Kangaroo Beach

Descriptive Transcript

DESCRIPTION: Fish, whales, and turtles swim through a coral reef. Inside a seaside treehouse are junior lifeguard cadets Pounce, Gemma, Neville, and Frizzy, who all wear red and blue surf shirts. Pounce is a joey kangaroo, Frizzy is a koala, Gemma is a platypus, and Neville is a wombat. The cadets leap from their cubbies and jump down the treehouse slide to the beach.

[Opening credits] “The Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Screen Australia present”.

SINGERS: Over the ocean and over the reef

[Credits continue] “In association with the Australian Children’s Television Foundation and Screenwest and Lotterywest”. “A Cheeky Little Media production”.

SINGERS: There's a sunny little place called Kangaroo Beach

[Credits continue] “Created by Tim Bain, Series Producer Patrick Egerton, Producer Celine Goetz, Script Editor Sam Carroll, Art Director Darren Keating, Series Director Steve Moltzen,

SINGERS: Frizzy, Gemma, Neville and Pounce. Can dance in the club, so come on, let's bounce! Good friends surfing, swimming, learning

NEVILLE: Aaargh!

DESCRIPTION: Neville runs to the end of the dock and blows his whistle.

[Whistle blows]

DESCRIPTION: Bondi and Sandy– two adult, kangaroo lifeguards– drive a rescue speedboat into the ocean. Bondi and Sandy are both wearing red and blue surf shirts. Underwater, Frizzy is in a submarine with Big Trev, an adult kangaroo who wears a red and blue surf shirt.

SINGERS: Bondi, Sandy, Big Trev too. Training with the very best lifeguard crew.

DESCRIPTION: In a montage, Bondi and Sandy rescue an otter with a helicopter, the lifeguards drive boats across the water, the junior lifeguards surf the waves, and the whole Kangaroo Beach lifeguard team gathers on the beach. A wave sweeps away the team.

SINGERS: Staying safe, being brave, run away and make a save. We're here all summer, it just gets funner. Let's hop down to

[Title] “Kangaroo Beach”.

SINGERS: Kangaroo Beach!

DESCRIPTION: Neville reads the title aloud.

[Episode title] “The Big Mum Swim”.

[Credits continue] “Written by Lorin Clarke”.

NEVILLE: The Big Mum Swim.

DESCRIPTION: On Kangaroo Beach, Neville and his Mum lay under an umbrella on beach chairs. Neville is wearing his red-and-blue surf suit and a bucket hat. Neville’s Mum is wearing a blue, floral bathing suit and sunglasses. Behind them are outhouses, a food truck, and other beachgoers.

NEVILLE’S MUM: Oh, this is the life, Neville.

NEVILLE: Oh, sure is, Mum.

NEVILLE’S MUM: It's comfy, shady...relaxy.

NEVILLE: It's a little bit sand-in-your-pantsy.

DESCRIPTION: Just then, Gemma and her Mum run to the ocean’s shore. Gemma is wearing a red and blue lifeguard swimsuit with goggles, and her Mum is wearing a purple bathing suit and goggles.

NEVILLE: Oh, look. Hi, Gemma! Hi, Gemma's mum!

GEMMA: Hi, Neville.

GEMMA’S MUM: Hi, Narelle.

NARELLE: Hi.

DESCRIPTION: As Gemma and her Mum stretch by the shore, Neville points to a red buoy.

NEVILLE: See that buoy out there? They'll swim there and back.

NARELLE: Wow. Really? So impressive.

DESCRIPTION: Gemma’s Mum sets a timer on her watch.

GEMMA’S MUM: Ready? Set. Go!

DESCRIPTION: Gemma and her Mum put on their goggles and jump into the water.

NARELLE: Gosh, they're so fast. Oh, that'd be fun, wouldn't it, Nev? Imagine us swimming out there.

[Neville laughs]

NEVILLE: Yeah. Good one, Mum. I'm happy just chillaxing on the beach with you.

DESCRIPTION: Gemma and her Mum jump out of the water, and Gemma’s Mum stops the timer on her watch.

GEMMA’S MUM: Oh! Personal best.

DESCRIPTION: Narelle and Neville approach Gemma and her Mum. Sandy hops beside them.

NARELLE: Well done.

NEVILLE: What an awesome team.

GEMMA’S MUM: Go, team platypus!

DESCRIPTION: Sandy whispers to Neville and Narelle.

SANDY [whispers]: Hey, watch this.

SANDY: Great swim, you two. But who's fastest on land?

GEMMA: Oh! Race you to the surf club?

GEMMA’S MUM: You're on!

DESCRIPTION: Gemma’s Mum runs off without Gemma.

GEMMA’S MUM: Ready, set, go! Oh, no! Too slow.

DESCRIPTION: Gemma smiles and chases after her Mum.

GEMMA: Mum!

DESCRIPTION: Narelle, Neville, and Sandy stand on the beach together.

NARELLE: Oh, my little wom-wom. Sorry your mummy can't swim like Gemma's mummy.

SANDY: Well, I wouldn't worry about that, Narelle. Gemma's mum is a ten time state swimming champion.

NEVILLE: And you're good at other things, like silly dances and building tunnels.

NARELLE: Oh, thanks, Nevy.

SANDY: If you want to work on your swimming, there's a great teacher right here.

NARELLE: Well, I'm sure you've got better things to do.

SANDY: Oh, yes, I do. I was referring to Neville.

DESCRIPTION: Sandy pats Neville’s shoulders.

SANDY: He's become a bit of a swimming champ.

NARELLE: My little wom-wom?

SANDY: Yes, your little wom-wom. Now, speaking of work to do… Gemma! Georgie! First to clean the beach buggy wins.

DESCRIPTION: Gemma and her Mum, Georgie, run towards the beach buggy.

GEORGIE: Me first!

[Gemma laughs]

GEMMA: Look out!

NARELLE: Oh, Nevy. Do you really think you can coach me? Will you?

NEVILLE: No problem at all. We'll be swimming to the buoy together in no time.

NARELLE: By tomorrow?

NEVILLE: Uh, sure. By tomorrow.

DESCRIPTION: Neville stands beside a swimming pool. He gets splashed in the face.

NEVILLE: Um... Maybe not tomorrow.

DESCRIPTION: Narelle slowly swims in the pool beside a flamingo floaty. She huffs big breaths and doesn’t move far.

NARELLE: Oh, goodness. It's wet in here, isn't it?

DESCRIPTION: Narelle accidentally hits the flamingo floaty.

NARELLE: Oh, terribly sorry, madam.

NEVILLE: Keep it up, Mum! You'll get there.

[Narelle panting]

NEVILLE: Wobbly wombats. She's being beaten by a blow-up flamingo.

DESCRIPTION: Inside the lifeguard’s seaside treehouse, Neville joins the rest of the lifeguard cadets.

CADETS: Hi, Neville.

FRIZZY: How did training go with your mum?

NEVILLE: It was a disaster.

GEMMA: Oh, why? What happened?

NEVILLE: She's a teensy bit...not good.

FRIZZY: Well, nobody's good at the start.

NEVILLE: I said she'd be able to swim to the buoy by tomorrow.

DESCRIPTION: All of the cadets wince.

[Cadets groan]

ALL: Oooh!

NEVILLE: Exactly! And she's so excited and proud of me. And now we're doomed!

POUNCE: I'm sure it's not that bad.

NEVILLE: Doomed!

GEMMA: Well, sounds like time for...

FRIZZY: An upbeat musical number?

GEMMA: A plan. Time for a plan.

ALL: Yeah!

DESCRIPTION: Down by the pool, Gemma, Pounce, Frizzy, and Neville stand in front of Narelle. Gemma is holding a water bottle and a plate of fruit.

NEVILLE: OK, Mum, meet your training team. Gemma on nutrition.

GEMMA: At your service.

NEVILLE: Pounce - skills training.

POUNCE: It's all in the technique.

NEVILLE: Frizzy - morale.

DESCRIPTION: Frizzy takes out a megaphone and sings into it.

FRIZZY [singing]: Bringing the fabulous!

NEVILLE: And Neville, head coach/your son.

NARELLE: Oh! Head coach?

NEVILLE: Now remember what we did this morning. Focus, breathe and keep your legs straight. Ready?

NARELLE: Focus. Breathe. Legs straight. Whoo!

DESCRIPTION: Narelle puts on her goggles, then belly-flops into the pool.

[Cadets wail]

DESCRIPTION: Narelle bumps into the flamingo floaty.

NARELLE: Oh! Hello again. We must stop bumping into each other like this.

NEVILLE: That way, Mum! That way!

[Narelle panting]

GEMMA: She's running out of energy. Nutrition break.

DESCRIPTION: Gemma and Narelle stand together by the pool. Gemma offers Narelle an orange slice.

GEMMA: Orange?

NARELLE: Oh, yes, please. Nutrition is my favourite part of training so far.

DESCRIPTION: Narelle is back in the pool, holding the ledge. Pounce stands on the edge of the pool and speaks to her.

POUNCE: Right. As your skills coach, I'm going to help with your technique. I want you to think about your stroke.

DESCRIPTION: Pounce moves one of his arms and demonstrates a swim stroke.

POUNCE: We go up and then dig.

DESCRIPTION: Narelle copies this movement.

NARELLE: Up and then dig. Up and then dig.

POUNCE: There you go. Perfect! Try that.

DESCRIPTION: Narelle copies the movement in the water, but only with one arm. She swims in circles.

NARELLE: Up and then dig. Up and then dig.

POUNCE: Both arms! Try with both arms.

DESCRIPTION: Narelle comes back to the ledge. She frowns.

NARELLE: I'm sorry. I'm exhausted. Maybe I'm just not cut out for swimming.

[Narelle grunts as she gets out of the pool]

POUNCE: Um... Frizzy!

DESCRIPTION: Frizzy hops in front of Narelle. Frizzy chants into the megaphone.

FRIZZY: Here she is, folks. The world-famous swimming wombat. It's Narelle!

NARELLE: Me? Famous? Goodness.

FRIZZY: They call her "Swell Narelle who lives in a shell"!

NARELLE: Actually, I live in a hole.

FRIZZY: Let's hear it for Swell Narelle!

[All cheer]

NARELLE: Oh, that does put a spring in my step. I suppose I'll try again.

DESCRIPTION: Narelle jumps back into the pool.

FRIZZY: OK, Narelle. Let's swim it, sister. Like this.

DESCRIPTION: The cadets line up beside the pool. They sing and dance together, moving their arms in a swim stroke pattern.

[Upbeat music]

CADETS [singing]: Dig, dig, dig and breathe. Dig, dig, dig and breathe.

DESCRIPTION: Narelle copies the swim stroke movement.

CADETS [singing]: We believe you can achieve! Dig, dig, dig and breathe!

[Upbeat music ends]

DESCRIPTION: Narelle uses the cadet’s swim stroke and swims.

FRIZZY: Whoo! Look at that. She's off! The crowd goes wild.

NEVILLE: Go, Mum! You're absolutely amaz...ing.

DESCRIPTION: Narelle stops swimming a metre into the pool.

NEVILLE: Wait. Why did she stop?

NARELLE: Ooh! And I'm done. Whew! Big day. Who wants ice cream?

CADETS: Yeah!

[Neville groans]

DESCRIPTION: Later that day, Neville and Narelle walk down the beach together.

NARELLE: That was very kind of your friends.

NEVILLE: Uh, you know, Mum, you don't have to do the swim to the buoy by tomorrow.

DESCRIPTION: Narelle frowns.

NARELLE: You don't think I can do it, Nevy? Oh, I'd hate to let you down.

NEVILLE [stuttering]: No. I mean, yes, you can swim it tomorrow. Definitely! For sure. I was just checking you still wanted to.

NARELLE: Of course I do. With a head coach like you, Nev.

DESCRIPTION: Narelle hugs her son.

NEVILLE: See you in the morning then.

NARELLE: Just try and stop me, wom-wom.

DESCRIPTION: Narelle jumps into a sandy hole in the beach.

NEVILLE: Wobbly wombats!

DESCRIPTION: In the lifeguard treehouse, Neville paces in front of his friends.

NEVILLE: Oh, this is a complete nightmare. Mum's never going to make it to the buoy, and it's all my fault.

FRIZZY: You'll be fine, Neville. You and your mum are made of the same stuff.

NEVILLE: Wombat?

FRIZZY: Courage and love.

POUNCE: Yeah. And anyway, the swim to the buoy isn't the bit that matters. What counts is you've both tried your best. The buoy could be any distance off.

DESCRIPTION: Neville thinks to himself, then hurries away from the group.

NEVILLE [whispers]: The buoy could be any distance off.

NEVILLE: Bye, everyone! I'm going to bed.

DESCRIPTION: Frizzy speaks into a megaphone.

FRIZZY [projected]: Well, that was weird.

DESCRIPTION: Sandy pokes her head into the room.

SANDY: Frizzy, what have I told you about using that inside?

FRIZZY [projected]: Sorry, Sandy!

DESCRIPTION: The next morning, all the cadets are asleep in their cubbies. Frizzy wakes up and sees Neville sneaking out of the treehouse.

[Birds squawking]

FRIZZY: Neville?

DESCRIPTION: Neville runs down to the beach.

NEVILLE: The buoy could be any distance off.

DESCRIPTION: Neville jumps into the water and swims to the buoy. Frizzy runs to the beach and calls out to Neville.

FRIZZY: Neville, you shouldn't go swimming on your own!

DESCRIPTION: Neville pushes on the buoy.

NEVILLE: Let's move you closer to shore, Mr Buoy, so Mum won't have so far to swim.

DESCRIPTION: The buoy’s anchor drags along the ocean floor.

NEVILLE: This is...harder than it...looks.

DESCRIPTION: From the shore, Frizzy watches Neville through a pair of binoculars.

FRIZZY: Oh, no. He's getting tired!

[Neville panting]

NEVILLE: I need a break.

DESCRIPTION: For a moment, Neville floats on his back, but a big wave crashes into him from behind.

NEVILLE: Oh!

FRIZZY [shouting]: Neville's in trouble!

DESCRIPTION: Narelle pops her head out of a hole. She stomps into the water towards Neville.

NARELLE: Neville's in trouble? Step aside, Spritzy!

DESCRIPTION: Just then, Bondi floats in front of Narelle on a surfboard.

BONDI: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on, Narelle. We've got this. Let's bring him in, Frizzy.

FRIZZY: Cadet to the rescue.

[Action music]

DESCRIPTION: In a montage, the lifeguards suit up for rescue. Lifeguards put on life jackets, fasten their radios, and carry medical gear. A helicopter, a speedboat, a submarine, and a buggy all race into action. Frizzy, Pounce, Gemma, and Neville spring into action poses.

[Action montage ends]

DESCRIPTION: By the buoy, Neville treads water and floats on his back.

NEVILLE: You're OK, Neville. Just stay calm and float.

DESCRIPTION: Just then, Bondi paddles his surfboard next to Neville, with Frizzy sitting on the board.

FRIZZY: Grab on, Nev!

DESCRIPTION: Back on shore, Narelle gives Neville a big hug. Sandy, Bondi, and the cadets surround them.

NARELLE: Oh, my little wom-wom.

NEVILLE: I'm so sorry, everyone.

SANDY: You know better than to swim alone, Nev. What were you thinking?

NEVILLE: I was thinking Mum would have a better chance of reaching the buoy if it was closer.

NARELLE: Oh, Neville.

NEVILLE: I didn't want to let you down, but I wasn't a very good teacher.

NARELLE: You're a great teacher, you silly wom-wom. You all are. I've learned so much. There's only one thing I need a bit more of to become a better swimmer.

FRIZZY: Song and dance numbers?

NARELLE: Practice!

FRIZZY: Guess that's kind of important too.

[Upbeat music]

DESCRIPTION: Narelle is back in the pool, and the cadets stand beside her and sing.

POUNCE/ GEMMA/ FRIZZY [singing]: Dig, dig, dig and breathe! Dig, dig, dig and breathe! We believe you can achieve!

DESCRIPTION: Narelle swims faster and farther than before!

POUNCE/ GEMMA/ FRIZZY [singing]: Dig, dig, dig and breathe!

FRIZZY: Look at her go!

DESCRIPTION: Neville stands at the other side of the pool. Narelle grabs the ledge in front of him.

NEVILLE: You did it! You reached the end of the pool! Mum, I'm so proud of you.

NARELLE: And I'm so proud of you.

NEVILLE: Can we do nothing on the beach now?

NARELLE: Absolutely.

POUNCE/ GEMMA/ FRIZZY [singing]: Well done, Narelle! You're our favourite girl! We're all super glad you don't live in a shell.

NARELLE: I like your friends.

NEVILLE: Me too.

[Neville laughs]

[Kangaroo Beach Theme music]

SINGERS: We're here all summer, it just gets funner! Let's hop down to…Kangaroo Beach!

[End Credits read] “Cast. Gemma: Millie Egerton, Pounce: Blake Stevens, Neville: Issac Trainer, Frizzy: Kiki Wales, Sandy: Kitty Flanagan, Bondi: Matthew Hardie, Georgie: Kate Murphy, Narelle: Sylvie van Dijk. Voice Director: Kate Murphy, Dialogue Recording: We Love Jam Studios & XB Studios. Animation by Infinite Studios. Production Funding from the Australian Government & Screen Australia. Financed with the assistance of and distributed by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation. Produced in Western Australia with the assistance of Screenwest and Lotterywest. Post Production and Animation Produced in New South Wales, Australia, with the Assistance of The New South Wales Government".