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NINA
We went because Puggy had been invited to speak. We
brought Conan Doyle with us. We were in the best
seats and the house was full, clamouring to see the
famous Fawcett. And then the RGS President, that little
wretch Hinks, cancels your father's talk and puts on
Savage Landor at the last moment. People can be so
vile.
BRIAN
Ah yes! But did it backfire on Hinks and the RGS! Boy
oh boy. ( Explaining to the audience as he banters on)
The audience in the gallery were a lot of students who
were Fawcett worshippers and when confronted with
this establishment puppet, Savage Landor, on the
rostrum instead of their beloved hero, violent hostility
began to pervade the air.
BRIAN satirically mimics SAVAGE LANDOR and acts out the scene with
exaggerated comedy.
BRIAN AS SAVAGE LANDOR
I can safely assure my audience that the Mato Grosso
is as tranquil as my own back garden. And probably
safer. (BRIAN imitates the groan of disapproval and
hissing of the audience) Once the jungle has been
cleared, the mining industry will bring an economic
boom.
NINA
Then Conan Doyle, with extreme dignity, voiced
everyone's annoyance.
BRIAN AS CONAN DOYLE
Er…Mr President. Forgive me for mentioning that a
considerable portion of us present tonight came to hear
Colonel Fawcett's talk, which seems to have been re-
scheduled at the last moment, and we are somewhat
dumfounded to hear an opinion at such variance to his.
What about the ancient cities?
BRIAN AS SAVAGE LANDOR
What ancient cities?
69
Light change and voices become increasingly reverberated by concealed
microphones to give an echo effect of a great hall.
BRIAN IMITATING RUDE HECKLERS
The ruins!! You've heard about them! The ancient
cities!! Answer!
Sound of chants: "Answer!! Answer!! Answer!!"
BRIAN AS SAVAGE LANDOR
Sir Arthur…Science has no evidence that Brazil has
ever supported more than the most primitive form of
tribal life. Question there?
BRIAN AS FEMALE HECKLER WITH LISP
Thir Henry, what about the Egyption hieroglyphs and
Phoenician thtyle vessels found in Rio harbour by a
Brathilian archaeologitht.
BRIAN AS SAVAGE LANDOR
Young lady, have you ever trusted a Brazilian
archaeologist? I sincerely hope not. Ha-ha-ha-ha.
BRIAN
A vegetable missile passes within inches of Sir Henry's
head. The students are about to tear the building
apart. But he continues like a robot.
BRIAN AS SAVAGE LANDOR
Brazil's "Lost World" the Mato Grosso , Sir Arthur, is as
ordinary as anywhere else on this earth. However
disappointing that might sound to the child in us
all…there are no mysteries whatsoever. Thank you.
BRIAN AS HINKS
Any more questions? Before we wind up?
Light change. FAWCETT enters.
FAWCETT
I have a question.
70
BRIAN
A shockwave rips through the hall. Hinks, voice high
pitched with fear, blurts out; "Yes Colonel Fawcett.
Please. Carry on. Carry on." Daddy…rises up...Calmly.
FAWCETT
I should like to congratulate Sir Henry…
BRIAN
A gasp of amazement from the audience.
FAWCETT
For making a journey through the most mystifying and
awesome place on earth……. sound like a stroll through
Kew Gardens.
Echoing sound effect: Roars of laughter, cheering. Hinks' voice:"Order
Order!
FAWCETT
You descended just two rivers…
BRIAN AS HECKLER'S VOICE
Sticking frantically close to the banks, just for safety!
Laughter.
FAWCETT
You next boldly followed the line of the transcontinental
telegraph poles!
More laughter.
…And yet you come here claiming to have knowledge
of a million square miles of unexplored jungle on either
side of your route…... HOW?
Roar of the pandemonium breaking out and the rhythmic roars from the
gallery of "How? How? How? Answer! Answer! Answer!"
BRIAN
A hundred accusing fingers point at Savage Landor, the
representative of stifling convention. The
71
stablishments' agent for normalizing reality . But the
villain strikes right back snarling.
BRIAN AS SAVAGE LANDOR
Show me one iota of evidence for your crackpot
theories!
BRIAN
A deathly hush. Daddy slowly takes something out of
his pocket. A small statuette.
FAWCETT
As Sir Henry displays such a mastery of his subject,
would he do us the honour of identifying this?
BRIAN AS SAVAGE LANDOR
From Mesopotamia?
Audience roar of "NO!"…
BRIAN AS SAVAGE LANDOR
From Antioch?
Heckler; "Not on your Nellie!!" Laughter.
BRIAN
Savage Landor starts to sweat.
BRIAN AS SAVAGE LANDOR
From…….. BRAZIL?
The audience howl "YEAH!!!!!! FAWCETT nods to the cheers and
applause.
BRIAN
That public yearned for the words that next came from
Daddy, the champion of free thought!
FAWCETT
I know those ancient cities exist. I shall go "in there." I
shall go without the backing of this society. Rogue
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