PROVOCATIVE - Vivian is an unrefined Beverly Hills “working girl.” As our scene from the movie Pretty Woman opens, she is looking for an outfit to wear on her evening date with the uber-wealthy businessman Edward Lewis. Vivian walks into a high-end boutique on Beverly Hills’ famous but very expensive Rodeo Drive wearing her normal but PROVOCATIVE working clothes – a cutoff top, miniskirt, and thigh-high black boots. As expected, Vivian’s PROVOCATIVE appearance elicits a strong reaction. Let’s take a look:
SUPERCILIOUS – The boutique’s SUPERCILIOUS or arrogant salesclerks are appalled by Vivian’s PROVOCATIVE appearance. They rudely dismiss Vivian telling her that the clothing in their store is “very expensive.” They refuse to help her and bluntly order Vivian to leave the store.
INDISPENSABLE – But wait! The story is not over. Deeply hurt by her humiliating experience, Vivian reluctantly returns to Rodeo Drive with Edward. As they enter an expensive store, Edward explains, “Stores are never nice to people. They are nice to credit cards.” He is right. On materialistic Rodeo Drive, a credit card is an INDISPENSIBLE or absolutely necessary passport to courteous service.
EXORBITANT – The EXORBITANT or outrageously expensive prices in the store do not faze Edward. He calmly instructs the store manager to devote special attention to Vivian and that his fully expects to spend an “obscene” amount of money. No problem! The manager and his staff happily lavish attention on Vivian. Within a short time, a massive luxury makeover transforms Vivian into an elegant “pretty woman.”
You can see this scene by clicking on this link:
EGREGIOUS – Buoyed by a new confidence, Vivian returns to the original boutique where the SUPERCILIOUS salesclerks humiliated her. Dressed in a sophisticated chic white dress and black hat, Vivian is carrying an armful of expensive shopping bags. Vivan approaches the saleswomen who had dismissed her and asks, “Do you remember me??” When the clerk responds, “No, I’m sorry,” Vivian reminds her, “I was in here yesterday. You wouldn’t wait on me. You work on commission, right? Big mistake, Big. Huge! I have to go shopping now.” Vivian is right. The clerk has made an EGREGIOUS or very costly error by prejudging a person based upon outward appearance.
PROVOCATIVE – an action or appearance that elicits a strong response
SUPERCILIOUS – arrogant; haughty
INDISPENSABLE – necessary; absolutely essential
EXORBITANT – a price that is unreasonably high; very expensive
EGREGIOUS – exceptionally bad
BONUS POINT: Roy Orbison wrote the song “Pretty Woman” for his wife. Released in 1964, the song became a huge success. Unfortunately, Orbison passed away in 1988, two years before the movie “Pretty Woman” became a box office hit.