experienced something similar
I went through somethin' like what you're talkin' about a couple years ago.Chasing Amy · 1997 — Chapter 17 of 20 · 4'04" · C1
Bob's Chasing Amy Monologue, Explained: drops the bomb on me
A man tells a story about a girlfriend named Amy, and the story turns into a confession: he heard about her past, exploded, and walked out. The real admission comes later—'I wasn't disgusted with her, I was afraid'—so the breakup is less about her past than about his own pride.
What happens
A man recounts a relationship with a woman named Amy. Four months in, he asks about her ex; she mentions threesomes, and he erupts. He calls her names, ends the relationship, and only later realizes he was afraid, not disgusted. The monologue ends with him saying he has been 'chasing Amy' ever since.
Listen for
the idiot gear kicks indrops the bomb on meweirded outout for blood
00:00 / 04:04Space play · ← → lines · R repeat
Now
Phrase of the scene
drops the bomb on me
suddenly delivers shocking news
She calmly mentions a threesome, and the news lands like an explosion in his head.
My roommate dropped the bomb on me that he's moving out next week.
Also in this scene
- the idiot gear kicks in
the stupid impulse takes over
- weirded out
made to feel uneasy or creeped out
- out for blood
determined to hurt or get revenge
- Fuckin' A
vulgar exclamation of strong agreement or excitement
- chasing Amy
pursuing Amy and chasing what he lost
Everything marked in this scene
26 notes across 63 lines
nominal clause: The what-clause acts as the object of like: the thing you are talking about.
I went through somethin' like what you're talkin' about a couple years ago.Let the g in talkin' drop and glide through what you're without pausing.
I went through somethin' like what you're talkin' about a couple years ago.fit something in with difficulty
I could just about squeeze in the Grand-fucking-Canyon.I bet you had no idea
Bet you didn't even know that shit, did you?deeply and openly in love
So there's me and Amy. And we're inseparable. Just big-time in love.a very foolish move
and I ask about the ex-boyfriend which, as we all know, is a really dumb move.relative clause: The which-clause comments on the whole move, and as we all know is a parenthetical aside.
and I ask about the ex-boyfriend which, as we all know, is a really dumb move.shocks or amazes someone
Now this just blows my mind, right? I'm not used to this sort of thing.not accustomed to something
Now this just blows my mind, right? I'm not used to this sort of thing.for heaven's sake — Informal exasperation; avoid it in formal settings.
- I was raised Catholic, for God's sakes. - Saint Shithead.look directly into someone's eyes
I'm like, "Oh, really?" I look her in the eye and tell her it's over. I walk.at the same level as someone
You know, at that moment I felt small, like I'd lacked experience, like I'd never be on her level,Keep at light and avoid punching the t in that; stress moment instead.
You know, at that moment I felt small, like I'd lacked experience, like I'd never be on her level,or something of that kind
never be enough for her or something like that.work the whole thing out
But by the time I flgured this all out, it's too late, man. She moved on.leave the past behind
But by the time I flgured this all out, it's too late, man. She moved on.time clause: The by the time clause sets the moment of understanding; the main clause says it comes too late.
But by the time I flgured this all out, it's too late, man. She moved on.the only result someone has
All I had to show for it was foolish pride which then gave way to regret.was replaced by regret
All I had to show for it was foolish pride which then gave way to regret.drive someone away
I pushed her away.leave quickly — Casual slang among friends; not for elders.
Get up, tons of fun. We gotta book.Chicago — A casual nickname for Chicago; not for formal writing.
- Catchin'a bus to Chi-town. - Why? What's there?jerks or idiots — Vulgar insult; even joking use can offend.
But that ain't like us at all, all slapsticky and shit, runnin' around like a couple of dickheads.meet you by chance again
It's a big world, G. We're bound to run into you again.Lightly touch the t in into and weaken you so the phrase flows as one chunk.
It's a big world, G. We're bound to run into you again.Bob's Chasing Amy Monologue, explained
What's really going on
The monologue keeps sliding between confession and self-defense. The surface story is about Amy's past, but the line that gives the game away is 'I wasn't disgusted with her, I was afraid.' What follows spells out the fear: feeling small, lacking experience, never being on her level. The earlier attack—calling her names and saying she was used—looks less like moral judgment than a pre-emptive strike. The closing line, 'All I had to show for it was foolish pride which then gave way to regret,' turns the whole anecdote into a warning about pride. He is not asking for a verdict on Amy; he is describing how his own insecurity did the damage.
Theme
HeartbreakA breakup story becomes a confession of fear and regret, not a simple case of her past.
PrideHe admits his 'foolish pride' drove the split, then gave way to regret.
Listen for
- what you're talkin' — Let the g in talkin' drop and glide through what you're without pausing.
- at that moment — Keep at light and avoid punching the t in that; stress moment instead.
- run into you — Lightly touch the t in into and weaken you so the phrase flows as one chunk.
But you know how it is: You don't want to know, but you just have to know.He knows asking about the ex is a bad idea, but curiosity wins anyway.
I wasn't disgusted with her, I was afraid.His anger covered fear: he felt less experienced and could not match her.
All I had to show for it was foolish pride which then gave way to regret.Pride was all he had left after the breakup, and regret followed.
She was the girl. I know that now.Only later does he see Amy as the one he lost.
So I've spent every day since then chasing Amy.He has spent every day since trying to get back the woman he pushed away.
Questions about this scene
Why does the narrator ask about Amy's ex-boyfriend?
He says the 'idiot gear' kicks in four months in. He knows it is a dumb move, but adds, 'You don't want to know, but you just have to know.'
Was he actually disgusted by what Amy told him?
No. He says plainly, 'I wasn't disgusted with her, I was afraid.' He then describes feeling small and lacking experience.
Why did the relationship end?
He says he looked her in the eye and told her it was over, then walked. He later says, 'I pushed her away.'
What does 'weirded out' mean here?
It means uneasy or creeped out. He says he was 'totally weirded out' by the story before he starts blasting her.
Chasing Amy · 20 chapters
All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 18kill two birds with one stoneThe Threesome Proposal
Chapter 1station in lifeComic Signing Turns Into a Fight
Chapter 2chickens come home to roostComic Panel Erupts Over Star Wars
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
Watching · 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 17 of 20 · about 11 min to go