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Bully is the tenth episode of Season 2 of Malcolm in the Middle and the twenty-sixth episode overall of the show.

Plot[]

After being beaten by a girl in a wrestling match, Reese relinquishes his role as the school bully. The mini bullies are free from being under his reign. At first, Malcolm relishes his freedom, but soon regrets it when one of the bullies begins bullying him. The Krelboynes aren't spared due to their friendship with Malcolm. Reese returns when the ringleader of the mini bullies, Jacob, enter the off-limit zone (picking on Stevie).

Francis tries to come home from military school for his birthday to avoid a brutal birthday hazing ritual of having his whole body shaved.

Summary[]

In the cold opening Reese and Malcolm are popping bubble wrap in the kitchen until Dewey walks in and asked what they're up to. They both have an idea and wrap Dewey up in the bubble wrap and launch him into the air using a seesaw device. Malcolm says that he wishes that Dewey could stay little forever.

Reese is suddenly the school hero when he joins the wrestling team. Malcolm claims that Reese finally found a way to beat the snot out of people and actually get a trophy for it. Dewey asks when Reese is up and Lois tells him he should be up next as Hal unfurls a banner saying “Go Reese!”. An audience member asks them if they’re Reese’s parents and they worriedly wonder why. He just tells them how incredible he was and that his match was the turning point and he inspired the whole team. They both question if there’s more but he assures him there’s nothing else, Malcolm states they are all still getting used to the idea of being proud of Reese. A boy who painted his face with their school colours shouts his encouragement from the audience, to which Malcolm responds with “Thank you Braveheart” causing a few people to laugh at him. Lois wonders where Reese is since he should be warming up. Reese is warming up by putting a nerdy boy in a headlock. But when Reese’s match comes up he discovers that his opponent is a girl wrestler. Lois states how unfair it is and if they really expect him to beat up a girl. Reese says to himself he has no problem beating up a girl since he won’t get in trouble for it. But after the match starts, he gets completely destroyed by the girl wrestler who ends up bending his legs around to kick himself in the face.

At dinner the next night, Dewey asks if Reese is a girl now Malcolm claims that Reese is actually a lady, but Lois tells them to stop making fun of him, and there’s no shame for losing a wrestling match. Hal agrees, and lets Reese know there’s no shame in losing and that girl was just undoubtedly a better wrestler than race and had him flopping around on the mat like a rag doll. The phone rings and Lois answers, Francis calls from Marlin Academy who is scared of the cadet birthday tradition: being stripped naked, getting every hair shaved off from your body and then getting thrown in the academy's reflecting pond. He begs Lois to fly him home, but Lois does not believe his stories are true (last time Lois thought it was a story was when Francis wanted to come home to go to a house party, his cover up was that Marlin Academy was being terrorized by a pack of feral dogs) Francis informs her that the dogs were never caught but she reiterates that they can't afford to fly him back. After hanging up the phone, Francis decides to temporarily ignore his fears and joins his fellow cadets in shaving the last remaining hair off the terrified fleeing nude cadet whose birthday is that day.

The next day, Malcolm sits at lunch with Dabney, Lloyd and Stevie. Dabney tells Malcolm he heard about what happened at the wrestling match. At first, Malcolm states how hilarious it was and asks if they saw it. Stevie reminds him they never attend sporting events and Malcolm wonders what it feels like to be beaten up by a girl. Lloyd claims it’s humiliating and makes someone feel like they want to die asking if Reese soiled himself, after responding no Lloyd claims he didn’t either. Dabney is pessimistic and warns everyone that Reese's defeat could bring serious consequences to the whole school, and how he may start working extra hard to prove that he’s still on top of the food chain. Lloyd questions if he means it could result in a new bully worse than him. Dabney says it’s a possibility and although they won’t be able to avoid the beatings he suggests going without underwear for the next few days as a wedgie deterrent. Lloyd sees Reese coming over but when a kid spills Reese's lunch on his shirt, instead of beating him up, he gets up on a table and deliberately pours chocolate milk on himself in front of the whole student population. Lloyd sees Reese used the old chocolate milk diversion and wishes he had thought of that.

Later at home, Malcolm asks Reese why he did that, Reese explains he is sick of his bullying personality, and that he was destroying his old self and starting over. Malcolm tells him he’s been acting weird ever since getting his butt kicked by the girl. Reese further explains that it isn’t just about the girl, it’s how wrestling made him feel proud of himself, inspiring and helping the school, and since his defeat by his female opponent he has had nothing. He sets out to try finding a new way to help people with good deeds. Dewey walks in and Reese asks him what’s something nice he can do for him. Dewey calls out to his mom but Reese covers his mouth claiming he’s trying to help.

Lois is sitting at the kitchen table when Hal comes home from work. She tells him that he feels bad for Francis with his phone calls about his so-called stories, but she finds them touching in a way. With the fact that it is his first birthday away from home. Hal suggests going out, he pulls out two tickets to a Jimmy Buffett concert that he got from a co-worker because he did not want them. The phone rings and Francis once again calls from Marlin Academy telling Lois about a way he can get home for his birthday without spending a cent: one of the cadets he knows has a father who is a trucker, he can hitch a ride in the refrigerator compartment of his truck's trailer until he arrives at the 609 Interchange, from there a friend of the trucker who flies a crop duster, if the pilot is sober enough- can drop him off in a soybean field near a train station to catch a train back home. Lois tells him not to worry, that there will be other birthdays for him to enjoy, Hal interrupts the phone call asking about the Jimmy Buffett concert, Francis overhearing Hal, asks if the concert is taking place on Wednesday which is his birthday. Lois says yes and that is isn't relevant to Francis' situation. Francis scolds her about how she has the money to afford tickets to a concert, but cannot afford to bring Francis home. Lois tries to explain that they got them for free. Francis does not buy it and tells them to get their stories straight before they try to ditch him on his birthday. He angrily hangs up.

At school, Malcolm sees that all the rest of the students are enjoying their freedom from the reign of Reese. He walks by his friends and Lloyd asks him if he wants his cake. Malcolm asks if he’s even hungry, Lloyd states he’s not hungry since he ate both his lunch and his decoy lunch that Reese usually steals from him. Dabney says since Reese hasn’t made him eat grass for a week everything tastes better and Stevie says that life is good. When the nerdy boy from the wrestling match announces he has been taking ballet classes, Reese congratulates him rather than making fun of him for it. Malcolm says how two days ago Reese would’ve creamed that kid, and how things are changing now and they’ve entered a new era of enlightenment. Just when Malcolm believes all things are perfect, he is confronted by the Braveheart boy from the wrestling match. He tells him that since Reese is no longer the school bully, he doesn't have to deal with him when he teaches Malcolm a lesson about him making fun of getting his face painted. Malcolm tries to explain that they were just jokes and they are friends, but he says making fun of him for painting his face isn't a very nice thing to say to a friend, before he pushes him to the ground. In that moment, he comes to regret his newfound freedom and learn just how much everyone hates his sarcasm. He is joined by another heavyset bully named Rick, who claims Malcolm insulted him by calling him "Moby Rick". He claimed he never called him that and he actually called him "Rickopotomus" which leads to him pushing him down again. Malcolm asks for a break and asks if they really don't think he's funny, this leads to a punch in the face. The mini bullies target Malcolm not only because he hurt their feelings, but also they had a personal hatred for his older brother, Reese. They felt like that Malcolm had been taking advantage of their fears because he had the latter protecting him due to them being brothers.

Malcolm claims that you learn something new every day, and he has learned that evidently he's not as charming as he thought he was, since he is now being held by his ankles dunked into a garbage can by two other mini bullies who tell him how much his sarcastic comments hurt and how one of them is self conscious about his appearance and he doesn't appreciate Malcolm constantly mocking his choices of clothes and how he cries himself to sleep at night before they leave. Afterwards, Malcolm explains to his friends that the only reason those mini bullies put up with him is because they're afraid of Reese. Lloyd tells Malcolm that on occasion he can be a little caustic. Stevie claims the more appropriate term is arrogant, Dabney adds how he can be bitter, sarcastic and handsome earning a confused look from Lloyd and Stevie. The result ended with the mini bullies creating more anarchy and chaos then before. Sure enough the Krelboyne class are not spared mainly due to their friendship with him Malcolm quickly regrets relishing in his newfound freedom and realizes that things were better off with Reese as the main bully.

Meanwhile, Reese is trying to be a good person: he helps another kid named Jeffrey cross the street safely, then his mother comes screaming his name, telling Jeffrey he is in big trouble for ignoring her rule about staying out of the street. Next, he visits a patient at the hospital, wanting to read to him. The patient is so glad to see him, until Reese mentions that "terminal patients" really get a lift from having visitors. and realizes he is in the wrong room and hospital. The patient desperately pushes the call button for his nurse.

Back at Marlin Academy, Francis is trying to sleep, but overhears a cadet named Murphy getting the same traditional birthday treatment. Murphy informs them that his grandmother sent him a comforter and they can take that if they don’t throw him in the pond, but is ignored and thrown in regardless. When Francis closes the window to his dorm, the glass breaks and cuts his hand. Finally, he thinks he has an out when he injures his hand. In the infirmary, he tells the nurse that he’d like to say it’s the stupidest thing he’s ever done but on top of everything Commandant Spangler is going to make him fix the window when he gets back. The nurse takes pity on Francis' situation and says he has every right to be upset and invites him over to her apartment for a nice dinner and a German chocolate cake.

Lois and Hal, feeling guilty for not being able to fly Francis home on his birthday decide to do something extra nice to him. Malcolm comes home with bruises and Lois asks what happened to him. He tells his parents everything that has happened since Reese's loss to the female wrestler, and now that he’s not the school bully anymore, there is no one to protect him from the people who think he is an unfunny little smart-ass. Hal does admit that he can be a little sarcastic, Malcolm sarcastically thanks him for making him feel better from that statement. Lois glares at Hal who goes to reassure him.

Hal finds Malcolm in the bathroom cleaning his bruises and tells him a hypothetical story about how he told a co-worker he thought their boss had been dyeing his hair, which made his co-worker squeal on him causing him to be demoted to a tiny office at the end of the hall next to the copier. Hal claims that if he had just apologized like he should have, the boys would each have their own bedrooms. Malcolm asks if Hal wishes he apologized to his boss, but Hal claims he doesn't regret anything since his boss was such an arrogant pretty boy. Malcolm realizes his dad is right and if he apologizes to the people he insulted they'll forgive him.

After Francis gets off the phone with the nurse who treated his injury, his friend Eric stops him in the hallway asking about his date, Francis kindly explains that it is with a nurse with her own place and it's nothing too special. Eric complements him for it. Eric then takes him into the recreational room where a cookie basket birthday gift lays on the billiards table out in the open, which reveals to all of Francis's fellow cadets what he's been trying to hide: it's his birthday. Francis at first attempts to make up an excuse that his mom works at the post office and sent him an early birthday gift. The cadets don't believe him and Francis knows the inevitability of getting his whole body hair shaved off and decides to go through with it cooperatively.

At school, all of the students have defaced parts of the school with graffiti and toilet paper rolls. Malcolm tries to apologize to the Braveheart boy about his sarcastic, hurtful comments towards him, but instead of apologizing he simply explains how sarcasm works only to receives a punch to the face. Afterwards, he says to Malcolm that he was glad that he had their conversation. Just then Reese calls Malcolm over.

Reese explains to Malcolm he believes that he has found the answer to what he wants to do with his life. A boy comes up to Reese and asks if he's still selling his video games, Reese approves and sells them to him for $5. He mentions that a missionary named Brother Billy told him that one of his good deeds is selling his material possessions. Reese tells Malcolm about how Brother Billy and his feel-good followers have secure compound up in Oregon where they live off-grid separated from society and assures his brother it’s totally safe since it has guard dogs and watchtowers. Malcolm asks Reese if Hal and Lois have any knowledge about it. Reese says that they cannot know because Brother Billy says they have negative energy and bad karma. Malcolm immediately realizes that he is joining a cult. Reese tells Malcolm off and says that unlike him, Brother Billy makes him feel good about himself, Malcolm tries to tell him he is being brainwashed, to no avail.

Just then, Dabney and Lloyd beg Reese to regain his crown as the alpha bully because his absence has created a power vacuum and the mini bullies have taken over the school and are causing anarchy wherever they go. Dabney mentions that without him around to stop this mess, the mini bullies are in charge and will continue making things worse. Lloyd informs them that he's already been hit up for his lunch money twice that day, Dabney has been three times and when he didn't have anything left they took his shirt, Lloyd reiterates that they took his shoes when he ran out of money. Reese at first refuses, claiming it's in the past and he was a jerk. However, they point out that he may have been a jerk to the Krelboynes and anyone else, but he kept order in the school by being the alpha jerk. Lloyd tells him to look around to see the destruction the mini bullies are causing if he doesn't believe him. Reese looks around to see chaos with mini bullies having taken over the school. One of the boys who dunked Malcolm into the garbage can is seen popping a milk carton on a girl and laughing obnoxiously. A red headed boy named Nick is seen stealing the glasses who belong to the nerdy boy taking ballet and walking into a pole after the glasses blur his vision, and the Braveheart Boy is putting armlocks on a few students in a row. They tell him the whole school needs him to restore order by administering his unique form of evenhanded brutality. Reese then asks if his being the alpha bully was a good thing. Malcolm, Dabney and Lloyd assent in agreement with Dabney claiming he’s their only hope.

Reese isn't convinced until he notices one of the bullies and ringleader, a kid named Jacob, entered the off-limits zone by picking on Stevie who is wheelchair bound, wheezing for help and is enraged by this. He mentions to Malcolm, Dabney and Lloyd that his bullying manual prohibits bullying Stevie and any other disabled kids because they are in a wheelchair. Dabney point out that it used to be, ever since Reese gave up the position as head bully, Stevie or any other disabled kid has been fair game.

Enraged, Reese reverts back to his old self and hands over his backpack to Lloyd. He proceeds to restore order in the school by beating up the mini bullies one by one, starting with their ringleader, Jacob. When he orders Reese to get out of his way, he retaliates by sticking his finger in Jacob's nose and dragging him to a flag post to knock him out. The kids stop fighting amongst themselves upon seeing him back in his position head bully. Reese then turns his attention to the boy who is popping a milk carton on a boy's face and laughing at him. Reese punches him in the stomach, hits him with a lunch tray and knocks him to the ground. Next on his list is Nick whom he punches in the stomach and returns the glasses to the nerdy boy who owns them, he is surprised but thanks Reese who tells him that starting tomorrow he is back doing his book reports for him, which he agrees to. He finishes it off by kicking a trashcan to knock Braveheart Boy and the remaining mini bullies down and the rest of the kids cheer his name. With Reese reclaiming his position as head bully in the school, order has been restored. The vice principal notices this and takes Reese to his office right away. Stevie states that balance has finally been restored. Everyone is happy that everything is back to normal because of Reese, except for the mini bullies. They are very resentful and start hating Malcolm and his friends a whole lot more for bringing him back. However, they can't do anything about it as long as Reese remains in charge of the bully system, making Malcolm, Stevie and the rest of the Krelboynes all off limits once again.

Later that day, Lois and Hal are preparing to leave the house wearing Hawaiian shirts to the Jimmy Buffett concert. Lois asked about the cookie basket for Francis, Hal assumes that he was thrilled when he got it. Lois assumed his friends gave him a party, not knowing about the extremely barbaric behavior Francis has described to her.

Back at Marlin Academy, Francis is looking a himself in the mirror, completely hairless. Joe comes in and asks how the reflecting pond was and when he's going on his date, Francis tells him that the pond was cold and his date with the nurse starts in 20 minutes. As Joe leaves Francis uses a black marker to conceal his bald head and missing eyebrows as Joe peers in door and chuckles.

Cast[]

  • Jane Kaczmerek as Lois
  • Bryan Cranston as Hal
  • Christopher Kennedy Masterson as Francis
  • Justin Berfield as Reese
  • Erik Per Sullivan as Dewey
  • Frankie Muniz as Malcolm

Guest Stars[]

Recurring[]

  • Craig Lamar Taylor as Stevie
  • Eric Nenninger as Eric Hanson
  • Kasan Butcher as Cadet Joe
  • Evan Matthew Cohen as Lloyd
  • Kyle Sullivan as Dabney

Cameos[]

  • Mike White as coach
  • John Lacy as spectator
  • Eric Fleeks as ref
  • Laura Henry as Jeffrey's mother
  • Ellis E. Williams as patient
  • Susan Yeagley as nurse
  • Eric Marquette as Braveheart
  • Tyler Roche as Jeffrey
  • Jerry Messing as Moby Rick
  • Jacob Franchek as Jacob (credited as big kid #3)
  • Nick Fuoco as Nick (credited as big kid #4)
  • Kenneth Schmidt as little kid #1
  • Dion Clinton Overstreet, Jr. as little kid #2

Trivia[]

  • When Reese visits to read to the patient and mentions "terminal patients" he accidentally told him that he was placed under terminal care. This term indicates that the patient is critically ill, that his curative treatment has been discontinued, and was supposed to cope with his condition and subsequent death. The man did not know about this and that is why he was in a panic calling a nurse.
  • The first song that plays throughout the school's bully rampage is "Spy break" by Propeller heads which was also heard in The Matrix (1999). When Reese reverts himself back to the school bully, "Hulkster's In The House" by Hulk Hogan and The Wrestling Boot Band plays. The song that plays during the last scene is "Hey Now Baby" by Professor Longhair.
  • This episode takes place on Francis' birthday. In the episode Flashback, it was shown that Francis was born when Lois was about to be married to Hal while in labor with Francis, due to his birth being out of wedlock it's implied that Hal and Lois postponed their wedding since they had no control of when Francis would be born.
  • Reese helps the little boy to cross the street on this fake road on the premises of the CBS Studio Center. This private location would later be reused several times over the course of MitM, next time in the following episode Old Mrs. Old.[1]
  • This is the last episode to air during the year 2000.
  • In one scene, Dabney accidentally reveals that he finds Malcolm "handsome", which he rebuts seconds later by saying "Hey, she's cute". This indicates that Dabney is secretly gay or at least bisexual and has some sort of interest in Malcolm.
  • The reason that Reese is socially obligated not to beat up Stevie is because of his bullying manual which prohibits anyone including himself from doing the deed since he's in a wheelchair. This is the 2nd time, this had been violated and the offenders being the mini bullies lead by Jacob, Braveheart boy, Moby Rick and Nick. The first time was in Pilot when Dave Spath accidentally hit Stevie and causing him to fall down. This not only got him reprimanded by everyone and expelled, it was also implied that Reese beat him up for the violation itself. This is supported in Reese vs. Stevie.
  • Dewey has a minor role in this episode.
  • In Hal's Birthday, Francis would later get his revenge on Hal and Lois for refusing to fly him home on his birthday by intentionally coming home late and marrying Piama.

Quotes[]

Reese: Hey, Stevie's off limits!
Dabney: You mean, he used to be.
(Reese is enraged and reverts back to his old self. He hands Lloyd his backpack and takes care of business by beating up the mini bullies beginning with their ringleader, Jacob.)
Jacob: Get out of my way!
(Reese shoves his finger in Jacob's nose and drags him to a flagpole to knock him out. The other children stops fighting and realizes he's back. Next on Reese's list is a boy in a yellow shirt, Rick, whom is seen popping a milk carton in a boy's face and laughing about it. He retaliates by punching him in the gut, hitting him with a lunch tray and knocking him out. Then, Reese confronts Nick whom has stolen a kid's glasses, puts his fingers in the middle of the glasses and knocks him out. He returns the glasses to the kid.)
Kid: Thanks! Reese?!
Reese: Starting tomorrow, you're back doing my book reports.
Kid: Sure.
(Reese then finishes the job by kicking a trash can and taking care of Braveheart Boy and the remaining mini bullies. The kids are seen cheering him on and order has been restored. The vice principal sees this and sends Reese to his office).
Reese: Let me go! (sees it's the vice principal) Ok, I'm going.
Stevie: Order is restored.

References[]

Malcolm in the Middle episodes
Season 1 PilotRed DressHome Alone 4ShameMalcolm BabysitsSleepoverFrancis EscapesKrelboyne PicnicLois VS EvilStock Car RacesFuneralCheerleaderRollerskatesThe Bots and the BeesSmundayWater Park
Season 2 Traffic JamHalloween ApproximatelyLois' BirthdayDinner OutCasinoConventionRobberyTherapyHigh School PlayBullyOld Mrs. OldKrelboyne GirlNew NeighborsHal QuitsThe GrandparentsTraffic TicketSurgeryReese CooksTutoring ReeseBowlingMalcolm vs. ReeseMini-BikeCarnivalEvacuationFlashback
Season 3 HouseboatEmancipationBook ClubMalcolm's GirlfriendCharityHealth ScareChristmasPokerReese's JobLois' MakeoverCompany Picnic (1)Company Picnic (2)Reese DrivesCynthia's BackHal's BirthdayHal CoachesDewey's DogPoker 2Clip ShowJury DutyCliquesMonkey
Season 4 ZooHumilithonFamily ReunionStupid GirlForwards BackwardsForbidden GirlfriendMalcolm Holds His TongueBoys At RanchGrandma SuesIf Boys Were GirlsLong DriveKicked OutStereo StoreHal's FriendGarage SaleAcademic OctathalonClip Show #2Reese's PartyFuture MalcolmBaby Part 1Baby Part 2Day Care
Season 5 VegasWatching The BabyGoodbye KittyThanksgivingMalcolm Films ReeseMalcolm's JobChristmas TreesBlock PartyDirty MagazineHot TubIda's BoyfriendSoftballLois' SisterMalcolm Dates a FamilyReese's ApartmentMalcolm Visits CollegePolly in the MiddleDewey's Special ClassExperimentVictor's Other FamilyReese Joins the Army: Part 1Reese Joins the Army: Part 2
Season 6 Reese Comes HomeBuseys Run AwayStandeePearl HarborKitty's BackHal's Christmas GiftHal SleepwalksLois Battles JamieMalcolm's CarBillboardDewey's OperaLiving WillTiki LoungeIda Loses a LegChad's SleepoverNo MotorcyclesButterfliesIda's DanceMotivational SpeakerStiltsBuseys Take A HostageMrs. Tri-County
Season 7 Burning ManHealth InsuranceReese vs. StevieHalloweenJessica Stays OverSecret BoyfriendBlackoutArmy BuddyMalcolm Defends ReeseMalcolm's MoneyBride of IdaCollege RecruitersMonoHal GrievesA.ALois Strikes BackHal's DentistBomb ShelterStevie in the HospitalCattle CourtMorpGraduation
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