The Story of Casper the Chameleon 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 some very special neighbours. Look!

# There's one with a hump And one who can jump

# And one who is a little bit plump

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# Some like it hot Some like it chilly

# Some like it both ways That's a bit silly

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# Some are friendly, some are scary

# But one thing is sure, not one is ordinary

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# Some are spotty, some are stripy

# They're prickly, woolly, furry and slimy

# Some are quite big Some are very small

# And the last one's Georgina, who's incredibly tall

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# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane. #

Bedtime, Lucy! >

OK, Mum.

Hi, everyone! Gather round. I've got a surprise for all of you!

-A surprise?

-Ta-da! I made a drawing of you all - look!

That's me! And that's ME!

The spots look great, Lucy! What about us? Where are we?

That's you, Tickles, and this is Giggles...

or maybe it's the other way round!

-Anyway, you're all there somewhere!

-I'M not!

-Who said that?

I did!

-There's someone in that bush!

-Are you sure? I can't see anything!

-That's because you're not looking hard enough! I'm Casper!

-Wow!

-Casper the Chameleon!

-Magic!

-Not really - it's just camouflage.

-What's camouflage?

-Camouflage is... rather complicated.

Let me tell you a story.

'One day, I was catching dragonflies by the waterfall,

'when...'

-Grandad! Where did YOU come from?

-I've been here all the time.

-But

-I

-didn't see you!

-That's because I was using my camouflage.

-Camouflage?

-Yes!

Uh...today, I want to tell you

about camouflage. It's very important.

Oh...important things are usually boring things!

SLURP!

Grandad! Where have you gone?

Don't talk with your mouth full! It's bad manners!

THIS is camouflage.

Chameleons can change colour to blend in with their surroundings.

-But

-I

-can't!

-You can! Think about the colour of a bunch of bananas.

CASPER CHORTLES That's good. Now, think of a green leaf.

Stop, Casper! It's not a game!

You must use this special talent properly!

'I disappeared into the jungle with great plans of mischief!'

Oh!

Well, Mr Watermelon, fancy meeting YOU here!

Oh!

CASPER CHUCKLES

It's me - Casper! Isn't camouflage brilliant?

No, it's not brilliant, Casper, and I don't think you're funny at all.

Right, who's next?

'Audrey the Ostrich had sat on her nest for a while,

'and she was thirsty.'

I'm going for a drink, little egg. Be good,

and I'll tell you a story when I get back.

Morning, Natalie! You're looking well!

What a lovely day it is! I was just saying so to my little egg.

-Audrey...

-You should see my egg. He's so clever!

-Audrey...

-I'm sure he'll be hatching very soon.

-AUDREY!

-Yes, dear?

-Audrey, why's your egg rolling down that hill?

-Oh! OH!

Little egg!

Little egg? You're not my little egg!

No! I'm Casper the Chameleon! I'm practising my camouflage!

-Your egg is fast asleep in his nest!

-HE LAUGHS

It's not funny, and it's not clever, Casper.

Casper? Casper, where are you?

# I live in the jungle, you do, too How much skipping can we do? #

One, two, three... Oh! I'll never get the hang of skipping, Toby!

-Try doing it a bit slower, Doris.

-OK.

# I live in the jungle, you do, too

# How much skipping can we do? #

-One, two...

-Hey, look!

-What is it NOW, Toby?

-It's another tortoise... over there, on that log. Look!

-CASPER CHUCKLES

-Let's go and say hello.

-YOU can go, Toby.

-I

-want to practise skipping! # I live in the jungle... #

Hi there! I'm Toby the Tortoise. Pleased to meet you.

-What's your name?

-Hello, Toby. My name is...

Casper the Chameleon!

Fooled you!

Casper! I don't understand. Where did you come from?

I was practising my camouflage. Isn't it brilliant?

Five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!

Ha! I did it, Toby! I did it! ..Toby?

CASPER CHUCKLES

-Toby, look out!

-Sorry, Doris, I can't hear you.

-The waterfall is making too much noise.

-Waterfall?

'That's when I realised we were in real danger.'

Hang on! I'll get help!

-I'm scared. What are we going to do?

-I don't know!

We've come to talk about Casper. He's been frightening the animals.

-And, what's worse, he's pretending to be a watermelon.

-I'm so sorry.

I tried to teach my grandson to use his special gift in a good way,

but the boy never listens! He always has to learn the hard way.

Help! Toby! Casper! Help! Skipping! Danger! Help!

Slow down, Doris. We can't understand what you're saying!

Casper and Toby are in...danger!

- Danger? Where? - The river!

ALL: The river?

'Just then, Toby looked up at the sky and saw Seamus the Stork.'

-Look!

-BOTH: Help, Seamus!

HELP!

-He can't hear us.

-'Then I had an idea.'

Ah! There's something down there. Better take a closer look.

Nyer-r-r-r!

BOTH: Help, Seamus! ..Whoa!

SEAMUS: Hold on tight!

Toby, you're safe!

We want a word with you.

-You've got a lot of explaining to do, Casper.

-I'm sorry, Grandad.

Where have you been? My goodness - you're all wet!

And they'd all be a lot wetter if it wasn't for Casper's quick thinking.

-He and Toby would have gone over the waterfall.

-Casper changed his colour

so Seamus could see us. He saved my life!

You're a hero, Casper.

A hero? But I've been naughty.

Oh, look - Casper's gone all pink. He's embarrassed!

You've learned to use your colour-changing sensibly.

I'm very proud of you, Casper. ALL: Hooray!

HE CHUCKLES AND SINGS

ANIMALS GROAN

Thanks for the story, Casper. Will you change colour for us? Please!

Well...all right, just this once!

ALL: Hooray!

Brilliant!

Look - I made a drawing of you.

I can't see anything - just white paper!

It's a picture of you in the snow, using your camouflage!

ANIMALS GROAN

-Good night, Lucy!

-Good night, Casper. Good night, everyone.

ALL: Sweet dreams, Lucy!

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

Subtitles by Annelie Beaton BBC Broadcast 2003

E-mail us at [email protected]

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