JAMES A. MICHENER'S "SPACE" {JAMES GARNER} {PART 4} (TV)
Summary
The fourth part of this miniseries based on the novel of the same name, presenting a dramatization of the United States space program’s history and development. On July 20th, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first men to set foot on the moon, representing a monumental achievement in spaceflight. In Bethesda, Maryland, Norman plays golf with Senator Glancey, and they discuss the possibility of Norman running for president, although Norman is more concerned with securing more funding for NASA. In Houston, Randy wakes up John for a meeting at NASA; John has broken up with Penny and is seeing other women, but Randy notes that he is miserable and drinking. He believes John is no longer fit to go into space with him, and John reacts by yelling at him to go away. Leopold retools himself into a rich and successful televangelist, now calling his organization “United Scriptures Alliance.” Norman visits him at one of his tapings, dismayed to find Tucker there with photographers. He manages to speak to Leopold in private and asks about Marcia; he has not seen her since she and Leopold got married. Norman criticizes Leopold for his exploitative media tactics and for swaying the public against certain politicians, although Leopold believes that the two of them are similar in their ability to “hustle” the public. Randy visits Penny in Washington D.C. and they talk; Penny has decided not to see anyone else after the breakdown of her marriage, and they talk about the decreasing funding for NASA in light of the Vietnam War. They hope to convince congress to fund another moon landing, this time heading to its “dark side.” Randy explains how they hope to maintain radio communication with astronauts on the dark side by using a series of relay satellites. During this, Randy tells Penny about John’s current state and she is concerned. Penny speaks with Stanley and Dieter; Dieter feels that the space program is pursuing the wrong direction in its efforts, and that it should move into the field of astrophysics and the study of the universe at large. Stanley points out that they cannot secure funding or political support for such an endeavor, which frustrates Dieter. However, Penny convinces him to testify before congress. Randy reads a rough draft of Cindy’s book about the space program and continues his affair with her, although he is worried that he might accidentally reveal their affair. Penny visits Norman to explain why she stopped seeing him. They discuss the state of her marriage and Norman tells her that if she chooses to rekindle their relationship he would want something more encompassing and permanent. Cindy interviews John, who is aware of her affair with Randy and is reluctant to speak with her. He snaps at her when she makes light of the space program, noting that his training and the experience of seeing the earth from space has had a profound effect on him, so much so that it led to him breaking up with Penny. He also informs her that the mission to the far side of the moon has been officially scheduled for himself and Randy. NASA gives a press conference about the flight soon thereafter, noting that Randy and John will be accompanied by Dr. Raphiel Perry, a geology professor. They also note that the far side of the moon presents unprecedented hazards for the crew, necessitating a rigorous training program. Randy tells John that he plans to break up with Debbie Dee and move in with Cindy. John criticizes Randy’s decision and they get into an argument about it. Randy informs Debbie Dee of this, and she takes it rather hard. The launch day approaches and many gather around the launch site to watch it take off. At the Sun Study Center in Boulder, Colorado, solar flares and other stellar activity is monitored, headed by a young scientist named Sam Cottage. Cottage notes what could be the beginning of a major stellar event, which could release cosmic radiation, potentially harmful to the astronauts on the moon. Tucker discovers that John and Penny’s twentieth anniversary will be coming up just before the launch, and he wants Rachel to persuade them to get back together in order to print the story and raise public interest. They get together, accompanied by one of Tucker’s photographers, and seem happy to see each other. Soon they are left alone and share a drink, discussing their relationship over the years. He says he’s prepared to sign divorce papers and for her to hold them in escrow in case he doesn’t come back from his mission. He notes that he no longer blames her for her affair, and they both say that they missed each other and share a passionate embrace. As the launch date nears, Penny sits down with Cindy, who discusses her relationship with Randy and the effect it’s had on Debbie Dee. On launch day, John, Randy, and Dr. Perry prepare for liftoff, watched by the large crowd gathered around the site. The launch is successful and they journey through space for three days to get to the moon. Sam continues monitoring the sun and notices increasing sunspot activity, but does not alert NASA as of yet, since he still does not have concrete evidence to support his theory of any impending danger. In orbit over the moon, John separates his craft to maintain his orbit while Randy and Dr. Perry head off to land at their chosen site. Randy touches the lander down successfully and the astronauts take a short rest before Randy steps out onto the moon’s surface and plants the American flag. Penny and Cindy watch the video footage from a press room, and Randy and Dr. Perry set up communications equipment and assemble a lunar rover on the surface. They go to investigate a large crater and send video footage back to NASA, taking surface samples along the way. Sam finally finds observable evidence of stellar activity, confirming his theory. The solar flares soon interfere with NASA’s communications with the lander, and they try to find a way around it. The astronauts note exceptionally high levels of radiation in their surroundings. Randy has to save Dr. Perry from tumbling over the edge of the crater. Stanley and Dieter figure out that Randy and Dr. Perry will be exposed to lethal levels of radiation unless they can rendezvous with the command module in orbit in less than an hour, where they’ll be under heavier shielding and therefore safe. Penny and Cindy become worried when they realize something has gone wrong. Norman learns about the situation and is gravely concerned. Penny is relieved when she learns that John will be spared the effects of the radiation. Dr. Perry’s health quickly deteriorates, and he collapses just after he and Randy reach the lander. Randy does his best to get Dr. Perry into the craft, but he faints before he can get on and Randy pushes him aboard as mission control orders him to lift off immediately. The initial liftoff is successful and Randy and John plan out their rendezvous. However, Randy soon feels faint and passes out at the controls. John observes the craft as it plummets back to the lunar surface, killing Randy and Dr. Perry. Mission control orders John to return to earth, but he turns his radio off in grief. John finally responds and confirms he will be performing a trans-earth injection. He successfully re-enters earth’s atmosphere and is picked up by a navy aircraft carrier, still mourning over Randy’s death. Norman argues with Senator Glancey, who begins to think that the space program is not worth it, especially after such a disaster. Norman points out that stopping the space program would be disastrous in regards to the scientific advancement of mankind. Glancey wants Leopold to make the eulogy for Randy and Dr. Perry, although Norman is against this, believing that he could use his views and clout to denounce the space program. Norman notes that he tires of compromising his views in order to gain support in the government, and he considers getting out of politics in general. He vows to vote more in line with his actual opinions, starting with fulfilling his promise to Gawain to get more African-Americans in the space program. Glancey withdraws his support for Norman’s issues, believing that his new stance will not last long. A military funeral is held for Randy and Dr. Perry at Arlington, and John delivers a eulogy for them. The narration notes that the future of the space program would give way to more developments, such as the Mars landing, the unmanned exploration of the outer planets, and the inclusion of women and African-Americans in the space program. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: March 31, 1985
- RUNNING TIME: 1:34:04
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:56933
- GENRE: N/A
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV miniseries, 1985
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Dick Berg … Executive Producer, Writer
- Robert Birnbaum … Coordinating Producer
- Jack Clements … Coordinating Producer
- Martin Manulis … Producer
- Allan J. Marcil … Co-Producer
- Neal Nordlinger … Associate Producer
- Joseph Sargent … Director
- Stirling Silliphant … Writer
- James A. Michener … Based on the novel "Space" by
- Miles Goodman … Music by
- Tony Berg … Music by
- James Garner … Cast, Norman Grant
- Susan Anspach … Cast, Elinor Grant
- Beau Bridges … Cast, Randy Claggett
- Blair Brown … Cast, Penny Pope
- Bruce Dern … Cast, Stanley Mott
- Melinda Dillon … Cast, Rachel Mott
- David Dukes … Cast, Martin Scorcella/Leopold Strabismus
- Harry Hamlin … Cast, John Pope
- Barbara Sukowa … Cast, Liesel Kolff
- Michael York … Cast, Dieter Kolff
- Martin Balsam … Cast, Senator Glancey
- James Sutorius … Cast, Finnerty
- Stephanie Faracy … Cast, Debbie Dee Claggett
- G.D. Spradlin … Cast, Tucker Thomas
- Jennifer Runyon … Cast, Marcia Grant
- Jonathan Goldsmith … Cast, Raf Perry
- David Spielberg … Cast, Skip Morgan
- Ralph Bellamy … Cast, Paul Stidham
- Maggie Han … Cast, Cindy Rhee
- Robby Weaver … Cast, Sam Cottage
- Julie Philips … Cast, Ronnie
- Alan Fudge … Cast, Pomfret
- Lia Sargent … Cast, Mia Portnow
- Sue Strain … Cast, Sally Quint
- Richard Gordon … Cast, CapCom
- James Avery … Cast, Jean-Marie
- Richard Delmonte … Cast, Ramirez
- Woody Eney … Cast, TV Science Consultant
- Marya Morgan … Cast, Sandra Lee
- Buzz Aldrin
- Neil Armstrong