The Unsaid

If you repeat this...

I will deny it.

Like I have been...

and I always will.

To my grave.

Do you understand?

The Unsaid

Hey, champ! How's it going?

Come on, let's go.

Shake a leg. We're running late.

I'm not going.

- What do you mean you're not going?

- I just don't want to go. Okay?

Kyle?

Kyle, look at me.

This is opening night.

Your sister's counting on you.

Yeah, well she'll get over it.

- You're being very inconsiderate.

- Why? 'Cause I wanna stay at home.

Yes, because you wanna stay at home.

That's what I want. Okay.

I wanna stay at home!

There's a clean rugby shirt on the

dryer, Kyle. With your khakis... Kyle?

Kyle?

- Don't tell me.

- He's not coming.

- What is it now.

- What is it always?

Harry says not to push him.

We're not gonna push him.

And does Harry have any thoughts on

what we're supposed to tell Shelly?

Tell me about what?

You're a real sh*t, you know that?

Look, I just don't feel like being

around people tonight. Okay?

You say that a lot lately.

It's not like you won't be doing it again.

Tomorrow night? You'll come then?

- Just break a leg tonight. Okay?

- Yeah, I will.

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

The show must go on, Miss Streisand.

Come on. Your limo's waiting.

- See you.

- Good luck.

I'll save you a seat

if you change your mind.

Yep.

Any chance of that?

No.

I love you, partner...

I'll see you later.

Yes! Yeeesss!

Yes! Yeeesss!

Take it easy. Watch your step.

Be careful, baby.

Mom? Where's Kyle?

Kyle?

Kyle, where are you?

Kyle! Kyle! No!

Kyle!

Kyle!

Kyle?

Kyle?

No!

No!

Come on! Let's go! Let's go! Wake up!

Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!

Mom!

Three years later

Today's guest speaker is a former

shining star of this University's...

...psychology department. Teacher.

Practitioner. Author.

And these words only begin to describe

his contribution to the field.

It took some arm-twisting

getting him here...

...but I know you'll make

him feel welcome.

K.U.'s own prodigal son

Dr. Michael Hunter.

...now imagine that

you're a child again.

And you've been brought into

this room to learn about chalk.

And suppose I tell you everything

there is to know about chalk...

...but while doing so,

I also beat you.

I beat you...

with this pointer.

Now, some of you in the room

might enjoy that.

Now, you're no longer a child, but you

still carry with you these unconscious...

...conditioned fear responses.

You've buried the memory of those

beatings deep in your sub-conscious.

You've altered the truth into...

into an acceptable lie...

...which allows you

to uh function in society.

I need a volunteer.

This young lady's fine. Thank you.

Now as a therapist, you wish your

subject could simply tell you...

...the root of his or her pain, but then

that person wouldn't need a therapist.

So...

we simply ask a question and the

subject responds, but often what...

...is not said... is far more

important than what is said.

So we're gonna try a simple

word association.

- You okay?

- Okay.

- Tree.

- Strong.

- Love.

- Good.

- Mom.

- Sing.

- Dad.

- Suit.

- Date.

- Tall.

Well, that rules me out.

Uh... that's very good.

- Uh, what's your name?

- Gina.

Gina. That was very nice.

Are you an undergraduate?

I'm gonna be a therapist like you.

Oh! My sympathies.

How do your parents feel about that?

My motherthinks I'm crazy.

And how about your dad?

He's not at all happy with that. Right?

There's not much that does make

him happy, when he's not at work?

When he's at home?

With you?

You're okay?

In trading words with Gina,

I observed the muscles in her face.

The position of her eyes.

The rhythm of her breathing.

These are all non -verbal cues to

the sub-conscious... to the unsaid.

And uh...

friction between a father and

a daughter is... all too common.

Sir... my thesis paper?

It's such a quick read. No really.

It takes no time. No time at all.

Please, Dr. Hunter?

Excuse me! Excuse me!

Dr. Hunter, you're gonna be late.

So... if you'll excuse us everyone.

Thank you very much.

Thank you for coming.

- Sorry I got to Barbara... Lonigan.

- Very good.

- That was very good.

- Thank you.

You're all grown up.

Well I'm a caseworker now.

Child Services.

I'm working towards my doctorate.

As I'd expect.

It's quite a workload.

Twenty-seven cases.

Nothing too challenging.

Except there uh -there is this

one kid and I wanted to know...

...if I could possibly speak

to you about it.

Barbara... I don't see patients anymore

No... I'm aware of that.

I... I can tell you how sorry I was

to hear about your son

It's okay.

I don't mean to impose but

he really is an unusual case.

Four years ago, he came home

and found his mother dead.

She'd been beaten

to death by his father.

The father got life and Tommy ended

up in the residential program...

...at Holly Hills.

In six weeks, he turns eighteen

making him eligible for release.

- You don't think he's ready?

- I don't. No.

Post-traumatic stress?

Every caseworker says the same thing.

He seems completely unaffected

He's a nice, nice kid. There's no

abnormal behaviour patterns.

- No reactive symptoms.

- Deep repression.

Yeah, I know there's

something in there.

- Well, if you could give him an hour...

- Look, please... Barbara...

It's not the time. It's the commitment.

You clearly have it. And I don't.

Not anymore.

But if he's concealing

reactive emotions.

I know that you would be the

one that could see them.

Please understand. I write books.

I give an occasional lecture.

That's what I do now... I'm sorry.

Would you at least uh take

a summary of Tommy's file?

If you get a free minute? All my

contact numbers are in there.

I'd appreciate it.

- It's good to see you.

- Good to see you. Take care.

I'm not in. Leave a message.

Hey, dad! It's Shelly. Are you there?

- Shelly?

- I missed you last week

Yeah, I know.

But listen, my car just broke down, dad

Your car? You're okay?

Huh? Oh, I'm fine. It's no big deal.

Troy's got a friend who's

gonna tow it for me.

- Oh, Troy! Who's Troy?

- He's a friend of Laura's.

- Who's Laura?

- Shelly, you fuckir killed it.

It is completely. Calm down.

I'm on the phone with my dad.

Shelly? Where are you?

I'm coming to get you.

No! Dad, I'm fine. I just - I just need to

borrow the car for school tomorrow.

- Can I?

- Yes. Where are you?

- I'm coming to get you.

- Dad, I'll see you tomorrow.

- Shelly, listen to me!

- Alright, bye.

So you pretty much nailed your

mid terms. That must feel good.

- Yeah. Pretty good.

- Thinking about your SATs?

I don't know. I - I just don't

know if college is right for me.

Why are we taping this again?

I just do it once a month.

To... record your progress.

- Makes me feel like a lab rat.

- That's not its intention, Tommy.

Mm. It does. C'mon, it's embarrassing.

Just turn it off. Please?

Thanks, dad.

I'm very grateful forthis, Dr. Hunter.

I was sure I lost you the other day.

You did.

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