Derek Jacobi - Small Knight George and the Royal Chocolate CBeebies Bedtime Stories

I've written the time, the place. Now, what else do I need to put?

Oh, hello. I'm Derek and I was just finishing writing this invitation.

It's for a party I'm organising. I've got nearly everything I need.

Look, I've got red and yellow bunting and a cake stand

and some delicious chocolate cake.

And there's a fantastic chocolate cake in tonight's bedtime story -

a royal chocolate cake!

There's only one problem -

some wild brigands want to eat the chocolate cake.

And Small Knight needs to make sure

it gets to a very important party without being eaten.

The story is by Rhonda Armitage and Arthur Robbins

and is called Small Knight And George And The Royal Chocolate Cake.

Small Knight and his friend George lived in an old castle

on a spiky high hill.

One morning, Small Knight received an important letter from the king.

Big Cook was very busy in the kitchen.

The delicious smell of chocolate wafted through the castle

and out of the windows.

Mum and Dad Knight and the ladies in waiting were very busy in the castle.

Small Knight and George were busy

giving invitations to everyone they saw.

They didn't see the wild brigands hiding in the dark, dark woods.

The brigands were cross.

"Nobody ever asks us to parties!" they cried.

The brigands were hungry.

"We can smell chocolate cake."

That night, while Small Knight and George were fast asleep,

the brigands came - creep, creep on muddy feet.

They stole that royal chocolate cake clean away.

"Oh, no! Who has stolen the special royal chocolate cake?"

wailed Big Cook.

"What will I give the king and queen for the party?"

"Footprints here, footprints there. Muddy footprints everywhere.

"It's the wild brigands!" cried Dad Knight.

"Small Knight - put on your armour, take up your shield and sword

"and get onto your horse.

"You must find those brigands and get that cake back!"

Small Knight didn't want to find wild brigands.

He didn't know what they looked like.

"Brigands hide in the dark, dark woods.

"They're wild and smelly and they steal things," explained Dad Knight.

"You'll know them when you see them.

"You have to rescue the special royal chocolate cake

"for the king and queen. That's what brave knights do."

Small Knight didn't feel brave.

But he did like chocolate cake.

He clattered in his armour and clunked in his boots.

He and George made up a song as they rode along.

# We are friends who are brave and true

# Today we have a job to do

# To find those brigands and rescue that cake. #

They came to the dark, dark woods.

Something rustled in the bushes.

"Hello," cried Small Knight.

"Is that the wild brigands?"

But it was only a wild squirrel looking for acorns.

"I'm glad it wasn't the brigands," said Small Knight.

Something leapt out from behind a tree.

"Hello," cried Small Knight, "is that the wild brigands?"

But it was only a wild deer following the herd.

"Oh, I'm glad it wasn't the brigands," said Small Knight.

Something whooped and hollered in the dark, dark woods.

"Hello," whispered Small Knight, "is that the wild brigands?"

"YES!" roared the wild brigands.

"We're very wild and we're very hungry.

"We just have to slice up this delicious chocolate cake

"and then we're going to eat it - every incey wincey bit."

"Stop!" shouted Small Knight, "You must not eat that!

"It's a very special chocolate cake for the royal party."

"Nobody invited us to the party!" growled the bigger brigand.

"And I'm starving," cried the smallest brigand.

"I have to rescue the chocolate cake for the king and queen.

"That's what brave knights do." explained Small Knight.

"But if you promise not to be wild then I'll invite you to the party.

"There will be lots of good things to eat."

So the brigands put on their best clothes,

washed their filthy faces and brushed their wild hair.

They sang a different song as they rode back to the castle.

# We are friends who are brave and true

# Today we had a job to do

# The king and queen will cheer to see

# The royal cake for the royal tea. #

Mum and Dad Knight were waiting on the drawbridge.

"Hello, Mum. Hello, Dad." shouted Small Knight.

"I've been a brave knight and I've rescued the royal chocolate cake."

"Hurrah!" shouted everyone.

And they rushed the cake inside.

"Watch out," cried Dad Knight.

"Those wild brigands nearly caught you."

"Where?" shouted Big Cook.

"Out there!" shouted Mum Knight.

"But they're not wild anymore," explained Small Knight,

"so I've invited them to the party."

Smallest brigand began to cry.

"I'm a very polite brigand now.

"Please...may I come to the party?"

Dad Knight opened the portcullis.

"I'm sorry - we thought you were still wild.

"Welcome to the party."

It was a wonderful party.

The king and queen ate three slices each

of the special royal chocolate cake.

The brigands were very well behaved - they said please and thank you

and didn't talk with their mouths full.

They all played kick-a-ball until dark.

"Thank you," said the king and queen.

And they went home to their palace.

"Thank you," said the brigands

and they went home to the wild, wild woods.

"Thank you," said Small Knight and George to each other.

And they went happily to bed.

And that story was called

Small Knight and George and the Royal chocolate cake.

Well, maybe I should invite the brigands to the party

to make sure they don't try to steal this chocolate cake.

While I finish writing their invitation,

it's time for you to go to bed.

Just like Small Knight and George.

I'll see you soon for another story.

Goodnight. Now, let's see, what shall I write?

Dear brigands...

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd