Doubletalk is a 1975 short film (9 minutes) directed by Alan Beattie.
In this short film a young man named David shows up at his friend Karen's house to take her out on a date. He is surprised to arrive at her family home and discover that it is an enormous mansion. After a few minutes making awkward small talk with her parents, David and Karen leave.
The hook to this film is that throughout its entire length we hear the inner thoughts of all the characters. While they are babbling inane pleasantries at each other, audible voiceovers reveal their much more candid thoughts.
Tropes:
- Answer Cut: David thinks the little statue on the end table is very ugly, and in inner monologue wonders "Who buys stuff like this?" Cut to Mr. Peterson walking into the room.
- Ask a Stupid Question...: Mrs. Peterson greets David at the door wearing a tennis outfit. When he asks "You play tennis?" as he flails around for small talk, her inner monologue says "No, I bake bread in this outfit."
- I Need a Freaking Drink: Just a few seconds of chit-chat with the young man who wants to have sex with his daughter leads Mr. Peterson to think "I need a drink."
- Inner Monologue: The inner thoughts of all the characters are revealed. Mr. Peterson knows full well that David wants sex with his daughter.
- Minimalist Cast: Four parts.
- Our Nudity Is Different: An irritated Mr. Peterson takes a look at Karen's outfit, bell bottoms and a halter top, with her navel visible, and thinks "She's practically naked."
- Real Time: There are no time skips, but rather nine intensely uncomfortable minutes as a young man makes awkward small talk with his date's parents.
- Straw Vegetarian: A throwaway joke. The mother casts a skeptical glance at David and then decides that he's "still better than the vegetarian or the basketball player."
- Talk About the Weather: David in his inner monologue seizes on this as a safe topic, and babbles about the heat wave for a little bit.
- Uptown Girl: Mr. and Mrs. Peterson aren't impressed to hear that David's parents run a laundromat; they peg him as being of a lower social status than their daughter.
