The wily reframing of meaning

"Servant! ... SERVANT!!" This is Wilder, yelling like Ghengis Khan.

Silence.

"SSEERRVVAANNTT!"

Me: "Whose you're servant?"

Wilder: "You."

Me: "Um, no. Not on any level."

Wilder: "OK. Hunter, you're my servant!"

Hunter: "Nope. No I'm not."

Wilder, adopting a matter-of-factness quality in his voice: "Um, Hunter ... servant means you're a really good master."

Hunter: "Oh. OK. I'll be the servant."

Wilder, continuing his dictatorial tone: "SERVANT! COME HERE!"