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Win Win · 2011 — Chapter 13 of 19 · 3'08" · B2

Kyle's Mom Meets the Flahertys, Explained: These things happen

Kyle's mother arrives for a first visit, and the small talk barely lasts: the boy has slipped out a window and gone. The hosts smooth it over — "These things happen" — then turn to his wrestling season and a surprising offer to stay longer. The politeness hides a negotiation: who gets to keep the kid, and where he'll live.

What happens

Cindy, Kyle's mother, comes to Mike and Jackie's home for the first time. As they exchange pleasantries, they learn Kyle has climbed out a window and left. Instead of dwelling on it, they tell her these things happen and talk up his wrestling — the upcoming regionals, a possible trip to states, even a scholarship. Then they ask her to stay in town longer.

Small talkAsking for helpComfortingAskingStrangersB2slowamericanClean
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Listen for

make that workThese things happenHow's he doingthe states

00:00 / 03:08
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Phrase of the scene

These things happen

这种事难免；别太自责

辛迪为家里的变故道歉，杰姬用这句话宽慰她，说这种事难免。

You missed the turn, don't worry, these things happen.

Also in this scene

  • make that work

    想办法安排得开；让它行得通

  • How's he doing

    他最近怎么样；他还好吗

  • the states

    州级决赛（美国中学体育最高级别赛事）

Everything marked in this scene

23 notes across 59 lines

Phrase · A2come on inCome on in, please. Sorry, but my cab was late, so...
SoundCome on in

liaison

Come on in, please. Sorry, but my cab was late, so...
Phrase · A2not a problemThat's not a problem. Not a problem. Come in.
Phrase · B1get someone a drinkCan I get you a drink?
Phrase · B1how's someone doingYeah. How's he doing?
SoundHow's he doing

liaison

Yeah. How's he doing?
Phrase · B1be doing wellUh, actually, he's doing very well.
Phrase · B1be on the teamYes, he's going to the high school here. And he's wrestling on the team, actually.
Phrase · B1a sweet kidOh, he's a sweet kid. Our girls love him.
Phrase · B2have a hard timeIt's just been a really hard time and everything.
Phrase · B2these things happenNow, come on. These things happen.
Phrase · B1go get someoneHey, kiddo, you think you could go get Kyle for us?
Phrase · B1go on to somethingHe has the regions this weekend, and if he wins there, he goes on to the states.
Grammar · B2if he wins there, he goes on to the states

conditional with present simple

He has the regions this weekend, and if he wins there, he goes on to the states.
Phrase · B1a good thingCould be a really good thing for him.
Grammar · B2It might even mean a scholarship

might for possibility

It might even mean a scholarship. You know?
Phrase · B2wouldn't mind doing somethingSo I was wondering, actually, if you wouldn't mind maybe staying around...
Grammar · B2if you wouldn't mind maybe staying around

would for polite requests

So I was wondering, actually, if you wouldn't mind maybe staying around...
Phrase · B1another couple of ......another couple of weeks?
Soundanother couple of weeks

liaison

...another couple of weeks?
Phrase · B2afford to do somethingI don't think I can afford to stay in the motel for that long.
Phrase · B2make something workYeah, I think that we could probably make that work. Yeah.
Soundmake that work

elision

Yeah, I think that we could probably make that work. Yeah.

Kyle's Mom Meets the Flahertys, explained

What's really going on

Everybody in this room is being extremely polite, and that's exactly what makes it tense. Cindy has arrived to collect her son, but the visit keeps sliding sideways: Kyle runs off, and the hosts keep filling the silence with reassurance — "These things happen" — and with praise for how well he's doing. Their real move comes near the end, when they ask her to stay another couple of weeks, dangling the regionals and a possible scholarship. Cindy's reply is practical, not sentimental: "I don't think I can afford to stay in the motel for that long," followed by a request to use her father's house. The warmth and the maneuvering sit side by side.

Theme

Family conflictKyle's mother and the family that has taken him in tiptoe around each other, each wanting what's best for the boy.
MoneyThe negotiation turns on practical money — a motel she can't afford — rather than on who loves Kyle more.

What you'll learn

  • Soften a request with wouldn't mind
  • Hear make that work as a yes
  • Comfort with These things happen
  • Catch the regions as regionals
  • Hear the ask under small talk

Listen for

  • Come on in — liaison
  • How's he doing — liaison
  • another couple of weeks — liaison
  • make that work — elision
It's just been a really hard time and everything.

Her apology, explaining why she's been absent — life has been difficult, without spelling out the details.

It might even mean a scholarship. You know?

An argument for keeping Kyle in town: success at states could pay for college, which is a future he needs.

Oh, he's a sweet kid. Our girls love him.

A warm compliment that also quietly says how settled Kyle has become in this household.

I don't think I can afford to stay in the motel for that long.

The practical problem behind her hesitation — she can't pay for weeks of lodging, no matter how much she'd like to stay.

Questions about this scene

Why does Kyle run away when his mother arrives?

The scene doesn't explain it directly. As soon as he learns she's there, he slips out a window and leaves, which tells you how he feels about her showing up.

Why do Mike and Jackie want Cindy to stay?

Kyle is thriving on the wrestling team, with regionals and possibly states coming up. Keeping him in town gives him a real shot — so they ask his mother to stick around longer.

What does "these things happen" mean here?

It's a soothing phrase meaning such problems are normal and no one should feel too guilty. The hosts offer it to ease Cindy's embarrassment when Kyle runs off.

Where does Cindy want to stay?

She says she can't afford the motel, so she asks whether she and Kyle can stay in her father's house instead.

Does Mike agree to let Cindy stay in her father's house?

Yes. He says he thinks they can probably make that work, which sets up the next stage of the story.

Win Win · 19 chapters

All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 14a tough positionCindy Brings a Lawyer to Mike's Office
Chapter 1more like itMike's Family BreakfastChapter 2Tell me about itMike Stalls on a Broken BoilerChapter 3loadedMike Wants to Be Leo's GuardianChapter 4prints moneyMike's Panic Attack on a RunChapter 5spread too thinMike Volunteers as Leo's GuardianChapter 6the right thing to doLeo's Grandson Shows Up at the DoorChapter 7worried sickMike Picks Up the Runaway KyleChapter 8switch it upKyle's First Wrestling PracticeChapter 9wrestle offKyle Wrestles Off for the SpotChapter 10leading by exampleKyle's First Dual MeetChapter 11got thrown offKyle Confesses Why He Got Kicked OffChapter 12Tough it outStemler's First Match Goes BadlyWatching · Chapter 13These things happenKyle's Mom Meets the FlahertysChapter 14a tough positionCindy Brings a Lawyer to Mike's OfficeChapter 15a pillar of the communityMike Weighs Giving Cindy an ExitChapter 16lay all the cards on the tableMike Reveals Leo's WillChapter 17return the favorMike Confronts Cindy After the MatchChapter 18whatever you think is bestCindy Shows Kyle the TranscriptChapter 19make money offKyle Brings Leo Home
Chapter 13 of 19 · about 13 min to go