Alex, Tom Cruise, Dubya and The Pope

Alex was bragging to his boss one day, "You know, I know everyone there is to know. Just name someone, anyone, and I know them."

Tired of his boasting, his boss called his bluff, "OK Alex, how about Tom Cruise?"

"No dramas boss, Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it."

So Alex and his boss fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise's door and Tom Cruise shouts, "Alex! What's happening? Great to see you! Come on in for a beer!"

Although impressed, Alex's boss is still sceptical. After they leave Cruise's house, he tells Alex that he thinks him knowing Cruise was just lucky.

"No, no, just name anyone else," Alex says.

"President Bush," his boss quickly retorts.

"Yup," Alex says, "Old buddies, let's fly out to Washington."

And off they go. At the White House, Bush spots Alex on the tour and motions him and his boss over, saying, "Alex, what a surprise, I was just on my way to a meeting but you and your friend come on in and let's have a cup of coffee first and catch up."

Well, the boss is very shaken by now but still not totally convinced. After they leave the White House grounds he expresses his doubts to Alex, who again implores him to name anyone else.

"The Pope," his boss replies.

"Sure!" says Alex. "I've known the Pope for years."

So off they fly to Rome. Alex and his boss are assembled with the masses at the Vatican's St. Peter's Square when Alex says, "This will never work. I can't catch the Pope's eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the guards so let me just go upstairs and I'll come out on the balcony with the Pope."

He disappears into the crowd headed towards the Vatican. Sure enough, half an hour later Alex emerges with the Pope on the balcony but by the time Alex returns, he finds that his boss has had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics. Making his way to his boss's side, Alex asks him, "What happened?"

His boss looks up and says, "It was the final straw... You and the Pope came out on to the balcony and the man next to me said, "Who the fuck is that on the balcony with Alex?"