Pearl Harbor (television)

"Pearl Harbor" is the 111th episode of Malcolm in the Middle. It originally aired on FOX on 2004-12-05.

Plot

Primary Plot

Reese and Malcolm are watching television when Jessica barges in complaining about her father and changing the channel. While Malcolm defends her Reese sees this as insulting, stating that they have it as poorly as her. At the dinner table Lois tells the family that because they have gone from twenty-eight thousand dollars in debt to twenty-six thousand due to everyone's sacrifices and as a treat to all she is going to treat them to see the musical Mamma Mia!. She explains that it was because of Jessica's suggestion that they, Jessica included, are going. Malcolm brings her Jessica aside and yells at her for manipulating her mother and being greedy. She explains that she did not do it for herself but rather for Reese who she suggests is a homosexual. When Reese confronts her she begins to suggest the same about Malcolm when Reese immediately assumes "Malcolm's gay? I knew it!"

After the family sees the musical both Reese and Malcolm show discomfort when Jessica suggest putting on the soundtrack. When they look at each other though they allow it and nervously dance along; still under the assumption that the other likes it. This goes on until they produce gifts for one another; Malcolm giving Reese an information booklet while Reese gives him a pornographic video. They both come to realize that Jessica has been manipulating them while she laughs and storms out of the house. Reese, who has reached his limit, claims vendetta before quickly coming up with a plan and biting Malcolm's neck.

During the evening as Lois and Jessica unpack groceries Malcolm walks out wearing a turtleneck. Knowing his mother well enough, she pulls it down revealing a hickey (given by Reese) and when Lois asks where he had gotten it he quickly glances towards Jessica's direction. Lois drags her into the bedroom and Jessica quickly concocts a story of how she went along with it in order to prevent Malcolm from dating a girl who was both promiscuous and addicted to drugs before breaking down into tears. Lois quickly stops her saying that she realized all along that Jessica had been making up stories and manipulating others and that she had played along because it had brought her family closer together and was personally entertaining. She explains that because of what she has done Jessica will no longer be welcome back into the house as she has violated her trust, but as a result the boys will 'forgive her and sneak her back in'. Going along with a few small terms that would require Jessica to provide more manipulation the two make a silent alliance. Meanwhile Reese and Malcolm have resumed fighting over petty arguments. Reese exclaims "I liked you better when you were gay." Malcolm agrees.

Secondary Plot

Dewey asks Hal for help with his homework while his father expresses that he is too busy setting up Christmas light decorations early because 'Christmas jerk' Bill Rendall always outshines him. When Dewey tells Hal that his homework is to write a three hundred word report on who his personal hero he is ecstatic and agrees to assist him. Later Dewey comes back with a report that is filled with blatant lies about his father's life. Hal is disgusted and demands that he rewrites it. Later on he learns that instead of doing so he has instead decided to do the report about Lois. Hal makes several comments over the next few days while finishing his project; celebrating the tragedy of Pearl Harbor. Upon completion Hal and Dewey drop previous problems to embrace the moment. Later in the evening all are drawn to the window to see that Bill Rendall has created his own homage to Pearl Harbor; one that far outshines Hal's. In the middle of the night Dewey and Hal spread worms throughout their neighbor's lawn. In the morning Bill comes out to find that birds have eaten the worms and now defecate all over him and his property.

Cast

Recurring Characters

*Hayden Panettiere as Jessica

Guest Stars

*Curtis Taylor as Bill Rendall

Trivia

*This is one of the few episodes that does not involve Stevie, Francis, or any other main recurring characters and, besides Jessica, revolves solely around the family themselves.
*Much like the actual Pearl Harbor Bill Rendall is overcome or 'bombed' by the birds in a similar surprised fashion.