0:00:09 > 0:00:13'Here they come - my two intrepid explorers,
0:00:13 > 0:00:15'Charlotte and Elliott.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18'I'm their Great Aunt Lizzie, you see -
0:00:18 > 0:00:22'and I wonder which one is coming to see me today?
0:00:22 > 0:00:25'Ah, so it's Elliott's turn.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28'Here he comes, racing to hear another tale
0:00:28 > 0:00:31'from an epic adventurer...
0:00:31 > 0:00:32CLACK CLACK
0:00:44 > 0:00:47'And what wonderful adventures they were.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50'So long ago and so far away.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57'I collected a few souvenirs along the way...
0:01:00 > 0:01:03'..but my most precious possession of all
0:01:03 > 0:01:07'is my extraordinary collection of teacups.'
0:01:24 > 0:01:26You've still got your coat on, Elliott.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28Come on, no time to count the clouds.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31We've got stories to tell.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33Now...
0:01:33 > 0:01:35let's have a lovely cup of tea.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40But first, we need...
0:01:40 > 0:01:41A teacup!
0:01:46 > 0:01:47But which one?
0:01:59 > 0:02:01That one.
0:02:01 > 0:02:02Oh...
0:02:05 > 0:02:08The Egyptian mirror.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10What a choice, Elliott.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12I do really love that story.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22This is just perfect to drink now.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28So...
0:02:28 > 0:02:30- Are you ready?- Ready.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Then let me tell you the story of Great Aunt Lizzie
0:02:34 > 0:02:37and the adventure of the glassless mirror.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39ELLIOT CLEARS HIS THROAT
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Oh, yes - of course.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43Let me tell you the story of Elliott
0:02:43 > 0:02:46and the adventure of the glassless mirror.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49It all began long, long ago,
0:02:49 > 0:02:51in ancient Egypt...
0:02:52 > 0:02:54..where towering pyramids
0:02:54 > 0:02:57and gigantic limestone statues
0:02:57 > 0:02:59graced the golden sand dunes.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18'After journeying for days across the Egyptian kingdom,
0:03:18 > 0:03:21'with its majestic desert and its sweeping valleys...
0:03:22 > 0:03:25'Elliott came to a quiet village...
0:03:27 > 0:03:29..where the narrow streets and canopies
0:03:29 > 0:03:33'gave shade from a cloudless sky.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35'In the distance, there was a woman,
0:03:35 > 0:03:37'selling honey and herbs from a basket.'
0:03:37 > 0:03:39Fresh herbs, fresh spices.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44Come and get your fresh honey, fresh herbs and fresh spices -
0:03:44 > 0:03:46the best in all of Egypt.
0:03:46 > 0:03:51Come and get your delicious fresh herbs and fresh spices -
0:03:51 > 0:03:53the best in all of Egypt.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56'As she carried on along with her way
0:03:56 > 0:03:59'and Elliott quenched his thirst,
0:03:59 > 0:04:03'he heard a conversation strike up from one of the nearby tents.'
0:04:03 > 0:04:06- Make sure it's neat. - 'There was a barber.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10'He was trimming the beard of a rich man, called Ittisan.'
0:04:10 > 0:04:13Don't trim too much off. I want a full beard.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16I'm meeting my new wife and I want to impress with
0:04:16 > 0:04:18- my hair and my beard.- Yes, sir.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20I wish I could see it.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Could I interest you in a mirror, sir?
0:04:22 > 0:04:25- It's the best possible quality. - But this is no good -
0:04:25 > 0:04:27I can't see anything in this.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29It just needs polishing, sir.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32'That was when Elliott knew he could help.'
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Excuse me, I could polish it for you.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37Oh, yeah, thanks.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42'It didn't look like much of a mirror at all to Elliott,
0:04:42 > 0:04:44'but he polished it with the cloth
0:04:44 > 0:04:47'and soon, it shone so well
0:04:47 > 0:04:49'he could see his reflection in it.'
0:04:51 > 0:04:53There - all polished.
0:04:53 > 0:04:54Thank you.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Oh! Oh, no!
0:04:59 > 0:05:01My beard! Now that I see it in the mirror,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04- it's even worse than I thought. - It's not that bad, sir.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08I wanted a long, full beard and look - mine's hardly there at all!
0:05:08 > 0:05:12My new bride will never like this tiny, wispy beard.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16- I've heard honey does wonders for making beards grow, sir.- Really?
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Makes it grow a treat. Put some honey on your chin
0:05:19 > 0:05:22- and you'll be amazed. - Have you got any?- No.- Oh.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25Excuse me, there's a woman outside selling honey.
0:05:25 > 0:05:26I could go get some.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30Well, I've got to do something about this terrible beard,
0:05:30 > 0:05:33- before my new bride comes. - I'll be as quick as I can.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35'Elliott set off to find the woman
0:05:35 > 0:05:38'and saw the most extraordinary thing...'
0:05:38 > 0:05:39Whoa!
0:05:39 > 0:05:41'..a Sphinx.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47A huge, half-man, half-lion,
0:05:47 > 0:05:49rising out of the desert sand.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54He couldn't help but admire his wonderful, long beard.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58Just then, the woman with the herbs and honey came past.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01- ..fresh spices... - Do you have any honey left?
0:06:01 > 0:06:04I have just the one jar left. What you want it for?
0:06:04 > 0:06:07- It's to help a man's beard grow faster.- Grow a beard?- Yes.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11He's meeting his new bride tomorrow and he wants to impress her.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13His barber said honey would help.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16He could use all the honey in the world,
0:06:16 > 0:06:18but he'd never grow it by tomorrow.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22- What he needs is a false beard. - A false beard?- They're all the rage.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26Anyone who's anyone is wearing them. They're the latest fashion.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28Oh, I see.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30My twin sister
0:06:30 > 0:06:33makes the most wonderful false beards in all of Egypt.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37'Getting a false beard seemed like it would be a piece of cake.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40'But of course, it was never going to be as easy as that.'
0:06:40 > 0:06:43The thing is, she lives a long, long way away.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45It'll take you all day to get there.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49'It was still afternoon and already, it had got so complicated.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53'Elliott had tried to help the man by polishing the mirror,
0:06:53 > 0:06:57- 'but all that had done was show him how scrawny his beard was.'- Oh, no!
0:06:57 > 0:07:00- 'The barber thought honey would help...'- Really?
0:07:00 > 0:07:05'..but the honey seller persuaded him a false beard would do the trick
0:07:05 > 0:07:08'and he thought getting a false beard would be a breeze.
0:07:08 > 0:07:13'He couldn't go back to the barbers with nothing, could he?
0:07:14 > 0:07:18'He had to set off to find the fruit seller's twin sister
0:07:18 > 0:07:21'and her collection of false beards.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29'So, off went Elliott in his old, battered boots.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32'He crossed the desert peaks, until...
0:07:33 > 0:07:36'..when he was almost out of breath,
0:07:36 > 0:07:38'the path ran out.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44'There was only one way to get to the other side.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50'Elliott took a deep breath.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15'Safely across, Elliott set off once more,
0:08:15 > 0:08:17'until there it was...
0:08:19 > 0:08:22'..the magnificent city of Waset.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29'But there was no time to be awestruck.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33'Elliott had to find a false beard.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35'The desert sun was high in the sky
0:08:35 > 0:08:39'as Elliott found himself at the wig and beard shop.'
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Hello?
0:08:43 > 0:08:45Anyone in?
0:08:45 > 0:08:49- Hello? - 'But the shop looked very closed.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51'There was no answer,
0:08:51 > 0:08:54'but there was an arrow on the wall.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57'Elliott didn't know what the arrow meant at first,
0:08:57 > 0:08:59'but he had a guess that it might just mean
0:08:59 > 0:09:03- 'that the woman was working around the back.'- Ah...
0:09:04 > 0:09:09'There, Elliott saw a woman, plaiting a false beard.'
0:09:09 > 0:09:11Excuse me, I'd like to buy a beard.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15Your sister says you have the best collection in the whole of Egypt.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17I do, I do. I have all sorts here.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19What sort of beard are you looking for?
0:09:19 > 0:09:21What's the most stylish one you have?
0:09:21 > 0:09:24That would be the new gold ribboned one.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27It's made of the finest goats hair.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30It's perfect. I'll take it, thank you.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32Don't you want to try it on?
0:09:32 > 0:09:35I have a mirror - I polished it especially.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42Oh, you could be a pharaoh.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Actually, it's not for me.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46Oh, OK.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48Well, if it's a present,
0:09:48 > 0:09:50you won't go wrong with this one.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53- Tell my sister I send my love. - I will.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00- Safe trip back.- Thank you, bye.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06'Back came Elliott in his old, battered boots,
0:10:06 > 0:10:08'over the desert peaks
0:10:08 > 0:10:10'and down the mountainside.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15'It felt like a very long journey indeed,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18'when finally, Elliott made it back to the barber's shop.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23'To his amazement, Ittisan was still there,
0:10:23 > 0:10:24'gazing into the mirror.'
0:10:24 > 0:10:29- Did you get any honey? - No, but I got you a false beard.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31- BOTH:- A false beard?
0:10:31 > 0:10:33Yes, they say everyone's wearing them.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35Really?
0:10:35 > 0:10:37Er, yes - I've heard that too.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42False beards are very fashionable right now.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46Let me show you what we can do.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50'Whilst the barber attached the false beard to the man's chin,
0:10:50 > 0:10:52'Elliott waited with the mirror.'
0:10:52 > 0:10:54There. Wonderful.
0:10:56 > 0:10:57Very impressive.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03I don't like it. Makes me look silly.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07'Oh, no - after all that!
0:11:07 > 0:11:08'What could Elliott do?
0:11:08 > 0:11:10'Then, he remembered...'
0:11:10 > 0:11:12The Sphinx has one just like that.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15That's true, but...
0:11:15 > 0:11:16It's just not me.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19'But before Elliott could say another word,
0:11:19 > 0:11:23'Ittisan's new bride turned up, out of the blue.'
0:11:23 > 0:11:25- Ittisan?- Menui!
0:11:26 > 0:11:29I do love false beards.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31They're so Sphinx-like.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34Well, I am rather proud of it.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38You're not the type of man who always looks in the mirror, are you?
0:11:38 > 0:11:40Oh, no. No, Not at all.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42In fact, my dear...
0:11:42 > 0:11:45this mirror is a present for you -
0:11:45 > 0:11:47a token of my love.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50It's so beautifully polished.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53- Thank you.- Let's celebrate.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55Yes, let's.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01And that was that. The whole kit and caboodle.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04Elliot and the adventure of the glassless mirror.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08- It's funny to have a metal mirror. - ..which you polished so well
0:12:08 > 0:12:11- that Ittisan could see his face in it.- And his beard!- Indeed.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14And who would have thought that far away in Waset,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17there was a woman selling the perfect false beard?
0:12:17 > 0:12:21- Ittisan was wise to give the mirror to Menui.- He was. Though I think
0:12:21 > 0:12:26she may have found out that he was a bit vain, don't you?
0:12:26 > 0:12:29Blow me down with a feather - is that the time already?
0:12:29 > 0:12:33Come on. Your mum will be here in a minute.
0:12:33 > 0:12:34Your coat.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Now, how did that get there?
0:12:51 > 0:12:53Home time now, Elliott.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03Thanks, Great Aunt Lizzie!
0:13:03 > 0:13:04Cheery-bye, Elliott.