TODAY'S NUGGET: Hanging Up (2000) - The Responsible Child, All in One Scene

[Quick Summary:  As three sisters juggle how to care for their dying father, old resentments and memories resurface.]

This script was ok, but not my favorite.

However, I did like the scene below.  It shows us that Eve is already the responsible, steady, middle child at age 16, all in one scene:

ex. "INT. LIVING ROOM - WESTWOOD HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Lou, his back to her, is pouring Scotch.

He turns and looks at his daughter. A sheepish smile.

LOU: Hey. I'm all you've got.

He sinks down on the couch, glass in hand and, while still sitting up, passes out.

HOLD ON THE ROOM a beat...

Eve looks at him. She walks over and takes the glass out of his hand and puts it on the table.

She picks up his feet and moves them onto the couch. He is now half-sitting, half-lying, in a very awkward position.

A beat while Eve evaluates whether she has doe all she can. Then, slowly and quietly, she backs out of the room.

ROLL CREDITS

END CREDITS"

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I could tell a lot about who Eve was and her maturity level, from her actions in just one scene.

Hanging Up (2000)(draft dated 4/29/97)
by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron
Based on the novel by Delia Ephron

TODAY'S NUGGET: Silkwood (1983) - "Likeable" vs. "Empathetic" (Choose the Latter)

[Quick Summary: Karen Silkwood is contaminated for uncovering health hazards at her plutonium plant.]

"I don't like that character."
"He isn't likeable enough."
"Can't you make her more likeable?"

What the hell is "likeability"?

I've discovered over time that if you ask a few more questions, it boils down to this:

People use the word "likeable" when they actually mean "empathetic."

[Heads up writers, your job is to decipher what this shortcut means:

-"I don't like him [because I don't get why he made the decisions that he did]."
- "He isn't likeable enough [because he's always angry for no reason]."
- "Can't you make her more [conflicted/contradictory/complicated]"?]

Nora Ephron's scripts are pure gold for empathetic characters. 

Karen Silkwood is a great example. She makes radical decisions in 1970s Oklahoma. She smokes weed. Her three kids live with their dad in Texas. Her boyfriend can't take the stress and leaves.

Yet we identify with her facing her dilemmas and struggles. 

ex. "DENISE reaches out to hand her half-eaten hamburger to KAREN.

DENISE: I finished.
DONNY (to Drew): Do you still sleep with Mama?
DREW: Yes.

The hamburger drips ketchup all over KAREN'S dress.

KAREN: Oh shit.
DOLLY (without turning around): Don't say that, Mama.

DREW hands KAREN a napkin, sits down at the table.

DONNY: Do you hit Mama?
DREW: Not unless she hits me first."

WHAT I'VE LEARNED:  Our job is to get the audience to empathize (understand) with the characters, not necessarily to approve.

Silkwood (1983)
by Nora Ephron & Alice Arlen

TODAY'S NUGGET: #40 WGA Script of All Time - When Harry Met Sally (1989)

[Quick Summary: A man & woman meet after college, become good friends over a decade, but are afraid to fall in love.]

In honor of Valentine's Day, I present dialogue that hints at feelings of love.

INT. KITCHEN

Sally and Marie go about getting the coffee ready.

SALLY: Emily's a little young for Harry, don't you think?
MARIE: She's young, but look at what she's done.
SALLY: What has she done? She makes desserts.

INT. DEN

JESS: He's a good guy. You should talk to him, get to know him.
HARRY: He's too tall to talk to.

INT. KITCHEN

MARIE: Its' not just desserts. She makes 3500 chocolate mousse pies a week.
SALLY: Emily is AUNT EMILY?

INT. DEN
JESS: He took us to a Mets game last week, it was great.
Harry: You all went to a Mets game?
JESS: Yeah, it was a last minute thing.
HARRY: But Sally hates baseball.

INT. KITCHEN

SALLY: Harry doesn't even like sweets.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: We know Harry & Sally like each other because:

1) They disparage the other person's date; &
2) They're disturbed when they find that that date is more impressive than expected.

And no on-the-nose dialogue anywhere.

When Harry Met Sally (1989)
by Nora Ephron