10.13.2005

A funny joke??

There is a movie called "The Door in the Floor" which some say refers to the love tunnel that babies go through to get born. In any case, it's a John Irving novel adaptation starring Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger and some unknown teenager actor who's probably really 30 years old. During this movie, of which I admit I've only seen parts, a very funny joke is told, and I want to pass it on to you, embellished somewhat with details that I think relevant to the joke, (and its telling via "the page")--which if it so prompts the reader, we can discuss it's true source of humor. (Apologies to those who have heard the joke 100 times, and even more so to those who do not find it funny)



There was a captain of a ship at sea named Stern. He received word via the wireless that the mother of one of his sailors, a midshipman named Abernathy, had passed on. Being a proper sea captain and of course a gentleman, he could not merely saunter up to Abernathy and whisper this distressing news into Abernathy's ears as he swabbed the decks. Nor could he call Abernathy into his private quarters and tell him the news; such things just weren't done--what if Abernathy was to break down before him, sobbing, violating all rules of decorum? Captain Stern racked his brain for hours, until in the middle of the night the solution came to him. The following morning, he assembled the whole crew topside. He stood above them on the poop deck and called out with his blustery tone:

"All of you men whose mothers are alive, please step forward."

As a majority of the men began to follow his command, the captain's voice rung out:

"Not so fast, Abernathy!"

5 comments:

TMC said...

That movie's not too bad, although I did have two issues with it:

1. I didn't ever need to see Jeff Bridges nude.

2. I can't hear Jeff Bridges speak without thinking of The Dude in "The Big Lebowski."

Joe said...

How sad is it that so many of us will never be able to look at Jeff Bridges without hearing the words, "There's a beverage here, man?"

TMC said...

Sad?

That's just, like, your opinion, man.


On a side note: I'm pretty sure Mike has still never seen The Big Lebwoski, even though I talk about it way too much (and possibly because I talk about it way too much).

Joe said...

Mike Ingram treats objects like women.

TMC said...

I've come very close a few times on slow Movie Mondays to posting a treatise on the awesomeness of Lebowski on here, and now that I know Aaron doesn't like it (on a side note, I hear he hates freedom too), I think I may have to do it.


Watch my enthusiasm for this wane by Monday afternoon.