For several months now, I’ve been following a website called Screenwriting Tips….You Hack. The posts are more like tweets, but they’re generally very insightful and useful. I’m only sharing because I thought the latest tip (tip #919) was so àpropos.

(Pages 79 & 80)
INT. DINER – NIGHT

A typical greasy spoon, open twenty-four hours, Detroit coney island.

Martin is eating a bloody rare Ribeye steak when Perry enters the diner.

Perry sees Martin and strolls over to his booth.

Perry sits down.

PERRY
What is that, a steak?

MARTIN
Ribeye.

PERRY
From here?

MARTIN
Don’t let the dirty tiled floors fool you, they have the best steak in town. Here try it.

PERRY
No, that’s okay.

MARTIN
I insist.

Martin cuts a piece and holds it up for Perry on his fork.

Perry hesitates.

MARTIN
Eat it!

Perry eats it off Martin’s fork. He chews it for a while.

PERRY
You’re right, not bad.

MARTIN
See? I told you.

The WAITRESS comes over holding a coffee pot.

WAITRESS
Would you like some coffee, honey?

PERRY
Yes.

Perry flips over the empty coffee cup sitting on the table for the waitress to fill up. She does.

PERRY
Thanks.

WAITRESS
Cream? Sugar?

PERRY
No thanks.

WAITRESS
Menu?

PERRY
I’m good.

The Waitress leaves.

PERRY
So we have a job tonight?

MARTIN
Yeah. Sam. He must’ve pissed off Jimmy. Jimmy wants him out.

PERRY
Really? What about the money?

MARTIN
Jimmy says do what we can, but he never wants to see Sam again.

PERRY
I wonder what he did.

MARTIN
Me too.