Episode 1 of the Australian kids TV series, about a posh English girl who discovers an old truck in her attic the day before her mother's upcoming wedding and discovers a unusual opal in there. Only it happens to contain two Australian genies (father and son), who are sworn to grant wishes to whoever owns the opal. Needless to say neither are particularly enamoured about the other...
This Australian series was co-written by the man who created Round the Twist, Epsom Storm, and features Alexandra Milman (who seemed to be in everything in the 1990's) as Penelope Townes, with Anna Galvin as her mother Diana, with Rhys Muldoon and Glenn Meldrum as the father/son Genies, and Monica Maughan as the housekeeper Miss Mossop. It also features Jacinta Stapleton, who later went on to appear in the soap opera Neighbours as Amy Greenwood a year later.
This Australian series was co-written by the man who created Round the Twist, Epsom Storm, and features Alexandra Milman (who seemed to be in everything in the 1990's) as Penelope Townes, with Anna Galvin as her mother Diana, with Rhys Muldoon and Glenn Meldrum as the father/son Genies, and Monica Maughan as the housekeeper Miss Mossop. It also features Jacinta Stapleton, who later went on to appear in the soap opera Neighbours as Amy Greenwood a year later.
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TVTranscript
00:00Hello, I'm Penelope Towns, and this is my home, Towns Hall.
00:26Slightly run down, I know.
00:28But I'm not worried. Soon it's going to be fixed and fabulous again.
00:32You see, Mummy's getting married today.
00:35Everything's going to change, because Mummy's dreadfully in love with Bubbles.
00:39And he's going to restore the hall to its former glory.
00:43Hi, Penelope! Raining in here, too, huh?
00:47Really? I hadn't noticed.
00:49Oh, I hope it stops before the wedding!
00:54Yes, there are paying guests. Americans, in case you haven't noticed.
00:59Well, I guess they haven't stolen the silverware, like those Australians.
01:04But after today, no more yes-sir and no-ma'am.
01:07Mummy and I will be free again, and happy.
01:11Yoo-hoo, Penelope!
01:13Marcia and Sophie, I can't stand them. They're so insincere and hypocritical.
01:18Marcia, Sophie, it's so good to see you. Come in.
01:21Penelope, I'm so pleased your mother has found a new banker.
01:24I mean, a husband.
01:26Thank you, Marcia.
01:27Your mummy's in love. It must be such a relief.
01:30At last, they'll have the money to pay for your school fees.
01:33Yes. Isn't this another way of watering the flowers?
01:38Yes. In-house irrigation.
01:42Hello, Lady Towns. You must be so happy.
01:45Yes.
01:46All these flowers, they are so beautiful.
01:49It's like a funeral parlour.
01:52Miss Penelope?
01:53Yes, Marcia?
01:54Be a dear and go up to the attic. We need some more ravassers.
01:56Look in that old trunk.
02:00Won't be long.
02:01Can't wait. I miss you already.
02:11I just don't like the attic.
02:19Come on, let's go.
02:49Come on, Penelope. You're not scared.
03:19See? I'm not scared.
03:49Come on.
04:20I'm in the attic!
04:36Dad, we're free!
04:41Anyone got a can opener?
04:44See you in the attic, son.
04:50Don't worry about us, mate.
04:52We've been stuck inside that tiny opal for about 130 years and we've gone a bit troppo.
04:56I tell you what, mate, we've been looking forward to this moment.
04:59I can't wait to smell the eucalyptus in the water.
05:02I've been dreaming about the sunshine.
05:05And the way the hot wind comes off the desert round about sunset.
05:09Dad!
05:10On the dawn chorus. I can't wait to hear that carillon call.
05:14Dad, I don't think we're in Australia.
05:20I don't know how to tell you this, son, but...
05:23I don't think we're in Australia.
05:25Where are we?
05:27Ayee.
05:28Ayee?
05:29Where's that, Dad?
05:30I've never heard of it.
05:32Hey, where are you going?
05:34Don't be scared. We're just a couple of genies.
05:37No wonder we forgot to tell her.
05:40You've rubbed the earth, bleeding your hand.
05:43You're everywhere.
05:45You've rubbed the earth, bleeding your hand.
05:48You're everywhere.
05:51He's our commander.
05:54I must be dreaming.
05:56What my son was trying to say...
05:58Get away from me!
06:00You're gonna be...
06:06You're gonna be a trophy.
06:08Two people, in the attic, from Australia, sticking their heads out.
06:11Calm down, take a deep breath.
06:13Back to the silverware.
06:14No, not those Australians.
06:16So, the two heads were poking through this door.
06:20There's something weird going on in there.
06:22Right.
06:24Stand back.
06:25Be careful, Rossi.
06:35There ain't any Australians here.
06:37But...
06:38I think you can have a lie down before the wedding.
06:40You're a bit overexcited.
06:42There was a man, and a little boy.
06:44Of course there was.
06:49Really, Mummy, I'm all right.
06:51Get some rest now.
06:53You're my maid of honour, and I want you to look especially beautiful.
06:56Don't you worry, my dears.
06:57Lord Accrington Smythe will make all our wishes come true.
07:00Now you get some rest.
07:03Ah, there you are.
07:05Here she is, Dad.
07:09You grabbed the opal in your hand.
07:11Your every wish is our command.
07:14Wow, what's that?
07:18What do you want?
07:19Fine, I have to get to school quick.
07:21What?
07:22As I was saying, I'm a genie, and this is my son.
07:24I'm a junior genie.
07:26I'm a junior genie.
07:28I'm a junior genie.
07:29I'm a junior genie.
07:31I'm a junior genie.
07:32And you're our master.
07:33Your every wish is our command.
07:35You have one complete day of unlimited wishing.
07:37Then you have to send us to Australia and set us free.
07:39It's pretty straightforward.
07:41Any questions?
07:48Genies live in lamps, don't they?
07:50Yeah, I used to live in a lamp.
07:51A lovely lamp it was, too, but I got banished.
07:54Why?
07:55You know the Great Wall of China?
07:57It was supposed to be in Egypt.
07:59So there was a small indiscretion with the Grand Magician's wife.
08:05And out popped the young bloke.
08:07Well, the Grand Magician was so cheesed off that he stuck us in the middle of an opal,
08:10in the middle of a mine,
08:12in the middle of a desert,
08:13in the middle of...
08:15that great southern land.
08:19So what are you doing here in the middle of Wiltshire?
08:21Well, it's a long story.
08:22I've got time.
08:24Okay.
08:25We've been stuck inside that opal for 134 years,
08:27nine months, six days, 18 hours, 37 and a half minutes,
08:30not that we're counting.
08:31And last time we were out we were in Australia
08:33and our master was a palmy gent by the name of Claude Towns.
08:36I'll have you know that Sir Claude Towns was my great-great-great-grandfather.
08:41Oh. Well, Claudie wasn't too bad a bloke for a palm.
08:47Very disrespectful.
08:49Anyway, I'm not sure that I believe your genie.
08:54Fair enough.
08:56No skin off my nose.
08:58If you don't believe we're genies, you won't win me wishes then.
09:02Maybe you could do us a favour and say,
09:04I wish you were both back in Australia
09:07and we'll be off like a bucket of prawns in the sun.
09:09You won't hear from us again.
09:12Adele at the air.
09:13Yes, just a minute.
09:15Just say it, mate, and we'll be gone.
09:18I think I'd like you to hang around, just to be sure.
09:23Is that a wish?
09:25Yes.
09:29What are you doing?
09:32Just hanging around.
09:33That was your wish.
09:36Penelope, are you all right?
09:37Yes, coming.
09:39Look, I wish you'd just disappear.
09:42I understand that you'd like me to go away,
09:44but I was hoping we could have a chat.
09:48I wasn't talking to you.
09:50Oh, to whom were you talking?
09:52She was talking to us.
09:54Will you be quiet?
09:56I'm sorry, I...
09:57Penelope, are you all right?
10:00Yes, come in.
10:02Thank you.
10:03It's all right, I understand.
10:04Marriage can be very stressful for everyone concerned.
10:07That's why I was rather hoping that we could have a bit of a father-son,
10:10a mother and daughter, a bit of a chat.
10:13It's just the bloke your mum's marrying.
10:15Will you be quiet?
10:17I'm sorry, I'm not talking to you.
10:19It's all right, I understand.
10:20You know, Penelope,
10:21you probably think of me as a bit of an old fuddy-duddy,
10:23a bit of a square,
10:25but I'm really quite him.
10:27As a matter of fact, I'm a bit of a cool dude.
10:29So you should all feel that you're losing a mummy
10:31rather than that you're gaining a daddy.
10:33And I will be that daddy,
10:35and therefore I will love you and be there for you
10:37in a very caring, sharing sort of way.
10:39So we should be very positive and upbeat about the whole thing.
10:41Do you know where I'm coming from?
10:43Oh, I'm thrilled you and mummy are getting married.
10:46And I think you'll make a smashing daddy.
10:48Really? Oh, thank you, Penelope.
10:50Oh, I'm so happy. That's exactly what I needed to hear.
10:52I've been so worried, so uptight about the whole thing.
10:55If I was you, I'd be worried too.
10:57Will you be quiet?
10:59It's all right. It's cool.
11:01I know you're not talking to me.
11:03Being a teenager isn't easy, and I can dig that.
11:06Well, I'm glad we've had this little chat.
11:11Penelope, I'll see you in church then.
11:17Bye, Penelope.
11:21Penelope, give me five.
11:35Is that the bloke your mum's going to marry?
11:37That's right. They're in love.
11:39How can anyone love Boobie?
11:41I think there's a few sheep short in the top paddy.
11:44You two are the rudest people I've ever met.
11:47I've never been so embarrassed.
11:49Miss Penelope, be a dear and take some coffee to Mr and Mrs Hemingway.
11:53Oh, Mossie, they're so boring.
11:55Well, everyone has to be pitied. Take me, now.
11:58Her ladyship owes me £3,131.47 in back salary till last Friday,
12:05but I never mention it.
12:07So I've noticed.
12:09Because I know my place.
12:11I know Lord Applington-Smyth and her ladyship will see me right once they're married.
12:15Now be a dear and help with our paying guests.
12:18I wish they'd just go and jump in a lake.
12:20Your wish.
12:21Is he up yet?
12:38That was just great!
12:40I really feel as if I've found myself...
12:43Oh, Diana, you've got to try that sometime.
12:46You should put it in your brochure. Oh, yeah.
12:48Yes, I've heard it's very popular in California.
12:54A coffee?
12:55Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
12:58I have done her weddings, you know.
13:00But this is meant to be a traditional English wedding.
13:03That's why we're having presents.
13:05A present for Dulu is not traditional British fare.
13:09Everyone has curry nowadays.
13:11But you don't have curry sauce with plum pudding.
13:14Everything under control, Mossie.
13:16Oh, yes, my lady.
13:18Don't you worry about a thing.
13:19This is going to be one of the happiest days of your life.
13:23Yes.
13:40I love you.
13:43I always heard that.
13:46She's getting married to Boobie.
13:48Oh.
13:49Oh.
14:08These up, mate? You'll wear it out.
14:12Now, I've been thinking.
14:14I'm not saying I believe that you are a genius,
14:16but if you were,
14:17well, then, if I wish for a beautiful day for Mummy's wedding,
14:20would you be able to do that?
14:22Oh, yeah.
14:23She'll be able to rustle up a few rays for you.
14:26Well, then, I wish it were a beautiful day.
14:41That should make my mother happy.
14:42She'll never be happy if she has to marry that Boobie bloke.
14:46Bubbles.
14:47His friends call him Bubbles.
14:48And he happens to be one of the richest men in England.
14:51And Mummy's going to be very, very happy.
14:54So there.
14:55Yeah, well, she's only doing it for you.
14:57Oh, don't be ridiculous.
14:59Mummy's in love.
15:01If you could be a fly on the wall right now,
15:03you'd see how unhappy your mother really is.
15:05Oh, is that so?
15:07Well, I wish I were, then, so I could prove you wrong.
15:12No!
15:17It's a beautiful day, after all, my lady.
15:21Tricked me.
15:23Tell me, Your Ladyship, how do you feel about curried ice cream?
15:27I was thinking about my first wedding.
15:30How different it was.
15:33How happy I felt.
15:35Exactly.
15:36I think curried pudding's taking it a bit too far.
15:40I don't think I can go through with it, Morsom.
15:43Oh, but it's too late now to get a new caterer.
15:45Besides your husband-to-be, he loves curry.
15:48I don't love him, Morsom.
15:51I don't think I can go through with it.
15:53Your Ladyship, you have no choice in the matter.
15:57It's too late.
15:59The guests be already on their way.
16:01The curried hors d'oeuvres are being prepared as we speak.
16:05You have to marry Lord Aprington Smythe.
16:09For the sake of Townshall.
16:12For Miss Penelope.
16:15I did not know.
16:19Get out of here!
16:29Hi, Pen.
16:30Thanks.
16:32That was great, Dad.
16:34I think I want to be alone.
16:45Ouch!
16:50I was expecting it to be cold and wet.
16:52Still perfect weather for a curry, eh, Edward?
16:55Oh, yes.
16:56I'm a bit of a connoisseur.
16:58I love a curry.
16:59Especially the pineapple bits.
17:02I thought Miss Penelope was with you, my lady.
17:15Come on, Dad.
17:18Oh, they're cold.
17:37It's them.
17:44It's them.
17:46It's them.
18:12He's going to walk down the aisle.
18:14I'll have to do it.
18:45Excuse me.
18:54Into which holy estate
18:57These two persons present
18:59Come now to be joined.
19:03Therefore, if any man
19:06Could show any just cause
19:08Why they may not lawfully be joined together
19:13Let him now speak
19:15Or else hereafter
19:18Forever hold his peace.
19:23I object!
19:31I'm really sorry, Mummy.
19:32Don't say another word.
19:39I have never been so humiliated in my whole life!
19:43I beg your pardon.
19:45No worries.
19:48Aren't you going to introduce us, Pen?
19:53Do you know this gentleman?
19:56Um, yes.
19:59Well, sort of.
20:01He's a G...
20:02UN... Australian.
20:05And his name is...
20:07Um...
20:09Bruce.
20:12Bruce.
20:14Did I?
20:15And this is Bruce's son...
20:19Barry!
20:20Just call me Bess.
20:21Are you in charge of the marquee, Bruce?
20:23Uh...
20:24Take it down, please.
20:25We won't be needing it now.
20:27Come with me, young lady.
20:29I wish you'd do as she says.
20:31Bruce.
20:41Whatever will they think of next?
20:51Turned out to be a nice day after all.
20:56Thank you, darling.
21:00Somehow...
21:02You did the wrong thing at the right time.
21:06The question now is...
21:09How on earth are we going to keep the town's wall?
21:12Don't worry. Something will turn up.
21:27Hi, Pen.
21:30I'm proud of you, mate.
21:32Thank you.
21:33But it wasn't such a hard decision.
21:35After all, we don't need Bubble's money anymore, do we?
21:39You don't?
21:40Not when I've got you.
21:42Ah.
21:43I don't just have you for one day.
21:45I can have you for as long as I like, can't I?
21:48Strictly speaking, I suppose that is technically true.
21:51And I can have as many wishes as I want.
21:54Really? Is that so?
21:56I don't even have to set you free if I don't feel like it.
21:59Looks like she's onto us, Dad.
22:00I wouldn't say that, son.
22:01Can't even hold the opal, can you?
22:03I don't know what you mean.
22:04Give me your hand.
22:17Looks like she's onto us, son.
22:22A genie cannot hold his own lamp.
22:24Or in your case, opal.
22:26Only a human can hold it.
22:28See?
22:29It's in the genie book.
22:31I've got the opal, so I've got you.
22:33Forever.
22:37Fair enough, pet.
22:39So anyway, I was thinking,
22:41have you ever been to Australia?
22:42It's beautiful this time of year.
22:43I have no intention of going to Australia.
22:45I wouldn't be seen dead down there.
22:47The very idea of it makes me sick.
22:49So you just don't like Australia?
22:52I guess we'll have to accept, son,
22:54that we're never going to see our beloved homeland again.
22:57I want to make some wishes now.
22:59I want to be rich.
23:00I want to be a woman of property.
23:03The old I want to be rich wish.
23:07How much would you like to be worth?
23:09I won't be greedy.
23:10Say, 20 million pounds?
23:14Yes, master.
23:31These are the deeds to the property?
23:35Property?
23:36What property?
23:38The property you've just inherited down under.
23:43Down under what?
23:44Here in Australia, silly.
23:46500 square miles.
23:48Isn't it exciting?
23:51How much is it worth?
23:5220 million pounds.
23:55How much is it worth?
23:5620 million pounds.
24:00G'day, pet.
24:03She's not quite our rememberer,
24:05but a couple of coats of paint, a wish or two,
24:08she'll be right as rain.
24:09No worries.
24:15No!
24:17No!
24:24I'm the genie, you're the master.
24:26That's right.
24:27I'm the master, you're my genie.
24:30You belong to me.
24:31Yes!
24:32I've served a lot of masters throughout history.
24:37Now I want to go back home where I can be free.
24:41Then you come along with the opal in your hand.
24:45Now your every wish is my command.
24:49That's right.
24:50Genie, genie from down under.
24:54Make my wish come true.
24:57Dream on.
24:59Genie, genie from down under.
25:03I wish you'd do what I want you to.
25:06Ah, yeah, all right then.
25:11Genie from down under.
25:15Ah, yeah.