Destination Moon Page #3

There trying to protect their own necks.

You can't buck public opinion!

Have you seen this?

That isn't public opinion,

it's propaganda!

You're right it is! Manufactured

and organized with money and brains!

Somebody's out to get us.

Stops us in our tracks anyway.

We'll have to reschedule.

- With what?

What do you mean?

What are we going to use for money?

We've pushed our resources to the limit!

Every day of delay costs!

Hey, Doc...

The ship's about ready to take off,

isn't she?

Except for tests

and minor adjustments.

What's the next favorable time?

About a month from now.

- I don't mean that.

What's the next favorable time

this month?

The only favorable time this month

is about 17 hours from now.

That's it then.

We take off in 17 hours.

Are you out of your mind?

I will be if we run into any more

red tape. Now look...

There's no law against

taking off a spaceship.

It's never been done, so it's

not been prohibited.

If we ask for permission, they'll find

a way to block us. So we go now!

In an untested ship?

How do you test a thing of this kind?

It either works or it doesn't!

It's a one time deal!

Doc, any worries about the engine?

None, but we haven't trained a crew!

So we don't. The takeoff is

fully automatic.

The General and I will run the ship.

You'll be the Engineer.

Brown has known from the beginning

that he'll handle the radio and radar.

What about ballistics?

That's where we're stuck. The takeoff

wasn't planned for this month.

It's a week's work!

You think Dr. Hastings is pretty good,

don't you?

The best in the world!

- Give him the job!

And all the black coffee and assistants

he can use!

You all set, General?

- All set! - Then it's settled.

We'll all be heroes or angels

so what can we lose?

We'll takeoff tomorrow morning

before dawn.

We've a lot in 17 hours!

Get me my home.

I'd like to talk to Mrs. Cargraves.

All roads have been blocked.

Because of the danger of radioactivity,

the area is being cleared of spectators.

Do not attempt to approach

the site of the spaceship!

The public is asked to stay away.

I shall repeat this warning...

Do not attempt to approach

the site of the spaceship!

Correction:
22.79

Yes?

Mr. Brown still cannot be located,

Mr. Barnes.

Check with the main gate, the store,

everywhere. Keep calling me back.

What was the last one?

- 32.1

Yes?

Mr. Sweeney is here to see

General Thayer.

Send him in.

What's up, Joe?

- It's Brown, sir.

They've taken him to the hospital.

- The hospital? Is he alright?

He will be after they

cut out his appendix.

What will we do?

Say, Joe. Joe!

You can handle the ship's radio

and radar equipment, can't you?

You know as much about it as Brown.

Will you take his place?

To the moon?

What's the moon got

that this desert ain't?

Besides...

- Besides what, Joe?

I got a date with a nice little chick

tomorrow.

No thanks!

Joe!

Unless you come with us, we're sunk!

You're the only man left who knows

how to handle the equipment.

Mr. Barnes, mind if I sound off a little?

What do you mean?

- You're pretty smart men...

you and Dr. Cargraves and the General.

I don't know as much as you do, but...

- What's on your mind?.

You're all wet!

- In what way?

The thing won't work. It can't!

It's crazy! Figure all that weight.

It won't budge an inch.

And what do I see them putting

in the fuel tanks? Water!

You're all going to look like

a bunch of dummies!

If you believed that, you'd come along.

Yeah, but I don't want

to look like a dummy.

You wouldn't. We're entirely

responsible for the whole thing.

You don't think it could blow up?

We'd never get in it

if we thought that.

Joe...

You have confidence in Dr. Cargraves,

me, the General...

we wouldn't ask you to do anything

we didn't believe in.

Would you like to go?

Okay.

I'll sit up there with you and twiddle

the knobs, just for laughs.

Fine, Joe.

It'll never budge!

- Be sure you twiddle the right knobs!

You guys are really serious, ain't ya?

Dead serious.

Hey, wait a minute!

I've got to get through!

Sorry, nobody passes here.

- You have to take me through!

I've got a court order here

forbidding them from taking off!

I'm sorry you couldn't

bring the boys, Emily.

I couldn't; you gave me so little time.

Like to go in my place, Mrs. Cargraves?

Who me? Oh, dear no.

Don't worry ma'am.

We won't get very far.

Coming Doc?

- In a moment.

It's about time, Charles.

Bye, Mrs. Cargraves.

We'll take good care of your husband.

Try not to worry.

Mr Barnes, there's a joker back there

trying to crash the gate!

He has a court order

and it says you can't take off!

Darling!

Come back to me, Charles.

Doc, come on!

Hastings, I wish you had room

for me in the ship!

You've got to stay here

and make sure we get home!

Goodbye and good luck.

Alright, take it away!

Barnes! Cargraves!

Stop!

Come back here!

We can't hear a word you say!

Alright, Jim.

You're the skipper, take over.

First time I outranked a general.

First time I've heard you admit

you were outrank by anybody.

Am I the only one who's scared?

This thing might work!

We're all scared.

Alright, gentlemen.

Takeoff stations.

Communications?

I'll have it all cooking in a minute.

As soon as the TV screen is operating,

check clearance at base of ship.

Then phone check the Tracking Center

at Dry Wells.

Cut in the boys at the traffic shack.

Calling traffic shack, over.

- Traffic to ship, over.

Official designation of ship is Luna.

L-U-N-A. Luna, over.

Luna, roger.

- Tell them to clear for firing.

Clear firing area in preparation for

departure, over.

Roger.

Spaceship Luna calling

Dry Wells Airfield, over.

Dry Wells to Luna, over.

Making preparations for firing, over.

Dry Wells is ready for tracking, over.

Dry Wells reported.

Traffic reported.

Power Station report.

- Power Station ready for firing.

Communications?

Everything's just dandy, Skipper.

Co-pilot?

Instruments okay.

Automatic pilot tracking.

Give warning signal.

Need time from the integrating computer.

- 03:
47:58

Two minutes to go.

Traffic to Luna. All clear, over.

Roger.

Tell them to stand by to

count off for firing.

Stand by for count off and firing.

- Roger.

Check. 34840

Check.

Pickup count off at 3:49:30.

- Count off at 3:49:30

Check Dry Wells.

- Dry Wells, roger.

Count off 3:
49:30, over.

30 seconds coming up.

Standby.

30 seconds.

29...28...27...

26...25...24...

23...22...21...

20...19...18...

17...16...15...

14...13..12...

11...10...9...

8...7...6...

5...4...3...

2...fire!

What's happening?

What's the matter?

Nothing's the matter.

Just passed the speed of sound.

Joe...

switch on view aft.

I can't move a muscle.

I'm froze solid.

Do it!

We're falling.

It's alright, Joe. We're weightless,

in free orbit that's all.

Weightless?

Free orbit?

Just where are we?

You mean this thing is working?

We're...no, sir! Not me!

Nobody ever told me this was practical!

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