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[humpty_dumpty]

My wife's college friend (ex-friend now) behaved in exactly the same manner. It looked like, before starting a conversation, she tried to anticipate the other speaker(s) response, and sort of write the scrit for the consequent information exchange. When the responce was different from what she anticipated, she would first try to move the conversation back to the script, and if she couldn't, took a personal offence and shut down, at times becoming very aggressive. All three of us were TESOL majors, so we did lots of scripted "dialogues" as part of our education and know one when we see one.

The ex-friend is a grossly insecure person, which I think is governing her behavior, and, there was one really strange thing about her, is that she really takes pride in the fact that anyone she works or worked with (save her immediate boss) hated her. She thought it showed how principal and valuable she was. At times, she spoke with visible satisfaction, about the things she did intendedly to make the colleagues hate her.  So... mended_drum, I can't really tell you what to do, other than not be afraid to hurt the colleague's feelings - you're going to no matter what you do - but you have my deepest sympathy!   

[punchnpie]

The ex-friend is a grossly insecure person, which I think is governing her behavior, and, there was one really strange thing about her, is that she really takes pride in the fact that anyone she works or worked with (save her immediate boss) hated her.

Hmm, I knew someone kind of like that, only they bragged about have to bring a complaint or lawsuit against everyone they'd worked with. It didn't exactly endear this person to others.