Original subtitles

I'm Alcma.

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.

But you know something?

I guess I'm not so average anymore.

A month ago, all you cared about was donuts, and now you're obsessed with

GoParts. I know.

I mean, until we get our licenses, this is the closest we'll get to the real

thing.

But how are you getting all the money to come here three times a week?

I'm kind of in debt big time with Annie.

I'm just hoping she goes away to college and forgets about it.

You know what, Annie? I wouldn't count on it. Oh, by the way, what did you get

for question number 12, the capital of New Guinea?

I put none of the above.

Wow, New Guinea does have a capital. It may not be Tallahassee as I've written

in here, but it does have a capital.

I know. I got a 78.

But what I want to know is, does it really matter if we know the capital of

Guinea or the provinces of Canada?

Well, it does to my dad. See, he says the Japanese kids study way more than we

do, and our country's getting full of nothing but stupid and lazy people.

So he's got a new homework policy.

Either I do it or else.

I can understand what he means.

I mean, kids all over the world are smarter than us.

But instead of doing my homework, all I want to do is come here.

Something wrong with me?

No. I have no problem with you. For every problem, there's a solution.

And we have to look at this logically.

It's pretty straightforward, George. A C is a C.

I mean, the margin for error now that she's in high school is slim.

Colleges are going to be out there taking a closer look at her grades from

on out.

I just feel bad that I haven't been able to help her with her schoolwork. I've

been so busy with my own.

Keep your arms moving, big guy.

There's only one solution, a tutor.

Scooter mentioned someone he used for his son. They thought he was great.

Yay!

Ashley!

I came to the house looking for you, but then my totally gorgeous new best

friend told me we could find you here.

It's not just...

From an ambassador, who shall remain nameless.

I'll tell you that story later.

Hi. Hi.

I thought you were in South America.

Oh, that was two weeks ago. Since then, I've already been to Japan, Africa, and

the Fiji Islands.

Wow.

You know, I don't know how you managed to just stay rooted here, Barb. I mean,

just have this need to just get out there and experience.

Well, you know, somehow we muddle through, Ash.

What are you guys?

Christmas, three years ago.

That's right.

I made a complete jackass out of myself, if I recall.

I thought you were funny that night.

How long are you here for?

I don't know, a couple of days, maybe.

Do you mind if I stay with you?

I can book a hotel if it's a prob.

No, no, no, no. Stay with us.

Oh, great.

Well, Alex and I are going to take a cruise around town, and then I am going

cook a gourmet meal for everyone.

That sounds great.

has just sort of found me, and I've been able to make some smart investments.

Investments? Really?

How nice for you.

So now, um, Annie was going through her science phase last time I saw her, and

if I may say, she is so pretty now, it just makes me sick.

Well, I'm afraid her science thing was a little bit more than just a phase.

She's an intern at my lab, and she's hoping to go to MIT next year. Oh, gosh,

that's excellent.

Boy, I wish I had the discipline to stay focused on one thing.

My motto is seize the day.

Have as much fun as you can. I mean, you only go around once, right?

That sounds suspiciously like Alex's motto, unfortunately.

We need to rewrite that motto to include something about studying for geography.

Oh, is she having some problems?

Apparently. In fact, she'd better be upstairs studying right now.

Why can't Mom be more like Ashley?

Which means what?

Fun, exciting, interesting, you know.

You should cut Mom some slack. She doesn't have an easy job, you know. Why

she have to be so harsh all the time?

Why? You think she should just let you do whatever you want, even if you're

getting crummy grades?

Well, she could at least trust me a little.

I mean, Aunt Ashley's totally different. She treats me like an equal.

Because she's not your mother. If she were, you wouldn't like it so much.

I disagree.

Aunt Ashley's ten times as much fun as Mom is. She'd make an awesome mom.

I'm not so sure.

Of course not. You'd rather have a mom who only cares about how good your

are. I have different priorities.

That's your problem.

Hi.

I just wanted to come say goodnight to you girls.

Aunt Ashley, I'm so glad you came. Oh, I am too.

Listen, tomorrow afternoon I want to go to the mall and spend a lot of money,

and I thought maybe you could come with me after school and help me spend it.

Definitely. I know that mall like the back of my hand. Oh, cool.

You better double check downstairs with the powers that be.

So, are you glad to have your sister here or not?

Investments. Where does she get money for investments?

Barbara, don't do this to yourself.

She's living her life and you're living yours. Yeah, well, then why does my life

include dishes and laundry and PTA meetings and being a disciplinarian?

I want a black sports car. I want a visit from the ambassador.

The ambassador of what?

I don't care. Any ambassador. I'll start small.

Barbara, honey, sweetheart, you have a great life.

You have a family that needs and adores you. You're a mom and a good one. And

best of all, she'll be gone in a couple of days.

You're right.

Whoopsie -dee -dee. Love birds at 12 o 'clock. Oh, that's okay.

Um, I have a load of laundry that needs to get done. It's one of the pitfalls of

being on the road all the time.

Oh, no problem. Just set it down. I guess I can do another load. Oh!

You're the best, Barb.

Oh, and I asked Alex to go to the mall with me tomorrow afternoon.

I don't know. I made an appointment with the tutor for tomorrow afternoon at 5 o

'clock. Oh, don't worry. I'll have her back in plenty of time.

I guess that's okay.

Oh, thanks.

Alex and I are going to have a blast.

Oh, and could you just make sure you wash the colors in cold water? Thanks.

Don't worry, Ash.

I'm really good at this.

She's so cool.

I mean, she travels all over the world, doing all sorts of business deals and

helping the less fortunate.

That's cool, Al.

All my aunt does is knit.

Hey, do you think Ashley would know which capital has the highest elevation?

Bet she would.

Hey, guys.

Aunt Ashley, you remember my friend Ray? Of course. Don't you remember that

summer when your parents were on that cruise and I snuck you two into the

community pool every night after closing?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah. That's a cool ride you got outside.

Oh, you like it? Thanks.

Anyway, Ray, gosh, you've grown like four feet since those days.

But you've still got that killer smile.

Yeah. Oh, can you tell me which foreign capital has the highest elevation above

sea level? I believe that would be La Paz, Bolivia.

Ray, would you like to join us? We girls have some serious shopping to do.

Nah, my dad's at home waiting for me.

Oh, too bad.

Alex, I'm ready.

Mike Donaldson, geography tutor.

Oh, hi, Mr. Donaldson. My husband told me about you. Yep.

Northern hemisphere, southern hemisphere, I know it. Let me take this

Thanks. Come on in.

Is it, um, 5 o 'clock already?

4 .45.

I like to arrive a little early so I can oil and calibrate my globe.

Okay.

Alex will be here any minute.

As soon as I get my license, I'm getting a car just like yours.

Oh, you know, the car was actually a gift from the Berlin Symphony.

I organized a fundraiser for them, and we raised enough money to respring all

the violins, blow out the woodwinds, and polish the horns.

That is so cool.

I hope I get to do stuff like that when I'm older. Oh, sure. Why not?

I'll tell you what I'm definitely not going to do.

Settle down and have a family.

Are you going to get married?

Oh, sure.

Maybe someday.

I'm just having too much fun just traveling and meeting people.

It's too bad you can't drive, Alex. I'll let you take the old car at first spin.

Well, I don't get my license for a year and two months. But until then, I make

do with the go -karts out on Bickerstaff Road.

I'm sorry.

Did you say go -karts?

Uh, yes, I did. I love go -karts. Let's go.

Oh, that'd be great, but isn't my tutor coming today?

Um, no.

I'm pretty sure it's today.

Trust me, Alex, it'll be okay.

If you say so.

The shifting plates in the Atlantic Ocean not only created the series of

mountains we know as the, uh, Barbara?

The Appalachians.

Good.

Now, is this part of the plate shift that created what is known as the Ring

Fire, Barbara?

No, the Ring of Fire is on the Pacific Rim.

Excellent.

Unfortunately, my daughter got the C on her geography test, not me.

Well, I thought George said it was just a pre -test.

The point is, Mr. Donaldson, my sister is an absolute idiot.

She's the most irresponsible person I've ever met.

And I have been understanding for long enough.

Here. Well, maybe there's been some sort of emergency.

There's been no emergency. We're talking about Ashley Hoffman and Alex Mack

here. Goodbye, Mr. Donaldson.

I have a hunch they're having the time of their lives right now.

Well, here they are.

At least we know they're safe.

Let's not overreact.

George, stay out of this. This is between me and my sister.

Hey!

Mom, you will not believe the pot that Aunt Ashley bought me. Look, it was only

$12. I got one, too.

Yeah, we're twins.

Is something wrong?

Yeah, something's very wrong.

Alex's tutor was here at 5.

and he waited until 5 .30.

And then I paid him a cancellation fee, Ash.

Oh, I thought that was tomorrow.

How much was it?

Money's not the point.

You knew it was today.

I'm sorry, I forgot.

And when Alex told me about the go -kart place, I just had to throw caution to

the wind.

Throw caution to the wind, Ashley?

Well, you know, Alex has been throwing caution to the wind when it comes to her

schoolwork. And throwing caution to the wind may be okay for your lifestyle, but

it's not okay for ours. We have responsibilities here.

Mom, please.

No, Alex, stay out of this.

Your mom is right.

Why do you have to be like that? You're just jealous of her.

Alex, that's enough.

The way it's always been, Alex.

I guess things will never change.

Mom just hates me.

But you can't leave.

You just can't.

I'm sorry, honey.

Look, I'm staying at the Albania House downtown.

It's the smaller, European -style hotel, but I'll be very happy there.

Please don't leave.

You're my favorite person in the whole world.

Well, as long as your mom and I are fighting, I can't stay here. I'm sorry,

sweetheart.

I'll get everything straightened out here.

I promise.

I doubt you can, Alex.

But if you do, give me a call at the Albania house, okay?

Goodbye, Alex.

Randall, it's Alex.

You know, Mom's just jealous.

Aunt Ashley travels, she has a cool car, she knows how to have fun.

Mom hates that.

I disagree with you 100%, Alex. I really do.

There's a lot that goes on between sisters that you and I have no way of

understanding.

I understand completely.

I'm never talking to Mom again.

That's going to make things very difficult around the holidays.

I don't care.

This, too, shall pass, Alex. This, too, shall pass.

Is Alex in there? Yes.

But you better give her some time.

No, I have to talk to her right now.

Hello? Hey, lady.

Hello? Yes.

Sir, could you calm down, please?

Are you Ashley Hoffman?

No, no. Ashley Hoffman is my sister.

Well, this is classic car rental.

She's what?

Sir, she would never steal a car.

Tell her that credit card she gave us has been revoked.

I will. I'll try and get her that message.

She doesn't take care of this. We're going to turn this matter over to the

police.

No, no, no, no. Don't call the police. I'll get in touch with her.

Thank you. I promise.

Goodbye.

Who was that?

That was classic car rental.

They want Ashley to return the car she rented because her car... Credit card's

been declined.

It's not Ashley's car.

Alex, you scared the... Didn't you hear me?

Aunt Ashley told me that was her car, that it was a gift from some ambassador.

Really? She told me it was from the Berlin Symphony.

Oh, yeah, I guess she told me both things, too.

Hey, could you hand me that science award?

So, you're surprised about Ashley?

Actually, yeah, I am surprised.

How do you know all this, anyway?

The car rental place just called.

They said that her credit card was no good and that they want their car back.

Why do you want to get in the middle of all this? Why don't you let Mom and

Ashley work it out themselves?

Well, first of all, none of this would have happened if I had just showed up

my tutoring session.

Second of all, you know how much I hate it when sisters fight.

The clerk at the Albania house told me I might find you here.

Jack.

So that's what hotels in Europe look like, huh?

Gee, I thought they'd be a little nicer.

Oh, actually, in Eastern Europe, they're kind of... Ashley, don't lie to me

anymore.

What do you mean?

The people from the rental car agency called, and they want their car back,

which means that it wasn't a gift from any ambassador.

They also said that your credit card bounced, or whatever.

So you're probably not living off your investments either.

And that hotel isn't in a European style.

It's just really cheap.

Not that I care about any of this or that I'm mad.

I just don't like being lied to.

Neither does Mom.

Alex, I'm no rich socialite world traveler.

I'm a flight attendant.

A stewardess?

Well, they don't call us that anymore, but... Yeah.

So? What's wrong with that?

Barbara has everything.

I just wanted her to be proud of me. And you girls, too.

She doesn't have everything.

I mean, she spends all day doing laundry and cooking and taking care of us and

going to school. She barely has time for anything.

I know.

And I wish I had what she had.

You know, it's funny. This whole time I thought she was jealous of your life.

But it's really the other way around, isn't it?

Aunt Ashley, I need your help.

My help?

Yep. See, I got this big geography test tomorrow.

And I thought you'd be the perfect person to help me study. Oh, really?

Really.

Page 264, please.

Mediterranean Seaport. Okie doke.

A 92?

I just can't believe it, Al.

That's right.

A 92 on my geography test.

Read it, Louise.

I never got a 92 on anything.

It was Barbara who always did well in school.

I know how you feel. Annie and I are the same way.

It's rather steady than do anything else.

Well, that's what she loves.

It is.

Totally.

But I have to admit it felt pretty good to get a 92 on this.

Thanks for helping me.

I guess I finally did something right.

Don't say that.

No, Alex.

I came here looking for approval from Barbara.

Trying to get everyone's attention, just acting like some sort of phony star.

But you're just so rad the way you are.

Well, I just, I love you girls so much, and I just wanted you to be proud of me.

Well, now the pressure's off.

Now you can just be yourself.

My Aunt Ashley, the flight attendant.

Oh, you know, I could tell you some stories.

But I think it might be a little too late.

Barbara's not going to forgive me.

Well, you can just ask her.

It usually works for me.

Barbara.

I am so stupid.

I mean, I never get to see you, and when I do, it always ends up being

disappointing. And it's usually my fault.

Ashley, you're such a good person.

I mean, why do you always feel you have to be more than that?

Look at Alex.

I mean, she loves you for what's on the inside, not for your convertible and

your plans to climb Mount Everest.

Well, the convertible didn't hurt.

No, it didn't.

Your daughters are just so special.

Well, you know, I'm lucky.

No, it's not luck.

It's you and George.

Well, thanks, Ash.

I love you, Barbara.

I am so sorry for everything.

Oh, I'm sorry, too.

Gosh, we're such idiots.

Hey, Mom. Hey.

I really wanted to apologize to you.

For what?

Well, I know when Aunt Ashley was here, I took you for granted.

I think you're a really good mom.

Well, shoot.

I could have told you that.

No, I'm not kidding.

I think you're the best mom.

All my friends think so, too.

Really?

That's nice.

Sweetheart, life...

isn't as footloose and fancy -free as your Aunt Ashley makes it out to be.

You need to remember that it's pretty much work before pleasure.

Why do you think I've been setting my buns off?

I noticed.

You're working really hard lately.

I think you've earned a little time off, as a matter of fact.

I think I've earned a little time off, too.

Come on.