'The Hoot' by Oliver Postgate

We see Small Clanger fishing from his celestial boat. He catches a tiny silver horn. He blows it and it makes a tiny sound. He is pleased with this. He takes it down and shows it to Tiny Clanger. They are called to fetch soup. They leave the horn on a ledge but while they are away it rolls away down a hole. When the Clangers return they can't find it so they forget about it and play a game. The Clangers roll their ball down to the soup-wells where the baby dragon suddenly unscrews a hill and emerges to speak to them. It is agitated and the Clangers come and listen at its well. The hooting is louder. Then the "froglets" come out of their hole and are agitated. They refuse to go back inside. Small Clanger goes below. He searches the underworld for the source of the Minatauran roaring and as it grows louder he comes to on octagonal chamber lit by some inner light where, on a plinth stands one large silver Hoot. (A hoot is an old-fashioned gramophone horn, standing on an elegant tripod). There is a hole in the roof and it is clear that this is the same Hoot as Small Clanger caught but now it is full-grown and blasting off like a fog-horn. The noise is appalling. Small Clanger whistles up through the hole in the roof and Tiny Clanger drops a rope down the hole. She fixes it and Small Clanger climbs up. Then the two of them haul up the Hoot. It stands in the square and hoots. The other Clangers gather round and demand to know what goes on. Major Clanger goes up to the hoot and commands it to be silent. It tries to be silent but it can't manage it. Major Clanger becomes angry and goes away to find a big fluffy dumpling tree with ripe fruit. He plucks one of the white fluffy fruits and stuffs it into the Hoot. Its hooting becomes a gagged wheeze. The Clangers are satisfied with this but Small Clanger and Tiny Clanger are upset because the Hoot obviously hates to be gagged. They persuade it to be silent and take out the gag. It remains silent. The small Clangers congratulate it and start to play ball with the dumpling. They throw the dumpling and it hits Small Clanger. This is too funny and the Hoot hoots again, the small Clangers to put the dumpling back into the Hoot. They do so, sadly. Then Tiny Clanger has an idea and she runs out to the music trees and begs some ripe notes from them. She runs indoors and stands in front of the Hoot. Small Clanger pulls out the gag. She throws in the notes and Small Clanger replaces the gag. Then they lift the hoot and shake it thoroughly. Then they remove the gag. The Hoot hoots a lively harp solo. The Clangers come out and dance a happy jig.

Original Conception:
Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin

Scenery and Puppets:
Peter Firmin

Music:
Composed by Vernon Elliott

Filming and Editing:
Oliver Postgate

Film Company:
Smallfilms

TX:
1st February 1970 @ 5.55pm

Notes:
*This synopsis is the original outline written by Oliver Postgate for the BBC prior to production, and may differ slightly from the transmitted version.

*The Clangers voices were played on swannee whistles by Oliver Postgate and Stephen Sylvester.