1. While most of President
Eisenhower's advisers...Copy !req
2. Today are ominous.Copy !req
3. Washington...Copy !req
4. If you have just tuned in
to this special bulletin,Copy !req
5. Washington has confirmed
that, yesterday,Copy !req
6. on the fourth
of October, 1957,Copy !req
7. the Soviet Union
successfully launchedCopy !req
8. history's first
man-made satelliteCopy !req
9. into space orbit
around the Earth.Copy !req
10. The satellite, which the
Russians have dubbed SputnikCopy !req
11. is being hailed as a
milestone in history.Copy !req
12. No one in our nation's capital
could deny that the satelliteCopy !req
13. has ushered in a grim
new chapter in the Cold War.Copy !req
14. And indeed, a wave
of national anxietyCopy !req
15. already seems to be
sweeping the country.Copy !req
16. Still maintaining its speed
of 18,000 miles an hour,Copy !req
17. completing an orbit
of the Earth every 96 minutes.Copy !req
18. Doctor Wernher Von Braun,Copy !req
19. chief engineer of the army
ballistic missile agency,Copy !req
20. expressed the hope
that the United StatesCopy !req
21. would soon be following
the Russians into spaceCopy !req
22. with our own
artificial satellite.Copy !req
23. Mister Von Braun confirmedCopy !req
24. that there has
still been no actualCopy !req
25. sighting of
the Soviet satellite,Copy !req
26. but the U.S. expects
to be tracking it very soon.Copy !req
27. We are told that Sputnik will
be visible to the naked eyeCopy !req
28. about an hour after sunset
and an hour before dawn,Copy !req
29. as it traverses the October
sky over the United States.Copy !req
30. What the beeping signal means
we still don't know.Copy !req
31. It may be nothing more...Copy !req
32. Let's go, Roy Lee.Copy !req
33. It's almost 9:00.Copy !req
34. Sure are in a hurry
to get yourself killed.Copy !req
35. No kiddin'. There
are easier waysCopy !req
36. to commit suicide,
Homer.Copy !req
37. Will you just
step on it, Roy Lee?Copy !req
38. I am steppin' on it.Copy !req
39. Okay, Maguire, Longstreet, Hickam.
Let's see what you got.Copy !req
40. Hey, take it easy
on my kid brother.Copy !req
41. Make him look
good, all right?Copy !req
42. Let's go! Hut!Copy !req
43. I thought I told you
to take it easy on him.Copy !req
44. I did take it
easy on him.Copy !req
45. Ten!Copy !req
46. I'm gonna run right over
you, you son of a bitch.Copy !req
47. You hear me?Copy !req
48. Hut one! Hut two!Copy !req
49. Homer, you sure
got guts,Copy !req
50. but you gotta
know when to quit.Copy !req
51. Okay, Miller!
You're up!Copy !req
52. Why should
the damn jocksCopy !req
53. be the only ones
gettin' scholarships?Copy !req
54. They're also the only
ones that get the girls.Copy !req
55. This burns my ass.Copy !req
56. What do you boys
think about this?Copy !req
57. Isn't that something?
Hmm...Copy !req
58. Let 'em have
outer space.Copy !req
59. We got rock 'n' roll.Copy !req
60. I'm with you. We got enough
to worry about down here.Copy !req
61. Homer, your dad say
anything about any layoffs?Copy !req
62. No.Copy !req
63. Have they pulled
any more pillars?Copy !req
64. Uh, he didn't say.Copy !req
65. Does he talk at all?Copy !req
66. Oh, yeah. He talks.Copy !req
67. Damn it, Jake!Copy !req
68. Didn't I tell you
to put some menCopy !req
69. to work on those roof bolts?Copy !req
70. Was I talkin'
to the wall?Copy !req
71. I'm sorry, John.
We was just tryin' to get...Copy !req
72. Make sure
the hoot owl shiftCopy !req
73. sets those timbers
by the vent!Copy !req
74. Two more days
on that block,Copy !req
75. we're gonna be
down to the bone.Copy !req
76. I guess that's...Copy !req
77. Jensen!Copy !req
78. Get out of the way!Copy !req
79. Jensen, look out!Copy !req
80. Come on.
Come on, Jensen.Copy !req
81. Come on back.Copy !req
82. Come on.
What happened?Copy !req
83. Whole damn mountain
'bout fell on your head.Copy !req
84. And John here...
He saved your life.Copy !req
85. That's my dad.Copy !req
86. I want you
out of this mine.Copy !req
87. Don't come back, you
stupid son of a bitch.Copy !req
88. Didn't I tell you to
watch the roof, huh?Copy !req
89. Now we could've
all been killedCopy !req
90. 'cause you didn't have
the sense to look up!Copy !req
91. That's my dad.Copy !req
92. Homer.Copy !req
93. Well, how'd it go?Copy !req
94. Well, I told you. You spend
the summer shovelin' coal,Copy !req
95. and you'll be playin' linebacker next fall.Copy !req
96. What's the matter, Homer?
Not cut out for mining coal?Copy !req
97. Me neither.Copy !req
98. Hey, let's get
that mess cleaned up!Copy !req
99. Let's get some
cribbin' on that roof!Copy !req
100. Buck up, Homer.
You're a Coalwood boy.Copy !req
101. When you get down
in the mine,Copy !req
102. get that coal shovel
in your hand,Copy !req
103. feel just as natural to you
as a tick on a dog.Copy !req
104. And get that slate
off the loader!Copy !req
105. It's the radio signal...Copy !req
106. transmitted by
the Soviet Sputnik.Copy !req
107. Listen now for the sound which forevermore
separates the old from the new.Copy !req
108. That's it?
That's the Sputnik?Copy !req
109. That's Sputnik.Copy !req
110. Well, big deal.Copy !req
111. Big deal?
What you fail to graspCopy !req
112. is that the sound you're
hearin' is bein' transmittedCopy !req
113. by an object that is travelin'
at 18,000 miles per hour,Copy !req
114. 559 miles high,Copy !req
115. and orbitin' the
Earth every nine...Copy !req
116. Shut up!Copy !req
117. Boys, not in my class!Copy !req
118. Thank you, Quentin.Copy !req
119. Now Quentin's right, y'all.Copy !req
120. Sputnik is a milestone
in history.Copy !req
121. Things'll never
be the same again.Copy !req
122. What do you think
about that, Homer?Copy !req
123. Well, yes, ma'am. Uh...Copy !req
124. Cat got your tongue?Copy !req
125. We were talkin' about
bein' in orbit,Copy !req
126. hundreds of miles
away from the Earth.Copy !req
127. You know anything
about that?Copy !req
128. No, ma'am.Copy !req
129. I got my eye
on you, boy.Copy !req
130. Now who can tell me why
Sputnik is so important?Copy !req
131. We ought to just shoot
the damn thing down.Copy !req
132. It's got one of them
little spy cameras in it.Copy !req
133. It takes pictures of every
one of our missile bases.Copy !req
134. This country'd better get on
the ball before it's too late.Copy !req
135. All I know is this Sputnik
had better show up soon.Copy !req
136. I'm gettin' a crick
in my neck.Copy !req
137. All right. What you need to doCopy !req
138. is take her to the movies.Copy !req
139. Somethin' scary, like
Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman.Copy !req
140. Then you take your arm
and put it up roundCopy !req
141. the back of her chair,
like so.Copy !req
142. Now when it gets
real scary,Copy !req
143. and she ain't payin' attention
to nothin' but the movie,Copy !req
144. you sort of let your arm sort
of slide on down her shoulder,Copy !req
145. real nice and slow
and easy,Copy !req
146. until...Copy !req
147. Hey! Hey!Copy !req
148. I see it! Right there!Copy !req
149. Where? Where?Copy !req
150. You seein'
things, Carl?Copy !req
151. I see it.Copy !req
152. Where?Copy !req
153. I see it.
It's right there.Copy !req
154. Son of bitches gonna be droppin'
bombs on us from up there.Copy !req
155. Don't know why they'd drop
a bomb on this place.Copy !req
156. Be a heck
of a waste of a bomb.Copy !req
157. The first game
against Welch...Copy !req
158. That's the one that's
gonna draw the scouts.Copy !req
159. Yeah. Welch knows it too. They're
gonna be coming after us.Copy !req
160. Well, y'all
be careful, Jim.Copy !req
161. Last year, those two boys from
Welch got their arms broken.Copy !req
162. Well, they started it.Copy !req
163. It don't matter much
who started it.Copy !req
164. I don't call
that football.Copy !req
165. You don't worry
about Jim.Copy !req
166. Ain't nobody on the Welch
team that can catch him.Copy !req
167. I wish the scouts could've seen
that first game with Bluefield.Copy !req
168. I'm gonna build a rocket.Copy !req
169. Like Sputnik.Copy !req
170. Well, I'm not sayin' it's gonna
go up in space or anything,Copy !req
171. but I'm gonna do it.Copy !req
172. I'm gonna build
a rocket.Copy !req
173. Well, just don't
blow yourself up.Copy !req
174. More eggs, anybody?Copy !req
175. Nice rocket, Homer.Copy !req
176. How high do you
think it will fly?Copy !req
177. Well, I got it packed with the
powder from 30 sky rockets.Copy !req
178. Three, four miles.Copy !req
179. You ready? Yeah.Copy !req
180. Yeah.Copy !req
181. Ten, nine,Copy !req
182. eight, seven, six... Should
we get behind somethin'?Copy !req
183. What happened?Copy !req
184. My rocket blew up.Copy !req
185. Are you okay?Copy !req
186. I guess.Copy !req
187. My heart's poundin'.Copy !req
188. I thought the mine blew up.
Oh, Homer.Copy !req
189. I waited six months
for the company carpenterCopy !req
190. to finally get around
to puttin' up that fence.Copy !req
191. Didn't I tell you not
to blow yourself up?Copy !req
192. Yes, ma'am.Copy !req
193. Then let's not.Copy !req
194. Elsie.Copy !req
195. It's all right,
Ms. Fields.Copy !req
196. It's all right.Copy !req
197. Dear Dr. Von Braun...Copy !req
198. Six, five, four, three...Copy !req
199. My name is Homer Hickam.
Two, one...Copy !req
200. I'm 17 and I live in a small
mining town in West Virginia.Copy !req
201. Ignition.Copy !req
202. Lift-off. Lift-off.Copy !req
203. I'm writing to offer my
condolences to you and your teamCopy !req
204. on your recent attempt
to launch the Vanguard rocket.Copy !req
205. I also had
a disastrous occurrenceCopy !req
206. during the launch
of my own small rocket.Copy !req
207. Since here in Coalwood,
everyone's much more interestedCopy !req
208. in what's down below the Earth
than what's above it,Copy !req
209. there isn't a whole lot
of material to be foundCopy !req
210. on the subject of rocketry.Copy !req
211. So I've been kind of
stumbling around in the dark.Copy !req
212. You can't be seen
with him, Homer.Copy !req
213. He's a weirdo.
You go ahead,Copy !req
214. but you can kiss your
social life goodbye.Copy !req
215. Hi, Homer.
Hi.Copy !req
216. I don't let anybody
copy my homework.Copy !req
217. I don't wanna
copy your homework.Copy !req
218. Um,Copy !req
219. do you know anything
about rockets?Copy !req
220. Of course I do.Copy !req
221. Uh, you wanna come with
me over to the library?Copy !req
222. No.Copy !req
223. What do you wanna
know about rockets?Copy !req
224. Everything.Copy !req
225. Well, rocketry was actually invented
by the Chinese as early as 1,000 A.D.Copy !req
226. And, supposedly, they
were quite sophisticated.Copy !req
227. "Potassium chlorate and sulfur."Copy !req
228. Uh, well,
what'd you use?Copy !req
229. Uh, somethin' like that.Copy !req
230. Hey, Quentin,
this is great.Copy !req
231. This is exactly... We have
everything we need in here.Copy !req
232. Roy Lee, drive me
to my house.Copy !req
233. We can use my basement.Copy !req
234. Yeah, at least nobody'll
see us down there.Copy !req
235. Go, go!Copy !req
236. Come on.Copy !req
237. You got a loose
choke cable.Copy !req
238. You hear that?Copy !req
239. The butterfly valve
isn't closin' all the way.Copy !req
240. Uh, last year I built
an internal combustion engineCopy !req
241. and entered it in
the science fair.Copy !req
242. Yeah, well, you wouldn't happen
to have it on you, would you?Copy !req
243. Ugh!Copy !req
244. Ow!
I'm sorry.Copy !req
245. You missed a spot.Copy !req
246. This thing's startin'
to look like a rocket.Copy !req
247. Listen to this.
"Weld the washerCopy !req
248. "to the base
of the rocket body,Copy !req
249. "creating a combustion chamber
and nozzle."Copy !req
250. We don't know how to weld. Weld.Copy !req
251. Homer, your brother's in metal shop.
Maybe he could, uh...Copy !req
252. Do we really need
this nozzle thing?Copy !req
253. For cryin' out loud,Copy !req
254. the nozzle's
the most important part.Copy !req
255. It directs the flow
of the hot gases!Copy !req
256. Hey, cool it, Quentin.Copy !req
257. Man, talkin' about
your hot gases.Copy !req
258. I don't think your fatherCopy !req
259. would like you sneaking up in the
middle of the night in here,Copy !req
260. and I know that
he wouldn't like meCopy !req
261. welding for you
on company time.Copy !req
262. Well, what if I paid
the company for your time?Copy !req
263. Homer, I can't.Copy !req
264. I would lose my job.Copy !req
265. I'm sorry.Copy !req
266. Did you see Sputnik go
over the other night? Nah.Copy !req
267. 'Cause it was beautiful.Copy !req
268. I stood there and watched it
streak across the sky.Copy !req
269. And anywhere
in the world,Copy !req
270. someone could look up
and see exactly what I saw.Copy !req
271. For once, it felt like Coalwood
was part of the outside world.Copy !req
272. Homer, believe me,
there are muchCopy !req
273. worse places than Coalwood
in this world.Copy !req
274. Besides, this is just
a flying piece of steel.Copy !req
275. You know, a rocket took it up there, Mr.
Bykovsky.Copy !req
276. I don't know. I...Copy !req
277. When I was workin' on
this rocket, I felt like,Copy !req
278. I felt like I was,Copy !req
279. like I was
Wernher Von Braun.Copy !req
280. Let me see.Copy !req
281. Homer,Copy !req
282. it will be our secret.Copy !req
283. Mr. Bykovsky did
a dang good job on this.Copy !req
284. Yeah, well, he used
a washer for the weld.Copy !req
285. Man, it looks just like it did
in the picture. Prodigious.Copy !req
286. When, uh,
when do we go?Copy !req
287. Give me that.
Uh, Saturday...Copy !req
288. What is this,
a weapon of some kind?Copy !req
289. No, sir. It's a, it's a rocket.Copy !req
290. I don't allow dangerous
devices on school grounds.Copy !req
291. Mr. Turner, I asked Homer
to bring that to school.Copy !req
292. To show it in class.Copy !req
293. You know, the boys
are thinkin' aboutCopy !req
294. enterin' that
county science fair.Copy !req
295. Be careful, gentlemen.Copy !req
296. I'm gonna have
my eye on you.Copy !req
297. Thank you, Mr. Turner.Copy !req
298. That science fair is rigged.
All the judges are from Welch,Copy !req
299. so only the kids
from Welch ever win.Copy !req
300. And besides, science
fairs are for geeks.Copy !req
301. No offense, Quentin.Copy !req
302. Well, it's too bad
you feel that way.Copy !req
303. You know, the winners go on to the
national Science fair in Indianapolis,Copy !req
304. and colleges from all over the
country hand out scholarships.Copy !req
305. It's great.
Have a good lunch, boys.Copy !req
306. College scholarships
for winning a science fair?Copy !req
307. Well, maybe
it's not for you.Copy !req
308. Well, what do you mean?Copy !req
309. Homer, you got
a great mind.Copy !req
310. But science requires math,Copy !req
311. which has never been one
of your favorite subjects.Copy !req
312. Can't just dream your way
out of Coalwood, Homer.Copy !req
313. Auk I.
Stroke of genius, Homer.Copy !req
314. It won't fly unless
somebody lights the fuse.Copy !req
315. What the hell is a Auk?Copy !req
316. It's a bird
that don't fly.Copy !req
317. What, kind of
like a parakeet?Copy !req
318. Ready?Copy !req
319. Well, Youngstown's
always been fair, Otis,Copy !req
320. but you're asking me toCopy !req
321. lay off damn
near half the town.Copy !req
322. The mine is just
not producin'Copy !req
323. the way it was
10 years ago, John.Copy !req
324. We're payin' the same labor
for half the tonnage.Copy !req
325. What if we were to
open up a new shaft?Copy !req
326. That coal is
down there, Otis.Copy !req
327. You just let me go after it.Copy !req
328. The Coalwood mine is
givin' out, Mr. Hickam.Copy !req
329. Move!Copy !req
330. Ten...Copy !req
331. Nine, eight,Copy !req
332. seven, six, five,Copy !req
333. four, three, two...Copy !req
334. Uh-oh. Holy shit, it's
headed for the mine!Copy !req
335. I told you we didn't
know what we were doin'!Copy !req
336. I told you!
Oh, no. Oh, no.Copy !req
337. I don't believe this.Copy !req
338. Go ahead.Copy !req
339. God in heaven, I thought
it was a guided missile!Copy !req
340. I thought the damn
Russians were attackin' us.Copy !req
341. The boy's in trouble now.Copy !req
342. So this is what you been up
to in the basement, huh?Copy !req
343. Yes, sir.Copy !req
344. Damn, Homer.Copy !req
345. You could've killed somebody
with this idiot thing.Copy !req
346. I know, sir.
I'm sorry. I was...Copy !req
347. Well, Homer here wants to be a
rocket scientist. Is that it, John?Copy !req
348. He has no idea
what he wants to be.Copy !req
349. But I know what he is.
He's a menace,Copy !req
350. and he's a damn thief.Copy !req
351. Dad... And so is
whoever helped you.Copy !req
352. Ike Bykovsky
did this, didn't he?Copy !req
353. Don't you ever
let me catch youCopy !req
354. with these fool things on company
property again, you understand me?Copy !req
355. Yes, sir.Copy !req
356. Then go home.Copy !req
357. Yeah? What's your
tunnel number?Copy !req
358. He called me a thief, Ma,
in front of everybody.Copy !req
359. I mean, how could he do that?Copy !req
360. He was dead wrong
callin' you that.Copy !req
361. He'd never have
done that to Jim.Copy !req
362. They could catch Jim
stickin' up the company store,Copy !req
363. and Dad would probably laugh
and say, "That's my boy."Copy !req
364. I know he's hard to understand
sometimes, Homer,Copy !req
365. but you have to
know he loves you.Copy !req
366. He loves the mine...Copy !req
367. More than Jim even.Copy !req
368. More than you.Copy !req
369. You hush up.Copy !req
370. What's it given him back?Copy !req
371. Nothin' but a spot on his lung
the size of a damn quarter.Copy !req
372. You don't know what
the mine gives me.Copy !req
373. You don't know
'cause you're still a boy.Copy !req
374. But, by golly, you're gonna
find out soon enough.Copy !req
375. I'm never goin' down there.Copy !req
376. You better have a talk
with your son, Elsie,Copy !req
377. 'cause he's out of control.Copy !req
378. Where's my rocket stuff?Copy !req
379. Right where
they belong.Copy !req
380. Quentin, you know, that rocket
went up at least 100 feet.Copy !req
381. More like 200.Copy !req
382. God...Copy !req
383. Man, will you
cut it out, Roy Lee?Copy !req
384. Die, you son of a bitch.Copy !req
385. Come on.
My turn now.Copy !req
386. Hey, man.
What's with you?Copy !req
387. Man, we should be tryin'
to get in that science fairCopy !req
388. instead of sittin' around here
like a bunch of hillbillies.Copy !req
389. I got some really bad news for you, Homer.
We are a bunch of hillbillies.Copy !req
390. Besides, um, didn't your
dad say no more rockets?Copy !req
391. No. He said no more rockets
on company property.Copy !req
392. Do you realize how farCopy !req
393. we'd have to go to get
off company property?Copy !req
394. Yeah.
We have to go to Snakeroot.Copy !req
395. Snakeroot?
That's eight miles.Copy !req
396. It's not that far. I mean,
we could walk if we have to.Copy !req
397. Oh, walk. That's a fantastic idea.Copy !req
398. Let's go! Come on!Copy !req
399. Wake the hell up,
will ya, Homer?Copy !req
400. I got about as much chance
of winnin' that science fairCopy !req
401. as you do winnin'
a football scholarship.Copy !req
402. I know I'm gonna
be a miner.Copy !req
403. I've known
my entire life.Copy !req
404. What the hell's so
bad about minin' coal?Copy !req
405. Nothin', Roy Lee.
Coal minin's great.Copy !req
406. That's why your stepdaddy's the
biggest drunk in West Virginia.Copy !req
407. I mean, come on, guys!
You know the mine'll kill ya.Copy !req
408. Did you ever hear the story
about how O'Dell's dad died?Copy !req
409. Homer, will you
forget it, man?Copy !req
410. Shut up, Homer.Copy !req
411. A piece of slate caught
him right in the neckCopy !req
412. and cut his head
clear off.Copy !req
413. Bitch! Come on!Copy !req
414. O'Dell!Copy !req
415. Get off of me!Copy !req
416. Hey, fellas.
We're lookin' for U.S. 52.Copy !req
417. Uh, fellas?Copy !req
418. Uh, just, uh, stay
left at the fork.Copy !req
419. It's about another
five miles straight ahead.Copy !req
420. Thanks.Copy !req
421. You fellas see the way
she was lookin' at me?Copy !req
422. Man, you all
wanna be coal miners,Copy !req
423. you all go ahead
and be coal miners.Copy !req
424. There. There.Copy !req
425. God's honest truth, Homer,Copy !req
426. what are the chancesCopy !req
427. of a bunch of kids
from CoalwoodCopy !req
428. actually winnin'
the National Science Fair?Copy !req
429. A million
to one, O'Dell.Copy !req
430. That good?Copy !req
431. Well, why didn't you say so?
Come on. Give me that.Copy !req
432. Quentin.Copy !req
433. What?Copy !req
434. We hiked eight miles
for this?Copy !req
435. Oh, it's great.
What should we call it?Copy !req
436. How 'bout a slack dump?Copy !req
437. What about
"No Man's Land"?Copy !req
438. Cape Coalwood.Copy !req
439. I mean, it's perfect.Copy !req
440. We could build
a blockhouse over there,Copy !req
441. and... And a...
And a... And a launchpad.Copy !req
442. And we could even
build a test stand!Copy !req
443. Dear Dr. Von Braun,Copy !req
444. our launch site, which
we've named Cape Coalwood,Copy !req
445. is nearing completion.Copy !req
446. Thanks to the generosity of local
businesses.Copy !req
447. Inspired by our efforts,Copy !req
448. everyone is anxious to help
by donating materials.Copy !req
449. We've been fortunate to have
the support of our classmates.Copy !req
450. And the whole community
here in Coalwood is behind us.Copy !req
451. Hey, Rocket Boy. Mars is that way.Copy !req
452. But no one has been more encouraging
to our efforts than my father.Copy !req
453. No, the company doesn't have any
cement left over for launchpads.Copy !req
454. I just thought
I'd ask.Copy !req
455. Besides, I told you
no more rockets.Copy !req
456. Uh, you said no more rockets
on company property.Copy !req
457. And Olga doesn't
own Snakeroot.Copy !req
458. So, you walk
eight miles?Copy !req
459. Yes, sir.Copy !req
460. Well, tell me
something, Homer.Copy !req
461. Uh, what exactly is this
Wernher Von BraunCopy !req
462. and the rest of those Germans
accomplishin' anyway?Copy !req
463. 'Cause if you ask me,
it's nothin' but a stunt.Copy !req
464. You think...
You think catchin' upCopy !req
465. to the Russians in
space is a stunt?Copy !req
466. When the novelty wears off, they're
all gonna be sent packin'.Copy !req
467. Maybe then they'll have to
find themselves a real job.Copy !req
468. Like minin' coal?Copy !req
469. You listen here.Copy !req
470. The coal we mine
makes steel, Homer.Copy !req
471. And if steel fails,
this country fails.Copy !req
472. If you had half a damn brain
in your head, you'd know that.Copy !req
473. Well, who's down there now?Copy !req
474. Hold on just a second.
Hey, listen here.Copy !req
475. I had an engineer
estimate a new walkway.Copy !req
476. They had some
cement leftover,Copy !req
477. so it got caught in the rain...
It's probably ruined.Copy !req
478. But if you wanna
haul it out, it's all yours.Copy !req
479. Thanks, Dad.Copy !req
480. I'll be down
there in a minute.Copy !req
481. And Miss Riley wanted to make
sure you document your results.Copy !req
482. You will be graded
when she returns.Copy !req
483. You have one hour.Copy !req
484. Potassium chloride
has a potassium atom.Copy !req
485. If we mix it with
sugar and add heat,Copy !req
486. we'll get three parts oxygen,
two parts carbon dioxide,Copy !req
487. along with some other
by-products.Copy !req
488. In other words, lots of
good expanding gases.Copy !req
489. It should make
an excellent propellant.Copy !req
490. It smells like candy. Ooh!Copy !req
491. Better get started.Copy !req
492. All right, quick.
Get rid of it.Copy !req
493. Mr. Bolden, have you seen Mr.
Bykovsky around?Copy !req
494. He's not in the shop anymore.Copy !req
495. Your dad sent him
down to the mine.Copy !req
496. He's takin' it out on you
because you helped me.Copy !req
497. That's enough of that.
Your father is a fair man.Copy !req
498. If he's strict,
it's because he has to be.Copy !req
499. Besides, he did me
a big favor,Copy !req
500. transferring me
from the machine shop.Copy !req
501. What are you
talkin' about?Copy !req
502. I can make twice as much money
down there working the high coal.Copy !req
503. You can?Copy !req
504. I've got relatives
in EuropeCopy !req
505. who've had hard time
recovering from the war.Copy !req
506. They depend on me for
whatever I can provide.Copy !req
507. So, believe me,
I can use the extra money.Copy !req
508. I'm just sorry
I won't be ableCopy !req
509. to weld any more
rockets for you.Copy !req
510. That's for good luck.Copy !req
511. Maybe you could
teach me how to weld.Copy !req
512. Welding is very
difficult, Homer.Copy !req
513. I could learn.Copy !req
514. You don't give up, do you?Copy !req
515. I can't.Copy !req
516. Come on, son.
Hi, Mr. Bolden.Copy !req
517. Hey, Homer. I heard
you tellin' IkeCopy !req
518. you were gonna be shootin' off
another rocket up here today.Copy !req
519. I... I thought that might be
somethin' we'd like to see.Copy !req
520. Whoa!Copy !req
521. Eight, seven,Copy !req
522. six, five,Copy !req
523. four, three...Copy !req
524. Hey, look out!Copy !req
525. Mr. Bolden!Copy !req
526. Mr. Bolden, are you okay?Copy !req
527. I'm all right.Copy !req
528. I'm sorry about
that, sir.Copy !req
529. Oh, that's all right.
That's all right.Copy !req
530. Homer, I flew with the
Red Tails in World War ll.Copy !req
531. And seein' that rocket
come at me...Copy !req
532. It almost took me
back there.Copy !req
533. Hey, let me have
a look at that thing.Copy !req
534. That's a good job
on the weld, Homer,Copy !req
535. but the heat from the
exhaust melted the washer.Copy !req
536. It's referred to as
a nozzle... Uh, sir.Copy !req
537. Son, you can call it
whatever you wanna call it,Copy !req
538. but you're gonna have
to have a better steelCopy !req
539. that can take the heat.Copy !req
540. Now I'd say S.A.E. 10-20 bar
stock ought to do you fine.Copy !req
541. And I can order it for you.Copy !req
542. Well, that'd be
great, Mr. Bolden.Copy !req
543. But it's kind
of expensive.Copy !req
544. Twelve miles
of scrap iron,Copy !req
545. and all we gotta
do is pop it loose.Copy !req
546. Yeah. Now what are
we gonna tellCopy !req
547. the railroad when they catch
us pryin' up the track?Copy !req
548. It's abandoned.
See, the county'sCopy !req
549. covered with abandoned
spur lines.Copy !req
550. A mine shuts down,
the track just rusts over.Copy !req
551. $8.20.Copy !req
552. This is worth $8.20?Copy !req
553. A ton.Copy !req
554. Come on.Copy !req
555. This thing weighs a
ton all by itself!Copy !req
556. Four-hundred pounds.Copy !req
557. Four-hundred pounds?Copy !req
558. All right.Copy !req
559. O'Dell, you're sayin' this
thing is worth a buck 65?Copy !req
560. Woo-hoo!Copy !req
561. Whoa.Copy !req
562. O'Dell?Copy !req
563. I... It's abandoned.
Uh, look at the rust.Copy !req
564. Caretta number two
shut down in '51.Copy !req
565. Shit!Copy !req
566. Get it up!
Get it up! Just get it up!Copy !req
567. Give me a hand, man.
Come on!Copy !req
568. Forget it! Forget it!
Just stop the train!Copy !req
569. Roy Lee!Copy !req
570. - Stop!
- Stop! The track's out!Copy !req
571. Stop! Stop!Copy !req
572. Stop it!Copy !req
573. Stop!
Stop!Copy !req
574. The track!Copy !req
575. S.A.E. 10-20 bar stock.Copy !req
576. Then go 30 degrees crucial.
When the fuel combusts,Copy !req
577. it creates
a controlled explosion.Copy !req
578. The nozzle directs
a river of hot gasCopy !req
579. that can reach
the speed of soundCopy !req
580. when it hits the mouth
of the nozzle!Copy !req
581. Hey, Quentin.
Sorry.Copy !req
582. It's called
a tapered bore.Copy !req
583. A tapered bore. Now he's takin'
off just a little bit at a time.Copy !req
584. Good deed, good deed.Copy !req
585. I'm concerned that the mass
of the added propellantCopy !req
586. compared to the mass of the empty
rocket will be too little.Copy !req
587. Uh, he's afraid
it'll be too heavy.Copy !req
588. Why don't we
just make it longer?Copy !req
589. Longer would allow
increased volumeCopy !req
590. for the propellant
without much additional mass.Copy !req
591. Great idea.Copy !req
592. We got one!Copy !req
593. My guess is, is we're gettin' air
pockets in the body of the propellant.Copy !req
594. When the fire hits 'em, they act
like little combustion chambers.Copy !req
595. I think we're gonna need
a liquid binder of some sort.Copy !req
596. What about gasoline?
That's a good idea.Copy !req
597. "Four unidentifiable
high school studentsCopy !req
598. "lost their lives
earlier this mornin'Copy !req
599. "when their
toy rocket exploded."Copy !req
600. Alcohol. I mean,
alcohol's stable.Copy !req
601. And it'll evaporate quickly.Copy !req
602. Yeah, but it'd have
to be 100% undiluted.Copy !req
603. None of that watered-down stuff
they sell at the company store.Copy !req
604. I have no idea where
we could find that.Copy !req
605. Listen. I know these fellas,
so let me do all the talkin'.Copy !req
606. I'm not gonna say a word.Copy !req
607. Is that rocket fuel
or what?Copy !req
608. Great.Copy !req
609. How'd they find out about it?Copy !req
610. My brother.Copy !req
611. You know, we poop out this
time, the whole county'sCopy !req
612. gonna be laughin' at us.Copy !req
613. Who cares what
any of them think?Copy !req
614. Easy for you
to say, Quentin.Copy !req
615. You're used to people
makin' fun of you.Copy !req
616. All right now.Copy !req
617. Quentin's right, y'all.Copy !req
618. Homer, you don't have to
prove anything to anybody.Copy !req
619. You remember that.Copy !req
620. Now go launch
yourself a rocket.Copy !req
621. Come on, boy.Copy !req
622. Homer!Copy !req
623. Hello, Dorothy.Copy !req
624. Is that thing
really gonna fly?Copy !req
625. Well, it, uh...Copy !req
626. That thing had better fly, or
you can kiss your chances ofCopy !req
627. losin' your
virginity goodbye.Copy !req
628. Hey, couldn't you guys
find somethin' better to do?Copy !req
629. Hey, listen. There's no
practice on Saturdays.Copy !req
630. You little sisters are the
only entertainment in town.Copy !req
631. Yeah, we were gonna drive over
to War, but then we thought,Copy !req
632. "Hey, let's go see
Homer blow himself up."Copy !req
633. That's real funny, Jim.Copy !req
634. Hey, Homer, come on.
We don't got all day.Copy !req
635. Shut up, Jim.
Homer, everything ready?Copy !req
636. Wait, wait. What?
What do you mean, wait?Copy !req
637. Where are you goin'?Copy !req
638. Hurry up, y'all.Copy !req
639. All right. It won't fly unless
somebody pulls the string.Copy !req
640. - Ten...
- Nine, eight,Copy !req
641. seven, six,Copy !req
642. five, four...Copy !req
643. Oh, my God!Copy !req
644. That's great!Copy !req
645. Homer, that was
unbelievable!Copy !req
646. Let's go, Dorothy.Copy !req
647. I'll tell you
what's unbelievable...Copy !req
648. The captain of the football
team bein' jealous of you.Copy !req
649. What you think about gettin'
in that science fair now?Copy !req
650. I think we got a chance.Copy !req
651. Well, bless her heart.Copy !req
652. Aunt Joanne hasn't seen you
in about a year and a half.Copy !req
653. You look like a sausage.Copy !req
654. He does not.Copy !req
655. Happy birthday, Homer.Copy !req
656. It'll stretch some
when you wear it.Copy !req
657. You be sure and send her
a nice thank you note now.Copy !req
658. All right.Copy !req
659. John?
Huh?Copy !req
660. Oh, happy birthday,
Homer.Copy !req
661. And I got this
in the mail.Copy !req
662. Must be a present
from Grandma.Copy !req
663. What's this?Copy !req
664. Oh, it's
an autographed picture.Copy !req
665. Of Grandma?
Rather get socks.Copy !req
666. Wernher Von Braun.Copy !req
667. Well, wonder how he knew
it was your birthday.Copy !req
668. I don't reckon he did.Copy !req
669. "Dear Homer, congratulations
on your rocket building.Copy !req
670. "Continue your education
and maybe one day..."Copy !req
671. Boy, you better take an
interest in your own damn town.Copy !req
672. Instead of wastin' your time,Copy !req
673. worryin' about Wernher Von Braun
and, uh, uh, Cape Canaveral.Copy !req
674. John, it's his birthday.Copy !req
675. All right, Homer. Uh...Copy !req
676. Yeah?Copy !req
677. Homer, there's strike
talk startin' up again.Copy !req
678. Your father's... Yeah, he's
got a lot on his mind.Copy !req
679. Yeah, well,
I don't give a damn.Copy !req
680. "Principles of Guided
Missile Design."Copy !req
681. I had Miss Waters order itCopy !req
682. for you a while back,
and it just came.Copy !req
683. I know the math is too advanced for you.
It is for me too.Copy !req
684. There's Calculus,
differential equations...Copy !req
685. No, I'll learn the math.Copy !req
686. This is great, Miss Riley.
I'll learn everything.Copy !req
687. It's the best present
that anyone's ever given me.Copy !req
688. Thank you.
I'm gonna show the guys.Copy !req
689. Well, Quentin will
probably go cra...Copy !req
690. Goodness gracious, Hickam.Copy !req
691. Watch where you're goin'.
Just“Copy !req
692. Where'd you get this?Copy !req
693. I gave it to him.Copy !req
694. Bye, Miss Riley.Copy !req
695. Miss Riley, our job is to
give these kids an education,Copy !req
696. not false hopes.Copy !req
697. False hopes?Copy !req
698. Do you want me
to sit quiet,Copy !req
699. let 'em breathe in coal dust
the rest of their life?Copy !req
700. Miss Riley, once in a while,Copy !req
701. a lucky one will get out
on a football scholarship.Copy !req
702. The rest of 'em
work in the mines.Copy !req
703. How about I believe
in the unlucky ones, hmm?Copy !req
704. I have to, Mr. Turner,
or I'd go out of my mind.Copy !req
705. It's good, it's good.Copy !req
706. Hey, Homer.Copy !req
707. Happy birthday, Son.Copy !req
708. Got some good news
for you, Homer.Copy !req
709. Say hello to Fred Smith from the
University of West Virginia.Copy !req
710. Hello, Homer.
Hi, sir.Copy !req
711. Mr. Smith wants Jim
to play football there.Copy !req
712. He's offerin' him
a full scholarship.Copy !req
713. Well, congratulations, Jim.Copy !req
714. Do you play ball, son?Copy !req
715. No, Homer shoots off rockets.
Whoosh and all that st...Copy !req
716. Well, rockets are not
exactly my field, son,Copy !req
717. but maybe if you work hard
enough, you'll get to college too.Copy !req
718. Yeah, on a science fiction
scholarship, maybe.Copy !req
719. Jim.Copy !req
720. Dear Dr. Von Braun,Copy !req
721. thank you for
the autographed picture.Copy !req
722. It will only further
inspire me to keep workingCopy !req
723. toward our all-important goalCopy !req
724. of entering that
science fair this spring.Copy !req
725. We're shootin'
off a rocket today.Copy !req
726. I thought you'd
like to come see it.Copy !req
727. I gotta catch up on some work.Copy !req
728. How come... How come you never
have work when Jim plays football?Copy !req
729. You never miss a game.Copy !req
730. What time are you gonna do it?Copy !req
731. About 4:00.Copy !req
732. Uh, I can't promise you...Copy !req
733. Somebody pulled
a pillar too close.Copy !req
734. Yeah?Copy !req
735. Well, thank God for that.
Yeah, right now.Copy !req
736. Nobody hurt.Copy !req
737. Go, Rocket Boys!Copy !req
738. Ten!Copy !req
739. Nine, eight, seven,Copy !req
740. six, five,Copy !req
741. four, three, two,Copy !req
742. one, liftoff!Copy !req
743. You got it?
Can you see?Copy !req
744. Uh, no. Yes.Copy !req
745. See it?Copy !req
746. Yeah, I see it.Copy !req
747. What's the time?Copy !req
748. Looks like 12 seconds.Copy !req
749. Which one of you
fellas is Homer Hickam?Copy !req
750. Um, it's me, sir.Copy !req
751. I'm Basil Thorpe with
the Bluefield Telegraph.Copy !req
752. Can I ask you
a few questions?Copy !req
753. Sure.Copy !req
754. "The silvery
cylinder burst forthCopy !req
755. "in a fiery column
of smoke and flame,Copy !req
756. "racing the very wind
as it soared into the sky,Copy !req
757. "a messenger of these
Rocket Boys of Big Creek...Copy !req
758. "These boys who use
their brains, not brawn,Copy !req
759. "who play not football,
but with Apollo's fire."Copy !req
760. Hi, Homer.Copy !req
761. Hi, Dorothy.Copy !req
762. Would you please
sign my newspaper?Copy !req
763. Sure.Copy !req
764. I just know you're gonna
be really famous someday.Copy !req
765. H-O-M-E-R.Copy !req
766. Which one of you fellas
is Homer Hickam?Copy !req
767. Excuse me.
Excuse me.Copy !req
768. What you cost
the taxpayers...Copy !req
769. What in the world
is goin' on?Copy !req
770. Miss Riley, this does
not concern you.Copy !req
771. You have these
boys in handcuffs.Copy !req
772. You have these boys in handcuffs
in a high school, Mr. Turner.Copy !req
773. You probably heard about the forest
fire last week over by Welch.Copy !req
774. A lot of timber went up.Copy !req
775. Mr. Turner, you take these
handcuffs off these boys.Copy !req
776. They found a rocket
on the side of the road.Copy !req
777. We knew it started
the fire, ma'am.Copy !req
778. What we didn't know
is where it came from,Copy !req
779. till this morning.Copy !req
780. Mr. Hickam, can you account
for all your rockets?Copy !req
781. No, sir. I can't.Copy !req
782. If you weren't a minor, you'd
be in the state penitentiary.Copy !req
783. I know, Dad. I... Homer,
I've been confused by you,Copy !req
784. I've been mad
as hell at you.Copy !req
785. But, boy, it's the first time in
your life I've been ashamed of you.Copy !req
786. You couldn't stop, man.
You couldn't!Copy !req
787. Get in the car, Homer!Copy !req
788. Homer, get in the car.Copy !req
789. Idiot! I ought to
goddamn kill ya.Copy !req
790. We ain't at the mine now.
This ain't your business.Copy !req
791. You get in the car
with Homer, son.Copy !req
792. You listen to me,
you drunken son of a bitch.Copy !req
793. If that boy's father was
alive, he'd kick your ass.Copy !req
794. So I'm gonna have to do it for him.Copy !req
795. If I see him with a bruise,
you get a scar.Copy !req
796. If I see him with a limp,
you get crutches!Copy !req
797. You hear me?
Do you hear me?Copy !req
798. You know, I'm reportin'
you to the Union!Copy !req
799. Screw you and your
damn Union.Copy !req
800. Your father was one of the best
men lever had workin' for me.Copy !req
801. I was lucky to know him.Copy !req
802. Come on.Copy !req
803. Let's go have some
fun for a change.Copy !req
804. They watched us
get arrested.Copy !req
805. We're practically ex-convicts.Copy !req
806. They'll never
dance with us.Copy !req
807. Jesus, Quentin. You don't
know anything about women.Copy !req
808. I heard she broke up
with that dumb jock.Copy !req
809. See you later, Elvis.Copy !req
810. Hi, Homer.Copy !req
811. Hi, Dorothy.Copy !req
812. Jim, look who's here.Copy !req
813. Yeah, ain't it past
your bedtime?Copy !req
814. Let's go.Copy !req
815. Hey, Jim.Copy !req
816. Way to go.Copy !req
817. Hi, Valentine.Copy !req
818. I'm glad you
didn't go to jail.Copy !req
819. It sure was exciting
watching your rockets go up.Copy !req
820. You ever see that movie,
Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman?Copy !req
821. Homer!Copy !req
822. Homer! Down here! Homer!Copy !req
823. Homer! Homer!
What is it?Copy !req
824. Mom! Mom!Copy !req
825. Mom?Copy !req
826. Your father always
has to be the big hero.Copy !req
827. I swear to God, if he gets
killed, I won't shed a tear.Copy !req
828. It's comin' up!Copy !req
829. Who... Who is it?Copy !req
830. It's Ike Bykovsky.
Bykovsky.Copy !req
831. It's John Hickam!Copy !req
832. Dad, Dad!Copy !req
833. The cable snapped.Copy !req
834. May have fractured his skull!Copy !req
835. Get out of the way. Move back, folks!
Let us through here!Copy !req
836. Tell you what, Homer.Copy !req
837. A dozen men
would've died todayCopy !req
838. if it hadn't been
for your dad.Copy !req
839. Thank you, Doctor.Copy !req
840. Mmm-hmm. Bye-bye.Copy !req
841. The, uh, doctor saysCopy !req
842. there's a chance your dad
could lose his eye.Copy !req
843. He has to go to
the hospital in Charleston,Copy !req
844. and Olga won't
pay for all of it.Copy !req
845. I'm gonna go down to the mine and
ask Jake Mosby to sign me on.Copy !req
846. You can't do that, Jim.
You've got school.Copy !req
847. Olga owns this house, Mom,
and half the furniture in it.Copy !req
848. If you drop out, you'll
lose your scholarship.Copy !req
849. Homer, I'm the oldest.
It's my responsibility.Copy !req
850. I'll work in the mine.Copy !req
851. Here you are, Mr. Turner.
Thank you, Miss Wade.Copy !req
852. Mining coal is an honorable trade, Mr.
Hickam.Copy !req
853. Nothing to be
ashamed of.Copy !req
854. Miss Riley! Miss Riley!Copy !req
855. Turn your
light on, boy.Copy !req
856. Remember when you
gave me these, John?Copy !req
857. Carbon crystals
from the mine.Copy !req
858. Yeah. Honeymoon.
At Myrtle Beach.Copy !req
859. And you said,
"You always wanted diamonds.Copy !req
860. "But these are the best I can do.
I wish they were real."Copy !req
861. John, I never
wanted diamonds.Copy !req
862. This whole yearCopy !req
863. has been pretty rough going
down at the mine.Copy !req
864. Bad tempersCopy !req
865. and a lot of strike talk.Copy !req
866. An accident
makes things worse.Copy !req
867. In a way, I guess,Copy !req
868. I'm the one who's responsible for
what happened to Mr. Bykovsky.Copy !req
869. Listen to me, Homer.Copy !req
870. Last month,Copy !req
871. I gave Ike the chance to go
back to the machine shop,Copy !req
872. and he turned it down.Copy !req
873. Yeah, he stayed in the mine
'cause the money was better.Copy !req
874. That was his decision.Copy !req
875. You understand me?Copy !req
876. Yes, sir.Copy !req
877. Well, is mining coal as terrible
as you figured it'd be?Copy !req
878. I guess not.Copy !req
879. But almost.Copy !req
880. Everybody says to say hi.
Michael and Billy.Copy !req
881. Valentine Carmina.Copy !req
882. How about Miss Riley?Copy !req
883. She ain't been around much. She got
some new boyfriend over in Welch.Copy !req
884. So, uh, what's it like
down there?Copy !req
885. You get used to it
after a while.Copy !req
886. Besides, shoveling coal
has got its advantages.Copy !req
887. Check this out.Copy !req
888. Man, no wonder my stepdad
can slug me so good.Copy !req
889. After a month down there, you'd
be able to knock him out.Copy !req
890. Well, I ain't in
no hurry.Copy !req
891. See ya all later.
See ya, man.Copy !req
892. See ya, Homer.Copy !req
893. In Christ's name,
we pray. Amen.Copy !req
894. Amen.Copy !req
895. We appreciate the sacrifice
you made here, Homer.Copy !req
896. But pretty soon,
you'll be able to go backCopy !req
897. and finish up
the school year.Copy !req
898. I'm not going back
to school.Copy !req
899. A few weeks
left in the term,Copy !req
900. I'll just stay put.Copy !req
901. Well, I think you ought
to finish high school.Copy !req
902. Well, tell him, John.Copy !req
903. Homer's not a boy anymore.Copy !req
904. I don't think I can
tell him anything.Copy !req
905. John, is the cutoff was notCopy !req
906. done proper
according to contract.Copy !req
907. Well, the company
did what it had to do.Copy !req
908. Well, you know the Union
won't put up with it.Copy !req
909. Just give it a rest, Jake.
It's my first day back.Copy !req
910. Hey, Lenny,
how's he doing?Copy !req
911. He's a chip off
the old block, John.Copy !req
912. It's good to have you back.Copy !req
913. Thank you.Copy !req
914. Hi. I'm headed toward the face.
You wanna come along?Copy !req
915. Even though I don't have
that piece of paper,Copy !req
916. the thing from college,
they listen to me.Copy !req
917. You know why?Copy !req
918. 'Cause you know
more than they do.Copy !req
919. You bet your life
I do. Homer,Copy !req
920. I know the mine
like I know a man.Copy !req
921. Heck, I can take one look around here...Copy !req
922. Are you all right?Copy !req
923. Yeah, I'm not afraid
of a little coal dust.Copy !req
924. Hell, Homer,
I was born for this.Copy !req
925. I guess it shouldn't surprise
me that you were too.Copy !req
926. Let's go watch
'em shoot some coal.Copy !req
927. Elsie, hold dinner
for a while, will you?Copy !req
928. I have to make a call.Copy !req
929. Homer,Copy !req
930. I was in the store today,
and I heard some talk.Copy !req
931. Boy, it's sure hard to keep a
secret in this town, isn't it?Copy !req
932. But I guess I did
a pretty good job.Copy !req
933. You know, there's a rumor
going around that I beenCopy !req
934. sneaking off to Welch
to see some beau.Copy !req
935. I wish that rumor'd
been true.Copy !req
936. Yeah.Copy !req
937. They told me Hodgkin's
can go into remission,Copy !req
938. so I might have some time.Copy !req
939. Is there anything
I can do, Miss Riley?Copy !req
940. You can accept
my apology.Copy !req
941. For what?Copy !req
942. My life's work is teaching.Copy !req
943. And I believed that if you
boys won that science fair,Copy !req
944. got scholarships,
went off and didCopy !req
945. something great
with your lives,Copy !req
946. somehow my life would have
counted for something.Copy !req
947. Homer.Copy !req
948. You know what?Copy !req
949. Sometimes you really can't listen
to what anybody else says.Copy !req
950. You just gotta listen inside.Copy !req
951. You're not supposed
to end up in those mines.Copy !req
952. You know why? 'Cause I think
you made other plans.Copy !req
953. I want you
to know something.Copy !req
954. I'm proud of you. I am.Copy !req
955. Whatever you choose.Copy !req
956. Excuse me, ma'am,
is Quentin home?Copy !req
957. Quentin.Copy !req
958. Homer, you figured this
equation out by yourself?Copy !req
959. Well, if I did the math right.
It proves that you can't...Copy !req
960. It proves we didn't
start that fire!Copy !req
961. Quentin, what're you doin'?Copy !req
962. Now, the Auk XIII
was the only oneCopy !req
963. that we couldn't
find that day.Copy !req
964. And our best guess for fall
time with the Auk XII,Copy !req
965. which is exactly identical,
was about 14 seconds.Copy !req
966. If you help me with
the trig part, Quentin,Copy !req
967. we should be able
to make a good guessCopy !req
968. where that rocket landed.Copy !req
969. Six thousand, three hundred
and twenty-eight feet.Copy !req
970. 1.2 miles.Copy !req
971. Homer?
Yeah?Copy !req
972. Are you gonna tell Roy Lee
and O'Dell where I live?Copy !req
973. It wouldn't matter if you lived
in the governor's mansion,Copy !req
974. they'd still
think you're weird.Copy !req
975. I'll see you at dawn.Copy !req
976. Don't you have
to go to the mine?Copy !req
977. I don't work there anymore.Copy !req
978. One.Copy !req
979. Two.Copy !req
980. Ninety-nine.Copy !req
981. A hundred seven.Copy !req
982. One hundred and twenty-six.Copy !req
983. That's 6,300 feet.Copy !req
984. It's gotta be
around here somewhere.Copy !req
985. What'd we do wrong?Copy !req
986. I don't know. I...
I'll check the math again.Copy !req
987. Was there a wind that day?Copy !req
988. I... I don't remember.Copy !req
989. 'Cause if there was,Copy !req
990. the wind probably
came from the west,Copy !req
991. which means that it would've
pushed the rocket...Copy !req
992. Right there.Copy !req
993. Prodigious.Copy !req
994. Associated...Copy !req
995. Mr. Hayes, where you
off to in such a hurry?Copy !req
996. Okay, everybody,
back in your seats.Copy !req
997. Miss Stanton,
Miss Blue, let's go,Copy !req
998. back in your seats.
Mr. Hancock.Copy !req
999. That goes for you
too, Mr. Wilson.Copy !req
1000. Miss Riley, what's
going on in here?Copy !req
1001. They didn't start
that fire, Mr. Turner.Copy !req
1002. In the first place, you are not
a member of this classroom.Copy !req
1003. Neither are you, Mr. Turner.Copy !req
1004. Why don't you let
the boy defend himself?Copy !req
1005. And in the second place,
this rocket proves nothing.Copy !req
1006. You've already admitted having
lost a number of your rockets.Copy !req
1007. You cannot
prove conclusivelyCopy !req
1008. that another one of them
didn't start that fire.Copy !req
1009. Yes, I can.Copy !req
1010. Are we to conclude, Mr. Hickam,
that since leaving school,Copy !req
1011. you've not only become an
expert in rocket science,Copy !req
1012. but in the field
of trigonometry?Copy !req
1013. I didn't say that I was a rock...
Obviously, you learned moreCopy !req
1014. in the coal mines than
you did in high school.Copy !req
1015. Let the boy talk.
Go ahead, Homer.Copy !req
1016. Now, that fire was near Welch, just
under three miles from our launchpad.Copy !req
1017. And at the time of the fire,
the best that we could doCopy !req
1018. was 1.2 miles,Copy !req
1019. which is exactly where we found
that rocket, Mr. Turner.Copy !req
1020. See, Mr. Turner, that rocket fell
for about 14 seconds, which meansCopy !req
1021. that it flew to an altitude
of 3,000 feet.Copy !req
1022. According to the equation,Copy !req
1023. "S" equals one-half "A"
"T" squared,Copy !req
1024. where "S" is the altitude, "A"
is the gravity constant or 32,Copy !req
1025. and "T" is the time it took for
that rocket to come back down.Copy !req
1026. Velocity equals
acceleration times time.Copy !req
1027. Get him, Homer, get him.Copy !req
1028. Are you following
this, Mr. Turner?Copy !req
1029. All right, we're all
duly impressed.Copy !req
1030. But do you mind telling me, if you
did not start that fire, who did?Copy !req
1031. What is it?Copy !req
1032. Whatever it is, it's ingenious.
The fins are spring-loaded.Copy !req
1033. That isn't a rocket at all.Copy !req
1034. It's an aeronautical flare.Copy !req
1035. There's an airport
here in Welch.Copy !req
1036. It's right above
where the fire started.Copy !req
1037. Mr. Hickam, report
to my officeCopy !req
1038. as soon as we
return to school.Copy !req
1039. You do intend to enter the
county science fair, do you not?Copy !req
1040. Yes, sir, we do.Copy !req
1041. Well, if you intend
to represent Big Creek,Copy !req
1042. you're gonna have to be enrolled
as a student at Big Creek.Copy !req
1043. "Prodigenous."Copy !req
1044. Do you think you can
draw well enoughCopy !req
1045. so Mr. Bolden could build it?Copy !req
1046. Yep. Let me see.Copy !req
1047. Yeah.
Hey, Homer.Copy !req
1048. Hi, Dad.Copy !req
1049. What's this stuff
doin' here?Copy !req
1050. Mr. Hickam, we didn't
start the fire.Copy !req
1051. The troopers
gave it back to us.Copy !req
1052. Yeah, it wasn't even
one of our rockets.Copy !req
1053. It was an aeronautical flare.Copy !req
1054. Y'all go on home now.Copy !req
1055. Yes, sir.Copy !req
1056. This the reason you
skipped work today?Copy !req
1057. Yes, sir.Copy !req
1058. I thought you put all this
nonsense behind you, Homer.Copy !req
1059. I thought you weren't gonna be doin' it...
Dad, it isn't nonsense.Copy !req
1060. I... I don't wanna
argue with you.Copy !req
1061. Look, son,Copy !req
1062. I can't even
begin to tell youCopy !req
1063. how proud of you
I've been these past weeks.Copy !req
1064. I mean, you've just been doin'
a hell of a job in that mine.Copy !req
1065. You keep goin', you're
gonna have my job someday.Copy !req
1066. Everybody says so.Copy !req
1067. You got any idea how proud
that would make me?Copy !req
1068. Dad, but I...Copy !req
1069. I guess what I'm
sayin' is, is thatCopy !req
1070. if this rocket stuff is so
important to you,Copy !req
1071. then so be it,
as long as you're careful.Copy !req
1072. Guess there's worse
hobbies you could have.Copy !req
1073. But skippin' work,
that's out of line.Copy !req
1074. And you gotta know that.Copy !req
1075. So let's go and get
you right with Jake.Copy !req
1076. Tell him you'll work
the hoot owl shift tonight.Copy !req
1077. No.Copy !req
1078. The coal mine's your life.
It's not mine.Copy !req
1079. I'm never going
down there again.Copy !req
1080. I wanna go into space.Copy !req
1081. Home Hickam, Roy Lee
Cook, Quentin Wilson,Copy !req
1082. and Sherman O'Dell
of Big Creek High,Copy !req
1083. for their ingenious displayCopy !req
1084. of amateur
rocket-building techniques.Copy !req
1085. I can't believe we beat the
kid with the robot dog.Copy !req
1086. And I thought the see-through
ear was gonna win.Copy !req
1087. I got Miss Wade workin'
on your travel arrangements,Copy !req
1088. so you boys are gonna have to
decide who's goin' to Indianapolis.Copy !req
1089. We're all goin'.Copy !req
1090. Yeah.Copy !req
1091. Son, I wish you could, but we can't
afford to send all four of you.Copy !req
1092. Only one. Let me know
what you decide.Copy !req
1093. I'm gonna have
to know by Friday.Copy !req
1094. You boys did
a fine job today.Copy !req
1095. I need to borrow a suitcase, and I'm
gonna need you guys' addresses,Copy !req
1096. because I'm gonna
write some postcards.Copy !req
1097. Oh, you shut up,
Roy Lee.Copy !req
1098. Come on, you dope.
You know, you're goin', Homer.Copy !req
1099. - Yeah.
- Yeah.Copy !req
1100. Say hello to the outside world
for us.Copy !req
1101. Do we know what we want?Copy !req
1102. Yeah!Copy !req
1103. - Are we gettin' it?
- No!Copy !req
1104. All right! All in favor of goin'
out on strike, say "Aye"!Copy !req
1105. Aye!Copy !req
1106. All right, let's go!Copy !req
1107. All right, settle down!
Let's go!Copy !req
1108. Strike! Strike! Strike!Copy !req
1109. Well, they sure are
gettin' themselves worked up.Copy !req
1110. Everybody's sayin' this
one's gonna be a long one.Copy !req
1111. And it will, if I have
anything to say about it.Copy !req
1112. Ungrateful sons of bitches.Copy !req
1113. Mom, have you seen
the big green suitcase?Copy !req
1114. Did you look
in the attic?Copy !req
1115. Yes, ma'am.Copy !req
1116. Well, I don't know. John, you
know where the suitcase is?Copy !req
1117. How the hell should I know
where the suitcase is?Copy !req
1118. I don't know, sug.Copy !req
1119. John!Copy !req
1120. Y'all stay inside!Copy !req
1121. Earl Lee!Copy !req
1122. I'm gonna kill that
son of a bitch!Copy !req
1123. Oh, don't be a damn fool.Copy !req
1124. All right, well,
what are we gonna do?Copy !req
1125. Nothin'.Copy !req
1126. Drunken bastard couldn't hit
the broad side of a barn.Copy !req
1127. He tried to kill you, Dad. Yeah,
Dad, you can't just stand...Copy !req
1128. Hey, hey, don't
trouble yourself, Homer.Copy !req
1129. You got more important
things to worry about.Copy !req
1130. Just go look for your suitcase.Copy !req
1131. Forget about it, Homer.Copy !req
1132. Shut up, Jim!Copy !req
1133. Listen, I'm sorry
about what's goin' onCopy !req
1134. around here,
but it isn't my fault!Copy !req
1135. What do you want
from me anyway?Copy !req
1136. Better watch yourself, Homer!Copy !req
1137. If I win at Indianapolis,
maybe I can go to college,Copy !req
1138. maybe even get a job
at Cape Canaveral!Copy !req
1139. There's nothing here for me!
The town is dyin'!Copy !req
1140. The mine is dyin'! Everybody
knows it here but you!Copy !req
1141. You wanna get out of here
so bad, then go! Go!Copy !req
1142. Yeah, I'll go!
Yeah, I'll go!Copy !req
1143. - Go, go!
- I'll go!Copy !req
1144. And I'll be gone forever!
I won't even look back!Copy !req
1145. Welcome to Indianapolis.Copy !req
1146. Visitors to the fair
will includeCopy !req
1147. prominent members
of every branchCopy !req
1148. of the national
scientific community.Copy !req
1149. The fair will be open to the
public over the next two days.Copy !req
1150. The following day, the judges will
arrive to select the winners.Copy !req
1151. By timing
the rocket's descent,Copy !req
1152. we would be able to figure out
just how high the rocket flew.Copy !req
1153. Would you like to see?
This is a de Laval nozzle.Copy !req
1154. Do any of y'all know
what a de Laval noz...Copy !req
1155. Two, please.Copy !req
1156. The judges always go for the
most expensive exhibits.Copy !req
1157. That guy with
the biosphere's gonna win.Copy !req
1158. I don't think so. My money's on
the kid with the rocket display.Copy !req
1159. Have you seen it yet?
It's really cool.Copy !req
1160. Mr. Owens, to the
security office.Copy !req
1161. Mr. Owens, to
the security office, please.Copy !req
1162. It's not like we got a hell
of a lot of time, Roy Lee.Copy !req
1163. The judging is tomorrow.Copy !req
1164. There's nothin' we can do without Mr.
Bolden.Copy !req
1165. And he can't get anywhere
near the machine shop.Copy !req
1166. They even took my picture
of Dr. Von Braun.Copy !req
1167. They stole everything.Copy !req
1168. Leon, what are you
doing back here?Copy !req
1169. You know you shouldn't
be seen back here.Copy !req
1170. I know, Elsie,
but Homer's in trouble.Copy !req
1171. Elsie, I don't have the power
to settle this strike.Copy !req
1172. The bosses listen to you.
They'll do what you tell 'em.Copy !req
1173. I am not gonna
crawl on my bellyCopy !req
1174. in front of those
miserable Union rats.Copy !req
1175. Is that what this is about, John?
Is this about your pride?Copy !req
1176. No, it's about
what's best for Coalwood.Copy !req
1177. If this mine doesn't produce,
then the town dies.Copy !req
1178. Think the Union gives
a good damn about that?Copy !req
1179. They're nothin' but a bunch of
greedy sons of bitches that...Copy !req
1180. Shut up, John.
Just shut up.Copy !req
1181. Homer once said you love the
mine more than your own family.Copy !req
1182. And I stuck up for you 'cause
I didn't wanna believe it.Copy !req
1183. Homer has gotten a lot of help
from the people in this town.Copy !req
1184. They've helped him
build his rockets,Copy !req
1185. they've gone out there
and watched him fly 'em.Copy !req
1186. But not you, John. You never showed up.
Not even once.Copy !req
1187. Now, I'm not asking
you to believe in him,Copy !req
1188. but he's your son,
for God's sake, John.Copy !req
1189. And I am askin'
you to help him.Copy !req
1190. If you don't,
I'll leave you.Copy !req
1191. I'll find work. I'll do whatever
it takes to get away from here.Copy !req
1192. I'll live in a tree to get away from you.
Don't you think I won't.Copy !req
1193. Where would you go?Copy !req
1194. Myrtle Beach.Copy !req
1195. I guess we all know
this isn't gonna fix things,Copy !req
1196. uh, at least not for long.Copy !req
1197. We know you did
what you could for us.Copy !req
1198. Jake.
ThanksCopy !req
1199. Leon.Copy !req
1200. Yes, John.Copy !req
1201. Don't you have
some work to do?Copy !req
1202. It's packed and shipped
and on its way.Copy !req
1203. Be at the bus station,
8:00 a.m.Copy !req
1204. Okay, Mom, but how'd you...Copy !req
1205. Your father, Homer.Copy !req
1206. It was your father.Copy !req
1207. Give 'em hell, Homer!Copy !req
1208. Good luck, sweetie.Copy !req
1209. Bye.Copy !req
1210. Thanks, Dad.Copy !req
1211. When the rocket
propellant burns,Copy !req
1212. it produces a river of gasCopy !req
1213. which flows through the
convergent section of the nozzle.Copy !req
1214. If the river continues
through the nozzle,Copy !req
1215. or through the throat
at less than sonic speed,Copy !req
1216. that is to say,
less than the speed of sound,Copy !req
1217. it becomes compact in the...
Compacted in the divergent section,Copy !req
1218. bound in turmoil
and inefficient.Copy !req
1219. Lyle Wells and Jean Cooper, Schrader
High School, McMinnville, Oregon.Copy !req
1220. Now, ladies and gentlemen,
the big moment.Copy !req
1221. The highest scholastic
achievement award for Science.Copy !req
1222. The national science fair
first prize gold medalCopy !req
1223. goes to Homer Hickam,Copy !req
1224. Quentin Wilson, Roy Lee Cook
and Sherman O'Dell,Copy !req
1225. Big Creek High School, McDowell
County, West Virginia.Copy !req
1226. Tom Webster of
Virginia State College.Copy !req
1227. I wanna talk to you
about a scholarship.Copy !req
1228. Jack Palmer, Virginia Tech.Copy !req
1229. We got the best science program
in the state, buddy, okay?Copy !req
1230. Congratulations, son.
Good luck to you.Copy !req
1231. What did he say to you?Copy !req
1232. What did who say?Copy !req
1233. Von Braun. That was Wernher Von Braun.
You just shook his hand.Copy !req
1234. Oh, Homer,
I'm so proud of you.Copy !req
1235. Thanks, Mom.Copy !req
1236. He's not here, hon.Copy !req
1237. Where's Miss Riley?Copy !req
1238. Hello, Miss Riley.Copy !req
1239. Hi, Homer.Copy !req
1240. - Hi.
- Hi.Copy !req
1241. Oh! You did it!Copy !req
1242. I knew you would.Copy !req
1243. The Rocket Boys
are goin' to college.Copy !req
1244. We all got scholarships.Copy !req
1245. And you know what?Copy !req
1246. From now on,
every school year,Copy !req
1247. I'm gonna brag to
all my new studentsCopy !req
1248. about how I taught Homer
Hickam and the Rocket Boys.Copy !req
1249. Maybe one day,Copy !req
1250. one of them'll feel like
they can do what y'all did.Copy !req
1251. You know, just,
stuff like that takes time.Copy !req
1252. Will you let me out?Copy !req
1253. I don't know what they
were doin', charging OlgaCopy !req
1254. for that kind of a pump.Copy !req
1255. Hell, why don't we
salvage something up here?Copy !req
1256. Hey, Dad. Hi.Copy !req
1257. Hello, Homer.Copy !req
1258. I just wanted
to tell you how muchCopy !req
1259. I appreciate what
you did for me.Copy !req
1260. I know it wasn't easy
for you, so thank you.Copy !req
1261. And we're shootin' off
our last rocket today at 5:00,Copy !req
1262. so if you'd like
to come see it...Copy !req
1263. I got a lot of work to do.Copy !req
1264. All right. Well, I just
thought I'd ask.Copy !req
1265. Hear you met your big hero.Copy !req
1266. Didn't even know it.Copy !req
1267. Look,Copy !req
1268. I know you and me don't exactly
see eye to eye on certain things.Copy !req
1269. I mean, man, we don't see eye
to eye on just about anything.Copy !req
1270. But, Dad, I come to
believe that I got itCopy !req
1271. in me to be somebody
in this world.Copy !req
1272. And it's not because I'm so
different from you either.Copy !req
1273. It's 'cause I'm the same.Copy !req
1274. You know, I can be just as
hardheaded and just as tough.Copy !req
1275. I only hope I can be
as good a man as you are.Copy !req
1276. I mean, sure,Copy !req
1277. Dr. Von Braun's
a great scientist,Copy !req
1278. but he isn't my hero.Copy !req
1279. It's our last rocket.Copy !req
1280. Yeah, let's do it.Copy !req
1281. - Wire it up for me, will ya?
- Yeah.Copy !req
1282. I gotta do something.Copy !req
1283. - Hi, Homer.
- Hi.Copy !req
1284. Congratulations on winning
the science fair.Copy !req
1285. It's gotta be
the most exciting thingCopy !req
1286. that's ever happened around here.
Yeah.Copy !req
1287. Um, I was thinking, Homer, if...
If you've got some time...Copy !req
1288. Excuse me, Dorothy. Hi.Copy !req
1289. Hi.Copy !req
1290. - Good luck.
- Thanks.Copy !req
1291. Hey, everybody, can we
have your attention, please?Copy !req
1292. Come on, Homer, let her fly!Copy !req
1293. We're gonna launch
the rocket in a minute,Copy !req
1294. but we'd like to
say thank you first.Copy !req
1295. If it wasn't for y'all, we'd never
have gotten into any science fair.Copy !req
1296. We'd probably
never have gottenCopy !req
1297. past blowin' up
my mom's fence.Copy !req
1298. But we did,Copy !req
1299. because of your
help and support.Copy !req
1300. And this is for Coalwood.Copy !req
1301. There are a few people who
believed in us even before we did.Copy !req
1302. We'd like to dedicate
this rocket to them.Copy !req
1303. To Ike Bykovsky.Copy !req
1304. To Mr. Bolden,
who helped us so much.Copy !req
1305. To the person who
first inspired us,Copy !req
1306. our teacher, Miss Riley.Copy !req
1307. And, finally, I'd like to dedicate
this rocket to my mom and to...Copy !req
1308. My dad.Copy !req
1309. You know, it, uh, won't fly unless
somebody pushes the button.Copy !req
1310. It's yours,
if you want it.Copy !req
1311. Ten, nine...Copy !req
1312. Eight,Copy !req
1313. seven, six, five,Copy !req
1314. four, three, two, one.Copy !req
1315. Look at it go, Homer.
This one's gonna go for miles.Copy !req