Shangri-La Again

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Spike Milligan's radio play 'Shangri-La' is based loosely on the novel 'Lost Horizons' by James Hilton.

The story is set during the invasion of Manchuria (1933). Ned Seagoon leads the British residents of Peking in a desperate attempt to escape the clutches of the invading Japanese army. A pilot by the name of Count Moriarty offers to fly the residents to freedom for a considerable fee, however, even his plans are wrecked when his plane crashes in the mountains.

Moriarty, Seagoon and the other survivors must rely on a mysterious, barefoot boy named Bluebottle to guide them to safety. Bluebottle leads them to a beautiful city named 'Shangri-La', hidden from the rest of the world and (supposedly) free from all its vices. As Bluebottle says: "No drink, no sex, no sins. And I'm fed up with it, I am!"

Nevertheless Seagoon finds the utter beauty of Shangri-La compelling and must decide whether he should accept Henry Crun's invitation to stay on as the new Dalai Lama or return to his former life in the world outside.

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A thorough transcript of the play may be found at this web address http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/ajwills/raw/series06/s06e08.html