This is probably my favourite scene in the Austin Powers movies.
Austin has emerged from being frozen, had a pee, and goes to collect his belongings from the counter. The trouble is, there is something there he may not want to admit he owns…
With Elizabeth Hurley’s character as ‘audience’ to the conversation, the tension is high.
Here it comes…
CLERK – OK, Austin Danger Powers: One blue crushed-velvet suit. One frilly lace cravat. One gold medallion with peace symbol. One pair of Italian shoes. One pair of tie-dyed socks, purple. One vinyl recording album: Tom Jones, Live at Las Vegas. One Swedish-made penis enlarger pump.
AUSTIN – (embarrassed) That’s not mine.
CLERK – (reading) One credit card receipt for Swedish-made penis enlarger pump, signed Austin Powers.
AUSTIN – I’m telling you, baby, that’s not mine.
CLERK – (reading) One warranty card for Swedish-made penis enlarger pump, filled out by Austin Powers.
AUSTIN – I don’t even know what this is. This sort of thing ain’t my bag, baby.
CLERK – (reading) One book: Swedish-Made Penis Enlarger Pumps and Me: This Sort of Thing Is My Bag, Baby, by Austin Powers.
The clerk shows the book to Austin, who is humiliated.
AUSTIN – OK, OK man, don’t get heavy, I’ll sign. Just to get things moving, baby.
The ‘Swedish Penis Enlarger’ has been turned into a ‘concept’, and attached to an existing concept of ‘denial’. When this happens we have a new shorthand, so to speak, whereby a scenario that happens ‘in real life’ can be understood better by connecting it back to this original scene.
There are Swedish Penis Enlargers everywhere, we just need to be ready to pull them out the bag.
