Richard and Eric's Father-Son Bond

This flow traces the mixture of favoritism, control, anger, and dependency between Richard and his gifted son.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Golden Boy

A Favored Son Success Without Limits Eric's achievements make it difficult for Richard to enforce rules or consequences. A Close Pair Stacy experiences father and brother as an intense alliance that leaves little room for her voice.

Care for Joanne

A Son at His Mother's Side A Leave from School Eric returns from Stanford to spend time with Joanne and tries to keep their days ordinary. Feelings Held Back His family's belief that he is coping obscures how deeply the illness affects him.

A Father's Intervention

Richard Brings Him Home A Search on Campus Richard finds Eric alone and brings him back to Los Angeles. A Request for Help He asks Alex to assess Eric, showing unusual concern about his son's withdrawal.

Violence and Comfort

Conflict on the Floor A Fight over the Bat Eric and Richard wrestle amid shattered pottery, with Alex and Joe Safer intervening. A Sudden Embrace Afterward Richard holds Eric as if he were still a small child, revealing need beneath their anger.

A New Separation

Back to Stanford Richard's Decision Richard sends Eric back to school and says he will handle his son's treatment himself. An Unsettled Future The father-son bond remains intense, but their reconciliation has not resolved Eric's crisis.

Eric's childhood and adolescence

During Joanne's final illness

Mid-September, after Eric disappears at Stanford

The night Eric destroys the collection

Late September