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Transcript: Nikhil and Jay and the Missing Appalams
Nikhil and Jay
Descriptive Transcript
[Energetic music plays, door creaks, boing]
DESCRIPTION: In an animation, the front door of a townhouse opens, and Nikhil smiles. He has short brown hair, brown eyes, and wears a red hooded sweater. Inside the house, his little brother, Jay, also has short brown hair and brown eyes. He wears a blueish-purple shirt with blue-green trim.
NIKHIL: Hi, I'm Nikhil.
JAY: And I'm Jay!
[Map rustles, boings, plane whooshes, Appa shouts, Amma laughs]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil pulls down a map showing a small boat in the water off the coast of South India. Amma’s face appears. She has chin-length brown hair with a yellow bow. A plane flies to England, and Appa’s face appears. He has short brown hair and a beard. A heart-shaped outline surrounds them. Amma dances, and Appa holds a cat-shaped mug.
[Song] Here's a little story about where our family's from. It starts in South India with Amma, our mom. She caught a plane to England and met our dad, Appa. She loves to dance, and he makes the best cuppa. Oh. And then we came along. Oh. And this is our song.
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay dance with their parents.
[Song] Oh-oh, Nikhil and Jay. Oh-oh, Nikhil and Jay.
JAY: Nikhil likes...
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil peers through binoculars.
NIKHIL: Missions! Jay likes...
[Boings, energetic music continues]
DESCRIPTION: Jay bounces with his arms in the air.
JAY: Being loud!
[Chimes, coins rattle, rocket ship whooshes]
DESCRIPTION: They high-five and daydream about riding coins on a carrom board. In outer space, they peer through the window of a rocket ship.
[Song] We both love to dream. We can shoot a carrom pocket. Yeah, or blast off in a rocket. We make the greatest team.
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay fist-bump.
[Needle scratches a record, slide whistle]
NIKHIL: Wait.
JAY: What?
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay hold a picture of their grandparents, Ammamma and Thatha. Ammamma has short black hair and wears a yellow shirt and a blue saree. Thatha has short white hair and wears a yellow jacket, a white shirt, and eyeglasses on a chain around his neck.
NIKHIL: There's Ammamma and Thatha.
[Jim and Nana exclaim]
DESCRIPTION: Jim and Nana stand behind Nikhil and Jay. Jim has short brown hair and holds a tray of food. He wears a green shirt and brown pants. Nana holds her lollipop stop sign.
JAY: And Jim and Nana.
NIKHIL: And don't forget Max the cat.
[Max meows, crash, slide whistles]
DESCRIPTION: Max, an orange tabby cat, licks his paw, then lunges forward. Nikhil and Jay dance with their parents, Nana, Jim, and Max.
[Song] Oh-oh, Nikhil and Jay. Oh-oh, Nikhil and Jay. Oh-oh, Nikhil and Jay. Oh-oh, Nikhil and Jay.
[Door slams, both giggle]
[Title] Nikhil and Jay.
[Episode Title] Nikhil and Jay and the Missing Appalams.
[Opening Credits] B.B.C. Based on the books by Chitra Soundar. Series Director, Jamie Teehan. Director, Nandita Jain. Written by Chitra Soundar.
[Tense music plays, bush rustles, Appa cries, slide whistles]
DESCRIPTION: In their backyard, Nikhil and Jay pop up in a bush. Nikhil looks through his binoculars at Appa, who is standing in front of a mirror in the house.
NIKHIL: Oh, dear. Appa's crying again.
[Slide whistles]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil rolls his eyes and holds the binoculars in front of Jay’s eyes.
JAY: What? Why?
[The music stops, boing]
NIKHIL: Who knows? He cries all the time. Even when he's happy.
[Nikhil gasps, upbeat music plays]
NIKHIL: We should become detectives to solve the mystery of Appa's crying.
JAY: Yay! Wait. What do detectives do again?
NIKHIL: Find clues and solve mysteries. Go! Go! Go!
[Whoosh, Appa cries]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay poke their heads around a corner, and Nikhil watches Appa through the binoculars. At a table, Appa peels the skin off small red pearl onions.
NIKHIL: Clue number one. Appa is peeling onions.
DESCRIPTION: Inside, Nikhil and Jay approach the table, and Appa hold up his hand.
[The music stops]
APPA: Don't come any closer! These onions are so small, yet so powerful. They'll make you cry, too.
[Jay giggles]
JAY: Just like me. Smaller, powerful!
[Upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Jay smiles and poses.
NIKHIL: Yay! We solved the mystery of Appa's crying! Case closed!
[Hands smack, upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay high-five as Amma arrives.
BOTH: Yes!
AMMA: What's going on here?
NIKHIL: We are Detective Nikhil--
JAY: And Detective Jay!
AMMA: Ah, detectives. I see. Ooh! I've got a case for you to solve.
[Jay gasps]
NIKHIL: Ooh! The mystery of the delicious smell?
[Jay and Nikhil sniff, Amma chuckles]
AMMA: That's the special lunch I'm making.
[Bang, Jay and Nikhil gasp]
DESCRIPTION: Appa hits the table.
APPA: Yes! With Ammamma and Thatha's famous homemade appalams all the way from Chennai!
JAY: Yay!
NIKHIL: Yes!
DESCRIPTION: Hearts appear in Jay’s eyes and in the air around him. He smiles.
JAY: Crispy, crunchy, crackly appalam! Yum!
NIKHIL: Hmm. But what is the mystery then?
AMMA: I can't find the appalams. We can't have eaten them all.
JAY: We're on it!
[Boing, upbeat music plays]
NIKHIL: Mystery of the lost appalams! Go! Go! Go!
[Tires screech, slide whistle, tense music plays]
DESCRIPTION: In the living room, Nikhil and Jay stop beside a bookcase holding knick-knacks and a box with stamps and a drawing of Ammamma and Thatha on the side.
NIKHIL: Appa said Ammamma sent them from Chennai, so they must be in Chennai Parcel Box!
[Whoosh]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil takes the box off a shelf, and Jay grabs it from his hands.
JAY: Wahoo!
[He giggles, the music stops, appalam taps]
JAY: There! Found it!
DESCRIPTION: Jay picks an appalam up off the floor.
AMMA: Oy, yo, yo! Is that all that's left? Turns out we did eat them all.
JAY: Don't worry, Amma. I'll find some more appalams for lunch.
NIKHIL AND AMMA: Hmm.
[Chimes]
DESCRIPTION: Jay sits in the box and imagines flying around the Earth in outer space.
JAY: Yeah! Whoo!
[Giggles, appalams pop, slide whistle]
DESCRIPTION: Jay imagines flying around a tree, picking appalams. He jumps to the ground and hugs the tree.
JAY: Yeah! Yay! Appalam! Whee! Yeah! Wahoo!
DESCRIPTION: The daydream ends, and, in reality, Jay hugs Amma’s legs.
JAY: I'll fly to Chennai and bring you zillions of appalams from the appalam tree, Amma!
AMMA: Oh.
[She chuckles]
DESCRIPTION: Amma strokes Jay’s hair.
APPA: Nice idea, Jay, but Chennai is a bit far away, and Mr. Awan's shop is just around the corner. Maybe we can get some from there.
[Amma sighs]
AMMA: They won't be as good as Ammamma's homemade ones, but it'll have to do.
[Jay gasps, boings]
DESCRIPTION: Jay jumps and grabs Appa’s arm.
JAY: Appa! Wait! Does homemade mean you make it at home?
APPA: Yeah.
[Slide whistle, upbeat music plays]
NIKHIL: Then can we make them here at our home?
APPA: Hmm. That's not a bad idea, you two. I think we could give Ammamma's recipe a go.
BOTH: Yes!
[Chime, whoosh, cupboard clicks]
DESCRIPTION: Jay and Nikhil smile and fist-bump. Everyone gathers in the kitchen, and Amma opens a cupboard.
AMMA: Right. We need salt, cumin seeds, water, and-- oh, no. Where's the lentil flour?
[Upbeat music plays]
JAY: We'll find it.
NIKHIL: The mystery of the missing lentil flour is go! Go! Go!
[Cupboards click, thumps, hinges squeak]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay look in the cupboards.
NIKHIL: Uh.
JAY: Hmm.
[Jay gasps, bag crinkles]
DESCRIPTION: Jay picks up a bag of flour with a picture of rice on the front.
JAY: Are you lentil flour?
APPA: Nuh-uh. I'm the crispy rice flour.
NIKHIL: Hmm. One more question. When did you last see lentil flour?
[Slide whistle, Jay laughs]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil narrows his eyes at the rice flour and puts his hands on his hips. Appa leans over Jay.
APPA: When Amma made potato bajji! A.K.A., the best thing that happened to a potato ever!
BOTH: Hmm.
NIKHIL: Lentil flour must be close then.
[Slide whistle]
DESCRIPTION: Jay picks up a spice bottle.
JAY: Hey, chilli powder! Have you seen lentil flour?
[Slide whistle]
DESCRIPTION: Appa looks over Jay’s shoulder.
APPA: Oh, the beige not-so-spicy one. Yeah! I've seen it around.
[Slide whistle]
DESCRIPTION: Appa pops up on Jay’s other side, then ducks.
JAY: Hmm.
[Jay gasps, whoosh]
DESCRIPTION: Jay picks up the lentil flour and gives it to Nikhil.
JAY: Nikhil! Look!
NIKHIL: Ah-ha! We found it, Amma!
JAY: Case closed!
[Hands slap]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay high-five.
BOTH: Yeah!
JAY: Wahoo!
AMMA: Thanks, detectives! Right! Let's make some homemade appalams.
[Whoosh, upbeat music plays, bowl bangs, slide whistle]
DESCRIPTION: Amma puts a bowl on a counter and adds the flour. Nikhil takes the bowl and picks up a ball of dough. Appa takes another ball of dough, and he and the kids roll the dough in their hands. Appa throws five dough balls onto a counter in front of Amma, and she quickly flattens them with rolling pins.
APPA, NIKHIL, AND JAY: Yeah!
DESCRIPTION: Everyone cuts the flattened dough into circles, and flour fills the air.
ALL: Wahoo!
[Nikhil and Jay exclaim, tense music plays, bird caws, squeak]
DESCRIPTION: In the backyard, Amma stands beside Nikhil and Jay, who look down at the flattened appalams.
AMMA: Right. Just one more step left. Detectives! you need to guard our appalams until they're dry. Look out for hungry birds, naughty squirrels, and--
DESCRIPTION: Max reaches for an appalam, stops, and washes his paw.
AMMA: Max the cat.
[Max meows]
NIKHIL: You can count on us. This is a case for Detective Nikhil.
JAY: And Detective Jay! Yeah!
[Upbeat music plays, flowers rustle, jumps boing, whoosh, static hisses]
DESCRIPTION: Jay hides behind flowers, then rolls behind vegetables growing in crates. Nearby, Nikhil sits on a rope swing hanging from a tree branch and looks through his binoculars. Max sleeps in a nearby tree. Nikhil picks up a walkie-talkie and speaks into it.
NIKHIL: Hmm. Nothing's happening. I'm coming over.
[Nikhil and Jay sigh, Max grumbles, appalam squelches, the music stops]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay meet by the appalams on a blanket. Max stands between them. Jay pokes his finger into the nearest appalam as Max watches.
JAY: Not dry yet!
[Nikhil sighs, rustling]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil sits on the grass and rolls his eyes. Jay sits on the grass on the other side of the blanket.
NIKHIL: Hmm.
[Max meows, Jay sighs, mellow music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Later, Jay and Nikhil sit back-to-back.
JAY: What about now?
[Squelch]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil pokes an appalam with his finger.
NIKHIL: Aw!
[Jay groans, grass rustles, Nikhil sighs]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay flop on their backs on the grass.
JAY: Boring!
NIKHIL: Maybe we need another mystery to solve. Something big!
JAY: Yeah!
[Bang, boing]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay stand up.
NIKHIL: Huh? What was that?
JAY: Another mystery! Yay!
[Whoosh, slide whistle, tires screech]
DESCRIPTION: Jay runs away and then stops.
NIKHIL: Jay, wait! We're supposed to guard the appalams!
JAY: Huh? Hmm. Max!
[Boings, Max meows]
DESCRIPTION: Jay throws a magnifying glass, and it bounces to Max, who lies beside the blanket.
JAY: Keep an eye on the appalams for us. Please!
[Max meows, upbeat music plays, Amma hums, clanking]
DESCRIPTION: In the kitchen, Amma moves a stack of pots, and one falls on the floor.
JAY: Oh, just Amma being noisy again. Mystery solved.
[Nikhil gasps]
DESCRIPTION: Jay rolls his eyes. Nikhil looks at a trail of dirt and leaves on the floor.
NIKHIL: Jay! A new mystery!
JAY: Whoo-whoo!
[Footsteps tap, mellow music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Jay follows the trail, peering at it through the binoculars. Nikhil follows with his hand on his chin.
NIKHIL: Who made all this mess?
BOTH: Hmm.
[Max meows, both scream, whoosh, Nikhil sighs, the music stops]
DESCRIPTION: Jay looks through the binoculars at Max’s food bowls, and Max appears. Jay fumbles with the binoculars, and Nikhil puts his hand over his heart.
NIKHIL: These are Max's footprints.
JAY: Case closed.
BOTH: Yes!
[Hands slap, upbeat music plays, Max meows]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay high-five.
NIKHIL: Uh, Jay. If Max is here, who's guarding the appalams?
[Both gasp, dramatic music plays]
DESCRIPTION: In the backyard, the blanket and appalams are gone.
JAY: Detective Nikhil, the appalams are gone!
NIKHIL: No! We were supposed to look after them!
[Jump boings, bird caws]
DESCRIPTION: Jay jumps toward the grass beside the magnifying glass and falls to his knees.
[Thunder booms, upbeat music plays]
JAY: Disaster! We shouldn't have left them!
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil puts his hand on Jay’s shoulder.
NIKHIL: You know what we have to do now, Jay.
JAY: Yep! Fly far, far away!
[Whoosh]
DESCRIPTION: Jay stands and extends his arms in front of him. Nikhil grabs his shoulder.
NIKHIL: No! We need to tell Amma.
DESCRIPTION: Jay grabs Nikhil’s shoulder.
JAY: Wait! We're the best detectives in the whole universe! We have to solve the mystery of the missing appalams.
[The music stops]
NIKHIL: You're right, Detective Jay. We can solve this. Hmm. Who done it?
[Chime, upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil peers through the magnifying glass. He imagines walking on a field and notices the appalams spinning. They disappear.
NIKHIL: The appalams! Oh.
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil walks to a pink worm.
NIKHIL: Was it you?
[Wobbling]
DESCRIPTION: The worm shakes their head. Nikhil jumps onto a small island near a larger one, where a bird is perched in a tree.
NIKHIL: Ha!
[Chimes, pop]
DESCRIPTION: Two appalams appear in front of a bird, then disappear.
NIKHIL: Oh! Was it you?
[Bird caws, whoosh, chimes, video game zaps]
DESCRIPTION: The bird shakes their head. In a cave-like video game level, Nikhil jumps up steps and discovers four appalams floating in the air.
NIKHIL: There they are!
[Blanket growls, munches, chimes, whoosh, the music ends]
DESCRIPTION: The blue blanket eats the appalams. The daydream ends and, in the backyard, Nikhil stands beside Jay.
NIKHIL: Ah! Actually, the cloth turned into a monster and ate all the appalams!
[Growls, both scream]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay hug.
JAY: You mean the cloth monster's in Appa's shed?
[Dramatic music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay look towards the open doorway of the shed.
CLOTH MONSTER: Ah! Cloth!
[Jay screams, Nikhil gasps]
JAY: We have to save Appa.
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil nods as Amma approaches behind him.
[Amma gasps]
AMMA: The appalams! They're gone!
JAY: We're really, really--
NIKHIL: Really sorry, Amma.
AMMA: What happened? Did you eat them?
[Mellow music plays]
NIKHIL: No. We were watching them, but it was boring, so we went to solve more mysteries and—
[Jay shouts]
JAY: Ah! The cloth monster gobbled up all the appalams before we came back!
[Cloth monster groans, everyone gasps]
NIKHIL: Did you hear that?
JAY: The cloth monster's coming for us next. Come on. Hide!
[Boys scream, shout, footsteps patter, cloth monster groans, tires screech]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay run towards the house, and Amma blocks their way.
[Mellow music plays]
AMMA: Hey! Hey! Hey! I've got the two best detectives in all of the universe with me.
[Boys gasp]
AMMA: We won't let a cloth monster take our appalams, will we?
JAY: Nope!
NIKHIL: Never!
[Hands slap, cloth monster groans]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay high-five Amma.
CLOTH MONSTER: This cloth.
[Pops, cloth monster groans, shouts, Nikhil and Jay scream, footsteps patter, exciting music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil, Jay, and Amma peek into the shed. Inside, the blanket moves. Nikhil and Jay nod at each other and charge towards it.
NIKHIL: Leave our Appa alone!
JAY: And our appalams!
[Slide whistle, crash, tray bangs, Appa groans, the music stops]
DESCRIPTION: They tackle the cloth monster. On a shelf, the appalams bounce on a tray. On the floor, Appa lies beneath the blanket, with his eyes spinning.
JAY: What? Appa? You're the cloth monster!
APPA: Eh? A cloth monster? I was folding the cloth after I brought the appalams in from the garden.
[Slide whistle]
DESCRIPTION: He points at the appalams.
APPA: I was worried Max was going to eat them.
[Max meows, Amma chuckles]
DESCRIPTION: Outside, Max rolls his eyes and walks away.
AMMA: My appalam hero.
[Hands slap, upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay high-five.
NIKHIL: Case of the missing appalams closed!
[Both giggle]
BOTH: Thank you, Appa!
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay hug Appa.
AMMA: Aw! Next time, boys. Even if you're bored, don't leave the appalams unguarded.
[Appa’s tummy gurgles, boys gasp, Appa laughs]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay nod.
APPA: Don't worry. That's just my tummy begging for the special lunch.
[Slide whistle, upbeat music plays, rustle]
DESCRIPTION: Amma stands and picks up the appalam tray.
AMMA: In that case. Follow me!
[Upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Later, everyone sits at the dining room table with one appalam left on the tray in the middle.
AMMA: Ooh! Last one!
[Everyone speaks at once]
APPA: Oh, that's mine! Mine! Mine!
[Squelch, slide whistle, exclamations]
DESCRIPTION: Everyone tugs on the appalam, and it flies out of their hands, landing in Max’s bowl.
[Max meows, everyone laughs]
[Upbeat music plays]
[End Credits] Cast: Nikhil, Shiv Senthilkumar. Jay, Sai Ganesh Nadesan. Amma, Charithra Chandran. Appa, Ben Harris. Max, Harriet Carmichael. Executive Producer, Chitra Soundar. Produced with Funding from Northern Ireland Screen. Produced with Funding from Cake (trademarked). Copyright Paper Bananas Limited 2024. Copyright Nik and Jay Series One Limited 2024.
[Logos] King Banana, Paper Owl Films, for B.B.C., Albert Certified Production.
Descriptive Transcript
[Energetic music plays, door creaks, boing]
DESCRIPTION: In an animation, the front door of a townhouse opens, and Nikhil smiles. He has short brown hair, brown eyes, and wears a red hooded sweater. Inside the house, his little brother, Jay, also has short brown hair and brown eyes. He wears a blueish-purple shirt with blue-green trim.
NIKHIL: Hi, I'm Nikhil.
JAY: And I'm Jay!
[Map rustles, boings, plane whooshes, Appa shouts, Amma laughs]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil pulls down a map showing a small boat in the water off the coast of South India. Amma’s face appears. She has chin-length brown hair with a yellow bow. A plane flies to England, and Appa’s face appears. He has short brown hair and a beard. A heart-shaped outline surrounds them. Amma dances, and Appa holds a cat-shaped mug.
[Song] Here's a little story about where our family's from. It starts in South India with Amma, our mom. She caught a plane to England and met our dad, Appa. She loves to dance, and he makes the best cuppa. Oh. And then we came along. Oh. And this is our song.
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay dance with their parents.
[Song] Oh-oh, Nikhil and Jay. Oh-oh, Nikhil and Jay.
JAY: Nikhil likes...
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil peers through binoculars.
NIKHIL: Missions! Jay likes...
[Boings, energetic music continues]
DESCRIPTION: Jay bounces with his arms in the air.
JAY: Being loud!
[Chimes, coins rattle, rocket ship whooshes]
DESCRIPTION: They high-five and daydream about riding coins on a carrom board. In outer space, they peer through the window of a rocket ship.
[Song] We both love to dream. We can shoot a carrom pocket. Yeah, or blast off in a rocket. We make the greatest team.
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay fist-bump.
[Needle scratches a record, slide whistle]
NIKHIL: Wait.
JAY: What?
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay hold a picture of their grandparents, Ammamma and Thatha. Ammamma has short black hair and wears a yellow shirt and a blue saree. Thatha has short white hair and wears a yellow jacket, a white shirt, and eyeglasses on a chain around his neck.
NIKHIL: There's Ammamma and Thatha.
[Jim and Nana exclaim]
DESCRIPTION: Jim and Nana stand behind Nikhil and Jay. Jim has short brown hair and holds a tray of food. He wears a green shirt and brown pants. Nana holds her lollipop stop sign.
JAY: And Jim and Nana.
NIKHIL: And don't forget Max the cat.
[Max meows, crash, slide whistles]
DESCRIPTION: Max, an orange tabby cat, licks his paw, then lunges forward. Nikhil and Jay dance with their parents, Nana, Jim, and Max.
[Song] Oh-oh, Nikhil and Jay. Oh-oh, Nikhil and Jay. Oh-oh, Nikhil and Jay. Oh-oh, Nikhil and Jay.
[Door slams, both giggle]
[Title] Nikhil and Jay.
[Episode Title] Nikhil and Jay and the Missing Appalams.
[Opening Credits] B.B.C. Based on the books by Chitra Soundar. Series Director, Jamie Teehan. Director, Nandita Jain. Written by Chitra Soundar.
[Tense music plays, bush rustles, Appa cries, slide whistles]
DESCRIPTION: In their backyard, Nikhil and Jay pop up in a bush. Nikhil looks through his binoculars at Appa, who is standing in front of a mirror in the house.
NIKHIL: Oh, dear. Appa's crying again.
[Slide whistles]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil rolls his eyes and holds the binoculars in front of Jay’s eyes.
JAY: What? Why?
[The music stops, boing]
NIKHIL: Who knows? He cries all the time. Even when he's happy.
[Nikhil gasps, upbeat music plays]
NIKHIL: We should become detectives to solve the mystery of Appa's crying.
JAY: Yay! Wait. What do detectives do again?
NIKHIL: Find clues and solve mysteries. Go! Go! Go!
[Whoosh, Appa cries]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay poke their heads around a corner, and Nikhil watches Appa through the binoculars. At a table, Appa peels the skin off small red pearl onions.
NIKHIL: Clue number one. Appa is peeling onions.
DESCRIPTION: Inside, Nikhil and Jay approach the table, and Appa hold up his hand.
[The music stops]
APPA: Don't come any closer! These onions are so small, yet so powerful. They'll make you cry, too.
[Jay giggles]
JAY: Just like me. Smaller, powerful!
[Upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Jay smiles and poses.
NIKHIL: Yay! We solved the mystery of Appa's crying! Case closed!
[Hands smack, upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay high-five as Amma arrives.
BOTH: Yes!
AMMA: What's going on here?
NIKHIL: We are Detective Nikhil--
JAY: And Detective Jay!
AMMA: Ah, detectives. I see. Ooh! I've got a case for you to solve.
[Jay gasps]
NIKHIL: Ooh! The mystery of the delicious smell?
[Jay and Nikhil sniff, Amma chuckles]
AMMA: That's the special lunch I'm making.
[Bang, Jay and Nikhil gasp]
DESCRIPTION: Appa hits the table.
APPA: Yes! With Ammamma and Thatha's famous homemade appalams all the way from Chennai!
JAY: Yay!
NIKHIL: Yes!
DESCRIPTION: Hearts appear in Jay’s eyes and in the air around him. He smiles.
JAY: Crispy, crunchy, crackly appalam! Yum!
NIKHIL: Hmm. But what is the mystery then?
AMMA: I can't find the appalams. We can't have eaten them all.
JAY: We're on it!
[Boing, upbeat music plays]
NIKHIL: Mystery of the lost appalams! Go! Go! Go!
[Tires screech, slide whistle, tense music plays]
DESCRIPTION: In the living room, Nikhil and Jay stop beside a bookcase holding knick-knacks and a box with stamps and a drawing of Ammamma and Thatha on the side.
NIKHIL: Appa said Ammamma sent them from Chennai, so they must be in Chennai Parcel Box!
[Whoosh]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil takes the box off a shelf, and Jay grabs it from his hands.
JAY: Wahoo!
[He giggles, the music stops, appalam taps]
JAY: There! Found it!
DESCRIPTION: Jay picks an appalam up off the floor.
AMMA: Oy, yo, yo! Is that all that's left? Turns out we did eat them all.
JAY: Don't worry, Amma. I'll find some more appalams for lunch.
NIKHIL AND AMMA: Hmm.
[Chimes]
DESCRIPTION: Jay sits in the box and imagines flying around the Earth in outer space.
JAY: Yeah! Whoo!
[Giggles, appalams pop, slide whistle]
DESCRIPTION: Jay imagines flying around a tree, picking appalams. He jumps to the ground and hugs the tree.
JAY: Yeah! Yay! Appalam! Whee! Yeah! Wahoo!
DESCRIPTION: The daydream ends, and, in reality, Jay hugs Amma’s legs.
JAY: I'll fly to Chennai and bring you zillions of appalams from the appalam tree, Amma!
AMMA: Oh.
[She chuckles]
DESCRIPTION: Amma strokes Jay’s hair.
APPA: Nice idea, Jay, but Chennai is a bit far away, and Mr. Awan's shop is just around the corner. Maybe we can get some from there.
[Amma sighs]
AMMA: They won't be as good as Ammamma's homemade ones, but it'll have to do.
[Jay gasps, boings]
DESCRIPTION: Jay jumps and grabs Appa’s arm.
JAY: Appa! Wait! Does homemade mean you make it at home?
APPA: Yeah.
[Slide whistle, upbeat music plays]
NIKHIL: Then can we make them here at our home?
APPA: Hmm. That's not a bad idea, you two. I think we could give Ammamma's recipe a go.
BOTH: Yes!
[Chime, whoosh, cupboard clicks]
DESCRIPTION: Jay and Nikhil smile and fist-bump. Everyone gathers in the kitchen, and Amma opens a cupboard.
AMMA: Right. We need salt, cumin seeds, water, and-- oh, no. Where's the lentil flour?
[Upbeat music plays]
JAY: We'll find it.
NIKHIL: The mystery of the missing lentil flour is go! Go! Go!
[Cupboards click, thumps, hinges squeak]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay look in the cupboards.
NIKHIL: Uh.
JAY: Hmm.
[Jay gasps, bag crinkles]
DESCRIPTION: Jay picks up a bag of flour with a picture of rice on the front.
JAY: Are you lentil flour?
APPA: Nuh-uh. I'm the crispy rice flour.
NIKHIL: Hmm. One more question. When did you last see lentil flour?
[Slide whistle, Jay laughs]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil narrows his eyes at the rice flour and puts his hands on his hips. Appa leans over Jay.
APPA: When Amma made potato bajji! A.K.A., the best thing that happened to a potato ever!
BOTH: Hmm.
NIKHIL: Lentil flour must be close then.
[Slide whistle]
DESCRIPTION: Jay picks up a spice bottle.
JAY: Hey, chilli powder! Have you seen lentil flour?
[Slide whistle]
DESCRIPTION: Appa looks over Jay’s shoulder.
APPA: Oh, the beige not-so-spicy one. Yeah! I've seen it around.
[Slide whistle]
DESCRIPTION: Appa pops up on Jay’s other side, then ducks.
JAY: Hmm.
[Jay gasps, whoosh]
DESCRIPTION: Jay picks up the lentil flour and gives it to Nikhil.
JAY: Nikhil! Look!
NIKHIL: Ah-ha! We found it, Amma!
JAY: Case closed!
[Hands slap]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay high-five.
BOTH: Yeah!
JAY: Wahoo!
AMMA: Thanks, detectives! Right! Let's make some homemade appalams.
[Whoosh, upbeat music plays, bowl bangs, slide whistle]
DESCRIPTION: Amma puts a bowl on a counter and adds the flour. Nikhil takes the bowl and picks up a ball of dough. Appa takes another ball of dough, and he and the kids roll the dough in their hands. Appa throws five dough balls onto a counter in front of Amma, and she quickly flattens them with rolling pins.
APPA, NIKHIL, AND JAY: Yeah!
DESCRIPTION: Everyone cuts the flattened dough into circles, and flour fills the air.
ALL: Wahoo!
[Nikhil and Jay exclaim, tense music plays, bird caws, squeak]
DESCRIPTION: In the backyard, Amma stands beside Nikhil and Jay, who look down at the flattened appalams.
AMMA: Right. Just one more step left. Detectives! you need to guard our appalams until they're dry. Look out for hungry birds, naughty squirrels, and--
DESCRIPTION: Max reaches for an appalam, stops, and washes his paw.
AMMA: Max the cat.
[Max meows]
NIKHIL: You can count on us. This is a case for Detective Nikhil.
JAY: And Detective Jay! Yeah!
[Upbeat music plays, flowers rustle, jumps boing, whoosh, static hisses]
DESCRIPTION: Jay hides behind flowers, then rolls behind vegetables growing in crates. Nearby, Nikhil sits on a rope swing hanging from a tree branch and looks through his binoculars. Max sleeps in a nearby tree. Nikhil picks up a walkie-talkie and speaks into it.
NIKHIL: Hmm. Nothing's happening. I'm coming over.
[Nikhil and Jay sigh, Max grumbles, appalam squelches, the music stops]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay meet by the appalams on a blanket. Max stands between them. Jay pokes his finger into the nearest appalam as Max watches.
JAY: Not dry yet!
[Nikhil sighs, rustling]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil sits on the grass and rolls his eyes. Jay sits on the grass on the other side of the blanket.
NIKHIL: Hmm.
[Max meows, Jay sighs, mellow music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Later, Jay and Nikhil sit back-to-back.
JAY: What about now?
[Squelch]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil pokes an appalam with his finger.
NIKHIL: Aw!
[Jay groans, grass rustles, Nikhil sighs]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay flop on their backs on the grass.
JAY: Boring!
NIKHIL: Maybe we need another mystery to solve. Something big!
JAY: Yeah!
[Bang, boing]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay stand up.
NIKHIL: Huh? What was that?
JAY: Another mystery! Yay!
[Whoosh, slide whistle, tires screech]
DESCRIPTION: Jay runs away and then stops.
NIKHIL: Jay, wait! We're supposed to guard the appalams!
JAY: Huh? Hmm. Max!
[Boings, Max meows]
DESCRIPTION: Jay throws a magnifying glass, and it bounces to Max, who lies beside the blanket.
JAY: Keep an eye on the appalams for us. Please!
[Max meows, upbeat music plays, Amma hums, clanking]
DESCRIPTION: In the kitchen, Amma moves a stack of pots, and one falls on the floor.
JAY: Oh, just Amma being noisy again. Mystery solved.
[Nikhil gasps]
DESCRIPTION: Jay rolls his eyes. Nikhil looks at a trail of dirt and leaves on the floor.
NIKHIL: Jay! A new mystery!
JAY: Whoo-whoo!
[Footsteps tap, mellow music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Jay follows the trail, peering at it through the binoculars. Nikhil follows with his hand on his chin.
NIKHIL: Who made all this mess?
BOTH: Hmm.
[Max meows, both scream, whoosh, Nikhil sighs, the music stops]
DESCRIPTION: Jay looks through the binoculars at Max’s food bowls, and Max appears. Jay fumbles with the binoculars, and Nikhil puts his hand over his heart.
NIKHIL: These are Max's footprints.
JAY: Case closed.
BOTH: Yes!
[Hands slap, upbeat music plays, Max meows]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay high-five.
NIKHIL: Uh, Jay. If Max is here, who's guarding the appalams?
[Both gasp, dramatic music plays]
DESCRIPTION: In the backyard, the blanket and appalams are gone.
JAY: Detective Nikhil, the appalams are gone!
NIKHIL: No! We were supposed to look after them!
[Jump boings, bird caws]
DESCRIPTION: Jay jumps toward the grass beside the magnifying glass and falls to his knees.
[Thunder booms, upbeat music plays]
JAY: Disaster! We shouldn't have left them!
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil puts his hand on Jay’s shoulder.
NIKHIL: You know what we have to do now, Jay.
JAY: Yep! Fly far, far away!
[Whoosh]
DESCRIPTION: Jay stands and extends his arms in front of him. Nikhil grabs his shoulder.
NIKHIL: No! We need to tell Amma.
DESCRIPTION: Jay grabs Nikhil’s shoulder.
JAY: Wait! We're the best detectives in the whole universe! We have to solve the mystery of the missing appalams.
[The music stops]
NIKHIL: You're right, Detective Jay. We can solve this. Hmm. Who done it?
[Chime, upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil peers through the magnifying glass. He imagines walking on a field and notices the appalams spinning. They disappear.
NIKHIL: The appalams! Oh.
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil walks to a pink worm.
NIKHIL: Was it you?
[Wobbling]
DESCRIPTION: The worm shakes their head. Nikhil jumps onto a small island near a larger one, where a bird is perched in a tree.
NIKHIL: Ha!
[Chimes, pop]
DESCRIPTION: Two appalams appear in front of a bird, then disappear.
NIKHIL: Oh! Was it you?
[Bird caws, whoosh, chimes, video game zaps]
DESCRIPTION: The bird shakes their head. In a cave-like video game level, Nikhil jumps up steps and discovers four appalams floating in the air.
NIKHIL: There they are!
[Blanket growls, munches, chimes, whoosh, the music ends]
DESCRIPTION: The blue blanket eats the appalams. The daydream ends and, in the backyard, Nikhil stands beside Jay.
NIKHIL: Ah! Actually, the cloth turned into a monster and ate all the appalams!
[Growls, both scream]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay hug.
JAY: You mean the cloth monster's in Appa's shed?
[Dramatic music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay look towards the open doorway of the shed.
CLOTH MONSTER: Ah! Cloth!
[Jay screams, Nikhil gasps]
JAY: We have to save Appa.
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil nods as Amma approaches behind him.
[Amma gasps]
AMMA: The appalams! They're gone!
JAY: We're really, really--
NIKHIL: Really sorry, Amma.
AMMA: What happened? Did you eat them?
[Mellow music plays]
NIKHIL: No. We were watching them, but it was boring, so we went to solve more mysteries and—
[Jay shouts]
JAY: Ah! The cloth monster gobbled up all the appalams before we came back!
[Cloth monster groans, everyone gasps]
NIKHIL: Did you hear that?
JAY: The cloth monster's coming for us next. Come on. Hide!
[Boys scream, shout, footsteps patter, cloth monster groans, tires screech]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay run towards the house, and Amma blocks their way.
[Mellow music plays]
AMMA: Hey! Hey! Hey! I've got the two best detectives in all of the universe with me.
[Boys gasp]
AMMA: We won't let a cloth monster take our appalams, will we?
JAY: Nope!
NIKHIL: Never!
[Hands slap, cloth monster groans]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay high-five Amma.
CLOTH MONSTER: This cloth.
[Pops, cloth monster groans, shouts, Nikhil and Jay scream, footsteps patter, exciting music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil, Jay, and Amma peek into the shed. Inside, the blanket moves. Nikhil and Jay nod at each other and charge towards it.
NIKHIL: Leave our Appa alone!
JAY: And our appalams!
[Slide whistle, crash, tray bangs, Appa groans, the music stops]
DESCRIPTION: They tackle the cloth monster. On a shelf, the appalams bounce on a tray. On the floor, Appa lies beneath the blanket, with his eyes spinning.
JAY: What? Appa? You're the cloth monster!
APPA: Eh? A cloth monster? I was folding the cloth after I brought the appalams in from the garden.
[Slide whistle]
DESCRIPTION: He points at the appalams.
APPA: I was worried Max was going to eat them.
[Max meows, Amma chuckles]
DESCRIPTION: Outside, Max rolls his eyes and walks away.
AMMA: My appalam hero.
[Hands slap, upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay high-five.
NIKHIL: Case of the missing appalams closed!
[Both giggle]
BOTH: Thank you, Appa!
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay hug Appa.
AMMA: Aw! Next time, boys. Even if you're bored, don't leave the appalams unguarded.
[Appa’s tummy gurgles, boys gasp, Appa laughs]
DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay nod.
APPA: Don't worry. That's just my tummy begging for the special lunch.
[Slide whistle, upbeat music plays, rustle]
DESCRIPTION: Amma stands and picks up the appalam tray.
AMMA: In that case. Follow me!
[Upbeat music plays]
DESCRIPTION: Later, everyone sits at the dining room table with one appalam left on the tray in the middle.
AMMA: Ooh! Last one!
[Everyone speaks at once]
APPA: Oh, that's mine! Mine! Mine!
[Squelch, slide whistle, exclamations]
DESCRIPTION: Everyone tugs on the appalam, and it flies out of their hands, landing in Max’s bowl.
[Max meows, everyone laughs]
[Upbeat music plays]
[End Credits] Cast: Nikhil, Shiv Senthilkumar. Jay, Sai Ganesh Nadesan. Amma, Charithra Chandran. Appa, Ben Harris. Max, Harriet Carmichael. Executive Producer, Chitra Soundar. Produced with Funding from Northern Ireland Screen. Produced with Funding from Cake (trademarked). Copyright Paper Bananas Limited 2024. Copyright Nik and Jay Series One Limited 2024.
[Logos] King Banana, Paper Owl Films, for B.B.C., Albert Certified Production.
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