Lara's Little Lie Ask Lara

.

-TANNOY CHIMES

-'Flight 315C ready for departure.'

JET ENGINE ROARS

Have you seen all this cool stuff? I'm going to learn karate!

We could all do it together. Hi-ya!

I don't think so, Monica. I'd rather go hiking or...

What's this?

A chess...?

-A what?

-Nothing. Let's get to class.

A chess competition! You'll be entering that, Lara.

You won a trophy for chess.

-Oh... Um, did I?

-Don't you remember that day in the canteen?

We were talking about trophies we've won back home.

I've got three for canoeing.

Two for football.

Egg and spoon race.

Four for fancy dress.

Five.

-SHE WHIMPERS

-'Think of something - quick!'

One for chess.

-It's only a little trophy.

-You've got to enter, though.

The competition? Oh, no, Akira. I can't.

Why not? Too good to play against us, is that it?

Well, I can play chess. I know all the moves.

We'll take you on, Lara, trophy or no trophy.

First question - you've told a little lie.

Do you, A, forget it -

nobody's perfect, but try not to do it in future?

B, confess right away and hang your head in shame?

Or C, give yourself a pat on the back?

All you did was make yourself feel good and no-one got hurt, right?

This is very serious, Gabriel.

-Where were you when the bag was stolen?

-The locker room, Miss.

-But neither of you saw anything?

-The thief was very quick.

We were just talking and when we turned around,

Gabriel's bag was gone.

-What was in it?

-Um, my phone and some other stuff...

My homework...

Oh, and an apple.

-He was going to have that with his lunch.

-Lunch, yes!

Very well.

I'll look into it. Get to your lessons.

HE WHIMPERS

Ooh - the queen's gambit.

The queen's what?

Hi, Lara. Dion and I are practising for the competition.

-Want to join us?

-Don't be silly, Monica.

Lara doesn't need practice - she's a champion, remember?

Um, the thing is...I can't play.

I've, uh...got work to do.

Too late! We've entered you in the competition.

-You did what?!

-Why not? It's time you showed off your skills a bit.

Akira's right.

Anyway, a good player is always willing to learn from the best.

-I'm hoping you can improve my game.

-SHE WHIMPERS

-I'm getting a drink.

-I'll come too.

Dion, I can't enter.

I don't know anything about chess.

Really, Lara? You'll have to do better than that.

-What do you mean?

-Pretending you're no good so the rest of us relax.

Then you can beat us easily.

SHE WHIMPERS

'OK, so rooks go up and down.

'Bishops go diagonally.

'Knights go...this way.

'Why don't I just tell everyone the truth?

'Come on, Lara - you can do this. Opening moves...

'Pawn to E4.'

Pawn to E4.

Uh...yes.

No. Wait... Uh, knight to F6.

HE WHIMPERS

Um...

-Oh, no!

-What? Did I do something wrong?

I have to go! I resign - you win!

What?!

Tony, the police are here! The teacher must have rung them!

-Calm down.

-But they'll know we're lying.

Not if we stick to our story.

Your phone, your homework and an apple.

Why an apple? I don't even like apples!

I told you - little details like that make the story more convincing.

Oh, you're so much better than me at this.

Relax! What are you worrying about? It was only a little lie.

HE WHIMPERS

Don't be sad, Akira. It was just bad luck you got to play Dion.

She's right, Akira, and no-one can be good at everything.

I know. He beat me easily.

But you're the one who should be nervous.

You're playing Lara next.

So what? I'm not scared.

Akira, there's something I have to tell you.

-When I said I won that trophy...

-TEACHER CLEARS THROAT

Atencion a todos. Can I have your attention, please?

We have a problem with security at the school.

-Gabriel's bag has been stolen.

-Oh, no!

-The thief took his phone and his homework.

-And an apple!

And an apple.

HE WHIMPERS So, please can you all

check your belongings to make sure nothing else is missing.

Are you OK, Gabriel? I was saving this, but you have it.

Second question.

So your little lie has grown into a great big one.

Do you A, quietly confess before any more damage can be done?

B, loudly confess to the whole world and beg everyone's forgiveness?

Or, C, tough it out? You're good at this -

an even bigger lie might get an even better result.

Yes, I got the new socks. Thanks.

Er, sorry, Mum. I can't talk now.

-SHE GASPS

-Gabriel - you were using your phone!

-Oh, Lara...

-But I thought...

-Lara!

-Huh?

-Lara, please don't tell.

What's going on?

I didn't do my homework and I couldn't think of an excuse

so, um...

You mean there's no thief? You made it up? But that's terrible!

Don't be like that. Everyone believes the story. What's the harm?

Are you going to tell on us, Lara?

Come on, Lara. Don't tell me you've never told a lie.

Does anyone mind if I resign this game?

I do!

Ha-ha-ha! Lara's teasing you, Monica. She can't resign.

-Why not?

-Because she's just won.

-Checkmate.

-Huh?

-Hmm.

-And she did it without even looking at the board.

-But... But I...

-I'm playing you in the final, Lara.

-I can see that I'll have to raise my game.

-Oh...

Oh... Oh...

SHE WHIMPERS

Argh!

Don't tell me you've never told a lie!

Argh!

Urgh... Ooh! Don't panic, Lara. It's nearly over.

One more game to play and all you have to do is lose.

-He doesn't stand a chance.

-'Hm. Unusual move.'

Hm.

Ooh.

'What's she doing now? This must be a trap.

'Oh, I've lost already!

'No, don't panic.

'Ooh!

'That move doesn't even make sense. How do I play against that?'

Ooh...forget it. I resign!

Lara is the winner. Our champion.

-ALL:

-Lara! Lara! Lara!

-Don't be like that.

Everyone believes the story. What's the harm?

No!

It's not true! I'm not the winner.

I haven't played a single game.

Which is just as well, because I don't know the rules.

I never won a trophy for chess or anything else.

I was lying.

The trophy belongs to Dion. I'm really sorry.

Hm?

Yay!

We didn't mean any harm, Miss.

It just sort of got out of control.

Sorry, Miss.

Very well. It seems you've learned your lesson,

so this time, I'll forget about the whole thing.

What will you tell the police?

Police? Oh. They've been giving a talk

to the younger ones on road safety.

Did you think they were here about the robbery?

TONY LAUGHS WEAKLY

Final question.

You've made a complete fool of yourself by telling a lie.

Do you A, shrug it off?

You're older and wiser and you didn't mean any harm.

-B, take a vow of silence...

-Sh!

-..so you can never lie again?

Or C, take acting lessons

so next time you lie so brilliantly, you'll never be found out?

If you answered mostly A's, you may have done a bad thing

but that doesn't make you a bad person.

If you answered mostly Bs,

chill out - you paid the price by looking foolish.

It's better to put it behind you.

And if you answered mostly Cs,

well, lying isn't really the way out of anything.

Trouble is, the truth always comes out in the end.

So, Gabriel, did you hand in your homework?

I tried to, but I was on my way to school and a big dog ate it.

-SHE TUTS

-Oh, Gabriel.

But... But...

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd