GREENSLADE:

This is the BBC \Light Program{me}\. Please accept our apologies.

ECCLES:

Good, good. Fine, fine, fine.

GREENSLADE:

(clears throat) We present the extraordinary, talking type wireless, Goon show.

GRAMS:

Old record.

SECOMBE:

What a divine melody. Greenslade take up the story lad.

GREENSLADE:

{Certainement}. The story so far. An old fashioned gramophone record was played. After which a short fat man remarked 'What a divine melody'. Now read on

SECOMBE:

Thank you Mister Greenslade. Go and rehearse the nine o'clock news and learn that wall by heart. Ha ha, {hhrmm}.

MILLIGAN:

{Ho ho} ho lads, {ho ho} ho. Listen while we tell you a tale. Music lads. {Ho ho} ho. {(sings) See them march by ...}

ORCHESTRA:

Dramatic slightly oriental music. {Then quiet music underneath}:

KHAN:

(Sellers, venerable old man) When I die, take all the treasures of my kingdom, place them at my feet, then bury me in some high forgotten mountain.

FX:

Gong.

SECOMBE:

Those words were spoken by the Tartar Emperor Ghengis Khan as he lay on his death-bed.

ECCLES:

Fine, fine, fine.

HERN:

(Sellers Hern documentary voice) Yes, to this day, the tomb of Ghengis Khan, with its untold treasures, remains undiscovered. He lies buried in some Mongol hillside where no human eye has ever set foot.

FX:

Gong.

ORCHESTRA:

Oriental link

GREENSLADE:

It was 1927 which lasted exactly one year. Late one night, within the oriental exhibits room, young Neddie Seagoon, young heh heh heh heh, hardly listeners.

SEAGOON:

I'll see you in the yard at playtime Wal. I'll clout that big fat nut of yours.

ECCLES:

Fine, fine, fine.

GREENSLADE:

(clears throat) Neddie Seagoon, a young archaeologist, was at work inside the Victoria and Albert Museum.

SEAGOON:

(singing) Um dee arrh de. (normal) Yes I always work late at the Victoria and Albert. You see for years I've been searching for the lost tomb of Ghengis Khan. I was unwrapping some ancient Mongolian inscribed tablets, that I had reason to believe would give me the exact location of the tomb of Ghengis Khan, when suddenly at about midnight ...

FX:

Knock, knock (door knocker)

SEAGOON:

Who's there?

FX:

knock, knock.

SEAGOON:

Anybody else?

FX:

knock, knock, knock knock.

SEAGOON:

How do you spell it?

FX:

Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock ,knock, knock , knock, knock

SEAGOON:

I've never heard of either of you.

FX:

door opens

GRYTPYPE:

Good evening.

MORIARTY:

Bonsoir.

SEAGOON:

Make up your mind{s}.

GRYTPYPE:

Pardon the intrusion little nit. \Um, I'm afraid we got lost in the fog.\

\MORIARTY:

Yes, is this place St Leonards(*1) ? \

\SEAGOON:

No it belongs to the LCC.\

GRYTPYPE:

What is this place?

SEAGOON:

Victoria and Albert.

GRYTPYPE:

Oh, really? And which one are you?

SEAGOON:

I'm neither.

GRYTPYPE:

I'm pleased to meet you. This is my partner Count Fred Moriarty. The worlds Louse Ladder (*2) Champion of 1927.

SEAGOON:

What do you both want at this time of night?

MORIARTY:

Shut your big pudding muncher. Silence, this pistol is almost ready to explode.

SEAGOON:

You crazy continental Louse Ladder Champion of 1927, what do you want?

GRYTPYPE:

Draw the curtain Moriarty. Now then is there anyone else in the building apart from you?

SEAGOON:

Yes, two others.

GRYTPYPE:

What are they doing?

SEAGOON:

Holding me up with a pistol.

MORIARTY:

A likely story. Silence.

SEAGOON:

What do you want?

GRYTPYPE:

Neddie, we want to examine a parcel of rare Mongolian clay tablets that arrived by air today.

SEAGOON:

You're wasting your time, I won't tell you where that parcel is.

MORIARTY:

{Oh-ho-ho}! I'll give you something to make you talk. Take that!

SEAGOON:

A pound note! I'm English, money won't make me talk. I'll just point. ... There.

MORIARTY:

Merci. ... Right, turn round.

SEAGOON:

I'm not strong enough.

MORIARTY:

Very well, we'll walk around you.

SEAGOON:

Dear listener, even though I had my back turned to them, I could still see them in the sixteen foot mirror {which} I rushed out and bought. I observed them open the rare parcel, take out the clay tablet, then placing it in separate pockets, make to leave.

GRYTPYPE:

Close your eyes Neddie.

SEAGOON:

Right.

FX:

Thud.

SEAGOON:

{Ohoooowwwwooooohh, Oooowwwwooooohh}.

MORIARTY:

Dear listeners, the thud you heard was me striking Seagoon on the head with the heavy side of a mummified Egyptian piano.

SEAGOON:

Oooowwwwooooohh. Struck, struck down. Oooowwwwooooohh, struck down in my prime. Oooowwwwooooohh, Oooowwwwooooohh, Oooowwwwooooohh, Oooowwwwooooohh. Struck down, Oooowwwwooooohh.

GRYTPYPE:

Dear listeners, the groans you hear are those of Ned Seagoon falling unconscious to the ground.

SEAGOON:

(off) Oooowwwwooooohh.

GRYTPYPE:

And hamming it for all he's worth I might say.

SEAGOON:

Lies, lies, lies. All lies dear listener. I'm not hamming, it's just that I like to give Seagoon fans good value for money. Hehaha Ohoooowwwwooooohh. Apart from that it's good publicity. Ohoooowwwwooooohh.

FX:

door closed.

SEAGOON:

They've gone. I must phone the police.

FX:

Sound of dialing in time with Neddies following line.

SEAGOON:

P. O. L. I. S. Ohhh, oh my head.

(pause).

ECCLES:

(phone) Hello?

SEAGOON:

Hello? Police? I want to report a lump.

ECCLES:

(phone) Fine, fine, fine.

SEAGOON:

What do you mean (imitating Eccles) 'Fine, fine, fine'? Constubule there's been a robbery.

ECCLES:

(phone) A robbery? Anything stolen?

SEAGOON:

You see that parcel on the table?

FX:

Door handle being rattled, door being opened.

ECCLES:

(panting) Yeah I see it.

SEAGOON:

Well, {they rifled} that.

ECCLES:

(phone) We're on our way round.

FX:

whoosh, whoosh.

BLOODNOK:

Ahh ho, I'm sorry we're late but I was asleep in Bedfordshire. I always sleep in beds. Ahhh oll.

{SEAGOON:

(echoing Bloodnok) Ooohoohoooh.}

BLOODNOK:

I'm in condition tonight. Sargent Eccles sharpen your note book. Now eh, now sir tell me all.

SEAGOON:

Two men committed a robbery.

BLOODNOK:

Two men eh? Male or female?

SEAGOON:

I don't know, they were dressed.

BLOODNOK:

What a cunning disguise. Continue.

SEAGOON:

I shall.

BLOODNOK:

Thank you. Any money stolen?

SEAGOON:

Yes a pound note.

BLOODNOK:

Why did you steal it?

SEAGOON:

I didn't, they took it off me.

BLOODNOK:

Orrghch. This pound note. Just a moment, may I lay on the couch? Thank you {I,} ahh, now um, describe that pound note.

SEAGOON:

Well it was valued at a pound.

BLOODNOK:

Tell me more wonderful money. Tell me more. This pound note, what colour was it?

SEAGOON:

Green.

BLOODNOK:

It's mine! Mine was green!

SEAGOON:

Inspector! It's not the pound that was important.

BLOODNOK:

Nonsense, any American will give you six shillings for one. The Bank of England will give you seven.

SEAGOON:

I'm concerned with the very rare, missing Mongolian tablet.

BLOODNOK:

Uh.

SEAGOON:

You see, that's what they stole.

BLOODNOK:

Describe these {feelons}.

SEAGOON:

You'll easily find them. They're carrying a Mongolian clay tablet in their pockets.

BLOODNOK:

Splendid, with that description they won't get far.

ECCLES:

ace">Neither will we.

BLOODNOK:

Shut up Eccles.

ECCLES:

Shut up Eccles.

BLOODNOK:

Don't you worry Seagoon we shall get them, remember we police are always on our toes. And everyone else's for that matter. But wait, who is this approaching in a five piece cardboard bikini and wearing male falsies? Yes it's Max English gentleman Geldrun.

INTERVAL:

Max Geldray "Peanuts"

(applause).

ORCHESTRA:

Oriental link.

GREENSLADE:

The Tomb of Ghengis Khan part two, in which Neddie Seagoon awaits news of an arrest.

SEAGOON:

Yes, five days passed, six, seven, eight, nine, a week, but no news. By now the criminals had almost given up hope of being caught. Then one night, unable to sleep I walked through the fog bound streets of {Hyde} Park.

MATE:

Ohhh.

SEAGOON:

Oh, I'm sorry I didn't see you standing in that tree.

MATE:

'Ere, you looking for them two crooks ain't you mate?

SEAGOON:

Yes. Why mate?

MATE:

Oowll, I know where they is mate. Needle nardle noo. They're in Singapore mate.

SEAGOON:

How do you know mate?

MATE:

They left their address for me to send on this parcel of laundry to 'em mate.

SEAGOON:

Ahh, I have an idea mate. (going off) Come with me, I ...

GREENSLADE:

While Seagoon is executing his idea mates, we go over to Mister Grytpype and Count Moriarty in Singapore mate:

GRAMS:

Bagpipes over:

GRYTPYPE:

Shut that window mate.

FX:

Window being shut. (bagpipes stop)

MORIARTY:

There, mate.

GRYTPYPE:

Thank you. As I was saying Moriarty, this clay tablet gives the exact location of the Emperors tomb. But as a precaution, I have had the entire inscription tattooed on the back of my false teeth. Just in case the tablet gets lost. By the way the man who did the tattooing was Doctor Fred FuManchu, Chinese tattooing artist.

MORIARTY:

Thank you for telling the listeners the entire plot. Talking of Doctor Fred Manchu the oriental tattooist, reminds me: As I was coming to the theatre tonight this parcel of the laundry just arrived from England.

GRYTPYPE:

Splendid Moriarty. Well I'm going to take a bath.

MORIARTY:

You English, you're so brave.

GRYTPYPE:

Yes. Now take this gun.

MORIARTY:

Yes.

GRYTPYPE:

And if the phone rings ...

MORIARTY:

Yes.

GRYTPYPE:

Don't hesitate to answer it.

MORIARTY:

Sapristi brains! You think of everything.

GRYTPYPE:

Not everything, sometimes I don't think of Aardvarks.

MORIARTY:

You mustn't be so careless. After all Aardvarks never killed anybody.

GRYTPYPE:

I don't wish to know that. (pause) Neither do the audience. Now ... Open that parcel.

MORIARTY:

Certainement.

FX:

Unwrapping paper. under:

MORIARTY:

Or if you're French. Certainement.

GRYTPYPE:

Merci

MORIARTY:

April in Paris. We found a charlie.

GRYTPYPE:

Save the brown paper for dinner.

FX:

paper noises stop.

MORIARTY:

Certainement. Sapristi, what's this inside?

SEAGOON:

Hands up Count Moriarty, worlds Louse Ladder Champion 1927.

MORIARTY:

Sapristi yukakakauuu.

SEAGOON:

Count, this is my friend Eccles.

ECCLES:

Hellooo.

SEAGOON:

Eccles, this is Count Moriarty.

MORIARTY:

Your humble servant.

SEAGOON:

Right! Now hands up again. Where's that rare tablet?

GRYTPYPE:

Neddie, lower that finger.

SEAGOON:

In the forty foot mirror, I rushed out and bought, I could see behind me Grytpype-Thynne standing up in the bath. Don't move Grytpype, drop that towel.

GRYTPYPE:

Right! There!

(pause)

ECCLES:

Ooowwhh.

GREENSLADE:

Ladies and gentlemen, now you know why this show can never go on television. We will continue with this delicate scene if the ladies in the studio audience will kindly put there hands over their ears. Thank you.

SEAGOON:

Right Eccles, keep these two covered with this flint pistol. I'm going to look for that tablet.

ECCLES:

Fine, fine, fine.

SEAGOON:

I shan't be long.

FX:

door opening. door closing.

(pause)

ECCLES:

De dum ... de da ... de dum ... yard a lo ... yardaloo. Da dum ooo

GRYTPYPE:

So you're the famous Eccles?

ECCLES:

Don't move, or I'll blow my brains out.

GRYTPYPE:

I'm sorry.

ECCLES:

(pause) Da di, de da la da dum, ma ha doo ee, de da dum.

GRYTPYPE:

My, my, my. What a lovely voice you have.

ECCLES:

oh dum ... Aaay?

GRYTPYPE:

I say, what a lovely voice you have.

ECCLES:

You think so?

GRYTPYPE:

Yes I do. Quite beautiful.

ECCLES:

Ohhh. {(ahem)}(sings loudly) YIE, DIE ... DIIIE DUM LA DA DIIIIIE, OH DIE ALALALAM a crowded room, {And somehow you know ... }

GRYTPYPE:

Do you know any more like that?

ECCLES:

Yeah, here's one. Ohh ooooarrrrum ... a crowded room ...

GRYTPYPE:

Eccles, ah um, not quite right. You see, to get the right feeling you must close your eyes.

ECCLES:

Huh, huh, huh, huh, huh, hah. I'm no fool, if I close my eyes I won't be able to see you.

GRYTPYPE:

Will you miss me?

ECCLES:

Oh, {hear, hear, hear, hear, hear}! Well listen if I close my eyes, I won't be able to see to point the gun at you. Ah, but wait, (sharp intake of breath) You're keeping your eyes open.

GRYTPYPE:

Of course.

ECCLES:

Ohh, that's easy then. Then you take the gun and mind you keep it pointed at you.

GRYTPYPE:

Scouts honour.

ECCLES:

Now {den (ahem)}, listen to me sing with my eyes closed. I'll close 'em. There. Hey. It's dark in here. (sings) I'm singing in the dark ... melodies of love {for} my old dad .. play that crazy saxophone, get that crazy rhythm. Lover come back, to me ...

FX:

Thump

ECCLES:

Ohooowwwllll!

FX:

door opens.

SEAGOON:

Eccles, look! I found the clay tablet an'....

FX:

thump.

SEAGOON:

Arrghh ah ooowl ooowl.

MORIARTY:

Well done Grytpype, you've got both of them.

GRYTPYPE:

Yes, well a bird in the Strand is worth two in Shepherds Bush. Quick, let's get going Moriarty.

MORIARTY:

Right. But the Mongolian clay tablet ...

GRYTPYPE:

Leave it behind then they'll think we've forgotten it.

MORIARTY:

But if we leave it behind, we will have forgotten it.

GRYTPYPE:

Gad Moriarty you think of everything.

MORIARTY:

Not everything, sometimes I don't think of Aardvarks.

GRYTPYPE:

You mustn't be so careless.

MORIARTY:

You're right, Aardvarks never killed anybody.

GRYTPYPE:

It's going to kill us if we use it anymore.

SEAGOON:

Oh my head, arghowll. What happened to me?

MORIARTY:

This.

FX:

Thump.

SEAGOON:

Arghoowll ... Thank you for telling me, Ohh oww

GRYTPYPE:

Let's go.

FX:

Door opened and closed.

ORCHESTRA:

dramatic link.

SEAGOON:

I knew that in order to reach the tomb, they'd make for the Singapore-China frontier. To bar the way I placed Eccles and comrade on guard.

BLUEBOTTLE:

Eccles? How do you like being on guard?

ECCLES:

Fine, fine.

BLUEBOTTLE:

Yes it is fine, I feel fine on guard.

ECCLES:

Yeah, so do I. I, I feel fine on guard.

BLUEBOTTLE:

Yes, it is nice to feel fine, i'n't it Eccles?

ECCLES:

Yah.

BLUEBOTTLE:

Yeah. Yes, it is fine.

ECCLES:

Yah.

BLUEBOTTLE:

Yeah. Encles?

ECCLES:

Hahahahum.

BLUEBOTTLE:

How do you feel now?

ECCLES:

Fine. I feel .... fine.

BLUEBOTTLE:

I feel fine too.

ECCLES:

Fine, fine.

BLUEBOTTLE:

Yes it is good that we both, what is us, feeling fine, i'n't it?

ECCLES:

Yah, we both feel fine.

BLUEBOTTLE:

Yes \we are both ...\

\BLUEBOTTLE & ECCLES:

Feeling fine.\

BLUEBOTTLE:

'Ere!

ECCLES:

What?!

BLUEBOTTLE:

I feel sick! {But}, never mind all is well. Here comes my capitan on his horse, Silver. Hi-ho silver.

FX:

Back firing, putter of old motor car, coming to a stop.

SEAGOON:

Whoa silver, whoa there, whoa-a, whoa. How much'll that be Gladys?

ELLINGTON:

Needle nardle noo.

FX:

coins in tray.

SEAGOON:

Keep the change. Away you go.

FX:

Steam train starting up, then speeding up faster and faster into distance.

GREENSLADE:

Astute listeners will no doubt be puzzled at a horse sounding like a taxi and a train. The truth is the animal was also a brilliant impressionist. And here now is his impression of Ray Ellington.

INTERVAL:

Ray Ellington sings "Lover Come Back to Me".

(applause).

FX:

Whining wind, tramping feet.

GRYTPYPE:

You hear that sound dear listeners? It's the eternal wind that howls over the {Lishum-Bak} mountains of Mongolia. It was over these we passed searching for the tomb.

MORIARTY:

Ahh oh ho. Sapristi monkeys, it's {so} cold. Look even the ice is frozen.

GRYTPYPE:

You should have bought some warm clothes.

MORIARTY:

I did, but they got cold up here.

GRYTPYPE:

I understand well. Where's that Mongolian porter.

SEAGOON:

(chinese accent) Here {I am} master, willing to slerve (aside, Neddie voice) Little does he know that I am Neddie Seagoon heavily disguised as a man who is heavily disguised.

FX:

thump.

SEAGOON:

Arroowll arrowwl.

GRYTPYPE:

Little does he know that that was a heavily disguised clout.

SEAGOON:

Little do they know that I am only {feigning} unconsciousness. I daren't {attack} now, they're too many. I'll wait till they've both gone, and then I'll spring.

FX:

Lots of slaps and yells with dramatic music {over top, ending with loud thump on the bass drum}.

SEAGOON:

Right. (catching breath) Right you swines had enough?

MORIARTY:

Yes.

SEAGOON:

Then untie me.

GRYTPYPE:

Come along now Neddie, why are you following us?

SEAGOON:

You're so attractive.

GRYTPYPE:

Oh!

MORIARTY:

Silence {nyuckoes}. Now then what's your little game?

SEAGOON:

Ping Pong. What's yours?

MORIARTY:

Please {Neddie}, no ad-libbing.

SEAGOON:

Needle nardle noo. You won't get away with this. The treasure in that tomb is mine, mine, mine, mine!

\ECCLES:

(off) Fine, fine, fine.\

SEAGOON:

If only I could get my hands free I could use the phone. Ahh! I'll dial with my feet. Get my toe in the di.., ooh, oh ... {I've got a} long nail ...(straining noises)

FX:

dialing {(under previous line)}

FLOWERDEW:

(phone) Hello, you want me?

SEAGOON:

Who are you?

FLOWERDEW:

(phone) I'm a chiropodist

FX:

hang up phone

SEAGOON:

Heavens...

MORIARTY:

So!

SEAGOON:

I have a corn exchange.

MORIARTY:

So Neddie, caught you using the telephone. Come on out with it!

SEAGOON:

What?

MORIARTY:

Threepence!

FX:

Cash register. drop coins in tray.

MORIARTY:

Thank you. Now start walking in front. With your hands and feet raised above your head.

SEAGOON:

So we trudged the barren landscape. It was a long day. It lasted thirty six hours. We camped at night fall. Next morning the blow struck.

GRYTPYPE:

(toothless) Neddie, Neddie, bad news lad.

SEAGOON:

What's up?

GRYTPYPE:

(toothless) While I was asleep the worlds Louse Ladder Champion of 1927, stole my false teeth. (aside) Which dear listeners you will remember had been inscribed on the back with the map of the tomb by Doctor Fred FuManchu, oriental tatooist.

SEAGOON:

Then Moriarty is the only one who knows the way to the tomb.

FX:

knock, knock, knock

SEAGOON:

Come in.

FX:

rattle door knob, door opened.

ECCLES:

Helloo. {Hear, hear}, I found Moriarty in the tomb, (going off) I'll show you where it is, come on.

GREENSLADE:

Listeners will no doubt think it ludicrous that Eccles should suddenly come through a door a thousand miles from the nearest building. The truth is several doors have been placed at intervals in the Mongolian mountains so as to obtain the sound of a door opening. Thus making it more interesting for listeners. Especially those without doors of there own.

ORCHESTRA:

Tradaa cymbal crash.

GREENSLADE:

Thank you. Meantime, Neddie has arrived at the mouth of the tomb.

ECCLES:

Hear, hear, you see this big rock blocking the cave? Well the tombs behind there.

SEAGOON:

How the devil could Moriarty have moved that by himself?

ECCLES:

He didn't, he said he'd need four men to open it.

MORIARTY:

Yes gentlemen, four men.

GRYTPYPE:

(with his teeth back in) Yes Neddie four men. Hands up.

SEAGOON:

Arggghh. You two swines, so that's why you got Eccles and me here? To help open the tomb door.

GRYTPYPE:

Come lads start working.

ECCLES:

Hey, who're you pushing?

GRYTPYPE:

You.

ECCLES:

So that's why I'm moving.

GRYTPYPE:

Together, heave ...

OMNES:

straining noises.

SEAGOON:

Watch out for the old tenors friend.

GRYTPYPE:

Aardvarks never killed anybody.

OMNES:

straining noises.

MORIARTY:

There (catching breath), it's open. (lip smacking noises) Sapristi nuckos, the tombs empty!

GRYTPYPE:

(toothless) Sapristi nucka

MORIARTY:

It's been ransacked. Who could have taken the treasures? Who could have known about this place?

GRYTPYPE:

(toothless) What's this card on the floor? Doctor Fred FuManchu oriental tatooist.

MORIARTY:

huhuha hol. Foiled by Fred!

SEAGOON:

Anybody for tennis?

GRYTPYPE:

Too much like hard work.

SEAGOON:

Aardvarks never killed anybody.

GRYTPYPE:

Darling, together again, shall we dance?

SEAGOON:

Love too.

ORCHESTRA:

Theme tune.

GREENSLADE:

That was the goon show, a BBC recorded program, 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 Spike Milligan, announcer Wallace Greenslade, the program produced by Peter Eton.

ORCHESTRA:

Theme tune to end.

\ORCHESTRA:

Playout "Lady be Good".\