Davis and Streep dialogue in Doubt

So far what i’ve found more challenging Is directing dialogues.

As an exercise i’m studying the dialogue among Viola Davis and Meryl Streep in Doubt, in my humble opinion a little masterpiece of directing and acting.

1) i noticed that the dialogue follows a ryrthm : walking, pause, walking, pause, etc. The pauses seem to underline dramatic points of the dialogue, the walkings are more narrative

2) every now and then some extras appears in the background to create, i suppose, variety in the image and context for the main characters.

3) position, relative heights, movements of the actresses changes accordingly to the content and mood of the dialogue

Did you storyboard the scene in that way with the director to take these elements in consideration or did you adapt to the actresses’ acting? Thanks!