Satire/Tribute

Stephen Hello. Welcome to "A Bit Of Fry And Laurie".

Hugh Grrrrr.

Stephen Ladies and gentlemen, because Hugh and I are known for our anger, our satirical rage at the "human condition", for want of a better cliche ....

Hugh Grrrr ...

Stephen We often get accused of lacking a sense of proportion. Here's a letter ... "It's very easy to knock, to rage and snarl and satirise, but what are you suggesting should go in the place of the institutions and people you so viciously decry?" This is a typical letter from Mr Alan Dense, absolutely typical. He writes letters like this all the time ... "It's oh so simple to knock Mrs Thatcher, isn't it?" Well of course he's quite right. It is ludicrously easy to knock Mrs Thatcher. It's the easiest and most obvious thing in the world to remark that she is a shameful, putrid scab, an embarrassing, ludicrous monstrosity that makes one frankly ashamed to be British, and that her ideas and standards are a stain on our national history. That's easy and clear, anyone can do that. But after tonight, no one can accuse us of not making a constructive suggestion as to what might go in place of Mrs Thatcher. Hugh. Hugh holds up a wire coathanger. That is our constructive suggestion, and I hope that's silenced some of our critics. Anyway, on with the blind, unreasoning rage.

Hugh Yes, here we go. I've written a savage, angry, satire on jam jars that get seperated from their lids.

Stephen Now that is anger. Hugh walks to piano. On top of the piano is a jar with no lid.

Hugh (Sings) Where is the lid
Where is the lid
Where is the lid
Where is the lid

Where is the lid
Where is the lid
Where is the lid
Where is the lid

Does anyone know
Does anyone know
Does anyone know
Does anyone know

Where is the lid
Where is the lid
Where is the lid
Where is the lid - During this song Stephen has been saying:

Stephen "Yes, it's over here." "Hugh! It's on the table." "Hugh, it's over here for God's sake." etc. Eventually Stephen can take it no more and attacks Hugh by beating him on the head with the jar or some similar heavyweight object.

Stephen looks down on Hugh's unconcious frame for a second.

Stephen (Voice-over) Hugh Laurie, who real name was Hugh Laurie, was better known by his stage name: Hugh Laurie. Cut to still of terraced house. Hugh was born and brought up in a working-class home that his parents had specially built ... Pull back on still to reveal that the slum terraced house is actually set in rolling parkland in front of a beautiful stately home. ... in the grounds of their Gloustershire estate. Like many shy children, Hugh learnt from an early age simply to blend in. Cut to still of brick wall and lamp-post.

Caption "Hugh Laurie, High Wycombe, 1967"

Stephen His first acting job came in 1979, at Hereford Civic Centre, since renamed in Hugh's Honour, Hereford Civic and Amenities Centre. Cut to interview with Rowan Atkinson.

Caption "Nigel Havers"

Rowan He was immensely dangerous. Such a dangerous actor. You always had this feeling when he was around that anything could happen. (Pause) Hugh Laurie, on the other hand, was about the dullest man I ever met. Cut to interview with Nigel Havers.

Caption "Paul Eddington"

Nigel He brought to every one of his roles this quality of needing the money. Cut to interview with bow-tied critic.

Caption "Neil Hudd, TV and theatre critic for the Daily Mail"

Critic I'm so terribly clever, you see. That's one of the things I really admire about myself. I have this extraordinary ability to see, after the event, why something didn't work, and communicate it so wittily. I really am fabulous. Cut to film of Stephen interviewing himself.

Stephen Stephen Fry, what is your fondest memory of working with Hugh Laurie?

Stephen The moment I knew he was really dead would be hard to beat.