Bad Behaviour

The mind does anything to stay in power. It tells us that without its presence in everything,

we won't function. We won't love or be loved.

Notice the nasty tone.

Oh, come on.

The bullying voice.

Pass!

The mind, abusing.

This is the frightened ego.

Frightened.

One, two, three.

Notice.

Mom?

Hey!

Mom, I have one bar of reception and I'm at work. I have to teach a guy to strangle me, so I can't talk right now.

Yeah, okay. Actually, I can't talk either.

Your truth is very quiet.

I'm just calling because I'm going to be leaving reception any minute and I'm going to be on a semi-silent retreat in the wilderness, so don't expect to hear from me.

Bill? Oh, shoot, I lost you. Okay, I can't hear you. Bye. Bye-bye.

There you go.

Thank you.

The silence will begin at 6pm following the welcome meeting. There is no Wi-Fi outside of reception and it's a low-to-no technology retreat.

Okay.

Oh, also, if you could sign here, just agreeing to be in the promotional DVD.

Yeah. No, I don't want to be filmed. That's why I didn't sign it.

Oh, okay. Well, if you could motion to Mark from the film school, he'll be behind the camera.

But you'll tell him to?

No, it's just I don't want my daughter or my ex, you know, to see what I say if I say anything.

I can make a note, but if you could tell him yourself. I have a lot to be abreast of.

Sure.

So I'd appreciate that.

Okay.

Teamwork.

Um, so...

Meeting room.

Yeah.

Bridge.

Maze.

And rooms are beyond.

Ooh, anything especially good?

Room 9.

Oh, it's just a... I was joking. It's a totally weak joke.

Yeah.

See, we're here trying to get enlightened, so it shouldn't matter.

It doesn't matter.

I'll take a match.

There's some phone reception by the trash.

It's only for emergencies.

Only for emergencies with technology and reception.

If you need to talk, just call your dad.

Call dad?

Because you won't be able to call me.

Okay, well, I think I'll manage. I mean, I hardly ever call either of you.

You know, accidents do happen.

Mom, can you not? Well, actually, nothing kills you in New Zealand anyway, so I'll be fine.

Sure.

I worry.

Yeah, I know, but can you not? Because it actually throws me off. Please? Like...

Okay. Yes! I'm sorry.

Coffee. Fuck, I gotta go.

Why? Because of me?

No, because of work. I'm just late already.

Well, uh...

Look, I will text you when the silence is over. Yeah?

Yeah, okay. Love you, have a good experience, and I hope you enjoy it.

Yeah. I mean, unless I decide to prolong it, you know.

If I don't text you, then don't contact me, I guess.

Okay.

Love you.

Bye, baby.

You are not lost, you are not broke.

I invite you to begin this time without yourselves.

Without the stories that drove you here.

Yes.

Parked your cars.

I'm sure they are very compelling.

I invite us to be quiet.

To give ourselves permission to be...

a little mysterious.

Silence in the context of retreat is not only about not talking,

it's an opportunity to no longer participate in socializing.

I encourage you not to smile at each other.

No winking.

No signing.

You can use the board or come to Petunia or myself if you are experiencing panic, of course.

Maybe see what happens, though.

Yes, maybe see what happens if you let yourself feel that panic on your own a little first.

It may not be...

all that it seems.

Oh, other hand.

Is it too hard?

No, it's fine, but you don't need to squeeze at all because I'm just pulling you.

True, true. I'll follow you.

That's right. And remember, you can't hurt me. I have full control. It's fine.

Okay.

Ready?

Yeah.

And...

three...

two...

one.

You alright?

You alright?

What?

Nah, nah.

Don't do that to me. Don't.

No, it does hurt.

No, I'm sorry.

No, it's great. You did really good.

Okay.

Alright.

Do it again.

Alright.

Well, you want to try this?

Oh, yeah.

Okay.

Nah.

Not twice.

You're absolutely mangling the apple.

I'm concentrating.

What are you doing to that apple?

It's not what I showed you.

Fuck!

This is not fair.

Ow.

Okay.

I want to beat you at everything, so...

You are such a sore loser.

That's really something.

Two flightless birds for you.

No, breakfast is finished.

Thank you for joining us.

Yeah, of course.

Great.

We've been a very quiet bunch here.

The airport was just a fiasco.

I'm so sorry.

It's pretty.

Yes.

What room am I in?

We've got you in room number nine.

Cool.

Thank you.

You're welcome. Follow me.

Good.

Where's Elon?

Ah, he's meditating.

Come, come.

There's no fucking way.

He wants you to die like a bit more slowly.

You need to go faster going up.

Then you take the arrow.

Then you fall and you face more camera.

So he can see you.

Right?

Yeah.

Cool. We've done it four times, guys.

Come on.

Okay, okay.

We're going to go again, guys.

Going again.

It doesn't work.

It doesn't work.

They've been doing it for two days.

Okay, last look.

Last look.

What's going on?

And action.

Three, two, one, go.

And cut.

No, no, no, no, no.

That's a cut?

It doesn't work.

We've tried ten times.

Hey, could you take a photo for me?

Oh, it's over.

Oh.

Elon broke it.

Did you sleep in?

My alarm didn't go off.

Well, actually...

Oh, it's fading.

Can you take a couple?

Okay, how's that?

Oh, I'm in shadow.

Well, it's backlit, so...

Are you a photographer?

No.

I've taken a few portraits.

Thanks.

Sorry.

My dad was a bully.

He was a small, aggressive, white Balinese man.

He stopped bullying me when I got bigger than him.

I begged my body to get bigger.

And now I'm supporting him financially.

Because he's ill.

And because he's my dad.

My sister made this comment about him, and I didn't take it too well.

At all.

But I want to.