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.
Mrs. Mack: George, let's go!
We're already late.
Whose wedding is this again?
Maggie's, remember?
Your cousin.
But she got married last year.
She did.
Don't ask.
Later.
Whoa!
Where are you going?
To play minigolf with ray.
They're open late on fridays.
Nice try.
But you're staying home with annie.
We want you both safe at home.
Just me and... Annie?
Nobody likes that.
Mrs. Mack: I... I know it's cruel of us
But you'll survive.
Why don't you ask ray over?
Ooh, annie.
I almost forgot.
You have a letter.
Mr. Mack: Okay, let's go.
You two have fun.
And annie is in charge, remember.
Bye.
So what did we wind up getting her?
Alex: Well...
See ya.
Uh! Not a chance.
Alex, you heard them.
What am I supposed to do here?
Have you considered homework?
On Friday night?
I don't think so.
Well, we could sit around here
And get to know each other better.
You're making homework sound pretty good.
16 points.
Hey, hey, hey, hey!
What?
First of all, stop floating letters
And secondly, "majorly" is not a word.
Yes, it is.
I've heard you say it.
That doesn't make it a word.
Let's just forget the whole game.
You're just too smart for me.
Whatever.
Do you do that just to annoy me?
No, I do it because it's easy.
What's that letter you got?
I got accepted
To the phillipsburg science academy.
What's that?
One of the top science schools in the country.
Their next term starts in about a month
But I don't think I'm ready to just... Go away.
Away?
The school's away?
Yup.
There's an orientation next weekend.
Sounds great, but...
Mmm, I don't think so.
Annie...
Go! At least to
The orientation.
I mean, think about it.
This could be the chance of a lifetime.
For you.
Alex, what are you doing?
We know you love to use your powers
But we'd rather you saved them for fun.
Now that you're our only child
Your happiness is our first priority.
Okay, but I better do my homework.
Silly girl, your father did it for you.
Great! Can I go play minigolf with ray?
Invite ray to play
The new minigolf course in the backyard!
My own personal golf course?
We used the money we saved
Since your sister moved away.
What was her name again?
It doesn't matter.
What matters is that there is nothing
To distract us from spoiling our only child.
Mmm... Mmm...
I'll help you pack.
Annie, you do realize it's okay
If you don't like this place.
I know, I heard you
The first hundred times you told me.
There's no reason
Why you have to leave your family
To get a good education.
But if you really like this place
We're behind you 100%.
Yeah, but it's probably some dull
Academically uninspired boot camp, anyway.
Yeah, it's very institutional.
I bet you everybody's really pale.
Actually...
This looks pretty cool.
This might be the worst movie I've ever seen.
It's like they made it stink on purpose.
Let's find another.
This is the life.
Annie's not here to intrude on our fun.
I really think you'd miss annie
If she wasn't around.
I've spent 13 years with her!
I think that's plenty.
Once your parents start focusing in on you alone
They'll never get off your back.
I can handle them.
I just fixed that old loose screen
And was about to clean out the gutters
When I realized I was neglecting the two of you.
How about you two helping me out?
Gee, dad, I'd love to
But... We just ate.
Oh, okay.
Just thought I'd ask.
See, I told you I could handle them.
Ah, here's one.
Serial-killing grandma.
Works for me.
Are you anne mack?
Annie.
Who are you?
I'm your student host, bruce lester.
Can I show you around?
Uh-huh.
Hi.
Bruce lester, student host.
Barbara mack, mother.
Well...
Ready?
Student host... Huh!
They sure don't miss a trick.
Think we're getting older?
That's the first time
I ever stopped watching tv on purpose.
Let's play hide-and-go-seek.
Like when we were seven?
You couldn't morph then.
It might be more interesting now.
Annie would hate it.
Annie isn't here.
Okay, turn around and count to ten.
No going into pipes or anything like that.
It wouldn't be fair.
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five...
Four, three...
Mr. Mack: Alex! Are you in there?
Where's alex?
She went to get something.
I thought I'd surprise alex's mom
And do the laundry.
The laundry?
You can't do the laundry now.
I certainly can.
I'm in the middle of my second load already.
I had no idea you were teaching here
Professor lake.
I've read just about everything you've written.
Good! I have seven unpublished works
I'd be happy to burden you with.
You have really been an inspiration.
My dear, the road to brilliance
Is littered with the bodies
Of those I've inspired before you.
What you have to do
Is use my ideas as stepping stones
To attain your own future glories.
I've maintained a 4.0 average since preschool.
But the idea of throwing myself into some academic rat race
Doesn't seem so great.
Nonsense!
Phillipsburg is an extremely challenging
And positive environment.
You think I would waste my time here otherwise?
I am curious.
Why would a former nobel prize winner like you
Spend his time in such a small school?
Annie, size is not an indication of greatness.
Besides, in the last few years
My work has been looked upon by the scientific community
As increasingly eccentric and bizarre.
I'm just hoping that my theories will live on
Through the students here.
Well, if I enrolled here
Is there any way I could have you as a teacher?
I think I'd have to insist upon it.
Tell you what.
I'll take care of this for you, mr. Mack.
It's just a matter of turning the dryer on.
Oh, can't forget one of these.
I hate static cling.
Let's go find alex.
Shouldn't I stay here and watch the dryer?
The dryer knows what it's doing.
Come on!
Alex!
Alex, are you all right?
Um... I think so.
Sorry about that.
Your dad was all over me.
I almost got caught in the lint trap.
Do you know what that's like?
Uh...
Not really.
Help me, ray.
Sorry you can't stay
For the chess tournament, annie.
I'm a lousy player.
You'd lose respect for me.
Somehow I don't think so.
So, what are the chances of getting you out here?
Better than they were when I got here.
A lot of the students know about you
And really want you to enroll.
None of them more than me.
Now, I bet this school pays you to be a salesman
For all the potential students.
No way.
I pick my spots.
Okay, let's move 'em on out.
Bye, bruce.
Bye, ms. Mack.
Bye, annie.
Bye. Hope we see each other very soon.
I do, too.
What?!
Dad. Hey!
Alex.
Sleeping?
Uh... No, no, I was just, uh, resting my eyes.
Feel like going to the movies?
Oh, I'd love to, alex
But I'm waiting for stan to call.
Why don't you go with ray?
He's playing basketball.
Want to play scrabble?
Ah, can't, honey.
There's stan now.
Alex?
Alex.
Are you okay?
Yeah, I just got a little dizzy.
It's probably nothing.
Maybe I should take you to the doctor.
The doctor? I don't want to go to the doctor.
It's just dr. Whiteside.
He'll give you a thorough exam
And figure out what's going on.
I'll call him right now.
Nice school, huh?
Nice? Are you kidding?
It was amazing.
Mind if I'm honest with you?
That depends.
I don't think you should go away to school.
Not yet.
Then why did you take me here?
I wanted you to make your own decision.
Yeah, I can see that.
Annie, you have your whole life to be away.
You should enjoy your home
And your family while you have them.
It's only for a few more years, anyway.
I think you should think about alex.
Oh, way to convince me to stay home.
She needs you, annie.
She's going through that awkward stage right now.
I think you're the only one
That understands her.
But if you really want to go away...
Yeah, then you're behind me 100%.
I want to go to phillipsburg, mom.
I thought so.
Mrs. Mack: Doesn't the house look great
After you've been away?
It looks like it always does, mom.
Alex: Annie!
You're back!
Perceptive, aren't we?
I'm really glad to see you.
Really? You must be sick.
She is. I'm taking her to the doctor.
The doctor?!
The doctor?
I'm sure she doesn't need one.
How would you know?
I told him about that kid in your class
Who had the same thing I do--
The dizziness thing.
You're right. He had that.
It turned out to be nothing.
But you don't even know her symptoms.
Before you take her to the doctor
Let me give that guy a call.
His dad's a doctor.
And it's the quickest way
To get alex the care that she needs.
She fell, and I grabbed her.
I kept her from...
You got stuck in the dryer?
I don't even want to know the details.
I feel really fuzzy.
What do you think it is?
You're probably dehydrated from just all the hot air.
Thanks for saving me down there.
Back in the saddle, and I haven't even unpacked yet.
What's this?
The institution?
My new home.
Finally, independence.
For both of us.
You're going?
Yup. All of this will be yours.
You still fuzzy?
No. No.
Couldn't be better.
So you're really going?
Is that a problem?
No, of course not.
Annie, I'm just surprised you want to be another genius
In a big sea full of geniuses.
But we totally support any decision you made.
Good, because I'm not changing it.
Is that everything?
Yeah, let me help you pack the car.
So, this is it.
Yeah.
Finally.
Well, um...
So long.
Can't you at least wait until I'm out of the driveway
Before you start getting reckless again?
But I didn't mean to.
I got to go.
Alex: Wait.
Annie.
I just wanted to tell you that...
Um...
Alex?
Alex, stop it!
I can't.
I...
Girls, we should be leaving in about ten minutes.
Where are you going?
Alex and I have to talk.
Alex: There goes my big toe.
Alex...
Did dad use one of these
When he threw you in the dryer?
Those perfumey things?
I think so.
Do you realize the main ingredient in these
Is hydrophilic polymer?
No, annie, I did not realize that.
It reacted with your internal gc-161
Which naturally caused your morphing frenzy.
Does that mean you can fix it?
I already have enough trouble
Fitting in at school.
Give me a minute to find a formula.
What's in that?
Ask yourself if you really want to know
The answer to that.
Annie, what are you girls doing in here?
Saying good-bye. Can you give us a minute?
Sure.
Of course.
Sorry there's no little paper umbrellas.
Drink.
That's it.
I knew it.
Got to go.
Wait a minute.
How can you leave?
What do you mean?
You think some school will give you
A better science project than me?
No, but I've got to get on with my life.
Not yet.
You only want me to watch over you.
No.
I'll miss you.
I'll miss my sister.
I'll miss you, too, alex.
But you're going to be okay.
I know I'd manage if I had to
But I want you to stay because...
We're starting to make a pretty good team.
With me doing all the work.
Oh, admit it, annie, we have fun.
I may now be the most fun you've had
In your whole brainy life.
Come on, don't go. Not yet.
Wait a few years
And then join the circus, or something.
The circus?
You're the one that should join the circus.
Totally freak show.
Okay.
A few more years...
And then I'm gone.
Annie.
Ready? Finally?
Yeah, to unpack.
Unpack?
Are you kidding?
She just couldn't bear the thought of leaving me.
No, really, why aren't you going?
I just realized that I'd feel better
If I stayed and impressed everybody with my 4.0 average.
It's the "big fish, small pond" thing.
I can tell superiority
Is really important to me.
Well, I don't buy any of it
But I'll take your decision and run with it.
Whoa, um...
Dad should be just about finished packing the car.
Who wants to tell him?
Come on, mom.
Oh, you cowards.
Come on, you know you want to.
You said your sister was completely average.
She is.
She's the best frisbee player I've ever seen.
Alex.
What's the matter?
Nothing, she's just showing off.
If I could play like that, I think I'd show off, too.
So, you never really told me.
What kept you from coming to phillipsburg?
I guess I just wasn't ready.
I still have a lot of things to finish here.
You could have brought
Any ongoing projects with you.
There is one big project
That I wouldn't have been able to bring.
But, look, I got a stay
And I got you to come here to visit me.
Your sister must be really jealous of you.
I mean, you're pretty
You're brilliant.
Alex has her own talents, trust me.
Do you feel like... Taking a walk?
Sure.
So your sister finally met a guy.
Yup, another super-brain who's no fun.
They're perfect for each other.