Original subtitles

[theme music]

Reverse thrust, easy does it, easy, easy, touchdown.

This is Arthur Nealy calling the cape.

Do you hear me?

I'm on the Moon.

I'm touching the Moon.

Please, God, let me live long enough to touch it,

just long enough to touch it.

[country music on radio]

MARK: (SINGING) I tried and I tried to keep her satisfied

so she wouldn't stray.

So now that she's a-leaving, this is all I can say.

That if we even called the--

All right, now, what's wrong with this thing now?

I just had it fixed.

Must be a fuse or a short.

Can't you do something?

Wish I could.

Some angel I'm with here.

He can't even make a radio play.

You want me to be honest with you?

Yeah.

It's you're singing, or whatever

that is you've been doing for the last hour and a half.

- You mean you did that? - Yeah, I did that.

That's not fair, Jonathan.

I like music when I'm driving.

Now, come on.

Come on.

All right.

[somber music]

Cute.

Cute.

All right, if I can't have music, I want to eat.

That all right?

Fine with me.

Good.

[tires screeching]

Can't you tell me when are you gonna do that?

I'm sorry.

I thought you'd want to pick that kid up there.

What kid? I didn't see any kid.

I had my mind on pancakes.

Where you heading,son?

Into Glove.

Jump in.

Thanks, Mister.

We're still gonna stop for breakfast up there.

Yes, we're gonna stop for breakfast.

Hey, son, you're welcome to join us if you like.

Oh, no thanks.

I'm not hungry.

I'll just wait for you in the car.

Are you sure?

My friend here's buying.

TONY: No, really.

But thanks.

Hey, there's a place right up there.

You want to go starving.

You know why he didn't come in, don't you?

He said he wasn't hungry.

Come on.

You didn't buy that, did you?

No, he didn't come in, because he's

too proud to accept charity.

He's broke.

He's probably a runaway.

Boy, have I seen a lot of them in my day.

You sure?

I'm sure.

Being a cop all those years, I can spot them a mile away.

Broken home, and the family doesn't care--

kid runs off, heads for the big city.

Things is, a kid like that won't stand a chance.

Ready to order?

Yeah, I want to have a cheese omelet, some sourdough toast,

and a bowl of chili.

Oh, and bring me a big orange drink and a cheeseburger to go.

And what about you?

No, thanks.

I think I'll just sit watch him eat.

Sure you ordered enough?

Cheeseburger's for the kid.

He got too much pride to accept a handout.

So I'll just say, well, my eyes were bigger than my stomach.

And I had an extra cheeseburger I couldn't eat.

You know something, Mark, your knowledge of people amaze me.

You're the one who said there's

a lot of good people in this world,

and we're here to try to help.

I did say that.

I'll go out later and have a little talk.

Hey, what's he doing?

Hes' steeling my car.

The kids' stealing my car.

[tires screeching]

Hey!

Hey!

Do you believe it?

That little crook stole my car.

I believe it.

This never would have happened if you hadn't picked

him up in the first place.

Well, you're just a better judge of people than I am.

Oh, that's cute.

And I guess we better report it.

You report it.

I've got an appointment to keep.

When you get through, meet me at this address.

Meet you?

How am I gonna meet you without a car?

Hey, you're order's on the table.

What do I care about my order, lady?

Somebody just stole my car.

Couldn't do you make that car just--

oh, that's cute.

Cute.

Cute.

Yes?

RECEPTIONIST (ON PHONE): Mrs. Nealy is here.

Thank you.

Evelyn?

Dr. Bender, they told me at reception

that you wanted to see me.

Yes.

Why don't you sit down.

Now, I hope you haven't changed your mind

about Arthur coming home today.

Tomorrow is his birthday.

And he has been looking forward to coming home.

No, no, you'll be able to take him home today.

They've gotten all the tests back.

And?

And as I suspected, he's no longer in remission.

I see.

Well, then, how long do I get to keep him at home until we

begin treatments again?

I have to be honest with you.

There's no reason to begin treatments again.

But you just said that he's no longer in remission.

Evelyn, when we began chemotherapy, I told you

and Arthur there were no guarantees.

But he has been all right for six months.

It has been like a--

a miracle.

He was clean.

It was gone.

All of it was out of him.

You said so yourself.

I told you then, we could only hope that the remission was

permanent.

You lied to me, didn't you?

You lied to me to protect yourself.

Now, we've done everything possible.

Well, you are going to treat my son.

You are going to make him well.

Or you will never practice medicine again if it takes

me the rest of my life, you--

oh, God.

[sobbing]

Oh, God, why?

Why?

Why?

Oh.

You know, it makes me mad.

You try to do somebody a favor, they wind up stealing your car.

You ought to know better than pick up a stranger.

Just a kid.

Yeah, so was Billy.

Billy, what are you talking about?

Bill the Kid--

look, if they're big enough to reach the pedals,

they're big enough to steal your car.

It's on the hot sheet.

It'll turn up soon.

You have a nice day.

Thanks, I made other plans.

[tires screeching]

Hey, where's the fire?

You're gonna kill somebody.

Hey, it's you.

That's my car.

My car-- hey!

[horn honking]

[tires screeching]

Follow that car.

Now, just a minute.

I'm a police officer.

For heaven's sakes, Randall, follow the car.

Yes, ma'am.

Come on, come on.

Step on it.

You heard him, Randall, floor it.

[tires screeching]

[clanging]

Thank you.

[heavy breathing]

[yelling]

WOMAN (YELLING): And don't tell me

you did nothing, because you don't run in here like that

when you do nothing.

TONY: Grandma, I was jogging.

I told you.

I was jogging.

[knocking]

Don't answer it.

WOMAN: Hey, this is my house.

You don't tell me what to do.

Can I help you?

Yeah, a boy just ran into this building.

He's got on a blue denim jacket.

Well, what do you want from him?

He stole my car.

Oh, come.

Come in.

Tony, come here.

Tony, come here now!

(ITALIAN) Jogging, eh?

You stole again.

And this time a car?

You stole it, didn't you?

Didn't you?

Respond to me!

Yeah.

Oh, no, no, no, no more, no more.

I told you before, no more!

Mister, you take him.

The police know him.

They put him away this time.

Grandma, please.

I promise.

Oh, you promise.

I promise.

(ITALIAN) How many times you promise?

I can't take it anymore.

Night after night, I am awake in bed wondering where you are,

what you doing, waiting for the telephone to ring.

Oh, no, please.

No.

Mister, you take him.

Let him go to jail.

Maybe he learn something, cause I--

I don't know no more.

I can't try anymore.

Let's go.

[door creaking]

You know, you're just like my mother.

She ran out on me too.

Neither one of you love me.

Oh, don't you talk to me about love.

You don't break the heart of somebody who loves you.

All right, you sit here.

I'll go in and tell them to pull the stolen report,

that it was a mistake.

Then, we'll go get something to eat.

What are you talking about?

That's what I said.

You're not one of those weirdos, are you?

Come on now, will ya.

I'm trying to give you a break.

Now, you want to go to breakfast?

Or you want to go to jail?

Breakfast.

[doorbell ringing]

[dog barking]

Yes?

Hi, I'm sorry to just ring your bell like this.

But your phone isn't listed.

Do I know you?

Your husband might've mentioned me.

We were in training together in Houston at NASA.

I'm Jonathan Smith.

Well, I'm sure he must have.

But there were so many names, I--

I understand.

Gordon had a lot of friends.

He was that kind of guy.

Yes, yes, he was.

Anyway, I was in the area.

And Gordon was always talking about you and your son.

Arthur, isn't it?

Yes.

Well, after all the time I spent with him--

I don't know, I thought I could share some of it

with you-- some the good times we had.

That's very kind.

But, well, today is not a very good day.

I understand.

Here I am a stranger.

I come beating on your door.

I would like to leave this for the boy.

Gordon was always talking about him.

And I feel like I know him.

That's very kind of you.

Ah, it's nothing.

I'll be on my way.

It was a pleasure to meet you.

Your husband was the best.

Goodbye, Ms. Nealy.

Mr. Smith, forgive me.

I-- Arthur's in the backyard.

Why don't you give him the present yourself?

Well, are you sure?

I don't want to intrude.

You're not.

I apologize.

My son hasn't been well.

And we just came home from the hospital.

I'm sorry.

Oh, he's gonna be fine.

Please, I know he'd get a kick out of meeting

somebody who knew his father.

OK, I won't stay long.

You can go around the side yard.

Thanks very much.

Your dad told me there was just no feeling like it, standing

all by himself on the surface of the Moon,

staring out over thousands and thousands of miles of space

and seeing the earth.

Said it was all blues and greens with big white puffy clouds

around it.

Now, your dad told me it looks so peaceful it was hard for him

to believe that people living there

would want to hate and make war with each other.

I want to do that some day, touch the Moon.

You will.

You think so?

Well, sure I do.

I bet you find the same peace your father did.

I hope you're right.

I sort of pray for it at night.

I don't want my mother to know about it though--

being an astronaut.

It sort of upsets her after what happened to my dad.

Well, yeah.

They say he was a real hero.

Oh, he sure was.

You know, your father could have ejected from that plane.

But he stayed with it till he got it over the ocean.

There's no telling how many lives he saved.

I don't know if I could ever be that brave.

I don't think any of us do until the time comes.

Have you ever been afraid--

of dying, I mean?

I was once.

EVELYN: Mr. Smith?

There's a friend of yours out in front.

Thank you.

Oh, you don't have to go, do you?

Oh, I think I'd better.

Oh, can you stay for dinner, please?

Well, I don't want to intrude.

Oh, you won't be, honest.

I'll ask my mom.

But I know she won't mind.

Please?

All right, you go ask your mom.

And I'll see what my friend's up to.

Good.

Oh, and thanks for the submarine.

My pleasure.

Stay in the car.

Make sure nobody steals it.

See you got the car back.

Got the kid too.

Why didn't you turn him in?

That's a good question.

I don't know.

I just couldn't, you know?

He'd been in trouble before.

If I turn him in, they're gonna put him away.

Yeah, but you're the one that's always telling me,

a crook's a crook. - I know.

I know.

This is different.

He doesn't care what happens to him.

He's given up on life.

What are you gonna do with him?

I don't know.

He got no folks.

Got a grandmother.

She's giving up on him.

What do you mean what am I going to do with him?

You're the one who wanted to pick him up in the first place.

ARTHUR: Mr. Smith?

My mom said it was OK if you stay for supper.

Oh, that's very kind of Mrs. Nealy,

but I really can't leave my friends here.

Maybe another time.

Oh, mom, can they please stay--

all of them?

We're just barbecuing hamburgers.

We can throw a couple more on the fire.

He's right.

You're more than welcome.

That's very kind of you.

All right, then.

I'll go throw the coals on.

OK.

I still want to know what we're gonna do with that kid?

Well, we'll see.

I told you.

My boss works in strange ways.

MARK: Arthur, keep your eyes on this.

You're not gonna believe your eyes.

I call this my David Copperfield,

eat-your-heart-out trick.

I don't know how it works, but it does.

It stays balanced because the weight on each side of fulcrum

is equal.

Oh, yeah, well, I know that.

I just-- you know, I didn't want to give it away.

Mom, can Tony and I go up in my room and play for a while?

For a little while.

Come on.

I'm not much for playing with toys.

I got some good stuff and a telescope.

We can see the craters on the Moon like crystal.

It's a good night for that.

Hey, I'd like to see that too.

Come on, Tony.

Tony, come on.

I can show you stars as big as our solar system.

It's millions of miles in diameter--

hundreds of millions, actually.

That's quite a little guy got there.

Yes, he is.

I hope he doesn't talk Tony's ear off up there.

Oh, I'm sure he won't.

I'm sorry I'm not--

I hope--

I'm sorry.

Go ahead.

I was just going to say, I hope

it hasn't been an inconvenience, our being here.

Oh, no.

Not at all.

Your turn.

What?

You were gonna say something.

Oh, just that I'm sorry for being so quiet.

I guess it's just been a long day.

I can understand that.

You can?

I think I'll go make some fresh coffee.

I can't believe it.

I know I have more coffee here somewhere.

I have a day maid who does some of the shopping

when I'm at work.

And no matter how many times I tell her to try and put things

back in their proper place--

Jonathan, you were there.

How could it happen?

How can he go all the way to the Moon

and back, and then die on a flight from Houston to--

how?

Why?

My God, how could he do that?

I need him.

I need him so much.

[sobbing]

There, take a look.

Oh, look at that.

See that thing as clear as day.

Hey, Tony, come take a look at this.

Tony?

I got to go to the bathroom.

There's one at the end of the hall.

Your friend's not too happy about being here, is he?

Afraid not.

What's wrong?

Well, that's kind of hard to explain, Arthur.

You see, both of his parents left him.

He's kind of bitter.

Yeah, I know how he feels.

I was angry at my dad when he died.

You were?

Yeah, it's just something you go through.

I was pretty angry at him for leaving me and then--

and then I blamed myself.

MARK: How could you do that?

Well, he was flying home for my birthday.

And I thought maybe if it wasn't for me, he'd still be alive.

It's all part of something you go through when

you lose somebody you love.

I'll show you that big red star I was talking about.

[dog barking]

I keep asking myself why--

why my son?

Why should some old person live and my little Arthur die?

Why doesn't God just take me instead?

Oh, because you still have a life to live.

A life?

What kind of life?

A different one.

Oh, I know it's not gonna be the same.

But it can still be good.

You don't believe that now.

But you will someday.

ARTHUR: Mom, mom, can Tony sleep over tonight?

That way he'll be here for my birthday tomorrow.

Oh, I don't know.

I thought we'd spend a quiet day together and--

Oh, mom, I don't want to spend a quiet day.

Maybe we could all go someplace.

Arthur, you have just been out of the hospital one day.

That's all the more reason to go someplace.

Please?

Is it all right?

That's perfectly all right with us.

Thanks, mom.

Tony, it's OK.

We can use my sleeping bags.

Well, it's getting late.

Mark and I better be going.

Thanks an awful lot for dinner.

Thank you for being here.

Look, we got nothing to do tomorrow.

If you feel like some company, I thought maybe we could take

a ride, go out to the park.

It's only an hour.

I think the boys would have fun.

All right.

How's 10:00?

10's fine.

All right, we'll see you then.

We'll let ourselves out.

Good night, Evelyn.

I don't think it's a good idea leaving Tony here.

I don't trust him.

No, it's a good idea, believe me.

Why don't you rent us a room?

We're gonna be here awhile.

What are you gonna do?

Just kind of hang around here.

Aha, aha, see, you don't trust them either.

We'll both stay.

No, there's no reason for us both to say.

You need your sleep.

What about you?

Mark--

Oh, yeah, I forgot.

All right, I'll see you back here at 10:00 tomorrow morning.

Right.

You walking in your sleep, son?

I-- I couldn't sleep.

I was worried about my grandma.

I can understand that.

What you got in the bag?

Nothing, just some stuff Arthur gave me.

He's got a room full of junk.

Ah, that was nice of him.

Why don't you let me see?

Sure.

All right, I took some stuff.

They got plenty.

Why'd you bring me here for anyway?

To see how the other half lives?

That dumb kid's got everything he wants.

No, not quite.

Big deal, his old man's dead.

He's got a mother.

He's got a big house.

And he's got cancer.

That's right, he's dying, Tony.

He's only got a little time left.

And he wants to spend that precious time with you.

Why?

JONATHAN: I don't know.

But whatever the reason, he deserves better

than having you run out on him.

I don't even know him.

Whose fault is that?

Look, I'll make a deal with you.

You spend a few days here with Arthur.

At the end of that time, you're free to go.

Go where?

Anywhere you want.

How do I know I could trust you?

How do I know you won't turn me in?

Look who's always talking about love and trust.

How about you try earning it?

All right.

I'll put the stuff back.

I'll stay.

Good.

I'll see you in the morning.

Are you gonna hang around out here all night?

No.

How do you know I won't take off again?

Because you won't.

Sleep well, Tony.

[ducks quacking]

Hey, Tony, do me a favor.

Take this soda over to Mrs. Nealy.

I think she could use it.

Sure.

Hey, Mr. Smith, look at how the baby

duck follows its mother.

JONATHAN: It's really amazing, isn't it?

And that's not even her baby.

What?

Yeah, I was talking to the park attendant.

He said that mama duck lost her baby.

And the little baby's mother died.

So sure enough, mama took over, and she's been

raising it just like her own.

Are you kidding?

No, I'm not kidding.

God's world is pretty wonderful, Arthur.

There was a mother that needed a baby's love and a baby

that needed a mother's love.

It's a shame it couldn't be that way with people.

Why couldn't it?

EVELYN: I don't think I could have walked another step today.

And I was worried about Arthur.

Oh, no, he was ready to keep going.

I know.

I'm glad he has Tony.

They seem to be getting along well.

Tony's good for Arthur.

And Arthur's good for Tony.

So are you.

Me?

Yeah, you.

You listened to him today.

You encouraged him.

You made him feel like a person-- a person of value.

Well, he is.

He's fun and very bright.

You know that, but he doesn't.

His parents deserted him.

He pretends to blame them.

But he doesn't.

He blames himself.

Why else would a parent leave a child unless that child

were worthless?

That's very wrong.

I know.

But he believes it.

Spending time here could change that.

I could see that today.

Well, he's very welcome.

But his grandmother--

Well, I feel a little bit guilty about this.

But I already talked to her about the boy.

She loved the idea.

She was so happy he wasn't in jail.

Believe me, I [inaudible] spending time here with Arthur

and you could turn that boy's life around.

I'm sorry.

I should have talked to you about this first.

I'll take Tony home with me tonight.

It's not Tony.

I was watching Arthur playing today, laughing, running.

I love him so much.

I don't know why God would want to take him away from me.

Maybe it's because God loves him too.

I wish I could be sure of that.

You will be someday.

MARK: All right, that's it.

Come on, let's hit the sack.

Oh, come on.

We're not tired.

Can't we watch one spooky tape?

No, you can't.

[thundering] - Thanks.

You're welcome.

All right, now, get some sleep.

TONY: Jeez, we only wanted to see a few minutes of it.

You'll see it tomorrow.

Thanks.

You're welcome again.

We'll see you guys tomorrow.

[thundering]

Darn, what a great time to watch a spooky,

lightning and everything.

You want your something spooky?

What?

I'm dying.

I know.

How'd you know?

Jonathan told me.

Oh, my mom must have told him.

I didn't think you knew.

Yeah, nobody told me.

But I know.

When you've been sick as long as me, you know.

You can tell the way people are with you.

What's it feel like knowing?

It's kind of scary.

It was real bad when I first got sick.

But it's funny, for a while it--

it changes.

It's almost like how you feel when you're

gonna go to a new school.

You're scared, but you wonder what it's gonna be like.

It's my mom I'm worried about.

She's gonna be all alone.

It's gonna be awful hard for her.

That's why I wanted you to be here, Tony.

What do you mean?

Look, I know this may sound dumb because we've only known

each other a couple of days.

But I don't have a lot of time to waste.

See, you don't have anybody.

And before too long, my mom's not gonna have anybody.

How do you know for sure?

I mean--

I know, Tony.

It's like it was meant to be, like fate.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about two people who need each other.

You like my mom, don't you?

Don't you?

Yeah, I like her, sure.

And she likes you.

I could see that today.

She's a good mom, Tony.

She's the best.

You'd have a good home here.

Hey, come on--

I mean it.

We could be like brothers, couldn't we?

Would it be so bad?

I don't want to die knowing my mom's gonna be alone.

And you don't want to live being alone, do you?

I get along.

I don't have time for lies, Tony.

Will you think about it?

Will you?

Yeah.

[playful music]

[crickets chirping]

[thumping]

Arthur?

Arthur, what's wrong?

Arthur!

Mrs. Nealy!

Mrs. Nealy, come quick.

It's Arthur!

He's taking it pretty hard.

We kind of pretend like we're brothers, you know?

I always wanted a brother.

It's OK to cry, mom.

It's all right.

Put your head here.

I thought I was gonna be afraid.

But I'm not.

I'm gonna die, and I'm not afraid.

But Tony's going to live, and he is afraid.

He's afraid he's going to be alone like before.

I know he didn't say that, but he is.

Mom, you won't let him be alone, will you?

No.

ARTHUR: You promise?

I promise.

ARTHUR: We've been through a lot together, you and me.

I think that's made us stronger.

I want to rest now.

I'll be right here.

No, no.

Go stay with Tony.

I want to be with you.

ARTHUR: You always will be, mom.

I love you, mom.

I love you too.

Go on now.

I want to rest.

JONATHAN: Hey, Arthur.

Mr. Smith, you were right.

I'm not afraid.

I know.

One out of two's not bad.

Hey, what are you talking about?

ARTHUR: You said I'd get to the Moon.

Yeah, so I did.

Are you ready?

Are you kidding?

No, I'm not kidding.

Take a look out the window.

There it is.

Keep looking at it, son.

Keep looking at the moon.

It's happening, Mr. Smith.

I'm getting closer to the moon.

It's beautiful, Mr. Smith.

I touched it, Mr. Smith.

I touched the Moon.

You're home, son.

You're home.

[music playing]