The Phantom Tollbooth1970

The Terrible Trivium:
Hello, little boy. Welcome to you, your faithful dog, and that handsome gentleman. I'm so terribly happy to see all of you. But before you travel on, I wonder if you could spare me a little time and asssist me with a few trivial tasks?

Humbug:
Why of course, we're in no hurry.

The Terrible Trivium:
Now young man, if you will take these exquisite tweezers, and move this pile of sand from here, to here.

Milo:
With these?

The Terrible Trivium:
Of course. And you sir, have the privilege of taking this delicate needle for digging a hole through this cliff.

Humbug:
Why, thank you sir! An exacting assignment, quite worthy of my talents. I shall enjoy it no end.

The Terrible Trivium:
And you sir, get to take this eye-dropper and empty that well.

Milo:
But these tasks don't seem very important.

The Terrible Trivium:
Of course they're not important! If you always do the easy and useless jobs, you'll never have to worry about the important ones!

Tock:
Now I know who you are! You're the Terrible Trivium!

The Terrible Trivium:
Quite correct! The Terrible Trivium, demon of petty tasks, ogre of wasted effort!

Milo:
Come on, Humbug, let's get out of here!

The Terrible Trivium:
[advancing] And *friend* to lazy and foolish people everywhere!