George and Lynne are having coffee with an elderly lady called Dora. She tells them both that she is too old for romance and actually prefers a good book. Lynne agrees that she feels the same way sometimes. George is surprised and needs this last comment confirmed. Lynne proclaims that she meant a good cheque book thus implying that she likes to spend money. George is even more surprised, yells Yikes and spills his coffee.Initially we don't know who this older woman is, but later we learn that it is Lynne's Aunt Dora. On which side of Lynne's parents she is related to, we don't know, but Lynne has put on a nice dress so it would appear that they don't see her that often. One thing we do know however is that Aunt Dora owns the smallest coffee cups in the world. It is assumed that they are enjoying an espresso. Perhaps Aunt Dora recently bought a coffee machine, or received it as a gift and decided that it makes such good espressos that she just had to invite her niece Lynne and her charming husband George over for coffee. But these cups are tiny. The one Lynne is holding is no bigger than a thimble and Aunt Dora's doesn't seem to even have a handle, which makes me think it is a thimble.
Lynne implies she likes to spend money, and more specifically other people's money. Due to her living in the late 70s/early 80s she still has to use a cheque book, as there are only two types of credit cards in existence, those being Diner's Club and Access (Your Flexible Friend) and it's very hard to get hold of them, and not many shops actually accepting them.
George is surprised twice in this conversation. The first comes when he needs confirmation that Lynne prefers a good book to romance. He has only ever seen Lynne read once in their entire marriage and that was some trashy romance novel with print so large a mole could read it. He basically thinks she's stupid, but maybe that's why he loves her. The second time George is surprised he must think that Lynne has been spending his money without him knowing it. George is deep in debt and has not told Lynne yet. Those weekends away cost money you know, and George is having trouble meeting payments. He is so surprised he spills his coffee. What with the cups being so small he has probably spilt his entire cup on that favourite blue sweater (something a little smarter for Aunt Dora please, George). That's the only coffee he'll be getting and when that coffee gets on the sofa Aunt Dora is not going to be happy. In that mood she won't be firing up that new espresso machine for him.
Not so charming now George.
Perhaps Auntie Dora's coffee is strong and disgusting. George, preferring his much weaker and with milk and sugar, has simply feigned surprise and thrown it over his shoulder in order to avoid having to drink the thick brown muck. Lynne, whose hands are not visible in the last frame, has taken the opportunity to tip hers on to the carpet. If it's the 1970s, the obligatory garish & brown coloured carpet will hide the stain well.
ReplyDeleteIn the 70's people are not used to drinking espresso, not even from a demitasse. George quite rightly throws the evil brew away.
ReplyDeletePoor Aunt Dora has the dementia. She thinks her dear neice, Lynne, is still just a school girl. If Lynne were to tell her that she has a keen and mature interest in sex and has, in fact, become something of an exhibitionist, it would simply confuse old Auntie. This also explains why they are drinking out of thimbles and doll paraphenalia. Aunt Dora thinks she is having tea with her little neice and Salman Rushdie.
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