| |
A man appears on the top of a sand dune some way away. He loks in
direction of camera and runs towards it. He disappears on top of a
closer dune and continues towards camera disappearing again into a dip.
This time while he is out of sight, the sound of him running is the
sound of someone running along a prison corridor, followed by a big door
opening and closing.He appears again only two sand dunes away. Still
running towards camera he disappears again from sight. This time there
is a loud metallic series of sounds followed by a pig squealing. He
appears over the nearest dune and runs up to camera.
|
| It's Man |
It's... |
| Voice Over |
Monty Python's Flying Circus.
|
| |
These words are followed by various strange images, possibly
connected with the stretching of owls, and proceeding from a bizarre
Amerian immigrant's feveral brain. At the end of this expensive therapy:
CAPTION: 'PART 2'
CAPTION: 'SHEEP'
A small set of a gate in the country overlooking a field. A real
rustic in smock and floppy hat is leaning on the gate. A city gent on
holiday appears behind him. Off-screen baa-ing noises throughout.
|
| City Gent |
Good afternoon. |
| Rustic |
Afternoon. |
| City Gent |
A lovely day isn't it. |
| Rustic |
Eh, 'tis that. |
| City Gent |
You here on holiday or...? |
| Rustic |
Nope, I live 'ere. |
| City Gent |
Oh, jolly good too. (surveys field; he looks
puzzled) I say, those are sheep aren't they? |
| Rustic |
Ar. |
| City Gent |
Yes, yes of course, I thought so...only...er why
are they up in the trees? |
| Rustic |
A fair question and one that in recent weeks has
been much on my mind. It's my considered opinion that they're nesting.
|
| City Gent |
Nesting? |
| Rustic |
Ar. |
| City Gent |
Like birds? |
| Rustic |
Ar. Exactly. Birds is the key to the whole
problem. It's my belief that these sheep are laborin' under the
misapprehension that they're birds. Observe their behavior. Take for a
start the sheeps' tendency to 'op about the field on their back legs.
(off-screen baa-ing) Now witness their attempts to fly from tree to
tree. Notice that they do not so much fly as...plummet. (sound of
sheep plummeting) Observe for example that ewe in that oak tree. She
is clearly trying to teach her lamb to fly. (baaaaaa...thump)
Talk about the blind leading the blind. |
| City Gent |
But why do they think they're birds? |
| Rustic |
Another fair question. One thing is for sure; a
sheep is not a creature of the air. They have enormous difficulty in the
comparatively simple act of perchin'. (crash) As you see. As for
flight, its body is totally unadapted to the problems of aviation.
Trouble is, sheep are very dim. Once they get an idea in their heads,
there's no shifting it. |
| City Gent |
But where did they get the idea from? |
| Rustic |
From Harold. He's that sheep there over under the
elm. He's that most dangerous of animals, a clever sheep. He's the
ring-leader. He has realized that a sheep's life consists of standing
around for a few months and then being eaten. And that's a depressing
prospect for an ambitious sheep. He's patently hit on the idea of
escape. |
| City Gent |
Well why don't you just get rid of Harold?
|
| Rustic |
Because of the enormous commercial possibilities
should he succeed. |
| |
Two Frenchmen stand in front of a diagram of a sheep
adapted for flying. They speak rapidly in French, much of it pseudo.
|
| First Frenchman |
Bonsoir - ici nous avons les diagrammes modernes
d'un mouton anglo-français ... maintenant ... baa-aa, baa-aa... nous
avons, dans la tête, le cabinc. Ici, on se trouve le petit capitaine
Anglais, Monsieur Trubshawe. |
| Second Frenchman |
Vive Brian, wherever you are. |
| First Frenchman |
D'accord, d'accord. Maintenant, je vous présente mon
collègue, le pouf célèbre, Jean-Brian Zatapathique. |
| |
Transfers his moustache to Second Frenchman
|
| Second Frenchman |
Maintenant, le mouton ... le landing ... les
wheels, bon. |
| |
Opens diagram to show wheels on sheep's legs.
|
| First Frenchman |
Bon, les wheels, ici. |
| Second Frenchman |
C'est formidable, n'est ce pas ...
(unintelligibly indicates motor at rear of sheep) |
| First Frenchman |
Les voyageurs ... les bagages ... ils sont ... ici!
|
| |
Triumphantly opens the rest of the diagram to reveal the whole
brilliant arrangement. They run round flapping their arms and baa-ing.
Cut to pepperpots in supermarket with off-screen interviewer. |
| First Pepperpot |
Oh yes, we get a lot of French people round here.
|
| Second Pepperpot |
Ooh Yes. |
| Third Pepperpot |
All over yes. |
| Interviewer |
And how do you get on with these French people?
|
| First Pepperpot |
Oh very well. |
| Fourth Pepperpot |
So do I. |
| Third Pepperpot |
Me too. |
| First Pepperpot |
Oh yes I like them. I mean, they think well don't
they? I mean, be fair - Pascal. |
| Second Pepperpot |
Blaise Pascal. |
| Third Pepperpot |
Jean-Paul Sartre. |
| First Pepperpot |
Yes, Voltaire. |
| Second Pepperpot |
Ooh! - René Descartes. |
| |
René Descartes is sitting thinking. Bubbles come from his head
with 'thinks'. Suddenly he looks happy. In thought bubble appears 'I
THINK THEREFORE I AM'. A large hand comes into the picture with a pin
and pricks the thought bubble. It deflates and disappears. After a
second René disappears too.
Studio: Smart looking and confident announcer sitting at desk.
|
| Announcer |
And now for something completely different. A man
with three buttocks! |
|
Interviewer and Arthur Frampton, in interview studio.
|
| Interviewer |
Good evening, I have with me, Mr Arthur Frampton,
who has...Mr. Frampton, I understand that you...er...as it were...have
er...well, let me put it another way...I believe Mr. Frampton that
whereas most people have - er - two...two...you...you |
| Frampton |
I'm sorry. |
| Interviewer |
Ah yes, yes I see...Um, Are you quite comfortable?
|
| Frampton |
Yes fine, thank you.
|
| Interviewer |
(takes a quick glance at Frampton's bottom)
Er, Mr Frampton... vis-à-vis...your...rump. |
| Frampton |
I beg your pardon?
|
| Interviewer |
Er, your rump. |
| Frampton |
What? |
| Interviewer |
Your posterior....derriere...sit upon.
|
| Frampton |
What's that? |
| Interviewer |
(whispers) ...Buttocks.
|
| Frampton |
Oh, me bum! |
| Interviewer |
Sshhh! Well Mr. Frampton I understand Mr Frampton,
you have a... 50% bonus in the...in the region of what you said.
|
| Frampton |
I got three cheeks.
|
| Interviewer |
Yes, yes, Splendid, splendid. Well...we were
wondering, Mr Frampton, if you...could...see your way clear...
|
| Frampton |
(seeing a camera moving round behind him)
Here? What's that camera doing? |
| Interviewer |
Er, nothing, nothing at all, sir. We were wondering
if you could see your way clear...to giving us...a quick... a quick...
visual... Mr Frampton, will you take your trousers down? |
| Frampton |
What? (slapping away a hand from off-screen)
'Ere, get off! I'm not taking me trousers down on television. Who do you
think I am? |
| Interviewer |
Please take them down.
|
| Frampton |
No. |
| Interviewer |
Just a little bit.
|
| Frampton |
No. |
| Interviewer |
No, er ahem...(firmly) Now look here Mr
Frampton... It's perfectly easy for somebody just to come along here to
the BBC simply claiming... that they have a bit to spare in the botty
department...but the point is Mr. Frampton... our viewers need proof.
|
| Frampton |
I've been on Persian Radio...Get off! Arthur
Figgis knows I've got three buttocks. |
| Interviewer |
How? |
| Frampton |
We go cycling together.
|
| |
Cut to shot of two men riding tandem. The one behind (Graham)
looks down, looks up and exclaims 'strewth'.
Announcer's desk: confident announcer again. |
| Announcer |
And now for something completely different. A man
with three buttocks. |
| |
Interview studio again. |
| Interviewer |
Good evening, I have with me, Mr Arthur Frampton,
who... Mr. Frampton - I understand that you, as it were...well, let me
put it another way...I believe Mr. Frampton that whereas most
people...didn't we do this just now? |
| Frampton |
Er...yes. |
| Interviewer |
Well why didn't you say so?
|
| Frampton |
I thought it was the continental version.
|
| |
Announcer's desk: confident announcer.
|
| Announcer |
And now for something completely the
same - a man with three buttocks. (phone on desk rings - he answers
it) Hullo? ...Oh, did we. (puts phone down; to camera) And
now for something completely different. A man with three noses.
|
| Off-screen Voice |
He's not here yet!
|
| Announcer |
Two noses? |
| |
Stock shot of audience of Woman's Institute type, applauding. A
man flourishing a handferchief blows his nose. Then he puts his
handkerchief inside his shirt and blows again. Stock shot of women
applauding again. |
| Compère |
Ladies and gentlemen isn't she just
great eh, wasn't she just great. Ha, ha, ha, and she can run as fast as
she can sing, ha, ha, ha. And I'm telling you - 'cos I know. No, only
kidding. Ha, ha, ha. Seriously now, ladies and gentlemen, we have for
you one of the most unique acts in the world today. He's...well I'll say
no more, just let you see for yourselves...ladies and gentlemen, my very
great priviledge to introduve Arthur Ewing, and his musical mice.
|
| |
Cut to Ewing |
| Ewing |
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Ladies
and gentlemen. I have in this box twenty-three white mice. Mice which
have been painstakingly trained over the past few years, to squeak at a
selected pitch. (he raises a mouse by its tail) This is E
sharp... and this one is G. You get the general idea. Noe these mice are
so arranged upon this rack, that when played in the correct order they
will squeak 'The Bells of St Mary's'. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you
on the mouse organ 'The Bells of St Mary's'. Thank you. |
| |
He produces two mallets. He starts striking the mice while
singing quietly 'The Bells of St Mary's'. Each downward stroke of the
mallet brings a terribly squashing sound and the expiring squeak. It is
quite clear that he is slaughtering the mice. The musical effect is
poor. After the first few notes people are shouting 'Stop it, stop him
someone, Oh my God'. He cheerfully takes a bow. He is hauled off by the
floor manager.
Cut to a man holding up cards saying 'Marriage Counsellor'.
The counsellor sits behind a desk. He puts down the card and says:
|
| Counsellor |
Next! |
| |
A little man enters, with a beautiful blond buxom wench, in the
full bloom of her young womanhood (Carol Cleveland) |
| Man |
Are you the marriage guidance counsellor?
|
| Counsellor |
Yes. Good morning
|
| Man |
Good morning, sir
|
| Counsellor |
(stares at the wife, fascinated) And good
morning to you madam (pauses, he shrugs himself out of it, says to
man...) Name? |
| Man |
Mr and Mrs Arthur Pewtey, Pewtey.
|
| Counsellor |
(writes without looking down, just stares at the
wife) And what is the name of your ravishing wife? (holds up
hand) Wait. Don't tell me - it's something to do with moonlight - it
goes with her eyes - it's soft and gentle, warm and yeilding, deeply
lyrical and yet tender and frightened like a tiny whit rabbit
|
| Man |
It's Deirdre |
| Counsellor |
Deirdre. What a beautiful name. What a beautiful,
beautiful name (leans across and lightly brushes his hand accross the
wife's cheek) And what seems to be the trouble with your marriage Mr
Pewtey? |
| Man |
Well, it all started about five years ago when we
started going on holiday to Brighton together. Deirdre, that's my wife,
has always been a jolly good companion to me and I never particularly
anticipated any marital strife - indeed the very idea of consulting a
professional marital adviser has always been of the greatest repugnance
to me although far be it from me to impugn the nature of your trade or
profession |
| |
The counsellor and wife are not listening, fascinated by each
other.
|
| Counsellor |
(realizing Pewtey has stopped) Do go on.
|
| Man |
Well, as I say, we've always been good friends,
sharing the interests, the gardening and so on, the model aeroplanes,
the sixpenny bottle for the holiday money, and indeed twice a month
settling down in the evenings doing the accounts, something which, er,
Deirdre, Deirdre that's my wife, er, particularly looked forward to on
account of her feet (the counsellor has his face fantastically close
to the wife's, as close that they could get without kissing) I
should probably have said at the outset that I'm noted for having
something of a sense of humour, although I have kept myself very much to
myself over the last two years notwithstanding, as it were, and it's
only as comparatively recently that I began to realize - well, er
prehaps realize is not the correct word, er, imagine, imagine, that I
was not the only thing in her life |
| Counsellor |
(who is practically in a clinch with her) You
suspected your wife? |
| Man |
Well yes - at first, frankly yes (the
counsellor points the wife to a screen; she goes behind it) Her
behaviour did seem at the time to me, who after all was there to see, to
be a little odd. |
| Counsellor |
Odd? |
| Man |
Yes well, I mean to a certain extent yes. I'm not
by nature a suspicious person - far from it - though in fact I have
something of a reputation as an after-dinner speaker, if you take my
meaning....
|
| |
A piece of his wife's clothing comes over the top of the screen.
|
| Counsellor |
Yes I certainly do
|
| |
The wife's bra and panties come over the screen.
|
| Man |
Anyway in the area where I'm known people in fact
know me extremely well.... |
| Counsellor |
(taking his jacket off) Oh yes. Would you
hold this. |
| Man |
Certainly yes (helps him with it; the
counsellor continues to undress) Anyway, as I said, I decided to
face up to the facts and stop beating about the bush or I'd never look
myself in the bathroom mirror again. |
| Counsellor |
(down to his shorts) Er, look would you mind
running along for ten minutes? Make it half an hour. |
| Man |
No, no, right-ho, fine. Yes I'll wait outside
shall I?...(the cousellor has already gone behind the screen)
Yes, well that's p'raps the best things. Yes. You've certainly put my
mind at rest on one or two points, there. |
| |
Exits through door. He is stopped by a deep southern American
voice.
|
| Southener |
Now wait there stranger. A man can run and run for
year after year until he realizes that what he's running from...is
hisself
|
| Man |
Gosh. |
| Southener |
A man's got to do what a man's got to do, and there
ain't no sense in runnin'. Now you gotta turn, and you gotta fight, and
you gotta hold your head up high. |
| Man |
Yes! |
| Southener |
Now you go back in there my son and be a man. Walk
tall. (he exits) |
| Man |
Yes, I will. I will. I've been pushed around long
enough. This is it. This is your monent Arthur Pewtey - this is it
Arthur Pewtey. At last you're a man! (open the door very
determinedly) All right, Dierdre, come out of there |
| Counsellor |
Go away |
| Man |
Right. Right. |
| |
He is hit on the head with a chicken by a man in a suit of
armour.
|
| |
CAPTION: 'SO MUCH FOR PATHOS' |
| Voice Over |
So much for pathos.
|
| |
Film leader: 9...8...7...6...31...6...Jimmy
Greaves...4...3...
Queen Victoria Film: the texture of the film reproduces as accurately as
possible an animated Victorian photograph. Queen Victoria (Terry J) and
Gladstone (Graham) are walking on the lawn in front of Osborne.
|
| Voice Over |
These historic pictures of Queen Victoria, taken in
1880 at Osborne show the Queen with Gladstone. This unique film provides
a rare glimpse into the private world of a woman who ruled half the
earth. The commentary, recorded on the earliest wax cylinders, is spoken
by Alfred Lord Tennyson, the Poet Laureate.(Michael continues
with jolly Amarican accent) Well hello, it's the
wacky Queen again! (the Queen repeatedly nudges Gladstone in the ribs
and chucks him under the ribs) And who's the other fella? It's
Willie Gladstone! And when these two way-out wacky characters get
together there's fun a-plenty. (they come up to a gardener with a
hose pipe) And uh-oh! There's a hosepipe! This means trouble for
somebody! (the Queen takes the hose and kicks the gardener; he falls
over) Uh-oh, Charlie Gardener's fallen for that old trick. The Queen
has put him in a heap of trouble! (the Queen turns the hose
on Gladstone) Uh-oh that's onein the eye for Willie! (the Queen
hands Gladstone the hose) Here you have a go! (she goes back to
the tab and turns off the water) Well, doggone it, where's the
water? (Gladstone examines the end of the hose; the water flow
returns, spraying him) Uh-oh there it is, all over his face! (she
lifts her skirts and runs as he chases her across the lawn; next we see
the Queen painting a fence; Gladstone approaches from the other side)
Well, hello, what's Britain's wacky Queen up to now? Well, she's
certainly not sitting on the fence. She's painting it.
Surely nothing can go wrong here? Uh-oh there's th PM coming back for
more. (Gladstone walks into line with the end of the fence; the Queen
daubs paint on him) And he certainly gets it! (he takes the
bucket from her and empties it over her head; she kicks him; he falls
through the fence) Well, that's one way to get the housework done!
|
| |
Cut to the Queen and Gladstone having tea on the lawn. She pushes
a custard pie into his face. As he retaliates the picture freezes; the
camera pulls back to reveal that it is a photo on the mantelpiece of a
working-class sitting room.
Cut to sitting room straight out of D. H. Lawrence. Mum,
wiping her hand on her apron is ushering in a young man in a suit. They
are a Northern couple. |
| Mum |
Oh dad... look who's come to see us... it's our
Ken. |
| Dad |
(without looking up) Aye, and about bloody
time if you ask me. |
| Ken |
Aren't you pleased to see me, father? |
| Mum |
(squeezing his arm reassuringly) Of course
he's pleased to see you, Ken, he... |
| Dad |
All right, woman, all right I've got a tongue in
my head - I'll do 'talkin'. (looks at Ken distastefully) Aye ...
I like yer fancy suit. Is that what they're wearing up in Yorkshire now?
|
| Ken |
It's just an ordinary suit, father... it's all I've
got apart from the overalls. |
| |
Dad turns away with an expression of scornful disgust.
|
| Mum |
How are you liking it down the mine, Ken?
|
| Ken |
Oh it's not too bad, mum... we're using some new
tungsten carbide drills for the preliminary coal-face scouring
operations. |
| Mum |
Oh that sounds nice, dear... |
| Dad |
Tungsten carbide drills! What the bloody hell's
tungsten carbide drills? |
| Ken |
It's something they use in coal-mining, father.
|
| Dad |
(mimicking) 'It's something they use in
coal-mining, father'. You're all bloody fancy talk since you left
London. |
| Ken |
Oh not that again. |
| Mum |
He's had a hard day dear... his new play opens at
the National Theatre tomorrow. |
| Ken |
Oh that's good. |
| Dad |
Good! good? What do you know about it?
What do you know about getting up at five o'clock in t'morning to fly to
Paris... back at the Old Vic for drinks at twelve, sweating the day
through press interviews, television interviews and getting back here at
ten to wrestle with the problem of a homosexual nymphomaniac drug-addict
involved in the ritual murder of a well known Scottish footballer.
That's a full working day, lad, and don't you forget it! |
| Mum |
Oh, don't shout at the boy, father. |
| Dad |
Aye, 'ampstead wasn't good enough for you, was it?
... you had to go poncing off to Barnsley, you and yer coal-mining
friends. (spits) |
| Ken |
Coal-mining is a wonderful thing father, but it's
something you'll never understand. Just look at you! |
| Mum |
Oh Ken! Be careful! You know what he's like after
a few novels. |
| Dad |
Oh come on lad! Come on, out wi' it! What's wrong
wi' me?... yet tit! |
| Ken |
I'll tell you what's wrong with you. Your head's
addled with novels and poems, you come home every evening reeling of
Chateau La Tour... |
| Mum |
Oh don't, don't. |
| Ken |
And look what you've done to mother! She's worn out
with meeting film stars, attending premieres and giving gala
luncheons... |
| Dad |
There's nowt wrong wi' gala luncheons, lad! I've
had more gala luncheons than you've had hot dinners! |
| Mum |
Oh please! |
| Dad |
Aaaaaaagh! (clutches hands and sinks to knees)
|
| Mum |
Oh no! |
| Ken |
What is it? |
| Mum |
Oh, it's his writer's cramp! |
| Ken |
You never told me about this... |
| Mum |
No, we didn't like to, Kenny. |
| Dad |
I'm all right! I'm all right, woman. Just get him
out of here. |
| Mum |
Oh Ken! You'd better go ... |
| Ken |
All right. I'm going. |
| Dad |
After all we've done for him... |
| Ken |
(at the door) One day you'll realize there's
more to life than culture... There's dirt, and smoke, and good honest
sweat! |
| Dad |
Get out! Get out! Get OUT! You ... LABOURER!
|
| |
Ken goes. Shocked silence. Dad goes to table and takes the cover
off the typewriter. |
| Dad |
Hey, you know, mother, I think there's a play
there .... get t'agent on t'phone. |
| Mum |
Aye I think you're right, Frank, it could express,
it could express a vital theme of our age... |
| Dad |
Aye. |
| |
In the room beneath a man is standing on a chair banging on the
ceiling with a broom. |
| Man |
Oh shut up! (bang bang) Shut up! (they
stop talking upstairs) Oh, that's better. (he climbs down and
looks at the camera) And now for something completely different ...
a man with three buttocks... |
| Mum and Dad |
(from upstairs) We've done that!
|
| |
The man looks up slightly disconcerted.
|
| Man |
Oh all right. All right! A man with nine legs.
|
| Voice Off |
He ran away. |
| Man |
Oh... Bloody Hell! Er ... a Scotsman
on a horse! |
| |
Cut to film of a Scotsman (John) riding up on a horse. He looks
around, puzzled.
Cut to stock film of Women's Institute audience applauding.
Cut to the man with two noses (Graham); he puts a handkerchief to his
elbow and we hear the sound of a nose being blown.
Cut to Women's Institute audience applauding.
Cut to cartoon of a flying sheep. |
| Voice Over |
Harold! Come back, Harold! Harold! Come back,
Harold! Oh, blast! |
| |
The sheep is shot down by a cannon.
Cut to a film of an audience of Indian ladies not applauding.
CAPTION: 'THE EPILOGUE, A QUESTION OF BELIEF'
Interview studio; interviewer in the middle. There is a monsignor in
full clerical garb with skull-cap, and opposite him a tweed-suite, old
Don figure. |
| Interviewer |
Good evening, and welcome once again to the
Epilogue. On the programme this evening we have Monsignor Edward Gay,
visiting Pastoral Emissary of the Somerset Theological College and
author of a number of books about belief, the most recent of which is
the best seller 'My God'. And opposite him we have Dr Tom Jack:
humanist, broadcaster, lecturer and author of the book 'Hello Sailor'.
Tonight, instead of discussing the existence or non-existence of God,
they have decided to fight for it. The existence, or non-existence, to
be determined by two falls, two submissions, or a knockout. All right
boys, let's get to it. Your master of ceremonies for this evening - Mr
Arthur Waring. |
| |
The partialpants move into a wrestling ring.
|
| MC |
Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to a
three-round contest of the Epilogue. Introducing on my right in the blue
corner, appearing for Jehovah - the ever popular Monsignor Eddie Gay.
(there are boos from the crowd) And on my left in the red corner -
author of the books 'The Problems of Kierkegaard' and 'Hello Sailor' and
visiting Professor of Modern Theological Philosophy at the University of
East Anglia - from Wigan - Dr Tom Jack! (cheers; gong goes for the
start) |
| |
CAPTION: 'ROUND 1'
They are real wrestlers. They throw each other about. |
| Interviewer |
(commentating) Now Dr Jack's got a flying
mare there. A flying mare there, and this is going to be a full body
slam. A full body slam, and he's laying it in there, and he's standing
back. Well .. there we are leaving the Epilogue for the moment, we'll be
bringing you the result of this discussion later on in the programme.
|
| Interviewer |
Oh my God! (pulls out a revolver and shoots
something off-screen) |
| |
ANIMATION: We see a cowboy just having been shot. This leads into
cartoon film, which include a carnivorous pram and music from Rodin's
statue 'The Kiss'. Then a protest march appears carrying banners. Close
in on banners which read: End Discrimination:Mice Is Nice; Ho Ho Ho
Traps Must Go; Hands Off Mice; Repeal Anti-Mouse Laws Now; Kidderminster
Young Methodists Resent Oppression: A Fair Deal For Mice Men.
CAPTION: 'THE WORLD AROUND US'
Photo of newspaper headlines: Pop Stars In Mouse Scandal; Peer Faces
Rodent Charges. A man in a mouse skin running into police station with
bag over head.
CAPTION: 'THE MOUSE PROBLEM'
Cut to a policeman leading a man in mouse costume into a police
station. Photo of headline: Mouse Clubs On Increase.
Cut to: photos of neon signs of clubs: Eek Eek Club; The Little White
Rodent Room; Caerphilly A Go-Go.
Cut to studio: ordinary grey-suited linkman. |
| Linkman |
Yes. The Mouse Problem. This week 'The World
Around Us' looks at the growing social phenomenon of Mice and Men. What
makes a man want to be a mouse. |
| |
Interviewer, Harold Voice, sitting facing a confessor. The
confessor is badly lit and is turned away from camera. |
| Man |
(very slowly and painfully) Well it's not a
question of wanting to be a mouse... it just sort of happens to you. All
of a sudden you realize... that's what you want to be. |
|
| Interviewer |
And when did you first notice these... shall we
say... tendencies? |
| Man |
Well... I was about seventeen and some mates and me
went to a party, and, er... we had quite a lot to drink... and then some
of the fellows there ... started handing ... cheese around ... and well
just out of curiosity I tried a bit ... and well that was that.
|
| Interviewer |
And what else did these fellows do? |
| Man |
Well some of them started dressing up as mice a bit
... and then when they'd got the costumes on they started ... squeaking.
|
| Interviewer |
Yes. And was that all? |
| Man |
That was all. |
| Interviewer |
And what was your reaction to this? |
| Man |
Well I was shocked. But, er... gradually I came to
feel that I was more at ease ... with other mice. |
| |
Cut to linkman. |
| Linkman |
A typical case, whom we shall refer to as Mr A,
although his real name is this: |
| Voice Over |
(and CAPTION:)
ARTHUR JACKSON
32A MILTON AVENUE,
HOUNSLOW, MIDDLESEX. |
| Linkman |
What is it that attracts someone like mr. A to
this way of life? I have with me a consultant psychiatrist.
|
| |
The camera pulls back to reveal the psychiatrist who places in
front og himself a notice saying 'The Amazing Kargol And Janet'.
|
| Kargol |
Well, we've just heard a typical case history. I
myself have over seven hundred similar histories, all fully documented.
Would you care to choose one? |
| |
Janet (Carol), dressed in a showgirl's outfit, enters and offers
linkman the case histories fanned out like cards, with one more
prominent than the others; he picks it out. |
| Kargol |
(without looking) Mr Arthur Aldridge of
Leamington. |
| Linkman |
Well, that's amazing, amazing. Thank you, Janet.
(chord; Janet postures and exits) Kargol, speaking as a
psychiatrist as opposed to a conjuror... |
| Kargol |
(disappointed) Oh...
|
| Linkman |
...what makes certain men want to be mice?
|
| Kargol |
Well, we psychiatrist have found that over 8% of
the population will always be mice, I mean, after all, there's something
of the mouse in all of us. I mean, how many of us can honestly say that
at one time or another he hasn't felt sexually attracted to mice.
(linkman looks puzzeld) I know I have. I mean, most normal
adolescents go through a stage of squeaking two or three times a day.
Some youngsters on the other hand, are attracted to it by its very
illegality. It's like murder - make a thing illegal and it acquires a
mystique. (linkman looks increasingly embarrassed) Look at arson
- I mean, how many of us can honestly say that at one time or another he
hasn't set fire to some great public building. I know I have. (phone
on desk rings; the linkman picks it up but does not answer it) The
only way to bring the crime figures down is to reduce the number of
offences - get it out in the open - I know I have. |
| Linkman |
(replacing phone) The Amazing Kargol And
Janet. What a lot of people don't realize is that a mouse, once
accepted, can fulfil a very useful role in society. Indeed there are
examples throughout history of famous men now known to have been mice.
|
| |
Cut to julius Caesar on beach. He shouts 'Veni Vidi, Vici'. Then
he adds a furtive squeak. Napoleon pulls slice of cheese out of jacket
and bites into it.
Cut to Linkman |
| Linkman |
And, of course, Hillaire Belloc. But what is the
attitude... |
| |
Cut to man in a Viking helmet. |
| Viking |
(Eric Idle) ... of the man in the street
towards... |
| Linkman |
... this growing social problem? |
| |
Vox pops films. |
| Window Cleaner |
Clamp down on them. |
| Off-screen Voice |
How? |
| Window Cleaner |
I'd strangle them. |
| Stockbroker |
Well speaking as a member of the Stock Exchange I
would suck their brains out with a straw, sell the widows and orphans
and go into South American Zinc. |
| Man |
Yeh I'd, er, stuff sparrows down their throats,
er, until the beaks stuck out through the, er, stomach walls.
|
| Accountant |
Oh well I'm a chartered accountant, and
consequently too boring to be of interest. |
| Vicar |
I feel that these poor unfortunate people should be
free to live the lives of their own choice. |
| Porter |
I'd split their nostrils open with a boat hook, I
think. |
| Man |
Well I mean, they can't help it, can they? But,
er, there's nothing you can do about it. So er, I'd kill 'em.
|
| |
Cut to linkman. |
| Linkman |
Clearly the British public's view is a hostile
one. |
| Voice Over |
(and CAPTION:) 'HOSTILE' |
| Linkman |
But perhaps this is because so little is
generally known of these mice men. We have some film now taken of one of
the notorious weekend mouse parties, where these disgusting little
perverts meet. |
| |
Cut to exterior house (night). The blinds are drawn so that only
shadows of enormous mice can be seen, holding slices of cheese and
squeaking.
|
| Linkman's Voice |
Mr A tells us what actually goes on at these
mouse parties. |
| |
Cut to Mr A. |
| Mr A |
Well first of all you get shown to your own private
hole in the skirting board... then you put the mouse skin on... then you
scurry into the main room, and perhaps take a run in the wheel.
|
| Linkman |
The remainder of this film was taken secretly at
one of these mouse parties by a BBC cameraman posing as a vole. As usual
we apologize for the poor quality of the film. |
| |
Very, poor quality film, shadowy shapes, the odd mouse glimpsed.
|
| Mr A's Voice |
Well, er, then you steal some cheese, Brie or
Camembert, or Cheddar or Gouda, if you're on the harder stuff. You might
go and see one of the blue cheese films... there's a big clock in the
middle of the room, and about 12:50 you climb up it and then
...eventually, it strikes one... and you all run down. |
| |
Cut to a large matron with apron and cawing knife.
|
| Linkman's Voice |
And what's that? |
| Mr A's Voice |
That's the farmer's wife. |
| |
Cut to the linkman at desk. |
| Linkman |
Perhaps we need to know more of these mice men
before we can really judge them. Perhaps not. Anyway, our thirty minutes
are up. |
| |
Sound of baa-ing. The linkman looks up in air, looks startled,
pulls a gun from under the desk and fires in the air. The body of a
sheep falls to the floor. |
| Linkman |
Goodnight. |
| |
CAPTION: 'SEX AND VIOLENCE' WAS CONCIEVED, WRITTEN AND PERFORMED
BY:... (CREDITS)' |
| Voice Over |
And here is the result of the Epilogue: God exists
by two falls to a submission |