How do you describe objects in action paragraphs? Which one is correct...

- He sits at the table.

- He sits at his table.

- He sits at a table.

Okay well the "his" I wouldn't really use, but the other two, I'm not sure which one.

Thoughts? Thanks.

I would use "a table" unless you've previous described something special that makes it important for us to know that this is "thee table".

I would use "the table" as long as there's only one table in the scene.  I don't think you necessarily need to have described it previously, as long as we can logically expect it to be there.  Like in a kitchen or dining room.

In that case you could state what kind of table he sits at; dinner table, kitchen table etc.

Using "the table" implies that we already know there's a table in the room.

If this is part of your feature, I'd advise you to keep soldiering on and not be distracted by little details like this.

Who really cares what article you use? As the two replies have shown, there's no consensus, no right answer. Just keep going. You'll get there

Ok, I have to admit, JonnyBoy had the best answer.  

Quit procrastinating you slacker!  

The basic rule here is to use in the indefinite article "a" the first time it appears in your script, and then the definite article "the" after you've already established it. You have to say there is one before you can refer to it specifically.

That's not a screenwriting rule. That's just basic English. Using the possessive "his" would be correct whether you've established the table or not, but after you've referred to it once, you would use "the".

I still maintain that certain settings imply that certain objects are present.  I use "the" with these objects without mentioning them beforehand.

That's ADVANCED English.  

How do you establish that certain settings imply certain objects are present? The presence of a dining room does not imply that there is a table. Typically there is, but that's not always a certainty. Not all living rooms maintain a couch or TV. Not all rooms in all houses have windows. The existence of a room, no matter how typical, implies the existence of certain objects. You can assume a lot from a lack of description, but when you get into specific objects, they really should be established first.

Of course, we're arguing about using a three letter word as opposed to a one letter word.

My argument would be that the sentence as written is a waste of words.  Both "he" and "table" are equally important. It also tells you nothing about the scene.

"Malcolm walks into the crowded bar, shoulders past a happy drunk and claims the table in the back near the exit sign."

Character, location and placement. If you're worrying about "a" vs. "the" you obviously haven't done any of those things.

I have an uncle who's a producer and he says that if he gets a script that uses "the table" instead of "a table" he throws it out without a second glance.  He does the same thing if he finds a script that has a character named Fred.  He's really into caring about things that don't matter at all.

Don't sweat such small stuff.

This thread reminds me of the movie Clue.

"I'm A butler, but I'm not THE Butler.  In fact, I was his butler."

If your script were set in 'Sure le Table', a pretentious little shop in Colorado it would be "Le Tarbler".

Thanks for all the replies guys. I wasn't worrying about it, I was just curious.

Quoted from George Willson The presence of a dining room does not imply that there is a table.

Clearly we are in disagreement over this.  I shall endeavor to sway you to my way of thinking.

Quoted from George Willson The existence of a room, no matter how typical, implies the existence of certain objects.

Well that was certainly easier than I expected.  

Now I hope you'll all excuse me, as I'm heading to the kitchen to see if I have any food in a refrigerator.  I also need to hop into a shower and put a load of clothes into a washing machine.  So I will be signing off a computer now.