Ugly Women Can Have Feelings Too

Dec 18, 2009 2:50 AM

by binsar

I found this particular episode of the BBC TV Series Coupling to be very well written and hilarious. Coupling is written by Steven Moffat and was aired from 2002 to 2004. This show has 4 seasons with only 28 episodes. The show was built around adventures and mishaps of three women and the three men in their thirties each talking among themselves about the same events, but in entirely different terms. I personally think that this is a well written series by Steven Moffat – the writer of Dr Who, Tintin the movie, etc.

This particular scene is taken from season 3, episode 4 “Remember This”. This episode is interesting because it shows how different man and woman are in remembering a particular event. Patrick and Sally tried to recall their first meeting. It was different stories of the same event. Please take a look at the clip, it’s worth your time!

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Patrick’s Memory

Patrick: “Sorry…”

Sally   : “No problem, don’t worry. Quite a spread”

Patrick: “Amazing spread.”

Sally   : “Sausage, sausages, sausages, sausages…“

Patrick: “Yap, sausages!”

Sally   : “So, this is your office then?”

Patrick: “Well, no…”

Sally   : “How did you get to the party then?”

Patrick: “BMW M3 midnight blue, 0 to 50 in 5 seconds get to 100 in another 6. It’s a sequence automatic gearbox, traction control, and black leather seats.”

Sally   : “Ow…”

(Susan comes)

Susan  : “Have you try the sausages? They’re fab.”

Sally   : “Best sausages I’ve ever tasted!”

Patrick: “Excellent sausages!”

Susan  : “Oh hello…”

Patrick: “Hi, very pleased to meet you!”

Sally   : “This is Susan. Susan, this is mmm…”

Patrick: “Patrick. Patrick Maitland. And…”

Sally   : “Sally.”

Patrick: “Well, how about this, two beautiful women and me.”

Susan  : “I see, so you’re the kind of man who only notices women if they’re beautiful then?”

Patrick: “What makes you say that?”

Susan  : “Actually it wasn’t me.”

Patrick: “Oh I see, you have been talking to some of my friends then haven’t you?”

Susan  : “Well…”

Patrick: “I know, I know, ugly women can have feelings too, which frankly doesn’t improve them any.”

Susan  : “Well anyway, we’ll see you later ok.”

(walking away with Sally)

Patrick: “Yeah I hope so, that would be very nice…”

(Going to the table)

Patrick: “So tell me, with women like that in this office, how do you blokes keep your minds to your work?”

A guy:  “You really are a sad sick bastard, you know that!”

Sally’s Memory

Patrick: “Sorry…”

Sally   : “No problem, don’t worry. Quite a spread”

Patrick: “Amazing spread.”

Sally   : “Sauté, que sac…“

Patrick: “Yap, sausages!”

Sally   : “So, this is your office then?”

Patrick: “Well, no…”

Sally   : “How did you get to the party then?”

Patrick: “Car.”

Sally   : “Ow…”

(Susan comes)

Susan  : “Have you try the crudités? They’re fab.”

Sally   : “Best smoked salmon I’ve ever tasted!”

Patrick: “Excellent sausages!”

Susan  : “Oh hello…”

Patrick: “Hi, very pleased to meet you!”

Sally   : “This is Susan. Susan, this is mmm…”

Patrick: “Patrick. Patrick Maitland. And…”

Sally   : “Sally.”

Susan  : “And Morag!”

(introducing another female friend)

Morag : “Hello Patrick, very pleased to meet you.”

Patrick: “Right yeah.”

(looking at Susan)

“Well, how about this, two beautiful women and me.”

Morag : “I see, so you’re the kind of man who only notices women if they’re beautiful then?”

Patrick: “What makes you say that?” (looking at Susan)

Susan  : “Actually it wasn’t me.”

Patrick: “I know, I know, ugly women can have feelings too, which frankly doesn’t improve them any.”

Morag : “For God’s sake!” (walking away)

Susan  : “Well anyway, we’ll see you later ok.”

(walking away with Sally)

Patrick: “Yeah I hope so, that would be great…”

(Going to the table)

Patrick: “So tell me, with women like that in this office, how do you blokes keep your minds to your work?”

Morag: “You really are a sad sick bastard, you know   that!”

Man and woman have different memory of the same event. Check out Patrick’s well described memory when he explained about his car, and Sally only remembers “car”. See Patrick’s memory about sausages when Sally were actually talking about other kinds of food. And last, check out how Patrick completely missed Morag from his memory.

The show has 6 main characters. Sally Harper (Kate Isitt) expresses enormous insecurities about her appearance, her lack of successful relationships with men, and her dread of aging. Jane Christie (Gina Bellman), who appears to be sexually adventurous and more than secure with her attractiveness, is shown to be secretly desperately lonely and expresses insecurity when she brings her supposedly virginal date (played by Lloyd Owen) to the bar, concerned that Susan’s charms might distract him. Susan Walker (Sarah Alexander), apparently the most “together” of the female characters, is insecure about boyfriend Steve Taylor’s previous relationship with Jane. Steve Taylor (Jack Davenport) Best friend to Jeff, boyfriend/fiancé of Susan and ex-long-term partner of Jane, Steve is skilled at saying the exact wrong thing at the wrong time. Jeff Murdock (Richard Coyle) Best friend to Steve and co-worker to Susan, whom he has dated once. Jeff’s constant sexual frustration, ridiculous stories and fantasies about women and sex make up a major part of the comedy. Jeff is terrible at talking to women, often stumbling and unintentionally making up lie upon lie in an attempt to avoid looking stupid. Patrick Maitland (Ben Miles) Ex-boyfriend to Susan (and Sally’s boyfriend by series 4), Patrick has a one-track mind: sex. Although intelligent, Patrick has a habit of saying things without thinking that give the impression that he is rather dense.

The show is syndicated around the world. An American adaptation of the sitcom was briefly produced in 2003. Apparently the show also has a spanish version.

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