Steve realises the folly of thumb wars

Steve responds to Alex’s greeting of “One, two, three, four” by saying “Once I saw a fish alive” (incorrectly referencing the nursery rhyme One, two, three, four, five), which breaks Alex a bit.

Steve’s attempt begins with a shot of a flag featuring a thumb planted in the ground, with smoke billowing out from behind Alex, who’s dressed in white vests and warpainted tights to resemble a thumb in a real war. Camouflage nets have been set up behind the bath and caravan. As Alex appears to be guarding his post, Steve - who is also dressed as a warpainted thumb - sneaks out from a bush and hops over to Alex. As Alex turns around to look for intruders, Steve ducks down behind the nearby bushes. Steve then charges towards Alex, attempting to claim the space as “righty territory”. Steve then hops towards Alex whilst shouting “One, two, three, four. I declare a thumb war!”. The two men then bob back and forth, mimicking two thumbs engaged in a thumb war, before Steve shoulder-butts Alex, causing him to fall to his knees.

Steve then pauses to look at what he has done, and asks Alex why they’re even fighting. Alex responds that Steve was trying to claim his territory. Steve then realises that they’re meant to be living in harmony, and helps Alex up as he says “Thumbs up!”. He then speaks of all the men he’s lost in the war, saying that Pinky, Ring, Middle, and Index have all suffered as casualties. He attempts to make peace by asking Alex to “watch the footy” with him, which Alex agrees to enthusiastically. The two thumbs then hop away together, ending the war.

In the studio, Steve says that he’d wanted to create an anti-war message, and Greg admits that Steve’s thumb war had been well-conceived, moving, and exciting at times. Steve receives 5 points.

(Written by M3 / Andres Sanchez and proofread by Karl Craven)

(Illustrations collected by Jenny R and adjusted by David Fuller)