0:00:02 > 0:00:05CBeebies Bedtime Story.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09Hello. My name is Derek.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13Tonight's story is also a much-loved Christmas ballet,
0:00:13 > 0:00:17with music by Tchaikovsky, it's called The Nutcracker.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21And the story is illustrated by Alison Jay.
0:00:21 > 0:00:26Now, if you are sitting comfortably, I'll begin.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28It was Christmas Eve
0:00:28 > 0:00:32and little Clara, watching the snow fall outside
0:00:32 > 0:00:35could hardly wait for Godfather Drosselmeyer
0:00:35 > 0:00:37to arrive for the party.
0:00:38 > 0:00:43As if on cue, the door burst open, there was Godfather Drosselmeyer,
0:00:43 > 0:00:46with his flowing cape and curly moustache.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50"Merry Christmas," he bellowed.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53Godfather Drosselmeyer was a famous toymaker,
0:00:53 > 0:00:56so the children immediately gathered round
0:00:56 > 0:00:59as he reached under his cape
0:00:59 > 0:01:03and produced one bright package after another.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07Carla's younger brother Fritz got a wooden toy sword.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Her cousin Anne got a lovely doll,
0:01:10 > 0:01:13with sparkling fairy wings.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17And Ben, the youngest cousin, got a wind-up mouse.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21It was so fuzzy and grey it looked almost real.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26But Clara knew her present was the best of all.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28It was a toy soldier.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31And if you put a nut between its teeth
0:01:31 > 0:01:34and pulled the lever in its back...
0:01:34 > 0:01:37it cracked the shell right open.
0:01:37 > 0:01:43"Oh, thank you, Godfather," breathed Clara.
0:01:43 > 0:01:48Clara passed the nutcracker around for everyone to try.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52But Fritz shoved a huge walnut between its teeth.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54When he pulled the lever down hard...
0:01:54 > 0:01:56SLAP!
0:01:56 > 0:01:59The nutcracker's jaw snapped.
0:01:59 > 0:02:04"Do not worry, Clara," said Godfather Drosselmeyer",
0:02:04 > 0:02:06pulling out a handkerchief
0:02:06 > 0:02:09and tying it around the nutcracker's head.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11"That should do for now.
0:02:11 > 0:02:17"Tomorrow I'll get my tools and fix him properly."
0:02:17 > 0:02:19Clara gave the nutcracker a kiss
0:02:19 > 0:02:23and placed him gently under the Christmas tree
0:02:23 > 0:02:26with all of the other toys.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30Then, reluctantly, she went upstairs to bed.
0:02:31 > 0:02:36But, try as she might, Clara couldn't sleep.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41Late that night, she tiptoed back downstairs
0:02:41 > 0:02:47and curled up beneath the tree, with the nutcracker snug in her arms.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51Finally, she drifted off.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58Clara woke with a start!
0:02:58 > 0:03:01As the grandfather clock chimed loudly,
0:03:01 > 0:03:05she glanced around and rubbed her eyes.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Something incredible was happening.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13The Christmas tree and the toys appeared to be growing!
0:03:13 > 0:03:19Soon Clara was standing face to face with the nutcracker.
0:03:19 > 0:03:25Suddenly, an army of mice marched towards Clara from behind the sofa
0:03:25 > 0:03:31led by a large, very fuzzy grey mouse with a golden crown.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36The nutcracker pulled a wooden sword from his side and marched forward,
0:03:36 > 0:03:41leading the toys into battle to protect Clara.
0:03:41 > 0:03:46But the wooden sword was no match for the Mouse King's shiny metal one.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48Clara had to do something.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52She tore her slipper from her foot
0:03:52 > 0:03:56and threw it at the Mouse King with all her might.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00The Mouse King crumpled to the ground.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04His crown spinning to rest beside him.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09Clara couldn't believe her eyes.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11As the Mouse King fell,
0:04:11 > 0:04:17the nutcracker magically transformed into a prince.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21Sweeping the Mouse King's crown from the floor,
0:04:21 > 0:04:24he placed it on Clara's head.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28"Thank you," he said.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32"I've been trapped in the shape of the nutcracker for many years,
0:04:32 > 0:04:36"but your bravery broke the Mouse King's spell.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38"Now, I am free!"
0:04:39 > 0:04:44Speechless, Clara looked down to see that her nightdress
0:04:44 > 0:04:48had turned into a magnificent gown!
0:04:49 > 0:04:51The Prince held out his hand.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57"Would you come to my kingdom, the kingdom of sweets?"
0:04:58 > 0:05:02"Oh, how lovely," said Clara.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06And together they sped off in a grand sleigh.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09As the sleigh raced across the land of snow
0:05:09 > 0:05:13the stars sparkled like diamonds in the sky
0:05:13 > 0:05:17and dazzling snowflakes danced all around them.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21Before long, the sleigh pulled up to a marvellous castle,
0:05:21 > 0:05:26with candyfloss trees and sugarcane gates.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29Clara blinked in disbelief.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34"This is where I live, the Marzipan Palace,"
0:05:34 > 0:05:35said the Prince.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39A beautiful girl had appeared beside him.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43"And this is the Sugar Plum Fairy.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47"Welcome to the Land of Sweets."
0:05:47 > 0:05:51The Prince explained how Clara had saved his life
0:05:51 > 0:05:54by bravely defeating the Mouse King.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57"We must have a great banquet in your honour,"
0:05:57 > 0:06:00the Sugar Plum Fairy declared.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03As the guests sat down,
0:06:03 > 0:06:07waiters wheeled out a giant box of chocolates.
0:06:07 > 0:06:13Suddenly, two Spanish dancers leapt out, clicking their castanets.
0:06:13 > 0:06:19Then, a giant teapot, cup and saucer were pushed into the room.
0:06:19 > 0:06:24Three graceful Chinese acrobats sprang from the teapot
0:06:24 > 0:06:27and whirled dramatically across the floor.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31Next, four Arabian dancers leapt out of the teacup.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35Followed by a troop of Russian performers,
0:06:35 > 0:06:41who crossed the floor in a dazzling series of jumps and kicks.
0:06:41 > 0:06:46After a short pause, Mother Ginger emerged
0:06:46 > 0:06:49wearing an enormous skirt.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Then Carla giggled in surprise
0:06:51 > 0:06:55as six French children scampered out from beneath it.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58Spinning, like candy-covered tops.
0:06:59 > 0:07:06Finally, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Prince danced a magnificent duet.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14Clara was breathless from clapping and cheering.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18Each time the Sugar Plum Fairy spun around
0:07:18 > 0:07:23her sparkling skirt and wings reflected specs of moonlight.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26As the festivities wound down...
0:07:28 > 0:07:30..Clara stifled a yawn.
0:07:32 > 0:07:37"It is time we took you home," the Prince told her softly.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42Placing Clara gently inside the sleigh,
0:07:42 > 0:07:45he whispered something in the horse's ear.
0:07:45 > 0:07:51In an instant the sleigh was whisking Clara back through the snow.
0:07:51 > 0:07:56On Christmas morning, Clara woke in her own cosy bed.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00Her beautiful gown had turned back into a nightdress.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03And when she reached up for her crown...
0:08:05 > 0:08:07..there was nothing there.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Then...
0:08:11 > 0:08:16Clara noticed a flash of red beside her.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18It was her nutcracker,
0:08:18 > 0:08:23without the handkerchief bandage, and perfectly whole.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Clara hugged him close.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30Though she never told a soul about her adventure,
0:08:30 > 0:08:32she hoped in her heart
0:08:32 > 0:08:37that every Christmas Eve might be as magical as this one.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44I hope you enjoyed that classic story, The Nutcracker.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47Weren't the pictures beautiful?
0:08:47 > 0:08:50And what a magical Christmas Eve Clara had.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54I hope that you will have a very special Christmas too.