Commercial

By Morrisa Sherman

Black screen. Large words in white flash on screen, and pause as gentle, trustworthy, mature man's voice (get Euell Gibbens, or is he dead?):

"Have you heard the Good news, America?"

Quick cut to welder looking up curiously as he pulls off his mask. Quick cut to pert model, brunette, full lips, simple bobcut, in modest floral dress with wide collar. She is at a table painting Easter eggs with an appallingly cute redheaded boy, about seven, in coveralls, daub of paint on nose. She pivots her head quickly to face the camera curiously.

Cut to beautifully set breakfast table, checked red cloth, bright blue napkin and placemat, basket of nutty, crumbly, terribly homemade looking breads off center to a tall goblet of orange juice, glass of milk, and a platter of whole and temptingly sliced American fruits, apples, oranges, strawberries. (No bananas or any other foreign things.) Bowl of cereal in center of placemat, white china pitcher pouring milk over the cereal nuggets. Same voice over:

"There's a new breakfast cereal for today's Americans. Moral Fiber. The new breakfast cereal made with whole grains and traditional ideals. Endorsed by Jesus!"

Cut to beautiful picture of Jesus surrounded by happy white children and sheep.

Voice over as camera cuts to attractive woman in sensible clothes, curly coif, who has just pulled a large box of Moral Fiber from the shelf of a supermarket and is smiling wisely at her decision. Voice-over: "It's good for you America, and it's simply Good!"

Cut to a priest at a simply set table eating a bowl of Moral Fiber, a slight, approving smile plays at his lips: "Low in sugar for righteousness sake!"

Cut to honest midwesty kitchen with a plump grandmother baking apple pies: "High in fiber to keep you regular and normal, just like everyone else!" She bows her head slightly and smiles a secret smile to herself.

Cut to family with three angelic looking children in their Sunday best sitting beatifically in a church pew. Voice-over: "Packed with honest carbohydrates that stick to your ribs right through the morning!"

Cut to beautifully decorated white bedroom with eyelet lace bedding, simple vase of bountiful fresh wildflowers on a rustic chest, with 'Happy Anniversary!' cards displayed around it. Sleepy but cheerful young couple lounging in white pajamas, eating from wooden breakfast-in- bed trays: "Comes in three lightly sweet, vague flavors, guaranteed to be unconfrontational! Toasty cinnamon, Toasty honey nut, and Toasty original!" The couple trade cute kisses on the cheek and return happily to their Moral Fiber.

Cut to little girl with blonde-brown braids and lots of freckles dressed in a blue gingham pinafore, one tooth missing in the front, sitting outside on a porch-swing with bowl of Moral fiber in one hand and a spoon in the other. The child takes a big bite of Moral Fiber and says: "I like Moral Fiber because I like all good things!" A butterfly lands on her forehead, and she giggles.

Cut to solidly packed grandfatherly type with a walrusy mustache, just coming in the back door, shakes snow from his boots and sets down two big pails of milk. He smiles when he sees the breakfast table all laid out, and says: "I like moral fiber because it's right!"

Cut to Bill Cosby in gorgeous, bulky, expensive sweater for which three sheep and a mongolian yak undoubtedly laid down their lives: "Moral fiber made me what I am today!"

Cut to triumphantly waving American flag superimposed over wheatfield. Voice-over: Moral Fiber is made of nourishing toasted grain. No cyanide, monkey brains, iron filings, styrofoam, fluorocarbons, or cholesterol! Moral Fiber is a sponsor of the War Against Drugs, Youth for A Better Tomorrow, and the 1996 Olympic Games!"

Damn, Hal's far more sinister.


Copyright © 1992, Morrisa Stanfield Sherman.
This work may not be reproduced in any form without the author's explicit permission


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