THE JOKE'S ON US
PUB.
TOM bored...
Enter DICK, manic, flapping arms...
DICK Hey Tom, I got a great new hobby.
TOM (yawns) that is beyond awesome, mate. What is it this time?
DICK (proud) Telling - jokes!
TOM Great!
LONG PAUSE.
TOM So?
DICK I thought you could help.
TOM (sighs) All right... Well there are certain techniques you can use.
DICK Take who?
TOM Shut up, Dickhead. I mean, structures.
DICK Like playgrounds?
TOM Shut UP. Like - 'What's the difference between...?'
DICK I don't know.
TOM I hadn't finished. Dickwipe.
DICK Sorry.
TOM Like, What's the difference between Madonna and Covid? Covid MIGHT go away. (chuckles)
DICK (pause) I get it! All right, What's the difference between Madonna and Katy Perry?... Madonna has had more number ones. But to be fair to Katy, Madonna HAS been around longer, so if you calculate the actual...
TOM Shut UP, Dickbrain.
DICK Well you shouldn't laugh at Madonna. You know I'm gay.
TOM All right, Dicknose. Here's another: Why is Madonna...?
DICK I'm warning you, homophones...
TOM Just for the joke, okay? Why is Madonna like Covid?
DICK You just told me they were different.
TOM I know...
DICK I can't keep up with you.
TOM Just shut up, Dicktoe. Why is Madonna like Covid?
DICK You want me to answer?
TOM Because she never goes away completely! (laughs)
DICK That doesn't make sense. First you say that makes them different; now you're trying to...
TOM Shut up, Dickhair. Just try it.
DICK (thinks) Okay. Why is Madonna like Katy Perry? Because they've both had hit singles, even though Madonna has enjoyed considerably more, though as I...
TOM Shut it, Dickleg. All right, we'll try another: song titles.
DICK (thinks) Layla.
TOM Shut... This is where you put in a song title, like, 'My dad keeps lecturing me about my Madonna...'
DICK Please...
TOM My dad keeps lecturing me about my Madonna obsession. I said, Papa, don't preach... Okay?
DICK (thinks) All right... I like Madonna. Hey Jude.
TOM There has to be a connection...
DICK I like Madonna. Vogue.
TOM It has to contradict...
DICK I like Madonna. Hey Jude.
TOM Right, forget it.
DICK Sorry.
TOM You just haven't got a clue, have you?
DICK No. Apologies.
TOM In fact, you know why I hate people telling old jokes?
DICK I'm sorry. I haven't a clue.