British Comedy Guide

The Pick Up

Setting - The interior of a wine bar.

Background Noise - Continuous sounds of other customers at the bar.

(Start with a few seconds of background noise to establish the setting)

HUGH
Hi. Can I get you a drink?

JANE
Uh (thinks) Sure. I'll have a glass of white wine.

HUGH
No problem. Before I get it, could you just sign this please.

SE - RUSTLE OF PAPER

JANE
What is it?

HUGH
Just a standard agreement that by accepting the drink you promise to talk to me for at least ten minutes. I mean, this isn't a cheap place and it's going to cost me at least a fiver, so I think ten minutes is an agreeable length of time.

JANE
Do I have to enjoy it?

HUGH
Not at all. If you look just below the part that specifies how many times I can ogle your cleavage it says you can be as bored as you like, but does urge you to look at least politely interested.

JANE
Well, it seems okay, but what if we actually get on and decide to take it further.

HUGH
To be honest that's unlikely, as I am in fact a very dull person. However, if you look at clause seventeen, subsection C, it does state that if you do find yourself in a position where you want to play hide the sausage with me, you must provide the relevant sexual health documents. I take it you have them with you?

JANE
Of course.

SE - RUSTLE OF PAPER

JANE
My last check up was two weeks ago, but I should warn you that I have slept with three men since then.

HUGH
Bit of a slapper, eh?

JANE
Oh yes.

HUGH
(happy) Excellent! Right, well I'll just go and get you that glass of wine.

HUGH SNEEZES VIOLENTLY

JANE:
Are you okay?

HUGH:
God, that was a nasty one. Hang on a minute - have you got a cat?

JANE:
Yes, I've got twelve of them. Why?

HUGH:
I'm horrendously allergic. Look, sorry, but I'm going to have to bail on you here. No hard feelings?

JANE:
Not at all. See you around.

HUGH:Cheers then. (His voice fades into the distance) Hello there! Can I buy you a drink...

I think this is nicely written & funny.
But the premise seems a little familiar.
I could be imagining that though as most of the best ideas are the simplest ones.

Great sketch, loved this line....

Quote: Lady Laughter @ April 21 2011, 8:01 PM BST

Not at all. If you look just below the part that specifies how many times I can ogle your cleavage it says you can be as bored as you like, but does urge you to look at least politely interested.

My only suggestion is for the end line to be something like ...
HUGH:Cheers then. (His voice fades into the distance) Hello there! Do you like cats? No! Good, can I buy you a drink then...

Quote: AngieBaby @ April 21 2011, 10:37 PM BST

Great sketch, loved this line....

My only suggestion is for the end line to be something like ...
HUGH:Cheers then. (His voice fades into the distance) Hello there! Do you like cats? No! Good, can I buy you a drink then...

that's a good suggestion

12 cats? That'd suggest a lonely spinster to me who never goes out, or is 12 not enough for that? I'm not sure what the tippingpoint would be, but 12 sounds quite a few to me, maybe you're living proof that that's not necessarily the case?

I think you need to channel your dark side into your writing...

When he starts talking to the other woman she should cut his head off, causing a big commotion for a few moments before everyone loses interest and goes back to what they were doing.

Quote: Lady Laughter @ April 22 2011, 12:53 AM BST

that's a good suggestion

Thank you.

Quote: Vader @ April 22 2011, 1:49 AM BST

When he starts talking to the other woman she should cut his head off, causing a big commotion for a few moments before everyone loses interest and goes back to what they were doing.

That's an awful suggestion.

You said it was a good suggestion before! Anyway, your stuff needs to be a lot darker, play to your strengths.

I said Angie's was a good suggestion. You just nicked the quote.

Quote: Steve Sunshine @ April 21 2011, 8:16 PM BST

I think this is nicely written & funny.
But the premise seems a little familiar.
I could be imagining that though as most of the best ideas are the simplest ones.

I agree and I seem to have deja vu too (again)...

How about chap goes to next table, 'Do you like cats?' noises off 'Whoof Yelp Bark!!...

Nice dialogue and enjoyed the opening premise, but I felt the sketch lost it's way a bit, the cats ending did not really work for me.

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