Technical issues related to perfection beyond comparison have forced the release of the draft version.

PSA 3: The Poisoned Pill (Mississippi Blues Style) – Outdoor Version

Scene Setup:

• Location: Your backyard, resembling a private park. The atmosphere is relaxed, peaceful, with nature subtly in the background. There’s a casual outdoor seating area where you will perform, surrounded by your high-end equipment.
• Gear: You have your guitar, high-end pedals, a scotch glass nearby, and your trusty Prometheus pipe. The gear is labeled with “Property of the Kingdom” stickers, enhancing the bureaucratic absurdity. The space is visually serene, contrasting with the seriousness of your gear.

1. The Setup Apology (Breaking the Fourth Wall):

• You start the performance with an exaggerated, overly serious approach to setting up your equipment. You're dragging out pedals, cables, and other unnecessary gear into this calm, natural setting as if you’re preparing for a massive, high-stakes concert.

Setting Up Equipment (Physically Comedic, Overly Focused):

• (Tugging on a cable with mock frustration, sigh deeply.)
  Line: “They told me to set up outside. Fresh air apparently boosts morale... according to the handbook.”

• (Struggle to adjust a pedal, acting as if it’s a complicated process. You take the situation overly seriously, even adjusting a mic stand you won’t use.)
  Line: “You’d think after all these years, I’d know how to handle a kingdom-issued pedalboard.”

• You continue the exaggerated setup, meticulously checking cables and pedals, making a fuss over minor details. The humor is in the unnecessary seriousness and your faux-bureaucratic frustration.

• Finally, after setting everything up (perhaps struggling with untangling a cable), you stand back, visibly tired, and say with exaggerated satisfaction:
  Line (Mock Pride): “There... that should be just right... according to protocol.”

2. The Setup Fumble (Physical Comedy):

• At this point, you intentionally fumble with a pedal or cable—pretending to struggle. Maybe the cable doesn’t plug in properly, or you act as if you’re confused about how the pedals work, leaning into the humor of being a “low-level bureaucrat.”

Fumbling Dialogue (Frustrated, But Deadpan):

• (Struggling with the cable.)
  Line: “Why does setting this up feel like filing my taxes?”

  • (Shake your head, sip of scotch to calm your “nerves.”)

• (After a staged moment of confusion, you finally get everything set up, letting out a loud, relieved sigh, clearly overreacting to the minor task.)
  Line: “Well... I didn’t get any training for this... just a manual I didn’t read.”

Hi this is me, me again,
This is PSA 3 the poison pill. Or perhaps it should be called the hook.

3. Transition to Music (Post-Setup):

• You sit down, relax, and take a deep sip of scotch as if you’ve just completed a herculean task. You glance at the audience with an exaggeratedly tired expression, then sit back and say:

Line (Casually, with Relief):
“Alright... now that that’s out of the way... let’s play some blues.”

4. Opening Blues Riff & Singing Introduction:

• You strum a slow, gritty Mississippi blues riff—smooth, soulful, and well-executed. The contrast between the serious setup and the relaxed nature of your playing immediately grabs attention.

• Pull out your Prometheus pipe, light it, and take a long, slow puff before leaning into the mic for the first line of the hostage-style monologue.

Lines (Deadpan Monologue, Hostage Tone):

• “The poison keeps flowin’... ‘til morale picks up.”
  • (Pause. Play a small, clean blues riff as you stare blankly into the distance. Blink Morse code subtly during the riff pauses.)

Singing Moment 1 (Powerful, Emotional Blues Line):

• Then, you transition into a rich, soulful blues melody, singing with a deep, gravelly tone. This moment contrasts sharply with the deadpan delivery, showcasing your vocal skills.

Sung Blues Line (Gravely, Soulful):

• “The poison keeps on runnin’... but nobody knows why...”

  (You follow the sung line with a quick, smooth guitar lick, showing off your musical talent.)

5. Transition to Bureaucratic Satire:

• As the blues riff continues, your tone shifts from serious to bureaucratically absurd. You playfully comment on the irony of your bureaucratic equipment being set up in such a relaxed space.

Lines (Delivered Deadpan, Bureaucratic):

• “Anyone who can afford it—well, you get a pass.”
  • (Pause. Play a clean lick. Puff the pipe calmly, blinking more Morse code.)
• “‘Cept for those who love ya. They’re in it for free.”

Singing Moment 2 (Another Well-Sung Line):

• After the deadpan delivery, break into another powerful blues line, letting the contrast between your bureaucratic persona and your singing talent shine through.

Sung Blues Line (Soulful):

• “But don’t worry, baby... I’m givin’ it all away for free…”

  (The melody rings out, followed by a well-played bluesy riff.)

6. Apology and Equipment Fumble:

• Now comes the second apology moment. You fumble with the pedals dramatically, continuing the physical comedy from the setup, as if the gear is too advanced for you to handle.

Lines (Sincere Yet Absurd):

• (Sigh deeply.) “Uh, folks... I really need to apologize again.”

  • (Glance at the pedals with faux frustration, strumming a clumsy chord before correcting it with a smooth riff.)

• “I didn’t realize my equipment was this high quality. It’s a bit much for me.”

  (Pause, take a slow sip of scotch and blink Morse code again, signaling as if you’re trapped in this absurd situation.)

Singing Moment 3 (Post-Apology Blues Line):

• You break into another well-sung line, amplifying the absurdity of the setup apology.

Sung Blues Line (After Fumbling with Pedals):

• “Oh baby, I’ve got all this gear... but I’ve got no clue...”

  (Your voice lingers, and you pick back up with more confidence, continuing to play soulful blues.)

7. Final Satirical Punchline & Pedal Chaos:

• Finally, you embrace the chaos of the performance, stomping on the pedals to create ridiculous sounds, contrasting with your smooth, well-played riffs.

Lines (Delivered with Deadpan Humor):

• (After creating a wild sound, you stop suddenly.)
  Line: “I’m really sorry to all the gearheads out there... but I’m doing my best.”

• You strum a terrible riff on purpose, then seamlessly follow it with a perfect blues lick.
  Line: “Honestly, I blame the pedals. They make it sound too good... Like putting diamonds on a turkey sandwich.”

8. Final Singing Moment (Closing the Show):

• To wrap it all up, you break into one last powerful blues line, letting your voice ring out and the music settle into the final moments.

Sung Blues Line (Finale):

• “I’ll sing you this blues, but baby... don’t ask me how...”

  (Follow the final sung line with a clean, well-played riff, letting the last note hang in the air.)

9. Closing Scene:

• You set the guitar down on your lap, pick up the scotch, and take one last slow sip. After a moment, you take a final puff from your Prometheus pipe, completely relaxed.

Final Line (Deadpan, With Mock Wisdom):

• “Guess I shouldn’t have skipped those lessons.”

  (You play a final blues riff as the spotlight fades, leaving the peaceful backyard behind. The smoke from the pipe swirls as the performance ends on a note of humor, charm, and musical skill.)

Key Performance Elements:

• Setup Comedy: The exaggerated setup builds the humor from the start, contrasting the peaceful outdoor setting with your bureaucratic, high-end gear.
• Well-Sung Blues Lines: These moments of powerful singing create dynamic shifts in the performance, allowing you to show off your vocal talent while deepening the humor.
• Morse Code Blinking: Used subtly throughout, the Morse code adds a secret layer of comedy, enhancing the absurdity.
• Scotch and Pipe: The props punctuate key moments, reinforcing the relaxed tone while contrasting with the serious “bureaucratic” act.

insert morse code