In this story, Rupert seeks permission from his boss, Mr. Harris, to leave work early so he can perform at a prestigious comedy show at the Iceberg Nightclub. Mr. Harris dismisses Rupert's request, belittles his comedy career, and denies him time off, insisting that the performance is "embarrassing" and a waste of time. Instead, Mr. Harris assigns Rupert extra work, demonstrating a lack of support and understanding for Rupert's aspirations outside of his current job.