I asked this question years ago and we couldnt get a real good response.. Now that a few years have passed I am wondering if anyone has insight... All was fine when Sarah walked into the house. Sarah offers the money for payment and Jean's demeanor just did a 180.. The money can't be it because there was nothing in that action that was out of the ordinary.
shareI don't know, I'm still baffled by this. Is there something in the book that explains this bit?
Other than being offended by the offer of money, I don't see anything else making sense. Jean was fine when Sarah got home, so I don't think Lucy mentioned anything about the affair.
I haven't read the book, so I can't help in that sense, but something in the FAQs hinted at something that made a lot of sense to me.
First off, here are our clues:
1. It's fairly clear that Jean's attitude toward Sarah changed DURING their conversation (so it's unlikely that Jean already suspected infidelity or was upset that Sarah was late, or whatever other theory people are throwing out).
2. It appears that Jean "turns" when money is offered several times.
3. Jean says something about Lucy being a wonderful little girl as she storms off.
From these clues (and some other thoughts), here is the theory I think is most likely:
Jean has always enjoyed spending time with Lucy (this is evident), and has been gradually noticing Sarah's lack of affection toward her daughter (how could she not?). We don't have evidence that Jean has any family/children (do we? please correct me if I'm wrong), so it is possible that Jean feels some amount of resentment toward Sarah for not appreciating something that Jean (conjecture) wishes she had.
Jean doesn't want to take this out on Sarah, as it wouldn't really be fair, but at that moment in time, Sarah's lack of affection for or appreciation of her daughter is just so very obvious (offering money, expressing no curiosity or concern for how things went/where Lucy is/how she's doing), that Jean just can't really be civil about it anymore.
She may realize that she's being unfair (because it's not Sarah's fault that Jean doesn't have children, and it's kind of not really Jean's business how Sarah feels about her daughter), but she just can't help it at the moment, she's upset. And she may even storm off because she doesn't want to really take it out on Sarah, so that's why she leaves instead of talking things through with her.
This theory assumes a lot about Jean's character and life, but I think it makes sense in the main theme of the story. Everybody in the story is caught up in a grass is always greener world, or just comparing someone else's life to their own (Sarah wants Brad and vice versa, the 3 awful park women want Brad, Brad's wife wants a lawyer husband, Sarah's husband wants that Kay girl), why wouldn't Jean be doing the same?
Best theory yet.. Thank you.. I was leaning towards this over the last 8 years but there isnt a real "smoking gun" to indicate strongly... The turnabout was so fast that it really doesnt make sense.. The money was the only thing that happened so I guess it had to do with it but nothing appeared untoward about it.
shareThanks! Yeah, my theory makes the best sense to me, but it's so hard to figure out because we're used to knowing everything that a character is thinking, and in this case, it seems like the filmmakers intentionally chose (or cut scenes that clarified) the inner world of this character. They did the same when Brad's wife sees the blue nail polish (which was explained in the book, but since it wasn't explained in the movie, it hints that the filmmakers were willing to keep some things in the dark).
shareIt's been a while since I saw this movie so I could be remembering wrong, but I had a simpler interpretation of that scene. I felt like Jean (the babysitter) really had a true affection for the child, and was sort of thinking of herself as a member of the family (or close family friend) who was helping out in a time of need because she cared for the child and the family, and when Sara offered her cash repeatedly and seemed impatient to get her out of the house without wanting to know anything about her daughter's wellbeing, it communicated to her that really Sara thought of her daughter as an obligation, something that she had to take care of but had no feeling for. And that she assumed Jean had the same feeling--that she was watching the child to earn money, not because she cared. And that offended and shocked her.
Like I said, though, I could certainly be remembering wrong. I think I'll go back and re-watch this film.
I've always wondered this too. And I agree-- I always thought it was as simple as the money offering. There's a lot that's in that scene, like you said. Jean loves Lucy-- so the offer of money was a huge slap in the face especially since Jean has genuine affection for Lucy. But the other interpretation sounds very plausible too.
shareThis makes the most sense. The grass is greener analogy hits it I think. But I hadn't really realized Sarah's lack of concern for Lucy during her absence until you pointed it out. Being offended over money didn't make sense to me but when you add in Lucy and the fact that sarah views her as an inconvenience, that makes perfect sense that the money would offend Jean.
shareI have not read the book, so I apologize if some or all of this has been explained. I think Jean fully knew about the affair...or at least knew a lot more than Sarah thought. She knew it was none of her business, so she never said anything...but when he was offered money, she was insulted as it felt like "extramarital affair blood money." The clue I got is when they are walking, and Sarah made the comment that she thought Madame Bovary was too "intellectual" for lowly book club.
^^^ This. Seemed clear as bell to me.
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Every person that served can be called a veteran, but not every veteran can be called a Marine.
I agree with this as well, I rewatched that very scene. Another little hint is that she says she laid her daughter down in Kate's bed (and not the obvious choice of the child's own bed); something that the two lovers did while having their rendezvouses. I was under the impression that her child had told Jean just as much as Brad's child had told his own mother; e.g. enough for her to put the pieces together.
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Call them ISIL. Isis is an overloaded term that has many other legitimate uses.
Who knows what Lucy's been telling Jean. They had plenty of time to bond. I've got two daughters and when they were at that age they just loved to talk to adults about their adventures. Many times I've had to excuse them for being so open-hearted, even blunt. Sometimes they would speak of family matters with cashiers and people waiting for the bus. Brad and his son had become a great part of Lucy's life and no doubt she wanted to share that joy with someone. Sarah going away, her talking about rebellion at the book club and information from Lucy. I think Jean put two and two together, simple as that.
shareI dunno, maybe she was insulted and felt vexed that Sarah offering her money made her caring for Lucy seem like a business transactions.
Or maybe she saw that Lucy was yearning for her mom's attention and that Sarah was not there to provide that because when Sarah asks her, "Is everything alright?" Jean responds, "Yes, she's a WONDERFUL girl." Almost as if she feels Sarah is not giving Lucy enough attention. Who knows?
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My take is different.
I got the impression that the audience was meant to see that Jean realized that Sarah was having an affair.
I say this only because of where the scene was placed, and what followed.
I think that's why the scene was where it was.
That's a good point too. Jean seemed to ask Sarah about visiting her old roommate like she didn't necessarily buy it. I definitely do think Jean resents (rightfully) that Sarah is such an emotionally absentee mom.
shareAs far as in the film (I have not read the book), I think Jean was superficially pleasant when Sarah came back, not necessarily warm to her. She already was sensing Sarah being distant to her own child.
It's Sarah's whole demeanor. Jean saw when Sarah came in she wasn't itching to see her little girl. Then right after the payment attempt, Sarah asks if there were any calls while she was gone that weekend, and Jean answers there weren't and "it was very quiet." I took that to mean Sarah didn't even bother to call to check on her own daughter, and Jean was bothered by that too.
Preceding that was the money thing which seemed to be just one more sign of Sarah's disinterest. While she meant it to be a kind gesture, Jean may have taken it like, "this woman cares so little about her own child, she tries to throw money at me, as if no one could enjoy her child genuinely, unless getting something out of it." If you watch Jean before the payment attempt, she's definitely sensing and resenting Sarah's disinterest.
Jean probably talked to Lucy about her mom hanging out all the time with Brad,
share