Scene Without Subtext

THE PLAYWRITING SEMINARS > CONTENT > SUBTEXT > EXAMPLE > DEMO 1-A >

'I think in recent years we've gotten to the point where plays can't be straightforward, where we're not even allowed to tell a story. We've gotten away from the simple, clear things in life. I don't think you can go wrong when you deal with that. When you're trying to be cryptic and super-intelligent, a lot of times what you're saying gets lost. There was one time when a reviewer said about OLD SETTLER, He's not a groundbreaking playwright, but he's a good storyteller. What's a groundbreaking playwright? Not that I aspire to be one, but I have no idea what one is even if I did!'

-- James Oseland

Here's a scene with all the Subtext that's fit to drink right in the dialogue, all of it spoken by the characters. The real theatrical dialogue is simply buried -- until you go on to the next link . . .

			
				SCENE 1

				(The two of them in the Family
				Room. 2:00 a.m. and the smoke
				still curls in the aftermath of a 
				party that's gotten Nikki very
				upset.)

				NIKKI
	So? What've you got to say for yourself after this
	horror of an evening. You always manage to get us 
	into things with people I hate.

				STU
	What? Why are you landing on me for this? I don't know
	why you don't get along with any of my friends. They're 
	just not people you like. Nobody's people you like.

				NIKKI
	You're so amazingly unimaginative. Is that all you 
	can say? You just don't understand anything about 
	me. After this, I don't know what's keeping us together.

				STU
	You know that's not true, Nik ... I love you more than
	I can say.

				NIKKI
	Don't call me that name, Nik. I hate you when you do
	that. How can you be so stupid to keep calling me that?

				STU
	I don't know why you're so upset. It's just a nickname.

				NIKKI
			(Exploding)
	You make me sound like a man! Is that what you want?

			(Blackout.)

And With Spoken Subtext Marked for Editing

RETURN TO: | Content | Seminar Homepage |