Letters

Int. Study

A man is sat at a desk writing a letter. He looks up at the camera.

Man: Oh I am sorry. I'll be with you in a minute. Just finishing a letter off.

The man goes back to writing his letter.

Man: (READING TO HIMSELF) And unfortunately your rectum will not be required on this occasion. Yours sincerely, Gerald Flipton.

The man signs his letter and looks back up.

Man: Letters are a wonderful way of communicating aren't they? The other day, I got one from the local hospital. It was informing me that I had terminal cancer. "Surely there must be some mistake" I thought. I read the letter again, but the result was as clear as day - I had terminal cancer. Desperately I read it one more time and then started to laugh. "Darling!" I cried to my wife "I've opened your mail by mistake!". Oh we did laugh!

ENDS

Nice one WL. Reminded me instantly of The Fast Show style, which was good at first but then I remembered, "Which was nice" sketch. Yours is still good with a nice gag though.

Excellent stuff. Bitter and twisted-just how I like my tea.

This is 5 stars, Winterlight.

A bit of a Viz I think.

Yes good un Winty.

This was one of those sketches that I wasn't 100% sure of, but seeing as it's got a good response I'll put it in the keep pile. It's funny how the sketches you least suspect of being liked end up being quite popular.

Quote: Winterlight @ February 18, 2008, 9:48 AM

Man: Letters are a wonderful way of communicating aren't they? The other day, I got one from the local hospital. It was informing me that I had terminal cancer. "Surely there must be some mistake" I thought. I read the letter again, but the result was as clear as day - I had terminal cancer. Desperately I read it one more time and then started to laugh. "Darling!" I cried to my wife "I've opened your mail by mistake!". Oh we did laugh!

View original

I recommend you keep this sketch in a safe place.

In the event that your wife is ever informed she's suffering from inoperable cancer, make two nice cups of tea and read this sketch aloud to cheer yourselves up.

Love the joke. I'm not sure the first part does it justice, though. The rectum gag seemed a bit childish and takes away from what comes next.

I agree it needs some sort of build-up, but maybe it should be a bit more serious so the joke comes as even more of a surprise. Maybe he could be voicing a nice letter to a relative, or charity or something. Something to boost his air of respectability and confirm his good charcter, prior to this being radically disproved.

Tis good Ben. Love the punchline.

Oh I like the first part. It sets up the sillyness, like something Fry and Laurie would have done back in the 90's.

I see what you mean though, Barbs. I'm intending to send this off in a batch of sketches and already have a couple of "nice guy suddenly turns bad" ones in there, so best to keep this one a little different.