Lucky Horse Teacup Travels

Here they come, my two intrepid explorers -

Charlotte

and Elliot.

I'm their Great Aunt Lizzie, you see.

And I wonder which one is coming to see me today.

Ah, so it's Elliot's turn.

Here he comes, racing to hear another tale

from an epic adventurer.

And what wonderful adventures they were,

so long ago and so far away.

I collected a few souvenirs along the way.

But my most precious possession of all

is my extraordinary collection of teacups.

You've still got a coat on, Elliott. Come on.

No time to count the clouds. We've got stories to tell.

Now,

let's have a lovely cup of tea.

But first we need...

The teacup.

But which one?

That one.

Ah...

The lucky horse.

What a choice, Elliot.

I do really love that story.

This will be just perfect to drink now.

So...are you ready?

Ready.

Then let me tell you the story of Great Aunt Lizzie

and the adventure of the lucky horse.

Ahem.

Oh, yes, of course.

Let me tell you the story of

Elliot and the adventure of the lucky horse.

It's all started long, long ago

in the magnificent empire of China.

Its towering Himalayan mountains,

lush scented fields

and thick, green forests.

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC PLAYS

It was still early one sunny morning

when he arrived in a small and elegant town.

Everywhere was as clean as a whistle and as neat as a new pin.

It was all calm and peaceful as Elliot rounded a corner

and saw two men sweeping the street.

It's going to be a hot one today, Mr Kai.

So let's get the work done while it's cool, Shan.

If we finish early, you can get off to do your test

-and then you'll be a doctor.

-Only if I pass.

-Maybe I'll have a little look at my lucky horse.

-No, no, no.

Keep the lucky horse safely tucked away until after the test.

Then you look after it while I go get some water.

You must drink lots of water on a hot day - doctor's orders.

Doctor's orders, huh?

-You haven't passed the test yet.

-But I will if I stay lucky.

I think we've done as much as we can here. I'll meet you in the square.

Suddenly, the old man was very unhappy.

Elliot wondered if there was anything he could do.

-Hello.

-Oh, hello there.

-You look worried.

-Yes, I am.

My friend has a carving - a beautiful little horse.

Well, he used to. It's his good luck charm, the most precious thing

-in the world to him.

-Doesn't he have it any more?

I took it out to see it and then I dropped it

-and it smashed into a million pieces.

-Oh, no.

I couldn't bring myself to tell him, so I put a rock in its place

until I could work out what to do.

Maybe if you said you were sorry and that it was an accident.

He's been studying to be a doctor for years.

It's his final test today.

If I tell him now, it will be terrible.

Elliot could see the man's dilemma,

but he was sure it was always better to tell the truth.

If he finds out it'll be even worse.

You're right. I'll think about the best way to tell him

while I sweep the town square.

Poor Mr Kai was so filled with guilt about breaking Shan's lucky horse,

he swept and swept as if he could sweep all his troubles away,

but Elliot couldn't bear to watch Mr Kai working so hard in the

-sweltering heat.

-Let me help you sweep.

Thank you, friend.

Mr Kai was still fretting about telling Shan the horse was broken.

If he finds out the horse is gone before his test,

his confidence will be shattered, just like the lucky horse.

I want to tell him the truth but I can't.

Mr Kai? What's that?

And where's my lucky horse?

You said it had to stay in the purse.

Shan... Yesterday I dropped the horse and it smashed to pieces.

I put a rock in its place so you wouldn't find out

until after the test.

I'm sorry.

You mean I have got to do my doctor's test

without my lucky horse?

Shan, I'm so sorry.

You finish the square.

I'll start on another street...

on my own!

Oh, dear.

If I could get a new horse before his test I would,

but then we would never finish in time.

I could go and get a new lucky horse.

Now Elliot thought getting a new lucky horse would be as easy as pie,

but of course it was never going to be as easy as that.

Mr Kai didn't look in the least bit relieved.

That's very kind of you, it really is.

The woman who makes them lives miles away up in the hills.

You'd have to be very determined to get there and back in time.

It was not long past breakfast and oh, my, had it got complicated.

He'd heard about Mr Kai's disaster with the lucky horse,

he'd tried to persuade him to tell the truth before he found out

and he had helped sweep the streets.

But then Shan came back and discovered what really happened.

Mr Kai? What's that?

He couldn't just leave without

trying to get a new lucky horse, could he?

There was nothing else for it but to get his skates on.

So off went Elliot in his old, battered boots.

He scrambled up the misty mountain paths until...

when he was almost out of breath, the path ran out.

There was only one way to get to the other side.

Elliot took a deep breath.

Safely across, Elliot soon came to the most enchanting valley

with a strange little house perched on a wooden post.

But there was no time to waste. Elliot had to get that horse.

As he approached the house, there was nobody to be seen.

Hello? Hello?

-Hello.

-Hello. I'm looking for the woman who carves the tiny horses.

And here I am. How can I help you?

My friend had a lucky horse, but he broke it by accident

-and I said I'd try and get him one.

-I have a horse figurine right here.

I've had this for ages. No-one has ever earned it.

Earned it?

If you want a lucky horse, we have to see if it is lucky for you.

You have to play "shoushiling". Do you know it?

Thought not.

Rock blunts scissors.

Scissors cut paper.

Paper covers rock.

Oh, I know this game.

One chance only.

Put your hands behind your back.

Count to three and see who wins.

-Ready?

-Rock, paper or scissors.

Elliot took a deep breath,

looked at all the rocks surrounding the old woman

and made up his mind.

Ready.

One...

Two...

Three.

Paper covers rock!

Of course. What else would she choose but rock?

Well, I never.

So, it's your lucky horse. There you go.

Elliot held the little, brown, jade horse.

It was surprisingly heavy and felt cool in his hand.

-Thank you very much.

-You're welcome.

Back came Elliot in his old, battered boots...

..over the open fields and down the mountainside...

and back into town with a perfect, brown, jade, lucky horse.

-I've got it!

-But then...

-What's the matter?

-It was the heat.

I should have slowed down.

Or you were too stubborn to drink enough water, Mr Kai.

I swept so hard I fainted.

Shan came back to help.

Shan, our new friend has been all the way to the hills to get you

a new lucky horse just in time for your test.

Thank you, Mr Kai. And thank you, too.

You too have been very good friends to me

and I will treasure this horse,

but I don't think I need it for luck any more.

-Why not?

-Because we finished cleaning all the streets in time for my test

without it. I saved Mr Kai without it.

And, if my old one had not been broken,

Mr Kai and I would never have met such a wonderful new friend.

I think I'm a very lucky man, even when I don't have my lucky horse.

And I think China is very lucky

because it's about to get a brilliant new doctor.

I'm thirsty.

Let's have another cup of water.

Yes, let's.

And that was that, the whole kit and caboodle.

Elliot and the adventure of the lucky horse.

I loved it. I especially loved the bit where Shan realised

that if he passed his exams it wasn't because of luck.

I liked that bit too. He'd studied very hard.

-I wonder if he passed his exam in the end.

-He certainly did.

The amazing Dr Shan, they called him, one of the kindest

and brightest doctors in the whole of China.

He kept the horse figure in his surgery

and every time he looked at it he thought about

-the good fortune of having good friends.

-Whoa.

Well, I'll be blowed. Is that the time already? Come on.

Your mum'll be here in a minute.

Your coat.

Now, how did that get there?

Home time now, Elliot.

Thanks, Great Aunt Lizzie!

Cheery-bye, Elliot.