There was once a great actor who
could no longer remember his lines.
After many years he finds a theatre where they are prepared to
give him a chance to shine again. The director says, "This
is the most important part, and it has only one line. You walk on
to the stage at the opening carrying a rose. You hold the rose to
your nose with just one finger and thumb, sniff the rose deeply
and then say the line 'Ah, the sweet aroma of my mistress.'"
The actor is thrilled. All day long before the play, he's
practicing his line over and over again. Finally, the time comes.
The curtain goes up, the actor walks onto the stage, and with
great passion delivers the line, "Ah, the sweet aroma of my
mistress."
The theatre erupts. The audience is screaming with laughter, but
the director is steaming! "You bloody fool!" he cries.
"You have ruined me!"
The actor is bewildered, "What happened, did I forget my
line?" "No, you idiot!" screams the director.
"You forgot the rose!"