The Hypotheses of Failure

In this delightfully tangled tale of wit, ego, and legal entanglements, O. Henry serves up a razor-sharp satire of matrimonial mischief and mistaken identity.

Meet Lawyer Gooch, a shrewd legal mind with a taste for theatrical metaphors and a knack for keeping his office “compartments” watertight—especially when handling the explosive dramas of divorce. But when three strangers arrive, each spinning a “hypothetical” tale involving the same runaway wife, a suave suitor, and a weary husband, Gooch finds himself navigating a shipwreck of schemes, secrets, and social pretensions.

Narrated with droll charm by Mike Polischuk, The Hypotheses of Failure is a classic O. Henry farce—full of ironic twists, comedic timing, and a final punchline worthy of a standing ovation.