Clueless Character=Clueless Reader?

Does the reader know anything about the other character? Are there any hints that the other character's feelings and thoughts are important? If the reader is alert, you write the scene from the clueless character's POV.

If you are in third limited, you/your clueless character can make observations about the other character. These observations can be made with a cynical or a careless attitude. Depending on your skills, the reader can be made to care, though I can't specifically tell you how.

If he dosn't care what the other person is thinking or feeling, then perhaps his narrative could be cynical? Cynicism can hold people's attention quite well...though I suppose it depends on what kind of a character he is.

Could you possibly make the non-clueless character the POV character?
I agree with the others that cynicism could work, but it's clearly harder to write unless of course you are a cynic yourself.

You can absolutely clue up the reader without letting the PoV character know. It's just very tough.

Aaand I just this second read an awesome example. Take this statement by a clueless character about the first time she met her friend, a murderous ninja: "It was a miracle he showed up when he did, right after my parents were mercilessly slaughtered." The reader instantly knows that the ninja offed her parents. The speaker? Totally oblivious.

It seems to me that in this situation, your clueless/non-caring character needs to pick up on physical cues for emotions (eg. looking away to signal discomfort/sadness), while not perceiving or caring about the underlying emotion. The reader thus interprets the dialogue/action according to the emotional cues.

Stunted said:

I'm trying to write a scene in which a totally clueless character interacts with someone else. He doesn't understand what this other character is thinking or feeling and doesn't care. But I want my reader to know and care. I don't think the scene would work as well from an omniscient POV. Can anyone think of a solution?

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Make sure the other character does and says things--actions, words, gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, tempo of speaking, muscle tensions, skin coloration (e.g. blushing or blanching), involuntary actions--that would lead a sensitive observer to infer the character's thoughts and feelings.

Then make sure your POV character observes just enough of those things (so that they show up in the narrative), even if he lacks the sensitivity and empathy to notice their significance. The reader will make meaning of those telling details even if the POV character does not.

Dale

I love writing scenes like this! It's so much fun.

As other commenters have said, you make the other character do or say things that clue the reader in but go over the POV character's head, probably because (s)he's not paying attention because (s)he doesn't care.