You win the white carnation

June 2, 2021 8:07 PM

In “A Night at the Opera”, at the end of the contract scene, Groucho says to Chico “You win the white carnation.” What’s that mean?

Here is a transcript of the scene. The relevant part is:

Driftwood: We've got a contract, no matter how small it is!

Fiorello: Hey wait, wait! What does this say here? This thing here?

Driftwood: Oh that. Oh that's the usual clause...that's in every contract. That just says...eh...it says...eh..."If any of the parties participating in this contract are shown not to be in their right mind, the entire agreement is automatically nullified."

Fiorello: Well, I don't know...

Driftwood: It's alright, that's in every contract! That's what they call a "sanity clause."

Fiorello: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...you can't fool me. There ain't no sanity clause!

Driftwood: (Giving up all hope of a successful conversation, takes off carnation and hands it to Fiorello.) Well you win the white carnation!

posted by chrchr to Media & Arts (2 answers total)

Best answer: Horse racing. White carnations are the prize in the final leg of the Triple Crown. He's world-champion stupid.
posted by Snijglau at 9:10 PM on June 2, 2021 [23 favorites]

Response by poster: Thank you Snijglau. You win the white carnation!
posted by chrchr at 10:12 PM on June 3, 2021