Good evening. It's good to be with you again, isn't it, Ronnie? Yes, it is. And
let's start straight away with news of another scandal.
A Sunday newspaper has in its possession a picture of the Prime Minister in a
very embarrassing and compromising position.
He is fully clothed and shaking hands with President Nixon.
And President Nixon told a congressional committee today that he had not taken a
lie detector test.
If there was one missing, it had been taken without his knowledge.
In Dublin today, police raided the printing press of Ireland's most
forger and took away two million seven pound notes.
Whilst at a football pool, federation, fancy dress ball, a young lady arrived
entirely naked except for a cross marked on each bosom.
She explained that she was a chest of drawers.
Accidentally today, Raquel Welch had a hole in one and a very interesting split
in the other.
We understand... We
understand that many people in Chorley are suffering from foreign interference.
There's little you can do about it, but watch out for a Frenchman with a feather
on a stick.
The President Armin and his personal witch doctor arrived today in a
mumbo -jumbo jet.
Yes, and when the Captain of the Guard of Honour called out, The President
replied,
And shot him.
And now for a sketch about three elephants and a coat hanger.
But for economy reasons, we're going to do without the coat hanger.
Hello, I want to join the...
I want to join the library.
Do you mind not shouting, please? I can't help shouting.
Please, talk quietly.
I can't talk quietly. That's why I want to join the library.
I want a copy of a book entitled How Not to Shout.
Thank you very much indeed.
Mr. Simpson?
Yes?
How Not to Shout. What?
This gentleman wants a book called How Not to Shout.
There's no such book.
Oh, yes, there is.
I know.
It's called How Not to Shout.
No, no. There's a book called How to Shout Louder or How to Shout
Loud. That's a very good one. Or How to Scream at the... No, no. I don't want to
shout. What?
I want to stop shouting.
That's why I want a copy of the book entitled How Not to Shout.
The first chapter.
Hurry up and finish it. I'd like to read it next. I ought to read it next.
Shut up.
No, I want to read it.
I asked for it first.
Look, I'm the chief librarian. I need to read it. Agenda.
Parachute.
A parachute?
A parachute, Mr. Aspinall.
Don't question my decisions, Mr. Aspinall.
All it needs for you to do is to take a wrong turning in the multi -story car
park, a few circuits, and there we are, teetering on the edge of infinity.
That's why I brought a parachute, Mr. Aspinall.
You'll learn that that is the secret of good driving.
Intelligent anticipation.
Now... To the best of your knowledge, Mr. Astral, have you suffered from any
notifiable disease?
No.
Have you any history of emotional instability?
Certainly not.
You can tell us, you know.
The depths of the human psyche are an open book to we at the Ministry of
Transport. Look, there's no cogs loose in our family, thank you very much.
What are you doing?
Is all that necessary?
You wouldn't ask a question like that, Mr. Aspinall, if you'd been driven
through Woolworths on a busy Saturday like I've been driven through
Now, a few preliminaries.
As a general rule, if I scream, I would like you to regard this as an
instruction to reduce your road speed.
If I tap the face here, thus, one.
it means that I want you to drive with care because I've got my eyes closed.
If I tap the face here twice, thus, it means I am trusting you implicitly, Mr.
Aspinall, and allowing you to move into second gear.
Now, you'll probably hear some wind noise because I prefer to drive with the
door slightly open.
Now, you'll get used to that, but should you hear it close, drive with care
because it means I've gone.
Thank goodness for not crossing the Sahara, but it should get you through
high street all right.
Charming, isn't it? Now, if you should feel it stopping, I'd like you to give
a clear warning, if you would.
Oh, dear, oh, Lord.
Haven't we got any plasma?
No, that's in the emergency pack.
Oh, by the way, if you should have to give me a transfusion...
For God's sake, don't get the bottles mixed up.
There's some brake fluid in there.
And you'll find my blood group tattooed just below the left ventricle.
Just to the left of the dripping dagger and the scroll saying, to death or
glory. It means that the highway code is receding further back every minute.
Eager for the fray, are you?
Yet you've been at it a while.
I've seen the flower of the Ministry of Transport cut off in his prime.
Young Bucknell from Welland.
went out to hear one Saturday morning with a slip of the girl, came back
completely gone out of his mind.
They found him right up a post by a zebra crossing, singing, Nearer, my God,
thee.
Right, now pay attention.
When I signal thus, it means we're going to turn to our right. When I signal
thus, it means we're going to turn to our left. When I do this, it means give
two of the blue tablets from my top left -hand breast.
It's a glass of water from the flask in the emergency pack, right?
Now, come on. Let's get going.
Let's... Oh, by the way.
Should I divest myself... Should I divest myself thus?
It means that we are approaching a harbour area, and I would like you to...
Aspinall, will you come back here? Mr. Aspinall, come back!
They're always doing this. They don't like me, you know. It's because I speak
too well.
Mr. Aspinall, come back here, you wretched...
The care of the sick is a very worthwhile subject for study, and a
first aid is a must for everyone today.
80 % of accidents happen in the home.
The most important thing to remember in first aid is to keep the patient calm.
Don't try to remedy the situation yourself.
Simply lie the patient down, cover with a blanket, and get them to drink plenty
of hot sweet tea.
is the keynote always when dealing with a patient.
A blanket bath, for instance, can be an unnerving experience if a person is
unused to it.
When bandaging an injured limb, Do not do so in such a way that the limb is
difficult to cope with.
can often still be gainfully employed.
Fearfulness is a great asset, but remember that one must never treat a
disability too lightly.
the patient is concerned about his ailment and never subject him to undue
pressure.
Make sure you know how to handle equipment properly and that it's in a
condition.
Be attentive at all times to the needs of the patient.
And never be caught off guard for a moment.
and our guest for this evening, Donna.
He said you'd give to me soon as you were free. Where did hell go free?
Where is the light?
you would tell me so.
Good evening again, and thank you for all your letters and, you know, kind
inquiries about my family, etc.
I'm pleased to be able to say that my wife's rather delicate health has
improved.
We did have a little upset yesterday when I took her for a row on the
serpentine, and halfway across she went down with scurvy.
And we've discovered that it was our Swedish au pair who killed the milkman.
It took her a little time, but she did it.
Then we've had some more trouble, had some more trouble with our new house.
The cement was too weak and people were stealing the bricks.
Then the front door died of Dutch elm disease.
Not a pretty sight.
I don't know if you've ever stood there and watched your knocker dropping off.
Not very nice at all.
The kiddies, the kiddies, however, are doing very well the first year at
I say very well. It's one of these progressive schools, you know, where the
children go to school when they feel like going to school.
And they haven't actually been there yet.
Well, they haven't actually been inside, you know.
By the way, by the way, I heard a very... I said that rather funnily.
By the way, I was going to... Instead of by the way.
By the way... By the way, I heard a very interesting theory from Mrs. Margaret
Thatcher when I was having a quick one with her in our local yesterday.
She said that if you can get your children to run three miles every
three miles every evening, by the end of the week they could be 42 miles away.
By the way, that's not the Margaret Thatcher who is well known for getting
Parliament. That is the Margaret Thatcher who is well known for falling
the Duke's head.
And I would say, as I was saying, you know, schools today are quite a bit
different from the schools I went to, you know, the old Martin Borman
comprehensive.
That was probably the last school in England to retain capital punishment.
And, of course, the teachers weren't really up to today's standard by any
not at all up to today's standard. I mean, I remember our games master.
Now, his only qualification was a rudimentary knowledge of bingo and a
on the easy six.
And I recall that the teacher who took us in sex education was very, very shy.
In fact, he was so shy, he used to shut himself in a cupboard and shout through
a knot hole.
Now, most people's introduction to the subject, you know, is the birds and the
bees. Mine was a disembodied voice shouting, some do and some don't, and
sailor.
For the more advanced... For the more advanced... students, you know, used to
put on a black stocking and stick his leg out of the door.
Even when I eventually, no, this is true, even when I eventually got married
my dear, lovely wife, who is at this moment, well, somewhere or other,
even when we got married, I was so shy that we hardly spoke from the time we
shook hands at the altar until I waved to her from my window of my room in the
YMCA Torremolinos.
Actually, the marriage was my dad's idea, you see.
She was the girl next door, and her father had an electric drill.
Now, I seem to have forgotten a very funny joke I was going to tell you. Oh,
yes, I know.
Last. I've got it.
And I've also remembered the joke I was going to tell you.
A chap goes into a
restaurant, and he said to the waiter, he said, I'd like some cold vegetable
soup with some...
chopped raincoat, and perhaps a cigarette end in it, and then I'd like
if he would, to take a sirloin steak and set light to it, let it burn for a
while, then drop it in the sink, and wait for just a minute, just a moment,
He said, we can't possibly serve a meal like that. And the man said, why not?
You did it yesterday.
Deuteronomy 22, verses 2 to 5.
I beg your pardon?
Deuteronomy 22, verses 2 to 5.
Oh, I'm sorry.
2 Kings 8, 7 to 14.
Oh, really? You wouldn't surprise me. I should have thought Micah 2 .40.
Oh, no, no. You're forgetting Zebediah 9, 13, down to I what, not what you get.
Oh, of course.
Ruth 13, 10 to 11.
No, the way I heard it, it was Daniel 3.
Oh, yes.
But surely that would mean Nahum 7, wouldn't it?
Oh, yes, yes, but surely not if it's done with taste.
No, no, no.
Nehemiah 2, 7 to 8.
Leviticus.
Judges 14.
Nehemiah 10.
Amos 22.
Nehemiah 10.
Haggai 12.
Nehemiah 10.
Yes, well, of course, it's all right for you. You're married.
So this is called it.
Never keep me in here.
That's testing you.
My name's Carter. George Carter.
How are you?
I'm Dickie.
Not feeling so good myself, you know.
How long have you been cooped up in here, then? Four years.
Four years, eh? No wonder you're feeling Dickie.
Have you ever thought about trying to escape?
No, no, no. My name's Dickie. Oh! Oh, I see. Sorry.
And don't think you're going to escape from here. This place is impregnable.
Don't you believe it.
That's what they said about Doreen Phipps, how wrong they were.
Were they?
Well, I'm paying a 30 bob a week judge for yourself.
No, we'll soon get out of here.
Oh, you better have a word with Captain Whitmore.
Oh, where is he?
I'm not quite sure, as a matter of fact. Hello?
Hello, I'm stuck in here.
The door seems to have jammed in here.
Yes, that's him. Coming!
I'm the escape officer.
How do you do, sir? My name's Carter.
Whitmore.
Sorry about the oil can. I can't get it off my finger.
I was oiling my bed springs the other day.
Oiling the bed springs? Is this a mixed dormitory?
What?
Yes, rather. Oh, yes, yes.
Officers and men, yes.
I knew what you mean, got me going there.
Thought for a while I wouldn't bother to escape after all.
Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, Carter, but I'm afraid the only woman on
camp is Matron.
Oh, what's she like?
Blonde and big with it. I like big women.
Luckily, she's a vegetarian.
Why? She'd have you for breakfast.
I see, that's the way of it. Well, I'm going to get her out of here straight
away. Now, just a minute, Carter, just a minute.
It's not as easy as that.
We have a code of conduct in here.
Of course you want to escape. Everybody does.
But it has to be organized.
You need money, clothing, a cover story, and all this means that there's none of
this go -it -alone stuff.
Now, we've built up a team of experts in here to deal with every aspect.
Now, every escape must be planned, and planned down to the very last minute
detail. Do you understand?
Which is to speak with you.
He has taken in command.
You will wash, shave, and be ready to report in half an hour.
Keep your hair on, Fritzie, then. I have no hair.
And I have no time to waste.
Touchy lot, aren't they, eh?
Ah, it's you, Carter.
Sit down, please.
There's no chair.
Well, instead, we don't run this place for your comfort, Carter.
Now, just one or two things I would like you to know before you commence your
stay here in Colitz.
This is a top security prison. There's no escape.
Do you understand?
From now on, you're in the hands of superior prison officers.
Should you attempt to escape, here is a list of the men you would have to deal
with.
Hauptmann Leitz, Sturmbannführer Schmeling, Sturmbannführer Haefler,
Blattow, and Oppengruppenveranstaltergegrossler
Do you understand all this?
Yes, luckily my father kept a delicatessen.
Really? Yeah, that was before he was in show business.
Show business, huh.
I like show business.
What does he do?
He's an escapologist.
Well, Flight Lieutenant Carter, I hope you won't entertain any thoughts of
escape from here, following in your father's footsteps.
Because I can assure you, escape from cold is impossible.
Monsieur, you will not manage it.
Now, then.
Here is your prison number and the address to which a letter should be
It will be forwarded to your family via the Red Cross. You understand?
Yes.
You realize it's the duty of every officer to try and escape, don't you? Of
course I realize it, Flight Lieutenant.
I just thought that I would save you a little time and energy.
I can think of many better ways of spending the time.
Don't you agree?
I think you're right.
Quart, I think he's coming back.
Is that you, Carter?
Yeah. How's it going?
Pretty well.
Another couple of feet. Oh, thanks very much.
How much further have you got to go?
I told you, two more feet.
I thought you meant two more feet.
Thank you very much. Has someone else just turned to provide the socks?
How about you, Whitmore?
No, no, I've got a potato in mind.
This goes on much longer. I should be able to grow them in mind.
Look out.
Matron.
you that the RAF have dropped a load of Red Cross parcels for you. Oh, ma 'am.
Unfortunately,
when they hit the ground, they were shattered completely.
Only one survived.
Oh, why?
I had fun bathing on the roof, and it landed on top of me. It bounced.
Yes, it would.
Bring it in, please.
What? Oh, the box. Thank you, chappy.
Well, no wonder it bounced.
It's a load of balls.
Yes, a few balls.
All clear.
Right, this is it, lads. I'm going to make my final bid for freedom. If I'm
back within three hours, come down the tunnel and investigate.
Right. Good luck, Carter. Drop us the postcard. I'll do better than that. When
get to France, I'll send you a letter.
All we've got to do now is wait.
Well, it's three hours later.
I'm going through to investigate.
Good Lord.
What are you doing?
You've got to take it when you can get it.
You never told me the tunnel came out in Matron's bedroom.
Pure coincidence.
Bit of luck, though, ain't it?
Got to work this time.
I don't see why I shouldn't.
We've got money and papers.
Once we get over that wall, we stand a damn good chance.
Got the sheets tied together?
Only two.
Most of the lads were damn mean about giving us the sheets.
Damn selfish bastards.
You were the only one who volunteered.
That's all right. Only two sheets?
How high is this wall?
Eighty feet.
Well, we'll just have to drop the last bit.
Come on.
You look fine, honestly.
Well, goodbye, Chapman Hillsport.
See you again when this damn show's over.
Yeah.
Thanks for the sheets, Dickie. Welcome.
Bye.
Who needs sheets?
Come in, Matron!
We're over. Are you all right?
Here's fine.
Bit of a headache.
I suggest we stay put under the shadow of the wall till morning.
Good idea.
Good night, old boy.
Bye.
Good morning, gentlemen.
Hello. You got over the wall, did you?
You will be sorry, I can assure you.
Welcome to Butler.
Well, that's all for tonight.
Next week, we'll be asking some searching questions on education, for
Can cross -eyed teachers control their pupils?
And on divers with chickenpox, do they really come up to scratch?
And for music lovers, the Birmingham Bean Ensemble will amalgamate with the
Birmingham Radish Ensemble to form the Birmingham Wind Ensemble.
Now, a few items of late news.
Sir Hartley Withers, the explorer, had a fantastic escape today.
He was being chased by three hungry lions, and they were only two feet
him when, a thousand to one chance, he was eaten by a crocodile.
And a seed firm in Luton claim they have grown a new kind of lettuce that
enables men to live to a great age and retain their virility.
If you want any of these seeds, please write to Dunmore and Sons and Sons and
Sons and Sons.
What utter nonsense.
And they taste revolting anyway.
Newsflash.
A last, sorry, a last newsflash that's just handed to me here reveals that W
Smith are to ban a thousand -piece nude jigsaw of Tom Jones unless 73 pieces are
withdrawn.
So it's goodnight from me and it's goodnight from him. Goodnight.