If *I'm* late, think what her husband's saying.

May 24, 2008 7:14 AM

explain-this-joke filter? "Hey, if *I'm* late, think what her husband's saying." (from The Talented Mr. Ripley)

That's a throwaway one-liner early in the movie, one of the first lines we hear from the callous playboy Freddy; he says it when he's showing up late for meeting an equally callous-playboy-type friend.

Is there a joke to get? Is it just "I had sex with a married woman and now she and I are both late to our next appointments, so her lateness will make her husband wonder where she was"? The only clue (or not) is that later in the movie, Tom Ripley, after shouting to someone else that Freddy's drunk, mutters to himself: "Hey, if *I'm* drunk, think what her husband's saying."

Random question but I just love that movie and want to understand all of it. (Links to discussion or other good stuff about that movie are also welcome!)

(PLEASE AVOID SPOILERS in case people reading haven't seen this awesome movie yet :))

posted by lorimer to society & culture (6 comments total)

To the best of my understanding (which is really all one can ask for in getting a joke), yes, thats exactly it.

Its implied that he's late for his engagement, and has been mildly rebuked by his companions for it. His response is to suggest that they're angry/disappointed?, just think of the conquest's husband!

(note: been a long time since I saw the film, but that was absolutely my take on it)
posted by Smoosh Faced Lion at 7:26 AM on May 24

Doesn't it mean, "I am late for our meeting because I have been enjoying an illicit daliiance with a married woman. If the extent of my lateness annoys you, just imagine the enraged reaction of my companion's husband, as he finally puts two and two together and realises that his wife's having an affair!" That's how I read it, anyhow.
posted by hot soup girl at 7:27 AM on May 24

That's how I took it. As a bonus here is a an article by the late, lamented Anthony Minghella about scouting locations in Italy for that very fine film.
posted by zemblamatic at 7:40 AM on May 24 [2 favorites]

Yeah, I took it as everyone else does. More importantly than the fact that it's funny, though, is that it's a really immediate and concise way to establish, with one line of dialogue and a minimum of screen time, that a) this guy is a real jerk, and b) he's going to steal all the scenes he's in, so keep an eye on him. How else could you do that in one line? Great

zemblamatic, that's a really fascinating article, for lovers of this film, lovers of Italy, lovers of film in general, or all three. The bit about the jazz club scene toward the end of the article is particularly insightful. Thanks for passing it on to us.
posted by roombythelake at 9:02 AM on May 24

("Great film." was what that paragraph should have ended with.)
posted by roombythelake at 9:03 AM on May 24

I haven't seen the movie, but my initial take on the line was that it was a play on the word "late", implying that he got the woman pregnant. Either way, roombythelake is right about that one line telling me a lot about that character.
posted by systematic at 5:33 PM on May 24