The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976) Movie Script
1
Honey?
Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Lubitch.
Hi, Doctor.
I've just come
from the hospital.
The tests are in,
and you're pregnant.
Congratulations.
That's wonderful.
Did you hear that,
honey?
Call me if I can be of any help
with your decision.
Yeah, I'll do that,
Doctor.
Thanks very much.
Johnny?
I know, honey.
I know.
I don't want to lose
another baby.
Oh...
I couldn't bear it.
I just couldn't.
No way in the world we're going
to lose this child.
Look...
First of all,
the odds are four to one
against there being
any problem at all this time.
Honey, even if the worst
happened and this baby is born
with no immunities,
this time we're ready.
I mean, immunologists
like Dr. Gunther,
they know how to save
these children now.
But how can we make
a decision like that?
For another human being?
I mean, what if--?
Oh, Johnny, do you think
we could live with it?
Oh...
There were never
two people in the world
more meant to be parents
than you and me.
God knows that.
I want to believe that.
Oh, I want to believe that.
A baby...
We're gonna have a baby.
A baby?
- Mr. Lubitch?
- Yes, Doctor?
If you'd like to say something
to your wife before...
Hello, Mrs. Lubitch.
I just wanted to say, um...
I love you.
I love you.
May we have the air conditioning ducts
and the heat vents closed,
please?
And no movement
while the air settles.
Anybody down there
planning on having an itch,
please scratch it now.
Not later, please.
Dr. Gunther, do we have
to have all these people here?
May we please clear
the theater?
I'm sorry.
Please try to understand.
We're private people.
Begin the cesarean.
I just saw him,
and he's a beautiful baby.
Johnny, what a
beautiful baby he is.
Look at those blue eyes.
Hey, Toddy.
It's your daddy.
I think he knows me.
How were the tests?
Mr. and Mrs. Lubitch,
he was born exactly
like your first son.
No immunities whatsoever.
But he's alive.
How long does he have
to stay in this?
There's no way to know.
Until we discover a treatment,
until he develops an immune
system of his own,
he'll have to remain
in his protected environment.
Surely you can give us
some kind of prediction.
I mean, are we talking about
days or weeks or months?
Years.
Excuse me?
Mr. Lubitch, you may as well
have it straight.
We could get lucky, or your son
could be here with us
for the remainder of his life.
- May I?
- Of course.
Shh.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Are you going over there
this morning, honey?
- What for?
- I didn't hear you.
I said, what for?
Hey, hey, what's the matter?
Oh, I hate seeing
that little girl nearby.
I'm always looking at her.
You almost fell out!
Did you almost fall?
Kind of sorry
they moved next door.
I want my baby.
Mickey, look.
Suppose we could devise some way
of transporting him safely,
and we could get them
to go on paying for it.
And manage the million and
one other things we'd have to.
The sterilization and the food
and the toys and the equipment.
I don't think you realize what we'd be getting
ourselves into if we did bring him home.
Do you?
Well...
You stay home
and get some rest.
I'll give him a big hug
for both of us.
Okay?
Take me high!
Oh, higher?
Yeah!
You're such a big girl!
Give me a kiss.
Oh, boy!
Wanna play ball?
Wanna play ball?
Get your ball.
We're gonna toss.
You get over here,
why don't you?
Okay, look out.
Here it comes.
Oh, good!
Try it again.
Now you throw it to me.
Good one!
Good man!
Throw it right here.
I don't know whether I'm gonna
make a pitcher or a catcher out of you.
Okay, Toddy, throw me
a nice, hard one.
There you go.
That's a good boy!
Here it comes.
There you go.
Hey, look who's here, Toddy,
it's Mommy.
Surprised to see me?
- No.
- No?
What about you,
short stuff?
Huh? Are you surprised
to see Mommy?
- Yeah.
- You are?
Oh, I bet I can do
something fun to you.
I bet I can tickle you
and make you giggle.
Come here, come here.
Do you know how much your
Mommy and Daddy love you?
Do you?
Do you really?
Do you know how much
Mommy and Daddy love you?
Hm? Do you?
And how much we want you all
to ourselves?
I do!
I love you.
I'm going to tickle baby.
I want to get him again.
I'm gonna get him again!
You wanna give me another kiss?
Give me a kiss.
Here they come.
Hurry up, set up.
I got a microphone.
We rolling?
Pick up the ambulance.
Little Tod Lubitch.
A child who has never felt his
parents touch,
except through the walls
of his plastic bubble,
and who may not
for years to come,
is finally coming home
for the first time today.
There's Mrs. Lubitch
getting out of the ambulance.
Mr. Lubitch. The doctor.
Please, everybody,
we appreciate your interest,
but this is exactly what we're
trying to get away from.
Hey, Toddy,
did you have a nice ride?
There you go.
Would you back up,
everybody, please?
- Mrs. Lubitch, how do you--
- Do you mind backing up just a little bit?
Oh, my, I didn't realize
he was so big.
Isn't he adorable?
- Gina, come on back here.
- I'll get her.
Will he have to
live in that thing very long?
Please, fellas, no pictures.
What is it like, Mrs. Lubitch,
to never touch your son?
I've asked you nicely three times.
Now will you just please leave us be?
Mr. Lubitch, won't you
come out again and give us--
You take one more step and I'm
gonna knock your damn head off.
Now get out of here.
Come on, all of you.
Just back up.
I'm a monster!
I'm a monster!
I'm a monster!
My son's not a freak.
Come on.
Let's get out of here.
Okay, filters and fans.
They're okay.
All right.
Back-up generator?
It's okay.
So your breaker
and fuse panels...
That's all right.
Okay.
And intercom system.
Right. That's it.
Are you sure we have
checked everything?
Well, everything
except champagne.
Oh.
Huh?
Well, um...
In that case,
I'm just going to tuck him in,
and I'll see you in a minute.
Don't you be long.
Okay.
Good night, Toddy.
Come on, darling,
it's night-night time.
Come on!
That's my darling.
Okay, you have pleasant dreams.
You talk to your teddy bear,
okay?
Mommy loves you.
I'll see you
in the morning.
Ooh! Oh, wow!
Champagne okay.
Do you realize...
how long it's been?
- Hm?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Mmm-hmm.
He's not getting any air.
Toddy? What is it?
Honey, check the fans!
Toddy, what is it?
What is it?
I don't know what to do.
Everything's running.
- Check the generator?
- But it's all running. You look at it.
- It could be the equipment...
- Toddy!
Toddy, what is it?
Toddy?
Oh, my God.
He swallowed it!
Lift him up.
Toddy.
Toddy, come on now.
Daddy's gonna lift you up.
Come on, you got
to spit it out, baby.
Spit it out! Spit it out!
Hit him hard, honey.
Spit it up, Toddy.
Spit it up!
Come on, Toddy. Come on!
Come on, spit it up.
Spit it up!
Get it out, baby.
Oh, Toddy.
I'm sorry, baby.
Are you okay? Toddy.
Oh, baby,
Oh, I'm sorry.
- Are you okay?
- Yeah.
Oh, sweetheart,
you okay now?
Oh, I'm sorry I had
to hit you.
You poor baby.
We did it.
We sure did.
Mrs. Lubitch?
Yes?
Well, I know we should
have called first.
Oh, well, our number's
not listed.
Well, we were just waiting for
the proper time to say hello.
I'm Pete Biggs.
My wife, Martha.
And our daughter, Gina.
We live right next door there.
Yes, I know.
I should have been
the one
to welcome you
into the neighborhood,
but, uh...
Here!
It's a welcome-home present
for your little boy.
Well, thank you.
Thank you.
That's very kind of you.
Please, come in.
I'm sorry I haven't been
that friendly,
but we just don't have
that many visitors.
There, that's good Toddy.
Now put the blue one here.
See if you can stack
another blue one on it.
Oh, you're gonna
put it up there, huh?
Oops. Oops. Here, try the--
Honey, look who's here.
The Biggs from next door have
come over to welcome Tod home.
Oh, look, Toddy.
Hey, Toddy!
Look over there.
Toddy, look who's here.
This is Gina!
Come say hello to Gina.
Gina's brought you a present,
which Daddy's gonna sterilize.
Come on over here, Gina.
Toddy, come on.
Say hi to Gina.
Come on, Toddy.
Let me go! Let me go!
Oh, he's not hurting you.
He's just playing
with you.
Is this your playhouse?
Can I come in?
Can I?
Yeah!
Hey, Gina, what do you wanna do?
I don't know.
Want to go down
to the dock?
It must be real weird
living right next door
to that kid.
Oh, no, not really.
Like, I hardly ever see him except
for birthdays and stuff.
Half the time he's
at the hospital, anyway.
Come on!
He's always
watching television.
You know? He never comes
out of his room.
Does he have any friends?
Mm-mm.
Just old people.
Like friends of his parents.
Bunch of doctors that come over.
And some minister or something
comes over once in a while.
But no kids or anything.
Oh, he has this little pet
germ-free mouse too.
Don't you ever wonder
what it's like in there?
I mean, to be all
by yourself like that.
Yeah.
Yeah, I know.
But he's weird,
you know?
Like, I'm surprised he isn't
looking at us right now.
Every time I look up there,
he's looking right at me.
The last and, NASA hopes,
the longest of the free Skylab...
Capney! Hey, Capney!
How are you?
Huh?
The astronauts breezed
through...
However, the repair of the
bowl-shaped radar antenna
proved a more difficult task.
Located on the underside
of Skylab's
multiple docking adapter
section,
the antenna is used to
measure irregularities
in ground temperatures
and the shape of the Earth.
Performing like
an acrobatic team,
they worked for three
hours on the faulty antenna
till it was finally free enough to do most
of its programmed
Earth scanning job.
Earlier today, after the astronauts docked
their command module
with Skylab,
they settled in and started
their housekeeping chores.
After a rest period
of two hours,
they had their first meal in Skylab.
Hello, Mickey.
Good afternoon, Ernie.
Please come in.
Honey?
Look who's here
to see you.
Hello, Tod.
Good afternoon, Ernie.
And how are we
feeling today?
My main reason
for driving out here today,
instead of waiting for your
monthly check-up,
there's some news I think you
might like to hear.
- Queen's in check, Ernie.
- Oh, yeah, you're right.
A doctor in Tokyo believes
he may have found a treatment
that might stimulate
the development
of the humeral
and cellular antibodies.
What kind of research
has he done?
So far, not too extensive.
But the middle of next year--
Good news, Ernie. Keep me posted, will you?
You've really got it made,
haven't you?
Why do you say that?
Because you've got the best
excuse ever devised by anybody
to avoid growing up.
I'm growing up, Ernie.
Yes. Sometimes
you're like an old man.
And other times you're like
a newborn baby.
What does that mean?
Why do you use that intercom
when you don't need to?
Does it give you a feeling
of power over us?
Is it your way
of getting back at us?
Oh, you're angry at me
today, aren't you, Ernie?
Yes. You're right. I am.
Well, look, Ernie,
you don't know any more than you
did in the beginning, do you?
I mean, so why should I care
about what's going on out there?
Why should I care about anything
that's going on out there?
Because there may be
a cure at any time.
The doctor in Tokyo,
your own body...
Oh, bull.
You know, I'm not so unhappy
in here as all of you think.
Really.
I'll see you, Tod.
Carter had greased
the railing on the stairway
between the first
and second floor,
and Mr. Brister took quite
a nasty tumble.
Tod, the school board
called me today.
And a company back east
has donated
a closed-circuit
television system.
- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah.
And they want to know
if you would like to use it
to monitor some classes
in the high school.
What classes?
Any classes you want.
Come on, you're not afraid
to test that brain of yours
- against the other kids, are you?
- No.
Honey, if it's too abrupt a step
for you right now, that's okay.
I didn't mean to sound as
if I was pushing him.
Tell me more about that doctor
that Ernie was talking about last week.
You know,
the one from Tokyo.
Well, we haven't heard anything
about him yet, honey.
But there is a hematologist
in Finland that's--
I gotta think
about that school thing.
May I please be excused?
- Of course, darling.
- Sure.
- Hey.
- Hey!
What is all this?
Don't you know?
Girl, it's your neighbor.
The boy in the bubble.
He's gonna monitor some classes on TV,
and he chose our homeroom.
- He did?
- Yeah! Come on.
Tom, get off my feet!
Now, Deborah
and Linda, please sit down.
Go on, we have someone new
in our class.
All right, you're on, Tod.
I can't see anything.
Well, try your
scanner button.
Hey, Gina, your true love
has found you.
Tod, can you hear me?
Hi, Dad.
Hi.
I want you to meet
your homeroom teacher.
This is Mr. Brister.
Good morning, Tod.
Would you like to say something
to the class before we begin?
Hi, everybody.
So if the Truman administration
was "The Fair Deal,"
and the Kennedy administration
"The New Frontier,"
and the Johnson administration
called itself
"The Great Society,"
What was the Roosevelt
administration?
Tom Shuster?
Gwen?
Who's making that sound?
Gina Biggs?
Uh, sorry, Mr. Brister.
I didn't read the chapter.
Tod?
The New Deal.
Good.
Now...
What's so funny?
All right,
this has gone far enough.
Unless every one
of you wants to be sent
down to the principal's office,
you'll cut it out right now.
Hey, Tom,
go out for a pass.
Okay.
You know, if they can take him
to and from the hospital
in that small bubble,
why don't they ever
carry him outside
or down to the beach
or something?
They've been suggesting
it for years
but Tod won't
have any part of it.
He says it'll make him feel like
a freak being put on display.
Gina, go over to the Lubitch's,
ask Tod if he'd like to come
to the 4th of July
party at the beach.
Well, why don't you just call his
parents or something?
I want it to come from you.
All right, I'll try.
Um, Missy...
Mm-hmm.
- Hi, Mrs. Lubitch.
- Hi, Gina.
Uh, is Tod home?
Is Tod home...
Yes, Tod is home.
Go on up and see him.
Thank you.
Tod?
Hey in there.
It's me.
Surprised to see me?
Well, aren't you going
to say something...like hi.
Hi.
Hey, you know, I've always
wondered about this.
What's that?
How come this part is open?
I mean, don't germs get in?
Oh.
Well, you see,
behind this wall
there's lots of air vents
that constantly blow out all the
air so that germs won't get in.
See this line down here,
I cant walk past it.
- No kidding?
- No.
You mean I couldn't put my foot
over that line?
No, your germs will get in.
Yeah.
Hey, Tod,
my mom said that you've never
even been sick or anything.
Not even a cold.
Is that-- Is that true?
Yeah, how do you like that?
Wow.
So when are you supposed
to get out?
Oh, I don't know.
Keep on looking for treatments
but they've been looking
for them all my life.
But my immunities keep on
building up, I know that.
So even if they don't find
a treatment
you'll get out some day, right?
Yeah, someday.
Well, um, the reason I'm here
is, um, I wanted to invite you
to the 4th of July party
at the beach.
If you can't make it, you know,
everybody will understand
but at least you know that
we wanted you to come.
Well, hope you can make it.
Yeah, okay, let's head out.
Okay.
Pete, lets put it over
here by the rocks,
- there's an outlet over there.
- Okay.
- You wanna put him in the sand?
- No.
Hey, Fred, could you give us
a hand getting Tod down here?
Yeah, can you get
on either side here.
Okay, I'm gonna release
it right now.
Okay, there we go. Easy.
There we go.
Okay, let me get the...
plug here.
Honey, you want to turn
the switch on?
Okay.
Happy 4th of July, son.
- Okay, where's food?
- Here.
Hi, Tod.
Glad you could come.
What do you think
of my horse?
Oh, I love him.
I watch you feed him
every morning
and I love to
watch you ride him.
Do you always talk like that?
I love this, I love that.
But I do,
I really do.
Yeah, but I mean,
you shouldn't tell people.
Why not?
Because people will think
you're dumb.
Oh.
So you like my horse, huh?
Well, maybe I'll let you
ride him
when you get out.
Will you?
Will you really, Gina?
See you later.
Hey, I dare you.
How much?
I'll give you $2 if you hold his
hand through the fireworks.
Let me see the money.
I don't believe you.
You mean you're really gonna do it?
- Right here.
- Okay.
Oh, no.
Hi, Tod.
Hi.
Tod...
Let's hold hands.
What for?
I'd just like
to hold hands with you.
Don't you know? When two people
like each other,
especially a boy and a girl,
they like to hold hands.
- Gina...
- Yes?
...do you really like me?
Well, hold my hand
and find out.
Shh, your mother.
Gina, where are you going?
All right, you turkeys,
cough up the money.
Good job.
One, two.
Look at him, he doesn't
know he's a pawn.
Gina, what'd did you run away for?
Come back, talk to me.
Tod...
Don't you know
it was a dare?
They dared me so I had to do it.
Oh, God.
I, uh--
You didn't think I
was serious, did you?
I hate it!
- Tod? Tod!
- I hate it!
Tod! Tod!
I hate it! Let me out!
I hate it!
Tod, no, no, no. Tod.
What's the matter, Tod? Tod?
What happened? What happened?
What did she say to you?
What did you say to him?
Tod, we'll take you home.
I don't want to go.
Just take me to the hospital.
Just take me to the hospital, would you?
All right!
Baby...
This isn't the way to my room.
You won't be staying in the old
part of the hospital anymore, Tod.
You'll be staying here in
the new Laminar Air Flow Center.
Because of what we've learned
through cases like yours
we're now treating cancer
patients
undergoing chemo therapy,
leukemia patients,
all kinds of people,
young and old who've developed
immune deficiencies
like yourself,
for one reason or another.
I've taken the liberty
of tentatively
selecting your roommate.
A roommate?
But if you're unhappy,
I'm sure something
can be arranged.
Tod Lubitch, meet Roy Slater.
Hi.
Well, I'll leave you two fellas
to get to know each other.
I hear you've been in one
of these things all your life.
What's that been like?
Me, I've been in here a couple
of months and, I don't know,
I sure miss
a lot of things.
What's the matter with you?
Tumor.
So why are you
in one of these things?
The chemo therapy kills off
all my immunities.
You know, I'm really glad
I got someone to talk to now.
They tried me with a couple
of others before
but you're the first one
who's even close to my age.
I sure hope we can
become friends.
Hey!
Hey, why don't you
talk to me?
I have so many things
I want to ask you.
Just let me ask you
one question, okay?
Okay.
What do you do
to start liking it?
Tod?
Aren't you going
to answer me?
You said I could ask you
one question.
Yeah, well, I didn't say
I'd answer it.
Okay, okay!
Ill answer anything you want.
Just stop crying, all right?
You mean it?
Yeah, I mean it,
you dorko.
Tod?
Yeah?
When are you supposed
to get out?
I don't know.
They tell me my immunities
are building up, but who knows?
I may never get out
of this damn thing.
If I was never going
to get out of here
I don't think I would keep
going on, you know?
Easy. You could do it easy.
You know what really bugs me?
What?
When they discovered the tumor
I was too young for girls,
you know?
Yeah.
And now that I'm old enough
I can't do anything about it.
Sometimes I just get so...
I can't stand it.
I think of all my friends
out there,
going to drive-ins and making
out, and getting all that action.
You know, the first thing
I'm going to do
when I get out of here is
get me, get myself a hooker.
Wouldn't you be afraid
of all the germs?
Germs? I want the germs.
I want to be dirty,
really dirty, you know.
I want to grow my hair
real long,
and have a beard and a mustache
and I want to make out
with everything that walks.
Roy?
Yeah?
Do you ever, um...
do you ever, you know...
All the time.
Me too.
Elsewhere in the news,
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin
visits young Tod Lubitch,
the boy who has grown up
inside a plastic bubble.
That's Tod.
I want to see this, hold on.
He's coming home next week.
- So what?
- Shh.
Hi, Tod.
You're Buzz Aldrin,
aren't you?
The man who walked
on the moon.
Oh, God,
I don't believe this.
You know, I've been looking
forward to meeting you, Tod.
I hear you have the
record for the longest time
in a command module.
Yeah, I guess so.
I got a little something
for you too.
"To Tod, champion space
man on Earth. Buzz Aldrin."
Thank you.
Hey, you spent some time in
one of these things, didn't you?
Right after
the moon flight.
Something very much
like it, Tod.
We were in germ control
quarters for several weeks.
What was it like for you?
The thing I remember most
was the loss of freedom.
You know, I felt like
being in a fishbowl.
Yeah, I know what you mean.
Tod Lubitch, the boy who spent
his life in a plastic bubble.
No, Tom, my parents are going
to be home in a bit, okay?
What is it with you
and that freak?
He's my next-door neighbor.
We grew up together.
Is there anything wrong with
that? Don't call him a freak.
I think you're turning
on to him.
Oh, Tom,
you're such an idiot.
How long have I lived next
to him, 12 years?
I've probably spoken to him
maybe a dozen times at the most.
Every year I got an invitation
to his birthday party
and every year I went.
I was the only one there,
except for his parents.
It's the only time I ever saw
him, just once a year.
Except for the 4th of July.
Mr. Lubitch?
Yeah, what is it, Gina?
I'm in a big rush.
I hear Tod's gonna monitor
some classes again this year.
That's why I'm rushing. I got books to get in the
library and supplies to pick up before the stores close.
Hey, listen, I can do all
of that for you if you want.
What's the catch, Gina?
Well, the main thing is I feel
bad about what happened,
and I'd like to help out.
And the other thing is I--
I'm broke and I could really
use the money.
Okay, that's a deal.
Hello?
I brought you the books
and supplies that you needed.
And your homework's
in there too.
Well, I guess I'll see you
tomorrow.
Oh, if you want me
to bring any class work
with me to school
in the morning, just, um,
have your mom leave it
on the front porch
and I'll pick it up
on my way.
Wait a minute.
I want to ask you
something.
Why are you doing this?
Just because I want to.
Does my father have anything to do with it?
Well, yeah, kind of.
Is he paying you?
Yeah.
Thank you for being honest. You can go now.
No, but I suggested it.
What I mean is...
Oh, it's always so hard
to talk to you.
You take everything
so literally.
Say what you started to say.
Do you have to use that thing?
It's killing my ears.
Say what you started to say.
Well, I thought a lot about
what happened
last 4th of July.
And I wanted to make it up
to you somehow.
And when I saw your father
at school today, well...
I was going to do it
for nothing,
but another part of me said,
well...
I understand.
You're not mad at me anymore?
Hey, um, does that
Mr. Brister
look as old in person
as he does on television?
Oh!
Mr. Brister.
God, I hate that guy.
Yeah, me too.
Hey, how come you're never
wearing anything except shorts?
Because it's so warm in here.
Really, Tod. I mean,
when I come over
the least you could do
is put on some clothes.
How long has it been
since you've had a shower?
Oh, I can't have showers,
and baths are a major
production.
You should see, it takes
a couple of hours
just to sterilize
the water.
It must stink in there.
Oh, no, no, you're wrong.
No germs, no smell.
I don't know, Tod.
I mean, it's just the principle
of the thing, you know.
Well, hastamaana.
Thus, despite Wilson's stand
on the League of Nations,
Congress had voted against
the entry of the United States.
American now embraced a policy
of isolationism,
focusing her attentions
inward on domestic concerns.
Thereby pursuing a course
of action which was ultimately
to pave the way
for World War II.
For tomorrow we will
read chapters 4, 5, and 6.
I wish you wouldn't look
at me like that.
Look, I didn't come yesterday
because I couldn't.
Look, to begin with, Mr. Goodwin
made me stay after class
to rewrite that term paper
for English Lit,
and then I got called down
to the principal's office
for a nice little talking to.
And then when I got home
my parents--
Gina, you don't have
to lie to me.
I'm not lying to you,
and stop using that thing.
It hurts my ears.
You can go now, Gina.
I'm not your slave, Tod.
So don't give me orders.
You're just like everybody else.
Nobody ever believes me.
I'm flunking out of school,
that's how come I had to stay.
The only course I have higher
than a D is Art.
I didn't know that, Gina.
Well, now you do.
And you can forget about me
coming over anymore
since everyone else thinks
I'm letting them down,
last thing I need
is the same garbage from you.
Gina, I'm sorry.
Maybe I could help you.
How?
I can explain things better
than those dumb teachers.
I can teach you
how to really concentrate.
- You would do that?
- Sure.
Hey, what's my father
paying you?
A dollar an hour.
Well that's how much I charge.
Gina, you can see my rates,
they're right over here.
Okay, it's a deal.
Tod, how do you
like my hair better?
Up in a ponytail like this,
or maybe straight down,
like this?
Well, which do you
like better?
I think I like it straight down
better, don't you?
You think I'm beautiful,
don't you?
So do I.
Hey, Tod.
For the test tomorrow,
do you think we could do it
another way?
What do you mean?
Let me cheat off your paper.
Gina...
Tod, what are you doing?
I'm finished.
Oh, of course. But wait until
the others are finished
before you hold up
your answers.
I'm sorry, Mr. Brister.
Careful, Mom.
You got it?
Yeah.
You okay, Dad?
- Yep.
- All right.
Okay. Very good.
Excellent.
- Where do you wanna go?
- To the right.
- My right or your right?
- My right.
- Right.
- All right.
There we go.
Yeah, right in the sun.
Excellent.
- Okay?
- Okay.
Oh.
La-la-la-la-la-la-la.
Hey, you, what's
this sudden interest
in all the great outdoors?
- I need a tan.
- Need a what?
A what?
I need a tan.
Well, look at me.
I look like a tuna fish.
All white and everything.
You know, you guys could use
a little sunshine yourselves.
You're starting to look
real old.
Tod...
Dad, I don't mean to hurt
your feelings, but it's true.
I mean, you never take
a vacation or buy new clothes.
Look at that dress, Mom.
Dad, you never do anything
for yourselves.
- Tod?
- Yeah?
Do you ever blame us
for bringing you into the world?
Did you have a choice?
Yes.
Well, do you blame
yourselves?
Sometimes.
Mom, Dad,
I don't blame you
for anything.
Honest.
I love you.
I love you both,
don't you know that?
I mean, look, if it
weren't for what you did
I would've grown up
in the hospital.
You know, you should hire
a nurse from the hospital
to take care of me.
So then you could go to someplace
that you always wanted to go to.
- Tod...
- Dad, it'd be okay. I'd love it.
I mean, just knowing
that you weren't spending
your whole life on me,
okay?
Do it.
Sweetheart,
I'll meet you outside.
Rachel, don't forget to test the
backup generator at least once a day.
And if anything goes wrong
don't hesitate to call us.
Don't worry about a thing.
We'll be at that number.
Goodbye.
Have a good trip.
Honey, I hope we're doing
the right thing.
- So much could go wrong.
- Sure we are.
This trip is
for him too, you know.
Give him a little
growing room.
Make him feel like he can stand
on his own two feet.
- You know what I think?
- What?
I think part of the reason
he wanted us out of the way
was so that he could court his girl.
Yeah.
- Tod? Bye-bye.
- Goodbye, son.
Tod, look, my report card
for the semester.
An A in Art
and all the rest are B's.
No kidding?
- Well, thanks to you.
- Yeah.
Hey, let's celebrate, okay?
- How?
- I don't know.
Think of something you'd like
to do. Something special.
Oh, Tod, really the way you look
at me sometimes, honestly.
Well, think of something.
Okay, take me riding
with you.
Oh, sure, what are you gonna
do? Just walk out of there?
I might. No, dummy, just help
Rachel take me outside
so I can watch you.
Are you crazy? The two of us
would never get you downstairs.
Sure. Sure you could, easy.
See? I told you it would work.
Okay, keep on going,
my slaves.
Oh, Tod!
All right,
a little more
to the left.
Okay, that's it.
That's good. Put me down.
That's it, thank you.
Gina, come here.
Rachel, would you plug me in
in the extension?
When she does that,
would you turn off the battery?
- Okay.
- Okay.
That's it, Rachel.
Plug it in.
Excellent.
Thank you.
Thank you, Rachel.
You can go now.
Gina, ride for me,
okay?
Okay.
Gina, go around that tree
and then jump over the canoe
and come back
as fast as you can.
Gina, you move so fast.
What does it feel like
to move that fast?
It feels like flying.
Gina, ride around me in a circle
as close as you can, okay?
But what about the cord?
What about the cord?
You just jumped that canoe.
You can jump that stupid cord.
What about your nurse?
This is the time of day
when she drinks sherry.
She'll just sit there and look
at the plug and make sure that
it doesn't come out and then
she'll get pleasantly bombed.
So don't worry
about her, okay?
Okay.
Faster, Gina!
Faster, faster!
Faster, Gina!
Now jump over me, Gina.
- Jump over me, Gina!
- No way, Tod.
Come on.
Gina, you jumped over the canoe.
I've seen you
jump twice as high.
Tod, what if I miss?
Gina, you won't miss.
I know you.
You're too talented to miss.
Tod, you are really a weird kid,
do you know that?
Yeah, I know it.
Just do it, Gina, okay?
Okay.
Dear lord.
- That was so great.
- I was so scared.
- Were you scared?
- Not once.
Oh, I don't believe you.
Aren't you ever gonna
get out of this thing?
I don't know.
I gotta split.
Listen, I'll be back later
to help you get inside, okay?
Which one is he?
Well, that's Tom.
Bruce drives a blue Chevy.
Is he the one
you're going with?
Who says I'm going
with anybody?
Tod, put your face up
against the plastic.
What for?
I did what you wanted me
to do, now do it.
Oh.
Have I told you
you look terrific?
Oh, thank you.
You take the presents
and I'll get the bags.
- Come on, let's surprise him now.
- You want to do it now?
- Is it open?
- Yup.
Tod? Hi.
Hi.
- Hey, Toddy.
- Hi, babe.
- Did you have a good time?
- Yes.
- How was it?
- It was fine.
Tod, listen, what's this
about Gina
jumping over you
with her horse?
- Oh, it's nothing.
- Hmm?
Did she tell you that?
She drinks.
Oh, Tod.
No, she probably imagined it.
Tod that's wicked.
Listen, I got something
I want to tell you.
I wanna go to school.
- Yeah.
- But you are in school.
No, I mean
really go to school.
Dr. Gunther said
he'd set it up
if you guys said
it would be all right.
Here, look,
I'll show you.
See? Pretty neat, huh?
Oh, my goodness.
Okay, Tod, come on out.
Let's go.
You sure you want
to go today?
Yeah.
Okay, let's go.
Okay, last time.
What's the first thing you do
when you get to your home room?
Pledge of allegiance.
The first thing,
you ding-a-ling.
All right, all right.
First thing I do
is check the backup tanks.
And?
And the batteries.
Come on, Dad,
can't you go any faster?
Just leave the driving to me.
Okay, listen,
the filters and the fans
are fine, the batteries are up,
but the pressure gauge on
the main line reads 75 percent,
- then what do you do?
- I don't do anything.
I just stay there and I get
my teacher to go get you,
and then you take me home,
right?
Okay. Good.
But I want you to check
everything on your checklist
every break between classes,
or I'll break your arm.
All right.
Okay.
Get your current
where you find it.
Think of yourself
as a rechargeable flashlight.
Because you want me
to be bright, right?
- Little joke, Dad.
- Very.
Ha.
You're on your own.
- Mr. Brister?
- Yes, Gina.
I just wanted
to say that, um,
I think it's really brave
of Tod to do this,
and I think
we should all show him
how glad we are
that he's here.
Come on, everybody,
stand up.
Come on, get up.
Come on.
I heard from every place
I applied to except for Yale.
Gwen, I heard you were
accepted to Colorado.
- Yeah.
- Yay!
Did you hear
from your art school?
- No, not yet.
- Oh, don't worry about it.
You'll hear from them.
Hey, you guys, why don't
we go over and talk to Tod?
I don't know,
he's really weird.
- He is weird.
- Come on.
Oh, come on,
let's do this.
I'd rather not.
Then don't.
Hi, Tod.
Hi.
Tod, I want you to meet
some of my friends.
You know Tom and Bruce.
And this is Gwen,
and Debbie...
- Hi.
- ...and Smith.
Hey, man,
how you doing?
I see you got yourself
all plugged in.
Hi.
Hi.
I saw you on the news.
You look great.
I'm Tom.
No, man,
we do it like this.
This means
we're brothers.
Hey.
Hey.
How much time
do you have on one tank?
Ninety minutes.
And then what?
Then I recharge.
It's what
I'm doing right now.
See? I'm recharging.
Hey, can I ask you
a question?
Yes.
Do you ever feel like
a visitor from outer space?
Yes.
Me too.
Listen, Tod,
we were all about
to take a little walk
over to the football field.
Would you like
to come with us?
Hey, no more
practical jokes.
- You can trust us.
- Yeah.
I think we've grown up a little
since last summer.
Okay.
Hey, when I pull
this plug out,
would you turn
my battery on?
That little black dial?
Okay.
All right,
when I say ready.
Ready?
- Go.
- Yeah.
- Hey, Tod?
- Yeah?
There's something I've
been wanting to ask you.
Sure.
How do you go
to the bathroom?
Oh, the same
as the astronauts do.
- You mean...?
- Sure.
Sorry I asked.
I'm sorry,
but I just can't help it.
He looks so funny
in that thing.
Look, his little booties.
Tod, Tod, it's not you.
It's just your suit.
Hey, you got to be able
to laugh at yourself.
I mean-- I mean, you got to.
It's funny.
Little ponytail.
Oh, that's it,
that's it.
Little ponytail.
Hey, hey,
don't blow a fuse.
I know what this is like.
What?
What what's like?
I know that's like.
Oh.
You know what I do?
What I do is I stare
at an object for a long time.
Any object, right?
And then I let myself
sink deeper and deeper
inside my brain
until I find
the center place that I like.
Have you guys ever heard
of out of body travel?
Oh, sure, I saw a thing about it
on Twilight Zone, once.
It's where you can leave your
body and go anywhere you want.
That's right.
Well, I do it all the time.
Oh, yeah?
Where do you go?
Lots of different places,
but mostly the planet
that I'm from, Thomapolous.
- Right.
- Come on, Thomapolous.
I think-- I think it's
an exchange program.
You see,
I was sent here,
and someone from here
was sent there.
One day we'll be
switched back again.
If it weren't for
this secret journal I found,
I would have never known
anything about it.
- Are you putting us on?
- No.
Let me look inside that thing,
Tod Lubitch.
Look at that
straight face.
Hey, no! I think you are
from another planet.
It's time to go.
We got to go back.
Hey, Tom,
I bet you didn't know
that people on Thomapolous
were stronger
than people on Earth.
No kidding?
Stronger in what way?
Just stronger.
Like for instance, I bet I can
beat you at doing push-ups.
You talking about
real money or space money?
I'm talking $10.
Ten dollars.
- Ooh!
- Wow, 10 bucks.
Whoo!
Sounds okay to me.
Let's make it the kind that
you have to clap
in the middle, all right?
All right.
Hey! Come on!
Hey, Tod, uh, do you think
you should do this?
I mean,
what about your air?
One, two, three,
four, five, six,
seven, eight, nine,
10, 11, 12, 13, 14,
15, 16, 17, 18.
Yay, Tod!
See that?
Hey, Tod!
Tod, what's the matter?
Are you all right?
No air. Get me to the bubble.
Quick!
He'll be okay.
I know he's
gonna be all right.
Tod?
Tod, are you
all right?
He's getting air.
Please don't tell
my father.
Oh, no,
we won't tell anybody.
Hey, where's my 10 bucks?
I think he's all right.
Tod...
I gotta talk to you.
I know, you're mad at me,
aren't you?
Yes, I'm mad at you.
For embarrassing you
in front of your friends?
No, for nearly killing yourself
trying to show off for me.
But, Gina, I was just--
Tod, what if you had died
out there?
How could I ever
live with that?
- I'm sorry, Gina.
- No, you're not.
You don't care. You don't care
what happens to you, Tod.
Sometimes I think
you wanna die.
Gina, I was just doing it
so you would see.
See what? That you're just
as dumb as all the rest of them?
Flexing your muscles?
No, that you'd see
that I'm not a cripple,
and that there's
nothing wrong with me
except that I can't get out of here
until they tell me it's okay.
Oh, Gina,
I'm so sick of it.
I'm so sick of feeling
like a hospital case,
like some weirdo kid who
can't even breathe normal air
'cause he might
get sick and die.
I just want
to be like a man,
someone you can care about
and not feel sorry for.
Tod...
Tod, I don't know
what you're doing to me.
And I don't know
if I like it at all.
I don't know
anything anymore.
Look, we were
just supposed to be friends.
I mean, that's all that
was supposed to happen, right?
I mean, can't we just--
Just leave it like that?
You obviously spend
a great deal of time
with her after all...
I just wanted to know why.
Nola, why are you
doing this to yourself?
Hello? Yes.
Gina, it's for you,
sweetheart.
Sorry, I should've told you.
You want to watch
the sports news on Channel 3?
- Guess you can be pretty persuasive...
- No?
...when you want to find
something out.
Hello?
Gina?
Hi.
Um, you want to go
to the beach tomorrow?
Okay.
Okay.
Tod, Tod, here.
- I can't believe this!
- Yeah!
Oh, this is great.
It's going up
so high, wow.
Oh, honey,
look at him.
Just look at him.
Tod, you got five minutes
left on your tank!
This was fun today.
Why couldn't you have had
a space suit
when you were a little kid?
Oh, when I was little, I never
even dreamed about going out.
Only about people
and things coming in.
You were always
riding your horse in.
Yeah, and then
I'd get on
and we'd ride
and ride and ride.
Inside your bubble?
Yeah, always inside.
All my life I've wondered
what it's like to be you.
And all my life
I always wondered
what it was like to be you.
I've always loved you,
you know.
I know.
Anthony Jerome.
Dennis Johnson, Jr.
Peter Justice.
Chad Stenson.
Tod Lubitch.
Tod Lubitch?
Congratulations.
Hey, Tod!
Hey, Tod!
Whoo! Tod!
You can see it went down by half a foot.
Tod?
Hey, Tod.
Look, it just came
in the mail.
I wanted you to be
the first to know.
My acceptance
at Pratt Institute.
I start art school in September,
Tod, in New York City,
and it never would have happened
if you hadn't helped me.
That's great, Gina.
It really is.
Hey, Tod,
I won't be leaving
for a while.
Hello, Tod.
What do you want
to see me about?
I want to know
when I can leave, Ernie.
Well, within the past week I've
been in telephone communication
with a team of physicians
in the Soviet Union.
How soon can I leave
on my own immunities?
You know
I can't answer that.
What would happen
if I left now?
You're not
actually considering--
Would I catch something
and die right away?
I really don't know.
You mean I might live?
Yes, it's conceivable.
Your body has been
building up some immunities.
But it's also
conceivable
that just a bad cold or a case
of flu might kill you.
I'm sorry,
but we just don't know.
Thank you
for coming, Ernie.
Tod, if somewhere
in that brain of yours
you're actually
thinking of...
I was just asking, Ernie.
That's all.
Tod!
Hey, Gina.
Oh, so much softer
then I ever imagined.
Gina, take me
for a ride.
It'd be all right.
Okay.
Where are we going?
To Thomapolous!
Honey?
Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Lubitch.
Hi, Doctor.
I've just come
from the hospital.
The tests are in,
and you're pregnant.
Congratulations.
That's wonderful.
Did you hear that,
honey?
Call me if I can be of any help
with your decision.
Yeah, I'll do that,
Doctor.
Thanks very much.
Johnny?
I know, honey.
I know.
I don't want to lose
another baby.
Oh...
I couldn't bear it.
I just couldn't.
No way in the world we're going
to lose this child.
Look...
First of all,
the odds are four to one
against there being
any problem at all this time.
Honey, even if the worst
happened and this baby is born
with no immunities,
this time we're ready.
I mean, immunologists
like Dr. Gunther,
they know how to save
these children now.
But how can we make
a decision like that?
For another human being?
I mean, what if--?
Oh, Johnny, do you think
we could live with it?
Oh...
There were never
two people in the world
more meant to be parents
than you and me.
God knows that.
I want to believe that.
Oh, I want to believe that.
A baby...
We're gonna have a baby.
A baby?
- Mr. Lubitch?
- Yes, Doctor?
If you'd like to say something
to your wife before...
Hello, Mrs. Lubitch.
I just wanted to say, um...
I love you.
I love you.
May we have the air conditioning ducts
and the heat vents closed,
please?
And no movement
while the air settles.
Anybody down there
planning on having an itch,
please scratch it now.
Not later, please.
Dr. Gunther, do we have
to have all these people here?
May we please clear
the theater?
I'm sorry.
Please try to understand.
We're private people.
Begin the cesarean.
I just saw him,
and he's a beautiful baby.
Johnny, what a
beautiful baby he is.
Look at those blue eyes.
Hey, Toddy.
It's your daddy.
I think he knows me.
How were the tests?
Mr. and Mrs. Lubitch,
he was born exactly
like your first son.
No immunities whatsoever.
But he's alive.
How long does he have
to stay in this?
There's no way to know.
Until we discover a treatment,
until he develops an immune
system of his own,
he'll have to remain
in his protected environment.
Surely you can give us
some kind of prediction.
I mean, are we talking about
days or weeks or months?
Years.
Excuse me?
Mr. Lubitch, you may as well
have it straight.
We could get lucky, or your son
could be here with us
for the remainder of his life.
- May I?
- Of course.
Shh.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Are you going over there
this morning, honey?
- What for?
- I didn't hear you.
I said, what for?
Hey, hey, what's the matter?
Oh, I hate seeing
that little girl nearby.
I'm always looking at her.
You almost fell out!
Did you almost fall?
Kind of sorry
they moved next door.
I want my baby.
Mickey, look.
Suppose we could devise some way
of transporting him safely,
and we could get them
to go on paying for it.
And manage the million and
one other things we'd have to.
The sterilization and the food
and the toys and the equipment.
I don't think you realize what we'd be getting
ourselves into if we did bring him home.
Do you?
Well...
You stay home
and get some rest.
I'll give him a big hug
for both of us.
Okay?
Take me high!
Oh, higher?
Yeah!
You're such a big girl!
Give me a kiss.
Oh, boy!
Wanna play ball?
Wanna play ball?
Get your ball.
We're gonna toss.
You get over here,
why don't you?
Okay, look out.
Here it comes.
Oh, good!
Try it again.
Now you throw it to me.
Good one!
Good man!
Throw it right here.
I don't know whether I'm gonna
make a pitcher or a catcher out of you.
Okay, Toddy, throw me
a nice, hard one.
There you go.
That's a good boy!
Here it comes.
There you go.
Hey, look who's here, Toddy,
it's Mommy.
Surprised to see me?
- No.
- No?
What about you,
short stuff?
Huh? Are you surprised
to see Mommy?
- Yeah.
- You are?
Oh, I bet I can do
something fun to you.
I bet I can tickle you
and make you giggle.
Come here, come here.
Do you know how much your
Mommy and Daddy love you?
Do you?
Do you really?
Do you know how much
Mommy and Daddy love you?
Hm? Do you?
And how much we want you all
to ourselves?
I do!
I love you.
I'm going to tickle baby.
I want to get him again.
I'm gonna get him again!
You wanna give me another kiss?
Give me a kiss.
Here they come.
Hurry up, set up.
I got a microphone.
We rolling?
Pick up the ambulance.
Little Tod Lubitch.
A child who has never felt his
parents touch,
except through the walls
of his plastic bubble,
and who may not
for years to come,
is finally coming home
for the first time today.
There's Mrs. Lubitch
getting out of the ambulance.
Mr. Lubitch. The doctor.
Please, everybody,
we appreciate your interest,
but this is exactly what we're
trying to get away from.
Hey, Toddy,
did you have a nice ride?
There you go.
Would you back up,
everybody, please?
- Mrs. Lubitch, how do you--
- Do you mind backing up just a little bit?
Oh, my, I didn't realize
he was so big.
Isn't he adorable?
- Gina, come on back here.
- I'll get her.
Will he have to
live in that thing very long?
Please, fellas, no pictures.
What is it like, Mrs. Lubitch,
to never touch your son?
I've asked you nicely three times.
Now will you just please leave us be?
Mr. Lubitch, won't you
come out again and give us--
You take one more step and I'm
gonna knock your damn head off.
Now get out of here.
Come on, all of you.
Just back up.
I'm a monster!
I'm a monster!
I'm a monster!
My son's not a freak.
Come on.
Let's get out of here.
Okay, filters and fans.
They're okay.
All right.
Back-up generator?
It's okay.
So your breaker
and fuse panels...
That's all right.
Okay.
And intercom system.
Right. That's it.
Are you sure we have
checked everything?
Well, everything
except champagne.
Oh.
Huh?
Well, um...
In that case,
I'm just going to tuck him in,
and I'll see you in a minute.
Don't you be long.
Okay.
Good night, Toddy.
Come on, darling,
it's night-night time.
Come on!
That's my darling.
Okay, you have pleasant dreams.
You talk to your teddy bear,
okay?
Mommy loves you.
I'll see you
in the morning.
Ooh! Oh, wow!
Champagne okay.
Do you realize...
how long it's been?
- Hm?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Mmm-hmm.
He's not getting any air.
Toddy? What is it?
Honey, check the fans!
Toddy, what is it?
What is it?
I don't know what to do.
Everything's running.
- Check the generator?
- But it's all running. You look at it.
- It could be the equipment...
- Toddy!
Toddy, what is it?
Toddy?
Oh, my God.
He swallowed it!
Lift him up.
Toddy.
Toddy, come on now.
Daddy's gonna lift you up.
Come on, you got
to spit it out, baby.
Spit it out! Spit it out!
Hit him hard, honey.
Spit it up, Toddy.
Spit it up!
Come on, Toddy. Come on!
Come on, spit it up.
Spit it up!
Get it out, baby.
Oh, Toddy.
I'm sorry, baby.
Are you okay? Toddy.
Oh, baby,
Oh, I'm sorry.
- Are you okay?
- Yeah.
Oh, sweetheart,
you okay now?
Oh, I'm sorry I had
to hit you.
You poor baby.
We did it.
We sure did.
Mrs. Lubitch?
Yes?
Well, I know we should
have called first.
Oh, well, our number's
not listed.
Well, we were just waiting for
the proper time to say hello.
I'm Pete Biggs.
My wife, Martha.
And our daughter, Gina.
We live right next door there.
Yes, I know.
I should have been
the one
to welcome you
into the neighborhood,
but, uh...
Here!
It's a welcome-home present
for your little boy.
Well, thank you.
Thank you.
That's very kind of you.
Please, come in.
I'm sorry I haven't been
that friendly,
but we just don't have
that many visitors.
There, that's good Toddy.
Now put the blue one here.
See if you can stack
another blue one on it.
Oh, you're gonna
put it up there, huh?
Oops. Oops. Here, try the--
Honey, look who's here.
The Biggs from next door have
come over to welcome Tod home.
Oh, look, Toddy.
Hey, Toddy!
Look over there.
Toddy, look who's here.
This is Gina!
Come say hello to Gina.
Gina's brought you a present,
which Daddy's gonna sterilize.
Come on over here, Gina.
Toddy, come on.
Say hi to Gina.
Come on, Toddy.
Let me go! Let me go!
Oh, he's not hurting you.
He's just playing
with you.
Is this your playhouse?
Can I come in?
Can I?
Yeah!
Hey, Gina, what do you wanna do?
I don't know.
Want to go down
to the dock?
It must be real weird
living right next door
to that kid.
Oh, no, not really.
Like, I hardly ever see him except
for birthdays and stuff.
Half the time he's
at the hospital, anyway.
Come on!
He's always
watching television.
You know? He never comes
out of his room.
Does he have any friends?
Mm-mm.
Just old people.
Like friends of his parents.
Bunch of doctors that come over.
And some minister or something
comes over once in a while.
But no kids or anything.
Oh, he has this little pet
germ-free mouse too.
Don't you ever wonder
what it's like in there?
I mean, to be all
by yourself like that.
Yeah.
Yeah, I know.
But he's weird,
you know?
Like, I'm surprised he isn't
looking at us right now.
Every time I look up there,
he's looking right at me.
The last and, NASA hopes,
the longest of the free Skylab...
Capney! Hey, Capney!
How are you?
Huh?
The astronauts breezed
through...
However, the repair of the
bowl-shaped radar antenna
proved a more difficult task.
Located on the underside
of Skylab's
multiple docking adapter
section,
the antenna is used to
measure irregularities
in ground temperatures
and the shape of the Earth.
Performing like
an acrobatic team,
they worked for three
hours on the faulty antenna
till it was finally free enough to do most
of its programmed
Earth scanning job.
Earlier today, after the astronauts docked
their command module
with Skylab,
they settled in and started
their housekeeping chores.
After a rest period
of two hours,
they had their first meal in Skylab.
Hello, Mickey.
Good afternoon, Ernie.
Please come in.
Honey?
Look who's here
to see you.
Hello, Tod.
Good afternoon, Ernie.
And how are we
feeling today?
My main reason
for driving out here today,
instead of waiting for your
monthly check-up,
there's some news I think you
might like to hear.
- Queen's in check, Ernie.
- Oh, yeah, you're right.
A doctor in Tokyo believes
he may have found a treatment
that might stimulate
the development
of the humeral
and cellular antibodies.
What kind of research
has he done?
So far, not too extensive.
But the middle of next year--
Good news, Ernie. Keep me posted, will you?
You've really got it made,
haven't you?
Why do you say that?
Because you've got the best
excuse ever devised by anybody
to avoid growing up.
I'm growing up, Ernie.
Yes. Sometimes
you're like an old man.
And other times you're like
a newborn baby.
What does that mean?
Why do you use that intercom
when you don't need to?
Does it give you a feeling
of power over us?
Is it your way
of getting back at us?
Oh, you're angry at me
today, aren't you, Ernie?
Yes. You're right. I am.
Well, look, Ernie,
you don't know any more than you
did in the beginning, do you?
I mean, so why should I care
about what's going on out there?
Why should I care about anything
that's going on out there?
Because there may be
a cure at any time.
The doctor in Tokyo,
your own body...
Oh, bull.
You know, I'm not so unhappy
in here as all of you think.
Really.
I'll see you, Tod.
Carter had greased
the railing on the stairway
between the first
and second floor,
and Mr. Brister took quite
a nasty tumble.
Tod, the school board
called me today.
And a company back east
has donated
a closed-circuit
television system.
- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah.
And they want to know
if you would like to use it
to monitor some classes
in the high school.
What classes?
Any classes you want.
Come on, you're not afraid
to test that brain of yours
- against the other kids, are you?
- No.
Honey, if it's too abrupt a step
for you right now, that's okay.
I didn't mean to sound as
if I was pushing him.
Tell me more about that doctor
that Ernie was talking about last week.
You know,
the one from Tokyo.
Well, we haven't heard anything
about him yet, honey.
But there is a hematologist
in Finland that's--
I gotta think
about that school thing.
May I please be excused?
- Of course, darling.
- Sure.
- Hey.
- Hey!
What is all this?
Don't you know?
Girl, it's your neighbor.
The boy in the bubble.
He's gonna monitor some classes on TV,
and he chose our homeroom.
- He did?
- Yeah! Come on.
Tom, get off my feet!
Now, Deborah
and Linda, please sit down.
Go on, we have someone new
in our class.
All right, you're on, Tod.
I can't see anything.
Well, try your
scanner button.
Hey, Gina, your true love
has found you.
Tod, can you hear me?
Hi, Dad.
Hi.
I want you to meet
your homeroom teacher.
This is Mr. Brister.
Good morning, Tod.
Would you like to say something
to the class before we begin?
Hi, everybody.
So if the Truman administration
was "The Fair Deal,"
and the Kennedy administration
"The New Frontier,"
and the Johnson administration
called itself
"The Great Society,"
What was the Roosevelt
administration?
Tom Shuster?
Gwen?
Who's making that sound?
Gina Biggs?
Uh, sorry, Mr. Brister.
I didn't read the chapter.
Tod?
The New Deal.
Good.
Now...
What's so funny?
All right,
this has gone far enough.
Unless every one
of you wants to be sent
down to the principal's office,
you'll cut it out right now.
Hey, Tom,
go out for a pass.
Okay.
You know, if they can take him
to and from the hospital
in that small bubble,
why don't they ever
carry him outside
or down to the beach
or something?
They've been suggesting
it for years
but Tod won't
have any part of it.
He says it'll make him feel like
a freak being put on display.
Gina, go over to the Lubitch's,
ask Tod if he'd like to come
to the 4th of July
party at the beach.
Well, why don't you just call his
parents or something?
I want it to come from you.
All right, I'll try.
Um, Missy...
Mm-hmm.
- Hi, Mrs. Lubitch.
- Hi, Gina.
Uh, is Tod home?
Is Tod home...
Yes, Tod is home.
Go on up and see him.
Thank you.
Tod?
Hey in there.
It's me.
Surprised to see me?
Well, aren't you going
to say something...like hi.
Hi.
Hey, you know, I've always
wondered about this.
What's that?
How come this part is open?
I mean, don't germs get in?
Oh.
Well, you see,
behind this wall
there's lots of air vents
that constantly blow out all the
air so that germs won't get in.
See this line down here,
I cant walk past it.
- No kidding?
- No.
You mean I couldn't put my foot
over that line?
No, your germs will get in.
Yeah.
Hey, Tod,
my mom said that you've never
even been sick or anything.
Not even a cold.
Is that-- Is that true?
Yeah, how do you like that?
Wow.
So when are you supposed
to get out?
Oh, I don't know.
Keep on looking for treatments
but they've been looking
for them all my life.
But my immunities keep on
building up, I know that.
So even if they don't find
a treatment
you'll get out some day, right?
Yeah, someday.
Well, um, the reason I'm here
is, um, I wanted to invite you
to the 4th of July party
at the beach.
If you can't make it, you know,
everybody will understand
but at least you know that
we wanted you to come.
Well, hope you can make it.
Yeah, okay, let's head out.
Okay.
Pete, lets put it over
here by the rocks,
- there's an outlet over there.
- Okay.
- You wanna put him in the sand?
- No.
Hey, Fred, could you give us
a hand getting Tod down here?
Yeah, can you get
on either side here.
Okay, I'm gonna release
it right now.
Okay, there we go. Easy.
There we go.
Okay, let me get the...
plug here.
Honey, you want to turn
the switch on?
Okay.
Happy 4th of July, son.
- Okay, where's food?
- Here.
Hi, Tod.
Glad you could come.
What do you think
of my horse?
Oh, I love him.
I watch you feed him
every morning
and I love to
watch you ride him.
Do you always talk like that?
I love this, I love that.
But I do,
I really do.
Yeah, but I mean,
you shouldn't tell people.
Why not?
Because people will think
you're dumb.
Oh.
So you like my horse, huh?
Well, maybe I'll let you
ride him
when you get out.
Will you?
Will you really, Gina?
See you later.
Hey, I dare you.
How much?
I'll give you $2 if you hold his
hand through the fireworks.
Let me see the money.
I don't believe you.
You mean you're really gonna do it?
- Right here.
- Okay.
Oh, no.
Hi, Tod.
Hi.
Tod...
Let's hold hands.
What for?
I'd just like
to hold hands with you.
Don't you know? When two people
like each other,
especially a boy and a girl,
they like to hold hands.
- Gina...
- Yes?
...do you really like me?
Well, hold my hand
and find out.
Shh, your mother.
Gina, where are you going?
All right, you turkeys,
cough up the money.
Good job.
One, two.
Look at him, he doesn't
know he's a pawn.
Gina, what'd did you run away for?
Come back, talk to me.
Tod...
Don't you know
it was a dare?
They dared me so I had to do it.
Oh, God.
I, uh--
You didn't think I
was serious, did you?
I hate it!
- Tod? Tod!
- I hate it!
Tod! Tod!
I hate it! Let me out!
I hate it!
Tod, no, no, no. Tod.
What's the matter, Tod? Tod?
What happened? What happened?
What did she say to you?
What did you say to him?
Tod, we'll take you home.
I don't want to go.
Just take me to the hospital.
Just take me to the hospital, would you?
All right!
Baby...
This isn't the way to my room.
You won't be staying in the old
part of the hospital anymore, Tod.
You'll be staying here in
the new Laminar Air Flow Center.
Because of what we've learned
through cases like yours
we're now treating cancer
patients
undergoing chemo therapy,
leukemia patients,
all kinds of people,
young and old who've developed
immune deficiencies
like yourself,
for one reason or another.
I've taken the liberty
of tentatively
selecting your roommate.
A roommate?
But if you're unhappy,
I'm sure something
can be arranged.
Tod Lubitch, meet Roy Slater.
Hi.
Well, I'll leave you two fellas
to get to know each other.
I hear you've been in one
of these things all your life.
What's that been like?
Me, I've been in here a couple
of months and, I don't know,
I sure miss
a lot of things.
What's the matter with you?
Tumor.
So why are you
in one of these things?
The chemo therapy kills off
all my immunities.
You know, I'm really glad
I got someone to talk to now.
They tried me with a couple
of others before
but you're the first one
who's even close to my age.
I sure hope we can
become friends.
Hey!
Hey, why don't you
talk to me?
I have so many things
I want to ask you.
Just let me ask you
one question, okay?
Okay.
What do you do
to start liking it?
Tod?
Aren't you going
to answer me?
You said I could ask you
one question.
Yeah, well, I didn't say
I'd answer it.
Okay, okay!
Ill answer anything you want.
Just stop crying, all right?
You mean it?
Yeah, I mean it,
you dorko.
Tod?
Yeah?
When are you supposed
to get out?
I don't know.
They tell me my immunities
are building up, but who knows?
I may never get out
of this damn thing.
If I was never going
to get out of here
I don't think I would keep
going on, you know?
Easy. You could do it easy.
You know what really bugs me?
What?
When they discovered the tumor
I was too young for girls,
you know?
Yeah.
And now that I'm old enough
I can't do anything about it.
Sometimes I just get so...
I can't stand it.
I think of all my friends
out there,
going to drive-ins and making
out, and getting all that action.
You know, the first thing
I'm going to do
when I get out of here is
get me, get myself a hooker.
Wouldn't you be afraid
of all the germs?
Germs? I want the germs.
I want to be dirty,
really dirty, you know.
I want to grow my hair
real long,
and have a beard and a mustache
and I want to make out
with everything that walks.
Roy?
Yeah?
Do you ever, um...
do you ever, you know...
All the time.
Me too.
Elsewhere in the news,
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin
visits young Tod Lubitch,
the boy who has grown up
inside a plastic bubble.
That's Tod.
I want to see this, hold on.
He's coming home next week.
- So what?
- Shh.
Hi, Tod.
You're Buzz Aldrin,
aren't you?
The man who walked
on the moon.
Oh, God,
I don't believe this.
You know, I've been looking
forward to meeting you, Tod.
I hear you have the
record for the longest time
in a command module.
Yeah, I guess so.
I got a little something
for you too.
"To Tod, champion space
man on Earth. Buzz Aldrin."
Thank you.
Hey, you spent some time in
one of these things, didn't you?
Right after
the moon flight.
Something very much
like it, Tod.
We were in germ control
quarters for several weeks.
What was it like for you?
The thing I remember most
was the loss of freedom.
You know, I felt like
being in a fishbowl.
Yeah, I know what you mean.
Tod Lubitch, the boy who spent
his life in a plastic bubble.
No, Tom, my parents are going
to be home in a bit, okay?
What is it with you
and that freak?
He's my next-door neighbor.
We grew up together.
Is there anything wrong with
that? Don't call him a freak.
I think you're turning
on to him.
Oh, Tom,
you're such an idiot.
How long have I lived next
to him, 12 years?
I've probably spoken to him
maybe a dozen times at the most.
Every year I got an invitation
to his birthday party
and every year I went.
I was the only one there,
except for his parents.
It's the only time I ever saw
him, just once a year.
Except for the 4th of July.
Mr. Lubitch?
Yeah, what is it, Gina?
I'm in a big rush.
I hear Tod's gonna monitor
some classes again this year.
That's why I'm rushing. I got books to get in the
library and supplies to pick up before the stores close.
Hey, listen, I can do all
of that for you if you want.
What's the catch, Gina?
Well, the main thing is I feel
bad about what happened,
and I'd like to help out.
And the other thing is I--
I'm broke and I could really
use the money.
Okay, that's a deal.
Hello?
I brought you the books
and supplies that you needed.
And your homework's
in there too.
Well, I guess I'll see you
tomorrow.
Oh, if you want me
to bring any class work
with me to school
in the morning, just, um,
have your mom leave it
on the front porch
and I'll pick it up
on my way.
Wait a minute.
I want to ask you
something.
Why are you doing this?
Just because I want to.
Does my father have anything to do with it?
Well, yeah, kind of.
Is he paying you?
Yeah.
Thank you for being honest. You can go now.
No, but I suggested it.
What I mean is...
Oh, it's always so hard
to talk to you.
You take everything
so literally.
Say what you started to say.
Do you have to use that thing?
It's killing my ears.
Say what you started to say.
Well, I thought a lot about
what happened
last 4th of July.
And I wanted to make it up
to you somehow.
And when I saw your father
at school today, well...
I was going to do it
for nothing,
but another part of me said,
well...
I understand.
You're not mad at me anymore?
Hey, um, does that
Mr. Brister
look as old in person
as he does on television?
Oh!
Mr. Brister.
God, I hate that guy.
Yeah, me too.
Hey, how come you're never
wearing anything except shorts?
Because it's so warm in here.
Really, Tod. I mean,
when I come over
the least you could do
is put on some clothes.
How long has it been
since you've had a shower?
Oh, I can't have showers,
and baths are a major
production.
You should see, it takes
a couple of hours
just to sterilize
the water.
It must stink in there.
Oh, no, no, you're wrong.
No germs, no smell.
I don't know, Tod.
I mean, it's just the principle
of the thing, you know.
Well, hastamaana.
Thus, despite Wilson's stand
on the League of Nations,
Congress had voted against
the entry of the United States.
American now embraced a policy
of isolationism,
focusing her attentions
inward on domestic concerns.
Thereby pursuing a course
of action which was ultimately
to pave the way
for World War II.
For tomorrow we will
read chapters 4, 5, and 6.
I wish you wouldn't look
at me like that.
Look, I didn't come yesterday
because I couldn't.
Look, to begin with, Mr. Goodwin
made me stay after class
to rewrite that term paper
for English Lit,
and then I got called down
to the principal's office
for a nice little talking to.
And then when I got home
my parents--
Gina, you don't have
to lie to me.
I'm not lying to you,
and stop using that thing.
It hurts my ears.
You can go now, Gina.
I'm not your slave, Tod.
So don't give me orders.
You're just like everybody else.
Nobody ever believes me.
I'm flunking out of school,
that's how come I had to stay.
The only course I have higher
than a D is Art.
I didn't know that, Gina.
Well, now you do.
And you can forget about me
coming over anymore
since everyone else thinks
I'm letting them down,
last thing I need
is the same garbage from you.
Gina, I'm sorry.
Maybe I could help you.
How?
I can explain things better
than those dumb teachers.
I can teach you
how to really concentrate.
- You would do that?
- Sure.
Hey, what's my father
paying you?
A dollar an hour.
Well that's how much I charge.
Gina, you can see my rates,
they're right over here.
Okay, it's a deal.
Tod, how do you
like my hair better?
Up in a ponytail like this,
or maybe straight down,
like this?
Well, which do you
like better?
I think I like it straight down
better, don't you?
You think I'm beautiful,
don't you?
So do I.
Hey, Tod.
For the test tomorrow,
do you think we could do it
another way?
What do you mean?
Let me cheat off your paper.
Gina...
Tod, what are you doing?
I'm finished.
Oh, of course. But wait until
the others are finished
before you hold up
your answers.
I'm sorry, Mr. Brister.
Careful, Mom.
You got it?
Yeah.
You okay, Dad?
- Yep.
- All right.
Okay. Very good.
Excellent.
- Where do you wanna go?
- To the right.
- My right or your right?
- My right.
- Right.
- All right.
There we go.
Yeah, right in the sun.
Excellent.
- Okay?
- Okay.
Oh.
La-la-la-la-la-la-la.
Hey, you, what's
this sudden interest
in all the great outdoors?
- I need a tan.
- Need a what?
A what?
I need a tan.
Well, look at me.
I look like a tuna fish.
All white and everything.
You know, you guys could use
a little sunshine yourselves.
You're starting to look
real old.
Tod...
Dad, I don't mean to hurt
your feelings, but it's true.
I mean, you never take
a vacation or buy new clothes.
Look at that dress, Mom.
Dad, you never do anything
for yourselves.
- Tod?
- Yeah?
Do you ever blame us
for bringing you into the world?
Did you have a choice?
Yes.
Well, do you blame
yourselves?
Sometimes.
Mom, Dad,
I don't blame you
for anything.
Honest.
I love you.
I love you both,
don't you know that?
I mean, look, if it
weren't for what you did
I would've grown up
in the hospital.
You know, you should hire
a nurse from the hospital
to take care of me.
So then you could go to someplace
that you always wanted to go to.
- Tod...
- Dad, it'd be okay. I'd love it.
I mean, just knowing
that you weren't spending
your whole life on me,
okay?
Do it.
Sweetheart,
I'll meet you outside.
Rachel, don't forget to test the
backup generator at least once a day.
And if anything goes wrong
don't hesitate to call us.
Don't worry about a thing.
We'll be at that number.
Goodbye.
Have a good trip.
Honey, I hope we're doing
the right thing.
- So much could go wrong.
- Sure we are.
This trip is
for him too, you know.
Give him a little
growing room.
Make him feel like he can stand
on his own two feet.
- You know what I think?
- What?
I think part of the reason
he wanted us out of the way
was so that he could court his girl.
Yeah.
- Tod? Bye-bye.
- Goodbye, son.
Tod, look, my report card
for the semester.
An A in Art
and all the rest are B's.
No kidding?
- Well, thanks to you.
- Yeah.
Hey, let's celebrate, okay?
- How?
- I don't know.
Think of something you'd like
to do. Something special.
Oh, Tod, really the way you look
at me sometimes, honestly.
Well, think of something.
Okay, take me riding
with you.
Oh, sure, what are you gonna
do? Just walk out of there?
I might. No, dummy, just help
Rachel take me outside
so I can watch you.
Are you crazy? The two of us
would never get you downstairs.
Sure. Sure you could, easy.
See? I told you it would work.
Okay, keep on going,
my slaves.
Oh, Tod!
All right,
a little more
to the left.
Okay, that's it.
That's good. Put me down.
That's it, thank you.
Gina, come here.
Rachel, would you plug me in
in the extension?
When she does that,
would you turn off the battery?
- Okay.
- Okay.
That's it, Rachel.
Plug it in.
Excellent.
Thank you.
Thank you, Rachel.
You can go now.
Gina, ride for me,
okay?
Okay.
Gina, go around that tree
and then jump over the canoe
and come back
as fast as you can.
Gina, you move so fast.
What does it feel like
to move that fast?
It feels like flying.
Gina, ride around me in a circle
as close as you can, okay?
But what about the cord?
What about the cord?
You just jumped that canoe.
You can jump that stupid cord.
What about your nurse?
This is the time of day
when she drinks sherry.
She'll just sit there and look
at the plug and make sure that
it doesn't come out and then
she'll get pleasantly bombed.
So don't worry
about her, okay?
Okay.
Faster, Gina!
Faster, faster!
Faster, Gina!
Now jump over me, Gina.
- Jump over me, Gina!
- No way, Tod.
Come on.
Gina, you jumped over the canoe.
I've seen you
jump twice as high.
Tod, what if I miss?
Gina, you won't miss.
I know you.
You're too talented to miss.
Tod, you are really a weird kid,
do you know that?
Yeah, I know it.
Just do it, Gina, okay?
Okay.
Dear lord.
- That was so great.
- I was so scared.
- Were you scared?
- Not once.
Oh, I don't believe you.
Aren't you ever gonna
get out of this thing?
I don't know.
I gotta split.
Listen, I'll be back later
to help you get inside, okay?
Which one is he?
Well, that's Tom.
Bruce drives a blue Chevy.
Is he the one
you're going with?
Who says I'm going
with anybody?
Tod, put your face up
against the plastic.
What for?
I did what you wanted me
to do, now do it.
Oh.
Have I told you
you look terrific?
Oh, thank you.
You take the presents
and I'll get the bags.
- Come on, let's surprise him now.
- You want to do it now?
- Is it open?
- Yup.
Tod? Hi.
Hi.
- Hey, Toddy.
- Hi, babe.
- Did you have a good time?
- Yes.
- How was it?
- It was fine.
Tod, listen, what's this
about Gina
jumping over you
with her horse?
- Oh, it's nothing.
- Hmm?
Did she tell you that?
She drinks.
Oh, Tod.
No, she probably imagined it.
Tod that's wicked.
Listen, I got something
I want to tell you.
I wanna go to school.
- Yeah.
- But you are in school.
No, I mean
really go to school.
Dr. Gunther said
he'd set it up
if you guys said
it would be all right.
Here, look,
I'll show you.
See? Pretty neat, huh?
Oh, my goodness.
Okay, Tod, come on out.
Let's go.
You sure you want
to go today?
Yeah.
Okay, let's go.
Okay, last time.
What's the first thing you do
when you get to your home room?
Pledge of allegiance.
The first thing,
you ding-a-ling.
All right, all right.
First thing I do
is check the backup tanks.
And?
And the batteries.
Come on, Dad,
can't you go any faster?
Just leave the driving to me.
Okay, listen,
the filters and the fans
are fine, the batteries are up,
but the pressure gauge on
the main line reads 75 percent,
- then what do you do?
- I don't do anything.
I just stay there and I get
my teacher to go get you,
and then you take me home,
right?
Okay. Good.
But I want you to check
everything on your checklist
every break between classes,
or I'll break your arm.
All right.
Okay.
Get your current
where you find it.
Think of yourself
as a rechargeable flashlight.
Because you want me
to be bright, right?
- Little joke, Dad.
- Very.
Ha.
You're on your own.
- Mr. Brister?
- Yes, Gina.
I just wanted
to say that, um,
I think it's really brave
of Tod to do this,
and I think
we should all show him
how glad we are
that he's here.
Come on, everybody,
stand up.
Come on, get up.
Come on.
I heard from every place
I applied to except for Yale.
Gwen, I heard you were
accepted to Colorado.
- Yeah.
- Yay!
Did you hear
from your art school?
- No, not yet.
- Oh, don't worry about it.
You'll hear from them.
Hey, you guys, why don't
we go over and talk to Tod?
I don't know,
he's really weird.
- He is weird.
- Come on.
Oh, come on,
let's do this.
I'd rather not.
Then don't.
Hi, Tod.
Hi.
Tod, I want you to meet
some of my friends.
You know Tom and Bruce.
And this is Gwen,
and Debbie...
- Hi.
- ...and Smith.
Hey, man,
how you doing?
I see you got yourself
all plugged in.
Hi.
Hi.
I saw you on the news.
You look great.
I'm Tom.
No, man,
we do it like this.
This means
we're brothers.
Hey.
Hey.
How much time
do you have on one tank?
Ninety minutes.
And then what?
Then I recharge.
It's what
I'm doing right now.
See? I'm recharging.
Hey, can I ask you
a question?
Yes.
Do you ever feel like
a visitor from outer space?
Yes.
Me too.
Listen, Tod,
we were all about
to take a little walk
over to the football field.
Would you like
to come with us?
Hey, no more
practical jokes.
- You can trust us.
- Yeah.
I think we've grown up a little
since last summer.
Okay.
Hey, when I pull
this plug out,
would you turn
my battery on?
That little black dial?
Okay.
All right,
when I say ready.
Ready?
- Go.
- Yeah.
- Hey, Tod?
- Yeah?
There's something I've
been wanting to ask you.
Sure.
How do you go
to the bathroom?
Oh, the same
as the astronauts do.
- You mean...?
- Sure.
Sorry I asked.
I'm sorry,
but I just can't help it.
He looks so funny
in that thing.
Look, his little booties.
Tod, Tod, it's not you.
It's just your suit.
Hey, you got to be able
to laugh at yourself.
I mean-- I mean, you got to.
It's funny.
Little ponytail.
Oh, that's it,
that's it.
Little ponytail.
Hey, hey,
don't blow a fuse.
I know what this is like.
What?
What what's like?
I know that's like.
Oh.
You know what I do?
What I do is I stare
at an object for a long time.
Any object, right?
And then I let myself
sink deeper and deeper
inside my brain
until I find
the center place that I like.
Have you guys ever heard
of out of body travel?
Oh, sure, I saw a thing about it
on Twilight Zone, once.
It's where you can leave your
body and go anywhere you want.
That's right.
Well, I do it all the time.
Oh, yeah?
Where do you go?
Lots of different places,
but mostly the planet
that I'm from, Thomapolous.
- Right.
- Come on, Thomapolous.
I think-- I think it's
an exchange program.
You see,
I was sent here,
and someone from here
was sent there.
One day we'll be
switched back again.
If it weren't for
this secret journal I found,
I would have never known
anything about it.
- Are you putting us on?
- No.
Let me look inside that thing,
Tod Lubitch.
Look at that
straight face.
Hey, no! I think you are
from another planet.
It's time to go.
We got to go back.
Hey, Tom,
I bet you didn't know
that people on Thomapolous
were stronger
than people on Earth.
No kidding?
Stronger in what way?
Just stronger.
Like for instance, I bet I can
beat you at doing push-ups.
You talking about
real money or space money?
I'm talking $10.
Ten dollars.
- Ooh!
- Wow, 10 bucks.
Whoo!
Sounds okay to me.
Let's make it the kind that
you have to clap
in the middle, all right?
All right.
Hey! Come on!
Hey, Tod, uh, do you think
you should do this?
I mean,
what about your air?
One, two, three,
four, five, six,
seven, eight, nine,
10, 11, 12, 13, 14,
15, 16, 17, 18.
Yay, Tod!
See that?
Hey, Tod!
Tod, what's the matter?
Are you all right?
No air. Get me to the bubble.
Quick!
He'll be okay.
I know he's
gonna be all right.
Tod?
Tod, are you
all right?
He's getting air.
Please don't tell
my father.
Oh, no,
we won't tell anybody.
Hey, where's my 10 bucks?
I think he's all right.
Tod...
I gotta talk to you.
I know, you're mad at me,
aren't you?
Yes, I'm mad at you.
For embarrassing you
in front of your friends?
No, for nearly killing yourself
trying to show off for me.
But, Gina, I was just--
Tod, what if you had died
out there?
How could I ever
live with that?
- I'm sorry, Gina.
- No, you're not.
You don't care. You don't care
what happens to you, Tod.
Sometimes I think
you wanna die.
Gina, I was just doing it
so you would see.
See what? That you're just
as dumb as all the rest of them?
Flexing your muscles?
No, that you'd see
that I'm not a cripple,
and that there's
nothing wrong with me
except that I can't get out of here
until they tell me it's okay.
Oh, Gina,
I'm so sick of it.
I'm so sick of feeling
like a hospital case,
like some weirdo kid who
can't even breathe normal air
'cause he might
get sick and die.
I just want
to be like a man,
someone you can care about
and not feel sorry for.
Tod...
Tod, I don't know
what you're doing to me.
And I don't know
if I like it at all.
I don't know
anything anymore.
Look, we were
just supposed to be friends.
I mean, that's all that
was supposed to happen, right?
I mean, can't we just--
Just leave it like that?
You obviously spend
a great deal of time
with her after all...
I just wanted to know why.
Nola, why are you
doing this to yourself?
Hello? Yes.
Gina, it's for you,
sweetheart.
Sorry, I should've told you.
You want to watch
the sports news on Channel 3?
- Guess you can be pretty persuasive...
- No?
...when you want to find
something out.
Hello?
Gina?
Hi.
Um, you want to go
to the beach tomorrow?
Okay.
Okay.
Tod, Tod, here.
- I can't believe this!
- Yeah!
Oh, this is great.
It's going up
so high, wow.
Oh, honey,
look at him.
Just look at him.
Tod, you got five minutes
left on your tank!
This was fun today.
Why couldn't you have had
a space suit
when you were a little kid?
Oh, when I was little, I never
even dreamed about going out.
Only about people
and things coming in.
You were always
riding your horse in.
Yeah, and then
I'd get on
and we'd ride
and ride and ride.
Inside your bubble?
Yeah, always inside.
All my life I've wondered
what it's like to be you.
And all my life
I always wondered
what it was like to be you.
I've always loved you,
you know.
I know.
Anthony Jerome.
Dennis Johnson, Jr.
Peter Justice.
Chad Stenson.
Tod Lubitch.
Tod Lubitch?
Congratulations.
Hey, Tod!
Hey, Tod!
Whoo! Tod!
You can see it went down by half a foot.
Tod?
Hey, Tod.
Look, it just came
in the mail.
I wanted you to be
the first to know.
My acceptance
at Pratt Institute.
I start art school in September,
Tod, in New York City,
and it never would have happened
if you hadn't helped me.
That's great, Gina.
It really is.
Hey, Tod,
I won't be leaving
for a while.
Hello, Tod.
What do you want
to see me about?
I want to know
when I can leave, Ernie.
Well, within the past week I've
been in telephone communication
with a team of physicians
in the Soviet Union.
How soon can I leave
on my own immunities?
You know
I can't answer that.
What would happen
if I left now?
You're not
actually considering--
Would I catch something
and die right away?
I really don't know.
You mean I might live?
Yes, it's conceivable.
Your body has been
building up some immunities.
But it's also
conceivable
that just a bad cold or a case
of flu might kill you.
I'm sorry,
but we just don't know.
Thank you
for coming, Ernie.
Tod, if somewhere
in that brain of yours
you're actually
thinking of...
I was just asking, Ernie.
That's all.
Tod!
Hey, Gina.
Oh, so much softer
then I ever imagined.
Gina, take me
for a ride.
It'd be all right.
Okay.
Where are we going?
To Thomapolous!