DELIA: [still panicked] Where's Dad? I want Dad!
EPHRAM: He'll be home soon. Here, lie down. OK?
[Ephram tucks her back in and turns to leave. Delia has calmed down.]
DELIA: [softly] Ephram?
EPHRAM: Yes.
DELIA: Will you just stay with me for a little while?
[Ephram looks irritated but gives in.]
EPHRAM: Move over.
[He gets into bed with her.]
[Fade to a scene later where Ephram is sitting on the coach waiting for his father. Dr. Brown arrives home. He walks into the kitchen.]
EPHRAM: Where have you been?
DR. BROWN: I was stuck at the Dudleys. Why? What's the matter? Is everything OK?
EPHRAM: No. Everything's not OK. Your daughter had a nightmare tonight.
DR. BROWN: How is she?
EPHRAM: She's fine now. Got her back to sleep about thirty minutes ago.
DR. BROWN: It was that movie, wasn't it? I should've made sure she didn't see it.
[Ephram starts to get angry.]
EPHRAM: You know, for someone who was once cited by the U.S. News and World Report as one of the greatest minds in America, it amazes me sometimes how clueless you are. You really think this was about a movie?
DR. BROWN: Well, why don't you enlighten me, Ephram, as to what it IS about because that's just what I need tonight. Another lecture from my fifteen-year-old son!
EPHRAM: Do not talk to me the way you used to talk to Mom. I'm not your wife.
DR. BROWN: What the hell is that supposed to mean?
EPHRAM: Do you think I wanna be having this conversation with you? I didn't marry you. I never agreed to pick up your slack!
DR. BROWN: Look, Ephram, I am sorry, I couldn't take care of Delia tonight but I was treating a seven year old boy who could hardly breathe!
EPHRAM: Oh, you win. Seven-year-old boys who can't breathe trump little girls with nightmares.
DR. BROWN: Yes. In my profession, they do!
EPHRAM: In the medical profession or in the crappy father one?
[Dr. Brown gets upset.]
DR. BROWN: RIGHT, THAT IS ENOUGH!!! As of this second, you and that mouth of yours are gonna start showing me some respect or I...
EPHRAM: [holding his hands up revealing a bandage on his right hand] ...Or what?
DR. BROWN: What happened to your hand?
EPHRAM: It's tonight's punch line. I sliced it while trying to pry open a window to this place. Which happened after Delia and I couldn't get a ride home which happened after you left us alone at dinner for the second night this week.
DR. BROWN: Well, let me take a look at it.
EPHRAM: It's fine.
[Dr. Brown tries to take a look at the hand.]
DR. BROWN: Let me just see...
EPHRAM: ...DON'T... touch me!
[Ephram walks around.]
EPHRAM: [sarcastically] The Great Doctor Brown. That's what Mom and I used to call you. You always thought it was endearing but it wasn't. It was our own private joke. Will The Great Doctor Brown be here for dinner? Will The Great Doctor Brown be joining us this weekend? Don't you see? You're still that guy. You'll always be that guy. It doesn't matter if it's the Dudleys on Forest Lane or some rich lady on Park Avenue, they'll always come first. The only difference is, this time, Mom's not here to cover for you. At least I've got her. Who's Delia get?
