October Sky Page #8

to the security office.

Mr. Owens,

to the security office, please.

It's not like we got a hell

of a lot of time, Roy Lee.

The judging is tomorrow.

There's nothin' we can do

without Mr. Bolden.

And he can't get anywhere

near the machine shop.

They even took my picture

of Dr. Von Braun.

They stole everything.

[Car Horn Honking]

Leon, what are you doing

back here?

You know you shouldn't

be seen back here.

I know, Elsie,

but Homer's in trouble.

[Shouting]

Elsie, I don't have the power

to settle this strike.

The bosses listen to you.

They'll do what you tell 'em.

I am not gonna crawl

on my belly...

in front of those

miserable union rats.

Is that what this

is about, John?

Is this about your pride?

No, it's about what's best

for Coalwood.

If this mine

doesn't produce,

then the town dies.

Think the union gives

a good damn about that?

They're nothin'

but a bunch of greedy

sons of b*tches that...

Shut up, John.

Just shut up.

Homer once said

you love the mine more

than your own family.

And I took up for you

'cause I didn't wanna

believe it.

Homer has gotten a lot of help

from the people in this town.

They've helped him build

his rockets, they've gone out

there and watched him fly 'em.

But not you, John.

You never showed up.

Not even once.

Now, I'm not asking you

to believe in him,

but he's your son,

for God's sake, John.

And I am askin' you

to help him.

If you don't,

I'll leave you.

I'll find work.

I'll do whatever it takes

to get away from here.

I'll live in a tree

to get away from you.

Don't you think I won't.

Where would you go?

Myrtle Beach.

[Door Opens, Closes]

I guess we all know

this isn't gonna fix things,

uh, at least not for long.

We know you did

what you could for us.

Jake.

Thanks.

Leon.

Yes, John.

Don't you have

some work to do?

It's packed and shipped

and on its way. Be at

the bus station, 8:00 a.m.

Okay, Mom,

but how'd you...

Your father, Homer.

It was your father.

Give 'em hell, Homer!

[Cheering]

- Good luck, sweetie.

- Bye.

[Coin Clinks]

Thanks, Dad.

[Homer] When

the rocket propellant burns,

it produces a river of gas...

which flows through

the convergent section

of the nozzle.

If the river continues

through the nozzle,

but through the throat

at less than sonic speed...

that is to say, less than

the speed of sound...

it becomes compact in the...

compacted in the divergent

section,

bound in turmoil

and inefficient.

Lyle Wells and Jean Cooper,

Schrader High School,

McMinnville, Oregon.

Now, ladies and gentlemen,

the big moment.

The Highest Scholastic

Achievement Award

for Science.

The National Science Fair

first prize gold medal...

goes to Homer Hickam,

Quentin Wilson, Roy Lee Cook

and Sherman O'Dell,

Big Creek High School,

McDowell County, West Virginia.

Tom Webster of Virginia State

College. I wanna talk to you

about a scholarship.

Jack Palmer, Virginia Tech.

We got the best science program

in the state, buddy, okay?

Congratulations, son.

Good luck to you.

What did he say to you?

What did who say?

Von Braun.

That was Wernher von Braun.

You just shook his hand.

[Cheering]

Oh, Homer,

I'm so proud of you.

Thanks, Mom.

He's not here, hon.

Where's Miss Riley?

Hello, Miss Riley.

Hi, Homer.

Hi.

Hi.

Oh!

You did it!

I knew you would.

The Rocket Boys

are goin' to college.

We all got scholarships.

[Chuckling]

And you know what?

From now on,

every school year,

I'm gonna brag

to all my new students...

about how I taught

Homer Hickam

and the Rocket Boys.

Maybe one day,

one of them'll feel

like they can do

what y'all did.

You know, just,

stuff like that

takes time.

Will you let me out?

[John]

What are they doin;

charging Olga for that.

Hell, I'm going to salvage

something up here?

Hey, Dad. Hi.

Hello, Homer.

I just wanted to tell you

how much I appreciate

what you did for me.

I know it wasn't easy for you,

so thank you.

A-And we're shootin' off

our last rocket today at 5:00,

so if you'd like to come

see it...

I got a lot of work to do.

All right. Well,

I just thought I'd ask.

Hear you met

your big hero.

Didn't even know it.

Look,

I know you and me

don't exactly see eye to eye

on certain things.

I mean,

we don't see eye to eye

on just about anything.

But Dad, I come to believe

that I got it in me to be

somebody in this world.

A-And it's not because

I'm so different

from you either.

It's 'cause

I'm the same.

You know, I can be

just as hardheaded

and just as tough.

I only hope I can be

as good a man as you are.

I mean, sure,

Dr. Von Braun's

a great scientist,

but he isn't my hero.

[Elevator Buzzes]

It's our last rocket.

Yeah, let's do it.

Wire it up for me, will ya?

I gotta do something.

Yeah.

Hi, Homer.

Hi.

Congratulations

on winning

the science fair.

It's gotta be the most

exciting thing that's ever

happened around here.

Um, I was thinking,

Homer, if, if you've

got some time...

Excuse me, Dorothy.

Hi.

Hi.

Good luck.

Thanks.

[Clears Throat]

Hey, everybody, can we have

your attention, please?

Come on, Homer,

let her fly!

We're gonna launch the rocket

in a minute, but we'd like

to say thank you first.

If it wasn't for y'all,

we'd never have gotten

into any science fair.

We'd probably never have

gotten past blowin' up

my mom's fence.

[Laughing]

But we did...

because of your help

and support.

And this is for Coalwood.

There are a few people

who believed in us

even before we did.

We'd like to dedicate

this rocket to them.

To Ike Bykovsky.

To Mr. Bolden,

who helped us so much.

To the person

who first inspired us,

our teacher, Miss Riley.

And, finally, I'd like

to dedicate this rocket

to my mom and to...

my dad.

You know, it, uh, won't fly

unless somebody pushes

the button.

It's yours,

if you want it.

Ten, nine...

[Together]

Eight,

seven, six, five,

four, three, two, one.

Look at it go, Homer.

This one's gonna go for miles.

[music]Many a tear

has to fall [music]

[music]But it's all [music]

[music]In the game [music]

[music]All in the wonderful game [music]

[music] That we know [music]

[music]As love [music]

[music] You have words [music]

[music] With him [music]

[music]And your future's [music]

[music]Looking dim [music]

[music]But these things [music]

[music] Your hearts can rise [music]

[music]Above [music]

[music] Once in a while

you will call [music]

[music]But it's all [music]

[music]In the game [music]

[music]Soon he'll be there

at your side [music]

[music] With a sweet [music]

[music]Bouquet [music]

[music]And he'll kiss [music]

[music] Your lips [music]

[music]And caress [music]

[music] Your waiting fingertips [music]

[music]And your hearts [music]

[music] Will fly [music]

[music]Away [music]

[music]Soon he'll be there

at your side [music]

[music] With a sweet [music]

[music]Bouquet [music]

[music] Then he'll kiss [music]

[music] Your lips [music]

[music]And caress [music]

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