The Enid Blyton Adventure Series (1996–…): Season 1, Episode 19 - River of Adventure - full transcript
The family are going on a river boating holiday in Turkey. Bill gets a phone call from Sir George. They have to meet. The family suspect their holiday will be canceled. Sir George asks Bill to gather information on a small time blundering criminal called Uma, while he is on holiday. Bill is amused. There is however the vaguest link between Uma and a stolen quantity of the deadly chemical Zero One. Bill agrees to help. Uma has in fact procured the Zero One together with his henchman Taj. He contacts a big time villain, Rabos. They arrange to meet, coincidentally at the same hotel the family has chosen. The kids, Allie and Bill, arrive at the hotel in Turkey. They meet a boy called Ooal, the badly treated assistant of a snake charmer. Oola's pet spider escapes from its pouch. Bill swiftly reacts and catches it. Rabos, who has arrived at the hotel, witnesses the scene. He suspects Bill is an agent. He phones Uma. Who is this man? Later that evening the kids see Oola being harangued by the snake charmer and go to his aid. Oola is grateful. The next day sees the family on their river boat enjoying the unfamiliar scenery. Bill is contacted by Sir George. Get to our local office. He thinks Rabos is involved in the theft of Zero One. When the family stop to let Bill off that the next landing stage, the kids decide to have a look at the café there. They meet Taj who asks a lot of questions, but with their innate good sense, the kids reveal nothing. Taj notices Jack's PC. That night as they sleep, someone creeps on board, startling everyone. It's Oola. He has run away from the snake charmer and is heading home to his village. The kids invite him to stay and Allie agrees. Oola gives Philip his spider. It is not a Whie Back. Oola shows the kids that it is just a touch of white powder - the spider is harmless. Philip accepts. Bill returns. The holiday will have to end. The kids persuade Bill to stay another day so they can explore the sights along the river, the Temple of Dreams and the Temple of Death. A guide appears from nowhere, he will sow them the sights. The kids set off with him leaving Oola behind with Allie and Bill. The site it ruined. It's a disappointment. The guide suddenly abandons them. Dinah is cared by a genuine White back and Jack finds his PC missing. Dinah's scream alerts Bill who finds them and leads them back to the boat. They set sail again and meet Uma whose boat engine has broken down. Bill, recognizing him, agrees to repair it, hoping to find out more information. When Uma asks Bill and Allie to join him for a drink at his holiday camper van, they agree and leave the children playing Scrabble together. Uma drugs Bill, and a couple of thugs overcome Allie and tie her up. When the kids leave the boat to find out what has happened to Bill and Allie, Uma commandeers their boat and together with Taj and the thugs, take Bill and Allie with them. The kids are abandoned. They decide to take Uma's decrepit boat and follow. Next day after an uncomfortable night, Lucy-Ann finds a map with a cross on it and a plan of the Temple of Death. Oola won't go with them. He is frightened of the place and set off home. The kids continue but the engine blows up and the boat sinks. They carry on on foot and follow Kiki into a cave. After a short while they realize they are in the Temple of Death. In the meantime Uma has contacted Rabos and arranged to meet him to assess the "goods"! The children find the inner tomb of the Temple and discover the Zero One. They do not know it's deadly. When Uma arrives, he is flabbergasted to find the Zero One missing and sends his men after the children. Rabos leaves in a fury, despite Uma's protestations that he will find the Zero One. The children are caught. Philip shows Uma where he's hidden the Zero One. When Uma reaches for it he discovers Philip's spider. Believing it to be a White Black and believing himself to be bitten Uma is convinced he is going to die. He flees to his jeep. It won't start. He urges his men to carry him to the nearest hospital. The kids retrieve the Zero One and set off to free Allison and Bill. Oola reappears with the rotor arm of the jeep and hands it over. They all jump into the vehicle and head off after Uma. They find him alone, sniveling and pleading to be taken to a hospital. They give him a lift but drive him to a police station instead. Bill tells the police where they can find Rabos and the villains are arrested. Back at Craggy Tops a letter awaits Allie. Her application to adopt Jack and Lucy-Ann has been successful. The children are jubilant.
(upbeat music)
♪ Whatever the danger ♪
♪ You gotta be strong ♪
♪ So trust in your heart ♪
♪ You can't go wrong ♪
♪ Be true ♪
♪ I'll always stand by you ♪
- Yes.
Yes.
- [Kiki] Bye bye, bye bye.
- We're not going, we're coming.
- No, Kiki's right, we're going.
Going on holiday.
- So, do we take a boat and travel
the whole length of the river?
- [Everyone] Yes!
- I think that's unanimous.
- Kiki come too.
- Okay, I'll fix it up.
- [Jack] I like river
holidays best of all.
- I like mountains best.
- I like anywhere where they don't
have any big insects.
- Well I like anywhere away
from cars and noisy cities.
- Well, this is the very place.
No cities, no cars, and no telephones.
(ringing)
(groaning)
- Shouldn't have said that, Dad.
- I bet it's the office.
- I'll get it.
Perhaps it's not for you.
- It will be, they always ring when
we're going on holiday.
- [Lucy-Ann] Perhaps
it's about our adoption.
- Craggy Tops.
Yes, he's here.
Guess who?
- I'll take it through here.
- Is it his office?
- Of course.
- I bet Uncle Bill has to go away.
And we can't go on holiday.
- Don't be such a pessimist, Jack.
- It's always happening, Mom.
He even had to go away
on your wedding day.
- Oh, don't remind me.
What an adventure that turned out to be.
- I thought it might
be the adoption agency,
calling to say it's okay.
- When will he hear?
- Should be any day now.
- It's taken ages.
- Well, they have to check that we're
a safe and normal family
for Jack and Lucy-Ann
to come into, Philip.
- Well, they'd better not see Kiki.
(squawking)
(laughing)
- I am supposed to be
on holiday, Sir George.
- Oh, that's quite all right, Cunningham.
It won't interfere with that.
- So what's it about?
- Well, I'd rather not
speak over the phone.
So why don't you come up and see me
and we'll have a chat, man to man.
- Sounds serious.
- No no, but we must talk.
- [Bill] All right, when?
- Well, better be today
if you're off on holiday.
- Today?
- Good man, 5:30 all right?
- I suppose it'll have to be.
Splendid, knew I could
count on you, Cunningham.
Until later then.
- [Bill] All right, bye.
(laughs)
- Uncle Bill was right.
There are no channels or anything
all the length of the river.
- Well, there used to be ages ago.
There's supposed to be old ruins.
- We don't have to go all that way
to see those old ruins.
Just have to look at you.
- Don't start, you two.
Well, bad news?
- I don't know really.
Sir George wants a word.
I've got to go and see him.
- Oh no.
- There goes our holiday.
- No, he assured me it
wouldn't affect a holiday.
- Where have I heard that before?
- Oh no, oh no.
- You're right, Kiki.
Oh no.
(eerie music)
- [Ray] Don't touch it.
- But I--
- I want to look at it
while I eat.
- It gives me the creeps.
- No no, my friend, it
should fill you with joy.
This is our future.
Oh, my little beauty.
So innocent looking.
And yet, so deadly.
- I can't wait to get
rid of it, if we can.
- Oh, we can, we can.
There are people who'd
pay the earth for this,
make no mistake.
- Yes, mad men.
- Men with a mission, my skeptical friend.
Men with plans to change the world.
- Or destroy it.
- Well, as long as they
leave a bit of paradise
for Ray Uma and his friends,
who are we to judge?
(laughs)
- I wonder what Sir George
wants with Uncle Bill.
- Seems to be on dangerous missions.
- Like Uncle Bill.
- Well, I don't think it's fair.
- Somebody's gotta do it, Dinah.
There are a lot of bad people about.
- No, I mean ruining our holiday.
- Well we don't know it will yet.
- I bet it does though.
I wish Bill could do something else.
- Like what?
- I don't know, something
not so dangerous.
- Well, I like having a
secret agent for a dad.
- He's not your dad yet.
- Well, he will be.
- We hope.
- Me too.
- Yes, and yours too, Kiki.
(laughing)
- Well, before you fly off the handle,
it shouldn't affect your holiday at all.
- No?
- No, it's just a matter of keeping
your eyes and ears open.
- For what?
- A Ray Uma.
- You can't be serious, Sir George.
I didn't come all this
way to discuss Ray Uma.
He's a joke.
- Ordinarily, I wouldn't ask a man
of your experience to
waste a minute on the man.
- So, what's changed?
- Well, maybe nothing.
That's the point, we don't know.
But it just so happens he's holed up
along the river that you
have your holiday on.
- Just my luck.
So I have to change my holiday.
- Oh no, no need for that.
- Then what is it?
- Well, we've heard a rumor
that he's planning something big.
- With respect, sir, Ray
Uma couldn't organize
a kid's birthday party.
- Oh I know, I know.
It's probably all nonsense.
- Oh, I see.
You can't spare anyone to check it out
and since I'm in the area--
- Absolutely.
Knew you'd understand.
Nothing to it, really.
Just phone in if you happen
to hear anything, that's all.
- And there I was,
looking forward to a few
days away from the telephone.
- I knew I could rely on you.
I'm sure it won't be a problem.
Like you say, that man Uma is a fool.
(eerie music)
- Hello, Mr. Rabos.
Yes, it's Ray Uma.
Ray Uma.
We spoke last week on the telephone.
Yes, you were saying you're on the lookout
for something extra special.
Well, I don't want to boast but
I've got something very big for you.
Well, I don't want to say
too much on the phone but
I'm sure it's what you're looking for.
Oh yes, it's the real thing, all right.
Believe me, I promise.
Well, why don't you come
and check it for yourself?
Book into the Hotel Shiraz.
I'll contact you there.
You won't regret it, sir.
(laughs)
Forget the coffee, Taj.
Get the champagne.
We've got something to celebrate.
- I don't like it.
- Champagne, everybody likes champagne.
- No, I don't like doing
business with that man.
- Rabos, why not?
- He's a bad man, he's evil.
- Of course he's evil, you fool.
That's why I called him.
Only somebody evil would want to buy this.
- He's too dangerous, Mr. Uma.
How can you trust him?
- Because I have what he wants.
Zero One.
The deadliest liquid known to mankind.
And I have it.
Me, Ray Uma.
Let them laugh at me now.
- [Allison] Who is this Ray Uma?
- Oh, he's a nobody.
- Sir George wouldn't ask you
to keep watch on a nobody.
- [Bill] I'm not keeping watch, Ally.
It's just if I hear anything, that's all.
- Can we help?
- Oh no, no more of your adventures,
thank you very much.
- I like adventures.
- I know, Jack, but what
will the adoption people say
if I let you chase around
after petty criminals?
Hey, we're going on a nice
peaceful river holiday.
We're going to get away from it all.
- How long are we
staying at the hotel for?
- [Bill] Overnight, we
take the boat next day.
- [Lucy-Ann] Is it a nice hotel?
- Very nice, the Hotel Shiraz.
- Hurry up, we've got a plane to catch.
- Wait for me.
(soft music)
- [Allison] Found anything interesting?
- Yes, there's lots of trips to temples
and things going back before the Bible.
- I'm afraid we won't be
able to go on any trips.
We're leaving tomorrow.
- Mom, there's a cabaret on tonight.
Can we go?
- No, you need an early night.
- Oh but Mom, there's a snake charmer on.
- And jugglers.
- Please, I've always wanted
to see a snake charmer.
- No Mom, he'll be
wanting to do it himself.
- Shut up, Di.
Please, Mom?
- I really want to see
the jugglers, Aunt Ally.
- And there's a belly dancer on too.
- Really?
- That settles it, nobody's going.
- Roll up, roll up.
Tonight, see the deadly cobra tame.
- [Woman] Hey come on, let's go and see
the snake over there.
(screams)
- The deadly cobra.
- Is there really a snake in there?
- Yes.
- Mom, let's go.
- [Philip] They're beautiful.
- They're not, they're hideous.
- [Lucy-Ann] Is it poisonous?
- [Philip] Yes, but it's probably had
its poison sack taken out.
- [Dinah] I hope so.
- That's horrible.
They don't live long afterwards.
- [Lucy-Ann] Poor thing.
(screaming)
- Thank you, thank you.
(speaking in foreign language)
- That poor boy.
- We didn't see the snake.
- [Bill] I'm sure there are
plenty of snakes around.
- Don't say that.
I wish we hadn't come.
- Oh come on, Dinah.
There won't be any snakes on the river.
- Can we go and explore before dinner?
- [Allison] Yes, but
don't get into mischief.
- There's a man here.
Staying at the hotel.
I have a bad feeling about him.
- Do you know him?
- No, but I feel I've
seen him somewhere before.
He's English and he reacts
like a man trained for action.
- What do you want to do?
- Nothing.
I will do nothing, my friend,
until you find out who he is
and what he is doing here.
- Why can't you find out?
- Because I may be walking into a trap.
And unless my safety
is completely assured,
the deal is off.
- You can't do that.
- I can and I will.
- All right.
I'll find out who he is.
I'll deal with it.
- [Rabos] Keep me informed.
- [Taj] A problem?
- Maybe not.
I think we're going to have to
hide this until Rabos comes.
- [Taj] What, here?
- No, you fool, somewhere safe.
The temple.
Get me that old map.
- I can't remember where you put it.
- Well, find it.
We must find it.
We mustn't get lost
down there, it's a maze.
No one is going to find you, my treasure.
(laughs)
No one.
- Did you see Uncle Bill with that spider?
He was fabulous.
- I wish I'd had a bit of chance
to take a look at them.
It looked fascinating.
- You don't think they have them
that big here, do you?
- [Jack] Of course.
- Yeah, their favorite
spots are in the hotel, Di.
- Oh Philip, look.
(speaking in foreign language)
- That poor boy.
(speaking in foreign language)
(eerie music)
- Come on, we've got to help him.
Hey, stop.
Leave him alone.
- Stop, you big bully.
All right.
- Leave it to me, Di.
(speaking in foreign language)
- Stop.
- Run, run.
(speaking in foreign language)
- Well done, Philip.
- Yes, you were very brave.
- [Jack] Good job he didn't
set his snake on you.
- It's a pity.
I like snakes.
- You are weird.
- Houghton, yes.
Zero One?
What on earth were they doing making that?
It's what?
What do you mean, missing?
Good grief, man, do you
know what that stuff can do?
One drop in the water supply
could wipe out half of London.
Even breathing the fumes
means instant death.
Yes.
Now we've got to find it.
And fast.
(eerie music)
- Let's go.
(eerie music)
- They've hired a boat.
Seems like they want a family holiday.
- I don't want to take any chances.
So find out who he is,
what he's really doing here,
or the deal is off.
- And if he is a British agent?
- Then he must be eliminated.
- [Jack] There's lots of birds over there
for you to make friends with, Kiki.
- And I bet there are
thousands of white backs too.
- What are white backs?
- You know that spider you caught
last night in the cabaret?
I asked the waiter about it this morning.
I can't pronounce the real name,
but it means white back.
- [Jack] Is it poisonous?
- Yeah, one bite and you're gone.
- There is an antidote
though, isn't there?
- Why, did it bite you, Uncle Bill?
- Yeah, there is one.
But you have to take it
within a few minutes.
Otherwise--
- Philip, will you shut up about spiders?
- Drinks up.
- Oh, great.
Happy, Mrs. Cunningham?
- Hmm, bliss.
- What's that?
- Oh no, I don't believe it.
- It's my phone.
- That blessed phone.
- It's got to be the office.
- I hope we don't have
to cancel our holiday.
- Oh no, there are lots of temples
along the river that I want to see.
- Or what, you go through all those trees
with white backs in them,
ready to drop on you?
(squawking)
Ow!
- Don't start, the pair of you.
We're supposed to be on holiday.
- No, Sir George, I haven't
set eyes on Ray Uma.
I said I'd call you if I
had anything to report.
- Yes, well it's just that there's
been a new development.
Oh, maybe nothing at all, Cunningham.
- Why does my heart sink
when I hear you say that?
- There'll be a taxi waiting for you
at the next landing stage
to take you to our local office.
I'll call you there on a secure line.
- You did say this was just
a watching brief, Sir George.
- Well it may be nothing
at all, Cunningham.
Nothing at all.
- Well?
- I'm afraid we've got to stop off
at the next landing station.
- Oh no.
- Don't worry, I've just got
to drop into a local office,
so they can fill me in on a few details.
It's not going to ruin the holiday.
- Oh Bill, why don't I believe you?
- Silly Billy, silly Billy.
- Kiki, ssh.
(soft music)
- [Lucy-Ann] Don't be
too long, Uncle Bill.
- See you later.
- Bye bye.
- Bye, be back soon.
(chickens clucking)
- Don't be long, I'll be on the boat.
(chickens clucking)
- Hello.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Are you English?
- [Dinah] Yes.
- How much is this?
- For you, 5000.
- How much is that?
- 70 p.
- I'll take it.
- Calculator's very good.
- Not a calculator, it's a computer.
- No, so small.
- [Jack] Yes.
- What can it do?
- Heaps of things.
It can store addresses, it's a diary,
plays games, encyclopedia.
- Wonderful.
You are thirsty, yes?
You like to try our favorite drink?
- What is it?
- Fruit mix, very good for thirst.
- How much?
- No no, a present.
- Oh, yes please.
- You wait here, please.
You like?
- [Dinah] This is really good.
- You like my country?
- We haven't seen much of it yet.
- [Taj] Where are you going?
- Oh, along the river.
- [Dinah] We want to see the temples.
- And the wildlife.
- And the birds.
- Ah, and your parents?
What are they like?
- They're not my parents or Jack's
until we get adopted.
- Adopted?
Oh yes, I know that.
Then you change your name, no?
- [Lucy-Ann] Yeah.
- [Taj] What will you be called?
- We'll be called,
ow.
- Ow?
- Howe, she means Howe.
H-O-W-E.
- Ah, good, Howe.
That's your father's name?
- Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Howe.
- I see.
- I'm Dinah Howe.
- And I'll be Lucy-Ann Howe.
- Ah good, and your father.
He has a job in England.
- [Jack] Yes, he's a pop star.
- [Taj] Pop star, no.
- He's a rock guitarist.
- And a singer.
- You must've heard of him.
Bill Howe.
- He plays with the Kiki's.
- Kiki, that's the name of your bird.
- Yes, she was named after Bill's band.
- [Kiki] Hello Kiki, hello Kiki.
- Fools.
How long does it take?
I've been waiting all morning.
- Everything's under control.
I assure you, Mr. Rabos.
I'm just waiting for
my man to come back now
with the information.
- You mess this up, Uma, and you will pay.
And I don't mean with money.
- Oh but, Mr. Rabos, I--
(beeping)
(laughing)
- A guitarist in the Kiki's.
- [Kiki] Hello Kiki, hello Kiki.
- What on earth is going on?
(laughing)
- So what's the big mystery, Sir George?
Why couldn't you brief
me last time we spoke?
- I am faxing you a
file I want you to see.
- I don't need to reread
the file on Uma, Sir George.
He's a joke.
- It's not Uma.
It's about Rabos.
- Rabos?
What's he got to do with this?
- Well it's rumored that he
could be headed your way.
- How do we know?
We don't even know what he looks like.
It's hard to believe a major criminal
can cause so much havoc all over the world
and we haven't even managed
to get a photograph of him.
- Our information is
from a reliable source.
In fact, Rabos could be
in your area as we speak.
- Do we know what he's up to?
- No.
Not exactly.
- There's something else, isn't there?
Something you don't want to tell me.
- Two days ago, a bottle
of Zero One was stolen.
- Zero One.
Where from?
- One of our friendly
Middle East partners.
- They're not even allowed to make it.
It's against all the treaties.
Don't they know how deadly it is?
- I'm afraid the thing is,
we think it might be headed your way.
- My god, Rabos with Zero One.
That's an unthinkable combination.
- Now you see why I had to drag you in.
No alternative.
Lucky you're there, Cunningham.
- Luck, is that what you call?
(laughing)
- Bill, a rockstar?
You are naughty.
- Jack started it.
- I didn't trust him.
He was too nosy.
- Do you think he really
could be a spy or something?
- He wanted to know a lot about Bill.
- Oh dear.
- We didn't tell him anything, Aunt Ally.
- But I still think I
should let Bill know.
- Bill Howe, a rockstar.
- That's what they said, with
a band called the Kiki's.
- And you believed them?
- Well, I thought they might be joking.
- Well, why didn't you worm it out of them
if you knew they were fooling you?
- They were getting suspicious.
I didn't want to push my luck.
- Push your luck, push your luck?
You'll be pushing up daisies
if we don't get that information to Rabos.
You should've heard him on the phone.
- Why don't we just run away
and leave it all, Mr. Uma?
It is too dangerous.
- Because he knows who I am, that's why.
And what do you suppose he will do
if he doesn't get what he came for?
- He has got nothing against me, has he?
- Only that you have
seen his face, my friend.
- I wouldn't tell anybody.
- Oh, and you want to tell that to Rabos.
That no matter what the
authorities do to you,
you will never describe his face?
No, my friend.
If we don't keep our side of the bargain,
we are dead men.
We must find out who
this Bill Howe really is.
- There may be another way.
The young boy, he has a pocket computer.
With addresses, he said.
- Oh.
(laughs)
We get the computer and then we find it.
(laughing)
- [Philip] Coming for a walk?
(ringing)
- Hello?
- Bill?
- Ally, are you all right?
- Well, maybe it's nothing,
but there was a man at the cafe here
asking the kids a lot of questions.
- What about?
- Where we were going,
what our names were.
- Perhaps he was just feeling friendly.
- Well perhaps but--
- What did he look like?
- Just like a local.
Nothing special, apparently.
- [Bill] And is he gone now?
- Yeah.
- You're all right?
- Yes, I'm fine.
- Well, I'll get back
as soon as I can, Ally.
But I've got to wait for
something from London.
If I'm late back, don't wait up, okay?
- Okay, just thought
I should let you know.
- Thanks.
But do relax.
You are on holiday, remember?
- Well you remember that too.
- I will.
See you later.
(eerie music)
Oh thanks, I need that.
It's going to be a long night.
So Mr. Rabos, where are you?
And what are you up to?
(eerie music)
(squawks)
(screams)
(upbeat music)
♪ Wherever we go ♪
♪ Only the brave will follow ♪
♪ Together we stand ♪
♪ That's what friends are for ♪
♪ Forever we try ♪
♪ We know the things that we face ♪
♪ Whatever the price ♪
♪ And when the night falls ♪
♪ Don't be afraid, ooh yeah ♪
♪ But we'll spend forever this way ♪
♪ Whatever the danger ♪
♪ You gotta be strong ♪
♪ So trust in your heart ♪
♪ You can't go wrong ♪
♪ Be true ♪
♪ I'll always stand by you ♪
♪ I will always ♪
♪ Stand by you ♪
♪ I'll always be true ♪
♪ And I'll always stand by you ♪
- [Kiki] See you next week.
(soft jingle)