Tagged: dialogue
#106 – Write Dialogue…
…in which one person proposes marriage and the other says no.
“No.”
“No?”
“Yes.”
“Yes?!”
“No.”
“Oh. Why not?”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really. I think I have a right to know.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“You cheated on me. With my best friend. In our bed. While I was in the hospital.”
“One time!”
“Three times.”
“Three times! I’m sorry and I promised it’d never happen again.”
“You’re also a liar, a thief, and a gambler. You drink excessively and you spend all your free time with your friends or in the basement watching TV.””But I can change!”
“And marriage is gonna do that?”
“Yes.”
“No. We broke up for that reason.”
“I promise.”
“Still no.”
“Fine, but give me one more reason besides that. One more good reason and i’ll leave you alone forever.”
“One more reason?”
“Just one.”
“Did that coffee taste funny to you?”
“What?”
“Did you notice anything strange about your coffee?”
“Uhm…no. I don’t think so. Did you do something to it?”
“No, but do you really want to spend the rest of your life wondering if I did do something to your morning coffee?”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“That’s…a good point.”
“I thought so.”
“I’ll just be going.”
“Probably for the best.”
“Call me?”
“Not likely.”
Behind the Random: I wonder, sometimes, how some people can end up with such terrible people who only cause them stress, pain, and heartbreak. Then I stop wondering because it makes my head hurt.
#340 – Narrate an Uncomfortable Conversation…
…between a father and son without using any dialogue.
It was that time. That time that every father dreads when they have to sit their son down and talk to them about the birds and the bees. So when David called in Brian, there was a lump in his stomach that quickly moved up to his throat. He didn’t know how to start the conversation he’d rehearsed in his head a hundred times since Brian’s 13th birthday. A part of him just wanted to blurt it out, get it done and over with, then go back into the living room and watch a movie. David knew it wasn’t going to be that simple.
Brian sat in front of his dad, feeling a little awkward. He knew he wasn’t in trouble, his grades had been great lately, and his dad had been acting a little weird around him lately, so he kind of had an idea of what was going on. It was something he wasn’t looking forward to having sit through either.
So when David began going on about that special period of Brian’s life, Brian just sat there and nodded along. He had no question, not wanting to drag it out further than it would be, and just agreed quietly to everything his dad had to say. It wasn’t easy and most of what David told him he’d already learned in sex ed and from television and movies. The rest he’d kinda figured out for himself as he went.
It took less than twenty minutes for David to go through his whole thing, which made him feel better when he reached the end. Brian confirmed that he understood everything that David had to tell him and that it was important life information that he would need as he grew up. At first, there was an attempted hug then a failed handshake before the two finally just nodded to each other and walked away.
David made his way to the living room, craving a beer, but feeling good about doing his job as a parent. Brian went to his room, wondering how he was going to tell his dad he’d gotten his girlfriend pregnant.
Behind the Random: I never got ‘The Talk’ when I was growing up. I learned about sex and puberty and such through sex ed. By the time my mom tried to have the talk with me, I was pretty much covered. Personally, I don’t have an issue with kids learning about growing up in school (even though this story is clearly says otherwise). Do I think every kid should have to take it? No, of course not. I believe it is the parents right to control what their kids learn and don’t learn in school. Some argue that can make kids ignorant if no one else teaches them, but then that should be on the parent’s head, not the schools. What can I say, I’m a big fan of consequences.
#411 – Write a Scene…
…using only dialogue, that depicts the worst fight you ever got into with your spouse, friend, or relative.
Kelso: Welcome sports fans! To another exciting episode of Domestic Dispute! We’ve got a killer show today. Isn’t that right, Martin?
Martin: That’s right, Kelso. It’s a match that’s been in the making for months with tensions that have been brewing
Kelso: And we’re getting right into it, it would seem. She goes in fierce with accusations! He deflects with wit but it’s clear he’s caught off guard.
Martin: The verbal sucker punch has always been a staple in her repertoire, but he falls for it every time.
Kelso: He appears to be winded but he’s trying use logic to get some breathing room.
Martin: And she counters with a vicious memory of their last fight, rocking him hard. He’s staggering and he can’t seem to remember anything that happened that time.
Kelso: That has him on the ropes. He tries to reverse it, but fails miserably as she holds onto his past mistakes like a bulldog on a steak!
Martin: He’s not going down without a fight however. He manages to clumsily get his bearings, but he’s angry. He’s always had a short fuse in confrontation. He takes it in close to her.
Kelso: The heat is really ramping up between these two. You can feel it from here.
Martin: Oh, and she shoves him away! It’s become a pushing match between them. Each trying to get an edge out on the other as verbal blows are traded.
Kelso: And she delivers a stunning blow, attacking his manhood. And down he goes! But will he stay down? Is this the end of the fight?
Martin: No! He gets back up and flips the coffee table end over end! He’s still in this one!
Kelso: I don’t think so, Martin. She’s delivering the coup de grace now. No opponent has been able to withstand the power of her waterwork move.
Martin: He’s wavering but holding strong. Can he outlast it?
Kelso: You can see the guilt wracking him. How much more can he take?
Martin: And he goes down! Is it over?! I think it’s over!
Kelso: I don’t think he’s getting back up after that one.
Martin: What an amazing match! A short but brutal battle! They’ll be talking about this one for years to come. Join us after the break as we look at the highlights of the night and speak with the victor.
Behind the Random: It was difficult figuring out how to do this without getting personal. Then, for some reason, I started thinking about the scene from Bedazzled with the announcers for the basketball game and inspiration hit. The rest kind of wrote itself…
#464 – Write 20 Lines of Dialogue Between a Believer and a Nonbeliever.
“Hey Phil! You got a minute to talk about Satan?”
“Not this again Roger. I don’t have time to hear about your crazy church.”
“It’s not a church, man. It’s a way of life. A way to connect with the absurdity of the universe all thanks for the Words of Satan.”
“The Words of Jaboo? Do you hear yourself? This is a cult that sucked you in and scrambled your brain.”
“Jaboo is the truth, Phil. I’ve learned so much since I started following them. You have to give them a chance. That’s all I’m asking.
“No.”
“Seriously? You’re not even going to consider it?”
“No.”
“That is so lame man. Aren’t you the one that always used to harp on me to keep an open mind and explore new things. Then I finally do and now you’re stonewalling me? That is so lame.”
“You were arrested last week for trying to sacrifice the neighbors cat! You painted symbols on our wall with your own blood! This is not having an open mind. That’s sick. Sick and wrong. You should give up this craziness and join me at the church of C’thulu. We could always use fresh mind.”
Behind the Random: If there’s one thing I’ve come to enjoy about the internet, it’s the constant bickering between people on the opposite side of faith. Always good for a laugh or two.
#339 – Choose a Political Issue You Are Passionate About…
…and create a character who holds the opposite view. He/she is more sympathetic and more persuasive than you. Write the dialogue of an argument between the two of you.
“Me”: So a Christian bakery in the states got fined $200,000 for refusing to take the order of a lesbian couple getting married.
Me: Good. They shouldn’t discriminate.
“Me”: Isn’t that a bit much though?
Me:Maybe, but that’s the price you pay for being bigoted dicks.
“Me”: But it isn’t it their right to refuse service to anyone for any reason? It’s their place of business, they should be able to decide who they take money from. Why does the law have to step in to force them to take business they don’t want
Me: They can refuse service, but they can’t discriminate.
“Me”: So they just say “No, we’re not serving you but we can’t tell you why.” Now they look like they’re bigoted and afraid. They stood up for what they believe in. Why is that condemnable?
Me: It’s no different than someone refusing service to someone because of race, religion, nationality, sex, or hair color.
“Me”: Why is that against the law, exactly? As long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else, what does it matter what other people think, feel, and believe?
Me: Because it’s wrong.
“Me”: So they need to be like you and everybody else? Who decided that was right?
Me: Decency. There needs to be equality.
“Me”: By taking people that don’t conform to your idea of equality and forcing them to do things they don’t want to do because it might hurt someone elses feelings? If they refuse, they take a crippling fine that could ruin their lives simply for standing up for what they believe in?
Me: Then don’t be bigots.
“Me”: It’s not bigotry unless they’re actively trying to hurt homosexuals. That’s what they believe and they aren’t comfortable supporting it. If the homosexual community and others have a problem with it, then they just won’t shop there. That’s business lost for the bakery, which I believe is a more natural and fitting consequence for their actions. Let the people decide if they agree with how they conduct the business, not the government. You cant’ force people to agree with something by force. All you do is make things more difficult in the end.
Me: How do you know the company didn’t have an anti-gay agenda?
“Me”: Because if they did, then it would probably be generally known by the public or at least the local homosexual community. Unless they were known and that couple intentionally picked that bakery to place their order knowing full well that it would be refused then complain about it ‘just to teach them hateful Christians a lesson.’ That would be wrong.
Me: So you’re siding with the church?
“Me”: I’m siding with freedom of choice. Something that both side keeps wanting to take away from the other.
Me: Well…they started it.
Behind the Random: I support gay marriage. However, when I read this story here, I couldn’t agree with the actions taken against the bakery because I also support freedom of choice, so long as that freedom doesn’t directly harm someone else. And refusing to make a cake for someone doesn’t harm anyone (unless they’re the only bakery in the entire county in which case, sure, that would be an ass thing to do). I’m of the mind that speaking out against the bakery’s actions is okay, since that’s an opinion about their business. Let the public decide if that’s something they want to support or not. The second the law becomes involved though, it basically forces acceptance down people’s throats (hint: it usually results in less acceptance and more bitterness…), and it’s no longer about choice but conformity. I’ve seen nothing about the owners being rude or disrespectful to the couple, no slanderous remarks or hateful opinions. I don’t agree with their belief, but I think it’s commendable that they were willing to pass up business to stand up for them.
This isn’t about equality. This is about pettiness.
As for the post, it didn’t follow the guidelines exactly since I had to flip the opinions of the characters. Still, it was on my mind and I wanted to write about it so I flubbed the description a bit. Whoopsie…
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