Working Girl poster
Working Girl

Picking Nits

White wedding clothes; office secrecy; broken-leg recovery; Katharine’s vacation; Mick’s affair and proposal.

In the discussion (17)
Approx. transcript time · 01:44:31Read transcript
  • Tess wearing white to the wedding is criticized.
  • Nobody questioning Tess’s repeated use of Katharine’s office is criticized.
  • Katharine’s rapid recovery from a severe broken leg is challenged.
  • Whether Katharine would be fired for stealing the idea is debated.
  • Katharine vacationing soon after transfer is challenged.
  • A previously planned vacation and perhaps ten days or a couple of weeks on the job are offered as explanations.
  • Katharine expecting a proposal but traveling without Jack is challenged.
  • She knew many people at the resort, knew the hotel operator, and had enough money to take the trip anyway.
  • Alec Baldwin having sex with Doreen in Tess’s bed is challenged as implausibly brazen.
  • His Motor Trend reading and birthday lingerie gift are cited as signs he might cheat; adultery is also framed as more culturally tolerated in the period.
  • Mick proposing publicly only days later is challenged.
  • Tess answering “maybe” is defended as fair and as a good movie scene.
  • The friends encouraging Tess to accept despite knowing about the affair is challenged.
  • Period gender norms and a boys-will-be-boys attitude are offered as explanations for the friends’ response.
  • Mick’s boat-loan business is questioned.
  • High-school coach is proposed as an alternate job, then rejected because he should not be near students.
  • Used-car salesman is proposed as a better-fitting job.