(Cut to snapshot of same still which is being held by a dear
old lady. Pull out to reveal she is sitting with a large photo album
on her knees, lovingly extracting photos from the pile on top of the
album and passing them to her friend sitting on the same settee. Her
friend is a young lady, who tears up the photos as they are handed
to her. The dear old lady is in a world of her own and does not
notice.)
Dear Old Lady: This is Uncle Ted in front of the house.
(she hands over the photo and the young lady tears it up) This
is Uncle Ted at the back of the house. (she hands over the photo
and the young lady tears it up) And this is Uncle Ted at the
side of the house. (she hands over the photo and the young lady
tears it up) This is Uncle Ted, back again at the front of the
house, but you can see the side of the house. (she hands over the
photo and the young lady tears it up) And this is Uncle Ted even
nearer the side of the house, but you can still see the front.
(she hands over the photo and the young lady tears it up) This
is the back of the house, with Uncle Ted coming round the side to
the front. (she hands over the photo and the young lady tears it
up) And this is the Spanish Inquisition hiding behind the coal
shed. (Friend takes it with the first sign of real interest.)
Young Lady: Oh! I didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition.
(Jarring chord The door flies open and Ximinez, Biggles and
Fang enter.)
Ximinez: Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!
(Cut to film: moving over Brengel drawing of tortures; epic
film music.)
Voice Over: (and caption on screen) 'IN THE EARLY
YEARS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY, TO COMBAT THE RISING TIDE OF
RELIGIOUS UNORTHODOXY, THE POPE GAVE CARDINAL XIMINEZ OF SPAIN LEAVE
TO MOVE WITHOUT LET OR HINDRANCE THROUGHOUT THE LAND, IN A REIGN OF
VIOLENCE, TERROR AND TORTURE THAT MAKES A SMASHING FILM. THIS WAS
THE SPANISH INQUISITION . . .'
(Torch lit dungeon. We hear clanging footsteps. Shadows on the
Grille. The footsteps stop and keys jangle. The great door creaks
open and Ximinez walks in and looks round approvingly. Fang and
Biggles enter behind pushing in the dear old lady. They chain her to
the wall.)
Ximinez: Now, old woman! You are accused of heresy on
three counts. Heresy by thought, heresy by word, heresy by deed, and
heresy by action. Four counts. Do you confess?
Old Lady: I don't understand what I'm accused of.
Ximinez: Ha! Then we'll make you understand! Biggles!
Fetch...THE CUSHIONS!
(JARRING CHORD - Biggles holds out two ordinary modern
household cushions)
Biggles: Here they are, lord.
Ximinez: Now, old lady -- you have one last chance.
Confess the heinous sin of heresy, reject the works of the ungodly
-- *two* last chances. And you shall be free -- *three* last
chances. You have three last chances, the nature of which I have
divulged in my previous utterance.
Old Lady: I don't know what you're talking about.
Ximinez: Right! If that's the way you want it -- Cardinal!
Poke her with the soft cushions!
(Biggles carries out this rather pathetic torture)
Ximinez: Confess! Confess! Confess!
Biggles: It doesn't seem to be hurting her, lord.
Ximinez: Have you got all the stuffing up one end?
Biggles: Yes, lord.
Ximinez: (angrily hurling away the cushions) Hm!
She is made of harder stuff! Cardinal Fang! Fetch...THE COMFY CHAIR!
(JARRING CHORD - Zoom into Fang's horrified face)
Fang: (terrified) The...Comfy Chair?
(Biggles pushes in a comfy chair -- a really plush one)
Ximinez: So you think you are strong because you can
survive the soft cushions. Well, we shall see. Biggles! Put her in
the Comfy Chair!
(They roughly push her into the Comfy Chair)
Ximinez: (with a cruel leer) Now -- you will stay
in the Comfy Chair until lunch time, with only a cup of coffee at
eleven. (aside, to Biggles) Is that really all it is?
Biggles: Yes, lord.
Ximinez: I see. I suppose we make it worse by shouting a
lot, do we? Confess, woman. Confess! Confess! Confess! Confess!
Biggles: I confess!
Ximinez: Not you!