Who's the Fore'?

with apologies to Bud Abbott and Lou Costello

Lou: Every time I come watch the Morris dancing, you know, every time I'd ask you about the team, you would never tell me.
Bud: Yes I did...
Lou: No you didn't!
Bud: Yes I did!
Lou: Now, you gotta tell me about the team, so that when I see 'em perform, I'll know who they are.
Bud: Well, I told you before, they all have strange names...
Lou: Well, you tell me their names.
Bud: Well, all right, let's see for officers, there's: Who's the Fore', What's the Squire, I Don't Know's the Shepherd...
Lou: (Cutting him off) That's the same thing you gave me before, I'm still trying to find out!
Bud: It's the same names!
Lou: (Sigh) All right, now who's the Fore'?
Bud: Yes.
Lou: Well, go ahead and tell me.
Bud: Who.
Lou: The dancer who's Fore'.
Bud: Who!
Lou: The fellow who's Foreman!
Bud: Who's the Foreman!
Lou: Why do you keep asking me?
Bud: I'm not asking you, I'm telling you.
Lou: Well I'm asking you; who's the Fore'?
Bud: That's right.
Lou: So, go ahead and tell me.
Bud: Who.
Lou: The dancer who's Foreman.
Bud: Who.
Lou: The Foreman.
Bud: That's the man's name.
Lou: (sigh) It's the same as always, only worse.
Bud: Aw no, we got a contract with him now.
Lou: You got a contract with who?
Bud: Yeah, absolutely.
Lou: So who signed the contract?
Bud: Well, certainly. It'd be no good unless he signed it!
Lou: Unless who signed it?
Bud: Yes.
Lou: Now look, somebody's gotta sign the contract, now who signed it!?
Bud: That's right.
Lou: (Sigh) All I'm trying to find out is: what's the dancer's name who's Fore'?
Bud: Oh, no, wait a minute, What's the dancer's name who's Squire.
Lou: I'm not asking you who's Squire.
Bud: Who's the Fore'.
Lou: One dancer at a time!
Bud: Well, stop trying to change them around.
Lou: I'm not trying to change anyone around. I'm only asking you what's the dancer's name who's Fore'?
Bud: But I'm telling you, What's the dancer's name who's Squire.
Lou: I'm not asking you who's Squire.
Bud: Who's the Fore'.
Lou: I don't know.
Bud: She's the Shepherd, now we're not talking about her.
Lou: How'd I get to the Shepherd?
Bud: You mentioned her name.
Lou: If I mentioned the Shepherd's name, who did I say was the Shepherd?
Bud: No, Who's the Fore'.
Lou: Stay away from the Foreman, will ya!? Now, what's the dancer's name who's the Shepherd?
Bud: What's the Squire.
Lou: Who's the Squire.
Bud: Who's the Fore'.
Lou: I don't know.
Bud: She's the Shepherd.
Lou: (Throws his hand in the air) There I go, back at the Shepherd.
Bud: Well, I can't change their names.
Lou: Now look; let's you and I talk about the Shepherd, see, and no one else!
Bud: All right. What is it you wanted to know?
Lou: Who's the Shepherd?
Bud: (Pause) Why do you insist on making Who the Shepherd?
Lou: Who am I making the Shepherd?
Bud: Yes, but we don't want her there.
Lou: You don't want who there?
Bud: No.
Lou: So, what's the dancer's name that belongs there?
Bud: No, What's the Squire.
Lou: I'm not asking you who's the Squire?
Bud: Who's the Fore'.
Lou: I don't know.
Lou/Bud: (Together) The Shepherd!
Lou: (Pause/sigh) Have you got any characters?
Bud: Well, certainly.
Lou: And the Fool's name?
Bud: Why.
Lou: Oh, I don't know, I just thought I'd ask you.
Bud: Well, I'd just thought I'd tell you.
Lou: So go ahead and tell me, who's the Fool.
Bud: Who's the Fore'!
Lou: Stay away from the officers, will ya? I wanna know what's the Fool's name?
(The following should be said very fast, speeding up until Lou almost beats Bud to the "The Shepherd" line).
Bud: No, What's the Squire.
Lou: I'm not asking you who's the Squire?
Bud: Who's the Fore'.
Lou: I don't know.
Bud/Lou: (Together) The Shepherd.
Lou: (Angry now) And the Fool's name?
Bud: Why!
Lou: Because!
Bud: No, he's the Betty! Come on, you know these dancers as well as I do.
Lou: (Sigh, Pause) Have you got any musicians on the team?
Bud: Wouldn't this be a fine team without musicians.
Lou: And the box player's name?
Bud: Tomorrow.
Lou: You don't want to tell me today?
Bud: I'm tellin' you man.
Lou: Go ahead.
Bud: Tomorrow.
Lou: What time?
Bud: What time, what?
Lou: What time tomorrow are you going to tell me who's playing box.
Bud: (Finally angry in return) Now listen, Who in not playing box. Who's the...
Lou: (Cutting him off) I'll break your arm you say "who's the Fore'"!
Bud: (Backing off) All right, all right, have it your own way.
Lou: Look, all I wanna know what's the box player's name?
Bud: What's the Squire.
Lou: (Interrupting) I don't know.
Bud/Lou: (Together) The Shepherd.
Lou: Have you got a drummer?
Bud: Sure.
Lou: And the drummer's name?
Bud: Today.
Lou: Today.
Bud: That's right.
Lou: And Tomorrow's playin' box.
Bud: (Happy) Now you've got it.
Lou: (Doing a slow boil) Now I've got it? All we got is a couple of days on the team. A couple of days...
Bud: (Cutting him off before he blows) Hey, don't get excited.
Lou: (Finally blowing) Who's getting excited!!!
Bud: Take it easy there.
Lou: (Puffing to calm down - long pause) I'm a pretty good drummer myself, you know.
Bud: So they tell me.
Lou: So I'm drumming, see, and Tomorrow's playing box, and the 'Fore is teaching a new dance. Now, me being a good drummer and all I want to make sure the set's the way the 'Fore wants it. So, I check with who?
Bud: Now that's the first thing you've said right.
Lou: I don't even know what I'm talking about.
Bud: Well, that's all you have to do.
Lou: I check to make sure the set's ready.
Bud: Yes.
Lou: Then who do I check with?
Bud: Naturally.
Lou: (Slowly, growing out of a sense that he has finally got something nailed down) If I check whether the set's ready, somebody's gotta be responsible. Now, who's responsible?
Bud: Naturally.
Lou: Who is?
Bud: Naturally.
Lou: Naturally.
Bud: Naturally.
Lou: Naturally.
Bud: There, that's all there is to it.
Lou: (Thinking he finally understands) So, I check with Naturally.
Bud: No you don't! You check with the Foreman.
Lou: And that's who?
Bud: Naturally.
Lou: That's what I'm saying!
Bud: I'm not saying that.
Lou: When I check that the set's ready, I check with who?
Bud: Naturally.
Lou: Now you ask me.
Bud: All right. You check that the set's ready, then who lets you know?
Lou: Naturally.
Bud: Stop saying that!
Lou: Same as you!!!
Bud: No, no, no, no, you see...
Lou: (Cutting him off) When I check that the set's ready, who lets me know?
Bud: Naturally.
Lou: He better let me know.
Bud: All right.
Lou: Another dance is being taught. This is a six person dance using Because. Why, I Don't Know, she's the Shepherd, and I don't give a darn.
Bud: What's that?
Lou: I said "I don't give a darn".
Bud: Oh, that's our Hobby.
Lou: (Moan)

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