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.)