to be in a secret sexual relationship with someone not a matter or event; a sexual relationship
Are you having an affair with Lisette Boudreau?Blue Jasmine · 2013 — Chapter 14 of 15 · 2'33" · B2
Affair Confession Turns Ugly, Explained: tap dance
A confrontation about an affair is really about evasion: one side demands a straight answer; the other says, “I can't do this without a drink,” and then announces, “Lisette and I are in love.” The fight is over whether this counts as honesty or as a performance staged after the damage is done.
What happens
One person confronts another about an affair. The other says, “I can't do this without a drink,” dodges the question, and later says, “Lisette and I are in love.” The reply calls the claim to honesty a joke, asks, “Are you out of your mind?” and the exchange escalates. It ends with a plan to check into a hotel and talk later about “arrangements.”
Listen for
tap dancecomes as a shockthe biggest joke of allcasual flirtations
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Phrase of the scene
tap dance
to dodge or stall
A direct question is being met with delay, and the reply names the evasion instead of accepting it.
Don't tap dance around the deadline—you never even opened the file.
Also in this scene
- comes as a shock
to surprise someone strongly
- the biggest joke of all
the most absurd part
- casual flirtations
light, non-serious flirtations
- for chrissake
an exasperated oath
- throw me away
to discard someone
Everything marked in this scene
30 notes across 40 lines
In fast speech 'an affair' can run together as one smooth unit.
Are you having an affair with Lisette Boudreau?Listen for the negative stress; the t in 'can't' may almost vanish before 'do'.
Oh, Jasmine, I can't do this without a drink.what has been happening
I know what's been going on.embedded question: The question becomes a noun clause after 'know,' so the word order stays statement-like.
I know what's been going on.having sex with other women not literal sleep; sexual involvement
You've been sleeping with other women for years.present perfect continuous: The form stresses an ongoing pattern continuing up to the present.
You've been sleeping with other women for years.Keep 'You've been' light and put the weight on 'sleeping'.
You've been sleeping with other women for years.plan a shared future
It means that we are making plans for the future together.find it hard to understand
I'm sorry. I'm having trouble understanding.to surprise someone strongly
The speaker frames the confession as a shock, which softens the speaker's own role.
I know this comes as a shock, but I have to be honest with you.tell someone the truth
I know this comes as a shock, but I have to be honest with you.the most absurd part
The reply repeats the word 'honest' only to make it the butt of the joke.
You wanna be honest. That's the biggest joke of all.light, non-serious flirtations
The phrase shrinks repeated betrayals into something light and almost administrative.
I've had casual flirtations in the past.not be serious or significant not literal meaning; emotional seriousness
They didn't mean anything until now. This is different.be crazy or irrational not literal; means irrational
Are you out of your mind? She is a teenager, for chrissake.Keep 'out of your' light and run the words together without a pause.
Are you out of your mind? She is a teenager, for chrissake.an exasperated oath — A mild oath of exasperation; too blunt for work or polite company.
Are you out of your mind? She is a teenager, for chrissake.an exclamation of frustration — Mild profanity used in exasperation; avoid it in formal settings.
Christ, this is hard for me to tell you! It's hard for you? What about me?extraposition: The 'it' delays the real clause, making the complaint sound heavier and more rhetorical.
I mean, it is bad enough that everyone knows you've been unfaithful.to discard someone
The discarded person uses the image of rubbish, and the offer of care inside the same line sounds jarring beside it.
But to throw me away for this stupid-looking little French-- I will take very good care of you. I'm sorry.look after you well
But to throw me away for this stupid-looking little French-- I will take very good care of you. I'm sorry.to have an emotional outburst
One person's distress is labeled childish, and the label doubles as a way to keep distance.
Jasmine, you're having a tantrum. Don't you touch me!regain emotional control
The command cuts into panic and demands composure, whether or not the person can manage it.
What am I doing here? Pull yourself together.become calm
When you calm down, we can talk like two civilized adults about the arrangements we have to make.polite, reasonable adults used condescendingly, not as neutral description
When you calm down, we can talk like two civilized adults about the arrangements we have to make.practical arrangements here, practical steps after a breakup
When you calm down, we can talk like two civilized adults about the arrangements we have to make.relative clause: The clause narrows 'arrangements' to the practical steps still required.
When you calm down, we can talk like two civilized adults about the arrangements we have to make.register and stay at a hotel
Until then I'm gonna check into a hotel.Let 'check into' run together instead of pausing between the words.
Until then I'm gonna check into a hotel.Affair Confession Turns Ugly, explained
What's really going on
The confrontation is less about sex than about who controls the story. “I've had casual flirtations in the past” turns adultery into a category, as if repetition makes the present less damaging; the reply answers, “You wanna be honest. That's the biggest joke of all,” and the word “honest” becomes the real charge. The confession is dressed as brave candor — “I know this comes as a shock” — yet the line about needing a drink and the later plan to check into a hotel make it sound like a decision already taken. The phrase “civilized adults” is especially pointed: it asks for calm from the person whose life is being rearranged. One side wants a clean, reasonable ending; the other wants the damage to be visible.
Theme
BetrayalThe affair is admitted as a serious love, while the betrayed side hears a performance of honesty.
LiesThe confession claims honesty, but the reply calls it a joke, turning “honest” into an accusation.
Listen for
- an affair — In fast speech 'an affair' can run together as one smooth unit.
- can't do — Listen for the negative stress; the t in 'can't' may almost vanish before 'do'.
- You've been — Keep 'You've been' light and put the weight on 'sleeping'.
- out of your — Keep 'out of your' light and run the words together without a pause.
No, don't tap dance. You never went to Chicago.The line rejects a rehearsed deflection and answers with a flat detail instead of following it.
Lisette and I are in love.The affair is presented as a serious romance, not a fling, which makes the betrayal sound like a decision rather than a mistake.
You wanna be honest. That's the biggest joke of all.The claim to honesty is treated as absurd, because the confession comes after years of deception.
Are you out of your mind? She is a teenager, for chrissake.The line turns the affair into evidence of recklessness: the other person is barely more than a child.
When you calm down, we can talk like two civilized adults about the arrangements we have to make.The speaker frames the split as a practical matter and puts the emotional reaction in the wrong.
Questions about this scene
What does “tap dance” mean here?
It means to dodge or stall instead of answering directly. The command “don't tap dance” rejects evasion, and “You never went to Chicago” refuses the detour.
Is the affair with Lisette different from the earlier ones?
The confession says yes. Earlier involvements are called “casual flirtations” that “didn't mean anything,” while Lisette is described as love and future plans.
Why does the argument turn on the word “honest”?
One side presents the confession as honesty; the reply is “You wanna be honest. That's the biggest joke of all.” The fight becomes about whether the confession is candor or performance.
What does the final line about a hotel show?
It shows the practical next step: “I'm gonna check into a hotel.” The exchange ends with distance being arranged, not with the affair being denied.
Blue Jasmine · 15 chapters
All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 15let sleeping dogs lieChampagne Celebration Turns Into a Fight
Chapter 1splurge from habitJasmine Arrives Dead Broke
Chapter 2flushGinger and Augie Visit the Family
Chapter 3make a killingLottery Winners Get a Pitch
Chapter 4looking the other wayJasmine Hears About Hal and Raylene
Chapter 5on top of the worldJasmine's Awkward Blind Date
Chapter 6find my feetHouseguest Pressed on Length of Stay
Chapter 7I don't mean to pryBoss Asks Her for a Drink
Chapter 8slick operatorJasmine Can't Study During the Fight
Chapter 9beat around the bushDr. Flicker Hits on an Employee
Chapter 10hit the jackpotJasmine Meets Dwight at the Party
Chapter 11by all rightsParty Fight Over a Phone Call
Chapter 12swept me off my feetJasmine Tells the Boys Her Story
Chapter 13put something behind youAugie Confronts Jasmine on the Street
Watching · Chapter 14tap danceAffair Confession Turns Ugly
Chapter 15let sleeping dogs lieChampagne Celebration Turns Into a FightChapter 14 of 15 · about 3 min to go