Putting on the Dish Page #3

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The moon is 146,750 miles ahead.

Looking on this scale, which

is not drawn to scale...

Pity they don't mention

who got the Dish here.

- Come on, love.

- You've never got due credit.

I've done all right, Maysie.

Don't call me Maysie in

front of the ambassador.

What do I care if some bigwig

yank sees I love my wife.

The blue or the lemon?

- The yellow.

- Lemon.

Maysie, give us a kiss.

- What did ljust say?

- No idea.

If you get into Parliament,

will you abolish the draft?

Anything for you, sweetheart.

Dad, it's a political issue.

Leave it with me.

I don't want you and Mitch to

think I'm holding on too tight.

You've got a lot on your plate.

Now the teams have gone

back, I'm responsible.

Am I holding on too tight?

Well, you know...

There's a lot at stake, Al.

There's no guarantees,

a lot of variables.

We'll be right.

Zenith. 55.

Hold it there.

Nothing.

HGA?

Pre-limit.

Run APP prime.

Antenna pointing

processor running.

We got a signal.

Weak.

Peak it up.

Azimuth 8522, 24, 26.

- 28.

- It's up.

Solid.

- Hello, Apollo.

- Switch to M.E.

- Equatorial control locked on.

- Variable rate?

Set...

and holding.

Acquisition of signal.

We are go for command.

PKS, Houston, NC.

Houston Network Control.

Go ahead, Parkes.

Standing by for handover.

Copy that, Parkes. All stations,

Net 2, switching to PKS.

Who's for a cup of tea?

Manual.

Good read-back and would

like a crew status report

Battery charging is complete....

and crew status report

is as follows:

PDR, VMP, LMP,

negative medication.

Fit as a fiddle. Over.

Copy, 11. Thank you.

We're all concerned that

they'll be able to rest.

We're sure how to land man

on the moon.

... following the Apollo 11

mission intensely.

Go ahead, Houston.

Can we have a CSM switch

to high bit rate, please?

Roger. Signal strength is

negative 1-3-0.

Solid lock on prime.

Stand by for UDB.

Data buffer standing by.

- What was that?

- A CSM switch. Not to worry.

- Won't be long.

- Take your time.

Can you run a verification...

of projected plot points?

- Done it.

- But not with adjusted bearings.

Oh, well, I stand corrected.

No, you're wrong!

You got a problem?

Yeah.

You treat us like a

pack of galahs.

That's a kind of parrot.

Just because I don't wear a tie

and bury my head in a manual...

doesn't mean I'm a drongo.

- That's a hopeless...

- I get the idea.

I've got complete respect

for your capabilities.

I'd appreciate the same

in return.

- It's time to get along.

- Let me know if...

Don't worry.

Hi, Mr. Burnett.

Guys, I've been calling you.

It's been switched off again.

Testing, one, two...

What are we calling about?

What's that?

What are we calling about?

Oh, it's just the...

Routine call?

Yeah, Mr. Buxton,

it was the routine call.

I'd better get back to my post.

Are we all right here?

That's why I was calling.

Acamera crew's downstairs...

and entry's been authorized.

The ambassador's taking his time.

Must still be at the motel.

You organize that fruit platter?

Yep. Nice big one.

- Major Mclntyre.

- Keith.

Is Marie here?

No. The ambassador's a

cultural imperialist.

She's gone in.

- Be careful, son.

- Yes, sir.

Boy's about to get a taste of war.

Soon we'll be watching TV

pictures from the moon.

Could you explain how these

pictures will be received?

Got a basketball?

When Armstrong emerges from

the lunar landing module...

he'll activate a small

camera here...

which will capture pictures of

him descending the ladder...

and walking on the moon.

- How will they return to Earth?

- Carrier pigeon.

A small transmitter will send

the images back to us.

It's amazing technology.

Will the entire...?

Carrier pigeon.

We'll have to go again.

The ambassador of the U.S.A.

- Got a lump in my throat.

- Stop eating those party pies.

You're right, Len. It's

a big day for Parkes.

It's a vindication.

They're here.

What do we call him,

Your Excellency?

He's not bloody royalty.

It's important. We're his

first impression of Parkes.

On behalf of the people of

Parkes, we welcome you.

Thank you, Bob.

I can call you Bob?

- Absolutely, Mr. Ambassador.

- Howard.

- And this is...?

- Len.

Good day.

My wife, May. She's the lemon.

Apollo 11, Houston,

accept the minute 49.

Continue your sequence...

and we'll analyze

the data afterwards.

Time for a cup of tea?

I haven't been treated like this

since I was striping harvesters.

He's a know-it-all who thinks

only Americans work properly.

Aren't you being unfair?

What's happened to you in

the last couple of years?

I'm sorry. That came out wrong.

This was always your dish. You'd

never let anyone else run it.

We're part of a team.

We're part of NASA.

And what's NASA?

Money, equipment, and

everything you ever needed.

No, Mitch.

NASA'sjust a bigger bunch of us.

- You considered this attempt?

- Of course.

We're in the middle of the

greatest feat ever attempted.

This is science's chance

to be daring.

What are you doing?

Standing around, bitching.

Rudi.

Fellas.

Janine brought food

from the dance.

Lovely.

Then her and Glenn are

down there alone?

Yeah. If you guys have noticed,

Janine really likes Glenn.

Is that right?

Rudi, what's with the gun?

It's official NASA installation.

We may need it.

I've tasted it.

- What?

- The food.

Could've been tampered.

We can't take chances.

- You want a couple more?

- Thanks. I'm still starving.

Leaving Sector A.

I thought the foyer

was Sector A.

Yeah, it was.

I've decided to go

alphabetically from top down.

That's not locked in yet.

This whole thing...

I can't believe I'm a part of it.

I certainly can't believe

Rudi's a part of it.

Me too.

Helen would've been proud.

Ladies and gentlemen,

distinguished guests...

please remain upstanding...

for the national anthem

of the United States.

That's not the anthem.

PKS, Houston. Confirm

handover at 17:
00 hours.

Roger, PKS. Copy 17:00.

PKS out.

Where'd you get the chocolate?

Janine.

I will, Cliff. I promise.

Everyone wanted to come

but can't find the car keys.

- About to call a cab and...

- The keys hanging on the door.

Why don't we all have a dance?

Why don't we.

Keys were hanging out

the door, Howard.

- Not too racy?

- Oh, no.

Marie.

- What?

- Would you like to dance?

Are you stupid?

No.

Would you?

I wouldn't be in the way?

We'd be honored to have you visit.

Sorry about the mix-up earlier.

No harm done, Bob. Sometimes I

wish it was our national anthem.

Oh, beauty.

You'll love this bloke.

Fly me to the moon, let me

swing among the stars.

- He's from Brisbane.

- Really?

He's a little like Frank Sinatra.

If not better.

In other words, take my hand.

Who's playing funny buggers?

Sh*t.

- Sorting it out.

- Not the pie warmer again?

- What happened?

- A blackout.

Control panel's dead.

Have it fixed in a jiffy.

- Receivers?

- Negative.

- Demodulators?

- No.

Whole rack's dead.

Bloody hell.

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