I have a question.  It might seem stupid.

Say there's a scene....

Someone exits a room, slams the door shut behind them -- but the door swings back open literally seconds later and someone else walks in

Almost as if the two were passing each other on the way out, but not really, because the next person that enters, his scene takes place say a half hour after the previous character.

I'm havin a tough time explaining what I'm trying to go for.

Does anyone get me?  And how would you write it?

INT.  JOHN'S HOUSE - DAY

Mary sits in an armchair in the front room, knitting a scarf.  It hangs about a foot past her knees.

John rushes down the stairs and to the front door, excited.

                     JOHN
      I have to get to the post office before
      it closes!

He races out, slamming the door behind him.


SHORTLY

John enters through the door, calm.  He steps up to Mary.

                      JOHN
      Post office was closed.

Mary continues knitting.  The scarf is now two feet past her knees.

                      MARY
      It's always closed on Sundays.





hope this helps.


Phil

"SHORTLY"?     Uhhh, I don't think so...

A Mini is the answer, but "LATER" is what you're after.

I've never seen SHORTLY...but I like it. Succinctly effective.

Never seen SHORTLY either.... Usually, I'll see MOMENTS LATER. It's nitpicking versus LATER.

There's nothing wrong with SHORTLY. It's not how I would do it, though. I would use LATER or a variation of it and make it clear in the description that these two would have - but must not have - passed each other. For example:

Bob flips a switch to start the timer. As he climbs to his feet,
it's revealed the bomb has been planted under the kitchen table.
He slips out the door, shutting it behind him. The door immediately
opens again...

AT A LATER TIME

Paula wrestles her way in, overloaded with groceries.

Hope this helps!

I ended up going with Breanne on this one.

Another question, because I don't want to overflow the board with new threads constantly.

Are you supposed to cap characters in flashbacks when they're younger?  Or no?

Quoted from slabstaa Are you supposed to cap characters in flashbacks when they're younger?  Or no?

I would say yes as you are, essentially, introducing a new character (possibly requiring a new actor).


Phil

OK, say if your character is 20ish, and has a flashback of when they're 16-17ish?

Does it need to be all caps then??  

If the age difference is more than 140 years, definitely.

If it's less than 137 or so, fucK it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quoted from slabstaa Are you supposed to cap characters in flashbacks when they're younger?  Or no?

Quoted from slabstaa OK, say if your character is 20ish, and has a flashback of when they're 16-17ish? Does it need to be all caps then??

Generally speaking, they should be treated as a separate character (i.e. Young Bob, Bob at 5, etc.). As with any other character, their name would be capped only when introduced.