British Comedy Guide

Time Machine 4

In the spirit of Super Long Sketch day I'd like to offer this - the longest sketch I've ever written. It's so long in fact that only the foolhardiest will read to the end. Enjoy!

INT. LAB – DAY

DOCTOR SAMSON TINKERS WITH HIS TIME MACHINE. DOCTOR JENKINS STROLLS IN LOOKING PLEASED WITH HIMSELF.

DOCTOR JENKINS:
Behold, Doctor Samson, the very apex of science!

JENKINS HOLDS ALOFT A VIAL OF BILIOUS GREEN LIQUID.

DOCTOR SAMSON:
Do you need a hankerchief?

DOCTOR JENKINS:
Laugh if you will, you rancorous little blip, but this elixir represents the very future of time travel!

DOCTOR SAMSON:
Pish and tish.

DOCTOR JENKINS:
I'll pish and tish you!

JENKINS QUAFFS THE CONTENTS OF THE VIAL.

DOCTOR JENKINS (CONT):
Already I feel it taking effect. Goodbye, Samson! Enjoy history!

INT. LAB – DAY

THE FOLLOWING IS SHOT FROM JENKINS P.O.V. THE PICTURE COMES INTO FOCUS AND HE CHECKS HIS WATCH.

DOCTOR JENKINS:
(V.O.) Doctor Jenkins time log #406. Point five. Mark one. Slash… two. (BEAT) Extraordinary! I've appeared a full ten hours into the future!

HE LURCHES FORWARD WITH A STAGGER.

DOCTOR JENKINS (CONT):
(V.O.) Experiencing a loss of equilibrium – supposedly a side effect of the future juice.

SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCH ASSISTANTS GATHER AROUND. DOCTOR SAMSON IS AMONG THEM. HE MOUTHS WORDS WHILST JENKINS CONTINUES HIS LOG.

DOCTOR JENKINS (CONT):
(V.O.) It seems my intrusion has angered these people of the future. I will attempt to placate them.

JENKINS HANDS A BRAND NEW IPHONE TO SAMSON. SAMPSON PULLS A FACE.

DOCTOR JENKINS (CONT):
(V.O.) Unsurprisingly, my offering is viewed as somewhat primitive in this time. Still, given that I'm presenting a gift, it seems as though future Samson, like his counterpart in my time, is an utter dick.

SAMSON SHAKES HIS HEAD CONDESCENDINGLY.

DOCTOR JENKINS (CONT):
(V.O.) No matter, my study continues. I will now test the social mores of this era through interaction with the opposite sex.

HE GRABS A FEMALE RESEARCH ASSISTANT BY THE TIT. APPALLED, SHE PUSHES HIM AWAY.

DOCTOR JENKINS (CONT):
(V.O.) Fascinating! Contrary to popular conjecture, sexual inhibitions are no less stringent here than in the present day.

ON A CLIPBOARD JENKINS SCRAWLS THE WORD "FRIGID". HE TRIES TO WRITE MORE BUT THE WORDS BECOME ILLEGIBLE. THE PICTURE GOES FUZZY AROUND THE EDGES.

DOCTOR JENKINS (CONT):
(V.O.) (PAINED) My head… another unexpected side effect. Quickly… I must return to my own time.

HE UPENDS A GREEN TEST TUBE AND THE SCREEN GOES BLACK.

INT. LAB - DAY

JENKINS COMES TO. SILHOUETTES APPEAR BEFORE HIM.

DOCTOR JENKINS:
(V.O.) I did it, Samson! Your time machine is but the outmoded claptrap of yesteryear!

SAMSON COMES INTO FOCUS, AS DO HIS COLLEAGUES – INCLUDING THE RESEARCH ASSISTANT JENKINS MOLESTED.

DOCTOR JENKINS:
What the…?

DOCTOR SAMSON:
Have your phone back.

HE STUFFS AN IPHONE IN JENKINS' HAND, GRABS HIS TEST TUBE AND SNIFFS IT.

DOCTOR SAMSON (CONT):
You invented Grenadine, you blithering lightweight.

JENKINS LOOKS DOWN AT THE SICK ON HIS LAB COAT.

END SKETCH

Ingenious and worth it for the punchline.

Actually this is pacy enough to be even longer.

It's the characterisation that makes it work.

This is very funny. I can just see Matt Berry as Jenkins. (I hate Jenkins as a name though.)

"Future Juice" made me lol lots. The sketch isn't too long at all - what is it, two minutes at the most? It's as long as it needs to be.

Very good indeed mate and I'm surprised there aren't more comments.

PS: Wouldn't Absynthe be better than Grenadine? Everyone knows what a headf**ker that stuff is...

Haha brilliant.

"Goodbye, Samson! Enjoy history!" was my favourite line!

Quote: Lee Henman @ November 18 2008, 8:42 PM GMT

Very good indeed mate and I'm surprised there aren't more comments.

Yep, very good. I didn't comment because I don't like to feed that gigantic Bussell ego. The man's a monster.

Fascinating! Contrary to popular conjecture, sexual inhibitions are no less stringent here than in the present day.

Laugh out loud moment.

Quote: sootyj @ November 17 2008, 3:56 PM GMT

Ingenious and worth it for the punchline.

Actually this is pacy enough to be even longer.

It's the characterisation that makes it work.

Cheers, glad you like it. I was really unsure about this one so I'm very happy with the reception it's gotten.

Quote: Lee Henman @ November 18 2008, 8:42 PM GMT

This is very funny. I can just see Matt Berry as Jenkins. (I hate Jenkins as a name though.)

"Future Juice" made me lol lots. The sketch isn't too long at all - what is it, two minutes at the most? It's as long as it needs to be.

Very good indeed mate and I'm surprised there aren't more comments.

PS: Wouldn't Absynthe be better than Grenadine? Everyone knows what a headf**ker that stuff is...

Is Jenkins that bad? I suppose it is a bit cliche.

It is pretty long. Properly formatted it runs about 8 pages. Still, as long as it doesn't feel too long...

Absynthe is a much better choice, cheers.

Quote: ShoePie @ November 18 2008, 8:53 PM GMT

Haha brilliant.

"Goodbye, Samson! Enjoy history!" was my favourite line!

Always nice to hear that the A to B lines are getting a laugh too.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ November 18 2008, 9:37 PM GMT

Yep, very good. I didn't comment because I don't like to feed that gigantic Bussell ego. The man's a monster.

I'll have you know my ego is small but perfectly formed. Perfectly!

Quote: Timbo @ November 18 2008, 9:51 PM GMT

Laugh out loud moment.

Thanks you!

"Enjoy history" is a great line esp if it was said pompously!

Quote: Thomas McCleod Irvine @ November 19 2008, 8:47 AM GMT

"Enjoy history" is a great line esp if it was said pompously!

Like Lee says, Matt Berry would be the right choice.

Quote: David Bussell @ November 19 2008, 9:52 AM GMT

Like Lee says, Matt Berry would be the right choice.

Let's call him and film this sucker; there's no way he would say no. Maybe there's some way he'll say no. He'll probably say no. How would we even get his number? I don't think he'll be happy if we hassle him. Look, fine; let's not even bother. Just, f**k you!

n.b. grenadine is better in my view, it's mildly alcoholic thus making his reaction more pathetic.

And I reckon it's a funnier word.

Quote: sootyj @ November 19 2008, 9:54 AM GMT

n.b. grenadine is better in my view, it's mildly alcoholic thus making his reaction more pathetic.

And I reckon it's a funnier word.

Although I agree on both counts I wonder if everybody knows what Grenadine is. Be a shame if they didn't, it being the punchline.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ November 19 2008, 9:54 AM GMT

Let's call him and film this sucker; there's no way he would say no. Maybe there's some way he'll say no. He'll probably say no. How would we even get his number? I don't think he'll be happy if we hassle him. Look, fine; let's not even bother. Just, f**k you!

Just called Matt. He's on board. Also, he says f**k you.

Quote: David Bussell @ November 19 2008, 9:57 AM GMT

Also, he says f**k you.

Kiss my mother with that mouth?

Creme de menthe, midori, Dooleys, Benedictine.

I think I may need to write a sketch about sticky drinks with silly names.

Creme de Menthe it is. Cheers, Sootyj.

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