[Sunny Los Angeles
day. Larry and Jeff walking on the
sidewalk on their way to get a cup of coffee]
Larry: You know we
always have something to bullshit about.
It’s nice
Jeff: Yeah
Larry: It is, because
there are people, and I would venture to say, a lot of people, who really have
nothing to say, you know, nothing to talk about.
Jeff: Talking is
good.
Larry: Talking IS
good. What’s not to like about
talking? It is very communicative. It really is a great way to communicate a
feeling to somebody else. It’s better
than hand gestures, they can be confusing.
Jeff: Well, there’s
one hand gesture I’m sure you understand very well
[Gives Larry the middle finger]
Larry [laughing]: Oh
yeah, I know that one very well. I think
that was invented so the people who don’t like to talk very much can still
communicate with me.
[Walk into the starbucks]
Larry [Standing in line for coffee]: I wonder what the quadriplegic deaf person
does. How do you think he is able to do
the whole sign language thing?
Jeff: You wonder
about this?
Larry: Yeah, I really
do. I mean, he’s deaf, right, so he
needs his hands so he can say, maybe, get me some food [motions with his
hands]. But if he is a quadriplegic, it
must be very difficult.
Jeff: You know, I
wouldn’t worry about this…
Larry: Because he can
see you move your hands and understand what you are saying, but he can’t
respond. You could really take advantage
of that. [To no one in particular] Hey, buddy, can I borrow five dollars
[motioning with hands] Oh, well, he doesn’t seem to have a problem with that…[pantomimes
removing 5 dollars from the wallet]
Jeff: There’s
probably an organization for quadriplegic deaf people
Larry: Right, the OFQDP
Jeff: Yeah, right,
the OFQDP, they take care of things like this…
Larry: [Sees sign
next to bathroom] Huh, would you look at that
Jeff: What?
Larry: That sign on
the bathroom says, “For restaurant patrons only”
Jeff: Yeah, so
Larry: Well, it’s a
bathroom. Why should you make a purchase
to use the bathroom?
Jeff: So there aren’t
people who come in off the street looking to use the bathroom.
Larry: Oh, right,
like there are thousands of people roaming the street, gangs of people walking
around with full bladders, liable to start shitting and pissing at any moment,
to drown the city in a sea of disgusting filth unless they can get to the
nearest lavatory immediately
Jeff: [simply shrugs]
[It’s their turn to step to the register and order]
Larry: Okkkkaay. Okkkkaaay.
[in his Larry voice] mmm..so many choices. How do I make such a difficult choice. [Back to regular voice]. I think that I’ll have a tall coffee
Barista: Ok sir [Goes
to prepare the order]
Larry: Wait, wait,
I’m not done…with, do you have any of the fluffy milk?
Barista: Yes sir we
do
Larry: Ok, with
that. And some sugar. [To Jeff]
I really like the fluffy milk. It
makes me feel like I am one of the elite.
[To barista] Hey, let me ask you
a question.
Barista: Yes
Larry: Is the
bathroom reserved specifically for patrons?
Barista: Yes, sir,
that’s what the sign says
Larry: Yes, I know
that’s what the sign says, but I just thought it might be a mistake of some
kind
Barista: Why would it
be a mistake? The sign was printed and
put up there. It is no mistake
Larry: Well sign
makers make mistakes all the time
Barista: No they
don’t, sir
Larry: Oh really,
well do you know any sign makers?
Barista: No I don’t,
sir
Larry: Well then how
do you know if they make mistakes or not?
Barista: I don’t,
sir, but in any case, that is the policy that only patrons can use the
bathroom.
Larry: Well that
seems like a pretty capricious policy if you ask me
Barista: Well I’m
sorry, sir, but that’s how it is
[Stares at her for a minute]
Larry: Okay, thanks
for the coffee
[Jeff and Larry leave the shop and are standing on the
sidewalk]
Larry: Listen, I have to meet Cheryl here. We are going shopping for her dinner party tonight. You and Suzie are coming, right?
Jeff: Yeah of course,
wouldn’t miss it.
[Cheryl walks up]
Cheryl: Hi Jeff
Jeff: Hi Cheryl. Can’t wait for the party. I gotta run, but I’ll see you guys later.
Cheryl: See you. [To Larry]
Thanks for coming shopping with me
Larry: Of course why
wouldn’t I? There’s nothing I love more
than to spend the day with my lovely wife, while she’s shopping and comparing,
making sure our humble home is presentable to the guests. So who’s coming to
this thing?
Cheryl: Well, let’s
see, Jeff and Suzie, Ted and Mary, my friends Shelly and Steve are coming with
their two kids.
Larry: Shelly and
Steve?
Cheryl: Yeah, you
know. Shelly is from my environmental
group.
Larry: Oh, and I also
invited Eric from down the street.
Cheryl: Oh, really,
you did?
Larry: What, is that
a problem?
Cheryl: It’s just
that, every time he comes over, he always brings that hot sauce and puts it all
over everything.
Larry: So, he likes
the hot sauce
Cheryl: Yeah, but I
work really hard to make a good meal, and, I find it a little insulting
Larry: Insulting, oh
come on, it’s not insulting. It’s a
condiment. Condiments aren’t
insulting. They’re neutral. Maybe if he added cheese or fried it, then
that would be insulting. It would change
the characteristics of the dish. Salt,
pepper, ketchup, mustard – they were developed so that people who go to dinner
parties can personalize their meals to their own tastes without insulting the
host
Cheryl: Oh really
Larry: Oh yeah, years
ago a war almost broke out between two kingdoms when one kingdom insisted that
the food that the other kingdom was serving was too bland. The condiment was created as part of the
treaty to provide an insult-free way to spice up a platter.
Cheryl: Okay [In her,
I’ve-had-enough-of-this-ridiculous-banter tone of voice]
Larry: The Treaty of Worcestershire
Cheryl: Alright
[Walking into the store]
[Larry, browsing the wares]
Larry: These stores
really amaze me. The fact that there is
an entire store devoted just to the dinner party. It’s really fascinating. Look at this, a whole wall of table cloths. Dishes, forks, serving sets… wow, look.
Cheryl: What?
Larry: $125 for a
serving spoon.
Cheryl: Well, it’s a
nice spoon. It’s very ornate.
Larry: Yeah, well,
what could you possibly be serving that you need to spend $125 on a ladle? The Pilgrims bought Manhattan for less than that.
[Walks up to the cashier]
Larry: So do you go
to a lot of dinner parties?
Cashier: Some,
yes. Why?
Larry: Well, you work
in a store devoted to educating people about dinner parties. I would expect that you attend many yourself
just to stay up to date on the newest trends.
Cashier: Actually, I
really can’t stand dinner parties.
Larry: Really? Huh. A
self-hating cashier. Very interesting. You don’t find many of those.
Cashier: Yeah, I find
them really uncomfortable. What with all
of the small talk.
Larry: Kind of like
what we’re doing right now
Cashier: Yeah, kind
of
Larry: So this
conversation is uncomfortable for you
Cashier: Yes, I guess
it is
Larry: Well you are
in luck because I have to use the bathroom.
Do you have one here?
Cashier: No, I’m
sorry. We don’t
Larry: [Walks over to
Cheryl] Listen, I have to use the
bathroom, and they don’t have one here.
I’m going to run next door to the coffee shop.
Cheryl: Okay
[Larry walks next door to the coffee shop, and goes to use
the bathroom. The barista is wiping off
one of the tables]
Barista: Excuse me,
sir, what are you doing?
Larry: I’m going to
use the bathroom.
Barista: [Pointing to
the sign] I’m sorry, but the bathroom is
for customers only
Larry: I am a
customer. I was in here earlier. Remember, the fluffy milk?
Barista: Yes, but you
left the store. If you would like to use
the bathroom, you have to make a purchase.
Larry: But I made a
purchase already
Barista: But you left
the store, sir.
Larry: So what? I went next door to shop. Is there a threshold I am not allowed to
cross? Some sort of boundary where, if breached,
all bathroom privileges cease? What if I
step outside to make a call subsequent to my purchase, and then I come back in? Can I not use the bathroom then?
Barista: You
can. But you left the store and went
somewhere else.
Larry: So my time
expired? There’s an expiration on this?
Barista: Yes sir, I’m
sorry, but there is.
Larry: How about
this: If I come here with my friend, but
only he makes a purchase and I don’t, can I use the bathroom then?
Barista: Of course
Larry: But I didn’t
make a purchase
Barista: But your
friend did
Larry: Yeah, well
what if my friend has to use the bathroom as well?
Barista: He can do
that
Larry: So you’re
saying that I can come in here with a whole party of people, and as long as one
person so much as buys a Danish, we all have unlimited bathroom privileges,
provided we do not break the threshold while we’re here?
Barista: Well…
Larry: Ok,
listen. I came in earlier and made a
purchase. But I didn’t use the bathroom
when I was in. So, effectively, I have
one credit good for one flush. I have a
flush owed to me.
Barista: I’m sorry
but to use the bathroom you have to make a purchase.
Larry: You know, this
is really insane. I was in here earlier
and I bought coffee. I didn’t have to
use the bathroom then. But after
drinking your coffee, I have to go. I
think that it is incumbent upon this store to provide me adequate facilities to
relieve myself.
Barista: Sir, if
you’d like to buy…
Larry: Ok, ok. Forget it.
I’ll go somewhere else.
[Larry leaves the coffee shop]
[Back in the store with Cheryl. She is buying her goods.]
Larry: [Points to a
knick-knack by the register] Is that…oh,
sorry, not going to make small talk.
[Cashier smiles faintly, in acknowledgement, not in
laughter]
Larry: It’s not
really small talk, though, for me to ask you a question about one of the
products. That actually falls within the
job description. It’s a fine line
really. If we start talking about this
product, but then segue off-topic, then we’ve entered into small talk. But small talk is really when people talk for
the sake of filling up time, and you and I, presumably, would be having a
legitimate discussion about this other topic.
So, really, even though we don’t know each other, we could avoid small
talk all together. That’s pretty good, huh?
[Looking at both Cheryl and the cashier, pleased with himself]
Larry: [To the
cashier] I’m Larry by the way, what’s your name?
[In the car, driving with Cheryl]
Cheryl: Ok, we just
have to go to this one last store so I can get the pot roast.
[As they walk in the store]
Larry: I’ve still got
to go to the bathroom, I’ll be back.
Cheryl: Okay
[Larry walks to the back of the store, and there is a line
for the bathroom]
Larry: [To a clerk
who works at the store] Excuse me
Clerk: Yes?
Larry: How come so
many people are in line for the bathroom?
Clerk: Oh, they are probably
from the park next door and needed to use it.
Larry: Really? You know, most stores have a policy against
non-customers using the bathroom
Clerk: Oh no, not
us. I think that is a silly policy. Why should people have to pay to use the
restroom?
Larry: Well, I must
say [in his negotiating voice] my wife is actually, uh, a customer here. So I think that I should get bumped to the
head of the line.
Clerk: Oh, I’m sorry
sir, but that’s not our policy.
Larry: But we’re
buying from your store. We should be
rewarded for that.
Clerk: I’m sorry, but
you’ll have to wait in line like everyone else
Larry: [as the clerk
is walking away] It’s not right. Buyers should get preferential treatment.
[Comes out of the bathroom and sees the same brand of coffee
as the coffee shop. Goes over and
purchases a cup, then walks over to where Cheryl is]
Cheryl: Wow, another
cup of coffee?
Larry: Yeah, I know,
I’m really guzzling these things down.
Cheryl: You are.
Larry: It will help
me stay awake for the dinner party tonight.
It will keep me focused to make sure that there is not even a dull
moment. No awkward pauses, no small
talk, this dinner party is going to flout all of the stereotypes associated
with dinner parties.
Cheryl: Oh is it?
Larry: Yes it is. There will be a lot of flouting. It is going to be an exciting, vivacious,
happening dinner party with no small talk, no awkwardness and no stories about
people’s children. They’re going to end
up writing about it in the dinner party encyclopedia
Cheryl: Boy, that’s
some good coffee
Larry: Indeed
[Driving home from the store. Passes the coffee shop that he has already
been in twice that day.]
Larry: You know what,
I’m pulling over real quick.
Cheryl: Why?
Larry: I’m going to
use the bathroom.
Cheryl: Didn’t you
just go in the store we were just at?
Larry: Yeah, but I
have to go again.
[Walks into the coffee shop holding his half drunk cup of
coffee and moves triumphantly toward the bathroom]
Barista: Excuse me,
sir, where are you going?
Larry: I am GOING to
the BATHroom.
Barista: I’m sorry,
sir, but you have to make a purchase here to use the bathroom
Larry: Oh I did make
a purchase from your fine establishment, as exhibited from my partially
consumed cup of coffee. I made my
purchase and now, as a valued customer of [COFFEE CHAIN], I am going to use the
bathroom
Barista: We can’t
allow you to use the bathroom. We don’t
know if you actually purchased this, or if you just filled it with coffee in
order to use the bathroom
Larry: Are you
serious? Do you really think that I
would subversively enter your store with other coffee?
Barista: Yes, sir,
you might
Larry: Are you
crazy? Who would go through the trouble
just to use the bathroom? I bought this
coffee from one of your establishments, and I should be able to use the
bathroom. It’s like a rental car: you pick it up from Avis in Chicago ,
and you return it to Avis in Milwaukee . I bought this coffee in Pasadena , and I am using the bathroom here
Barista: I’m sorry,
but we have no way of knowing if you bought that from us.
Larry: You’re out of
your mind with your restroom rules. I’ll
have you know that I was in a market in Pasadena
and they let anybody use the bathroom.
They are civil over there. They
don’t treat people like this.
[Flustered, he leaves the shop]
[At home, he and Cheryl are finishing up preparations for
the dinner party. The doorbell
rings. In walk Jeff and Suzie, Ted and
Mary]
[Larry, standing with Jeff and Ted]
Larry: You know,
twice today I was in the coffee shop, and they wouldn’t let me use the bathroom
Ted: Well, did you
purchase any coffee?
Larry: I did earlier,
but apparently my time expired
Ted: Huh
Larry: I actually
think this an anti-Semitic policy
Jeff: How is this
anti-Semitic?
Larry: Who uses the
bathroom more than the Jews? When we’re
preparing to leave, right before we leave, once on the way to where we’re
going, when we get there. Jews are
always in the bathroom, going to the bathroom, coming from the bathroom. Every time Jews see the inside of a house,
they are always marveling at the size of the bathroom and the number of
bathrooms.
[Doorbell rings and Eric walks in]
Larry: Hey,
Eric. Ted, Jeff, this is my neighbor
Eric
Eric: Hi, good to
meet you. Hey Larry, look what I brought
[pulls out the hot sauce]
Larry: Oh yeah, the
hot sauce
Eric: Yeah, you mind
if I put it on the table where I’ll be sitting?
Larry: Sure. Hey, Eric, let me ask you a question. What’s with the hot sauce? Every time you come here, you bring the hot
sauce. Why is that? Are you Hispanic or something?
Eric: Well, honestly?
Larry: Yeah,
honestly, you can say whatever you want.
I am not easily offended.
Jeff: No he’s
not. In fact, he’s the one often doing
the offending. He’s pretty offensive.
Larry: Isn’t that
interesting. When one is offended he
gets defensive, and then becomes offensive by going on the offensive to defend
himself. Really blows your mind.
Eric: Okay, the
reason I bring the hot sauce is… [leans in and whispers] I don’t like Cheryl’s
cooking.
Larry: Huh
Eric: Yeah, I find it
to be very bland. I just don’t want to
be insulting, so I put hot sauce on it.
To be honest, I think it would be better if she would melt a piece of
cheese on it. It would really change the
characteristic of the dish.
Larry: Yes it would
[Eric goes toward the table and the doorbell rings. Enter Shelly and Steve with their two kids,
one of whom is the barista from the coffee shop and the other who is in a wheel
chair. Cheryl walks over to greet them]
Cheryl: Hi Shelly,
Steve.
Shelly: Hi Cheryl,
thank you so much for inviting us. This
is our daughter Marissa, and our son Zach.
Cheryl: Hi Marissa, Hi Zach
Steve: Oh well,
Zach’s actually deaf
[Larry mouths to Jeff ‘Deaf Quadraplegic?’ Jeff, wide-eyed, shrugs his shoulders
questioningly]
Larry: Hi, I’m
Cheryl’s husband Larry
Steve: Hi Larry
Larry: You know, I
took an American Sign Language class many years ago. I still remember a few signs. Hello, goodbye, I’m hungry. That might be useful for tonight.
Steve: Yes it might
Larry: [To Marissa,
the Barista] And I believe no
introduction is necessary here
Steve: Oh you two
know each other?
Larry: We do. We do. [Nodding his head with a half smile on
his face, partially laughing]
Cheryl: Okay, we can
all sit down
[Larry is seated at head of table with Eric on his left and
Zach on his right]
Shelly: [To the women
at the table] And Zach really is a very smart boy. It’s amazing what he has taught himself to
do, despite his disabilities.
Mary: Oh that’s
great. That’s so wonderful to hear of
such perseverance in the face of adversity.
[Zach turns to Larry and makes a motion with his hands that
Larry doesn’t understand. Shelly
notices]
Shelly: Oh Larry, can
you help him please. Thanks.
[Shelly turns back to the conversation. Larry, confused, tries to figure out what he
wants. Then he spies the hot sauce]
Larry: [To himself]
Oh, I guess, he wants some hot sauce.
[As he turns to see if this is the case, Zach is signing
with Marissa. Larry removes the cap and
liberally applies on Zach’s plate]
[Zach takes a bite of food.
Starts freaking out]
Shelly: Oh my gosh
what’s wrong? Are you okay?
[Commotion at table, everyone gets up to see Zach]
Steve: [sees the hot
sauce next to the plate] Hey, did
someone pour hot sauce on his food?
Larry: I did. I thought he wanted it.
Suzie: What are you
fucking nuts? You put hot sauce all over
a poor deaf kid’s food. Are you mental
Larry?
Larry: [Getting
defensive and agitated] What? He was motioning. I thought he wanted hot
sauce.
Suzie: He didn’t want
hot sauce you fucking psycho. Are you
trying to kill him?
Larry: He did this [makes
motion that Zach made earlier]
Steve: Yeah, that’s the motion for salt, Larry, Jesus!
Steve: Yeah, that’s the motion for salt, Larry, Jesus!
Larry: I didn’t know
that. I didn’t know that the American
Sign Language Institute created a whole separate set of hand signs for the quadriplegic.
Shelly: They didn’t,
Larry, he had to create them on his own.
[Looking at the others] He’s such a smart boy
Larry: Well if he is
so smart, he should have showed me the proper hand signals so this mess could
have been avoided.
Steve: Ok, you know
what, that’s enough. I think we should
just go. Zach has had enough.
[Cheryl standing at the door as the family is leaving]
Cheryl: I’m really
sorry about this again.
Shelly: He’ll be ok, thank you
Cheryl: Ok, have a
good night
Larry: [As the couple
is walking out the door] Again, I’m really sorry about the hand signaling
thing, it’s just that I really only knew one language of signing, and, even
that, not very well. My signing is very
limited, kind of like my knowledge of Spanish.
Hola, gracias, de nada, yo soy Larry David, de donde eres…actually, my
Spanish is pretty good. Tu padre es muy
guapo. Much better than my signing…
Cheryl: Ok, Larry,
that’s enough
[Go back to the remaining couples in the den]
[Outside, as Zach is being put in the car]
Barista: You know
what, I am going to run and use the bathroom before we go.
[Walks back inside the house. Larry sees her walking toward the bathroom]
Larry: Whoa,
whoa. What are you doing?
Barista: I’m going to
use the bathroom.
Larry: Uh, excuse me,
I’m sorry, but I don’t think that is possible
Barista: What?
Larry: I’m afraid to
say this, but I don’t think that I can let you use the bathroom right now.
Barista: Why not?
Larry: You see, the
bathroom is only for current party attendees.
While we appreciate your presence earlier at this party, we regret to
inform you that usage of this bathroom is restricted to those currently engaged
in socializing. If you would like to
stay and converse, perhaps indulge in some pie and after dinner coffee, I’d be
happy to allow use of the commode. Otherwise, I regret to say that I must
reserve it for active guests.
[Larry, smiling and red faced, nodding his head in that,
“sorry, but I gotcha” kind of way. Shot of the barista before going back to
Larry, who shrugs in a “there's really nothing I can do, the rules are the
rules” fashion]
[Cue outro music of tuba and mandolin]
[FIN]