TEDThis is Ted Baxter saying: Happy days are here
again!
MARY
Did you make that up, Ted?
TED
Naw, it's from some song.
(Thinking)
I forget the name of it.
MURRAY
And what are you so happy about?
TED
The circus is in town and they want me.
MURRAY
That's terrific, Ted. Do you have to bring your own shovel?
TED
It so happens they want me to ride at the head of the parade. I'm this year's Grand Marshall. It's something I've always wanted.
(Bitterly)
I should have had it *last* year--but they gave it to that stupid weather girl from Channel Six. Well it served them right what happened...
MURRAY
What happened?
MARY
It... rained on their parade.
TED
(Still bitter)
And the year before that, when they chose that big, dumb basketball player who does the sports on Channel Eight. Made a fool of himself!
MURRAY
I don't remember that, either.
MARY
He got in the wrong car. He...squeezed into the little tiny one with all the clowns in it and...wedged them in. They eventually had to take the car apart. It kind of spoiled the effect.
MURRAY
Gee. It sounds as if the Grand Marshall's job has a history of disaster.
TED
Yeah, well--this year they've got me.
MURRAY
I rest my case.
TED
Ha-ha. You can't bug me, Murr. Nothing can spoil my day now that I'm going to be Grand Marshall of the circus parade.
Lou enters from his office on Ted's last line.
LOU
Forget it, Ted! You aren't.
TED
(Staggered)
W-what, Lou?
LOU
I said forget it. My anchorman isn't marching down the street with a chimp. It tends to give him an undignified image!
TED
Lou, please! It *won't* give me an undignified image.
LOU
(To Ted)
I was talking about the chimp.
