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.
Career day? I'm only 13.
How am I supposed to know
What I want to do with the rest of my life?
You're not, this isn't about choosing a career.
It's about a corporation trying to determine
The direction of the rest of your life.
I think it's a good idea.
You're just mad because they drafted you.
Recruit wilson, paradise plant police
A member of the plant's finest.
I have to memorize this whole booklet by tomorrow.
You think you're upset?
Tomorrow I become plant safety administrator.
Someone is going to get hurt.
I think I'm going to love the job they gave me.
Come on, alex, you're not concentrating.
Excuse me if turning on a blender isn't exactly
How I want to spend my last moments on earth.
I don't understand how you can't stay away
From the chemical plant.
You know how dangerous it is for you.
It's not my fault.
It's 'cause the plant controls the school.
It controls the whole town.
It's probably just another one of mom's p.R. Schemes
To make danielle look good.
Mom hasn't mentioned it.
Anyways, I have to go.
I even made the mistake of asking
If I could work with dad in research and development.
I'm just going to disappoint him again.
Well, do your best.
Maybe you have a future in science
That hasn't quite developed yet.
Yeah, right.
Okay, look...
Well, just be careful
'cause you're going to be on their turf
And you're going to be completely vulnerable
And defenseless.
Ahh!
Okay, so maybe defenseless wasn't the right word.
But be careful
And don't be a showoff.
How are you? How's everybody?
Working at paradise valley chemical plant
Will change your life as it has mine.
Your chemicals are poisoning the earth
And will make it
Uninhabitable.
Thank you.
She's right.
I hope you're happy.
Very happy, thanks for asking.
Bye, nice to see you.
Great to see you, come again.
Thanks for coming.
Vince, I love children.
I love children.
I know that.
How about the children who called in sick?
They're under investigation.
Vince, when we find the child
The rewards will far outweigh your efforts.
A successful mission for you is reward enough, miss atron.
Thanks for participating.
Anything to help the cause.
Ready to go to work, miss atron?
Mr. Mack: So, ms. Mack
Have you detected a pattern yet?
Definitely.
That's great, alex, what do you see?
That if you fold this computer paper
The wrong way...
It makes a huge mess.
Alex, are you bored already?
No, dad, not at all.
Well, now it really gets interesting.
We're going to set up an experiment
Where we add this compound to these test tubes
Heat them
Observe and record the results.
That compound goes in those test tubes
And then you heat them?
The experiment may be a little complicated for you
But when I'm done here
You can help me chart my results.
We use colors and everything.
I'm going to go get a soda
You want one?
Well, I'll be right back
Then we'll get started.
Too complicated for me?
We'll see about that.
What are these for?
Are you going to ask me about everything here?
Yes.
I don't have time for this today.
These are safety goggles.
Plant employees are required to wear them
To protect their eyes.
From what?
A dull pencil?
For your information
These goggles were designed by scientists at nasa.
Behind them, your eyes are safe
From the sharpest number two pencil
Or the most violent chemical explosion.
But then who needs eyes
When your head's been blown off?
I mean, a gas leak here, a spill there
This place could go up like a matchbox.
Ooh.
Head up.
Is that gum, recruit?
Who can give me the numerical code
For a forced entry?
Wilson.
Four-49er, sir.
Good, recruit, how about a chemical spill?
Environmentally threatening?
Never, recruit.
One-29er, sir.
False alarm.
Three-59er.
Smoke condition.
Six-59er.
Mad dog!
Two-89er...
Addendum d, sir.
Ha-ha, very good, recruit.
Get back in line!
Alex?
You did that already?
By yourself?
That's wonderful!
Oh, gosh, um...
Dad, I'm sorry.
I'll go get some paper towels.
That's okay, I'll just call the custodian.
No, really, it was my fault.
I'll be right back.
Vince: Dave, you realize that today isn't really career day, right?
No?
No! We're making surveillance tapes
Of all the kids here.
Later, we're going to watch them.
Maybe our problem child will show himself
By doing something unusual in front of the cameras.
Or maybe you'll finally recognize him.
I'll do my best, vince.
Ah, well, now I can relax.
Either way, it all ends here.
The game is over.
Today, the chemical kid pays the piper.
I got big ideas for this place, danielle.
Oh, may I call you danielle?
No, you may not.
Excuse me.
Who do you think you're talking to, my friend?
Plant dress code?
Your shoes could be shined.
Your hair could be cut.
And you could probably iron your uniform
A little bit better.
Miss atron, this child's for real?
I'm afraid he's right.
Consider this your final warning.
Yes, miss atron.
Oh!
They're everywhere.
Alex!
Alex: I'm okay, ray.
You should watch where you're going.
Are you okay, danielle?
Are you okay, miss atron?
I'm fine, but she looks
Like she could use your help, mr. Aloe vera.
That's alvarado.
Danielle?
We're like this.
Ray, I have to tell you something.
I'm really digging this c.E.O. Stuff.
It's definitely a job with perks.
I have a huge desk, I'll show you.
Come on, let's go.
But, ray!
I'll need to take a sample and get it to the lab.
The entire room might be contaminated.
Do you know what this stuff does to a tooth
When left in overnight?
I say we evacuate.
I have a feeling we should be very careful here.
Mr. Mack, you'll have to evacuate the office
Until the results come back.
It's just soda, hedwig.
Let the experts be the judge of that, mr. Mack.
But...
One day, this will all be mime.
Whoa!
Ray, you're not even listening to me.
Miss atron: Come into my office, vince.
I need to get away from that el dorado kid
They stuck me with.
You can cross avocado off the list.
Unless gc-161 makes you terribly annoying
There's nothing extraordinary about that kid.
Vince: I'll screen tapes from accounting
Through research and development.
Chair problem, miss atron?
I hate it when it won't roll.
Let me take a look at that for you.
Vince.
That won't be necessary.
Miss atron is here with me.
Uh-huh, I'll let her know.
We have a situation in human resources.
I'll radio maintenance about your chair.
See, did you hear that?
Yeah, she thinks I'm annoying.
No, they're taping us.
It's what I've been trying to tell you.
So what? It's not like you're dumb enough
To use your powers in here.
Freeze!
We've been looking for you, young lady.
Y-y-you have?
Lights!
Wilson, what are we looking at?
We're looking at a violation of code 144.3, paragraph two:
"standing on unbolted office furniture."
Now, are you going to get down off that chair
Or will I have to come and get you?
Come on, alex, get down.
Make a hole!
That's it?
It was your first violation
And you've received a warning.
Vince is strict but he's fair.
It looks like the loading dock
Is the best way in.
Are you serious?
You have a better idea?
It does seem dangerous.
I'm disappointed in dani.
I can't believe she'll pull something like that.
Dani? Dani?
Alex, you're the one I can't believe.
Right, I'm sorry.
I just wanted to impress dad.
Getting the videotape
Ought to be the most impressive thing you've ever done.
Don't forget to unlock the kitchen door.
And don't be late.
Wouldn't be movies without popcorn.
As usual, dave, you're confused.
We're not watching movies.
No.
We're trying to find the kid
That you spilled the chemical on.
You've never forgiven me for that, have you?
Synchronize.
Ready?
Ready.
let's move out.
Did you get the information
From nicole we needed?
I did better than that.
I convinced her to lend me
Vince's infrared night-vision goggles
So we can see in the dark if we have to.
It helps to know people in high places.
Shh!
How will we get past this guy?
Ray: No problem.
I got the scoop on him.
Nicole says he's impossible to get by.
Except between 7:30 and 8:00 p.M.
It's his favorite tv show.
Let's get ready to move.
Move out!
Looks like you're up, alex.
We get past these guys and we're in.
Roger, top dog.
This is big man, do you copy?
Dave, if you can't pay attention
I'm going to have to take that away from you.
I'm sorry, vince.
Let's lift her.
They're watching the tapes.
We don't know when
They're going to get to yours.
Hopefully sooner than later.
Alex, I can't see anything.
This guy's blocking the tv.
Alex: Ray, get down.
Ah, ms. Mack.
How do you do?
I'm george mack.
Welcome to my office.
This is it, you guys!
Go.
Here, take these.
All right, I'm going in.
Computer voice: System failure, system failure...
System failure?
Vince, what's happening?
The power went out, dave.
Everything's fine.
System failure, system failure...
System failure, system failure, system failure...
Dave: It's a meltdown, it's a meltdown!
Dave, calm down.
This is a chemical plant, not a nuclear reactor.
Now, where is the walkie-talkie?
I don't remember.
Well, where is it?
You were playing with it last.
Dave, sit down and stay out of my way.
I am sitting.
Let's go!
Annie: Okay, follow me.
Ray: Right behind you.
Go ahead, alex.
Really? I feel sorry for these guys.
Go ahead, alex! Go ahead, alex!
Man: Don't look at me.
Someone else put them there.
I didn't do it.
Get down!
I'm on this job ten years.
Has anybody ever gotten by me before?
Have they?
We got to get out of here.
I think I know a way.
Don't get defensive with me.
Just keep your eyes open.
I always do.
I do my job better than any punk
On your entire wimpy force.
Oh, you know, you're the best.
Except between the hours of 7:30 and 8:00, huh?
My one vice.
Beat me up over my one vice.
Just do your job, gino.
I always do, vince.
Alex... Concentrate.
Oh!
Somebody stop that vehicle!
Hurry!
Let's move, now!
Vince: Stop that vehicle!
That's my humvee!
Where are you girls coming from?
Um...
The video store.
Alex...
I just want you to know
How proud I am of you.
What are you talking about?
You know, on career day?
It was great to have you around.
I know how you feel about science
And that you did it just to make me happy.
It was no big deal, dad.
Actually, it was more exciting
Than I thought it was going to be.
You girls want to watch that tape down here?
I don't think so, dad.
I don't think you're quite ready for it yet.