In 1938 L.A.. Jack Parsons works as a janitor but, by night, nurses a secret ambition: to build rockets that will take man to the moon. Jack and his wife are confronted by a mysterious new neighbor who also leads a double life of his own.

After Jack and Richard get Professor Mesulam's permission on the project, they put together a rocket team at Caltech. However Caltech places many caveats to the program. Their neighbor Ernest add tension to Jack and Susan's lives.