Life Imitates Art: Monty Python/COPS/Damo and Darren*

“Im Jus Waitin ona Mate”

This clip on YouTube is like some real-life mashup of Monty Python, COPS, Damo and Darren* and maybe America’s (Australia’s) Funniest Home Videos.

Its 6:52 long. The whole thing is pretty funny but the first minute or two are surreal in a Python-esque way.

*Damo and Darren is a Australian series of short animated bits about a couple of “bogans” (roughly equivalent to “rednecks” in the States) that seems outwardly modeled on Beavis and Butthead but really only in the style of animation and graphics. I had a good laugh at it, and a good laugh at myself trying to figure out what in the hell they were saying!

And now… some sample dialogue from our Program:
[OPEN]

Nighttime. Scene opens on a small blue car that’s clearly been in an accident. The car has run up on a curb with flat tires and the front end smashed in. A young man, JAMES, is casually sitting in the drivers seat. A CONSTABLE approaches the car to investigate. *JAMES is in good spirits and converses pleasantly with the CONSTABLE. *

CONSTABLE: (Politely) What happened man? What’s going on?

JAMES: I’m just waiting for a mate.

CONSTABLE: Is that why your car’s all smashed up and you’re up on the grass at the moment or what?

JAMES: Yeah.
I’m just waiting for a mate.
He’s - - - [Can’t transcribe] … in there. Why?

CONSTABLE: I’m just wondering how the collision with your car happened, man.

JAMES: What collision?

CONSTABLE: Well, the one that’s got all your wheels and stuff twisted up and your front bumper bar hanging off, man.

JAMES: Well…
I’m just waiting for a mate.

CONSTABLE: As I said-- Who’s your mate?

JAMES: Huh?

CONSTABLE: Who’s your mate?

JAMES: (Points forward toward nothing) James.

CONSTABLE: Yeah? James who?

JAMES: Huh?

CONSTABLE: How’d you get the - - -? [Can’t transcribe. Might be referring to alcohol or an injury]

*(Pause as JAMES grins and looks up and down) *

CONSTABLE: How’d you get the - - -?

JAMES: (pleasantly) Does it matter?

CONSTABLE: It kinda does, mate, because you’ve just been involved in an accident.

JAMES: (Incredulously) No!

CONSTABLE: Yes you have.

JAMES: Have I?

CONSTABLE: Yeah.

JAMES: What kind of accident?

CONSTABLE: One with a curb, mate. Your whole car’s smashed up.

JAMES: (With apparent concern for the welfare of CURB) What’s wrong with the curb?