The Story of the Elephant Bird 64 Zoo Lane

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane... #

Hello, I'm Lucy. I live at 64 Zoo Lane

and I have very special neighbours. Look!

# There's one with a hump, one who can jump, and one who is plump

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane

# Some like it hot, some like it chilly, some like it silly

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane

# Some are friendly, some are scary But not one is ordinary

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane

# Some are spotty, some are stripy Prickly...woolly...furry...slimy

# Some are quite big, some are small And Georgina is incredibly tall

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane # 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane. #

Bedtime, Lucy! >

OK, Mum.

TAPPING

Hi, everyone!

Hello! Anyone at home?

It's Lucy! I've arrived!

-Ooh, it tickles!

-Serves you right! It's as if you didn't recognise me.

Well... You do look, em...

-Yes?

-..Different.

Actually, Lucy, you look very grown-up.

That's exactly what I was hoping you'd say.

I want to look grown-up! Grown-ups stay up late and boss people around!

ALL: Oh, no!

Don't blush, Lucy! Sometimes we all wish we were someone different.

I wish I was Tickles. He knows the best jokes.

Sometimes, I wish I was as big and strong as Nelson!

And once, I wished I could fly like a bird.

Now, you're making fun of me!

No, we're not!

-It's true!

-Nelson did want to be a bird!

It was a long time ago...

but, yes...I was a bird for a day.

I still hold the long-distance flying record for elephants!

-Really?

-Go on, Molly, you tell the story.

-All right, then.

'Nelson was always busy doing "elephanty" things.

'He was big and strong and helped the other animals.'

Oh, no...!

'Nelson was so good at doing "elephanty" things,

'that he got a bit bored.'

Oh, this is all too easy!

I need a new challenge.

'And that's when Nelson spotted a weaverbird.'

WEAVERBIRD SINGS

Oh, thanks!

-What are you doing?

-I'm making a nest.

All birds have nests. They're nice and comfy to sleep in.

-Could I build one?

-I suppose so. It would have to be big!

That's OK - I've got all day!

'So, Nelson started to build a nest.'

Uh...!

'Nelson liked his nest very much!'

I want to be a bird!

'His friend, the weaverbird, agreed to give Nelson a few lessons.

'First, the weaverbird showed Nelson how to flap his wings.

'Nelson didn't have wings to flap so he flapped his ears instead...'

Oh...!

'But that didn't work.

'The weaverbird mentioned feathers.'

-Feathers?

-They help birds to fly!

You need lots and lots of feathers.

Here's one to get you started.

'So Nelson borrowed a feather from each of his bird friends.'

Ouch!

At last! I'm a bird!

I'm a bird! I'm a...!

'Nelson thought he would never be able to fly!'

< SINGING

Here, Nelson! Come and look at this!

Uh... It's a tree!

I've seen one before!

This just isn't any old tree!

This is a helicopter tree!

A helicopter tree?

Here...! Watch this!

'The seed of the helicopter tree gave him a brilliant idea.'

What you making, Nelson?

You'll see.

-What do you think of my helicopter blades?

-But they're banana leaves!

Give it a spin and then stand well back!

Be careful, Nelson!

Ooh, I'm flying!

Well done, Nelson!

This is great! You get such a good view from up here!

Hello, Audrey!

Oh...!

Oh, hello, Nelson!

-Hello, weaverbird!

-Yoo-hoo!

'But soon, Nelson began to take being a bird a bit too seriously.

'He tried to hatch some watermelons.'

Oh...!

Ooh...!

'He wanted to catch worms like the weaverbird.

'Worms were a bit small for him but snakes were just the right size.'

HISS

'It got really bad

'when he tried to beat the world long-distance flying record!'

Is this a good idea?

I'm not an elephant any more - I'm a bird now! I've practised very hard!

-It's very windy!

-Huh! We birds don't mind a little breeze!

'The wind caught Nelson and he flew high up into the air.'

BIRDS SING

'Then, the wind began to blow even stronger!'

Oh...oh...! Look out...!

Woh...!

Ahem! Dangerous flying, ignoring a traffic signal,

failing to report an accident with a flamingo

AND landing in a manner such as to endanger other animals!

'Nelson realised that he wasn't really a very good bird.

'The animals thought of a plan to make Nelson feel better again.'

Oh, my! Oh, my! Oh, my!

-Oh, dear!

-Oh, my!

-Oh, dear!

What's going on down there?

A big boulder rolled in front of King Snake's burrow.

It's heavy! No-one can lift it. I'm off to get help.

I could move it.

No, you're a bird - birds can't shift boulders!

No, I'm not! I'm an elephant!

I feel better already!

-Oh!

-Oh!

THUNDERING TREMORS

Thank you, Nelson.

'Nelson was helping the others by doing things only an elephant can do

'and he was happy again.'

It is with great pleasure, I accept this award for long-distance flying.

CHEERS

But...I have decided that the sky is for the birds.

From now on, I will be an elephant again!

CHEERS

'All the animals were pleased to have back the old Nelson again.'

That's amazing, Nelson! You actually learned to fly!

Whee...! I'm an elephant bird!

I like you better as big, strong Nelson, the elephant.

And we like you just the way you are.

Not too grown-up!

Everybody's special.

Especially you!

-Good night, everyone.

-ALL: Good night, Lucy!

Subtitles by Carla Rossi BBC Scotland, 2001

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