Casino is the 5th episode of Season 2 of Malcolm in the Middle and the 21st episode overall of the show. The episode originally aired on Fox in the United States on November 19, 2000.
Summary[]
In the opening scene, in their bedroom Hal tells Lois he thinks he forgot something but decides whatever it is can wait until the morning. In the morning they find Dewey in the kitchen asleep still standing against the wall as a punishment. Hal tells Dewey that he has learned his lesson and suffered enough. After he leaves Hal tells Lois they need to stop the standing against the wall punishments.
Malcolm and his family in the van are on their way to a resort/casino on an Indian reservation for a weekend vacation. Lois says Craig is dropping off her paycheck at the house, Hal states they've got nothing else to worry about for two days except having fun. In the car Dewey keeps his head in a bucket because he has been carsick the whole ride to the resort, Hal believes he should be empty by now since he has thrown up five times already. Malcolm complains that Francis couldn't come, Lois mentions to Malcolm that he shouldn't worry; Francis got placed on academic probation and is not to leave Marlin Academy.
Meanwhile at the house, Francis is in the kitchen calling Richie saying that he has ditched school and has the house to himself and that he should call Justin and Circus to throw a party. Unfortunately, Richie informs Francis that they were arrested for attempting to steal a giant inflatable panda from the lot of a car dealership. Francis asks Richie if he could come over to throw the party, but tells him that his family is having an intervention about his habits. He asks his mother how long it will take but she immediately bursts into tears, Richie claims that he might want to put him down as a maybe. Francis feeling disappointed, looks into his backpack, and regrets overspending on pork rinds.
Once they arrive in their room, the boys have a small argument over who gets the roll-away bed and who gets the big bed. Lois' announces to the boys that she is taking a bath, and if anyone needs to use the bathroom it's now or never. The boys ask if they can go swimming at the pool while Hal decides to pop into the casino. Lois reminds Hal he has all weekend to gamble and he should take the boys to the pool, but he has already left. En route to the pool the boys are stopped by a concierge named Edgar and tells them they aren't allowed in the pool without an adult. Malcolm finds the rule ridiculous as they can all swim fine, but they are then told they can't enter the casino to get their father either. Malcolm claims Edgar must be doing it simply because he hates children. Edgar assures him he doesn't make the rules, it's just a happy coincidence. They ask Lois what they should do, and she suggests using their imaginations, and there is dirt, rocks, lizards and an old tire to entertain themselves with, since many children have much less to play with she doesn't want to hear anymore excuses.
Back at home, Francis is making sculptures with the pork rinds he bought. He is on the phone talking to Joe, he says that at Marlin Academy Salisbury steak with cream spinach was for dinner, Francis wants to talk to other cadets but they are in the middle of a game of billiards. Francis allows them to play their game and hangs up just as he has finished making a sombrero made out of pork rinds that he glued together.
The boys go down to the game room beside the casino, where Reese beats Dewey a number of times in Foosball (Dewey claiming it to be unfair since his goalie doesn't have legs). Hal then comes in and explains how blackjack is a complicated game where you have your ups and downs. Malcolm then says it's a shame Hal quit since he counted the cards that came out and he had many options to win.
For a while, Malcolm helps Hal count cards to keeping winning with stacks of chips. Eventually someone notices the cheating, both Hal and Malcolm are taken to the owner's office. Hal apologizes for the inconvenience, and tries to explain that is lack of judgement has blinded him from the fact that he had his mistaken having his underage son count cards at the Blackjack table as a father son bonding activity. Malcolm jumps in and states he isn't good at sports, so he believes that cheating at gambling helps his self esteem making him feel special. The owner says that he and his son cook, then tells Hal that he is banned from the casino. Hal informs him that getting banned isn’t going to go over well with his wife. Malcolm agrees and tells him he wouldn’t want to see her angry. The owner explains that he’s not banning her, just him. Hal attempts to bribe owner with the $3,000 which he won to reconsider his decision, the owner tells him how very generous of giving him the money, but still bans him much to Hal’s disgust. Demanding his money back the owner snidely refuses, as Hal stands up trying to protest is restrained by security guards.
The next day, in the hotel room, Hal claims that he isn’t too impressed with the hotel since he found the breakfast buffet was unsatisfying due to the lack of tangelos, Lois states her contrary opinion and says it was delightful and was amazed by a tipi made of sausages. Reese feels unwell and feels like he’s going to die and wonders why no one tried to stop him. Malcolm points out that the family takes the phrase "All you can eat" as a personal challenge. Lois suggests a little gambling to cheer him up but Hal looks for another form of recreation to avoid her finding out. Lois is surprised since she spent the entire trip listening to Hal ramble on about his foolproof plan for winning at keno. Hal reminds her they are surrounded by the great outdoors and suggests that they all go for a hike, before opening the door and having sand blown in his face. Lois asks what he’s done and why he’s avoiding the casino. Hal tries to evade having to answer Lois' inquiry claiming he could tell her the story, but reminds her he is offering to take the boys off her hands for the whole day. She tells them not to forget the sunblock, then leaves to gamble alone. Hal shows the boys a brochure about the El Diablo Ghost Town 5 miles away from the resort. Malcolm tries to change Hal's mind and tells him they should go down to the pool, but Hal is dead set on taking them.
Francis is still alone at the house watching a shopping channel auction about a diamond bracelet. He turns off the TV and gets up to go the the bathroom. At the same time, Craig comes into the house to drop off the mail he picked up for Lois. After he does, Craig decides to make some toast while he is still in the house, he goes to Hal and Lois' bedroom. Francis leaves the bathroom and notices the finished bread Craig left in the toaster, he takes it and spreads butter on one slice. Craig comes out from the master bedroom wearing Hal's bathrobe, he finds Francis in the kitchen giving each other a scare. They each ask questions about why they are in the house, Craig says Francis is in trouble and he is telling Lois, Francis says he will tell Lois. They sit at opposite ends of the kitchen table. Craig tells Francis the toast he is eating is his, Francis suggests they split it.
Hal, Malcolm, and Reese are hiking through the desert looking for the ghost town from the brochure, but Hal does not know where he is going. Malcolm wonders which sentence sounds more idiotic "let's go to the desert kids" or "good idea dad".
Lois finds Dewey in the casino, he says that he decided to ditch Hal, Malcolm, and Reese after they left to go to the ghost town because he is afraid that the ghosts will eat him. Lois assures him the only ghosts are the ones that'll get him if he goes on the roof. She takes him with her, then stumble upon a wheel, she tries a free spin and wins a Champagne Dreams Package which consists of an entire day of spa treatments and an evening dinner and dance for two people valid for six months. Lois says she had to work overtime at the Lucky Aide for six months to fund the trip and asks the employee if he’s ever had to recommend hemorrhoid cream to a complete stranger, but after realizing Dewey is with her she agrees and takes the prize. Lois and Dewey enjoy the amenities of the prize in their hotel room. A masseuse tells Dewey that he carries a lot of tension in his shoulders, and he responds with “Tell me about it.”
Hal, Malcolm, and Reese are sill lost. Hal tries to use the sun as a way of finding directions, but is unsuccessful, Reese spots a fence, Hal says it's a sure sign of civilization. Hal and the boys climb over the fence, but Malcolm questions about whether or not they are already inside the perimeter of the fence and instead of going in they are actually going out. Hal tells Malcolm that sometimes his genius can get annoying and tells him to think positive thoughts. Hal hears a plane in the sky and tries to get its attention, but fails to do so. As they progress forward, a fallen over sign reads "NO TRESPASSING PROPERTY - U.S. ARMY" unaware of what danger they have gotten themselves into.
At the Wilkerson house, Craig and Francis are sitting on the couch watching TV. Francis is expressing his dismay to Craig, Craig sympathizes with him about how he had spent his own money for nothing, he also tells Francis that he has discovered a way to travel for free through online chat rooms under the username describing him as a gorgeous 18-year-old girl named Debbie who likes to wear sundresses. Craig further states that back at his home, his father is so mean and that he is going through some changes and learning about new feelings that his dad doesn't understand. Francis asks about his strategy to acquiring free travel, Craig explains how he does it: he enters the chat room, gets friendly with someone who is lonely, then eventually that person is willing to pay a visit, and because of the scam, Craig has acquired a coach plane ticket to Tampa, Florida without any restrictions. Francis complements him for his cleverness.
Reese complains that he is thirsty, Malcolm berates him for not having any to drink due to Reese using it to write an S.O.S. in the sand. Reese believes that he is put in charge of something only to be an idiot for agreeing to it. Hal reassured the boys that they have nothing to worry about and that he loves them both very much. Reese, believing he is hallucinating from the heat sees a cougar in front of them, Malcolm corrects him and identifies the animal is actually a puma. They realize it isn't a hallucination and that it is actually a cougar about to attack them. The cougar suddenly explodes frightening Hal and the boys even more, they run away. After getting away to safety, Hal learns that Dewey is not with them after Malcolm tells him that he chose to stay back at the hotel. Reese believes that he used mind control to make the cougar explode, Malcolm tells Reese that is insane. Hal tries to understand why the cougar exploded assuming it was a blasting cap but dismisses it after noting the size of the blast and how the cougar eating dynamite is far too ridiculous and a mirage wouldn't end up all over your shoes which leads him back to believe Reese did it with his mind. Reese smugly tells Malcolm he accepts his apology.
Back at the hotel, Lois and Dewey continue enjoying the spa treatment Lois won from the casino gambling. They are wearing facial masks with cucumber eyes. Lois explains to the masseuses that if you marry young and have a lot of children spa treatments are no longer possible. Dewey attempts to eat one of the cucumber slices before Lois tells him not to.
At the Wilkerson house, Craig and Francis are playing Scrabble. Francis spells "Mzryc" which is a military term for helmets worn by horses, Craig finds it pleasant him and Francis hanging out on a Saturday playing Scrabble. Craig gets a second "Cat" on the board. Craig makes small talk when he mentions how things when he is back home from military school, then he mentions alleged feelings towards Lois which causes a small argument about her control freak behavior, but Craig contrasts his perspective with the basic needs of a parent at home. Francis says he would not know because Lois sent him away to military school. Craig tells him the reason why is because he is a spoiled brat and he’s pretty sure “Mzryc” ends with a “k”.
Back in the desert, Hal and the boys find a house, they run towards it hoping to find someone to help them with directions. When they knock on the door, there is no response. Hal and the boys barge in but find only mannequins labeled "PROPERTY OF U.S ARMY” inside. Malcolm looks down under the table and sees a device, figuring out it is an detonator before telling Hal and Reese to run. They run out of the house, Malcolm now understands that they are on an artillery range which explains why the cougar exploded: it was hit by a shell. Hal wonders if he’s certain before the house explodes moments later. Hal, Malcolm, and Reese start running all over the place, looking for a way out only to find that everything they come across is an intended target waiting to be blown up including a booth, a cactus and a car. Meanwhile, Lois and Dewey are enjoying their evening dinner and dance.
Hal and the boys eventually end up in a military base explaining their situation to a U.S. soldier named Hughes. Hal understands that fences are there for a reason but in all fairness when they climbed the fence they had no indication whether they were going in or out, asking Malcolm if he wants to explain to him about it, he refuses. Hughes tells them that they can easily be detained for national security reasons for trespassing on a highly-classified testing ground. Reese brings up that the United States Army is supposed to be the greatest army in the world and they couldn't even kill the three of them. He tells Hughes he’s not impressed, Malcolm claims the next time his parents decide they can't afford to go on vacation he'll be okay with it.
Lois and Dewey are still in their hotel room, they have finished their evening meal, Dewey asks if he can have ice cream for dessert and Lois says he can have anything he wants because tonight is their special night. The room phone rings and Dewey answers. Hal has been given only one phone call to make and he asks Dewey to have Lois come get them. Dewey, not wanting to have him and his mom’s special night ruined, hangs up the phone much to Hal’s dismay. Lois asks who was on the phone, and Dewey tells her that it was a wrong number.
Francis arrives back in Alabama, getting off a flight from home, at the gate he finds a guy holding a sign saying "DEBBIE" and a bouquet of flowers. Francis thanks him for the free air fare indicating that Craig assisted him despite their feud about Lois' needs.
The episode ends with Hal, Reese, and Malcolm walking all the way back to the resort with Hal telling the boys that although they may get back to the hotel after nightfall, they were given enough water by the military. The boys ask to hear a story Hal told them again, Hal agrees to tell it one more time, he tells a story about Dewey being tied to a wooden post in the desert heat, coated entirely in honey, even his eyes. With a million hungry fire ants coming towards him hoping to survive.
Trivia[]
- The movie Craig and Francis are watching in the Wilkerson house is Tarzan The Ape Man from 1934.
- The first entry shot driving scene was shot on this spot on Soledad Canyon Road. Another further down the road here.[1]
- Hal, Malcolm and Reese get lost in this rocky area here.[1]
- The house that blows up was located here.[1]
- Last mention of Justin and Circus as they spend the rest of the series incarcerated
- When the concierge refuses the boys to enter the pool, he is correct: children must be at least 16 years old to enter a pool alone, and Reese, the oldest of them, is only 13.
- The counting cards during poker in the casino could be a reference to the 1988 film Rain Man.
- A Zurg toy from Toy Story 2 can be seen on the kitchen table in one scene.
- When Malcolm states that the next time his family can’t afford to go on vacation he’ll be all right with it. It would foreshadow what would happen in Surgery several episodes later, because Malcolm was so glad to be out of the hospital he didn’t care.
- When the owner of the casino tells Hal that he and his son cook, Hal takes it as a good suggestion and he might try doing it. He eventually would take his suggestion in Reese Cooks except with Reese instead of Malcolm.
Errors[]
- This episode contains several minor widescreen mistakes not visible during the initial 4:3 broadcast:
- In the first scenes of this episode, some filming equipment can be seen on the top left-hand corner of the windscreen.
- Seconds later, in the medium close up of Lois, the sliding door of their van can be seen being open.
- While Francis and Craig play scrabble, a studio lamp can be seen in the background behind Francis.
- In the first shot of the cougar, Hal is being played by a body double.