Original subtitles

"I'll say yon grey is not the morning's eye.

"'Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia's brow.

"Nor that is not the lark

"whose notes do beat

"the vaulty heavens so high above our head.

"I have more care to stay than will to go.

Come, death. And welcome."

(all cheering)

Yes! He nailed it!

Malcolm...

that was wonderful!

So sensitive and full of passion.

It was just beautiful.

Before you say anything,

just remember we're best friends.

So that wheelchair

isn't gonna stop me from kicking your ass.

Bring it on, Homeo.

* Yes, no, maybe

* I don't know

* Can you repeat the question?

* You're not the boss of me now *

* You're not the boss of me now *

* You're not the boss of me now *

* And you're not so big

* You're not the boss of me now *

* You're not the boss of me now *

* You're not the boss of me now *

* And you're not so big

* Life is unfair.

LOIS: What do you mean what happens when you die?

You're dead.

That's it. Oh, now,

honey, that's not quite true.

Actually, son, after death

your body undergoes

a fascinating series of changes.

First, it bloats up like a balloon.

Then shrivels like a raisin.

Then tiny microbes

you can't even see, but are on you right now,

start to devour your flesh

and return all the elements in your body back to the soil.

Now, some people will tell you

that your hair keeps growing, but that's... that's a myth.

It's actually your head that shrinks.

Now, go get ready for Aunt Helen's funeral.

Julie, listen, I'm sorry I'm canceling out so late.

That's okay.

I mean, it's a funeral.

So, were you close with your aunt?

No, but I guess my mom was.

She keeps saying how important this is.

Anyway, I'm really sorry.

Especially since you're stuck with the extra ticket.

Well, that's okay.

Maybe I'll ask Jimmy to go.

Who's Jimmy?

Jimmy Westcott. He plays football.

Bye.

(dial tone drones) (sighs)

Oh, yeah. Life's fair.

Did you call that girl?

Yes, I called her.

I called her and told her I couldn't go to the concert.

And now she's probably going to invite someone else.

Well, Malcolm, I'm sorry that my mother's sister--

the woman who took care of me every day after school--

had to die and inconvenience

your social life.

She does it on purpose.

I could have made up a million different escape plans,

but now my brain is filled with mom guilt.

Who's this?

How should I know?

Hal?

Beats me.

Dewey?

Is this a friend of yours?

Uh-huh. Who is he?

I don't know.

What's your name, son?

(quietly): Egg.

Did he say Greg?

I thought he said Craig.

His name is Egg.

"Egg"? I named him.

Well, you can't keep him.

He needs to go home, okay?

Okay.

This stinks.

Whether it's a wedding, a funeral or court date,

these family gatherings are always the same.

Ooh! I just can't take my hands off that face!

(women clamoring)

I can't wait till I get zits.

At least then I can fight back.

Hal, you have to get ready.

Why are you still messing around with those record albums?

Well, I thought I was gonna spend today in the garage

listening to them on my quadraphonic.

But now that we're going to the funeral,

I have to reseal the shrink wrap.

Hal! I'll hurry, okay?

I have to get my speech ready anyway.

Honey, you know you don't have to talk

at every funeral we go to.

Whew, I wish that were true.

You see how people look to me

when they ask if somebody has a few words to say?

They're not looking to you, they're looking at you.

To, at... what's the difference?

(phone ringing) (groans)

Hello.

Hey, Mom, I'm just warning you,

someone claiming to be the commandant might call you soon.

It's just this guy down the hall.

Just play along and pretend you believe him.

He's totally harmless.

Francis, I really can't talk to you right now.

We're on our way to Aunt Helen's funeral.

Aunt Helen died?

Well, I sure hope so. We're going to her funeral.

Well, when did she die?

Mom, why didn't anybody tell me?!

Uh, well, honey, we just,

we didn't want to have to worry you over nothing.

Nothing? She's dead! How's Uncle Fred taking it?

Well, I don't think he's thought too much about it.

He died about two months ago.

What?! Francis, I'm sorry.

I really have to go. Here.

Talk to your brother. Mom?

Hello?

All right, let's see it.

I can't breathe.

Fine.

You know the drill.

Upgrade.

See?

Problem solved.

Hello?

Oh.

Okay, well, you can wear

one of the suits that Uncle Fred left you.

Aw, Mom, a dead suit?

Cool. A dead suit.

Dewey, why don't you help your little friend

find his way out? I did.

He keeps coming back.

This thing's an open casket, right?

I think so. Why?

Because I'm going to stash this with Aunt Helen.

What is that?

It's a Mighty Man. Mom and Dad had it

in the back of their closet for some reason.

I'm Mighty Man. It's Dewey's birthday next week.

This is his present.

Oh. What'd you do to it?

I stomped on it. Why would you do that?

Look, I don't know why I do the things I do.

I just know I don't want to get caught.

That's why Aunt Helen is getting a new friend.

You're gonna bury that with her?

You are so dead.

Hey, I watch lawyer shows.

Mom will think I did it,

but she can't prove it without this.

It's in the Constitution--

no evidence, no conviction.

E pluribus unum.

(chuckling): Oh, yeah.

Hi, honey. Hey, you know,

I finally found my joke cards.

For some reason, they were behind the water heater.

Really? Hey, how's this?

"A priest, a rabbi and Uncle Fred are..."

Oh, well, Aunt Helen.

"...are playing golf with Saint Peter."

Hal, please! Hey, have you seen my pun file?

It's in a box marked "laughter thoughts."

Laughter thoughts?

(whistles)

How did she die? Cats ate her face.

Dewey, I think you're confused. I'm asking about Aunt Helen.

Cats ate her face. Look, would you just

put Mom or Dad on the phone?

Hello. Dad!

What happened to Aunt Helen?

Cats ate her face.

Well, here, Dewey knows more about it than I do.

Mom, I hate wearing Reese's hand-me-downs.

Look at this.

Jelly in the pockets, the fly's broken,

and it smells like wet dog.

Well, you should be glad he only wore it once.

You know, I'm trying to be there for Mom.

But the annoyances are starting to outweigh the guilt.

I'm this close to sneaking out of the whole thing.

Well, I suppose you're entitled to complain.

After all, it's only my Aunt Helen.

What is she-- a mind reader?

And then there were ants on her bones.

And the police came. Dad, listen...

Hey, can you think of anything that rhymes with cadaver? Dad?

How long is this funeral gonna take?

Including traveling time? All day.

(groans)

I know, I know. But remember,

it'll make your mom happy.

Mom really loved Aunt Helen, huh?

Oh, God, no.

Your mom hated her.

What? She "hated her"? Mm-hmm.

Everyone did. Horrible woman.

I used to have to forbid her from calling here

'cause she always made your mom cry.

I can't believe Mom tricked me like that.

I'll tell you one thing--

I now consider myself totally free

to ditch this funeral.

I got to call Julie.

Hello? Malcolm!

Oh, thank God! Somebody I can talk to.

Sorry, I have to make a call.

No... (dial tone drones)

So, your aunt's... not dead?

No. It turned out to be one of those comas

where they think you're dead

and they put you on the embalmer's table

and you wake up at the last second.

It was a close call.

Uh, okay.

I guess we'll pick you up at 2:00.

Great.

I figure I'll commit to it first and come up with a plan later.

I always think better under pressure...

or is it when I'm not under pressure?

Oh, well. Too late now.

I'm ready to go. Yeah. Hey!

You're taking a backpack to the funeral?

My back gets cold.

Fair enough.

LOIS: Look, Francis,

I guess I get scattered. You know, sometimes I forget

what I told you, and you're not here, so I don't...

I'm not there because you sent me away.

I swear, I'm not even a part of this family anymore.

Francis, it's very important that you understand

that is not true.

But I don't have time right now. I understand.

It's not like it's a matter of life and death.

Oh, wait, it is!

Anyone else die in the last five minutes

I should know about?

Francis, you want to know everything

that's been happening?

Your father mowed the lawn,

Reese polished off all the cereal,

and I dropped a frying pan on my foot

and I got a big black toe.

You want me to send a picture?

Egg! Cut it out!

Who is Egg?

Oh, he's a new boy in the house.

What?!

Okay.

It'll only hurt for a second

and I'll get out of the funeral.

I can tell Julie a really cool story

about how I got my black eye.

Aw, I'm so gutless!

Why are you taking so long?

Let's go.

Reese, listen.

I know it sounds crazy,

but I need you to hit me.

(groans)

You idiot!

In the eye!

And leave a mark for Mom to see?

Forget it.

No bruises, no evidence...

no crime.

(sighs)

I guess we move on to plan B-- lying.

What book report?

I just remembered.

I have a big book report due tomorrow.

And I haven't even started reading it.

Standard technique--

you volunteer a small crime

to distract them from looking for the big one.

So, what's the report on?

A Tale of Two Cities.

Oh, how many words? 750.

Was that on your assignment sheet? No, it's an addendum.

When did you get that? Thursday. I didn't bring it home.

That's why I forgot to do the assignment.

Ooh, nice one.

Well, I suppose if it's schoolwork.

That's the mislead.

Wait for the reverse.

A Tale of Two Cities.

Who's that by? Charles Dickens.

Oh, I thought it was Victor Hugo. No, it's Dickens.

Is that the one with Jean Valjean?

That's Les Miserables. No, no.

Uh, isn't A Tale of Two Cities the one with Jean Valjean,

where he's says, "It's a far, far better thing I do..."

right before he steals a loaf of bread?

No. Sidney Carton says that right before they behead him.

I thought you hadn't read it.

What? No. I said I hadn't written it.

And when is it due?

Tomorrow, I told you.

On Les Miserables? Yes. No!

It's on Tale of Two Cities.

Which you haven't read yet. Right.

But you just said you did.

No, I-I said I didn't, and then you said...

It was Thursday, and...

Look, I just don't want to go to this stupid funeral!

There's no reason for me to go, and I want to go

to the concert with Julie! REESE: Let's go, let's go.

I'll be waiting in the car.

LOIS: Malcolm?

I am ashamed of you.

Wanting to deny your poor Aunt Helen her due.

No, that won't work on me, because I know

you didn't love Aunt Helen. You hated her!

Of course I hated her. What does that have to do with anything?

What? Malcolm, this isn't about love.

It's about family.

We have a duty to this family.

And we are darn well gonna do it!

(car horn honking) But why? It's not fair!

You can't just stick the word "family" in front of something

and turn everyone else into slaves.

It makes no sense.

No one liked this woman.

So why do we have to pretend like we did now?

What good will it do anybody?

Hal?

I got nothing.

I could really use some support here.

Excuse me?

I am being incredibly supportive.

I'm giving up my entire day for this-this thing.

And you don't hear me complaining.

Hal, it was a bunch of old record albums.

It's not like you're not giving up something important.

Well, they're important to me.

LOIS (sighs): You-you people!

I can't believe you.

I asked you to do one thing that...

FRANCIS: You're not asking; you're ordering.

LOIS: After all I do for this family.

I cook, I clean, I spackle, I plunge.

And none of it means anything to any of you people!

And the one time I ask you for something--

something that I shouldn't even have to ask you for--

and all I get are complaints!

(horn honking louder)

Well, what about me, hmm?

You think I want to be cleaning out the gutters

when I could be surfing the beaches of Europe

or-or cruising around on my hog?

What hog?! Aha!

Exactly! Where's my hog?!

(sighs) Where do you think you're going?

I have had it!

From now on, no one has to do anything.

We can all just do whatever we want!

And I want to take

a bubble bath!

Fine!

So, that's a "yes" on the concert?

Come on, come on.

(sighs)

Are you gonna be in there all day?

If I feel like it.

Fine. Just so you know, when I'm done in the garage,

I'm using the bathroom whether you're in here or not.

Mom?

I think we should go to Aunt Helen's funeral.

I mean, she was a good woman.

It's the least we can do.

I don't know what you're trying to pull,

Reese, but I don't like it.

Am I the only one that cared about her?

Yes, you're the good one.

Enjoy your moment in the sun.

Now, get out of here.

This is me time.

(sniffing)

Hey, Reese, which one stinks more?

What's your problem?!

You couldn't keep your big mouth shut until after the funeral.

Now I'll have to wait for another relative

to die to bury this thing.

It could be weeks!

You'll think of something.

No, I won't.

You have good ideas all the time.

But for me, this was special.

Hey! You can't leave this mess here.

I've got a guest coming over.

Too bad. Thanks to you,

no one has to do anything anymore.

It's anarchy, baby.

That's the word, right?

(sighs)

Um... Mom?

I was just wondering

if you could wash this shirt for me?

(laughing)

You must be joking.

But you're the only one that knows how to use

the washer and dryer without getting shocked.

Please?

Well... since you said please.

Here you go.

All washed.

I think you've been in the garage long enough.

(chuckling)

Okay.

Gosh!

Well, no, no, no.

You are gonna get your own outlet.

Uh... okay, here we go.

Okay... okay, here we are.

(laughing)

(grunting)

Come on.

Come on. God.

Gotcha!

Oh.

No, not my problem today.

(chuckling)

(music playing loudly)

* Well, I don't know why I came here tonight *

* I got a feeling that something ain't right... *

Hand me that loofah.

He wants juice.

Go get your own juice.

You said I'm not supposed to.

(sighing): You're right.

Okay, from now on,

you are officially old enough to get your own juice.

Poof.

* Yes, I'm stuck in the middle with you *

* And I'm wondering what it is I should do... *

Darn it.

Darn it.

Darn it.

Mom!

I spilled!

So? Clean it up!

* Jokers to the right, here I am *

* Stuck in the middle with you

* Well, you started off with nothing... *

(sniffs)

Green apple soap.

Girls like green apples, right?

Oh, man, she got my pants wet, too!

* Here I am, stuck in the middle with you... *

Hello?

Is Malcolm here?

(gasps)

Is Malcolm here?!

Huh?

Malcolm!

JULIE: Malcolm?

Julie! Nothing.

* On the back and say please

* Please...

(screaming)

(grunts)

Oh, my God!

Are you okay?

I just wanted to be nice!

People told me not to come to your house!

But I thought they were just being silly!

Julie, I'm sorry!

Things aren't usually like this.

Just give me a minute and I'll be ready to go.

I don't want to go anymore!

Just leave me alone!

* Out of my chair

* And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs *

(record scratches)

How could you let her see me in my underwear?!

Mom, this has gone too far!

You have to do something!

It's not supposed to be like this.

We're not supposed to injure my friends.

We're not supposed to let people see me in my underpants!

We're supposed to be there for each other.

Like when a family member dies,

and we're supposed to go to their funeral?

(sighs) I'll be in my room.

Then she slid into the trash and ran off.

I swear, this whole family is falling apart.

Oh, yes! I knew this moment would come.

They don't have their scapegoat around,

so everything goes to hell.

No one realized that I'm the one who held this family together.

Without me to blame everything on,

they don't know what to do with themselves.

A scapegoat... thanks.

Mom thinks...

He's right.

This family needs a scapegoat.

I started this, so I should be the one to end it.

I did a terrible thing today.

I tore this family apart.

And I'm really sorry for that.

But...

it's not half as bad... as what Reese did!

Oh, my God!

(distorted): I'm Mighty Man. Was this Dewey's present?

DEWEY: Present?

LOIS: Reese, how could you?

Do you know how expensive this was?

Hal? I'm on it.

That was a terrible thing to do

to your little brother. There's more!

He was gonna bury it with Aunt Helen!

You were going to make Aunt Helen spend eternity

with a crushed Mighty Man?

A Mighty Man?

I can't believe you!

This is a whole new low, Reese.

First of all, this is all circumstantial.

I don't know how that thing got in my backpack.

As for this Aunt Helen business, no one knows

what I would've done at that funeral because we're not going.

Who says we're not going?

You did. Well, you can guess again.

You are gonna march right up to that coffin,

and apologize to that poor, dead woman.

We all are.

All right, everyone in the car as is.

We'll have to drive creatively, but we might make the end.

Let's go. Chop, chop! Here we go!

Egg! (whistles) Come on!

Aunt Helen used to say...

(raspy-voiced): "Oh, you're gonna miss me when I'm gone."

And, uh, by the looks of today's turnout,

I can see it wasn't just an idle threat.

(whispering): Yeah, Francis, your father's giving a speech.

And it's actually kind of good.

Can I get my phone back?

I'm almost done, sweetie.

Oh, Aunt Helen looks just lovely.

You turn right back around, mister!

(whispering): You'll never guess what Reese did.

Well, it's been a pretty productive day.

I made Julie Rulerman hate me.

Reese is gonna kill me the second we get home.

And right now,

Aunt Helen is personally bad-mouthing me to God.

You want some more water, Uncle Louie?

Sure.

I need someone to put in a good word for me.