"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." "# Alas my love #" "# You do me wrong #" "# To cast me off #" "# Discourteously #" "# And I have loved you #" "# For so long #" "# Delighting in your company #" "# Greensleeves #" "# Was all my joy #" "# Greensleeves #" "# Was my delight #" "# Greensleeves #" "# Was my heart of gold #" "# And who but my lady Greensleeves?" "#" "Alex?" "Alex?" "Yeah?" "Isn't today your audition for the School Variety Show?" " Mm-hmm." " Are you nervous?" " A little." " You know, your mom used to sing." "[both] We know." "She's often revisited those memories on us." "Oh, thank you." "Alex, uh, you want to give us a little taste of what you're preparing for the audition?" "No." "Am I sensing a little stage fright happening here?" "Leav me alone, Annie." "Alex, you have a beautiful voice." "We'll see how beautiful it is at 8:30 this morning." "[playing slow, jazzy tune]" " Alex, just relax." " Nicole's right." "I mean, if you're too tense you're going to get these horrible nodes on your vocal chords." "Have you guys decided what you're doing in the show?" "I'm working behind the scenes." "I believe anonymity is the best way to do the most good for the most people." "Nicole, please!" "I mean you're stage-managing a Variety Show not saving the rain forest." "What's so special about what you're doing?" " A stand-up routine?" " Comedy is serious business." "I mean, great comedy expresses pain and anger." "Mmm, can't wait to hear those jokes." "Hey, guys." "Sorry, I'm late." " Practicing for the audition?" " What audition?" "For the sax solo." "Did you forget?" "I guess I did." "Ray, how will you beat the competition if you don't psyche yourself up?" "I don't think I want to do this." "Playing the sax should be fun, not competition." "Think like that." "And they'll run you out of the country." "Got to run, my audition's before first period." "Wish me luck." " Break a leg." " Good luck." "Be careful." "[nervously and off-key]:" "# To cast me off #" "# Discourteously #" "[clears throat] [squeaking]:" "# And I have loved you #" "# So long #" "# Delighting #" "# In your company # [squeaking]:" "# Green... #" "Can I start over?" "Hey, Al, sorry about your audition." " Everyone's talking about it." " Thanks for letting me know." "Isn't your audition in 15 minutes?" " I decided to blow it off." " I can't believe you, Ray." "You're really talented." "When are you going to take a chance?" " But, Alex..." " I wanted to be in that show." "I blew it, but I tried." "You won't even do that?" " Can't you commit to anything?" " Man, you're cold." "All right." "I'll audition." " Don't do it for me." " I won't." "Of course, I'm holding you personally responsible for my failure." "After seeing you, I know how painful that can be." "Hey, Dad, check this out." "I decided to audition for the sax solo and I made it in the finals." "What?" "That's great." " I mean, I still have to beat out..." " Ray, I'm so happy to hear this." "Ray, when did you take playing seriously?" "Dad, take it easy." "I'm only in the finals." "This could all end in two days." "I know it won't." "I have confidence in you." "I always hoped you'd one day decide on a career in music." "Career?" "Dad, let's not get carried away." "Ray, I'm so proud of you, Ray." "[Ray] I knew this was a bad idea." "I'm boxed in, Alex." "I'm suffocating, I can't breathe." "Ray, calm down." "My dad's talking about picking me up an application for some music conservatory." "In another week, he'll probably have me headlining in some jazz festival." "At least you have a talent." "What if I blow this audition?" "It will destroy him." "I could choke and humiliate myself like you did." "Can we forget about my audition, please?" "Sorry." "Let's take a walk to the mall." "I can distract myself by looking at things I want and can't afford to buy." "Ray, I got to finish cleaning the garage." "Come on, Alex you can finish that in one minute." "Guess maybe I have a talent, too." "[phone rings]" "[Mrs Mack] Alex, phone." "Don't stay on long." "It's time for bed." "Hello?" "Wait, wait, Ray, slow down." "My father's making me nuts over this audition." "I'm blanking on my song." "If I let him down, I don't know what I'm going to do." "I'll kill you-- you're the one that got me into this mess." "What can I do?" "You could come over right now and help me learn this song." "I'll see what I can do." "I need your help." " How unusual." " I have to get over to Ray's and there's no way Mom will let me because it's so late." "Can't you just see him tomorrow?" "Well, he needs help with his audition and I feel kind of responsible." "You could get there through the pipes." "We're all one big happy plumbing family on this block." "Are you sure there aren't any gross thingies down there?" "You'll survive but go change your clothes." "[fluid gushing]" "The Michaels need to clean the hair out of their drain." "It took me a while to get through." "Never mind that." "You're coming with me." "I'm not kidding, Alex." "I won't be able to play." "This is what I have about competition." "It ruins all the fun for me." "Check it out." "[squeaking saxophone]" "Ray, you're going to have a breakdown." "Relax, you just need a little more practice, that's all." "Here, I'll read the notes aloud and you follow along." "It's hopless." "I'm a has-been at the age of 13." "No, Ray, it's hopeless for me." "You've still got a chance." "Come on, I took some sax lessons a few years ago." "[Alex singing notes, Ray plays]:" "# A-G-E #" "# D-C #" "# D-E-G #" "# E-A-G #" "Again, again." "I'll know this better than you." "Maybe I should have played the sax instead of singing that stupid song." "[knocking on door]" "Come in." "Ray, I was listening." "You sound great." "If you need someone to practice with just give me a yell." "Okay." "Well, I didn't mean to interrupt, keep going." "I got a feeling you're going to blow those other kids right off the stage." "Ray, you practiced until the middle of the night." "You won't mess up." "Dad, what are you doing here?" "Well, it took some doing but I got the afternoon off." "I wanted to be here for your audition." "I don't think parents are allowed." "Definitely not-- no parents allowed." "Well, there's no law that says a guy can't wait and listen outside the door, is there?" "I don't know, Alex, is there a law like that?" "Um, no, I don't think so." "[squeaks] [playing off-key]" "[squeaking]" "[playing flawlessly]" "[applause]" " That was great." " Good job." "That was excellent." " Ray!" " Alex, there you are." "I've hardly see you all week." "Give me a minute, girls." "You've been too busy being popular." "I owe it all to you." "Don't think I don't know what you did." "Really?" "I could have never got through that audition without your support." "It was like magic." "My fingers took over like they had a mind of their own." "I could tell." "I got people to see." "Catch you later, Al." " Wait." "Ray?" " Yeah?" " About the audition..." " I know, you're proud of me." "Yeah." "My life is one big mistake." "Robyn, you can be my backstage assistant." "But I was sure my act couldn't miss." "Maybe people aren't ready for jokes about the decline of human civilization." "Gee, remember when Ray used to hang out with us mere humans?" "Now we have to schedule an appointment." "He was kind of cute playing that sax." "I didn't know he was so good." "I think it's great he found something he can go after." " Yeah, but what if he's not..." " Ready." "Have you heard him play?" "He's ready." "I mean, just look at it this way:" "if he flops it could be a long drop to reality." "[playing off-key]" " Hey, Dad." " Hey, Ray." "How did you do on your spanish test?" "To be honest not so great." " I got a "C"." " A "C"?" "Ray, buddy, come on." "You've got to do better than that." "Ever since I put all my focus onto my music, my other subjects are hurting just a little." "I know you're excited about your playing but until things take off for you you can't ignore your other work." "Okay, Dad, I'll try." "Good." "Dinner is in ten minutes." " You want to jam afterward?" " I don't know." "I don't want to be too over-prepared." "Okay, it's your call." " So, how's it going?" " Couldn't be better." "Finding my calling at age 13 [sigh] is a big relief." "Aren't you counting on a career in music too much?" "I mean, based on one performance?" "That performance changed my life." "I know I'm destined to be on stage." "You wouldn't believe it." "In practice I can't come near what I did in front of the audience." "I was unconscious." "I can believe it." "Ray, I helped you." "I know, I told you." "I couldn't have done it without you." "No, I've got to tell you the truth." "I moved your fingers for you." "You, with the big music career in front of you completely froze." "What?" "I don't believe you." "You're just jealous of the attention I'm getting." "How could you possibly even...?" "# E-G-E-D-C-D #" "# E-G-E-A-G #" "Oh, great, so all this attention should be for you now." "I just had to tell you." "But tomorrow, during the solo you'll get all the attention you deserve." "Being left offstage?" "You have to help me again." "But you won't need my help." "You'll be great." "No way, everyone expects so much from me now." "You have to help me the rest of the way." "It's not my fault." "I tried to be a good friend." "What would you do if you wanted to be my enemy?" "If you want, Ray, it can be arranged." "Can you go sulk somewhere else?" "I have no place else to go." "[sighs]:" "Ray and I are having a fight." "You crazy kids." "He's mad because I won't help him with his sax solo." "Like I, you know, helped him with the audition." "What do you mean by, "You know, helped"?" "You know." "Alex, you can't use your powers to help your friends." " It'll backfire every time." " I did it for Raymond." "He's my best friend." "Remember if you get caught using your powers by the Plant they'll throw you in a lab rat cage so fast you won't know what hit you." "Will your best friend, Raymond, be there then?" "I know I got the keys here somewhere." "Ray, hurry!" "Here they are." "How you been doing?" "[saxophone playing]" "I've changed my mind." "I'll do whatever you wany me to do." "What changed your mind?" "Let's say I haven't slept well since our fight." "Yeah, it bothered me, too." "Thanks for doing this, Alex." "Ray, if I were in some scary cage at the Plant would you get me out?" "I'd chew through the bars with my teeth." "In my dreams, you had the keys." "I did?" "That's funny." "I'm always losing my keys." "[piano playing]" "Now, Ray, remember to stand in the light when it's time for your solo, okay?" "Looks like this entire crowd's here for you." "Oh, and don't stand too close to the edge of the stage." "That orchestra pit is at least a 20-foot plunge." " Dad!" " A little nervous?" " Nervous?" "Me?" " Naw." "That's all right." "Just try to remember to have fun." "This is your day, you know." "I'm so proud of you." "You've done this all on your own." "And that's the most important thing about all this." " Dad, I..." " Ray, you're almost on." "I better get back out in the audience." "Break a leg." "I wish." "Rush this to Alex." "It's an emergency." "Oh, I knew it." "I knew this day was ripe for disaster." "Hurry!" "Hand this to the girl in the butterfly t-shirt." "[audience laughing]" "[playing well]" " Did you?" " No, you did it all yourself." "Thanks." "Hey, Ray, that was better than the other day." "You know, you've got quite a future ahead of you." "No, thanks, Dad, I think I'll retire from active competition." "Retire?" "You're kidding me." "Dad, I'm only 13 years old." "If it happens, it happens." "I got to try other things." "I'm not ready to throw myself into only one thing." "Besides, I'm not crazy over solos." " You're not?" " I like duets." "That's my boy." "Captioned by Grant Brown"