Abby (4:04)

Yes, Gavin, darling, what are you trying to say?

Ambrose P. Rochester (4:09)

Forget it.

Supporting Male Character (4:10)

I think.

Gavin Rochester (4:11)

I think it's time to go back.

Abby (4:13)

It's not time to go back. It's not time to go anywhere. It's time to talk. We haven't talked yet.

Ambrose P. Rochester (4:21)

I know.

Abby (4:22)

Did you see your father?

Gavin Rochester (4:25)

Not last night. He was out of the Alpha Base. There was some kind of reunion.

Abby (4:29)

Old space pioneers?

Gavin Rochester (4:31)

I don't know.

Abby (4:32)

But you do what else could it have been but old space pioneers?

Gavin Rochester (4:35)

I don't know, Abby. Can we drop it? Please?

Abby (4:38)

Can we drop it? It's because. Exactly. Because your father, Ambrose P. Rochester, the great Ambrose P. Rochester, is an old space pioneer. That we are here today, standing in this great old American park which the establishment is determined to sweep away and replace with St and plaster cellular glass. It's because of your father that we're here now. And I'm more miserable than I've ever been in my life before. And you're standing there like a child, not looking at me, only making worse.

Gavin Rochester (5:08)

Abby, I just don't know what to do. What course of action, Abby, I don't know.

Abby (5:15)

I hope you will like America in the year 2215.

Gavin Rochester (5:19)

Abby, won't you reconsider?

Ambrose P. Rochester (5:23)

Darling, think of it.

Gavin Rochester (5:24)

Would we be together?

Abby (5:25)

No. And no. Never.

Gavin Rochester (5:27)

We'd share it all. The great adventure ever to happen. Papa could fix it. I mean, you're a good enough geologist to get the job. Abby.

Ambrose P. Rochester (5:33)

You are.

Abby (5:34)

I have one life to live. And I'm not sacrificing eight years of it. To exist every day of each of those eight years in a long metal tube, breathing man made air, eating man made synthetic food. And coming back eventually to a man destroyed world.

Gavin Rochester (5:52)

Why? You always say this. Why should the world be destroyed in a century?

Abby (5:56)

Why?

Gavin Rochester (5:57)

I just can't understand. Abby, I.

Abby (5:59)

No, you just can't understand. I can't understand how seven people can leave the planet Earth in 2115, be away for eight years, but return to Earth a century later. I can't understand this. But the experts, the old space pioneers, the scientists say this is so and so. I bow down before them. I revere their words. I hate their words.

Gavin Rochester (6:29)

Somebody has to do this.

Abby (6:30)

Why?

Gavin Rochester (6:31)

Because. Because for over a hundred years man has believed that he would never get out of our galaxy. Even with the invention of the hyperspace drive, we've always believed that we'd be bound forever in the Milky Way system. Now, well, nobody even knew of the existence of Octavius Centauri, a star cluster in a whole new galaxy. Abby, don't you understand? Man can go out beyond the frontier. Man could at at last find other intelligent creatures. If my father wasn't too old.

Abby (7:02)

Why, your father is too old. So he sacrifices his only son so that the dream he couldn't realize can come true. And he'll be dead 90 years before you return to Earth. If you ever do come back.

Gavin Rochester (7:19)

Abby. Abby, I can't leave you. I have to tell you. I Don't want this thing.

Supporting Male Character (7:24)

I don't.

Gavin Rochester (7:26)

I don't want the Octavius project. I don't want this earth in a hundred years. I want it now. And I want you now.

Abby (7:32)

Gavin. What?

Supporting Male Character (7:39)

That's the end. Finished.

Abby (7:41)

Tell him, Father. Yes, tell him.

Gavin Rochester (7:43)

I will. He'll be pretty upset.

Abby (7:46)

I don't care. Gavin, he is an old man. He's lived his life, done what he wanted to. You have to do what you want to do now. I want children. I want to grow things and look after animals and be quiet and happy and even sometimes a little lonely. I want you. I don't want to ever know about the usss. I don't want to know what other land it's taking its sickness to. It's not good for a girl's pride. Why, I'm practically going down on my knees to you. I sum you not to go out beyond the frontier. I'm saying stay here and give me children and laugh for the people of this time. Not go away for eight of your years and 100 of this earth. Maybe it's selfish, Captain Gavin Rochester, but I'm a simple woman. It just seems to me to be crazy full that dark, cold space to have you. Then you'd be so much more useful down here.

Ambrose P. Rochester (9:12)

Who is it?

Supporting Male Character (9:13)

Father.

Ambrose P. Rochester (9:16)

Gavin. Come on in, boy.

Supporting Male Character (9:19)

Thanks, Father.

Ambrose P. Rochester (9:20)

How are you, my boy? How's it going? Sit down. Sit down.

Supporting Male Character (9:24)

Bourbon.

Ambrose P. Rochester (9:25)

Are you nervous, boy? Tomorrow's the day of decision, huh? You know, I was talking with Ben Wester, Master. How do you feel about maybe never seeing your son again? Ambrose, he says, ben, I said to him, I'm an old man now. I done a lot of things, a lot of great things. When I was 10 years old. Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. Then and there, I swore I'd walk on the moon. Fifteen years later, I did. The years were pretty crowded after that. How's that, boy?

Supporting Male Character (9:55)

Looks fine, Pa.

Gavin Rochester (9:57)

Listen.

Ambrose P. Rochester (9:58)

We talked, Ben and me talked for a long time. About you and your mother. God rest us all. I think I made Ben understand about how I feel. You see, he has a boy. Not a clever kid like you, Gavin. Not clever like you. Not clever like you. He's an ordinary boy. Goes fishing, plays pool. Got a nice girl, gonna get married. He's a nice boy. But he ain't going to Octavius Santorum. I'm proud, proud, proud of you, son. You got a first. Me, I never had a first. Come on, get rid of that bourbon. There's a bottle of cotton swamp liquor over there. Just asking to be drunk. Come on, lose it, Gavin.

Supporting Male Character (10:45)

Great fight.

Gavin Rochester (10:47)

I have something I want to say to you.

Ambrose P. Rochester (10:48)

Say it, boy.

Commander L (10:49)

Say it.

Ambrose P. Rochester (10:50)

Third trip to Venus. Ambrose P. Rochester, first colonist to Mars for freighter to touch down there, commanded by Ambrose P. Rochester.

Supporting Male Character (10:59)

But never a first.

Ambrose P. Rochester (11:04)

That is why I can die at peace. And that is what I tried so hard to explain to Ben Westermaster. And I really think he was beginning to understand. I really think he was getting the message, Gavin. Oh, I really think you are.

Supporting Male Character (11:16)

Welp. Well, all attests are over.

Gavin Rochester (11:20)

We've been whittled down to 28. Tomorrow come the final interviews and, well, I've only a 1 in 4 chance.

Supporting Male Character (11:26)

You have to remember that you're on.

Ambrose P. Rochester (11:29)

Your way to Octavia Centauri. And don't you forget it. There is no chance that you will not be judged, not only ideal, as a candidate for the flight, but you will be. You will be second in command as well. Of this there is no doubt. Drink, boy. Stuff's gonna be scarce where you're going, huh?

Gavin Rochester (11:52)

I've come to a decision. This afternoon, I finally made up my mind. I don't want you to think that.

Ambrose P. Rochester (11:57)

What I'm gonna tell you, Pa. Gavin listens, huh?

Commander L (11:58)

No.

Gavin Rochester (11:59)

Let me talk, Pa. What I'm gonna say is gonna hurt you. It's gonna kick you hard. I know this. But if you love me, you'll respect the motive.

Ambrose P. Rochester (12:05)

What I want you to know, Gav, is you're gonna take one of those seven places on Project Octavius tomorrow on S.H.I.E.L.D. merit. Merit. Not because your father is Ambrose Rochester.

Gavin Rochester (12:14)

You'll respect why I've decided like I have, Pop. I'm pulling out.

Ambrose P. Rochester (12:21)

I only mourn because your mother isn't here. It hurts, boy. But I guess somewhere she'll be watching. Somewhere she'll be proud.

Gavin Rochester (12:30)

How did you hear what I said? I am showing not only a project, but out of the whole service.

Ambrose P. Rochester (12:34)

Me to the moon.

Supporting Male Character (12:35)

And bam.

Ambrose P. Rochester (12:35)

He said, father, listen to what I'm saying.

Gavin Rochester (12:38)

I said I'm pulling out of the project. I'm leaving the service.

Supporting Male Character (12:41)

So stop reminiscing about me and look at me and tell me what you think.

Ambrose P. Rochester (12:48)

Why? Why are you shouting at me?

Supporting Male Character (12:51)

Garrett Carr, do you understand what it.

Gavin Rochester (12:55)

Is I am telling you?

Ambrose P. Rochester (12:58)

Sure.

Supporting Male Character (13:00)

Sure.

Ambrose P. Rochester (13:01)

You're leaving the space service. Well, that's great. That's great. Great, Great, great, great. Well, get drunk, boy. Just you and me. Lock the door, because when the Rochester get drunk.

Abby (13:11)

You do not understand.

Gavin Rochester (13:13)

I am pulling out of the project. I'm gonna be a farmer In New England, I'm gonna grow maize and potatoes and tomatoes. From now on, I'm never going higher up the earth than the top of a ladder.

Ambrose P. Rochester (13:24)

Captain, you're looking funny. You can father no gather.

Gavin Rochester (13:31)

Yes, Father.

Ambrose P. Rochester (13:35)

Being a strain, boy. Now keep hold. You'll drink that.

Supporting Male Character (13:38)

It has not been a strain. I do not need to keep hold.

Gavin Rochester (13:41)

I do not need to drink this.

Ambrose P. Rochester (13:44)

What are you talking about?

Carling Black Label Announcer (13:55)

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Ambrose P. Rochester (14:54)

No, Gavin, not you, boy. Ben Westermaster's son. Yeah, sure. Ben's boy at flop. How he flop out of the project. Because he's not made of the kind of meat we Rochesters are. Yeah, Ben's boy had pull out and cry and weep. And there are men and men, families and families. You have spirit or you don't. Until the end of time, that's how it's going to be. And there's nothing any man can do about it. The leaders and the followers. Ben's son. Why, I can't even recall his name at the moment. Ben's boy is a follower. And you, Gavin, you. You're a leader. That's all there is to it, boy. The mark is on you. Mark setting you apart from ordinary men.

Supporting Male Character (15:46)

You have to go, boy, now.

Ambrose P. Rochester (15:49)

Not after all the hopes, all the plans. No, Gavin.

Gavin Rochester (15:52)

No, I don't.

Ambrose P. Rochester (15:55)

Some woman, Gavin. A woman bugging you, not letting you rest easy. Some woman, Gavin, putting doubts into your head. Loser, boy. Priest. Like. Like a Greek God. Pure, holy, but the reward. One of the most important men on earth.

Carling Black Label Announcer (16:13)

There won't be anybody to remember me.

Gavin Rochester (16:15)

What'll there be for me on this earth a century from now?

Ambrose P. Rochester (16:18)

Fame and money and all the most beautiful women there are. They'll fall down from the trees and kiss your feet.

Supporting Male Character (16:34)

Help me, Adam. I can't coordinate.

Ambrose P. Rochester (16:41)

I am going to make the decisions for you, boy. Like I always did. You have the brain and the vision, the excellence and the devotion to duty your old father provides the will and the power. What a combination. A Rochester will not be satisfied with anything but the best. I tell you what. You will be chosen to command the ship or you will be second. Less than that, we won't be satisfied, boy. Then you pull out. You hear me? That's right, Gavin.

Bill (17:21)

Oh, hi, Ambrose.

Ambrose P. Rochester (17:22)

Hey, where'd you get that haircut, Bill?

Bill (17:24)

Well, you know how it is, Bill.

Supporting Male Character (17:26)

Your hair is getting kind of a.

Bill (17:27)

Lot yagity, yagity yak on so well.

Ambrose P. Rochester (17:30)

I have a cousin. Yeah, I guess we better call you skinhead.

Bill (17:37)

What can I do for you, Ambrose?

Ambrose P. Rochester (17:40)

You sit on the selection committee tomorrow night for Project Octavius.

Bill (17:47)

You know I do, Ambrose, but I can't talk about it. That's why I never even asked after Gavin.

Supporting Male Character (17:54)

Sure.

Ambrose P. Rochester (17:56)

I want that boy through, Bill. And not only just through. I want him, Commander. He has everything.

Bill (18:03)

Listen here, Ambrose, this is my.

Ambrose P. Rochester (18:05)

No, you listen here. You are the most influential member of the panel. What you say goes. And you better say it, Bill. Because if not, I shall just mention Blockbuster and the moon trip in 94 and how Dyson happened to get killed.

Bill (18:21)

Ambrose.

Carling Black Label Announcer (18:22)

Okay, okay, Bill.

Ambrose P. Rochester (18:25)

You got the message. You see, it's not that my boy is not the best man there is. It's just that his nerves might just let him down, that's all. Now, this happens. You put it right, Bill. You put it right with the panel.

Abby (18:47)

Darling, I've waited all night.

Gavin Rochester (18:52)

I have to go to the final selection over at Space Headquarters.

Supporting Male Character (18:54)

You had to.

Abby (18:55)

To what, Gavin? You. You what?

Gavin Rochester (18:58)

Sweetheart, that was the way I decided to do it. To flop out. The final seven was simpler. It would have satisfied Parr and given me an art. Only the best is good enough for a Rochester. This Rochester failed.

Abby (19:11)

You flopped on purpose.

Gavin Rochester (19:12)

There's no chance. My shorting was very poor. I was listless and just not project material. Octavius will be explored without Gavin Rochester. And I don't give a 2 cent cuss.

Abby (19:24)

Okay.

Gavin Rochester (19:25)

Let them fly beyond the Starry Ladder.

Abby (19:27)

Oh, New England. Oh, God.

Supporting Male Character (19:29)

New England.

Gavin Rochester (19:31)

No more New York.

Abby (19:35)

Oh, Gavin, my darling. I'd have killed myself if you'd gone. Kevin, let's read. Now. Who's that?

Supporting Male Character (19:46)

That?

Ambrose P. Rochester (19:47)

I thought you'd be with a little lady. Gav. Hi, Abby. How does it feel to kiss the commander of the spacecraft Titan 4 on Project Octavius? Destination? Another galaxy.

Gavin Rochester (20:11)

So you see, that's how it's going to be.

Supporting Male Character (20:12)

Abby.

Gavin Rochester (20:13)

I Made this promise to myself. Quietly, to myself. That if they chose me. In spite of what I. What I did then. Please do not make it harder for me. I have to tell you now that it is no longer anything to do with my father. I think it's meant to be.

Supporting Male Character (20:29)

Abby.

Abby (20:30)

You couldn't make any sort of decision, could you? Gather Poor Gavin.

Gavin Rochester (20:35)

We never make decisions. Nobody does. We just wait until the balance sways and what we ought to do is sort of more clear.

Abby (20:44)

You know, Some of us make decisions. Some of us do. When will the flight be, Gavin?

Gavin Rochester (20:51)

My darling, the final crash course. For which I'll hold a lot of responsibility. Begins in 10 days. We shall leave Earth in approximately two months.

Abby (20:59)

Then until that time, I shall never let you out of my sight. Even when you're.

Gavin Rochester (21:09)

You see, I. I really am so sorry, Abby.

Abby (21:13)

No more, sweetheart. No more. Now, you have a duty. I respect that. Just as long as we have two months together. Just make those two, two months last me all my life.

Bill (21:34)

A thin disk. About 60,000 light years in diameter. One tenth of it. This whole speed recording. The speed of this motion.

Supporting Male Character (21:42)

Would be in the neighborhood of.

Bill (21:43)

Well, just 100,000 miles. Radio waves penetrating this far. That of course limits his vision.

Ambrose P. Rochester (21:50)

How's it going, boy?

Bill (21:51)

Control. Otherwise, the safety.

Ambrose P. Rochester (21:55)

Getting close.

Supporting Male Character (21:55)

Now.

Bill (21:57)

Once more.

Ambrose P. Rochester (21:58)

I don't see much of you, son. Like us.

Gavin Rochester (22:02)

I'm sure sorry about that.

Bill (22:04)

I guess you know certain cosmic objects.

Ambrose P. Rochester (22:08)

I know how it is. You get tired, program must knock you sideways. But tonight.

Supporting Male Character (22:16)

What about it? We.

Ambrose P. Rochester (22:17)

We'll have a meal.

Supporting Male Character (22:18)

Just you and me.

Gavin Rochester (22:20)

That would give him pleasure.

Supporting Male Character (22:21)

Pa.

Abby (22:25)

Two weeks. I find it hard to believe it's Abby.

Gavin Rochester (22:30)

Well, this isn't any good. Us seeing one another like this.

Supporting Male Character (22:32)

It's too hard.

Gavin Rochester (22:34)

We gotta beg now anyway. The last six days we don't leave the center.

Abby (22:37)

Promised. Your last meal, last drink on Earth.

Gavin Rochester (22:42)

Together, you and me. That's one week before. And that promise still stands.

Commander L (22:51)

Commander L. People of America and the people who still be born to the head of the Earth when you return. In Friends from another galaxy. The Project Octavious astronauts Gavin Rochester, Adrian Grant, Howard R. West, Will Hayward, Bentley Russell, Christopher Creasy and John Sambra. Received their final briefing today. In what has been described as man's greatest adventure since the first landing on Mars. Project Octavius will leave the Earth's surface at 0700 hours tomorrow.

Gavin Rochester (23:27)

Have a good life, Abby.

Supporting Male Character (23:28)

My darling.

Gavin Rochester (23:30)

When you marry, make sure he's exactly what you want. Don't take second best. Not a girl like You.

Abby (23:39)

I won't. I promise. I really do promise that.

Gavin Rochester (23:48)

I'm sure strong. Not what you're trying to do to me.

Supporting Male Character (23:52)

Huh?

Commander L (23:55)

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Zero.

Supporting Male Character (24:08)

Savin people. Where?

Abby (24:36)

Devon Falls. Whippoorwill Creek, near Baberford. What's happening? Careful, my angel. I've had you drugged for two weeks. Your head must feel like Project Octavius left Earth a week late to the mysterious disappearance of Gavin Rochester. Finally, when the State Department, the Department of Space Research, Space programming. And finally, when all were satisfied that there was no plot afoot, the ship left on its journey to another galaxy with Commander Grant in charge and Russell McCartney briefed in making the number seven. Gavin Rochester, as far as the public of America and in fact the world is concerned, travelled with Project Octavius. But the secret will never be revealed. Bad psychologically. You see, my darling. So you see, you no longer exist, Gavin. Not in this world. And in a hundred years, let our children's children unravel the mystery. Now you're safe from your father, from everything. You don't have to play at being a spaceman anymore. I told you I could make decisions. I didn't wait for the barons to swing. I also promised you to marry the man I wanted to. You see, I was never in any doubt. Sleep, my darling. We'll have to rename you and change you. Because you're a new, different man now. And you're never going to see a city. Not a rocket, not a space program, nothing like that ever again.

Narrator (27:08)

Well, why not? Somebody once said, every decision must ever made is really made by a woman behind a man who is behind a man. As long as the man doesn't know.

Ambrose P. Rochester (27:19)

Why should he kick up a fuss?

Narrator (27:21)

In Gavin Rochester's case, it was too late anyway. And who would be fool enough to say he ever wanted to go to another galaxy?

Gavin Rochester (27:29)

And now, until next week, this is.

Narrator (27:31)

Charles B. Ryan saying good night.

Carling Black Label Announcer (27:42)

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Ambrose P. Rochester (28:12)

You don't lose a day of that.

Carling Black Label Announcer (28:14)

Lusty, lively taste Carling is world famous for. If you've got a thirst, put our brand on it. Carling Black Label, brewed for men in 18 breweries around the world. Carling invite you to listen again next week to another story in this dramatic.

Supporting Male Character (28:42)

Series, the Challenge of Space. Sam, you.