Series 5, Episode 8, Broadcast 16 November 1954
The Mystery Of The Marie Celeste (Solved)
Wallace: This is the BBC Home Service. Oooh!
GRAMS: GIANT SPLASH
Harry: Let that be a lesson to him (laughs to himself). He was about to refer to
the highly esteemed - Goon Show!
ORCHESTRA: PATHETIC CHORD
Harry: Listeners, what does that short, brief chord indicate? It indicated that
Mr. Wally Stott has forgotten the music again (laughs to himself).
Therefore, (struggling) hmmmm
GRAMS: GIANT SPLASH
Harry: He'll be company for Mr. Greenslade. Now then, Mister reserve
announcer
Peter: (Jewish businessman) What is it, nut?
Harry: Ah, Mr. Snagge. Tell the British Empire and East Acton what we have
decided is good for them. Let the joy bells ring!
Peter: Muzeltoff. Ladies and gentlemen, we have been and got a lot of geezers
and schpeelers, and oh -
GRAMS: GIANT SPLASH
Harry: (clears his throat) Ladies and gentlemen, on my own responsibility I
present, the Mystery of the Marie Celeste - Solved!
ORCHESTRA: SEA FARING THEME
Peter: (American) Unsolved on the nautical annuals of sea mysteries is that of
the brigantine Marie Celeste. But more of that later. Let us trace the
thread of a rather unique experiment
Spike: One spring afternoon in December Ned Seagoon, a handsome young
bunger buster, decided to dine out
Neddy: Yes. As I sat in my usual place I opened the Financial Times, and
carefully noted the number of chips I had left. I turned to the gossip
page and helped myself to some fish. It was then a small notice
caught my eye. It said -
Grytpype: Author of sea-stories will pay five thousand pounds to any person
furnishing conclusive proof as to the fate of those who manned the
Marie Celeste
Neddy: I read no further
Grytpype: But you don't know my address
Neddy: I read on
Grytpype: Apply Captain Grytpype-Thynne, First mate, the buildings,
Hackney
GRAMS: WHOOSH FOLLOWED BY -
FX: KNOCKING ON DOOR
Grytpype: Come in
FX: DOOR OPENS
Neddy: Captain Grytpype-Thynne?
Grytpype: Yes, matey?
Neddy: So this was the author of a thousand sea sagas. He was a tall vile man
dressed in the uniform of a sea-going sailor. Under his left arm he
carried a neatly rolled anchor, while with his right he scanned the
horizon with a pair of powerful kippers.
Grytpype: Ahoy!
Neddy: Ahoy!
Grytpype: Ahoy! Pull up a bollard
Neddy: Pardon?
Grytpype: That thing there is a bollard
Neddy: Oh-ho-ho. Oh, is that what you tie ships to?
Grytpype: Well said. Now, matey, what can I do for you?
Neddy: I just read your offer in the paper about the Marie Celeste
Grytpype: Little Matalo! That was inserted in 1910, 44 years ago!
Neddy: My paperman has a big round
Grytpype: Your paperman has a big round what?
Neddy: Ahoy!
Grytpype: Ahoy! Pull up a bollard. Little Bosun, what do you know about the
Marie Celeste?
Neddy: Your offering £5,000 reward for the mystery of it
Grytpype: Hmm. Do you come here often?
Neddy: No
Grytpype: Good. Powder-Monkey, let me tell you about the Marie Celeste.
Ahoy!
Neddy: Ahoy!
Grytpype: Ahoy! At 3 O'clock on the afternoon of December the fifth 1872
'twixt the Azores and 'twixt the coast of Portugal the Marie
Celeste was sighted
Neddy: Ahoy!
Grytpype: Ahoy! On board her there was no sign of life, and yet -
Neddy: Your offering £5,000 reward?
Grytpype: Have you ever been ship-wrecked?
Neddy: No
Grytpype: I'll arrange for it
Neddy: Ahoy!
Grytpype: Ahoy! Aboard the Marie Celeste all was ship-shape and Bristol
fashion. Food freshly laid, no signs of a strudgle, and yet not a
soul aboard her. Any questions?
Neddy: Yes. What's a bollard?
Grytpype: Ahoy!
Neddy: Thank you
Grytpype: Yes, yes, yes. The crew disappeared without trace. Now, if you
can furnish a satisfactory explanation to what happened to them
£5,000
Neddy: Right. I'm your man
Grytpype: You silly twisted boy, you
Neddy: Give me a month and I'll have the answer by hook or by crook
ORCHESTRA: SEA FARING THEME
Peter: (American) And now -
Wallace: On the first stage of investigations Ned Seagoon hurried round to the
office of a large shipping magnet
FX: KNOCKS ON DOOR
Neddy: Come in
FX: KNOCKS ON DOOR
Neddy: Come in!
Major: It's you who's knocking!
Neddy: Oh, then I'll come in
FX: DOOR OPENS
Neddy: My name is Ned Seagoon
Major: I find no joy
Neddy: Are you Leading Admiral Dennis Bloodnok, Chief for the International
Shipping Line?
Major: I have that privilege
Neddy: I never knew there were shipping offices on the serpentine!
Major: Oh yes yes yes. I do all my business from here. What's the time?
Neddy: Quarter to five
Major: Good Heavens!
FX: WOODEN PANEL BEING SLID OPEN, WHISTLE
Major: Come in Number 49!
FX: WOODEN PANEL BEING SHUT
Major: Well now, what can I do for you?
Neddy: Admiral Bloodnok, I wish to know -
Major: Just a moment!
FX: WOODEN PANEL BEING SLID OPEN, WHISTLE
Major: I won't tell you again, 49!
FX: WOODEN PANEL BEING SHUT
Major: Some people think I run these pleasure boats for pleasure! Now lad,
pull up a bollard
Neddy: Admiral, I was told that you had associations with the ill-fated Marie
Celeste
Major: All lies, do you hear me? Lies! I was in Bangalor at the time. I deny
every word, she's lying I tell you! Lying! And so is Alice Girth and
Mary Thula, and all those other women I molested! They're all after
my piggy-bank, do you hear me? Oh!
Neddy: Admiral, please. Marie Celeste was found abandoned at sea
Major: Oh, poor girl! How she must have suffered!
Neddy: The Marie Celeste is a ship!
Major: Of course! Wait a minute! Of course! The Marie Celeste! I'd almost
forgotten!
Neddy: Right, now, can you tell me anything about her?
Major: Of course, I have the record here
Neddy: Ying-Tong-Iddle-I-Po
Major: Good! Now I'd like to tell you all about the Marie Celeste, but
unfortunately lad, I'm sworn to secrecy, absolutely mum. Yes, it
would take a lot to make me talk
Neddy: £5,000?
Major: That's a lot! The entire documents are at your service
Neddy: Thank you. For nights I poured over vital documents. Then, when all
seemed lost, Admiral Bloodnok suddenly remembered a vital map
reference
Major: Latitude 38 20 North, Longitude 17 15 West. Off you go lad!
Neddy: Right, taxi. And now -
ORCHESTRA: SEA FARING THEME
Major: I waited for Seagoon's return. And then, at dawn
FX: DOOR OPENS
Neddy: (panting) Admiral, I've just returned from Latitude 38 20 North,
Longitude 17 15 West
Major: Your soaking wet!
Neddy: You didn't tell me it was at sea!
Major: Then it's true, the Marie Celeste was found at sea. Look lad, here
Neddy: Yes yes yes yes yes
Major: Dear laddy -
Neddy: Yes yes
Major: Here's the name of a ship yard, the very one that built her. Now, um,
why don't you go along and see if they can give you any information
Neddy: Ay ay!
FX: DOOR SHUTS
Major: Ay ay
FX: PHONE BEING DIALLED
Major: (singing) Hearing your gladness, my life's desire. Hearing your - Hello?
Hello? Bloodnok here. listen Mr. Crun, what we've planned for has
happened. Yes, Ned Seagoon's the name. Yes I've sent him to you
and he's offering 5 - (coughs) - £4,000 reward for any information. All
right. Good-bye Mr. Crun.
FX: PHONE PUT DOWN ON HOOK
Major: Sea man Geldray? Bring 49 in and play us a horn-mouth on your pipe-
organ in the C of key Chantey
MUSIC: MAX GELDRAY AND ORCHESTRA
Wallace: The Marie Celeste Mystery Solved, part Two. And now -
ORCHESTRA: SEA FARING THEME PLAYED A BIT FASTER
Spike: While Max Geldray was playing that old English bollard how many
listeners noticed that Ned Seagoon had gone to a certain ship-rights in
Deptford Creek? Hm? You must watch these points
GRAMS: SHIP BUILDING MACHINES
Henry: (singing) Put him in the barrel until he's sober, put him in the barrel
until he's sober, Minnie?
Minnie: hums jazzy tune
Henry: Minnie? Stop that mad, crazy, modern rhythm type singing
Minnie: Why should I stop my modern, mad, crazy, rhythm type singing
buddy?
Henry: Because we are sea-faring folk. If you must sing, sing a Chantey
Minnie: Ooooooh! Henry, a chantey! hums jazzy tune
Henry: Minnie!?
Minnie: Yes?
Henry: I shall come down there in a minute
Minnie: hums jazzy tune
Henry: Shut up! (singing) Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves, Britain
never never never shall be slayed
Minnie: hums jazzy tune
Henry: (singing) 30 men on a dead man's chest, yo ho hum and a bottle of rum!
Neddy: Ahoy there!
Henry: Ahoy!
Neddy: Ahoy! My name is Ned Seagoon
Henry: Oh, Minnie, it's him, Ned Seagoon
Minnie: starts humming jazz
Henry: tries to overpower Minnie's singing with "Rule Britannia"
Neddy: Thank you Anne Zigla and Webster Booth. Is this the shipyard of
Crun, Bannister and Crun?
Henry: Yes
Minnie: Yes
Henry: And yes
Neddy: Then this firm built the Marie Celeste
Henry: Yes I did
Neddy: You did? Oh come now, the Marie Celeste was built over a hundred
years ago
Henry: Oh, then it must be my day off. Ahoy!
Neddy: Ahoy! Mr. Crun
Henry: Ahoy!
Neddy: I want you to build and man a second Marie Celeste
Henry: Mnnnnnnnk
Neddy: Don't you see? The idea is to re-sail the ill-fated voyage and
reconstruct the mystery
Henry: Build another Marie Celeste?
Neddy: Yes, I want you to build a replica
Henry: Oh I'm sorry, I'm a ship-builder, I'm no good at replicas
Minnie: Ying-Tong-Iddle-I-Po
Henry and Neddy: Good!
Neddy: Now, how long to build it?
Henry: Oh well there's a lot of work, you know
Minnie: Yes
Henry: A lot of it, isn't there Min?
Minnie: There is, yes
Henry: The whole plans will have to be modernised
Minnie: The modern style, buddy
Henry: Yes, got to have the crazy plans you know. Then there's the wood, very
difficult to get the wood, you know
Minnie: Yes
Henry: And the rope, oh the rope
Neddy: Yes, yes, yes. Now give me a rough date
Henry: Deck-timbers, oh that's....canvas to go aloft -
Neddy: When will the boat be finished?
Henry: Mmmmmm, after dinner
Neddy: You'll have the whole ship completed after dinner?
Henry: Yes
Neddy: What's the delay?
Henry: The wood, you can't get the wood you know
Neddy: All right, I'll just have to be patient. After dinner then. Ahoy!
Henry: Ahoy!
Neddy: goes off singing
ORCHESTRA: SEA FARING THEME PLAYED A BIT FASTER
Peter: (American) And now -
Wallace: No sooner had Ned Seagoon left the shipyard, then Mr. Crun
hurriedly spoke to a sea-faring man
Henry: Commodore! Commodore! It's happened at last!
Eccles: Oooh! Well, well. So it's happened at last, hey? Well, well, well, well,
Oooooh! So it's happened at last! Well! It happened at last, hey?
Well! It happened you say? It happened
Henry: Yes, yes
Eccles: Ooooh! It happened at last, hey? Ooooh! What's happened?
Henry: Admiral Bloodnok sent him to us and he's here
Eccles: Ooooh! Here? You mean he? He is really here? It's him?
Henry: Yes. He's here
Eccles and Henry: laugh together
Eccles: Who's here?
Henry: Him, Ned Seagoon. You know, the plan we all worked on, the Marie
Celeste plan
Eccles: Oh that one!
Henry: Yes, and there's a reward for four - coughs - £3,000
Eccles: Oh! Well I'll go and get the original crew
Henry: Yes it's simple, all we have to do is (fades out)
ORCHESTRA: MYSTIC HARP TUNE
Everyone: crowd noises
Eccles: Listen, fellows, okay? It's happened fellows, it's happened. And he's
offering a reward of two - coughs - £1,000
Peter: (Cornish sailor) Did you hear that Secombe Yackamoker? he offering a
reward of one - coughs- £500
Harry: What's he say?
Peter: (Chinese) Honourable man is offering reward of five - coughs - £250
Harry: Is he? £250 ey? (Laughs to himself) I'll tell cabin-boy Bluebottle
ORCHESTRA: MYSTIC HARP TUNE
Bluebottle: Hee-hee-hee. I have just been told-ed there's a reward of seventeen
and nine-pence and an extra Bob a week if we live.
Spike: Listeners, have you noticed a slight drop in the reward? You must
watch these little points!
ORCHESTRA: SEA FARING THEME PLAYED A BIT FASTER
Peter: (American) And now -
Wallace: Ned Seagoon hurried back to the author who was offering £4,000
reward -
Neddy: £5,000!
Wallace: I've got to live as well. Anyway, Ned Seagoon informed Captain
Grytpype-Thynne of the progress he had made and that he, Ned
Seagoon, was preparing to re-sail the ill-fated voyage again
Neddy: Correct, we sail today
Wallace: Now here is a gale warning
Neddy: we sail tomorrow. We should reach the exact spot in five days
Major: In the mean-time, Ray Ellington, pull up a bollard! Ahoy!
Ray: Ahoy!
MUSIC: RAY ELLINGTON AND HIS QUARTET SING "ABC (WITH
RHYTHM AND EASE)"
ORCHESTRA: SEA FARING THEME PLAYED A BIT FASTER
Peter: (American) And now -
Wallace: The Mystery of the Marie Celeste Solved, part three. Exactly as in
1872 the Brigantine Marie Celeste the second slid gracefully out of
harbour
GRAMS: SEAGULLS CONTINUE OVER SPEECH
Wallace: Over the boom, and in to the open sea
GRAMS: SHIP SLIDING IN TO WATER
Neddy: Ah, we're on our way, Captain
Major: Yes, yes. Put your hand out Seagoon, we turn left here
Neddy: Some time later I took a last glance at land. It gave one a strange
feeling to see the beach head lighthouse pass our stern - we were at
anchor! But soon we were on the open sea
ORCHESTRA: SEA FARING THEME PLAYED A BIT FASTER
Neddy: After five days at sea I was having dinner in the crow's nest when
suddenly -
Eccles: Ahoy! You up there, Mr, Seagoon
Neddy: (in the distance) Yes?
Eccles: Admiral Bloodnok's compliments. He wants you in his cabin right
away
Neddy: Right away?
Eccles: Yeah, but first I want to tell you something
Neddy: Coming! Ahhhhhh (getting nearer)
FX: LARGE HEAVY OBJECT HITTING WOODEN FLOOR
Neddy: Oh dear! that's a nasty fall, that is!
Eccles: Are you okay?
Neddy: I think so. Ohh, arr. Now, what did you want to tell me?
Eccles: I've taken the ladder away (laughs to himself) Your still my friend?
Still my friend?
Neddy: I don't know about that, Eccles
Henry: Mr. Seagoon we're nearly there. Then we can re-enact the mystery for
you
Neddy: Wait a minute! Do you know what happened to the original crew of the
Marie Celeste?
Henry: goes off singing to himself
Neddy: Mr. Crun! Mr. Crun! Oh, I'll go and ask the Admiral, perhaps he'll
explain. Er, excuse me
Peter: (Chinese) Yes, most honourable Neddy Sleagoon
Neddy: Where is Admiral Bloodnok's cabin?
Peter: That door there, marked "Ladies only"
Neddy: Thank you
Peter: Chip chap chop chip
Neddy: Chop chip. I strolled towards the cabin, determined to get to the
bottom of the mystery
FX: QUAINT "DING DONG" ON DOORBELL, DOOR OPENED
Peter: (Seductive woman) Yes?
Neddy: Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I though this was the Admiral's cabin
Peter: Just one moment
FX: DOOR SHUTS
Major: (clears his throat, other side of door) Come in!
FX: DOOR OPENS
Neddy: Admiral Bloodnok, you said you wanted to see me
Major: Oh yes, yes, yes, yes. Young Neddy, yes. You haven't met my sister
have you?
Neddy: You told me you were an only child
Major: In that case meet my mother
Neddy: How do you do?
Major: I'll see you later mother dear
Peter: (Woman) Oh Dennis, all right then (laughs to herself)
Neddy: But Admiral, you look twenty years older than she does
Major: Ah yes, lad, but then I've had a lot of worry, you know. Now, Ned, to
business, what about the money?
Neddy: When we arrive at the rendezvous tomorrow a naval vessel will be
present with the author aboard
Major: Author? I don't wish to know any authors!
Neddy: He's the man with the money
Major: Introduce me at once!
Neddy: He will not furnish the money until he receives a satisfactory
explanation as to what happened to the crew -
Major: Thud me marling-spikes! I know what happened, this is the true story,
on the way -
FX: DOOR OPENED
Bluebottle: Pardon me, my little hairy Cap-I-Tain. Enter Bluebottle in rough
sea man's itchy jersey and with a patch over one eye and a dirty
big stocking on my head. HolŽ! Not a sausage.
Neddy: Curse, just as I was about to find the answer. What's going on here,
little ragged pants?
Bluebottle: We have sighted a British ship of war, HMS Gladys. Points with
finger out to sea. Doot-doot-doot-doot-doot-doot. We are getting
ready to act the mystery. Stands by cannon to fire salute
Neddy: What is the mystery of the Marie Celeste?
Bluebottle: Nay nay! There is a seventeen and nine-pence reward and until I
get it not a word shall pass my lips. Ties himself to mast and
waits for 15 lashings.
Neddy: Here's your 17 Shillings and nine-pence. Now out with it!
Bluebottle: Hee-hee-hee. Thank you. Takes out seventeen and nine-penny
piece which is no bigger than a tanner. Puts it in rough sea man's
purse. Prepares to tell mystery (clears throat). When we were -
Hee! Sees Admiral out of corner of eye, good job that I have got
square eyes.
GRAMS: WHOOSH
Neddy: I say, little knobbly actor! I say! Where's he gone?
Major: Where's that naughty little powder-monkey gone? it's time to fire the
salute. Eccles?
Eccles: Okay. Give me the match. Stand back
GRAMS: EXPLOSION OF CANNON BEING FIRED, SPLASH
Bluebottle: You rotten swine you! I was hiding in the cannon! And now I'm
drowning! Eaugh! Waves arms about as if in panic. Eaugh! Goes
down for third time, then remembers 17 and nine-pence in purse.
Climbs back on ship to spend same, exit left for NAAFI
Neddy: Perhaps someone will tell me what's going on here
Major: I'll tell you. We are the original crew of the Marie Celeste
Neddy: Good Heavens, ghosts!
Eccles: We ain't ghosts
Neddy: But you can't be human
Eccles: Well that's different
Major: I'll tell you what happened. When we sailed the original Marie Celeste
we made a raft
Neddy: Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Major: Please, don't do that! Then we set the table, left everything as it was,
then we quietly slipped over the side, and thud me gripkins that's
really what happened. Isn't that right me-hearties?
Everyone: Ay!
Neddy: But why did you do it?
Major: Because we knew that one day someone would offer a reward for the
solution of the mystery, and by thunder it's happened. Hasn't it me-
hearties?
Everyone: Ay!
Neddy: But why couldn't you have just told me, why come all this way?
Major: They would never believe us, lad. How some people can doubt me, me
the very soul of honesty. Isn't that right me-hearties? (Silence)
Wallace: HMS Gladys on the port-bow, sir
Neddy: Splendid. Ha-Ha. On board is Captain Grytpype-Thynne with the
£5,000
Major: Right, stand by to re-enact the mystery lads
Eccles: Okay, okay
GRAMS: OVER SPEECH WAVE SOUNDS (OR OARS)
Major: (Shouting) Ahoy there HMS Gladys! Captain Grytpype-Thynne? Are
you ready with the money? (Normal voice) That's funny! (Shouting)
Ahoy there! HMS Gladys!
Eccles: (Shouting) HMS Gladys? Ahooooooooy!
Neddy: Stand back Eccles, let me try. I used to be in the choir. (High voice)
Ahoy there Captain Grytpype-Thynne! (Gulp)
Wallace: (On Wireless) Here is the news. Two days ago a crew under the
command of Admiral Bloodnok in the Marie Celeste the second
boarded a British ship HMS Gladys. On board all was ship-shape,
but there was no sign of life. Mr. Neddy Seagoon is offering
£5,000 for the solution to the mystery of HMS Gladys
GRAMS: KNOCK ON DOOR
Neddy: Come in!
GRAMS: DOOR OPENS
Grytpype: Ahoy there matey!
Neddy: Ahoy!
Grytpype: About the reward money for the solution of the HMS Gladys...
ORCHESTRA: THEME TUNE
Wallace: That was the Goon Show, a recorded programme featuring Peter
Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan, with the Ray Ellington
Quartet and Max Geldray. The orchestra was conducted by Wally
Stott. Script by Eric Sykes and Spike Milligan. Announcer
Wallace Greenslade. The programme produced by Peter Eton.
ORCHESTRA: FINISH THEME TUNE