M: (excited) Check out this new voice-controlled TV I bought yesterday.

(M and J sit down and look at the TV)

M: TV, turn on.

A: (announcer/commentator) Welcome to tonight’s basketball game, right now you can see the players warming up.

(H and L pass B-ball around)

J: I hope our team gets a hole-in-one tonight.

M: We’re watching basketball, Josh

J: A touchdown, then.

M: There are no hole-in-ones or touchdowns in basketball.

J: Goal!

M: (sighs) TV, channel up.

A: Welcome to … ( dramatically) the game show! The rules are simple. Try to win.

(L and H sitting at desks)

L: Can I ask a question?

A: ( points to L) (cheerfully) You just did! Now let’s begin.

A: What is your favourite colour?

H: Green!

A: Aaw, so close, the answer was airplane.

J: I knew it!

M: What?! (looks confused)

A: What’s the square root of platypus?

L: 42.

A: It was banana…

M: This doesn’t even make sense. TV channel up.

(A and H are talking together) (without inflection)

H: My nose is runny. I need some medicine. It’s called Cold-Away!

A: Try this new medicine. (Holds up package.) It works for me anytime and every time I’m sick.

H: Whoah, I need that!

L: Find it at your local pharmacy. For only $19.99 a pill. Side effects may include runny and/or stuffy nose, paralysis, sensory loss, sickness, and death. Batteries not included.

J: What a great deal!

M: That’s a horrible deal. And are you even sick?

J: (cheerfully) Nope!

M: (face palm) TV, channel up.

H: (clapping) (smiling) Welcome to happy-learning-time!

L: Yaaay!

H: Let’s practice counting to ten!

H: (clapping on each number) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Now your turn!

(L starts counting silently)

J: 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 7, 12, 7, 10 (pauses) um, 7!

H: You did it! Good job.

J: Yay, I did good.

M: TV off, ugh! I think I’ll just go play a board game or something.

(M leaves)

J: Can I come?

A: The end.