INT. QUIET CANADIAN COUNTRYSIDE. SUNRISE.
The whole place is silent and still, covered by a blanket of thick snow.
OPENING TITLE: “THE TENDER DEBUT OF THUNDERBIRDS”
TITLE FADE OUT:
SONG: “THUNDERBIRDS’ TENDER DEBUT”
A gentle, tender lullaby tune.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LADY PENELOPE’S COTTAGE - BEDROOM. MORNING.
A pair of puppet arms move into frame and draw open the curtains, revealing tender sunlight in the room. REVEAL
LADY PENELOPE
Gazing out at the snowy meadow proudly. We hear her singing softly:
LADY PENELOPE
WHEN THUNDERBIRDS PREMIERED ON BBC KIDS
THE SKY WAS YELLOW AND PINK
DISSOLVE:
We see Lady Penelope sitting at her desk writing a letter to someone, though we don’t know who it is yet.
LADY PENELOPE
I WOKE UP TO THE SNOW FALLING OUTSIDE
AND IT GAVE ME MORE TIME TO THINK
DISSOLVE:
A PURPLE BACKGROUND WITH YELLOW STARS
We PAN ACROSS a line of smiling, familiar faces with stars in their eyes: the Teletubbies, Thomas The Tank Engine, Bill & Ben, Monty The Dog, the Tweenies, Binka, the Fourth Doctor (from Doctor Who), Alan, Brains, Tin Tin and the Animals Of Farthing Wood: Fox, Badger, Weasel and Mole.
LADY PENELOPE
TIME TO THINK OF ALL THESE SHOWS
WHETHER FOR OLD OR YOUNG
The characters fade out as 6 year old Sarah, Penelope’s daughter, appears, smiling at us warmly.
LADY PENELOPE
BUT MOST OF ALL, I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU
AND HOW YOU ALWAYS WANT TO HAVE FUN
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LADY PENELOPE’S COTTAGE - BEDROOM. MORNING.
As Lady Penelope is writing her letter, she hears excited giggling nearby. She looks over at where the giggling is coming from, and is surprised to see
SARAH
Jumping up and down on her bed. Lady Penelope walks up to her, holds out her arms and catches her just as she falls into her soft embrace. Both of them laugh happily.
DISSOLVE:
INT. LADY PENELOPE’S HOUSE - HALLWAY - MINUTES LATER.
Lady Penelope is getting her daughter dressed for a Winter’s day out - she’s wrapped up in a comfy bundle of Winter clothing, not too thick, fat or tight. She wraps a scarf around her neck as Parker gets his Winter boots on in the background.
At last, with everyone ready and in their Winter clothes, Parker opens the door and lets Lady Penelope and her daughter through.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. LADY PENELOPE’S HOUSE. DAY.
Parker sets off into town in Fab-1, with Lady Penelope and Sarah riding in the back.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. CANADIAN TOWN. DAY.
A peaceful, sleepy town shrouded in Winter snow, but lit up warmly by fairy lights strung from house to house. As Fab-1 drives across the streets, Lady Penelope and Sarah look up at the wonderful lights strung up above them, shining onto them. The song resumes:
LADY PENELOPE
THE STREETS WERE STRUNG WITH FAIRY LIGHTS
THE SNOW WAS SPARKLING LIKE NEW
INT. COSY CAFE - MINUTES LATER. DAY.
Lady Penelope, Parker and Sarah are sitting at a big, round table with the Teletubbies, the Fourth Doctor, Fox, Badger, Weasel, the Tweenies, Monty, William (from William’s Wish Wellingtons), Thomas, Percy, Sam and Max, waiting for their hot cocoa and chatting away. A friendly waiter brings them a tray of hot mugs of warm cocoa, each coloured like the person it’s being served to, and the show they star in.
LADY PENELOPE
THERE WERE MUGS OF HOT COCOA ON EACH TRAY,
AND MOST OF ALL, I HAD YOU
Everyone begins drinking their hot chocolate. The Teletubbies’ cocoa is pink because they drink Tubby Custard, while Fox and Badger lap up their own hot chocolate, animal like. Monty downs all his hot chocolate in one go, and…
MONTY
BUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRPPPP!!
Everyone laughs over his tremendous burp, to which Monty bows in response, as if finishing off a big show.
LADY PENELOPE & SARAH
Drink their hot cocoa and remove their mugs to reveal they have hot chocolate moustaches, which they lick off. They giggle, and nose-kiss gently.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LADY PENELOPE’S HOUSE - BEDROOM. NIGHT.
Sarah, dressed in her cosy pyjamas, bounces on the bed she shares with Lady Penelope, laughing loudly. Lady Penelope enters the room and giggles at her daughter’s antics, and as she falls over onto her back, she giggles and shuffles under the covers. Lady Penelope tucks her in and kisses her on the cheek. Now, Lady Penelope’s offscreen singing almost feels like she’s about to cry:
LADY PENELOPE
MY EYES WOULD SPARKLE WITH TENDER TEARS
JUST TO THINK OF YOU
Lady Penelope settles into bed next to Sarah, switches off the light and falls fast asleep, safe and warm and tucked up beside her daughter.
LADY PENELOPE
FOR WHEN I THINK OF BBC KIDS,
YOU ALWAYS THINK OF ME TOO.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. LADY PENELOPE’S HOUSE - NIGHT.
Everything is now very quiet and peaceful.
LADY PENELOPE
FOR WHEN I THINK OF BBC KIDS,
YOU ALWAYS THINK OF ME TOO.
PAN UP:
THE NIGHT SKY
The dark craters on the full moon have formed the old BBC Kids logo.
FADE TO BLACK.
THE END.
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