Minute 041: Unless Someone Pulls the String

  • 03 July, 2023
Download

GUEST: Greg Bilek of the A.C. Gilbert Heritage Society

Link to A.C. Gilbert Heritage Society

Homer finishes talking with Dorothy and runs back to the blockhouse.

“Hurry up, y’all!” shouts one of the spectators.

“It won’t fly unless somebody pulls the string,” says Homer. One of the boys pulls the string. A skate wheel spins, lighting an attached match.

The match lights the fuse.

“Ten. Nine. Eight,” count the boys.

“Seven. Six.” The fuse burns closer.

“Five. Four.” The football boys move back to where their cars are parked. Miss Riley looks on, concerned.

The Auk VI rocket ignites, and flies off the pad into the sky. The boys run out of the blockhouse.

Miss Riley smiles.

The rocket leaves a long contrail in the sky.

The football boys cheer with whoops and howls.

“Oh, my God!” yells a spectator.

Miss Riley jumps up and down.

The Rocket Boys watch the rocket reach apogee and pitch over.

“Look at that!” yells another spectator. The crowd rushes toward the Rocket Boys.

Dorothy runs up to Homer. “Homer, that was unbelievable!” she says.

“Let’s go, Dorothy,” says her current boyfriend, annoyed.

In This Episode

  • Jake Gyllenhall as Homer Hickam
  • William Lee Scott as Roy Lee
  • Chad Lindberg as O'Dell
  • Charis Owen as Quentin
  • Scott Thomas as Jim Hickam
  • Laura Dern as Miss Riley
  • Courtney Cole-Fendley as Dorothy Platt
Scroll to top