153 Quiz Answer

The answer to this week’s quiz question is – “Modern Times,” Chaplin’s classic film.
Bloggers who answered correctly are Dick Jones, Lady in Read, Altonian, Lyn, Sharp Little Pencil, Tess Kincaid, Bee’s Blog and Za faran. Congratulations to all.

(Also for Three-Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "C" is for "chow")
Well, the Berownial quiz last week was about a play – which got an excellent response, I’m pleased to say – so let’s have a movie as a quiz subject this week.
I wrote the following, based on a famous motion picture. Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is this: tell us which motion picture?

Mr. Barnes: “We have quite a few people come into these offices with some far-out theory or other. We don't subscribe to most of them. You say you have something different?”
Mr. Welch: “We do indeed. As I think you’ll agree.”
“The name of your firm again?”
“Behavioral Systems, Incorporated. We describe our system as ‘On-site grazing’.”
“Whatever that means.”
“What it means, Mr. Barnes, is that I am here to save your corporation money, a lot of money.”
“I’ve heard that before.”
“Well, let me show you what I mean. Around noon time, all those workers on your factory floors take a lunch break, right?”
“That’s right.”
“That break lasts for how long – hour, half-hour? “
“A half-hour. That’s all anyone needs for lunch.”
“Okay. When you add up all that time, all those half-hours when no work gets done, have you ever estimated what that down time costs your corporation , in actual dollars?”
“What’s the point? People have to have some chow. They can’t work all day without a lunch break.”
“That’s where this comes in. You may have wondered why I’ve brought this rather odd-looking device with me. This is science, Mr. Barnes. The scientific result of the study of social and emotional factors on the economic impact of a corporation’s bottom line. This will change the drab lives of your workers.”
“Whew. You talk fast.”
“That’s because I’m excited about our product, and what it can do for you! This device is our Dynamic Feeder Model 4-A. It makes for a contented labor force, and it saves you money. This marvelous machine feeds a worker while he works; no longer is there a need for a lunch break!”
“H’mm. That is interesting.”
“It twines aroud the worker like the tendrils of a plant and in its pulsating operation it feeds him - it even supplies a napkin afterwards. And there’s a speed control. It operates at the speed that adjusts to the individual worker. Oh, there’s just one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“When someone is eating corn on the cob, you’ve got to be careful about the rate of speed. If it goes too fast, it can result in a real mess.”

Go ahead; have a go. The above is suggestive of which film?
(Also submitted to Sunday Scribblings.)

152 Quiz Answer

Here’s the answer. Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winner “Our Town” is a classic American play. It was described by Edward Albee as “The greatest American play ever written.”
We had seven bloggers who came up with the right answer: Roger Owen Green, Lyn, Ginny Brannan, Lydia, Melanie Boudwin, Josie Two Shoes and Altonian. Congratulations all!

(Also for Three-Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "B" is for "Beyond")
Here’s the weekly Berownial quiz. Had enough Shakespeare for a while? Then how about this? I wrote the following, basing it on a famous American play.
Your assignment - should you choose to accept it – is this: which American play?

[There’s a group of people sitting in a dozen or so ordinary chairs, facing the audience. Fran enters from the right.]
Fran: Hi, everyone. (She sees a vacant chair and sits down.)
The Group (politely): Hello, Fran.
Fran: And there’s Mrs. Wyatt.
Mrs. Wyatt: Fran.
Fran: It’s been raining hard.
The Group: Yes, we know.
Fran: I’m sort of nervous.
One of the Group: Calm down; you’ll get used to it.
Fran: I don’t like being the new person here.
Mrs. Wyatt: Just relax, dear. Rest yourself.
Fran: You know, Mrs. Wyatt, thanks to you, John and I have really made over the house. Talk about remodeling! I don't like to brag but you’d like the way it looks now. We were able to do it because of the money you left us.
Mrs. Wyatt: I’m glad to hear it, dear.
Fran: My son is spending the day at the Bolger house. Oh, there’s Mr. Bolger. My son is spending the day at your place.
Bolger: That’s good, Fran.
Fran: How long does it take for the feeling to go away that..?
Mrs. Wyatt: Just wait and be patient.
One of the Group: Little cooler than it was. Those northeast winds always do the same thing, don’t they? If it isn’t rainy it’s windy.
Fran: Mrs. Wyatt, let me ask you something. You can go back, can’t you?
Mrs. Wyatt: Well, technically yes. But Fran, all I can say is – don’t.
Fran: I can go back! Why not?
One of the Group: Some have tried, but they soon come back here.
Mrs. Wyatt (icily): Fran, don’t. It’s not what you think it’d be.
(Note: the above scene takes place "beyond"; in other words all the above characters are dead.)

Go ahead; have a go. It’s based on which American play?

151 Quiz Answer

We've had quite a number of folks who came up with the correct answer this week. It's "The Taming of the Shrew." Congratulations to all.

(For Three-Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "A" is for "agony")
Here’s the weekly Berownial Quiz.
I wrote the following, inspired by one of the well-known Shakespeare plays. Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is - this is suggestive of which play?

Dear Mom: You wrote that you were sorry you were unable to attend your grand-daughter’s wedding.
Don’t feel bad about it. Missing her wedding was the best thing you could have done. Unfortunately, I couldn’t miss it; as father of the bride I had to be there.
What a shambles! What a disaster! Jeff shows up wearing cargo shorts and some sort of flip-flops instead of shoes, and he was wearing a T-shirt that read “Brigham Young, Tell ‘Em Nothing” on it.
My guess is no one ever showed up for a wedding dressed like that.
The Reverend Hazelton, who we got, at considerable expense, especially for this ceremony, was ready to pack it all in and leave once he got a good look at Jeff. Who - did I mention? - was also very much under the alfluence of inkohol, if you get what I mean. The slob could hardly walk straight.
Now I know that Ellen has gotten some criticism in her life. They say she’s too “difficult.” Well, she’s a beautiful, luscious young woman who is very outspoken and that does seem to rub some folks the wrong way. She sometimes says things she would later wish she hadn’t said – or at least we wish she hadn’t said.
But she didn’t deserve this kind of dismal wedding. It was agony for me to have to watch the ceremony. I was ready to cancel the whole deal, but she waffled; she said that in spite of everything she wanted to go through with it.
I think that secretly she sort of likes Jeff and that she sees some good in him that I can't see. Well, I guess there’s nothing I can do but wish them the best.
After the “I now pronounce you” speech Jeff picked Ellen up like a sack of Uncle Ben’s rice and walked off with her. God only knows how this marriage is going to work out. It’s not going to be paradise, that’s for sure. I give it three weeks, at the most.
Believe me, Mom, missing Ellen’s wedding is the best thing you could have done. Happy new year from your loving son.

Go on; have a go. The above suggests which Shakespeare play?
(Submitted also to Sunday Scribblings.)

150 Quiz Answer

The answer, as so many obviously know, is "Hamlet."
(For Three-Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "Z" is for "Zero.")
Each week I’ve been posting a quiz here. Folks seem to like them so here’s another one.
I wrote the following scene, inspired by one of the better-known Shakespeare plays. Your assignment – should you choose to accept it – is this: the scene is suggestive of which play?

“Come, sit down. Let’s have a little talk.”
“Yeah, Mom. Okay.”
“Mervyn and I are happy to welcome you into our home, Tim. We’re all family and we should be able to get together without any problems.”
“And you think I’m the one who caused the problems?”
“Now, now. Get that chip off your shoulder. Sooner or later you’re going to accept that your mother has married again, to a wonderful man, and that she’s very happy. She would like her son to be happy for her.”
“Oh, I accept it, all right. But happy about it? Not so much.”
“Well, if you’ve made up your mind to be difficult because you never got along with your Uncle Merv, it’s probably better if you don’t visit so often.”
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.”
“Your father is gone, Tim, dead and gone. I know that’s a terrible loss for you – it’s a loss for all of us – but I decided to move on and marry again. And now Merv and I are a pair. Nothing you can say or do could destroy the love that your uncle and I have for each other.”
“I’m not trying to destroy it; I’m just focused on trying to understand it. Look at it from my point of view. You, my mother, are now joined up with this – this loser! Merv, for God’s sake! How could you!?”
“Now Tim, I’m not going to sit here and listen to this kind of vacant talk. Be respectful or just – just leave.”
“Your husband, my father, was a MAN! Talk about respect, everyone who knew him respected him, and loved him. And his brother, Merv - just look at him! He’s a nothing, a zero, a small fraction of a human being when compared with my Dad! And now the thought of the two of you rolling around on a sweaty bed together makes me want to puke!”
“That’s enough! I want you to leave now!”
“How could you, Mom? How could you?”

Go ahead; have a go. The previous scene is suggestive of which play?