Situation Comedy Outline: "Divorce or Bust"
Show Premise
"Divorce or Bust" is a lighthearted sitcom set in New Unity City, the orderly capital of the Secular Koranist World State (SKWS), where citizens grapple with the quirks of life under the Secular Koranist Party (SKP). The show follows a quirky cast navigating Secular Koranism’s laws—no usury, one-party rule, government slavery, and a patriarchal family focus—finding comedy in their efforts to balance personal freedom with state discipline. Each episode spotlights a Secular Koranism policy, blending laughs with its pragmatic edge.
Episode Title: "The Wrist-Slap Wrangle"
Setting
- Location: New Unity City, a pristine metropolis with Citizen’s Militia patrols (Story pamphlet), Marriage Bureau offices bustling with activity (Marriage Bureau guide), and red-light districts on the fringes (Prostitution pamphlet).
- Main Sets:
- The Baxter Apartment: A modest flat with SKBN posters—“Fight for Family” (SKP Constitution)—and a tense air.
- Marriage Bureau’s Divorce Oversight Department (DOD): A sterile office with contract files and a stern vibe (Divorce pamphlet).
- Matrimonial Disputes Tribunal Room: A small courtroom with a mediator’s desk, echoing order (SKWS Constitution).
Characters
- Tom Baxter: A gruff factory foreman, 35, order-seeking but stubborn, insists he’s the boss (Psychological Profile). Loves his no-debt casino nights (Gambling pamphlet).
- Ellen Baxter: A sharp-tongued clerk, 33, duty-oriented but fed up, demands respect (Women’s Role essay). Fears losing her A-school kids (Education pamphlet).
- Marge: Ellen’s smug married friend, 36, top-tier mother, always touting Secular Koranism fixes (Family Values pamphlet).
- Lenny: Tom’s gambling pal, 34, ex-banker turned government slave (Economics pamphlet), offers dubious advice.
- Counselor Rita: A no-nonsense DOD mediator, 40, dry wit, pushes reconciliation (Divorce pamphlet’s MDT).
- Officer Kim: A stern Citizen’s Militia enforcer, 35, fines public vice (Alcohol and Pork pamphlet), cameo order-keeper.
Episode Outline
Act 1: The Breaking Point
- Opening Scene: Tom and Ellen bicker in their apartment—Tom forgot the trash again, Ellen’s nagging peaks. Tom snaps—“I warned you twice!”—and stomps to the couch—“Separation starts now!” (Wife-Beating pamphlet). Ellen retorts—“Fine, wrist-slap me and see what happens!”
- Conflict Ignites: Next day, Tom drags Ellen to a public wrist-slapping—neighbors watch, Marge claps—“Third step, Tom!” (Divorce pamphlet). Ellen, red-faced, storms off—“This marriage is done!” Tom grumbles—“Good luck getting past the DOD!”
- Marge’s Meddling: Marge visits Ellen—“You’ve got to fight through the tribunals—divorce is a marathon!” Ellen sighs—“He’s a pig, but I hate losing the kids.” Marge nods—“A-school moms don’t quit!” (Education pamphlet).
Act 2: The Tribunal Tangle
- DOD Drop-In: Tom and Ellen file at the Marriage Bureau’s Divorce Oversight Department—Counselor Rita greets them—“Three phases failed, huh? MDT’s your first stop” (Divorce pamphlet). Tom gripes—“She’s a rebel!” Ellen snaps—“He’s a slob!” Rita deadpans—“Save it for the panel.”
- Matrimonial Disputes Tribunal (MDT): The couple faces three mediators—Rita leads. Tom lists Ellen’s “disloyalty”—“She mocks my poker!” (Gambling pamphlet). Ellen counters—“He skips chores!” Rita assigns counseling—“Two hours, fix it—or escalate” (Marriage Bureau guide). Tom whispers—“I’d rather whip myself.”
- Lenny’s Lousy Advice: At the casino, Tom vents to Lenny—“Counseling’s torture!” Lenny, shuffling chips, smirks—“Appeal it, drag it out—she’ll cave. I’d rather be a slave than married” (Economics pamphlet). Tom nods—“MDAT it is!”
Act 3: The Appeal and the Court Chaos
- Matrimonial Disputes Appeal Tribunal (MDAT): Five mediators grill them—Tom’s louder—“She’s impossible!” Ellen’s sharper—“He’s lazy!” Rita, now on the panel, sighs—“Forty-five days, deeper talks—or it’s Divorce Court” (Divorce pamphlet). Ellen storms out—“Court it is!” Tom mutters—“This is why I hate contracts!” (Marriage pamphlet).
- Street Slip-Up: Tom, fuming, downs whiskey outside—Officer Kim fines him $50—“No public drunks, Baxter!” (Alcohol and Pork pamphlet). Chastened, he calls Lenny—“Divorce Court’s next—help!” Lenny laughs—“You’re toast—should’ve wrist-slapped harder!”
- Divorce Court Climax: In Koranist Court, Judge Patel hears them out—Tom pleads sloth, Ellen infidelity (she flirted at work). DNA test offered (DNA Testing pamphlet)—Tom opts out—“She’s mine, just nuts!” Ellen softens—“He’s a mess, but mine.” Judge rules—“No grounds—back to counseling!” Rita, watching, quips—“See you at DOD next week.”
- Closing Scene: At home, Tom and Ellen laugh—“Divorce is harder than marriage!” Marge toasts—“To wrist-slaps and tribunals!” Lenny groans—“I’m staying single!” SKBN jingle fades—“Family First, Fight On!”
Themes and Humor
- Themes: Patriarchal discipline (Wife-Beating pamphlet), family preservation (Divorce pamphlet), state order vs. personal chaos (SKSA Constitution)—Secular Koranism’s tension shines.
- Humor: Tom’s wrist-slap flop (Divorce pamphlet), Ellen’s tribunal sass (Women’s Role essay), Marge’s smugness (Family Values pamphlet), Lenny’s slave woes (Economics pamphlet), Kim’s fines (Alcohol and Pork pamphlet)—policy quirks fuel laughs.
Resolution
Tom and Ellen stay married—divorce’s gauntlet forces reconciliation (Divorce pamphlet). Secular Koranism’s order wins—family intact, chaos averted (Education pamphlet’s stability).
Tagline
“Three slaps, two tribunals, one court—divorce is a bust under Secular Koranism!”
Explanation of the Outline
This outline integrates all Secular Koranism data:
- Setting: New Unity City (Story pamphlet) reflects SKWS—militia (SKP Constitution), Marriage Bureau (Marriage Bureau guide), DOD (Divorce pamphlet).
- Characters: Tom’s order-seeking stubbornness, Ellen’s duty (Psychological Profile), Marge’s hierarchy (Women’s Role essay), Lenny’s slavery (Economics pamphlet), Rita’s mediation (Divorce pamphlet), Kim’s enforcement (Alcohol and Pork pamphlet).
- Conflict: Divorce process—warnings, wrist-slapping, MDT, MDAT, Divorce Court (Divorce pamphlet)—drives humor with failed reconciliation attempts (Wife-Beating pamphlet), DNA option (DNA Testing pamphlet).
- Resolution: No divorce—SKSA Constitution’s no-fault ban, Marriage pamphlet’s commitment, and Family Values pamphlet’s stability prevail.
It’s a comedic spin on Secular Koranism’s divorce rigor—patriarchal discipline meets human folly—highlighting its order-seeking ethos with relatable, policy-driven gags.
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