I Could See You Were Hurting

In the near future, a flirty technician helps a man manage his digital identity. But when things go wrong, she discovers that deep down, he doesn't really know who he is - and that she can give him the comfort and support he needs. (About 2,600 words)

This is a standalone script.  

If you perform one of my scripts, please let me know so I can add the video to my channel! 

What a day!  

Three clients with digi-space identity hacks. 

That has to be a personal record. 

[addressing the computer] Kira, I only have one more client today, right? 

Good. 

It’s not another identity hack, is it? 

[glad] Ah! A nice, easy profile refresh. 

Thank goodness! 

Let’s hope it goes smoothly. 

Kira, what is traffic like on my way home? 

Ugh! 

Kira, ask my kitchen to have a hot cup of tea ready when I get there. 

Dinner at six. 

Well, Kira, bring up the client profile. 

Wow! 

He’s cute

I’d refresh this guy’s profile any day of the week! 

[giggles] 

Let’s see here . . .  

Looks like he’s a new client. 

Standard profile format . . .  

A few custom integrations, but that shouldn’t be an issue . . . 

[glad] Oh, he’s an Improver! 

[lighthearted] That’s promising! 

[becoming serious] That’s . . . actually very promising. 

[awkward] Kira . . . has he . . . posted a relationship status on public social? 

[excited] “Actively seeking!” 

Oh, my! 

Kira, show me his profile on public social. 

Show photos. 

Wow! 

Just look at how cute he is! 

[giggles] 

And an Improver too! 

[calming down] Okay, okay. 

Let’s see what he has to say about himself. 

[liking what she sees] Uh-huh . . . uh-huh . . . 

[playful] Kira . . . is today my lucky day? 

Never mind! Don’t answer that. 

[giggle] 

I’ll find out for myself! 

[deliberately clears her throat, getting herself into a more professional mood] 

[elaborately formal] Kira, please send in the next client. 

[warm] Hello! 

So good to see you. 

Welcome! 

Have a seat right here. 

[cheery] Get comfortable! 

[pause] 

My name is Alicia. 

I’ll be your identity technician today. 

[pause] 

Let’s see . . . looks like you’re here for an identity refresh. 

And the purpose is . . . self-improvement. 

[bright, cheerful] So, you’re an Improver? 

[pause] 

Good for you! 

We all have things we need to work on, don’t we? 

It’s so easy to just check out . . . to just live in digi-space 24/7. 

If not for Improvers like you . . . the rest of us might forget what it’s all about. 

Aspiration, you know?  

Progress. 

Becoming the change we want to see in the world . . . all that. 

I’ve always meant to do more of that myself. 

[flirty] I don’t know, I’ve just . . . always admired Improvers. 

There’s just something . . . special . . . about them. 

[realizing that she’s overdoing the flirtation, shifting gears] Ahem! 

So . . . I take it you’ve had an identity refresh before? 

[pause] 

Excellent! 

Well, I know you’ve heard the whole routine before, but . . . we do still have to go over it. 

To do this, it’s important to have a strong core identity. 

And it’s important to know why you’re making the change that you’re making. 

The process can be dangerous if you don’t really know who you are . . . and what you want. 

[awkward] But . . . for an Improver like you . . . I suppose that’s not an issue. 

[more awkward] The, um, the file here . . . doesn’t specify what it is that you’ve been . . . working on. 

The change you’ve been working to make in yourself . . . that we’re going to integrate into your digi-space identity profile. 

You don’t have to share it! 

Although it can help me be ready . . . in case there are any issues during the integration. 

[pause] 

[anxious] That’s fine! 

Like I said, you don’t have to share. 

[flirty] A little mystery is a good thing, right? 

Okay, let me set you up. 

First I’m going to recline the seat . . . 

[calming] Just stay fully relaxed for me, okay? 

Kira, dim the lights. 

[flirty] A little mood lighting! 

[giggle] 

Okay, get completely comfortable for me. 

[soothing] Very good. 

Kira, establish identity link and configure profile connection. 

[pause] 

[nervous] Listen . . . while Kira is setting up . . . 

Well, you’re going to have to rest when we’re done . . . so I thought I would ask you now . . . 

[awkward] No pressure, but . . . I was thinking . . . I could ask Kira to ping you later for a connection? 

[cheery] I’d love to take you out somewhere fun! 

Do you like digi-shows?  

There’s a bunch of new ones this weekend . . . I’d love to take you to one. 

Your choice! 

[pause] 

[taken aback] What? 

[awkward] You . . . have a girlfriend? 

But your social said you were . . .  

[furious] Ooooh! 

Those brats in registration! 

[exasperated] They can access your profile in public social when you check into the clinic. 

This is their stupid idea of a prank. 

[apologetic] I am so, so sorry about this. 

I’m mortified. 

It’s so unprofessional! 

It’s completely unacceptable. 

[serious] I’m going to report them. 

[pause] 

[calmer] Well, thank you for understanding. 

That’s very good of you. 

Again, I’m so sorry. 

[awkward] Let’s just . . . move on. 

Looks like Kira is ready. 

We can start the procedure now. 

Just relax, okay?  

How do you feel? 

[pause] 

Okay, I want you to close your eyes now. 

Take a moment to assess your body. 

Focus on each part of your body . . . one at a time. 

[pause] 

Does any part of your body feel uncomfortable? 

[pause] 

Okay, good. 

Just stay relaxed, and we’ll have you done in no time. 

Kira, begin identity refresh procedure. 

[pause] 

And . . . you’re under. 

[pause] 

[playful] Wish I could “take a moment to assess your body.” 

[giggle] 

You are so much cuter in person. 

And so sweet! 

[wistful] Such a shame you’re taken. 

Whoever she is . . . she’d better treat you right. 

She’d better appreciate you. 

[sigh] 

I really am going to report those guys this time. 

[pause] 

Wait. 

[concerned] That doesn’t look good. 

Kira, magnify the integration signal display. 

Hmmmmm. 

[pause] 

[concerned] What’s going on in there? 

[caring] What are you going through? 

[pause] 

Kira, stop procedure. 

[firm] No, Kira. 

Technician override. 

[calm but very firm] Full stop on the procedure now

[pause] 

[he has awakened panicking, she’s calming him] Whoa, whoa, whoa! 

It’s okay! It’s okay! 

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. 

It’s okay. 

Kira, lights on full. 

[pause] 

I’ve got you. 

Everything’s okay. 

I’ll protect you. 

[pause] 

Kira, disconnect him from digi-space entirely.  

Technician override. 

[firm] I want him fully disconnected. 

[pause] 

It’s okay. 

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. 

It’s all right. 

It’s all over now. 

I’ll protect you. 

[pause] 

You’re sure you’re okay? 

[pause] 

Don’t worry . . . there’s no judgment here. 

[pause]  

Nightmares? 

[pause] 

Yes, I could tell. 

[sympathetic] Looks like they were pretty bad, huh? 

[pause] 

Kira’s algorithm . . . can’t always tell . . . when people are in trouble. 

[awkward] Especially with . . . well . . . people like you. 

People who are strong. 

People who have . . . learned how to take a lot of . . . bad stuff. 

A lot of emotional pain. 

Your neurology doesn’t react as much. 

Kira doesn’t recognize the pattern right away. 

And yours . . . 

[amazed] Yours hardly changed at all. 

[blurting out] You must be very brave! 

[awkward] But . . . I was . . . looking at your face . . . and . . . 

[compassionate] I could see that you were hurting. 

Don’t worry! 

I’m here to take care of you. 

[calming] It is my job, after all. 

[a small laugh to ease the tension] 

Everything is all right now. 

Do you feel better? 

[pause] 

Are you sure? 

[pause] 

Like I said, there’s no judgment here. 

I know . . . how bad it can get in there. 

Take all the time you need. 

[pause] 

Okay . . . if you’re sure. 

[awkward] Could we . . . talk about . . . what might have gone wrong? 

So we can figure out . . . how to make sure it never happens again? 

It would help to know . . . what change in yourself were you working on? 

To integrate with your identity profile. 

Would you . . . be willing to talk to me about it? 

[pause] 

Uh-huh. 

[pause] 

Sorry, can I ask you . . . what do you mean by that? 

[pause] 

Uh-huh. 

[pause] 

But what, specifically, did you want to . . . get out of that? 

[pause] 

Because . . . of your girlfriend? 

[pause] 

[concerned] Hmmmm. 

Can I give you my professional opinion? 

This is just an initial impression . . . but . . . it sounds to me like . . .  

You may not have been very sure what kind of change you actually wanted. 

[pause] 

Right. 

[pause] 

I see. 

[pause] 

And how do you feel about that? 

[pause] 

Uh-huh. 

[pause] 

Well . . . and again, these are just initial impressions.  

Forgive me for asking, but . . .  

Were you working on this change . . . for you? 

Or for her? 

[pause] 

Yes. 

[pause] 

Yes, that’s not uncommon. 

[pause] 

Right. 

And if it wasn’t something you really wanted for yourself . . . 

Well . . . that might be the problem. 

Do you think . . . maybe . . . you were . . . trying to earn her approval? 

[pause] 

[affirming] Mmm. 

[pause] 

Right. 

[pause] 

Do you think she, maybe . . . expects you to change who you are . . . for her? 

[pause] 

Yes. 

A lot of people don’t realize that’s an issue . . . until something like this happens. 

[awkward] Sometimes . . . well . . . sometimes especially the strong ones. 

The ones who . . . give a lot of themselves. 

And, like I said . . . from what I saw on your readings . . . 

You’re a very strong man. 

[pause] 

You don’t think she sees you as strong? 

[pause] 

I see. 

[pause] 

Well, I’ll just say . . . the readings don’t lie. 

Kira, display the integration signal readings from the procedure we just did. 

[pause] 

Kira, magnify here. 

[pause] 

You see this line here? 

And . . . this one? 

They barely moved. 

Normally, when there’s a failed integration procedure . . . this line shoots up at least to here

And this one? It goes all over the chart. 

[pause] 

You are looking at scientific proof. 

You are a man of great emotional strength. 

Whatever your girlfriend may think. 

Maybe the strongest man I’ve ever seen in here, if I’m honest. 

But, well . . . 

Strength . . . isn’t enough. 

You can’t just grit your teeth and . . . suffer your way through life. 

It just doesn’t work that way. 

Nobody is that strong. 

[gentle] And . . . nobody deserves to live that way. 

It’s not right. 

[pause] 

[awkward] Do you . . . mind if I ask you . . . an even more personal question? 

It would help us diagnose the problem. 

[pause] 

It’s okay if you don’t want to answer . . . but . . . 

[gentle] Your parents . . . growing up . . . did they . . . show you a lot of affection? 

Really bond with you? 

[pause] 

[concerned] Hmm. 

[pause] 

Right. 

[pause] 

Well, let me ask you this. 

Think about . . . times when they showed you affection. 

Just take a moment and think about that. 

[pause] 

[gentle] Now, how easy is it . . . off the top of your head . . . to remember times when your parents showed you affection? 

Did you come up with a lot of them right away? 

Or did you really have to think about it? 

[pause] 

Right. 

[pause] 

Maybe . . . I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but . . . 

[gentle] Would you say they were . . . emotionally . . . less available? 

[pause] 

[affirming] Mm-hmm. 

[pause] 

Well . . . again, we’re just doing initial impressions here, but . . .  

This may be a core identity issue. 

Your core identity . . . may not be fully formed. 

That would definitely explain what just happened. 

[pause] 

[softly] Listen, there’s no shame here. 

[gentle but firm] No shame . . . no judgment. 

What I’d like to do . . . if it’s okay with you . . . is end this session today . . . 

And have Kira connect you with my colleagues . . . over in Identity Formation. 

[reassuring] All they do is talk with you. 

That’s it! 

It’s entirely offline. No digi-space. 

But what they can do is . . . explore your core identity with you . . . to see if that’s why you had such a bad time in there today. 

They can help you become more aware of who you are. 

How you’ve been shaped. 

And help you make a plan to . . . address any negative issues. 

To grow. To heal. 

[lighthearted] You could think of it as your next focus area . . . for self-improvement. 

What do you think? 

[pause] 

[pleased] Okay. 

Kira, forward the intake for the Identity Formation Department. 

[very pleased] I promise, you won’t regret it. 

[awkward] And . . . listen . . . I meant everything I said . . . about how strong you are. 

[confident, warm, happy] And how much I admire people like you . . . who want to improve themselves. 

[sparkling] I guess what I’m trying to say is . . . if you ever decide you want to be with someone who appreciates you for the person you already are . . . 

Someone who will support your desire to change . . . but will never try to change you . . . 

My offer to take you out for a show is still good! 

[sincere] No pressure . . . but if you would like to . . . I would love to. 

[gentle] Just think about it, okay? 

[pause] 

[amused] Okay, fair enough. 

Bye! 

[pause] 

[wistful] Oh, my. 

[playful] He looks just as good walking out as he did walking in! 

[sigh] 

I do hope he gets on the right track. 

Speaking of which . . . 

Kira, what’s the next book on my tablet? 

[pause] 

Hmm. 

[unsure] Is there a book that’s recommended . . . for people who are considering . . . possibly . . .  becoming an Improver? 

[pause] 

[flat, neutral] Huh. 

Plato’s Republic

[amused] I don’t know what I expected! 

Download it. 

And Kira? 

Wait 24 hours, then . . . ping that last client . . . from my personal account. 

Requesting a connection. 

Message? Let’s see . . . 

[clears throat] 

Kira, record message. 

[cheery] Hey there! It’s me! 

Listen, I meant what I said. 

[sparkling] And also . . . I think you’re really cute! 

I’d love to take you out somewhere . . . any time you’re ready to improve your life . . . by having me in it! 

So ping me back! Bye! 

[pause] 

[loud, long fit of joyous laughter] 

I can’t believe I just said that! 

What, Kira? 

No . . . I don’t want to revise it. 

Send message! 

And Kira . . . tell my kitchen to scratch the hot tea. 

Tell it to pour me a glass of chilled white wine instead. 

Here’s to the new him . . . and to the new me!