Murphy is always name-dropping. If someone mentions some film star, some great scientist, author, etc. Murphy invariably claims to know that person quite well. He’ll say they’ve enjoyed holidays together, been each others guest, and so on. His friend Mac gets sick of it. When Murphy claims to know David Hockney, Mac bets him £100 that this isn’t true. When they go round to David Hockney’s house, the famous artist greets Murphy warmly, invites Murphy and Mac in for a couple of drinks, etc. It costs Mac £100. Not long afterwards Mac loses £200 betting that Murphy doesn’t know Madonna. But when Murphy says the Pope is a close friend of his, Mac is sure he’s finessing – especially when Murphy says he has only known him since he became Pope. He wagers £2000 that Murphy is lying. A trip to the Vatican is arranged – loser to pay both persons’ expenses,
When they get to St Peter’s, Mac follows Murphy to a dark doorway in the shadow of the great basilica. A man in a Renaissance livery answers the door.
“Ah! It’s Signor Murphy!” he says, warmly. “Please come in – His Holiness can always find time for a talk with Signor Murphy!”
Mac is told that he may not enter – but if he wants to see the Holy Father, he’ll get his chance in St Peter’s Square in half an hour – when he will be blessing the crowd of pilgrims from all over the world. Disconsolate, Mac joins the crowd in the square. Sure enough the Pope duly appears on a balcony to give the blessing. Next to him stands Murphy.
