Le révérend Keyes a rencontré une nouvelle amie et ont décidé tous les deux de finaliser leur engagement pour la vie. Malgré la triste perspective que lui offre sa vue de plus en plus défaillante, celui-ci semble prendre son handicap avec un certain recul. 
[Open on a quiet street in Everwood. It's a nice Autumn day. A SUV is being driven on the road with its right blinker on.]
EPHRAM'S VOICE: Now I know you're supposed to wait three seconds but the intersection was clear so technically that was a whirl wind stop...
[We go inside the SUV that was driving down the road and we see the person driving is Ephram Brown. In the passenger seat, is a much older female marking Ephram on his driving. Ephram is apparently taking his road test to get his driver's license.]
EPHRAM: (CONT'D) ...Right? [beat] And, and, and, for your information, I did see that yield sign back there. I did. [beat] Eventually.
FEMALE EXAMINER: You just missed the turn.
EPHRAM: Oh, oh, was that it? Damn it.
[Ephram looks at something.]
EPHRAM: How long has that been on?
NARRATOR: It's been said that seeing is believing. But the fact is, we all have our blind spots.
[During the previous line, Ephram swerved to do a U-turn and the person in the car behind them honked their horn.]
EPHRAM: Where the hell did he come from?
[Ephram tries again to do a U-turn. As he does, we see a sign that has the symbol for no U-turns.]
NARRATOR: Sometimes we recognize them ourselves. Sometimes others recognize them for us.
[Cut to the Everwood DMV. Dr. Brown is drinking something from a cup, waiting for Ephram to finish. We pan over a little and see Dr. H. Abbott walking next to him. They walk past a sign that reads "DMV. Department of Motor Vehicles. Everwood, Colorado. Business Hours: Monday thru Friday, 8:00AM-5:00PM." There's also the number 269 visible at the bottom which probably is an indication of the address.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: Ever perhaps consider that using a straw for your morning coffee? It might help reduce the slurping extravaganza.
DR. BROWN: It's not coffee. It's chai tea. It's your sister's idea, actually. She says it's better for you than coffee.
DR. H. ABBOTT: My sister says a lot of things. It doesn't mean we should listen.
DR. BROWN: She's a pistol, that one. I bet you two fought a lot when you were kids.
DR. H. ABBOTT: Not really. Hardly enjoyable to engage in a battle of wits when your opponent is unarmed.
DR. BROWN: I bet you're overprotective too. You know, when boyfriends came around.
[Dr. H. Abbott gets this look on his face, perhaps realizing that Dr. Brown wants to date his sister.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) Did she, uh, have a lot of boyfriends?
[Dr. Brown takes another sip from his chai tea.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: This is, uh, certainly taking longer than expected. I wonder, uh, how Amy is doing.
[Dr. H. Abbott begins to wander off.]
[Cut to Amy in a car. She's in the driver seat. She is also taking her road test for her driver's license. She's nervous. She just finished. There is a man in the passenger seat who had examined her driving.]
AMY: Did I fail? I failed, didn't I?
MALE EXAMINER: It's close. Technically, you're one point below the line but you look like a nice kid so...
[Male Examiner hands Amy her sheet. Clearly marked in red is the word pass.]
AMY: I passed? Yes! Thank you.
[Cut over to the car Ephram and Female Examiner are in. Ephram's attempting his parallel park.]
EPHRAM: Do you mind if I try just one more time? I feel like I'm just getting the hang of it.
FEMALE EXAMINER: Three tries. That's the rule.
[Female Examiner begins taking off her seat belt.]
EPHRAM: Ma'am, before you open that door, can I ask where I stand?
FEMALE EXAMINER: Right now, you're at 72, passing is 80, parallel parking is worth 10 points. Unbelievably, you still have a chance. It all comes down to this.
[Female Examiner opens the door. Ephram looks out with her. The car's door is not close enough to the curb. Ephram realizes this and that it means he failed.]
EPHRAM: Well, I guess you could catch a cab to the curb.
[Female Examiner hands over the sheet to Ephram. In red letters clearly marked is the word fail.]
NARRATOR: Distance has a way of distorting the things we see. But what appears as an obstacle may in fact be an opportunity. The trick is having enough faith to carry through.
{END OF TEASER / OPENING CREDITS / COMMERCIAL BREAK}
{ACT ONE}
[Open in the Abbott kitchen. It's breakfast time. Dr. H. Abbott takes a sip from his cup at the table, reading the paper. Amy is also at the table. Bright and Rose are near the kitchen island.]
ROSE: Oh, my goodness.
[Bright is looking at a section of the paper. He comes toward the table with orange juice in hand.]
BRIGHT: Check this out, Dad. Some guy got pulled over for a DWI on the bypass for driving a lawnmower.
[Amy picks at her food. Bright pours himself orange juice.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: Of course he was. Heaven forbid we have an actual felony in this town, Barney Fife and company probably would call the FBI for backup.
BRIGHT: That must have been one fast mower.
[Amy gets up and goes towards the sink, passing her mother.]
ROSE: Where are you going?
AMY: Believe it or not, school is actually appealing in some.
[Amy gathers some of her stuff.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: Oh, and just how do you plan on getting to school, young lady? Your brother hasn't finished his breakfast yet.
AMY: Whatever. I'll walk.
DR. H. ABBOTT: On the other hand, you did pass your driver's test yesterday. Maybe you should take the car.
BRIGHT: You're letting her borrow the car?
DR. H. ABBOTT: No. She can use her own.
[Dr. H. Abbott reveals the car keys and Amy smiles.]
[Cut to outside the Abbott home. A car is waiting out there with a big red ribbon on it.]
DR. H. ABBOTT'S VOICE: So, it's a Kia Sorrento. Four-wheel anti-lock breaks, airbags front and side.
[Amy races toward it and looks inside. We see the rest of the Abbotts behind her. Dr. H. Abbott closer to Amy than Bright and Rose.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) It got a five-star rating on side impact crash test. That's...
BRIGHT: Oh, it's so unfair.
ROSE: Oh, Bright, don't spoil it. It's your sister's moment.
BRIGHT: Moment? Try life. She gets everything. If I say I want to go on drugs, do I get a new truck?
ROSE: Nice try.
[Cut to Amy looking over her car, with her car keys in hand. Dr. H. Abbott is behind her.]
AMY: Why would you do this though?
DR. H. ABBOTT: Turning sixteen was a milestone. You wouldn't allow us celebrate that with any kind of fanfare. Couldn't allow you to turn up yet another momentous occasion.
[Amy turns and faces her dad.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) Well, we may be having problems at the moment but...
[We can see Bright look in the car.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) ...We still love you, Amy. Believe it or not, I do want you to be happy.
AMY: I know you do, Dad.
[Amy hugs her dad.]
AMY: (CONT'D) Thank you.
[Dr. H. Abbott chuckles. Rose smiles. Dr. H. Abbott kisses his daughter and is happy that she's happy.
[Cut to a photo of a beautiful scenery. Someone changes the photo. Now, it's a beautiful sunset. Cut to show that it's Dr. Brown that's looking at the photos. We're in one of the examination rooms in his practice.]
DR. BROWN: This is absolutely gorgeous. And it's so remote.
[Pan to show that his friend Reverend Tom Keyes is there.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) I can see why it would be such a good place to write.
REV. KEYES: I didn't do much writing.
WOMAN: Tom.
DR. BROWN: And this is where you proposed?
FIANCÉE: Actually, that's the grotto at Calvi. No, we were at Porto Vecchio, on the pier at sunset.
DR. BROWN: Oh, the old pier at sunset gambit. Didn't you use that on your third wife?
FIANCÉE: Oh.
[Fiancée rolls her eyes.]
REV. KEYES: Second. Third wife was the sizzler at Vegas.
DR. BROWN: Oh, right.
FIANCÉE: Oh, what a teen. You guys must have killed in the singles scene.
[The guys chuckle. Dr. Brown hands the photos back to his friend. Rev. Keyes has a hard grasping the photos. Dr. Brown notices.]
REV. KEYES: So, Andy, speaking of proposals, we'd like to ask you a question.
DR. BROWN: Shoot.
REV. KEYES: We talked about it and... we'd like you to officiate our wedding.
DR. BROWN: Look, guys, I don't know. I...
REV. KEYES: Don't worry, it’s easy. Read some verses, opine on the meaning of life, say the magic words. I do it all the time.
DR. BROWN: Well, I can't promise you any extraordinary insight, but my rates are cheap. [beat] I'd be honored.
[Fiancée smiles and is pleased.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) When is it?
FIANCÉE: Weekend after Christmas.
REV. KEYES: I know it seems fast but why wait? I want to get a look of my wife on her wedding day.
FIANCÉE: Oh.
[Fiancée kisses Rev. Keyes who is looking towards her.]
DR. BROWN: Well, let's see what we got here. You know the drill.
[Dr. Brown hands some instrument to his friend.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) Now, can you see all four corners of the grid?
REV. KEYES: Yes...Well...Kind of.
DR. BROWN: How many?
REV. KEYES: Two...uh...maybe one.
DR. BROWN: Any of the boxes missing?
REV. KEYES: I can't tell.
[Dr. Brown sets down the paper and takes the instrument.]
DR. BROWN: OK. Thanks.
FIANCÉE: Is there a problem?
DR. BROWN: Well, I haven't seen the most recent lab reports but I have to say it doesn't look promising. Based on what happened with the right eye, progression of this one is the same. I don't think you're going to make it to Christmas. You might not even make it to next week.
REV. KEYES: You know one of many things I like about you? You're free. A broker gives me bad news and he charges me for it.
DR. BROWN: Tom, I'm sorry but there are still things you can do.
REV. KEYES: True. Like finish my sermon for the hope service.
[Rev. Keyes rises and feels around for Dr. Brown's shoulder but ends up tapping his arm.]
REV. KEYES: (CONT'D) I expect to see you there on Sunday, my friend. Last year’s winner always buys lunch. Everwood tradition.
[Rev. Keyes walks off. His fiancée follows.]
FIANCÉE: Thank you, Andy.
[Cut to outside Peak County High. Ephram is walking with his bike and then we see also Bright. "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" by Jet is heard but no lyrics yet. Just the instrumental.]
BRIGHT: You gotta pass that test, dog. I can't keep hauling you and your Schwinn around. I got an image.
[Ephram lifts his bike into the back of Bright's truck.]
EPHRAM: Thanks for driving it home. I haven't had enough people point it out to me yet today. Dog.
[Ephram sees Amy and Laynie by Amy's car.]
LAYNIE: Yeah, my dad said you can give me a lift.
AMY: Cool.
[Amy waves.]
BRIGHT: Oh, yeah, can you believe that? I turned 16. All I got was an autographed football.
[Ephram watches Amy and Laynie and walks off.]
[Cut to Laynie and Amy in Amy's car. They are discussing it.]
LAYNIE: So which one warns up to two feet?
AMY: Uh, this one? Or...
[Ephram approaches the car.]
EPHRAM: Hey, uh, congratulations on the, uh...
AMY: Kia Sorrento? My dad picked it out. It's supposed to be all safe and everything.
EPHRAM: Ah. First period, I heard you were driving a Saturn. Then a Lexus. By lunch, it was a Saab convertible.
[Amy laughs.]
AMY: Wanna drive it?
[Amy gets out of the car.]
EPHRAM: Well, I'd love to but I'd rather not get arrested. I assume you got the memo.
[Amy nods.]
LAYNIE: We heard. Bummer.
EPHRAM: No license, no car. Just a sad little boy and his bike.
[Ephram looks to Bright who is in his truck behind him.]
EPHRAM: (CONT'D) But, hey. At least I get some quality time with Bright.
AMY: Ooh, lucky you.
EPHRAM: Anyway, I'm happy for you. Congratulations.
[Ephram walks off. Amy smiles.]
AMY: Thanks.
[After a beat, Amy gets back in her car and closes the door. We hear some lyrics of the Jet song faintly.]
LYRICS: Four, five, six, seven, you look so fine and I really want to make you mine.
[Cut to Dr. H. Abbott emerging from his office at his and his sister's practice.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: Louise? Louise, Mr. Bell's MRI is not in his file. Louise? Hello?
[Dr. H. Abbott stops at the desk and finds his sister, not the nurse. She's reading the paper.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) Where is the nurse that we overpay to be here until six every night?
DR. L. ABBOTT: Oh, she had a hair appointment.
DR. H. ABBOTT: When you let her go? No. Employees are like children. You have to set limits. Any sign of weakness, next thing you know they'll want matching 401Ks and fold and fold.
[Dr. L. Abbott sets down the paper.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: Hey, Harry, what are you doing tonight? Breakfast at Tiffany's is playing at the Esquire. Doesn't that sound like fun?
DR. H. ABBOTT: Oh, I do enjoy Hepburn but alas. Pot roast Wednesday. Rose would never permit.
DR. L. ABBOTT: I understand.
DR. H. ABBOTT: Yeah.
[Dr. L. Abbott sighs and walks around to get some coffee, or probably chai tea rather.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: Oh, maybe I'll see if, uh, Dr. Brown is interested?
[Dr. H. Abbott is shocked and spins around.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: Dr. Brown? Wh-why would you ask him?
DR. L. ABBOTT: I don't know. Because he's my friend?
[She takes a sip of her drink.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: Friend? Oh, please. You spend more time with the orangutans in the rainforest than you have him.
DR. L. ABBOTT: Yeah, well, the orangutans never pay for their own popcorn.
[Dr. L. Abbott walks off and Dr. H. Abbott follows.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: You know if you are looking for a movie partner, a dining partner, or a partner of any kind, there, there are, uh, plenty of, uh, eligible bachelors in town who would be more appropriate and far less irritating than Andy Brown. I could introduce you...
DR. L. ABBOTT: No way, Harry. Remember the last time you tried to set me up with the, uh, treasurer of the Chess Club? Lloyd what's-his-name?
DR. H. ABBOTT: Senderson. And he was the president under the Chess Club. Had you listened to me, you could be married to the most prominent tax attorney in Albuquerque?
DR. L. ABBOTT: [sarcastic] Awh, too bad. I really missed out.
DR. H. ABBOTT: You know, I'm simply saying that if you're truly serious about dating, we need to formulate a plan of attack.
[Dr. H. Abbott walks a bit with paper and pen.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) Come up with a list of your, uh, your preferred traits. Uh, come up with ideas for potential prospects.
DR. L. ABBOTT: Harry, I never said I was interested in dating. And even if I were, I wouldn't treat it like it was a project at work. It's not a job. It just... happens.
DR. H. ABBOTT: No, no. It does not just happen. See, courtship is indeed a highly formalized process that requires as much focus and attention to detail as neurosurgery. No...heck...not neurosurgery -- any fool could perform neurosurgery.
[Dr. L. Abbott grabs her purse and leaves. Dr. H. Abbott does not notice as he is turned around.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) No, courtship requires as much focus as rocket science or horticult...
[Dr. H. Abbott notices his sister left.]
[Cut to Everwood Hope Church. Singing is happening amongst the congregation. I think we can distinctly hear Dr. Brown's voice. Rev. Keyes is coming up to the pulpit as this going on.]
SINGING: Holy, holy, holy. God in three persons. Blessed trinity.
[Rev. Keyes motions for everyone to sit. We see Dr. Brown on the right of a pew with his children to his right. In the pew in front of them, we see Bright and Amy. Amy is to a slight left of Ephram as we see it. The sit among the congregation is a noisy sit.]
REV. KEYES: Good morning and welcome. It is always a joy to have God's house full on this special occasion.
[Pan across the row with the Browns, starting with Ephram and moving to the right.]
REV. KEYES' VOICE: (CONT'D) This is normally the time of year when I deliver my sermon of hope. But this has not been a normal year. At least for me.
[Back on Rev. Keyes.]
REV. KEYES: (CONT'D) Yesterday, I received some sobering news. My doctor informed me that my eyes are getting worse and that I will probably lose most of my sight in the coming days.
[We pan on Dr. H. Abbott and Rose.]
REV. KEYES' VOICE: (CONT'D) It would be dishonest to say that I received this news without some measure of despair.
[On Dr. Brown.]
REV. KEYES' VOICE: (CONT'D) I want to be able to look upon...
[Back on the Reverend.]
REV. KEYES: (CONT'D) ...my beautiful bride on our glorious day. So I'd like to announce that we're moving up our wedding to next weekend. You're all invited.
[On Dr. Brown.]
REV. KEYES' VOICE: (CONT'D) That's not all.
[Back to Rev. Keyes.]
REV. KEYES: (CONT'D) In the Book of Mark, Jesus says you can pray for anything and if you believe, you will have it.
[On Ephram and then shift downward to Amy.]
REV. KEYES' VOICE: (CONT'D) So here is what we are going to do: we are...
[Back to Rev. Keyes.]
REV. KEYES: (CONT"D) ...going to call on God. We are going to test our faith.
[On the Browns. Zoom on Dr. Brown.]
REV. KEYES' VOICE: (CONT'D) I ask each and every one of you. Pray for me in the days to come.
[Delia looks to her dad. Shift on to Rev. Keyes.]
REV. KEYES: (CONT'D) Pray for me that I keep my eyesight. For my wedding.
[On Dr. Brown.]
REV. KEYES: (CONT'D) Let us embrace hope and the promise of God's grace.
[On Rev. Keyes.]
REV. KEYES: (CONT'D) Let us ask and see if we shall receive. Let us trouble heaven with our honest cries and see if God really listens.
[On Dr. Brown. Congregation says "Amen". Shift back and forth between the Reverend and Dr. Brown. Fade out on Dr. Brown, wary.]
{END OF ACT ONE / COMMERCIAL BREAK}
{ACT TWO}
[Open in the Brown room next to the kitchen. Madison and Delia are doing some sort of craft. Ephram enters the kitchen and looks at his backpack. Madison looks up.]
MADISON: Hey Happy! You up for a little shrinky-dinking? Pretty fun stuff?
EPHRAM: I think I'll pass.
[Delia picks a craft up.]
DELIA: Look, Ephram. I made one for you. It's for your car keys in case you ever need it.
MADISON: Oh, I get it now. Someone didn't fare too well at the DMV.
EPHRAM: You know, I don't know why they call it a driving test. All they really care about is parking.
MADISON: Well, I wouldn't worry much about it. Many guys ride their bike to junior prom. Maybe your date could fit on the handlebars. [beat] So what was it? Too far from the curb or knocked over the cones?
EPHRAM: Try both.
MADISON: Well, parallel parking is my speciality. I could show you if you want.
EPHRAM: You realize I'm from New York, right? Which means I'm genetically programmed to be a crappy driver.
MADISON: Thoughtful but I'm a pretty decent teacher. It's up to you.
DELIA: You should try her, Ephram. She helped me with my long division and it really worked. She's like a genius.
MADISON: You hear that? I'm a genius.
EPHRAM: Yeah, right, sure.
[Ephram puts celery in his mouth and grabs some books.]
[Cut to Mama Joy's. It's pretty busy. An old lady, who I think is supposed to be the Church Lady, approaches Dr. Brown as he walks in. Gospel music is heard.]
CHURCH LADY: Oh, Dr. Brown, we need someone for the six-thirty slot. Can I put your name down?
DR. BROWN: I'm sorry, Doris, but it's college night on Jeopardy.
CHURCH LADY: Oh, Dr. Brown.
[Church Lady walks off. Dr. Brown walks to Nina.]
DR. BROWN: Can you believe this?
NINA: I know. There's no way that Art can keep up with the meatloaf orders and make it to his prayer group by nine.
DR. BROWN: It's not the meatloaf I'm talking about. These people are being set up for a giant disappointment. I mean, I can't believe Tom is doing this to them.
NINA: You can't believe a reverend would ask his people to pray? Andy, you gotta go to church more often.
DR. BROWN: It's one thing to pray for yourself and be let down but to drag everyone else with you.
NINA: Well, he's hoping for a miracle. We all know the odds. It's kinda like winning in Vegas but you gotta try, right?
DR. BROWN: Hmm.
[Rev. Keyes comes up to Dr. Brown.]
REV. KEYES: Hey, hey. How did Ephram do on his driving test?
DR. BROWN: Oh, not so good. If you've got a booth that covers parallel parking, let me know.
[Rev. Keyes and Nina smiles. Then Nina leaves to go back to work.]
REV. KEYES: Isn't this is great? I never felt the town so energized.
DR. BROWN: Listen, can I talk to you outside for a minute?
REV. KEYES: Yeah, yeah.
[The two friends leave Mama Joy's.]
[Cut to outside Mama Joy's. We see the two emerge.]
DR. BROWN: I, uh, didn't want to say anything in front of the prayer brigade but, uh. I spoke with Dr. Farmen this morning and she says your last oncoscopy shows more bleeding than the maculate. Now, uh, we're going to have to get busy or the scarring will set in and it will be too late.
REV. KEYES: You think I needed a test to tell me I'm getting worse? I can't read anymore or drive a car. It's been a hole in my vision for the past year and yes, it's smaller with laser treatments but it always comes back.
DR. BROWN: Look...
[Dr. Brown moves the reverend away from other people.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) I've been on the phone for a couple of hours this morning. There is a new treatment. It's called photodynamic therapy. Now, it's fairly radical but they're having some promising results at the clinic in Denver. I have a colleague there and I've set up an appointment for you on Wednesday.
REV. KEYES: I'm getting married. I don't have time to go to Denver.
DR. BROWN: I thought you wanted to do something about this.
REV. KEYES: I am doing something about this. I'm praying.
[Rev. Keyes begins to turn but Dr. Brown turns him back around.]
DR. BROWN: Tom, Tom, I'm not going to argue with you. If you want to be able to see your bride on Saturday, I can help you. But you are going to have to trust me.
REV. KEYES: Andy, I'm not asking to hit a curveball here but if it means more doctors and lasers, I'm sorry. I'm just not interested.
DR. BROWN: You're just going to give up after all you've been through?
REV. KEYES: On the contrary. I'm just starting to fight.
[Rev. Keyes walks away from Dr. Brown. "All Kinds of Time" by Fountains of Wayne is beginning to be heard.]
[Cut to trees. We're on Dearborn Street. Delia is giving gestures. We see Madison's red car.]
DELIA: A little lesser. More. More.
[A box crushes. Delia steps away from the car. A jolt and we see Ephram's in the driver's seat. Madison is in the passenger seat.]
EPHRAM: I'll never get this. Screw this if you promise to never tell I learned to parallel park.
MADISON: Ephram, relax. You're way too uptight.
EPHRAM: I'm not uptight.
[Ephram grips the steering wheel.]
MADISON: Dude, you're clutching so hard right now your fingerprints have made permanent marks on my steering wheel.
[We see Delia walk past Madison's side of the car.]
EPHRAM: I'm just deceptively strong. That's all.
MADISON: You know, growing up we used to spend our summers at this lake in Maryland. And there was a bluff maybe fifteen feet high and all the kids would jump except me because I was scared. Anyway, I'm up there and all I can think about is the rocks, and the cold water, and the slimy fish that bite, and all the sudden it just hit me that I'm thinking too much. And I just did it and my dad flipped and I got a new CD player and it was a really cool day.
[Ephram nods.]
EPHRAM: Wow. Good share.
MADISON: That story was to tell you you're thinking too much, smart ass. Now just slam this sucker into gear and do it.
[Ephram moves the car into gear. Madison stops him before he attempts.]
MADISON: Now wait. Before you go, I want you to say to yourself "I own that bitch."
EPHRAM: Now, now, by bitch, I assume you mean --
MADISON: Just say it.
EPHRAM: [reserved] I own that bitch.
MADISON: Louder!
EPHRAM: I OWN THAT BITCH!
[Ephram drives onto the lawn.]
[Cut to Dr. H. Abbott bringing his sister into his house via the front door. They walk.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: Thanks for the call, Harry. Isn't it a little late for dinner though?
DR. H. ABBOTT: Oh, dinner, dessert. It would be nothing if it weren't flexible. Come along.
[They arrive to the dining room.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) Hey, look who popped in for a visit.
[We see Rose is at the table with three men.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) Everyone, this is my little sister Linda.
[Dr. L. Abbott tries to leave but Dr. H. Abbott turns her back around.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) Doctor Linda Abbott. [chuckles] Uh, Linda, this is Oscar.
[Oscar's on the screen.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) He teaches at the college. And this is Aldo.
[Aldo gestures.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) Our athletics chairman at the lodge. And this is Wally.
[Wally's next to Aldo and waves.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: You remember one of my favorite patients. Wally is a very successful local businessman.
WALLY: Uh, Spik and Span Laundry. [gets something out of his pocket] Uh, here. This will get you 10% off your dry cleaning.
[Wally chuckles. Dr. L. Abbott puts on a forced smile.]
[Cut to Amy's room. Amy is applying some makeup in front of a mirror. Bright is there too.]
BRIGHT: Oh, c'mon, Amy. I don't have enough room in my truck.
AMY: No. No way I'm letting you and your garage friends trash every truck. Forget it.
BRIGHT: I'll wash it. [beat] I'll fill it up with gas.
AMY: No. Besides, Laynie and I have plans.
[Cell phone rings.]
AMY: (CONT'D) Sorry.
[Bright mimickes Amy in the mirror. Amy answers her cell.]
AMY: Hello?
LAYNIE'S VOICE: Hey.
[Cut to Laynie dressed up in her room.]
LAYNIE: So don't kill me.
[Back to Amy.]
AMY: Uh oh.
[Back to Laynie.]
LAYNIE: No, no. It's good. OK. So do you remember that guy from the...
[Back to Amy.]
LAYNIE'S VOICE: (CONT'D) ...ECC party? Bobby? The blond with the eyes?
AMY: Vaguely. I remember eyes.
LAYNIE'S VOICE: Well, he called.
[Back to Laynie.]
LAYNIE: (CONT'D) I mean, totally out of the blue.
[Back to Amy. Bright is trying to figure what's going on.]
AMY: He asked you out for tonight.
LAYNIE'S VOICE: Yeah. Would you kill me if I bailed?
AMY: No. Go ahead. Have fun.
LAYNIE'S VOICE: You're the best.
[Back to Laynie.]
LAYNIE: (CONT'D) I promise I'll make it up to you. Look, next weekend, it will be all about us.
[Back to Amy. She hangs up. Bright swings around the bed Amy's sitting on. He's holding her car keys.]
BRIGHT: Oh, did somebody get blown off?
[Amy grabs the keys.]
AMY: Give me the keys.
BRIGHT: Maybe you can hang out in the car in the driveway. With all your friends.
AMY: [pushes her brother] Get out.
[Amy lies on her bed.]
[Cut to Rev. Keyes' home. His fiancée comes into the dining room with Dr. Brown following her, telling her about the photodynamic therapy. She has some drink in cups in both of her hands.]
DR. BROWN: They take a drug and they inject it into the arm.
[Fiancée sets down the drinks. Dr. Brown and her sit down.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) Travels up to the retina where it shows which blood vessels are leaking. The drug has chemicals in it which react very easily to light. That means they can use a low-powered laser to treat the vessels.
FIANCÉE: Why didn't we try this before?
DR. BROWN: We didn't need to.
FIANCÉE: Is it safe?
DR. BROWN: There are risks as in every procedure.
FIANCÉE: Like what?
DR. BROWN: Severe vision loss has been reported but only in a tiny percentage of cases.
FIANCÉE: So it can make him worse.
DR. BROWN: Statistically possible but not likely. The odds are that it will slow the scarring long enough for him to be able to see a while longer. In my opinion, it's worth the risk.
FIANCÉE: Unfortunately, it's not your opinion that matters. Or mine. Oh, he's a stubborn man, Andy. When we met, he told me everything. I knew what I was getting into. It just feels wrong to want this. Like I don't love him for who he is.
DR. BROWN: Look, no one respects his faith more than I do. But isn't it possible God is answering your prayers with this procedure?
[Fiancée shrugs. Reverend Keyes enters from the kitchen.]
REV. KEYES: It's a good thing you and I go back, Andy.
[Fiancée rises as Rev. Keyes comes closer to her.]
REV. KEYES: (CONT'D) Otherwise, I might question the motives of a man calling on my fiancée the week of my wedding.
[Rev. Keyes playfully punches Dr. Brown's arm. Dr. Brown smiles.]
DR. BROWN: We were just, uh, discussing about...
REV. KEYES: Oh, I know why you're here. I'm going blind. Not deaf. [to his fiancée] I'm sorry. I've been so scattered.
FIANCÉE: No, it's OK.
REV. KEYES: All this time I never thought about what this means to you. If this is what you want, of course. I'll do it.
[Fiancée hugs Rev. Keyes. Dr. Brown smiles. We hear a doorbell ring.]
[Cut to Madison going to open the Browns' front door. It's Amy at the door with car keys in hand.]
MADISON: Hey. Amy, right?
AMY: Yeah. Hi.
[Ephram comes into the foyer.]
MADISON: Hi. I used to have that jacket.
AMY: Oh cool.
[Madison watches Ephram and Amy's conversation.]
EPHRAM: Hey.
AMY: Hey.
EPHRAM: What's going on?
AMY: Nothing much. What are you up to?
EPHRAM: Oh, nothing really. Just hanging out. Why? What? Would you like to come in?
AMY: Actually, I wanted to see if you wanted to come out.
EPHRAM: Yeah. Yeah, sure.
[Ephram grabs his coat.]
MADISON: Curfew's midnight.
[Ephram gives her a look.]
MADISON: (CONT'D) Kidding.
[Ephram leaves.]
[Cut to the living room of the Abbotts where Dr. H. Abbott is standing.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: How could you be so dense, people? Died on the cross to save us from our sins... Middle initial H...
ALDO: Oh, oh, Jesus?
DR. H. ABBOTT: Oh, God, goodness, finally!
[Dr. H. Abbott picks another name from the hat.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: Oh, it's a male.
OSCAR: Justin Timberlake.
DR. H. ABBOTT: Right.
OSCAR: [to Dr. L. Abbott] I put that one in.
[Another name is pulled by Dr. H. Abbott and he holds it up.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: Now this is totally outrageous. Andrew Brown is not a celebrity.
[Dr. H. Abbott tosses it.]
WALLY: Sure, he is. The man was on the cover of Time magazine for gosh's sake.
[Pan to Rose.]
ALDO: Did you read about when he saved those twins from Rhode Island?
DR. L. ABBOTT: Really? I never read that issue?
DR. H. ABBOTT: Alright, alright, that's it. Alright, fine. Games over. Everyone out. Come on. Move it. Go, go. Just go. Come on, MOVE IT!
[This gets the men moving. Rose is shocked. Dr. L. Abbott smiles and shakes her head.]
DR. H. ABBOTT'S VOICE: (CONT'D) Can't play the game right; we're not gonna play at all. I hope you're happy.
[Cut to an ice cream shop. Two people enter. We pan to show Ephram and Amy sitting down at a table. Ephram is trying to open his new CDs and Amy is reading a women's magazine. We hear "The River Leads Me Home" by Steve Ward play.]
EPHRAM: Why do they have to make these things so hard to open? I mean, it's not like they're porn or any -- I mean -- you know... not... nothing... not that I wou...
AMY: OK, OK. Last one. Your coworkers don't like a man you started dating. Do you: a) tell them to mind their own business, b) see him on the sly, or c) say "Adios, muchacho"?
EPHRAM: I don't know. "A".
AMY: "A" again. OK, according to this, you are an independent with strong self-esteem and a healthy body image. You have ovaries and then some.
EPHRAM: My dad would be so proud.
[They chuckle. Ephram pulls some things out from a bag.]
EPHRAM: (CONT'D) Here. I got you a couple of car-warming presents. Got you the pine-tree air refreshner, television's greatest theme songs -- a personal favorite of mine for road trips. And fuzzy dice. Retro but hip.
[Waiter comes up with their order.]
WAITER: And two chocolate shakes.
AMY: [to Ephram] Thank you.
EPHRAM: You're welcome. It's not like it counts as a real present.
AMY: No, they do. Especially since the whole jogging thing's got to be somewhat of a sore spot for you right now.
EPHRAM: What? Do you mean my crushing failure? I barely even think about it.
AMY: You know, anyone else at County would just try to kill everyone else's good mood with their bad one. But you don't... you just make it funny. How do you do that?
EPHRAM: What do I do?
AMY: You make light of a situation even if it sucks. I want to do that.
EPHRAM: And you will. It'll come back to you.
[Silence.]
AMY: I've really missed this, you know... Us.
EPHRAM: Yeah. I've missed us too.
[Silence then Amy's cell phone rings.]
EPHRAM: No, grab it. I don't mind.
AMY: No, it's just Laynie. Probably feeling guilty for having blown me off.
[Beat.]
EPHRAM: Wha -- You mean tonight?
AMY: Yeah, some guy called her. We were supposed to go out, but she bailed on me last minute. So...
EPHRAM: I'm an idiot.
AMY: What?
EPHRAM: She blew you off so you came to see me.
AMY: No, no, no. That's not how it happened.
EPHRAM: Yea, that is how it happened. That's how it always happens. Your first choice doesn't come through so you come find me -- your back-up plan.
AMY: Ephram, I never think of you that way.
EPHRAM: Maybe not intentionally... I mean, don't you realize that makes it even worse? It's like you don't even realize how much that hurts somebody. How much that it hurts me.
AMY: Look, I'm sorry if --
EPHRAM: No. No, I'm sorry. Alright, look, Amy, I know your life is really rough right now. And I want to be there for you. I, I rea... I do. But not like this. I can't keep being you're second choice. Not when you're my first.
[Ephram gets up and leaves the ice cream shop. Amy is left sitting at the table. We see a view from outside the shop and Ephram walks by. Fade out.]
{END OF ACT TWO / COMMERCIAL BREAK}
{ACT THREE}
[Open on Amy sitting at the bottom of the steps in her house. Bright comes down the stairs.]
BRIGHT: [mocking] Hanging out with all your friends...?
AMY: Shouldn't you be at football practice? Oh wait, no, you're off the team.
BRIGHT: Why don't you take your new car and drive it...away.
[Amy smiles.]
AMY: How about we just call it a truce, OK?
BRIGHT: [wary] Yeah. OK. As long as I don't have to hug you or anything. [beat] So did you, uh, end up doing anything the other night?
AMY: Not really. Well, I went out with Ephram but it got kinda weird.
BRIGHT: You guys finally hooked up?
AMY: What?! No. Why would you say something like that?
BRIGHT: I dunno. Maybe because he's mad in love with you and has been over the past year.
AMY: It's complicated.
BRIGHT: Maybe for you, but I think it's pretty basic on his end. What's holding you up?
AMY: It's just I don't want to lie to him and I know if Colin were still here--
BRIGHT: He's not. We all love Colin, but he's gone. It sucks, I know. But if that's the only reason you're putting Ephram off then, I'm telling you: it's OK. I mean, if you're looking for permission, you've got it from me. And Laynie, and the entire universe.
AMY: I'm just not ready for all the boyfriend-girlfriend stuff and I know with Ephram, there'd be no in-between.
BRIGHT: Well, maybe not, but you could do a lot worse. People give me crap all the time for hanging out with Ephram. But I don't know, he's just like...
AMY: Funny.
BRIGHT: Yea! The other day, he's telling me the story about how he's driving a stick for the first time right, and he's like stuck on a hill. Eckleman says, "Well what gear were you in?" and he says, "My jeans and my t-shirt."
[Amy and Bright laugh.]
BRIGHT: (CONT'D) I didn't even get it at first...And he's also gonna be pulling in some serious jack with his music one day... Damn, maybe I should ask him out. All I'm saying, look, is guys got pride and he's not gonna sit around and let you play mind games with him all the time. Soon he's gonna get tired of that and he's gonna be gone.
AMY: Then, what should I do?
BRIGHT: You don't have to do much. You know he's taking his driver's test again today.
AMY: Mmhmm.
BRIGHT: So go. Show up. Be all supportive. Everything else you guys'll figure out. I mean, you may not feel the same way for Ephram that you did for Colin but you feel something. Otherwise, you wouldn't be sitting here asking me for advice.
[Amy smiles and nods.]
[Cut to Dr. H. Abbott looking at his laptop computer.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: Oscar, Oscar.
[Dr. H. Abbott chuckles. We see we're in the kitchen. Rose brings something in closer to her husband.]
ROSE: What are you up to now?
DR. H. ABBOTT: Well, it seems Oscar was being less than candid with regards to his personal history. A quick Google search and voila.
[He hands paper to his wife.]
ROSE: Geology professor, 5 years.
DR. H. ABBOTT: Visiting professor. The man doesn't even have tenure. I checked out his Friendster page...
ROSE: Friendster? What's that?
DR. H. ABBOTT: It's like the Internet dating service but apparently, Oscar fancies himself quite the Lothario. Get a load of these interests: romance, Chinese cooking, new mizmatics, European history, long walks on the beach... We're a thousand miles away from any beach... Frod.
ROSE: As I recall, you were the one who invited him over.
DR. H. ABBOTT: I thought he'd be a good match but before I found he was such a dilettante.
ROSE: Well, I think he's nice. And I also think you should stop meddling in your sister's affairs.
DR. H. ABBOTT: Oh, excuse me?
[Dr. H. Abbott stands.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) She's the one who came here to be a part of our family again. Oh, I'm fine. This is what families do. I can't have her besmirch the Abbott name by running around with the first casserole that comes through the door.
ROSE: If you mean Andy Brown, I think she can do a lot worse.
DR. H. ABBOTT: How? No, it's bad enough he came here and started this whole free clinic charade. Now he wants to carve turkey at our Thanksgiving dinner. My dinner, with the garlic infused plum dressing.
ROSE: You don't even know if Linda's interested.
DR. H. ABBOTT: Think about it, Rose. There could be nephews. Minature little Andrew Browns underfoot with pale skin and black clothing. "Uncle Harry, could I go to the rap concert with Ephram? We're like, hitchhiking." No, forgive me if I don't want to be in the John Malkovich version of The Brady Bunch.
ROSE: Get over yourself, Harold. She's a grown woman. She'll do what she's likes.
[Dr. H. Abbott tries to interrupt.]
ROSE: (CONT'D) And the more you protest, the more she'll want to see him. And what if I had listened to my family?
[Rose walks off.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: What do you mean by that?
[Cut to the DMV. Ephram is waiting to take his test again. Madison is waiting with him.]
EPHRAM: You know, you don't have to wait.
MADISON: What? Miss all the fun? You pass, I gloat. You fail, I tease.
EPHRAM: Oh, so this is really win-win for you?
[Madison chuckles.]
MADISON: How was your date the other night?
EPHRAM: Oh, it wasn't a date. We're just friends.
[Female Examiner appears at a distance.]
FEMALE EXAMINER: E-FRAM FROWN!
EPHRAM: Great. Another round with Nurse Ratchet.
[Ephram walks towards Female Examiner.]
MADISON: Good luck. Don't forget.
[Ephram turns.]
MADISON: (CONT'D) You own that bitch!
[People give looks. Madison is somewhat self-conscious and smiles. Ephram goes with Female Examiner.]
[Cut to Dr. Brown's practice in one of the examination rooms. Rev. Keyes' fiancée is looking at Rev. Keyes.]
DR. BROWN: OK. Are we all set?
[Edna comes into the frame.]
EDNA: I'll take those.
[She takes the sunglasses off. Dr. Brown takes the patch off Rev. Keyes' left eye. Dr. Brown holds up three fingers (thumb, pointer, and middle).]
DR. BROWN: OK, Tom, how many fingers do you see?
[A long beat. Dr. Brown holds up the Amsler grid.]
DR. BROWN: How many lines can you see?
[Another long beat. Rev. Keyes does not respond.]
FIANCÉE: Maybe he needs more time. To get used to the light.
REV. KEYES: Catherine. It's OK.
DR. BROWN: No, it's not OK. You should be able to see the grid.
CATHERINE: All those people, what are we going to tell them?
REV. KEYES: Tell them: the wedding starts tomorrow at noon. Doctor Andrew Brown is going to officiate. And you are going to look radiant.
[Rev. Keyes stands and goes to the door.]
REV. KEYES: No thanks, I got it. Five steps from the table to the door. I've done it a hundred times.
[Rev. Keyes leaves. Catherine follows, looking back. Edna watches, with the sunglasses still her hand. She's saddened by this.]
EDNA: It was a tough call, boss.
DR. BROWN: It wasn't even close. This wasn't supposed to happen.
[Edna leaves.]
[Cut back to the DMV. Ephram is in Madison's car with the female examiner.]
FEMALE EXAMINER: Flashing red is a full stop, not just a slow down. Your driver attendent could also use a little work. [beat] But you nailed the parallel park. Congratulations, Mr. Brown.
[She hands the slip over: “PASS” in big red letters.]
FEMALE EXAMINER: (CONT’D) And may God help us all.
[Female Examiner takes off her glasses. Ephram gets out of the car. Madison's waiting impatiently.]
MADISON: Well?
EPHRAM: Well, she said your car could use new brakes.
MADISON: Ephram!
EPHRAM: And, uh, I passed.
MADISON: You passed!
EPHRAM: I passed! Ten out of ten on the parallel park.
[Ephram races up to Madison. We see Amy pull up and get out of her Kia Sorrento. Ephram and Madison hug.]
MADISON: I knew you could do it!
[Ephram chuckles. Then he kisses Madison. We see Amy's reaction. She moves hair away from her face. Back to Ephram and Madison. Madison pulls away from the kiss. She puts her hands over her face.]
EPHRAM: Oh, um, I'm sorry. I...Sorry.
MADISON: Look, Ephram. I think you're great. And I like hanging out with you. And I never meant to give the wrong impression or anything. But I'm, you know, older, and employed by your father... And.. again older.
EPHRAM: I know. Those gray hairs are blinding me. [beat] Look, I'm sorry. But, hey, won't happen again.
MADISON: Can we just rewind that and we do that the right way?
EPHRAM: Sure.
MADISON: Congratulations.
EPHRAM: Thank you.
[They hug. On Amy. She moves hair away from her face again and gets in her car. She thinks about what she just saw. Fade out.]
{END OF ACT THREE / COMMERCIAL BREAK}
{ACT FOUR}
[Open in Dr. L. Abbott's office at her and her brother's practice. She's with a patient. Soothing music played. Candles are lit.]
PATIENT: Thanks for seeing me on a Saturday.
DR. L. ABBOTT: No problem. Shh.
[Dr. L. Abbott puts some of the needles in her patient's bare chest.]
PATIENT: So do you live around here?
DR. L. ABBOTT: No, I fly in from L.A. every other weekend. What's that smell?
PATIENT: Just a little CK1.
DR. L. ABBOTT: HARRY!
[Dr. L. Abbott storms out. Dr. H. Abbott is listening with a stethoscope. He jumps back and during the next part, she corners him into his office while he tries to interrupt with no success.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) Listen to me, you moron. There will be no more blind dates. No more group setups.; No more pseudo-patients trying to get my phone number. I can take care of myself. I do not need you to find a date for me and I certainly have no interest in any man you might pick for me. Got it?!
[Dr. L. Abbott turns to leave.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: I just want you to be happy.
[Dr. L. Abbott comes back for a second wind.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: You don't want me to be happy. You just don't want me to be happy with Andy Brown, whom, by the way, I have zero intention of ever dating. Not today, not tomorrow, not for the next thousand years, so back off!
DR. H. ABBOTT: [looking upward] Sweet justice from above. Thank you.
[Cut to Dr. Brown and Rev. Keyes in suits. Probably near where the wedding is taking place. Dr. Brown is pacing. Rev. Keyes is looking away from the doctor.]
REV. KEYES: I'm the one that's supposed to be nervous.
DR. BROWN: I'm just feeling the pressure. Wouldn't want to blow the Lord's prayer with an audience full of priests.
REV. KEYES: It's called a congregation. And all you have to do is start it off. They take it over.
[Rev. Keyes nods.]
DR. BROWN: How are you doing?
[Dr. Brown sits in the looking direction of the reverend.]
REV. KEYES: Last night, when we left your office, all I wanted to do was go home and curl up in bed. I knew everyone was waiting at the diner. But I just couldn't bear the thought of having to face at them. I went in and I could feel it. All their hopes and expectations just crashing down around on me. I wanted to offer them comfort and solace. I wanted to give the one true word that would sustain their faith. But I couldn't. I just stood there.
DR. BROWN: I should have come with you.
REV. KEYES: You know what happened? Hugs. Big fat hugs from some people that, believe me, you wouldn't want hugging you.
[They chuckle.]
REV. KEYES: (CONT'D) They had every reason to believe that God had forgotten them but they didn't care. All they wanted to do was make me feel better.
DR. BROWN: Well, I'm not like them. Or you. Human tragedy doesn't move me to faith. It just, makes me question God's existence.
REV. KEYES: Good. That means He's working. You know what my old boy in kindergarten said? "Then comes affliction to awaken the dreamer." God isn't a figure meant to be understood intellectually. Sometimes he's absent on purpose. He wants us to doubt. It makes us stronger. It opens other doors. And as for tragedy, I'm not dying, you know. I have experienced more with my senses in these past 18 months than I have in my entire life. I can feel Catherine. I can touch her, smell her. And I can hear every tiny wonderful sound she makes. And I love her just the same, maybe more.
[Rose comes up to the friends in a dress with a book in hand.]
ROSE: Sorry to interrupt. Dr. Brown, would you sign here?
[He does. Rev. Keyes stands]
DR. BROWN: That's it?
ROSE: Yep.
DR. BROWN: You guys better get yourself a good lobbyist or you're all going to be out of work.
[They chuckle.]
ROSE: I think everybody's ready. Good luck.
[Rose walks off. The men stand. Dr. Brown fixes his friend's tie and buttons his friend's suit one last time.]
REV. KEYES: You know, that Linda Abbott is an attractive woman, don't you think?
[Music is begun to be heard.]
DR. BROWN: Come on, lover boy.
REV. KEYES: I'm just saying it.
[Cut to an outside ceremony. Many people are there. Dr. Brown begins his talk about Rev. Keyes and Catherine as we pan.]
DR. BROWN: Faith, hope, and love. If you've ever been to a wedding, you know the next part. The greatest of these is love. But today is different. Today, we honor a man and a woman who represent all three. As I've watched Tom and Catherine...
[A closer view.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) ...over the past few months, from the time he first visited her shop and couldn't stop talking about her to the infamous first date, when he couldn't be convinced bowling was a bad idea. Especially for the visually challenged.
[Audience laughs. We see Ephram, Nina, and Amy in this shot. Ephram and Nina behind Amy. The females are wearing black dresses. Amy has a green shawl.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) And more recently as their faith has never waivered, despite countless doctors visits and the parade of bad news. I have been both amazed and humbled. Their hope has been tested in ways we can never imagine...
[We see Dr. L. Abbott in a blue dress.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D)...and yet it has grown stronger.
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) And the love for one another reminds us all...
[We go to Amy next.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) ...that the most beautiful things in life can't be explained...
[Then we go on Edna and Irv who smile at each other. Back to the main ceremony, not the audience.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) ...by logic or reason, they have to be felt by the heart.
REV. KEYES: Amen.
DR. BROWN: Amen.
[The newlyweds kiss. We pan out as the audience claps.]
[Cut to the reception party in full swing. "September" by Earth, Wind, and Fire is heard. We see various people on the dance floor. Among these are Dr. H. Abbott and Rose. We then see Edna and her daughter Dr. L. Abbott sitting. Dr. L. Abbott laughs. Irv comes up to his wife.]
IRV: Hey, come on. Let's dance. Let the music move you, let the rhythm groove you.
EDNA: Oh boy, how many glasses of champagne have you had, Harper?
IRV: You think I need to be drunk to tango with my tamale?
EDNA: I thi
