Délia est intriguée par le nombre régulier de médicaments que Linda prend par jour. Celle-ci décide de lui expliquer ce qui lui arrive. Délia, troublée par cette nouvelle, décide d’en parler à sa copine Britany qui rompt le secret. Peu après la rumeur circule dans toute la ville et la petite communauté d’Everwood exige du maire, Rose Abbott, le départ de Linda. 
[Open on several medicine bottles and we see pills in them. The labels all pretty much say the same thing. "Abbott, Linda", Dr. Harold Abbott, and Everwood Pharmacy are the main things that appear on the labels but we also see a phone number (555-1221) and a patient number (219983). We pan out to show Dr. L. Abbott in the bathroom of the Brown home, apparently sorting through her pills for the week. We see Delia in the mirror and unlike "The L Word", this time the doctor sees Delia.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: Hey Delia. Did you need the mirror or something?
DELIA: Why do you take so many pills?
DR. L. ABBOTT: I don't take so many pills.
DELIA: I've seen you.
DR. L. ABBOTT: What?
DELIA: I've seen you before. You take them everyday. Are you sick?
[Silence. The female doctor sighs.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: Come here.
[Dr. L. Abbott reaches out her hand to Delia and they go to sit on a bench after Delia accepts.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) I have a disease. It's called HIV. Have you ever heard of it?
DELIA: [shaking her head] No.
DR. L. ABBOTT: Well, it's a virus and if you catch it, it makes it harder for your body to get better if you catch something else. Like a cold or an infection, and, um, it doesn't go away. But you don't have to worry because I'm OK.
DELIA: How did you get it?
DR. L. ABBOTT: I got it from a patient that I was trying to help. It was a few years ago but you can't catch it from me. You can only get it, um, if something like your blood touches. That's why doctors wear gloves when they give shots. Does that make sense?
DELIA: I thought you were a druggie.
[The doctor laughs. Delia shakes her head.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: No. Not me. I can, uh, I can barely drink wine. I know this might sound sort of confusing so if you have any questions that you want to ask me or your dad, go ahead any time.
[Delia nods.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) Just do me a favor, OK? This isn't something I usually talk about. Actually, it's kind of a secret. Can you keep it for me?
DELIA: It's OK. I'm great with secrets. Unless they're mine. Then I tell everyone. I won't.
DR. L. ABBOTT: Thank you.
[Delia gets up and hugs the doctor.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) You never hugged me before.
DELIA: [nodding] I know. It was time.
DR. BROWN'S VOICE: Delia! At the door! In the jacket! Bus is waiting!
DELIA: I better go.
DR. L. ABBOTT: Yeah, I don't want to get in trouble.
[Delia leaves and we're on Dr. L. Abbott watching after her, wondering it's going to be kept.]
{END OF TEASER / OPENING CREDITS / COMMERCIAL BREAK}
{ACT ONE}
[Open in one of Dr. Brown's examination rooms. He's with an elderly patient whose name is Ollie. He walks with a cane.]
OLLIE: You're sure the cream will work? I don't want to spend half of my granddaughter's wedding scratching up the pits.
[Dr. Brown puts his hand on Ollie's arm.]
DR. BROWN: Twice a day everyday, Ollie. You'll be itch free in time to pick up your tux.
[Ollie leaves. Dr. Brown goes to his table to look at a file.]
DR. BROWN: Edna, could you please call in Mrs. Hayes?
[Dr. Brown looks up and sees his girlfriend.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) Oh, you're not Mrs. Hayes. I can tell because you're not ninety and you don't have jaundice.
[Dr. Brown smiles. Dr. L. Abbott is serious and walks in.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: I just need a minute, Andy.
DR. BROWN: Sure.
[Dr. Brown closes the door.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) Is this because I didn't kiss you goodbye this morning? I mean that's very sweet but it's not very nice to the poor sick people waiting outside to see me.
DR. L. ABBOTT: Andy, I had a talk with Delia this morning.
DR. BROWN: What about?
DR. L. ABBOTT: I told her. She saw me taking my pills and asked what they were for and, and so I told her.
[Dr. Brown shakes his head.]
DR. BROWN: How could you do that?
DR. L. ABBOTT: Well, she asked me and there didn't seem to be a better way to handle it.
DR. BROWN: Well, I can think of a few. We talked about this. We decided that if the time came that I would tell them.
[Dr. Brown places some space between him and Dr. L. Abbott.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: Yeah, but you haven't.
DR. BROWN: Well, it's not like you've told Bright and Amy. I, I wasn't ready for this.
[Dr. L. Abbott walks closer to Dr. Brown.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: I'm not accusing you. I'm just saying that we waited. And Delia came to me. I mean she's not so young like she doesn't notice things and I guess she just couldn't hold it back anymore.
DR. BROWN: Well, how did she handle it? What did she say?
DR. L. ABBOTT: I don't know. She seemed comfortable with it. I mean, she asked me some questions and I think she understands.
DR. BROWN: She can't be comfortable with it. She doesn't even know what "it" is. This isn't a conversation you have with her three minutes while she's brushing her teeth. What time is it? Maybe I can pick her up from school and I talk to...
[He begins to walk off but comes back.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) Did you tell her how serious this is? Do you know she's told anyone?
DR. L. ABBOTT: Andy, it's me. Give me some credit. I mean I told her it was a secret and I think she got it. But you can talk with her when she gets home from school if you don't believe me.
DR. BROWN: Oh I will.
DR. L. ABBOTT: Good. I hope you can fix all of my mistakes.
[Dr. L. Abbott leaves. Off Dr. Brown.]
[Cut to the Abbott living room. Bright is flipping through the channels. Amy is to his right and Ephram is to his left. They are bored.]
AMY: Can you put something good on already?
EPHRAM: There is nothing good on. That's the problem.
BRIGHT: Oh, there's always something good on TV. That's been my motto since I was a little kid. I'm sticking to it.
[We see a program on pandas, probably the same program that was on when Ephram got home from his failed attempt at seeing The Last Samurai with Madison in "Controlling Interest".]
BRIGHT: (CONT'D) See, pandas.
[Amy smiles. Ephram isn't as thrilled.]
EPHRAM: Now could you change the channel please?
[The Abbott teens look to Ephram.]
EPHRAM: (CONT'D) 'Cause Madison used to have a stuffed panda. I'm trying to forget about her over here.
AMY: Don't complain. At least your ex isn't going into rehab. Again.
EPHRAM: Well, I wish she was. At least then I'd know she couldn't date.
AMY: [muttering] Whatever.
BRIGHT: This is exactly why I keep my relationships under one month. No muss, no fuss.
AMY: And no depth.
BRIGHT: Did you ever think maybe the reason why you two are heartbroken, the reason why you just got dumped, is that you're both annoying?
EPHRAM: You're right. Maybe we'd go big, make it a town thing and call it Dump Fest, get Dido.
[Amy laughs.]
BRIGHT: Hmm. Sit here with the bitter twins or free Internet porn?
[Bright tosses the remote Amy's way.]
BRIGHT: Excuse me.
[Bright leaves. Amy tosses the remote between her and Ephram. They sit up straight.]
AMY: Bitter twins. He's getting funnier.
EPHRAM: Yeah, maybe he's right. Maybe I am broken. I used to have the skin like a hobbit's feet. Nothing used to get to me. But now...you got any extra Zoloft lying around?
AMY: Fresh out. Sorry.
EPHRAM: Oh. You still enjoying the unmedicated life?
AMY: No. But I'm actually OK with not enjoying it if that makes any sense.
EPHRAM: Yeah, if that works.
AMY: Is there anywhere we could go to get your mind off of it?
EPHRAM: No. Not really. Madison and I went out for just long enough so that everything in this town reminds me of her. I can't even look at a street sign without seeing something that reminds me of being reminded of her...if that makes any sense.
[Amy starts nodding but then stops.]
AMY: Actually, you kinda lost me on that one.
EPHRAM: Alright.
[Ephram picks up the remote and changes the channel. They look to the TV where a lady is cooking something.]
EPHRAM: See, the annoying deep-dish lady?
AMY: Yeah.
EPHRAM: That reminds me of Chicago. Which reminds me of that episode of Samurai Jack where they gotta stop the wind from blowing away those little blue guys. Which reminds me of that nasty blue cotton candy you made me buy you the first time we ever hung out at Thaw Fest a million years ago, which you got all over your nose and it was pretty cute. But... anyway, it's like that, only with Madison.
AMY: Wow. That makes sense.
[Ephram hands her the remote.]
EPHRAM: Here. You pick.
[Cut to the playground at Everwood Elementary where kids are playing. Brittany's being her regular bossy self. She's talking to Arnie. While we hear them talk, we pan off to the side where Delia is swinging on a swing, depressed and probably thinking about Dr. L. Abbott.]
BRITTANY'S VOICE: Come on, Arnie. One more game before your mom picks you up.
ARNIE'S VOICE: I don't want to play. Delia throws too hard and I get nosebleeds.
[We see Brittany and Arnie now who are bundled up because of the weather.]
BRITTANY: You have to, Arnie. I'm the team captain and I said.
ARNIE: But I'm scared.
BRITTANY: You should be.
[Arnie runs off when Brittany gives a threatening look and is about to throw the kickball at him. Brittany notices her best friend's mood.]
BRITTANY: You're in a bad mood. What's wrong?
[Brittany walks to Delia.]
DELIA: Nothing.
BRITTANY: You can't start faking now.
DELIA: It's just that I can't say. It's a secret.
[Brittany's interest is perked.]
BRITTANY: Great. What is it?
DELIA: I'm not allowed.
BRITTANY: Best friends share their secrets. It's like the first rule.
DELIA: But it's not my secret.
[Brittany sits on a nearby swing.]
BRITTANY: Whose is it?
DELIA: Linda's.
BRITTANY: You don't even like her. And I told you my secret about how I throw out away my PB&J's when they get too smushy.
[Beat.]
DELIA: You have to promise you won't tell anyone.
BRITTANY: Totally.
DELIA: Promise promise?
BRITTANY: Like pinky.
[Tense beat.]
DELIA: Linda says she has a disease.
BRITTANY: Cool. Which one?
DELIA: HIV.
BRITTANY: That's a bad one.
DELIA: I know.
BRITTANY: If you get that, you die.
DELIA: Linda said that that's not true anymore. She said they have medicine now. That makes it OK.
BRITTANY: That's not what my dad said. He told me that's why you can't touch homeless people because they could have AIDS. There's no cure.
DELIA: Linda is not going to die.
[Tense beat between the girls.]
DELIA: (CONT'D) Forget I said anything. I shouldn't have even told you.
BRITTANY: Don't worry. I won't say anything really.
[Brittany gets up off the swing she was on. Off Delia.]
[Cut to Abbott & Abbott Medical. Dr. H. Abbott is with a young male patient, checking in his right ear.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: You know, you can't be unsupervised for five minutes, can ya? Honestly. How you manage to get coinage of increasing value lodged in your ear is behind me. Now the dime, I could forgive.
[We hear voices {Louise, Dr. L. Abbott, and Dan Clark} as Dr. H. Abbott tries to get coins out.]
LOUISE'S VOICE: What's going on here?
DR. L. ABBOTT'S VOICE: Please calm down.
DAN'S VOICE: I will not calm down. Now you listen to me.
[Cut to the hallway of the practice.]
DR. L. ABBOTT'S VOICE: I would be happy to talk to you. Why don't we don't go into my office and we can discuss it?
[We see Dr. H. Abbott coming out of the examination room he was in as voices continue.]
DAN'S VOICE: I just want to know if it's true.
[We can see Dr. L. Abbott and her brother coming to her side.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: Please. There's no reason to yell.
[She tries to suppress it.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: Mr. Clark. What are you doing here? Is Brittany alright?
[We can see Dan and Deena Clark in addition to a patient and Louise.]
DEENA: What the hell is wrong with you?
DR. H. ABBOTT: What? What do you mean?
DEENA: We heard she has AIDS. Does she? [beat] How many times did we let you do acupuncture on our daughter?
DAN: Using needles without gloves.
DR. L. ABBOTT: I am not...
DEENA: How could you expose our daughter like this?
DAN: Do you actually care one bit about the people you pretend to help?
DR. H. ABBOTT: Oh come on, it is not like that.
DAN: It is or you would never put them at risk. How could you not tell us?
DR. L. ABBOTT: I assure you at no point was your daughter or anybody else in any danger of any kind. We take precautions with...
DAN: Are you trying to tell me that this is all perfectly normal? Well, if it's so safe and so legal, why didn't you tell your patients? Why was it so "secret"? [beat] Well, you know what? It really doesn't matter. It's not your secret anymore.
[Dan walks to the door to the front of the practice. He opens it. His wife leaves before he does. We're left with the two Abbott doctors standing there. The door is closing on them. It says "Dr. Harold Abbott MD / Dr. Linda Abbott MD." We fade out on this shot.]
{END OF ACT ONE / COMMERCIAL BREAK}
{ACT TWO}
[Open in Dr. Brown's office in the evening. Edna and the three doctors are present. Dr. H. Abbott is pacing while everyone else is sitting.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: How in the world did they ever find out?
DR. BROWN: Delia.
[Dr. H. Abbott and Edna are surprised at this.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: Oh my God. Delia must have told Brittany and Brittany must have told her parents.
DR. H. ABBOTT: And now they're hell-bent on telling the whole town. We'll be swarmed by midnight. Trust me.
DR. L. ABBOTT: I'm so sorry, Harry.
DR. H. ABBOTT: We have been over this. You have no legal duty to disclose as long as you are not dangering your patient's health or safety. They're not claiming their child got infected.
DR. L. ABBOTT: Yeah, but there's still an argument. Doctors have been sued for nondisclosure before and lost.
DR. H. ABBOTT: Yeah and just as many cases have been thrown out. According to our lawyers, this decision was at our discretion.
EDNA: Well, maybe you dotted your I's and maybe you didn't but we've got bigger problems than that now. If the Clarks know, everybody in town will know before breakfast.
DR. BROWN: I have to talk to the kids.
[Cut to Amy in a room at her house working on the computer. Bright is waiting impatiently.]
AMY: You can wait two seconds to check Fantasy Basketball.
BRIGHT: You'd think I could. Hurry up.
[Amy clicks out of what she was doing.]
AMY: Here you go.
[Amy rises from her seat at the computer. Bright takes her place. Amy walks back some and looks at a CD and opens its case. She lingers as we hear a song begin to play.]
AMY: So, um, did you think that it was weird today? The three of us watching TV?
BRIGHT: No, I thought it was sad.
AMY: I mean, hanging out with Ephram. We haven't done that in a while.
BRIGHT: I have.
AMY: Well, I haven't.
BRIGHT: So I thought you guys were in friend zone now. Where it's nice and safe.
AMY: We are.
AMY: It's just, you know, we were all sitting there smushed together and he was being all funny and...I dunno, for a second I thought I felt a shift.
BRIGHT: Oh no, no way.
[Amy is embarrassed and moves away from her brother.]
BRIGHT: (CONT'D) There's no shifting allowed, OK? We have a perfectly working situation here, don't mess it up.
AMY: I'm not messing.
BRIGHT: Yes, you are. So don't. No messing, no smushing, no shifting.
AMY: It's just, he and I never really had a chance - not on our own. There was always something there to screw us up. But, I dunno, now he's not dating Madison, and I'm not dating any crack dealers this week and I guess for the first time there's nothing getting in the way.
BRIGHT: Yeah there is...me!
AMY: You were the one that told me to go for it with him...
BRIGHT: That was before I cared whether or not he got creamed, OK? He's my friend now. See, I've been there. The guy's a mess. He can't take any more of what you're about to give him. So, short of an asteriod collision, last night on Earth situation, it's not worth it, OK? Trust me. So when you start to feel that shift, why don't you go ahead and shift back?
[We hear a knock on the door. Bright looks to the door. We see Dr. L. Abbott.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: Hi. Can I talk to you two?
[Cut to Ephram on the couch in the living room of his home. We hear Dr. Brown.]
DR. BROWN'S VOICE: She's known for about three years now.
EPHRAM: When did she tell you?
[We see that Dr. Brown is across from his kids in a chair. Delia is next to Ephram.]
DR. BROWN: Uh, a few months ago. Before we started dating. She made sure that I knew what I was getting myself into.
EPHRAM: So she's got it but she's not sick?
DR. BROWN: No. Not at all. She's fine.
EPHRAM: Has she ever been?
DR. BROWN: No. It's always been under control.
EPHRAM: But she can get sick at any time, right?
DR. BROWN: Well, technically, yes. But more than likely, that will never happen. I didn't want to keep this from you. I've been wanting to tell you for a long time. So has Linda.
EPHRAM: So why are you telling us now?
DR. BROWN: Because you may start to hear things about her.
[A long beat.]
DELIA: Does everyone know because of me?
DR. BROWN: No, sweetheart.
EPHRAM: You have been dealing with this the entire time you've been going out with her. I don't get why you haven't told us before.
[Fade to Dr. L. Abbott talking with her niece and nephew. In the Abbott living room.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: I suppose I didn't tell you because I've been feeling so well and bringing it up makes me have to deal with it again.
[We see that Dr. H. Abbott and Rose are present.]
BRIGHT: Well, I get it now why you didn't want to come home again that whole time.
DR. L. ABBOTT: Yeah, that was part of it.
BRIGHT: That was dumb.
DR. L. ABBOTT: Now you tell me.
AMY: Is there anything we can do to help?
DR. L. ABBOTT: You're not supposed to do anything. It's my job to live with it and I do. Remember that quote that I showed you on my desk from The Lotus Sutra? "I have carried out my endeavors with great passion..."
AMY: "...and cast aside the body that I loved."
DR. L. ABBOTT: Mmmhmm. I live in this body now. It took some time, but I figured out a way to love it just as much.
[Cut back to the Browns in their living room. Delia is standing and is hugging her dad.]
DR. BROWN: Go upstairs, brush your teeth, put your pajamas on. We'll see you in a few minutes.
[Delia leaves. Ephram watches his sister go. When he's sure she's out of ear shot, he speaks.]
EPHRAM: Have you been sleeping with her?
DR. BROWN: Yes. I have.
EPHRAM: Have you been safe?
DR. BROWN: Very.
EPHRAM: Always?
DR. BROWN: Always.
EPHRAM: You been tested?
DR. BROWN: I told you we've been very safe.
EPHRAM: But have you been tested?
DR. BROWN: No.
[Cut to Edna in her kitchen with paper bags. She's taking groceries out of them. Irv is nearby at a table.]
IRV: They're going to be OK.
EDNA: You don't know that. Do you think I should call them? Poor Linda. I should do something.
IRV: They're talking now. Give them time.
EDNA: Well, what do you want me to do? I can't read, I can't sleep. We should be planning.
IRV: For what?
EDNA: I told you what those people said. We have to know how we're going to handle this.
IRV: There's nothing to handle. There's just one pair of overprotective parents. They'll get a few other parents half as mad as they are, they'll all shoot their mouths off, someone may write a mean anonymous letter. Then tomorrow, Everwood will find something else to gossip about.
EDNA: This goes way past gossip. I know this place, I know how it's going to go down.
IRV: What do you think they're going to do, throw rocks?
EDNA: Not when they have an excuse to be bigots and call it self-defense. It'll be worse. It'll be subtle, it'll be quiet, and it'll be a lot scarier than a broken window.
IRV: Why do you always have to be so apocalyptic about everything? These people here may surprise you.
EDNA: Are we talking about the same quaint people who took us so well when we got married? Or have you forgotten that?
IRV: Now that's different. The people here loved your husband. They respected him.
[Edna sits down at the table Irv's at. She's across from him.]
EDNA: You can't believe that after all this time that anyone cared because my husband had just died. It was never that. It's because you're black, and I'm white, and guess what? They can't handle it. Why are you making excuses for them?
IRV: Because, you can't fight it. They're just scared.
EDNA: That's what makes them the most dangerous.
[Irv nods.]
IRV: Do you really think you can protect her?
EDNA: I can let her know I'm trying.
[Off Irv. "Ooh Child" as performed by Beth Orton begins to play.]
LYRICS: Ooh child
[Cut to a fire going as the song continues to be heard. Pan to show Dr. L. Abbott reading a book.]
LYRICS: Things are only going get to harder / Ooh child...
[We hear a knock. Dr. L. Abbott lifts her head. Dr. Brown enters and closes the door. The song is still heard.]
DR. BROWN: Please tell me that's Marlowe and there's lots more of it.
[Dr. Brown pours himself a drink.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: How'd it go?
DR. BROWN: Oh, loads of fun. You?
DR. L. ABBOTT: I'm feeling pretty lucky. The kids were great actually. How's Ephram?
DR. BROWN: He had his questions. I think he was just shocked by it all. Listen, um, this morning wasn't the best reaction in my repertoire.
DR. L. ABBOTT: No, it wasn't.
[Dr. L. Abbott moves her book off her lap.]
DR. BROWN: I mean, the truth is, you did an amazing job with Delia. You made her understand and that's not easy. I'm not even sure if that's possible. But you did. I'm sorry for blowing up.
DR. L. ABBOTT: You know if you didn't say something like that in the next five minutes, several large men in ski masks were going to come out and beat you up.
DR. BROWN: Does that mean I can sit down now?
[Dr. L. Abbott laughs. Dr. Brown sits and chuckles.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) You know you are impossibly beautiful sometimes.
[Dr. L. Abbott's embarrassed at that.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) No, no, I mean it. I keep on seeing you in crowded rooms, thinking "I wonder who that gorgeous woman is?" And then it hits me. Oh yeah.
DR. L. ABBOTT: I took your apology. Why are you still going?
DR. BROWN: 'Cause I don't know. 'Cause it's true.
LYRICS: Ooh child / Things are going to get...
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) We are going to get through this. Together.
LYRICS: Things are going to get brighter...
[Cut to the Abbott & Abbott Medical practice the following day. The two Abbott doctors walk in. They look shocked. Then we pan to show empty seats throughout the whole waiting area.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: Louise. Where is everyone? We had a full schedule this morning.
LOUISE: They all cancelled.
DR. H. ABBOTT: Every one?
[Dr. H. Abbott looks at the schedule book.]
LOUISE: For the whole week, the month. Sal called. No one's coming.
DR. H. ABBOTT: Don't. We knew this would happen.
[He closes the door.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) All that is required is a tinker of time.
DR. L. ABBOTT: The place is empty, Harry. They're not coming.
[Dr. H. Abbott hangs up his coat and puts on his white doctor's coat.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: They will. Oh, they'll throw their little fit, try their hand at the silent treatment for a few days, and then the flu will loop back through Sh-boy-gun and they'll be lined up looking shots and zinc trouts. Mark my word. This practice has been around since Dad started it fifty years ago. It has weathered through far worse times. They'll be back.
[Rose enters the practice.]
ROSE: We have a situation.
DR. H. ABBOTT: We can see that, Rose.
ROSE: I had twenty families in my office just now, mad as hell. They're threatening to file a malpractice suit against you.
DR. H. ABBOTT: Against Linda.
ROSE: Against the whole practice. They want to shut you down.
[Fade out on Dr. H. Abbott.]
{ACT THREE}
[Open in Dr. L. Abbott's office at the practice. She can hear her brother and his wife talking.]
DR. H. ABBOTT'S VOICE: Yes, by sassing it at me.
ROSE'S VOICE: I'm sorry I wasn't polite enough for you but I walked in on an ambush this morning. I have just done everything I could to do to calm down fifty people and their lawyers.
[We can see the mayor and her husband in his office now.]
ROSE: (CONT'D) Trying to keep them from getting the police involved.
DR. H. ABBOTT: Oh oh, let them try it. You know we have followed all state regulations. We have disclosed Linda's condition to our insurers and the health board months ago.
ROSE: But you didn't disclose it to them.
DR. H. ABBOTT: We had no obligation to.
ROSE: They told care about that. They trusted you. What did you expect? Did you really think you could keep this a secret forever?
[A beat. Dr. H. Abbott sits in his chair.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: I don't know what I was thinking. She's supposed to care about her health. Not about the town's approval. I was only trying to protect her.
ROSE: Well, you can't do that. Not now. They're filing for fraud and emotional distress. They think they can make a case on both.
[Dr. H. Abbott rolls his eyes.]
ROSE: (CONT'D) You know I hate this as much as you do but I did get them to tell me what it would take to make this go away. They want Linda to go.
[Dr. H. Abbott shakes his head.]
ROSE: (CONT'D) They will drop...
DR. H. ABBOTT: She has done nothing wrong.
ROSE: They will drop everything and they will waive all rights to damages if she walks away quietly and today.
DR. H. ABBOTT: Absolutely not. Let them sue us all they want. I will not bow to their prejudices and petty fears. Not when we are right.
ROSE: You never told them she was sick and she kept on practicing. It doesn't matter if you're right. They feel threatened and they are ready for a fight. If you fight back, you could lose. Everything.
[Off Dr. H. Abbott.]
[Cut to Dr. Brown's practice. The waiting area is packed with many of the Abbotts' former patients. Edna tries to maintain order.]
EDNA: Cork it, people. Or I'll give you a reason to need a doctor. OK, everybody, freeze. Due to an overwhelming need and the absence of a proper line, you will now see the doc in the order of where you stand right this second.
[People are outraged.]
EDNA: (CONT'D) Starting with you, Mr. Facial Hide and proceeding clockwise...
[She moves her hand counterclockwise and then reverses it.]
EDNA: (CONT'D) ...clockwise around the room, OK? Let's go.
[Dr. Brown emerges from one of the examination rooms.]
DR. BROWN: What's all of this? Is today Bat day?
EDNA: They've been pouring in all morning. If any more try to get by, I'm going to need a velvet rope.
DR. BROWN: Alright, let's see. Gerry Block.
[Camera is on Gerry.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) I know you. You're one of Dr. Abbott's patients. You've been seeing him for your sciatic for months now. What brings you here?
GERRY: Second opinion.
DR. BROWN: Uh huh. And you, Mister. Myase that been acting up again? Another Abbott refuge? Well contrary to proper belief, I am not interested in poaching their patients. You should be ashamed of yourself. In fact, all of you should. All right, come on, everybody out.
[They protest.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) Let's go. Everybody out. That's it. All of ya. Jumping ship on a good doctor. You outta be ashamed of yourselves. Go on. Out. Store's closed.
GERRY: He's even starting to sound like Abbott.
[Off Edna.]
[Cut to the outdoors at Peak County High. Bright is eating pudding. Ephram and Amy are also at his table. A song plays.]
BRIGHT: I gotta hand it to County High. Not much for their education but the pudding...
[Pan out to show Ephram to his right and Amy to his left. Ephram is reading a manga perhaps.]
BRIGHT: (CONT'D) has never ever disappointed me. One of the few things I'll miss around here. Chocolate, vanilla, underrated butterscotch. I mean, and just right around the skin too. 'Cause you know how when you get the pudding...
AMY: Good pudding, gotcha.
BRIGHT: Mmm, yeah. I may have to get some more. However, I'm not sure I should go right now.
[Bright gives Amy a stern look as he leaves. Ephram doesn't notice.]
AMY: Try not to pay attention to him.
EPHRAM: Yeah, I got that covered.
AMY: What's with you? Still reminded of things that remind you?
EPHRAM: No, just some stuff at home.
AMY: They told you too? You know, I actually almost called you after.
EPHRAM: Why didn't you?
AMY: I didn't think that I could.
EPHRAM: Of course you could, we can always talk.
AMY: How 'bout now?
EPHRAM: Sure.
[Amy looks back to Bright getting more pudding.]
AMY: How about anywhere else?
EPHRAM: Yeah.
[Cut to a neighborhood street where Ephram and Amy talk.]
AMY: It was beyond strange for me. I mean, one minute I'm fighting with Bright about... whatever and the next minute my family's a statistic and everybody's all upset. I didn't know what to do after. I mean, is it wrong to do homework after something like that?
EPHRAM: I sort of just sat there. I mean, everything I know about HIV comes from lectures from my dad or Dr. Drew. It's always so...
AMY: Unreal. I know. And now it's my aunt. I just, I kept thinking, she doesn't deserve this.
EPHRAM: How does she sound?
AMY: Oh, somebody tells you they're fine that many times, you stop believing them.
EPHRAM: Well, she's been happy later.
AMY: With your dad. Wow, I can't even guess how bizarre this must be for you.
EPHRAM: It doesn't really matter.
AMY: Why not?
EPHRAM: Because no matter how freaked this whole situation makes me, my dad has been there and had it worse. Therefore my opinions feel pretty much up to a minimum.
AMY: I don't think there are rules or right or wrong with things like this. It's too big.
EPHRAM: Maybe.
AMY: One thing I do know is whatever is going on in there is going to come out whether you like it or not. So, you might as well just say it on purpose and choose your words."
EPHRAM: You know, it's amazing how you do that.
AMY: Do what?
[Ephram walks ahead. Amy catches up and they walk.]
[Cut to a pair of feet walking very determinedly. We pan up to show it's Delia. She's walking to a picnic table at school. Brittany's there.]
BRITTANY: Don't be mad.
DELIA: You told.
BRITTANY: I had to.
DELIA: And then I tell you. Now they're all mad at me.
BRITTANY: I'm sorry?
DELIA: No, you're not. You swore. You promised to keep it a secret.
[Brittany gets up from the table.]
BRITTANY: It doesn't count if it's that big. I had to tell.
DELIA: Why?
BRITTANY: Because she's dangerous.
DELIA: No, she's not.
BRITTANY: Then why was it such a secret?
DELIA: Because it was. You were supposed to be my best friend.
BRITTANY: I am.
DELIA: Not anymore. First you got me in trouble. Then you made me get Linda in trouble. Now everyone hates me.
[Delia punches Brittany's eye.]
[Cut to the Abbott home. Dr. H. Abbott is talking on the phone. The doorbell rings and he opens it to his sister. Dr. H. Abbott gestures to her to come in and she does.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: Well, that's great to hear. Well, very good. Yeah, I will talk to you then. Bye.
[Dr. H. Abbott hangs up. Dr. L. Abbott takes off her coat in the living room.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) Well, that was our lawyer. It is just like I said. We were in complete compliance with the acupuncturist licensing statutes which means their fraud claim can't possibly hold up. Now, there is a chance we could end up in court over emotional distress.
DR. L. ABBOTT: Harry...
DR. H. ABBOTT: No, no. Apparently the whole firm is up in arms and ready to wage war. I suspect it's more for the publicity but I'll take it.
DR. L. ABBOTT: Harry.
[He looks up from papers.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) I want you to stop.
DR. H. ABBOTT: What?
DR. L. ABBOTT: Well, I've thought this through and I don't want you to fight anymore. We have an out and I think we should take it. I'll quit the practice.
DR. H. ABBOTT: No, I've had my spouts with the local literati before.
DR. L. ABBOTT: And what if we don't?
DR. H. ABBOTT: Then we will keep fighting until we do. Whatever the cost.
DR. L. ABBOTT: [firm] No. [not as strong] No. Sometimes the cost isn't worth it and they're going to push you there. You have a family to consider, you have the practice.
DR. H. ABBOTT: Well, that practice is as much yours as mine.
DR. L. ABBOTT: It was Dad's first. And I'm not gonna let you let them destroy it. Not for me.
DR. H. ABBOTT: Well, fine. Then for me. Look, if Everwood isn't a town that can find some way of accepting you, who have done nothing but give to the world, then this isn't a town where I want to practice. Let them shut us down. I'd rather lose.
[He walks off. She follows.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: I know you would. God, Harry, it's Jakey Keller's arm all over again. Remember that, that giant kid who lived up the street who used to sniffle all the time?
DR. H. ABBOTT: Yeah.
DR. L. ABBOTT: And we would have those vicious snowball fights and you'd hide behind me but eventually he'd pommel you and you just took it? Until that time, he beamed me with an ice ball right above the eye and the second you saw blood, you went, running after him with a shovel, smashing him as hard as you could. You broke his arm, remember?
[Dr. H. Abbott nods.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) That's what you do, Harry. When someone comes after you, you argue. But when someone comes after someone you love, the minute you see blood, you go for the throat.
DR. H. ABBOTT: That's what you do for family. You fight. You go too far. I will see you at the office. Tomorrow morning at the usual time.
[He rises and leaves. Off Dr. L. Abbott.]
[Cut to the Brown dining room. They're eating dinner. Not talking. Until Delia does.]
DELIA: May I be excused?
DR. BROWN: No, finish. No TV, no sports. Just school and studying.
EPHRAM: How long?
DR. BROWN: Oh, let's just say, by the end, she could be fluent in Japanese.
DELIA: I said I was sorry.
DR. BROWN: You weren't sorry when you gave Brittany a black eye, were you?
EPHRAM: Why are you going after her?
DR. BROWN: She was fighting in school. She should know better.
EPHRAM: Oh, it's not as if you care about the fight. You're just mad she told about Linda, everybody found out, and now you have to deal. Well, don't take it out on her. You have no right.
DR. BROWN: Oh, I think I do. She practically pulled that kid's hair out by the roots.
EPHRAM: Delia, go to your room.
DR. BROWN: You can't send her to her room. That's my thing.
EPHRAM: Go.
[Delia leaves. Dr. Brown looks to his son.]
EPHRAM: (CONT'D) You said I could ask you anything I want. Well, I have one question. What are you doing?
DR. BROWN: She got into a fight at school.
EPHRAM: With Linda. Why are you going out with her?
DR. BROWN: What do you mean "why?"
EPHRAM: How could you expose yourself to something so dangerous?
DR. BROWN: Wait a minute. Hold on here. Slow down here. I told you we were being careful. I thought you were OK with this.
EPHRAM: Well, I'm not.
DR. BROWN: But, are you angry with me for being with Linda?
EPHRAM: Even being careful doesn't make it safe. Not completely. How many lectures have you given me about that?
[Dr. Brown rises to bring his plate to the kitchen and Ephram soon follows.]
DR. BROWN: Look, it's not that simple, Ephram. There's only a miniscule chance of transmission in our case. People know that. You should know that too. It's not like I haven't thought this through.
EPHRAM: Well, I don't think you did.
DR. BROWN: Well, it doesn't matter what you think!
EPHRAM: Well, it should.
DR. BROWN: I care about her...I know there's a chance that she could get sick.
EPHRAM: She is sick! OK, maybe she's fine right now. Maybe the risk for you is like nothing, but it's still a risk. If something happened...
DR. BROWN: Nothing is going to happen.
EPHRAM: OK, OK fine. What if you're right? What if nothing happens? What if everything goes great? What if Delia falls in love with her and we turn into a big happy family? What if she gets sick then and Delia has to go through losing another mother? Did you think about that?
DR. BROWN: Yes, yes, something could happen to Linda or to me. Cars crash and things that people are too scared to think about happen all the time, but you have to be willing to take certain risks.
EPHRAM: No, no, not you. You don't get to take those risks.
DR. BROWN: I do if I'm going to have a life, Ephram.
EPHRAM: Don't you get it?
DR. BROWN: I get that you're scared.
EPHRAM: Of course I'm scared! You're all we've got. [beat] Alright, enough you can't control...This isn't a car crash, this is a choice. If there's even the slightest possible chance you could get sick, what would we do?
[Ephram leaves and Dr. Brown is left pondering over what his son said.]
{END OF ACT THREE / COMMERCIAL BREAK}
{ACT FOUR}
[Open in Dr. H. Abbott's office at the practice. He walks to the phone.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: Louise, will you please get my sister on the phone and remind her that it is now 9AM? We are a 9AM office which means we begin our everyday office at 9AM.
[Louise enters his office.]
LOUISE: [overlapping] 9AM. I get it.
[Louise hands him something. We hear someone enter but can't see who it is just yet.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: Thank you.
[Louise leaves as he looks at the file. We see Edna. Dr. H. Abbott looks up.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: If you are looking for your daughter, she is not here.
EDNA: I know. She's not coming.
DR. H. ABBOTT: Oh, really? Well, she will when I talk to her.
[He picks up the phone.]
EDNA: You're right. She will. So don't. Let her quit, Junior.
[He puts the phone back.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: Again with this.
EDNA: You've got to stop.
DR. H. ABBOTT: What they're asking me for is wrong. You of all people should be helping me.
EDNA: I wanted to fight right there with you. Shove a sock down this town's throat. But it's not their fault. You should have disclosed. I know you did it for the right reasons. But they deserve to know. It was a mistake, son.
[He sits on his desk.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: If Linda leaves the practice, she'll have nothing left here. She'll leave, Mother. We'll lose her again.
EDNA: We don't know that. She has a life here now. Someone she loves. She has me, the kids plus a pain-in-the-ass brother who thinks he knows what's best for everyone. That's a lot to make a lady stick around.
DR. H. ABBOTT: I hope you're right.
[She smiles at her son.]
[Cut to Bright walking outside Peak County High. Amy catches up to her brother.]
AMY: Can you give me a ride to Aunt Linda's?
BRIGHT: You guys going to do something?
AMY: Um, I was going to ask her to help me with my Spanish.
BRIGHT: You know, she'll kick your ass if she thinks you're feeling sorry for her.
AMY: I know. I'm, I just wanna go over there. You can come if you'd like.
BRIGHT: No. I'm OK. See, I figure the best thing I can do for her, is just, let her have the same life she would've had if she had never gotten sick. You know? Because she doesn't really miss out on anything unless we do something different. Know what I mean?
AMY: Wow, that was actually kinda deep.
[They laugh.]
BRIGHT: Yeah, might spend a few extra bucks on her birthday present or you know, give her a little extra hang time. Can you believe there was actually a time this week when I thought the worst thing that could happen was you trying to get on Ephram again.
[Bright laughs. He walks off. We stay on Amy.]
[Cut to Delia reading a book ("Magic Cats" by Molly Arnold) on the couch in the living room. Dr. L. Abbott enters and spots Delia.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: This is new. Shouldn't the TV be on?
DELIA: I'm in trouble. I'm supposed to read.
DR. L. ABBOTT: Not the worst punishment. What did you do?
DELIA: I beat up Brittany. And I got you into trouble. With everyone.
DR. L. ABBOTT: Oh, Delia.
[Dr. L. Abbott sits near Delia.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) I'm not in trouble. And I'm not mad at you.
DELIA: But I told your secret.
DR. L. ABBOTT: I know but sometimes secrets need to be told.
[We see Ephram watching his sister and Dr. L. Abbott from the kitchen. We occasionally fall on his reaction during this scene.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) Especially one like this. Believe me, I know what it's like to walk around with a battle like that around your neck. I kept it in for a long time.
DELIA: What did you do?
DR. L. ABBOTT: Well, basically I spent all my energy just trying not to burst and tell everyone. I didn't do much of anything but keep it a secret. I got so far away, I finally had to come home so I had to tell the people I trusted. And it was still too much. I told you. And that helped. And now more people know and it doesn't feel so big anymore. Maybe if everybody takes a little piece of the secret, the part I have to carry gets less heavy. So in a way, I'm glad it happened.
[We see Ephram leave.]
DELIA: I don't know.
DR. L. ABBOTT: Well just so you know, we're good.
DELIA: Really good?
DR. L. ABBOTT: Good as frosting. Now, I am no lawyer but I am pretty sure the Colorado state law says that your dad can't ground me for something that you did to me. So I am revoking your punishment.
DELIA: You can do that?
DR. L. ABBOTT: Watch me.
[She picks up the remote.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) I hereby dub thee ungrounded. Thy curse is lifted. Go watch much television.
[She dubs Delia with the remote and hands her the remote.]
DELIA: Well, what about my dad? He's still angry.
DR. L. ABBOTT: I'll take care of the big guy.
[Dr. L. Abbott gets off the couch and Delia turns on the TV.]
[Cut to outside the Brown home. Dr. Brown is on the glider with a blanket over him. Dr. L. Abbott comes out. It's snowing.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: For the record, I just ungrounded Delia. I told her to play and eat fudge.
[She sits with Dr. Brown.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) I am prepared to fight you on this if you are prepared to lose. Oh, it's cold.
DR. BROWN: It's freezing.
[Dr. L. Abbott sighs and places her head on his shoulder.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: It's snowing.
DR. BROWN: Just started.
DR. L. ABBOTT: I still blame the snow for us dating in the first place. I like the way you kissed me that day if it hadn't started coming down on us. I just couldn't resist such a dramatic moment.
[Dr. L. Abbott lifts her head from his shoulder after a few beats.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: (CONT'D) Is something going on in there? That bad?
[Beats.]
DR. BROWN: I can't do this anymore. I thought what I was doing was OK but I was wrong. Ephram is scared. And I can't ask him not to be.
[Several beats.]
DR. L. ABBOTT: It's OK.
DR. BROWN: No. It's not OK. It was coming.
[Dr. Brown shakes his head.]
DR. BROWN: (CONT'D) I'm sorry. [beat] I'm sorry.
[Fade to the Abbott practice. In the waiting area. Louise is present and Dr. H. Abbott is too, with his Palm Pilot.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: And after that, who do I have?
LOUISE: Justin Sherivak for his acne.
DR. H. ABBOTT: And noon?
LOUISE: Empty. But you do have a 1:15. Apparently Pat Beardly got another quarter stuck in his ear.
[A man with a briefcase enters the practice.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: Uh, may I help you? I appear to be free for the moment.
INSURANCE MAN: I'm not here for treatment, Dr. Abbott. I'm with Regency Fidelity, your insurance company.
DR. H. ABBOTT: Ah.
INSURANCE MAN: I'm here to inform you you have problem with your malpractice policy.
[He hands Dr. H. Abbott his file {?} and he looks through it.]
DR. H. ABBOTT: Oh, what seems to be the trouble? Everything should be in order. I paid all my bills, my sizable bills myself, in full, in advance.
INSURANCE MAN: You were recently threatened with a malpractice suit, knowing to your partner's HIV status.
DR. H. ABBOTT: Well, they didn't file and uh, my partner no longer practices here.
INSURANCE MAN: Nevertheless, your policy is under review.
DR. H. ABBOTT: On what grounds?
INSURANCE MAN: Failure to notify your intent of nondisclosure. The situation is explained in your case file.
DR. H. ABBOTT: And what will this tell me?
INSURANCE MAN: Until the conditions of your policy are re-evaluated, Abbott & Abbott Medical will not be covered by Regency Fidelity.
DR. H. ABBOTT: You're suspending my insurance? I won't be able to practice. [beat] How long will this take?
INSURANCE MAN: We expect to have your answer in a few months.
[Insurance Man leaves. Off Dr. H. Abbott who turns around.]
[Cut to Main Street. Dr. Brown gets out of his SUV. Ephram's Lincoln pulls up to the spot next to his dad. He gets out.]
DR. BROWN: Shouldn't you be in school?
EPHRAM: Yeah. Math, actually. I think we're studying fractals today.
DR. BROWN: This can't wait?
EPHRAM: It shouldn't. I wanted to stop you before you did something about Linda.
DR. BROWN: You don't have to do this, Ephram.
EPHRAM: Yeah, I kinda do. You were right. What I said wasn't fair.
DR. BROWN: There didn't seem to be any stopping you.
EPHRAM: Well, I just had to get off my chest. It didn't mean you had to listen to me. OK, I get why you want to be with her. No matter what. It's a crappy disease. But you shouldn't let that stop you. You deserve what you want and so does she.
DR. BROWN: I already talked to her last night.
EPHRAM: Oh, you ended it?
[Dr. Brown nods.]
EPHRAM: (CONT'D) Well, you can fix it, can't you? I mean, take it back. Tell her, call her, tell her you were sorry, tell her that you were hormonal. Tell her I made you do it and I was being a dick.
DR. BROWN: I can't.
EPHRAM: Yeah, sure you can.
DR. BROWN: No I can't. I didn't do it for you, I did it because you were right. Whether I want to or not, I make decisions for a whole family. It's not just me.
EPHRAM: But you love her, don't you? You can't just stop loving somebody...What are you going to do?
[A song begins to play.]
DR. BROWN: Go to school, Ephram.
[Ephram gets in his car. Dr. Brown looks to the sign that reads "Abbott & Abbott Family Practice." Dr. Brown walks to his practice.]
