페어런트후드#Parenthood 시즌 2 - 19화 대본

2.19 - Taking the Leap
Transcript by Craig Best

This is a Beta copy

please contact me for any corrections or additions

[Opening scene - Julia in the bathroom checking a pregnancy test, it's negative. She looks disappointed.]

[NEW SCENE - Same time, morning in the kitchen, Julia enters.]

JOEL: Okay, late bite, Syd. We gotta go, hon.

SYDNEY: I already finished.

JOEL: Thank you.

JULIA: Thank you. [Taking the Milk carton.]

JOEL: Yeah. Hey, so?

JULIA: So, um...So no. So we can try again. It's fine. You know, I had an appointment last week, and everything looked fine, so...

JOEL: I know honey, it's supposed to take a while. It's early in the process. You just gotta take it easy.

JULIA: You know what? Maybe it's time we get you checked out, babe, just... just to be sure.

JOEL: Be sure...Of what?

JULIA: How many fish you have and how fast they're swimming.

SYDNEY: We're getting a fish?

JOEL: Uh...

JULIA: Well, no, sweetie. Maybe. Um... I'm setting up an appointment for you, okay?

JOEL: Really? I'm pretty sure I've got a tank full of really, really fast, athletic swimmers.

JULIA: I'm sure they are.

SYDNEY: We're getting an aquarium?

JOEL: Uh...

JULIA: No. Maybe.

JOEL: Maybe.

JOEL & JULIA: [Together.] We'll see.

SYDNEY: Daddy, I forgot my backpack.

JOEL: Thank you. All right. Come on. [To Julia.] My fish are fine.

[NEW SCENE - Morning, Kristina on the phone in her kitchen.]

KRISTINA: I will talk to my husband, and I will call you back. No, thank you. Okay. [She ends the call.]

ADAM: Talk to me about what? Who's that?

KRISTINA: That was Max's school. They want us to come in this afternoon for a parent conference.

ADAM: Really. Why?

KRISTINA: I don't know. They wouldn't say. They just said they wanted to discuss it with us in person.

ADAM: Did something happen?

KRISTINA: Not that I know of. They said that Dr. Robertson wants to see us.

ADAM: The Principal. That's not good.

KRISTINA: Mm-mm. The last time this happened was when...

ADAM: When Max got kicked out of school... I know. [There is silence as Adam looks at Kristina.] All right. I'll clear my schedule this afternoon.

KRISTINA: Okay.

ADAM: Okay.

KRISTINA: It'll be fine.

ADAM: Yeah.

[NEW SCENE - Ambers room. Sarah is helping her pick an outfit for work.]

AMBER: I don't know, what do you think? It's either, you know, Aunt Julia impression or it's, you know, a corny librarian.

SARAH: Welcome to the corporate world, okay? Do you think they feel good in those suits and ties?

AMBER: I don't know. Maybe. I mean, it's a law firm. What am I gonna talk to these people about? I mean, I'm completely out of my element.

SARAH: Exactly. It's a whole new experience. You should thank aunt Julia. I mean, look at you. Everything's happening. This is an internship that could turn into a job.

AMBER: I know.

SARAH: You could do this during the summer, when you're off of Berkeley.

AMBER: When I'm off from Berkeley with you guys. I'm going to Berkeley. I mean, mom, we don't know yet.

SARAH: Oh, Amber...

AMBER: Can I just ask you a quick question? What if I don't get into Berkeley?

SARAH: Why don't you think about something positive? Why don't you imagine you life…

AMBER: Mom, I know! It's just, you're putting all this pressure on me.

[Zeek walks past the door, having just came from the bathroom.]

SARAH: What do you have in your pants, dad?

AMBER: What kind of a question is that?

ZEEK: I was going to the bathroom, and I, uh, was perusing your play.

SARAH: Dad, are you kidding me? You read... You took that in the bathroom? Grose!

AMBER: A play? What does that mean? Like a play that's…

SARAH: [To Amber.] It's not a play. It's part of a play I just started…

ZEEK: Your mother has written a play, and it's fantastic, Amber.

AMBER: You wrote a play?

SARAH: I wrote this thing. It's not even done yet. [To Zeek.] You shouldn't be reading this. No one's supposed to read this yet.

AMBER: Am I in there? Was I in there?

SARAH: [Sarcastically] It's all about you.

[NEW SCENE - The school bell rings, Crosby is waiting for Jabbar.]

CROSBY: Oh, hey.

JASMINE: Hey.

CROSBY: You made it after all?

JASMINE: Yeah, class ended early. So...Thanks for covering for me.

CROSBY: Yeah. No problem.

[Awkward pause.]

JASMINE: Okay. Well... You can go.

[Crosby goes to leave but turns back.]

CROSBY: You know, Jasmine, I know that you don't want to talk to me.

JASMINE: I don't.

CROSBY: But if you could...

JABBAR: Mom and dad, guess what?

JASMINE: Hey!

CROSBY: Hey, buddy.

JABBAR: I'm star of the week.

JASMINE: Yeah!

JABBAR: Look. [Opening a poster.] Voila!

JASMINE: [Laughs]

CROSBY: Oh, cool!

JASMINE: That's great!

JABBAR: You get to put pictures on it and say things that you like... And then your mom and dad get to come to class and talk about your family!

CROSBY: All three of us together?

JABBAR: Yeah! You guys can come, right?

JASMINE: Yeah. Of course. Of course.

JABBAR: Yes! I'm gonna put a lotta pictures on it. I'm gonna put all the pictures that we have on it. All about Jabbar! Whoo! All about me. Whoo-hoo!

[NEW SCENE - Suburban street, Kristina and Max walking.]

KRISTINA: So, buddy, how's school going? Everything good? You're liking your friends?

MAX: Yeah.

KRISTINA: They're nice to you?

MAX: How much farther are we gonna go?

KRISTINA: Not too much farther. Just out for a little walk, you know.

MAX: This is so weird. We never go on walks.

KRISTINA: It's kind of fun.

MAX: No. Not really.

KRISTINA: Yeah. Spending time together. Getting some fresh air.

MAX: I have to go to the bathroom.

KRISTINA: What? Right now?

MAX: Yes.

KRISTINA: Can you hold it?

MAX: No, mom, this is serious. I have to pee...

KRISTINA: Honey, just hold it.

MAX: And I... I can't...

KRISTINA: Just for a little while...

MAX: I'm gonna go here.

KRISTINA: You know what we can do? We can go to the Lessing's house. They're right around the corner. Just take it, take it... Take it down. Okay.

[NEW SCENE - The doorbell rings at the Lessing's house.]

MAX: Hello. I need to pee!

KRISTINA: Hi!

SARAH: Kristine.

KRISTINA: I'm so sorry to barge in on you like this.

MAX: I need to pee!

KRISTINA: We were out for a walk...

MAX: I need to pee!

KRISTINA: And he needs to use the bathroom.

SUZE: You know, I would say normally that would be fine except…

MAX: Mom I really have to use the bathroom.

SUZE: The guest bathroom is being remodeled.

KRISTINA: Oh, that's wonderful.

MAX: Mom I really have to use the bathroom.

KRISTINA: When did that happen?

SUZE: Yeah, recently.

MAX: You know, I can use the old bathroom.

SUZE: Max, please...

KRISTINA: Manners! My gosh, I'm sorry. It's just we were out walking...

MAX: [Running to the bathroom.] Hey, Gaby! Hey, Noel!

KRISTINA: Did he just say Gaby?

GABY: Yes.

SUZE: You didn't...

[Opening credits - featuring “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan]

[NEW SCENE - Outside the Lessing's front door.]

KRISTINA: So maybe one of you guys can explain to me what's going on right now because I'm totally confused.

GABY: I know Kristine…

KRISTINA: [To Gaby.] So you're working with Noel?

GABY: Yes.

SUZE: I was going to tell you.

KRISTINA: You were?

GABY: [To Suze.] What? You didn't tell her?

KRISTINA: Tell me what?

SUZE: [To Kristina.] Noel really needed somebody. He was having really bad problems in school.

GABY: Kristina…

KRISTINA: [To Suze.] I'm your best friend. You could have called me and told me what's going on right now.

GABY: Kristina, I'm sorry. I thought you knew.

KRISTINA: No, I knew nothing, okay? You have no idea what Max is going through right now.

GABY: I understand you're upset, but Suze needed help fast.

KRISTINA: What about Max? You left us high and dry, Gaby. He just found out that he has Asperger's because of what you and Crosby did. We have a meeting tonight at school where he's probably gonna get kicked out. We have no idea what to do about it. You just left...

GABY: What happened?

KRISTINA: I don't know what happened, because he won't tell me, okay? Max, honey, let's go.

MAX: Coming!

GABY: I'm sorry.

KRISTINA: Let's go, buddy. [To Gaby.] I hope my brother-in-law was worth it, because he's not the only one you screwed here. See ya around.

GABY: Kristina...

KRISTINA: [Sarcastically.] Good luck on the remodel.

[NEW SCENE - Julia's work. She is walking with Amber to her office.]

AMBER: This is really nice. I mean... You're so successful. You're like a real successful woman.

JULIA: [Laughs] Well...

AMBER: Why does everybody always talk about Uncle Adam? He's just, like, shoes only.

JULIA: Please tell him that.

They enter Julia's office.]

AMBER: Oh, also I just wanted to say, uh, thank you for this job. It's...Really, really, really helpful.

JULIA: I know it's not brain surgery or anything, but it's good, you know, it's good experience.

AMBER: And it's really gonna help out with the money for college.

JULIA: Have you heard anything?

AMBER: No. It's really stressful.

JULIA: I understand. It is brutal, but hang in there. It's worth it.

AMBER: Yeah.

[There is a knock at the open door.]

GARY: Knock, knock. Anybody home?

JULIA: Come on in. This is my niece Amber. Say hello to Gary. She's gonna be a runner here starting today.

GARY: So, uh, are you in law school or...

AMBER: Do I look like I'm in law school?

GARY: Little bit, yeah.

AMBER: Oh. Yeah. Guess I do. No, I'm not. I'm not in law school, uh, yet. I don't know. Maybe later. I don't know.

GARY: Okay. Well, here are your car keys. I, uh, washed and waxed it, put it back in its spot. I also took care of that body in the trunk.

JULIA: Uh-huh. Thank you.

GARY: Thank you.

JULIA: [Jokingly.] Get out.

GARY: Yes. It's lovely meeting you. Try not to screw anything up on your first day.

AMBER: Funny.

[The office phone rings.]

MALE VOICE: Your husband on line one.

JULIA: Good. Hi, babe.

JOEL: Julia, this is insane. I can't masturbate into a cup.

JULIA: Uh, I'm... babe, I'm so sorry. I actually have you on speaker, and Amber is here...

JOEL: Am… She's there?

AMBER: Hey...

JOEL: Hey! How are you?

JULIA: How are you?

AMBER: I'm gonna go.

JULIA: Okay. [Picks up the hand set.] So...What's happening?

[Amber leaves losing the door.]

JOEL: I can't do this, honey.

JULIA: Why not?

JOEL: [pacing the room with his pants half down.] I don't even know where to start. I mean, this room is freezing. I'm sitting here. They're playing muzak. People are walking by, and they brought this stack of Playboys from the 1980s and told me to give them a call when I'm finished. It is so weird, honey.

JULIA: I'm sorry. Well...I mean, what do you want me to do? Do you need my help?

JOEL: What do you mean?

JULIA: You know, I mean, like... Phone sex.

JOEL: You know how to do that?

JULIA: Well, yeah, I don't know. Um... Okay, give me a second.

JOEL: Yeah, hold on. [Sits back down.] Hang on. Yeah. Yep. Okay.

JULIA: I... I...Wanna... I wanna... okay. Good luck. Thanks.

[NEW SCENE - Max's school, Kristina and Adam are in a classroom with a teacher and the principal.

DR ROBERTSON: We wanted to discuss with you Max's academic performance.

ADAM: Yeah. What's going on? Is he falling behind?

KRISTINA: If he is falling behind, we just talked to him about his diagnosis, so that could be the reason why.

ADAM: He may be a little distracted.

DR ROBERTSON: Well, actually... It's just the opposite. He is doing remarkably well, particularly in math and science.

KRISTINA: Really?

ADAM: Okay.

DR ROBERTSON: That's why we wanted to talk to you. We wanted to let you know that we're on top of it, and we're looking for ways to keep Max challenged in the classroom so it doesn't become an issue going forward.

ADAM: All right.

KRISTINA: Hmm.

DR ROBERTSON: [Laughs]

KRISTINA: Wow.

DR ROBERTSON: Something wrong?

KRISTINA: No. I just wasn't expecting this.

ADAM: Yeah, we... I... Well, you know what? This is good news.

DR ROBERTSON: Absolutely. We wanted to have this conversation. You know, in case you wanna bring Max back, we always have a running start.

ADAM: Wait. I don't understand. Why wouldn't we... wanna have Max come back?

DR ROBERTSON: Max has definitely benefited from the program that we have at footpath socially.

ADAM: Mm-hmm.

DR ROBERTSON: And the last thing we wanna do is talk ourselves out of having a fine family such as yours as part of our community. However, you need to decide if Max would be better off at a school where he would meet his full potential socially and academically.

[NEW SCENE - Braverman kitchen, Amber enter.]

SARAH: Oh...Hi!

AMBER: Hi.

SARAH: How was it?

AMBER: Well, you know, it was fine. It was a lot of, you know, filing and busywork.

SARAH: Did you memo anything or fax anybody?

AMBER: No, there's no faxes anymore because it's not 1990. But…

SARAH: Oh, they still have faxes, okay?

AMBER: I don't think so. [Takes off her shoes.] Oh, my feet hurt. What's going on? Why are you...

SARAH: You've got mail. [Amber looks at the small envolope.] What?

AMBER: Great. Look how skinny it is, okay?

SARAH: You don't know what that's gonna say.

AMBER: [Opening it.] Let's see. "I deeply regret that we're unable to..."

SARAH: No way!

AMBER: Yeah. Duh.

SARAH: Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. God, I really thought...

AMBER: That was my safety school. I only applied one other place. I should have applied more places.

SARAH: Well, I mean, look... You only picked one safety school because the whole Berkeley thing...

AMBER: I know, Berkeley. I get it, mom.

SARAH: No, I'm just saying, it's... you know... With the great interview, your relationship with Carly... That's why you only applied one other place.

AMBER: Mom...

SARAH: I'm just saying, you...

AMBER: It's just really stressful and a lot of pressure, okay?

SARAH: Okay. Don't feel pressure.

AMBER: Well, I do.

SARAH: I'm just telling you it's gonna be fine.

AMBER: Okay. Thank you, I appreciate it.

[NEW SCENE - Houseboat, Crosby and Jabbar working on his poster for Star of the Week.]

CROSBY: This would be a good one. Halloween. I'm Evel Knievel. Who are you? You're a guy in pajamas?

JABBAR: I'm Jedi.

CROSBY: I like that one. We should probably...

JABBAR: Oh, this one's good too.

CROSBY: Oh, bingo! Here we go.

JABBAR: No.

CROSBY: No? All right. Remember the Japanese gardens?

JABBAR: The goldfish were cool.

CROSBY: Yeah.

JABBAR: Maybe.

CROSBY: Or remember when we ate your face?

JABBAR: Mm.

CROSBY: You don't remember that? How 'bout this? Family jam session. I was playing the piano, and you were what?

JABBAR: I was playing the bongos.

CROSBY: Yeah. Then your mom was singing and dancing. That was a lot of fun, wasn't it?

JABBAR: Yep.

CROSBY: Maybe you should put that on your list.

JABBAR: You know what? That's a good idea.

CROSBY: Yeah. Playing music... With mom and dad.

[NEW SCENE - Braverman house. Zeek is talking to an old friend in the sun room when Sarah comes home.]

ZEEK: She's got a gift, I think, for languages. She's got a...

SARAH: Hi.

GILLIAM: It's amazing stuff.

ZEEK: Honey, quick. Get the hell in here. I want you to meet somebody.

SARAH: Hi.

GILLIAM: I've been hearing only extraordinary Sarah tales all day.

SARAH: Oh, thanks.

ZEEK: This is Gilliam T. Blount.

SARAH: Oh. Having some... Martinis, are ya?

ZEEK: We're not... We're just having a good time.

GILLIAM: Yeah. Gin is timeless.

ZEEK: Gilliam and I served in the war together, and he happened to have produced the fine Death of a Salesman in Saigon. It would have knocked your socks off.

SARAH: Wow. You're in the theater?

GILLIAM: And...He played the greatest biff you ever saw.

ZEEK: I should have been Willy.

GILLIAM: Oh, give it up.

SARAH: Well, very nice to meet you.

ZEEK: Sweetheart.

SARAH: What?

ZEEK: Uh, you don't know this, but you are standing in the presence of greatness. Gilliam T. Blount, if I may, happens to be one of the finest Broadway producers to ever come along the pike.

SARAH: Oh!

ZEEK: And guess what.

SARAH: What?

ZEEK: He has agreed... To read your play.

SARAH: No. Oh, God, that's such a compliment. That's amazing, but, dad, no. Nobody's supposed to read it yet. It's not ready. It's not ready.

ZEEK: We made copies.

SARAH: I don't want...

GILLIAM: They all say that. They all say that.

SARAH: I'm new at this, and there is some very personal stuff in there that I want to take out.

GILLIAM: You were gonna take out the personal stuff? What were you gonna leave, the shallow stuff? Do you wanna be a writer?

SARAH: Yes.

ZEEK: Yeah, she does.

SARAH: Dad!

GILLIAM: Do you wanna be a writer? Hmm?

SARAH: Yes.

GILLIAM: You afraid of hurting somebody?

ZEEK: She's willing to hurt people.

SARAH: Dad!

GILLIAM: Sarah, this is obviously about your family. I'm asking you are you afraid of hurting their feelings?

SARAH: Yes.

GILLIAM: Yeah. Your father saved my life in the Vietnam war. And even before I stopped resenting him for it, I realized that I owed him a lot. I will...Leave here and I will read your material.

SARAH: Ohh...

GILLIAM: And I will tell you the brutal or celebratory truth.

SARAH: [Sighs] I don't know what to...

GILLIAM: I think the word you're struggling for is...Thank you.

SARAH: Thank you.

ZEEK: Yeah!

[Sarah Looks at Zeek a little mad.]

SARAH: [To Gilliam.] Thank you.

[NEW SCENE - Morning, Adam brushing his teeth.]

KRISTINA: Hey honey. You really wanna move Max to mainstream?

ADAM: Yes.

KRISTINA: We've done the whole mainstream thing, and it sucked. Remember how badly it sucked?

ADAM: Kristina, he's been growing by leaps and bounds. He's, you know, behaving better, he's better socially. I think that he can handle going mainstream.

KRISTINA: Handle it? I don't want him to have to handle anything. I want him to flourish and grow and be good where he is, and he is right now at Footpath.

ADAM: I feel like you're saying that maintaining these social skills is more important than having him be challenged academically.

KRISTINA: I think it's both. I think that you have this idea that mainstreaming is some magical cure, and it's not, Adam.

ADAM: No, I don't.

KRISTINA: Yes, you do.

ADAM: No, I don't.

KRISTINA: Yes, you do. He's doing so great. They said so. If they wanna give him more work to challenge him, they can. There's no reason to rock the boat.

ADAM: Okay. I hear you, and I get your point, okay? But can we agree to talk about this some more later?

KRISTINA: Okay.

ADAM: Fair?

KRISTINA: Yeah, that's fair.

ADAM: Okay.

KRISTINA: Okay.

ADAM: All right.

[NEW SCENE - Amber in her cubical at work with Julia. Her cell phone chimes with a Voicemail from Carly Barow.]

CARLY: [Voicemail] Hey, Amber, it's Carly Barow. I spoke to the Dean of admissions at Berkeley. So, um, give me a call when you have a chance. Thanks, sweetie.

[Amber hangs up the message and think for a moment before picking up the office phone.]

GARY: If you're ordering pizza, I like mushroom.

AMBER: That's not very funny. [Remembering his name.] Gary.

GARY: Gary.

AMBER: You're Gary. I knew it.

GARY: Mm-hmm.

AMBER: I was just kidding.

GARY: So, uh, a few of us are going for happy hour a little later if you're interested.

AMBER: Really.

GARY: Yeah, you know, no big deal. Just grab a few beers, hang out, whatnot.

AMBER: Casual?

GARY: Yeah.

AMBER: Uh...Lt sounds fun, but I...I can't.

GARY: Aha. Oh, you know what? I get it. You're one of the upstairs people...

AMBER: Actually, I just, um... I have some stuff that I have to do. But I would love to take a rain check.

GARY: Well, I will hold you to a rain check.

AMBER: Okay.

GARY: All right. Have a good night.

AMBER: Bye.

[NEW SCENE - Braverman front yard. Zeek is walking Gilliam to him car. Sarah is following, clutching to her play.]

ZEEK: Are you sure you're okay to drive?

GILLIAM: Oh, yeah.

ZEEK: I mean, this is a... A big piece of iron here.

GILLIAM: I'm very careful.

ZEEK: Tiny country roads. [The shake hands.] Thank you.

GILLIAM: Sarah.

SARAH: Yes.

GILLIAM: When you investigate me on the worldwide web... Which I would do if I were you... You're gonna come across some oddities or two. Try not to do what other people do so easily nowadays and... Don't prematurely compartmentalize me.

SARAH: I won't if you won't. [Hands over her play.]

GILLIAM: [Chuckles] Ya got it.

SARAH: [Doesn't want to let go.] Ah!

[Gilliam starts the car and backs out the drive.]

ZEEK: That's a mailbox. Watch the mailbox.

SARAH: Dad.

ZEEK: Huh?

SARAH: What did he mean... oddities?

ZEEK: Oddities? Well, there's a ten-year period of time, and it's kind of a mystery.

SARAH: Dad, who is this guy? Who did you give my play to?

[NEW SCENE - Jasmine and Jabbar work on his 'Star of the Week' post at home.]

JABBAR: Remember when we were in New York and remember at Halloween?

JASMINE: Mm-hmm.

JABBAR: And this is from the football game when you scored all those touchdowns.

JASMINE: I didn't score that many.

JABBAR: Uh-huh! Daddy said you were the star.

JASMINE: Ha! He did, did he?

JABBAR: Yeah. Oh, and this one. Daddy said to ask you what song he was playing. He said it was your favorite.

JASMINE: Oh. Okay. Well, it's, uh... It's Kansas City and... It's actually not my favorite. It's grandma Renee's favorite. But I think that's why he learned it. Hey, I got an idea. All this is great, and I love everything. But how 'bout we add some things that you and I like to do together.

JABBAR: Like... Watching television.

JASMINE: Mm. That's good. But I was kind of thinking more like... When we roast the marshmallows in the fireplace and make s'mores.

JABBAR: Oh, yeah, that's good.

JASMINE: Remember that? Yeah. Let's do that.

JABBAR: When's daddy's boat gonna be fixed?

JASMINE: I don't know, sweetie. Why?

JABBAR: I want him to live here again. We haven't played Nerf wars in a long time. How do you spell s'mores?

[NEW SCENE - Amber's room, she enters and sits on her bed. Then dial's a number on her cell phone.]

CARLY: Hello?

AMBER: Hey, Carly, it's Amber. I'm just, uh, returning your call. I got your message.

CARLY: I was calling to let you know that I spoke to the Dean of admissions today, and I'm afraid it's not good news. You didn't get in. I'm sorry, honey.

AMBER: Oh. Okay.

CARLY: The letters don't actually go out till the end of the week, but if it was me, I figured I'd wanna know, so I called. I hope that was okay.

AMBER: Yeah. I'm... I appreciate it. Thanks.

CARLY: Listen, Amber, you are a terrific young girl, and you're gonna have so many opportunities. Trust me.

AMBER: Okay. Thank you. I appreciate it.

[Amber is clearly upset.]

[NEW SCENE - Joel and Sydney arrive home. The phone is ringing.]

JOEL: No, Syd, don't just drop your bag. Take it upstairs in your room, honey. Not a hotel.

SYDNEY: [Whining] It's so far.

JOEL: [Answering the phone.] Hello. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. [Exhales] Awesome. Awesome. Thank you so much. [Hangs up the phone.] Yeah, baby! My boys can swim! Whoo!

SYDNEY: Swim? Are we getting fish?

JOEL: Uh, no, no, honey. Daddy just, uh, did really well on a test.

SYDNEY: So when are we getting the aquarium?

JOEL: Uh, you know, I don't... I'm not sure... Can I just... I'm gonna call your mom real quick. Can you...Go over... Thank you. [To Julia on the phone.] Great news!

[NEW SCENE - Braverman guest house, Sarah and Zeek at the computer.]

ZEEK: See...I don't understand. I distinctly remember doing inherit the wind at the Royale in the late '70s.

SARAH: Dad, this is the late '70s, the way you're looking this up. Don't do it by the play. Just do this.

ZEEK: Well, here, you sit down and do it, then.

SARAH: Um, just put his name in. There ya go.

ZEEK: Well, that's him.

SARAH: Yes. That's him.

ZEEK: That's our guy.

SARAH: Okay. 1948, Ithaca, New York. Um... His credits. He did... Prisoner of second Avenue. Dad, there's a lot of Broadway.

ZEEK: That's what I was telling you.

SARAH: That's really cool! Wow.

ZEEK: Look, championship season...

SARAH: No, that's in the '70s, dad. Look in the '80s. It's... Pickle juice. What is that?

ZEEK: It's off-Broadway, but it's still legit.

SARAH: The...Old Globe Theater.

ZEEK: Pretty good, huh?

SARAH: Nothing since 2000. Dad, nothing since 2000.

ZEEK: Yeah. I'll say he took some time off there.

SARAH: He directed some great stuff and produced some great stuff, and he wants to read my thing.

ZEEK: It's not a thing, honey. It's a... it's a play.

SARAH: Dad, it's an incomplete play and...

ZEEK: Look, Sarah, Gilliam T. Blount is going to make a comeback, and he's going to make a comeback producing and maybe directing Sarah Tracy Braverman's play featuring Zeek Braverman in the role of Barry. See you.

SARAH: What?

ZEEK: Uh, never mind. Just a thought. Just a thought, honey.

SARAH: [Laughing] Oh, my God.

[NEW SCENE - Parking structure, Amber walking to her car.]

AMBER: Hey.

GARY: Hey...

AMBER: How 'bout that rain check?

[NEW SCENE - Braverman house, Crosby comes down the stairs carrying a small box.]

SARAH: Hi!

CROSBY: Bingo... hey.

SARAH: What are you doing here?

CROSBY: Raiding mom's photo stash.

SARAH: For what?

CROSBY: Well, it's all about Jabbar week at school, so I'm trying to get some fun-time family memories.

SARAH: All about Jabbar week? That's awesome.

CROSBY: It's a celebration of Jabbar.

SARAH: Mm-hmm.

CROSBY: At school. And Jasmine and I go, and, you know... He makes like a little collage of photos. Remember this?

SARAH: Yeah.

CROSBY: The touchdown at the Turkey bowl? That's pretty nice.

SARAH: Are you kinda hoping these family memories make Jasmine... Remember the good times to try to win her back?

CROSBY: Is it that obvious? [Sarah nods.] It is. I don't know what else to do.

SARAH: I think... It's definitely gonna work. I think it's totally gonna work.

CROSBY: Thank you.

SARAH: Let's find some good ones.

[NEW SCENE - Adam arrives home from work and goes to the kitchen. Kristina is at the nearby computer desk.]

ADAM: Hey, honey.

KRISTINA: Hi, honey.

ADAM: So glad there's food. I'm starving.

KRISTINA: Hey, honey, I got a call from the admissions director from Sycamore Charter wanting to set up an appointment for Max. Do you know anything about that?

ADAM: Wow. They already called? That was fast.

KRISTINA: Adam, what are you doing?

ADAM: I'm not doing anything.

KRISTINA: You can't make this decision by yourself. We talked about this.

ADAM: Look, I think it's a good school. Jabbar goes there. Sydney goes there.

KRISTINA: Mm-hmm. They both go there.

ADAM: I think we should check it out.

KRISTINA: Okay. But we need to be on the same page about this. You just jumped the gun and did this by yourself.

ADAM: Well we can't afford to wait, honey. We've got to get the deposit into Footpath by the end of the week, so if we want to look into mainstreaming Max, we've got to do it now.

KRISTINA: Wait a second. There's no way that we're not making that deposit... We will lose Max's spot. Do you know how long the wait list is for Footpath?

ADAM: Well, do you know how much that deposit is?

KRISTINA: I do know how much the deposit is, but we can't make this decision in a week.

ADAM: Look he's too smart for footpath. That's what they said at the conference.

KRISTINA: They told us they could change up his curriculum and make it a little bit more challenging for him. Challenge him.

ADAM: I know they did, but I think that Max needs a more vigorous academic setting.

KRISTINA: Max needs or you need?

ADAM: What?

KRISTINA: I know that you want our son to be a normal kid at a normal school. I do too, Adam. Believe me, but you can't push him to do this.

ADAM: Kristina, I know my son has Asperger's, okay? I know that he has issues. I want him to go to a school where he can learn, where he can grow, where he can have, you know, the best opportunity for a bright future.

KRISTINA: Right. I get it. What if he's the only kid in class without any friends? Are you forgetting where we came from, Adam?

ADAM: I'm not forgetting anything, okay? I know it's a risk.

KRISTINA: [Quietly] It's a huge risk.

ADAM: Come on, Kristina. We're not there anymore. He's not there anymore. You know what, Kristina, listen to me. I want what's best for our son, okay? And I don't want to make a decision based on fear.

KRISTINA: I'm not afraid.

ADAM: Kristina, it's okay to be afraid. I'm afraid. I'm afraid of what might happen, but I think it's a risk worth taking.

KRISTINA: You're wrong.

ADAM: Okay.

[NEW SCENE - Sycamore Charter, Jabbar's class.]

JASMINE: So that's my favorite part about dancing is that you get to move your body. And Jabbar likes it. You know? Show them.

CROSBY: Show them what ya got. [Making beat box sound]

JULIA: Yeah!

CROSBY: Pretty good!

[A girl raises her hand.]

JASMINE: Yes.

GIRL: How did you and Mr. Crosby meet?

JASMINE: Well...

CROSBY: No, I'll take this. Well, it was a, um... It was a very dark and stormy night, and I was riding my trusty steed through the forest when yonder I spied a beautiful princess!

JASMINE & JABBAR: [Together.] No!

CROSBY: No, what really happened was... I was at a wedding in New York at The Boathouse in central park, and there were all these important people there. And you could tell they were important because they were really, really boring. So I went outside and... I saw this lady kneeling down on the ground next to a chair, digging, and her shoe was stuck in the grass. So I reached down and I pulled her heel out from the mud, and I handed it to her. And for the first time, she looked up at me, and...in that tiny moment my heart just stopped. Because she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen in my life. So I said, "Hi. I'm Crosby." And she said... [Deep voice] "Hi. I'm Jasmine" and then it took me a little while for my brain to realize it, 'cause I'm kinda slow like that, but my heart knew in that moment that... She was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

JABBAR: The end.

CROSBY: The end.

JABBAR: [Laughs]

[NEW SCENE - Parking structure.]

PARALEGAL: I'm sorry, it's probably not my business but when she was gone for so long, I asked Edward to check, and she said that she was down here.

JULIA: That's totally fine. You did the right thing. Gary. Where is she?

[Julia approaches an expensive car, Amber is inside listening to loud music.]

JULIA: [Opens the door.] What the hell are you doing?

AMBER: I, uh... I was... because... um...

JULIA: Amber, this is my boss' car.

AMBER: What?

JULIA: Okay... Are you high?

AMBER: I'm... High.

JULIA: Okay.

AMBER: I'm freaking out.

JULIA: Okay, okay, okay. [She gets in.]

AMBER: Oh, my god. I'm sorry. You're mad.

[Julia turns off the music.]

JULIA: Yeah.

AMBER: This is bad. This is really bad.

JULIA: Amber, this is not...

AMBER: Oh my god.

JULIA: Behind the gym at your High School or something. I vouched for you. I work here.

AMBER: Yeah.

JULIA: What is happening?

AMBER: I didn't get into college. Like anywhere. And I just found out like a few days ago, and...I have been so embarrassed and confused and like upset and I... Don't know what I'm gonna do and I just... I didn't have anybody to talk to about it, you know, and I...

JULIA: Oh, jeez.

AMBER: Just was like holding it in. And I just did something like this. I thought it would make me feel better, but I just feel weird. And I'm sorry.

JULIA: Okay.

AMBER: I'm so sorry that I did this here at your work. It's like...

JULIA: You know, you have to talk to your mom.

AMBER: She's gonna be so mad at me.

JULIA: She's not gonna be mad at you. She's gonna be supportive of you, okay? You're building this up in your mind, okay? She loves you so much, all right? And you're just gonna feel better once you tell her.

AMBER: Okay.

[NEW SCENE - Braverman house. Sarah, Zeek and Gilliam in the living room.]

GILLIAM: Okey-dokey. Now... This... [Turns on a recording divice.] Okay. I wanna do this.

ZEEK: Yeah!

SARAH: You liked it?

ZEEK: Mm-hmm.

SARAH: Dad.

GILLIAM: I like it a lot. I mean, I don't like... What's here right now. I like what's struggling to get out of it, you know? The rest of it is kinda trashy. But what's hidden in here is genius.

SARAH: So do you like it or you don't like it? I can't tell.

GILLIAM: Well, there's a lot of silly stuff that surrounds some really, really brilliant observations about this family.

SARAH: Can you be more specific? I mean...

GILLIAM: Well, like, uh, Barry's speech, for instance.

SARAH: Okay. I love Barry's speech.

GILLIAM: Well, I think Barry's speech sucks on every level.

SARAH: How can you say that? It doesn't suck! It's the culmination...

GILLIAM: You're right, I apologize.

SARAH: …of the whole first act!

GILLIAM: You're absolutely right. I apologize. It's just terrible.

SARAH: How is it terrible? He's a simple man. He's speaking simply from the heart.

GILLIAM: Okay, so let's... let's... I got a great idea.

ZEEK: Should we have a toast?

SARAH: Dad. We're not celebrating. We're work-shopping.

GILLIAM: There's no such thing as a simple guy, or is Marty a simple butcher or is Stanley a simple truck driver? Everyone in the theater speaks. All right, look. [Reading from the play.] "I have lived all these years and never really understood it was you. You were there all along, but I see it now." And that's not enough.

AMBER: [Entering the room.] Is this a bad time?

SARAH: Hi. Sorry.

ZEEK: Hi. No. Hey, guess what.

SARAH: I get it, I get it.

ZEEK: Your mom's getting her play produced.

AMBER: Really?

SARAH: We're just at the beginning. Of talking. Hi.

ZEEK: I'd like you to meet Amber, my granddaughter. This is Gilliam T. Blount.

GILLIAM: You're the dark, uh... Shadowy short little short guy.

AMBER: Yes, that's... Exactly what I am.

SARAH: I didn't describe you that way, just so you know.

AMBER: I couldn't have said it better myself. But I'm just... I'm tired, so...

GILLIAM: Terrified.

AMBER: You got me. I'm gonna go.

SARAH: Are you okay?

AMBER: It was nice to meet you. I'm gonna go upstairs.

SARAH: Honey, I'll come up in a minute, okay?

AMBER: It's fine. No, enjoy.

SARAH: I'll catch up with you.

AMBER: Take your time.

[Zeek hands Gilliam and Sarah a bottle of beer each.]

GILLIAM: Thanks.

ZEEK: And my lovely, talented daughter Sarah.

SARAH: [Distracted.] Thank you.

GILLIAM: Nostrovia.

SARAH: Thank you.

[The toast by clinking the bottle together.]

ZEEK: Okay.

GILLIAM: Okay.

ZEEK: Now we're talking.

[NEW SCENE - Outside as Kristina gets the shopping from her car.]

GABY: Hi.

KRISTINA: Hi.

GABY: I know I'm not supposed to be here, but I just came by to see how the meeting went with footpath.

KRISTINA: Why? You're not Max's aide anymore.

GABY: No. I know. It's just... I've been thinking about it ever since you told me, and I just thought I would just check in, I guess.

KRISTINA: Uh-huh. Well, it actually went really well. Really, really well. We're very happy. So...

GABY: Okay.

KRISTINA: Actually, we're thinking about mainstreaming Max.

GABY: Really?

KRISTINA: Yeah. It's a little bit crazy but, um...

GABY: No, that's... That's great.

KRISTINA: I-I-I don't know. I'm a little concerned. You can come in if you want. I'm just putting stuff away.

GABY: Okay.

KRISTINA: Do you want some coffee? I have some on from earlier today.

GABY: Sure.

KRISTINA: You can have a seat if you want.

GABY: So what school are you guys thinking about?

KRISTINA: Sycamore.

GABY: That's a great school.

KRISTINA: Yes. Adam is very, very excited about it.

GABY: And you're not?

KRISTINA: Actually, no. I'm not. I'm really kind of worried about him. Getting bullied and... He's so safe where he is. So I don't want to pull him out of that environment and just throw him into this... You know, you know how it is. Having to go through that and... Explaining to other parents why your kid's a little bit different and, uh, why he doesn't want to go to sleepovers or play sports. It's like I've done it all. I've explained myself. I don't want to go there again ever. Which just sounds really pathetic and horrible, and I'm a horrible person...

GABY: No.

KRISTINA: …for saying it.

GABY: No, it's true.

KRISTINA: But it's like Adam says this. He's like what if Max is the next math genius or science prodigy or whatever it is, and it's like I'm holding him back because I'm so concerned about keeping him safe? If that's the case, then I won't be able to live with myself. But I'm just...

GABY: Kristina...

KRISTINA: I don't want him getting hurt.

GABY: Kristina... You're having a hard time with it, and that's normal, all right? If you weren't struggling with it, I would be worried. And also you should know that Max's awareness of his Asperger's is a much bigger deal to you than it is to him. The only uncertain variable is his behavior, and that can be supported. If you ask me, I think Max could do extremely well in a mainstream setting.

KRISTINA: I just wanna make sure that he's gonna be okay.

GABY: I wish that there were guarantees, but you know there aren't... Not with Max or any other kid.

KRISTINA: What would you do if it were your boy? If it were your child, what would you do?

GABY: I hate that question. I would do it. I-I think that Max is ready. So I would do it.

KRISTINA: You would do it. Sorry about before.

GABY: Kristina, I've lost so much sleep over this. I let you down, I let Max down, and I'm just... I'm so sorry.

KRISTINA: It's okay. Come here.

[They hug to make up.]

GABY: Thanks.

[NEW SCENE - Night, Adam arrives home.]

ADAM: Hey honey.

KRISTINA: Hey.

ADAM: Sorry I'm late. I had to take Cory to pick up his car. It took me forever.

KRISTINA: Cory?

ADAM: Hey, kids. Hey, you know, Max, you gotta do your homework before you watch television.

MAX: I finished it an hour ago.

ADAM: Good man. Haddie, how was your day?

[She says nothing and just raises her hand to give the thumbs up.]

KRISTINA: Hey, um... I, uh, I saw Gaby today.

ADAM: You did?

KRISTINA: I did.

ADAM: How'd that go?

KRISTINA: Well, it was a little awkward. Kind of...

ADAM: I can imagine.

KRISTINA: Uncomfortable, you know, with what happened over at the Lessings' house. But it actually turned out well.

ADAM: Mm-hmm.

KRISTINA: And... And I think that we should look into mainstreaming Max next year. I think it's a good idea. She gave me some valid points, and I'm... I'm on board.

ADAM: Really.

KRISTINA: Yes.

ADAM: All right.

KRISTINA: Yeah.

ADAM: Listen, honey, I don't wanna... Move forward with this unless you're 100%.

KRISTINA: I just think that, you know, took a lot of effort and things like that to fill out this registration. We do know that at Footpath the waiting list is very long, and we could lose his spot, so...

ADAM: We do know that. You're 100%.

KRISTINA: 100%.

[Adam tosses the registration papers in the trash.]

KRISTINA: All right.

MALE PRESENTER ON TV: What Russian president of the '90s lost a thumb in a childhood grenade accident?

MAX: Oh! Boris Yeltsin!

MALE CONTESTANT ON TV: We're gonna say Gorbachev.

MALE PRESENTER ON TV: Oh, no. Strike one.

MAX: Yes!

ADAM: All right, Max.

KRISTINA: Oh, wow.

MAX: How can they get that wrong?

MALE PRESENTER ON TV: Both Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz...

MAX: Calculus!

MALE PRESENTER ON TV: …with inventing...

MAX: Calculus!

MALE PRESENTER ON TV: …what mathematical branch?

FEMALE CONTESTANT ON TV: Physics.

MALE CONTESTANT ON TV: We're gonna go with physics.

MALE PRESENTER ON TV: Oh, no, strike two!

MAX: They got it wrong. They got it wrong. How... how could they get that wrong?

ADAM: [To Kristina.] It's the right thing to do.

MAX: I'd win so much money if I was on Cash Cab. I'd win like $5,000.

KRISTINA: Yes, you would.

MAX: If I won on Cash Cab.

[NEW SCENE - Night, Crosby's houseboat.]

CROSBY: Hey.

JASMINE: Hey. [Short pause.] You told some beautiful stories... And showed some cute photos. And for a while, I was thinking... Yeah. That's what it could be like. Three of us as a family.

CROSBY: Well... We are a family.

JASMINE: Yeah. But then I remembered... Oh, yeah, you know, that all sounds great, but... You know, 'cept for one thing. You slept with another woman while we were engaged.

CROSBY: Sweetie, I'm so sorry. I'm ashamed of what I did. But I will do anything to get you to forgive me. I swear.

JASMINE: I'm not ready to forgive you, Crosby. And I don't know if I ever will be. I think I need to move on. I'm sorry.

[NEW SCENE - Night, Joel arrives home. Julia is on the couch.]

JOEL: Oh. You're home early.

JULIA: Yep.

JOEL: I got dinner. I'm just gonna go grab Syd, and then we can eat.

JULIA: Um...I have... I have to tell you something. Um...

JOEL: What is it?

JULIA: I don't wanna freak you out. I just got off the phone with Dr. Sarris. I got the lab results back from my tests, and, um, there is a problem. It's not cancer. That's the first thing she said, so don't worry about that.

JOEL: Okay.

JULIA: Um...

JOEL: What is it?

JULIA: It's something called Intrauterine Scarring.

JOEL: What does that mean?

JULIA: It's just that, uh... It makes it really, really hard to get pregnant. And, um...Well, it's just really unlikely. Sorry.

JOEL: You can't apologize to me for something like that.

JULIA: I'm s-s... I just... I made you go to the doctor. It wasn't even you. It was me.

JOEL: Forget it, honey. All that matters right now is you, okay??

JULIA: I really wanted to have another baby.

JOEL: I know you did.



Episode End