TurboTax Cowboy Tango

We hear the faint metallic gnashing of machinery. Then we see an image: a large Western saddle appears to slowly rotate, rotisserie-style, against the night sky.

ANGLE SWAP reveals that the saddle is part of a large sign hanging above a darkened strip mall. TAX SEASON reads the sign.

An ANGLE SWAP shows a cozy, inviting dive bar.

CUE MUSIC: We hear an angelic child’s rendition of Neil Young’s “After the Gold Rush.” “Well I dreamed I saw the knights in armor calling saying something about a queen…” it continues.

A magical whir of light circles the bar and zooms inside.

It first encounters a parrot, which squawks “DEPENDENT WRITE OFFS!”

Inside the bar, it ping-pongs around, highlighting the space’s warm, convivial atmosphere. In sequence we see a gang of slack-jawed BIKERS looking at the performer with TEARS IN THEIR EYES:

The whir of light zooms to the stage, revealing that the song is being performed live.

On stage, 10-year old boy dressed like a rhinestone cowboy sings it with great confidence, giving the atmosphere a puzzled, innocent tone.

“I was thinking about what a friend had said, I was hoping it was a lie.”

We see a middle-aged woman holding a camcorder. Beside her, a barrel labeled “Tip Jar,” full of cash. An arrow points to her “His mom.” Freeze.

Aside: “Dear TurboTax, how do I square this (tip jar CO) with the Feds?”

The camera flips to show the bartender, Chloe Sevigny, who is polishing a glass. “It’s a really good thing you asked, Tammy. Let TurboTax help you file this season so Tommy gets to keep the contents of his tip jar, and you get to keep your sanity”

We see the mother-son duo walk to their car, lugging the Tip Jar behind them in a wheel barrow.

The sign with the saddle now reads “Thank you TurboTax.”