Timesliders resource hub

Transcript

6 voices: Eden [E]; Kyla [K]; Mr Mackenzie [MM]; Professor Curran [PC]; Thrace [T]; SUSIE [S]

E – Kyla, Kyla!
K – What do you want?
E – Will you sit with me on the bus?
K – We’ve talked about this, Eden. You’ve got to sit with kids your own age.
E – Buuuuuttttt …
K – No buts. Now, where’s your bag? Mum’ll be livid if you lose that. It’s got your lunch in it.
E – Fine … it’s over by Mr Mackenzie.
K – Well, go and get it. We’ll be leaving in any minute.
MM – Right, children. I need you to line up now. The bus is here to take us to the castle. Those of you who’ve been before will need to pair up with someone who hasn’t, please.
E – Pleeeeease, Kyla. We’ve got to pair up. I haven’t been before.
K – Fine. Just don’t annoy me, ok?

PC – Thrace! Thrace! Where are you?
T – Coming, Your Magnificence!
PC – Thraaaaaaaaaaaace!
T – Here, Your Magnificence.
PC – Ah. There you are. Right. Have you calibrated the temporal stabilisers with the flux capacitor power crystals so we can action a shift in the continuum?
T – Ummmmm. What?
PC – Have you fixed the time machine?
T – Oh, yes. The time machine is fixed.
PC – Excellent. Now it’s time for us to put Operation Stopwatch into action.
T – Brilliant! Just one quick question …
PC – Yes?
T – What is Operation Stopwatch?
PC – For the thousandth time, Operation Stopwatch is my masterplan to move through time, changing the course of Scotland’s history, forever!
T – Ah, THAT Operation Stopwatch.

E – So, where are we going then? What’s this castle?
K – This is the annual school trip to Culzean Castle. You only get to go if you’re in certain years.
E – What’s so interesting about a boring old castle?
K – It’s not boring! There’s lots to do there.
E – I’d rather be back at school playing football.
K – Weeelll, that’s probably better. I wouldn’t want you to get scared.
E – I wouldn’t get scared! Scared of what?
K – Oh, just the ghosts.
E – Ghosts? You never said there were ghosts!
K – You’re more interested in football, so I didn’t think you’d be up for meeting any ghosts.
E – I am SO up for meeting ghosts. I love ghosts. I’ve always loved ghosts.
K – Well, if you’re quiet for the rest of the journey, you may get to meet some when we get to the castle!
E – But … !
K – But only if you’re quiet.
E – Mmmmmmm.
K – That’s better. Now, don’t say anything until we get there.

T – Trouble! There’s trouble, Your Magnificence. Trouble! Trouble!
PC – What are you talking about, you fool?
T – Trouble!
PC – Where?
T – There.
PC – Where?
T – There!
PC – What? Thrace …
T – Yes, Your Supreme Wonderfulness.
PC – What is the trouble?
T – Well, there appears to be – and I’m only trying to give you the heads-up here – a bus full of …
PC – Yes?
T – Well, what are they called? Those small things …
PC – (gasps) Elves!
T – No, not shelves. You know, the little things. They’re really annoying. They go to school, eat sweets …
PC – Children!
T – That’s it, Your Splendiferousness. Children! You really are clever. That’s why you’re the boss.
PC – Thrace, there are not meant to be any children at the castle today. It is meant to be closed.
T – Well, according to the schedule they’ve opened especially for the school. That’s why I came running up and shouting ‘Trouble! Trouble! Trouble!’
PC – Yes, yes, well, well. This means we will have to step up our plans for Operation Stopwatch.
T – Excellent! Now, what was that again?
PC – (tuts) Fool.

E – Woah! This place is so cool. Look at it, Kyla – it’s huge!
K – Better than playing football?
E – Much better.
MM – Right, children – don’t wander too far away. We’ll be meeting our guide soon.
K – Make sure you’ve … Eden? Eden! Eden! Come back here!

PC – Thraaaaaace!
T – Yes, Your Majesticals?
PC – Are we up to full power yet?
T – Very nearly.
PC – Well, hurry up. We’re going to be late.
T – How can we be late? We’re going back in time.
PC – Are you arguing with me?
T – (gulps) Absolutely not.
PC – I didn’t think you would be. Now, give the machine as much power as you can.
T – Which machine?
PC – The time machine, you fool!
T – Oh yes, that machine.

K – Eden? Eden? Where are you? You’re in so much trouble when I find you.
E – Boo!
K – Arghh! Eden, why did you run off like that?
E – I wanted to see the castle.
K – We’ve got to get back before the rest of them realise we’re not there.
E – Or … we could go exploring on our own. Look! There’s a door.
K – So?
E – Doors are meant to be opened!
K – No, Eden. Some doors are meant to be shut, locked, never opened and walked away from. This one especially.
E – Why this one?
K – Because it says ‘Do Not Open’ on it, in big red letters.
E – Yeah, but grown-ups are always saying things like ‘Don’t do this’, ‘Don’t touch that’, ‘Stop playing with it, you’ll break it’. They don’t really mean it. Come on!
K – They do mean it. Eden!
E – Kyla, it’s a staircase.
K – Great, a really old staircase. Let’s go!
E – I’m going to have a look.
K – Eden, no! Eden, you’re going to get us in so much trouble.
E – It’s really dark.
K – Well, what does that tell you?
E – That the lights aren’t on?
K – No, it means that we’re not meant to be in here.
E – Hang on, I think I can see some light. It’s right down at the bottom.
K – Eden, can you hear that?
E – What?
K – I’m not sure. It sounds like some sort of machine.
E – Oh yeah, I can hear it too. Maybe it’s the ghosts!
K – Don’t be silly! There’s no such thing as ghosts.
E – But you said …
K – Shhhhhh! Look!
E – What?
K – Woah! Look at that! It’s like some sort of secret underground lair. Whose do you think it is?
E – Maybe Batman’s?
K – Batman isn’t Scottish! And anyway, he lives in Gotham.
E – Oh yeah.
K – Look, there’s somebody coming. Quick, hide!
E – Where?
K – Anywhere! Just hide. Look, there’s a desk. Let’s hide under there.

T – So, remind me why are we travelling back in time again?
PC – I shall explain this only once more to you, Thrace. We are travelling back in time to a number of different locations to alter the course of Scottish history. I have a fool-proof plan to bring about changes that will make me the ruler of all of Scotland. If I have to explain it to you once more, I shall take you so far back in time you’ll meet the dinosaurs.
T – Does Scotland have dinosaurs?
K – Of course Scotland had dinosaurs! Didn’t you learn that in school?
T – Agh!
E – Kyla, what are you doing?
PC – Children! Thrace! Grab them!
T – Come here!
E – Arrrrrggghhhh!
PC – Grab them, Thrace!
T – They’re so fast! I can’t catch up with them!

K – Stop it! Let us go!
E – Let us go immediately.
T – Or what?
K – Or we’ll tell our teacher about all the horrible things you’re doing.
T – Um, boss?
PC – What?
T – Should I let them go? They said they would tell if I didn’t.
PC – Of course not, you fool.
T – But I don’t want to get in any trouble with a teacher.
PC – Thrace, you can get into trouble with a teacher or you can get into trouble with me.
T – Fair enough. You two are going nowhere.
PC – How did you two get in?
K – We came down the stairs.
PC – [mocking repeat] What? Through the door that says ‘Do Not Open’?
E – Yes.
T – I told you we should have put a lock on it.
PC – Silence, you fool!
T – Sorry.
PC – Tell me, how much of my plan did you hear?
K and E – Nothing!
T – So, you’re saying that you didn’t hear anything about the plan for the Professor to go back to various points in Scotland’s history using our time machine device, and change the course of events so that eventually the Professor could rule all of Scotland?
K and E – Ummmmm, no?
T – Phew! No problem then, boss – they don’t know anything.
PC – Thrace?
T – Yep.
PC – Shut up!
T – Righto.
PC – I don’t have time to deal with you two now. I need to make a start on Operation Stopwatch.
T – Careful, boss – you don’t want to give away the plan!
PC – So, you two will stay here until we get back. Then I will transport you back in time and leave you stranded where you can do no harm. Ha ha ha ha!
T – Ha ha ha ha ha!
PC – Thrace, what are you doing?
T – Joining in in the evil villain laughter?
PC – Well, don’t!
T – Sorry.
PC – Fetch me the time machine remotes. One for me and one for you.
T – Time machine remotes. On it!
PC – I will make the final preparations and then nothing can stop us. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

K – [whispers] Eden?
E – Yes?
K – I think I can get free. We’ve got to stop these two from changing history. If we don’t, then all my homework will be wrong!
E – How are we going to stop them?
K – I’m going to steal the remotes so they can’t use the machine.
E – Ok, can you untie me as well, please?
K – Yes, but don’t look like you’re free. Hold still.

T – Right, I’ve got the remote, boss. How do they work?
PC – They’re pre-programmed with all the destinations and dates that we need to travel back to in order for my plan to work. And just for you, Thrace, I have loaded onto the device the entire knowledge of everything in history, to help you blend in. Just press that button and ask it a question. Watch. SUSIE, is Thrace unbelievably stupid?
S – Yes, Thrace is unbelievably stupid.
T – Wow! This thing is good. I am unbelievably stupid. Why’s it called SUSIE?
PC – It stands for Supremely Upgraded Subspace Information Engine. SUSIE for short. It knows everything there is to know about anything.
T – So, which button do you press to time travel?
PC – The big green one there.
T – Ah! The one that says Time Travel on it?
PC – I’ve made it so simple that a monkey can use it.
T – I certainly can.

PC – Right, you meddling children. I shall see you later on.
K – Now, Eden!
T – Hey! Give that back! It’s mine!
PC – No, stop! Come on!
T – Give it!
K – Eden, come on. Let’s run!
PC – After them!
E – Kyla, we’ve got nowhere left to run. We’re trapped.
PC – Ha! Indeed, you are. So, hand over the device and I might let you live.
K – You’re wrong.
PC – Oh really? And why is that then?
K – Hold on tight to me, Eden.
E – Why? What are you going to do?
K – Either something really brave or really stupid. There’s one more place to go. We’re not entirely trapped.
PC – And where do you think you can go then?
K – The past!
PC – What? …

T – Where did they go?
PC – They’ve gone back in time. I don’t believe it. This is why I hate children. They always ruin everything.
T – What are we going to do, boss?
PC – We are going to follow them through time and get that device back. Then we’re going to make them wish they’d never messed with us. Thrace, come here!
T – Righto.
PC – Hold on tight. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Transcript

5 voices: Eden [E]; Kyla [K]; Professor Curran [PC]; Thrace [T]; SUSIE [S]

Previously on Timesliders:

K – Woah! Look at that! It’s like some sort of secret underground lair.
T – So, remind me: why are we travelling back in time again?
PC – Operation Stopwatch is my masterplan to move through time, changing the course of Scotland’s history, forever!
K – We’ve got to stop these two from changing history. If we don’t, then all my homework will be wrong!
PC – SUSIE, is Thrace unbelievably stupid?
S – Yes, Thrace is unbelievably stupid.
T – Wow! This thing is good. I am unbelievably stupid. Why’s it called SUSIE?
PC – It stands for Supremely Upgraded Subspace Information Engine. SUSIE for short. It knows everything there is to know about anything.
K – Hold on tight to me, Eden.
E – Why? What are you going to do?
K – Either something really brave or really stupid. There’s one more place to go. We’re not entirely trapped.
PC – And where do you think you can go then?
K – The past!
PC – What?
T – Where did they go?
PC – They’ve gone back in time. I don’t believe it! This is why I hate children. They always ruin everything.
T – What are we going to do, boss?
PC – We are going to follow them through time and get that device back. Then we’re going to make them wish they’d never messed with us. Thrace, come here!
T – Righto.
PC – Hold on tight. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

And now, on Timesliders:

E: Where … where are we?
K: Did you see what happened? I just saw a big flash of light and it was like I was falling into a tunnel. Then somehow, we ended up here.
E: Wherever here is. Kyla, look, there’s nothing here. It’s just snow, ice and rocks. It’s so cold. Good job Mum made us wear our huge coats.
K: Have you still got your gloves and hat in your pocket?
E: Um … yep!
K: Put them on or you’ll freeze.
E: What are we going to do, Kyla? Where are we?
K: I don’t know. But we can’t stay out here. It’s too cold.
E: Well, where do we go then? I can’t see anything at all.
K: Hang on. I’ve got an idea. Have you still got that time travelling thing?
E: Yep.
K: Give it here. SUSIE, where are we?
S: You are currently in the part of Scotland known as the Highlands, more specifically Glencoe.
K: What? I’ve been to Glencoe and it doesn’t look anything like this. What’s happened to it?
S: The glen has not been formed as we have arrived in a time period pre-dating the melting of the glaciers.
K and E: What?!
S: This is the first stop on Professor Curran’s Operation Stopwatch.
K: So, when are we?
S: That’s a much better question. About 10,000 BC. I can’t be more precise, I’m afraid.
K: Why would Professor Curran need to come here?
S: That information is not available to me, I’m afraid. However, I should inform you that another time travel device is about to arrive at this location.
K: Oh no. The Professor. Quick, Eden. We need to hide.
E: Where? There’s nothing here.
K: Um, quick! Behind that rock over there! Don’t make a sound.

T: Aaaaaaarrrrrrrgh.
PC: Thrace! What are you doing?
T: Aaaarrrrgh! Screaming!
PC: Why?
T: Because I’m scared. That was awful. I’m not sure if I like time travel.
PC: Well, that’s no problem. I can just leave you here!
T: No! Please don’t do that. Although … where is here?
PC: You’re in the Highlands.
T: It doesn’t look like the Highlands to me.
PC: That’s because it hasn’t been formed yet. We have arrived in about 10,000 BC, just as all this ice is starting to melt. When it’s finished, in a few thousand years’ time, it will leave what you and I know as Glencoe.
T: [shivering] Oh. So why are we here then?
PC: Because, my pea-brained sidekick, I don’t want the ice to melt slowly. I want it to melt quickly. Now, come along. We’ve got to set off the thermo grenades at key points in the glacier.
T: Righto, boss. Oh, boss?
PC: What is it, Thrace?
T: What about the two kids? Kyla and Eden. Don’t we need to find them?
PC: Ha! The harsh desolate landscape of the ice age will take care of them. Look around, Thrace. Nothing could survive out here.
T: [shivering] Good point.

E: Why would the Professor want to melt the ice quickly? How is that going to help with Operation Stopwatch?
K: I don’t know, but it can’t be good.
E: Hang on. Let’s ask SUSIE. SUSIE, what’s an ice age?
S: An ice age is a long period of time when the Earth’s temperature is much colder than normal. In 10,000 BC, the Earth started to warm up and the ice sheets were melting. By 8000 BC, the ice sheets in this area had disappeared, and Glencoe was left.
E: Woah! So that’s why it looks like that.
S: That’s right. The ice would carve out the U-shape that you know from Glencoe. It took a glacier, which is a big body of ice, over 12km in size to create Glencoe.
E: 12km? That’s huge! So, why would the Professor want to melt the ice quickly?
S: What happens to ice when it melts?
E: Oh! It turns to water.
S: Correct! What happens when over 12km of ice melts?
E: Oh oh! Lots of water!
S: Correct again. What happens when over 12km of ice melts all at once?
K and E: Floods!
S: I suspect that the Professor is trying to use the ice of the glacier to cause a flood.
E: But why? There’s nothing here.
K: There might not be anything where we are, but what about other places in Scotland? SUSIE, when did people start living in Scotland?
S: Early settlers would have existed in Scotland from approximately 12,000 BC.
K: So, the Professor is going to try and use the Ice Age’s glaciers to try and flood the settlers.
E: Well, that’s not very nice! What if they can’t swim?
S: And Glencoe isn’t the only place to have been formed by a glacier. Most of Scotland and the north of England would have been covered in them.
K: We have to stop them from melting them all at once!
E: How are we going to do that?
K: I think I have a plan. But we’ve got to follow them. Quick, let’s go!

PC: Put the first one there. Excellent. Now we’ve got another long walk to plant the next one. If this works, we can do this all over Scotland!
T: Yippeeeeee.
PC: Problem, Thrace?
T: No, Your Magnificence, it’s just …
PC: Just what?
T: Well, it’s very cold and there’s lots of ice and snow everywhere, and I didn’t bring my wellies. I’ve got cold feet!
PC: Oh. Well, that’s your own fault. Now, stop your whining or I’ll leave you behind, and you can see how well you can swim when I melt 12km of ice in one go!
T: Actually, I’m not that cold anymore.
PC: I didn’t think so.
T: How are we going to set these thermo what-do-ya-call-ems off then, boss?
PC: Once all five of them are planted, I will use this remote to detonate all of them at once. They will act like microwaves and heat all the ice in a matter of seconds.
T: I should have brought my surfboard!
PC: Come on, we’ve got to set the next one.

K: Here’s the first one they’ve planted. SUSIE, what is it?
S: This is a remote thermo grenade. When all 5 of them are planted, they will be able to be remotely detonated and the ice will melt in a matter of seconds.
K: How do we stop them?
E: I think it’s got some sort of switch on the bottom …
K: Eden!
E: What?
K: Be careful! You could blow us all up!
E: Look, there’s an on/off switch on the bottom of it, right next to these flashing red lights.
K: Give it here.
E: Flick the switch and turn it off.
K: Ok. Here it goes …
E: Is that it?
K: I think so. Bring it with us. We don’t want to leave anything out here that isn’t supposed to be.
E: They went this way. Quick! I found another one!
K: How many is that now?
E: 4.
K: So, there’s one more left. Come on. Look, I can see them up ahead. Careful, Eden, don’t get too close.

PC: One more device to plant and then we shall retreat to a safe distance to watch the first part of my plan work perfectly.
T: Righto, boss – here we go. All done!
PC: Excellent. Now, follow me, Thrace. We need to get well away from here.
K: Not so fast, Professor!
PC: Ugh, that’s all I need. Meddling children getting in my way. You’re too late. The devices have all been planted and there’s nothing you can do to stop them.
T: Yeah! Unless you switch them off, there’s nothing you can do! Oh, sorry.
PC: You fool! No matter, she’ll have to get through me first.
T: Boss …
PC: You don’t have it in you, little girl. Do you really think that someone like you can take on someone like me and win?
T: Boss …
PC: You’ll never stop Operation Stopwatch. Ha! I mean, you’re nothing but a child.
T: Boss!
PC: What is it, Thrace?
T: Weren’t there two of them?
PC: Ah.

E: That’s right. There were. And I’ve found the last grenade.
PC: What? Quick, Thrace – pass me the remote detonator.
T: Here, boss.
PC: Why isn’t anything happening?
T: I think they found the off switch, boss.
K: That’s right. So, your plan is ruined and you’ll never be able to rule Scotland!
PC: Ha! You think this was the only part of my plan? I have plenty of other ways to take my rightful place as ruler. Just you wait and see. Thrace, pass me the thunder wobbler.
T: Not the … thunder wobbler!
PC: Yes! The thunder wobbler!
T: If you’re sure …
PC: Let’s see how these pesky boys cope with this! Come on, Thrace. Let’s leave these two to perish.
T: Good plan, boss.
PC: So long! Enjoy your final moments …

K: Well, we stopped the ice from melting but I think we’ve got a new problem.
E: What is it?
K: It looks like a big stick. Can you feel that? It feels like a very small earthquake.
E: Quick! Ask SUSIE.
K: SUSIE, what’s a thunder wobbler?
S: Oh dear. Oh my. The thunder wobbler is a device that sends vibrations and shockwaves deep into the earth. If you don’t stop it, the ice sheet could split and cause a catastrophic avalanche.
E: What are we going to do?
K: I’ve got an idea, but it might not work.
E: What?
K: We could use one of Professor Curran’s grenades to blow the machine up.
E: How? We haven’t got the remote.
S: I think I have a plan that might work.
K: Quick, SUSIE. The rumblings are getting stronger.
S: If you open up the grenade, you’ll find a ‘Detonate Now’ button. If you press that, you won’t need a remote.
K: But we’ll be detonated with it!
S: I didn’t say it was a perfect plan …
K: What if we time travelled out of here at exactly the same time as we detonate the grenade? We might just make it away from the blast!
S: That could work.
K: It’s our only option. Otherwise, we’ll get buried under the ice for thousands of years!
E: Ok, let’s do it.
K: Look, there’s the button. Ready?
E: Ready!
K: SUSIE?
S: Ready!
K: Here goes nothing!

E: Um … Kyla?
K: Yeah?
E: Where are we?
K: I don’t know. SUSIE, why aren’t we home?
S: This is the next destination that was programmed into the Professor’s time travel plans.
K: So, where are we?
S: Cromarty, a small town about 24 miles north of Inverness.
K: Ah, phew! At least I’ve heard of it.
S: In 1819 …
K and E: What?!

S: Ah, hello there. This is SUSIE here. That stands for Supremely Upgraded Subspace Information Engine, but all my friends just call me SUSIE. I need some help. For some reason, every time we make a jump to the Professor’s next destination, I lose some parts of my memory bank. It would be most helpful to Kyla, Eden and myself if you wouldn’t mind filling them in. It’s really easy – all you need to do is answer the following questions.

Question 1 – What size was the glacier that formed Glencoe? Was it:
a) 5km
b) 12km
or c) 25km

Question 2 – What is an ice age? Is it:
a) a long period of time where the temperature of the Earth is much cooler
b) a short period of time where the temperature of the Earth is much warmer
or c) the legal age for buying ice in shops

Last question now – When did the settlers first make their homes in Scotland? Was it:
a) approximately 12,000 years ago
b) approximately 450 million years ago
or c) 25 years ago

Thank you so much for helping me keep my system online. It means that I can help Kyla and Eden as they try to stop that dastardly Professor Curran.
I’ll see you next time!