Mary Ann Taylor loves the comforts of her hometown in Mercury, Texas. She has a steady job as a waitress in her father's diner, yet she can't help but feel unfulfilled by a life of pouring coffee and grilling hamburgers. Her real passion is photography, but pursuing her dream of becoming a photographer means leaving Mercury behind.

When the world's first spaceship is close to its goal (Mars), the TV network GNN begins its live coverage of the last two hours of the mission, and then the problems start. The landing computer malfunctions; Captain Eugene T. Slader gets very sick; and back on Earth, it is discovered that big financial corporations have an interest in the failure of the mission - and we, the viewers, can see it all live on television.

A Chicago hockey star is accosted by a youth gang who attempt to rob him; after he chases them off he catches the youngest member and gives him a ride home, where he meets the boy's mother.

Music made them legends. Tragedy made them heroes.