Enter your search term here

Relationships

"Mix-up at the Movies" (text-only version)

Scene 1 shows the wrong way to handle a conflict. Scene 2 shows a better way.

Scene 1 - The Wrong Way

Girl 1 is waiting in front of the movie theater, looking at her watch and tapping her foot.

Step 1

Girl 2 and Girl 3 arrive. Girl 1 explodes: “Where have you been?!?! I’ve been waiting here forever!”

Girl 2: “Sorry we’re late. We were at the mall and got stuck in the elevator….”

Step 2

Girl 1: “Yeah right. You’re so full of it! If you want to blow me off, then don’t ask me to meet you at the movies!”

Girl 2: “Wait…”

Girl 3: "You’re not listening…"

Step 3

Girl 1: “Oh, I hear you loud and clear. And I thought you were my friends. I’m out of here!” Girl 1 storms off. Girl 2 and 3 look at each other and shrug shoulders.

It's upsetting when people show up late. You may be mad. Let's see if there is a better way to handle this. See it again, step-by-step.

Scene 2 - The Better Way

Girl 1 is waiting in front of the movie theater, looking at her watch and tapping her foot.

Step 1

Girl 2 and Girl 3 arrive. Girl 1 counts backward in her head (in bubble: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) Then (still looking annoyed, arms folded, but not shouting) says, “Finally! What took you so long?”

Girl 2: “Sorry we’re late. We were at the mall and got stuck in the elevator!”

Girl 1 (arms folded, not looking other girls in eye, body position somewhat hostile): “Whatever … ”

Girl 2: “No really, we had to wait for mall security to get us out.”

Step 2

Girl 1 (opens arms, looks at girls): “Well, I’ve been waiting here forever.”

Girl 3: “Well, we were stuck …”

Girl 2: "Why are you being so uncool?”

Step 3

Girl 1: (totally relaxes, opens arms, makes eye contact) “I’m sorry. That must have been really scary. It’s just that I felt ditched when you didn’t show up and you didn’t call.”

Step 4

Girl 2: “I see where you’re coming from … we should have called you to let you know what was going on. We’re sorry, too.”

Girl 3: "Phones don’t work well in elevators."

Girl 1 (smiling, joking): “It’s all good. Just next time, take the stairs, okay?”

Content last updated June 26, 2008

top