Five Trillion Miles

3. You Do It By Carrying On

(they are worried, and discussing Stephen's diagnosis) He's young, that'll work in his favour. (Frank Hawking is far away in his thoughts...) (to get his attention) Frank? (sadly recollecting Stephen as a boy, now doomed...) I remember when he was about eight years old and we were in the garden with a telescope. And Stephen said to me: where do stars come from? I didn't know the answer. And you called him into bed and... ...he wanted to know the answer to his question very badly. And I said not to worry, I'd find out for him. I never did. (in a business-like way) - You've never been a sentimental man, Frank. (not understanding at first...) - No. (still in a very business-like way) - I don't think we can afford for you to start now.

4 Five Trillion Miles

Do you know what Hoyle says? What? If you could drive the car straight upwards, you'd reach space in half an hour. (half joking) How long to drive around the Milky Way? (equal to the challenge) You multiply the diameter of the galaxy by the distance of one light year. Easy. (changing the subject) How long does it take to complete a PhD? Depends on the subject. With a fair wind? With a fair wind and a good brain, two years. What's the name of your supervisor? Sciama. Dennis Sciama. (Stephen has been thinking...) 5 869 713,6 million miles - around the Milky Way.


(obtaining information in a telephone box) (Dr Hawking) Telephone Operator Sciama. First name Dennis? Dennis, yes. How are you spelling that surname? I don't know. S-H-A-R-M-A? I don't see that name. Is it a foreign name? Um, I think it's Italian. Sciama (Hawking, who has been waiting for Sciama's arrival, ambushes him near his front door...) Dennis Sciama? (a little surprised) Yes - what can I do for you? (extending a handshake) I'm Frank Hawking. Stephen Hawking's father.