Scene 10
GERDA
So Gerda and Bae journeyed on. The snow was very deep, and once Bae stepped into a snow drift so deep, all you could see was the tip of his antler. But on they went, and finally they came to the bush with the big red berries. Whoa, Bae. Here's where we turn right. Now, look for an old woman fishing in the ice.
FISHER WOMAN
That would be me.
GERDA
Oh. Hello. Eh, I'm Gerda, and this is Bae. A tree back there said that you might...
FISHER WOMAN
Lonesome Pine.
GERDA
What?
FISHER WOMAN
The tree's name is Lonesome Pine.
GERDA
Oh. I didn't know that. Well, Lonesome Pine said that you could....
Maybe I'd better start from the beginning. My friend, Kai is....
FISHER WOMAN
Honey, you start from the beginning, we'll all freeze to death. I know what you're here for. Your friend went with the Snow Queen, and you want to know how to find him.
GERDA
That's right. Can you help me?
FISHER WOMAN
I can tell you how to get there, but I can't tell you how to get that boy to come away. He likes it there. He thinks it's the best place in the world. He's gettin' everything his own way, and that suits him just fine.
GERDA
Kai didn't used to be like that. I don't know what happened to him.
FISHER WOMAN
I do. Wanna hear? A long time ago, this wicked demon made an evil mirror. It showed only mean and ugly things. No matter what you held up in front of that mirror, the reflection always made it look hateful and disgusting.
GERDA
I never heard of that.
FISHER WOMAN
It was before your time. It was even before my time. Anyway. That mirror got dropped, and it broke into millions and billions of splinters.
GERDA
Millions and billions?
FISHER WOMAN
It got dropped from way up high. Anyway. The splinters from that mirror went flying all over the world. Some of them are still out there. Anytime one of those splinters lands in some body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"'s eye; turns the world ugly.
GERDA
And Kai has one of those splinters in his eye?
FISHER WOMAN
Not just in his eye. In his heart too. That boy's heart is almost completely frozen. He just barely remembers who he is.
GERDA
Oh, Kai. Poor Kai. I knew something was making him act so strange. What can I do to' save him?
FISHER WOMAN
Those splinters gotta come out.
GERDA
But how?
FISHER WOMAN
I don't know how, child. You'll have to find that out for yourself.
GERDA
But I'm just a little girl. How can I remove those splinters?
FISHER WOMAN
Huh. Don't talk to me about you're just a little girl, and you don't know how to take out splinters. You're 'bout as helpless as an avalanche. Look at what all you've already done. You got folks all over the countryside helping you. Reindeer, trees, that ROBBER GIRL. Every one of 'em sticking their necks out to help you find that boy. And you know why?
GERDA
Why?
FISHER WOMAN
Cause you're dedicated. It's hard to say no to true dedication. So I 'speck you'll find a way to wake that boy up and get him back home to his normal self.
GERDA
Do you know the Snow Queen?
FISHER WOMAN
I know her. She's not bad. She's just being what she is, and what she is,is cold. You keep that.
GERDA
Thank you. Is her palace far?
FISHER WOMAN
That's it right over there.
GERDA
Come on, Bae.
FISHER WOMAN
The reindeer can't go. You'll have to go on by yourself. You'll be just fine.
GERDA
Thank you, I didn't know I was dedicated. Oh. Bae, I have to leave you now. Thank you for bringing me here. I couldn't have made it without you. You go back to Belinda now.
Gerda and Bae dance goodbye.
GERDA
Go on, now, Bae. Don't make me cry. Belinda will be glad to see you. Tell her I said hi. Gerda knew she Bras near the end of her journey. She had arrived at the Snow Queen's palace.