Disasters abound at a gifted kids’ picnic, where stage acts bomb, families feud, and Malcolm’s dad Hal serves meat to vegetarians. Despite Malcolm’s best efforts — feigning sickness, planning to go over the wall with Francis — his family insist on accompanying him to a circus-themed picnic for the Krelboyne class, whom must each perform for the assembled students and families. Once there, Lois immediately feuds with Dorene, the loud-mouthed mother who dominates the other parents; Reese plans to ”kick Krelboyne butt” and is hoist by his own petard (okay, underpants) by Eraserhead’s much bigger brother; Francis goes through an entire romantic relationship in the course of the single afternoon; and Hal grosses out the entire class by sneaking real meat into their vegetarian barbecue. When a desperate Malcolm turns Stevie’s demonstration of catalysts into a gigantic stink bomb, Caroline is convinced she will be fired — so Malcolm must go on and quell the crowd by demonstrating his abili