"( Horn honking )" "I'mAlexMack." "Iwasjustanaveragekid untilanaccident changed my life." "Andsincethen..." "Nothing'sbeenthesame." "( Zapping )" "MybestfriendRay  thinks it's cool." "MysisterAnnie thinks I'm a science project." "Ican'tletanyoneelse know ." "Notevenmy parents." "IknowtheChemicalPlant wants to find me andturnme into some experiment." "Butyouknowsomething?" "Iguess I'm not so average anymore." "Alex:" "Okay, so Ray and I are becoming really good friends withMr.Siequirt the assistant manager at Doodler's doughnuts-- the one at the mall, not the one downtown-- and he said..." "Mrs. Mack:" "Here we go!" "Annie, your favorite:" "Vegetarian lasagna!" "Here, honey, let me give you some of this." "Thanks." "Sweetheart, want some?" "Uhh... in a minute." "Okay, here." "Mm-- ah!" "So, what's the big announcement?" "Alex:" "Well, no big announcement, really." "He said we could have mini-doughnuts whenever..." "Alex." "Just a minute, honey." "As you know, I took that advanced placement English test just to see... and..." "I scored a five." "( Both gasp )" "Yeah, first time it's been done by a high school student." "Mr. Mack:" "Unbelievable!" "Which means I can take that two-week intensive at the university with..." "Professor Ivan McKee." "Oh, sweetheart, that's great!" "You are really branching out from science." "We are so proud of you." "Mr. Mack:" "Ivan McKee, he wrote, uh nocongas,no  clarinets, didn't he?" "( Parents gasp )" "Oh!" "Ugh!" "Alex." "Alex!" "Alex!" "Sorry." "I'll clean it up." "( Sighs )" "Anyway, it's going to be really challenging." "And I'm kind of scared." "Mrs. Mack:" "Sweetheart, you're used to challenges." "I just think it's great you're out conquering a new field." "Hey, Mom... how about some of that lasagna?" "Um... in a second, sweetie." "I want to make a toast." "To Annie..." "who just keeps on surprising us!" "( Laughs )" "Mr. Mack:" "To Annie." "( Clink )" "Wow!" "Math club president?" "Whew." ""Little ladies of language"?" ""The hypotenuse society."" "Yeah." "Annie's belonged to every club ever invented." ""Camp wahooie sack race, honorable mention"?" "Wow, she's done it all." "That's mine, Ray." "Oh..." "It's my only one." "Honorable mention..." "That's nice." "Now, come on." "I need you to come up with some stuff for me to do, too." "Hey, what about stamp club?" "Do you really like stamps?" "I don't care at this point." "I just want to achieve something greater in my life than getting free doughnuts." "I want to try everything, then narrow it down." "Okay." "You got the math club." "You got ski club, yearbook and also school newspaper." "Not to mention the dance committee." "Okay, this is good." "Keep going." "Okay, you got big sisters." "And you also have the glee club" "I don't know what they do but sounds like they're having fun." "Computer club..." "And, of course, 4-H club." "4-H?" "What's that?" "Well, it stands for "head, heart, hands and health."" "Basically, future farmers." "Future farmers?" "Forget it." "Alex, I don't know about this." "So what, your sister has all these trophies?" "You can't catch up in one week." "I just want to show her" "I can be good at something, too." "From here on, you'll see a new, improved Alex Mack." "Man:" "I think of most writing as... soil." "And from the soil with a little nurturing perhaps a... garden can grow." "I'll insist that you write every day." "And your first assignment due tomorrow, will be autobiographical in nature." "I want you to tell me about yourself." "What makes you... tick and feel and think." "I want blood, I want guts" "I want mucous." "And I want it by Thursday." "Excuse me." "You're Annie Mack..." "right?" "Yes, I am." "Miss Mack, feel free to bring a tape recorder to record my lectures, but... this class is about creativity." "There's no need to take down every single word." "Oh." "Sorry." "Oh, right." "I can't do that." "( No audio )" "( Sighs )" "Somehow... she got herself onto the yearbook staff the spring dance committee, and the 4-H club." "I swear, if there was a parachute club she'd probably sign up for that, too." "Should we be worried?" "This doesn't sound like our Alex." "( Sighs )" "Oh, George, don't you see?" "She just wants to be noticed for something..." "Anything." "She really needs our encouragement right now." "Did I fall asleep?" "Mm-hmm." "Want to know what I've been doing?" "Seizing the day." "Why don't you go up to bed now, sweetheart?" "And we can talk in the morning." "Okay." "Ray:" "Mrs. Mack, I think Alex could use a little orange juice this morning." "Ray, what are you doing here so early?" "Your sister is redefining the word "extracurricular"" "and Ray..." "He's coaching her." "Managing her." "Alex:" "Good morning, everybody." "Okay, Ray, what are we doing today?" "Before school, meeting with the sweet adelines." "Right." "We tutor seventh graders?" "No!" "The sweet adelines is the square dancing." "The tutoring is the big sisters of smarts." "You meet with them at lunch." "And, after school, 4-H." "4-H, Annie." "We find husbands for pigs." "I think you mean "animal husbandry."" "Whatever." "Are you really passionate about all this?" "How can I be passionate about it if I haven't even started yet?" "You're not the only one who tries new things." "Come on, Ray, let's go!" "Ciao." "You know why she's doing this, don't you?" "Mm?" "She wants to be more like you." "Ray:" "That's pretty good." "What say we go to the mall for doughnuts?" "What are you talking about?" "Maybe I'm not cut out for a life of achievement." "I'm rotten at everything I do." "Besides, I'm passionate about the mall." "I'm very good at it." "You're quitting on me?" "Today I hit Stephen with a bowling pin." "Sorry, Stephen." "You might want to put some ice on that." "Alex, I thought you were serious when you said you wanted to seize the day." "Annie was right." "No, you're not getting off that easy." "Now, you're a winner." "I don't care if you prove it to Annie your parents, anyone." "I want you to prove it to yourself." "Let's go to 4-H." "Ray, I told you." "I know nothing about animals." "So?" "Let's give it a shot." "If it doesn't work thenwe'll get doughnuts." "Come on." ""My love of math has opened up the world to me." ""Numbers are not black and white" ""they are gray, filled with ambiguity and wonder." ""It has taught me that the world is not finite" ""but infinite." "I feel that mathematics explains..."" "( Moos )" "Welcome to 4-H, ladies and gentlemen!" "My name is John and I will be your guide to the glories of farming." "Today's subject is dairy." "Whether it be butter whether it be milk whether it be the proverbial chicken egg dairy is a big part of human life." "My job today is to convince you that there is a dairy farmer lurking inside each and every one of you." "Who's my first volunteer?" "How about, um...?" "Alex." "Alex!" "Uh, no, I don't think so." "Come on, Alex, don't be shy." "It's not as hard as it looks." "Yeah, go for it, Alex." "Have you ever milked a cow before?" "Not to my knowledge." "No?" "Well, don't worry." "All it takes is practice." "Watch me." "( Mooing in background )" "Bucket." "Thank you." "Now..." "You just settle right in here under blossom." "( Mooing )" "I want you kids to remember next week, I need to choose someone to represent Danielle Atron Junior High in the dairy decathlon." "All right, Alex..." "Show me what you're made of." "Not great, Kevin, but a nice start." "And now, last but not least" "Annie Mack." "( Clears throat )" "What was your paper called, uh..." ""In search of excellence"?" ""Pursuit of excellence."" "Ah." "Oh-- could you wait one second?" "I want to get my..." "Of course." "Okay." "There we go." "Quite honestly, I had expected something a little more insightful, Annie." "I feel like you gave me the..." "Encyclopedia version, without a sense of passion." "What do you feel strongly about?" "Obviously, you're a very bright girl." "But the worst thing you can do is to keep the listener uninvolved." "Will you stay after so we can talk about it further?" "Okay." "( Clicks off tape recorder )" "( Squirting )" "Alex Mack!" "From the glistening suburbs of Paradise Valley came a girl with cat-like reflexes and the precision of a Swiss watchmaker." "Alex Mack, cow milker extraordinaire." "Is she that good?" "I've seen them come and I've seen them go, Ray." "Alex was meant to milk." "Her dexterity?" "You can't teach that." "Really?" "Alex..." "I want you to represent us next Tuesday in the Dairy Decathlon." "Girls' Freestyle Division." "It's going to be on cable TV." "Can you do it?" "!" "Uh..." "I don't..." "I think I'm busy." "( Yells ):" "Ahh!" "Don't worry." "She'll be there." "What's the matter?" "What's the matter?" "I do one thing well and it's cow milking." "I feel like a dork." "So what if it's cow milking?" "You're going to be on cable TV." "Was Annie ever on TV?" "N-no, but..." "Heck no!" "I can hear her drooling from here." "Perhaps this wasn't a good idea." "We'll be moving very quickly." "So, I'll really need to see some improvement in your next effort or..." "Or I may have to drop you from the class..." "In fairness to the others." "Alex:" "So I guess Mom told you?" "I'm competing in the Dairy Decathlon today." "Girls' Freestyle." "I didn't even know you were on the swim team." "It's not the swim team, Annie." "The dairy decathlon-- you know, the 4-H club?" "I'm very passionate about it." "( Typing )" "So... what are you working on?" "Uh, it's a rewrite of my English paper." "Is there anything else?" "No." "Actually, I would really like it if you would come to the decathlon today and watch me compete." "When is it?" "3:30." "The field behind school." "I wouldn't miss it for the world." "You promise?" "Sure." "( Cattle mooing )" "How do you feel?" "Nervous?" "Wow." "That is a beautiful trophy." "Annie never got one that big." "Where is she, anyway?" "Look, don't worry about Annie." "And keep your eyes off the hardware." "You got to stay focused, okay?" "Now, remember, you're a natural." "Man:" "Competitors may I have your attention, please?" "Now, you are the best and the brightest, dairywise." "And it's time to show paradise valley what you got." "McKee ( On tape ):" "Quite honestly, I had expected something a little more insightful, Annie." "I feel like you gave me the encyclopedia version without a sense of passion." "What do you feel strongly about?" "( Switches off recorder )" "( Cattle mooing )" "This girl is tough, very tough." "No, don't worry about her." "She's all flash." "Annie promised." "She said she'd be here." "Maybe her class ran late." "She doesn't have class now." "M.C.:" "Unbelievable, folks!" "Little Eve Van Der Huize, the Pride of Pittsville Gardens!" "( Applause )" "And now it's my pleasure to introduce our third and final contestant in the Girls' Freestyle Division." "From Danielle Atron Junior High School" "Alex "The Udder Truth" Mack!" "The Udder Truth?" "She needed a nickname." "Well, here goes nothing." "Remember your fundamentals, all right?" "M.C.:" "You all ready, Alex?" "( Applause )" "On your mark..." "Get set..." "Go!" "And... time!" "Alex Mack, ladies and gentlemen." "Alex Mack!" "( Applause )" "The results of the Dairy Decathlon have been tabulated by Price Waterhouse P.P.L." "An independent accounting firm." "So tune in tomorrow to Paradise Valley today when we'll announce the winners." "( Sighs )" "Hi, where have you all been?" "Where have you been?" "Alex has an aptitude for dairying." "It's poetry in motion." "Tomorrow they announce the winners on channel 67." "Oh, that, uh, Dairy Dealie-Bob was tonight, huh?" "The Dairy Decathlon, remember?" "It's my English paper." "I'm just caught up..." "Is there a problem with it?" "Oh, no!" "Not at all." "It's just... my professor..." "McKee wanted me to make some changes before tomorrow." "Can I speak to Annie, please?" "Alone?" "Sure." "What, did I do something wrong?" "Yes." "I wanted you to come." "Why are you making such a big deal about this?" "It's just some stupid cow milking." "Yes, it's only cow milking." "And maybe it is stupid." "But my whole life" "I've been watching you win things be elected to things." "Just once" "I wanted you to come watch me." "And what's so important about one more class?" "So what if you get one more A-plus?" "You're nothing but a big, fat selfish person!" "Alex, wait." "You don't understand." "I can't believe she's not here." "She's the worst sister in the whole, entire world." "Forget about her." "Forget about her?" "Why do you think I did this whole thing in the first place?" "...four three two..." "Thank you for joining us here on Paradise Valley today." "Brought to you by the good folks at P.V. Chemical whose motto is:" "All:" ""Progress at any cost."" "( All laughing )" "Ladies and gentlemen the milk has been weighed." "And the judges have reached their final decisions." "The envelope, please." "And the winner is..." "Alex..." ""The Udder Truth"" "Mack!" "( Applause and cheering )" "Yes!" "Yes!" "( Applause and cheering continue )" "TV announcer:" "Thanks, Dale and congratulations to Alex." "Next up..." "I have to go take care of something." "I'll see you back home." "Hey, wait up!" "Where are you going?" "I've got some business to take care of." "Annie, right?" "She's not the only one committed to excellence." "They'll have to build a whole room around this." "Want me to go with you?" "No... no, stay here." "They're serving ice cream after the show." "Sorry, Alex, I'm with you." "Look, Ray, I really appreciate all you've done for me;" "you kept me going when I wanted to quit." "But this is between me and my sister." "Okay, Alex." "Thanks for everything." "Annie:" "So maybe I just don't have the right amount of blood or guts I need." "When you spend your whole life receiving things, you miss out on a lot." "I look at my little sister, and..." "Though I know she envies my accomplishments she doesn't realize how I envy her." "To see the world the way she does to have friends, to be open-minded-- those are the things I wish I had." "And I wish I knew how to tell her." "I was being as honest as I possibly could." "I appreciate that you spoke honestly and from your heart." "McKee:" "But..." "I'm going to suggest to you that you're not quite ready for this class." "Annie:" "I can learn." "I'll try harder." "McKee:" "I'm sorry, Annie." "There's no need to think of this as a defeat." "( Sighs )" "Good luck in the future." "Thanks." "( Sighs )" "Hi." "Hi." "What are you doing here?" "Um, I was looking for you." "You didn't see any of my class, did you?" "No." "Wow, it looks like you did really well at the Dairy Decathlon." "Yeah, I guess." "Thanks." "As far as milking goes, I'm the best." "In my age range." "Freestyle." "I'm sorry I wasn't there." "Oh, that's okay." "No, it's not okay." "I should have been there and I wasn't." "I'm sorry." "Okay... thanks." "I'm leaving my class." "It didn't work out." "Basically, I'm not good enough." "I bet you could be if you wanted to be." "I mean, you have so much else going on you can conquer it later." "Hey, you want to go to the mall?" "It's Thursday, and I can show you how Ray and I score free mini-doughnuts." "Come on, it's really fun." "Alex, there is nothing I would rather do than go to the mall with you." "( Giggling )" "It's... it's huge, I know." "( Laughing )" "Captioned by Grant Brown"