You Shouldn't Have

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A Stock Phrase uttered by characters who have just received a gift or other pleasant surprise, generally said as an attempt to appear humble. There are usually four forms:

Type A: Played straight. Someone receives a gift and answers "You shouldn't have." May invite the response that "It was nothing."

Type B: The "I didn't" subversion. The person spoken to responds that the gift either isn't from them or isn't for the person who said "You shouldn't have."

Type C: The "You Really Shouldn't Have" subversion. The person speaking didn't like the gift and was trying to say that the person shouldn't have gotten it. Typically upon hearing "It was nothing" or some other variation, the speaker will clarify "No, you REALLY shouldn't have." (This variation could very well be the result of a Convenience Store Gift Shopping trip.)

Type D: It's meant as a sarcastic or mocking quip rather than a sincere comment.

If the giver is Literal-Minded, he may respond by taking the gift away, at which point hilarity will ensue. This is especially true of Type A.

Examples of You Shouldn't Have include:


Film

Ava Gardner: Oh, a box of trash! You shouldn't have.

  • The Game. Conrad gives his brother Nicholas a birthday present he'll never forget.

Conrad: This is for you.
Nicholas: You shouldn't have.

  • Enter the Dragon. Tania has a selection of women for Mr. Williams to choose from.

Tania: Mr. Williams. Mr. Williams!
Williams: For me? [Tania nods] You shouldn't have.

Bob Bigalow: Raspberry Bibingka! Ah, you shouldn't have.

Anna Bronski: All these flowers on a lieutenant's pay, you shouldn't have.
Lieutenant Andre Sobinski: That's OK. My father is a florist.

  • If You Could See What I Hear

Will Sly: He was saving his money to buy a Braille Bible, but instead, he insisted on buying you these! [presents a handful of roses]
Mrs. Buxton: [stunned] Oh! The O'Brien Red! But these are so expensive! You shouldn't have.

Little Joe: [seeing a birthday cake] Aww, you shouldn't have.
French pea: [whispering to his brother] Finally, we agree on something.

Ebenezer: A present? For me? Ah, you shouldn't have.

Xerxes: (sess a wedding cake) You shouldn't have. It looks tasty. Why don't bring over a piece?

Live Action TV

  • In one episode of Hannah Montana, Robby Ray comes home with a new car, which Jackson assumes is for him:

Jackson: Aw dad, you shouldn't have.
Robby: I didn't. My lease was up so I thought "Hey what the heck?"

Zack: Mr Moseby, you shouldn't have.
Moseby: I didn't. It's a birthday check from your parents.

Joyce Barnaby: I bought you a new jar of this. [shows him a jar of Plummer's Relish]
Tom Barnaby: Oh, thank you. But you shouldn't have bothered.
Joyce Barnaby: I thought it was your favourite.
Tom Barnaby: Well, it was, but it isn't any more. I think they changed the recipe. [he bins it]

Red Time Force Ranger: [after Jen bakes him some cookies] But you shouldn't have. [to the other Rangers] Hey, you guys want some?
Green Time Force Ranger: Oh, no. That's okay.
Red Time Force Ranger: [Takes a bite of a cookie. Spits it out] You REALLY shouldn't have!

Owen Harper: [a bag of grapes is thrown onto the table near his hospital bed] You shouldn't have. No, really, you shouldn't. I hate grapes.

  • True Blood episode "Hitting the Ground". Sookie has Bill wrapped in a tarp.

Debbie Pelt: You shouldn't have. Vampire burrito for me?

Ross: [receiving his Christmas gift] You got me a cola drink.
Chandler: And a Lemon Lime.
Ross: You shouldn't have. I feel like I should get you another sweater.

  • ER episode "Welcome Back Carter!"

Carter: [Gives Ross a small idol statue]
Ross: Carter, you shouldn't have.

Ruth Evershed: You're all flustered.
Harry Pearce: Yes, well, that happens sometimes... such as when a group of armed thugs kidnap eight of the wealthiest and most politically powerful men on the planet.
Ruth Evershed: And on my first day back, too. Harry, you shouldn't have.
Harry Pearce: What? Either that or a basket of muffins.

The Cat: Yeah, well, I've brought you some presents!
Lister: Aw, you shouldn't have bothered.

Nick Harper: [positions package on table] OK. All right, Dad. Look.
Ben: Well, Nick, that's, that's so... um, uh, aw! You shouldn't have. That's, that's really...
Nick Harper: It's well wrapped, isn't it?
Ben: Yes. Yes, it's well wrapped. Yes. You didn't have to buy me a good luck present.
Nick Harper: I didn't.
Ben: Nick's wrapped the salt-celler. [as part of an art project]

Dr. Forrester: Frank, I... I can't wait. I want you to open your gift now.
Frank: Great idea, Pete! As a matter of fact uh, I picked you up a little something myself.
Dr. Forrester: Uh... For me? You shouldn't have.

Makepeace: Present. [hands Dempsey a book]
Dempsey: Oh, you shouldn't have.
Makepeace: You're going to do some, eh, quick cramming on the antique business.


Music

Man: Britney, before you go, there's something I want you to have.
Britney: Oh, it's beautiful. But wait a minute, isn't this...?
Man: Yeah, yes it is.
Britney: But I thought the old lady dropped it into the ocean in the end.
Man: Well baby, I went down and got it for you.
Britney: Oh, you shouldn't have.


Western Animation

Pearl: [Opening present] Whee! Oh, daddy, you shouldn't have! Yay, you shouldn't have! [the present is rubber boots] I mean, Dad, you really shouldn't have!

Lois: [Hesitantly] Oh, another sword... Thank you, Peter.
Peter: Well, try it on!

Skinner: [Hands Edna Krabappel an ice cream cone]
Mrs. Krabappel: Oh Seymour, you shouldn't have. It's going to go straight to my thighs.

Jake Long: Ball, ball, ball-egg!
Rose: [as Thorn the Huntsgirl] An egg? For me? You shouldn't have. But I'll take it anyway.

Wednesday: [brings a gift for her brother Pugsley]
Pugsley Addams: An ankle-shackle! For me? You shouldn't have!

Grimsby: May I take this occasion to present our esteemed Prince Eric with a very special, very expensive, very large birthday present.
Eric: Heh, Grimsby, you old bean-ball, you shouldn't have!
Grimsby: Yes, I know. [The gift then turns out to be a rather disturbing heroic statue of Eric himself; the prince is nonplussed.]

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