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Kicked Out is the twelfth episode of Season 4 of Malcolm in the Middle, which was broadcast on March 9, 2003.

Synopsis[]

While Lois is away, Hal is getting fed up with Malcolm's behavior so he kicks Malcolm out of the house. Malcolm decides to live in his girlfriend's attic. Meanwhile at the dude ranch, Francis deals with an irritating piano player.

Plot[]

In the cold opening, Malcolm and Hal play a video game in the living room. When Hal realizes that he won he gloats in victory at finally beating Malcolm at a video game. Until Malcolm informs him that they were playing Video Golf where the objective is to get the fewest points. Upon realizing his showboating was for nothing he embarrassingly bids Malcolm a good game.

At breakfast, the boys argue over food. Craig is at the house helping out while Lois is away. He comes into the kitchen with a laundry basket and announces that he’s doing a load of colors followed by a load of whites and if they have any more clothes for him, Reese and Dewey throw their shirts in his face as he walks to the washing machine.

Malcolm explains that Craig has been over every day helping out with the chores since Lois went to stay at Susan’s house. It took them two weeks before they figured out that no one had even asked him to, so Hal is in charge. Reese flicks his shirt at Dewey and they get into a squabble until Hal shuts it down. He states that just because their mother is away gives them no excuse to misbehave and thoroughly emphasizes that he is at zero tolerance. The phone rings and Malcolm gets up to answer it. Hal reminds him they are having a discussion, but Malcolm tells him that Stevie is on the phone and he needs help with his math homework. Hal agrees to let him go help.

Malcolm explains some mathematical terminology until he arrives in his room and shuts the door. Over the phone he tells Nicki that she can’t keep calling him at his house.

Hal has a nightmare where he is tied to a pole and the boys are dressed as cannibals and Malcolm and Reese pour cans of gasoline to burn him at the stake. He tells them it’s no way to treat their father, but Malcolm claims he’s a weak excuse for a father and is nothing but a joke. Hal reminds him he’ll pay for that once his mother gets home, but Reese retaliates by saying that Lois is never coming home due to how badly he screwed up. They argue over who gets to set him ablaze until deciding to burn him together. After waking up, Hal is comforted by Craig dressed as Lois wants to spoon with him in bed.

Fed up with his dad's attitude Malcolm informs Hal he is giving him all the respect he deserves, which is none at all. He tells him off by reminding him that the house is a pig sty, everything in the fridge is expired and he found a piece of cake in the shower (which belonged to Dewey) and now he is screaming at him because he can't control Reese and Dewey and now he is officially sick of it. Hal sarcastically claims that if he feels that way he knows where the door is, Malcolm complies with it and him and Hal angrily explain everything they do to each other while walking to the front door. Dewey attempts to calm them down since it's 3:00 AM and they should all get some sleep but he is ignored because Hal and Malcolm's anger is on each other. Malcolm opens the door and goes outside and tells his father to close the damn door which he does. Malcolm is sure that in a few seconds Hal will come out with a heartfelt apology but after counting down Hal locks the door showing Malcolm that he isn't welcome in the house, leaving Malcolm in shock.

Back at the Grotto, Francis sets a table while Willy plays music to his actions, Francis angrily orders Willy to stop using the piano to mock him but his words are meaningless since Willy cannot understand English.

Back at the house, Hal worries about Malcolm since he's been gone for over a day and admits that he may have been too harsh towards him, Craig tells him to keep his voice down since they don't need the neighbors to know their business. In the living room Dewey asks why Reese is smiling about Malcolm being missing. Reese explains that he’s happy because they now have a free pass. Since their dad is so overwhelmed with guilt over kicking Malcolm out he won't be able to punish either of them for a while and they’re bulletproof and they now have the chance to do whatever they want. Dewey wonders what Reese plans to do, Reese is unsure since it's a once in a lifetime opportunity and he wants it to be a statement for everything he stands for.

At the Grotto, Francis tries to get Otto and Gretchen to see what Willy is doing but while jumping around the room Willy ignores Francis since he is aware of his resentment. Francis tries to explain but Otto believes that he must be saddle sore from so much horse riding, Gretchen assures him that hey have an ointment for that.

Hal posts flyers of Malcolm all over the neighbourhood until a young boy named Patrick starts posting up flyers for his missing dog Milton. Hal informs him that his poster was there first and his own poster may distract from his. Patrick states he doesn't own the tree but Hal asks him if he thinks finding a missing person is more important than a missing dog. Patrick states that although he doesn't know Malcolm personally, his parents tell him that Hal's entire family isn't worth as much as his dog. Hal informs Patrick that Milton is gone and has found a new owner and even if he did find him Milton would just resent him until he found another way to escape again and he should just take his poster down. Patrick retaliates telling him that Malcolm is likely in a crack house. They both frantically start tearing each others posters down.

Nicki comes into the attic and brings Malcolm a sandwich. Malcolm can’t believe that he’s being forced to live in an attic living off of someone else’s table scraps. Nicki asks to sit with him for a bit because she’s pissed at her dad. She tries talking about her problems to Malcolm and he ignores her, only talking about himself. Nicki asks him to listen to her because Boyd just told her that he’s dragging her off on a camping trip with him and Trish and can’t spend an entire weekend in a tent with that woman. Malcolm isn’t listening and says how his dad provoked the whole thing and he could’ve stopped him from walking out the door if he had really wanted to. Nicki, now with her patience wearing thin believes it would be a good idea if Malcolm listened to her right now. Explaining that if he listens to her problems then he can give it some thought and then talk about it in a way that’ll help her, and she can do the same for him, that way they can have a conversation that actually matters. But Malcolm was still ignoring her words and complains how Hal had to act like a big man and wonders what he was trying to prove. For Nicki, this is the last straw as she announces that she can’t do it anymore. She starts leaving the attic telling Malcolm thst he is the most thoughtless, selfish jerk she has ever met and from now on she’s no longer his girlfriend. Malcolm is in shock that shes breaking up with him. Nicki says his selfish attitude has killed everything she used to feel for him and it’s over. Malcolm still in disbelief wonders what he’ll do since he’s still in her attic. But Nicki furiously says that she never wants to see him again before leaving him locked in the attic all alone.

Later, Hal and Dewey drive around the neighborhood searching for Malcolm using a megaphone attached to the top of the van begging him to come home and Hal admits that Malcolm was totally right about everything he accused him of. Dewey tells his dad not to sound so desperate and to hold something back.

Francis tries to communicate with Willy using a German to English dictionary where he tells Willy how he knows he is trying to be friendly but he is annoyed with him playing music to his actions. Willy understands what Francis is saying but after asking for the dicionary he calls him a “crybaby bastard”. Francis decides to be mature and not let it bother him, but as soon as he walks away Willy begins using the piano to mock him again. Finally having enough, Francis grabs a crowbar and angrily destroys the piano by jumping on it, leaving Otto, Gretchen, Willy and the other guests watching in shock. All Francis can do is to offer the feeble explanation that Willy was playing music while he did stuff.

Back in the attic, Malcolm attempts to drink some powdered milk before choking. He wishes that Nicki would’ve at least left him a paper cup to drink from. But wishes she’d come back to say hello since he misses talking to her and was looking forward to being her little secret. He sees now how incredible she is and can’t believe that she ever liked him. He had Nicki and a family and upon seeing what he’s been reduced to, he finally accepts that he lost his girlfriend and his home because of his own horrible behaviour. He now understands Hal kicking him out because of how annoying and selfish he acted, believing that Nicki and his family are lucky since they get to get away from him, while he’s stuck with himself. Finally fed up with his own attitude, he resolves to change his ways by turning over a new leaf, and from now on he’ll listen to what people say and be more friendly and considerate of others feelings. He is proud and he likes his new outlook, before smelling his armpit still remembering he hasn’t bathed in a few days. However, his new change in character is instantly forgotten when he hears voices above Nicki’s room, and realises one of them is a man's voice. Just then, the floor under him gives way and he falls into Nicki's room right in front of Nicki, her father and Hal who was asking if she knew where he was. Upon seeing that Nicki was hiding Malcolm in her attic, both Boyd and Hal glare at her for keeping secrets. Nicki is grounded by Boyd for seeing Malcolm and hiding him in the attic as she and Malcolm break up permanently before Hal takes Malcolm home.

Back home, a crowd of teenage boys gather as Reese announces to them that this moment has been a long time coming and is the fruit of over two hours of planning and labour. Reese prepares to perform a bike stunt riding off a ramp and jumping cars with a firehose attached. Dewey claims that despite his concerns he just cannot find a flaw in Reese’s plan. Unfortunately, The stunt goes awry as soon as Dewey uses a fire hydrant to turn on the firehose. Instead of giving him lift to jump the cars the water pressure from the hose lifts Reese off the bike as he is sent flopping all over the yard as he yells out to Dewey to turn off the hose and hits a tree leaving him stuck. As the crowd of onlooking boys run away, Craig eating a sandwich comes out and demands to know what Reese is doing until Reese aims the hose at him and he is sent hurtling backwards from the water pressure into the house shattering the kitchen window. After seeing this, Dewey runs away in fear.

Hal and Malcolm come home to see Reese crying for help, clutching a tree, soaking wet, in his boxers with his pants around his ankles. Hal welcomes Malcolm home and Malcolm thanks him while reassuring him that if his mom were there the events that occurred likely would’ve happened the exact same way. Hal claims that does make him feel better before getting out of the car to help Reese.

Cast[]

  • Jane Kaczmerek as Lois (Credit Only)
  • 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[]

Cameos[]

  • Michael Wiles Shamus as Boyd
  • Sam Lerner as Patrick
  • Alex Boling as Willy
  • Stephen Ford as Neighborhood kid (uncredited)

Quotes[]

[Hal is having a nightmare with the boys having tied him up to a wooden stake.]
Hal: Boys. Boys, come on. This is no way to treat your father.
[Dewey is seen dressed up as a witch doctor with an African Mask over his face and wearing a loincloth, cackling in delight. Malcolm is seen pouring gasoline in a clockwise position on the wood and hay covering Hal's feet. He is wearing Hal's dress shirt, slacks and shoes]
Malcolm: What kind of a father are You?! You're nothing but a joke and you're weak!!
Hal: Oh, man. You're going to pay for that when your mother gets home.
Reese:(appearing as an imp[half-man half-goat] and pouring gasoline counter clockwise) You still think mom's coming back, after the way you screwed things up. Dewey, what are you doing? I'm lighting Dad on fire.
(Reese grabs the match box away from Dewey after he grabs one)
Dewey: No way, I get to do it.
Malcolm:(grabbing a match)We'll all do it.
(The boys cackle in delight as they all simultaneously light the matches on fire and drop them on the wood. Hal screams as the nightmare ends with him being burned.)

Trivia[]

  • Final appearance of Nicki.
  • Running Gag: Hal saying "Zero Tolerance".
  • Hal posts missing person posters of Malcolm to a tree here 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 Stereo Store.[1]
  • Although Lois Wilkerson does not appear in this episode, Jane Kaczmarek is still credited in the episode's ending credits.
  • Hal mentions that the previous incident is why Lois has a hard time trusting him to be alone with the boys. This will be repeated in Ida Loses a Leg.
  • It is unknown if Francis was reprimanded for smashing Willy’s piano.
  • This episode originally aired when Oliver Beene debuted on FOX.
  • Reese spraying Craig into the house with the firehose could’ve been payback for Craig torturing Reese in "Malcolm Holds His Tongue" despite the fact it was likely unintentional.

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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