--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We did have a script, but it didn't…" description: "\"We did have a script, but it didn't consist of the routines and gags. It outlined the basic story idea and just a plan for us to follow. But when it ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/stan-laurel-25542_habits_we-did-have-a-script-but-it-didn-t-consi_2790471.jpg" --- # We did have a script, but it didn't consist of the… ![“We did have a script, but it didn't consist of the routines and gags. It outlined the basic story idea and just a plan for us to follow. But when it came to each scene, we and the gagmen would work out ideas.” quote by Stan Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/stan-laurel-25542_habits_we-did-have-a-script-but-it-didn-t-consi_2790471.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/stan-laurel-25542_habits_we-did-have-a-script-but-it-didn-t-consi_2790471.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/stan-laurel-25542_habits_we-did-have-a-script-but-it-didn-t-consi_2790471.jpg) > “We did have a script, but it didn't consist of the routines and gags. It outlined the basic story idea and just a plan for us to follow. But when it came to each scene, we and the gagmen would work out ideas.” [Stan Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-laurel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes a flexible, improvisational approach to comedy writing, where a basic outline guides spontaneous creation. **In simple terms:** Improvisation over a simple story plan. Key Takeaway Embrace spontaneous creativity. Themes creativity collaboration improvisation Mood playful reflective Type creative instructional When to use this quote - script development - live performance - creative brainstorming Key Concepts comedy writing team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When is planning more effective than improvisation? - How does spontaneity affect comedic timing? A Different Perspective Reliance on improvisation can lead to inconsistency or lack of structure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Did Script](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-script-1810718/) [Gags Outlined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gags-outlined-3376148/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plan/) [Script](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/script/) [Script Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/script-didn-1195144/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Story Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-idea-682842/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Sankhachil' did not have a script, to begin with. It was just a thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/sankhachil-did-not-have-a-script-to-begin-with-it-was-just-a-thought/) [Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/) > [I just did what the script demanded from me in 'Uyir.' I felt it was indeed a challenging role for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sangeetha-krish/i-just-did-what-the-script-demanded-from-me-in-uyir-i-felt-it-was/) [Sangeetha Krish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sangeetha-krish/) > [I thought 'ER' was a really good script, but I didn't have any inkling that it would become the phenomenon that it did, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-thought-er-was-a-really-good-script-but-i-didn-t-have-any-inkling/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [I do feel that if it's not on the page, there's no hope of it getting to the stage. You really can't take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-lane/i-do-feel-that-if-it-s-not-on-the-page-there-s-no-hope-of-it-getting/) [Diane Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-lane/) > [I was offered a role in 'Dabangg 2,' but after reading the script, I didn't feel there was much space for my character in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonu-sood/i-was-offered-a-role-in-dabangg-2-but-after-reading-the-script-i-didn/) [Sonu Sood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonu-sood/) > [I take in a lot of stuff from real life, movies, television, news and it all gets mixed in my head and somehow turns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-take-in-a-lot-of-stuff-from-real-life-movies-television-news-and-it/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [If you have a good story idea, don't assume it must form a prose narrative. It may work better as a play, a screenplay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/if-you-have-a-good-story-idea-don-t-assume-it-must-form-a-prose/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [Sometimes a story idea will come to me, and suddenly I've figured out the whole thing, and I feel like I'm collaborating with something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/sometimes-a-story-idea-will-come-to-me-and-suddenly-i-ve-figured-out/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [When I write a story, I have no idea what I'm doing. All I know is that I want to share something with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/when-i-write-a-story-i-have-no-idea-what-i-m-doing-all-i-know-is-that/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [For each book, there's a back story of where the idea came from. Sometimes it's derived from a current event or topic of discussion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/for-each-book-there-s-a-back-story-of-where-the-idea-came-from/) [Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/) > [If I had a story idea that I felt would work best in three volumes I might write a trilogy eventually. I'd very likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/if-i-had-a-story-idea-that-i-felt-would-work-best-in-three-volumes-i/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [I've never dreamed of a story idea. I have such boring dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-stine/i-ve-never-dreamed-of-a-story-idea-i-have-such-boring-dreams/) [R. L. Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-stine/) > [Working on the plot/story idea for my next novel ... It always takes time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/working-on-the-plot-story-idea-for-my-next-novel-it-always-takes-time/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Who wants to put together something that will bear some relationship to the vision or memory or experience or story or idea or dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-olds/who-wants-to-put-together-something-that-will-bear-some-relationship/) [Sharon Olds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-olds/) > [It's a funny thing about writing. You get so balled up in a story idea that you lose your perspective and forget that human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-reilly/it-s-a-funny-thing-about-writing-you-get-so-balled-up-in-a-story-idea/) [Gary Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-reilly/) ## More by Stan Laurel > [I had a dream that I was awake and I woke up to find myself asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-laurel/i-had-a-dream-that-i-was-awake-and-i-woke-up-to-find-myself-asleep/) [Stan Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-laurel/) > [Personally, I think the silent films were more effective for L&H, but the sound was of great value in enhancing the effects - dialog…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-laurel/personally-i-think-the-silent-films-were-more-effective-for-l-h-but/) [Stan Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-laurel/) > [Sight gags had to be planned; they required timing and mechanics. Occasionally, spontaneity would arise in the shooting of the scenes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-laurel/sight-gags-had-to-be-planned-they-required-timing-and-mechanics/) [Stan Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-laurel/) > [“I had a dream I was awake and I woke up to find myself asleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-laurel/i-had-a-dream-i-was-awake-and-i-woke-up-to-find-myself-asleep/) [Stan Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-laurel/) > [A horse may be coaxed to drink, but a pencil must be lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-laurel/a-horse-may-be-coaxed-to-drink-but-a-pencil-must-be-lead/) [Stan Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-laurel/) > [Babe and I are both great television fans, and we've been planning to do something on TV. But we certainly never intended to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-laurel/babe-and-i-are-both-great-television-fans-and-we-ve-been-planning-to/) [Stan Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-laurel/) > [Another fine mess you've gotten me into.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-laurel/another-fine-mess-you-ve-gotten-me-into/) [Stan Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-laurel/) > [“You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be lead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-laurel/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water-but-a-pencil-must-be-lead/) [Stan Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-laurel/) > [I feel like dying when I'm helpless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-laurel/i-feel-like-dying-when-i-m-helpless/) [Stan Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-laurel/) > [If any of you cry at my funeral I'll never speak to you again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-laurel/if-any-of-you-cry-at-my-funeral-i-ll-never-speak-to-you-again/) [Stan Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-laurel/) > [Anyone who thinks 'Modern Times' has got a big message is just putting it there himself. Charlie knew that the pressures of modern life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-laurel/anyone-who-thinks-modern-times-has-got-a-big-message-is-just-putting/) [Stan Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-laurel/) > [All I know is just how to make people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-laurel/all-i-know-is-just-how-to-make-people-laugh/) [Stan Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-laurel/) > [A friend once asked me what comedy was. That floored me. What is comedy? I don't know. Does anybody? Can you define it? All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-laurel/a-friend-once-asked-me-what-comedy-was-that-floored-me-what-is-comedy/) [Stan Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-laurel/) > [It's the one with that panel of ultra-chichi folks. The one called 'What's My Line?' It sends me straight up the wall. I call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-laurel/it-s-the-one-with-that-panel-of-ultra-chichi-folks-the-one-called/) [Stan Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-laurel/) > [What business do we have telling people who to vote for? They probably know more about it than we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-laurel/what-business-do-we-have-telling-people-who-to-vote-for-they-probably/) [Stan Laurel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-laurel/) [Explore all 23 Stan Laurel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-laurel/) ## More Habits quotes > [“Malchut is also the Alma D’Itgalya, “the Revealed World.” Here our latent potential is actualized through behavior and expression.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laibl-wolf/malchut-is-also-the-alma-d-itgalya-the-revealed-world-here-our-latent/) [Laibl Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laibl-wolf/) > [I would drink gallons of coffee a day. Even now, off caffeine, I talk faster than anyone you've ever met. I finally recognized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/i-would-drink-gallons-of-coffee-a-day-even-now-off-caffeine-i-talk/) [Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [I doubt that we Americans can come to terms with our money neuroses without understanding the more florid pathology of the very rich for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/i-doubt-that-we-americans-can-come-to-terms-with-our-money-neuroses/) [Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/) > [Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-a-habit-unfortunately-so-is-losing/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [“the mind-numbing routine. It was the castration of thought,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/the-mind-numbing-routine-it-was-the-castration-of-thought/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When it comes to smarts, adolescents like Jesse have plenty. What they lack, however, are some of the brain-based skills that we all need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-guare/when-it-comes-to-smarts-adolescents-like-jesse-have-plenty-what-they/) [Richard Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-guare/) > [“I settled into a contented routine of working, spending my free time with Veronica and, back in my student room, wanking explosively to fantasies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/i-settled-into-a-contented-routine-of-working-spending-my-free-time/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/chaos-often-breeds-life-when-order-breeds-habit/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you're in a meeting and a man talks loudly over you, rather than copying that behaviour and normalising it, what you could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-foster/if-you-re-in-a-meeting-and-a-man-talks-loudly-over-you-rather-than/) [Dawn Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-foster/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) [Browse all 12,567 Habits quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We did have a script, but it didn't consist of the routines and gags. It outlined the basic story idea and just a plan for us to follow. 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