Speaker 1: Buzz an audio drama for iHeart Podcasts starring John Lithgow
Speaker 1: and Jeffrey Arrand as buzz Aldren. This series is based
Speaker 1: on real events, However, certain characters, names, incidents, locations, and
Speaker 1: dialogue have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes. Chapter two.
Speaker 2: If you were at NASA during the sixties, you saw
Speaker 2: the world through a haze of cigarettes. For ten years,
Speaker 2: I thought I had cataracts. Rachel Ludwig was our flight surgeon,
Speaker 2: an MD who smoked three packs a day. She was
Speaker 2: also a psychiatrist. Truth is, she didn't really exist. She's
Speaker 2: a combination of characters. Doctor Ludwig is an invention. What
Speaker 2: she did wasn't Doctor Ludwig.
Speaker 3: You're aware of the simulated crash during our DPS exercise, I.
Speaker 2: Am, sir, in a meeting with flight director Gene Kranz
Speaker 2: and Director of Crew Operations Deeke Slayton. Doctor Ludwig's campaign
Speaker 2: against me began with just enough grains of truth to
Speaker 2: spice up the inquisition.
Speaker 4: I am also aware of the confrontation between Neil and
Speaker 4: Buzz's following the simulation their.
Speaker 5: Former fighter pilots, doctor competitive Guys.
Speaker 2: Deeke was one of the original Mercury astronauts in the
Speaker 2: early sixties, but he was grounded by an irregular heartbeat.
Speaker 6: If they weren't, they'd have been shot out of the
Speaker 6: sky a long time ago.
Speaker 4: I understand, but there are other factors that enter into
Speaker 4: making sure they're psychologically up to the stresses of a
Speaker 4: mission as taxing as Apollo.
Speaker 3: Eleven, Ah, Chris join us.
Speaker 4: The crew of Apollo eleven hasn't been psychologically evaluated since
Speaker 4: they joined NASA during the Gemini program, when it was determined.
Speaker 5: They were perfectly sund.
Speaker 2: I loved Chris, but he knew those two yests were
Speaker 2: no more indicative of psychological fitness than they were of cholesterol.
Speaker 4: Well, I haven't seen the original studies, and regardless they're
Speaker 4: seven years old. Since then, these men have experienced the
Speaker 4: pressures of intense training, of family disruptions.
Speaker 5: And flight surgeon, you're responsible for seeing that they're free
Speaker 5: of whooping cough, hamorrhoids or venereal disease.
Speaker 4: Missercraft, I'm sure you don't admit to that last possibility. Look,
Speaker 4: as flight director, mister Kranz, will you allow me to
Speaker 4: at least look at the original studies.
Speaker 3: Deeke what's your view.
Speaker 5: I think the crew is physically and psychologically prepared to
Speaker 5: handle the demands of the mission.
Speaker 4: I disagree, and I think you're making a serious mistake
Speaker 4: that could result in long term damage to one.
Speaker 3: Of them, the one being Colonel Aldron.
Speaker 5: Buzz is the best physicist among the astronauts. His doctoral
Speaker 5: thesis on orbital rendezvous procedures made this mission possible.
Speaker 4: His reputation as the least liked man at NASA is
Speaker 4: common knowledge. He turns competition into confrontation at almost every opportunity.
Speaker 4: He lost his academic accomplishments over everyone.
Speaker 2: Sure if she wanted to be nitpicky, thank you, doctor Levi.
Speaker 2: Chris Kraft invited her to leave, and Gene Krantz didn't
Speaker 2: countermand Craft's invitation.
Speaker 4: I can show myself, sorry, Jeane.
Speaker 5: I didn't mean to overstead.
Speaker 3: I wanted to know what you think.
Speaker 5: I think that girl should be marginalized, as in fired,
Speaker 5: for the good of the mission. But that decision's up
Speaker 5: to you.
Speaker 2: I'm Buzz Aldron, and this is the story you think
Speaker 2: you know, but you don't.
Speaker 7: Five with a quality dare the angle land All Clamp
Speaker 7: for ramp. Pardon Diamp?
Speaker 2: You're listening to Buzz. This is the story of my
Speaker 2: greatest achievement. Chapter two.
Speaker 8: Manuel cocking of ring latches is complete. We've got internal
Speaker 8: pressure from the tunnel, transmitted from the probe and rogue
Speaker 8: ready for lunar module separation.
Speaker 2: Roger Eagle, I'd be lying if I said it was
Speaker 2: easy for Kneeling me to work together. After the landing simulation,
Speaker 2: we talked when we had to, Which does bode well
Speaker 2: when you're looking at being in close quarters for a
Speaker 2: round trip of half a million miles. We were on
Speaker 2: module simulation number shit. I lost count. We were still
Speaker 2: testing and things were still going wrong.
Speaker 3: Why team, what's the pressure?
Speaker 2: Reading one seven five point eight.
Speaker 3: Buzz began rotating the motor torque.
Speaker 5: Her rotations complete blocking spools.
Speaker 8: Disengaged ring latches are negative function flight.
Speaker 5: We've got a pressure leak inside the tunnel.
Speaker 4: Complete destabilization.
Speaker 3: Stop everything, shut it all down. When something that'll work around.
Speaker 2: Rumors that the Russians were about to launch a lunar
Speaker 2: mission meant nothing could slow our timetable. When Krantz went
Speaker 2: to Ludwig's office, she was packing up her personal effects.
Speaker 3: Then what are you doing? Doctor?
Speaker 4: You'll have my letter of resignation by the end of
Speaker 4: the day. Why I don't believe in cashing checks if
Speaker 4: I'm not doing the job. It's a quirk.
Speaker 3: I need you to look at those psych studies from
Speaker 3: when Buzz and the others were first recruited.
Speaker 4: I don't know where they are.
Speaker 3: Find them.
Speaker 4: Mister Craft made it clear that he.
Speaker 3: Mister Craft, isn't flight director.
Speaker 7: I am.
Speaker 4: The tests were administered by doctor Paul mccoone.
Speaker 3: I know Paul, but they're only.
Speaker 4: Useful as a baseline without contemporary studies to compare them with.
Speaker 3: It's it's first things first, doctor, find the originals. You
Speaker 3: don't have much times the anomalous.
Speaker 9: That I need. It.
Speaker 3: Got a second, Chris, what's up? I asked Ludwig to
Speaker 3: review those psychological tests.
Speaker 5: I thought we decided not you.
Speaker 3: Decided, Chris. Look, there are a million parts in the
Speaker 3: CSM alone, and we can't predict with absolute certainty how
Speaker 3: any of them will perform, least of all the crew.
Speaker 3: I believe Buzz is sound enough to fly. I just
Speaker 3: want to remove any shadow of a doubt.
Speaker 5: What if Ludwig turns up something you wish she had.
Speaker 3: While you were there when those initial tests were done. Well,
Speaker 3: she will, she Chris.
Speaker 2: It's bad when you're left twisting in the wind by
Speaker 2: people you've come to trust. It's worse when you're twisting
Speaker 2: and you don't even know it.
Speaker 4: Doctor Paul mccoone. My name is Rachel Ludwig. I'm Apallo
Speaker 4: eleven slight surgeon. Seriously, why the surprise you're a female. Well,
Speaker 4: my husband's accused me of worse.
Speaker 9: I never thought Chris Kraft would appoint one.
Speaker 4: I doubt he will again. I'm sure he wouldn't have
Speaker 4: if you knew I was also a psychiatrist. Doctor, you
Speaker 4: administered MMPI test to the flight crew when they first
Speaker 4: came to NASA.
Speaker 9: I wanted the test to continue to ensure the long
Speaker 9: term well being of the cruise craft. Fired me.
Speaker 4: Yes, I know. The original tests are nowhere to be
Speaker 4: found at mission control. I need them as a baseline.
Speaker 4: Do you do you have copies?
Speaker 9: Well, for a former employee to have position of classified
Speaker 9: documents would be a violation of agency regulations.
Speaker 4: I'm aware of the regulations, doctor.
Speaker 9: Files are in my garage.
Speaker 2: A space capsule is the ultimate multi purpose vehicle. It's
Speaker 2: your home in a weightless, airless environment and when you land,
Speaker 2: it's got to be water tight or you'll sink to
Speaker 2: the bottom of the ocean. With only a few weeks
Speaker 2: to go before launch, we were still practicing recovery procedures
Speaker 2: in a water tank at mission controls.
Speaker 9: See him as in the water copy that Mike deploy CRL.
Speaker 10: Explosive bolts fired, but the CRL's.
Speaker 5: Not fully engaged.
Speaker 9: Fire redundant bolt.
Speaker 6: CRL is still not engaged.
Speaker 8: Columbia is taking on water.
Speaker 7: Still negative on the CRL. Water's pouring in.
Speaker 5: Too much additional weight. We're sinking.
Speaker 3: Retrieve the module and get divers.
Speaker 9: Into the tank.
Speaker 8: Hit me, the flight manual does what the flight manual aired?
Speaker 4: Water slowing to a trickle. Nil's using the flight manual
Speaker 4: to plug the leak.
Speaker 2: A twenty million dollar command module saved from sinking by
Speaker 2: a loose leaf binder that costs less than a buck.
Speaker 2: Reminded me that every component in the spacecraft was provided
Speaker 2: by the guy who submitted the cheapest bid.
Speaker 5: Damn, damn it. Now Nil's a fucking hero.
Speaker 3: Look on the bright side, we.
Speaker 1: Didn't drown another round.
Speaker 5: Buzz to keep them coming. Honey, I'm good. You and me, Mike,
Speaker 5: We're still active duty and Nils a civilian. I mean
Speaker 5: the commanders should be active. Nixon doesn't want it to
Speaker 5: look like a military operation. Why not. We're getting our
Speaker 5: asses handed to us and them. It's time the military
Speaker 5: got us a win. You mean you got us a win.
Speaker 5: This isn't about Neil, and it's not about Vietnam.
Speaker 10: Buzz.
Speaker 5: Thanks, Sonny. You're a great pilot, buzz as far as
Speaker 5: I'm concerned, the best I've seen. But you're not commander
Speaker 5: of Apollo eleven because you're an unlovable, ego maniacal.
Speaker 3: Pain in the ass.
Speaker 5: Ah, I'm not unlovable. My kids adore me, and my
Speaker 5: monkey thinks I'm a prince. And if I'm an ego maniac,
Speaker 5: it's only because I'm vastly superior. You know what your
Speaker 5: problem is?
Speaker 10: What you're more pissed that you'll be second on the
Speaker 10: moon than you are excited about being there at all?
Speaker 3: Whatever it is that's missing?
Speaker 7: Meaning what?
Speaker 5: Well, what's missing? I don't know at home? Your life,
Speaker 5: if you haven't found it by now, whether you're first
Speaker 5: out the door or second will make a damn bit
Speaker 5: of difference.
Speaker 10: Another over here, did you know Jane June fifty three.
Speaker 5: I was on the cover of Life magazine for knocking
Speaker 5: down two Russian MiGs over Korea. You see that.
Speaker 3: No, No, I didn't ah against me.
Speaker 5: The Russians wouldn't stand a chance in hell a buzz.
Speaker 3: Ludwig recommended that you be replaced.
Speaker 5: You can't be serious.
Speaker 3: She's raised issues that could hinder your ability to be
Speaker 3: collaborative with the crew and which might lead to a
Speaker 3: less than positive life experience in the year's post Apollo eleven.
Speaker 3: But these issues are based on a review of your
Speaker 3: psychological evaluation when you joined the program and on your
Speaker 3: family's history.
Speaker 5: Did you accept her recommendation?
Speaker 3: I'm considering it.
Speaker 5: It's Neil. He's behind this. He never wanted me on
Speaker 5: the crew, not since day one.
Speaker 3: No, I have to put together the best crew possible.
Speaker 3: I have to weigh every scenario.
Speaker 5: Twenty years in the military, Gene, everything I've accomplished in
Speaker 5: my life has been preparation for this one thing. If
Speaker 5: it costs me years off my life or if I
Speaker 5: die up there, that's a price I'll pay. You can't
Speaker 5: leave me on the ground, Jeane, Please, is there any
Speaker 5: way I can get past this?
Speaker 3: Talk to Ludwig, get her to withdraw her recommendation. If
Speaker 3: she does, you'll stay on as lunar module pilot.
Speaker 5: Fuck you and her? You want me gone? Say so.
Speaker 5: I'm not throwing myself at her mercy just to let
Speaker 5: you off the hook.
Speaker 2: That night, Joan was at a rehearsal of her theater group.
Speaker 2: The kids were at their friends, and I was in
Speaker 2: our yard looking up at that silver disc in the sky.
Speaker 2: It seemed close enough to touch, but suddenly beyond my reach.
Speaker 6: I thought i'd find you here.
Speaker 7: Drink.
Speaker 6: Were you gonna tell me.
Speaker 9: What that?
Speaker 3: You might be grounded?
Speaker 9: Nah?
Speaker 5: Word gets around, Jean says, the only chance I have
Speaker 5: is to get this shrink to change her mind.
Speaker 6: Well, then do it?
Speaker 5: You mean beg her?
Speaker 4: If it's your only chance.
Speaker 3: I love you, buzz.
Speaker 2: I hadn't heard that in a while from her. It
Speaker 2: meant more than I thought it would, and more than
Speaker 2: I deserved.
Speaker 5: Mike said, I'm unlovable.
Speaker 6: Yeah, well, he has his opinion and I have mine.
Speaker 6: I want us to stay together. I don't know what
Speaker 6: you'll be like twenty years from now if you fly,
Speaker 6: but well I know what you'll be like tomorrow if
Speaker 6: you don't. Don't stay up too late.
Speaker 4: I was surprised to get your call based on your
Speaker 4: obvious disdain for the discipline of psychiatry.
Speaker 5: As a discipline. I admire it.
Speaker 4: It's only this specific application you have a problem with.
Speaker 4: I recommended that you be grounded because your history of
Speaker 4: erratic behavior is too obvious and potentially dangerous for me
Speaker 4: to ignore. I believe it's not only in your best interest,
Speaker 4: but forgive me in the best interest of the mission.
Speaker 5: I believe your recommendation is forgive me based on a
Speaker 5: thoroughly fallacious assessment of my record. You said, my quote
Speaker 5: combative personality has led to quoteunctional working relationships end quote.
Speaker 5: But you haven't provided a single example for my military.
Speaker 4: Career, the majority of which was spent flying alone in
Speaker 4: a fighter jet.
Speaker 5: And with sixty six missions. My quote combative personality is
Speaker 5: the main reason I'm alive quote rigidity and unwillingness to
Speaker 5: seek alternatives to prescribe programs or modes of behavior end quote.
Speaker 5: The objective of Gemini nine was to rendezvous with a
Speaker 5: target vehicle. Due to a technical malfunction, I was forced
Speaker 5: to seek an alternative to the prescribed program and improvised
Speaker 5: with a coordinate in space, turning a failed mission into
Speaker 5: a success.
Speaker 4: I didn't know that, but you do have a genetic
Speaker 4: predisposition to alcoholism and suicide.
Speaker 5: Where's your crystal ball, your sense of divine clairvoyance? Where
Speaker 5: is it? You must have something since you can see
Speaker 5: suicide in store for a guy who spent his entire
Speaker 5: adult life spitting in the face of death.
Speaker 4: If I had my way, you wouldn't be able to
Speaker 4: get into a car, let alone a spacecraft.
Speaker 5: Let's get down a tax doc. What do you want
Speaker 5: to protect?
Speaker 4: You to try to ensure that you and your family
Speaker 4: have a future of quality?
Speaker 5: And what about you?
Speaker 3: What about me?
Speaker 5: Everything turned out the way you predicted for yourself? If so,
Speaker 5: how come you're not married?
Speaker 4: My personal life is none of your business.
Speaker 5: How come no kids? You're holding my future hostage. I
Speaker 5: want to make damn sure you're qualified. If you've been
Speaker 5: correct about every diagnosis, every career or personal choice, if
Speaker 5: you've achieved complete infallibility. I'll do it myself right now.
Speaker 2: I had a shrink who thought it'd be bad if
Speaker 2: I flew, and a wife saying it'd be worse if
Speaker 2: I didn't. But I'm buzz aldron. I proved both of
Speaker 2: them wrong. Didn't.
Speaker 1: I Buzz, starring John Lithgow and Jeffrey Errand, is created
Speaker 1: by Stephen Cronish and directed by John Scott Dryden. Chapter
Speaker 1: two is written by Stephen Cronish and Matt Graham. Original
Speaker 1: music is by Sasha Putnam. Sound designed by Elouise Widmore.
Speaker 1: The producer is Emma Hearn. The executive producers are Jeremy Fox,
Speaker 1: John Scott Dryden, Stephen Cronish, Howard Stringer and Jason English.
Speaker 1: Buzz is a production of Thoroughbred Studios, gold Hawk Productions
Speaker 1: and iHeart Podcasts.