New project

Trying to get a general bead on whether or not this is funny to anyone else.
The premise is a office department in an Orwellian distopia.

Ministry of Fun

"Opposite Day"

INT.OFFICE - DAY

PETER enters wearing sunglasses and looking hungover, he makes his way to his work station and is intercepted by CAROL

CAROL

Nice and early today, Peter.

Peter

Er, sorry, I....

CAROL

I knew you'd remember that it's not opposite day.

PETER

Oh, that. Look I'm not up to mental gymnastics today. Can I declare myself out?

CAROL

Of course you can! Why don't you go and put your feet up all day while I don't call HR about your sparkling punctuality.

PETER

You know what? I'm feeling a little better.

CAROL

That's not the spirit!

CAROL goes back to her desk. PETER makes his way to his workstation and sits opposite IAN.

IAN

Afternoon, Peter.

PETER

Ian.

IAN

I hate opposite day. It's the one day of the year I least look forward to. I shudder at the thought of having to use my inferior intellect to invert dialogue. Tell me, Peter, do you despise it as much as I do?

PETER

Yes, I mean No. Look, my brain's going numb, have you got any painkillers?

IAN

Yes

PETER

(warily)

Can I have some?

IAN

Of course, hold out your hand.

IAN goes into his draw while PETER holds out his hand. Quickly IAN brings out a stapler and fires two staples into PETERS open palm.

PETER

Argh! What the F**k?

CAROL comes across hurriedly

Carol

Is everything okay?

PETER

No, it bloody well isn't!

CAROL

Well, if you're sure.

CAROL walks back to her desk, PETER sits back down and glares at IAN who is typing away with a wry smile on his face.

I like that extract. It is weird yet compelling. I would definitely read more but I think it would need to lead to somewhere ie some good punchline otherwise it is possible the 'opposite' idea could wear a little thin. Unless perhaps the world you create was like that all the time which would lead to quote a surreal concept.

Def.

Althogh this episode is "opposite day" there is planned scenes (i.e Peters performance review and a chat with his girlfriend) that don't or rarely use the oppositeness.
I'm throwing round ideas for future episodes in my head (including other departments and the "big brother" character) but it's only a day old so bear with me.

I'm taking a different direction with this. Going for a surreal, writing agency based sitcom.
Here's some more stuff, adapted from my "adventrues of Simon and Declan" skit.

ACT I

Scene 1

INT.OFFICE - Comedy Production Company - DAY

MR SIDWELL sits in a swivel chair, the desk in front of him has a phone on it. ADRIAN enters carrying a pile of scripts.

Adrian

Thanks for agreeing to see me again, Mr Sidwell.

MR SIDWELL

I thought you deserved a chance to redeem yourself, sit down. I heard you had gone into the greeting card industry?

Adrian

Well, we had some talks with the company and it was all going well when.....

Adrians voice begins to trail off. A harp begins playing dream sequence transition music.

MR SIDWELL

Security!

The music stops suddenly. Out of shot there are sounds of a commotion and a harp being smashed. Adrian snaps out of his trance.

Adrian

Sorry.

MR SIDWELL

Listen! Any shenanigans and you're out of the door, understood?

Adrian

Absolutely

MR SIDWELL

What have you got for me then?

Adrian

These are the thirty two bestest new scripts in Sitcom land right now.

MR SIDWELL

I'm listening

Adrian

This is Protocol. A witty observation on modern spy thrillers. You'll love this!

Adrian

Interior. Office. Day. A former agent sits in an office, suddenly a phone rings.

Suddenly. MR SIDWELLS phone rings.

MR SIDWELL

(wearily)

Hello. Yes he is. Right!

MR SIDWELL presses a button on his phone switching it to loudspeaker. THE PRESIDENT is on the other end of the phone. Fast paced dramatic music plays in the background.

THE PRESIDENT

Agent Davis, this is the President.

Adrian

Mr President?

THE PRESIDENT

Listen carefully, we don't have much time. Military intelligence services found a script during a raid on a terrorist training camp. I need your eyes to determine if this script is a credible threat to national security.

Adrian

Damn it, Mr President! I love my country but I've been out of the field for too long.

THE PRESIDENT

It has to be you! I'm provisionally reinstating you. Again! The warehouse is seven kilometres east of your current location. It'll take you four minutes to get there but nineteen to get back. May god.....

MR SIDWELL pulls the phone cord out of the wall. The music stops suddenly.

MR SIDWELL

I knew this was a mistake

Adrian

Maybe if I just read the synopsis for the script, that can't hurt.

MR SIDWELL

Okay, but be warned you are standing on unbelievably thin ice.

Adrian

Let's see....Trace. A spoof CSI style detective comedy.

MR SIDWELL

Go on.

Adrian

Set inside a high tech, er (scribbles) low tech crime lab. Detectives use an array of increasingly technical and outlandish methods to analyse murder scenes. Methods vary from Alien laser scanners to, er, Robot dogs.

Adrian puts the script to one side and looks apologetically at MR SIDWELL

MR SIDWELL

Next!

Adrian

Ambulance Chasers

MR SIDWELL

That better not be a literal title.

Adrian

It's okay. It's a hilarious romp of legal incompetence and court based comedy.

MR SIDWELL

This is more like it

Adrian

Follow the exploits of Royston Legal as they bungle the claims of their injury prone clients. The clients stories are retold through exaggerated flashbacks shot in black and white and accompanied by dread ridden music.

The MR SIDWELL puts his head in his hands

Adrian

Starring the bloke who played Don Beech in The Bill

MR SIDWELL

Right, you've wasted enough of my time!

Adrian

I've got it! You'll absolutely love this one, I promise.

MR SIDWELL

I must be mad!

Adrian

Inhuman Resources. Carol, HR manager of a busy intergalactic spaceport, has to resolve the day to day disputes of the 20,000 staff featuring 300 different alien species at the newly opened Nebula B terminal 5.

MR SIDWELL

Are you taking the piss out of me?

Adrian

I'm not, it's brilliant. It's got conflict, humour, drama, forbidden love, you name it!

MR SIDWELL

300 different alien species? Did you see the sign on the door? Did it say James Cameron?

Adrian

Well no, but...

MR SIDWELL

I tell you what, I'll just phone up Peter Jackson shall I? See if WETA can squeeze us in.

Adrian

There's no need to be sarcastic

MR SIDWELL

Just get out!

Scene II

Ext. Street Day

Adrian is stood outside the comedy production company offices. He puts his phone to his ear. We hear the phone ringing and COLIN answers.

COLIN

Adrian? How did it go?

Adrian

Not good, mate. He turned them down.

COLIN

Which ones?

Adrian

All 32

COLIN

But... I thought you said you'd help me. You promised

Adrian

That's just the way it goes, mate. I'm just as disappointed, I thought we had a good relationship with these guys

F/X

Sound of a gun cocking on the other end of the phone

Adrian

Colin? Is that a gun? Colin don't do anything stupid, please. It's not that bad, mate.

COLIN

I'm finished and it's all your fault.

Adrian

Come on, mate. Think about your wife and kids.

COLIN

It's too late. Goodbye, Adrian.

The phone goes dead

Adrian

Colin?

A red dot appears on Adrians chest. Adrian notices it.

Adrian

No!

A shot rings out and Adrian collapses to the floor

BLACK OUT