[The Nutcracker Suite plays]
[Music continues]
NARRATOR: This is the Stahlbaums' house.
These are their children,
Marie and Fritz.
It was Christmas Eve
when there was always a big family party.
The children had been waiting and waiting
for their guests to arrive.
The house was full of rich, wonderful smells,
of baking and chocolate and peppermint sticks.
And listen...
Something was happening behind the living room doors.
[Instrumental music]
Oh, yes.
The tree.
[Music continues]
Here they all came,
the Christmas Eve guests...
the uncles and aunts and cousins,
all splendidly dressed for the party.
Here they came for the happiest night of the year.
[Instrumental music]
[Music continues]
It was such a tree,
and surrounded by the most tantalizing presents.
But first it was time for the games to begin...
and the Christmas dancing.
[Music continues]
[Clock hooting]
But what was this?
Whowas this?
A strange man with 3 huge boxes...
and a boy.
[Instrumental music]
Then Marie knew.
It was her Godfather Drosselmeier.
Magical things always happened when he came to the house.
And, oh...
it was Godfather Drosselmeier's nephew.
She'd never met him before.
[Music continues]
Magic. Magic.
[Music continues]
After Godfather Drosselmeier
put his magical dancing dolls back in their boxes,
he brought out toys for the children...
a hobby horse...
for Marie.
Well, maybe not.
[Instrumental music]
But look, here's something better...
a soldier with a strong jaw.
He's a nutcracker.
Who shall have him?
[Crack]
[Instrumental music]
[Crack]
[Music continues]
[Crack]
[Music continues]
Marie slept that Christmas Eve,
and she dreamed of Godfather Drosselmeier
and his very special nephew.
[Instrumental music]
[Music continues]
She dreamed of her own dear Nutcracker
and his sad fate.
He was down there alone in the living room,
in the dark,
all on his own.
[Instrumental music]
[Music continues]
Magical things always happened
when Godfather Drosselmeier came to the house.
[Thunder crashes]
[Music continues]
[Thunder]
[Clock hooting]
[Music continues]
[Click]
[Music continues]
In the snowy forest,
in the enchanted land
to which Marie and her prince had come,
the Snowflakes danced.
[Music continues]
News of the prince and Marie
was brought to the land of the Sugarplum Fairy
by the Christmas Tree Angels.
[Music continues]
One by one, the Sugarplum Fairy
brought in all the delights of her land...
Hot Chocolate from Spain...
Coffee from Arabia...
Chinese Tea...
the Candy Canes...
Marzipan and her Shepherd Girls...
the little Polichinelles, like dolls...
Dewdrop and her garlands of Flowers.
[Music continues]
The Sugarplum Fairy welcomed them
and asked the prince to tell everyone
about his adventures as the Nutcracker.
[Music continues]
A wonderful throne and banquet
were brought in for Marie and the prince,
and the Sugarplum Fairy announced that, in their honor,
everyone in turn would dance.
[Music continues]
Into the great room the Sugarplum Fairy herself
came with her cavalier
to dance for Marie and her prince.
[Music continues]
Marie knew that it was time to leave the enchanted land,
though everything she had seen,
like a wonderful dream,
would stay with her always.
And her Nutcracker Prince would go with her
on this magical Christmas Eve.
[Music continues]
[Instrumental music]