When is it important to take a PAUSE in speaking?
AFTER a “thought group”
BEFORE “something important”
For “dramatic effect”

“ A Scene from a Soap Opera"
Characters: Lawrence (Larry)
Jacqueline (Jackie)
Situation: Larry is expressing his feelings to Jackie
(They are alone.)

Larry: Jackie, there’s something I need to say.
Jackie: Oh, Larry, maybe another time.
Larry: No, it can’t wait.
Jackie: Please, I need to go now.
Larry: Jacqueline, I want you.
Jackie: Oh, Lawrence!
Larry: Jackie, I need you.
Jackie: Why are you doing this?
Larry: Please, I love you.
Jackie: Love? You love me?
Larry: Marry me, Jacqueline.

Jackie: I’m sorry, Larry, but I can’t.
Larry: Oh, Jackie, why not?
Jackie: Well, Larry. I like you. I like you a lot.
But I don’t love you.
Larry: But Jackie, love isn’t everything.
Jackie: Oh, Larry, you don’t understand.
For me, love is everything.
Larry: Perhaps you’ll learn to love me.
Give it a chance.
Jackie: Larry, it’s not that simple.
Larry: Do you love another man, Jackie?

Jackie: Yes, Larry, I do.
Larry: Not Michael Kennedy?!
Jackie: Yes, Michael Kennedy.
Larry: But he doesn’t want you.
He’s engaged to Patricia!
Jackie: I know.
Larry: Jackie, listen to me. Mike isn’t a rich man.
Jackie: You’re right.
Larry: I can give you everything. What do you want? Clothes? Money? Travel? A villa in Italy?
Jackie: No, Larry. I don’t want those things.
I only want Mike.

Where do you think that pauses should be added?
Practice again, and this time make sure to add pauses at places that you think it makes sense:
(a) character feels embarrassed, or unsure
(b) character needs time to organize thoughts
(c) character wants the coming-up words to be more readily noticed
(d) character has just said something important, and wants this message to “sink in.”
Which words do you think should be emphasized, and pronounced with greater stress? Add these.

Larry: Jackie…there’s…SOMEthing I need to say.
Jackie: Oh, Larry, maybe another time.
Larry: No, it…CAN’T wait.
Jackie: Please…I need to go now.
Larry: Jacqueline, I…WANT you.
Jackie: Oh, Lawrence!
Larry: Jackie, I…NEED you.
Jackie: Why are you doing this?
Larry: Please, I…LOVE you.
Jackie: Love? You love…ME?
Larry: MARRY me, Jacqueline.

Jackie: I’m…sorry, Larry, but…I can’t.
Larry: Oh, Jackie, why not?
Jackie: Well, Larry… I…LIKE you… I like you a lot…But…I DON’T…love you.
Larry: But Jackie, love isn’t EVERYthing.
Jackie: Oh, Larry, you DON’T understand…
For me, love IS everything.
Larry: Perhaps you’ll LEARN to love me…
Give it a CHANCE.
Jackie: Larry, it’s NOT that simple.
Larry: Do you…love another MAN, Jackie?

Jackie: Yes, Larry, I do.
Larry: Not…MICHAEL KENNEDY?!
Jackie: Yes, Michael Kennedy.
Larry: But…he DOESN’T want you.
He’s engaged to Patricia!
Jackie: I know.
Larry: Jackie, listen to me. Mike ISN’T a rich man.
Jackie: You’re right.
Larry: I can give you…EVERYthing. What do you want? Clothes? Money? Travel? A villa in Italy?
Jackie: No, Larry. I don’t want THOSE things.
I ONLY want…MIKE.

Are there any other places you would take a pause here? Add them in, if you think they are helpful.
How do you vary your prominence and pitch here?
Which other words should be emphasized?
Experiment with using different emotions and tones of voice in your practice of this.