The Honeymooners 'The $99,000 Answer" Script - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ChrisTV · 02-14-2015, 05:51 AM

Here is the complete original script for "The $99,000 Answer" episode.
Thanks to Frank Gannucci of sitcomsonline.com for the copy.

A couple of notes regarding changes from original script to filmed episode.

1) The totals that Mr. Parker is at changed from $4,750. to $24,750. and $9,500 to $49,500. Perhaps at the last minute they wanted to put Parker at the last hurdle before the final question.

2) "business and finance" to "banking and finance."

3) Parker went from having 15 seconds to only 10 seconds to answer.

4) Ralph's reply regarding living in Brooklyn all his life, went from "Er - not yet!" to "My mother and father, they were there."

5) When Alice returns home the script has Trixie entering without Alice letting her know she's home.

6) In the script, there is additional dialog between Alice & Trixie prior to Trixe hinting that Ralph should face the camera.

7) The script says "That's pennies!" Gleason says"A mere bag of shells!"

8) Gleason added "Bang... Zoom."

9) Gleason added "Why couldn't she be with Custer, when he got into trouble."

10) The script says Garrity. Gleason says McGarrity.

11) The script lists Mrs. Manicotti's song as "'Come Back to Sorrento' by Ernesto Dicurtis in 1898. Gleason says "'Take Me Back to Sorrento', 1898, written by Ernesto Decista."

12) The most interesting change. The script has Garrity yelling from upstairs saying "Eat them - like any other elephant." With additional dialog with Garrity.

Following the script with the filmed episode, it appears about 80% of what is written for Ralph, Gleason changes. I find this amazing!!

ChrisTV · 02-14-2015, 05:54 AM

.

king of comedy · 02-14-2015, 08:18 AM

That was classic.

Babalu · 02-14-2015, 04:18 PM

It's not surprising that Gleason didn't follow the script. He hated rehearsing and rarely did so. He thought it came across as more natural, and he was right. It mattered less the exact words he used than how he said it.

W.B. · 02-17-2015, 04:52 PM

So the script had "Sorrento's" writer as DeCurtis. Somehow, it doesn't surprise me how Gleason mixed it up.

Frank Gannucci · 02-26-2015, 12:44 PM

The script is once again available on ebay. Here it is:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honeymooners...item5d5517364d.

I wonder is the script to "The Sleepwalker" will pop up again.

Frank Gannucci · 06-04-2016, 11:20 AM

Once again the script is on eBay
http://m.ebay.com/itm/THE-HONEYMOONE...623?nav=SEARCH

Frank Gannucci · 06-05-2016, 07:09 AM

I asked the seller where he got this script. He said he got it from a book that he thinks is called "Writing for Television."

Frank Gannucci · 06-05-2016, 04:27 PM

I messaged him again today. He also said that there are no more Honeymooners scripts in that book.

Frank Gannucci · 08-26-2017, 08:27 AM

Once again, the script is on eBay but it's a different version with cast signatures.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/The-Honeymoone...%257Ciid%253A2

02-14-2015, 05:51 AM	#1
ChrisTV Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 25, 2004 Posts: 773	The Honeymooners 'The $99,000 Answer" Script Here is the complete original script for "The $99,000 Answer" episode. Thanks to Frank Gannucci of sitcomsonline.com for the copy. A couple of notes regarding changes from original script to filmed episode. 1) The totals that Mr. Parker is at changed from $4,750. to $24,750. and $9,500 to $49,500. Perhaps at the last minute they wanted to put Parker at the last hurdle before the final question. 2) "business and finance" to "banking and finance." 3) Parker went from having 15 seconds to only 10 seconds to answer. 4) Ralph's reply regarding living in Brooklyn all his life, went from "Er - not yet!" to "My mother and father, they were there." 5) When Alice returns home the script has Trixie entering without Alice letting her know she's home. 6) In the script, there is additional dialog between Alice & Trixie prior to Trixe hinting that Ralph should face the camera. 7) The script says "That's pennies!" Gleason says"A mere bag of shells!" 8) Gleason added "Bang... Zoom." 9) Gleason added "Why couldn't she be with Custer, when he got into trouble." 10) The script says Garrity. Gleason says McGarrity. 11) The script lists Mrs. Manicotti's song as "'Come Back to Sorrento' by Ernesto Dicurtis in 1898. Gleason says "'Take Me Back to Sorrento', 1898, written by Ernesto Decista." 12) The most interesting change. The script has Garrity yelling from upstairs saying "Eat them - like any other elephant." With additional dialog with Garrity. Following the script with the filmed episode, it appears about 80% of what is written for Ralph, Gleason changes. I find this amazing!! Attached Images

02-14-2015, 05:54 AM	#2
ChrisTV Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 25, 2004 Posts: 773	. Attached Images

02-14-2015, 04:18 PM	#4
Babalu Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 22, 2014 Posts: 4,779	It's not surprising that Gleason didn't follow the script. He hated rehearsing and rarely did so. He thought it came across as more natural, and he was right. It mattered less the exact words he used than how he said it.
	__________________ . I just nailed Mrs. Trumbull

02-14-2015, 08:18 AM	#3
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	That was classic.

02-17-2015, 04:52 PM	#5
W.B. Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 23, 2005 Location: New York, New York, USA Posts: 389	So the script had "Sorrento's" writer as DeCurtis. Somehow, it doesn't surprise me how Gleason mixed it up.

02-26-2015, 12:44 PM	#6
Frank Gannucci Member Forum Star Join Date: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 16,149	The script is once again available on ebay. Here it is: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honeymooners...item5d5517364d. I wonder is the script to "The Sleepwalker" will pop up again.

06-04-2016, 11:20 AM	#7
Frank Gannucci Member Forum Star Join Date: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 16,149	Once again the script is on eBay http://m.ebay.com/itm/THE-HONEYMOONE...623?nav=SEARCH

06-05-2016, 07:09 AM	#8
Frank Gannucci Member Forum Star Join Date: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 16,149	I asked the seller where he got this script. He said he got it from a book that he thinks is called "Writing for Television."

06-05-2016, 04:27 PM	#9
Frank Gannucci Member Forum Star Join Date: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 16,149	I messaged him again today. He also said that there are no more Honeymooners scripts in that book.

08-26-2017, 08:27 AM	#10
Frank Gannucci Member Forum Star Join Date: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 16,149	Once again, the script is on eBay but it's a different version with cast signatures. http://m.ebay.com/itm/The-Honeymoone...%257Ciid%253A2