The cook’s first line in the third panel gave me fits, and I am still not completely happy with it. The thing I was trying to convey was the contemplation of the role of dishonesty in human nature. It had to sound like a random Big Question of philosophy but still provide the straight-line setup to Chauncey’s first punch. The most common way I go about gagwriting is to fire off a provocative premise, then follow it til it leads to a punchline, then go back and rewrite the setup dialogue so it more naturally meets that punch. In this case, that one line was the key and I am just not convinced that I nailed the setup.
One picture. Three panels. Twice a week.
That line about which you were worried made the strip for me. I’m not convinced there could have been a better one.
Ditto to what WT said. It probably could have been better, but only by a lucky stroke of inspiration rather than any length of time deliberating on the line.