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My Fellow Americans · 1996 — Chapter 3 of 13 · 1'34" · B2

Tanner Summons the Presidents, Explained: skedaddle

Two rival ex-presidents bicker over drinks while kids run around, trading insults until a colonel arrives. He says President Haney wants them at once, and the car is already on its way to Camp David. "We know where you are at all times," he answers when asked how he found them.

What happens

Kramer and Douglas are hiding out in a family living room, bickering about drinks and old scandals. Colonel Tanner walks in with orders from President Haney: they must meet him as quickly as possible, with transport to Camp David already arranged. Asked how he found them, he says the NSA knows where they are at all times.

ArgumentsSmall talkConfrontingComplainingRivalsB2fastamerican
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Listen for

at all timesrun alongskedaddleI'd kill for

00:00 / 01:34
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Phrase of the scene

skedaddle

快溜；赶紧跑开

外公把玩具手枪塞给孙子，连哄带赶地让他快跑开，别留在大人的谈话里，嘴里就蹦出 skedaddle 这个词。

The kids skedaddled as soon as the sprinklers came on.

Also in this scene

  • at all times

    continuously, at every moment

  • run along

    to go away, often said to a child

  • I'd kill for

    极想要；恨不得拿命去换

Everything marked in this scene

29 notes across 35 lines

Phrase · B1for the last timeDouglas, for the last time, I'm telling you everything I know,
Phrase · B2not have the slightest clueand I don't have the slightest clue what the hell Olympia is.
Phrase · B1what the hell something isand I don't have the slightest clue what the hell Olympia is.
Grammar · B2what the hell Olympia is

noun clause as object

and I don't have the slightest clue what the hell Olympia is.
Soundwhat the hell

flap

and I don't have the slightest clue what the hell Olympia is.
Phrase · A2want something to drinkExcuse me, Dad, did you guys want something to drink?
Phrase · B2kill for somethingI'd kill for a vodka tonic. I'm sure we can swing that.
Phrase · C1swing somethingI'd kill for a vodka tonic. I'm sure we can swing that.
Phrase · B2dull the sensesI never touch alcohol. Dulls the senses.
Slang · C1full of shitYou're so full of shit.
Phrase · B2big-people talkWe're talking big-people talk.
Phrase · B1didn't hear somethingYou didn't hear that, did you?
Phrase · B1run along

to go away, often said to a child

See, you take this and run along. Grandpa.
Phrase · B1go hideGive me the gun. Now, you go hide.
Slang · B2SkedaddleOkay! Skedaddle.
Phrase · B1where were weNine... Okay, where were we?
Soundwhere were we

weak form

Nine... Okay, where were we?
Phrase · B2have anything to do with somethingWell, I don't think you had anything to do with Charlie's death, but I'm pretty sure
Grammar · C1I don't think you had anything to do with

negation raised to the main clause

Well, I don't think you had anything to do with Charlie's death, but I'm pretty sure
Phrase · B1be involved in somethingyou're involved in this mess somehow.
Phrase · A2what about someoneI'm involved? Well, what about you?
Phrase · A2spend time with someoneWell, now you know. I enjoy spending time with dead men.
Phrase · B1go ahead and do somethingYou don't believe me? Go ahead and die.
Phrase · B2perk someone upIt will perk me right up. You...
Phrase · B1as ... as possiblePresident Haney needs to meet with the both of you as quickly as possible.
Phrase · B2at all times

continuously, at every moment

We know where you are at all times, sir.
Grammar · B1where you are

noun clause with where

We know where you are at all times, sir.
Soundat all times

liaison

We know where you are at all times, sir.
Phrase · B1that's our businessThat's our business.

Tanner Summons the Presidents, explained

What's really going on

The scene wastes no time pretending these two are friends. Their argument runs on old slights and one-upsmanship — one boasts he would kill for a drink while the other swears he never touches alcohol — and it ends only when the state walks in the door. The arrival is the cold centre of the scene: "We know where you are at all times, sir" is delivered without blinking, followed by a flat "That's our business." It is the moment the personal comedy collides with the machinery of power, and both ex-presidents go from bickering to being collected.

Theme

PowerState authority interrupts a private family argument and simply collects the two former presidents.
PrideThe two ex-presidents cannot stop scoring points against each other even as they are summoned.

Listen for

  • what the hell — flap
  • where were we — weak form
  • at all times — liaison
Well, now you know. I enjoy spending time with dead men.

A morbid joke that turns an accusation back on the other man, using dark humour as armour.

We know where you are at all times, sir.

The government's calm answer to how it found them: surveillance is simply its business.

and I don't have the slightest clue what the hell Olympia is.

A flat denial of knowledge, insisting the speaker has no idea what the mysterious Olympia refers to.

You don't believe me? Go ahead and die.

A taunt that doubles as a dare, flipping a threat into grim banter.

Questions about this scene

Who comes to the door?

Colonel Paul Tanner of the NSA. He says President Haney needs to meet both ex-presidents as quickly as possible and that transport to Camp David is already on the way.

How did Tanner find them?

He says the NSA knows where they are at all times. When they press him on how, he answers simply, "That's our business."

Why are Kramer and Douglas together?

They have been thrown together by the unfolding scandal over Charlie's death, and they spend the scene bickering about it and about each other.

What does 'skedaddle' mean?

It means to leave quickly — essentially "scram" or "run along." It is used here playfully, when an adult sends a child off to hide.

What is the Olympia they argue about?

It is never explained in the scene. One man insists he has no idea what Olympia is, calling it simply "what the hell Olympia," which only deepens the mystery.

My Fellow Americans · 13 chapters

All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 4in the middle of nowherePresidents Hijacked in the Woods
Chapter 1too little too lateGolf Talk Turns AwkwardChapter 2shift the stinkThe Missing Appointment LogWatching · Chapter 3skedaddleTanner Summons the PresidentsChapter 4in the middle of nowherePresidents Hijacked in the WoodsChapter 5get away with itWalking to Ohio for EvidenceChapter 6stick a fork inPassengers Gossip About the PresidentsChapter 7steams my clamsPresidents Trade a Watch for a RideChapter 8live in the pastOld Rivals Almost BondChapter 9shut your cake holeWayne Gets the History WrongChapter 10put on a spreadKramer and Douglas Find the FixChapter 11up to its knees inHaney Confesses to the Cover-UpChapter 12the end of the worldTanner Corners Them in the TunnelChapter 13a way aroundThe Presidents Confront Each Other
Chapter 3 of 13 · about 25 min to go