The bartender takes Jim to a dimly-lit table where BURR TILLSTROM, 43, is sitting alone, smoking a cigar.
BURR
What do you want, kid?
JIM
I hear you know how to reach a man called Brillstein. I’d like to show you my puppets.
BURR
You’re that Henson guy, aren’t you? The kid who thinks he found a way to do puppets for TV without a puppet theater, right?
JIM
That’s right.
BURR
It can’t be done. I’ve tried it a million times, kid. You’re better off quitting now while you’re young.
Jim opens his bag and takes out Kermit the Frog. Burr’s eyes widen with amazement. Jim puts Kermit on his hand.
KERMIT
Hi ho!
Burr is stunned.
BURR
Is that thing even a puppet?
JIM
I like to call it a “Muppet.”
BURR
And what does that make you? Some kind of “Muppet Man?”