Print Block Teacup Travels

Here they come,

my two intrepid explorers,

Charlotte and Lokesh.

'I'm their Great Aunt Lizzie, you see,

'and I wonder which one is coming to see me today?'

-Your turn!

-'Ah, so it's Lokesh.'

-Hello, Lokesh!

-Hello, Great Aunt Lizzie!

Once upon a time, I travelled the world,

discovering treasures from long ago and far away

and no end of stories to remind me.

But my most precious possession of all

is my extraordinary collection of teacups.

Here we are.

No time to count the clouds.

Let's have a nice cup of tea and a story.

But first we need the teacup.

But which one?

That one.

Ah... The printer's block.

What made you choose that one, Lokesh?

It looks just like a piece of wood.

-But...

-But the best stories come from the most unexpected places.

Yes.

So, let's see what that old block of wood has to tell us.

Are you ready?

Ready.

Then let me tell you the story

of Lokesh And The Adventure Of The Printer's Block.

This story happened long ago in far-off Japan,

on an island of meandering rivers and peaceful mountain paths,

of temples and sun-dappled forests...

MAGICAL ADVENTURE MUSIC

It was deep in the heart of one of these forests

that Lokesh made his way one dewy morning

towards a patch of grass amongst the trees.

A little wooden house sat bathed in sunlight

and a man knelt absolutely stock still

on a simple cotton cushion.

As Lokesh came near, he began to wonder if he was a statue,

but he was real enough.

Perhaps he was ill.

-Sorry. Are you OK?

-I was just meditating.

-Meditating?

-It is like thinking as little as possible.

Ah...

I'm also waiting for my daughter, Masako.

I haven't seen her for nearly five years.

-HE GROANS

-Ah... Would you like to sit?

You look like you've travelled a long way.

You're very kind.

-Thank you.

-My name is Ichiro.

-And I'm Lokesh.

Would you like some bread?

Gifts are good, aren't they?

I want to give Masako a present when she gets here, but, as you see,

-the cupboard is bare.

-What happened?

Well, the best thing ever, you see...

When Masako was a little girl, we were rich.

As wealthy as we were,

the only thing that mattered to Masako was her fish.

Goldfish! She would say, "Ah, more beautiful than silk, Father,

"and more precious than real gold."

One day Masako gave away all her toys

to some children who had nothing.

"I don't need them," she said, "I have my fish."

After she got married, I tried giving away some old clothes.

And it felt so good.

So I gave away more and more and more until, today,

I have nothing but the clothes on my body and the roof over my head.

I've never been so content.

That's Masako's gift to me.

But what can I give her to say thank you?

Lokesh looked around. There was nothing,

apart from an old piece of cherry wood leaning up against a rock.

-What's that?

-It is the one thing left.

Nobody wants it. In fact, I nearly burnt it for firewood.

But I can't help thinking it is too good for that.

Mmm... It smells of cherries.

I could try to find someone who wants it,

but it wouldn't help you get a present for your daughter.

Maybe not. But I believe...

when you do a good thing, good things happen.

Take it and see if you can do good.

Lokesh wandered on through the forest until he came across a woman

struggling with a heavy sack.

SHE GROANS

Excuse me, can I hold the cart for you?

SHE GROANS

Ah, thank you so much.

I don't know what I'd have done if you hadn't come along.

Saku, the firewood collector at your service.

My name is Lokesh, epic adventurer.

Would you like some cherries, Lokesh?

-I'm full, thank you.

-There must be something.

The mention of cherries reminded Lokesh of the strange piece of wood

he was carrying in his bag.

Well, I have a piece of cherry wood...

A piece? Cherry wood!

If you're collecting firewood, you need more than a single piece.

Here, you have a whole bundle.

And, with that, Saku turned to go.

-Excuse me.

-Yes?

I'm sorry, but I really don't need this firewood.

But then I still owe you a favour.

One good turn deserves another, as they say.

Well, earlier I met a man called...

So Lokesh told her about Ichiro, his daughter,

and the strange piece of wood.

The moment Saku laid her eyes on the plain hunk of cherry wood,

her eyes lit up.

I know the very man.

-You do?

-His name is Atsu, a print-maker.

He is always looking for pieces like that.

He lives over there on the outskirts of Nagoya.

Oh, don't worry about the mountains -

just follow the long dark tunnel through to the other side.

If you're up for it, you could be through there and back again

in time for tea.

It was only lunch time and my had Lokesh got himself

in a tight spot!

It's a bit funny having a house and nothing in it.

I know what you mean, but when I go travelling

I love knowing I have everything I need

-in one small rucksack.

-Like a snail!

-Exactly!

-So you can go wherever you want.

At the drop of a hat.

What about that dark tunnel?

Do you think it's a problem?

No, but...

Hmm...my eyesight is not what it used to be.

Oh!

I think Lokesh has a lamp in his bag.

I think you're right!

And he wasn't going to go back

without finding that print-maker, was he?

DRAMATIC MUSIC

So, off went Lokesh in his hat, bag and boots...

..through the darkening forest

and past the ruined temple...

..until, when he was almost out of breath...

the path ran out!

There was only one way to get to the other side.

SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC

HE GASPS

HE GASPS

MAGICAL ADVENTURE MUSIC

So, Lokesh found himself gazing at the city of Nagoya,

which spread out across the plain as far as the sea.

But there was no time to stop and stare -

Lokesh had to find the print-maker.

Yes, but...

In a workshop at the back of an old stable...

a man was examining pieces of wood.

Excuse me. I'm looking for Atsu.

Yes, that's me, but I am kind of busy.

I wonder if you would like this piece of wood.

The moment Atsu saw the simple wooden block,

his mouth dropped opened.

My friend Ichiro thinks it's very special.

It's perfect! Exactly what I have been looking for.

-Can I have it?

-Yes, of course.

-What can I give you in return?

But I can't take anything.

Since I broke one, my favourite set of prince blocks has been useless,

like losing a piece of a puzzle.

I'd almost given up finding the right wood.

Ichiro will be very happy just to know someone wants it.

Tell me more about this Ichiro before you go.

Your story will inspire my work.

Well, Ichiro and his daughter...

So Lokesh told Atsu about the little girl

who believed goldfish were more valuable than gold.

And how, when she grew up,

her father gave everything away and moved to the forest.

Atsu carved the wood,

coated it with ink...

and pressed a piece of paper hard on to the sticky surface,

and then again with a different colour,

then again and again,

until he peeled away the paper for the last time

and there was a goldfish leaping into the air.

I had no idea you could use pieces of wood to make a picture!

When you do a good thing, good things happen.

Here.

For Ichiro to give to his wise daughter.

Lokesh held the paper heavy with ink.

The fish leapt in the afternoon sunlight.

Roll it up and keep it safe. It will be dry enough.

Thank you. Bye.

DRAMATIC MUSIC

Back came Lokesh...

..in his hat, bag and boots.

The evening sun was dipping beneath the trees

when Lokesh approached the little empty house in the woods.

-Lokesh.

-I did it.

I found a print-maker

-who needed the exact piece of cherry wood you gave me.

-You did?

Like you said - when you do a good thing, good things happen.

He used it to make this...

For the wisest daughter any father could wish for.

From the best father any daughter could hope for.

-Thank you, Lokesh.

-You're very welcome.

May I?

And that was that.

The whole shebang. Lokesh and The Printer's Block.

I had no idea you could make something so beautiful

with something so ordinary.

Oh, there are beautiful things everywhere if you look for them.

Look at this table. See all the patterns in the wood?

And the teacup. It reflects everything in the whole kitchen.

I think mine reflects the whole world.

Oh, my!

Even we run out of time to sit and stare, Lokesh.

Now, how did that get there?

Home time now, Lokesh.

-Thanks, Great Aunt Lizzy!

-Cheerie-bye, Lokesh!

Bye.