Reflected Self, The (2024)

[bunniefuu]

Go on, I got it, I got it.

Its.

I was going to say

it's really nice!

Got a great personality

I'm sure.

You alright?

[coughing]

I can work with this.

You sure?

There must be so much

history here.

Strange to think we're

now a part of it.

There's like

three other bedrooms

if you don't like this one.

It's not the room.

I'm going to make this

work for us, Nia.

I Promise.

I know.

Because if you don't.

[Nia] You back yet?

[Nia] Oi!

Finally!

[Nia] Ooh you making pancakes?

Nope!

[Dion] There you go.

Oh.

[Dion] Look, your blood pressure

is going to thank me

[Dion] when you're older.

Living with you is going to give

me higher blood pressure

than any food.

Hm. Forbidden fruit.

I'm going to take a walk.

Where?

Look. I just.

I just really want you

to be careful, alright?

Look.

If it's just going to be

the two of us,

I can't be your only hobby.

[Dion] Nia, wait.

I had a Snickers

on the way home.

[Door closes downstairs]

[Bang from upstairs]

[Crash from upstairs]

[Footsteps running upstairs]

[Nia] What you doing?

I am not clearing that up.

Is that revenge for

the Snickers?

Well.

You bring me to

Norman Bate's house

what else do you expect me to do

in my spare time?

Want to hear something funny

to cheer you up?

[Dion] Go on.

It's Dark.

[Dion] Just say it.

It's funny how you can die

in a house fire,

yet still be cremated.

[Dion] f*cking hell, Nia.

[Dion] I suppose Dad would have

laughed at that.

[Dion] Mum not so much, but.

How's your unpacking going?

It's not.

You bored yet?

I started bored.

Come on. Let's do something fun.

[Fireplace crackling]

You know, this wasn't exactly

what I had in mind

when you said we should do

something fun.

You used to love playing

chess together, though.

Alright keep it down.

No need to tell everyone.

Don't touch it.

[Nia] You know,

[Nia] it was never the chess

that I wanted to

[Nia] spend time with.

Oh come on.

I'm pouring my heart out,

you can't look at me like that.

I know I should have been there

more for you.

I should have been there to

cheer you on at matches,

and help with homework,

and just be a

shoulder to cry on.

I, I didn't need all that.

I just, I needed, well.

You.

I can't change the past, Nia.

But I promise.

Look.

I promise, I am here now.

And I am not going anywhere.

OK?

As long as we've got a roof

over our heads,

food in our stomaches,

maybe I'll feel like I've done

something right.

Well that just got serious

very quickly.

Jenga!

Right.

I'm going to go to the shops,

get us some picky bits,

you know, real food, and maybe a

couple of alcoholic beverages

and we'll get this

party started.

Nia?

You going to go on your own?

Alright.

[Front door closing]

[Door creaking]

Are you alright!?

Yea, just slipped.

On what?

No, just slipped.

I leave you for five

bloody minutes!

Come on.

Dion, it's OK, it's OK.

Who are you?

[Woman] Dion, It's me.

[Woman] It's me!

Stop, stop, stop!

What are you doing

in my bedroom!?

Wheres Nia?

Calm down.

Nia!

Wheres my sister?

Your sister?

Shes not here.

No one is.

Nia!

Nia!

Nia!

Nia!

Nia!

Dion.

Just breathe.

What's happening to me?

I don't know how much

you remember.

Or if you're even aware of

what's happening right now?

What do you remember exactly?

Remember, what?

Why are you here?

In this house?

Our house burned down.

Me and Nia, we got this place.

OK, Dion, I've been dreading

having to explain this to you.

But your entire family died

that night in the fire.

No, I know that.

No, everyone.

Including Nia.

No, no, no.

No she couldn't. I was just

with her. There's no way.

Can you explain exactly

where that was?

Here! In this house!

Dion.

[Woman] Would you like to know

what really happened?

- That is what...

- [Nia] Wake up!

Nia.

[Nia] Please, wake up!

- [Dion] Nia!

- [Nia] I need you to wake up!

[Dion] Nia!

- Nia!

- [Woman] Dion, please.

[Nia] Oh my God.

- [Nia] I dont know what to do.

- [Dion] Nia!

[Nia] Oh my God, please wake up.

[Nia] Oh my God.

[Nia] Please just wake up

I need you to wake up. Please!

[Nia] Wake up!

[Dion] Ah, Nia!

[Nia] Are you alright?

Yeah. Let's get inside.

Are we going to talk about this?

Or just sweep it

under the carpet?

I mean,

I'm fine either way,

it's your funeral.

I don't know.

Maybe I was dreaming?

I think it was more

than a dream.

Do you want to know

what really happened?

You were having

some kind of night terror.

Thanks for that by the way.

[Nia] And then.

[Nia] Well I thought you woke up

in some kind of...

[Nia] Daze.

Like sleepwalking, except...

It wasnt.

It was as though you were asleep

and awake at the same time.

Well then I kept trying to

wake you up and...

You just kept muttering to

yourself about some, woman?

That woman.

I've been having visions of her.

We'll come back to that,

but, go on.

The other night.

She was standing

at the foot of my bed.

I was here, but I mean I wasn't,

here.

It was so familiar, Nia, but,

Unfamiliar.

She said that.

What?

Next thing I know we were

outside walking.

But you know

this is real, right?

Here and now, with me?

I know how this sounds.

[Nia] I believe you, I just.

I don't know what we do now.

Do you need help?

What?

Nothing.

It's her isn't it, the woman?

No, no, no.

Can you see her now?

Nia, please just.

I just.

Nia, Stop!

Nia I'm sorry!

[Dion] Looks like the weather's

picking up, doesn't it?

How 'bout those dodgers, kid?

Boucher hits one out

to left field.

It's going.

It's going!

Oh it's gone, the crowd

go wild! [Cheers]

No we need to talk about this.

I know. I'm just.

[Nia] It's happening again

isn't it?

No, I've...

Mum explained everything.

Explained what?

[Door knocks]

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

Nia?

Nia, what?

Nia!

Nia, what are you doing?

What's going on?

You wouldn't talk to me.

I didn't know

what else to do, I.

I didn't know who else to call.

[Nia] thank you so much.

[Woman] Dion!

Dion. It's ok, it's me.

No, no no.

Nia?

Nia!

[Dion] Nia!

[Dion] You're still here?

And so are you.

[Woman] Well, good morning!

Morning?

It's tomorrow?

Well, only compared

to yesterday.

Coffee?

I must have been

down all night?

Well, it was quite

the day yesterday,

I'm sure you needed your rest.

Is there anything you'd

like to ask me?

What is this, therapy?

Well, this is not, no.

But.

This'.

This is. Yes.

OK, Dion, let me explain.

And if at any point it feels

like too much,

you just tell me to stop.

After you lost everyone

in the fire.

You had a complete...

Well, we don't like to call

it this anymore, but.

For lack of a better term.

You had a complete breakdown.

You went into something of a

comatose state.

And so you were brought here.

For rehabilitation.

With me as your live-in help

and therapist.

Sorry, where are my manners.

[Dr Minos] I'm Doctor Minos.

- And as for where you've been.

- [Dion] I know where I've been.

OK.

What are we doing here?

Well, funnily enough, you're

already in my therapy chair.

Don't get any ideas.

Wouldn't dream of it.

To be completely honest,

it's a lot of this, really.

Talking.

Through your emotions,

your thoughts.

OK. Let's say...

That I was intrigued on...

Hearing your thoughts

on where Id been.

OK, well.

Hypothetically.

[Laughs]

OK, well, hypothetically.

I would assume,

where you've been.

Was some form of

'Double Bookkeeping'.

Or 'Derealisation'.

Where you've created a reality

in your own mind.

[Dr Minos] A reality where

you feel safe.

Where Nia didn't perish and

you could live in peace.

Knowing that you saved her

and could care for her.

Masking the trauma of what

actually happened.

Look, I know,

this must be,

an extraordinary amount to bear.

But the first thing I need you

to understand, Dion, is that,

None of what happened

was your fault.

I think that's enough

for one day.

But.

Where I was.

With my sister.

It just felt more like home?

I mean, I've got memories

there of before.

Whereas here.

There's just nothing.

Well, the mind is a

powerful tool.

And even more powerful when

you're unaware of what it's

doing subconsciously

But we need to make you

understand what is,

and is not, real.

Imagine.

You're standing in-front

of a mirror.

You look down and you can see

yourself and your surroundings.

But looking up you can see your

same self and your

same surroundings

in the reflection.

The difference is,

you know that where

you're standing is reality

and what you're looking at

is a reflection.

How do you know you're not the

reflection, though?

There is something

I think could help.

If you're willing?

[Dr Minos] Now, hypnotherapy

has a great track record

of helping patients regain

some of their memories.

Hang on, you want to

hypnotise me?

Yeah.

I don't know if I want you in my

head making me bark like a dog.

Nothing like that.

Hypnosis puts you

into a controlled

and relaxed state of mind,

where we may boost the mental

performance of your subconscious

and start to regain some of

those memories youve...

Well, misplaced.

Think of your subconscious

as your all seeing eye.

A part of your mind which is

always watching and taking notes

even when your conscious-self

is unaware.

The problem is.

Your conscious mind and your

subconscious mind,

they have trouble communicating

with one another.

Hypnosis can improve

that communication.

And hopefully,

allow us to travel back

to the memories

stored within your subconscious

and bring them to the surface so

they become conscious memories

once more.

OK.

OK.

Now sit back.

Close your eyes.

[Dr Minos] Let yourself

relax completely.

[Dr Minos] Take a deep

breath in.

[Dr Minos] And as you exhale,

feel yourself let go.

[Dr Minos] Im going to count

from five to one

[Dr Minos] and as I do, youll

feel your relaxation deepen.

[Dr Minos] Five. Nice and

Comfortable.

[Dr Minos] Youre safe here.

Safe to let go.

[Dr Minos] Four. Doubling or

even tripling your relaxation.

[Dr Minos] Three. Everythings

peaceful now.

[Dr Minos] Two. Going

even deeper.

[Dr Minos] One. Here we are.

[Nia] Youve got to stop doing

that to me.

See, I told you hed be OK.

Dion?

What are you doing here?

Taking care of you of course.

Doctor Minos?

Doctor Minos?

Dion, its me?

You really dont know who I am.

Do you?

Dion, look at me.

Its me.

You honestly dont know?

Its Doctor Minos, my therapist.

Well.

Yeah, shes Doctor Minos, but

shes not your therapist.

Shes Aria.

Your wife.

No.

[Aria] Dion! Are you OK?

[Aria] Its OK calm down.

[Aria] Dion, Im going to

count from one

[Aria] and when I reach number

five youre going to wake up.

[Aria] One. Moving your fingers

and your toes.

[Aria] Two. Moving your hands

and your fingers.

[Aria] Three. Lots of energy

returning to the body.

[Aria] Four. Coming back

to this place. This time.

[Aria] Five. Opening your eyes.

[Aria] Dion?

Dion!

Youre OK, hey, hey, look at me,

look at me!

Its OK, its OK.

Look at me, its OK.

Aria.

Youre my wife.

Its OK.

This is a good sign.

I, I.

I dont...

Its alright.

You take all the time you need.

Ill be here whenever

youre ready.

Do you mind if I come in?

What were we like?

As a couple?

Im afraid its not

my place to say.

My memories are my

interpretation of events.

It would be dangerous for me to

fill the gaps in your memory

with my own.

For fear of implanting something

your mind doesnt deem as true.

A false memory as such.

But. Deep, deep inside there.

Is all the truth you need.

You done all of this,

just for me?

I watched you fade

And there was nothing

I could do to help.

And then one day,

you just sat there.

And continued to sit there.

You were truly lost

inside of yourself.

There was only so much

I could take.

And so I packed everything we

owned and I brought you here.

To get you away from everything.

To make a fresh start.

Start the healing process.

So sorry I...

Dont.

It will all come back with time.

But right now it seems healing

isnt our only goal.

We need to keep you here.

In this reality.

And stop you from sinking into

this world that your mind

has orchestrated.

How?

Well thats for me

to worry about.

I think hypnotherapy is

off the agenda

for the foreseeable though.

Nearly lost you there.

[Aria] Place any feelings of

anger, fear, worry

in the core of your stomach.

And attach those feelings

to the energy that is now rising

slowly through your body.

And as you exhale, feel those

feelings evaporate.

As you finally release

that energy.

[Aria] Your eyes are

open arent they?

No. No, no no.

Keep going this is, eh, good.

Dion, meditation is not about

closing your eyes.

Its about being in

total control.

Of your mind, body,

and - soul.

That is if you

believe in the soul?

You dont have to answer this

if you dont want to.

But as far as your concerned,

Nia survived?

Look, as far as Im concerned

this could be a false reality.

You could just be a projection

of my imagination.

No, Im serious!

Im sure you are.

And whos to say

youre wrong, eh?

You.

No, look.

I think I am starting

to realise that

this other reality isnt real.

And its probably not healthy

for me to spend time there.

But.

[Dion] If you had somewhere,

[Dion] Where you could visit

loved ones that had passed.

[Dion] Wouldnt you want

to be there?

Yes.

I think thats my struggle with

all of this.

If this other world does exist,

even in my mind.

Nias there, the whole tragedy

never happened.

Why would I want to be here?

Because you have to.

You, you have to live here,

in reality and face your

problems head-on.

[Aria] I appreciate what youre

feeling, I do.

[Aria] But it wreaks of

ignorance is bliss.

Your body without your mind

is mere mechanics.

And your body is here.

In this world.

[Aria] And if your mind

and your body

[Aria] arent connected, living

in a real world with real people

[Aria] then what would you be?

Happy.

No, look, Im sorry I didnt

mean, I didnt mean it like...

Its fine.

[Aria] Nia, look at him,

he needs help!

[Nia] I promise hes done this

before, he comes back around,

[Nia] will you just wait!?

[Aria] What if he doesnt, Nia,

then what?

[Nia] He will!

[Nia] Just be patient, please!

Please dont take him

away from me.

Is that all this is?

How selfish.

Do you not worry about how this

is affecting him?

How its affecting us?

Thats it.

Im calling an ambulance.

No.

Please.

Mum!

Nia!

Dion!

Are you OK?

She called you Mum?

Aria, she called you...

Mum.

What?

Shes our daughter.

No.

No, no.

No, she cant.

Shes my sister.

[Aria] Think, Dion.

Think very hard.

What do you actually remember?

I, I definitely remember.

I remember holding her

when she was born.

You were at the birth

of your own sister?

Its not uncommon for siblings

to fulfill the role of parents

in family relationships.

But is that all this was?

[Aria] A fatherly figure, or?

You lied to me.

No. No, Dion, I never...

What else have you

been hiding from me?

I need to see her.

Dion, no.

I need to see her!

Dion, look at me!

Nia is gone.

You cant talk to her.

No, no, no. Youre wrong,

shes alive.

Where, in your mind?

That is not Nia.

That is your projection.

A memory is not real.

That place is not real. This,

here with me, this is real!

Please, Dion.

Stay with me here.

In this reality, and we can

work through this together.

And how do you plan on seeing

her anyway?

You transitioning,

its uncontrollable.

But you can control it.

What?

Hypnosis.

No. Out of the question.

- But it worked, Aria.

- It didnt work!

I nearly lost you!

Im not risking it again.

- Look, Aria...

- [Aria] No, Dion!

[Dion] Aria!

[Dion] Aria, stop!

No, Dion, you stop!

Everything Ive done.

Everything I have been through

to try and help you!

You may not remember me,

but I remember you.

And I need you here and now

and not escaping

to some other world whenever

this one gets too tough.

And I need you to start

realising that whatever this

other world may be,

its not real!

And you cant use it

to fix everything!

I am here.

I always have been and I always

will be to help you through this

But I have lost you too many

times and I will not send you

back there just to

lose you again.

- [Dion] Look, Aria.

- Dont.

Come with me.

I cannot think of anything

I would want less than to

send you back there.

I think hypnosis seems to be a

gateway into this other world.

And thank could prove

really dangerous.

But. If its what you want.

Now is your chance

to tell me why.

You say that I

dont remember you.

But I do.

I might not remember the first

time we met, or our first kiss,

But I remember every moment

that weve spent here.

Maybe this whole

Dissociative Fugue

Maybe its permanent.

And youve lost me.

Youve lost the old me forever.

But what if thats not

what this is about though?

What if this new world

is a part of me?

A part of who Ive become?

Every time Im there, theres

something pushing me to remember

and forcing these memories to

the surface of my mind.

Theyre memories that

have got no meaning, but,

I dont know.

Maybe in time

theyll make sense.

There must have been a reason

my mind has created this world

and put everything in it.

Why would we strip me of that?

Look.

I just think.

If I could go back and see Nia

one last time,

it might,

ignite something

in some deep, dark recess

of my mind that,

I dont know, might push me to

remember and,

answer some of these questions.

And that might be

a load of rubbish

but thats my reason.

OK.

OK.

As strange as it sounds,

I agree with you.

I think this other world

is a part of you.

Except I think its like a paras

Drawing life from within you

and I think you need to

make peace with it.

Before we remove it.

And close the wound for good.

Because I will only agree to

this under one stipulation.

This has to be goodbye.

If you truly believe

that visiting there will ignite

some long lost memory.

Then Im willing to help.

[Aria] But this is

the last time.

You cannot rely on

some imaginary world

to solve all of your problems.

And I need you to treat this

as a form of closure.

OK.

OK.

Now, the second I see you

in distress like before,

Im pulling you out immediately.

OK.

If this works,

this will bring you

immeasurable pain.

I know.

OK.

Rest your head back

and close your eyes.

Take a deep breath in.

And as you exhale, feel yourself

relax completely.

[Aria] Im going to count

from five to one.

[Aria] And as I do, youll feel

your relaxation deepen.

[Nia] Mum!

[Nia] Dad?

I know.

Sorry, I.

Its OK.

[Aria] Dion!

Dion!

Dion!

- Mum?

- My Boy!

Dad?

No, no. Wait, wait. You cant.

[Dion] No, no.

[Dion] How?

You died?

- What?

- Died?

[Aria] Dion!

Listen to me, theyre not real.

This is all in your mind.

Please come back inside.

Its OK son.

Weve been searching

a long time for you.

Just step outside and we can

talk through this.

[Dion] But how have you?

Dad, is Nia with you?

- Look, come outside and we can

- Is Nia with you?

Son.

Whos Nia?

Sleep.

Sleep!

Sleep!

Get back!

[Dad] Aria, please, just.

Let him go and then

we can talk this through.

No! Dion, I did this for you.

[Aria] I did this for us.

We could have been so happy.

Aria, listen.

Im sorry.

Im so sorry.

I just wanted you to love me.

We were so young.

We only had two years but I

wanted so much more for us.

And then you left me.

I couldnt bear to lose you.

I knew I alone

wasnt enough for you.

You agreed to meet me here

for a weekend getaway to work

on our relationship.

And I knew we could

have a life together

if you only you could truly

experience it first-hand.

Then you would believe

in the idea of us.

I put you into a prolonged

state of deep hypnosis.

Implanting false memories that

would help make you see

our potential together.

Creating a world full

of possibility.

Our happy marriage that was left

desolate after the death

of a daughter and your parents.

So we could start

a new life together

and rekindle everything

that was lost.

But once you awoke

I couldnt understand where

I went wrong.

Your mind rejected the reality

I was trying so desperately

to make it believe, and

everything was misconstrued.

A daughter you

deemed as a sister

and no memory of myself

or our relationship.

And so I continued

to work with you.

Taking opportune moments to

take you into hypnosis

and correct the

story in your mind.

And slowly it began to stick

When you called me your wife

I could hardly breathe.

And the revelation of Nia being

your daughter

it was all Id ever

wanted for us.

And when you finally

wanted to see her

it was only then that I knew

you were starting to believe.

But.

And, Nia?

Just a character I created.

[Aria] To help you see what

could have been.

I needed you to believe

we had a family.

And having lost a child, with us

here alone, we could try again!

[Aria] Start anew. Have

everything we ever wanted.

Just leave.

I wish things could have

worked out differently.

I know theres no future

for us now.

But I just wanted you to know

how much I loved you.

[Dad] You ready to go?

Yeah, almost.

Dad.

I miss her.

[Dad] Aria?

[Dad] Oh.

I havent even got a picture

of her, you know?

Just memories.

Memories that didnt happen.

[Dad] I know son, but.

[Dad] Those memories will begin

to fade as time goes by.

Like so many people that come

and go in our lives.

[Dad] Take all the time

you need.

Dion!

[Dion] Mum. Dad. But you died?

Dion, listen to me.

[Aria] Theyre not real. This is

all in your mind.

Please come back inside.

[Aria] Sleep!

Sleep!

[Aria] I needed you to believe

we had a family.

And having lost a child, with us

here alone, we could try again!

[Aria] Have everything

we ever wanted.

[Dion] And, Nia?

[Aria] Just a character

I created.

[Aria] Dion!

I did this for you.

Your sister?

[Aria] Shes not here.

No one is.

I did this for us!

Deep inside there, is all the

truth you need.