"It's no use." "You have to help me, Dad." "I can't do it without you." "Hold tight!" "Look, it's going higher!" "See, Eric, You can do it!" "You can manage on your own." "Hi Grandpa!" " Eric, how are you?" "Will you come to stay?" " Please!" "What are you doing?" "I'm clearing up." "See you this afternoon, Eric." "Oh, Eric." "Good luck with your talk!" "Show you're a real Champion!" "Okay!" " Bye Eric." "Bye Grandpa!" "Bye Mum!" "Eric Champion." "You forget everything." "Bag, sandwiches." "Oh, your talk." "Shall I come with you?" " Don't be silly, Mum!" "Bye!" " Bye!" "You look great here, old man!" "ERIC THE GOLDEN BOOK OF INSECTS" "...and turn into a plant, animal or person like you and me." "And that was my talk." " Well, very good." "Thank you." "It's clear, informative and also very exciting." "I just love your atom thing." "You made it?" "My father helped me a little." " Good." "Eric, your turn." "Eric?" " Go on!" "I haven't quite finished it." "Not quite finished." "What do you mean "not quite"?" " It's not finished." "Not finished?" "After 3 weeks?" "And what's this?" " Give it back!" "Sit down. - A peep-show!" "The talk is about you." "Eric fancies Rosalie!" "Eric fancies Rosalie!" "Children, please!" "Children." "See you tomorrow!" "Your mother still has to give me a note." "What was all that?" "Oh it's nothing." " Nothing?" "When do you expect to finish your "nothing"?" "Eric, it's time you got down to work." "You postponed your talk twice." "Come on, Eric." "When'll it be finished?" "Silence." "Okay, then I'll say," "You hold your talk tomorrow" "Okay?" "Okay!" "And what's it about." "Insects." "Fine." "That's enough." "Stop it!" "Stop now." "Stop." "He's going to stay with Grandpa tonight." " Maybe he can help?" "He must give his talk tomorrow I need his marks." "Eric..." "I could have helped you, couldn't I?" "You had something prepared or not?" "What happened to that butterfly talk?" "That was really silly." " I didn't think so." "At least, what I saw wasn't." "You don't understand." "I know, Dad could have helped you better." "Yes, but he's dead." "These are for Dad." "Will you help?" " No." "I don't think I can go!" "He's a very famous Polish writer." "You the only one who can translate him." "You're right, but..." "He needs help with his talk." "Anna, you're his publisher, you have to go." "No, no, off you go." "Eric and I will manage fine." "Hey Mum, wait!" " He'll fail his exams if he doesn't work." "Okay, bye." "Bye darling!" " Bye!" "Tasty." "And good luck!" "You can do it!" "Bye..." "Go on and prepare your talk on insects!" "Can you manage, Eric?" "Oh, sure!" "Yugh!" "No..." "It's nearly finished!" "Isn't it, Grandpa?" "What?" " Oh, I'm going!" "Bye!" "That was your mother?" " Yes." "It's so boring." "Talks are always boring?" "They're supposed to be!" "Yes, but it has to be fun." "I need something cool like a model to illustrate..." "Come with me." "Look, Eric." "Insects are always busy" "They just get on with things." "No one taught them that." "That's instinct." " What?" "Look, instinct is Like common sense, but it's automatic." "You have to do it." "But we're bigger and cleverer than creepy-crawly bugs!" "You think so." "But what do the bugs think?" "Did you know that bees and other insects can talk to each other?" "It's true!" "Wow!" "Eric, look at this." "Look up here!" "Yugh!" " That's quite something, isn't it?" "Wait a sec." "Yes!" "That's what I wanted." " Wow, it's great." "Solms." " Yes." "The book belongs with the picture." "You can find everything on the picture in Solms." "Hey:" "Eric Champion." "That's me?" " No, that's your father!" "Your father spent hours reading this book." "And he called it Woolly Meadow." "Woolly Meadow?" " Yes, because of the sheep." "Look, a worm." " That's an earthworm." "But you call it a worm." "A clever man, Charles Darwin, once said:" ""Not many other animals in the world..." ""... have played such an important part in the history of the world..." ""... as the earthworm." "" That's what he said." "You'll manage, won't you?" "I'll cook us some dinner, see you later." "Grandpa?" "Anyone there?" "Hey, that's me." "It's a good likeness!" "Have you made any progress, Eric?" "Eric!" "Come on, let's have dinner!" "What about my talk?" " Leave that to me." "I'll think about it" "Solms was your father's first entomological handbook." "An entomologist is an insect expert." "Your father was a good one." "He had trouble with homework too, but he did well in the end." "Sure, in the graveyard!" " We all die in the end." "That's a law of nature." " A stupid Law." "I'm not dying." "No, you're going to sleep." "Sleep tight." " Night." "Grandpa?" " Yes?" "Who's the old man on that painting in the attic?" "That's my grandpa, so he's your great-great grandfather." "Are you going to sleep?" "Goodnight." "Let's see what I can put together for the boy" "I could let him sniff around Woolly Meadow." "That will do!" "Eric in the land of insects..." "Exiles." "...living frame of a strange painting know lives grandly rest are insects" "What?" "You can find the other half of this paper in the tunnels of the worm." "The worm?" "A worm." "The earthworm, he means!" "Hey, Woolly Meadow." "The earthworm." "Excuse me, boy, but I couldn't contain myself." "It's also really dusty here." "Awful." " You, you can talk?" "Of course I can talk." "But only to you!" "I say, would you be so kind as to look in that box over there?" "That one?" "Yes, you see, my wife must be around here somewhere." "What does she look Like?" "It's a little photo portrait of a little woman." "This one?" " No, no, no, no." "...standing beside a little sofa and leaning on a little umbrella." "This one?" " Yes, exactly!" "That's it!" "Oh, pardon!" "Little, little!" "I had to be petite, because it had to cost nothing!" "Rien!" "Calm down, Henrietta!" "It was a very renowned photographer Turn round!" "BYAPPOINTMENT TO THE QUEEN." "Thank you, young man." "I couldn't have stood another minute in that musty box!" "Oh, how lovely to stretch my legs." "I say, my boy." "Are we related?" "Well, my Grandpa says he's my great-great grandfather." "So you must be my great-great grandmother." "Great-great grandmother?" "That does sound old." "Just call me Granny," " Granny?" "That's what your grandpa always called me." "And your father would've done." "My father?" " Yes." "Wouldn't he?" "Why can you talk and he can't?" "Fantasy can't be compelled, boy" "I say, boy, shouldn't you be in bed?" "Well it's always hard to start." "My grandma always said that too." "The wasps." "They are among the Clearwings..." "I'm talking at school about insects." "Oh, he means entomology." "Entomolo..." "Yes, that's it." "That isn't my best subject." "Well, I found a torn piece of paper here." "Something was scribbled on it." "...exiles, living, strange painting..." "What's an exile?" "An exile is someone who can't live in his own country but feels imprisoned in another one." "Oh, an asylum seeker." " An asylum seeker?" "What on earth is he talking about?" "It's that earthworm's philosophy" "What's philosophy?" "That's thinking hard about the most important things in life." "I'm going to philosophize about my school talk." "That's a great idea, young man!" "I should ask him, really" "Would you Like to meet him?" "I can arrange it." " You can?" "Of course I can!" "Let's see if I still know how" "Henry, how did it go?" " Henrietta, I won't have it!" "Eric Champion, that it so." "You want to go to Woolly Meadow." "Into my umbrella stare." "Getting smaller starts right there." "Oh, goodness gracious!" "Henrietta, where is he?" "Hello?" " Can you see him?" "What's all this." " What did you do, Henrietta?" "He must be here." "Where are you, my boy?" "Oh, there you are!" "Hey." "Granny, this is not on." "I'm so sorry, kid." "Hold on tight." "Eric Champion." "Are you ready?" "Don't do anything you'll regret later" "Young man, stand on the edge of the frame." "There." " Here?" "Do we want to go ahead, Eric?" " Go on!" "If Woolly Meadow is your destination First start at the right station once you get to Woolly Meadow make sure you're in the know everyone there sings their own song Bye Eric, farewell, be gone" "Granny, help!" "Help, help." "Now you've gone and done it." "He wanted help with his talk." "So!" "Yes, that doesn't mean he wants to be a bug among the insects." "Of course he does." "Which boy wouldn't?" "Oh Look, oh goodness." "Here's your Solms, Eric." "You'll need it." "Coming up!" "Thanks you, Granny!" "Fore!" "For?" "What for?" " What are you doing on my home leaf?" "Your what?" " This is a private leaf!" "Be gone!" " Be gone?" "Who has to be gone?" "My lovely leaf in smithereens." "All my golfing gear." "My putter is grudged." "You're my witness." "My expensive golf things were smashed by the U.W.O." "By the what?" " By the U.W.O." "An Unidentified walking Object." "It's a recurring natural phenomenon." "A disaster." "Nests are wrecked, insects are crushed." "My wing got sprained." "What a day!" "Away, away from this dreadful place." "But I'm most grateful that you... you saved my life." " But I'm most grateful that you... you saved my life." "May I introduce myself?" "Clearwing's the name: old stock." "Pleased to meet you." "Eric" " Eric..." "Just Eric or maybe Sir Eric?" "Eric Champion." " Ah, Eric Champion." "Call me just plain Eric." "Well, Mr. Plain Eric." "I think we should go to my house." "No." " Yes indeed." "That's quite something." "Is all of that..." " Yes, come on." "No, no." " Come on." "After you." "Go ahead, lead the way." "Look around." "Hello, eh!" "Mr. Plain Eric?" "Can you lend me a hand?" "Mine can't reach." "Take it off?" "Like that?" "What a shame." "Anyway..." "One either is or one isn't." "If one isn't, one never will be!" "Nice detail, don't you think." "Here is the battery." "You can freshen up." "You do need to." "Granny, if you're watching." "Or anyone." "Help!" "You called, Mr. Plain Eric?" " No I didn't." "Mr. Plain Eric." "Please come here." "Ah, you're here." "Do tell me, Mr. Plain Eric." "Where do you come from, actually?" "You seem a stranger here." "Beyond the frame, from the human world." "Aha, yes..." "You do have such original ideas, young creature!" "Frame... human world." "How did you land up here?" " Well, I'm looking for an earthworm." "Earthworm..." "Ah, the worm." "I have to give a talk about insects." "I don't know much about them." "I see." "Well, I regard myself an insect connoisseur." "Fire away, Mr. Plain Eric." "Well, wasps don't live alone, do they?" "No relatives?" "I'm very... independent." "I fell out with my family" "Waspish spite." "The stress got to me." "The constant threat of the U.WO." "The bad influence of the Bees Knees." " The Bees Knees?" "You really are ignorant!" "Come with me." "Where?" " There, there..." "Bee hives, Bees Knees as far as the eye can see!" "A disgrace!" "Where?" "There, there." "Hundreds of bees buzzing." "Bees being together." "And they never stop buzzing." "So shabby, can you imagine?" "And stupid, Mr. Plain Eric." "Stupid!" "They collect honey and get sugar in exchange." "They flood the market with their shoddy goods." "We have to banish them from our honey fields." "And the worse thing is the U.W.O. and the bees are linked." "Take a look." "See?" "!" "See?" "!" "But, can't you see it?" "The U.W.O. is a human foot." "People eat the bees' honey, you see." "Delicious." "People?" "Yes, and they take it without asking." "So the Bees Knees can't help it." "Is that true?" "If I get that awful U.W.O., that human, in range of my sting..." "I say, wait a sec..." "You said you came from the human world." "No..." "Now I'm an insect." "I have a sting too." "You do?" "Where?" " In my pants." "Outside it might get crumpled or fall off." "Okay, let me see!" " No, I can't do that." "Ah, I thought as much." "You don't have one." "En garde!" "Okay, okay, okay!" "Well blow me!" "He has one." "It is a little..." " Yes, that what I said." "I don't know exactly what to think, Mr. Plain Eric." "And that suspect link with the human world." "Either one is or one isn't..." " Yes!" "...and I don't think you are." "Be gone!" "But that's not right." "Hey, I am one." "Let go of me!" "I am one!" "Fatheaded fly." "I am one!" "This is no fun." "Wacky wasp." "You fell feet first in the puffball." "Poo, what a pong!" "That's not funny!" "Mister..." "Rasta Black Cab." "Fast, cheap and the only one." "Well, I'm not that cheap really..." "Not many clients, it's all self-fly these days." "Look, I'm all dirty." "This is no good." "The Clearwings are easily offended." "They quarrel with everyone." "Stand still!" "Okay." "Breathe in!" "Okay." "Service with a smile." "If you have so few clients..." " Yes." "...why are you a taxi driver?" " You do what you have to." "Instinct?" " You are wise." "Come on, shall we?" "Jump aboard." " Oh, here?" "You can sit where you like." " Okay." "Hold on tight!" "Here we go." "Just need a boost." "Granny..." "I'm flying!" "Strange." " What's strange." "You wouldn't think this was a painting." "It looks so real." "What do you mean?" "I think it is real." "As lovely as a painting." "You talk like a poet." "Have you ever wondered where your world ends and what's beyond?" "You aren't just a poet, but also a philosopher." "I can spot them at once." "My wife calls me a kitchen philosopher" "You mean philosopher." " Yes, an amateur philosopher." "But you know the real wiz... the earthworm." "I call him Mr. Worm." " yes, I'm looking for him." "For the real philosophy you have to see the worm." "That man knows top-grade philosophy" "The worm knows the answers to all life and death questions." "I have to see him." " I'll take you as far as I can." "Hold on tight." "Watch out!" "Hey, what's that?" "Come on!" " What a mess here." "It's all right." "Won't be long." "That was no fun." "It was a pretty wild landing." "What's this?" " This is a snailotel." "Or rather a snailomotel." "The best there is." "And the only one." "Hello!" "I have a fare for you at last." "Thanks you!" " Aboong." "Good luck looking for the worm." "Oh, and say hallow from Uncle Black Cab." "Okay Mr. Philosopher." "Be seeing you." "Goodbye." "Holy sh..." "Hello?" "Hello?" "Anyone there?" "Hello?" "Hello." " Yugh!" "Would you like a room?" " Yes, you want a room?" "Do you eyes belong somewhere?" "Yes, we belong with the snailotel." "We're the boss." "Who do I talk to?" " Talk to me." "Right's a little nearsighted." "Can I help you?" "How much is a room?" "Surely money's no object for you?" "Shall we do a room with a shower?" "And who might I write down?" "Eric, Eric Champion" " Champion," "That sounds so familiar." "I have a lovely room for you." "So where is my room?" " Oh yes, up the stairs first corridor on the left, then right and then left and then it is number seven." "You can't go wrong." "That name Champion, it sounds so familiar to me." "Good afternoon..." "Five, six, seven..." "Good morning." "Rise and shine." "Let's get up." "Hey, watch out with the water." "I'm having my breakfast!" "Good morning!" "Oh, thank you." "It's quite something, that U.W.O., isn't it?" "U.W.O.?" " But now we know humans are to blame." "You don't say?" " Indeed!" "He's very easy to spot." "You see, he has these strange things on his paws." "Don't say a word." "Sir?" "The breakfast room?" "Straight on and downstairs." "Okay, thank you." " Enjoy." "Good morning." "Did you sleep well, Mr. Eric?" " Yes thanks." "Breakfast is ready." " Thank you." "...morning." "New?" "New?" " New?" "Are you new here?" " Oh, new." "Yes, I'm Eric Champion." "Eric, Eric, Eric, Eric Champion that sounds familiar." "Are you staying for long?" " Well..." "I didn't know your nose was so sharp." "So that's why you can't feel the prick." "You know me?" "Not personally, but I do know your type." "You are in Solms." "Solms?" "Ah, here." "Culex pipiens: the mosquito." "How fascinating, even my last name." "And him, him..." "What's his name?" "That is, let me see..." "Ah, that's a Saltatorium." "Salta..." "Salta..." "Salta..." "Saltatorium." "Just call him grasshopper and who may I be?" "Let me see." "One moment." "Oh you're right at the back in the small print." "Bt I think you are the..." "You are the day bug." " And the rest?" "The Buggius Daytimius!" "Buggius Daytimius." "And who am I?" "That's a German insect." "You're a German Beetle, aren't you?" "A Volkswagen!" "And what kind of insect are you?" "Yes, what kind of insect are you?" "Well..." "I'm a a bookworm!" "Is that your breakfast?" " Yes." "How awful!" "What a miserable situation!" "Hello, Mr. Snail, are you all right?" " The caterpillar!" "It's the caterpillar!" "What's the matter?" " Oh, something awful happened in the caterpillar's room." "We have to take a look." "That in my hotel!" "Hey, I say!" "Maybe I can help?" "Wait here." "Just a minute." "What's this?" "Oh, it's a chrysalis." "Of course." "Hello, Mr. Caterpillar!" " What's going on?" "Come in, but keep quiet!" "What's that!" "This is a chrysalis!" " A chrysalis?" "The caterpillar has spun himself into a chrysalis and that's quite normal." "Then it'll turn into a butterfly" "Sure!" "Caterpillars turn into butterflies!" "He calls that normal!" "No, no, no!" "Sorry, sorry." "I saw one once and then I ate it straightaway." "How was I to know it was a butterfly?" "Okay, visiting time is over!" "Don't touch!" "Off you go!" "You don't understand." "Go away" " Keep it warm!" "Shall I lie on it?" "All of you." "Wait a minute." "How do you know that?" " Look, it's in here." "Caterpillars?" " Yes." "It's all right." " What's all right?" "It's not all right!" "Who's going to pay for the room?" "Can you take off your skin?" "Yes, we bookworms can do that." "Oh, we think this skin is much nice than the other one." "It's lovely and tight." "Yes, that'll do." "Get out." "Off you go!" "Bye." "Hey, young friend, what'll we do?" "No, I didn't forget you." "Yes?" "Who's there?" "Culex pipiens." "Am I interrupting?" "Anything wrong?" "I had a question for you." "I wanted to go out and lay my eggs by the pond." "It's such lovely weather." "And I was wondering..." "Is that the right thing to do?" " Don't you know?" "It's my first time." "But you're an insect?" "Surely they know that." "Your instinct?" "I thought I knew." "But then I saw your book about everything." "I started having my doubts." "I thought maybe you knew better." "I'm so afraid I'll do it wrong." "Can you look in the book for me?" "Look, it says that your instinct tells you to lay your eggs in the summer and autumn." "So that means now." "Really?" " It's in the book!" "Thank you Mr. Bookworm." "I'm off to the pond!" "It's laying time!" "Bye." "Who is it this time?" "Guten Tag Herr Bücherwurm." "Miss Mosquito said you had this fantastic book with everything in it." "Sit down." "What would you want to know?" "Well, goodbye then!" "Oh no!" "My advice has run out for today!" "I'm first in line tomorrow!" "Cockroach!" "Knock, knock... hello." "It's only me, Mr. Eric." "What great success." "Everyone comes to you for good advice." "That's great." "Yes, but..." " You know what?" "You should hold a talk in the main hall." "Then you can address them all at once." "But I don't know if it's up to date." "It's a fairly old book, you see." " Nonsense." "Don't turn your back on my guests, Mr. Erik." "See you later in the hall!" "Okay..." "We're waiting, Mr. Bookworm." "Go ahead." "The wapses..." "I mean the wasps are from the Clearwing family" "They have bent antennae and their eyes swivel on the front of the head." "Listen!" "Listen!" "The ants are also Clearwings." "The males have wings." "The females don't, but have a sting." "Hey Mr. Bookworm, tell me about the sting you think is important." "No!" "Stop!" "You can ask questions later." " Okay." "I say, Mr. Eric Bookworm." "Isn't it hard staying on your back paws all day?" "We bookworms don't have paws but arms and legs with feet." "Now, watch this." "Let's try!" "One, two, three." "Mr. Bookworm?" "May I feel your skin again?" " Well, okay!" "Thank you." "Thank you!" "It makes me blush." " Lovely and tight, isn't it." "You know what you need?" "An automatic shoe polisher!" "I say, little boy..." "I'm not interested in your jokes." "I know who I am." " So what?" "I don't mind this life." "People ask me for advice and..." "Yes, they like you now and they're nice to you." "But it won't take much to turn them against you." "You'll wish you weren't an insect." " I'm not." "I'm happy to be human." "You know that!" "But they don't!" "Pride comes before a fall." "Certainly if you preach from books." "You wait!" "Sure, goodnight." "Goodnight, Mr. Eric." ""In this vulnerable period, the caterpillar has many natural enemies. "" "I slept badly," "Yes, you see." "I warned you, didn't I?" "You shouldn't lay eggs here in the autumn!" "It's okay if you live in the tropics, but not here." "Oh well..." "You won't listen to an old prickly mosquito, your own mother." "No!" "No, you only listen to Mr. Bookworm." "All this modern claptrap!" "Bah!" "Look..." "Here." ""The mosquito lays her eggs in the autumn. " That's what I said." "The small print..." ""Except in northern countries because it's too cold and rainy"" "No!" "Well, Mr. Eric." "Leave me alone." "I only came to see how you are." "Okay." "You were right." "They were nice yesterday, But now..." "I used my intelligence once and thought about whether to put my right foot in front of the left or vice versa..." "Come on, guys!" "I had 583 broken bones and 322 sprains." "Spent months in plaster." "You can laugh." "Since then I have only followed my instinct." "And, Mr. Bookworm you should do that too." "Quick, hide under my legs." "Quick!" "Hello, Mr. Millipede." "You're looking for that fraud, Mr. Bookworm too?" "No, I had an appointment with him, but he didn't turn up." "No, I can see that." "No, he's not in his room either" "The coast is clear." "Listen closely, Mr. Bookworm." "Look beyond the poppies in the dark shadows of the bushes for..." " ... the earthworm!" "Warm..." "What did you do?" "Evil spider, go away." "Get lost!" "How can this be?" "You could've been a wonderful butterfly" "Okay, follow me." "Hello!" "Do I know you?" "You're here!" "I'm where?" "In the snailotel." " The Snailotel?" "He's in here!" "Bookworm, where are you!" "We have to leave!" " Where to?" "To the earthworm." "He'll help me with my talk." "How can we find him?" "Fly." "You can fly." "We're sure to find him from the air" "Hide behind the door." "How dare you show your face after what you did?" "Mr. Bookworm." " Hey, who are you?" "The butterfly!" "He was right!" "The butterfly" "Hello, look, the small print." "Right, Now this way!" "Not so fast!" " Don't complain!" "Hurry up." "Where are you going?" " Come on." "Grab them!" "Do something." "Stop them!" "Come back!" "Let go of me." "Follow me!" "No, follow me!" "Come on." "It's scary." "Bookworm, I've got you." "Bookworm, Bookworm, Bookworm." "Help!" " Quick!" "I only want the bookworm." "Fly, like this!" "No, not with your arms." "Use your wings." " I can't fly." "I don't dare." "I can't do it." " Flutter." "I can't do it." " Butterfly fly!" "Use your instinct!" "Come on, jump!" "Where are you?" "Stop it." "What's up?" "You can fly." "Now you can't laugh." "Let's go?" " How?" "Just fly." "There goes my money." "You're a butterfly, so flutter by!" "Sit still." "You're tickling me!" "But you're leaning over." " Sit still." "You're squeezing so hard." "Watch out!" "That's better." "And that, is that all right?" " Yes, that's fine." "That's nice." "And what now?" "Go up to that big flower." " Okay." "That one?" " Yes..." "There!" " Hold tight." "Oh, look out." "Great view!" "That was a lovely day." "I had butterflies in my belly" "Wait a moment." "Butterflies mate in the spring." "Hey look." "That's you." "Papilio machaon." "The Swallowtail, it says." "Papilio is a nice name, isn't it?" " Yes." "But you're a boy." "Of course." "What did you think?" "I thought all butterflies were girls." "And that one?" "What's that?" "That?" "That looks like a girl." "A butterfly girl?" " Yes!" "Hey, Papilio, what are you doing?" "We were going to see the worm together" "Yes, but something tells me I have to go over there." "There we go: instinct." "Hello." "I think you have some competition." "I think so too." "Hey, don't be silly, Go away." "Stop it, you creep." "Won't he every stop his tricks?" "He's a moth; they sleep during the day, don't they?" "No, some moths are active night and day" "But they see worse in daylight." "I'll never get to her like this." " Calm down." "Can't you help me once more?" "I won't interfere again." "It only gets me in trouble." "But..." "I promise I'll always obey my instinct." "Okay, let's see." "I may have the answer." "What are you going to do?" " Find me a few grass stalks" "Leave me alone!" "Go away!" "Hurry up." "He won't fall for this." "I can see a mile off that this is fake." " Yes, but he can't, not without glasses." "I think he would." "Don't be afraid." "Just do it." "You start talking..." " Go on then!" "Help!" "Hello." "I don't know..." "This is no use." " Why?" "You didn't even talk to her, did you?" "I don't dare." " Oh no!" "You don't dare!" "How do you know it won't work if you don't try?" "Can't you do it?" " What?" "Can't you ask her if she'll meet me in the poppy... you know?" "You feel so strange inside and not very smart" "until your head spins faster than the beating of your heart" "As the wind plays with a butterfly's wings your love drives you mad as it sings" "whatever you do it feels like butterflies in your belly it transports you" "so high, it feels like you can fly and yet your wings are clipped but it will do" "that feeling called love whatever you do, makes no difference butterflies in your belly it transports you so high, it feels like you can fly and yet your wings are clipped but it will do" "that feeling called love" "He calls himself a friend!" "You were going to help!" "Wait till she finds out your wings are fake." "If you weren't such a coward, there'd be no problem." "Look for a bookworm to fall in love with!" "I'm not in love." "At least, not with her." " Get lost!" "Help!" "Papilio, hey Papilio, what are you waiting for?" "Save her." "He'll kill her." "What can I do against..." " Come on, Papilio!" "You have to help her!" "Hurry up!" "Papilio." "Papilio!" "How's he doing?" "Help!" "Hit him back!" "That's better." "Now kick him!" "Watch out, behind you!" "Hit him!" " Careful, Papilio!" "Come on!" "Papilio, stand up." "Come on." "I have an idea." "Listen." "When I say "now", fly up suddenly." "Now!" "Yes!" "Okay." " You did it." "Well done, Papilio." "Oh, Papilio." "Hey, I say!" "Now my instinct says we have to go to the worm!" "Hello!" "Hello!" "You're right!" "But..." "Yes, but?" "!" "We're working on a baby caterpillar" " Of course." "Why don't we three stay here?" "I have to go!" "I have to see the earthworm." "I've been away so long." "I miss my mother and grandpa." "I can manage." "Have a good journey!" " Bye!" "Goodbye!" "What is this?" "Help Papilio, help." "Let go." "there's one lying here one beast dead gives another one bread the meaning is clear" "What a pity." "I thought he was dead." "What's a pity?" "I'm still alive." " Yes..." "But, would you feel all right?" "Are you giddy?" " Why?" "Maybe feeling sick?" "Want to lie on your back?" "With your legs in the air." "I feel fine." " While there's life, there's hope." "Maybe you can die later." "We can wait." "I'm not dying." "No way." "I feel fine." "We've heard that before." "One moment right as rain, the next dead as a dodo." "Don't tell us." "What are you?" "Gravediggers." "Gravediggers?" " Yes!" "Gravediggers!" "We bury dead insects and let them rot for a day or two." "It improves the taste." "And then we dig them up again." "The longer they lie, the better they taste." "This one is only from yesterday but it's already pretty tasty." "I'm looking for the earthworm and he must live near here." "Do you know?" "I have to go and see him." "You don't have to go anywhere." "We found you so you're ours." "Forget it!" "Wait, boys." "Not so fast!" " Hey." "What now?" " Listen." "I have a proposal." "You go home with me." "If you still feel fine, then I'll let you go." "And otherwise I'll have you for dinner" "No thanks." "That's very nice of you, but some other time, I have to go." "We'll do as I say," " Where are we going?" "What's all this?" "What's going on?" "What's that?" " The front door!" "I live here." "Cozy, isn't it?" "Well, what would you think?" " Darling, I made leg of fly" "Oh, we'll..." "He's alive!" "Sorry, darling." "I should have warned you." "It's only a matter of time." "It can't take long." "Give me a hand!" "Are you sure he'll die?" " I will not die." "Come and sit down." "Let's sit at the table." "I can feel your paws." "Well!" "Lovely leg of fly..." "Cozy..." "Father, will you serve?" " Yes." "Here you are." "Here you are, Beetie!" "Oh, lovely leg." "Delicious." "I'm not hungry." " What?" "Maybe you don't feel well?" "There you are, Beetie!" "I'll dig a hole." "Oh Jacob, you're lovely, you are!" "Dig a hole?" "Wait a minute." "I feel just fine." "Really!" "And you were going to free me if I felt fine." "But sooner or later you're sure to feel bad." "Worse and worse." "And I have plenty of time!" "No, that's not what we agreed." "If someone feels better, then he stays alive." "Then he certainly won't die." "The mole!" "The mole!" "The mole?" "Come on!" "Yes!" "Hello?" "Hello?" "Look beyond the poppies the dark shadows..." "Hello?" "Yugh!" "Crumbs!" "I can't stand that tickling." "The earthworm!" "Hello, anyone there?" " I'm here!" "Would it help to take off your shades?" " Okay." "Is that better?" "Oh, sorry." "I didn't know you were blind." "I consider myself lucky not having to look at ugly things." "Everything is beautiful in my head." "Who are you anyway?" " I'm Eric Champion." "You came at last?" "They say you're wise." "They do?" "Is that so?" "And that you can help with my talk." "Is it true that you never die?" "Oh, what's life and what's death?" "Look, if I am cut in two, is my old self dead?" "Or are there two new selves?" "It would be great without death if my father was still alive." "But he still is?" "In your head." "As long as you think of him, he lives on." "Yes, he could do everything." "He dared do everything." "I didn't." "I don't even dare hold a talk at school." "Or talk to Rosalie." "Look behind you in the wall." "The other half!" "Yes!" "Well?" "What does it say?" "Yes." ""We are all exiles..." ""..." "living within the frame of a strange painting." ""He who know this lives grandly" ""The rest are insects. "" "But what does this mean to me?" "Keep calm, boy," "Read it again." ""Life is a great party. " Exactly!" "A note from my father!" "He's alive!" " I said he was!" "In your head." " So he's been here too." "You said it." " Snail and Ms Mosquito were right." "Eric, look in the wall again." "Well I never." " Eric play something." " But I can't play the mouthorgan." "You can, now you know anything is possible in Woolly Meadow." "You know what's so nice?" "What works here, also works on the other side of the frame." "So follow your instinct with common sense." "Now play." "You see?" "You can do it." "You're just like my father." "Come closer and look in my glasses." "Eric, you can do it!" "Look at that!" "See?" "They think so too." "And now together." "One, two, three, four... if you're all in a tangle and fear it's a strangle you go through a deep, deep dale don't take it too seriously act rigorously and Eric, just cut the knot" "just cut the knot then you're on the spot but that doesn't bother me" "Life is a great party." "you don't live it up if you don't know that" "Look at that!" "Oh dear." "Eric?" "Now you have to help me." " Okay!" "Come on." "Pity." "Go up and ask for help from the ant colony." "They know how to deal with this." "But how to I get up there?" "Third on the left, second right and then up." "Okay." "Oh yes." "Before I forget..." "My cousin the woodworm lives in the frame." "Give him my regards and he'll help you to the other side." "Bye, Eric!" "Bye, kid!" "Of course, there's only one kind of insect that scouts the land so clearly" "Those are the hardworking..." "Goodness me." "Oh, what's all this?" "No, ouch, let go of me." "One, two, three, ant..." "One, two, three, ant..." "Stop it!" "Enough!" "Halt!" "We found this in the woods, spying." " I was not!" "I'm not a spy." "Who are you?" "Eric Champion." "Aha, one hears the strangest stories about you." "One says you're very clever." "And the other says you're extremely stupid." "But at least you have two paws." "But what's the truth?" "What should I say?" "The truth is somewhere in between." "Attention!" "Right." "Sit down." "Can I ask you something?" "My friend the earthworm down below has got himself tangled up." "He asked me to come and fetch help." "And one, two, three, ant..." "One, two, three, ant..." "What are you doing here?" " I'm the scout." "I record new explorations." "So you scout the insect world." "You must know where the frame is." "The frame?" "What frame?" " Come on!" "The frame of the painting." "Where the insect world ends." "Look at that." "That is unknown terrain." "No ant has ever set foot there." "It's probably the end of the world but I can't be sure." "One moment." "That dotted line!" "The frame must be here." "Yes!" "The frame!" "Don't do it." "That's not allowed, Mr. Champion." "Come on." " No!" "Please." "Come on!" "Now you can visit my world." "Is that possible?" " Of course." "Grandpa would be pleased." "That sounds good!" "Ouch!" "Yes!" "This is it, of course." "This is the frame." "Come on." "No." "Is he coming, or not?" "Be quiet!" "Yes!" " Hello?" "Mr. Woodworm?" "Regards from your cousin the earthworm." "Hello." "Can you hear anything?" "He's coming!" "The woodworm!" "Well!" "So you're Eric!" "And worm sends his regards?" "Was he tangled up?" "Yes, come quick, Eric." "Dawn's breaking on the other side." "Hurry up." "And good luck with your talk!" "Granny..." "He's coming, he's coming." "Darling, it's dawn." "It's high time." "Come on." "Oh, I want to see him first." "Nothing can be done about it." "Rules are rules." "Our great-great grandson's a star, isn't he?" "A Champion, you mean!" "Come on." "And sleep tight Henrietta." "By the way nice hat." "Oh Henry!" "Good night cheri!" "Granny?" "The small print." "Eric?" "Where is he now?" "Eric?" "Ah here you are!" "Come on, hurry up." "You're late for school, come on." "Eric, he's your talk." "And?" "Well, it's very nice of you but I think I'll do it myself." "Are you sure?" " Yes!" "I have to get something." "Typical Champion!" "Good morning!" "We'd almost given up on you." "Is this for your talk?" " Yes." "Great!" "Put it on here." "Are you ready today, Eric?" "yes!" " Good!" "And what's it about?" " Insects." "Well, go ahead." "You have two kinds of insects." "You have large insects and very small insects." "And you have insects who live in Woolly Meadow." "Sit down!" "That comes later." "Carry on, Eric." "It started last night in the attic of my grandpa's coach house." "There's a large wasp nest hanging there." "But this wasp was great at golf." "Fore!" "That's where I met most of the insects." "This is where I met Papilio..." "Fly!" "Like that!" "Flutter!" "Flutter!" "watch out!" "Then I flew all the way to this poppy field." "And that's where we met Poppy." "And then Papilio married her" "On the way to the earthworm, life got difficult." "I was attacked by a huge spider." "Roast leg of fly is quite nice when you're hungry." "...the dark shadows..." "They say you're wise." " They do?" "Is that so?" "One, two, three, ant!" "And through this hole I escaped from Woolly Meadow." "Finish off, Eric!" "I'd love to." "But that was all." "I want to say one more thing." "I don't think you should interfere with insects' instinct." "That was great, wasn't it?" "What an incredible story Fantastic." "Shall I help you?" "Grandpa, stop." "What's up, Eric?" "I want to go and see Dad." "Hey, Grandpa?" "Are there gravediggers here?" "Gravediggers?" "In a graveyard?" "I should think so." "Well..." "Not any more!" "Oh, I see what you mean." "Bye Dad!" "Come on, Rosalie, let's go!" "Who's that?" "Glass of wine?" " Please." "Butterfly love!" "Wow!" "Look at those butterflies!" "What a nice girl." "Hey, it went well, I heard." " He had a great talk." "What a relief." "Cheers." "Come, let's go to the attic." " Okay." "Look." "And there..." " Yes?" "That's where Papilio lives." "You came through that hole?" " You're like snails!" "Stand at ease." "Hello, Eric." "What are you doing?" " Oh, nothing." "One, two, three, ant!" "We are all exiles, living within the frame of a strange painting." "Those who know this live grandly The rest are insects." "give me my instinct it's better than sense" "things only go wrong when I think so I'll stop that now because it all works on its own" "it all works on its own well I do it and don't think too much" "I feel it I follow my instincts" "it all works on its own it all works on its own" "well I do it and don't think too much" "I feel it" "I follow my instincts"