Sorry, sorry, sorry for the lack of update, we were so busy…
Anyway, we promessed to ourselves to finish the fanfic before Everwood starts again so here we are… the last 3 chapters…
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Chapitre 17 : Dont mess with my future…
Bright and Ephram's Place
Ephram is still contemplating the piano, saying nothing. We can presume he's been staying there for a long time when bright comes out of his room.
BRIGHT : Man, don't tell me you spend the night watching the piano ? Either you play it or you return it but right now, you're freaking me out, you're like this guy from Shine… You know he ends up in a psychiatric institute…
EPHRAM (smiles) : Yeah… I know. (Pause) I don't know what to think right now… My first thought was to return it immediately but it's still an amazing piano… I mean it's a…
BRIGHT: bla bla bla, you already told me, I'm still bored over here…
EPHRAM: yeah… I guess you're right, I have to stop this… I'm returning it. I'm returning it… (pause)
(Ephram goes to the counter to eat with Bright. He's still look all over the place.)
BRIGHT : You're okay ?
EPHRAM : Yeah, I'm kind of relieved actually.
BRIGHT: Don't take it the wrong way but you don't look relieved… did something happened in your little tortured life ?
EPHRAM (smiles): well, last night, Amy and I kind of ..talked
BRIGHT: you guys talk?
EPHRAM: (gives Bright a look) so, we were talking and then, well, kind of mentionned something… about ...living together…
BRIGHT : WHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAT ?
EPHRAM: Yeah, I know, it's… well…
BRIGHT : INSANE ! stupid, crazy not to mention, oh yeah…INSANE !
EPHRAM: You're already said 'Insane'
BRIGHT: Because it is insane ! what were you thinking ?
EPHRAM: We were not thinking, we were just talking and it just came out.
BRIGHT: You can't be serious about this.
EPHRAM: I don't know. I first thought that was crazy but now, I don't know.
BRIGHT: Man, I can't believe you. You never learn anything…
EPHRAM (smiles): and why exactly ?
BRIGHT: because, man needs to have their space. Once you let a girl enter that space, you're screwed.
EPHRAM: Yeah, I don't know…
BRIGHT: You're helpless, you know that… (leaving)
(Ephram smiles. Still thinking.)
Abbott's House
(Amy goes to the kitchen getting something to drink. She meets Harold and Rose.)
ROSE: hi honey.
AMY: hi mom. (She goes to kiss her on the cheek and walks past Harold)
HAROLD: hi dear.
AMY (cold): hi.
(She goes towards the fridge, gets a bottle of water and drinks it.)
HAROLD: so you've been running?
AMY (distant) : obviously yeah.
HAROLD (sighs): so we're obviously not over this mad phase…
AMY: I don't know you tell me, dad.
HAROLD (sighs): Amy, stop acting like a child…
AMY: I will if you stop being this obsessive super-over protecting dad.
HAROLD: I don't need for a childish argument right now.
AMY: no really, I wanna know dad. Why are you being like this?
HAROLD: like what? Like a dad who just wants to protect his daughter of making the worse mistakes of her life? Because if this is what I'm doing, then I won't stop.
ROSE: come on Harold, I think you should let her doing what she thinks is right.
HAROLD: How can she think this is right for her?
AMY: fine. (She starts leaving the room)
HAROLD: don't just walk away like that. You wanted to start this so we're going to start. (she turns around to face him and sighs) I already told you what I think about this.
AMY: and I already told you I don't care. Just let me live, dad.
HAROLD: Come on, Amy. Stop being this drama queen. I know Ephram's got a huge influence on you but I thought you were wiser and definitely smarter now.
AMY: I'm tired of that dad. For once and for all, Ephram's out of the picture about that. The only thing he's doing is just accepting what I do, it's the only thing I expect from the people I love. He supports me, which is what you should be doing.
HAROLD: if I was sure you are not going to regret this later, I'd be more than glad to support you in your choices.
AMY: Dad, I'm sure of what I'm doing.
HAROLD: look at yourself, you're betting on a relationship which already ended no later than few months ago. It's going to repeat itself, you know it.
AMY: this time is totally different, there's no huge, life-changing secret kept from both of us by our dads.
HAROLD: Amy, it's not the point. Do you think you can build a strong relationship at eighteen? Especially you guys, considering your history?
AMY (mad): I'm sure we can. And that's actually what we're doing now. Our relationship is stronger, we're gonna live together and …
HAROLD (completely shocked): What?
AMY: you heard well dad, Ephram and I are going to live together.
HAROLD (laughs): do you really think I'm going to let that happen?
AMY (shouting): do what you want Dad, this is MY life, you can't stop this.
(She leaves the kitchen, letting a Harold completely shocked and a Rose, not so shocked actually)
HAROLD: can you tell me what just happened? I mean, did you hear that?
(ROSE smiles slightly, but Harold, too shocked by what just happened, didn't notice it)
Brown and Abbott's family practice
Ephram enters his dad's office. Andy is reviewing some files.
EPHRAM: Can we talk ?
ANDY (surprised): Yes. Sure.
EPHRAM (accusing): so, what are you doing ?
ANDY: I'm reviewing this file about this woman, she's…
EPHRAM: not right now. What do you think you're doing ?
ANDY : What do you mean 'What do you think I'm doing'
EPHRAM: I received the piano.
ANDY: you don't like it ?
EPHRAM: I'm returning it.
ANDY: Why ?
EPHRAM give his dad the You-know-exactly-why look.
ANDY : Ephram, no. Don't do this. Don't turn everything I do into a secret agenda to make you like me again.
EPHRAM: You couldn't help it, could you ? you couldn't let things work out themselves. You had to do something about it.
ANDY: Ephram…
EPHRAM: just when things were starting to get better between us.
ANDY: what exactly was getting better. We're not talking.
EPHRAM: yeah. So what ? you think things can magicly go back to normal ? it takes time. I told you I didn't want you to control my life. But no, you had to do something.
ANDY: I'm not trying to control your life. I thought you would need a piano to practice in A & M and you didn't have one… so I thought you could just use my help.
EPHRAM : But I don't want your help ! I don't need your help ! Don't you get it ?
ANDY : Yeah, I get it. But I still care about you and your future and I don't want you to mess this up just because you hate me... so please, accept this... not as an apology, just as a gift from someone who cares. (Ephram is thinking. Taking it all in.) Please.
(Andy looks at him telling him with his look to please think about this... After a while, Ephram nods as if to say 'Okay, i'll take it'. Just before leaving the offive, he turns back and says :
EPHRAM: Thank you.
(Andy smiles a little. There's maybe something to work on here... maybe there's hope for their relationship…)
(As Ephram's getting out of his dad's office, Harold comes in the waiting room, noticing him)
HAROLD (sarcasticly): Oh, Ephram, Hi, I'm glad you came by. Maybe you could explain to me what the hell you were thinking when you decided to move in with my daughter ?
EPHRAM (obviously surprised. Looking at his dad and Harold, completely amazed): What ? huh, no…how…what…
HAROLD: Yeah, exactly what I was thinking. First you make my daughter give up all her dreams and go to this ludicrous D-list university and now you're making her moving in with you. That is the cake…
EPHRAM: Wait, hold on, i didn't-
ANDY: Harold, maybe you should calm down…
HAROLD: I don't need to calm down, I think I'm having what I might call a justified emotion reaction…
ANDY: Well then, maybe you should go to your office as there are patients over here.
(Harold looks at the waiting room and sees a couple of patient, apparently really interested in the conversation)
HAROLD (quietly to ephram): Would you come to my office, please ?
EPHRAM (a little scared): sure.
As they enter the office :
EPHRAM (trying to explain): Dr Abbott, i didn't make your daughter doing anything especially made her going to A&M and about living with her, i never said-
HAROLD: Think a little with your tiny little brain if you do have one, do you ever think my poor little girl's gonna be happy with you at A&M? You already broke up with her once, do you think this time would be different? And once again, she'll end up heartbroken
EPHRAM(hurt but trying to hide it): i have nothing to do with her decision about A&M, Dr Abbott, I swear, I didn't even know she was planning to go until she filled the paper.
HAROLD: maybe but i'm sure you haven't tried to prevent her from making this mistake, have you?
EPHRAM: I didn't have a say in this, and i don't think this is my decision to make, nor yours, Dr Abbott. You know your daughter, and when she has an idea on her mind, she keeps it like hell-
HAROLD: what i do know is that she can sacrifice herself for a guy, for you. She did it more than once, and she's doing it again.
EPHRAM: Dr. Abbott, She's sure she's doing the right thing and she is happy with the decision she made. And I really love her, I hope you know it. I want her to be happy and I won't let her sacrifice her dreams. So i guess you have to trust her and trust me by the way. I'm sure she's doing what she thinks is good for her, i guess this is the most important thing you have to consider.
HAROLD: (pause, obviously, Ephram speech had an effect on Harold) i guess you're right even if it does irritate me to say it. Sometimes, I have to remind myself that she's not my little girl anymore, she's this strong woman now, (smiling) just like her mother. And I do know, for some reasons, she loves you and that you love her too.
EPHRAM: And about the living together, we never really…
HAROLD: I think you're right, that's her decision to make and maybe I should be happy now that you'll always be there for her, watching her for me.
(Ephram smiles and starts to leave)
HAROLD: But don't ever forget i'm watching you, if you ever hurt her again, I'm going to make you feel pain you've never felt before on your-
EPHRAM: I got it.
HAROLD: take care of her.
EPHRAM(serious): i will.
(he smiles and leaves, closing the door behind him. Harold and Andy stnads there, looking at the door)
ANDY(smiling, proud): that's my boy.
(Harold sighs and goes to his office)
Ephram and Bright's Place
Ephram is getting into his appartment, still a little troubled about the day he just had. He's relieved to finally be home. He looks at the piano, smiling, as he gets to his room. As he enters, he sees Amy, sitting on his bed.
AMY (looks at him): We need to talk.