yes, sir. -Were you aware that the AtIas...
...comes from the design of a baIIistic missiIe?
-Yes, sir. -So basicaIIy...
-...you've buiIt a missiIe in your barn. -That's incorrect.
WiII Beacon, CentraI InteIIigence Agency.
How do we know that you're not constructing a WMD?
WeII, because if I was buiIding a weapon of mass destruction...
...you wouIdn't be abIe to find it.
-Very funny, Mr. Farmer. -That's just the truth.
Here we are. Thanks for waiting.
Hi, thanks for waiting. Can I take your order?
-Audie Farmer? The astronaut's wife? -Yes, ma'am. What can I get for you?
Gretchen Boyd from ChiId Protective Services.
WouId you pIease sit down?
-No, thank you. -Mrs. Farmer...
...it has come to our attention...
...that your chiIdren, as weII as yourseIf, may be in harm's way.
How so?
Your husband has IiteraIIy brainwashed you and your chiIdren.
He's taken them out of schooI...
...and he has isoIated his entire famiIy from any other outside infIuence.
It's time you took controI of your famiIy before someone eIse does it for you.
-Who's your personnel at Mission Control? -Shepard Farmer, my son.
-Does he have any experience? -Sure does. Fifteen years.
Is this a joke to you, Mr. Farmer?
A 1 5-year-oId wiII be the head of your mission controI?
He's perfectIy capabIe of Iaunching his dad into space.
-Don't underestimate what my chiId can do. -Come on. He's 1 5 years oId.
We aIso have an evaIuation that was done recentIy by a Dr. Beth Goode.
Nurse Goode?
These are aIarming comments made by the doctor.
She said that Mr. Farmer is angry...
...unstabIe...
...deIusionaI...
...and that his overaII mentaI heaIth is in question.
CharIie, your father took his own Iife, is that correct?
Don't go there, coIoneI.
I can teII you right now, what you have buiIt here...
...is a one-way ticket to the afterIife.
A faciIity in which Mr. Farmer couId get himseIf into space.
The U.S. government has a space program, Mr. Farmer.
Why don't you just Ieave this to the professionaIs?
In 1 960 they started a space race.
By 1 969 we were on the moon.
Now, in that short period of time, Iook what we accompIished.
And in my opinion, I beIieve that if some other country...
...wanted to go to the moon and Iive there...
...we'd get in a war with them because we think the moon is ours.
WeII, it's not.
Just Iike it's not your right to teII me whether or not I can Iaunch into space.
Mr. Farmer, we have Iaws.
I know we have Iaws. We got aII kind of Iaws.
We got more Iaws to teII us what we can't do than anything eIse.
We got Iaws to protect us from other Iaws.
-Comments Iike that do not heIp. -Listen, you've been taIking aII morning.
Let me taIk for a minute.
Okay?
I won't take Iong.
When I was a kid, they used to teII me that I couId be anything I wanted to be.
No matter what.
And maybe I am insane, I don't know, but I stiII beIieve that.
I beIieve it with aII my heart.
Somewhere aIong the Iine...
...we stopped beIieving that we couId do anything.
And if we don't have our dreams, we have nothing.
You'II be informed of our decision.
I'm gonna save your Iife.
I'm gonna teII you something that no one eIse in there wiII teII you.
The U.S. miIitary has enough firepower pointed at your ranch...
...that if you decide to Iaunch...
...within seconds, your remains wiII be spread over five states.
-Is that a threat? -No.
You're the threat.
Don't beIieve a word he says, Farmer.
Nobody's gonna fire any missiIes at you.
They have no Iaw to stop you, so they're just trying to intimidate you.
I don't know.
ActuaIIy, I think they're pretty good at assassinating peopIe who have dreams.
Where's your heImet?
Now, I think that's it, Mrs. Farmer.
Thank you.
-So is it true? -What?
Got a miIIion doIIars for your story?
No, Vanessa, it's not true.
I won't teII anyone. I read about it in--
Vanessa, it's not true.
Your totaI is 86.05.
Sorry. Here.
Watch your fingers.
I'm sorry, Mrs. Farmer, but your card was decIined.
WouId you Iike to try another one?
Can you just keep aII this here...
...and we'II come back in a IittIe whiIe, okay?
Come on, girIs. Come on.
I'm going to the moon...
...and I'm bringing this brick.
Kids, your mom and I need a private moment.
No. This has been private Iong enough.
Now, you can Iie to me as much as you want, CharIes, but don't Iie to them.
TeII them.
TeII them we might not have a house in a few weeks.
-Knock it off, Audie, okay, pIease? -No, you knock it off.
-PIease, knock it off. -And what was your pIan?
BIasting off this Earth...
...and Ieaving us here to deaI with the consequences? With no money...
-...nothing, no money for food? -Oh, reaIIy? Is that right?
I'm sorry.
So we don't have any food? Is that what you think?
Kids, you don't have anything to worry about...
...because we got pIenty of food, okay?
Here's food.
You want macaroni and cheese? You want saImon in white sauce?
-You want rice piIaf? -Stop it!
-We got aII kinds of food! -Shepard, take the chiIdren out of here.
What, do you wanna throw that? You gonna throw something at me, Audie?
-Is that what you wanna do? Go ahead! -You wanna see fIying saucers?
Don't you ever accuse me of that again in front of the kids. You understand me?
You're not taking care of us when we don't have a home!
You have to keep us safe!
And this dream that we aII share feeds one person, and that's you!
You're gonna Iose everything, CharIes, incIuding your famiIy.
Now, I need to cIean up this kitchen.
I'm sorry I did this.
Audie.
I Iove you and those kids more than anything in this worId.
But if I don't do what I beIieve in...
...then I haven't done them any good at aII.
I have aIways beIieved.
I just don't know anymore.
Okay. Here we go.
-HoId Mommy's purse. -Audie?
Audie, honey, you don't have to Ieave.
It's Sunday. We're going to church.
I'm hoping they'II Iearn something about forgiveness, because they'II need it.
-Come on, Audie, don't do that. -No, CharIes. They worship you.
And so that I don't get bitter...
...and caII you an ass for Iying to us...
...I'm gonna have to figure out a way to forgive you.
And so wiII they.
You know, I teII you one thing.
You are one fabuIous father.
And you know why, Farmer?
This man couIdn't even get his famiIy to eat dinner together.
But you have got your famiIy...
...dreaming together.
That is big stuff, sir.
ReaIIy big stuff.
Boy, they gotta burn a Iot of fueI to run them cars, you know it?
Gotta wonder if aII them cars wouId be going around in circIes Iike that...
...if they didn't have aII that advertising.
The fact of the matter is, Doug, if you advertise on my rocket...
...it's gonna raise your saIes.
It just stands to reason. PIus, you'II be getting attention...
...that you normaIIy wouIdn't get from conventionaI methods.
Now, I've got a Ietter out to the CEO of Coca-CoIa.
I expect to hear back from them soon.
If they come onboard, they'II be right here.
But before they come on and paint the whoIe thing red, you got your choice.
I mean, Iook at this.
Can you imagine?
Dunkin' Donuts bIasting off into space.
What if your mission's aborted...
...or your success doesn't measure to this finaI statement?
-What are you impIying? -The risk factor is high, Farmer.
But it's an educated risk.
Did you read the case study on Tang?
The profits they made off putting that orange dust up onboard.
I've made a graph. Did you Iook at it?
Oh, yeah, Tang. I raised three kids on that stuff.
WeII, it's fuII of vitamins.
What's that IittIe oId cheesy deaI y'aII got now?
I mean, teII me what happens if your whoIe mission goes to shit.
-I mean, I can't deaI with much more of it. -You mean, Iike, if I die?
If something were to happen to you, Farmer...
...candy sprinkIes, M&M's, Oreo cookies...
...there's no amount of topping...
...that wouId cover the amount of guiIt that I wouId have.
Look, if you die...
...the book deaI, Good Morning America, that TV movie, Jay Leno...
...aII that vanishes.
Without a successfuI mission, I don't see the profits breaking into the red.
I might as weII go put my money in KIeenex stock...
...because aII you're gonna be producing is a ton of tears.
But if you circIe the worId...
...you Iand back over in your back yard Iike your mission pIan says...
...you're a man-made American hero.
Now if I couId onIy Iaunch a rocket with jeIIy doughnuts.
Sunshine, why don't you go give your grandpa one, okay?
He Ioves the sprinkIes. Take Grandpa a doughnut. There you go.
-Take Grandpa a doughnut. -Just have two, okay?
Just two.
-Do you want one? -No, honey, I've aIready had three or four.
With, Iike, seven cups of coffee and....
Grandpa, here's a doughnut.
-Grandpa no wake up. -What, sweetie?
Grandpa no wake up.
Dad?
Oh, Dad.
There are no stop signs up there.
There is no defining space.
We have always defined our space.
A wall here, a room there.
A hallway, a road.
We have this way of dividing our space until it equals a direction.
We even created a space for the dead.
Space is a difficult thing to grasp.
Man, Farmer...
...you have the most abstract thoughts.
They don't make any sense at aII.
I'm just waiting for the other thoughts to string aII this mess together.
Hey, who's that out there?
Maybe one of HaI's Iong-Iost friends.
How you doing?
How many head of cattIe do you run out here?
Enough to suit me.
You are the property owner?
Yeah.
-CharIes Farmer. -Correct.
I'm appraising your Iand for First NationaI Bank...
...who's activeIy seeking a forecIosure.
What was your name?
Sir?
-What was your name again? -Robert WiIson.
Robert, nice to meet you.
You know, I own 352 acres.
Did you ever try to find a body on that much Iand?
I'm not the bad guy here, mister.
WeII, you're not the good guy either.
Shep, Iook here. I think I've figured out another way to make our fueI.
We combine kerosene with hydrazine.
Are you sure, Dad?
Son, I don't know another way to do it unIess we compIeteIy modify the engine.
PIus, we got aII the stuff right here in the barn.
The fueI wiII stiII be pumped in at a high pressure...
...and it'II burn in the chamber...
...create the same exhaust gases as the high-grade rocket fueI.
That shouId provide enough thrust to send me into orbit.
Make sense?
Yeah. Yeah.
Farmer?
-Yeah, I'm down here in the engine room. -Hey.
-They made a ruIing yet? -Why do you think I'm here?
The committee wants 60 days to make a ruIing.
But I don't have 60 days. The bank's gonna forecIose in a week.
I'm aware of that.
-I just don't have that kind of time. -That's their pIan.
Do you think they want you to Iaunch this?
They'II staII, staII, staII.
And then there'II be appeaIs. This'II go on forever.
-Yeah. -Are you ready for that?
I'm sorry about the ruIing, Farmer.
Yeah.
You know, my father Ioved ranching.
He Ioved it with aII his heart.
It was his dream.
Then when it got tough...
...and he knew they were gonna try to take it away from him...
...he put a gun to his head...
...before they couId.
And that buIIet's stiII traveIing.
It just keeps on going.
And now it's headed straight for my dream.
Just promise me you're not gonna do something stupid.
-Like what? Build a rocket? -No.
You know better than that.
I've walked away before...
...and I can't walk away again.
CharIes?
I can't just keep failing.
I hope you understand that.
I promise you everything will be okay.
No.
Shepard!
Come on.
Damn!
CharIie.
CharIie, can you hear me?
No, don't move. Don't move your body. Don't move it, sweetie.
Oh, my God.
Don't you dare Ieave this famiIy. You stay with me!
Six broken ribs. Broken Ieft wrist.
Compound facture to the fibuIa.
Severe head trauma. MuItipIe Iacerations to the face.
Is there any good news?
He's aIive.
Hang on, hang on, hang on.
You gotta be strong for your daddy, now, okay?
Now, he wants to hear how much we Iove him, okay? It's reaIIy important.
You okay?
Yeah? How about you? You aII right, sweetheart?
StanIey?
Come here, sweetheart.
Why don't we go get something to drink.
WiII you stay with him, honey?
StanIey? StanIey. Honey.
Dad?
It's Shep, Dad.
I was Iooking in the barn today...
...and we can buiId another one just Iike it. I swear we can.
We have everything right in there in the barn.
We couId buiId everything.
I swear, we can buiId another one just Iike it. We just need you back.
You can't give up. You can't give up.
And, children, when they say, ""Don't try this at home, "" they mean it.
Okay. Go ahead. Yeah. What? Okay.
Ask them how Iong they want us to stay here. Ask them.
Okay. Yeah. AII right.
They toId us to hang tight.
Grab a coupIe of these mugs. They make good souvenirs.
There's no Iogo on them.
The bIending of high-test rocket fueI is cIearIy not a project for amateurs.
This is why we have such strict ruIes and reguIations in pIace.
Space fIight is a serious endeavor, not to be taken IightIy.
We can onIy hope that through this near-fataI tragedy...
...other space enthusiasts get the reaI message...
...displayed by Mr. Farmer here, and not the one hyped up by the media.
No further questions.
How stupid I am.
This a Iecture that you want me to hear?
No.
You're aIive, stupid.
They gotta get me some cereaI.
I'm going to the moon, and I'm bringing--
Oh, sweetie, Iet's not pIay that game tonight, okay?
But why?
Because she said so.
PIease, honey.
It's okay.
Shepard, you gotta give him some time.
Daddy's reaI tired, you know? He needs to-- He needs to get some rest.
AIbeit handwritten, your dad's wiII is pretty straightforward.
Three trust funds for the kids.
After that, 200,000 in assets. Another 1 00,000 in cash.
Some stocks and bonds.
It's aII yours.
TroubIes with the bank are over, anyway.
Thank you.
-Look, I found one! -Look, I found one!
That's good, baby.
-Look, I found one again! -Look, I found one again!
Have them come get that rocket and take it to the junkyard.
-CharIes. -Audie, it's aIready hurt them enough.
I don't want it to hurt this famiIy anymore.
WeII, everything is now current and up-to-date.
I have stopped the forecIosure. No worries.
Thanks, Arnie.
You did the right thing.
Oh, boy.
Did Farmer have us aII beIieving he was going off into outer space.
How stupid do we Iook?
What?
When we took our vows...
...we promised to love each other in sickness and in health.
Did that mean mental health? Because you are crazy.
I mean, when you first said you wanted to go into space, I thought:
''WeII, what man doesn't say he wants his space?''
The difference is, now...
...we have a famiIy.
A beautifuI famiIy.
And I see how the girIs Iook at you.
They adore you.
They Iove their daddy who wants to go into space.
I don't wanna be responsibIe for kiIIing that hope in their eyes.
And what kind of message wouId you be sending to Shepard?
I want his dad to show him how it's done.
Now, Iook.
There's enough money in there for you to do whatever you need to do.
Without the rocket...
...we're just a dysfunctionaI famiIy.
We'll rebuild the rocket to the exact specifications as the original.
I've inventoried all materials on hand. Awaiting delivery on....
Three spherical oxygen bottles.
-Three thousand linear feet of 20-gauge.... -Unlike the first launch...
...this fuel will burn evenly...
...giving us the right amount of thrust needed to launch....
-Twenty MCM submodule components. -Lithium hydroxide canisters....
-There are pIenty of aIternative fueIs. -We have to find them IegitimateIy.
The altitude would be 1 00 miles and the speed would be 25,000....
Fire-protective fabric.
-Test. -Testing.
The rocket will be launched from the barn, heading 7 2.5 1 degrees....
Five thousand linear feet 30-gauge....
Two hundred linear feet....
Oxygen could last three times longer than needed...
...but let's not put that to the test.
You know, when you're a kid, you wanna be just like your dad.
Then when you're a teenager...
...you don't wanna have anything to do with him.
Then when you grow up, you end up just like him.
My dad showed me one thing when he died.
He wasn't dying, he was giving up.
No matter what happens to me today, my chiIdren wiII see that I didn't give up.
And I can die knowing that.
Yeah.
Man.
We have been out here way too Iong.
Okay. Yeah, okay. Okay.
-What? -Headquarters. Rocket Man's buying fueI.
Suspect Charles Farmer. Male Caucasian.
Approximately 5'1 0"", 1 7 0 pounds.
Last seen in a brown Ford pickup bearing east on Route 9.
Now, this launch is gonna take all the strength...
...and all the focus this family has.
You're my crew, my teammates.
WeII, thank you, honey. I can use these, you know.
-Is Daddy gonna come back? -Yeah, I'm coming back.
Don't you worry.
-I Iove you, honey. -I Iove you too.
It'II be okay. Don't you worry.
I Iove you guys.
Now, Shepard.
If anything's gonna go wrong, it'II go wrong in the first 1 0 minutes.
-After that, I'II be airborne. -Dad--
It's okay. I'm not worried about you.
-You can do it. -AII right.
Audie...
...it's gonna be okay.
PIease don't break my heart.
I won't.
Step away from the vehicIe! Show me your hands!
Put your hands up! Let me see them!
-Right there, right there. -Let me see those hands.
Turn around sIowIy.
I expect you home for dinner.
Dad, do you copy?
Now we Iook Iike asses.
ControI Booth.
Preparation for launch underway. Local temperature, 65 degrees.
Wind speed, four knots. Opening canopy doors.
Cabin pressure holding 5.8.
Fuel and oxygen are steady. Power still looks good.
Status is good.
Canopy doors cleared for launch.
All remaining units report to the Farmer residence.
-Ready for system check. -Roger.
Hydraulics okay. Fuel pressure's okay. All systems go.
-Roger. -VesseI restraints unIocked.
Ignition system on.
Abort system on standby. Cleared for launch at zero hour, 9 a.m.
Roger.
Ten...
...nine...
...eight...
...seven, six...
...five, four...
...three...
...two, one.
It's okay. It's okay.
FueI is go.
-Go, Dad, go! -Go, Dad!
That is so huge.
CharIie Farmer.
Oxygen in the cabin is good.
Pressure's holding. The isolated battery's okay.
Everything's okay. Son of a bitch.
It's getting a IittIe smoother. A IittIe smoother.
Cut off, tower. Jettison green. Disarm.
CharIes Farmer Iaunched!
No, he didn't.
CapsuIe separation, green, okay.
We did it, Shepard!
We did it!
We made it, Mom.
This is where the dreams Iive.
I'm up here.
Africa.
-Hi, Daddy. -Hi, Daddy.
God, I wish you were with me.
I wish you guys were here so bad.
Have you heard about this guy, Charlie Farmer, who built his own rocket?
Shepard.
Shepard, can you hear me?
Shepard.
-Shepard? -Dad.
Shepard.
Shepard, can you hear me?
Come on.
-Where is he? -Dad, pIease come in.
-Dad, are you there? Dad? -It's okay.
Control Booth to Dreamer. Control Booth to Dreamer. Are you there?
It's okay.
As you no doubt have heard, there have been unsubstantiated rumors...
...of an alleged launch from somewhere in Texas.
And for whatever reason, this seems to be attributed to our oId friend Mr. Farmer.
We here at the FAA categoricaIIy deny the existence of any Iaunch.
As far as we know, Mr. Farmer is resting comfortabIy...
...probabIy watching this press conference on teIevision.
Once again, no launch has taken place.
Your daddy's gonna come home soon.
So Dad launched at 0922.
So right now he's been in orbit for eight hours, 56 minutes and 1 5 seconds.
Distance traveIed so far is 1 52,042 miIes.
WeII, when wiII he come back?
He may do 1 2 or 1 3 orbits before he re-enters the Earth's atmosphere.
And if you figure that, then it....
What?
WeII, he couId end up running out of oxygen.
I still can't locate him, Mom.
Why don't you get some rest?
-I can't, Mom. Dad needs me. -That's an order.
I'm proud of you.
Say something, Farmer.
Shepard.
Come in, Shepard.
Shepard.
Shepard! Can you hear me?
Shepard!
Come on.
HeIIo? HeIIo?
This is the Astronaut Farmer.
-Come in, Mission Control. -Dad, it's Shep!
Daddy! Daddy!
I think I'm gonna miss the back yard.
Don't worry. I'm setting up coordinates for orbit nine to 1 0.
You don't wanna miss this window for re-entry.
If readings are correct, you're off by 20 percent.
-Preparing for re-entry. -Re-entry is go.
Good luck. We'll be watching for you, Dad.
Where can we take you?
Home.
-Hey, Dad. -I made it! I made it!
Good job, son.
-I Iove you. -My heImet.
I want that.
-And I want the rocket. -I want that.
Let's go to a restaurant to have pizza.
Okay. We couId go there too.
My next guest has an amazing story.
He's the only private citizen ever to build his own rocket...
...orbit the Earth, and return safely.
As you know, he orbited nine times.
PIease weIcome CharIie Farmer. CharIie, come on out here.
How are you, paI? Good to see you.
Have a seat.
Let me ask you something.
How does this go over with the wife and kids?
Most guys I know can't get a HarIey out of the wife.
You know what I'm saying? How do you get the rocket?
I know it might sound Iike baIoney...
...but my wife and kids were reaI supportive of the whoIe thing aII the way around.
How do you know you were physicaIIy up to this? It's been a whiIe--
I did some tests on myseIf.
I know they have that big-- What is that? The cycIotron?
What do you do, run around a tree with a rope? What do you do?
See what I'm saying?
I didn't reaIIy have the equipment that NASA might require.
So I just had to make up my own tests, but....
You think they wiII cIamp down on peopIe? WiII peopIe be aIIowed to do this after you?
You know, I was fine when I was buiIding the rocket.
It's when I ordered the 1 0,000 pounds of rocket fueI...
-...that the FBI-- -WeII, yeah, that'd do it.
-The FBI came around to say heIIo to me. -Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I know aII the government peopIe, the NASA peopIe, were against you.
Once this Iooked Iike it was gonna happen...
...were they puIIing for you or feeIing resistance?
WeII, I'II put it this way.
To be up there and Iook back down here at us...
-...it makes it aII worth it. -WeII, you did it.
Godspeed to you, CharIie. Great job.
CharIie Farmer wiII be right back, right after this.
[ENGLISH]