Proudfoot brings her to Jerry’s place of work. She speaks to Jerry twice to determine whether the car driven by her suspects was taken from the dealership. These conversations are masterclasses in characterisation and performance. Marge is chasing down her clues, and steadily, calmly, and methodically piecing together a picture of the situation. Jerry, on the other hand, is increasingly aware of the net closing in. This causes him to behave in the highly recognisable manner of a Man Who Resents Answering Questions About His Own Actions.

The sense of emasculation is an important element here. Jerry responds to questions with anger, because he simply wants people to let him get away with it. He wants people to allow him ‘a win,’ because he feels he deserves it. He is operating from a position of as...

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