Gerda talks in her sleep then awakes with a start and sits straight up in bed.
GERDA
Kai's gone. I know he's gone. Kai, where are you? Where has he gone? Kai's gone.
Grandmother comes running in.
GRANDMOTHER
Gerda, Gerda, what is the matter?
GERDA
He's gone, Grandmother. Kai is gone.
GRANDMOTHER
Gone where? It's the middle of the night.
GERDA
I don't know where. Somewhere. In a great white sleigh. Somewhere too far.
GRANDMOTHER
Now, Gerda, Kai hasn't gone anywhere. He's right next door fast asleep.
GERDA
(jumping out of bed and running off) Let's go see.
GRANDMOTHER
Wake them up? At this hour?
GERDA
Kai? Kai? Are you there?
GRANDMOTHER
Gerda, you'll catch cold, come back to bed. (She puts her to bed.)
GERDA
Please come back, please come back, please come back.
GRANDMOTHER
All through that winter, Gerda sat at the window watching the snow fall and hoping for Kai's return. Even the beautiful red shoes her grandmother gave her, could not cheer her spirits. Even her flute held no happiness for her. One by one the people of the town gave up hope of finding Kai.
GARDENER
(With two masks - imitating 2 voices.) He's gone for good. Drowned in the river. Little Kai is dead. Little Kai is dead and gone.
GERDA
Please come back.Please come back. Please come back. Finally, spring came, and even Gerda was ready to give up hope. He's dead and gone. Kai is dead.
GARDENER (as the flowers)
Not so.
GERDA
Said the flowers.
GARDENER
Not so. Not so. Not so.
GERDA
And the rose, Kai's favorite flower, started to sing.
KAI (as the Rose accompanied on the flute by the Gardener)
He lives. Kai lives. Hurry, Gerda, go and find him. Gerda go and find him.
GERDA
Kai is alive? He's not dead. Oh, Rose, I knew he wasn't. But where is he? How do I find him?
KAI
River knows. Go and ask the river.
GERDA
(doing so, and then turning to river)
All right. I will. Thank you, Rose. River, have you taken my playmate, Kai? I'll make you a present of my new red shoes if you'll give him back to me. And she took off her shoes and threw them out into the river. Then she climbed into a tiny boat to follow them. The red shoes floated in the current faster and faster, and before Gerda knew what had happened, she too was floating swiftly down the river. Gerda was terrified and began to cry. Stop. Stop. Take me back to shore. Help. Somebody help.
GARDENER (as the Larks)
We are here Gerda.; We cannot carry you back to land, but we will stay with you and sing to you. "Here we are. Here we are."
GERDA
And the larks comforted Gerda with their cheerful company. After awhile, Gerda stopped crying and noticed how beautiful the river bank was. There were lovely flowers and old trees and a hillside with sheep grazing. But not a soul to be seen anywhere. At last she came to a large cherry orchard where there was a little cottage with a thatched roof...