Doctor: Ryou, can you tell me what's going on?
Ryou: What do you mean?
(A clock ticks on the desk.)
Doctor: I've heard…of the strange ways you've started acting.
Ryou: (sighs) What has father told you?
Doctor: (pauses) Only what he knows…Ryou, I want to help you. I know there's something going on…something you can't tell anyone…am I right?
Ryou: (in a small voice) Yes.
Doctor: And we're friends now, aren't we? Do you trust that I am your friend?
Ryou: …Yes.
Doctor: Can you trust me when I say that, as your friend, I want to know what's going on so that I can help you?
Ryou: …Sure.
Doctor: So…as a friend…can you tell me?
(A dog barks somewhere outside, and the clock ticks.)
Ryou: No.
Doctor: Why not?
Ryou: …Because then you wouldn't want to be my friend.
Doctor: What makes you say that?
Ryou: …Because then you'd know.
Doctor: (begins tapping his pencil against the paper before him) But then I might be able to help you.
Ryou: No, you wouldn't. You'd want me to stay this way.
Doctor: Why would I ever want that?
Ryou: (pauses) I'm not worth helping.
(The doctor's voice grows more sincere, but the tapping and the ticking continue.)
Doctor: Yes, you are. Everyone deserves help. They deserve to be heard.
Ryou: (after a soft laugh) You want to hear me?
Doctor: Of course.
Ryou: …Promise you won't tell?
Doctor: …I'm sorry. I can't promise you that.
Ryou: (brow tensing) No—you can't tell anyone. Especially not my father.
(The tapping stops.)
Ryou: (tearfully) Please.
Doctor: (straightens) I will not tell your father.
(Ticking, ticking.)
Ryou: (after a very long pause) There's this voice…
(The clock chimes twice.)
