in recompense : a few early laughs scattered around a plot 
(ROOT (FRAG (PP (IN in) (NP (NN recompense))) (: :) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ few) (JJ early) (NNS laughs)) (VP (VBN scattered) (PP (IN around) (NP (DT a) (NN plot)))))))
(ROOT (FRAG (PP (IN ) (NP (NN ))) (: ) (NP (NP (DT ) (JJ ) (JJ ) (NNS )) (VP (VBN ) (PP (IN ) (NP (DT ) (NN )))))))