CLOWN by Quentin Blake

♪ Narrator: I'm going to tell you a story, a rather wonderful Christmas story.

♪ ♪ ♪ It's a story about a clown who was thrown away, a faithful friend adored in childhood but disowned when the child grew up, and discarded like a moldy apple core.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Wait!

What's this?

Is Clown alive?

Is someone pulling his strings?

No, no.

That can't be it.

Is there the faintest flicker, the tiniest trace of life left in his batteries?

Oh, no batteries, eh?

♪ So is it just that it's Christmas, a time for mistletoe and mince pies and merrymaking and magic?

We're going to find out.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Teddy bear, bunny, ostrich, parrot, and elephant all lay together unloved and abandoned in that dark and dingy dustbin.

Oh, Clown did so want to save his friends.

♪ He looked around for something, anything that might prove useful.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Now, at least, he could run for help.

♪ For the first time in his life, he didn't feel safe.

Never before had Clown been alone in the helter-skelter world of grown-ups.

♪ But which way should he go?

Thank goodness he had his shoes to give him confidence.

♪ ♪ Enchanting children was what he did best.

He told her a tale about a baby boy who grew bigger... and heavier... and taller... until he was too old for bedtime cuddles and adventures.

And, well, we know the rest.

♪ ♪ Poor clown.

He was left behind once more.

♪ But life has a habit of springing surprises.

♪ It was the school's Christmas assembly.

♪ Ahh.

How funny!

They thought Clown was one of the children disguised in fancy dress.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Clown was so excited.

It was his turn at last!

♪ ♪ But some people don't know talent when it's dancing right under their nose.

♪ He was determined to try again to save his friends.

♪ After all, enchanting children was what he did best.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Where on earth was she taking him?

♪ Ah!

The toy shop was a marvel.

♪ ♪ Gosh!

Those toys really did remind him of someone.

♪ Had he been forgotten already?

♪ In the warmth of that hug, he felt hope fluttering like a fledgling baby bird.

♪ The room was bathed in light, a sparkling Christmas paradise.

♪ ♪ But not everything or everyone sparkled quite so brightly.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Thrown away again.

♪ And then in that desperate moment, hanging by a thread, something astonishing happened... ♪ something really stupendous... ♪ to turn things on their head.

♪ ♪ ♪ The view was breathtaking.

♪ Oh!

What a jolt of pure joy for his spirits.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Uh-oh.

Here comes trouble.

♪ Ohh!

Oh, dear.

♪ He dredged up a drop of magic and danced for his life.

♪ ♪ ♪ Just when he thought he might be out of danger, a far greater menace loomed large.

♪ ♪ ♪ Thrown away again.

♪ And right there, at that moment, Clown thought that all was lost, but life often has a strange way to turn one's luck when least expected.

♪ ♪ It was a dreadful sight.

♪ Clown could tell immediately that something must be done.

After all, enchanting children was what he did best.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ It was the last chance to save his friends.

♪ But everything was so topsy-turvy and such a terrible mess.

♪ Time to roll up their sleeves and make everything sparkle.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The room had never been so tidy before.

What a wonderful surprise for Mum.

♪ At last, Clown had found someone who would listen.

♪ ♪ ♪ Everything was quiet and, oh, so still.

Everybody was home, busy preparing their Christmas dinners.

The city was empty... ♪ Would his friends still be there?

♪ Parrot... elephant... ostrich... bunny... and teddy bear.

The friends were reunited at last.

♪ ♪ ♪ Clown had a simply splendid idea.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And that's how with a bit of luck, a lot of determination, and a sprinkling of magic, Clown and his friends got a new home, a home where they were loved again because, now you know, toys like Clown and his five friends, well, they only come to life when children love them.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪