The Dreamstone Pilot

This was the Pilot episode for the The Dreamstone TV series. It aired as a feature length special on CITV on 25th September 1990 and introduced all the characters in the TV series.

This episode was later split into two episodes "The Dreamstone" and "Into Viltheed", and released on DVD in the UK in this format, with some scenes and dialogue cut for time.

Plot

=Part 1: The Dreamstone=The story begins in the Land of Nightmares with Lord Zordrak reprimanding Captain Crigg, the commanding officer of the Urpneys. As punishment for failing his plans, he is fed to Zordrak's pet monsters, the Frazznats. Zordrak then puts Crigg's henchman, Sergeant Blob in charge of 'Operation Dreamstone'.

In the Land of Dreams we are introduced to Rufus. A dream sequence begins with "Better Than a Dream" (the series theme song) playing. Rufus is a keen dreamer, so keen that he daydreams as well which causes him problems in keeping a job. Another Noop named Amberley (Rufus' best friend) suggests to him he works for the Dreammaker as an assistant. Rufus gladly takes up the idea and visits the Dreammaker. He is accepted as an assistant and is given a tour of the Dreammaker's home, including the room where the Dreamstone resides. Rufus is made to promise he will not show anyone the location of the Dreamstone.

Meanwhile in the Land of Nightmares, Blob briefs his army on Operation Dreamstone, and explains that, in the Land of Dreams, 'the enemy will lurk everywhere; death will be a constant companion', and tells the other Urpneys that if they want to leave, they should do so now. Once all the Urpneys have run off, only two are left, Frizz and Nug, and Blob 'volunteers' them for the mission. After a debriefing from Zordrak, the three Urpneys set off for the Land of Dreams in the Whirlyped.

Rufus, meanwhile is bored with his job and starts daydreaming again. He is snapped out of it by Amberley who is visiting to see how he's doing. Rufus decides to show Amberley the Dreamstone, breaking his promise to the Dreammaker. While he is showing off, the Urpneys break into the tower and steal the Dreamstone. As they give chase, Amberley jumps into the Whirlyped and is kidnapped by the Urpneys.

The Dreammaker chides Rufus for betraying his trust and Rufus promises to make up for his mistake by retrieving the Dreamstone himself.

=Part 2: Into Viltheed=

The Urpneys return to Viltheed with the Dreamstone and Amberly. Zordrak casts the Dreamstone into the Pit of No Return, and turns Amberley into stone.

Rufus, lost in the forest and unsure quite how he'll make it to Viltheed, is found by Pildit VIII, Leader of the Wuts. Pildit gives Rufus a place to stay for the night and next day teaches him how to fly. After a short lesson, both Rufus and Pildit set off for the Mists of Limbo and Viltheed. Zordrak sees them coming and orders Blob, Frizz and Nug to launch the Whirlyped and stop them. The three of them find Urpgor, Zordrak's right hand man and scientist, inside the Whirlyped putting the finishing touches to his 'ultimate weapon', the Egg of Death. As expected, the Urpneys forget how to deploy it and end up using it on themselves and crashing. Angered, Zordrak unleashes an avalanche of rocks which buries Rufus and seemingly kills Pildit.

Rufus mourns the loss of his friend then proceeds to Zordrak's Lair and sneaks in undetected. He comes across Zordrak's Statue Collection and recognises one of the statues as Amberley. In a fit of despair Rufus hugs the statue and speaks of how much she really did mean to him. This confession along with his tears beings Amberley back to life. She then shows Rufus the way to Zordrak's lair.

Zordrak and his minions are too busy celebrating their success to notice the two Noops sneak into the throne room. They find the Dreamstone hidden deep in the pit, guarded by the Frazznats. Knowing that the Frazznats feed on Urpneys, Amberley pushes some of the statues in the pit, distracting them while Rufus dives in and reclaims the Dreamstone. He's so delighted at getting it that he shouts to Amberley that he has, and manages to alert Zordak and the Urpneys to their presence. After using the stone to fend off Zordrak and the Urpneys, Rufus and Amberley make a run for it. The Urpneys give chase, and soon they find themselves stuck in a dead end. As all seems lost, Pildit climbs out of the rubble and uses his globe to push the Urpneys back, and the three of them make good their escape.

With the Whirlyped down, the Urpneys cannot follow them and they make it back safely to the Land of Dreams. The Dreamstone is delivered back safely and the Dreammaker decides to keep Rufus on as an assistant.