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Comedy
After Barlinnie
By coosh
23 August 2006
Old joke, original script - (and apologies to all who see the punchline a mile off)
(Some adult language)

(GLASGOW. INTERIOR. ROBBIE AND CRAIG ARE TWO WELL-BUILT, SHAVEN-HEADED NED-LIKE CREATURES IN BLACK SUITS WHO KNOW EACH OTHER AND MEET IN A QUEUE IN A TRAVEL AGENT’S)

CRAIG: So when did you get out o’ prison, then?


ROBBIE: Few months back, now. Keepin’ ma nose clean, man. Got myself a job in a bar. Music’s bloody loud, but it pays good money.


CRAIG: You’re lookin’ well, pal. Still seeing that lassie from the brewery? With the pierced tits and the randy rottweiler. What was it? Kerry?


ROBBIE: Seein’ her? I’m marrying her next week. Best thing that ever happened to me.


CRAIG: Oh aye? So she’s got no problems with that wee temper o’ yours, eh?


ROBBIE: All under control these days, man. They give you counselling in prison, you know. It’s all about slowing down, takin’ the stress out o’ your life, deep breaths from the diaphragm, calm assertive responses. No, nothing winds me up anymore.


CRAIG: Must have a taken a bit o’ time, no? I mean, it’s not exactly something you get rid of overnight.


ROBBIE: Aye, it was tough at the beginning. My first counsellor was full of all that psycho crap. Go back to your childhood, “how did you feel the first time you knifed your brother”, an’ all that. Showed me fucking pictures of coloured blobs and asked me what they reminded me of.


CRAIG: Oh aye?


ROBBIE: I used to sit there looking at her sometimes, thinking “give me one good reason, darling, why I shouldn’t rip out your liver and barbecue it on that electric heater over there”.


CRAIG: Fair enough. Some people you just don’t get on with, eh.


ROBBIE: I mean she’s the type o’ person that gets ma anger juices pumpin’. It’s not the crazy, abusive people that are a problem. The guy jaywalking through the traffic with a can o’ Special Brew telling everyone to go fuck ‘emselves. I can deal with them easily.


CRAIG: Aye.


ROBBIE: It’s the quiet, reserved, polite, diplomatic wankers that make my blood boil, the ones who make banal bloody weather conversation, but at the same time, you can tell they’re judging you.


CRAIG: Like the English, you mean?


ROBBIE: It’s those people who sit in banks behind their computers with their little gold name-tags pinned to their chests, and make smart-arsed provocative comments like “You appear to have exceeded you overdraft limit, Mr. Docherty” and “We do operate a queuing system here, by the way”, guys who work in car parks, post offices. garden centres, supermarkets, those kind o’ bastards…


CRAIG: Oh, right. But that’s all behind you now, eh?


ROBBIE: Absolutely. Barely a frown has crossed my forehead in months, man. I can deal with it all now. Self-control, that’s the key.


(THEY ARRIVE AT THE FRONT OF THE QUEUE TO BE GREETED BY A SMILING YOUNG MALE ASSISTANT (WITH A NAME-TAG))


ASSISTANT: Good morning, Sir. How can I help you?


ROBBIE: Well, I was wondering if you could suggest something for ma honeymoon…


(ASSISTANT REACHES OUT TO ONE OF THE NEARBY BROCHURES)


ASSISTANT: What about Niagara?


(ROBBIE LOOKS AT THE ASSISTANT, GRABS HIM BY THE LAPELS AND WITH ONE FIERCE HEAD-BUTT, THE ASSISTANT HAS BEEN RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS AND HAS DISAPPEARED BEHIND THE COUNTER. ROBBIE PICKS UP THE BROCHURE, TURNS TO LEAVE THE SHOP AND THEN EXAMINES THE FRONT OF THE BROCHURE. HE TURNS BACK TO THE NOW UNMANNED COUNTER)


ROBBIE: Oh, sorry, pal. My hearing’s a bit dodgy at the moment. See you around, Craigie boy.


(ROBBIE LEAVES)






  


 

Reviews
Great content but...
Written by gerardconnolly (1186 comments posted) 23rd August 2006
coosh, 
 
I like the style and I can't put my finger on why you keep misfiring. This is the kind of content I just love. It's the delivery that's letting you down. Listen, I did a piece in a similar vein a long time back Feb/March of this year..? on this site : ' IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY CUSTOMER SERVICES HELPLINE' . Have a screw of it and tell me what you think. I don't usually recommend my own postings, but I think that may give you an idea of what I mean. 
 
Do keep piping them. 
 
Slan!
concept joke
Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3449 comments posted) 23rd August 2006
Was this as effortless to write as it appeared. I get the impression you could turn this stuff out ad infinitum. OK the ending was a bit of a groan but it was good enough to hold the gag. The trouble was it was the only gag, playing on the concept of scots heavies doing therapy was good but the length necessitated a few more jokes for me anyway 
enjoyed it 
BBS

Written by coosh (888 comments posted) 23rd August 2006
Re: gerardconnolly: In terms of this script, well, I started with the punchline for the first time ever - but reading it back, I feel I've crowbarred a reasonablish dialogue into a fairly weak joke.  
 
Regarding, your broader question. Don't know, but will take up your recommendations and get back to you either tomorrow or when I return next week. Thanks for taking an interest. 
 
Re: BBS: Yes, gag-wise, it's limp - but I think, as a draft that could be built on, maybe there's something in some of it... 
To answer your other point: if the ideas are clear in my head, it takes very little time to write - but I never sit down in front of a blank screen and just hope for inspiration. Thanks for the review. 

Written by Phil (6838 comments posted) 23rd August 2006
Read very smoothly. Dialogue brought to mind some Irvine Welsh. Find myself agreeing with BBS (for the second time today) another gag or two along the way would have helped. 
Enjoyed it. 
Phil.
My view
Written by givitsum (651 comments posted) 23rd August 2006
Hi coosh, without meaning to be dull, I agree with my learned colleagues above wholeheartedly. 
 
It's clear you have a talent for this type of thing. With persistence and hard work I'm sure you'll one day do great things. A bit like Ronnie O' Sullivan used to be: Natural talent, just had to work out how best to channel it. 
 
Rgds 
 
Givitsum
Enough said...
Written by woody44 (777 comments posted) 24th August 2006
It`s all been said. You have the talent for writing this stuff so at the risk of boring your arse off- keep at it. There is without doubt a little gem out there.. 
 
happy writing 
woody

Written by coosh (888 comments posted) 24th August 2006
...and without meaning to be dull and boring the arse off you Phil, givitsum and woody44, thanks for the feedback, and I'll start putting in more time reading on this site, I hope, soon.

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