The Resignation Letter

...based on a true story.

THE RESIGNATION LETTER - a sketch

CEO's office. The CEO is sitting at his desk and working at his PC. There is a knock on the door. It's Shelia, Jon's PA.

Sheila: Do you have a moment?

Jon: (Still looking at his screen) Hmmmm?

Sheila: Do you have a moment please?

Jon looks up and notices an envelope in Sheila's hand which has just his name on it and the words 'Private & Confidential' in the corner. He can guess what's inside.

Jon: Um, not right now. I'm, er, looking through the board minutes.

Sheila: How? I haven't finished typing them up yet.

Jon: I downloaded your hard drive while you were at lunch....erm, I had some supplementary data which needed including in a sub-section of the appendix I added.

Sheila: But Graham had your appendix taken out.

Jon: (smiling) ...and yet I'm still in work the next day.

Jon lifts up his shirt to reveal his midrift.

Jon: Look at this - solid muscle. You could punch me in the stomach if you like.

Sheila (still to herself): Don't tempt me.

Jon: Oh, I meant to tell you I'll be working in London until further notice.

Sheila: It's not in the calendar.

Jon: No, but could you put it in luv, there's a good girl.

Sheila: Hmm...OK.

Jon: Run along now.

Sheila: Can I just give you this?

Jon: Sorry, not got time.

Sheila: Well, I'm in London tomorrow anyway. I can give it to you then

Jon makes a fake phone sound and picks it up the phone.

Jon: Yes, Jon here.

There's a pause.

Jon: An urgent meeting tomorrow? Where? A long-way from both our Peterhead and London offices? Excellent.

Jon puts the phone down.

Jon: Sorry Sheila no can do. We'll speak again soon.

Sheila: But can't I just leave this letter?

Jon: You know how I hate clutter - take it away or I'll start playing dolphin music at you.

Sheila: But....

Jon: OUT!!!!

Sheila walks out the room disgruntled. Jon quickly puts his coat on leaves to 'work from home' to devise ever more outlandish ways of being given the resignation letter.

END

It's ok, wouldn't place it as a sketch myself. Possibly could be worked into a sitcom. My main issue was that it reminded me of this Big Train sketch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGRK9wI1Zko

Quote: Stuart Laws @ January 22, 2008, 11:24 PM

It's ok, wouldn't place it as a sketch myself. Possibly could be worked into a sitcom. My main issue was that it reminded me of this Big Train sketch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGRK9wI1Zko

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Wow, you weren't wrong!

I think you're right about the sitcom thing rather than a sketch and to be honest it was just an observation on the characters of people I work with. I never really envisaged it going anywhere.

Liked the clip though.

Hehe -- it is a lot like that sketch!

The ending suggests there may be more sketches with ever more outlandish ways to avoid reading the letter, and I think as a recurring sketch is the only way it's going to work.

It did feel a bit long and drawn-out with some of the banter unnecessary. Shorten it and it'll be punchier.

If you made the phone call *more* obviously not really his boss (somebody else going 'What are you talking about?' at the other end) and him making everything up ('What's that? You want me to go to Spain for an important business meeting and remain uncontactable for three weeks? Of course I will' as he picks his coat up and scoots around the PA, opening the door before hanging up) you might get a few more laughs out of it.

Hope this is useful

Dan