Screenwriting : Format Question by John C. Bounds

John C. Bounds

Format Question

How would I write a character hearing something someone says in a conversation that they didn't actually say.

I'm not talking about subtext. 

Example

Would I write it as auditory hallucination?  While the other character is talking, says something off the wall. But in reality they didn't say what the protagonist heard.

Maurice Vaughan

I'd write it like this, John C. Bounds:

INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

Action line

CHARACTER 1

Dialogue

An action line about character 1 starting to hallucinate

CHARACTER 2

Hallucination dialogue

Character 1 reacts to hallucination dialogue. A wild stare or something.

CHARACTER 1

What did you say?

CHARACTER 2

I said, "the character reveals what they really said."

John C. Bounds

Thank you both. I kind of thought about how you both said, but wasn't sure.

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, John C. Bounds.

Jeffery Mack

Depending, I sometimes just use the good ol fashioned "V.O. ((Voice Over)) parenthetical, for the person speaking. Never got any negative feed back on that : o )

Pat Alexander

Love a tactical font color change in a script Dan MaxXx. Always gets me excited

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