Screenplays

Phsyco- Hitchcock 

How does the dialogue affect our perception of each character?
Norman and Mary Talk
It shows their characteristics and intentions about institutions. The man seems charing through dialogue and enraged by the idea of institutionalising his mother but the woman's dialogue tells the audience that she cares but also that she isn't opposed to this idea and quickly regrets sharing the idea. This is shown through the pace of his voice being slow and toned down making his voice sinister. He repeats certain words which shows the anger and how he is unhappy with the idea.
Mary's words attempted to calm Norman, her tone and pace tells us that she is tense and worried
Which lines of dialogue are most memorable?

INT. NORMAN'S PARLOR - NIGHT

In the darkened room, lit only by the light from the office spilling in, Norman faces Mary. Behind him, various taxidermy displays are mounted on the walls.

                         NORMAN

         It's too late for me. And besides... 

         who'd look after her? She'd be alone 

         up there, the fire would go out... 

         damp and cold, like a grave. When 

         you love someone, you don't do that 

         to them, even if you hate them. Oh, 

         I don't hate her.  I hate... what 

         she's become. I hate... the illness.

                         MARY

                 (Slowly, carefully)

         Wouldn't it be better if you put her 

         in... someplace...

 She hesitates. Norman turns, slowly, looking at her with a 

 striking coldness.

                         NORMAN

         An Institution? A madhouse?  People 

         always call a madhouse "someplace."

                 (Mimicking coldly)

         Put her in Someplace!

                         MARY

         I'm sorry... I didn't mean it to 

         sound uncaring...

                         NORMAN

                 (The coldness turning 

                 to tight fury)

         What do you mean about caring?  Have 

         you ever seen one of those places? 

         Inside? Laughing and tears and cruel 

         eyes studying you... and my mother 

         there?  Why? has she harmed you?  

         She's as harmless as... one of these 

         stuffed birds.

                         MARY

         I am sorry. I only felt... it seemed 

         she was harming you. I meant...

                         NORMAN

                 (High fury now)

         Well? You meant well?  People always 

         mean well, they cluck their thick 

         tongues and shake their heads and 

         suggest so very delicately that...

 The fury suddenly dies, abruptly and completely, and he sinks 

 back into his chair. There is a brief silence.

 Mary watches the troubled man, is almost physically pained 

 by his anguish.

                          NORMAN

                 (Quietly)

         I've suggested it myself. But I hate 

         to even think such a thing.  She 

         needs me... and it isn't...

                 (Looks up with a 

                 childlike pleading 

                 in his eyes)

         ...it isn't as if she were a maniac, 

         a raving thing... it's just that... 

         sometimes she goes a little mad. We 

         all go a little mad sometimes. Haven't 

         you?