Everwood s02e02 Episode Script

Ask any mom or dad and they'll tell you with drop dead certainity that their child is extraordinary.
A genius of some kind.
Gifted by the gods and deserving a great privilege.
One in a million might even be right.
Just try to tell the other couple hundred thousand they're not.
Wow.
I think Everwood got its own stock exchange.
Since when is college such an ordeal? No, no.
You're dealing with college admissions.
Raw competition.
From here on out, parents you once carpooled with are the enemy.
They're just juniors, Harold.
Just juniors?! Don't you know anything about getting into college? Well, I thought I did until you asked me that.
You have no idea, do you? You haven't read the guide books? School rankings? Talked to guidance counselors? Anything at all? Well, I'm here.
Oh, this? This is a chance for actual face time with actual admissions officers.
Even with a candidate as strong as Amy, that takes preparation.
I had her make her priority list weeks ago.
Amy? I'm gonna go sketch out my game plan.
Only because your son's future hangs in the balance, pay attention.
You've got two hours.
You're battling a class full of parents.
Give eight minutes for a reach school, six minutes for safeties.
Pick up a bumper sticker for anything on the West Coast.
You need me, I'm with the Ivys.
Hey.
I guess I should, uh, check this out now.
Have fun.
I thought you were diving in.
I was going to check out the Tufts kiosk but Betsy Bear's mom cross-checked me out of the way.
Survival of the pushiest.
This year is gonna hurt, isn't it? Hm, grade polishing, SAT tutoring, resume stuffing, parent managing.
Nah.
Well, I guess that's the lone advantage to having a father who has no idea about what's going on.
He's too clueless to become one of the pod parents.
Ephram! Hey, Ephram.
Come on down.
Duke's giving away frisbees.
Oh God.
He's become one of them.
Welcome.
"Extra Ordinary" You look tired.
Oh, I've been up all night with these college books.
You know, in my day, you threw out two or three applications maybe and you knew where you were going to get in.
Now it's like it's a whole continent I've never heard of before.
The numbers of kids applying.
All these extracurricular activities you need to do to stand out.
Newspaper, yearbook, clubs, sports, public service hours; have you ever done any of this stuff? Probably but I don't think I enjoyed any of it.
Well, this is just to get ready for applying next year.
We are so behind on the curve here.
What "we", white man? Well, we always got so many college brochures in the mail.
I assumed they would be more soliticous.
Look at this.
The top ten universities take 80% of their students from the top 5% of high school classes.
Well, I guess we know where I'm not going.
Dad, can I wear this shirt? Sure.
Why not? Well, I can't remember if I wore it yesterday.
I don't think it matters in the fourth grade, honey.
You and I aren't done talking.
We need to work on an academic strategy here.
I have, like, a year before I have to start worrying about any of this stuff.
You're a junior, Ephram.
This is a big deal.
If you're going to be competitive, you're going to need to get your grades up and, and build a better profile.
We need a plan here.
Well, you can help yourself but "we" have a shower to take and homework to finish on the bus.
Amy! Did you know that Woodrow Wilson was the 13th president of Princeton before he became President of the United States? I was going to learn that.
Well, you will by tomorrow at 4:30.
Aren't you going to ask me? What's tomorrrow at four-thirty, Dad? Well, uh, only the afternoon tea with the admissions rep from Princeton.
She's looping her way up back through Everwood on her way to Cheyenne.
And is stopping to meet with us.
Well, uh, meet with you.
Is it OK that I'm not sure I want to apply to there? Not want to? And miss your chance o walk the same halls as Eugene O'Neill? F.
Scott Fitzgerald? Jimmy Stewerk? Einstein? Do you know how many Nobel laurelates have graduated from Princeton? Sure.
I will by tomorrow.
If you would.
I've already downloaded some information just so you can familiarize yourself with school history, class demographics.
8% Latino.
And may I be so bold as to make one note on wardrobe? You would look quite promising in the burbury skirt you wore last Founders' Day.
Hey.
Are you going to eat these? Your father has officially deep-ended.
The Princeton library carries over one point two volumes in the reference section alone.
He wants me to become a tour guide overnight.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I wish I could be there to talk Jersey history with your new friend but I've got football practice tonight.
Homecoming grudge match this Friday against the Ben Franklin Boremen.
Yeah, I didn't notice.
Keith Alvarez just graduated so their new running back totally sucks.
So if I can hold him, we've got, like, the great chance at taking playoffs this year.
Don't count your luck on homecoming.
OK, County.
Miners going long.
Miners going deep.
Miners do it with helmets on and never go sleep.
Who is the new girl? Stacey Wilson.
Kinda hard to tell since she Since the hooter fairy paid her a visit.
Damn.
From wallfly to prom queen in two cup sizes.
I love puberty.
Are you sure she's not new? Too bad you only know she's alive now that she's stacked.
It's not my fault I'm shallow.
It's how God made me.
Blame him.
Bright Abbott? Excuse me.
I'm, uh, Mr.
Beels, the new guidance counselor.
Can I, uh, borrow you for a second? Uh, could you wait a minute? Um, they're about to make a pyramid.
Miners do it with helmets on and never go sleep.
Ow.
Was it wrong to have enjoyed that? Technically, I'm not even the new guidance counselor; it turns out I'm the first.
The school board finally decided that the gym teacher who passed a correspondence course wasn't the best way to shephard students on the road to excellence.
So Oh.
Ms.
Little was cool.
She got me out of Spanish.
Oh.
Look, Bright, I hate to be the sheriff on this but there's a problem on your math grade.
Oh, yeah, uh, my trig thing.
I totally blew the final last spring but I took it over this summer at ECC.
Yeah.
That's the problem.
We got your grades back, um, and You failed the class.
Um, I can, uh, take, take it over again, right? I've already worked out a new schedule for you.
But here's the part you're not gonna like: you can't play sports until you pass the class.
B-but, w-what about football? I School policy.
You can't fail a class and play varasity.
I'm sorry.
But I'm a senior now.
I'm applying to colleges.
Right now.
And, uh, I'm hoping on being recruited for football.
How can I apply if I can't play football? There are other strategies for getting into college.
How do you feel about your grades? Well, luckily, nothing's broken.
Ice packs tonight and you should keep your weight off it for about a week.
And, uh, I think we should stay off the top of the pyramid for a while.
Any idea how you fell? Well, I was having killer cramps all day but I just got made new head co-cheerleader and I didn't wanna miss my first lunch rally.
I just got your message.
Mom, I said you didn't have to come.
I was worried.
Is she all right? It's barely even a sprain.
He said I'm fine.
I'll be out in a second.
We're almost finished here, Mrs.
Wilson.
You can stay.
You know, Stacey, I can prescribe something for those cramps if you'd like.
Did you have cramps or did you have chest pain? It's nothing.
It might not be nothing.
She had breast implants put in before summer.
I can't believe you just told him that.
Could you just not say anything please? You had implants? I mean, Stacey, you just turned seventeen.
Your body's barely done developing.
I offered to buy her a Jetta for her birthday but she knew what she wanted.
It's not like everybody doesn't have something done anymore.
Demi Moor and like half the cast of Friends.
My mom had a peel at the same time.
It's totally normal.
Well, I'm concerned that you're still experiencing pain three months after surgery.
If you don't mind, I, I, I'd like to have it looked at.
They said it would be normal for it to hurt for a while.
Yeah, well, you are the new head co-cheerleader and you can't afford to take any risks with your health.
Someone told me I could find Ephram Brown here.
Did I? It depends how much trouble he's in.
I'm James Geller.
What will it be? With the App-Fest crowd, visiting from Juillard.
You're looking for me? Well, if you're the kid that played Schubert's Impromptu No.
3 at the Denver Rep Teen Recital last year I heard all about you.
Is that OK that freaks me out a little bit? What's all this? Oh, just checking out the SAT vocab lists.
Turns out there's a lot I don't know.
I've been at it for two hours and I'm still in the B's.
You know most performing arts schools don't even require the SATs.
I like to think as the time you wasted on entrance tests as time you could be spending on your instrument.
Oh, you want to say that into a tape recorder for my dad? You know, people.
They forget how rare this kind of gift is.
I mean, do you even realize the confluence of events required to get one great player? The right ear is, uh, one in a million.
The musical ability to let it all shine, one in fifty thousand.
For them to come together in one person do the math.
If I could, I wouldn't have to study for the SATs.
Kid with those kind of odds shouldn't have to.
Listen, why don't you play something for me tomorrow.
Not an audition or anything, just to, uh, let you know where you, uh, stand.
Interested? Sure.
Anything, uh, specific? You know this one? Not yet.
Good.
I'll see you tomorrow at three.
Hey, Ephram.
Close your eyes.
Why? Cause if you don't close them, you'll know what it is.
I won't close them anyway.
Remember when I said "We needed a plan," and you said "Help yourself"? It's the new regime for college applications.
So we know what needs to be done and by when.
What do you think? I think you got a really good chance of getting into Yale.
Hey, you got a lot to do this year.
I don't want to let anything to slip past us.
Besides, I don't think this is the normal scale for organization.
They medicate for this much of organization.
I mean, Monday, Chemistry 3:30 to I've never even heard of Science League.
Well, colleges want kids who are well-rounded and, uh, TV doesn't count.
I checked.
And besides, this time is outlined around your SAT prep class.
Well, I don't think I need any of it.
Oh, really? Really.
Conservatories don't even look at SAT scores.
Piano gets me free.
You know that for certain? I mean, I know that an arts school sounds like a great idea right now but you can't count on that.
What if you change your mind? What if you- What if you don't get in? A B.
F.
A.
doesn't act a resume like a B.
A.
I just wanna to make sure you got all of your options open and, and that you, you have a backup plan.
Well, you didn't have a backup plan when you went to med school.
I didn't have a father who gave a damn what I did.
I mean, he was done after he taught me how to swim.
Well, how do I get on that plan? Hey, uh, if Science League calls, tell 'em I'm practicing.
Come on, go.
You're not going to take that crap, are you? Coach.
Hey.
Heard about what happened.
Sorry I had to bench ya.
You know, you're one of the best I've got out here.
Thanks.
So how did your folks take it? I, uh, haven't told them yet.
Tried telling my dad last night.
He's on emergency at E-Bay and half of Princeton.
It's like having the D-line without you.
You know, I could really use you this week.
I'd really like to be there.
Well, there's nothing I can do about that.
You know, I talked to Mr.
Beels.
I told him you were a really solid student and all that.
But, uh, they got the rule and it's not a bad one.
It's not even just that I want to play.
I need- I NEED this if I want to get anywhere worth going next year.
There has to be There's gotta be some way I can get back out there.
Well, there is, I've been asking around You blew a class when things were rough, you didn't exactly have the easiest summer there The whole thing with Colin I mean, it hit us all a little hard and you you two were a team.
And I don't think it would be out of line for you to say so.
I don't think I wanna play it that way, Coach.
I mean, Colin died, I'm not gonna use that, you know? Yeah, that's what I thought you'd say.
C'mon.
Well, it's always a gamble which is why your breast is still under warranty if you can believe it.
But a rupture? Yup.
Right there.
Probably sustaining initial surgery which accounts for all of the soreness.
The good news is that with saline, there's no danger of toxicity, and the tear is actually quite miniscule.
So I'm not going to deflate or anything? Not today.
But you are going to have to have the implant taken out soon.
But they can replace it right away, right? Of course they can, but-- -- but what? It's your fault I have to get surgery again, you practically made me get them in the first place.
Made you? You begged me for those for a year.
You picked out the doctor.
I wanted to wait.
I wanted to buy you the car.
Well, you know, you can get it replaced, Stacey.
But you can also look at this as a chance to correct your decision and have both implants removed permanently.
I can't go back to school flat again.
Everyone will know.
I'll be like Karen Fenmore.
She did her nose before she went to Brown, now anytime you ask anyone how she's doing all they ever say is, "I heard she got a nose job," not, "I hear she got a Fulbright.
" I understand the pressure, or the rewards of, of looking a certain way But there are certain complications here.
There's capsular contracture, infection, nodules, plus the added recovery time.
It is something to think about, sweetie.
Oh, we're going to listen to him? I'm in the car.
I'm sorry.
It might be hard to get her to listen to you after all that happened with Colin You might want to consider a second opinion.
Maybe she'll listen to someone else.
You ever played that piece before? Not really but I like it.
Well that was um What? That was what? I don't know how much I should disappoint you.
Well, I was hoping not too much but It's clear you have the ear.
I mean, you bring a genuinely remarkable dynamic and phrasing.
but, God, but you're a mess of bad habits.
Your wrists are stiff, your posture is hollow.
You, you utterly refuse to move your carriage to the music.
But that's not what gets me.
All that I could stand.
You don't sight read very well.
I mean, you barely even looked at the music.
I learned it.
Even still, you must always look at the music.
The sheet is like a movie you've watched ten times, even if you know it by heart you find something new in it every time.
You've been getting by on that ear and muscle memory.
And, it's a problem.
Well, I'm not allowed to make a mistake, right? As long as I have the ear and the mechanics? You need the eye too.
You haven't been putting in your three hours a day.
You want to be the best lounge player in Denver, that's great.
But if you want to get into Juilliard, if you want to sit in the center, command performances Well, it's all too ordinary really.
It's an unfortunate combination of bad habits.
Bad teachers that let you get away with it.
So now I know what I have to work on during junior year, right? If I wanted to be nice I'd say yes-- but I'm afraid too many people have done you disservice trying to be nice.
Sheet music is like a language, Ephram, the acquisition is the same.
If you're not fluent by the time you're eight it'll always be a foreign language, always a struggle.
To play concert level, it must be your primary mode of communicaiton.
I'm sorry.
That can't be it.
I mean, there's gotta be something I can do How are you doing with your vocabulary? I hear wonderful things about your women's studies program.
I'm sure Amy will be here shortly.
I'm sure.
Your mother served tea.
We had some little cucumber sentences.
After we talked about it, we brought out the photo album so she would at least know what you looked like.
Oh, the one from your 7th grade gymnastics tournament really took the cake.
It wasn't just embarrassing.
It was, it was insulting to her.
I said I was sorry.
We don't ask that much of you.
But everyone in this family does their part.
I mean, your father and I go to work Bright goes to football practice.
No one needs to be reminded ten times.
No one needs to have a cattle prod.
To look at you, I guess you don't have the slightest concern about your future.
Well, I don't.
Can I be done here, please? Absolute-- Rose.
Yes.
Go ahead.
Now, hold on.
I know this is hard.
I do.
But you just can't forget about everything that was important to you.
Rose.
We don't have to do this now.
Go on.
Excuse me? We're angry.
She knows it.
That's enough.
That is hardly enough.
It was a united front that got us this far with them, Harold.
If we intend to get anywhere with her now There's nowhere to go.
Not now.
Can't you see she's hurting? With good reason.
I can't punish that.
Well, we don't have to punish it.
But I can not let her continue in this void.
Of course, I can see she's hurting.
She doesn't eat, Harold.
She's up half the night with the TV on.
It's not normal.
She's not supposed to be normal.
I mean, Amy's not just grieving for Colin.
She's, she's grieving for the life that she wanted and she expected.
I met you when I was Colin's age.
And now the rest of her life is like a second choice.
She's becoming someone I don't even recognize.
I miss her.
I miss her life.
All I have now are eggshells everywhere and this fear that I'll say something wrong to remind.
Am I really supposed to just do nothing? Yes.
You are.
Be thankful you have the easier job.
Dr.
Brown said he could send the MRI over if need be but the rupture was pretty clear.
The only question-- -The only question is when I'm going to get it replaced.
I don't know why we're still talking about this.
And how old are you, Stacey? Seventeen Seventeen? What was Dr.
Brown's assessment if you don't mind my asking? He said getting it replaced probably wasn't the best idea.
Like after seven grand and a week of drainage tubes I'm going to take them out and use them for a paperweight.
I don't know why I went to Dr.
Brown in the first place, I'm lucky I came out alive.
I assume you let him know how you feel.
I didn't say anything he didn't already know.
He suggested we get a second opinion.
I see.
Well, I'm afraid I can't offer you one.
You don't have an opinion? None.
None whatsoever.
No opinions here.
Fresh out.
Tabula Rasa.
Wait, Doctor.
It wasn't exactly easy to get her to come in.
Oh, I'm sure it wasn't.
Good day.
And good luck with your breast.
Yeah, generally I'm thrilled to take in refugees in from your inferior medicine.
Truth be told, I'm surprised patients don't flee across the street from your office more often.
But when you give them a good reason to run, you take all the fun out of it.
I just met with your patient, the, uh, the adolescent implant case.
Well, they needed a second opinion from someone who isn't a plastic surgeon.
Should I not send people your way? Well, I expected a minimum of discretion.
Any idiot would know that that girl has no business in getting more plastic surgery.
She should never have gotten any in the first place.
It became very clear very quickly that she didn't want to hear that from me.
And since when did that stop you? All you've ever done since you've moved here is make people listen to you.
You're Andy Brown.
You meddle.
You push.
You enmesh and embroil.
You irritate til you get your way.
You're like pestilence.
Look, if they don't trust me, if they look at me and all they see is Colin Hart's memorial photo in the yearbook, there's not much I can do about it.
Well, you're not going to get their trust back by sending anything more complicated than a bagel wound to me.
Forgive me for saying so, but this, this.
.
whole attempt at rule-abiding good behavior makes you painfully ordinary.
And quite frankly, you have no talent for it.
Hold on.
You know that ring takes all of the authority out of what you just said.
Hello, Rose.
What? What? No, no.
I'll, I'll be right home.
At least fake it.
Here for the SAT prep class, you're about two weeks late.
Traffic.
Will you be joining us? Looks that way.
You can pay for the book next time.
We'll see how you do.
Am I about to be bored as I think I'm about to be bored? And paying for the privilege.
You've been off how long? You didn't even bother to tell us? I had to hear from Evanston Keller at the readers' mart.
I mean, why didn't you just tell us you, you got kicked off the team? Did you think we'd be that mad? 'Cause we are.
Well, I figured you had enough going on without me.
Oh, just because Amy's having a rough time, it doesn't mean you get to hide stuff from us.
Yes, it does.
You don't want to hear from me.
You never do.
Everything is always about Amy and her problems.
Amy and her schoolwork.
I always figure everything out on my own.
Well, not this time.
I mean to get you back on that team and soon.
Your guidance counselor may think otherwise but this battle is far from over.
You've worked too hard.
I'm not getting back on the team.
have taken on the administration before.
Your mother is not without some influence.
We'll convince them.
There has to be something we can do.
Yeah, there is.
Coach Austin told me all I need to do is I had problems with my classes because of Colin.
Oh.
Well then, that's what you'll tell them.
That.
First thing in the morning, we're making the call.
No, we're not.
I'm not going to cash in on that.
Bright, it might seem distasteful.
But you shouldn't underestimate just how much losing him may have affected your performance.
You deserve to be back on that team, Bright.
You deserve the chance at a football scholarship.
Well, do you think I want to be benched? You think I like everyone knowing I'm not on the team because I failed some class no one else has a problem with? Well, why then don't you tell them? Because.
I blew the class.
And it wasn't because of Colin.
I failed because I screwed up.
You know, I shouldn't play.
I want to go to college but I want to make it on my own.
Well, we have always assumed the strategy of packing you as a student athlete.
So it's a little late to change that.
You know, making it on your own includes all of your strengths.
My best friend's death is not one of my strengths.
So, do you even want to go to college? Harold, don't you think that's enough? No, no.
Let me finish.
Do you? Alright.
It's my job as a parent not to let your personality stay in the way of your success.
So you will do whatever you have to do to get back on that team.
You want to be mad at me about it? Fine, fine.
Let this be my fault.
Blame me.
Be mad at me the whole time you're in the college of your choice.
If the only way I can get into college is by guilting someone, then I shouldn't get in.
And I won't go that way.
So how will you go then? Huh? You know, this isn't petty rebellion time.
This isn't some cute wind stretching opportunity.
This is your future, Bright.
You need a football scholarship.
How do you plan to get to college without football? I'll work my ass off.
I'll study harder.
I'll work harder.
You always push me to play.
You don't push me to work.
Maybe I'll be good at it.
It's not like we're hurting so much for tuition, I can't get into school without the scholarship.
It's not the money.
They won't accept you without football.
Why?! Why not?! Because you're not smart enough! Bright.
I didn't mean.
I That is correct.
Hey.
You know, I was hoping this would be stew by the time you got home but, uh, OK.
We're having soup tonight.
You're back late.
I added a new class.
Oh, really? Which one? SAT Prep.
I'm sorry? SAT Prep.
OK? The one you had no interest in? When did that happen? Oh, I woke up this morning and I thought "How can I can make my life more bleak?" Well, I thought conservatories didn't care about SAT scores.
I thought piano took you out of all of that.
Piano's not taking me anywhere.
That plan's retired.
Wait a minute.
I don't understand.
Yesterday, you were playing Lincoln Center.
Well, I don't think my life is going to turn out the way I hoped.
Well, if this is about the charts, I've already recycled them.
It's not the charts.
OK? You were right.
I get, this guy from Julliard.
He came for Appfest.
He watched me play and gave me a critique and guess what? I'm a lounge player.
If I'm lucky, maybe a second keyboard at a Bar Mitzvah band.
Looks like your "back up BA" plan has been pushed to first position.
Wait a minute.
Hold on a second.
You met with someone from Julliard? When did this happen? You're not listening, alright? He said I sucked! My technique is ass and there's nothing I can do about it.
It's too late.
Now I get to spend the rest of my life knowing I blew it.
On the plus side, you get to spend the rest of your life gloating about how you always begged me to take playing more serious.
Yeah, I bet you really love this.
Love this? I don't even know what just happened.
I was making soup.
You'd always rather be right than have me do well.
That's not true.
I always pushed you to study more just in case but of course I'd rather you'd be happy doing something you love.
Well, lucky for you, that's not an option.
I think that's the longest we've ever gone without an insult.
The day's a special day for all.
Oh, I'm not too sure about that.
I'm seeing Stacey Wilson again today.
It seems like I've had this day before.
Do yourself a favor.
If I offer any more unsolicited advice on that subject or any other, do the opposite.
Wow.
I've never heard you admit you were wrong preemptively before.
A matter of fact, I've never heard you admit that you were wrong.
This, I'm sure, is a feeling you'll get used to.
Um, you have experience having a son who hates you with good reason.
Is there anything I should be doing? Or is it all pretty much just shouting and regret? How bad was it? My fight with Ephram was about a five.
Maybe a six.
Nine point five.
Easy.
Oh.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I don't suppose there's any way out? Well, I find that contrition works pretty well.
And just keep telling them what an idiot you are.
They like that.
But nine point five, I Yeah.
I called you as soon as I saw it.
Are you sure her wrist is broken? How could you not notice before? Well, it's a hairline fracture.
It's very very subtle but it could take a long long time to heal.
It's right right there, see? That's not a fracture.
That's a hair.
Oh.
Wow.
So it is.
What am I? So my wrist isn't broken? I guess not.
But while we're here, I thought we could maybe talk about some of your surgery options.
Really.
We've heard enough from you doctors after plenty of visits lately.
-I don't need to listen to this.
-Oh, I think you do.
And the proof is in those two leaky bags of salt water you had hard pressed into your chest.
Sit down.
Now look, I don't knock cosmetic surgery.
I've seen it save lives.
And not just in the cleft palates and the reconstructions but those were adults who had time to think about it.
You're a girl who woke up one morning and decided to buy a woman's body.
At your age, everybody thinks there's something wrong with the way they look.
That's why most surgeons will make you wait until you're at least eighteen.
Like waiting another year is going to make a difference.
I'm old enough to decide now.
Hey, if your biggest concern when you find out you have to have your implants replaced is that your friends in school are going to find out that you got them, then you're not old enough to have them.
And don't think I just blame you, Stacey.
You're not the only one who's at fault here.
I was just giving her what she wanted.
I kept thinking about how much better she'd feel about herself.
It wasn't supposed to be this complicated.
Well, now it is.
By giving into your daughter, you've consigned her to a lifetime to invasive surgeries.
If you're lucky, breast implants is only going to give you troubles every now and again.
And so far, you're not so lucky.
You are seventeen years old, Stacey.
You are going to live in that body of yours for a very long time.
Why don't you just spend some time in it and see how it makes you feel? And then make any changes that you want.
Now if you will please join us, we can talk about some of our options.
You're in Amy's spot.
Yeah, well, always worked for her.
I have a quiz tomorrow.
That many books for a quiz? I've got, like, three years to make up.
Look, Bright You can save it.
You're not going to have a star football player in the house anymore.
Just a mediocre student.
I never said you were mediocare.
No, no.
Just dumb.
You failed a class and you got kicked off the football, and you didn't tell us.
I got angry.
If I had known you were having that hard of a time, I wouldn't have come down on you so hard.
You could have told us.
You could have said something.
We don't talk about that kind of stuff.
Of course we do.
We talk all the time.
No, I mean tests and grades.
We talk about what's going on in my life We talk about the game.
Well, that doesn't mean I'm not interested in your schoolwork.
But, you're not Is that why we went to AppFest? Looked at all those brochures together, you and I? No, that's all stuff you do with Amy.
And she's always better at the stuff you were better at.
And you pay more attention to her.
You never knew when I had a test.
Or made sure I studied.
Or asked me how I did.
You picked me up from football practice and made sure I iodized my shoulder.
But school isn't our thing.
It never was.
So do you really think I won't get into college without football? I don't know what to tell you.
I mean, the schools you're looking at, it'll be tough.
You don't have the grades.
Well, what if I study now? I mean, what about your senior year? Don't, don't they notice if the people trying to improve or? Maybe.
Maybe they do.
Well then, I'll try.
Want some help? I do know a bit about the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act.
The successful follow-up to the Dingly Act if I recall correctly.
I got it.
Well.
Ephram? Hmhmm? I think your dad's here.
No.
Impossible.
My dad would never show up in school.
He'd know I'd kill him.
You know, I really think it's him.
Oh, please God, no.
Hi.
Can I see Ephram for a minute? Uh, yeah.
Sure.
Everything OK? Who was the best piano player of all time? What? The greatest pianist ever? Franz Liszt Remember how he got there? 1830, he locked himself in his room to practice.
Didn't even break for food.
1838, he comes out and invents the concert piano.
You´ve got work to do.
Let's go.
But I, I have class.
No, you don't.
I'm taking you out.
The schools you're applying to don't require SATs.
This is time you should spend practicing.
Well, maybe you didn't hear but I'm not good enough for a conservatory.
Not yet.
But you will be.
Now you know more than Julliard.
I know you can't let one person derail you.
I mean, you're going to meet a lot of these guys.
My father tried to do it with me when I told him I wanted to be a doctor and I'm not about to let this guy do it with you.
I don't know what this guy told you and I don't doubt he had a point about your playing.
But I saw how you blew up at me yesterday.
I blow up at you all the time.
Like twice a week.
No.
You were angry because someone tried to take your music away.
I know how that feels.
You know ever since Colin died, I've been doing my best imitation of a normal doctor, but I'm not.
And you're not a normal kid.
I'm sorry.
You have a gift.
And it's weird.
And I don't understand it yet.
But it will always be true.
And it may not take you to Julliard.
I don't know where it will take you.
But medicine took me around the world.
And that was pretty cool.
Offer expires when I get to the car.
You take me out of gym tomorrow? For around three dollars a pound What are you watching? I'm not sure.
Does anyone really need that much turkey jerky? Do you need anything? You're not hungry? You didn't eat too much at dinner.
No, I'm good.
Thanks.
Can I have that back please? No.
Maybe you don't need a TV in your room anymore.
Fine.
Aren't you angry? Don't you want to get mad? Yell a little? Do something? We used to fight.
We were good at it.
Do you remember when I tried to take the phone out of your room? You had a hissy fit all night till I change my mind.
I said you were tying up the line and you said "Well, that's not fair" or something childish and I said something childish back to you and then we went at it back and forth like hyenas for about an hour.
We were absolute brats.
Both of us.
It was so much fun.
You're not doing well.
You know that? I guess.
Do you want to talk to me about it? Not really.
Will you at least talk to someone? What, like a therapist? Like anyone you think might help.
OK.
Four dollars.
A piece.
You spend so much money for these small bottles and every time It's overwhelming really.
So much purports to be extraordinary everywhere you go, it's hard to say what really is anymore.
But like an elegantly articulated brushstroke or a perfect piece of music, of even a flawed one, you know it when you see it.
It fills you with a flush.
It holds your breath for you.
You realize it's seven? You realize it's Saturday? You don't have to be up for school for about two days.
Are you punishing him? No, honey.
He's just practicing.
Let's get back to bed.
I'm glad I'm not a genius and I can sleep until noon.
You know you're in the presence of extraordinary when there's just no guessing.
And the only thought you can carry is a determination to do even better yourself.
Script: Gaby Srt: Juanfran