Original subtitles

( Horn honking )

I'm Alex Mack.

I was just an average kid

until an accident changed my life.

And since then...

Nothing's been the same.

( Zapping )

My best friend Ray thinks it's cool.

My sister Annie thinks I'm a science project.

I can't let anyone else know.

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.

Man: Keeping in mind that some of you

are anxiously waiting

to apply what you've learned

I am pleased to announce

the first annual

Danielle Atron Junior High

film and video contest.

Wow.

( Applause ) I'd like to thank everyone

for this great honor.

Especially those who voted me

filmmaker of the millennium.

I'd like to say to Louis Driscoll

that I know losing must hurt.

And if you're good

I'll let you hold the award later.

( Applause ) Thank you.

You're all invited to create

a five-to-ten-minute piece

on any subject, in any style.

Not only is he the winner

of the Danielle Atron Junior High School

film and video award

we've also voted him

the funniest, handsomest

best, most popular and talented student ever.

Ladies and gentlemen

a dear personal friend of mine

Louis Driscoll!

( Applause )

Thank you.

First I'd like to thank

the director of this film

myself.

The producer of this film

myself.

Myself, for writing

an excellent screenplay.

For making it all look just right...

And the winner will have his or her film

broadcast on Paradise Valley public TV

and receive an automatic "A" for this class.

( Applause )

It is my privilege to present this award

to my sister, Alex Mack

for finally proving something

that I've known all along.

She's a lot more talented than I am.

( Applause )

If you wish, you can work alone

or in teams.

( Applause )

Hold on a second.

( Audience gasps )

Can we please have someone

remove Robyn Russo from the auditorium?

She has no business here

among all these happy and successful people.

All entries are due on Monday.

Good luck.

First prize is mine.

They're going to end up

renaming it

the "Louis Driscoll award."

Louis, do you have to be

so conceited?

Everybody's got a chance.

Dream on, Alex.

She's right.

Alex and I have been planning

a serious film project

for a long time.

We have?

Sure, it's going to be huge.

Competition.

It's everything wrong

with our country.

Are you entering the contest, Robyn?

Are you kidding?

Lay more rejection upon myself?

I don't think so.

Hey, Louis

who's your partner?

Me? I'm flying solo.

Although I will need

someone to hold my camera.

Produced, written, starring

and directed by...

Louis Driscoll.

Vince: Oh, it's in its early stages of development.

This device will one day be able to seek out

the most minuscule traces of GC-161

on anything or anyone

up to a mile away.

This I've got to see.

As I say

there are still some kinks

that need to be worked out.

( Clicks )

( Beeping )

( Screeching )

( Humming )

Wow.

Remarkable.

Vince, I'm impressed.

( Beeping )

( Zapping and beeping )

This is some

beautiful machine.

It appears to need

some minor adjustments.

Want me to take

a crack at it, Vince?

Look, Vince

if you insist on working out

every tiny little detail

about this machine

that's up to you.

Personally

I'm under a great deal of pressure

to find that child.

Now.

I understand.

Hi.

Hey.

How was your day?

It's not over.

I came to drop some stuff off

then I'm heading back

to the library.

Um...

Mom.

Yeah?

Excuse me.

Oh, um.

Annie, before you go upstairs

there's someone that wants to say hello.

Who?

Hello, hello

hello.

Is that my little Annie?

( Laughing )

Hi, Grandma.

Look at you.

What a beautiful young woman you are.

Isn't she beautiful, Bea?

( Annie laughs )

Oh. There's a little something on your face.

It's a pimple, Grandma.

Is it?

Well...

Actually, it looks very good on you.

A pimple.

It looks good on me.

Good.

¶ A pretty girl ¶

¶ Is like a melody... ¶

Just for a couple more days.

Hello.

I'm Louis Driscoll.

Welcome to "Trust."

Ever notice how human beings

don't trust each other these days?

How relationships can be ruined

by a single harmless rumor or innuendo?

Let me show you what I mean.

Excuse me.

You're Kelly, right?

Uh-huh.

And who are you?

That's not important.

What's important is that

Scott's decided to

break up with you.

What?

He feels you

aren't working as a couple.

He'd like to end it now.

Why wouldn't he tell me himself?

He didn't have the guts.

He paid me 20 bucks to do it for him.

See what I mean?

A girl who has no reason

to believe anything I say

has gone to beat up her boyfriend

because of one little lie.

Amazing, isn't it?

Now let's visit Coach Rooney.

Will it mean anything to him

if he thinks he's been offered a spot

a spot on the Dallas Cowboys' coaching staff?

Let's find out.

Hey, guys.

Nice basketball.

In fact, I think that one's mine.

Hey, let's get him!

Ray: I can't believe

you don't love this idea.

It's not that.

I just don't see

how we can put together

a mountain biking

action-adventure thriller

in two days.

What was your idea?

An inside-the-mind- of-a-genius type thing.

A documentary on Annie.

You want to put the class to sleep?

What's wrong?

The battery is dead.

( Zapping )

Cool.

Alex, trust me.

We'll be awesome.

You won't regret it.

Vince: If it works out here

it's ready.

Did you put

the GC-161 container

where I told you to?

Sure did.

Good.

Look through the viewfinder.

Turn it on.

And tell me what you see.

I see...

A very large orange.

Put it down, Dave.

Carefully.

Now back off.

Further.

Just... keep going.

Here you go.

George, you're looking

more handsome than I've ever seen you.

Thanks, Mom.

So when do you think you'll be

running that Chemical Plant?

Uh... never?

Grandma: Oh, that's not true!

Don't you sell yourself short.

Actually, Mom, we were

kind of thinking

that Annie might have

a better chance at it.

Grandma: Annie!

Running a Chemical Plant!

Oh, and here I saw her

as a supreme court justice or something.

I'm studying science

Grandma, not law.

Don't be silly.

You can be anything

you set your mind to.

Bea, I think

this is the most magnificent coffee I've ever tasted.

Look into the camera.

You're hot.

You're tired.

And you're being chased

and you got away for a little bit

but not for long.

Take a drink of your water.

Cut.

Alex, you're glowing.

I can't help it.

I glow when I get nervous.

We'll try it again, okay?

Why don't you back up for a bigger shot?

Then you won't see the glow.

Hmm...

We could use something

panoramic.

V.D.V. Power.

( Beeping )

All right.

Plutonium power module.

( Beeping faster )

All right.

Here we go.

( Zapping )

Look at that.

It located the GC-161

immediately.

Can we go now?

You really don't understand

the importance of this, do you?

If we find the kid

does it mean a raise

and promotion for me?

You mean...

What happens if you're no longer needed?

Oh-ho.

We have big plans for you then, Dave.

( Beeping )

What's this?

It's onto someone!

Let's move, Dave!

Move!

Move, Dave!

Vince: Come on.

Come on!

( Starts engine )

( Sizzling )

What're you...

Let's go!

Ray: Alex, do you read me? Over.

I read you. Over.

Alex, remember

you have to show

fear, like you're being chased.

I know, I know.

Can you even see me up there?

Sure.

This camera

has a killer zoom lens.

Alex, run!

Ray, I think the word is "action."

No, in front of you!

( Yells )

( Tires squealing )

Where did he go?

He was right here.

I can't believe it!

Me, neither!

Ow!

I'm sorry, Vince.

( Grumbling )

Alex, that was amazing.

Let's get out of here.

That was nice.

Coach Rooney seemed pleased.

Of course, when he learns the Dallas Cowboys

never even heard of him

it may sting a bit.

But he will have learned, as we all have

a very important lesson

about Trust.

Excuse me.

Oh. Hi.

So, are you the kid

that gave my friend Kelly a message?

Kelly... um, I'm not sure.

Yeah, that's him.

Atron: Tell me again.

What did you see?

It might have been a couple of kids.

It might not have.

Our investigation turned up

bicycle tire tracks

but of common tread

impossible to trace.

There's no other evidence?

We were so close.

I know.

Oh, Vince.

I forgot to tell you.

I found this out there.

Mom.

Dad.

Okay.

Yes!

I can't wait to see this.

Let's play.

Hooray!

( Toots )

What's that?

Oh, that's my cousin's birthday party.

I taped over it.

Yay!

I can't help it.

I glow when I get nervous.

Oh, great.

We can just edit out that part.

Wow!

You got all this on camera?

Louis has no chance against this stuff.

Forget it, Ray.

This is way too dangerous to show to anyone.

Then what do you suggest?

What about the Annie documentary?

Oh, please.

That's a terrible idea.

And we're running out of time.

Grandma: Is that little Ray?

Ray Alvarado.

Let me look at you.

The whole day with Grandma, huh?

Sounds painful.

My mouth hurts from smiling so much.

I can't believe

what an outstanding young man you've become!

Uh... thanks.

I hear the two of you

have been out together all day long

making your own little movie.

Is that right?

Sort of.

Oh, how exciting.

You've got to let me see what you've done.

Well, it's not quite ready yet.

We still have to edit it and stuff.

Let me know when I can see it.

Say, I'll bet the both of you are hungry.

Can I make you a little sandwich?

Oh, no, that's okay.

That's okay.

Oh, good!

It'll only take a second!

Wow.

Your grandmother's happiness

is unstoppable.

Weird, isn't it?

Yeah.

She's the complete opposite of Robyn.

Yeah, that's true.

Ray, I think I have an idea.

Grandma?

Yes, dear?

Would you like to be in our movie?

Alex: Welcome

to "black and white world"

with Robyn Russo and Abigail Hoffman

two people who see the world

in slightly different ways.

Hello.

We're here on a gorgeous day

in Danielle Atron Park.

It's a beautiful, green park.

A place to play.

A place to make friends.

A place to relax.

Lovely, isn't it?

Lovely?

I see killer bees.

( Angry buzzing )

I see pollen.

( Sneezing )

And ragweed.

I see the hot, lethal sun

pouring through the ozone hole

slowly killing us.

( Sizzling )

Roasting like a pig on a spit.

And these people are supposedly having fun?

What a strange...

Yet intriguing young girl you are.

( Door shuts )

News?

Yes.

I called all the local camera stores

to inquire about the lens cap.

And they told me

they've been renting out

a lot of cameras lately

for a video contest

being held at Atron Junior High.

The kid?

( Thumping on door ) Yes.

The kid was possibly filming in the field

and dropped the lens cap.

When do they screen this project?

I found it! Later today.

Contact the school immediately.

Consider it done.

( Air seal gasps )

( School bell ringing )

Alex, I'm asking you

for the last time.

Please let me show the action stuff.

I can win.

Ray, forget it.

So. You guys ready to lose?

Louis, what happened to you?

What? This?

Let's just say some people

don't enjoy taking part

in the creative process.

( Door opening )

Before we screen the projects

we have some

very good news for the entrants.

Ms. Atron.

Atron: Class, as you know

the Paradise Valley Chemical Plant

cares deeply about our community.

And of course

about its children.

Therefore, Mr. Dabensky has allowed me to offer

an additional prize

of a $5,000 savings bond

to the winner.

( Applause )

And he's also been gracious enough

to allow me to be the sole judge.

Mr. Dabersky: Okay.

Our first entry belongs to Raymond Alvarado and Alex Mack.

Your tape, please.

Showtime.

( Children cheering )

Um... Mr. Dabersky.

Please wait till the screening's over

before commenting, Alex.

( Children chattering )

( Children squealing )

( Zapping )

It sounded like

a short of some kind.

I can't get the tape out.

Uh... that's okay.

We can show it tomorrow.

No, this is the school's only working V.C.R.

We may have to delay the contest.

Uh, Mr. uh...

Dubersky.

Right. We have someone at the Plant

who is very good at V.C.R. Repair.

Since Miss Atron is judging the contest

why don't we just take the entries with us

and she can judge them there?

We can screen them

for the next class.

Yeah, I don't see why not.

Terrific.

What a shame. Well.

We'll see you next time, kids.

When we announce the winner.

Alex.

Could I go to the bathroom?

Yeah, go ahead.

It's been a pleasure.

You were wonderful in there, Miss Atron.

Thanks, Vince.

You're welcome.

Ray: I can't believe Louis won

and we were disqualified.

We had the better piece.

Too bad it wasn't entered.

Sure. Too bad.

We were disqualified?

We didn't enter?

I thought

the tape was stuck in the V.C.R.

Alex: It's a long story.

It was the wrong tape

and somehow when they got it back to the Plant

it wasn't there.

Something always goes wrong.

Always.

Grandma: Hey, hey, hey! Look who's here.

So, how did we do?

We were disqualified.

Our director here

forgot to hand in our tape.

Forgot... so it could be worse.

What if we had entered and lost?

Wouldn't that be worse?

Yeah, I guess it would.

Of course it would.

A friend of yours is here.

Who?

Hey, hey, you guys.

Check this out.

What?

( Kids shouting )

Aren't they the nicest kids?

Even that red one.

Yeah.

They're great.

Captioned by Grant Brown