H & R BLOCK Office, Buffalo, NY.

[phone rings]

Sherman Lee, CPA: This is Sherman…Hey…yeah, work’s going great so far, coffee’s good today…Okay…Okay…Oh, I got something for you today! I won an auction on eBay for a jersey for you! It’s a Thomas Thurman jersey!…Well, golly, what are you so upset about?…I thought Thomas Thurman was a really good player. You know I don’t watch sports…Okay, I have to go, someone just walked up…Love you too.

[looks up] Can I help you?

Travis Henry: Fuckin’ taxes, man. Do my taxes.

Sherman Lee, CPA: Sure, I’d be happy to help you with that. Have a seat.
I don’t see…I don’t see you holding any paperwork.

Travis Henry: It’s in my pocket. [Plays with stapler on desk. Pulls wadded up paper out of pocket]

Sherman Lee, CPA: Okay, let’s just see what you earned last year…Oh my goodness. You had Southern Cal in the Elite Eight?!?

Travis Henry: Shit, wrong pocket. [Pulls out another piece of paper.] Fuck Southern Cal.

Sherman Lee, CPA: Sorry, we all filled out brackets this year. Actually, my wife filled out mine. She watches lots of sports.

Travis Henry: Well what do you watch?

Sherman Lee, CPA: I read books.

Travis Henry: Fuck books.

Sherman Lee, CPA: Mr…Henry…I see you made…eight million dollars last year. I’m afraid that’s not good news for your tax bill.

Travis Henry: Fuck taxes.

Sherman Lee, CPA: Well, hold on, sir, let’s see if there are any deductions. [Looks at desk] Hey, where’d this other stapler come from?

Travis Henry: I dunno.

Sherman Lee, CPA: Oh well, never mind. Any dependents?

Travis Henry: [twiddles pen between fingers] Any what?

Sherman Lee, CPA: Sir, do you have any children?

Travis Henry: Nine.

Sherman Lee, CPA: None? We’ll I’ll just put a zero here and–

Travis Henry: No. Nine.

Sherman Lee, CPA: Nine?! Holy shit. Alrighty…nine…children…

Shirley Drabb, CPA: Sherman, you took my other chair!

Sherman Lee, CPA: I did not!

Shirley Drabb, CPA: Yes you did! You have an extra chair right here!

Sherman Lee, CPA: No, your chair is over by your desk [points] right there.

Shirley Drabb, CPA: Oh…well…where did this chair come from?

Travis Henry: I dunno.

Shirley Drabb, CPA: Well, I’m sorry, then. I apologize. [Shakes hands with Travis]

Travis Henry: S’all good.

Sherman Lee, CPA: Well, Mr. Henry, looks like you owe 5,000 for federal, but you’re getting back 6,000 from the state.

Travis Henry: That’s tight. What do I owe you?

Sherman Lee, CPA: If you let me keep the chair and the stapler, we’ll call it even. You’re all set.

Travis Henry: Fuck you goodbye. [Travis leaves]

Sherman Lee, CPA: [cell phone rings] This is Sherman…Yes, honey, I’m going over at lunch…I’m gonna check on Shirley before I go…It sounds like she’s got a little morning sickness. I wonder if there’s something going around…