"If you think about it too much, well, you just have to move on to the next thing, the next question." "You know, I remember when I took my SATs for the second time." " My scores really improved." " Uh-huh?" "Compare the quantities and fill in" ""A" if the quantity is greater than," ""B" if the quantity is less than," ""c" if the quantities are equal and "d" if the relationship cannot be determined." "You'll do better this time." " When's the test?" " Saturday." "Well, you won't be as nervous." "Confidence really has everything to do with it." " I'll probably do worse." " Eli." "My out." "Okay." "Martina is traveling from New Preston to washington depot and back." "How many ways can she make the round trip going through kent exactly once and Pawling exactly once, never traveling any section of the road more than once per trip?" "Note, this map is not drawn to scale." " Vociferous?" " Yes." "Good." "You're gonna do great!" "Ooh!" "E, remember, if you don't know what the word means, go through the sentence and figure out words" " that do make sense." " That's what I've been doing." "Conflagration." "Replete." "Nullify." "In lines 15 through 17, the author writes," ""Bob sighed and rubbed his eyes."" ""A" frustration, "B" exasperation," ""c" resignation, "d" impudence, or "E" sorrow?" "Truncate." "Taciturn." "Negate." "I put "A" frustration." "Okay, that's true, but it's not the right answer." " How is that fair?" " It's not, entirely." "It's just the way the test works." "Redundant." "Tantamount." "Monotonous." "You're just over-thinking." "I used to do that." "Maybe I actually don't know the meanings." "E, you've studied really hard." "You've just got to trust your instincts." "What if that's what I've been doing?" ""Defend is to untenable as..." "Anodyne is to mordant as soporific is to..." "Provincial." "Redundant." "The square root of the line that intersects a circle at its center is..."" "Erratic." "Innocuous." "Dumb!" "Okay, pencils down." "Close your test booklets, turn your answer sheets over." "You'll now have a 15-minute break." "If I don't break 1,500 this time, there's no way I'm getting into Brown." " What's your backup?" " Wesleyan." "I have an extra one." "Caffeine and sugar can only help." "Thank you." "So." "So." "How you been?" "Okay." "I mean, you know," "I've been studying a lot for this." "Hmm." "How's it going?" "Soporific." "Uh, it's the only word I remember from the list." "It's never on the test." "Hmm." "Abstemious." "What are you doing here?" "I thought you got a perfect score." " My parents thought I could do better." " Right." " What's up?" "How's it going in there?" " Okay, I guess." "I was seriously asleep for the first half hour." "Hi." "Hello." "Nothing works." "I'm going to cut out." "Really?" "Let's face it, I'm going to community college." " I'm gonna see you at rehearsal." " My house." "Hey, Nicole." " What?" " My house." "Your house." "Rehearsal." "Yeah." "Sorry." "Okay." "Whoo." "Yeah, we're putting this band together." " I heard." " You did?" "Mm-hmm." "Oh, well, we're trying to figure out our sound right now." "So, what is your sound?" "We don't want to be tied down to anything, but, uh, probably emo-tinged pop chaos like Promise Ring, early knapsack." "Oh." "You guys have a name yet?" "Uh, yeah." "Um, Anti-Inflammatory." " I like it." " Yeah?" "I thought of it." "Kind of, like, came to me." "So we, uh, probably should get back." "Yeah, I should probably go, uh, sharpen my pencil." " Thanks for the soda." " Sure." " Good luck." " Yeah." "You too." " What's playing at The Archives?" " That's across town, isn't it?" " I don't really like old movies." " Just tell me what's playing." " Some Like it Hot." " Perfect!" "Tony curtis, Jack Lemmon." "They dress up as women." "You're gonna love it." "It's not how I'd like to spend Saturday night." " Is she serious?" " Yeah." "She looks serious." " Hey." " We're trying to find a movie." "I have rehearsal." " Can I watch?" " No." "How'd it go?" "E?" "Um, great." " Great?" " Fine." "It went fine." " Good." "Well, that's good." " Yeah." "Yeah." "Well, good." "So you feel good about it?" " Yes." " How'd the math go?" "Fine." "It's just, it's kind of hard to tell." "It is hard to tell with anything standardized." "Put it out of your mind and enjoy the weekend." "Well, I am just so proud of you." " Thanks." " Open the door!" "If you didn't have a truck, you wouldn't even be in this band!" "Hey, watch out!" "Hi, miss Sammler." "Hey, guys." "Is that a tube amp?" " Cool." "Hey, can I watch?" " Yeah." " We're gonna go set up." " Yeah." "Yeah, okay." "You are one hip mom." "My mother never would have let us practice." "Oh, well." "Maybe I should go help them." "You think they need help, or are you just hoping they need a bass player?" " Go ahead." " Thank you." "Whoa." "Whoa." " What?" " You're supposed to come in." " I'm waiting for coop." " We're doing two measures of d." "You're only doing one." "I'm following you, so..." " you're the one playing bass." " Exactly." " Do you want the sticks?" " No." "I don't want the sticks." " If you would just get it right once." " Guys, stop it!" "Coop, Ted, you guys ready?" "Okay, good." " Where are you?" " So random!" " What are you playing?" " None of you are with me." "He doesn't know what he's doing." "Everybody, let's just do it again." "Everybody follow wink, or something." " Are you ready?" " Yeah, man." "Okay." "Hey, I'm sorry." "I've got something in the oven." "Hey, uh," "Jessie left her French book." "I thought maybe she'd, uh, need it." " Yeah, she probably does." " Yeah, well, that's what I thought." "Well, thanks." " Is that a new stove?" " Yeah." "Oh." "Did Eli say anything, you know, about the SATs?" "Oh, he said that it went well." " Great." "So he was happy with it?" " He said that it was fine." "What about the math?" "Well, he didn't really go into detail." " Well, I mean, did you ask him?" " Yeah." "Of course I asked him." "And he wasn't forthcoming?" "Well, he didn't really feel like talking about it and I didn't feel like interrogating him." "Oh." "What?" "Well, I just don't think we ought to go easy on him." "Not now." "Go easy on him?" "Rick, he studied all summer." "What else do you want him to do?" "He can be thinking about where he's applying." "He hasn't visited any schools." "I think he's completely avoiding this." "What... what is going on down there?" "I told Eli that his band could rehearse downstairs where it wouldn't disturb anyone." "Look, Rick, if you want to talk to Eli, then go downstairs and talk to him." "See, here you want to be back on the beat." " You're on the one-three." " Hey, buddy." "What's going on?" "What?" "Leo's here." "Hey, dad." " What's going on?" " Just having rehearsal." " Yeah, I can see that." " Hey, Rick." "Hi there, Leo." "Uh, E, can I talk to you for a second?" "Okay." "Listen, do you want to be clapton or...?" " What's up?" " Oh, nothing." "I was just, uh..." "I was wondering how the test went." "You said you were gonna call." "Right." "Look, I'm sorry." "I got sidetracked." "Well, that's okay." "So how did it go?" "Fine." "So you feel good about it?" "Well, it's hard to say at this point." "Well, no, no, no." "I understand." "You put a rush on the scores, right?" " Yeah." "It'll cost extra." " That's okay." "Listen, I was thinking we should make an appointment" " with a college counselor." " What?" "The college counselor at your school." " Mrs. Geddes?" " Yeah." "What about her?" "I was just thinking..." "I was thinking... can I take care of this and talk to you later?" "Yeah, okay." "Okay, we'll talk about it later." "Thanks." " I'm going to go." " Okay." "Later." " Stay back on the beat." " Back of it." "All right, uh, take it from d." "* What's wrong" "* With this picture?" "* What's wrong" "* With this life?" "* What's wrong" "* With this picture?" "* What's wrong" "* With this life?" " So he felt good about it?" " He said it went well." "But he said that after the first time." "I just don't think he's invested." "He's spending so much time and energy..." "Hey!" "...on this band of his." " Are they any good?" " Huh?" "Who?" " The band?" " You talking about Anti-Inflammatory?" " Excuse me?" " Eli's band." "Anti-Inflammatory." "That's their name?" "That's a great name." " What kind of music do they play?" " I don't know." "They were loud." "Could I come to rehearsal?" "Well, I'd have to check with Eli to see if it's okay." "Because I would really love it." " They're not going to just let you." " How do you know?" " They don't want groupies who are nine." " I'm ten." "Whatever." "You're so negative." "Let's go." "I paused the movie." "This is how I spend my Saturday night." "I can't wait to hear Eli's band." " What a great thing for him." " Yeah." "I bet they're adorable." "Uh-huh." "Hey." "Hey." "Writing a new song?" "Yep." "Trying." "Does it have any words?" "Well, it's not done yet, but it sounds something like..." "* Put your ear close to the ground" "* Do you hear a fading sound?" "* If it's lost" "* It can't be found" "No." "No." " No, it's not bad." " Thank you." "Let me see." "How about if if it's "Lost for getting found"?" "If it's lost for..." "I like that." "Actually, I really like that." "Hey, do you know any words that rhyme with "wilderness"?" " Like what?" " Like this." "Hmm." ""A vagabond with no address." "A fire in the wilderness."" ""The possibilities are limitless."" " Yeah." "I guess they are." " No." "That's the line." " Oh." " Don't laugh!" " Sorry." " Hi!" " Hey, Grace." " Hey, Grace." "I just wanted to tell you I've heard great things about your band." "Like what?" "Just that it's, like, happening." "Okay." "Grace, we need something that rhymes with "wilderness."" "For what?" "For a line in a song?" "Yeah." "Come here." "Okay, here's the line." ""A vagabond with no address." "A fire in the wilderness."" " So, what comes into your head?" " Hmm." "Well, maybe, "The patient is losing consciousness."" "You know, 'cause like, he's fading." "It's in reference to the first part of the song." "Well, that's obvious." "No, that's pretty good, Grace." "Yeah." "I love it." "Thanks." " Hey, Grace." " Hi." "What are you guys doing, making the band?" "Actually, Eli's in a band, Anti-Inflammatory." "Mmm." "Oh." "I like your guitar." "Thanks." "My dad has a pre-war martin." "Wow, really?" "Yeah." "So are you in the band too?" "No, I'm, uh... not." "Well, we should go to Bio 'cause we're gonna be late." " Bye." " Bye." "I have to go." "Hey, uh, listen, my band's rehearsing at my house tonight." " If you want to stop by." " Okay." "Maybe." "Wow." " Hey." " Hey." "Bye." "Wait, wait." "Where are you going?" " Band practice." " What about homework?" " It's done." " Okay, but I was hoping to talk to you." "Right." "I know." "I'm sorry, but the band's waiting for me." "I made an appointment with the counselor for Thursday, okay?" "Fine." "Meet me and your mom in mrs." "Geddes' office" " Thursday after school, all right?" " Okay." "Some college packets we sent for came." "Cool." "I'll check them out later, but I gotta go." "* Put your ear close to the ground" "* Do you hear a fading sound?" "* If it's lost for getting found" "* It's me" "* A vagabond with no address" "* A fire in the wilderness" "* The patient's losing consciousness" "* Rapidly *" "Okay." "That's all we have." "It wasn't that bad." " My fingers hurt." " Shut up." "So, I am, like, really impressed." "Yeah?" "Well, I still don't like that one change, but, uh, the lyrics don't flow." "Maybe you could help me with it sometime?" "Sure." " Hey, Jennifer!" " Hey, girlie!" "Hey!" "Guys, guys, hold on to your amps." "I think I may have scored you a gig." " You may have "scored us a gig"?" " Yeah." " Is this My Three Sons?" " Whose sons?" "Hey, that's a good show." "It's not really a gig." "You wouldn't get paid." " What is it?" " My friend owns this coffeehouse." " Coffeehouse?" " Where?" "It's near the university, just across from the sororities," " so the crowd would be mainly..." " women?" "Yeah." "But you'd have to do an acoustic set." "We could do something like that." "Wait." "This isn't gonna be one of those things where now you get to be in the band, is it?" "Because we got four." "Get over yourself." "You ready?" "You know, I swear I was ready, but do you mind if I change clothes quickly?" "Of course not." "I'll be right back." "Thank you." "Do you mind if zoe goes with us?" "Grace can't babysit." "Sure." "That's fine." "I'm just gonna make a quick phone call." "Hello?" "Hi, sweetie." "I thought maybe you guys went out." "We were in the basement." "Guess what?" " Is that Jessie?" " Hold on." "Give me a sec." "I'm sorry, what did you say about Eli's band?" "Leo got them a gig." "Isn't that cool?" " Ask if I can go to rehearsal." " Dad, are you there?" "Yeah." "Hold on." "Zoe, give me a sec, all right?" "Well, that's great news." "Did you call for a specific reason?" "Uh, yeah," " I was thinking I'd talk to your mom." " Okay, I'm ready." "Tell her I'll call back." " Okay." "Bye." " Okay." "Bye." " Well?" " Well, what?" "Can I go to a rehearsal?" "Well, I didn't get much of a chance to ask." "Everybody was pretty excited." "I guess, uh, Eli's band scored a gig." "That is so great." " So, shall we go?" " Yeah." "Ready." "Wait." "Do I have time to change my dress?" "Zoe, honey!" "That's all I'm saying." "That's all I'm saying." "This is a critical point in Eli's life." " I know." " Well, why doesn't he know that?" "He's spending all of his energy on this band of his." "Why do I feel like I'm being blamed for something?" " I'm not blaming you." " Yes, you are." " I'm sorry you feel that way." " No, you're not." "Look, Rick," "I'm just as worried about Eli as you are, about what his options might be." "The truth is, I can't stop thinking about it." "We have to talk to him." "I know, but I really want to be reasonable with him." "I think he deserves that." "Absolutely." "* I am falling" "* Into the spiral sea" "* Reality" "* It is what it seems" "* Outright" " The next few months are..." " I'm sorry, what?" "I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." "We want to talk to you about a few things." "That are very important." "Hmm." "Sounds ominous." " SAT word." "Sorry." " Yeah." "Listen, the next few months for you are so crucial in terms of your future..." " In terms of getting into college." " Right." "And we want... you've worked so hard." "So far, you know." "You've overcome so much to get to this point." " We really want to acknowledge..." " yes, but the work is not over." "In some ways, it's just beginning." "Shouldn't we wait for my scores before we have this conversation?" "There are things you could be doing in the meantime, working on your essay, visiting schools." "You haven't looked at an application." "We just feel you're spreading yourself too thin, you know, with the band and..." "Oh, that's what this is about." "I knew it was about something else." "You're both so obvious!" " We're not trying to stop you." " Good, because I'm not stopping." "We think maybe you should put this band thing on hold." "Until you get your applications in." "No, mom." "We just got a gig." "What about our first gig?" "E, we'll have to talk about that." "I can't believe this!" "This is so screwed up!" "This is a very important part of your life, and you need to take it seriously." "That may be true, but it's my life, isn't it?" " What time is rehearsal today?" " No idea." " Can I help you?" " Spoons." "I need spoons." "In the dish rack." "You have that college counselor meeting tomorrow after school." "I know." "And you need to check with coach so you can miss practice." "I was thinking about quitting the basketball team." " Wouldn't want to spread myself thin." " Don't start." "Look, I didn't start, okay?" "I've just been trying really hard." "Do you have any soy sauce?" " Thanks." " Mm-hmm." "Oh, by the way, tell Eli it's all set." "What's all set?" "The coffeehouse next wednesday." "Great." "A school night." "What?" "It's an early gig." "It's 7:00 or something." "He'll be home in time for milk and cookies and beddy-byes." "I'm not so sure about this, Leo." " What?" " This whole thing." "Why not?" "Well, Eli's got a lot he's got to think about these days." "What?" "You're just being so uncool." "Uh, it's funny." "Well, I'm glad you find it amusing." "What?" "I was just trying to help him out." "I thought you'd like it if I took an interest in your kids." "To me, sometimes it's like you're interfering." "Oh, I'm sorry." "I'll stay in my box." "Well, to be honest, sometimes it might be helpful if you could just stand back a little in certain instances." "Karen, you need to make up your mind where it is you want me." "Okay, see, maybe that's the problem, Leo, because maybe sometimes it's just not about you." "Like that little thing I added?" " Oh, I didn't notice." " What?" "I'm kidding." "I liked it." "It was cute." "Cute?" "You thought it was cute?" "Well, maybe I just think you're cute." "Anyway, I was thinking, for that lyric for the bridge." " Yeah?" " Okay." "I was thinking something like," ""This light, this rain, this life, this pain."" "And then you would go into the other thing." "Or is that stupid?" "No, no." "Let's see." "* Torn between what I can't see" "* And this picture you have of me" "* It isn't much to look at we agree" "* This light" "* This rain" "* This life" "* This pain *" "Guess it works." "You want a soda or something?" "No." "Ahem." " Hey." " Hey." "What's going on?" "Hi." "Jennifer?" " Hi, Jennifer." " How are you?" "I'm fine." "How are you?" "Pretty good." "Well, I'm..." "I'm surprised to find you guys here." "I thought you were at your mom's." "Oh, I am." "We were just looking for a quiet place to work." "Oh." "We're writing a song." "Actually, Eli's writing it." "I'm just helping him a little." " Really?" " Yeah." "You want to hear it?" "Eli, play it." "No, no." "We really gotta get out of here." " Oh, okay." " Where are you going?" "Uh, home." "Mom's." "You got any other plans for tonight?" "Yes, actually." "I was going to eat dinner, do my homework, brush my teeth and go to bed." " Is that okay with you?" " You're free to do what you want." " I am?" " Yeah." "As soon as you start acting like an adult." "Why are you doing this?" "Rick!" " Hey." " Hey." "I'm so sorry I'm late." "Oh, I stopped and got cookies from dicicco's, but I only have half an hour." " When is Eli's band playing?" " Um, I'm not sure." " It's a good coffeehouse, right?" " I think so." "Think it's okay if I bring the girls to hear him play?" "Or would that be weird?" "'Cause if you don't think it's a good idea, I won't." "I don't know if they're gonna be playing at all." "Oh, no?" "Why not?" "Because karen and I think that Eli ought to get some college applications in before he devotes all his time to this band." "Oh." "What?" "No, it's none of my business." "No, tell me." "I... nothing." "I just..." "I always feel that any kind of creative expression is really a good thing, so I..." "It's not that simple." " I'm not saying..." " what are you saying?" "What are you saying?" "I'm sorry." "I have to..." "Hello." "Oh, hi, christie." "Yeah." "Uh-huh." "Does it have to be right now or can...?" "Okay." "All right, no, no, no." "It's okay." "I'm on my way." "I'm so sorry." "I just..." "I don't know." "I don't want to overstep any bounds." "Listen, I want to know what you're thinking." " I have to go." " Go ahead." "Bye." " Eli took the SAT again?" " Yes." "He really applied himself this summer." "I'm sure his scores will come up." "Let's hope so." "I mean, there are alternatives." "There are some schools that will accept just the act, but first we need to figure out what it is Eli wants to pursue." "Well, I'm sure he'll be here any minute." "* If it's lost for getting found It's me" "* A vagabond with no..." " what are you doing?" " Practice is over." " Coop, out." " What are you doing?" " Shut up." " Jessie, upstairs." "Get upstairs." "I'm not gonna let you push me around anymore." "I don't care." "What are you...?" "Where...?" "E, I know that you think I am trying to push you around," " but I am not." " You're acting like a crazy person." "I am just so angry at you right now." "You purposely disobeyed your mother and me, left us at the counselor's all afternoon." " Did you forget?" " No." "What?" "What the hell is going on, Eli?" "I don't know." "If you don't care about your future..." " I do care." " I don't understand." "You've worked so hard." "Why throw it away now?" "Because I think I did worse on the SATs." " How do you know?" " I just do, okay?" " I can't even begin to explain..." " The feeling." " Seeing your child in..." " Any kind of pain is just..." " ...horrible." " It's the worst thing." "E, sweetie, look, there are other things." "We'd just like you to talk to us." "We would like to explore whatever it is that you want." "This is what I wanna do." "I'm good at this." "Maybe you can pursue this sometime in the future, but now is not the time, Eli." "Dad, I am 17." "You cannot tell me what to do." "And I'm not gonna stand by and watch you make the biggest mistake of your life!" "It doesn't really matter because this is what I'm gonna do." " Fine." " Yeah." "My dad, um, left me without any kind of a map, without any way of knowing how to raise a son." "And I try." "You know, I've tried." "I've tried really hard, but the truth is, uh, that I may be doing everything wrong." " Hey." " Hey." "Looks good." "Listen, I'm sorry I didn't call you, but..." " I didn't expect you to call." " It's just my parents." "Eli, what happened happened." "Not that I regret it or anything, but I'm not assuming that it changes things between us, 'cause I wouldn't want you to think that." "Well, I hope you know that it meant something to me." "I know." "It's just..." "I have a lot going on right now and, uh, I have no idea what to do with my life." " Are you going to the concert?" " Hey." "I'll be there." "'Cause you practically wrote the song." "No, you did it." " Bye." " Bye, sweetie." " You got everything?" " Yeah." "You sure?" "No." "This stupid French book." "Oh, dad, are you going to go to Eli's thing tomorrow?" " I'm not sure, sweetie." " Really?" "I don't want you to worry about it." "I just think that it would mean a lot to him." " Bye." " Bye." "Hey!" "Oh, my God." "Leo, are you okay?" "Yeah, I'm fine." "I'm worried about my bike." "Oh, Leo, I am so sorry." "Are you sure you're okay?" "Yes, I feel good." "It's okay, it's okay." "I've had plenty of ex-husbands try to kill me before." "If there's any damage to this bicycle, please..." "Oh, I'll send you the bill." "Yeah." "No, uh, looks fine." "Really." "Don't worry." "These things happen, I, uh, guess." "Well, uh..." " you're okay?" " Yeah." "Yeah." "Okay." "Listen, Rick, uh, to tell you the truth." "I'm kind of glad you ran me over because it gives me a chance to apologize." "For what?" "I wanna take responsibility for what happened with Eli." " Leo." " No, really." "I shouldn't have set up the gig without talking to karen first, and so I'm sorry." "Leo, I don't want you to worry about that." "Eli would have found a way to rebel without you." " How old is he again?" " Seventeen." "Right." " Send me the bill?" " Sure, man." "It's like he puts all this thought into being a parent." "Clearly, he's too hard on himself, but..." "I guess he feels guilty." "I know he feels guilty." "I remember a few years before he died, my father came to one of my baseball games." "This was a rare thing." "And even though I wanted him to be there," "I felt really nervous." "I felt this incredible pressure, and I struck out." "I made, I don't know how many errors." "After the game he gave me all these tips and pointers, and I was furious, because that's how he thought I played normally." "You know, it killed me that he thought that's who I was." "My father had no idea who I was." "I don't know." "He thinks..." "I don't know what he thinks." "Jen." " Hey, what's up?" " Nothing." "* Put your ear close to the ground" "* Do you hear a fading sound?" "* If it's lost for getting found" "* It's me" "* A vagabond with no address" "* Fire in the wilderness" "* The patient's losing consciousness" "* Rapidly" "* Torn between what I can't see" "* This picture you have of me" "* It isn't much to look at" "* We agree" "* This light" "* This rain" "* This life" "* This pain" "* Let me walk" "* Down that road" "* 'Cause you know I have to go" "* You won't be there but even so" "* Everyone goes down that road" "* And you know I have to go" "* You won't be there but even so" "* Everyone goes *" "Any good mail?" "No." "Just junk." "Lil, this is my mom." "Peg, this is Lily." "Jessie is a little upset about Thursday night." "Now I have to have their Thanksgiving the way they like to have it." "Barbara, Peg, Grace and zoe." "Think Jessie's lost weight?" " Jessie has a problem, she'll tell me." " Except when the problem is you."