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  • Rules & Regs

    (CHERYL is in her cubicle, talking on the phone.)

    CHERYL
    I know, Sue, I couldn’t believe it either… No, you were so right to feel that way…
    (GREG enters and stands in the doorway. CHERYL sees him but continues talking.)
    Don’t be. He shouldn’t have been taking up two seats.
    (GREG knocks softly on the doorway. CHERYL holds up a finger.)
    There were two comfortable chairs in the entire coffee shop, and he sits in one of them and drapes his coat over the other. I would have been pissed too.
    (GREG sits on the edge of the desk.)
    Sorry, Sue, I have to go. Uh-huh… Yeah… Well, these things have a way of coming back around, don’t you worry… Uh-huh… Uh-huh.
    (GREG taps his watch.)
    Okay, I’ll talk to you later. Bye.

    (CHERYL hangs up. GREG stares at her a few seconds.)

    GREG
    Cheryl, we’ve been over this.

    CHERYL
    Are you serious?

    GREG
    Of course I’m serious. Did you think I was joking?

    CHERYL
    It’s just that I can’t believe you would hound me about my personal phone calls when Jim is in the next cubicle, building a siege engine!

    (pause)

    GREG
    A siege engine?

    CHERYL
    Yeah! He’s got a catapult he’s working on in there!

    (pause)

    GREG
    I didn’t know he was doing that.

    CHERYL
    He totally is!

    GREG
    That’s wrong too. That can’t happen.

    (GREG stands and exits the cubicle. The stage rotates, and we follow GREG into the neighboring cubicle, where JIM sits typing at his computer. On the floor are enormous planks of timber, giant wooden bolts, and several feet of leather belts. GREG carefully steps over a huge wheel.)

    GREG
    Jim?

    JIM
    Hey!

    GREG
    Can I talk to you for a second?

    JIM
    Sure thing.

    GREG
    Um… I shouldn’t have let it get this far, so in a way the blame lies with both of us–

    JIM
    If this is about the Bellwether invoices, I’m on it. I’ll upload them to the database this afternoon.

    GREG
    No, Jim, it’s the catapult. I can’t have you constructing a catapult in your office.

    JIM
    Technically, it’s a trebuchet.

    GREG
    It makes no difference what form of siege engine you’re building…

    JIM
    Hells yeah it does! Technically, a trebuchet is a type of catapult. But when Americans think of a “catapult,” they think of a “mangonel.” That’s the clunky, stiff-armed log that just hurls something off into the distance.
    (He cranks his arm with exaggerated clumsiness.)
    Thwunk.

    GREG
    And that’s not what you’re doing.

    JIM
    Uh, no. The trebuchet utilizes a sling. Much more elegant, much more accurate, gets a little extra torque at the release point. This is what you want to use to launch some flaming garbage or a diseased corpse over a wall.

    CHERYL (off)
    You better not be thinking of launching any corpses into my cubicle!

    JIM
    Don’t flatter yourself!

    GREG
    Jim, the point is that I can’t have you working on this in your office.

    JIM
    I only work on it during my lunch break…
    (louder)
    …unlike a certain person chatting with her sister all damn day!

    CHERYL (off)
    She’s going through a breakup!

    GREG
    I’m more concerned about safety. I don’t want it to go off accidentally and send a photocopier crashing into a conference room.

    JIM
    It takes several strong men working in tandem to fire one of these. It’s not going to go off accidentally.

    GREG
    Siege engines are obsolete pieces of weaponry, rough-hewn and unpredictable. Unlike modern firearms, there are no regulations or licensing procedures in place concerning their safety in an office environment. Accidents happen, Jim.

    JIM
    I don’t know what kind of idiot you think you’re dealing with, but I would not have embarked on this project without a thorough understanding of what I’m doing.

    GREG
    I don’t think you’re an idiot, Jim.

    JIM
    Who caught the error on the Bellwether invoices right before they were sent out? I saved this company tens of thousands of dollars!

    GREG
    Thank you.

    JIM
    And frankly, unless you can point me to the Rules & Regs where it says I can’t construct a trebuchet in the workplace, I think I’ll keep right on constructing mine.

    (pause)

    GREG
    Do you know what a rollmop is, Jim?

    JIM
    A pickle wrapped in herring.

    GREG
    It’s a pickle, wrapped in herring. There was a project manager named Ackerman who used to make them, and it stank the place up something fierce. I told him to knock it off. He pulled that “show me the Rules & Regs” crap, and no, according to the letter of the law, there was no anti-rollmop clause. But the next time we updated the Rules & Regs, we added one. And the next time he stank up the break room with herring, he was out of here.

    JIM
    When was this?

    GREG
    Seven months ago.

    JIM
    And how often are the Rules & Regs updated?

    (brief pause)

    GREG
    That’s not your concern.

    JIM
    Cheryl, how often do they update the Rules & Regs?

    GREG
    You don’t have to answer that, Cheryl.

    CHERYL (off)
    Every five years.

    (pause)

    JIM
    It appears we are at an impasse.

    GREG
    It appears we are.

    JIM
    And I’m the one with the siege engine.

    (GREG and JIM stare each other down for several moments. Then GREG leaves. JIM returns to his computer. After a beat, GREG reappears at the cubicle door.)

    GREG
    But watch your back, Jim. If I catch you so much as thinking about wrapping a pickle in herring, you are out on your ass.

    (GREG leaves again. JIM once again returns to his computer. Beat.)

    CHERYL (off)
    Hey, Sue, sorry we got interrupted… What I was saying was one of these days that guy is going to take up two seats in the wrong coffee shop. Then he’ll know what it feels like.

    (JIM shakes his head in exasperation. Blackout.)

  • Friday Sketch War

    Full Disclosure: I’ve been dealing with some family issues and haven’t had much of a chance to write this week. I wrote this sketch for a class I took a while back. Though I have made some changes to it. I hope to have something brand, spanking new for next week’s skirmish.

    Update: Richard’s arrived on the field and run the ol’ nickleback defense. Nicely done.

    (A shopping mall. Melody and Ernie enter. )

    MELODY: Just wait here, I want to see if they have any blue ones.

    (Melody exits and Simon Peter enters and approaches Ernie.)

    SIMON PETER: Buying a new cell phone?

    ERNIE: My wife is just looking at covers for hers.

    SIMON PETER: You can make the outside look as beautiful as you want, but if the inside isn’t beautiful what’s the point?

    ERNIE: Excuse me?

    SIMON PETER: Have you accepted the One True Plan as your only calling plan?

    ERNIE: We’re pretty happy with our current plan.

    SIMON PETER: Pretty happy? That doesn’t sound very convincing. Have you given much though to Eternal Minutes?

    ERNIE: Eternal minutes?

    SIMON PETER: Does your plan offer that?

    ERNIE: No plan can give you eternal minutes.

    SIMON PETER: The One True Plan can. Brother, just give me a few minutes of your time and I’ll show you the way to everlasting battery life.

    ERNIE: Well…

    SIMON PETER: Would you like to live in a world where you’re free from the burden of roaming fees?

    ERNIE: Who wouldn’t.

    SIMON PETER: Why should you be punished for making a call just because you’re outside of your calling area?

    ERNIE: Right.

    SIMON PETER: It feels good to make that call doesn’t it? We all want to do it, but we know that we’re going to pay for it later. The One True Plan says it’s all right to do it. It forgives us for our action even before we’ve done it.

    ERNIE: Wow.

    SIMON PETER: Wow, indeed, brother.

    ERNIE: So what’s the catch?

    SIMON PETER: There is no catch. The One True Plan isn’t trying to trick you. Look at the lilies of the field. Do they worry about whether their call is going to be cut off mid-sentence? No. And neither should you. All the Plan asks of you is that you pass on the good news to the world.

    ERNIE: I have to work for them?

    SIMON PETER: It isn’t work if you love it, Ernie. Besides, you’re going to be so happy with this plan you’ll want to share it with everyone. Tell them how good it feels to call knowing that the One True Plan is there for you. How once you were lost, but now are found.

    ERNIE: This all sounds a little too good to be true.

    SIMON PETER: Because it is too good to be true. We don’t deserve this plan, but it’s still here for us. Because the Plan knows we need it. This is the Alpha and Omega of calling plans. The first and last plan you’ll ever need.

    ERNIE: Well…

    (It becomes darker as if clouds are blocking out the sun.)

    SIMON PETER: You’re a doubter. I used to be just like you. You’ve made some money, found a woman to settle down with and are looking forward to being a father.

    ERNIE: How did you know we’re going to have a baby?

    (We hear thunder and see a flash of lightning.)

    SIMON PETER: But in a moment it could all change and you’ll be working at the Shoe Barn wondering why your wife left you and why your child looks like the fellow who delivers your Chinese food.

    ERNIE: Ty Ping?

    SIMON PETER: I know. I‘ve been there. But the One True Plan saved me. Ernie, it wants to save you too. Do you believe?

    ERNIE: Yes.

    SIMON PETER: Do you have faith in the One True Plan?

    ERNIE: Yes!

    SIMON PETER: Praise the Plan Brother Ernie!

    ERNIE: Praise the Plan!

    (Simon Peter pulls out a contract and a pen.)

    SIMON PETER: All you have to do is sign right here and One True Plan will fill your heart with love.

    ERNIE: Glory be!

    (Melody returns. Ernie takes the pen.)

    ERNIE :Oh honey, I’m so glad you’re here. (He hugs her) My eyes have been opened to the coming of the Plan.

    MELODY: The what?

    SIMON PETER: Sign Brother Ernie! Sign!

    ERNIE: Sign!

    (Melody takes the contract.)

    MELODY: Sign what?

    (She reads. Then hands the contract back to Simon Peter)

    MELODY: We’re happy with our current plan.

    ERNIE: But Honey, this is the Alpha and Omega of calling plans.

    MELODY: They want us to sign a lifetime contract, Ernie. I can’t leave you alone for five minutes can I? Maybe we’re not ready for kids.

    (She starts to walk away. Ernie and Simon Peter share a meaningful look.)

    SIMON PETER: Brother Ernie.

    ERNIE: Simon Peter.

    MELODY: Let’s go!

    (Ernie hurried off after her.)

    SIMON PETER: Brother Ernie! Why have you forsaken me?!

    (A mother pushes her daughter up to the bench in a wheelchair.)

    MOTHER: You wait here and I’ll be right back.

    (The Mother exits and Simon Peter approaches the little girl and puts his hands on her head.)

    SIMON PETER: Arise and walk my child, you are possessed no more!

    (The little girl pushes herself out of her chair and falls flat on her face. Simon Peter looks around to make sure no one saw him and disappears into the crowd.)

    BLACKOUT

  • FSW: 2008 NFL Combine

    (Scott Van Pelt and Mel Kiper stand in a broadcast booth at an arena. Graphics read “2008 NFL COMBINE”.)

    SCOTT
    Welcome back. I’m joined now in the booth by Mel Kiper. Mel, what are your thoughts on the first three days of competition?

    MEL
    Scott, this has been a great combine. It’s been an especially strong year for the skill positions, with quarterbacks and receivers performing particularly well. We’re still waiting on the official scores on the Wonderlic, but early reports show none of the surprises we’ve had in years past. Today we’ll be seeing defensive linemen and defensive backs and I know a lot of GMs are anxious to see how they do.

    SCOTT
    It looks like we’ve already got our first defensive back warming up down on the course now. It’s Darren McKnight out of Purdue. Mel, what can you tell us about Darren?

    (Down on the field, we see that an obstacle course has been set up. There’s a large seesaw, a series of jumps, a long line of slalom poles, a curved tunnel. A layout familiar to anyone who has ever seen dog agility trials.)

    MEL (O.S.)
    Darren’s a smaller d-back, but he’s quick and agile and can run all day. You really love watching guys like this, the way they just jump around, always excited and happy to please.

    (Darren and a middle-aged woman are at the starting line. Darren is hopping around like a Jack Russell and the woman holds out a piece of bacon for him.)

    MEL (O.S.)
    Darren’s handler is his mother and agent, Myrtle McKnight. She’s an experienced handler, having managed both of Darren’s older brothers at the combine in year’s past. Vince is a wide receiver for the Cardinals, and Trey is a punter and backup QB up in Buffalo. She knows what she’s doing out there, and as long as she can keep Darren’s attention, he’ll do great.

    (A gun sounds and Darren starts running the course. Myrtle guides him through it.)

    SCOTT (O.S.)
    He’s going great out there. Looks like a real pro, doesn’t he?

    MEL (O.S.)
    He sure does, Scott. Myrtle’s giving him just enough freedom to really fly, but still keeping him focused. Look how she’s always one step ahead of Darren so he knows where to go next.

    (Darren overshoots the entrance to the slalom poles and Myrtle has to get him back to restart them.)

    MEL (O.S.)
    Oh no! That’s a five second penalty! He’s going to have to really work hard to make up that loss.

    (Darren finishes the course and jumps into his mother’s arms and kisses her.)

    SCOTT (O.S.)
    That really was a shame, wasn’t it. Looked like he had a shot at the course record.

    MEL (O.S.)
    He sure did, Scott, but I think his time will still put him in the top three for his position.

    SCOTT (O.S.)
    Let’s go down to Erin Andrews on the field and see what the competitors have to say.

    (Sideline reporter and Internet sensation Erin Andrews stands by Myrtle and Darren. Darren jumps out of his mother’s arms and hops around, still excited from his run.)

    ERIN
    Myrtle, can you tell us what happened out there?

    (Darren gets down on all fours and starts to sniff Erin’s crotch.)

    ERIN
    Oh my! That’s a good boy. Okay! That’s enough, now. Down, big fella!

    MYRTLE
    Darren! Mind your manners, boy!

    (Darren stops sniffing and sits by Myrtle.)

    MYRTLE
    Sorry, Erin. He gets a little excited sometimes.

    (Erin, excited herself, fans herself.)

    ERIN
    That’s alright, Myrtle. He’s a cutie pie. Aren’t you, Darren? Such a good boy.

    (Back to the booth.)

    SCOTT
    Okay. We’ll come back to Erin in a bit. Up next, wide receivers jump off a pier to retrieve a stick.

    BLACKOUT

  • We Strike at Dawn!

    Is your sketch ready? You know you’ve been checking out Friday Sketch War the last couple of weeks thinking “I could do that. Hell, I could do better than that.” Well, put your pencil where your mouth is and fire off a sketch. Post a link and join the melee.

    You can find more information here.

    You can read past sketches here, here and here.

  • Glengarry Red Cross

    (The waiting room at a blood drive. NURSE BLAKE (Alec Baldwin) and NURSE WILLIAMSON (Kevin Spacey) stand in their scrubs before LEVENE (Jack Lemmon), MOSS (Ed Harris), and AARONOW (Alan Arkin), who are sitting at tables and filling out forms to give blood.)

    BLAKE
    Are they all here?

    WILLIAMSON
    All but one.

    BLAKE
    Well, I’m going anyway.
    (to the group)
    Let’s talk about something important!
    (BLAKE sees LEVENE picking up a Nutter Butter from a plate on the counter)
    Put that cookie down! Cookies are for donors only.
    (LEVENE laughs incredulously. BLAKE approaches him.)
    You think I’m fucking with you? I am not fucking with you. I’m here from Red Cross HQ. I’m here from Mitch and Murray. And I’m here on a mission of mercy. Your name’s Levene?

    LEVENE
    Yeah.

    BLAKE
    You call yourself a blood donor, you son of a bitch?

    MOSS (standing)
    I don’t gotta listen to this shit.

    BLAKE
    You certainly don’t pal. ’Cause as you all know, first prize is you can donate a pint of whole blood. Anybody wanna hear second prize? Second prize is you donate platelets. Third prize is you’re anemic. You get the picture? You can’t donate blood, you can’t donate shit, you are shit, hit the bricks pal and beat it ’cause you are going out!

    MOSS (sits)
    What’s your name?

    BLAKE
    Make Your Next Meal A Hearty One, that’s my name. You know why, Mister? ’Cause you had a piece of toast and a cup of coffee for breakfast this morning, I ate a twelve-dollar omelet. That’s my name!
    (to LEVENE)
    And your name is “You’ve Spent 5 Cumulative Years In Europe Since 1980.” Then have a fucking Oreo and go home.
    (to everyone)
    Because only one thing counts in this life! Get them to draw from the vein which is dotted! You hear me, you fucking fairies?
    (BLAKE flips over a blackboard that features two sets of letters. He points to “B-S-E.”)
    “B-S-E.” B: Bovine. S: Spongiform. E: Encephalopathy. Have you got it, you fucks? If so, get your pulpy, Creutzfeldt-Jakob riddled brainpan the fuck out of my waiting room.
    (He points to “A-B-AB-O.”)
    “A-B-AB-O.” “A” can receive “A” and “O.” “B” can receive “B” and “O,” ’cause it’s fuck or walk. “AB” can receive “A,” “B,” “AB,” and “O” — the universal recipient, for Christ. “O” is the universal donor.
    (walks to MOSS)
    Nice guy? I don’t give a shit. Allergic to iodine? Fuck you — go home and vomit some shellfish.
    (to AARONOW)
    You think this is abuse? You think this is abuse, you cocksucker? You can’t take this — how can you take the abuse when you sit in that chair with a fucking needle sticking into your forearm? You don’t like it — leave. You know what it takes to donate blood?
    (BLAKE goes to his briefcase and removes a vial of copper sulfate solution with a drop of blood in it. He dangles it in front of his crotch.)
    It takes a hemoglobin concentration of over 12.5 grams per deciliter to donate blood.
    (throws the vial back in the briefcase, pulls out a stack of cards)
    These are the “Be Nice To Me” stickers. And to you, they’re gold. And you don’t get them. Why? Because to give them to you is just throwing them away.
    (he hands the stack to WILLIAMSON)
    They’re for donors. I’d wish you good luck but you wouldn’t know what to do with it if you got it.

    (exit BLAKE and WILLIAMSON)

  • Friday Night Sketch War: Round Three

    On the killing floor, before the assembled masses the gladiators prepare for battle…

    Will no one join our bloody conflict? Are your livers lillied and aspects yellow? Until next time, we writhe in our own blood and entrails, waiting for the bold and the noble to join the fray.

  • FNSW: The Certificant

    (Scott Johnson sits at his desk. Ivo Princip enters the office, wearing a suit and carrying his resume. He crosses, shakes Scott’s hand, and sits opposite.)

    SCOTT
    Nice to meet you, Mr. Princip. I’m Scott. May I call you Ivo?

    IVO
    No.

    SCOTT
    O–kay…why don’t you tell me a little about yourself.

    IVO
    Did you not read my resume?

    SCOTT
    I did, but I was hoping maybe you could maybe elaborate, go into a little detail about some of your experience, tell me why you think you’d be a good fit for this position.

    IVO
    You are hiring for engineer, yes? I am engineer.

    SCOTT
    O–kay. Let’s start with a few questions, then. I see you’ve got your masters, that’s good. But you’ve only got one year of experience —

    IVO
    — I am certified.

    SCOTT
    What now?

    IVO
    I have MCSE, CNA, CNE, SCJP —

    SCOTT
    — That’s great, too. How about a couple of quick tech questions? Let me get a feel for your level. Can you explain polymorphism to me?

    IVO
    Polymorphism. No.

    SCOTT
    Nothing? Maybe you want to try talking through it, see if you can’t give me a few of its traits?

    IVO
    No.

    SCOTT
    Can you tell me why you would use an abstract class?

    IVO
    No.

    SCOTT
    Define inheritance?

    IVO
    Inheritance?
    …No.

    SCOTT
    Ivo —

    IVO
    — Mr. Princip.

    SCOTT
    Mr. Princip. It says here that you’re an expert in object oriented programming.

    IVO
    Object oriented programming. Yes. I am certified.

    SCOTT
    Can you define that for me?

    IVO
    Object oriented programming?

    SCOTT
    Please.

    IVO
    No.

    SCOTT
    Alright. Let’s step back a bit, then. I see here under this technology section you’ve also got Photoshop listed. You certainly wouldn’t be doing any of that here, but while I was working my way through college I actually worked in a graphics shop. So why don’t you tell me how you’d use an alpha channel?

    IVO
    Alpha channel?

    SCOTT
    Yes.

    IVO
    That is…there are channels…many of them…this is the first. It is first channel.

    SCOTT
    O–kay. Let’s jump back over to programming for a minute. Can you give me an example of a recursive algor —

    IVO
    — May I ask question first?

    SCOTT
    Sure.

    IVO
    Are you certified?

    SCOTT
    Me? No. I don’t have any certifications. It’s never come up. I really only have time for the occasional conference or seminar and haven’t had call to get certified.

    IVO
    Then how can you be expected to ask me question? Is like…is like student, asking teacher, no? I am certified, but you are not. It make no sense, yes?

    SCOTT
    Excuse me??

    IVO
    How can I…to explain, be clear, to you? You are member of team, yes? Maybe I speak with someone more senior. Your manager is certified?

    SCOTT
    I’m the team lead.

    IVO
    So, is team of junior engineer.

    SCOTT
    We get by. Well Ivo —

    IVO
    — Mr. Princip.

    SCOTT
    Mr. Princip. It’s been interesting meeting you. I wish you luck in your job search.

    (Ivo sits for a minute, then gets the hint and leaves.)

    BLACKOUT

    LIGHTS UP

    (Scott sits at his desk. The door opens and Steve Kramer enters.)

    SCOTT
    Boss. What’s up?

    STEVE
    Scott, you know you’ve been trying to get some help on the team, well, I’ve got it fixed. I just interviewed a rockstar of an engineer.

    SCOTT
    That’s great! Do you want me to talk to him?

    STEVE
    No need. Already hired him. Whipsmart, and has certifications out the ass. Hell of an engineer. Ivo Princip. You’ll be reporting to him starting Monday.

    BLACKOUT

  • Friday Sketch War

    If you’d like to get in on the fun, simply write a sketch and post a link to it. If you’d like to check out some of the battles that have already transpired you can go here. If you’d like to see a funny video about a guy flipping off a phone you can go here.

    Dave, like last week, is the first one to strike. Hilarious.

    Update: Richard’s joined the fray.

    Here is my answer to the question “How can we spur the market and turn this recession around?”

    (Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security, is giving a press conference.)

    MICHAEL: We have received word of some rumors of possible attempts at terrorism somewhere in or around the United States. So we are raising the Terror Threat Level to Orange.

    (Members of the press call out to him. He points at one.)

    GAIL: Gail Jones, CNN. Should the American people be afraid for their lives?

    MICHAEL: We live in a nation that is under constant threat of violence from people who truly hate our guts, but the American people shouldn’t be worried.

    (More shouting, Michael points to someone else.)

    MATT: Matt Rod, NBC News, America’s News leader. Secretary Chertoff, if the people shouldn’t worry, then is there any real threat?

    MICHAEL: Oh my God, yes. These are vicious, freedom hating people who want to see all of us die a horrible, painful death. You know, they’ve infiltrated our country and are living among us, waiting for the opportunity to kill us all in our sleep. I just thank God I’ve got the Secret Service protecting me.

    (More shouting, Michael points to someone else.)

    LEE: Lee Scott, CEO of Wal-Mart. Should people stockpile food and clothing during this heightened state of panic in America?

    MICHAEL: Yes. We are recommending that all Americans stock up on bread, milk and the latest in fashion and electronic goods. We strongly urge them to purchase these items at a discount chain store with everyday low prices.

    (The scene shifts to a resort beach. Two men are lounging in the sun.)

    ZANJI: Ahmed, what are we doing at this resort? I thought as a terrorist I would be getting to create more terror than this.

    AHMED: Relax Zanji. Chill out. There really is not much for us to be doing anymore.

    ZANJI: But how can we call ourselves terrorists if we do not terrorize anyone?

    AHMED: The world has changed, my friend, and we have to change with it. The infidels are so busy trying to scare their own people that we can take it easy for a while.

    ZANJI: And you like it this way?

    AHMED: Are you kidding me? I love it! Come on, let us go inside. We will order a couple of coconut mimosas, play some blackjack and pay an expensive call girl to run around in a burka.

    (Brickabrac enters, very excited)

    BRICKABRAC: Ahmed! Zanji!

    AHMED: What is it Brickabrac?

    ZANJI: Are we to blow up this infidel sin palace?

    BRICKABRAC: No, I have a massage scheduled at 3 o’clock.

    ZANJI: Then what?

    BRICKABRAC: I just called our accountant and the stock portfolio has tripled!

    AHMED: Praise Allah!

    BRICKABRAC: You were right, Ahmed, Exxon/Mobile is having a fantastic year.

    AHMED: (Sarcastic) Gee, I wonder why?

    (They all begin laughing. The scene shifts back to the press conference.)

    BETTY: Secretary Chertoff, what are we doing to protect our oil reserves?

    MICHAEL: Instead of wasting man power on oil fields that are located in a hot, hostile environment, we are preparing a preemptive invasion of The Soviet Union to take theirs.

    BETTY: Why would we do that?

    MICHAEL: To protect the American way of life and bring democracy and Jesus to all heathen people. Besides, it’s something the boys at the Pentagon have been wanting to do for quite a while.

    BETTY: But it’s not even called The Soviet Union anymore.

    MICHAEL: Shh. Don’t let the boys in the Pentagon hear you say that.

    GINNY: Secretary Chertoff, were there any specific targets named in the unspecified threats?

    MICHAEL: We know that these hate-mongering people hate us, our freedom and our lifestyle. That is why we think that their next attack will strike the very heart of all we hold dear.

    BRAD: Our children?

    GAIL: Hollywood?

    MICHAEL: McDonald’s.

    (Everyone gasps.)

    BRAD: Should people stop going there?

    MICHAEL: No. That would be playing right into their hand. If our children can’t have saturated fat and cheap plastic toys served to them by an underpaid teenager in a paper hat then the terrorists have truly won. I implore all Americans to eat at McDonald’s morning, noon and night as a sign of defiance to these men of terror.

    (The scene shifts back to Ahmed, Zanji and Brickabrac who are looking at a newspaper.)

    BRICKABRAC: (Pointing at something in the paper) There! There it is!

    AHMED: McDonald’s is up 35%!

    ZANJI: Praise Allah!

    (The scene shifts back to the press conference.)

    GAIL: Have there been any threats to disrupt the elections in November?

    MICHAEL: All elections have been postponed indefinitely. His Eminence, Premier Bush, feels that since he was President when all this began, he should remain in power until it is over.

    GAIL: And when will all this be over?

    MICHAEL: Until evil is obliderated from the face of the Earth or until the Bush bloodline ends. Which ever comes first.

    (The scene shifts back to Ahmed, Zanji and Brickabrac. Brickabrac and Ahmed are on the phone talking to different people.)

    BRICKABRAC: (On phone. Very menacing.) Yes, I would like to report a terrorist threat…Not just to this one Coca-Cola plant but to all Coca-Cola plants worldwide.

    (He hangs up the phone.)

    AHMED: (On phone.) That’s right, Jerry, I want you to buy as much Coca-Cola stock as you can. I have a good feeling about it.

    (He hangs up)

    ZANJI: (Sipping a cocktail) Ahmed, I am sorry that I doubted you.

    AHMED: Zanji, my friend, if there is one thing I have learned from studying our enemys in Washington, it is that they hate their people way more than we do. Now, who wants to go to Disneyland?

    (The men all cheer and high five each other.)

    BLACKOUT

  • Sketch War Recap

    Richard’s got the final numbers on today’s sketch war. It might not have been WW III, but we gave ’em hell.

    For those of you standing on the sidelines, shaking in your boots; tuck in your skirts and get in the fight.

    For those of you who battled, bled and lived to tell the tale, I tip my hat to you and say “Nice work. You are worthy adversaries whom I look forward to disemboweling next week.”

  • The Psychiatrist Sketch

    PSYCHIATRIST
    Your wife maintains that you don’t show her enough affection.

    PATIENT
    I show my wife a lot of aggression.

    PSYCHIATRIST
    “Affection.”

    PATIENT
    Yes.

    PSYCHIATRIST
    You said “aggression.”

    PATIENT
    No, I said affection.

    PSYCHIATRIST
    It’s very interesting to me that you confused those two words.

    PATIENT
    Whatever I said, I meant “aggression.”

    PSYCHIATRIST
    Aggression?

    PATIENT
    No, aggression. You’re browbeating me.

    PSYCHIATRIST
    Not at all. I think your wife feels unappreciated because of the lack of physical displays of affection.

    PATIENT
    I think my wife is turned off by it. I think she hates public displays of aggression.

    PSYCHIATRIST
    “Affection.”

    PATIENT
    When we’re out, I try to give her a slug, or even just a little kill on the cheek, and she’s up in arms. It embarrasses her.

    PSYCHIATRIST
    Have you attempted this in private?

    PATIENT
    This isn’t private stuff! It’s not like I’m trying to French kill her, or unbutton her shoot or anything.

    PSYCHIATRIST
    French kill her?

    PATIENT
    Kiss. It’s not a French kiss, just a little punch on the cheek.

    PSYCHIATRIST
    But is she more responsive in private?

    PATIENT
    I try to get aggressionate in private. But usually she’d rather talk.

    PSYCHIATRIST
    She wants a conversation?

    PATIENT
    Yes, but I’m not in the mood for conflagration. She keeps drowning on and on, and talking gets in the way, when I just want to strangle up with her, or do some killing.

    PSYCHIATRIST
    “Kissing”?

    PATIENT
    And this isn’t deadroom talk, it’s more like nagging. Like a pop quiz about our suffocationship.

    PSYCHIATRIST
    You just referred to your bedroom as a “dead-room.”

    PATIENT
    Whatever tomb it is, that’s not the point. I can’t get into physical aggression if she keeps going on about “expressing our true flayings for each other.”

    PSYCHIATRIST
    “Feelings”?

    PATIENT
    Yes! Isn’t that ridiculous? She keeps talking about “revealing our true ammunitions” and “expressing our flayings.” “Finding true stabbiness in our knife together.”

    PSYCHIATRIST
    I think she just wants to hear that you’re committed to maintaining the relationship.

    PATIENT
    I’m definitely committed to maiming the relationship. That’s not even a question. We’re very attacked to each other.

    PSYCHIATRIST
    She needs to hear that. It seems to me.

    PATIENT
    I shove my wife. I shove her very much. And I don’t want anything to gun between us. But sometimes, I swear, I just want to grab her by the hair and run her through a meat grinder.

    (pause)

    PSYCHIATRIST
    That was a very violent image.

    PATIENT
    Yes, I’m sorry.