The Story of Victor the Crocodile 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 well, a little bit plump

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane

# Some like it hot and some like it chilly

# And some like it both ways and that's a bit silly

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane

# Some are friendly, some are scary

# But one thing is sure not one is or-di-na-ry

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane

# Some are spotty, some are stripy

# They're prickly and woolly and furry and slimy

# Some are quite big and some very small

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

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane. #

-Bedtime, Lucy! >

-OK, Mum.

-It's Gordon the Gorilla, I tell you.

-No, Gordon's much too friendly.

I say it's that vulture who lives on Table Mountain.

-TOGETHER: No way! Birds aren't frightening.

-Ahem!

-Hi, everyone.

-ALL: Oh, hi, Lucy!

-What are you talking about?

-We're trying to decide who is the most frightening animal.

-Oh!

I don't think any of you are very frightening, except...

except I think that crocodile is sometimes a little scary.

-Not Kevin. The other one.

-You mean Victor?

-Yes, that's the one.

Of course - Victor!

He IS frightening sometimes.

Yes, he scares ME.

I know a story about our friend Victor. Listen!

It was sunset at the water hole and the animals were in a playful mood.

MONKEYS GIGGLE

# Ta-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra! #

Now YOU try, Nelson.

Oh!

You just need some more practice, then you'll be fine.

The animals liked to catch up on all the latest gossip.

Well, it's a wig, you know.

ALL: Really?!

There's no doubt about it. I've never seen a zebra with a red mane!

Have you?

Pit stop. Can't stay long.

THEY SNIGGER

ALL THE ANIMALS LAUGH

Hm!

Sorry, Vic. Didn't mean to splash you.

The name is VicTOR!

TOGETHER: Sorry, VicTOR.

Victor the Crocodile was NOT amused.

This water hole is getting too crowded.

Zebras, monkeys, antelopes!

I'm the biggest and strongest. It's time I had my own water hole.

Heh-heh-heh-heh!

The next day, as usual, the animals made their way to the water hole

for a morning drink.

-Hey, Victor's early today.

-I've got something to tell you all.

ALL: Oh?

As from today, this is MY water hole and you lot can't use it.

-ALL GASP Is this a joke?

-It's no joke.

From now on, you can find somewhere else to drink and splash.

-Well, I never!

-Where are WE supposed to go?

That's not my problem.

I should have done this years ago.

No-one wanted to argue with Victor.

The animals had to try and find another water hole.

I know where there's an underground spring.

There's nothing down there! ANIMALS GROAN

Then Nelson thought he had an idea.

This is a tree. We're supposed to be looking for water.

Yes, I know it's a tree. But there's water in the roots.

Strange. There always used to be water there.

Oh, dear.

Meanwhile, Victor was enjoying having the water hole to himself.

Sharing pools is just for fools I'd rather bathe alone

I'm in charge Cos I'm mean and large

This water hole's my own.

The summer nights were long and hot.

Without their water hole, the animals were thirsty and dusty

and found it very hard to sleep.

-159...

-What are you doing?

I'm counting bananas to help me get to sleep. But it isn't working.

Water! Lovely, bubbling water.

I've got it!

I'm asleep.

I've just remembered where there's lots and lots of water.

Are you sure?

The animals set out on another long walk,

led by Ronald and the Tick-Tick bird.

This is it, everybody.

But where's the water?

Yeah. It's a dust bowl, man.

Help me look. There's an underground spring.

Come on, let's go home. We're wasting our time here.

Hah-hah-hah! Now, THIS is what I call a shower.

The animals played in the water all day. There was enough for all.

Meanwhile, Victor's water hole had begun to grow dry.

His baths weren't so enjoyable now and there was only mud left.

-VICTOR SPLUTTERS

-This isn't fair!

Good morning, Giraffe.

Uh...Georgina.

-Do you mind...sharing your...?

-No. No chance!

Morning, chaps. Nice and rainy where you are.

-I wonder if I could...

-GET LOST!

Selfish bunch! Can you believe it?!

I don't want to share your water. I'm going back to my own dust hole.

Pity. If you DID want to share some water with us, I had a suggestion.

A suggestion?

Yes. You could try an apology.

An...apology?

What's an apology?

It's when you say you're sorry.

I see.

Victor had never said sorry to anyone before. It wasn't easy.

I'm slightly sorry. How about that?

I was a teeny-weeny bit wrong.

I'm...nearly sorry.

Not bad. Try once more.

Finally, after a lot of practice, Victor got it right.

Oh! I'm sorry for being such a selfish old crocodile.

That's wonderful, Victor.

I'm sorry for being such a selfish old crocodile.

But I could never say that in public, in front of the others.

-They'd think I was going soft.

-Say it once more for me.

-I'm sorry

for being such a selfish old crocodile.

ANIMALS CHEER

Nice apology, Victor.

I think we can finally forgive you.

Come up to the hill this afternoon. We might have a surprise for you.

-OK, Victor.

-What is it?

-It's a water park!

-What do I do?

Sit back and enjoy the ride.

Oh! Heh-heh!

Come on, it's great fun.

-Hah-hah-hah!

-Heh-heh-heh!

The animals had built a water slide down to the old water hole.

I may be friendly today,

but tomorrow I'll be back to my scary old self.

So, you see, not even Victor is scary ALL the time.

-No, but I still wouldn't like to share a bath with him.

-Lucy!

We've thought of something even more scary than a crocodile.

-Two crocodiles?

-No.

TOGETHER: The two-headed monkey monster!

Very funny, you two. But our story is finished now. Time for bed, Lucy.

Oh! Good night, everyone.

ALL: Good night, Lucy.

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane! #

Subtitles by Audrey Flynn BBC Broadcast 2004

E-mail us at [email protected]