My friends: "We have never been in this situation before"
My friends/They said (that) they had never been in this situation before.
Tasha: "I drank my coffee at the kitchen table with the best intentions"
Tasha/She said (that) she had drank her coffee at the kitchen table with the best intentions.
The scientists: "We can start working on this project now"
The scientists/They said (that) they could start working on this project now.
The students: "it’s happening all the time"
The students/They said (that) it was happening all the time.
Dino: "you’ll know how to make little lessons turn into life lessons"
Dino/He said (that) you would know how to make little lessons turn into life lessons.
Emma: "Karl has never traveled anywhere"
Emma/She said (that) Karl had never traveled anywhere
The workers: "If we worked harder on it, we would finish faster"
The workers/They said (that) If they had worked harder on it, we would finish faster.
Emma: "I don't know what to do"
Emma/She said (that) she didn't know what to do.