My Family and Other Animals

[first lines]

Larry Durrell:
Why do we put up with this bloody climate? I mean, look at us: Gerry can't speak,

Gerald Durrell:
Uh?

Larry Durrell:
Lesley can't hear.

Leslie Durrell:
What?

Larry Durrell:
Margot's got a face like a plate of red porridge.

Margot Durrell:
Shut up.

Larry Durrell:
Mother's beginning to look like an Irish washerwoman.

Mother:
I am not.

Larry Durrell:
It's August. We need sunshine.

Mother:
Yes, dear.

Larry Durrell:
Now, I've got a friend lives in Greece - Corfu. Says it's wonderful. Why don't we pack up and go?

Mother:
I can't just go like that. We have a house here.

Larry Durrell:
We'll sell up.

Mother:
Don't be ridiculous, Lawrence. Gerry needs an education.

Gerald Durrell:
No, I'll be fine.

Mother:
We can't just up and leave; that would be madness.

Theodore Stephanides:
Who was it who said, "If you can control your family, you've gone terribly wrong somewhere"?

Mother:
Aristotle?

Theodore Stephanides:
No.

Mother:
Was it me?

Theodore Stephanides:
Yes.

Mother:
What a rude man!

Margot Durrell:
What? [Mother passes her the page] [reading] "Description passengers: one travelling circus and staff!"

Mother:
Odd thing to write. Some people really are peculiar.

[last lines]

Narrator:
Back in England, Mother insisted I went to school, despite my protestation that I liked being half-educated. You were so much more surprised at everything when you were ignorant.