MovieChat Forums > As Time Goes By (1992) Discussion > You can come on free -- Explain

You can come on free -- Explain

posted 14 years ago by FriarPark225
7 replies | jump to latest

Boyfriend is trying to understand why Jean gets upset when Lionel says she can comes on to the cruise for free ... it's hard for me to explain. Can anyone help? Thanks.

[–] mlafontaine01 14 years ago

Speaking as a woman, perhaps it's something that only us women would understand. (Is that a sexist remark?!?!) Most women (me included) would like to think our 'special' chap would spare no expense on us. For example, to discover he thinks it would be okay to accept a freebie for me 'cheapens' the value of the relationship. Is he accepting it because it's free, and because he thinks I'm not worth the expense, or what? Something that is obtained for a price has more value, and is valued more, than something that's free.

Does this help?

[–] Yorke71 14 years ago

I guess it's because I'm a man, but I have to admit I was as dumfounded as Lionel by her reaction - "What did he say wrong?" I agree with your explanation, I guess my problem is more with the context. If the cruise was meant to celebrate an important occasion, an anniversary or honey-moon, then I could understand why she felt slighted. But this was an opportunity that came out of the blue. On the other hand, they had only been back together for a short while, so perhaps it wasn't the "romantic" gesture.

[–] blankk23 12 years ago

It's another case of not what he said, but how he said it.

If he had started with "I have a work trip, and the trip is comped, and I can bring a guest", Jean would have known the situation up front, but he asked her to go and (accidentally) made it sound like he was inviting her on a special romantic getaway, and then followed up by saying essentially, "well, it's free, it doesn't cost me anything".

Poor Lionel. For the number of times he gets things exactly right, he sure takes it on the chin when he gets it a bit wrong.

[–] etodd-4 11 years ago

I'm a women and I don't get it either. If my significant other offered me a free trip, I would say "thank you" and when to we leave!!! Who cares if the trip was for free!

[–] jennylynmasters 10 years ago

I agree. I could care less if the trip was free. I would not consider it an insult at all, it just means there would more money to spend on clothes, daytrips, and souvenirs.

We're on a mission from God.

[–] blankk23 8 years ago

But Lionel did not present it as a free trip at first - he phrased it in a way that seemed like he was offering to pay to take her on a nice vacation. If he had said upfront "we get a free trip; wanna go?", Jean would have reacted exactly as you said - sure thing, when do we leave? But instead she got her hopes up that Lionel thought to plan a romantic holiday for the two of them, only to find out that it's a work trip and she's a "may as well bring her, since it's free".

[–] vranger 11 years ago

If you'll notice for the entire series Lionel was a "damned if he does and damned if he doesn't" character. It's the writers' decision, that's why.

If he'd paid for the trip Jean would have been upset that he'd (a) taken her assent for granted and (b) overspent. LOL