Xyla

Just in case you don't remember, Contemplations is the fancy spa/rehab/counseling center for the stars that Bill had chosen as appropriate for Katie's "therapy," because there was a psychiatrist there he could pay off to say whatever he wanted him to say.

Scene: Bill and Katie's living room. Bill is on the couch, feet up on a coffee table, laptop on his lap, Scotch on the end table at his side. The television is on, tuned to a 24 hour financial network, and Bill is working on his laptop when Katie walks in. She looks as if she's just been at a spa, but she's neither happy nor relaxed.


Katie immediately says, petulantly, "You didn't come get me." Bill, without looking up, says, "And good afternoon to you too, dear." Not willing to be put off, Katie repeats, "You didn't come get me. You just sent a car." Bill looks up from the laptop but only glances at the television, as opposed to Katie, as he answers, "I didn't send a car. I sent a limo. With a nurse." Katie spits back, "I hated her." Bill says coolly, "She wasn't there to be liked. She was there in case you had any 'issues' on the way home." Katie retorts, "And how do you think that looked to the staff at Contemplations? You're supposed to make everyone think you're devoted to me, remember?" Still not bothering to look at Katie, Bill goes back to work on his laptop and says, "I did the devoted husband act when I dropped you off. And I called ahead to make sure it was alright if I sent a limo with a nurse to pick you up, as I had been unavoidably detained, and I wanted to get you back home, where you felt safest, as soon as possible after your 'treatment'. I also made it clear that I'd be there to meet you when you did arrive home. They didn't think the nurse would be necessary, but I insisted I didn't want to take any chances with you precious, precarious psyche. They were very impressed." Katie snaps, "Well, I wasn't." As he glances at the television again, Bill replies, "You weren't the one who needed impressing." Then he goes back to work on his laptop.


Fed up, Katie plants herself between Bill and the television, so the next time he looks up, he has to see her. Bill does, and as he does, he says with a sort of dead, uninterested calmness, "Was there anything else?" Katie says, "Aren't you even going to ask how my therapy went?" Bill says, "I know how your therapy went. I knew how it was going to go before we left this morning. Your therapist is on my payroll, remember?" Katie says, "Your Dr. Sanders wasn't the only person I saw. In fact, I barely saw him at all, the horrible old troll. All he did was stare at me and say, 'hmm-mmm'. Even when I was sobbing about how horrible it was to be attacked by someone I thought I could trust, he just stared and said, 'hmm-mmm.'" Bill says dryly and sarcastically, "How terrible for you." Katie says, "It would have been, if it hadn't been for Dr. Ariane." Bill replies, "Really, And what did she do for you? Your hair?" Katie says, "Dr. Ariane isn't a her. Ariane is his last name. He's French." Preoccupied by his laptop, Bill says, "Talented people the French. Love their fries." Annoyed, Katie says, "He's very insightful. He understands what I've been going through and what I need. He's much better than your Dr. Sanders." Suspiciously, Bill says, "I paid for you to talk to Dr. Sanders. We may need his testimony in court. What were you doing seeing another psychiatrist?" Katie says, "Dr. Sanders referred me to him as part of my treatment. And he's not a psychiatrist. His doctorate is in life management skills." Bill laughs and says, "Life management skills? And what on-line diploma factory issues a degree in that?" Katie replies, "And what Carribbean medical school did your pre-paid psychiatrist attend?" Bill shrugs and says, "Fair enough. So what 'life plan' did Dr. Ariane work out for you?" Katie replies, "He said I clearly suffer from low self-esteem. That I had never been properly supported emotionally, physically, or intellectually, and thus the attack amplified my lack of self worth. So, in order to become strong enough to deal with my trauma, I have to learn to appreciate every aspect of myself and insist others value me as well." In a tone that implies a complete lack of credulity, Bill says, "And what sort of treatment did he recommend for your myriad of problems?" Katie, not liking his tone, says, "He said we'd begin with the physical, because it was both the simplest and the most complex, given its connection to the attack. So first I had follicle redesign and enhanced foot reflexology by the meditation pool." At that, Bill can't hold back a laugh anymore and says, " A new hairstyle and a pedicure? That was his prescription? Tell me, did he also suggest that if you changed your mascara you'd see your life more clearly?" An irritated Katie says, "No, he didn't. And at least he did something for me. He even cared enough to make sure that only women were touching my hair or my feet. He said I wouldn't be ready to have any men other than him handling my body issues until I was much more secure physically. That's why he conducted the sensitivity assessment himself." Bill narrows his eyes and says, "And just what is a sensitivity assessment?" Katie says, "It was to see how reactive I was to being touched by a man." Before Bill can say anything, Katie says, "Don't worry. I failed the assessment in spectacular fashion. At first, I couldn't even bear to have him take my hand without crying and crumpling up into a ball." Bill says, "At first?" Katie says, "Well, I had to show some progress, didn't I? I mean, I had to pretend like I was trying to get better or they'd be suspicious when I started having press conferences about what I had to overcome, right? If I can't get better, I can't very well speak out on behalf of other women who are afraid to come forward and accuse their attackers, can I?" Bill says coldly, "And just how far did you manage to progress?" Katie says, "By the end of the session, he could take my hand in his and pat it without me crying. I still trembled some for effect, but I didn't cry." Bill considers that and says, "I guess that wouldn't arouse any suspicion."