A customer enters a pet shop.
Mr. Praline: 'Ello, I wish to register a complaint.
(The owner does not respond.)
Mr. Praline: 'Ello, Miss?
Owner: What do you mean "miss"?
Mr. Praline: {pause} I'm sorry, I have a cold. I wish to make a complaint!
Owner: We're closin' for lunch.
Mr. Praline: Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about this cat what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique.
Owner: Oh yes, the, uh, the Schrödinger's Cat... What's,uh...What's wrong with it?
Mr. Praline: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. 'E's dead, that's what's wrong with it!
Owner: No, no, 'e's uh,...he's resting.
Mr. Praline: Look, matey, I know a dead cat when I have one in a box, and I have one in THIS BOX, right now!
Owner: No no he's not dead, he's, he's restin'! Remarkable cat, the Schrödinger one, idn'it, ay? Beautiful pussy!
Mr. Praline: The pussy don't enter into it. It's stone dead.
Owner: Nononono, no, no! 'E's resting!
Mr. Praline: All right then, if he's restin', I'll get him out! (shouting at the box) 'Ello, Mister Schrödinger's Cat! I've got a lovely fresh cuttle fish for you if you show...
(owner hits the box)
Owner: There, he moved!
Mr. Praline: No, he didn't, that was you hitting the box!
Owner: I never!!
Mr. Praline: Yes, you did!
Owner: I never, never did anything...
Mr. Praline: (yelling and hitting the box repeatedly) 'ELLO SCHRÖDIE!!!!! Testing! Testing! Testing! Testing! This is your nine o'clock alarm call!
(Takes cat out of the box and thumps its head on the counter. Throws it up in the air and watches it plummet to the floor.)
Mr. Praline: Now that's what I call a dead cat.
Owner: Well... of course! You took it out of the box, it certainly is now!
Mr. Praline: Um...now look...now look, mate, I've definitely 'ad enough of this. That cat was definitely deceased the moment I got it not 'alf an hour ago.
Owner: No no! 'e was pinin'!
Mr. Praline: 'E's not pinin'! 'E's passed on! This cat is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-CAT!!
(pause)
Owner: Well, I'd better replace it, then. (he takes a quick peek behind the counter) Sorry squire, I've had a look 'round the back of the shop, and uh, we're right out of cats.
Mr. Praline: I see. I see, I get the picture.
Owner: {pause} I got a slug.
(pause)
Mr. Praline: (sweet as sugar) Pray, is it the author of Can-Yun-O-Ace-Is?
Owner: Nnnnot really.
Mr. Praline: WELL IT'S HARDLY A BLOODY REPLACEMENT, IS IT?!!???!!?