Tom Hardy - You Must Bring a Hat CBeebies Bedtime Stories

Hello, I'm Tom and this is Woody.

We've been invited to a very special party

in tonight's bedtime story

and we've been told to wear a hat.

Perfect. Tonight's story is called You Must Bring A Hat

and is written by Simon Philip with pictures by Kate Hindley.

I received an invitation to a party.

"You are cordially invited to the biggest, bestest,

"hattiest party of all time. Starts at 5.30.

"Wide Brim House, 32 Panama Avenue, West Trilby.

"You may bring as many extra guests as you wish

"but you must bring a hat.

"Kindest regards, Nigel - host and fanciest-hat judge.

"PS, seriously, don't forget the hat.

"The party depends on it.

"PPS, try not to be late this time."

Immediately, I panicked.

I didn't own a hat and the invitation specifically stated

that I must bring a hat - the party depended on it.

I searched everywhere for a hat but the only hat I could find

belonged to a monkey - and that is a lovely hat.

"Can I borrow it, please?" "No."

"I really, really need a hat for a party. I will give it back."

As he wouldn't negotiate, I was left with no choice.

At least I had a hat, even if it was still attached to a monkey,

but on arrival, the security was pretty tight.

"Invitation, please," said the doorman.

Apparently, there were other rules, too.

"Sorry, sir, but we're under strict instructions not to let in

"any hat-wearing monkeys,

"unless they are also wearing a monocle."

Luckily, we soon bumped into a badger named Geoff

and he was just the sort of badger we required.

"I do beg your pardon, chaps, but are you by any chance

"after a monocle?"

"Indeed we are. We need it for a party."

"I will lend this monkey my monocle,

"on the condition that I may accompany you to your shindig."

Mm!

"Invitation, please," the doorman said again.

"Sorry, sir, but we're under strict instructions not to let in

"any hat and monocle-wearing monkeys,

"if they are accompanied by a badger called Geoff."

"Unless Geoff can pay the piano."

"Can you play the piano?" I asked.

"Don't insult me. I'm a badger. Of course I can."

"Geoff can play," I said, firmly.

"I'm afraid we need to see that," the doorman replied.

JAZZ PIANO MUSIC PLAYS

Geoff was good, but we still had a problem.

"Sorry, we can't let this piano-lending elephant in.

"He's not wearing a tutu."

It's just typical. There's never, ever a tutu around

when you need one.

But we sorted that problem surprisingly quickly.

Surely NOW we'd be allowed in... But we'd failed to notice the sign.

"Under no circumstances is a tutu to be worn

"without the supervision of an accompanying penguin."

Ah.

Martin kindly helped us out

and as he was a very clever penguin,

we were already prepared for the next rule.

"All penguins accompanying pink tutu-wearing elephants

"must bring with them a suitcase full of cheese."

But it turned out the cheese needed to be sliced

and none of us had thought to bring a knife.

And that was when I broke. I said, "Look.

"These are the silliest rules I have ever heard.

"Nigel clearly stated on his invitation that I could bring

"anyone I wanted, so long as I brought a hat

"and I brought a monkey in a hat,

"so technically I brought a hat, and..."

"Nigel?" said the doorman.

"Who's Nigel?

"This is Felicity's party."

"This isn't number 32?"

"Next door."

Oops.

Still, Nigel's party was worth the hassle,

even if we were a little bit late.

ELEPHANT TRUMPETS

TOM LAUGHS

At least he got the party in the end and it was a lot of fun.

I don't think that I've ever danced

with an elephant wearing a tutu before.

Or have I? All that partying, to be fair, has completely worn me out

and I'm sure you are feeling very sleepy, too.

I will see you for another bedtime story.

Sleep tight.