Phrases and Script

Phrases

"Wonder if it was some kind of ring-toss ceremony."

"You know, we're just monkeys with clothes."

"That's a lot of cardboard."

"Like making a mix tape for a bunch of strangers."

"Why would I buy chicken from a snake? Did they think about that?"

Script

Two people sit on a weathered old sofa in front of a coffee table. One is bent over a laptop and a stack of papers, while the other is leaning back casually against the sofa, remote control in hand as the television flickers between channels.

TV person: -Beat-Why is this chicken being sold by a talking snake? Why would I buy chicken from a snake? Did they think about that?

Laptop person:  Well, snakes are carnivores right? I thought they ate mice though. Do they eat chicken?

TV person: -Shrugs while continuing to flip through television channels- I dunno. Why don’t you look it up?

Laptop person: -Typing- Hmm, looks like they don’t eat chicken, or at least not crunchy fast-food joint chicken. Darn, now I want chicken.

TV person: Me too. -Beat- -Gets up and goes into the kitchen- We don’t have any. You want some cereal?

Laptop person: What kind?

TV person: We have Fruit Hoops, Cocoa Stones, or Marshmallow Mateys.

Laptop person: Ooh, toss me the Marshmallow Mateys. I finished off the cereal pieces yesterday so the box is all marshmallows now.

TV person:-Beat- -Throws a cereal box-

Laptop person: -Beat- -Catches the box, begins to eat large handfuls of dried marshmallows from it. Several marshmallows fall to the side and land on the laptop and sofa.-

TV person: -Beat- -Sits back down  and continues flipping through television channels- Woah, check that out! That’s a lot of cardboard!

Laptop person: What is that, some hoarding show?

TV person: Nah, it’s one of those “Renovate your house on a budget” shows.

Laptop person: Oh neat. You know, we have a lot of old cardboard boxes, we should try that.

TV person: Oh yeah, we totally should! -Checking the clock- I have to head to work though, you want to start when I get back?

Laptop person: Yeah, sounds good. I’ll be back from class by then too. See you later.

TV person: Yeah, see you then! -Beat- -Gets up and heads out-
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The beats in this script would be defined primarily by movement, especially the movement of one person getting up or sitting back down. The movement of the cereal box being thrown and caught also defines a beat. The only beat defined by something other than movement is the one defined by the opening dialogue.