Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] The creator. Shadows of the soul chapter six cracks in the code.
[00:00:07] The chapter opens with Danny meeting with his former employee, David, an IT expert, in his office. The atmosphere is tense, with David looking deeply concerned as he pulls up a screen filled with lines of code, computer coding.
[00:00:23] The author who's mentioned in David's book, the one who falls in love with the mysterious woman. He's present in the office, a shadowy figure that only Danny can see, and he's pacing angrily in the background of the office. David points to the screen as Danny looks on. I called you in here as soon as I could because this couldn't wait. I've been running some simulations, trying to understand what's been happening with the mysterious woman, why she pops in and out of this reality from some kind of book reality. And I think I found something. And I have to tell you, it's disturbing. And Danny leans in. Well, what do you mean? David scrolls through various codes. He's created simulations. Just look at this. It isn't just a random text. The code is a living, breathing thing.
[00:01:18] It seems to be that every time you write something about the mysterious woman, the code changes. Its like shes evolving, adapting to whatever you write. And so is the code, which is behind her. But thats not the scariest part. Danny frowns. Well, what could be scarier than that? And David leans back, looking troubled. Well, the code isnt just influencing her behavior. Its affecting you too. Its creating a feedback loop between you and the mysterious woman, fictional character who somehow came to life. I guess what I'm trying to say is the more you write, the more it changes you and the world around you. It's like you're both part of the same system. And it's getting harder to tell where one ends and the other begins before Danny can respond. The fictional author, the purported author in the radio drama that Danny is writing, and the fictional love interest of the mysterious woman suddenly steps forward.
[00:02:25] This fictional author was never meant to be more than ink on paper, a character conjured from Danny's mind, a figment of fiction. But as Danny wrote, something strange began to happen with him. As it had with the mysterious woman. The boundaries between Danny's world and the world of his creation began to blur. And out of the shadows of his story, the fictional author steps now into the light. And he wasn't just a character. He was a reflection of Danny's darkest fears and deepest desires, brought to life with a will of his own, challenging his creator in ways that Danny never anticipated. The fictional author steps forward, glaring at Danny with barely contained rage. So you think this is a game, don't you? You think you can just write whatever you want and have it all turn out the way you imagine. Well, guess what, Danny boy? You stole her from me.
[00:03:25] Yes, you stole her. The mysterious woman. She was mine, my creation, my muse. And you took her away.
[00:03:35] And Danny says, wait, but you're not real. You're just a character. How can you? You say I'm a character? Is that what you think? That we're all just puppets for you to play with? I was the one who created her, who fell for her first, and she fell for me. And now you're trying to make her yours. That's not how it works, danny. You don't get to rewrite the rules just because you're the one holding the pen.
[00:04:03] David looks on, concerned. Danny appears to be talking to himself.
[00:04:09] Uh, danny, who are you talking to? And danny, realizing what it looks like, shakes his head. Oh, it's nothing. Just never mind. And the fictional author, stepping closer, his voice dripping with venom, says, you, can change her name, you can change her appearance, you can call her galileo, galatea, whatever you want. But she's still mine. And I won't let you take her without a fight. Dani says desperately, she's more than a character now. She's real. Or at least she feels real. And I'm just trying to figure out what's happening. Ha. The fictional author laughs. Good luck with that. Because every word you write, every decision you make, you're getting closer to losing control. And when that happens, don't come crying to me. You're on your own, Danny boy.
[00:05:01] The fictional author vanishes as quickly as he appears, leaving Danny shaken. David looks on, noticing Danny's distress, but doesn't press any further. Instead he says softly, danny, whatevers going on, you need to be careful. This isnt just a story anymore. Its real and its dangerous. But thats only the first of Dannys confrontations. Hes back in his studio and Trisha arrives looking worried. She confronts him. Danny, we need to talk. Youve been so distant, more than usual, and Im worried about whats happening to you. And with Teresa gone, there's no one to look after you. And Danny tries to dismiss her concern, saying, I'm fine, Trisha. Just working through some things. She crosses her arms. Working through things. You're getting lost in them, Danny. You're not the same anymore. You're so wrapped up with this woman and this story. You're forgetting about the real world and the people who care about you. Danny says defensively. Trisha, you don't understand. This isn't just a story. It's an obsession, Trisha says. And it's consuming you. Whatever's going on, you need to take a step back before you lose yourself completely.
[00:06:16] I'm in too deep, Trisha, Danny says.
[00:06:20] But I don't know how to stop. It's like the more I try to figure it out, the more tangled up I get. A and seeing his desperation, Trisha eases up. Well, maybe it's time to stop trying to figure it all out. Maybe it's time to let everything just go a little bit and remember who you are, who you were before all of this started.
[00:06:45] And Danny, looking down conflicted, says, well, you're right. But I don't even know if I remember who I was before this started. Danny's ex, Theresa, is in town, and they agree to meet in a quiet cafe that evening. The atmosphere is tense but familiar as they sip their coffee, avoiding the deeper topics until Theresa breaks the silence. Something's going on with you. What is going on? I know we're not together anymore, but I still care. And you seem very off. Danny is distracted. He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. Well, you're right. Things have been complicated. There's things I've been dealing with. It's hard to explain. I've been working with Doctor Harrison, he adds, and Theresa lean's unconcerned. Well, doctor Harrison is still a doctor, but I know you. And I'm a person. Try me. You know, I've seen you at your worst, so whatever it is, I know I can handle it. And after a pause, Danny opens up, choosing his words carefully. Well, David, the IT specialist from where I used to work, well, he's been looking at my writing and comparing it and creating a code, and he discovered that what I've been writing, they're not just words, they're affecting reality. Or maybe it's more like reality. What is influencing what I write? Theresa raises an eyebrow. That sounds pretty far out there, even for you. Are you saying you're controlling reality through your stories? In that case, have them waive the check. David laughs. Oh, it's not that simple. It's more like there's this feedback loop between me and what I write, and it seems like I'm involved in a kind of simulation. Maybe we all are. And the code, whatever it is that's running this simulation, it changes every time I write. And the woman I've been writing about, I call her the mysterious woman, the imaginary friend. She's become more than just a character. She's real, Teresa. And now everything is just spiraling out of control.
[00:09:07] Danny rests his head in his hands. Teresa, trying to process this, has a mix of skepticism and concern on her face. So you're telling me your writing is changing the world around you. Is it changing my world, too? And this woman you're involved with, she's from your book, is that it? Well, yeah. And the worst part is, I think I've lost control of it all. It's like the code or whatever controls this simulation I'm a part of, or maybe we all are a part of. It's taken on a life of its own. This code, David has seen it run a simulation of it, and he says that we're all just part of a larger code following a pre written script. But it's no longer pre written. I'm altering that script with what I write in the story. There's a pregnant pause and Theresa, sitting back, is stuck, stunned. That's insane, Danny. But then again, it makes a weird kind of sense. You know, you always had a way of getting lost in your stories, of making them so real that they felt more than just fiction. But this. This is really on another level, Theresa adds, and what you're going through, it seems to be a choice. A choice about what matters more, this story or the actual life that you're living.
[00:10:31] And Danny, looking down at his coffee, says, I don't even know if I can separate the two anymore. And Theresa reaches across the table, placing her hand on his. Then maybe it's time to try. Start with what you know what's real. Me, David, Tricia, Doctor Harrison. We're all real and we're all here for you. But you have to let us in. And with that, Danny nods slowly, the weight of Therese's words sinking in as he realizes that he may have to make a choice between the story he's writing and the life that he's living.
