Withnail
and I
Camden Town, London. 1969
The Flat.
A few shafts of sunlight sneak through the curtains and
illuminate a living room. Victorian heirlooms, antique furniture
and a pair of iceskates. Empty bottles everywhere. Marwood
is in a chair, smoking a cigarette and sweating anxiety.
Looks at his thumbs. He gets up gingerly and walks into
a kitchen full of bottles, washing up and dead flowers in
black water. He lights the stove and dumps the kettle on
it. Now he's down the stairs and at Withnail's door, knocking.
- Marwood:
- I'm having a cup of tea, do you want one?
No response.
- Marwood:
- Do you want a cup of tea Withnail?
- Withnail:
- No.
He can't stay in this house anymore. He leaves, slamming
the door behind him.
The Cafe
Marwood is reading a paper at a table in the cafe. The
proprietor is frying eggs; they flap in a quarter inch of
grease. She lifts one out, slaps it into a sandwich and
places it in front of an derelict old woman. The sandwich
is bitten and yolk pours onto the plate. Marwood turns his
attention to another's newspaper; headline: "Love made
up my mind, I had to become a woman". He looks around
at the other customers with horror in his eyes.
- Marwood [mentally]:
- Thirteen million Londoners have to cope with this, and
baked beans and All-bran and rape? And I'm sitting in
this bloody shack and I can't cope with Withnail. I must
be out of my mind. I must go home at once and discuss
his problems in depth.
The Flat
Marwood stumbles up the barely lit stairs looking unwell.
Withnail emerges from his room holding a bottle and glass
and follows him. Looking sicker than Marwood, he has nevertheless
dressed for the occasion; brogues and tweed. When he speaks
he gives away an aristocratic education.
- Withnail:
- I have some extremely distressing news.
- Marwood:
- I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear anything.
My God, it's a nightmare out there I tell you, a nightmare.
- Withnail [pouring the last from his bottle]:
- We've just run out of wine. What are we going to do
about it?
- Marwood:
- I don't know, I don't know. I don't feel good.
They follow each other into the living room. Marwood has
forgotten about the kettle and the room is filling with
steam. Marwood catches himself in the mirror as he passes.
- Marwood:
- Look! My thumbs have gone weird. I'm in the middle of
a fucking overdose. My heart's beating like a fucked clock.
I feel dreadful, I feel fucking dreadful.
- Withnail:
- So do I. So does everyone. [Inspects his tongue in
the mirror] Look at my tongue. It's wearing a yellow
sock. Sit down for Christ's sake, what's the matter with
you? Eat some sugar.
Withnail collapses on the sofa with a newspaper. Marwood
is in the kitchen fighting the vapour. Withnail gets up
and starts following him around, reading from the paper.
- Withnail:
- Listen to this. "Curse of the Supermen: I took
drugs to win medal says top athlete Jeff Wode."
- Marwood [not listening, looking for something]:
- Where's the coffee?
- Withnail:
- "In a world exclusive interview, thirty three year
old shot putter Jeff Wode, who weighs three hundred and
seventeen pounds, admitted taking massive doses of anabolic
steroids, drugs banned in sport. 'He used to get in bad
tempers and act daft' said his wife. 'He used to pick
on me. But now he's stopped, he's much better in our sex
life and in our general life'."
I pours water from the kettle into a bowl and goes back
into the living room. Withnail follows, becoming interested
in the newspaper story.
- Withnail:
- Jesus Christ, this huge, thatched head with its earlobes
and cannonball is now considered sane. Jeff Wode is feeling
better and is now prepared to step back into society and
start tossing his orb about. [Waves the paper at Marwood]
Look at him. Look at Jeff Wode. His head must weigh fifty
pounds on its own.
Withnail stands in front of a mirror, combing his lank
hair back. Marwood sits on the sofa and spoons coffee from
the bowl. Withnail is becoming fascinated by Jeff Wode.
- Withnail:
- Imagine the size of his balls. Imagine getting into
a fight with the fucker!
- Marwood:
- Please, I don't feel good.
- Withnail:
- That's what you'd say, but that wouldn't wash with Jeff.
No, he'd like a bit of pleading. Add spice to it. In fact,
he'd probably tell you what he was going to do before
he did it. [Starts acting out the scene in his head]
"I'm going to pull your head off". "Oh
no, please, don't pull my head off". "I'm going
to pull your head off because I don't like your head."
He sees Marwood drinking from the bowl.
- Withnail:
- Have you got soup? Why didn't I get any soup?
- Marwood:
- Coffee.
- Withnail:
- Why don't you use a cup like any other human being?
- Marwood:
- Why don't you wash up occasionally like any other human
being?
- Withnail [rising to the challenge]:
- How dare you? How dare you! How dare you call me inhumane?
- Marwood:
- I didn't call you inhumane. You merely imagined it.
Calm down.
- Withnail:
- Right you fucker. I'm going to do the washing up!
He strides towards the kitchen. Marwood jumps up and tries
to pacify him.
- Marwood:
- No, no, you can't. It's impossible, I swear to you.
I've looked into it. Listen to me, listen to me. There
are things in there, there's a tea bag growing. You haven't
slept in sixty hours, you're in no state to tackle it.
Wait until the morning and we'll go in together.
- Withnail:
- This is the morning. Stand aside!
- Marwood [restraining Withnail]:
- You don't understand. I think there may be something
alive.
- Withnail:
- What do you mean? A rat?
- Marwood:
- It's possible, it's possible.
- Withnail [brandishing his comb]:
- Then the fucker will rue the day!
He rushes to the sink and is immediately repelled by the
horrific reality that confronts him .
- Withnail:
- Oh Christ Almighty. Sinew in nicotine base. Keep back,
keep back. The entire sink's gone rotten. I don't know
what's in here.
He picks up the white-hot kettle from the stove and hurls
it immediately into the sink.
- Marwood:
- I told you. You've been bitten!
- Withnail:
- Burnt, burnt, the fucking kettle's on fire!
- Marwood [transfixed by the contents of the sink]:
- There's something floating up.
- Withnail [wielding cutlery]:
- Fork it!
- Marwood:
- No, no. I don't want to touch it.
- Withnail:
- You must, you must. That poop will bore through the
glaze. We'll never be able to use the dinner service again.
[Rumaging through a drawer] Here, get it with the
pliers.
- Marwood:
- No, no. Give me the gloves.
- Withnail:
- That's right, put on the gloves. Don't attempt anything
without the gloves.
Marwood moves things about in the sink about. Naso-visual
horror.
- Withnail:
- What is it? What have you found?
- Marwood:
- Matter.
- Withnail:
- Matter? Where's it coming from?
- Marwood:
- Don't look, don't look. I'm dealing with it.
- Withnail [surrendering to the situation and walking
away]:
- I think we've been in here too long. I feel unusual.
I think we should go outside.
Regent's Park
They walk along a path bordering on the zoo. Early morning
daylight. Mist and drizzle.
- Withnail:
- This is ridiculous. Look at me. I'm thirty in a month
and I've got a sole flapping off my shoe.
- Marwood:
- It'll get better. It has to.
- Withnail:
- Easy for you to say lovey, you've had an audition. Why
can't I have an audition. It's ridiculous. I've been to
drama school. I'm good looking. I tell you, I've a fuck
sight more talent that half the rubbish that gets on television.
Why can't I get on television?
- Marwood:
- I don't know. It'll happen.
- Withnail:
- Will it? That's what you say. The only programme I'm
likely to get on is the fucking news. I tell you, I can't
take much more of this. I'm going to crack.
- Marwood:
- I'm in the same boat.
- Withnail:
- Yeah, yeah. [Sucks on his cigarette, on his last
legs] I feel as sick as a pike. I'm going to have
to sit down.
They sit on a bench. Withnail shivers; looks like he's
been there all night.
- Marwood:
- You know what we should do? I say, you know what we
should do?
- Withnail:
- How should I possibly know what we should do?
What should we do?
- Marwood:
- Get out of it for a while. Get into the countryside.
Rejuvenate.
- Withnail:
- Rejuvenate? I'm in a park and I'm practically dead.
What good's the countryside? What time is it?
- Marwood:
- It's eight.
- Withnail:
- Four hours to opening time, God help us. Have we got
any embrocation?
- Marwood:
- What for?
- Withnail:
- To rub on us, you fool. We can cover ourselves in Deep
Heat and get up against a radiator. Keep ourselves alive
until twelve.
He spits and gazes at it.
- Withnail:
- Jesus, look at that. Apart from a raw potato, that's
the only solid to have passed my lips in the last sixty
hours. I must be ill.
The Flat
Marwood is writting in a notebook on the sofa while Withnail
wanders around wearing his overcoat and underpants, smearing
himself with Deep Heat, smoking a cigarette.
- Marwood [mentally]:
- Even a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day,
and for once I'm inclined to believe Withnail is right.
We are indeed drifting into the arena of the unwell. Making
an enemy of our own future. What we need is harmony. Fresh
air. Stuff like that.
- Withnail:
- Wasn't much in the tube. There's nothing left for you.
- Marwood:
- Why don't you ask your father for some money? If we
had some money we could go away.
- Withnail [inspecting a bottle for dregs]:
- Why don't you ask your father? How can it be so cold
in here? It's like Greenland in here. [Putting on a rubber
glove] We've got to get some booze. It's the only solution
to this intense cold. Something's got to be done. We can't
go on like this. I'm a trained actor reduced to the status
of a bum! I mean look at us. Nothing that reasonable members
of society demand as their rights. No fridges, no televisions,
no phones. Much more of this and I'm going to apply for
meals on wheels.
- Marwood:
- What happened to your cigar commercial?
- Withnail:
- That's what I want to know. what happened to my cigar
commercial. What happened to my agent? Bastard must have
died.
- Marwood:
- September. Bad patch.
- Withnail:
- Rubbish. {Flings his cigarette across the room] Haven't
seen Gielgud down the Labour Exchange. Why doesn't he
retire? [Grabs a newspaper] Look at this little bastard.
"Boy lands plum role for top Italian director."
Of course he does. Probably on a tenner a day and I know
what for: two pound ten a tit and a fiver for his arse.
A thought strikes him and he turns on Marwood, pointing
accusingly.
- Withnail:
- Have you been at the controls?
- Marwood:
- What are you talking about?
- Withnail:
- The thermostats. What have you done to them?
- Marwood:
- I haven't touched them.
- Withnail:
- Then why has my head gone numb? [A crisis point is looming]
I must have some booze. I demand to have some booze!
He lunges towards the mantlepiece and grabs a can of Ronsonol
lighter fluid.
- Marwood [standing up]:
- I wouldn't drink that if I were you.
- Withnail [unplugging the can's teat with his teeth]:
- Why not?
- Marwood:
- Because I don't advise it. Even the wankers on the site
wouldn't drink that. That's worse than meths.
- Withnail:
- Nonsense, this is a far superior drink to meths. The
wankers don't drink it because they can't afford it.
He throws his head back and pours the petrol down his throat.
Gagging and gasping, he's on a buzz.
- Withnail:
- Have we got anymore?
Marwood shakes his head. Withnail, eyes bulging, presses
forward, forcing Marwood to back off.
- Withnail:
- Liar. What's in your toolbox?
- Marwood:
- We have nothing. Sit down.
- Withnail:
- Liar. You've got anti-freeze.
- Marwood:
- You bloody fool. You should never mix your drinks!
An accidental joke, yet this turns Withnail to hysteria.
He explodes into laughter which quickly turns to barking
nausea. He falls to the floor and vomits loudly over Marwood's
shoes. Marwood resigns himself to the situation and gazes
ceilingwards.
The Street
They walk amongst the dereliction towards a pub, the Mother
Black Cap. Despite his recent intake, Withnail's brain is
in gear.
- Withnail:
- All right, this is the plan. We get in there and get
wrecked. Then we'll eat a pork pie. Then we drop a couple
of Surmontil 50s each; means we'll miss out Monday but
come up smiling Tuesday morning. What's that appalling
smell?
- Marwood:
- Perfume, on my boots. I had to scrub them with essence
of petunia.
The Pub
The pub is full of Irish here to get drunk. Withnail sidewinds
his way to the bar.
- Withnail:
- Two large gins, two pints of cider. Ice in the cider.
- Marwood:
- If my father was loaded I'd ask him for some money.
- Withnail:
- If your father was my father you wouldn't get it.
- Barman:
- There you are lads.
- Withnail:
- Chin chin.
Withnail chinks his gin glass against Marwood's which he
hasn't picked up yet, and downs it in one. Marwood follows
suit and winces.
- Marwood:
- What about whatshisname?
- Withnail:
- What about him?
- Marwood:
- Why don't you give him a call?
- Withnail:
- What for?
- Marwood:
- Ask him about his house.
- Withnail:
- You want me to call whatshisname and ask him about his
house?
- Marwood:
- Why not?
- Withnail:
- Alright. What's his number?
- Marwood:
- I've no idea. I've never met him.
- Withnail:
- Neither have I. What the fuck are you talking about?
- Marwood:
- Your relative with a house in the country.
- Withnail:
- Monty? Uncle Monty?
- Marwood:
- That's him. That's the one. Get the Jag fixed up and
spend a week in the country.
- Withnail:
- Alright. Give us a tanner and I'll give him a bell.
- Marwood [handing over the note]:
- Get a couple more in. I'm going for a slash.
Marwood is at the door to the Gents. Nearby is a huge Irish
man nursing the end of his tenth pint.
- Man:
- Ponce.
I hears him but makes no response. Goes into the Gents.
- I [mentally]:
- I could hardly piss straight with fear. Here was a man
with three quarters of an inch of brain who'd taken a
dislike to me. What had I done to offend him? I don't
consciously offend big men like this. This one has a definite
imbalance of hormone in him. Get any more masculine than
him and you'd have to live up a tree. (he reads eye-level
grafitti) "I fuck arses". Who fucks arses?
Maybe he fucks arses. Maybe he's written this in some
moment of drunken sincerity. I'm in considerable danger
in here. I must get out of here at once.
Marwood heads single mindedly back to the bar.
- Man [calling out across the pub]:
- Perfumed ponce!
Withnail is settled at the bar, chewing on a pork pie.
- Withnail:
- You'll be pleased to hear Monty's invited us for drinks.
- Marwood:
- Balls to Monty, we're getting out.
- Withnail:
- Balls to Monty? I've just spent an hour flattering the
bugger.
- Marwood:
- There's one over there doesn't like the perfume. A big
one. Don't look, don't look. We're in danger, we've got
to get out.
- Withnail:
- What are you talking about?
- Marwood:
- I've been called a ponce.
Withnail turns to address the whole pub. Withnail:
What fucker said that?
The Irish bruiser gets up and walks over to them. Now
he is upright we see he is very large indeed and looks in
the mood for a fight.
- Man:
- I called him a ponce. And now I'm calling you one. Ponce!
- Withnail [smiling through his pork pie]:
- Would you like a drink?
- Man:
- What's your name? McFuck?
As he shouts this he jerks the scarf from around Withnail's
neck.
- Withnail [dragging up all his acting abilities]:
- I have a heart condition. I have a heart condition.
If you hit me, it's murder.
- Man [working up a rage]:
- I'll murder the pair of y'ers!
- Withnail:
- [Pathetic whisper] My wife is having a baby. [Hits on
a plan of action] Listen, I don't know what my f... [starts
to say "friend"] acquaintance did to upset
you but it's nothing to do with me. I suggest you both
go outside and discuss it sensibly, in the street.
Marwood is paralyzed with fear, then Withnail executes
his plan. They push past the huge man and race for the door
in blind panic, screaming.
- Withnail:
- Out of my way!
The Bathroom
I is in the bath shaving.
- Marwood:
- Speed is like a dozen transatlantic flights without
ever getting off the plane. Timechange. You lose, you
gain. Makes no difference so long as you keep taking the
pills. But sooner or later you've got to get out because
it's crashing then all at once the frozen hours melt out
through the nervous system and seep out the pores.
Withnail enters with their lunch from the chippy
- Withnail:
- The bastards. Justice suck. It's a miserable cheap cigar
and the bastards won't see me.
- Marwood:
- Why are we having lunch in here?
- Withnail:
- It's dinner and Danny's here.
- Marwood:
- Danny!? How did he get in?
- Withnail:
- I let him in this morning. He lost one of his clogs.
He's come in because of the perpetual cold. I hope the
buggers sales plummet.
- Marwood:
- I've got your savaloy. Here. I don't want it.
- Withnail:
- Then stick it in the soap tray and save it for later.
He scrunches up the paper that was holding his chips and
puts it in the toilet
- Marwood:
- Don't vent spleen on me. I'm in the same boat.
- Withnail:
- Stop saying that. You're not in the same boat. The only
thing you're in that I've been in is this fucking bath.
- Marwood:
- Danny's here. Head hunter to his friends. Head hunter
to everybody. He doesn't have any friends. The only people
he converses with are his clients and occasionally the
police. The purveyor of rare herbs and prescribed chemicals
is back. Will we never be set free?
The Flat
I comes out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel.
- Marwood:
- Danny.
- Danny:
- You're looking very beautiful man. Have you been away?
St. Peter preached the epistles to the apostles looking
like that. Have you got any food.
- Marwood:
- Mmm, As a matter of fact, got a savaloy.
- Danny:
- How much is it?
- Marwood:
- You can have it for nothing.
Danny sniffs the sausage. Withnail enters from the kitchen
gluing the sole back on his shoe. He is wearing a rather
expensive looking suit.
- Danny:
- I see you're wearing a suit.
- Withnail:
- What's it got to do with you?
- Danny:
- No need to get uptight man. I was merely making an observation.
I happened to be looking for a suit for the coal man two
weeks ago. For reasons I can't really discuss with you
the coal man had to go to Jamaica. Got busted coming back
through Heathrow, had the weight under his fez. We wored
out that it would be handycarma for him to get hold of
a suit but he's a very low temperature spade the coal
man, went into court wearing a kaftan and a bell. This
doesn't go down at all well. They can handle the kaftan
but they can't handle the bell. So there's this judge
sitting there sitting in a cape like fucking batman with
this really rather far out looking hat.
- Withnail:
- A wig.
- Danny:
- No man, this was more like a long white hat. So he looks
at the coalman and says 'what's all this. This is a court
man. This ain't fancy dress' and the coal man looks at
him and says 'you think you look normal, your honour?'.
Cunt give him two years.
I laughs a little. Withnail looks on unamuzed.
- Danny:
- I'm afraid I can't offer you gentlemen anything.
- Marwood:
- That's alright Danny. We'd decided to lay off for a
bit.
- Danny:
- That's what I thought. Except for personal use I concur
with you. as a matter of fact i was thinking of retiring
and going into business.
- Withnail [Scoffing]:
- Doing what?
- Danny:
- The toy industry.
There is a stange looking contraption on the table involving
a bottle.
- Withnail:
- Thought you were in the bottle industry.
- Danny:
- No man, that's a side line. You can have that. Instructions
are included. Yeah. My partner's got a really good idea
for making dolls. His name's 'Presuming Ed'. His sister
give him the idea. She got a doll on Christmas what pisses
itself.
- Withnail:
- Really.
- Danny:
- Then you've got to change its draws for it. Horrible
really but they're like that the little girls. So we're
going to make one that shits itself too.
- Withnail:
- Shits itself!?
- Danny:
- He's an expert. He's building the prototype now. [To
I] Why's he behaving so uptightly.
- Withnail:
- Because a gang of cheroot vendors consider a hair cut
beyond the limit of my abilities.
- Danny:
- I don't advise a hair cut man. All hairdressers are
in the employment of the government. Hair are your aerials.
They pick up signals from the cosmos and transmit them
directly into the brain. This is the reason bold-headed
men are uptight.
- Withnail:
- What absolute twaddle.
- Danny:
- Has he just been busted?
- Marwood:
- No.
- Danny:
- Then why's he wearing that old suit?
- Withnail:
- Old suit? This suit was cut by Hawke's of Saville row.
Just because the best tailoring you've ever seen is above
you fucking appendix doesn't mean anything.
- Danny:
- Don't get uptight with me man. Because if you do I'll
have to give you a dose of medicine and if I spike you
you'll know you've been spoken to.
- Withnail:
- You wouldn't spike me you're too mean. Besides, there's
nothing invented I couldn't take.
- Danny:
- If I medicined you you'd think a brain tumour was a
birthday present.
- Withnail:
- I could take double anything you could.
- Danny [removing his sunglasses]:
- Very, very foolish words man.
- Marwood:
- He's right Withnail. Look at him . His mechanisms gone.
He's had more drugs than you've had hot dinners.
- Withnail:
- I'm not having this shag-sack insulting me. Let him
get his drugs out.
Danny gets a doll out of a bag.
- Danny:
- This doll is extremely dangerous. It has voodoo qualities.
Withnail snorts. Danny takes the head off the doll and
extracts a handful of pills.
- Danny:
- Trade: Phenodihydrochloride benzelex. Street: The embalmer.
- Withnail:
- Balls. I'll swallow it and run a mile.
- Danny:
- Cool your boots man. This pill's valued at two quid.
- Withnail:
- Two quid! You're out of your mind.
- Marwood:
- That's sense Withnail.
- Withnail:
- You can stuff it up your arse for nothing and fuck off
while you're doing it.
- Danny:
- No need to insult me man. I was leaving anyway. Have
either of you got shoes?
Monty's house
A battered Jag pulls up outside Monty's house and Withnail
and Marwood get out. There is a rather flash looking open-topped
Rolls parked outside. The sound of a Schubert piano sonata
comes from the house.
- Withnail:
- Monty's car.
Withnail knocks on the door. Monty, a rather fat, effeminate,
middle-aged gentleman, opens the door. He is holding a very
large fluffy cat and a watering can.
- Monty:
- Oh hello. Come in.
They enter and go into the lounge.
- Monty:
- Sit down, do. Would you like a drink?
They sit together on a sofa.
- Withnail:
- Sherry.
- Monty [to I]:
- Sherry?
- I:
- Sherry.
Monty moves to the sideboard and pours the drinks. Withnail
lights up yet another cigarette.
- Monty:
- Do you like vegetables? I've always been fond of root
crops but I only started to grow last summer. I happen
to think the cauliflower more beautiful than the rose.
- Withnail:
- Chin chin.
He drinks the sherry.
- Monty:
- Do you grow?
- Withnail:
- Geraniums.
- Monty:
- Oh you little traitors. I think the carrot infinitely
more fascinating than the geranium. The carrot has mystery.
Flowers are essentially tarts. Prostitutes for the bees.
There is you'll agree a certain je ne ses quoi oh so very
special about a firm young carrot. Excuse me. Do help
yourselves to another drink.
Withnail turns and reaches a bottle over from the sideboard.
He takes a long swig.
- Marwood:
- What's all this. The man's mad.
- Withnail:
- Eccentric.
- Marwood:
- Eccentric? He's insane. Not only that he's a raving
homosexual.
There is a yowl from the cat. Monty storms back into the
room preceded by the cat.
- Monty:
- You beastly little parasite. How dare you? You little
thug. How dare you? Ooohhhh. Beastly ungrateful little
swine.
He deposits his considerable bulk on the other sofa, facing
the first.
- Withnail:
- Shall I get you a drink Monty?
- Monty:
- Yes. Yes please dear boy. You can prepare me a small
rhesus negative Bloody Mary. And you must tell me all
the news. I haven't seen you since you finished your last
film.
I smiles wriley to himself. Withnail downs the drink he
has prepared for himself, pours another and starts making
the Bloody Mary for Monty.
- Withnail:
- Rather busy uncle. TV and stuff. My agent's trying to
edge me towards the Royal Shakespeare again.
- Monty:
- Oh splendid.
- Withnail:
- He's just had an audition for rep.
- Monty:
- Oh splendid. So you're a thespian too?
Withnail delivers Monty's drink and sits beside him.
- Withnail:
- Monty used to act.
- Monty:
- I'd hardly say that. It's true I crept the boards in
my youth but I never had it in my blood and that's what
so essential isn't it? Theatrical zeal in the veins. Alas,
I have little more that vintage wine and memories.
He stands and looks at a photograph on the mantlepiece.
- Monty:
- It is the most shattering experience of a young man's
life when he awakes and quite reasonable says to himself:
[He puts his hand on his heart] I will never play The
Dane. When that moment comes, ones ambition ceases. Don't
you agree?
- Withnail:
- A part I intend to play, Uncle.
- Monty:
- And you'll be marvelous. [He starts quoting from Hamlet]
We do it wrong, being so majestical. To offer it the show
of violence......
As Monty rambles in the background I steps over to Withnail
and whispers.
- Marwood:
- He's a madman. Any moment now he's going to rush out
and get into his tights.
- Withnail:
- Ok ok. Give me a minute.
- Marwood:
- The house or out.
Withnail stands and moves over to Monty.
- Withnail:
- Could I have a word with you Monty?
- Monty:
- Oh forgive me dear boy, forgive me. I was allowing memories
to have the better of me.
- Withnail:
- Shall I get you a top up?
He moves to the sideboard again. Monty sits down
and reminisces.
- Monty:
- Indeed I remember my first agent. Raymond Duck. Dreadful
little Israelite. Four floors up at the charring cross
and never a job at the top of them. I'm told you're a
writer too. Do you write poems?
- Marwood:
- No, I wish I could. It's just thoughts really.
- Monty:
- Have you published?
- Marwood:
- No no.
- Monty:
- Where did you school?
- Withnail:
- He went to the other place Monty.
- Monty:
- Oh you went to Eton?
The cat reappears on I's chair.
- Monty:
- Get that damned little swine out of here. It's trying
to get itself in with you. It's trying for even more advantage.
It's obsessed with its gut just like a bloody rugby ball.
Now it will die, it will die!
He storms around ineffectually.
- Withnail:
- Monty, Monty.
- Monty:
- No dear boy you must leave, you must leave. Once again
that oaf has destroyed my day.
- Withnail:
- Listen Monty. Can I just have a quick word in private.
- Monty:
- Oh, very well.
Later they are leaving the house. Monty shows them to the
door.
- Monty:
- Good night my dears.
- Withnail:
- Good night Monty.
Monty closes the inner door to the porch behind them.
- Marwood:
- What's all this going off in private business? Why did
you tell him I went to Eton?
- Withnail:
- Because it wouldn't have helped if I hadn't.
- Marwood:
- What do you mean by that?
- Withnail [Showing him the key to the cottage]:
- Free to those that can afford it. Very expensive to
those that can't.
The car
They leave Camden in Marwood's battered old Jag. Withnail,
still in his suit, has a bottle and is clearly drunk. They
pass some schoolgirls.
- Withnail:
- Scrubbers!
- Scrubber:
- Up yours grandad!
- Withnail:
- Scrubbers! scrubbers!
- Marwood:
- Shut up.
- Withnail:
- Little tarts they love it.
- Marwood:
- Listen, I'm trying to drive this thing as quietly as
possible. If you don't shut up we'll get stopped by the
police.
The pass a notice anouncing an accident blackspot.
- Withnail:
- Look at that, look at that. Accident black spot. These
aren't accidents. They're throwing themselves into the
road gladly. Throwing themselves into the road to escape
all this hideousness. [To a pedestrian] Throw yourselves
into the road darling, you haven't got a chance.
Somewhat later they join the motorway.
- Withnail:
- At some point or another I want to stop and get hold
of a child.
- Marwood:
- What do you want a child for?
- Withnail:
- To tutor it in the ways of righteousness and procure
some uncontaminated urine.
He takes out the bottle and instructions provided by Danny.
- Withnail:
- This is a device enabling the drunken driver to operate
in absolute safety. You fill this with piss, take this
pipe down the trouser and sellotape this valve to the
end of the old chap. Then you get horrible drunk and they
can't fucking touch you. According to these instructions,
you refuse everything except a urine sample. You undo
your valve, give them a dose of unadulterated child's
piss and they have to give you your keys back. Danny's
a genius. I'm going to have a doze.
They drive on. Later, with the light fading, they
leave the motorway. It becomes clear that the car
has only one functioning headlight. Still later it
is totally dark and raining heavily. I stops and attempts
to transfer the single wiper from Withnail's side
of the car to his own but it refuses to come off.
He gets back in the car and in shutting the door wakes
Withnail, who looks considerably the worse for wear.
- Withnail:
- Are we there?
- Marwood:
- No, we're not we're here and we're in the middle of
a fucking gale. Now you'll have to keep a look out your
side. If you see anything tell me. Get hold of that map.
- Withnail:
- Where's the whisky?
- Marwood:
- What for?
- Withnail:
- I've got a bastard behind the eyes. I can't take aspirins
without a drink. Where's the aspirin?
- Marwood:
- Probably in the bathroom.
- Withnail:
- You mean we've come out here in the middle of fucking
nowhere without aspirins?
- Marwood:
- Where are we?
- Withnail:
- How should i know where we are. I feel like a pig shat
in my head.
- Marwood:
- Now get hold of that map and look for a place called
Crow Crag.
The cottage
They draw up in a yard and get out of the car. Withnail
staggers around aimlessly as I gets the baggage from the
boot.
- Withnail:
- There must and shall be aspirins.
- Marwood:
- Give me the key and get out of the way.
- Withnail:
- If I don't get aspirin I shall die here on this fucking
mountainside.
They enter the house. I lights a match and finds a lantern
which he lights. As the light comes up the inside of the
cottage becomes visible. It is rather spartan.
- Withnail:
- Christ almighty.
I looks round a little more thouroughly. He notices a picture
of Monty on the wall.
- Marwood:
- Monty!
He looks accross to Withnail who is sat dejectedly in a
chair.
- Marwood:
- What are you doing?
- Withnail:
- Sitting down to enjoy my holiday.
- Marwood:
- Right, now we're going to have to approach this scientifically.
First thing we've got to do is get this fire alight, then
we split into two fact finding groups. I'll deal with
the water and the plumbings, you check the fuel and wood
situation.
A little later Withnail re-enters the cottage from a rather
wet and windy night. He is holding a small stick.
- Marwood:
- What's that?
- Withnail:
- The fuel and wood situation. There's nothing out there
except a hurricane. This place is uninhabitable.
They sit close to the fire, which is rather small.
- Marwood:
- Give it a chance. It's got to warm up.
- Withnail:
- Warm up!? We may as well sit round a cigarette. This
is ridiculous. We'll be found dead in here next spring.
He attemps half-heartedly to light a cigarette.
- Withnail:
- I've got a blinding fucking headache. Got to have heat!
He stands and smashes a chair against the floor. A little
later the fire is burning considerably higher.
- Withnail:
- Problem's we've got to keep this bastard burning.
- Marwood:
- Well we've got enough furniture for tonight. Tomorrow
we get down that farm and get some logs.
- Withnail:
- This is a mistake I tell you. This is a dreadful mistake.
I's bedroom
I wakes the next morning and gets out of bed. He checks
on Withnail who is still asleep. He steps outside and walks
accross the yard to examine the view. It is quite magnificent.
Later, he is dressed and walks down to the farm. The building
is surrounded by an assortment of farmyard junk. He knocks
at the door
- Old woman:
- Who's there?
- Marwood:
- Me!
The door opens cautiously and an old woman peers out inquiringly.
- Old woman:
- What do you want?
- Marwood:
- I'm a friend of Montague Withnail. He's lent us his
cottage. I wondered if you could sell us some food. Eggs
and things.
She looks blankly at him.
- Marwood:
- What about wood and coal?
Again, he elicits no responce. Seeing she is wearing a
hearing aid, he bends down and talks directly to it.
- Marwood:
- I'm not from London you know!
- Old woman:
- I don't care where you come from.
She slams the door. I walks away.
- Marwood [mentally]:
- Not the attitude I'd been given to expect from the H
E Bates novel I'd read. I thought they'd all be out the
back drinking cider, discussing butter. Clearly a myth.
Evidently country people and no more receptive to strangers
than city dwellers.
He walks back to the house and addresses the door.
- Marwood:
- Do you think you could tell me where I could buy some
coal and wood?
- Old woman:
- You'll have to see my son. He runs this farm.
- Marwood:
- Where is you son?
- Old woman:
- Up in top field. You can't miss him, his legs bound
in polythyne.
The cottage
I walks back into the yard outside the cottage, slips,
and falls in the mud. He picks himself up and storms inside.
- Marwood:
- Withnail you bastard wake up.
He bangs on the ceiling and moves to the sink to wash.
- Marwood:
- Oye, wake up you bastard you've got to get wood.
Withnail enters, dressed already and wrapped in a blanket.
- Withnail:
- Jesus, you're covered in shit.
- Marwood:
- I tried to get fuel and wood, there's a miserable little
pensioner down there wouldn't give it me.
- Withnail:
- Where are we going to get it then?
- Marwood:
- There's a man up on the mountain. Why he's up there,
fuck knows, but he's up there with a leg bound in polythene,
you can't miss him, he's your man. And have another look
in that shed. Find anything. If you can't find anything,
bring in the shed.
Later, they are sat down to a simple lunch.
- Marwood:
- How come Monty owns such a horrible little shack?
- Withnail:
- No idea.
- Marwood:
- You never discuss your family do you?
- Withnail:
- I fail to see my family's of any interest to you. I've
absolutely no interest in yours. I dislike relatives in
general and in particular mine.
- Marwood:
- Why?
- Withnail:
- I've told you why. We're incompatible. They don't like
me being on stage.
He stands up and takes a foil from its bracket on the wall
and strides up and down in actorly fashion.
- Marwood:
- Then they must be delighted with your career.
- Withnail:
- What do you mean?
- Marwood:
- You rarely are.
Withnail points the sword menacingly, although there is
a cork on the end.
- Withnail:
- You just wait. Just you wait. When I strike they won't
know what hit them.
He hears a noise from outside.
- Withnail:
- Tractor approaching.
He goes to the window and knocks his head on the lantern
hanging from the ceiling.
- Marwood:
- Then get after it. That's the man.
They rush out of the cottage and pursue the tractor.
- Withnail:
- Hey, stop!
- Marwood:
- Stop.
- Withnail:
- Stop.
- Marwood:
- Stop please!
The tractor driver notices them and stops.
- Withnail:
- Stop please! Please stop!
They run up to the side of the tractor and address the
driver, Mr Parkin.
- Withnail:
- Are you the farmer? [To I] Shut up, I'll deal with this.
[to Parkin] We've gone on holiday by mistake. We're in
this cottage here. Are you the farmer?
- Marwood:
- Stop saying that Withnail, of course he's the fucking
farmer. [To Parkin] We're friends of Montague Withnail,
we desperately need fuel and wood.
The farmer shakes his head, bewildered.
- Marwood:
- Montague Withnail, you must know him. Fat man, owns
the cottage.
- Parkin:
- Ay, seen the fat man. London type. Queer sort. Think
his name's French or something.
- Withnail:
- French!?
- Parkin:
- Ay, Adrian de la Touche. He hasn't been up here for
couple of years. Last time I saw him, he were, he were
with his son.
- Marwood:
- Yeah, that's him.
- Withnail:
- Listen, we're bona fide. We're not from London. Could
we have some fuel and wood?
- Parkin:
- Ay, I could bring you up some logs later but I've got
the cows and that to feed first.
- Withnail:
- When?
- Marwood:
- Shut up. That would be very kind of you. Erm, what about
food? Do you think you could sell us something to eat?
- Parkin:
- I could bring you up a chicken but you'll have to go
to the village really.
- Marwood:
- That would be very kind of you Mr?
- Parkin:
- Parkin.
- Marwood:
- Mr Parkin. What happened to your leg?
- Parkin:
- Got a randy bull up there. Give me one in knee!
They walk back inside. I claps Withnail on the back. Back
inside, Withnail removes his boots and places them in the
oven attached to the fire.
- Marwood:
- You want to get out the back don't you? Get some spuds
up.
- Withnail:
- Sorry I can't. My boots are in the oven.
- Marwood:
- You'd go if you had boots?
- Withnail:
- Gladly.
Withnail emerges from the back door with polythene bags
tied around his feet. He walks into the garden and after
a little unearths a potato.
- Withnail:
- I've got one!
Later, the potatoes are peeled and ready to be cooked.
I sits reading 'Journey's end' while Withnail dozes in front
of the fire. I hears the tractor once again and goes out
to meet Parkin. He is there with some logs.
- Marwood:
- Great. How much do we own you?
- Parkin:
- Pay us when you come down.
- Marwood:
- What about this chicken?
- Parkin:
- 's on back.
Back inside I has left the chicken on the table. It is
alive and looks round questioningly. He nudges Withnail
to wake him.
- Marwood:
- Oye! Oye! Parkin's been. There's the supper!
- Withnail:
- What are we supposed to do with that?
- Marwood:
- Eat it.
- Withnail:
- Eat it? Fucker's alive.
- Marwood:
- Yeah, you've got to kill it.
- Withnail:
- Me? I'm the firelighter and fuel collecter.
- Marwood:
- Yeah, I know, but I got the logs in. It takes away your
appetite just looking at it.
- Withnail:
- No it doesn't, I'm starving. How can we make it die?
- Marwood:
- You've got to throttle them. Withnail, I think you ought
to kill it instantly in case it starts trying to make
friends with us.
- Withnail:
- Alright, you get hold of it. I'll strangle it.
- Marwood:
- I can't. Those dreadful, beady eyes, they stare you
out.
- Withnail:
- It's a bloody chicken. Just think of it with bacon across
its back. Right, I'll deal with this. You'll have to get
its guts out.
Later, I is washing his hands in the sink having finished
getting the chickens guts out. Withnail enters with a shotgun
and points it at I's head.
- Marwood:
- Never point guns at people! Extremely dangerous. Now,
what about this roasting dish? What are we going to cook
it in?
- Withnail:
- You're the food and plummings man. I've no idea. I wish
I'd found this an hour ago. I'd have taken great pleasure
in gunning this pullet down.
He pokes the chicken with the gun. It still has a few feathers.
- Withnail:
- Shouldn't it be more bald than that?
- Marwood:
- No it shouldn't. Right, we're going to have to reverse
the roles. We can bake the potatoes in the oven and boil
this bastard over the fire.
He tries to push the chicken into a kettle but it is too
large to fit.
- Withnail:
- Lets get its feet off.
- Marwood:
- No, it's going to need it's feet.
He removes the chicken and takes it to the fire. Opening
the oven, he removes Withnail's steaming boots and points
the the brick in the oven.
- Marwood:
- Straddle them either side of that.
He sits the chicken on the brick.
A phonebox
I is smoking stood outside the phonebox waiting for Withnail.
- Withnail:
- I've already put two shilling pieces in. No I havn't
got another. It's not my fault if the system doesn't work.
He emerges from the phonebox.
- Withnail:
- Bitch hung up on me.
I fishes around in his pocket and finds a shilling for
Withnail who goes back into the phonebox and dials.
- Withnail:
- Hello. How are you? Very well. What! Why wouldn't they
see me? This is ridiculous. I haven't been up in a job
for three months. Understudy Constantine!? I'm not going
to understudy Constantine, why can't I play the part?
This is ridiculous. No, I'm not in London, Penryth. Penryth!
Well, what about TV? Listen, I pay you ten percent to
do that. Well lick ten percent of the arses for me. Hello?
Hello? Hello? Hello? How dare you! Fuck you!
He takes out his frustration on the phone, hitting it for
a while then leaves the phonebox.
- Withnail:
- Bastard asked me to understudy Constantine in The Seagull.
I'm not going to understudy anyone, especially that little
pimp. Anyway, I loath those Russian plays. Always full
of women starring out of windows whinning about ducks
going to Moscow.
Returning from Penryth they walk accross a field. I is
carrying some shopping.
- Withnail:
- What do you think to Desmond Wolf?
- Marwood:
- With respect to what?
- Withnail:
- I'm thinking of changing my name.
- Marwood:
- Too like Donald Woolfe.
He hands the bag to Withnail and opens a gate. It is clearly
marked 'Shut this gate'
- Marwood:
- Here, changeover point.
Withnail slams the gate behind them but it doesn't fasten.
They see Parkin on his tractor.
- Withnail:
- Do you think he's happier than us?
- Marwood:
- No.
- Withnail:
- I suppose happiness is relative. I never thought it
would be a polythene bag without the hole in it.
Parkin turns the tractor towards them, stops and runs towards
them.
- Marwood:
- What's up with him?
- Parkin:
- Shut that gate, shut that bull!
- Marwood:
- You didn't shut the gate!
- Parkin:
- Shut that gate, shut that bull!
A bull appears and pushes the gate open. Withnail thrusts
the bag into I's hands and vaults the wall. I is left facing
the bull in a narrow corridor between two walls.
- Withnail:
- Grab its ring. Keep your bag up. Outvive him.
- Parkin:
- Hey, listen, show no fear! Just run at it.
- Marwood:
- Well that can't be sensible can it? The bastard's about
to run at me.
- Parkin:
- Well he's randy!
- Marwood:
- Yeah, yeah. I know he is.
Withnail has his cigarettes out and is lighting up.
- Withnail:
- Wants to get down there and have sex with those cows.
- Marwood:
- Shut up Withnail!
- Parkin:
- Just run at it, shouting!
- Withnail:
- Do as he says, start shouting. It won't gore you.
- Marwood:
- A coward you are Withnail. An expert on bulls you are
not!
He shouts and throws the shopping in the air. The bull
roars, I shouts again and runs at it. It turns and retreats
to its field.
- Parkin:
- Shut that gate and keep it shut.
- Withnail:
- I think an evening at the Crow!
The fields
It is dark. The silloutes of Withnail and I appear on the
skyline.
- I [narrating]:
- If the Crow and Crown had ever had life it was dead
now. It was like walking into a lung. A self-sustained
nicotin-yellow and fly-blown lung. Its landlord was a
retired alcoholic with military pretentions and a complection
like the inside of a teapot. By the time the doors opened
he was arseholed on rum and got progresively more arseholed
until he could take no more and fell over at about twelve
'o' clock.
The Crow and Crown
Withnail and I are stood at the bar.
- Withnail:
- We'll have another pair of large scotches.
Raymond, the publican, gets the drink and takes the money
for them. In opening the till he just avoids falling over.
Withnail and I suppress laughter.
- Raymond:
- Thought I was going for a minute but no man's put me
down yet. Have you had any training in the martial arts?
- Withnail:
- Yes, as a matter of I have. Before I became a journalist
I was in the terretorials.
- Raymond:
- Do you know, when you first came in here I knew you
were a services man. You can never, never disguise it.
- Withnail:
- What were you in?
- Raymond:
- Tanks. Afrika Korps. A little before your time. Don't
suppose you've engaged.
- Withnail:
- Ireland.
- Raymond:
- Ooooh, a crack at the Mick.
- Withnail:
- We'll have another pair of large scotches.
- Raymond:
- These shall be my pleasure. What are you doing up here
then?
- Withnail:
- We're doing a feature for Country Life. Survey of rural
types: farmers, traveling tinkers, milkmen; that sort
of thing.
- Raymond:
- Have you met Jake? Poacher. Works the lake but keep
it under your hat, hmm?
They take their drinks to a table.
- Marwood:
- What's all this army bollocks?
- Withnail:
- We got a drink didn't we?
Rather later, the pair are the only remaining customers.
Raymond, wiping down the bar, is clearly leggless.
- Raymond:
- Time please gentlemen.
- Marwood:
- I think he means it.
The door clatters open and a man in a thick coat walks
in, leans over the bar and helps himself to a beer. I nudges
Withnail. The man takes an eel from his trousers which wriggles
around violently. He strikes its head on the bar and returns
it to his trousers.
- Marwood:
- Ask him if we can have one.
- Withnail:
- What for?
- Marwood:
- So that we can eat it! 'We're fed up with stew'
They approach the bar.
- Withnail:
- Excuse me, could we have an eel? You've got eels down
your leg.
- Jake:
- You leave them alone. Nothing down there of interest
to you.
He removes a pheasant from under his coat.
Help us out Raymond. He's been stuffed from arsehole
to t' beak.
- Marwood:
- Ask him if we can have one of those. Go on.
- Withnail:
- Excuse me, we were wondering if we could purchase a
pheasant off of you.
- Jake:
- No.
- Withnail:
- Come on old boy. What's in your hump?
- Jake:
- Those pheasants are for his pot. There eels are for
my pot. Now what makes you think I should give you something
for your pot?
- Withnail:
- What pot?
- Marwood:
- Our cooking pot.
- Jake:
- Ah, he know. Here, give us a wheeze on that fag.
He takes the cigarette from Withnail's mouth and takes
a draw. I gives him the remains of a packet.
- Jake:
- Might come up and see you lads in the week . Might bring
you up a rabbit.
- Withnail:
- We don't want a rabbit, we want a pheasant.
- Jake:
- Now listen here you young prat. Haven't got no pheasants.
Haven't got no birds. No more than you have.
- Withnail:
- Of course you have, you're the poacher.
- Jake:
- If I hear more words out of you I'll come up and set
one of these black pods on you.
- Withnail:
- Don't threaten me with a dead fish.
- Jake:
- Half dead he might be, but I'll come up after you and
wake you up with a live one.
- Withnail:
- Sod your pheasants. You'll have to find us first.
They make to leave
- Jake:
- I know where you are. You're at crow crag. I've been
wathching you. Especially you, prancing like a tit. You
want working on boy.
- Withnail:
- if i see that sillage heap prowling around here i'll
take the bastard axe to him. bastards. you'll all suffer.
i'm going to be a star!
- Withnail:
- Vegtables again. I'll be sprouting feelers soon.
- Marwood:
- There's black pudding in it.
- Withnail:
- Black puddings are no good to us. I want somethings
flesh!
- Withnail:
- I think I'll call myself Donald Twain. Get down, get
down. It's him, what does he want?
- Marwood:
- Better get down there and ask him.
- Withnail:
- Don't be ridiculous, he's got a gun. Bastard's phycotic,
you've only got to look at him.
- Withnail:
- this place has become impossible. Nothing to eat, freezing
cold and now a madman on the prowl outside with eels.
- Marwood:
- alright you've made your point. we pack up tomorrow
and get out.
- Withnail:
- where are you going?
- Marwood:
- I'm going for a slash.
- Withnail:
- you can't go outside, i can't get my boots on when they're
hot.
- Marwood:
- then i'll go alone.
- Withnail:
- no you won't these are the sort of windows faces look
in at.
- Marwood:
- alright then i won't have a slash.
- Withnail:
- and in both our interests i think we should sleep together
tonight.
- Marwood:
- don't be ridiculous he;s not going to come up here in
the dark.
- Withnail:
- yes he is and if he catches one of us off guard he's
got a much better chance of dealing with the other.
- Marwood:
- no.
- Marwood:
- ha ha ha ha ha.
- Withnail:
- what are you laughing about.
- Marwood:
- i was dreaming.
- Withnail:
- you frightened the piss out of me. move over.
- Marwood:
- will you get out.
- Withnail:
- no.
- Marwood:
- alright, i'll have to sleep in your bed.
- Withnail:
- then i'll have to come with you.
- Marwood:
- alright you can stay but the gun goes.
- Withnail:
- no, i have to keep the gun . i intend to stay awake
until morning.
- Marwood:
- it's my bed and i demand presidence. mad fucking bastard.
- Marwood:
- ah ah. what.
- Withnail:
- i heard a noise.
- Marwood:
- There is nothing. Get to bed. What was that?
- Withnail:
- Listen, listen.
- Marwood:
- Probably just foxes. Perhaps its the farmer.
- Withnail:
- At two in the morning? It's the killer. He's come to
kill us. It's all your fault, you've even given him the
fucking gun. I've got to get in. He's trying to get in.
- Marwood:
- He can't, he'll go away. He's going away.
- Withnail:
- He's getting in thorough the window. He's sharpening
the fucking knife.
- Marwood:
- Where's the matches?
- Withnail:
- In the kitchen.
- Marwood:
- Alright. We'll have to tackle with him. You stay in
bed and pretend to be asleep. When he goes for you I'll
jump on his back.
- Withnail:
- No no, it'll be too late by then, I'll be knifed. We'll
have to try and make friends with him. He's going to your
room. It's you he wants. Offer him yourself. We mean no
harm.
- Monty:
- Oh my boys, my boys!
- Marwood:
- Monty! monty monty!
- Withnail:
- Monty, you terrible cunt! What are you doing prowling
round in the middle of the fucking night?
- Monty:
- I had a punctured tyre. I had to wait an aeon for assistance.
I'm sorry if I frightened you. I'll sleep in the other
room if I may.
- Marwood:
- Anywhere you like Monty.
- Monty:
- Ah, good morning. Did you sleep well?
- Marwood:
- Mmm. You've been busy in here.
- Monty:
- As a bee. I do apologise for last night, it was perfectly
inconsidereate of me.
- Marwood:
- That's perfectly alright Monty. how did you repair the
window?
- Monty:
- Didn't break it, merely forced it a little. There was
an empty wine bottle on the ledge. Tomatoes. You'd better
wake him, breakfast in fifteen minutes.
- Monty:
- The older order changeth giving way to the new and God
fulfills himself in many ways and soon, I suppose, I shall
be swept away by some vulgar little tumour. My boys, we
are at the end of an age. We live in a land of 'weather
forcasts' and breakfasts that 'set in'. Shat on by Tories,
shovelled up by Labour. Now, which of you is going to
be a splendid fellow and go down to the Rolls for the
rest of the wine?
- Marwood:
- I'll go.
- Withnail:
- I'll go.
- Marwood:
- No, I'll go. I need to see about digging the car out.
- Monty:
- But we have my car dear boy.
- Marwood:
- Yes, but if it rains we're buggered. I mean...
- Monty:
- Stranded!
- Withnail:
- Leave this to me.
- Marwood:
- I'll come with you, I could do with a walk. Besides.
I shall need you to work on the joint. I hear you're a
little wizard in the kitchen.
- Withnail:
- Yeah, you're the food and plumbings expert.
He starts putting his polythene bags on.
- Monty:
- What on earth are those?
- Withnail:
- Oh, we forgot to bring our wellingtons.
- Monty:
- You mean you've been up here in all this beastly mud
and oomska without wellingtons? This afternoon I'll take
you both into Penryth and get you fitted with some good
quality rubber boots.
The kitchen.
Monty has an apron on and is holding another.
- Monty:
- I brought two of these in case either of you were any
good in the kitchen.
- Marwood:
- I'm not.
- Monty:
- Oh, of course you are. Cooking's one of the natural
talents. Garlic, rosemary and salt.
He hands I a large joint of meat in a paper wrapper. I
puts it down on the side.
- Marwood:
- Look this is all very kind of you Monty but I really
ought to be out there getting some work done on the car.
- Monty:
- You haven't time, we're taking late luncheon at three.
- Marwood:
- We'll have to leave by three Monty. Didn't he tell you?
We've got to get back to sign on.
- Monty:
- "Sign on"? At a labour exchange?
- Marwood:
- Yes, it's rather fashionable actually. All the actors
do it. Even Redgrave.
- Monty:
- Couldn't you forgo for just this one occasion? I've
come a very long way to see you both.
- Marwood:
- Sorry can't. I mean, I'd love to stay but he's more
adamant to get back than I am.
Monty slips the apron over I's head and ties it behind
him.
- Monty:
- Then we must choose our moment and have a word with
him. I'm sure together we could persuade him. Now, garlic,
rosemary and salt. I can never touch meat until it's cooked.
As a youth I used to weep in butchers shops.
I moves through to the lounge and looks in the bags of
food on the table.
- Marwood:
- I can't find the rosemary.
- Monty:
- Can't find the rosemary! I'm sure we could find it together.
He leans accross I in a rather comprimising fashion.
Marwood: perhaps it's in the other bag.
Monty: Perhaps it is. Shall we look?
He reaches accross with his other arm cutting of any
opatunity of escape. Withnail enters with the wine and puts
the bags on the table. Withnail: Sorry. Sherry's in
there.
Monty exits to the kitchen armed with the sherry.
Marwood: What do you mean sorry!? What's he doing here?
We can't stay he won't leave me alone.
Withnail: Alright, we'll get the dinner down then we'll
leave.
In the kitchen Monty pulls the cork from the sherry
and emerges with three different glasses. Monty: I'm
afraid we must drink from these. I hope their shapes will
not offend your palates.
Withnail: Chin chin.
Monty: To a delightful weekend in the country.
Penryth
Monty's car drives into Penryth and pulls up in the
town centre. Withnail and I get out of the car. Compared
to Monty and the car they look rather scruffy. Monty:
I do think you could at least have shaved. What will people
think, you look like a pair of farm-hands. Get away from
the car.
He takes out his wallet and hands Withnail two fivers.
Monty: Now, you get the wellingtons. I'm going to but some
razors and shaving soap. I'll meet you here in half an hour.
Monty drives off Withnail: Couple of blooms.
Marwood: One each.
He removes a fiver from Withnail's hand Withnail:
I think a drink don't you?
Marwood: What about the wellingtons?
Withnail: Oh, bollocks to the wellingtons. We'll tell him
there was a farmer's conference and they had a run on them.
Inside the pub
I is on the telephone while Withnail is at the bar.
Marwood: yeah, ok then. yeah. promise.
He puts down the phone and walks over to withail
Marwood: Hasn't heard a thing. They're still seeing people.
Withnail: You don't want to go to Manchester anyway; play
a bloody soilder.
Marwood: I don't know if I do. Bloody good little theatre
that.
Withnail: It's not much of a part is it. They'd make you
cut you hair off.
Marwood: So what, you'd loose a leg! BARMAN: time please
gents.
Withnail: Alright we're going to have to work quickly.
A pair of quadruple whiskies and another pair of pints please.
Withnail and I emerge unsteadily from the pub. Withnail:
Where is he. Utterly aresholed.
Marwood: We're early.
I looks accross to some tearooms Marwood: We want
to get in there don't we. Eat some cake. Soak up the booze.
They enter the Penryth tea-rooms. I sits down at a table
and starts buttering the bread rolls on the table. Withnail,
still standing, points to the table and addresses an elderly
waitress, Miss Blennerhassit.
- Withnail:
- Alright here?
- Miss B:
- No, we're closing in a minute.
- Withnail:
- We're leaving in a minute. Alright here?
- Miss B:
- What do you want?
He sits down at the table and makes a rather perfunctory
examination of the menu.
- Withnail:
- We'll have tea and cake.
An elderly man comes across to their table. He is the proprietor
- P:
- Did you hear her? She said she'd closed. What do you
want in here?
- Withnail:
- Cake and tea. what's it got to do with you?
- P:
- I happen to be the proprietor. Now, will you leave?
- Withnail:
- Ah good, I'm glad you're the proprietor. I was going
to have to have a word with you anyway. We're doing a
film up here, location see. We might want to do a film
in here.
- P:
- You're drunk.
- Marwood:
- Just bring out the cake.
- Withnail:
- Cake and fine wine.
- Miss B:
- If you don't leave we'll call the police.
- Withnail:
- Balls! We want the finest wines availible to humanity.
We want them here, and we want them now.
- P:
- The police, Miss Blennerhassit.
I breaks off from stuffing breadrolls but hasn't quite
emptied his mouth
- Marwood:
- Don't do that Miss Blenerhassit. I'm warning you Miss
Blennerhassit, if you do, you're fired. We are multi-millionaries.
we'll buy this place and fire you immediately.
- Withnail:
- Yeah, that's right, we'll buy this place and install
a fucking jukebox and liven al
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