Ancient Roman Let's Play

-# Let's play

-Dooby do dooby dooby do

-# Let's play

-Dooby do dooby dooby do

# Let's play!

-# Let's have an adventure, hooray!

-Dooby do dooby dooby do

# Let's play!

# Who could we be today?

# What could we do?

# I'd like to sail a pirate ship

# Or decorate a room

# I could be a film director

# Or I could walk your pet

# A clown or tennis player

# The best you've ever met

-# Let's play

-Dooby do dooby dooby do

-# Let's play

-Dooby do dooby dooby do

-# Let's have an adventure today

-Dooby do dooby dooby do. #

-We're getting ready to play snakes and ladders.

-Is that everything?

I think so. We've got the snakes and the ladders.

-And all the pieces... Oh, no.

-What's wrong?

-There's no dice.

Snakes and ladders without dice is like a bike without wheels.

You're right. Let's get looking.

-Hold on, Sid, it's time!

-Great.

-It's time to play...

-Whose turn is it today?

-Let it be me.

-Let it be me.

-Me.

-Me.

-Me.

# Let it be me

# Let, let, let it be me

# Let it be me

# Let it be me

# Let it be me

# Let it be me

# Let it be me, let it be me

# I really, really, really, really hope that it's me

# Let it be me, let it be me

# Let it be me

# Let, let, let it be me

# Let it be me, let it be me

# I really, really, really, really hope that it's me. #

-Could it be me?

-Could it be me?

It's me!

# Yes, it's me Yes, it's me

#I'm really, really, really, really happy it's me. #

Look, there's the dressing up room.

# Let's play. #

This is really exciting.

So what do you think we're playing today?

So, what I have I got on?

A top hat, a parrot outfit and a pair of spotty wellies.

This definitely isn't right. Let's try again.

So, this time I've got on a very old-fashioned tunic

and a pair of sandals. So what are we playing today?

Yes, we're going to be ancient Romans from a very long time ago.

So what do we need to know?

Many centuries ago the ancient Romans

lived in a country that is now called Italy.

Ancient Rome was ruled by powerful emperors.

They wore robes with purple in them as a symbol of their power

and it was forbidden for anyone else to wear purple.

Rich Romans decorated their floors with big pictures made

from lots of tiny pieces of tile and stone pressed into plaster.

This kind of picture was called a mosaic.

And the Romans built huge bridges called aqueducts

to carry water into their towns and cities.

OK, so that's what we need to remember.

And do we need anything else?

A cup-and-ball toy?

Oh, nearly! I wonder what this is for.

Well, I'm sure it'll come in handy.

So we've got everything we need, let's go.

# Let's play. #

Here, Dicey, Dicey. Dicey, Dicey!

Sid, can you guess what we're playing today?

-It's not dice-finding detectives, is it?

-No.

-We're playing ancient Romans.

-Oh, fantastic!

Keep an eye out for ancient Roman dice!

-I'll do my best. See you later.

-Bye!

-Let's play!

Come on! Let's play ancient Romans.

Whoa! Hoo-hoo!

-Wee!

-Let's play!

So, where am I? We must be near the great city of ancient Rome.

But I can't see a city that way so let's try this way.

Wow, look at that massive bridge.

CRYING

What's that noise? I'd better go and see. Come on!

Hello? Are you all right?

Sounds like a Roman lady in distress.

CRYING

OK, I was wrong about the lady bit.

-Hello, are you all right?

-Who are you?

I'm Rebecca. Who are you?

I'm Cementicus the builder and I'm really, really upset.

-Why's that?

-Because me and my brother,

we're the most successful builders in all of Rome.

-Then why are you crying if you're so successful?

-We're too busy.

We've got to build this great big aqueduct,

that's a bridge that carries water,

and there's a huge posh house that we are building for

none other than the ruler of all of ancient Rome,

Emperor Stropicus Maximus himself.

-What's the problem?

-The Emperor's house isn't finished

and he's coming to inspect it.

-I should be with my brother.

-Why don't you go there?

Because Rome is waiting for running water from this

-aqueduct and I can't leave until it's finished.

-Maybe I can help.

But there's only one of me. Who needs my help most?

Fabulus, that's my brother, go to him quick!

If the house isn't finished before the Emperor arrives

he'll be really, really cross and when

Emperor Stropicus Maximus is upset, well...

Well, what?

There'll be punishment and it will involve very hungry lions.

Very hungry lions? GULPS

Quick! It's over the hill and down that road. It leads to Rome.

OK, good luck Cementicus. HE CRIES

# Let's play. #

This tunic is very comfy, but it does let in the breeze.

I could do with something to keep me warm.

Whoa, hold your horses! Hello, madam. I am Special Orphus.

May I interest you in something from my mobile market?

Of course I can. There you are.

-Have a look at this beautiful necklace.

-Er, I'm not really sure.

Oh, go on! Look at those stones.

They match your eyes and, special offer,

just for you today, between you and me, 50% off.

How about that?

Er, no. Thank you. Oh, but this is more like it.

Oh, I can see Madam has an eye for quality.

Imagine that - a purple wall hanging,

a purple sofa cover or even half a pair of purple curtains.

-Oh, perfect. I'll take it. Thank you.

-Beautiful, enjoy.

Don't try wearing it though, will you? Ha-ha.

Everyone knows that, right?

Right?

That's better, much warmer. I'm as snug as a bug in a purple rug.

-Excuse me, is this the way into Rome?

-What? Sorry. Hail, hail.

-Hail? Nope, it looks pretty sunny to me.

-No, hail, mighty Emperor!

Emperor? No! I'm not the Emperor.

-You're not?

-No, you know, I'm just...

-Then you're under arrest.

-Why? I haven't done anything.

The Emperor will not be happy about this.

Your punishment will be terrible.

It'll almost definitely involve very hungry lions.

Very hungry lions? GULPS

-It's off to prison with you.

-Oh, dear.

I need to help Cementicus's brother.

How can I persuade the guard not to arrest me

if I don't know what I've done wrong?

Oh, no. What am I going to do?

Oh, hold on! I remember, do you?

That's it! it's forbidden for anyone who isn't

the Emperor to wear purple.

I need to take this blanket off. And fast!

There you go. Makes a lovely tent door, I've been told.

-Sorry about the mix-up.

-That all right. Enjoy your visit.

Oi, you, in the purple blanket. You're under arrest.

Oh, no. It's not me. It was her.

Wow, ancient Rome's so big. I wonder where the Emperor's new house is.

Excuse me. Oh, it's you again. Hello. You get around, don't you?

Special Orphus is my name, mobile market is my game.

Have you been enjoying that purple blanket?

Not exactly. It almost got me arrested.

I should have reminded you about that!

Let me make it up to you with a nice special tasty treat.

Foreign food is all the rage in Rome. You'll love this.

This is the finest, fanciest dish all around.

-What's it called? It's, er...

-Beans on toast?

Wow, you really know your fancy food, don't you?

-It's on the house.

-No, it's really fine.

-It's yours!

-No, thank you.

Where is the Emperor's new house?

You're standing in front of it.

Oh, yeah. Nice pad, eh? Thanks Special Orphus.

-Are you sure you won't...?

-No, Cheers.

Hello. Anyone home? HE CRIES

Let me guess. Cementicus's brother.

Hello. You must be Fabulus.

I am, but this is no time for flattery.

I know, I met your brother earlier. I'm here to help. I'm Rebecca.

Oh, thank you, Rebecca. Thank you!

Everything's going wrong. The Emperor sent

instructions for the decorated floor.

He wants a massive picture of his face on it.

What's the problem?

I haven't got time. I got a message from the chef.

He's sick so I'm cooking. I have to go to the market

to buy a pink flamingo, a parrot and some dormice.

If dinner and the floor aren't ready

by the time Emperor Stropicus arrives...

Don't tell me, something involving very hungry lions?

Well, don't worry.

You get what you need for dinner and I'll decorate the floor.

-Oh, thank you, Rebecca. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

-Oh, great.

I love painting. But I can't see any paint or brushes.

Only this big patch of wet plaster and all those little pieces of tile.

What am I going to do?

Oh, hold on! I remember, do you? That's it!

Rich Romans decorate their floor with mosaics.

Big pictures made up of lots of little bits of

different coloured tiles and stone.

Let's make a mosaic.

# Let's play. #

Excuse me, please, Rebecca. Oh, excuse me.

A great big sack of food here. I have a parrot

-SQUAWK

-And two scoops of dormice.

SQUEAKING

Oh, dear. I don't fancy eating any of that.

These ancient Romans ate some weird things. Yuck!

So, Fabulus, what do you think of my mosaic?

What have you done? He's got a gappy grin.

-I'm sorry, I ran out of white bits.

-Oh, don't worry.

-There's some around here somewhere.

-I'll look over here.

No white bits in here. SQUEAKING

Fabulus, is that you?

-Hang on, I'm sure that sack of dinner was bigger before.

-I found these.

Oh, great, thanks.

Here we go.

-Oh, brilliant. And look, there's even one piece left over.

-Thanks, Rebecca.

-You can have that.

-Oh, fabulous! Thanks, Fabulus.

-You're welcome.

There's an hour before the Emperor arrives

so I can whip up a flavour-filled feast.

This bag's a lot lighter than it was before.

HORNS TOOT

He's early!

Early? A good emperor knows how to take people by surprise.

Emperor Stropicus Maximus, welcome to your brand-new imperial house.

-This is such an honour.

-Of course it is. Not bad.

I'll take a look around after dinner. Dinner is ready, I assume?

SQUAWK

Oh, parrot, yummy! My favourite starter.

I'll have my dinner immediately, if not sooner.

HE SCREAMS

What? The sack? Parrot, dormice?

Dinner escaped? Oh, no. This isn't good.

The Emperor's really hungry. I know what we can do!

There is a man outside selling fancy food from a far-off land.

Beans on toast. Oh, it's very delicious and very modern.

-The Emperor is going to love it.

-I hope you're right!

-Oh, dinner will be served in just a minute.

-A whole minute?

-What am I supposed to do until then?

-Uh-oh.

We need to keep him busy until dinner arrives. Oh, hold on.

I know what we can use, do you?

I knew this would come in handy.

Your Imperial Highness, have you ever seen one of these before?

-It's very modern.

-Oh, oh! Me-me-me-me!

Yes! I rule, I rule! I mean I rule more than I already do.

-I'm glad you like it.

-Like it? I love it. It's amazing.

-It's all very modern. Oh, yes!

-Yes!

Oh, you've got some.

-That's fabulous.

-No, I'm Fabulus. This is dinner.

Here, you serve it. I'm too nervous.

I never, ever want to stop playing with... Oh, din-dins.

This food is totally, utterly...

..delicious.

It's the most wonderful thing I have ever tasted.

It's even better than flamingo flavoured fairy cakes.

Num-num-num!

# Let's play. #

Scrumptious. Now, I hope that fellow Fabulus has run me a bath.

If there's one thing us Romans know, it's how to have a good bath.

I really, really, really, really, hope you like it.

-This is your bathhouse your Emperorness.

-Goody!

I presume the dressing rooms are this way? I can't wait.

Fabulus, are you in here? The Emperor's getting ready.

Oh, he's looking forwards to his bath. Great news, huh?

No! It's a disaster.

Look what happens when I try to fill the bath.

-It's not working!

-I know it's not working. I can see it's not working.

But do you know why it's not working?

Because there is no running water in this part of Rome yet.

It's a disaster!

No running water means no bath for the Emperor

-and that means a whole lot of...

-Very hungry lions.

Oh, no. This is a complete disaster. What are we going to do?

Oh, hold on. I remember, do you? That's it!

Romans built huge bridges called aqueducts

which carried water into towns and cities

and that's exactly what Cementicus was doing when I met him.

Right, I need to help your brother and our water worries will be over.

You keep the Emperor busy.

Ask him about his cup-and-ball toy! He will love showing you that.

-Good plan, huh?

-Fabulous plan, Rebecca.

-It's hopeless. I might as well just...

-Cementicus, don't!

It's hopeless, I can't get my aqueduct to work.

If I can't lift this water pipe,

it means I can't get running water to flow into all of Rome.

Well, you're not on your own any more.

Come on, Emperor Stropicus himself is depending on us.

Oooh! Eeee!

-We did it!

-Thanks, Rebecca. I'll turn on the valve.

VALVE SQUEAKS

It's bath time for Emperor Stropicus

and a new part of Rome will have running water. Well done!

Thanks! I couldn't have done it without you.

I'd better check at the Emperor's house. Well done. Bye!

Thanks, Rebecca. Oh, I'm so happy I could cry.

HE CRIES

Oh, those brothers Cementicus

and Fabulus really are the best builders in all of Rome.

That is one happy emperor.

We did it but we'd never have done it

without remembering everything we needed to know.

The Emperor was the only person in ancient Rome allowed to wear purple.

Rich Romans made floor decorations from little pieces of tile and stone.

And the Romans built huge bridges called aqueducts to carry

water into their towns and cities.

Fabulus, you and your brother will be showered with honours and treats,

none of which will involve very hungry lions.

And for your first honour I invite you to join me for an imperial bath.

I thought you'd never ask. Come on, Rebecca!

I'd love to but, the thing is...

I think it's time we went home. Bye-bye, both of you.

Farewell, Rebecca. Thank you for being a lovely Roman.

Goodbye, Rebecca.

# Let's play. #

-So, I made a mosaic and I built an aqueduct and guess what?

-What?

-The Emperor loves baked beans on toast.

-No way!

-Your favourite!

-I know!

Sounds like you had an amazing time in ancient Rome.

I was going to try and follow that up with

our snakes and ladder-a-thon, but I still couldn't find any dice.

-We don't need dice.

-Snakes and ladders without dice?

That is crazy talk.

All we need is one of these and a black felt-tip pen.

Oh. Very clever. Finish the other sides and that will be perfect.

It certainly will, Sid. Playing ancient Romans was great fun.

What do you like to play?

# Let's play. #

I love playing drummers and I play the drums like this.

Playing weightlifters is fun. I get to be really strong.

I love playing golf and I hit the ball like this.

-It's fun to play.

-Start playing today.

-See you soon.

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See you soon.