Pythonland

 

Rating: PG-13

 

Subjects: Monty Python, humor

 

Summary:  After completing their tour of Canada in the summer of '73, the Pythons visit L.A. and make a historic trip to Disneyland.

 

Disclaimer:  I'm not making any money off of this.  The Pythons do not belong to me, they belong to themselves.  The same goes for anyone associated with Disneyland, real or fictitious.  This story is copyrighted April, 2003 and may not be altered or used in any way without the expressed permission of the author.

 

A/N: This fic is VERY LOOSELY based on fact.  The Pythons did apparently visit Disneyland at the end of their 1973 Canada tour when they went down to L.A.  The only difference is that John Cleese is with them, whereas he opted out in real life.  I've just written him into this to make it more funny (you'll see what I mean), lol.  Also, I've never been to Disneyland, just Disney World, so most of the details will be based on what I've seen there.  Disneyland and Disney World have almost all of the same rides and attractions but there are some differences.  To anyone who's been to Disneyland at least once, I apologize if I get some details wrong.

 

 

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Part 1

 

"We're going WHERE??" John raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

 

"Did you say 'Disneyland?'" Eric chimed in.

 

John Gledhill, the Pythons' personal manager, stood in the middle of the hotel lobby with his arms folded and nodded.

 

"That's right, boys," he grinned. 

 

Michael Palin and Terry Jones exchanged confused looks.

 

"But don't thank me.  It's a little gift from the good folks at The Midnight Special," Mr. Gledhill continued, waving seven passes to Disneyland in front of them.

 

"Well.  Pardon my asking, Johnny Boy," Cleese began, a bit annoyed.  "But....what for??"

 

Mr. Gledhill raised his eyebrows as if he were taken aback by the question.  "Well, obviously they were so impressed with the outstanding job you had done on the show last night, and wanted to show their appreciation!"

 

Eric cocked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow.  "'Outstanding job.'  They really said that, eh?"

 

Their manager nervously shifted his weight and looked back up at Eric.  "Well...no, I am paraphrasing, but..."

 

Eric nodded and grinned sarcastically.

 

"Well, anyway, these passes are good for two whole days.  It's a big place, so that should give us enough time to explore it all."

 

The six Pythons did nothing but stare at him.

 

Gledhill looked down at his watch and sighed.  "Well, I've got a few phone calls to make before I turn in." 

 

He looked back up and gave them a quick smile.

 

"Well.  'Night, boys.  See you tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.  And since you're being treated like rock stars, try to be a bit more creative with ransacking your rooms, eh?"  He winked as he patted Terry Gilliam on the head.  Gilliam scowled.

 

"Nighty-night,"  Michael said dryly as he waved weakly to the manager who left the lobby and was headed over toward the elevators.

 

As soon as he was gone, the Pythons exchanged disgusted looks.

 

"That should give 'US' enough time to explore it all?" Jonesy asked incredulously.

 

"Don't tell me he's coming with us," Gilliam said, eyes narrowed.

 

Graham walked over to the table where they had all been sitting before, and noticed that Gledhill had left the Disneyland passes there.  He picked them up.

 

"Thought there had to be a reason why there's seven tickets instead of six," he said quietly.

 

The other Pythons groaned.

 

"Christ, that bloke is annoying," Mike said wearily, shaking his head.

 

"Tell me about it," Graham sighed.  "Do you know how it feels to have a man like him on your neck day after day, asking you to cut down on the gin?" 

 

The others looked at him but said nothing.

 

"Personally, I'd love to know what his obsession is with tearing hotel rooms apart.  I don't know about you lot, but I'm perfectly content with peeling off tiny bits of wallpaper near my bed," Mike giggled.

 

"I broke my toothbrush in half," Jonesy added proudly.

 

They all looked at each other and began to laugh.

 

"Hey, you know, just this morning I turned my chair upside down," John declared.

 

"Oooo, you don't say, John!" Eric said, his eyes widened with mock surprise.  "Your wicked, squire, wicked!" He nudged John, as per his Nudge Nudge, Wink Wink sketch.  The others laughed.

 

"So, what about you, Idle?  What have you done to your hotel room?" John grinned as the others turned their glance over to Eric.

 

Eric turned his eyes upward.  "Well, last night I...rang up the front desk and asked if the refrigerator was running!"

 

"Oooo, get away!" Mike exclaimed in his camp "Poofy Judge" tone.

 

Eric nodded and grinned.  "Yup, I did me 'crank calling' bit," he replied in the same camp voice.

 

Michael grinned back.  "Well, this morning when I walked past the maid's cart I stole a bar of soap from the bin," he continued in the camp voice.  "Just one small bar of soap, but it was a stunning effect.  I could see that hotel manager eyeing me, cheeky devil."

 

The other Pythons broke out in giggles as Mike and Eric exchanged amused looks.

 

Suddenly they turned and noticed a few other hotel guests, staring at them curiously. 

 

"Um, well, I suppose we better turn in before we say anymore and get thrown out of here," Michael said quietly, gesturing toward the elevators.  Gilliam grinned amusedly as he noticed Mike blushing furiously.

 

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"I still can't believe that Gleddy's coming with us," John grumbled as they made their way into the elevator.

 

"Yeah, what is he supposed to be, our chaperone?" Gilliam smirked.

 

Michael rolled his eyes and shook his head.  "Seems like it, doesn't it," he said grimly.

 

"Maybe he'll get stuck up on the Matterhorn while the rest of us can enjoy ourselves," Eric grinned.

 

Graham looked back down at the passes.  "Or maybe we can say that his ticket 'mysteriously disappeared'," he offered.

 

Mike chuckled.  "Oh, if only.  But if we threw his ticket in the rubbish bin he'd either jump head-first in there looking for it, or he'd bother those lovely Midnight Special people about it."

 

"We really need to find a new manager," Eric said seriously with a deadpan stare.  The others giggled.

 

"One thing still bothers me," John interjected.  "What would possess those people to give us free tickets to this place?"

 

"Um...John, I believe it's called courtesy," Michael answered, raising his eyebrows.

 

"You'll have to try harder, Mike," Jonesy smirked.  "John crossed 'courtesy' out of his dictionary long ago."

 

Everyone laughed except for John, whose face grew bright red.

 

"Well, let's try to forget that now," Michael answered, easing up on the giggles.  "We've never been to this place before.  Who knows, it might actually be fun," he said brightly.

 

John looked at him in the eyes.  "'Fun'??  Oh yes, Mike, let's meet a few sappy cartoon characters and puke ourselves silly on dizzying rides.  Good show," he said sarcastically.

 

Finally the elevator door opened, and the Pythons went their separate ways down the corridor of the hotel.

 

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"Damn, I thought that lift would never open," Michael grumbled as he made his way down towards his room.

 

Eric giggled.  "I hear ya, Mike.  It's awfully good to get away from John, isn't it?"

 

"I'll say," Mike grinned.

 

"I'm starting to wish he'd gone back to England, just as he kept threatening to do.  Would have saved us a lot of misery," Jonesy said wearily.

 

"I dunno, it might actually be worth it to see John throwing up all over the place on some of those rides," Gilliam giggled.

 

Eric joined in.  "You know, he did mention something about puking on dizzying rides.  We'll have to search the place for such rides and make sure he gets on them."

 

"And make sure we get a few good photographs of it!" Michael laughed as he dug his hotel room key out of his pocket.

 

Eric, Jonesy and Gilliam laughed.

 

"Goodnight, Mike!"  Jonesy called out as Eric and Gilliam waved.

 

"'Night, guys," Michael called back as they continued down the hall. 

 

He entered his room and threw his jacket down over the chair in front of the dressing table.  After a quick shower, he got into his pyjamas and settled into bed.  He began to read, but couldn't stop thinking about what they were going to do tomorrow.  He had never been to Disneyland before and hoped it would be a nice experience.  He wished Gledhill wasn't going with them, but there was nothing he could do about it.  Hopefully the man would be on his best behavior tomorrow...

 

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Part 2 coming soon.