Original subtitles

[theme music]

(Moore) Previously on "Head Of The Class.."

- 'Oh!' - 'Oh, my God.'

He's really lifting weights! He's lifting the weights!

(Darlene) 'Aren't you guys jumping the gun here?'

You're only gonna be finalists

and that's if NASA chooses your experiment

for the space-shuttle contest.

- 'Uh-huh.' - "If?" This is major.

We are studying the effects of exercise

to counter the atrophy of long-term weightlessness.

This is it, Arv. The very center of the space center.

- Now. - Wow!

- Arvid, look. - What?

Do you know who that is?

'That's Dr. George Milnor.'

He's one of the top guys at MIT.

I bet he's one of the judges. This is great!

If he likes my project, I'm a shoe-in to get in to MIT.

[clears throat] "If he likes my project?"

There's only room for one experiment on the space shuttle.

And that one will be "Frog In Space."

I'd like to thank NASA for selecting me

and my frog as finalists.

'Oh, Arvid, come on up here, Arv.'

Whoa! Oh!

[woman screams]

[all screaming]

- Great job. - Boys, boys!

I am proud of you.

In a few weeks, you will take your science project

back to Houston and put it aboard the shuttle.

[chuckles] Now what do you say to that?

I say we're not going back to Houston

and there isn't going to be any experiment.

[instrumental music]

Okay, I'd like to start the day with a question.

You think, uh, most of the significant achievements

in history were accomplished by individuals or by groups?

I go for individuals and I'll tell you why.

For example, in one of the most significant

scientific engineering achievements of our century

the eminent English physicist

Sir Lowell Manhattan

single-handedly split the atom.

This became known as the Manhattan Project.

- Now, another example. - What?

George Jean NATO

the American diplomat who, in 1949

created an alliance with America and most of Europe

that still bears his name to this day.

No, come on. What are you talking about?

[scoffs] Skeptics. Okay, number three.

Dr. Polly Apollo

who, in 1969

single-handedly put a man on the moon.

[indistinct chatter]

- You know that ain't true. - Okay, I hear a little dissent.

Let me hear some facts.

The other day you said it took 400,000 people

to put one man on the moon.

Right, and, Mr. Moore,

the Manhattan Project involved

hundreds of scientists working together.

And NATO took the diplomatic efforts of 11 countries.

- 'Yes.' - 'Yeah.'

Okay, okay, Mr. Moore, I get your point.

Science isn't about individual credit

it's about...science.

- So what's your point? - Well, I..

In the interest of science, I shall return to Houston

to work on Frog In Space.

- Oh! - Alrighty!

Houston, here we come. Put it there, buddy.

No, I think you should understand there are

a few conditions attached to our going back.

What? What? You want the window seat on the plane?

No problem, I'll even let you go to the lavatory

any time you want.

We're going back as a team in name only.

We are two scientists working on an experiment.

We are no longer buddies.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Well, welcome back to Houston.

And you two boys must have a lucky star.

Dr. Milnor himself is gonna help you

prepare your frog for space.

- Dr. Milnor? Really? - Mm-hmm.

You wait right here, I'll tell him you're out here.

Dr. Milnor! That's great, huh?

- Arv? - Yeah.

It's you, Arvid.

Let, let..

(Nancy) Here they are.

Dr. Milnor! Uh, Dennis Blunden.

I remember.

Thanks for those frozen steaks you sent me.

(Dennis) My pleasure.

Oh, oh, oh. An-and you remember Arvid Engen?

Uh, my pal, partner

and buddy forever.

Hello, Dr. Milnor. It's a pleasure to meet you.

My colleague and I are honored to work with you.

Get it off.

For God's sakes, get it off.

[grunts]

Okay.

[instrumental music]

This is the payload bay where cargo such as the space station

and the Hubble Telescope will be carried into space.

We'll do all the prep work on your experiment here

then fly Baba, whatever

to Cape Canaveral for the launch.

(Dennis) Cool! We get to go to Florida?

Sorry, amphibians only.

This is it.

Not as big as you may have imagined.

Normally, this wall is filled

from floor to ceiling with lockers.

Now, your experiment itself will have to fit

within these dimensions.

Uh, 9.99 by 17.32 by 20.32.

Listen to him. Is this guy a genius or what?

Uh, why don't you boys take a look at the cockpit?

Yeah. I'll be right up.

Hey, great idea, huh?

Well, I would like to see it.

[instrumental music]

[laughs] Is this great or what?

Hey, come on, Arvid, you gotta love this.

Uh, it's, ahem, it's very nice.

(Dennis) I can't do it, captain.

You'll overload the dilithium crystals.

Spock, analysis.

Come on, Arvid, play with me.

No, thanks, Dennis. I-I don't do that anymore.

[instrumental music]

- Well, this is mission control. - Wow!

All manned space flights are controlled here after lift-off.

Right now we're running a sim.

That's a simulated flight launch.

Like a rehearsal.

Uh, this is incredible!

Oh, we have reached the source, the mother ship.

Dr. Milnor.

Are these the orbital equations for the Hubble Telescope?

Exactly, the computers will use them

to compute the telescope's orbital path.

'Well, see you tomorrow in the CSR MPSR.'

[instrumental music]

I've got the specifications right here for the housing unit.

Uh, the floor should be, uh, polyvinyl plastic.

- We know that. - Right.

And we'll need those temperature-responsive gaskets

to seal the door.

We'll also need to humidify

the unit with Ringer's solution.

Arvid, you're very knowledgeable.

Have you ever considered going to MIT?

I-I-I.. Actually, no.

You should.

[telephone rings]

Milnor. Yes.

[sighs] I see. I'll be right there.

Excuse me a moment, boys. Keep at it. I'll be right back.

(Dennis) Okay.

We'll need the frog sand to keep him moist

and to hold him in place.

Right.

Hey, this is great, huh?

The two of us working together like old times.

[sighs] Well, I-I hate to admit it, but, uh

there are moments like these that I think fondly

of friendships from the distant past.

It's not too late. We're still together.

We can still be pals, partners, buddies forever.

Come on, Arvid, what do you say?

- The radius vector. - What?

Th-the radius vector i-is wrong.

I-I-I noticed it yesterday.

Arv, these are the top scientists in the country.

They're not gonna miss something like that.

Y-you're right, you're right, i-i-it can't be wrong.

- Yeah. - I-it must be right.

I must be wrong.

Except, I'm right!

[chuckles] Give me a break.

De-Dennis, if they launch with these numbers

the orbit will be too low.

The Hubble Telescope will flip back into the atmosphere

and burn up!

'Sit down at the computer. I'll prove it to you. Go on!'

[indistinct chatter]

- No way! - Uh-huh.

Arvid!

There! You see, I was right!

I can't believe this!

I am in awe of you!

- What do I do now? - Are you kidding?

- We gotta find Dr. Milnor. - Okay.

I'll take the higher floor, you take the lower floor.

Come on!

(Moore) Gemini capsule. It's amazing.

Mr. Moore!

Mr. Moore, I'm really sorry. Excuse me.

I need to find Dr. Milnor.

I think I just saved the Hubble Telescope Project

from total disaster.

Come, please help me find him.

Dr. Milnor?

Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me.

- Dr. Milnor. - Excuse me, Brian.

Uh, Dennis, I'll be right back with you boys.

It's not that. There's something wrong with that equation.

The radius vector is wrong, it could throw off the Hubble.

- You discovered that mistake? - Yeah.

- Oh. Uh, you know about it? - Mm-hmm.

I-I mean, of course, you know about it. I..

You know, I never thought a scientist as brilliant

as yourself could miss something like..

You know, I-I tried to tell, uh--

No, no, no, it's not an actual mistake.

It's a deliberate one.

Whenever we run simulated flights

we intentionally program incorrect data

to see if our flight controllers catch it.

Yeah. Sorry.

Uh, this is me leaving, very embarrassed.

Embarrassed? Do you have any idea what you've done?

Well, Dr. Milnor, it wasn't.. Uh, i-it was, uh..

What difference does it make who did it?

It makes a great deal of difference.

Whoever did this is capable

of extraordinary work.

Oh, well.. I-I didn't exactly, uh..

Ah, you know, I had a lot of, uh..

Thank you. Thank you very much.

MIT, huh?

I know your partner's not interested, but if you want it

I'll see that you've got it.

Um..

- Arvid. Listen. - What, what?

They-they already know about it.

Yeah, it turns out they deliberately run mistakes

during simulated flights to, uh, test the controllers.

- Oh, really? - Yeah.

I already embarrassed myself.

There's no point you doing it, too.

[sighs]

- Is everything alright? - Yeah.

They'd run mistakes intentionally.

Well, you were right, Dennis, I mean, i-imagine me thinking

I knew more than Dr. Milnor.

I almost made a real fool of myself.

Hey, thanks a lot, buddy. You really saved me.

Hey, don't mention it.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

You know, Dennis, I've been thinking.

You think frogs can talk?

I mean, I mean, to each other.

I don't know. I guess so.

'Cause ju-just think of what little Babaloo

will have to tell his friends

when we put him back in the pond.

I mean, he's been in space!

How many, how many frogs have done that?

How many people have done that?

Ah. And we're a part of..

Hey!

We're gonna be in-in the history books.

Do you realize that?

Engen and Blunden.

We really will be buddies forever.

Right.

[knocking on door]

Come in.

Hi, guys, it's me.

- Hi, Mr. Moore. - Hi, Mr. Moore.

I just got off the phone with Dr. Milnor

and, uh, he wanted you both to know

that everything's going great.

- Great. - Thank you, Mr. Moore.

I'd like you to know that, uh

I'm really proud of you both.

So get a good night's sleep, we leave early in the morning.

[mumbling] Goodnight, Mr. Moore. Oh!

Uh, M-Mr. Moore.

I was just..

I just wanted to thank you

for-for talking me into coming back to-to-to Houston.

Working with Dr. Milnor has been unbelievable.

And...I didn't think it was possible

but Dennis and I are really best pals again.

Ah, as the Earl Of Oxford said

"All's well that ends well." Hm. Goodnight.

- 'Goodnight.' - Goodnight.

Hey, Dennis.

Before we go to sleep..

[sniffs]

...you wanna play a little Canasta?

[sniffing]

Thanks, Arv. I'm really tired.

What do you say we just go to sleep?

Okay, Dennis. Whatever you say, buddy.

- Arv, I, uh.. - Yeah, Dennis?

- Night. - Goodnight, Dennis.

Sleep tight.

Don't let the cimex lectularius bite.

[chuckles]

- 'Sweet dreams.' - 'Hm.'

[instrumental music]

(Babaloo) 'Blunden.'

- 'Dennis Blunden.' - Hm?

- 'Wake up, Blunden!' - What?

[screams] A-Arvid! Arvid!

- Wake up, Arvid! Arvid-- - Forget it, Brainiac.

Only you can see me.

Babaloo?

- You're Babaloo. - It ain't Kermit.

- What are you doing here? - You lied to Milnor.

- Okay, look-- - Shut up!

You stabbed your best friend in the back

the only guy who's ever really liked you.

Well, look at poor Arvid

'sleeping blissfully in his hairnet'

enjoying the last happy night of his life.

- Poor twerp. - Ah. Don't say that.

I feel terrible! What do you want me to do?

- Tell him the truth! - Tell him the truth?

Tell him now

or I'll be back tomorrow night

and I'll bring friends.

No, no, don't. I'll tell him, I swear to God, I'll tell him!

(Babaloo) 'Don't forget, Blunden.'

(Arvid) 'Dennis and I are best pals again.'

See, as a matter of fact, I wanna tell you guys

what a prince this man is.

- No, Arvid, don't. - 'No, no, Dennis. It's okay.'

- I want them to know. - Please.

I-i-in my foolishness, I thought I knew

more than everyone at NASA.

I thought I discovered a mistake in the calculations

but it turns out it was an intentional mistake

they ran for the flight controllers

'but luckily, Dennis found it'

and-and stopped me from making a complete fool of myself.

I mean, without this man

I would've looked like a total doofus.

- That was great. - Dennis, it's nice of you.

- Class time. - 'That was great.'

- Oh, Arvid. - Nothing, it was nothing.

Good morning, everybody. Take your seats.

Uh, before we get started

Dr. Samuels has something he'd like to read to you.

Class, one of your fellow students distinguished himself

and I thought you should all hear about it.

"Dear Dr. Samuels, while in Houston

"a student of yours discovered an error in one of our equations

"concerning the Hubble Space Telescope.

'"Although it was a deliberate mistake'

"the recognition of it was a remarkable accomplishment.

"I hope you will all encourage this student

'"to come to MIT, where he belongs.'

"All of you at Fillmore High School

"should be very proud of Dennis Blunden.

'"Signed, sincerely, Dr. George Milnor.'

'"Professor of astrophysics'

'Massachusetts Institute Of Technology."'

I think we should all

pat Dennis on the back.

- Oh, yeah, with a baseball bat. - Exactly.

[indistinct chatter]

(Samuels) 'Hey, hey, hey, hey, wait, wait.'

What's-what's going on here?

I think I have a fairly good idea, Dr. Samuels.

If you could excuse us for a few minutes?

Envy is an ugly thing.

Dennis, you're..

...mind-boggling.

Th-th-there's no..

...mathematical formula for how low you can go.

Arvid, I can explain.

Why don't you do that, Dennis? I enjoy science fiction.

- Yeah. - Yes.

Dr. Milnor was all over you about going to MIT

and that really hurt.

And I happened to find Dr. Milnor first

and I tried to tell him the truth

but he just assumed that..

All I could think about was MIT and I went for it.

I'm sorry, Arv. Do you understand?

- No. - Okay, you're angry.

Go ahead, cuss me out, let me have it. I deserve it.

- I'm not angry. - 'Arvid?'

- 'What?' - Arvid!

- Come on. - Arvid, come on.

You gotta be angry. Hit me, kick me, spit on me.

Throw dirt in my face, anything!

No, thank you. However, I appreciate the offer.

Arvid, stand up for yourself for once.

Come on, Arvid. You gotta let this out.

Let me have it. Give me your best shot.

Let's just change the subject.

But, Arvid, you do have to let Dr. Milnor know

that this was your work.

- Absolutely. - Yeah, I would do that.

No.

If destroying the last shreds of our friendship

just to get into MIT means that much to Dennis

I'm not gonna stand in his way.

Don't say last shreds.

Okay, well, I think Arvid's made his decision.

So, um, why don't we start class?

'Dennis, you wanna take your seat, please?'

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

- Arvid! - Arvid!

I just got off the phone with the Cape.

Babaloo's fine. He's moist and he's regular.

- 'Alright, Arvid.' - Come on.

[indistinct chatter]

Join us, Dennis.

(man on TV) 'We have main engine start.'

We have history in the making here.

(man on TV) 'T minus five.'

(all) Four, three, two, one.

[all cheering]

(man on TV) 'We have liftoff of the space shuttle'

'and it has cleared the tower.'

[cheering]

(man on TV) 'This shuttle carries a crew of five'

'and it also carries an extra payload.'

'A weight-lifting frog named Babaloo Farigno.'

[chuckling]

(man on TV) 'He's part of an experiment'

'designed by two New York high-school students'

'Arvid Engen..'

[cheering]

'...and his partner, Danny Bundle.'

[laughing]

Okay, um..

Well, Arvid, Danny

uh, it seems appropriate if you wanna say something.

I just wanna thank you all for your support

and cooperation..

...especially my colleague, Dennis Blunden.

His work on the project was invaluable.

And without his presentation at the SSIP competition..

...we never would have won.

Thank you, Dennis, and congratulations.

This is the proudest day of my life.

- 'Alright.' - 'Arvid.'

[indistinct chatter]

Dennis?

Well..

...this is the lousiest day of my life.

I got a project on the space shuttle

and I'm a shoe-in to get into MIT.

And none of it means anything

because it cost me my best friend.

Arv..

...I know you'll probably never trust me again

and I don't blame you..

...but I, uh, I want you to have this.

What's this?

It's a, uh, letter

from me to Dr. Milnor

explaining that you were the one who discovered

the radius-vector error and that I lied.

- I don't believe this. - No.

- That's what it says. - Hm.

Wh-what do you want me to do with this?

I want you to mail it.

I want you to publish it in "The Times."

I want you to do whatever you want to with it.

That could, uh, lessen your chances with MIT.

I know.

My friendship means more to you than going to MIT?

[chuckles] MIT means everything to me.

Look how I sold you out just to get in

but I'd give it up in a second

if it'll prove to you that I wanna be your friend again.

Dennis, this is, um, very big of you.

I'll mail this right after class.

Good. Good.

Nah.

Smooth move, Arvid.

[chuckles]

Pals, partners and buddies forever?

Nah, not so fast.

You're on probation...Bundle.

[laughing]

I'll take it.

[laughing]

[theme music]

[music continues]