Derek Jacobi - The Nutcracker CBeebies Bedtime Stories


Derek Jacobi - The Nutcracker

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CBeebies Bedtime Story.

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Hello. My name is Derek.

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Tonight's story is also a much-loved Christmas ballet,

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with music by Tchaikovsky, it's called The Nutcracker.

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And the story is illustrated by Alison Jay.

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Now, if you are sitting comfortably, I'll begin.

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It was Christmas Eve

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and little Clara, watching the snow fall outside

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could hardly wait for Godfather Drosselmeyer

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to arrive for the party.

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As if on cue, the door burst open, there was Godfather Drosselmeyer,

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with his flowing cape and curly moustache.

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"Merry Christmas," he bellowed.

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Godfather Drosselmeyer was a famous toymaker,

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so the children immediately gathered round

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as he reached under his cape

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and produced one bright package after another.

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Carla's younger brother Fritz got a wooden toy sword.

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Her cousin Anne got a lovely doll,

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with sparkling fairy wings.

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And Ben, the youngest cousin, got a wind-up mouse.

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It was so fuzzy and grey it looked almost real.

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But Clara knew her present was the best of all.

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It was a toy soldier.

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And if you put a nut between its teeth

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and pulled the lever in its back...

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it cracked the shell right open.

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"Oh, thank you, Godfather," breathed Clara.

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Clara passed the nutcracker around for everyone to try.

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But Fritz shoved a huge walnut between its teeth.

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When he pulled the lever down hard...

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SLAP!

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The nutcracker's jaw snapped.

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"Do not worry, Clara," said Godfather Drosselmeyer",

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pulling out a handkerchief

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and tying it around the nutcracker's head.

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"That should do for now.

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"Tomorrow I'll get my tools and fix him properly."

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Clara gave the nutcracker a kiss

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and placed him gently under the Christmas tree

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with all of the other toys.

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Then, reluctantly, she went upstairs to bed.

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But, try as she might, Clara couldn't sleep.

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Late that night, she tiptoed back downstairs

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and curled up beneath the tree, with the nutcracker snug in her arms.

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Finally, she drifted off.

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Clara woke with a start!

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As the grandfather clock chimed loudly,

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she glanced around and rubbed her eyes.

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Something incredible was happening.

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The Christmas tree and the toys appeared to be growing!

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Soon Clara was standing face to face with the nutcracker.

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Suddenly, an army of mice marched towards Clara from behind the sofa

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led by a large, very fuzzy grey mouse with a golden crown.

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The nutcracker pulled a wooden sword from his side and marched forward,

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leading the toys into battle to protect Clara.

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But the wooden sword was no match for the Mouse King's shiny metal one.

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Clara had to do something.

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She tore her slipper from her foot

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and threw it at the Mouse King with all her might.

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The Mouse King crumpled to the ground.

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His crown spinning to rest beside him.

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Clara couldn't believe her eyes.

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As the Mouse King fell,

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the nutcracker magically transformed into a prince.

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Sweeping the Mouse King's crown from the floor,

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he placed it on Clara's head.

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"Thank you," he said.

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"I've been trapped in the shape of the nutcracker for many years,

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"but your bravery broke the Mouse King's spell.

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"Now, I am free!"

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Speechless, Clara looked down to see that her nightdress

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had turned into a magnificent gown!

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The Prince held out his hand.

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"Would you come to my kingdom, the kingdom of sweets?"

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"Oh, how lovely," said Clara.

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And together they sped off in a grand sleigh.

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As the sleigh raced across the land of snow

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the stars sparkled like diamonds in the sky

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and dazzling snowflakes danced all around them.

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Before long, the sleigh pulled up to a marvellous castle,

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with candyfloss trees and sugarcane gates.

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Clara blinked in disbelief.

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"This is where I live, the Marzipan Palace,"

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said the Prince.

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A beautiful girl had appeared beside him.

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"And this is the Sugar Plum Fairy.

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"Welcome to the Land of Sweets."

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The Prince explained how Clara had saved his life

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by bravely defeating the Mouse King.

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"We must have a great banquet in your honour,"

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the Sugar Plum Fairy declared.

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As the guests sat down,

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waiters wheeled out a giant box of chocolates.

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Suddenly, two Spanish dancers leapt out, clicking their castanets.

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Then, a giant teapot, cup and saucer were pushed into the room.

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Three graceful Chinese acrobats sprang from the teapot

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and whirled dramatically across the floor.

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Next, four Arabian dancers leapt out of the teacup.

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Followed by a troop of Russian performers,

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who crossed the floor in a dazzling series of jumps and kicks.

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After a short pause, Mother Ginger emerged

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wearing an enormous skirt.

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Then Carla giggled in surprise

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as six French children scampered out from beneath it.

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Spinning, like candy-covered tops.

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Finally, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Prince danced a magnificent duet.

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Clara was breathless from clapping and cheering.

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Each time the Sugar Plum Fairy spun around

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her sparkling skirt and wings reflected specs of moonlight.

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As the festivities wound down...

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..Clara stifled a yawn.

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"It is time we took you home," the Prince told her softly.

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Placing Clara gently inside the sleigh,

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he whispered something in the horse's ear.

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In an instant the sleigh was whisking Clara back through the snow.

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On Christmas morning, Clara woke in her own cosy bed.

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Her beautiful gown had turned back into a nightdress.

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And when she reached up for her crown...

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..there was nothing there.

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Then...

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Clara noticed a flash of red beside her.

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It was her nutcracker,

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without the handkerchief bandage, and perfectly whole.

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Clara hugged him close.

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Though she never told a soul about her adventure,

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she hoped in her heart

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that every Christmas Eve might be as magical as this one.

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I hope you enjoyed that classic story, The Nutcracker.

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Weren't the pictures beautiful?

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And what a magical Christmas Eve Clara had.

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I hope that you will have a very special Christmas too.

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