Thanks, for the entertaining text and great example. Now, I understand subtext better. Today, some talk I overheard in the store: "Look granny, I'm a witch" (subtext might be: say I'm your adorable granddaughter) "You, surely, are" (subtext: if you fish for a compliment, you won't get it)

Thanks Waka for the fun. You did say nothing about junk food. ;-)

Haha, Waka, your posts are always entertaining. I have the same subtext issues with my young brood! I will never see dialogue with them the same way again!

It's arguable that with different characters and with a different context, the flash-drive conversation could have any number of subtext. Imagine the husband as an overworked neurotic executive who's saved his biggest presentation on that hard-drive. The wife as a stressed out mother, perhaps one who's given up a promising career to be a wife. Or just never wanted to have kids. Or never wanted to marry this particular guy. Or is tired and needs a break. Whole new subtexts.

Subtext also communicates feelings and even deeper underlying intentions. A child's simple statement "I want a cookie," or "May I have a cookie," may in subtext say, "I'm bored, I hereby request your personal attention/interaction/appreciation," or possibly even, yuh, "I am hungry." Also the tone emotionally charges the words. But deeper underlying intention, expectation, and projection (screenplay foreshadowings) come through layers of psychology and can be very complex subtext delivered in subtle nuance.