Scenes like this one show that connective tissue between screwball comedy and film noir. It’s banter. It’s flirtatious. But there’s a harder edge.
I could generalize it as screwball comedy is when neither side wants to admit there’s an attraction, but it ends up that love is the thing they want the most. Film noir is where there’s an obvious attraction but at least one side wants something else more than the relationship.
I have a deep appreciation for the aggressive use of subtext here. It dances around the real subject in a way that’s both obvious and offers deniability. And the way it extends the metaphor to the breaking point? Chef’s kiss.
This Builds Character 