The Argument Sketch

by John Cleese and Graham Chapman;

transcribed from a tape of the record of Monty Python Live at City Center
Transcribed by Malcolm Dickinson ( [email protected] ) 4/3/86

Scene: A man walks into an office.


Man: Good morning, I'd like to have an argument, please.

Receptionist: Certainly, sir. Have you been here before?

Man: No, this is my first time.

Receptionist: I see, well we'll see who's free at the moment. Mr. Bakely's free, but he's a little bit concilliatory. No. Try Mr. Barnhart, room 12.

Man: Thank you.

He enters room 12.

Angry man: WHADDAYOU WANT?

Man: Well, Well, I was told outside that...

Angry man: DON'T GIVE ME THAT, YOU SNOTTY-FACED HEAP OF PARROT DROPPINGS!

Man: What?

Angry man: SHUT YOUR FESTERING GOB, YOU TIT! YOUR TYPE MAKES ME PUKE! YOU VACUOUS

STUFFY-NOSED MALODOROUS PERVERT!!!

Man: Yes, but I came here for an argument!!

Angry man: OH! Oh! I'm sorry! This is abuse!

Man: Oh! Oh I see!

Angry man: Aha! No, you want room 12A, next door.

Man: Oh...Sorry...

Angry man: Not at all!

Angry man: (under his breath) stupid git.

The man goes into room 12A. Another man is sitting behind a desk.

Man: Is this the right room for an argument?

Other Man:(pause) I've told you once.

Man: No you haven't!

Other Man: Yes I have.

Man: When?

Other Man: Just now.

Man: No you didn't!

Other Man: Yes I did!

Man: You didn't!

Other Man: I did!

Man: You didn't!

Other Man: I'm telling you, I did!

Man: You didn't!

Other Man: (breaking into the developing argument) Oh I'm sorry, is this a five minute argument, or the full half hour?

Man: Ah! (taking out his wallet and paying) Just the five minutes.

Other Man: Just the five minutes. Thank you. Anyway, I did.

Man: You most certainly did not!

Other Man: Now let's get one thing perfectly clear: I most definitely told you!

Man: Oh no you didn't!

Other Man: Oh yes I did! ___

Man: Oh no you didn't! ›

Other Man: Oh yes I did! ›

Man: Oh no you didn't! ›

Other Man: Oh yes I did! ›

Man: Oh no you didn't! ›

Other Man: Oh yes I did! ›

Man: Oh no you didn't! ›

Other Man: Oh yes I did! > very fast

Man: Oh no you didn't! /

Other Man: Oh yes I did! /

Man: No you DIDN'T! /

Other Man: Oh yes I did! /

Man: No you DIDN'T! /

Other Man: Oh yes I did! /

Man: No you DIDN'T! /

Other Man: Oh yes I did! ___/

Man: Oh look, this isn't an argument!

(pause)

Other Man: Yes it is!

Man: No it isn't!

(pause)

Man: It's just contradiction!

Other Man: No it isn't!

Man: It IS!

Other Man: It is NOT!

Man: You just contradicted me!

Other Man: No I didn't!

Man: You DID!

Other Man: No no no!

Man: You did just then!

Other Man: Nonsense!

Man: (exasperated) Oh, this is futile!!

(pause)

Other Man: No it isn't!

Man: Yes it is!

(pause)

I came here for a good argument!

Other Man: AH, no you didn't, you came here for an *argument*!

Man: An argument isn't just contradiction.

Other Man: Well! it CAN be!

Man: No it can't! An argument is a connected series of statement intended to establish a proposition.

Other Man: No it isn't!

Man: Yes it is! 'tisn't just contradiction.

Other Man: Look, if I *argue* with you, I must take up a contrary position!

Man: Yes but it isn't just saying "no it isn't".

Other Man: Yes it is!

Man: No it isn't!

Other Man: Yes it is!

Man: No it isn't!

Other Man: Yes it is!

Man: No it ISN'T! Argument is an intellectual process. Contradiction is just the automatic gainsaying of anything the other person says.

Other Man: It is NOT!

Man: It is!

Other Man: Not at all!

Man: It is!

>DING!< The Arguer hits a bell on his desk and stops.

Other Man: Thank you, that's it.

Man: (stunned) What?

Other Man: That's it. Good morning.

Man: But I was just getting interested!

Other Man: I'm sorry, the five minutes is up.

Man: That was never five minutes!!

Other Man: I'm afraid it was.

Man: (leading on) No it wasn't.....

(pause)

Other Man: (dirty look) I'm sorry, I'm not allowed to argue any more.

Man: WHAT??

Other Man: If you want me to go on arguing, you'll have to pay for another five minutes.

Man: But that was never five minutes just now!

(pause... the Other Man raises his eyebrows)

Oh Come on! Oh this is... This is ridiculous!

Other Man: I told you... I told you, I'm not allowed to argue unless you PAY!

Man: Oh all right. (takes out his wallet and pays again.) There you are.

Other Man: Thank you.

Man: (clears throat) Well...

Other Man: Well WHAT?

Man: That was never five minutes just now.

Other Man: I told you, I'm not allowed to argue unless you've paid!

Man: Well I just paid!

Other Man: No you didn't!

Man: I DID!!!

Other Man: YOU didn't!

Man: I DID!!!

Other Man: YOU didn't!

Man: I DID!!!

Other Man: YOU didn't!

Man: I DID!!!

Other Man: YOU didn't!

Man: (unable to talk straight he's so mad) I don't want to argue about it!

Other Man: Well I'm very sorry but you didn't pay!

Man: Ah HAH!! Well if I didn't pay, why are you arguing??? Ah HAAAAAAHHH! Gotcha!

Other Man: (pause) No you haven't!

Man: Yes I have! If you're arguing, I must have paid.

Other Man: Not necessarily. I *could* be arguing in my spare time.

**** end of ARGUMENT PYTHON, last revised 12/8/86 ****