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....