Going for Gold Scoop

# Time is running out

# Stories to be found

# What's it all about?

# Got to go and check around

# If there's a rumour going round

# Don't you forget it

# Wherever something's going down

# Got to get that scoop

# Got to get that scoop

# Got to get that scoop

# Got to get that S-C-O-O-P. #

Ooo, Hacker, a double egg and mushroom bap.

My favourite! Thank you. Mmmm.

Hang on. What's that?

"Hippo makes splash in Pilbury.

"Hippo Hypermarkets to buy scout hut land.

"Hut to be knocked down this afternoon."

They can't demolish the hut! I loved being a scout.

-You were a scout?!

-I had all the badges.

-Badges?!

-I was one challenge away from my chief scout gold award.

Gold badges! Oooo.

Hang on, maybe if I save the scout hut,

the chief scout will present me a gold award.

-Go and get your lead.

-I never wear a lead. Why do I need my lead?

Scouts are responsible members of the community.

When we're out and about, I should keep you on a lead.

Yes, let's go and get ready. First, my... Hang on! Where's my bap?!

-SMACKS LIPS

-It was getting cold.

-All ready. Where's your lead, Hacker?

-Don't know. We lost it.

There it is.

Ohhh.

-Come here.

-No, get off! I can't breathe!

-Stop being silly.

-Have you packed a map?

-We've been to the office hundreds of times.

A good scout is always prepared.

With a good map, you can always see what's coming. Let's go.

-THUD!

-Ha-ha.

A story about pumpkin pets. Our readers love funny vegetables.

Talking about funny vegetables... Digby!

Dib dib dib.

I was hoping you were doing me a good turn by not writing an article.

I'm going for gold, Max.

I'm saving the scout hut from demolition. What a scoop!

It's not very exciting, is it? An old hut.

Buildings always get demolished.

It won't be used if you don't save it. Which you won't.

Why not cover the pedestrian crossing outside the library?

I've heard it's been used by cows.

I've always said our readers like a moo-ving story(!)

It's my last ever chance to get a gold award.

I'm going to do everything in my power.

-You haven't got any power, Digby.

-I am prepared for success.

-You say you like a moving story but we will not be moved.

-Really?

Hacker, woo hoo.

-Arrgghh!

-It'll be a total disaster!

Mind you, disasters sell papers...

Might be news, after all.

PHONE RINGS

Selina, I want you to cover a devastatingly good story for me.

Ah, I see. Digby thinks he can save the scout hut, does he?

Yes, Max. You're right. When Digby gets involved, there's catastrophe.

And that'll make a very good story indeed. OK, I'm on my way.

I'll keep you Pilbury POSTED. Haha.

Right, let's find our way to the scout hut. Where are we on this map?

-No where. We're not in France.

-What?! I knew that.

It's this way. Come on, walkies!

Hacker, how did you do that?!

We made it, Hacker. Just as well I know how to read a map!

You didn't read the map. I read the map!

There's a sturdy looking chap. Let's see if we can help.

I'll just fold the map then, shall I?!

Good morn... BOING!

-Hacker, will you please unclip the lead?!

-Sorry.

Whoopsy.

Good morning.

Hacker!

We're here to save the hut and stop Hippo Hypermarket.

-Isn't that right, Hacker?!

-That's right.

-Are you the scout leader?

-Um...no. Um, she's away at emergency talks.

Can we help?

OK, I'm just making some final measurements.

Did I mention that I nearly received the chief scout's gold award?

That's very nice. Can you just stay where you are?

It's great. We do amazing activities. I've got a list in my rucksack.

-BOING!

-Owww!

-It was his fault!

-I didn't do it!

-Can we have another go?

-No!

-Go on, what are scouts for, eh?

Right, just don't do anything!

Hacker, you're the look out. I'll measure up.

Guard dog duties coming up.

Owww!

It's good to have you here. An extra pair of eyes.

-We need to stick together.

-Grrr.

-Halt!

-What on Earth are you doing?

-It's me, silly. Selina.

-Silly Selina? No, don't know her!

You may not pass.

Not "Silly Selena". Just Selena!

Oh, you! What are you doing here?

Looking for a yodelling bear(!) What does it look like?

I'm here to write an article about Digby helping to pull down the...

Helping to save the scout hut.

-Now, let me through.

-No!

-Why not?

Because...your hair.

What about my hair? I've just had it done.

-You ought to make a complaint.

-It's for my picture in the paper.

-I didn't know the Pilbury Post was doing a troll story(!)

-Haha.

Very funny(!)

It's for a day in the life of a top reporter article.

Something that you and Digby will never write.

I've been looking for an accessory to go with my new look.

How about a handbag made of dog fur?!

-Now, get out of my way!

-Wait! Stop! Access denied! Oh, I'm livid!

Hello, Digby!

BOING! Selina, what's happened to your hair?

What's wrong with my hair? It's been restyled.

-Were you going for a troll look?

-Troll?!

I tried to stop her.

I might have known Max would send his top reporter to cover this.

No, I mean, obviously I'm his top reporter...

-You're a top reporter?

-Yes.

Actually, I am the Pilbury Post's top reporter.

But I'm too busy doing this deed to be writing.

You're both reporters!

-That's all I need!

-I'm the top reporter!

Thelma, hi. It's Howard. We have a situation. The press have arrived.

Yep, yep, I'll keep in touch.

-Don't do that!

-And this would be?

Ah, yes. This man has been helping me with my wonderful cause.

Selflessly working towards the greater good of saving the scout hut.

How rude of me to not introduce you. For this is...

Howard Knowles, site manager for Hippo Hypermarkets.

Howard Knowles, the site... Whhaat?! I was helping you!

I wouldn't call it help exactly.

Nice to see you being a good scout, Digby. Helping the opposing side.

Selina Sharp, pleased to meet you. Can I ask you a few questions?

Go ahead.

How big is this hypermarket going to be when it's finished?

Well, this red line marks the edge of the site.

What, this red line here?

-Everything outside remains woodland.

-Oh, I see.

Hacker, we need to show Hippo Hypermarkets that we mean business.

Mean business?

We can get some piranha fish and dig a pond and put them in it.

-When he returns, he's been bitten!

-Hacker! That is not practical.

I know where we can get cod, battered.

But where do we get piranhas? We need to make a stand...

by sitting!

-Sitting?

-A sit-down protest.

We refuse to move until they change their mind and leave the hut alone.

It's a brilliant idea, particularly the sitting down bit.

-Excuse me, will you move? We need full access for the bulldozer.

-No.

-We're not budging.

-No way, no how.

-What about if I asked you politely?

Please will you move out of the way, thank you.

-Sit!

-No. We're sitting here for as long as it takes.

-Nothing will make us move, right, Hacker?

-Right.

PHONE RINGS

Thelma, yes, we have another situation developing.

Digby, I need a scoop. A story about a reporter and his dog sitting down

does not make exciting reading. So, get up and do something!

-We're protesting and we're not moving until Hippo leave.

-No, sorry.

Not moving is not interesting. Can't you do something more dramatic?

I could recite some of Shakespeare's sonnets.

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May.

There was a hack called Selina To Digby, she couldn't be meaner

When he asked her why She said with a sigh...

-Come on, I need a good story!

-That doesn't rhyme.

-Are you sure you won't change your mind?

-No, we are not moving.

This is so boring.

TAP, TAP, TAP

No, Hacker! No! This is no time to go to your happy place.

-# He's the number one dog

-Do you mean me?

-# Making all the right moves

-I'm a VIP

-# When the going gets rough

-I have a cup of tea

-# H.A.C.K.E.R.

-Hacker

# When he hits the floor You'll beg for more

# Looks so divine I'm the key to the night

# Can stretch with ease I got showbiz fleas

# And when I see a tree, I go pee!

-# Top dog!

-Top dog!

-Top dog!

-That's me

# He's the coolest of the canines. #

Howl!

-# Top dog!

-Ah ha

-# Top dog!

-Say it, girls

-# He's the coolest of the canines

-Stop! Digby time!

# He's Hacker, not a slacker # I'm his number one backer

# He's the salt to my pepper He's the cheese on my cracker

# When I'm running, he takes the flak Though he often has it back

# It's important More yapper

# Come on, shake your maracas! #

Arrgghh!

# Go, Hacker! Go, Hacker! Go, Hacker!

# Go, Hacker! Go, Hacker! Go, Hacker!

# Go, Hacker! Go, Hacker! Go, Hacker!

# Go, Hacker! Go, Hacker! Go, Hacker! #

Hacker!

Hacker!

Ha! You moved!

Oh, all right.

We'll have to find another way to stop Hippo.

We need help, Hacker, and fast.

Call on all the local scouts.

-Yes, strength in numbers.

-Rally the troops!

That's a brilliant idea, Hacker.

Yes, much more interesting than sitting on a tree stump.

And what a great picture.

All their little, sad, scouty faces, as their hut comes tumbling down.

Max will love that. I'll give him a call.

There will be no sad faces and no tumbling, you coiffured troll.

I have made a scout promise. Hacker, go and guard the hut.

-I'm going to get us some scouts.

-OK!

HACKER GROWLS SELINA GROWLS

I wasn't sure if it was quicker to go round the tree that way or another.

-I thought I told you to guard the hut.

-Digby!

Smile!

Just taking a picture of your big plan.

Maybe I should do the signs and you stay and guard.

No! Guarding is a dog's work. These signs take human intelligence.

OK.

2pm. The Pilbury protestor gathers his supporters.

Soon this place will be filled with scouts.

From every corner of Pilbury, they will come to show support.

I should never have doubted you, Digby.

3.20pm. The Pilbury protestor does not appear to have any supporters.

Digby, you're rubbish! Where's the scouts?

I think we just need to...

rethink the plan.

-A better plan?

-Yes. A better plan.

You are the meanest man around! Ruining the hopes of little scouts.

Great, the new plan is to call Howard a meany.

-I am the greatest reporter and scout this side of Pilbury.

-You are?

-Yes.

-You are?

-Yes! I am! There's going to be no more Mr Nice Guy.

I think it's time people knew what Hippo Hypermarkets are like.

So, answer me this.

What good have hypermarkets ever done for us?

-Well...

-They do give us good quality food at very reasonable prices.

I'm just stating a fact, Digby.

But, apart from giving us good food at reasonable prices,

what have they ever done for us?

They're open 24 hours a day,

which is convenient and they fundraise for schools and charities.

-You see, nothing!

-It doesn't matter what you say now.

-There's not long to go.

-I won't let you win.

But I always win!

-You can't always win.

-I've never lost in my entire life.

-Prove it!

-I don't need to.

-Ooo, he can't prove it.

-Yes, I can.

OK, I challenge you to a game of rock, paper, scissors.

Excuse me?

-Scared he's going to beat you?

-Ha, don't make me laugh.

Come on, then.

One, two, three.

-Arrgghh!

-Ha, yes!

-I wasn't ready. Go again.

One, two, three.

-Arrgghh!

-Haha! I win again.

-Best of five.

One, two, three.

Arrgghh!

It's not your day, Digby. Try pinning the tail on the donkey.

The best man wins again.

PHONE RINGS

Thel...

Thelma. Yep, the hut will soon be coming down.

Oh, Digby, I am so sorry.

Can you and Hacker stand outside so I can take a picture

of the poor building in its last moments.

Look on the bright side. Your protest has created a story for me!

OK.

Goodbye.

Such a sad ending for the hut. And one for you, too.

As Max always says, our readers love a moving story.

Wait! That's it.

-A MOVING story!

-Yes, that's what I said.

Hacker, we can still save the hut.

We have to move it to somewhere safe.

To the other side of the red line.

SELINA LAUGHS

-You'll never do that.

-Yes, we will.

Scouts never give up.

Anything is possible.

Ready.

Hacker! Bring me the lead.

-Give me a countdown, Hacker.

-Three, two, one, pull!

You're doing it! You're actually doing it. It's moving!

-You'll never get it over the line.

-Oh, yes... I will.

This is about generations of scouts and it's about my gold award.

Come on, Digby, you can do it!

CREAKING

PHONE RINGS

Digby, your phone!

Max, I can't talk. I'm saving the hut.

-It's still standing? There's no disaster yet?

-Not today, no.

Yes, I can see it now. All the happy scouts.

Pilbury Post comes to the rescue. I like the sound of that.

Forget what I said before. That's the story I want.

Smiling scouts and supporters. I want the hut to stand forever.

It will be as famous as Stonehenge, the Pyramids

and all thanks to me, Max De Lacey, the people's champion.

Yeah, OK, Max, I've got to go.

Digby, you can do it! Think of your gold award.

HE PANTS

-Woohoo!

-I did it! I saved the hut!

And I have an exciting story. Even if it really isn't the one I wanted.

Thelma, you've got to hear this.

We're going to have scouts for neighbours.

It's not often I say this, Digby.

In fact, I've never said it before. But you've proved me wrong.

For all scouts everywhere, this irreplaceable, indestructible,

irresistible hut.

CREAKING

Argh!

CRASH!

-The hut. The beautiful hut.

-That wasn't supposed to happen, Digby.

That'll teach you to play with the big boys.

But I promised Max and the children. And my chief scout's gold award.

-It's gone.

-Oh dear. I was right all along.

Digby, smile!

Maybe it's good it fell down.

Health and safety couldn't let children play in that hut.

Maybe the kiddies and their parents will thank me.

Maybe but probably not. But thank you, Digby.

My article will win awards after what you've done.

I love winning awards, don't you? Good luck telling Max.

Just concentrate your mind and use the power of positive thinking.

Max will be cool, baby.

"Hip Hippo-Ray. Scout hut saved then destroyed by reporter?!

"Hippo Hypermarkets are thrilled but scouts and their supporters

"are devastated. They say they will never buy the Pilbury Post."

Digby Digworrtthh!

# S-C-O-O-P. #