The
Snow Queen

Adapted from the story
by Hans Christian Andersen
by Sandra Deer


Scene 1

GRANDMOTHER

This is a story about a boy named Kai...

GERDA

...Kai!

GRANDMOTHER

... and a girl named Gerda.

KAI

...Gerda.

GERDA

Their families lived right across from each other.

KAI

In the attics of 2 neighboring houses.

GRANDMOTHER

There were no other children nearby, so Kai and Gerda played together everyday.

GERDA & KAI

They were the best of friends.

GERDA

In summer they played games in the little garden which joined their two rooftops...,

KAI

...and in winter when the windows were completely frosted over and the snow fell fast outside,

GRANDMOTHER

...they would play in Gerda's grandmother's kitchen. (Kai and Grandmother are making cut-out cookies. Gerda is practicing her flute.) And what is four times four?

KAI

That's easy. Sixteen. Ask me a really hard one.

GRANDMOTHER

Six times three.

KAI

Eighteen.

GRANDMOTHER

Five times seven.

KAI

Thirtyfive.

GRANDMOTHER

Eleven times eleven.

KAI

Eleven times eleven is one hundred and twentyone.

GRANDMOTHER

Twenty times twenty.

KAI

Four hundred.

GRANDMOTHER

You're too good for me. Climb up there and get me that jar.

KAI

(climbing up on the bench.) I know the capital of every country in the world.

GRANDMOTHER

Don't you fall now.

KAI

The capital of Argentina is Buenos Aires. The capital of Greece is Athens. (handing Grandmother the jar) Gerda, look.

Kai pretends he is falling or about to jump, waves his arms, and hollers.

GRANDMOTHER

Kai, get down from there before you break your neck. (He jumps cleanly.)

Thank you. I bet you don't know how many snowflakes will fall tonight?

KAI

Forty billion, four hundred and sixty seven million, three thousand, two hundred and thirty six.

GRANDMOTHER

And how many of them will be alike?

KAI

All of them.

GRANDMOTHER

Wrong. None of them. Of all the millions of snowflakes that fall, no two are ever alike.

GERDA

They all look just alike.

GRANDMOTHER

Maybe so. But they're not.

KAI

I don't believe it.

GRANDMOTHER

You don't have to. The Snow Queen doesn't care what a little boy in Denmark believes.

KAI

But how can that be? How could ever one be different? There are trillions and trillions.

GRANDMOTHER

Nature has her secrets. She's smarter than all of us.

GERDA

Even you, Kai

GRANDMOTHER

Just look at those white bees swarming.

GERDA

They look like bees, but they sound like swans.

KAI

Can you hear them?

GERDA

Un huh. Can't you?

KAI

I don't hear a thing. How can you hear them?

GERDA

I just do.

KAI

Because you have an ear for music. (to Grandmother) Isn't that right.

GRANDMOTHER

You're asking me?

KAI

When we grow up, Gerda's going to be a great musician. She's going to play in the symphony.

GERDA

Kai!

KAI

And we shall attend her concerts. And shout Bravo! Bravo!

Kai and Grandmother applaud and shout. Gerda enjoys it, but is too modest to join in to their play.

GERDA

Grandmother, tell us about the Snow Queen.

GRANDMOTHER

Well, just like the bees have a queen bee, the snow flakes have a Snow Queen. Sometimes she flies with them. Many a winter night she flies through the streets of the town and peeps in at the windows.

GERDA

Have you ever seen her?

GRANDMOTHER

No, but my grandmother said that when she was a little girl, she saw her once.

KAI

What was she doing?

GRANDMOTHER

Standing outside the window.

KAI

What did she look like?

GRANDMOTHER

She was very beautiful. And sad.

GERDA

Why sad?

GRANDMOTHER

I don't know.

GERDA

Maybe she was lonely.

KAI

Don't be silly, Gerda. There isn't any such thing as a Snow Queen.

GRANDMOTHER

I wouldn't be too sure about that. Some say they've seen her on dark winter nights. And heard her call to them to follow her.

KAI

Where to?

GRANDMOTHER

To her Palace of Ice far, far north, at the top of the world.

GERDA

Past Finland?

GRANDMOTHER

Oh yes.

KAI

Past Lapland?

GRANDMOTHER

Even north of the northern most tip of Lapland. Oh they're blinking the lights for you to come home, Kai. Take these (cookies) home with you, but save them for after supper.

GERDA

(as they are exiting) Do you believe in the Snow Queen, Grandmother?

GRANDMOTHER

When I was a little girl, and my grandmother used to tell me stories about her. I believed in her then.

KAI

(they're all off by now) But you don't still believe in her.

GRANDMOTHER

I didn't say that.

Kai re-enters to get his scarf. The image of the Snow Queen appears outside the window.

VOICE OF SNOW QUEEN

Kai.... Kai....

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