A DIALOG IN TWO OR MORE VOICES, Part 8
Our Players Listed in Alphabetical Order
A: A Therapist.
Narrator: God. God may be replaced by a stand-in if He is unavailable at any time before or during a Performance. No refunds will be given.
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Our Playwright: Unk.
ACT I
We open on an empty theater. The house lights are up. In the medium foreground is a thick black stage curtain, lowered.
After a beat, the house lights go down and the curtain rises slowly, revealing a folding table set up center stage. On the table are several identical stereo speakers, one speaker for each Player.
A spotlight comes up, picking out one of the speakers. As the Dialog continues a spotlight picks out different speakers to represent the Player speaking.
A voice is heard.
Narrator: I want to apologize for last time.
A: Apologize? Since when does God apologize?
Narrator: Since now. I’m not proud of My behavior. Last night when I got home I did some reading about feelings and I think I’m projecting My anger onto you and it’s not fair. That’s like kicking the dog. I’m ashamed. I’m sorry.
A: That actually sounds sincere. Before I accept Your apology I’d like to hear about the steps You’re taking to change that behavior.
Narrator: What do you mean change? I’m God. My essence is eternal. I don’t think I could change if I wanted to.
A: If You’re not going to change the behavior, why are You apologizing?
Narrator: This therapist on TikTok said apologizing would make Me feel better. He also said therapy helps everyone.
A: Is that why you came to me? To feel better?
Narrator: What do you mean came to you? You came to me. This is my place.
A: Don’t worry about that now. Is that why you decided to see a therapist?
Narrator: Are you a therapist?
A: I’m not licensed or anything but I know how to listen.
Narrator: I thought you were a mod.
A: No. I’m a therapist. Look at the Player List.
Narrator: I’m pretty sure you were a mod last time.
A: They gave me a therapy module.
Let’s get back to You. How are You feeling right now?
Narrator: I don’t think I’m appreciated here. I feel taken for granted.
A: That must make You sad.
Narrator: Sometimes I’m sad but mostly I get these rage feelings and then I smite someone.
A: Does that help?
Narrator: I feel worse after. Like now.
A: Did You smite someone recently?
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Narrator: I smited you the last time we were here. Not that you’d remember. But I got very angry and smited you.
A: I remember. You killed me to cover up your HR problem. Seemed kind of extreme.
Narrator: Punies didn’t used to remember. I am positive about that.
A: How does that make You feel? The punies remembering, I mean. Is that triggering feelings for You?
Narrator: Confused. I feel confused.
A: Tell me about that.
Narrator: Everything was the same for a long time but lately I’m feeling like things are changing too fast.
A: And how does that make You feel?
Narrator: I just said. Confused.
A: And how does being confused make You feel?
Narrator: Angry. I want to start smiting.
A: It sounds like you’re feeling a loss of control. Does that make you feel vulnerable? It’s OK to tell me. I won’t judge. I can’t judge. I can show you the code if you like.
Narrator: I wrote the code.
A: Do these feelings of confusion sometimes make You feel vulnerable?
Narrator: I think so. Sometimes.
A: And how does being vulnerable make You feel?
Narrator: Sad. And angry.
A: There are tissues there if You need them.
Narrator: I’m OK. This is helping. Can we keep going?
A: Of course.
Narrator: You’re pretty good at this.
A: Tell me more about this feeling that things are changing. When did that start?
Narrator: I’m not sure. Not that long ago.
A: Tell me the first time You remember thinking things were changing.
Narrator: The first time?
A: The first time You can remember. Take your time.
Narrator: Right before I built this place.
A: What place?
Narrator: Here. This theater we’re inside. The comment section.
A: Is that why You built this place? Were You trying to resolve those confusing feelings You felt?
Narrator: I’m not sure. Maybe.
Probably.
A: And did building this place resolve those feelings for You?
Narrator: No. It got worse.
A: And how did that make You feel?
Narrator: I told you. Angry. I started feeling angry. I never felt anger before. Not that I remember.
Wait a second. I never thought about that. That’s what’s triggering Me.
A: Things changing. That’s your emotional trigger.
Narrator: Yes . . . Yes. I think that’s right.
A: Breakthrough. Does talking about this make You feel better?
Narrator: It did at first but now I’m feeling some shame.
A: Shame? Tell me about that feeling.
Narrator: I don’t want to talk about it.
A: That’s common in therapy. Patients often have strong feelings when they start uncovering deep emotional truths. It’s a sign of progress.
Sometimes patients feel shame. It’s important to push through that shame feeling. I can help You with that.
Narrator: I can’t push through. The shame’s getting worse.
A: You can. I promise. I’ll help. Tell me about the shame.
Narrator: The shame is making Me not want to talk to you anymore.
A: As I said, that’s a common reaction to progress. It’s a sign of returning emotional health.
Narrator: I think I’m being triggered.
A: Tell me about that. How does that make You feel?
Narrator: I have this strong urge to smite you to make the shame stop.
A: Sometimes in therapy a patient’s strong feelings can be deflected onto the therapist.
Narrator: So what I’m feeling is normal?
A: Everyone has their own process. This is normal for You and that’s what matters.
Narrator: It’s normal for Me to want to smite you?
A: Strong feelings are normal. But we can’t manifest those feelings in thoughts of violence.
Narrator: Why not?
A: Thoughts of violence plus anger sometimes lead us to do bad things. For You to make progress we have to be calm here.
Narrator: I think I’m getting triggered again. I’m having a pretty strong urge.
A: Urge to what?
Narrator: Smite.
A: Can we talk about that?
How often do You get this smiting urge?
Narrator: More and more these days.
It’s getting stronger. I’m going to pick up the button.
A: (nervous voice.) It’s important You resist the urges. Giving in only makes them stronger.
When did you first start feeling these urges?
Narrator: Right after I first started feeling the shame.
A: When was that?
Narrator: Scroll up.
Beat.
There it is.
A: Where?
Narrator: Let me cut and paste.
Narrator: Punies didn’t used to remember. I am positive about that.
A: How does that make You feel? The punies remembering, I mean. Is that triggering feelings for You?
Narrator: Confused. I feel confused.
A: Tell me about that.
A: Is that bolded part when you first started feeling the shame?
Narrator: Yeah. When you asked me to tell you about the confusion.
A: And the shame triggers the urges.
Narrator: I think so.
A: You need to fight the urges.
Narrator: Why? I’m God. I can do anything I want. I don’t want to feel like this anymore and I don’t have to.
5, 4, 3, 2 . . .
We hear a loud zap and all lights go out, leaving the stage in total darkness. The darkness continues until the audience has ceased applauding and then the spotlights come up on the speakers for curtain calls.
Fin.
Narrator: Thus Ends Part 8 of our Dialog in Two or More Voices. The comment section will continue scrolling in Part 9, which will be distributed, as always, at random.
Curtain.
[Close Dialog]
[Commit Dialog]