Minute 019: Bring Us Back a Moon Rock

Marilyn Lovell just informed Jim that she doesn’t want to go to the launch. Inside a helicopter hangar, Jim Lovell walks out to the T-38 flight line. He passes by several airmen. “Jim!” says one of the airmen. “Hey guys!” Lovell responds. “See you in a few weeks!” “Take care!” says the other airman. “Bring us back a Moon rock!” In the back yard of the Lovell home, Marilyn is gardening.  Jim’s plane soars high overhead. Marilyn watches as it disappears behind her backyard trees. She looks wistfully at her garden flowers. In a photo studio, a photographer focuses a medium-format camera. Flashbulbs snap as the Apollo 13 crew is photographed in front of a starry background with the American and NASA flags flanking the crew. Dressed in their space suits, Lovell, Mattingly, and Haise carry their clear helmets under one arm. “So,” says one of the reporters, Phil, assembled for the photo session, “The number thirteen doesn’t bother you?” TITLE: APRIL 7, 1970 CAPE KENNEDY FLORIDA, 4 DAYS PRIOR TO LAUNCH. “Only if it’s a Friday, Phil,” replies Haise. “Apollo 13, lifting off at 1300 hours and 13 minutes, and entering the Moon’s gravity on April 13th?” continues Phil. “Uh,” says Lovell, “Ken Mattingly here has been doing some scientific experiments, regarding that very phenomenon.” “Oh yes,” says Mattingly, “Well, I had a black cat –” IN THIS MINUTE: Jim Lovell: Tom Hanks Marilyn Lovell : Kathleen Quinlan Ken Mattingly: Gary Sinese Fred Haise: Bill Paxton Reporter Phil: Thomas Crawford