Chekhov's Gun Shop

Anton Chekhov opened a gun shop in the afterlife. His only rule: every firearm purchased must be fired by Act Three. A customer once tried to return an unused pistol. Chekhov refused. 'You introduced it in Act One,' he said sternly. 'Now it must go off.' The customer protested that his play was a romantic comedy. 'Then make it a dark romantic comedy,' Chekhov replied. 'I don't make the rules. Well, actually, I do.'