Original subtitles

It is estimated that there are some 10 quintillion insects alive

at any one time.

But forget about them, this is about ME, Lloyd.

I'm a fly!

This is ever so good of you, Lloyd.

Yeah. Looking forward to it.

I never met Abacus's whole family before.

I have never met my whole family before either.

Oof! Too many of them.

The others have gone already.

Ampersand's birthday parties are always an event.

Oh, I tell you what, I'm looking forward to louseball.

Abacus says everyone curls up into a ball

and just bashes into each other.

Uh!

Yes. Well, each to their own.

I'm going to kick back and read a whole magazine cover to cover.

First time I've had time to do that since...

...well, the last party.

Here. I made a packed crumb for you both for the journey.

Oh, ho! Nice!

Bread, apple, chocky bickie and a crisp? Ho-ho!

Maybe I should eat mine now so there's less to carry.

You will take care of him, won't you, Lloyd?

Hmm? Oh. Of course.

He's a woodlouse. You guys are pretty tough.

We'll be fine.

Oh.

Oh, dear. Hi, Lloyd.

Sorry. My legs are a bit stiff today.

Oh! Abacus, what happened? Are you ill?

Did you fall in flower again?

No, I'm starting to moult.

Anyway, I had one coming.

I wasn't expecting it so soon.

Oh, dear. You get this from your dad's side.

Always moulting early.

So your whole skin is going to fall off?

Will it hurt? No.

I'll just be a bit tender until I dry out.

But it's fine. OK, well, let's go.

Oh, no, no, no. Where do you think you're going?

You can't go out when you're this close to moulting.

But Dad's party.

Once that skin comes off, you'll be all soft and vulnerable.

And if anything happens...

I'll be fine, Mum. I can't miss the party.

Anode said that Avenue will be there and Atrophy.

Oh, and Addendum.

And I'll be with him the whole way, Aperture.

He'll be completely safe.

Whoo-hoo... hoo...

Please...

OK. I can see it means a lot to you both.

Great! Louseball, here we come.

But I'm coming with you.

No, you don't have to do that.

I can look after him by myself. What about your magazine?

It can wait until the next party.

But...

Fine.

My mum AND my best friend looking after me.

I'm going to be so safe.

Ooh!

Mum... Lloyd...

That's it, Abacus. Slow and steady.

Better late than never.

Yes, yes, yes.

But "late and never" aren't our only options, are they?

I bet I can fly Abacus right there.

No! Not while he's moulting it.

He's too delicate.

What if you drop him?

Ooh, I'm feeling strong today.

I'm sure I can do it. All the way, no drops.

No. Abacus's safety is our top priority.

I don't mind. Lloyd's getting better at not dropping me.

Whoa! Help!

I'm stuck.

Oh! I've got you. Abacus, hold on!

Now pull.

Maybe pull in the same direction...?

Yes. Yes. We've got to work together, Lloyd.

Of course. Same direction, Aperture.

Forward. Pull forward.

Of course. I was about to do that.

Ahh!

Whoopsie.

Oh, that is much better.

I can move properly now.

Perfect. We could walk faster.

Hmm.

Abacus, can you feel this?

Ooh... ooh... ooh...

Tingly.

His legs came off too early.

He's going to be very sensitive for a while.

We should go home. Be safe.

Oh, Mum. No.

Ooh-ooh-ahh-ahh... I want to go to the party. Ooh-ahh...

I can do this.

Whoa-ho-ho...

There! You see how keen he is?

I'm not so sure if he's keen so much as top heavy.

Ooh-ooh-ahh-ahh...

Ah. Yeah. I don't think he can stop.

Ooh... Ooh...

Ahh! Ah! Ah! What is it?

Ooh.

It stings.

Uh... Uh... It's salt.

Oh, it's a salt spillage.

Abacus can't go through that. He's too tender.

We'll have to go around.

But, Mum, that will take ages.

We'll miss the party.

Why don't I just...

No! No flying.

Oh. Fine.

How about I clear a path?

That way we can still go straight through.

Um...

Um... Clear a wider path than this, Lloyd.

Ooh! Ooh...

It doesn't need to be wider. I'm being efficient.

Here we go. Round here.

It needs to be much wider.

What if he falls? Ooh-ooh...

Mum... Ooh-ooh... Lloyd... Whaa!

I am so sorry.

I knew this was a bad idea.

Oh! I'm fine.

Ah!

It's just the lower ones that - ooh! - sting, Lloyd.

Ah, sorry.

Ooh! Ooh...

Wait. Your upper half doesn't feel the salt?

I got an idea.

And it's not flying.

Nice plan, Lloyd.

I feel very savoury.

Your hands do sting a little.

Sorry. Bit salty still.

Oh! Careful, Lloyd.

Why have you stopped?

Ah! Spider's web!

Ooh... Nobody move.

There is also a spider.

It's OK, Lloyd. It's very far away.

Ooh-ooh-ooh...

Oh, no. Just very small. Ooh-ooh-ooh...

I'll take you all on.

Get behind me, Lloyd.

You can't hurt me.

I'm too chewy.

Not right now you're not.

Oh, yes. Oh, no!

Ooh, yum. Tasty, tender legs.

Ah! Get away from my son.

Go on. Scram.

Leave my boy alone.

Ah, but why? Oh, I'm hungry. Coming through.

Shoo! Leave my friend alone.

We're not scared of you. Boys, get back.

I'm spider proof, you're not.

We'll get Abacus to safety quick.

You know what to do.

You mean... Right!

Come on, Abacus. It's time to fly.

Your mum says it's fine.

Come on!

Oh, no, you don't.

Oh, yes, I do.

I'm hungry. I want to eat.

Higher, Lloyd. Fly higher!

You're doing it, Lloyd.

Yes. Yes!

And this time, Abacus, I'm not going to drop...

Ah! Whoa.

Abacus!

Whoa!

Ow! Dirty tricks.

Not worth it, anyway. I'm out of here.

I'm leaving. No, I'm going.

Ah. I'd like to claim that was intentional, but it wasn't.

You both OK?

Yeah. Yes, Mum.

Right. Then let's get going.

There's a party to get to.

Huh? I thought maybe...

I'd want to go home?

After all this effort, not a chance.

Yay!

Oh. We still need to get out of this salt, though.

Hmm...

Amazing to think I fitted inside this.

I know. You really have grown.

Abacus. Are you eating your own skin?

Yesh. Would you like some?

Mmm... No, thank you.

I'm not surprised you're not hungry.

You ate both the packed crumbs I made.

Dad's place.

It's party time. Oh.

Avenue... Anode... Atrophy...

Oh, and Addendum.

Is the party over? Do we miss it?

Hey, bro. Hey, Mum.

Hey, Abacus's fly friend.

You haven't missed a thing.

The party's been put on hold. On hold?

Is... Is it your father? Is something wrong?

Oh, no.

Ooh. I moulted early again.

Hm. Told you you got it from his side.

You too, then? What are the chances?

So louseball's a no-go I suppose.

Yep.

And you can't have a party without louseball.

Like father, like son.

We can dry out together. I'll be glad of the company.

And I can stay and look after you both until then.

You don't need to do that, Lloyd.

They're safe here together.

You've done enough. No, no.

It's the least I can do for my best friend and his dad.

You kick back and relax.

I will.

This has been fun.

Bye.

So... how long does drying out take?

Oh, no more than three days.

See you in three days, then. Have fun. Bye.

Happy birthday, by the way. Oh, thanks, son.

Captions by Red Bee Media

Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation