Here is my Screenwriting lesson for the day.

So I have a young couple (early to mid-twenties) that lives next door to me.  They’ve been yelling and arguing for weeks.  Here is the argument tonight as she tried to get away from him.

FADE IN:

EXT. HOME – NIGHT

A WOMAN quickly runs from her home.  A MAN frantically chases after her.

                                                    MAN
                   Where do you think you’re going?

                                                   WOMAN
                  Away from you.  I need my space.  You never give me my
                  space! I’m going to move out.

                                                   MAN
                 No you’re not.  You’re not going anywhere!

She runs away from him.  He chases her down.  More yelling.  Hard to make out.  They eventually quiet down and walk back toward their door.

                                                  WOMAN
               What do you want from me?

                                                  MAN
              I want you to stop flirting with other men while you
              live here.

                                                 WOMAN
              You’re a psychopath!

                                                                                       FADE OUT.

And to that, all I can say is… ah, True Love! 

Why didn’t I get involved or say anything?  Because you can’t make up this kind of dialogue.  And you can’t learn it in screenwriting class. You got to live it.  Or listen to it as two crazy neighbors yell it to each other next door. 

So first rule of writing good dialogue – Listen to how REAL people talk (and yell).  And if it turns violent, call the police!  And then listen to that.

*Side Note* I don’t think that couple has a high probability of succeeding.