- 3 months ago
Jim Henson's The Storyteller S01E06 The Three Ravens
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CreativityTranscript
00:00When people told themselves their past with stories,
00:13explained their present with stories,
00:16foretold the future with stories,
00:20the best place by the fire was kept for the storyteller.
00:30One day in November, the queen died.
00:44Outside the palace, the leaves fell lamenting, reds and golds falling.
00:51Inside, weeping, the king, his three sons, his daughter.
00:56And the people filed slowly by to shed their own tears for the dear queen.
01:03But there was one among the mourners whose eyes were dry.
01:08There was one among the mourners whose heart was ice,
01:37whose soul was cold, whose smile was sly,
01:41whose brain raced ahead to the day when the king would want to ease his loneliness.
01:48And the witch, for which she was, fixed her dry eyes on the king and schemed.
01:56Mine, she schemed.
01:59Mine, all mine.
02:03And you may well weep.
02:08Her scheme was simple and terrible.
02:13She groaned for power, for majesty over all things,
02:18for the cold ring of gold around her head.
02:20She wanted this until the want ate away her heart and soul.
02:26So she set to work on the king.
02:30The king wouldn't marry a witch.
02:32No, the king didn't even see the witch.
02:35He didn't feel the sun on his face or the rain.
02:38Just this tug of the past, all day, all night, memories tugging on his sleeve.
02:46His poor heart, you see, was broken.
02:53But the witch could charm the skin from a snake.
02:57And she turned all her power on the king.
03:00She wound him in, inch by inch.
03:03The past tugging him one way, she patiently pulling him the other.
03:09Because, he thought, when he looked at her, he saw his wife's face.
03:14And indeed, he did.
03:16You're back, he keeps saying.
03:19She says, our little secret.
03:26That's witchery.
03:28Oh, yes.
03:29It was a spell, and it worked.
03:31I've got something wonderful to tell you.
03:34I've met someone very special.
03:39Children, we're going to be married.
03:43We're going to be happy again.
03:45I hope you'll think of me as your friend.
03:49And then, in time, perhaps, as your mother.
03:53Our mother's dead.
03:55I think we mean as a new mother, don't we?
04:00Yes.
04:01In time.
04:04Well.
04:08Try for me.
04:10Will you?
04:13Oh, yes.
04:14All hugs, all family.
04:17But witch watched and cursed them.
04:23They were her rivals and her enemies, these four grieving and bewildered children.
04:28And a canker grew in her mind because she would not share.
04:33She wanted it all.
04:35And she sowed a seed of fear in the children's lives.
04:40Stairs gave way.
04:42Horses bucked while balconies crumbled.
04:44Even the toy box was terrible.
04:46Of course, the witch herself was all honey.
04:51Always honey.
04:52But sometimes the king caught a look and worried she was also the bee.
04:59Bee.
05:00That's right.
05:01And bees sting.
05:02I hate that witch.
05:04Poor man, then.
05:05Torn in half.
05:06Enchanted by his new queen.
05:08Frightened for his children.
05:10What could he do?
05:11I said I'd take you on a special holiday.
05:12We're almost there.
05:13A forest?
05:14A magic forest.
05:15Follow the thread.
05:16Follow the thread.
05:17Follow the thread.
05:18Follow the thread.
05:19Follow the thread.
05:20Follow the thread.
05:21Follow the thread.
05:22Follow the thread.
05:23Follow the thread.
05:24Follow the thread.
05:33Hurry up.
05:34It's perfect.
05:35There's a stream.
05:36And a house.
05:37Beautiful.
05:38And sure enough, there it was, pink and perfect.
05:43And the boys larked and larked as if a great weight had lifted off them.
05:48And their sister sat by the stream and dipped her toes and missed her mother.
05:53Which he always did when she was happy.
05:55This is your secret place.
05:57No one can find you here without the thread.
06:00I'll visit you each day.
06:02You've brought us here because of her, haven't you?
06:05Our stepmother.
06:06No.
06:07Of course not.
06:08But his daughter was right.
06:11Quite right.
06:12For even as she spoke, the witch, her stepmother, sat in her tower and studied horrible spells.
06:20For the children were obstacles between her and power, growing, daily growing like clouds over her.
06:29And now she would discover where they were, clouds.
06:33And puff.
06:34Then clean away.
06:35Where have you been?
06:36I took the children on a trip.
06:37A holiday.
06:38Oh, yes.
06:39Anywhere nice?
06:40Yes.
06:41Very nice.
06:42Mm-hmm.
06:43What's that you're sewing?
06:44Shirts.
06:45I'm sewing them all little shirts.
06:46Aren't they sweet?
06:47That's nice.
06:48Is there love, those?
06:49Mm-hmm.
06:50What's that you're sewing?
06:51Shirts.
06:52I'm sewing them all little shirts.
06:54Aren't they sweet?
06:55That's nice.
06:56Is there love, those?
06:57Mm-hmm.
06:58You're being very mysterious.
06:59Am I?
07:00What about?
07:01The children.
07:02Our children.
07:03You want me to be their mother, but what mother can tolerate not knowing where her children have gone to?
07:17I just want them to have a secret holiday.
07:19Makes it special.
07:20Secret?
07:21Yes, of course.
07:23But what if something should happen to them?
07:26Then where would we be?
07:29What happened to you?
07:32Still let that be an end to it.
07:35If you don't want to talk about it, that's your right.
07:38They're your children.
07:39I'm just the stepmother.
07:45But the witch had no intention of letting that be an end to it.
07:50The next day, the king rode off, and she followed, stealthy as a bat, and watched him roll out the magic thread.
07:59And with sly sleight of hand, she stole it for herself, and soon she watched it wind its secret way towards the children.
08:09Shirts she carried, and a chill curse she knew by heart.
08:20Have you caught these fish yourself? How clever!
08:24How did you find us here?
08:25Where's our father?
08:26Where's our father?
08:27He's just coming.
08:28Look, I've brought you presents.
08:30I'll be nice.
08:31Pass with each one by hand.
08:34I'll put them on.
08:35Then your father can see them.
08:37But how can their father see them?
08:40When this thread won't work.
08:42When this ball won't roll.
08:46Where's your sister?
08:48I miss her.
08:49She should be here.
08:51Come along, Ben.
08:52Your shirt.
08:53And all the while, the king stumbles lost in the forest, and cries out.
09:00Children!
09:01The shirt will hurt, the wings will sting, the beak will shriek, the eyes will cry.
09:06The shirt will hurt, the wings will sting, the beak will shriek, the eyes will cry.
09:08No!
09:09Children!
09:10Mama!
09:11The shirt will hurt, the wings will sting, the beak will shriek, the eyes will cry.
09:12The shirt will hurt, the wings will sting, the beak will shriek, the eyes will cry.
09:14The shirt will hurt, the wings will sting, the beak will shriek, the eyes will cry.
09:16The shirt will hurt, the wings will sting, the beak will shriek, the eyes will cry.
09:18The shirt will hurt, the wings will sting, the beak will shriek, the eyes will cry.
09:19The shirt will hurt, the wings will sting, the beak will shriek, the eyes will cry.
09:37And the princess runs, runs for help, runs for her life.
09:43My daughter...
09:46Daughter?
09:48Boys!
09:50Boys!
09:51Husband?
09:52Husband!
09:54What have you done?
09:55Yeah, I've done nothing for... What are you doing here? This is my secret place.
09:58Where are my children?
09:59Oh, are the children here?
10:02I can't look at you.
10:03Please do, please look at me.
10:06I heard my daughter cry out to me.
10:08I think you must be unwell.
10:10Are you sickening for something? Let me see, let me soothe you.
10:13Oh no, get away from me!
10:16Boys!
10:18What?
10:20Yes, you're upset.
10:23I have to think about this.
10:26About what we can do with you.
10:28And for a day and a night, the princess ran, stumbled, fled until she dropped, dropped into a dead sleep.
10:38And when she woke, she saw three ravens before her.
10:41Or perhaps she dreamt it, because they spoke to her.
10:46Sister, they seem to say. We're trapped. Help us.
10:51How? How can I help you?
10:53You must keep silent. You must not speak to a single soul for three years, three months, three weeks and three days.
11:01Only then can the spell be broken.
11:03Then I shall not speak.
11:06Putting her finger to her lips is a sign.
11:09The princess promised not to speak to a single soul for three years, three months, three weeks and three days.
11:22The princess, she couldn't speak to anyone?
11:26No.
11:27Hello?
11:28Goodbye?
11:29I'm hungry?
11:30No.
11:32What about a note?
11:33She could write a note.
11:34Nothing.
11:35If she spoke to another soul, her brothers would remain ravens forever.
11:40Such was the power of their stepmother's spell.
11:43And so the princess made her home, high in the hollow of an old dead tree, and was silent while weeks and weeks went by.
11:54Until one day, a young prince, far from home, stumbles across a stream.
12:01And in that stream, he sees a handkerchief float by.
12:05Hello.
12:06Is this yours?
12:09Come back.
12:11Have you been cursed?
12:12Is that it?
12:14Can you not speak?
12:17Don't be frightened.
12:18I won't hurt you.
12:19Look, I'll sit quietly down here beside you.
12:22See?
12:23And saying that, he sat beside her and took out his food and offered it to her, and she was famished and had some, and soon he set off talking.
12:31Of his past, his present, and his plans.
12:34And all the while he's thinking, what eyes.
12:38All the while he's thinking, to kiss that mouth.
12:43And the prince came back every day for a week, and the princess found she could smile again.
12:49A darling smile.
12:50A smile.
12:51A smile that wrapped all the way round her heart and his heart, and squeezed them tight together.
12:59And the prince gave up speaking, too.
13:02And they were content to simply sit and hug on that smile.
13:07Until one day he could not contain his thoughts and said them all.
13:12Love, he said.
13:13And marriage.
13:14And always.
13:15And ever.
13:17And they'd kiss.
13:19And that was that.
13:20So she spoke.
13:22Not a whisper.
13:24The prince set her up on his horse, and they rode the long ride to his kingdom.
13:30And on the way, he spoke of his father, the king, and of his beloved mother, who had died.
13:37And the princess wanted to say, I know.
13:40She wanted to say, mine too.
13:43But she couldn't.
13:44So she didn't.
13:47And at length they were there, at the gates of the palace.
13:51And as proud as you please.
13:54Father.
13:55Madam.
13:56I want you to meet my sweetheart.
13:58His father looked down.
14:01And so did his stepmother.
14:04The witch.
14:06The witch.
14:07But she was married to the other king.
14:09The other king was dead.
14:10Poisoned.
14:11Poisoned.
14:14Oh no.
14:15The witch had a taste for kings now.
14:18For countries.
14:19For the princess was a thorn pricking at her ambitions.
14:23The princess could not speak.
14:24But she accused with her looks.
14:27Killer of my father.
14:28The witcher of my brothers.
14:31And the witch knew she must have done with her.
14:34And so the battle began.
14:35The good princess and the wicked witch.
14:37But the prince knew nothing of this.
14:41And married his sweetheart.
14:43And it was true.
14:45The moon was honey for them.
14:48It kicked.
14:50It's moving.
14:51It's kicking me.
14:53And not a minute it seemed before there he was.
14:57A son.
14:58A boy.
14:59And the young mother would have given anything.
15:01Everything.
15:02To say his name.
15:04Sing to him.
15:05Whisper.
15:07But she couldn't.
15:09So she didn't.
15:12He has his mother's eyes.
15:14Oh lovely.
15:16Let's hope he has your voice my dear.
15:20Look after him won't you.
15:22Hug him all up.
15:25Little man.
15:26She does.
15:27Of course she does.
15:28Of course she does.
15:44What?
15:45What is it?
15:47Where's the baby darling?
15:48The princess didn't know.
15:50And couldn't speak.
15:52And their baby was nowhere to be found.
15:55And the pain of it.
15:57Intolerable.
15:59Until one night she went to the garden.
16:01And dug with her hands in the ground a small hole.
16:05And bending to the earth.
16:07Screamed with all her heart.
16:09Screamed and screamed her pain into the hole until morning.
16:14And it was better.
16:16And looking up to the sky she saw her brothers the ravens circling above her.
16:22The days pass they seem to say.
16:25Hold to your promise.
16:27Hold to your promise.
16:30Your father and I are so sad for you both.
16:36So sad.
16:38It couldn't be.
16:40You don't think the princess didn't, well, want the little baby perhaps.
16:45She loved him.
16:47Of course she did.
16:49Forget I said anything.
16:51Please.
16:53Dearest.
16:55Where have you been?
16:56I looked everywhere.
16:59What have you got on your hands?
17:01What's this?
17:03Is it earth?
17:05Perhaps she's been digging a little hole.
17:08What have you been digging?
17:13It must pain you so much she's done.
17:17I hate that witch.
17:19I bet she did something to the baby.
17:20No one knew.
17:22Or no one said.
17:24And when the news came the princess was to have a second baby, the joy was muted.
17:30Quiet.
17:32And two years and two months after the princess took her vow of silence, another boy was born to her.
17:39As she would not let this precious son from her sight, not for an instant.
17:45Until exhaustion overcame her.
17:48And her eyes stopped fighting.
17:51And closed.
17:52Closed.
17:54And when she woke.
18:07And now whispers were whispered in the corridors of the castle.
18:11Two babies disappeared.
18:12What kind of mother?
18:13These whispers asked.
18:14Who loses babies who will not speak.
18:17Curse, they said, these gossips.
18:20Bewitched.
18:21Yes?
18:22You know, before when my first son, you know you asked and I said, I said impossible.
18:30But now, now I don't know and I'm frightened.
18:31I know.
18:32I understand.
18:33And she is with child again.
18:34I could not bear.
18:35Shh.
18:36Don't worry.
18:37When the time comes, we must watch her closely.
18:41We must love her very much.
18:42But we must watch closely.
18:43We must watch closely.
18:44We must love her very much.
18:46But we must watch closely.
18:48Okay.
18:49We must watch closely.
18:50Not.
18:51You must love her very much.
18:53We must try to see her.
18:55I will never forget.
18:56But we must watch closely.
18:58Oh, for sure.
18:59Thank you, Jane.
19:01Yes, Jane.
19:04But we must watch closely.
19:07Don't worry.
19:08I'm here.
19:13Now, who do I remind you of?
19:16My mother.
19:18I know.
19:20And so, three months later, when the baby came...
19:24Darling, our son, our beautiful little son...
19:29What I should like to do is perhaps to take him with me for a day or two somewhere safe.
19:33Somewhere where no one will find him or harm him.
19:37I told you she wouldn't.
19:40Of course.
19:41Well, it's late.
19:44Stay by her until the morning.
19:46And then we'll see.
19:47Stay beside her until the morning.
19:51He's a lovely.
19:54A lovely.
19:55And so they sat, silent, their hearts full to bursting.
20:00Watching their tiny child, its fingers like stars.
20:06And the mother prayed.
20:07And the father prayed.
20:09But the strain, the tiredness of the birth washed over them.
20:13Huge waves washing over them, lulling them to sleep.
20:17And for a minute, two minutes, three, they slept.
20:22And then the prince woke.
20:30Oh, no.
20:32Oh, no!
20:34What have you done?
20:36What have you done?
20:38What's happened?
20:39What's the matter?
20:40It's horrible.
20:41I can't believe it.
20:41She's a witch.
20:43My poor babies.
20:45My poor sons.
20:46Yes.
20:47She must be burned as a witch.
20:49Tomorrow.
20:49Tomorrow.
20:50Tomorrow.
20:51Well, she must be burned.
20:53And so it was decreed that three years, three months, three weeks, and three days,
20:58after she had taken her vow of silence,
21:01the poor, innocent princess would be burnt at the stake as a witch.
21:06Why didn't she speak?
21:08She can speak now, can't she?
21:09No.
21:10Not yet.
21:12Not until the midday.
21:13As they prepared the bonfire, the sundial in the courtyard was still far from the midday.
21:23And they came for her and tied her to the stake.
21:25And as the sundial neared the line of twelve, it was the witch herself who lit the torch and took
21:33it towards the bundles of hay and twigs.
21:36And then, and then, three ravens flew at the witch, wheeling and diving and crashing.
21:45And she dropped the torch, and in a second was nothing but dust and ashes.
21:48And her three brothers, freed from their spell, pulled their sister from the stake, and hugged her and kissed her, and now she could not speak for crying.
22:10And there was more.
22:17For now, all was restored to her, and good held sway.
22:23And the girl who kept faith and had but one face for everyone, was rewarded with sons and brothers, and a sweetheart, and a crown.
22:33And she practiced her smile, until it was perfect.
22:40Well, I thought the babies had been killed.
22:43No, the witch had cast them down a well.
22:47But the ravens knew and caught them up safe and cared for them.
22:51And so they lived happily ever...
22:53Yes, but it wasn't three years, three months, three weeks, and three whole days, was it?
22:58No, clever clogs.
23:00Yes, the princess spoke three minutes too soon.
23:05And because of that, her youngest brother kept one wing forever.
23:09But he didn't mind, and nor do I, and nor, my dear, should you.
23:15The Tale of the Three Ravens.
23:25Sit.
23:30The Tale of the Three Ravens.