0:00:09 > 0:00:12Here they come! My two intrepid explorers...
0:00:12 > 0:00:14Charlotte and Elliot.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18I'm their great aunt Lizzie, you see,
0:00:18 > 0:00:23and I wonder which one is coming to see me today...
0:00:23 > 0:00:26Aah! So, it's Charlotte's turn.
0:00:26 > 0:00:27Here she comes!
0:00:27 > 0:00:31Racing to hear another tale from an epic adventurer.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34CLINK, CLINK, CLINK!
0:00:44 > 0:00:47And what wonderful adventures they were!
0:00:47 > 0:00:51So long ago and so far away.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57I collected a few souvenirs along the way.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04But my most precious possession of all...
0:01:04 > 0:01:08is my extraordinary collection of teacups.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27You've still got your coat on, Charlotte. Come on!
0:01:27 > 0:01:30No time to count the clouds. We've got stories to tell.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32Now...
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Let's have a lovely cup of tea.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40But first, we need...
0:01:40 > 0:01:42A teacup!
0:01:44 > 0:01:47Which one?
0:01:59 > 0:02:01That one.
0:02:01 > 0:02:02Mmm...
0:02:05 > 0:02:06The Expensive Spectacles.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09What a choice, Charlotte.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11I do REALLY love that story.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22This will be just perfect to drink now.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29So...
0:02:29 > 0:02:32- are you ready?- Ready!
0:02:32 > 0:02:36Then let me tell you the story of Great Aunt Lizzie
0:02:36 > 0:02:40And The Adventure Of The Expensive Spectacles.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42Ahem!
0:02:42 > 0:02:43Oh, yes, of course!
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Let me tell you the story of CHARLOTTE
0:02:46 > 0:02:49And The Adventure Of The Expensive Spectacles.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53It all started long, long ago
0:02:53 > 0:02:56in the magnificent Empire of China.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59With its towering Himalayan mountains,
0:02:59 > 0:03:01lush scented fields
0:03:01 > 0:03:03and thick green forests.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21After journeying for days across the untamed countryside,
0:03:21 > 0:03:26Charlotte came to a small town of ornate houses
0:03:26 > 0:03:29with scrolled rooftops and open doors.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31COCKEREL CROWS
0:03:31 > 0:03:33As she meandered through the streets,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36gazing in wonder at the sites,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Charlotte came across two people arguing.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41INDISTINCT CHATTER
0:03:41 > 0:03:43But appearances can be deceptive.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48As she listened, she realised one was trying to help the other.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51Please take some, Mr Chan. It's delicious rice.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Its charity, Mrs Li.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55I don't need charity, thank you.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58I can manage and, besides, I've already eaten.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00But it's not much!
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Were all fine, Mrs Li.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06Anyway, my hands are not very strong
0:04:06 > 0:04:09and it's too far to carry it!
0:04:09 > 0:04:11Mr Chan! Oh, dear...
0:04:11 > 0:04:16I wish I could bring it around, Mr Chan.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19Charlotte wondered if SHE could help.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22- Hello.- Hello there.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25Oh, I don't know what to do. I want to take this rice to Mr Chan
0:04:25 > 0:04:29but I've got to get supper ready for my own family.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Perhaps he doesn't like sharing.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33We used to share supper all the time,
0:04:33 > 0:04:36but ever since his eyesight began to go,
0:04:36 > 0:04:39he's been staying away, not talking to anyone.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41I don't think he even paints any more.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44- Mr Chan is an artist?- Oh, yes!
0:04:44 > 0:04:46He's wonderful!
0:04:46 > 0:04:50But with his eyes getting old, he gets these terrible headaches.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54- It's such a shame.- I could take the rice round if you like.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57Oh, that would be very good of you!
0:04:57 > 0:05:00He's just round the corner.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02The little yellow house.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05TRADITIONAL CHINESE MUSIC
0:05:10 > 0:05:14- Grandfather, she's only trying to help.- I don't want help!
0:05:14 > 0:05:17You used to help people all the time when you were younger!
0:05:17 > 0:05:21- Now it's their turn to help you. - Where's my paintbrush?
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Hmmm... Oh!
0:05:31 > 0:05:36It's no good! It hurts my eyes to look at something so close!
0:05:36 > 0:05:41- You could paint the mountains. - I still have to look at the paper.
0:05:41 > 0:05:42It's no use.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46Anything close hurts my eyes.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52I have to be this far away before I can see it.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55But then, I can't reach to paint!
0:05:55 > 0:05:58HE SNIFFS
0:05:58 > 0:06:00Can you smell rice?
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Mmm! That smells delightful!
0:06:03 > 0:06:08Perhaps I should go to Mrs Li and see if she's got any left over.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10This was Charlotte's big chance.
0:06:13 > 0:06:18- Hello. Mrs Li sent some rice and vegetables.- I don't want charity!
0:06:18 > 0:06:21But it does smell good, though, doesn't it?
0:06:21 > 0:06:25Well, maybe just this once.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Oh, those are nice paintings!
0:06:30 > 0:06:33- He's very, very good, isn't he?- Used to be.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Oh, he still is. It hurts his eyes to work.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40- Wouldn't spectacles help? - Spectacles? Ha!
0:06:40 > 0:06:43We could never afford a pair of spectacles.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Charlotte looked again at the beautiful picture
0:06:46 > 0:06:49of the extraordinary Chinese countryside.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53This is amazing! Maybe you could swap it for a pair of spectacles.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56- No chance!- But they're very good, Grandfather.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Well, perhaps if you offered two pictures...
0:06:59 > 0:07:03Look, if you want to take my pictures on a wild-goose chase
0:07:03 > 0:07:06for a pair of spectacles, be my guest.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08But you're wasting your time!
0:07:09 > 0:07:13Now, Charlotte thought finding a spectacle-maker
0:07:13 > 0:07:15would be as easy as ABC.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19But, of course, it was never going to be as easy as that.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23I should have said...there's not a spectacle shop for miles.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27The nearest one is on the other side of the mountains.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29It was already past supper -
0:07:29 > 0:07:32and crikey, had things got complicated!
0:07:32 > 0:07:36Charlotte had taken the bowl of rice from Mrs Li to give to Mr Chan.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39She had persuaded Mr Chan to accept it
0:07:39 > 0:07:42and, when she realised Mr Chan needed spectacles,
0:07:42 > 0:07:45she had even managed to get his permission
0:07:45 > 0:07:47to swap his pictures to get them.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51And she'd thought finding a spectacle shop would be a doddle.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53She couldn't go back to Mr Chan
0:07:53 > 0:07:55without a pair of spectacles, could she?
0:07:58 > 0:08:00There was nothing else for it
0:08:00 > 0:08:04but to get a wiggle on over the hills to the spectacle-maker's shop.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13So, off went Charlotte in her old battered boots.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16She scrambled up the misty mountain paths
0:08:16 > 0:08:20until, when she was almost out of breath,
0:08:20 > 0:08:22the path ran out!
0:08:22 > 0:08:24ROCKS TUMBLE
0:08:27 > 0:08:29BIRD CALL ECHOES
0:08:29 > 0:08:33There was only one way to get to the other side.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Charlotte took a deep breath...
0:08:40 > 0:08:42DRAMATIC MUSIC
0:08:55 > 0:08:58Safely across, she set off once more,
0:08:58 > 0:09:02until there, shining through the mist in a valley,
0:09:02 > 0:09:03she saw a town.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11But there was no time to admire the view.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14Charlotte had to get those spectacles.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19She made her way between the extraordinary buildings
0:09:19 > 0:09:22until she found what she was looking for.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24A spectacle shop!
0:09:26 > 0:09:29She took the paintings and began to talk to the owner,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32hoping ever so much he would like them.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35You weren't exaggerating.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38This is very fine brushwork indeed.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42But the man who paints them needs a pair of spectacles.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45We thought you might swap a pair for these paintings.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52OK. It's a deal!
0:09:52 > 0:09:56I'll swap a pair of spectacles for these two paintings.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59I just need to work out how strong the lenses need to be.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03Oh, dear. Charlotte hadn't thought of that.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05I don't know how bad his eyes are,
0:10:05 > 0:10:08except that they're VERY bad.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11And how far can he actually see?
0:10:11 > 0:10:13Precisely?
0:10:13 > 0:10:15Well, as precisely as you can.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17This is very important.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21Charlotte thought very carefully
0:10:21 > 0:10:24and then she remembered seeing Mr Chan moving his head
0:10:24 > 0:10:27until he could focus on his painting.
0:10:27 > 0:10:28This is too close.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37- And this is just right. Does that help?- Surprisingly, yes.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39I know the very pair.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43The owner handed Charlotte the right pair of spectacles.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48The delicate metal and heavy glass felt strangely fragile
0:10:48 > 0:10:50as she carefully folded them
0:10:50 > 0:10:54and placed them gently in her rucksack to keep them safe.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59- Thanks. Bye.- Bye.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Back came Charlotte in her old, battered boots.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12Across the open fields and down the mountainside.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16It felt like a very long journey indeed
0:11:16 > 0:11:21when Charlotte finally arrived back at Mr Chan's house.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23I got them!
0:11:29 > 0:11:31I can see!
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Oh, Charlotte, you did it!
0:11:33 > 0:11:35You really did it!
0:11:35 > 0:11:38- You're welcome, Mr Chan. - I can see so much better.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43And Ming... I can see what a grumpy old man I've been too.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47I'll be able to help out about the house much more now.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50And I'll be much more grateful to Mrs Li.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53Well, this calls for a celebration.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57Why don't we go round and tell Mrs Li? She'll be delighted!
0:11:57 > 0:11:59Yes, let's!
0:12:01 > 0:12:04And that was that. The whole kit and caboodle.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07Charlotte And The Adventure Of The Expensive Spectacles.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10That was amazing! Wow!
0:12:10 > 0:12:14- Those spectacles were really hard to come by.- I know.
0:12:14 > 0:12:19- Those glasses made everybody's life easier.- Everybody's!- Even Mrs Li's.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Oh, yes. Mrs Li...
0:12:22 > 0:12:27I suppose she didn't have to worry about her two friends any more.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31Well, I'll be blowed! Is that the time already? Come on!
0:12:31 > 0:12:34Your mum will be here in a minute.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Your coat.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Now, how did THEY get there?
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Home time now, Charlotte!
0:13:03 > 0:13:07- Thanks, Great Aunt Lizzie! - Cheery-bye, Charlotte!