Original subtitles

I'm Al Smith.

I was just an average kid until an accident changed my life.

And since then, nothing's been the same.

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 was to find me and turn me into some experiment.

Yes.

Again. Again.

This is thrilling.

All right, so stop.

Aren't you the least bit curious whether your powers are getting weaker or

stronger? I mean, if they're getting weaker, it could mean that your powers

starting to wear off.

Okay, I get your point.

All right, a big smile.

Did you see that?

See what?

That gigantic flash.

That was a flash?

Well, more like a weird lightning bolt or something.

It was awesome.

Where'd it come from?

I don't know.

To be honest, it looked like it might have come right out of Alex's house.

How could a huge lightning bolt come out of Alex's house?

Look, I don't know exactly what it was or where it came from, but that's the

most bizarre thing I've ever seen in my life.

Did you get it on film?

I think I did, buddy.

I think I did.

I'm going to go out and make sure no one saw that.

Okay, Annie. So you're saying you didn't see anything?

That's exactly what I'm saying. But it looked like it came from your garage.

Well, it must have been an optical illusion, Lewis, because I was in the

the whole time and there was no lightning bolt in there.

Well, if you're telling me the truth, the possibilities could be endless.

A meteor, some kind of electrical blast from the plant, or maybe a signal from a

UFO.

But I think you know more than you're telling me.

I do know that you're getting completely carried away. Ray, did you see

anything? No, I have no idea what he's talking about.

If you think this is carried away, just wait till I get this film developed.

Then I'll know exactly what I've got.

Later.

Keep me posted, Lewis!

What the heck happened in there?

Zappers are zipping past us and everything.

I know. It bounced off a couple things in the garage, and then with each

refraction, it just seemed to pick up intensity.

Well, that's great. Because you know Lewis. If he thinks he has something

newsworthy... He won't stop until the whole world knows.

That's why you have to watch him, Ray. We can't let this picture get out into

the general public.

What do you want me to do?

I don't know.

Yet.

Just keep an eye on him.

Shoot.

I quit.

I'm never going to cook another meal again.

I am the worst cook in the entire world.

The absolute worst.

From now on, all we're doing is ordering pizza.

Okay with me.

Even though I love your cooking, Mom.

Something you needed, honey?

Actually, yeah.

Um, I didn't know Dad was such a good bowler.

I mean, I found this trunk in the garage and there were all these trophies and

stuff. He belonged to a team called Andy's Alley Cats.

Yeah, yeah, he did.

So was he a champion or something?

Um...

No, not exactly.

He was just on this team with a bunch of guys from the auto shop.

Really, it was no big deal.

Why doesn't he bowl anymore?

Do you know when adults get older and they have a couple of kids and they just

don't seem to have the time to do everything they want to do anymore?

That's all.

I think I'll order that pizza.

It just seems kind of strange.

We've never even gone bowling as a family once.

Alex, you know what?

Do me a favor. Don't mention bowling around your father, okay?

If he wanted to go bowling, I'm sure we'd go bowling.

Okay? Okay.

Pineapple pizza. Coming right up.

Yeah, Driscoll.

D -R -I -S -C -O -L -L.

Lewis Otto Driscoll.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Uh -huh.

Okay.

Okay, well, I'll call you back when I get the picture.

Uh -huh.

What'd he say? Well, he said there weren't any other UFO sightings.

Any fireballs?

No. But, you know, I didn't like that guy's tone of voice at all. He treated

like I was some kind of nutcase.

But just wait till we get those pictures back.

Just you wait.

Hey, Lewis, don't you think you're getting a little carried away?

So what if it's a UFO?

I mean, why even make a big deal out of it?

Sure, there'll be TV crews out here, and we might even have to say a few

speeches in front of adoring fans and even get a movie deal down the line. But

don't you think we miss our privacy?

No, Ray, this time you're wrong.

So just grab onto my coattails, buddy, because I'm riding this thing to the

Now let's go get those pictures, huh?

George, you're being absolutely ridiculous.

Say what you want, but I'm entitled to my feelings. George, Alex is very

curious. You have got to talk to her. So she found my old trophies. So what?

Honey, she wants to know why you never mentioned it to her.

So I should just tell her the truth? That I humiliated myself in the biggest

moment of my athletic life?

Maybe you should tell her, George. You could show her that you're human. You

don't know, Barbara. You weren't there.

No, I wasn't there, George.

But I'm sure it was the worst day of your life. And it had this horrible

on you. You don't like competitions.

You hate the competition between you and Lars at the lab.

You hated the competition Annie had to deal with to get into college.

For heaven's sakes, you won't even play Scrabble with me anymore.

I don't understand.

What are you so afraid of?

Reliving the moment.

Failing.

Honey, you're going to have to move on from this.

I know.

You're right.

I don't know why I can't.

No, I know, I know.

Look, lean, and learn.

Gotta lean more into the ball.

Hi, Andy.

Sure, I remember George.

Poor kid.

What exactly happened?

Well, let's just say the last time I saw him was the day we lost the junior

championship. We were in the final frame in excellent shape.

George had just rolled the spare on the 10th.

He had one last ball to roll.

And all we needed was him to knock down two pins.

And he did.

But he foot -fought.

And we lost.

Wow, that's horrible.

Was the team really good?

No, we were terrible.

That's the thing that always bugged me about what happened.

Look around you.

This is bowling.

What do you mean?

Any physical activity that you can eat a pizza while you're playing ain't really

a sport.

We're only out here for the fun of it.

No, for me, bowling is the ambiance, the smell of the shoes, the taste of the

nachos.

It's a shame that your dad took it so hard.

Andy, I have a favor to ask you.

Have a juice or a root beer?

Root beer.

This is the day, Raymond.

This is the day that you and I are never going to forget.

We've been through a lot, buddy boy.

Been through a lot.

Come to papa.

Come to papa.

Oh, there's a nice one of you.

This is it, Ray.

This is the one. Look at that thing.

Calm down. Calm down, all right?

We need verification.

We need to show this to Annie first. I mean, she's a scientist.

All right, I'll show it to her. But if she doesn't react, I'll know she's

something. Well, I'm going to go ahead and go give her a call and let her know

we're coming. No, don't do that.

That'll give her a chance to prepare another lie.

We're going over there right now, together.

Come on.

Raymond suggested that I show this to you first.

I'm thinking we should give it some kind of name. You know, like Haley's Comet,

but the Driscoll Fireball, or something like that.

I don't see why you're getting so excited about Lewis.

I told him that.

Annie, I gotta tell you, I'm starting to wonder about you.

About me?

Yeah. You see this picture, it's something extraordinary, and yet you

all blasé and everything.

I don't think you have anything here.

Garbage. You know I do.

Lewis, listen to me.

No, you listen to me. I've always wondered what you and Alex were doing in

garage of yours every day after school with those computers and science

equipment and stuff.

I mean, I can understand that you're in love with science, but I'm not convinced

that Alex can even spell it.

What are you saying?

I think you're up to something, and this lightning bolt or fireball or whatever

the heck it is is my proof.

Look, if you want to pawn it off on the public as some, like, magical thing,

then go try.

Oh, don't worry. I will. In fact, I've already sent a copy of the picture to a

world -renowned scientist.

Yeah, who's that?

A Mr. Lars Fredrickson of the Paradise Valley Chemical Plant.

And when he calls me back, I'm sure we'll have a lot to talk about.

Good day, Ms. Mack.

Lewis!

I love this show, George. I mean, that girl Susie

Epstein, she's so incredibly funny.

Easy on the eyes, too.

Uh, if I may say that as an objective observer.

Got it! Who could that be?

I probably should have told everybody, but I've got a little surprise for you.

You'll never guess who it is.

Ready?

Hey, Andy!

Who is this?

George Mack!

You really grown up!

Andy Wilson was the idol of Paradise Valley.

Boy, he was like the older brother that a lot of us never had.

Oh, really, George? You always did like those clichés.

Anyway, if we ever had a problem or we needed some advice, you were right there

for us.

Hey, Andy, do you still love nachos? Oh, sure do.

All that melty cheese and jalapenos.

My motto used to be, a boy full of beans is a happy boy.

Well, we were all full of beans back then.

Well, thanks for letting me join you guys for a trip down memory lane.

Actually, it was lane number 12.

Well, George, you sure have a top flight family.

Those two girls of yours are pure strikes.

We have a little unfinished business here, George. We do?

You were supposed to meet me the day after the tournament.

And all I got from you was a note saying you were quitting the bowling team. Oh,

I just wanted to get on with my life. It's not because I failed to knock down

two measly pins in the final frame of the PV Junior Team Invitational. Two

to win the whole thing. Good golly, I barely remember it. I don't buy it,

George. You're still living with it.

Tell you what.

When you're not so busy, why don't you come down and roll with you?

Think about the example you're setting about winning and losing.

You ought to come down, George, if not for yourself.

It's like riding a bike you never forget.

You're a classy kid, George.

What was your average, anyway?

142 -ish.

Roll another one. For old times' sake.

I've still got some nice pin axes. You sure do.

You sure do.

Excuse me.

Lord Fredrickson wanted me to pick up the mail.

You scared me. What are you doing here?

I'm having lunch with my dad, and I was picking up his mail.

I got yours, too.

Thank you.

Is there anything else?

Um, I need some help with a homework assignment.

Do you have a sec?

Well, if it isn't George Footfall Mack, my old teammate.

Alan Watson.

Hey, Alan. George, what you did at that tourney. Oh, that was unforgettable.

Not a weekend goes by that I don't tell somebody that story.

And everybody always thinks I'm making it up.

It's just bowling, Alan.

I don't think I should have to carry that mistake around with me forever.

How can you not?

Letting down eight of your best buddies with one choke.

I'm sorry it happened, but it would never happen again.

I bet it would.

In fact, what do you say we roll a friendly game to see what you're really

of, football?

I didn't come to compete.

Of course not.

You've probably given up competing entirely.

So what do you say?

Meet me here tonight, 8 o 'clock, 10 frames.

The loser buys the other guy a trophy.

At least one of us can have what we both should have had.

20 years ago.

This project may seem a little weird, but do you mind if I tape record your

answers just to make sure I get them all correct?

Sure. What did you say this assignment was again?

Oh, I'm supposed to interview a working scientist.

You know, kind of an up -close -and -personal, day -in -the -life type

Why don't you just interview your father?

Because he is involved with other things.

All right, go ahead. Hurry up.

What is your name?

This is Lars Fredrickson of Paradise Valley Chemical.

Have you...

Ever seen the movie Ruinator 4?

Uh, yeah, I saw it and I thought it was ridiculous. A complete waste of time.

Well, how do you think it ranked among the previous Ruinator films?

Who knows? Can we talk about something more interesting?

Of course.

Have you ever gotten those sales pitch phone calls?

You know, right around dinner time?

Certainly.

And what?

Did you say to the person on the other end of the line?

I'm a busy man and I'd appreciate it if you would never call me again.

I see.

Hey.

Alex, this is Ted.

Ted, this is Alex.

I don't remember why I decided to call my bowl, Ted. I just did.

Dad, I'm sorry. I should have never gotten you involved in this whole thing

again. Oh, forget it. Andy was right, and so were you. I've been running from

that football for 20 years.

Yeah, but no one should be forced to bowl against their will. It's like in

Constitution or something.

Yeah, you're right.

But you know what?

Sometimes in life, we make these huge, embarrassing mistakes that we think

never live down.

The fact is, we do.

The sun comes up.

We get off the floor and face the world again.

It's time I got up off the floor.

Thought you wouldn't show.

I told you he'd be here.

You ready?

Foot, fault?

Yeah, I am.

All right, Ray, this is totally and utterly simple. Just follow my commands,

okay? Well, we both know Louis Driscoll is sitting at home waiting for a phone

call from Lars Fredrickson, right? Well, each one of these tape recorders

contains every possible response Lars could give in a conversation, which will

hopefully make Louis forget all about his crazy scheme.

So you point to the recorder and I press play.

Exactly. How do you know Lewis is waiting for Liza's call?

All

right,

George.

To be honest, Andy, my heart is pounding. I want to win.

You listen to me. Victory or no victory, you're a winner.

You already won by showing up here tonight.

You bowled this guy even.

And he spent 25 grand on bowling lessons over the years.

I know. I just want another chance.

Lars Fredrickson of Paradise Valley Chemical.

Hello, Mr. Fredrickson. Thank you so much for calling.

I have a great deal of respect for your work. So, did you see my photograph?

Yeah, I saw it and I thought it was ridiculous.

A complete waste of time.

Oh, well, what do you think it could be? I mean, there's got to be some sort of

explanation.

Who knows? Can we talk about something more interesting?

Why don't you just interview your father?

Well, because my father's a salesman, not a scientist.

Please, Mr. Fredrickson, I need your endorsement on it.

If you don't think I should follow up on it, just let me know.

I'm a busy man, and I'd appreciate it if you would never call me again.

There it is, George.

It's not two pins you have to knock down, though. It's five.

But that sounds a little familiar, doesn't it?

I'd stick clear of that lion if I was you.

Sit down, Alan.

Prepare to lose.

Sorry, Dad. You're on your own.

Your dad's a good man.

I know.