The Astronaut's Wife 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 I think she's awake, Mr Armacost. Spencer Tell me something, Jill. If the doctors had any idea what you were thinking, you know, them awful, dark thoughts. . . what do you think they'd do? Jillian They'd lock me up. Spencer Huh? Jillian They'd lock me up. Spencer Lock you up? They'd chain you to the wall, Jillian. Yeah, put you back in that hospital. You want that to happen? Jillian No. Spencer No. I know you don't want that. Uh-uh. Well, we ain't gonna let 'em, are we? No. Jillian No. Spencer NO. 'Cos we're gonna be strong. Jillian We're gonna be strong. Together. Spencer We're gonna be strong for our family. Jillian Yeah. Spencer Yeah. We're connected now. You feel me inside there where it's safe, don't you? See? I live here. We're one. Nancy Why do you have Sherman Reese's bag? What did you do to my sister? Who are you? What. . . What the hell are you doing? Let go of me! Jillian Nan. Nancy Jillian! Help! Jillian No. Nan. Nan. Washington Square Park. What? Go. Go! Taxi Driver But it is red, missus. Jillian I don't care! Just go! Taxi Driver But, missus, I cannot. Jillian Will you go?! You don't understand! Please. Taxi Driver I cannot. (Shouts in native language) NASA Guy Captain Alex Streck died last night at eight fifty-five. Cause of death has been determined to have been a massive stroke. . . what the surgeons are calling a severe insult to the brain. Reese He's not your husband any more. He's not. . . Doorman Hello. Welcome back Mrs A. Good morning, Mr A. Jillian Come on. Nan. Spencer Jillian! Jillian! Jillian! Jesus fucking Christ, Jill. Jillian Stay away from me. Spencer Why are you doing this to me? Jillian I said stay. . . away from me. Who are you? Spencer Who am I? I'm the only person in the world ever gave a fuck about you. I'm the one that gave you a reason to breathe. I'm every single fucking moment ever mattered in your life. Jillian No, you're not. I don't even know you. Spencer No? Well. . . I'll tell you what. There was a time I remember when I was about to go up, and you begged me not to. You remember how scared you were? And I told you then, that I was gonna bring you back a little piece of heaven. Then you cried. You remember that? Well, fucking A! I did it! What do you think's inside you? I gave you heaven. Jillian No, you didn't. You're not Spencer. Spencer It don't gotta be like this, honey. Please, come on, now. Step out of that water. Please, baby, get out of that water. Come on. Jillian Oh, my God. Spencer Please. Jillian Nan. Oh, my God. You killed my sister. You killed my husband. Spencer Yeah. I did. And then I fucked his wife. I live there. Jillian No. Spencer I live there. . . For ever. Jillian No, you don't. Spencer I live there. Jillian No, you don't! Spencer Oh, yeah. Jillian! Pilot Ready for your first day of school? Boys Ready. Jillian Wait. There's an apple in there, and I want you guys to eat it. No trading. Promise? Boys Promise. Jillian Okay. Give me a kiss. Go, go, go, go, go. Be good. What do you think they'll be when they grow up? Pilot Grow up? Give them some time, Susan. It's their first day of school. Jillian I think. . . they're gonna be pilots. Just like their father. Pilot Stepfather. Jillian No. You're their father now.