Invasion of the Moon Creatures

"Invasion of the Moon Creatures"
The Goodies episode
Episode no. Series 4
Episode 31 (of 76)
Produced by
Starring Tim Brooke-Taylor
Graeme Garden
Bill Oddie
Original air date 8 December 1973
(Saturday — 8 p.m.)
Guest stars
Roland MacLeod as
"James Burke"
Patrick Moore (as himself)
(the "Astronomer")
Series 4 episodes
1 December 1973 – 12 January 1974
  1. Camelot
  2. Invasion of the Moon Creatures
  3. Hospital for Hire
  4. The Goodies and the Beanstalk
  5. The Stone Age
  6. Goodies in the Nick
  7. The Race
List of The Goodies episodes

"Invasion of the Moon Creatures" is an episode of the British comedy television series The Goodies — a BAFTA-nominated series for Best Light Entertainment Programme.[1][2][3]

This episode is also known as "Big Bunny".

As always, the episode was written by members of The Goodies.

Contents

Plot

Tim and Bill arrive home and are stunned to discover that the door is locked. When they knock on the door, Graeme asks them to tell him the password. Tim comments that they want to come in and have a cup of tea, to which Graeme says, "Wrong!" Then Bill demands that Graeme let them in, and Graeme opens the door.

Tim and Bill are amazed at the change to their office, which has been set up like a space control centre. Graeme has agreed to do his bit to put Britain into the space race by sending two rabbits (called "Floppsy" and "Spiro") to the moon. Bill and Tim comment that it would be very expensive to get hold of a rocket to do this, but Graeme says that he was able to buy a second-hand Saturn rocket from NASA, and that the rocket was parked outside. Tim looks embarrassed and comments that he had just posted a couple of letters in it. Graeme then demonstrates to Tim and Bill how he trains the rabbits for their space voyage, including giving the rabbits stress and gravity tests. The rabbits then lift off successfully on their trip to the Moon.

Six months later, Graeme is worried because he had lost contact with "Floppsy" and "Spiro" — and intends to send up two more rabbits to the moon to find out what happened to them. Graeme does not want to sacrifice two more rabbits because they are like family to him so, when the rocket takes off, it is not Graeme's specially trained rabbits which make up the spaceship crew, but Tim and Bill, who are not at all happy, and do not wish to go. After they have taken off, Graeme says "You're looking good", and Tim then looks at his reflection in a compact mirror and thanks Graeme for what he, Tim, mistakenly assumes is a 'compliment' regarding his appearance. Bill asks where the food is, and Graeme tells him where to find it. Tim then asks Graeme where the tea is, and Graeme tells him that the tea is above their heads — commenting that they will need to drink the tea through tubes. Tim objects, saying that he would rather drink tea from a cup. Tim tells Graeme that he must telephone home, and Bill points to a telephone box floating past (actually Doctor Who's TARDIS). Then there is a meteorite shower and Bill opens a window in the rocket to get a better photo.

When the rocket eventually lands on the moon it can be seen, from all the American flags planted in the dust, that other people had already been on the moon. Tim and Bill leave the rocket and set about collecting moon dust and sing "By the light of the silvery Earth". They then become aware of all of the lettuces and carrots which are growing in the soil and Tim comments that it must be to feed all the rabbits. It appeared that "Floppsy" and "Spiro" did not perish after all, and "Floppsy" (who is now called "Big Bunny") comments that he is going to turn Bill and Tim into rabbits, so that the rabbits can return to Earth and take over the world — with Bill and Tim as the vanguard of the invasion force.

When Tim and Bill return to Earth, they are met by fanfare as the first British astronauts to travel to the moon and safely return. Everyone is then shocked to find that Tim and Bill have been turned into rabbits. Tim and Bill then proceed to wreak havoc wherever they go and Graeme has to find a way to stop them.

Spoofs and cultural references

Notes

References

  1. ^ Light Entertainment Production nomination — official BAFTA website
  2. ^ Best Light Entertainment Programme nomination — official BAFTA website
  3. ^ Information is given, by the BBC, about the BAFTA-nomination on the back of the "The GOODIES ... At Last ... Back for More, Again!" DVD cover.

External links