Clarence is faking it. Love, friendship, hard work. Madness. He drinks to avoid his unhappiness. His girlfriend, Sophia is better than the drink, but still doesn't let him escape his unhappiness. And his job is certainly not helping. Basketcase tells the story of Clarence's decent into madness - or not - and his desperate quest to blame anyone but himself. It's a sardonic fairytale; a dismal parable. No wonder they're laughing.