That's it. Right and breathe in.

Don't worry. I got your room assignment.

Glad you could come by. You've been away too long.

Hey! I hear we're gonna be roommates.

Hey I heard you got the new kid.

How was your summer?

Hmm what's [his/her/their] specialty? Bootlicking?

It's every bit as tough as they say unless you're a genius like Einstein.

When you're on your own, you can do as you damn well please.

You know me: always taking on too much.

Why doesn't [he/she/they] let you do what you want?

Well just don't tell me how to talk to my father.

So what are you gonna do then?

I don't care. I don't give a damn about any of it.

"O Captain my Captain."

Somewhat appropriate isn't it?

"Carpe diem. " Do you know what that means?

One day we are going to stop breathing, turn cold and die.

You've walked past them many times. I don't think you've really looked at them.

Listen. Do you hear it?

Oh come on, [name]. Don't you get anything?

Who's up for a quick study group tonight?

Duh! Just replace these numbers here with 'x "for 'x"and 'y. "

You think I can get in there? You've been hogging it all day.

How was dinner?

Are you crazy? What's wrong with that?

It's worse than "too bad", It's a tragedy.

We're not laying pipe. We're talking about poetry.

Go on. Rip it out! It's not the Bible. You're not gonna go to hell for this.

What the hell is going on here?

We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race.

Poetry; beauty romance love- -these are what we stay alive for.

It was very fascinating, misguided though it was.

Funny I never pegged you as a cynic.

What's the Dead Poets Society?

Oh my God. No that's not me.

Why? What was it?

You mean it was a bunch of guys sitting around reading poetry?

Not a bad way to spend an evening eh?

Where's this cave [he/she/they] talking about?

You know how many demerits we're talking?

Look all I'm saying is that we have to be careful.

No shit Sherlock!

What is this a midnight study group?

I don't know. This is starting to sound dangerous.

For God's sake. Stop chattering and sit down.

Don't you want to do something about that?

Gosh you really have a problem with that don't you?

What if you didn't have to read? What if you just came and listened?

Could you give that back please?

Get away from me, okay?

God are you trying to smoke us out of here!?

Hey! I told you that one!

You want to hear a real poem?

Wow. Whoa. Where did you get that?

Come on, are you a man or an amoeba?

Why do I stand up here?

See the world looks very different from up here.

Come see for yourselves. Come on. Even though it may seem silly or wrong you must try.

Don't think I don't know this assignment scares the hell out of you.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream." It's a play dummy.

Yes! I'm gonna be an actor!

For the first time in my whole life I know what I want to do.

How are you gonna be in a play if your father won't let you?

Bullshit. Nothing's impossible.

Can't I even enjoy the idea for a little while?

Wh- What is that supposed to mean?

I mean, I appreciate this concern but I'm not like you, all right?

The point is there's nothing you can do about it so you can just butt out.

I can take care of myself just fine.

Don't be immature. Come on!

Oh to have life henceforth the poem of new joys

[Name], how are you gonna do this?

I'm sorry Captain. It's stupid.

A major theme not only in poetry but life.

We're not laughing at you, we're laughing near you.

Just don't let your poems be ordinary.

Isn't that right, [name]. Isn't that your worst fear?

I think you have something inside of you… that is worth a great deal.

Say the first thing that pops into your head even if it's total gibberish.

Close your eyes. Describe what you see.

Truth is like a blanket that always leaves your feet cold.

What do you say we start this meeting?

Where did you learn to play like that?

I've been calm all my life. I'm gonna do something about that!

Where are you going? What are you gonna do?

I want you to find your own walk right now, your own way of striding pacing any direction.

Is today your birthday?

Maybe they weren't thinking about anything at all.

Oh my! Well I wouldn't worry.

Why don't you go downstairs? That's where everybody is.

We gonna have a meeting or what?

There's plenty more where that came from.

Now how's about a kiss?

What the hell are you doing?

Well don't you think they're gonna figure out who wrote it?

[Name], you had no right to do something like that.

Are we just playing around out here or do we mean what we say?

Hey, would you not worry about your precious little neck?

So what are you gonna do?

I always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself.

But I thought you'd like that.

You being expelled from school is not daring to me. It's stupid.

Did you really think I wasn't going to find out?

You can go anywhere. You can do anything. How can you stand being here?

Acting is everything to me.

Have you ever told your father what you just told me?

You have to show him who you are what your heart is.

It's not a whim for you. You prove it to him by your conviction and your passion.

Isn't there an easier way?

I came to apologize for the other night. I brought you these and a poem I wrote for you.

Look, I acted like a jerk and I know it.

Really? You told him what you told me?

I didn't mean to make a fool out of you.

You don't- - You don't even know me.

I have to go. I'm gonna be late for the play.

If you don't like me after tonight, I'll stay away forever.

Good night sweet friend. Thy love ne'er alter 'til thy sweet life end.

So good night unto you all. Give me your hands if we be friends.

What a performance. You left even me speechless.

Don't make it any worse than it is.

Whatever the reason we're not gonna let you ruin your life.

That's ten more years. That's a lifetime!

Don't be so dramatic. You make it sound like a prison term.

You have opportunities that I never even dreamt of!

i’m just asking as a neighbor.

you’re beyond help.

return it and get your money back.

i wish i had a mom.

we’re all losers.

get your ass out here now.

yeah, dig in. you don’t need to talk.

thank you for calling me mom.

a fox would never want to live in our neighborhood.

there are new clothes in the drawer for you.

let me carry it. give it here.

we won’t be eating well on the road.

let me sterilize it for you. it’ll be as good as new.

you’re in trouble if i find it.

you freaking liar.

it’s an important thing to me.

how can chocolate be medicine?

i know you like this. it’s quite easy to make.

there are some hot patches in the bottom drawer.

what a childhood for (name).

you’ll get your money’s worth.

look, i don’t need you, either.

your breath smells bad.

that’s enough. i have feelings, too.

being here won’t do you any good.

damn, you scared me.

pick them up. or i’ll keep them to myself.

it’s a lie anyway.

i’m not good enough to be a mom.

considering that you’re here, your life must be in shambles.

people like you and me. we shouldn’t have been born.

i had nothing else to do.

will you draw me? right next to you.

kids today are so rude.

it was nothing but a small fight.

you need a photo for your homework.

i got it from the community center.

the sorriest person on earth is you.

that’s all we have for this month.

i won’t tell you, asshole.

damn kid.

if you saved it for later, don’t eat it cold.

you, out of the car.

i want a computer. it doesn’t have to be a latest model.

there’s this child who needs me.

i need to see all of your previous medical records.

dialogue prompts from a sunny place for shady people: stories by mariana enriquez.

i get scared sometimes, too.

denial is a powerful drug.

just a little discretion: that's all i ask.

you're not the only ghost around.

it's [name]. call me [name], please.

it's easy to have ethics when what you love isn't in danger.

how are you different from the others?

things happened to me there that can't be exorcised.

it's time to go back to the places that hurt.

we need a miracle.

memories never come at predictable moments.

i love you, but i don't like you.

who put you in charge of my life?

put on some pants. it's cold.

i always hoped i wouldn't have to tell you.

they always pathologize us.

the sun always rises again. always.

don't worry. we'll figure something out.

no one's ever going to kiss me.

it's so hard to kill someone. who would have thought?

don't hate. everything comes back around.

positive thinking is perverse. same as goodwill.

i don't like to sleep in the dark.

you're morbid at heart.

how do you run from something that doesn't exist?

you know how to keep secrets.

i hope i die before i get old.

do you really want me to tell a therapist what we did?

you really know how to play dumb.

what happened to us was simple bad luck.

forgetting is much easier than people say.

what's the worst thing you've done in your life?

chickenshit asshole.

you've always been boring.

i expected this, but i'm still disappointed.

there's something sad about your smile.

you are excessively compassionate.

i wanted to be wrong.

you're too direct. you scare people off.

you're more mysterious than you seem.

there are some feelings that don't have words.

⋆｡‧˚ʚ💋ɞ˚‧｡⋆     𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝

𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬  -  send  ‘reverse’  for  the  sender  and  receiver  to  swap.  adjust  wording  as  needed!

[  recognition  ]  sender  stops  short  when  they  see  receiver,  like  the  world  needs  a  second  to  catch  up

[  double  take  ]  sender  walks  past  receiver  before  realizing,  then  turns  back  too  fast

[  breath  ]  sender  stares  at  receiver  in  disbelief,  forgetting  how  to  breathe

[  hesitant  ]  sender  takes  a  step  toward  receiver,  then  pauses,  unsure  if  they’re  allowed

[  voice  ]  sender  tries  to  speak  to  receiver  and  fails

[  hug  ]  sender  pulls  receiver  into  a  tentative  hug  that  tightens  like  it’s  been  waiting  years

[  forehead  ]  sender  rests  their  forehead  gently  against  receiver’s

[  laugh  ]  sender  laughs  mid-embrace,  tears  slipping  out  at  the  same  time

[  hands  ]  sender  cups  receiver’s  face  or  grips  their  arms  like  proof  this  is  real

[  silent  ]  sender  and  receiver  stand  together  without  speaking,  just  breathing  the  same  air

[  unsure  ]  sender  hovers  close,  unsure  whether  to  hug  again  or  step  back

[  scent  ]  sender  breathes  in  receiver  like  memory  made  real

[  tension  ]  sender  lets  out  a  soft,  incredulous  laugh  that  breaks  the  moment  open

[  touch  ]  sender  squeezes  receiver’s  hand

[  presence  ]  sender  stays  close  to  receiver,  finding  that  just  being  there  is  enough

𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞

❝  i  can’t  believe  it’s  really  you.  ❞

❝  i  thought  about  this  moment  more  times  than  i  can  count.  ❞

❝  you  look…  the  same.  a  little  different.  still  the  same,  though.  ❞

❝  i  didn’t  realize  how  much  i  missed  you  until  now.  ❞

❝  i  didn’t  know  it  would  feel  like  this.  ❞

❝  i  was  afraid  you  wouldn’t  be  here.  ❞

❝  i’ve  waited  a  long  time  for  this.  ❞

❝  i  don’t  know  what  to  say,  i  just—  ❞

❝  i  didn’t  think  i’d  ever  see  you  again.  ❞

❝  you’re  really  here.  ❞

❝  i  held  onto  the  idea  of  you.  ❞

❝  i  didn’t  know  how  much  i  needed  this.  ❞

❝  it  feels  like  coming  home.  ❞

❝  i  never  stopped  missing  you.  ❞

❝  i  thought  i’d  moved  on.  i  hadn’t.  ❞

❝  i  don’t  want  to  let  go  again.  ❞

❝  you’re  still  my  person.  ❞

❝  i  kept  hoping.  ❞

❝  i  don’t  care  how  long  it’s  been.  ❞

❝  seeing  you  makes  everything  else  fade.  ❞

❝  i’ve  carried  you  with  me  this  whole  time.  ❞

❝  i  didn’t  realize  how  much  space  you  left  behind.  ❞

❝  i  don’t  need  answers  right  now.  just  this.  ❞