A he said/she said clause is simply a clause which tells who is speaking. It is either introducing, in the middle of, or ending a direct quotation .
It normally has a subject, the speaker of the quotation, and a verb like said which tells what specific act of speaking was made.
Examples (he said/she said clause in italics):
Jonah said,"Why don't we go out tonight?"
"I don't know," Mindy replied."I have a lot of work to do."
"Maybe I can help you with the work," he suggested.