Wombling Free (1978) - full transcript

The adventures of The Wombles, strange creatures who live on Wimbledon Common and pick up the litter left by the humans. There's always time for a nice song and dance as well. This was a film version of the popular childrens TV show.

[dramatic music]

- [Bulgaria] When the
world first was

even from the days of
Eve and Adam

there were the wombles.

And that was the start of it,

human beings untidy from day one

leaving the Wombles to
clean up after them

and it has continued
thus right up to

[parade music]

[calm music]

Never was there so
much cleaning up



to be done for so
many by so few.

And so we come to England,

and to the Common,
Wimbledon Common.

[calm music]

Now that is the Wimbledon
Womble Burrow, their home.

And not just a home but
a positive hive

of activity as you shall
presently see.

[calm music]

Nice and warm and
comfortable in here isn't it?

Let me show you around.

That's the workshop
where the wombles

make good use of bad rubbish.

And here's Tobermory.

He's in charge of the workshop.



He's always busy
inventing things.

- Problems problems problems.

- [Bulgaria] He is a
born worrier.

Perhaps we better
leave him to it.

To the dormitory.

They're not in there now
because wombles

always get up very early
to start work.

And now their study.

Oh just a minute what's
that delicious smell?

The kitchen.

Madame Cholet who is
the most famous

womble cook in the whole world.

[speaking in foreign language]

- Madame Cholet is
breakfast ready yet?

- No it is not.

- Oh.

- Oh dear.

- [Bulgaria] That was
Tomsk that was.

Now that's Bungo he's
the youngest.

Silly sort name that, Bungo.

[sneezes]

Orinoco tends to be fat
greedy and lazy

but he's very good at
testing blackened jam.

- I think I'd better
taste test all the jam.

- No no no no no no.

- [Bulgaria] And last the
young Wellington

who wants to be an
inventor like Tobermory.

At the moment he's trying
to invent a food mixer.

He's quite clever really
but lacks confidence.

- There there
Wellington off you go.

[speaking in foreign language]

- [Wellington] We have lift
off, food mixer in orbit.

- Mind you his inventions
don't always work.

Now you've met all the
Wimbledon Wombles except me.

Let me introduce myself, I
am Bulgaria Coburg Womble

better known as Great
Uncle Bulgaria.

Now then shall we
get on with it?

Here we see some of the human
beings at Wimbledon Common.

Let's see what you make of them.

Mr. Arnold Takahashi, a
Japanese car representative

and his wife Doris.

And a typically
English businessman

Mr. Roland Frogmorton with
his wife Julia,

and their daughter Felicity.

[calm music]

Mr. Frogmorton has one
ambition in life

to own that house next door.

He's something in the
city, I'm not sure what.

He hasn't a car.

He doesn't drive, he's too
nervous, the war you know.

He used to get dizzy spells
at his desk in the pay core.

[calm music]

Now I'll show you where we the
Wombles find ourselves today.

Follow me.

♪ Standing on your tiptoes
running on the spot ♪

♪ Exercise is good for
you laziness is not ♪

♪ Running in the morning
good for the thighs ♪

♪ Running in the evening
good for the eyes ♪

♪ Physical exertion
makes you strong ♪

♪ Keeps you alert and slim

♪ Just keep skipping
and you can't go wrong ♪

♪ You'll be sound in
mind and limb ♪

[upbeat music]

♪ Poetry in motion
legs in line ♪

♪ Stepping and stepping
down four four time ♪

♪ Standing on your tiptoes
running on the spot ♪

♪ Exercise is good for
you laziness is not ♪

♪ Standing on your tiptoes
running on the spot ♪

♪ Exercise is good for
you laziness is not ♪

♪ Standing on your tiptoes
running on the spot ♪

♪ Exercise is good for
you laziness is not ♪

- Very good, very good.

Now to work to work,
tidy bags to the ready.

Now look at this lot.

this was all perfectly
clean and tidy last night.

Forward, number one
working party.

Wellington, Orinoco,
Grissom come on.

And you know it's not just a
question of rubbish I mean.

[engine roaring]

Look at that wretched thing.

It feels our ears with
noise and our noses

with a disgusting and
dangerous smell.

It's always, always, always.

If only human beings would
learn to use the stuff.

[gulls cawing]

If only they would listen to us.

I sometimes think that if
it wasn't for us Wombles

they'd be over their
ears in rubbish by now.

In fact they probably
soon will be.

And not just on Wimbledon
Common but over the whole world.

Is it suppertime Madame Cholet?

- [Madame Cholet] In a
minute Great Uncle.

Just go and wash your paws.

- Is it suppertime yet Mummy?

- In a minute Kim, please
come in and wash your hands.

[calm music]

Darling bad day or good day?

- Disastrous.

[speaking in foreign language]

- Very profitable day Doris,

very profitable
indeed my darling.

- Blasted show off.

- Tell you what I think
Great Uncle Bulgaria

is quite right, human beings
ought to listen to us.

After all as he says
we're only trying

to keep the world to clean,
tidy, and beautiful place

for us all to live in
them as well as us.

- Bungo we've tried to
make them understand.

We've tried loads of times.

Great Uncle Bulgaria
has been trying

to tell them for
hundreds of years.

I'm sorry but he has.

- Well I haven't.

♪ Running on your tiptoes
running on the spot ♪

♪ Exercise is good for
you laziness is not ♪

- That's because you've
only been a working womble

for a couple of weeks
young Bungo, night.

- I don't care.

I bet I can get a human
being to listen to me.

I bet I can get one to
stop being untidy.

I bet I can.
- Lights out.

And keep quiet young Bungo.

[trumpet music]

- Tell you what, I bet I can.

[trumpet music]

I still bet I can.

[church bell ringing]

[dramatic music]

[upbeat music]

Morning postman, morning.

Morning Madame, morning horse.

Oh I'm fed up.

Oh well.

How do you do sir?

Hey dog.

Tell you what,
that's a deaf dog.

Great Uncle Bulgaria's
Morning Times, good.

- [Julia] Have a good
day darling.

[calm music]

- Oi.

Pick that up.

- What?

- She's seen me.

I said pick it up.

- You should say pick
it up please.

- Sorry.

- That's alright.

- Pick that up please.

- Who are you?

- I'm Bungo Womble, who are you?

- Felicity Kim Frogmorton.

- You're all of them?

- Yes, mostly Kim though.

- Oh good.

- Got to go now, school, bye.

- [Bungo] Hey tell you what.

Great Uncle Bulgaria says
you've got to listen.

- Okay, bye.

- Okay, okay, hey she
said okay, she said okay.

I've made contact, I've
made contact.

- To you.
- To me.

- To you.
- Sorry to me.

- Hey hey I'll tell you what.

I've made contact.

I talked to a human
being, I've made contact.

I must tell Great
Uncle Bulgaria.

- You can tell Great
Uncle Bulgaria

when you help shift this sofa.

- Well I did I honestly did.

- So yearling you've
been able to do

what Bulgaria's been
unable to do all his years.

- Yes I did.

- Very good but you can
still help shift this sofa.

- [Madame Cholet] Taste it,
just taste it.

- Certainly Madame
Cholet I shall taste it.

- It is horrible.

Not any corn and the
soup is horrible.

And why you ask myself?

Because the stupid human beings

are using all the spray weed,

weed sprays what you call them.

All our food from the
Common is being ruined.

We shall all become thin.

And whoever heard of
a thin womble?

- Well I can't say that--

[speaking in foreign language]

There there Madame
Cholet don't take on so.

[all talking at once]

We must pin our faith
on Tobermory.

I have reason to believe that
his new recycling machine

may take the poison
out of our food.

- I hope so but he had better
be very quick about it.

- Uncle Bulgaria.

- We'll all get [speaking
in foreign language]

Mark my words.

- I got her to listen,
I got her to listen.

I got her to listen.

- Take your time young
Bungo take your time.

Now what is it?

- I got her to listen,
I got her to listen.

- You got who to listen?

- A human being, Felicity
Kim Frogmorton.

I got her to listen, I
got her to listen.

- Will you stop circulating?

What did you tell her
to listen to?

- I forgot.

- There's not much point
in telling human beings

to listen if you don't
tell her what to listen to.

But it's a step
forward young Bungo.

Indeed it's more than
I've ever been able to do

especially with the Frogmortons.

I've seen Mr.
Frogmorton many times.

Close too but he chooses
not to see me.

Well done, well done.

We must try again.

It's the personal touch that
counts, the personal touch.

The personal touch.

The personal column.

Once more into the Times
young wombles, once more.

I'm sorry did that hurt?

[upbeat music]

- Yes sir we understand you're
entering the personal column.

- Any messages for Finch?

- Good morning.

[upbeat music]

- [Radio] With bright
periods and scattered showers

it is exactly half past eight.

[orchestral music]

- Roland, the Keep Britain
Tidy Group are having

their annual general meeting
at the Albert Hall next week.

Silly Billy that I am completely
slipped the old noggin.

Memo, as Wimbledon Branch
Secretary must remember to go.

- Yes dear must go.

- Roland, Delphine's
getting married again.

Third time.

Memo, must remember not
to go to that.

- Not to go yes dear, no dear.

- Roland dear personal
column Times.

Will Mr. Frogmorton, Wimbledon

kindly contact Bulgaria
Coburg Womble urgently.

Box 123, W-O-M.

- Who?

- Bulgaria Coburg Womble dear.

- I know Bungo.

- Bungo who dear?

- Bungo Womble, I met him
on the Common.

He's about four feet tall
and he's fat and furry.

- Another one of your
imaginary friends dear?

Like Jimmy Wonky?

- Oh no Mommy not
like Jimmy Wonky.

I really saw him.

He said something about
listening to his uncle.

- There you see you've
upset your father again.

You and your invisible friends.

I do wish you'd stop
talking about them.

He'll be nervous for
the rest of the day now.

[orchestral music]

- Daddy this was a real one.

- Kim I have a long
day ahead of me.

One that I can well do without

and already it is starting in
complete and utter confusion.

Your mother is right you
have upset me.

I am sick to death of these
imaginary friends of yours.

And as for spending
the hard earned

pocket money I give you
inserting silly

incomprehensible messages
to me, to me your own father

in of all things that
Times newspaper.

Anyway the Times is supposed
to be taken seriously.

It is not there for our
entertainment.

- But Daddy, it's his uncle.

He said we've got to listen.

- And I suppose he's four
feet, fat, and furry as well.

- Possibly Daddy.

- What in the name of Mary
Poppins is the world coming to?

Four feet, fat, and
furry uncles.

And there'll be no pocket
money for at least a fortnight.

You know I'm saving up for
the house next door Kim.

- Blessed fathers.

- [Bulgaria] Now this piece
of precision engineering

is the brainchild of Tobermory.

The rubbish being fed
into it will eventually

solve the world's food problems.

When that green
mixture is applied

vegetables and edible
plants will, he hopes,

bloom and grow beyond
belief, bloom and grow I say.

- Alright now Tomsk stand by.

Put more tins down the shoot.

- Right there are more
tins down the shoot.

Over and out.

- Roger.

- What's it going to
do Tobermory?

- I told you Orinoco,
it's a surprise.

And I'll give you a clue,
it's to do with food.

- Oh food?

- Yes food.

In fact I hold the view
we'd better get

this mixture right or we
might all starve.

Stand by, that bat and ball
pump, get that in there.

[upbeat music]

Done it.

[upbeat music]

Everyone in?

- [All] Yes.

- Now watch that tube
change color.

What did I tell you?

- I tell you what.

- What?

- Is that all?

- Wait and see young Womble,
wait and see.

- Hello.

- Hello okay listen.

- Can't stop, late for school.

Come to tea on Saturday.

- Oh lovely.

- Number four, that's our flat.

- Thanks.

- Who was that?

- Felicity Kim
Frogmorton my friend.

- Can I come too?

I like tea.

- Sorry she only asked me.
[laughing]

- Well now friendliness gone out

the window along with courtesy.

[calm music]

[dramatic music]

Well I'm worn out, I'm
worn out I tell you.

I've got to have 40 winks
to get my strength up.

[dramatic music]

- Why are they stopping?

Who's this lot then?

Why do they got them
funny hats on?

- Right we're here.

- Yes we're here,
Wimbledon Common.

- I now that Earnest.

The proposed freeway,
four lanes Earnest

will commence at the
junction from

the main road to the west there.

It will bestride the
Common from there to there.

- Yeah but that means
the demolition of

the windmill there and the
Regency one over there,

and the Victorian one there.

- Course it does.

- What about the people?

- What about the people,
what's it gotta do with them?

Concrete pylons Earnest,
concrete pylons

will support the construction
there, there, and there.

- Now that's a nice
little house that is.

- It won't be.

Right then Earnest I
shall leave it up to you

to lay on the high max,
concrete mixers,

all necessary materials,
and working force.

28th at 0800 sharp is DD,
that is demolition day.

Flatten it Earnest make a
good job of it, flatten it.

- What all of it?

- All of it.

- If you ask me it's
sending good money after bad

to put another advert
in the Times.

- It's our only hope old friend.

We must get them to
listen to us.

Things are going from
bad to worse.

[knocking on door]

- Enter.

- All concrete mixers.

- All mixers, heavy materials.

- Materials.
- And a pylon.

- The pylon.
- The demolition.

- The demolition.
- And high max.

- Hi max.

- There going to flatten us!
- There going to flatten us!

- So it comes to this.

Not only are a number
of human beings

going to have their
houses knocked down

but the windmill too will
be demolished.

Worst of all our burrow will
be flattened out of existence.

I've often feared such a
catastrophe might strike

therefore I have made
contingency plans

should we be forced to
leave our Wimbledon home

and set up a burrow elsewhere.

The happy and glorious garden.

I'm sure Her Majesty
wouldn't mind.

- [Madame Cholet] Leave never!

[formal music]

- [Bulgaria] Bungo and Tomsk
you will disguise yourselves

as guard soldier human beings.

You will find a sensor box.

Tomsk will stand guard.

Bungo you will dig a
tunnel under the wall

and into the Queen's
garden which we'll explore

to see if it will make
a pleasant home for us.

- Good evening officer.

[dogs barking]

- Now I know what a
mole feels like.

[dogs barking]

Wolves, wild vicious animals,
wolves.

Help Tomsk help.

Wolves.

- What?

- Run for it it's wolves.

- Wolves?

- Yes wolves making wild
vicious attack.

Run for it. [babbling]

[crunching]

- Wolves, fancy her
having wolves.

Perhaps they were a present
from loyal subjects in Canada.

People do give her the most
extraordinary presents I hear.

Nevertheless that's the
end of that, a pity.

We'd better start
packing I suppose.

[rumbling]

What's that, what's that noise?

[rumbling]

Its the roof, it's caving
in, the roof is caving.

[all talking at once]

[dramatic music]

- It's the demolition guys.

They really are
gonna flatten us.

[all talking at once]

[dramatic music]

[horn honking]

- Stop it, stop it!

- What?

- Stop it!

- Alright stop it, stop it.

- Wrong Common!

Not Wimbledon Common,
Wondsworth isn't it?

Wondsworth Common!

- Not Wimbledon,
Wondsworth isn't it?

Wrap it, wrap it up, wrap it.

[all talking at once]

- Oh well, win a Common
lose a Common.

All part of life's rich pageant.

- [Bungo] They made a mistake.

- [Tomsk] Yeah they
made a mistake.

[all talking at once]

- [Bulgaria] By hat we'd better
warn the Wondsworth Wombles.

Our home is saved.

[speaking in foreign language]

[calm music]

♪ When we're feeling hungry
and we want to eat in style ♪

♪ There's a certain
little womble lady fair ♪

♪ Popping toadstool topping

♪ In the oven for a while

♪ The sweet aroma fills
the twilight air ♪

♪ Madame Cholet

♪ What's cooking
with you today ♪

♪ We think you're a
real cool pie ♪

♪ Madame Cholet

♪ As sweet as cafe au lait

♪ From the tips of your toes

♪ To the twinkling in your eye

♪ Madame Cholet

♪ Don't go away [singing
in foreign language] ♪

♪ We couldn't survive
without you ♪

♪ That's no lie

♪ When we womble home
in the evening ♪

♪ You'll be there by the
kitchen door ♪

♪ We'd like to say merci
Madame Cholet ♪

[calm music]

♪ Madame Cholet

♪ Don't go away [singing
in foreign language] ♪

♪ We couldn't survive
without you ♪

♪ That's no lie

♪ When we womble home
in the evening ♪

♪ You'll be there by the
kitchen door ♪

♪ We'd like to say merci
Madame Cholet ♪

- Success, success, success.

- [Bulgaria] What's a success?

- [Tobermory] Success.

[all talking at once]

Success.

[all talking at once]

Look everything's
blooming and growing,

blooming and growing, the
mixture works.

Wait till you see.

Everything's coming up rhubarb.

[calm music]

- [Madame Cholet] It
is beautiful.

[speaking in foreign language]

- [Tobermory] Ice cream.

- [Bulgaria] And
certainly healthy

looking bracken I must say.

- [Tobermory] Baked
bracken beans on toast.

- [Tomsk] Sticky bracken buns.

- Do my eyes deceive me,
is that rhubarb?

- Rhubarb, that's nettle.

- Nettle pudding and custard.

- Congratulations
Tobermory well done.

- It's nothing much Bulgaria.

Just solved our food
problem that's all.

There is nothing more than that.

Young Wellington here
was a great help.

- Oh yes, sorry it
was luck really.

- It had nothing to do
with luck it was hard work.

- I'm sure it was Tobermory.

Thanks to you and your gallant
band our food crisis is over.

I consider this to be
the appropriate moment

for us to indulge in
three womble cheers.

Womble womble womble

- [All] Hooray.

- Womble womble womble womble.

- [All] Hooray.

- And a womble womble womble.

- [All] Hooray.

- Hold still.

I'm not I'm not having you
going up to tea

with the human beings
looking all anyhow.

Show me your paws.

And mind you behave yourself.

Say please and thank you.

- Yes Madame Cholet.

- Oi Bungo.

Great Uncle Bulgaria wants to

see you in his study right away.

- Alright coming.

- [Madame Cholet]
Have a good day.

- [Bungo] Thank you.

- Personal column, Mr.
Frogmorton,

Wimbledon and I do mean you sir.

Urgent please contact.

Amazing discovery to disclose.

[knocking on door]

Enter.

Bungo I understand
you're having tea

with this young human being.

This is a great opportunity.

You can get her to understand
about our discovery.

We've simply got to
make them listen to us.

If they don't learn now to
make good use of bad rubbish

they're going to poison
the whole world.

You understand?

- Yes.

[knocking on door]

- Do enter.

- I'm sorry, excuse me
Great Uncle Bulgaria.

Here you are Bungo.

Human beings always
give each other

presents when they
go out to tea.

It's our new stuff ,
Womgrow we're calling it.

- Oh excellent, excellent.

Actions speak louder than words.

Young human being gets
discovery, gives it to a father.

He puts it on his
garden, everything grows.

And at last they will
want to listen to us.

Off you go young Bungo
and good luck, good luck.

Good luck again.

♪ Overground underground
wombling free ♪

♪ The Wombles of Wimbledon
Common are we ♪

♪ Making good use of the
things that we find ♪

♪ Things that the everyday
folk leave behind ♪

- I say Tobermory Great
Uncle Bulgaria's

cheered up like anything now.

He says that the Womgro
that I gave Bungo

will make human beings
listen to us at last.

- Well he hasn't
gone yet has he?

- Who?
- Bungo.

- Yes why?

- Well you didn't
put the top on.

- Does that matter?

- Of course it matters the
air is full of pollution.

And that muck gets sucked into

the jar anything could happen.

- Anything?

- Anything and I do
mean anything.

[calm music]

[dramatic music]

[calm music]

- Hello.

[dramatic music]

- [Tobermory] Anything
could happen, anything.

And I do mean anything.

[upbeat music]

[dramatic music]

- Thank you.

- Hello.

- Hello I brought you a present.

- What?

[somber music]

- Gee thanks.

- The more we can get
for the Keep

Britain Tidy meeting the better.

People are so apathetic.

They just don't care about the
beauties of nature anymore.

[speaking in foreign language]

I mean nature is so important.

I often ask myself where
would we be without nature?

[speaking in foreign language]

I expect you have exactly
the same problems in Japan.

- Mommy.

- Yes dear?

- Can I have a friend to tea?

- Oh what friend dear?

Not Jimmy Wonky I trust.

We've had such trouble
with Jimmy Wonky.

You see he's invisible,
Kim made him up.

And really all last year
she wouldn't go

anywhere unless he came too.

You have no idea how
difficult it is

to take an invisible
friend on holiday.

The waiters in Spanish hotel

that we were quite mad
or something.

- No Mummy not Jimmy
Wonky it's a new friend.

He's called Bungo Womble.

I did tell you about
him remember?

The morning Daddy
went spare again.

You never listen.

- Bungo Womble how quaint.

- Yes Mummy but can
he stay to tea?

- Yes I suppose so dear.

- Thanks.

Will you come and meat him?

- Yes in a minute dear.

- Thank you.

- It's so essential
not to suppress

a child's imagination
don't you think?

Roland just doesn't
understand that.

[speaking in foreign language]

Mind you it's difficult
enough bringing up

a daughter that you can
see let alone

having to put up with friends
of hers that you can't.

[speaking in foreign language]

Kim?

Where are you?

- [Kim] In here Mommy.

[calm music]

- Hello Mrs. Frogmorton.

- [Julia] Hello.

- It's very nice to see you.

- It's very nice to be
able to see you.

[calm music]

- [Kim] It was nice of
you to come over Bungo.

- Not at all, thank you
for asking me.

- Oh and tell your Great
Uncle Bulgaria

that I meant what I
said just now.

- What?

- That whenever he
has his birthday

well give him a party
here at the house.

That goes for the rest of
you of course.

Can't be much fun having
a party under the ground,

especially for an old
womble like him.

- I don't think he'll come.

Doesn't like going out much.

- Well ask him all the same.

- Alright bye.

- [Kim] How old is he anyway?

- About 300.

- Oh yes very funny.

- [Arnold] Thanks for the
game Mr. Roland.

And cheer up old boy
you can't win all time.

- Well you certainly seem to.

As I would say the best man won.

- You said it, you
said it not me.

You said it.

- Nasty little show off,
oh I do hate him.

He's such a show off.

Show off!

Good evening.

- Good evening sir.

- Thank you.

- Bye.

- And all you ended up
with was a piece of string?

And what do you mean you
didn't tell her?

- Yes I forgot.

I'm very very sorry.

- You just told her to listen.

- Oh I forgot that too,
it was such a super tea.

Oh yes but I did tell
her it was your birthday.

But I forgot when it was.

They've invited you to have
a party at their house.

- I don't have a birthday
anymore not since 1900.

When you get to my age
you don't need a birthday.

And I'm highly displeased
with you young Bungo.

We lost a valuable opportunity

with little hope that
another one turns up.

[calm music]

[bagpipe music]

[calm music]

[horn honking]

- Excuse me sir.

Have you finished with
your copy of the Times?

The Times sir, may I borrow it?

Thank you.

- Oh good evening sir.

Thank you very much sir.

What's this place then?

- [Bulgaria] It's a picture
house, or rather it was.

Human beings used to come to
places like this every night.

- [Orinoco] What for?

- To see pictures,
moving pictures

like we see on the
television box thing

in the burrow only bigger.

They've got roles of paper
with little photographs on them

and they push light through them

onto that silver sheet up there.

Places like this were
magic palaces.

Like a sort of dream world.

Most human beings being
the lazy creatures they are

stay at home now and watch
bioscope picture projections.

Oh my goodness it could
do with a clean up.

Sad to see it like this.

I'll tell you what.

Let's do a bit of tidying
up before we go home.

Give the place back a
little self respect.

- Must've been smashing
especially those with music.

- I like those with music.

I like cowboys too but I like
those with music specially.

[dramatic music]

♪ I've always had a thing
about Fred Astaire ♪

♪ Tapping like a telegraph
and dancing on air ♪

♪ He told me all you needed was
a little bit of syncopation ♪

♪ I let my imagination
take me away ♪

♪ Ginger Womble Rogers is
Madame Cholet ♪

♪ And with my cast
of thousands ♪

♪ I'll womble across
the screen ♪

♪ And sing sing sing
like a womble ♪

♪ Dance dance dance
like a womble ♪

♪ You're an entertainer
from the head down ♪

♪ To your wombling white
tie and tails ♪

♪ Sing sing sing

♪ Dance dance dance

♪ You're an entertainer
from the head down ♪

♪ To your wombling white
tie and tails ♪

♪ From the Hollywood set
to the Broadway stage ♪

♪ Everybody tells me that
I'm good for my age ♪

♪ I may be fat but I'm
gonna be big someday ♪

♪ So give me a star on
my dressing room door ♪

♪ My tapping technique
will be hard to ignore ♪

♪ The world is alive with
the sound of wombles ♪

♪ Sing sing sing like a womble

♪ Dance dance dance
like a womble ♪

♪ You're an entertainer
from the head down ♪

♪ To your wombling white
tie and tails ♪

♪ Woo woo woo

♪ The Hollywood
train's on time ♪

♪ When you hear that
whistle blowing ♪

♪ Womble up and see
me sometime ♪

♪ Sing sing sing like a womble

♪ Dance dance dance
like a womble ♪

♪ You're an entertainer
from your head down ♪

♪ To your wombling white
tie and tails ♪

♪ So sing sing sing
like a womble ♪

♪ Dance dance dance
like a womble ♪

♪ You're an entertainer
from the head down ♪

♪ To your wombling white
tie and tails ♪

[big band music]

- Thanks for all the
help Orinoco.

Most helpful I must say.

Come on home, it's
nearly suppertime.

Come on, come on, come on.

[calm music]

[loud banging]

[bagpipe music]

- Here comes MacWomble
the Terrible.

Here comes MacWomble the
Terrible calling the news.

[all talking at once]
[bagpipe music]

- My dear MacWomble
the Terrible.

Welcome this is a surprise.

What brings you to Wimbledon?

- Going to present my
new car at the Motor Show

my dear Great Uncle Bulgaria.

I thought I'd just drop
in pay you a visit.

- [Bulgaria] How
very thoughtful.

It's good to see you.

What a splendid car it
is, a marvelous machine.

[horn honks]

How does it work?

- Clockwork my dear Bulgaria.

Plain ordinary clockwork,

thus avoiding the use of
oil or petrol.

- Can we have a go please?

- Certainly give it a wind up.

Now get in.

Good, now just pull the
lever and steer.

Yeah that's the way.

Now you're driving.

[bagpipe music]

The human beings will
be plain daft

if they don't see its immediate
potential possibilities.

[bagpipe music]

- Yes well I mean I personally
deploy petrol fumes.

no my dear friend they must
appreciate your genius.

[bagpipe music]

It would solve the
whole human oil problem.

I believe they're
desperate for new

sources of power and
you have it, clockwork.

Clockwork.

This Japanese chap I'm
telling you about

has got something to
do with cars.

He's new to the area.

They're very astute as
a race the Japanese.

Their little fingers I
believe thus enabling them

to carry out delicate
machine work.

Now there's his house.

We'll leave the car
outside and with luck

he will appreciate not
only its possibilities

but will also recognize
our existence.

[bagpipe music]

Good luck, here it is
good luck car, good luck.

Let's sit here shall we?

- We'll do that.

- Now that's the
nincompoop who won't answer

my entry in the Times
personal column.

- He looks the sort who
wouldn't answer

your entry in the Times
personal column.

Right special he looks.

- Hello darling bad day or--

- Equally disastrous.

- Sherry for my cherri.

[dramatic music]

- Now that's the Jap chap.

[speaking in foreign language]

- Oh boy Doris.

[contemplative music]

What the Fujiyama is this?

[speaking in foreign language]

Oh no my darling scent
off cauliflower.

No shout at you in public.

Merely surprised at seeing
such fantastic vehicle.

Wonder if it work.

Oh boy, clockwork.

- He's got it.

- Well done Bulgaria it's
going to work.

- Hey potential possibilities,
fantastic.

Solve world fuel shortage
and no erosion problem.

Not let whole world see.

[speaking in foreign language]

Open garage doors my
darling pea pod.

[bagpipe music]

Blimey.

By Saint George and Tokyo
really it work.

A little slow but it work.

Shut garage door
quick baby doll.

Never see anything
like it in life.

[speaking in foreign language]

No potential really.

Me just being too
greedy too quickly.

It's someone's good idea though.

Maybe for kids.

Can't see whole world going
exactly bananas about a car

who only do two or three
mile an hour for clock tick.

[speaking in foreign language]

Yeah yeah so no...

Hey good looking, got
another great idea.

How about petrol?

- Petrol no that's not the idea.

- Car have charm that for sure.

A little small but but
nonetheless have charm.

Sort of like hot saki.

How about cars made from
all bed stand?

[speaking in foreign language]

Hey how about it indeed Doris?

But before buying up all
vintage car all over place

I give them car made
from bed stand

and rubbish, and any
old iron car.

[speaking in foreign language]

My Lord indeed my darling.

Just a question of
putting in a new engine.

[speaking in foreign language]

Great old lawnmower engine.

We make a million,
well done Doris.

[speaking in foreign language]

At least.

- Too late I fear my friend.

No same old problem human greed.

- Rolls Royce eat
your heart out.

[speaking in foreign language]

Not about pollution damn it.

Who care about pollution?

We gonna make fortune.

[speaking in foreign language]

[dramatic music]

[horn honks]

[engine rumbling]
[erratic music]

Stupid idea in first place.

You idiot Doris.

[speaking in foreign language]

- [MacWomble] Bulgaria
don't you ever suggest

such a course of action
to me again will you?

- [Bulgaria] Well no I mean I
thought it was going to work.

I'm awfully sorry I
really really am.

- It's all very well be sorry.

But in Heaven do I
get back home?

- Leave it to me Bulgaria
I'll get him home.

I'll get him home in style.

- But how Tobermory how?

I feel terrible about it.

It was my idea.

Now he's missed the car
show and he's furious.

He says we're not to
speak to him.

- Bulgaria I shall require
all the assistance available.

Now ask the others to
get in double feature.

Not only will we get him,

but we'll give him a
present as well.

I am going to invent something.

It'll be called WOLA Scotland.

- WOLA Scotland, what's WOLA?

- I'll give you a clue.

- You'll have to tidy
this lot up you know.

- Tidy it up, I'm going
to use it all.

Well there's lots
more of course.

But do you remember what it was?

Something I can
never get solved.

Never had the right
engine remember?

- Well for the life of me no.

- Good, then it'll be a surprise

for you as well then won't it?

- Ah there you are my
dear MacWomble.

Here's a drop of your
favorite Scotch

broth and a nipple how's that?

Oh I said I'm sorry,
sorry about the car show.

But I intend to make
it up to you.

- Don't try and butter
me up Bulgaria.

Don't talk to me in fact.

And what is that terrible noise?

- [Bulgaria] It's a surprise.

- I said don't talk to me.

- You asked me a question.

- And I got no answer.

- You told me not to
talk to you.

Anyway I can't stop, lots to do.

Be ready to get up early.

You got an early start.

- An early start to where?

- Scotland of course,
where else?

- Well I'm not walking
that's for sure.

[loud banging]

[eerie music]

Suffering lumpy porridge.

In the name of Loch Ness
what's going on in there?

What are you doing with
my bagpipe womble toy.

- Just tasty MacWomble
just testing.

- Just testing what
Bungo just testing what?

- We've been told you
don't want us

to talk to you so I won't.

- I do now.

In the name of Brigadoon
what are you testing?

- You'll see in the morning.
[babbling]

Sorry about that.

- Serves you right if it hurts.

You'd better know what
you're doing Bulgaria.

- You want to go home don't you?

- You care not, fine I do.

- Well then just be a good
MacWomble the Terrible.

It's two minutes to takeoff.

- Two minutes to what?

- Look.

[bagpipe music]

- I think I got it
right MacWomble.

I always had the balloons
but no engine.

It's yours as a present
from all of us.

- Please accept it as recompense
for ruining your visit.

You know the car show
and all that.

You can start your own
pollution free airline now.

Your clockwork invention
can be used after all.

Look WOLA, Wombling Over
Land Airways, Scotland.

- Scotland?

Oh I can see the
potential Bulgaria.

A fuel-less,
noiseless air machine.

[jet engine roaring]

Noisy wasteful thing making
dirty marks all over the sky.

We'll show them, lead me to it.

It's a good job I did a
bit of pirating

in the Royal Womble
Flying Core aye?

I think I've still got
the hang of it.

[speaking in foreign language]

Stand by prop one.

- Prop one.

- Prop two.

- Prop two.

- Set course.

- Set course.

- Let go anchor.

- Anchor away.

- We have liftoff.

- He has liftoff.

- He has liftoff.

- Yes he has liftoff, he has.

[dramatic music]

- Farewell my bonnies.

[calm music]

[speaking in foreign language]

- Sure, honorable wife
say then car fall apart.

Then car fall apart.

How I didn't blow it for
good she'll never know.

- Extraordinary.

[speaking in foreign language]

- So honorable wife
say next morning

whole heap of junk have gone
like it was cleared by magic.

She say like we have fairies
at the bottom of our Common.

- A womble?

- Julia.

- Well it could be.

- Julia please.

- What are wombles Mrs.
Frogmorton?

- Never mind Mr.
Arnold Takahashi

- Never mind what old chap?

- Never mind what wombles are.

Don't go on about them is all.

- I am not going on about it.

Now why the hell you talking
like that all of a sudden?

You got trouble with new
teeth old chap?

- Certainly not my teeth are
almost all my own almost all.

I'm having trouble
with my wombles.

No I mean her wombles.

No I mean my child's wombles.

- Really?

- He doesn't like me to
talk about them.

- I can see that.

[speaking in foreign language]

That's what I'm trying to
ascertain Doris,

what she's chomping on about.

- I demand to be heard
in my own house.

He never listens. [babbling]

Unimaginative lump that he is.

Just because he's never seen one

he can't bear to think
that others have.

- What the poopa-cotta-pedal
are they Mrs. Frogmorton?

- Oh my dear thank
you for asking.

I've been so afraid to say.

He's such a putter
downer he's never asked.

He just gets up and
slams out of the house.

- For the last time Mrs.
Frogmorton what are they?

- Don't tell him Julia.

- I defy you, I shall speak.

[speaking in foreign language]

- Shut up Doris the woman
trying to tell us something.

Go on Mrs. Frogmorton.

- I met one.

His name's Bungo.

He's four foot tall, fat,
and furry

and he wears a little hat.

And he was very polite and
he came to tea.

Kim brought him.

And he came to tea.

He's got an uncle, or
rather a great uncle.

That's it he's got a
great uncle.

[speaking in foreign language]

Oh my dear you don't understand.

Don't you have them in Japan,
wombles?

Short, fat, and furry?

Short, fat, and furry?

They tell us to listen.

- What for?

In name of Emperor what for?

- That's just it.

I don't know.

All I see is I've made a
fool of myself as usual.

Put it down to the
port I suppose.

But they do exist,
they really do.

[door creaking]

- I say hold it down folks.

Got a hard day ahead.

Got get my sleep you know.

Incidentally Mommy when's Great
Uncle Bulgaria's birthday?

When's Great Uncle
Bulgaria's birthday?

- I don't know my darling child.

Ask Bungo when you see him.

- Okay, night all.

[speaking in foreign language]

- Okay sweetmeat now
finding oneself in eye

of western hurricane like
one hell of row you know.

Opportunity of tearing
honorable life sick to death

to point of taking up
kamikaze piloting

in weekends seriously that
you also unimaginative lump.

Why you not take
trouble to learn

blessed English all these
years same like what I have?

Translating is positive bore.

All time losing train of
thought in order to translate.

[calm music]

Oy vey.

- Oy vey?

I mean you've got to
push a Japanese fellow

pretty far for him to
come out with the Hebrew.

Good Lord Julia I don't
mind you telling me

about Wombles privately
but in public?

And to a business associate?

You know how important it
is for a man's wife to give

at any rate the appearance
of being reasonably stable.

Even if in fact she's
falling apart at the seams.

As you seem to be doing.

I do think you ought to
see Doctor Walsh.

I'm trying to understand
Julia dear really I am.

I can put up with Kim
and her invisible friends

but not you dear, not you
seeing them too.

You don't have to see
them do you?

Good heavens it's not
compulsory is it?

And as for your talking about

Great Uncle Bulgaria's birthday

well I really really do
worry for you.

[calm music]

- Goodnight Roland.

I'm sorry I spoiled
your evening.

- That's alright Julia.

Goodnight.

Incidentally.

- Yes?

When is Great Uncle
Bulgaria's birthday?

- What?

- What?

- Goal, we are the champions.

We are the champions.

Oh Mommy you're just
not trying today.

- I just not up to much
today Kim old mate.

I'm on the fragile side.

You know what with
last night and

Daddy getting in to
such a state.

His mother told me once,
Grandma you know,

he was always highly
strung as a boy.

Used to bite his nails a
lot and other nasty habits.

- Such as?

- She's never told me
the details dear

- Daddy's so complicated,
that's his trouble.

If only he'd uncomplicate
he'd be alright.

Suppose you can't really
expect a man like him

to believe in our
wombles can you?

He's so blessed practical.

- Sometimes you're a very
wise little tich Kim.

I suppose it comes down to

if you want to see good
in the world you will.

And if you don't you won't.

- Blimey that's pretty
wise too Mum.

- Don't say blimey dear
it's awfully unattractive.

- Oi, is this your ball?

- Bungo old thing.

- Hello.

- Thanks how you doing?

Look a bit miffed, quite
down in the dumps man.

What's up?

- Yes what's up?

We down in the dumps folks
have got to stick together.

- You too Mrs. Frogmorton?

- Yes me too.

Matter of fact had a
bit of an up and downer

about you and your
friends last night.

No one believes we've met,
silly isn't?

- Course it's silly.

Tell you what I just remembered.

Great Uncle Bulgaria got
me in the dumps.

Hey that's a good word that,
dumps.

He was cross 'cause I
didn't tell you

what it was you were
to listen to.

I didn't give you the
message and what else was it?

- Oh don't forget now what
on Earth is it?

- No I've remembered what
the message is

but there was something
else I forgot.

- Well let's go through
it step by step.

What's the message?

- Well it's to do with
keeping Wimbledon Common

this Common clean and
to get in touch with you

human beings so that all
the world can be kept

clean and tidy and to make
good use of bad rubbish

to stop mankind and womblekind

from disappearing in it
up to their ears.

Be quicker for us 'cause
we're smaller.

- So that's it.

Oh my dear dear Bungo
I believe in that too.

Lots of human beings do.

- Honest?

- Of course honest.

I'm Branch Secretary of the
Keep Britain Tidy Group.

There's hundreds of us.

Tell your charming
Great Uncle that

you've been in touch with
us you've made contact.

We must all meet, you and
all the wombles.

Come to our house.

- Contact?

- Yes.

[laughing]

- You mean it?

Do you really mean it?

We're saved.

He will be pleased.

- Bungo wait.

Talk about forgetting.

- What?

- We forgot to ask you
when is his birthday?

- Who's birthday?

- Great Uncle Bulgaria's.

- Oh yes, tell you
what that's it.

That's the other thing I forgot.

- Well when is it?

- [Bungo] He doesn't have one.

- Don't be a twit,
everyone has a birthday.

- Oh no not him, not since
1900 he said whatever that was.

No he doesn't have one.

He doesn't know what
day it is anyway.

- When shall we have it then?

- Any day you like.

- What about next Friday?

A meeting and a party.

- Alright see you.

- And for Heaven's sake
don't forget.

- What?

- Oh Bungo, bring him.

- And the others?

- Of course, our place Friday.

- Forgot to ask, what time?

- Oh Bungo.

♪ Happy birthday to you

♪ Happy birthday to you

♪ Happy birthday
Uncle Bulgaria ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you

- Oh Kim I dow wish Daddy
could see this.

It would do him the
world of good.

I'm really worried
about him darling.

- Well he's not the man
he was, that's for sure.

[calm music]

- [All] Speech, speech, speech.

- My dear friends I
won't make a long speech.

I'm getting on a bit.

But what a day for us all.

Not only a surprise
birthday but long last

the human beings, these
charming human beings

are recognizing our existence.

[all cheering at once]

[calm music]

- Just the rest of
pulling myself together.

I must not crack.

There are no such
things as wombles.

What were those things I saw?

No no I didn't see them,
steady Roland.

You did not see them.

I'd did not see them.

- Not me mate I didn't
see them either.

- I remain yours very sincerely,
Bulgaria Coburg Womble.

[all cheering at once]

- So beastly for Julia to
go there, really beastly.

But I'm overworked.

Yes sir that's it,
I'm overworked.

- Oh thought so.

[horn honks]

[all cheering at once]

- Yet they speak and
I hear them.

No I don't, I don't.

Roland you're a nincompoop.

You don't hear them.

[voices chattering in
the distance]

One day I shall buy
you I swear it.

[all talking at once]

Julia.

Hello.

Home.

[balloon pops]

Guests?

Sounds like a party.

That's nice.

That's very nice.

I don't remember Julia
saying anything about

[overlapping voices]

Party?

- Yes darling a party.

And this is Great
Uncle Bulgaria.

It's his party remember?

Say you see him Roland.

Say you see the others too
my poor addle headed darling.

Well?

- Say you do Daddy, try hard.

- I do, I do.

I really do.

[all talking at once]

You really are real aren't you?

Yes you really are here.

I know you of course don't I?

You must be--

- Bulgaria Coburg Womble sir.

Mr. Frogmorton I presume.

- Frogmorton indeed
and I do trust

that this really is
your birthday.

[heavy breathing]

♪ Standing on your tiptoes
running on the spot ♪

♪ Exercise is good for
you laziness is not ♪

♪ Running in the morning
good for the thighs ♪

♪ Running in the evening
good for the eyes ♪

♪ Physical exertion
makes you strong ♪

♪ Keeps you alert and slim

♪ Just keep skipping
and you can't go wrong ♪

♪ You'll be sound in
mind and limb ♪

[upbeat music]

♪ Poetry in motion
legs in line ♪

♪ Stepping and stepping
down four four time ♪

♪ Standing on your tiptoes
running on the spot ♪

♪ Exercise is good for
you laziness is not ♪

♪ Standing on your tiptoes
running on the spot ♪

♪ Exercise is good for
you laziness is not ♪

♪ Standing on your tiptoes
running on the spot ♪

♪ Exercise is good for
you laziness is not ♪

- There will always be an
England, a clean and tidy
England.

So let us brace
ourselves to the task.

Behind me in these two dust
carts you see an example

of the rubbish collected
in just one week

from the inhabitants of
Wimbledon Common, one week only.

Ones mind boggles when one
considers the amount of

call it what you will
that is discarded

not only by us but by the world.

The wombles my friends
have taken on

the arduous task of
keeping not only this Isle,

this sceptered Isle set in
a silver sea, this England.

Some of us know our Shakespeare.

Yeah well the wombles
have taken on the task

not only of keeping England
bright and beautiful

but so to have their
brothers and sisters in arms

in each and every country
throughout the world.

[light hearted applauding]

Join me my friends.

They are so few we
and are so many.

Accept them, embrace them, and
listen to their clarion call.

There they are, that
happy breed.

Recognize them and I
repeat join with me.

My friends keep Britain tidy.

[wombles cheering]

- What's he on about?

Ain't nothing I do recognize.

- I heard that sir, you cynic.

Don't you see that's
just the point?

They are there but you don't
want to acknowledge them.

You don't want to
hear the message.

[thunder rolling]

- That's Daddy, he's
gone too far.

- Don't be silly dear.

[thunder rolling]

[speaking in foreign language]

- Course he's not God Doris.

[speaking in foreign language]

Sure I'm sure, shut up Doris.

[thunder rolling]
[wind blowing]

[speaking in foreign language]

- [Woman] Get out of the rain.

- Yes well now I think
that'll do for today.

[thunder rolling]

[speaking in foreign language]

[thunder rolling]
[wind blowing]

[rain falling]

[birds singing]

- [Kim] Bungo old thing,
need any help?

- Tell you what, yes please.

♪ Underground overground
wombling free ♪

♪ The Wombles of Wimbledon
Common are we ♪

♪ Making good use of the
things that we find ♪

♪ Things that the everyday
folk leave behind ♪

♪ Uncle Bulgaria he
can remember the days ♪

♪ When he wasn't
behind the times ♪

♪ With his map of the world

♪ Pick up the papers and
take them to Tobermory ♪

♪ Underground overground
wombling free ♪

♪ The Wombles of Wimbledon
Common are we ♪

♪ Making good use of the
things that we find ♪

♪ Things that the everyday
folk leave behind ♪

♪ We're so incredibly
utterly devious ♪

♪ Making the most of
everything ♪

♪ Even bottles and tins

♪ Pick up the pieces and make
them into something new ♪

♪ Is what we do

♪ Wombles are organized
wombles a team ♪

♪ Wombles are tidy and
wombles are clean ♪

♪ Underground overground
wombling free ♪

♪ The Wombles of Wimbledon
Common are we ♪

[upbeat music]

♪ People don't notice us
they never see ♪

♪ Under their noses a
womble may be ♪

♪ Underground overground
wombling free ♪

♪ The Wombles of Wimbledon
Common are we ♪

♪ Uncle Bulgaria he
can remember the days ♪

♪ When he wasn't
behind the times ♪

♪ With his map of the world

♪ Pick up the papers and
take them to Tobermory ♪

♪ Underground overground

♪ Underground overground

♪ Underground overground

[dramatic music]