EPHRAM: Oh, that? Well, apparently my serve is off.
AMY: So she noticed you broke the record, right?
[Ephram looks at Amy, stumped.]
AMY: [cont'd.] Longest period of new kid denial in the annals of County High?
EPHRAM: I knew this town had an underbelly, but... I had no idea about the annals.
AMY: When new kids get here, they usually spend the first few weeks treading water. No new friends, coasting through classes. Locker, strangely, undecorated. Oh, I'm not really from here, just a temporary stop until my parents' divorce settles or whatever and they can go back to their 'real' home. Usually lasts about a month but, eventually, they settle in.
EPHRAM: Not without a fight.
AMY: See you later, Ham. Thanks for the loan.
[Ephram stares back at her.]
[Cut to Dr. Abbott entering his office. Louise starts motioning to him but doesn't speak.]
DR. ABBOTT: Though your pantomime grows more eloquent by the day, Louise, let's say this morning you simply speak.
LOUISE: You're running a little late, Doctor. Mr. Yeager, he's already waiting in room two.
[He opens a letter he has waiting for him.]
DR. ABBOTT: Did you see this? It's from the Medical Board. [reads] "...pleased to inform you..."
[He perks up.]
DR. ABBOTT: I have won the Colorado State Medical Council Tri-County Service Award for Excellence and Dedication! D-Do you know what this means?
[Louise fumbles for a bit.]
DR. ABBOTT: Yeah. I've gotta tell Rose.
[He rushes out.]
LOUISE: Oh, what, but but what about Mr. Yeager?
[Dr. Abbott rushes out the door.]
DR. ABBOTT: Oh, it's a boil, Louise. Lance it, wrap it, tell him to use up the arithmomisan if it swells.
[Cut to Ephram and the Animal Control Officer. The deer is being herded into the back of the truck.
ELMER: We don't see too many of these up all the way out from Mount McConnell. This is exciting.
EPHRAM: Let me catch my breath. How do you know where she's from?
ELMER: See that mark right there?
[Elmer points to the doe's tail.]
ELMER: [cont'd.] That means she's a black tail. Only a handful of those this side of Colorado. They're all from a wildlife reserve just past the summit. She wandered away.
EPHRAM: Long drive back?
ELMER: Few hours. Kind of a lung-buster of a hike. Two days, maybe.
EPHRAM: I hope you packed lunch.
ELMER: I'm not taking her to McConnell. She's getting a lift as far as White River.
EPHRAM: Is that... nice?
ELMER: Oh, sure. Not much escape cover. It's real pretty.
EPHRAM: And that's a bad thing?
ELMER: It is when it's hunting season. I go up this time every year with my brother, and bag enough meat in a half hour to last all winter. Like ducks in a barrel.
[He tries to pull the deer by the reins but Ephram firmly holds on to the other end.]
EPHRAM: Yeah. Hold on a second there, Elmer.
[Cut to Dr. Brown arriving home. He spots the deer and doesn't look pleased.]
DR. BROWN: Maybe you'd like to move on to the winter tulips.
[Cut to the kitchen. Ephram is cutting up an apple.]
DR. BROWN: Ephram, what is that outside?
