Come Close or Feel Far

As the show played, I looked at the images and could begin to feel myself sinking into them, as though the timespace barrier of glass and pixels and cameras was somehow dissolving.

This isn’t deep or anything, I say. This used to be how everyone felt watching films.

And maybe that’s true, I think, but something is different in me. Like something is awakening or coming alive again. Trying, but not quite.

You say whatever you want, or you stay quiet. If you want to reach over and touch me, you can. We can hold hands. If you try to kiss me, I will kiss you, but then tell you that I want to watch the show. We can do stuff after.

The show is set on a tropical island.

I’ve never been to a tropical island, I say. But then I immediately amend that.

“Oh, wait,” I go. “I’ve been to Hawai‘i. Duh.”

You ask which islands, and I say, Kauaʻi.

I say it like a white girl saying it Hawaiian-style and you roll your eyes, which is fair.

“But I want to at least try,” I say. “Cos I like languages and I hate that white people stole their islands.”

You say whatever you say in agreement or dissent, or you stay silent.

The show, as I said, is set on a tropical island. You can’t get the vibe well at first. It’s unclear if it’s going to be a mystery or a drama or a comedy. It’s set in present day. It features an ensemble cast, though you probably aren’t familiar with very many of the actors. I know pretty much all of them cos cinephile.

Again, you roll your eyes.

I’m like, “Look, you have your things, and I have mine. People can be good at things and know about stuff. Doesn’t automatically make you pretentious.”

You probably relent, but even if you don’t, we just go back to the show.

It’s set on an island. The genre is intriguing and not well-defined. The mood is mixed and inviting. All the episodes are available to stream. So if you want to watch more, we can. Or, if you’d rather go to sleep, we can do that. If you wanna make love, we can do that too, anyway you want. I’m down.

Play procedures:

• Name the show and win a prize! Not really. That’s a joke. But if you want to guess, I will tell you if you are right.

• Make up the name and basic premise of the show. If you want to write some of it together, let me know, and we can play with that a bit.

• Think about how it feels to watch the show. Are you able to feel like you are transported there, like you are really on a tropical island, experiencing that mix of genre and mood? Or is there not yet enough definition? If you need it, add it, tailoring it to your tastes and current interests until you are at least somewhat satisfied with the show. If you can’t and you stay frustrated, confused, or disinterested, take special note of those feelings. If you’re keeping a journal, write them down. Consider each one and see what’s behind it.

• If we’re romantic, take some time to imagine that and how it goes. If you want to tell me about it, please do. If you don’t, that’s completely fine. It can stay a secret forever and ever. I offer this song as background music, but if you don’t like, play something else instead, whatever you like: