British Comedy Guide

Turkish Customs

Just remembered I had this. It's a sketch I wrote starring someone I work with and a Turkish Customs Official.

We designed some T-Shirts last year for an event in Turkey that never got there in time. This is what we suspected was going to happen to the T-shirts once we realised that they weren't going to arrive. ;)

-------------------------------------------------
TURKISH CUSTOMS HALL. DAY. TURKISH CUSTOMS OFFICIAL AND NEANA ARE LOOKING AT SOME BOXES THAT ARE TO BE DELIVERED FOR THE CONFERENCE.

TURKISH CUSTOMS OFFICIAL (TCO): So what's in the boxes?

NEANA: TShirts - 600 of them.

TCO: TShirts? What kind of TShirts?

NEANA: You know - TShirts...with our company logo on it.

TCO: So you're selling them

NEANA: No, they're freebies. We're giving them away at a conference.

TCO: Why?

NEANA: Why? Oh, er, it's a marketing thing. Branding, public relations.

TCO: Are you sure you're giving them away? Lot of TShirts to just 'give away'.

NEANA: (IRRITATED) Yes, they're giveaways. A momento from attending the conference.

TCO: I don't believe you.

NEANA: What?

TCO: I think you sell them for cash. Make money from our people without paying the proper import duties.

NEANA: That's not true!

TCO: I will have to impound them until I receive the correct paper work. Come back in a fortnight.

NEANA: But the event's this week. I've been trying to get them released since Monday. If we don't give them out at the conference they'll be virtually useless - they've got the date on them and everything.

TCO: Not my problem.

NEANA: I fly back to the UK in two days time for God's sake - I can't come back in a fortnight.

TCO: Why not? Istanbul is lovely in May. Lot's of swimming, sandy beaches - it's wonderful. My brother has a boat - he take you round the bay. He may even buy one of your TShirts.

NEANA IS GETTING REALLY ANGRY NOW.

NEANA: You've not heard the last of this matey! Somebody will pay for this or...

TCO: Or what?

NEANA: Or...or...Oh, forget it!

NEANA WALKS OUT. THE TURKISH CUSTOMS OFFICIAL PICKS UP THE PHONE AS HE BEGINS TO SEARCH THROUGH THE BOXES

TCO: Hey, Mustafa! Want some new merchandise for the bazaar?

CUT TO MARKET STALL OUTSIDE THE CONFERENCE VENUE WHERE TSHIRTS ARE BEING SOLD TO DELEGATES. NEANA WALKS OUT THE BUILDING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, FLUSTERED, HAVING NOT SEEN THE STALL AT ALL.

END

It's good for a scene in a drama but not funny enough to stand on its own as a comedy.

I did find it funny. Not piss myself funny but smiley funny. The two main characters would be great in a one off comedy drama. You should think about that. Sure you could add a few more gags but the main basis is there & thats the hardest bit. Well done!

NEANA: Why? Oh, er, it's a marketing thing. Branding, public relations
TCO: In Turkey, if we mean business we brand with shoe marks on face.

Thats what I would do anyway. Make TCO a turkish drug dealer or something.

Share this page