Empathy No. 074
ELEANOR: Roderick, you're not in your room.
RODERICK: Yeah, I wanted to be out here when you got home.
ELEANOR: That's great. Did you want to talk about something?
RODERICK: Actually, yeah. Do you have a minute?
ELEANOR: Sweetheart, of course I do. What do you want to talk about?
RODERICK: It's...how much longer do I have to keep going to these sessions?
ELEANOR: You mean the sessions with Dr. Brawney? Is there something wrong? Because I thought you were getting along okay with her.
RODERICK: It's not that.
ELEANOR: Because we can find someone else-
RODERICK: Why do I have to talk to anyone? You know, I...went along with this, but everything's okay now. There's nothing to talk about.
ELEANOR: Roderick, I really think she's helping you. There's no reason to be embarrassed about needing help.
RODERICK: Why do I need help? What's the point of doing this anymore? I've adjusted, haven't I? Is there something wrong with me that I don't know about?
ELEANOR: Honey, there's nothing wrong with you. But...I don't think this is just about your life here. You've been through a lot, and I...and we want to know that everything is okay. Do you understand?
RODERICK: I...no, I don't.
ELEANOR: This wasn't out of the blue. I wanted to do this for you for a while. I'd thought about it but we didn't have the resources for it before. I'm not going to force you to do anything, but I really do think this is good for you.
JASON: Hey, Ellie. You're home early.
ELEANOR: No extra errands today. How was your day?
JASON: Pain in the ass. They gave us this assignment in history, an essay.
ELEANOR: Well, what's the subject? We can help you.
JASON: Maybe not on this one. I have to write about one of my ancestors.
ELEANOR: Is that why you were in the study last night?
JASON: Yeah, I was looking for a family tree or something. All I found out is that my family's boring. I mean, it's just two pages, but I don't think I can even write that much about any of them.
ELEANOR: Too bad you didn't have that assignment, Roderick. It would be easy for you.
JASON: Yeah?
RODERICK: Mom, we don't need to talk about this.
JASON: Why not? I mean, I'm interested.
ELEANOR: It's the story of your name, why are you so bashful now? Roderick is named after his great-great-great grandfather. He was a politician in Tennessee, and he tried to keep the state out of the Confederacy. And when that didn't work, he tried to take part of the state and secede right back.
JASON: That's awesome!
ELEANOR: There's more! Jefferson Davis wanted to charge him with treason, so he ran away north and ended up in charge of a group of soldier.
JASON: That's a great story! I wish I could use him. Hey, maybe I could - I mean, Roderick's family, right?
RODERICK: ...I'll be out later.
JASON: Okay. Hey, Roderick, one more thing. Come over here?
RODERICK: Yeah?
JASON: Nothing yet, but I'm looking, okay?
RODERICK: Okay. Thanks.