“I haven't said it to anybody in 1 0 years.”
Why it's great
The time frame does the arguing: he is not a liar, just out of practice.
Register
Informal
Use it yourself
I haven't played the piano in ten years.
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CC and John's Impromptu Wedding, Explained
Beaches · 1988
Chapter 12 of 30 · 2'13"
CC asks John whether he said he loved her, then grills him about whether it's just a line. He answers, "I'm a womanizer, CC. I'm not a liar," and admits he hasn't said it to anyone in ten years. The next moment, on a whim, they are being married by a chaplain.
Key moments
Start here, then watch the full scene- 0:02–0:53
John Says He Loves CC
51s - 0:56–1:37
A Chaplain Marries CC and John
40s
CC and John's Impromptu Wedding, explained
What happens
After a night together, CC asks John if he actually said he loved her. He confirms it, insists he has no routine and hasn't told anyone that in ten years, then agrees to her sudden idea. Within minutes a chaplain is pronouncing them man and wife. Later, a radio report says CC's concert was rained out.
What's really going on
John's honesty is the strangest kind of reassurance. He tells CC, 'I'm a womanizer, CC. I'm not a liar,' which is his way of saying the feeling is real precisely because he never bothers to fake it — he adds that he hasn't said it to anybody in ten years. CC tests him like a detective, asking whether love is 'part of your routine,' and only when he passes does she reveal 'the most wonderful idea.' What follows turns a confession into a wedding. The joke is that she responds to intimacy by making it official, while he responds by stating his limits out loud. The vows — 'for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health' — are borrowed language, and the scene plays them straight and absurd at once.
Key lines & what they mean
- “I haven't said it to anybody in 1 0 years.”
- John's proof that the words mean something: he claims he has not told anyone he loved them in a decade.
- “CC and John, by the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you man and wife.”
- The chaplain's formula that makes the impulsive ceremony official.
- “I'm a womanizer, CC. I'm not a liar.”
- His self-description doubles as reassurance: he may be a flirt, but he does not fake feelings.
- “I don't ever want you to forget it.”
- Said about the happiest moment of her life, asking that the memory be kept.
Theme
- Romance — A confession of love turns into an impulsive wedding within minutes, romance taken to its extreme.
- Marriage — Wedding vows are spoken almost as a joke, yet the ceremony is real and legally binding.
What this chapter teaches
Teaching points
Review right after watchingMy level4/6
A1–C2 is the CEFR scale. Cards above the level you pick fade, and playback will not auto-pause on them.
Language points
Click a card to jump to its moment in the videoGolden lines
A great line in its own right — why and how to use it“CC and John, by the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you man and wife.”
Why it's great
The formal formula lands hard because the wedding itself was improvised.
Register
Formal
Use it yourself
By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you officially late.
“I'm a womanizer, CC. I'm not a liar.”
Why it's great
He owns the worst label and draws one line he will not cross.
Register
Informal
Use it yourself
I'm a procrastinator, but I'm not a quitter.
“I don't ever want you to forget it.”
Why it's great
A quiet plea to hold onto a moment lands harder than any grand promise.
Register
Neutral
Use it yourself
I don't ever want you to forget this summer.
Up next · 13caught deadThe scene: Hillary Sees CC's Bawdy ShowTakeaways
What you walk away with- I haven't done it in years stresses the gap
- Pull over means stop by the road
- Rained out means cancelled by rain
- A womanizer chases many women
People also search
Questions, then the linesWhy does CC ask John if he said he loved her?
She thought she heard him say it and wants to be sure. She then tests whether it is something he says to everyone, or 'part of your routine.'
Why does John call himself a womanizer?
He is admitting he is a flirt, but he uses it to make his confession credible: 'I'm a womanizer, CC. I'm not a liar.' He means he would not bother to say he loved her if he didn't mean it.
How do CC and John end up married so quickly?
Right after he says he loves her, CC announces she has 'the most wonderful idea.' They act on it immediately, and a chaplain marries them on the spot.
What does 'rained out' mean?
It means an outdoor event was cancelled or ruined by rain. A radio report says CC's concert was rained out, so tickets were refunded and the show rescheduled.
What is the radio report about?
It says thousands of CC's fans were disappointed when her concert was rained out. Insiders claim she left early for personal reasons, and the show will be rescheduled.