The Magical World of Disney (TV Series)

Hero in the Family (1986)

Christopher Collet: Benjamin Reed

Quotes 

• Digger Reed : You really showed me something. As far as I'm concerned, you're more of a hero than I will ever be.

  [extends his hand] 

  Digger Reed : All right, Benjamin?

  Benjamin Reed : Thanks, Dad.

  [hugs his father] 

• Benjamin Reed : [explaining to Jessie how the machine works to switch his dad and Orville's mind back]  ... The circuits control the flow, and Dad and Orville sit here. The whole thing re-creates what happened in space, then I press this

  [shows Jessie a hand-held button] 

  Benjamin Reed : and bang! Maybe, it all works.

  Jessie : Or, bang! Maybe we blow up Houston.

• Benjamin Reed : [has been caught in Digger's uniform masquerading as his father to gain access to the base]  Uniform? I don't see a uniform, what uniform?

  General Presser : *This* uniform

  [grabs the collar of the flight suit Ben is wearing] 

  General Presser : .

  Benjamin Reed : Holy smokes, this is a uniform. In fact, it's my father's uniform! Oh! Oh no! I must be having an identity crisis! General Presser!

  [grabs Presser by the collar] 

  Benjamin Reed : You were right! I do need help, you gotta let me in there to see a doctor, please?

  [kisses Presser on each cheek, then struts off] 

  General Presser : This kid *is* deeply disturbed.

• Benjamin Reed : [trying to get into a locked area, whispers]  I need your chewing gum!

  [Jessie hands him a stick of gum, which Ben unwraps and throws away the gum but keeps the wrapper] 

  Benjamin Reed : Gimmie the piece in your mouth.

  Jessie : [takes out the gum she is chewing and hands it to Ben]  You're so weird.

  Benjamin Reed : Thank you!

  [takes the chewed gum, sticks it to the wrapper, waits for the technician to pass by, then puts it on the door sensor. The technician shuts the door] 

  Benjamin Reed : .

  Benjamin Reed : Locked Digi-card doors are totally secure. Unless,

  [opens the door and points to the gum wrapper] 

  Benjamin Reed : there is a piece of foil which interrupts the circuit.

  Jessie : Pretty slick!

• Student Council Pres : Hey hey hey! Digger Junior!

  Jessie : Why'd he call you Digger Junior!

  Benjamin Reed : Oh, he didn't call me Digger Junior, he said... dig your junior year! You know how all these rah rah types get. Go Juniors!

  Student Council Pres : Oh, you bet! Oh, congratulations!

  Jessie : Congratulations?

  Benjamin Reed : Congratulations...

  Jessie : What'd he tell you that for?

  Benjamin Reed : Congratulations!... Um, well, he sees me standing here with this pretty girl, and I guess he thinks I'm going to... uh, ask her out?

  Jessie : [smiles meekly]  Well?

• Digger Reed : [Ben has just successfully switched back the minds of Digger and Orville in their correct bodies. Digger, dazed, now is slowly re-orienting himself. The NASA men thinking he is still a threat, and throw a net over him, which he catches in mid-air]  Hey! Don't throw that at me, partner!

  General Presser : [holding Ben]  Watch him!

  Digger Reed : And let go of my son!

  General Presser : Watch him, he may be dangerous!

  Digger Reed : Yeah! Yeah! That's right! That's right, I may be dangerous unless you take your hands off my son, and get out of here!

  Benjamin Reed : You heard what my dad said, GET OUT OF HERE!

  General Presser : [to the men]  We'll regroup on the lawn

  [they leave] 

  General Presser : .

  Digger Reed : [reaching to his wife]  Aw honey, gimmie a hug!

  Lisa Reed : [embraces her husband]  Oh! You're back!

  Digger Reed : [now outside to talk to the General and sees all the cars parked on the grass]  Hey! Hey I'm gonna have to replant that! You know you guys could have parked on the street!

  General Presser : Coloniel! You're ordered for debriefing at 09:00 hours, and that's an order.

  Digger Reed : Well, I'll be glad to debrief with you, General. When I'm good and ready! After I've had some time with my wife and my son.

  [gives a thumb up] 

  General Presser : [General Presser nods and walks away, irritated] 

  Digger Reed : [puts an arm around his wife]  You know something? I am hungry! I haven't had a good meal in weeks, so how about one of your famous breakfasts?

  Lisa Reed : Mmm hmm!

  Digger Reed : All right?

  Lisa Reed : Mmm hmm!

  Digger Reed : All right! Will you join us, Jessie?

  [Jessie nods] 

  Digger Reed : All right!

  Ralph : [rides up on Ben's bicycle]  Did someone mention breakfast?

  Digger Reed : Hey hey hey! Ralph, we did it!

  [slaps his hand, Ralph slaps Ben's hand back] 

  Digger Reed : Yeah, Ralph, I did it! Care to join us?

  Ralph : Aw, you bet Coloniel Reed!

  Digger Reed : Good.

  Ralph : It's good to see you up and around again.

  Digger Reed : [nods]  Thanks, Ralph.

• Orville : [Orville turns on the nightstand light next to Ben's bed] 

  Benjamin Reed : Orville? What are you doing here?

  Orville : [Orville picks up the picture on Ben's nightstand of Ben and Digger and begins speaking in chimpanese, pointing to himself] 

  Benjamin Reed : Hey! That's my dad's picture! You leave that alone!

  Orville : [Orville scratches his head, puts the picture down, and walks over next to Ben's desk, where a large picture of Digger Reed in his flight suit hangs on the wall. Orville points to the picture and then back to himself screeching in chimpanese] 

  Benjamin Reed : Yeah. I know you and my dad flew together, but what are you trying to tell me?

  Orville : [Orville takes the cover off Ben's computer and turns on the monitor] 

  Benjamin Reed : Hey! Don't mess with that!

  [gets up and goes over to the desk] 

  Orville : [reaches out, taking Ben by the hand and sits him down next to him at the desk. Orville begins to type ITS ME, DAD. YOU MUST GET HELP!] 

  Benjamin Reed : [Ben reads the words Orville has typed. He stands up and slowly backs away from the desk, shaking his head no]  . You can't be my father.

  Orville : [Orville, now shown to be Digger, taps the screen and back to himself, screeching wildly in chimpanese. He sees Ben not moving, stands up, and walking on the desk, reaches over to the bookshelf where Digger put the moon rock. He begins to bobble it in his hand, like Digger did, right before he gave it to Ben, then places the moon rock in Ben's hand]  .

  Benjamin Reed : It is you!

  [camera pans back between Ben and Digger, Ben falls to his knees, looking at the monkey, his father, Digger] 

  Orville : [Orville/Digger, sits down on the desk, resting his chin on his knees, looking at his son] 

  Benjamin Reed : So, if I understand what you're telling me, the crystal switched both you and Orville's minds.

  Orville : [Orville/Digger, nods his head yes]  .

  Benjamin Reed : So, there must be a way to reverse this.

  Orville : [Orville/Digger nods his head] 

  Benjamin Reed : But we better move soon, because if we don't, there might not be a way to switch you back!

  [Orville/Digger claps his hands] 

  Benjamin Reed : That means, I'll have a monkey as a Dad, forever?

  Orville : [Orville/Digger nods his head] 

  Benjamin Reed : Well, how long do we have to make this switch?

  Orville : [Orville/Digger, holds up two fingers] 

  Benjamin Reed : Two days?

  Orville : [Orville/Digger holds up one finger] 

  Benjamin Reed : Maybe only one?

  [Orville/Digger shrugs] 

  Benjamin Reed : This is terrible! We need help, I've gotta tell Mom.

  [Orville/Digger walks towards the bedroom door] 

  Benjamin Reed : Wait a minute, Dad!

  [Orville/Digger stops] 

  Benjamin Reed : I don't know how to break this to you, but... you're a monkey. You just hang out here, I'll explain everything, OK?

• Benjamin Reed : Mom!

  [running down the stairs] 

  Benjamin Reed : Mom! Mom! Ma... General Presser! I'm glad you're here, Dad's OK, we can straighten this whole mess out!

  Lisa Reed : Slow down, Ben. Now what are you talking about?

  General Presser : Take it easy, son. You've been under a lot of strain lately.

  Benjamin Reed : No, no, you see? There was this mix-up in space. Dad's actually OK, it's just... he's...

  [Ben looks behind him and Orville/Digger walks down the stairs] 

  General Presser : What's that monkey doing here? He could be contaminated!

  [puts his cloth hankerchief over his mouth and nose] 

  Benjamin Reed : Now, I know this is going to be hard to believe... but this monkey...

  [looks down to Orville/Digger, who makes a motion with hand to go on and tell them then holds Ben's hand] 

  Benjamin Reed : , Sigh. This monkey, is Dad.

  Lisa Reed : Oh, Ben!

  General Presser : [stands]  He needs professional help.

  Benjamin Reed : I'm telling you, this monkey is Dad! You know why Dad's been acting so dumb? Because he's Orville!

  General Presser : Sure, yeah sure, kid. I need to take that monkey back to NASA! I mean, if it's contaminated... we're all in serious trouble! Come here, Orville! I'm your friend!

  [moves closer to Orville/Digger, as Orville/Digger steps back] 

  General Presser : You're going home!

  Benjamin Reed : You leave him alone!

  General Presser : This is my monkey!

  Benjamin Reed : That's no monkey, that's my Dad!

  General Presser : Come here, you little creep!

  [grasps for Orville/Digger, who races back up the stairs] 

  General Presser : Get back here!

  [runs up the stairs after Orville/Digger] 

  Benjamin Reed : [Orville/Digger begins to throw books, a ceramic vase, whatever, to keep Presser back]  All right, Dad!

  [Presser gets to the top of the stairs, Orville/Digger jumps to the hand rail] 

  Benjamin Reed : Dad! The chandelier!

  [runs up the stairs and moves the hanging chandelier so it is within reach of Orville/Digger, who grabs it and swings over and down the stairs, then out the door] 

  General Presser : Come back here Orville!

  [runs back down the stairs and runs into Ben, who grabs a jacket off the coat tree and puts it over Presser's head] 

  Lisa Reed : Ben! What are you doing?

  Benjamin Reed : It's Dad, Mom! I gotta help him!

  Lisa Reed : No!

  General Presser : [takes coat off his head and speaks into his radio]  Mayday, Mayday! All units!

• Digger Reed : [walks in his house to Ben and Lisa in the kitchen, Ben at the table doing his homework and Lisa making dinner]  Hey, hon. Hey, Junior.

  Lisa Reed : Hi, honey. How was your day?

  Digger Reed : Hmph. Presser, is threatening to clip my wings.

  Lisa Reed : Oh, come on! He's been making those threats for years!

  Digger Reed : [sits on the barstool]  My test results, have started to slip. I don't know, I think he's gonna get me sooner or later.

  [nods] 

  Digger Reed : I think next Saturday could be my last blast off.

  Lisa Reed : Well, I think you have a few blast off's left.

  Benjamin Reed : Well, Dad. You do like being in the spotlight. And you do like to joke around a lot. Maybe he just doesn't understand.

  Digger Reed : [stands up, angry]  You see? This is it! My own kid thinks I'm a glory hound!

  [roughly drops his keys on the bar] 

  Digger Reed : I'm gonna go get some air.

  [walks out into the backyard] 

  Benjamin Reed : That's not what I meant! I was just trying to help!

  Lisa Reed : It's not your fault. He's just worried about those test results!

  Benjamin Reed : [nods, moving to look out the patio door] 

  Digger Reed : [Digger, with his back to the house, looks to the sky. He stomps his foot, and looks down with his hands on his hips in frustration] 

  Digger Reed : [comes down the stairs after packing for his flight to Lisa, who is still in the kitchen, cleaning up]  I'm all set!

  [sets his bags down] 

  Digger Reed : So tomorrow, I fly to Cape Caniveral, and the day after...

  [looks up and makes a sound of rockets firing, taking the shuttle into space. He puts his arms around his wife and kisses her] 

  Lisa Reed : Hm hm.

  [puts her arms around Digger] 

  Lisa Reed : Well before you whoosh away, I think you ought to speak to your son. You know, he didn't mean to upset you. He hasn't gone to sleep yet.

  Digger Reed : [still holding his wife]  Give me a kiss.

  Lisa Reed : [kisses Digger, smiling and chuckling] 

  Digger Reed : OK.

• Digger Reed : [knocks on Ben's door, then walks in]  Hey, Junior? Oh good, you're not asleep. Can I come in?

  Benjamin Reed : [laying in his bed reading, Ben looks at his Dad]  Hi.

  Digger Reed : Hi. How ya doing?

  Benjamin Reed : Fine. I'm doing fine.

  Digger Reed : Good. I'm doing fine too.

  Benjamin Reed : You allright?

  Digger Reed : I wanted to apologize to you, I know I've been a little hard on you lately.

  Benjamin Reed : It's no big, deal.

  Digger Reed : [goes over and sits on the edge of Ben's desk]  Well, I got something for ya. Do you know where I was, on the day you were born?

  Benjamin Reed : On the moon, where else?

  Digger Reed : That's right! That's right, I was on the moon! I was standing on the lunar surface, looking up at the sky, back at the Earth. And Houston came over the radio, and told me you had been born. So, I reached down at my feet, and the first thing I picked up...

  [holds out a moon rock for Ben to see, then bobbles it in his hand and catches it] 

  Digger Reed : I was gonna wait until next month, 'till you turned 17 to give this to you, but you know, come on. What the heck.

  [hands the rock to Ben] 

  Digger Reed : I only want what's best for you.

  Benjamin Reed : I know that, Dad.

  [walks over to his nightstand and puts the moon rock in front of the picture of him and Digger, then sits down on the bed and smiles] 

  Digger Reed : Now, come on! You can find a little better place to put it than that!

  [grabs the rock and starts looking around Ben's room] 

  Benjamin Reed : I kinds of liked it where it was...

  Digger Reed : No, see right here!

  [moves some of Ben's trophy's and puts it on one of the shelves in Ben's bookcase. Ben flops down on the bed, unimpressed] 

  Digger Reed : There you go! Now see? You can see it from all angles, I mean, it really jumps out at ya' right there, don't you think?

  Benjamin Reed : [still lying on the bed]  Thanks for the rock, Dad.

  Digger Reed : [reaches over and taps his son on the foot]  All right! All right, good! I'm glad we got this settled now! OK, I'm gonna get rolling, and I'll see you in, uh... two weeks!

  Benjamin Reed : Keep 'em flying, Dad.

  Digger Reed : Ha Ha!

  [grins, gives Ben a thumb up and walks out, closing the door behind him] 

  Benjamin Reed : [shakes his head and smiles] 

• Benjamin Reed : [finds an empty science lab and enters it to a dark room with multiple stations of refracted light showing different colors. a noise in the corner of the room startles him]  Oh!

  [a young brunette pops her head up from one of the stations] 

  Benjamin Reed : I thought I'd have this place... to myself.

  Jessie : Well you don't, sorry.

  Benjamin Reed : You're working on refracted light.

  Jessie : How'd you know?

  [Ben smiles and picks up a square with some tinfoil, refracting the light at his station further to shine on the girl. She smiles, and picks up another square with tinfoil, refracting the light back to shine on Ben] 

  Jessie : . I guess we're working on the same thing.

  Benjamin Reed : Guess so.

  [Jessie moves to turn on the lab lights which turns off the refracted light stations] 

  Benjamin Reed : .

  Jessie : I haven't seen you around here before.

  Jessie : Well, I haven't been here before. I just moved here from Boston.

  Benjamin Reed : Well, if you want to meet people you should be at the blast off boogey.

  Jessie : No thanks! Everybody here's astronuts! Who cares about space.

  Benjamin Reed : Not me.

  Jessie : You don't? Don't you feel a little left out?

  Benjamin Reed : Not really. All everyone ever cares about is does your father work for NASA.

  Jessie : My father does work for them.

  Benjamin Reed : Oh.

  Jessie : He's a physicist. What does your father do?

  Benjamin Reed : [surprised she asked]  My father? Well, he's... a travelling man...

  Jessie : What does he travel for?

  Benjamin Reed : Well, uh, I'll tell you the truth. I'm a little embaressed. My father, drives a truck.

  Jessie : You don't have to be embaressed. There's nothing wrong with that.

  [Ben smiles. The two exit the lab and begin walking to their lockers] 

  Jessie : I didn't get your name. My name's Jessie.

  [extends her hand to shake] 

  Benjamin Reed : I'm Benjamin

  [shakes her hand] 

  Benjamin Reed : .

  Jessie : Please to meet you, Benjamin. I was beginning to think there weren't any normal kids around here.

  Benjamin Reed : Well, I don't know how normal I am, but, uh... It was good to meet you too.

  [Jessie smiles, and walks towards her locker wing] 

• Lisa Reed : [Lisa enters Ben's bedroom to wake him up for the broadcast of Digger's flight]  Ben, wake up. Beeeennn, wake uuuupppp.

  [Ben pokes his head out from under the covers] 

  Lisa Reed : It's showtime.

  [Lisa and Ben go into the living room and sit on the couch, Lisa turns on the TV] 

  Lisa Reed : General Presser arranged this direct feed from NASA. Pretty good, huh?

  Benjamin Reed : Couldn't we have taped this?

  Lisa Reed : This is history, Ben. We have to watch this live.

  Benjamin Reed : How come Dad has to make history at 2 o'clock in the morning?

  [Lisa chuckles. We see Digger in his space suit coming out of the hatch on the shuttle] 

  Capcom : Atlantis, Houston. Digger, how are you doing?

  Digger Reed : Terrific, Houston. I'll be ready to party just as soon as my buddy Orville gets out here.

  General Presser : Well, he's partying. He better enjoy it while he can, because this is his last flight.

  Flight Surgeon : You'll lose the best pilot you got.

  Capcom : 5 seconds to sunrise.

  Digger Reed : [the sun rises over Shuttle Atlantis orbiting the Earth and illuminates the crystalline ring]  Holy Toledo! Would you look at that!

  Benjamin Reed , Lisa Reed , Capcom : [Lisa and Ben look at each other and smile from home as they watch the feed]  Whoa! Those are some pretty amazing images we're receiving here in Houston! Atlantis, Houston. Be advised, Orville should be clearing the hatch right about now... should be with you any second now.

  [Digger looks down and sees Orville floating up to where Digger floats over the lab/cargo section of the shuttle Atlantis. As Orville floats into view, we see his spacesuit reads - Lt. Starbright] 

  Digger Reed : Welcome to space, Orville. You're about to go down in the history books like Batman and Robin, Anthony and Cleopatra, Abbott and Costello! So, how ya feelin', partner?

  General Presser : This is General Presser, lets's stop fooling around. Get on with it.

  Capcom : You may begin collection procedure.

  Digger Reed : OK, little guy. Just pretend like you're going after some intergalactic bananas!

  [gives a thumbs up sign to Orville and sends him to retrieve a crystal from the ring] 

  Capcom : Orville's respiration rate is quickening, brain patterns fluctuating.

  Digger Reed : He's in big trouble, Houston. Do you want me to go and grab him? Houston, I repeat! Do you want me to go and grab him?

  General Presser : That's a negative, Colonial.

  Flight Surgeon : Pulse rate 105, 115, 120, heart rate accelearting

  [Orville is seen doing somersaults, screeching wildly] 

  Benjamin Reed : [watching the feed]  It's gotta be those crystals! Orville's right next to 'em!

  General Presser : I'm ordering an abort. Atlantis, Houston. Cancel collection procedure. Return to the Atlantis.

  Digger Reed : What about Orville?

  General Presser : You have to leave him.

  Digger Reed : No way. I'm going after him!

  General Presser : Negative, Colonial! This is General Presser speaking! You're disobeying a direct order!

• General Presser : I'm ordering an abort. Abandon collection procedure. Return to the shuttle.

  Lisa Reed : [watching the feed]  Go back Digger, please.

  Digger Reed : What about Orville?

  General Presser : You have to leave him.

  Digger Reed : No way! I'm going after him!

  General Presser : Negative, Colonial! This is General Presser speaking! Return to the shuttle! You're disobeying a direct order!

  Digger Reed : Chew on a desk, Sir!

  Flight Surgeon : Digger's pulse is 99, 104, 110, respiration quickening...

  General Presser : Return to the shuttle! I'm ordering you to return to the shuttle!

  Digger Reed : [floats towards Orville]  Come here, Orville! Come here! Come on, little guy!

  Flight Surgeon : Digger's pulse 118, 125, heart rate accelerating...

  Digger Reed : [beginning stages of delirium]  Wow, you should see these crystals! Unbelievable!

  [takes Orville by the hand] 

  Digger Reed : I have to go closer! I have to touch one of them! I have to bring it back!

  Lisa Reed : Digger, no!

  Digger Reed : I hear music! Sweet, glorious, music! LAAAAAAAAAAAHH! LA! LA! LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

  Flight Surgeon : Abandon collection!

  General Presser : Return to the shuttle! RETURN TO THE SHUTTLE! Return to the shuttle!

  Digger Reed : [Digger reaches for one of the crystals. As his hand comes around it, the crystal begins to glow brightly. A bright flash is seen, blinding the screens in Houston. Digger and Orville, still holding hands and Digger holding the crystal in the other hand, begin to spin in a spiral effect]  .

  Flight Surgeon : Atlantis? Bring them in.

  Lisa Reed , Benjamin Reed : [static now shows on the TV at the Reed house. Mother and son look at each other intently, then back to the TV, helpless]