If you refuse to talk, do you actually have to say "I cite the 5th amendment"?

Whoosh! :slight_smile:

Seriously though, doh…
I dived into a serious discussion with a joke and totally blew it. Well, I am new around here…

I once heard an interview with the creator of Columbo, who said he created the “Just one more question…” schtick in that pre-wordprocessing age when he thought of another question for Columbo to ask and it was too much trouble to retype the whole scene. He just added the question at the end of the friendly interrogation, as an afterthought. He had no idea it would become iconic for the character.

Saw Peter Falk last night as a Sam Spade-esque character in the Neil Simon comedy Murder by Death, as it happens. Funny stuff.

I can’t help seeing something Pythonesque in this.

Perp: “I cite the 5th Amendment and refuse to speak.”

Cop 1: “Ha! You just spoke!”

Cop 2 (hits gong triumphantly): “Good one, Hal!”

Perp: “I did not!”

Cop 1: “Hoho! You just spoke again!”

Cop 2: gonnng “Hal, stop it. You’re killing me here…”