rhubarb and chocolate chip mint with root beer float and a cherry
Story: Timeless { backstory | index }
Title: Night Shifts
Rating: G/PG
Challenge: Rhubarb ‘My Treat’ #4: with friends like these, who needs enemies? (Adam is naive), Chocolate Chip Mint #30: innocent
Toppings/Extras: cherry, root beer float
Wordcount: 489
Summary: Miss Merritt is manipulative. Adam Kirby is naive.
Notes: So, we did discourse analysis as a module in English Language last year and I just found one of the old scripts. It’s about unedited, unprompted, raw spoken language and of course that would never work for novels, but I found the module really interesting. Films and novels are very removed from the reality of discourse, so have a load of blabber! The format is very weird but you get used to it after about five billion discourse scripts...
(.) indicates a short pause
(1) indicates a pause of one second
(2) a pause of two seconds, etc
ADAM: So er so there’s this sort of (.) of continuum in the
ADELE: Yeah I don’t actually care (3) can you just get it done please
ADAM: Well er
ADELE: Look (.) it’s Newson’s orders (.) I’m only here to pass on the message you know
ADAM: Yes
ADELE: Well that means complaining at me doesn’t actually like work
ADAM: Yes yeah but (2) it’s actually er phys er physically impossible
ADELE: Are you kidding me
ADAM: No
ADELE: Oh my God (5) haven’t you done physically impossible things before (2) what about the time you
ADAM: Well sort of erm but er only by (.) by accident
ADELE: OK what (.) what is wrong with this time machine seriously
ADAM: I don’t really I don’t really know
ADELE: (sigh)
ADAM: Well I’ve been trying to fix it and and it’s er getting better but well er
ADELE: Is it going to be ready for (.) next week he wants
ADAM: Maybe
ADELE: You’re going to be coming in every day until it’s done
ADAM: Oh but (2) my sister’s getting married
ADELE: (7) And
ADAM: Well er er I sort of well I
ADELE: Kirby
ADAM: Erm well she’s
ADELE: When
ADAM: Two is it two yeah (3) two days
ADELE: Right (5) hmm (2) well isn’t this a conundrum
ADAM: Well I’ve already er I mean the (.) I’ve already taken the time off
ADELE: Newson’s going to kick my ass (1) no wait (.) no he’ll want you in every day
ADAM: Oh (3) are you (.) are you sure
ADELE: Yeah (2) am I ever wrong about these things
ADAM: But my
ADELE: Look Kirby (.) I have an idea (2) you work at this all of tonight (.) and all of tomorrow night (2) and maybe it’ll be done by then hmm
ADAM: But isn’t er isn’t (1) aren’t the labs closed at night
ADELE: I can get them opened don’t worry (2) just do your job
ADAM: And then I er
ADELE: Then maybe you can go to the wedding yes
ADAM: Oh um well thank er (.) thanks I really
ADELE: Yeah yeah (3) don’t let it happen again though
ADAM: What (2) don’t let my sister get married again
ADELE: No you total (4) no (1) I mean don’t let the machine screw up again
ADAM: Oh right er it sort it (.) it sort of does what it wants to do it’s a bit (.) finicky
ADELE: Ugh you’re meant to be (.) in control (.) remember
ADAM: Yes well er er well
ADELE: So you are coming in tonight yeah
ADAM: Yes
ADELE: And tomorrow night
ADAM: Er yes (.) and then I can go to the
ADELE: Then yes you (1) yes
ADAM: Oh well wow thanks thanks I (.) well I wouldn’t want to miss it
ADELE: Kir (.) Adam (2) what else are friends for