Wednesday, 11 April 2007

Jo and Petunia: Flags

It seems I haven't got many readers at the moment, but if anyone out there is reading this, I'd like to thank you. It's a specialist subject, I suppose, ie. there aren't that many people interested in it. I know there are a few, so I've listed this in some blogging directories. I also know this site isn't very good, and I'm trying to improve it. I don't quite dare to put any pictures up because of copyright and all that, but if anyone is better informed about this than I am, I would appreciate some help.

Now, as you remember from my original post about Jo and Petunia (http://takingthepif.blogspot.com/2007/04/jo-and-petunia.html), "Country Code" and the original "Coastguard" can be viewed on the National Archives website with transcripts: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/1964to1979/filmindex.htm. I'm reluctant to link to YouTube because people often take their videos down, but I've now found the final film, "Worn Tyres" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnHCqWiZXqk) online as well. Again, the 2006 version of "Coastguard" can be found here: http://tmf.ecwhost.com/extra/media/PIF-PIFS-JOANDPETUNIA-COASTGUARD-2006.rm. Meanwhile, here's a transcript of "Flags", the only one I haven't yet found on the Internet:

(Jo and Petunia are at the beach. Jo is looking through binoculars while Petunia slurps an ice cream)

PETUNIA: Seen something interesting, Jo?

(We see he is looking at a topless mermaid out in the sea)

JO: Eh, no, not really, Petunia. (He bounces up and down)
PETUNIA: Well, you must have spotted something.
JO: (lowers his binoculars and then looks again) Er, well, it's what you might call a rare ... sea ... bird.

(The mermaid winks)

PETUNIA: (slurps ice cream) Oh, fancy! How nice!

(Jo puts down his binoculars and makes to take off his jacket)

JO: I think I might go for a little swim, Petunia.
PETUNIA: (shocked) Not here, Jo! (Close in on a large signpost next to her, which reads "DANGER, STRONG CURRENTS, DO NOT BATHE") A red notice means it's permanently unsafe and you must never, never bathe in here!
JO: Oh ...

(Change scene. Jo is still looking through his binoculars, but Petunia has changed her clothes and they've moved down the beach. Behind them, a red flag is flying, warning that it's dangerous to swim)

JO: That water looks very inviting, Petunia. (In the distance, the mermaid beckons)
PETUNIA: You can't bathe in here either. Not now. Can't you see the red flag? It means it's just not safe!
JO: (again putting down his binoculars and taking his jacket off) But I can swim like a fish!
PETUNIA: (waving her finger) That's no excuse, Jo. As long as the red flag's flying, you mustn't go in the water.
JO: Oh.

(Change scene. Petunia has another new outfit and another ice cream, and they're on a busy part of the beach, where a red and yellow flag is flying)

PETUNIA: Now you're in luck! (She points) Red and yellow flag. (A bronzed, muscular lifeguard dives into the water) That means the area between them is patrolled by lifeguards.

(The lifeguard swims away with the mermaid)

Now, in you go, Jo!

JO: (shocked) Funny, but I've - I've changed me mind, Petunia.
PETUNIA: Oh - men! (slurps)




2 comments:

Atomic Ephemera said...

Hello!

Outing myself as a reader and long-term pif fan. I think you're ok to put pictures up - I am not sure about copyright issues (though I can't see why showing pictures would be any worse than making the videos available to download), but the worst they can do is politely ask you to take them down.

I have a huge stash of pifs if you feel like swapping any, by the way.

Reginald Molehusband said...

Jack - Thank you! It really puts a smile on my face to let me know someone is reading this. I will have to see about those pictures then! As mentioned, it probably wouldn't be too illegal if I made stills from the Charley Says DVD or something, as I am not making any profit out of this.

What kind of PIFs would you like in exchange?