No money has or will ever be made from this or any other upload on this channel.
Written by Jocelyn Stevenson
Voices: Robert Lindsay, Neil Morrissey, Charlotte Coleman, Jim Broadbent, June Whitfield, Michael Williams, Rosemary Leach, Anton Rodgers, Alun Lewis, Noreen Kershaw, Kate Harbour and David Holt
Directed by Brian Little and Jackie Cockle
Written by Jocelyn Stevenson
Voices: Robert Lindsay, Neil Morrissey, Charlotte Coleman, Jim Broadbent, June Whitfield, Michael Williams, Rosemary Leach, Anton Rodgers, Alun Lewis, Noreen Kershaw, Kate Harbour and David Holt
Directed by Brian Little and Jackie Cockle
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00Oh
01:00It was a beautiful frosty afternoon.
01:12The air was crisp and cold.
01:14The leaves and berries sparkled in the winter sunshine.
01:17Bramley Hedge was alive with excitement
01:20as the mice prepared for that evening's traditional midwinter celebration.
01:27Merry midwinter, Dusty.
01:29Have you seen Primrose?
01:31Sorry, can't stop. Must get to the palace.
01:33What a rush everyone's in. Isn't it exciting?
01:37Yes, my dear, but we have to...
01:39To get that message to Primrose, I know, dear.
01:41The festivities would begin after dark
01:44when everyone gathered round the fireplace in the great hall of the old Oak Palace.
01:49As far as Primrose Woodmouse and Wilfred Toteflex were concerned,
01:53hauling the giant midwinter log to the fireplace
01:56and then watching it burst into flames
01:58was one of the best parts of the celebration.
02:01Make sure you tie those ropes tightly now.
02:03That's right. Those ropes have to hold all the way from here to the old Oak Palace.
02:09Could you grab that rope, Wilfred?
02:11Mm-hm.
02:12Now pull.
02:14Ow! Hey, Wilfred, that's my tail.
02:16Oh, sorry, Teasel.
02:23Now, one, two, three, and pull.
02:33Primrose?
02:34Oh, Primrose?
02:35Hello, Grandma.
02:36Grandpa, have you come to help us pull the midwinter log?
02:39Oh, no, I'm far too old and lame for that now.
02:44But believe me, when he was a young mouse,
02:46your grandpa was one of the strongest log haulers this side of the meadow.
02:51Was I really?
02:55Anyway, Primrose, your papa...
02:58Wants to see you, dear.
02:59Now?
03:00That's what he said.
03:01But why?
03:02That's what he didn't say.
03:04Do you want to come with me, Wilfred?
03:05Now? And miss hauling the log?
03:07Go on, Wilfred, we won't be ready for that for ages.
03:11Hurry, no.
03:11Your father said it was very important.
03:14Last one to the Old Oak Palace is a stout!
03:17Tee-hee!
03:25Hello, Basil.
03:26Hello, Wilfred.
03:27Where are you two going in such a hurry?
03:30Basil, would you come and help us with the holly?
03:32It takes so much of it to decorate the great hall.
03:35And here's some for you, Wilfred.
03:36But, Mama, we don't have time...
03:38Of course you have time.
03:40Come on, Wilfred.
03:41Get a grip and pull.
03:43Oh.
03:44Ah!
03:45Ah!
03:46Ah!
03:46Ah!
03:47Ah!
03:47Ah!
03:49Oh!
03:50Ah!
03:55Here we are, papa!
03:56Primrose!
03:57And Wilfred, too!
03:58Splendid!
03:59Splendid!
04:00Something awful has happened.
04:09What?
04:09But you two could save the day.
04:11How?
04:12Poor Conker here...
04:13...has lost his voice.
04:18Can't say a thing!
04:19That's terrible!
04:21How are you going to recite the midwinter poem?
04:23I can't!
04:24Oh, no!
04:25So, Primrose and Wilfred, will you come to our rescue and recite the midwinter poem at the ceremony this evening?
04:32Us?
04:33But I already have a job.
04:35I'm going to sit on top of the log.
04:36Wilfred, I can't believe what I'm hearing.
04:40You can sit on the log any year.
04:42Every year.
04:43But, young mouse, it's a great honour to be asked to read the midwinter poem.
04:47Is it?
04:48It is!
04:49Especially this year, as Basil and Mrs. Eyebright and I will be telling the story of Cumulus Nimbus, the mouse who wrote the poem.
04:58It's a wonderful story, and we tell it so well.
05:01I love the part where Princess Rosa...
05:03She was one of my ancestors.
05:07Very distant, of course, but she may have lived in this very oak.
05:12The part where Princess Rosa and Cumulus Nimbus...
05:16I like him!
05:17He was the first mouse to leave Brambley Hedge to go exploring.
05:20And he sent back letters to Princess Rosa, his bride-to-be.
05:23Or so the story goes.
05:25Oh!
05:26I wish it were true.
05:28True or not, my favourite part of the story is the midwinter poem.
05:33Which means someone has to recite it, Wilfred, and that someone is us.
05:38I like coming to the rescue, but we don't know it properly.
05:42Well, let's go and practice then.
05:44Come on!
05:45We haven't got much time.
05:51Right.
05:52No one will bother us here.
05:53When the days are the shortest, the nights are the coldest.
05:58When the days are the shortest, the nights are the coldest.
06:02Ah.
06:04Ah.
06:05No.
06:07Too heavy.
06:11No, too light.
06:14Ah.
06:15Ah.
06:16This'll do nicely.
06:18Right.
06:19Now let's try it again.
06:20When the days are the shortest, the nights are the shortest.
06:24How are you getting on?
06:25Don't mind me.
06:26Ah.
06:27This is hopeless.
06:28We could go back to the log.
06:30I wonder if they've finished tying it up yet.
06:32Oh, really, Wilfred.
06:33We can't give up so easily.
06:36All we have to do is find a place to practice.
06:38Let's go and ask Mama.
06:47Here's another batch ready for the oven, Mrs Crustlebread.
06:50Right you are, Lady Daisy.
06:51Oh, I don't know how we manage to eat so much, but we always do.
06:58As Primrose and Wilfred entered the palace kitchen, their noses twitched with delight as
07:03the wonderful smell of hot blackberry and honey wafted towards them.
07:07Primrose's mother, Lady Woodmass, was baking midwinter biscuits.
07:11Hello, Mrs Crustlebread.
07:14Primrose, Wilfred, isn't it wonderful that you'll be reciting the midwinter poem?
07:19What an honour.
07:20That's what everyone keeps saying.
07:22But, Mama, we can't find anywhere quiet to practice.
07:26Well, midwinter is not a quiet kind of day.
07:29Wait, you're back.
07:30Here I come.
07:32Why don't you try the attic store rooms?
07:35There's no reason for anybody to be going up there.
07:37That's a brilliant idea.
07:39Thanks, Mama.
07:39Why don't you take some biscuits and blackberry juice up with you in case you get hungry?
07:44That's an even more brilliant idea.
07:46Thank you, Mrs Crustlebread.
07:47Wow, look at all this.
07:57Mama's right.
07:58It's the perfect place to practice.
08:02Let's see.
08:03When the days are the shortest, the nights are the coldest.
08:07Was this yours?
08:08Oh, yes, but I grew out of it ages ago.
08:11Now, you say, the frost is the sharpest, the year is the oldest.
08:17Wilfred?
08:19Wilfred!
08:20Hang on.
08:21I want to see what's in here.
08:22Wilfred!
08:23We don't have time.
08:25Oh.
08:26It's just a bunch of letters.
08:27Oh.
08:28They look really old.
08:31Want a biscuit?
08:33Before I eat them all.
08:34No, thanks.
08:36I wonder what else is in here.
08:39What's this?
08:41The key!
08:42Hey, Primrose, isn't there something in the poem about dressing up?
08:46And dress in your richest and finest and best.
08:50I'll do that part.
08:52And dress in your richest and finest and best.
08:57Hey, Primrose, where does this go?
08:59I don't know.
09:00Let's open it.
09:05Oh.
09:06Oh.
09:07I can't.
09:07It's locked.
09:09Oh.
09:10I can see some stairs.
09:12Wilfred.
09:13If there's a keyhole, there must be a key.
09:16And I think I just might have it here.
09:22Oh.
09:23It fits.
09:24Their hearts were pounding with excitement and fear as they peered into the darkness.
09:32Where would the long, winding staircase leave them to?
09:35Shall we see what's at the top?
09:37Um.
09:38Oh.
09:39Oh!
09:44Come on.
09:45Come on.
09:45Come on.
09:47Come on.
09:47Come on.
09:54The light slowly faded as the midwinter afternoon gently gave way to the evening.
10:03An evening filled with excitement and promise.
10:07Mr. Toadflax, Dusty, Conker and Flax had started hauling the log to the Great Hall, encouraged
10:13by Mr. and Mrs. Apple, Basil, and Old Mrs. Eyebride.
10:18Keep going.
10:19You're almost there.
10:21Mmm.
10:21It's a very good log this year.
10:23It'll make a lovely place.
10:26I can't say I blame young Wilfred for not wanting to miss this.
10:29It's still my favourite part of the celebration.
10:32My favourite part is that first cup of your famous midwinter punch.
10:38Just as we light the fire.
10:40Oh, Mrs. Eyebride, you are too, too kind.
10:43Meanwhile, up in the attics, Primrose and Wilfred climbed the secret stairs, not having
10:49the faintest idea where they would end up.
10:52Suddenly, the stairs came to an abrupt end, leaving them facing a mysterious door.
10:56I wonder what's through there.
10:58Well, there's only one way to find out.
11:04Ah!
11:05Yeah!
11:07Ooh!
11:09Ooh!
11:12Wow!
11:13As the door opened, the young mice stared about them in amazement.
11:19They were standing in a most magnificent room.
11:22It seemed very, very old.
11:24Everything was covered in dust, and the air smelled musty and strange.
11:28Where are we?
11:34I don't know.
11:35I've never been here before.
11:40Maybe your ancestors lived here in the olden days.
11:45Wilfred!
11:46Look at these!
11:48They're just right for tonight!
11:49Oh, and dress in your richest and finest and best!
11:55I wonder where that goes.
11:58Well, there's only one way to find out.
12:01you're not going to find out.
12:02Come on!
12:03Come on!
12:03Come on!
12:03Come on!
12:04As Primrose and Wilfred set off to explore the secret rooms, far below them, the log procession approached the old, old palace.
12:14It's time for the song. Basil, give us a note to start on.
12:20Oh dear. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
12:23What is it, Basil?
12:24I brought my lantern but left my fiddle back at the lodge. I won't be long.
12:28Oh, don't hurry, Basil.
12:30We like sitting up here.
12:31Yes. We can sit up here all night.
12:36Yes.
12:38What's this, Basil?
12:41Merry, merry, midwinter.
12:44Oh, and a merry midwinter to you too, Basil.
12:50Well caught.
12:52Okay.
12:59Up in the attics far away from the festivities below, Primrose and Wilfred had found a whole suite of secret rooms.
13:07There was a dining room, a butler's pantry, a small kitchen, and several bedrooms, including a beautiful nursery.
13:19This is amazing!
13:29Whoever lived here had a lot of toys
13:30and a lot of clothes
13:33Wilfred, you could wear that tonight
13:36It's perfect for our poem
13:38What else is in there?
13:41Oh, look!
13:43Isn't this one pretty?
13:45Who wore these things?
13:47What about this?
13:49Look, it fits!
13:54Oh, I bet that one itches
13:56Let me try this on
13:59I want to see what we look like
14:07Not bad!
14:16Let me see!
14:18Oh, Wilfred!
14:19They'll be so surprised when they see us!
14:22But let's not tell them where we got these costumes!
14:24This place could be our secret!
14:27Good idea!
14:28And now let's practice!
14:30I'll start and then you come in!
14:32Okay!
14:32When the days are the shortest
14:38The nights are the coldest
14:41The frost is the sharpest
14:44The year is the oldest
14:46It is awfully dark, isn't it?
14:48Do you know, Primrose, I can hardly see you
14:50It's warm as toast inside tonight
14:55Oh, no!
14:58The midwinter log is here already!
15:00Rose the chestnuts
15:03Eat the wine
15:04Pass the cups along the loin
15:08Gather round the log
15:10It burns bright, it's warm as toast inside tonight
15:15Hooray!
15:17Have you seen Primrose and Wilfred?
15:19They missed the procession
15:20It'd be a shame for them to miss the lighting of the log
15:23I haven't seen them since they went off to the attic store room to practice
15:27Don't worry
15:29They'll soon be done when they hear all the noise
15:32Here's the bramble wine for the log, Basil
15:34Thank you, Mrs Apple
15:36Merry midwinter!
15:44They're going to light the log now
15:46If we don't get back down there, we'll miss it
15:48Come on!
15:52Um, here, put this on!
15:54Oh, oh
15:55This way!
15:57Over here!
16:04Wasn't it over here?
16:06Well, I think it was this door
16:08Primrose!
16:12This way!
16:22Primrose!
16:23How do we get out of here?
16:24While Primrose and Wilfred were desperately trying to find a way
16:27out of their bewildering attic prison
16:29Down in the great hall
16:31The midwinter celebration was about to begin
16:34As the mice watch Mrs Eyebright lean over to thrust the taper into the fire
16:44Their thoughts turn to the coming spring
16:47To trees bursting into blossom
16:49To the first warm rays of sun and to the welcome song of birds returning home
16:54To spring!
16:58The bright flames licked the mossy bark of the log
17:09Oh, let the feast begin!
17:13Oh, let the feast begin!
17:19Chocking!
17:19Chocking!
17:20Chocking now there!
17:21All homemade!
17:26Come on, my dears!
17:27Come on now!
17:28I'm beginning to worry about Primrose, dear
17:33She and Wilfred couldn't still be in the attics, could they?
17:37Would you like me to go and fetch them?
17:40Yes, please
17:41Consider it done, my dear
17:42It's no use
17:47We'll never get out of here
17:49And no one will ever find us
17:51Because no one knows about the secret staircase
17:55Oh
17:55Oh
17:55Primrose!
18:00Primrose!
18:02Wilfred!
18:05Well, they obviously finished practicing
18:06They must be somewhere downstairs
18:08Waiting for their big moment
18:10Well, I don't understand it
18:14We got in here, so why can't we get out?
18:17I don't know
18:19What are we going to do?
18:21Oh
18:22Hooray!
18:31Hooray!
18:35The first one to entertain us tonight will be
18:40Dusty Duckwood
18:42I will now do my famous three acorns
18:46And a hollyberry trick
18:48Oh, so that's what he's been up to
18:51Have you found them?
19:06They're not in the attic
19:07So they must be waiting to make an entrance
19:09Thank you, Dusty
19:24Well juggled
19:25And now
19:27It's time for me to show you my famous shadow pictures
19:31Guess what this is
19:34Guess what this is
19:34Ah
19:34Oh
19:36And he's a
19:55I see
19:57There's been a change to the order of entertainment
20:02entertainment. I, um, I, um, I am now proud to present Primrose and Wilfred.
20:14Oh!
20:15Oh, um.
20:21When the days are the shortest, the nights are the coldest.
20:26The frost is the sharpest, the year is the oldest.
20:30Then polish your whiskers and tidy your nest.
20:33And dress in your finest and richest and best.
20:37For winter has brought you the worst it can bring.
20:41And now it will give you...
20:43The promise of spring!
20:45Oh!
20:47Whey!
20:49This is victory!
20:53Didn't they recite well?
20:56What lovely hats!
20:58You're next, dear.
20:59It's very difficult to follow such an excellent recitation, but follow it we must.
21:07We have our beloved midwinter poem thanks to an extraordinary mouse named Cumulus Nimbus.
21:18The famous explorer!
21:19As we all know, Cumulus was supposed to return from his long journey away from Brambley Hedge on midwinter's day to make Princess Rosa his bride.
21:29But as the day progressed, it seemed less and less likely that Cumulus would arrive.
21:37After the midwinter supper, when the mice entertained each other, as we have been doing tonight, Rosa decided to read a poem that Cumulus had sent her.
21:46Just as she got to the final line, and now it will give you the promise of spring, there was a flurry of snow in the hall.
21:56And a cloaked figure appeared!
21:58Oh, my word!
22:00It was Cumulus!
22:02And so Cumulus married the princess.
22:07Oh!
22:09And they lived happily ever after.
22:12Hooray!
22:14This is victory!
22:16I love that story.
22:18And I really like thinking that it's true.
22:20I know, Poppy.
22:21But unfortunately, there's never been any proof.
22:24Just a moment.
22:26Look at these!
22:33What?
22:34What?
22:35These are the letters.
22:37From Cumulus.
22:39What?
22:39And what do I see here?
22:42The poem!
22:43The midwinter poem!
22:46Primrose, where did you find these?
22:48Oh, just up in the attic.
22:49That's where we found these costumes, too.
22:52Oh, look!
22:53You're wearing the same clothes as in their portrait.
22:56How extraordinary!
22:58Where did you say you found them?
23:00Oh, um...
23:03Grandpa!
23:04When are you going to do your shadow pictures?
23:06I hope we didn't miss them.
23:07No, you did not.
23:10May I borrow that cloak, Wilfred?
23:12Of course!
23:12First of all, I'm going to do...
23:24A bat!
23:28As Mr. Apple entertained the mice with his shadow pictures,
23:32Primrose and Wilfred gazed at the fire
23:34and thought of all the lovely games they would play
23:37in Princess Rosa's palace
23:38at the top of the secret staircase.
23:42Soon, their heads began to nod.
23:45And in no time at all,
23:47they were both fast asleep.
23:49So sweet and light-hearted metres.
23:53Here is the