Two-Person Voice Acting Script · Two-person dramatic scene
The Jacket on the Hook
Heartfelt two-person dialogue: estranged siblings reunite at a train station after eight years apart. Practice subtext, awkward pauses, and warmth.
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Length
- 157 words · ~1 min 3 sec
- Skills
- subtext, emotional pacing, two-character contrast
- License
- CC BY 4.0
The script
Nora(unsure)Eli?
EliHey, Nora.
NoraYou actually got off the train. I had a bet with myself that you wouldn’t.
EliDid you win or lose?
NoraI’m still deciding.
EliYou cut your hair.
NoraIt’s been eight years, Eli. I’ve cut it about forty times.
Eli(quietly)Yeah. I know. I’m sorry. I wrote you letters. Dozens. Never sent a single one. I’ve got a whole shoebox.
NoraA shoebox. You could’ve mailed one. Just one. I would’ve settled for a postcard with a cow on it.
EliI didn’t think you’d want to hear from me. Not after the way I left. Not after what I said to Dad.
Nora(softening)He still keeps your old jacket on the hook by the door. Says he’s just too lazy to move it.
Eli...Is he?
NoraNot even a little.
Eli(voice cracking)Is it okay if I hug you? I don’t really know the rules here.
NoraThere aren’t any rules, you idiot. Come here.
Eli(muffled, laughing through tears)You still use that awful strawberry shampoo.
Script by SceneDub (scenedub.com), CC BY 4.0. Original script drafted with AI assistance and edited by SceneDub; any resemblance to existing characters is coincidental.
Practise it now
The teleprompter scrolls at the speed you set in words per minute. Tick "Record audio while reading" to capture a take; the audio stays in your browser until you download it.
Coaching notes
- Nora’s "I’m still deciding" is a joke that’s also true. Play it dry, with a hint of hurt underneath, so Eli can’t tell which part is the joke.
- The jacket on the hook is the emotional key. Nora should almost tease while she says it, because she can’t bring herself to say "Dad misses you" out loud.
- Let Eli’s voice crack on "I don’t really know the rules here," then make Nora’s "you idiot" full of affection. The insult is the hug.
Try it three more ways
- Play Nora as openly furious at first, so her softening has much further to travel.
- Read it as if Eli is carrying bad news he hasn’t shared yet, adding tension under every line.
- Perform it with both siblings trying not to cry on a crowded platform, keeping everything small and contained.
Take it further
More scripts to practise
All two-person scripts for voice acting · Full script library
Frequently asked questions
How long is the "The Jacket on the Hook" script?
157 spoken words, about 1 min 3 sec at a conversational 150 words per minute and 1 min 12 sec at a slower 130 wpm. Your take will vary with pauses and character choices.
Can I use this script in my voice acting demo reel?
Yes. SceneDub's original scripts are licensed CC BY 4.0. You can perform, record, edit, and publish them, including in demo reels, classes, and auditions, as long as you credit "Script by SceneDub (scenedub.com), CC BY 4.0" where you share the recording or the text.
How should I practise this script?
Read it silently once, then perform it with the direction above: awkward, tender, bittersweet, hesitant, with lived-in pauses. Record a take with the teleprompter, listen back, and try one of the alternate reads to stretch your range.
Can one person perform a two-character script?
Yes. Play both Nora and Eli and make each one distinct through pitch, pace, and attitude, or record with a partner and take one role each.