Original artwork, not a still
No. No, Mother, I have not been drinking. No. No. These two men, they poured a whole bottle of bourbon into me. No, they didn’t give me a chaser.
— North by Northwest ‧ 1959
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The speaker denies to their mother that they have been drinking by the ordinary route, insisting instead that two men forced a full bottle of bourbon into them, with no chaser. The tone is flustered and defensive, piling up denials while explaining the state they are in.
Context reviewed
