Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail - The Dreaded Word
When King Arthur returns with a shrubbery for the Knights who Say Ni, the leader (Michael Palin) comments that "It is a good shrubbery." Later we learn that the word "it" causes the Knights to scream in pain.
Palin actually says it twice in this segment, but I can't remember the exact text of the second reference.
Good catch. "It" is used 3 times before they reveal their dislike of the word, twice actually by the Head Knight.
In the first scene of their encounter...
Arthur: Well, what is it you want?
Head Knight: We want... a shrubbery!
When they return with the shubbery...
Head Knight: It is a good shrubbery. I like the laurels particularly,... but there is one small problem.
Head Knight: Then, when you have found the shrubbery, you must place *it* here beside this shrubbery, only slightly higher so you get the two-level effect with a little path running down the middle.
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Trivimaster writes:
Well, maybe it is because They are no longer
the knights who say Ni. They are now the
knights who say:"Eckee Eckee Eckee Eckee Pekang
Zoot Boing Zibawl!" and they're changing may
have caused them to suddenly get an "It"-ofobia.
And maybe they can say it themselves but they
can't stand hearing the word from a non-Knight-who-says-Ni.
It's just my theory, it might be incorrect.
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Onri writes:
its a good theory that they develop 'it'phobia later. However they can't say it themselves, as later on when they are all screaming in pain the head knight says something like 'you've said it again! oh no, i've said it now!' etc......
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laceyd writes:
aaactually, there was a part near the end of a scene where the head knight goes "he said it again! oh no, now i'm saying it!" something along the lines of that.. so they can't say it either. but that was good thinking about the whole.. changing.. ecky ecky it-phobia thing.
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hawkeye writes:
Good spotting, Mr. Necastro!
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MercuryGrrl writes:
good catch on that one! i've often wondered if they've actually said "it" but never heard it. good job!
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Sylvalin writes:
If the it-phobia is a bane only of the Knights who ... so recently said "Ni", then why, when describing it, does the head knight say that it is a word "suffice to say, that the Knights of Ni cannot hear"?
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garethgazz writes:
There are tonnes of slipups in this film, but it wasn't serious anyway. It was a total piss take so they didn't care. Plus, it was made years ago, so a lot of more effect slipups are to be expected. It is definatly a slipup though.
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Dan writes:
Yeah, good sighting. I also wonder about when the head knight says, "we're getting far in life not saying 'is'" after King Arthur asks if the dreaded word is "is." What exactly does that mean? You are led to believe the dreaded word is "is." But good points from all of you.
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Yavanna writes:
Dan, what he actually says is "No, not 'is'! CAN'T go very far in life without saying 'is'!"
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