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 drench in some weird chemical.
And since then... nothing's been the same.
My best friend Ray think 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'm guess I'm not so average anymore.
[bell ringing]
[girl grunts]
Alex?
- Hi, Jerry. - How you doing?
Have you reconsidered?
No, I am not going to reconsider.
But thanks, anyway. It was nice of you to ask.
Alex, I know we don't know each other well...
We don't know each other at all.
True. But if you don't go with me
who will you go with?
I don't mean to sound rude, Jerry, but...
- Isn't that my business? - Sure, of course.
I just want you to know that
If things don't go exactly the way you want
I'm here... for now.
What's up with you and Jerry?
He asked me to the dance, again.
Apparently three NOs weren't enough.
Well, it's not like guys are beating down your door to ask you.
[rattling door]
Alex... this isn't even your locker.
[girl 2] I'll drop the book by your place tomorrow.
Come on, Alex.
This guy's in eighth grade. And he's taken.
Why is he with Jessica? She's so...
- [shivers] - evil.
Oh, not to him; she's nice to him.
I've seen them together.
I don't think she's very smart, either.
I'll tell Scott.
I'm sure it'll make all the difference.
You got to go. There's no way out of it.
It's very uncool to go without a date.
Who says you have to go without a date?
We could go together.
Come on, Ray, we've been best friends forever.
That'd be like going with my brother or something.
- You know what I mean, right? - Yeah, definitely.
See ya.
No problem.
- Hand me that wrench. - Hold on, Dad...
I got to talk to you about something.
Uh-oh.
I get nervous when you get serious like this.
It's about Alex. We've been best buddies
ever since we were playing in a sandbox, right?
Yeah. And today...
- this weird thing happened. - Uh-oh.
Dad, will you stop saying "uh-oh" till I get to my point?
Sorry.
See, nobody invited her to the big school dance on Saturday.
Except for this one kid.
And I know she was feeling bad about it.
So I invited her. Well, you did the right thing.
Now hand me that wrench.
And she didn't want to go with me.
I didn't mean it as a big thing.
I didn't want anything to come between our friendship.
But... it felt kind of funny.
Ray...
In your life, you're going to go through
a lot of confusing situations with women.
You're not going to understand them
they're not going to understand you
and there's nothing you can do about it.
That's just the way it is.
There's no point wasting time trying to figure it out.
- Dad. - Yeah.
- What are you talking about? - I have no idea.
[chuckling] Hand me that wrench, son.
Let's get back to this car. Wrench!
- Wrench. - Ow.
Mom...
- Do you know what time it is? - Ooh, I'm sorry.
Did I wake you girls?
Well, now that you're up
come down here and look at this, quick.
- Is that you and Dad? - [Mrs Mack] Oh! Can you believe it?
[Alex] Oh, look how handsome he was.
What could be so fascinating at this hour?
You!
Look at us!
[Mr Mack] We had so much energy back then.
Wish we could've bottled it and saved it.
[girls giggling]
[Mr Mack] We haven't had that kind of fun in years.
[Annie] Of course not. 'Cause you're always working
or taking classes or doing something serious.
Look who's talking!
[Annie] Keep in mind that the definition of energy
is potential forces, inherent power capacity for vigorous action.
Do with that information what you will.
[sighs]
One day you're going to tell me which one of us is adopted.
[chuckling] Sweet dreams.
Good night, honey.
"Capacity for vigorous action."
"Potential forces." What's she talking about?
That we need to get out more together
and get away from our work.
How about... we start Friday night?
Friday night. Oh, I'd have to cancel my yoga.
Then skip japanese class.
I have a meeting of the Einstein Society
which is really important.
I think that Friday night would be a great time to start.
Yeah.
Annie, when you were in seventh grade
- did you go to the big dance? - No.
I don't think you should waste time
worrying about one meaningless social event.
Your whole life is ahead of you. Start thinking about that.
Well, I don't think I'm going to go.
- Nobody's asked you, huh? - Wrong!
Somebody asked me... just not the person I want.
Are we back to Scott again?
He has no idea how I feel about him.
So just tell him.
Or you could take the chicken's way out and write him a letter.
Hey, I can handle him face to face.
I'm no chicken.
"Dear Scott... I know you don't really know me
but... there's something I've been meaning to say to you..."
[Annie imitating chicken]
Hello?
Is anybody home?
Hello?
You are so cool.
[door squeaks and slams]
What are you doing down here, Rico?
Ah, here it is. Catch you later.
I'm not like you guys.
I don't need a dream date to have fun.
I don't know what you're talking about.
I'm telling you, Scott, I saw it.
- Hey, Alex. - Hi, Scott, what's going on?
Jessica claims she saw you leaving my house.
Do you have any idea what's she talking about?
No, of course not.
She can get pretty weird sometimes.
So, you going to the dance tomorrow night?
Yeah. I mean, probably.
I might have something else I have to do.
I don't know.
Probably not. Who knows?
- Oh, you should definitely come. - Are you going with Jessica?
Yeah, but so what? We're not exactly engaged.
- So I'll see you there? - Yes.
Hey, listen, Alex. What's with your tan?
- It kind of comes and goes. - Oh, I know, it's...
an allergic reaction to the sun or something.
- Well, I'll see you tomorrow. - Okay.
I'm watching you, Alex. I know what you're up to.
I didn't do anything.
Hello, you're a seventh-grader.
You don't have the power to do anything.
And if you do decide to go to the dance tomorrow
stay out of our way.
- Hi, Robyn. - Hi, Mr. Mack.
George. Cool outfit.
Thanks. Thanks.
Glad you wore something that'll hide the blood
after Jessica gets through with you.
He asked if I was coming. They're not exactly engaged.
He may even ask me to dance.
Optimism. It'll kill you every time.
[Alex] Dad, do you mind just dropping us off
outside the school grounds?
[Mr Mack] Embarrassed to be seen with your parents?
You've forgotten the overwhelming peer pressure
kids our age are forced to deal with, Mr. Mack.
I guess I have.
We'll stay out of the way when we pick you up.
[sighs] You both look absolutely beautiful.
Thanks, Mom, so do you. We'll see you later.
- Have a good time. - Okay.
- Bye. - [funky music playing]
Look at Ray go!
Oh, come on, Alex.
And you think I have a death mish.
I know.
Oh, no.
Here he comes again.
[zapping]
[groaning]
- What's he doing? - I don't know.
I'm going to the girls' room. Be right back.
[laughing]
Oh. Where'd Alex go?
Oh, she's avoiding you.
I know that. Got to expect the worst.
I totally agree.
Nice, uh... tongue... thing.
[disco music playing]
[Girl] Come on, Ray, you promised.
- Give me just a minute, okay? - [girl] Where you going?
You look really great out there, Ray.
Want to dance?
No, I don't think so.
[Ray] You're not having fun.
This is supposed to be a party.
I'm okay, Ray. Get back to your girls.
I'll hang out with you.
Just because I like the wrong person
doesn't mean you should give up your fun.
Okay.
But if you want to dance just let me know.
[Mr Mack] Go-Go Club was probably not the best choice
to reawaken our youthful energy.
Probably not. Now what?
I don't know. How about a cup of coffee?
I saw this cute cafe down the block.
Sounds great.
Alex, I just want you to know that I've moved on.
Congratulations to both of you.
Are you sure you don't mind?
I don't want you to hold this against me.
Robyn... please.
I... I think I'll sit this one out, ladies.
Why did you even bother coming, Alex?
You haven't moved from that spot all night.
I know.
For some reason, Scott buys your little cute innocent act.
But I don't. I see all your little tricks.
- Like what? - "Like what?"
Like that hyper blushing think you do.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Go home to your stuffed animals and stop embarrassing yourself.
He's with me, okay? Live with it.
[general conversation]
[conversation stops]
[conversation resumes]
I don't think that I'm in the mood for coffee.
I think I might not be, either.
But... I know something you're never too old for.
[ripping]
Well, what happened to Jessica's dress?
I don't know. Want to dance?
I mean, until she gets back.
I guess so. Yeah.
[Mr Mack] This'll be great, honey.
Some places never change.
All right, best two out of there.
Oh, help her. Hi.
[man on PA] Welcome to Senior Citizens' night.
No one under 60 admitted.
Discounts for bowlers over 80.
You have a good night now.
[slow dance music playing]
What are you doing this summer?
I may have to get a part-time job.
I guess you'll be on the basketball team next year, huh?
- I bet you'll be the star. - Maybe... hope so.
I know you probably don't care about this, but...
I came to all your home games this year.
You're really amazing.
You're pretty cool for a seventh-grader, Alex.
Thanks.
Jessica's beautiful and everything
but sometimes, you know, I'd like to be able
to have a conversation with her... like this.
What are you doing dancing with her?!
Calm down, Jess, I was waiting for you.
- What happened to you? - Never mind that, I'm here.
See you later, Alex. Thanks for the dance.
See ya.
Hey.
Mind if I finish this dance with you?
Sure, okay.
Think all your girlfriends are jealous of me?
Let 'em take a number!
[laughing]
[fast dance music playing]
[crickets chirping]
[zapping]
So it wasn't so bad, after all.
Not really. At least I lived through it.
The next one will a lot easier.
[Alex] Did you get to dance with everyone you wanted?
Yeah.
I did.
I guess just because you like someone a lot
doesn't mean that they're ready to like you.
Maybe someday.
My dad said there's no point
wasting time trying to figure this stuff out.
I just happens.
Maybe he's right.
[woman laughing]
Look at those people.
Think I'll ever be that happy?
Definitely.
Next week, let's get our tongues pierced
and try the Go-Go Club again.
They'd love that at the plant.
[laughing]
Oh, honey, look! Look over there.
- [zapping] - [laughing]
Cool.
[zapping]
Captioned by Grant Brown