Chapter Text
Husky Buddies: In Space!
SYNOPSIS:
In this installment of the “Husky Buddies” series, the husky pups are back and are about to go further than any dog has ever traveled before. When a school field trip to the launch of the Brightstar spaceship goes awry, the team are in for an action-packed romp in space as they have to figure out how to get back home- but they won’t have to do it alone!
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MAJOR CAST
NORTH: The leader of the husky team; intelligent, curious, and calm with a blue-ish gray coat. His owner is NOAH, a boy with an interest in science.
SWING: The second-in-command, a strong-willed and thoughtful husky with especially dark fur. Her owner is MARIA, a girl with blue highlights and a “cool” appearance.
BEAN: The middle sibling, a grumpy and slightly large brown husky who would rather lay in bed and eat than go and adventure, but is dragged off by his siblings anyway. His owner is TED, a boy who is similarly standoffish with his friends.
ZIGGY: The loose cannon, a light-coated husky with heterochromic eyes who likes to impulsively cause trouble, often complicating their adventures. His owner is BRYSON, a boy that’s a fan of cars and motorcycles.
BLOSSOM: The baby sister, a sweet though sometimes absentminded light cream husky. Her owner is KYLIE, a girl, a little younger than the others, who loves flowers, girly things, and cryptozoology.
DR. KUIPER: A human scientist, the gentle and kind but somewhat nervous and eccentric head of the Brightstar effort.
LUNA: A Brazilian black (Grammostola pulchra) tarantula. She is Dr. Kuiper’s pet and best friend, and beneath the notice of the humans has become rather well-acquainted with the ins and outs of spaceflight.
SALLY: Dr. Kuiper’s second-in-command, a brilliant young woman with a penchant for out-of-the-box thinking.
DR. RYLAND GRACE: The historical astronaut from the Hail Mary mission and savior of Earth. In real life, the Hail Mary famously never returned despite Grace’s message on the beetle probes declaring his intent to do so. However, in the film. Grace has returned to Earth’s orbit, but due to insanity induced by his long isolation, he is too frightened to go home and wants to stay in space for the rest of his life.
ROCKY: Grace’s alien friend, on board the Hail Mary with him. Wants to convince Grace to go back to Earth, so he can return to his home planet.
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SCREENPLAY
We open with a gentle montage of shots from space, as the credits roll by. We see the Earth, in all its majesty. The moon. Then, mysteriously, as we move around Earth’s orbit, we see a familiar spaceship out in the distance against the stars. We zoom in closer on the HAIL MARY.
The window is dark for a moment, but then, a familiar and beloved rocky hand appears. ROCKY slowly comes into focus, gazing out at Earth.
ROCKY, voiceover: I am Rocky. Or at least, this what friend Grace name me. I have been in space for long long long time.
We see Earth over Rocky’s “shoulder”, as he gazes forlornly out the window.
ROCKY: Rocky make promise to bring his human friend Grace safely home. But now finally in orbit of Earth, human Grace can not bring self to leave comfort of our ship, the Hail Mary. Rocky think Grace is scared scared scared of the unknown. Even though ship start to fall apart around us… Grace too scared to leave.
A loud crash. Rocky twists behind himself to peer down the corridor. Dr. Grace’s shadow on the wall raises a pen in triumph, and he can be heard laughing maniacally.
DR. GRACE, off-camera: FOUND YOU! You can’t hide from the astrophage killer! Boo-yah!
ROCKY: … And Rocky thinks not just ship coming apart at seams after long space journey.
The camera pulls away from Dr. Grace’s shadow, and his laughter fades. Rocky’s attention goes back to the window.
ROCKY: Rocky dearly miss home planet. Rocky has been away long long long time. … Rocky wonders if anyone is still waiting.
He closes his hand around the window, pensive.
ROCKY: But Grace still needs me. And so Rocky must stay, until he gains the courage to leave me behind.
The scene fades into darkness, and then slowly brightens again with a view of a grassy field. The husky pup NORTH sits in the center, gazing up at the stars in awe. The sky is reflected around him in the flashes of fireflies.
After a moment of contemplation and wonder, the puppy stands up and runs over to his boy, NOAH, who is looking through a telescope at the stars.
North pushes his head into Noah’s lap, drawing the boy’s attention. Noah gently pets his furry friend’s head.
NOAH: Have you ever heard about the Hail Mary mission, boy?
North tilts his head curiously, sitting up at attention.
NOAH: When Mom and Dad were my age, the Sun was dimming. The Sun gives our planet its energy, so a lot of people died. People thought life on Earth would go extinct.
North makes a somber whine.
NOAH: But then, a brave astronaut went up there. A teacher, named Ryland Grace.
Noah points at the sky. North looks up at the glimmering stars.
NOAH: He was so brave, and he found a solution to save us. Even though he thought he could never come back home. And he even met an alien- a smart one, like us. The alien gave him enough fuel to make it back to Earth. He told us in his message home that he was coming back.
NOAH: … But then he never did. They still don’t know what happened to him.
For a moment, North looks up to the sky, contemplating alongside his owner the mysterious fate of the astronaut who saved the world.
NOAH: I wish I could meet him one day. Maybe someday I’ll be an astronaut, and I’ll go up there and find him.
The back door to the deck opens. Light falls on the boy and his dog.
NOAH’S MOM: Okay, Noah, sweetie, time for bed. You don’t want to miss the spaceship launch tomorrow, do you?
NOAH: No, mom!
He gets up and goes past her. She gives a look to the puppy too.
NOAH’S MOM: You too, North.
North perks up, head tilting curiously with a soft whine. He obediently follows Noah back inside, staying at his heels.
NOAH: I wish they would let us bring pets to the launch. It’s not fair that North has to miss it.
NOAH’S MOM: I know, honey.
The scene changes. The next morning, North follows Noah out the rickety door of his home. The school bus waits on the road.
NOAH: Sorry you can’t come on the field trip with me, buddy. But I’ll tell you all about it when I get home, I promise!
North watches Noah board the bus. He makes an affectionate promise:
(to himself) NORTH: Don’t worry, Noah. I'll be there.
Once he’s gone, he runs off to the rest of the neighborhood, intent on gathering the other Husky Buddies to loyally follow their owners to the spaceship launch.
SWING, a dark husky, and her child MARIA, are found singing along (or in Swing’s case, howling along) to music. Her alarm sounds.
MARIA: Gotta go, Swing. See you later!
She leaves. After Swing is left alone, North appears in the open window.
NORTH: Hey, Swing! Up for an adventure?
SWING: You know I am!
She follows.
BEAN, a brown husky, and his child TED are still asleep. The door clicks open.
TED’S FATHER, offscreen: Time for school!
TED: 5 more minutes!
TED’S FATHER: Ted, you’ve said that three times.
Ted begrudgingly wakes up.
TED: Bye, Bean.
Bean gives him an affectionate lick, then returns to sleep himself- for only a second, before North and Swing show up in the window.
NORTH: Bean! It’s time for an adventure!
BEAN: Do we have to?
NORTH: Come on, we have to be fast!
Bean groans, but doesn’t argue before getting up and hobbling after them out the window.
ZIGGY is with his child BRYSON in his garage, while working with his mom on a car engine. The school bus can be heard honking.
BRYSON’S MOM: Oh, you better get going, kid. Don’t worry, I can handle the rest.
Bryson hands her the wrench in his hand and goes to grab his backpack.
BRYSON: Okay, see you later!
While Bryson’s mother is distracted, North, Swing, and Bean appear and gather Ziggy’s attention.
NORTH: Ziggy, come with us, we’re going to see a spaceship launch!
ZIGGY: Oh, that sounds like a place where you could get in SO much trouble. I’m in.
He runs to join them.
Last, but not least, is BLOSSOM, who is with her owner KYLIE trudging through a field of flowers behind their house.
KYLIE: Find any space fairies yet?
Blossom has not.
KYLIE’S MOM, calling from a distance: Kylie! The bus is here!
KYLIE: Oh! Gotta go, girl.
She gives Blossom one last kiss goodbye, then runs off.
Shortly, the other Husky Buddies appear, running through the grass.
NORTH: Wanna go see a space launch?
BLOSSOM: Ooh! Will there be space fairies?
NORTH, confused: … I don’t… think so?
BLOSSOM: Aww. Well, I’ll come anyway.
Now that everyone’s together, the Husky Buddies run off as one to the school.
…
[PLOT SUMMARY: After North gathers the rest of the Husky Buddies, they run to the school and stow away on the field trip bus between the backpacks, beneath notice.]
…
We view a building, the headquarters of the space organization Spirited. Inside we find hustle and bustle across sunny halls, and a busy mission control center gearing up for launch.
We escape from all the noise into a private, sun-soaked office. Here, we find a black tarantula, LUNA, on a classy desk. An open hand descends; she crawls up a nice, but understated blue suit on the arm of DR. KUIPER.
As Luna settles on Dr. Kuiper’s shoulder, he regards his pet and friend with a look of gentle long-held respect and consideration.
DR. KUIPER: Today’s the day, Luna.
Luna stridulates her fangs lightly in confirmation.
Dr. Kuiper’s is disposition is kind and gentle, though slightly off-kilter. As we follow him through the building, talking to others he passes, it becomes apparent he struggles to look others in the eye, and stiffens when approached. Luna offers a constant support from his shoulder.
He arrives in mission control, where he is greeted with warmth from BRIAN, a mission lead, and SALLY, his brilliant second-in-command.
Sally is wearing big, kooky rainbow glasses and a vest over her uniform with many pins and buttons, declaring very corny science puns and slogans. Brian is dull in comparison, the classic straight man; in his arms he carries two cups of coffee.
BRIAN: Hey, Kuiper, coffee?
He hands him a cup. He takes it gingerly, stiffening, looking down as if it is poised to bite him.
DR. KUIPER: Extra cream?
He asks, for assurance.
BRIAN: Of course, Doctor.
Dr. Kuiper visibly relaxes, and takes a sip. The mission specialists gather around him, looking to him with respect, eager for his words. Dr. Kuiper takes notice, and straightens up, taking a breath. He is anxious, but far from unpracticed or unprepared.
DR. KUIPER, stammering lightly: This is the day, everyone. This is our first, and hopefully far from last, mission of our vessel model, Brightstar. We have great hopes that in the future, Brightstar will be the de facto manned interplanetary exploration vessel, capable of taking anyone into the stars with comfort and security, regardless of their level of training. We will provide humanity’s scientists and researchers better access to space travel.
He makes a light smile, head ducking slightly.
DR. KUIPER: So of course, we dedicate this mission to everyone’s favorite space scientist, Dr. Ryland Grace. And in his honor, a field trip from our local school system will bring students to watch our launch, so… be on your best behavior.
There are appreciative claps, a gentle smattering of laughter.
DR. KUIPER: Although this vessel is designed for round trips and should be able to handle them perfectly well, today’s mission to the moon will be unmanned and one-way. We won’t be bringing it home, not for a while. But it will be proof that one day our vessel will be capable of expanding humanity’s horizons.
The response is appreciative, excited. Dr. Kuiper seems relieved to be done with the speech, and he settles into his role, checking with his mission specialists.
Outside, the field trip bus rolls to the front of the building.
…
[PLOT SUMMARY: At the mission control headquarters, the Husky Buddies follow their owners discretely on their field trip.]
…
TOUR GUIDE: And this is our public-facing laboratories.
In the corner of the room, there is a nook with glowing sci-fi circle.
TOUR GUIDE: Over here, this is a state-of-the-art and very complex machine that can scan your body and manufacture a custom-tailored space suit capable of adapting to anyone’s size and shape. It can even adapt to the body plan of any vertebrate animal, like your pet dogs or cats. Our director, Dr. Kuiper, insisted upon it. Would anyone like to try?
A dozen kids raise their hand; the tour guide picks Noah, who excitedly goes to stand on the glowing circle. From an opening inlet in the wall, a space suit, automatically child-sized and proportioned, rolls out on an extending track. Noah eagerly puts it on.
TOUR GUIDE: Everyone will get an opportunity to bring home one of these suits, so don’t feel left out. In his spare time Dr. Kuiper is also working on designs that will work for arthropods…
The tour guide’s voice fades away, and the puppies dare peek out from their hiding spot.
Blossom, curious, is the first to run to the circle.
NORTH: Blossom! Wait!
Once on the circle, the machine runs again. This time, it brings out a suit tailored to Blossom’s four-legged physique. It lowers itself down to Blossom’s level, the top open with a zipper so Blossom can step in. The others realize what’s happening, and each step on the circle to receive their own suits.
After zipping each other up, the puppies run off to again find their owners.
However, they get lost, and end up outside. On the tarmac, the BRIGHTSTAR looms. It is a large spaceship or space shuttle, halfway resembling a commercial jet plane. A ramp leads up to its door, where men are coming in and out with supplies.
ZIGGY: Whoa, look over there, dudes.
BLOSSOM: Look over where?
Ziggy is already running off. The others, given no other choice, follow him to the Brightstar. The men supplying the ship are too busy to notice the dogs, and they readily board.
The ship is a cool, sleek, but detailed sci-fi interior. After marveling at the science equipment bolted down in the laboratory module, the puppies find their way to luxurious seats.
SWING: Whoa, these are the kind of fancy seats you get yelled at at home for climbing on.
ZIGGY: They can’t yell at us here!
They jump up on the seats.
…
The students of the field trip arrive in mission control. Dr. Kuiper turns to greet the children. He speaks formally, not modulating his tone for them at all.
DR. KUIPER: Thank you for coming. We hope we can provide you an educational and interesting experience today. The launch will be commencing shortly.
After finalizing the checks on all systems, Brian announces they’re ready to launch.
BRIAN: Ready when you are, sir.
Dr. Kuiper gazes at the screen.
DR. KUIPER: Let’s begin.
The countdown begins.
On the ship, the huskies jump as the ship’s restraints fall over them on the seats, keeping them safely in place.
BEAN: Ah! What’s going on?!
COUNTDOWN: T-minus 10… 9… 8…
NORTH: Uh, huskies, I think we’re in trouble!
COUNTDOWN: 5… 4… 3…
The huskies panic as the ship begins to lurch.
COUNTDOWN: 2… 1.
The ship ignites, and we see it start to launch into the sky, flame billowing out beneath it.
Everyone in the room cheers, the kids the most excited of them all.
…
PLOT SUMMARY: [The Husky Buddies are launched into space, the humans on the ground unaware.]
…
The kids go home. Now that the ship is on its way, Dr. Kuiper relaxes. He strokes Luna, smiling as she stridulates pleasantly.
However, it’s not long before an error alerts them.
BRIAN: Uh, we have a problem. We have only a quarter tank of fuel.
SALLY, focused on her screen: I know.
BRIAN, taken aback: I’m- I’m sorry, how long have you known and not shared with the class?
SALLY, not looking up: Thirty minutes.
Brian looks at her in pure bafflement across the room.
DR. KUIPER: But we fueled completely before we launched.
SALLY: There was a leak in the system. I already fixed it remotely, but we won’t be able to get to the moon unless we refuel.
DR. KUIPER: … Refuel from where?
Sally grins like a madwoman. She finally looks up.
SALLY: From the Hail Mary.
All eyes in the room go to her in confusion.
DR. KUIPER: … The Hail Mary never came home from her mission. Dr. Grace was pronounced dead in space. No one knows what happened.
SALLY: That’s the official story. But there’s a conspiracy theory out there that Dr. Ryland Grace did come home, but never announced it to the world. He’s hanging in outer orbit on the Hail Mary, just watching Earth. The Russians spotted him, but couldn’t convince him to land! He got too used to being in space, he wanted to be kept a secret and just live up there forever.
BRIAN: … That’s the craziest thing I’ve literally ever heard.
SALLY: Crazy? I’ve already contacted him.
Sally touches a button on her control console. To the awe of everyone in the room, DR. GRACE himself appears on screen, alive and- apparently- well. His smile is friendly and assured, even though his hair and beard are long and unkempt. The HAIL MARY around him is visibly in as much disrepair as he is.
His grin becomes somewhat wild, and he leans into the camera, as he starts waving his hands over-enthusiastically.
DR. GRACE: Hello, Earthlings! I come in peace!
Dr. Kuiper takes a moment to remember himself.
DR. KUIPER, stammering: D-Doctor Grace, it’s- it’s- it’s an incredible honor.
SALLY: Just to confirm, you have the fuel to resupply us like requested, right, Dr. Grace?
Grace holds out his arms in a theatrical gesture of open friendship.
DR. GRACE: Of course! My friend Rocky made this cool little self-sustaining fuel supply unit to keep us in orbit indefinitely. We have plenty, Earthlings, plenty!
DR. KUIPER, hastily, visibly nervous: Dr. Grace, in return for the fuel, we would happily like to offer you a return transport to Earth in our-
As Dr. Kuiper speaks, Dr. Grace leans into the camera, smile warm, kind, but slightly crazed.
DR. GRACE, interrupting: No no no. It’s alright, my friends. Don’t even worry about it. In return for the fuel, we don’t ask for anything but complete confidentiality. See, we can’t have Earth learning about us aliens in orbit. I mean, it’ll cause a mass panic and a lot of questions and probably dissections. And I don’t want to be dissected, sooo, we’ll give you fuel, and in return, you’ll keep us your little secret, so me and Rocky can continue living in space alone together forever and ever and ever. Just us two alien besties.
DR. KUIPER, after a pause: … Okay. We’ll- we’ll- we can do that.
Dr. Grace claps his hands together, leaning back in his seat.
DR. GRACE: Awesome! Oh, one last thing.
His face becomes more serious, as he leans forward again into the camera, almost too close for comfort. His voice becomes a little hushed.
DR. GRACE: There’s absolutely, positively no actual human people on board that ship, right? You promise?
His eyes become somewhat anxious, almost vulnerable, as they peer into the camera. You’d think he was asking for assurance their ship wasn’t a bomb.
DR. KUIPER: … We promise. Yes. It’s- it’s an unmanned mission.
Dr. Grace visibly relaxes, then leans back and grins again.
DR. GRACE: Phew. Alright. Dock away on our flying saucer, then, Earthlings. We’ll take care of you! Isn’t that right, Rocky?
ROCKY comes into view to sing a few incomprehensible notes at Dr. Grace.
DR. GRACE: Yeah, buddy, I know, they look a little weird. But be nice, okay? Not everyone can be as cool as us aliens.
Rocky shakes his head in a gesture of annoyance and shame, making musical notes that sounds like a sigh.
The connection with Dr. Grace cuts out.
SALLY: … Okay, I don’t think his fuel tanks are all the way full, if you know what I mean.
Dr. Kuiper doesn’t appear to disagree. But he retains professionalism.
DR. KUIPER: Let’s adjust our trajectory and make our way to him.
While the ship changes its course, the puppies on board come to an unsettling realization.
NORTH: Guys… we need to find a way to let the humans know we’re here.
BLOSSOM: Why? We don’t want to get in trouble!
ZIGGY: Yeah, let’s just wait until the ship goes back to Earth and get off. No problem.
North’s tone is dire.
NORTH: You don’t understand. Noah told me this mission is one-way.
SWING: That means…
NORTH: Unless they change their plans… we’re not going back home.
A contemplative, fearful silence falls over the puppies. We see the Brightstar hurtling through space, the only protection for the canine lives inside from the void.
Meanwhile, mission control commandeers the ship.
BRIAN: There she is. Visual contact with Hail Mary.
SALLY: Whoa. I’ve only seen her in history books.
Indeed, the Hail Mary appears on the Brightstar’s exterior cameras, a distant bright shape against the stars.
DR. KUIPER: Initiate docking maneuver.
Sally remotely pilots the Brightstar, and begins to maneuver the ship into docking with the Hail Mary.
On board the ship, the Buddies feel a threatening lurch as the ship changes course.
BEAN, trepidatiously: Uh oh, what was that?
ZIGGY: I don’t know, but it didn’t sound good!
The Brightstar slots in with the Hail Mary.
SALLY: Docking complete.
She presses a switch on her console, leaning in to the microphone.
SALLY: We’re docked. You ready, Dr. Grace?
Dr. Grace appears on the central screen, giving a thumbs down to the camera.
DR. GRACE: Yup!- Oh, wait.
He turns his thumb right side up.
DR. GRACE: Yes is this way up for Earthlings, right? Down is how me and Rocky do it, so, I get confused…
Dr. Grace leaves the cockpit and goes to a hatch half made of what appears to be xenonite. He drags up a tube from Rocky’s jerry-rigged indefinite fuel set up, and goes to pull it over to the docked ship. He places it into the refueling port, then dusts off his hands and returns to his cockpit.
Dr. Grace reappears on the central screen in mission control, falling into his chair and leaning back laxedly.
DR. GRACE: Alright, Earthlings, refueling is under way.
DR. KUIPER: Thank you deeply, Dr. Grace.
DR. GRACE: Don’t mention it. Least I can do for you. You know, for not handing me off to the government to be dissected.
The crew exchange uncomfortable looks.
Meanwhile, Ziggy is the first to venture toward the airlock. Sensing a safe pressure outside, it opens automatically on his approach.
ZIGGY: Whoa, guys. Check this out.
The others are soon to follow, except Bean, who cowers anxiously.
BEAN: Guys, are you sure you want to leave? We’re in space! There might be aliens!
NORTH: Or there might be someone who can help us.
BEAN: I’m staying here.
SWING: Fine, we need someone to defend the ship anyway.
Bean groans nervously. Reluctantly, he follows.
They venture onto the Hail Mary.
ZIGGY: Whoaaa. What is this place?
NORTH: I don’t know.
SWING: It looks ancient.
As they wander, a looming, five-legged shadow exits from the laboratory.
BEAN: [screams]! AN ALIEN!
Rocky jerks back, then gently comes forward into the light, holding up his hands non-threateningly.
ROCKY, frantically: Is okay! Is okay! Nice alien! Mean you no harm!
SWING: Whoa! What kind of animal are you?!
ZIGGY, confused: Crab?
BEAN, fearful: Spider?!
BLOSSOM, excited: Space fairy!
North is the first to put it together.
NORTH: Wait a minute- you’re Rocky! Dr. Ryland Grace’s alien friend!
Rocky “jazz hands”.
ROCKY: Yes yes yes, am Rocky!
NORTH: Does that mean… [gasps] we’re on the Hail Mary?!
ROCKY: Yes, you on Hail Mary. Very interesting, you are furry four-legged Earth animals. You are called dogs, correct, question?
NORTH: Yeah. Huskies, in specific. I’m North. These are my siblings and future sled team. Swing, Ziggy, Bean, and Blossom.
As North says their names, the camera cuts to each of the puppy buddies in turn. Rocky produces musical notes that sound like an intrigued hum.
ROCKY: Rocky did not know Earth dogs could crew spaceships.
SWING: We usually don’t. We ended up on the ship by mistake. A field trip gone totally wrong.
NORTH: And the thing is, the ship is only meant to be one way. If we don’t figure out how to get home…
ZIGGY: We never will.
Rocky straightens, clearly alarmed by this information.
ROCKY: Bad bad bad. Must find way to get puppies home. Will tell Friend Grace. He will help. But first- would puppies like to see ship?
NORTH: You kidding?! We want to see everything.
The huskies follow Rocky through the Hail Mary. In the laboratory, a garden of many plants sit on a stacked cart, supplied by a jerry-rigged water irrigation system.
ROCKY: Hail Mary had few plants on board. We work together to grow more, build garden. Sustainable food for Grace.
He takes them to a window, where they view solar panels, built onto the side of the ship.
ROCKY: Solar panels help supply energy for ship indefinitely. Also help regenerate fuel.
NORTH: So you can stay in orbit… forever? Is that the plan?
The question clearly saddens Rocky. He hesitates meaningfully before answering.
ROCKY: … Is Grace’s plan.
While the others drift by to explore the lab, finding the equipment cool, North lingers by Rocky, troubled.
NORTH: Rocky… I have a question, if I may.
ROCKY: Yes?
NORTH: Grace saved the world, didn’t he? … Why doesn’t he want to come home to Earth?
Rocky sulks. The mood turns somber.
ROCKY: Rocky think Grace is… scared.
NORTH: Scared of what?
Rocky’s claws flick nervously. He walks over to the window. The Brightstar with its prominent mission patch can be seen docked, there in front of Earth; the first human touch besides Grace’s that the vessel has experienced in many, many years.
ROCKY: Perhaps… other humans. Grace been alone so long, become afraid that he forget how to do it right. Not know what others will think of him. Not know so many things.
NORTH, in somber agreement: … Fear of the unknown. I know how it hurts to watch your human struggle with it. How it feels you can do nothing to help. … But, as long as you’re there by their side to support them, even if it doesn’t feel like you’re doing much, eventually, they find their way. And then you get to be so proud of them.
Rocky seems to take comfort in that.
The moment is interrupted by footsteps drawing near. The puppies look up, as Dr. Grace comes into view.
DR. GRACE: Rock’? Where’d you go, buddy? The humans have a question about the fuel, and you’re the one who-
Dr. Grace freezes, stopping in his tracks, as his eyes land on the puppies. They, too, freeze, both awed by the presence of the savior of Earth, and watching somewhat trepidatiously for his reaction to their presence.
Dr. Grace’s eyes light up. He seems stuck in place. He can’t seem to believe what he’s seeing. When he speaks, his voice is delicately soft.
DR. GRACE: Oh. Oh, oh my gosh. Rocky. Are… are they… real?
ROCKY: … Yes, are real.
A big smile comes onto his face. It seems this is the best thing that’s happened to him in years.
DR. GRACE, joyously: Ohhhh! Rock’, the Earthlings gifted us little puppies?! That’s so sweet!
Rocky just tilts to the side. Grace’s grin turns manic.
DR. GRACE: So what do you think? This mean we call off that interplanetary invasion we were planning?
He devolves into cackling maniacally at his weird joke, doubling over and hitting the wall with his laughter. The husky puppies regard him in disturbed confusion.
DR. GRACE: Hoo, boy!
While Grace laughs, Rocky watches, somewhat forlornly. He turns to the huskies.
ROCKY: Forgive Rocky’s friend. He… in space long long long time.
He then takes a step toward Grace. His voice is urgent.
ROCKY: Grace, puppies are not gift. Are on ship by accident.
Dr. Grace recovers from his laughing fit. He peers up from the wall at Rocky. Slowly, he fades from manic to serious, and we watch a sober concern come onto his face.
DR. GRACE: … Really? By accident? How do you know?
ROCKY: They tell me.
DR. GRACE: … You can talk to dogs?
ROCKY: You can’t, question?
Dr. Grace just shrugs it off.
DR. GRACE: … Huh. Cool.
He shakes his head.
DR. GRACE: So they’ll be leaving once the fuel is restored. Got it. Shame they have to leave so soon. Do you think they’d like it if we gave them a little souvenir before they go? - Wait, can dogs even appreciate the value of a souvenir? I don’t know if we even have anything to spare. I’ll-
Rocky interrupts Grace’s ramble, stepping toward him with urgency.
ROCKY: Grace…
His claw-like fingers flit anxiously.
ROCKY: Puppies’ vessel… not going for round trip.
Dr. Grace’s face at once falls with the gravity of that statement. Sympathy- empathy.
He’s been there before.
His voice becomes very serious.
GRACE: … How do we help them?
Rocky takes a moment to consider.
ROCKY: Grace… can take them back to Earth himself.
Dr. Grace’s face falls. We linger on him for a moment, as he appears to think, more and more dread coming onto him at the thought.
The puppies watch curiously; North, in particular, we linger on, as he watches the hero expectantly.
DR. GRACE: I… but that would mean…
Dr. Grace shakes his head, straightening. He backs up toward the cockpit, a silent abdication of duty he hopes is not noticed.
DR. GRACE: Nah, nah, we’ll just tell those Earthlings about their unintended cargo. I’m sure they can, uh, find a way to get them back to Earth fine.
But despite the forced sureness in his words Dr. Grace returns to the cockpit with an uncertain, stiff posture. Back on Earth, mission control views him. As he settles into his chair, he seems to take a moment to think over his words.
DR. GRACE: So, uh, Earthlings… there’s a slight hitch.
DR. KUIPER, concerned: With the fuel?
DR. GRACE: No, no, the fuel’s fine. It’s just… well, you seem to have a few stowaways on your ship.
DR. KUIPER, slightly alarmed: Stowaways?
DR. GRACE: Yeah. There seems to be five puppies on board the Hail Mary now. Not that they’re not cute, but, uh, I don’t know how I feel about puppies hanging around on the spacecraft that’s keeping me alive, know what I mean? Lots of pretty critical and very chewable wires around here. So… uh, yeah, I’ll need you guys to find a way to get them home. … Somehow.
On the ground, Dr. Kuiper sends confused, alarmed looks to the others. The mood in the room has stiffened, as to them it has become apparent that Dr. Grace has gone well and truly insane.
DR. KUIPER, stiffly: Uh- thank you again for all your help, Dr. Grace. We’ll be disembarking shortly.
DR. GRACE: Wait, hold on-!
Dr. Kuiper switches off the connection with Dr. Grace. He turns to look at the room, sharing in their looks of bewilderment.
DR. KUIPER, at a total loss: Puppies?
SALLY: Jeez, which do you think has more screws loose? The Hail Mary or Grace?
Back on board the Hail Mary, Dr. Grace yelps in anguish at the dark screen, trying to re-establish the connection, but unable to from his side.
Behind him, Rocky climbs up into the cockpit.
(to Rocky) DR. GRACE: The humans- they- they didn’t believe me! They must think I’m crazy or something!
ROCKY: Grace is little crazy.
DR. GRACE: Agghh!
Dr. Grace bends over the desk, clutching his long hair. Rocky gently approaches behind him.
ROCKY: … If Grace not help, puppies can not get home.
His voice is a gentle but firm reminder.
Dr. Grace’s eyes dart back and forth. He seems to understand Rocky is right.
DR. GRACE: … Right. Uh. Right. Yeah.
He slowly sits up. He takes a deep breath. We see the hero in him return, as he comes to terms with his responsibility. He turns to give Rocky a light, through restrained smile.
DR. GRACE: Not a minute to waste, then, right?
We see the puppies in the background watching as Grace walks by now suited up in his famous red exosuit, legs moving at a steady gait with a renewed sense of purpose and focus.
DR. GRACE: Alright, so, the thing is neither of our vessels are prepared for returning to Earth’s atmosphere. But looking at the designs the Earthlings sent over, theirs at least has the capacity to withstand atmospheric re-entry. And if all else fails, they have escape capsules and we don’t.
He stands in the airlock doorway, bouncing his exosuit helmet uncertainly in his hands.
DR. GRACE: So, I’ll come on board their ship, you can help me out over the radio, and together- [pauses, takes a nervous breath]… we’ll get them back home, I guess. How’s that sound to them, Rock’?
The puppies, excited, answer in their own way; they run forward to pour their love on him. But Dr. Grace suddenly flinches back with a yell of terror. The puppies stop, confused- who gets scared of puppies?
He cowers against the wall.
DR. GRACE: Sorry, sorry, it’s just-… you guys are kind of the first multicellular organisms besides Rocky I’ve had in front of me in forever, so…
Dr. Grace clears his throat, and straightens.
DR. GRACE: Let’s go to your ship before they disembark. And, uh… don’t make any sudden movements? Please?
The puppies all go back to the airlock. Momentarily, Dr. Grace pauses. He gives one last reverential look back at Rocky, who stands there, watching. Rocky waves him off encouragingly, but Grace doesn’t wave back. As he looks back, his face changes. He looks back at his friend longingly, desperately, lost. For a moment, he’s frozen in place, and it looks as if he’ll ditch the mission to run back to him and never let go.
But then, a sound behind him gathers his attention. He looks back to find North, head tilting cutely and curiously at him.
The sight of the puppy seems to remind Dr. Grace of the gravity of his mission. He gathers himself with a deep, slow breath. Forcing a smile, he gives one last wave goodbye to Rocky. As he turns around, the smile fades, but he nonetheless presses forward onto the Brightstar.
On the Brightstar, Dr. Grace settles into the pilot chair with a slow breath. He slides on a headset.
DR. GRACE: Rocky, can you hear me okay?
ROCKY [over radio]: Yes, Grace. Will help guide.
Dr. Grace looks over the controls of the ship.
DR. GRACE: I know this thing is supposed to be unmanned, but you’d think they’d include some way to contact the ground, right?
He shakes his head, not seeming too perturbed.
DR. GRACE: It’s fine. It’s fine. I didn’t want to talk to them anyway.
Back in mission control, the specialists are readying to undock.
BRIAN: We’re loaded all the way on fuel.
SALLY: Confirmed. Undocking now.
Back on the Brightstar, the floor hitches. The puppies make exclamations of surprise.
DR. GRACE: Alright, Rocky, we’re experiencing some turbulence now.
ROCKY: Yes. Confirm: Plan is allow humans to un-dock, and then take over manual control of ship, yes, question?
DR. GRACE: Yes indeedy.
On the ground, Sally gazes over computer screens, showing a diagram of the Brightstar undocking from the Hail Mary.
SALLY: We’re undocked. Re-calculating flight path to the moon.
On the Brightstar, Dr. Grace takes the controls. The wildness returns to his grin.
DR. GRACE, playfully: Nope.
He pulls it to the right, and the ship violently lurches. The puppies yelp in surprise.
DR. GRACE: We’re going to Earth, baby.
Sally recoils from the computer screen in confusion.
SALLY: I’ve- I’ve lost manual control.
DR. KUIPER: How?
SALLY: I have no idea, sir.
Brian stares at his screen in befuddlement, approaching a kind of concerned horror.
BRIAN: There must be some kind of a glitch. The flight path is… erratic. Like some crazy person is driving it.
The Brightstar shoots past the screen, spinning.
GRACE: Wooooohooooo!
The puppies are safe in their restraints, but nonetheless experience the g-forces.
BEAN: I’m gonna be siiiick!
ZIGGY: Stop the car! Stop the car!
BLOSSOM: Wheee! This is fun!
ROCKY (over radio), admonishing: Stop playing. Focus on mission.
GRACE, laughing: I’m not playing, bud, this is me trying!
ROCKY: Slow! Slow! Slow!
The ship continues to move erratically, but slightly less so.
GRACE: Hey, I think I’m getting the hang of it!
He throws a look over his shoulder.
GRACE: How’s everyone doing back there? You guys all alright?
In response, we hear one of the Buddies throw up.
GRACE: I hear ya.
Meanwhile, the mission control center is frantic.
DR. KUIPER: Progress, Sally?
SALLY: There’s a few things I can try to trick the system into giving me back control here…
On the ship, suddenly, Grace’s erratic movement slows to a halt.
GRACE: Huh?
Sally pumps her fist.
SALLY: There we go!
Grace tests the controls, but no amount of movement makes the ship budge.
COMPUTER SYSTEM: Canceling manual override. Returning to remote operation.
GRACE: Uh oh.
ROCKY (radio): What is ‘uh oh’, question?
GRACE: We lost control of the ship, pal.
Contrary to the mood in the ship, on the ground, the mood is cheerful again.
SALLY: Control is back, mission to the moon back underway.
ROCKY (radio): Good. Could not survive re-entry with Grace piloting. Statement.
GRACE: Hey!
ROCKY (radio), sternly: Need new plan.
Grace bites his lip nervously, appearing to think.
GRACE: Okay. Right. Uh. New plan. Their plan is to shoot for the moon, right? I guess we’re gonna be taken along for a ride.
ROCKY (radio), alarmed: No! No ‘take along for ride’! Ride is one-way!
GRACE: We can’t communicate to them that we’re here, they have no comms. And they’ve got no cameras inside the cabin. But they’ll have to have some on the outside. Right?
ROCKY: Ahh… yes, Rocky understand. Okay plan to try.
Grace twists in his seat back to face the dogs.
GRACE: Alright, guys. We’ll be heading home, but we’re taking a tiny little pit stop on the moon, first. That sound good to you all?
The dogs bark, excited.
NORTH: Guys, you know what that means?!
BLOSSOM: What?
NORTH: It means we’ll be the first dogs to land on the moon.
BEAN: … Whoa. You just blew my mind.
As they chatter, Grace looks out the window at the starry sky beyond contemplatively, reclining back in his seat.
GRACE: … You know, I’ve always wanted to go to the moon.
He seems to say it mostly to himself.
SWING: Does he realize he’s been to a whole other solar system?
BLOSSOM: The moon is different. It’s got gravity.
ZIGGY: Eh, gravity is overrated.
We linger on Grace’s face, drawing into something forlorn, etched with the many years of astronomical distance from the rest of humanity.
NORTH: … I don’t think it is to him.
The moment decompresses. We see the moon outside their window, small, but by tiny increments, surely approaching.
NORTH: … I wish our owners were here to see us.
We view the Brightstar as it glides serenely through space.
ROCKY (over radio): Journey will take time. Get some rest. Rocky will watch. Keep safe.
At that, something painful shadows Grace’s face; a reminder of his distance from his best friend. He smiles nostalgically, though sadly.
GRACE: … But you’re not here, bud.
ROCKY: Am here. Always here with you. Always will be.
At that, Grace seems affected. He nods slowly. He wipes his eyes, as tears build in them.
The night shield over the cockpit window falls, and the cabin darkens. The puppies go to sleep. Grace can’t seem to do the same, however. He leans back in his chair, gazing pensively up at the ceiling.
North lifts his head, blinking sleepily. He looks over at Grace. Seeming to sense his need for comfort, he gets up, and pads over to him. Grace looks up, stirred out of his reverie, as North pulls himself up into his lap. Grace smiles, lifting a hand to pet him.
GRACE: Aww. You’re a sweet little guy.
He sighs, letting his hand rest on North as he looks back up at the ceiling.
He confesses a truth.
GRACE: … I know Rocky needs to go back home. But I just… don’t know what I’ll do without him.
We linger for a moment on a wide shot of the cabin, allowing Grace this small moment of comfort in the face of his fear and uncertainty.
The scene drifts. We fade into Noah’s bedroom, where he lies in bed, gazing up at the ceiling. His cheeks are tear-stained. His mother sits at his bedside. Evidently, he has been worried sick in North’s absence.
NOAH: What if the buddies never come home? I can’t live without North, Mom.
Noah’s mother takes his hand.
NOAH’S MOM: He’ll always come home to you. No matter how far away he is. He’s probably having some big adventure out there, and he’ll be home before you know it.
Noah doesn’t seem to fully believe her.
His mother brushes his hair back.
NOAH’S MOM: Night, sweetie.
NOAH: … Night.
She switches off the light.
We fade forward in time. The Brightstar approaches the moon. Slowly, we watch it land. The puppies and Grace awaken with a jolt as it does so.
On the base, mission control regards the screen; an external camera shows a live feed from the surface of the moon.
SALLY: We’ve landed. All systems reporting secure.
DR. KUIPER: Then we’ve done it! Mission success!
The room splits with applause.
Grace stretches, and takes a deep breath. He looks back at the Buddies.
GRACE: Alright, how do you guys feel about being the first ever dogs to walk on the moon?
Five attentive furry heads tilt in unison.
The airlock slowly opens.
SALLY, confused: Wait. The airlock is opening.
BRIAN: That… that is very weird. That should not be happening.
While they focus on their computers, Dr. Kuiper stares at the central view, stunned. A murmur of shock falls upon the room.
DR. KUIPER: … Oh, no.
On the screen, we see Grace has exited the airlock in his exosuit. He walks down the ramp backwards, “moonwalking” (badly).
SALLY, somewhat flatly: That’s Dr. Grace. Isn’t it.
DR. KUIPER: That… would explain the erratic maneuvers.
BRIAN: They were done by a crazy person!
SALLY: He’s not the only one there. Look, he’s waving to someone on the ship.
He waving out the puppies with a giddy grin. The puppies then exit themselves, in their own fully-tailored and functional spacesuits.
Dr. Kuiper furrows his brow, as Grace waves out the small moving creatures proceeding in a line from the airlock behind him.
The shapes of the creatures on the screen do not resolve into anything that makes sense to them. Everyone in the room looks on at a complete loss for words.
DR. KUIPER: What are those?
SALLY, guessing: … Maybe… Rocky laid eggs on the way to Earth? And he’s taking the hatchlings out for a walk?
DR. KUIPER: These creatures have four legs, not five.
BRIAN, at a loss: Maybe that’s just what alien babies look like.
On the moon, the Husky Buddies triumphantly play about, enjoying the low gravity. Dr. Grace laughs as North jumps toward him, catching him and lifting him near-weightlessly in his arms, his joyful grin plain to see.
SALLY: Uh… am I crazy… or do those… kind of… look like…
BRIAN, finishing for her: Puppies?
The room is silent in shock as they watch the puppies and Grace play through the exterior cameras.
DR. KUIPER: Then… Dr. Grace must have been telling the truth. He knew our ship was on a one-way mission, and he left the Hail Mary to try and help get them back home safe after we didn’t believe him.
After watching the puppies chase each other in low-grav, Dr. Grace turns to the camera. He lifts and waves his arms toward it. From the distance, the grainy footage is just about able to pick up his grin.
BRIAN: But where did they come from?
DR. KUIPER: They must have gotten on before the launch.
Brian sinks into his hands in despair.
BRIAN: Oh, my god. We’re not only gonna have to tell the world we killed Dr. Ryland Grace, but that we killed a bunch of puppies, too.
Dr. Kuiper stiffens up, knowing they cannot let that come to pass.
DR. KUIPER: We’ll just have to perform a return mission sooner than anticipated.
SALLY: But we don’t have comms on board. How can we get them home, when we can’t even communicate with them?
DR. KUIPER, desperate: Maybe we could try speaking with Rocky on the Hail Mary?
SALLY, skeptically: Yeah, sure. You know anyone who speaks alien?
Luna pauses. The tarantula has been left alone on the console, as her owner focuses. Furtively, she crawls over to a microphone on the console. She seems to think.
The puppies and Grace frolic on the moon. After a little while, they end up settled in a pile, all the puppies cuddled together on Grace’s lap, watching the Earth rise above them. Grace pets them, a bright smile glowing on his face as he admires the view.
NORTH: I’m glad we got to see this.
ZIGGY: … You know what? … I’m not. Not if our humans aren't here to see it with us.
The other puppies seem to agree, the mood turning somber.
Soon, Grace and the puppies return safely to the Brightstar. Grace removes his helmet, shaking his long hair loose. He replaces it with his headset.
GRACE: We’re back, Rocky.
ROCKY: Good. Was getting worried.
GRACE: Think they saw us?
- Just in time, the ship lurches again, and they lift into the air. Grace glances up.
GRACE: I think they saw us.
Sally works at her computer.
SALLY: Let’s hope for the best that we can get these guys home.
Meanwhile, Luna seems to make her decision. Discreetly, her pedipalp and legs touches the button, and she lifts herself on her eight legs toward the microphone. The computer declares Connection established with Hail Mary.
LUNA: Rocky. Rocky, come in. Can you hear me over there?
Rocky straightens up.
ROCKY: Earthling try talk Rocky. Why? You can not understand.
LUNA: I can understand you. Can you understand me?
ROCKY: … Yes. Can. How can understand, question?
LUNA: Never mind that. My name is Luna. I’ve watched a hundred missions like this, and I can help. You want Grace and the puppies to get home, and I want that too. They’re on their way back, and they’ll need direction if they get into trouble. Let’s work together.
Rocky perks up.
ROCKY: Yes. Let’s.
Meanwhile, back on Earth, it looks like news crews have quickly gotten wind of what’s happening on the Brightstar. Reporters start to harass the building. We have a montage of various news outlets discussing the situation.
NEWS ANCHOR #1: … puppies, on board the ship…
NEWS ANCHOR #2: … an unplanned human pilot is also rumored to be on board, though information is locked down on who, exactly…
At home, MARIA is the first to notice. She’s eating cereal while scrolling social media on her tablet, and drops her spoon when she sees the news.
MARIA: Uh- mom?
It’s not just her. Soon Noah, Ted, Bryson, and Kylie also notice. The kids quickly convene. They arrive outside the building, where a crowd of reporters have gathered nearby; a security guard at the gate is quick to stop them.
MARIA: You have to let us in.
NOAH: The puppies that you launched into space are ours.
GUARD, gruffly: No one comes in or out.
NOAH: Fine. Then we’ll just go talk to those news people and tell them how you kidnapped our dogs.
They get a few steps into that, when the guard stops them.
GUARD, panicked: Wait. You can come in.
The kids enter the frenzied mission control room. The guard walking with them announces their presence.
GUARD: Dr. Kuiper? These kids allege to be the owner of the dogs.
Dr. Kuiper looks back. His expression grows sorrowful. When faced with him, the children don’t express anger; they’re only saddened.
NOAH: Dr. Kuiper, sir? Will you get us our friends back?
DR. KUIPER: We will do everything in our power.
On board the ship, Grace relaxes, smiling, as the ship is rises toward out from the moon and escapes into space.
GRACE: It looks like they’re gonna bring us back home, guys. Should be a smooth ride from here.
BEAN: Good thing it’s not him driving again…
BLOSSOM: Aww. It was so much fun, though.
Their ride is indeed smooth, for a time. But back in mission control, screens start to blink red; radar screens inform them of INCOMING OBJECTS.
SALLY: Hold on. We’re detecting meteors in their flight path.
DR. KUIPER: Can we evade?
SALLY, uncertainly: I’ll do my best, but from the ground…
The mood becomes tense again. On board, Dr. Grace takes notice of the incoming meteors himself.
GRACE: Oh, no.
ROCKY: What is ‘oh no’?
GRACE: Meteors.
BRIAN: Give Grace access to manual override again. We'll just have to hope he still has the wits.
LUNA, into the microphone: Rocky, Grace is going to need to pilot this on his own. Relay my instructions to him.
ROCKY (radio): Our friend from Earth will help.
Grace swiftly takes the controls.
GRACE: Good. Hang on tight, guys!
LUNA: Tilt 40 left!
ROCKY (radio): Tilt 40 degrees left!
Grace yanks the controller. Outside the ship, the ship tilts, and the meteors narrowly avoid the hull.
LUNA: Now 80 degrees right!
ROCKY: 80 degrees right!
Again, the ship tilts, and meteors shoot past. One knocks askew the antennae.
In the midst of the chaos, Dr. Kuiper looks over, and finds Luna stridulating by the microphone. His brow furrows curiously.
With the help of Rocky and Luna, Grace manages to evade multiple meteors- but a big one hurtles for the hull. There is no escaping it in time.
GRACE: Oh, no. Everyone hold on tight!
The force of the impact jerks the ship. The ship tilts almost 180 degrees, the floor becoming the ceiling. Grace falls out of his restraints- he only barely hangs onto the console.
ROCKY, panicked: Full ahead, Grace! Full ahead!
With all his energy, Grace grabs onto the controls and shoves them forward to carry out the last of the instructions. The ship shoots past the asteroid field, and the force of the jerk knocks him free.
He falls hard, hitting his head- then he slumps, knocked out.
Thanks to Grace, the ship is now out of the meteor shower, and automatically slowly tilts back so the floor is the floor again. Some semblance of peace descends.
However, the antennae is still askew. They cannot receive transmissions from the ground.
While technically safe, the ship now drifts, helpless, without any pilot.
SALLY: The- the antennae is damaged. I can’t get in contact with the ship.
DR. KUIPER: … Unless Grace can pilot on his own, they can’t get home.
BRIAN: And it looks like more meteors are coming.
North escapes his restraints and goes to paw at Grace desperately, but Grace doesn’t wake up. He groans, and his head lolls back. The headset sits crooked on his neck. From it, Rocky can be heard, frantic.
ROCKY: Grace?! Grace?! Grace, come in! Grace?! More meteors incoming in few minutes! Must act!
North jumps into action, slipping on Grace's headset.
NORTH: Dr. Grace is incommunicado. What do we do?
ROCKY: You are just puppy. Can not do anything.
NORTH: It doesn’t matter if I can’t. I have to.
Rocky seems to take that in.
LUNA: Let them try. It’s all we have.
ROCKY: … Okay. We try.
We see North entering the airlock, his dog-fitted exosuit on.
ROCKY, voiceover: Friend on Earth tell Rocky, need to adjust antennae back into position so humans can take over. Put on spacesuit. Enter airlock. Ensure tether is secured.
The others jointly help secure the tether with their teeth and paws.
ROCKY: Move left back paw to engage air release, will propel through space.
North tests it, and a spurt of air from the “jet pack” on his back releases, sliding him across the aluminum floor a little.
NORTH: Got it.
ROCKY: Is Friend North ready?
NORTH: … Yes. Ready.
The airlock door opens. North floats out into the void of space. We see him against the stars.
ROCKY: Use front left paw to adjust left, front right paw to adjust right. Maneuver to point to ship.
North does so.
ROCKY: Now propel forward.
North lifts his left back paw, and jets forward- a little too fast.
NORTH: Whoa!
Rocky: Slow! Slow! Light move. All is need.
NORTH: Got it.
ROCKY: Now find antennae. On top of ship.
North finds the antennae.
NORTH: Found it.
ROCKY: Friend say, adjust to left. Ensure antennae fits back into socket.
North reaches out a paw and carefully adjusts the antennae. It clicks back into its socket.
SALLY: - We have control back! Grace must have done a spacewalk to get the antenna back into place!
Luna knows the truth, however.
LUNA: The antenna is reconnected! North did it!
Dr. Kuiper again looks over, at where Luna still remains perched on the microphone, regarding it with oddly focused intent.
Back on the Hail Mary, Rocky raises his hands in jazz hands.
ROCKY: Yes! Yes! Did it! Okay. Now return to airlock quick quick quick!
But on Earth, the radar screens blink red again.
SALLY: More meteors incoming!
BRIAN: You have controls back, move them out of the way!
SALLY: We can’t, the airlock is still open!
DR. KUIPER: Let’s hope he moves fast.
As North moves to return to the airlock, a meteor hurls from space toward him.
ROCKY: Move quick!
North just about manages to move out of the way. He swiftly returns to the airlock, just in time as the rest of the meteors approach.
NORTH: I’m back in.
The airlock closes behind him.
SALLY, with relief: He’s back inside.
DR. KUIPER: And not a moment too soon. Quick, maneuver them out of danger.
LUNA: Tell the puppies they did a great job. We’ll do the rest down here.
ROCKY: Good.
North shimmies out of his space suit, returning to cheers from his siblings as he comes out of the airlock.
BLOSSOM: You did it!
SWING: You were amazing!
ROCKY: Yes, Friend North was great. Hero.
Still on the floor, Grace blinks his eyes, returning to awareness. The puppies take notice. He reaches for his headset, but can’t find it. North comes over, the headset in his mouth, and gently places it in his hand. He takes it, peering at North curiously.
GRACE, dazed: Did… did we do it? We’re not dead, right?
ROCKY (radio): Yes, Grace, we did it. Puppies did too. Antenna break so ground humans could not control ship. But puppies fix it.
GRACE: They went on a spacewalk?
ROCKY: Yes. With help and guidance from friend down on Earth.
Grace breathes out a sigh, a smile breaking on his aching face.
GRACE: Man. I guess Earthlings are… actually pretty alright, aren’t they?
ROCKY: Grace, you are Earthling.
Those words settle over the moment. Grace turns his head over to look at the puppies, who gaze back.
ROCKY: They are Earthling, too.
For a moment, the words hang there. Just breathing where he lies on the floor, Grace gazes at them. Life returns fully to his eyes. His smile grows wider and more joyous than we’ve seen it.
GRACE: … It’s a pretty cool club to belong to, huh?
ROCKY, jocular: … Eh, is okay.
Grace laughs with his joy. There on the floor, he grabs and pulls the dogs toward him, and they lick his face happily, wagging their tails.
Everyone down in mission control celebrates, high-fiving and cheering. The kids hug each other, overjoyed to hear their dogs will be okay.
However, unbeknownst to anyone, the ship sustained more significant damage in the meteor shower; behind one of the dents, wires start to spark.
Time passes. Earth gets closer, and we see the Brightstar enter orbit.
SALLY: The Brightstar is now progressing to low Earth orbit. On track for arrival in 2 hours.
The kids cheer, relieved.
GRACE: Man, I haven’t eaten anything except vegetables in… woof, gosh knows how long. I think… Once we touchdown I’m gonna ask for every candy in existence. Every candy. … Earth still has candy, right?
The huskies can’t answer.
GRACE: Gosh, I hope you guys still have candy.
Grace leans his head back against the wall. His eyes turn contemplative, sad; some threads of fear still hanging onto him.
GRACE, softly: … I hope they won’t make me leave, though. They’ll… they’ll understand if I go right back up, right? Earth will understand. I know they want me back, but… they’ll understand.
For a moment, that breathes. North looks at him sadly, wishing he could take the fear from him, show him that there is nothing to be scared of.
Suddenly, there’s a spark. Alarms start to blare. Grace jerks up at once, looking down the hall. A flame starts to burn on the side of the wall. Small, for now- but quickly growing.
In the control room, Sally swiftly moves to her screen.
SALLY, dire: Catastrophic failure of the electrical system, probably an effect from damage sustained during the meteor impacts. They’re going to burn up.
Fear falls over the kids. They lean over the side rail of the overlook to the control room with full attention, terrified for their friends.
DR. KUIPER: Is there anything we can do?
SALLY, sadly: … No. There's nothing.
BRIAN: All we can do is hope Dr. Grace knows about the escape pods.
Luna moves swiftly, pedipalps raising with urgency as she speaks into the microphone.
LUNA: Rocky, there are two escape pods on board. Grace must get the puppies into one.
Grace moves fast, herding the puppies into the escape pod. He holds Blossom, who is frozen shaking in fear, and gently lowers her into the pod. He carefully pushes the others in, restraining them.
GRACE: Get in there, guys. Go, go, you’ll be okay.
He exchanges with them one last apologetic, fearful look- then closes the escape pod door.
LUNA: Give him these coordinates, the escape pod’s navigational systems will adjust…
Grace punches them in. The fire grows rapidly, starting to consume the ship.
LUNA: Go.
Grace hits the button. The escape pod launches. We see it hurtling toward Earth.
The puppies scream.
North: Hold on tight!
SALLY: Escape pod #1 launched!
LUNA: Now he must get to the second escape pod.
ROCKY (radio): Grace, go to the second escape pod.
But Grace stops in front of it, seemingly frozen, unable to bring himself to get inside. As if he fears what’s on the other side of safety just as much or more than he fears the flames engulfing the ship, surely killing him.
ROCKY (radio): Grace, go in escape pod! No time! Will be okay!
But Grace only hangs there, hand over his headset- his last point of contact with his best friend.
GRACE: But… if I go back to Earth… I might never see you again.
ROCKY: Grace, you must go back! If you do not, you will die!
GRACE: … I love you, Rocky.
ROCKY: Grace, please!
The ship explodes. We see Rocky, back on the Hail Mary, listening to static. He stares at the screen, frozen.
LUNA (radio): … The ship has disintegrated.
For a moment, there’s only the static.
LUNA, urgent and relieved: We detect a second escape capsule coming to Earth. He did it, Rocky.
Rocky falls into his seat, decompressing with relief.
ROCKY: So happy. So happy.
LUNA: We’ll let you know when he touches down.
The scene fades away. We find a burning capsule leaving a scar into a field. Wind blows through fully green trees. A helicopter lands nearby, unsettling the leaves and grass.
Air Force personnel approach the capsule. As they approach, the door opens. Grace is curled up inside, arms wrapped around himself, knees to his chest.
Dr. Grace flinches at the light. Momentarily, he cowers further inward to the comforting darkness of his capsule. However, we see a tragic understanding on his face; he knows as well as we do he can’t hide in it forever.
AIR FORCE OFFICER #1: … Dr. Grace?
Dr. Grace takes a deep breath, seeming to prepare himself.
DR. GRACE: Give- just… just give me a second.
He pauses a moment longer. Then, he climbs slowly out of the capsule on unsteady legs. Tears well in his eyes. As he rises, he leans onto Air Force Officer #1, and suddenly and immediately clings onto him in a hug.
Air Force #1 wraps his arm around him back at once, unperturbed.
We linger close on Dr. Grace’s face against Air Force Officer #1’s shoulder, tearing up, a long cosmic isolation melting away on his face, before we zoom out.
Wind blows through the trees of Earth in full summertime verdancy around them. Birds chirp. Butterflies flit past.
DR. GRACE: … It’s summertime.
AIR FORCE OFFICER #1: Yes, it’s summertime.
DR. GRACE: That means… I really did it. Didn’t I?
AIR FORCE OFFICER #1: Yes, Dr. Grace. You did it. Welcome home.
We fade back to the Buddies’ hometown, where a parade is being held in their honor. A crowd gathers on the side of the road, cheering as they and their owners pass in a motorcade, waving happily to everyone.
They reach a stage at the end. The kids get out, joining the crowd in clapping for their dogs, as the Husky Buddies are led onto the stage and sat to be viewed by all, as heroes.
A new car drives up, dark and sleek, driven by government agents. The car door opens, and Dr. Grace appears to us again. His hair is more tame, and his beard is shaved. The moment he can be seen, the crowd erupts in cheers, and he jumps at the sound, as if it were a potential existential threat. However, he quickly relaxes, a tired but fully sincere grin coming onto his face. He waves to everyone with both hands.
He still appears to be in a daze. He regards the people cheering around him as if they’re too good to be true. Although he apparently has not yet fully processed their reality, he smiles at people as he passes; they reach to shake his hand, which he only distantly reciprocates by rote as if he’s not quite sure of the gesture’s significance before pulling them each into a quick hug.
(to people he passes in turn) DR. GRACE, dazed: You’re alive. I’m so happy about that. Hug. You’re alive. Hug me, man. You’re alive. Get in here, pal.
BLOSSOM: Has he ever stopped hugging people since he landed?
NORTH, diplomatically: He’s… been through a lot, up there.
BEAN: I can relate!
Dr. Grace approaches the stage, and the children. The kids are starstruck. Dr. Grace is stiff, awkward, and still a little helpless at this, but we see the same level kindness and care in his eyes that gave a middle school teacher the courage to save our world. All told, it seems he is less uncertain around them than the adults.
DR. GRACE: Uh. Hello. You’re… the puppies’ owners, right?
Noah is the first to speak, wide-eyed and amazed- an amazement that is completely untarnished by the patina of Grace’s discomfort and oddness. He recognizes it is superficial, and this is still the world’s hero he is looking at.
NOAH: Yes, Dr. Grace, sir. I’ve- I’ve always wanted to meet you.
Grace smiles, kind.
GRACE: Just… Grace, please. Thank you.
Constrained by his own humility, he doesn’t seem to know how to address the second half of Noah's sentence. He looks over at the puppies.
GRACE: Everyone’s giving me the credit, but I hope you guys know the truth. I never would have come home without them. They’re good dogs. You kids must be great owners.
The kids smile.
MARIA: Thank you, Grace.
He smiles wider. He gives a stilted but thoroughly sincere nod, then goes forward to the puppies. His purpose here is revealed; he’s here to present the puppies medals in a ceremony.
GRACE: I would like to present these heroes medals to honor their bravery in bringing me home!
The audience claps, cheering. Grace grins, overjoyed, as he takes out medals and carefully hangs them over the necks of each of the Buddies. The huskies draw themselves up, happy to be recognized.
Brian, Sally, and Dr. Kuiper are sitting together in the front row of the audience.
BRIAN: It’s cute, but there’s no way the puppies actually helped at all, right?
SALLY, shrugging in agreement: Yeah, but who can say no to the guy who saved our entire world? Even if he is a little nuts.
Dr. Kuiper puts his hand to Luna, who sits on his shoulder.
DR. KUIPER: I believe him.
The other two look at him with curious smirks, but don’t argue. Grace places the last medal on Blossom, and they join the crowd in clapping.
Grace kneels down beside the dogs. When he speaks, his voice is lower; these words are for them alone.
GRACE: Thank you. For getting me off that ship. Rocky is on his way back to his planet now. They… I know they’ll be happy to see him.
His voice gets choked up, and he looks away briefly to take a moment to collect himself.
GRACE: So I’m giving you thanks on his behalf, too.
He gives them one last grateful smile, then rises to his feet. He is joined on stage by the children, and together they give one last wave to the crowd.
We fade into the final scene. It’s a dark, beautiful summer night. The puppies, the kids, and their parents sit in a field near their homes, roasting marshmallows and hotdogs at a campfire. The kids laugh and talk, while the dogs watch from nearby.
NORTH: I hope they know.
ZIGGY: Know what?
NORTH: That up there, even when we were walking on the moon, all we could think was that we wished they were there.
BLOSSOM: I think they know. Even if they don’t know-know. You know?
BEAN, flatly: … No.
NORTH, laughing a little: I think I get what you mean.
Noah runs over to North and hugs him tight.
We end on a slow zoom out, watching the kids and the dogs playing together from above, running around in the field of fireflies, mirroring the stars.