Everwood s03e06 Episode Script
Shoot the Moon
Previously on Everwood
Its from Juilliard.
Its my evaluation from the summer program.
Basically I failed.
I mean I know what youre going through, my report card last year was terrible.
Its not a report card, Amy.
This is my entire life my whole plan an-and its falling apart.
Andy Brown, I would like you to meet my husband, John.
I know all the treatments, Andy.
All the drugs.
Five years can make a big difference.
Just give me one month.
Im scared.
Tell us about yourself in such a way that we will have a good sense of who you are.
I wish you wouldve asked me that two years ago, I couldve told you exactly who I was, who Id be.
Two years ago I knew it all and the thing is I was right.
How far is that from Juilliard? What, NYU? Its like 50 blocks.
You can walk it with a good pair of shoes.
Thats not bad, what else you got? Sarah Lawrence.
Its in Bronxville.
Its about 40 minutes outside of the city by train, but apparently they are very tattoo-friendly, so thats good.
Is this too much? I told you that I was only applying to schools that were close to your conservatories and now youre actually hearing me and youre actually freaking out.
No, I was just thinking that 40 minutes is pretty far.
And now I like you again.
Well, think about it, end of the year all the other couples are going to be freaking out about the long distance thing and well be set.
Exactly and its not like New York and Boston dont have the best schools anyways.
Its like youre a genius sometimes.
I know.
I could do journalism at Columbia, NYU has the best theater, Tufts has the best pre-med.
Ephram Brown? The Guidance Counselors office asked me to call you down.
What for? Hey, Chris Templeman.
Im a recruiter from Colorado A&M.
Well, I hate to tell you, but I, uh, dont really play any sports.
They dont even let me go to games.
Im with our Music department.
We try to keep an eye out for the local talent, like the sports guys do.
I hear that youre applying to schools now.
Let me guess: uh, Juilliard, Berklee College of Music and ? Thats it.
Guess youre sleeping well.
No, I dont mean to be, uh, yknow, I mean its, very cool just to be asked.
Uh, but, uh, Im-Im pretty set on going to Juilliard.
Its kinda the place to be.
Dont be so sure.
Take it from me.
You went to Juilliard? Class of 81.
Wow.
Think of it this way: You go there, you come out knowing a lot about actually playing of piano.
And thats it.
You come out of our program and you have top-notch technical training.
And thats worth something out there in the job world, trust me.
Look, I appreciate all this, but Im pretty set with my plan.
Youre seventeen, I dont know how you can be expected to know how youre gonna fee l ten years from now.
Or thirty.
I mean, youre ready to say that this is what you want to do for the rest of your life? It never hurts to explore your options.
Talk it over with your parents.
If you feel like coming down, Ill get you on the tour.
Think about it.
Plans are like candy to the Fates.
The only thing you could ever be sure of is, nothing ever goes the way you imagined.
I should probably be used to that by now.
"Shoot the Moon" What are you doing and why are you still here? One answer for both questions.
Im fixing you breakfast.
Waffles, muffins, brownies, too.
Though technically thats more dessert than breakfast, but who's gonna arrest me? Dont mean to be ungrateful but shouldnt you be driving a bus load of screaming kids to school? Not today.
Whats the matter? Are you sick? Even better, I quit.
You what? I told em, I want to retire, they said okay.
No more bus, no more driver.
Im done.
These are waffles of celebration.
Im gonna open some champagne.
You keep that cork where it is.
Since when do we make life decisions around here without a consult? It was spur of the moment.
I thought it; I said it.
They pulled out the papers.
But I gotta tell ya, I never slept better.
And thats the end of it? Be happy for me, Edna, have a waffle? You eat it.
Oh, come on, Edna.
Sorry, bucko, some of us still got a job to get to.
Oh, please, dont mean, you didnt read all of this just for us.
Oh, you need to get out more.
-Maybe join Netflix.
-Are you kidding? Research is half the fun of the job.
Now I can say cognitive neurorehabilitation at parties.
You just made my guest list.
Actually Im amazed at the depth of research into stroke recovery especially with patients with long term aphasia like your husband.
Has anyone ever mentioned music therapy to you before? I dont think so.
Well, if youre willing, I would like to give it a try.
I want to build a structured music plan in your home.
Music plan? And its basically what it sounds like.
We load up your 50 CD changer, then we keep the music playing at regular intervals.
And from what I understand, the first priority is consistent stimulation and apparently music is the best kind.
Uh, Schubert, Hyden, no Skynrd, huh? Uh, uh.
And you think this will help? Yes, I really do.
You know how, uh, overeager parents are always playing Mozart for their babies? The crazy ones.
Yes, its the same principles actually.
We have found out that the human brain is much more malleable than we ever thought it was.
Connections form and strengthen constantly in response to environment.
Now, the more stimulated the environment The more the connections.
Hopefully.
At least its a start.
Ive had starts before.
I know you have.
I know you have.
Your husbands been nonresponsive for 5 years and I know how hard it must be for you to think about treatment at this point, but I have to tell you that I wouldnt put this out to you if I didnt think that this was a way in.
Worst thing that could happen is you load up your CD collection.
Come on, what do you say? Why do I get the feeling that youre gonna keep asking me until I say yes? Because you are getting to know me.
Amy, would you come here please? Yeah? Whoa.
Amy Abbott, allow me to be the first to introduce you to your future.
Suffering from application anxiety, overwhelmed by the options.
Well, fret no more.
Because we answer all questions tonight.
What? What did you do? Oh, only sent away for every piece of material available on the top 50 universities in the nation.
Applications.
Promotional videos.
Articles.
Reviews.
Everything you ever wanted to know about schools but you were afraid to order online.
I have Kaplans.
I have Barrons.
I even have the Hillel Guide to Jewish Life on Campus for good measure.
Dim sung has been ordered, so in a few hours I shall be dumpling stuffed and you will have narrowed all this down to your top ten.
We shall begin with the, uh, shameful Number 50, Penn State, and work all the way up to Princeton.
Dad, this is great.
Really, I mean I love the hats.
All 50 of them.
But, um, I already know where I want to apply.
You do? Kinda, yeah.
Well, I was rather hoping we could make those decisions together.
Im sorry.
I did the research at school like a month ago.
I already have my list down.
Um NYU Columbia, Amherst, Wellesley, Sarah Lawrence, Barnard, Tufts, and Harvard.
So that you dont start skipping church? And Im good.
Is that all? Its 8 schools.
Its not if you cant afford a 9th.
Say a school with remarkable prestige, consistently ranked in the top 3 by U.
S.
News, such as Princeton, perhaps.
Or-or, or how bout Princeton.
Dad, I know youve always had a thing for them.
Its just I dont see myself there.
I mean eating clubs, whats that about? Come now, this was always your dream school.
Honey, I have baby pictures of you in a little orange sweatshirt.
Cant you just fill out the application for good measure? Its one more I dont have to write, but, uh, this is great, Dad.
Honestly, you saved me like a week of downloading.
So thank you.
Ill start tonight.
Okay, were down to A Cinderella Story PPPowderpuff Girls and SSSaving Private Ryan.
I like to mix it up.
Okay, now walk me through the Powderpuff Girls again.
Im gonna go practice.
Oh, FYI, Im ditching school tomorrow.
Can I ditch too? Only if you get a job.
Its a school thing.
Im gonna go down to Colorado A&M.
Theyve got this walking tour, thought I might check it out.
Colorado? Why? For Amy? Uh, no, for me.
I figured I might put in an application.
Wa-Wait a minute, when did this happen? Today.
Why you think its weird? Do you? No.
Well, neither do I.
Im just surprised.
We talked about all this last year there was yelling and then there was hugging We decided on the conservatories Juilliard.
We had a plan.
Yeah, well, it doesnt mean I cant look.
Colorados got a huge music department, besides if I go there, I can take something other than piano and anyway its just a tour.
You know what, youre right.
Well have a great time.
No, not we.
Youre not coming.
Come on, its just a walking tour.
Ill walk with you.
See what they have to offer.
Ill clear my schedule.
Fine.
Great.
You drive, Ill bring the doughnuts.
Low on popcorn.
You have no learning curve.
Stand back Mama Bear, Papas gonna flambé.
Ooh, what is it this time? Bananas Foster.
Retirement breakfast part two, if I can just keep from over-caramelizing the sugar, which really just means burn.
Love the Food Channel.
Too bad the bananas arent the only thing fired around here.
How did you find out? Its a small town.
Why didnt you tell me that you were canned? Because I didnt want to get into it with you.
They did their thing about cut backs and me being so close to retirement and I-I just didnt want you going off half-cocked.
THOSE BASTARDS FIRED YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR AGE.
Like that.
Causing a ruckus.
YOU BET IM CAUSING A RUCKUS.
MORE THAN THAT A FREAKUS.
AND THEN IM JUST GONNA KICK SOME ASS.
No you wont.
Now Im not a fan of their reasons but I dont need to fight it either.
So youre just gonna let them put you out to pasture.
No.
No.
I may be done with the job but Im not done.
Ive got a postcard in my head, Edna, I want to take you there.
I just started a new job.
And Doc Hartman needs you, but he wont forever.
Help him set up and then well skip town.
Im ready for Phase Three of my life and so are you.
Think of all we could do; all we could see; all the places we could make love.
No fair, talking all romantic.
Thats what I do.
Well, do we have to wait until Phase Three to get some practice in? Dont you have to go to work? He can answer his own phone for an hour.
Try to keep up, cause this might take a while.
Okay, now, uh, on your-left-my-right, is Goodwin Hall, which is the largest of the frosh dorms.
Now it is all one-room-triples but they do have in-room cable so I would definitely put this down as my preference.
Dorms look okay.
Yeah, nice refugee camp vibe.
-Okay, folks, right this way please.
-Howdy.
Can we go now? I am starving.
We havent seen the departments yet.
Theyre big and brown and blocky like every other building here - - its like they built this place with an endowment from Lego.
Lets go get a blintz.
So this is Walker Plaza.
Okay now every year the Seniors gather here.
They wrap themselves from head to toe in toilet paper and they do this kind of Mummy Walk around campus, its just really totally hysterical.
I will give you a thousand dollars if you tell me youre kidding.
Could you be quiet please? I would if this wasnt so BORING.
Dont mind my father.
He had a stroke recently.
Very sad.
Edna? Im here, Boss.
Sorry about the late, hows the morning going? My morning was ass, Edna.
Where the hell were you? I had something at home needed dealing with.
So we-we open at 9.
Patients came in at 9.
When I worked at Cedars for an awfully long time, and the rule was you come in when your shift begins - rain, shine, problems at home, and Ive been trying to reach you all morning.
How can you still not have a cell? Easy up, boss, I didnt go AWOL on ya, I was a little late.
You were over an hour late.
Now I dont know how things worked at your last job, but here its a pretty simple concept.
You show up, you do your job, you get your check on Thursdays and if you cant handle you just say the word.
-Youre right.
-Good.
Whats the word? What? How bout schmuck.
Excuse me.
You heard me.
I dont need this.
Im tired of you getting by on your dimples anyway.
You cant quit.
Youre out of doctors offices to work in.
I dont need an office anymore.
Im moving to Phase Three.
By the way, next time youre at the dentist, ease off on the bleaching, hurts my eyes.
Okay, so, this is our music hall.
You got any cool concerts coming through? All the time.
Last year we had a lecture from the guy who invented the Koosh Ball.
Oh, good acoustics.
Actually, yeah theres-theres no gum in the hall.
Oh, fine.
All gone.
See? Okay, thats it, go wait in the car.
Tours over for you.
Oh, come on, I want to see more.
I heard theyve got the fifth-largest microfiche collection in the whole country.
Yeah, I just wanna keep the tour moving so if anyone is tired or they just maybe wanna stay here and work out some family issues, thats-thats fine.
Thank you.
Any time.
Whyd you bother coming if you were gonna bag on the place the entire time? Well, I thought I might get a sweat shirt, My son gave up a promising future and all I got was an instate tuition [clases particulares.]
.
Come on, youre really not gonna go here.
Yeah, I might.
After all youve worked for.
Youre gonna settle for this.
Whats wrong with this place? Nothing, if youre not trying to get into Juilliard.
Do you know the chances of youre getting accepted there? Yeah, better than you do.
No, I dont think so.
There are 4000 kids applying and only 30 spots for piano.
The slightest loss of focus and the next kid gets your spot.
You cant even give yourself the option of failure.
Well, maybe failures not such a bad thing.
Piano takes up so much of my life that I dont have time for anything else.
Youre not supposed to be doing anything else.
-You are a concert pianist.
-How do you know? How do I even know? You-Youve been pressuring me for so long I cant remember if piano is something I actually wanted or something I agreed to when I was 10.
Oh, come on.
You-You just want me to go to some special school for special kids cause God forbid I turn out to be normal, instead of a magazine cover.
You know what, you can blame me if you want to, but Im trying to keep you on track and all I see right now is you getting scared.
This is when you need to trust your abilities and dive in - not look for some kind of escape route.
You cannot be afraid of failure.
Im not scared of what happens if I fail and dont get in.
Im scared of what happens if I do.
If I got to Juilliard, then thats it one thing piano.
Ill be just like you right before she died.
I mean, it took mom dying to wake you up, I dont wanna have to lose something to keep myself from turning into you.
Excellent roast, Rose.
Well, thank you, dear.
Also, thank you.
I think.
You know who has fine meal programs for incoming freshman.
Dad, Im not going to Princeton.
Get over it.
I just cant see why you wont add one more application.
Youve covered all the comparable schools in the northeast Ivies included so that rules out reverse snobbery.
You have something against New Jersey, because outside of Newark, its actually quite blue-collared.
Oh, nice, let me guess.
Only New York and Boston.
Well, connect the dots.
Shes staying near the hub.
Shut up, Bright.
What hub? Man, theres a lot of good piano schools in them cities, arent there? Oh, so then all of this all this talk of researching your options, I got my list down, that was all about choosing your schools around your boyfriend.
Ah, you couldnt even add another one for Dad? Actually, I did.
Ephram and I are both applying to Colorado A&M as a safety which you know anyone with a pulse could get in there so Now that was unnecessary.
So was he.
Well this is plum absurd, not to mention disappointing.
No correction, I will gladly mention disappointing.
I cannot believe that youd be willing to throw away whole avenues for your future for a boy.
Im not throwing anything away.
Im still applying to 8 perfectly great schools that have everything I want plus plenty of bumper sticker pride for you, why-why does it matter what city theyre in? It matters if you limit even one of your options to chase after a relationship that could end.
What happens if you break up? So we break up.
At least, Im not left wondering.
Oh, by then, it could be too late to transfer.
Dad, Ive earned the right to choose where I want to go.
My grades are great, I rocked the SATs, what else do you want from me? For you not to choose this of all moments to revert to infancy.
How is it infantile to know that somethings important to me? Its not like Im going around with Ephram saying that were gonna get married, which, by the way, is exactly what you were doing when you were even younger than me, but I know how he makes me feel and I know that its worth making the small sacrifice so that we can stay together, if we want.
Oh, no.
No.
No.
Youre not gonna throw that at me and then pretend that its reasonable.
You may have forgotten but you tried these bleary eyed romantics with me last year when you begged me to be grateful for how well that Cro-Magnon understood you until I had to pump his stomach in that abandoned motel.
This isnt even close to the same thing.
Of course, it is Amy.
This is what you do.
You throw yourself into a relationship.
You drop everything else, toss your family aside, then yourself all for some elaborate pageant in your mind.
Youve already changed your goals to suit his.
How many times do I have to tell you, Dad? That is not my goal any more.
Time to let it go maybe trust me for once.
Look, how can I trust you when you make decisions like this? Like what? Like have you forgotten how easily things change? You think I need you to remind me.
I found the person I wanted to be with and he died last year.
Why should I lose more? Amy? I want this to work and Ill do whatever I can gladly.
If that means pissing you off, Dad, Im sorry, but some things are just more important than you.
Round two as promised.
You didnt promise that.
Well, I took the initiative.
I found a case study that went on about Bach, something about the polyrhythms and as it turns out, I have a son who has a whole classical musical collection, a CD burner, and a flagrant disregard for piracy laws.
Actually Im glad you came.
Come on in.
Thanks.
Kinda quiet, isnt it? Oh, I know, Charlie is actually doing his homework and I only had to remind him three times.
No.
No.
I mean the music.
Its 6 oclock.
Shouldnt you be on Hyden? Oh, the music plan.
I took a break.
Well, I hate to be the hall monitor here, but thats really not the best approach.
The-the theory is constant stimulation.
I know.
I had it on.
I played Beethoven until I could sing the words to Ode to Joy in German and Ill get it on again if thats what you tell me to do, but first we need to talk.
We already talked about this No.
No.
I tried to talk to you and you read me more statistics.
Youre an energetic doctor and a reasonably funny guy, but youve got serious listening issues so this time your plan follow me.
You want me to trust you.
Of course.
I want that too.
No, thanks.
The thing is youre coming up with plans to try to help John becomes something of himself again, but you have no idea who that is.
He was a guy for a long time before he was a patient.
Did you know he lived in Bordeaux until he was 8 or that he used to be a seismologist? No, I didnt.
Earthquake research at the university.
Weird I know, but he knew more about the front range fault line than anyone in the state.
He practically invented the early detection software for the entire region.
Thats amazing.
Yeah, he was amazing.
John changed everything from the first night I met him.
Hes right here.
And right now youre the only person I have telling me not to let that one go and that means I need you to know who youre trying to bring back.
So do me a favor? If you are going to start making plans for us, get to know him first.
Then Ill do whatever you say.
When I get older, losing my hair, many years from now / Will you still be sending me a Valentine, birthday greetings, tending my roots? / If I'd been out 'till quarter to three, will you lock the door? Will you still need me, will you still feed me, When I'm sixty-four? You bet.
I love you.
Will you stay with me until Im 64? Yes.
These things are impossible.
Its just your basic Who are you and why do you want to come here? essay.
Declare your intended major.
Try Music.
.
Next.
Hmm, this is actually really fun when its not yours.
Yeah, except if I go to Colorado, then pianos probably not a priority.
Okay, so its just a safety, check Undeclared and move on.
What? Undeclared.
.
I just never thought of myself as one of the clueless before.
What like the rest of the world? Some of us are highly functioning members of society.
Folding sweaters at mini-malls.
What now youre going? Its called preemptive bailing.
Im trying to help, youre trying to bite my head off, I can see where this is going and you do not really have time for a full fight cycle so call me when youre done.
This was a good idea.
Im full of em.
We get to tackle the whole world now.
I even like the sound of it Phase Three.
Well, youll like the looks of it even better.
Wait til you see what I got planned.
It all starts right here.
Santorini.
Greece.
A villa on the Caldera with a month-to-month lease beautiful view.
I can write all morning looking out on the Med with no problems for the rest of the day bigger than whether to hit the black sand beach or the red.
And what am I suppose to do there? Wiggle around in a bikin and mix margaritas.
You have something else in mind? Two applications for the Peace Corps with a pit stop in Guadalajara with Habitat for Humanity.
We could be getting roofs over the homeless in a month.
Hold on.
Hold on.
You want to build houses.
And then well help some sick kids, maybe take a stretch over and see Linda in Namibia.
Thats not really how I saw Phase Three.
I-I saw us slowing down not kicking it into high gear.
Well, I cant lay myself out to rest.
I gotta be doing things.
Look, Im not out to take on the world any more, Edna.
I cant be running around all the time.
Phase Three for me I gotta sit still.
I want you to sit still with me.
Would you at least think about it? AMY, THIS ISNT GONNA BE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE MAKE-OUT APOLOGIES, IS IT? Oh, hey, Dr.
Abbott.
Uh, that wasnt your daughter I was talking about.
Amy and I were just friends.
I mean Uh, are you looking for my dad? Actually Ive come to see you.
Should I be scared? Every day of your life.
This regards another matter.
I have a favor to ask.
A Princeton application? All filled out, check signed, correct postage.
She only needs to write the essay, which she can do in her sleep, if she wanted to.
Which she doesnt.
I know she doesnt.
I also know that she used to.
It used to be all that she would talk about.
When I go to Princeton, I want to live where Fitzgerald lived.
At some point between freshman year and her relationship with you that changed.
Well, a lots happened since then not just me.
I only want her somewhere where she can explore every facet of her curiosity.
Princeton excels in everything that Amy has even the vaguest of interest in English, Womens Studies, Biology, Dance.
She should have that.
You know as well as I do, that theres no convincing her of anything thats not already in her head.
I-Ive tried.
I-Ive failed.
I still have bruises.
I know.
But right now, youre the one she listens to.
Didnt used to be that way, but now it is so here I am.
That was her dream once dont deny her the option of turning it down.
I can try.
Well, thats more than I can do.
Thank you.
Its good to hear, by the way.
What is? Your playing.
It is as good as they say.
That was an arrangement of a Bach motet, wasnt it? Well, its an attempt at least.
My teachers got me breaking down choral structure hes evil.
I didnt know that you knew music.
Do you play? I wanted to.
But as with surgery I was born with the ear but not the hands.
God has a cruel sense of humor.
Apparently Im his favorite channel.
Ive been working all night on the obbligato.
Usually it just comes, but when I get stuck, it could take a while.
Is that funny? No, Im sorry.
I-In a way, youre so much like your father.
See youve just described what it is to be gifted and you dont even know it.
The part that you call effortless that would be the lifes ambition of the less blessed and -and the part where its actually a bit of work thats an argument they wouldnt even be able to follow.
Well, the experts seem to disagree.
Ive got paperwork and very expensive schools to prove it.
Well, thats technique the part that can actually be taught and graded, improved.
What youve been given, its more like the rain simply happens.
Nothing can alter its timing or course.
You just have to dress for the occasion.
You know, uh, there are words to that piece.
Bach borrowed a poem by Johann Franck, do you know what they mean? No.
Its my evaluation from the summer program.
Basically I failed.
I mean I know what youre going through, my report card last year was terrible.
Its not a report card, Amy.
This is my entire life my whole plan an-and its falling apart.
Andy Brown, I would like you to meet my husband, John.
I know all the treatments, Andy.
All the drugs.
Five years can make a big difference.
Just give me one month.
Im scared.
Tell us about yourself in such a way that we will have a good sense of who you are.
I wish you wouldve asked me that two years ago, I couldve told you exactly who I was, who Id be.
Two years ago I knew it all and the thing is I was right.
How far is that from Juilliard? What, NYU? Its like 50 blocks.
You can walk it with a good pair of shoes.
Thats not bad, what else you got? Sarah Lawrence.
Its in Bronxville.
Its about 40 minutes outside of the city by train, but apparently they are very tattoo-friendly, so thats good.
Is this too much? I told you that I was only applying to schools that were close to your conservatories and now youre actually hearing me and youre actually freaking out.
No, I was just thinking that 40 minutes is pretty far.
And now I like you again.
Well, think about it, end of the year all the other couples are going to be freaking out about the long distance thing and well be set.
Exactly and its not like New York and Boston dont have the best schools anyways.
Its like youre a genius sometimes.
I know.
I could do journalism at Columbia, NYU has the best theater, Tufts has the best pre-med.
Ephram Brown? The Guidance Counselors office asked me to call you down.
What for? Hey, Chris Templeman.
Im a recruiter from Colorado A&M.
Well, I hate to tell you, but I, uh, dont really play any sports.
They dont even let me go to games.
Im with our Music department.
We try to keep an eye out for the local talent, like the sports guys do.
I hear that youre applying to schools now.
Let me guess: uh, Juilliard, Berklee College of Music and ? Thats it.
Guess youre sleeping well.
No, I dont mean to be, uh, yknow, I mean its, very cool just to be asked.
Uh, but, uh, Im-Im pretty set on going to Juilliard.
Its kinda the place to be.
Dont be so sure.
Take it from me.
You went to Juilliard? Class of 81.
Wow.
Think of it this way: You go there, you come out knowing a lot about actually playing of piano.
And thats it.
You come out of our program and you have top-notch technical training.
And thats worth something out there in the job world, trust me.
Look, I appreciate all this, but Im pretty set with my plan.
Youre seventeen, I dont know how you can be expected to know how youre gonna fee l ten years from now.
Or thirty.
I mean, youre ready to say that this is what you want to do for the rest of your life? It never hurts to explore your options.
Talk it over with your parents.
If you feel like coming down, Ill get you on the tour.
Think about it.
Plans are like candy to the Fates.
The only thing you could ever be sure of is, nothing ever goes the way you imagined.
I should probably be used to that by now.
"Shoot the Moon" What are you doing and why are you still here? One answer for both questions.
Im fixing you breakfast.
Waffles, muffins, brownies, too.
Though technically thats more dessert than breakfast, but who's gonna arrest me? Dont mean to be ungrateful but shouldnt you be driving a bus load of screaming kids to school? Not today.
Whats the matter? Are you sick? Even better, I quit.
You what? I told em, I want to retire, they said okay.
No more bus, no more driver.
Im done.
These are waffles of celebration.
Im gonna open some champagne.
You keep that cork where it is.
Since when do we make life decisions around here without a consult? It was spur of the moment.
I thought it; I said it.
They pulled out the papers.
But I gotta tell ya, I never slept better.
And thats the end of it? Be happy for me, Edna, have a waffle? You eat it.
Oh, come on, Edna.
Sorry, bucko, some of us still got a job to get to.
Oh, please, dont mean, you didnt read all of this just for us.
Oh, you need to get out more.
-Maybe join Netflix.
-Are you kidding? Research is half the fun of the job.
Now I can say cognitive neurorehabilitation at parties.
You just made my guest list.
Actually Im amazed at the depth of research into stroke recovery especially with patients with long term aphasia like your husband.
Has anyone ever mentioned music therapy to you before? I dont think so.
Well, if youre willing, I would like to give it a try.
I want to build a structured music plan in your home.
Music plan? And its basically what it sounds like.
We load up your 50 CD changer, then we keep the music playing at regular intervals.
And from what I understand, the first priority is consistent stimulation and apparently music is the best kind.
Uh, Schubert, Hyden, no Skynrd, huh? Uh, uh.
And you think this will help? Yes, I really do.
You know how, uh, overeager parents are always playing Mozart for their babies? The crazy ones.
Yes, its the same principles actually.
We have found out that the human brain is much more malleable than we ever thought it was.
Connections form and strengthen constantly in response to environment.
Now, the more stimulated the environment The more the connections.
Hopefully.
At least its a start.
Ive had starts before.
I know you have.
I know you have.
Your husbands been nonresponsive for 5 years and I know how hard it must be for you to think about treatment at this point, but I have to tell you that I wouldnt put this out to you if I didnt think that this was a way in.
Worst thing that could happen is you load up your CD collection.
Come on, what do you say? Why do I get the feeling that youre gonna keep asking me until I say yes? Because you are getting to know me.
Amy, would you come here please? Yeah? Whoa.
Amy Abbott, allow me to be the first to introduce you to your future.
Suffering from application anxiety, overwhelmed by the options.
Well, fret no more.
Because we answer all questions tonight.
What? What did you do? Oh, only sent away for every piece of material available on the top 50 universities in the nation.
Applications.
Promotional videos.
Articles.
Reviews.
Everything you ever wanted to know about schools but you were afraid to order online.
I have Kaplans.
I have Barrons.
I even have the Hillel Guide to Jewish Life on Campus for good measure.
Dim sung has been ordered, so in a few hours I shall be dumpling stuffed and you will have narrowed all this down to your top ten.
We shall begin with the, uh, shameful Number 50, Penn State, and work all the way up to Princeton.
Dad, this is great.
Really, I mean I love the hats.
All 50 of them.
But, um, I already know where I want to apply.
You do? Kinda, yeah.
Well, I was rather hoping we could make those decisions together.
Im sorry.
I did the research at school like a month ago.
I already have my list down.
Um NYU Columbia, Amherst, Wellesley, Sarah Lawrence, Barnard, Tufts, and Harvard.
So that you dont start skipping church? And Im good.
Is that all? Its 8 schools.
Its not if you cant afford a 9th.
Say a school with remarkable prestige, consistently ranked in the top 3 by U.
S.
News, such as Princeton, perhaps.
Or-or, or how bout Princeton.
Dad, I know youve always had a thing for them.
Its just I dont see myself there.
I mean eating clubs, whats that about? Come now, this was always your dream school.
Honey, I have baby pictures of you in a little orange sweatshirt.
Cant you just fill out the application for good measure? Its one more I dont have to write, but, uh, this is great, Dad.
Honestly, you saved me like a week of downloading.
So thank you.
Ill start tonight.
Okay, were down to A Cinderella Story PPPowderpuff Girls and SSSaving Private Ryan.
I like to mix it up.
Okay, now walk me through the Powderpuff Girls again.
Im gonna go practice.
Oh, FYI, Im ditching school tomorrow.
Can I ditch too? Only if you get a job.
Its a school thing.
Im gonna go down to Colorado A&M.
Theyve got this walking tour, thought I might check it out.
Colorado? Why? For Amy? Uh, no, for me.
I figured I might put in an application.
Wa-Wait a minute, when did this happen? Today.
Why you think its weird? Do you? No.
Well, neither do I.
Im just surprised.
We talked about all this last year there was yelling and then there was hugging We decided on the conservatories Juilliard.
We had a plan.
Yeah, well, it doesnt mean I cant look.
Colorados got a huge music department, besides if I go there, I can take something other than piano and anyway its just a tour.
You know what, youre right.
Well have a great time.
No, not we.
Youre not coming.
Come on, its just a walking tour.
Ill walk with you.
See what they have to offer.
Ill clear my schedule.
Fine.
Great.
You drive, Ill bring the doughnuts.
Low on popcorn.
You have no learning curve.
Stand back Mama Bear, Papas gonna flambé.
Ooh, what is it this time? Bananas Foster.
Retirement breakfast part two, if I can just keep from over-caramelizing the sugar, which really just means burn.
Love the Food Channel.
Too bad the bananas arent the only thing fired around here.
How did you find out? Its a small town.
Why didnt you tell me that you were canned? Because I didnt want to get into it with you.
They did their thing about cut backs and me being so close to retirement and I-I just didnt want you going off half-cocked.
THOSE BASTARDS FIRED YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR AGE.
Like that.
Causing a ruckus.
YOU BET IM CAUSING A RUCKUS.
MORE THAN THAT A FREAKUS.
AND THEN IM JUST GONNA KICK SOME ASS.
No you wont.
Now Im not a fan of their reasons but I dont need to fight it either.
So youre just gonna let them put you out to pasture.
No.
No.
I may be done with the job but Im not done.
Ive got a postcard in my head, Edna, I want to take you there.
I just started a new job.
And Doc Hartman needs you, but he wont forever.
Help him set up and then well skip town.
Im ready for Phase Three of my life and so are you.
Think of all we could do; all we could see; all the places we could make love.
No fair, talking all romantic.
Thats what I do.
Well, do we have to wait until Phase Three to get some practice in? Dont you have to go to work? He can answer his own phone for an hour.
Try to keep up, cause this might take a while.
Okay, now, uh, on your-left-my-right, is Goodwin Hall, which is the largest of the frosh dorms.
Now it is all one-room-triples but they do have in-room cable so I would definitely put this down as my preference.
Dorms look okay.
Yeah, nice refugee camp vibe.
-Okay, folks, right this way please.
-Howdy.
Can we go now? I am starving.
We havent seen the departments yet.
Theyre big and brown and blocky like every other building here - - its like they built this place with an endowment from Lego.
Lets go get a blintz.
So this is Walker Plaza.
Okay now every year the Seniors gather here.
They wrap themselves from head to toe in toilet paper and they do this kind of Mummy Walk around campus, its just really totally hysterical.
I will give you a thousand dollars if you tell me youre kidding.
Could you be quiet please? I would if this wasnt so BORING.
Dont mind my father.
He had a stroke recently.
Very sad.
Edna? Im here, Boss.
Sorry about the late, hows the morning going? My morning was ass, Edna.
Where the hell were you? I had something at home needed dealing with.
So we-we open at 9.
Patients came in at 9.
When I worked at Cedars for an awfully long time, and the rule was you come in when your shift begins - rain, shine, problems at home, and Ive been trying to reach you all morning.
How can you still not have a cell? Easy up, boss, I didnt go AWOL on ya, I was a little late.
You were over an hour late.
Now I dont know how things worked at your last job, but here its a pretty simple concept.
You show up, you do your job, you get your check on Thursdays and if you cant handle you just say the word.
-Youre right.
-Good.
Whats the word? What? How bout schmuck.
Excuse me.
You heard me.
I dont need this.
Im tired of you getting by on your dimples anyway.
You cant quit.
Youre out of doctors offices to work in.
I dont need an office anymore.
Im moving to Phase Three.
By the way, next time youre at the dentist, ease off on the bleaching, hurts my eyes.
Okay, so, this is our music hall.
You got any cool concerts coming through? All the time.
Last year we had a lecture from the guy who invented the Koosh Ball.
Oh, good acoustics.
Actually, yeah theres-theres no gum in the hall.
Oh, fine.
All gone.
See? Okay, thats it, go wait in the car.
Tours over for you.
Oh, come on, I want to see more.
I heard theyve got the fifth-largest microfiche collection in the whole country.
Yeah, I just wanna keep the tour moving so if anyone is tired or they just maybe wanna stay here and work out some family issues, thats-thats fine.
Thank you.
Any time.
Whyd you bother coming if you were gonna bag on the place the entire time? Well, I thought I might get a sweat shirt, My son gave up a promising future and all I got was an instate tuition [clases particulares.]
.
Come on, youre really not gonna go here.
Yeah, I might.
After all youve worked for.
Youre gonna settle for this.
Whats wrong with this place? Nothing, if youre not trying to get into Juilliard.
Do you know the chances of youre getting accepted there? Yeah, better than you do.
No, I dont think so.
There are 4000 kids applying and only 30 spots for piano.
The slightest loss of focus and the next kid gets your spot.
You cant even give yourself the option of failure.
Well, maybe failures not such a bad thing.
Piano takes up so much of my life that I dont have time for anything else.
Youre not supposed to be doing anything else.
-You are a concert pianist.
-How do you know? How do I even know? You-Youve been pressuring me for so long I cant remember if piano is something I actually wanted or something I agreed to when I was 10.
Oh, come on.
You-You just want me to go to some special school for special kids cause God forbid I turn out to be normal, instead of a magazine cover.
You know what, you can blame me if you want to, but Im trying to keep you on track and all I see right now is you getting scared.
This is when you need to trust your abilities and dive in - not look for some kind of escape route.
You cannot be afraid of failure.
Im not scared of what happens if I fail and dont get in.
Im scared of what happens if I do.
If I got to Juilliard, then thats it one thing piano.
Ill be just like you right before she died.
I mean, it took mom dying to wake you up, I dont wanna have to lose something to keep myself from turning into you.
Excellent roast, Rose.
Well, thank you, dear.
Also, thank you.
I think.
You know who has fine meal programs for incoming freshman.
Dad, Im not going to Princeton.
Get over it.
I just cant see why you wont add one more application.
Youve covered all the comparable schools in the northeast Ivies included so that rules out reverse snobbery.
You have something against New Jersey, because outside of Newark, its actually quite blue-collared.
Oh, nice, let me guess.
Only New York and Boston.
Well, connect the dots.
Shes staying near the hub.
Shut up, Bright.
What hub? Man, theres a lot of good piano schools in them cities, arent there? Oh, so then all of this all this talk of researching your options, I got my list down, that was all about choosing your schools around your boyfriend.
Ah, you couldnt even add another one for Dad? Actually, I did.
Ephram and I are both applying to Colorado A&M as a safety which you know anyone with a pulse could get in there so Now that was unnecessary.
So was he.
Well this is plum absurd, not to mention disappointing.
No correction, I will gladly mention disappointing.
I cannot believe that youd be willing to throw away whole avenues for your future for a boy.
Im not throwing anything away.
Im still applying to 8 perfectly great schools that have everything I want plus plenty of bumper sticker pride for you, why-why does it matter what city theyre in? It matters if you limit even one of your options to chase after a relationship that could end.
What happens if you break up? So we break up.
At least, Im not left wondering.
Oh, by then, it could be too late to transfer.
Dad, Ive earned the right to choose where I want to go.
My grades are great, I rocked the SATs, what else do you want from me? For you not to choose this of all moments to revert to infancy.
How is it infantile to know that somethings important to me? Its not like Im going around with Ephram saying that were gonna get married, which, by the way, is exactly what you were doing when you were even younger than me, but I know how he makes me feel and I know that its worth making the small sacrifice so that we can stay together, if we want.
Oh, no.
No.
No.
Youre not gonna throw that at me and then pretend that its reasonable.
You may have forgotten but you tried these bleary eyed romantics with me last year when you begged me to be grateful for how well that Cro-Magnon understood you until I had to pump his stomach in that abandoned motel.
This isnt even close to the same thing.
Of course, it is Amy.
This is what you do.
You throw yourself into a relationship.
You drop everything else, toss your family aside, then yourself all for some elaborate pageant in your mind.
Youve already changed your goals to suit his.
How many times do I have to tell you, Dad? That is not my goal any more.
Time to let it go maybe trust me for once.
Look, how can I trust you when you make decisions like this? Like what? Like have you forgotten how easily things change? You think I need you to remind me.
I found the person I wanted to be with and he died last year.
Why should I lose more? Amy? I want this to work and Ill do whatever I can gladly.
If that means pissing you off, Dad, Im sorry, but some things are just more important than you.
Round two as promised.
You didnt promise that.
Well, I took the initiative.
I found a case study that went on about Bach, something about the polyrhythms and as it turns out, I have a son who has a whole classical musical collection, a CD burner, and a flagrant disregard for piracy laws.
Actually Im glad you came.
Come on in.
Thanks.
Kinda quiet, isnt it? Oh, I know, Charlie is actually doing his homework and I only had to remind him three times.
No.
No.
I mean the music.
Its 6 oclock.
Shouldnt you be on Hyden? Oh, the music plan.
I took a break.
Well, I hate to be the hall monitor here, but thats really not the best approach.
The-the theory is constant stimulation.
I know.
I had it on.
I played Beethoven until I could sing the words to Ode to Joy in German and Ill get it on again if thats what you tell me to do, but first we need to talk.
We already talked about this No.
No.
I tried to talk to you and you read me more statistics.
Youre an energetic doctor and a reasonably funny guy, but youve got serious listening issues so this time your plan follow me.
You want me to trust you.
Of course.
I want that too.
No, thanks.
The thing is youre coming up with plans to try to help John becomes something of himself again, but you have no idea who that is.
He was a guy for a long time before he was a patient.
Did you know he lived in Bordeaux until he was 8 or that he used to be a seismologist? No, I didnt.
Earthquake research at the university.
Weird I know, but he knew more about the front range fault line than anyone in the state.
He practically invented the early detection software for the entire region.
Thats amazing.
Yeah, he was amazing.
John changed everything from the first night I met him.
Hes right here.
And right now youre the only person I have telling me not to let that one go and that means I need you to know who youre trying to bring back.
So do me a favor? If you are going to start making plans for us, get to know him first.
Then Ill do whatever you say.
When I get older, losing my hair, many years from now / Will you still be sending me a Valentine, birthday greetings, tending my roots? / If I'd been out 'till quarter to three, will you lock the door? Will you still need me, will you still feed me, When I'm sixty-four? You bet.
I love you.
Will you stay with me until Im 64? Yes.
These things are impossible.
Its just your basic Who are you and why do you want to come here? essay.
Declare your intended major.
Try Music.
.
Next.
Hmm, this is actually really fun when its not yours.
Yeah, except if I go to Colorado, then pianos probably not a priority.
Okay, so its just a safety, check Undeclared and move on.
What? Undeclared.
.
I just never thought of myself as one of the clueless before.
What like the rest of the world? Some of us are highly functioning members of society.
Folding sweaters at mini-malls.
What now youre going? Its called preemptive bailing.
Im trying to help, youre trying to bite my head off, I can see where this is going and you do not really have time for a full fight cycle so call me when youre done.
This was a good idea.
Im full of em.
We get to tackle the whole world now.
I even like the sound of it Phase Three.
Well, youll like the looks of it even better.
Wait til you see what I got planned.
It all starts right here.
Santorini.
Greece.
A villa on the Caldera with a month-to-month lease beautiful view.
I can write all morning looking out on the Med with no problems for the rest of the day bigger than whether to hit the black sand beach or the red.
And what am I suppose to do there? Wiggle around in a bikin and mix margaritas.
You have something else in mind? Two applications for the Peace Corps with a pit stop in Guadalajara with Habitat for Humanity.
We could be getting roofs over the homeless in a month.
Hold on.
Hold on.
You want to build houses.
And then well help some sick kids, maybe take a stretch over and see Linda in Namibia.
Thats not really how I saw Phase Three.
I-I saw us slowing down not kicking it into high gear.
Well, I cant lay myself out to rest.
I gotta be doing things.
Look, Im not out to take on the world any more, Edna.
I cant be running around all the time.
Phase Three for me I gotta sit still.
I want you to sit still with me.
Would you at least think about it? AMY, THIS ISNT GONNA BE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE MAKE-OUT APOLOGIES, IS IT? Oh, hey, Dr.
Abbott.
Uh, that wasnt your daughter I was talking about.
Amy and I were just friends.
I mean Uh, are you looking for my dad? Actually Ive come to see you.
Should I be scared? Every day of your life.
This regards another matter.
I have a favor to ask.
A Princeton application? All filled out, check signed, correct postage.
She only needs to write the essay, which she can do in her sleep, if she wanted to.
Which she doesnt.
I know she doesnt.
I also know that she used to.
It used to be all that she would talk about.
When I go to Princeton, I want to live where Fitzgerald lived.
At some point between freshman year and her relationship with you that changed.
Well, a lots happened since then not just me.
I only want her somewhere where she can explore every facet of her curiosity.
Princeton excels in everything that Amy has even the vaguest of interest in English, Womens Studies, Biology, Dance.
She should have that.
You know as well as I do, that theres no convincing her of anything thats not already in her head.
I-Ive tried.
I-Ive failed.
I still have bruises.
I know.
But right now, youre the one she listens to.
Didnt used to be that way, but now it is so here I am.
That was her dream once dont deny her the option of turning it down.
I can try.
Well, thats more than I can do.
Thank you.
Its good to hear, by the way.
What is? Your playing.
It is as good as they say.
That was an arrangement of a Bach motet, wasnt it? Well, its an attempt at least.
My teachers got me breaking down choral structure hes evil.
I didnt know that you knew music.
Do you play? I wanted to.
But as with surgery I was born with the ear but not the hands.
God has a cruel sense of humor.
Apparently Im his favorite channel.
Ive been working all night on the obbligato.
Usually it just comes, but when I get stuck, it could take a while.
Is that funny? No, Im sorry.
I-In a way, youre so much like your father.
See youve just described what it is to be gifted and you dont even know it.
The part that you call effortless that would be the lifes ambition of the less blessed and -and the part where its actually a bit of work thats an argument they wouldnt even be able to follow.
Well, the experts seem to disagree.
Ive got paperwork and very expensive schools to prove it.
Well, thats technique the part that can actually be taught and graded, improved.
What youve been given, its more like the rain simply happens.
Nothing can alter its timing or course.
You just have to dress for the occasion.
You know, uh, there are words to that piece.
Bach borrowed a poem by Johann Franck, do you know what they mean? No.