Hans Christian Andersen's The Wild Swans

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Transcript

00:00The End

00:30Dear friends, hello.

00:58I'd like you to know I'm a very special crow, a neighbor, you see, of Hans Christian

01:06Anderson.

01:09I lived in a tree right over his head and heard every word of the stories he read to

01:16his children when he put them to bed.

01:20I used to sit in a tree right near his window and listen to the stories, too.

01:26And these stories were so full of magic that the woods became magical and the tree became

01:32magical.

01:33It forgot about the seasons and budded in wintertime and became green and put out flowers, even

01:41while it was snowing.

01:43And so I sat in that tree and listened and learned the stories by heart.

01:48And now I go all about the world, telling them to anybody who wants to listen.

01:54So many stories, so full of things, full of toads, which, as everyone knows, are useful

02:02for spells.

02:03And there are lots of princesses in these stories who get into all kinds of danger.

02:10And ferocious giants, too.

02:13And for every princess, of course, there's a prince to save her from the dangers.

02:19And my favorite story of all, the wild swans.

02:31Here long ago lived a king named Filbert, who was called Filbert the Foolish, because he

02:38wasn't very wise.

02:40Now Filbert needed a big castle, because he had many children, 11 sons and one daughter.

02:48The princess was a very loving little girl.

02:51She took care of her brothers and was a second mother to them, because their own mother was

02:57dead.

02:58And on the day that our story stopped, the children were very, very happy and were playing

03:05their happiest game, a masquerade game in which they all pretended to be different animals.

03:11And the reason they were so happy was because the king, their father, was bringing home a

03:16new wife.

03:17He didn't know very much about his bride, but she had told him she was beautiful.

03:24And all the children knew was that their father was bringing home a new wife, and that they

03:29would soon have a new mother who would love them and care for them.

03:33And so they were wildly happy, dancing and singing and celebrating the marriage.

03:40As soon as the wedding was over, the king and queen sped toward the castle.

03:54At the castle, the party went on.

03:58Everybody got happier and happier.

04:01The children danced and played and had a wonderful time.

04:21And couldn't wait until their father, the king, and their new mother would come home to the

04:28castle.

04:29The road is open.

04:30Quickly, boys.

04:31Call the horse.

04:32And the rooster.

04:33And the little kittens, too.

04:34They're running as fast as they can right now.

04:35The party's running.

04:36Whoa, whoa, whoa.

04:37The children wouldn't have been so happy if they had known the truth.

04:40Their foolish, foolish father had married a wicked witch.

05:01The children, come along and say hello.

05:08This is your new mother.

05:10How do you do, queen?

05:14Children, repeat after me.

05:15How do you do, mother?

05:16How do you do, queen?

05:21How do you do, queen?

05:22Children, repeat after me.

05:23How do you do, mother?

05:24How do you do, queen?

05:26How do you do, queen?

05:28Children, repeat after me, how do you do, mother?

05:34How do you do, queen?

05:39This is my eldest son, Christian.

05:46This is Claus.

05:48And these are twins, Hans and Knuth.

05:54That was Herman, and these are more twins.

05:57Otto and Ferdinand.

06:00And these are Justine, Johann, and August.

06:05And so the king kept introducing the queen to the children.

06:11Growing more and more foolish as he did so,

06:14because he felt a little embarrassed.

06:16This is my youngest son.

06:17And embarrassment always made him sound even more foolish than he normally was.

06:21And foolish Filbert didn't realize that his queen was growing angrier and angrier.

06:27Finally, when the boys were all introduced, it was the turn of his daughter, the princess.

06:36You see, she has been a mother to all my children.

06:42All right, I've met quite enough brats for one night.

06:45And they'll soon be sorry they met me.

06:47Don't worry, maybe she's nicer than she looks.

06:54She'd have to be, wouldn't she?

06:56Oh, dear, that isn't what I meant to say.

06:59I mean, well, maybe she'll be all right.

07:02Don't be so sad.

07:13Maybe in time she'll come to love us.

07:16And so the long evening came to an end, and everybody went to bed.

07:21But the queen was only pretending to be asleep.

07:23She waited until it got very dark, very still, and then...

07:31The queen was new to the castle, but witches know things that other people don't.

07:37For they have eyes like owls, and ears like bats, and they can see and hear in the dark.

07:43And they know the way to wickedness in every place, even though they've never been there before.

07:51And so the queen knew that she had to go downstairs to the dungeon.

07:55And there she would find everything her evil plans needed.

08:00And so, while everyone was peacefully asleep upstairs, and the king was dreaming his foolish dreams,

08:07And the bells were ringing like sundae, far below, deep in the dark dungeon,

08:15The wicked queen was cooking up a powerful spell.

08:19A spell so strong and so terrible, that even the cat was frightened.

08:26Sleep upon her head, and give her toadish charms.

08:32Sleep under her face, though she will be ugly as a toad.

08:41Sleep upon her breast, give her a dim, dull, toadish soul.

08:51And now the potion was ready.

08:54Now the toads had been created to carry out the witch's evil magic.

08:59The queen listened.

09:01Everything was still.

09:03Even the bell had stopped ringing.

09:07So she tiptoed into Elisa's bedroom.

09:18Sleep upon her head, and give her toadish charm.

09:25Sleep under her face, though she will be ugly as a toad.

09:33Sleep upon her breast, give her a dim, dull, toadish soul.

09:42But as the witch looked on, she was amazed to see her loathsome little servants

09:47turn to beautiful roses when they touched the sleeping girl.

09:52And now, wild with fury, the witch decided to try the very wickedest enchantment she knew,

09:59and fastened a permanent mask of mud on her lovely face.

10:04A sticky, purple, green, and brown mask that couldn't be washed off.

10:10But even as the triumphant queen was looking at herself admiringly in the mirror,

10:16all the evil she had done seemed to gather in her face,

10:20transforming it to its own true image.

10:23A horrible, twisted, hate-filled face of an ogress.

10:27And the innocent princess slept on.

10:32And now, having cast her spell on Elise,

10:35the witch made her way through the hall of the sleeping castle.

10:39Her work was only half done.

10:42Now she had to get rid of the brothers,

10:45the eleven brothers who stood between her and the kingdom.

10:49For she knew that once the castle was empty of children,

10:54she could easily get rid of the foolish king

10:57and rule the land herself.

11:00But the boys didn't know what was going on.

11:03They were too excited to sleep much

11:05and were having a grand pillow fight.

11:07Shhh! What's that?

11:22Someone's coming.

11:27Now, for the rest of these miserable brats.

11:31Powers of darkness, a charm I seek.

11:34Hair to feather, nose to beak.

11:36Oobble-gobble, hoober-hay.

11:38Heed my words, turn to birds and fly away.

11:41Not ravens, ravens are near.

11:44But swans fly far.

11:46Swans, you hear?

11:47Swans you are!

11:49Black or white, your birds tonight.

11:51White or black, you won't come back.

11:55As for you, shorty,

11:56I think I'll have you for supper.

12:00Come back here!

12:01I'll paddle you till you can't sit down.

12:04Rather be a swan, eh?

12:06Well, that's not so safe either.

12:08I like swan soup.

12:10Ow!

12:11Where till I get hold of you?

12:13Ow!

12:14Where till I get hold of you?

12:16I'll pluck your pin feathers out!

12:18Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

12:33Finally, the long, evil night ended and morning began.

12:38And the queen had a hearty breakfast.

12:41She was hungry because wickedness was her work.

12:44She had worked hard that night.

12:46And the princess didn't know what had happened to her lovely face.

12:50As always, she greeted the morning with joy.

12:54It was going to be a very full day.

12:58First of all, she wanted to make friends with her new stepmother

13:01and persuade that lady to be fond of her

13:04and to be good to her little brothers.

13:07The sun was shining so warmly

13:09and her heart was so full of love and goodness

13:12that she danced with happiness.

13:16And so she began the day,

13:19the terrible day that was to change her life so

13:22without dreaming that anything was the matter.

13:26Her mirror was broken

13:27and she couldn't see what had happened to her face.

13:32After she dressed,

13:33Elise ran to her brother's room

13:35and was amazed to find that the boys had gone.

13:37She couldn't understand it.

13:39She usually had to wake them up.

13:42Why had they arisen so early this morning?

13:45What were they doing?

13:46Why hadn't they told her?

13:48She searched for them in the garden,

13:50but they weren't there either.

13:52She searched all over the castle for them,

13:54from the dungeon to the spire.

13:56But she didn't see her brothers anywhere.

13:59Then she ran to ask her father.

14:01And King Filbert the Foolish

14:03and his witch wife were greedily eating.

14:06The king did wonder

14:08why the queen was smiling so strangely.

14:11The king was too much afraid of her to ask.

14:16But where are my brothers?

14:18Brothers?

14:20What brothers?

14:23Who let this dirty girl in here?

14:25Dirty girl?

14:27Papa, I'm your daughter.

14:30You're in me.

14:31Don't you recognize me, Papa.

14:34This dirty girl dears call herself Elisa.

14:37Get her out of here.

14:40Turn the dogs on her.

14:42Yes, the very thing.

14:45Throw the child to the dogs.

14:47So the great savage hounds were released

14:49and began to chase after Elise.

14:51Oh, no, wait.

15:00This is I, Elise.

15:01Elise.

15:04Don't you know me?

15:06I'm Elise.

15:08Your friend, Elise.

15:10Remember?

15:12The bird remembers.

15:15Yes, yes, you do know me.

15:17Oh, thank you, dear dogs.

15:20You are my friends.

15:22My only friends now, I think.

15:24Goodbye.

15:26Goodbye, boy.

15:27Goodbye.

15:29Goodbye.

15:30Goodbye.

15:31She didn't know how her face had changed

15:34and couldn't realize that her father

15:36simply hadn't recognized her.

15:38And then, in the pool,

15:44shining like a mirror,

15:46she saw the mask of purple mud

15:49that her face had become.

15:52No wonder her father hadn't known who she was.

15:55What had happened?

15:56What had changed her?

15:57The little princess was so good herself

15:59that she couldn't believe the evil of others

16:02and didn't realize that this had been done

16:05by the lady who had come to the castle

16:08that she had been enchanted by a witch.

16:11Finally, won out by grief,

16:14she lay down on the ground and fell asleep.

16:18And as she slept in the forest,

16:22she dreamed.

16:24Sister, sister,

16:26we are swans.

16:30We've been enchanted.

16:33We are swans.

16:40Now the wind began to howl,

16:42blowing the dream out of her sleep

16:44and the sleep out of her head,

16:46and she woke up.

16:49But even after she was awake,

16:51the dream stayed with her

16:53and she knew that her brothers

16:55had been turned to swans.

16:59Finally, the forest ended

17:00and she came to a house

17:02and a pretty garden.

17:04But she was not to have

17:05even this brief moment of peace.

17:08For witches, as you know,

17:10can see dreams.

17:12And the witch had overheard her dream

17:14all the way from the castle

17:16and knew that her brothers

17:18had told that they were now swans.

17:21And the witch did not want her

17:22to be searching for her swan brothers

17:25and began to cast love a spell.

17:32Hello, little girl.

17:36How do you do, kind lady?

17:39And what's happened to your face?

17:41I really don't know.

17:44Pretty ugly, isn't it?

17:46I'm looking for my brothers.

17:48Brothers?

17:50You didn't happen to see

17:51eleven swans, did you?

17:55Well, I don't like to tell you this,

17:58but I did just yesterday.

18:01I saw them, my dear.

18:03An eagle ate them all up

18:05and then flew away.

18:07Oh, no!

18:09Yes, I saw the eagle eat them

18:11one by one.

18:13Didn't leave a feather.

18:15Now, don't cry, dear.

18:16Just come inside.

18:17You can stay with me.

18:19You can keep me company

18:21and cook and sweep

18:24and wash the clothes

18:25and tend the geese

18:27and feed the pigs.

18:28I don't care how ugly you are.

18:31I'm not so pretty myself.

18:34Come along, dear.

18:36Elise was so saddened

18:38by the lie about her brother's death

18:40that she stayed in the lonely cottage

18:43for years and years

18:45until she had grown up

18:46but still wore the magic mask

18:49of purple mud.

18:55Oh, what will I do?

18:57Dear waves, tell me what to do.

18:59I never see anyone,

19:00boy or girl,

19:02prince or goatherd.

19:03My brothers are gone.

19:04When my father doesn't know me,

19:06what shall I do?

19:12You can't tell me, can you, waves?

19:15All you can do

19:16is play with the pebbles

19:17and make fishes dance

19:18and move under the moon.

19:19But you can't tell me

19:20what I want to know.

19:25But all this time

19:26the swans hadn't forgotten

19:28their sister.

19:29Each year they'd come back

19:30to the castle looking for her

19:32and although they never found her,

19:34they kept searching.

19:35Look, swans!

19:37Just look at those swans!

19:39They're as white as snow!

19:44Kill them!

19:45Kill them!

19:47Kill them!

19:48For each one you kill,

19:50I'll give a hat full of gold!

19:57Don't be afraid, brothers!

19:59Look for our sister!

20:02Our sister isn't here, either!

20:13Sadly, the swan brothers

20:15flew away from the castle

20:17and resumed their tireless search

20:20for their sister.

20:21Police!

20:31Police!

20:32Police!

20:33Police!

20:34Police!

20:36Police!

20:39Police!

20:42Police!

20:43Far below,

20:45the girls saw

20:46the beautiful white swans, and the wild hope leaped in her heart. Could this be her brothers,

20:54her dear brothers? Were these the enchanted swans? Were they alive after all? But no,

21:03they're not coming down. They're flying away. And she knew that her hope was a vain one,

21:10that these beautiful white swans would not land on her island. She called and called,

21:18but they would not come back. They kept flying away. No, I was foolish. It cannot be. Those were

21:27not my brothers, because my brothers would have stopped when they saw me. So I must stay here

21:32on this island, which will be lonelier than ever now. A deer.

21:40And wounded. Don't go there. It's dangerous. And then, so marvelous to behold, Elise saw the

21:55stag gain strength, stand tall, and before her eyes, from a poor wounded animal, he became

22:03a very king among stags. If it can do that for him, perhaps it can do something for me, too.

22:10Perhaps it can wash away this horrible purple mask of mud. But it's so far down. Maybe it's another

22:17trick of the witch. Maybe it's all a mirage. No pool, no stag, only sharp rocks. She wants me to jump

22:24and dash myself to pieces. Oh, dear, what shall I do? What shall I do? I'm so afraid.

22:35Juan! Oh, oh, Juan! You're here! You're here!

22:43And the princess was in despair. These could not be her brothers. They refused to recognize

22:49her. These were just strange white birds who would fly off and leave her lonelier than before.

22:56And now she knew that the most important thing in life to her was to wash herself clean of the

23:03enchantment or to risk her life trying.

23:19And now it was the swan's turn to marble. As they saw the beautiful figure of a girl emerge from the pool,

23:26they recognized her as their sister, but grown up. And so lovely that they couldn't believe their eyes.

23:35And so the princess, overjoyed at finding her brothers again, rides off with them into the sky.

23:41Whatever their fate, she intends to share it. Whatever their spell, she intends to break it.

23:49And as the sun dives into the water and darkness fell, the swans dived too and landed on the tiny speck of land.

23:59And the princess was amazed to see them turning into their own dear selves once again.

24:08Loosing their feathers and wings and becoming her handsome brothers.

24:18Loosing her shoulders...

24:46Yes, Elise.

24:48it's a very strong enchantment we are swans all day but the moment night falls we turn into boys

24:58again no matter where we are this is very dangerous because if we happen to be above

25:07the ocean when darkness comes we'll lose our wings and fall right in and drown

25:13this was part of the witch's plan too only you can break the spell you must weave us a coat of nettles

25:28eleven coats one for each and from the time that you begin to weave our coat of nettles

25:40until they are finished you must not speak a single word

25:48or we will all die slain by your words

25:59but far away in the castle the witch was still prowling still listening with her antenna ears

26:06and she overheard what the boys were saying and you must weave us a coat of nettles

26:17and the witch was determined that this would never happen

26:19and she began to cast another spell frog and toad liver and gall under raw rain fall

26:32and the swans flew so swiftly that they outraced the storm

26:49and the witch was furious

26:54sisters of storm hear my command

26:59wind flash lightning flash destroy that quincely pan

27:05and the brothers were in deadly danger the sky was black

27:16not only with storm but with night

27:20and as you know when night fell they would lose their wings and become boys again

27:38and if they lost their wings while flying they would fall into the ocean

27:43and with their last strength the swans flew desperately till finally they saw a speck of land far below

27:51just as the last light was made

28:01and after resting all night they left the little island in the morning

28:27and finally came to another larger island the loveliest landscape elise had ever seen

28:45and she thought she would be very happy here living with her brothers cooking for them

28:50and taking care of them finding the magic nettles and weaving the jackets that would break the spell

28:57and make them boys again as they flew over the lovely island looking for a place to land

29:04their hearts full of happiness because they had found each other again

29:08they couldn't know that their terrible enemy was still weaving her evil designs

29:14then back at the castle the witch was sending forth her evil spirit to fly ahead of the swan brothers

29:23and prepare a cruel trap for them

29:28now there was no way they could know that the witch's power

29:31extended halfway across the world and had evil allies over the ocean

29:36just wait till they land on that island wait till they meet my friends

29:53oh father look wild swans they're coming down yes i've been expecting these particular swans

30:01they don't know it but that stupid sister of theirs is going to help me ruin the king and capture the throne

30:09and believe you me dary what i mean it'll stay captured

30:21and so they came to the island where elise was to break the evil spell

30:33not realizing that the witch had allies there who were plotting their doom

30:40finally they found a place to be their home a little cave dug in the hillside

30:46here you will live we will fly away during the day and return at night but you must stay here day

30:54and night and weave the jackets but we are tired of being swans here in this cave will i dwell knit

31:01the jackets and break the spell and until then not speak a word and so the brothers flew away leaving

31:09the princess to find the nettles and begin weaving her counterspell

31:17on that very day elise found a field of nettles and began to pick them

31:22then she realized how difficult the task would be

31:25for nettles are nothing but a cluster of tiny sharp little thorns that burn like fire when you pick them

31:33these were magic nettles so they burned even more hotly

31:36and tore elise's delicate hands many times she thought she would have to stop but each time she told

31:44herself if i stop the spell cannot be broken and my eleven brothers will be swans forever

31:52so she kept on picking the fiery nettles all night long she picked

31:57and the moon rose and fell and the sun came up and still she was picking for she needed enough for 11 jackets

32:18so she calmly took her nettle wool and began to knit the jackets

32:45so

32:52so

32:54so

33:04But the mother boar saw that the hunters were about to catch her children, and forgetting

33:22all danger to herself, raced across the hunter's path.

33:28Elise heard the sound of the hunt, but didn't know her friends were in danger.

33:33Elise! Elise! Elise! They're catching mommy!

34:00She stopped him with a gesture, but she couldn't speak.

34:05Oh, what a beautiful girl! The most beautiful girl I've ever seen!

34:10Look over your majesty! Not bad looking, eh? She doesn't talk, but it's a perfect combination!

34:16Speak to me! Oh, speak to me, beautiful maiden!

34:23Who are you? What's your name? Where are you from? Answer me!

34:29The young fool's falling into the trap!

34:33Come with me, oh beautiful girl! Come away with me! Please!

34:38Show her who is king around here, why don't you, your majesty?

34:43Yes. Let's go!

34:46Elise couldn't have left us on her own. She must have been carried away. We must find her!

34:52Tomorrow when the sun rises, we'll search for Elise!

34:56Now here's a scoop group!

34:59The king has fallen in love with this stupid little swan girl! Just exactly as I planned! And I'm telling everybody that she's a witch!

35:12Water's freezing! Hot water coming up!

35:15Ow! Now it's too hot!

35:19Numb skull! You're a numbskull!

35:26Watch now! Watch closely!

35:28Eyes open there!

35:30Wide open! It's the only way you learn! Watch her!

35:35She's worth watching!

35:38She cost enough! Too much!

35:45Yes, our poor Elise was taking lessons in court etiquette.

35:49The young king was determined to marry her.

35:52And he put her in the hands of his mother and his aunt.

35:55Being advanced ladies.

36:03They used a fully automated lesson plan.

36:06A do-it-yourself walking, dancing, curtsying, cake-cutting bridal doll.

36:15I hope she's learned something!

36:27Well, she can't be as dumb as she looks!

36:31Now the prime minister went further.

36:33He hired a giant assassin who happened to be bred and instructed him to challenge the king to single combat.

36:43The challenge was given. The young king accepted and prepared to fight.

36:48King! King! King! Listen to your dream!

36:52Beware the giant knight!

36:54And do not, please do not coax your bride to talk!

37:00So the young king was warned by his dream.

37:04And when he woke up, he felt full of fiery strength.

37:07But now, as the trumpet sounded, the king put aside his troubles.

37:22And joyously spurred his horse to a gallop.

37:31My dear, you know they say the king has fallen in love?

37:34Yes, so he has with the witch.

37:44I am quite convinced that the girl is a regulation witch.

37:48The warriors changed their weary horses.

37:52And the heralds blew for another passage at all.

37:55And now the fight was done.

37:58Again and again the young king struck.

38:02But his mighty blows seemed to have no effect upon the giants.

38:06It was as if the whole enormous man, not only his armor, was made of steel.

38:13And finally, the giants seemed to gain strength.

38:17The king seemed to weaken.

38:19Just then he saw Elise.

38:22And the sight of her lovely face filled him with new strength.

38:29And after the tournament, Elise returned to the castle to await the king.

38:42Then the king did something that touched Elise deeply.

38:47He gave her a room of her own, where she might finish knitting the jackets in peace.

38:52He didn't know what they were for, but he knew they were important to her.

38:57And she felt herself falling in love more deeply than ever.

39:01But Elise could not answer him, because she had not finished knitting her magic jackets.

39:09And so she was not permitted to speak a single word.

39:13For as she spoke, her words would turn to daggers, piercing her brother's hearts.

39:19And they would die.

39:21Listen carefully now, Warthead.

39:23I'm giving you a brand new assignment.

39:25You keep your beady little eyes on her every second, understand?

39:31Yes, sir.

39:32You'll catch her doing some good magic, which to the naked eye looks very much like bad magic.

39:38Oh, yes.

39:39We'll let the king see her doing it, and then he'll think she's a witch, and then he'll burn her.

39:45Oh, goody. Yes.

39:47A very ingenious type plan.

39:50If I say so myself.

39:52Mm-hmm.

39:54Ow!

39:55Yes, sir. Yes.

39:56Get cracking.

39:57I will, sir. Yes.

39:59And Elise kept knitting.

40:02She was on her last jacket now.

40:04Her task was almost done.

40:06But she didn't have enough nettle wool to finish.

40:09She had to pick some more.

40:13And the nettle burned so.

40:17And so she began to tiptoe through the great hallways of the sleeping castle.

40:22In the meantime, in the garden, the helper is keeping a bleary eye on things.

40:41But I'm not afraid.

40:44I've got something to keep me warm.

40:51What are you shivering about?

40:53You cold, too?

40:55Well, stay cold.

40:57Oh?

40:59It's the witch.

41:00Yes.

41:01Could it be?

41:02The princess was entering the garb?

41:08Wake up!

41:09The witch!

41:10Witch?

41:14Wake up!

41:15Your Majesty!

41:16A witch!

41:18Witch Witch!

41:23And all this time, the witch was keeping her telescope eyes and her antennae ears sharpened for what was happening on the other side of the world.

41:31It was she who had put it into the Prime Minister's mind to convince the king that poor, innocent Elise was a sorceress and that the good spell she was weaving to save her brothers was a bad spell.

41:44And now she decided to take a hand herself and weave an enchantment that would destroy Elise forever.

41:54And assuming her most terrible form, she summoned up a squadron of her witch sisters and sent them into the garden where Elise was so that those watching them might believe that Elise was herself a wicked sorceress.

42:08And that indeed is what they saw.

42:13And before his amazed eyes, he saw Elise picking nettles in his garden, muttering and talking to herself and weeping and pulling them up frantically by the roots.

42:23He simply could not understand what she was doing.

42:26There she is, Your Majesty, down there, see her in the garden, picking her by moonlight.

42:32She's a witch, a typical witch.

42:34I ought to know.

42:35I've roasted hundreds of them, hundreds, thousands, maybe perhaps more, millions, and she'll be one million and one.

42:48Elise, Elise, you must speak to me now.

42:52Why were you picking those nettles?

42:55They say you need them for spells, that you are a witch.

42:58They want to burn you.

43:00Please, talk to me.

43:02Tell me it's not true.

43:03I'll believe you.

43:06Speak.

43:07Speak.

43:09Your life depends on it.

43:12Then it's true.

43:14You are a witch.

43:18Farewell.

43:20But although a word would have saved her life, she could not speak.

43:24Elise!

43:25Oh, you've decided to speak.

43:26Tell me you're not a witch.

43:27Please, tell me.

43:28Elise!

43:29Elise!

43:30Oh, you've decided to speak.

43:31Tell me you're not a witch.

43:32Please, tell me.

43:33Elise!

43:34Elise!

43:35Elise!

43:36She is a witch.

43:37Burn her!

43:38She will not burn.

43:39She must burn.

43:40The people demand it.

43:41I say no.

43:42Please, your majesty.

43:43Just this once.

43:44Be reasonable.

43:45Sentence her to the stake.

43:46No.

43:47I say no.

43:48Please, your majesty.

43:49Just this once.

43:50Be reasonable.

43:51Sentence her to the stake.

43:52No.

43:53Never mind.

43:54I hear the hunting horn.

43:55They are waiting for you.

43:56And so the young king.

43:57Confused her to the stake.

43:58I say no.

43:59No.

44:00No.

44:01No.

44:02No.

44:03No.

44:04No.

44:05No.

44:06No.

44:07No.

44:08No.

44:09No.

44:10No.

44:11No.

44:12No.

44:13No.

44:14No.

44:15No.

44:16No.

44:17No.

44:18No.

44:19No.

44:20No.

44:21No.

44:22No.

44:23No.

44:24No.

44:25No.

44:26No.

44:27No.

44:28No.

44:29No.

44:30No.

44:31No.

44:32No.

44:33No.

44:34No.

44:35No.

44:36No.

44:37No.

44:38No.

44:39No.

44:40No.

44:41No.

44:42No.

44:43No.

44:44No.

44:45No.

44:46No.

44:47No.

44:48No.

44:49to drink so she will burn more hotly.

44:53By order of the king.

44:57Her ashes will be strewn on the nettle field.

45:03By order of the king.

45:07All this time her brothers were searching desperately for Elise.

45:11They didn't know she had been taken to the castle.

45:15That she was loved by the king and hated by the prime minister.

45:21Oh Elise, can we help you?

45:23Hello Elise, hello Elise, good morning Elise.

45:26For no matter what her own troubles, the girl always remembered her little friends.

45:36Where's your manners children?

45:42Thank you, thank you, thank you.

45:45Stay here, stay here, save her, save her!

45:54Sister, we will save you, my brothers and I.

45:57Be brave, don't despair.

45:59The other brothers had searched in vain and had to come to earth.

46:04Because as you remember, they lost their wings and became boys again when night fell.

46:09I found her, I found her!

46:13And the boys, wildly excited, rushed off to rescue Elise.

46:18They only had a few hours because it was summer time and the nights were short.

46:22And when the next morning sun arose, they would be turned into swans again and could not help their sister.

46:28She ought to cook up real good.

46:32Don't worry Elise, your brothers will save you.

46:35They won't let you burn.

46:36I'm sure they won't.

46:37She ought to make a very interesting barbecue.

46:51But it's not altogether sure that there was no one to save her.

46:55Her brothers were charging toward the prison.

46:58They were determined to rescue her.

47:00All they had to do was break down stone walls, defeat a regiment of armed guards, and bear her off through a town full of enemies.

47:09But they were very brave boys.

47:12And they kept coming toward the dungeon.

47:14They had to run more swiftly than they could ever run before because they knew that when the sun came up they would be turned into swans again and could do nothing to save Elise from the stake.

47:26It was a race against the sun.

47:30And now, as dangers pile up on poor Elise and the forces of evil seem to be triumphant, it's time for me to enter the stories and play my part in them.

47:42So here I am on the castle wall watching Elise being taken to the stake.

47:48And seeing that lovely girl about to burn as a sorceress, I was so full of fury that I didn't know what to do.

47:56But I knew I would do something.

47:59I watched them fight, but I knew the guards were too strong for them.

48:03And I knew there wasn't much time left.

48:05Soon it would be dawn and they would become swans again.

48:09And sure enough, that's what happened.

48:21So I flew out to warn the king.

48:23Hurry king, hurry!

48:25They're burning Elise.

48:27They'll leave nothing but ashes.

48:29Even on her way to the stake, brave Elise was knitting the last jacket for her brothers.

48:41Too late to rescue her.

48:43The king has too far to come and her brothers are swans.

48:47She must burn.

48:49But look, here come the swans.

48:51What can they do?

48:53But what is this?

48:55She's finished the last jacket.

48:57She's putting them on.

48:59She's changing them back into themselves.

49:01And they're preparing to risk their newfound lives to defend their sisters.

49:07The young king heard the sound of battle and spurred his horse on.

49:13The young king saw all the king saw was a dazzle of flames and eleven strange faces.

49:23Then he saw Elise.

49:25Elise, you have been working enchantments.

49:27You've changed everything.

49:29At last I can tell you.

49:31I love you.

49:33And there, in the red light of the flames, he heard the girl's voice for the first time.

49:39And she was able to tell him all about the evil enchantment and her vow of silence.

49:45And promised she would never keep secrets from him again.

49:49And now we shall have joy, friendship.

49:59And so he took Elise back to the castle.

50:02That very night there was an enormous wedding.

50:06And we come to the end of our story.

50:09It has been very full of things.

50:12Like all Mr. Anderson's stories, it comes to life and jumps right off the page.

50:18And you can be sure that all the wicked enchantments, all the magic storms, all the great hunts,

50:27all the sword shocks and clash of spears, all the danger and all the pain,

50:34all the fire of these events will be transformed into shining hours of victory and love.

50:43And everyone, as in every good fairy tale, will live happily ever after.

50:55Until the next time.

50:57The End

51:06The End

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