Jude and his best friend, Jackson, sit in the backseat. Gretchen drives and eavesdrops. Elton John’s “Rocket Man” comes on the radio.
Elton
(on radio)
She packed my bags last night preflight. Zero hour nine a.m. And
I'm gonna be hiiiiiiigh as a kite by then. I miss the earth so much I
miss my wife. It's lonely out in space. On such a tiiiiiiiimeless flight.
Jude
This is a really good song.
Jackson
Yeah. A REALLY good song.
Jude
But it’s kind of a sad song.
Jackson
Yeah. It’s a sad song.
Elton
(on radio)
And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time, ‘til touchdown brings
me back again this time. I’m not the man they think I am at home. Oh,
no, no, no…I’m a Rocket Man…
Jude
Poor Rocket Man. He’s really lonely out in space.
Jackson
Yeah. He really misses the Earth.
Elton
(on radio)
Rocket man. Burning up it ears I ever roam. (or whatever the hell
it is that Elton John is saying)
They drive in wistful silence for a little while.
Jackson
(thoughtfully)
Yeah. He’s sad. But not as sad as…Major Tom.
Gretchen’s ears perk up and she checks them out in the rearview.
Jude
(spoken as if he were a long time Bowie fan)
Yeah. Major Tom is really sad.
Jackson
Cause Ground Control just can’t find him.
Jude
Nope. They just can't find him.
Jackson
He blasts off and then all the people want to know about his shirts.
Jude
Yeah, all of 'em.
Jackson
You know what? I think Rocket Man and Major Tom are friends.
That’s what Papa says.
Gretchen starts to giggle.
Gretchen
(knowing something about Jackson’s Papa’s sense of humor)
Hey Jackson, what else did Papa say?
Jackson
He said those astronauts pretty much all stick together.
Gretchen stifles a snort.
Jude
You know what?!
Jackson
What?!
Jude
I bet they’re cousins!
Jackson
Yeah! They must be cousins!
Jude
Poor Rocket Man.
Jackson
Poor Major Tom.
Both boys lose themselves in thought. Gretchen is about to pee herself from suppressing laughter.
Elton
And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time…And I think it’s
gonna be a long, long time…And I think it’s gonna be a long
long time.
