Everwood Confidential, #17
Original air date: Feb. 17, 2003

The scoop: Andy and Dr. Abbott investigate a 30-year-old murder mystery; Ephram attempts to solidify his relationship with Laynie, stumbling along the way.

What's up with Andy: Andy's giving out free flu shots to residents of Everwood's convalescent home when one of the residents (who is suffering from severe dementia and also happens to be Dr. Abbott's godfather) confesses to Andy about a murder he committed 30 years ago. Andy notifies the authorities and a town wide controversy ensues over whether the demented old man really knows what he's saying and whether or not he should go to jail. Andy is determined to find out the truth (with the help of an equally determined Dr. Abbott). Meanwhile, Andy is starting to have second thoughts about his choice of a piano teacher for Ephram when he (the teacher) asks Andy if he'll stay away during Ephram's lessons. Andy's dislike intensifies when the Ephram's teacher suggests Ephram take Laynie to Ezekiel's, a bar in which a well known piano player will be playing at the following night. Although Andy's against his 15-year-old son patronizing a bar, he agrees to let Ephram go on one condition.

What's up with Ephram: The Monday after Valentines Day, Ephram meets up with Laynie at his locker and asks her out for that weekend. She readily agrees and takes his hand into hers. As they walk down the hall together hand in hand, Amy approaches them. As soon as Ephram spots her he drops Laynie's hand. Laynie looks up at him bewildered. After Amy departs Laynie tells Ephram that she just remembered she's busy the upcoming weekend and won't be able to go out. Ephram, knowing that Laynie's not only cool but she really likes him, goes over to her house with flowers to ask her out again. When she opens the door Ephram turns on his casual charm and apologizes for messing up by dropping her hand the other day. His persistence wins Laynie over and she agrees to go out with him the next night. Meanwhile, Ephram begins to talk to his piano teacher about Laynie. When piano guy suggests Ephram take Laynie to Ezekiel's Ephram asks his dad if he can go. Andy agrees as long as he can go along with them to chaperone. Ephram reluctantly agrees and he takes Laynie, who's very impressed, to the bar. The date's going along fine until Laynie tells Ephram Colin had been planning on breaking up with Amy just prior to his accident. Ephram's shocked and tells Laynie, in an almost frantic voice, that she CANNOT tell Amy. With that, Laynie can see where Ephram's heart truly lies and he admits to her that he does have feelings for Amy, which don't seem to be going away. Laynie is gracious and understanding as they decide they won't go out anymore.

What's up with Amy: Amy, who's oblivious to the fact that Colin was going to break up with her, is preparing for his return from Denver where he's been for the past few days having tests taken. She tells Ephram that she hopes the four of them (Ephram and Laynie and Amy and Colin) will be able to go out again some time. When Ephram tells her that he and Laynie aren't going out anymore because they just don't fit Amy's sympathetic and comforting. The two walk down the hall together looking very content.

What's up with Dr. Abbott: Dr. Abbott is not happy to hear that his godfather (who was also his father's best friend) may be a murderer. He's even more displeased when the demented old man suggests that Harold's father may have been an accomplice in the murder. The murder mystery grows when human bones are found in his back yard and the old man mentions that the murder victim may have been somebody with whom his wife was having an affair with named Jim. That thought was put to rest once an old friend of the couple comes forward with pictures of them from the past. It turns out that Jim was the couple's dog and Harold's godfather accidentally ran over him, killing him. Harold acts quickly to find out where the human bones came from. It turns out that because of a huge flu epidemic back in 1918, Everwood created a mass burial ground which happened to be located under the old man's house.