Cutaway Gag

I noticed I haven't written much here lately so I figured in the interest of just having some content, here's a hastily written short scene. This is whole post feels like the equivalent of being asked to say something and just repeating the word "something". In terms of what could possibly be considered context, I imagine this one small scene from a fictional workplace sitcom featuring surreal cutaway/flashback gags (for now I'll call it "High-Risers"):


INT. OFFICE BUILDING LOBBY - DAY

Tim and Mary anxiously wait for Rick near a bank of four elevators.

TIM
Where is he?

MARY
I though he said he was going to catch up with us.

TIM
I thought so.

The elevator closest to them dings, signaling its arrival.

Tim and Mary look in with hopeful expressions on their faces as the door opens.

Rick is not in the elevator. Instead, an elderly man in a rascal scooter emerges, he obnoxiously leans on his horn as he makes his way between Tim and Mary.

They jump out of the way of the scooter and watch him drive off.

The door to the stairway entrance at the far end of the lobby opens and Rick comes out. He looks as if he has exerted himself.

Rick comes up behind Tim and Mary, surprising them.

RICK
Hey guys.

Tim and Mary are spooked for a moment.

MARY
(to Rick) What happened, Rick?

TIM
Did you just run down the  stairs again?

RICK
Maybe.

MARY
Who was it this time?

RICK
Hank from accounting.

TIM
You really have to deal with this crippling fear of possibly being alone on the elevator and making small talk.

MARY
Yeah this is not healthy.

RICK
Hey I just ran down five flights, that is very healthy.

Mary gives Rick an unhappy look.

TIM
Come on, you’ve got to get over this. It’s just small talk, there’s no way to do it wrong. Even that new robot from HR can get through a ride.

CUT TO:

FLASHBACK - INT. ELEVATOR - DAY

Tim stands next to XJ2 as the elevator heads down. XJ2 is a massive, gray, boxy, 50’s style robot with extremely limited mobility. He is wearing a fedora and has a tie on.

XJ2’s white light bulb eyes light up in sync with his speech. He also starts to flail his stubby, tube-like arms wildly.

XJ2
(in a distorted, robotic tone) It is a hot weather we are having.

TIM
Yeah. It’s hella hot toda-

XJ2
Syntax error. Syntax error. Please repeat with-

Dark smoke starts to billow out of XJ2 as the small elevator beings to get hazy.

Tim starts to gag from the smoke.

CUT TO:

INT. OFFICE BUILDING LOBBY - DAY

TIM
It’s that simple.