Daily Dialogue — August 5, 2017

KAREN: Right, listen, you keep yourself occupied for ten minutes while I do the boring stuff for our mothers.
RUFUS: Looking for anything in particular, sir?
HARRY: Yes. That necklace there, how much is it?
RUFUS: It’s Ł270.
HARRY: Erm, all right. Er, I’ll have it.
RUFUS: Lovely. Would you like it… gift-wrapped?
HARRY: Yes, all right.
RUFUS: Lovely. Let me just pop it in the box.There.
HARRY: Look, could we be quite quick?
RUFUS: Certainly, sir. Ready in the flashiest of flashes.There.
HARRY: That’s great.
RUFUS: Not quite finished.
HARRY: I don’t need a bag, I’ll put it in my pocket.
RUFUS: Oh, this isn’t a bag, sir.
HARRY: Really?
RUFUS: This is so much more than a bag.
HARRY: Ooh! Could we be quite quick, please?
RUFUS: Prontissimo.
HARRY: What’s that?
RUFUS: A cinnamon stick, sir.
HARRY: Actually, I really can’t wait.
RUFUS: You won’t regret it, sir.
HARRY: Want to bet?
RUFUS: ’Tis but the work of a moment. There we go. Almost finished.
HARRY: Almost finished? Are you gonna dip it in yogurt? Cover it with chocolate buttons?
RUFUS: No, sir, we’re going to pop it in the Christmas box.
HARRY: I don’t want a Christmas box.
RUFUS: But you wanted it gift-wrapped.
HARRY: I did but…
RUFUS: This is the final flourish.
HARRY: Can I pay?
RUFUS: All we need now… …is a sprig of holly.
HARRY: No, no, no, no. No bloody holly.
RUFUS: But sir…
HARRY: Leave it, just leave it!

— Love Actually (1993), written by Richard Curtis

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Transaction, suggested by Gisela Wehrl who also recommended today’s movie.

Trivia: Directorial debut of Richard Curtis (screenwriter for e.g. “Four Weddings and a Funeral“,”Notting Hill“, “Bridget Jones“).

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by Gisela: “Could you imagine how many steps gift-wrapped could include? This escalation of ideas is one aspect, which makes this scene so funny. Of course you have to add the incredibly acting — in combination with the dialogue. It’s a great example, that every character has his/her own perspective even his/her own understanding what a single word can mean, e.g. Harry wants it quick, Rufus fells like working really quick. For Rufus it’s just a phrase when talking about ‘You won’t regret it’, Harry fears to get caught by his wife.”