St Jeromes, Melbourne.

Photo: Nat Ma 2008

Swingers - Talking to the answering machine

There is this hilarious scene in Swingers where Mike rings Nikki - the girl he met earlier that night. Not listening to his friends and waiting the token 3 days - he completely screws up any chance of seeing this girl. The scene makes me laugh because we've all been there with the premature or one too many phone calls which make us seem too eager. Its just one of those things in life where going against what feels right will actually work better in the end. I'll let the script do the talking:

Mike collapses into his futon and lights a smoke.

Beat.

He pulls out the COCKTAIL NAPKIN.  He stares at the number.

He looks at the clock.  2:20 AM.

He looks at the napkin.

He thinks better of it, and puts the napkin away.

Beat.

He takes out the napkin and picks up the phone.

   ANSWERING MACHINE
  (synthesized voice)
 Don't do it, Mike.

   MIKE
 Shut up.

He dials.

It rings twice, then...

   NIKKI
  (recorded)
 Hi.  This is Nikki.  Leave a message.
  (beep)

   MIKE
 Hi, Nikki.  This is Mike.  I met you
 tonight at the Dresden.  I, uh, just
 called to say I, uh, I'm really glad we
 met and you should give me a call.  So
 call me tomorrow, or , like, in two days,
 whatever.  My number is 213-555-4679...
  (beep)

Mike hangs up.

Beat.

He dials again.

   NIKKI
  (recorded)
 Hi.  This is Nikki.  Leave a message.
  (beep)

   MIKE
 Hi, Nikki.  This is Mike, again.  I just
 called because it sounded like your
 machine might've cut me off before I gave
 you my number, and also to say sorry for
 calling so late, but you were still there
 when I left the Dresden, so I knew I'd
 get your machine.  Anyway, my number
 is...
  (beep)

Mike calls back right away.

   NIKKI
  (recorded)
 Hi.  This is Nikki.  Leave a message.
  (beep)

   MIKE
 213-555-4679.  That's all.  I just wanted
 to leave my number.  I don't want you to
 think I'm weird, or desperate or
 something...
  (he regrets saying it
  immediately)
 ... I mean, you know, we should just
 hang out.  That's it.  No expectations.
 Just, you know,  hang out.  Bye.
  (beep)

He hangs up.

Beat.

He dials.

   NIKKI
  (recorded)
 Hi.  This is Nikki. Leaves a message.
  (beep)

   MIKE
 I just got out of a six-year
 relationship.  Okay?  That should help to
 explain why I'm acting so weird.  It's
 not you.  It's me.  I just wanted to say
 that.  Sorry.
  (pause)
 This is Mike.
  (beep)

He dials again.  There's no turning back.

   NIKKI
  (recorded)
 Hi.  This is Nikki.  Leave a message.
  (beep)

   MIKE
 Hi, Nikki.  This is Mike again. Could you
 just call me when you get in?  I'll be up
 for awhile, and I'd just rather talk to
 you in person instead of trying to
 squeeze it all...
  (beep)

He dials yet again.

   NIKKI
  (recorded)
 Hi.  This is Nikki.  Leave a message.
  (beep)

   MIKE
 Hi, Nikki.  Mike.  I don't think this is
 working out.  I think you're great, but
 maybe we should just take some time off
 from each other.  It's not you, really.
 It's me.  It's only been six months...

   NIKKI
  (Live, in person.  she picks
  up the line)
 Mike?

   MIKE
 Nikki!  Great!  Did you just walk in, or
 were you listening all along?

   NIKKI
  (calmly)
 Don't call me ever again.

   MIKE
 Wow, I guess you were home...
  (click)

She hung up on him.

He's frozen.

He hangs up.