(Strip Number 4984, Original Publication Date, 22 June 1988)
Panel 1: When John asks Phil for help pulling out the kitchen sink, Phil reminds him that they should turn off the water first.
Panel 2: We find John at the hot water heater asking Phil to tell him when it's off.
Panel 3: We then watch Elly in the shower standing around looking all horrified as the water splutters to a stop.
Panel 4: As a justifiably pissed off Elly stands there in her housecoat glaring at Phil, he yells "Okay, it's off!!!"
Summary: It would appear that the brains trust forgot something else: to check if people were actually using the water before messing around with the plumbing. This is why it is that I find it hard to empathize with John in this arc: not only is he a skinflint, he's also a doughhead. Not that Elly is much better on the having a brain front. This is a woman who whines that the workmen are tracking in dirt because everyone blames her for dirt and not anyone else and God, I hate these people by times.