GUEST: Producer Larry Franco

“What’s the matter, Homer? Not cut out for mining coal?” asks one of the miners. “Me neither.”

“Let’s get that mess cleaned up!” says John Hickam to the work crew. “Let’s get some cribbin’ on that roof!”

“Buck up, Homer. You’re a Coalwood boy,” continues the miner. “When you get down in the mine, get that coal shovel in your hand…feel just as natural to you as a tick on a dog.” Homer remains glum.

“Get that slate off the loader!” shouts John Hickam.

In the Big Creek High School, Miss Riley tunes into a news radio station for her class.

“It’s the radio signal transmitted by the Soviet Sputnik,” says the announcer. “Listen for the sound which forevermore separates the old from the new.” A faint beeping noise is heard.

The class listens to the beeping noise.

“That’s it? That’s the Sputnik?” asks Roy Lee.

“That’s Sputnik,” says Miss Riley.

“Well, big deal,” says O’Dell.

“Big deal?” says Quentin. “What you fail to grasp is that the sound you’re hearin’ is bein’ transmitted by an object that is travelin’ at 18,000 miles per hour, 559 miles high, and orbitin’ the Earth every ninety –“

“Shut up!” says Roy Lee, throwing a wad of notebook paper at Quentin.

In This Episode

• Jake Gyllenhaal as Homer Hickam
• William Lee Scott as Roy Lee
• Chad Lindberg as O'Dell
• Laura Dern as Miss Riley
• Chris Owen as Quentin