The Astronaut Farmer Page #4

Well, you can rent it for 500 a week.

- Can we talk some business?

- Sure.

- Yeah?

- Absolutely. You gonna be around?

Yeah, I'll be here.

Colonel Masterson.

Up there in space, you get

a totally different perspective.

Different every time.

Different perspective of the Earth.

Different perspective of yourself.

Every time's completely different.

It's just...

It's just beautiful, is what it is.

Beautiful.

You see the world, and you realize

how small we all are.

Life-changing.

Definitely life-changing.

This is good chicken, Audrey.

- Thank you.

- You're about to make me start crying.

My last mission was on the Endeavor.

I don't know who they are.

It's the name of the space shuttle

Colonel Masterson flew on.

We don't have a name for our rocket.

You don't?

You don't have a name

for your rocket, Farmer?

Well, 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, Stanley submitted the name

of the Rockin' Rocket.

- Who wants Rockin' Rocket?

- I like that.

Uncle Eddie has voted

for everything we've said so far.

- I'm taking this as seriously as you are.

- Okay.

Now, Shepard has decided,

as you told me before...

- ...you wanna change your name?

- Yeah, I'm changing my name.

I'll 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 all going to vote on it--

It means "the other woman," honey.

No. You are not voting for that name.

I think we should go out

and see the other woman.

Son of a b*tch, Farmer.

- You built this thing?

- Bolt by bolt.

That is some serious engineering.

You don't think they'd have

brought you down here...

...if it was a bottle rocket, do you?

Good grief.

- You're serious about this.

- Absolutely.

Lookie here, you.

What happens...

...if the rocket doesn't launch?

I know it's not the company line here.

I know.

But I'm a dad, baby.

Well, that's why he needs our support

regardless of the outcome.

It's not mandatory.

No, it's love.

What do you think?

I think that it is gonna be one sad-ass day

up here in Farmerville...

...when they haul all your hard work

off to the junkyard.

I think that. What do you think?

You think they're gonna let you

go up into outer space?

A civilian?

They don't let civilians

go up into outer space.

Astronauts go into outer space.

Professional astronauts

who have been trained...

...to withstand the pressures

and the strain...

...and the emotional stress

of leaving your family behind.

Ed, you know my dad died.

That's why I left.

- Of course I know your dad--

- My family needed me.

But if that was a test, you failed.

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 really-- I really didn't expect this.

What if I told you I could get you

a seat on the shuttle?

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 lot of hard work into.

You get these people 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 millions of dollars anymore...

...billions of dollars. 16.2 billion dollars

in this year's budget alone.

- For what?

- Who cares for what.

For whatever they want.

They're not gonna let you go up

in your John Deere riding lawnmower...

...into outer space

and try and come back down...

...and make them look stupid.

Do you think that's really 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 all this?

Looks like we got home-field advantage,

don't it?

They're not allowing cameras

or the media inside during the hearing.

We are assembled here

to review an application...

...for the launching of a spacecraft.

We'll be asking a series of questions.

Answer to the best of your knowledge.

Yes, sir.

Let's begin with your flight plan

that you've submitted.

Your plan is to do one complete orbit

of the Earth.

Once completed, the capsule

will re-enter the atmosphere.

Sounds easy. Simple.

- Yes, sir.

- Well, it's not.

I would submit that's the gentleman's

opinion, not a statement of fact.

You are aware this is not a court of law.

I am, but I'm not gonna sit here

like a potted plant.

I hope not.

As head of the FAA, my opinion

might have some credence...

- ...on the subject of space flight.

- Yes, sir.

You based your design

on the Atlas rocket, yes?

- Yes, sir.

- Were you aware that the Atlas...

...comes from the design

of a ballistic missile?

- Yes, sir.

- So basically...

- ...you've built a missile in your barn.

- That's incorrect.

Will Beacon, Central Intelligence Agency.

How do we know

that you're not constructing a WMD?

Well, because if I was building

a weapon of mass destruction...

...you wouldn't be able 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 Child Protective Services.

Would you please sit down?

- No, thank you.

- Mrs. Farmer...

...it has come to our attention...

...that your children, as well as yourself,

may be in harm's way.

How so?

Your husband has literally brainwashed

you and your children.

He's taken them out of school...

...and he has isolated his entire family

from any other outside influence.

It's time you took control of your family

before someone else 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 15-year-old will be the head

of your mission control?

He's perfectly capable

of launching his dad into space.

- Don't underestimate what my child can do.

- Come on. He's 15 years old.

We also have an evaluation that was

done recently by a Dr. Beth Goode.

Nurse Goode?

These are alarming comments

made by the doctor.

She said that Mr. Farmer is angry...

...unstable...

...delusional...

...and that his overall mental health

is in question.

Charlie, your father took his own life,

is that correct?

Don't go there, colonel.

I can tell you right now,

what you have built here...

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