Original subtitles

Stop him, stop him! Oh!

Yeah, I would like you to meet the man in charge

of the dognapping task force.

'This is CHP Officer Frank Poncherello'

'calling Kevin Cody.'

Kevin, this is Astronaut Gordon Cooper.

What's exactly wrong with him?

Kevin has less than a month to live.

'the flight crew for the shuttle Orbiter'

'has arrived at the Launch Complex 39'

'has arrived in the white room coming up the elevator'

'and is now entering the spacecraft access arm.'

'The crew of the white room'

'assisting them in getting their straps'

'and all of the ventilation devices'

'unhooked from their space suits.'

'And at this time are entering the hatch of the Orbiter.'

'Today's launch culminates almost six months'

'of intensive training'

'for the flight crew of the spacecraft.'

'This morning they were awakened at about 3:00 a.m.'

'And had the standard astronaut breakfast..'

'Get your shuttle dogs here.'

Tender, juicy and fresh.

They're so fresh, the dogs were walking this morning.

I would try a little chili there, a little chili

and some nice peppers.

Hey, easy on the rocket boosters.

Eh, hold the pepper.

And a little flag for you, sir.

'Enjoy yourself.'

Thank you.

'Okay, lady, here you go.'

'Put it in a paper, that's sanitary.'

'Now, we get the dog over here, get your shuttle dog.'

'And we have ignition'

'of the three shuttle's main engines..'

Boy, that is a lot of power.

Imagine how much more they'd need if they had Grossie aboard.

'Coming up now on the terminal count..'

'...15, 14, 13..'

'...12, 11, 10, 9, 8..'

'...7, 6, 5, 4, 3..'

'...2, 1..'

'Liftoff.'

'And we have liftoff'

'as the two solid rocket boosters ignite'

'the hold down clamps release at the same time..'

Up, up and away!

'The two solid rocket boosters'

'each developing 5.8 million pounds of thrust'

'capable of boosting some'

'twenty-five loaded 747 airliners into orbit.'

Yay! Yah-ha!

Think they'll ever need CHPs in space, Ponch?

I don't know, but I'd sure volunteer.

'As the spacecraft pitches over along the launch..'

Oh! Somebody's taking my dog!

'Archibald, that's my Archibald!'

Stop him! Stop that man!

'Stop him, stop that man!'

Stop him, stop him!

Stop him. Oh, you're a big help.

Hey, watch out!

Ponch..

...it's gotta be easier up there in space.

'At this time we've got item seven done so it won't happen.'

'Okay. Columbia Houston'

'orbit team is with you at Botswana'

'for six and a half minutes.'

'We are now deploying the RMS arm.'

'Roger, we copy that, Bob.'

RMS. That stands for--

Remote Manipulator Systems.

The mechanical arm.

Harlan, you're not the only one here

that knows something about our space program.

Alright, if you're all so smart

what does LDEF stand for?

Long Duration Exposure Facility.

That's sort of like a Noah's ark in space.

They're gonna fill one up with seeds and plants.

To test the future of space agriculture.

Well, Harlan, what do you say to that?

A very lucky guess.

Anything new on the shuttle, Harlan?

Well, why don't you ask the asphalt astronauts in there.

Frank, Bobby.

If you've got a minute?

Why don't we just say "no?"

Pal, he was asking, but believe me, it wasn't a question.

Officers Poncherello and Nelson

I'm sure you remember Mrs. Birdwing

whose dog was stolen earlier today.

It's MissBirdwing

and what you call a dog

happens to be a champion Yorkshire Terrier.

And now, what are you two young men going to do

about finding my little Archibald?

Ma'am, we can assure you that we're doing

everything we possibly can under the circumstances.

What circumstances?

'Ah, during the past month'

there's been a sudden surge in dognappings

especially expensive champions.

It's probably the work of a very professional gang.

Have you thought of forming a task force

to meet this challenge?

A dognapping task force.

Excuse me, sarge?

Ah, Bruce, Bruce.

You know, Miss Birdwing, that was a very good idea.

I would like you to meet the man

in charge of the dognapping task force.

Cadet Bruce Nelson.

Cadet?

Oh, don't let that fool you, Miss Birdwing.

I've seen Bruce and his brother here turn up

with some dogs you'd not believe.

I might already have a lead.

A kid named Kevin Cody just called.

Said he thinks he heard someone plotting to steal

a valuable show dog?

You might have made the right decision after all.

Frank, would you and Nelson check that out?

Yes, sir.

We'll keep you informed, Sherlock.

Ah, Bruce.

I think the next order of business

is to ask Mrs. Birdwing here

the description of her missing Yorkshire Terrier.

- Right.

This way, Mrs. Birdwing.

Young man, it looks as though

you may have a brilliant career ahead of you.

And this is its fuel tank.

When the shuttle reaches an altitude of 72 miles

flying upside down like this

then the main engines are cut off

and the fuel tank is jettisoned.

After that, smaller engines lift it into orbit.

Sounds like you want to be an astronaut yourself someday.

Are you kidding? I'd give anything.

Oh, good, then how about taking some of your medicine?

Will you take me to see the shuttle landing?

Huh-uh. No deals.

Besides, there'll be other landings

when you're well enough to travel.

Aah, that medicine makes my ears stop up.

That's because you hold your nose when you swallow it.

That's because it smells bad.

Ooh, yuck. He's right.

'Hey, nobody ever said it would be easy.'

This goes on and on.

Looks like you're also a CBer.

Oh, yeah, my dad bought me

this CB bay station for Christmas.

You see, sometimes when I'm too sick to go outside

I can keep in touch with my friends this way.

I can even talk to my teacher at school.

- Space Rider.

'

And see these cards?

These are the handles of my CB buddies.

And I put them over the part of the map

where I can lay an ear on 'em.

I see that you have California, Arizona, New Mexico.

Hey, that's a lot of territory.

You're very lucky to have a lot of friends.

And someday he's going to visit every one of them in person.

Aren't you, son?

Yeah, sure I am.

Kevin, uh, you said you had some information

on someone planning to steal a valuable dog.

Yeah, that's right.

Only I'm not a hundred percent sure.

You see, they were kinda talking in code.

They?

Yeah, this morning just before liftoff

I was scanning my CB

and I heard this man and a woman talking.

- Well, that's the funny part.

You see, it wasn't like real talk.

- Like a code.

Well, she said that the prize was in the parking lot

on Wilshire & 5th.

And he asked about the container.

And she said it was a Rolls-Royce

and he had about 15 minutes to pick it up.

At first, I thought they were talking about stealing a car.

What made you change your mind?

Well, it was their handles.

Hers was Lookout, and his was Dogcatcher.

You were right, Kevin.

Someone did steal a Yorkie

from that lot this morning.

Did they say anything else?

Yeah.

Dogcatcher said

that he'd meet her at the compound

and then they signed off.

- Compound.

Not right offhand, but we'll find out.

Thank you very much.

Sure.

Listen, you know, I have a friend

who runs the space wing at the observatory

and if it's okay with your mom and your dad

maybe we can go up there sometime.

Is it, dad?

Of course it's okay with us, son.

Alright. It's a deal.

I'll give you a call.

We'll walk you out.

You get back into bed, young man.

- See you later, buddy. - Okay.

You have a fine boy up there, Mr. Cody.

And a brave one too.

What's exactly wrong with him?

He's suffering from a deteriorating liver disease.

His only hope is a liver transplant.

'We've contacted doctors all over the country'

looking for a donor.

We even called the Children's Liver Foundation

but so far we haven't had any luck.

- Yes.

You know, I might be able to put out information teletype

informing the CHP up and down the state of your problem.

Every so often, they'll come across a fatal accident

in which the victim has donated his vital organs.

Oh, Officer Poncherello, we'd be so grateful if you did.

Because without that transplant, um..

Kevin has less than a month to live.

What do you think the chances are of you finding a donor

through the teletype you sent out?

I don't know.

But even one slim chance is better than none at all.

That's the road where we're supposed to meet your brother.

To the right.

Just what kind of compound is this?

This is the only place we could find called the Compound.

Used to be a movie set.

Who was the movie star? Bela Lugosi?

Come on, big brother.

Don't tell me you're afraid of ghosts.

What's that?

That was no ghost.

Here, grab hold.

Or would you rather wait for a golden retriever

to come and get you out?

'Look, I told you.'

'She's blond, pretty'

'and drive a little sports car.'

And calls herself Lookout.

That's all I know her by.

Where did you meet her?

In North Hollywood when I was shark hunting.

You were shark hunting in North Hollywood?

'At the video arcade. It's a game.'

I just killed my 13th great white when she came up

and asked if I wanted to make a couple of bucks.

I said, "sure." I mean times are tough.

You know how long it's been since I've held a steady job?

- Let me guess. Never. - You're wrong.

Sit down. I said, "sit down."

I once worked at my uncle's car wash for three months.

Anyway, she gave me a CB radio

and whenever she spotted a fancy pooch, she'd give me a call

and I'd come along and make the snatch.

Then she'd meet you at the Compound

take the dog and give you your cut.

That's right.

And you don't know what she did

with the dog after that?

- Sell it, I guess.

How should I know?

Because you work with her, that's how.

In all that time, she must have told you something

that could help us.

Moe. Hey, Moe.

Why do you want to take the rap all by yourself?

You think she'd do it for you?

Alright.

I asked her once what happened to the dogs

after I turned them over to her.

I mean, I didn't want them used for any

of that experimental stuff.

She said they were treated with tender, loving care.

Shampooed, blow-dried, clipped, styled

given false pedigree papers, and sold.

Did she tell you where all this stuff was done?

She mentioned something about a beauty salon

but she didn't say which one.

- Kathy.. - I know, I know.

Go out and find the canine Pierre of Paris.

'Planets are bodies within the solar system, Kevin.'

'There are nine in ours'

'and each one revolves around the sun in a definite orbit.'

'In fact, planet is the Greek word for wanderer.'

'Pluto is the smallest planet.'

And that one over there is Jupiter

the largest of all the planets.

Are those its moons, Dr. Hart?

Some of them. There are as many as 20 of them.

And one of them, Europa, may even have life on it.

Did you hear that, Ponch?

Sure. The man on the moon.

Come on, Kevin. Let's go.

How'd you like to see the big telescope?

Oh, could I?

Ah, I think I've got a little pull around here.

Alright!

I'm glad you brought him, Ponch.

Well, I've gotta admit, it's a selfish act on my part.

It makes me feel good being with him.

Oh, wow!

Why don't you go on up there?

Alright.

Can I see the space shuttle?

Not in its present trajectory

but watch what happens when I press this button.

Oh, wow.

Boy.

Wow!

'Just think, Ponch.'

The astronauts are right up there.

Wow.

And here's Archibald on his first birthday.

And here he is with his first little rubber ball.

And there he is in his first little bed.

'Aw, he was a cute puppy.'

'Yes, he was, wasn't he?'

I'm afraid my husband was very jealous of him.

He threatened to leave unless I got rid of Archibald.

What happened?

Well, he threatened once too often

so I packed his bags, and I haven't seen him since.

You can sit here, Miss Birdwing.

Thank you.

Tell me, young man

do you get enough to eat?

Yes, ma'am. I-I think so.

Well, you look so thin compared to the other officers.

But I'll take care of that.

You will?

What you need is a good home-cooked meal.

The kind I do for Archibald.

Oh, yes, ma'am.

Oh, Archibald loves my cooking.

I cook for him all the time, you know.

I get up early in the morning, and I plan new menus

and I cook all kinds of things

that make him lick his plate clean.

I don't want him to get bored with my cooking.

You won't get bored either, my dear.

But, you know, Kevin..

...the space program has done a whole lot more for us

than just take us to places we've never been.

It's created a whole new science called Space Medicine.

It enables us to perform lifesaving surgery

that was almost impossible before.

Maybe someday it will even find a cure

for all the diseases in the whole world.

Then people won't have to die anymore.

It's very possible, Kevin.

Well, you'll have to come back

and see me again real soon, Kevin.

I will, and thanks for the private tour.

- My pleasure. - See ya.

Any word yet on that donor teletype you sent out?

No, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I am too.

Thank you.

Come on, Kevin.

Is she your girlfriend, Ponch?

Nah, just a friend.

What's the difference?

You'll find out when you get older.

Sure.

When I get older.

Come on, let's hear..

...what's happening about

the landing tomorrow, alright?

- Ah, bonjour. - Bonjour.

I am Charles, and what can I do for you?

- Well, I'm looking for a-- - Ah, don't tell me.

You have a French poodle who is in a total mess

and it needs a clipping.

Uh, my French poodle?

Well, Charles can tell a dog by the master.

You know, there's an old saying

that says at one time or another

'a dog or a master begin to look alike'

'just like each other, you know.'

And I look like a French poodle?

- Who needs a clipping. - 'I see.'

Well, you're wrong, Charles.

I don't have a dog.

No dog? Then what are we talking about?

I'm looking to buy one.

Mademoiselle, this is Chez Charles.

It is a dog salon. It is not a pet shop.

I-I'm sure you always hear of people that want to find

good homes for their little loved ones.

Well, I'm curious. What breed were you looking for?

Well, something small.

A-a little Pekinese, or-or maybe a Yorkie.

'Yorkie? Ooh-la-la. That's very expensive, yes?'

But sometimes bargains, as you say, do come around my way, yes?

Oh, good, good.

Well, here's where you can reach me.

Okay, I will try to do my best.

I don't promise nothing, you understand?

- Au revoir. Au revoir. - Au revoir.

See you soon, Big Luke.

I'm telling you, good buddy

when I heard that Space Rider

was calling me for a lift

I almost fell out of my rig.

How long you and me been modulating

without actually eyeballing each other?

Must be a year, Big Luke.

Mercy, how it goes.

You're sure your folks ain't worried about you.

I left them a note. Told them I'd be alright.

So where are you heading for?

Got me a long haul to New Orleans.

I bet you can't guess what I'm dragging behind.

- Neither.

- Both.

I give up.

Mattresses.

Don't you get it? Soft and hard mattresses.

Yeah.

'Good buddy, you mind if I ask you a question?'

Nope.

How did you ever pick

Space Rider for your handle?

- 'Scout's honor.'

'Cause that's what I wanna do when I grow up.

Be an astronaut.

Well, what's so funny about that?

Listen, let me tell you something.

Sometimes I'm parked on the freeway bumper to bumper

you know what I mean?

Goin' nowhere in a big fat hurry.

I kinda think how nice it'd be

just to, to pull back this steering wheel

and shoot off into them stars

just like I had a big rocket on my tail.

Sure sounds good to me.

About that time my radiator starts boiling over

and I crash right back down to earth.

Sure was a good dream while I had it though.

Well, Space Rider

here's where I gotta turn south

and you said you were headin' north.

Well, nice meeting you in person, Big Luke.

My pleasure.

Thanks for the lift.

Hey, good buddy.

You're sure you don't want to tell me

where you're heading.

To the stars, Big Luke.

To the stars.

Well, that's good enough for me.

Catch you on the flip-flop.

See you soon, Tumble Weed.

Tumble Weed, this is Space Rider, come in.

Tumble Weed, this is Space Rider.

Got your ears on, good buddy?

Must be too much interference around here.

Maybe it'll be better down the road.

'for six and one half minutes.'

'Roger, Brian, we copy.'

'And Columbia Houston'

'we're 30 seconds from LOS.'

'We'll talk to you through Botswana at two plus 26.'

Boy, less than two hours

and they'll be back home on earth.

And to think they traveled nearly half a million miles

without any of your help, Harlan.

Which is a miracle

considering you guys can't even go a mile without it.

Well, a little personal service, huh?

Put your arm down.

Miss Birdwing, I appreciate your concern

but I really don't need a sweater.

Oh, nonsense.

I knitted sweaters for Archibald all the time

and he loved them.

I hope she doesn't make him one with four arms.

Next she'll be buying him a collar.

It looks like you got a bite, Kathy.

I wonder which fish.

Hello?

Oh, Charles.

You found a Yorkie. Great.

I'll be by later to look at it.

Bye-bye.

Seer fish in French sauce.

Frank, Bobby.

I just got a call from Kevin's parents.

What about?

Ah, he's gone.

- They don't know.

He just left a note telling them not to worry.

Do you have any ideas?

No, but...is it alright with you if we take Bruce along

to help us look for him.

- He'll be forever grateful. - Thanks

I'm sorry, he's not here, Ponch.

Aw, it was just a hunch.

I figured he might have come hoping to see

the shuttle's return from the telescope.

We covered both main roads leading up here, no sign of him.

He might have taken a short cut up one of these footpaths.

That's a hard climb even for conditioned hikers.

Someone with Kevin's illness..

Bobby, call in the helicopter.

Have 'em start searchin' the area.

Can we see the paths from the dome?

Most of them.

Come on, Bruce.

LA-15, Mary-7.

Send a helicopter to the observatory

on Griffith Park Drive.

Ah, bonjour, mademoiselle.

Bonjour,Charles.

I got here as quickly as I could.

I'm dying to see the little Yorkie.

Yes, who shall we say is--

Oh, this is my dear Aunt Lydia.

She's helping me settle into my new apartment.

- That's very nice.

How do you do? Very well. Just one moment, madame.Gina.

'Gina, please bring the Yorkie out here.'

Ah, wait till you see it. Looks magnificent.

Voila, the little dear.

Oh, my darling. My baby. My..Oh!

My darling, oh, my baby. My little Archibald.

- The California Highway Patrol.

You're both under arrest.

Now that's what I call poetic justice.

Hey, Tumble Weed.

Thanks for coming, Tumble Weed.

Hey, well, you know, I was in the neighborhood, alright?

Hey, I got a helmet for you.

- Thanks. - Okay, come here, Space Rider.

You been walking a long time?

- Long enough.

- Yeah. - Alright.

Let's go.

Hey, you know how I got that name, Tumble Weed?

How?

'Cause that's the way that I drive

out here in the desert, free and easy.

Here today, gone tomorrow

never stop and take a look at yesterday.

It's pretty good.

So I'm pretty lucky I found you, huh?

Nah.

I go to this college every day.

I'm into computer programming.

But when I'm out here on my chopper..

...I'm racing with the wind, you know?

There is nothing that could stop me.

- Yeah, I think so.

Yeah? Alright.

It would have to be the back.

This is gonna take me about an hour to fix.

You're in a hurry, right?

I don't have much time.

Well, look, why don't you, uh, see

if you can contact one of the buddies.

See if he's got his ears on.

- Hey, come on.

You got someplace important to go.

I understand.

"Babe."

Hey, Space Rider, you alright?

Ah...yeah, Tumble Weed. I'm fine.

Babe, come in. This is Space Rider.

Babe, you got your ears on?

Mrs. Cody, do you know if he took his medicine with him?

Oh, yes, fortunately.

How about his CB radio? Did he take that?

I think so. It's not here.

Do you mind if we take a look upstairs?

- Go ahead. - Thank you.

Looks like he took some of the names

of his buddies with him too.

This part of the map was covered the last time we were here.

The northeast section. Lancaster, Palmdale..

The Mojave Desert.

That's where the space shuttle's landing.

Then that's where he is.

We'll reach him through our bay station.

Hello?

Yes, hold on, please. It's for you.

Poncherello here.

Yes, I hear you.

- Alright. He'll be there.

CHP in Oxnard has located a donor.

An accident victim.

Oh, Jim!

We have to get Kevin over to UCLA Medical Center

as quickly as possible.

The transplant has to happen within a few hours.

But if he's gone to the shuttle landing

how are you gonna find him?

They expect 300,000 people there.

We'll find him, Mr. Cody. We'll find him. Come on.

Well, I have been back and forth and around and sideways

and across this country so many times

it makes me dizzy just to think about it.

Oh, but I'll tell you one thing, Space Rider.

I wouldn't trade a single minuteof it

for all the little ticky-tacky houses

and the picket fences in the whole world.

You mean you just live in this place?

Yeah. That's right, sugar.

Wouldn't live anywhere else.

Aw, no, I think that I've just got too much get-up-and-go in me

to get saddled with anything that doesn't have wheels.

Hey, uh, Space Rider. You okay, old buddy?

Yeah. I guess I'm just tired.

Okay, in that case, you just relax

and leave the driving to Babe.

'Attention, 15, Mary 6 and 7, urgent.'

I've contacted NASA Assistant Security Chief Henshaw.

He's coordinating the search on that end.

What about a helicopter and emergency medical team?

'It's already standing by. You just find him, Frank.'

'They'll see he gets to the hospital.'

Good enough. 15, Mary 6 and 7, 10-4.

'This is mission control, Houston.'

'The security forces at Edwards Air Force Base'

'estimate the crowd at some 300,000..'

'...in the viewing area around the air base.'

'The Orbiter now is crossing'

'the California coast at about Mach six'

'descending rapidly as it makes its approach'

'toward the main runway at Edwards Air Force Base.'

'All scientific experiments aboard the shuttle Orbiter'

'have been run with extreme success this time..'

We're here. We're here.

Yeah, we sure are.

Ah, but now the trick is gonna be

to find a place up a little closer for this old bus.

Oh, but you don't have to hang in here with me, go on.

Go on, get out of here. Go on, git.

Find a good place to watch the landing.

Thanks, Babe. Catch you on the flip-flop.

You got it.

Hey, uh, Space Rider.

Watch out for yourself, huh?

A lot of big klutzy feet out there.

Hey, hey, hey. Don't forget to call your folks.

- Tell 'em where you are. - Yes, ma'am.

'At last report, the space shuttle is at 60,000 feet'

'and descending at some two and a half miles a minute.'

'There's also another drama unfolding'

'at the Mojave landing site'

'as the search for little Kevin Cody'

'known as Space Rider to his CB buddies, continues.'

'Kevin, ten years old, is a young man'

'in need of a lifesaving organ transplant.'

'Anyone having knowledge of his whereabouts'

'should contact NASA security.'

Breaker. Breaker, Breaker.

Come on, this is an emergency.

'The Orbiter is now'

'letting down over Antelope Valley'

'on its final approach to Edwards Air Force Base'

'where the weather is severe-clear.'

'The Orbiter is now nearing its first left-hand turn'

'around the heading alignment circle.'

'Meanwhile, here on the ground at Edwards Air Force Base'

'the service vehicles are pooled up'

'in a convoy to go out to the spacecraft'

'to, uh, examine the spacecraft for toxic fumes'

'and turn on the large fan'

'that blows all these fumes downwind.'

Let's go find the press area.

'The shuttle Orbiter has now'

'become the world's heaviest glider.'

'There's not a second chance to go around'

'in as much as the spacecraft has no power for landing.'

'The crew has to do it right the first time..'

Excuse me.

Welcome aboard, I'm Assistant Security Chief Henshaw.

I'm Frank Poncherello. This is my partner, Bobby Nelson

and Cadet Nelson.

Well, I wish I had some good news for you, but I don't.

'It seems as if a woman gave him a lift here'

'but then he disappeared into the crowd.'

I got 20 men out there looking for him myself

but you see what it's like out there.

Have you tried contacting him on the loudspeaker?

'Many times, but either he doesn't hear us'

'or he's afraid he might miss the landing.'

The only thing I can suggest is that you search

as close to the fence as possible.

He's small, that's where he'd get his best view.

There's only one minor problem.

'What's that?'

The fence extends almost five miles.

How much time until the landing?

Exactly four minutes, 22 seconds.

Then it really becomes a madhouse.

- Good luck. - Thanks, we need it.

Let's go.

'Air speed is being held constant'

'at some 330 miles an hour down to the first layer'

'and then the speed is reduced to 220 for actual touchdown.'

'This is mission control, Houston.'

'The spacecraft has now passed through 16,000 feet..'

Kevin.

'Orbiter is now rolling onto the final approach.'

'It has been trading altitude for distance'

'to reach that landing threshold..'

Kevin!

Kevin!

'...is getting its first glimpse of black-and-white spacecraft'

'as it approaches from the west'

'having overflown the San Joaquin'

'and Antelope Valleys.'

'The pilots of chase one and two aircraft'

'report no apparent tile damage or leaking fluids'

'visible on the spacecraft.'

'After landing, the crew will be examined on board the Obiter'

'by the flight surgeon before leaving the spacecraft.'

'Then later, after the usual welcoming ceremonies'

'and a more extensive medical examination'

'the crew and their families will return to Houston aboard'

'the shuttle training aircraft.'

'Approaching the time here when the main gear comes down'

'for the final moments of this flight.'

'There we have main gear deployed.'

'A few seconds away from touchdown now'

'of going into the final flare..'

If we don't find him soon it's going to be too late

for that transplant.

You just keep looking. I just got an idea.

'Right down the middle of the runway..'

'...and...touchdown.'

'First, smoke from the main landing gear'

'then the nose gear approaches its touchdown point'

'farther down the runway.'

'Chase aircraft continuing on to orbit the air base until'

'clearance is given for them to land.'

'Orbiter continuing its rollout.'

Excuse me, Colonel Cooper.

Yes, Officer Poncherello. What can I do for you?

I'd like to ask you a favor that could possibly save

a young boy's life.

If it's about this Kevin Cody, I'd be more than happy to help.

'Offloaded in preparation for being flown back'

'to Kennedy Space Center'

'aboard the modified 747 shuttle interior aircraft.'

'The next flight will take place in approximately two months.'

'Attention. Your attention, please.'

'This is CHP officer Frank Poncherello'

'calling Kevin Cody.'

Ponch.

'Kevin, if you can hear me'

I have someone here who would like to talk to you.

Kevin, this is Astronaut Gordon Cooper.

From all that Ponch has told me

you sound like a fine young man

and I would like to meet you.

Meet me?

'Kevin, do you see the big building?'

'That's the press building.'

'Come to the press building.'

'Colonel Cooper would like to meet you.'

Excuse me.

Ex-excuse me.

Excuse, I'm Kevin Cody.

I've gotta get to the press building.

Excuse me. I gotta meet astronaut..

Excuse me. Excuse me.

There's just too many people out there.

Kevin, wherever you are, you must come to the press building.

Kevin, Colonel Cooper is waiting here to meet you.

Kevin!

Kevin?

Kevin.

You okay?

Let's go, Space Rider.

Ponch...no luck.

Hi, Ponch. Sorry I caused all this trouble.

I just wanted to see the landing.

It's okay, Kevin. It's alright.

There's someone here I'd like you to meet.

Astronaut Gordon Cooper.

Ponch tells me you want to be an astronaut yourself someday.

Yes, sir.

Well, with all the bravery and spirit

you're showing, Kevin

there's nothing in this world can stop you.

Yes, sir.

Kevin, there's a helicopter waiting

to take you to the hospital.

You're gonna have your operation.

Come on.

Thank you.

Catch you on the flip-flop, Colonel Cooper.

On the flip-flop, Space Rider.

'And the world's largest biplane takes off'

'for the return to Kennedy Space Center.'

'The Orbiter is scheduled to fly another mission'

'late next month.'

'The carrier aircraft and Orbiter make one..'

The doctor said next time the shuttle lands

I'll be well enough to go see it.

Only this time we all go together.

No more hitchhiking, young man.

Your mother's right, Kevin.

You shouldn't hitchhike for any reason.

I know, and I'm sorry for making you worry, mom.

In the meantime you're going to be very busy

thinking up an experiment.

For what?

To send along with the space shuttle.

A bunch of us chipped in

to buy you what NASA calls their getaway special.

You think of an experiment that can be used in space

and the astronauts will bring it with them.

Any idea what you're going to do?

No, but I'll think of something.

I'm sure you will. Now you get some rest.

And we'll come by and visit you again.

Thanks, guys.

And that goes for us too. Thanks very much.

Mr. Cody, it was a pleasure.

Hey, Space Rider.

Catch you on the flip-flop.