In my dialogue, I tried to create a realistic situation but with a twist to give the dialogue a better plot. I thought the dialogue would be very simple and I started out creating a simple conversation, which was too black and white, but it eventually led to a much deeper story. My two characters are quite different in both appearance and attitudes but they share a common incident, which is hopefully brought out in the dialogue but not too obvious.

Treatment

Mary is a very athletic 26 whose parents recently died in a car crash with a taxi, which fled the scene. She is a nurse who is quite upset about her parents’ death, which she has not talked about much but really needs to get it out of her system. She is on her way to the funeral.

Sammy is 42 and not very attractive. He wants to retire from his job as he was in an accident, which he regrets. Sammy has an inquisitive nature and although he is depressed he always wants to find out more. He often delves too far into people’s lives and is disliked by most people for this attribute.

TAXI TALK

Mary Oates is a pretty, fit woman. She gets in a taxi driven by Sammy Nicholson who is a 42 year old pot-bellied man who is very inquisitive and loves to talk.

Mary: Hi, to 42 Warwick Street please, I’m in a bit of a hurry.

Sammy: You’re lucky, I was about to go home.

Starts up car and drives off

Mary: A bit early to knock off isn’t it?

Sammy: Yeah I was going to knock off for good.

Mary: Oh, okay.

Sammy: This job is so irritating, horrible hours and horrible people. Oh…not you.

Mary: Hmm…

Sammy: Why the rush, boyfriend to meet, maybe a husband?

Mary: No, no, nothing like that.

Sammy: Isn’t it strange how some people don’t like to talk? It was the only good thing about this job; talking.

Mary: No it isn’t strange…So how long did you say it would take to get there?

Sammy: Depends on how fast I drive.

Mary: Well could you drive faster, you are only going 40 and it is a 60 zone? My time is being wasted.

Sammy: Well sorry for wasting your time but I thought we were having a nice little chat. You people are always the same, only interested in yourselves.

Mary: Look, I just want to get to my destination, I am not a psychiatrist and I do not really want to talk about people’s problems.

Sammy: Fine I’ll get you there, but this is my taxi and I’ll get you there in my own time.

Mary: You could have had another passenger if you’d been going faster.

Sammy: I don’t want another passenger, I’m retiring after this, and I thought you might be more sympathetic, have one last chat before I retire. Come on do it for me. So how old did you say you are?

Mary: I’m really not in the mood.

Sammy: I will get you there faster if you have one last chat with me, please. You’re my last passenger.

Mary: Fine. I’m 26, divorced, have one child, I’m a nurse who works late hours, has no life and both my parents passed away a couple of days ago in a car crash. Do you want to know anything else…?

Sammy: Well no, not really.

Mary: Good I don’t want to talk about it so could you just get on with your driving?

Sammy: Look I’m really sorry for your loss. Is that why you are wearing black, are you going to the funeral?

Mary: Just leave me alone. Why do you care? You don’t need to know. Just because you are a taxi driver doesn’t mean you are entitled to know everything!

Sammy: You said they died a couple of days ago, what happened?

Mary: If I tell you will you shut up?

Sammy: Quite possibly.

Mary: Well the police think it was a taxi because of the paint colour. It ran a red light, probably speeding too. Then it just hit them, they died in hospital from brain trauma.

Sammy: Oh, okay… well we’d better get you to the funeral then.

Mary: Yeah, the sooner the better.

Sammy: Oh, don’t be like that.

Mary: Well now I’ve told you about me, maybe you should tell me about you.

Sammy: Me…no one ever wants to know about me.

Mary: You might as well tell me, seeing that it’s your last drive in the taxi.

Sammy: Well what do you want to know?

Mary: Whatever you want to tell me.

Sammy: I’m a 42 year old with, as you can see, a pot. I’ve had two marriages both failed. I have no children, my career is taxi driving and I can’t do it anymore. Like you I have no life and I also work late hours. Is that enough, I’m not used to talking about myself?

Mary: I suppose so. But why do you want to quit. If it’s your career, what will you do after it?

Sammy: I think I’ll retire, probably just get the dole or something. I can’t do anything else.

Mary: Yeah well why do you have to quit? Just keep going.

Sammy: I would if I could. Things have just got out of control in the past week. I’m usually able to control myself but some people have really got to me. I want to talk to them and they just tell me to get stuffed and constantly abuse me.

Mary: That wouldn’t make you quit; it isn’t that big a deal.

Sammy: It’s not just that, there are other things to.

Mary: Like what?

Sammy: For one I think I’m losing my eyesight. Even with glasses I struggle to see sometimes…

Mary: And you are driving a taxi, you’re a danger to society if you can’t see.

Sammy: I know, that is why I must leave: I’m a danger.

Mary: I’m glad you are being responsible; there should be more people like you driving taxis.

Sammy: Yeah but I think I’m leaving my retirement too late. Sometimes things need to happen before you realise it is time to stop.

Mary: What are you saying? Did you break the law?

Sammy: Something like that.

Mary: What have you done?

Sammy: Don’t worry, it is not important, just minor offences, things like that. What is important is that I leave now.

Mary: I feel bad about how mean I was to you; it has been really tough for me lately as well.

Sammy: You should be mean to me I deserve it. I’m really sorry about your parents.

Mary: Look we are almost there…

Sammy: Don’t worry about paying, the ride is on me, it is the least I can do.

Mary: Thanks and good luck.

Mary gets out of the car and Sammy disappears off into the distance.