Harvey Kneeslapper's Open Trick
skit with Harvey Kneeslapper (Frank Oz) and assorted Muppets
Note: A lot of Harvey's skits, such as this one, were extended over two or three parts of the episode.
Part One
(Opening: A closet with a sign that says "OPEN" hanging on the closed door.
Harvey Kneeslapper is standing nearby and, as usual, is laughing hysterically.)
Harvey: Hi! Harvey Kneeslapper here, and I got a great trick for you!
See this closet? I filled it up with toys! All the way up to the top with...
(He bursts into a fit of laughter.)
...toys! Excuse me, it's so funny. Anyway, I got this sign on the door. See, it says, "Open." O-P-E-N. Open.
What happens is, somebody's gonna come along and read the sign on the closet and open the door.
And then... (giggles) ...it's gonna fall over them!
(He breaks into another fit of hysterical laughter.)
Oh, here comes somebody now.
(He runs offscreen to where he can watch without being noticed.
A moment later, a Muppet girl enters from the opposite side.)
Girl (reading sign): O-P-E-N. Open. Okay.
(She opens the closet and sees the stuff inside, none of which falls out.)
Huh, weird!
(She closes the closet and exits from the side she entered from.)
Harvey (re-entering): Wha? (He opens the closet, and the stuff falls on him.)
Part Two
(The same scene. Harvey has apparently refilled the closet and closed the door.)
Harvey: Okay, I'm ready to try the trick again. Last time, it didn't work.
But now somebody's sure to come along and open the closet!
Oh, here comes somebody now.
(He runs offscreen again. A moment later, a Muppet boy enters from the opposite side.)
Boy (reading sign): O-P-E-N. Open.
(He tugs at the door, but it doesn't budge.)
Ah, this door is stuck. It won't open.
(He exits from the side he entered from.)
Harvey (re-entering): Huh? Now, hold on here!
(He opens the closet, and the stuff falls on him.)
Part Three
(The same scene. Harvey has refilled the closet and is carefully closing the door.)
Harvey: Okay, I'm ready to try again. Those other two times, it didn't work, but now it's sure to!
Oh, here comes somebody now.
(He runs offscreen again. A moment later, two Muppets, a boy and a girl, enter from the opposite side.)
Girl (reading sign): Oh, O-P-E-N. Open. Well, of course we have to open it if we're going to the theater.
(She opens the door, revealing empty air, and turns to the boy.)
Hey, Fred, you got the tickets?
Boy: Right here! (He follows her through the doorway.)
Girl: Okay, good. Don't forget to close the door! (The boy closes it behind him.)
Harvey (re-entering): Wait a minute! What's going on here?
(He opens the closet, and the stuff falls on him.)
Transcribed by Silvery Shoe