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Chapter 15 : facing my decisions
2 months later, Ephram's room
Amy and Ephram are lying on the bed, Amy's head on Ephram's chest. They're looking at A & M brochure.
AMY : so when did you got these ?
EPHRAM : This morning. I've been looking at them ever since.
AMY (playing with ephram's hair): trying to realize it's real ?
EPHRAM: sort of. Yeah. (looking at the pictures) It's like it's a totally different place than the one I visited last year.
AMY: You know they're brochure… they're supposed to make the place look better than it really is.
EPHRAM : Yeah, I know. (kissing her cheek). You know, I think it's not that bad now that i'm going there. I think the reason it looked so bad before was because it was like a safety choice,… does that makes any sense ?
(he puts the brochures down and come close to amy)
AMY : Yeah, I think it does. It's like, you're always dreaming your life, thinking about all those wonderful things that will happen to you and you think every other options are for losers. But it the end, reality is more painful and tragic than we imagined and those other options aren't that bad, they're actually great. (pause)
I think it's part of becoming an adult, you know… giving up on our dreams, accepting the reality…
EPHRAM : yeah… (then going on top of Amy) well, reality's not that bad, is it ? (smiling)
AMY (smiling) : yeah, you're right…
They kiss.
AMY : (breaking the embrace, sitting and taking the brochures's back) now, let's think practical. You'll need to find a dorm near the music studio so that you can't be mugged when you come back late at night after hours of practicing…
EPHRAM : which is likely to happen since I don't have a piano anymore…
AMY : Yeah, that could be a problem. Don't you have any money left ?
EPHRAM : Yeah, I do, but I think at some point I'll need food. So that won't work.
AMY: Well, we'll think of something. (still looking at the brochure)
Ephram looks at her. Then, he finally ask her the question he has wanted to ask for weeks.
EPHRAM : So… you're going too ?
Silence Amy's not saying anything, she keeps looking at the brochure.
EPHRAM: did you change your mind ?
AMY (not convincing): No, No, it's not that, of course I want to go. (she smiles to him)
EPHRAM (seeing something's wrong): Amy…
AMY (smiling) : fine… (making a 'I-can't-hide-you-anything-you-know-me-too-well' face, then she lye on the bed again. sighs) I'm just a little scared because I haven't really talked about it to my parents and I just hope my Dad will be okay with that.
EPHRAM (lying next to her, taking her hand) : hey, just talk to him. He'll understand, if this is what you want.
He just wants you to be happy. As much as I do. Just be sure that this is really what you want.
AMY (she looks lovingly at him) : This is what I want. Trust me.
EPHRAM : (smiling) Actually, I do.
They Kiss passionately and then rest on the bed, peacefully together.
(You can see Amy is wondering if her father will be so comprehensive.)
Abbott's House
(Rose, Harold, Bright, Hannah and Amy are eating their dinner.)
BRIGHT: Mom, the fish's great.
ROSE: well thanks to Hannah and your sister.
BRIGHT (kisses Hannah): it's good, hon.
Hannah smiles and stroke Bright's hand
AMY: what about me?
BRIGHT: you want a kiss?
AMY: no thanks.
ROSE: It's surprising Ephram's not here tonight?
BRIGHT: he spends the night with Delia, mom. He shows her something about a Bar Chitzvah something, he tried to explain it to me but I didn't get it.
AMY: Bar mitzvah, Bright.
BRIGHT (mouth full of potatoes): whatever.
ROSE: Speaking of, how is he? I mean, what about A&M? Did he really get in?
AMY: yeah. He's ready to leave for the next semester. He got all the paper done and all.
BRIGHT: Seems like he can't wait to leave me.
ROSE: well it's good for him. Hang out so much with you is not really healthy.
AMY: tell me about it! Look what he has done to Hannah They laugh a little.)
BRIGHT: hey !
HANNAH: it's okay bright (putting her arms around him).
They laugh and keep eating for a while and at one point Harold breaks the silence.
HAROLD: so Amy, have you thought about your plan about going to university, you know spring semester's soon, I think you should start this right now.
HANNAH (surprised): You were planning to go?
AMY (giving a reproach look to her dad then looks at hannah): yeah. I mean I thought a lot about that recently.
HAROLD (knowing exactly the answer): have you applied somewhere yet?
AMY (getting the hint and giving him a meaningful look): what do you want me to say, Dad?
HAROLD: I just want you to explain yourself about why you haven't said a word about applying to to A & M ?
BRIGHT (surprised): what? you're going to A&M too ?
HAROLD: Apparently, she thinks she is. Which means she'll ruin once again her future for this bone head!
ROSE (outraged): Harold! Stop it now.
HAROLD(to rose): I'm sorry, dear, but I'm not gonna let my daughter ruin her life.
AMY (accusing): how do you know about A&M?
HAROLD: I saw the brochure this morning, in your room. And don't say I'm looking through your stuffs because that's not the point. What matters is: How long were you gonna keep hiding it?
AMY: I wasn't hiding it dad, I just-
HAROLD: you were sneaking behind our back, plotting your thing with this (containing) boy! And you know why you didn't say a word? Because you were aware that you were making the wrong decision for the wrong reason.
AMY: I wasn't sneaking behind your back, I told you about it, remember?
ROSE: Harold, I think, you should let it go-
HAROLD: What ? no ! We agreed you would apply to PRINCETON in Spring !
AMY: dad, you agreed about Princeton, I never did.
HAROLD (making gesture): come on, we're not going to have this conversation again-
AMY: so don't start.
BRIGHT low, to Hannah: well I think it's gonna start anyway so I guess we should go, you don't really wanna see the blood, do you?
HANNAH: I guess I'm not ready for that.
They stand up and leave the table
HAROLD: you told me you were ready to take your life back and build a future now that your mother's better and told me about Princeton.
AMY: dad I never mentioned Princeton, you just assumed it. With mom, and everything, I just can't let myself think about Princeton.
HAROLD: so you want to stay, right? You're gonna stay in this lost town, ending up pregnant of your fourth child serving at MJ! Is that what you want?
ROSE (to Herself): well, I think I should let you two working this out too.
(She leaves the room)
AMY: you're unfair! You know it! (Pause) Dad, A & M is still college, no need to go to Princeton to be happy
HAROLD: With all your talent, you're gonna waste it there for a -
AMY: stop insulting him. Dad it has nothing to do about Ephram this time.
HAROLD: honey please, we both know better than this. You're doing the same mistakes all over again. See how great it went for you last time-
AMY: dad, I swear, it has nothing to do with who I'm with. I don't wanna go to New Jersey. Why are you trying to make me go to a place I obviously don't wanna go-?
HAROLD: I just don't want you to look back 5 years from now and regret you stayed in this stupid town, full of nuts people. Honey, you're only 18, you've been through so much things, and recently you've done so much things for your mom, for me, for your brother, now it's time to make something for you.
AMY: that's what I'm doing dad.
HAROLD: you deserve better than this town, I don't want you to be stuck here.
AMY: it worked for you. You stayed there with mom and you've been happy. Why it'll be different for me? You think I deserve better than Ephram?
HAROLD: He's a fine boy, what I don't like is the influence he has on you. I want you to take every opportunity to get out of this town and have the great future you're meant to have. I want you to be sure, and not because you're sure you want to be with Ephram.
AMY: but I'm sure, I really am. This is what I want. Not because of Ephram, not because of something else, just because I want to. E and I are together and we're happy, but he didn't influence me, he didn't even know I was planning to go, dad. I told you this has nothing to do with him, I'm doing this for me. I don't need Princeton, I don't need to leave, I have all that I need here and you won't convince me anyway so don't even try. Why don't you trust me on this?
HAROLD: I trusted you the last time and see what happened.
AMY: it was different! You know what, if you don't support me, fine. But I'm gonna go to A&M anyway.
(She leaves, letting her dad, sad alone at the table)
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Next chapter : "Are we there yet ?"