ETHAN CASTING SIDE #2

Casting Side Transcribed By: Gaby

NOTE: This transcript has all the scene descriptions, camera movements, and all other stuff that was in the casting side that Choirmom got and posted on Fanbolt in their Sneak Preview board which was found by me in summer 2005. It is likely to air in "Put On A Happy Face" but as I said, no episode title on the side means posted in this section.

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM. DAY.

Ethan lies in bed, leads from a heart monitor strapped to his chest, an IV in his arm. Andy stops in the doorway.

DOCTOR BROWN
See? Sex really does kill.

Ethan laughs. Which kinda hurts. Andy walks in, pulls a chair up next to him.

ETHAN
It was either have a minor heart attack, or study for pre-calc. frankly, I still think I made the right decision.
(then, more serious)
I’m sorry for lying to my mom about you. I didn’t know what to tell her. The truth was just so stupid. I didn’t want her to think her son was both a sex friend and an idiot. One is enough, really.

DOCTOR BROWN
How did you get the pills? That’s what I still don’t understand.

ETHAN
You know all those spam e-mails you get about porn and Viagra? Well, I finally opened one up.

DOCTOR BROWN
And what happened?

ETHAN
I learned that college girls really do go wild. And then I purchased a little Viagra. All in all, very convenient. Except for the whole “winding up in the hospital” thing. That part sucked.

DOCTOR BROWN
I doubt it was Viagra. It could’ve been speed or some kind of veterinary medicine. That’s why your chest started to hurt when you took it.

ETHAN
Yeah, that’s what the doctors here said. I feel like suing the website, except then I’d have to publicly admit what moron I am.

DOCTOR BROWN
You’re not a moron, Ethan. You’re just trying to gain a little control over your life, which is hard to do when you’re my age, and nearly impossible to do when you’re a teenager.

Ethan nods, leaning back into his bed, eyes turned away from Andy so that he can’t see him cry… Just in case he does.

ETHAN
I messed everything up… There’s no way I can keep all from Karen now.

DOCTOR BROWN
Why do you have to?

ETHAN
What part of this look cool to you? The anti-depressants I’m on, or the horse pills I took thinking it was Viagra.

DOCTOR BROWN
Ethan, you practically risked your life for this girl. What’s cooler than that?

ETHAN
Football.

Andy laughs, shaking his head.

DOCTOR BROWN
How is it possible that the world has changed so much since I was your age, that technology and science have made life spin forward so drastically… but still, all it takes to be cool in high school is knowing how to throw a perfect spiral.

ETHAN
It’s not that I really care about being cool. I’ve never been cool. I just don’t want to lose the one good thing that’s happened in my whole life.
(then)
You know, I’ve had a crush on Karen since fifth grade. But I never told her. I never really had the guts to. And then when Mike died, everything changed. Nothing seemed as important anymore. Nothing seemed as awful as that moment. So a rejection from a girl wasn’t a big deal. Except she didn’t reject me.

Andy smiles watching Ethan re-live that moment.

DOCTOR BROWN
What makes you think she will now?

ETHAN
I don’t know. I just know I’m scared. Now that I have her… Now that it’s real, I don’t want to lose her. It’s like… I need her.

Andy knows more than anyone what that feels like. Especially since he’s already lost Nina.

DOCTOR BROWN
I’m going to give you two pieces of expert advice, gleaned from decades of personal research. The first one is simple. Don’t lie to people you love. I swear, Ethan, the truth really does free you. Tell Karen what’s going on, and ask her to be patient.

ETHAN
What if she says no? What if she can’t?

DOCTOR BROWN
Then she doesn’t deserve the love you’re giving her anyway.

Ethan nods, knowing that Andy has a point. Then:

ETHAN
What’s the second piece of advice?

DOCTOR BROWN
Never buy medicine off a porn site.

Ethan laughs. And as Andy joins him, we…