“Excuse my costume. I'll take it right off.”
Why it's great
It turns an absurd costume into manners: apologize fast, then fix it fast.
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Neutral
Use it yourself
Excuse my apron, I'll take it off right now.
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00:00 / 03:09
The Kirbys Come on the Wrong Night, Explained
You Can't Take It with You · 1938
Chapter 14 of 27 · 3'09"
The Kirby parents arrive for dinner a night early and walk into the Sycamore house at its most chaotic: a discus thrower in costume, a rehearsal in the living room, fireworks in the cellar. Mrs. Kirby calls the visit "most embarrassing," and the hosts scramble to make the best of it.
Key moments
Start here, then watch the full scene- 1:16–2:18
The Kirbys Arrive Too Early
62s - 2:18–3:07
Everyone Helps Clear the Room
49s
The Kirbys Come on the Wrong Night, explained
What happens
The Sycamores are busy with their usual chaos — Penny drilling DePinna on his poses and a costume, fireworks going in the cellar — when the Kirbys ring the bell a night early. Everyone is embarrassed, the hosts rush to clear chairs, the rug, and the props, and Alice is called down to meet Tony's parents.
What's really going on
The comedy is all about surfaces being caught out. The Sycamores live without embarrassment, doing whatever they please; the Kirbys live by appearances, and they arrive on the wrong night to see the household exactly as it is. Mrs. Kirby cannot hide her discomfort — "I'm very uncomfortable, Tony. This is all very embarrassing" — while the family answers with cheerful denial: "Why, no, just having a quiet evening at home." Instead of hiding, Penny starts tidying up in front of the guests, and the scene puts the two worlds side by side: one that fears looking foolish, and one that does not care, and the film clearly prefers the second.
Key lines & what they mean
- “Excuse my costume. I'll take it right off.”
- DePinna's greeting when he is introduced in fancy dress, turning the mishap into a light apology.
- “Why, no, just having a quiet evening at home.”
- The Sycamore denial: the house is in an uproar, and they answer the embarrassing moment with a cheerful lie.
- “- Really, Tony, this is most embarrassing. - No, we weren't doing a thing.”
- Mrs. Kirby's discomfort meets the family's easy dismissal, the clash between caring about appearances and not caring at all.
- “Now, anybody can get mixed up.”
- The forgiving line that lets everyone off the hook: mixing up the night is human, so no one should feel bad.
Theme
- Class — The appearance-minded Kirbys walk into the free-spirited Sycamore house and cannot hide their discomfort.
- Absurdity — A quiet dinner turns into a parade of props, costumes and fireworks, all received with forced politeness.
What this chapter teaches
Teaching points
Review right after watchingMy level6/7
A1–C2 is the CEFR scale. Cards above the level you pick fade, and playback will not auto-pause on them.
Language points
Click a card to jump to its moment in the videoGolden lines
A great line in its own right — why and how to use it“Why, no, just having a quiet evening at home.”
Why it's great
One calm line shrinks a chaotic house into an ordinary quiet evening.
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Informal
Use it yourself
Don't mind us, we are just having a quiet evening at home.
“- Really, Tony, this is most embarrassing. - No, we weren't doing a thing.”
Why it's great
Her shame meets his easy denial, and the gap between the two families is right there.
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Formal
Use it yourself
This is most embarrassing, and we were not even invited.
“Now, anybody can get mixed up.”
Why it's great
A light line that gives everyone an exit.
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Neutral
Use it yourself
Do not worry, anybody can mix up the dates.
Relax, anyone can walk into the wrong room.
Up next · 15look on the dark sideThe scene: The Kirbys Arrive on the Wrong NightTakeaways
What you walk away with- The wrong night exposes both families at once.
- A host can smooth over chaos with one calm line.
- Mrs. Kirby's shame meets Tony's easy denial.
- Arriving early can be as awkward as arriving late.
People also search
Questions, then the linesWhy are the Kirbys at the Sycamore house?
They have come to dinner, but on the wrong night — they thought it was for tomorrow — and arrive to find the family in the middle of its usual chaos.
Why is Mrs. Kirby so embarrassed?
She is used to order and appearances, and she arrives to find a rehearsal, a discus thrower in costume and fireworks; she says she is very uncomfortable.
Does the family apologize for the state of the house?
Mostly they joke it away, insisting they were just having a quiet evening at home, while Penny clears chairs and rugs in front of the guests.
Who is DePinna dressed as?
He is the discus thrower, and he apologizes for his costume when he is introduced to the Kirbys, promising to take it right off.
Why does Alice come downstairs?
Tony calls her down, saying they have a big surprise for her — his parents. She answers that she will be right down, into the awkward gathering.