Many A Slip 19xx.xx.xx Round 8

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio – "Many A Slip," Round 8 (November 12, 2025)

Overview

This episode of "Harold's Old Time Radio" revisits the classic BBC radio panel game "Many A Slip," with a focus on sharp wit, lively inter-team banter, and clever spot-the-error challenges blending knowledge, logic, and humor. The tone is lighthearted and quick, as two teams—Isabel Barnett & Eleanor Summerfield (ladies) and Richard Murdoch & Lance Percival (gentlemen)—compete in correcting intentional mistakes embedded within stories, historical anecdotes, and musical snippets. The episode offers a glimpse into Golden Age radio with a blend of high spirits and British wit.

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1. Opening and Scoring Rules

[00:00–01:00]

• Host introduces the teams and current standings (ladies leading 6 games to 1).
• Explains the game: the host reads flawed stories or facts, and the teams buzz in to catch and correct errors. Points are awarded for both identification and correction, but mistakes or false calls benefit the opposing team.

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2. The Electricity Story

[00:00–05:23]

• Voltage Discrepancy:
  • Isabel Barnett observes: "I only know that I'm 240." [00:56]
  • The correct UK standard is 240V, not 250V. The panel discusses the technicality.
• Electrical Wiring:
  • Richard Murdoch: "Well, flex has two strands." [01:52]
  • Corrects description that lamp wiring has more than a single strand.
• Overpowered Bulb:
  • The story wrongly installs a "150 amp bulb."
  • Isabel Barnett catches the error: should be "150 watt bulb." [02:37]
• Contradictory Details:
  • Rooms are said to have no bulbs, but later a 25-watt bulb is discovered. [03:03]
  • Owner's name changes from George to John.
  • Claims of a "new house" yet with a supposed "previous owner."
• Decor Confusion:
  • Four bedrooms, but five colors listed.
  • "Each room had bulb sockets in four walls" contradicts prior center-ceiling fittings. [04:08]
• Telephone Tampering:
  • Mistaken assertion George could wire a GPO phone.
  • Isabel Barnett: "I think he'd be sent to jail for that. Am I not right that nobody is allowed to connect up telephones except a GPO engineer?" [05:06]
• Outcome: The round showcases the contestants’ keen attention to detail and technical knowledge with banter on British domestic electrics.

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3. Historical Errors: Trafalgar

[05:44–10:03]

• Incorrect Battle Date: Trafalgar listed as 1815 (should be 1805).
  • Murdoch: "That's one date I do know. It was 18:5." [05:53]
• Misdirected Geography:
  • Battle placed near Cape Finisterre; Murdoch corrects to "Trafalgar." [06:09–06:20]
• Seasonal Inaccuracy:
  • Referred to as "pleasant weather of early spring," but battle was in October. [06:28]
• Flagship Error:
  • Nelson's ship mistakenly cited as "Royal Sovereign" (should be "Victory"). [06:47]
• Enemy Fleet:
  • Mistakenly described as "German fleet"; corrected to French and Spanish. [07:12]
• Communication:
  • Error in saying Nelson "telegraphed" orders; he "signaled" them with flags. [07:23–07:39]
• Famous Signal:
  • Slight debate on "England expects every man will do his duty."
• Celebrations:
  • Erroneous suggestion that crowds sang around Nelson's column that very night.
    • Murdoch: "They couldn't have been celebrating it that night." [08:30–08:49]
• Nelson's Death and Burial:
  • Confusion over where Nelson was buried (actually St. Paul's Cathedral, not Westminster Abbey). [09:42–10:03]
• The round demonstrates agility in historical fact-checking, quick recalls, and playful corrections.

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4. The Pragwell Bazaar Story

[10:03–13:35]

• Timing and Geography:
  • "Cragwell Valley" vs. "top of the hill" inconsistency.
  • Lord Cragwell "arrived coincidentally" with Lady Pragwell, despite her arriving five minutes earlier. [11:33]
• Other Contradictions:
  • Lady Pragwell spoke for three hours "and none of the audience were bored": grammatical correction to "was bored." [12:16]
  • Lord Cragwell "attended every bazaar since birth in 1920," but he's "in his mid-50s" in present day—dates don't align. [12:55]
  • Alternates between "Pragwell Hall" and "Pragwell Manor."
  • Lady's speech duration vs. muffin timing ("arriving in time for hot muffins at five o'clock" impractical after a three-hour speech).
• Notable moment: Visual gag about Lady Pragwell's "large car" arriving before Lord Cragwell. [11:43]

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5. Musical Mistakes Segment (with Steve Race at Piano)

[14:18–17:18]

• Popular Piano Concertos:
  • Confusing Tchaikovsky with Rachmaninoff; correction acknowledged. [14:44]
  • Medley of tunes "about the weather": team disputes what qualifies as a weather song.
    • Steve Race: "The sunshine of your smile. It was about the weather." [16:06]
    • Richard Murdoch identifies non-weather song—“Bye Bye Blackbird.” [16:47]
• Notable for quick musical wit and panel’s comedic frustrations.

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6. Geography: Portugal

[17:45–19:26]

• Errors and Corrections:
  • Portugal does not "run down the west coast of Spain," but the west side.
  • Port doesn't "grow" on the Duoro; grapes do.
  • Valencia is in Spain, not Portugal.
  • Portugal isn’t on the Mediterranean.
  • No east coast to Portugal.
• Lance Percival: Quips, "It's a sort of west side story." [18:15]
• The men take a narrow lead after this segment.

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7. Football Results

[19:31–21:07]

• Incorrect football team matchups:
  • "East Bromwich Albion" is invented (should be "West Bromwich Albion").
  • "Motherwell" called out as a Scottish team, not English league.
  • "Harlequins" noted as a rugby team, not football.
  • "Chelsea for Aston Villains"—should be "Aston Villa."
• Teams humorously lament errors and mock the fictional teams.

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8. Poetry: 'The Walrus and the Carpenter'

[21:07–23:38]

• Attributed to "Carol Levis" instead of Lewis Carroll.
• Quotations slightly off; panel refines "shining with all its might" and "billows smooth and bright."
• Verses out of order; "walking hand in hand" instead of "close at hand."
• Emphasis on literary accuracy and recitation.

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9. The Cowboy Story

[23:38–27:28]

• Setting Contradictions:
  • Sun described as high (midday) but marshal has "just finished his supper."
• Appearance and Character Consistency:
  • Stranger called "fat, swarthy" but later "slim."
  • Stranger says, "I know you" shortly after arriving as a "stranger."
• Other Details:
  • "Redwood Gulch" shifts to "Blackwood Gulch."
  • Arizona vs. Nevada confusion.
  • The marshal's gun fires more times than a six-shooter can.
  • "Muddy ground" inconsistent with the dry Nevada setting.
• The panel enjoys the absurdities, with everyone eager to catch discrepancies.

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10. Scores and Finale

[27:28]

• The final score is close: Gentlemen 70, Ladies 67.
• Host signs off after tallying scores, noting the energetic competition and “wild doings in London tonight.” The tone remains jovial to the very end.

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Notable Quotes and Moments

• [00:56] Isabel Barnett: "I only know that I'm 240."
• [03:39] Eleanor Summerfield: "It was a new house, wasn't it? So it couldn't have had a previous owner."
• [05:06] Isabel Barnett: "I think he'd be sent to jail for that..."
• [06:28] Isabel Barnett: "Well, if you were right...about October, it couldn't have been the pleasant weather of early spring."
• [14:44] Lance Percival: "That was not by Rachmaninoff."
• [18:15] Lance Percival: "...a sort of west side story."
• [21:27] Richard Murdoch: "It wasn't Carol Levis. No, it was the other chap, Dodson, you know, Lewis Carroll."
• [24:07] Richard Murdoch: "Well, he doesn't have supper in the middle of the day when the sun's right overhead."
• [26:41] Lance Percival: "Now he's fattened. Fat and swarthy."
• [27:12] Lance Percival: "Certainly, Nevada. It's hot, sunny, you know, there's no mud about, really."

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Summary and Takeaway

This episode of "Many a Slip" delights with razor-sharp repartee, playful rivalry, and a celebration of arcane knowledge, historical trivia, and musical lore. The contestants' quick corrections, humorous asides, and the host's easy rapport create an engaging, old-school panel show atmosphere. Whether catching historical slip-ups or musical mix-ups, both teams display both erudition and a sense of fun. A nostalgic treat for radio enthusiasts and lovers of clever banter.

Transcript

[A]

How do you do? Ladies and gentlemen, Round eight of many a slip and the ladies have won six games against the gentleman's one. It's anybody's contest. The teams on my right, Isabel Barnett and Eleanor Summerfield, and on my left, Richard Murdoch and Lance Percival. I read out pieces with mistakes in them and the first team member to spot a mistake presses a button. If it's a member of the ladies team, it rings a bell. If it's a gentleman, it's a buzzer. The chairman's decision is final. And here we go. George built himself a new four bedroomed all electric house with everything correctly wired for the normal 250 volt AC system. Isabel Barnett.

[B]

Mmm. I don't know a thing about electricity. I only know that I'm 240.

[C]

Shouldn't.

[A]

Very personal question. It says rather, isn't it? 250 volt AC. Messiter, you wrote this thing. Have you got it? Yes, it's perfectly right. 200. It's perfectly all right. Yes. You're 10 volts under. We won't take any marks off. Let me explain at this point, the scoring which we haven't touched on, it's one mark for making a mistake, for spotting mistake, another mark for correcting it and the marks are corrected to your team. But if a button is pressed for a mistake and there isn't one, then the marks go to the other team. In this case, I think there was a reasonable doubt. We've now explained it to Isabel Barnett. She's happy, we're happy, we'll move on. When he moved in, there were no electric light bulbs anywhere and each room had but one bulb socket which hung from the middle of the ceiling by a single strand of insulated flex. Richard Murdoch.

[C]

Well, flex has two strands.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

So it couldn't have been a single strand.

[A]

Two marks to the gentleman. Hence, let's all go down the strand of insulated flex. He wanted a bright light in the kitchen, so he fitted a 150amp bulb there. Richard Murdoch.

[C]

No, it was too 150 thing wouldn't go.

[B]

100.

[A]

What? 150amp bulb.

[C]

Oh, there's no such thing as too bright.

[D]

No, it's. It's a question of just. Before we get that bell going. I think it's too heavy a load.

[A]

Right, I'll pass it to the ladies. What should it be?

[B]

Watts.

[A]

Right. Two marks to the ladies. So he fitted a 150 watt bulb there.

[D]

Yes.

[A]

In reaching the socket, he stood on the gas cooker and damaged it.

[C]

All electric.

[E]

Yes.

[A]

All electric. Two marks.

[C]

Oh, we're going to win this week.

[B]

Lance.

[A]

In the larder, a 25 watt bulb had already been fitted.

[B]

Isabel Barnet, you said there were no bulbs in any of the rooms.

[A]

So I did. Two marks to the ladies. In the larder, a 250 watt bulb. A 25 watt bulb had not already been fitted. And. And George rightly concluded it'd be.

[D]

Wasn't it John's house?

[B]

Was it?

[A]

Yes.

[D]

I thought it was John's house before.

[A]

It was George's house. Two marks to the ladies. Oh, sorry.

[D]

Well, he had two names, you see.

[A]

And George rightly concluded it had been left there by the previous owner, Eleanor Summerfield.

[F]

It was a new house, wasn't it?

[A]

And so.

[F]

So it couldn't have had a previous owner.

[A]

How true. Too much. Good. Each of the bedrooms had been decorated in a different color. Pink, blue, yellow, green and beige.

[B]

Ellen Sunfield, you said four bedrooms, didn't you?

[F]

And you just said five colours for five. Each different color.

[A]

Do you know? You're on the ball today, aren't you? Yes. It's too much. The pink bedroom had bulb sockets in each of the four walls.

[B]

Isabel Barnett, you said originally that each room had hanging down Dickie's two stranded flex in the middle of the ceiling.

[A]

That's all. Yes, two marks. The GPO telephone was disconnected, but as Joe was a bit of an electrician, he connected. Lance Percel.

[D]

Well, I think Isabel Barnard was about to press. I thought I pressed before. There's something wrong with that GPO telephone there.

[A]

There's nothing wrong with that gpo.

[C]

Ah, no, but it was wrong. Because if he was a bit of an electrician who.

[D]

Read the sentence again, would you please?

[A]

The GPO telephone was disconnected, but as Joe was a bit of an electrician.

[D]

Well, it was George.

[A]

Yes, a third bounce, personally.

[D]

At last he got it too much.

[A]

But as George was a bit of an electrician, he connected it up to the 250 volt circuit. Isabel Barnett.

[B]

I think he'd be sent to jail for that. Am I not right that nobody is allowed to connect up telephones except a GPO engineer?

[A]

What would happen if he connected it.

[E]

Up to the 250 volt?

[B]

Yes, I don't know what would happen. But he mustn't and shouldn't and couldn't.

[A]

Do it right too much. Yes, because he rang up all his friends, asked them to a housewarming party and they all lived happily ever afterwards. What's the score now? The score is, I'm afraid, the girls are still Winning the boys at 14 and the boys are 6. Oh, well now then, a little bit of history. History?

[B]

History.

[C]

Yes.

[D]

Another 20 points.

[A]

The battle of Trafalgar or Trafalgar was fought on October 21, 1815. Yes, Richard Murdoch.

[C]

That's one date I do know. It was 18:5.

[A]

Two marks to the educated Mr. Murdoch. 18:5. This most famous of sea battles took place a few miles off Cape Finisterre, Mr. Murdoch.

[C]

Oh well Cape Finisterre is right up in the north by Corunia. This was right down in the south near Cadiz.

[A]

Yes, and what was the name of the cape?

[C]

Trafalgar.

[A]

Trafalgar. Quite right. Two marks in the pleasant weather of early spring. Isabel Barnet.

[B]

Well, if you were right and mester was right the first time about October it be could couldn't have been the pleasant weather of early spring.

[A]

No, it couldn't, could it? Two marks then. Right. Nelson was aboard the famous flagship HMS Royal Sovereign. Richard Murdoch.

[C]

Victoria.

[D]

I have still hanging about in Portsmouth, you know.

[A]

Oh yes, it's still on it. Victory. Yes. Royal Sovereign was Collingwood's flagship HMS Victory. And when the enemy the German fleet hove in view.

[D]

I'm not having that. You know, even I mean I may be daft but what is the answer?

[B]

I can tell you.

[C]

It was the French and the Spanish I think.

[A]

Two marks to the gentleman. The French and Spanish fleet hoven view. He telegraphed his famous Israel Barnett.

[B]

No.

[A]

No what dear?

[B]

He didn't. He didn't telegraph what? Put it up and little flags which I don't know about but that's what he did.

[A]

He put it up on little flag, shall we say Signaled.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

Two months signaled his famous signal. England expects each man to do his duty.

[D]

England expects every man.

[A]

No, let us have it again what you say it should be? I, I, I.

[D]

What do you want to confiscate?

[C]

England expects a man to do his duty.

[A]

Yes, all right, it's between you. You got it right. Lance Percival left out with that. But Richard Murdoch put it in. England expects that every man will do his duty in England. That night to celebrate the great victory, crowds gathered and sang around Nelson's collar. Isabel Bun.

[C]

Well, the audience knows.

[B]

No, they couldn't have done it round Nelson. There wasn't time to get it up.

[D]

Yes, right.

[A]

The friend. Two marks. The friend.

[D]

I, I think there's another couple of points there because owing to the somewhat lacking of speed by sending flag signals they couldn't have been celebrating it that night.

[A]

Quite right. Two marks Nice. The French and Spanish fleet had been beaten, but Nelson had been mortally wounded so badly that he died. Who was that?

[B]

It's a guy, and I think you're right. Now, wait, let me think. 1805. No, he wasn't mortally wounded on that one.

[A]

Two marks for the gentleman.

[D]

There was actually. Actually, there is a grammatical point there, because you can't be mortally wounded badly or. Well, if you're mortally wounded. That's it, mate. You know, you.

[A]

Two More marks for the gentleman.

[C]

I've seen the ship. And he hit his head on that.

[B]

Brass plate on the deck.

[A]

He was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey. Anybody want to start anything?

[B]

He wasn't laid to rest there. We rest on that. Right.

[A]

One mark. Anybody? Gentlemen, do you want to get a mark by saying where he was laid to rest?

[C]

Well, I don't want to lose one by getting it wrong.

[A]

St. Paul's Cathedral. And at the end of the historical piece, the score now is 22 to the gentleman and 20 to the ladies. What a popular success. The day before yesterday, Lord and Lady Pragwell, who have cropped up before in this program, were asked to open a bazaar in Cragwell Valley in aid of the Chronic Ginger Beer Drinkers Club. Lady Pragwell said they'd be delighted to declare the club open. Who was that? Bizarre. Quite right. Too much so yesterday, with a dab of ginger beer behind each ear, Isabel Garnet.

[B]

The day before yesterday, they were asked.

[D]

Yes, but they.

[A]

They were asked if they would. The day before yesterday. So yesterday, with a dab of ginger beer. Yes, two marks in the Good.

[C]

They didn't give much chance, did they?

[A]

No. Well, they'd asked two or three people before who couldn't. You know how it is. So yesterday, with a dab of ginger beer behind each ear. Because he had never been to a bazaar before, Lord Cragwell put on his flat cap and in spite of being in his middle 50s, ran all the way to the bazaar at the top of the hill.

[D]

Well, you see, it was in Praguewell Valley before. Yes, and therefore it won't be on ill will it there too much.

[A]

He arrived coincidentally with Lady Pregwell, who had driven in the family coupe, arriving five minutes before him. Richard Murdoch.

[C]

She arrived five minutes before him. So they can't have arrived simultaneously.

[D]

It was a very large car, you.

[C]

See, and he couldn't unmute.

[B]

Front end arrived with Lord Cracknell. The back end arrived five minutes.

[A]

Nice visual gag. Well worth two marks at 3pm Wrong time is well bonded. Is it? I haven't said anything about time. At all.

[F]

Well, he's really two, isn't it?

[A]

In this case, it was three. Two marks to the gentleman. He introduced his wife, Lady Pragwell, who spoke so well for three hours and that none of the audience were bored. Richard Murdoch.

[C]

Oh, none of the audience. I think that's right.

[D]

None of the audience was bored.

[A]

Right. Lance Basel. Two marks. None of the audience was bored. When she told how her husband had attended every bazaar.

[C]

He'd never opened a bazaar before.

[D]

Not in Cragwell Valley, anyway.

[C]

He never attended a bazaar, in fact.

[A]

Yes. Two marks. Two more, I say.

[F]

Gone mad.

[A]

There's a short circle. When she told how her husband hadn't attended every bazaar since his birth in 1920. There's a woman. Isabel Barnett.

[B]

I presume this is taking place in the present day?

[A]

More or less time, then.

[B]

He was in his middle 50s, so he couldn't have been born in 1920. Something.

[A]

Can't argue with that. Two marks to the day.

[D]

I thought we'd give them that one. You.

[A]

They cheered wildly and threw tomatoes nonchalantly at each other, knocking Lord Bragwell's grey topper off in the process.

[D]

It was a cat, flat out.

[A]

Yes, quite right. Two marks at the end of the speech, the Pragwells had had enough and went back to Pragwell hall, arriving in time for hot muffins.

[D]

I thought it was Pragwell Manor before.

[A]

Nothing about Pragwell Manor so far. No. 2 marks delayed it.

[D]

Sorry about that.

[C]

Never mind.

[D]

Never mind.

[A]

The Bragwells had had enough and went back to Pragwell hall, arriving in time for hot muffins at five o'. Clock.

[D]

No, no.

[F]

Yeah, well, she spoke for such a long time. It's past that time now, you see.

[D]

Yes, they arrived at 5am they had a long drive back.

[A]

Two marks well in the Summerfield and the latest team, which brings us to 34 to the gentleman against 28 to the ladies. And at this point, I'm handing over to Steve Race at the piano for some musical mistakes.

[E]

Thank you, Roy. There's no denying that the three most popular piano concertos are. First of all, the one by Tchaikovsky. Bye, Rachmaninoff. I should hope so, too.

[A]

Who did that? Who was that? Lance. Perfect.

[D]

That was not by Rachmaninoff.

[E]

Oh, that gets you One point. Anyway, let's have a ting over there, Eleanor.

[F]

I think it was the menstrual and violin.

[A]

It was.

[E]

And you get the other point. That's one to each. And the first concert I was going to mention is by Grieg. Grieg's Piano Concerto in A Major begins like this. A minor. Never mind.

[A]

It begins.

[B]

The second note was wrong.

[E]

Yeah, it's good enough. I'll take that.

[A]

Two points. When it comes to two points, the.

[E]

Ladies, time for our quick medley. All these songs are about the weather.

[A]

Yes.

[E]

Two points. Two points the ladies. On to the next tune. Another two points lost there.

[C]

I don't think that was about the weather.

[A]

What was it called?

[C]

What's it called?

[E]

I'll put you out of your misery, Dicky. The sunshine of your smile. Two points to the ladies. It was about the weather. The next tune.

[A]

You're short.

[E]

Remember Stormy weather. Anyway, here's the middle bit.

[C]

When you.

[E]

Yes, it goes up first, down second, two more points. And to close the medley part, just the last phrase of this tune.

[A]

Richard Meadow.

[C]

That is not about the weather.

[E]

You're quite right.

[A]

What is it about?

[C]

Bye bye black.

[E]

And that gets you two points.

[A]

There we go.

[E]

Two points for the men. And finally, from my point of view from Italy. Funicula funiculi. Somebody wants to say beautifully pronounced.

[A]

Two points.

[E]

Yes, here's the tune.

[A]

Eleanor. Something. Two points. Thank you, Steve Race. And that musical interlude brought the score to 41 to the ladies and 37 to the gentleman.

[C]

It's a pity. Came on steam.

[D]

We'll try and fix that. Anyway.

[A]

Portugal is a European country roughly bounded by longitude 7 to 9 west and latitude 37 to 42 north. Any arguments? No, it's quite right. In other words, Portugal runs down the west coast of Spain. Lance Percival.

[D]

No, no, it's impossible for borders on Spain. Doesn't run down the west coast of Spain.

[A]

Runs down the west side.

[D]

West side.

[A]

Yes. Too much.

[D]

It's a sort of west side story.

[A]

Yes. One of its most famous exports is port which grows on the banks.

[F]

Port doesn't actually grow, does it?

[B]

The grapes.

[F]

You grow the grapes and then you make the port.

[A]

Right, two marks of the river Duoro. There are not many large towns or cities in Portugal other than Lisbon and Valencia.

[D]

No, no, no. Valencia is in Spain.

[A]

Right, two points to Lance Purcell and the gentleman swimming from the little Portuguese fishing villages in the waters of the Mediterranean.

[D]

There's no.

[C]

No, it's well outside the Mediterranean.

[D]

It's all water.

[C]

Get past Jim before you get to the med.

[A]

Yes. Atlantic. Atlantic. Too much. And there is good fishing to be had a few miles off the east coast.

[D]

There's no east coast to Portugal unless you happen to be dipping into a Spanish river.

[A]

Right, two marks. And the end of that geographical piece has brought the gentleman into the lead again by 45 to 43. It's getting rid of. And I think they have possibly a slight advantage in the next piece, which is about soccer.

[B]

Oh, no.

[C]

It's all yours, Lance.

[A]

In this following soccer announcement, we know the scores are fixed, so there's no need to correct these. So here we go with league division one, Everton three, Wolves three, Fulham two, West Ham nil. East Bromwich Albion two West Bromwich Albion two marks to Lance Percival. West Bromwich Albion two, Nottingham Forest three. Yes. Isabel, what have you done?

[B]

Oh, I've done the most dreadful thing. Tisn't in the first division.

[A]

It is.

[B]

Oh, June. I knew it was.

[A]

Two marks to the death.

[B]

I can't go home tonight. Within 15 miles of Nottingham.

[D]

No, it's not counting.

[A]

Right. Stoke Town 4, Stoke City. City 2 marks to the ladies. Stoke City 4, Bolton nil. Blackpool 3. Motherwell 2.

[D]

Oh, Motherwell is a Scottish lot of ladies who do not come south very much.

[A]

Two marks the judge.

[D]

And can I beat Rangers either? I tell you that for nothing.

[C]

Not until Birmingham nil.

[A]

Harlequins 6.

[F]

Harley Quins aren't a football team.

[A]

Oh, they are rugby football.

[F]

Yes, that's what I mean.

[A]

Rugby. 2 marks, Chelsea for Aston. Villains 1.

[D]

Aston Villa. They are a bunch of villains, I'll give you that.

[A]

All right, that. And the score now is 53 to the gentleman. 47 to the ladies. Poetry. Here are the first two verses of the Walrus and the Carpenter by Carol Levis. Richard Murphy.

[D]

Opportunity not.

[C]

It wasn't Carol Levis. No, it was the other chap, Dodson, you know, Lewis Carroll.

[A]

Lewis Carroll. Two marks. The sun was shining on the sea Shining so very bright. Richard Murdoch, wasn't it?

[C]

Shining with all its might.

[A]

Two marks. Shining with all his might. He did his very best to make the waves all smooth and bright. Eleanor, some of you.

[F]

I think it's the billows.

[A]

The billows. It is too much. The billows smooth and bright. And this was strange because. Eleanor Summerfield.

[F]

And this was odd because.

[A]

This was odd because. Two marks. It was the middle of the night. Second verse. The Walrus and the carpenter. Ellen the Summerfield.

[F]

You've left some out. The second verse is something else. Oh, wait a minute. The sea was wet as wet could be. Or something like that.

[D]

Never mind.

[A]

It wasn't the second verse. It was indeed the fourth. Yes. Two marks. The walrus and the carpenter were walking hand in hand.

[C]

Murdoch, were they walking hand in hand?

[D]

Don't ask me. I got left behind a Carol Levis.

[A]

As far as I got who passed on? The ladies did, Eleanor.

[F]

I did, Eleanor. They were close at hand. They were just good friends.

[A]

Yes. They're walking close at hand. Two marks. They cried like anything. To see such quantities of sand. Eleanor, some of you.

[F]

I don't think I should have done that. They wept like anything.

[A]

Yes. Two months they wept like anything. Yeah. To see such quantities of sand. If this were only swept away, they said.

[F]

I'm sure that's wrong.

[A]

Yes, it is.

[F]

The watercolor walking hand. They went back in such concentrate sand. If this were only cleared away.

[A]

Two marks. If this were only cleared away, they said, then wouldn't it be grand?

[F]

It doesn't go, does it? They said it would be grand.

[A]

Too much. And that brings the ladies into the lead again with 60 to 57. Ah, a cowboy story. The hot Nevada sun stood high over the dusty main street of Redwood Gulch when the fat, swarthy stranger rode in. The marshal had just finished his supper and was smoking a pipe. Yes, Richard.

[C]

Well, he doesn't have supper in the middle of the day when the sun's right overhead too much.

[A]

The marshal had just finished his 11th and was smoking a pipe outside the Black Ace Saloon. The stranger looked at him and his red beard bristled. Isabel.

[B]

He's dark and swarthy.

[A]

Too much.

[B]

He might have had a red beard, I must admit. But no, we'll stick to dark and swarthy.

[A]

Right. I know you, he snarled.

[C]

Well, I thought he was a stranger. He didn't take him long to get to know him.

[B]

He might have known him somewhere else.

[A]

I think you've got a point here, Murdoch, don't you think? Yes, give him a point for that. Give him two for that. Stranger I know. Yes, I know you, he snarled. I know you, too, the marshal snarled back, throwing away his. Yes. Richard Murray.

[C]

Oh, I thought the marshal spoke first.

[A]

Richard. Murder. No, I know you, too.

[C]

The marshal snow back and I've lost two points, have I?

[A]

Yes, yes, yes. Eleanor Zumphy.

[F]

You said, throwing away his. And it must have been cigaretted because he was smoking a pipe, you said throwing away his.

[A]

Well, wait till we get to it.

[F]

Throwing away.

[A]

I cannot accept that I have. He might have been throwing away his pipe. He might have got tired.

[B]

Yes, but I did.

[A]

You might have given up smoking altogether, throwing away his cigar.

[D]

Never have I waited for something with a finger pressing on.

[A]

You wanted to say, Mr. Percival?

[D]

I wanted to say that he was.

[A]

Smoking a pipe too much and advancing towards him. We don't want your kind and Blackwood Gulch.

[B]

Oh, it's changed color. It was Redwood Gulch last time.

[A]

Right, Isabel Vonnegut.

[B]

It's gonna work.

[A]

We don't want your kind in Redwood Gulch. Keep her riding till you're clear out of Arizona.

[D]

No, no.

[A]

That was a dead heat. Yes, it was.

[D]

Nevada.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

One mark each side, two points each. One point each. Suddenly, the stranger went for his gun. But the marshal drew his six shooter like grease lighting and fired four times in rapid succession. The stranger's slim body twitched.

[D]

Now he's fattened. Fat and swarthy.

[A]

Before he was. Two marks. Don't. Fat and small. The stranger's fat and small body twitched, but somehow he managed to level his gun. Bang. Bang, Bang. The marshal's gun spoke again.

[D]

No, no, he's a new six shooter and he's only got. He got one too many bangs, if you excuse me.

[A]

Right. Two more marks on Smith. The marshal's gun spoke only twice and the stranger dropped like a Polex steer onto the muddy ground.

[D]

No, it was a. It was a sort of. Certainly, Nevada. It's hot, sunny, you know, there's no mud about, really. It's dry.

[A]

You think?

[D]

Well, in my experience, it's all desert.

[A]

Out there in the dusty main street.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Yes. Right. Two marks. And at this point, that is for as far as we can go. Now, while Messeter's trembling hand is adding up the score, let's have a look here. This is twist or bust, isn't it? The gentleman 70 and the ladies 67. Oh, there'll be wild doings in London tonight. And that's all for this week. On behalf of our two teams, this Barnett, Helen Some Field and Richard Murdoch and Lance Percival, the triumphant pair on my left, and Steve Race, the musical mistakes man, I'll say goodbye.