I'm writing a scene that requires an answering machine picking up a call. How can one approach this? I was thinking of using the normal phone conversation format, but I'm unsure about it? Also, do you have to literally put what the answering machine says or leave that out and go straight into the call's dialgoue? If you feel confuse about this, just ask and I'll see if i can make this much clearer. Thanks to whoever helps.

Gabriel

Just treat the answering machine like another character. It may include several voices as (V.O.), but if you write it correctly, it will be clear as to what is going on.

Joe presses PLAY on the answering machine. It BEEPS.

        ANSWERING MACHINE (V.O.)
Message one received at three forty-seven p.m.

        FRANK (V.O.)
Hey, Joe. Uh, I don't know how to tell you this,
but...well, I'm sleeping with your wife-

A CLICK sounds on the machine.

       BETTY (V.O.)
Frank, what the hell are you doing? Trying to
get me killed?

       FRANK (V.O.)
No, I'm- I just can't do it anymore. That's
all. He's my friend.

       BETTY (V.O.)
No, we're going to work this out. Where are
you?

Frank sighs.

       FRANK (V.O.)
I'm at the whorf. At the pay phone there.

       BETTY (V.O.)
I'll be there in five.

CLICK!

       ANSWERING MACHINE (V.O.)
End of messages.

Frank stares at the machine for a moment. He smiles and shakes his head.

       FRANK
There are times I'm glad she's technologically inept.

He picks up his keys and exits.

Thanks. That was a funny example, but it proved very useful.