Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] The creator shadows of the Soul chapter seven convergence and conflict as we open chapter seven, Danny is reeling from David's revelation that all things, both fictional and physical, are bound by a code, a kind of computer code, all within a cosmic simulation. Danny grapples with the staggering realization that his writing itself may be altering reality as he navigates the chaos of a sentient author he created who begins to haunt him. He also has to deal with the issues created by the love interest that he's formed a relationship with and an overprotective former office manager, Tricia. Danny faces the profound dilemma of choosing between his story's completion and reclaiming the life he left behind, as revealed in his conversation with his ex, Theresa. It is in this turmoil that Trisha, his former office manager, returns with unfinished business at his study.
[00:01:08] I felt that I had to come back.
[00:01:10] I'm no longer your office manager. And you may not want to hear this, but I really need to start looking after myself now, professionally. I spent enough time worrying about you. I even called your doctor and worrying about the book. I have to now focus on me and my career.
[00:01:33] And look, you're a grown man. You have free will. You're going to do what you want with your life anyway. I'm not here to tell you what to do. And I'm not going to be there to clean up the mess anymore. So I guess it's on you and what you decide is your business. Maybe it should have always been that way.
[00:01:51] Trisha continues to run on unburdening herself. You know, you've gotten yourself into this pickle and I want you to know I'm still here for you. But I can't do more than I've already done. Anyway. I've involved Doctor Harrison, you know. We both know how. I voiced my concerns about you to him, and I hope you don't hate me for that. I feel a little guilty kind of ratting you out, but I did what I thought was right and that's that.
[00:02:20] Danny answers with understanding. Well, I actually had a similar conversation with Teresa. She asked me a simple do I choose this story, this project, or do I choose the life that I'm truly living, the one I've been given, even with its flaws. You know, I have always liked her, Trisha says. Until, of course, the betrayal.
[00:02:46] Well, there's no way for me to go back to her. Regardless, Trisha and both of us might be better off as friends, just looking out for each other. As Trisha leaves for the door, she says, well, at least I feel I have some closure about us and how we work together and about how concerned I was about you. And maybe you even have some closure, or you're aiming toward it in your relationship with or your former relationship with Theresa.
[00:03:16] Later in the evening, the room dimly lit, the soft hum of the computer sounding in the background with papers strewn all over his desk. Danny stands near the window, his back to the room. The fictional author enters, closing the door behind him with a click. Danny says jokingly, what is this, Grand Central Station? People just keep coming in and out about this book. It's crazy, but the fictional author isn't amused. You're playing a very dangerous game, Danny. You're not just creating characters anymore. You're crossing lines that were never meant to be crossed. You're bringing them to life, Danny. And they're not just two dimensional figures in a story. When you gave them agency, when you started altering their paths, you created a feedback loop. And now, by doing that, you're tampering with their code, that which accompanies their existence.
[00:04:19] And by doing that, you tamper with the very foundations of their reality and also your own reality. There's a look of recognition on Danny's face, because what the fictional author is telling him echoes what David, his IT specialist, said to him the day before.
[00:04:40] The fictional author continued, if you just kept them as characters, two dimensional, following whatever scripts they were supposed to follow, none of this would be happening. Their world would remain separate and harmless. But you've crossed a line. And now every change you make ripples outward, and it affects not just them, but everything. Well, what do you mean, everything?
[00:05:04] Well, you're messing with the code.
[00:05:07] The code behind call it the simulation that holds it all together.
[00:05:14] Danny, do you understand? You're messing with reality itself. Worse yet, you're destabilizing the foundations of existence. It's like hammering away at the base of a house until it falls down. Its not just her world or yours thats at risk. Youre risking everything, all of existence. You know what happens when you start tampering with foundation, right? Its the same principle that terrifies physicists. The idea that a small experiment, like splitting an atom or accelerating a particle could unravel the universe.
[00:05:54] They fear a chain reaction that could collapse the very vacuum of space and destroy reality. And believe it or not, you don't have a $20 billion particle accelerator. You've got a little word processor out of date. But that's exactly what you're doing here.
[00:06:13] Danny's face drains of color as the full scope of his actions become clear. Stepping closer, his fictional alter ego says, and youve been altering the mysterious woman without her knowing it, changing the very code that makes her who she is. Its like casting a spell, a love spell that binds her without her consent, but it doesnt stop there. Youre also altering the code of her world, the world of fiction that you created, the very fabric of existence she comes from. But beyond that, it affects your world, too, because you're caught up in this feedback loop. So if you keep this up, you could unmake everything, all because you wanted to be with one of your characters.
[00:07:04] Forget about me and what I might have had with her. Is it worth it, what you're trying to do? But how could it affect everything? Because you created a connection, a feedback loop between worlds, and you're altering not just her and her world, but everything. You're playing with forces you don't understand.
[00:07:26] You owe her the truth, Danny. Full disclosure. The mysterious woman, Galatea, whatever you call her, she deserves to know what you've been doing and also what you've been risking. She's more than a character now, and you need to treat her as such. After a pause, Danny asks, so if I tell her everything, will you just leave me alone?
[00:07:50] And the fictional author slams his fist on the desk.
[00:07:54] Thats you. Always looking for a way out. Im not letting go. I will work just as hard as you do. Plotting my revenge through their connection. The mysterious woman senses the need to speak with Danny. He sits in his chair in his study, hands clasped together, staring down at the floor. The mysterious woman, or the fictional double, stands across from him, arms folded, a look of concern and frustration on her face. You know, I owe you an explanation. Full disclosure. I learned something yesterday, and you deserve to know what I've learned and what I've been doing and the risks it's created. The mysterious woman remains silent, her eyes narrowing slightly. Everything we've been through, it's more than just a story, Danny says. It turns out that everything, your world, my world, it all runs on code. Maybe it's a simulation. When I wrote about you, I didn't just write about a character. I created a code. But I also, by connecting emotionally, somehow, created a feedback loop. So every time I write, every time we interact, it alters the code. And it doesn't stop there. It's affecting your world and mine as well, and maybe even the foundation of reality itself. Her eyes widen slightly, but she quickly regains her composure, a hint of anger and hurt appearing on her face. So you've known this all along and you didn't even tell me? You've been changing me, altering everything we've built without even asking.
[00:09:40] I didn't know at first. I didn't realize what I was doing, Danny says. But I should have told you as soon as I found out. But I didn't, and I'm sorry.
[00:09:50] The mysterious woman takes a step closer. And what about, what about the fact that we had something more than just something physical? Danny, we shared something emotional and spiritual. But you're turning to your ex, sharing things with her that we should be discussing. That hurts more than you realize. Why did you do that?
[00:10:16] It was never about going back to her. I was lost trying to figure out how to make sense of everything. But you're right. What we had, it's more than anything I've ever known, and I've endangered it all in your world, my world, everything. Well, Danny, maybe the universe will sort itself out, but you and I, we need to figure out what we're really doing here. You were supposed to escape from all those stories with my help, not get trapped in a new one. I know, I know, Danny says. I thought I was finding myself, but I've only made things worse. You know, we were supposed to be something more. Danny, she says. Now I'm not sure if that's possible anymore. I need to think about what I really want and if this is the path that I should take.
