Sample excerpt with visible notes
Spade sank into his swivel-chair, made a quarter-turn to face her, smiled politely. He smiled without separating his lips.
Narrator note: Keep this controlled and observational. Let the image do the work; do not rush the physical detail.
Spade rocked back in his chair and asked: “Now what can I do for you, Miss Wonderly?”
Performance note: Spade is calm, professional, and slightly amused. No hard pressure yet.
She caught her breath and looked at him. She swallowed and said hurriedly: “Could you—? I thought—I—that is—”
Pacing note: Preserve the broken rhythm. Her hesitation is the point of the line.
He said: “Suppose you tell me about it, from the beginning, and then we’ll know what needs doing.”
Continuity note: Spade remains steady and grounded while Wonderly is unsettled.