Daily Dialogue — June 30, 2013
Ted: Look, I didn’t solicit any sex, OK? This is a huge misunderstanding. I was really going out to pee, I was walking to the bushes, I tripped over this guy — and suddenly all those cops and their helicopters…
Detective Stabler: Ted, Ted, it’s OK, we believe you. The problem is we found your friend in the car.
Ted: [smiles] Oh, the hitchhiker? That’s what this is about, the hitchhiker? Oh, oh, great. This is my luck — I get caught for everything.
Detective Krevoy: [pats strongly on Ted’s shoulder] So… you admit it?
Ted: Ah, yeah, guilty as charged. Look, I know you guys got a job to do, alright? And I’m really sorry. I did it, I admit it. You know, the guy even told me, the hitchhiker told me it was illegal.
Detective Krevoy: Well, uh, can you tell us his name?
Ted: Ah… no, I didn’t catch it. Can we cut to the chase, I mean, am I like in a lot of trouble here?
Detective Stabler: [nods] First tell us why you did it.
Ted: Why I did it? Ah… I don’t know. Boredom? The guy turned to be a blabber mouth who just would not shut up.
Detective Krevoy: [trying to control himself] Ted, this wasn’t your first time, was it?
Ted: No.
Detective Krevoy: How many are we talking here?
Ted: [confused] Hitchhikers? My whole life? Ah… I don’t know — twenty-five, fifty… I mean, who keeps track? Hey, you know, I know this is the Bible Belt and everything, but where I come from this is not that big deal, I mean…
Detective Krevoy: You son of a bitch! You’re gonna fry!
Exploding in rage due to Ted’s seemingly indifference to murder, detective Krevoy roars, grabs Ted by his shirt and repeatedly slams his head against the desk. Ted yells in pain.
Detective Stabler: Take it easy! Calm down!
Stabler manages to separate between Krevoy and Ted. Ted falls backward on the floor.
Detective Stabler: [to Krevoy] Are you OK?
Ted: [to Krevoy] What the hell is wrong with you?
— There’s Something About Mary (1998), screenplay by Ed Decter & John J. Strauss, and Peter Farrelly &
Bobby Farrelly, story by Ed Decter & John J. Strauss
The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is interrogation, suggested by Def Earz. Today’s suggestion by angiecart.
Trivia: One detective in the scene at the police station with Ben Stiller says, “I’m Detective Stabler, this is Detective Krevoy.” These names are a reference to the film’s producers, Steven Stabler and Brad Krevoy.
Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary from angiecart: “From “There’s Something About Mary”: The interrogation scene after Ted is arrested during the truck stop raid is one of those classic comedy misunderstandings. Ted thinks he’s in trouble for picking up a hitchhiker, the cops think he’s a completely apathetic murderer. The humor escalates the more Ted talks, further incriminating himself in this crime he didn’t commit, and culminates in physical comedy when the cop snaps and starts slamming Ted’s head against the desk. A very funny moment that adds another obstacle to Ted’s journey to be reunited with Mary.”