The Boy in the Plastic Bubble is a made-for-TV movie that came out in 1976, when I was 12 years old, and that’s when I watched it for the first time – and the last time until now. Since it’s been about 50 years, I’m watching it again, almost as if it’s the first time.
This movie was released as John Travolta’s popularity as a Sweathog in Welcome Back Kotter was reaching great heights, and just before he became a mega star in Saturday Night Fever and Grease. I was never someone who crushed on John Travolta, but I did watch his shows and movies.
Pleasantries aside, let’s get into The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.
The Boy in the Plastic. Bubble
We open in 1959, on a picturesque, tree-lined street. Robert Reed of Brady Bunch fame and Diana Hyland of Eight is Enough fame are raking leaves, where no leaves exist, and smiling as a car pulls up. It’s their doctor, Dr. Gunther, who is played by Richard Bellamy, giving them the joyous news that they’re pregnant. Except the mother-to-be, whose name is Mickey, doesn’t seem happy at all and walks away to sit under a tree. There are no leaves on the ground under that one, either.
Mickey is worried about losing another baby; she just couldn’t bear it if it happened again. Her husband Johnny, reassures her and tells her that there’s a one in four chance of something happening. Not for nothing, Johnny, but those aren’t very big odds. “There were never two people who were born to be parents like you and me,” he says.
The New Arrival
We are in the hospital, and Mickey is being pushed down the hall on a gurney. It’s time. I guess she’s having a caesarean because she is in an operating theater. Johnny gets on the mic to tell her he loves her, and the good doctor starts directing the surgeons. I can tell you that my own caesarean was nothing like this. Johnny asks the doctor if all the people need to be in the theater, and the doctor clears the room as Johnny apologizes and tells the exiting doctors that they’re private people. He makes the sign of the cross, and the games begin.
Thankfully, we are not treated to the gory details. Because in the next scene, a baby is being wheeled down the hall in an incubator, and Mickey is being wheeled in her gurney. Everyone remarks on what a beautiful baby he is. Such blue eyes!
The doctor walks into the room holding a bunch of papers, and Johnny asks about the tests. Dr. Doom and Gloom isn’t looking like he has the best news and tells them that the baby was born just like their first son, with no immunity whatsoever, but, hey, at least he’s alive. The doctor also informs them that until they find a treatment or he develops immunities of his own, he’s going to have to stay in a protective environment. Bummer.
I also want to say that Mickey is walking around pretty well for someone who just had major abdominal surgery.
Johnny wants the doctor to look into his magic ball and give them a prediction. Days? Weeks? Months? “Years,” Dr. Doom says before informing them that their son could be in a protective environment for the remainder of his life. As you can imagine, the news doesn’t go over very well. Mickey puts her hands into the incubator’s rubber gloves and tells her son she’s sorry.
Four Years Later
Mickey’s sweeping the front again, wearing her quintessential 60’s housewife apron, while wisfully watching her neighbor push her little girl on a swing. As Johnny leaves for work, she snaps at him. She tells him she hates watching that little girl and she wants her baby. Johnny wonders, suppose they can manage a way to transport their son, and handle (and afford) the logistics of having him at home – does she realize what they’d be getting themselves into?
Next, we see Johnny visiting his adorable four-year-old son, who appears to be behind a clear plastic sheet. I’m guessing this is his sterile environment. Johnny tells his son to get his ball and, using the gloves that are attached to the glass, throws the ball. As they have a game of catch going, Mickey walks in and uses the gloves for a good tickle and a hug.
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble Comes Home
An undisclosed period of time later, there is a news crew in front of the house waiting for an ambulance to pull up. The Boy in the Plastic Bubble is coming home!
Johnny comes out of the ambulance, accompanied by Dr. Doom and an attendant. As they bring a gurney around for the bubble, Johnny asks for some privacy, which the media ignores. Todd acts adorable in his little bubble, and as the neighbors look on, the cute little girl next door, because of course she’s the girl next door- this is the 70s after all – runs to get a closer look. Johnny says “no pictures,” but no one’s listening, so he aggressively pushes them out of the way. While that’s going on, the little girl and Tood make each others acquantaince. Johnny gets the bubble, boy, and all, into the house and yells, “My son’s not a freak!” Yelling and pushing photographers is a good way to get the attention off him.
That night, Johnny checks the equipment, including a backup generator. He’s feeling a little frisky, and Mickey promises to tuck Todd in and be right in. Looks like bringing him home was a good thing for everyone.
Upstairs, Johnny messily opens a bottle of champagne while Mickey strips down to her slip. Their amorous activities are paused because they hear Todd coughing. They can’t figure out why he’s not getting any air and realize he’s choking. He spits out a button or something. I don’t think this couple will ever attempt to Do It again.
Todd Makes a Friend
Mickey is outside watering some plants when the neighbors stop by. The little girl has a gift, which Mickey takes, and they all go inside. Todd is in his pajamas playing with blocks.
The little girl’s name is Gina. She puts her hands through the gloves, and when Todd grabs them, she screams for him to let her go. The two of them giggle, and wave, and everyone laughs. Gina wants to come into Todd’s playhouse, a line that will have new meaning in about 12 years.
12 Years Later
Gina (Glynnis O’Connor) is getting off the school bus with two guys who ask her if it’s weird living next to Todd. She doesn’t think so; she only sees him on birthdays. The trio goes behind the house and sits on a dock, I guess they’re on a lake or something, and light up cigarettes. Gina looks at Todd’s window and says that he’s always watching television; he never comes out of his room. Which is a weird thing to say because, hello? He can’t exactly come out of his bubble, can he?
One of the guys asks Gina if he has any friends, and she says not really. Just old people. Parents, doctors, and some minister. And he has a pet germ-free mouse. They wonder what it’s like to live like that with no friends. Gina said he’s weird. And she’s surprised he’s not looking out the window because every time she comes outside, he’s watching her.
Pan to John Travolta as Todd looking out the window with a pair of binoculars. He’s wearing a crocheted golf cap with a pom pom on it, shorts, and a t-shirt. His germ-free mouse runs through an elaborate Habitrail setup. Todd has his own germ-free setup. A sort of human Habitrail. What that must have cost his parents!
Todd Gets Some News
Todd goes into the kitchen area of his Habitrail and gets something to eat and drink. He’s watching a TV report about Skylab and flying a plane around while making airplane noises. There’s a knock on the door. Why, it’s Dr. Doom, and he’s bringing news! As they play chess, Dr. Doom says there’s a doctor in Tokyo who may have developed a something that does something. Todd isn’t impressed. I’m thinking he’s heard about new treatments all his life, and nothing worked because he’s still in his bubble.
By the way, Todd is speaking through this microphone thing. Dr. Doom tells him he has the perfect setup to avoid growing up. Tood tells him he’s growing up. Dr. Doom tells him that sometimes he’s like an old man and sometimes he’s like a newborn baby.
Dr. Doom wants to know why Todd is using the intercom and says it’s so that he can feel like he has power. “Oh. You’re angry at me, aren’t you, Ernie?” Todd asks. Dr. Doom admits that he is. Using his outdoor voice, Todd tells him that he doesn’t know anything more than he did in the beginning, so why should he care what’s going on out there? Dr. Doom tells him there may be a cure, and Todd says, “Bull.” Dr Doom walks away, and Todd tells him he’s not as unhappy in there as everyone thinks. Dr. Doom isn’t convinced.
Dinnertime in the Plastic Bubble
It’s nighttime in the plastic bubble, and the family is having dinner together. Todd is on one side of the plastic, and his parents are on the other. It’s their normal. Johnny tells Todd that someone is donating a closed-circuit TV, and would Todd like to sit in on some classes at the high school? Todd asks which classes, and Johnny tells him whatever classes he likes. Todd brings up the Tokyo doctor, and Mickey says something about a hematologist in Finland, and Todd cuts her off and asks to be excused. Todd is kind of a pain in the ass sometimes.
Todd goes into another room of his Habitrail and pulls the curtain closed so he doesn’t have to see his parents. He picks up his binoculars and watches Gina in her nightgown like a creeper.
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble Goes to School
Gina and her friends are in school, and some men, including Todd’s dad, walk by carrying equipment. She asks another student what’s going on, and she tells her that her neighbor in the bubble is going to be monitoring their classes. Excitement all around.
The TV is front and center in the classroom. The teens are intrigued. The teacher turns on the TV, and a black-and-white Todd fills the screen. He says he can’t see anything and is told to hit the scanner button. He pans around the room and homes in on Gina. Johnny asks Todd if he can hear him, and Todd says hello as his father introduces him to the class.
The teacher asks a question, and no one knows the answer but Todd. When the teacher turns around, Todd puts on a funny hat and Groucho glasses, and the whole class laughs.
An Invitation
We are back at the lake behind Gina’s house, and she’s frolicking with friends who aren’t very subtle about looking up at Todd’s window and talking about him. Her friend Tom (Played by Kelly Ward) wants to know why, if they can take Todd back and forth to the hospital in his bubble, why can’t they bring him down to the beach or something? Gina tells him that Todd’s parents have been suggesting it for years, but Todd doesn’t want any part of it because it will make him feel like he’s a freak on display. Which I get, because he would be. I mean, wouldn’t you stare at a boy in a plastic bubble on the beach? I’d sure have a look.
This gives Gina’s mother an idea. She wants Gina to go next door and invite Tood to the 4th of July party on the beach. Gina wants to know why her parents can’t ask Todd’s parents, but Gina’s mother wants it to come from her. Gina covers up her bikini and walks over to Todd’s. Todd’s mother, who is cleaning instead of enjoying the lake herself, tells her to go right up.
Todd is dancing around his room while his mouse spins in the Habitrail. He’s wearing his goofy golf hat, so of course, this is when Gina walks in. She asks Todd if he’s surprised to see her, and judging by his shock, he really is. The two chit-chat about how Todd’s setup works to clear germs and how they keep looking for treatments so he can get out. He tells her his immunity is building up, so hopefully he’ll get out someday. Gina adorably invites Todd to the beach for the party and says she hopes he can make it.
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble Goes to the Beach
Todd takes Gina up on her invitation, and his father and a bunch of helpers carry Todd’s bubble across the beach like he’s Lady Gaga in her Grammy pod. They conveniently find an outlet amid the rocks and sand and set Todd’s bubble down on the beach, and there is nothing awkward about this at all. Todd isn’t looking too comfortable, and with all the people gawking at him like he’s in the zoo, I don’t blame him.
Gina rides up on a horse, because of course she does, and tells Todd she’s glad he could come and asks Todd what he thinks of her horse. He tells her he loves her horse, and he watches her feed it every morning; he also loves to watch her ride it. “Do you always talk like that?” Gina asks him? “I love this, and I love that?” Dude doesn’t get out much, Gina. Give him a break. Todd wants to know why not, since it’s true. “Because,” Gina tells him, “people will think you’re dumb.” Ouch.
After sufficiently shaming him, Gina tells Todd that if he likes her horse, maybe she’ll let him ride him when he gets out. Todd loves that idea, and Gina rolls her eyes at the goofiness of his response and says she’ll see him later.
Fireworks
At night, Todd is still sitting in his bubble watching everyone have fun. Kids are running around with sparklers, Gina and her friends are sitting in a dune buggy laughing, but no one is actually hanging out with Todd. Even Todd’s parents are having fun without him.
One of Gina’s friends bets her a couple of dollars to hold Todd’s hand through the fireworks. She asks to see the money and then walks over and sits down on the sand next to Todd. She tells him she thinks they should hold hands. Todd asks why, and she tells him that when two people like each other, they hold hands. Especially a boy and a girl. Todd asks Gina if she really likes him, and she says, “well hold my hand and find out.” They hold hands while the saddest fireworks ever go off. Gina’s friends look over and laugh. Todd’s parents are noticing none of this. Gina lets go of Todd’s hand and runs back to her friends to collect.
“Gina!” Todd calls. “Why don’t you come over and talk to me?” She calls back that it was a dare. Another ouch. That’s just cold. Todd looks devastated. “You don’t think I was serious, do you?”
As Tood freaks out in his bubble, Gina rides off on her horse. His parents come running over. “What did you say to him?” Mickey yells as Gina rides off like a coward. Todd doesn’t want to go back home and asks to go to the hospital. What’s up with that? Can he just go to the hospital like it’s a hotel? What’s that going to cost?
Todd’s Bubble Away from Home
At the hospital, Dr. Doom is there to guide Todd’s bubble. Does he have no life of his own? Todd wants to know why he’s not going to his room, and Dr. Doom tells him he’s staying at a different part of the hospital now.
Wait? How often does Todd go to “live” at the hospital? We’re missing some steps along the way.
Todd is staying in a new area for people who develop immune deficiencies, such as leukemia patients. Dr. Doom even picked out a roommate for Todd. Roy Slater. (John Friedrich) “Hi,” Roy said, while Todd is looking like he wants to cut a b**ch.
Dr. Doom leaves the two teens to get to know each other. Roy asks Todd what it’s been like to live in a bubble all his life. He says that he’s only lived in the bubble for a couple of months, and he sure does miss some things.
Not being the center of the universe is making Todd a little cranky. “Why are you here?” he grunts to Roy. Roy has a tumor. The chemotherapy killed off all his immunity. He’s really glad he has someone to talk to now and sure hopes they can become friends. Todd rudely closes the curtains so they can’t see each other. Roy wants to know why he won’t talk to him. He really wants to ask him a question.
This is a good time to point out that there’s been some bad acting all around in this movie, but Roy is putting it over the top. That’s saying something.
Roy wants to know what Todd does to start liking it. Todd ignores him. Todd’s being a bit of a jerk, and now it’s Roy’s turn to crash out. Todd tells him he’ll answer anything he wants if he’ll just stop crying.
An undisclosed period of time later, the boys are riding stationary bikes. Roy wants to know when Todd is going to get out. Todd doesn’t know. He said his immunity is building. Roy tells Todd that what bothers him the most is that before the tumor, he was too young for girls. But now that he’s older, he can’t do anything about it. Roy starts to crash out again and says he can’t stand it with all his friends going to drive-ins and making out and seeing all that action. The first thing Roy is going to do when he gets out of his bubble is get himself a hooker. Dang. That is one frustrated teen.
“Wouldn’t you be afraid of all the germs? Todd asks. Roy tells him that he wants the germs. He wants to get dirty, grow his hair long, and grow a beard. “Roy,” Todd asks. “Do you ever….you know?”
“All the time,” says Roy.
“Me too,” says Todd. Naughty boys.
“Stop Calling Him a Freak!”
The naughtiness continues. Gina and Tom are making out on her couch. The TV is talking about Todd, and she interrupts the session to watch. Buzz Aldrin is visiting Todd! Todd can’t believe it! He gives Todd a signed picture, “To Todd, a champion spaceman on Earth, Buzz Aldrin.”
Todd asks Buzz about being in his own bubble when he was being quarantined after being in space. Buzz tells him that he remembers the isolation. Todd knows what he means.
Tom turns off the TV and tries to get something going with Gina again, but she’s not having it. “What is it with you and that freak?” he asks. “He’s my next-door neighbor,” Gina tells him. “We grew up together. And stop calling him a freak!” As Tom shovels popcorn in his mouth, Gina tells him that she’s probably spoken to Todd about a dozen times in twelve years. Every year she received an invitation to his birthday party, and every year she was the only one there, except his parents. It’s the only time she ever saw him – just once a year. Except for the Fourth of July. And we all know how that ended up.
Gina Gets a Job
I guess it’s back-to-school time because Gina and her friends are sitting on the steps. Todd’s father walks by, and Gina runs up to him and mentions that she heard Todd is monitoring their classes again. Johnny is a little short with Gina, not that I blame him. He says that he has to pick up books and things, and Gina offers to pick them up and drop them off. “What’s the catch, Gina?” Johnny rightfully asks. Gina tells him that she feels bad about what went down and says she’d like to help out. She’s also broke and can really use the money. It’s a deal.
Gina rides her horse on the long trek to Todd’s house next door. Upstairs, Todd is…Well, I have no Earthly idea what he’s doing. He has headphones on to listen to music and is staring at some weird light show, up close.
“Hello!” Gina calls out. “I brought you the books and supplies you needed.” Todd gives her a look that tells her she can f**k right off. “Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow,” she tells him. Before she walks out, she tells him that if he wants her to bring any classwork back, he should have his mom leave it on her porch, and she’ll bring it to school.
Speaking of Mickey, John Travolta was 22 when this movie was filmed, and Diana Hyland, who was also playing the mother on “Eight is Enough,” was 40 when they fell in love during the filming of “The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.” Sadly, the only dated for a year because Hyland passed away after battling breast cancer.
Anyway, back to Todd and Gina. Todd is still staring daggers at Gina, which she deserves. I haven’t heard an apology from her yet. She starts to walk out the door, and Todd picks up his intercom and says, “Wait a minute.” He wants to know why she is helping her and if her father is paying her. She says yes. Todd thanks her for being honest and tells her she can go now. Gina tells Todd that she was the one who suggested it and then whines that it’s hard to talk to him because he takes everything so literally. That’s how people act in this movie. By whining.
Gina tells Todd that she felt bad about what happened on the Fourth of July and wanted to make it up to him. She would have done it for free, but then she thought, well…Todd tells her he understands and all is forgiven. Gina sits down, and they talk about why he’s always in shorts, and how baths are a major production because it takes several hours to sterilize the water. Given that it’s so hot in his bubble that he has to wear shorts all the time, I’m thinking Todd is smelling a little gamey if he doesn’t bathe that often. Reading my mind, Gina says it must stink in the bubble, but Todd assures her that where there are no germs, there’s no smell. They part on that fun note.
Todd Gets a Job
The next day, Todd dresses to impress after school. Button down and everything. Then he picks up his binoculars and waits for Gina by the window. But Gina doesn’t come. She comes the day after that, and it’s obvious Todd wasn’t so diligent with his appearance this time. He shoots Gina a dirty look, and she tells him she wishes he wouldn’t look at her like that.
Gina tells Todd all the reasons she couldn’t come by after school. Something about being kept after school, going to the principal’s office, and getting in trouble at home. Todd doesn’t believe her, and she whines that he’s just like everyone else who doesn’t believe her. Something tells me she brings it on herself.
Gina’s flunking out of school, which is why she had to stay after school. She starts to walk out, and Todd tells her that maybe he can help her with her schoolwork. He asks how much his father is paying her, and Gina tells him a dollar an hour. “That’s what I charge too,” he tells her. They have a deal.
Piling her hair on her head, Gina asks Todd how she should wear her hair. Really girl? You’re doing the hair trick now? Then she gets flat out creepy and starts telling Todd her hair looks best when it’s straight down, and he thinks she’s beautiful, doesn’t he? This movie is so cringy. Todd nods. They both giggle. Now that she’s used sex as a weapon, Gina asks Todd if she can cheat off his paper.
The next day in school, Todd holds up his answers on a blackboard so Gina can see them. The teacher turns around, sees the blatant cheating, and asks Todd what he’s doing. Todd says that he’s finished, and his teacher tells him that he has to wait for the class to be finished before holding up his answers. Oh, for goodness ‘ sake.
Todd Catches Some Rays
An undisclosed period of time later, shirtless Todd is being wheeled outside in his Lady Gaga pod. He tells his parents when to stop, lays out a towel, and puts on a pair of sunglasses. His parents ask him about his sudden interest in the great outdoors. He tells them he needs a tan because he looks like a tuna fish. He suggests his parents need some sunshine and that they are looking old. He tells them that they never take a vacation or do anything for themselves. Which I imagine is a difficult thing to do when your son is The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.
As Todd lies down to sunbathe, his mother asks him if he ever blames them for bringing him into the world. Todd asks if they had a choice, and Johnny says yes. Todd tells them that he doesn’t blame them for anything; he loves them. He goes on to tell them that if it weren’t for them, he would have grown up in the hospital. Then he tells them, because they haven’t spent enough money on his ass already, that they should hire a nurse from the hospital so they can go somewhere they’ve always wanted to.
Mickey and Johnny Take a Vacation
Todd’s parents take him up on his offer because the next thing you know, there’s a packed suitcase in front of Mickey, and she’s giving instructions to a very stern-looking nurse.
Mickey and Johnny pack their suitcases in Johnny’s van, and Mickey says that she thinks that part of the reason Todd wants them to go away is so he can “court his girl.” Did we even use words like “court” in 1976? I don’t think we did. But I was only 12, and a late bloomer at that, so any alleged courting came much later.
Gina rushes into Todd’s room to show him a very good report card, thanks to him. She thinks they should celebrate and asks Todd to think of something he really wants to do. Todd does that thing guys do when they’re thinking about sex and raises his eyebrows up and down. Some overacting takes place as Gina says, “honestly, the way you look at me sometimes.” Something else Gina brought on herself.
Todd tells Gina to take him for a ride. She asks him if he’s going to walk outside, and he asks her to tell the nurse to take him outside so he can watch her. She tells him that he’s crazy and the two of them could never make it. I don’t know, that nurse looks like she can handle anything.
The two of them wheel Todd outside in his Lady Gaga pod, and he tells Rachel she can go now.
Gina rides her horse. Todd wonders what it’s like to ride so fast and asks her to ride around his bubble fast, as close as she can. I’m getting a bad feeling about this. Gina’s worried about both the cord to the bubble and the nurse. Todd tells her not to worry about it.
Todd wants Gina to jump over him, which she thinks is a bad idea, but not so bad that she doesn’t say no. Rachel, the nurse, is inside indulging in some alcohol when she looks out the window and sees Gina racing towards the bubble. She jumps and clears it! Todd is thrilled. Gina said she was so scared.
A horn honks. It’s Tom in his dune buggy. Gina says she has to go, but she’ll come back later and help him get back inside. What the truck? You’re just going to leave him out there? Todd asks if Tom is the one Gina is going with, and she plays coy. Every time I see this girl, I like her less. Gina uses sex as a weapon again and tells him to put his face against the plastic and kisses him. Then she leaves him in the grass and drives off.
Mickey and Johnny Come Home
Mickey and Johnny return from their vacation. They want to know about Gina jumping over the bubble with a horse. Todd told them that Rachel drinks. Then he tells them that Dr. Doom said he can go to school if he wants and shows them an illustration of him wearing. a space suit-looking thing. Again, I can’t help but wonder how much this will cost. Kids who don’t live in a bubble are not cheap. Bubbles and astronaut suits look expensive. I doubt they had the same coverage back in the day.
An undisclosed period of time later, Todd is exiting his bubble wearing his astronaut suit. He crosses the line into the abyss with a big smile on his face and hugs his parents for the first time ever. I have to say, for the first time doing stairs, Todd’s pretty good at it. As Todd and Johnny drive to school, Johnny goes over all the things Todd needs to do and know.
Todd Really Goes to School
Todd gets out of Johnny’s van, and they both walk into school with everyone staring. Johnny tells Tiodd hes on his own, and Todd looks nervous as he enters the room. Everyone watches as he sits down.
Gina says that she thinks it’s really brave that Todd is in class, and they should all show him how glad they are that he’s there. They all stand and clap.
At lunchtime, Todd sits by himself, while Gina and her friends have lunch together. She suggests that her friends all sit with Todd, which they don’t want to do, but they come with her anyway. She introduces him to everyone. Tom holds his hand out for a shake, and the others do the same. Tom asks Todd how much time he has in the suit, and Todd shows him that he’s plugged in and recharging. One of the girls asks him if he ever feels like someone from outer space, and he says yes. “Me too,” Tom says, to laughter.
Todd Finds Out
Tom invites Todd to join them on the football field, and Todd looks unsure. Tom and Gina assure him that they’re not going to play practical jokes. The kids sit in the grass and pass a joint around. Except Todd. Joints are filled with germs. Todd looks uncomfortable as everyone overacts at being stoned. Then he tells everyone about his out-of-body experiences, which doesn’t make him seem any weirder to everyone.
Todd says that he found a secret diary, and he thinks he’s part of an exchange program with the Planet Thermopolis. Then, as Tom and Gina begin to walk away with their arms around each other, Todd tells Tom he bets Tom didn’t know that people from the planet Thermopolis are stronger. Like, for instance, ten dollars says he can beat Tom at push-ups. I’m getting another bad feeling. Tom agrees, and Todd says they should make it the kind of pushups where they clap in the middle. Gina isn’t feeling it, but everyone else eggs them on.
Tom faceplants after 16, and Todd wins, until his suit sounds the alarm and he has trouble breathing. The students run him back to school and get him into the special bubble room that was built for just such an emergency. Todd strips out of his suit and breathes heavily. Gina asks if he’s ok. Todd asks everyone not to tell his father, and then asks Tom for his ten bucks. Todd is feeling the winner. Gina isn’t thrilled.
Gina Just Wants to Be Friends
At night, Gina is sitting on a swing. She goes into Todd’s house to let him know she’s mad at him for showing off and nearly killing himself. What if he died out there? How could she live with that? Todd says he’s sorry, and Gina says that he doesn’t care and that sometimes she thinks he wants to die. Todd says that he is doing it to prove that he’s not a cripple.
Todd goes on to say that he’s sick of feeling like a hospital case or a weirdo kid who can’t breathe normally because he might get sick and die. He wants to be someone she cares about, not feels sorry for. Gina whines she doesn’t know what Todd is doing to her, andshe doesn’t like it at all. They were just supposed to be friends. Can’t they just leave it like that? Todd looks devastated.
Todd picks up the phone and calls Gina as she’s walking back to her house. He asks her if she wants to go to the beach tomorrow.
A Day at the Beach
Todd and Gina run along the beach with a kite while Mickey and Johnny watch. Johnny yells out that they have five minutes left in his suit.
As they ride home, Gina tells Todd that today was fun. Why couldn’t he have had a spacesuit when he was a kid? Todd says that he never would have dreamed about going out when he was a kid.
Gina said she always used to wonder what it was like to be Todd. Todd said he always wondered what it was like to be Gina. He tells Gina he’s always loved her. “I know,” she tells him and kisses him through his space suit. Mickey and Johnny are oblivious to what’s going on in the back of the van.
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble Graduates
Todd and his spacesuit make it to graduation. Todd’s name is called, but where is he? He doesn’t come when called. But when he does show up, he has a cap and gown over his space suit. Everyone claps.
Holy delayed notice, Batman! An undisclosed period of time later, Gina comes running up Todd’s lawn and into his room to tell him the good news. She was accepted into college in New York City! Todd does not share her joy. She tells him it never would have happened if he hadn’t helped her. He tells her that’s great.
Todd Goes Rogue
Another undisclosed period of time later, Dr. Doom pulls up, apparently summoned by Todd. Todd tells him he wants to know when he can leave. Dr. Doom says something about being in touch with a team of doctors in the (former) Soviet Union. Todd cuts him off and asks him how soon he can leave. Dr. Doom can’t answer that. “What would happen if I left now?” Todd asks. Dr. Doom tells him he can’t actually be considering it.
“Will I catch something soon and die right away?” Todd asks.Dr. Doom tells him he doesn’t know. It’s conceivable that he could live since his body has been building up immunity, but he could also catch a bad cold. Todd thanks Dr. Doom for coming. Dr. Doom wants to know if Tood is really considering going out of his bubble, and Todd said he was just asking. But we all know he was doing more than asking. Dr. Doom doesn’t appear to be raising any red flags after this conversation.
Todd wakes up and looks out his window to see Gina brushing her horse. He gets dressed in a hippy shirt and brown pants, and, after pausing to think about it, steps outside his room. He breathes, and he’s still alive. A sappy song by Paul Williams plays in the background (this is the ’70s after all) as Todd walks past his parents’ room. Leaving his space suit behind him, Todd steps outside and feels. the breeze. He smiles and feels the air on his face. He touches leaves and tree bark for the first time.
He’s barefoot as he walks to Gina, touches her face, and then kisses her. He asks Gina to take him for a ride, and they get on her horse. He’s a pretty good climber for his first time on a horse.
And that’s where they leave us. To draw our own conclusion.