THE GHOST
No need to spit. It won’t go away. It is your language that is affected. Not your tongue.

THE DIRECTOR
If this is a hoax…

THE GHOST
I was in your position a few years ago. And I’m telling you, it wasn’t just yesterday. I saw how this gum disease came about.

THE DIRECTOR
What?

THE GHOST
I’ve seen it. Director. Di-re-cteur. Fifty years before you. I know what I’m talking about.

THE DIRECTOR
You taught at this school?

THE GHOST
I taught in this town, and I died here. What I’m talking about … it happened here. Don’t look so surprised. It spread from the desks to the startups. We were patient 0.

THE DIRECTOR
What the hell happened? Stop staring at my mouth!

The ghost cowers on the floor.

THE GHOST
I created this monster. The nuclear fission of the language is me. The rhetoric of the « project » is me. I didn’t turn a country into a company, but I did it.

THE DIRECTOR
This ghost is nuts.

THE GHOST
Are you still doing research at this school?

THE DIRECTOR
A lot of research. We have a lot of good ideas.

THE GHOST
Then show them the language of learners in all its arrogance. Your students need to understand it. Deconstruct it… The language of directors is a tub of acid. They must destroy it. Does that make you laugh? You must do it!

THE DIRECTOR
Ghostbusters! To the rescue! I know what I’m doing, sheet face. Go find peace away from me. Be gone!

The ghost leaves, resigned. The director lights up again. He sits down, and mops his forehead. One knocks again at the door.