0:00:09 > 0:00:13Here they come! My two intrepid explorers -
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Charlotte and Elliot.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18I'm their Great Aunt Lizzie, you see.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22And I wonder which one is coming to see me today...
0:00:22 > 0:00:25Ah! So, it's Elliot's turn.
0:00:25 > 0:00:26Here he comes!
0:00:26 > 0:00:31Racing to hear another tale from an epic adventurer.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33CLINK, 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...
0:00:54 > 0:00:57I collected a few souvenirs along the way.
0:01:00 > 0:01:05But my most precious possession of all is my extraordinary
0:01:05 > 0:01:08collection of teacups.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27You've still got your coat on, Elliot. Come on!
0:01:27 > 0:01:30No time to count the clouds. We've got stories to tell!
0:01:31 > 0:01:35Now, let's have a lovely cup of tea.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41- But first, we need...- A teacup!
0:01:45 > 0:01:48But which one?
0:01:59 > 0:02:01That one!
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Mmm...
0:02:06 > 0:02:08The Inkwell And Reed Pen.
0:02:08 > 0:02:13What a choice, Elliot! I do really love that story.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24This is just perfect to drink now.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30So, are you ready?
0:02:30 > 0:02:33- Ready!- Then, let me tell the story
0:02:33 > 0:02:35of Great Aunt Lizzie
0:02:35 > 0:02:38And The Adventure Of The Inkwell And The Soldier.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41HE CLEARS THROAT
0:02:41 > 0:02:42Oh, yes, of course!
0:02:42 > 0:02:46Let me tell the story of ELLIOT And The Adventure Of
0:02:46 > 0:02:49The Inkwell And The Soldier.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53It all began long, long ago in an ancient empire,
0:02:53 > 0:02:58where towns and cities of marble and gold nestled among the hills
0:02:58 > 0:03:02and fields in a land we now call Italy.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11MAGICAL ADVENTURE MUSIC
0:03:23 > 0:03:26After travelling south from the mountains,
0:03:26 > 0:03:30deep into the heart of the Roman Empire, Elliot found himself
0:03:30 > 0:03:34fresh and early in the middle of a small hillside town.
0:03:36 > 0:03:41He wound his way between the villas and into the narrow streets,
0:03:41 > 0:03:43when something caught his eye.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45A young soldier appeared
0:03:45 > 0:03:50and put something outside the door of his elegant house.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54From inside came the sound of a worried voice.
0:03:54 > 0:03:59- Make sure you keep warm in the army. - Yes, Mama.- But don't get too hot!
0:03:59 > 0:04:02- No, Mama.- And make sure you eat properly.- Yes, Mama.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06- But don't eat too much!- No, Mama. - And don't get into any trouble...
0:04:06 > 0:04:10- Yes, Mama!- Crispinus, you ARE listening to me, aren't you?
0:04:10 > 0:04:14Yes, of course. But I'm joining the great Roman army.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16We might need to get into a bit of trouble
0:04:16 > 0:04:19- to make the Roman Empire even greater!- Oh!
0:04:19 > 0:04:23But how will I know that you're eating properly
0:04:23 > 0:04:25and keeping warm while you're away?
0:04:25 > 0:04:28I'll tell you all about it when we get back.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31But you might not BE back for ages and ages.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35Which was when Elliot realised how he could help.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39- Excuse me, maybe I could suggest something?- Of course!
0:04:39 > 0:04:43If you had something to write on, then Crispinus could send you
0:04:43 > 0:04:47- a message, saying how he was. - Why didn't we think of that?
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Yes, he could write on papyrus with a pen.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Then you could give it to somebody you meet
0:04:52 > 0:04:57- and then it'd hopefully, eventually, make its way back home.- To me!
0:04:57 > 0:05:00- THAT is a brilliant idea. - It might work.
0:05:02 > 0:05:07Papyrus to write on and a pen and ink to write with.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Hang on...
0:05:11 > 0:05:15- There's no ink!- We haven't got time to get any more, I've got to go NOW.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19Which is when Elliot realised how he could help a little more.
0:05:19 > 0:05:24- I'll go and get some.- Hortensia, our neighbour at the end of the road,
0:05:24 > 0:05:26is bound to have some. Last door on the left.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29But we leave for Britannia tonight!
0:05:29 > 0:05:33- I need to get to Roma first to sign in!- I'll be as quick as I can.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36He went straight to the neighbour's house
0:05:36 > 0:05:38and knocked loudly on the door.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Oh! Hello, my dear. How can I help you?
0:05:44 > 0:05:48- Crispinus is going away to join the army and needs some ink.- Ink?
0:05:48 > 0:05:53Oh, yes, I've got lots of ink! Come in, come in! I'll get it for you.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56Now, I know we've got some ink somewhere...
0:05:56 > 0:05:59Erm, just a minute...
0:05:59 > 0:06:05It might be here... I had it just yesterday...
0:06:05 > 0:06:07Elliot didn't know what to do.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09He didn't want to hurry the lady
0:06:09 > 0:06:13but he knew Crispinus would be leaving really soon.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17- Shall I help you look?- No, no, dear, it's fine! I'll find it in a minute.
0:06:17 > 0:06:22Elliot was beginning to give up hope of her ever finding it,
0:06:22 > 0:06:27- when suddenly... - Here it is!- Oh, thank you so much!
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Elliot looked at the inkwell.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34It was a little earthenware pot with a hole in the middle for the pen
0:06:34 > 0:06:36to dip in.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40Hortensia popped a little cork in so the ink wouldn't come out.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44I'd better hurry if I'm going to catch him! Thank you!
0:06:44 > 0:06:48As quickly as he could, Elliot raced back.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52But when he got there, Crispinus had already left.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55He couldn't wait any longer. He had to go.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57What a catastrophe!
0:06:57 > 0:07:01- But Elliot wasn't beaten just yet. - Maybe I can catch him.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04- When did he leave? - Only a little while ago,
0:07:04 > 0:07:06but he's a fast walker and he was already late.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10- There's nothing you can do. - Well, I'll give it a try.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16Elliot thought catching Crispinus would be as easy as A-B-C,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19but of course, it was never going to be as easy as that.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23When he reached the open road, he couldn't see him anywhere.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26So, he looked through his telescope.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30And there on a far-off hill, he saw Crispinus marching quickly,
0:07:30 > 0:07:34getting further and further ahead with every stride.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37Elliot knew there was no time to waste.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40How did finding a way to let Crispinus's mum know
0:07:40 > 0:07:42how he was get so complicated?
0:07:42 > 0:07:45When Elliot had thought of writing a message,
0:07:45 > 0:07:49- he couldn't have known they'd run out of ink.- There's no ink!
0:07:49 > 0:07:52- He'd tried to get some from the neighbour...- Here it is!
0:07:52 > 0:07:57..but that had taken ages. He'd returned as quickly as he could,
0:07:57 > 0:08:01but Crispinus had left for Rome and was already far ahead.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05He couldn't give up without giving Crispinus the ink, could he?
0:08:05 > 0:08:07He would just have to catch him up
0:08:07 > 0:08:09before he headed north with the army.
0:08:09 > 0:08:14There was nothing else for it but to set off double-quick to Rome.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20So, off went Elliot in his old, battered boots.
0:08:21 > 0:08:26He scrambled up the rugged mountain paths until,
0:08:26 > 0:08:28when he was almost out of breath,
0:08:28 > 0:08:31the path ran out!
0:08:31 > 0:08:33ROCKS TUMBLE
0:08:34 > 0:08:38There was only one way to get to the other side.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43Elliot took a deep breath...
0:08:49 > 0:08:51DRAMATIC MUSIC
0:09:05 > 0:09:09Safely across, Elliot set off once more until there it was -
0:09:09 > 0:09:13the great metropolis of Rome.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19But there was no time to sightsee.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Elliot had to give Crispinus the ink.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25The shadows were lengthening as Elliot quickly made his way to the
0:09:25 > 0:09:30town square, where he saw Crispinus resting before the long walk north.
0:09:30 > 0:09:35- I got the link!- Oh! Thanks! I can't believe you caught me up.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39- It wasn't quite as easy as I thought. - I'll write really soon.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42Maybe you could write your mum a message NOW
0:09:42 > 0:09:46- and I could take it back for you.- But I haven't much to write about yet.
0:09:46 > 0:09:51- I've only just got here. - You could write about your lunch
0:09:51 > 0:09:54- and how amazing Rome is. - You're right. I could!
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Dear Mama...
0:10:03 > 0:10:08It's not working! The ink must be all dry.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11What a disaster!
0:10:11 > 0:10:13The ink must have dried up on the journey.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16What on earth could they do now?
0:10:22 > 0:10:25Maybe if I add a few drops...
0:10:27 > 0:10:30..it'll be enough liquid to write!
0:10:38 > 0:10:40It's working!
0:10:41 > 0:10:46Finally, Crispinus was able to write a letter to his mum.
0:10:46 > 0:10:51"Dear Mama, had soup for lunch. Roma is very beautiful.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54"Lots of love, your son, Crispinus."
0:10:56 > 0:11:01- I'll make sure your mum gets it. - Thanks! I'll write again soon.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05But let her know I'll be back before she knows it.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07BUGLE CALLS
0:11:07 > 0:11:10That's my call to go...
0:11:10 > 0:11:13to Britannia!
0:11:15 > 0:11:18- Bye!- Good luck!
0:11:18 > 0:11:21Back came Elliot in his old, battered boots,
0:11:21 > 0:11:25across the open plains and down the mountainside.
0:11:28 > 0:11:33It was the end of a very long day indeed when Elliot returned,
0:11:33 > 0:11:37clutching the soldier's letter in his hand.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41- SHE GASPS - He's written one already!
0:11:41 > 0:11:44Ah, he's such a good boy!
0:11:44 > 0:11:49He said he'd write again soon, but he'll be back before you know it.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53- I've found some more ink! - But he's already left!
0:11:53 > 0:11:57It's not for him, it's for you, so you can write a message back!
0:11:57 > 0:12:00Oh, Hortensia, thank you.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04You can have a think about what you want to write.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07But first, let's have a nice, warm drink.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09Yes, let's!
0:12:09 > 0:12:13And that was that. The whole kit and caboodle.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Eliot And The Adventure Of The Inkwell And The Soldier.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20- It was a really good idea to send a message.- It was!
0:12:20 > 0:12:24You weren't to know they didn't have ink anywhere in the house.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Hortensia didn't MEAN to take ages.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30- I thought she'd never find that inkwell.- I like the way he had to
0:12:30 > 0:12:34- dip the reed pen in the ink.- It could be quite messy, I have to say!
0:12:34 > 0:12:38You were very clever to let the ink dry on the letter first.
0:12:38 > 0:12:44- And his mum was pleased to get his message, wasn't she?- Yes, she was.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48Well, I never. Is that the time already? Come on!
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Your mum will be here in a minute.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53Your coat.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09How did that get there?
0:13:09 > 0:13:12Home time now, Elliot.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23- Thanks, Great Aunt Lizzie! - Cheery-bye, Elliot!