A girl struggling with selective mutism is given an opportunity to attend her dream college. However, in order to do so, she's required to give an oral interview. Determined to keep her dream alive, she enlists the help from the most unlikely place.
00:00Okay Kennedy are you ready? If we shadows have offended, think but this and all is
00:16mandate. That you have but slumbered here. That you have but slumbered here. Now do it like you're
00:22sleeping. That you have but I love slumbered here. Good. Remember your diction. While these visions did appear. While these visions did appear. Good. Can you say it louder and more precisely? While these visions did appear. Yay!
00:52Okay Kennedy are you ready? If these shadows have offended, think but this and all is left.
00:59We're leaving in 10 minutes. Are you ready?
01:20Five minutes. Are you ready?
01:43Well?
01:48Figures.
01:49How do you do it? You haven't said a word to me since my mom took you in. But now you have Yale after you? Do you actually speak in class? Or does everybody just feel bad for you?
02:05Well I'm wasting my breath. You're just an extended guest here anyway.
02:13I'm not going to talk to you anyway.
02:43Kennedy, come in.
02:48The Winston Education Foundation is offering one student a full-ride scholarship to the
02:53college of their choice.
02:55There's just one thing you have to interview.
03:13I guess I would at least sign that says, that's Taco-Bout Satan, because I don't have a problem.
03:39What about you?
03:40Are you going to ask someone to see them now?
03:43Hi there.
03:44You must be Kennedy.
03:45And Megan.
03:46We're in here.
03:47Good evening, everyone.
03:50Let's huddle.
04:03So, as always, let's start by saying our names.
04:10And one thing we're feeling right now.
04:13Hi, my name is Julie, and I'm excited to be here.
04:17Hi, I'm Frank, and I feel hungry.
04:20Hi, I'm Wendy, and just a lot's going on.
04:25I don't really want to talk about it.
04:26I'm so sorry, Wendy.
04:29Tanner, why don't you go?
04:33Okay, I'm Tanner.
04:34As you all know by now, I've been going through some things that are pretty exciting.
04:38Thank you for staying.
04:39I wanted to talk with you before you left tonight.
04:45I watched you today.
04:47Being here is difficult for you, isn't it?
04:51If I can ask, what brought you to a theater of all places?
05:04Well, congratulations.
05:06May I ask you some personal questions?
05:11Are you able to speak?
05:15Is there anyone you're comfortable speaking to?
05:20Have you always had trouble?
05:25When did it start?
05:28It's okay.
05:29You don't have to answer that.
05:34I want to help you, Kennedy.
05:37And I think I can.
05:39What do you think about staying after our class every week?
05:42Just to work on a few things.
05:44Can you do that?
05:59Stay here.
06:00No matter what you hear, no matter what happens, don't make a sound.
06:08I love you, baby girl.
06:17I have some things for you, Kennedy.
06:19I've been thinking about ways we could communicate during our sessions.
06:25Exhibit A.
06:29I also have this for you.
06:35Have you ever journaled before?
06:38I want you to start writing down your thoughts.
06:41It takes time, it takes practice, and it might not seem important, but it is.
06:48You need to be able to find your voice.
06:50And this will give you a start as we prepare for your interview.
06:53You can write about things you think about or things that move you.
07:05Can you do that?
07:07Excellent.
07:08Let's start with eye contact, which is our most important nonverbal form of communication.
07:14Are you able to look at my eyes?
07:20That's okay.
07:21Eye contact is difficult for most people.
07:24Let's take this slower.
07:27Try looking at my chin.
07:32Good.
07:33Now my mouth.
07:34Watch my lips move as I talk.
07:38Good.
07:40Now.
07:41My eyes.
07:44There you go.
07:45It's a start.
07:47Now I want you to practice in the mirror or at school, even if it's just for a second.
07:51We are going to do something today that you can use in your phone.
07:52Just for a second.
07:53We are going to do something today that you can use in your final performance.
08:21Without talking, I want you to act out a family.
08:27Can you do that without talking?
08:30What does family mean to you?
08:32How do you show family?
08:51Yes.
09:10Hold on.
09:13Keep going, Kennedy.
09:21I noticed your eye contact today.
09:38I'm impressed.
09:39That's a tough one.
09:44And the board is certainly helpful.
09:48Are you comfortable sharing what you've written this week in your journal?
09:57I see.
09:58Well, don't give up on it, Kennedy.
10:02Maybe just write about your day or your private thoughts, but you need to hold up your end
10:06of the bargain.
10:09So back to it.
10:11Your interview will be here before we know it.
10:14And our next step is posture.
10:18So, as we discussed, sit up straight.
10:23Good.
10:24Now, shoulders back.
10:26When you're getting ready for the interview, you want to raise your eyebrows.
10:40You want to lift those up.
10:41Good.
10:42Right.
10:43Please do some exercises.
10:47So, we're going to go.
10:48Oh.
10:49Good.
10:50You need to make this.
10:52I have something you might be interested in.
11:15I have something you might be interested in.
11:23We're what, a week away from the big day?
11:26Thought this might be more practical than a whiteboard.
11:28You want to try it out?
11:37I figured this would be a good alternative to talking, just in case.
11:44How is your journal writing coming?
11:49Nothing.
11:50I know it's difficult, but I can't help you if you won't try.
11:55Between your mind and your mouth is a barrier that you're going to have to push through,
12:01but it's going to be a struggle.
12:06I read the report, Kennedy.
12:11I know.
12:12It's a miracle you're doing this well, but you can't keep blaming yourself.
12:18You can do this.
12:19You just have to take the first step.
12:23Anyway, I have a few practice questions for you, if you're ready.
12:31Please tell me a few of your greatest strengths.
12:34As you know, the Winston Scholarship Foundation is giving one student from your school a full-ride scholarship
12:39to any college.
12:40You're here because of your outstanding academic record.
12:43I have to say, we've been looking forward to meeting you for some time now, Ms. Blythe.
12:47So if there's no additional questions, we'll go ahead and get started.
12:50Are you ready?
12:51Are you ready?
12:52Please state your name.
12:53Please state your name.
12:57What did you see?
12:58What did you hear?
12:59Can you tell us anything about what happened?
13:02Kennedy, freeze.
13:03No matter what happens, don't make a sound.
13:04I said, can you tell us about yourself?
13:05No matter what happens, don't make a sound.
13:10I said, can you tell us about yourself?
13:33Ms. Blythe, if you can't answer our questions, we're going to have to move on.
13:39Please keep going.
13:46I'll be right back.
13:48You are right.
13:55Fire, fire, fire, fire.
14:00Fire, fire, fire, fire, fire.
14:09I'll see you next time.
14:39I dedicate this performance to the last person to hear me.
15:01Silence has been the most comforting but cruelest companion.
15:06It has kept me safe but kept me from success.
15:08It has kept me from offending anyone but I have no friends to offend.
15:14But cruelest of all, silence has kept me from expressing what I need to say most.
15:21I miss you.
15:24I missed your hand walking me to my new school.
15:29I missed your fury when my foster parents hurt me.
15:33I missed the proud look on your face when I aced my SATs.
15:37I missed how you would hold me all night in my small bed when I had bad dreams.
15:42How every day you wore that cheap necklace I gave you when I was six, even though it made
15:48my neck turned green.
15:51I missed painting nails, snuggling by the fire, having a study partner for tests, practicing
15:58recitals in front of you, having a shoulder to cry on after getting my heart broken.
16:06more than anything else, I just miss you, because even in my silence, I always knew you could
16:18hear me.
16:25worthy of you.
16:30Such a safety teacher.
16:33It was just a 50-3589 from Beaver in Europe
16:40All night long with you.
16:46Wow, it seems my reputation precedes me.
17:16Good day, everyone. I hate to start class with some bad news, but as you can see, we are booked.
17:23So if you're on the waiting list, probably not going to be added.
17:27However, there is some good news.
17:30Anyone who is registered but isn't here today will be dropped.
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