British Comedy Guide

The Cabinet Apprentice

The Cabinet Apprentice

GORDON BROWN AS ALAN SUGAR AND MARGARET THATCHER AS SUGAR’S ADVISOR MARGARET. FACING SUGAR/BROWN ARE ALISTAIR DARLING AND RUTH KELLY.

BROWN
You all know why you’re here.

DARLING
With all due respect, Sir Gordon, I gave 110%-

BROWN
Shut up Darling. You’ve been given the task of managing this country’s finances and you’ve been giving 110%?! You ever stop to think, in that little brain of yours, that leaves us 10% in debt?! You can’t give 110%, it doesn’t flamin’ work!

DARLING
Erm-

BROWN
I gave you a simple task – a lorry-load of half baked policies, and asked you to sell them to the public. Margaret, have you got the figures?

MARGARET
Yes. Alistair Darling’s team, erm, they-

BROWN
Well it wasn’t a profit, was it?

MARGARET
No, because of Northern Rock it was in fact a £25 billion loss.

BROWN
£25 billion! (LOOKS AT MARGARET) Are you serious? Right, Ruth Kelly, let’s hear your side of the story. I set you the task of improving the transport network. You cocked it up, didn’t you?

KELLY
Well actually I disagree-

BROWN
Don’t give me any this and that, I don’t need it. Roads are jammed. Takes me forever to get anywhere, and I’ve got a Jaguar. You used to be in charge of schools. You messed up that task too, didn’t you? Margaret here tells me you let in a load of paedophiles. Now, I know it was a difficult challenge, but-

MARGARET
Paedophiles and schools are not a good mix.

BROWN
What a shower! What a flaming shower! Cabinet, you’re fired.

DARLING
What, me as well?

BROWN
Yes you. Why do they keep sending me these people? Run the country? You lot couldn’t run a bloody tap. Anyway Margaret, it does mean we get an early night. You know I’ll always be your apprentice, don’t you?

MARGARET GROWLS LIKE A TIGER

ENDS

I like it, even though you are using a somewhat similar stylee to me.

Similar style? What do you mean?

Just we write topicals in a similar style. Lots of transposition and stuff.

Oh, right. Well, I think that's what works. Definitely makes things more accessible and gives more bang for your buck IMO.

Like the political theme and the popular culture tv reference. Makes it very relevant.

I guess if it is for any of the revues the more Alan Sugar actual language you can use the easier it is to perform. If not, no problem.

Ah Brown/Sugar how come you taste so good
(a-ha) Brown/Sugar, just like a minister should....

kjs

Yep - very nice and the most topical topical I've seen on here in a while.

If I was to change anything it would be the passage below. Seems a bit lumpy compared to the rest of the copy.

BROWN
Don’t give me any this and that, I don’t need it. Roads are jammed. Takes me forever to get anywhere, and I’ve got a Jaguar. You used to be in charge of schools. You messed up that task too, didn’t you? Margaret here tells me you let in a load of paedophiles. Now, I know it was a difficult challenge, but-

Mm, that bit is a bit "lumpy". It improves just by taking out the last line. The idea just came into my head and I did a 5-minute job on it to get it out as quickly as possible.

Can see it being made, though I'd add Darling making a very puny meow as well. With Gordon going, alright then you as well. Darlin g as effmeinate, and a bit gay, seems a popular gag in these unenlightened days.

Can see it being made, though I'd add Darling making a very puny meow as well. With Gordon going, alright then you as well. Darlin g as effmeinate, and a bit gay, seems a popular gag in these unenlightened days.

When are you going back to arse gags, James - I haven't even seen the Apprentice.

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