(Cut to sensitivity training session)

ALLEN: I'm guessing not too many of you want to be here right now. Quick show of hands, who actually *wants* to be here?

(No one raises his or her hand.)

ALLEN: Well, I'm not gonna waste your time. What I am gonna do is give you some tools to help you experience the full range of human emotions. Learning that won't just make you better people, it'll help you defuse volatile situations in the field; it'll allow you to manage some of your aggression, so you won't feel so tired all the time. In short, it'll make you better cops. One of the tools we use is (holds up a gnarly stick) this. It's called a talking stick. I know, it sounds silly. But it works, if you give it a chance. It's our contract with each other. Whoever holds this has the freedom to express himself or herself completely, without judgment, within the confines of this room. (Holds out stick) Heath?

HEATH: (crosses arms) I don't think so.

ALLEN: Go ahead, give it a try. (Heath takes stick) Now why don't you start by telling us something about your family. How you grew up. Any siblings?

HEATH: Six brothers.

ALLEN: And what was that like?

HEATH: I learned to hit back pretty quick. (Laughter around room.)

ALLEN: You're brothers went kind of hard on you, huh? Where were your parents?

HEATH: It was just my mom. She did the best she could.

ALLEN: So you had to get tough, right out of the gate. Shut down your emotions? It's okay! You have our permission to be honest. Is there something that you always wanted to say to your mother, but never could?

KATE: Will you marry me?

(The others laugh softly.)

ALLEN: (offers stick to Kate) Kate, you’d like to share something? We'd like to hear it.

KATE: No, I don't, really.

ALLEN: Afraid? (Kate takes stick with a half-laugh) Genuine emotion makes you uncomfortable. That's okay. Your inappropriate sarcasm masks anger. And you know what anger is, Kate? It's just fear. Fear of being hurt. Fear of loss. You've been hurt, haven't you, Kate? And you're afraid of being hurt again. Who're you afraid is gonna hurt you?

• Kate's Many Issues

written by: Tim Minear; Originally transcribed by anonymous. Edited & formatted for this site by Ann. Checked against source by me.. Full transcript at:
http://www.buffyworld.com/angel/season1/transcripts/06_tran.shtml