The viral U.S. Open drink clip is more than meets the eye

A moment from the U.S. Open is going viral on Wednesday for the amount of drama and intrigue packed into a five second clip. It’s the story of a man, two drinks, and a woman — with nobody really knowing what’s going on.

The framing and pacing on this seem to tell a story. On first glance it appears he’s getting a drink for the woman next to him, only to have a dude behind them swoop in and hand it over first. If that’s what happened then it’s a soul crushing moment of being one-upped, a heartbreaking tale of unrequited love. This version of events at least appears to be what everyone is running with.

We think there’s more to this, and dammit if I’m not going to pour over these five seconds like the Zapruder film to explain what I think was happening in this moment.

I don’t subscribe for a second that the woman next to him is his wife or girlfriend. The body language and gaze between them is all off. In fact, I think the drink-receiving woman is either a friend or family member.

The person we actually need to pay attention to is the woman on the far right of the frame who appears to gesture and talk to the man, and whom he has eye contact with as he returns to his seat. It’s clear at the 5 second mark that the man barely pays any mind to the drink being handed off next to him.

Here’s how this went down in my eyes:

1. Man goes to get drinks for himself and his significant other after the first set
2. While he was gone a drink vendor went around, and she ordered herself a drink
3. Man returns with two drinks and is mystified what happened

See THIS is why she’s gesturing to herself with the left hand as if to say “I just got one,” while he quizzically looks at her. It has nothing to do with the woman next to him at all. Also, keep in mind that the woman in between them at no point makes eye contact with the older man, and instead immediately looks up to make eye contact with back row man while saying “thank you.”

She expected this drink from above. At no point was there an expectation or agreement that the older man was to buy her a drink. This could have easily been two couples who couldn’t get four seats next to each other, and their awkward spacing was to ensure close couple proximity in a T-shaped configuration.

So, as we see here the general idea is that one couple were separated by a seat, which tracks as the older couple — while the younger couple are sitting front and back. I do believe everyone in this scenario knows each other based on their body language, but I don’t believe for a second that the man who brings the drink is being rejected.

Justice for everyone involved. I think this moment is totally innocent and fine.