embedded question: The embedded question keeps statement order after how much, so it sounds like a real question inside a question.
Do you know how much it would cost to buy the Quick Stop?Clerks II · 2006 — Chapter 17 of 17 · 2'34" · B2
Friends Negotiate the Quick Stop Loan, Explained: pan out
Two friends price out buying the Quick Stop, but neither has that kind of money. A flat "We do." changes the subject to a loan, offered "on two conditions": free access to the storefront with no cops, plus a crude demand that gets turned down.
What happens
Two people are talking about buying the Quick Stop. The others are asked whether they would lend the money, and the answer comes with conditions: free access to the storefront with no cops called, plus a second demand that gets refused. The talk then turns to running their own business.
Listen for
on two conditionspan outsome other assholethis close to
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Phrase of the scene
pan out
end up well; succeed
Someone reframes years spent in the store and college never working out as a late explanation, moving from self-mockery into sincerity.
The plan to open a food truck panned out after they found a cheap lot.
Also in this scene
- on two conditions
with two requirements attached
- some other asshole
some other jerk
- this close to
almost about to
- in a totally heterosexual way
a joking disclaimer of romance
- call the cops
call the police
Everything marked in this scene
30 notes across 34 lines
fifty thousand dollars
Like, 50 grand, easy.a thousand dollars — casual money slang; use thousand dollars in formal writing
Like, 50 grand, easy.that kind of money
And neither one of us have that type of money.Let one of us run together, with of reduced to a light glide.
And neither one of us have that type of money.be ready to lend
You guys would be willing to lend us some of that money so we can reopen the stores?purpose clause: The so-clause explains the purpose of the loan: the money would let them reopen the stores.
You guys would be willing to lend us some of that money so we can reopen the stores?with two requirements attached
Someone agrees to lend the money, then pauses to attach two conditions, making the deal sound easy before it turns absurd.
Sure, on two conditions.loiter outside the store
One: We can hang out in front of the store anytime we want, and you can't call the cops.call the police
The condition demands free access to the storefront and forbids calling the police, delivered like a serious business term.
One: We can hang out in front of the store anytime we want, and you can't call the cops.police — casual for police; avoid in formal contexts
One: We can hang out in front of the store anytime we want, and you can't call the cops.perform oral sex on each other — vulgar sexual slang; adults-only private talk
And two: You have to blow each other, and we get to watch.a crude sexual act — extremely vulgar sexual slang; adults-only
Then you have to go ass to mouth.I hate to admit it, but...
I almost hate to say it, but...sort of makes sense
it kind of makes sense.Keep kind of unstressed and bunched; let makes follow without a pause.
it kind of makes sense.spent a lot of time in that store
Hey, maybe that's why we spent so much time in that store, why college or anything else never panned out for us.never worked out for us
Hey, maybe that's why we spent so much time in that store, why college or anything else never panned out for us.why-clauses: The two why-clauses after that's why stack one explanation on another, making the whole past feel like a single pattern.
Hey, maybe that's why we spent so much time in that store, why college or anything else never panned out for us.running our own business
You and me running our own business instead of working for some other asshole?rather than working for
You and me running our own business instead of working for some other asshole?jerk; bastard — vulgar insult; avoid in formal settings
You and me running our own business instead of working for some other asshole?fucking; intensifier — vulgar intensifier; keep it out of formal talk
Could be pretty fuckin' sweet, right?almost starting
I was this close to starting a new life.begin a new life
I was this close to starting a new life.Stress this, rush through close to, then slow slightly on new life.
I was this close to starting a new life.tag question: The tag question turns the statement into a challenge: the speaker wants the other person to admit what they are doing.
You're actually gonna make me do this, aren't you?Blend aren't you into one quick run and lift the tail of the question.
You're actually gonna make me do this, aren't you?cover your ears
Can you guys cover your ears for a minute, please?closest friend
You're my best friend...Friends Negotiate the Quick Stop Loan, explained
What's really going on
The surface subject is money: the Quick Stop would cost about fifty grand, and one line says neither of them has that kind of money. A flat "We do." answers it, and the talk turns into a loan negotiation. The conditions are half joke, half test: free access to the storefront, no cops, then a crude demand that gets rejected. The joke lets everyone discuss a serious offer without sounding earnest. One line turns the store into a theory of their lives: "maybe that's why we spent so much time in that store, why college or anything else never panned out for us." When someone says "I was this close to starting a new life," the loan becomes a choice about whether to stay. The crude humor keeps the sentiment at arm's length.
Theme
FriendshipThe loan offer becomes a way to admit they want to keep working together, while the crude joking keeps the sentiment at arm's length.
DreamsRunning their own business is framed as a second chance after college and other plans never panned out.
Listen for
- one of us — Let one of us run together, with of reduced to a light glide.
- kind of makes — Keep kind of unstressed and bunched; let makes follow without a pause.
- this close to — Stress this, rush through close to, then slow slightly on new life.
- aren't you — Blend aren't you into one quick run and lift the tail of the question.
And neither one of us have that type of money.The speaker says neither of them has that kind of money, which makes the sudden 'We do' the turning point.
Hey, maybe that's why we spent so much time in that store, why college or anything else never panned out for us.The store may explain why their other plans never succeeded; the offer reframes their past as a pattern rather than random bad luck.
I was this close to starting a new life.Someone was nearly ready to leave the old life behind, so accepting the offer means giving up that escape.
You're actually gonna make me do this, aren't you?The question treats the decision as something being forced, even though the offer is technically a choice.
Please, man, don't leave me.The joke drops away into a direct plea not to be abandoned, making the friendship the real stake.
Questions about this scene
Why does the offer come 'on two conditions'?
Because the people lending the money want something in return. The first condition lets them hang out in front of the store anytime and says the others cannot call the cops; the second is a crude demand.
Do they accept both conditions?
No. The line is 'All right, just the first condition.' The lines that follow are 'Seriously?' 'Do I stutter?' and 'Yeah, seriously.' So only the first condition is accepted.
What makes the offer start to feel like a real plan?
One line says 'it kind of makes sense,' then talks about running their own business instead of working for 'some other asshole.' The joke gives way to a concrete idea.
Why does someone ask the others to cover their ears?
It comes right before a personal exchange: "You're my best friend..." followed by "and I love you. In a totally heterosexual way." The request keeps that part private.
Why does 'I was this close to starting a new life' matter?
It shows the offer is not only about money. Someone was almost ready to leave, so taking the loan means giving up that escape.
Clerks II · 17 chapters
All chapters →
Chapter 1take issue withCoworkers Argue Over Wheelchair Blogger
Chapter 2hit the jackpotDante and Emma Argue Over a House
Chapter 3more than meets the eyeTransformers Argument at Mooby's
Chapter 4sow your wild oatsCan't Be Friends With Your Boss
Chapter 5Say what you will aboutTrilogy Showdown at Mooby's
Chapter 6give someone the time of dayDante and Becky Debate Marriage
Chapter 7at its finestPlanning a Donkey Show for a Send-Off
Chapter 8piece togetherRandal Grills Elias About Sex
Chapter 9bet dollars to donutsLance Dowds Visits Mooby's
Chapter 10blow off some steamA Slur at the Mooby's Counter
Chapter 11term of endearmentRandal Defends a Slur
Chapter 12tie your life to someoneWedding Jitters, But Only About Dancing
Chapter 13You and what army?A Man Confesses He's the Father
Chapter 14at its finestGoing-Away Party Turns Into a Stage Act
Chapter 15smooth things overDante and Randal's Jail Blowup
Chapter 16take a bullet for someoneFriends Fight Over Moving Away
Watching · Chapter 17pan outFriends Negotiate the Quick Stop LoanThat's all 17 chapters of this film