Script-of-the-Week: The Practice “Part I”

by David E. Kelley (52 pages)

Writing Awards: None that I could find

Points of Interest:

• Pacing: Tight pacing with minimal dialogue but maximum punch.

• Screen Visibility: Minimal description of locations and sparse but adequate description of some characters.

• Formatting: Starting with FADE IN, and then REVEAL to show the location.  (voice of reason) (give me a break) in parentheses to describe the characters tone.  WHIP PAN’s used from one scene to another. Single space action and dialogue.

• Dialogue: There are quite a few scenes where two characters speak -- and more than a few words -- at the same time, or at least that’s how it’s represented in the script.

• Action: Some action lines are quite sparse. Example as a line introducing a new scene, “Eugene there with Rebecca” that’s it.

• Act Structure: Part I, Act I, Act II, Act III, Act IV.