“It’s What Each Person Needs”: Comforting the Loneliest People Online

[digital ding]

[Caller 1] We live in a bit of a hard world sometimes.

So, I think it’s just important to think

about how others feel.

[Becca] Yeah. You have one very

very amazing quality I’ve noticed already.

What’s that?

[Caller 1] You’re very attentive.

You’re an incredible listener.

[Becca] Well, thank you. I hope to…

One of the things that I seek when I am embarking

on an arrangement is to be able to be there

for the other person.

So, if that’s one of the things

that I could provide you, I’d be honored.

[Caller 1] Yeah, I’ve chatted with a lot of people on here

but can’t say any of the ones intrigued me like you.

So, I was looking forward to this chat.

[Becca] Thank you. Likewise.

I think there’s plenty of fish in the sea as they say

and that website can be a little alarming

to get through but I really appreciate getting

to know someone face-to-face before we embark

on this possible arrangement together.

[phone ringing]

Were you ever married before coming to this website?

[Caller 2] Yes. And do you have kids?

[Caller 2] Yeah. How old?

[Caller 2] One son, 22.

22. Wow. So, he’s in college?

[Caller 2] No, he’s in university.

Is he studying something that makes you proud?

[Caller 2] Yeah, he is doing business management.

And works as a youth leader on the side

Lonely people deserving companionship.

[Caller 3] Well, when I meet people,

that’s where the power comes in, right?

The power exchange comes in

because I get underneath your head.

I don’t care about myself.

Once I find out what makes you tick,

then I start pressing buttons.

But the thing is that have you met a single person

that you could really be yourself with?

This is what people don’t understand.

It’s what each person needs. You understand?

So like, I find out what you need,

not what somebody else needs.

What would you do to me?

[Caller 3] All depends what you need to have done.

If I said try anything.

[Caller 3] Well, you’d have to go on your knees first.

You crawl up to me, and I think you’re the kind of person

that wouldn’t mind having

a collar around their neck actually.

The key thing is you see, I read people

I sense them, and I could be wrong.

And do you think you deserve my trust?

[Caller 3] Do you think you deserve my dominance?

It’s the opposite. You can’t talk that way to me.

No, no, no, no. That’s not how it works, Princess.

You’re not in a power position here.

You’re testing me, and you’ll be punished now

for trying to test me. You won’t test me ever again.

Come over to Niagara.

Come spank me in Niagara.

[Caller 3] I don’t think I can spank you

in Niagara right now.

I have to pick up my kid in about 20, 30 minutes.

Oh, shit, that’s fast visit.

Well, I’m very intrigued.

[Caller 3] You’re intrigued?

[Caller 4] You are, you are a good person.

It is very hard to find people like you here.

I’m happy to find you.

Yeah, me too. You’re much better

than the other person I was talking to.

You seem very genuine.

[Caller 4] Are you a singer?

I’m in school right now, but I’m an artist.

I’m a student and I work with the elderly.

I sing to the elderly.

I’m a singer and I’m an actor, visual artist.

And I decided to… I just try and I’d love to

figure out a way to meld all of the things I wanna do.

So I’m exploring how to do that.

[kettle boiling]

[phone ringing]

[cutting sound]

[liquid dripping and pouring]

[phone continues ringing]

Oh, hi.

[Yvonne] Hello. How are you doing?

Good, how are you?

[Yvonne] I’m fine. Who is it?

Hi, Yvonne, it’s Becca.

[Yvonne] Hi, sweetheart.

How are you?

Again you’re in the hospital?

[Yvonne] Tuesday, Wednesday.

I can’t see you.

Are you blocking the camera?

[Caller 5] I can hear you. Can you see me now?

No.

[Caller 5] Okay. Well, you can see my computer

for some reason, it says no camera found.

Oh, that’s interesting.

Yvonne love, I can’t see your face.

Can I see your face?

[Yvonne] Oh, yes. I love you.

[Yvonne] Do you, Yvonne? Remembering me.

I’ll never forget you, Yvonne.

[Yvonne] I lost everything.

My husband, my house, they sold my house

But you still have, you still have your memories?

[Yvonne] Oh God.

[Caller 6] Yeah, I can see you on this computer.

[Becca] Okay. I can’t see you.

[Caller 6] Yeah, okay. Just a second.

[Yvonne] Thank you for calling me,

when you come to Florida, call me right away.

I hope I look better than I look right now

You look great.

Why do you think you look bad?

[Yvonne] Aw, I’m pale. You’re not pale.

You know what? You have melanoma,

so you should stay out of the sun, Kiddo, right?

[Yvonne] Yeah, but that’s why.

Look at your necklace, you’re so for pits!

[Yvonne] Okay. I love you, Baby.

You look great. I love you too.

I’ll talk to you. You can call me.

I’ll call you Thursday.

[Yvonne] Okay, bye, Baby. Bye, Baby.

I’ll call you Thursday. Bye. [speaks foreign language]

[kissing noise]

[Becca sighs]

Well, why don’t you tell me about you?

What have you been doing this week?

[Caller 7] Well, you know, on Mondays

I talk to Sylvia, my sister. I wish she was closer.

[Becca] Well, I live near you,

so, can I drop off groceries this week?

[Caller 7] You’re too kind. You’re a very kind,

precious child. Does your mother know that,

how kind you are? Oh, I know she does.

We know our children so well.

I miss your singing.

Do you wanna hear a song?

[Caller 7] I do.

Okay. Well, because I’m gonna come

and give you some company and bread on Friday.

How about a song from the musical company?

[Caller 7] Oh, that sounds wonderful.

♪ Someone to sit in my chair ♪

♪ and ruin my sleep and make me aware of being alive. ♪

♪ Being alive. ♪

[Caller 7] [laughs] Oh, Becca, Becca.

[phone ringing]

[Becca sighing]

[Becca singing foreign language]

Do you recognize it?

[Edith] I don’t know it, but I love it.

Just go on.

[Becca continues singing]

Now, you can sing with me when I teach it to you

[Edith] Isn’t it? It’s beautiful.

It’s gorgeous, darling.

Who’s there with you?

I hear someone I’d love to meet.

Going to be the lady who is with me,

she loves it.

Well, what’s her name? Because when I come visit you

I need to bring you both something,

some [speaks foreign language] for both of you.

What’s her name?

[Edith] Oh, Juliet.

Hi Juliet. I’m Becca. It’s nice to meet you.

Most people call me Becca Willow

but Edith knows me as Becca.

[Crew 1] Awesome. Yeah, we’ll get

a lot of the insert stuff first

and we’ll move into some of the following.

It’s kinda like a warmup.

[Crew 2] Maybe the whole chair could go left a bit?

[Crew 1] Yeah, if you could move the whole chair

Just like half foot to left.

[Becca] Left? Yeah, that way.

[Crew 2] Is this just visuals? Do you wanna roll

[Crew 1] Yeah, it’s just visuals. Just visuals.

[Crew 2] Okay.

[Crew 1] Just trying to get this while we have this up

[Becca] There’s a little bit of cream,

but that’s probably good.

[Crew 2] The light’s on the outside, but that’s fine?

[Crew 1] Yeah, that’s fine.

[Crew 2] Oh, I always forget

[Crew 1] Maybe just move it up tiny bit.

[Crew 3] Just lose the couch?

[Crew 1] Yeah. Lose the couch.

[electronic beep]

[phone ringing]

[Caller 8] Like, I feel like, and I don’t know, like

I don’t know how you felt leaving that, but I just remember

like between the singing and like, chatting

with Douglas online, it just seemed like such a sad piece

that we sort of projected in the, into the world.

[Becca ] Yeah. That was gonna be my next question.

I’m really curious, what do you think this film is about?

[Caller 8] See, this is when I’m like, I’m being recorded.

I don’t really wanna answer because that’s,

and that’s why I asked you to sort of give me

the questions ahead of time

because I am a very, like, curated human being.

So, I wanna answer that honestly. I’m just, I need a minute.

[Becca] Sure, and like, take your time.

Like, I just think it’s always, you know

if you’re someone who’s willing to like

make yourself vulnerable and put yourself out there

in an intensely personal way that you have,

I want to know from your point-of-view,

you think you are putting out there

and what this film actually is about, in your words.

[Caller 8] Sure.

[Becca] But take your time.

[Caller 8] Okay. Hmm. So, the film, to me, is about, Hmm.

The film to me is about someone

who doesn’t know how to love themself

and it’s trying to learn how through loving others.

[phone ringing]

[Becca] Hello.

[Caller 9] Hi.

[Becca] Picking up on the first ring. I’m very honored.

[Caller 9] Yeah, well, I was waiting for your call.

[Becca] I’m sorry you were waiting.

I appreciate your patience.

[quiet peaceful music]