Gas Chamber sketch

Any takers?

INT. SAN QUENTIN PENITENTIARY - NIGHT

A GAS CHAMBER. A PRISONER IS STRAPPED INTO A CHAIR.
BEHIND A GLASS PARTITION, A WARDEN TALKS VIA SPEAKER.

WARDEN:
Terence William Franklin, you have been sentenced to death-by-gas by the state of California. Do you have any last words?

PRISONER:
Let’s give them what they want, Warden.

A WITNESS COUGHS NERVOUSLY.
THE WARDEN NODS TO A MAN IN A HOOD.
THE EXECUTIONER PULLS A LEVER.
GAS PUMPS INTO THE CHAMBER. THE PRISONER YELLS IN AGONY, HIS SCREAMS TURNING TO A HIGH-PITCHED SHRIEK.

PRISONER:
(CHIPMUNK VOICE)
I think someone mixed up the gas.

Brilliant.

Oh now that's good, but very dark.

Brilliant.

Ace

Very funny.

Only thing that spoilt it for me was that there would be no helium there to mix up in the first place.

i'd have thought this made more sense:

PRISONER:
(CHIPMUNK VOICE)
What's going on?

WARDEN (ANGRY)
Second time this month people, and it still ain't funny.

Quote: M Lewis @ May 6 2008, 12:10 PM BST

Only thing that spoilt it for me was that there would be no helium there to mix up in the first place.

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I think youre sort of missing the point there; this aint no documentary. The sketch works.

Quote: M Lewis @ May 6 2008, 12:10 PM BST

i'd have thought this made more sense:

PRISONER:
(CHIPMUNK VOICE)
What's going on?

WARDEN (ANGRY)
Second time this month people, and it still ain't funny.

View original

Or perhaps, when the prisoner starts screaming in a high pitched voice the warden and guards start laughing and the warden says, "April fool!"

Quote: Matthew Stott @ May 6 2008, 12:16 PM BST

I think youre sort of missing the point there; this aint no documentary. The sketch works.

View original

Its does...but the 1st part is all so serious, just seems a shame to make it unbelievable at the end when you want the greatest contrast between the funny voice and the drama of an execution.

Quote: M Lewis @ May 6 2008, 12:22 PM BST

Its does...but the 1st part is all so serious, just seems a shame to make it unbelievable at the end when you want the greatest contrast between the funny voice and the drama of an execution.

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Thats what does it for me, from serious to silly and lightly surreal in one fell swoop.

Disturbing.

I liked it too. Nice and simple.

Thanks, all. I wasn't expecting this to get much of a reception to be honest. I have to admit, I rather like M Lewis' suggestion (or at least a variation of it). I'll certainly keep it as an alternative take.

Quote: David Bussell @ May 6 2008, 2:46 PM BST

I have to admit, I rather like M Lewis' suggestion

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jez, dont sound so please about it