Week 2 Day 2: Characterization Scene — WHEN HARRY MET SALLY

[Mary Emmick]

When Harry Met Sally / “I’ll have what she’s having” characterization scene

Sally (Meg Ryan) sure had guts to do that in front of everyone in the deli. I love how she smiles and goes back to eating as if nothing had happened. This scene is totally unexpected, unpredictable and shocks us. Nothing quite like it has ever occurred in any film. Harry’s (Billy Chrystal) face at the end of the scene seems to say,” you proved your point.” The dialog by the woman who hears Sally, “I’ll have what she’s having” is classic and memorable.

What I learned from rewriting my scene is that in a great characterization scene the character expresses who he/she is through decisions, actions, and dialogue.

[William Whalen]

William Whelan –Characterization scene

What I learned from this assignment was to increase the characterization of my characters through actions and dialogue.

· Scene arc: Sally says the Harry is insensitive to a women’s needs; Harry disagrees and says his women are satisfied. Sally says hiswomen might fake their orgasm; Harry disagrees. Sally fakes orgasm; Harry is chagrined.,

· Situation: Harry and Sally eating in a restaurant.

· Conflict: Sally says the Harry is insensitive to women’s needs; Harry disagrees,

· Entertainment value: Women faking orgasm on screen is novel and engrossing.

· Moving the story forward: Women faking orgasm

· Setup/payoffs: Sally faking orgasm; Harry being proven wrong.

· What makes this scene great? · Sally faking orgasm in a restaurant.

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[Deb Johnson]

When Harry Met Sally – “I’ll have what she’s having.”

what makes this scene great from a writing perspective.

There is a masterful combination of conflict, humor, and character development.

There are two levels of conflict — the underlying tension between Harry and Sally about the nature of relationships (Sally is upset with Harry for “loving and leaving”) and the public demonstration of faking an orgasm. The impact of taking an intimate and private topic into a public and mundane setting is comedy gold.

The scene captures the essence of the characters. Harry and Sally have distinct voices Sally’s logical and matter-of-fact demeanor contrasts with Harry’s stubbornness and reluctance to consider alternative viewpoints. The setup and payoff: The unexpected punchline delivered by a fellow diner, “I’ll have what she’s having,” is an iconic moment in romantic comedy history.

[Mary Dietz]

To begin, the action is in Sally’s court. She initiates the discussion. From the way she is stacking her sandwich without even looking at it, it’s obvious that she has an agenda other than eating. Harry sticks with his sandwich, almost like a shield to protect his masculinity; if he keeps eating, he won’t let the conversation bother him. His replies are short, confident, and fairly dismissive. He weakens at one point when he asks if Sally is alright; then his embarrassment seeps in.

Sally’s display to make her point is lavish, prolonged, and separate from the food, which she returns to when she finishes her attempt at proof.

This is basically a fight scene, in a public place, with witnesses. The older woman’s comment at the end proclaims the winner.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 5 months ago by  Mary Dietz.