'THE PET SHOP PLOY'
MOUSTACHIOED 'SPIV' WALKS INTO A PET SHOP
HE HAS A NEWSPAPER IN ONE HAND, AND A BRIEFCASE IN THE OTHER
PET SHOP OWNER: Good afternoon, sir. Can I help you?
CUSTOMER: Hello. I've got a proposition for you. If you give me a dog, then I'll swap it for this briefcase. It's a straight exchange, no money involved.
PET SHOP OWNER: A very intriguing proposition from sir. May I ask sir what the briefcase contains?
CUSTOMER: That's the gamble, you see. The briefcase might contain something great. It might not. Are you prepared to take the risk? Swap a dog for this briefcase?
PET SHOP OWNER: Well, what sort of dog does sir want?
CUSTOMER: A f**kin' green one that goes 'quack'! What do you think?!
PET SHOP OWNER: Well, I think sir is having a little joke. I was enquiring about the breed. Perhaps sir would like to have a Shih Tzu?
CUSTOMER: Don't be disgusting. I already told you, I want a dog. A canine creature that runs after sticks. Surely you must know the sort of thing?
PET SHOP OWNER: Oh yes. All right, sir has won me over with his delightful discourse. I shall accept your offer, select a dog at random, and swap it with you for that briefcase and its contents.
PET SHOP OWNER GETS A PUPPY FROM UNDER THE COUNTER
PET SHOP OWNER: Well, here's the dog.
CUSTOMER: It's a bit big. But it's great. OK, here's the briefcase.
HE PUTS THE BRIEFCASE ON THE COUNTER
PET SHOP OWNER: Thank you, sir. I shall now open the briefcase in order to view the contents.
PET SHOP OWNER OPENS THE BRIEFCASE AND TAKES OUT A BOWL WITH A GOLDFISH IN IT
PET SHOP OWNER: Well, it appears that I have just given sir a dog, and in return, he has given me a briefcase that contained a goldfish in a bowl.
CUSTOMER: You got it, wise guy.
PET SHOP OWNER: Hmm. Is sir going to leave now, then, with his new dog companion?
CUSTOMER: No, no. That was never part of the deal. I'm going to stay here.
PET SHOP OWNER: Er... What? You're going to stay here in the shop?
CUSTOMER: Yes. Of course.
THE DOG SITS BY THE COUNTER
THE CUSTOMER WALKS OVER TO A LARGE CAGE AND GETS INSIDE
PET SHOP OWNER: Well, it appears that sir has just got into a cage which is traditionally used for housing non-human animals.
CUSTOMER: Yep.
CUSTOMER SITS DOWN AND STARTS READING THE NEWSPAPER
CUSTOMER: So, what's for tea?
THE DOG, STILL SITTING BY THE COUNTER, LOOKS UP AT THE PET SHOP OWNER WITH A CONFUSED EXPRESSION