In addition to the unfinished sentences I wrote, my creative writing notebook that I maintained during high school and college contained another occasional feature that I called Purposely Vague Dialogue Department. I would write deliberately vague dialogue subject to interpretation and ask respondents to write what they thought was going on in the scene. Here's one example from December 1991 and some responses it elicited:
A: Arrrrrgh!
B: What's wrong?
A: Those numbskulls did it again!
B: Did what?
A: That! (points to the other end of the room)
B: I don't see the problem.
A: How could you not see it?
B: Well, I see a few minor flaws, but there's nothing seriously wrong with it...
A: It's not even close!
B: We can still make do with it.
A: Look at how impractical it is!
B: It's still usable...
A: You're kidding...We can't get any use out of this!
B: Well, it really doesn't matter. It's just for our use. We won't be entertaining friends with it...
A: But we still paid for it...We're entitled to better quality than this!
B: Well, maybe...I still think it'll serve us well, though.
Questions: Who are A and B? What are they discussing? What is the source of A's anger? Why is B more passive about it than A?
Responses:
...A and B are husband and wife. They are discussing a new piece of furniture they recently had delivered. The husband is upset because he doesn't like the way it looks, but the wife is more rational and passive and sees no problem with the new piece of furniture. (Mike A.)
...A is premier filmmaker Martin Scorsese, and B is actor extraordinaire Robert De Niro. Marty is angry about some special effects blood packets which burst too early. Robbie is tired of shooting and is trying to salvage the scene so they won't have to do it over. Marty's worried about going over budget, but Bob's trying to convince him that they can make the scene work. (Jonathan L.)
...A and B are cartoon mice. They are discussing the new human family pet they had conspired to get. They are experts at manipulating cats to do as they wish and therefore had put in an order for one. However, to their disgruntled amazement, the new "helper" is a dog. A cannot see how this situation could possibly work with such an animal, but B is much more optimistic. (Kristin M.)
