Would you want to grow up here? I have to.
I'm alex mack.
I was just an average kid
Until my first day of junior high.
One minute I'm walking home, the next, there's a crash
And I'm drenched in some weird chemical.
And since then...
Nothing's been the same.
My best friend ray thinks it's cool.
And my sister annie thinks I'm a science project.
I can't let anyone else find out.
Not even my parents.
I know the chemical plant wants to find me
And turn me into some experiment.
But you know something?
I guess I'm not so average anymore.
Alex: That's what I hate about paradise valley.
We have one concert every few years
So it's sold out in minutes.
Ray's even more upset than I am.
Well, your mom probably can't relate, alex.
She's from the woodstock generation
The "summer of love."
Nicole, during the "summer of love"
I was 11 years old!
Oh, sorry.
Annie, would you load the dishwasher, please?
No, mom, it's alex's turn, remember?
Oh, right.
Mom, nicole and I really have to study.
Sorry, kid.
It's cool, alex, I'll help.
Oh, no, that's okay, nicole.
Go on up, I can do it by myself.
Really-- I'll be right up.
You sure?
At least be careful.
Please, please!
Come in!
Ray, I'm sorry.
I did all I could.
Tickets are impossible to get.
Maybe you could see them next time.
Is there anything else you want me to do for you?
Do you want to be left alone?
Radio announcer: Fresh sounds from the bad boys of brooklyn.
Now, it's time for the station z-rock to give away
Two free tickets to the upcoming all-4-one show!
Get ready to grab your phone and call 555-5785!
Come on, alex, let's call.
We'll never win.
You sound like robyn, at least try.
...Paradise valley auditorium, all-4-one, call...
Okay, we can do this, we can do this.
Now, come on, just... Just call, just call.
Mr. Mack: I disagree, stan, uncontrolled dna supercoiling...
My dad's on the phone.
Ask him to get off, this is important.
Okay... Dad, sorry to interrupt
But I really need the phone.
I'll be off in a minute.
Okay, let me know.
He says he'll be off in a minute.
Is he talking science with someone?
He'll never get off.
Ray alvarado, calling for the tickets.
Good try, ray, but you're only our 85th caller.
Try again!
The cell detects free radicals
And turns antioxidants on and off in response?
Alex, listen to him.
Does he sound like a man ready to get off the phone?
Be right back.
I've got figures somewhere, stan, hold on.
And don't forget the temperature setting
Is 1,000 degrees...
Stan, I think I've just lost power here.
Uh, let me check it out.
I'll call you back.
Ray alvarado, calling about the tickets?
Caller 97, no good!
It's ringing! It's ringing!
Okay, okay, okay!
Ready to take our 100th caller, z-rock!
Hey, who's this? Are you there?
Um, this is alexandra mack!
Yes!
Alex, our first question:
Can you name all seven continents?
Uh, north america, south america...
Oh, uh, asia, africa...
Asia, africa, europe, europe!
Two more.
Um, um, uh, australia?
Australia?
And, uh... Antarctica?
And antarctica?
You are right!
Alex, can you tell me what year
Was the bill of rights ratified?
Is he kidding?
1791, and it's still being threatened today.
Okay, um, 1791.
1791 is right!
One more and we're off to the concert!
Now, for the tickets, alex
Can you tell us what year american women
First won the right to vote?
Um, 18...
No, wait-- 1920.
1920, are you sure?
That doesn't seem like so long ago.
Trust me, alex, I'm as ashamed about it as you are.
1920, come on,
1920?
1920 is correct, alex!
You've won two tickets to the concert!
Dad!
You're off the hook!
Who are you going to bring to the show?
I'm going to bring my friend
R-a-y, ray!
Nicole!
Z-rock, the place to rock and roll.
Oh, my god!
Oh, my god, we did it!
Ray, she was right with me.
She helped me answer the questions.
But you know how much
I wanted to go to that concert.
I know, but when the d.J. Asked
Who I was going to bring
I had to say nicole's name.
She told me when the bill of rights was ratified.
Would you have known that?
I thought we were best friends.
Well, of course we are.
If my father had scored tickets I'd have brought you.
I know, and I'm really sorry.
I already asked nicole, I can't take that back.
Alex, why are you treating me like this?
Ray.
I mean, here I am
The one person besides annie
You can trust with your big secret
And you're going with nicole!
What does that have to do with anything?
Alex, please reconsider.
I can't, ray.
Ooh, I just can't!
Alex!
Alex, this chemical is awesome.
I can turn into liquid
And you need to scrape my clothes to see that?
Ooh... There is more to science than empirical evidence.
You know that.
Annie, I came to you for help.
Is this really as big of a crisis
As you're making it out to be?
Yes, ray is really upset.
Nicole is one of your more intelligent friends.
Just tell her how much it means to ray.
Hmm, you think so?
Alex, it's just a concert.
Okay.
Boy: Of course I can sell you the tickets, ray.
How much?
How about a c-note each?
A hundred bucks? What kind of thief are you?
A smart one, ray, because I know what the market will bear.
If you don't buy them, somebody else will.
Hey, hey!
This ain't new york, pal.
Big shows, they don't come to paradise valley often.
The people are desperate.
Where would I get 100 bucks from?
Well, that's your problem, ray.
Let me know.
Hey, alex.
Nicole, I got to talk to you.
Have I got to tell you something.
Ray will not leave me alone.
He's even offering me money to buy my ticket to the show.
He is?
Yeah, can you believe him?
I can't be bought and sold like that.
We had that experience
We should go to the concert.
Yeah, but ray...
I'm not crazy about the band
But it's the principle that's involved.
I know they say everybody has their price
But I refuse to admit that about myself.
I understand.
Now, what did you want to tell me?
Nothing-- no big deal.
You're the best, alex.
We'll talk more about it at lunch
But I'm so proud of the way we came through under pressure.
Hi, ray.
Hey, I just talked to jerry.
He can get me tickets-- for 100 bucks.
Feel like morphing into a bank for me?
I'm sorry, ray.
250 bucks?
"the paradise valley chemical plant offers $250
To anyone supplying information regarding the truck accident."
Ray! I've been looking for you.
Hey!
I just wanted to apologize for all this
But I can't take the ticket away from nicole.
It's just not right.
What's that?
Nothing.
Ray, what are you doing with this?
You're not considering this.
I won't cause trouble, alex.
Don't worry!
Ray!
If you took me
I wouldn't even have to think about it.
What?
Wow... Okay.
Yes?
Alex isn't here, ray.
Piano lessons, remember?
Oh, oh, yeah, I forgot.
Can I help you?
Just wanted to see what you were doing.
I'm working, ray.
Something you should consider doing.
I work. I also have a life.
Why don't you just give alex a call later?
I have to go upstairs for a minute.
And when I get back, will you please be gone?
I have a lot of work to do.
If I see her, I will tell her you were looking for her.
Okay.
Bye.
Yes!
Before you tell me anything, let me warn you.
I've seen about 30 kids since I posted that reward notice.
And they all lied to me.
Now, why should I believe that you'll be any different?
Huh...
Not so fast.
Where's my reward money?
Wait right here, raymond.
Hello?
Hey, mr. Alvarado.
Hi, alex.
Is ray there? I need to talk to him.
No, but he'll be back soon.
Do you know where he went?
Some contest or something.
He said he was going to the plant.
The plant?
Yeah.
Thanks.
From the hill I see this guy covered with paint.
Then he runs in the opposite direction.
And the cap?
Uh, it fell off his head
And I went to pick it up later.
Why?
It was a nice cap.
This boy...
What else did he look like?
Uh, he was kind of tall, maybe a ninth grader.
A little bit heavy... You know.
Raymond, when we came by your house afterwards
How come you didn't tell us any of this?
I didn't want to get anyone in trouble.
Oh.
Raymond.
You said that the boy was hit by the chemical
And then ran, right?
Right.
Could you put that cap on your head
And show us how he ran?
Well, yeah, I guess so.
Dave: Hey, kid, why don't you watch where you're going?!
Hey, kid, get back here!
Get back here! Get back here!
That's fine, raymond.
Come here. Could that possibly be him?
Raymond.
Your information has been extremely helpful.
We've decided that you earned the reward.
Yeah? Cool!
Come back Monday at about 4:00.
You'll get your money then.
I can't wait until Monday.
I need the money now.
Really... And why might that be?
To be honest, I don't want the money.
I just want to see the concert at the civic center tomorrow.
I need the money to get tickets.
The all-4-one concert?
Very cool!
I'll be there.
I waited 42 hours on line for tickets.
Raymond, what if I was able
To obtain those tickets for you?
Would you be interested?
Definitely. I don't want to give my money
To that slimy jerry guy.
I'll have two tickets here at the same time tomorrow.
Now... The cap?
You get the cap when I get my tickets.
Bring the cap with you tomorrow, raymond.
Ray!
I can't believe
You actually came to turn me in for money.
I didn't turn you in.
I wouldn't do that.
But I'm getting tickets for the concert anyway.
How are you getting tickets if you didn't give me away?
I just gave vincent enough to lead him astray.
I wonder where I'll be sitting?
Probably the first row
And you'll be sitting in the third row parmesan.
That's "promenade."
And the concert's general admission anyway.
Vincent has a lot of power.
I have a feeling me and whoever I bring
Will be sitting a lot closer than you and nicole.
Wait.
What did you tell them, raymond?
I told you, nothing.
I'm obviously a better friend to you
Than you are to me.
Alex...
Have you been in the garage lately?
No, why?
Well, don't get upset, but your cap?
You know, the one from the accident?
I can't find it.
What?
I was sure it was there.
I've been looking for it everywhere.
I just... I can't find it.
Hey, alex.
Nicole, I can't explain it now
But something's come up.
I can't go to the concert with you tonight.
Go without me. Take whoever you want.
Alex, you were looking forward to this.
What's going on?
It's ray. I need to talk to him right away.
I passed him on my way here.
He said he was going to the plant
To pick up his tickets.
What's he talking about?
Uh, al...
Hey, this place is really empty on Saturday.
Well, we're here just for you.
So, dave, did vincent get those tickets like he promised me?
Sure he did.
Vince is a man of his word.
This stuff is pretty cool.
What's going on?
Ho-ho, relax, raymond.
You know, your coming to us
Was obviously the right thing to do.
Hey, we're going to help you.
Vince: You just lay right here and relax.
I'll be back in two minutes, dave.
Don't touch anything.
Alex: Psst!
Say something?
Can you get me some water?
I guess so.
You're not going anywhere.
We've been looking for you for a long time.
Great to finally meet you.
Where's my cap?
What cap?
The cap you gave them.
Oh, vince has it.
We've got to get it back.
No, we don't.
Ray!
Alex, trust me, come on, let's go.
Oh...
Yes!
Ray, come on!
This way!
He's inside waiting to be tested.
But, ray, my hat! They'll trace it back to me!
You know, my hairs and stuff!
No, they won't, come on.
I seem to have misplaced my key card.
Is there a problem?
Oh, yes, david...
There is a problem.
Huh... Well, at least we have the cap.
We can always pick up the kid later.
Oh...
David.
So you didn't take it?
No. I did, but I put it back.
I just needed to see what it looked like.
I bought another one, spray-painted it gold.
I knew they needed evidence.
Ah, here it is.
I accidentally put it in a box
With the solar transformers.
You mean...
The one they have is a total fake.
Alex, how could you think I'd ever give you up?
I don't know.
I knew how much you wanted to go to the concert.
Alex, you're my best friend.
I would never get you in trouble... On purpose.
And look how perfectly everything turned out.
Do me a favor, ray.
If it's going to take this much trouble
Next time, let's just buy the c.D. Instead.
Maybe you're right.