NARRATOR: Previously on Everwood...
[Cut to brief clips of various scenes from "Everwood Confidental", "The Unveiling", and "The Miracle of Everwood".]
Ephram is given a piece to play by his piano teacher, Matthew Lansing, in his home. (from "Everwood Confidential")
MATT: Ludwig Von Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor. Play.
Ephram and Amy talking in the street in front of the Summit Theater. (from "The Unveiling")
AMY: You're going to invite me to your recital though, right?
EPHRAM: What? You'd wanna come?
AMY: Of course, I would. You're an awesome piano player, Ephram.
Amy's angry at her dad. (from "The Unveiling")
DR. ABBOTT: You're still upset with me. That's fine.
AMY: Still upset? Should I be over your total betrayal of me after only one day?
Amy and Ephram talk in a music room at County High after Colin gets into a fight with Ephram and then Bright. (from "The Miracle of Everwood")
AMY: I mean, come on, Ephram. Colin's been through hell to get to where he is. Believe me, whatever that's wrong now, he can handle it.
EPHRAM: No, he can't.
AMY: Well, then I can.
EPHRAM: Good luck with that.
{END OF "PREVIOUSLY ON EVERWOOD"}
{TEASER}
[Open on a dark road at night. We see two headlights from a truck traveling on the road.]
NARRATOR: Throughout the centuries, mankind has been fascinated by the night time sky. Ancient peoples believed that the heavens were ruled by a pantheon of gods while others thought the stars were diamonds, dangling just out of reach.
AMY: Thanks for the ride, Grandma.
[The passengers in the truck turn out to be Edna Harper and her granddaughter Amy Abbott.]
AMY: (CONT'D) I swear to God, if it weren't for you, I'd probably never see Colin outside of school.
EDNA: Junior still isn't driving you?
AMY: I refuse to ask that man for anything. I mean, why would I give him the satisification to all my depending on him? When I could be depending on you instead.
EDNA: I see your point. Although Mr. Randolph does have that taxi available.
AMY: I mean, if he would acknowledge the fact that he made a mistake, then I might be able to forgive him. But he won't. He just thinks he's totally right.
EDNA: And you think he's totally wrong.
AMY: I know he's wrong but he just acts so righteous and puffy like he's so much smarter than me that I just wanna...
EDNA: ...grab him by his hair and beat his head against the wall until he barks like a fox?
[Amy laughs and so does Edna.]
EDNA: Believe me, I've been there. When I told him I was marrying Irv, you should have heard him go on, all puffed up like a damn blowfish. The trick is, don't let him get to you. Remember, it's all about power.
AMY: Exactly. You're so right. You know, Grandma, you're the only person in this whole family that's even tried to see my side to this. It's like you're the only one who really gets me.
EDNA: Oh no.
AMY: Hey, maybe you and Irv can come over to dinner tomorrow night. It's been kind of a nightmare lately but if you're there, it will take some of the pressure off.
EDNA: Well, it might piss off your pops.
AMY: That would be just a bonus.
EDNA: Count me in.
[Edna's cell phone rings and she answers it.]
EDNA: [into phone] Hello? [to Amy] It's for you.
AMY: Oh, I gave Colin your number so that he could reach me. Is that OK?
EDNA: Of course, it's OK.
AMY: Thanks, Grams. [into phone] Hello? [beat] Oh, I miss you too.
[Amy laughs. Edna smiles at the sight of her granddaughter being happy. Then Edna veers the truck off the road and goes into a ditch of some sort. Tires screech. Amy is frightened.]
AMY: Grandma! [into phone] I gotta go. I'll call you back.
[Edna turns off the truck.]
AMY: What?
[Edna goes out of the truck and looks upward at the sky. Amy does the same. The sky has some kind of bright white lights that are moving. It's hard to explain.]
EDNA: Would you look at that?
AMY: Wow. It's all glowing.
NARRATOR: With all the advances in technology of late, modern science offers more opportunities than ever before to help unravel the mysteries of the night sky.
EDNA: What the heck do you think it is? Amy? Amy?!
[Edna turns around and sees Amy back in the truck talking to Colin on the cell.]
AMY: Hey, Colin? Yeah, I'm back. [beat] Yeah, I don't know. Some weird star thing.
[Edna smiles and then looks back at the sky after shaking her head.]
NARRATOR: And yet, it seems that the closer we get to the stars, the less we actually understand them.
{END OF TEASER / OPENING CREDITS / COMMERCIAL BREAK}
{ACT ONE}
[Open in the Brown kitchen. Dr. Brown serves his daughter Delia an omelette he just made.]
DR. BROWN: Now, be honest. But contructive.
[Delia takes a bite.]
DR. BROWN: So, what do you think?
[Slowly, Delia smiles.]
DELIA: It's good.
[Dr. Brown smiles and then sees his son Ephram enter the kitchen.]
DR. BROWN: Morning, Ephram. Wanna try one of my soon to be famous omelettes?
DELIA: It's safe. I promise.
[Ephram seems to be looking over something in a notebook or something.]
EPHRAM: It's alright. I should get going. Did you pick up my suit?
DR. BROWN: Yeah, I picked both of ours up at the cleaners last night. Do you think, uh, dark blue is appropriate for an Everwood recital?
EPHRAM: Yeah, it should work.
[Ephram puts the thing he was looking at in his bookbag. He puts on his jacket and finishes putting everything he needs for school in his bookbag.]
DR. BROWN: Good, 'cause I cancelled all my appointments for Friday. I don't want anything to interfere with the big night.
EPHRAM: It's not my first recital. It's not that a big deal.
DELIA: [to her brother] Do you get to do the finale? [to her dad] He always gets the finale. It means he's the best.
EPHRAM: Uh, I don't know yet. The finale was a bigger deal back in New York. Here, I'm gonna be playing with guys named Billy Jack and think arpeggio is a form of pasta. [to his dad] You, you didn't invite too many people, did you?
DR. BROWN: Uh, no.
EPHRAM: And you know who to invite, right?
DR. BROWN: Mm-hmm.
EPHRAM: Who?
[Delia looks up, shifting her attention to her brother and her dad.]
DR. BROWN: Who what?
EPHRAM: Who'd you invite?
DR. BROWN: Don't you trust me?
EPHRAM: [frankly] No.
DR. BROWN: Uh, Nina, Sam. Edna, Irv. Harry.
EPHRAM: Who's Harry?
DR. BROWN: Look, if you don't want Harry to come, I'll disinvite him but he's going to be really disappointed.
EPHRAM: No, it's fine. Harry can come. I just, nobody else. I don't want a whole train section. If I see one video camera, I'm walking out.
[Ephram starts to leave and then he remembers something.]
EPHRAM: (CONT'D) And don't forget. You're in charge of cups.
DR. BROWN: Roger that.
[Ephram leaves. Dr. Brown apparently forgot about how he was in charge of cups.]
DR. BROWN: Cups.
DELIA: Don't worry, Dad. I got your back.
[Cut to the old train station, Dr. Brown's office. Dr. Brown's with a very tall obese man named Chuck Dodd who's a lumberjack. His wife Betsy is there also and she's very small in comparison to her husband. She doesn't even go past her husband's shoulder in height.]
DR. BROWN: Well, Mr. Dodd, I gotta tell you that I don't know too many real-life lumberjacks except for Paul Bunyan and the paper towel guy.
CHUCK: We're just like normal folk. Just got more chainsaws. That's all.
[All three share a chuckle.]
DR. BROWN: Well, sit down and tell me what the problem is.
[Chuck sits.]
CHUCK: I've had some, uh, bruises kind of crop up lately. I don't know where they're coming from. I'm not the kind of guy to be worried about a little bruise but Betsy thought we should have them checked out.
BETSY: They're very purple.
DR. BROWN: Mmm.
CHUCK: I just woke up one morning and there they were.
BETSY: They're getting worse too.
DR. BROWN: Well, let's have a look.
[Chuck lifts up his shirt and indeed there are very bad-looking bruises.]
[Dr. Brown looks at the bruises. Chuck and Betsy look Dr. Brown doing that. Betsy shares a look with her husband and then turns her attention to Dr. Brown.]
BETSY: What do you think, Dr. Brown?
DR. BROWN: Well, it's hard to tell at this point. It could be any number of things. It could be an infection or sometimes an allergic reaction can cause bruising or it could be something as simple as a vitamin deficiency. But I just think that we oughta run a blood test just to make sure it's nothing more severe.
CHUCK: Uh, I'm going to be leaving town in a couple of days. Things have been kind of slow here so I'm going up to Alaska to work for a couple of months. Can this wait until I get back?
BETSY: Didn't you hear Dr. Brown? I mean, this could be severe. You are NOT going anywhere until we know for sure.
CHUCK: She loves me.
DR. BROWN: Well, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of this.
[Cut to the Abbott dining room. Irv and Edna Harper are sitting opposite each other. Amy sits to the left of her grandma and Bright sits to the right of Irv. Dr. Abbott is at the head of the table, next to his son and his mother. Rose Abbott walks in with some more food and sits opposite her husband. They are all eating dinner.]
IRV: Describe what it looked like.
EDNA: It's hard to. All I know is that it was the strangest damn thing I've ever seen.
ROSE: I ran into Brenda Baxworth at the market. She'd been on the telephone to NASA for two hours, trying to get somebody out here to identify it.
BRIGHT: There's only one explanation. Aliens.
DR. ABBOTT: Bright.
BRIGHT: Oh, whatever. Yeah, don't believe me. When little green men come a-knocking, who do you think they're gonna invite to board the mother ship?
AMY: We should be so lucky.
IRV: Why do we have to figure it out? Some things can't be explained -- Stonehenge, crop circles, Edna's aversion to cooking.
EDNA: You don't look like you're starving to me, big fella.
[Irv chuckles as he takes a bite of some food.]
DR. ABBOTT: Well, I hate to end this aimless debate, but the answer's rather simple -- the Aurora Borealis, AKA, the Northern Lights. If we could change the subject to something a little less tedious?
AMY: You're wrong.
[Silence.]
DR. ABBOTT: Excuse me?
AMY: [sighs] The Northern Lights are caused by physical and chemical reactions from solar winds colliding with air molecules, and they only move on the earth's magnetic fields, so you only see them when you're closer to the northern and southern poles. We're too far south. And the clouds are typically very colorful: red, blue, violet. The lights we saw were white and moving around.
BRIGHT: How do you know all that stuff, Miss Honor Science?
AMY: God had to do something with the other half of your brain.
BRIGHT: OK.
AMY: Hey, Grandma, maybe you and I can figure out what it is together, like when we used to play "x-files." We can gather evidence on the net, look for clues. It'll be fun.
DR. ABBOTT: Perhaps you're forgetting you are grounded.
EDNA: What for?
ROSE: Mulder here blew the curfew last night, came in late from Colin's.
AMY: What's the big deal? It's not like I'm gonna be doing something or going anywhere that counts as fun. [to Edna] No offense.
EDNA: None taken.
AMY: We're just gonna solve a scientific mystery. I'm still grounded.
BRIGHT: Do you think if aliens would probe you, you'd still be considered a virgin?
[Dr. Abbott looks like he's gonna strangle Bright or something. A slow piano melody starts playing.]
[Cut to a piano rehearsal for the recital. Ephram and a girl named Kate watch an obese kid named Hank playing on the piano. Matt enters a little late.]
EPHRAM: Is that what you're playing for the recital?
HANK: No, I've got something better. "Axel F" from "Beverly Hills Cop."
MATT: Hey, guys, I'm sorry I'm late. OK, so the recital is in two days. I thought we'd change things up a bit by rehearsing together until then. So I want you guys to split up into groups of two, and the person you're paired up with will be your page-turner during rehearsals. But you should have your music memorized before the show and I'll let you know by Friday what the order for the show will be. Ephram, you're with Kate, and you guys will play first tonight.
EPHRAM: Hey.
KATE: Hey.
EPHRAM: So, uh, how's it going?
KATE: Good.
EPHRAM: How long you and Matt -- how long you been with Matt?
KATE: A couple of years. You?
EPHRAM: Oh, just a few months. Uh, y-you want to go first, or should-should I go first?
KATE: I'm already memorized, so...
EPHRAM: OK, well, my stuff's in my bag.
KATE: No worries. I'll just go.
[Kate begins playing "Moonlight Sonata" by Ludwig Von Beethoven. Ephram looks jealous. Matt looks on.]
{END OF ACT ONE / COMMERCIAL BREAK}
{ACT TWO}
[Open in the Brown kitchen. It looks like Delia's working on some homework. Dr. Brown enters with bags that look like they're filled with cups. Dr. Brown closes the door with his right foot.]
DELIA: Where were you?
DR. BROWN: Well, after spending the early morning hours delivering the last of the invitations, I decided to go shopping. I was supposed to get regular cups, right?
DELIA: Uh-huh. So, what did you get?
DR. BROWN: Well, you said you couldn't remember which kind Mom got, so
[Dr. Brown dumps the bags full of cups onto the kitchen table.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) Fortunately, Mr. Johnson just had a big shipment of 16-ounce solos. They were a steal. So, what do you think? [holding up a stack of red cups] Does red say "recital," or what?
DELIA: I don't know, Dad. You might have to take some back.
[Ephram enters the room.]
EPHRAM: Why? Either that or throw a kegger. What are all these for?
DR. BROWN: For your guests.
EPHRAM: What guests?
DR. BROWN: Well, four people RSVP'd. I hand-delivered the invites myself.
EPHRAM: Good, then you can take them back, right?
DR. BROWN: What? The cups?
EPHRAM: No. The invitations.
DR. BROWN: Was the recital cancelled?
EPHRAM: No, I just decided I didn't want anybody there. It's no big deal.
DR. BROWN: It is a big deal. What? Could you at least tell me why?
EPHRAM: Because it's my recital, and I don't want anybody there.
DR. BROWN: Well, does this have something to do with Mom? I know your last recital you...
EPHRAM: No, it's got nothing to do with Mom. All right, that's not what everything's about.
DR. BROWN: Well, what is it about?
EPHRAM: Just because it's not Mom doesn't mean I'm gonna tell you.
DR. BROWN: I guess I'm supposed to be happy with that.
EPHRAM: Yeah.
[Ephram exits.]
DELIA: We can throw a "pregger."
[Cut to the front page of the Everwood Pinecone which has the headline of "Aliens come to Everwood" and then we pull back to reveal Main Street. Indistinct conversations between crazy people in the street because of some weird music playing. Dr. Abbott is in his car trying to park.]
DR. ABBOTT: Look at this. The good ship fruitcake has definitely landed. Officers, enjoying this, are we? Hello.
[Dr. Abbott honks his horn.]
DR. ABBOTT: Come on, you losers. Blast off, you bozos! Move it! Oh, let me just hit this one. How many points is that? Hello! You and your tie-dyed space freaks, move it!
[Conversations between the crazy people continue.]
DR. ABBOTT: My God.
FREAK: Hey, would you like to buy a crystal?
DR. ABBOTT: No, sir, I would not like to buy a crystal. What I would like is for you and the rest of your hippie entourage to hightail it out of here, yesterday, if possible.
FREAK: Hey, the power vortices are moving northward, man. You better be prepared.
DR. ABBOTT: "Power vortices"? What is that? A term you picked up in Ben & Jerry's physics class?
UFOLOGIST: No way vortices are part of the alien plot.
DR. ABBOTT: I'm sure it's pointless to do so, but might I point out that after several NASA missions spending of billions of your tax dollars, the search for extraterrestrial life has proven fruitless for decades. We are alone, dude. Better get used to it.
DR. BROWN: According to Carl Sagan, it's 99% certain that there is other life in the universe.
DR. ABBOTT: Dr. Brown, I should have known you'd be on the side of the whack jobs.
DR. BROWN: So you're telling me, if you could find an alien race that doesn't watch Joe Millionaire, you wouldn't consider relocating?
DR. ABBOTT: If I thought that was even a remote possibility, I would have been beamed up long ago. Ladies...
[Dr. Brown is meeting with the Dodds again. Edna's nearby.]
DR. BROWN: Well, your blood test came back negative for infection and allergies. And you're clearly suffering from something much more severe than a vitamin deficiency.
BETSY: So then it might be aliens?
DR. BROWN: Well, if I had to bet on a fight between Chuck and an alien, I'd put my money on Chuck.
EDNA: But we could always bring in Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster for questioning.
DR. BROWN: Are you a heavy sleeper, Chuck?
CHUCK: Yeah, as a matter of fact, we both are. We joke that if the house were to burn down while we were sleeping, neither one of us would wake up.
DR. BROWN: Good to know. How about sleepwalking? You ever done that?
CHUCK: Yeah, as a kid. My mom used to say she'd catch me in the kitchen in the middle of the night, stealing cookies, but that was years ago.
DR. BROWN: Nonetheless, a previous history is a good indication that this might be the root of your problem. I'm gonna recommend we set up a sleep clinic, right here in my office.
BETSY: Sleep clinic?
DR. BROWN: Just standard procedure. You'll go to sleep...just like you normally would. The only difference is, you'll be here instead of at home. That'll give me a chance to observe you and hopefully figure out what's causing these bruises.
BETSY: Should I come, too?
DR. BROWN: If you don't mind, Mrs. Dodd, I'd rather observe Chuck alone. In a clinical setting, it's usually better if the patient remains isolated. Do you think you can make it through one night on your own?
BETSY: If it'll make him better, I'll do whatever it takes.
DR. BROWN: Great. I'll see you tonight. I'll bring the milk. You bring the cookies.
CHUCK: Great. Chocolate chip or oatmeal?
[At Peak County High School, Amy opens up her locker between classes.]
AMY: [to herself] Oh, Ephram's recital. Cool. [to Ephram who's nearby] I see your dad went for the fancy lettering.
[Ephram walks up to Amy.]
EPHRAM: Yeah, I didn't know he sent you one.
AMY: So, are you nervous?
EPHRAM: Try not to think about it.
AMY: I know what you mean. My ballet recitals are always so stressful. My dad invites, like, a million people.
AMY: Well, consider me RSVP'd anyway.
EPHRAM: You sure about that?
AMY: I mean, yeah. Unless you don't want me there?
EPHRAM: Just it's not the best idea.
AMY: You're afraid you'll mess up or something?
EPHRAM: Look, Amy, I appreciate you trying to act like everything's normal, you know, with this whole Colin thing, but we both know it's not, and I think it's best if we just, you know, keep our distance for a little while. I mean, don't you?
AMY: Yes... Guess you're right, Ephram. Good luck.
[Amy returns the invitation. Kate walks down the hallway, as Amy leaves. Ephram looks sad.]
EPHRAM: Hey.
KATE: Hey.
EPHRAM: Have you always gone to County?
KATE: Not by choice.
EPHRAM: That's weird. I've never noticed you before.
KATE: Should you have?
EPHRAM: Well, I like to know when I'm in the presence of greatness. I mean, I thought I was good, but you were... Amazing.
KATE: So you didn't notice that my dynamics were off, my fingering was wrong, and I rushed the tempo on the allegro?
EPHRAM: No, I'm just glad I'm not gonna have to play after you.
[Ephram chuckles.]
KATE: How do you know you're not?
EPHRAM: Well, 'cause you're the best. Best player always goes last.
KATE: I could play that piece perfectly, and I still wouldn't make the finale slot.
EPHRAM: I think Matt knows what he's doing.
KATE: Matt does know what he's doing. Trust me, Liberace has a better shot at the finale than I do.
[Kate walks off, leaving Ephram feeling insulted and confused. A bell rings.]
[Dr. Abbott is approaching Mama Joy's, which has a long lunch line out the door.]
DR. ABBOTT: What all is this? Hello, what? Excuse me. Can I get in, past you all strange people? Excuse me. Harvard-based life-form coming through. Excuse me.
DWAYNE: How many in your party today?
DR. ABBOTT: Are you telling me there's a wait to get into Mama Joy's?
DWAYNE: Unless you want to share a table.
DR. ABBOTT: I'd just as soon buy everyone here a one-way ticket to Roswell before I'd be seen breaking bread with the lunatic fringe.
[Dr. Brown waves from a table.]
DR. ABBOTT: Speaking of.
[Dr. Abbott walks over to Dr. Brown's table.]
DR. ABBOTT: This is a turn of events. Maybe the first time this year that you are not the craziest person in Mama Joy's.
DR. BROWN: Thanks. Feels good. You don't happen to have that recital invitation I gave you, do you?
DR. ABBOTT: No. Why?
DR. BROWN: I have to disinvite you. It's not my choice. I have no choice.
DR. ABBOTT: I take it back. You are still the craziest person in Mama Joy's.
DR. BROWN: No, no, it's not me. It's Ephram. He keeps changing his mind from one minute to the next. I can't figure out what he wants.
DR. ABBOTT: Sounds like a simple case of pre-recital jitters. He's nervous. He doesn't want to make a fool of himself in front of 300 people, let alone in front of his father. Although you have humiliated yourself plenty in front of him, so it's not like it's a big deal for your family.
CHUCK: Dr. Brown.
DR. BROWN: Hey, Chuck.
CHUCK: You remember that, uh, sleep-clinic thing that we were gonna do tonight? I can't do it. Something came up. Can we, uh, switch it to tomorrow?
DR. BROWN: Sure, just give Edna a call. She'll put it on my schedule.
CHUCK: Thanks. I appreciate it.
DR. ABBOTT: What were we just talking about?
DR. BROWN: Ephram's recital tomorrow... oh, damn! Um... I don't suppose you've ever run a sleep clinic, have you, Harold?
DR. ABBOTT: Nice try, Doctor. I'm not here to pick up your slack. I'm sure that you and Mr. Dodd will find a mutually agreeable time.
DR. BROWN: Well, that's gonna be tough, especially since he's leaving town in a couple of days. He has got these mysterious welts all over his body. And I'm just afraid if I wait too much longer, the Everwood Lights will disappear, and, quite possibly, Chuck's welts with them.
DR. ABBOTT: You and I both know that the Everwood Lights, whatever they are, have nothing to do with Chuck Dodd's mysterious welts.
DR. BROWN: Oh, yeah? You tell that to Betsy. She is so convinced that aliens have done this, she has given Davenport an exclusive for the chronicle. I am telling you, I don't want to see what these press people are capable of once they get their hands on some hard evidence.
DR. ABBOTT: If I do this, you know, it is only because I cannot pass up an opportunity to disprove the National Enquirer.
DR. BROWN: Oh, absolutely.
DR. ABBOTT: Menu?
[Amy's surfing on the Net in her room to find the cause of the lights. Edna's nearby.]
EDNA: Now, wait, wait. Go back to the phosphorescent minerals.
AMY: That theory doesn't make sense, Grandma.
EDNA: Why not?
AMY: Because, um... light from earth-based minerals would be seen just above the earth's surface. The Everwood Lights were too high in the atmosphere for that.
[Computer beeps. I think Colin just IMed Amy. Given that the screen name is "newhart2002", I think it's very likely.]
EDNA: What's... what's that, "newhart2002"?
AMY: Oh, that's... that's just an Internet thing.
EDNA: All right, well, what else we got?
AMY: Um...how about ball lightning, meteor showers, renegade comets?
EDNA: Well, that's just about as likely as aliens.
AMY: Well, Grandma, I think the Internet has taken us about as far as it can right now.
EDNA: We can't quit now. If I don't come back with a scientific explanation, I have to give Irv fifty bucks and three hot meals a week, and we're talking stove hot, no microwave.
AMY: I'm not suggesting that we quit. I'm saying we should take this investigation to the next level, you know, do a little field research. We could camp out, hang with the alien freaks, roast marshmallows. It'll be fun.
DR. ABBOTT: You're forgetting the definition of the term "grounded"?
AMY: You eavesdrop now. Good to know.
EDNA: What do you say, Junior? You gonna give my granddaughter permission to go off base tomorrow night?
DR. ABBOTT: Mother, you of all people should know when a child is grounded, it is the equivalent of a prison sentence. That means no telephone, no TV, and absolutely no going out.
EDNA: Well, where we're going, there are no phones, no television, and with me as chaperon, it'll be more like a prison than a prison.
AMY: It's practically like homework, Dad.
DR. ABBOTT: Fine, fine, you may go, and since it is practically like homework, anyway, I want a 1,000-word, typed-up, double-spaced report on the mystery of the Everwood lights on my desk by Monday morning.
AMY: You have got to be kidding me.
DR. ABBOTT: That's the deal. Take it or leave it.
AMY: Fine, I'll take it.
EDNA: All right. Tomorrow night at 1800 hours sharp. Good choice, Junior.
DR. ABBOTT: Yeah, as if I ever had one.
[Kate's playing "Moonlight Sonata" again, I think. When she's done, the other students clap.]
MATT: It's better, but not exactly up to snuff, Kate. I'd log in some more rehearsal time before tomorrow if I were you.
[Kate gets off the piano bench and sits near Ephram.]
MATT: Speaking of which, I've made my decisions on the playing order, so listen up. Hank... Daniel... Evelyn... Afton... Chris... Laura...
[Matt stops in front of Kate and Ephram with a long silence and then he continues the order of the recital.]
MATT: (CONT'D) Kate... and, Ephram, you're our anchor. Do us proud.
KATE: What'd I tell you?
[She exits looking sort of disappointed with Ephram looking after her, feeling sorry.]
MATT: Laura, you want to go next?
{END OF ACT TWO / COMMERCIAL BREAK}
{ACT THREE}
[Open on Ephram practicing his piece for the recital at the concert hall. Matt is watching. Ephram finishes and turns to Matt who claps his hands.]
MATT: Bravo.
EPHRAM: Thank you.
MATT: Bravo.
EPHRAM: Thank you. I'd like to thank the Academy. I'd like to thank the people at Mama Joy's for supporting my french fry habit. And I would like to thank my piano teacher, Matt. For taking a chance on a no name.
MATT: Well, love to take the credit but it's all you, my friend.
EPHRAM: Well, I'm obviously a genius but...
MATT: Still don't forget humble.
EPHRAM: But I'm not the best player. Which begs a question: Why'd I get the finale?
MATT: Do you want me to give it to someone else?
EPHRAM: No. But... Kate's obviously a better player than me.
MATT: Kate is terrific. But that comes from hours of practice. She has diligence. You have a gift. Sucks for her, cool for you.
EPHRAM: That simple?
MATT: Such as life.
EPHRAM: So what are we going to tackle next? 'Cause I got tell you, I'm not loving Schubert right now.
MATT: That won't be up to me.
[Matt gets up to sit closer to Ephram.]
EPHRAM: What? You're letting me pick out my own music now? Sweet. Bring on the jazz.
MATT: Actually, I wasn't going to tell you this until tomorrow. But this is our last lesson. I got another job, Ephram.
EPHRAM: Well, I didn't know even you were looking. For what? When? Where?
MATT: A conservatory in London. I applied two years ago. Finally interested. So I'm packin' up and flying outta here.
EPHRAM: Well. Happened kinda fast.
MATT: I met the people when I was in New York a few of months ago. It's something I've just been working on. Anyway...
EPHRAM: I guess Everwood can't really compete with London. right?
MATT: Well, Madonna lives there for a reason.
[Ephram smiles.]
EPHRAM: Well it's gonna suck that losing one of three people in this town that I can carry a conversation.
MATT: Thank God there's email. [beat] C'mon. Let's try that last chord progression one more time and then you're free.
[Ephram begins playing. Matt moves back to his original seat in this scene and watches.]
[Cut to Edna loading up her and Irv's truck with stuff. She and Amy are going on their trip to find out what the mystery is.]
EDNA: I know the perfect place where we can get the best view of the lights. It's just past Norris' Field. We should have the whole place to ourselves. And grab that tent, will ya?
[Amy and Edna both walk to the truck. Amy grabs the tent.]
AMY: So what exactly is the plan for tonight?
EDNA: Moo-ta. I figure the first thing we gotta do is get a better look of the lights so I packed my telescope. Also I thought we would take some pictures.
AMY: Oh, that's a great idea. So how about you go on? Do the whole telescope thing by yourself and I will meet you later to take all of the pictures. I'm better with the camera, anyway.
EDNA: What do you mean, "meet you later"? Where are you going to be?
AMY: Well, I thought I, I would help Colin on this test he's got on Monday. [beat] I figured you would understand that because we both know me being grounded is another one of my dad's lame... power-moves. Right?
EDNA: Amy, I suddenly feel as though I'm being hornswaggled and I don't like it one bit.
AMY: No, that's not how it is at all, Grandma.
EDNA: You thought you could manipulate me into letting you see Colin because you knew your dad would never let ya. This whole X-files reunion tour was just so you can use me.
AMY: I didn't use you, Grandma. I need you. There's a difference.
EDNA: Well tell that to someone who buys you a Larkie.
[Edna slams the truck door shut.]
EDNA: Get in the truck.
AMY: Seriously you're not going to let me go?
EDNA: Seriously.
AMY: Well, can I at least call him and tell him I'm not going to make it?
EDNA: No.
AMY: Why not? [beat] Grandma, I thought you understood me.
EDNA: I thought I did too.
AMY: Well fine. Then, just take me home.
EDNA: Forget it. We are going camping, we're going to figure out what those lights are about, and we're going to do it together whether you like it or not.
AMY: But Grandma...
EDNA: Truck.
[Amy mouths "OK" and doesn't mess with her grandma anymore. She goes in the truck.]
[Cut to the Brown living room. Dr. Brown and Delia are sitting on the couch in very nice clothes. Dr. Brown is on the phone with Chuck Dodd and also picks up a hair ribbon to do his daughter's hair at the same time.]
DR. BROWN: [into phone] Look, Chuck, it's going to be fine. You have nothing to worry about. You're in very, very good hands with Dr. Abbott.
DELIA: Ow. You're pulling all my hair out.
DR. BROWN: Oh, you do it yourself, sweetheart, OK?
[Delia begins doing it herself.]
DR. BROWN: [into phone] So meet him in my office at nine o'clock and then I'll call you tomorrow afternoon to see how it went, OK? [beat] Alright. Good luck.
[Dr. Brown hangs up the phone. Ephram enters the room in a nice suit too.]
DR. BROWN: Hey, looking sharp.
[Ephram chuckles. He's holding something.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) Is that Matt's present?
EPHRAM: Yeah. I think I'll give it to him after the recital.
DR. BROWN: What'd you get him?
EPHRAM: I found him this old something at The Leming in case you're looking.
DR. BROWN: Oh, that's very thoughtful. I'm sure he'll appreciate it. So, you're nervous?
EPHRAM: Well, I had a couple of shots of whiskey to take the edge off so should be fine.
[Ephram sits on a chair.]
DR. BROWN: Well good. Oh, and I dropped off those cups earlier today at the concert hall for ya.
EPHRAM: Well, you've done a fine job with the cups. Mom would be proud.
[They chuckle.]
EPHRAM: (CONT'D) So how many people actually RSVP'ed for this thing?
DR. BROWN: Is this a trick question? Because you asked me to disinvite everyone yesterday so I did.
EPHRAM: Oh, you did?
DR. BROWN: Yeah, I did what you told me to do.
EPHRAM: So no one else is coming?
DR. BROWN: You didn't want anyone to come. That's what you told me. I have a witness.
[Dr. Brown looks to Delia.]
DELIA: Don't look at me. I'm working with my ribbon.
EPHRAM: Oh, yeah, it's no big deal.
DR. BROWN: Hold on. Wait a minute. Maybe we could...
EPHRAM: No. It's fine. Forget it. Really.
DR. BROWN: Are you sure?
[Car honks from outside.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) Because there's still time.
EPHRAM: That's Matt. I'm gonnna get a ride with him, alright?
[Ephram exits.]
DR. BROWN: C'mon, sweetheart. Let's go.
DELIA: But the recital's not for a whole another hour. We got plenty of time.
DR. BROWN: No, we don't. We gotta go find an audience.
[Dr. Brown grab their coats and he and Delia leave.]
[Cut to Dr. Brown's practice, exterior. Then interior. Dr. Abbott is drinking something in the main area. Far off we see Chuck Dodd is having a hard time sleeping. Dr. Abbott shakes his head. He looks through the stuff in the desk he's at. It's Edna's. He's shocked at his findings.]
DR. ABBOTT: Mother. My God.
[Dr. Abbott calls out to Chuck.]
DR. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) Mr. Dodd, it's difficult to conduct a sleep clinic if you do not go to sleep.
CHUCK: I'm trying, Dr. Abbott.
DR. ABBOTT: What is it you need? Ambience, some warm milk, should I recite Goodnight Moon?
CHUCK: I can't sleep without my Betsy.
[Dr. Abbott sighs.]
DR. ABBOTT: You must be kidding.
[Dr. Abbott gets up and goes to Chuck. He picks up a pillow on the way over.]
CHUCK: I need Betsy. If I don't have my arm around her, I can't go to sleep.
DR. ABBBOTT: Do you have to have her next to you?
[Chuck puts up his hand as if in protest.]
CHUCK: Listen, I, I appreciate the offer, Doctor, but I really need my wife.
DR. ABBOTT: No. I was offering you a pillow. [sights] Fine, fine. Let's go find your Betsy.
[Dr. Abbott begins walking off. Chuck gets out of bed.]
[Cut to a view of the night sky. Pan down to show Amy and Edna by a fire. Nearby are many other tents set up. Lots of people are there too.]
AMY: Well so much for having the place to ourselves.
[Edna chuckles.]
AMY: Can I have some co-co?
EDNA: Sure. Knock yourself out.
AMY: Thanks.
[A female camper comes up to them as Amy pours co-co.]
CAMPER: I'm sorry to bother you ladies but I was wondering if you had some matches I could borrow. My family's over there and we're trying to start a campfire.
EDNA: Sure.
AMY: Sure.
CAMPER: Quite a night, isn't it? I can't believe how many people turned out for this.
EDNA: I guess we over-estimated the apathy of the general public where the little green men are concerned.
CAMPER: It's wonderful, isn't it? I mean, nowadays, I can't get my kids together for a meal. Then something like this comes along...
EDNA: It is hard to get a family together these days.
CAMPER: Reminds me of my fourth abduction in '79.
[Amy slides a glance to her grandma.]
CAMPER: (CONT'D) That's not right. Um, maybe, it was my third. So hard to keep track. [to Amy] You have such pretty hair.
[Edna produces the matches.]
EDNA: Here's your matches. Keep 'em.
CAMPER: Thank you.
[Camper walks off.]
EDNA: So much for sleeping tonight.
AMY: Mmhmm. [beat] She's right though. Whatever all of these lights are, they brought all of these people here tonight. Pretty impressive.
VOICE: [yelling] AMY ABBOTT!
[Edna and Amy lurch somewhat forward.]
AMY: Did someone just call my name?
SAME VOICE: [yelling] EDNA HARPER!
EDNA: [stands] We're being paged. In the forest.
[They see who it is.]
AMY: Dr. Brown?
[Dr. Brown's out of breath.]
DR. BROWN: I'm sorry to crash on your mission, Edna, but I need to talk to Amy for a second.
AMY: Is everything OK?
DR. BROWN: Ephram's piano recital is tonight and I'd like you to come. I know he'd really like you to be there.
AMY: Well, actually, he made it very clear that he didn't want me there at all.
DR. BROWN: Well, I learned a very valuable lesson this week which I am now going to impart you: Whatever he says about his piano recital, he means the exact opposite.
AMY: Well, I'd love to but I, I promised my grandmother that I'd stay here tonight. It's really important.
EDNA: It's OK. Go on ahead.
AMY: Well, I don't want to abandon you.
EDNA: I can defend the universe from an alien invasion all by myself.
AMY: OK, well, I'll come back right after the recital, I promise.
[Amy hugs her grandma.]
AMY: (CONT'D) Don't figure anything out without me.
EDNA: Promise.
[Amy chuckles.]
DR. BROWN: Right over here, Amy.
AMY: Thanks.
[Amy begins walking in that direction. Dr. Brown remains for a little bit as if to show his appreciation to Edna. He then goes off in the same direction as Amy. Remain on Edna for a little bit.]
[Cut to the concert hall, backstage. Numerous people are scattered about, preparing for the recital.]
MALE VOICE: House opens in ten minutes. Get ready.
[Pan some to show Hank showing something another teen. A woman walks to another.]
WOMAN: Hi.
[Ephram walks in with the present for Matt in his hand and looks around. Then he goes up to Hank.]
EPHRAM: Have you seen Matt?
HANK: He's downstairs, making a phone call.
[Ephram walks off.]
HANK: [to teen] This fortissimo is killing me. I don't know what I'm going to do.
[Cut to the downstairs of the concert hall. A female and a male are walking down the hall. Ephram comes down. He's looking for the room Matt is in and carrying his present for Matt. He opens a door.]
EPHRAM: Matt?
[Nope. Not Matt so he continues. He walks to another door. Background music builds. He opens the door. He sees Matt kissing someone. They stop and we see the female Matt was kissing. It's Kate. Ephram closes the door without saying a word. He's shocked. He sighs. He walks aways. He comes to a garbage can. He tosses the present to Matt in there as we fade out.]
{END OF ACT THREE / COMMERCIAL BREAK}
{ACT FOUR}
[Open on a big circular white light. Pan out to show we're in the concert hall. Ephram's playing so the recital is near the end. In the audience are Amy, Dr. Brown, and Delia. Pan some more as Ephram continues to play. We see Hank, a girl, and Matt watching from backstage. We go back to show Ephram. We then see Kate backstage by herself. And back to Ephram again. And back to Kate who smiles. Then back to the audience. Then to Ephram. He finishes and smiles to himself. The audience has started clapping and is giving him a well-earned standing ovation. Ephram takes a bow. Amy is clapping hard as is Dr. Brown who is standing next to her. Ephram slips backstage, still basking in the glow of his musical triumph.]
KATE: Nice job Ephram.
[Ephram ignores her, but she follows. We stay with them.]
KATE: (CONT'D) You were amazing tonight.
EPHRAM: Yeah, right.
KATE: I mean it. You really nailed the finals.
[He waves her off, ignoring her.]
KATE: What's your problem? I'm just saying, I thought you were great...
EPHRAM: Look, I get it. I am not an idiot.
KATE: What are you talking about?
EPHRAM: We both know that Matt only gave me the slot because he didn't want to blow his cover by giving it to you.
KATE: Your performance was awesome. You earned the finale.
EPHRAM: I don't need a pep talk. Least of all from you.
KATE: What, I can't even give you a compliment?
EPHRAM: Yesterday you wouldn't even say two words to me and now you want to be my best friend? I mean, it's so obvious what you're doing here.
KATE: Oh, is that so?
EPHRAM: Yes, and don't worry. I'm not going to blow your cover. I'm sure people will figure out how naïve you are without me ever saying a word.
KATE: Oh, you think I'm naïve?
EPHRAM: If you haven't already figured out why 28-year-old guys date high school girls, I can't help you.
KATE: Matt and I are in love.
EPHRAM: Is that why he's dumping you for some lameass job in London?
KATE: You really don't get it, do you? Matt's not dumping me. He's leaving town because my dad found out about us.
EPHRAM: Why?
KATE: Yeah, but I guess you believe everything Matt's ever told you. [beat] Who's the naïve one now?
[Kate walks off and Ephram feels humilated.]
[Cut to Dr. Abbott at the Dodds apparently. He's just about to fall asleep with a magazine in his hand. The magazine drops a little. We hear something as though something is being hit. It continues and it wakes Dr. Abbott up. He goes to a window and looks out to the sky. The weird lights are there.]
CHUCK: Sweet Betsy.
[Dr. Abbott looks around and bonks into something. He groans. He enters the Dodds' bedroom and turns on the light.]
DR. ABBOTT: Gotcha.
[We see Betsy Dodd is hitting her husband as they are sleeping. Dr. Abbott attempts to stop the hitting but it continues.]
DR. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) Mrs. Dodd. Mrs. Dodd. For God's sake, woman, wake up.
[Dr. Abbott tries some more to stop it but he ends up getting hit by the little woman and he falls. Betsy Dodd continues hitting her husband.]
[Cut to the forest. Edna making breakfast. Amy climbs out of the tent.]
AMY: Why does it smell like beans out here?
EDNA: Oh, I forgot the eggs so we're having the huevos rancheros minus the huevos. How was the recital? I think I fell asleep before you got back.
AMY: Awesome. I really think Ephram's going to be a famous piano player one day.
[Amy starts to put her hair in a ponytail.]
AMY: (CONT'D) I mean, even bigger than Tori and or the guy from Shine.
EDNA: Well, I'm glad you had a good time.
AMY: You know and it's kind of what I don't get.
EDNA: What do you mean?
AMY: Well, you're really mad at me when all I wanted to do was go see Colin but you had no problem with me going to see Ephram's piano recital. [beat] Is that your way of telling me I chose the wrong bachelor, Grandma?
EDNA: No, I'm not trying to choose your boyfriend or anything like that. I'm just trying to keep you from losing too much of yourself when you figure all it out. You know, you and your dad are a lot alike. You've both got tunnel vision like I've never seen. You focus so intently on one thing that you forget everything else around you and right now, your tunnel leads to Colin and only to Colin.
AMY: Yeah, but I...
EDNA: Love him. I know and I understand. But there's a very fine line between devotion and obsession. Besides, Colin's not the only one who needs you. Your dad does, I do, and last night, more than anyone, Ephram did and you were there for him. And that's the kind of person you've always been and I just didn't want you to forget it.
AMY: So, basically, you're saying is there is more to life than boys?
EDNA: Well, if you want to be succinct about it, sure.
[They chuckle. They take sips of their drinks. Amy gets up and walks around a little bit.]
AMY: What is this?
[There are some black spots on the ground. Very odd. Edna gets and looks around some too.]
EDNA: What? What are we looking at?
AMY: Moths. Just look.
[We pan up and we see them in the trees and everywhere.]
AMY: There's millions of them.
EDNA: Oh, that's disgusting.
AMY: No. It's the answer. Remember the article we read on the Internet about how sometimes swarms of bugs can get caught in some kind of electrical field and glow? The article even said that the bugs travel in a masse so it almost looks like the shape of a UFO which would explain all of the alien theories.
EDNA: And totally disprove them.
AMY: Exactly. We did it.
[They hug and chuckle.]
AMY: (CONT'D) Well, with a little help of the article but we did it.
EDNA: Wait until I tell Irv. I should have bet him two months' worth of foot rubs.
[Beat as they gaze at the sight.]
AMY: Wait, maybe we shouldn't tell Irv. Or anybody. Maybe people will be happier, still thinking there's something magical out there, you know?
EDNA: You're on, sport.
[They do a fist thing and chuckle.]
[Cut to the concert hall. Matt is putting stuff away in a bag. Ephram enters.]
MATT: You did a nice job last night.
[Beat.]
EPHRAM: That's all you got to say?
MATT: What more do you want?
EPHRAM: Some honesty would be great.
MATT: I am being honest.
EPHRAM: No, you're not. You lied. You lied to me. You lied to Kate. All you had to do was tell me the truth.
MATT: And why should I have?
EPHRAM: Because I deserve it.
MATT: No, you don't. Not where Kate and I are concerned. But when it came to the music, when it came to what was really important, I was always honest with you.
EPHRAM: Forget the music. This has nothing to do with that. I trusted you. I believed what you told me for the last two months. Not just about piano but about life, about people. Everything. I took your advice to heart because I thought we were friends.
MATT: I am your friend.
EPHRAM: No, you're not. I would not be friends with somebody like you.
MATT: You know what made you cool to hang out with, Ephram? You didn't act your age.
EPHRAM: How do you live with yourself?
MATT: Don't worry about me.
EPHRAM: I'm not. I'm worried about Kate. She has no idea what kind of person you are.
MATT: And you do?
EPHRAM: You're a liar.
MATT: Don't be so quick to judge me. In ten years, you'll have done things you never would have thought possible. Call me when you get there. We'll compare notes.
EPHRAM: Screw you.
[Ephram begins to walk out.]
MATT: You're a better pianist now than you were two months ago, Ephram.
[Ephram turns around.]
MATT: My job was to bring out the best in your abilities. That's what I was hired to do.
EPHRAM: Is that what you were hired to do for Kate?
[Ephram leaves. Matt stays there.]
[Cut to Mama Joy's. Dr. Abbott is eating a meal. We have his side profile. Dr. Brown comes up to him and sits.]
DR. BROWN: Hey, how'd it go with Chuck?
[Dr. Abbott turns to Dr. Brown. We see his black eye which is not really black yet. It's too soon for that.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) Ooh. That well, huh? What did I tell you about fighting with lumberjacks, Harold?
DR. ABBOTT: So Chuck wasn't the one with the sleep disorder. It turns out it was Betsy.
DR. BROWN: Betsy did this to you? But she's so tiny.
DR. ABBOTT: Can we keep this conversation strictly medical?
DR. BROWN: Of course. So what was your final diagnosis?
DR. ABBOTT: REM behavior disorder. Type of immsonia that involves odd or dangerous behavior during sleep.
DR. BROWN: People acting out their dreams.
DR. ABBOTT: Well, except in this case, Betsy wasn't acting her dreams. She was acting out her anger. Chuck told her about going off to Alaska, she was upset but instead of talking with him about it...
DR. BROWN: She beat the sleeping daylights out of him. Fiesty little one, isn't she?
DR. ABBOTT: One word for her.
DR. BROWN: So what did you prescribe?
DR. ABBOTT: A punching bag for Betsy, plenty of Tylenol for Chuck, and a promise that he will stay in town for the time being. And as for myself, I am going back to my original medical regime which means staying as far away from you as humanly possible.
[Dr. Abbott gets up. Dr. Brown smiles. Dr. Abbott leaves.]
[Cut to Everwood, Main Street at night. The Browns are walking along. They might have just come from a store. I think I see Delia has an ice cream cone. Dr. Brown is in the middle with Ephram to his left {our right} and Delia to his right {our left}.]
DELIA: Dad, can I go to the video store to see if they have E.T. back yet?
DR. BROWN: Honey, you rented that movie three times this week.
DELIA: I told you we should buy it.
[The Browns chuckle.]
DR. BROWN: Go ahead.
[Delia goes off. The guys continue walking.]
DR. BROWN: So Kate's father knows everything?
EPHRAM: Oh, supposedly. Whether that's true or not, I have no idea but...
DR. BROWN: Well, I'm sorry you got all caught up the middle in it. I feel somewhat responsible seeing as I chose Matt for you.
EPHRAM: Yeah, did it say "lying scum" on his resume?
[Chuckles are produced.]
EPHRAM: (CONT'D) Yeah, I guess I can't blame you for this one.
DR. BROWN: Well, you choose the next one. We'll do a heavy screening process.
Sur le chemin de chez Colin, Edna et Amy voient dans le ciel d’étranges lumières. Suite à ces phénomènes des plus étranges, la ville est rapidement envahie par une bande d’illuminés qui pensent que ce sont des extra-terrestres. Harold, toujours en opposition avec sa fille, n’est pas vraiment d’accord pour qu’elle fasse des recherches avec sa grand-mère sur l’origine du mystère alors qu’elle est consignée. 
