DNRD Version:
Debby spots Shaun, a striking, laid-back Australian man with dark hair and greenish-hazel eyes, and strikes up a conversation. They both feel out of place, and Shaun admits he doesn’t have answers for their current situation.
Meanwhile, Beryl watches Shaun from afar and becomes interested, but Tyrone pulls her aside, warning her that Shaun isn’t into her gothy-grungey vibe. Tyrone explains that Shaun likely prefers a more "beachy" and outdoorsy blonde type, but Beryl dismisses his advice, believing Shaun is playing hard to get.
Their assumptions are shattered when they overhear Shaun on the phone with his girlfriend, Mildred, a nerdy-looking, below-average-looking PhD student from Taipei. Her thick accent and persona completely contrast the carefree, beachy girl they imagined. Both Beryl and Tyrone are stunned, realizing they were way off about Shaun’s type. As the night goes on, Beryl remains quiet, while Tyrone chuckles at how wrong he had been.
------
Full Version:
Sitting on a nearby bench, looking just as out of place as the group, is a striking man who clearly isn’t from around here. He’s tall, with dark, wavy hair that falls in an effortlessly stylish way, and a well-defined jawline that wouldn’t be out of place on a runway. His features balance ruggedness with refinement—a sharp and masculine look softened by his piercing greenish-hazel eyes, which quietly take in everything around him. His lightly tanned skin and muscular build are evident, even though he's dressed casually in a black short-sleeved button-up and dark shorts. Reclining with a laid-back posture, legs crossed, he exudes an aura of cool confidence.
Debby notices him immediately, sensing something intriguing about him, and approaches with her usual energy.
Debby (approaching, upbeat):
"Hey! You don’t seem like you’re from around here either. What’s your story? You’re giving off some serious ‘I don’t belong here’ vibes."
The man, who introduces himself as Shaun James Collins, looks at Debby with a slow smile, clearly amused by her boldness. His Australian accent is noticeable as he responds, his tone relaxed yet friendly.
Shaun (grinning):
"Well, you’ve got that right. I’m not from around here. What about you?"
Debby’s eyes widen, thrilled to meet someone who might relate to her sense of displacement. She leans in, words spilling out rapidly, trying to make a connection.
Debby (excited, talking quickly):
"Finally! I thought I was the only one who felt out of place here. There’s gotta be a way to figure this out, right?"
Shaun’s expression shifts slightly, becoming more serious. He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, giving Debby a sympathetic but resigned look.
Shaun (sighing, shaking his head):
"I wish I had some answers, but I’m figuring it out just like you. It’s not easy."
As the conversation lingers, Debby finds herself at a loss for words, trying to process Shaun’s response. It’s clear he’s just as uncertain as she is. Beryl, on the other hand, has been watching from a distance, her interest in Shaun growing. The way Shaun carries himself—the quiet confidence, the effortless charm—makes her believe there’s a deeper connection to be had.
Beryl misreads his calm demeanor as an invitation to engage. Despite Shaun’s friendly conversation with Debby, he hasn’t given Beryl the attention she’s hoping for. Tyrone, observing this interaction from the sidelines, knows Beryl is setting herself up for disappointment.
Sensing the moment could turn awkward fast, Tyrone steps in, pulling Beryl aside before she makes a move that might embarrass her.
Tyrone (low-key, pulling her aside):
"Yo, Beryl, I gotta be straight with you. Shaun? He’s not into you. And I think I know why."
Beryl (crossing her arms, defensive):
"What do you mean? You don’t know that. He smiled at me! He’s just playing hard to get."
Tyrone (sighing):
"Nah, Beryl, you’re missing it. Trust me, I’m almost sure. Shaun’s not into your whole goth vibe. He’s into a completely different type."
Beryl rolls her eyes, not ready to hear what Tyrone has to say.
Beryl (dismissive):
"Beachy? Outdoorsy? What does that even mean?"
Tyrone leans in, trying to keep his voice low but direct.
Tyrone (breaking it down patiently):
"Picture the kind of girl who spends half her time outdoors—hiking, surfing, whatever. Athletic, but not in a gym-rat way. She probably has a natural tan, does yoga, maybe climbs mountains. You know, that laid-back, carefree vibe."
Beryl scoffs, still not convinced, but Tyrone continues, his tone growing more detailed as he describes the image in his mind.
Tyrone (continuing confidently):
"She’s probably not big on makeup because she doesn’t need it. Her hair’s sun-kissed, maybe wavy from the ocean. And she dresses simple, like in denim shorts and a loose tank top—nothing too edgy. Everything about her says ‘chill and easygoing.’ That’s what Shaun’s into. Not the whole dark, mysterious thing you’ve got going on."
Beryl stands there for a moment, processing his words, clearly unimpressed.
Beryl (defiant):
"Oh, please. You don’t know for sure. He smiled at me, didn’t he? He’s just playing it cool. Guys like that love a girl with an edge. I’m unique, I’m different."
Tyrone rubs his temples, sensing that she’s not going to back down easily.
Tyrone (deadpan):
"Yeah, maybe... or maybe you’re just setting yourself up for disappointment. I’m just saying, he’s probably into a different vibe."
Before Beryl can argue back, they hear Shaun’s voice coming from across the room, pulling their attention. He’s standing by the wall in the lobby, casually leaning against it as he speaks into his phone. The tone of his voice is different—calmer, more serious, with a hint of concern.
Curiosity gets the best of them, and Beryl and Tyrone inch closer, trying not to look like they’re eavesdropping. What they hear next catches them completely off guard.
Shaun (softly, into the phone):
"Hey... yeah, it’s me. I know it’s been a while. I’m stuck in India right now. Some unexpected things came up."
On the other end, a woman’s voice responds, her accent strong and unmistakably Mandarin. She speaks in broken English, her words laced with a nasal tone that neither Beryl nor Tyrone expected.
Girlfriend (in a thick Mandarin accent):
"Shaun, where are you? I wait for you in Taipei... You said you would come back! I finished my PhD already. I wait too long!"
Beryl and Tyrone exchange bewildered looks. This isn’t the beachy, carefree girl they had imagined for Shaun. Her voice, high-pitched and heavily accented, stands in stark contrast to their expectations.
Shaun (sighing patiently):
"I know, I know. I was going to come back, but like I said, things got complicated here. I’ll explain everything when I can. Just... give me a bit more time."
As the call continues, Beryl and Tyrone stand there, stunned. This wasn’t what they had expected. Tyrone, in particular, is floored—his theory about Shaun’s "type" completely unraveling in real-time.
Tyrone (leaning closer to Beryl, whispering):
"Yo... did you just hear that? There’s no way. That’s his girlfriend?"
Beryl, equally stunned, tries to make sense of it.
Beryl (whispering back, disbelief clear on her face):
"Mildred? She sounds like... I don’t know, like she should be a grandma or something. There’s no way he’s with her."
Tyrone shakes his head, still processing everything.
Tyrone (laughing under his breath):
"I thought for sure he was into those beachy, natural girls. But Mildred from Taipei? Man, we were way off."
As Shaun finishes his call and slips his phone into his pocket, completely unaware that Beryl and Tyrone overheard the entire conversation, the two of them remain in shock. Any hopes Beryl had of winning Shaun over are now thoroughly crushed.
As the group makes their way toward their rooms, Beryl trails behind, her usual confidence visibly shaken. Tyrone, meanwhile, can’t stop chuckling to himself, muttering about how wrong he was as they move down the hallway.
Tyrone (muttering):
"Man, sometimes you just don’t see it coming."
For the rest of the night, Beryl stays quiet, her confidence knocked down a few notches. Tyrone, on the other hand, keeps shaking his head, marveling at how different reality turned out from their assumptions.
Debby spots Shaun, a striking, laid-back Australian man with dark hair and greenish-hazel eyes, and strikes up a conversation. They both feel out of place, and Shaun admits he doesn’t have answers for their current situation.
Meanwhile, Beryl watches Shaun from afar and becomes interested, but Tyrone pulls her aside, warning her that Shaun isn’t into her gothy-grungey vibe. Tyrone explains that Shaun likely prefers a more "beachy" and outdoorsy blonde type, but Beryl dismisses his advice, believing Shaun is playing hard to get.
Their assumptions are shattered when they overhear Shaun on the phone with his girlfriend, Mildred, a nerdy-looking, below-average-looking PhD student from Taipei. Her thick accent and persona completely contrast the carefree, beachy girl they imagined. Both Beryl and Tyrone are stunned, realizing they were way off about Shaun’s type. As the night goes on, Beryl remains quiet, while Tyrone chuckles at how wrong he had been.
------
Full Version:
Sitting on a nearby bench, looking just as out of place as the group, is a striking man who clearly isn’t from around here. He’s tall, with dark, wavy hair that falls in an effortlessly stylish way, and a well-defined jawline that wouldn’t be out of place on a runway. His features balance ruggedness with refinement—a sharp and masculine look softened by his piercing greenish-hazel eyes, which quietly take in everything around him. His lightly tanned skin and muscular build are evident, even though he's dressed casually in a black short-sleeved button-up and dark shorts. Reclining with a laid-back posture, legs crossed, he exudes an aura of cool confidence.
Debby notices him immediately, sensing something intriguing about him, and approaches with her usual energy.
Debby (approaching, upbeat):
"Hey! You don’t seem like you’re from around here either. What’s your story? You’re giving off some serious ‘I don’t belong here’ vibes."
The man, who introduces himself as Shaun James Collins, looks at Debby with a slow smile, clearly amused by her boldness. His Australian accent is noticeable as he responds, his tone relaxed yet friendly.
Shaun (grinning):
"Well, you’ve got that right. I’m not from around here. What about you?"
Debby’s eyes widen, thrilled to meet someone who might relate to her sense of displacement. She leans in, words spilling out rapidly, trying to make a connection.
Debby (excited, talking quickly):
"Finally! I thought I was the only one who felt out of place here. There’s gotta be a way to figure this out, right?"
Shaun’s expression shifts slightly, becoming more serious. He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, giving Debby a sympathetic but resigned look.
Shaun (sighing, shaking his head):
"I wish I had some answers, but I’m figuring it out just like you. It’s not easy."
As the conversation lingers, Debby finds herself at a loss for words, trying to process Shaun’s response. It’s clear he’s just as uncertain as she is. Beryl, on the other hand, has been watching from a distance, her interest in Shaun growing. The way Shaun carries himself—the quiet confidence, the effortless charm—makes her believe there’s a deeper connection to be had.
Beryl misreads his calm demeanor as an invitation to engage. Despite Shaun’s friendly conversation with Debby, he hasn’t given Beryl the attention she’s hoping for. Tyrone, observing this interaction from the sidelines, knows Beryl is setting herself up for disappointment.
Sensing the moment could turn awkward fast, Tyrone steps in, pulling Beryl aside before she makes a move that might embarrass her.
Tyrone (low-key, pulling her aside):
"Yo, Beryl, I gotta be straight with you. Shaun? He’s not into you. And I think I know why."
Beryl (crossing her arms, defensive):
"What do you mean? You don’t know that. He smiled at me! He’s just playing hard to get."
Tyrone (sighing):
"Nah, Beryl, you’re missing it. Trust me, I’m almost sure. Shaun’s not into your whole goth vibe. He’s into a completely different type."
Beryl rolls her eyes, not ready to hear what Tyrone has to say.
Beryl (dismissive):
"Beachy? Outdoorsy? What does that even mean?"
Tyrone leans in, trying to keep his voice low but direct.
Tyrone (breaking it down patiently):
"Picture the kind of girl who spends half her time outdoors—hiking, surfing, whatever. Athletic, but not in a gym-rat way. She probably has a natural tan, does yoga, maybe climbs mountains. You know, that laid-back, carefree vibe."
Beryl scoffs, still not convinced, but Tyrone continues, his tone growing more detailed as he describes the image in his mind.
Tyrone (continuing confidently):
"She’s probably not big on makeup because she doesn’t need it. Her hair’s sun-kissed, maybe wavy from the ocean. And she dresses simple, like in denim shorts and a loose tank top—nothing too edgy. Everything about her says ‘chill and easygoing.’ That’s what Shaun’s into. Not the whole dark, mysterious thing you’ve got going on."
Beryl stands there for a moment, processing his words, clearly unimpressed.
Beryl (defiant):
"Oh, please. You don’t know for sure. He smiled at me, didn’t he? He’s just playing it cool. Guys like that love a girl with an edge. I’m unique, I’m different."
Tyrone rubs his temples, sensing that she’s not going to back down easily.
Tyrone (deadpan):
"Yeah, maybe... or maybe you’re just setting yourself up for disappointment. I’m just saying, he’s probably into a different vibe."
Before Beryl can argue back, they hear Shaun’s voice coming from across the room, pulling their attention. He’s standing by the wall in the lobby, casually leaning against it as he speaks into his phone. The tone of his voice is different—calmer, more serious, with a hint of concern.
Curiosity gets the best of them, and Beryl and Tyrone inch closer, trying not to look like they’re eavesdropping. What they hear next catches them completely off guard.
Shaun (softly, into the phone):
"Hey... yeah, it’s me. I know it’s been a while. I’m stuck in India right now. Some unexpected things came up."
On the other end, a woman’s voice responds, her accent strong and unmistakably Mandarin. She speaks in broken English, her words laced with a nasal tone that neither Beryl nor Tyrone expected.
Girlfriend (in a thick Mandarin accent):
"Shaun, where are you? I wait for you in Taipei... You said you would come back! I finished my PhD already. I wait too long!"
Beryl and Tyrone exchange bewildered looks. This isn’t the beachy, carefree girl they had imagined for Shaun. Her voice, high-pitched and heavily accented, stands in stark contrast to their expectations.
Shaun (sighing patiently):
"I know, I know. I was going to come back, but like I said, things got complicated here. I’ll explain everything when I can. Just... give me a bit more time."
As the call continues, Beryl and Tyrone stand there, stunned. This wasn’t what they had expected. Tyrone, in particular, is floored—his theory about Shaun’s "type" completely unraveling in real-time.
Tyrone (leaning closer to Beryl, whispering):
"Yo... did you just hear that? There’s no way. That’s his girlfriend?"
Beryl, equally stunned, tries to make sense of it.
Beryl (whispering back, disbelief clear on her face):
"Mildred? She sounds like... I don’t know, like she should be a grandma or something. There’s no way he’s with her."
Tyrone shakes his head, still processing everything.
Tyrone (laughing under his breath):
"I thought for sure he was into those beachy, natural girls. But Mildred from Taipei? Man, we were way off."
As Shaun finishes his call and slips his phone into his pocket, completely unaware that Beryl and Tyrone overheard the entire conversation, the two of them remain in shock. Any hopes Beryl had of winning Shaun over are now thoroughly crushed.
As the group makes their way toward their rooms, Beryl trails behind, her usual confidence visibly shaken. Tyrone, meanwhile, can’t stop chuckling to himself, muttering about how wrong he was as they move down the hallway.
Tyrone (muttering):
"Man, sometimes you just don’t see it coming."
For the rest of the night, Beryl stays quiet, her confidence knocked down a few notches. Tyrone, on the other hand, keeps shaking his head, marveling at how different reality turned out from their assumptions.
