05l: Steve Martin / Prince

Lorne's Office

.....Steve Martin
.....Lorne Michaels
.....Chris Parnell
.....Alec Baldwin
.....Jimmy Fallon

[ open on interior, Lorne Michaels' office. Lorne is playing Snood on his computer as Steve Martin rushes in. ]

Steve Martin: Lorne! Lorne! We got the early ratings in, and they're sky high! And the critics are already saying this is one of the funniest shows ever!

Lorne Michaels: That's great!

Steve Martin: So.. so, I want to renegotiate my contract. I want more money!

Lorne Michaels: [ laughs ] Can't - can't do it.

Steve Martin: Lorne, what-what did - what did you pay me the first time I hosted in 1976?

Lorne Michaels: $5,000?

Steve Martin: And what are you paying me now, in 2006?

Lorne Michaels: $5,000.

Steve Martin: I want five-thousand, five-hundred!

Lorne Michaels: Steve, I can't do it. It sets a bad precedent.

Steve Martin: How much do you get per show?

Lorne Michaels: [ laughs ] I don't see how that --

Steve Martin: How much?! Come on, how much?!

Lorne Michaels: [ relunctantly ] $12 million.

Steve Martin: Does that seem fair to you?

[ Chris Parnell runs into the office ]

Chris Parnell: Steve! We need downstairs for the next sketch!

Lorne Michaels: [ coolly ] So what's it going to be, Steve - the money, or the show must go on?

[ dramatic music pulses up, as the camera cuts between Steve, Chris and Lorne. Open-mouthed, Steve finally finds the nerve to give his answer: ]

Steve Martin: I'm not going on!

Lorne Michaels: Don't push me, Steve. I have options.

[ a tense Steve turns his head to reveal a bruised and battered Alec Baldwin sprawled against the couch in Lorne's office ]

Alec Baldwin: [ a wee bit woozy ] I'm ready, Boss.

[ Jimmy Fallon positions his head into frame next to Alec Baldwin ]

Jimmy Fallon: I'm ready, too, uh.. if he doesn't want to -- [ the audience cheers with excitement ]

Steve Martin: Damn you, Lorne Michaels! You know me too well! [ turns toward the door ] I'm going on! [ exits Lorne's office ]

Lorne Michaels: Jimmy -- uh.. we showed him, didn't we, Alec?

Alec Baldwin: I want pie!

Lorne Michaels: Jimmy, will you take him down to see the nurse? I think there may be head damage.

Jimmy Fallon: Yeah. [ to Alec ] Come on, buddy. Let's go.

Alec Baldwin: Joey, I want pie!

Jimmy Fallon: [ stands Alec up and motions him toward the door ] We'll get pie, yeah, we'll get pie. Medicine pie.

[ fade ]