The Story of Gary the Dromedary 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 special neighbours.

# 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...whirly...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.

-Hi, everyone.

-ALL: Hi, Lucy!

-We've got a visitor tonight.

-Where?

-Over here.

-Hello!

-Oh!

-How do you do?

-I'm fine. Pleased to meet you.

-You must be Lucy.

-Yes, and you are...?

-Dennis the dromedary.

-Do you know any bedtime stories?

-We always have one now.

-A story?

Now, let me think.

-Have you been to a faraway place?

-I've been to Spain. Is that far?

Quite. But my nephew, Gary, made a journey far beyond the horizon.

That IS a long way.

'I used to live in a faraway desert with my nephew, Gary.

-'He was very clever and always asking questions.'

-Uncle Dennis!

Yes, Gary?

-Uncle Dennis, is the desert always yellow?

-Yes, Gary.

But for a few blades of green grass.

Uncle Dennis, is the sky always empty?

Usually. Unless there's a fluffy white cloud passing by.

-Uncle Dennis, what's beyond the horizon?

-More desert and sand.

-Uncle Dennis...

-Gary, go for a walk.

I've a lot of sand to look at before tea and your questions are tiresome.

'So Gary walked towards the horizon, but it remained as far off as ever.

'Gary thought it was playing tricks on him.

'Then he saw a shimmering blue ribbon in the distance.'

LAUGHTER

-Hi, I'm Gary.

-I'm Kevin. This is Toby.

-And I'm Doris. Do you want to play with us?

-Yes, please!

'And then they rested in the warm sunshine.'

How wonderful! I never thought I'd find such an amazing place.

There are more exciting things to see upstream. Where are you going?

To do some more exploring. Bye!

-Gary.

-Yes?

-Before you go, we've made you a present. It's a hump sack.

It fits on your hump.

See? A perfect fit.

You can put the things you find on your journey in it. This is from me.

- This is to remind you of me. - And a silver shell.

Wow! Thanks, guys.

-Well, I must be on my way.

-ALL: Bye!

'Back home, I was looking at some sand and missing Gary.

'Gary walked and walked until he reached the big boulders.

-Hello. I'm Gary the dromedary.

-Hi.

-I'm on an adventure.

-Nice.

-Why are you bashing boulders?

-I like it.

-Do you want a go?

-No, thanks.

-Suit yourself.

-I've an idea.

Let's build a castle with all these bits of boulder.

'Ronald was very pleased with his castle and gave Gary a boulder.'

-Mm. It looks a bit big.

-Here, take this one.

Thanks.

-I must be going. There's a lot more world to see.

-Bye!

'Gary had been away a long time. I wondered what he was doing.

'Gary walked and walked and walked until he reached the blue mountain.'

Wow!

It's white sand.

Sand is yellow and hot. Snow is white and cold.

-I'm the snip-snip bird. Do you know what a snowball is?

-No.

-You do now!

This is fun!

I wish Uncle Dennis could see this snow. It must be nearly tea time!

-Uncle Dennis will be wondering where I am.

-Take this, Gary.

Bye!

-You're late.

-Sorry. I had a great adventure.

-You're still late.

-Look!

I've brought back some presents.

They're pretty. Anything else beyond the horizon?

Rivers and trees and rocks and mountains and, best of all, snow.

-Snow? I've never heard of snow.

-It's white and like sand, but it's water.

It's not hot. It's... What did the snip-snip bird call it? ..Cold!

Well, let's see this snow, then.

-It's gone.

-I suppose I'll have to go to the mountain to see this snow.

-Uncle Dennis, that'd be brilliant. When shall we go? Tomorrow?

-Yes.

You can meet all my friends, then - Doris, Toby, Kevin...

-The next day we set off for the blue mountain.

-You walked and walked.

But now it's time for bed.

Good night, and thank you for the story, Dennis.

Sweet dromedary dreams.

Subtitles by Graeme Dibble BBC Scotland - 2000

E-mail us at [email protected]