"Malcolm in the Middle: The Next Gen…"
Summary: Eighteen years after high school graduation, the lives of child genius and well-meaning brat Malcolm Wilkerson and his family are rather different yet surprisingly familiar.
Part I…
Washington, DC… 2025
Senate offices hallway…
"Hey…" a thirty-five-year-old Malcolm in suit, still a bit on the shorter side of things, various aides rushing about him, eyes camera…
"Been a while I guess…But here I am, post Harvard, post Stanford doctorate, post Georgetown Law, in DC, like Mom wanted me. Not President yet, but well along on my first full elected term in the Senate…" pauses to heed nervous aide.
"See I have the Keplinger file and I want everything verified. And get me the revenue figures for our state, I know the press is going to try to hint I'm taking my eye off the ball at home contrary to my pledge on campaign. Not a summary, I want the real figures." Stern look, the aide nodding and hurrying off.
Returns to us…The group still hurrying along…
"Believe you me, I wasn't sure about this at all. But I was in our State Senate and a sort of thorn in the Governor's side. She didn't like my actually expecting her to answer my questions about her relationship with the head of the corporation funding her political campaign, who turned out to be a deep-dyed extremist nut plotting the violent overthrow of the government after getting zanies like him into state governments. Now our Governor wasn't quite one of them, but she was willing to look away while crazies took over some key offices and state judgeships and started persecuting anyone they didn't care for. And I mean, persecuting…As in jailing, assaulting, burning crosses…One of them, a police chief, advocated for death camps for non-Christians and liberals. So, after we took her 'boss" down for a bunch of crimes from illegal money laundering to illegal campaign finance, Russian collusion, etc, etc, and started hearings on her administration and jailed a few of the crazier types who'd actually hurt or threatened people, she decided to 'reward' me for my service to the State (i.e., get rid of me) by appointing me to the Senate seat vacated by my predecessor, ('cause he died, maybe cause he knew he was on our list to investigate.). I didn't mind too much, she was finished anyway, and there's a real chance to get things done here. And Mom was pretty happy. As was my wife, Cynthia. Especially after I got elected to this full term in my own right."
"You remember Cynthia? She was in my Krelboyne class? Crazy crush on me since she was thirteen? Has these enormous…" he spread hands. "…beautiful…"
"Eyes. What?" staring.
"Oh, you thought I was gonna mention her boobies. Sure, they're fantastic, too." Shrewd grin.
"Senator?" another aide came round to him as they hurried along.
"Excuse me…I'll fill you in later." Malcolm notes. "We're holding an impeachment of the House Speaker. Boy, did Kev screw it when he sold out to those crazies in '23." He enters Senate chamber, aides following…One closing doors behind him, eyeing us sternly.
…
Cynthia, Malcolm's beautiful dark-haired wife, thirty-five, in her own DC office…
"Yeah, hey…" waves from behind her desk, rising. "I always knew you were there, but I left it to Malcolm back then. But he's asked me to take over for him and we share everything. I'm an environmental lawyer here in DC now and we try to work together as much as we can on certain causes, even though for his mom's sake he's become a political hack. A good one, but even the best are hacks, in my humble." Shakes head. "Still, I've managed to keep him honest so far, though, so he actually is likely to accomplish something." Beams. "I'm sorta his Eleanor, with a real job outside the political, but no Lucy Mercer in the way…Not a chance." Satisfied nod.
"Not that my Malcolm's not handsome or sexy enough, my little sweetie, to have girlfriends ala JFK or that idiot Bill, if he wanted. He's just totally in love with me…And I'd kill any girl getting too close, as they'd likely be paid agents of his opponents, trying to ruin him." Smile.
"Just kidding…Maybe. Anyway, we've got three kids now…Robbie, our little bratty asshole, the oldest…Harold the middle one, my lovey heart…" beams… "And Cyndy Jr, our third…" indicates photo frame on the wall of her office. "The worst of the three, in my humble…But of course she's Daddy's little, can do no wrong, girl…What he sees in her to make her such an angel? Beyond me." Photo indicating young Cynthia to be exactly like her mom in appearance at that age…
"I do mean to have a Malcolm Jr., maybe in the White House when it'll be a good dodge to avoid some of the First Lady crappier stuff…Teas and all that. I know even Eleanor couldn't escape all of it but like her, I got better things to do unless it's like, honoring vets or something worthwhile like that."
"Cynthia, the Monsanto people on line one…" her secretary peering into office…
"Right…" she pressed pad, taking phone. "Ok, you ready to cave, you worthless bastards?" she told phone. "C'mon, the Senators in your pocket are out or on their way to jail, likewise those bozos in the House, and all we want is for you to admit what you did here. Yeah? Yeah? Oh, why thanks. I just recorded your offer of a campaign bribe, it's going to look great in court. Ok, then…We gotta a deal? Good. No, all of them go to jail…Yeah…All of them including your brother-in-law. If they admit guilt, they'll probably get off with just a few years plus their own as well as your corporate fine. Oh, no. The fine's a billion for the workers, a billion for the town, and a billion for general clean-up. Do you want me to demand more and longer sentences? You know the jury is ready to give them to me. Ok, then. Send the paperwork over, along with the confession copies, signed and dated. Great." She hung up.
"You gotta be firm with these guys." She shook head. "Imagine the COO thinking Malcolm and I would accept a multimillion-dollar campaign bribe. But she's probably afraid her brother-in-law and son won't make it in prison. They're lucky we didn't throw them to the mob in the two towns they ruined in our home state."
"So ok, as to the rest of the family…My mom-in-law remains kinda the terror of my and several other daughters-in-law's existences. Though we have been getting on since the kids were born, she's naturally very defensive and protective about my sweet babboo Malcolm. I do admire the way Francis' Piama has carved out her own sorta friendship/mutually assured destruction pact with her. Yes, the boys are all married but for Jamie who's still in graduate school. Reese married that immigrant girl, Raduca, who'd married him to go for a green card…Yeah…Really." Grin. "She decided after a couple of years with her boyfriend that that sweet American boy really was the love of her life and came crawling back to him, begging him to give her another chance. Fortunately, she did it before he became one of the most famous chefs in the world and his restaurant and cooking school a huge success, along with his line of sauces and soups and all that. He's become kinda sweet, Reese, even made up a kosher line for me and the kids." Fond beam. "Anyway, Lois still watches her like a hawk but she actually has been good for Reese, keeps him on his toes. They have two kids, Renya and Harold. Reese is always shaking his head now when we get together at what brats they are, but his wife keeps them in line most of the time. I know, it sounds awful, but Raduca really does worship Reese now, even Lois believes she's sincere, especially since she refused to let Reese sign over a controlling interest in his company to her after the first time they slept together…Her way of proving to him and Lois she loves him."
"Now Dewey, on the other hand…"
A tall, commanding Dewey with wild hair, in tux on orchestra podium, baton raised and firm in hand…Glowering fiercely at the obviously fearful but adoring orchestra before him…
"He's been good for Aimee…Kenarban, Abe and Kitty Kenarban, Malcolm's best friend Stevie's parents' daughter and second kid. They kinda went crazy after Kitty came back after divorcing Abe and had three more kids, Kitty finally accepting it wasn't her fault that Stevie was so ill, poor guy…"
Cut to shot of Steven Kenarban, Supreme Court Justice, in his robes. "Second…" gasp… "Youngest…" he notes to us.
"Back then, I mean. Now, he's able to walk a bit, thanks to electronic/biosynthetic nerve implants he and Malcolm designed, and he's the second youngest Supreme Court Justice ever and still Malcolm's best male friend. Me being his best, naturally." Happy wave of hands about head. "Anyway, Dewey married his sister who kinda followed her mom's path? You know, over-repressed good girl, then wild teen…Running around, disappearing, coming back demanding money from Abe and Kitty, even my brother-in-law king of kid screw-ups, Francis, thought she was outta control…She once tried to shoot Dewey for not noticing her when he came home for a visit after he'd become famous. Then after that when he took her in hand as a promising pianist, she fell madly in love with him and they ended up married, while he became a famous composer, conductor of the National Philharmonic, and holy terror of Music. He is Lois' son, that's all I can say. They say he can even intimidate German musicians." Proud nod. "Though Aimee says it was his beautiful heart as much as his furious discipline and utterly ruthless search for perfection that saved her."
"A crazy relationship they got but it works…And has produced two beautiful babies so far. Now Malcolm and I, we're kinda the restrained, calming force in the family…"
Cut to shot of Malcolm screaming while entering his Harvard dorm late at night as Cynthia eagerly greets him from his bed. "Hey, Malcolm!"
"We attended Harvard together…Forget that silly stuff about my chasing him down there…I just transferred cause it's, you know, 'Harvard', and we just happened to have all the same classes…" warm smile, off-hand wave.
("All the same classes…Every year…" Malcolm notes in cut to him in Senate chamber. "And she gave up a full scholarship at Stanford to come to Harvard after she found out I was going. And then went on to Stanford and then Georgetown, with me. Taking every class. I had to marry her, it was too scary…")
"And it only made sense for my future career that I went to Stanford for an economics Doctorate and then Georgetown for my law degree. Hey, I went into environmental law, not politics." She notes.
("We were both in environmental law and economic implications till I got tapped for the State Senate…" Malcolm notes. "And I took it partly to please Mom and largely because we had an interest in some major state legislation.")
"Of course, one day…After the Presidency and maybe the Secretary Generalship of the UN, he'll come back to the law and we'll work on things together. Unless we decide I should go for President after him." Cynthia notes, contentedly.
"Francis and Piama have five kids, all such cuties…Frank Jr, Harold, Piama Jr, Lois…Yes, Lois, and Jason. Yeah, we've a lot of Hals in our family." Grin. "But how could we not, given our dad-in-law/grandpa?" beam.
"It's so nice to know he and Lois have finally got the quieter life they always dreamed of…Outside of when one of us visits. Of course, he is the other 'Brother' of the 'Brothers Hernados' of the 'Greasey Khichen' empire. And not even Reese has been able to match his secret marinade recipe for the vegan khichen that captured America."
…
Headquarters Office of the famed 'Brothers Hernados' Greasey Khichen'…
Office of Harold Wilkerson…Partner in chief along with the other "Brother Hernados", Gus Fring.
Hal, a hale and hearty, charming, if still easily rattled, 67, at his desk conducting what he'd explained to his assistant Skyler White, on his way into his office, as very important business negotiations…
Skyler, a tall early 40s-ish blonde, at her desk outside, frowning as she listened in…To his eager reading of newly composed love poems to his beloved wife, Lois, on phone.
It being much more his heretofore unsuspected ability to craft the finest secret marinades and give their vegan chicken (khichen) product an amazingly perfect chicken texture than his day-to-day business acumen that had led his former employer…In a part-time, post retirement, job at the initial test restaurant…Gus Fring to make him his partner, establishing the Brothers Hernados' Greasey Khichen empire. The incredible and rapid rise of which had shoved such mighty lords of the chicken fast food industry as KFC, Chickafila, and Popeye's to the side…
Not without their vows for vengeance in the utterly ruthless world of fast-food chicken…Though it had been Gus who generally handled the more "ruthless" end of the business.
…