Some role playing

"You have a really nice place here" Lauren enthused as she entered Dr Darke's abode and took off her jacket.

She wasn't being entirely truthful. It was a little plain and clinical for her tastes, though it was at least spacious and clean. She sat down on a brown, leather couch in the centre of the room and made herself confortable.

"So, what ideas did you have to help me get over my stagefright?" the actress asked, eager to return to the matter in hand after the unexpected detour.

"Ah yes, I had an idea for an exercise which requires a little more privacy than my office can afford us" the doctor replied cryptically.

"Sure, whatever you think!" Lauren chirped back as she wondered both how this guy managed to make everything sound so creepy and also why she had agreed to this suggestion without even knowing what it was going to be.

"Since you are experiencing some associated anxiety around your acting, I think it would be beneficial for you and I to roleplay a few scenarios together."

What? Who was this guy, her hypnotherapist or her acting coach?

"What a great idea, lets do it!" Lauren found herself replying with great enthusiasm despite her misgivings.

"Now, I must warn you I am no Laurence Olivier, but I will do my best" Dr Darke promised "and I should also warn you that, in order to make your future scenes less scary, these scenarios will be designed to really push your boundaries and eliminate your inhibitions."

Lauren didn't like the sound of this at all.

"I can't wait to get started and I promise you I will give it everything I've got!" was what she in fact replied.