In a previous post somebody related how they had written out the script of Jerry's ingenious solution to telephone solicitation. I, too, tried his gag on a phone solicitor, and here's what happened:
Pesky Phone Solicitor: Hello, I'm calling on behalf of Vandalay Industries to tell you about our wonderful new Pez dispensers...
Me: Tell you what, I'm kind of busy right now. Why don't you just give me your home phone number and I'll call you back there.
PSS: Huh?
Me: I say, I'm kind of busy right now. Why don't you just give me your home phone number and I'll call you back at home.
PPS: Well, I'm not calling you from my home.
Me: Huh?
PPS: I say, I'm not calling you from my home, so why would I give you my home number?
Me: I'm not going to call you back right now, I'm going to wait until you get home from work, and _then_ I'm going to call you back on your home phone.
PPS: But how would you know when I'm home? And why would you call me there? I'm sorry, I just don't get your point.
Me: Well, it was supposed to be a gag where I ask you for your home number, and then you refuse to give it to me, and I ask if it's because you don't like to be bothered on the phone when you're at home, and you say yes, and then I say, "Well, neither do I," and slam the phone onto the receiver triumphantly.
PPS: Huh?
Me: It's supposed to be a joke.
PPS: A joke?
Me: Yeah, it's supposed to be a joke.
PPS: Oh, I think I get it... [She doesn't get it, she's just trying to think of an excuse to end this call.] Well, um, if you're not interested in our new line of mail order Pez dispensers... well, I've got to call some other people now.
Me: Don't be surprised if you hear this again. It was just on Seinfeld this week.
PPS: Huh?
Me: I mean, somebody might try this on you again because it was just on Seinfeld. [Pause.] Seinfeld. It's a TV show.
PPS: A TV show. [Pause.] Well, I've gotta go now.
Me: Sorry to bother you, I just had to try it on somebody.
PPS: No problem. Bye.
If you've come this far, it's probably occurred to you that this call was not at all like Jerry's and was more like George trying to imitate Jerry's call, and getting Kramer's sister on the other end. I guess I should have written it out and taped it by the phone.