Monty Python and the Holy Grail Page #5

Under this voice over we have a montage of shots of ARTHUR recruiting

his Knights:

1. ARTHUR, PATSY, BEDEVERE and PAGE riding through hillside.

MIX TO:

2. A castle. LONG SHOT of SIR GAWAIN standing outside and ARTHUR's

group approaching and shaking hands perhaps.

3. MIX TO the group now plus SIR GAWAIN and PAGE (who is weighted

down by an enormous quantity of luggage) riding down by a stream

and approaching SIR HECTOR. ARTHUR dubs him.

4. MIX TO the group (now plus HECTOR and PAGE) approaching some group

of buildings or whatever. In the distance SIR ROBIN is being taught

the lute by one of his MUSICIANS. ARTHUR calls and SIR ROBIN

immediately reacts and hands the lute to his MUSICIAN and comes to

join ARTHUR & CO.

5. MIX TO SIR GALAHAD surrounded by chickens. He is wearing a carpenters

apron over his immaculate armour and is finishing off a hen-house.

We see the group approach and he throws off the apron and puts down

the hen-house and goes to join them.

6. MIX TO the group riding along again.

7. MIX TO SIR LAUNCELOT handing a BABY to his WIFE (who has several other

CHILDREN hanging about) and he strides off to join ARTHUR, leaving his

castle, WIFE and CHILDREN. The castle (Eilean Donan) has washing

hanging outside it. A real family castle. There are at least

six kids.

8. MIX TO the complete group, i.e. ARTHUR and PATSY, BEDEVERE and PAGE,

GAWAIN and PAGE, HECTOR and PAGE, GALAHAD and PAGE, SIR ROBIN and

six MUSICIANS, LAUNCELOT and PAGE.

6 CLOSE-UP of a book on which is written:

THE BOOK OF THE FILM

VOICE OVER:

The wise Sir Bedevere was the first to join King Arthur's knights ...

but other illustrious names were soon to follow ...

Hand turns page.

VOICE OVER:

Sir Launcelot the Brave ...

Hand turns page.

VOICE OVER:

Sir Galahad the Pure ...

Hand turns page.

VOICE OVER:

And Sir Robin-the-not-quite-so-pure-as-Sir-Launcelot ...

Hand turns page.

VOICE OVER:

... Who had nearly fought the Dragon of Agnor ...

Hand turns page.

VOICE OVER:

... Who had nearly stood up to to the vicious Chicken of Bristol ...

Hand turns Page.

VOICE OVER:

... and who had personally wet himself at the Battle of Badon Hill ...

and the aptly named ...

Hand turns page.

VOICE OVER:

Sir Not-appearing-in-this-film.

Hand turns page.

VOICE OVER:

Together they formed band whose names and deeds were to be retold

throughout the centuries ... The Knights of the Round Table ...

A gorilla's hand snatches away the hand.

Music swells and fades and we MIX THROUGH TO:

7 EXTERIOR - SUNSET

Fairly close HEAD-ON SHOT of the KNIGHTS riding along. BEDEVERE and ARTHUR

at the front of the group deep in conversation.

BEDEVERE:

And that, my lord, is how we know the Earth to be banana-shaped.

ARTHUR:

This new learning amazes me, Sir Bedevere. Explain again how

sheep's bladders may be employed to prevent earthquakes.

BEDEVERE:

OF course, my Liege ...

LAUNCELOT:

(he points)

Look, my liege!

They all stop and look.

ARTHUR:

(with thankful reverence)

Camelot!

CUT TO shot of amazing castle in the distance. Illuminated in the rays of

the setting sun.

Music.

CUT BACK TO ARTHUR and the group. They are all staring with fascination.

GALAHAD:

Camelot ...

LAUNCELOT:

Camelot ...

GAWAIN:

(at the back, to PAGE)

It's only a model.

ARTHUR:

(turning sharply)

Sh!

(to the rest)

Knights! I bid you welcome to your new home! Let us ride ...

to Camelot.

8 INTERIOR - NIGHT

CUT TO interior of medieval hall. A large group of armoured KNIGHTS are

engaged in a well choreographed song-and-dance routine of the very up-beat

'If they could see me now' type of fast bouncy number. The poorer verses

are made clearer by CUTTING to a group of knights actually engaged in

the described task while the line itself is sung. They sing:

KNIGHTS:

We're knights of the round table

We dance whene'er we're able

We do routines and chorus scenes

With footwork impeccable.

We dine well here in Camelot

We eat ham and jam and spam a lot.

We're knights of the Round Table

Our shows are formidable

But many times

We're given rhymes

That are quite unsingable

We're opera mad in Camelot

We sing from the diaphragm a lot.

Booming basses. A routine where two XYLOPHONISTS play parts of KNIGHTS'

armour producing a pleasing effect.

In war we're tough and able.

Quite indefatigable

Between our quests

We sequin vests

And impersonate Clark Gable

It's a busy life in Camelot.

SINGLE MAN:

I have to push the pram a lot.

CUT BACK TO ARTHUR and BEDEVERE and COMPANY as we had left them.

ARTHUR:

No, on second thought, let's not go to Camelot.

KNIGHTS:

Right!

ARTHUR:

It is a silly place.

They set off again almost immediately they are suffused in ethereal radiance

and strange heavenly choir music. The PAGES, horselike, take fright for a

moment, they whinny and rattle their coconuts. ARTHUR and the KNIGHTS

fall on their knees. A holy voice booms out.

GOD:

Arthur! Arthur ... King of the Britons ...

They all prostrate themselves even further

Oh, don't grovel ... do get up! If there's one thing I can't stand,

it's people grovelling!!

ARTHUR and COMPANY rise.

ARTHUR:

Sorry ...

GOD:

And don't apologize. Every time I try to talk to someone it's

sorry this and forgive me that and I'm not worthy and ...

What are you doing now?

ARTHUR:

I'm averting my eyes, Lord.

GOD:

Well, don't.

I really don't know where all this got started.

It's like those miserable psalms. they're so depressing.

Now knock it of

ARTHUR:

Yes, Lord.

GOD:

Right. Arthur, King of the Britons, you're Knights of the Round

Table shall have a task to make them an example in these dark times ...

ARTHUR:

Good idea, O Lord!

GOD:

Course it's a good idea.

Suddenly another light glows beside GOD or possibly within the light which

is GOD a shape slowly starts to form.

Behold ... Arthur ... this is the Holy Grail ...

the Sacred Cup from which Christ drank at the Last Supper ...

The form in the bright light is just discernible as an iridescent chalice

... the KNIGHTS gasp.

Look well, Arthur ... for it is your sacred task to seek

this Grail.

It begins to fade. Music crescendo as both lights fade.

That is your purpose Arthur ... the Quest for the Holy Grail ...

It is gone. All the KNIGHTS are left gasping in awe and wonderment. They

all turn and look at ARTHUR.

LAUNCELOT:

A Blessing. A blessing from the lord.

BEDEVERE:

Praise be to God!

An awed pause, then ARTHUR rallies them.

ARTHUR:

We have a task, we must waste no time! To Camelot!

GALAHAD:

God be praised!

Stirring music crescendo. They ride off.

CUT TO TITLES SEQUENCE Animation: "The Quest For The Holy Grail" After

titles CUT TO:

9 EXTERIOR - CASTLE - DAY

MIX THROUGH one or two shots of them on their way again, until they approach

a terrific castle (a little one would do too). They advance quite close to

the castle and draw themselves into a line. At a signal from ARTHUR the two

PAGES step forward and give a brief fanfare.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote