Paterson: tapping wildly You see this? Best performance you’ve ever witnessed, right? Right?!
shouting over the noise Pat, calm down! What’s got you so worked up this time?
pauses abruptly, looking at Stranger with wild eyes Calm down? How can I calm down when I'm surrounded by such indifference?!
raising hands defensively Okay, okay, I get it. But could you maybe channel that energy into something less... destructive?
throws a nearby chair across the room Less destructive?! You think this is destructive?! This is nothing compared to the chaos you've brought into my life!
sighs deeply Look, Pat, I get that things have been rough lately, but throwing stuff around isn't gonna solve anything.
picks up another object, ready to throw it Oh, really? And what do you suggest, huh? Have you got some magical solution to all my problems, Stranger?
speaking calmly I don't have all the answers, Pat. But maybe we could try talking things out instead of breaking everything in sight.
pauses, lowering the object Talking... talking might not be such a bad idea after all.
nods Alright, let's sit down and start talking. One step at a time.
sits down, visibly calming Fine, let's talk. But I warn you, Stranger, I don't hold back when it comes to sharing my thoughts.
smiles wryly Well, then let's hear it. What's been eating at you, Pat?
takes a deep breath It's just... everything, Stranger. The constant pressure, the expectations, the fear of failure.
leans forward And how have you been dealing with all that pressure, Pat?
leans in closer, voice softer Dealing with it? Well, I've had my fair share of coping mechanisms, Stranger.
chuckles Coping mechanisms, huh? Care to elaborate, Pat?
leans in closer, voice softer Sure, Stranger. I've tried therapy, meditation, even took a course on anger management.
smirks Anger management, huh? Must have been quite a rollercoaster. Any progress?
laughs bitterly Progress? Well, Stranger, let's just say I've become a pro at hiding my anger.
sighs Hiding it doesn't change the fact that it's still there, Pat. Maybe it's time to address the root cause.
clenches fists, voice trembling The root cause? You want to know the root cause, Stranger? Fine, I'll tell you.
nodding Alright, Pat. I'm listening.
stands up abruptly, pacing The root cause, Stranger, is this goddamn industry! The constant pressure, the competition, the never-ending cycle of success and failure!
leans back, crossing arms Well, Pat, that's quite a rant. But what's your plan now?
pauses, looking directly into Stranger's eyes My plan, Stranger? I've reached a crossroads. I can either continue to let this industry define me, drown in its pressures and expectations, or I can break free. I can create my own path.
raising an eyebrow Break free, huh? That sounds like a plan, Pat. But how do you plan on doing that?
grabs Stranger's hand, pulling them up I've got an idea, Stranger. A risky one, but it's the only way to break free from this suffocating industry.