1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:19,769 The Ugly Duckling 2 00:00:19,769 --> 00:00:31,329 Hello friends, my name's Danny. I'm going to tell you the story about the Ugly Duckling. Listen. 3 00:00:34,329 --> 00:00:43,490 Inland, at the bottom of the meadow, hidden among the tall reeds that grew on the edge of the pond, was a nest full of eggs. 4 00:00:45,289 --> 00:00:49,289 Mother duck perched gently on top of them to keep them warm. 5 00:00:50,829 --> 00:00:57,289 She was waiting impatiently for the birth of her ducklings, when suddenly she heard... 6 00:00:59,890 --> 00:01:08,010 One after another, the eggs began to open, and the ducklings poked their heads out. 7 00:01:09,650 --> 00:01:13,650 But what was that horrible grey bird that had appeared? 8 00:01:14,370 --> 00:01:17,409 Mother Duck could not believe it and said, 9 00:01:18,250 --> 00:01:20,930 None of the other ducklings are like this one. 10 00:01:22,150 --> 00:01:28,109 Some days later, Mother Duck walked to the pond followed by her ducklings. 11 00:01:28,870 --> 00:01:30,590 She jumped into the water. 12 00:01:32,450 --> 00:01:36,810 And one by one, the ducklings jumped after her. 13 00:01:37,549 --> 00:01:43,349 They floated splendidly, and even the ugly duckling swam with them. 14 00:01:44,370 --> 00:01:48,030 But later they went to the duck pen. 15 00:01:48,950 --> 00:01:53,290 The other ducks looked at them impertinently and said, 16 00:01:54,109 --> 00:01:59,030 Look, here comes another brood, as if there weren't already enough of us. 17 00:02:00,250 --> 00:02:06,569 And what's that ugly duckling? Get it out of this pen. We don't want it. 18 00:02:06,709 --> 00:02:07,769 We don't want it. 19 00:02:08,310 --> 00:02:13,530 One by one, the ducks launched themselves on the ugly duckling, 20 00:02:13,530 --> 00:02:18,250 and they pecked its neck and pushed it from one side to another. 21 00:02:20,949 --> 00:02:26,469 Then came some little chicks and they also pecked the poor little duckling. 22 00:02:30,629 --> 00:02:34,689 Mother duck tried to protect the ugly duckling and said, 23 00:02:35,210 --> 00:02:38,270 Leave him alone. He's not hurting anyone. 24 00:02:38,830 --> 00:02:40,629 But it was to no avail. 25 00:02:40,629 --> 00:02:43,030 They did not take any notice. 26 00:02:43,530 --> 00:02:49,569 Even his own brothers and sisters started to treat him badly. 27 00:02:50,650 --> 00:02:52,330 Every day was the same. 28 00:02:53,009 --> 00:02:55,310 The ugly duckling couldn't escape. 29 00:02:56,050 --> 00:02:57,930 The ugly duckling then said, 30 00:02:58,569 --> 00:03:03,930 I think it would be better if I went away. Far away. 31 00:03:05,909 --> 00:03:10,090 So, jumping the fence, he went away as fast as he could. 32 00:03:10,090 --> 00:03:21,229 autumn came the leaves were yellow and red in the forest one afternoon at sunset swans appeared 33 00:03:21,229 --> 00:03:29,189 through the bushes and the ugly duckling said it would be so nice to be as beautiful as them 34 00:03:29,189 --> 00:03:39,090 then came winter the days were getting colder and the poor ugly duckling was swimming in the icy 35 00:03:39,090 --> 00:03:48,449 water that began to freeze around him. No one brought food, and he barely ate. It was all very 36 00:03:48,449 --> 00:03:58,509 sad. In spring, when the sun returned to warm the earth and the plants began to flower, the ugly 37 00:03:58,509 --> 00:04:05,889 duckling noticed that his wings had become larger and stronger. He beat them against his body, 38 00:04:05,889 --> 00:04:11,770 once, twice, until finally he rose into the air 39 00:04:11,770 --> 00:04:17,850 it was not long before he found himself in a large garden 40 00:04:17,850 --> 00:04:21,350 three beautiful swans were swimming in a pond 41 00:04:21,350 --> 00:04:24,449 he saw them and the duckling said 42 00:04:24,449 --> 00:04:26,990 I would like to go with them 43 00:04:26,990 --> 00:04:31,310 maybe they won't take any notice of me because I'm so ugly 44 00:04:31,310 --> 00:04:34,129 but I don't care, I will try 45 00:04:34,129 --> 00:04:39,449 he flew to the water and swam quickly towards them 46 00:04:39,449 --> 00:04:44,149 but when he looked down and saw his own reflection in the clear water 47 00:04:44,149 --> 00:04:46,089 what a surprise 48 00:04:46,089 --> 00:04:53,209 he was no longer a dark and ugly bird 49 00:04:53,209 --> 00:04:54,930 as he had always been 50 00:04:54,930 --> 00:04:58,670 now he too was a beautiful white swan 51 00:04:58,670 --> 00:05:03,170 some children came into the garden shouting 52 00:05:03,810 --> 00:05:11,449 A new swan! Look at this one! He is the most beautiful of all the swans. 53 00:05:13,410 --> 00:05:17,410 The swan turned his head shyly, but he felt happy. 54 00:05:18,269 --> 00:05:23,649 He fluttered his wings, curved his neck gracefully and said, 55 00:05:24,250 --> 00:05:30,129 I never dreamed of so much happiness when I was the ugly duckling.