Monty Python's Flying Circus (TV Series)

E. Henry Thripshaw's Disease (1972)

Eric Idle: Second Assistant, Elizabethan Gent, Mr. Husband, Various Roles

Photos 

Quotes 

• Superintendent Gaskell : Look. This is the last time. I'm warning you, I'm not Sir Philip-bleeding-Sidney. I am Superintendent Harold Gaskell and this is a raid.

  Second Assistant : [to a customer, ignoring Gaskell]  That'll be 540 quid, sir.

  Man with Pile of Books : Oh, I'll just have this one then.

  Superintendent Gaskell : Maddox!

  [Turns to all in shop] 

  Superintendent Gaskell : Look, this is a raid... Honestly!

• Voice Over : [and caption]  The Free Repetition of Doubtful Words Skit, Spoof, Jape or Vignette, By a Very Underrated Writer.

  [a Post Office counter window with "Telegram Enquiries" over the top, seen through an ornate vignette. The clerk is behind the counter and Mr. Peepee enters. They speak very stiltedly] 

  Mr. Peepee : I've come for some free repetition of doubtful words on an inland telegram.

  Clerk : Have you got the telegram in question?

  Mr. Peepee : I have the very thing here.

  Clerk : Well, slip it to me my good chap and let me eye the contents.

  Mr. Peepee : At once, Mr Telegram Enquiry Man.

  Clerk : [taking the telegram and opening it]  Thank you Mr Customer Man. Aha! "Parling I glove you. Clease clome at bronce, your troving swife, Pat." Which was the word you wanted checking?

  Mr. Peepee : Pat.

  Clerk : Pat?

  Mr. Peepee : My wife's name is not Pat at all.

  Clerk : No?

  Mr. Peepee : It's Bat. With a B.

  Clerk : And therefore I will take a quick look in the book.

  [Caption: One Quick Look in the Book Later] 

  Clerk : You're quite right, old cock. There *has* been a mistake.

  Mr. Peepee : I thought as much. What really does it say?

  Clerk : It say "Go away you silly little bleeder. I am having another man. Love, Bat". Quite some error.

  Mr. Peepee : Yes. She wouldn't call herself Pat, it's silly.

  Clerk : Daft, I call it.

  Mr. Peepee : Well it has been a pleasure working with you.

  Clerk : For me also it has been a pleasure.

  [to camera] 

  Clerk : And that concludes our little skit.

  [the two men slightly hold a final pose, with string quartet music playing. Camera pulls back to reveal a string quartet playing the music] 

  Voice Over : [and caption]  The Free Repetition of Doubtful Words Thing, by a Justly Underrated Writer. The End.

• Second Assistant : There's a 'Bridget - Queen of the Whip'.

  Porn Shop Customer : Yes...

  Second Assistant : Or 'Naughty Nora'... or there's this one: 'Doug, Bob and Gordon Visit the Ark Royal'. Or there's 'Sister Teresa: The Spanking Nun'.

  Porn Shop Customer : Mmmm, I see. You don't have anything specially about Devon and Cornwall?

  Second Assistant : No, I'm afraid not, sir.

  Porn Shop Customer : The one I was really after was Arthur Hotchkiss's 'Devonshire Country Churches'.

  Second Assistant : Well how about this, sir: 'Bum Biters'?

  Porn Shop Customer : No, not really. I don't suppose you have any general surveys of English church architecture?

  Second Assistant : No, it's not really our line, sir.

  Porn Shop Customer : No, I see. Well, never mind I'll just take the 'Lord Lieutenant in Nylons' then, and trade in these two copies of 'Piggie Parade'. Thank you.