Cast of characters (in order of appearance)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
KING ARTHUR Graham Chapman
PATSY Terry Gilliam
SOLDIER #1 Michael Palin
SOLDIER #2 John Cleese
CART MASTER Eric Idle
CUSTOMER John Cleese
DEAD PERSON John Young
DENNIS Michael Palin
WOMAN Terry Jones
BLACK KNIGHT John Cleese
GREEN KNIGHT Terry Gilliam
LEAD MONK Neil Innes
VILLAGER #1 Eric Idle
VILLAGER #2 Michael Palin
SIR BEDEVERE Terry Jones
WITCH Connie Booth
VILLAGER #3 John Cleese
VILLAGER #4 Neil Innes
NARRATOR Michael Palin
PAGE TURNER Maggie Gilliam
SIR LAUNCELOT John Cleese
SIR GALAHAD Michael Palin
SIR ROBIN Eric Idle
SIR NOT-APPEARING-IN-THIS-FILM Tom Palin
PRISONER Mark Zycon
MAN Neil Innes
GOD Graham Chapman
FRENCH GUARD John Cleese
HISTORIAN John Young
KNIGHT John Cleese
HISTORIAN'S WIFE Rita Davies
MINSTREL Neil Innes
LEFT HEAD Terry Jones
MIDDLE HEAD Graham Chapman
RIGHT HEAD Michael Palin
ZOOT Carol Cleveland
PIGLET Avril Stewart
WINSTON Sally Kinghorn
DINGO Carol Cleveland
OLD MAN/BRIDGEKEEPER Terry Gilliam
TIM THE ENCHANTER John Cleese
HEAD KNIGHT OF NI Michael Palin
CARTOON CHARACTER Terry Jones
FATHER Michael Palin
PRINCE HERBERT Terry Jones
GUARD #1 Eric Idle
GUARD #2 Graham Chapman
CONCORDE Eric Idle
GUEST #1 Michael Palin
GUEST #2 Michael Palin
OLD CRONE Bee Duffell
ROGER THE SHRUBBER Eric Idle
OFFICER #1 Julian Doyle
INSPECTOR Roy Smith
RABBIT OF CAERBANNOG himself
BROTHER MAYNARD Eric Idle
SECOND BROTHER Michael Palin
ANIMATOR Terry Gilliam
The Holy Grail's opening credits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PYTHON (MONTY) PICTURES LTD
in association with
MICHAEL WHITE
presents
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monty Python
and
The Holy Grail
Mønti Pythøn ik den Hølie Gräilen
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Written and performed by:
Graham Chapman
John Cleese
Eric Idle
Terry Gilliam
Terry Jones
Michael Palin
Røten nik Akten Di
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
With
Connie Booth
Carol Cleveland
Neil Innes
Bee Duffell
John Young
Rita Davies
Wik
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also appearing
Avril Stewart
Sally Kinghon
Alsø wik
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also also appearing
Mark Zycon Elspeth Cameron
Mitsuko Forstater Sandy Johnson
Sandy Rose Romilly Squire
Joni Flynn Alison Walker
Loraine Ward Anna Lanski
Sally Coombe Vivienne Macdonald
Yvonne Dick Daphne Darling
Fiona Gordon Gloria Graham
Judy Lams Tracy Sneddon
Sylvia Taylor Joyce Pollner
Mary Allen
Alsø alsø wik
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Camera Operator HOWARD ATHERTON
Camera Focus JOHN WELLARD
Camera Assistant ROGER PRATT
Camera Grip RAY HALL
Chargehand Electrician TERRY HUNT
Lighting TELEFILM LIGHTING SERVICE LTD
ANDREW RITCHIE & SON LTD
TECHNICOLOR
Rostrum Cameraman KENT HOUSTON
Wi nøt trei a høliday in Sweden this yër ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sound Recordist GARTH MARSHALL
Sound Mixer HUGH STRAIN
Boom Swinger GODFREY KIRBY
Sound Maintenance PHILIP CHUBB
Sound Assistant ROBERT DOYLE
Dubbing Editor JOHN FOSTER
Assistant Editors JOHN MISTER, NICK GASTER,
ALEXANDER CAMPBELL ASKEW,
BRIAN PEACHEY, DANIELLE KOCHAVI
Sound Effects IAN CRAFFORD
See the løveli lakes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Continuity PENNY EYLES
Accountant BRIAN BROCKWELL
Production Secretary CHRISTINE WATT
Property Buyer BRIAN WINTERBORN
Property Master TOM RAEBURN
Property Men ROY CANNON, CHARLIE TORBETT,
MIKE KENNEDY
Catering RON HELLARD LTD.
Vehicles BUDGET RENT-A-CAR LTD
The wøndërful telephøne system
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assistant Art Director PHILIP COWLAM
Construction Manager BILL HARMAN
Carpenters NOBBY CLARK, BOB DEVINE
Painter GRAHAM BULLOCK
Stagehand JIM N. SAVERY
Rigger ED SULLIVAN
And mäni interesting furry animals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
With special extra thanks to
Charlie Knode, Brian McNulty, John Gledhill, Peter Thomson, Sue Cable,
Valerie Charlton, Drew Mara, Sue Smith, Charlie Coulter, Iain Monaghan,
Steve Bennell, Bernard Belenger, Alpini McAlpine, Hugh Boyle, Dave Taylor,
Gary Cooper, Peter Saunders, Les Shepherd, Vaughn Millard, Hamish MacInnes,
Terry Mosaic, Bawn O'Beirne Ranelagh.
Made entirely on location in Scotland at Doune Castle, Castle Stalker, Killin, Glen Coe,
Arnhall Castle, Bracklim Falls, Sherriffmuir.
By Python (Monty) Pictures Limited, 20, Fitzroy Square, London W1 England.
And completed at Twickenham Film Studios, England.
Copyright (c) 1974 National Film Trustee Company Limited.
All rights reserved.
The Producers would like to thank the Forestry Commission,
Doune Admissions Ltd, Keir & Cawdor Estates, Stirling University,
and the people of Doune for their help in the making of this film.
The Characters and incidents portrayed and the names used are fictitious and
any similarity to the names, characters, or history of any person is entirely
accidental and unintentional.
Signed RICHARD M. NIXON
Including the majestik møøse
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Songs
NEIL INNES
Additional music
DEWOLFE
A Møøse once bit my sister...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Costume Designer
HAZEL PETHIG
No realli! She was Karving her initials øn the møøse with the sharpened end
of an interspace tøøthbrush given her by Svenge - her brother-in-law -an Oslo
dentist and star of many Norwegian møvies: "The Høt Hands of an Oslo
Dentist", "Fillings of Passion", "The Huge Mølars of Horst Nordfink"...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
We apologise for the fault in the
subtitles. Those responsible have been
sacked.
Mynd you, møøse bites Kan be pretty nasti...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
We apologise again for the fault in the
subtitles. Those responsible for sacking
the people who have just been sacked,
have been sacked.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Production Manager JULIAN DOYLE
Assistant Director GERRY HARRISON
Special Effects JOHN HORTON
Choreography LEO KHARIBIAN
Fight Director & Period Consultant JOHN WALLER
Make Up Artists PEARL RASHBASS, PAM LUKE
Special Effects Photography JULIAN DOYLE
Animation Assistance LUCINDA COWELL, KATE HEPBURN
Møøse Trained by YUTTE HERMSGERVØRDENBRØTBØRDA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lighting Cameraman TERRY BEDFORD
Special Møøse Effects OLAF PROT
Møøse Costumes SIGGI CHURCHILL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Designer ROY SMITH
Møøse choreographed by HORST PROT III
Miss Taylor's Møøses by HENGST DOUGLAS-HOME
Møøse trained to mix concrete and
sign complicated insurance forms by JURGEN WIGG
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Editor JOHN HACKNEY
Møøses noses wiped by BJØRN IRKESTØM-SLATER WALKER
Large møøse on the left hand side
of the screen in the third scene from the
end, given a thorough grounding in Latin,
French and "O" Level Geography by BO BENN
Suggestive poses for the møøse
suggested by VIC ROTTER
Antler-care by LIV THATCHER
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The directors of the firm hired to
continue the credits after the other
people had been sacked, wish it to
be known that they have just been
sacked.
The credits have been completed
in an entirely different style at great
expense and at the last minute.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executive Producer
JOHN GOLDSTONE & "RALPH" The Wonder Llama
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Producer
MARK FORSTATER
Assisted By
EARL J. LLAMA
MILT Q. LLAMA III
SY LLAMA
MERLE Z. LLAMA IX
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Directed By
40 SPECIALLY TRAINED
ECUADORIAN MOUNTAIN LLAMAS
6 VENEZUELAN RED LLAMAS
142 MEXICAN WHOOPING LLAMAS
14 NORTH CHILEAN GUANACOS
(CLOSELY RELATED TO THE LLAMA)
REG LLAMA OF BRIXTON
76000 BATTERY LLAMAS
FROM "LLAMA-FRESH" FARMS LTD. NEAR PARAGUAY
and
TERRY GILLIAM & TERRY JONES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scene 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
'A swallow carrying a coconut?'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[opening music]
[wind]
[clop clop clop]
KING ARTHUR:
Whoa there!
[clop clop clop]
SOLDIER #1:
Halt! Who goes there?
ARTHUR:
It is I, Arthur, son of Uther Pendragon, from the castle of Camelot.
King of the Britons, defeater of the Saxons, Sovereign of all England!
SOLDIER #1:
Pull the other one!
ARTHUR:
I am,... and this is my trusty servant Patsy. We have ridden the length
and breadth of the land in search of knights who will join me in my
court at Camelot. I must speak with your lord and master.
SOLDIER #1:
What? Ridden on a horse?
ARTHUR:
Yes!
SOLDIER #1:
You're using coconuts!
ARTHUR:
What?
SOLDIER #1:
You've got two empty halves of coconut and you're bangin' 'em together.
ARTHUR:
So? We have ridden since the snows of winter covered this land, through
the kingdom of Mercia, through--
SOLDIER #1:
Where'd you get the coconuts?
ARTHUR:
We found them.
SOLDIER #1:
Found them? In Mercia? The coconut's tropical!
ARTHUR:
What do you mean?
SOLDIER #1:
Well, this is a temperate zone.
ARTHUR:
The swallow may fly south with the sun or the house martin or the
plover may seek warmer climes in winter, yet these are not strangers to
our land?
SOLDIER #1:
Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?
ARTHUR:
Not at all. They could be carried.
SOLDIER #1:
What? A swallow carrying a coconut?
ARTHUR:
It could grip it by the husk!
SOLDIER #1:
It's not a question of where he grips it! It's a simple question of
weight ratios! A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coconut.
ARTHUR:
Well, it doesn't matter. Will you go and tell your master that Arthur
from the Court of Camelot is here?
SOLDIER #1:
Listen. In order to maintain air-speed velocity, a swallow needs to
beat its wings forty-three times every second, right?
ARTHUR:
Please!
SOLDIER #1:
Am I right?
ARTHUR:
I'm not interested!
SOLDIER #2:
It could be carried by an African swallow!
SOLDIER #1:
Oh, yeah, an African swallow maybe, but not a European swallow. That's
my point.
SOLDIER #2:
Oh, yeah, I agree with that.
ARTHUR:
Will you ask your master if he wants to join my court at Camelot?!
SOLDIER #1:
But then of course a-- African swallows are non-migratory.
SOLDIER #2:
Oh, yeah.
SOLDIER #1:
So, they couldn't bring a coconut back anyway.
[clop clop clop]
SOLDIER #2:
Wait a minute! Supposing two swallows carried it together?
SOLDIER #1:
No, they'd have to have it on a line.
SOLDIER #2:
Well, simple! They'd just use a strand of creeper!
SOLDIER #1:
What, held under the dorsal guiding feathers?
SOLDIER #2:
Well, why not?
Scene 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Bring out your dead!'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[thud]
[clang]
CART MASTER:
Bring out your dead!
[clang]
Bring out your dead!
[clang]
Bring out your dead!
[clang]
Bring out your dead!
[clang]
Bring out your dead!
[cough cough...]
[clang]
[...cough cough]
Bring out your dead!
[clang]
Bring out your dead!
[clang]
Bring out your dead! Ninepence.
[clang]
Bring out your dead!
[clang]
Bring out your dead!
[clang]
Bring out...
[rewr!]
...your dead!
[rewr!]
[clang]
Bring out your dead!
CUSTOMER:
Here's one.
CART MASTER:
Ninepence.
DEAD PERSON:
I'm not dead!
CART MASTER:
What?
CUSTOMER:
Nothing. Here's your ninepence.
DEAD PERSON:
I'm not dead!
CART MASTER:
'Ere. He says he's not dead!
CUSTOMER:
Yes, he is.
DEAD PERSON:
I'm not!
CART MASTER:
He isn't?
CUSTOMER:
Well, he will be soon. He's very ill.
DEAD PERSON:
I'm getting better!
CUSTOMER:
No, you're not. You'll be stone dead in a moment.
CART MASTER:
Oh, I can't take him like that. It's against regulations.
DEAD PERSON:
I don't want to go on the cart!
CUSTOMER:
Oh, don't be such a baby.
CART MASTER:
I can't take him.
DEAD PERSON:
I feel fine!
CUSTOMER:
Well, do us a favour.
CART MASTER:
I can't.
CUSTOMER:
Well, can you hang around a couple of minutes? He won't be long.
CART MASTER:
No, I've got to go to the Robinsons'. They've lost nine today.
CUSTOMER:
Well, when's your next round?
CART MASTER:
Thursday.
DEAD PERSON:
I think I'll go for a walk.
CUSTOMER:
You're not fooling anyone, you know. Look. Isn't there something you
can do?
DEAD PERSON: [singing]
I feel happy. I feel happy.
[whop]
CUSTOMER:
Ah, thanks very much.
CART MASTER:
Not at all. See you on Thursday.
CUSTOMER:
Right. All right.
[howl]
[clop clop clop]
Who's that, then?
CART MASTER:
I dunno. Must be a king.
CUSTOMER:
Why?
CART MASTER:
He hasn't got shit all over him.
Scene 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Bloody peasant!'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[thud]
[King Arthur music]
[thud thud thud]
[King Arthur music stops]
ARTHUR:
Old woman!
DENNIS:
Man!
ARTHUR:
Man. Sorry. What knight lives in that castle over there?
DENNIS:
I'm thirty-seven.
ARTHUR:
I-- what?
DENNIS:
I'm thirty-seven. I'm not old.
ARTHUR:
Well, I can't just call you 'Man'.
DENNIS:
Well, you could say 'Dennis'.
ARTHUR:
Well, I didn't know you were called 'Dennis'.
DENNIS:
Well, you didn't bother to find out, did you?
ARTHUR:
I did say 'sorry' about the 'old woman', but from the behind you
looked--
DENNIS:
What I object to is that you automatically treat me like an inferior!
ARTHUR:
Well, I am King!
DENNIS:
Oh, King, eh, very nice. And how d'you get that, eh? By exploiting the
workers! By 'anging on to outdated imperialist dogma which perpetuates
the economic and social differences in our society. If there's ever
going to be any progress with the--
WOMAN:
Dennis, there's some lovely filth down here. Oh! How d'you do?
ARTHUR:
How do you do, good lady? I am Arthur, King of the Britons. Who's
castle is that?
WOMAN:
King of the who?
ARTHUR:
The Britons.
WOMAN:
Who are the Britons?
ARTHUR:
Well, we all are. We are all Britons, and I am your king.
WOMAN:
I didn't know we had a king. I thought we were an autonomous
collective.
DENNIS:
You're fooling yourself. We're living in a dictatorship: a
self-perpetuating autocracy in which the working classes--
WOMAN:
Oh, there you go bringing class into it again.
DENNIS:
That's what it's all about. If only people would hear of--
ARTHUR:
Please! Please, good people. I am in haste. Who lives in that castle?
WOMAN:
No one lives there.
ARTHUR:
Then who is your lord?
WOMAN:
We don't have a lord.
ARTHUR:
What?
DENNIS:
I told you. We're an anarcho-syndicalist commune. We take it in turns
to act as a sort of executive officer for the week,...
ARTHUR:
Yes.
DENNIS:
...but all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a
special bi-weekly meeting...
ARTHUR:
Yes, I see.
DENNIS:
...by a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs,...
ARTHUR:
Be quiet!
DENNIS:
...but by a two-thirds majority in the case of more major--
ARTHUR:
Be quiet! I order you to be quiet!
WOMAN:
Order, eh? Who does he think he is? Heh.
ARTHUR:
I am your king!
WOMAN:
Well, I didn't vote for you.
ARTHUR:
You don't vote for kings.
WOMAN:
Well, how did you become King, then?
ARTHUR:
The Lady of the Lake,...
[angels sing]
...her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur
from the bosom of the water signifying by Divine Providence that I,
Arthur, was to carry Excalibur.
[singing stops]
That is why I am your king!
DENNIS:
Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis
for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a
mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
ARTHUR:
Be quiet!
DENNIS:
Well, but you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just 'cause
some watery tart threw a sword at you!
ARTHUR:
Shut up!
DENNIS:
I mean, if I went 'round saying I was an emperor just because some
moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!
ARTHUR:
Shut up, will you? Shut up!
DENNIS:
Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system.
ARTHUR:
Shut up!
DENNIS:
Oh! Come and see the violence inherent in the system! Help! Help! I'm
being repressed!
ARTHUR:
Bloody peasant!
DENNIS:
Oh, what a give-away. Did you hear that? Did you hear that, eh? That's
what I'm on about. Did you see him repressing me? You saw it, didn't
you?
Scene 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The black knight
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[King Arthur music]
[music stops]
BLACK KNIGHT:
Aaaagh!
[King Arthur music]
[music stops]
BLACK KNIGHT:
Aaagh!
GREEN KNIGHT:
Ooh!
[King Arthur music]
[music stops]
[stab]
BLACK KNIGHT:
Aagh!
GREEN KNIGHT:
Oh!
[King Arthur music]
Ooh! Uuh.
[music stops]
BLACK KNIGHT:
Aaaagh!
[clang]
BLACK KNIGHT and GREEN KNIGHT:
Agh!, oh!, etc.
GREEN KNIGHT:
Aaaaaah! Aaaaaaaaah!
[woosh]
[BLACK KNIGHT kills GREEN KNIGHT]
[thud]
[scrape]
BLACK KNIGHT:
Umm!
[clop clop clop]
ARTHUR:
You fight with the strength of many men, Sir Knight.
[pause]
I am Arthur, King of the Britons.
[pause]
I seek the finest and the bravest knights in the land to join me in my
court at Camelot.
[pause]
You have proved yourself worthy. Will you join me?
[pause]
You make me sad. So be it. Come, Patsy.
BLACK KNIGHT:
None shall pass.
ARTHUR:
What?
BLACK KNIGHT:
None shall pass.
ARTHUR:
I have no quarrel with you, good Sir Knight, but I must cross this
bridge.
BLACK KNIGHT:
Then you shall die.
ARTHUR:
I command you, as King of the Britons, to stand aside!
BLACK KNIGHT:
I move for no man.
ARTHUR:
So be it!
ARTHUR and BLACK KNIGHT:
Aaah!, hiyaah!, etc.
[ARTHUR chops the BLACK KNIGHT's left arm off]
ARTHUR:
Now stand aside, worthy adversary.
BLACK KNIGHT:
'Tis but a scratch.
ARTHUR:
A scratch? Your arm's off!
BLACK KNIGHT:
No, it isn't.
ARTHUR:
Well, what's that, then?
BLACK KNIGHT:
I've had worse.
ARTHUR:
You liar!
BLACK KNIGHT:
Come on, you pansy!
[clang]
Huyah!
[clang]
Hiyaah!
[clang]
Aaaaaaaah!
[ARTHUR chops the BLACK KNIGHT's right arm off]
ARTHUR:
Victory is mine!
[kneeling]
We thank Thee Lord, that in Thy mer--
BLACK KNIGHT:
Hah!
[kick]
Come on, then.
ARTHUR:
What?
BLACK KNIGHT:
Have at you!
[kick]
ARTHUR:
Eh. You are indeed brave, Sir Knight, but the fight is mine.
BLACK KNIGHT:
Oh, had enough, eh?
ARTHUR:
Look, you stupid bastard. You've got no arms left.
BLACK KNIGHT:
Yes, I have.
ARTHUR:
Look!
BLACK KNIGHT:
Just a flesh wound.
[kick]
ARTHUR:
Look, stop that.
BLACK KNIGHT:
Chicken!
[kick]
Chickennn!
ARTHUR:
Look, I'll have your leg.
[kick]
Right!
[whop]
[ARTHUR chops the BLACK KNIGHT's right leg off]
BLACK KNIGHT:
Right. I'll do you for that!
ARTHUR:
You'll what?
BLACK KNIGHT:
Come here!
ARTHUR:
What are you going to do, bleed on me?
BLACK KNIGHT:
I'm invincible!
ARTHUR:
You're a looney.
BLACK KNIGHT:
The Black Knight always triumphs! Have at you! Come on, then.
[whop]
[ARTHUR chops the BLACK KNIGHT's last leg off]
BLACK KNIGHT:
Oh? All right, we'll call it a draw.
ARTHUR:
Come, Patsy.
BLACK KNIGHT:
Oh. Oh, I see. Running away, eh? You yellow bastards! Come back here
and take what's coming to you. I'll bite your legs off!
Scene 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Burn the witch!'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MONKS: [chanting]
Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem.
[bonk]
Pie Iesu domine,...
[bonk]
...dona eis requiem.
[bonk]
Pie Iesu domine,...
[bonk]
...dona eis requiem.
CROWD:
A witch! A witch!
[bonk]
A witch! A witch!
MONKS: [chanting]
Pie Iesu domine...
CROWD:
A witch! A witch! A witch! A witch! We've found a witch! A witch! A
witch! A witch! A witch! We've got a witch! A witch! A witch! Burn her!
Burn her! Burn her! We've found a witch! We've found a witch! A witch!
A witch! A witch!
VILLAGER #1:
We have found a witch. May we burn her?
CROWD:
Burn her! Burn! Burn her! Burn her!
BEDEVERE:
How do you know she is a witch?
VILLAGER #2:
She looks like one.
CROWD:
Right! Yeah! Yeah!
BEDEVERE:
Bring her forward.
WITCH:
I'm not a witch. I'm not a witch.
BEDEVERE:
Uh, but you are dressed as one.
WITCH:
They dressed me up like this.
CROWD:
Augh, we didn't! We didn't...
WITCH:
And this isn't my nose. It's a false one.
BEDEVERE:
Well?
VILLAGER #1:
Well, we did do the nose.
BEDEVERE:
The nose?
VILLAGER #1:
And the hat, but she is a witch!
VILLAGER #2:
Yeah!
CROWD:
We burn her! Right! Yeaaah! Yeaah!
BEDEVERE:
Did you dress her up like this?
VILLAGER #1:
No!
VILLAGER #2 and 3:
No. No.
VILLAGER #2:
No.
VILLAGER #1:
No.
VILLAGERS #2 and #3:
No.
VILLAGER #1:
Yes.
VILLAGER #2:
Yes.
VILLAGER #1:
Yes. Yeah, a bit.
VILLAGER #3:
A bit.
VILLAGERS #1 and #2:
A bit.
VILLAGER #3:
A bit.
VILLAGER #1:
She has got a wart.
RANDOM:
[cough]
BEDEVERE:
What makes you think she is a witch?
VILLAGER #3:
Well, she turned me into a newt.
BEDEVERE:
A newt?
VILLAGER #3:
I got better.
VILLAGER #2:
Burn her anyway!
VILLAGER #1:
Burn!
CROWD:
Burn her! Burn! Burn her!...
BEDEVERE:
Quiet! Quiet! Quiet! Quiet! There are ways of telling whether she is a
witch.
VILLAGER #1:
Are there?
VILLAGER #2:
Ah?
VILLAGER #1:
What are they?
CROWD:
Tell us! Tell us!...
BEDEVERE:
Tell me. What do you do with witches?
VILLAGER #2:
Burn!
VILLAGER #1:
Burn!
CROWD:
Burn! Burn them up! Burn!...
BEDEVERE:
And what do you burn apart from witches?
VILLAGER #1:
More witches!
VILLAGER #3:
Shh!
VILLAGER #2:
Wood!
BEDEVERE:
So, why do witches burn?
[pause]
VILLAGER #3:
B--... 'cause they're made of... wood?
BEDEVERE:
Good! Heh heh.
CROWD:
Oh, yeah. Oh.
BEDEVERE:
So, how do we tell whether she is made of wood?
VILLAGER #1:
Build a bridge out of her.
BEDEVERE:
Ah, but can you not also make bridges out of stone?
VILLAGER #1:
Oh, yeah.
RANDOM:
Oh, yeah. True. Uhh...
BEDEVERE:
Does wood sink in water?
VILLAGER #1:
No. No.
VILLAGER #2:
No, it floats! It floats!
VILLAGER #1:
Throw her into the pond!
CROWD:
The pond! Throw her into the pond!
BEDEVERE:
What also floats in water?
VILLAGER #1:
Bread!
VILLAGER #2:
Apples!
VILLAGER #3:
Uh, very small rocks!
VILLAGER #1:
Cider!
VILLAGER #2:
Uh, gra-- gravy!
VILLAGER #1:
Cherries!
VILLAGER #2:
Mud!
VILLAGER #3:
Uh, churches! Churches!
VILLAGER #2:
Lead! Lead!
ARTHUR:
A duck!
CROWD:
Oooh.
BEDEVERE:
Exactly. So, logically...
VILLAGER #1:
If... she... weighs... the same as a duck,... she's made of wood.
BEDEVERE:
And therefore?
VILLAGER #2:
A witch!
VILLAGER #1:
A witch!
CROWD:
A witch! A witch!...
VILLAGER #4:
Here is a duck. Use this duck.
[quack quack quack]
BEDEVERE:
Very good. We shall use my largest scales.
CROWD:
Ohh! Ohh! Burn the witch! Burn the witch! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her!
Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Ahh! Ahh...
BEDEVERE:
Right. Remove the supports!
[whop]
[clunk]
[creak]
CROWD:
A witch! A witch! A witch!
WITCH:
It's a fair cop.
VILLAGER #3:
Burn her!
CROWD:
Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn! Burn!...
BEDEVERE:
Who are you who are so wise in the ways of science?
ARTHUR:
I am Arthur, King of the Britons.
BEDEVERE:
My liege!
ARTHUR:
Good Sir Knight, will you come with me to Camelot and join us at the
Round Table?
BEDEVERE:
My liege! I would be honored.
ARTHUR:
What is your name?
BEDEVERE:
'Bedevere', my liege.
ARTHUR:
Then I dub you 'Sir Bedevere, Knight of the Round Table'.
Narrative Interlude
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The book of the film
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NARRATOR:
The wise Sir Bedevere was the first to join King Arthur's knights, but
other illustrious names were soon to follow: Sir Lancelot the Brave,
Sir Gallahad the Pure, and Sir Robin the- not- quite- so- brave- as-
Sir- Lancelot, who had nearly fought the Dragon of Angnor, who had
nearly stood up to the vicious Chicken of Bristol, and who had
personally wet himself at the Battle of Badon Hill, and the aptly named
Sir Not- appearing- in- this- film. Together they formed a band whose
names and deeds were to be retold throughout the centuries: the Knights
of the Round Table.
Scene 6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Camelot
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[clop clop clop]
SIR BEDEVERE:
And that, my liege, is how we know the earth to be banana-shaped.
ARTHUR:
This new learning amazes me, Sir Bedevere. Explain again how sheep's
bladders may be employed to prevent earthquakes.
BEDEVERE:
Oh, certainly, sir.
SIR LAUNCELOT:
Look, my liege!
[trumpets]
ARTHUR:
Camelot!
SIR GALAHAD:
Camelot!
LAUNCELOT:
Camelot!
PATSY:
It's only a model.
ARTHUR:
Shh! Knights, I bid you welcome to your new home. Let us ride... to...
Camelot!
[in medieval hall]
KNIGHTS: [singing]
We're Knights of the Round Table.
We dance whene'er we're able.
We do routines and chorus scenes
With footwork impeccable.
We dine well here in Camelot.
We eat ham and jam and spam a lot.
[dancing]
We're Knights of the Round Table.
Our shows are formidable,
But many times we're given rhymes
That are quite unsingable.
We're opera mad in Camelot.
We sing from the diaphragm a lot.
[in dungeon]
PRISONER:
[clap clap clap clap]
[in medieval hall]
KNIGHTS: [tap-dancing]
In war we're tough and able,
Quite indefatigable.
Between our quests we sequin vests and impersonate Clark Gable.
It's a busy life in Camelot.
MAN:
I have to push the pram a lot.
[outdoors]
ARTHUR:
Well, on second thought, let's not go to Camelot. It is a silly place.
KNIGHTS:
Right. Right.
Scene 7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
'A blessing from the Lord!'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[clop clop clop]
[boom boom]
[angels sing]
GOD:
Arthur! Arthur, King of the Britons! Oh, don't grovel!
[singing stops]
One thing I can't stand, it's people groveling.
ARTHUR:
Sorry.
[boom]
GOD:
And don't apologize. Every time I try to talk to someone it's 'sorry
this' and 'forgive me that' and 'I'm not worthy'.
[boom]
What are you doing now?!
ARTHUR:
I'm averting my eyes, O Lord.
GOD:
Well, don't. It's like those miserable Psalms-- they're so depressing.
Now, knock it off!
ARTHUR:
Yes, Lord.
GOD:
Right! Arthur, King of the Britons, your Knights of the Round Table
shall have a task to make them an example in these dark times.
ARTHUR:
Good idea, O Lord!
GOD:
'Course it's a good idea! Behold!
[angels sing]
Arthur, this is the Holy Grail. Look well, Arthur, for it is your
sacred task to seek this grail. That is your purpose, Arthur: the quest
for the Holy Grail.
[boom]
[singing stops]
LAUNCELOT:
A blessing! A blessing from the Lord!
GALAHAD:
God be praised!
Scene 8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The French castle / wooden rabbit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[King Arthur music]
[clop clop clop]
ARTHUR:
Halt!
[horn]
Hallo!
[pause]
Hallo!
FRENCH GUARD:
Allo! Who is eet?
ARTHUR:
It is King Arthur, and these are my Knights of the Round Table. Whose
castle is this?
FRENCH GUARD:
This is the castle of my master, Guy de Loimbard.
ARTHUR:
Go and tell your master that we have been charged by God with a sacred
quest. If he will give us food and shelter for the night, he can join
us in our quest for the Holy Grail.
FRENCH GUARD:
Well, I'll ask him, but I don't think he'll be very keen. Uh, he's
already got one, you see.
ARTHUR:
What?
GALAHAD:
He says they've already got one!
ARTHUR:
Are you sure he's got one?
FRENCH GUARD:
Oh, yes. It's very nice-a. (I told him we already got one.)
FRENCH GUARDS:
[chuckling]
ARTHUR:
Well, u-- um, can we come up and have a look?
FRENCH GUARD:
Of course not! You are English types-a!
ARTHUR:
Well, what are you, then?
FRENCH GUARD:
I'm French! Why do think I have this outrageous accent, you silly
king-a?!
GALAHAD:
What are you doing in England?
FRENCH GUARD:
Mind your own business!
ARTHUR:
If you will not show us the Grail, we shall take your castle by force!
FRENCH GUARD:
You don't frighten us, English pig-dogs! Go and boil your bottom, sons
of a silly person. I blow my nose at you, so-called Arthur King, you
and all your silly English k-nnnnniggets. Thpppppt! Thppt! Thppt!
GALAHAD:
What a strange person.
ARTHUR:
Now look here, my good man--
FRENCH GUARD:
I don't wanna talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough
wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and
your father smelt of elderberries!
GALAHAD:
Is there someone else up there we could talk to?
FRENCH GUARD:
No. Now, go away, or I shall taunt you a second time-a!
[sniff]
ARTHUR:
Now, this is your last chance. I've been more than reasonable.
FRENCH GUARD:
(Fetchez la vache.)
OTHER FRENCH GUARD:
Quoi?
FRENCH GUARD:
(Fetchez la vache!)
[mooo]
ARTHUR:
If you do not agree to my commands, then I shall--
[twong]
[mooooooo]
Jesus Christ!
KNIGHTS:
Christ!
[thud]
Ah! Ohh!
ARTHUR:
Right! Charge!
KNIGHTS:
Charge!
[mayhem]
FRENCH GUARD:
Hey, this one is for your mother! There you go.
[mayhem]
FRENCH GUARD:
And this one's for your dad!
ARTHUR:
Run away!
KNIGHTS:
Run away!
FRENCH GUARD:
Thppppt!
FRENCH GUARDS:
[taunting]
LAUNCELOT:
Fiends! I'll tear them apart!
ARTHUR:
No, no. No, no.
BEDEVERE:
Sir! I have a plan, sir.
[later]
[wind]
[saw saw saw saw saw saw saw saw saw saw saw saw saw saw saw saw]
[clunk]
[bang]
[rewr!]
[squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak]
[rrrr rrrr rrrr]
[drilllll]
[sawwwww]
[clunk]
[crash]
[clang]
[squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak...]
[creak]
FRENCH GUARDS: [whispering]
C'est un lapin, lapin de bois. Quoi? Un cadeau. What? A present. Oh, un
cadeau. Oui, oui. Hurry. What? Let's go. Oh. On y va. Bon magne. Over
here...
[squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak...]
[clllank]
ARTHUR:
What happens now?
BEDEVERE:
Well, now, uh, Launcelot, Galahad, and I, uh, wait until nightfall, and
then leap out of the rabbit, taking the French, uh, by surprise. Not
only by surprise, but totally unarmed!
ARTHUR:
Who leaps out?
BEDEVERE:
U-- u-- uh, Launcelot, Galahad, and I, uh, leap out of the rabbit, uh,
and uh...
ARTHUR:
Ohh.
BEDEVERE:
Oh. Um, l-- look, i-- i-- if we built this large wooden badger--
[clank]
[twong]
ARTHUR:
Run away!
KNIGHTS:
Run away! Run away! Run away! Run away! Run away! Run away! Run away!
[CRASH]
FRENCH GUARDS:
Oh, haw haw haw haw! Haw! Haw haw heh...
Scene 9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The historian
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[clack]
VOICE:
Picture for Schools, take eight.
DIRECTOR:
Action!
HISTORIAN:
Defeat at the castle seems to have utterly disheartened King Arthur.
The ferocity of the French taunting took him completely by surprise,
and Arthur became convinced that a new strategy was required if the
quest for the Holy Grail were to be brought to a successful conclusion.
Arthur, having consulted his closest knights, decided that they should
separate and search for the Grail individually.
[clop clop clop]
Now, this is what they did: Launcelot--
KNIGHT:
Aaaah!
[slash]
[KNIGHT kills HISTORIAN]
HISTORIAN'S WIFE:
Frank!
Scene 10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sir Robin and the three-headed knight
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[trumpets]
NARRATOR:
The Tale of Sir Robin. So, each of the knights went their separate
ways. Sir Robin rode north, through the dark forest of Ewing,
accompanied by his favourite minstrels.
MINSTREL: [singing]
Bravely bold Sir Robin rode forth from Camelot.
He was not afraid to die, O brave Sir Robin.
He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways,
Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin!
He was not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp,
Or to have his eyes gouged out and his elbows broken,
To have his kneecaps split and his body burned away
And his limbs all hacked and mangled, brave Sir Robin!
His head smashed in and his heart cut out
And his liver removed and his bowels unplugged
And his nostrils raped and his bottom burned off
And his pen--
SIR ROBIN:
That's-- that's, uh-- that's enough music for now, lads. Heh. Looks
like there's dirty work afoot.
DENNIS:
Anarcho-syndicalism is a way of preserving freedom.
WOMAN:
Oh, Dennis, forget about freedom. We haven't got enough mud.
ALL HEADS:
Halt! Who art thou?
MINSTREL: [singing]
He is brave Sir Robin, brave Sir Robin, who--
ROBIN:
Shut up! Um, n-- n-- n-- nobody, really. I'm j-- j-- j-- ju-- just,
um-- just passing through.
ALL HEADS:
What do you want?
MINSTREL: [singing]
To fight and--
ROBIN:
Shut up! Um, oo, a-- nothing. Nothing, really. I, uh-- j-- j-- just--
just to, um-- just to p-- pass through, good Sir Knight.
ALL HEADS:
I'm afraid not!
ROBIN:
Ah. W-- well, actually I-- I am a Knight of the Round Table.
ALL HEADS:
You're a Knight of the Round Table?
ROBIN:
I am.
LEFT HEAD:
In that case, I shall have to kill you.
MIDDLE HEAD:
Shall I?
RIGHT HEAD:
Oh, I don't think so.
MIDDLE HEAD:
Well, what do I think?
LEFT HEAD:
I think kill him.
RIGHT HEAD:
Oh, let's be nice to him.
LEFT HEAD:
Oh, shut up.
ROBIN:
Perhaps I could--
LEFT HEAD:
And you. Oh, quick! Get the sword out. I want to cut his head off!
RIGHT HEAD:
Oh, cut your own head off!
MIDDLE HEAD:
Yes, do us all a favour!
LEFT HEAD:
What?
RIGHT HEAD:
Yapping on all the time.
MIDDLE HEAD:
You're lucky. You're not next to him.
LEFT HEAD:
What do you mean?
MIDDLE HEAD:
You snore!
LEFT HEAD:
Oh, I don't. Anyway, you've got bad breath.
MIDDLE HEAD:
Well, it's only because you don't brush my teeth.
RIGHT HEAD:
Oh, stop bitching and let's go have tea.
LEFT HEAD:
Oh, all right. All right. All right. We'll kill him first and then have
tea and biscuits.
MIDDLE HEAD:
Yes.
RIGHT HEAD:
Oh, not biscuits.
LEFT HEAD:
All right. All right, not biscuits, but let's kill him anyway.
ALL HEADS:
Right!
MIDDLE HEAD:
He buggered off.
RIGHT HEAD:
So he has. He's scarpered.
MINSTREL: [singing]
Brave Sir Robin ran away,
ROBIN:
No!
MINSTREL: [singing]
Bravely ran away, away.
ROBIN:
I didn't!
MINSTREL: [singing]
When danger reared its ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled.
ROBIN:
No!
MINSTREL: [singing]
Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about
ROBIN:
I didn't!
MINSTREL: [singing]
And gallantly, he chickened out. Bravely taking to his feet,
ROBIN:
I never did!
MINSTREL: [singing]
He beat a very brave retreat,
ROBIN:
All lies!
MINSTREL: [singing]
Bravest of the brave, Sir Robin.
ROBIN:
I never!
Cartoon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diving monks
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CARTOON MONKS: [chanting]
Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem.
CARTOON CHARACTER:
Heh heh heeh ooh...
[twang]
CARTOON MONKS: [chanting]
Pie Iesu domine,...
CARTOON CHARACTERS:
Wayy!
[splash]
Ho ho. Woa, wayy!
[twang]
[splash]
Heh heh heh heh ho! Heh heh heh!
CARTOON MONKS: [chanting]
...dona eis requiem.
CARTOON CHARACTER:
Wayy!
[twang]
Wayy!
[twang]
VOICE: [whispering]
Forgive me, for I have sinned.
CARTOON CHARACTER:
Oh! Oooo.
Scene 11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Galahad at Castle Anthrax
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[trumpets]
NARRATOR:
The Tale of Sir Galahad.
[boom]
[wind]
[howl]
[howl]
[boom]
[angels singing]
[howl]
[boom]
[howl]
[boom]
[pound pound pound]
GALAHAD:
Open the door! Open the door!
[pound pound pound]
In the name of King Arthur, open the door!
[creak]
[thump]
[creak]
[boom]
GIRLS:
Hello!
ZOOT:
Welcome, gentle Sir Knight. Welcome to the Castle Anthrax.
GALAHAD:
The Castle Anthrax?
ZOOT:
Yes. Oh, it's not a very good name, is it? Oh, but we are nice and we
will attend to your every, every need!
GALAHAD:
You are the keepers of the Holy Grail?
ZOOT:
The what?
GALAHAD:
The Grail. It is here.
ZOOT:
Oh, but you are tired and you must rest awhile. Midget! Crapper!
MIDGET and CRAPPER:
Yes, O Zoot?
ZOOT:
Prepare a bed for our guest.
MIDGET and CRAPPER:
Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank
you!...
ZOOT:
Away! Away, varletesses. The beds here are warm and soft and very, very
big.
GALAHAD:
Well, look, I-- I, uh--
ZOOT:
What is your name, handsome knight?
GALAHAD:
'Sir Galahad... the Chaste'.
ZOOT:
Mine is 'Zoot'. Just 'Zoot'. Oh, but come.
GALAHAD:
Look, please! In God's name, show me the Grail!
ZOOT:
Oh, you have suffered much. You are delirious.
GALAHAD:
No, look. I have seen it! It is here in this--
ZOOT:
Sir Galahad! You would not be so ungallant as to refuse our
hospitality.
GALAHAD:
Well, I-- I, uh--
ZOOT:
Oh, I am afraid our life must seem very dull and quiet compared to
yours. We are but eight score young blondes and brunettes, all between
sixteen and nineteen- and- a- half, cut off in this castle with no one
to protect us. Oooh. It is a lonely life: bathing, dressing,
undressing, making exciting underwear. We are just not used to handsome
knights. Nay. Nay. Come. Come. You may lie here. Oh, but you are
wounded!
GALAHAD:
No, no. It's-- it's nothing.
ZOOT:
Oh, you must see the doctors immediately! No, no, please! Lie down.
[clap clap]
PIGLET:
Well, what seems to be the trouble?
GALAHAD:
They're doctors?!
ZOOT:
Uh, they... have a basic medical training, yes.
GALAHAD:
B-- but--
ZOOT:
Oh, come. Come. You must try to rest. Doctor Piglet! Doctor Winston!
Practise your art.
WINSTON:
Try to relax.
GALAHAD:
Are you sure that's absolutely necessary?
PIGLET:
We must examine you.
GALAHAD:
There's nothing wrong with that!
PIGLET:
Please. We are doctors.
GALAHAD:
Look! This cannot be. I am sworn to chastity.
PIGLET:
Back to your bed! At once!
GALAHAD:
Torment me no longer. I have seen the Grail!
PIGLET:
There's no grail here.
GALAHAD:
I have seen it! I have seen it!
[clank]
I have seen--
GIRLS:
Hello.
GALAHAD:
Oh.
GIRLS:
Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello.
Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello.
Hello. Hello. Hello.
GALAHAD:
Zoot!
DINGO:
No, I am Zoot's identical twin sister, Dingo.
GALAHAD:
Oh, well, excuse me, I--
DINGO:
Where are you going?
GALAHAD:
I seek the Grail! I have seen it, here in this castle!
DINGO:
Oh, no. Oh, no! Bad, bad Zoot!
GALAHAD:
Well, what is it?
DINGO:
Oh, wicked, bad, naughty Zoot! She has been setting alight to our
beacon, which, I have just remembered, is grail-shaped. It's not the
first time we've had this problem.
GALAHAD:
It's not the real Grail?
DINGO:
Oh, wicked, bad, naughty, evil Zoot! She is a bad person and must pay
the penalty! Do you think this scene should have been cut? We were so
worried when the boys were writing it, but now, we're glad. It's better
than some of the previous scenes, I think.
LEFT HEAD:
At least ours was better visually.
DENNIS:
Well, at least ours was committed. It wasn't just a string of pussy
jokes.
OLD MAN:
Get on with it.
TIM THE ENCHANTER:
Yes, get on with it!
ARMY OF KNIGHTS:
Yes, get on with it!
DINGO:
Oh, I am enjoying this scene.
GOD:
Get on with it!
DINGO:
[sigh]
[clunk]
Oh, wicked, wicked Zoot. Oh, she is a naughty person and she must pay
the penalty, and here in Castle Anthrax, we have but one punishment for
setting alight the grail-shaped beacon: you must tie her down on a bed
and spank her.
GIRLS:
A spanking! A spanking!
DINGO:
You must spank her well, and after you have spanked her, you may deal
with her as you like, and then, spank me.
AMAZING:
And spank me.
STUNNER:
And me.
LOVELY:
And me.
DINGO:
Yes. Yes, you must give us all a good spanking!
GIRLS:
A spanking! A spanking! There is going to be a spanking tonight!
DINGO:
And after the spanking, the oral sex.
GIRLS:
The oral sex! The oral sex!
GALAHAD:
Well, I could stay a bit longer.
LAUNCELOT:
Sir Galahad!
GALAHAD:
Oh, hello.
LAUNCELOT:
Quick!
GALAHAD:
What?
LAUNCELOT:
Quick!
GALAHAD:
Why?
LAUNCELOT:
You are in great peril!
DINGO:
No, he isn't.
LAUNCELOT:
Silence, foul temptress!
GALAHAD:
You know, she's got a point.
LAUNCELOT:
Come on! We will cover your escape!
GALAHAD:
Look, I'm fine!
LAUNCELOT:
Come on!
GIRLS:
Sir Galahad!
GALAHAD:
No. Look, I can tackle this lot single-handed!
DINGO:
Yes! Let him tackle us single-handed!
GIRLS:
Yes! Let him tackle us single-handed!
LAUNCELOT:
No, Sir Galahad. Come on!
GALAHAD:
No! Really! Honestly, I can cope. I can handle this lot easily.
DINGO:
Oh, yes. Let him handle us easily.
GIRLS:
Yes. Let him handle us easily.
LAUNCELOT:
No. Quick! Quick!
GALAHAD:
Please! I can defeat them! There's only a hundred-and-fifty of them!
DINGO:
Yes! Yes, he will beat us easily! We haven't a chance.
GIRLS:
We haven't a chance. He will beat us easily...
[boom]
DINGO:
Oh, shit.
LAUNCELOT:
We were in the nick of time. You were in great peril.
GALAHAD:
I don't think I was.
LAUNCELOT:
Yes, you were. You were in terrible peril.
GALAHAD:
Look, let me go back in there and face the peril.
LAUNCELOT:
No, it's too perilous.
GALAHAD:
Look, it's my duty as a knight to sample as much peril as I can.
LAUNCELOT:
No, we've got to find the Holy Grail. Come on!
GALAHAD:
Oh, let me have just a little bit of peril?
LAUNCELOT:
No. It's unhealthy.
GALAHAD:
I bet you're gay.
LAUNCELOT:
No, I'm not.
Narrative Interlude
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Meanwhile, King Arthur and Sir Bedevere...'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NARRATOR:
Sir Launcelot had saved Sir Galahad from almost certain temptation, but
they were still no nearer the Grail. Meanwhile, King Arthur and Sir
Bedevere, not more than a swallow's flight away, had discovered
something. Oh, that's an unladen swallow's flight, obviously. I mean,
they were more than two laden swallows' flights away-- four, really, if
they had a coconut on a line between them. I mean, if the birds were
walking and dragging--
CROWD:
Get on with it!
NARRATOR:
Oh, anyway. On to scene twenty-four, which is a smashing scene with
some lovely acting, in which Arthur discovers a vital clue, and in
which there aren't any swallows, although I think you can hear a
starling-- oooh!
Scene 12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arthur, Bedevere, and the old man
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
OLD MAN:
Heh, hee ha ha hee hee! Hee hee hee ha ha ha...
ARTHUR:
And this enchanter of whom you speak, he has seen the Grail?
OLD MAN:
...Ha ha ha ha! Heh, hee ha ha hee! Ha hee ha! Ha ha ha ha...
ARTHUR:
Where does he live?
OLD MAN:
...Heh heh heh heh...
ARTHUR:
Old man, where does he live?
OLD MAN:
...Hee ha ha ha. He knows of a cave, a cave which no man has entered.
ARTHUR:
And the Grail. The Grail is there?
OLD MAN:
There is much danger, for beyond the cave lies the Gorge of Eternal
Peril, which no man has ever crossed.
ARTHUR:
But the Grail! Where is the Grail?!
OLD MAN:
Seek you the Bridge of Death.
ARTHUR:
The Bridge of Death, which leads to the Grail?
OLD MAN:
Heh, hee hee hee hee! Ha ha ha ha ha! Hee ha ha...
Scene 13
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Knights of Ni
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[spooky music]
[music stops]
HEAD KNIGHT OF NI:
Ni!
KNIGHTS OF NI:
Ni! Ni! Ni! Ni! Ni!
ARTHUR:
Who are you?
HEAD KNIGHT:
We are the Knights Who Say... 'Ni'!
RANDOM:
Ni!
ARTHUR:
No! Not the Knights Who Say 'Ni'!
HEAD KNIGHT:
The same!
BEDEVERE:
Who are they?
HEAD KNIGHT:
We are the keepers of the sacred words: 'Ni', 'Peng', and 'Neee-wom'!
RANDOM:
Neee-wom!
ARTHUR:
Those who hear them seldom live to tell the tale.
HEAD KNIGHT:
The Knights Who Say 'Ni' demand a sacrifice.
ARTHUR:
Knights of Ni, we are but simple travellers who seek the enchanter who
lives beyond these woods.
HEAD KNIGHT:
Ni!
KNIGHTS OF NI:
Ni! Ni! Ni! Ni! Ni!...
ARTHUR:
Ow! Ow! Ow! Agh!
HEAD KNIGHT:
We shall say 'ni' again to you if you do not appease us.
ARTHUR:
Well, what is it you want?
HEAD KNIGHT:
We want... a shrubbery!
[dramatic chord]
ARTHUR:
A what?
KNIGHTS OF NI:
Ni! Ni! Ni! Ni!
ARTHUR and PARTY:
Ow! Oh!
ARTHUR:
Please! Please! No more! We will find you a shrubbery.
HEAD KNIGHT:
You must return here with a shrubbery, or else, you will never pass
through this wood... alive.
ARTHUR:
O Knights of Ni, you are just and fair, and we will return with a
shrubbery.
HEAD KNIGHT:
One that looks nice.
ARTHUR:
Of course.
HEAD KNIGHT:
And not too expensive.
ARTHUR:
Yes.
HEAD KNIGHT:
Now... go!
Cartoon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Bloody weather.'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[trumpets]
CARTOON CHARACTER:
Hmm hmm--
[boom]
Oh! Great scott! Hm. Hmm.
[boom]
Hm! Hmm. [mumble mumble mumble]
[boom]
[mumble mumble mumble]
[boom]
[mumble mumble mumble]
[boom]
[mumble mumble mumble]
[boom]
[mumble mumble mumble]
[boom]
[mumble mumble mumble]
[boom]
[mumble mumble mumble]
[boom]
[mumble mumble mumble]
[boom]
Ohh!
[crash]
[mumble mumble mumble]
[boom]
SUN:
Ay, up! Thsss.
[boom]
Ayy, up!
[boom]
Thsss.
[boom]
Ayy, up!
CARTOON CHARACTER:
Stop that! Stop that!
[boom]
SUN:
Ay, up!
CARTOON CHARACTER:
Stop that!
[boom]
Look on! Clear off! Go on! Go away! Go away! Go away! And you! Clear
off!
[sniff]
SUN:
[mumble mumble mumble]
[bells]
CARTOON CHARACTER:
Hah. Bloody weather.
Scene 14
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Make sure he doesn't leave.'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NARRATOR:
The Tale of Sir Launcelot.
FATHER:
One day, lad, all this will be yours!
PRINCE HERBERT:
What, the curtains?
FATHER:
No. Not the curtains, lad. All that you can see, stretched out over the
hills and valleys of this land! This'll be your kingdom, lad.
HERBERT:
But Mother--
FATHER:
Father, lad. Father.
HERBERT:
B-- b-- but Father, I don't want any of that.
FATHER:
Listen, lad. I built this kingdom up from nothing. When I started here,
all there was was swamp. Other kings said I was daft to build a castle
on a swamp, but I built it all the same, just to show 'em. It sank into
the swamp. So, I built a second one. That sank into the swamp. So, I
built a third one. That burned down, fell over, then sank into the
swamp, but the fourth one... stayed up! And that's what you're gonna
get, lad: the strongest castle in these islands.
HERBERT:
But I don't want any of that. I'd rather--
FATHER:
Rather what?!
HERBERT:
I'd rather...
[music]
...just... sing!
FATHER:
Stop that! Stop that! You're not going into a song while I'm here. Now
listen, lad. In twenty minutes, you're getting married to a girl whose
father owns the biggest tracts of open land in Britain.
HERBERT:
B-- but I don't want land.
FATHER:
Listen, Alice,--
HERBERT:
Herbert.
FATHER:
'Erbert. We live in a bloody swamp. We need all the land we can get.
HERBERT:
But-- but I don't like her.
FATHER:
Don't like her?! What's wrong with her?! She's beautiful. She's rich.
She's got huge... tracts o' land!
HERBERT:
I know, but I want the-- the girl that I marry to have...
[music]
...a certain,... special... something!
FATHER:
Cut that out! Cut that out! Look, you're marrying Princess Lucky, so
you'd better get used to the idea!
[smack]
Guards! Make sure the Prince doesn't leave this room until I come and
get him.
GUARD #1:
Not to leave the room even if you come and get him.
GUARD #2:
Hic!
FATHER:
No, no. Until I come and get him.
GUARD #1:
Until you come and get him, we're not to enter the room.
FATHER:
No, no. No. You stay in the room and make sure he doesn't leave.
GUARD #1:
And you'll come and get him.
GUARD #2:
Hic!
FATHER:
Right.
GUARD #1:
We don't need to do anything apart from just stop him entering the
room.
FATHER:
No, no. Leaving the room.
GUARD #1:
Leaving the room. Yes.
[sniff]
FATHER:
All right?
GUARD #1:
Right.
GUARD #2:
Hic!
FATHER:
Right.
GUARD #1:
Oh, if-- if-- if, uhh-- if-- if-- w-- ehh-- i-- if-- if we--
FATHER:
Yes? What is it?
GUARD #1:
Oh, i-- if-- i-- oh--
FATHER:
Look, it's quite simple.
GUARD #1:
Uh...
FATHER:
You just stay here and make sure 'e doesn't leave the room. All right?
GUARD #2:
Hic!
FATHER:
Right.
GUARD #1:
Oh, I remember. Uhh, can he leave the room with us?
FATHER:
N-- no, no. No. You just keep him in here and make sure he--
GUARD #1:
Oh, yes. We'll keep him in here, obviously, but if he had to leave and
we were with him--
FATHER:
No, no, no, no. Just keep him in here--
GUARD #1:
Until you or anyone else--
FATHER:
No, not anyone else. Just me.
GUARD #1:
Just you.
GUARD #2:
Hic!
FATHER:
Get back.
GUARD #1:
Get back.
FATHER:
All right?
GUARD #1:
Right. We'll stay here until you get back.
GUARD #2:
Hic!
FATHER:
And, uh, make sure he doesn't leave.
GUARD #1:
What?
FATHER:
Make sure 'e doesn't leave.
GUARD #1:
The Prince?
FATHER:
Yes. Make sure 'e doesn't leave.
GUARD #1:
Oh, yes, of course.
GUARD #2:
Hic!
GUARD #1:
Ah. I thought you meant him. You know, it seemed a bit daft me havin'
to guard him when he's a guard.
FATHER:
Is that clear?
GUARD #2:
Hic!
GUARD #1:
Oh, quite clear. No problems.
FATHER:
Right. Where are you going?
GUARD #1:
We're coming with you.
FATHER:
No, no. I want you to stay here and make sure 'e doesn't leave.
GUARD #1:
Oh, I see. Right.
HERBERT:
But Father!
FATHER:
Shut your noise, you! And get that suit on!
[music]
And no singing!
GUARD #2:
Hic!
FATHER:
Oh, go and get a glass of water.
[clank]
[scribble scribble scribble fold fold]
[twong]
Scene 15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Message for you, sir.'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LAUNCELOT:
Well taken, Concorde!
CONCORDE:
Thank you, sir! Most kind.
LAUNCELOT:
And again! Over we go! Good. Steady! And now, the big one! Uuh! Come
on, Concorde!
[thwonk]
CONCORDE:
Message for you, sir.
[fwump]
LAUNCELOT:
Concorde! Concorde! Speak to me! 'To whoever finds this note: I have
been imprisoned by my father, who wishes me to marry against my will.
Please, please, please come and rescue me. I am in the Tall Tower of
Swamp Castle.' At last! A call! A cry of distress! This could be the
sign that leads us to the Holy Grail! Brave, brave Concorde, you shall
not have died in vain!
CONCORDE:
Uh, I'm-- I'm not quite dead, sir.
LAUNCELOT:
Well, you shall not have been mortally wounded in vain!
CONCORDE:
I-- I-- I think I c-- I could pull through, sir.
LAUNCELOT:
Oh, I see.
CONCORDE:
Actually, I think I'm all right to come with you, sir--
LAUNCELOT:
No, no, sweet Concorde! Stay here! I will send help as soon as I have
accomplished a daring and heroic rescue in my own particular...
[sigh]
CONCORDE:
Idiom, sir?
LAUNCELOT:
Idiom!
CONCORDE:
No, I feel fine, actually, sir.
LAUNCELOT:
Farewell, sweet Concorde!
CONCORDE:
I'll, um-- I'll just stay here, then. Shall I, sir? Yeah.
Scene 16
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Hurry, Sir Launcelot. Hurry!'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[inside castle]
PRINCESS LUCKY and GIRLS:
[giggle giggle giggle]
[outside castle]
GUEST:
'Morning!
SENTRY #1:
'Morning.
SENTRY #2:
Oooh.
SENTRY #1:
[ptoo]
LAUNCELOT:
Ha ha! Hiyya!
SENTRY #2:
Hey!
LAUNCELOT:
Hiyya!, Ha!, etc.
PRINCESS LUCKY and GIRLS:
[giggle giggle giggle]
LAUNCELOT:
Ha ha! Huy!
GUESTS:
Uuh! Aaah!
LAUNCELOT:
Ha ha! And take this! Aah! Hiyah! Aah! Aaah! Hyy! Hya! Hiyya! Ha!...
GUARD #1:
Now, you're not allowed to enter the room-- aaugh!
LAUNCELOT:
O fair one, behold your humble servant, Sir Launcelot of Camelot. I
have come to take y-- Oh, I'm terribly sorry.
HERBERT:
You got my note!
LAUNCELOT:
Uh, well, I-- I got a-- a note.
HERBERT:
You've come to rescue me!
LAUNCELOT:
Uh, well, no. You see, I hadn't--
HERBERT:
I knew someone would. I knew that somewhere out there...
[music]
LAUNCELOT:
Well, I--
HERBERT:
...there must be... someone...
FATHER:
Stop that! Stop that! Stop it! Stop it! Who are you?
HERBERT:
I'm your son!
FATHER:
No, not you.
LAUNCELOT:
Uh, I am Sir Launcelot, sir.
HERBERT:
He's come to rescue me, Father.
LAUNCELOT:
Well, let's not jump to conclusions.
FATHER:
Did you kill all those guards?
LAUNCELOT:
Uh... Oh, yes. Sorry.
FATHER:
They cost fifty pounds each!
LAUNCELOT:
Well, I'm awfully sorry. Um, I really can explain everything.
HERBERT:
Don't be afraid of him, Sir Launcelot. I've got a rope all ready.
FATHER:
You killed eight wedding guests in all!
LAUNCELOT:
Well, uh, you see, the thing is, I thought your son was a lady.
FATHER:
I can understand that.
HERBERT:
Hurry, Sir Launcelot! Hurry!
FATHER:
Shut up! You only killed the bride's father, that's all!
LAUNCELOT:
Well, I really didn't mean to...
FATHER:
Didn't mean to?! You put your sword right through his head!
LAUNCELOT:
Oh, dear. Is he all right?
FATHER:
You even kicked the bride in the chest! This is going to cost me a
fortune!
LAUNCELOT:
Well, I can explain. I was in the forest, um, riding north from
Camelot, when I got this note, you see--
FATHER:
Camelot? Are you from, uh, Camelot?
HERBERT:
Hurry, Sir Launcelot!
LAUNCELOT:
Uh, I am a Knight of King Arthur, sir.
FATHER:
Very nice castle, Camelot. Uh, very good pig country.
LAUNCELOT:
Is it?
HERBERT:
Hurry! I'm ready!
FATHER:
Would you, uh, like to come and have a drink?
LAUNCELOT:
Well, that-- that's, uh, awfully nice of you,...
HERBERT:
I am ready!
LAUNCELOT:
...um, I mean to be so understanding.
[thonk]
Um,...
[woosh]
HERBERT:
Oooh!
LAUNCELOT:
...I'm afraid when I'm in this idiom, I sometimes get a bit, uh, sort
of carried away.
FATHER:
Oh, don't worry about that.
HERBERT:
Oooh!
[splat]
Scene 17
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The dead Prince
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
GUESTS:
[crying]
FATHER:
Well, this is the main hall. We're going to have all this knocked
through and made into one big, uh, living room.
GUEST:
There he is!
FATHER:
Oh, bloody hell.
[exciting music]
LAUNCELOT:
Ha ha ha! Hey! Ha ha!
FATHER:
Hold it! Stop it! Hold it! Hold it! Hold it! Hold it! Hold it! Please!
LAUNCELOT:
Sorry. Sorry. You see what I mean? I just get carried away. I'm really
most awfully sorry. Sorry! Sorry, everyone.
GUEST #1:
He's killed the best man!
GUESTS:
[yelling]
FATHER:
Hold it! Hold it! Please! Hold it! This is Sir Launcelot from the Court
of Camelot, a very brave and influential knight, and my special guest
here today.
LAUNCELOT:
Hello.
GUEST:
He killed my auntie!
GUESTS:
[yelling]
FATHER:
Please! Please! This is supposed to be a happy occasion! Let's not
bicker and argue about who killed who. We are here today to witness the
union of two young people in the joyful bond of the holy wedlock.
Unfortunately, one of them, my son Herbert, has just fallen to his
death.
GUESTS:
Oh! Oh, no!
FATHER:
But I don't want to think I've not lost a son, so much as... gained a
daughter!
[clap clap clap]
For, since the tragic death of her father--
GUEST #2:
He's not quite dead!
FATHER:
Since the near fatal wounding of her father--
GUEST #2:
He's getting better!
FATHER:
For, since her own father, who, when he seemed about to recover,
suddenly felt the icy hand of death upon him.
BRIDE'S FATHER:
Uugh!
GUEST #2:
Oh, he's died!
FATHER:
And I want his only daughter to look upon me as her old dad, in a very
real and legally binding sense.
[clap clap clap]
And I feel sure that the merger-- er, the union between the Princess
and the brave, but dangerous, Sir Launcelot of Camelot--
LAUNCELOT:
What?
GUEST #2:
Look! The dead Prince!
GUESTS:
Oooh! The dead Prince!
CONCORDE:
He's not quite dead.
HERBERT:
No, I feel much better.
FATHER:
You fell out of the Tall Tower, you creep!
HERBERT:
No, I was saved at the last minute.
FATHER:
How?!
HERBERT:
Well, I'll tell you.
[music]
FATHER:
Not like that! Not like that! No! Stop it!
GUESTS: [singing]
He's going to tell! He's going to tell!...
FATHER:
Shut uuup!
GUESTS: [singing]
He's going to tell!...
FATHER:
Shut up!
GUESTS: [singing]
He's going to tell!...
FATHER:
Shut up!
GUESTS: [singing]
He's going to tell!...
FATHER:
Not like that!
GUESTS: [singing]
He's going to tell! He's going to tell! He's going to tell! He's going
to tell!...
CONCORDE:
Quickly, sir!
GUESTS: [singing]
He's going to tell!...
CONCORDE:
Come this way!
GUESTS: [singing]
He's going to tell! He's going to tell!...
LAUNCELOT:
No! It's not right for my idiom!
GUESTS: [singing]
He's going to tell about his great escape...
LAUNCELOT:
I must escape more... [sigh]
GUESTS: [singing]
Oh, he fell a long, long way,...
CONCORDE:
Dramatically, sir?
LAUNCELOT:
Dramatically!
GUESTS: [singing]
But he's here with us today...
LAUNCELOT:
Heee! Hoa!
[crash]
Hoo!
GUESTS: [singing]
What a wonderful escape!
LAUNCELOT:
Excuse me. Could, uh-- could somebody give me a push, please?
Scene 18
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger the Shrubber
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[King Arthur music]
[clop clop clop]
[rewr! rewr! rewr! rewr! rewr! rewr!]
ARTHUR:
Old crone!
[rewr!]
[music stops]
Is there anywhere in this town where we could buy a shrubbery?
[dramatic chord]
OLD CRONE:
Who sent you?
ARTHUR:
The Knights Who Say 'Ni'.
CRONE:
Aggh! No! Never! We have no shrubberies here.
ARTHUR:
If you do not tell us where we can buy a shrubbery, my friend and I
will say... we will say... 'ni'.
CRONE:
Agh! Do your worst!
ARTHUR:
Very well! If you will not assist us voluntarily,... ni!
CRONE:
No! Never! No shrubberies!
ARTHUR:
Ni!
CRONE:
[cough]
BEDEVERE:
Nu!
ARTHUR:
No, no, no, no, i--
BEDEVERE:
Nu!
ARTHUR:
No, it's not that. It's 'ni'.
BEDEVERE:
Nu!
ARTHUR:
No, no. 'Ni'. You're not doing it properly. No.
BEDEVERE:
Ni!
ARTHUR and BEDEVERE:
Ni!
ARTHUR:
That's it. That's it. You've got it.
ARTHUR and BEDEVERE:
Ni!
CRONE:
Ohh!
BEDEVERE:
Ni!
ARTHUR:
Ni!
CRONE:
Agh!
BEDEVERE:
Ni!
ARTHUR:
Ni!
BEDEVERE:
Ni!
ARTHUR:
Ni!
BEDEVERE:
Ni!
ROGER THE SHRUBBER:
Are you saying 'ni' to that old woman?
ARTHUR:
Erm,... yes.
ROGER:
Oh, what sad times are these when passing ruffians can say 'ni' at will
to old ladies. There is a pestilence upon this land. Nothing is sacred.
Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable
economic stress at this period in history.
ARTHUR:
Did you say 'shrubberies'?
ROGER:
Yes. Shrubberies are my trade. I am a shrubber. My name is 'Roger the
Shrubber'. I arrange, design, and sell shrubberies.
BEDEVERE:
Ni!
ARTHUR:
No! No, no, no! No!
Scene 19
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The knights who no longer say 'ni'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARTHUR:
O Knights of Ni, we have brought you your shrubbery. May we go now?
HEAD KNIGHT:
It is a good shrubbery. I like the laurels particularly,... but there
is one small problem.
ARTHUR:
What is that?
HEAD KNIGHT:
We are now... no longer the Knights Who Say 'Ni'.
KNIGHTS OF NI:
Ni! Shh!
HEAD KNIGHT:
Shh! We are now the Knights Who Say 'Ecky- ecky- ecky- ecky- pikang-
zoop- boing- goodem- zoo- owli- zhiv'.
RANDOM:
Ni!
HEAD KNIGHT:
Therefore, we must give you a test.
ARTHUR:
What is this test, O Knights of-- knights who till recently said 'ni'?
HEAD KNIGHT:
Firstly, you must find... another shrubbery!
[dramatic chord]
ARTHUR:
Not another shrubbery!
RANDOM:
Ni!
HEAD KNIGHT:
Then, when you have found the shrubbery, you must place it here beside
this shrubbery, only slightly higher so you get the two-level effect
with a little path running down the middle.
KNIGHTS OF NI:
A path! A path! A path! Ni! Shh! Ni! Ni! Ni! Shh! Shh!...
HEAD KNIGHT:
Then, when you have found the shrubbery, you must cut down the
mightiest tree in the forest... with... a herring!
[dramatic chord]
KNIGHTS OF NI:
A herring!
ARTHUR:
We shall do no such thing!
HEAD KNIGHT:
Oh, please!
ARTHUR:
Cut down a tree with a herring? It can't be done.
KNIGHTS OF NI:
Aaaaugh! Aaaugh!
HEAD KNIGHT:
Augh! Ohh! Don't say that word.
ARTHUR:
What word?
HEAD KNIGHT:
I cannot tell, suffice to say is one of the words the Knights of Ni
cannot hear.
ARTHUR:
How can we not say the word if you don't tell us what it is?
KNIGHTS OF NI:
Aaaaugh!
HEAD KNIGHT:
You said it again!
ARTHUR:
What, 'is'?
KNIGHTS OF NI:
Agh! No, not 'is'.
HEAD KNIGHT:
No, not 'is'. You wouldn't get vary far in life not saying 'is'.
KNIGHTS OF NI:
No, not 'is'. Not 'is'.
BEDEVERE:
My liege, it's Sir Robin!
MINSTREL: [singing]
He is packing it in and packing it up
And sneaking away and buggering up
And chickening out and pissing off home,
Yes, bravely he is throwing in the sponge.
ARTHUR:
Sir Robin!
ROBIN:
My liege! It's good to see you.
HEAD KNIGHT:
Now he's said the word!
ARTHUR:
Surely you've not given up your quest for the Holy Grail?
MINSTREL: [singing]
He is sneaking away and buggering up--
ROBIN:
Shut up! No, no. No. Far from it.
HEAD KNIGHT:
He said the word again!
KNIGHTS OF NI:
Aaaaugh!
ROBIN:
I was looking for it.
KNIGHTS OF NI:
Aaaaugh!
ROBIN:
Uh, here-- here in this forest.
ARTHUR:
No, it is far from this place.
KNIGHTS OF NI:
Aaaaugh!
HEAD KNIGHT:
Aaaaugh! Stop saying the word! The word...
ARTHUR:
Oh, stop it!
HEAD KNIGHT:
...we cannot hear! Ow! He said it again!
ARTHUR:
Patsy!
HEAD KNIGHT:
Wait! I said it! I said it!
[clop clop clop]
Ooh! I said it again! And there again! That's three 'it's! Ohh!
KNIGHTS OF NI:
Aaaaugh!...
Narrative Interlude
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Summer changed back into Winter...'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NARRATOR:
And so, Arthur and Bedevere and Sir Robin set out on their search to
find the enchanter of whom the old man had spoken in scene twenty-four.
Beyond the forest, they met Launcelot and Galahad, and there was much
rejoicing.
KNIGHTS:
Yay! Yay!
[woosh]
NARRATOR:
In the frozen land of Nador, they were forced to eat Robin's minstrels.
MINSTREL: [high-pitched]
Get back! Eee!
NARRATOR:
And there was much rejoicing.
KNIGHTS:
Yay!
NARRATOR:
A year passed.
CARTOON CHARACTER:
[shivering]
NARRATOR:
Winter changed into Spring.
CARTOON CHARACTER:
Mmm, nice.
NARRATOR:
Spring changed into Summer.
CARTOON CHARACTER:
Oh. Ahh.
NARRATOR:
Summer changed back into Winter,...
CARTOON CHARACTER:
Oh?
NARRATOR:
...and Winter gave Spring and Summer a miss and went straight on into
Autumn.
CARTOON CHARACTER:
Aah.
[snap]
Oh! Waa!
NARRATOR:
Until one day...
Scene 20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim the Enchanter
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[King Arthur music]
[clop clop clop]
[music stops]
[boom]
KNIGHTS:
Eh. Oh. See it? Oh. Oh.
ARTHUR:
Knights! Forward!
[boom boom boom boom boom]
[squeak]
[boom boom boom boom]
What manner of man are you that can summon up fire without flint or
tinder?
TIM THE ENCHANTER:
I... am an enchanter.
ARTHUR:
By what name are you known?
TIM:
There are some who call me... 'Tim'?
ARTHUR:
Greetings, Tim the Enchanter.
TIM:
Greetings, King Arthur!
ARTHUR:
You know my name?
TIM:
I do.
[zoosh]
You seek the Holy Grail!
ARTHUR:
That is our quest. You know much that is hidden, O Tim.
TIM:
Quite.
[pweeng boom]
[clap clap clap]
ROBIN:
Oh.
ARTHUR:
Yes, we're-- we're looking for the Holy Grail. Our quest is to find the
Holy Grail.
KNIGHTS:
Yeah. Yes. It is. It is. Yeah. Yup. Yup. Hm. Mm.
ARTHUR:
And so, we're-- we're-- we're looking for it.
BEDEVERE:
Yes, we are.
GALAHAD:
Yeah.
ROBIN:
We are. We are.
BEDEVERE:
We have been for some time.
ROBIN:
Ages.
BEDEVERE:
Umhm.
ARTHUR:
Uh-- uh, so, uh, anything that you could do to, uh-- to help... would
be... very... helpful.
GALAHAD:
Look, can you tell us where--
[boom]
ARTHUR:
Fine. Um, I don't want to waste any more of your time, but, uh, I don't
suppose you could, uh, tell us where we might find a, um-- find a, uh--
a, um-- a, uh--
TIM:
A what...?
ARTHUR:
A g-- a-- a g-- a g-- a-- a g--
TIM:
A grail?!
ARTHUR:
Yes. I think so.
ROBIN:
Y-- y-- yes.
ARTHUR:
Yes.
GALAHAD:
Yup.
KNIGHTS:
That's it...
TIM:
Yes!
ROBIN:
Oh.
ARTHUR:
Oh. Thank you.
ROBIN:
Ahh.
GALAHAD:
Oh. Fine.
ARTHUR:
Thank you.
ROBIN:
Splendid.
KNIGHTS:
Aah...
[boom pweeng boom boom]
ARTHUR:
Look, um, you're a busy man, uh--
TIM:
Yes, I can help you find the Holy Grail.
KNIGHTS:
Oh, thank you. Oh...
TIM:
To the north there lies a cave-- the cave of Caerbannog-- wherein,
carved in mystic runes upon the very living rock, the last words of
Olfin Bedwere of Rheged...
[boom]
...make plain the last resting place of the most Holy Grail.
ARTHUR:
Where could we find this cave, O Tim?
TIM:
Follow. But! Follow only if ye be men of valour, for the entrance to
this cave is guarded by a creature so foul, so cruel that no man yet
has fought with it and lived! Bones of full fifty men lie strewn about
its lair. So, brave knights, if you do doubt your courage or your
strength, come no further, for death awaits you all with nasty, big,
pointy teeth.
ARTHUR:
What an eccentric performance.
Scene 21
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The rabbit of Caerbannog
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[clop clop clop]
[whinny whinny]
GALAHAD:
They're nervous, sire.
ARTHUR:
Then we'd best leave them here and carry on on foot. Dis-mount!
TIM:
Behold the cave of Caerbannog!
ARTHUR:
Right! Keep me covered.
GALAHAD:
What with?
ARTHUR:
W-- just keep me covered.
TIM:
Too late!
[dramatic chord]
ARTHUR:
What?
TIM:
There he is!
ARTHUR:
Where?
TIM:
There!
ARTHUR:
What, behind the rabbit?
TIM:
It is the rabbit.
ARTHUR:
You silly sod!
TIM:
What?
ARTHUR:
You got us all worked up!
TIM:
Well, that's no ordinary rabbit!
ARTHUR:
Ohh.
TIM:
That's the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes
on!
ROBIN:
You tit! I soiled my armour I was so scared!
TIM:
Look, that rabbit's got a vicious streak a mile wide! It's a killer!
GALAHAD:
Get stuffed!
TIM:
He'll do you up a treat, mate.
GALAHAD:
Oh, yeah?
ROBIN:
You mangy Scots git!
TIM:
I'm warning you!
ROBIN:
What's he do, nibble your bum?
TIM:
He's got huge, sharp-- eh-- he can leap about-- look at the bones!
ARTHUR:
Go on, Bors. Chop his head off!
BORS:
Right! Silly little bleeder. One rabbit stew comin' right up!
TIM:
Look!
[squeak]
BORS:
Aaaugh!
[dramatic chord]
[clunk]
ARTHUR:
Jesus Christ!
TIM:
I warned you!
ROBIN:
I done it again!
TIM:
I warned you, but did you listen to me? Oh, no, you knew it all, didn't
you? Oh, it's just a harmless little bunny, isn't it? Well, it's always
the same. I always tell them--
ARTHUR:
Oh, shut up!
TIM:
Do they listen to me?
ARTHUR:
Right!
TIM:
Oh, no...
KNIGHTS:
Charge!
[squeak squeak squeak]
KNIGHTS:
Aaaaugh!, Aaaugh!, etc.
ARTHUR:
Run away! Run away!
KNIGHTS:
Run away! Run away!...
TIM:
Ha ha ha ha! Ha haw haw! Ha! Ha ha!
ARTHUR:
Right. How many did we lose?
LAUNCELOT:
Gawain.
GALAHAD:
Ector.
ARTHUR:
And Bors. That's five.
GALAHAD:
Three, sir.
ARTHUR:
Three. Three. And we'd better not risk another frontal assault. That
rabbit's dynamite.
ROBIN:
Would it help to confuse it if we run away more?
ARTHUR:
Oh, shut up and go and change your armour.
GALAHAD:
Let us taunt it! It may become so cross that it will make a mistake.
ARTHUR:
Like what?
GALAHAD:
Well... ooh.
LAUNCELOT:
Have we got bows?
ARTHUR:
No.
LAUNCELOT:
We have the Holy Hand Grenade.
ARTHUR:
Yes, of course! The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch! 'Tis one of the
sacred relics Brother Maynard carries with him! Brother Maynard! Bring
up the Holy Hand Grenade!
MONKS: [chanting]
Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem. Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem.
Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem. Pie Iesu domine, dona eis requiem.
ARTHUR:
How does it, um-- how does it work?
LAUNCELOT:
I know not, my liege.
ARTHUR:
Consult the Book of Armaments!
BROTHER MAYNARD:
Armaments, chapter two, verses nine to twenty-one.
SECOND BROTHER:
And Saint Attila raised the hand grenade up on high, saying, 'O Lord,
bless this Thy hand grenade that, with it, Thou mayest blow Thine
enemies to tiny bits in Thy mercy.' And the Lord did grin, and the
people did feast upon the lambs and sloths and carp and anchovies and
orangutans and breakfast cereals and fruit bats and large chu--
MAYNARD:
Skip a bit, Brother.
SECOND BROTHER:
And the Lord spake, saying, 'First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin.
Then, shalt thou count to three. No more. No less. Three shalt be the
number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three.
Four shalt thou not count, nor either count thou two, excepting that
thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three,
being the third number, be reached, then, lobbest thou thy Holy Hand
Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight,
shall snuff it.'
MAYNARD:
Amen.
KNIGHTS:
Amen.
ARTHUR:
Right! One!... Two!... Five!
GALAHAD:
Three, sir!
ARTHUR:
Three!
[angels sing]
[boom]
Scene 22
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inside the cave / Black Beast of Aaauugh
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARTHUR:
There! Look!
LAUNCELOT:
What does it say?
GALAHAD:
What language is that?
ARTHUR:
Brother Maynard! You are a scholar.
MAYNARD:
It's Aramaic!
GALAHAD:
Of course! Joseph of Arimathea!
LAUNCELOT:
'Course!
ARTHUR:
What does it say?
MAYNARD:
It reads, 'Here may be found the last words of Joseph of Arimathea. He
who is valiant and pure of spirit may find the Holy Grail in the Castle
of aaaaaagggh'.
ARTHUR:
What?
MAYNARD:
'...The Castle of aaaaaagggh'.
BEDEVERE:
What is that?
MAYNARD:
He must have died while carving it.
LAUNCELOT:
Oh, come on!
MAYNARD:
Well, that's what it says.
ARTHUR:
Look, if he was dying, he wouldn't bother to carve 'aaaaaggh'. He'd
just say it!
MAYNARD:
Well, that's what's carved in the rock!
GALAHAD:
Perhaps he was dictating.
ARTHUR:
Oh, shut up. Well, does it say anything else?
MAYNARD:
No. Just 'aaaaaagggh'.
LAUNCELOT:
Aaaauugggh.
ARTHUR:
Aaaaaggh.
BEDEVERE:
Do you suppose he meant the Camaaaaaargue?
GALAHAD:
Where's that?
BEDEVERE:
France, I think.
LAUNCELOT:
Isn't there a 'Saint Aaauuves' in Cornwall?
ARTHUR:
No, that's 'Saint Ives'.
LAUNCELOT:
Oh, yes. Saint Iiiiives.
KNIGHTS:
Iiiiives.
BEDEVERE:
Oooohoohohooo!
LAUNCELOT:
No, no. 'Aaaauugggh', at the back of the throat. Aaauugh.
BEDEVERE:
N-- no. No, no, no, no. 'Oooooooh', in surprise and alarm.
LAUNCELOT:
Oh, you mean sort of a 'aaaah'!
BEDEVERE:
Yes, but I-- aaaaaah!
ARTHUR:
Oooh!
GALAHAD:
My God!
[dramatic chord]
[roar]
MAYNARD:
It's the legendary Black Beast of Aaauugh!
[Black Beast of Aaauugh eats BROTHER MAYNARD]
BEDEVERE:
That's it! That's it!
ARTHUR:
Run away!
KNIGHTS:
Run away!
[roar]
Run away! Run awaaay! Run awaaaaay!
[roar]
Keep running!
[boom]
[roar]
Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh!...
BEDEVERE:
We've lost him.
[roar]
KNIGHTS:
Aagh!
NARRATOR:
As the horrendous Black Beast lunged forward, escape for Arthur and his
knights seemed hopeless, when suddenly, the animator suffered a fatal
heart attack.
ANIMATOR:
Ulk!
[thump]
NARRATOR:
The cartoon peril was no more. The quest for Holy Grail could continue.
Scene 23
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Bridge of Death
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[gurgle]
GALAHAD:
There it is!
ARTHUR:
The Bridge of Death!
ROBIN:
Oh, great.
ARTHUR:
Look! There's the old man from scene twenty-four!
BEDEVERE:
What is he doing here?
ARTHUR:
He is the keeper of the Bridge of Death. He asks each traveller five
questions--
GALAHAD:
Three questions.
ARTHUR:
Three questions. He who answers the five questions--
GALAHAD:
Three questions.
ARTHUR:
Three questions may cross in safety.
ROBIN:
What if you get a question wrong?
ARTHUR:
Then you are cast into the Gorge of Eternal Peril.
ROBIN:
Oh, I won't go.
GALAHAD:
Who's going to answer the questions?
ARTHUR:
Sir Robin!
ROBIN:
Yes?
ARTHUR:
Brave Sir Robin, you go.
ROBIN:
Hey! I've got a great idea. Why doesn't Launcelot go?
LAUNCELOT:
Yes. Let me go, my liege. I will take him single-handed. I shall make a
feint to the north-east that s--
ARTHUR:
No, no. No. Hang on! Hang on! Hang on! Just answer the five questions--
GALAHAD:
Three questions.
ARTHUR:
Three questions as best you can, and we shall watch... and pray.
LAUNCELOT:
I understand, my liege.
ARTHUR:
Good luck, brave Sir Launcelot. God be with you.
BRIDGEKEEPER:
Stop! Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these
questions three, ere the other side he see.
LAUNCELOT:
Ask me the questions, bridgekeeper. I am not afraid.
BRIDGEKEEPER:
What... is your name?
LAUNCELOT:
My name is 'Sir Launcelot of Camelot'.
BRIDGEKEEPER:
What... is your quest?
LAUNCELOT:
To seek the Holy Grail.
BRIDGEKEEPER:
What... is your favourite colour?
LAUNCELOT:
Blue.
BRIDGEKEEPER:
Right. Off you go.
LAUNCELOT:
Oh, thank you. Thank you very much.
ROBIN:
That's easy!
BRIDGEKEEPER:
Stop! Who approacheth the Bridge of Death must answer me these
questions three, ere the other side he see.
ROBIN:
Ask me the questions, bridgekeeper. I'm not afraid.
BRIDGEKEEPER:
What... is your name?
ROBIN:
'Sir Robin of Camelot'.
BRIDGEKEEPER:
What... is your quest?
ROBIN:
To seek the Holy Grail.
BRIDGEKEEPER:
What... is the capital of Assyria?
[pause]
ROBIN:
I don't know that! Auuuuuuuugh!
BRIDGEKEEPER:
Stop! What... is your name?
GALAHAD:
'Sir Galahad of Camelot'.
BRIDGEKEEPER:
What... is your quest?
GALAHAD:
I seek the Grail.
BRIDGEKEEPER:
What... is your favourite colour?
GALAHAD:
Blue. No, yel-- auuuuuuuugh!
BRIDGEKEEPER:
Hee hee heh. Stop! What... is your name?
ARTHUR:
It is 'Arthur', King of the Britons.
BRIDGEKEEPER:
What... is your quest?
ARTHUR:
To seek the Holy Grail.
BRIDGEKEEPER:
What... is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
ARTHUR:
What do you mean? An African or European swallow?
BRIDGEKEEPER:
Huh? I-- I don't know that. Auuuuuuuugh!
BEDEVERE:
How do know so much about swallows?
ARTHUR:
Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
[suspenseful music]
[music suddenly stops]
[intermission]
[suspenseful music resumes]
Scene 24
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Castle Aaaagh
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARTHUR:
Launcelot! Launcelot! Launcelot!
BEDEVERE:
Launcelot! Launcelot!
ARTHUR:
Launcelot!
[police radio]
Launcelot!
BEDEVERE:
Launcelot! Launcelot!
[angels sing]
[singing stops]
[ethereal music]
ARTHUR:
The Castle Aaaagh. Our quest is at an end! God be praised! Almighty
God, we thank Thee that Thou hast vouchsafed to us the most holy--
[twong]
[baaaa]
Jesus Christ!
[thud]
FRENCH GUARD:
Allo, dappy English k-niggets and Monsieur Arthur King, who has the
brain of a duck, you know. So, we French fellows outwit you a second
time!
ARTHUR:
How dare you profane this place with your presence! I command you, in
the name of the Knights of Camelot, to open the doors of this sacred
castle, to which God Himself has guided us!
FRENCH GUARD:
How you English say, 'I one more time, mac, unclog my nose in your
direction', sons of a window-dresser! So, you think you could
out-clever us French folk with your silly knees-bent running about
advancing behavior?! I wave my private parts at your aunties, you
cheesy lot of second hand electric donkey-bottom biters.
ARTHUR:
In the name of the Lord, we demand entrance to this sacred castle!
FRENCH GUARD:
No chance, English bed-wetting types. I burst my pimples at you and
call your door-opening request a silly thing, you tiny-brained wipers
of other people's bottoms!
ARTHUR:
If you do not open this door, we shall take this castle by force!
[splat]
In the name of God and the glory of our--
[splat]
FRENCH GUARDS:
[laughing]
ARTHUR:
Agh. Right! That settles it!
FRENCH GUARD:
Yes, depart a lot at this time and cut the approaching any more, or we
fire arrows at the tops of your heads and make castanets out of your
testicles already! Ha ha haaa ha!
ARTHUR:
Walk away. Just ignore them.
FRENCH GUARD:
And now, remain gone, illegitimate-faced bugger-folk! And, if you think
you got a nasty taunting this time, you ain't heard nothing yet, dappy
English k-nnniggets! Thpppt!
FRENCH GUARDS:
[taunting]
ARTHUR:
We shall attack at once!
BEDEVERE:
Yes, my liege!
ARTHUR:
Stand by for attack!
[exciting music]
[music stops]
[silence]
French persons!
FRENCH GUARDS:
[taunting] ...Dappy!...
ARTHUR:
Today the blood of many a valiant knight shall be avenged. In the name
of God,...
FRENCH GUARDS:
Hoo hoo! Ohh, ha ha ha ha ha!...
ARTHUR:
...we shall not stop our fight till each one of you lies dead and the
Holy Grail returns to those whom God has chosen!
FRENCH GUARDS:
...Ha ha ha!...
ARTHUR:
Charge!
ARMY OF KNIGHTS:
Hooray!
[police siren]
HISTORIAN'S WIFE:
Yes, they're the ones. I'm sure.
INSPECTOR:
Come on. Anybody armed must go, too.
OFFICER #1:
All right. Come on. Back.
HISTORIAN'S WIFE:
Get that one.
OFFICER #1:
Back. Right away. Just... pull it off. Come on. Come along.
INSPECTOR:
Put this man in the van.
OFFICER #1:
Clear off. Come on.
BEDEVERE:
With whom?
INSPECTOR:
Which one?
OFFICER #1:
Oh-- this one.
INSPECTOR:
Come on. Put him in the van.
OFFICER #2:
Get a blanket.
OFFICER #1:
We have no hospital.
RANDOM:
Ahh.
[squeak]
RANDOM:
Ooh.
OFFICER #1:
Come on. Back. Riiight back. Come on!
OFFICER #2:
Run along! Run along!
OFFICER #1:
Pull that off. My, that's an offensive weapon, that is.
OFFICER #2:
Come on. Back with 'em. Back. Right. Come along.
INSPECTOR:
Everything?
[squeak]
OFFICER #1:
All right, sonny. That's enough. Just pack that in.
[crash]
CAMERAMAN:
Christ!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The logician's discussion
Transcribed by Mr. and Mrs. and Mrs. Zambesi
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From The Album of the Soundtrack of the Trailer of the Film of Monty Python
and the Holy Grail
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good evening. The last scene was interesting from the point of view of a
professional logician because it contained a number of logical fallacies;
that is, invalid propositional constructions and syllogistic forms, of the
type so often committed by my wife.
'All wood burns,' states Sir Bedevere. 'Therefore,' he concludes, 'all that
burns is wood.' This is, of course, pure bullshit. Universal affirmatives
can only be partially converted: all of Alma Cogan is dead, but only some of
the class of dead people are Alma Cogan. 'Oh yes,' one would think. However,
my wife does not understand this necessary limitation of the conversion of a
proposition; consequently, she does not understand me, for how can a woman
expect to appreciate a professor of logic, if the simplest cloth-eared
syllogism causes her to flounder?
For example, given the premise, 'all fish live underwater' and 'all mackerel
are fish', my wife will conclude, not that 'all mackerel live underwater',
but that 'if she buys kippers it will not rain', or that 'trout live in
trees', or even that 'I do not love her any more.' This she calls 'using her
intuition'. I call it 'crap', and it gets me very irritated because it is
not logical. 'There will be no supper tonight,' she will sometimes cry upon
my return home. 'Why not?' I will ask. 'Because I have been screwing the
milkman all day,' she will say, quite oblivious of the howling error she has
made. 'But,' I will wearily point out, 'even given that the activities of
screwing the milkman and getting supper are mutually exclusive, now that the
screwing is over, surely then, supper may now, logically, be got.' 'You
don't love me any more,' she will now often postulate. 'If you did, you
would give me one now and again, so that I would not have to rely on that
rancid Pakistani for my orgasms.' 'I will give you one after you have got me
my supper,' I now usually scream, 'but not before'-- as you understand,
making her bang contingent on the arrival of my supper. 'God, you turn me on
when you're angry, you ancient brute!' she now mysteriously deduces, forcing
her sweetly throbbing tongue down my throat. 'Fuck supper!' I now invariably
conclude, throwing logic somewhat joyously to the four winds, and so we
thrash about on our milk-stained floor, transported by animal passion, until
we sink back, exhausted, onto the cartons of yogurt.
I'm afraid I seem to have strayed somewhat from my original brief. But in a
nutshell: sex is more fun than logic-- one cannot prove this, but it 'is' in
the same sense that Mount Everest 'is', or that Alma Cogan 'isn't'.
Goodnight.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adam R. Jones
(
geocities.com/hanson_c/haha) (
geocities.com/hanson_c)