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The King of Comedy · 1982 — 第 2 / 21 章 · 2'07" · B2

Rupert Pitches His Act to Jerry, Explained：start at the bottom

Rupert asks Jerry Langford to hear his comedy act, but Jerry answers with the industry cliché to start at the bottom. "You don't just walk on to a network show without experience." It sounds like advice; it's also a polite way to end the conversation.

あらすじ

After a TV taping, aspiring comic Rupert Pupkin corners Jerry Langford and begs the star to listen to his act. Jerry keeps it professional: start at the bottom, then call my office and ask for my secretary, Cathy Long. Rupert leaves beaming, certain this is his big break. He even offers Jerry dinner.

Asking for helpJob interviewAskingExplainingStrangersB2fastamericanClean
IMDb ↗

注目の表現

start at the bottomground rulesget overpride and joy

00:00 / 02:07
Space 再生 · ← → セリフ移動 · R リピート
いま
セリフをタップするとそこから再生

このシーンの表現

start at the bottom

begin at the lowest level

Jerry tells Rupert everyone starts at the bottom, and Rupert quickly says that is exactly where he is.

In this newsroom, everyone starts at the bottom and works up.

このシーンの他の表現

  • ground rules

    basic rules

  • get over

    overcome

  • pride and joy

    the thing one is proudest of

  • my treat

    I will pay

  • short on cash

    low on money

このシーンのメモ一覧

34 行のセリフに 20 件のメモ

発音What'd you

In fast speech What'd you can blur into wacha.

- What'd you say your name was? - Rupert Pupkin.
発音Gotta tell you

The t in Gotta drops and tell-you links together.

All right, look, pal. Gotta tell you...
スラング · A2pal

buddy, pal — Casual address between men; not for formal talk.

All right, look, pal. Gotta tell you...
スラング · A2Gotta

have got to — Spoken shorthand; too casual for writing.

All right, look, pal. Gotta tell you...
表現 · B2ground rules

basic rules

Jerry calls the business crazy, then insists it still has ground rules just like any other.

...this is a crazy business, but it's not unlike any other business. There are ground rules.
文法 · C1it's not unlike any other business

double negative: Not unlike softens the claim into a cautious yes, meaning quite like.

...this is a crazy business, but it's not unlike any other business. There are ground rules.
表現 · B2a network show

a national TV show

You don't just walk on to a network show without experience.
表現 · B1start at the bottom

begin at the lowest level

Jerry tells Rupert everyone starts at the bottom, and Rupert quickly says that is exactly where he is.

It's an old hackneyed expression, but it's the truth: you've got to start at the bottom.
文法 · B1you've got to start

have got to: Have got to means must, with a more spoken and pressing tone.

It's an old hackneyed expression, but it's the truth: you've got to start at the bottom.
表現 · A2call someone's office

phone someone's office

I'll tell you what. Why don't you call my office?
表現 · B1make time to do something

find time to do something

- And we'll make time to listen to you. - Uh...
表現 · A2in one's head

in one's mind

You know how many times I've had this conversation in my head?
スラング · A2how many times

how often — A casual way to stress that something happened many times.

You know how many times I've had this conversation in my head?
表現 · B1turn out this way

end up this way

- Did it always turn out this way? - Yeah, it did, heh.
表現 · B1get over something

overcome

As they part, Jerry offers real encouragement: once Rupert gets over his initial shyness, he will be fine.

I really believe this. I think once you get over the initial shyness, you're gonna be okay.
発音get over

Link get and over so it sounds like ge-dover.

I really believe this. I think once you get over the initial shyness, you're gonna be okay.
表現 · B1work out for someone

end well for someone

- I hope it works out for you. - Thanks, Jerry. Thanks a lot.
表現 · B1be short on cash

low on money

Inviting Jerry to dinner, Rupert admits he is short on cash and offers appetizers only.

I'm short on cash, but if you don't mind just appetizers, I'll take you to dinner sometime.
表現 · C1someone's pride and joy

the thing one is proudest of

Before getting out, Rupert pulls out a picture and calls it his pride and joy, making a small thing sound precious.

Let me show you a picture of my pride and joy.
表現 · B1something is my treat

I will pay

Rupert keeps pushing for lunch and insists it is his treat, even though he is short on cash.

Jerry. Seriously, you ever want lunch, my treat.

「Rupert Pitches His Act to Jerry」を読み解く

What's really going on

Jerry never says no. He answers with 'you've got to start at the bottom' and sends Rupert to 'call my office' — phrases that sound like a door opening but work as a door closing, the standard brush-off for hopefuls. Rupert hears a promise where Jerry offered a formality. The gap between them is the whole scene: Jerry is managing a stranger he can't shake, while Rupert has rehearsed this moment so often that reality hardly matters. 'You know how many times I've had this conversation in my head?' he asks. Even his dinner offer is compromised: 'I'm short on cash, but if you don't mind just appetizers, I'll take you to dinner sometime.' He wants to give, but has almost nothing to give.

Theme

AmbitionRupert's hunger for fame collides with Jerry's gatekeeping; the scene shows how showbiz keeps dreamers at arm's length.
SatireA fan mistakes a formality for a promise; the scene satirizes how fame turns ordinary courtesy into a career dream.

このチャプターで学べること

  • Every industry hides its rules inside a friendly talk.
  • Starting low is sold as a law, not a choice.
  • Encouragement can be the softest refusal.
  • Poverty and pride share one sentence here.

発音のポイント

  • What'd you — In fast speech What'd you can blur into wacha.
  • Gotta tell you — The t in Gotta drops and tell-you links together.
  • get over — Link get and over so it sounds like ge-dover.
You don't just walk on to a network show without experience.

You can't land a national TV spot with no track record; the industry won't let beginners skip the line.

It's an old hackneyed expression, but it's the truth: you've got to start at the bottom.

A cliché, but Jerry insists it's real: newcomers have to begin with the smallest jobs and work their way up.

There's only one problem. I don't mean to interrupt you. I'm 34 years old.

Rupert breaks in to say he's running out of time; 34 feels late to be starting a comedy career.

I'm short on cash, but if you don't mind just appetizers, I'll take you to dinner sometime.

Rupert wants to treat Jerry to dinner but admits he can't afford a full meal, only appetizers.

このシーンについての質問

Why does Jerry tell Rupert to start at the bottom?

It's the standard line for a newcomer who wants a shortcut, and it lets Jerry stay friendly without promising anything. His follow-up — call my office and ask for Cathy Long — is more of the same.

Does Jerry actually intend to listen to Rupert's act?

The scene gives no sign of it. 'Start at the bottom' and 'call my office' are classic ways of moving a fan along, and Jerry mentions early that he has people waiting.

Why does Rupert mention that he's 34?

He fears time is running out. Jerry talks about years of honing a craft, but Rupert cuts in to say he's 34 — too old, in his mind, to keep waiting at the bottom.

Why does Rupert give Jerry the photo?

Rupert calls the photo his pride and joy and insists Jerry take it as a gift. It's a bid to turn a one-off meeting into a connection he can call on later.

キング・オブ・コメディ · 全 21 章

すべて見る →
次のチャプター · 第 3 章take overRupert Rehearses Taking Over the Show
第 1 章big breakRupert Pupkin Pitches Jerry in the Car再生中 · 第 2 章start at the bottomRupert Pitches His Act to Jerry第 3 章take overRupert Rehearses Taking Over the Show第 4 章didn't have the nerveRupert Asks Rita Out After 15 Years第 5 章gift for comedyRupert Signs Rita's Autograph Book第 6 章the go-aheadRupert's New King of Comedy Speech第 7 章in a meetingRupert Repeatedly Calls Jerry Langford第 8 章broke bread withMasha Confronts Rupert in the Street第 9 章made itRupert Rehearses His Big TV Debut第 10 章amount to a hill of beansCathy Long Turns Rupert Down第 11 章drop inRupert and Rita Crash Jerry's House第 12 章take a hintJerry Throws Rupert Out第 13 章false moveRupert and Masha Kidnap Jerry第 14 章a pain in the neckJerry Langford's Hostage Call第 15 章a two-way streetJerry Apologizes at Gunpoint第 16 章on the spur of the momentStudio Debates Airing the Kidnapper第 17 章blow your mindMasha's Lonely Night Confession第 18 章authorized personnelRupert Bluffs His Way Into the Studio第 19 章the right to remain silentPupkin Gets Read His Rights第 20 章a shot atRupert Pupkin's TV Debut第 21 章down paymentRupert Pupkin's Stand-Up Monologue
第 2 / 21 章 · 残り約 58 分