oggbashan
Dying Truth seeker
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2002
- Posts
- 56,017
Sample:
This is my homework for this week's creative writing class. It is a sample of dialogue with not a single 'he said; she said'.
Og
“Harry! You are impossible. I leave you alone for two days and you can’t file a couple of receipts. I know you paid that account because I wrote the cheque for you to sign. You did post it, didn’t you?”
“No, Helen. I didn’t post it. You did. You said you didn’t trust me to remember to put it in the post box.”
“So I did. And I posted it. So why are they chasing you for the money?”
“I don’t know.”
“You wouldn’t. Why anyone would hire you as an auditor I don’t know. They do, otherwise we wouldn’t have this office. You seem to keep track of other people’s figures. Why can’t you manage your own?”
“I don’t know. I suppose it’s like a builder who doesn’t repair his own house. I don’t get paid to do MY figures. I get paid for everyone else’s.”
“Not without me you wouldn’t. You forget to send out the account, or to remind them when they haven’t paid. If I didn’t do the invoices and chase them up we would be on the breadline.”
“I know I need you, Helen. There’s no need to rub it in. Have you found that receipt yet?”
“You didn’t file under ‘E’ for electricity. What did you do with it?”
“I don’t know. I’m sure I filed it. Please keep looking. You usually find it.”
“I AM looking. Are you sure you didn’t file under ‘D’ for ‘don’t know’? I have tried all the possibilities I can think of including ‘U’ for ‘utilities’, ‘B’ for ‘bills’ and ‘R’ for receipts. This may be only one filing cabinet but it is stuffed full. Most of it could be thrown away.”
“Don’t do that, Helen. I’d never find anything then.”
“You NEVER find anything, Harry. How you found me I don’t know.”
“You KNOW that you found me. You had a message from your boss for the private detective on the floor above. You walked into my office and told me off for being so messy with my paperwork.”
“Harry. I was teasing you. That’s better than losing my temper. After all we have to live together day and night. For an incompetent filer you were quick off the mark that day. You offered me coffee and a job within minutes of my entrance.”
“I did need help.”
“I know you did. You still do. Let me look at that letter. It might help me find the receipt.”
“Here you are, Helen.”
“Harry! You are a dope. This letter is for the private detective, not for you. Can we go home now?”
“Yes, Helen. Is it my turn to cook?”
“No, Harry. You have been feeding yourself for two whole days. I’d rather cook tonight instead of directing while you cook. If I didn’t remind you, you’d forget half the ingredients.”
“I’m not that bad.”
“No, Harry, you’re not. Together we are great. Apart, you fall to pieces. It is nice to know I’m essential.”
****
That was a story written about the Edward Hopper picture "Office at Night" (1940). Word limit 500. Actual 498.
This is my homework for this week's creative writing class. It is a sample of dialogue with not a single 'he said; she said'.
Og
“Harry! You are impossible. I leave you alone for two days and you can’t file a couple of receipts. I know you paid that account because I wrote the cheque for you to sign. You did post it, didn’t you?”
“No, Helen. I didn’t post it. You did. You said you didn’t trust me to remember to put it in the post box.”
“So I did. And I posted it. So why are they chasing you for the money?”
“I don’t know.”
“You wouldn’t. Why anyone would hire you as an auditor I don’t know. They do, otherwise we wouldn’t have this office. You seem to keep track of other people’s figures. Why can’t you manage your own?”
“I don’t know. I suppose it’s like a builder who doesn’t repair his own house. I don’t get paid to do MY figures. I get paid for everyone else’s.”
“Not without me you wouldn’t. You forget to send out the account, or to remind them when they haven’t paid. If I didn’t do the invoices and chase them up we would be on the breadline.”
“I know I need you, Helen. There’s no need to rub it in. Have you found that receipt yet?”
“You didn’t file under ‘E’ for electricity. What did you do with it?”
“I don’t know. I’m sure I filed it. Please keep looking. You usually find it.”
“I AM looking. Are you sure you didn’t file under ‘D’ for ‘don’t know’? I have tried all the possibilities I can think of including ‘U’ for ‘utilities’, ‘B’ for ‘bills’ and ‘R’ for receipts. This may be only one filing cabinet but it is stuffed full. Most of it could be thrown away.”
“Don’t do that, Helen. I’d never find anything then.”
“You NEVER find anything, Harry. How you found me I don’t know.”
“You KNOW that you found me. You had a message from your boss for the private detective on the floor above. You walked into my office and told me off for being so messy with my paperwork.”
“Harry. I was teasing you. That’s better than losing my temper. After all we have to live together day and night. For an incompetent filer you were quick off the mark that day. You offered me coffee and a job within minutes of my entrance.”
“I did need help.”
“I know you did. You still do. Let me look at that letter. It might help me find the receipt.”
“Here you are, Helen.”
“Harry! You are a dope. This letter is for the private detective, not for you. Can we go home now?”
“Yes, Helen. Is it my turn to cook?”
“No, Harry. You have been feeding yourself for two whole days. I’d rather cook tonight instead of directing while you cook. If I didn’t remind you, you’d forget half the ingredients.”
“I’m not that bad.”
“No, Harry, you’re not. Together we are great. Apart, you fall to pieces. It is nice to know I’m essential.”
****
That was a story written about the Edward Hopper picture "Office at Night" (1940). Word limit 500. Actual 498.
