MovieChat Forums > Austenland (2013) Discussion > Part of the twist I did not understand

Part of the twist I did not understand

posted 10 years ago by nnenok
10 replies | jump to latest

There was a part in the speech of Mrs. Wattlesbrook in the end (when she is getting the feedback from Jane) that I did not fully understand, probably due to not being a native English speaker. I do have the transcript from the subtitles, so I hope some of you can help me. It's this part:

Jane: Martin's a servant.

Mrs. Wattlesbrook: Well, you've seen my servants. I had to take him out just for a little while because things were steaming up. But I had every confidence that he could woo you back. And your timing was very fortunate. Most of the ladies just get a litter of kittens. The foal is the showstopper.

Jane: The foal?

So, as far as I understand, Mrs. Wattlesbrook tells Jane that Martin was not a servant because her servants are not as charming and hot as Martin is. And that he used to be a part of the "main cast" but she removed them because they were fighting. But then I get lost - he could woo her back to where? What was her timing fortunate for? What is a litter of kittens, does she mean it literally or is a wordplay of some sorts? And what does the sentence "The foal is the showstopper" mean?

Thanks for the help!

[–] tanjareen-1 10 years ago

I just watched it and this part made me wonder too.
Even though I do not exactly understand what she means with 'You've seen my servants' (maybe: 'They're not bad at all as you've seen' - Like in the arrival scene?? Where they are kind of gushing over the male servants while the female ones aren't really perceived as pretty? I have no idea).

But I think I can clear up the rest:
The 'steamy' part was referring to how close Jane got with Martin (steamy = hot, intimate), so that's why he acted all jealous and 'broke up' with Jane - because Mrs. Whatshername told him to.
But he 'wooed her back' later when she was actually looking for something real and didn't realize that Henry was the one being honest.

The kittens were part of the script of the servant-romance I guess. So they usually arrange for some kittens to be born - likely getting a pregnant cat on purpose so that Martin and the client can share some sort of special moment and bond over it. The 'showstopper' was an actual horse giving birth because it's a way bigger deal and kind of a conincidence I guess (timing) Generally a 'showstopper' is something remarkable or outstanding...literally so good that it stops a show for a moment of awe.

I'm not a native English speaker either but I hope I could help ;)

'you took something perfect and painted it red'

[–] nnenok 10 years ago

Oh, okay, I get all the kitten-horses references now, that makes sense, thank you!

But why did she have to take him out when things started getting "steamy"? Especially since he was scripted for her anyway? Was it the problem that they connected too fast or did they wanted to spice it up and make some more drama (for a more Austen-like experience)?

[–] tanjareen-1 10 years ago

You're very welcome :)

Since she said something about 'no touching' in the beginning I'm guessing that them making out and stuff was crossing a line and too steamy for her taste.

'you took something perfect and painted it red'

[–] 8tangerines 9 years ago

"Showstopper" is a term from live theater, but it gets used to refer to non-theatrical things that are exceptional and special. I saw a showstopper once, in a performance of the musical The Wiz when the original cast was touring: the Wiz sang a solo, and he was so amazingly good that the whole audience jumped to its feet and kept clapping and cheering until the actor had to break character and bow to the audience so they would sit down and let the show proceed. I was just a child but I remember it well.

[–] Adler-99 8 years ago

The foal birth was a definite setup, and only slightly less fake than all the fake birds planted around the estate. Note there was no other blood, placenta, etc. in the stall. The mare didn't even look pregnant to begin with.

[–] iwasmefirst 10 years ago

I had a different understanding of this conversation nnenok

"you've seen my servants"

Mrs W picks her servants as they're all attractive. They're all actors, even though most have small background roles. It was Martin who implied it's just the men in the house who are the actors.

I had to take him out for a little while because things were steaming up

Things were steaming up between Martin and Jane. On their picnic for example they were rolling around on the ground kissing. If things had been allowed to progress it could have gotten further and technically there shouldn't be any 'inappropriate touching' between the actors and the guests. Mrs W could probably even be accused of running a prostitition service if the ladies paying for a romantic experience were sleeping with the actors.

I had every confidence he could woo you back

Despite splitting them up Mrs W wants her guests to get their happy ending, he believed that Martin could get Jane to forgive him for their break up on the last night so that it ends on a good note.

And your timing was very fortunate. Most of the ladies just get a litter of kittens. The foal is the showstopper

A litter of kittens is just a group of baby cats born at the same time. A mother cat gives birth to a litter.
Usually the women coming to Austenland who get the Martin storyline get to see him deliver kittens. Jane timed it well so that she was there when a baby horse was being born instead. It just means she was very lucky that she was there when the foal was being born, as it's better to see this being born that the regular kittens.

"Its time, to quote the vernacular, to Rock and Roll!"

[–] harveythepooka 10 years ago

My interpretation of what she said.

Well, you've seen my servants.

He is too sexy to be a servant.

I had to take him out just for a little while because things were steaming up.

The copper package promised a bit of romance, but Wattlesbrook isn't a pimp. The kissing was too much and so she had to cool off the relationship.

And your timing was very fortunate. Most of the ladies just get a litter of kittens. The foal is the showstopper.

Martin usually had kittens in the barn to use to impress the ladies, like guys who use their dogs to try to pick up chicks. Jane was lucky she was there when the foal was born because that was "a showstopper."

[–] TopFlight 10 years ago

I think the "lucky" part really just meant they fortunately had a foal young enough to pass for a newborn (to someone who doesn't know horses) on hand to pull off the fake birth scene.

[–] TopFlight 10 years ago

I'm pretty sure that the "birth of the foal" is supposed to be fake. Note that Martin sends Jane to get straw as soon as he says the mare is going to give birth, and that as soon as she gets back (about 40 seconds later, I think) the foal has been born and is ready to stand up (and does, without being shaky)! Horses foal quickly, but not that quickly! She sees absolutely nothing of the "birth." Even the "blood" is pretty obviously fake - I believe the filmmakers intended the audience to realize this was fake, if not immediately, certainly by the end of the film.

[–] vasq6876 10 years ago

Yes, that's the way I see it, Wattlesbrook had to separate Jane and Martin because the big moment was supposed to take place during the ball, and they were getting too hot and heavy.

She picks all her servants specifically. All the men are supposed to be attractive actors and all the women are older frumpier looking women so they won't be competition. This was made clear when they walked in and you saw all the servants lined up.

I too believe the foal was a setup. There is no way the horse would give birth that quickly, and the fact that she didn't actually see it being born is what tipped me off that Martin was being set up with Jane. She was also conveniently excluded from the higher end events when it was convenient for her to be with Martin.

I actually think Mrs. Wattlesbrook was running a pretty nice service there. It gave the women there exactly what they wanted.

I'm so ugly...that's ok 'cause so are you.