Discussion on Identity and Mental Health

Yes.

Daphne.

Did she just...?

Their name's Dee now, actually.

Yeah, you just deadnamed them, Miss.

I'm sorry.

I've known you as Daphne for two years. I can't just flick a switch. I am trying.

You shouldn't have to try.

You either see them or you don't.

I think you should apologize.

I just did, and I'm sure she can fight her own

battles.

It's they, not she.

It's fine.

It's not fine, though.

It's about respecting other people's identity.

Take a seat, Bancroft. You made your point.

Forgive me.

Dee.

Uh,

I was just wondering if it has to be A Midsummer Night's Dream?

You're not a fan?

Well, there's a consent issue. Titania is

drugged before sleeping with Bottom.

Ooh, red flag.

It's also anti-feminist, portraying women as submissive

and dependent on men.

Sorry, was the spotlight off you for too long

there, princess?

Well, if anyone else has any genuine

objections that go beyond virtue signaling, come and see

me after class.

Well, this

isn't the time to let your standards slip, Daphne,

Dee.

The exams are just a few months away.

You lose focus now, it could impact your choices for uni.

Hey,

are you okay?

Yeah, fine.

Cool.

Given how much you liked my essay, I thought you might be open to revisiting

our

discussion.

Wonderful. Come to my office tomorrow, we can chat.

Well, if we have to do Shakespeare, could we perhaps try a more modern

interpretation of the text that represents a broader spectrum of

identity?

A lot of our conservative donors attend the summer show.

I'm not sure it's the right time for experimentation.

Well, is trying something more diverse and inclusive really such a bad thing?

I heard your son's queer.

Well, surely you agree representation matters.

If you actually took the time to engage with Shakespeare, you would see the

myriad ways the work can resonate with a modern audience: social

identities, sexual politics, the fluidity of gender.

You're not even trying to see things from my point of view.

The summer show is for everyone. It's not a vehicle for you to gain

likes and shares and go viral with whichever cause you choose to espouse at

that particular moment.

Why do you have such a problem with me giving a voice to the marginalized and the

oppressed?

You're straight, white, and wealthy.

What do you know about oppression?

I'm an ally.

Look, I know Cressida can be challenging, but it's only been three years since her

mom left. It's gotta be hard at that age.

It's hard at any age, realizing you're not enough for someone,

especially a parent.

It doesn't mean she gets to make my life a misery at every opportunity.

She's just acting out.

It's the quiet ones you gotta keep an eye on, like Dee.

Yeah, now she's struggling this year.

They.

Oh, God, don't you start.

No, it's important, Hel. We need to be supportive.

I mean, Dee's been so happy since coming out as

non-binary, living authentically,

but their parents,

not so much.

They basically haven't spoken in months.

Don't repeat that. They told me that in confidence.

I won't say a word.

Dee's got so much potential.

Wants to go to art college, study photography at Goldsmith's.

They just need to get the grades now.

So do you hate trans people as well, or is it just the gays?

I don't hate anyone.

You behave as though you invented ideas like equality and

social justice. I was fighting the patriarchy before you

were born.

Here we go.

The world out there, the real world, is angry and

resentful and bitter. No one cares about your woke

bullshit, this fantasy world that you pretend to fight

for, the one where nobody cares who you love

or what the color of your skin is.

It doesn't exist, and it never will.

Or maybe we're not willing to accept that.

You make out like you're some kind of benevolent defender of the oppressed.

You don't care about Dee. It's all performative, a

desperate, pathetic cry for attention.

You need to remember who you're talking to.

My father basically owns the place. I can have you sacked like that.

He'd have to take your call first.

That's out of line, Miss.

You may be money rich, but emotionally you are

bankrupt,

starved of love because your father would rather ship you off to a place like this

than spend any actual time with you.

Stop it. Just stop. You can't fucking talk to her like that.

Oh, what, are you gonna threaten me now, too?

'Cause I don't think your parents will take your call either,

not since you decided

you weren't their precious little girl anymore.

Fuck you.

It's about time you lot learned to fight your own battles because out there in the

real world, there is no one in your corner.

You are alone. And if you can't handle that,

you might as well just kill

yourself now because it doesn't get any easier from here.

Yeah, morning Cressida. Oh, I'm gonna go slow today.

I don't know what's going on.

Dee?

Come on, you're gonna be late again.

Coming in.

Can somebody help me, please?

Dee? Dee? Dee, can you hear me?

They're not breathing.

Somebody call an ambulance now. Go, girls.

Come on, Dee, please. Come on, Dee.

Come on, please. Please, please. Please,

come on.

Come on.

James, what's going on?

It's Dee.

They took an overdose.