The Story of Nathalie's New Neighbours 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 very small

# And Georgina is incredibly tall

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

Bedtime, Lucy! >

OK, Mum.

-Hi, everyone.

-Hi, Lucy.

-Guess what.

-What?

-We've been to a party.

Not really a party, a get-together.

The food was delicious, I ate six bananas.

No, you didn't, you ate seven.

An orang-utan has moved in next door and she wanted to meet us all.

We wanted you to come but you were at school.

Oh, that's OK.

Why don't we tell Lucy an extra special story tonight

because she missed the party?

I could tell her about the time I ate 32 bananas.

Thanks, but I have a better idea.

Why don't we tell Lucy about our friend who moved home?

You mean the story about Nathalie, that was amusing.

-Please tell me, Nelson.

Very well, this is the story of Nathalie's Neighbours.

Nathalie the antelope had moved into a new home. She was excited.

This is what I've always wanted. Nice view.

Pretty tree for shade and shelter.

And it's such a nice neighbourhood.

Oh, I wonder who lives there.

Hello.

This is your new neighbour.

It'll be nice to have someone to talk to about music and ballet...

Hello, Natalie, I was just eating a muddy potato.

So, I hear we're neighbours.

Yes.

# I like a nice pile of melons with my tea

# And at half past seven, well, my idea of heaven

# Is another bite of melon or three. #

-Nathalie didn't like her neighbour.

-Oh!

Herbert was messy.

Oh, THAT'S where my banana skin went.

# Ta na na na na na na. # Spin.

# Ta na na na na na na. # Plie.

DRUMS PLAY

Herbert was noisy.

That's it, I've had enough.

Nathalie went to see Audrey, the agony ostrich, for advice.

Hi, Natalie, how can I help you?

-I don't like my neighbour.

-Go on.

He's driving me mad. He's messy and noisy...

-Herbert?

-Yes, how did you know?

-Oh, just a guess.

What shall I do?

Well, you'll have to find Herbert a new home, as far away as possible.

She began searching straight away.

Oh, this water hole would make a nice home for Herbert.

-Hu-hu-hu.

-Hmm, perhaps not.

Ooh, that looks quite nice.

Oh, dear.

Nathalie had to search for a very long time,

but finally she found a nice muddy puddle.

Perfect.

And what made this home especially perfect

was it was miles from anywhere.

This is a nice neighbourhood.

Grunt-grunt-grunt.

-There are too many watermelons for MY liking.

-Watermelons?!

Grunt-grunt-grunt.

Yum-Yum.

I hope you like it here, Herbert. It's so much more...you.

Sorry, did you say something? Yum-yum-yum.

And so, Herbert moved to the puddle on the hill and was very happy.

That's Herbert gone.

But what if another warthog moves into Herbert's old burrow?

Natalie decided to take no chances on her new neighbours -

she would interview them herself.

Hello, Natalie.

Could you wipe your feet, please, Pauline?

No, that won't do. Next, please.

Hello, Alan. To start, tell me, do you have any hobbies?

Hobbies? Oh, yes, of course, I'm very interested in ants.

Did you know that there are lots of different kinds of ants?

And each ant is particularly suited to the place it lives...

-SHE YAWNS

-Alan, can I stop you there?

I'm sorry, but I think you're too boring to have as a neighbour.

-No offence.

-No, of course not. Thanks, anyway.

Too big!

Too small!

Too spiky!

Too smooth!

Nathalie only had ONE animal left to see.

You must be the lovely Nathalie.

Ooh, yes, that's me.

-And you are...?

-Harry. Harry the hyena. Hee-hee.

Nathalie was very impressed with Harry. He was smart and polite.

The perfect neighbour.

I like things quiet, neat and tidy.

Me too. Spick and span, that's old Harry. Hee-hee-hee.

-Hee-hee-hee.

-Ah, good, good.

Natalie told Harry he could move in straight away.

HE WHISTLES

ALL: Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee.

Oh, you never said you had a family.

ALL: Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee.

Don't worry, Nat, they're as good as gold.

Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee.

-Hee-hee-hee-hee.

-Eh? What? Who's that?

CONTINUOUS LAUGHTER

Go on, son, laugh your little tail off.

He's got his father's laugh.

ALL LAUGH

I hope this is just a bad dream.

And one. # Ta la la la la la. #

Plie.

And two. # Da la la la la la la. #

Plie.

-Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee.

-Plie.

# Ta la la la la la la la. #

She looks funny, Dave.

# Da-da-da, ho-ho-ho, de-de-de. #

'Ere, don't mind the kids, Nat, they're just having a laugh.

Hee-hee-hee.

Nathalie soon realised she'd made a BIG mistake.

The hyenas were terribly noisy and extremely messy.

And worst of all, worst of all by far was the laughter.

Nathalie decided she had to do something.

My new neighbours are driving me mad with their laughing.

-What shall I do?

-There's only one thing you can do. Get Herbert back.

Nathalie had a plan.

Grunt-grunt.

Hello, Natalie.

Hi, Herbert. Do you miss your old home?

Oh, no, the new pad is much better -

beautiful mud pool, lots of watermelons.

-So you won't be coming back then?

-Don't think so.

-Well, can't stop, have to get back to my watermelons.

-Bye, Herbert.

Nathalie's plan hadn't worked.

LOUD LAUGHTER

There's only one thing left to do.

DRUMS PLAY

-Hello.

-Eh!? You're a long way from home.

That's where you're wrong, Herbert. This is my NEW home.

-We're neighbours again.

-Huh, you've got to laugh, haven't you?

Natalie and Herbert have been good neighbours ever since.

-I'm glad I'VE got good neighbours.

-Who?

-You lot, of course.

-Oh, yes.

And we're glad to have you too. But...

I know, time for bed. Good night, everyone.

ALL: Sleep tight, Lucy.

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane

Subtitles by Kate Spence BBC Broadcast 2003

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