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Malcolm Holds His Tongue, is the 7th episode of Season 4 and the 70th episode overall on Malcolm in the Middle. It was directed by Jeff Melman and written both by Gary Murphy & Neil Thompson. The episode aired on January 5th, 2003

Plot[]

When Malcolm is kicked out of the basketball team, he decides to keep his opinions to himself. Though it starts off great, he eventually develops stomach ulcer. Meanwhile, Hal tries race-walking and ends up with a rival. After getting his license revoked and with Hal and Lois refusing to take him, Reese enlists Craig as a chauffeur to take him & his girlfriend, Alison, to a concert. Things start out fine until the couple later learn he has his own agenda during the ride.

Summary[]

Malcolm has recently joined the high school basketball team, but when his verbal criticism of Coach Oleski's game plans get him kicked off the team, he laments that his own smart mouth continually lands him in hot water. When Lois happens to bitch about a minor housekeeping offense, Malcolm silences his wise-assed inner voice by merely apologizing for the infraction. This defrays the confrontation and elicits pleasantry from Lois who realizes she caught him at a bad time. She tells him that since he's busy studying with Stevie, they can talk about this later. By holding his tongue, Malcolm's able to get back onto the basketball team, win the favor of girlfriend Nicki, earn a sudden allowance from Hal, and dispel Lois' wrath.

Meanwhile, Reese wishes to accompany Alison to the concert. However after having his driver's license suspended because his public defender refused to try the insanity defense(possibly aware of Reese's reputation as being destructive and a known law breaker), she makes her ultimatum clear to him: either find someone to drive them to the concert or else she will dump him. Reese goes to Hal and asks to drive them to the concert. He claims that he needs a driver because of the loss of his license. Unfortunately, Hal refuses to drive him and reminds Reese that his car is in the shop. He also mentions that Lois needs hers to go to work. Hence, Hal tells him that he needs to find someone else to drive him to the concert. Reese threatens to move out if he and Lois doesn't drive him to the concert. This threat is ignored by Hal, which makes it clear that no matter his threats, they're not backing down from their refusal. Reese bribes Craig with a warm and huge cinnamon roll in order to chauffeur them to the concert. Soon he finds himself in over his head when he learns that Craig has been calling him numerous times. During one visit, he tells Reese he's only got a two-minute window because Lois thinks he's getting a humidifier in the stock room for a customer. Craig mentions that he needs to return before it's up and she will suspect he where went. He tells Reese to help him pick music for their "date". Reese tries to mention that he was too busy with school. Craig doesn't get the idea and keeps pestering him with two sets of photos for clothes to decide the top and bottom for him to pick out. An annoyed Reese then tries to remind Craig that he doesn't have time to deal with helping him in picking clothes for him nor music because he has homework to do and wants him to leave. He suspects the boy is trying to renege on their date plans. Craig tells Reese off that he intends to keep calling him nonstop until he goes through with their date for Saturday night.

Hal buys Francis a new pair of boots for his job in the Grotto Ranch, but is in conflict with Piama over his bet with one of the ranchers whether his boots can withstand the water challenge for the weekend. He takes up the challenge and sticks his boots with feet inside a large bucker of water. Piama warns Francis against this challenge because the feet can't take on such a challenge under water for that long period of time. Going back to his reckless and rebellious moment, he ignores the warning. Even though Francis claims he was successful, his feet shows otherwise and ends up being blistered. This proves Piama right about how reckless and dangerous the challenge was.

Hal tries race-walking, but ends up as a rival named Wheeler. His attempts to find out his secret weapon proves to be fruitless and even Dewey is discouraging him to give up. However, Hal soon discovers Wheeler's dirty secret on the tape, the man cheats by power jogging. When confronted by the evidence, Wheeler is shocked but attempts to run for it by stealing the tape. Hal manages to stop his rival, but both crashed into the baby carriage.

Meanwhile, Malcolm's inner voice grows more sarcastic and downright demonic. Just as Oleski is about to put him into the game, he says his thanks and accidentally spits up blood.

While driving Reese and Alison to the concert, Craig selfishly and intentionally passes the concert by. Reese tells him that they missed the entrance to the concert. Craig tells them they're not going to the concert because he has plans of his own for his two passengers. He wants to start of his date with a hayride, then a light dinner at an Italian restaurant and end the evening with a bonfire at the beach. Reese is very annoyed by Craig for his behavior because it's making both him and Alison uncomfortable. He tells Craig off that he has just ruined their(mainly his and Alison's) date. He snaps, pulls over and stops his car. He confronts Reese that he's planned this outing for 34 years and he won't let them ruin it. Craig tells him and Alison off that they're going on a hayride, dinner and then a bonfire. He mentions that this will be an evening they will remember whether they like it or not. Having enough of Craig's tirades, Alison tricks him to take off his glasses, pepper sprays his face with a can of mace and unbuckles her seat belt. She becomes shocked and humiliated when she hears him says Reese said she'd be nice to him and like him. This makes her hesitate to wait for him to join her, before getting out of the car. When Reese tries to follow her out of the car, Alison furiously and quickly positions the can of mace in front of him. This implies that she will spray his eyes next like she did to Craig's own if he joins her and doesn't allow her to go her own way. Getting the hint, Reese nervously tells Alison that he'll see her Monday at school. She puts the mace away and slams the door to attend the concert alone.

It's a peptic ulcer and brought on by all his bottled-up stress, Malcolm is admitted to the hospital. An angry Lois complains over it that the doctors say that Malcolm has the stomach of a 60 year old man. She wonders aloud what could've made him so stressed out. From his hospital bed, Malcolm gets annoyed and releases his full-on anger. He showers Lois with a barrage of his classic complaining over how she stresses him out with her need for control, how much he hates the hospital lack of service and even his own hatred for Oleski for being a hard-headed idiot. She is at a loss of words as Malcolm continues complaining about the itchiness of his sheets and about needing a bedpan to do his business just because he can't use a regular bathroom yet.

In the final scene, Reese and Craig are at the lake with a bonfire. Craig's vision has returned, but the scars around his eyes remain. He is happy that everything in his date went as planned, Alison's nice, but her departure was for the best. Craig explains a date's better with two people. However, Reese is angry and toasting marshmallows. He tells Craig off stop calling this a date and mentions they should call it as it really is, blackmail. Craig doesn't pay attention, mentioning that he can't wait to see his landlady, Mrs. Clevasol's face when he comes home after 11 PM. When Reese requests that he is brought back to his house immediately because he is bored out of his mind and has just missed his curfew, Craig refuses. He mentions that there's no curfews on a night like tonight. Craig pulls out his ukulele from behind his chair and starts playing Air Supply songs. Reese is further humiliated by this now that he realizes that he's dug himself a hole and can no longer escape it.

Cast[]

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

Recurring[]

  • Emy Coligado as Piama
  • David Anthony Higgins as Craig
  • Reagan Dale Neis as Nicki
  • Craig Lamar Taylor as Stevie
  • Brittany Renee Finamore as Alison

Cameos[]

  • Kevin Kilner as Vince
  • David Burke as Wheeler
  • Jack McGee as Coach Oleski
  • Jessica Hendry as Joy
  • Edmund L Shaff as General
  • David Grant Wright as an Officer
  • Guenievere Anderson as Groupie #1
  • Mikki Padilla as Groupie #2

Trivia[]

  • The song playing while Craig drives the teens on their date is "Telephone Line" by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
  • The song playing while Hal trains for his race is "Pedal to the Metal" by Kazzer
  • The park where Hal starts race-walking is the Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Recreation Center.[1] This location has previously been used several times: in Cynthia's Back and Hal Coaches.
  • The scene in which Hal energetically helps an older woman across the road was filmed at Huston Road, corner Hazeltime Avenue.[1]
  • Alisa Reyes made an uncredited appearance as a concert attendee.
  • The song that Craig plays on his ukulele is Air Supply's "The One That You Love".
  • This is the first episode to air in 2003.
  • There were several scenes that were written for the episode that were dropped to cut down on air time.
    • Originally, Craig reminds Reese that he still has security footage against him for a traffic violation he committed near Lucky Aide. If he refuses to honor their deal, Craig will turn over the videos to Lois and he'll be grounded for a specific amount of time. Knowing her track record, he thinks Reese is better off following through with their date than deal with her sadism.
    • Like Malcolm, Francis was planned to end up going to the hospital in a town not to far from the Grotto Ranch to get treatment for his water logged and blistered feet. Piama tells him off that she warned him and he didn't listen. Francis tells her to knock it off because he knows how dangerous and stupid the challenge was. Piama continues to nag at him
    • Hal and Wheeler actually gets arrested for the incident at the park involving child endangerment after knocking over the stroller. His wife and Lois confronts the men in jail. Hal makes fun of Wheeler when she calls him by his real name, Wally. However, he stops when he sees how angry Lois is.
    • Reese's anger with Craig played out differently in the original script. He mentions that he's angry at Craig for ruining everything that he planned for his night with Alison. He argues it was deserving because of it. Reese points out that was the whole point of bribing Craig with that large cinnamon roll. He needed a ride to the concert, not to be an expendable plaything for the latter. Reese intended to give Alison the most magical night of her life in picking her up from her house, take her to the concert, have a good time there, drop her off at her place and then go home with plenty of time to spare in making his curfew. Because of Craig's shenanigans, his night and date plans were ruined. Reese missed the concert, Alison almost dumped him, was forced to endure this boring excursion and is going to miss his curfew. He mentions this is the most selfish thing Craig could ever do to him. Reese realizes he hasn't gotten it through his head and claims that it was for the better. Craig believed his tirades were worth it because he got the date he wanted in the end. To him, Alison was just a third wheel, a date is better with two people and he also got a little revenge on Reese for trying to renege it. Like in the show, he is further humiliated when Craig starts singing Air Supply songs.
  • A storyline about Francis being a model for a nude art class (later used in episode 19 of the same season) was originally planned for this episode.
  • This episode is probably the only time that Malcolm has actually won against Lois.
  • The first episode with the short intro.
  • Dewey has a minor role in this episode.
  • This episode marks the 2nd time Craig got his revenge on a member of the Wilkerson family. In this case, Reese tried to renege out of their deal by making him chauffer both Reese and Alison to the concert. In the end, she abandons him to attend the concert alone. Reese was forced to spend the rest of his evening with Craig. His first time is in Forwards Backwards and his last time is in Garage Sale, which both were against Hal.
  • Alison is revealed to keep a can of mace with her.
    • Originally, she was supposed to give Reese further karma by punching him in the stomach, scratching his arms and give him a black eye before slamming the side door shut. This was dropped due to it being violent and not funny enough. Thus, Alison aimed the can of mace in Reese's face, threatening to pepper spray his eyes out to let her attend the concert alone and force him to stay with Craig
  • This episode marks the first time Alison had threatened and almost dumped Reese. The next time this will happen is in Academic Octathalon and which she successfully dumps him for trying to renege on his promise to take her to the dance.

Quotes[]

Reese: Craig! You are ruining our date!
Craig: (pulling over and slams on the brakes. He looks back at Reese & Alison with rage) Now listen here! Do you know how long I have dreamed and planned for this night? 34 YEARS AND I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU LITTLE BRATS RUIN IT!!! We're going to have a hayride, dinner, and a bonfire and it will be a magical evening that will live in our hearts FOREVER!!!
Alison: What's that on your glasses?
Craig: (takes his glasses off) What?
[Alison pepper sprays him with a can of mace.]
Craig: AHHHHHHH!!!!! Reese, you said she would be nice to me. You said she'd like me!!!!
[Alison looks at Reese, shocked over how he failed to contain Craig and unfastens her seat belt to get out of the car.]
Reese: Yeah, let's ditch this loser.
[Alison positions the mace can on Reese too, implying that she will spray him next if he doesn't let her go her own way. Reese smiles nervously.]
Reese: Okay, see you in school.
[Alison slams the door.]

[At the beach in the final scene, Craig's vision in his eyes have returned albeit that the outer parts remain red from being sprayed with mace by Alison.]
Craig: This is great, isn't it? Alison's nice, but I have to say I think a date's better with just two people.
Reese: Can we stop calling this a date?
Craig: Well, whatever it is, I can't wait to see the look on my neighbor's face when I come strolling home past eleven. Eat your heart out, Mrs. Clevasol.
Reese: I think I missed my curfew.
Craig: There are no curfews on a night like tonight.
[He grabs a ukulele and starts singing a song by Air Supply as Reese continues roasting marshmallows.]

Errors/Bloopers[]

  • When Reese gives his dessert to Craig, the bowl is full. In the next few shots, the bowl is half empty and Craig has food remains on his right cheek. It is unsure if this is an error or is done for comedic effect as Craig is considered overweight.
  • In one scene where Hal was looking at the Race Walkers, the screen was reversed.

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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