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Dinner Out is the fourth episode of Season 2 of Malcolm in the Middle and the 20th episode overall of the show.

Plot[]

The family has a dinner date with the Kenarbans, who start to pick up the bad habits of Malcolm and his family: Abe gets drunk with Hal, Stevie beats up Reese, and Kitty makes a scene by yelling at Stevie in front of everyone in the restaurant. With Spangler's mother visiting, the academy is free for the cadets, and so Francis invites a group of local girls to a party at Marlin Academy, which they promptly destroy. Francis goes to Spangler to tell him about the party, who informs them they need to let it burn out.

Summary[]

In the opening scene, Malcolm and Reese play baseball in the living room until Reese hits the ball and breaks a family portrait. Malcolm says they should call it quits, Reese agrees and that he won since past the lamp is a home run. Malcolm argues back that it was a foul ball and so does Dewey who is down on the floor, but Reese tells Dewey that since he’s home plate he doesn’t get a vote. They agree to do it again where Reese then breaks a flower vase, they agree to stop until Reese says it was a triple and Malcolm tells him to get back up to bat.

Malcolm is at Stevie’s house playing video games with him and states that the thing about playing at Stevie’s house is that he has every one of his favourite video games, from when he was 4. Stevie tells Malcolm he wins the gold at the end of the rainbow and Malcolm asks if he has a game with a bit more violence in it. Stevie tells him about “Fishing for Fishies” and how sometimes the player drowns. Kitty comes in with applesauce for them and cinnamon if they’re feeling “crazy”. Just then they hear a horn outside and Malcolm knows it’s his mom here to pick him up. Kitty informs him that he can tell Lois she’s free to come inside whenever she wants and they don’t bite. Malcolm assures Kitty it’s nothing personal and she just likes honking. Kitty says he’d better go since he wouldn’t want to make her mad, but he doesn’t care since she’s always mad. Lois yells to Malcolm to hurry up since she has ice cream in the car. Malcolm attempts to give back the applesauce but Kitty tells him to take it and eat it in the car.

At dinner the phone rings and as Lois answers it Reese drops Malcolm’s fork on the floor. As he goes to pick it up he sees Reese making a circle with his fingers earning him a punch on Malcolm’s shoulder. Malcolm explains that him and Reese are playing a new game called “The Circle Game” and the rules are: if you can make the other person look at your hand while making a circle below your waist you get to punch them in the arm. Malcolm knows it’s stupid but getting to hit people is too good to ignore before tricking Reese back by telling him his fly is open. After punching him Hal warns them to stop.

Lois informs the family that the Kenarbans have invited them to go to dinner at their favorite restaurant, Dillington's. However, Malcolm doesn’t know if it’s a good idea since Stevie’s family is kind of boring. Lois states that they are refined people and she hopes that the Kenarbans' good nature and manners rubs off on the boys. Malcolm isn’t sure if they’d get along with Stevie’s parents, but Lois thinks it’s nice that Kitty asked them out to dinner since it’s been a long time since they were invited them anywhere. She wonders why that is until it is answered for her when Hal and her sons display their lack of manners, especially after they start acting like seals.

Meanwhile at Marlin Academy, Spangler tells his cadets that his mother is coming over after 20 years of not speaking with him. He tells them and especially Francis that he will not tolerate any antics, shenanigans, hooliganism or tomfoolery distracting him from time with his mother. He emphasizes that since it’s important to him, that makes it important to them, before leaving. Joe claims how serious Spangler sounded so Francis wonders what time they should start the party. Finley warns Francis not to try his usual stunts because Spangler made it clear that the group will be punished if he attempts it. This causes him to think outside the box and to host a party without Spangler's knowledge since he’ll be too distracted with his mother to pay any attention to them and is sure he can think of something they’d all find amusing. He decides to invite some local farm girls who hang out outside the gates of Marlin Academy. He greets them and ask upon noticing they’ve been hanging outside the gate for the last six months ask them if they’d like to come to a party tomorrow night, one girl wonders if he’s serious, Francis affirms it would be the neighbourly thing to do. Another girl says she would kill or die to go to his party, he starts selecting them but after another girl questions if the idea is kind of degrading he changes his mind about her.

When the Wilkersons arrive at Dillington's Dewey looks in the aquarium and points out which fish he wants to eat, Lois says how nice the restaurant is since there are no pirate themes or ball pits filled with screaming children. Malcolm tricks Reese into a punch by pretending to see a dollar on the floor, but after realizing he got tricked Reese is annoyed at himself for falling for something so amateur. Lois comes over and smacks Malcolm for hitting Reese and warns the boys to behave themselves because they are with respectable people and they will act well-mannered or she will wring their necks, they all nod in understanding.

Dewey sees money other customers left in their tip tray and pockets it for himself. At the boys table Lois briefs the boys not to throw ice, flick butter, stick gum under the table or eat any already there, causing Dewey to stop picking at the gum. Lois says they’ve been warned, she tells Stevie he looks nice before leaving to sit with the other adults. Afterwards, Reese asks who spilled before Malcolm looks down and receives another circle game punch. Stevie sees this and asks if he can play, Malcolm isn’t sure if it’s for him due to how rough it gets

At the adults table, Lois states how nice it is and how long she’s been looking forward to the evening out and wonders why they didn’t do it sooner followed by an awkward silence, Hal asks Lois if he feels flushed as leeway to get away but she says no. When the waiter comes to take a drink order from the adults Lois takes control of Hal's alcohol consumption and orders him a diet soda instead, Abe orders lemonade and Kitty asks for iced tea but the waiter informs her they don't serve iced tea, Lois asks what another patron is drinking and he tells her it's hot tea. Lois asks if they can simply combine the two but Kitty absolves to simply get the hot tea. Lois glares at the waiter for his attitude.

After some awkward silence between the two couples, Hal makes up an excuse to use the restroom, but after leaving the table he gestures to Abe to meet him at the bar. Abe excuses himself to use the restroom as well and goes to join Hal to get drunk.

Francis violates Spangler's warning and invites a group of local girls for a party who trashes the place. When the cadets realized how things got out of control, they're forced to called in Spangler to get the girls out. This just so happens to be on the night his mother is visiting the school in his attempt at reconciliation. Spangler tells the cadets that the situation is like an oil fire and they just have to let it burn out. Finley then informs him that one of the girls actually did start an oil fire.

Stevie fights back and this leads to Kitty yelling at him. Kitty tells her son that they're in a public place and fighting isn't allowed here and he’ll be in big trouble when they get home. When the waiter asks her to calm down, she angrily asks him if he would mind going to hell and calls him an idiot for bringing her cranberry juice instead of hot tea and wonders how hard it is for him to remember a simple drink order. Reese claims Stevie attacked him and how he bruised his bone, but Lois tells him off that he deserved it for being a bonehead for picking on Stevie. Lois congratulates Kitty for raising her voice but Kitty is still hostile.

Abe arrives drunk and tells Kitty there are going to be some changes. However, she immediately cuts him off before he could finish. Kitty calls Abe out for keeping Ho-Hos in his sock drawer, how there are two people in that bed and tells him that he's going on a diet ASAP. Lois tries to tell Kitty that she needs to pace herself but she is ignored since her anger is towards Abe who is now scared of her because she has now become a domineering wife like Lois. Finally, Hal uses his excuse that he’s not feeling well before slipping away.

The next morning, Francis, Spangler and the other cadets are trying to assess the damages done by the girls. Spangler says that they got lucky since it happened before in 1972, but the results were far worse. Francis and Finley find Horton naked on the ground reveling on the best night he had in his life with one of the girls and he thinks he’s engaged now.

In the end, Malcolm explains that the employees at Dillington's were angered by both the Wilkersons and the Kenarbans. He mentioned the infractions caused by Reese and Stevie fighting, and Kitty's loud yelling garnered constant complaints by the customers who had to witness such rude behavior. According to him, both families received a lifetime ban from Dillington's and aren't allowed to return: a tradition that the Wilkersons always ends up observing. While leaving the restaurant Malcolm realizes that Stevie beat the crap out of Reese, Abe got drunk like Hal and Kitty became volatile like Lois. He then concludes that his family's behavior really is contagious.

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
  • Daniel Von Bargen as Spangler
  • Merrin Dungey as Kitty
  • Gary Anthony Williams as Abe
  • Eric Nenninger as Eric
  • Arjay Smith as Finley
  • Kasan Butcher as Joe
  • Drew Powell as Drew Horton

Cameos[]

  • James Henriksen as Waiter
  • Tinsley Grimes as Sue Ann
  • Melissa Marsala as Lorene
  • Frankie Ingrassia as Becky(credited as Francesca Ingrassia)
  • Nicole Marie Appleby as Beer Hick Girl(uncredited)

Trivia[]

  • The circle game that Reese and Malcolm play has become a popular joke in real life
  • This episode marks the 2nd time the Wilkerson family were banned from a public place: a restaurant due to Reese and Stevie fighting, Abe and Hal drunken debauchery and Kitty screaming but it was never mentioned that they were banned. The first time was in Traffic Jam when the family got banned due to the violations that they committed including Malcolm and Reese's fighting on the grounds and Hal sneaking alcohol in a suntan lotion. The next and final time they would get banned on screen is in Forwards Backwards.
    • Starting in Buseys Run Away, the family would be banned off screen from a movie theatre complex that has just opened in town because of Reese and Malcolm setting off fireworks.
    • Hal received his own ban from the casino in the next episode for using Malcolm by helping him cheat.
    • This also marks the only time that the Kenarbans were banned from a public place. They wouldn't be banned again until season 7's Reese vs. Stevie because of Stevie's unauthorized used of the robotic suit and pending lawsuits against Abe.
    • Jamie would gain a lifetime ban at Gymboree in Lois Battles Jamie. This adds to the list of places the Wilkersons have been banned on screen
    • The only Wilkerson that has never been banned from a public place is Francis.
  • The farm girls who gather near the gate at Marlin Academy were previously mentioned by Francis in Francis Escapes.
  • The song that the girls sing and dance to after Francis turned off the stereo is "The Bad Touch" by Bloodhound Gang.
  • This is the first episode where Stevie beats Reese up. The next time is in Reese vs. Stevie.
  • This episode marks the first time Malcolm and Dewey were able to avoid getting into trouble with Lois. This would be repeated in Reese vs Stevie.
  • Drew's speech "I've seen things, Francis" was a reference to Tears in rain monologue from Blade Runner using the same pose and raining condition.
  • This is the last appearance of Cadet Drew.
    • This is the 2nd time Drew's last name, Horton, is shown. The first time is in Rollerskates.
  • This is the 2nd episode where the family's last name, Wilkerson, will appear. The first time was in Pilot. The next time was in Company Picnic (1) and the last time in Company Picnic (2).

Errors[]

  • In the scene where Lois and Kitty are speaking in the booth alone, Kitty is tearing up her napkin nervously. In the next few shots, the napkin and the ripped up shreds are missing. In the following shots, the napkin shreds are back.
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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