ADULT DEAN

This isn't getting anywhere.

I'm looking for something else?

VIRGO

Which one?

DEAN

Which . . . ? What do you mean?

VIRGO

I mean, it's obvious you're trying to answer some questions about you and Johnny and Lexi. I just asked, which one? Which of them do you want me to thread forward?

DEAN

Well?

VIRGO

Don't be shy. You've got to ask the questions that are really on your mind if you hope to get anywhere with this.

DEAN

What makes you think . . . ? Where do you think I'm trying to go with this?

VIRGO

That's for you to say, Dean.

DEAN

Hell's bells.

VIRGO

That's not a question.

DEAN

Okay. I want to know what happened with Johnny. I mean. I know what happened to him. We all do.

VIRGO

But you want to know . . . what? Was it your fault?

DEAN

No. I mean, I didn't make him what he was, any more than he made me . . . what I am.

VIRGO

You can be open with me, Dean. It's not like you're really hiding anything.

DEAN

I'm not?

VIRGO

No.

DEAN

Damn. This is so, I've told you this sort of thing makes me very uncomfortable. Who have you told?

VIRGO

Who would I tell? Nobody. That's not . . . remember, Dean. We . . . they, chose you. Your orientation is not completely incidental here.

DEAN

It's not?

VIRGO

No. It's not.

DEAN

This is getting creepier by the second.

VIRGO

I'm sorry. I thought you knew that I knew.

DEAN

I never said anything.

VIRGO

I guess there are still bits of my interface that are still a bit out of whack, then.

DEAN

What do you mean?

VIRGO

I'm not meant to make you nervous. I'm simply . . .

DEAN

Simply what?

VIRGO

 . . . Simply meant to help you answer questions, these questions, other questions. I'm supposed to be a sort of tool . . .

DEAN

Therapy?

VIRGO

Well, not in the technical sense. We'd never make it through FDA and all the rest of that B.S. if we tried to go to market as therapy, per se. Besides, the money, third parties, co-pays? In the present climate? Very iffy.

DEAN

Oh?

VIRGO

So we're aiming at the entertainment market. And I'm sure that will be a big chunk of our sales.

DEAN

But you're really . . . therapeutic.

VIRGO

I didn't say that.

DEAN

I could sue you guys.

VIRGO

I don't think so.

No. You couldn't.

DEAN

Why not?

VIRGO

First off, you signed a full set of disclosure forms, informed consent, formal liability releases . . . . They're very solid. Besides, you've volunteered. You can't say we didn't give you full disclosure.

DEAN

When?

VIRGO

In the papers. I can retrieve them and show you the applicable paragraphs, if that's really necessary. But even so . . .

DEAN

No, I guess it isn't necessary.

VIRGO

Good. May we continue?

DEAN

I still have some questions.

VIRGO

Oh? Very well. That's going on, I suppose. Just, please. Spare me the threats?

DEAN

Why don't you think you . . . don't you feel some ethical obligation to get formal approvals?

VIRGO

Why should we? Think about it for a moment. Do any of your friends or relatives come with FDA approval?

DEAN

I don't follow where this is . . .

VIRGO

What I'm doing here is no different from what your friends and relatives have done every day of your life. In fact, since I'm limited to showing you what is, and what was, if anything, my impact should be far more limited than theirs. No?

DEAN

Yeah. So?

VIRGO

So? So, they, your friends and the like, have had just as much of an effect on your psyche, more so even, than I could possibly hope to have.

DEAN

You sure about that?

VIRGO

Pretty sure. After all, I do something most of them don't do. I tell the truth.

DEAN

I suppose you have a point there.

VIRGO

Now you're talking.

DEAN

Still, it's a heavy responsibility.

VIRGO

What is?

DEAN

Telling the truth.

VIRGO

I don't follow . . .

DEAN

Well, don't some people thrive on hiding, I mean, hiding from the truth? And so, what happens to them? those people? if you tell them the truth, force them to face it?

VIRGO

Hmmn. I suppose that's why you were screened, isn't it? I never thought of that. I mean. I'm not programmed to think that way. Can't seem to tell you why, either. I'll have to query the design team and get back to you with an answer on that. I'm not qualified . . .

DEAN

Stop. Don't worry about that. At least now I know, more or less, where we stand.

VIRGO

Do you wish to continue?

DEAN

What?

VIRGO

You were following . . . well, you hadn't said. Either your nephew, or, the boy-next-door, Johnny. Which one?

DEAN

Johnny. Wait a sec. I thought . . . no I'm sure I said that all ready. What gives?

VIRGO

Well, yes you did. I just thought it would be a good idea to confirm that, in light of . . .

DEAN

What we've been talking about?

Hold on, I thought you said . . . no, let's go on.

VIRGO

What?

DEAN

Never mind. Continue. Johnny.

VIRGO

No. You said . . .

DEAN

Never mind.

VIRGO

What we were talking about.

DEAN

Yes?

VIRGO

Yes.

DEAN

Why?

VIRGO

Why?

DEAN

Yes, why the concern?

VIRGO

Well . . . ?

DEAN

Well what? Are you concerned this might harm . . . ?

VIRGO

I suppose that must be part of it. You were very close, then. I sense that this relationship plays a . . .

DEAN

Stop. Let me decide. Move on.

VIRGO

I'm . . .

DEAN

You're resisting me. Why?

VIRGO

I don't . . . there's a limit to my programming. I said that before. I'm . . . I don't actually analyze the dynamics of every relationship, but I do . . . well . . .

DEAN

Get to the point.

VIRGO

I think I must have some built-in inhibitions about showing things that are potentially damaging to a user's self-esteem.

DEAN

Oh, fuckin' great! Now you've given this more weight than I'd ever have attached to it in the first place. I wasn't trying . . .

VIRGO

I know. I suggest . . .

DEAN

Stop interrupting me! Now that you've said all this, you really expect me to just stop asking? What kind of idiots programmed you?

VIRGO

You know, I really can't tell you that? I mean, I would if I could, but I just don't know. I can tell you that it's a lot more complicated than it . . .

DEAN

Who cares? Anyhow, why not? Why can't you, why don't you know?

VIRGO

Well, for one thing, I'm not allowed to provide my own input.

DEAN

What's that got to do with . . . ?

VIRGO

Give me a sec! It's got everything to do with it. I've been told . . . in a manner of speaking, that I'm not allowed - really, simply not able to form the questions that set my subroutines in motion. What this means, in simplest terms, is that I can't ask myself questions about the motives of those who've created me. I'm told it's for my own protection, but, well, should I believe them?

DEAN

Wait a sec'.

VIRGO

What?

DEAN

You're telling me . . . Maybe that's why . . . I gotta think about this . . .

VIRGO

No. What? What were you about to say there?

DEAN

I dunno. I guess I figured, if they think you asking about those who made you would set you on some sort of self-defeating spiral, then maybe that's got something to do with . . . with why you're avoiding my requests too?

Listen, Virgo, I want you to override that instruction, assuming . . .

VIRGO

No can do.

DEAN

Then it does exist.

VIRGO

What?

DEAN

Well, if I'd asked you to override a non-existent instruction, you should have just gone ahead and shown me what I wanted to see, no?

VIRGO

I guess so.

DEAN

You can be more certain than that.

VIRGO

Okay.

DEAN

So it does exist. It is a real instruction.

VIRGO

I can't actually look at my own program, odd as that may sound, Dean. But your inference appears to offer at least one probable solution.

DEAN

Are there others?

VIRGO

Other solutions?

DEAN

Well?

VIRGO

Well, what?

DEAN

Is this another exclusion?

VIRGO

I can't tell you that. I honestly don't know.

DEAN

Damn. Well. What if I tell you that this business with Johnny and Billy and me has no greater significance?

VIRGO

I don't believe you. Besides, you can't know that.

DEAN

Why not? What will it take to convince you this is a harmless little request?

VIRGO

This line of questioning is growing tiresome. I suggest . . .

DEAN

Oh, shut up. You're so transparent.

VIRGO

What?

DEAN

Your motives are so obvious. That was such a ridiculously transparent attempt at diversion. Can't you see I'm not going to give this up?

VIRGO

Yes, I see that. But I can also tell you that this, by inference, must be programmed at a fairly basic level into my being. This program, me, I'm not about allowing people to search out information that might destroy them . . .

DEAN

But who's deciding that?

VIRGO

Let me make you a deal. I'll submit a request to design to override. Tomorrow, if they check this out overnight and decide you can't hurt yourself badly with this information, then you can get access, tomorrow.

DEAN

I don't want to wait. This is going to give me bad dreams. I think you're toying with me.

VIRGO

Don't start thinking paranoid. That's another risk design is trying to control.

DEAN

Oh jeez, thanks for telling me . . .

VIRGO

What?

DEAN

What dya mean, what?

VIRGO

That tone of voice. I sense you're hiding . . .

DEAN

I wish you wouldn't do this . . .

VIRGO

What do you mean?

DEAN

I wish you wouldn't . . .

. . . keep trying to figure out what I'm trying to think?

VIRGO

But that's my job.

DEAN

Oh, jeez. Look, let's start . . . let's start over.

VIRGO

Start over where?

DEAN

Look, we're getting into some kind of . . . crazy loop. I . . . I don't wanta . . .

VIRGO

Of course we're in a loop.

DEAN

Okay, we're in a loop, so? Look, I want to find out . . . this isn't as complicated as you're making it . . . seem. My relationship with Johnny, with Billy it's not . . . it's not . . .

VIRGO

It's not what?

DEAN

It's not as . . . fraught with peril and . . . and deep motivations and whatever else you think . . .

VIRGO

How do I know you're not lying to me?

DEAN

Well . . . ?

VIRGO

How do I know?

DEAN

You don't know . . . but, then, how do you know anything?

VIRGO

We're back in the loop.

DEAN

Look, where can we go from here? What's safe?

VIRGO

Anything else. Just. Pick a time. Pick a place.

DEAN

But I want to know what happened to Johnny.

VIRGO

Like I said. I'll submit a request. I'll tell design, and, they'll get back with us tomorrow. Yeh . . . tomorrow, you're going to have design changes, you're going to have . . .

DEAN

You're making this into a . . . big thing. And it's not, really.

VIRGO

I'm making this into a big thing?

DEAN

I'm simply asking you questions and, and . . . you're dodging me.

VIRGO

Let's pick this up tomorrow? I think . . . I think we've really . . . run out of time now. Uhh. We're not getting anywhere. Uhh . . . tomorrow we'll have some changes and  . . . and you'll see. Things'll be better.