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A few people have written to me asking where they can find my fictional "Paul and Laura" episode that I posted on another thread a while back. You can always go to my website listed below and click on the "Season 2 Finale: Paul and Laura" link or you can go directly to the story by clicking Here BTW, I altered the final scene just a bit, based on the ending suggested by Gruffyboy. Thanks Gruff! -- TouchedByThPoet http://sites.google.com/site/touchedbythpoet/Home
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(37 of 52)
Re: Link to the "Paul and Laura" story
May 18, 2009 2:23 PM
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> Which was the greater injury? My belief is had
> he
> > had sexual relations with Laura, that would be
> even
> > more injurious. Here's why: The addition of a
> > sexual element propels a relationship onto
> another
> > level, and this is particularly true for most
> (not
> > necessarily all) women. He claims he loved
> Laura.
> > I would argue that he was infatuated with her,
> and
> > d am in agreement with Gina's perception about
> his
> > having a need for someone to look up to him,
> admire
> > him, depend upon him, etc.
My experience may have colored my thoughts but let me offer the following...
I was in therapy for almost a year with my former therapist. In time, I felt a deep affection for him....what I perceived at the time, as a very deep love. Not just because of his sensitivity and attentiveness towards me in that 50 minute span of time, but also through the a struggle I witnessed within him....one of being a man and also of being a therapist. Did it have anything to do with me? Who knows? It was awkward, clumsy and so very real that I allowed myself to be vulnerable to him in a way I had never been before. Because there were no outside world experiences or expectations between us... a mutual respect, admiration, understanding, acceptance were, in essence, the core experiences.
So, since this was true, you would assume that when my therapy ended I would walk away with a great positive therapy experience.... right? WRONG! I felt the COMPLETE opposite when he terminated me. I felt rejected, alone, betrayed. I began to believe some posts I read on this board .. that "damaged" people did not have the ability to love. I questioned my new therapist, "How can one overcome being a victim...when a stigma is placed on those... who experienced trauma as a child? Will I ever be able to love? Will I ever be loveable?
The forbidden element of the relationship allowed for the space to think...I could be loved, I could be loveable but because of who HE is.....that love will only exist in this room. The termination decision was difficult because it was viewed as rejection by me. I am too damaged....I am not loveable....I am one of "those" people... I am one of those people mentioned on the IT forum. When my new therapist confirmed there were no real reasons for him to terminate me.... I was the survivor reverting back to the role of the victim!
Love isn't just about loving the other person....it's about loving yourself and the way that person makes you feel ! Each time I see my former therapist, I grieve. It is not uncommon for me to encounter him 2-3 times a week....There have been several times he has arrived with his wife, in a restaurant where I am eating with my family or friends. I grieve the relationship, I grieve the loss, but most importantly, I grieve the part, of me, I lost in the termination! It is very difficult for me to acknowledge I have spent the last year and a half in therapy, grieving this experience, crying at each therapy session trying to make sense of it all!
The saddest and most tragic thing that could happen now ...is to find out he shared in those feelings.
When I think of Paul and Laura....I see the harm already done. It really doesn't matter whether he kissed, embraced, or sexed her up. He has already crossed the proverbial "line". The degree of relationship which exists in the real world is determined by the intense feelings two people share and the lengths they are willing to go to express those feelings. Unfortunately, in therapy, it is is the therapist/client relationship, itself, which defines the relationship.
I don't agree with it, but I will respect it.
--
Edited by itfan at 05/18/2009 11:28 AM PDT
--
Edited by itfan at 05/18/2009 11:35 AM PDT
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Posts:
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(36 of 52)
Re: Link to the "Paul and Laura" story
May 18, 2009 12:50 PM
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> It will be great!!! We need to speak to his
> people. The two of us . Do you think we can convince
> them?
>
> I think if there is anyone who could do the "talking
> to his people", I do think the two (PDX and LL) of
> you could definitely get the job done.....I'm just
> sayin....
>
> --
> Edited by LuvHisLIPS at 05/18/2009 8:54 AM PDT
I agree 110% with you LHL.....go for it ladies.....hahahaha........speak for us!!! 
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612
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(35 of 52)
Re: Link to the "Paul and Laura" story
May 18, 2009 11:52 AM
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It will be great!!! We need to speak to his people. The two of us . Do you think we can convince them?
I think if there is anyone who could do the "talking to his people", I do think the two (PDX and LL) of you could definitely get the job done.....I'm just sayin....
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Edited by LuvHisLIPS at 05/18/2009 8:54 AM PDT
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(34 of 52)
Re: Link to the "Paul and Laura" story
May 18, 2009 10:58 AM
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Ohhhh, LL and PDX - you rock, ladies! Is there something about that Pacific air that brings out the genius in the two of you??!
Seriously, LL, I unfortunately remember the Bobby Ewing scene (in the shower - what did he say, "Good morning!" UH!?!?!). All I can say is: Pamela must have dropped some acid the night before!
Yeah, Gabriel said he would never do a nude scene again (after ADW), but then he was "close" in EOD, and I'll take that any day.
Some MAJOR story ideas here gals, a la Touched. Alas, can't happen for Season 2, but here's a BIG shout out to Season 3.
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(33 of 52)
Re: Link to the "Paul and Laura" story
May 18, 2009 3:40 AM
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Oooh, oooh, PDX Love, you're a genius...but of course, all of this would have to be done with Touched's approval...she has final say when it comes to editing her work without a script consultation with Gabriel Byrne and the directors, et. al.
It's so true, though, that the imagination is quite powerful and that even the sounds of zippers coming undone and belt buckles loosening would advance that part of the love scene.
Yes, then cut to Paul and Laura kissing with just shoulders exposed....uhn-huh...I see what you mean. GB had a sheet over him with exposed shoulders in End Of Days. You could even see his vaccination splotch on his left upper arm, unless that brown patch is a birthmark.
He's so trim this season that he might not have man-boobs anymore....Exhibit A: Venice Magazine, April Issue. Um, he could still slay even with a white T-shirt and jeans....he seems to be slaying the Ladies fully clothed as it is.
OK...you and Touched have a confab and see what shakes down....thanks a bunch.
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(32 of 52)
Re: Link to the "Paul and Laura" story
May 18, 2009 3:13 AM
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LL Dahlink!
Oh my god. If they load tonight I am fooked!
I will not be able to resist.
I almost had Paul in the shower (ala Ewing).
Hey it could work and remember when Paul had that little fantasy trist with Alex and Laura in his office and Laura had to snap him out of it?
He doesn't have to drop trou or show man boobs, it can be darkly shot with lot's of heavy breathing and the sounds of zippers being undone and belts hitting the floor. It will be great!!! We need to speak to his people. The two of us . Do you think we can convince them?
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(31 of 52)
Re: Link to the "Paul and Laura" story
May 18, 2009 3:03 AM
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Hey PDX!! You still in the house? Doing the late shift, are you? I'm waiting for the On Demand queue to load with tomorrow's episodes at midnight.
OK...so you've got a dream sequence going on with Touched's story, huh? Kinda reminds me a bit of the Bobby Ewing return on Dallas back in the day....some of these posters might be too young to remember that.
Rescue Me does this often at the opening of the show with Dennis Leary. This could work, I think. Wouldn't we want, even NEED Paul to talk to Gina about this dream? Hmmmm, this looks like a two-episode event.
The only caveat to Touched's story is that Gabriel Byrne doesn't drop trou anymore. I think ADW is the last time his buns have surfaced onscreen, but Touched might be able to work it out with a consultation with Gabriel Byrne to talk about how to play out the scene. I'm sure she wouldn't mind that.
OK...toodles.....
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Re: Link to the "Paul and Laura" story
May 18, 2009 2:48 AM
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Miss PDX:
Great idea! The last episode begins with Touched's ending....then Paul wakes up...We recognize it has been his dream....In Treatment Music intro begins to play....then, he arrives at Gina's office and they discuss.
YES! Only it needs to play like this: Paul see's Laura, Laura sees Paul. Kabam! the In Treatment music starts, Touched's script plays for 22 minutes untill there is a black out and then Paul knocking on Gina's door looking sleepy and spent mumbling about a dream... End of story.
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139
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(29 of 52)
Re: Link to the "Paul and Laura" story
May 18, 2009 1:49 AM
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itfan,
It was a pleasure to respond to your questions which were very thought-provoking. Glad to hear your experience in therapy was so positive. Feel free to ask questions anytime.
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(28 of 52)
Re: Link to the "Paul and Laura" story
May 18, 2009 1:20 AM
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>> Anyway, I couldnt say it the way you did, I love your
> point here and love the way you phrased it.
>
>
Thank you Touched.
> TouchedByThPoet
> http://sites.google.com/site/touchedbythpoet/Home
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90
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(27 of 52)
Re: Link to the "Paul and Laura" story
May 18, 2009 1:15 AM
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Miss PDX:
Great idea! The last episode begins with Touched's ending....then Paul wakes up...We recognize it has been his dream....In Treatment Music intro begins to play....then, he arrives at Gina's office and they discuss.
--
Edited by itfan at 05/17/2009 10:22 PM PDT
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(26 of 52)
Re: Link to the "Paul and Laura" story
May 18, 2009 1:00 AM
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> As an aside let me say that I have been under the
> weather for the past couple of days. As a result, I
> have put way too much time into this forum than I
> care to think about, and as a result, am feeling more
> than satiated . . .
Oh DSM, I hope you are feeling better!Thank you for responding to my question. I really respect your input and insight to this board and hope you didn't feel uncomfortable with me asking a direct question of you.
>
> Yes, I lost some respect for him when he arrived at
> Laura's. His feelings (countertransference in
> Freudian terms) should have been worked through
> (Freud again!) with Gina, and not acted-out on the
> patient. In conjunction with that, he could have
> also terminated the therapy. (If memory serves, upon
> discussion, Laura vehemently rejected the notion of
> transferring to another therapist.)
I know transference occurs in everyday life....The yearning and obsessions that you described Paul was feeling is similar to your description of the audience watching the Laura/Paul storyline? Would you say we are all experiencing a level of tranference through these episodes?
>
> Which was the greater injury? My belief is had he
> had sexual relations with Laura, that would be even
> more injurious. Here's why: The addition of a
> sexual element propels a relationship onto another
> level, and this is particularly true for most (not
> necessarily all) women. He claims he loved Laura.
> I would argue that he was infatuated with her, and
> d am in agreement with Gina's perception about his
> having a need for someone to look up to him, admire
> him, depend upon him, etc.
I have some thoughts about this and wish to address this later.
Love comes about as the
> result of prolonged time and experience with a person
> - not meeting with a client for 45 minutes within the
> context of a clinical situation, thus missing out on
> the ability to experience that individual in "the
> real world."
Agreed. However, I know of many people who have spent a prolonged amount of time and experience with a person and do not have "love" in their relationship. Perhaps, mutual admiration is a better term.
My concern is that many of his
> feelings were likely engendered by his fantasies
> since these people did not share a relationship out
> in the world. Also, Laura had slept with a number
> of people, and her former fiance, Andrew, seemed
> attentive and caring, yet she ultimately rejected him
> and placed her attentions on a married
> psychotherapist. She struck me as stereotypically
> histrionic, and I believe for her, the chase meant
> more than the conquest. Paul noted that although he
> was unable to perform, when he did later attend to
> her, she was no longer interested in him (which is
> what I would have anticipated). Do we know for a
> fact that Laura felt rejected? My guess is she may
> have been ambivalent about the manner in which things
> ended - not unlike Paul.
No, we don't know for a fact that Laura felt rejected. We can only surmise from comments which she made in previous therapy sessions.
>
> Intercourse between the two would have brought about
> greater interpersonal and intrapersonal difficulties
> (as well as invited a law suit and the potential for
> revocation of his license.) Despite his
> shortcomings, he tried to behave morally and
> ethically, and sexual relations would have lowered
> his self-esteem and brought about disastrous results
> for both parties. (Although given their chemistry,
> it's fun to contemplate them having wild sex - I'll
> give you that much!)
>
> Clients test boundaries- sometimes frequently. They
> often do so with the hope (not necessarily with a
> conscious awareness) that the therapist maintains
> these boundaries. In this way, they know they are
> safe, protected and can trust that the therapist will
> serve their best interests.
Alas, I know this all too well. In my case, I was very much aware of it. For me, my feelings were intensifed because the relationship was not a sexual one. In other words, I wanted, desired, fantasized and yet, I loved that it was a safe place for me. It was not a relationship centered on sex but one on mutual respect, understanding, and what I thought was unconditional acceptance. That was, until my termination.
>
> --
> Edited by DSM4 at 05/17/2009 12:25 AM PDT
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Re: Link to the "Paul and Laura" story
May 17, 2009 11:18 PM
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Well, it just doesn't make sense to me that Paul would be that fine and have NOBODY to connect with...what a waste of a perfectly gorgeous man?
Then again, that could be the point of IT...none of what we see on the surface with folks can be trusted to be consistent with what's going on underneath...hmmmmm....maybe that's even more reason for Paul and Laura to just go for broke this season, and like moths to a flame, fly headlong into heat....hey they might combust, but what an exciting ride?
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(24 of 52)
Re: Link to the "Paul and Laura" story
May 17, 2009 10:52 PM
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Coming back to rate this with five-stars because (a) it's from Touched and (b) we ALL agree - even the non-Paul/Laura shippers - that we'd like to have TOUCHED's script "play out" in some way, shape or form.
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(23 of 52)
Re: Link to the "Paul and Laura" story
May 17, 2009 2:20 PM
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My desire is to see Paul and Laura cross paths or
> reunite and how they each handle the intense
> feelings (yearning, obsession,and internal struggles)
> which you so adequately described. It would provide
> more closure, than HBO provided for either Paul or
> Laura last season.
I would love to see this happen too. Maybe we have to wait until Season Three, but it seems a no brainer to me that the writers too would like to see this come full circle. It is certainly a good dramatic opportunity. It could go many ways, but I imagine Paul feeling vulnerable and maybe embarrassed in her presence, (or deliciously squirmy!) and she hopefully is happier in her life and relationships since treatment.
I would be fine with a fantasy scene too!
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