In the previous episode of Hulu’s The First, Providence 1 exploded after take-off, killing the crew on board. The First season 1 episode 2 focuses on efforts to restart the project 23 months until the next launch window while facing resistance from the crew’s families and the U.S. government.
Lay the Foundation
Congress held hearings regarding Providence’s explosion. Hafri explained that the quarter the crew brought with them as part of a tradition had caused the explosion. It was the result of human error, not a design flaw.
Laz testified, arguing climate change issues. She alluded to the current state of the country with eco-refugees and widespread drought. The project would not require as much funding as it had originally needed since they could still use the equipment already in space. Her arguments didn’t go over well, since some of the senators argued that the money should be spent on fixing Earth and not giving up on it.
Vista was working with Senator Thibodeaux to get the votes needed to approve funding another mission. He argued that Laz wouldn’t be the right person to call the senators and convince them to change their votes.
Worse at Night
Denise was doing better. She was living with Hagerty and had a job waiting tables. She told him she wanted to paint again and use her mother’s shop, the locked-up part of the house, as her studio. Hagerty resisted at first, but Denise explained it was important to her to use that space. Hagerty started cleaning it up, but he got called away.
She spent the night at a friend’s place since she couldn’t be alone in the house. While looking for Apollo the next day, she saw Hagerty had cleaned up her mother’s tattoo shop for her. She sat on the floor remembering her mother Diane and the tattoo she gave her.
“Do This My Way”
Laz had called Hagerty to fly out to DC and testify. Luis Castillo’s family hadn’t settled with Vista and were testifying against the continuation of the program. Hagerty ended up declining to answer questions and only offered condolences. He convinced Ellen Dawes, the former commander’s widow, to write a letter of support that the other families would sign. He then met with Luis’s parents, explaining that their son loved what he did. Hagerty showed him a video he took from space, and the Castillo family reconsidered their position.
Hagerty and Laz met with the U.S. president. They felt she would be the right person to convince the senators to vote yes for funding the project. Hagerty showed her a moon rock like the one he had given to the previous president. She would not have to publicly support the project, but when they succeeded, she could take the credit.
Laz asked Hagerty to come back as the new mission commander. When Hagerty came home to find Denise in the tattoo shop, he left it up to her whether he would agree. She gave no answer.
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