All full scenes

Listening

Hear what they really mean.

Partner · Riley

The Quiet Morning

Name the feeling

Your partner Riley hasn't looked you in the eye at breakfast. She keeps stirring coffee that doesn't need stirring. Something is sitting between you.

From the work of Marshall Rosenberg

Work and new people · Mert

The Conference Coffee

Ask a question that opens up

You sat next to Mert at the tech conference coffee break. He is an engineer from Tirana you have never met before. You have twelve minutes before the next session. Both of you are a little shy. He just said hello.

From the work of William R. Miller and Arthur Aron

Sibling · Theo

The Brother's Call

Say back what they feel

Your older brother Theo showed up at your apartment door at eleven at night. He has not done that in months. He came in without explaining. He is sitting at your kitchen table now. He has not started talking yet.

From the work of Marshall Rosenberg

Friend · Jen

The Good News

Get excited with them

Jen came over after work and could barely sit down. 'I got the residency.' Her face is bright. You haven't seen her face like this in a year.

From the work of Shelly Gable

Parent · Nora

The Long Silence

Let the quiet be

Your mother Nora stopped talking a few minutes ago. The kitchen clock is the loudest thing in the room. She just said something about your father and then went quiet.

From the work of Gail Jefferson

Making up

Coming back after a fight.

Friend · Ilir

The Last Thing You Said

Bring it up gently

Ilir is your best friend since high school. Two nights ago at the café he said something about your work that has not sat right since. He texted this afternoon asking to come by. He is standing in your kitchen now, jacket still on. He came across town to fix it.

From the work of John Gottman

Friend · Maya

The Apology

Own your part

You snapped at Maya in front of her colleague Sarah earlier today. You haven't talked since. Tonight you sat down across from her. She's letting you go first.

From the work of Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila Heen

Work and new people · Tara

The Hurt Look

Name how it hit them

Tara is your close work friend in the same department. You and Tara were having lunch in the cafeteria and you made a joke about her morning presentation. She did not laugh. Her face changed. She has not said a word in three minutes. The room is loud around the silence.

From the work of Marshall Rosenberg

Partner · Mira

The Cold Spell

Come back in gently

It's been a tense week with Mira. Tonight feels lighter. She made mint tea and put two glasses on the balcony. The opening is small and you don't want to break it.

From the work of John Gottman

Friend · Lena

The Repair Try

Say you're trying to fix it

You have already tried to fix this with your friend Lena twice and missed. She is patient but tired. You want to name the trying itself.

From the work of John Gottman

Kind limits

Say no and stay close.

Work and new people · Riley

The Favor Ask

Say no kindly

Riley asked if you can take her shift again this weekend. You can. You don't want to. You haven't said no to her in months.

From the work of Marshall Rosenberg

Friend · Alex

The Pile-On

Ask for what you need

Your friend Alex is venting about a third person. You agree with most of it. You also need a moment in the room for yourself tonight.

From the work of Marshall Rosenberg

Friend · Saga

The No You Owe

Say no and stay close

Your friend Saga came over after work. She needs the loan you had set aside for your mother. You already said no twice this month. She is at your kitchen table now, asking again, quietly. Your mother's photograph is on the shelf behind her.

From the work of Marshall Rosenberg

Friend · Jen

The Line

Say your limit early

Your friend Jen is about to ask you for something specific. You can feel where your line is going to be. Better named now, in the open, than discovered later under pressure.

From the work of Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila Heen

Good news

Share the good moments.

Friend · Tara

The Promotion

Make their good news bigger

Tara just told you she got the senior director role. You can tell she's holding it back a little, watching for your face before she lets herself feel it.

From the work of Shelly Gable

Parent · Nora

The Engagement

Let your face match theirs

Your mother Nora has come over to tell you something. She is engaged again. She is happy and she is watching your face for whether you'll be happy for her.

From the work of Shelly Gable

Friend · Riley

The Small Win

Enjoy it together

Riley finished the painting. It is not a huge thing. It is also exactly the thing. She drove it over wrapped in a sheet to show you, just you, today.

From the work of Barbara Fredrickson

Friend · Alex

The Slow Light

Slow the good moment down

Your friend Alex started telling you a story about her kid's first day of school. You can feel her already rushing toward the end of it.

From the work of Barbara Fredrickson

Friend · Jen

The Compliment Catch

Take the compliment

Jen said something kind about your work, the kind of thing you have been needing to hear. You started to wave it off before she finished the sentence.

From the work of Shelly Gable

Staying calm

Keep your cool when it's hard.

Friend · Lena

The Pile-Up

Pause before you answer

Lena said the thing she knows will spike you. She is not wrong. You feel the response forming in your chest. You do not have to send it.

From the work of Stephen Porges

Sibling · Theo

The Familiar Trap

Say what's happening in you

You and Theo, your older brother, are in the same disagreement again. About whose turn it is to step in for your aging parents this month. He is pacing in the kitchen. You both know the familiar trap. You can name what is happening or watch the loop play out for the fifth time this year.

From the work of Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila Heen

Friend · Saga

The Trigger

Breathe, then answer

Your friend Saga mentioned the thing. Your chest went tight. She does not know yet that you are not in the room anymore.

From the work of Stephen Porges

Friend · Mira

The Argument Loop

Stop keeping score

You and Mira, your best friend since college, are in the same argument again. About whose career path was the smart one, whose field was the right call, the same lanes, the same defensive moves. You both already know who will say what. The pasta on the table is going cold. You can stop the loop now.

From the work of John Gottman

Letting care in

Take kindness in. Don't wave it off.

Friend · Maya

The Casserole

Let their care in

Your friend Maya showed up at your door tonight without being asked. She heard your week was hard. She brought food and a handwritten note. She's standing in your kitchen now, holding the dish.

From the work of Brené Brown

Friend · Saga

The Witness

Let them see you feel it

Your friend Saga just walked into your living room. She brought groceries on her way over. You are already crying about something small that wasn't supposed to land this hard. She is just standing there.

From the work of Tara Brach

Friend · Lena

The Letter

Tell them what it meant

Your friend Lena handwrote you a letter last week and slid it under your door. You finally opened it this morning. It said exactly what you needed to hear. She came over to have coffee with you.

From the work of Barbara Fredrickson

Friend · Mira

The Quiet Sit

Let them just be there

Your friend Mira drove over without asking why. She just sat down next to you on the patio. The sun is going down. She has not asked you a single question yet.

From the work of Stephen Porges

Work and new people · Nora

The Mentor's Office

Be curious about them

You finally got twenty minutes on Nora's calendar. She is two decades senior, busy, and mildly skeptical of meetings like this one. You are sitting across from her now. The clock has started.

From the work of Dale Carnegie and Arthur Aron

Partner

• The Cold Spell Come back in gently · Mira
• The Quiet Morning Name the feeling · Riley

Parent

• The Engagement Let your face match theirs · Nora
• The Long Silence Let the quiet be · Nora

Sibling

• The Brother's Call Say back what they feel · Theo
• The Familiar Trap Say what's happening in you · Theo

Friend

• The Apology Own your part · Maya
• The Argument Loop Stop keeping score · Mira
• The Casserole Let their care in · Maya
• The Compliment Catch Take the compliment · Jen
• The Good News Get excited with them · Jen
• The Last Thing You Said Bring it up gently · Ilir
• The Letter Tell them what it meant · Lena
• The Line Say your limit early · Jen
• The No You Owe Say no and stay close · Saga
• The Pile-On Ask for what you need · Alex
• The Pile-Up Pause before you answer · Lena
• The Promotion Make their good news bigger · Tara
• The Quiet Sit Let them just be there · Mira
• The Repair Try Say you're trying to fix it · Lena
• The Slow Light Slow the good moment down · Alex
• The Small Win Enjoy it together · Riley
• The Trigger Breathe, then answer · Saga
• The Witness Let them see you feel it · Saga

Work and new people

• The Conference Coffee Ask a question that opens up · Mert
• The Favor Ask Say no kindly · Riley
• The Hurt Look Name how it hit them · Tara
• The Mentor's Office Be curious about them · Nora