The Madam opened the brothel door in New York City and was greeted by a well-dressed, handsome man in his late 40s.
“May I help you, sir?” she asked.
“I want to see Rosie,” he replied.
She said, “Rosie is our most expensive lady. Perhaps you'd like to see someone else?”
“No,” he said. “I must see Rosie.”
Rosie appeared and told him, “I charge $10,000 a visit.”
Without hesitation, the man handed her the cash. They went upstairs. An hour later, he left.
The next night, he came back. Rosie was stunned – no one ever returned a second night at that price.
Still, he paid and went upstairs with her.
On the third night, he came again. Everyone was in shock. Again, he paid $10,000 and went upstairs.
Afterwards, Rosie asked, “No one’s ever done this. Where are you from?”
He replied, “Brooklyn.”
She said, “No way! I have family in Brooklyn!”
“I know,” he said. “Your sister passed away. I’m her lawyer. She asked me to deliver your $30,000 inheritance.”
Joke Poo: The Plumber’s Inheritance
A grizzled plumber, tools clanging, knocked on the door of a sprawling mansion in Beverly Hills. The impeccably dressed Butler opened it.
“May I help you, sir?” the Butler inquired, nose slightly upturned.
“Yeah,” the plumber grunted. “I’m here to fix the, uh, system in the master bathroom.”
The Butler, wrinkling his nose, replied, “That is rather urgent, I’ll admit. But our usual plumber is on holiday. This is quite unexpected.”
“Look, I’m the best in the city,” the plumber stated gruffly. “And I’m charging $5,000 a call for emergency house calls.”
Without hesitation, the Butler paid him the cash. The plumber went upstairs. Two hours later, he came down, wiping his brow.
The next day, he came back. The Butler was surprised – their old plumber hadn’t been needed two days in a row in years.
Still, he paid the $5,000, and the plumber went back upstairs.
On the third day, the plumber arrived again. The entire household was abuzz with curiosity. Again, the Butler reluctantly paid, and the plumber trudged upstairs.
Afterwards, as the plumber was leaving, the Butler finally asked, “I simply must inquire. We are most grateful for your services, of course, but this is truly unprecedented. Where are you from?”
The plumber replied, “Pasadena.”
The Butler exclaimed, “Good heavens! I have family in Pasadena!”
“I know,” the plumber said, grinning, “Your cousin, Ralph, passed away. He left me instructions. Said he wanted me to spend $15,000 taking care of his pet koi pond. Turns out that ‘koi pond’ was a fancy, expensive indoor bidet system. And he didn’t leave instructions about when it needed cleaning.”
Alright, let’s break down this joke and then build on it.
Joke Dissection:
- Setup: Establishes a high-class brothel in New York City, a wealthy client, and a very expensive prostitute named Rosie. Sets up the expectation of a purely transactional, lust-driven scenario.
- Conflict/Intrigue: The man’s repeated visits and willingness to pay a huge sum of money create a mystery. Rosie’s shock further emphasizes the unusual nature of the situation.
- Twist/Punchline: The real reason for the visits is revealed: a lawyer fulfilling a deceased sister’s last wish to deliver an inheritance. This subverts all expectations and reveals a poignant, emotional motivation beneath the surface. The location of Brooklyn is what gives away the family connection.
- Humor Source: The humor comes from the unexpected juxtaposition of the seedy brothel setting with a heartfelt family matter. The extreme price paid amplifies the surprise.
Key Elements:
- Brothel/Prostitution: The setting itself is often a source of humor due to its taboo nature.
- Money: The exorbitant amount of money paid is a key element of the setup and intensifies the twist.
- Brooklyn: The specific location adds a relatable and slightly ironic touch. It grounds the story in a real place and emphasizes the improbable connection.
- Unexpected Inheritance: The inheritance is the core of the twist and the engine of the humor.
Comedic Enrichment:
Now, let’s use these elements to craft a new piece of humor:
Joke Option 1 (Playing on the ‘Brooklyn’ element):
A Wall Street hedge fund manager walks into a high-end Manhattan brothel. He asks for the most expensive escort they have. He pays her a fortune and spends the night.
The next night, he returns, pays again, and does the same. On the third night, the madam is astounded. “Sir,” she says, “I’ve never seen anything like it. Why do you keep coming back?”
He sighs, “I’m from Brooklyn.”
“Brooklyn!?” the Madam exclaims. “I grew up in Brooklyn! What part?”
The man replies, “I just needed to be as far away from it as possible. All this money can’t buy me away from my childhood!”
Why it works:
- Subverts Expectations Again: We think it’s going to be another inheritance story, but it’s a self-deprecating joke about the character’s relationship with their hometown.
- Plays on Stereotypes: Uses the stereotype of people from Brooklyn wanting to be elsewhere.
- Adds a Layer of Social Commentary: Touches on the theme of wealth, dissatisfaction, and the lingering effects of upbringing.
Joke Option 2 (A “Did You Know” with a twist):
Did you know that the most expensive prostitute in New York City history wasn’t actually selling anything? According to probate court records from 2008, a certain “Rosie” may have inadvertently become the highest-paid intermediary in family inheritance delivery, charging a rate equivalent to… well, let’s just say you’d need more than a rent-controlled apartment in Brooklyn to afford her services. And the ironic part? The lawyer involved still billed the estate for his “travel expenses.”
Why it works:
- Exploits Real-World Elements: The humor is heightened by framing it as a “true” fact.
- Implies Scandal: The phrasing hints at potential financial impropriety by the lawyer, adding another layer of dark humor.
- Maintains the Juxtaposition: It keeps the surprising mix of the scandalous and the mundane alive.
These attempts build on the original joke by maintaining the key elements of surprise, the incongruity of the setting and the reason, and the recurring theme of money. The goal is to create something that is funny in its own right, while also echoing and commenting on the source material.