GOON SHOW SPECIAL: TNC 408
SPECIAL PROGRAMME
1st BROADCAST: 31 August 1954
Script by Spike Milligan
Andrew Timothy: Ladies and
gentlemen, we present radio programme in
English.
From time to time actors will be
heard. The author has fled the country
ORCHESTRA: DRAMATIC THEME, STILL PLAYING AS ANDREW SPEAKS
ANDREW: 1954. A world overshadowed with doubts, fears,
uncertainty. Of Indo-China, the Suez, Cyprus, East and West German strife, the
H-Bomb explosion, and yet to come the unbelievable power of the cobalt bomb
(music ends). But our own governors are not unaware of these dangers. At this
moment the House of Commons are debating serious matters.
Harry (old politician): Starlings,
they're ruining St, Martin's!
Peter (old politician): There are
far too many starlings in
SECOMBE: Err, here, here.
Spike (old politician): We must get
rid of these disgusting creatures!
PETER: Well said
SECOMBE: Yes, here here
CRUN: Yes, get rid of them
BANNISTER: What?
CRUN: Well said
SECOMBE: Yes, yes, get rid of them
CRUN: (talking over Minnie) Get rid of them.
SECOMBE: Yes
BANNISTER: Here, let's all have some tea
OMNES: cheers and applause (carry on in background while
Andrew speaks)
ANDREW: Yes, Parliament was aroused. On the terrace of the
House of Commons during the tea break back-benchers gave voice to their
feelings
GRAMS:
ANDREW: The inventive genius of the country was called upon
and for three years the starlings were attacked with a series of frightening
devices
PETER: Stuffed owls
SECOMBE: Wriggling rubber snakes
SPIKE: High frequency sound beams
PETER: (woman's voice) Little round things that went
"knick, knick, knick"
MAJOR: Rice puddings fired from catapults
ANDREW: A recording of a female starling in trouble
PETER: A recording of a female starling not in trouble
SPIKE: Trained cats
MAJOR: Rice puddings fired from catapults, mark 2
SECOMBE: Flashing lights and Chinese crackers
SPIKE: (grand voice) Large things dropped from a great
height, and vice-a-versa
MAJOR: Failing that, rice puddings fired from catapults
ANDREW: For some inexplicable reason all these devices failed.
The starlings remained.
PETER: (undertaker voice) The inventors were filled with remorse,
and in sack cloth they marched the streets
GRAMS: FOOTSTEPS MARCHING SLOWLY TO A DRUMBEAT
ORCHESTRA: DESPAIR MUSIC (CAST SOBS BEHIND
ANDREW: At the same time at the Ministry of Grit, Filth and
Exportable Heads, the Secretary, Mr Ned Bladok was handed a vital bird
statistic
FX: PAPER BEING RUSTLED
SEAGOON: Are you sure this figure is correct?
Throat (Spike): Yes
SEAGOON: Have you had it checked?
THROAT: Yes
SEAGOON: You mean there are 30 million starlings roosting in
THROAT: Yes
SEAGOON: Thank you, Miss Perch
THROAT: Right
SEAGOON: (to himself) 30 million starlings! Hm, Mr. Thin!
FX: FOOTSTEPS RUNNING TOWARDS MICROPHONE
Thin (Peter): (before arriving,
during sound effect) Yes sir! Yes sir! Coming Sir! Ahh! (arrives) Did you so
much as call me, sir?
SEAGOON: Ah yes, Mr. Thin. Call a meeting of all the people we
keep especially for meetings.
ORCHESTRA: TRUMPET FANFARE
SEAGOON: (loud voice) Gentlemen, I have called this meeting, to
declare war on the starlings in
GRAMS: AUDIENCE
SEAGOON: Thank you. The question is, how to get rid of them?
MAJOR: What about rice puddings fired from catapults?
SEAGOON: No, no, no, no. We've had that.
MAJOR: Have we?
SEAGOON: Yes
MAJOR: Oh. I say, look here, I remember a fashion out during
the first world war for lasting peace. I remember after a heavy artillery
barrage there were no signs of birds for months after.
SEAGOON: I don't think that is at all relevant
MAJOR: If we could draw up 200 regiments of artillery, in
SEAGOON: (interrupting) No, no, no, Major. Wait a moment
MAJOR: What?
SEAGOON: You've given me an idea.
MAJOR: I have?
SEAGOON: Yes
MAJOR: Ugh!
SEAGOON: Look, it all boils down to making a noise.
MAJOR: A noise
SEAGOON: Just a noise
MAJOR: Yes, yes
SEAGOON: Now, if we can get volunteers just to kick up a noise
then -
MAJOR: Gad! You're right! Ah perfect! I'll ask Field Marshall
Clinical Foot to let us have 3 brigades of guards at
GRAMS: SOLDIERS MARCHING AND COMMANDERS SHOUTING OUT ORDERS
MAJOR: What a magnificent sight! Aughhhh!
ANDREW: Good morning, err, Major Bloodnok?
MAJOR: The same
ANDREW: I'm Mr. Cringing-Nut, of the Morning Flight.
MAJOR: Oh yes, you're one of the observers aren't you?
ANDREW: That's right, sir
MAJOR: Yes, yes, yes. Well I'll tell you briefly what's
happening. The whole of the square mile of
ANDREW: Is it now a curfew area?
MAJOR: Yes. Only curfews our allowed in. All these squads
marching in here are to kick up a din and in so doing you see they drive the
starlings away.
ANDREW: What does the noise making equipment consist of?
MAJOR: Sergeant Steinbacker!
SECOMBE: Sir!
MAJOR: Explain the noise equipment to this gentleman, would
you?
SECOMBE: Yes sir! Four men entering this area are headed with
the following items: Iron bath tub with beater, football rattles, whistles, tin
cans, dustbin lids, gas stoves filled with iron bolts, bagpipes, dinner gongs,kettle
drums, thunder sheets, and other various noise making gear, for the uses
of.
ANDREW: Thank you.
MAJOR: Ah, I see I see that Lance-Colonel Sockclencher is
going to address the men now.
PETER: (speaking into megaphone) Men! At ease chaps! Now, I'm
going to put you in the picture. In a short time we will be commencing the
noise for the uses of. So lets have a little practice first. Yes? Right. Now
first, let's hear from the dustbin lids.
FX: DUSTBIN LIDS BEING BANGED TOGETHER
PETER: Well done. Thank you. Yes, thank you. Now, whistles
and rattles.
FX: WHISTLES AND RATTLES
PETER: Good show, whistlers and rattlers. Thank you, that's
enough. I know you all like music so there'll be time enough for that in a few
moments. So now, take your positions, and according to our information the
starlings are due in ten seconds from now. So let's have complete silence.
ANDREW: Gad Carruthers! Action at last!
PETER: Yes, well, it had to come.
GRAMS: SEVERAL SECONDS OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY STARLINGS
ARRIVING FLAPPING WINGS AND WHISTLING
PETER: (on megaphone) Right men, noise commence!
FX: DUSTBIN LIDS, WHISTLES AND RATTLES
ANDREW: (speaking over quietened noise) Diary of Operation
Cacophony
SECOMBE: March the second, third week of operation. Starlings
undisturbed. But two thirds of guard brigade stone deaf.
SPIKE: April the first. Still no effect on starling. All
rather annoying, really!
PETER: December the first, very cold. Noise makers were
augmented by the bagpipes of the Highland Brigade. Starlings still undisturbed.
Population of
GRAMS: BAGPIPES JOIN THE REST OF THE NOISE
ANDREW: December the 3rd. Deep snow. Starlings sleeping
peacefully. Noise continues. Field Marshall Plunch sends the brigade a
Christmas greeting. He receives in return a Christmas Pudding, with a rather
disturbing message, and then -
ORCHESTRA: DRAMATIC CHORDS AND TUNE
ANDREW: February the thirty-second. All troops withdrawn.
Operation Cacophony abandoned.
PETER: A military disaster! Those responsible were clad in
sack cloth and once more walked the streets
GRAMS: FOOTSTEPS MARCHING SLOWLY TO A DRUMBEAT
ORCHESTRA: DESPAIR MUSIC (CAST SOBS BEHIND)
OMNES: shouting angrily, Neddy trying to keep order
SEAGOON: I admit that Operation Cacophony cost £160,000 and was
a complete and utter failure. But these little mistakes will happen!
PETER: (old politician) You made a muck of it!
SPIKE: Bravo!
SEAGOON: Honourable members, it was not an absolute failure. I
mean, that is to say, though the starlings wee not removed from
BANNISTER: Rubbish! Rubbish!
MAJOR: You should have used rice puddings fired from
catapults!
SEAGOON: Nonsense!
ANDREW: I suggest the honourable member applies for the
Chiltern Hundred
SEAGOON: I refuse to get in that queue. In any case, I have
already taken steps to
ensure that the starlings are
removed from
SPIKE: Lies!
SEAGOON: I have, this day, inserted an advertisement in the
paper asking for suggestions that will rid us of this pest
PETER: (old politician) Well, we'll give you one more chance.
Now then, lads, who's in for a quick round of pontoon?
OMNES: applauds and shouts out encouragement (fades out)
FX: TYPING BEING DONE VERY SLOWLY
SEAGOON: Good morning, Miss Perch. Working late again?
THROAT: Yes
SEAGOON: Good girl. Any replies to the advert in the papers?
THROAT: Yes, this bloke here's been waiting for you
SEAGOON: Oh! Ha-Ha
BLUEBOTTLE: Yes! He-he! I have been waiting to speak
to you. Mr. Clum-Thrut-Knid-Sproo-Theckran-Bludge-Spratatan
SEAGOON: Mr. Bladok's the name
BLUEBOTTLE: Yes that's it. I knew it was something
like Clum-Thrut-Knid-Sproo
SEAGOON: Please, please. Well, will you come in please?
BLUEBOTTLE: Thank you
FX: DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS
SEAGOON: Now, Mr., umm
BLUEBOTTLE: Umm, my name is, um, Jim Bluebottle
Tiger-Nuts. It is an unusual name.
SEAGOON: Yes, I suppose it is. (polite cough) Still, a rose by
any other name, you know
BLUEBOTTLE: No, I do not know any Roses by any other
names.
SEAGOON: Ha-ha-ha (polite cough). Err, cigarette?
BLUEBOTTLE: I do not smoke. Too expensive.
SEAGOON: It's no expense to the Ministry. I could have you one
rolled within the hour
BLUEBOTTLE: No thank you.
SEAGOON: Right, now to business. What is your invention?
BLUEBOTTLE: It is an artificial explodable bird-lime
SEAGOON: What a fascinating start. Continue
BLUEBOTTLE: Thank you. Well, I have managed to
compound a mixture that looks exactly like bird-lime. Now then, this bird-lime
can be put down anywhere where there are starlings
SEAGOON: (in acknowledgement)Um-hum
BLUEBOTTLE: Then, simply by pressing a remote control
button, all those little blobs of bird-lime can be exploded
SEAGOON: Good Heavens!
BLUEBOTTLE: Yes. It is all done by sound waves
SEAGOON: You really mean it would drive the starlings away?
BLUEBOTTLE: Yes.
SEAGOON: Gad! What a saviour he is! Here, have an OBE
BLUEBOTTLE: Oh, ta!
SEAGOON: In
BLUEBOTTLE: Yes, I have
SEAGOON: Good. Let me have it and I'll get the Woolwich Arsenal
to make it up
BLUEBOTTLE: Here
SEAGOON: This little invention of yours will save the day (fade
out)
GRAMS: (FADED IN) CAULDRONS BUBBLING
SEAGOON: (speaking over Grams) Well, gentlemen of the press,
there it is. 40,000 liquid tonnes of artificial explodable bird-lime
ANDREW: Wonderful! Absolutely marvellous!
SEAGOON: Not too close, gentlemen, ah-ah, mind you don't fall
in
SPIKE: Ah, terribly sorry
PETER: (old politician) It looks like the real thing
SEAGOON: Well, it has to. These starlings must not suspect for
a moment, Mr. Fairfax. After all, they know the real thing.
PETER: Of course, of course
ANDREW: When will it be ready?
SEAGOON: Well, the head of the department tells me the mixture
will take 10 days to cool
SPIKE: That's not bad at all
SEAGOON: No. Then it is to be given artificial colouring and
forced into tubes ready for squirting on to the buildings
SPIKE: Oh, brilliant!
SEAGOON: All in all, about 2 weeks, I should say. By then the
inaugurating ceremony will be ready
ANDREW: What inauguration ceremony?
SEAGOON: My dear sir, exploding of the artificial bird-lime
recussetates the pressing of a button. And it is common law that all cutting of
tapes and pressing of buttons must be carried out with due ceremony -
Peter and SPIKE: Of course, of course
SEAGOON: - As it will be in this case
ANDREW: Can I quote you on that?
SEAGOON: You can quote me as saying it, but no more
ANDREW: What will be the date of the ceremony?
SEAGOON: Err, 3 weeks from now. The BBC are covering the
occasion
ANDREW: They would (voices and Grams fade out)
Andrew (maybe Peter): This is
GRAMS: CROWD ATMOSPHERE
GINSTONE: (Andrew, speaking over noise): Hello listeners, Brian
Ginstone here, and I'm speaking from the roof of St. Martin's, the roof of
PETER: (old working class voice) Ey?
GINSTONE: I'm from the BBC
PETER: I'll punch you in the flipping ear 'ole
GINSTONE: (laughs politely) Well, I wonder sir, if you'd like to
say a few words to the listeners
PETER: Don't they get enough chat from you lot?
GINSTONE: (laughs politely) Tell me, how long have you been
putting the mixture round the ledges of this building?
PETER: Oh, err, about 10 days, on and off
GINSTONE: What do you mean, "On and Off"?
PETER: Well, some of us keep falling off
GINSTONE: (laughs politely) What jolly fun
PETER: Yes
GINSTONE: Now tell us, you've been working on this job for 10
days on and off, what do you think of the idea and its chances?
PETER: Well, you know, I -
GINSTONE: Err, Thank you. Now, as the workmen take down the last
of the scaffolding, I see that the ceremony in the square below us is about to
begin, so over to Richard Dimbleby (fade out)
GRAMS: CROWD ATMOSPHERE (CONTINUED THROUGHOUT)
PETER: (impression of Richard Dimbleby, speaking over crowds)
Here, in the Great Square of Trafalgar, which, as we all know, takes its name
from the great underground railway that runs directly beneath its ancient
flagstones, here all is in readiness for the great explodable bird mixture
inauguration. To my right rises the great wooden old platform from which this
solemn ceremony will be perfumed. The entire Square is a great mass of banners,
banners from the great Society of Pest Control, all waiting to see the result
of this experiment.
FX: SIREN ADDED TO CROWD ATMOSPHERE
PETER: (over FX) Yes, there goes the great siren, telling us
that all the workmen
are clear of the buildings (Siren
stops). That is to say
GRAMS: SOLDIERS MARCHING AND SHOUTING COMMANDER IN BACKGROUND
ADDED TO CROWD ATMOSPHERE
PETER: Now then, to my right, up the right side of the
square, I can see the bright, scarlet and pink tulips of the Royal College of
Heralds, as they march majestically up to the base of the great platform.
(Soldiers Grams stop) They are, of course, looking to sound the traditional
fanfare Tedium Vitae which will announce the arrival of Duchess Winifred
Boiledusspudswell, the well-known human being.
GRAMS: HORSES AND CHARIOTS JOIN CROWD ATMOSPHERE
PETER: And as I speak, I see the Third Battalion of the First
Regal Household Cavalry, so-called as every member is a householder, and yes,
there they go, their great white hooves, swords, snorting at the reign, and
fie, and lifting the dust as they pass the base of Nelson's great Column, that
column so nobly erected here in 1672 to commemorate Lord Nelsons victory at
Balaclava, over the combined Egyptian and Turkish cavalry
GRAMS: CROWD ATMOSPHERE STARTS CHEERING
PETER: And those cheers are for the leader of the Household
Troop as he dips the Union Jack, the national flag of the union of Jack
ORCHESTRA: TRUMPET FANFARE
PETER: That great fanfare announces the arrival of the great
television coach
bearing the Duchess by arrangement
with Richard Winnick and Mark Loodman
GRAMS: COMMANDER SHOUTS "PRESENT ARMS" FOLLOWED BY
SOUNDS OF PRESENTING THE ARMS
PETER: The Guard of the Tender Plumage Haddackurs presents
arms and we all stand to attention for the anthem of the great Bird Pest
Control
ORCHESTRA: ANTHEM OF THE GREAT BIRD
PETER: What a lovely tune that is from the pen of the marcher
of the Archer Street roles, and now, yes, now, here comes the Duchess
Boiledusspudswell followed by the venerable City Fathers, Mothers, Sisters,
Mothers-In-Laws and all the great traditional hangers-on. Now the Duchess
approaches the great charcoal and bulsar staircase that leads up to the rostrum
and at the same time leads down again. She
mounts the great steps, her great
ORCHESTRA: TRUMPET FANFARE
PETER: And with that the Herald sounds the Turk Voluntary,
the Voluntary so well beloved by the Swahili dust-group of
GRAMS: SPEECH BEING MADE ON MICROPHONE. BREAKING UP EVERY FEW
WORDS
PETER: He appears to be having trouble with the great
microphone of state, the same great microphone used in 1672, hand beaten and
foot slapped in gold and silver surmounted by two Burmese Cherubs and fashioned
by the great sculptor Ben Venuto Selinae and his brother Fred. Oh and now I see
the great engineer of state with the great state screwdriver adjusting the mace
screws on the great microphone.
SPIKE: (on microphone blows a few time) Hello....testing,
testing...1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 testing.....yes it's all right now
PETER: (master of the rolls, on microphone) My lords, ladies
and gentlemong. Pray silence for the Duchess
Boiledusspudswell, Deme of the Empire, and at the present appearing in a
television "That's your lot", "Where's your bond?",
"What's up now?", "Who's your dad?", "Why have you come?" and other
edifying panel games. She appears by permission of the makers of Footo, the
wonder boot exploder
PETER: (Dimbleby impression) With that great dignified
ringing across the great square, she steps up to the great microphone
PETER: (Duchess on microphone, sounds like Queen) Ladies and Gentlemen. It is with
"-" pleasure that I have come "-" today to give my
"-"
SPIKE: (blows into microphone a few times) Hello, hello,
testing, 1, 2, 3, 4, yes it's all right now
PETER: Ladies and Gentlemen. It is my privilege and
pruvilege to name this experiment
Operation Explodable Bird Mixture, and may all who stand on it perish.
PETER: (Dimbleby) She steps forward to press the great
button. She presses it. And so for the final result over to Brian Ginstone on
top of the National Gallery
GRAMS: MILD EXPLOSIONS CONTINUOUS THROUGHOUT SPEECH
GINSTONE: (Andrew) And all around the corners of
GRAMS: GIANT EXPLOSION, CROWD CHEERS SCREAMS
GINSTONE: Oh dear, I don't quite know what happened
FX: FIRE ENGINE
OMNES: (fades in) shouts and boos in House of Commons
PETER: (Old politician, almost Churchill) Lads, lads, lads.
Please, lads. Quiet now. Let us have a fair hearing. And now, Mr. Bladok.
SEAGOON: Mr. Prime Minister, Honourable Members. I fear that
the explodable bird-lime was a might too powerful, but fear not,
ANDREW: But the starlings will only roost in it again
SEAGOON: Well, if they do, we'll blow it up again. Naturally we
would rebuild again, but if the starlings still persist in roosting there we'll
have no compulsion but to blow it up yet again. We'll see who gets tired first
BANNISTER: But think of the expense
SEAGOON: No fears there. I have it on good authority that our
financial position is far in excess of the starlings
BANNISTER: Hurrah!
SEAGOON: Yes, in any case, I have a new invention to deal with
the pests
PETER: What?
SEAGOON: Rice puddings fired from catapults
FX: CATAPULT RUBBER RELEASED HITTING SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS
METALLIC
SEAGOON: Oooh!
ANDREW: Good shot
PETER: Right, lads, how about a nice cup of tea?
OMNES: Here, here plus cheers and applause (fades out)
GRAMS: STARLING TWITTER DURING ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANDREW: That was "The Starlings", that was, by Spike
Milligan. All parts were played by Peter
Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan. Other pests were played by the starlings
themselves. Technical production by Harry Green and Barry Wilson. I am the
announcer Andrew Timothy is the name, and I am asked to say that any resemblance
to a Goon Show is due to the laxity of the producer Peter Eton. (Starlings fade out)