- 2 days 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.
06:36Where have you been?
06:38I took the children on a trip.
06:40A holiday.
06:41Oh, yes.
06:42Anywhere nice?
06:43Yes.
06:44Very nice.
06:45Mm-hmm.
06:46What's that you're sewing?
06:47Shirts.
06:48I'm sewing them all little shirts.
06:50Aren't they sweet?
06:51That's nice.
06:52Is there love, those?
06:53Mm-hmm.
06:54What's that you're sewing?
06:55Shirts.
06:56I'm sewing them all little shirts.
06:57Aren't they sweet?
06:58That's nice.
06:59Is there love, those?
07:00Mm-hmm.
07:01You're being very mysterious.
07:04Mama?
07:05What about?
07:06Her children.
07:07Our children.
07:08You want me to be their mother, but what mother can tolerate not knowing where her children have gone to?
07:16I 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?
07:30Still let that be an end to it.
07:31If you don't want to talk about it, that's your right.
07:32They're your children.
07:33I'm just the stepmother.
07:34But the witch had no intention of letting that be an end to it.
07:37The next day, the king rode off, and she followed stealthy as a bat, and watched him roll out the magic thread.
07:41And with sly sleight of hand, she stole it for herself, and soon she watched it wind its secret way towards the children.
07:56Shirts she carried.
07:57Shirts she carried.
07:58And a chill curse she knew by heart.
08:03Have you caught these fish?
08:04Have you caught these fish yourself?
08:05How clever.
08:06How did you find us here?
08:07Where's our father?
08:08He's just coming.
08:09Look, I've brought you presents.
08:10I'll be nice.
08:11And so, each one my hand.
08:12I'll be nice.
08:13And so, each one by hand.
08:15Oh, put them on.
08:16Then your father can see them.
08:21But how can their father see them?
08:22When this thing happens, they'll be nice.
08:24I'll be nice.
08:25is here. Where's our father? He's just coming. Look, I've brought you presents. I'll be nice.
08:32I'll put each one by hand. Thank you. Put them on. Then your father can see them. But how can
08:38their father see them when this thread won't work, when this ball won't roll? Where's your sister?
08:48I miss her. She should be here. Come along, Ben. Your shirt.
08:55And all the while, the king stumbles lost in the forest and cries out,
09:01Children!
09:02The 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.
09:09Children!
09:10The 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.
09:15The 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.
09:21The 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.
09:45Daughter?
09:48Boys!
09:50Boys!
09:50Husband?
09:52Husband!
09:53What have you done?
09:55Me? I've done nothing. What are you doing here? This is my secret place.
09:58Where are my children?
09:59Oh, are the children here?
10:01I 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!
10:17Boys!
10:19What was it?
10:19Yes, you're upset.
10:24I have to think about this.
10:27About what we can do with you.
10:28And for a day and a night, the princess ran, stumbled, fled until she dropped.
10:36Dropped into a dead sleep.
10:37And when she woke, she saw three ravens before her.
10:42Or perhaps she dreamt it, because they spoke to her.
10:46Sister, they seem to say. We are trapped. Help us.
10:50How? How can I help you?
10:53You must keep silent.
10:55You 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.
11:18The princess, she couldn't speak to anyone?
11:26No.
11:27Hello? Goodbye? I'm hungry?
11:31No.
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 flown by.
12:06Hello. Is this yours?
12:09Come back.
12:11Have you been cursed? Is that it?
12:13Can you not speak?
12:17Don't be frightened. I won't hurt you.
12:18Look, I'll sit quietly down here beside you.
12:21See?
12:22And saying that, he sat beside her and took out his food and offered it to her, and she was famished and had some.
12:29And soon he set off talking of 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.
12:48A darling smile again. A darling smile. A smile that wrapped all the way round her heart and his heart and squeezed them tight together.
12:57And the prince gave up speaking, and 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, love, he said, and marriage, and always and ever.
13:15And they kiss.
13:17And they kiss. And that was that.
13:20So she spoke.
13:21Not a whisper.
13:23Not a whisper.
13:25The prince set her up on his horse, and they rode the long ride to his kingdom.
13:29And on the way, he spoke of his father, the king, and of his beloved mother, who had died.
13:36And the princess wanted to say, I know.
13:39She wanted to say, mine too.
13:42But she couldn't.
13:44So she didn't.
13:45And at length, they were there, at the gates of the palace.
13:51And as proud as you please.
13:54Father, madam, I want you to meet my sweetheart.
13:58His father looked down.
14:00And so did his stepmother.
14:04The witch.
14:05The witch.
14:06But she was married to the other king.
14:08The other king was dead.
14:10Poisoned.
14:12Oh, no.
14:14The witch had a taste for kings now.
14:17For countries.
14:19For the princess was a thorn pricking at her ambitions.
14:22The princess could not speak.
14:24But she accused with her looks.
14:27Killer of my father.
14:28Bewitcher of my brothers.
14:30And the witch knew she must have done with her.
14:33And so the battle began.
14:35The good princess and the wicked witch.
14:38But 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.
14:49It's moving.
14:50It's kicking me.
14:52And not a minute, it seemed, before there he was.
14:57A son.
14:58A boy.
14:58And the young mother would have given anything, everything, to say his name, sing to him, whisper.
15:07But she couldn't.
15:09So she didn't.
15:11He has his mother's eyes.
15:14Oh, lovely.
15:16Let's hope he has your voice, my dear.
15:18Look after him, won't you?
15:22Hug him all up.
15:25Little man.
15:26She does.
15:27Of course she does.
15:28What?
15:44What is it?
15:45Where's the baby, darling?
15:47The princess didn't know.
15:50And couldn't speak.
15:52And their baby was nowhere to be found.
15:55And the pain of it, intolerable.
15:58Until one night, she went to the garden.
16:01And dug with her hands in the ground a small hole.
16:04And bending to the earth, screamed 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.
16:24Hold to your promise.
16:27Hold to your promise.
16:29Your father and I are so sad for you both.
16:35So sad.
16:38It couldn't be.
16:39You don't think the princess didn't, well, want the little baby, perhaps?
16:44She loved him.
16:46Of course she did.
16:48Stupid.
16:49Forget I said anything.
16:51Please?
16:54Dearest, where have you been?
16:56I looked everywhere.
16:59What have you got on your hands?
17:01What's this?
17:02Is it earth?
17:04Perhaps she's been digging a little hole.
17:07What have you been digging?
17:13It must pain you so much she's done.
17:16I hate that witch.
17:18I bet she did something to the baby.
17:20No one knew.
17:22No one knew.
17:23Or no one said.
17:24And when the news came the princess was to have a second baby, the joy was muted.
17:31Quiet.
17:31And two years and two months after the princess took her vow of silence, another boy was born to her.
17:39And she would not let this precious son from her sight, not for an instant.
17:44Until exhaustion overcame her, and her eyes stopped fighting, and closed.
17:52And when she woke...
17:54And now whispers were whispered in the corridors of the castle.
18:10Two babies disappeared.
18:12What kind of mother, these whispers asked.
18:14Who loses babies who will not speak.
18:16Curse, they said, these gossips.
18:20Bewitched.
18:32Yes?
18:36You know, before, when my first son...
18:39You know, you asked, and I said...
18:42I said, impossible.
18:43But now...
18:45Now I don't know, and I'm frightened.
18:47Oh, I know.
18:49I understand.
18:51And she is with child again.
18:52I could not bear...
18:53Shh.
18:55Don't worry.
18:57When the time comes, we must watch her closely.
19:01We must love her very much.
19:04But we must watch closely.
19:07Don't worry.
19:08I'm here.
19:09Now, who do I remind you of?
19:16My mother.
19:18I know.
19:20And so, three months later, when the baby came...
19:24Darling.
19:25Our son.
19:26Our 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.
19:35I told you she wouldn't.
19:40Of course.
19:41Well, it's late.
19:44Stay by her until the morning, and then we'll see.
19:47Stay beside her until the morning.
19:51These are lovely.
19:54Lovely.
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, and 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.
20:50Tomorrow, she must be burned.
20:52And 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 burned 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.
21:15As they prepared the bonfire,
21:17The sun-dial in the courtyard was still far from the midday.
21:23And they came for her and tied her to the stake.
21:26And as the sun-dial neared the line of twelve,
21:30It was the witch herself who lit the torch and took it towards the bundles of hay and twigs.
21:36And then, and then, three ravens flew at the witch,
21:43Wheeling and diving and crashing.
21:44And she dropped the torch, and in a second was nothing but dust and ashes.
21:49And her three brothers, freed from their spell,
22:04Pulled their sister from the stake, and hugged her and kissed her,
22:07And now she could not speak for crying.
22:11And there was more.
22:12For now, all was restored to her,
22:20And good held sway.
22:23And the girl who kept faith, and had but one face for everyone,
22:27Was rewarded with sons and brothers,
22:30And a sweetheart,
22:32And a crown.
22:34And she practiced her smile,
22:37Until it was perfect.
22:39Well, 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.
23:01The princess spoke three minutes too soon.
23:05And because of that, her youngest brother kept one wing forever.
23:08But he didn't mind, and nor do I, and nor, my dear, should you.
23:15The tale of the three ravens.
23:17Nothing.
23:18How was it?
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