Double "Don't Know": Difference between revisions
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{{trope}} |
{{trope}} |
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{{quote|"I don't know -- I don't know what more we could have done to try to win this election." |
{{quote|"I don't know -- I don't know what more we could have done to try to win this election." |
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|John McCain's Concession Speech, Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Phoenix, November 4, 2008 }} |
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{{quote|'''Interviewer''': How do you think your fans will react [now that you're returning to playing golf after being treated for sex addiction]? |
{{quote|'''Interviewer''': How do you think your fans will react [now that you're returning to playing golf after being treated for sex addiction]? |
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'''Tiger Woods''': I don't know. I don't know. |
'''Tiger Woods''': I don't know. I don't know. |
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|Interview, March 22, 2010}} |
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An ubiquitous utterance in film, television, and the legitimate theatre, signifying that the protagonist is (dramatically) out of ideas. For real, this time. |
An ubiquitous utterance in film, television, and the legitimate theatre, signifying that the protagonist is (dramatically) out of ideas. For real, this time. |
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'''[[Very Special Episode|After School Specials]]''' |
'''[[Very Special Episode|After School Specials]]''' |
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{{quote|Concerned Parent: |
{{quote|'''Concerned Parent:''' But what about the Mid-Winter Sophomore Diversity Dance Social? |
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Troubled Teen: |
'''Troubled Teen:''' I don't know anymore... I just don't know! |
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(runs away, slamming any doors in her path) }} |
(runs away, slamming any doors in her path) }} |
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'''Sci-Fi''' |
'''Sci-Fi''' |
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{{quote|Guy At Console: |
{{quote|'''Guy At Console:''' The ship's glowy core thing is bright red and leaking smoke for some reason! And stuff is shaking -- that means this is serious, captain. What should we do?" |
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Captain: |
'''Captain:''' I don't know, Console Guy. I don't know." |
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(close-up of pulsating space-gas blob on the view screen) }} |
(close-up of pulsating space-gas blob on the view screen) }} |
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The Double Don't Know is closely related to [[One-Liner, Name. One-Liner.]] - simple, repetitive phrases used to provide closure to a scene or plot, including but not limited to: "I do, Billy. I really do," or, "It sure is, Billy. It sure is." etc. This variation is mostly a [[Dead Horse Trope]], though the namesake phrase(s) linger on. |
The '''Double "Don't Know"''' is closely related to [[One-Liner, Name. One-Liner.]] - simple, repetitive phrases used to provide closure to a scene or plot, including but not limited to: "I do, Billy. I really do," or, "It sure is, Billy. It sure is." etc. This variation is mostly a [[Dead Horse Trope]], though the namesake phrase(s) linger on. |
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The |
The Double "Don't Know" is a [[Stock Phrase]]. It has nothing to do with "what now?" cliffhangers that don't feature repetitive statements akin to those described above. It's also unrelated to Donald Rumsfeld's [[Memetic Mutation|famous]] [[Didn't See That Coming|Unknown Unknowns]] - "the things we don't know we don't know". |
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* Played straight - as so many things were - in ''[[I Was a Teenage Werewolf]]''. |
* Played straight - as so many things were - in ''[[I Was a Teenage Werewolf]]''. |
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* ''[[Top Gun]]'', as the classic '80s cliche storm, features it, though in a slightly different way than might be expected. |
* ''[[Top Gun]]'', as the classic '80s cliche storm, features it, though in a slightly different way than might be expected. |
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* [[The Terminator]]: When Kyle and Sarah are on the run from the Terminator, she asks him if he can stop it. |
* [[The Terminator]]: When Kyle and Sarah are on the run from the Terminator, she asks him if he can stop it. |
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{{quote|'''Sarah''': Can you stop it? |
{{quote|'''Sarah''': Can you stop it? |
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'''Reese''': '''I dunno'''. With these weapons, '''I dunno'''. }} |
'''Reese''': '''I dunno'''. With these weapons, '''I dunno'''. }}{{context|reason=How is this an example of the trope as written?}} |
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* In the ''[[Dirty Harry]]'' series film [[The Enforcer]], one of the terrorists wants to know something: |
* In the ''[[Dirty Harry]]'' series film [[The Enforcer]], one of the terrorists wants to know something: |
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{{quote|'''Bobby''': Did Wanda deliver the [Ransom Note] tape to the cops? |
{{quote|'''Bobby''': Did Wanda deliver the [Ransom Note] tape to the cops? |
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'''Lalo''': I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. I wasn't with her. }} |
'''Lalo''': I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. I wasn't with her. }} |
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{{quote|'''[[The Muppet Show|Statler]]''': Can you think of anything that would make that last show something other than completely worthless? |
{{quote|'''[[The Muppet Show|Statler]]''': Can you think of anything that would make that last show something other than completely worthless? |
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'''[[The Stinger|Waldorf]]''': I don't know, Statler, I just don't know! |
'''[[The Stinger|Waldorf]]''': I don't know, Statler, I just don't know! |
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'''[[Those Two Guys|Both]]''': [[Memetic Mutation|Do-ho-ho-ho-hoh!]] }} |
'''[[Those Two Guys|Both]]''': [[Memetic Mutation|Do-ho-ho-ho-hoh!]] }} |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:Stock Phrases]] |
[[Category:Stock Phrases]] |
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Latest revision as of 15:07, 17 May 2021
An ubiquitous utterance in film, television, and the legitimate theatre, signifying that the protagonist is (dramatically) out of ideas. For real, this time.
"I don't know -- I don't know what more we could have done to try to win this election." —John McCain's Concession Speech, Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Phoenix, November 4, 2008
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Whereas in Real Life, most of us are content to say "I don't know" once, if at all, fictional characters are likely to repeat the phrase for dramatic effect. It's a common act break, being almost magnetically attracted to music stings and commercial breaks.
Although there are several variations of the Double Don't Know, there are a few particularly common breeds. Samples, with context:
Concerned Parent: But what about the Mid-Winter Sophomore Diversity Dance Social? |
Sci-Fi
The Double "Don't Know" is closely related to One-Liner, Name. One-Liner. - simple, repetitive phrases used to provide closure to a scene or plot, including but not limited to: "I do, Billy. I really do," or, "It sure is, Billy. It sure is." etc. This variation is mostly a Dead Horse Trope, though the namesake phrase(s) linger on.
The Double "Don't Know" is a Stock Phrase. It has nothing to do with "what now?" cliffhangers that don't feature repetitive statements akin to those described above. It's also unrelated to Donald Rumsfeld's famous Unknown Unknowns - "the things we don't know we don't know".
Film
- Played straight - as so many things were - in I Was a Teenage Werewolf.
- Top Gun, as the classic '80s cliche storm, features it, though in a slightly different way than might be expected.
Viper: Would you wanna fly with him? |
- In Ghostbusters, after being fired from the University:
- The Terminator: When Kyle and Sarah are on the run from the Terminator, she asks him if he can stop it.
Sarah: Can you stop it? |
[context?]
- In the Dirty Harry series film The Enforcer, one of the terrorists wants to know something:
Bobby: Did Wanda deliver the [Ransom Note] tape to the cops? |
Literature
- Happened by accident in The Stand. Near the end, one character is asked the reason for all of what happened. He says, "I don't know," then pauses. Stephen King spent a good month trying to come up with an answer, couldn't, and had him repeat himself.
Live-Action TV
- A sample exchange from Star Trek: The Next Generation ("The Battle"):
Beverly: You had no choice. |
- Spoofed in the "Killer Sheep" sketch on Monty Python's Flying Circus by having a scientist ramble "I just don't know. I really just don't know. I'm afraid I really just don't know," and so on.
- In the comedy TV show Corner Gas, the theme song goes, in part: "I don't know, the same things you don't know. I don't know, I just don't know."
Western Animation
- From the Jonny Quest episode "The Robot Spy":
Jonny: What is it, Dad? |
Statler: Can you think of anything that would make that last show something other than completely worthless? |