As you read, pay attention to silence. (I'll say more about this at the end.)
A rural family is eating dinner out-of-doors as the sun slowly sets. There are five people at the table: a father (JE-HO), a mother (HYE-SUK), a daughter (MI-JEONG), a son (CHANG-HEE), and the father's employee (MR. GU).
They eat in silence until CHANG-HEE tentatively glances at his father.
CHANG-HEE: Hey, Dad.
HYE-SUK darts a warning glance at her son and then looks at her husband. JE-HO continues to eating without bothering to look up.
CHANG-HEE: I have something to tell you.
JE-HO (eyes focused solely on the food he's plucking from the common dish with his chopsticks): Just eat your food quietly.
CHANG-HEE stares at his father, collecting his thoughts. Meanwhile, MI-JEONG, sitting beside her brother, continues to eat without looking up. MR. GU looks over at JE-HO. JE-HO seems to notice this look, his eyes darting up as he chews his food. To dispel the tension, JE-HO reaches beside the table and picks up a bottle of soju, proceeding to pour out a portion for MR. GU. MI-JEONG watches this as she bites and sucks meat off of a bone.
CHANG-HEE: I mean, I'm not asking for help or anything. I just want your permission. An "okay" or something like that.
JE-HO continues to eat without meeting his son's eyes.
CHANG-HEE: I'm... thinking of buying of a car.
At this, JE-HO finally snaps to attention. That is, he slowly looks up at his son, as if he can't believe his ears. CHANG-HEE bites his tongue. His mother, a half-sneer still on her face, closes her eyes and shakes her head in disgust, then opens them to look over at her husband. MR. GU and MI-JEONG are also at attention, though steadfastly avoiding everyone else's eyes.
CHANG-HEE: It's an electric car. Electric cars don't cost that much. It's only 7,000 won [~$5 USD] to fully charge it. They say 50,000 won [~$35 USD] is enough per month.
His father's eyes have returned to his food, his hands busily wielding chopsticks as he continues to eat.
CHANG-HEE: If it's only 50,000 won a month, that's a lot cheaper than taking the bus or the train. And second-hand cars don't even cost that much.
JE-HO (forcefully laying down his chopsticks): Don't you remember the last time you bought a car and put yourself through hell?
CHANG-HEE (eyes wide in exasperation): Back then, I—
JE-HO: You couldn't even afford it, but you bought it on an installment plan. So I had no choice but to help you. But you're at it again?
CHANGE-HEE: What I'm saying is I didn't know any better then. I do now. My expenses, budget, my spending habits... I know all that stuff now.
JE-HO's face is drawn taut, his eyes fit to burst in unexpressed anger.
CHANG-HEE: So I'm planning to get a small electric car. Don't say no without considering it. Just hear me out. It's a car, it's not some luxury item. And I'm not buying it so I can show off to anyone. I mean, how can I? They don't even go fast. Look. If Mi-jeong, Gi-jeong, and I stay out late and take a taxi home, that's 30,000 won. With an electric car, it'll cost 3,000 won, but we're paying 30,000 won for it.
JE-HO, recomposed, studiously eats his dinner, eyes down, apparently ignoring his son. Mother and daughter also chew their food deliberately, as if they cannot hear CHANG-HEE's impassioned pleas.
CHANG-HEE (staring at his father, mouth open): Dad, come on, I mean... I'm not being unreasonable here. If you think about it, I'm right. An electric car is cheaper. Don't just say no because it's a car, please.
JE-HO (slightly clears his throat and speaks quietly): How much is it?
CHANG-HEE (with a slight pause, stuttering): Like I said, it's a cheap one.
JE-HO (now suspiciously glaring at his son): In installments again?
CHANG-HEE struggles to keep his composure and then lets out an exasperated sigh before hanging his head. JE-HO holds his glare for a few moments and then turns to refill MR. GU's soju glass.
CHANG-HEE (collecting himself with a pained expression on his face, eyes averted downwards): Dad. I... don't have a car, and I live in Gyeonggi-do. How am I supposed to get married let alone date anyone? All of the magic happens inside a car, but I don't have one, Dad! Where can I kiss a girl?
JE-HO slowly raises his head and stares at his son. MOTHER drops her cutlery, grabs a bowl, and leaves the table with a quiet grunt. Meanwhile, JE-HO's hand, holding both chopsticks and a spoon, starts to shake and his eyes bulge.
CHANG-HEE (adjusting his tone after catching sight of his father's trembling hand): Why are you being like this again? Seriously... [he picks up a bottle of Coke and cracks the lid] I don't want to keep any secrets from you, Dad. I really don't want to hide anything at all from you. [he pours his father a serving of Coke] Honestly, I could buy a car secretly, hide it anywhere I wanted and act like I never bought one. But I don't want to do that, okay? I don't want to hide anything at all from you. I never have.
JE-HO (eyebrows and eyes slightly raised): I wish you would. [he looks up at his son] Please hide it from me.
CHANG-HEE (exhales in hurt disbelief and rolls his eyes): Come on.
JE-HO grimaces and chugs a shot of soju, ignoring the Coke. MI-JEONG leaves the table as the scene ends.
We often think that dialogue is the verbal equivalent of playing catch. Our protagonist says something to someone, and then that person throws the dialogue back. But that's not always what happens when we talk, is it?
In this scene, Chang-hee talks a LOT. He desperately wants a car. (Or is that what he really wants?) His father says very little in response. The other three characters say nothing at all. And yet, as you read or watch this scene, you get a very clear picture of what everyone is thinking. Their silence speaks volumes.
Moreover, that device isn't limited to filmmakers. The same effect can be achieved by describing their actions and subtle responses. It's a remarkable way to ratchet up the dramatic tension and have your characters say a whole lot without speaking a single word.
Keep your stick on the ice.
Frank.