Inferencing of Meaning (15-21)

15. An interesting dynamic characterizes Basil and Sybil’s marriage. It is up and down with their nagging at each other but whatever happens, they would never leave each other. The hotel is run in a similar manner; business may be up and down but regardless they will persevere through the tough times. Basil’s character is clearly reflected when he realizes that Mr. Abbott is a doctor. Initially, Basil acts as if Mr. Abbott should be treated like royalty, with the upmost respect. However, in his discussion with Sybil on the doctor’s occupation, he changes dramatically and reveals a negative opinion about the kind of doctor that Mr. Abbott is. This change in attitude reflects Basil’s character in a negative way. The expression, “you never get it right, do you” is Sybil’s way of saying that Basil always lets her down as both an hotelier and a husband. Basil makes assumptions and blows things out of proportion while Sybil expresses her disappointment but acts as if this were a common occurrence and brushes it aside.
16. A possible script in which an hotelier gropes a female hotel guest could occur when Basil admires Raylene’s chest, and while reaching for the charm, touches her chest rather than the charm. In such an instance, Basil could have presented his deliberate disrespect as an accident. In the actual script, however, Basil clearly did not intend on “groping” Raylene’s chest. His actions were purely innocent; he was merely “providing a service to a guest” when he went to Raylene’s room to fix her light. Basil did not plan for anything to happen with Raylene. That said, the bus boy, instead of Basil himself, could still have easily brought Raylene to her room. Thus, in Sybil’s eyes, Basil’s accidental contact with Raylene’s chest did not look innocent at all.
17. Short maintains that inference is the “understanding of all human behaviour, linguistic or non-linguistic [...] based on the different sorts of assumption” (Short 238). Regarding her husband Basil, Sybil has formed many assumptions. Disgusted by his actions, she describes him as “pathetic”. Thus Sybil’s script in relation to Basil is quite one-sided. While Basil may try to justify his actions, her inferences would prevent her from even listening to what Basil had to say.
18. Sybil’s mistaken script involves Basil’s trying to get involved with Raylene. Though her script and assumptions are mistaken, they are reinforced by Basil’s actions. For example, when Basil thought Raylene was the “mysterious” girl in Mr. Johnson’s room, he grabbed her from behind. However, Sybil perceived this as Basil trying to fondle Raylene yet again. Likewise, when Basil accidentally hid in Raylene’s room when Sybil went to apologize, Basil again looked like he was in Raylene’s room for other reasons.
19. This schema would possibly fit into Basil’s schema of not wanting guests of the opposite sex in other guests’ rooms. Furthermore, when he observed how his wife was so interested in Mr. Johnson, Basil developed a mistaken schema in his mind that Sybil might try and pay Mr. Johnson a visit in his room after dark. Therefore, Basil developed this “schema” to fit with his mistaken beliefs and assumptions.
20. Basil’s frame assumptions would include hearing Mr. Johnson and a female laughing and talking when he walked by their room. In trying to figure out if his assumptions are correct, he knocked on the door and inquired directly of Mr. Johnson if there were someone in the room with him. Basil also personally delivered a bottle of champagne to Mr. Johnson with only one glass because he was trying to catch Mr. Johnson out in a lie. Basil’s script assumptions involve seeing Mr. Johnson sneaking a lady into his room and thinking that they will be drinking champagne and spending the night together. Basil also assumed that Mr. Johnson would try to sneak the lady out in the morning.
21. When Dr. Abbott witnessed Basil hopping about with his jacket over his head, he quipped that he was “on a holiday.” Clearly, Dr. Abbott interpreted Basil’s actions as those of a person requiring psychiatric services. His declaration that he was on a holiday implied that he was unwilling to help Basil figure out his problems.