Sarah Kay & Phil Kaye - When Love Arrives
Summary
TLDRThe script is a poetic reflection on the ever-changing nature of love. It describes how love can evolve from youthful ideals to unexpected realities. The narrator reminisces about early fantasies of love, only to discover that real love is flawed, unpredictable, and often different from what was imagined. Love grows, changes, leaves, and returns in new forms, reminding us of its imperfection and beauty. Ultimately, the message encourages us to embrace love when it arrives and accept its departure, appreciating every moment it offers.
Takeaways
- š Love is not always what you expect; it may come in unexpected forms and at unexpected times.
- šø The idea of Love changes over time, from idealized versions in youth to more complex realities in adulthood.
- š Early ideas of Love involve perfect, romanticized traits like knowing Beatles songs and enjoying simple moments like riding the bus together.
- š As Love matures, it becomes imperfect, messy, and sometimes disappointing, such as being bad at dancing or forgetting important things.
- š Love can grow, change, and even disappear over time, leaving a feeling of loss or adjustment.
- šŖ Love reappears in different forms, with new characteristics, habits, and quirks that may be unfamiliar at first but become accepted.
- šŖ Love is now more grounded, making homemade cookies, having quirky habits like using smiley faces in texts, and showing imperfections.
- ā¤ļø Love remains imperfect but still expresses genuine admiration and affection, constantly reminding you that you are beautiful.
- ā³ Love arrives and departs at the right moments, often leaving lasting impressions and lessons even when it doesnāt stay forever.
- š The script advises embracing Love when it comes, and graciously accepting its departure, appreciating its presence in your life.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the script?
-The main theme of the script is the evolving nature of love and how it changes over time, often defying expectations and stereotypes. It highlights that love is not perfect, can come and go unexpectedly, and should be appreciated for what it is, in its own time.
How does the speaker's perception of love change throughout the script?
-The speaker's perception of love shifts from an idealized, fantasy-like vision in adolescence to a more realistic and accepting understanding in adulthood. Initially, love is portrayed as something perfect and recognizable at first sight, but it evolves into something more complex, flawed, and human.
What literary devices are used in the script to convey the message?
-The script uses personification, metaphors, and vivid imagery. Love is personified and described in various forms, such as having a bowl cut, wearing a hemp necklace, or having new birthmarks. These descriptions make love feel tangible and relatable. The metaphor of love 'stretching like a trampoline' and 'disappearing like baby teeth' conveys its changing nature.
Why does the speaker describe love with both male and female pronouns?
-The use of both male and female pronouns for love highlights that love is not bound by gender. It signifies that love can take many forms and personas, and it is more about the experience and feelings associated with it rather than the identity of the person.
What does the script suggest about the unpredictability of love?
-The script suggests that love is unpredictable and cannot be controlled or planned. It arrives and leaves when it is supposed to, regardless of one's expectations or desires. This unpredictability is something to be accepted and appreciated, as love will show up and depart according to its own timing.
How does the speaker deal with the departure of love?
-The speaker acknowledges the pain of love's departure but emphasizes acceptance. They suggest bidding love farewell with grace and gratitude, recognizing the beauty and value of the experience, even if it was temporary.
What role does time play in the speakerās experience of love?
-Time plays a crucial role in the speaker's experience of love, as it shows how love evolves and changes. The script reflects on love in different stages of lifeāadolescence, adulthood, and possibly old ageāindicating that loveās form, behavior, and significance are shaped by the passage of time.
What does the speaker mean by 'Love vanished like an amateur magician'?
-This phrase means that the disappearance of love was not subtle or skillful. Everyone else could see the signs of love fading, except the speaker. It indicates that loveās departure was clumsy and evident, but the speaker was too emotionally involved to notice.
What is the significance of the closing message, 'Thank you for stopping by'?
-The closing message signifies gratitude and acceptance. It reflects the speaker's acknowledgment that love, whether it stays or leaves, has value and deserves appreciation for the time it spent in their life. It is a gracious and mature way of dealing with the transient nature of love.
What advice does the speaker give about welcoming and letting go of love?
-The speaker advises to welcome love warmly when it arrives and to let it go gracefully when it leaves. They encourage accepting loveās presence without trying to hold on too tightly and to remain open and appreciative, regardless of its duration.
Outlines
š The Expectations of Love
The narrator recalls their early ideas of love, shaped by a romanticized, idealized image in seventh grade. They imagined love would be immediately recognizable, embodied by someone who played guitar, knew their favorite songs, and wasn't afraid of vulnerability. This early vision of love seemed perfect and easy to identify, but in reality, love didn't meet those preconceived expectations.
š Love's Imperfections
When love eventually appears, it's far from the flawless image the narrator had built up. Love is messy, awkward, and imperfectārepresented by someone with a bowl cut who didn't share their interests or behave in ideal ways. These imperfections lead to frustration and miscommunication. The narrator learns that love, rather than being an ideal, can be clumsy and far from their initial expectations.
š The Transformation of Love
The narrator describes how love evolves over time, changing in unexpected ways. Love stretches, grows, and sometimes vanishes altogether, leaving behind a sense of loss, like losing baby teeth. There is a realization that plans and expectations are often disrupted by love's unpredictable nature, and that love sometimes disappears without a clear reason, only to reappear later in a new form.
š Love's Return in a New Form
When love comes back after a long absence, it's barely recognizable. Love has matured and changed, with different physical traits and new habits. The narrator finds comfort in this new version of love, as they both share a park bench and laughter. Love has retained its essence but now comes with new experiences, favorite books, and songs. Both the narrator and love have evolved, adjusting to each otherās new realities.
šŖ Love's Everyday Quirks
The everyday life of love is described, with its quirks and imperfections. Love makes chocolate-chip cookies but eats most of them, and is both a terrible driver and a great navigator. Love is now more complicated, full of contradictions, and often uses humor to ease the complexities. Despite these flaws, love is still there, supporting the narrator, even if it takes longer to arrive at where they want to go.
š The Human Side of Love
Love is portrayed as wonderfully flawedāmessy, noisy, forgetful, and occasionally embarrassing. Love does small things that annoy the narrator but also does deeply meaningful things, like reminding them of their beauty in moments when they feel least deserving. The narrator acknowledges that loveās imperfections are a part of what makes it genuine and endearing.
š Love's Affirmation of Beauty
Love reassures the narrator of their beauty, even when they are at their most vulnerable. Whether theyāve just woken up, have been crying, or donāt believe it themselves, love continues to say 'You are beautiful.' This constant affirmation, despite love's imperfections, becomes one of loveās most meaningful attributes. However, the narrator also recognizes that love sometimes forgets to say it when itās needed most.
ā³ The Unpredictability of Love
The narrator contemplates the unpredictable nature of love, recognizing that it rarely arrives or stays when expected. Sometimes, love is in a different time zone, or simply not ready. The narrator acknowledges that love may not be the marrying type, or that it might leave after a divorce, but when love does come, itās beautiful, even if fleeting.
š« Love's Timely Arrival and Departure
The narrator reflects on the importance of welcoming love when it arrives and gracefully letting it go when it departs. Thereās an acceptance of loveās transient nature, with gratitude for the moments it stays. The narrator emphasizes being present in those moments, and when love leaves, finding peace in the quiet left behind.
Mindmap
Keywords
š”Love
š”Expectations
š”Change
š”Imperfection
š”Loss
š”Growth
š”Time
š”Acceptance
š”Reality vs. Fantasy
š”Letting Go
Highlights
Love is portrayed with vivid imagery, initially imagined as an idealized figure with traits like wearing a hemp necklace, a tight French braid, and playing the guitar.
The realization that love is imperfect: Love wears the same clothes, hates the bus, and doesnāt know anything about The Beatles.
A humorous take on early romantic experiences: 'Every time I tried to kiss Love, our teeth got in the way.'
Love becomes the reason for lies and rebellion, indicating how love can make people do things they wouldnāt normally do.
The transformation of love: how love changes as one grows, stretches, and sometimes disappears, losing parts of oneself in the process.
Love returns in unexpected ways: 'When Love finally reappeared, I barely recognized them.' This signifies how love evolves and feels different over time.
The new qualities of love: darker eyes, freckles, new birthmarks, and a softer voiceāreflecting how love matures and develops different characteristics.
The idea that love now has new habits, like enjoying different songs, but still finds joy in shared jokes and memories.
Love is not always perfect, as shown by its quirks like chewing loudly, leaving the cap off the toothpaste, and using smiley faces in texts.
The realistic view of love: itās messy, it changes, and has flaws, but also provides warmth, comfort, and affirmation, like homemade cookies or compliments.
The reminder that love is beautiful, even in moments of vulnerability, sadness, and doubtālove continues to affirm oneās worth.
The theme that love isn't what you expect: love can be in the wrong place, at the wrong time, or just not ready for you.
The bittersweet truth about love: it may come and go, appear when least expected, and sometimes, leave you, but its timing is always right.
When love leaves, the speaker suggests gratitude, welcoming love when it arrives and being gracious when it departs.
The conclusion conveys a sense of acceptance and peace with loveās transient nature, encouraging the listener to appreciate love for what it is.
Transcripts
I knew exactly what Love looked like...
In seventh grade.
Even though I hadn't met Love yet, if Love had wandered into my homeroom,
I would have recognized him at first glance.
Love... wore a... hemp necklace
I would have recognized her at first glance. Love wore a tight French braid.
Love played acoustic guitar and knew all my favourite Beatle songs.
Love wasn't afraid to ride the bus with me.
And I knew
I just must be checking the wrong classrooms.
Just must be searching the wrong hallway.
She was there, I was sure of it.
If only I could find him. But when Love finally showed up
She had a bowl cut.
He wore the same clothes every day for a week.
Love hated the bus.
Love didn't know anything about the Beatles!
Instead, every time I tried to kiss Love, our teeth got in the way.
Love became the reason I lied to my parents.
I'm going to...
Ben's house.
Love had terrible rhythm on the dance floor, but made sure we never missed a slow song.
Love waited by the phone, because she knew if her father picked up, it would be:
"Hello."
"Hello?"
"I guess they hung up."
And Love grew.
Love stretched like a trampoline.
Love changed.
Love...
disappeared... Slowly like baby teeth,
losing parts of me I thought I needed.
Love vanished like an amateur magician.
Everyone could see the trapdoor, but me.
Like a flat tire, there were other places I had planned on going.
But my plans didn't matter.
Love stayed away for years,
and when Love finally reappeared...
I barely recognized them.
Love smelled different now, had darker eyes.
A broader back. Love came with freckles I didn't recognize.
New birthmarks, a softer voice.
Now there were new sleeping patterns.
New favorite books.
Love had songs that reminded him of...
someone else. Songs Love didn't like to listen to...
So did I.
But we found a park bench that fit us perfectly.
We found jokes that make us laugh.
And now, Love makes me fresh homemade chocolate-chip cookies,
but Love will probably finish most of them for a midnight snack.
Love looks great in lingerie, but still likes to wear her retainer.
Love is a terrible driver, but a great navigator.
Love knows where she's going. It just might take her two hours longer than she planned.
Love is messier now.
Not as simple.
Love uses the word boobs in front of my parents.
Love chews too loudly.
Love leaves the cap off the toothpaste.
Love uses smiley faces in her text messages.
And turns out...
Love shits!
But, Love also cries. And Love will tell you, you are beautiful
And mean it.
Over and over again.
You are beautiful: When you just wake up.
You are beautiful: When you've just been crying.
You are beautiful: When you don't want to hear it.
You are beautiful: When you don't believe it.
You are beautiful: When nobody else will tell you.
You are beautiful.
Love still thinks...
You are beautiful.
But Love is not perfect and will sometimes forget.
When you need to hear it most,
You are beautiful. Do not forget this.
Love is not who you were expecting. Love is not what you can predict.
Maybe Love is in New York City, already asleep.
You are in, California, India, Australia, wide-awake.
Maybe Love is always in the wrong time zone.
Maybe Love is not ready for you.
Maybe you are not ready for Love.
Maybe Love just isn't the marrying type.
Maybe the next time you see Love is 20 years after the divorce.
Love looks older now, but just as beautiful as you remember.
Maybe Love is only there for one month.
Maybe Love is there for every firework, every birthday party, every hospital visit.
Maybe Love stays.
Maybe Love can't...
Maybe Love shouldn't.
Love arrives... exactly when Love is supposed to.
And Love leaves... exactly when Love must.
When Love arrives, say: "Welcome! Make yourself comfortable!"
If Love leaves, ask her to leave the door open behind her.
Turn off the music,
listen to the quiet.
Whisper:
"Thank you for stopping by"
(Applause)
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