*************Officer's Club, Suva, Sept. 3, 1942************
(Cont. from 4777)
Man in fine linen slacks: Hey, Yossarian, let me pick your brain about a new product line idea.
Hirsute man now beginning to grow a beard: Will it hurt?
Man in fine linen slacks: Yossarian, you crazy SOB. It's just an expression.
Hirsute man now beginning to grow a beard: For most people, yes.
Man in fine linen slacks: Look, do you want to hear my idea or not?
Hirsute man now beginning to grow a beard: Do I have a choice?
Man in fine linen slacks: No. So, here is the deal. What mode of demise does life insurance NOT cover?
Hirsute man now beginning to grow a beard: MIA. My dad still has not got his check.
Man in fine linen slacks: No, no, no. I mean SUICIDE.
Hirsute man now beginning to grow a beard: Yeah, so?
Man in fine linen slacks: Well, that's my idea, suicide insurance.
Hirsute man now beginning to grow a beard: Why, you crazy SOB, there is a REASON suicide is excluded.
Man in fine linen slacks: Sure, sure, but I'm not talking about regular suicide insurance, I am talking about Hara-kiri insurance.
Hirsute man now beginning to grow a beard: Milo, that is the craziest ass thing I have ever heard you say. Who is going to buy something like that?
Man in fine linen slacks: Jap officers.
Hirsute man now beginning to grow a beard: The Allies are going on the offensive and you are going to sell Hara-kiri insurance to Jap officers? Maybe I am not quite grasping the business model.
Man in fine linen slacks: No, think about it. They are duty bound to do the deed but the want to provide for their families.
Hirsute man now beginning to grow a beard: Right, I get that but nobody is going to buy this thing ahead of time. Only the duty bound will buy it.
Man in fine linen slacks: Of course.
Hirsute man now beginning to grow a beard: What do you mean of course? Everyone who buys your policy will be eligible for a claim. You will get killed, so to speak.
Man in fine linen slacks: Yes, yes, that's the beauty of it. You won't neeed agents. Everyone in that situation will want to buy it.
Hirsute man now beginning to grow a beard: And everyone will expect to make a claim.
Man in fine linen slacks: Yes, of course.
Hirsute man now beginning to grow a beard: Look, Milo. It's a crazy idea. Forget about the bottom line, who is going to submit the claim?
Man in fine linen slacks: Why, naturally, the commanding officer. It's in the fine print.
Hirsute man now beginning to grow a beard: But they aren't going to do that. It would be a loss of honor to go to the commanding officer, assuming he isn't out buying a policy himself....<stops cold and a look of realization comes over him>,,,Milo, you crazy, calculating, genius SOB. It can't fail.
Man in fine linen slacks: Yes, of course.











