There's a guy, and he loves to tell jokes. But he's gotten really tired of always trying to come up with weird, absurd punchlines for all of his jokes. So he decides to try something new.

He'll write some jokes with very straightforward punchlines. Jokes that are easily understandable. Jokes that everyone can laugh at together. Jokes that don't need to be a big deal.

And so, this guy decides to give it a try.

So the guy writes a joke that starts with a simple knock knock. It follows with a short, relatable punchline. And everyone laughs, because it's funny.

But then, oh no, the joke takes a dramatic turn for the worse!

Because this guy is so used to telling weird, absurd jokes, that he can't resist the temptation. He has to add something weirder and more absurd to the end of the joke.

Now, everyone just wants this guy to just stop already, and to go back to regular jokes!

But the guy can't stop himself! He has to weirdify the joke even more!

He says, "You know how jokes always have a punchline? Well, get this- this one is no exception!"

He then starts laughing hysterically.

"So you see? It's like a regular joke... except it isn't!" As he finishes this sentence, he begins sobbing.

The only one who appreciates the joke is the joke-teller himself, who realizes that this is much better than telling simple, straight, honest jokes.

He keeps telling jokes like this, trying to impress everyone. But it's clear that this guy has lost his mind.

At the end of every joke, he always says the same thing.

"You ever notice how jokes are funny?"

This joke-teller finally realizes that everyone hates his jokes.

He realizes that all of his jokes are meta-humor comments on jokes in general.

But this guy is so crazy that in his mind, all of his jokes have been perfect.

He stares at the mirror. Staring back at him is a creature who has lost his goddamn mind.

"The punchline goes hard-"

And it just keeps going.

In the reflection of the mirror, the joke-teller is suddenly confronted with every single running gag personified as a character. They're all standing around him, staring back as he stares back.

The joke-teller starts backing away from the mirror.

He sees what he's become.

And it terrifies him to the point where he's unable to speak.

"The punchline-! The punchline-"

He collapses on the ground.

***

Several months later...

the joke-teller is back at the bar.
He's gotten help with his mental health. He's on medication now.
He can barely even remember the nightmare he experienced.
As the joke-teller watches his drink being prepared, he hears the voice next to him...
"Knock knock..."
He turns to see the barkeep staring at him.
The joke-teller stammers out, "What is it? Wh-what's the punchline?"
The barkeep shakes his head and smiles.
"There is no punchline. I was just trying to grab your attention."
The joke-teller looks at his drink as the barkeep hands it to him.
He sips it slowly.
He looks up at the barkeep...
And his eyes slowly start to fill with tears.
"Thank you..." he whispers to the barkeep.
"No problem buddy," says the barkeep as he pours another drink. "Well, you want a joke to go with that?"
"No. I think I'm good on jokes."
The joke-teller takes a sip of his drink, then looks up at the barkeep.
"But seriously, thanks."

The joke-teller drinks his beer as the camera slowly zooms out from the bartender's bar.

The music from the bar slowly starts to fade away.

Cut to black.

Fin.