WEBVTT 1 00:00:05.000 --> 00:00:13.519 Welcome to Once Upon a Time Show. It's time for a bedtime story. Hello, little one. Pull your blanket up to your chin, nice and snug. 2 00:00:13.819 --> 00:00:25.321 Tonight's story is a very old one. It was told by two brothers, the Brothers Grimm, a long, long time ago. It's about a brother and a sister called Hansel and Gretel. 3 00:00:25.621 --> 00:00:34.396 Hansel was brave, and Gretel was clever. And when they held hands, they were never lost for long. Are you cosy? Then let's begin. 4 00:00:34.696 --> 00:00:44.967 Once upon a time, next to a great big forest, there lived a poor man who chopped wood all day. He had two children. The boy was Hansel, and the girl was Gretel. 5 00:00:45.267 --> 00:00:53.449 They had very little to eat. Some nights there was only one small piece of bread each. But they had each other, and that kept them warm. 6 00:00:53.749 --> 00:01:04.632 One night, Hansel couldn't sleep. The moon was bright, and the white pebbles by the door shone like silver coins. So Hansel filled his pockets with them, just in case. 7 00:01:04.932 --> 00:01:14.693 Early the next morning, everyone went into the woods to gather sticks. Hansel walked at the back. Every few steps, he dropped a shiny white pebble on the path. 8 00:01:14.993 --> 00:01:25.265 Deep in the woods, the grown-ups made a warm fire. Rest here, they said, while we chop wood. Hansel and Gretel ate their bread, and soon they fell fast asleep. 9 00:01:25.565 --> 00:01:35.003 When they woke up, it was dark, and they were all alone. Gretel began to cry. Don't worry, said Hansel. Wait until the moon comes up. 10 00:01:35.303 --> 00:01:45.401 And when the moon came up, the pebbles shone like little silver coins. Hansel took Gretel's hand. They followed the pebbles all night long, all the way home. 11 00:01:45.701 --> 00:01:53.337 Their father was so happy to see them. He hugged them tight, and he wouldn't let go. He had never wanted them to be lost at all. 12 00:01:59.637 --> 00:02:10.083 Not long after, they all went into the woods again, even deeper this time. Hansel had no pebbles now. So he broke his bread into crumbs, and dropped them on the path. 13 00:02:10.383 --> 00:02:18.872 Again they rested by a fire. Again they fell asleep. And when they woke up, the moon was shining. But where were the crumbs? 14 00:02:19.172 --> 00:02:31.569 The birds of the forest had eaten every one. Peck, peck, peck. The path was gone. Hansel and Gretel walked and walked, and ate a few small berries. Then they slept under a tree. 15 00:02:37.869 --> 00:02:47.804 On the third day, they saw a little bird, as white as snow. It sang such a pretty song that they stopped to listen. Then it flew ahead, and they followed it. 16 00:02:48.104 --> 00:02:58.120 The bird led them to a little house. And oh, what a house. The walls were made of bread. The roof was made of cake. And the windows were made of clear sugar. 17 00:02:58.420 --> 00:03:09.458 Hansel broke off a bit of the roof, and Gretel nibbled the window. Then a soft voice called from inside. Nibble, nibble, little mouse, who is nibbling at my house? 18 00:03:09.758 --> 00:03:17.650 The children called back, the wind, the wind, it's only the wind. And they giggled, and kept on eating. 19 00:03:17.950 --> 00:03:31.798 The door opened, and out came a woman as old as the hills, leaning on a stick. Come in, dear children, she said. She gave them milk, pancakes with sugar, apples and nuts. Then she made them two soft white beds. 20 00:03:38.098 --> 00:03:48.915 But the old woman wasn't really kind. She was a grumpy old witch, and she wanted to keep the children for herself. In the morning, she shut Hansel in a little shed with a lock. 21 00:03:49.215 --> 00:03:59.406 Every day, she gave Hansel lots and lots of food. And every morning she called, Hansel, stick out your finger. She wanted to see if he was getting big and round. 22 00:03:59.706 --> 00:04:11.000 But the witch's eyes were very bad. So clever Hansel held out a little bone instead. Still so thin, she grumbled. And Hansel tried very hard not to laugh. 23 00:04:11.300 --> 00:04:21.989 One morning, the witch lit her big oven. Gretel, climb in and see if it's hot, she said. But Gretel was clever too. I don't know how, said Gretel. Can you show me? 24 00:04:22.289 --> 00:04:31.110 The witch grumbled, and bent down to peek inside. And while she was busy looking, Gretel took the key, ran to the shed, and let Hansel out. 25 00:04:37.410 --> 00:04:49.772 Hansel and Gretel hugged and danced for joy. In the house they found boxes full of pearls and shiny stones. These are better than pebbles, said Hansel. Then off they ran, out of the woods. 26 00:04:50.072 --> 00:05:02.341 Soon they came to a wide lake, with no bridge and no boat. But a white duck was swimming there. Gretel called, little duck, little duck, please carry us across on your soft white back. 27 00:05:02.641 --> 00:05:12.994 The duck came at once. But Gretel said, we're too heavy together. One at a time, please. So the kind duck carried Hansel across, and then it came back for Gretel. 28 00:05:19.294 --> 00:05:30.239 Little by little, the trees began to look like old friends. And then, far away, they saw their own little house. They ran and ran, and threw their arms around their father. 29 00:05:30.539 --> 00:05:41.275 Their father cried happy tears. Oh, my dear children, he said. I missed you every single day. And he held them close for a long, long time. 30 00:05:41.575 --> 00:05:53.380 Gretel shook out her apron, and Hansel emptied his pockets. Pearls and shiny stones rolled all over the floor. From that day on, they had enough bread, and they lived happily together. 31 00:06:00.680 --> 00:06:11.544 And now the little house by the forest is quiet. The fire glows softly. Hansel and Gretel are tucked into bed, side by side, warm and full and safe. 32 00:06:11.844 --> 00:06:21.988 Outside, the moon is shining. Somewhere, a little white bird is sleeping in its nest. And the white duck is floating on the still lake, fast asleep. 33 00:06:22.288 --> 00:06:31.062 My tale is done, a mouse has run. Close your eyes now, little one. Goodnight from Once Upon a Time Show. Sweet dreams.