Delilah rushes into Aimee’s office.
Delilah: AFD, Senator Christmas is asking for you.
Aimee: Who?
Delilah: The bald guy. The astronaut.
Aimee: Senator Christman!
Delilah: Yeah, him.
Denise: Doesn’t she make you feel so much more grateful for me and my competence?
Delilah: What’s that supposed to mean?
Denise: You’ll figure it out, dear.
Aimee: Will she?
Denise: Anyway, do you have any idea what he wants? Is it an urgent matter or does he just want to go out to lunch to shoot the breeze?
Aimee: He probably just wants to talk about my appointment as ranking member on Transportation. You know, he does have some expertise in that field.
Delilah: He does?
Aimee: You do know what astronauts do, no?
Delilah: Of course. I don’t know what it has to do with transportation.
Aimee: I’d say shuttles and spaceships and rockets are a form of transportation, no?
Delilah: I guess, yeah.
Aimee: It’s sort of the only interesting thing we ever talk about on that committee. Whenever the topic at hand is not NASA, I’m basically asleep. And it’s so rarely NASA. Do you think maybe Jack just wants to talk about NASA? I’d like that.
Denise: I don’t know if he’d be asking to speak with you if he just wanted to gossip about NASA. I do feel like he has other people in his life to discuss that with. So I’d guess he has a real reason to be wanting to talk with you.
Aimee: Do we have anything going today?
Denise: You have time to go talk to him, if that’s what you’re asking.
Aimee: All right, then I’ll go chat with him. I’m excited to see what this is about.
Delilah: Can I come?
Aimee: I think you’re just too needed here.
Delilah: I get it.
In Jack’s office…
Jack: Who’s there? Alice, did you let someone in without asking me again?
Aimee: Just me, Captain Jack!
Jack: Ah, Aimee! Your simple-minded assistant did get my message to you!
Aimee: We’re all surprised about it, Captain. So what’s up?
Jack: Well, first, I hear congratulations are win order for you. You’ve been selected as ranking member on the Transportation Committee, that’s major!
Aimee: Oh, don’t remind me.
Jack: It is a big responsibility.
Aimee: I wish it were! God, I hate it. It’s the most boring committee in the Senate. I think they put me on it as a hazing ritual and just forgot to ever take me off of it.
Jack: No! We get to talk about space and exploration and science!
Aimee: And planes and trains and automobiles - and not the Steve Martin movie, either!
Jack: You might not be all that thrilled about this invitation, then.
Aimee: Fire away! I highly doubt you’re inviting me to see a bus terminal renamed in person, you’re too interesting to spend time on that.
Jack: No, it’s not quite that. My good friends at NASA are launching a new space exploration program. They need funding to create more vessels, because they only have one that’s tested and functioning so far. I had the idea of sending senators up in the spacecraft for a short space trip, like what Katy Perry and William Shatner have done. It’s very safe, incredible fun, and a great way to promote the program and boost support both among the public and here in Congress.
Aimee: And how do I factor in?
Jack: There are six seats available besides myself. I want you to be one of them. You’re ranking member on the Transportation Committee, you’re a leading voice in the Republican conference, and you’re a passionate bipartisan voice. It’s going to be a bipartisan trip.
Aimee: Who else is going?
Jack: I have no firm yeses right now. I’ve just floated this idea today, because NASA only signed off on it yesterday. But right now, I’ve asked Melody Choi, Mildred Hassenfram, Gwen Gardenia, Alec Kefauver, and leader Sherwood.
Aimee: So, all my friends? I feel like I’m on Candid Camera or something.
Jack: Wow, that’s an old reference for someone your age.
Aimee: My parents are very old. Older than their physical age.
Jack: Okay.
Aimee: I’ll think it over, I guess.
Jack: Great!
Aimee: It is surely safe, right?
Jack: Of course! You’ll go through a few days of training and safety courses and you’ll be set.
Aimee: All right, good! Because I don’t want it to be like - and I don’t mean to sound insensitive here - the Challenger explosion.
Jack: It won’t be like that at all. No worries.
Aimee: Okay, because my mother won’t allow me to go if there’s any real risk.
Jack: Your mother? You’re a senator, Aimee.
Aimee: You haven’t met my mother.
Back in Aimee’s office…
Denise: Aimee, you have guests.
Aimee: Of course I do.
Gwen: Aimee, we have to talk.
Aimee: Oh no, those are such scary words.
Gwen: Are you going to space?
Denise: Huh?
Aimee: Oh, you’re behind.
Alec: I don’t know if it’s responsible. I just had a child. It feels irresponsible.
Gwen: I’m going. If I can survive Italy, I can survive space.
Denise: Are you guys planning a career change?
Gwen: Jack Christman asked us to go on some promotional space flight for NASA. It’s to get congressional support for their new spacecraft program. Space tourism’s all the rage, you know!
Denise: Oh my. Aimee, are you going? Your mother’s gonna flip.
Aimee: I know, I know. I have a lot to consider. Too much, really. How will the people of Washington view it? How will mom take it? Does Dave support it? Heck, do I think it’s a good idea. I haven’t given it much of a thought.
Gwen: It sounds like a blast!
Alec: It sounds like a deathtrap!
Gwen: You are no fun. Where’s your sense of whimsy?
Alec: I served in Iraq. The Taliban stole my sense of whimsy.
Gwen: That was an illegal war, by the way.
Alec: Oh, Jesus.
Aimee: At least she didn’t say it around -
Lynette: You’re going to space? Why am I not going to space?
Alec: You summoned her.
Lynette: Why would he not invite me to space?
Gwen: How did you even find out about this?
Lynette: Greg told me!
Gwen: Why in the hell would he do that?
Lynette: Because he’s a leader, and he’s trying to be forthcoming about his own plans to go to space. Unlike some people…
Alec: We just found out.
Aimee: And we’re not certain we’re even going.
Gwen: I am! What do I have to lose?
Alec: Your life.
Gwen: It’s perfectly safe! Captain Kirk went up at 90! You have less courage then a nonagenarian!
Alec: Captain Kirk doesn’t have a four month-old.
Gwen: Again with the damn baby…
Aimee: I’m not going if you two are just going to bicker the whole time we’re up there. If I’m going to space, I’m damn sure gonna have fun with it.
Lynette: You guys can’t go without me. We’re a group!
Gwen: Carolyn was in the group, too. Then she wasn’t. No one’s indispensable.
Aimee: Lynette, she doesn’t mean that.
Gwen: No, I sorta do.
Lynette: I see, you’re playing a joke on me. Very funny, I know you guys love me.
Aimee: And you’d be on the flight if it were up to us. But, it’s up to Jack and NASA.
Lynette: What if I refuse to vote for NASA funding if they don’t let me on the spacecraft?
Aimee: I don’t think we need to resort to threats.
Alec: She can have my seat!
Aimee: Let’s not go crazy.
Gwen: I don’t think the tickets are transferable.
Alec: We don’t even have tickets. Just invites. Jack would be open to discussing a swap.
Gwen: Nah. You’re going.
Aimee: Lynette, you and Denise can cheer us on on the group. You’ll be the first people we see when we get back!
Lynette: Now you’re just adding insult to injury.
That weekend, at Cherie and Ernesto’s…
Victoria: Aimee, don’t you have exciting news to share with your parents?
Aimee: I thought we agreed I’d mention if after dinner?
Victoria: I’m so excited, though!
Aimee: Of course you are.
Dave: I’m less excited.
Kimmy: I’m intrigued.
Aimee: It’s nothing you’d be interested in.
Kimmy: I’ll be the judge of that.
Cherie: I know I’m quite interested, and I’m wondering why my sister knew before me.
Aimee: She knows everything happening in my life. She’s the nosiest being I’ve ever met in my life.
Cherie: Okay, but what do you have to tell us.
Kimmy: I’m guessing mom’s a close second?
Aimee: Mom, dad, I’ve been asked by Senator Christman to take part in a bipartisan space voyage. It’s very low-risk, it’s for the sake of funding NASA - which is important. I will be fine.
Kimmy: This is great!
Cherie: I saw a 9-1-1 about this. You’re not going.
Kimmy: 9-1-1 is fictional, mom.
Cherie: It’s based on true events. They all nearly died on that show.
Ernesto: Can’t we just encourage our daughter here? This is a fun, once-in-a-lifetime sorta thing.
Cherie: I’m scared for her.
Dave: I have my own doubts.
Kimmy: Of course you do.
Cherie: I’m protective of my daughter, I can’t help it.
Aimee: See, I knew this would be the response.
Cherie: It’s a natural response.
Kimmy: Maybe when you’re insanely overprotective.
Cherie: If she wants to go, I’ll support it. I just wish she wouldn’t do such risky things.
Aimee: Life is full of risks. Being a senator is risky, flying on a plane is risky, driving in a car is risky, swimming is risky. We take risks every day. It’s the only way to go through life.
Cherie: You have a point there.
Kimmy: Oh boy, she’s about to ban us from planes and force you to resign and fill in the pool.
Cherie: Do you think I’m crazy?
Ernesto: No one answer that.
Victoria: I don’t get the concern, Cherie. I wish I could go with her!
Aimee: You can’t, to be clear.
Victoria: I know!
Aimee: You ahven’t shown that you know leading up to this.
Cherie: Aimee, if this excites you, and you want to do it, I hope you enjoy it. It’s your life.
Kimmy: I doubt it’s any riskier than flying on an actual plane, for what it’s worth.
Ernesto: Yes, but she has to medicate herself when anyone she knows gets on a plane, either.
Kimmy: They’re just gonna be up in the spacecraft for like ten minutes, it’s barely even space.
Aimee: That’s not true. I’m gonna be an astronaut!
Kimmy: I don’t think that’s true.
The next week…
Jack: You ready, gang?
Lynette: So ready! Thank you for letting Alec give me his spot on the flight.
Jack: It’s no problem. I was sad to hear about his tonsillitis.
Lynette: His what?
Jack: That’s why he’s not coming with.
Lynette: He doesn’t have tonsillitis.
Mildred: Anyway, I’m very excited for this. I’m gonna be my grandkids’ favorite grandparent!
Melody: That’s such a sweet goal.
Greg: And I get to hold this over Hagelin’s head forever! I went to space, she didn’t!
Melody: That’s a less sweet goal.
Gwen: Can I sing in space?
Jack: Sure, why not.
Gwen: I’m thinking Anything Goes.
Aimee: Oh, I think we’d all love that.
Jack: Everyone, strap in, please. Lynette…
Lynette: Sorry!
Aimee: Hey, Jack, we’re astronauts now, right? Because my sister says…
Jack: I wouldn’t use the word, exactly.
Aimee: Please don’t tell my sister.
Mildred: I have to sneeze. Will that make this whole thing blow up?
Jack: You’re good.
Mildred: Achoo!
Gwen: Do you guys think Choi’s the first person to ever go to space AND win an Olympic medal.
Aimee: I don’t know, Eileen Gu gets pretty high up when she does her jumps on the halfpipe. I think she can make it to space.
Melody: I’m the only one so far, to my knowledge. We’ll see if that changes.
Gwen: It will when Gayle King qualifies for the curling team in 2030.
Jack: All right, everyone. 3…2…1… we have liftoff!
What did you think of this episode of Evergreen Aimee? Let us know in the comments and make sure to read a new episode next week!
