ObMod: Cabin Fever: Monitor's Cut "Couples' Therapy"

File:Cabin Fever Monitor's Cut 'Couples' Therapy'.jpg

## Characters

* Flag
* Alex Parker
* Angie Aimes
* Em Parker

## Location

* Monitor Sphere
* August 8th 2017, 1130 EST

## VOX Archive

* **Alex Parker:** I'm sorry, but I just feel like this is unnecessary...
* **Em Parker:** Yeah, well... Hank said we have to, sweetie. [gentle cheek slap] So, buck up, soldier. [footsteps, beep]
* **Alex Parker:** [footsteps] It's just that this is a teammate... who isn't even a counselor, mind you. This is just airing our dirty laundry.
* **Em Parker:** Sweetie. I love you. But be nice.
* **Alex Parker:** I'm... I'm always nice. If anything I'm too nice.
* **Angie Aimes:** [door opens] Alex, did I just hear that right? You think you're too nice to Emily? [gasp, tongue click] Not a good start. Come in.
* **Alex Parker:** Wait, what?!
* **Em Parker:** Shh... I said be nice. Remember? [footsteps: 3 instances, door closes] I'm sorry for his behavior, doc.
* **Alex Parker:** She's a copy editor, not a therapist. What?! It's the truth.
* **Em Parker:** I hate it when he gets like this. thanks for seeing us on such short notice.
* **Angie Aimes:** Oh, it's fine, Emily. I understand. You're a couple in crisis. These things happen. Oh, please have a seat...
* **Em Parker:** Thank you. [footsteps: 2 instances, bodies lowering onto sofas, gasp] Sweetie? You're not going to sit next to me?
* **Alex Parker:** There- There are two sofas. I thought it'd be nice if we each- [sigh] No. Okay. I'll move. Okay? You happy?
* **Em Parker:** I don't want you to move unless you want to. Are you happy over there?
* **Alex Parker:** [groan] At this very moment? No...
* **Em Parker:** So, then why don't you come sit next to me and feel better then? [light giggle]
* **Alex Parker:** [sigh, suppressed grumbling, footsteps, body lowering on sofa, hands clasping together, sigh] [sarcasm:] *Happy... So happy now.*
* **Angie Aimes:** Aw. Aren't you two cute? Now... Before we begin, may I ask how you're planning to pay?
* **Em Parker:** Sweetie?
* **Alex Parker:** [scoff] What? You're serious? [chuckle] No... You were ordered to do this by Hank- [sigh]
* **Em Parker:** Doesn't mean she works for free. She's not a slave, sweetie.
* **Angie Aimes:** Alex, do you feel women shouldn't be paid for their work?
* **Alex Parker:** No! [sigh] I mean- [sigh] No. I didn't say that. Of course women should be paid just-
* **Em Parker:** Not as much as men? Is that it?
* **Alex Parker:** Stop trying to make me look bad-
* **Angie Aimes:** Oh, I'd say you're doing a bang-up job for that yourself, Al.
* **Alex Parker:** Angie... You know me! I am not a chauvinist! You know that she's just getting into my head and- Fine! How much for the session?
* **Angie Aimes:** [scoff, chuckle] Oh, i was just kidding about that. You know, breaking the ice with a joke.
* **Em Parker:** [giggle] Good one, Angie. Very funny... Wasn't she funny, sweetie?
* **Alex Parker:** Can we just start? Please?
* **Angie Aimes:** I'm not thrilled with that tone, but very well. Why don't we start with how long you've been together?
* **Em Parker:** We first had sex on-
* **Alex Parker:** [scoff, choke, cough, cough] Em! What the hell are you-?! Em, she doesn't need to know when we first slept together?
* **Em Parker:** Sweetie, we're being honest! That's what marriage is about. Honesty. Openness.
* **Angie Aimes:** Alex, she is right. That is what makes a marriage work.
* **Alex Parker:** We're.. We're not married anymore.
* **Angie Aimes:** Hmm... Interesting. And why do you think that is?
* **Alex Parker:** You know what? We'll get to that. Em, please... Finish the story.
* **Em Parker:** Fine... We had sex on Halloween night almost ten years ago. Six months later we were married. Then about a year or so after that, he got a job and within a year of starting that new job, he left me. [sniff, sob, deep breath] I set up a romantic dinner for us, candles, lobster, I was even wearing a new nighty and you know what he did? [deep breath] *He came home with another woman! Some French man-stealer from work!*
* **Alex Parker:** I don't believe this...
* **Angie Aimes:** Is anything she just said untrue? Are you saying Em is a liar?
* **Alex Parker:** No. It's all factual-
* **Angie Aimes:** So, you admit it?
* **Alex Parker:** It happened... but not really in that order... That moment she described with the other woman, that was years ago.
* **Em Parker:** Really? [sniff] Because I can remember it like it was yesterday!
* **Alex Parker:** No... I mean... We had been divorced for years when that happened! She broke into my apartment and did all that! She knew I was on a date and she sabotaged it by showing up half-naked in my apartment and scaring off my date!
* **Angie Aimes:** Okay... Now we're getting somewhere. How did that make you feel, Alex?
* **Alex Parker:** How do you think it made me feel?
* **Angie Aimes:** I don't know, Alex. This is a safe space, though... so... Why don't you tell me?
* **Alex Parker:** Uh... angry!
* **Em Parker:** Pfft... Not how I remember it. After that woman left, we talked, and ended up in bed.
* **Angie Aimes:** Doesn't sound like you were that angry, Alex.
* **Alex Parker:** This is what I meant by 'too nice'. She does these things and gets emotional and frisky and gets me worked up and then somehow manipulates my anger into arousal and we [expletive]!
* **Flagerethon:** Hey, buddy! Swear jar is on the end table! There's a kid in this suite. [padded footsteps, refrigerator opens, glass clinks, bottle cap hiss, padded footsteps] Sorry to interrupt, Angie.
* **Angie Aimes:** I'm fine, Flag. Please close the door behind you. [door closes] Thank you. So where were we?
* **Alex Parker:** Yeah? You know what... I'm gone. I'm done! [footsteps] I'll explain to Hank that Em and I are good, okay? Because as messed up as our relationship is, it works! Okay? I'm miserable but this is worse! [beep, beep] Why won't the door- [beep, door opens, sigh] Ah, okay... Bye! [footsteps, door closes]
* **Angie Aimes:** [silence: 2.7 seconds, sudden burst of laughter, laughter: 2 instances, ongoing laughter: 8.4 seconds, deep breath, groan] Oh my side hurts... and my cheeks. I've never held a straight face that long!
* **Em Parker:** Oh, you were good, hon. [clap, clap, clap] Bravo.
* **Angie Aimes:** So he has no idea that we've been living in the apartment building for the last two and half years? Seriously? Interesting... I can have some fun with this. I need a drink. [footsteps] You down?
* **Em Parker:** [footsteps, scoff] You have to ask? Bu let's make it quick... Alex is really worked up and I should go make sure he's okay. [liquid pouring]

## Trivia and Notes

* Part of the Monitor War Storyline.
* This story takes place between ObMod: Cabin Fever 6 and ObMod: Cabin Fever 7.

## Links and References

* ObMod: Cabin Fever: Monitor's Cut "Couples' Therapy"