Extra Ordinary, #25
Original air date: September 22, 2003
The
scoop: With junior year under way, talk of college applications is becoming commonplace; Andy, like the Abbots, is trying
to steer his brood in the right directioninevitably causing heads to clash.
What's up with Amy: Even with school
to distract her, Amy is still grieving over Colin's death. She spends most of her free time in her room watching TV. Even
when her dad attempts to get her enthused about meeting with a representative of Princeton University, she doesn't care a
bit. She ends up blowing off the appointment causing both her dad and her mom to come down on her. Amy's mom is very concerned
about Amy's behavior but her dad dismisses it, attributing it to Colin's death. Unlike her mom he feels they should just leave
Amy alone. It seems as if all of the hope and ambition in Amy died with Colin. She sleeps in her SAT prep course and has no
interest in anything outside of her room. Finally, her mother confronts Amy about her apathetic behavior and tries to get
her to talk about her feelings. Amy acknowledges that she's not doing well but declines talking to her mother. When her mom
asks if she'll talk to somebody else, perhaps a therapist, Amy responds with an agreeable, yet simple, "Okay" and resumes
watching TV.
What's up with Bright: Bright finds out that because he failed a course last year he's no longer
allowed to play football. Since he was banking on receiving a football scholarship in order to get into college, this poses
quite a dilemma. He rejects the recommendation of his coach (with whom his dad strongly agrees with) that he claim he failed
the course because of the stress caused by Colin's death. He has it out with his dad who's convinced that Bright will be unable
to get into any college without the aide of football because he doesn't have the academic skills necessary. Bright, though,
is determined to study hard and do what he has to do, without falling back on Colin's death as an excuse and without football,
in order to get into college.
What's up with Ephram: Andy is encouraging Ephram to not rely solely on his piano
skills to get into a college. Although Ephram has no interest or drive, Andy wants him to take the SAT prep course. When a
recruiter from Julliard approaches Ephram, claiming he's heard about his talent, and wants to hear him play the next day,
Ephram readily agrees, taking the music the recruiter wants him to learn overnight. The next day Ephram performs the piece
flawlessly and is expecting nothing but praise from the recruiter. He's shocked when he's told he needs to not only read the
music, but to pay constant attention to it so that he is able to master the art of interpretation. Upon hearing that Ephram
enrolls in the SAT prep course and angrily relays to Andy that his piano playing is no longer an avenue to get him into college.
During the next the SAT prep class, Ephram's once again surprised by his dad when he shows up and pulls him out telling him
that he needs to spend more time practicing piano and honing his talent so that he can live out his dream. On Saturday morning,
with nothing to do but sleep in, Ephram is up at 7:00 a.m. practicing.
What's up with Andy: Andy is beginning
to gain back some of the clientele he lost after the death of Colin. One of his first patients is a 17-year-old girl whose
breast implants are leaking. Andy thinks that a 17-year-old girl getting implants was a huge mistake (especially by her mother)
and recommends that when she goes to get the implants fixed, she'll decide to get them permanently removed. The girl is argumentative
and thoroughly disagrees, telling her mom that they shouldn't be listening to him. Therefore, Andy recommends they visit Dr.
Abbott for a second opinion. Dr. Abbott is not happy about taking on Andy's "leftovers" and confronts Andy, asking him "where
is the old Dr. Brown?" The one who wouldn't stop talking until he was sure he was being listened to and being taken seriously.
So Andy finds an excuse to get the girl and her mother back in his office where he reprimands both of them for their decision
about getting the implants in the first place. He convinces them to sit down and talk about their options.
End
notes: Everybody needs to keep an eye on a seemingly unstable Amy.
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