167 Quiz Answer

The answer to this week's quiz: William Shakespeare's "Henry V." 

(Also for Three Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "Q" is for Quentin.)
Here’s this week’s Berownial quiz question.

As you know, Shakespeare wrote a number of plays named for English kings.  I wrote the following, basing it loosely on one of his most famous “king” plays.   Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh starred in two of the famous films made about this king.

So your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is this: give us the name of the Shakespeare king suggested by the following.

Quentin is a young guy with a top job. 

When his father passed away, Quentin became CEO of the family’s huge corporation.  He’s well aware that there’s a possibility that because of his youth some people are not going to be taking him seriously.

Today’s a big day.  He has a meeting scheduled with another CEO to discuss a possible merger.  The man who shows up for the meeting has brought a gift.  Because lanky young Quentin has a reputation as a tennis player, the gift is a box of tennis balls.

Quentin:  “Tennis balls?”

Visitor: “You bet.  A full box of the best.  They’re Dunlop Professional tennis balls, especially created for performance and durability.  You’ll love ‘em.”

“I – I guess I’m a bit confused.  My meeting today was with your CEO.”

“Well hey, you understand, the guy’s a very busy man.  He’s always juggling three or four deals around.  I’m his personal assistant and he wanted me to convey his warm and fuzzy best wishes to you and, most important, to discuss your reaction to his idea of a possible merger.”

“And your name..?”

“Just call me Phil.”

“Ok Phil, let’s see if I understand.  I set up a meeting to discuss your CEO’s idea of a possible merger of our two corporations – it was his idea - but he’s too busy; he sends his personal assistant.”

“I assure you I’m fully qualified…”

“And he also sends me a gift, a box of tennis balls – something you might give a high-school kid.”

“I see you’re getting a bit upset.”

“Upset?  Well, you see, on a subject as important as a possible merger of two corporations, I can meet only with another CEO, not a personal assistant.”

“I’ll report back to him that…”

“Yes, report to him that I enjoy the game we’re playing.  Tell him I’m just an adolescent he doesn’t have to take seriously.  But here's my ultimatum: tell him I’ve got a terrific forehand and an even more powerful destructive backhand.  And tell him that his serve - the idea of a merger of our two firms - has gone straight into the net!”

By the way, the tennis balls were not my idea.  Shakespeare wrote a scene about tennis balls; it’s an important part of this play.

(Also submitted to Sunday Scribblings)