- 4 weeks ago
Ep 8: The Heartless Giant. On the whole, giants are benign creatures, harmless to none, unless of course the giant hasn't a heart. A curious prince is fooled into freeing one such heartless giant from the king's dungeon., who escapes. When his brothers go after him, only never to return, Prince Leo decides he must makes amends and find out the giant himself. But he learns that to defeat the giant he must first fins his heart, which proves trickier than he thinks...
Starring John Hurt as the Storyteller, this tale features Elliott Spears, Frederick Warder, Gemma Jones, Nicholas Selby, Richard Lintern, Simon Adams, John Atkinson, David Greenaway, Robert Tygner, Mak Wilson and Brian Henson voicing the Storyteller's dog. Viewers may be fooled into thinking this is a telling of The Selfish Giant, that beloved fairy tale from 1888, but this is a darker and far different story where being trusting and compassionate can sometimes be the act of folly. There is also a sad twist concerning this episode regarding the child star Elliott Spiers. First finding fame on the kids TV series Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest (1986-87) he later gained notice in the film Paperhouse in 1988. But tragically in 1994 he suffered a severe allergic reaction to a anti malaria medication and he died aged just 20 years old.
Starring John Hurt as the Storyteller, this tale features Elliott Spears, Frederick Warder, Gemma Jones, Nicholas Selby, Richard Lintern, Simon Adams, John Atkinson, David Greenaway, Robert Tygner, Mak Wilson and Brian Henson voicing the Storyteller's dog. Viewers may be fooled into thinking this is a telling of The Selfish Giant, that beloved fairy tale from 1888, but this is a darker and far different story where being trusting and compassionate can sometimes be the act of folly. There is also a sad twist concerning this episode regarding the child star Elliott Spiers. First finding fame on the kids TV series Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest (1986-87) he later gained notice in the film Paperhouse in 1988. But tragically in 1994 he suffered a severe allergic reaction to a anti malaria medication and he died aged just 20 years old.
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TVTranscript
00:00When people told themselves their past with stories, explained their present with stories,
00:16foretold the future with stories, the best place by the fire was kept for the storyteller.
00:30On the whole, there's absolutely no need to be frightened of giants.
00:45Giants are gentle, perfectly harmless, very affectionate.
00:51Unless, of course, the giant has no heart in its body.
01:00Think of all kinds of unpleasant things and add giant to them.
01:12And that's what you get when a giant has no heart.
01:16Such a giant once terrorized a country in the far north of the world, near the very top.
01:21He'd hidden his heart. It gave him too much trouble, all those giant feelings.
01:27In its face was a wasp's nest about to swarm.
01:32This giant could crack a skull with his fist like a walnut, and frequently did.
01:37Until at last, the old king of that country, as good as the giant was bad,
01:43trapped him in a giant trap, and locked him in a giant cell.
01:49Good. Very good.
01:52And there he stayed for many a year, and all would have been well but for a small problem.
01:58A small problem called Leo, youngest of the king's three sons.
02:05He is so curious.
02:07Now there's a dark place he's forbidden to visit.
02:16His brothers tell him a giant lives there with no heart.
02:20But he doesn't believe it.
02:22I don't believe it!
02:25Hello?
02:27Hello down there!
02:34Who's that?
02:35Are you a giant?
02:42Rattle once if you're a giant, and twice if you're not.
02:48Do you have a heart then? Once for yes and twice for no.
02:55A giant with no heart in his body.
02:57The little prince runs off, his imagination ablaze is so excited.
03:06There's a giant with no heart living in the castle.
03:09Next morning he's up at the crack, and running past his mother.
03:13Leo, where are you off to?
03:15Nowhere.
03:16Can you hear me?
03:25Yes.
03:27Why are you down there?
03:28Because, long ago, I did some bad things.
03:35This is my punishment.
03:39Oh.
03:40I've been here for years and years, unless I'm let out soon, I will surely die.
03:49Oh, don't worry. I'll go and tell my father.
03:51No.
03:52Don't tell anybody.
03:54Please.
03:55Would you like to be my friend?
03:59Yes, please.
04:03Good.
04:06Good.
04:10He's bad, that giant.
04:12Oh, yes.
04:13Day after day, the little prince comes visiting.
04:16He wants to tell the whole world about his friend.
04:19But he can't.
04:21So he mustn't.
04:23So he won't.
04:23And in the dark, dank black of the dungeon, the heartless giant plots and plans.
04:33The keys to my locks.
04:35Do you know where they're kept?
04:38I don't know.
04:40Long ago, a guard said the king kept the keys to buy his bed.
04:47Oh, those keys.
04:49They're huge.
04:50They're massive.
04:50I thought they must be for the crown jewels.
04:53Oh, no.
04:55They're for me.
04:56They're for my misery.
05:01Do you know something?
05:02I think if I got those old keys and let you out, nobody would even realize.
05:07No.
05:09That's not right.
05:11This is my punishment.
05:13I deserve it.
05:16It's not fair that you're chained down there.
05:19I bet that chain hurts your legs.
05:21Only sometimes.
05:23Only sometimes.
05:26I don't care what you say.
05:28Then you'll go and get those keys.
05:31And so, that very night, Leo crept into the room where the king and queen were sleeping.
05:38It's me.
05:40I've got the keys.
05:57Who goes there?
05:59Hurry.
06:00Hurry.
06:01It's me.
06:01It can't be.
06:03Push them.
06:04I'm trying.
06:05Don't forget to let me have them back.
06:14What's happening?
06:15What's happening?
06:15Don't forget to let me have them wet.
06:24Please.
06:25Hurry.
06:27Shut up.
06:32daddy.
06:33Daddy.
06:34Oh, baby.
06:36Help.
06:37After
06:45What's happened? I was attacked.
06:51The giant, my lord, needs to escape.
06:54Carter, what's happening?
06:55The giant has escaped.
06:59Here, go back to your room. It's not safe.
07:01How could he escape after all this time?
07:04He has the keys, my lord.
07:06Then someone helped him.
07:08Someone betrayed us.
07:11A madman.
07:12Only a madman will help a giant with no heart.
07:15It's starting again.
07:20Leo, I said get that to your room.
07:28Poor boy.
07:29That's right.
07:31Someone betrayed us.
07:32Only a madman would help a giant with no heart.
07:36The boy's face swam with tears.
07:39So let down, he felt.
07:42So stupid.
07:43And from that moment, the boy in him, the innocent heart, the joy in him, they were gone.
07:53Like his friend.
07:55And they would never return.
07:57Brother, where are you going?
08:04Going to get back to the giant.
08:06Now wish me luck and get back to bed.
08:08Good luck.
08:11I'm sorry.
08:14But his brother didn't hear.
08:16He'd gone to find the giant.
08:17And he didn't come back.
08:24Brother.
08:24Brother.
08:26Where are you going?
08:27To find our brother and to kill the giant.
08:30But he'll trick you.
08:32Wish me luck.
08:35Terrible our boy felt as his brother rode off.
08:39Terrible.
08:39And this brother didn't come back either.
08:45Mother.
08:48Your father says he intends to go off to fight the giant.
08:52He can't.
08:53He mustn't.
08:54I've lost two sons already.
08:56He's too old.
08:57He's too ill.
08:59Don't cry.
09:01Leo, promise me.
09:02Promise me you won't ever go.
09:04But he can't promise.
09:07How can he?
09:08Were it not for him, the heartless giant would still be chained and locked and safe in the dungeon.
09:15No, he did the damage.
09:17He must repair it.
09:19So off madness.
09:21Off folly.
09:22Off for goodness sake to find the giant and put an end to his cruelty.
09:28And so the young prince Leo rides the land in search of his once friend, the heartless giant.
09:37Three winters come and go, their bitter shiver.
09:42Until one day he comes to a place and knows he's in the giant's cruel footsteps.
09:48Help me, cries a trampled bird.
09:51The giant broke me and now I cannot fly, cannot eat.
09:55Help me.
09:55And Leo tended the bird, fixed its wing, fed it bread, soaked in milk, and soon all was well with it.
10:04Thank you, cried the bird.
10:06If you need me, I shan't forget.
10:10Not long after, he stops at a stream and he hears a flapping, hears a thrashing, hears a slapping.
10:19Help me, cries the choking fish.
10:22Help me back into the water.
10:24I'm stuck here, I'm stranded, I'm beached up and landed.
10:28Now Leo's famished and he loves a fish.
10:32But he's suffered sufficient, this fellow.
10:35Back he goes to where the salmon is king.
10:37Thank you, cries the fish.
10:42I'd have scoffed him.
10:44If he was so hungry, I like fish.
10:48Would you?
10:49Well, listen.
10:51He goes on a little further and now his horse gives up the ghost.
10:56His old horse, who's carried the prince a thousand miles and more, sinks slowly to his knees and rolls over on his side and dies.
11:06So, did the prince eat his horse?
11:10No, he didn't.
11:12He couldn't.
11:14He lay down beside it, famished and forlorn.
11:18He shuts his eyes, squeezing back tears, drifting into dreams.
11:24Ah, it's his mother nursing him, licking up his wet cheeks, hugging him.
11:32Don't move.
11:37Terrible teeth glistening.
11:41I've not eaten since the winter came.
11:45Help me.
11:46Let me eat your horse.
11:47I'll eat it and be strong again.
11:50Trust me.
11:51But how can Leo trust anyone?
11:53He's trusted before and been betrayed.
11:56That's right, that's right.
11:57Let the wolf starve.
11:59Please.
12:00Please.
12:01Please, for I must surely die.
12:04No, don't do it.
12:07Eat your fill.
12:09And if you must, then afterwards, eat me.
12:14And the wolf eats the horse and sucks the bones until there's not a scrap left save the reins.
12:22Master, come here.
12:24Oh, no.
12:26Am I to go now?
12:28Yes, us both.
12:29I'll help you.
12:31On my back, sir.
12:34Let's leave this place.
12:36And he does.
12:37And they do.
12:38And they go a grey dash.
12:41A day and a night and a morning.
12:44Until they come at last to a garden full with statues.
12:50Stone men.
12:52Stone women.
12:54Stone soldiers.
12:55This is my brother.
12:56This is my brother.
12:58This is the giant's work.
13:02There is his house.
13:04All who approach, he turns to stone.
13:08Oh, no.
13:09Look.
13:09You too.
13:11It's so cold.
13:12The giant was my friend, he really was
13:17He's no one's friend
13:19He has no heart in his body
13:21Then I must find his heart
13:23Where did you get that drum?
13:39It's mine, it's me, Leo
13:41Prince Leo
13:45Yes, it is you
13:50I can see now
13:52Well, are you the same as your brothers?
13:57Come to challenge me
14:00No, I come in guilt
14:02Either you will take me in
14:04Or I must go into exile
14:06Guilty? About what?
14:09That you set me free
14:11You were a child
14:15I had to fool you to get the keys
14:18Otherwise I'd still be there
14:21Rotting
14:23But stay if you like
14:26No tricks though
14:28No traps
14:30Else you'll end up the same as your brothers
14:35No tricks, no traps
14:40Agreed the boy and went inside
14:41He's a servant now for the heartless giant
14:45For weeks he cleans
14:47For weeks he scours
14:48Until spick where speck was
14:51And span where squalor
14:53Each evening the giant returns from his wild outings
14:57To find the fire lit, the hearth swept
14:59And his trousers pressed
15:02He likes this
15:03Very nice
15:05Very nice
15:08Thank you
15:08I should have had a servant before
15:11And I don't treat you bad, do I?
15:16For a heartless giant
15:19So what happened to your heart?
15:24It's in safekeeping
15:26Can't feel without it, can I?
15:29Can't get hurt
15:31Can't, can't die
15:32From the breaking of it
15:34Clever
15:35So where is it then?
15:39He who pries
15:40Is prone to die
15:44Do you follow me?
15:50Yes
15:51But
15:52I'll tell you
15:54If you want to know
15:56My heart's
15:58In that
16:00Cupboard
16:01In the cupboard
16:03His own heart
16:06Pounds
16:06And he can hardly wait
16:10Until the morning
16:11But no heart
16:16Oh no
16:17The heart's not there at all
16:20I'm back
16:30Evening, sir
16:33What's that smell?
16:38Polish
16:38What are you polishing that old cupboard for?
16:43It's the home of your heart
16:45It should be polished
16:46Did you really think
16:49I kept my heart
16:50In a cupboard?
16:53What a dimble
16:55It's not there then?
16:57Of course it's not
17:01Si
17:02It's under the step
17:08So the next morning
17:12Off stomps the giant
17:13And out goes our boy
17:15Digging out the steps
17:16Stone
17:17Dust
17:18Roots
17:19But no heart
17:22I'm back
17:26What's that?
17:33Oh, you must have trodden on the step
17:34I painted it
17:35What a dapple box
17:39You thought my heart
17:42Was under the step
17:44Have these off then
17:47The fact is
17:52No one can find my heart
17:55I'll tell you exactly where it is
17:59And you'll still not be able to find it
18:02Far away
18:05So far you cannot fathom it
18:08So high you cannot climb it
18:11Is a mountain
18:13And in the mountain is a lake
18:16And in the lake is an island
18:17In the island is a church
18:19In the church is a well
18:20In the well is a duck
18:21In the duck is an egg
18:23And in the egg
18:24Is my heart
18:27You see
18:28No
18:30Not so easy
18:32Little thief, eh?
18:33Not such a diddle
18:35And a dawdle
18:36As you thought
18:37No
18:38Your father tricked me once
18:40And I shan't be tricked
18:43Again
18:44An egg
18:46In a duck
18:47In a well
18:47In a church
18:48In an island
18:49In a lake
18:49In a mountain
18:50Impossible
18:51But that night
18:53Leo steals away
18:55And calls for his friend
18:56The wolf
18:57Up he gets
18:59And tight he holds
19:01And off they go
19:02Headlong a breathless blur
19:03Of world flashing by
19:05And they're at the mountain
19:06Clambering
19:07Scrambling
19:08And then
19:09There's the lake
19:11And there's the church
19:13But the church is locked
19:18And the door
19:19Will not budge
19:21Look
19:22Said the wolf
19:23And there
19:24Impossibly high
19:25Dangled the key
19:27We'll never reach it
19:29Thank you my friend
19:39And in they go
19:43Into the church
19:44Where they find the well
19:45And sure enough
19:47In the well
19:48Swims a duck
19:50Come on, come on
19:51Oh no
19:54Now what?
19:57What's that?
20:02It's the fish
20:03It's my fish
20:04Catch it
20:07I've got it
20:08I've got the giant's heart
20:09Thank you my friend
20:11Thank you
20:12I've got it
20:13Where have you been?
20:22I've a good mind
20:23To crack your ears
20:25I've a good mind
20:26To set you there
20:28With your brothers
20:29Stop that
20:32Years ago, sir
20:35You broke my heart
20:36Now I shall break yours
20:38No
20:40Be careful
20:41Please
20:42Don't break that
20:44I will
20:44I will break it
20:45I will squeeze it
20:46And squeeze it to bits
20:47Unless you release my brothers
20:49And all these poor people
20:51Nurse
20:52I'll do anything
20:53You ask
20:55Look
20:57I'm doing it
20:59Now
21:02Brother, you've rescued us
21:10He's the Lord
21:11Our little brother
21:12Pray the Lord
21:13Now, quick
21:14Smash the egg
21:15I'm going to give it back
21:16Don't be stupid
21:17I've done as you bid
21:19Can I have my heart?
21:22You can, sir
21:23As I promised
21:24For I know that
21:25With your heart and place
21:25Could not be as you are now
21:27None
21:28Now
21:29For years I've stood here helpless
21:32And watched your cruelty
21:33The folk he's beaten
21:34The vile murders
21:36Please don't
21:37Please
21:39I quit life
21:42Spite with spite
21:44Don't I promise
21:46Don't
21:46All the pain you've caused
21:49I now repay
21:51You promised
22:03What's happening?
22:09There was a wasp's nest
22:11Where his heart should have been
22:21And where the giant fell
22:26A hill grew
22:27And in time
22:29And when much was long forgot
22:31The place was still known
22:34As the hill
22:35Of the heartless giant
22:36But he would have changed that giant
22:43He would have reformed
22:45With his heart back
22:46Yes, I know
22:48Cruel
22:49Do you know
22:51Prince Leo lived to be a great age
22:54Became king
22:55Had 42 grandchildren
22:57And he told them all that tale
22:59But in his story
23:01The giant got back his heart
23:03And made amends for all his wrongs
23:06Because you see
23:07Despite all that took place
23:09A little boy once met a giant
23:12And they became friends
23:16And they became friends
23:20And they became friends
23:22And they became friends
23:25And they became friends
23:28And he told them all that tale