Pauline sat staring vacantly at the screen, deeply in trance....

"Hey, Pauline, babe? Just FYI, don't watch that interview live, I wanna watch it back with you.... I have a little surprise in it for you," Bethany had said when she left the house that morning.

"Okay, honey, I will," Pauline lied.

As her girlfriend went to work, scheduled to be interviewed on the local news about upgrades to the local metro system she worked on as a manager, Pauline found herself a little bored without much else to do until noon rolled around, and she turned on the TV.

It seemed pretty humdrum, but at least her girl was getting the word out about what she and her company were doing. Still, what was this surprise?

"...And with these new systems we will get the trance time running for you... er, trains running on time for you, sorry..." Beth said, pretending it was just a fumble of her words and carrying on.

...But Pauline was under right away, the trigger phrase working even through the television just hearing it in her girlfriend's voice. There she sat, eyes blank, motionless, until hours later the door opened, and Beth giggled.

"Ah, sorry, sweetie. I knew you wouldn't resist. Hope you had a good day..." She smirked, and walked past her still hypnotised partner, sitting on the sofa like a statue.

"...Almost makes me want to not say the reverse phrase. Hmm... Maybe I'll take a shower first and see.

Pauline had no response.