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 and 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 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 traffic sign turned red.

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 her 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, Nikhil and Jay giggle]

[Title] Nikhil and Jay.

[Episode Title] Nikhil and Jay and the Dream Detectives.

[Opening Credits] B.B.C. Based on the books by Chitra Soundar. Series Director, Jamie Teehan. Director, Nandita Jain. Written by Joe Sellman-Leava.

[Nikhil and Jay snore, upbeat music plays, boings]

DESCRIPTION: In the morning, Nikhil and Jay sleep in their bunk beds. Jay awakens and hits the underside of Nikhil’s bed.

JAY: Yes! Nikhil! Nikhil! It's today!

[Nikhil snores]

DESCRIPTION: Jay stands on his bed and peers over the edge of Nikhil’s bunk.

JAY: Nikhil? Nikhil!

DESCRIPTION: Jay picks up Raju and holds the toy close to Nikhil.

JAY: Rawr! Wake up!

[Thump, the music stops]

DESCRIPTION: Jay hits Nikhil’s tummy with Raju, and Nikhil sits up.

NIKHIL: What about Starfish Land?!

JAY: Huh?

NIKHIL: Uh... I think I was dreaming.

[Light music plays]

JAY: About Starfish Land?

NIKHIL: Yeah! It was amazing! I dreamt I was under the sea! There was a giant seahorse! And a unicorn starfish! Who was in deep trouble.

JAY: Wow! Hm...

[Nikhil laughs, lively music plays]

DESCRIPTION: In a daydream, Jay imagines he and Nikhil wearing diver’s helmets and watching a unicorn starfish and a seahorse swim past.

JAY: Look!

NIKHIL: Wow.

[Seahorse squeaks]

DESCRIPTION: Jay grabs the top point on the starfish, and Nikhil rides the seahorse.

JAY: Yeah!

NIKHIL: Wha-hoo!

[Both laugh]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay ride the starfish and seahorse to the ocean floor, then dance beside them.

JAY: Yeah...!

DESCRIPTION: The daydream ends. In the bedroom, Jay dances on the floor as Nikhil watches from his bunk.

JAY: Splish! Splash! This is the best dream ever, ever, ever!

[Boings, the music stops]

DESCRIPTION: Jay jumps excitedly, then stops and looks up at Nikhil.

JAY: You have to tell it to Nana and Jim today.

NIKHIL: Oh, yeah! Today is Nana and Jim's share-a-story picnic. Yes! They're going to love my dream story.

NIKHIL: Especially the end when, uh...

[Discordant music note plays]

JAY: When what, Nikhil?!

[Light music plays]

NIKHIL: Well, the unicorn starfish was in deep trouble, and—

[Boing]

DESCRIPTION: Jay stands on his bed and looks over the edge of the top bunk at Nikhil.

JAY: What happened at the end?!

NIKHIL: I can't remember!

JAY: Huh?

[Descending music notes play]

NIKHIL: I can't remember how my dream ended!

JAY: Oh no! How will we find out what happened to unicorn starfish?

[Ding, Jay gasps, light music plays]

JAY: I know! Quick, go back to sleep till you remember how it ends.

NIKHIL: Okay!

[Nikhil sighs happily]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil lies down, shuts his eyes, and smiles.

AMMA: Breakfast, chellams!

NIKHIL: Huh?

[Nikhil groans, the music ends, munching, squeaks]

DESCRIPTION: In the dining room, Amma and Appa sit at the table, each with a bowl in front of them. Nikhil and Jay run to the table and gobble their food. Amma and Appa smile and glance at each other.

AMMA AND APPA: Hm?

AMMA: Morning to you too!

[Amma chuckles, upbeat music notes play, slide whistles]

AMMA: It looks like you're excited for the share-a-story picnic.

NIKHIL: Uh... Sort of.

[Slide whistles]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay eat.

APPA: Oh! Oh! Oh, you are going to love my story!

[Spoons clink]

NIKHIL AND JAY: Finished!

APPA: Oh.

[Upbeat music plays]

DESCRIPTION: Jay puts his hand on Nikhil’s shoulder.

JAY: Come on, Nikhil. Back to bed.

NIKHIL: Yeah!

[Boys laugh, boings]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay run away from the table, and Amma and Appa look at each other and shrug.

AMMA AND APPA: Huh?

[Boings]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay run towards the stairs.

NIKHIL: Mission "Finish My Dream" is go, go--

[The music stops]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay stop and walk back to Appa.

APPA: Whoa, whoa, whoa!

NIKHIL AND JAY: Huh?

DESCRIPTION: Appa stands with his hands on his hips.

APPA: Where do you think you're going?

[Mellow music plays]

NIKHIL: Uh...

NIKHIL AND JAY: Bed?

APPA: Bed? There'll be plenty of time to snooze later. Especially when Jim starts telling one of his long stories.

[Ding, boys laugh]

DESCRIPTION: Appa winks.

APPA: But right now, I need you to help me get the picnic stuff ready.

NIKHIL AND JAY: Aw...

[Annoyed sighs, upbeat music plays]

APPA: I love the share-a-story picnic. Who needs T.V.s and tablets when we can sit back and tell tales in the sun—

[Thunder crashes]

APPA, NIKHIL, AND JAY: Ah!

[Rain patters]

AMMA: Oh! Uh... Change of plan.

[Plates and glasses clink]

DESCRIPTION: In the living room, Nikhil and Jay kneel on a blanket beside a bowl of fruit, Chickpea, and Star. Amma and Appa put a picnic basket filled with plates, bowls, glasses, utensils, and napkins on the blanket.

AMMA: You set everything up in here, chellams, and we'll get the food ready!

[Amma claps]

DESCRIPTION: Appa nods.

AMMA: Jaldi, jaldi!

[Gentle music plays]

DESCRIPTION: Amma and Appa walk away.

NIKHIL: Ah, I'll never get to go back to sleep and remember my dream now.

[Boing, upbeat music plays]

DESCRIPTION: Jay stands.

JAY: Yes, you can! But we haven't got long. You have to sleep now! Here!

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil stands.

NIKHIL: But what about the picnic?

[Whistle blows]

JAY: Quick sleep, then we'll set up the picnic. Go! Sleep!

[Slide whistle, the music stops]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil salutes, then lies on the couch.

NIKHIL: Okay!

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil opens one eye, then both eyes.

NIKHIL: Ah... I'm not tired.

[Light music plays]

JAY: I'll help! Close your eyes...

[Whooshing]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil closes his eyes, and Jay grabs his toy wand off the edge of a carrom board. He waves the wand and jumps from side to side by Nikhil. Stars appear as Jay waves his wand.

JAY: Jantar mantar, gee-boom-ba! Go. To. Sleep!

[The music stops]

NIKHIL: I can't sleep if you're shouting!

[Nikhil sighs, wobbling]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil waves his arms over his head.

NIKHIL: I need another way to fall asleep. Before I forget the dream forever!

NIKHIL AND JAY: Hm.

[Nikhil gasps, ding]

NIKHIL: Appa counts sheep sometimes to make himself sleepy.

JAY: Uh... No 'sheeps' here. Oh, lie down! Count these!

[Rustling, whooshing, light music plays, Star squeaks, Nikhil grunts]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil lies down, and Jay moves Chickpea and Star over his head.

JAY: One Chickpea, one Star, another Chickpea, two Stars, three Rajusauruses!

JAY SHOUTS: Roar!

[Squeak, boing]

DESCRIPTION: Jay waves Raju by Nikhil. Nikhil opens his eyes, stands, and paces with his right hand on his chin.

NIKHIL: It's not working. I can't sleep. How do I remember how my dream ended? Um...

[Whooshing, upbeat music plays, water bubbling]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil daydreams that he’s wearing a diver’s helmet in the ocean. A red starfish with a rainbow-striped mane and a white horn swims past.

NIKHIL: Whoa! The unicorn starfish! Huh? Wait! Where are you going?

[Starfish squeaks]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil takes out a magnifying glass.

NIKHIL: Hm...We need some clues.

[Slide whistle, boing, Jay laughs, Nikhil gasps, seahorse squeaks, slide whistle

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil peers through the magnifying glass and sees Jay. He finds a small seahorse, and then sees a sandcastle decorated with seashells.

NIKHIL: Ah-ha!

[Chiming]

DESCRIPTION: The daydream ends. In the living room, Nikhil turns to Jay, who sits on the couch beside Raju.

NIKHIL: Actually, I can remember how my dream ended if we play...

[Upbeat music plays]

NIKHIL: Dream detectives!

JAY: Brilliant! Uh... and how do you play that?

NIKHIL: We make a list of everything I dreamt, then find clues to the ending.

JAY: Yeah!

[Whoosh, upbeat music plays]

DESCRIPTION: Later, Nikhil holds his notebook and a pencil as he paces in front of Star, Raju, and Chickpea on the couch beside him. Jay paces behind Nikhil.

NIKHIL: Starfish unicorn, deep trouble...

[Nikhil gasps]

NIKHIL: Jay!

JAY: Huh?

NIKHIL: You were there too! You were riding a giant seahorse!

[Jay giggles, chiming, boing, awed music plays]

DESCRIPTION: Jay looks at Nikhil with large, shiny eyes. He jumps and spreads his arms.

JAY: Whoa... Dream Jay is so lucky! I've always wanted to ride a giant seahorse!

[Boing, squeak, upbeat music plays]

DESCRIPTION: Jay grabs a pillow off the couch and jumps with the pillow between his knees.

JAY: Whee!

NIKHIL: What are you doing?

[Jay giggles, boings]

DESCRIPTION: Jay stops jumping.

JAY: I'm acting out your dream. If you see it, you might remember it.

NIKHIL: Great idea!

[Boings, squeak]

DESCRIPTION: Jay jumps around the living room with the pillow.

JAY: Yee-haw, seahorsey!

[Jay giggles]

DESCRIPTION: Later, Jay kneels by the fruit bowl. He puts a banana on the carpet.

JAY: The unicorn starfish must have got lost in a...

DESCRIPTION: Jay gestures at a maze created from fruit on the carpet, then walks on a path between lines of fruit.

JAY: Sea fruit maze! Ah! Where am I?

DESCRIPTION: Jay kneels and looks down at a banana.

JAY: I'm sure I've seen this banana before. I'm going around in circles!

[Nikhil laughs, the music stops]

NIKHIL: Uh...No. No fruit mazes in my dream.

[Nikhil gasps, ding]

NIKHIL: But there was a castle!

[Boings, Jay giggles, light music plays, whoosh]

DESCRIPTION: Jay runs to the carrom board beside the couch and crawls beneath it.

JAY: It must have been a carrom castle! And the unicorn starfish was hiding in there.

[Jay laughs, reach extender rattles]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil picks up a reach extender.

NIKHIL: But the castle was home to a chompy sea snake!

[Reach extender rattles, Jay laughs]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil pokes the reach extender towards Jay’s feet.

NIKHIL: Chomp, chomp, chomp! The chompy sea snake's coming to nibble your toes!

[Snapping, dramatic music notes play, tense music plays]

DESCRIPTION: Jay crawls to a line of bananas leading into the dining room. He imagines the banana snapping at him.

JAY: Ah! Another chompy sea snake!

[Sea snake hisses]

NIKHIL AND JAY: Ah!

[Whoosh, light music plays, boings, squeaks]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay hold pillows in front of them and peek over the top. They both put the pillows between their knees and hop past the banana sea snake.

NIKHIL: Let's go, go, go!

JAY: Faster, seahorse, faster!

[Tires screech, thump, the music stops]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay hop towards the staircase. Jay stops and Nikhil bumps into him.

NIKHIL: Uh-oh! A furry sea monster.

[Dramatic music plays, Max meows]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil points at Max, who sits by the front door.

NIKHIL AND JAY: Ah!

[Max meows]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay drop their pillows and run up the stairs, with Max chasing them.

NIKHIL AND JAY: Ah!

NIKHIL: Panic!

[Tires screech, door slams, Max meows, relieved sighs]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay run into their bedroom, and Jay slams the door. They smile at each other. Jay wipes his brow.

JAY: Phew! We made it... back to... Starfish... Land... alive!

[Jay sighs, hands slap, happy music notes play]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay high-five.

JAY: Yes! Best ending ever, ever, ever!

[Jay sighs, the music ends]

NIKHIL: Yeah, but... it's not how my real dream ended.

JAY: Oh.

APPA, DISTANTLY: Boys!

NIKHIL AND JAY: Ah!

APPA, DISTANTLY: Why does it look like the picnic stuff has exploded all over the house?

NIKHIL AND JAY: Uh-oh.

JAY: Doesn't he realize we've just saved Starfish Land?

[Ding, Starfish squeaks, whooshing, upbeat music plays]

DESCRIPTION: The starfish appears and smiles. Later, in the living room, Nikhil places the last plate on the blanket and stands, hands on his hips. Jay stands on the corner of the blanket, smiling.

NIKHIL: Maybe I need to try and go to sleep again. Before Nana and Jim arrive.

NANA: Cooey!

NIKHIL AND JAY: Huh?

NANA: Only us.

[Descending music notes play]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil sags.

NIKHIL: Too late.

[Light music plays]

DESCRIPTION: Nana and Jim step into the doorway.

JIM: Ey up, lads. Ready to share a story? Or several?

[Jim chuckles]

NANA: Watch out. Jim's stories are longer than ever this time.

[Boys sigh, the music stops]

DESCRIPTION: Nana and Jim enter the living room as Nikhil and Jay look down, shoulders slumped.

JIM: Eh? Hm. What's up with you two?

DESCRIPTION: Amma and Appa arrive.

AMMA: Ah, don't ask. One minute they want to go back to bed, the next minute they're laying fruit all over the living room.

NANA: Oh-ho-ho! I remember you going through that stage. Always making a mess.

[Slide whistles, Appa chuckles]

DESCRIPTION: Appa glances from side to side, then smiles.

NANA: I tell you what though, it looks lovely and tidy in here now.

[Nikhil gasps]

NIKHIL: That's it! I've remembered the end of my dream!

JAY: Yes!

DESCRIPTION: Appa, Jim, and Nana look at Amma, who shrugs.

AMMA: Uh...

JIM: Huh?

[Light music plays, Jay squees]

NIKHIL: I remember why unicorn starfish was in trouble!

JAY: What?! Why?!

NIKHIL: Because Starfish Land was too messy.

DESCRIPTION: Jay nods.

NIKHIL: That's how I saved it!

[Jay gasps]

NIKHIL: I helped unicorn starfish tidy up.

[The music stops, discordant music notes play]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil and Jay blink rapidly, and their shoulders slump.

NIKHIL AND JAY: Boring.

[Everyone laughs, upbeat music plays]

NIKHIL: Our ending was way more fun.

JAY: Yeah, ours was...

[Fireworks whistle, boom]

DESCRIPTION: Jay closes his eyes and spreads his arms.

JAY: Epic!

[Jay giggles]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil puts his left hand on Jay’s back.

NIKHIL: I love playing dream detectives with you, Jay. In real life.

[Squeak, hearts pop]

DESCRIPTION: Nikhil hugs Jay to his side, and hearts appear around them.

JIM: Oh! Come and tell us all about this…

DESCRIPTION: Jim makes air quotes.

JIM: “Epic ending” of yours.

DESCRIPTION: The adults kneel on the picnic blanket, facing Nikhil and Jay.

NIKHIL: So, we were under the sea...

[Whooshing, starfish squeaks]

DESCRIPTION: The starfish smiles. Later, in the living room, Jay raises his arms with Max standing behind him.

JAY: And we escaped the furry sea monster.

[Max purrs]

DESCRIPTION: Jay pets Max’s head.

JAY: And saved the day!

[Victorious music notes play, fireworks whistle, adults cheer]

DESCRIPTION: The adults raise their fists into the air and smile.

NANA: Yay!

AMMA: Woo hoo!

APPA: Nikhil and Jay!

[Max meows, Jim claps]

JIM: Bravo, Nikhil and Jay! Oh, and furry sea monster, of course.

[Jim chuckles, Max meows, upbeat music plays]

DESCRIPTION: Jim stands, holding a piece of paper.

JIM: Right. My turn.

[Slide whistle, paper rustles, Nikhil and Jay gasp]

DESCRIPTION: The end of Jim’s paper rolls down to the blanket.

JIM: What?

NANA: I told you it was going to be long.

[Max meows, paper rustles, everyone gasps]

DESCRIPTION: Max pounces on the paper and scratches it.

JIM: Stay away, furry sea monster!

[Max meows slide whistle, thump]

DESCRIPTION: Jim falls backwards.

JIM: Oh! Oh! Oh!

[Carrom coins rattle, Max meows, everyone laughs]

DESCRIPTION: Jim sits on the floor next to the tipped carrom board, and carrom coins land around him. Max jumps onto his lap and sits on his left knee.

[Max meows, upbeat music plays]

[End Credits] Cast: Nikhil, Shiv Senthilkumar. Jay, Sai Ganesh Nadesan. Amma, Charithra Chandran. Appa, Ben Harris. Nana, Janine Duvitski. Jim, Mark Benton. 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.