Let 'and' shrink to a light n and glide through the phrase.
Archie and the Riverdale gang were a pure and fun-lovin' bunch.Chasing Amy · 1997 — Chapter 3 of 20 · 4'17" · C1
Arguing About Archie at the Bar, Explained: beyond the shadow of a doubt
The talk starts as comic-book trivia: “Archie and Jughead were lovers,” someone insists, and the table splits over what Archie's endless Betty-or-Veronica indecision really means. The louder joke is about taste, money, and who gets to define a supposedly wholesome text.
What happens
At a bar, a conversation about Archie Comics turns into a loud argument over whether Archie and Jughead were lovers. Someone is told to buy a clue, someone else promises proof, and the table drifts into Catholic-school stories and comic-book economics. A couple outside becomes another running joke before the evening breaks up.
Listen for
shut the fuck upqueenbeyond the shadow of a doubtgo ballistic
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Phrase of the scene
beyond the shadow of a doubt
with absolute certainty
Someone drags the other back across the street to buy a pile of Archie books and promises to prove the point beyond question.
She proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that the meeting was on Friday.
Also in this scene
- shut the fuck up
shut up, strongly
- queen
female monarch; gay slang for a flamboyant man
- go ballistic
explode with anger
- parochial school
church-run school
- commercial hell
ironic 'commercial hell'
Everything marked in this scene
33 notes across 73 lines
be partly right
Well, you know, he does have a point.finally choose
I mean, Archie never did quite settle on Betty or Veronica.Put the beat on 'never' and 'quite', then rush the rest.
I mean, Archie never did quite settle on Betty or Veronica.threesome — adult talk among friends; avoid in formal settings.
He didn't choose one, because he was trying to get them into a three-way.get a clue not a literal purchase; telling someone to wise up.
I want you to go down to the corner store and buy yourself a clue.screw you — a rude comeback among friends; not for formal settings.
- Go on. - Eat it, Urkel.that Urkel crap — a warning loaded with a crude put-down; never use with strangers.
Uh! I done told you to watch it with that Urkel shit.Run 'gonna pick up' together and keep the k in 'pick' light.
Yeah, you. You are marching back across the street with me, and we're gonna pick up a shitload of Archie books.a lot of — crude exaggeration among friends; avoid in formal speech.
Yeah, you. You are marching back across the street with me, and we're gonna pick up a shitload of Archie books.with absolute certainty
Someone drags the other back across the street to buy a pile of Archie books and promises to prove the point beyond question.
And I'm going to prove to you beyond the shadow of a doubt...wait patiently
You two sit tight. We shall return promptly.talk endlessly
She was going on and on about the three persons in one God thing.explode with anger
A childhood story about a nun teaching the Trinity ends with eight-year-old Banky exploding at her and a huge fight.
Banky just goes ballistic on her. They got in this huge flght.certain to happen
It wasn't pretty. Shit like that's bound to happen...heavy drinking sprees — self-mocking talk about drinking; not for formal settings.
Can't tell you how many mornings after serious benders...wider family
Probably why the extended family quit inviting me to flrst communion parties.predicative clause: The omitted 'That's' leaves a why-clause explaining the reason.
Probably why the extended family quit inviting me to flrst communion parties.sell extremely well
Your new book seems to be selling like mad.participle phrase: The two participles modify 'artist': one describes being trapped, the other his self-pity.
The cry from the heart of a real artist trapped in commercial hell, pitying his good fortune.earn a lot not literal raking; earning large amounts of money.
I'm sure you can dry your eyes on all those fat checks you rake in.a hint of envy not a musical note; a trace of envy.
Oh, I'm sorry. What was that? Did I detect a note of bitter envy in there?the key is marketing
Well, it's all about marketing.main source of income
Talk turns to sales and marketing, and a certain kind of reader is called the business's reliable income.
Over- or underweight guys that don't get laid. They're our bread and butter.have sex — blunt adult slang among friends; avoid in polite company.
Over- or underweight guys that don't get laid. They're our bread and butter.main target audience
And sadly, there are more of our core audience.give a thrill not electrical charging; a rush of excitement.
Kind of gives you a charge though. See two people like that in love.get more activity here the car is being used for intimacy, not military action.
You know, that car's seeing more action right now than it's seen in years.work out The subtitle spells 'figure' as 'flgure'; the phrase is figure out, meaning work out.
- Bubbly guy. It's hard to flgure out. - Yeah.extraposition: The 'it' is a placeholder; the real burden is 'to figure out'.
- Bubbly guy. It's hard to flgure out. - Yeah.show of love
You gotta respect that kind of display of affection. You know what I mean?In fast speech 'kind of' collapses into a quick 'kinda'.
You gotta respect that kind of display of affection. You know what I mean?have to leave
- Fleeting? - Mm-hmm. Well, I gotta split.Arguing About Archie at the Bar, explained
What's really going on
The fight sounds like comic-book trivia, but the stakes keep sliding into sex and money. One line says, “Archie never did quite settle on Betty or Veronica.” The next turns that indecision into proof of desire: he wanted them both at the same time. The same group then moves to school stories, sales, and “bread and butter” readers, so taste in comics becomes a way to talk about who has status and who is selling out. Even the couple outside is used as evidence: one line calls it love, and a later one asks, “Fleeting?” The comedy comes from people treating a childhood icon as a serious test of desire, taste, and commerce.
Theme
IdentityThe argument over whether Archie is gay or straight turns a comic-book icon into a fight about identity and desire.
MoneyTalk of sales, exclusive deals and “bread and butter” readers keeps tying taste in comics to money.
Listen for
- Archie and the — Let 'and' shrink to a light n and glide through the phrase.
- never did quite — Put the beat on 'never' and 'quite', then rush the rest.
- gonna pick up — Run 'gonna pick up' together and keep the k in 'pick' light.
- kind of — In fast speech 'kind of' collapses into a quick 'kinda'.
I want you to go down to the corner store and buy yourself a clue.A sharp way of telling someone they are clueless: go buy some sense. It treats a clue as if it were a cheap item sold at a corner store.
The cry from the heart of a real artist trapped in commercial hell, pitying his good fortune.Mock-heroic sarcasm: a comic-book creator's complaint about success is framed as the tragic wail of a true artist stuck in commercial work, even though he is lucky.
I'm sure you can dry your eyes on all those fat checks you rake in.A mocking reply to complaints about selling out: if the person is making so much money, those big checks can serve as tissues for their tears.
You know, that car's seeing more action right now than it's seen in years.A crude joke: the parked car is getting more romantic action from the couple on it than it has had in years.
You gotta respect that kind of display of affection. You know what I mean?A half-joking defense of public affection: even if the couple's display is rude or excessive, it at least looks like genuine feeling.
Questions about this scene
What are they arguing about at the bar?
Whether Archie is straight or gay, and what his indecision between Betty and Veronica means. One line claims “Archie and Jughead were lovers”; another says Archie wanted both girls at once.
What does “buy yourself a clue” mean?
It means “get a clue” or “wise up.” The line tells someone to go to the corner store and buy a clue, as if common sense were a cheap product.
What do they say about the comic business?
They talk about exclusive deals, a new book selling like mad, and the “bread and butter” audience of overweight or underweight guys who don't get laid. One side says marketing matters; the other says there is little market for soft, romantic material.
What is the joke about the couple outside?
Someone calls the public affection crazy, rude and self-absorbed, then concedes it is love. A later line says it is fleeting, and the reply repeats “Fleeting?” The parked car is dragged in too: it is “seeing more action” than in years.
How does the conversation end?
Someone says they have to split, says it was nice meeting the other, wishes them luck with the book, and asks them to tell Hooper they'll call later. The last request is to tell the friend to calm down.
Chasing Amy · 20 chapters
All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 4hook someone upHooper Invites Him to Meow Mix
Chapter 1station in lifeComic Signing Turns Into a Fight
Chapter 2chickens come home to roostComic Panel Erupts Over Star Wars
Watching · Chapter 3beyond the shadow of a doubtArguing About Archie at the Bar
Chapter 4hook someone upHooper Invites Him to Meow Mix
Chapter 5small worldStrangers Discover a Small World
Chapter 6baggageBanky Grills the Group About Sex
Chapter 7up close and personalThe Virginity Definition Debate
Chapter 8throw down the gauntletTwo Friends Fight Over Alyssa
Chapter 9queer our friendshipThe Confession That Risks Friendship
Chapter 10the other shoe's gonna dropFriends Argue Over Couch and Romance
Chapter 11on my own termsWhy Me, Why Now Monologue
Chapter 12pulling your chainFinger Cuffs Argument
Chapter 13barkin' up the wrong treeComic Signing Advice on Alyssa
Chapter 14badgering a witnessBasketball Game Turns Into Interrogation
Chapter 15lay a guilt trip on someoneHolden Faces a Public Confession
Chapter 16has a pastFriends Tease Him About Alyssa
Chapter 17drops the bomb on meBob's Chasing Amy Monologue
Chapter 18kill two birds with one stoneThe Threesome Proposal
Chapter 19hung up onShe Refuses a Threesome Proposal
Chapter 20better off withoutA Fan Grills a Comic ArtistChapter 3 of 20 · about 59 min to go