Series 2, Episode 26: Man Who Only Speaks the Beginning (Middle, End) of Words
The cast:
INTERVIEWER Terry Jones
MR. ITH Eric Idle
MR. SM John Cleese
SCOT Michael Palin
The sketch:
(Enter from back of set as per Eamonn Andrews show Mr Ohn lth. He sits at the desk)
Mr Ith: … ood … ing.
Interviewer: Nice to have you on the show.
Mr Ith: … ice … o … e … ere.
Interviewer: Mr Ith, don’t you find it very difficult to make yourself understood?
Mr Ith: Yes, it is extremely difficult.
Interviewer: Just a minute, you’re a fraud!
Mr Ith: Oh no. I can speak the third and fourth sentences perfectly
normally.
Interviewer: Oh I see. So your next sentence will be only the ends of words again?
Mr Ith: T’s… ight.
Interviewer: Well, let’s move on to our next guest who speaks only the beginnings of words, Mr J … Sm… Mr Sm… good evening.
(Enter Mr Sm.)
Mr Sm: G… e…
Interviewer: Well, have you two met before?
Mr Sm: N…
Mr Ith: … o
Mr Sm: N…
Mr Ith: … o
Interviewer:Well, this is really a fascinating occasion because we have in the studio Mr … oh … I … who speaks only the middles of words. Good evening.
(Enter Scot.)
Scot: …. oo …… ni…
Interviewer: Um, where do you come from?
Scot: . .. u… i… a…
Interviewer: Dunfermline in Scotland. Well let me introduce you, Mr. Ohn Ith…
Mr Ith: … ood … ing.
Scot: … oo …… ni…
Interviewer: J… Sm…
Scot: … oo …… ni…
Mr Sm: G… Eve…
Interviewer: Yes, well, ha, ha, just a moment. Perhaps you would all like to say good evening together.
Mr Sm: G…
Scot: . .. oo…
Mr Ith: … d
Mr Sm: Eve…
Scot: … ni…
Mr Ith: … ing.