Editing 1 step ahead

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[[Image:sbemail28.PNG|thumb|"Somebody get my hands off my butt!"]]

Alex thinks it would be funny if Strong Sad's hands were glued to his face. Choose-your-own-venture action ensues!

'''Cast (in order of appearance):'''  {{Film|Strong Bad}}, {{Film|Strong Sad}}, {{Film|The Cheat}}, {{Film|Homestar Runner}}, {{Film|Bubs}}, {{Film|Coach Z}}

'''Places:''' [[Computer Room]], [[The Athletic Field]], [[Strong Sad's Room]], [[The Field]]

'''Computer:''' [[Tandy 400]]

'''Date:''' Sunday, May 19, 2002

'''Running Time:''' 2:17 <small style="color:gray">''(all options combined)''</small>

:: 0:37 ''if answered 'Yes'''<br>
:: 0:45 ''if answered 'Maybe'''<br>
:: 1:17 ''if answered 'Take it in a bit of a different direction'''

'''Page Title:''' Tandy 400!!!

{{dvd|strongbad_email.exe Disc One}}

== Transcript ==
 
'''STRONG BAD:''' This one better be good, man. I got a lot of money riding on this one.

<blockquote class="tandy email">hello strong bad,<br />
don't you think it would be funny if you glued <br />
strong sad's hands to his face? I think it would be...<br />
<br />
alex<br />
medford, nj</blockquote>
 
'''STRONG BAD:''' ''{typing}'' I'm one step ahead of you, Alex.

''{A book appears on-screen with a black-and-white picture of Strong Bad exploring a cave with a flashlight. The text reads:}''

<pre>    CHOOSE YOUR OWN STRONG
      BAD EMAIL ADVENTURE

Should Strong Bad really glue Strong Sad's hands to his face?!

    If you choose YES turn to page 93

    If you choose MAYBE turn to page 121

    If you choose to TAKE IT IN A BIT OF A
    DIFFERENT DIRECTION turn to page 146</pre>

=== Yes ===

''{Cut to Strong Sad standing on the Athletic Field with his hands glued to his face and a target labeled "Peg Me" painted on his chest.}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' Guys?! ''{Strong Sad is pelted with dodgeballs.}'' Owww! Oh! Ohw! Augh! Okay, you guys! ''{Another ball is tossed at him.}'' Augh! It's not funny. ''{Another ball is tossed at him.}'' Augh! I'm kinda... ''{Another ball is tossed at him.}'' Augh! ...unable to defend myself. ''{Another 2 balls are tossed at him}'' Oww! Oh! More so than usual. ''{Balls continue to pelt him.}''

''{[[The Paper]] comes down.}''

=== Maybe ===

''{Cut to Strong Sad lying down on his bed, his hands glued to his face.}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' Augh! I'm blind! My prayers have finally been answered.

''{Strong Sad tries to move his hands.}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' Oh wait, my hands are just glued to my face. Oh well, I'll take that.

''{Cut to Strong Bad and The Cheat standing outside Strong Sad's room.}''

'''STRONG BAD:''' Oh man, he likes it! Okay, go to plan B!

''{The Cheat salutes him and leaves. He brings back a bucket of red ants and takes it to Strong Sad's room.}''

''{The Paper comes down. One red ant crawls out of Strong Sad's room.}''

=== Take it in a bit of a different direction ===

'''STRONG BAD:''' ''{typing}'' Though I decided to take it in a bit of a different direction.

''{Cut to Strong Sad standing in the Field with his hands glued to his butt. Homestar walks up to him.}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' Oh, hohoh... Oh, hey, Homestar!

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' Er, Strong Sad. Why are you touching your buttocks? That's pretty weird.

'''STRONG SAD:''' I can't help it!

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' Okay, that is ''really'' weird.

''{Homestar walks away and Bubs walks up.}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' No, wait, you don't understand!

'''BUBS:''' Grabbing your butt? That's not very ladylike.

'''STRONG SAD:''' I'm not a lady.

'''BUBS:''' Oh! Whatever.

''{Bubs walks away and Strong Bad walks up}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' Augh, this is getting frustrating!

'''STRONG BAD:''' Oh, Strong Sad. Fancy seeing you here! And uncontrollably grabbing your own butt, I see. Oh, don't let me get in the way. Carry on!

''{Strong Bad snickers and walks away. Coach Z walks past.}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' Please, come back!

'''COACH Z:''' 'Attaboy, Strong Sad.

''{Coach Z walks away}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' Hey, where are you going? You have any solvent? Or Goof Off? Or Didi Seven? Somebody get my hands off my butt!

''{The Paper comes down.}''

== Easter Eggs ==

*If you choose "YES", after Strong Sad gets hit with dodgeballs, you can click the target on his belly to play the [[Peg Strong Sad]] game.
<!--Add all comments about the Peg Strong Sad game to the Peg Strong Sad page-->

== Fun Facts ==
===Explanations===
*[http://www.interwood.com/a/p/didi/DidiDetails.shtml Didi Seven] and [http://www.goof-off.com Goof-Off] are real-world cleaning solvents.

===Trivia===
*When this email was first released, the extra choices weren't available; instead it immediately progressed to the "different direction" bit (which is why it's the only choice that continues with Strong Bad still typing). The choices were added a few weeks later.
*This was, until [[rock opera]], the only email to have an "again" option at the end, allowing for easier access to the un-selected choices.
*This was the first email to be over 2 minutes in length.
<!-- Please do not add facts about the Peg Strong Sad game, they are mentioned on the page "Peg Strong Sad" -->

===Remarks===
*When the book allowing you to chose your options comes up, you can still click the contrast buttons.
<!-- Please do not add facts about the Peg Strong Sad game, they are mentioned on the page "Peg Strong Sad" -->

===Goofs===
*At the end of the "different direction" choice, The Paper comes down over the top black border.
*Throughout Strong Sad's speech in the beginning of the "Maybe" choice, background noises can be heard in the voice recording, including a thump.
*At the end of the "maybe" choice, Strong Bad's left hand is actually his right hand, upside down.
<!-- Please do not add facts about the Peg Strong Sad game, they are mentioned on the page "Peg Strong Sad" -->

===Inside References===
*If you pick the "Different Direction" choice where Strong Sad has his hands glued to his butt, Coach Z walks by and says "Atta Boy, Strong Sad!" This is a reference to Coach Z's constant habit of [[butt-patting]].
*This is the first time "[[mash]]" is used instead of press.

===Real-World References===
*This email is a reference to/satire of the [[Wikipedia:Choose Your Own Adventure|Choose Your Own Adventure]] series of children's books created by [[Wikipedia:Edward Packard|Edward Packard]], in which the reader controls the direction of the story by choosing from a number of options, and is then redirected to a page much further away.
*In the book's picture, Strong Bad is in a cave, which has nothing to do with this email, but is a classic example of the type of illustrations found in the Choose Your Own Adventure books.

==DVD Version==
*When viewed in Play All, all three choices play, in this order: Yes, Maybe, and Different Direction.
*The DVD version has the Peg Strong Sad game removed.

== External Links ==
*[[HR:sbemail28.html|watch "1 step ahead"]]
*[[HR:sbemail28.swf|view the Flash file for "1 step ahead"]]

{{Strong Bad Email}}
[[Category:Tandy 400 Emails]][[Category:Game Emails]][[Category:Toons with Dialogue Alternatives]]