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dialogue that amuses

This is from an old movie, I would guess few people could place it:

Smythe: That's puttering, sir.
Stew: No! Well well well! That's all right if you like it. Can anybody do that?
Smythe: Oh no, sir. Some people are natural putterers. Others can never master it.

There are a few reasons this dialogue works for me personally. First, I am a natural born putterer. My family will point out this behavior, not to me, but to each other ('mum's in a putter' sez the husband in his native accent).

From a writer's perspective, I like this dialogue because

...it's witty in a way that adds to characterization (you'll have to take my word on that, unless you want to find the movie and study the entire scene in context), and canaafrica.org this resource

(this is a pet theory of mine) it points out a truth that is seldom made concrete by means of a dash of the absurd.

February 7, 2004 10:40 PM