An interesting conversation

INT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE

The door opens as a DOCTOR enters with a satisfied grin after another educational meeting with a patient. His office reflects his persona: organized and polished, with a few carefully chosen pictures on the wall (a serene landscape, a framed motivational quote, and a candid photo of a medical team) to hint at a thoughtful, driven, and perhaps nostalgic personality. He sits at his desk and begins reading his special book.

Moments later, the door opens again, and two POLICE OFFICERS step inside. OFFICER MICHELLE takes a step forward, her partner OFFICER JOHN close behind. Their eyes dart around the room, then settle on the DOCTOR.

DOCTOR: (leaning back, smile not quite reaching his eyes) Before we begin, I’d like to know, what you would like to learn from this dialogue?

The OFFICERS glance at each in confusion before they look at the DOCTOR again. They do not know what to expect from him. OFFICER MICHELLE steps forward.

OFFICER MICHELLE: We would like to learn more about you.

OFFICER JOHN: And learn about the unusual reports surrounding you and your patients.

Both OFFICERS flinch slightly, their words tasting foreign even to themselves. The DOCTOR doesn’t mind. If anything his grin grows.

DOCTOR: Will learning this new information affect the outcome of this conversation?

OFFICERS: Yes.

Both OFFICER MICHELLE and OFFICER JOHN startle at their synchronized reply

DOCTOR: Then let us learn about me. To start—what is my name?

OFFICER MICHELLE: We don’t know your name.

DOCTOR: Why don’t you know my name?

OFFICER JOHN: Your name doesn’t appear in the hospital’s staff records, and none of the employees we interviewed referred to you by name. They only called you “DOCTOR”.

DOCTOR: (nods) Then you do know my name. Why did you say you didn’t know my name when you did?

OFFICER MICHELLE: (hesitant) “Doctor” isn’t a real name. It’s a title.

DOCTOR: (pleasantly) And yet it’s the only name you have. Does a name need to be real, or merely recognized?

OFFICER JOHN: (firmly despite his confusion) A name being real matters for our investigation. Titles don’t have birth certificates or personal records. People do.

DOCTOR: (leaning forward) So you are investigating a person. Will this evidence of my name be sufficient for your investigation?

The DOCTOR pulls a drawer open and pulls out his birth certificates and personal records and hands them to OFFICER JOHN. He sees no other name aside from “DOCTOR”.

OFFICER MICHELLE stares at the documents in disbelief, but there’s no mistaking the lack of a full name or any identifying information other than the title “DOCTOR”. She flicks her gaze to OFFICER JOHN, who looks just as surprised. No matter how hard they wish to deny it, they know that it is an undeniable fact that the man before them has no other name other than DOCTOR. All evidence points toward it.

OFFICER MICHELLE: (slowly) You can’t be serious. Your name can’t just be DOCTOR. It’s not possible.

DOCTOR: (takes his documents back and returns them to his drawer) I’m as serious as the truth. But what is a person, really? Is it the name on a document, or the life they lead?

OFFICER JOHN: (gritting his teeth as he pulls out his weapon and points it at the DOCTOR, much to OFFICER MICHELLE’S surprise) A person is more than a name on a document. A person is somebody, like my partner and I.

OFFICER MICHELLE: (wide-eyed) JOHN, put your weapon down! We’re only here to question the DOCTOR.

DOCTOR: (tilts his head) Yet neither of you had yet to utter a single question toward me, why is that? (glances at JOHN’S weapon) Why are you holding a Nerf gun?

OFFICER JOHN: (staring at the brightly colored toy in his hands) But I had my gun…

He lowers the Nerf gun slowly, as though unsure how it got there. OFFICER MICHELLE steps closer, her hand resting on her own holster, now suddenly unsure what she might draw.

DOCTOR: (gently) You came seeking answers, yet you armed yourselves with assumptions. Tell me—did you expect truth... or confirmation of your beliefs?

OFFICER MICHELLE: (shaken but holding firm) We expected the facts.

DOCTOR: (smiling faintly) I have given you nothing but facts and honesty. Perhaps, it is you two who haven’t been honest with yourselves (it is unclear if what the DOCTOR had was a statement or question) Speak, JOHN, why did you point a Nerf gun at me?

OFFICER JOHN: (struggling) I... I thought it was real. I knew it was real...

DOCTOR: (softly) Did you? Or did you hope it was real, to feel in control of this... situation?

JOHN clenches his fists, his face flushing with frustration.

OFFICER MICHELLE: (firmly) Stop twisting this. The question isn’t why JOHN pointed a Nerf gun—it’s why the weapon he did have became a Nerf gun.

DOCTOR: (raises an eyebrow) Became? Did you see his weapon become a Nerf gun? Maybe this was the weapon he always had. How would you know otherwise?

OFFICER MICHELLE: (glaring) I saw his standard-issue firearm when we entered the room. I did not imagine it.

DOCTOR: (leaning back, unfazed) I’m merely asking you to consider what you know... and what you think you know. Now answer honestly, did you see his weapon become a Nerf gun?

OFFICER MICHELLE: (hesitating) ...No. I didn’t see it change.

DOCTOR: (nodding) Then how do you know it ever was anything else?

OFFICER JOHN: (defensive) We both know it was a real gun. I would never carry a toy gun on duty.

DOCTOR: (calmly) Yet, you pointed a Nerf gun at me, a weapon you drew from your holster. (pauses) Perhaps, this dialogue would be more informative to you if you start asking me questions now.