Original subtitles

(narrator) Previously on "Everwood.."

Ladies and gentlemen

you are looking at the latest..

...employee of the month.

- Oh, honey, that's wonderful. - 'Yeah.'

It's swell. Awesome, indeed.

What the hell is wrong with you, man?

I mean, don't you think that if I had

any clue at all, I would be on a plane

right this moment, headed as far away

from this house as humanly possible?

Yeah, I wish I knew because until then

I am stuck here...with you.

[door slams]

Has anyone ever mentioned

music therapy to you before?

I don't think so.

If you're willing, I would actually

like to give that a shot.

Why do I get the feeling you're gonna ask me

until I say yes?

Because you're getting to know me.

♪ No spill ♪

♪ Bright Abbott is the best employee ♪

♪ Of the Firehouse Grill ♪

♪ I am still What you gonna do.. ♪♪

- Done. - Shaking it with the shakers?

You know it.

Don't start getting sweet with me.

I know you're out for blood.

- How is that? - Beating me in tips.

You know, I had the record until yesterday.

Look, that doesn't count.

Some guy left me a $20

on a coffee and a pound cake.

You're still top dog

and I bow to you.

[laughs]

But really though, it's not fair.

You know, I mean, you just flash those dimples

at somebody, they'll leave you their whole wallet.

- Shut up. - I'm serious.

Actually, I bet you that probably gets pretty old, huh?

- What? - It's like..

You're constantly getting hit on.

- I do not get hit on. - Oh, come on.

You don't have these late night dumb drunks

coming in here, trying to leave you their number?

I am on at lunch.

That's why I barely ever get to see you.

That's too bad.

Oh, well, maybe we can hang out

during our break sometime.

So when's your next break?

Well, actually..

...I'm on break now.

[instrumental music]

[giggling]

'Shh..'

[giggles]

[door opens]

Oh.

Uh, hey, Mikey..

[nervous laugh]

Just, uh..

...looking for napkins. There they are.

[laughs]

There you go.

[laughs]

Uh..

[theme music]

[music continues]

So, uh, how's Dr. Bell working out?

(Amanda) She's been coming by twice a day.

We've been playing this game where loud music means happy

soft means sad.

She calls it emotional cueing.

- Is it working? - 'Oh, I think so, yeah.'

He can, uh, tap his finger to a beat now almost by himself.

Hmm, rhythm therapy for motor control. That's good.

Yeah, except she uses disco. Hmm.

If I have to get on the love train one more time

I'm gonna kill myself, or her.

Someone's gotta go.

Well, I could try and find another therapist.

Oh, no. She's been great.

Like the other day, she played

"The Hello Song" when I walked in to the room

'and I was sure he recognized me.'

And I swear..

...he moved his eyes.

You know, uh, this is not gonna work

unless you're completely honest with me. Okay?

Music therapy takes time and patience.

But if you think it's not working, just tell me.

'I'm a big boy, I can handle it.'

It's not that.

It's not like I was expecting him to get up

and do "Fiddler On The Roof."

I don't know, I guess I-I just wish

there were more we could do.

Well, maybe there is.

I called a friend of mine the other night.

She keeps up with all the research

on alternative medicine.

Oh, we've been down that road, Andy.

Sorry to say, his chi is still blocked.

Sorry.

Patience. Go ahead.

Well, anyway, Linda agreed that, uh

music therapy works very well for memory retrieval.

And, uh, apparently the association between

the two is very, very strong.

Isn't that what we've been doing?

Well, partly.

But, uh, this is more focused.

There's a new class of drugs.

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors.

They work on the enzymes

that destroy the nerve transmissions

in patients with cerebral infarcts.

I like that word. So, let's do this.

Pretend I'm not a neurosurgeon.

Okay.

Think of the brain as a library

and all of John's memories are books.

Now, the stroke didn't destroy those books.

Just the card file that tells him where to find them.

I love it when you do that.

Break it all down with cute little examples.

Yeah, well, you should hear my one for incontinence.

So, what would I have to do?

Well, everybody has a favorite song, right?

What I want you to do is pick just one.

Something very meaningful for the two of you.

Something that's associated with a significant event.

We'll put him on the drug.

We'll play the music in the appropriate setting

and see what happens.

Maybe it'll be a way in.

- He does love music. - I know.

I saw him do the karaoke, remember?

We danced to "Spandau Ballet" at our wedding.

That was...memorable.

Yeah, that says a lot about you.

Come on, I had Louise make a phone call.

Louise, did that drug sample come in?

Oh, yeah, it's right here.

That's okay, I got it.

Okay, you start once a day

at bedtime starting tonight.

(Amanda) 'Thanks.'

I think this might actually be kind of fun.

- Morning, Harold. - Good morning.

I like that tie.

Thanks, Louise.

[door closes]

Things appear to be going well.

It's called hope. Works better than Prozac.

What is her hope based on?

John's condition appears unchanged.

Well, it's based on the chance

that things could change.

I'm just taking them to a new level.

That's what we surgeons do.

Come in for the consult after the hard work's done.

Steal all the glory.

Well, this isn't a surgical case.

No, but it feels like one.

As your partner, I'm merely suggesting

a little caution may be in order.

Hope can be a dangerous thing.

Especially when it comes to stroke patients.

I think hope is the one thing we shouldn't

be cautious about right now, Harold.

We should be practicing it like medicine.

And you know what? She's right.

That is a nice tie.

[piano music]

That's amazing, I-I can't believe I never heard it before.

Well, you got a long way to go before that means much.

- 'What was your placet?' - Oh..

Roots and Brahms.

Bass rhythm and Mill Evans.

You didn't pick out a bit of Joplin?

Oh, yeah, definitely, in the bridge.

- But way, way, way better. - What's that mumble?

I can't see what stupid thing you're saying

when you mumble.

I-I said it's-it's way better.

Whose is it?

Whose? Yours.

- What? - Still not too quick, huh?

No, it was mine, now it's yours.

'I wrote it for your audition tape.'

And I guarantee you, you'll be the only kid

trying to get in with this bit.

Um, I thought you hadn't

written music in 20 years.

No, I haven't let anybody see it.

Music has been good to me for a long time.

I don't wanna mess with what she and I have.

But, this one..

...is yours..

...if you want it.

Are you serious?

It's my contribution to your..

...application.

No one can blame me if you blow it.

- I did my part. - This is perfect.

I-I can show off everything we've been working on.

If you do it right.

- What's it called? - Bella Rae.

Oh, yeah? Who is she?

[laughs]

None of your damn business.

[laughs]

Ready to play it out?

Let's go, genius.

[piano music]

Hey. What's for dinner?

Claimjumper's Prime Rib with Madeira sauce.

Your mother and I are dining out for a change.

I'm sorry, honey, I didn't know you'd be here.

Aren't you supposed to be at work?

Uh, no, I quit.

What? When did this happen?

Since, uh, last night.

No big deal, though..

Mikey gave me the bad section again, you know

and, uh, I was just over it.

I gave him my apron, came home.

- I thought you liked that job. - Not really.

But-but you were employee of the month.

Yeah, well, that was, like, a month ago, mom.

What are you gonna do now? Have you thought about that?

I don't know. Find a real job, I guess.

I mean, you guys-you guys were always saying, you know

I need to find that avenue for my future.

I-I, I really think it's time

to, you know, move on.

Get serious about what I wanna do with my life.

- Hmm. - Well, uh..

They hired a new director in Parks and Recreation today

to run the fall programs.

I could get Megan to pull

the county job list for tomorrow.

I can make a few phone calls.

See if there's any goodwill left

with the finance committee of the lodge.

Yeah, that-that all sounds very cool.

Who was it mentioned that internship

at the Hubbles the other night?

- Was that Phil? - Oh, June Simpson.

Right, right. That sounded promising.

(Rose) Oh, he'd be perfect for that.

(Harold) 'Well, this is certainly auspicious.'

'You know what, Bright? You should come out'

to dinner with us tonight.

Discuss our options, formulate a plan of attack.

Oh, no, I-I got to shower. So it'll take a while.

I'm sure you guys are probably already starving.

You sure?

You know how you love that shrimp cocktail.

No. You guys go.

Have a little alone time. I'll make do.

Well, we're very proud of you.

- Not for quitting. - 'Yeah, I know what you mean.'

But for realizing the potential in yourself

that we have always known was there.

The way you have handled this says a lot about you, son.

Thanks, dad.

- Shall we? - Yes.

[instrumental music]

[cabinet door slams]

[piano music]

This is bad.

I'm sorry, I thought I was supposed to ignore you

when you make frustrated noises.

I think I made a mistake.

God forbid. Where is my paddle?

I mean, it's just this piece.

It's.. I don't know.

It's-it's wrong.

Will's piece?

I thought you said it was great.

It is. It was.

I've had some time with it now, a-and parts

of it are-are genius, beyond genius.

But then other parts of it are are just--

- Bad? - I don't know. I mean..

The-the intro is tired and loungy.

It's great the way he revoices the chord structure here

but the counterpoint after, it's a mess.

I didn't really get any of that, but it was kind of hot.

E-everybody else is gonna be playing

Bartok, Chopin, and Schubert.

Those guys don't exactly have weak spots, this does.

Then you can't use it for your tape.

I already told Will I would.

Look, all I know about jazz

consists entirely of what you try to tell me before..

...my eyes start rolling back and I start to fall asleep.

Most of it just sounds like a lot of mistakes to me, but..

...you've been training

for this all year.

It's too important to risk

something you're not sure of.

No, it was a big deal for him

to even show it to me.

Um, maybe..

...if I switch progression here

and I come back to the tonic like..

See, eyes rolling..

Uh, just listen, just listen.

Do you think he'd mind if I fudge with it a little bit?

I mean, most of it is so good, it-it wouldn't take

very much to just sort of

make the soft spots work.

Are you kidding me?

It'd be like you're collaborating with him.

Older guys love that stuff.

Master-student, coming of age, becoming his equal.

My dad cries every time I beat him at tennis.

- Really? - No.

But how flattered is he, seriously

that you're even using his piece to get into Julliard?

You're gonna start working on this right now, aren't you?

Ah, well, you're useless to me

when you're thinking piano anyways.

Work hard, genius.

[panting]

- It's snowing. - Yep.

- And it's cold. - Uh-huh.

- I can't feel my toes anymore. - Oh, come on!

You live in the mountains. Embrace it.

Besides, it's beautiful, isn't it?

You know, I've never been up here before.

- Really? - Nah, nature and I never took.

I was 10 before I realized a baseball diamond

wasn't supposed to be built on asphalt.

We used to come here all the time.

It was John's favorite place.

There's this great camp ground.

I think the trail is up there somewhere.

You know, I took Delia camping once.

We ended up at the Howard Johnson's.

Not much of a view, but the food was better.

[laughs] I don't know if you'd call what we did camping.

It was more like a frat party in the woods.

We'd get all our friends, roll in the coolers.

- Make a huge fire. - Very nice.

Howl at the moon all night

until someone had enough tequila

to jump into the creek.

God, that water was so freezing.

Especially when you're naked.

[laughing]

[instrumental music]

(Andy) So we're getting close?

It's right...up here.

- This is really beautiful. - Yeah.

[sighing] Umm..

You okay?

[sighs]

I just thought if there was a place that would spark

a memory, this would be it.

I didn't..

[sobs]

Oh, oh, my God, it wasn't supposed to be hard for me.

Listen, you know, we don't have to do this.

I mean it, if this is too much for you

we can just go back.

No.

This is good. I need this.

This is where he proposed.

[sighs]

[music continues]

[laughs]

For the, uh, for the Bach, I was thinking

"The Well-Tempered Clavier."

- That's boring. - Or "The Contrapunctus."

That's class.

And then there is "Bella Rae"

by Will Cleveland.

Hmm..

How is "Bella" coming?

Uh, she started out a bit rocky.

'Yeah, she always did.'

But, uh, yeah, I'm actually in the second movement.

- I found something which-- - Ho-ho hold it.

You're mumbling again.

I though you said, "found something."

Yeah, I was just, I was playing around and--

'Hold on!'

'You played with it?'

- You mean, you made changes. - Yeah, I mean, I was..

I was gonna show 'em to you before I..

No, thank you!

I just fixed up the slower parts.

Did you? I give you a few arrangement exercises.

And you're a composer now?

'A finished piece isn't something you play with.'

It's music. It's in stone!

Look, Will, you're good, but you're not Beethoven.

Alright? It-it just needed a little bit--

'It needed you to sit still and sweat over it.'

You pick up a piece of music, you don't say

"How can I fix this?"

You say, "How can I make this shine?"

That's your job as a player!

If you can't do that, then move the hell

over to another profession.

Oh, great, so I have an opinion.

And now you want me to quit. That's fantastic.

I can't tell what stupid thing you're saying now.

Never mind.

You came to me raw and whimpering

after your disastrous summer in New York.

You said you wanted to work as hard as you could

to catch up and get good enough to make it.

How can you teach me to play if you can't even hear me?

You know the nice thing about going deaf?

If there's something I don't wanna hear anymore

all I got to do is turn my back.

(Rose) 'Hello!'

Hey. Say, check this out.

Mom thinks she might be able to, uh, score me

'an interview with her boy at work.'

(Rose) 'I ran into Judge Brady at lunch.'

He said the Mize's daughter

has just gone on, uh, maternity leave

over at the clerk's office.

So he said they might be looking for someone.

So I called Brooks Randolph

and told him about Bright

and he was open to the idea.

Yeah, apparently, they, like handle all

the trials from the whole county.

'Oh, it's just the filing and the paperwork.'

Now, it's entry-level, but, uh..

...it might spark an interest

in pre-law.

I assume you'll be needing a resume.

I'm curious..

What exactly will you be listing for employment history?

Huh?

When they call the restaurant to check

your references..

...do you think they'll have good things to say about you?

Yeah, I think so.

Even if they talk to your old boss?

Mr. Mikey, is it?

Uh-huh.

You had a visitor today.

She asked me to give you this.

She, uh...she who?

Oh, I didn't catch her name.

But I do recall smacking gum

and strong Christian values.

Your son didn't quit, Rose. He was fired.

What?

Would you like to tell your mother why?

- I messed up. - 'Now, indulge me, Bright.'

That whole story that you told us last night.

Did you spend all night making that up

or-or did that just come out of you spontaneously?

Because, honestly, I can't decide which is worse.

- Listen, I was gonna tell you-- - Oh, don't you dare.

Don't you dare.

I was watching the whole thing.

You were fully prepared to let your mother go out

on a limb for you without ever telling us the truth.

Or did you really not think that they

'would call your former employer?'

You know, I wasn't gonna put him down.

Oh, what-what were you gonna put down?

Lifeguard at the kiddie pool, freshman year?

- What? - I don't know.

Exactly. You know nothing.

You hand us these ridiculous rent checks

and think that makes you an adult?

You have no concept of how the real world works.

(Rose) Calm down, Harold.

It's bad enough he got fired.

No, no, honey, it is not that

he got fired, it-it's that he lied about it.

He looked, he looked us straight in the eye and told us

that he quit, that he was really gonna

make something of himself.

Then he blithely accepted our help.

What if I hadn't found out?

How would you've like to have gotten that phone call?

- From Brooks Randolph? - Look, I panicked, okay?

No, no, not good enough.

You're gonna have to do better than that this time.

Let me tell you something, Bright.

The only way to live with honor in this world

is to actually be what we pretend to be.

You don't get second chances.

Can you understand that?

Is any of this sinking in yet?

[instrumental music]

[country music]

♪ I hiked up a mountain trail ♪♪

When you said it had to be something he would remember

you didn't say it had to be good.

This is what was playing when he proposed?

What can I say? The man loved his country music.

Three chords and the truth. That's what he called it.

Julia and I used to play Desert Island discs.

She always picked Elton John.

I remember watching Diana's funeral with her.

Boy, did she ever cry.

So, how long has it been?

About three years. You?

Five years, two months, eleven days.

It was Charlie's first day of kindergarten.

It was a little hard to forget.

Do you think it's possible to grieve for someone

when they're not dead?

[sighs] I don't know.

Maybe.

That's what it feels like.

That day you came to my house

when we first met, I remember telling you that..

...it would be easier if John were just gone.

I felt guilty about it for a week.

But the worst part is, it's still true.

You never get used to it.

Not being able to..

...be with someone..

...physically.

I mean, I can see him. I can talk to him.

Even touch him.

But he can't kiss me back.

It's like I don't..

...know what I'm in love with anymore.

I know.

It's the same for me.

At least, you can start over.

Like with Linda.

I asked around.

Come on, you dropped it in, all casual, in our conversation.

Like I would miss that.

Well, it was complicated.

She was the first woman I spent time with

after Julia died, and..

...she was sick.

And when I found out, it changed things.

Well, that had to be hard.

Especially since it couldn't have been too long

after what happened with Colin.

How much asking around did you do?

No, no, it's just.. We know the Harts.

John and I used to go to their store all the time

to buy his survey maps.

That memorial service, I was there.

I saw what it did to you.

It's about the saddest thing I've ever seen.

And believe me, I am a connoisseur

in that department.

Anyway..

...I bet it was nice not to be lonely..

...even if just for a while.

Yes, it was.

So, where did you grow up?

Harold says, uh, you got a brother living in Chicago.

Oh, my God. Andy, can you see that?

Oh, my God. Andy, he's crying.

I'm right here.

♪ And closer to you ♪♪

♪ Hey now ♪

♪ Hey now what I'm gonna do ♪

- This is all my fault. - It's not your fault.

I have no idea what I'm talking about

when it comes to pianists.

I mean, apparently I thought I did.

But I don't.

I thought it was gonna be this whole..

...romantic man-love thing.

Teacher-student, mentor-mentee, whatever.

It's okay. Don't worry about it.

You can still find another teacher, though, right?

Maybe they might even be as good as Will.

Maybe not as good.

I could but it's not about that.

I liked playing with him.

Really? Is it the constant barrage of insults?

Uh, no, that, actually, I could do without.

It's like he-he exists in this place in his head

where there is music

and nothing else.

'He talks about music like it's this girl'

'he's been trying to seduce his entire life.'

But it's not a metaphor to him, it's real.

He actually talks to her.

- Yeah, that's weird. - Uh, it's beyond weird.

It's insane.

That's why he didn't care

when he lost his hearing.

As long as he could still

talk to her in his head..

...it was like he could still see it.

Like Beethoven?

Now, he..

He doesn't care about performing.

He doesn't care about school.

He doesn't even care about showing people

what he's doing.

It's like those monks who..

...do those sand paintings and then

open the door for the wind.

Music is like this pure thing

that exists for its own sake..

...just to make something perfect.

For no reason other than to show the world can hold it.

♪ Hey now what I'm gonna do.. ♪

I used to feel that way about music.

[chuckles]

But now..

[grunts]

'...now..'

Now it's just..

Like a job?

Yeah.

'You know, when I play with him..'

...it's the only time it's not about..

...a career or..

...school.

I don't have to worry about

the future or yesterday.

It's just...now.

Now and the piano.

'When I play with Will, it's the only time'

I can remember why

I'm doing any of this.

Now, I don't even have that.

♪ When you're down ♪

♪ They say it's over ♪

♪ Hey.. ♪♪

[country music]

I pegged you as a scotch man.

Well, well, well. Dr. Jake.

- Brought your fake I.D.? - Hee-hee..

Can I, uh, buy you a drink?

- You don't have to do that. - No, it's about time.

So, what are you LA guys into these days?

Is it like citrus vodka, Cosmos?

(female #1) 'Here you go, Dr. Jake.'

You ready for another one? It's on the house.

Everybody's talking about what you did.

Mm-hmm...why not?

That's right, congratulations.

- The genius doctor rides again. - Mm-hmm.

Miracles available, enquire within.

Now, you may not know it yet, but you will, that, uh..

...this town would call cheese a miracle

if they thought it would sell crackers.

Alright, quit being modest.

I'm trying to give you your props here.

Emotional response from a stroke patient

locked in with aphasia.

Call Jamma because if you don't, I will.

You know what I miss?

I miss the subway.

Okay.

Random.

We used to live midtown.

But I worked at Columbia Presbyterian

up in the 160s and

and I always took the train.

It drove Julia crazy, she thought it was beneath

a department head, you know.

That I should take the car service.

But I got to tell you..

That train ride?

Best part of my day.

It didn't matter if it 6 o'clock in the morning or midnight.

That train was always full.

Just me and a hundred strangers.

And they didn't care if I had just

given a patient bad news

or I had just yelled

at a scrub nurse in the OR.

I was just another guy on the number nine train.

You know, it's the same way in LA.

Seven million people.

All of them trying to get off the freeway at your exit

and you never talk to anybody

'cause you're always in your car

with your cellphone and a gun.

[chuckles]

Guess it's a little bit different here, huh?

Everybody wants John Hayes to be a miracle

but the reality is there are a lot

of possible explanations for those tears.

It could have been a cold..

...allergy.

I mean, it could even have been just a gust of wind.

Yeah, but you ruled all that out, didn't you?

Andy, you gotta look into that.

I know, I will. It's just..

You didn't see her, she was so happy.

So grateful. She couldn't stop thanking me.

There's nothing wrong with that.

I mean..

...what if it isn't what she thinks?

And what if it was

a cold or allergy?

Yeah, but she is not the patient.

He is.

[sighs]

Man, I still can't get used to the country music.

Oh, you'll get used to it.

It's just three chords and the truth.

Okay, that's it, my friend.

You are officially cut off.

Oh, well, thank you so much, Brooks.

Yes, I will.

Yes, and my best to Chloe and the girls.

'Bye now.'

Who was that?

Brooks Randolph at the clerk's office.

There was an opening in his department.

I have asked him if he could take one more interview.

I thought we discussed this.

You heard what he did, Rose. The boy was fired.

I explained to them that Bright's last job

was as a waiter, and that..

...references were irrelevant to his office skills.

They agreed.

Well, of course, they did

because you're their boss.

You could have told him that he was a marmoset

they would've found a desk for him.

You didn't get him the interview, Madame Mayor.

- You got him the job. - Let's hope so.

This isn't Washington.

Our local governance is supposed to have some standards here.

- It does. - Well, evidently not.

The boy lied to us, Rose.

Gladly, well.

More than once.

You're exercising nepotism here.

You should be unleashing the furies.

Oh, you're overreacting.

You know, we have been to this place before, Rose.

Last year, I was all too willing

to let my sympathies for Amy..

...allow me to excuse the inexcusable.

And you were there.

To tell me that enough was enough.

And Rose, you were right to say so.

Bright is not out of control.

It's hardly the same thing.

No, no, this is worse.

Because Bright is perfectly aware of his choices.

Perhaps, I expected more from him than you do.

But he is losing his ability to see the difference

between right and wrong anymore.

He is mistaking charm for accomplishment.

So he needs our help. And he deserves it.

What, as a reward for deception?

For being our son.

Bright is at a point where his life

could turn one direction or another.

I'm not going to let him

make the wrong decision on his own.

He's-he's dragging you

down to his level.

Now, I played along.

You know, I-I clapped when he took that

asinine job because you-you asked me to.

I smiled when he took time off from his studies

to find some special purpose.

Well, no more.

Consider carefully, if you choose to go ahead

with this, because if you do..

...you do so without my consent, without my approval.

And without my respect, Rose.

The choice is yours.

[doorbell rings] Sorry. Please..

Andy! Come on in.

Oh, this is perfect, John's parents are here.

They've been dying to meet you.

Can I talk to you..

...in private?

What's up?

I don't know how to do this

other than just to say it.

But I don't think John's tears

were a breakthrough.

That drug I gave him, one of the side effects

is lacrimation.

Which is excessive tearing.

And with the timing of the dosage

plus the wind and the cold

it all makes sense.

The tears were a reaction.

But I just don't think it was emotional.

- Damn it. - I'm so sorry.

Damn it.

I shouldn't have called them. I should have waited.

Well, it wasn't your fault.

You had every right to be excited.

About what? You just said it was nothing.

Uh, I don't believe this.

Listen, Amanda, if you don't wanna pursue this

'any further, I'll understand. If you..'

If you wanna go back to Harold

and continue with the speech therapy--

It's not that. I'm not upset with you.

Honestly.

It's not like I was expecting anything to happen anyway.

- What do you mean? - It has been five years, Andy.

I've been through so many many highs and lows

I've learned not to get my hopes up.

I'm sorry, I don't understand.

Why would you put yourself through all this if you

if you-if you didn't think it would work?

Uh, for them.

For Charlie.

Maybe even a little bit for you.

For me?

You're a wonderful doctor, Andy.

Now, see, you need to hear that part.

You don't realize it, but you have this effect on people.

You're so damn enthusiastic, it just rubs off.

I see this light in your eyes every time you work with John.

It's like..

It's like you can see his future.

His future that I don't even see for him anymore.

God, I want you to make it happen.

So do I.

But it's more than that.

I want you to feel success again.

I want you to know that you can be helpful for every patient

that comes through your door.

So you don't have to think about Colin anymore.

You can..

...you can think about John.

And the life you're giving him.

So we keep at this?

If that's okay with you.

[instrumental music]

Just one thing.

Is there any chance the tears were real?

Maybe one percent.

Good.

Then they don't need to know.

[instrumental music]

[door closes]

- I got the job. - You did?

I did.

Totally nailed the interview.

Uh, it turns out Mr. Randolph's son also

played football at county, so..

We ended up spending the whole time talking about

my undefeated season, sophomore year

and, uh, the guy loved me.

Oh, Bright.

I'm so happy for you.

(Bright) 'Yeah, I get my own desk.'

I, uh, get a computer with free e-mail.

Um..

There are no weekends.

'So I can be a normal person again.'

No more restaurant hours for the kid.

When do you start?

Uh, Monday.

Isn't that great, dad?

Uh, look, I know I have been

a total screw-up lately and, uh

you were probably wondering if I would

ever get my crap in a pile.

But, I swear to you.

I am gonna make you proud on this.

'You know, uh, you guys really went to the mat for me'

'and I, I completely appreciate it.'

You know, I needed somebody to believe in me.

And you guys did.

So, seriously, thank you.

You can thank your mother.

I had nothing to do with it.

[instrumental music]

Surprise.

Seriously..

So..

...this is where the magic happens.

Well, I wouldn't exactly call it that, but, yeah..

Me neither.

I thought I'd stop by and see this

computer setup you've been talking about.

Uh, it's right here.

Uh, it's midi.

So all-all I have to do is-is play here

and then it comes up on the screen.

- It's pretty cool. - Umm.

All I have to do is press print.

It changes everything, doesn't it?

- You got "Bella" in there? - Yeah.

- With your changes? - Yeah.

Let's hear it.

- Really? - Oh, push the issue.

See how that works for you.

[piano music]

- Play. - Well.

I can't hear anything with the volume down.

You don't have to. Play.

See it.

Left up.

Bop.

That's it.

That's it.

[instrumental music]

How did you come up with that?

I just felt it, I mean, it didn't

seem like the right place for a minor.

Is it all better now?

I don't know. I couldn't hear it.

But you can see it.

Yeah. I think it's better.

Then you gotta do what you gotta do.

I gotta do something else, too, Will.

I-I gotta find a new teacher.

It's about time you said so.

"Allen Zamen?"

You start with him tomorrow.

Hard-core classical and bitch-mean.

He'll round you out where I let you slide.

He may even help you with that Liszt you got your eye on.

Yeah, about the changes, I mean, springing that on you

was probably not my best move.

No, it wasn't.

The truth is, I wouldn't have minded

if you'd made it worse.

- Anyway, I'm sorry. - Don't be.

I'm all out of tricks to show you.

I seriously, seriously doubt that.

You gonna argue with everything I say?

We can still play together sometimes, right?

I mean, I can still come over?

You're on the path.

You got a long walk ahead of you.

You can't let things like sentiment get in the way.

"Bella Rae" was always a going-away present.

I don't think that I'm going anywhere.

Trust me.

I've seen your future

and it ain't here.

Now, shut up and play me out, genius.

[piano music]

[theme music]