Good dialogue in Homecoming

This dialogue is from season 1, episode 3 of Homecoming. If you skip to 13:07, you'll get an example of Heidi and Walter speaking about their imaginary road trip.


This conversation does a few things at once:

 1. It illustrates their attraction to one another.

 2. It skims around this attraction; neither one of them are ready to admit it (notice how they are talking about staying in a hotel together, but they skip right over that part).

 3. It allows us to see why Heidi might later try to keep Walter in the program.

 4. It illuminates both characters; Walter as having a lively imagination, and Heidi as never really being close to anyone.

 5. It gives us hope that they may some day be together.

 6. It creates conflict. As a therapist, Heidi should not be attracted to her clients, as her job is to help them and the boundaries should be clear. However, previous conversations have shown us that they get along well, and that Walter is a very decent guy. We feel Heidi's desire for him, but we also feel how she has to struggle to keep the relationship professional, but not revealing too much of herself or giving in to this pretend moment.

7. It's funny and entertaining and it seems real.
 

Podcast script example

There are three things a listener hears in a radio drama: 

• Dialogue
• Music
• Sound effects

Each of these audio components is called a "cue"—because they come at a specific time in the script and the director may have to physically point to someone ("cue them") to produce it. An instance of dialogue, no matter how many lines, is considered one cue. All cues are numbered and music/sound effects are additionally underlined.  

1.  MACBETH:          That will never be. Who can impress the forest?

                      Yet my heart throbs to know one thing. Tell me,

                      if your art can tell so much, - shall Banquo’s issue

                                               ever reign in this kingdom?

2.  SOUND:            THUNDER (2X).

3.  MUSIC:            WEIRD MUSIC-UP. DUCK FOR VOICES.

4.  ALL WITCHES:      Seek to know no more.

5.  MACBETH:          I will be satisfied. Deny me this, and an eternal

                                    curse fall on you! Let me know!

6.  SOUND:            INTENSE BUBBLING-SLOWS-STOPS. THUNDER (1X).

7.  MACBETH:              Why sinks that cauldron? And what noise is this?

8.  FIRST WITCH:          Show!

9.  SECOND WITCH:     Show!

10. THIRD WITCH:        Show!

11. SOUND:           THUNDER (3X).


Podcast Plotting Device: The focus sentence

• Start with the idea that you have a character in motion toward her goal. 
• S/he has a motivation for doing that thing (a desire). 
• But somehow, that thing is not going to be easy to overcome (danger/challenge). 

DRAMA = Desire + Danger

Focus sentence: Heidi goes back to where she used to work because she wants to know what happened to her, but the government (and her own memory) are against her.