Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974): Season 2, Episode 2 - The Spanish Inquisition - full transcript

An offbeat look at the Spanish Inquisition; an unconventional version of "Wuthering Heights." Also: a jury plays charades while delivering its verdict; a man attempts to find one nontaxable pleasure.

And now for something completely different.

JARROW - NEW YEAR'S EVE 1911

JARROW, 1912

Come in.

Trouble at mill.

Oh no. What sort of trouble?

Pardon?

I don't understand what you're saying.

One of the cross beams has gone out
askew on the treddle.

- Well what on earth does that mean?
- I don't know.

Mr Wentworth just told me to come in
here and say that there was trouble
at the mill, that's all.



I didn't expect
a kind of Spanish Inquisition.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Our chief weapon is surprise...
Surprise and fear, fear and surprise...

our two weapons are fear and surprise.

And ruthless efficiency...

Our three weapons are fear, surprise,
and ruthless efficiency...

and an almost fanatical
devotion to the Pope.

Our four...no...

amongst our weapons...
amongst our weaponry...

are such elements as fear, surprise...

I'll come in again.

I didn't expect
a kind of Spanish Inquisition.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Amongst our weaponry
are such diverse elements as



fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency,

and an almost fanatical devotion
to the Pope, and nice red uniforms

- Oh damn! I can't say it,
you'll have to say it. - What?

You'll have to say the bit about
'Our chief weapons are ...'

I couldn't do that...

I didn't expect
a kind of Spanish Inquisition.

Er.... Nobody...um....

- Expects.
- Expects.

- Nobody expects the...um...
- Inquisition.

I know...I know!

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.
In fact, those who do expect...

- Our chief weapons are...
- Our chief weapons are...um...er...

- Surprise...
- Surprise and...

Stop. Stop there! Stop there.
Whew!

Our chief weapon is surprise,
blah, blah, blah, blah.

Cardinal, read the charges.

You are hereby charged that you did
on diverse dates commit heresy against
the Holy Church.

- My old man said...
- That's enough.

Now, how do you plead?

We're innocent.

We'll soon change your mind
about that!

Fear, surprise, and a most ruthless...

Now, Cardinal, the rack!

You...
Right!

Tie her down.

Right!
How do you plead?

- Innocent.
- Ha! Right!

Cardinal, give the rack
(oh dear)

give the rack a turn.

I...

I know. I know you can't.
I didn't want to say anything.

I just wanted to try
and ignore your crass mistake.

- It makes it all seem so stupid.
- Shall I, um...?

Oh, go on, just pretend
for God's sake.

Ah, hello, you don't know me,
but I'm from the BBC.

We were wondering if you'd come
and answer the door in a sketch over
there, in that sort of direction...

You wouldn't have to do anything,
just open the door and that's it.

Oh, well all right, yes.

Jolly good. Come this way.

Yes, we're on film
at the moment, you see.

It's a link, is it?

Yes that's right,
that sort of thing, yes, a link.

It's all a bit zany, you know
a bit madcap funster...

Frankly I don't fully
understand it myself,

the kids seem to like it.

I much prefer Des O'Connor,
Rolf Harris, Tom Jones, you know...

TO THE SKETCH

You do a lot of
this sort of thing, do you?

Quite a lot yes, quite a lot.
I'm mainly in comedy.

I'd like to be in Programming Planning
actually, but I've got a degree.

Joke, sir? Guaranteed amusing.

As used by the crowned heads of Europe.
Has brought tears to the eyes of Royalty.

'Denmark has never laughed
so much', The Stage.

Nice little novelty number
'a naughty Humphrey'
breaks the ice at parties.

Put it on the table.
Press the button. It vomits.

Absolutely guaranteed.
With refills.

'Black soap',
leave it in the bathroom,

they wash their hands,
real fungus grows on the fingers.

Can't get it off for hours.

Frighten the elderly: real snakes.

Comedy hernia kit.

Plastic flesh wounds - just keep
your friends in stitches.

Hours of fun with 'honeymoon delight'
empty it into their beds,

real skunk juice.

They won't forget their wedding night.

Sticks to the skin, absolutely waterproof.

Amuse your friends: CS gas canisters

smells, tastes and acts
just like the real thing.

Can blind, maim or kill.

Or for drinks, why not buy a
'wicked willy' with a life-size winkle

serves warm beer. Makes real cocktails.
Hours of amusement!

Or get the new Pooh-Pooh machine.
Embarrass your guests,

completely authentic sound.

Or why not try a new 'naughty nightie'

put it on and it melts,
just watch their faces.

Guaranteed to break the ice
at naughty parties.

Go on, go on.

What?

Do the punchline.

What punchline?

The punchline for this bit.

I don't know it. They didn't
say anything about a punchline.

Oh! Oh well in that case
I'll be saying goodbye then, sir...

Goodbye then, sir.

What's the punchline?

Punchline? I don't think there's
a punchline scheduled, is there?

Where are we? A week 39.4 no, 39.7.

it's Friday, isn't it?

Oh ... here we are. Oh!

Ha, ha, ha, very good!
Ha, ha, ha, very good.

What a good punchline.

Pity we missed that.

Still, never mind, we can always do
it again. Make a series out of it.

Now if you'll just sign there,

I'll put this through
to our contracts department

and you should be hearing
from them in a year or two.

Can you give me a lift back?

Ah - can do. But won't.

We were wondering if we could
possibly borrow your head
for a piece of animation.

What?

Oh jolly good. Thanks very much.
You will get expenses.

Sergeant, somehow we've got
to get in there and get it.

- It's gonna be difficult.
- You need some sort of diversion?

- Sure, but what?
- Well we could...

It's got to be...

Wait! I've got it.

Well done, soldier.

- Load and fire!
- Yes, sir.

Fire!

Damn!

Ready? Aim!

Fire!

We are not amused.

Gentlemen, our MP saw the PM this AM

and the PM wants more LSD from the PIB
by tomorrow AM or PM at the latest.

I told the PM's PPS that AM was NBG
so tomorrow PM it is
for the PM nem. con.

Give us a fag or I'll go spare.

Now, the fiscal deficit with regard
to the monetary balance,

the current financial year
excluding invisible exports,

but adjusted of course
for seasonal variations

and the incremental statistics
of the fiscal

and revenue arrangements
for the forthcoming annual budgetary
period terminating in April.

I think he's talking about taxation.

Bravo, Madge. Well done.

Taxation is indeed
the very nub of my gist.

Gentlemen, we have to find
something new to tax.

I understood that.

If I might put my head on the
chopping block so you can kick
it around a bit, sir...

Well most things we do
for pleasure nowadays are taxed,

except one.

What do you mean?

Well, er, smoking's been taxed,
drinking's been taxed

but not ... thingy.

Good Lord!

You're not suggesting
we should tax... thingy?

Poo poo's?

No.

Thank God for that.
Excuse me for a moment.

No, no, no - thingy.

Number ones?

No, thingy.

Thingy!

Ah, thingy.

Well it'll certainly make chartered
accountancy a much more interesting job.

I would put a tax on all people
who stand in water...

To boost the British economy
I'd tax all foreigners living abroad.

I would tax the nude in my bed.

No - not tax. What is the word?
Oh - 'welcome'.

I would tax Racquel Welch.

I've a feeling she'd tax me.

Bring back hanging and go into rope.

I would cut off the more disreputable
parts of the body

and use the space for playing fields.

I would tax holiday snaps.

This is Uncle Ted in front
of the house.

This is Uncle Ted at the back
of the house.

And this is Uncle Ted at the side
of the house.

This is Uncle Ted back in front
of the house, but you can see
the side of the house.

And this is Uncle Ted even nearer
the side of the house,

but you can still see the front.

This is the back of the house,
with Uncle Ted coming round
the side to the front.

And the is the Spanish Inquisition
hiding behind the coal shed.

Oh! I didn't expect
a Spanish Inquisition.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Now, old woman!

You are accused of heresy on three counts.

Heresy by thought, heresy by word,
heresy by deed, and heresy by action.

Four counts.

Do you confess?

I don't understand what I'm accused of.

Ha! Then we shall make you understand.

Biggles!

Fetch... the cushions!

Here they are, lord.

Now, old lady, you have one last chance.

Confess the heinous sin of heresy,
reject the works of the ungodly

two last chances.

And you shall be free...

Three last chances.

You have three last chances,
the nature of which I have divulged
in my previous utterance.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Right! If that's the way you want it.

Cardinal! Poke her
with the soft cushions!

Confess! Confess! Confess!

It doesn't seem to be hurting her,
my lord.

- Have you got all the stuffing
up one end? - Yes, lord.

Hm! She is made of harder stuff!

Cardinal Fang!

Fetch... the comfy chair!

The comfy chair?

So you think you are strong because
you can survive the soft cushions.

Well, we shall see.

Biggles! Put her in the Comfy Chair!

Now. You will stay
in the Comfy Chair until lunch time,

with only a cup of coffee at eleven...

- Is that really all it is?
- Why, yes lord.

I see. I suppose we make it worse
by shouting a lot, do we?

Confess, woman.

Confess!

Confess!

I confess!

Not you!

I confess.

Who was that?

I confess.

I confess.

I confess.

I confess.

I confess.

I confess.

I confess.

Well Madam, I'm glad
you've come to see me.

As a doctor I shall be trying
to help you and do everything
I can to assist you...

I'm a bit deaf.

Louder, please. I still can't hear.

Pick up, I can't hear you.
I'm deaf...

And now for the very first time
on the silver screen

comes the film from two books
that once shocked a generation.

From Emily Bront?'s 'Wuthering Heights'
and from the 'International Guide
to Semaphore Code',

Twentieth Century Vole presents
'The Semaphore Version of Wuthering Heights'.

On the pages of history...

from the dark imperious days
of Imperial Rome...

we bring you a story
that shattered the world,

a tale so gripping that they said
it could not be filmed.

A unique event in cinema history

From the makers of:

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,
have you reached a verdict?

We have, m'lud.

And how do you find the defendant?

Two words.

First word.

Rope? String?

Point?

Belt?

Tie?

Cravat? Silk square?

Knot?

Knot!

Second word.

Two syllables.

First syllable.

Bird?

Swimmer?

Breast stroke?

Brian Phelps?

No, no, no, he was a diver.

Esther Williams then.

No, no, don't be silly. How can you
find someone 'Not Esther Williams'.

Fish.

- Fish wheeze.
- Fish wheeze?

Fish breathe.

Fish breathe, throat.

Fish breathe, throat? GILL!

Gill.

Not gill.

Second syllable.

Not gill...

Drink.

Sip? Imbibe?

Not gill ... cup?

Not gillcup!

You have been found not gillcup
of the charges brought against you

and may leave this court a free man.

Right. My turn.

Four words.

First word - shout?

- Bellow?
- Call?

Call!

Second word is very small.

- A?
- An?

- Up?
- The?

The.

Call the... Third word.

Gill?

- Fish?
- Adam's apple.

Neck.

Sounds like neck?

Next.

Call the ... next!

Fourth word, three syllables.

First syllable...

- Ear?
- Hear.

Can't hear.

Deaf!

Call the next def-

Bottom.

Seat?

Trouser? Cheek?

End! Call the next defend-

Ant!

Call the next defendant!

Call the next defendant.
The Honourable Mr Justice Kilbraken.

If I may charge you m'lud, you are charged
that on the fourteenth day of June 1970,
at the Central Criminal Court,

you did commit acts likely to cause
a breach of the peace.

How plead you m'lud, guilty or not guilty?

Not guilty. Case not proven.
Court adjourned.

No, no, no.

No, you're in the dock, m'lud.

I'm a judge, m'lud.

So am I, m'lud, so watch it.

Hah! Call this a court.

Call this a court.
Call this a court.

Shut up. Now get on with the spiel.

M'lud, and my other lud, the prosecution
will endeavour to show m'lud, that m'lud

ah, not you m'lud, that m'lud, m'lud,

while passing sentence
at the Central Criminal Court

blotted his copy book.
Call exhibit Q.

Q?

Sorry did I say Q? I meant A.

Sorry, call exhibit A.

Exhibit A m'lud, Miss Rita Thang,

an artist's model, Swedish
accordion teacher

and cane-chair sales lady,

was found guilty under
the Rude Behaviour Act

in the accused's court.

The accused, m'lud, sentenced her
to be taken from this place and
brought round to his place.

- Objection, m'lud.
- Objection sustained.

You shut up! Objection overruled.

The accused then commented
on Miss Thang's bodily structure,

made several not-at-all legal
remarks on the subject of fun

and then placed his robes over
his head and began to emit low moans.

- Have you anything to say in your defense?
- I haven't had any for weeks.

Oh no? What about that little number
you've got tucked away in Belsize Park?

- Oh, I never!
- Oh no. Ho! Ho! Ho!

All right then what about
8a Woodford Square?

You say anything about that
and I'll do you for treason.

M'lud if we could continue...

He's got a Chinese bit there.

No, that's contempt of court.

- It was only a joke.
- Contempt of court.

However, I'm not going to punish you
because we're so short of judges
at the moment,

what with all of them
emigrating to South Africa.

I'm going tomorrow;
I've got my ticket.

Get out there and get some decent
sentencing done.

Ooh, England makes you sick.

Best I can manage here is
life imprisonment.

It's hardly worth coming in
in the morning.

Now, South Africa? You've got your
cat of nine tails, you've got four
death sentences a week,

you've got cheap drinks, slave labour
and a booming stock market.

I'm off, I tell you.

Yes, I'm up to here with probation
and bleeding psychiatric reports.

That's it, I'm off. That's it. Right.

But I'm going to have one final
fling before I leave,

so I sentence you to be burnt
to the stake.

Blimey! I didn't expect
the Spanish Inquisition.

Two, er, three to the Old Bailey
please.

- Look they've started the credits.
- Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.

There's the lighting credit,
only five left.

Hell, it's the producer - quick!

Nobody expects the Spa...
Oh bugger!