Dialogue: How People Talk

5 Phrases 

1. "I'm a confident man, but I'm not cocky. You know what I mean?"

2. "And the truth of the reality is I didn't sleep with Yolanda, I didn't have any sexual relationship with her when me and my wife split."

3. "My mom said I was born with one gray hair."

4. "It's not that big of building but it's charming looking."

5. "When you're just sitting there at night, every knuckle head that's trying to get a fix is stealing and causin nothing but trouble."

Dialogue 

I based this conversation on one I actually heard while we were shooting our documentary at the coffee shop. 

One evening in the local town coffee shop, Carla sat talking with her friend, Steve. He was worked up about some drama with his ex-wife, Stacy, who had accused him of cheating on her while they were still married.

Steve: “I just don’t understand why she’s gotta come busting into my life causing all this drama when we aren’t together anymore. She swears that I was cheating on her with Yolanda, says I was always actin like I was hiding somethin. And the truth of the reality is I didn’t sleep with Yolanda, I didn’t have any sexual relationship with her when me and my wife split.”

Carla: “Why does it even matter at this point whether you did or not? Its not like she wanted to be in the relationship anyhow.”

Steve: “I dunno, I guess she thinks I have too big of an ego and that I let my image go to my head, at least that’s what she always used to nag about. She says that’s why things weren’t workin out, that I thought I was too better than her and all this crap about not respecting her. I’m a confident man, but I’m not cocky. You know what I mean?”

Carla sat there listening to him go on and on about how he had done no wrong and that Stacy was nothing but a nagging ex-wife. She had hoped this conversation over coffee would be more than just complaining about someone that wasn’t, or shouldn’t, be a big part of his life anymore. She was hoping it would be more of a date than a venting session.

Carla: “Did ya ever think that maybe you should just ignore her? What’s done was done and is in the past and I think its time to move on. All she wants to do is cause you drama.”

Steve: “Its hard to ignore someone that’s so annoying. She just begs for attention. She says I have too big of an ego? Ha, well I think that attention whore should take a good long look in the mirror.”

Carla: “And you’re giving her exactly what she wants, the center of attention in your life. Whether its good or bad attention, she wants it and you’re giving it to her. Just leave her alone.”

Carla just wanted her chance but Steve couldn’t see past what Stacy’s little games were really about. She sat there just sipping her lukewarm coffee, hoping Stacy would leave the conversation.