British Comedy Guide

Gardener Dad

Wave Been while since I posted, hope you are all well.

INT. A GREENHOUSE. DAY.

A MAN (DAD) WALKS IN SMILING AND HOLDING A HAND HELD WATER SPRAYER.

DAD:
Morning, you two.

TWO CHILDREN ( BROTHER ) AND ( SISTER ). ARE STANDING AMONGST MANY PLANTS AND FLOWERS.

BROTHER:
(Yawns).

SISTER:
(Grumbles).

DAD:
Come on, outside. It's a splendid day. Lots of lovely sunshine.

DAD SPRAYS THE CHILDREN IN THE FACE WITH THE WATER SPRAYER.

BROTHER:
Argh Dad!

SISTER:
I don't like it.

DAD:
Well you're too small for the hose. You'll thank me when your all nice and healthy.

THE BROTHER AWKWARDLY WALKS. HE HAS HIS FEET IN BUCKETS.

DAD: (CONT'D).
Looks like someone needs some new shoes.

BROTHER:
But I like these ones.

DAD:
If you don't get bigger ones then how will you grow? You want to grow up to be big and strong don't you?

SISTER:
I don't want to be big and strong, I want to be a flower.

BROTHER:
You'll get greenfly.

SISTER:
No I won't, I...Dad? I want a little sister, when can I have a little baby sister?

DAD:
As soon as I can take a clipping. Right, who's first for breakfast?

SISTER:
It smells.

DAD:
Now now. Don't make a fuss.

DAD GETS A BUCKET OF MANURE AND POURS IT OVER THEIR FEET.

DAD (CONT'D):
Fresh from the farm this morning, and organic.

END.

Fantastic very original

maybe a punchline?

Very novel

:D

Very sweet idea. Like Sooty said it kind of feels as if it needs to end a higher note.

:)

I can't make up my mind about this one. It is certainly an original idea and well handled, but there is something a bit gruesome about it. (Or is that me over-rationalising?)

Quote: sootyj @ March 28 2010, 11:59 AM BST

Fantastic very original

maybe a punchline?

yes indeed as you and Adam rightly conclude there isn't one at the moment. To be fair I just wanted to be sure it worked at all, so, as it seems to I shall re work it including a punchline. :)

Quote: Timbo @ March 29 2010, 9:04 PM BST

I can't make up my mind about this one. It is certainly an original idea and well handled, but there is something a bit gruesome about it. (Or is that me over-rationalising?)

I think it is a little gruesome. But that's ok as I was going for that. I think the undertone is a little disturbing, glad someone noticed. :P

thanks of the feedback. I've had a couple of ideas for a re write based on the comments.

It kind of felt expandable, like some sort of lead in would help or that it has potential to be part of a larger piece. Maybe starting a bit earlier so that we don't just go straight in to him watering the kids and chucking manure on them. Basically, to me it feels like a scene rather than a sketch, partly because of the current structure of straight in the greenhouse and ending without a comedy peak. If you catch my drift.

Spot on with the scene rather than a sketch view. I think I will have only one child in it on the re write and bring in a grandparent for the punch.

As you noticed in the skit comp, I definitely have trouble finishing sketches, let alone well.

Nice idea.

Maybe you could include an ending that involves cutting to another batch of plants growing under UV light and several rasta kids are standing in it. That's prob another sketch but there you go. I liked it nonetheless
:)

Great idea - I agree that a punchline would be nice.

As for helping with that - nope. I'm cack at ending sketches. Maybe, as a thought, the Dad could be more developed - could he be a cranky old allotment type gardener who's irritated that they talk back? Who knows?

Grand sketch though

Like others, I like it.

In search of a punchline... not sure you need a punchline so much as a neater ending. I'd suggest ending on the "cutting" line and having the daughter scream out. If you bring the "breakfast" forward I reckon that could work pretty well.

It is a great idea, but I wasn't sure whether the Dad was supposed to be delusional or not.

Quote: Steve Sunshine @ March 31 2010, 12:45 PM BST

...I wasn't sure whether the Dad was supposed to be delusional or not.

For me he's like an Alan Titchmarsh version of Fred Phelps. So a little deluded for sure. Still trying to finish other stuff before I can readdress this one.

Cheers for all the comments though everyone. :)

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