The Hunt For Red October is one of my all-time favorite movies because there are so many terrific lines that translate perfectly into everyday conversations. Like when your flight gets cancelled, it’s hilarious to say, “I would have like to have seen Montana,” regardless of where you were going. Or with the quiet confidence of James Earl Jones (playing the powerful Admiral James Greer) you can silently take out your wallet, flash your cards, pay for a business lunch and say, “And I was never here.”
But I’d have to say my favorite line is when Jack Ryan (played by a seasick and nervous Alec Baldwin) is communicating with The Red October and Captain Ramius (played famously by none other than 007 himself, Sean Connery) replies to Ryan’s dictated morse code message by responding with, “One ping only,” as in yes, we plan to defect. It’s a pivotal moment in the film and very exciting but serious too. But this line can be funny on the golf course… “What club are you using on this shot, Jen?” One Ping only. This line works well for cocktails… “Can I get you another drink, Jen?” One ping only tonight, Tony. “How many bags are you checking today, Miss?” One ping only, thanks. It’s just great.
Nailing the perfect comeback or clapback or words befitting a particular situation is extremely satisfying to me, especially since sometimes I’m caught off guard and I George Costanza my reply– freeze in the moment and then think of skatey eight things I could have said about an hour after the window for the genius response has closed. I love the last line of Erin Brockovich when Ed Masry says to Erin, “Do they teach beauty queens how to apologize? ‘Cause you suck at it.” It’s such a snappy comeback for him (she antagonized him with the same taunt earlier in the film about lawyers not knowing how to apologize) and you can tell by his slightly dancy twerk that he just enjoys the hell out of delivering that line! It is truly poetic justice and leaves her speechless and the audience laughing.
I always find office politics to be a bit of a conundrum. I’m a very direct person so I’m amazed when I witness carefully choreographed corporate double speak– something I happen to suck at! I remember not that long ago that a colleague I worked with happily transferred to another division of the company. Another co-worker who was not a big fan of the transferee offered sarcastic congratulations in the ironically acceptable form of, “I just heard! This is such great news! How soon do you leave?” Ha!
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