(The dog stares blankly ahead).
Ventriloquist: MARVO, SAY GOOD EVENING TO THE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
(The dog shakes its head and rolls its eyes).
Ventriloquist: MARVO, SAY GOOD EVENING. PLEASE (Firmly).
(The dog pokes its tongue out).
Ventriloquist: MARVO!
Dog: WHAT? (Grumpily).
Ventriloquist: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, WHAT? WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?
Dog: I’M GOING ON STRIKE.
Ventriloquist: YOU’RE WHAT?
Dog: I’M GOING ON STRIKE, WITHDRAWING MY LABOUR.
Ventriloquist: (Laughing) GOING ON STRIKE? DON’T BE DAFT; ANIMALS CAN’T GO ON STRIKE.
Dog: WHO SAYS THEY CAN’T?
Ventriloquist: (Laughing) WELL, THEY CAN’T.
Dog: HAVEN’T YOU HEARD OF THE ANIMAL LIBERATION FRONT?
Ventriloquist: THE ANIMAL LIBERATION FRONT? THEY’RE A BUNCH OF LEFT WING LOONIES.
Dog: YOU WON’T SAY THAT WHEN THEY PLANT A BOMB UNDERNEATH YOUR CAR.
Ventriloquist: (Laughing) THEY’RE HARDLY LIKELY TO DO THAT?
Dog: THEY WILL IF YOU DON’T GIVE ME A PAY RISE.
Ventriloquist: (Turning to the audience) HE’S ONLY JOKING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
Dog: NO, HE’S NOT.
Ventriloquist: (Turning to the dog) YOU DON’T MEAN IT, MARVO?
Dog: MEAN IT? LISTEN MATE, I’M TAKING A TAXI HOME TONIGHT.
Ventriloquist: (Worried) BUT WHAT’S BROUGHT THIS ON? I THOUGHT WE HAD A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP.
Dog: GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP? YOU TREAT ME LIKE A SLAVE. LIKE A DOG!
Ventriloquist: (Turning to the audience, and laughing) NO PUN INTENDED.
Dog: IT’S NO LAUGHING MATTER, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE STUCK IN THAT BOX WITH A CRATEFUL OF DUMMIES, NOTHING TO EAT, AND NO ONE TO TALK TO?
Ventriloquist: SOUNDS LIKE WUFF JUSTICE TO ME. (Forced laugh) WUFF JUSTICE: GEDDIT!?
Dog: LISTEN, FISHFACE, YOU CAN LAUGH ALL YOU WANT, BUT UNTIL I GET A PAY RISE AND IMPROVED WORKING CONDITIONS, I’M GOING ON STRIKE. (Snaps its mouth shut).
Ventriloquist: HEY, COME ON, DON’T BE LIKE THAT, MARVO. (He tickles the dog’s chin, but it retreats). MARVO? (He tries again) HEY, COME ON GUY, WE’VE GOT A SHOW TO DO. (He tries again).
Dog: NO!
Ventriloquist: (Softly) HEY, LISTEN, I’M SORRY. MAYBE I DO TREAT YOU LIKE A DOG. HOW D’YOU LIKE ONE OF YOUR FAVOURITE CHOCKIES? (He puts his hand in his pocket, and takes out a biscuit). MARVO, HERE, I SAVED IT JUST FOR YOU.
Dog: (Sniffing, uncoils and looks interested) WHERE?
Ventriloquist: HERE, LOOK.
Dog: FOR ME?
Ventriloquist: YES, GO ON, THEN YOU CAN INTRODUCE THE NEXT ACT.
Dog: WHO IS IT?
Ventriloquist: IT’S --- (This can be one of your own dummies).
Dog: WELL, ALL RIGHT, (The dog savages the ventriloquist’s hand).
Ventriloquist: AAARGGHHH!
Dog: (Swallows the chocolate, and burps loudly, then announces) LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...
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