Concurrent dialogue format

[JasonFox]

Anyone know how to format dialogue when you have characters carrying on a discussion underneath one or more other characters? For example, I have two people whispering to each other is a group therapy session while the group leader and other group members speak. Do I just leave out the non-major-character dialogue or keeping flipping back and forth? Dual dialogue doesn't seem to be correct, from what I've been able to tell.

Thanks,

Fox

 

[Larry Rutledge]

Assuming that what all three people are saying is important, then it seems to me that dual dialog would do what you want. One side of the dialog would be the leader speaking, the other side would alternate between the other two characters speaking to each other.

However, it may be difficult to follow 2 or 3 people talking at the same time, so you may want to have the leader's dialog trail off once the critical dialog is complete and then add a note to indicate "the leader continues talking over the following" or something to that affect and then put in the other characters dialog, which I assume at this point is the more critical dialog to be heard.

Hope this helps.

Peace,
Larry

 

[JasonFox]

Thanks, Larry. I'll probably go with the latter.