Anxiety Ridden

Therapist: Hmm.

And you think this boomerang is coming for you?

Announcer: Coming up... Henry: I know it is.

It's out there.

Announcer: ...anxieties run high.

Pat: I've collected some contact information for some local therapists.

Gloria: I just want you to have babies and be happy.

-Do you have any friends?

-No.

Announcer: "Anxiety Ridden," next on "Film School Shorts."

"Film School Shorts" is made possible by a grant from Maurice Kanbar, celebrating the vitality and power of the moving image.

Additional funding for "She Isn't Here" was provided by... ...and others.

A complete list is available from PBS.

[ Vehicles passing ] [ Clock ticking ] [ Horn honks ] ♪♪ Henry: [ Clears throat ] Therapist: So tell me about this boomerang.

[ Clock ticking ] Henry: When I was a kid growing up in Nigeria, I was happy.

I had friends.

One day, we were just playing with this boomerang.

We weren't doing anything wrong.

I took a turn.

I-I thought it would be fun.

What a fool.

I threw the boomerang, and it never came back.

I waited and I waited out there, but it just never came back.

♪♪ Therapist: Hmm.

And you think this boomerang is coming for you?

Henry: I know it is.

It's out there, circling the skies, watching me, waiting to strike.

Sometimes I think I see it in the corner of my eye in the windows.

I watch my back always.

I can never be too careful.

I spend every moment waiting for it to hit me.

But any time I even see something that even looks like it's flying towards me, I take off running.

I just...

I'm losing it.

So I've just got a question for you, doctor.

What do you call a boomerang that doesn't come back?

A stick.

A stick is ruining my life.

Therapist: You need to face your fear.

We can't run anymore.

Take off the helmet.

Henry: Help me.

♪♪ Ah!

[ Clock ticking ] Therapist: Uh-huh.

♪♪ Henry: Ah!

[ Inhales sharply ] The boomerang, it hit me.

Therapist: Yes, yes.

It's all over.

Henry: I'm free!

♪♪ [ Sirens wailing, horns honking ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Indistinct talking ] [ Bells chime ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cellphone ringing ] [ Ringing stops ] [ Cellphone thuds ] [ Keys clatter ] Rebecca: [ Sighs ] ♪♪ So you're just going to lie here?

Is that the plan?

Don't get me wrong.

I think it's a great plan.

Just not sure how Bladder's going to feel about this.

When he suffers, we all suffer.

♪♪ ♪♪ Blip.

Where did... Huh.

Huh.

♪♪ Oh.

[ Neck cracks ] Whoa.

Gloria: Well, I was hoping you'd be interested in James.

I saw the way he looked at you at that office party.

Rebecca: How did he look at me?

Gloria: Like no other girl in that room existed.

Rebecca: Yeah.

I, uh...

I don't think you're reading his facial expressions correctly.

Gloria: Hey, I know what I saw.

Just because I've been postponing my cataract surgery doesn't mean I can't see.

Rebecca: I'm pretty sure it does, actually.

Gloria: I'm just worried about you, hon.

I mean, I just want you to have babies and be happy.

Rebecca: I don't need to birth a child to be happy.

Gloria: Well, that's your choice.

But don't complain to me about not finding a good man when you end up like one of those old cat ladies on that MTV documentary, surrounded by smelly, dirty litter boxes and old chewed-up cat toys in bed with you.

Rebecca: Oh, my gosh.

No!

I'm not a cat lady.

Mom!

Gloria: Well, tell me that in another 10 years.

Remember Aunt Betty from New Mexico?

There's a reason we don't visit her anymore.

You're not even living your life right now!

I mean, who's going to want to end up with a homebody for the rest of their lives?

Rebecca: Look, I'm tired of explaining myself to you, okay?

Gloria: I didn't mean it like that.

I -- Rebecca: Look, I've got to go.

I've got a lot to do today.

Gloria: Okay.

Rebecca: I'll talk to you later.

Gloria: Bye, baby.

Rebecca: Bye, Mom.

♪♪ [ Indistinct conversations ] ♪♪ ♪♪ James: Boop.

Rebecca: Hey.

James: Beta-carotene.

Rebecca: Carrot.

I don't know.

What are you going to go for next?

James: Honestly?

Rebecca: Honestly.

Don't lie.

James: Probably another carrot.

Rebecca: Okay.

James: Yeah.

Rebecca: Me, too.

Let's do it.

James: I'm not that -- Okay.

Yep.

Back.

Oh, uh, I saw that you got a new little thing on your desk.

Looks really cool.

The -- the little -- is it a paperweight?

Rebecca: Oh, the Dalek.

From "Doctor Who."

James: Oh, Dalek.

Rebecca: Yeah.

"Doctor Who."

James: Oh, yeah.

"Doctor Who."

Rebecca: You watch "Doctor Who," right?

Oh, come on.

James: I know.

Rebecca: Ohh, you have to watch "Doctor Who."

James: Is it really that good?

Rebecca: It's so good.

James: Okay, everyone -- Rebecca: It's British.

James: Is it really that good?

Rebecca: It really is.

James: So that makes it good?

Rebecca: It does.

James: Okay.

Rebecca: He's so cute.

James: Oh.

Rebecca: And he flies through the universe.

And the Daleks are the bad guys.

They're like these little, um, like robot guys, and the Doctor hates them, and they come at you in, like, huge numbers, and it's like, "Exterminate!"

[ Both laugh ] And I don't know why, but they're just super creepy.

James: Yeah?

Well, they're little boxes that go, "Exterminate!"

That's not creepy.

Rebecca: That's always them, yeah.

You should watch it.

James: Exterminate.

Rebecca: Like that.

[ Both laugh ] James: Cool.

Sounds like a good -- a good show, I guess.

Rebecca: It is a good show.

James: Yeah, it sounds like it.

Rebecca: It is.

Oh, I make my mom watch it with me.

James: Oh, hey.

Hey, Mom.

Rebecca: Please don't.

James: I'm sorry.

Rebecca: Yeah.

Don't.

James: Okay.

Um, I mean -- Rebecca: Um, have another carrot.

Yeah, I have to take her back.

It was -- I'll see ya.

James: Okay.

Cool.

Exterminate.

Hmm.

♪♪ Rebecca: [ Groans ] [ Cash register beeping ] [ Bell dings ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Clerk: Are you finding everything okay?

Rebecca: [ Breathing heavily ] [ Cash register beeping ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Sniffling ] [ Breathing heavily ] ♪♪ Woman: So what is agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia is a marked fear or anxiety about two or more of the following five situations.

They're either scared of using public transportation, of being in open spaces, being in enclosed spaces, standing in line or being in a crowd, or being outside of the home alone.

Now, they'll avoid th ese situations because they kind of fear that escape may be difficult or extremely embarrassing.

That thought and that worry keeps them out of th ose situations and, for some people, can even cause them to be homebound, which -- ♪♪ [ Couch creaking ] Rebecca: [ Grunts ] ♪♪ "Good job, Rebecca.

You've got yourself another anxiety disorder.

How did you manage to accomplish such a noble and dastardly feat?"

Well, my motivation came from my deeply-rooted fear of confrontation.

I feel I've really consolidated both my feelings of inadequacy and lack of security as a child.

"That's amazing, Rebecca.

Thank you for sharing with us today."

Oh, it is my pleasure, Pat.

♪♪ [ Cellphone rings ] [ Ringing stops ] Crap.

[ Telephone ringing ] [ Breathes deeply ] Hey.

Jill.

I love these things.

It's kind of like a shark, or -- arr, arr, arr -- crocodile.

It -- Um, new desk?

Sorry, I'm here to see Pat.

Pat -- is she back there?

Okay.

You look great.

[ Ringing continues ] [ Pen scribbling ] [ Knock on door ] Pat: So, you're back.

I'm surprised.

Thought you'd need more time.

Rebecca: Oh.

Well, that's the thing.

Um...

I've been able to get my work done more effectively from home, and I was thinking, for the sake of all our spring projects coming up, that it might be better -- Pat: Rebecca.

Rebecca: Yeah?

Pat: I've only made this exception because you've always been a good worker.

Rebecca: Thanks.

Pat: Unfortunately, I haven't seen any improvement from you.

Rebecca: Oh.

Pat: Our team thrives on collaboration.

You know that.

I just don't see how keeping you home is gonna help.

It seems the more time I give you, the worse things are for both of us.

If I can't get what I need from you any time soon, I'm gonna have to let you go.

Look, I understand your situation, and I'm here for you as a friend, but as an employer, I have to do what is best for this company.

Look... [ Drawer opens ] [ Sighs ] I've collected some contact information for some local therapists over the last few days.

Please, consider giving them a call.

Rebecca: Okay.

[ Crying ] ♪♪ [ Breathing heavily ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Crying continues ] ♪♪ God.

[ Breathing heavily ] James: Are you okay?

Rebecca: What?

What?

James: Are you okay?

Rebecca: No.

I'm an old cat lady.

James: Um...

Okay, um, I'm not gonna explain how strange this looks or how... confused I am by that last statement, but -- Rebecca: I know.

James: Since you already know that, I'm sure, but, uh...

But if you need anything from me, now might be a pretty good time to ask.

Can I call someone for you, or... get you something, like, gum?

Anything?

Rebecca: [ Laughs ] Uh...

I think this is the part where I give some kind of speech about, you know, how my life wasn't supposed to be this way.

James: Um, what?

Rebecca: Well, you know, all that stuff they say in movies.

About, like, wishing life was better, and the main character usually cries, dramatic music starts to play.

James: Hey.

I don't hear any music.

Woman: Al low your meditation... Rebecca: Ooh.

Woman: ...to bring you to a place of peace.

Rebecca: What is this?

James: Okay.

Rebecca: I don't -- I don't know where that came from.

James: I don't believe you, not for a moment.

Rebecca: [ Breathes deeply ] Uh, James, I do need something.

James: Sure, anything.

Rebecca: Will you go out with me?

James: Re-- Like -- Like, on a date?

With you?

Rebecca: I mean, yeah.

James: Uh... Rebecca: Or whatever.

It's okay.

James: No, no, no, no.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

I mean yes.

Rebecca: Yeah?

James: Yes, I would like that.

Rebecca: Yeah.

James: Mm-hmm.

Rebecca: Yeah?

Oh.

[ Chuckles ] Awesome.

I'm excited.

James: Me, too.

Rebecca: Awesome, great.

[ Chuckles ] James: So... Look out for that call now.

Rebecca: I will.

James: Okay?

Rebecca: Okay.

Definitely.

James: And I will see you later.

Have a good night.

Rebecca: Thanks, you, too.

It was good seeing you.

James: And feel better.

Rebecca: I will.

Thanks.

Oh.

Pshh.

James: Pshh.

[ Both chuckle ] Rebecca: [ Sighs ] [ Chuckles ] [ Inhales deeply ] [ Exhales ] ♪♪ All right.

Woman: ♪ Maybe it's just ♪ ♪ Four walls and the spaces in between ♪ ♪ But this is where we wake up ♪ ♪ And where we fall asleep ♪ ♪ And I can't think of another place that I would rather be ♪ ♪ So these are the only walls for me ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I don't wanna get out of bed ♪ ♪ Won't you wake me gently, please?

♪ ♪ Or maybe just come lie down a little while with me ♪ ♪ Life ain't always easy, dear, but happiness is free ♪ ♪ So won't you just stay awhile?

♪ Deep voice: I'm concerned, young lady.

How are you at school lately?

♪♪ [ Children talking indistinctly in background ] Creature: Hey!

Hey, you!

Tell us something funny!

Girl: I don't want to say anything to you fools.

[ Laughter ] Creature: I bet you can't climb up that tree!

♪♪ Girl: Don't do it.

You'll fall.

♪♪ Creature #2: Aah!

[ Splat! ]

Girl: I told you so.

Creature #2: [ Crying ] Deep voice: Do you have any friends?

Girl: No.

Deep voice: Can you name all of your classmates?

Girl: Zach, Barbara, Itsa, Thomas, Sam... ♪♪ Creature: Hey, you!

Tell us something funny!

Girl: I don't want to say anything to you fools.

Creature: Blah!

Girl: Psst.

Psst.

[ Whispering ] I don't want peas.

I don't want to fart.

Creature #2: We got that.

She doesn't want peas because she doesn't want to fart!

[ Laughter ] ♪♪ [ Splat! ]

Creature: [ Crying ] [ Wind gently howls ] ♪♪ [ Gong sounds ] Girl: I don't know.

Deep voice: Why did you threaten them with this, then?

He's in the next room.

[ Growling ] Go apologize to him now!

♪♪ Girl: [ Breathing heavily ] [ Gasps ] ♪♪ ♪♪ Boy: Hi.

Girl: [ Gasps ] [ Wind howling ] [ Grunts ] ♪♪ [ Gasps ] Boy: [ Whispering indistinctly ] [ Whispering intensifies ] [ Whispering stops ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Announcer: You can watch more films by subscribing to our YouTube and Vimeo channels or visiting PBS.org/filmschoolshorts.

"Film School Shorts" is made possible by... a grant from Maurice Kanbar, celebrating the vitality and power of the moving image.

Additional funding for "She Isn't Here" was provided by... ...and others.

A complete list is available from PBS.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪