Home Alone 4 is the third episode of Season 1 of Malcolm in the Middle and the third episode overall of the show.
Synopsis[]
Francis comes home from Marlin Academy for the weekend to watch his brothers while Hal and Lois are attending a wedding out of town.
Summary[]
In the cold opening the family are enjoying dinner by making jokes and Malcolm states that every 17.4 dinners they are all able to enjoy a nice meal together. The mood shifts when Reese jokes about flinging mashed potatoes at Lois but panics after repeatedly telling her he wasn't going to. Malcolm claims it to be an interesting mood shift and that Lois is dynamite and Reese is a kid with matches. Eventually Hal breaks the tension between them by flinging mashed potatoes at Lois himself which only makes everyone laugh hysterically. Malcolm states it's still a good dinner.
On a Friday afternoon, Malcolm attempts to leave class early but is stopped by Caroline. After being mocked by his classmates Stevie rolls up to him and they discuss how Malcolm could be in trouble for jokingly pushing Stevie down the stairs the previous day, Stevie responds with "point taken". Caroline tells Malcolm that although he is doing well in his subjects she knows he has a colourful home life after her previous visit to his house. She wishes for them to connect on a deeper level. Malcolm assumes he is coming onto him and questions her relationship with the janitor. Caroline says this is different kind of connection, she confides in him that if he ever needs any emotional support he should come to her, Malcolm states that another mom is the last thing he needs to the audience but reluctantly agrees with Caroline's offer.
Lois and Hal are going off to a wedding leaving Francis in charge of his younger brothers for the weekend since it is his first time being home since being sent to Marlin Academy. At breakfast Dewey asks Francis several questions with Reese telling him to quit annoying him. In the bedroom Lois calls out to the boys that she left the phone number for the hotel they're staying at on the counter and that she left them pizza money but wants a receipt and exact change. Lois isn't looking forward to the wedding since Hal's family has always hated her. They then talk about how nice it is to have Francis back in the house and it might be time to think about it Lois says they'll see how he does this weekend before they decide. Malcolm eavesdrops from the hallway and believes they are planning to let Francis come home. In the kitchen Reese and Dewey get into a squabble but Malcolm breaks up the fighting. He tells them of their parents plan and this weekend is going to be a test for Francis in whether he deserves to come home. Reese suggests telling him about it right away. Malcolm stops Reese and reminds him about the previous times Francis was told what to do. The flashback reveals Lois demanding him not to get his nose pierced or else he's going to Marlin Academy. To show she's not in charge of him, he gets his nose pierced multiple times. Lois was so furious at Francis along with his arrest for burning a neighbor's car and being brought back home by the cops, it's precisely that reason he was sent to military school in the first place. Reese realizes Malcolm is right and comes up with a muddle plan. To help Francis, they decide to behave themselves and not cause any mischief so Hal and Lois will let him come home. Dewey is unsure if they could pull off being good and well-behaved, knowing Malcolm and Reese's track history in misbehaving. He is concerned that Francis may sway them into his muddled scheme to get into trouble. Malcolm reassures Dewey that if they just stay inside and watch cartoons on TV they can't get into any trouble.
Hal tells Lois they should get going. Lois states she'll have to shave her legs on the way before she gives the boys a briefing on the precautions she's taken, how they've marked the liquor bottles and can taste when they've been watered down, locked the X-rated TV channel, checked the cars odometer, counted Hal's cigars, knows the exact balance of all their credit cards. Hal backs up her statement but tells her to subtract one cigar he is taking with them. Before driving away, Lois reminds them Dewey will tell her everything that happened while they're gone. They start driving off, but back up and she warns Francis "Don't even think about it". Hal and Lois drives off to the wedding out of town.
Francis calls her bluff and decides to come up with a fun activity involving lighter fluid, a waffle iron and one of Dewey's stuffed animals. Malcolm, Reese and Dewey tries to act good and feign being tired and suggest they just watch TV. However, Francis is suspicious of his brothers demeanour but easily agrees to their plan. As they sit in the living room and watch a game of golf Malcolm says their plan had better work since the only thing worse than no TV is nothing but golf on TV. Francis gets bored shortly after and suggests they go outside and do something fun. Malcolm argues back they're only on the sixth hole of the game which also exasperates him before the phone rings. Against their wishes, he invites his lowlife pals, Richie, Justin and Circus over to the house, Malcolm expresses his concerns so Francis informs them he’s watching his brothers and warns them not to party too hard and it has to be just the three of them. The results are what anyone expects with the trio completely trashing the house resulting in the neighbors calling the cops to complain and the trio's arrest for vandalism. Francis didn't think only three guys could make such a mess. Richie thanks Francis for inviting them over to party and tells him to call them when he gets back in town. He, Justin and Circus bid farewell as the cops takes them to be booked at the police station.
On the way, Hal asks Lois whom is shaving her legs if she's trying to seduce him. She points out that going to the wedding of his relatives is a big mistake. Hal reassures Lois everything will be fine and that they should take advantage of not dealing with any bad behaviors from the boys. She agrees before yelling at a car's driver calling him a jackass for his indecisive driving. Hal states he absolutely deserved it.
The younger boys fume over what Francis has done, Reese is taped to a chair with macaroni all over his shirt and Dewey is covered in stuffed animals with a lampshade on his head, Francis claims they must've learned not to give up when Circus broke a cinder block with his head after multiple attempts. Malcolm states to Francis they need to clean up immediately. When he tries to reassure his brothers that things will be fine and they'll have plenty of time to clean up, this ends up worrying the younger boys. Malcolm finally confesses that he heard Hal and Lois talking about their plans to let Francis come back home and not have him return to Marlin Academy. This weekend is a test to see if he succeeds or not. If Francis succeeds, Hal and Lois will likely let him come home. If he fails, they will make sure he stays in Marlin Academy. Francis tells the boys that he appreciates the concerns, but he knows Lois too well and his parents aren't going to determine his entire future over one weekend without informing him about it and it's too arbitrary and unreasonable. When Reese warns him that she will do everything in her power to keep them away from him, he is convinced to clean up. The boys clean the house until it is spotless realizing the house has never been so clean. Until Malcolm then realizes it's too clean and Francis understands their parents will never buy they cleaned up without a reason, so they make the house a bit messier by leaving out a board game, tossing dirty clothes and trash around the kitchen and leaving muddy footprints on the walls.
Hal and Lois arrive at the wedding and Hal claims they’re the only ones giving them potholders as a wedding gift before placing them on the gift table. They are then greeted by the groom and Lois tells him how he looks terrific and wonders how long it’s been. He is unsure and excuses himself to go stand by a plant, Lois claims that was worth driving 600 miles for. Hal questions who he was and once Lois informs him he was the groom he wishes that people would wear name tags at weddings.
After they finish cleaning up, Malcolm crumbles chips on a shelf as a finishing touch but gets a head injury after the shelf breaks and collapses on him. Francis asks to see Malcolm’s injury but after hearing Dewey ask to put his face back on and Reese believes he sees bone he panics. Francis tells Reese to get him some ice but all they have is a pack of frozen chicken. Francis tells Malcolm he needs stitches and he is taking him to the hospital. When Lois calls home, Dewey covers for Francis by claiming that both him and Malcolm are in the bathroom and he needs to go there too. After ending the call, Francis mentions they need to act fast since Malcolm could have a concussion, but Malcolm disagrees because he's not as bad as he looks, but after Reese shows him what his bruise looks like all he can say is "Get the car". The boys takes Malcolm to the hospital by using the family van before Malcolm remembers they can't use the car and reminds them that Lois checked the odometer so Francis drives in reverse. On the way, Reese tells Malcolm how Francis is kicking ass with his driving and Francis announces how he hates the 80’s crap being played on the radio. Malcolm states that one good thing about a head injury is there was a good chance he wouldn't remember any of the events of the day. Francis then sees a one way street and questions how it would work if they go in backwards.
At the wedding, Hal is offended with his family when he learns from Lois the new nickname they’ve given her: Lois Common Denominator. He states they don't understand her and it makes her his secret treasure. Lois is touched by his words so he decides to teach them a lesson and they begin making out disrupting the nuptials and making several other guests uncomfortable. and later they have sex in the limo whilst everyone witnesses the striptease.
At the hospital, the nurse, Laverne Roberts, isn't happy to see the boys back at Sacred Heart hospital and immediately discerns that Malcolm got a head injury. He mentions they have a history being here, with flashbacks of the boys' injuries to support it and of which is why the family can't afford medical insurance. After having Malcolm’s abrasion stitched up, they learn from the doctor that the hospital bill will be around $400 they believe they are screwed. Malcolm gets another idea and calls Caroline. Caroline is overjoyed that she made a deeper connection with Malcolm and it might take time to turn against his parents. But Malcolm tells her that his parents didn't hurt him and cannot find out and explains that Francis is home taking care of them and doesn’t believe they deserve to be punished because their dad uses cheap nails to secure their shelves. He asks for help paying for the hospital bill, but she refuses to pay the bill after explaining she meant emotional help and how small her teachers salary is having a mere $62 in her checking account. However, Francis manages to guilt trip her by pinching Dewey's back making him cry over not seeing him again. Caroline agrees since Jamaica isn't going anywhere. Francis commends Dewey for taking one for the team and when they get home he can eat ice cream until he pukes as a reward.
Hal and Lois comes home to see everything the way it is with no holes or crappy attempts to plaster them up. However, they did notice Malcolm's injury, but they only say "You boys" since they are both used to it by now. Malcolm asks his parents about how Francis did taking care of them. Hal and Lois are impressed and believe that Francis did a great job. They are happy Marlin Academy is turning Francis around and making him more mature and responsible and decides to keep him there after they doubted if the school was working at rehabilitating him. The boys soon realize the truth in her words about Francis. Malcolm says that the score is now Mom: 62,437, Kids: 0.
Malcolm explains that they get to see Francis again in a month or two and although it didn’t work out he believes that they gave it a good shot. It wasn't a total loss because they got to spend more time with him, and now school is easier for him since Caroline won't even make eye contact with him anymore. He then states that one of their mothers lessons actually helped them "It's not a wasted experience if you learn something from it." and definitely believes that they did. He and Dewey are lying on the sidewalk as Reese rides towards them prepared to jump them with his bike.
Cast[]
- Jane Kaczmarek as Lois
- Bryan Cranston as Hal
- Christopher Kennedy Masterson as Francis
- Justin Berfield as Reese
- Erik Per Sullivan as Dewey
- Catherine Lloyd Burns as Caroline Miller
- Frankie Muniz as Malcolm
Guest Stars[]
Recurring[]
- Todd Gieberhain as Richie
- Justin Pierce as Justin
- Parker Mills as Circus
- Craig Lamar Traylor as Stevie
- Will Jennings as Eraserhead (cameo)
Cameo[]
- Aloma Wright as Nurse Laverne Roberts
- Scott Haven as Groom
- Tom Virtue as Priest
- Richard Penn as Doctor
Trivia[]
- This episode's title is a homage to the Home Alone franchise. By the time this episode was made, the franchise had made three movies and so this was titled "Home Alone 4" as a joke sequel on that.
- In 2002, they actually would have come out with a Home Alone 4, albeit it was against the wishes of Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci who thought the movie was a bad idea.
- When Dewey jumps onto Reese. It is similar to how a Redead/Gibdo jumps onto Link in "The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time" & "The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask"
- The initial cold opening for this episode is the family sitting around a table and Reese making a joke, saying he's going to fling mashed potatoes at Lois, only for her to take it seriously and start an argument. However, this was only seen on the first airing of the episode. In all syndication reruns, the cold opening from Krelboyne Picnic (where Hal and Lois are forced to get out of bed because the boys are causing a bunch of chaos), takes its place. In the DVD version of the episode, the original cold opening is in its place.
- When the show re-aired on Netflix, the original cold opener is seen in its proper place.
- This episode reveals that Caroline Miller is either sexually or romantically intimate with the school janitor.
- First episode where Francis is in the house with the family.
- While Lois is shaving her legs in the car, they drive past 4238 Whitsett AveStudio City, CA 91604.[1]
- This episode reveals why Francis got sent to military school. It was because Lois had specifically told him not to get his nose pierced, with the threat that he'd get sent to military school. Just so that he could spite her and prove his freedom to her, he did exactly what she told him not to do.
- In Pilot before this episode, everyone thought Francis was sent to Marlin Academy because he got arrested for destroying a car and having sex with his girlfriend.
- In Traffic Ticket, it's confirmed that it was Francis being arrested for destroying the neighbor's car that got him shipped off to Marlin by Lois, not his nose piercing fiasco.
- Aloma Wright plays the role of a sassy black nurse in this episode. Aloma Wright would shortly after be cast to play the role of Laverne Roberts. A character in Scrubs who has the exact same role and personality as this one.
- Incidentally, the hospital set where Malcolm has his head wound stitched was the same set that was used for Scrubs, namely the former North Hollywood Medical Center.[1]
- Lois says that sending Francis to military school was the best decision she ever made. However, she would later admit that is was a big mistake in the episode Ida Loses a Leg.
- The episode reveals why the family is poor due to the boys' constant accidents that lead to incurring hospital bills.
- This episode introduces Hal's family's disappointment in him marrying Lois that lead to her being called Lois Common Denominator. Family Reunion later reveals their shared disgust with Victor and Ida in Hal marrying her against their wishes and wanted him to marry Susan.
- The song that plays during the boys' injuries montage was "Right Place, Wrong Time" by Screaming Cheetah Wheelies. That song is also included in the Malcolm in the Middle soundtrack CD.
- The boys' injuries are as follows.
- 1. Reese nailing a WD40 spray can.
- 2. Francis playing with a knife and tossing it in the air.
- 3. Malcolm is asleep with the scissor blades facing him and Reese pops a balloon.
- 4. Malcolm uses his hands to pedal the wheels and Dewey uses his mouth to catch the back tire.
- Ironically, Francis piercing his nose would be referenced in Ida's Boyfriend when Lois finds out that Malcolm pierced his tongue.
Errors[]
- While Malcolm, Reese, Dewey, and Francis are deliberately making their house messy, you can see right above their ceiling a bright light shining down and a black background. It shows that they film their interior of their house on a set.
- After Malcolm gets his head injury, his forehead can be seen under the raw meats with no damage. Not even makeup was added to give the illusion of a serious injury.
- When Reese, Dewey, and Francis are taking the bandaged up Malcolm to the car, you can see the reflection of the camera crew in the windows.
Quotes[]
- [Malcolm has caught Reese and Dewey fighting]
- Malcolm: Guys, quit it. Listen for a second. I just heard mom and dad talking. They're thinking of letting Francis come home.
- [Reese takes Dewey off his shoulders and they listen to Malcolm]
- Reese: You serious.
- Malcolm: Yeah. They want to see how he does with us this weekend. So we can't screw up.
- Reese: Cool, let's go tell him.
- Malcolm: [stops Reese] No. You know how Francis gets when people tell him what to do.
- [Flashback with Lois confronting Francis as she's making dinner.]
- Lois: I am warning you. If you get your nose pierced, you are going to military school and I mean it really. Do you hear me?!
- [Francis smiles in defiance and later comes home with a bunch of nose piercings]
- Francis: Hey mom. What's for dinner?
- Lois: Lois Common Denominator.
- Laverne: Oh for God's sake, you kids again. [notices Malcolm's head in a makeshift tourniquet comprising of Francis' shirt and Hal's belt.] and a head injury. You boys like to keep it interesting, don't you.
- Malcolm: We kinda have a history here.
- [The flashback reveals the boys doing reckless stunts. Reese hammering a nail to a spray can. Francis playing with a knife. Reese popping a balloon while Malcolm is asleep holding scissors. Malcolm pedaling his bike's wheels too fast and Dewey injuring himself while trying to stop it with his teeth.]