I've lived my whole life on Normal Street.
There's a lake at one end,
and a forest of shady trees at the other.
But what lies in between
is anything but normal.
You can't always get what you want,
so sometimes you try to trick yourself into thinking
you don't want what you think you can never get.
And then there are those times you do get what you want,
just not the way you wanted.
This is why I've tried to stay away from love.
It's too confusing.
Where's your lab partner?
Word on the street is she joined the circus.
How about yours?
Witness Relocation Program.
- Who knew they were so interesting? - [chuckles]
Oliver and Britney are both out sick today.
Why don't you two pair up?
Okay, 10 milligrams of sodium bicarbonate.
No. The sodium bicarbonate.
Here you go.
I meant sodium bicarbonate.
Right.
You just happened to have a pudding cup on you?
It's my emergency pudding.
Get back to work, guys.
- Sodium bicarbonate. - Why didn't you just say so?
Here goes something.
- [explosion] - [solution hissing]
It was my bad, 100% totally my fault, guys.
- No one doubts that. - Coughs.
[sniffs, coughs]
[bell rings]
You two, why don't you stay after and clean up?
Everybody else, log your results and wrap up your experiments.
Oh.
I'm sorry. I'm so jumpy.
[male on P.A.] Good afternoon, Normal Middle.
Your opportunity to buy tickets
for this year's Normal Formal is running out,
so stop by the office today to take advantage
of the 9th grade class two-for-one special.
I'll start cleaning up.
I'm not gonna beg you to tell me.
Well, in chemistry class, there was this explosion,
and then Abigail grabbed my arm,
and it felt like that moment on a roller coaster
when you start to fall.
Please don't tell me. Just don't tell me.
I think I might like Abigail again.
- Why do you do this? - I can't help it.
So what's the plan?
Well, I'm either gonna do absolutely nothing,
or I'm gonna ask her to the formal.
Who's all going?
Who's not going to the dance?
I'm going, stag, of course.
Mel's working on a secret project for it.
Stanley, Catherine, Eric, Erik with a "K".
So many people are going. It's a thing.
So you think she'll want to go with me?
Let's keep it a mystery. Don't ask her.
Look, I'm moving at the end of the summer.
- Don't remind me. - And I don't want to regret
not doing something because I'm too chicken to do it.
I reverse my position.
Ask her.
There you are. Do you know how to clear a 3-D printer jam?
Catherine? Catherine.
I'm gonna go get some paper towels,
but don't wait.
If you finish cleaning it all before I get back,
I won't be mad.
I'm so glad you're here.
I don't remember hitting my head,
but Stanley-- I-- I--
What's happening to me?
What are you talking about?
You're kind of freaking me out.
It's his hair? No.
His eyes? No.
His sense of humor! He's...
- so cute. - What happened?
I need specifics.
Um, okay.
Stanley added the chemicals in the wrong sequence.
But that's just how he is, Mel.
You never know what he's gonna do next.
He's like a wild tropical storm.
- Focus! - Right.
The reaction went haywire.
but the solution smelled incredibly fragrant.
And the next thing I knew,
it was like seeing him for the first time.
Stanley.
Hey!
Okay, the paper towel thing was a ruse.
I thought you were gonna clean it all up without me.
[chuckles]
Catherine, will you wait for me by the door, please?
Stanley, this is going to sound crazy,
but I think you may have accidentally made a like potion.
Okay. What?
After you smell whatever's inside that beaker,
you fall for the first person you see.
But Catherine smelled it.
And you were the first person she saw.
Oh, so she--
Me? Yes!
No. We're going to fix this.
She and I will come up with an antidote.
You dump that in the toxic waste bucket,
and please be careful.
Did I say bye?
Bye.
[chuckles]
I can't do it. I can't ask her.
You're right. I'll regret it if I don't.
It's time. Good luck.
- What's wrong with him? - Can you keep a secret?
History would say no.
He's waiting for Abigail. He's gonna ask her to the Normal Formal.
Abigail? Didn't she already break his heart once?
Yeah. And I'm hoping she won't do it again.
Wait. What if we can offer him something more than hope?
It's a like potion. I made it in Chemistry lab.
Oh, and Catherine likes me now.
Long story.
Actually, that's the whole story.
Anyway, this is what we're gonna do: spray Abigail,
make sure Gortimer is the first person she sees,
and she'll go to the dance with him for sure.
My gut says we should run away from this.
- Hey. - Hi.
Any word on the geometry final?
- This isn't going well. - What are you talking about?
He's doing fine.
If you ever need any help, I'm really good with geometry.
And my door's always open at a acute angle.
- [chuckles] - She's laughing in his face.
He's going to blow it.
I actually came over here to ask you a question.
So the Normal Formal?
Yeah, so I've heard.
You know, there's dancing and stuff.
[chuckles] Who doesn't like stuff?
- I'm going in. - What? No.
So I was just wondering if maybe--
Stanley!
[sprays]
- Hey, Gortimer. - Katie.
Katie, wait! Uh--
Uh, sorry, I'll be back.
Katie, this is gonna sound nuts,
but, um...
will you go to Normal Formal with me?
Me? Uh, sure. Thanks.
Wow. Amazing. Isn't that crazy?
That's one word for it.
Yeah, I'll catch up with you later, okay?
Katie, wait!
Well, I didn't see that coming.
Me, neither.
What just happened?
I think I sprayed Gortimer instead.
We gotta fix this.
- I'll find Mel. - No!
I can make this right.
All I need to do is spray Katie
to get her interested in going to the dance with someone else.
Roll your eyes if you're on board.
Well, it's not magnesium sulfate heptahydrate.
You can cross that off the list.
Catherine.
I'm trying to help you.
I mean, I could be spending my valuable time
working on my history making project for the dance.
But, no.
What are you even doing?
Hm?
It's Dillman and Zielinski.
No, we gotta do something.
Stanley created a like potion,
sprayed Gortimer, and then he's--
You already know about this, don't you?
Why did I even waste my breath telling him to get rid of it?
And Stanley's convinced he can fix it.
Which sounds insane when I say it out loud.
I'm working on an antidote as fast as I can.
But it's hard when the other half of the brain trust is--
Catherine?
Don't tell me.
Is that a love note for Stanley?
No. It was an invitation.
To the Normal Formal.
We have to contain this thing.
You have to come up with an antidote.
Like now.
Stanley's plan stinks.
Don't you think I--
Stinks. That's it! Ranger, you're a genius.
Just like Stanley.
[sighs]
Stop it, Catherine. Just... stop.
Yeah, we-- we need to get to work.
Come on.
It's gonna be okay.
Oh, hi. You here to buy dance tickets?
- Two for one. - About that.
Do you have your heart set on going to Normal Formal with Gortimer?
Could be fun. I've never been to a dance before.
But you and Gortimer are going as friends?
For legit.
You guys still aren't saying that?
Right. So you don't like anyone?
Nah.
So anyone will do.
Hey, uh, Randy. Could you come here a sec?
- [spraying] - [coughing]
What's up?
I think Katie has something she'd like to say.
I like you're, uh, hair.
Oh, uh, thanks?
Ask him.
Are you going to the Normal Formal?
Oh, yeah, it's not really my thing.
Really? Do I have to do everything myself here, people?
- [spraying] - [coughing]
Katie, look, I know this is kind of sudden,
but will you go to Normal Formal with me?
[spraying]
[continuous spraying]
Oh. Right.
Well, Katie said she was going with me,
but now she's really into Randy.
Everything was going so well. How could this happen?
Don't sweat it.
There are other fish in the sea.
Abigail fish.
Let's go.
Stanley. Hi.
I got your note, and the answer is we.
French "oui," as in yes?
English "we", as in we are going to the dance together.
[giggling]
Did you find Abigail?
Why were you looking for Abigail?
Just trying to tie up some loose ends.
Making people happy, spreading joy.
Looks like you missed someone.
We were just off to remedy that.
Don't. We worked up a remedy of our own.
My research suggests that the potion is so fragrant,
it causes the olfactory nerves
to affect the emotional centers in the brain,
resulting in a case of extreme like.
If we could overwhelm these nerves
with a highly unpleasant odor,
it would cancel out the effects of the potion.
[sighs]
Wait. What are you doing?
Seeing if it works.
On Catherine?
You can't just mess with people's emotions like that.
[sighs]
[sniffing]
[coughing]
Did it work?
Stanley, smile for us.
You can stop now.
Great.
Thanks a lot, Mel.
She just asked me to the dance.
We can still go together.
As friends. We can go as friends.
I'll put it in the win column anyway.
Can you do Gortimer now? I hate seeing him like this.
[coughing]
Katie?
Wait. Wait.
Wh-- why'd you do this to me?
I was all set to ask Abigail,
and then... you.
You ruined it with your stupid potion.
I was never interested in Katie.
I'm sorry. But I took care of everything.
Go ask Abigail.
Let's just hope she sees the humor in the situation.
Hi.
Can I talk to you?
I was wondering if
you know where I could find some sodium bicarbonate?
No, see, uh--
It was a joke. You know, that thing in chemistry.
and I thought you might--
Um, um, I'm kind of busy.
Did you need something?
Look, I-- I got interrupted back there
when I wanted to ask you a question.
Abigail Arroyo,
will you go to the Normal Formal with me?
[scoffs] What?
I was just wondering if you wanted to go to the dance with me?
Yeah, um, I-I heard you, I just--
I can't imagine why you think I'd say yes.
- I, uh-- - I mean, I was standing right there
when you asked Katie.
And I'm not interested in being your second choice.
No, no, no, you're my first choice.
It was Stanley.
You're gonna blame this on someone else?
No.
It was a misunderstanding.
I want to go to the Normal Formal with you.
I swear.
Well, that's unfortunate.
Because I don't want to go to the Normal Formal with you.
♪♪
♪ We get to party ♪
♪ And have a good time ♪
♪ We get to party ♪
This is actually more fun than I thought it would be.
You know I have feelings, right?
I meant the dance, not being your date.
Oh.
I wish it was more fun for Gortimer.
♪ You would feel so alive ♪
You should go talk to him.
Okay.
♪ Hey, oh, hey, oh ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Nah, nah, nah, nah ♪
♪ We get to party ♪
♪ And have a good time ♪
Pig in a blanket? Spanakopita?
Look, I know you told me I don't have to say sorry anymore, but--
So please don't.
[stammers] I actually forgot about it for five seconds.
Let me just try one more time.
I'm so sorry.
If I hadn't stuck my nose in it,
you'd be here with Abigail.
But I'm not.
You know, it--
It's not your fault.
Things just don't work out sometimes.
I'm gonna try and not think about it.
♪ Nah, nah, nah, nah ♪
♪ We get to party ♪
♪ And have a good time ♪
♪ We get to party ♪
♪ And have a good time ♪
Be right back.
Say queso.
What?
Don't go anywhere.
I'm having doubts about this plan.
What's happening out there on the dance floor is not real.
Normally I'd agree with you, but this is the big dance.
We're going to ruin everyone's good time.
No. We're going to use the fog machine
to disperse the antidote.
Everyone will snap out of this ridiculous spell,
and people can dance with the people they actually like.
It's the right thing to do, right?
Who am I kidding?
You had me at fog machine.
So is this the big secret project
that you've been working on? I mean,
not that you don't look great.
No. Not this.
My dress should be done printing right about now.
Excuse me?
Whoa.
I figured the best way to find the perfect dress
was to design the perfect dress
and...print it.
Is there anything you can't do?
I can't sing.
♪♪
Where's Stanley?
Where's everybody?
How long are we going to keep standing here
- bobbing our heads? - I don't know.
I was just doing it because you were doing it.
Gortimer, look.
♪ Don't let go of me ♪
♪ Don't give up on me ♪
[loudly, over music] What are you doing--
[normal voice] I-- I'm sorry.
Well, I was at home
thinking about how much of a jerk you were--
Abigail, that was a misunderstanding, I swear.
- I'm sorry. - Let me finish.
And I kept thinking, Why didn't he ask me the first time?
And the only thing I could think of
was you were afraid I was going to hurt you again.
Oh.
You know I never meant to.
It was just the whole dinner thing
and you on my porch.
It was such a weird night.
I just wasn't ready for the couple thing.
I know.
But...maybe now I am.
So,
if the offer still stands,
I'd love to be your date for the Normal Formal.
Uh...
I--
You--
[chuckle] Uh,
I think this is where you ask me to dance.
Come on.
♪ Don't let go of me ♪
♪ Don't give up on me ♪
♪ Don't let go... ♪
[sigh] Okay, you stand guard while I pour in the antidote.
What happens if someone actually comes?
I don't know. Just make a squawking noise
like ca-caw ca-caw.
Got it. Ca-caw ca-caw!
Just practicing.
Okay. All done. It's warmed up. Let's do it.
♪ Don't let go ♪
Wait. Stop.
Ca-caw ca-caw!
What's going on?
You can't disperse the antidote.
Why not?
Because I fixed everything.
Look.
Ranger: Wow.
Well, w-what did you do?
[ringing]
What?
Gortimer asking Katie to the dance
was all my fault.
Wait.
You got to hear me out.
He wanted to ask you.
Then I got involved and messed everything up.
You were his first choice. You've always been.
I mean, just look at this guy.
Look at that face.
Don't punish him for something I did.
And then he spritzed me with some perfume
as if I wouldn't even notice.
Like I smell or something.
I don't smell, do I?
He...spritzed you?
Anyway, that's how I got here.
I guess we both have Stanley to thank.
♪ ...younger man ♪
♪ I hadn't a care ♪
♪ Foolin' around... ♪
I love this song.
May I have this dance?
I'm not really feeling up to it.
♪ ...and stole my heart ♪
Please?
Can you dance with someone else?
I-- I want to dance with you.
♪ ...got what it takes ♪
♪ So I made you my wife ♪
Okay.
- ♪ Since then ♪ - One song.
♪ I've never looked back ♪
♪ It's almost like living a dream ♪
♪ And ooh, I love you ♪
What should we do?
We can't let him keep doing this.
Why not?
Like you said, Mel, it's not real.
Like you said, this is the big dance.
This is the only Normal Formal he'll ever have.
I say we should let him have his moment.
Mr. Ross, no!
Oh. No students allowed backstage, guys.
No. But the fog. It has--
I know. it's kind of
a middle school dance cliché,
but it's kind of what I like about it.
♪ ...look back ♪
♪ It's almost like living a dream ♪
Oh.
Oh, good gracious.
[coughing]
What's wrong with everybody?
Don't tell me you can't smell that.
- What is it? - It's literally
the worst thing I've ever smelled.
So being anosmic is actually a plus
for the first time ever.
Excuse me?
I'm anosmic.
I don't have a sense of smell.
I lost it when I was a kid.
Come on.
♪ Since then, I've never looked back ♪
So you can't smell any of that?
No.
Not even the stuff Stanley sprayed on you?
Correct.
Whoa.
So that means...
you really do.
♪ And ooh ♪
♪ I love you ♪
♪♪ [disco]
True friends want you to be happy, no matter what.
They might be willing to do anything,
even break the rules or bend the truth,
to hurry happiness along.
But some things can't be rushed.
They just have to happen when the time is right.
And when that time finally comes,
it's magic.
You want to hang out tomorrow?
Definitely.
I can't believe I'm moving at the end of the summer.
We have three months.
Let's make them count.
♪ Since then, I've never looked back ♪
♪ It's almost like living a dream ♪
♪ And ooh ♪
♪ I love you ♪
♪ Since then, I've never looked back ♪
♪ It's almost like living a dream ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ I got you ♪ ke living a dream ♪