0:00:06 > 0:00:10'Here they come, like two intrepid explorers.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12'Charlotte, and Lokesh.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14'I'm their Great Aunt Lizzie, you see,
0:00:14 > 0:00:17'and I wonder which one is coming to see me today.'
0:00:20 > 0:00:23'Ah - so, it's Charlotte.'
0:00:23 > 0:00:25- Hello, Charlotte. - Hello, Great Aunt Lizzie.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35'Once upon a time,
0:00:35 > 0:00:37'I travelled the world, discovering treasures from long ago
0:00:37 > 0:00:42'and far away, and no end of stories to remind me.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47'But my most precious possession of all
0:00:47 > 0:00:51'is my extraordinary collection of teacups.'
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Here we are.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09No time to count the clouds -
0:01:09 > 0:01:12let's have a nice cup of tea and a story.
0:01:12 > 0:01:13But first we need the teacup.
0:01:16 > 0:01:17But which one?
0:01:30 > 0:01:32That one.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35Ah. The Wise Dragon.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37That's a very clever choice, Charlotte.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39- Is it?- Of course.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41An excellent selection.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48This story reminds me that many things are not what they seem.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50What do you mean, Great Aunt Lizzie?
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Well...we're about to find out.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56So -, are you ready?
0:01:56 > 0:01:57Ready.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59Then let me tell you the story
0:01:59 > 0:02:03of Charlotte And The Adventure Of The Wise Dragon.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08This story begins in Japan,
0:02:08 > 0:02:13a land of snowcapped mountains and glittering rice fields,
0:02:13 > 0:02:14dotted with Shinto temples
0:02:14 > 0:02:18and little villages full of pointy-roofed houses.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41It was at the edge of one of these villages that Charlotte arrived
0:02:41 > 0:02:44one beautiful, misty morning.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46Amongst the houses and delicate trees
0:02:46 > 0:02:49was what looked like a workshop.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51Charlotte wasn't sure what was being made there,
0:02:51 > 0:02:53but it looked intriguing.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58If I can just get hold of the underside of the tail...
0:03:00 > 0:03:02You are such a wriggly dragon.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05Keep still.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Reo, the armourer's apprentice,
0:03:08 > 0:03:10wrestled with the strange creature.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14He was trying to attach something to the end of its tail.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17But he was still learning, and was really struggling.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22Excuse me. Can I help?
0:03:22 > 0:03:25If you could hold my dragon
0:03:25 > 0:03:27while I attach these, that would be great.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29Can you show me how?
0:03:29 > 0:03:33You just hold it on your lap like this and take the weight,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36then I'll attach the last of these scales using the silk.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40Charlotte was amazed how heavy the little iron dragon was,
0:03:40 > 0:03:45how detailed and delicate it was, with its large pointy horns,
0:03:45 > 0:03:47long elaborate whiskers,
0:03:47 > 0:03:51all the way down to the fierce-looking claws on its feet.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54- It's very beautiful.- Thank you.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56Did you make him?
0:03:56 > 0:04:00Yes. I made him from old samurai armour, like that.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04So you recycled the armour, and made this dragon?
0:04:04 > 0:04:09If "recycled" means I made something new from old, then yes, I did.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13Thankfully, I make a lot of dragons in these days of peace.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15He doesn't LOOK peaceful.
0:04:15 > 0:04:16He looks terrifying.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Look at his claws.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21He may look it, but dragons aren't scary.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25Dragons are very, very wise and bring good luck.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27That's why on vases and pictures
0:04:27 > 0:04:31they are always chasing the sacred pearl of wisdom.
0:04:31 > 0:04:32So he's a good luck dragon?
0:04:32 > 0:04:33He is.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36Uh-oh.
0:04:36 > 0:04:37What's wrong?
0:04:38 > 0:04:39I've run out of silk.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41Oh, dear.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44Well, if you've nearly finished, maybe you could use something else.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46It has to be silk.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49Silk is one of the strongest threads and the most fine.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51I need to get some more
0:04:51 > 0:04:53before the samurai gets here to see his new dragon.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56I promised him I'd finish it today.
0:04:56 > 0:04:57I'd better run fast.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59I could go for you.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01Would you? Thank you.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03The merchant's isn't far, it's just in the village.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05I'll be as quick as I can.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08Charlotte hurried through the little village,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11until she found what looked like the merchant's shop.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16Excuse me. I wonder if you could help me.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18I'm helping make a dragon.
0:05:18 > 0:05:23- A dragon?- A beautiful metal one made from some old samurai armour.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26I know lots of tales about sea dragons.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29It's those magnificent creatures that caused the Tatsumaki.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31What's a Tatsumaki?
0:05:31 > 0:05:33It's a tornado.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36"Tatsu" means dragon, "maki" means roar.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39They say that the howls of the sea dragons
0:05:39 > 0:05:41are transformed into tornadoes
0:05:41 > 0:05:44that blow in from the ocean.
0:05:44 > 0:05:45Tornadoes must be scary.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48They are. But the wise dragon knows
0:05:48 > 0:05:51tornadoes bring the rain too to make the rice grow.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54But I'm sure you haven't come here to talk about dragons.
0:05:54 > 0:05:55Did you want to buy something?
0:05:55 > 0:05:58I wanted to buy some silk.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00Ah. I haven't got any.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02I ordered some ages ago from the silk winder
0:06:02 > 0:06:04on the other side of the mountain.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07He has the best silk in the whole of Japan,
0:06:07 > 0:06:08but it hasn't come yet.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10Oh, dear.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13Perhaps you could use something else.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16I have a very good quality cotton.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18See?
0:06:18 > 0:06:22It was only late morning, and already it had got so complicated.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Was it better to take the cotton back
0:06:24 > 0:06:26for Reo to finish his dragon now,
0:06:26 > 0:06:29or should she press on in search of silk?
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Could you thread this needle and cotton for me, please, Charlotte?
0:06:34 > 0:06:38Eyes of needles seem to be getting smaller and smaller.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41So what do you think Charlotte decided, Aunt Lizzie?
0:06:41 > 0:06:43The silk, or the cotton?
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Well, I find cotton works well for most things.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48And she had the cotton in her hand.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50The silk was miles and miles away.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54Reo did need the thread really quickly.
0:06:54 > 0:06:55Hang on -
0:06:55 > 0:06:58I remember he said something about the silk.
0:06:58 > 0:06:59He said
0:06:59 > 0:07:01how he had to use silk to make the dragon,
0:07:01 > 0:07:03because it was the strongest and the finest thread.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05You're right, Charlotte. He did.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08So that solves it. Cotton just isn't strong enough to make a dragon.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10So Charlotte couldn't go back
0:07:10 > 0:07:13without finding Reo his strong silk now, could she?
0:07:21 > 0:07:24So off went Charlotte, in her hat, bag and boots.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29Through the cherry trees...
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Up the rocky mountains...
0:07:42 > 0:07:45When she was almost out of breath...
0:07:45 > 0:07:47the path ran out!
0:07:51 > 0:07:54There was only one way to get to the other side.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57Charlotte took a deep breath.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33At last, she came to a little farm nestled by the sea,
0:08:33 > 0:08:35surrounded by hundreds of mulberry trees.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39There was no time to stop and stare,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Charlotte had to get that silk.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49Time was ticking on when Charlotte arrived at the silk winder's.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53He seemed so busy that Charlotte didn't want to disturb him.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55If I can get this one done first,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58then I've only got another 100 to go...
0:08:58 > 0:09:02But Charlotte knew she had no choice.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Hello. I'm sorry to bother you,
0:09:05 > 0:09:06but I need some silk.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09- So does everyone.- Oh, I see.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12I've got lots of silk, and so many people waiting.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15The trouble is, it all needs winding.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Charlotte looked at the piles of silk,
0:09:18 > 0:09:20and knew there was nothing else for it
0:09:20 > 0:09:22but to roll up her sleeves...
0:09:22 > 0:09:24I think I need to help you.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26Oh, that's really kind.
0:09:26 > 0:09:27Thank you so much.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30The best way to do it is...
0:09:30 > 0:09:33take the end of the silk
0:09:33 > 0:09:35and wind it onto the spool.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40Charlotte set about helping the silk winder,
0:09:40 > 0:09:44winding the silk round and round and round the spool.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46And as they wound, they talked.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49What exactly do you need the silk for, Charlotte?
0:09:49 > 0:09:50I'm helping someone make a dragon.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54- A dragon?- For an old samurai armourer.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57There were many tales of dragons when I was young.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59I remember one particularly fierce dragon
0:09:59 > 0:10:02had eight heads, with red eyes,
0:10:02 > 0:10:03and eight tails.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06It was so big, it filled an entire valley.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08That must have been really scary.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10It needed to be,
0:10:10 > 0:10:14to protect the village from the terrifying Basan.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16The fire-breathing chicken!
0:10:16 > 0:10:19That sounds even worse.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21Yes. I think it was.
0:10:21 > 0:10:22As they talked,
0:10:22 > 0:10:27they wound the silk round and round the bobbins, until...
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Good.
0:10:29 > 0:10:30You've been a big help, Charlotte.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33But I think you need to go back to your dragon.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35Here. Would this be enough silk for you?
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Thank you, I enjoyed the story.
0:10:40 > 0:10:41Watch out for dragons.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43I will. Thanks for the silk.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45Back came Charlotte,
0:10:45 > 0:10:47in her hat, bag and boots.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57Down the rocky mountains and through the cherry trees.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05The sun was setting as Charlotte
0:11:05 > 0:11:08returned to the workshop - but there was no-one to be seen.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10Just a strange eerie light
0:11:10 > 0:11:13flickering through the workshop door.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16As Charlotte came nearer, the shadow of a vast,
0:11:16 > 0:11:19terrifying dragon rose up before her...
0:11:20 > 0:11:22..all but ready to pounce!
0:11:22 > 0:11:24What's wrong, Charlotte?
0:11:24 > 0:11:26The dragon. There.
0:11:26 > 0:11:27It's huge.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31The shadow!
0:11:31 > 0:11:35It is only a little dragon in front of the fire. See?
0:11:35 > 0:11:38The flickering light of the flame made it LOOK like it was moving.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40There's nothing to be frightened of.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42It must have been all the scary stories
0:11:42 > 0:11:44people told me about dragons today.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46But I bet they were only scary to protect people,
0:11:46 > 0:11:48or make good things happen.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50You're right. They were.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53One dragon protected a village, the other brought rain.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56You see - dragons aren't really scary at all.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59They're wise, and very lucky.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02Look how lucky I am, to have made such a good friend today.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Oh - and I got the silk.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Even luckier!
0:12:06 > 0:12:09And you were so wise to get such good quality silk.
0:12:12 > 0:12:17Now, we can finally finish the dragon - and then,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20I'll tell you some more stories about wise, lucky dragons who,
0:12:20 > 0:12:25they say, once swam the seas all around the islands of Japan.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27May I...?
0:12:30 > 0:12:34So, that was that. The whole kit and caboodle.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Charlotte And The Adventure Of The Wise Dragon.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40That shadow of the dragon on the wall was really scary.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Well, sometimes things seem frightening when they're not really.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45- Like the dragons in the story? - Exactly.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Some people around the world think of dragons
0:12:47 > 0:12:50as terrifying creatures who breathe fire.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52But the Japanese think of them as lucky and wise.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55I like the lucky and wise ones best.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Me too.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Gracious me, is that the time? Come on, we have to get going.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Now, how did that get there?
0:13:10 > 0:13:11Home time, Charlotte.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19Thanks, Great Aunt Lizzie.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22- Cheery-bye, Charlotte. - ALL:- Bye.