SMITHFIELD & COX

page 9

SMITHFIELD

Look, if this was a comedy, if we were doing–

COX

This is a comedy.

SMITHFIELD

Inform the audience.

COX

It has to be a comedy.

SMITHFIELD

Why?

COX

Because, it’s not a tragedy, or a drama, or a kitchen sink…thing, or a–

SMITHFIELD

Can I just make my point?

COX

I wish you would.

SMITHFIELD

I mean the kind of comedy where people actually laugh out loud.

COX

Go on.

SMITHFIELD

If we were in a comedy like that, and there was a full house, you know, people packed all together, and we were really on, the people might laugh more at things they didn’t normally, or laugh longer at things they did, and the play might take more time.

COX

But even on a night like that, one more or one less person–

SMITHFIELD

I’m saying no to that. A packed house comedy with a bunch of people laughing isn’t going to change because one person didn’t make it.

COX

What if it was a guy with a giant funny laugh?

SMITHFIELD

A guy with what?

COX

A guy who had one of those laughs that just rocks the audience. That comes rumbling out of his belly and infects everyone around him?

SMITHFIELD

You mean a chucklehead?