The Astronaut's Wife Script - Dialogue Transcript
Transcript written by and used with the courtesey of Angela Sugden
Jillian
I hate this part. We're still here but I know you're going, and I hate that.
Spencer
Well, I'll call you, baby.
Jillian
Don't tease me. I miss you so much when you're gone.
Spencer
I miss you too, baby. Listen. Last time Streck told me if I bellyached about you for one more minute he was gonna toss my ass right off the ship.
Jillian
You tell Streck your ass belongs to me and he can keep his hands off it.
Spencer
All right.
Jillian
My class wants you to come by when you get back.
Spencer
I think I can arrange a visit, if you're nice.
Jillian
How nice?
Spencer
You like fruit?
Jillian
Yeah.
Spencer
Well, come here a minute. Come here. Ain't that a peach?
Jillian
Is that for me?
Spencer
That's for you.
Mission Control
Victory, this is Mission Control. All systems are go. Flight Commander, all computers are functioning. The crew of Victory has been given a go for orbit operations by the Mission Control Centre. Crew members are doing well and all systems of the orbiter are performing satisfactorily. Three. . . Two. . . One. . . Zero, and lift off.
Spencer (voice)
Mission Control, we have left the pad.
Mission Control
Roger that, Victory. You are go to throttle up.
Spencer (voice)
Mission Control, this is Victory. We have throttled up. It's a fine day for flying, Houston. All systems are go.
Children
Pineapples!
Jillian
What do they have in Kansas?
Children
Corn!
Jillian
Yes, corn, and what about. . . Georgia? What do they have in Georgia?
Children
Peaches!
Jillian
Very good. And what do we have here in Florida?
Children
Oranges!
Calvin
And rocket ships.
Jillian
Yes, Calvin, and rocket ships.
Brian
Mrs Armacost, you have a phone call.
Jillian
Thank you, Brian. Okay, let's go to page seven. And work quietly, okay? Hello?
Voice (phone)
Mrs Armacost.
Jillian
Yes, this is Jillian Armacost.
Voice (phone)
Mrs Armacost, NASA communications. We have your husband for you. Go ahead, Commander.
Spencer (phone)
Jillian?
Jillian
Spencer?
Spencer (phone)
Yeah, I told you I'd call. It's amazing, isn't it?
Jillian
Yes, amazing.
Spencer (phone)
Hey, Jill.
Jillian
Yeah?
Spencer (phone)
What are you wearing?
Jillian
Spencer.
Spencer (phone)
Come on, now. Ain't nobody else listening.
Voice (phone)
Not exactly, Commander. Including Houston and J.P.L. there are about three hundred folks on the line today.
Spencer (phone)
It's a nice day down there, huh?
Jillian
Beautiful.
Spencer (phone)
Can you see outside, Jill?
Jillian
Yeah.
Voice (phone)
Fifteen seconds, Commander.
Spencer (phone)
I'm right above you. You lookin' up, honey?
Voice (phone)
Ten seconds.
Spencer (phone)
Won't you smile for me, huh?
Jillian
I already am.
Nancy
He called you from outer space?
Jillian
Well, technically from Earth's orbit, but yes. He called me from the orbiter.
Nancy
Stanley won't even call me from the Beef 'N' Burger, and you get a call from outer space. . . the Earth's orbit, whatever. Technically speaking, Jill, you scored. I don't get it. We grew up in the same house. You land Johnny Rocket Boy. I keep getting different versions of Throws-Up-On-Himself Elmo. I bet, I bet he's good at the little things, too, isn't he?
Jillian
What little things?
Nancy
Just those little things that mean so much. It's true. You know men, men are like parking spaces. All the good ones are taken and all the available ones are handicapped. What?
Jillian
Spencer.
Voice (TV)
And now back to our programme.
Jillian
Oh, man, something happened. Come on. Keep checking.
Reese
Mrs Armacost, I'm Sherman Reese from NASA. Um, it's about your husband.
Jillian
What's happened?
Reese
Well, we'd like you to come with us. I have a, a car right outside.
Nancy
There's something about Spencer!
Reese
Please, Mrs Armacost. Captain Streck's wife. . .
Nancy
Jill!
Reese
. . .is already there. Er, the director wants, er. . .
Voice (TV)
The condition of Armacost and Streck as well as the rest of the shuttle crew is at this time unknown. Reporting live from NASA. . .
Jillian
Is my husband dead?
Reese
Ma'am, I don't know anything about the condition of your husband.
Jillian
Is my husband dead?
Reese
Ma'am, I just don't know.
Jillian
Then take me to someone who does.
Natalie
He's dead. I know he's dead.
Jillian
They're not dead. They're not dead. What have they told you?
Natalie
Nothing. They won't tell me anything.
NASA Guy
Mrs Streck, Mrs Armacost. First, your husbands are alive.
Natalie
Oh, thank God.
NASA Guy
They're back on the orbiter right now and we're gonna bring 'em down immediately.
Jillian
What happened up there?
NASA Guy
Your husbands were outside the orbiter performing some repairs on a satellite. There was an explosion and, we lost contact with both astronauts for about two minutes.
Natalie
What?
Jillian
You lost contact? What do you mean you lost contact?
NASA Guy
After the explosion, they drifted behind the shuttle. We had to bring the craft around a hundred and eighty degrees to get them.
Natalie
They were all alone?
NASA Guy
But now they're, they're back on the shuttle and they'll be back down here just as soon as we can manage it. Ah. Mr Reese here will, will stay with you until we can get you to them.
Natalie
They were all alone out there, Jillian.
Jillian
It's okay. They're alive.
Reese
This will give you a view from the shuttle as they land. Would you like me to get you the link-up? I'll get the link-up.
Voice
Twenty-five seconds to re-entry interface. Maintain descent. Wind sheer. . . this is minimum trajectory. Velocity at twenty-six hundred F.B.P. At two hundred-thirty knots maintaining descent. Eight at two-fifteen, five at two-ten, two at two hundred. One foot.
Voice 2
Ground Control, this is Victory. We are down.
Doctor
He's breathing on his own. His vital functions are good. As far as we can tell, there has been no brain damage, so it should only be a matter of time before your husband regains consciousness.
Jillian
So he's going to be okay?
Doctor
Absolutely.
Jillian
And what about Alex?
Doctor
Captain Streck is an older man than your husband. There was a tremendous strain on his heart.
Jillian
Natalie.
Spencer
Jillian. Jillian.
Jillian
Hey.
Spencer
Hey.
Jillian
Hey.
Spencer
Hey, you.
Jillian
I missed you so much. How are you?
Spencer
I'm all right.
Jillian
Yeah?
Spencer
Yeah, I'm all right.
Jillian
Good.
Spencer
I got to pee.
Jillian
Yeah. I'll see what I can do for you.
Spencer
Where's Alex? Is he all right?
Alex
Spencer. Spencer. Spencer, what is that? Did you feel that?
Natalie
Alex?
Alex
My God, what is that?
Natalie
Alex. Honey, I'm here.
Alex
God damn it.
Natalie
What can I do? Alex!
Doctor
Jesus. Hold him.
Natalie
Help him!
Doctor
Clear.
Nurse
That's it. He's still at zero. Nothing. Charging, three hundred.
Doctor
Clear.
Nurse
We got him.
Doctor
Hold off on that intubator. Stand by with some Dopamine. Let's get an EKG prepped.
Jillian
What did you say?
Spencer
Well, I told that bloated fast-food eating motherfucker that we'd never have gotten a chance to be heroes if he hadn't cut our budget and forced us to put that piece of shit exploding satellite into orbit.
Jillian
Really?
Spencer
Yeah.
Jillian
And then what happened?
Spencer
Ah, you know, he said he'd never been talked to like that before by anybody, and I said I didn't give a big hairy rat's ass, and if he ever called me again, I would track him down, roust him out of his bunk, pull his pants around his ankles and spank him with a coat hanger right there in front of his wife and children.
Jillian
Well, that's real subtle.
Spencer
Yeah, I thought it pretty subtle.
Jillian
You want to tell me what you really said to the president?
Spencer
Yeah. I thanked him for his call. Then I asked him what he was wearing, and er, he started breathing kind of heavy, made a funny noise and hung up. What do you think that means?
Jillian
Maybe he's not into you.
Spencer
I guess not. She's got balloons. Why didn't I get no balloons?
Jillian
Because you got candy.
Spencer
I ain't got no candy.
Jillian
You got candy.
Spencer
Where's my candy?
Jillian
In the car.
Natalie
Does he ever talk about it? Did Spencer ever say anything about what happened up there? What it was like when they were alone?
Jillian
It's going to be okay. They're back.
Natalie
He doesn't talk about it, does he? Neither does Alex. Never mentions it, not a word.
Jillian
Well, do you blame them?
Natalie
Those two minutes, they almost died, Jillian.
Jillian
But they didn't.
Natalie
But they almost did. To go through that together, to come back, and never talk about it, never bring it up, it's bizarre.
Jillian
Natalie, it's over.
Natalie
Honey. I know this has to be hard for you, too. It just scares me that they act like it never happened.
Spencer
There you go.
Mike
Thanks, Commander.
Spencer
You got it, Buddy.
Boy (voice)
Hey, Mike, what did he write?
Spencer
Hey. Guess what.
Jillian
What?
Spencer
I'm resigning from the service.
Jillian
Because of what happened?
Spencer
No, it's because I'm done up there. I got an offer, from an aerospace firm, executive position, lots of money. I mean boatloads of money, Jill.
Jillian
What do you know about being an executive? You're a flier, Spence.
Spencer
No, honey. What I am, is a true American hero. The president of the United States of America said that and you heard it.
Jillian
Yeah.
Spencer
Anyway. . . Apparently, it's pretty good for business to have a true American hero on the company letterhead. The thing of it is, Jill. . . is that the, er, company headquarters. . . it's in New York City.
Jillian
You're kidding, right?
Spencer
No.
Jillian
New York? You hate New York. Too many people, remember?
Spencer
I know.
Jillian
We have a life here, Spencer. . . my job, our friends, everything.
Spencer
Yeah. So, what do you say? Will you do it? Will you move to New York City with me? Huh?
Jillian
You've always been there for me. I want to be there for you. Let's go to New York.
Alex
What do you say?
Paula
Mrs Armacost?
Jillian
Yes, Paula?
Paula
When your husband is in space, does he veer see God?
Calvin
What about aliens? Does he see aliens? Does your husband bring a laser gun in case there are aliens? If I were going, I'd bring two laser guns, a little one for my pocket and one laser rifle. Does your husband have a laser rifle? Does he get to bring it home with him? Does it work here on Earth or only in space?
Jillian
You know what, Calvin?
Calvin
What, Mrs Armacost?
Jillian
I'm going to miss you.
Singers
And so I face. . .
Spencer
Oh, no.
Singers
The final curtain. . .
Spencer
No, no, no.
Singers
My fiends, I must say it clear, I'll state my case, of which I'm certain. I've lived, a life that's full, I traveled each. . .
Spencer
Ain't the world incredible?
Singers
And every highway, and more, much more than this. . .
All Guests
He did it, his way.
Spencer
Thank you.
Woman
To you, spaceman.
Alex
Spencer! Spencer! Spencer! Spencer! Spencer!
Jillian
Alex!
Natalie
Baby?
Jillian
Alex.
NASA Guy
I have a brief prepared statement and then there will be time for questions. Captain Alex Streck died last night at eight fifty-five. The cause of death has been determined to have been a massive stroke, what the surgeons are calling a severe insult to the brain. Alex was an asset to this programme way beyond his professional expertise. He will be missed terribly by all of us. There will be a private ceremony.
Press Man
Is Commander Armacost in any danger?
NASA Guy
Er, I'll let Dr Patraba answer that.
Dr Patraba
Commander Armacost has been through an intensive array of examinations and tests. It is the opinion of myself and my colleagues that he is in no more danger than any of us.
Spencer
Hey. I'm going to be over here, baby.
Nancy
You okay?
Jillian
Yeah. Where's Natalie?
Nancy
She's in the back. She's been asking for you.
Jillian
Okay. I'll see you in a bit, okay?
Nancy
All right.
Jillian
Okay. Natalie.
Natalie
Jillian. They talked to him every night. All the time. I couldn't understand them.
Jillian
Who talked to him, Natalie?
Natalie
They did. They did, Jillian. He's hiding inside me.
Spencer
I certainly do appreciate your concern, Mr Reese, but I have been probed and poked by enough needles, and your superiors have given me a clean bill of health.
Reese
I, I know, I know that, but, Commander, I. . . It's probably nothing, bet, erm. . .
Spencer
Do your bosses know you want to do this?
Reese
No.
Jillian
Oh, God. Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh God. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.
Woman
I'll, I'll be sure and let you know of some good places for you to shop. That dress is really sweet, but it's not really appropriate. You'll meet all sorts of interesting people when you're here. They like the sort of things I do.
Spencer
You can feel the first kick. . .
Woman
Probably not quite as interesting as me, but, you know, you're very lucky. I, uh. . .
Spencer
But then she saw the rocket boosters come on, and that's when you know, that you're going somewhere real fast.
Philip
Zoom, zoom, zoom.
Spencer
That's right.
Woman
I used to be into AIDS, but now I'm into hunger.
Jillian
I teach.
Woman
Oh, at the university?
Jillian
No, second grade.
Woman
I'm sorry. I thought you said you taught second grade.
Jillian
Yes, I, I. . .
Woman
Oh, Ambrose, hi. You look great. Will you excuse me?
Jillian
Yeah, sure.
Spencer
Yeah, all right. Excuse me, Philip.
Shelly
Now, don't worry about her. Total lack of body fat has made her something less than human. Now, I don't think she's had a period in three years, which I guess is a blessing for the gene pool, wouldn't you say? Shelly McLaren.
Jillian
Jillian Armacost.
Shelly
Yeah, I know.
Jillian
Oh, your husband must be. . .
Shelly
Jackson McLaren. They all had cigars, but Jackson had the biggest cigar of all. Ah, here we go. Do you have many friends here in the city?
Jillian
Yeah, some. . . at work, and Spencer, of course.
Shelly
What? Your husband and your friend?
Jillian
Yeah.
Shelly
Well, you better not let that get around. You know, they're gonna haul you up on charges. That, I like.
Jillian
What?
Shelly
Your laugh. That's an honest laugh. It's been a while since I've heard one.
Jillian
Thank you.
Shelly
It's all right. I'll be right there. Apparently, there's some, um, minor disaster in the kitchen, something to do with burning rum balls. Now, I'm gonna call you, and we're gonna go out and laugh, all right?
Jillian
Okay.
Shelly
All right.
Spencer
You all right?
Jillian
I'm drunk.
Spencer
Well, that's good, honey. That's good.
Jillian
Tell me what happened up there. Tell me.
Spencer
All right. Come on, let's take a walk.
Jillian
Okay.
Spencer
You want to know what happened?
Jillian
Yeah.
Spencer
Do you?
Jillian
Yeah.
Spencer
You want to know about them two minutes?
Jillian
You never talk about it.
Spencer
Two minutes. . . dark. . . black. . . no light. There was an explosion. . . and, um. . . everything shut down. No light. . . no communication. It was black. . . silent. No sound, but. . . but loud, something loud. Loud nothing. And it was cold. It was so cold, Jill. And I knew what that cold was. It was death. . . and it held me real tight for about the first minute. And then. . . I felt warmth. It was the warmth of your vagina. . . the warmth of your body. . . your hands. . . The inside of your mouth. . . the warmth of your come. . . the warmth from inside you, Jillian. . . your warmth. I felt it all around me. It made me breathe. It made me breathe. Jillian.
Jillian
Spencer.
Spencer
Jillian.
Jillian
Spencer. Spencer. No. Spencer! Spencer. What's happening? Spencer. What's happening? Spencer? What are you doing?
Spencer
I couldn't sleep, so I just, er, listening to some music. I'm sorry if I was a bit rough. I guess maybe I had a little too much to drink. Come on, let's go to bed. Good night, sweetheart.
Jillian
Then she began to guess the little man's name. Is it Conrad Peppermill? She said. And the little man said. . .
Children
No!
Jillian
I know. I know. It's Sir William Doorknob, and the little man said. . .
Children
No!
Jillian
I have it. It must be Little Ribs of Beef, and the little man said. . .
Children
No!
Jillian
It couldn't be Rumplestiltskin, could it? What did you say? Said the little man. I said it couldn't be. . .
Children
Rumplestiltskin!
Jillian
And the little man screamed. . . and stamped his foot. . .
Nancy (phone)
Honey, you sound so sad.
Jillian
It's just the city, Nan. It just gets inside you, that's all.
Nancy (phone)
You can't let it. That's how you got in trouble after Mom and Dad died, and you sound like you did then. Have you found a doctor to talk to yet?
Jillian
Uh-uh. Not yet.
Nancy (phone)
Promise me something, okay? If it gets like it was before that you'll find someone to talk to.
Jillian
Nan, I really have to go, okay?
Spencer
Hey, Jill.
Jillian
Hey. You're late.
Spencer
You didn't get my message? I had a dinner meeting tonight.
Jillian
No. I didn't check the machine yet.
Spencer
Oh, well, I'm sorry. I still ain't conquered this corporate shit yet. I'm gonna take a shower, honey.
Jillian
Okay.
Jackson
Do you ever think, what if I had an F-Fifteen in World War II, or a B-Seventeen in World War I?
Shelly
No, never.
Jackson
What, what kind of ass I could kick if I had that type of advanced technology?
Shelly
And how many different kinds of ass are there, Jack?
Jackson
Many kinds, love. . . but the modern battlefield is all electronic and the fighter that this man has helped us design can detect, sort, identify and eliminate anything electronic.
Spencer
You got two McLaren engines pumping twenty-five thousand pounds of thrust. . . wingspan of seventy-five feet.
Jackson
Fully, fully extended.
Spencer
Oh, yeah, that's fully extended. You got a top speed of eighteen hundred miles per hour, a ceiling of fifty-five thousand feet, and a crew, of two.
Jackson
The modern battlefield is a blizzard, a transparent, electronic blizzard, with planes and tanks, and computers and missiles all humming away, and into that storm flies our fighter. It doesn't drop bombs. It doesn't shoot missiles. It just sends out a signal. It's like the voice of God. It's just a signal that turns everything off.
Shelly
I forget, Jackson. . . who is the enemy now that we need your plane to defend us from?
Jackson
What? The enemy at this moment? You are, dear. You are.
Jillian
The signal it makes. . . what, what does it sound like?
Jackson
Oh, humans can't hear it, dove. Humans can't hear it at all.
Butler
Excuse me, ma'am. Miss Augusta would like to see you.
Shelly
Oh, all right. Come on, Jackson. Augusta has summoned us to her bedside.
Jackson
It's the good night kiss. After allowance, it's the most important event of the day. The joys of parenthood.
Shelly
Come on, Jackson.
Jackson
Coming.
Spencer
Why are you so far away?
Jillian
I'm right here.
Spencer
What's the matter? What's wrong?
Jillian
I don't understand any of this. What they're talking about, it's like they're speaking in code.
Spencer
Honey, it's business, that's all.
Jillian
Why do you have to build that plane? The way you talk about it, it doesn't even sound like you.
Spencer
Baby, it's my job. My job.
Jillian
You used to say you'd fly for ever. You used to say they'd have to bury you in the sky.
Spencer
Yeah. They almost did.
Jillian
What are you looking for when you look at me like that?
Spencer
What are you hiding from me? Huh?
Jillian
Nothing. Nothing.
Spencer
No?
Jillian
Yeah.
Spencer
Uh-uh.
Jillian
Yeah.
Doctor
This is going to be a little cold. Let's have a look in here, shall we? Ah, there it is. Let's take a measurement. Nine weeks, give or take a few days. See this here? This, this flickering?
Spencer
What id that?
Doctor
That's the heartbeat.
Spencer
Is it supposed to be moving that fast?
Doctor
I would be worried if it were not. Everything looks fine, Jillian. Well, that's interesting.
Spencer
What?
Doctor
Well, wait, I'm not sure. See this here?
Spencer
What is that?
Doctor
A second heartbeat. Two heartbeats. It's twins, Mrs Armacost, twins. This is a number of a support group for women who are expecting twins.
Jillian
There's something I didn't tell you, for my chart. I know I should have, but. . . A few years ago, after my parents died. . . I. . . I had a bad time.
Doctor
How bad, Jillian?
Jillian
I would see people I knew. . . I would see them dead. And sometimes, I. . . I would see myself.
Doctor
Did you seek treatment? Were you hospitalised?
Jillian
Yes.
Doctor
Does he know?
Jillian
He's the one that got me through it.
Doctor
You are afraid, that this pregnancy is going to bring all that back, right?
Jillian
Yeah.
Doctor
Spend time with Spencer. Go through this together. Now that you know that all these feelings you've been having are caused by the life growing in you, and by your body adapting to it, oh, cherish it.
Jillian
Okay.
Doctor
And if you need, call me any time, day or night.
Jillian
Thank you.
Spencer
Just a nightmare, baby. You were talking in your sleep.
Jillian
What was I saying?
Spencer
Couldn't tell. It didn't sound like words, really. It was more like sounds.
Jillian
I'm scared.
Spencer
Well, I think it's be strange, if a first-time mother wasn't scared, honey.
Jillian
Yeah.
Spencer
Come on. Come with me. There you go. That's better, ain't it?
Jillian
Yeah.
Spencer
Yeah.
Jillian
Everything's gonna be okay, isn't it?
Spencer
Everything's going to be just fine, honey.
Jillian
And they're going to be healthy, right?
Spencer
Well. They're going to be beautiful, jut like their mother.
Jillian
What do you think they'll be when they grow up?
Spencer
What are they going to be?
Jillian
Yeah.
Spencer
Shit, they're going to be pilots, honey.
Jillian
Just like their father.
Spencer
Just like their father. All right, lean back here. Let me wash your hair.
Jillian
Am I dreaming, Spencer?
Spencer
No. No, you're not dreaming.
Woman 1
And then he gives you that look, that 'honey, I understand' look. Ha! I don't care how long he rubs my feet for. He doesn't understand a thing.
Woman 2
He rubs your feet?
Woman 3
I know what you mean. We're supposed to be going through this together but I have never felt more separate from him. It's like there's something going on in my body he knows nothing about.
Woman 2
He rubs your feet?
Woman 1
I got into the bathtub with my socks on.
Jillian
Aah! Oh. My God! Jesus, you scared me.
Spencer
You, are in big trouble.
Jillian
Do you like the pie?
Spencer
I don't believe I can take much more of this, honey.
Jillian
How much do you like the pie? Come get the pie.
Spencer
First, I'm gonna drink you, then I'm gonna eat you.
Jillian
Get the pie.
Spencer
I'm going to eat that, right?
Jillian
Think you can handle all three of us?
Spencer
Yup.
Jillian
Yeah?
Spencer
Yup.
Jillian
Do you love the belly?
Spencer
I love it.
Jillian
Good, 'cos I love the belly, too. Excuse me.
Reese
Mrs Armacost. Do you, er, do you remember me?
Jillian
Mr Reese?
Reese
Yes. Erm.
Jillian
Oh.
Reese
How many months?
Jillian
Just a few.
Reese
I need to speak with you.
Jillian
You know, Spencer works for McLaren now, if you're looking for him.
Reese
No. No, I, I, I, I need to speak with, with you, Mrs Armacost. . . about those two minutes. The two minutes, Mrs Armacost.
Jillian
What is it, Mr Reese?
Reese
Have you noticed any change in your husband's behaviour since the shuttle mission? Because I've been through these files and there are some peculiarities. Like, like right here. This is your husband's signature before he went on the shuttle that last time, and here's a form that he signed when he returned. Now. . . they are similar, but, but not the same. Not the same signature.
Jillian
Mr Reese, are you in New York on official NASA business?
Reese
And, and, and here's the results of the medical tests that we ran when he got back.
Jillian
Mr Reese! Are you on official NASA business?
Reese
Everything is fine. Everything shows up normal, but everything's just a little bit different, er, blood levels, er, temperature, EKG, EEG. Everything's just a little bit off from what it was. Look at this.
Jillian
Mr Reese. Does NASA know you're here?
Reese
No. They wouldn't listen. They terminated my, er, employment.
Jillian
I have to go now.
Reese
No.
Jillian
If you have anything to say, you can call my husband at McLaren.
Reese
I, I, I showed them the facts, and, and they terminated my employment. They referred me to a psychiatrist.
Jillian
Don't follow me.
Reese
I've seen Captain Streck's autopsy report. It was a massive stroke. His, his system overloaded. His body couldn't stand the strain. I've seen Natalie Streck's autopsy report as well.
Jillian
That was a suicide. She killed herself. I was there. I saw it.
Reese
Yeah, she did. But according to the report when she killed herself she was three weeks pregnant.
Jillian
What did you say?
Reese
She probably conceived right after her husband left the hospital. She was pregnant, Mrs Armacost. So what happened during those two minutes when they were alone? What happened? The suits that your husband and Captain Streck wore had built in recorders. Listen to the voices. Something happened out there that scared the shit out of them. What could do that?
Jillian
No. It was an accident. There was an explosion, and the satellite. . .
Reese
No! They're trained for explosions. They trained for accidents. They trained for hundreds of hours. If something goes wrong they have a plan. They don't panic. They don't deviate. They stick to the plan. That's what they do. Something happened out there that these two men had not trained for. What would do that to two highly trained astronauts? Scare them like that? Can you swear to me that he's still your husband? Can you?
Jillian
Let go of me, Mr Reese.
Security Guard
Ma'am, is this man bothering you?
Jillian
Yes. Yes, he is.
Reese
You know, don't you? You already know. Room Three Oh Four, Nesbit Arms, Mrs Armacost. Please, Mrs Armacost.
Security Guard
Okay. Settle down. Just settle down.
Spencer (tape)
I'm going to rotate the panel forty-eight degrees. You got me, Alex?
Alex (tape)
Spencer, what is that? Did you feel that? Spencer, what is that? Oh, Jesus Christ! What the hell is that?!
Jillian
No! No!
Nancy
I'm looking for the pregnant woman in twenty-four F. Jillian, what's wrong?
Jillian
He said she must have gotten pregnant right, right after Alex got back.
Nancy
Did he say anything else?
Jillian
Oh, God, Nan.
Nancy
Oh, honey. The last thing you need to worry about is that freak. I mean, just have Spencer call someone.
Jillian
No, Nan. Spencer can't know about this.
Nancy
But, Jillian, you said he looked crazy.
Jillian
You have to promise me you won't tell Spencer. Please promise me.
Nancy
You can't keep these things bottled up inside you, Jillian.
Jillian
You're right. Okay. If he bothers me again. . . I'll tell Spencer, okay? Deal?
Nancy
Sure.
Maitre'd
Mr Armacost, your table's ready.
Spencer
Yeah. Oh, great. All right. Let's go sit down.
Nancy
Oh, Stan? You mean this year's grand marshall at the parade of losers? He's gone. We can't all be as lucky as Jill here.
Spencer
Oh, no. It's me that's lucky. You all right, honey? What's the matter? What's the matter, honey? You all right?
Jillian
Just a little hot.
Spencer
Why don't you have some water?
Jillian
I think I'm gonna go home.
Spencer
All right. Feeling better?
Jillian
Yeah. Where's Nan?
Spencer
She went out.
Jillian
It's after midnight.
Spencer
She's young, Jill. She's having fun. Don't you remember when we used to have fun? Huh?
Jillian
No.
Spencer
No? You don't remember that, huh? Okay. All right. What's wrong with you?
Jillian
You ever think about what happened to Alex?
Spencer
Oh, shit.
Jillian
What happened to Natalie? I do, all the time. Those two minutes you could have died.
Spencer
Why do you want to go back there? Why do you want to go back to that? Can't you just try for once to be happy? Just once?
Jillian
I'm gonna go to sleep. Mr Reese? It's Jillian Armacost. The autopsy on Natalie Streck. . . what did it say about the baby? Mr Reese?
Reese (phone)
Not on the phone, Mrs Armacost.
Jillian
No, you don't understand. You have to tell me. What did Natalie's autopsy say about the baby?
Reese (phone)
Babies.
Jillian
What?
Reese (phone)
Natalie Streck was pregnant, with twins, Mrs Armacost.
Jillian
Oh, my God. What's happening to me?
Reese (phone)
You are, too, aren't you? Mrs Armacost? Pregnant with his twins?
Jillian
Natalie's babies. . . Mr Reese. What did the autopsy say about them?
Reese (phone)
There's something I. . . I need to show you, Mrs Armacost. Something you need to see.
Jillian
Do you know the story, of the princess whose beloved prince dies in battle?
Reese (phone)
Mrs Armacost, I have something you need to see. Do you understand me?
Jillian
The enemy prince. . . after overrunning the castle. . . finds the princess and forces himself upon her. Months later, the princess is with child. But whose? It's either the child of her enemy. . . the man that killed her husband. . . the man that raped her. . . in which case, she'll kill herself and the child. . . or it's the child of her prince. . . the only thing she has left of him. . . a part of him, still alive within her. . . kept safe inside her. . . in which case. . . But how would she know, until it was too late? How will she know until the child is born and she can see it's eyes?
Reese (phone)
Meet me right now. Somewhere public. Leave tour apartment. Meet me now.
Spencer
Sherman Reese. Mr Reese. Sherman Reese. I thought that was you. I was standing over there across the street, and I said to myself "Now, is that Sherman Reese?" Nice to see you.
Reese
Commander Armacost.
Spencer
Yeah. Are you in town on official business?
Reese
I'm not with NASA any more.
Spencer
You know what? You know what? I heard that. I heard that and I thought it was one of them nasty agency rumours. Well, listen, if you need a recommendation, don't hesitate, because maybe I can help you out.
Reese
Well, I, I appreciate that.
Spencer
It's really weird running into you, 'cos the thing of it is, I was just thinking about you. I was thinking about them, er, tests you wanted to run on me, you know, after Alex died. Listen, if you've got a couple of minutes right now we can go down, have a cup of coffee or something.
Reese
Actually, I, I gotta. . .
Spencer
Oh, no, come on, now, Sherman. You're a man of leisure. You ain't got nothing but time, do you? Come on. Yeah, it's nice to see you. Almost forgot your satchel, Mr Reese. I got it.
Jillian
You were the only one who knew, Nan. I asked you not to tell him.
Nancy
I didn't, okay?
Jillian
What were you talking about last night when I was sleeping?
Nancy
We were just talking.
Jillian
About what?
Nancy
Just talking, Jillian. Look, don't do this, it's not good for you.
Jillian
Where did you go last night?
Nancy
Will you listen to yourself?
Jillian
Where did you go?!
Nancy
Look, Jillian, I love you, okay? And Spencer loves you. We all do so much.
Jillian
Spencer was there. Nan, Spencer was there with Reese, and you were the only one who knew, Nan. How did he know unless you told him?! You promised me!
Nancy
Jillian, I love you, but I'm not going to do this with you.
Jillian
Do what with me? Come back, Nan. Nan, come back! Don't leave, Nan! Shit!
Man (phone)
Hello. Nesbit Arms.
Jillian
Mr Reese in room three oh four.
Man (phone)
There's no answer in room three oh four.
Children
Down came the rain, and washed the spider out, out came the sun, and dried up all the rain, and the itsy-bitsy spider, climbed up the spout again.
Jillian
Oh, God.
Man
Are you okay?
Jillian
Yeah.
Reese (tape)
It's like a joke, right? But, if you're watching this tape, I didn't get to that meeting. If you are watching this tape, Mrs Armacost. . . I'm probably fucking dead! This is my backup. That's what they taught us at NASA. Always have a backup system. I, I, I, I'm not crazy. I wish I was. I prayed I was. I know I'm not. You might think you're crazy. How could you not? Always, have a backup. You're going to hear two voices on this tape. One is your husband's, the other Captain Streck. "I'm gonna rotate the panel forty-eight degrees." This line is your husband's voice. This line is Captain Streck's. "Spencer, what is that? What the fuck. . . Jesus Christ! What the hell is that?!" Two voices, but three lines. There's something else on the tape. Something beyond our range of hearing, but I translated it. I had to hear it, and this, is what it sounds like. NASA said that it's static. . .
Jillian
It's not static.
Reese (tape)
. . . caused by the explosion of the satellite, static build up in their suits, but it's not static. I tracked it. It is not static.
Jillian
Not static.
Reese (tape)
It's not from their suits. Not from the satellite, not from the shuttle. It's not. . . It's not from Earth, either. Two minutes, that's all there is. That's all it took. If you wanted to come here from, from, from very, very far away, maybe you wouldn't have to travel in a ship. Maybe you could travel in a transmission, at the speed of light, like a thought. Just wait, for two of us to be up there. Two of us, in orbit, near a target. Something to aim at, like the satellite. Two of us beyond suspicion. Heroes, all-Americans. Wait for them, then erase them like a tape and record your own message. He's not your husband any more. He's not.
Jillian
What?
Reese (tape)
The computer that runs this airplane, it's not there. It hasn't been designed yet, but it's supposed to go, right here in the cockpit, right where the pilots are supposed to be. Two computers, that work off each other, that feed off each other. Twins. Twin computers. Twins, Mrs Armacost. What do you think you have inside of you? What do you think he put there?
Spencer
What are they gonna be? They're gonna be pilots, honey.
Jillian
Just like their father.
Spencer
Hay, Jill.
Jillian
Hey.
Spencer
What's the matter? Scare you?
Jillian
I didn't hear you come in.
Spencer
Listen, I came home, 'cos. . . I felt bad for you. You know, that fight with Nan. You know. Why don't you tell me what it was about?
Jillian
Just sister stuff.
Spencer
Have you heard from her?
Jillian
No.
Spencer
Well. . . I'm sure she'll call you. You're trembling.
Jillian
I am?
Spencer
Uh-uh.
Jillian
I'm a little cold.
Spencer
Well, you know what I did? I brought something home, I believe's gonna cheer you right up. What do you think? Pop it in. Oh. Were you watching something?
Jillian
Yeah. It's a. . . it's a pregnancy video.
Spencer
Oh? Well, maybe we should watch it together.
Jillian
No. Let's watch the movie.
Spencer
You sure?
Jillian
Yeah.
Spencer
All right.
Jillian
Why are you building that plane?
Spencer
What's that?
Jillian
Why do you have to build that plane?
Spencer
It's a contract, Jill. And besides, I didn't add half as much as Jackson said I did. They got some real sharp engineers over there. Come here. Mmmm. Back here. Come on. I know what you're thinking. Don't you worry. Everything's gonna be just fine.
Spencer (dream)
Yeah, these pesky goddamn satellites. I'm gonna rotate the panel forty-eight degrees. You got me, Alex?
Alex (dream)
Spencer, what is that? Did you feel that? Spencer, what is that? What the fuck. . . Jesus Christ! What the hell is that?!
Spencer
Must have dozed off.
Jillian
Were you dreaming?
Spencer
Huh? No. Just sleeping.
Jillian
You weren't dreaming?
Spencer
No, Jill. I wasn't dreaming. Were you?
Shelly
My caterer gets them from the French Caribbean. I always think the French are so much more advanced in this way. Don't you think? Now, listen, with these, all sales are final. Are you sure this is the way you wanna go?
Jillian
Yeah.
Shelly
Now, when you get home you take both pills and then go to bed. It's gonna be quite a bit of vile cramping, but as soon as you start spotting, it goes real fast.
Jillian
And Spencer won't know?
Shelly
Well, if he's anything like the rest of them, he'll think you had a miscarriage and he'll go out and buy you a bracelet. Now, don't beat yourself up about this, sweetheart. I mean, it's not as if, any of this means anything.
Jillian
There's a little bit of pain, and then it's over. Oh. God. I can't. Oh, God. I can't do it. It's gonna be really bad. I'm so sorry. You. . . you'll understand. I have to. Wait. Just. . . a little pain. Just. . . And then it's over. Yeah. Okay. They're just babies. I can't do it. Oh, God. I can't do it. Oh, help me! No. Don't do that. Oh, God. Oh, God, stop it. . . He's gonna. . . Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God. They're just, they're. . . Oh, God, no.
Spencer
What were you gonna do to 'em?
Jillian
No. No. No, you heard them. Oh, God.
Spencer
What were you gonna do?!
Jillian
Nothing. No! No. No. No. No.
Spencer
Jill. . . please. Let's just calm down and talk about this, okay?
Jillian
No.
Spencer
Absol. . . Come on now, honey. Where are you gonna go, Jill? Huh? Where you gonna go? Sssh. Don't talk. Don't say a word, honey. You're fine. You're fine now. They're still inside you, Jill. They're right where they need to be, and we're not ever gonna mention what you tried to do. . . what you tried to do with them pills, okay? Doesn't exist. Never happened, Jillian. I don't want to hear a peep out of you. You hear me? I love you so much. I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to you or the babies. Now, you just keep quiet, and you rest. I'm here with you. I'm always gonna be here, Jill, always. You sleep. Good girl.
Jillian
Nan.
Nancy
Jilly. Hi. I don't want to fight with you, Jilly.
Jillian
There's something wrong, Nan.
Nancy
There's not. The doctor says you can go home any day.
Jillian
No. Something's wrong. . . with Spencer. . . and the twins.
Nancy
Hey, it's just this place.
Jillian
No. He did something to me, Nan, and I didn't tell you.
Nancy
Jillian, it's just being in the hospital that makes you feel this way. I know, I know that you hate it here, but we're gonna take you home soon and we're all gonna take care of you.
Jillian
You?
Nancy
Yeah, of course me. Me, Spencer, all of us.
Jillian
Oh, God. I'm so scared. Something horrible is happening. . . to me. . . and the babies. I don't know what's happening.
Nancy
Tell me, Jillian, what is it?
Jillian
Spencer. . . He. . . He's hiding inside me. Spencer. . . hiding. . . inside me.
Nurse