Discus Teacup Travels

Here they come,

my two intrepid explorers...

..Charlotte and Lokesh.

I'm their Great Aunt Lizzie, you see,

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

Your turn.

Ah, so it's Lokesh.

-Hello, Lokesh.

-Hello, Great Aunt Lizzie.

Once upon a time, I travelled the world

discovering treasures from long ago and far away

and no end of stories to remind me.

But my most precious possession of all

is my extraordinary collection of teacups.

Here we are. No time to count the clouds.

Let's have a nice cup of tea and a story.

But first, we need the teacup.

But which one?

-That one.

-Ah.

The great discus.

Like in the Olympic Games?

Yes.

Back in Greece thousands of years ago,

when the Olympic Games first started.

But this discus is even more special than that.

-How?

-It belonged to a notable athlete...

Was he a champion?

..with a very interesting story.

So, shall I tell you the story of

Lokesh, Exoidas and the Adventure of the Discus?

Yes, please.

It all began many, many years ago

in the cities of the Greek civilisation

spread out across the hills and islands of the Mediterranean Sea.

After journeying for days in the high, frosty mountains,

Lokesh came down to the sun-baked lowlands

to warm himself in a city by the sea.

He made his way through a square and passed an arena,

and as the space opened onto a sports field,

a voice called out from across the way.

There, not far from the arena,

he could see two men on the sports field.

But what were they doing?

Whatever it was, it didn't seem like it was going to plan.

Did you find it, Adoni?

-Where did it land?

-It was in the river.

It's a bit wet, but it'll be dry in time for the contest tonight.

-Don't worry.

-I've lost my touch, Adoni.

Come on, Exoidas, just because you miss a few throws.

It's a new discus, but it's the best there is.

You'll get used to it.

-I don't know.

-You need to go home, eat something,

rest, we'll meet again before the contest.

-I'm not going.

-To your house?

-To the competition. I've lost it.

Oh, come on! You can't throw away all this hard work.

Look how far we've come.

You're the champion of Kephallenia.

It's your last competition before the Games at Olympia.

You want to compete at the Olympics?

-Yes, but...

-You can do it.

Not when I'm throwing the discus like this.

I won't be participating.

I've made up my mind, there's nothing will change it.

If I compete tonight, I'll make a fool of myself.

I'm out. I'm going to the public baths.

Exoidas, wait.

Oh, no.

Well, we're in big trouble now.

Suddenly Lokesh had an idea.

Excuse me.

I heard your voices from over the field.

I couldn't help overhearing the conversation you had with Exoidas.

You heard he doesn't want to participate in the contest?

After all our hard work, and now he decides to quit at the last hurdle.

If you got him an old discus,

one he's used to rather than that brand-new one,

it'd make him feel better.

An old discus?

Do you think that would help?

Maybe you're right. But I must get after him.

Could you fetch me an old one of these from his house?

-Of course.

-That'd be great.

Thank you so much. Now, it's just over there.

It's not far, just beyond the town square.

He keeps a box of them under his bed.

I'll meet you back here before the contest.

So off went Lokesh to Exoidas' house in search of an old discus.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

I never saw you standing there.

It's OK. I'm fine, thank you.

Adoni sent me.

He wants me to pick up an old discus for Exoidas.

Oh, I'm so sorry, but I don't have any of his old discuses.

It's OK. He told me where to find them.

In the box under the bed?

No?

Not any more. I just had a big spring clean yesterday.

Between you and me, my master is not a big fan of throwing things away.

Apart from his discuses, of course!

THEY LAUGH

Anyway, he kept promising to get rid of the stuff he never uses,

but it was such a mess,

I gave up asking and decided to get rid of it myself.

I see. So you threw away all of his old discuses.

I did. Not a single one left and no old clothes,

no smelly sandals and no old useless sticks either.

I burned them all in the garden.

I tell you, if the mice had got in there, we'd have been overrun.

So good riddance, I say.

It's lovely and tidy now.

What's the problem?

Exoidas has lost confidence throwing his new discus.

We think he needs an old one that he feels more comfortable throwing.

Seriously?

The only one I know about is that one he won with in Kephallenia.

I will never forget that contest.

He threw that discus so high and so far, it nearly reached the stars.

The whole crowd was standing and cheering.

-It was wonderful.

-That's the one I need, then.

Where can I find it?

It's in the sanctuary in Kephallenia, of course.

Over those mountains.

But honestly, that new one's the best you can get.

Agathi had a point.

Was it really wise to go all the way to Kephallenia

just to get an old discus?

It wasn't even lunchtime and, my word, was it complicated.

I didn't think a champion could lose their confidence.

Anyone can lose confidence.

Do you really think an old discus

would make the difference for poor old Exoidas?

It might, especially if it reminds him how good he is.

I don't think it's as easy as that.

It's like he's never won a thing.

If he remembers how good he is, he'll stop worrying.

And concentrate on throwing.

Well caught!

The problem is Kephallenia is a long way away.

But it's a very important competition.

If Exoidas pulls out, he won't get into the Olympic Games.

That's right. So Lokesh couldn't give up

without trying to find the old discus now, could he?

So off went Lokesh in his hat, bag and boots...

..past the rushing river...

..and up the frosty mountains...

..until, when he was almost out of breath...

..the path ran out!

There was only one way to get to the bottom.

Lokesh took a deep breath.

At last, Lokesh stood high on a hill

with Kephallenia spread out in the verdant valley below,

but there was no time to admire the view.

Lokesh had to get that discus.

Before long, he made his way through the marble hall of the sanctuary.

-Excuse me.

-Yes?

Do you by any chance have the discus Exoidas won the competition with?

Of course we do.

What a throw that was.

-Were you there?

-I will never forget it.

Everyone was quiet.

Exoidas held the discus for such a long time,

I thought he would never release it,

but then - whoosh - what a throw!

"Thrown by Exoidas when he won the contest in Kephallenia.

"Dedicated to Castor and Pollux."

But who are Castor and Pollux?

They are twin stars.

Exoidas aimed for them the night he made that wonderful throw.

Oh, but they're more than stars. They're gods, too.

That's definitely the one he needs tonight.

You can't take this discus out of the sanctuary.

-It belongs to the gods now.

-Oh. But I promised.

Exoidas has a very important competition this evening

and with his new discus it's hopeless.

This is the only other one he's got.

If Exoidas doesn't win tonight,

he won't make it to the Games in Olympia, right?

Please can I take it to him?

I promise to bring it back straight after the competition.

Well, if Exoidas wins tonight,

I'm sure it will make the gods even happier.

OK. Take it.

But you must bring it back, understand?

Tell Exoidas to aim for the stars again.

I will. Thank you.

Bye.

Back came Lokesh...

..down the frosty mountains...

..along the rushing river...

..and as fast as he could to the sports field

to find the athlete and his coach.

-I've got it.

-Excellent.

Thank you so much.

What is he talking about?

Adoni, I've told you there's no way I'm competing tonight.

Never say never, Exoidas.

Now, just take a look at this, please.

It's the discus you used in Kephallenia.

Remember the inscription?

"Thrown by Exoidas when he won the contest in Kephallenia,

"dedicated to Castor and Pollux."

Do you remember that contest, Exoidas?

The one where you reached for the stars?

What a throw that was!

That was a good one.

You did it once, you can do it again.

Just aim for the stars!

And the gods will take care of the rest.

You're right, thank you for reminding me.

Let's do this!

Let's aim for the stars and win this competition!

Yeah!

May I?

CAMERA CLICKS

Ah. So that was that. The whole shebang.

The story of Lokesh, Exoidas and the Discus.

Did Exoidas win the contest?

He absolutely did!

He aimed for the stars, and he threw the discus even further

than in the contest in Kephallenia.

-Wow!

-The crowd was cheering for hours.

Sometimes we forget what we've done, and we get cold feet.

With a little help from our friends, we can get back out there.

-And aim for the stars.

-Exactly!

Oh, my! Is that really the time?

Come on, we'd better get going.

Now, how did that get there?

Home time now, Lokesh.

-Thanks, Great Aunt Lizzie!

-Cheerie-bye, Lokesh!

Bye!