MovieChat Forums > Working Girl (1988) Discussion > Tess going through Katherine's stuff...

Tess going through Katherine's stuff...


Did anyone else find it creepy that Tess was hanging out in Katherine's house, putting on her makeup and perfume, listening to her tapes and going through her stuff? And she was doing all that before she knew about any shady business on Katherine's end. That was so icky to me, regardless of whatever else went on.


Dick, I am VERY disappointed.

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Yes, it was not right of her to do that.. Behavior like that is too curious and almost stalker like like she wanted to BE Katherine instead of Tess. Even before she knew the truth... Tess had her own issues.

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I think she wanted to be LIKE Katherine, not actually be her. Katherine didn't have any trouble looking through someone else's things either when Tess left her notebook on Katherine's bed.

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good point, Polaris...

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Absolutely, what she did was wrong, too. However, being nosy and opening someone's notebook that they left in your house is not even remotely the same thing as going through someone's HOME and wearing their makeup and perfume as well as rifling through private work and tapes and who knows whatever else she did. :-/

Again, Katherine is obviously the villain and I'm not arguing that but I'm just saying that Tess's bahavior is creepy.


Dick, I am VERY disappointed.

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Her name is Katharine. And she wanted Tess to check her home and computer because Katharine was stuck in Germany with a broken leg. Using her makeup and perfume was not "icky." It all played out perfectly. You guys are nuts.



"I will not go down in history as the greatest mass-murderer since Adolf Hitler!" - Merkin Muffley

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Holy hell--sorry for the one letter being incorrect in a name with a non-traditional spelling. It's not like I said her name is Ralph or something. Please be sure to check the rest of the board for this same [edit: egregious*] error. It is a very big deal.

To me, what she did was ICKY. I suppose you would have no qualms about someone using your personal items (especially makeup--that is just gross) and going through your stuff like that without permission and you would be happy to do so to someone else and if so then good for you. :-)

Of course it played out perfectly--it's a movie! That doesn't mean that the means it took for it to play out are perfectly okay with all people. I like this movie a lot, I just found that behavior odd and wish they found some other way for her to discover the information.


Dick, I am VERY disappointed.

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Using someone else's makeup is icky.

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Ralph!!! That cracked me up!


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I just want to eat in a quiet corner away from these bozos.

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[deleted]

It was very creepy and there didn't seem to be any hesitation at all.

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I didn't think it was all that creepy. First of all, Katherine asked her to check in on things and gave her the access code. Second, I saw it more of Tess studying Katherine's mannerisms, etc. as a way to help her land the job she wanted, etc.

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I am formerly known as HillieBoliday....Member since May 2006

EXACTLY! Tess wanted to be like Katherine, she was studying Katherine simply because she exhibited self confidence, a sort of sophisticated style, good breeding; and after all Jack (a good catch) was Katherine's man before Tess came along.

Tess, of course, was not in an economical position to wear the kind of clothes and live the lifestyle that Katherine was living, sampling her luxurious fragrances, etc., and I would've probably done the same thing had I been in her position (with the exception of wearing her lingerie, etc.) LOL!


As to the use of the word 'ICKY' by a previous poster. I would maybe use the word disturbing, unsettling even sneaky; but NOT 'ICKY'. This is a word I would equate to maybe getting pancake syrup all over my hands! Such a juvenile word to describe a situation transpiring between two adult females! Just MHO.

"OOhhhooo....I'M GON' TELL MAMA!"

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Jesus Christ, are you serious? I'm pretty sure my use of the word "icky" is totally appropriate here as we are talking about makeup being used on faces and lips without the other person's knowledge. It's not syrup but still...ick. Sorry if it seems juvenile to you. Pretend I wrote "gross" or "disgusting" if it makes you feel better. And congratulations on your humble superiority in terms of what words are acceptable to describe adult behavior. :-)


"Why couldn't the monkey arrange this from INSIDE the garbage can?"

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I am formerly known as HillieBoliday....Member since May 2006

Touche! It really wasn't my intention to offend you....and I do apologize.

It was just how I felt...no harm intended. I'll take the congratulations....but I do not think I am superior to anyone on this board....just my way of expressing myself.

Have a great Sunday, and I love the Name of Jesus Christ!

"OOhhhooo....I'M GON' TELL MAMA!"

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The thing is Katherine tells her to house sit, remember? She is in a hospital and won't be back for several weeks. So Tess is just there for that. She thought also that Katherine was a good boss so she wouldn't mind putting on the makeup and perfume, since it was better than what she had anyway. As to the tape listening, it was to make her learn how to talk like Katherine so she could get ahead. When she hears Katherine stealing her idea, she checks the computer and realizes that Katherine is a fraud so she then gets her revenge by wearing Katherine's clothes to pretend to be an important person.

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Of course I remember. But telling someone to check in on their home is not the same thing as telling someone to use her makeup and personal items. I don't understand why people don't see a difference. It's bothersome to know that so many people see nothing wrong with that kind of thing and all I can take from that is that everyone here is claiming that they would be totally comfortable with a work associate coming into their home and going through every single drawer and personal items--even where hygeine is involved--and using them and so on without their permission and that they would also do it themselves. I guess I'm one of the few who would not do that myself and would not want someone else doing it to me. *shrug*


"Why couldn't the monkey arrange this from INSIDE the garbage can?"

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all I can take from that is that everyone here is claiming that they would be totally comfortable with a work associate coming into their home and going through every single drawer and personal items--even where hygeine is involved--
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I doubt that's what everyone is saying. I suspect they're just recognizing it as a very human behavior. Especially in the case of a subordinate who is fascinated by her superior's high fashion taste. Tess is still young, human, and has some learning to do.

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i'd just have stuck to drinking her champagne.


🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴

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It was wrong for sure!

But Tess being a young, middle class woman who was suddenly in a rich, luxurious place, could not help herself from indulging in all the things she was missing in her own life! The clothes, perfumes, cosmetics! These are things she most likely had never experienced before and I think most women would have done the same in her situation! Even Cyn sits there using her cosmetics when Tess is looking for an outfit to wear. As I said, wrong for sure, but I can see why she did it!
Plus she was in Katherine's world and Tess really admired and respected Katherine so a part of her wanted to be her and using her things was like she WAS her!

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Listening to her tapes was invasive and a little weird. But she mainly did it to copy the accent. Which i think is reasonable. And she wore her clothes, makeup and perfume because they were nicer than anything Tess owned. Tess wanted to feel classy and put together the way Katherine was. So i don't think it was creepy. The motivation wasn't creepy. She wanted to be the type of person Katherine was, and the quickest way to do that was to use her things. It wasn't a Single White Female thing

"Ich lüge" is German for "I'm lying".

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I don't think it was so creepy. They were probably bonding in some odd way (not as friends really) which broke down some formality barriers.

I think Tess was just curious and intrigued by all the fancy stuff and the lifestyle.

Imagine the President (assume America) goes on a trip somewhere and says hey you, house sit the White House for a few weeks while I'm gone; giving you complete private access to the whole building.

I'm sure you as well as I would be snooping through everything. Checking out all the antiques, artwork, and looking for those secret passages!

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