How much this video game gonna cost me?
How can you put a price
on experiencing what it's like to
be a starship doctor
on the front lines of an alien invasion?
Again I ask, what's it gonna cost me?
You're kind of fixated here.
Okay. It can be had for the low, low price
of $ .
$ ?
If that's low, low, I say, "no, no."
Yvette, tell dad that $
is not unreasonable for a CD-rom game.
$ is extremely reasonable
for a CD-rom game.
Thank you.
It's also extremely reasonable
for a pair of gold tube earrings
on sale at Macy's.
Hey, if you're gonna
buy something for Yvette,
the least you could do
is buy something for me.
Alright, I'll solve this.
I ain't buyin' nothin' for nobody.
Dad, can I have a car?
I am not buying you a car.
Now, I didn't ask you
to buy me a car, did I?
I saved up $ .
Oh, well, it's your money, Marcus.
If you can find a car
for $ , you can buy it.
Ta-da!
You bought a car for $ ?
No. Mo bought it.
Hello there.
Yeah. The whole thing cost $ ,
but I chipped in $ .
Yeah. We considered the $ car,
but at that price, you're just asking
for trouble.
Does the $ car have an engine?
Of course it does.
Oh, yeah. It's right here
in the back seat.
Not a problem, okay? Not a problem.
Hey, between us, we can fix this thing up
'cause Mo took auto shop.
Mo didn't take auto shop, Mo is auto shop.
Uh, Mo, there's a latch behind the grill.
Thank you.
See, I came late to auto shop. When
I got there, the hoods was already up.
♪ He's a smart guy ♪
My dad said if I wanted
to get a CD-rom game,
I have to buy it with my own money.
Where do they come up
with this absurd nonsense?
Well, you know what we could do?
I've been talking to this kid
in the hypergame's chat room.
He is so dope.
He's selling bootleg copies
of Starship Doctor.
How much?
$ .
I can find that much in my dad's couch.
Yeah, but, see, they're bootleg,
Which means you're dealing with
not entirely legal stuff.
Come on. He's charging
less than half price.
That's because it's counterfeit,
hence a crime.
The crime is charging bucks
for a disk that costs them $ . to make.
Well put.
I just don't want to get in trouble.
What are you, a wuss?
A wuss?
No one is less wusslike than me,
my little princess.
Oh, yeah?
Prove it.
What's the kid's online name?
Marky - .
"So, Marky, is Starship Doctor
still available?"
Oh, good. It is.
Wow, look at all the other
games he's selling.
We have hit the mother lode.
Oh! I want that one.
And that one!
And that one. I want all of 'em.
-There's just one problem.
-What's that?
We still don't have the money.
Oh, yeah.
[horn honks continually]
[Mo] The horn's working.
[honking]
[Mo] Horn won't stop working.
Tell him we'll meet him
at Dawgburger at : with game in hand.
We'll be wearing orioles caps.
But we don't have the money.
What's the matter?
Can't you hear the sound
of opportunity honking?
[honking]
So is the car running yet?
Shh! Can't you see the man's workin'?
One more adjustment and...
Got it. [laughing]
Alright, now, stand back.
This baby's ready to fly.
Uh-oh.
[music plays loudly]
-Alright. Yeah!
-Ha ha! Alright!
-You fixed the stereo. You are a genius!
-Thank you, my brother,
and, now, our patented happy dance.
Alright. Yeah.
♪ Uh-huh, uh-huh, Check it to the East ♪
♪ Check it to the West ♪
♪ Check it to the South ♪
♪ What's it all about? ♪
Yeah!
Is the car ever going to
take the stereo anywhere,
or is it just gonna be
on permanent display here?
Please, girl, let a man
enjoy his handiwork.
[static sound]
-[music stops]
-Aw! Aw!
Maybe you guys should concentrate on
making the engine dance?
We can't. The starter doesn't work.
And we don't have enough
money to buy a new one.
Well, I could, uh,
maybe help you guys out.
If you make me an equal
partner in the car.
Let me talk to my guy.
No, no, no, no.
No.
You're in!
For $ .
I can fix the starter.
Alright. Sorry, babe, we don't need
your money anymore. You're out.
I said I'd fix it.
I didn't say I'd fix it for free.
You're back in. You know I was against
lettin' you go?
Okay, how much, little man?
How much do we need?
For all three games, $ .
$ .
I threw in lunch.
Great! I'm an equal partner for $ .
I'll get your money.
Just do your stuff, little pep boy.
Every time I try to
get this starter to work,
it just gives me a little,
"ca-chig, ca-chig, ca-chig."
It won't turn off.
Hmm.
Your service record
should be paper-clipped
to the inside of your owner's manual.
Can I have that, please?
[starter turns]
[engine starts]
Here's your key.
You gonna make copies of that?
Do you think Marky - is already here?
Ooh! How about that kid?
Do you think that's him?
Is that him?
Yes, they're all him.
Actually, I'm him.
You're Marky - ?
You're not a kid.
Ah! You saw through my disguise.
We thought you were a kid
because you were in the kids' chat room.
Yeah. I know. I'm old.
I'm old enough to remember pong.
Ancient video game?
Little ball back-and-forth all day long?
Dink dink dink.
Not a good game.
Have a seat.
I don't know if we should.
Look, I didn't mean to mislead you,
but I like to talk games.
-And who else likes games?
-Kids.
At last, someone who understands me.
Okay, now that we understand each other,
Did you bring the...
Goods.
Boy, your boyfriend is all business.
He's not my boyfriend.
Well, I'd grab him up. He's a real catch.
Don't worry. I brought your games.
That part was for you.
-Starship Doctor.
-Cool.
Here are the other two games you ordered,
and I threw in a copy of Texecutioner,
just 'cause you guys are orioles fans.
Excellent. It's a pleasure
doing business with you.
Uh, uh... actually, until you give
me the money, it's not really business.
It's more like you're ripping me off.
O-oh! I'm sorry. I'm new at this.
That's okay. You're doing fine,
Except for the not
giving me the money part.
There you go.
You know what, we can show my dad
how many games I bought,
and with my own money.
Uh, do me a favor.
I'd appreciate it if you would not say
anything to your dad.
I'm selling bootleg copies,
a practice that is frowned upon
by big companies
and law-abiding fathers, so...
This is just between us.
Deal?
Deal.
Okay. If you want any more games,
you know how to find me.
Careful, doctor.
Careful...
[screaming]
Well, that's obviously not how you take
an alien's temperature.
Hey, he's got different places
to put a thermometer. I took a sh*t.
I heard screaming.
Wanted to make sure everything's okay.
Oh, it's okay, Dad.
We're just playing doctor.
Come again?
Starship Doctor.
Oh, that's that game you
were telling me about.
Yep, and you know what, Dad?
I bought it with my own money.
Hey.
God bless the child that's got his own.
There must be $ worth of games there.
Yeah.
I thought you only took
Marcus and Mo for $ .
Oh... yeah.
That paid for this game.
The rest of the games are Karen's, right?
Yeah. I got 'em as gifts.
Yeah. Nothing odd about that.
People get gifts. Except in this house.
Well, Karen's a very lucky girl.
As for you, dinner's in an hour.
Bread and water, as usual.
On tin plates.
I don't think he suspected anything.
[bleep]
Hey, you have mail.
It's from Marky - .
He wants to meet us in the chat room.
There he is.
He wants to know if we're
happy with the games.
What a good guy.
Yeah. He really stands behind
his stolen products.
Ooh, he has some new games in:
Grave Robber II, and Clowns of w*r,
$ each.
Great! "We'll get the cash,
and we'll meet you at Dawgburger at : ."
Good idea.
"I can't leave the house.
I'm trying to meet a deadline
on a new video game I'm inventing."
Wow! He makes his own games?
Whoa! He says if we want to come over,
we can test it.
Hey, he lives pretty close.
Yeah. I'll just tell Dad we're going.
Hello? Mark said no dads.
Oh, yeah.
Look, we'll sneak out the side door.
That way my dad won't see us.
Alright, try it now.
[engine falters]
She's not doing it right, man. You try.
Okay, cool.
Thank you.
[engine falters]
No sign of Dad.
Alright. Let's go.
Hang on. We got some games to buy.
I gotta make one more stop
at the cash machine.
So, how's it going?
-[Marcus] Oh, great. Great.
-[Mo] Good, good.
-The car's not working.
-Need help?
-No, no.
-We cool.
They're lying. Can you fix it?
Sure, but it's gonna cost you.
How much? What? bucks again?
No, . That way it's divisible by three.
Is it?
Okay, but no paper clips this time.
No paper clips.
'cause that was embarrassing.
Stand back, please?
Alright, don't try the air filter
'cause that's brand-new.
Yeah, and don't try the carburettor
because that's new, too.
Well, you're right. The engine's fine.
You're outta gas.
Man, I hate him! Who's with me?
Wow!
Whoa!
This place is amazing.
Ah, just a little something
I threw together.
You've got Clowns of w*r over there,
Grave Robber II on that one...
and Ultrablaster IV over there.
Oh, and, uh, here's the one
I was telling you about.
Whoa!
This is like a virtual reality setup.
Very good.
Boy, you are smart.
I'm calling it Surf City,
and the idea is, you select famous beaches
from around the world:
Zuma, Waimea bay, Sunset beach,
and you test your surfing skills.
Sounds cool.
Here's the really cool part.
I use that video camera
to put your image in the game.
Wow! Can we do it?
Well, sure. You'll be the first.
Okay, what do we have to do?
Okay, you stand on the platform
in front of the blue screen,
which allows me to
put the ocean behind you,
and you watch yourself surf
on the monitor.
Now, the longer you ride,
the higher your score,
but, remember, there are sharks,
eels, and jellyfish,
and they're trying to get you.
Alright, I'm ready
to hang ten. Let 'er rip.
-[Karen] Whoa!
-[Marky] Watch out!
-[T.J.] Whoa!
-[Marky] Watch out!
Whoa.
[Karen] Aw, neat!
Cool!
Boy, that was great. This game rocks.
Thanks. After all, you guys
are the buyers, I gotta please.
I think we got a winner here.
The only thing that's weird is...
See, you're surfing
in your sweaters and jeans.
It sort of ruins the reality of this.
You really ought to be in swimsuits.
That may be winter wear
in Hawaii, but not D.C.,
Which stands for "darn cold."
But you're wearing underwear, right?
I mean, boxers are just like jams.
That might work.
What do you think?
Uh... I'd rather not.
Yeah. I'm more comfortable like this.
I gotcha. You know, I have other friends
who were a little nervous at first,
but, you know, after
they played for a while,
They really loosened up.
I'll show you some pictures.
See? Now, this is Melissa. She's your age,
and the first time she came here,
she was nervous, too.
But she got comfortable
and started getting into it,
and before you knew it, she was surfing
with her shirt off.
I thought you said that we were the first
to try this game.
Oh, you are. For this version.
I've had to redo it several times,
you know, to get the bugs out.
I haven't let anybody try this version.
Come on. Who wants to catch a wave?
You don't have to take off your pants,
just take off your shirt.
Uh, I think we should go.
Hey, what's the rush?
Listen, let's forget about Surf City.
I have been having a lot of trouble
with level six of Ultrablaster IV.
Oh, Ultrablaster IV.
You know, I bet a smart kid like you
could really help us figure this out.
No. I gotta get home for dinner.
Ah, that's too bad.
Karen, you can still stay, right?
Yeah. I guess.
No. She's having dinner
at my house, right?
No, I'm not.
You are tonight.
Why are you acting so weird?
Low blood sugar. I'm hungry. Come on.
Okay, Okay. I'll go.
Hey, you guys can come back
any time you want.
Just don't forget our little agreement,
not to tell your parents.
You don't want them mad at you
for buying bootleg games.
Don't worry. We won't tell anybody
about anything.
[laughing] Will you listen to that?
Yeah, it's saying, "Hey, Mo, there
ain't no cops around.
Take me up to ."
You wreck my third of the car,
I wreck a very important third of you.
Hey, you got it runnin'.
Was there any doubt?
There was only doubt.
But I'm glad to see you proved me wrong.
Alright. Thanks, Pops.
Alright. So you guys ready
to take it out on the road?
Aw, yeah.
Yeah. We got everything we need.
It's gassed up, tires are inflated,
little green air-freshener,
smell like a pine tree.
I got rid of the zebra seat covers.
Well, you win some, you lose some.
So, basically, we got it all covered.
You got insurance?
That's gonna cost some money, isn't it?
Three teenagers in a muscle car?
You define high-risk.
Man, we gonna have to sell another
piece of this car.
Mr. Henderson, I find myself in a position
to offer you the deal of a lifetime.
Now, just what would it take to get you
behind the wheel of this beauty?
Vanessa Williams in the passenger seat.
Hey, little man, where you been?
Uh... nowhere.
Hey, T.J., you know
we got the car runnin'?
Great.
What's wrong, Teej?
Nothin'.
You got a problem with your computer, son?
No. I've just had enough of it.
What? Enough of your computer?
What are you? Sick?
I'm fine. I'm okay.
Really?
It's just that usually when you say,
"I'm fine, I'm okay,"
it means, "I'm not fine. I'm not okay."
Well, in this case, it means I'm fine.
Fine.
Did you have a fight with Karen?
No, and I don't want to talk about it.
Okay, well, at least we've established
that there's an "it"
you don't want to talk about.
But if you're not ready, I can wait.
It's just that you need to know
that at some point,
we're gonna have to talk about it.
I just don't know where to start.
Don't make such a big deal out of it.
Just start talking, and, eventually,
it'll come out.
Karen and I were talking
to this guy we met in a chat room.
Mm-hmm.
He was selling some bootleg games.
Bootleg games?
-Come on, T.J., you know better than that.
-That's not it.
There's more?
See, he was in the kids' chat room,
But he wasn't a kid.
Yes, I'm here at their house
with the family now.
Thanks.
I'll tell them.
It turns out that the man
your son told us about
has served time for this before.
He's currently on parole.
Just talking to your son and his friend
was a violation of that.
He's been arrested. He's in custody.
He's not getting out on bail, is he?
No, sir.
It's lucky for him.
Hey, T.J., you hear that?
Because you told me what happened,
he's not gonna be able to do that
to anybody anymore.
Yeah. Way to go, T.J.,
you did the right thing.
The important thing is that you felt
something was wrong,
and you got out of there.
And you got Karen out, too.
You're a hero, T.J.
Thanks.
I'm tired, Dad. Can I go to bed now?
Sure. Come on. I'll tuck you in.
[T.J.] Dad?
-[T.J.] Dad?
-Yeah, T.J.!
You okay?
What are you doing down here?
I went in your room,
and you weren't there.
I came down here 'cause I couldn't sleep.
I just came down to read.
Then leave a note or something.
Don't just not be in your room.
Look, it's okay.
Everything's alright.
You have a bad dream or somethin'?
I don't know.
I just woke up, and I couldn't
fall back asleep.
You can stay down here with me
if you want.
Thanks.
You want to watch some T.V. or something?
[sighs] I was so stupid.
Oh, come on, now. It's not your fault.
Everybody keeps saying that.
Everybody wants me to feel better.
Well, I don't.
Look, you made a mistake, T.J.
Now, you went over to a stranger's house,
and you shouldn't have,
but we're all just glad that you're safe.
But he wasn't a stranger.
I met him on the net. He was a nice guy.
You know, that's what scares me
about this whole internet thing.
I mean, you're talking to a guy before you
ever get to see him,
so he feels like he's not a stranger,
But, you know what? He is.
And that's probably why you felt like it
was okay to go over there.
But it wasn't okay.
And as soon as you saw that, you got out.
Well, it won't happen again.
I packed up the modem,
and I'm giving it away.
I don't want to talk
to anybody on that thing ever again.
Yeah. I understand.
That could kinda be throwing out the baby
with the bath water, though.
Now, sure, the internet let
that guy in the house,
But doesn't it connect you
to a lot of good things and good people?
But how do you know
who's good and who's not?
You don't.
But if you're not sure, you can always
come to me.
I'm open hours a day,
No access charges, no busy signals.
You can always get through.
Okay.
Good.
Wait a minute.
What about when you're watching
Monday night football?
Halftime.
And commercials.
There's lots of those.
Yeah.
Okay, now this is the last schedule
that I'm drawin' up.
Now, Yvette, Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Marcus, Wednesdays and Sundays.
Me? Mondays and Fridays.
Man, I don't want Wednesdays and Sundays.
And I don't want the car on Tuesdays.
Well, I don't want the car on Mondays.
Nobody likes this schedule. That's what
makes it the perfect compromise.
You know what? This isn't working.
Let's go back to months, alright?
January, February, March.
I am not taking the car in February.
February is a short month,
even on leap year.
I say we wrestle for it.
Best two out of three falls?
Oh! Wait. Alright, girl.
[clapper] I'm not working
for this guy again.
02x19 - Strangers on the Net
Watch/Buy Amazon
T.J. Henderson, who moves from being an elementary school student in the fourth grade to a high school student in the tenth grade, attending the same school as his two elder siblings.
T.J. Henderson, who moves from being an elementary school student in the fourth grade to a high school student in the tenth grade, attending the same school as his two elder siblings.