Don't Get Attached [A4A] [Audio Roleplay] [Phone Calls] [Mystery] [Dark] [Oneshot] [Mentions of Character Death]
[] - Audio sound effects/preferred tone
(words) – extra information, va choice
CAPITALS – louder, shouting if wanted
Listener: Comfort support volunteer
Setting: Listener’s home, just before midnight
Premise: The listener is a new comfort support volunteer who joined after losing their best friend. They recently came off their shift and are relaxing at home. However, that downtime is interrupted when their mobile rings. At first, they presume it’s a wrong number, but that thought is discarded when the mystery caller seems to know a lot about their personal life, and why they volunteered…
PERMISSION TO CHANGE SPEAKER AND LISTENER GENDER GRANTED
[Audio fades in with rain outside a window, soft sound of TV in the background – listener is watching a movie. This audio plays for about ten seconds]
[Mobile rings, 5 seconds. TV sounds stop]
[Listener picks up the phone – light breathing sounds (maybe a filter of a call)]
Charlie: [Raspy, quiet] Is this (…) the comfort support line?
Charlie: [Disappointed] I see. Sorry, must’ve typed it in wrong. Sorry for disturbing you. I’ll try to call the right number this time [light strained laugh].
Charlie: [Smiling] Yeah, have a good night too.
[Phone hangs up. TV sounds resume before mobile rings again for longer (listener is hesitant). Call is answered again, breathing a little louder.]
Charlie: Is this the comfort support line?
Charlie: Oh shit. I didn’t- I swear I typed in the right number this time (…) I’m so sorry for disturbing you again. I don’t know why this is happening.
(Pause for listener to explain what might be happening)
Charlie: Oh, so you are a comfort support worker? But this is your personal number… Um (…) might they have mixed it up?
Charlie: That’s quite unprofessional, accidentally giving out your personal number like that. I’m so sorry… I just needed someone to talk to and I don’t want to spoil your evening-
(Charlie is interrupted by listener, pause)
Charlie: I… I don’t know. I know you say you’re not busy, but doesn’t this cut into your home time? [speaks a bit quicker] I wouldn’t want to drag you away from your family or anything.
Charlie: Okay [deep breath] as long as you’re sure. Um (…) where do I start?
Charlie: My name? It’s Charlie. What’s yours?
Charlie: Ah (…) yeah (…) Volunteer confidentiality and all that. I mean, that’s kind of gone out the window hasn’t it? With your personal number being accessible and all?
Charlie: Okay yeah, got it. No name. Well, regarding what’s troubling me (…) [another deep breath, longer than the last] I guess I’m just… I feel like I’m a failure. I don’t do anything right.
Charlie: I don’t know, I- [struggles for words] I guess I just make a lot of bad choices. Like, I might not pick the right outfit for the day, and that might end up with me getting laughed at. Well, not to my face, but I know they do. Or I might not pick the best partners. My last partner was… god they were so toxic.
Charlie: I don’t even have a good friend. They were either cut off or (…) they left me. [a little desperate] I tried chatrooms, and social media, but that didn’t work out either. So, I’m technically alone.
Charlie: [sour] Yeah, but you’re just a voice on a phone. Someone paid to care about me. You’re not a friend, are you?
Charlie: (…) I see. It’s volunteer work, not paid. I guess that means you care a bit more, that or you have no life and need to do something else. [strained laugh] Is there a reason you decided to become a volunteer.
Charlie: [defensive] Yeah well I know it’s meant to be about me and you’re here to listen, I’m just curious. (…) You don’t have to go into detail, do you? It can be brief.
Charlie: You joined for a friend? As in they also work there?
Charlie: Oh. (…)I’m sorry for your loss. That must be hard to deal with, being sudden and all too. (…) My friend passed away too- Well not a friend per se, more girlfriend. My most recent ex, actually.(…)  I guess that factors into why I feel like shit, if I’m allowed to swear. She was (…) amazing. So kind and sweet. Taken from us – from me – too soon.
Charlie: [light-hearted] Yeah, if we are moving the topic back towards my bad choices, I could never say she was one of them. She was arguably the best decision ever. God she was stunning. Always looking beautiful. Why she went for me (…) I’ll never know.
Charlie: Her name was Dana.
[Silence falls for a moment, maybe a fade in of creepy gentle music if possible]
Charlie: [chuckles quietly] A beautiful name to a beautiful face. I guess the only bad mistake with her was that she got away from me. Her friends got in her head, brainwashed her to make her think I was bad. I never wanted to do anything bad but…
[Silence falls again, music picking up, but still relatively quiet]
Charlie: [innocently] Her surname? Renfield.
[Listener hangs up and puts their phone down loudly onto a table. Music becomes louder and louder.]
[Phone rings again. Music abruptly stops. Listener declines the call.]
[Phone rings again for a bit before listener answers.]
Charlie: [childish tone] Is this the comfort support line?
Charlie: [mocking] Stop doing what? I just want someone to talk to.
Charlie: Talk about what? Well, I guess the main problem is my attachment to my ex. Dana was so sweet. So naïve. So understanding. I just had to have her, you see? I’m sure you know the feeling of love that swells in your chest. You must get that with your partner? The one that lives with you- well, not right now. I know you guys are going through a rough spot right now, what with your dear little friend’s anniversary of her death coming up right? It’s tomorrow, isn’t it?
(Pause for listener) [Tense music fades in quietly]
Charlie: [hostile] Don’t play dumb. You can’t play the ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about’ card. Not now. I know too much to be played off as if I’m wrong. I know this is a sensitive time for both of us right now but that does not excuse you to act like a fucking bitch.
Charlie: Why am I doing this? Let me give you a painted picture. You’re in college, struggling to make friends. Then comes along the most perfect girl you’ve ever laid your eyes on. She’s generous, sensitive, and willing to help you find classes and let you hang around her and her group. Then, a few months later, you end up falling for this girl and guess what? She likes you back. You think: Wow. This must be my dream come true. You’re only problem? There’s a couple of self-centred idiots who can’t see true happiness unless it slapped them in the face, and they decide that someone else’s relationship is too good for you, and make it they’re job to ruin it-
(Listener interrupts Charlie)
Charlie: (interrupting the listener) [impatient] HEY. You’re not meant to interrupt me. I’m the caller. You’re the comfort support. You listen to me and do not interrupt, got it? [deep breath to calm down] Where was I? Ah yeah. Well, the friends decide to spread lies about you. That you’re ‘abusive’ and ‘psychotic’ like they know exactly what they’re talking about. Did you enjoy it? (…) Hm? Did you like ruining what was finally perfect in my life? Telling your little stories that I ‘didn’t deserve’ her? You think it was me that made her jump off that bridge don’t you? Because of those ‘persistent’ calls, you corrupted her to think I was obsessive and sick.
Charlie: [deep breath, tone returning to normal] But I just wanted to talk. Just like I’m doing now. I’ve made a lot of bad choices in my life, I know, but this (…) this will solve everything. Help her rest in peace. To put this whole thing to rest and end my grief. I will ensure that Dana’s death will not go unpunished. [a forced laugh] You think because you joined some shitty comfort support company you think you can truly honor her? As her friend? Well that’s nothing. Nothing compared to what I would do for her now, one year after her death. And would you look at that? It’s almost midnight. [quietly] Happy Anniversary my love, don’t worry (…) I’ll get rid of them. [normal voice] (…) Ten. Nine. Eight. Sev-
[Listener hangs up, footsteps as they run to hide. Make the countdown silently finish, and once it does, a smashing glass effect? (Sound effect to indicate a break in).]
[Charlie footsteps getting closer. Then silence for a moment.]
Charlie: [Charlie’s voice in one ear] I just wanted someone to talk to.
