Truckers

1992 - 1992

How It All Began

10th January 1992

Episode 1

After hunting for food, Masklin, a 4-inch-high (100 mm) Nome, returns to his burrow, and argues with his tribe elders about the lack of food and that they have no fire for heat. Masklin decides that a lorry might take them to a better place, but as he wonders, a fox attacks one of the elders, Mr Mert. Masklin chases the fox onto the motorway, killing both the fox and Mr Mert. Masklin decides right then they all have to flee.

A Nome's Welcome

17th January 1992

Episode 2

The Nomes find a safe place at a department store, where they encounter several tribes of Nomes. Their story of being from the 'Outside' angers the Duke De Haberdasheri.

The Store in Danger

24th January 1992

Episode 3

The Thing informs the Nomes that they are from another planet, that they arrived on Earth 15,000 years ago, and that they must return home to their planet. Masklin meets an inventor who shows them his inventions and is intrigued by the concept of 'Life Beyond the Store'.

Meet the Abbott

31st January 1992

Episode 4

Masklin and his tribe see the Abbott, leader of the Stationeri, who act as the Store's priesthood. On the way, they are met by Hardware bandits who are soon driven off. They meet with the Abbott, who does not believe them.

The Abbott's Concerns

7th February 1992

Episode 5

When the Abbott is alone with Masklin, he says that he has a number of concerns about the future of the Store. Many years ago, the different departments fought for control of the Store. It was only when the Sationeri asserted that Arnold Bros. wanted the departments to live in peace that the wars ended. If the Stationeri is proved wrong about the existence of 'Outside', the other departments may start fighting again. Therefore, the Abbott must pretend that everything is normal to keep the peace.

The Hall of the Manager

14th February 1992

Episode 6

Charged by the Abbott for discovering the truth, Gurder takes Masklin and Grimma to the General Manager's office. As Masklin begins searching the desk, they discover a memo to the staff saying that the store will be demolished. They return to find that the Abbott has been talking at length with The Thing, and has reconciled his world view that 'Outside' is an extension of the Store. His final decree is that the Nomes must return to their true home, but dies shortly after.

Masklin's Plan

21st February 1992

Episode 7

Gurder presides over the Abbott's funeral, where it is revealed that he was chosen by the old Abbott to succeede him. Meanwhile, Masklin comes up with a plan to save the Nomes.

Working Together

28th February 1992

Episode 8

The Duke thinks Masklin's plan is foolish, and refuses to participate, but the other clans agree to work together, with the Stationeri (reluctantly) teaching many Nomes to read.

The Hostage Situation

Episode 9

A Nome named Vinto, who tends to mistake fiction books for instruction manuals, reads about a hostage situation and suggests they could take a human hostage. However, Masklin doesn't think the plan will work.

Searching the Store

13th March 1992

Episode 10

The Duke is distressed at the disappearance of his son. Although he still does not believe in an Outside, he agrees to help Masklin, as he feels it might lead him to Angalo.

Angalo's Return

20th March 1992

Episode 11

Angalo recounts how he escaped, and also that he learned how to drive a lorry. Vinto brings 'Gulliver's Travels' to Masklin, hoping to convince him to kidnap a human to help them, but Masklin instead sees the ropes holding Gulliver down; he believes they can use ropes to operate the lorry. Vinto discovers that, instead of the fortnight they thought they had, demolition has already started.

The Great Escape

27th March 1992

Episode 12

The Thing advises the Nomes to flee as soon as possible. Although demolition is still two weeks away, humans have started clearing the building and loading the store fittings onto a lorry. Dorcas tells Masklin that he has disabled the loading bay door so the lorry can't leave. The Thing tells Masklin there is an airport to the north and they should head to it, the it falls silent and leaves Masklin on his own. Masklin becomes overwhelmed by his task, but Grimma encourages him to lead the Nomes out of the store. The Nomes get into a lorry and begin to practice using the rope and pulley system Dorcas designed to drive the lorry. They start the lorry and begin to move, unfortunately they move backwards, not forwards, and crash into a petrol drum which tips over and spills. Prices Slashed comes to investigate, smoking a cigarette. Angelo tells the Nomes that if there is a single spark the spilled fuel will explode.

So Near and Yet So Far

Episode 13

Prices Slashed sees Gurder denouncing the 'Demon', and is startled into dropping his lighted cigarette into the petrol. With no time to fix the door, the lorry crashes through moments before the petrol ignites and causes an explosion. They stop a short way down the street to see the store on fire. They drive off and, after a number of close calls, a police car begins pursuing them. The first scene of the first episode then repeats, this time showing Masklin and Dorcas cutting the police cars wiring while the Nomes in the truck hide. The lorry comes to a stop in an abandoned quarry near an airport. Masklin tells the others that they must move on at some point and try to get home. As they watch Concorde fly over, Dorcas remarks that it would be easier to drive than a lorry because it only has three wheels.

Top Cast

Joe McGann•Rosalie Williams•Brian Trueman

Writer

Brian Trueman

Animation Action & Adventure Sci-Fi & Fantasy Family

Faced with imminent extinction, and guided by a mysterious handheld black box, the surviving members of an alien race of small people - Nomes - embark upon a quest to find a new home, safe from the unwelcome attentions of us destructive humans...

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Production Companies

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Full Cast

Joe McGann Image

Joe McGann

Masklin (voice)

Rosalie Williams Image

Rosalie Williams

Gran'ma Morkie / Baroness of Delicacy (voice)

Brian Trueman

Dorcas / Additional Voices (voice)

Edward Kelsey

The Thing (voice)

Jimmy Hibbert Image

Jimmy Hibbert

Vinto Pimmie / Additional Voices (voice)

John Jardine

Tom / Count of Hardware (voice)

Debra Gillett

Grimma (voice)

Full Crew

Terry Pratchett Image

Terry Pratchett

Novel

Brian Trueman

Writer

Mark Hall

Producer

Brian Cosgrove Image

Brian Cosgrove

Producer

Jackie Cockle

Producer

Colin Towns

Music

Paul Berry Image

Paul Berry

Animation

Paul Couvela

Animation

Andrea Lord

Animation

Lloyd Price

Animation

Sue Pugh

Animation

Stuart Sutcliffe

Animation

Mark Stewart

Camera Supervisor

Jerry Andrews

Lighting Camera

Paul Simpson

Modeling

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