Shadowing Practice: Your Reality | Award-winning short film on Gaslighting - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Don't worry about it.

I'll get the coffees.

Just make sure to get those printouts in time for the meeting.

Alright, bye.

Ah, hi.

Um, two cappuccinos, one latte and one green tea.

Two cappuccinos, one latte and one green tea.

That'll be $12.50.

It's okay.

Goddammit.

Um, can I pay you back later?

I work literally across the street.

Your colleague Sam knows me really well.

No. And I'm afraid our company policy doesn't allow that.

Please, the meeting starts in five minutes and my sister was supposed to get the...

I'm sorry, ma'am.

I can't help you.

And could you please move to the side?

You're blocking the other customers.

You know what?

It's okay.

It's on me.

Oh, you shouldn't have.

Thank you so much.

That's fine, it's my pleasure.

I'm Mark, by the way.

Alicia, um, let me get you back details so I can pay you back?

How about you just text me later?

Sure.

Thank you.

Two cappuccinos, one latte, and one green tea.

Bye, Mark.

I don't know how you managed to turn that one around.

We were so screwed.

Oh, tell me about it.

But the look on Frank's face, we got so good.

Anyway, tell me about Coffee Boy.

Oh, yeah.

He asked me out on a date.

How exciting.

Where is he taking you?

Apparently, I have to try his signature lobster risotto.

A hot guy who can cook.

I know, right?

And he's a rather talented photographer.

I checked out his website.

Why don't we book him for our next campaign?

Okay, can you please stop working for five seconds?

I know.

It's been too long.

My mom is constantly on my case about marriage and kids.

She says I'll never gonna get a guy.

Nobody likes a selfish girl.

That's ridiculous.

Okay?

You are the least selfish person I know.

I think so.

Wow.

You look incredible.

Thank you.

Come on in.

So I was going to complain about you being late, but I think with you looking this good, I can find a way to forgive you.

What do you mean late?

I thought I was late at 8 p.m.

Nope.

Last time we spoke, we agreed on 7.30.

Really?

Yep.

And I finished my risotto on the dot.

So it might be a little cold now.

Gosh, I'm sorry.

I must have misunderstood.

You know, with work and everything...

That's all right.

What's important now is that you're here.

Wine?

Yes, please.

It smells amazing, by the way.

Thanks.

Wait till you taste it. Is that your work?

Yeah.

Um, I did an exhibition at the V&A last year, and when I finished, I just kept it going at my house.

You're really talented.

Yeah, so people seem to say. Shall we?

There you go.

Thank you.

Oh, so, uh, how did that meeting go in the end? Which meeting?

The only one I know about.

The one I helped with the coffees.

Oh, right, yeah.

It went great.

They loved our pitch, and the coffees were a nice touch, so we got the deal.

Congrats.

Glad I could help.

You know what?

Working in marketing, I'm just so fascinated with human psychology.

And it's funny to see how the smallest things make the biggest difference.

I feel the same way.

It's like, in photography, it's the little things.

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They're the only things that matter.

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Thank you.

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Wow.

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Did you manage to get even more boxes?

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Who would have thought you'd have so much stuff?

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I know, right?

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Well, you should have thought twice before asking me to move in with you.

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I hope you're not having second thoughts.

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So I was thinking, as soon as you finish unpacking, let's go out and celebrate.

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Oh, my friend Hannah from New York is in town, and I haven't seen her in two years, so we're going out for dinner tonight.

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Really?

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Today was supposed to be a special day for us. Are you upset?

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I thought I mentioned it last week and you were...

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Yeah, I was really looking forward to taking you out tonight.

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You know what?

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Let me cancel on Hannah and you and I will go out and celebrate.

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No, it's okay.

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Go have fun.

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Hey.

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Mark, I'm really sorry.

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The last thing I want to do is hurt your feelings.

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I know what?

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I have an idea how to make it up to you.

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I'm so jealous.

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You know what?

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I really need to take some time off as well.

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We should ask Mark to take you on vacation.

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How, uh, how's that going, anyway?

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Oh, it's going great.

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That's awesome.

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Yeah, I'm very happy.

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It's just sometimes we get into these silly arguments.

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Like what?

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Well, he got really angry the other day when he found that his favourite watch was broken.

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I don't know.

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I must have knocked it down while cleaning or something.

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It's weird.

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Can you fix it?

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I think so.

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It was just the wristband that was broken anyway.

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But he got so upset, he wouldn't talk to me for like two hours.

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That's a bit of an overreaction.

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I guess.

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Maybe it was my fault for insisting that I didn't break it.

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He said he was more upset about that than the actual watch.

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Still, that's no reason to give you the silent treatment.

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I think he's just dressed with work.

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Hey.

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How was work?

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Oh, great.

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I didn't get the project.

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Aw, that's a shame.

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There's a second account I lost this month.

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I really don't know what's happening with me lately.

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Well, I've got some good news that just might cheer you up.

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I booked that huge Fendi account, so I'll be shooting in Paris next month.

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That's awesome, right?

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Yeah, and that's not all.

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I've also been invited to this huge celebrity party tonight.

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And you are coming with me.

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I don't know.

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I'm not really the mood.

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I'd rather just stay here and start working on the next project.

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It's in two weeks' time and I'm...

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Honey, honey, listen.

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If I keep getting jobs like this, you don't have to worry about work at all anymore.

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Plus, it's Friday.

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You really need to switch off.

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So come on, go get ready, and we'll head out.

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I really do love you in that dress.

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Oh, uh, by the way, try to take it easy on the alcohol tonight.

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I've noticed you've been drinking a lot more lately.

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I'm not drinking that much, am I?

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Well, there's gonna be some important people at this party tonight.

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I just wanna make sure things go well.

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Sure, I'll do my best.

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Hey, you

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okay?

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Did I do something wrong?

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Mark?

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Mark?

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Just tell me where you're upset.

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You're unbelievable.

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Why?

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What happened?

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You embarrassed me in front of everyone.

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It was a high profile party.

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You knew how important it was for me.

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All you could do was get smashed and flirt with every guy you saw.

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What?

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No, no I didn't.

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I'm not blind, Alicia.

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You know everyone was laughing at you and how desperate you were for attention.

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It's pathetic.

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I'm sorry, Mark.

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I...

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I can't even remember drinking that much.

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Exactly.

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You can't even remember how much you drank.

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I'm sorry, but this is the last time I ever take you to a party.

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I just don't get it.

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I mean, I did talk to people.

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Maybe I was flirting without realizing it.

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What is happening with me, Sophie?

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I'm so confused.

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Maybe you should speak to a therapist.

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Mark says that you've been acting strange for a few weeks now.

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You don't want my...

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Did you talk to Mark?

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Yeah.

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He called me asking for advice.

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He was very sweet.

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He just...

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He was just concerned for you.

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Alicia?

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Yeah. Of course.

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Are you okay?

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Yeah, I'm fine.

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I'm fine.

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I have to go. Where?

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What?

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Have you seen my hard drive?

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My presentation's on it.

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I think I saw it on the desk.

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Oh, got it.

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Thank you.

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Okay.

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I'm off.

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Wish me luck.

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Good luck. Can you help me?

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I'm sorry.

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I'm sorry.

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Oh, God.

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See?

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You'd figure it out.

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That a girl.

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Okay, I'm off.

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Um, are you going to be home tonight?

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Yeah, I should be.

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Cool, okay.

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I'll see you tonight.

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Mm-hmm.

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I'm sorry.

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pushing me down merry go round

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the same old wounds drip back and forth Were you here before?

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Please leave a message after the tone.

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I don't see, I don't know How we got to this Where are you, buddy?

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I was just out with some friends.

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Why?

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Did something happen?

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Have you been drinking again?

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Why are you ignoring the phone calls?

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I called and texted you like a hundred times.

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You don't give a shit about whether we're at stake.

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Honey, how many times have I told you to lay off the alcohol?

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My presentation.. it was a disaster. So what?

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It's just a presentation.

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They fired me, Mark.

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Oh, no. That's terrible news.

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I'm so sorry, hon. You know what you should do?

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You should get some rest and go to bed.

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We can just talk through it in the morning.

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You don't remember, do you, honey?

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Have you been taking those pills that Dr. Rogers prescribed to you?

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Alicia...

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You need to keep taking those pills taking those pills.

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You're not well.

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It's getting worse.

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Message one. Where have you been?

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Jesus, you been drinking again?

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You ignored my phone calls.

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I call and text you like a hundred times, but you don't give a shit about what the word is.

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Oh, stop it, Alicia.

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Just look at yourself.

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You're so pathetic.

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They fired me, Mark.

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To be honest, I don't blame them.

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You're useless.

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Any sign of trouble and it's straight to the bottle.

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You're just an alcoholic.

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No, I'm not!

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I'm just being honest.

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But you could never handle honesty, could you?

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You don't mean that.

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You don't mean that.

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I don't think you'd do what to begin with!

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No!

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I...

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Now, look what you've done.

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You ruined my floor.

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I don't care about your floor!

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Clean it.

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Now!

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Fucking useless.

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right pushing me down merry go round

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the same old wounds drip back and forth were you here before

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i don't see i don't know how we got to this

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i don't see i don't know how we got to this Oh,

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I don't see, I don't know how it could do this

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161 sentences

Everyday Conversations & Hidden Tensions: A Look at the Video's Dialogue

The video captures a relatable mix of work chaos, new connections, and subtle misunderstandings. From rushing to grab coffees for a meeting to a first date with a twist, the dialogue reflects real-life interactions—perfect for practicing natural English. The characters use casual phrases, polite requests, and even gentle corrections, making it a great resource for english speaking practice.

5 Must-Know Phrases from the Dialogue

"It's on me" – A friendly way to offer to pay for something, like when Mark covers Alicia's coffee.
"Tell me about it!" – Used to agree strongly with someone, as Sophie does after the successful meeting.
"I must have misunderstood" – A polite way to admit a mistake, like Alicia does when she's late.
"Wait till you taste it" – Builds excitement about something, as Mark does with his risotto.
"You shouldn't have" – A grateful response to a kind gesture, like Alicia's reaction to Mark paying.

How to Use the Shadowing Technique with This Video

The shadowing technique (or shadow speech) is a great way to improve pronunciation and fluency. Here's how to apply it to this video:

Step 1: Watch and Listen Closely

First, watch the video without pausing. Focus on the rhythm of the dialogue—how characters pause, stress words, and change tone (like Mark's casual "That's alright" after Alicia's lateness).

Step 2: Repeat Immediately

Play a short clip (5-10 seconds), then pause and repeat it immediately, mimicking the speed, tone, and pronunciation. For example, try saying "Two cappuccinos, one latte, and one green tea" like Alicia—notice how she rushes slightly, showing urgency.

Step 3: Focus on Weak Forms

English has many "weak" sounds (like the "a" in "can I" or "just make sure"). Listen for these in phrases like "Could you please move to the side?" and try to copy them to sound more natural.

Step 4: Practice with Emotion

The dialogue has subtle emotions—Alicia's stress at the coffee shop, her gratitude, and her awkwardness when late. Shadow speak with these emotions to improve your ability to convey meaning through tone.

By practicing with this video, you'll not only learn common phrases but also master the flow of real-life conversations—key for confident English speaking.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on	you've been drinking · you've been acting · Have you been drinking
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	It's been · haven't seen · I've also been invited
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	is hurt · was broken · been invited

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

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Everyday Conversations & Hidden Tensions: A Look at the Video's Dialogue

5 Must-Know Phrases from the Dialogue

How to Use the Shadowing Technique with This Video

Step 1: Watch and Listen Closely

Step 2: Repeat Immediately

Step 3: Focus on Weak Forms

Step 4: Practice with Emotion

Grammar in this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?