More Like Alicia

Chris: And now Adventures and Odyssey.
Mr. Leonard: All right, everyone. Please put your goggles on for this experiment. Alicia, you need your goggles.
Alicia: Oh, yes, sir. I hate wearing goggles. They make red marks on my forehead.
Heather: Oh, I know. I get those, too. Got to go around with those red marks all day.
Alicia: Okay, it says here we're supposed to add chemical B slowly. You pour it. It might stay in my outfit.
Heather: Oh, okay. That's a really nice blouse. I wouldn't want you to ruin it. I'll do it.
Paige: Hey, Alicia. Alicia.
Alicia: What do you want, Paige? Can't you see I'm busy?
Paige: What are you wearing for the costume party this weekend?
Alicia: Oh, I'm running this silly bear costume from the store. I didn't have time to make my own this year.
Paige: I'm recycling my sister's old cheerleader dress. Embarrassing, I know, but I didn't feel like spending any money.
Alicia: That's why I went with the bear. Cheap.
Heather: Oh, I'm going to go as a princess. The costume was my mother's homecoming dress. It's pink. I look like cotton candy.
Alicia: Did you stir that?
Heather: Oh, no, sorry.
Mr. Leonard: Now, once you've mixed the chemicals and stirred them, add the hydrochloric acid very carefully.
Heather: I'll do it.
Alicia: Wait. Use the dropper, not the whole bottle.
Heather: Oh, sorry.
Alicia: Oh, that stinks. Mr. Leonard?
Mr. Leonard: Yes, Alicia.
Alicia: Heather just poured the entire bottle of acid into our beaker.
Mr. Leonard: The whole thing?
Heather: Yes. I'm sorry.
Alicia: Oh, the smell is making me sick. I'm getting out of here.
Mr. Leonard: Class, attention class, please. I need everyone to file out of the room quickly. We have a dangerous gas problem over here. Now, don't panic. One at a time. It's nothing that will kill you. Now, you may experience dizziness, nausea, and a drowsy dizziness. I think I need to leave the room. Oh.
Heather: I knew not to put that much acid in there.
John Avery Whittaker: Well, then why did you do it?
Heather: I don't know, Mr. Whittaker. I just get so nervous around Alicia.
John Avery Whittaker: Alicia?
Heather: My lab partner.
John Avery Whittaker: Oh.
Heather: She's the most popular girl in school.
Paige: One of the great mysteries of our time.
Julie: Julie, it is. I don't know what everyone sees in her.
Heather: You're just jealous. Anyway, the newspaper staff did a class poll a few weeks ago. Alicia won the awards for prettiest, most intelligent, most athletic, and most likely to ride on a parade float.
John Avery Whittaker: Well, that sounds impressive.
Heather: She's definitely the person to be friends with.
Paige: I don't understand why everyone makes such a big deal about her.
Heather: You mean besides the fact that she's perfect?
Paige: A perfect nuisance, you mean.
Heather: Well, I guess you know more about being a nuisance than anyone, wouldn't you?
Paige: What do you mean by that?
Heather: Fred, we're talking about Alicia right now.
John Avery Whittaker: Fred? Fred who?
Heather: Fred Wright.
John Avery Whittaker: Oh, I I don't think I've met him.
Heather: Roly poly Fred Wright. He's 4'11" and he has to be at least 200 lb.
John Avery Whittaker: Oh.
Heather: He is voted most likely to be a parade float.
John Avery Whittaker: Oh, oh, oh. No, no.
Heather: Well, Julie thinks he's cute. Don't you, Julie?
Paige: As a matter of fact, I do. Cute is not the word to describe him.
John Avery Whittaker: Well, maybe not to you, Heather, but obviously Julie doesn't agree.
Paige: Yeah, beauty is in the eye of the uh beekeeper.
John Avery Whittaker: A beholder.
Paige: Right. And that's what I'm saying about Alicia. It doesn't matter whose eye is beholding her. She's gorgeous. That's why everyone wants to be her friend. Everyone thinks that maybe some of her beauty will rub off.
John Avery Whittaker: Oh, really? And that's why you get so nervous around her because you want to be her friend.
Paige: Yeah.
John Avery Whittaker: Uh-huh.
Paige: I mean, I try really hard to do things right, to get her to like me, but I wind up messing it all up.
Heather: See, isn't that silly, Mr. Whittaker?
John Avery Whittaker: Well, no, I wouldn't say it's silly. There's nothing wrong with wanting to be someone's friend. But when you have to work so hard to get things right, just to get noticed, well, I'm not so sure about that.
Heather: But I have no choice. She's a supermodel and I'm a super klutz. We've got nothing in common.
John Avery Whittaker: Well, then why do you want to be her friend?
Heather: So so I could be more like her.
Julie: I think it's J.
Julie: Whatever. He's a loser. Doesn't deserve a name.
Julie: Come on in.
Heather: Hi, Julie. What are you watching?
Julie: I'm studying Alicia.
Julie: You filmed her?
Heather: No, no. You know how Eric's making a video to show on the last day of school?
Julie: Mhm.
Heather: Well, he let me look at this tape of Alicia. You know how Eric's in love with her.
Julie: Yeah, right. Wait a sec. I need to write this down.
Julie: You're taking notes?
Julie: She's very complex. Have you ever noticed how she wiggles her nose just a little right before she laughs?
Julie: I'm I've never seen her laugh except at someone. So are we going to the mall or not?
Julie: Well, yeah. Why?
Julie: You're going to wear that towel on your head?
Heather: Oh, I had to finish drying my hair. I nearly forgot.
Julie: Oh, Heather, you didn't.
Heather: What? What did you do to your hair?
Julie: You like it? It's Alicia's style. You got to and Alicia do. I think it looks pretty good.
Julie: I liked it better the way you had it. I got some new clothes, too. Right over there. Look at the way she smiles in this video. Can you have dimples surgically implanted? These clothes aren't your style. They're too trendy.
Heather: Yeah, they're very Alicia-esque. So what are you going to do? Try to be exactly like her?
Julie: Well, not exactly, just more like her. And I think I can pull it off. You know what it is? I think it's her confidence. She has a lot of confidence in herself. I bet that's what makes her popular.
Heather: Confidence?
Julie: Sure, self-confidence is cool. I mean, look at this part of the tape here. Look at her walking down the hall. She doesn't look anyone in the face. It's like she says, hey, I've got other people to talk to. I don't need to look at you just so I could feel like I've got friends.
Heather: She ignores people.
Julie: And listen to the way she talks. When she talks about other people, she seems really bored as if to say I don't need to gossip about others in order to feel good about myself, but I thought this news might interest you.
Heather: That's gossip. And there's some words that she pronounces in a very interesting way. Like words that end in a k e, she pronounces it like e. So instead of bake, she says bake. And cake, she says cake. As if to say I never passed third grade phonics.
Julie: No.
Heather: It says I don't have to follow standard rules of pronunciation. I'm my own person.
Julie: Nice thought. Why don't you try it?
Heather: Because being mean doesn't make me the kinds of friends that I want.
Julie: Oh, thanks a lot.
Heather: Well, you know what I mean. I want to be somebody better.
John Avery Whittaker: You think studying this tape is going to make you somebody better?
Heather: You'll see, Julie. Just give me a few days. When we go to the costume party this weekend, everyone will be hanging around me.
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Heather: Hi, Alicia.
Julie: Hey.
Heather: Can I sit here?
Julie: Sure. I was just leaving anyway.
Heather: Oh. Did you do something to your hair?
Julie: Oh, yeah. Just got it cut, you know.
Heather: It looks awful.
Julie: You're kidding, really?
Heather: I mean, yeah, I know. I 'm thinking of suing the hairdresser for malpractice.
Julie: Mhm. Well, I'll see you in chemistry class.
Heather: Oh, um hey, I saw you up the lek the other day.
Julie: The what?
Heather: The lek.
Julie: The lek?
Heather: You know, trickle lek.
Julie: Are you making a joke?
Heather: No, I'm just making conversation.
Julie: We'll take your conversation somewhere else. I'm not in the mood.
Mark: Hey, Alicia.
Julie: Hi, Mark.
Mark: Are you okay?
Julie: No, Esther's annoying me. Heather, and I think I'm coming down with something. It's probably because of those fumes you set off in chemistry class the other day.
Paige: Sorry.
Mark: Yeah, I heard a couple people stayed home because of it. In fact, that gave me an idea for the costume party on Friday.
Julie: Really?
Mark: Is someone talking to you, Esther? Don't think so.
Julie: You know, you may have a jump on the voting for next year's biggest loser award.
Mark: She's too much of a loser to win an award. Come on, Alicia. I want to talk to you about my idea.
Julie: That's funny. Imagine being such a loser you can't win the biggest loser award.
Mark: Yeah, it is pretty funny, isn't it?
Julie: Don't let it go to your head.
Heather: Yeah, loser. That's me.
John Avery Whittaker: Hi, Heather. Well, well, look at you.
Heather: You don't have to say anything. I 'm meeting Julie here for the costume party at school.
John Avery Whittaker: Mhm. I figured as much. Well, you make a very lovely princess.
Heather: I'm pink, Mr. Whittaker. I look like a big bottle of Pepto-Bismol. Hi, Mr. Whittaker.
John Avery Whittaker: Oh, Julie. Well, that's a particularly nice banana costume.
Heather: Um I'm not a banana, Mr. Whittaker. I'm the sun, but the costume keeps collapsing.
John Avery Whittaker: Oh, well, I I'm sorry. Well, I hope you two enjoy yourselves.
Heather: Thanks. See you, Mr. Whittaker. Are you ready, Heather? We're going to be late.
Julie: As ready as I'll ever be. You don't want to go?
Heather: I'm just bracing myself for whatever Alicia is going to say about my costume. If she says anything at all.
Julie: You don't have to worry about that.
Heather: I don't think she'll be there.
Julie: What? Why not?
Heather: I saw her come out of the nurse's office with her mother at the end of school. She didn't look too well. The nurse told her to go home and get a lot of rest for a couple of days.
Julie: You're kidding. But then what will happen at the party?
Heather: Amazingly, we'll all just have to manage to have fun without Alicia unless you want to step in. That was your plan, right? To have everyone hanging around you?
Julie: As if. Wait a minute.
Heather: What?
Julie: I have an idea.
Heather: Uh-oh.
Julie: Alicia said she was running a bear costume from the store. I think I saw it in the window the other day.
Heather: So
Julie: I can wear it now. I can be Alicia.
Heather: What?
Julie: The mask will cover my face.
Heather: You're going to pretend you're going to be Alicia? That's crazy.
Julie: Well, why? I studied her. I know how she talks. I know how she walks. This is great, Julie. For just one night I could see what it's like to be Alicia.
Guest (Male): Defending truth, justice, and lots more truth. It's Captain Absolutely. And now you can read the revised and expanded comic series with 20 pages of new storylines. Join Captain Absolutely as he battles Dr. Relative. Get your copy at adventuresinodyssey.com.
Chris: Want to contact us about the episodes you're hearing? Visit our website at adventuresinodyssey.com or talk to someone at Focus on the Family. Call 1 800 A Family with a parent's permission, of course. We always love hearing from you.
Paige: This party is boring without Alicia. I think I'll go home.
Heather: Yeah, me, too.
Paige: Wait a minute. Is that Alicia? She said she was coming as a bear. Alicia?
Heather: Hi, Paige. How's the party going?
Paige: What are you doing here? I thought you were sick.
Heather: I'm feeling better. Thought I'd check out the party.
Paige: Are you okay? You sound weird.
Heather: Well, I've got this bear's head on and I had to take up take some medicine. It's affecting my voice.
Paige: Must be. Anyway, Mark's somewhere around here. He's been looking for you.
Heather: Mark's been looking for me? Oh, right. Of course he's been looking for me.
Paige: Are you sure you're all right? You don't seem like yourself somehow.
Heather: Do you want to keep asking me stupid questions or would you rather go stand with someone else?
Paige: You're Alicia. Oh, there's Mark. Hey, Mark. Alicia's here.
Mark: Hey, Alicia. I didn't think you were going to make it.
Heather: Quick recovery.
Mark: I'll say. Hey, I'm going to set off this stuff about 8:00. So make sure you're outside by then.
Heather: Stuff?
Mark: Yeah. I'm glad to see you tonight. You want some punch?
Heather: Um sure.
Mark: Okay, I'll be right back.
Paige: You know, if there was one guy in the whole school who could be your boyfriend, Mark is the only one. Do you like him?
Heather: Who wouldn't? I mean, he's all right for a handsome, muscular, all-American type.
Mark: Okay, here's your punch.
Heather: Thanks.
Mark: Thanks. Since when did thanks enter your vocabulary?
Heather: You didn't let me finish. I was going to say thanks for nothing.
Paige: Oh, look at that. Tim is dressed as the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz.
Heather: Tim Albritton? Oh, yeah, he's nice.
Paige: What?
Heather: I mean, he's nice in that way that losers can be nice because they can't afford to be anything else.
Paige: It's an embarrassing costume. He doesn't even have a face mask for it.
Mark: I've got an idea. Let's give him your bear's head. That'll be weird.
Heather: No, you can't. I mean, keep your hands off of my person.
Mark: Come on. A face like yours shouldn't be covered up.
Heather: Just leave it alone. I I probably get hat hair or bear head hair. It'd be a mess. You know I don't like being seen in any condition but perfect.
Mark: All right, all right. Calm down. I didn't know you seventh graders could be so vain.
Heather: And I didn't know you ninth graders could be so pushy.
Mark: You ain't seen nothing yet.
Paige: Hey, Alicia. What?
Julie: I have to talk to you.
Heather: Oh, yeah. Um what was your name again?
Julie: Julie, I just have to talk to you for a second.
Heather: Don't be a pest. I'm talking to my friends right now.
Julie: What?
Mark: You heard her, Jamie.
Julie: Julie.
Mark: Get lost.
Heather: But
Mark: She doesn't want to talk to you now. Get lost.
Paige: Wait a minute, Mark. I'll talk to her. It'll be my good deed for the week.
Julie: Your good deed? Don't do me any favors.
Heather: No, really. I could spare a minute or two. Excuse me. This girl wants to talk to me for some reason. Probably needs my advice on that awful banana costume she's wearing.
Julie: Congratulations. You're really obnoxious tonight just like Alicia.
Heather: Yeah, isn't it great? Now, what do you want? Why are you talking to me?
Julie: Why am I talking to you? Because I'm standing by myself over in the corner.
Heather: Well, why don't you go talk to Fred?
Julie: Because he's dressed as a pimple. Everybody's trying to squeeze him. Besides, I came with you. You're supposed to be my friend.
Heather: I'm supposed to be Alicia. And Alicia would never talk to somebody like you.
Julie: Thanks a lot.
Heather: They're staring at us. I have to go.
Julie: But Heather, I
Heather: Just stay away from me tonight, Julie.
Julie: Fine. You want me to stay away? I'll stay away and not just tonight, either.
Heather: So I told the lady that I wanted the shoes in a size eight, but she came out with all of these eight and a halfs. So I told her I don't care what's on sale. I want what I want.
John Avery Whittaker: So what did she say to that?
Heather: She apologized, of course, and went back to get a whole new set of shoes. And guess what?
John Avery Whittaker: Wrong size again?
Heather: You got it. She brought out nines.
Paige: You have to be joking.
Heather: Anyway, I'm running out of time at this point, so I
John Avery Whittaker: Hold on. Say that again.
Heather: What?
John Avery Whittaker: We're having trouble hearing you back here. Did you say she brought the wrong color?
Heather: Yes, wrong color.
John Avery Whittaker: Thanks. Go ahead. Just talk louder, please.
Heather: Okay. So I'm already late for piano lessons and can everybody hear me now?
Paige: What a great party.
Heather: Well, if you'll excuse me, I want to go hang out with another crowd now.
Mark: Hey, don't go too far, Alicia. You don't want to miss the excitement.
Heather: Excitement?
Mark: It's almost 8:00.
Heather: Yeah, so
Mark: You know Paige reminder, will you? I got to go.
Heather: What is he doing, Paige?
Paige: Mark was inspired by the accident you and what's her name had in chemistry the other day.
Heather: You mean Esther? Heather? She's a pretty cool girl, don't you think?
Paige: Are you kidding? You said yesterday that she was a squid-shaped moron.
Heather: She did? I mean I did? I was joking, of course.
Paige: Anyway, Mark swiped some chemicals from the school lab and he's going to stink bomb the party.
Heather: What? But but those fumes are supposed to be dangerous. Why would he do that?
Paige: It's just a prank. Don't worry.
Heather: But everyone might get sick or hurt. He can't do it.
Paige: I don't believe I'm hearing you right. Why do you care?
Heather: I care because it's well it's a dangerous prank. We have to stop him.
Paige: Wait. Alicia, are you serious? What's gotten into her? Mark, wait. Don't do it.
Mark: What are you doing here, Alicia?
Heather: You shouldn't do this.
Mark: Why not? Did a teacher see me?
Heather: No, you shouldn't do it because because you shouldn't do it.
Mark: Um not following.
Heather: It's dangerous. People can get sick. Alicia, Mr. I almost missed the party because of that stuff.
Mark: It's not like it's going to kill anyone and it'll definitely liven up the party.
Heather: No, it's wrong and it's a bad thing to do.
Paige: What's going on?
Heather: Help me, Paige. Tell them how sick everyone got in chemistry class.
Paige: What?
Mark: Look. What's with you, Alicia? I've never seen you act like this. You're You're getting on my nerves. Now, get out of here so you don't breathe any of this stuff in.
Heather: I'm not going to let you do this.
Mark: Yeah, and what are you going to do about it?
Heather: If you don't stop right now, I'm going to tell one of the teachers.
Paige: Whoa.
Mark: Oh, come on. You're going to snitch on me?
Heather: People can get hurt by this prank and I can't let that happen, so throw it out.
Mark: But you loved this idea the other day.
Heather: Well, I changed my mind. So just forget it. Pour the chemicals out.
Paige: I can't believe you're acting like this.
Mark: Yeah. I don't get you at all, Alicia. You know most of the time you're a real pain in the neck and I wonder why I like you. But tonight I decided that I don't have to like you. Are you going to be a goody two-shoes from now on?
Heather: No. Just tonight.
Mr. Leonard: Oh, hello there, Heather. Oh, you changed costumes, huh?
Heather: More than just costumes.
Mr. Leonard: Oh. Uh where's Julie?
Heather: I don't know, but I don't think you'll be seeing us together anymore. She hates me. I know it. And I don't blame her.
Mr. Leonard: Huh, must have been quite a costume party.
Heather: Mr. Whittaker, have you ever wished that you could be somebody else?
Mr. Leonard: Uh well, to be honest, no.
Heather: Well, I did and I even got to be that other person for a while. But
Mr. Leonard: But what?
Heather: It was all wrong. I was trying so hard to impress people I don't even like very much and I ignored the one person I do care about just to be Alicia for one night.
Mr. Leonard: Well, Heather, let me ask you this. What is it about Alicia that you like so much?
Heather: What's there not to like? She's incredible. She's smart. She's
Mr. Leonard: No, no, no. I mean as a friend what makes you want to be her friend? Is she nice?
Heather: Not to me.
Mr. Leonard: Is she easy to talk to?
Heather: Not really.
Mr. Leonard: Does she have a good sense of humor?
Heather: In a cruel, sarcastic way.
Mr. Leonard: And you said the other day that you don't have anything in common with her.
Heather: Not a thing.
Mr. Leonard: Then why is it so important to you that you be friends?
Heather: I guess well because she's popular and everybody listens to what she says and well, she has a lot of friends.
Mr. Leonard: Well, do you think she has real friends or just a lot of people who just hang around with her?
Heather: I I don't know.
Mr. Leonard: Well, who does she talk to to to confide in? When she feels bad, who can she tell?
Heather: Oh, I don't think she has any friends like that.
Mr. Leonard: Oh, really? Well, you know, that would be terribly lonely if it's true.
Heather: Yeah.
Mr. Leonard: Imagine not having just one good friend among all those people who just hang around her.
Heather: You mean one good friend like Julie?
Mr. Leonard: Uh-huh. You know, I think if you have five or six good friends in a lifetime you're very blessed.
Heather: I did have one, Mr. Whittaker. Probably not anymore.
Mr. Leonard: Well, there's one important thing about good friends, Heather. They do forgive.
Julie: Heather? Hi. Are you alone? Where's your crowd of friends? Being friends with somebody else, I guess.
Heather: Sorry to hear that.
Julie: In fact I don't seem to have any friends now. I lost them all in one night. They're all mad at me, my fake ones and my real one.
Heather: Quite an accomplishment.
Julie: I don't really care about the fake ones, but the real one I want to say I 'm sorry to. I'm not sure how though. I don't know how to make her understand that I know I 've been an idiot and I'm really really sorry. How can I do that?
Heather: Well, you could start by going to her house and telling her that.
Julie: Okay, then what?
Heather: And then ask her if she just happened to be making some ice cream and if she'll let you have a bowl.
Julie: Okay. May I have a bowl of ice cream, please?
Heather: Sure. Just leave the bear costume outside. It didn't fit you very well anyway.
Julie: No. All in all, it was a very uncomfortable fit.
Heather: Did you get the beakers?
Julie: Um no, Mr. Leonard's passing them out.
Heather: Oh, okay. Esther?
Julie: Heather?
Heather: Whatever. Is there something wrong with my hair, my face?
Julie: No, why?
Heather: People keep looking at me in very strange ways today.
Paige: Alicia. Hey, Alicia.
Heather: Oh, hi, Paige.
Paige: Don't hi Paige me as if nothing happened.
Heather: What?
Paige: The whole school's talking about it.
Guest (Male): Alicia, my hero.
Heather: Hi. Uh what?
Guest (Male): I heard about what you did at the party on Friday night. Stood up to Mark and everything. I didn't know you had that in you.
Paige: Me neither. If I didn't see it for myself, I never would have believed it.
Heather: Oh, well, that's me, little miss unpredictable.
Guest (Male): You can say that again.
Mr. Leonard: All right, class. Let's prepare for today's experiment.
Paige: Save me a place at lunch and I'll tell you what happened after you left the party.
Heather: Okay. I've got to find out what kind of medication the doctor put me on.
Julie: Is something wrong?
Heather: Did you go to the costume party?
Julie: Uh-huh.
Heather: Was I there? I mean, did you see me?
Julie: Well, I know a bear showed up that everyone thought was you.
Heather: Really? But it wasn't me.
Julie: I know. Then who was it?
Heather: I'll tell you, but do you think I could hold the acid for a minute?
Mr. Leonard: It's not unusual for us to admire people we see at school or read about in books or see on TV and in the movies. But when we find ourselves admiring others, it's important to stop and ask why. Why do we admire them? The answer to that question is very important because we may find out that we're admiring the wrong things just like Heather did with Alicia in today's episode. And the danger is that we might just become the wrong things we admire. The Bible says a lot about how easily we can be influenced by the wrong people and tells us to work hard at being influenced by the right people. The apostle Paul wrote for us not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds in Jesus Christ. In other words, we should strive to be more like Jesus himself. What does it mean to be like Jesus though? Now is a good time to stop and think about it. If you're listening to this with your family, why don't you take a minute to talk about it? Then pray for God to help you understand how to be more like Jesus in your heart and life. You know, I'd love to hear from you about people you admire or what you think it means to be like Jesus. Do you remember our address? It's Adventures and Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80995. Or in Canada, write to Box 9800, Vancouver, BC V6B 4G3. And when you write, ask about how you can get your own copy of today's episode. It's called More Like Alicia. Adventures and Odyssey is a presentation of Focus on the Family. More Like Alicia was written by Marshall Younger and directed by Phil Lollar. Our production engineer was Jonathan Crowe. And I'm Chris, hoping you'll join us again next time for more Adventures and Odyssey.