The film manuscript for animated short, The Lost Little Caterpillar, translated into English
From The Lost Little Caterpillar:
Narrator:
Once upon a time not so long ago, a little adventure took place on a tiny leaf on a small tree. On this tiny leaf was a very small caterpillar that was, on this very day, opening its eyes for the very first time. She was very small and delicate. She was probably the tiniest creature in the garden. It’s all so beautiful here, she thought.
Caterpillar:
This must be the most beautiful garden in the world.
Narrator:
The little caterpillar realised that she was terribly hungry. She sniffed the air and smelt the wondrous perfumes of the trees and flowers. But one scent was the best of all: that was the scent of the leaf. It was delicious!
Caterpillar:
How sweet life is,
Narrator:
thought the little caterpillar and chewed and chewed. One day when the caterpillar was eating her
breakfast leaf, she heard a mocking voice from above her head.
Ladybird:
My oh my, oh my, oh my, my word! You certainly know how to eat! Looks as though you are going to finish off the whole tree! Do you know no limits?
Caterpillar:
Limits? What is that?
Ladybird:
I beg your pardon! Do you think you’re the only bug in this garden?
Caterpillar:
What is a bug?
Ladybird:
Silly sausage, don’t you know? Look at me. I’m a ladybird. I am a beetle. Look at my beautiful red shell. It is the most beautiful in the entire world.
Caterpillar:
Yes, it’s very pretty.
Ladybird:
And beneath the shell are my wings. There!
Caterpillar:
How lovely! How did you get such nice wings?
Ladybird:
Sweet beetle juice! I was born with them, of course. Those who haven’t any wings are bugs, but those of us who do have wings are... higher insects. And we higher insects are the masters of this garden, and you bugs have to do as we say. And I’m saying: stop eating, or you’ll be sorry! I’ve been keeping an eye on you. You eat enough for four and have become bloated and ugly. It’s an outrage!
Caterpillar:
You mean... I’m ugly?
Ladybird:
You’re the ugliest thing in this garden. Or anywhere else for that matter. But I don’t have time for this chitchat anymore. As the appointed chief prefect and superior insect in this garden, I command you to eat no more than one leaf a day. And do as I say!
Narrator:
Now, the little caterpillar found no joy in watching the flowers, the trees or the sky.
Caterpillar:
Everything is beautiful but me.
Narrator:
She didn’t dare eat from fear of the ladybird. Still, she ate steadily after the sun had set, and no one could see her. Even though the caterpillar tried to eat less than before, she continued to grow and get heavier and the leaf started bending under her weight. And one night, while she was sleeping– it happened!
