British Comedy Guide

Trigger Word

INT. DARKENED ROOM – DAY

DAVID SITS BEFORE A HYPNOTIST, WHO SWINGS A POCKET WATCH.

HYPNOTIST:
Your trigger word for the day is… "Hi".

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET – DAY

DAVID STROLLS ALONG TO A JAUNTY TUNE. A CRIPPLED OLD WOMAN APPROACHES HIM.

OLD WOMAN:
Hi, David.

DAVID KICKS HER CRUTCH OUT FROM UNDER HER AND CARRIES ON WITH A WHISTLE.

A VICAR PASSES BY.

VICAR:
Hi, David.

DAVID TAKES A RUNNING LEAP AT HIM, FLOORING THE VICAR WITH AN ELBOW TO THE FACE. HE MAKES OFF, HUMMING.

A MOTHER PUSHING A PRAM PASSES BY.

MOTHER:
David; hi!

DAVID PLUCKS HER BABY FROM THE PRAM AND TOE PUNTS IT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, STROLLING AWAY WITH AN EXTRA SPRING IN HIS STEP.

A TEENAGE LAD APPROACHES.

TEENAGER:
David! Check it out, I got an iPhone! It's got iTunes, GPS and a camera! It holds sixteen gigs of photos and look, when you turn it over the picture flips to correct itself!

DAVID:
Say, is that picture low definition?

TEENAGER:
No, it's high.

DAVID PICKS HIM UP, DROPS HIM HEADFIRST INTO A BIN AND CHAINSAWS HIS LEGS OFF.

I'd like to see you film this. :D

Slightly weak joke, but I'm sure your comical head would make it entertaining.

You know when you're writing a sketch and you know it's awful but you just can't stop yourself? I've never had that.

I agree with Leevil - it does seem a little weak, but having seen some of the stuff you've filmed, I can imagine finding this very funny while watching it.

Yeah, I think this one would work on the visual aspect. Could you turn it into a runner where he gets people to say "hi" or "high" or "hai karate" or whatever just so he can do something despicable to them?

On reflection, this sketch sucks some major balls.

You just don't want to admit it's the funniest thing you've ever written. :)

It started OK. But then tured into gratuitous violence to people saying "Hi" :P

Also, the low-definition line feels rather forced. For me better to have "the picture looks a little fuzzy" - "It shouldn't - it's high definition". Erm,I just got it. Right. Not bad ending after all. But still gratuitous violence.

Man, I'm slow today!

As per the concensus this doesn't work too well and the punchline seems a little forced. It may work better if filmed in a suitably gross-out fashion.

Zany horror/comedy - I laughed!

Share this page