private void utters(Actor a, String s) {
    boolean picked = false ;
    for (Dialogue d : sides()) {
      if (BaseUI.isPicked(d.actor())) picked = true ;
    }
    if (! picked) return ;
    final Actor opposite = a == actor ? other : actor ;
    final boolean onRight = onRight(a, opposite) ;
    final int side = onRight ? TalkFX.FROM_RIGHT : TalkFX.FROM_LEFT ;
    a.chat.addPhrase(s, side) ;
  }