CUT TO ARTHUR, GALAHAD and BEDEVERE struggling towards the lake.
BEDEVERE (to ARTHUR): How did you know how many wing-beats a swallow needs to maintain velocity?
ARTHUR: Oh … when you’re king you know all those things.
BRIDGEKEEPER: What is your favorite color?
GAWAIN: Blue … No yelloooooww!
ARTHUR and BEDEVERE step forward.
BRIDGEKEEPER: What is your name?
ARTHUR: It is Arthur, King of the Britons.
BRIDGEKEEPER: What is your quest?
ARTHUR: To seek the Holy Grail.
BRIDGEKEEPER: What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
ARTHUR: What do you mean? An African or European swallow?
BRIDGEKEEPER: Er … I don’t know that … Aaaaarrrrrrggghhh!
BRIDGEKEEPER is cast into the gorge.
BEDEVERE: How do you know so much about swallows?
ARTHUR: Well you have to know these things when you’re a king, you know.
Suddenly they appear at water’s edge. They look across the water. A huge expanse disappearing into the mist. How can they cross?
Suddenly the air is filled with ethereal music, and out of the mist appears a wonderful barge silently and slowly drifting towards them.
They gaze in wonder. The mysterious boat comes to where they are standing. As if bewitched, they find themselves drawing closer to the boat. As they are about to step in, a ragged figure looks up at them.
BOATKEEPER (he is the same as the BRIDGEKEEPER and the SOOTHSAYER): He who would cross the Sea of Fate must answer me these questions twenty-eight.
He fixes them with a baleful eye, ARTHUR and BEDEVERE exchange glances, then turn, with minds made up, pick him up bodily and throw him in the water.
They climb into the boat and the boat moves off into the mist
FADE OUT