The symphony is playing Beethoven's Ninth. During a long break, the bass players decide to slip out to the local pub and have a few drinks.

Suddenly one realizes they have been gone for a while and says "We've got to get back."

Another says, "Relax, we've got plenty of time. I tied a string around the conductor's score and he'll have a time getting it squared away."

As they come back into the concert hall, a patron in the audience notices the confusion by the conductor and says, "Something seems wrong up there."

Her date says, "What do you expect? It's the bottom of the Ninth, the score is tied and the bassists are loaded."