Word on the street: Animals
This time, it's Ashlie's chance for fame. She goes to interview for an acting job, but someone else steals the show! Ashlie's dog, Poppy, goes to the beautician and Stephen finds out how to give a dog a makeover.
It's not just dogs that need love; Joe goes to a London animal shelter to meet some more unusual animals.
Animals Scene 1
"Ashlie goes for for an interview - but her interviewer is more interested in someone else!"
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Ashlie: Where did I put my purse? Have you seen my keys?
Stephen: I think I saw them in the kitchen, Ash.
Ashlie: Thanks. Hey, watch this. She looks great. I really hope I get this part this afternoon.
Stephen: Ashlie’s watching a lot of advertisements on TV at the moment. She’s got an audition today. If they like her, she could be the star of the next TV ad.
Ashlie: Yeah, right.
Stephen: This audition, what’s the advert about? What is it advertising, Ash?
Ashlie: Erm… I don’t really know. I hope I get it, though. I’ll be on TV, Stephen! Anyway, come on, turn this off. My meeting’s at eleven o’clock. Come on. Bring Poppy.
Stephen: This is Poppy, Ashlie’s dog. Isn’t she lovely? Come on, Poppy, let’s go.
.....
Ashlie: OK, Stephen. Wish me luck.
Stephen: Good luck, Ashlie. I’m sure you’ll be fantastic. I’ll see you back here in a couple of hours.
Ashlie: Hang on! You have to take Poppy.
Stephen: No, I can’t. I’m going to the gym. They won’t let her in.
Ashlie: Oh Stephen, I wish you’d told me before we left the house. What am I going to do with her now?
Stephen: Well, leave her here. She’ll be OK.
Ashlie: No way, Stephen! I can’t leave my baby here. You’ll have to take her.
Stephen: No, sorry, Ashlie. I’ve got to run, sorry!
Ashlie: I’ll just have to take you with me then, I guess. Come on, Poppy.
.....
Ashlie: Hello.
Casting Director: Ashlie Walker?
Ashlie: Hi. That’s me! Hi.
Casting Director: Hi. Thanks for coming. Shall we just get started?
Ashlie: Actually, before we begin, I’m really sorry but my brother was supposed to take my dog and he let me down. Do you mind if she’s here? I promise she’ll be quiet!
Casting Director: Not at all. She might be exactly what we’re looking for. Aren’t you lovely? What’s her name?
Ashlie: Poppy. I’ve done this kind of thing a few times.
Casting Director: Hi, Poppy. Aren’t you lovely? How old is she?
Ashlie: She’s six months. Could you tell me something about the advertisement?
Casting Director: Wow, she’s really lovely. Aren’t you lovely? Eh? Who’s a lovely girl then?
Ashlie: Erm… are we ready to start?
Casting Director: What? Oh, yes. We’re going to take a few photos of you.
Ashlie: OK. Great.
Casting Director: Are you going to have your photograph taken too, Poppy? Are you? Come on.
.....
Casting Director: OK, Ashlie, that was great, thanks.
Ashlie: Thank you.
Casting Director: You were both fantastic. I'm sure they'll like it. I’ll give you a call soon, OK?
Ashlie: OK then. Thanks again.
Casting Director: Bye, Ashlie.
Ashlie: Bye.
Casting Director: Bye, Poppy.
.....
Ashlie: Oh, hiya!
Stephen: Well, how did it go?
Ashlie: Erm, well, it went well, I think. I think they liked me. They really liked Poppy, didn’t they, Poppy?
Stephen: They liked Poppy?
Ashlie: Yeah. The guy said... Oh, hang on... Hello?
Stephen: Who is it?
Ashlie: Yes, it’s Ashlie. Oh, that’s fantastic. Thank you. Sure. Sure, yeah, that’s fine. Er, OK, alright. Thank you. Bye.
Stephen: What is it? Well?
Ashlie: I got the part.
Stephen: That was quick.
Ashlie: And they want Poppy, too!
Stephen: Wahey! Well done, girl.
Ashlie: What about me?
Stephen: Well done, Ash.
Ashlie: Urrrgh, Stephen, you’re all smelly!
Animals Scene 2
"This time, Stephen's left 'holding the baby'... or the dog, anyway!"
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Transcript
Stephen: Look at this place. A beauty salon for dogs. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Ashlie: Me neither, but Poppy needs to look her best for her job. Isn’t that right, Poppy? Come on then, Stephen.
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Ashlie: Oh, hi there. I think I’ve got an appointment at ten.
Receptionist: Yes, of course. Poppy, isn’t it?
Ashlie: Yes, that’s right.
Receptionist: Thank you.
Ashlie: Thank you.
Ashlie: Right, Stephen. I think I saw a beauty salon for humans on our way here. So you wait here and I’ll be back in a couple of hours.
Stephen: What? Ashlie!
Ashlie: What? I can either go now while we wait for Poppy, or after we’re finished here. Oh come on, Stephen! You ran off to the gym yesterday and left me with her. You can look after her today.
Stephen: But she’s your dog! I don’t want to spend the whole day watching you and Poppy get pampered.
Ashlie: Oh, stop complaining, Stephen. I need to look my best for the filming.
Stephen: Well, that’s going to take more than a few hours.
Ashlie: Ha ha. Very funny.
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Stephen: She looks like she's enjoying it. Thank you. She looks lovely. Just like Ashlie. What sorts of people bring their pets here?
Owner: Oh, all kinds of people.
Stephen: And why do you think people bring their pets here?
Owner: Oh, British people, they love their pets. They’re part of the family so they want them to look nice.
Stephen: Well, she certainly looks happy, healthy, and beautiful – don’t you?
.....
Ashlie: Ta-da!
Stephen: Very nice, Ash. And what do you think of Poppy?
Ashlie: Oh, she looks amazing! Aren’t you gorgeous, Poppy? Aren’t you gorgeous?
Stephen: Well, looks like you’re both ready for filming. Come on, let’s go.
......
Stephen: So, have they told you much about it?
Ashlie: The advert? Not really. I was too excited to ask. But if it’s on TV then everyone will see it. I’m really excited about it. I hope it doesn’t start to rain before we get there. Poppy looks so nice, she shouldn’t get wet.
Stephen: Maybe you should carry her there so she doesn’t get dirty?
Ashlie: Nonsense. Eh, Poppy? No! Absolutely not! Stephen, can you take her?
Stephen: Ashlie, you’re unbelievable.
Ashlie: Come on, I need to get there. Hurry up!
.....
Ashlie: Look! Stephen!
Stephen: Hi, Ash. What is it?
Ashlie: The DVD!
Stephen: What DVD?
Ashlie: The DVD of the advert. Go on, put it on!
Stephen: Oh look, there’s Poppy! She looks amazing.
Ashlie: Umm, yeah... shhhh – I’m watching...
Stephen: Ashlie, is that your foot?
Ashlie: Shut up, Stephen... What? Is that it? Where am I?
Stephen: Oh, Poppy. You looked amazing. Good job you spent all that time in the salon, Ash – your leg looked great!
Ashlie: Oh, shut up, Stephen!
Wild Animals
"Joe visits an animal shelter and learns how wild animals live in the city."
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Britain is a nation of animal lovers. From the cute and cuddly to slimy and scary, we love them all.
Some of us have a passion for our pets, the animals that become part of the family. But here at the Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service, they are wild about wildlife.
London is home to millions of people but it’s also home to many wild animals and sometimes they can get hurt.
Here at the centre, the staff look after injured or very young animals and then hopefully get them well enough so they can go back into the wild. It’s hard work looking after them. The first task of the day is serving breakfast.
Most of the people who work here are volunteers. None of them are paid. They help out and provide their time for free, for the love of the animals.
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Joe: Hi, Barry.
Barry Smitherman: Hi, Joe.
Joe: I’m here to help.
Barry Smitherman: Great. There’s a spare broom here.
Joe: Great. Thank you very much. So tell me about the rescue centre, Barry.
Barry Smitherman: Primarily our work here is to care for sick and injured animals and birds and where possible release them back into the wild where they belong.
Joe: And you’re a charity, aren’t you?
Barry Smitherman: Yes, we are. Obviously we rely upon donations to keep the work going, by people coming and visiting us at the centre and seeing some of our animals and kind donations from the public.
Joe: And with this many animals here there’s obviously a lot of work to do.
Barry Smitherman: Yes, yes, it’s not easy. There is always a lot to do.
Joe: Well, let’s get going.
Barry Smitherman: Good idea.
.....
Loss of natural habitat has led to wildlife and humans living in closer proximity to each other than ever before. When man meets animal, it’s the wildlife that often comes off worse. Road traffic accidents, poisoning and attacks from domestic pets often cause injury.
When the animals are first brought in, they often need treatment here at the animal hospital. Let’s go and visit some of the patients.
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June takes care of the baby animals. Some of the tiny ones need a lot of attention.
Joe: So what’s wrong with this hedgehog, June?
June Smitherman: This hedgehog was attacked by a dog and it’s got two wounds: one underneath, one on top.
Joe: And what sort of treatments are you going to give him?
June Smitherman: Well, I’ll give him a course of antibiotics. Hopefully that should make him better.
Joe: And will he be released into the wild?
June Smitherman: Not this one, because this one’s not going to be fit enough, so this one will stay with me until next year.
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Now it’s a big moment as one of the little hedgehogs is going to be released back into the wild.
When this little chap arrived he wasn’t strong enough to feed but now he’s well enough to survive in the wild. The big question is: will he want to leave?
Well, he’s not too sure at first. But now he’s made it back to where he belongs - in the wild. And it’s thanks to this and other rescue centres across Britain that more animals are free to be wild again.