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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/29444
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

In formatting a script/screenplay. How do you handle greetings and goodbyes when there are several people? I can think of a few ways to handle it and don't like any of them. I was wondering which is best and if there is a better way that I'm not thinking of.

1) Writing in the action that people are saying their hellos or goodbyes. This seems like a cheat and doesn't give enough direction.

> INT. FRED'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY
> 
> Fred, Jim, and Jill are sitting on the couch. Bob, Frank, and Susan walk into the room.
> 
> Everyone says "hi".

2) Write each person's dialog. This seems unnatural and it takes up half a page for something that would take a few seconds of screen time.

> INT. FRED'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY
> 
> Fred, Jim, and Jill are sitting on the couch.
> 
> Bob, Frank, and Susan walk into the room.
> 
> BOB  
> Hi, everyone!
> 
> FRANK  
> Hi, all.
> 
> SUSAN  
> Hello.
> 
> JIM  
> Hey.
> 
> FRED  
> Hi.
> 
> JILL  
> Hi.

3) Combine all characters. This also seems unnatural, having all characters say the exact same greeting at the exact same time.

> INT. FRED'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY
> 
> Fred, Jim, and Jill are sitting on the couch.
> 
> Bob, Frank, and Susan walk into the room.
> 
> BOB, FRANK, SUSAN, FRED, JIM, and JILL  
> Hello.

Original score: 1