Press Kit

Li’l Horrors – a brand new creature sitcom for kids. MEDIA KIT
Li’l Horrors is a 52 x 12 minute television series
(also available as 26 x 24 minutes)
A Beyond December MBP Production
MEDIA KIT CONTENTS
 CD of Publicity Stills
 Synopsis
 Audience
 Synopsis
 Characters
 The Producers
 The Creative Team
 Full List of Credits
 Episode Synopses
Contact the Li’l Horrors at www.lilhorrors.com SYNOPSIS Li'l Horrors is a puppet sitcom set in a spooky old house owned by MORBIDDA BATES, a retired
horror movie actress. The series follows the (mis-) adventures of the Li'l Horrors as they squabble, tease
and laugh, and generally have a monster of a time.
Page
1
In many ways it is really just your average school for Li'l Horrors. Everyone's got their little insecurities
and...well...strange little ways.
Bat-fanged VLAD (Aged 9), the mischievous little schemer who thinks he's too cool for school!
Strong and trusting DUNCAN STEIN (aged 6) who was not so much born yesterday as born today.
Bossy and vain MEDUSILLA (aged 8) with unruly snakes for hair and a lot of very bad hair days.
The new age, bandage-bound mummy CLEO (aged 6 going on 3132) who sometimes seems just a little
wrapped-up in herself.
ABERCROMBIE (as a Zombie his age unknown) has no need of food or sleep which means that he
doesn't have to interrupt his TV viewing.
Werewolfish tomboy CLAUDIA (aged 7) who lives in fear of transforming into a sweet little girl every
full moon - Yuck!
WEBSTER SWAMPSON (aged 8) the creature from the Mauve Lagoon, who's really just a scaredy
swamp thing and is frightened of everything, especially water.
Add to these a pair of talking gargoyles called GARG and - you guessed it - GOYLE, BRUCE the
mounted Moose head, RATSO RISOTTO and QUASI the school's hunchbacked caretaker (who's
hump-less brother is named HUMPFREE!) and you have the central cast for a kids' program filled with
surprises, scares, adventure and pure fun.
Li'l Horrors is classy and comical and packed with monsterly fun. This brand new show stretches the
boundaries of the imagination and sets a new standard in children's puppetry entertainment.
THE AUDIENCE Li'l Horrors is a children's puppet sitcom specifically produced for the 5-8 year old age group. This is an
age group who are currently not well catered for. Much programming is made for pre-schoolers and for
9 year olds and above. Li'l Horrors is created for this in between age group. It does not talk down to its
audience or aim over its head. It is, however, infused with enough wit and off-the-wall humour to
engage an even wider audience. Aimed well at it's target audience, it is modern, slick, sly, funny and
irreverent.
Li'l Horrors presents puppet characters with attributes and characteristics that will be immediately
recognisable to this group. Comical situations that the main characters find themselves in, reflect the
audience's own experiences and emotions.
Li'l Horrors celebrates difference. The characters are all physically very different from each other. Each
character has his or her own unique and individual way of viewing the world. Often ways that clash with
the other characters. The target audience will recognise in them characteristics in either themselves, or
their friends.
Themes and concepts explored in the series include: Hubris, where arrogance can create its own
downfall; benefits of getting together as a group to try and solve a problem; the value of friendships; the
Page 2
fickle dynamics of schoolyard loyalties; sharing rewards; seeing the world through another's eyes; group
acceptance and recognition.
Every child has a bit of the Li'l Horror in them and Li'l Horrors is for them.
Page
3
THE CHARACTERS VLAD vladamir bloode - AGE 9 YEARS
A mischievous vampire boy with blue skin, neat fangs, and an apparently inexhaustible ability to get
himself in and out of trouble.
He's a would-be wide boy, a smooth operator. Always with an eye out for an opportunity, he's a dreamer
of mad schemes with impossible outcomes. When it comes to grand plans, no-one can match him for
imagination and enthusiasm. Unfortunately, he doesn't always think things all the way through,
sometimes with disastrous results.
On his good side, he is quick off the mark, inventive and can think on his feet, with a bold outlook on
life and a quick if quirky wit.
But while he can be a brat (or should that be bat?), this spoiled, double-dealing scam artist is a lovable
rogue, whose unquenchable energy and boundless optimism tend to sweep up those around him,
especially the all too trusting DUNCAN.
LOVES: Things military, martial arts, explosions, action movies, horror videos, red drinks, being cool,
toys and money.
HATES: Being denied anything, sharing, being disciplined, sissy girlie stuff, chores and school work.
MOTIVATION: The need for attention and gain, fame, and fortune.
MEDUSILLA medusilla venimski - AGE 8 YEARS (but acts 18)
Brassy, bright, pushy and very bossy. The sassy serpents that crown her head sometimes give her hell,
yet at other times they are supportive - depending on their mood. But when 'Dusey' has a bad hair day,
it can be really bad.
She thinks she's the boss and not VLAD, a scenario of continuous, simmering conflict. She also thinks
she is extremely beautiful - despite her serpentine crowning glory - and believes everybody else should
recognise this fact too.
Quite sniffy and snotty if she suspects that she's being crossed, Medusilla can summon up a fine line in
verbal vitriol. An 8 year old Tallulah Bankhead for the new millennium. Can be quite underhanded, if
she thinks the occasion calls for it, so stay on her good side because you sure as hell wouldn't want to
get on her bad one!
LIKES: Mirrors, make up, girlie things, compliments, being right all the time, having her natural ability
as the leader to be unquestioned and being the prettiest.
DISLIKES: Unflattering remarks about her looks (and her locks), questioning of her authority, the urky
sort of stuff that comes out of DUNCAN's lunch box, smelly little boys generally and when her hair
slithers away!
MOTIVATION: Vanity and acknowledgment as the most loved, respected and popular in the group.
DUNCAN duncan stein - AGE 6 YEARS
Page
4
(some bits of him are older, some bits are younger)
A big (for his age), lumbering, good-natured monster with a heart of gold and a brain the size of a pea.
DUNCAN just wants to fit in, but he's usually too square for the round holes that he finds. Forrest
Gump-like in many ways, emotional, timid, a mama's boy, innocent and naive; he is very easily led.
Although accident prone he is very sensitive with a kind, gentle heart.
Held together by stitches, screws, nuts and bolts, Duncan's insecure physique is matched by his equally
vulnerable personality.
Because he's not so bright and very trusting, he is easily manipulated by his peers, particularly VLAD
and MEDUSILLA. But every now and then his sheer good-will prevails.
The major preoccupation of his life is food, which he consumes in large and bizarre forms. If anything
looks vaguely edible, he'll give it a try. This is the guy that ate VLAD's science experiment!
LOVES: Cute things, animals, playing with someone - anyone, loves whatever anyone else happens to
love.
HATES:
Lightning/thunderstorms,
cruelty or injustice to animals, being alone.
MOTIVATION: The need to be accepted and the desire
to make friends.
CLEO cleo patra - AGE 6 YEARS
(going on 3.132)
Bandage-clad mummy CLEO is a New Age kind of girl from a very Old Age. She thinks she's been
around long enough to know a thing or two. Pyramid power, crystals, telepathy, aromatherapy, Feng
Shui, TM, tea cup reading, water divining, Tai Chi, spirit guides, transmigration...she's into them all, and
has been for the last couple of thousand years. Perhaps that's why she has the habit of levitating at odd
moments.
You could be forgiven for thinking she's a bit of a flake, because she is. More than a little daffy, more
interested in cosmic speculation than harsh realities, she usually drifts along through life in a happy
haze, waffling away from behind her wrappings, expounding her latest theories. Sweet-natured, if a
little vague, CLEO always wants to believe the best about people, even when the opposite is patently
true.
It would be foolish to write her off too easily though. The ankh charm that she wears around her neck
has magical powers and she's not above calling on the ancient arts to conjure up a bit of a spell when
needed.
LIKES: A bright and happy outlook, pyramids, having once been a princess and a comfortable
sarcophagus.
HATES: Closed minds, boringly dry subjects like Maths and getting her bandages dirty.
Page
5
MOTIVATION: A wish to see everyone get on harmoniously and try to make the cosmos a better place
for all.
ABERCROMBIE abercrombie zombie - AGE UNKNOWN
ABERCROMBIE was discovered buried in the sand pit out the back of Maugstone Hall. How he came
to be in the pit and how long he has been there are ongoing mysteries for the rest of the LI'L
HORRORS series. All they can say for sure is that he's a zombie - and now, he's their zombie!
ABERCROMBIE fits into the gang easily, mainly because he seldom does enough to annoy anybody.
Normally, his interest is almost totally fixed on the television set, with which he is constantly fascinated,
regardless of what is on it. He, like males of any age, maintains a tight grip on the remote control at all
times.
There's something strangely likeable and vulnerable about him. He's a bit like the weirdo little brother
you can't help feeling protective about. If Dustin Hoffman was "Rainman" then ABERCROMBIE
would be "Drizzle Boy", the idiot savant, tele-sponge, the couch potato who walks - occasionally.
He doesn't talk much either, but when he does it is often just random lines from the TV. It could be
from anything - a western, sci-fi, sports program, slasher movie or whatever else he was watching in the
last day or so. Sometimes this is interpreted as great wisdom and at other times as strangely irrelevant,
depending on the timing.
LIKES: Watching television.
HATES: Not watching television.
MOTIVATION: Television!
CLAUDIA claudia howell - AGE 7 YEARS
Okay, so she's a werewolf cub, alright? She's happy with that. But she lives in fear of the full moon
when she turns into a sweet little girl. Yuck!
Because CLAUDIA is the original tomboy, she has no time for prissy, fussy, feminine things. She's
more an overalls and plaid shirt sort of girl. No airs and graces, she likes to get down there in the dirt
with the rest of the boys.
She's both cute and feral at the same time. She can be in the middle of an ordinary conversation and just
not be able to resist the impulse to throw her head back for a good howl. It's so, well, refreshing. Like
scratching behind your ear with your hind leg.
She has a lively sense of adventure and loves outdoor activity - especially digging holes in the sandpit.
(Which is how she discovered ABERCROMBIE).
Page
6
CLAUDIA relies a lot on her accentuated senses of hearing and smell. She can hear across distances and
sounds above normal pitch as well as identify who was last in a room with one whiff. Oddly, she's a
vegetarian and refuses to eat anything that was once hairy, cute and cuddly - just like herself.
LIKES: Adventures, howling, sniffing, digging holes, scratching and knockabout games.
HATES: Full moons, fleas, frilly dresses, leashes or any other constraints and anything that gets in the
way of having a good time.
MOTIVATION: Having fun and proving she can match it with the boys.
WEBSTER webster swampson - AGE 8 YEARS
WEBSTER, who hails from the Mauve Lagoon, is the school "brain", the monster equivalent of the
nerdy computer geek who has all the answers, but isn't quite sure how to adapt them in real life.
He is mentally inquisitive but physically a wimp - a scaredy swamp thingo who would prefer to consider
himself "cautious". The truth is though he's just a big wuss, afraid of almost everything - especially
water, which is why he is inseparable from his rubber floatation ring named SAM, which he wears at all
times and with whom he is continually having one-sided conversations.
SAM is part imagination, part polyurethane and part WEBSTER's higher conscience. SAM is to
WEBSTER what the old blanket is to Linus from Charlie Brown.
WEBSTER has an amazing ability to invent incredible contraptions; from time machines to devices that
turn school lunches into sweets. Although very learned and well read, his speech is slow, ponderous
and a bit dribbly - only to be expected though when you're part fish!
He's actually quite a gentle soul who tends to try to avoid confrontations and smooth the waters
whenever they swell. He is a model of reason, which is more than could be said for most of his more
volatile schoolmates.
LIKES: Science, computers, Albert Einstein, reading, learning, school, libraries, homework and SAM.
HATES: Water, exercise, health food, illogical trains of thought and being wrong.
MOTIVATION: The quest for knowledge
(but not necessarily
self-knowledge), fear, doubt, and paranoia.
MISS MORBIDDA morbidda bates - AGE . . .
(we were too scared to ask!)
Although only ever seen as a menacing shadow and heard as a voice across the room, MISS
MORBIDDA is a character in her own right.
Page
7
She is a retired horror movie actress who invested her earnings into the Monstersori School for Li'l
Horrors at Maugstone Hall. An authoritarian figure, she demands respect in the classroom and silence
in the Hall when she retires to her room in a fit of vapours, which is not infrequently.
She can become a little misty-eyed and sentimental when recalling her past triumphant roles and leading
men, all of whom - by her account - adored her. But such moments of reminiscence do not last long and
she is shortly back to her old autocratic ways.
However, for all that, you can't help feeling that she has a soft spot for monsters in general and these
LI'L HORRORS in particular.
RATSO RISOTTO Ratso is a Cockney accented rodent character whose rathole enters out into the Library/Playroom.
Streetsmart and savvy (as only a rat can be), RATSO is by far and away the most worldwise of our
characters. In fact, he's seen the world more than a few times over, hitching his way from port to port,
even deserting the occasional sinking ship along the way, the infamous Titanic among them. Or so he
claims. That's not to imply he's an out and out liar, more that he's the sort of character who wouldn't let
the truth get in the way of a good story...."know what I mean?" He's always got an angle, knows the
short cuts; never pays full price for anything; if you want it, he can get it, just don't ask too many
questions. A scrounger and a hoarder. If a toy or a lunch has gone missing, best check the rathole first.
RATSO is also often our narrator.
QUASI QUASI is Maugstone Hall's hunchbacked caretaker and odd-job-mister-fix-it man. That means he also
gets to indulge in his favourite activity - ringing the school bell. He's a cheery if rather scatter-brained
soul who does not seem at all disconcerted by his physical shape - in fact, he expresses sympathy for his
unhunched brother named Humpfree. Although likable, QUASI is not the sharpest tool in the shed and
that lays him open to all manner of pranks and practical jokes. All kids love to fool an adult - especially
if those kids are LI'L HORRORS - and QUASI is a perfect target. Fortunately, he can never hold a
grudge for long. His naturally upbeat temperament and sunny outlook always win out in the end.
GARG & GOYLE GARG and GOYLE are - needless to say - a pair of gargoyles who live close together high above
Maugstone Hall.
They seem to be aware of everything that goes on inside and feel free to speculate on it, forming a sort
of Greek chorus as events unfold below them.
GARG is a more traditional gargoyle, po-faced, lugubrious and given to gloomy predictions. GOYLE is
the exact opposite, an irreverent, jive-talking dude who loves a laugh and is forever cracking up at his
own self-perceived wit. They are like the traditional double comedy act - the straight man and the
funster, the serious and the manic.
To GARG, disaster always seem to be looming around the corner. To GOYLE: "Hey, bro, the more
disaster the merrier, my man!"
Page
8
MAUGSTONE HALL The rambly spooky home of retired horror movie star Morbidda Bates is just the setting for a heap of
monsterly fun. With its dark corners, secret passages and bookcases that open, there is no end to the
adventures and escapades that the Li'l Horrors can get up to. The set for the house is designed to truly
break the mould of puppet television. Its clear run corridors mean that the Li'l Horrors can be filmed
moving through and around the house in true "reality" TV style.
Page
9
THE PRODUCERS Li'l Horrors is a co-production between Beyond Productions, December Films (Australia) and MBP
(Germany) and is distributed internationally by Beyond Distribution Ltd.
December Films' co-producer Tony Wright most recent children's credit is the production of Plasmo, a
highly creative stop motion puppet animation series for the ABC, BBC and Nickelodeon UK. Tony has
also produced programs for the Australian Children's Television Foundation and for ABC TV.
December Films' co-producer Stuart Menzies joined December Films in 1996 to supervise its expanding
production slate. He has an extensive background in producing and production management for over 16
years.
Both co-producers have an extensive network of relationships with Australia's leading sculptors, graphic
artists, puppeteers, production designers, animators and production technicians. They bring together a
leading edge team for this new series.
Associate Producer Richard Mueck is the originator of the Li'l Horrors concept. Richard is recognised
as one of Australia's leading puppet character creators and puppeteers. His creations have been featured
on Australian television for many years in children's programs, adult comedy and satirical segments, and
major national advertising campaigns.
Executive Producer, Tim Brooke-Hunt, has produced Australian children's programs since the mid
1980's. Tim was Executive Producer of Yoram Gross studio's animated series throughout the 1990's and
now operates as an independent producer through his company, Pacific Vision.
Page
10
THE CREATIVE TEAM The unique look and feel of Li'l Horrors has been achieved through the work of a fantastic international
creative team of designers, builders, puppet makers, writers, puppeteers and many, many more.
Although TV puppetry has a long and notable history it usually takes the form of 'flat' proscenium
presentation. The model for us was live action sitcoms. We approached the series as though our
characters were human actors, so the action was 'blocked' as any director would a live action sitcom.
A shooting environment was created to allow maximum depth of action for the puppets. The complex of
sets all worked together to allow maximum camera fluidity and movement for the puppeteers. The
structural concept and look was designed by Otello Stolfo, one of Australia's most imaginative
television production designers.
The puppet team, headed by New Zealand Art Director David Bell, came from Australia and the UK.
London based mechanist Josh Lee designed and built the head mechanisms. His animatronic work has
operated such characters as Yoda in (the most recent) Star Wars and many puppets at the Henson
Creature Workshop in London. Also with us from the UK was puppet maker Jodie Overhill, whose
recent credits include the body suits on Lost In Space. Character sculpting and development was headed
by Associate Producer and series creator Richard Mueck. Alongside him was a team of talented young
Australian sculptors and artists.
The series was filmed by Jaems Grant - one of Australia's leading cinematographers. He achieved a
wonderful balance between moody, spooky lighting and the needs of an energetic shooting style.
The series would not have the quality it has without the work of a magnificent team of television drama
and comedy writers. The department was headed by award winning writers Peter Hepworth and Jon
Stephens.
The array voices for Li'l Horrors were created by a very small and versatile team of Australian actors
most of whom were making their debut in children's television series work. The wide pallet of English
accents has been created to convey the right individual attitude for each character.
The music for the series has been created by Australian composers Al Mullins and Janine De Lorenzo.
The pair have created some of the finest music in Australian television for the last few years.
FULL CREDIT LIST CO PRODUCERS:
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
PRODUCERS:
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER:
SERIES DIRECTORS:
EDITOR:
STORY EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITOR:
WRITERS:
Beyond Properties, MBP and December Films Australia Pty
Ltd.
Tim Brooke-Hunt, Rainer Mockert
Tony Wright, Stuart Menzies
Richard Mueck
Chris Langman, Helen Gaynor, Ralph Strasser, Declan Eames
Tony Stevens
Peter Hepworth/Jon Stephens
Jon Stephens/Adam Todd
Peter Hepworth, Robert Greenberg, Brendan Luno, Kevin
Nemeth, Glen Dolman, Jamie Forbes, Nancy Groll, Clare
Page
11
PUPPET DEPARTMENT:
PUPPET MAKERS:
PUPPET OPERATORS:
VOICE CAST:
MUSIC:
Madsen, David Phillips, Hugh Stuckey, Anthony Watt, Annie
Fox, Meg Mappin, Pepe Trevor, David Rapsey
Puppet Department Manager: David Bell
Head Puppet Maker: Richard Mueck
Joshua Lee, Jody Overhill, Gary Tippet, Vicky Miler, Sam
Jinks, Bernadette Butson, Troy McManus, Maudie Ingleton
Richard Mueck, Imogen Keen, Richard Hart, Simon Rann,
Heath McIvor, Hugh Simpson
Ric Herbert, Paula Morell, Rachel King, Richard Hart, Abbe
Holmes, Michael King, Matthew King
Al Mullins and Janine De Lorenzo
Page
12
EPISODE SYNOPSES Episode 1 MONSTERS 'R' US by Brendan Luno It's Duncan Stein's first day at Maugstone Hall - a school for Li'l Horrors presided over by the faded
horror movie actress, Miss Morbidda Bates. Duncan's first attempts to make friends are disastrous, and
by lunchtime he has upset everyone and goes missing. Miss Morbidda castigates the Li'l Horrors for not
making the new boy feel welcome, and a search of the grounds is launched. But Duncan has
disappeared. Will Duncan ever learn to make friends? Will he survive his first day in a school inhabited
by such strange looking pupils?
Episode 2 LOLLY FOLLY by Robert Greenberg Webster, the genius, has invented a machine that converts healthy lunches into chocolate bars. Vlad, the
eternal entrepreneur, is quick to see the money-making potential of Webster's new invention. Now Vlad
only has to convince the other Li'l Horrors to share his vision, and that might take a few little white lies.
To ensure the marketing success of the Bar he auditions the others as he searches for the right "face" to
convert it into sales. And despite Webster's dire warnings, he tries to convince the swamp-monster into
stepping up production. Webster refuses and Vlad takes matters into his own hands with the usual
disastrous results.
Episode 3 WEBSTER THE BRAVE by Nancy Groll Webster the cowardly swamp-monster's phobias are getting the better of him. He's especially scared of
water, caterpillars, Father Christmas, well, just about everything. The other Li'l Horrors begin to tease
him. Ratso sells him a magic talisman of bravery. Webster is transformed. From scaredy-cat to daredevil, Webster's so full of confidence he's quick to point out the other Li'l Horrors shortcomings. Until
they've had enough and Vlad calls Webster's bluff. Webster is undaunted, while he has the magic
talisman. As he is about to attempt a three and a half reverse somersault from the roof of the school into
the pond, Medusilla discovers that she is missing a button that looks incredibly like the magic talisman
of bravery sold to him by Ratso!
Page
13
Episode 4 TROUBLE DOUBLE by Clare Madsen Vlad and Medusilla are driving everyone crazy with their constant bickering. Perhaps if they could see
the other's point of view they might stop arguing? Which gives Cleo an idea. Swap their bodies for a
day! A simple magic spell might teach them both a lesson. The argumentative pair is briefly united
when they contemplate a future trapped in each other's bodies, but some things never go to plan. Cleo's
spell reversal fails, and the Li'l Horrors face the truly horrible prospect of living with the swapped Vlad
and Medusilla. Somebody better come up with an idea quickly!
Episode 5 TIME OUT! by Brendan Luno Webster's latest experiment has blown up the TV and Claudia consoles Abercrombie, trying to convince
him there's more to life than watching television. They'll have an adventure of their own - with
Webster's time-machine. Going back in time they find themselves trapped in medieval Maugstone Hall
where they cross paths with King Duncan, Queen Cleo and Princess Medusilla, who has matrimonial
designs on Abercrombie. To escape, all Claudia and Abercrombie have to do is relocate the timemachine and out wit Vlad, the court-jester and part-time executioner, before they're trapped in the past
forever!
Episode 6 GHOST OF A CHANCE by Kevin Nemeth A rainy day at Maugstone Hall, and the Li'l Horrors amuse themselves with a game of hide and seek,
which is quickly cut short when Abercrombie encounters a ghost in the attic. Is the school haunted?
Duncan and Medusilla are the first to be convinced, and even Webster has to agree (after they coax him
out from under the table). Vlad remains sceptical, despite his close encounter with the ghost, and he
comes up with a cunning plan to test the ghost hypothesis and unmask the culprit... What, or who,
haunts the attic at Maugstone Hall?
Episode 7 FANGS FOR YOUR SUPPORTS by Robert Greenberg Miss Morbidda announces there will be an election for school captain, and soon everyone's rehearsing
their campaign speech. A vote for the underdog! A vote for a boat! Democracy may never be the same
again. It's not long before arch-rivals Vlad and Medusilla are the only remaining candidates. Now they
just have to play the numbers game, and they're quick to scrape the bottom of the barrel for dirty
campaign tricks - all's fair in love, war and elections! But maybe the other Li'l Horrors aren't that easily
fooled ...
Episode 8 "THE COMING OF QUASI" by Clare Madsen The school grounds at Maugstone Hall are a mess, and Miss Morbidda decides it's time to hire an
assistant. Advertisements are placed and applicants arrive to be interviewed; proceedings which are
closely monitored by the Li'l Horrors. Only Claudia is distracted by Ratso's sudden disappearance, and
while she searches the dungeons for any sign of the missing rodent, the other students prepare for the
worst - Miss Morbidda's preferred candidate. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, he's not put off by
their tales of life at Maugstone Hall, and he vows to lick them into shape. Can the Li'l Horrors come up
with another candidate in time? And exactly what, or who, has Claudia found in the dungeons? Enter
Quasi.
Episode 9 Page
14
TRIAL AND TERROR by Glen Dolman Things are disappearing around Maugstone Hall - Miss Morbidda's broomstick, Medusilla's mirror, even
Webster's floatie, Sam, has gone missing. Is there a thief at Maugstone Hall? It's time for Vlad and
Webster to investigate. As private detectives extraordinaire, they quickly discover a pattern emerging,
and all the evidence points to Abercrombie as the guilty suspect. Despite Claudia's misgivings, Vlad
insists justice must be done and Abercrombie is put on trial! With Medusilla acting as judge, Vlad for
the prosecution and slow-witted Duncan for the defence, a conviction seems imminent. Only Claudia's
dogged determination to get to the bottom of the mystery can save Abercrombie now.
Episode 10 WERE-­‐WITH ALL by Beverly MacDonald Miss Morbidda has forbidden the new Piggymen swap-card craze at Maugstone Hall. But she's too late
and the hunt for the biggest prize of all - the Gold Piggy - is already sweeping the school. Vlad is firmly
in the grip of Gold Piggy fever and the promise of instant fame and fortune. In his quest for another
advantageous swap and another sucker, Vlad crosses paths with an old circus friend of Miss Morbidda's,
Barnum Bailey. Has Vlad finally met his match? What will Vlad trade for the chance to win a Gold
Piggy? And why exactly does Barnum Bailey want Claudia in his circus?
Episode 11 ROCK SHOCK by Glen Dolman Vlad's broke again and searching for fiscal inspiration when he realises there's a fortune just waiting to
be made in the Rock and Roll industry. All he needs is a band and a song and pretty soon he'll be rich
and famous. There's not a lot of talent at Maugstone Hall, and Cleo and Claudia are summarily
dismissed when they don't pass the auditions, but soon Vlad launches his new group "Bad Monster
Rock". Their first song, Who Got Hit With The Ugly Stick, is an instant hit! They're on the road to fame
and fortune, until the band begin to behave like rock stars, and Claudia and Cleo decide they must
expose the group's over-blown egos to their unsuspecting audience.
Episode 12 I WANT MY MUMMY by Jamie Forbes The Li'l Horrors are using Cleo's bandages for inventive games - a tug of war, skipping ropes, even as
handkerchiefs! A distraught Cleo realises she is starting to unravel, and she refuses all offers of help,
convinced only her slaves in ancient Egypt could properly restore her mummy wrappings. Somehow the
Li'l Horrors must convince Cleo she's back in Egypt, and Claudia comes up with a plan - all it will take
is the dress-up box, and a tent in the sandpit, and some willing slaves. What they haven't reckoned on is
her Royal Highness's megalomania. Exactly where are they going to find enough asses' milk for a bath?
And can Medusilla restrain Vlad from telling the Queen of the Nile a few home truths! And when will
Cleo's 'slaves' have fixed her bandages so everyone can return to normal?!
Episode 13 THE MORBIDDA MYSTERY by Nancy Groll Miss Morbidda is at it again, handing out extra homework, still more detentions - life at Maugstone Hall
could only be improved if Miss Morbidda would disappear! A remark she happens to overhear. And the
next day the Li'l Horrors dearest wish comes true. Miss Morbidda appears to have disappeared! The Li'l
Horrors search the school until they realise it's true! Miss Morbidda is gone. No more rules! No more
homework! Anarchy reigns at the school - there's pizza to order, banisters to slide down and soon the
place is a mess. With no rules it doesn't take the Li'l Horrors long to start arguing, and battle lines are
drawn. Things are so bad they might even wish for the return of Miss Morbidda to Maugstone Hall.
Page
15
Episode 14 GHOUL FRIENDS by Kevin Nemeth After another lecture from Miss Morbidda, Vlad declares, "Girls! Who needs them!" Well, Webster and
Duncan would like to play skipping games with the girls, if only the girls would let them. Unfortunately,
Webster and Duncan talk themselves into a corner when they invent a couple of sisters and now, to save
face, they must convince the other Li'l Horrors that they are actually their own sisters - Webressa and
Duncina. All it will take (with advice from Ratso) is a little make-up and wigs and cute outfits and fasttalking and quick changing...until it all backfires.
Episode 15 "VLADIMIR DA VINCI" by David Phillips Miss Morbidda announces that renowned art critic and gallery owner, Leonardo Lamington is coming to
visit, and in his honour the next class will be finger-painting! Which happens to be the only lesson Vlad
enjoys, and to his surprise after Leonardo's inspection of their efforts, he announces Vlad is a genius!
Leonardo will organise an exhibition and sale. Spurred on by visions of fame and fortune Vlad quickly
sub-contracts the other Li'l Horrors to production-line masterpiece techniques. He soon learns that it is
his work that is of value and not his name on the other Li'l Horrors paintings.
Episode 16 "ICE SCREAM" by David Phillips Medusilla's having nightmares. Abercrombie has the hiccups. Something strange is occurring at
Maugstone Hall, and events are further unsettled when Medusilla's dreams appear to be coming true.
Duncan loses his memory, Claudia is hurt and Vlad ends up in the pond. Despite Vlad's initial
scepticism, even he is convinced as the nightmarish events continue. The lights go out. People start
disappearing. And then Medusilla informs them this is when her dream got really scary. Are the Li'l
Horrors trapped in Medusilla's nightmare, helpless in the face of the shapeless creature that stalks
Maugstone Hall? Where will it all end? Will Abercrombie ever get rid of the hiccups which threaten to
bring down the walls of Maugstone Hall?
Episode 17 "THE CUBBY HOUSE WAR" by Brendan Luno Medusilla's building a cubby house for the exclusive use of her very exclusive club. No losers are
welcome, which includes half of Maugstone Hall, until they come up with the brilliant idea of forming
their own club and building their own cubby house. Quickly, the Li'l Horrors split into factions and
battle lines are drawn. This means war! Spies are set, claims and counter-claims of sabotage escalate to
full scale conflict. Cabbages and soft fruit hurtle through the air, destroying the TV antenna and
galvanising Abercrombie into action to broker a peace before things get really out of hand.
Episode 18 "BEELZEBUBBA" by Brendan Luno The Li'l Horrors greet the new kid at Maugstone Hall with some trepidation, maybe it's just the horns
and tail, or the way he appears with a puff of smoke, but even Vlad vows to be very careful with dealing
with Beezlebubba. Except Beezlebubba proves to be so nice and helpful that he's quickly in Miss
Morbidda's good books and making them all look bad. Maybe Beezlebubba should learn to live a little
dangerously and try some new tricks; that would be bound to put Miss Morbidda off-side... But some
things never go to plan, and despite the Li'l Horrors best efforts, Beezlebubba can't put a foot wrong. He
seems to live a charmed life, until he saves Miss Morbidda from a scary spider and lands in real trouble.
And then his true colours show.
Page
16
Episode 19 "LOVE LETTUCE IN THE SAND(WHICH)" by Jamie Forbes It's spring at Maugstone Hall, and love is in the air. Duncan falls head over heels in love with the new
girl, Caitlin. Untutored in the finer arts of love, Duncan consults Vlad, who immediately suggests they
pen a letter, a love letter. Unfortunately, the object of Duncan's affection is more interested in herself
and unfettered access to his lunchbox, than in Duncan. As the love letter goes astray, Vlad continues to
tutor Duncan, convinced once Caitlin reads the letter she'll be unable to resist. Meanwhile the girls
decide it's time to unmask Caitlin's duplicity, and they convince her Webster is the heir to an enormous
fortune in swamp real estate. It doesn't take long for Caitlin to show her true colours. True love is never
an easy path. As for the letter, well, it ends up in quite a few hands causing a few misunderstandings
Episode 20 "PLAY'S THE THING" by Hugh Stuckey Miss Morbidda has modestly re-written Romeo and Juliet for the school play. Casting will take place
and the chosen few will be excused from class. The Li'l Horrors stampede the auditions. To Vlad and
Medusilla's dismay Miss Morbidda casts Webster and Cleo in the leading roles, a situation they intend
to rectify. On opening night Vlad and Medusilla lead Webster and Cleo to their "star" dressing rooms,
deep in the dungeons, where they promptly slam the door on the hapless pair inside, and hightail it back
to the play. Except finding their way out of the dungeons proves to be a lot harder than finding their way
in. Now Miss Morbidda must make some last minute casting decisions, and things get really tricky
when three sets of Romeo and Juliet's battle it out in the balcony scene.
Episode 21 "HUMPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU" by Anthony Watt A despondent Quasi drops hints to the Li'l Horrors about his upcoming birthday, and unaware that the
kids are preparing a surprise party, he packs his bag and prepares to run away. Nobody loves him, he
explains to Ratso, and as he's never set foot outside Maugstone Hall, he's off to see the world. Quick on
the uptake, Ratso convinces Quasi they'll travel together. When the birthday boy can't be found the
worried Li'l Horrors mount a desperate search of the school. Meanwhile Ratso guides Quasi on a quick
virtual world tour, and their wanderlust satisfied the weary travellers return just in time for the
celebrations.
Episode 22 "SEND IN THE CLONES" by Anthony Watt Webster's announcement that his latest cloning project is a success is greeted with some scepticism until
the Li'l Horrors realise one object can be quickly transformed into two. It doesn't take Vlad long to see
the potential, and he tries to convince Webster to clone a copy of himself - one copy to attend classes
while the other has fun. Webster will not agree. Unfortunately Duncan accidentally sets the machine
running, and lo and behold another Duncan appears. A smarter, smooth talking clone. The new Duncan
is a nightmare and the Li'l Horrors quickly call a council of war. They have to get rid of the interloper.
Luring Duncan 2 back into the machine is easier said than done - particularly an intelligent identical
Duncan. And there are very nearly some terrible mistakes made!
Episode 23 "THE MAGIC HAT" by Glen Dolman As a special treat Miss Morbidda has invited an old magician friend to put on a magic show. But
Eduardo the Magnificent is hopeless, and instead of making Bruce the Moose disappear, Eduardo
disappears himself, leaving only his magician's hat. A magic hat that grants wishes, as Claudia quickly
discovers, only to realise just as fast that having your wishes granted is not all it's cracked up to be. Vlad
Page 17
and Medusilla start scheming to get their hands on the magic hat. But the hat passes to Cleo who has
second thoughts about world harmony, and even Medusilla learns wishes don't always bring happiness.
Duncan's wish is more pragmatic, though eventually he discovers you can't eat chocolate biscuits
forever. The hat finally lands in Vlad's hands and he's got his wish all worked out...he thinks.
Episode 24 "THE TREASURE OF THE SCARY MADRE" by Glen Dolman There's a message in the old bottle that Claudia and Duncan unearth in the sandpit; cryptic directions to
Captain Magentabeard's fabled pirate treasure. Webster brings everyone up to date with the historical
details, including the pirate captain's tragic love tryst with the lady pirate Inita Banana. But Vlad isn't
listening; distracted by dollar signs flashing before his eyes - treasure! An argument ensues over
ownership of the map that quickly escalates to who should lead the treasure hunting expedition? The Li'l
Horrors fall into gender based factions, and the boys race the girls to be the first to unravel the clues and
find the gold. Dirty tricks abound on both sides, until they finally uncover Captain Magentabeard's
dearest treasure of all, and the Li'l Horrors learn that all that glistens is not gold.
Episode 25 "ARMAGETTIN' OUTTA HERE" by Adam Todd It's business as usual at Maugstone Hall. Abercrombie is transfixed by a disaster movie while Webster
fiddles with his new telescope. Claudia is busy in the sandpit digging her entry for "The Hole of the
Year" competition, and Vlad and Medusilla are content trying for the all time record to break every
school rule. But alas, as the Li'l Horrors gather around the telescope, Webster announces he's sighted a
comet and according to his calculations it's headed straight for the class room. Webster's strategy to
launch a counter-strike fails, as does Cleo's attempt to commune with the comet and send it really bad
vibes and convince it to strike elsewhere. Luckily, Claudia's hole makes a great bomb shelter, until
Warren the Comet changes course again - for a direct impact with the sandpit. There's nowhere to hide
at Maugstone Hall and the Li'l Horrors prepare for the worst!
Episode 26 "THE BLEURGH WITCH PROJECT" by Adam Todd To the L'il Horrors dismay it's Quasi as substitute teacher again. Miss Morbidda has retired to her room,
depressed because her old arch-rival Greta Grotesk has made a horror movie comeback. Faced with the
dreadful prospect of more bell-ringing classes, the Li'l Horrors decide they'll make their own horror
movie as a vehicle for Miss Morbidda's return to the screen, and she'll be so pleased she might come
back and teach them. Except the scripts are singularly dreadful, and the special effects even worse.
Vlad's visions as successful producer take a dive until he comes up with a brilliant plan - he'll write,
direct and star in his own movie. Surely, that'll tempt Miss Morbidda out of her room? Not.
Episode 27 "WHO WANTS TO FLEA A MILLION HEIRS" by Anthony Watt After squandering their pocket money, Vlad and Medusilla are broke again and unsuccessfully trying to
scam the other Li'l Horrors out of some cash. Maybe there's an answer for both of them on the TV Maugstone Hall has been selected for the next episode of 'Zillion Dollar Question'. Unfortunately Miss
Morbidda selects Webster, Duncan and Medusilla as contestants. Vlad will have to find another way to
come up with some money. And he does, rushing to play in the sandpit when he hears Claudia is about
to become an heiress. He's about to learn to listen very carefully before jumping to conclusions.
Meanwhile Medusilla identifies Webster as her chief opponent and makes a contingency plan for a little
sabotage during the commercial break. If anybody's going to win a zillion dollars, it's going to be
Medusilla.
Page
18
Episode 28 "THE SPACEMAN COMETH" by Anthony Watt Yet once again Quasi is the butt of the Li'l Horror's practical jokes. But the kids are stuck inside the
classroom sweating over Miss Morbidda's very hard maths test when a strange alien spaceship lands in
the sandpit. It's Quasi who greets Zork from the planet, Planet. When, over a cup of tea, Quasi discloses
his problems with the Li'l Horrors, Zork suggests they play a few practical jokes of their own. The boys
suddenly find themselves cleaning and saying some very odd things! While the girls acquire facial hair!
Maybe Zork's jokes have gone too far, and after Quasi laments it might be better if none of this had ever
happened, Zork reverses time, and the Li'l Horrors have to re-live the day again. Facial hair. Cleaning.
Even Miss Morbidda's very hard maths - twice more!
Episode 29 "WOULDN'T IT BE NICE TO BE REVOLTING" by Brendan Luno After another round of rules, orders and restrictions, the Li'l Horrors decide it's time for a revolution at
Maugstone Hall! Secret meetings prove difficult to organise - especially when they're so secret nobody
knows where they're held. But eventually the Li'l Horrors refuse to do any more homework and Miss
Morbidda retires to her room. Vlad declares the revolution a success! Except the revolutionaries can't
decide who should be leader and soon a counter-revolution is brewing. Vlad is deposed and sent into
exile, and one by one the other Li'l Horrors make a mess of the job. It proves to be tough at the top. If
only Miss Morbidda would return with her rules, orders and restrictions.
Episode 30 "MIRROR, RORRIM" by Brendan Luno During a game of hide-and-seek Vlad has what he thinks is a good idea. As a practical joke on
Medusilla, he enlists Webster's help, and with the aid of a little science, they create a magic mirror - a
mirror that talks back. Angry when the mirror refuses to acknowledge her unique beauty, Medusilla
rushes at it, and much to Vlad and Webster's alarm, she falls straight through the mirror and disappears.
Into a mirror world where the Li'l Horrors are complete reversals of their counterparts. A situation more
to Medusilla's liking, where she's besieged by admirers and waited on hand and foot. This is more like
it! She's not at all pleased when Vlad and Webster mount a rescue...
Episode 31 "NOW YOU SEE ME, NOW YOU DON'T" by Glen Dolman Cleo is distraught to discover that the ancient paint on her sarcophagus is fading, and worse her mystical
powers are fading as well. It's Webster to the rescue, but he accidentally invents invisible paint instead.
Duncan's lunchbox is the first thing to disappear. Vlad quickly ascertains the practical joke potential of
such a discovery and paints himself. Soon he's driving the Li'l Horrors to distraction, and when the
effects of the invisible paint wear off Duncan's lunchbox, and it reappears, they decide to play their own
practical joke on Vlad. Being ignored should drive him crazy...
Episode 32 "THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE FLUFFY" by Glen Dolman The Li'l Horrors are instantly smitten when they discover a puppy hidden in the playground, except for
Vlad who's extremely wary of the cute ball of fluff, and Ratso who's jealous of all the attention it
receives. Claudia finally confesses she's minding the puppy, Vivaldi, for her aunt for the day, which of
course is expressly forbidden by Miss Morbidda's long list of rules. Besides, Claudia thinks Vivaldi's
not much fun because he certainly didn't seem to appreciate being buried in the sandpit. But when Ratso
offers to puppy-sit and Vivaldi disappears, Claudia realises how fond she'd grown of the cute little
Page 19
fellow. To make matters worse her aunt is due to return. Can they find Vivaldi in time, or will Claudia
have to confess everything to her aunt?
Episode 33 "FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS" by Annie Fox Quasi's bell ringing is out of tune, and worse, he forgets to ring the lunchtime bell. Then there's the
suspicious manner in which Quasi's taken to collecting the mail. What could be wrong? Ratso
investigates, and he tells the Li'l Horrors that Quasi's been writing to his family boasting about his job as
Headmaster of Maugstone Hall! Now Quasi's brother is coming to visit, and Quasi's packing his bags to
run away before his brother finds out that he's been telling lies. It's Vlad to the rescue with a cunning
plan to get Miss Morbidda out of the way, coach Quasi in his role as Headmaster, and convince the
other Li'l Horrors to play their parts as various maidservants and hired help. Can they keep up the
deception? Or will Vlad's master plan bring them all undone?
Episode 34 "MUMMY,DEAREST" by Annie Fox Duncan's stomach rumblings have caused a landslide in the dungeons. When Quasi investigates he
discovers an old sarcophagus, and while he fetches Cleo a dark shape rouses from its slumber - another
Mummy is loose in Maugstone Hall. This Mummy is the exact opposite to Cleo, a very bad mummy
with plans to take over the world. With Cleo and Claudia safely locked in the dungeons the Mummy
plays mean tricks on the other Li'l Horrors, who start to believe Cleo has undergone an evil
transformation. Assisted by Claudia's trained fleas, the girls escape from the dungeons, just as Vlad
persuades the Mummy to join forces and together they'll rule the world! Now Cleo must outwit the evil
Mummy and return it to the place from whence it came before it's too late!
Episode 35 "REVENGE OF THE ZOMBIE" by Meg Mappin The Li'l Horrors complain it's not fair; Abercrombie always hogs the TV. He's just a couch potato.
Never mind that they hustle him off the couch and use him as a TV antenna stand. To their surprise,
Abercrombie rises from the couch and turns off the TV. Claudia's nose is soon out of joint when
Abercrombie constructs an elaborate sculpture in the sandpit, and even Cleo is impressed. Then
Abercrombie has beauty tips for Medusilla, and nutritional advice for Duncan. To Webster's dismay
Abercrombie answers all the questions correctly in class, explaining he's learnt a lot by watching TV.
But it's the last straw for Vlad when the other Li'l Horrors turn to Abercrombie for advice when they
need a cunning plan. How can you tell if a zombie is happy or sad? And how do they get Abercrombie
back in front of the TV?
Episode 36 "VLAD AND DUNCAN'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE" by Penelope Trevor Vlad and Duncan have forgotten to do their homework again, and Quasi reminds them Miss Morbidda
has promised "dire punishments" for any students who fail to hand in their project. Using a little
blackmail Vlad convinces Webster to let them use his time machine, and soon they're back in the 19th
century looking for a famous musician - Beethoven. With Webster's dire warning not to stay for too
long ringing in their ears, they grab the person playing the piano and drag him back to the twenty-first
century. Unfortunately they've kidnapped Beethoven's young servant, who is more interested in vacuum
cleaners and take away pizza than a history project. In fact he loves the twenty-first century so much
he's reluctant to return. If they don't get him back quickly he might be stuck forever, and how will the
Li'l Horrors ever explain that to Miss Morbidda!
Page
20
Episode 37 "IT’S COLD COMFORT" by Hugh Stuckey Webster's genius is in demand again; and he is harried by Vlad and Medusilla to drop everything and
work on their respective projects. Only Cleo notices all is not well with Webster as he edges towards
genius burn out. She convinces the others what Webster desperately needs is a holiday, and come what
may they'll all just have to cope without him - even if it is getting mighty cold inside Maugstone Hall.
So cold that even the other inhabitants are complaining; Ratso's lair is damp, Bruce the Moose's antlers
are drooping and Garg and Goyle are sneezing. What will they do without Webster? While Cleo coaches
Webster on how to relax and have a good time the others battle to keep Maugstone Hall from freezing.
All looks doomed until Webster's state of relaxation inspires an idea, and he quickly rushes back to his
science bench - what they need is something to dry out the building - a little quick drying paint...
Episode 38 "HECTOR THE INSPECTOR" by Jamie Forbes Yet once again the Li'l Horrors are complaining about the rigours of school life at Maugstone Hall. Miss
Morbidda is being impossible, the whole place is falling apart, and worst of all Miss Morbidda is
upgrading the school's technology - installing speakers systems in every room - just in time for the
School Inspector's visit. The Li'l Horrors better be on their best behaviour! Which of course inspires
them to make sure Hector the Inspector's visit is a disaster, and they're so successful he decides
Maugstone Hall must be closed down immediately, if not sooner. The Li'l Horrors celebrate their victory
until it dawns on them what the school's closure might mean. They'll get sent to other schools, it'll be
terrible - but how to stall Hector and convince him to change his mind? Galvanised into action Ratso
deals with the Inspector's getaway vehicle while the Li'l Horrors spin Hector a tall story about mistaken
identity and the wonderful new technology Miss Morbidda has installed in Maugstone Hall...
Episode 39 "HOME ALONE" by Anthony Watt Miss Morbidda has announced an Open Day at Maugstone Hall for prospective parents. She has
delegated the Li'l Horrors as tour guides, but the prospective parents seem more interested in the fixture
and fittings and the coming and goings at Maugstone Hall than the educational syllabus. Something is
very odd. Miss Morbidda announces that the Li'l Horrors will have a sleep over at the school. Vlad is
strangely reluctant until it's revealed he's never spent a night away from home, or without his teddy bear.
Stranger still Miss Morbidda receives a last minute invitation she can't refuse... and Quasi will have to
look after them. On the night as the kids bed down, strange noises disturb their midnight feast. Is
Maugstone Hall haunted? Or are the prospective parents just a couple of crooks looking to steal the
antiques? The Li'l Horrors are home alone, and it's up to them to defend Maugstone Hall!
Episode 40 "I DREAM OF GREENIE" by Anthony Watt Cleo and Claudia find an old lamp in the attic, which Cleo thinks she vaguely remembers... Until
Claudia rubs the lamp and low and behold, a greenie appears. A Greenie? Well, Cleo's old adversary has
shifted with the times, now he does environmentally sound wishes. There's a wish for everyone who
holds the lamp - just make very sure the wish is in keeping with the Greenie's new philosophy.
Medusilla's the first to fall victim and Cleo must use her wish to undo the damage. But will the Li'l
Horrors listen to her? Not likely, and one by one the Li'l Horrors get their comeuppance. Webster gets
sent to the Antarctic to further his research, and even Duncan's stomach can't accommodate a never
ending lunchtime. Vlad's sure he's got this wish business worked out - he just never planned on ending
up as a tree... until only Abercrombie has a wish left, and they couldn't trust him to make the right wish,
could they?
Page
21
Episode 41 "WHO DARES WINS" by David Rapsey Medusilla's in a bad mood again; her entry for "Dreamdate Pin-up Girl" has been rejected. The other Li'l
Horrors scatter and it's Claudia who takes the brunt of Medusilla's temper. Until Claudia challenges
Medusilla to "get a life" and they both agree to try different things for the day. They swap. Claudia
spends her day with a mirror and Medusilla tries her hand at hole digging. In no time everyone is at the
'dare to swap lives' game. But what to do? Claudia can't get the hang of Webster's science experiments
and Duncan is very confused when he has to think like Vlad and cheat Duncan (as Vlad) out of his own
lunch! Cleo encourages Claudia and Medusilla not to give up - it's a wonderful idea to try something
new. The girls remain unconvinced and soon they're back to arguing again, only to be interrupted by
Vlad and Duncan's last dare - the lunch at stake. A perilously dangerous game. Will anyone back down?
Can Cleo make them all see sense?
Episode 42 "UNDER YOUR SPELL" by David Rapsey Cleo's been warned about spell-making at school, but she has a new technique she's practising, putting
flowers and inanimate objects into a trance. Vlad scoffs and talks her into a demonstration - she could
try Abercrombie - he's pretty much an inanimate object. Maybe so inanimate they'll need someway to
tell whether he's under Cleo's spell. Medusilla's quick with a suggestion - make Abercrombie quack like
a duck every time he hears the word "pyjamas". Done, says Cleo. Except her spell goes astray and it's
Vlad who's quacking like a duck. How many times in once class can Medusilla say pyjamas? It takes
some quick thinking from Cleo to get Quasi to send Vlad to sick bay instead of Miss Morbidda's office.
They'll all be in hot water if she finds out. While Cleo searches for a spell to undo the trance it's
Medusilla turn for some quick thinking to integrate Vlad's quacking into the classroom...
Episode 43 "FOLLOW THE BLACK ASPHALT ROAD" by Anthony Watt Miss Morbidda announces there's a freeway planned to go right through Maugstone Hall, a planning
decision which she intends to fight. There's an old piece of paperwork from Lord Maug forbidding any
such freeways, if she can just find where it is... Meanwhile, Duncan is excused from classes after
hurting his leg, and Webster has thoughtfully designed and built a wonderful wheelchair for him to get
around. He overhears Elliott Ghoul, an old friend of Miss Morbidda's, planning to romance her until she
agrees to marry him, then he'll get his hands on Maugstone Hall and the freeway can go ahead and he'll
be really rich. But the other Li'l Horrors won't believe Duncan, Mr. Ghoul has charmed everyone, and
even Miss Morbidda's shadow has a certain rosy glow. Luckily Webster's built a tape recorder into
Duncan's wheelchair, and Elliott and his evil plans are undone. But there's still Miss Morbidda to
convince that her suitor is really a creep.
Episode 44 "HAPPILY EVER LAUGHTER" by Anthony Watt It's Book Week at Maugstone Hall and the Li'l Horrors have to dress up as their favourite book
character. Except Duncan doesn't have a favourite character, he's too busy playing ball in the Library,
until he knocks a large volume of fairy tales of the shelf and knocks himself out... coming to in Fantasy
Land - the weirdest kingdom of them all. Duncan finds himself cast in the role of Cinderella with Ratso
as his fair godmother. The only problem is Duncan's ticket to the ball has been stolen, and they'll have to
get that back if Duncan wants to go home. Who could the culprit be? Why Vlad's grown a long nose,
and lie as he might he looks remarkably like Pinocchio as he confesses he scalped the ticket to Red
Page
22
Riding Hood for her grandmother who doesn't get out a lot... The hunt is on, assisted by Rapunzel of the
long bandaged hair, the Princess and the frozen peas and an unlikely looking frog. Will Duncan make
the ball in time, and who might the handsome prince be?
Episode 45 "ALTERED STATES" by Brendan Luno Miss Morbidda offers the Li'l Horrors an inducement should Maugstone Hall win the School of the Year
competition - an excursion to the local cemetery - and the Judge will be arriving today. Inspired to
excellence the Li'l Horrors cast about for ideas - maybe Webster can help? Well, he has just finished
building a super-conductor TV signal booster, but it's not quite finished yet, at least the link up to the
remote control. Abercrombie... Too late the Li'l Horrors are sucked into the abyss of televisionland where they find themselves on the set of a science fiction show aboard the starship "Endeavour". If
Webster can just get Abercrombie's attention before he starts channel surfing... Meanwhile Miss
Morbidda's anxiety levels are rising with the imminent arrival of the Judge... and Vlad's demolishing the
starship's navigational system... is that a black hole they see before them? Quasi and Ratso are running
out of places to search for the Li'l Horrors... and Miss Morbidda's threatening to throw out the TV if
they don't turn up soon.
Episode 46 "HAMELOT IN CAMELOT" by Brendan Luno They're losing things at Maugstone Hall. Duncan's lost his ball, Abercrombie's lost the remote control
down the back of the couch - whoops! Abercrombie's been sucked through the gap and disappears.
Webster hypothesises he's gone to the land of lost things and someone will have to go get him. There are
lots of doorways everywhere - washing machines, bottom drawers, even the back of the wardrobe.
Medusilla agrees and she is quickly zapped into a strange and mysterious world - a Camelot filled with
lost things and lost people. And the rottenest of them all is a new arrival - the Black Knight. If he wins
the next jousting contest he'll replace King Arthur (who's not very nice either and controls his kingdom
with a remote control). When Medusilla confronts the Black Knight and lifts his visor she recognises
him - Abercrombie! If he wins the joust he'll get back the remote control and things can go back to
normal! Well, almost normal for Maugstone Hall.
Episode 47 "STINGING IN THE REIGN" by Peter Hepworth The Official Emissary from Zombia pounds on the doors of Maugstone Hall. He's been sent to search
for the new King, and it looks like it might be one of the students. Despite Vlad and Medusilla's pitch
for the position it's Abercrombie who's declared the heir apparent. The Emissary will be back shortly to
confirm the details, but meanwhile Abercrombie can start reading the instruction manual for new
crowned heads of state. Oh, and he'll need a Lord High Chamberlain to advise him....and the intrigue
begins. Abercrombie selects Quasi and the first royal proclamation involves a lot of boring television
viewing. The Li'l Horrors will have to find a loophole in the instruction manual...
Episode 48 "I WON'T, DUNCE" by Peter Hepworth Miss Morbidda announces the upcoming school dance, and Quasi will be assisting as their new dancing
instructor. Take your partners please. The Li'l Horrors are extremely reluctant until Quasi partners them
up. Vlad can't keep up with Medusilla's big dance move, and he's quickly dropped. Webster and Claudia
follow suit. Even Ratso gets in on the action, trying to get his gorgeous sister, Ratatouille, a date for the
big dance. A rat! You must be joking. Until the Health Inspector arrives with reports of rat infestation in
Maugstone Hall. He's just been down in the dungeons and there are millions of them. If the rats aren't
Page
23
gone by midnight he's going to declare the place a health hazard. This might be the last dance at
Maugstone Hall! The Li'l Horrors inspect the problem and agree that it's hopeless. It's Ratso who
suggests if his sister could find a date maybe he could do something...
Episode 49 "PANTS ON FIRE" by Nancy Groll Vlad's lying again about his (non-existent) science project. He even scoffs at Duncan's project and the
friends fall out. For once in his life Duncan attempts a scientific approach - he'll make a new friend.
Meanwhile Vlad's lies are getting him in deeper, when he's struck by lightning and horrified to discover
something truly terrible has happened - he can't tell lies any more, only the truth comes out of his
mouth! The other Li'l Horrors are quick to take advantage of Vlad's misfortune, but it doesn't take long
for Vlad's truth-telling to rebound. Not only can't he lie about himself, but he can't lie about the others
either. And yes, none of them have done their homework and they're all lying. The Li'l Horrors decide
things have gone too far. Only Duncan is unconcerned, his science project to create life is under way,
and he's not sure he needs Vlad's help...
Episode 50 "HEAD OF THE CLASS" by Ray Boseley Vlad's boasting about his wonderful item for Show and Tell, and is somewhat deflated when Ratso is
unimpressed by his toy car. Duncan's in the same boat - he doesn't even have a show and tell item.
Searching among the library shelves he discovers a mysterious object which proves to be a real
shrunken head. Hmm. Vlad talks Duncan into swapping - a secret between the two of them. Vlad will
take full responsibility. Except he's not so sure it was a good idea when the shrunken head gets wet, and
it reconstitutes - to stand up comedian Ed the Head, a totally obnoxious, bouncing, boring, destructive
....head. It's Ratso who tells the Li'l Horrors the tale of Ed's former life as a really bad court jester who
lost his head after failing to make the king laugh, and his threat to return one day and bring down the
house. And judging by the destructive impact of Ed the Head on Maugstone Hall's wall they better come
up with something quick!
Episode 51 "SPEAK NO EVIL" by Chris Annastasiades Medusilla and Vlad are vying for the position of the bossiest person at Maugstone Hall. Medusilla wins
this time, and soon nobody wants to play with her - even Webster rejects her advances, preferring a
rubber floatie's company to hers. She's so bored she takes a book's suggestion to read - it can teach her
how to throw her voice, and Medusilla's quick to see the potential for revenge. Her first victim is
Duncan, and she convinces him his sandwich can talk. Spurred on she convinces Webster Sam can
really talk, who's quick to make suggestion about how wonderful and beautiful Medusilla is and how
Webster could help her out by doing her homework... Next she convinces the Li' l Horrors they've
woken Miss Morbidda from her nap and they're in real trouble. The book has created a monster! Only
Claudia thinks the world has gone nuts and she does a little investigation and soon the tables turn. And
who made that armchair talk?
Episode 52 "THE WOLF WHO CRIED BOY" by Nancy Groll Webster's latest experiment is so horribly smelly that the Li'l Horrors rush for the fresh air outside.
Which reminds Vlad about the other really bad smell - the day Abercrombie arrived. It was before
Duncan came to Maugstone Hall... and it all started when Claudia tried to trick everyone into going
outside to play with her... which she hotly denies. It happened like this... while she was digging a really
Page
24
big hole in the sandpit she discovered Abercrombie at the bottom. Despite the smell, the other Li'l
Horrors were quick to see a zombie's usefulness... and he didn't smell so bad after Medusilla doused him
with perfume... Webster was the one to research zombie information, and although he warned everyone
not to feed Abercrombie, well, Vlad was never one to listen to caution. What could be so terrible about
feeding the zombie lunch? It all happened when Claudia introduced Abercrombie to the TV; one sight
and the zombie was hooked. So he was easy pickings for Vlad and a sausage lunch. Except Webster
forgot to tell them that food in a zombie's stomach produces gas - lots and lots of gas...
Page
25
Page
26