I listened to part of an episode of Hancock's Half-Hour earlier. So, back in 1955, Hancock goes to the cinema to see a Martin & Lewis film. He doesn't want to see the film, and he's grumpy about being there.
In the writing of it, he could simply have taken a seat, but no, Hancock has to make his way to a space at the far end of the row, in the dark, after everyone else is seated. And he seems to have an exchange with every other person in the row.
First point - there is nothing so trivial that it can't be milked for laughs or chills by a good writer.
Second point - imagine the variations on that theme that come with having different characters make that same journey!
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“Scuse me. SCUSE me. Thank you, Scuse me. Oww! Madam, why don’t you go home and knit?
Scuse me. Excuse me. Do you mind? We’ve gotta get in. We’ve gotta get in. I’ve paid. What’s the matter with you?
Excuse me. Thank you. Excuse me. D’you mind. Well, here we are. Ohh. This space... It’s the other gangway.
Right, well, we’ll go back. Excuse me. Thank you. Do you mind? Grannie, this is no place to be peeling potatoes. Thank you. Excuse me. Ahh, shut up. What’s the matter with you? Hold me coat. Hold me coat. Come out in the gangway you. Cos you’ve picked on the right boy here. You’ve picked on a right boy, I can tell you. I’ll knock him back in the three-and-nines. A quick left, he won’t know what’s hit him.
Oh, all right. Scuse me. Scuse me. Thank you. Yes. D’you mi... D’you mind. Yes, you. Stop nibbling her ear‘ole and let me get by.
Excuse me. Thank you. Ahh, here’s a seat. Ha, that’s better. Hmm. Me shoe! I’ve lost me shoe! Where’s me casual? I must have me casual. C’mon. Excuse me. Thank you. Ohh sharrup! I’m warning you lot, I’ll be over the top of them seats in amongst you in a minute.
Oh, alright. Moira. I’m sitting next to that bloke who was nibbling on his girlfriends ear’ole. I want to move. He’s started on mine!”
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All of the above just to take a seat! Another writer might just have said, "The lad sat down."
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