By AB Chao
Fade up on a bulletin board in the high school that proclaims "College Application Calendar!" A voice-over begins, but don't get too excited -- it's not Irv. Ephram says, "'Tell us about yourself in such a way that we will have a good sense of who you are. 500 words.'" Ephram wishes he'd been asked that two years ago, because he could have said exactly who he was, and who he'd be. "Two years ago I knew it all," Ephram tells us. "And the thing is, I was right." Cut to him and Amy walking down the hall. Ephram asks her how far NYU is from Juilliard. Amy tells him it's only about fifty blocks, and you could walk it with a pair of good shoes. ["Ephram's a city kid and he doesn't know where NYU is? Bad writing there." -- Sars] She also has Sarah Lawrence mapped out -- it's only forty minutes out of the city by train. Ephram obviously doesn't respond in the way that Amy had intended, and she asks him if it's too much for her to be applying only to schools that are close to Juilliard. Ephram says he isn't freaking out at all -- he was thinking that forty minutes would really be far. Ew. And, aw. Ephram says it's such a relief that, a year from now, all their friends will be worried about what they're going to do, while he and Amy will be all set. Amy agrees that this is a wonderful plan, and they are both geniuses. A teacher interrupts their reverie to call Ephram down to the guidance counselor's office.
Ephram walks in the guidance counselor's office, and -- hey! it's Steve from Sex and the City! -- a recruiter from Colorado A&M is there waiting for him. Steve introduces himself as "Chris Tuppelman." Ephram says he's sorry, but he doesn't really play any sports. Chris says he's actually from the music department, and the school is really interested in "local talent." Before Ephram can say anything, Chris interrupts, "Let me guess. You're applying to Juilliard and Berklee College of Music." Ephram confirms, and tells Chris that he's really set on Juilliard, since it's the place to be. Chris tells Ephram not to be so sure -- he went to Juilliard, too. He says that while graduating from Juilliard is really awesome and everything, when you leave there, all you have is top-notch piano skills. When you come out of Colorado's program, you have that and top-notch technical training, which is worth way more out in the job world. Ephram insists he's already set on a plan. Chris asks Ephram how a seventeen-year-old can know how he's going to feel ten years from now, or thirty, and says it never hurts to explore his options by coming down for a tour.
Cut to Ephram in front of the giant application calendar. He voice-overs, "Plans are like candy to the Fates. The only thing you can ever be sure of is, nothing ever goes the way you imagined. I should probably be used to that by now." Not as good as Irv, but nice. Credits.
Speak of the devil. We come back to Edna and Irv's house, for what is probably the first time this season. Edna walks downstairs to find Irv cooking a super-fantastic breakfast. "What are you doing, and why are you still here?" Edna demands. Irv says he's fixing her breakfast -- waffles, muffins, and brownies, too. It pleases me to hear that Irv pronounces the word "waffles" just like some of us do in the South: "wawfuls." Edna looks not happy, and asks why he's not driving a bus full of schoolchildren. Irv says he's not today. Edna: "What's the matter, you sick?" Gah. Shut up, Edna. Eat your waffles, Edna. Irv says he's not sick, but he did quit. "I told them I wanted to retire and they said okay. No more bus, no more driving, I'm done." He tells Edna that they're having wawfuls of celebration. Edna still ain't happy. She asks Irv since when they make life decisions without a consult. Irv says it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing, and it felt right. Edna: "So that's the end of it?" Irv: "Be happy for me, Edna. Have a [wawful]." Hee. Edna says she can't, because "some of us" still have a job to go to.
Treat's Office. Amanda is there. But before we begin, I would like to share an email I received after my last recap. It comes from one Pamela Ribon, and Miss Pam had this to say:
From: pamie
To: AB Chao
Subject: um...I say that so you can ban me when I correct you. It's "baby-sized pussy." I only correct you because it's much grosser than Tiny Baby Pussy, which sounds cute and kitten like. Baby-Sized Pussy sexualizes a baby's vagina, and is so much more wrong and horrible and CELESTIA!
As in: "I had herpes on my baby-sized pussy and you didn't do anything about it?"
sadly, direct quote. I think you would love a copy of the book for future recaps. I agree she's awesome on the show. That's because she's a fantastic actress. The crazy ones always are. But fucking balls out batshit crazy, man.
-p
Thank you, Pam, for the correction. It seems I have made a grievous error. Now go and wonder-kill something else.
Baby-Sized Pussy! Treat walks over to his desk with a giant stack of CDs. Amanda points to the papers covering Treat's desk, and says, "Please don't tell me you read all of this just for us. You need to get out more. Maybe...join Netflix." Hee. Treat geeks that research is half the fun of the job, and he's amazed at the depth of material about stroke recovery, especially patients with long-term aphasia like John. He asks Amanda if anyone's ever mentioned music therapy. Amanda says she doesn't think so. Treat says he'd like to give it a try -- to build a structured music plan in her home. Amanda's like, "Music plan?" Treat explains that they load up her CD changer, and keep the music playing at regular intervals, because consistent stimulation is the way to go, and music is the best kind. Amanda is still like, "Music plan?" She looks at the CDs. They're all classical. "No Skynyrd, huh?" Amanda quips. Treat doesn't even laugh, because he's too impressed with his own self to do anything but keep explaining how awesome it is that he's totally going to cure John with music therapy. Amanda is skeptical; she says she's had false starts a hundred times before. Treat says he understands that, but he wouldn't do this if he didn't think it was a good thing. The worst thing that could happen, he says, is that she could load up on her CD collection. Amanda smiles a little at this, and asks Treat, "Why do I get the feeling you're going to keep asking me until I say yes?" Treat: "Because you're getting to know me." If I didn't know any better, I'd think these two were giving each other bedroom eyes.
Cut to the Abbott House. Patch has the dining room absolutely covered in college paraphernalia -- hats, applications, catalogs, brochures, pamphlets, the works. The biggest stack, of course, belongs to Princeton. SHOUT-OUT TO SARS! ANOTHER ONE TO COUCH BARON! I myself graduated from that esteemed Southern institution, The Burbonne. Patch calls for Amy. Amy's all, "Yeah?" until she sees that college threw up all over her house. She stops in her tracks. "Whoa." The graduation theme song starts to play as Patch says, "Amy Abbott, allow me to introduce you to...your future. Suffering from application anxiety? Overwhelmed by the options? Well, fret no more, because we answer all questions tonight." Patch is so cute when he's nutso. Amy asks her dad what the heck he did. Patch says he only sent away for every piece of information on the top fifty universities in the nation, and they are going to narrow them down to her top ten...together. "We'll begin with the shameful number fifty, Penn State, and work our way up to the top institution." Here Patch dons a gigantic Princeton-colored scarf, and bellows, "PRIIIIINCETONNNN!" ["My dad did that too…every time he got my tuition bill. [rim shot]" -- Sars] Amy tells her dad that this is all really great, and she even loves all fifty of the hats, but she already knows where she wants to apply. Patch deflates. "You do?" Amy says kinda, yeah, she does. Patch says he was hoping they could do the research together. Aw, poor shot-down Patch. Amy says she did the research at school, and has narrowed her choices down to NYU, Columbia, Wellesley, Sarah Lawrence, Barnard, Tufts, and Harvard. After this last one, she adds, "So that you don't start skipping church." Heh. Patch won't give up. He asks if she doesn't have room for just one more. "Maybe...Princeton, perhaps? Or how about...Princeton?" Amy giggles, and says she knows he's always had a thing for Princeton, but she just doesn't see herself there. "I mean, eating clubs? What's that about?" Well, Amy, I know a very pretty boss who will tell you exactly what it's about, and will also kick your ass. ["They're like fraternities, but different. Click here to learn more." -- Sars] Patch reminds his daughter that Princeton has always been her dream; he has baby pictures of her in an orange sweatshirt, and surely it wouldn't hurt just to fill out the application. Amy thanks her dad for all his hard work, but continues to politely decline his offers of Princetoneity.
Brown House. Treat and Delia are trying to decide what movie they're going to watch. Treat munches on popcorn while Delia runs through the choices: A Cinderella Story, The Powerpuff Girls, and Saving Private Ryan. Treat gives her a look. Delia: "I like to mix it up." Mixing it up is Grease, little girl, not body parts being blown off. Ephram interrupts to say he's going to practice, and he's also ditching school the day. Delia's all, "Ooh, can I ditch school too?" Treat tells her she sure can, as long as she gets a job. Hee. Ephram tells Treat he's going on a tour of Colorado A&M. Treat wants to know why, and says he's surprised, since they decided on all this last year. Ephram says he just wants to keep his options open, and it's just a tour. Treat wants to go. Ephram says Treat isn't invited. Treat weasels his way in. Ephram's like, "Gah, fine." Treat goes to make more popcorn, and Delia tells her brother, "You have NO learning curve." Good one, Delia. Commercials.
We come back to Irv and Edna's, and I can't believe this is twice in one episode. What's going on, here? Edna walks into the kitchen, ready for work, and just before Irv sets something on fire, he says, "Stand back, Mama Bear. Papa's gonna flambé." Awesome. Edna asks what he's making this time. It's Bananas Foster: Retirement Breakfast Part II. Irv remarks that he sure does love that food channel. Edna: "Too bad the bananas aren't the only thing fired around here." Uh-oh. Irv gets all sheepish, and asks Edna who snitched. Edna says it's a small town, and wants to know why he didn't tell her. Irv says he didn't want to get into it with her -- he knew she'd freak shit if she found out they fired him so close to retirement. Edna freaks shit. "Those BASTARDS fired you because of your age!" Irv's all, "Exactly. Causin' a ruckus." Edna says she's going to cause a ruckus, then a fracas, and finally, she's going to kick some ass. Irv says he isn't a fan of their reasons, either, but he doesn't want a fight. Edna asks, "So you're just going to let them put you out to pasture?" Irv says he might be done with the job, but he's not done -- he has a postcard in his head, and he wants to take her there. Edna says she just started a new job. Irv says Scooter needs her, but he won't forever. "Help him set up, and then we'll skip town. I'm ready for Phase 3 of my life, and so are you. Think of all we could do, all we could see. All the places we could make love." Bowm-chicka. Edna says it's no fair talking all romantic when she has to go to work, but that Scooter can just answer his own damn phone for an hour. Woo! Interracial retiree love!
Cut to the tour. The cute little tour guide shows a group of kids and parents around. She describes a building, to which Treat replies, "Nice refugee camp vibe." The tour guide ignores this jackassery, and keeps going. Treat asks Ephram petulantly, "Can we go now? I am starving." Ephram says he hasn't seen the apartments yet. Treat says they're big and brown and blocky like everything else on campus. The infinitely patient tour guide describes a funny thing the seniors do every year around the fountain, and Treat tells her that he'll give her a thousand dollars to say she's joking. Ephram tells his dad to shut it. Treat says he would if he weren't so bored. Ephram tells the tour guide, "Don't mind my father; he had a stroke recently. Very sad."
Scooter's Office. Edna hurries in, late. Scooter accosts her, saying it was a horrible morning, and her duties are to be there on time, do her job, and get her check on Thursdays. "If you can't handle that, you just say the word." Edna, as we all suspected, says the word. She tells Scooter that he's a schmuck, and she's had it with him and his dimples. "I'm moving to Phase 3." She slams the door on poor Scooter and his dimples. Whoops.
Back to the tour, where Treat is being even more obnoxious than he was before. The guide shows them the music hall. Treat pops his gum and comments, "Mmm, good acoustics." The guide says that actually, there's no gum allowed in the hall. Treat tells her to hold on, makes a big show of swallowing his gum, opens his mouth and says, "All gone. See?" Good GOD. Ephram tells his dad that the tours over for him, and to go wait in the car. Like a six-year-old. Which he IS. Treat whines that he totally wants to see more. Ephram is about to lose it. The tour guide says she really wants to keep the tour moving, so if anyone is tired, or maybe wants to stay there and work out some family issues, that'd be great. After everyone leaves, Ephram asks Treat why he even came. Treat says he thought he might get a sweatshirt -- "My son gave up a promising future, and all I got was an in-state tuition!" God. Treat MAD! Treat SMASH! WE. GET. IT. Ephram says there's nothing wrong with Colorado. Treat says there isn't if you're not trying to get into Juilliard, and he can't lose his focus, or even give himself the option of failure. Ephram says failure might not be such a bad thing, and piano takes up so much of his life that he doesn't have time for anything else. It must also be mentioned that Treat's front teeth look totally weird in this scene, all bucky and scary. Did he get some of his gum stuck on them? Anyway. Treat says he doesn't need to be thinking about anything else. Ephram says he's been pressured for so long that he doesn't know if piano is something he wants, or something he agreed to when he was ten. Treat's all, "Come on." Ephram says it's true, that Treat wants him to go to a special school for special kids, because God forbid he turn out to be "normal." Treat accuses Ephram of just being scared, and says this is when he needs to trust his ability. "You cannot be afraid of failure." Ephram shoots back, "I'm not scared of what happens if I fail, or don't get in. I'm scared of what happens if I do. That's it. One thing. Piano. I'll be just like you were before she died. It took Mom dying to wake you up. I don't want to have to lose something to keep myself from turning into you." Ooh. Burn. Treat looks sad, and sticks out his teeth. Treat, call me, I know a great orthodontist!
Abbott House. Dinnertime. Patch compliments Rose on her excellent roast. Bright agrees with some very funny grunting. Rose thanks Bright as well. Patch: "You know who has fine meal programs for incoming freshmen?" Hee. Amy tells her dad to get over it -- she's not going to Princeton. Patch just can't see why Amy won't add one more application. "You've covered the entire northeast...you have something against New Jersey? Outside of Newark, it's really quite bucolic." ["Newark really is not bad, but the natives appreciate the plug anyway, Patch." -- Sars] Bright jumps in here, and says, "Oh. Let me guess. Only New York and Boston?" Amy tells Bright to shut up. Bright tells Patch that Amy's staying near "the hub." Patch is like, "What hub?" Lord, Lord. Doctors are dumb. Bright: "Man, there's a lot of good piano schools in them cities, aren't there?" Patch finally gets it. Bright wants to know why Amy couldn't just add one more for their dad. Amy says actually, she did -- "Ephram and I are both applying to Colorado A&M as a safety, which as you know, anyone with a pulse could get in there." Ouch.
Bright gets up and leaves the table. Rose tells Amy that that was unnecessary. Patch tells Amy he's disappointed, and he can't believe she'd throw away her future for a boy. Amy says she's applying to perfectly great schools that still have lots of bumper sticker pride for him, so what's the problem? Patch asks what happens if she and Ephram break up. Amy says so, they'll break up, and she's earned the right to choose where she goes to college. She also reminds her father that it's not like they're getting married, which is exactly what he was doing when he was her age. Patch says that's not going to work with him, and then plays the Eyebrows card. Amy says this isn't even close to the same thing. Patch says this is just what Amy does -- she throws herself into relationships with no regard to anything else, and surely she hasn't forgotten how easily things change. Amy: "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?" Patch softens. "Amy." Amy tells her dad that she wants this to work, and she'll do whatever she can to make it work. "If that means pissing you off, Dad, I'm sorry, but some things are just more important than you." Man, I'm so bored. Could that scene have seemed any longer? Can we get Bright back in here? No? Fine. Commercials.
When we get back, Treat is just arriving at Amanda's. Treat's teeth are still crazy. Not as crazy as a baby-sized pussy, mind you, but what is? Amanda asks Treat what he's doing there, and he says he's come bearing round two of their music therapy CDs. There's no music playing, and Treat wants to know why. Amanda says dryly, "Oh. The music plan. I took a break." Treat says he hates to be the hall monitor (no, you don't!), but Amanda needs to stick to the plan. Amanda says she played Beethoven until she could sing the words to "Ode to Joy" in German, and she'll get it on again if that's what Treat wants, but first, they need to talk. Amanda tells Treat that he's a great doctor, and a really funny guy, but he has serious listening issues, and if he's going to treat (heh) her husband, she'd like him to know what kind of person John was before his stroke. "[John] was a guy for a long time before he was a patient. Did you know he lived in Bordeaux until he was eight? Or that he used to be a seismologist?" Treat did not know. Amanda informs Treat that her husband practically invented the early earthquake detection software for the entire state. Treat says that's amazing. Amanda agrees, and says that John was amazing. Amanda tells Treat that she needs him to know who he's trying to bring back. She sits Treat down and shows him a video of John singing karaoke to her. It's very sweet, but frankly, doesn't really tell us much about John other than that he liked earthquakes and was a pretty good singer. But, hey, writers: whatever blows your skirt up.
High school. Amy and Ephram are working on their applications. Ephram is acting all weird about his Colorado application, because Amy advised him to check "Undeclared" as his major. He says he never thought of himself as one of the clueless before. Amy snarks that most of them are actually highly-functioning members of society. Ephram: "Folding sweaters at mini-malls everywhere." Oh, bad move, Brown. Amy gets up and says she's bailing before their conversation turns into a full-blown fight. She tells Ephram to call her when he's done. That was pointless, and I need to know why I am so bored. Is it just me? Am I not drinking enough? Waiter! By which I mean, husband! Or, in a pinch, daughter!
And for the third time, we're back at Edna and Irv's. They're drinking champagne and discussing their awesome future together. Irv wants to go live in a villa off the coast of Greece. He says he can write all morning looking out on the Mediterranean, with no problem for the rest of the day bigger than whether to hit the black sand beach or the red. Edna: "And what am I supposed to do -- wiggle around in a bikini and mix margaritas?" Sounds good to me, Sarge. Edna, however, has other plans. She wants to join the Peace Corps, maybe swing by Namibia and visit Rinda. Irv can't believe Edna wants to spend their retirement building houses and helping sick kids. He says he saw them slowing down, not kicking it into high gear. Edna says she gots to keep movin'. Irv says he just wants to sit still, and he wants Edna to be there with him. He asks her to at least think about it. Edna says nothing, and sips her champagne. Aw. Trouble in retireeland already.
Cut to Ephram, practicing piano. He hears a knock on the door, and calls, "Amy, this isn't gonna be one of those make-out apologies, is it?" The door opens, and it's Patch. Uh, guess not. Ephram tells Patch that he totally wasn't talking about his daughter, and asks if he's looking for Treat. Patch says that, actually, he's there to see him. Ephram: "Should I be scared?" Patch: "Every day of your life." Heh. Patch says he has a favor to ask, and hands Ephram the Princeton application. "All filled out, check signed, correct postage. She only needs to write the essay, which she could do in her sleep if she wanted to." Ephram reminds Patch, "Which she doesn't." Patch says he knows that, but she used to, and somewhere between freshman year and hooking up with Ephram, all that changed. The upshot of all of this: Patch was hoping that Ephram could maybe convince her to turn in one tiny little Princeton application, since he's the only person Amy listens to these days. "That was her dream once; don't deny her the option of turning it down." Ephram says he can try. Patch thanks Ephram, and says it's more than he can do. As he's walking out, Patch adds, "Your playing. It is as good as they say." He asks if it was an arrangement of a Bach motet. Ephram says it was an attempt, at least, and says he didn't know that Patch knew music. Patch says -- and this brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it -- that he wanted to play, but as with surgery, he was born with the ear, but not the hands. "God has a cruel sense of humor. Apparently, I'm his favorite channel." Hee. Ephram says he's been working on the piece all night; usually, it just comes, but when he's stuck, it takes a while. Patch laughs to himself, and tells Ephram that he's just like Treat -- he's just described what it is to be gifted, and he doesn't even know it. "The part that you call effortless? That would be the life's ambition of the less blessed. And the part where it's actually a bit of work? That's an argument that they wouldn't even be able to follow." Ephram says the experts seem to disagree, and he's got very expensive paperwork to prove it. Patch says that's technique, the part that can actually be taught, and graded, and improved. "What you've been given," Patch says, "it's more like the rain. It simply happens. Nothing can alter its timing or course -- you just have to dress for the occasion." Oh! Be still, my heart, because Patch Abbott is one hot motherfucker when he's poignant. Patch starts to leave again, and tells Ephram that he should really look up the words to that piece, as they were written by a brilliant poet by Johann Franc. Ephram ponders this as we go to the commercials.
Scooter's Office. Edna has come to get her things, but before she does, she tells Scooter that he better watch his temper or he's liable to get "nut-punched." Ha! Scooter smiles to himself as Edna walks around the desk. She demands to know why her stuff isn't boxed up. Scooter says her work isn't done, either, and wonders where Edna put Mrs. Moynahan's chart. Edna's all, "Did you not hear the part where I quit?" Scooter: "Yeah. I saw you stamp your feet, too. World-class tantrum. You keep it up another ten minutes, it would count as your cardio." Scooter says he's not worried, anyway, because Edna doesn't have it in her to retire. Edna: "Wanna bet?" Scooter pulls a hundred dollar bill out of his wallet. He says Edna certainly doesn't think she's going to kick back on some beach, because she'll chew her nails off in a day. He says he's watched her work, and she's not like other people who can just leave the office, and their jobs don't follow them one step out the door -- she's not that lucky. He pins the money to her bulletin board, and says, "My bet stands." Edna stands, too. ALONE!
Cut to the high school, where Ephram is trying hoodwink his girlfriend. He says he has one more application to add to his list, somewhere Will recommended. Amy asks where it is, and Ephram tries to be all smooth: "I mean, I don't know. Somewhere in Jersey." He asks Amy what she thinks, and could she add one more to the list. Amy shrugs. "Jersey, huh? Guess I could apply to Princeton, keep the dad happy. Two birds, right?" Ephram says that'd be good. Amy starts to grin, and tells Ephram that he is so gonna crack. Ephram's like, "What are you talking about?" Amy: "He talked to you!" Ephram: "Wow, smart chick. Major downside." Hee. He tells Amy not to be mad, that Patch is just kind of heartbroken. Amy wonders if Ephram's doing this because of Patch, or because he's worried about their relationship. Ephram says it's just a lot of pressure for Amy to be giving up things for them, and he worries that things won't work out, and then she'll be stuck in some city with nothing to do but hate him. Amy says it took a long time for them to get where they are, and this is what she wants. She says she wants to stay in love, and if she is wrong, it's her mistake to make. "You don't get to protect me. I mean, you can try, but I'll just kick your ass. I don't need guarantees, Ephram, so you can worry all you want, but I'm betting on us." Oh, oh, oh. Cheesy, but AWESOME.
Edna and Irv's House of Sadness. Irv tells Edna that he doesn't like fighting. Edna doesn't, either. Irv says he doesn't like compromise, either, but he'll take it over fighting. He shows Edna a brochure about a place he found that has pretty beaches AND a Doctors Without Borders outpost. Edna tells Irv that she took her job back, and she's in for the long haul. Irv says that's not what they talked about. Edna: "I know. I gotta work, Harper." Irv doesn't understand why she can't take the show on the road. Edna says it doesn't work that way -- she didn't mean to, but she accidentally put down roots in Everwood. Irv says he came to Everwood for a weekend, and stayed five years longer than he intended. "I did that for you. It's been five years, Edna." Edna says it could be a lot more. Irv says he can try to keep his feet planted in Everwood for as long as possible, but he doesn't know how long that will be. Edna's voice breaks as she asks, "What happens when time runs out?" Irv just gets up, and says he'll put the brochure away. WAH! Ephram voice-overs, "The thing is, you never can tell when everything you counted on might fall apart, no matter how solid the rock."
Abbott House. Amy meets Patch on the stairs, and teases, "Nice try, Harold." Patch acts like he has no idea what she's talking about. Amy's like, "You had him, too! You tried, he tried, everybody tried. And you call me the difficult one. As a consolation prize, I've decided not to be mad at you for going to my boyfriend behind my back." Patch says he just wanted her to have the best. Amy tells her dad that he gets major points for good intentions, but his execution totally sucks. Rose walks in and listens to Patch tell Amy that it was just one more application. Amy pinches Patch's cheeks and says it's time to let it go, that everything's going to be okay. They hug, and Amy goes upstairs. Rose: "She didn't budge?" Patch: "She didn't even blink." Rose says Amy's in love. Patch wants to know how that's a comfort. Rose tells Patch not to worry: "I happen to know another Abbott who didn't apply to Princeton so he could be with a girl he fell in love with. He turned out just fine." She kisses him on the cheek, and says she's going up to bed. "Lose the pout, and join me soon." Man, all the grown-ups are getting play this episode.
Cut to Ephram, writing an essay. He voice-overs, "Rocks break. Everything changes, even when you think you're sure. To be fair, if I were one of the Fates looking down at the best-laid plans of dumb little people, I'd probably see mine and want to mess with them, too." Treat interrupts, and tells Ephram he wanted to give him something. He tosses him a Colorado cap. Ephram says the gesture implies an apology, and Treat can skip the rest. Treat: "Humor me. I rehearsed." He says he's sorry he's been pushing. Ephram says he kind of "sprang" the news on him. Treat says he could have rolled with it better, and if at any time Ephram feels like he's giving up too much, they can talk about it. He says the truth is, when he closes his eyes and sees Ephram in four years, he sees him at Juilliard. Then he makes Ephram close his own eyes and say what he sees in four years. Ephram does, reluctantly, and says, "I'm playing. In Juilliard." Treat: "Then that's what we'll go for. That's where we'll get you." Ephram gets back to his essay. More voice-overing: "Want to know about me in five hundred words? I get scared sometimes, and disappointed. I don't like change, but I know it's good for me, and inevitable, so I welcome it as best I can. There's a poem by Johann Franc that says it better than I will. 'Defy the old dragon/defy fear/the world may rage and quake/but I shall remain singing/in perfect peace." Aw, Patch! We fade to Ephram, walking in the symbolic rain. He mails an envelope, which just happens to be Amy's application to Princeton. Fade back to Ephram playing piano in perfect peace. Forge to black.