Dialogue can be a tricky thing. We all talk in such strange ways; it is even stranger to see such conversations on paper.
In the past, I’ve done three dialogue-only pieces (Wanna see? Here, here and here.) and what challenging things they are! Like it or lump it, dialogue is a necessary part of writing, and when done well, it can really impress.
This was the reason I adored Michael Frayn’s short story, He Said, She Said, a clever, funny piece looking at the intracies of dialogue.
Now, I’ve never fully understood copyrights. Sure, I’ve posted famous poems in the past, but that seems somehow different than posting someone else’s story — particularly one that is not, to the best of my knowledge, available to read online.
So, while I would love to share the entire glory of the story, I have decided to play it safe. Below is merely a snippet of the story, showing the befuddlement and amusement of writing dialogue. Enjoy!
[A Snippet Of] He Said, She Said
Written by Michael Frayn
“He said,” he said, a few pages later.
“What?” she said.
“She said! There we go again! Didn’t you hear it?”
“Oh, that. Yes. You always get that.”
“So who’s saying it?” he demanded. “Who’s saying all this she said and he demanded?”
“Not me,” she shrugged.
“She shrugged! Oh, honestly! Before we know where we are we’ll be getting he gritted.”
There was a slight pause. Then — he expostulated.
They stopped talking and listened for some moments, waiting to hear what variations they would be reduced to next. But nothing happened. There was silence.
“I can stand the inverted commas…” he began, and stopped. “There it goes again — he began! Every time I open my mouth! It’s getting on my nerves.”
“It’s as if someone was listening in to everything we said,” she complained.
“It’s so unnecesary, that’s what maddens me.”
“Everyone knows we’re saying things. They don’t have to keep being told.”
“Just a moment, though…”
“What?”
“I think it’s stopped!”
“Has it…? Yes, so it has!”
“They must have realised we could hear them.”
“Well, thank heavens for that!”
“Yes… Only…”
“Only what?”
“Well, this is rather silly, but I’ve forgotten which of us is which.”
“Which of us is which? That’s easy. You just count back to the last he said or she said.”
“Oh, I see. Hold on, then… You, me, you, me… Or, just a moment, was it Me, you…? No, no — I know — You, me, you, me, you, me , you, me… Good God — I’m she!“
“Don’t be silly. Can’t you tell from the kind of thing you’re saying? That’s the way he speaks!”
“Is it? Hold on… You, me, you, me, you, me, you, me, you… Yes! You’re she and I’m you! No…”
They looked up at the sky, hoping to hear even the faintest he said or she said echoing through the universe. But the sky was very clear and very empty.
(1994)
- Love The Bad Guy
