Week 2 Day 3 – What I learned …

[Lynn Vincentnathan]

What I learned: make your protag very uncomfortable with subtext cover-up that they don’t quite get.

I have a scene like that. Uncle Fred (the eco-hater) covers up his blame of Ellie for getting nephew Jim into eco-things, which becomes clear in the next scene, but in this one during Thanksgiving dinner it is a coverup that creates discomfort; and Jim and Ellie are covering up that Ellie is vegan and into eco-concerns:

FRED: You’re not eating the turkey?

Ellie looks to Jim, who mulls it.

JIM: She has a stomach disorder, Uncle. No meat. But it doesn’t affect her. She’s very healthy.

FRED: Well, that’s good. (beat) So y’all have been dating for how many years?

Jim looks to Ellie.

ELLIE: It’s only been three months. I guess that sounds a short time for–

FRED (suspicious): Yeh, yeh. Seems like you’ve known each other for years.

Jim smiles.

JIM: It happened right away, Uncle Fred, at least for me. Took weeks to get Ellie on board. But I feel I’ve known her for years. My soulmate.

Jim and Ellie smile at each other.

FRED (to Jim): So, if you start at the Consultancy in December (side eyes Ellie) what about Ellie’s degree in Mass Communications, whatever that is.