The Narrator

 

Guy A:  “Did you hear that?”

 

Guy B: “Hear what?”

 

Narrator: There was a sudden cracking noise similar to that produced when a foot is pressed down on a fallen twig.

 

Guy A: “That!”

 

Guy B: “What was that?”

 

Guy A: “I don’t know.”

 

Guy B: “It sounded like a foot being pressed down on a fallen twig.”

 

Guy A: “That was exactly what I was thinking.”

 

Narrator: “Same here.”

 

Guy B: “Who are you?”

 

Narrator: “The narrator.”

 

Guy A: “The who?”

 

Narrator: “Narrator. I am the one who narrates your story for the readers.”

 

Guy B: “Well what are you doing in the story?”

 

Narrator: “It is not fun being the narrator. You don’t get any of the fame. No one ever remembers the narrator.”

 

Guy A: “If you hate being a narrator so much why don’t you quit?”

 

Narrator: “I can’t. My wife would never let me. She says I have to have a job with a steady salary. Think of the kids she says.”

 

Guy A: “If you don’t want to be a narrator, what do you want to be?”

 

Narrator: “A squirrel.”

 

Guy A: “Excuse me?”

 

Narrator: “A squirrel.”

 

Guy B: “It sounds like you are saying a squirrel.”

 

Narrator: “I am.”

 

Guy A: “Why would you want to be a squirrel?”

 

Narrator: “They are majestic creatures. Running from tree to tree in search of nuts for the winter…”

 

Guy B:  “Yes but there is a slight problem with you being a squirrel.”

 

Narrator: “What’s that?”

 

Guy B: “You are a human.”

 

Narrator: “So?”

 

Guy A: “You kind of lack the necessary attributes to be a squirrel.”

 

Narrator: “I don’t understand.”

 

Guy A: “Well, humans don’t have the same tree-climbing ability of a squirrel.”

 

Narrator: “I could learn.”

 

Guy A:  “Yes I suppose you could.”

 

Guy B: “Okay what about your lack of a bushy tale?”

 

Narrator “I can grow one.”

 

Guy B: “Grow one?”

 

Narrator: “Yes.”

 

Guy A: “You can’t grow a tail.”

 

Narrator: “Why not?”

 

Guy A: “It is physically impossible.”

 

Narrator “They said the same thing about the man who wanted to grow an elephant trunk.”

 

Guy B: “And he couldn’t.”

 

Narrator: “Yes but that is not the point.”

 

Guy A: “What is the point?”

 

Narrator: “The point is that I can grow a tale if I put my mind to it.”

 

Guy B: “That is a pretty stupid point.”

 

Narrator: “Don’t call my points stupid.”

 

Guy B: “What else should I call a point that says a man can grow a tale?”

 

Narrator: “You may disagree with me but there is no need to resort to name-calling.”

 

Guy B: “If I can’t ridicule a man who thinks he can grow a tail then I don’t know if you can ridicule anyone.”

 

Narrator: “Why would you want to ridicule someone?”

 

Guy A: “Comedy.”

 

Narrator: “Comedy?”

 

Guy A:  “Yes, making people laugh.”

 

Narrator: “Never heard of it.”

 

Guy B: “Where you from?”

 

Narrator: “Germany originally.”

 

Guy B: “That explains it.”

 

Narrator: “Explains what?”

 

Guy A: “You don’t know what comedy is. You are from Germany. Do we need to spell it out?”

 

Narrator: “You are ridiculing Germany?”

 

Guy B: “I suppose in a way.”

 

Narrator: “How do you sleep at night?”

 

Guy B: “Face down, why?”

 

Narrator: “Part of my tax form.”

 

Guy A: “Really? You still fill in your own tax form?”

 

Narrator: “Yes, don’t you?”

 

Guy A:  “No. No one does any more. You just fill in your personal details and then send the tax form to the government and they sort it out for you.”

 

Narrator: “Doesn’t that mean they can charge you pretty much any amount of tax that they want.”

 

Guy B: “Yes. But government abuse of personal freedom is a lot easier than filling it in by yourself.”

 

Narrator: “The moral of this story is this, don’t let your comedy writing team look out the window when they should be working. It leads to rushed stories that make no sense, that aren’t funny and invariably involve squirrels in some way.”

 

Guy A: “That was pretty good; I don’t know why you would want to give up narrating.”

 

Two Guys And A Tall Building.

 There was a man sitting on the ledge of a tall building.

 

Man: I’m going to jump! Don’t try to stop me!

 

Guy: Go ahead.

 

Man: Excuse me?

 

Guy: I said go ahead.

 

Man: Shouldn’t you be trying to stop me from jumping?

 

Guy: No, you’re thinking of the other guy. I’m here to encourage you to jump.

 

Man: What?

 

Guy: You know how there is a good angel and a bad angel?

 

Man: Yeah.

 

Guy: Well there is a guy who stops people from jumping and there is a guy who encourages them.

 

Man: And you encourage them?

 

Guy: Yep.

 

Man: Why?

 

Guy: It’s God’s way of keeping the number of stockbrokers down.

 

Man: That’s a pretty stupid reason.

 

Guy: He’s a pretty stupid God.

 

Man: You can’t say that.

 

Guy: Why not?

 

Man: They’ll never let us broadcast it.

 

Guy: I don’t know the BBC is pretty liberal nowadays. They broadcast that show about giant killer arses.

 

Man: What show?

 

Guy: You know, there was an accident a nuclear power plant and several giant killer arses were created. They proceeded to terrorise the local area by sucking people up inside their rectums.

 

Man: Are you sure the BBC broadcast this show?

 

Guy: Come to think of it I might not have seen it on the telly.

 

Man: Anyway as I was saying you’ll never be allowed to say that about God.

 

Guy: Why?

 

Man: Think of the mail we’ll get.

 

Guy: We always get mail.

 

Man: Yeah but this will be from religious nuts.

 

Guy: What’s the difference between religious nuts and normal nuts?

 

Man: The religious nuts think they are doing what God tells them to do.

 

Guy: And the normal nuts?

 

Man: I’m sorry.

 

Guy: The normal nuts, who do they think is telling them what to do?

 

Man: The voices in their heads.

 

Guy: That doesn’t sound much of a difference.

 

Man: Let me put it this way, would you rather listen to, the voice in your head or God?

 

Guy: Would it be a female voice?

 

Man: Okay, I going to have to stop this sketch right now.

 

Guy: Why?

 

Man: It has gotten too silly.

 

Guy: No it hasn’t.

 

Man: What are you talking about? Killer giant arses? Calling God stupid?

 

Guy: That’s nothing. The writers next door are writing a sketch about a stealth fighter pilot being trapped in an underground cave with two of the three tenors, the people who write the Oxford English Dictionary (Hi guys, told you I could get you into one of my sketches), and a crate full of table salt, three melons and a hyperactive Irish settler.

 

Man: That’s pretty fucked up.

 

Guy: It just goes to show you silliness is all relative.

 

Man: Like intelligence.

 

Guy: Hey that reminds me. Are you coming with us to America next week?

 

Man: No, I have a doctor’s appointment.

 

Guy: Can’t you reschedule?

 

Man: Yeah but three years from today I have a dentist appointment.

 

Guy: Too bad.

 

Man: Yeah.

 

Guy: So where were we?

 

Man: You were trying to convince me to jump.

 

Guy: Oh yeah, go on its not that far. You might survive.

 

Man: Is that the best you can do?

 

Guy: Yeah sorry my heart isn’t really in it.

 

Man: Why not?

 

Guy: I got passed over for promotion last week.

 

Man: Really?

 

Guy: Yeah, you see that really tall building over there? Well they gave it to a 25-year-old. There doesn’t seem to be any room in the encouraging people to jump off building business for an old relic like me.

 

Man: Don’t say that. I’m sure you are just as good, even better, than anyone else in this business.

 

Guy: Really?

 

Man: Sure, why the hell not. What you need to do is stop feeling sorry for yourself, stand up on your feet and convince me to jump off this building.

 

Guy: You’re right.  I’m not that old. I have my whole career ahead of me. I’m going to do it.

 

Man: That’s the spirit.

 

Guy: You know your newly married wife?

 

Man: Yeah?

 

Guy: She’s having an affair.

 

Man: What?

 

Guy: With your brother and best friend.

 

Man: Those bastards.

 

Guy: And that stock you just put all your money into.

 

Man: Yeah?

 

Guy: It has collapsed. The company had been cooking the books for the past ten years.

 

Man: Oh my God.

 

Guy: And your dog was run over.

 

Man: No little poochie.

 

Guy: Yes little poochie.

 

Man: Oh God. [Starts crying]

 

Guy: There is nothing left for you here. Go ahead jump. Put yourself out of your misery. Just jump. It’s only one small step and then it’s all over.

 

Man: Just a small step?

 

Guy: Just a small step.

 

Man: It’s not like I have anything to live for.

 

Guy: Nothing.

 

Man: You’re right. I’m going to do it. Good job by the way, very convincing.

 

Guy: Thanks. If you want my advice don’t shout aagh on your way down.

 

Man: What should I shout?

 

Guy: I don’t know. Something memorable

 

Man: Memorable? Okay I got it. It has been nice talking to you.

 

Guy: You too. Good luck.

 

Man: Thank you.

 

[Man does a running jump off the building]

 

Man: I’m Gayyyyy!

 

Guy: Interesting choice.

 

[Massive thump]

 

Guy: Ouch! This job never gets any easier.

 

[Another man appears out of the roof door]

 

Guy: Hey you, have you ever thought about jumping?

 

The Mapmaker

Bob: So have you got the new map ready? 

 

Mapmaker: Just finishing it, Espquin.

 

Bob: Bob.

 

Mapmaker: Where?

 

Bob: No I’m Bob.

 

Mapmaker: I thought you were called Espquin.

 

Bob: No one is called Espquin.

 

Mapmaker: I thought there was a King of England called Espquin.

 

Bob: King Espquin?

 

Mapmaker: That’s the fellow.

 

Bob: There was no King Espquin.

 

Mapmaker: Are you sure?

 

Bob: Very.

 

Mapmaker: Maybe it was James.

 

Bob: Anyway, how’s the map?

 

Mapmaker: It’s my best ever.

 

Bob: Isn’t it your first?

 

Mapmaker: Technically yes.

 

Bob: What does that mean?

 

Mapmaker: It means yes, but makes me sound more intelligent.

 

Bob: Oh, I just pause before I answer questions to make me sound more intelligent.

 

Mapmaker: How’s that working?

 

Bob: [Pause] Fine.

 

Mapmaker: Okay I’m done. What do you think?

 

Bob: Nice, very colourful.

 

Mapmaker: Yeah, I used yellow, green, blue, purple and red.

 

Bob: All in the one country I see.

 

Mapmaker: It’s a very important country.

 

Bob: Luxembourg?

 

Mapmaker: Yep.

 

Bob: You didn’t happen to be born in Luxembourg, did you?

 

Mapmaker: How did you know that?

 

Bob: Just a hunch.

 

Mapmaker: How much do I weigh?

 

Bob: Just inside your ideal weight range.

 

Mapmaker: That’s amazing.

 

Bob: It’s a gift.

 

Mapmaker: Who gave it to you?

 

Bob: My uncle.

 

Mapmaker: What did you get him in return?

 

Bob: Pair of socks.

 

Mapmaker: Matching?

 

Bob: Yep.

 

Mapmaker: Nice.

 

Bob: I thought so.

 

Mapmaker: I dream of making enough money to buy matching socks.

 

Bob: Say it seems like you have missed out America?

 

Mapmaker: Amer-what?

 

Bob: America. You know the United States.

 

Mapmaker: Never heard of it.

 

Bob: You have never heard of the United States of America?

 

Mapmaker: Should I?

 

Bob: Depends on your point of view.

 

Mapmaker: Do you think people will miss it?

 

Bob: Probably.

 

Mapmaker: Well I best add it in. Where does it go?

 

Bob: Between Europe and Asia.

 

Mapmaker: I can’t put it there.

 

Bob: Why not?

 

Mapmaker: Look.

 

Bob: Ahh, I see your problem.

 

Mapmaker: What problem?

 

Bob: You have drawn the world flat.

 

Mapmaker: So?

 

Bob: It’s not flat.

 

Mapmaker: It’s not?

 

Bob: Nope.

 

Mapmaker: How do you know?

 

Bob: Satellite photos.

 

Mapmaker: Oh. They’re pretty accurate are they?

 

Bob: Pretty.

 

Mapmaker: No chance they made a mistake?

 

Bob: Not on the whole roundness of the Earth issue.

 

Mapmaker: So I guess I will have to change the map.

 

Bob: There is something else about the map.

 

Mapmaker: What?

 

Bob: You seem to have drawn Luxembourg surprisingly large. In fact so large that it covers most of the map.

 

Mapmaker: You mean Luxembourg isn’t that big?

 

Bob: No.

 

Mapmaker: How big is it?

 

Bob: About this big.

 

Mapmaker: That’s quite small.

 

Bob: Indeed.

 

Mapmaker: I guess I better redraw the map.

 

Bob: Can I ask you a question?

 

Mapmaker: Sure.

 

Bob: Have you ever been outside of this room?

 

Mapmaker: Of course.

 

Bob: Really?

 

Mapmaker: No.

 

Bob: You’re not really the best qualified to draw a map, are you?

 

Mapmaker: No, no I’m not.

 

Bob: Mapmaker is kind of a strange choice as a career.

 

Mapmaker: Well I never did want to be a mapmaker.

 

Bob: No?

 

Mapmaker: My father pushed me into it.

 

Bob: Was he a mapmaker?

 

Mapmaker: No, he was a lamppost. But he always wanted to be a mapmaker.

 

Bob: What did you want to be?

 

Mapmaker: Well ever since I was a kid I have always dreamt of being a lumberjack. Jumping of tree to tree in British Columbia-

 

[Lawyer enters]

 

Lawyer: Stop that!

 

Bob: Who are you?

 

Lawyer: I am a lawyer representing Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

 

Mapmaker: Oh, crap.

 

Lawyer: We have an injunction against you from performing the Lumberjack song as well as the Spanish Inquisition sketch.

 

Bob: He hasn’t performed the Spanish Inquisition sketch.

 

Lawyer: Give it time, give it time. Well, I have to go deliver some injunctions across town. Have a nice day.

 

[Lawyer exits]

 

Bob: That was strange.

 

Mapmaker: Happens all the time.

 

Bob: Really?

 

Mapmaker: Yes.

 

Bob: All the time?

 

Mapmaker: Yes.

 

Bob: That?

 

Mapmaker: Look, I didn’t expect the Spanish Inquisition.

 

Bob: He was right.

 

Mapmaker: Lawyers usually are.

 

Bob: No they’re not.

 

Mapmaker: Sorry I meant rich. Lawyers are usually rich.

 

Bob: Oh, okay.

 

Mapmaker: So you are not doing to buy my map?

 

Bob: No, sorry.

 

Mapmaker: Don’t worry I understand.

 

Bob: What are you going to do now?

 

Mapmaker: Become a drug addict.

 

Bob: Which drug?

 

Mapmaker: Probably heroin.

 

Bob: Can I suggest cocaine instead?

 

Mapmaker: No, I hate needles.

 

Bob: Well okay then, have fun with that.

 

Mapmaker: I will.

 

Author’s note: I do not nor ever will endorse the taking of illegal substances. Not even if I was offered a lucrative corporate sponsorship deal. Well, I’ll certainly look at any such deal but ultimately I’ll reject it, probably. I mean if they offered a large amount of money then I certainly would think about it. I’m not saying that money would change my mind but a lot of it probably would. Well anyway I do not endorse the use of drugs except for medical and possibly creative purposes.

 

This story has been brought to you by Cocaine UK ltd. Hmm-mm that’s good Cocaine.

Titanic

 

“I say, did you feel that?”

 

“Feel what dear?”

 

“It felt like the ship hit something.”

 

“You and your imagination.”

 

“I’ll just go up and have a look.”

 

“You do what you want dear.”

 

[Up on deck]

 

“I say, did we hit something?”

 

“That is what I came to find out.”

 

“It felt like we hit something.”

 

“What do you think it could be?”

 

“I hadn’t the faintest idea. What do ships hit nowadays?”

 

“Other ships?”

 

“I don’t see another ship?”

 

“Maybe we sank it.”

 

“Titanic is a large ship. It is certainly capable of doing that.”

 

“Yes it is a mighty fine ship.”

 

“Oh look there’s a steward let’s ask him. Hello, steward!”

 

“Yes sir?”

 

“What did we hit?”

 

“An iceberg, sir.”

 

“An iceberg?”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“I saw it with my own eyes, sir.”

 

“Well, thank you very much.”

 

“Is that all, sir?”

 

“I couldn’t get some brandy could I?”

 

“Certainly, sir?”

 

“What about you?”

 

“I could go for a spot of brandy.”

 

“Okay, two glasses of brandy.”

 

“I’ll be as quick as I can, sir.”

 

“Jolly good stewards on this ship.”

 

“Jolly good.”

 

“So, it was an iceberg not another ship.”

 

“I suppose all the ice on the deck was a clue.”

 

“Well hindsight is 20/20.”

 

“What does that mean?”

 

“I’m not entirely sure. Sounds good though.”

 

“Oh it sounds good. I was just wondering what it meant.”

 

“It probably means nothing. You know, like, raining cats and dogs.”

 

“That actually happened to my friend.”

 

“What did?”

 

“It rained cats and dogs.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes, there was an explosive at an animal shelter.”

 

“That’s certainly a turn up for the books.”

 

“Not just the books.”

 

“Well I didn’t mean the turn was limited to the books.”

 

“Oh, of course.”

 

“Say if we hit an iceberg is there any danger of us sinking?”

 

“No this is an unsinkable ship.”

 

“But isn’t that just company propaganda.”

 

“It started out as such but it was widely accepted as fact.”

 

“Does that make fact?”

 

“Pretty much.”

 

“Public opinion is powerful.”

 

“You have no idea.”

 

“I have some idea.”

 

“Well of course you have some idea. But really you have no idea.”

 

“That makes no sense.”

 

“I hardly ever do. I’m an upper-class Englishman in a Hollywood film.”

 

“Shouldn’t you be some sort of villain?”

 

“No I’m too old for that.”

 

“If you’re not the villain then what are you?”

 

“I’m the lovable, eccentric old man.”

 

“Is that you?”

 

“Yep.”

 

“Well it’s nice to meet you.”

 

“And you. What are you again?”

 

“I’m one of the English villains.”

 

“Oh, how’s that working out?”

 

“Not good, I don’t think I’m evil enough.”

 

“I suggest you act mean to someone socially below you.”

 

“That is what I have been doing.”

 

“Okay, how about acting reserved and apparently uncaring?”

 

“I haven’t tried that.”

 

“It worked well for me.”

 

“Well thanks for all your advice.”

 

“No problem.”

 

“Well if we do sink then I’ll try and hold a place for you in the lifeboats.”

 

“That’s jolly decent of you.”

 

“It’s not trouble.”

 

“It was nice acting with you.”

 

“You too.”

 

Animal Experimentation

 

“So, what have you created professor?”

 

“Giant radioactive monkeys.”

 

“Giant radioactive monkeys?”

 

“Yes, giant radioactive monkeys.”

 

“Why giant radioactive monkeys?”

 

“Well after creating a small cheese-eating pig, giant radioactive monkeys seemed the next logical step.”

 

“I see. And exactly how giant are the giant radioactive monkeys?”

 

“You know King Kong?”

 

“Not personally.”

 

“You should, nice fellow. Well imagine him having a child with a giant radioactive monkey. Are you imagining it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Horrible isn’t it?”

 

“Yep.”

 

“I mean the sheer logistics of King Kong and a giant radioactive monkey having se…”

 

“Professor!”

 

“Yes?”

 

“You seemed to have gone off on a tangent.”

 

“I have? Sorry, I do that occasionally. I start talking about giant radioactive monkeys then it moves onto King Kong having se…”

 

“Professor!”

 

“Yes?”

 

“How about answering the question?”

 

“There was a question?”

 

“Yes. It was how giant are the giant radioactive monkeys?”

 

“On a scale of giantess they are a 8. That goes up to a 9 if you count their wings.”

 

“They have wings?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“So they can fly?”

 

“Unfortunately nope.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Well you see the genetic material for the wings comes from a fruit fly.”

 

“They have fruit fly wings?”

 

“Giant radioactive fruit fly wings.”

 

“There is something that bothers we about this project Professor.”

 

“What’s that?”

 

“Why make the giant radioactive monkeys, radioactive?”

 

“How else would you make them giant?”

 

“Stretch them?”

 

“We tried that but the animal rights people were all over us.”

 

“They don’t mean you making the monkeys radioactive?”

 

“Oh they mean, it’s just that the monkeys simply eat them now.”

 

“Well, that’s lucky.”

 

“Not really.”

 

“Why?”

 

“They don’t seem to like the taste of taxmen.”

 

“That’s a pity.”

 

“I know, imagine the market for giant radioactive taxmen-eating monkeys.”

 

“Indeed. So will you be working on a future model which does eat taxmen?”

 

“No, we thought about doing that but the moral implications were considered to high.”

 

“By moral implications do you mean mass-murder?”

 

“No, I mean forcing the monkeys to eat tax-men.”

 

“Ahh…that is a moral problem.”

 

“We just couldn’t do it to the monkeys.”

 

“I understand. So what is your next project?”

 

“My next project is to create a squirrel capable of playing Beethoven’s 9th symphony.”

 

“Why the 9th?”

 

“We have found that the 9th is the easiest of the symphonies for the squirrels to play.”

 

“Are you having much luck?”

 

“Not at the moment, the squirrels seem to prefer gangster rap.”

 

“Are they any good?”

 

“The majority aren’t but one or two are showing promise. If they developed at the rate they are developing then we are hopeful we can have a single out by Christmas.”

 

“Well a gangsta rapping squirrel sounds like the material for Christmas number one. [Turns to camera] So that is it from me, Bill Ijustfarted, at the genetic experimental labs in the Liverpool Street London Underground station.”

No Title Would Do This Story Justice

“What happens when you die?”

 

“People inherit your stuff.”

 

“And spiritually?”

 

“I suppose they could inherit your religion too.”

 

“No I meant what happens to you spiritually when you’re dead?”

 

“You don’t have to go to church.”

 

“How do you know?”

 

“Well if it was heaven then there would be no need. If it were hell then there would be no reason. And if was neither heaven nor hell then there wouldn’t be a church.”

 

“But what if you were reincarnated?”

 

“I don’t see how you were killed has anything to do with it.”

 

“No, reincarnated.”

 

“Oh.”

 

“You don’t know what that means, do you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“What does it mean?”

 

“It means [insert definition].”

 

“Actually it does mean that.”

 

“I told you I knew what it meant. You have to be more trusting.”

 

“Or you could look more trustable.”

 

“How would I do that?”

 

“Buy shares in trustable limited.”

 

“At their current prices?”

 

“I have heard that the world market for trust is about to skyrocket.”

 

“Why?”

 

“An election is going to be called.”

 

“How do you know?”

 

“I’m calling it.”

 

“How can you do that?”

 

“I’m the Prime Minister.”

 

“You?”

 

“Yep.”

 

“Really?”

 

“I know, most people have a hard time accepting it.”

 

“I didn’t even know we had a Prime Minister.”

 

“It’s part of the whole constitutional monarchy thing.”

 

“We’re a constitutional monarchy?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“Since when?”

 

“Since forever.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes. Britain has had a monarchy since the dark ages, I wonder if that is a coincidence.”

 

“This is Britain?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I’m in the wrong country.”

 

“Which country should you be in?”

 

“America.”

 

“You’re American?”

 

“Yep.”

 

“What do you do?”

 

“Run the country.”

 

“You’re the Vice-President?”

 

“Nope, President.”

 

“Oh, well, I suppose that is just as good.”

 

“That is what they tell me.”

 

“What you doing here?”

 

“I got on a helicopter to go to Camp David and got out here.”

 

“Camp David is quite a long way away.”

 

“The journey did take eight hours longer than usual.”

 

“So, how do you like the country?”

 

“It’s fine except you don’t seem to speak very good English.”

 

“We are English.”

 

“Well, then you have no excuse.”

 

“I suppose we don’t.”


“I’m glad we got that sorted out.”

 

“While we are getting things sorted out, can I just say that your football doesn’t involve much foot to ball action.”

 

“So?”

 

“I’m just saying calling it football probably wasn’t the best thing.”

 

“We’re American, when do we do the best thing?”

 

“When all the alternatives have tried.”

 

“Exactly.”

 

“So, shouldn’t we be discussing what happens after you die?”

 

“Why?”

 

“Well that is the overall topic of this sketch.”

 

“Yeah but when do the writers stick to the overall topics?”

 

“When they write bad sketches.”

 

“And when they write good ones.”

 

“So pretty much every sketch.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Damn writers.”

 

“You said it.”

 

“I’m not sure if I did. I can’t tell who is speaking hard the time.”

 

“That’s the writers fault.”

 

“Why is it we always get stuck with the crappy writers?”

 

“Because we’re part of a rubbish union.”

 

“I knew the whole no dues thing was too good to be true.”

 

“I think we should organise our own union and then go on strike for better writers.”

 

“That’s a good idea. We should start right now.”

 

“Okay.”

 

“We need a slogan, though.”

 

“Yes, we do.”

 

“Hmm…how about what do we want? Better writing! What are we doing to get it? Start striking!”

 

“That’s good but a bit complex.”

 

“How about, we’re here! We’re queer! We want lots more beer!”

 

“That’s perfect.”

 

“Well, what are we waiting for?”

 

[Both of them] “We’re here! We’re queer! We want lots more beer!

 

The Meaning of Life

“Hey, do you know the meaning of life?”

 

“Not at the moment.”

 

“What does that mean?”

 

“Well, I did know the meaning of life but I forgot it.”

 

“You forgot it?”

 

“Yep.”

 

“That must have been annoying it.”

 

“Not really.”

 

“You forgot the meaning of life and you’re not annoyed?”

 

“Nope.”

 

“Why?”

 

“I figured that I will remember it again.”

 

“How did you figure that?”

 

“I can’t remember.”

 

“You hadn’t got much of a memory have you?”

 

“I have a great memory but I don’t really the useless stuff.”

 

“The meaning of life is useless?”

 

“Yep.”

 

“What do you consider useful?”

 

“Something like where did I put my car keys.”

 

“I suppose that is useful to know.”

 

“What day of the week it is.”

 

“That’s important.”

 

“What the 25th letter of the alphabet is.”

 

“Yeah, we can’t live without the letter y.”

 

“You see what I mean?”

 

“Yeah I do.”

 

“I mean what good is it to know the meaning of life? It is like knowing the score of a football match before you watch the game.”

 

“I suppose it would be nice to know why we are here.”

 

“Why?”

 

“It can give meaning to our lives.”

 

“No, it will make you aware of the meaning of your life.”

 

“What’s the difference?”

 

“Let me put it this way, what is the point of living if you know the meaning of life?”

 

“Cheese.”

 

“Exactly, humour.”

 

“So you are saying the meaning of life is humour?”

 

“No I am saying that if you know the meaning of life then the reason to live is humour.”

 

“But that doesn’t make any sense.”

 

“Does it have too?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Why?”

 

“If it doesn’t make sense then it is just nonsense.”

 

“And nonsense is funny.”

 

“Only if you are English.”

 

“Who cares about anyone who isn’t English?”

 

“Those who aren’t English?”

 

“Yes but if you are not English then your opinion doesn’t matter.”

 

“That is bizarre logic.”

 

“But it is logic.”

 

“I suppose, in a way.”

 

“And it is rational to do what is logical.”

 

“Yes it is.”

 

“So it is rational to consider the non-English are non relevance to the meaning of life.”

 

“I suppose.”

 

“Therefore the meaning of life must be, in some way, to do with being English.”

 

“Uh-huh.”

 

“The question that must then be asked is what is special about the English?”

 

“Yorkshire Puddings.”

 

“That is just Yorkshire.”

 

“Oh yeah, but that are very nice.”

 

“Indeed. Not the ready-made ones they sell in the supermarkets though.”

 

“Oh, of course not them. I’m talking about home-made ones.”

 

“Okay I agree with you then.”

 

“Humour.”

 

“Exactly. English humour is unique.”

 

“Like this.”

 

“This isn’t humour.”

 

“I thought it was humour.”

 

“Does it look like humour?”

 

“Well part of it made me laugh.”

 

“Yes but you are English.”

 

“So this is only funny to the English?”

 

“Not all the English, just the funny ones.”

 

“Isn’t that encouraging people to say and think this is funny so that they consider themselves and others consider them to be funny?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“So this might not be funny at all?”

 

“What is funny?”

 

“A guy getting hit in the groin.”

 

“Indeed. So if that is funny and humour is the meaning of life…”

 

“That means that the meaning of life is laughing at a guy getting hit in the groin.”

 

“See, working out the meaning of life isn’t that hard.”

 

“So you forgot that?”

 

“Forgot what?”

 

“Forgot that the meaning of life was watching a guy get hit in the groin?”

 

“Oh no.”

 

“I thought you said you did.”

 

“No, the last time I worked out the meaning of life it wasn’t that.”

 

“There is more than one meanings of life?”

 

“Nope.”

 

“I’m confused.”

 

“It is fairly simple. I don’t know the meaning of life, no one does. This whole conversation wasn’t about working out the meaning of life but was a satire on people’s desire to know the meaning of life.”

 

“A satire?”

 

“Yes, the conversation is random, chaotic and simply ridiculous. Just like the search for the meaning of life.”

 

“So basically this whole conversation is an attempt to make fun of the search for the meaning of life by showing how stupid such a search is.”

 

“Yep.”

 

“So you don’t actually know the meaning of life?”

 

“I told you. I forgot it.”

 

“Oh yeah. That’s a pity, it would have been nice to know.”

 

Not There Is Anything Wrong With That

 

Steve: Dave! How you been?

 

Dave: Fine, fine, you?

 

Steve: Never better, we just got some very good news.

 

Dave: Really?

 

Steve: Mary is pregnant.

 

Dave: Well, congratulations.

 

Steve: Thanks. In fact, we have organised a kind of impromptu party to celebrate. You’re welcome to join us.

 

Dave: Thanks.

 

[Steve and Dave enter dining room]

 

Dave: Hi Jane.

 

Jane: Hi.

 

Mary [to Steve]: Did you tell him?

 

Dave: He did and congratulations.

 

Mary: Thank you.

 

Jane: Have you thought about a name yet?

 

Mary: A name? God, that hadn’t even occurred to me.

 

Steve: Well, I have some suggestions.

 

Mary: You do?

 

Steve: I was thinking Steve Jr.

 

[Dave laughs]

Dave: Steve Jr.?

 

Steve: Yeah, what’s wrong with Steve Jr.?

 

Mary: We are not naming my child Steve Jr.!

 

Steve: Okay, how about Charles.

 

Jane: That’s a little posh, isn’t it?

 

Mary: What about Abigail?

 

Steve: That’s a girl’s name.

 

Mary: It could be a girl.

 

Jane: There is a 50/50 chance.

 

Dave: Slightly more than that.

 

Steve: It’s not going to be a girl.

 

Mary: Sure, dear.

 

Jane: How about Maura?

 

Steve: It’s not going to be a girl!

 

Jane: I was only saying.

 

Steve: It is going to be a boy. Only suggest boy’s names.

 

Mary: Okay, Thomas?

 

Steve: Thomas? As in the tank engine?

 

Mary: As in Thomas Jefferson.

 

Steve: Yeah but everyone is going to think we named our son after a talking train.

 

Mary: Fine, forget Thomas.

 

Jane: William?

 

Steve: Bill?

 

Jane: No, William.

 

Steve: Bill Clinton.

 

Jane: Okay forget about William.

 

Mary: What about you Dave? Got any suggestions?

 

Dave: How about Hank.

 

Jane: Hank? Who names a kid Hank?

 

Dave: My brother is called Hank.

 

Steve: Your brother is called Hank?

 

Dave: Yeah. Why?

 

Steve: I thought only Americans were called Hank.

 

[Pause]

 

Steve: Dave?

 

Dave: All right! My brother is American.

 

[Everyone gasps]

 

Jane: American?

 

Dave: Yes.

 

Steve: Are you…are you…American?

 

Dave: Uh-huh.

 

[Everyone gasps again]

 

Mary: We had no idea.

 

Dave: Well, I don’t go around advertising the fact.

 

Steve: I thought you were born in Cambridge.

 

Dave: Cambridge, Massachusetts.

 

Jane: I can’t believe you are American.

 

Dave: I’m still the same me.

 

Mary: Yeah…yeah, of course you are.

 

Jane: Yeah…of course.

 

Dave: Steve?

 

Steve: What?

 

Dave: You okay with this?

 

Steve:…err…yeah

 

Mary: It’s just that it is a bit of shock.

 

Steve: Yeah…a shock.

 

Dave: I wanted to tell you earlier but there was never a good time.

 

Jane: I wouldn’t have thought there would ever be a good time to tell someone you are American.

 

Mary: Yes, it was very brave of you to tell us. Wasn’t it dear?

 

Steve: What? Oh, yes…brave.

 

Dave: Thanks Mary. It’s not easy being…an American.

 

Jane: I suppose not everyone is okay with it?

 

Dave: No, not everyone.

 

Mary: Even in this day and age?

 

Dave: Well, it’s getting better but some people just hate you.

 

Jane: Simply because you are American?

 

Dave: Yeah.

 

Mary: People are right bastards.

 

Dave: It’s not their fault. It just the same old prejudices that have been handed down generation after generation.

 

Jane: I can’t believe you are defending them.

 

Dave: I have found that when faced with hatred the worst thing you can do hate back.

 

Mary: I don’t know if I could do that.

 

[Dave goes over to Steve who has moved to a corner of the room]

 

Dave: You okay?

 

Steve: I’m fine…fine.

 

Dave: This won’t change a thing.

 

Steve: No, no…of course not. Well, at least I can now say that one of my friends is American.

 

Dave: Yes, yes you can.

Gaining My Religion

“I believe in a vengeful God.”

 

“Why is that?”

 

“God created humans, didn’t he?”

 

“God also created dung-beetles.”

 

“He has a sense of humour.”

 

“I suppose that would explain the platypus.”

 

“So, do you want to join my religion?”

 

“What would I have to do?”

 

“Nothing.”

 

“No sort of church service?”

 

“Nope, I figured God is everywhere and so you can worship him anywhere you want and at anytime you want.”

 

“How do you worship?”

 

“You don’t.”

 

“You don’t worship?”

 

“I figured that God is like this really powerful thing and so doesn’t need us lowly humans saying how great he is.”

 

“What about prayers?”

 

“Useless, God can’t interfere with the universe.”

 

“It’s not much of a religion, is it?”

 

“He’s not much of a God.”

 

“In fact the only thing separating your religion from atheism is a belief in God.”

 

“To be honest I am considering phasing out that belief.”

 

“So it’s not really a religion at all.”

 

“It must be. It ends in ism.”

 

“Not all isms are religions.”

 

“Yeah they are it’s just we don’t call them all religions. Think about it.”

 

“Do I have too?”

 

“Not if you join my religion.”

 

“Okay I’ll give it a go. Where do I sign?”

 

“Nowhere. We don’t believe in signatures.”

 

“That’s a little unusual.”

 

“You have to have a gimmick.”

 

“Yes, yes you do.”

The Garden of Eden

“Was that you or me?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Who just spoke you or me?”

 

“Shouldn’t you know that?”

 

“I get confused as to which one of us is speaking.”

 

“It is not hard, we talk alternatively.”

 

“Oh, okay. That is fairly simple.”

 

“You would think so.”

 

“So anyway, what was this book you were telling me about?”

 

“The Bible.”

 

“Is it any good?”

 

“It’s okay.”

 

“What kind of book is it?”

 

“I’m not sure.”

 

“You must know. Is it a whodunit? I love whodunits.”

 

“It tells you who did it so it mustn’t be a whodunit.”

 

“Well, who did it?”

 

“Won’t that spoil it for you?”

 

“Probably but I don’t know if I will read the Bible.”

 

“Oh, okay. A character called God did it.”

 

“God?”

 

“Yep.”

 

“First or last name?”

 

“Doesn’t say.”

 

“Probably last name.”

 

“Why?”

 

“I can imagine a Mr. God. Hello Mr. God, nice weather Mr. God, how are the children Mr. God?”

 

“It could be a nickname.”

 

“Who has God as a nickname?”

 

“This guy.”

 

“It’s definitely not a nickname.”

 

“How are you so sure?”

 

“If it was a nickname then it would be Goddy.”

 

“I suppose it would.”

 

“So what does God do?”

 

“Creates the world.”

 

“This world?”

 

“Yep.”

 

“That was nice of him.”

 

“That is what I thought.”

 

“Did he go anything else?”

 

“He created human beings.”

 

“Maybe he wasn’t so nice.”

 

“Well wait until what you hear he did to them.”

 

“What did he do?”

 

“He put them in a garden of Paradise where they could do whatever they wanted except eat apples from a particular tree.”

 

“They weren’t allowed to eat apples?”

 

“Nope.”

 

“Why?”

 

“It doesn’t say.”

 

“That sounds very mean.”

 

“I know, these apples sound very tasty.”

 

“Fancy saying you are not allowed to eat apples.”

 

“Weird, isn’t it?”

 

“So then what happened?”

 

“The humans ate the apples.”

 

“Good for them. What did this God chap do?”

 

“Kicked them out.”

 

“What?”

 

“Yep, kicked right out.”

 

“Just for eating the apples?”

 

“Yep.”

 

“Didn’t they get a second chance?”

 

“Nope.”

 

“What about due process of law?”

 

“Nope.”

 

“He didn’t give them due process of law?”

 

“Nope.”

 

“That is immoral.”

 

“I know.”

 

“How can you not give them due process of law? Who does this guy think he is?”

 

“Apparently he thinks he is all-powerful.”

 

“All-powerful?”

 

“And all-seeing.”

 

“Sounds like this guy has a big ego.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“I would never live in a place that didn’t have due process of law.”

 

“Not even Paradise.”

 

“It wouldn’t be Paradise without it.”

 

“I suppose.”

 

“You suppose? That is one of the fundamental rights of humanity. We fought for thousands of years to get that right. People have given up their lives so that aren’t abused by the tyranny of governments refusing to give its citizens due process of law.”

 

“You feel very passionate about due process of law.”

 

“It is a freedom and I feel very passionate about freedom.”

 

“Sounds like you wouldn’t much like this God chap.”

 

“I tell you if he was real I would have some very strong words for him.”

Son of God

Joseph: Hey Mary.

 

Mary: Hi. How was your day?

 

J: The usual. One guy wanted a barn but I had to tell me that we don’t do barns.

 

M: When are you going to get the government license for barn building?

 

J: I haven’t a clue, you know governments.

 

M: Yeah.

 

J: Why?

 

M: Well, Joseph, I have something to talk you.

 

J: What is it?

 

M: I suppose I better just say it…I’m pregnant.

 

J: Pregnant?

 

M: Yes.

 

J: How is that possible?

 

M: Didn’t your mother tell you about the birds and the bees?

 

J: Yes she did but…well, we haven’t had sex.

 

M: So?

 

J: Sex is how you make babies.

 

M: It is?

 

J: Yes.

 

M: I thought it was the stork.

 

J: No, that idea hasn’t been invented yet.

 

M: Oh.

 

J: Anyway only children bought up on Disney believe that.

 

M: Disney?

 

J: Doesn’t matter. So are you sure you’re pregnant?

 

M: Yes. The doctor confirmed it.

 

J: NHS?

 

M: No, private.

 

J: Oh, then it must be true. Wait, if you’re pregnant and we haven’t had sex…okay who is he?

 

M: Who?

 

J: The guy you have been sleeping with?

 

M: I haven’t been sleeping with anyone.

 

J: What sort of an idiot do you think I am?

 

M: I don’t think you’re an idiot

 

J: You have obviously been sleeping with someone, who is it?

 

M: I haven’t slept with anyone!

 

J: Listen, Mary, it is a simple equation. Male plus female plus sex equals a child. There is no other way that the equation works.

 

M: There is.

 

J: There is what?

 

M: Another way.

 

J: I’m sorry, what?

 

M: There is another way to have a child.

 

J: Are you being serious?

 

M: Completely.

 

J: Are you telling me you are pregnant without having sex?

 

M: Yes.

 

J: How the hell would that work?

 

M: God.

 

J: More like oh my God.

 

M: No, God.

 

J: God?

 

M: Yes, God.

 

J: The almighty? The man upstairs? The creator?

 

M: That’s the guy.

 

J: You’re telling me God made you pregnant?

 

M: Yes.

 

J: How would that work?

 

M: God works in mysterious ways.

 

J: Mysterious is one thing, this is another.

 

M: Listen Joseph, dear, God is the father, accept it.

 

J: If God is the father then wouldn’t that mean it is…

 

M: The Son of God? Yes.

 

J: You’re carrying the Son of God?

 

M: Yes.

 

J: How do you know it is a son?

 

M: The archangel Gabriel.

 

J: Obviously…listen Mary; you haven’t eaten anymore of those funny mushrooms have you?

 

M: No.

 

J: What else did ‘ole Gabby told you?

 

M: He said we should name the child Jesus Christ.

 

J: Jesus Christ!

 

M: Yes.

 

J: But Christ means Messiah.

 

M: I know.

 

J: Isn’t that like naming a kid, Jesus Banker. It kind of limits his future career opportunities doesn’t it?

 

M: God says he will be the Messiah.

 

J: Well I suppose God only knows. But wait what about my family name?

 

M: Sorry, no room.

 

J: But that name has passed down from generation to generation.

 

M: Joseph I don’t want you to take this the wrong way but your family name sucks.

 

J: What!

 

M: It’s nothing personal.

 

J: How could it not be personal! You have insulted the Higgingbottom name.

 

M: Like I’m the only one.

 

J: Pardon?

 

M: Nothing.

 

J: Couldn’t we name him Jesus Christ Higginbottom?

 

M: Doesn’t have much of a ring to it.

 

J: Like Jesus Christ does.

 

M: It’s certainly a name you would remember.

 

J: So is Higginbottom.

 

M: Yeah but for different reasons.

 

J: I can’t believe my first born son won’t bear the family name.

 

M: I’m sorry but it the will of God.

 

J: I still don’t believe you about the whole God is the father thing.

 

M: What is there to believe?

 

J: My soon to be wife is pregnant but I haven’t had sex with her. I think there are grounds for disbelief.

 

M: Have a little faith Joseph.

 

J: You said that my brother on the mountain.

 

M: Listen God told me he could make it.

 

J: No one can jump that far.

 

M: Are you saying God was wrong?

 

J: He was wrong.

 

M: Only slightly.

 

J: Slightly? Try 600 metres.

 

M: Metres?

 

J: Romans have forced us to go metric.

 

M: Damn Romans.

 

J: Well, what you going to do? What we need is some sort of leader.

 

M: Yeah, how about that guy down the street?

 

J: Turns out he was insane.

 

M: Insane? Wouldn’t have thought it.

 

J: I know he had some good ideas. The whole turn the other cheek thing that could have caught on.

 

M: I don’t know about that.

 

J: What is wrong with it?

 

M: It’s a little impractical.

 

J: How?

 

M: Well, if someone slaps me then I going to slap them right back.

 

J: Maybe he didn’t mean it literally?

 

M: How could he not mean it literally?

 

J: It could be a metaphor for the struggle of life.

 

M: No it couldn’t.

 

J: Yeah, you’re right. No wonder he was insane. Man I’m so tired, I’m just going to go for a little kip.

 

M: No Joseph! Wait!

 

J: Mary, whose underpants are those?

 

M: Yeah…I can explain them. It is not what it looks like.

 

Author’s note: All characters portrayed are not based on anyone living or dead, any similarities are purely coincidental except for the ones that are intended for their comedic effect. Thank you…please don’t sue me.

POTUS

 

Key

POTUS = President of the United States

COS = Chief of Staff

PM = Prime Minister

United Kingdom = Greatest country in the world

 

POTUS: Hey you!

 

Assistant: Me sir?

 

POTUS: Yeah, you. Who is the President of the United States of America?

 

Assistant: You sir.

 

POTUS: Damn straight!

 

[Assistant leaves and another one enters]

 

POTUS: Hey you!

 

Assistant: Me sir?

 

POTUS: Yeah, you. Who is the President of the United States of America?

 

Assistant: You sir.

 

POTUS: Damn straight!

 

[Assistant leaves]

 

POTUS: Hey you!

 

COS: Sir, we have a problem.

 

POTUS: What is it?

 

COS: It seems that someone has stolen the F-19 Stealth bomber from you-know-what in you-know-where.

 

POTUS: Do we know whom?

 

COS: We think it might have been the British.

 

POTUS: The British?

 

COS: Yes sir.

 

POTUS: Aren’t they one of our allies?

 

COS: Yes sir.

 

POTUS: Why would they steal our stealth bomber?

 

COS: We don’t know, sir.

 

POTUS: What should I do?

 

COS: I suggest you call the British Prime Minister.

 

POTUS: Good idea. [Looks around]

 

COS: Here’s the phone, sir.

 

POTUS: What’s the number?

 

COS: You just press the button that says United Kingdom, sir.

 

POTUS: Ahh, excellent. [Looks at the phone]

 

COS: This one sir. [Presses button]

 

POTUS: Hello, is this the United Kingdom? I am the President of the United States I wish to speak to… [Puts hand over the phone] Who do I wish to speak too?

 

COS: The Prime Minister.

 

POTUS: Shouldn’t I be speaking to their President.

 

COS: Sir, we have been over this. They don’t have a President. They are a constitutional monarchy. They have a Queen and a Prime Minister.

 

POTUS: Oh yeah. [Takes hand off phone] I would like to speak to the Prime Minister. [Hand over the phone] They are putting me through.

 

COS: What song are they playing?

 

POTUS: God Save the Queen…by the Sex Pistols.

 

COS: Good song.

 

POTUS: Yeah, but I don’t get the part where…oh hello Mrs. Prime Minister.

 

COS: Mister.

 

POTUS: [Hand over the phone] what?

 

COS: Mister Prime Minister not missus.

 

POTUS: Are you sure?

 

COS: Yes, sir.

 

POTUS: [Takes hand off phone] Hello Mister Prime Minister.

 

PM: Hello Mr. President, what can I do for you today?

 

POTUS: It seems that one of our stealth bombers is missing.

 

PM: Really? Is that the big black plane?

 

POTUS: Just a minute. [Hand over the phone] Is it the big black plane?

 

COS: Yes, sir.

 

POTUS: [Hand off phone] Yes, that’s the one.

 

PM: And you say it is stolen?

 

POTUS: Yes.

 

PM: Who would do something like that?

 

POTUS: Well according to our reports it was you.

 

PM: Us?

 

POTUS: Yes.

 

PM: Are you accusing me of plotting a massive military operation to break into one of your top secret airforce bases and steal the most secretive aeroplane in the world to be bought back to England for intensive study?

 

POTUS: Err…yes?

 

PM: I don’t know what you are talking. We British are not thieves and we do not like being called thieves.

 

POTUS: Yes I understand that but…just a minute. [Hand over the phone] What is this?

 

COS: It is satellite photos showing the stealth bomber being stolen, systemically dismantled, being placed aboard a Concorde and flown back to England.

 

POTUS: [Hand off the phone] Mr. Prime Minister I have just been given evidence showing that the stealth bomber was placed aboard a Concorde.

 

PM: That doesn’t mean it was us. It could have been the French.

 

POTUS: And that Concorde was flown to England.

 

PM: Yes, well, I can explain that.

 

POTUS: Yes?

 

PM: You see we do have a stealth bomber that fits your description.

 

POTUS: So you did steal it?

 

PM: No! We err… found it.

 

POTUS: You found it?

 

PM: Yes that’s it. We found it. We didn’t know it was yours we thought someone had abandoned it.

 

POTUS: Where did you find it?

 

PM: Area 52.

 

POTUS: The high-level, top-secret American airforce base, area 52?

 

PM: Yes that’s the one.

 

POTUS: And you just happened to find a stealth bomber in area 52?

 

PM: Yep.

 

POTUS: Just a minute. [Hand on phone] He says they just found it.

 

COS: Found it?

 

POTUS: Yep.

 

COS: Sir, I think they might be lying to you.

 

POTUS: Lying?

 

COS: Yes, sir.

 

POTUS: I don’t understand. What is lying?

 

COS: It is where you purposely don’t tell the truth so that you get your way.

 

POTUS: Oh you mean campaigning.

 

COS: Err…yes, sir.

 

POTUS: [Hand on phone] Are you lying to me?

 

PM: Lying? What is that?

 

POTUS: Campaigning.

 

PM: Oh, well, err… yes.

 

POTUS: So, you didn’t find it?

 

PM: No.

 

POTUS: How did you get it then?

 

PM: We were, err… given it.

 

POTUS: Given it?

 

PM: Yes, given it. We asked your military if we could have a stealth bomber and they said yes.

 

POTUS: [Hand on phone] He says they were given it.

 

[COS shakes his head]

 

POTUS: [Hand off phone] we have no record of that.

 

PM: Oh. Okay, we bought it.

 

POTUS: [Hand on phone] bought it?

 

[COS shakes his head]

 

POTUS: [Hand off phone] Nope.

 

PM: Okay to tell you the truth we stole it.

 

POTUS: But why?

 

PM: Does it really matter?

 

POTUS: I don’t know the reader of this might want to know. They are probably expecting some kind of punch-line.

 

PM: Yeah but I don’t really care about the reader, do you?

 

POTUS: No, I suppose not.

 

PM: Shall we end it here just to piss them off?

 

POTUS: Okay.

 

President of the United States of America Mark II

 

POTUS: Damn it! I don’t care what you think we are doing it my way!

 

COS: Yes sir, now onto matters of state.

 

POTUS: Matters of what?

 

COS: State, sir.

 

POTUS: You lost me.

 

COS: It means stuff about running the country.

 

POTUS: Which country?

 

COS: America.

 

POTUS: America?

 

COS: The United States of America, the country that elected you their President.

 

POTUS: Elected me what now?

 

COS: Okay shall I get the diagrams again sir?

 

POTUS: Dia-what?

 

COS: Forget it sir, I’ll get the Vice-President.

 

POTUS: I thought you said I was President. Who is this Vince guy?

 

COS: Vice, sir, not Vince.

 

POTUS: Vice as in bad stuff.

 

COS: No vice as in the one below.

 

POTUS: So this Vince guy is one below me.

 

COS: Yes, sir.

 

POTUS: What does he do?

 

COS: Nothing really.

 

POTUS: And why am I not doing that job?

 

COS: Because you wanted to run the country.

 

POTUS: Did I?

 

COS: Yes, sir. You spent a whole year telling everyone that.

 

POTUS: Funny, I don’t remember that. Are you sure I did that?

 

COS: Pretty sure, sir.

 

POTUS: Okay I’ll take your word for it. So what am I doing today?

 

COS: Well you were going to a budget meeting.

 

POTUS: I don’t need to budget. I have lots of money.

 

COS: I know sir, you keep telling me. But it is not that kind of budget meeting. In this one you decide how much money the government is going to spend and where that money is going to come from.

 

POTUS: Oh. And what do I want the government to spend money on?

 

COS: It is all in the brief, sir.

 

POTUS: Excellent.

 

COS: Shall I point out which one is the brief?

 

POTUS: Please.

 

COS: That one.

 

POTUS: I thought that was cartoon section of the newspaper.

 

COS: No it’s definitely the budget, sir.

 

POTUS: No wonder I didn’t get it.

 

COS: Oh wait you mean that one. Oh, that’s the cartoon, I was pointing to that one.

 

POTUS: Hey what does Missile Defence mean?

 

COS: Pardon me, sir?

 

POTUS: Under Missile Defence there is a really high figure I was just wondering what it meant.

 

COS: That is for the research and development of an integrated system for protecting America from missiles launched by Rogue nations.

 

POTUS: Uh-huh.

 

COS: Do you want to explain further, sir?

 

POTUS: Yes.

 

COS: There are some very evil countries in the world and they have these really powerful missiles. Now at the moment there is no way of stopping these missiles from hitting America but the missile defence system would mean that the missiles could be destroyed by other missiles before they hit. Understand?

 

POTUS: Err…yes. So who are these evil countries?

 

COS: Iraq, North Korea, France, Syria, Canada and Iran.

 

POTUS: You said Iran twice.

 

COS: No I said Iraq and Iran.

 

POTUS: You did it again.

 

COS: No, sir. Iraq and Iran, they are two different countries.

 

POTUS: Then why do they have the same name?

 

COS: They don’t.

 

POTUS: Then why are calling both of them Iran?

 

COS: Sir, do you have a cold at the moment?

 

POTUS: Yes why?

 

COS: It appears as if you are hearing qs as ns.

 

POTUS: Is that bad?

 

COS: Only if we go to war in the next few days.

 

[Red light starts flashing]

 

POTUS: What does that mean?

 

COS: We have gone to war.

 

POTUS: Who is attacking us?

 

COS: France.

 

POTUS: Why?

 

COS: We seem to have nuked Paris.

 

POTUS: Did we mean to do that?

 

COS: It is hard to tell. Apparently someone in a missile silo was playing a prank and convinced one of the operators that France was threatening to send over a plague of French bread.

 

POTUS: A plague of French bread?

 

COS: Yes, sir.

 

POTUS: And he fired a missile?

 

COS: No, he sent an angry email to the Pentagon suggesting that we attack France in response.

 

POTUS: And they fired the missile?

 

COS: Yes. It seems that there was a computer gitch in the Pentagon meaning that every email they received appeared as if you sent it.

 

POTUS: So we attacked France based on an email.

 

COS: They also joined thirty-three porn sites and entered a competition for a week on a pacific island.

 

POTUS: If they win, can I go?

 

COS: Sir, I think we have more pressing matters. France is preparing a retaliatory strike against four of our major cities.

 

POTUS: That sounds bad. What should I do?

 

COS: You must call the President of France and use all your powers as a diplomat to somehow prevent…sir, give me the tennis ball.

 

POTUS: Aww…

 

COS: Okay, here is the President.

 

POTUS: I know I am here.

 

COS: I was talking about the French President.

 

POTUS: He is here as well?

 

COS: No, it is on the phone.

 

POTUS: Why isn’t he on a chair?

 

COS: Just talk into this, sir.

 

POTUS: Hello?

 

President of France (POF): ‘Ello.

 

POTUS: Are you the President of France?

 

POF: Yes. Are you the President of the United States?

 

POTUS: Yes.

 

[Silence]

 

POTUS: So, how are you doing.

 

POF: Fine, fine, and you?

 

POTUS: Good. It seems as if we have accidentally nuked Paris.

 

POF: Yes, I am aware of that.

 

POTUS: Yeah, sorry about that.

 

POF: Think nothing of it.

 

POTUS: You aren’t mad?

 

POF: No.

 

POTUS: So, you’re not going to attack us?

 

POF: Of course not.

 

POTUS: Can I ask why not?

 

POF: Yes you can.

 

POTUS: Why not?

 

POF: Well, you see, we told the French public that it was the English not the Americans who were responsible.

 

POTUS: And why did you do that?

 

POF: I don’t know really. It was kind of a spur of the moment decision.

 

POTUS: I know about them. Just today I had to choose between Frosted Flakes and Frosties.

 

POF: What did you choose?

 

POTUS: I haven’t yet.

 

[Screen starts to fade]

 

POTUS: Hey the screen is starting to fade.

 

POF: Yeah that happens when the writer can’t think of a decent way to end this.

 

POTUS: Oh that happened to me before.

 

POF: What did you do?

 

POTUS: We just ended without explanation.

 

POF: Good idea.

 

 

 

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