Wednesday, Jun 8, 2016 • 21min
218 - Patient #11 (Caleb), Emergency session
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The Bright Sessions | Season 2, Episode 18 - Emergency session at the patient's request.
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Talking about
Speakers
(3)
Caleb
Dr Bright
Adam
Transcript
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Dr Bright
00:01
Caleb, take a seat.
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Caleb
00:02
Thanks for getting back to me so fast, Dr Bright. I didn't really know who else to talk to.
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Dr Bright
00:07
I'm happy to do it, Caleb. You sounded very distressed on the phone. What's going on?
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Caleb
00:11
Okay? So you know how Chloe has been hanging out a bit with me and Adam recently?
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Dr Bright
00:16
Yes. And while I'm happy the two of you are bonding, I Am still not pleased with the circumstances of your first meeting.
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Caleb
00:23
I know I'm sorry about that, Adam and I have stopped hanging out by your office. I promise.
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Dr Bright
00:28
Caleb, I understand the curiosity but some of the people in my world are, well there are some people I would rather you didn't come into contact with. I'm just trying to look out for you.
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Caleb
00:40
I know, I know, and I get, there's still a lot I don't know about atypicals. Or whatever. But that's that's sort of why I'm here.
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Dr Bright
00:47
You haven't run into Damien again, have you?
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Caleb
00:49
No. No, it's, it's, it's not that. So Chloe ran into Adam and his parents today, and they were talking and well wait, I guess I should go back. But first I've been okay. So I've been going to art therapy with Chloe every now and then some sometimes we go just the two of us, she said it really helps clear her mind and kind of calm down, and it's actually been doing the same for me.
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01:12
There's always a group of people there, but with everyone focused on their art that the emotions are easier to handle. Well, like most of the time, anyway. I mean sometimes someone is putting all their anger or stress or whatever into their art and that's tough. But do you remember that homeless guy I told you about, the one that Chloe also knows?
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Dr Bright
01:33
Yes, frank?
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Caleb
01:34
Right. So he comes sometimes to you. You know that Chloe is helping him out and stuff.
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Dr Bright
01:38
Yes. She's told me about their art sessions. It sounds like it's helping him quite a bit.
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Caleb
01:43
Yeah. And I think it's like really good for him. But like, when he's there, it's just kind of the same thing that I experienced the first time I saw him. He's like really strong, really confused emotions. Like the dude is all over the place.
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Dr Bright
01:59
Have you been able to balance them at all over time?
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Caleb
02:02
No, not at all. It's I don't, I don't know how to describe it. The, it's like the longer I'm around him, the worse it actually gets. Like, I want to help Chloe help him. But I've I've stopped going when she's there with him. It, I get these terrible headaches and feel like all dizzy and nauseous after like 15 minutes of being around him.
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Dr Bright
02:23
Really? That's quite an extreme physical reaction. You haven't experienced anything like that since your ability first presented.
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Caleb
02:30
Yeah, I know, and this is like so much worse. It's like, you know when you put, okay, you know when you put a microphone near a speaker and there's like this horrible feedback screechy sound.
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Dr Bright
02:43
Yes I think I'm familiar.
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Caleb
02:45
It's like totally like that.
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Dr Bright
02:47
Huh. I've never heard of anything like that happening in an empath before, but I don't follow what does this have to do with Chloe and Adam?
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Caleb
02:56
Right. So Chloe ran into Adam and his parents and they were, you know, making nice small talk and stuff I guess, and Chloe was mentioning how she was going to go paint with Frank.
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03:07
And I guess Adam’s parents were asking about that and Chloe mentioned that Frank was an ex-marine who had all these emotional problems and that’s when- that’s when she saw some stuff in Mr. and Mrs. Hayes’ heads. Or, Dr. and Dr. Hayes I guess. What do you call a couple who are both doctors?
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Dr Bright
03:26
The Drs. Hayes, I suppose. What did Chloe see?
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Caleb
03:30
She wasn't totally sure, but I guess mentioning the marines made the Hayes think about their work, I guess they work with the military and I didn't know that. I just always assumed that they worked at a hospital.
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Dr Bright
03:42
It isn't unusual for the military to hire scientists.
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Caleb
03:45
So I know that, but Adams never mentioned it. I feel like that's a pretty big thing to leave out. Especially since Adam has a lot of opinions about the military.
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Dr Bright
03:55
Is that what's causing you concern, that Adam's parents work in an area he doesn't approve of?
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Caleb
03:60
No, it's- Look it's the kind of work they're doing, Chloe she only got glimpses, so she can't be sure. But she said she saw a lot of not good stuff. They were thinking about marines they worked with or know they worked on, they were experimenting with them, on them! I don't I don't know.
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04:18
But she saw Frank. In the Hayes’ head. They were doing something to him. She said it was a different Frank too, like, younger, healthier. And the Hayes’ and some other scientists were doing something to him and a bunch of other soldiers but the soldiers knew about it. So, I don’t fucking know what that means.
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Dr Bright
04:34
Chloe got all this from their thoughts by mentioning frank.
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Caleb
04:38
No, she after she saw the first bit of something, she started talking about frank more and asking some questions. She's gotten like really good at making people think of certain things.
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Dr Bright
04:47
I didn't know that.
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Caleb
04:49
Yeah, it's, it's actually it's pretty cool and apparently when she started talking about other organizations that she's looked into to help frank like the art therapy place and the VA And the vet center and all that. That's that's when, that's when she saw the symbol in the Hayes thoughts. Apparently it's, it's like the same logo or whatever she saw in that agent's head, like the PM or whatever
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Dr Bright
05:11
The Am? Chloe saw the AM's logo in the Hayes’ thoughts?
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Caleb
05:16
I guess.
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Dr Bright
05:17
Is she certain?
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Caleb
05:18
She seemed pretty certain.
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Dr Bright
05:20
She should have called me.
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Caleb
05:21
It just happened this morning, and she called me like right away to tell me.
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Dr Bright
05:25
I understand that impulse. If your boyfriend’s parents work for The AM then-
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Caleb
05:29
No, no, they don’t work for them. They just, they work with them.
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Dr Bright
05:32
I'm sorry?
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Caleb
05:33
Chloe was pretty sure about that. They don’t work for The AM or whatever it’s called but they’ve been working with them on the soldier experiments that they’re doing. And Chloe is worried it might have something to do with us.
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Dr Bright
05:42
What?
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Caleb
05:43
Well, she said that she saw the organization logo thing and then a bunch of stuff about Class A. And she says that’s what we are. In the categorization of atypicals or something, that's I'm a Class A, we're Class As.
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Dr Bright
05:58
Yes. Yes that’s true. So Adam’s parents are working with the military and The AM to experiment with Class A atypicals who are also soldiers? I’m sorry, that’s a bit of a hard story to swallow. I don’t think there are enough known Class A atypicals to populate the military.
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Caleb
06:17
No, the soldiers aren’t special like us. Chloe thinks they were using atypicals to experiment on the Marines. She thinks they did something to Frank.
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Dr Bright
06:26
That's a pretty serious accusation.
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Caleb
06:28
I know. But, look, I trust her. She knows that she can’t be one hundred percent sure without talking to them more, but Chloe thinks that’s why I have such a strong reaction to Frank. Because they, like, did something with his
Empathy
.Share
Dr Bright
06:43
That’s what she saw in the Hayes’ thoughts? That they were experimenting on Frank’s
Empathy
?Share
Caleb
06:48
Yeah, I guess so.
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Dr Bright
06:51
Well, I’ll have to follow up with Chloe myself, but this is certainly cause for concern.
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Caleb
06:57
I know, and I don't know what to do.
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Dr Bright
07:01
Have you talked to Adam?
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Caleb
07:03
I texted him earlier. But he and his parents were on their way to have lunch with his aunt and apparently that’s usually a pretty drawn-out thing so I don’t- I don't think he’s checking his phone.
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Dr Bright
07:13
What did you text him?
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Caleb
07:15
Just that I’m really freaked out. That I’m worried his parents are dangerous. I don’t know, it didn’t feel like this before, it, But now that I know Chloe and I know there are other people out there like me, it feels like a them-and-us situation, you know? Like, what if his parents are against people like me?
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Dr Bright
07:39
I don’t want you to grow paranoid, Caleb. I know that Chloe has learned a lot about The AM in these past few weeks, and I’m very much responsible for that, but I don’t want her filling your head with fears.
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Caleb
07:50
No, no, she’s not. But I’m still, like, totally freaked out. If Adam’s parents see people like me as something to be experimented on, then how can I know he won’t eventually feel the exact same way?
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Dr Bright
08:05
Have Adam's parents ever treated you differently?
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Caleb
08:08
No, not really. But I mean, I’ve barely met them - they’re hardly ever around. And I don’t think Adam has told them much about me.
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Dr Bright
08:16
That’s good. I don’t want you to fret too much, Caleb, but it might be good to keep the Hayes ignorant of your ability. At least until we found out more.
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Caleb
08:27
Are you, are you gonna look into it?
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Dr Bright
08:30
I'll make some inquiries. Your safety is very important to me.
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Caleb
08:36
Okay, thanks, Dr. Bright. I just hope it’s important to Adam too.
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Dr Bright
08:44
I understand your worry, Caleb, I do. But from everything you’ve told me, Adam cares for you very much. I don’t think he would let his parents’ work affect your relationship.
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Caleb
08:54
Yeah, I know. But- oh God, that's him. He says he has no idea what I’m talking about. And he’s wondering where I am.
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Dr Bright
09:11
Did you tell him?
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Caleb
09:12
Yeah, maybe we can talk after this or something.
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Dr Bright
09:16
I think that would be a good idea. How have things been going with you two in general?
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Caleb
09:25
They've been good.
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09:30
Well, actually, they’ve been okay. The past, the past few weeks have been tough.
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Dr Bright
09:35
How so?
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Caleb
09:38
Well, ever since we ran into Damien, things have been a little, like, strained. Like, when we first started hanging out outside your office, it was just for fun. He thought the whole atypical thing was kind of cool, and we had, like, a really good time coming up with crazy theories.
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09:55
But, I don’t know, meeting Damien, and Chloe even, it just, it made it a lot more real. Like, this is my life. I’m part of this group of people that are so different from everybody else. For years, I’ve felt like a total freak and now, well, Adam made it better. He makes it better. But there’s this whole other world out there that I’m just learning about.
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Dr Bright
10:28
And that’s causing tension between you two?
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Caleb
10:31
Yeah. Because he can’t really understand. And there’s stuff I really don’t understand about him. Like how sad he gets sometimes, even though I feel it too, I just, I don’t fucking get it.
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Dr Bright
10:45
I know he was sad before you two started spending time together, but I thought it had improved somewhat?
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Caleb
10:51
Yeah, it definitely did at first. But it comes and goes. He just gets really, he has depression. And we haven’t talked about it much, but I can tell when he’s having a bad time. Obviously. And he hates that I can tell and there’s nothing I can do to make it better, so we’re just, I don’t know, it’s not as easy as it was at first.
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Dr Bright
11:17
How long have you two been dating?
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Caleb
11:20
Almost three months.
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Dr Bright
11:22
Ah, yes. That sounds about right.
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Caleb
11:25
What?
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Dr Bright
11:26
The honeymoon period is over. When you first start a relationship with someone, everything is new and exciting. It’s easy to ignore the things that might complicate the relationship. Now that you two are settled into it a bit, life is starting to come back into play. Neither your nor Adam’s personal challenges disappear just because you’re together.
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Caleb
11:47
Yeah, I guess. It just sort of felt like that at first, though.
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Dr Bright
11:51
I know. Just remember to communicate. You may never be able to understand his depression and he may never understand what it’s like to have an ability like yours, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be there for each other.
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Caleb
12:06
Yeah. Yeah, no, you’re right. And you were right before, too, he cares about me. He would never ever tell my secret to anyone. God, just everything Chloe saw had me so fucking scared. I got it in my head that everyone was plotting against me, you know?
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Dr Bright
12:31
I’m familiar with the feeling. Was that the door?
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12:39
You must be Adam. I’m Dr. Bright. Caleb is in here.
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Caleb
12:43
Adam. What are you doing here?
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Adam
12:45
I walked over here from my aunt’s house. What the hell happened with Chloe today? She was acting sort of strange when we saw her earlier, but I just kind of assumed it was Chloe being Chloe.
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Caleb
12:52
She saw all this stuff in your parents’ thoughts.
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Adam
12:55
Yeah, that they work for the military? That’s ridiculous.
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Caleb
12:57
Well, where do they work?
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Adam
12:59
They work at a hospital. Because they’re doctors.
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Caleb
13:02
What hospital?
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Adam
13:05
The, the one over on First. I don’t know, does it matter?
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Caleb
13:08
How do you not know where your parents work?
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Adam
13:10
They don’t talk about it, a lot of the research they do is confidential.
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Caleb
13:13
See what I mean? Who knows what shady shit they’re up to?
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Adam
13:16
Hey, those are my parents!
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Dr Bright
13:17
Gentlemen, let’s try to remain civil, please.
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Caleb
13:20
Sorry, Dr. Bright. I sort of forgot you were there.
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Adam
13:22
Yeah, sorry.
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Caleb
13:25
Actually. Could you just give us a minute?
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Dr Bright
13:28
Of course. I have some files that need sorting. Anyway.
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Caleb
13:32
I’m sorry. The texting earlier, I overreacted. Chloe saw a bunch of stuff, but we don’t know anything for sure. And it’s not like you’ve told your parents about me, so even if they were experimenting on people, what? Wait, Adam, why do you feel scared?
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Adam
13:52
I did tell them about you.
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Caleb
13:54
What?
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Adam
13:54
Well, after I first found out, I wanted to make sure I wasn’t going completely crazy, so I asked my mom if it was neurologically possible. And she talked about all this theoretical stuff that mostly went over my head, but it made me realize that you weren’t messing with me.
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Caleb
14:05
But you never asked her about it again, right? So there’s no reason for her to think it has anything to do with me?
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14:13
Adam.
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Adam
14:14
You haven’t given me a lot to go on, okay, Caleb? You don’t tell me how I can make things easier for you, so I had to do some independent research. I was trying to be a good boyfriend.
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Caleb
14:23
By going behind my back and telling your mom my biggest secret? I mean, how could you do that?
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Adam
14:27
I'm sorry. I didn't think it would be that big of a deal. It's just my mom. It's not like I told the whole world.
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Caleb
14:31
Yeah, but it's your mom who might just be like an evil scientist who's totally fucked with frank's head.
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Adam
14:35
What the hell are you talking about? Caleb, my parents aren’t dangerous, they would never hurt you-
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Caleb
14:39
I don’t believe you! I can feel you panicking and I can feel Dr. Bright worried sick and I just - I can’t do this right now, okay?
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Adam
14:49
What do you mean?
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Caleb
14:50
It’s too much! I’m barely dealing with my own feelings and then everything that’s been going on with you, I just, I Can’t have all this stuff hanging over my head and fucking me up. What if I totally crack, what if your parents or The AM or Damien do something to me and I end up like Frank, my emotions totally out of control-
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Adam
15:06
Caleb, nothing’s going to happen to you-
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Caleb
15:07
No, don’t. I just, I need to go be alone for a while, alright?
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Adam
15:12
Okay, I’ll walk you home-
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Caleb
15:13
No, I need to be alone, alone. Just, just let me be for a little while, okay? And, and don’t tell your parents about me.
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Adam
15:24
Caleb, you’re acting like I betrayed you. I didn’t do anything wrong, I lo, I, you mean a lot to me. I don’t want you to shut out-
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Caleb
15:34
I'm sorry
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Adam
15:36
Caleb?
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Dr Bright
15:37
Caleb, is everything all right?
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Caleb
15:40
I’m just gonna go home. Thanks for seeing me so last minute, Dr. Bright.
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Dr Bright
15:44
It's no problem. Are you going to be okay getting home?
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Caleb
15:48
Yeah. My mom's been waiting outside the whole time. She was worried.
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Dr Bright
15:53
Okay. I'll see you tomorrow for your regular session.
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Caleb
15:57
Yeah, sure.
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Adam
15:59
Caleb, please, I don’t know what’s going on. Can you please just talk to me?
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Caleb
16:02
I’ll see you in school.
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Dr Bright
16:08
Would you like to sit down, Adam? You look a little faint.
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Adam
16:13
Yeah. Yeah, that would be good. What just happened?
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Dr Bright
16:19
I’m afraid I don’t know. I couldn’t hear what the two of you were discussing.
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Adam
16:25
I think he maybe just broke up with me.
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Dr Bright
16:28
Caleb has had a stressful day. Just give him some space, and I’m sure you two will be able to sort things out. Would you like to me call someone to come pick you up?
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Adam
16:39
What? Oh, um, no, that’s okay. I’ll text my parents. They should be on their way back from my aunt’s anyway.
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16:52
What did he tell you? What did Chloe see?
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Dr Bright
16:56
I’m sorry, I can’t tell you what Caleb said in our session.
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Adam
16:59
Right, of course, sorry. The whole therapist code and everything. My parents keep trying to get me to see a therapist.
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Dr Bright
17:08
You don't want to?
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Adam
17:10
I don’t know. I mean, I know you’ve helped Caleb a lot. But that’s Caleb. He doesn’t have emotional problems, he just feels the emotional problems of others. It’s different.
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Dr Bright
17:19
Just because someone is an atypical doesn’t mean they don’t have their own burdens to bear. Talking to someone can be helpful no matter what you’re going through.
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Adam
17:28
I guess. But whenever my parents bring it up, they talk about all this stuff - CBT and
Group Therapy
and medication, and it’s all a bit...Share
Dr Bright
17:36
Scary?
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Adam
17:38
What? No, I’m not scared. I just don’t think I need all that stuff.
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Dr Bright
17:45
Going to therapy or using medication doesn’t make you a weak person, Adam.
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Adam
17:49
Yeah, but Caleb doesn’t do group or take meds or any of that stuff. I know he and his mom asked when he first started seeing you. But not like the golden boy needs meds or anything.
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Dr Bright
17:59
My patients are unique. Sometimes frustratingly so. While medication isn’t always the solution, it can be very helpful for certain individuals. But science hasn’t quite caught up to atypicals. I’ve met many atypicals who would benefit from pharmaceuticals, but they just don’t work. We don’t have a good enough understanding of the neurology yet.
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18:19
But regardless of what Caleb’s options or modes of coping are, you and he are not the same person. You can’t compare your situation with another’s - your difficulties are different, and so your ways of dealing with them will be different, too. But not dealing with them at all will get you nowhere.
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Adam
18:39
So you think I should listen to my parents?
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Dr Bright
18:42
I think you shouldn’t feel afraid to seek help. I can’t offer any official advice - I’m not your therapist, nor could I be. I am very specialized, after all. But I can give you some names, if you’d like.
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Adam
18:56
Yeah, okay. Do you think Caleb will stay my boyfriend if I stop being depressed?
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Dr Bright
19:07
I think Caleb cares about you as the complete person you are. But he’s not a superhero. He won’t always be able to make you feel better. And that’s okay. Atypical or no, you’re both human. You’re going to make mistakes; just go easy on each other.
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Adam
19:29
That’s my mom. Thanks, Dr. Bright. It was nice talking to you.
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Dr Bright
19:35
You're welcome, Adam.
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Adam
19:40
Caleb's not in danger, right? I mean, he's just being paranoid.
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Dr Bright
19:49
I don't know, Adam.
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Adam
19:50
Okay.
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Dr Bright
19:54
End of session. I'm not sure what to do. Honestly, I'll have to... I'll look into it.
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20:08
Thank you for listening to The Bright Sessions. Today’s episode was written and directed by Lauren Shippen and produced by Mischa Stanton. The voice of Dr. Bright is Julia Morizawa. The voice of Caleb is Briggon Snow. The voice of Adam is Alex Gallner. Thank you to everyone who has left a review for our show on iTunes. If you’re a fan of the podcast, please rate and review us - it helps us stay on the charts so more audio drama lovers can find us.
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20:36
If you want to help us make more of the show, you can support us on Patreon at patron. com/thebrightsessions. And make sure to check out our website at thebrightsessions. com for special bonus content and information about the cast and crew. For now, thanks for listening and stay strange.
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