Original subtitles

[dog barking]

Are you planning to get up?

You know there is no way Mom's going to let you sleep

through your first day of Junior High School.

Alex.

- Yes. - Isn't it an exciting day?

You sent for me, Miss Atron?

Vince, I just got off the phone with our testing facility.

They'll be ready for GC-161 transport later this afternoon.

That's very good news, Miss Atron.

It has to go smoothly.

You're the only one I can trust with this sort of thing.

- You won't have to think about it again. - I won't.

[Man] Attention, attention, please stand by.

[alarm sounding]

[steam hissing]

[beeping]

[steam hissing]

You know what, I'll have reschedule that lunch.

Can you make sure that I have that market research

on my deck when I get in this morning?

Right, let me talk to Judy.

Annie, where is your sister?

Upstairs, trying unsuccessfully to define herself through fashion.

I should just face it.

I'm boring. Plain and simple.

Boring.

What are you working on, Dad?

You haven't taken your eyes off that screen for days.

This new compound I was telling you about-- GC-161.

There's a real buzz at the plant about it.

Are you on their mechanism or applications end?

Strictly the mechanism. Everything else about it is very top secret.

I have no idea what they have in mind for it

but it has some extraordinary properties.

- Hmm. - [steam hissing]

- [doorbell chiming] - Annie!

- [Annie] It's open! - [ringing tone]

- Hi. - Oh, yes, good morning.

This is Barbara Mack returning you call.

- Uh-huh. - Hold? Sure, I can hold.

- Hi, Mr Mack. - Good morning, Raymond.

Where's Alex?

Going through pre-traumatic stress syndrome.

[Barbara] Alex, you've missed breakfast.

That's okay, I'm not really hungry.

I can eat.

You must be nervous about your first day at school.

Everything is going to be just fine.

Just don't expect me to be the award-winning genius like Annie.

We don't expect that, sweetie.

[Annie] That's true, Alex.

In fact, if you just pass on to the next grade they'll be ecstatic.

Annie, enough.

Alex, I have a surprise for you.

[Annie sarcastically] Trolls! Very cutting edge, huh, Alex?

Thanks, Mom. I'd better get going.

George. Isn't there something you want to say to Alex

before her first day at school? [clears throat]

Well, Alex... [clears throat]

um, first day... well...

Mmm... good luck.

Raymond.

There's no more monkey bars. The stakes are bigger

the work's harder the girls prettier.

And you sink or swim. And me... I'm a shark.

[school bell ringing]

[music from Jaws playing]

[teacher] So we'll start with a little review.

You have covered most of this territory

in your sixth-grade math classes.

[all laughing]

Class, please, settle down. Where was I?

Okay. If AX squared plus BX plus C equals zero

then X equals minus B plus/minus the square root of B squared

minus 4AC over what?

Okay. How about Alexandra Mack?

[Vince] You're the best we have?

Maybe. [chuckles]

Mind if I grab some lunch on the way?

The testing facility is expecting the shipment now.

You can get your lunch after you've made the delivery.

Okay. But I'm really pretty hungry.

Hey! This is important. Your lunch can wait.

And take back roads. No stopping. No nothing.

Do you understand?

Yeah... which part?

[Alex] It was worse than I thought it would be.

I got shoved in a locker, I ripped my class schedule

- and everyone here hates me. - [Raymond] I like you.

No offense, Ray

but I'm going need more than you to survive here.

I'd say I'm sinking. Let's just go home.

- No can do. Band tryouts. - Band tryouts?

- You're going to join the band? - I have to try. You know my dad.

The alvarados always play in the school band.

I can't break that tradition.

Besides, maybe I'll meet some girls.

- Well, I'm a girl. - Girl type girls, Alex.

Oh... girl-type girls.

I'll come over later.

See you.

[Girl] Get out of the way!

Why don't you watch where you are going?

Yo, check out her lunch box.

Hey, what are you guys doing to her?

Scott, relax. We're just messing around with her.

Chill out, Jessica, go back to practice.

- First day, huh? - It'll get better.

- I hope so. - What's your name?

Alex. Um, Alexandra.

Hey, Scott, why don't you ask her about trolls.

- She's an expert. - You like trolls?

I, uh... I used to.

But not now. I mean, not anymore.

I'm too old to play with troll dolls, any dolls.

Right. Hey, I'll see you later, okay?

[dance music playing on radio]

I'm such a geek.

[gasps]

[Alex screaming]

[coughing]

Why don't you watch where you're going?

Hey, kid, get back here!

Annie!

[saw buzzing]

[electrical sizzling]

[screaming]

Whoa!

[man] This is a restricted area.

Wow. Tough first day?

Hey, Annie, I was coming home from school.

When this plant truck swerved, almost hitting me.

Then it crashed, bam! Right into a hydrant.

Then this barrel of gold stuff spilled out all over me.

Hmm.

You're not clever enough to make this up.

And just now, without even doing anything

I think I turned on the saw and the electric train set.

What?!

[Vince] Some kid stepped into the road

and he had to swerved to avoid him.

- Him? - Or her.

He didn't get a good look.

I've kept the police away from here so far.

This is an absolute disaster!

There's another piece of news you won't like.

He says that when the GC-161 spilled out of the truck

- it covered the kid from head to toe. - What?

I'm afraid so.

But we found a handprint in the mud near the accident.

And I'm hoping to match the kid up to it.

Vince, I know nothing about GC-161

I know nothing about this accident and I know nothing about his kid

until you find him and bring him to me.

I'll deal with it.

Like you dealt with this?

Your blood pressure and body temperature are normal.

- How do you feel? - My arms and legs are all tingly.

What do you think it is?

I don't know, it could be nothing.

- So I shouldn't worry? - Of course, you should worry.

for all we know you could have been hit by something

that's seeping into your brain cells at this very minute

and it's attacking your central nervous system

and you're going to turn into a quivering mass of jelly.

Whoa! What happened to you?

- Alex was involed in a little accident. - An accidnet?

- You mean the one near the school. - You know about that?

I just came from there. The place is going nuts.

Okay. So we all just need to relax.

Because Alex is glowing a little. No big deal.

No big deal? No big deal?!

Look at her!

Annette Wayne.

Neil Kensella.

Johnny Yelman.

Ah, come on, pal. Give me something.

You were the only one who was there.

I told you, Vince, I didn't get a good look.

It all happened so fast. Well, we know the kid was either

from the Junior High or the High School.

and was headed home on foot.

When the boys in the lab bring down the handprint I.D. unit

we'll get going door-to-door.

I'll find this kid.

Can we grab a bite before we start?

[sighs]

[Annie] I get the feeling this was not just some minor accident.

Those plant security guys were out there.

This has got to be something big.

It wasn't my fault.

They'll blame you. Adults always do.

He's right. We can't tell anyone

until this whole thing dies down.

I'm really hungry. Ray, can I have some chips?

How can you think of eating at a time like this?

Wow!

- Hi, honey. - Hi.

How was your day?

Good, good. At the end of the day

they announced some kind of major security alert.

Did the kids mention anything about a truck accident near school?

I haven't even seen the girls.

Maybe they're out back. I'll go check.

[glass clatters]

Well, you're not glowing anymore.

You're starting to look like yourself again.

Maybe it was just a temporary thing, huh?

Yeah, maybe.

Where did Alex go?

[gurgling]

Ray? Uh... I think that's her!

Yeah, right. Stop it, Annie, really.

[Alex's voice echoing] What's happening?

- Make her stop, Annie! - Alex, stop chasing him.

- [knocking on door] - [Dad] Kids, are you in there?

[Annie] Alex? Hide!

Go find a place. Ray... don't say a word.

Right.

Oh! Hi, Dad. What's up?

Hi, Annie, am I glad to see you.

Hey, Ray.

- Have you kids seen Alex? - Alex? No.

She stayed late after school

to try out for the basketball team. Right, Ray?

Right.

I didn't know she liked basketball.

Neither did I. She's full of surprises lately.

Well, as long as you know where she is.

Uh, what's Raymond doing here without her?

Oh, he's helping me with a new science project.

I'm trying to adjust his molecular structure

to change him into a human puddle.

As long as you clean up the mess afterwards.

Okay.

Alex, come out.

Annie! Bring me my clothes.

[sirens blaring]

[sirens continuing]

I don't know, Annie. Maybe I should tell Dad.

He can take me to the plant and they can give me an antidote.

No, no way. My guess is that whatever doused you

is illegal and majorly top secret.

And if you go public, Dad could lose his job.

- Or worse. - Worse?

I'd say Danielle Atron and her security guys

never let you see the light of day again.

They're going to cut you up put you under a microscope

and examine you like a frog in biology class.

I bet your brain'll end up in a jar of formaldehyde.

Ray, go back to the accident site and see what you can find.

Right.

We do this block and then another three.

I want to cover this entire neighborhood by nightfall.

Don't worry, Vince.

Even if I don't recognise the kid he'll probably recognize me.

[Vince] All we need is for the kid

to stick his hand in this handprint I.D unit and we'll nail him.

[Vince chuckling]

- [knocking on door] - What's wrong?

Plant security is going door-to-door.

They have this thing you stick your hand in that can identify you.

- You're in big trouble. - If they see me like this, I'm dead.

you two, calm down. We'll make sure they don't find you.

- Let's go chance your clothes. - Okay.

Well, you can forget that.

They're heading for your house right now.

Alex... you're going to have to liguify again.

This time, maybe if you concentrate harder

you can transform your clothes, too.

But what if I can't reform again?

And I'm destined to live the rest of my life as a... puddle.

Would that be such a loss? I'm just kidding.

Look, you did it once, you can do it again.

Ray. Ray!

Go home and if they come to your house

just try not to say anything too stupid.

Ready? Go for it.

Give me a sec, then follow me.

Sorry, Alex. That... won't work.

[Alex's voice eching] Oh, no, now what am I supposed to do?

You're going to have to go through the plumbing.

- The plumbing? No way! - You've got no choice.

Somehow you've got to get to the upstairs bathroom.

[doorbell ringing]

Is that all you have to say to me?

Good luck!

- [doorbell ringing] - Oh, Mom, I'll get it.

Thanks.

Oh, Annie? This is Vince and Dave from the plant

and they just want to ask you a couple of questions.

Sweetheart.

Do you know where you were at 3:00 this afternoon?

"Sweetheart?" I don't even know you.

I, uh... apologize.

I was in my advanced placement chemistry class

working on a gravity waves experiment.

[gurgling, wailing]

And your other daughter?

Well, I haven't seen her. She stayed late at school.

- She ought to be home by now. - I saw her, Dad.

She said she was going to go upstairs.

[gurgling, screaming]

Well, why don't we check on that?

Wait, guys, she's my daughter.

I'll go-- if she's there I'll bring her down.

You do that.

[gurgling]

Alex? Are you there?

[knocking]

Alex? Well, here you are.

- I didn't see you come in. - I said "hi," I thought you heard me.

Do you know anything about an accident near school today?

An accident? Nope.

Good. I need you downstairs

to tell a couple of people that.

I was upstairs doing my homework.

That should do it, so if you don't mind...

we'd like to eat our dinner.

After the girls have their handprints recorded, Mr. Mack.

So that we know they've been checked out.

And now the younger one.

Go on.

- [metallic rattling] - Oh, no! I'm sorry.

We have another one in the car.

Excuse me? Is that your vehicle rolling away?

I'm really worried, Annie.

The plant won't stop until they find me.

Between my brains and your powers that won't be too easy.

Everything has changed, Alex. You were just this average kid

headed for this life of inconsequence and boredom.

And now, look at you.

I can tell you one thing.

My second day of Junior High will be a lot different than my first.

I bet we make the cover of scientific America one day.

You would have made it by yourself, eventually.

Don't worry, I'll take all the credit.

Goodnight, Alex.

Goodnight, Annie.

[zapping]

- Alex! - [Alex giggling]

[burglar alarm sounding]

- [dog barking] - [many burglar alarms sounding]

[burglar alarms continuing]

Have a good night's sleep, kid. You won't have many more.

You've slipped through my fingers for now.

But tomorrow is another day.

Captioned by Grantman Brown