arrange a locker for something
- We should get a locker for all this stuff. - Okay.before-sunrise-1995 · 1995 — Chapter 4 of 20 · 2'54" · B1
Two Travelers Claim a Honeymoon, Explained: a bad liar
Two travelers ask strangers where to go, then explain the trip as a honeymoon: "Yeah. She got pregnant. We had to get married." The reply is flat disbelief, and instead of ending there the talk turns to a play they say they are both in: "This is a play we're both in."
What happens
Two travelers have just arrived in Vienna and want something to do that night. They stop people on the street, ask about museums and exhibitions, and say they are staying only for tonight. Asked why they came to Vienna, one of them answers, "We're on honeymoon," and adds, "She got pregnant. We had to get married."
Listen for
get intofor a changea bad liaron honeymoon
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Phrase of the scene
a bad liar
someone who cannot lie convincingly and gives it away
After the honeymoon answer, a line says they do not believe it and calls the speaker a bad liar.
Don't ask him to cover for you; he's a bad liar.
Also in this scene
- get into
arrive in or enter a place
- for a change
as a variation; for a different way
- on honeymoon
spending the holiday right after a wedding
- would like to invite you
politely offer an invitation
- looking for something fun to do
trying to find an enjoyable activity
Everything marked in this scene
27 notes across 45 lines
things; belongings — Casual for everyday things; avoid in formal writing.
- We should get a locker for all this stuff. - Okay.Keep 'kinda' light and put the stress on 'weird'.
- This is kinda weird. - Yeah, it's kinda weird, isn't it?kind of; somewhat — Very casual; keep it out of formal writing.
- This is kinda weird. - Yeah, it's kinda weird, isn't it?slightly uncomfortable or stiff
One line admits it is a little awkward, and the next asks if it is all right.
I mean, it's a little awkward. (laughs) - But it's all right, right? - Yeah, this is great. Let's go to some places.these people; these folks — Friendly and casual; not for formal address.
- Look, let's ask these guys. - Okay.as a variation; for a different way
After asking whether the other person speaks English and getting a yes, someone suggests speaking German for a change.
- Could you speak German for a change? - What?arrived in a city Here it means arrived in Vienna, not physically entered it.
Well, listen, we just got into Vienna today and we're looking for something fun to do.trying to find an enjoyable activity
Newly arrived in Vienna, they ask strangers for something fun to do, naming museums and exhibitions.
Well, listen, we just got into Vienna today and we're looking for something fun to do.In fast speech the t in 'got' taps and slides into 'into'.
Well, listen, we just got into Vienna today and we're looking for something fun to do.not so amusing anymore
But museums are not that funny anymore these days.Let the two t sounds merge into one beat; avoid two hard stops.
But museums are not that funny anymore these days.spending the holiday right after a wedding
Asked why they came to Vienna, the line uses 'on honeymoon' to say the trip is a honeymoon, then adds a pregnancy and a marriage.
We're on honeymoon.marry; wed
Yeah. She got pregnant. We had to get married.someone who cannot lie convincingly and gives it away
After the honeymoon answer, a line says they do not believe it and calls the speaker a bad liar.
- No, I don't believe you. You're a bad liar. - (laughing) Um... (laughs) (speaking German) This is, uh — This is a play we're both in.perform in a play
- No, I don't believe you. You're a bad liar. - (laughing) Um... (laughs) (speaking German) This is, uh — This is a play we're both in.relative clause: The clause 'we're both in' describes the play and keeps 'in' at the end.
- No, I don't believe you. You're a bad liar. - (laughing) Um... (laughs) (speaking German) This is, uh — This is a play we're both in.politely offer an invitation
After saying it is a play they are both in, someone uses 'would like to invite you' to offer an invitation.
- And we would like to invite you. - You're actors?for enjoyment
Not professional actors. Part-time actors for fun.participle phrase: The participle phrase describes what the Indians are doing, not a second main verb.
It's a play about a cow and the Indians searching for it.on the stage
- You have a real cow on stage? - No, not a real cow.wearing a costume
- It's an actor in a cow costume. - And he is the cow.a little strange
Yes, I am the cow, and the cow is a bit weird.conditional clause: The if-clause sets a repeated condition, and the main clause states the usual result.
If someone throws a stick, she fetches it and brings it back.and similar things Not literally everything; more like and other such things.
And she can smoke with hooves and everything.is translated as
It translates as Bring Me The Horns of Wilmington's Cow.Keep 'as' weak and shift the beat onto the play title.
It translates as Bring Me The Horns of Wilmington's Cow.Two Travelers Claim a Honeymoon, explained
What's really going on
The scene is mostly small talk on the street. The travelers ask where to go, mention museums and exhibitions, and say they are only in town for one night. The question "Why did you come to Vienna? What could you be expecting?" gets an answer offered as a fact: "We're on honeymoon," followed by "Yeah. She got pregnant. We had to get married." The reply is blunt — "No, I don't believe you. You're a bad liar" — and the talk shifts to "a play we're both in." From there the details pile up: a cow, politicians, Mexicans, Russians, Communists, an actor in a cow costume, an address in the second district near the Prater, a 9:30 start. The invitation at the end keeps the exchange going rather than closing it.
Theme
DeceptionA honeymoon story is answered with "You're a bad liar," yet the talk keeps building on it instead of stopping.
AbsurdityA rejected story turns into an invitation to a play about a cow, and the conversation goes on as if that were normal.
Listen for
- kinda weird — Keep 'kinda' light and put the stress on 'weird'.
- got into — In fast speech the t in 'got' taps and slides into 'into'.
- not that — Let the two t sounds merge into one beat; avoid two hard stops.
- translates as — Keep 'as' weak and shift the beat onto the play title.
Yeah. She got pregnant. We had to get married.The line comes as part of the honeymoon answer: the marriage supposedly happened because she got pregnant. It gives a reason rather than a separate announcement.
It's a play about a cow and the Indians searching for it.The story turns into a plot summary. The play, they say, is about a cow and the Indians who are searching for it.
If someone throws a stick, she fetches it and brings it back.A detail about the cow on stage: she acts like a dog, so she runs after a thrown stick and brings it back.
And she can smoke with hooves and everything.The description becomes openly absurd: the cow can even smoke using its hooves, and the line ends with a casual 'and everything.'
It translates as Bring Me The Horns of Wilmington's Cow.The answer to the question of what the play is called. The title is given in translation, and one speaker then says, "I'm Wilmington's cow."
Questions about this scene
How does the honeymoon story go over?
Asked why they came to Vienna, someone answers "We're on honeymoon" and adds "She got pregnant. We had to get married." A line then says, "No, I don't believe you. You're a bad liar."
What is the play about?
A cow and the Indians searching for it. There are also politicians, Mexicans, Russians, and Communists. On stage the cow is an actor in a cow costume, described as a bit weird and acting like a dog.
What details come with the invitation?
Someone says "we would like to invite you"; the talk then gives an address in the second district near the Prater and a 21:30 start.
before-sunrise-1995 · 20 chapters
All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 5scare the hell out of someoneTwo People Play a Q&A Game
Chapter 1weeks on endStrangers Trade Stories on a Train
Chapter 2the poetry of day-to-day lifePitching a Year-Long TV Show
Chapter 3passive-aggressiveTwo Passengers Talk Childhood and Death
Watching · Chapter 4a bad liarTwo Travelers Claim a Honeymoon
Chapter 5scare the hell out of someoneTwo People Play a Q&A Game
Chapter 6piss someone offStrangers Trade Pet Peeves on a Train
Chapter 7romantic projectionsTwo People Talk About Parents and Love
Chapter 8resign yourself toPalm Reading in Vienna
Chapter 9dress rehearsalChurch Talk on Death and Quakers
Chapter 10blank canvasWhat Would Drive You Mad
Chapter 11make a deal withPoet Writes a Poem for a Word
Chapter 12a real prizewinnerAsking About an Ex-Boyfriend
Chapter 13let it sink inA Man Recounts His Madrid Heartbreak
Chapter 14fool aroundTwo People Debate Men, Women and Monkeys
Chapter 15fear of commitmentBirth Dance Talk Turns to Love
Chapter 16fall for someoneThe Fake Phone Call in Vienna
Chapter 17be a ghostMan Pretends to Call a Friend
Chapter 18fizzle outTwo People Agree to One Night Only
Chapter 19sleep togetherThey Agree Not to Sleep Together
Chapter 20have a great lifeTwo Lovers Say Goodbye at Track NineChapter 4 of 20 · about 46 min to go