Snow Queen Script - Act Two
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Act 2
Scene 1
On the Edge of the Arctic Circle
SFX Howling wind and Wolf’s cry. As the sound dies away, the Musician enters in front of the Blacks and plays the Song of Innocence. Sophie Seal enters from DSR listening to and then looking at her mobile. Wolf will be visible on the balcony SL as this scene progresses.
Sophie: Oh, dear! That’s two missed calls from Frosty. He’s been trying to tell me something, I know. I wonder what he saw. (She tries to get through). And now he’s not answering! If only he could text me – but (to the audience) it’s hard for him to hit the keys with his snowy fingers. This is so frustrating. I’ll try again.
She becomes absorbed in her mobile and isn’t aware of Captain Bludgeon and Wally creeping on stage.
Bludgeon: (In a loud stage whisper) There she is, Wally. That seal cub we’ve been chasing!
Wally: (With some misgivings) She’s not very big, Captain. Are you sure she’s the one!
Bludgeon: (Grabbing Wally by the scarf) Of course I’m sure! Look at that beautiful fur. It’s just what we’ve been looking for. Lord Hemlock will be delighted with us.
They all freeze
LFX on Wolf.
Wolf: (To the audience) What’s this? Could it be - just as I suspected -that Lord Hemlock has his own plans for control of the Globe and betrayal of the Snow Queen. This could be very interesting. (To the audience) Sshhh. I must hear what they ‘re saying.
Bludgeon: (Unfreezing, waving her club in the air) Well, numbskull, what are you waiting for?
Wally: (Hurt) No need to call me names, Captain! (Doubtfully) You really want me to bash her and smash her…?
Bludgeon: It’s what we came to this god-forsaken Seal Colony for, you fool! (Takes out a marshmallow mouse and waves it in front of Wally’s face) All you can eat. For the rest of your life! Remember?
Stage business as Wally is briefly hypnotized by the sight. Sophie finishes what she’s doing and sees them. She is naware of their deadly intentions.
Sophie: Oh, hello! I thought you were my friend, Frosty the Snowman.
Bludgeon: (Circling round Sophie, waving her club.) No, I’m not Frosty the Snowman. I’m Captain (sniggers) Bludgeon!
Wally: (Peering at her myopically)Though I really wish I was your friend. (To the audience) She’s so pretty, isn’t she!
Bludgeon: (Aiming a clout at Wally’s ear) Have you forgotten why we’re here, Wally?
Wally: No I haven’t. (Apologetically) We’re here to ‘bash baby seals’ –
Sophie: (Gasping in horror) What!?
Wally: I know, it’s a horrible job, but someone’s got to do it!
Bludgeon: And if you won’t, you useless creature, I will!
She circles Sophie menacingly wielding her club and there’s stage business as Sophie tries to get away, hampered at times and aided by Wally’s inability to get things right. A sort of Keystone Cops moment?
Wolf: (Roaring from the balcony) Stop! Stop that I say (howls) I shall be obeyed!
All three drop to their knees in awe of the Arctic Wolf.
Bludgeon: (Abject) It’s the Arctic Wolf. One half of the Unity.
Wally: (Nudging Sophie.) The nasty half, obviously!
Wolf: Take the little seal prisoner. She is not to be killed … just yet! You will do as I say and bring her, immediately, to the Ice Palace of the Snow Queen! (Howls) On pain of death! (Howls)
Sophie: (Pleading with Wally and Bludgeon) Oh, please, let me go. I’ve never done you any harm! (Sobs)
Wolf: You will obey my orders – or else!
Wally: (Sadly) Sorry, love. Nothing I can do about it.
Bludgeon: (Whacking Wally) It shall be as you wish, Oh Great One! (In a stage whisper to Wally) Do you want us to lose everything?
They take Sophie by the arms (flippers?) and exit SR. SFX Her mobile rings.
LFX Fade. Curtain up on English Scene. Later the same day - and colder.
Scene 2
Back in the English Country Garden: Night
A sense of urgency in the air is established by the musical theme. The animals are discussing the situation and planning action to prevent Global Cooling which will blanket the earth in Winter forever, once the Snow Queen’s objective has been achieved. LFX Fairy lights in the back-cloth
Bloodhound: (In lawyer mode) In summing up, then, ladies and gentlemen, we know the following: firstly that the Globe is cooling rapidly –
Possum: That’s what our fieldwork is telling us –
Wombat: And, like, the weather is rooly weird from Africa to Asia –
Numbat: Yes! Winter is spreading to the four corners of the earth!
Ms Severity: Not to mention Australia and England!
Reynard: We are in the grip of a powerful force!
Felicity: Well, we know that, Silly. I mean, (bowing) the Great Thylacine has already told us – it’s the Snow Queen’s doing.
Miss Severity: Well, we can’t stand about here all day discussing the problem. We have to do something about it!
Bloodhound: (Ahem) Precisely, Madam. May I continue?
Miss Severity: Well, hurry up – we haven’t got all day! I’m not sure we can bear this cold much longer!
Bloodhound: To continue with my summing up. We also know, secondly: that two of our most talented young people, Dingo Dog –
She steps forward, a little shyly, clutching her diabolo/juggling balls/plate.
Bloodhound: - and, my daughter, Fifi, the Poodle –
She steps forward, clutching her sketch pad and texta, also a little overwhelmed by the attention
Bloodhound: Are in the grip of some unknown force that is draining their talents.
Dingo Dog: (Attempting unsuccessfully to juggle) It’s getting worse! I can’t even catch the balls now, let alone juggle them!
Fifi: And all I can do is scribble patterns! It’s like I was in Year 1 again! (Burst into tears and is comforted by Scratch and Stretch)
Miss Severity: Pull yourself together, girl (she may pronounce it ‘gel’). Crying will not achieve anything. I assume you’re going to tell us what this means!
Bloodhound: (Smiling to himself) Assume nothing! Suspect everything is my motto! PC Beagle, could you hand me the evidence?
PC Beagle has been a bit distracted perhaps sniffing the shrubbery, but rapidly responds.
PC Beagle: As you requested, Sir. Exhibit A (He hands over a book of Tales from Hans Christian Anderson which should be passed up the line to Bloodhound.) Not a tale I enjoyed, Sir.
Bloodhound: (A Little impatiently) Thank you. (Pauses, waiting for the next exhibit) And?
PC Beagle: Oh, right you are, Sir. Exhibit B, Sir. “The Selfish Giant” by Oscar Wilde. A much better story, Sir, if you ask me: it brought a tear to my eye, Sir.
Bloodhound: Well I’m not asking you, PC Beagle. What we have here, ladies and gentleman – (he pauses dramatically) – is a CLUE.
Reynard: You mean two – you have two clues!
Felicity: (Not following at all) Sorry. I don’t get it!
Scratch: Me neither!
Stretch: What’s a book got to do with this?
General ‘rhubarb’ from everyone as they signal their failure to understand. The hubbub dies down as the Thylacine who should have been a little off-centre away from them all, observing the events moves CS. Does the Musician play her theme tune – didgeridoo – here, too?
Thylacine: Inspector Bloodhound is right. The clue lies in the story. It is always there to be found. But you must know where to look and he has found it! And if you read them carefully both stories tell us what’s to be done!
Possum: I remember – it’s the little girl’s love for her friend that saves him.
Wombat: (A bit embarrassed by all this.) Whatever!
Numbat: That’s right. She goes on a quest to find him and risks everything.
Dingo: But how does the other story fit in? The one about the Selfish Giant?
Fifi: I know! I know! In that story, it’s only when the Giant let’s the children into his garden that Winter leaves. That means that –
The children all realize what they’re up against and look at each other, amazed.
Possum: It’s up to us, the children of the Globe, to sort this out!
Dingo: Up to us? Wow!
Wombat: No way! We can’t do it! It’s too big a deal for us.
Numbat: Not alone, of course we can’t. But we’re not alone, are we?
Dawning on the others – Fifi, Stretch and Scratch, too. They all move DSC to face the audience.
Fifi: These children will help us, won’t you?
Hopefully there will be some positive responses from the audience. When general agreement is reached, they rejoin the grown-ups
Stretch: That’s really cool!
Scratch: You rock!
Miss Severity: (To the Kittens) Must you speak in that ridiculous way?
Dingo: (Doubtfully) But we still don’t know what to do – or how Fifi and I can get our talents back.
Miss Severity: It may be true that, as the stories tell us, the Children must save the world. But they can’t just head for the North Pole and hope for the best. I mean what precisely are they going to do when they get there.
Reynard: An excellent question, and one that I was about to ask myself. What are they to do when they get there?
Thylacine: My intuition tells me they know enough for now, thanks to clever Inspector Bloodhound –
PC Beagle looks eagerly at her for approval
Thylacine: - and the excellent support from PC Beagle. But there’s still much to be done!
The musician enters drumming rhythmically. The beat should evoke Africa, the Deep South of the USA or the Caribbean. Everyone turns to look at Felicity who starts to move to the beat of the drum as if in a trance.
Reynard: Mon Dieu! It is the workings of the Sixth Sense. I knew it would be useful. Listen!
Miss Severity: Oh, this is fun! Not since our journey to the Heart of Darkness have I seen anything quite like this!
Thylacine: The magic is working through her. Shshsh. I think she’s about to speak.
They gather round with Felicity, in visionary mode, in the centre of their semi-circle. Lights come up on the balcony SR and we see The Snow Queen. SL reveals Hemlock. This scene establishes more clearly their conflict and gives the Children of the Globe their plan of action.
[SET DESIGN NOTE: If we don’t use the balconies, this may be an opportunity to bring on the levels as a staged effect, with the Snow Queen and Belladonna on a high rostrum USR with the Faeries seated around her; and Hemlock, similarly USL, but alone. These could be their separate chambers in the Ice PalaceFX Fogger/ dry ice here.
The musician should change instruments when the Ice Creatures speak.
Felicity: It’s the Snow Queen. And Lord Hemlock! Their words carry across the Globe. Hear what I hear – see what I see.
Everyone looks out over the audience and the illusion that they are all observing the action should be maintained in the freeze until this scene finishes
Scene 2.1
The Ice Palace: The Snow Queen and Hemlock’s Bed-chambers
Lights up on Hemlock. The Snow Queen and Belladonna in shadow
Hemlock: (Receiving a scroll from Jack Frost, who bows and retreats) My spies tell me that Captain Bludgeon has reached the Seal Colonies. Any moment now, he will bring me the pelts I so desire. (Laughs evilly) And then, the first part of my cunning plan will be complete. I will have control – not only of the earth and all its inhabitants, but also of the largest Company ever. Freezing temperatures will drive everyone to my world-wide emporia for the finest of furs – and the finest of all, will be in my hands! Shortly! (Sniggers) How gullible she is, the Snow Queen! Little does she know that at every turn she is under my control! (Laughs) She will never hear the Song of Innocence because I have given orders … and the little Seal whose song it is, will not live!
Lights dim on Hemlock and come up on Snow Queen.
Snow Queen: (Petulantly) I don’t understand this, Belladonna. How long must I be expected to wait for the Song of Innocence, the last of the essences – the talents - I require to rule all Creation!
Belladonna: Hush, now. It can’t be too long. Everything’s going according to plan. The mirror splinters are doing their evil work for you, Your Majesty. Just be patient.
From their positions on the rostrum the Faeries should be capably juggling, twirling plates, sketching, in an ironic visual comment on their Queen’s incapacity.
Snow Queen: But that’s just it, Belladonna. I’m anything but a patient creature. You should know that! If I want something, I want it NOW! And I want the Song of Innocence. NOW! (She stamps her foot and the faeries scatter.)
Belladonna: I know you do, my dear, but it won’t be long now… you have the juggling skills of that little Dingo almost at your command, and the drawing skills of that English Poodle, so the Song cannot be far away now. You must trust the evil magic of the mirror’s splinters to do their work.
The faint sound of Sophie’s Song can be heard on the wind.
Sparkle: Listen, what’s that?
Glimmer: It’s the most beautiful sound …
Glisten: Could it be – the ‘Song of Innocence’?
Wolf’s howl overwhelms her Song as the wind SFX rises. He enters USC with Sophie and stands dramatically posed, silhouetted against the light.
Wolf: (Flinging the little Seal to her knees) You will wait for me here, in chains, till I have revealed to the Snow Queen Lord Hemlock’s wicked plan. (Howls)
Sophie sobs as the LFX dim on rostra and come up on the Animals gathered around Felicity.
Felicity: (Startled, as she wakes from her trance). I can’t see any more. They’re fading away. They’ve gone. Meow. That was something else!
Thylacine: You have been very helpful, my dear. I think it is clear to us all what needs to be done.
Miss Severity: We must fly out immediately and do what we can to rescue that little seal, before it’s too late.
Bloodhound: Let us be sure not to miss an important Clue that is staring us in the face.
PC Beagle: (Not quite sure)Staring us in the face, Sir?
Reynard: Where else do you imagine, PC Beagle, if not in the face. Mmmnn?
Felicity: I’ve crossed to the other side, seen all, and returned, but I still don’t know what it’s all about.
Bloodhound: It’s elementary, my dear Felicity, I shall explain it all. But, we have a plane to catch.
Miss Severity: Follow me, everyone! Let’s get ready for take-off. Galah Air, Flight 00 Nothing is about to depart.
The Galah Air jingle is heard as the curtain falls on the scene.
Scene 3
A Dungeon in the Ice Palace
Lights up on the dungeon where Sophie Seal, in chains, is being brought her evening meal by Jill Frost. Jack keeps guard at the entrance. SFX ice dripping, creaking. Blizzard howls outside. The Frosts will double as Guards of the Dungeon – they’re absolutely overworked in the Ice Palace which may account for their decision NOT to support their Queen in her evil ways anymore.
Jill: Here you are, Sophie. Poor little thing. (Encouragingly) You must keep up your strength though.
Sophie: (A little doubtfully) Ice-cream? Thank you, but I’m really not at all hungry. What’s to become of me, Mrs Frost?
Jill: Well, Mr Frost and the Faeries – and me of course – we’ve had enough and we’re going to try and put a stop to all this!
Sophie: You can’t! You mustn’t. It’s too dangerous! Oh, but what shall I do?
Jill: Now, try not to upset yourself, my dear. You have a visitor. Look
Frosty the Snowman enters, ushered in by Jack Frost, who looks very anxious, SR and waddles up to Sophie who gives him a delighted hug.
Sophie: Oh, Frosty! You’ve come to rescue me
Frosty: (Sees the uneaten ice-cream and begins to shovel it in)
Jill: My, you were a hungry Snowman! We haven’t got much time, dear, but he wanted to show you what he captured on his mobile – it’s very interesting. (In a stage whisper) And it may be used to your advantage.
Jack: Quick! There’s someone coming. We must go.
Sophie: (Anxiously) They mustn’t find you here, Frosty. (Jack and Jill beat a hasty retreat, passing the new arrivals in the doorway.) Ooh it’s too late.
Wolf enters, followed by Belladonna. Frosty freezes in the corner. Sophie crouches on the floor
Belladonna: Surveying the Snowman from head to toe (?) The Guards must be bored. Fancy building a Snowman down here. Poorly done, really. Mmnn he looks familiar. I feel as if I’ve seen him somewhere before.
As she turns there should be a bit of ‘business’ with Frosty looking upset, then freezing again. The mime and movement sequences should be choreographed for humorous effect. She turns to look – he stops. She turns away – he starts tip-toeing out etc. eventually making his way out in snowy haste, but leaving behind his mobile.
Wolf: Nonsense – they all look alike. Two balls of snow and a random scarf or hat. Doesn’t take much talent.
Belladonna: That reminds me – you say that this creature, here, reeking of fish (she sniffs disdainfully, much to Sophie’s discomfort) is the source of Her Majesty’s outstanding talent – the Song of Innocence?
Wolf: More to the point, she was about to be murdered for her fur, in an act of sabotage, by Hemlock’s henchmen.
Belladonna: But that would be treason. Surely you can’t be serious. Not – she recalls his attractiveness – the all-powerful, the splendid Hemlock?
Wolf: If you don’t believe me – ask them! Guards, bring in the prisoners.
Jack and Jill bring in Captain Bludgeon and Wally in chains. They are very distressed at their Fate and are hoping that Hemlock will intervene. This is not at all what Bludgeon had anticipated for her retirement.
Bludgeon: You have no right to do this. I demand to speak to Lord Hemlock.
Wally: (Lugubriously) I told you we shouldn’t be doing it. Bashing baby seals.
Jill: (Forgetting her role as impervious guard, and giving her a sharp talking to) Indeed you shouldn’t have even thought of it!
Jack: The dungeon’s too good for you!
Wolf: Silence!
They adopt their positions as guards.
As he speaks and with all eyes on Bludgeon, Wally and Sophie, Frosty tiptoes out the doorway. Neither Jack nor Jill ‘notices’!
Wolf: These foolish traitors were employed by none other than Hemlock himself. And they shall pay for it.
Belladonna: Why, if they had succeeded in their plan to ‘bash baby seals’ – or this particular seal, anyway, then the Queen’s plan to control not only the Globe with her wintry ways, but all creativity, would have been foiled!
Wolf: Precisely. And you know what this means?
Belladonna: (Excited at the idea) A fight to the death!
Wolf: Exactly! Nobody betrays my Queen and gets away with it. She shall rule as she wants to!
Belladonna: (Quickly switching her allegiances) How masterful you are!
Wolf: Guard them well – especially that little Seal. She is still of some use – at least until the Snow Queen has tapped her Song of Innocence. Do your worst, Mirror Fragment – it cannot be long now.
Exits, with Belladonna on his arm, howling and laughing. She joins in. pausing in the doorway, briefly.
Belladonna: Whatever happened to that ridiculous Snowman? He could hardly have melted down here.
She sweeps off as the Song of Innocence plays, falters and fades.
Sophie sobs quietly.
Wally: (Jostling Bludgeon to whom she is tied, back to back) It’s all your fault, Captain.
Bludgeon: Oh, be quiet, you fool!
Jack: (Soothingly, to Sophie) It’ll be all right, m’dear.
Jill: Help is on its way, I’m sure of it. I can feel it in the ‘pricking of my thumbs – something … goodly this way comes’.
Jack: It’s her … the other half of the Unity. I can feel it. She must be very near.
Lights fade on dungeon scene. Curtain flies to reveal the Ice Palace
Scene 4.1
The Ice Palace: Exterior
If possible the rostra should now be arranged to create a ramp that leads up to the edge of the scene USL. The rake should allow for access – for Wolf and Hemlock to be exact, when they do battle.
The Faeries should be variously positioned on the rostrum, playing on the frosted rope, throwing snowballs. The scene should be a pleasant one, establishing a different quality, outside the palace where evil lurks.
Sparkle: We’d better go in soon. She’ll be back from her sleigh-ride any minute.
Glimmer: And we’d better be ready for Her Majesty!
Glisten: (Ironically) Her Frozen Majesty!
Sparkle: I do wish there was more time for us to play – it’s always so gloomy in the Ice Palace.
Glimmer: Yes, everyone’s so stressed and anxious –
Glisten: They’ve forgotten how to have fun!
SFX Sophie Seal’s Song is heard on the wind, faintly. The Faeries look at each other.
Sparkle: Poor little thing! Time’s running out.
Glimmer: And so is her Song.
Glisten: Once she is silenced, it will all be over!
Dingo Dog and Fifi enter DSR. They are wearing scarves against the cold and possibly mittens, but otherwise their costumes remain the same.
Dingo Dog: What country, friend, is this?
Sparkle: (Alarmed) Strangers! This is the Realm of her Majesty the Snow Queen.
Glimmer: You really shouldn’t be here! It’s very dangerous, you know.
Glisten: If you don’t mind my asking, who are you?
Fifi: (She’s a little bossy) Her name’s Dingo and she’s Australian, and I’m Fifi. – I’m English -and we’ve come a very long way.
Dingo Dog: Don’t say anymore, Fifi. We should wait till the others get here.
Sparkle: The others? What others?
Glimmer: (Excitedly) Oooh! We have visitors! We haven’t had any visitors for centuries!
Glisten: (Repressively) The Snow Queen does not permit visitors.
Sparkle: Not unless they’re brought here in chains! Like that poor little Seal. Just listen.
Seal’s Song is heard ever more faintly on the wind.
Fifi: How very sad she sounds.
Dingo Dog: (Upset at what she’s hearing).Is she in chains? Who would do such a thing?
Enter Jack and Jill Frost.
Jill: I’m afraid it’s the Snow Queen, though she’s being very much assisted by that awful Arctic Wolf.
Jack: Not to mention Lord Hemlock!
Jill: She’s chained up in the dungeon until the Snow Queen gets what she wants from her –
Fifi: And what’s that?
The Faeries all look worried at what Jill is about to reveal. SFX the sleigh bells are heard
Jack: Don’t say any more- (he looks around anxiously) – you never know who might be listening.
Jill: Oh, Jack! There’s someone coming.
Scene 4.2
The Animals of the North and South enter on the rostra which are positioned on either side of the barren tree US. The children (Possum, Numbat, Wombat and the Atomic kittensU SR;. Reynard Miss Severity and Felicity U SL.)
Reynard: Aha, we ‘ave arrived at our destination! If I am not mistaken THIS is the ‘ome of the Snow Queen!
Entering quickly DSR, followed by PC Beagle is Inspector Bloodhound, magnifying glass to his nose. Over their coats/uniforms there is some gesture to the cold – a scarf, ear-muffs and in PC Beagle’s case, violently coloured mittens, perhaps.
The Faeries run down to inspect the newcomers and gather round a gratified PC Beagle.
Bloodhound: (Surveying the icicles) Indeed, the Clue is once again staring you in the face, my Lord!
PC Beagle: (Quite enjoying himself) Also, Sir, there appear to be several further ‘Clues’ in the form of these delightful young Snowflake Faeries, here, Sir.
The Faeries giggle and wave their wands at him.
Jill: Faeries, behave yourselves.
Bloodhound: PC Beagle, let me remind you that you’re still on duty.
PC Beagle: And a pleasure it is, Sir, to be on duty at a time like this.
He beams at the Faeries, who giggle again.
Jack: Be careful, all of you! Her Majesty could be here at any moment now!
Reynard: (Looking around in amazement) Mon Dieu! Do you recognize this place Felicity?
Felicity: ‘Course I do! It’s exactly as it was in my vision!
Miss Severity: Well, if that’s the case, then, what are we waiting for? We have come here on a mission so let’s get started. (Briskly) First things first!
Reynard: Oh, what energy, what joi de vivre you display, ma cherie. We ‘ave no time to lose.
Fifi: (Running to Bloodhound’s side) Oh Daddy, we’ve heard her singing and she sounds so sad!
Dingo Dog: (Urgently) She’s in the dungeon, Inspector Bloodhound. (Shudders) In chains!
Felicity: Right. We must find that little Seal and help her to escape before it’s too late!
Possum: Wait a moment – we’re missing one of our party!
Numbat: No there isn’t. We’re all here,
Wombat: Yeah, Miss Severity called, like, all our names as we got off the plane, Possum. We’re all here.
Scratch: (The realization dawning on her) Wait a moment – Possum’s right!
Stretch: Yeah – where’s Thylacine? She’s not with any of us!
Jack: (Burgeoning realization) Oh dear, it’s happening again. Evil triumphing over good! The same old story!
Jill: Not this time, Jack Frost. Oh please don’t let it be true! “By the pricking of my thumbs, something WICKED this way comes!”
Scratch and Stretch become aware of magic and evil in the air. Felicity’s Sixth Sense is also aroused by the words.
Fifi: Oh, I don’t like this! I don’t like this at all.
Wolf’s howl echoes round the theatre as SFX blizzard and Music FX create a sense of impending doom.
Everyone freezes in character, ‘alarmed’ (shock and awe, perhaps?) as the Curtain falls.
Scene 5
Outside the Dungeon
Thylacine enters SR. She has left the others in order to find Sophie Seal. In this scene she confronts Wolf who prepares her for what he sees as inevitable: his triumph over Hemlock once he and his Corporation are exposed as traitors. Wolf should be immensely arrogant at this stage because, as we know, ‘pride comes before a fall…’
Sophie Seal should be faintly visible – lit, but with bars from a gobo indicating her prison space) in the corner of the dungeon USR. Thylacine doesn’t see her initially.
Thylacine: There’s still time for us to stop all this! The mirror fragments haven’t quite finished their evil task – but it won’t be long now.
Wolf: (Entering SL) Indeed it will not, Sister! And there’s nothing you and your goody goody friends (sneers) can do about it!
Thylacine: You underestimate them, Brother! Remember the Prophecy? When South and North shall combine … then evil will be defeated!
Wolf: (Laughing nastily) Well, South and North, have left it a little too late. Because look! (He strides towards the prison space and gestures as the lights LFX come up) In minutes the Song will be lost to her forever and the Power of Creativity will be in the hands of my Snow Queen!
Sophie: (In a forlorn little voice) Please don’t take it away. Oh please. (Barks, like a seal)
Thylacine: (To Wolf) You will not get away with this, Brother! Don’t despair, Sophie, your friends from across the Globe are here and we WILL help you!
Wolf: So, it’s to be an epic battle, is it – Good against Evil? How I’ll enjoy that!
Thylacine: If that’s what it takes, but I warn you! This time you will not win. We have powerful allies. (She indicates the children in the audience).
Wolf: (Laughing at her and them) You think they’ll help you? (Scoffs) You don’t stand a chance. I can’t wait for Battle!
Thylacine: Ah, Brother – have you no pity?
Wolf: None at all!. Come, Sophie Seal, you have an audience with the Snow Queen. She must hear how Hemlock has betrayed her!
Laughing/howling he exits SL (or through the curtains) into the Palace interior, taking Sophie with him, still in chains.
Thylacine: Don’t give up hope, Sophie! Sing, Sophie, Sing!
Sophie: (Over the faintest of bars of her Song) Bark.
Thylacine: (To the audience) You will help us, won’t you? We can’t let this happen!
Hopefully there’ll be a positive audience response to the request.
Thylacine: We must have a happy ending. Wait here; we’re going to need you. All of you. (Anxiously) I hope we’re not too late.
She exits SR. Frosty the Snowman peeps round the curtain as if emerging from the Dungeon. In mime he indicates what he has on his mobile and that he must tell all. Then quickly he tiptoes out following Thylacine. LFX Lights down on Apron.
Music should indicate the Ice Palace setting. The Curtain flies to reveal the Palace of the Snow Queen
Scene 6.
The Ice Palace.
The Snow Queen is seated on her throne with the Faeries grouped around her CS. Belladonna is trying to keep things on an even keel as Her Majesty’s patience wears thin! Hemlock is DSL, apart, still plotting. This should be scene in which snow falls sporadically.
The ramp should be visible reaching USL masked by the icicle side pieces. The fight between Wolf and Hemlock will take place out of the Palace, and up the ramp.
Snow Queen: Why is it taking so LONG! You promised that the mirror fragments would have worked by now, Hemlock and STILL I haven’t drained the Song of Innocence from that Creature.
Hemlock: (Aside) Nor shall you, oh mighty Queen. For I have other plans, (Sniggers) Patience, Your Majesty. Patience. What will be will be!
Sparkle: You may not have the Song, yet, Your Highness (Nudged into action by Belladonna) but you can juggle, Your Majesty, here are the snowballs!
She will have been doing it adroitly and when the Queen tries she will be less successful.
Snow Queen: Oh, it’s useless! Lord Hemlock. What is the delay?
Hemlock: (Obsequiously) Patience, Your Majesty. Let the mirror fragments work.
Snow Queen: (To Glimmer, who is holding out her sketch book with a reasonable sketch in it for all to see) Oh put that away, Glimmer! I’m not in the mood for drawing!
A howl from offstage and SFX north wind signal the entry of Wolf with Sophie Seal in tow. He flings her CS and takes up a position of dominance near the Queen and opposite to Hemlock. It’s the moment he’s been waiting for.
Wolf: Aha! Hemlock! I know everything! (He indicates Sophie)
Hemlock: Do you, indeed? Well, you shall not LIVE to tell the tale.
Wolf: Won’t I? We’ll see about that!
Snow Queen: (Surprised and a little disconcerted.) Wolfie! What is the meaning of this? What is this Seal doing here?
Wolf: You might like to ask him, Your Majesty! If he had had his way, she would be dead, by now. Her fur turned into a coat by his Corporation!
Hemlock: Mind what you say, you Dog!
Belladonna: (Gasps) Lord Hemlock, surely you can’t mean that?
Snow Queen: (Looking from Hemlock to Wolf, puzzled) I don’t understand. What is the meaning of this?
Wolf: (Striding up to Hemlock) You see before you, a traitor, oh Mighty Queen . He has betrayed your trust!
Snow Queen: Lord Hemlock? Is this true?
Belladonna: Oh, this is too much! All this excitement, Faeries – help me, I must sit down.
The Faeries rush to her side and , with one eye on the unfolding events, the other on Belladonna, they see to her needs, fanning her, loosening her collar, adjusting her head-gear.
Snow Queen: (Commandingly) How dare you, Lord Hemlock! So this is why The Song of Innocence escapes me! You wanted her for your own purposes. Well, my friend. There is only one fate that awaits a traitor! (With a simple gesture) He’s all yours, Wolfie.
Hemlock: Don’t be too hasty, Your Majesty! (He is visibly unnerved.)
Snow Queen: I have waited long enough! I am out of patience with you. I shall rule the globe on my terms – alone.
Wolf and Hemlock circle each other and begin their epic battle. [Details to be determined but the outcome should be that Hemlock falls to his ‘death’ over the icy cliff (ramp) USR.]
Music will aid in choreographing this scene. The Queen, Belladonna and the Faeries will be appalled, excited and engaged, depending on their allegiances – and the flow of the fight. It concludes with Wolf triumphant USR looking down on his enemy and Sophie in a pool of light DSC.
Wolf: (Breathing hard, bows before the Queen) He is no more, Your Majesty.
Snow Queen: You have done well.
Belladonna: How heroic, you are!
The Faeries will be less convinced of Wolf’s heroism, though they have no power to resist their servile role – yet! They should be gathering around Sophie, a little protectively
Snow Queen: (Turning to Sophie Seal) And now, to complete this project, The Song of Innocence!
The animals of the North and South enter through the auditorium led by Ms Severity (to SL) and Lord Reynard (SR). Inspector Bloodhound and PC Beagle will emerge from behind the ice- ramp a little later in the scene.
Miss Severity: (Rallying her ‘troops’) Forward Children of the South and North! (To the Queen) Leave her alone, you dreadful creature! You have no right to take what isn’t yours!
Reynard: We ‘ave come to rescue you, Sophie! All is not lost.
Sophie will look up but the Queen will move to hold her
Snow Queen: Who are these creatures? And what are they doing in my domain? Guards – remove them.
Jack and Jill Frost enter at her command, but they don’t obey her. They merely stand still, to attention, unmoving. Inspector Bloodhound and PC Beagle will enter from behind the ramp towards the end of this next exchange, in intense discussion about what they’ve seen.
Belladonna: Jack Frost. Jill – you heard Her Majesty!
Frosty the Snowman enters in a rush with Jack and Jill Frost and rushes over to Sophie, ready to show her what he saw on his mobile
Belladonna: It’s that Snowman, again! I knew he was up to no good!
Sophie: Oh, Frosty! I think it’s too late…
Snow Queen: Arrest them, I say! How dare you disobey me? (She stamps her foot in a fury.)
Wolf: More traitors! What is this? (He marches towards them).
Thylacine appears on the Balcony SL
Thylacine: It’s the Power of Good, Brother, and you can’t stop it now!
Snow Queen: Oh, yes, I can – the Mirror fragment has done its work. (Sophie Seal lies limply on the floor.)The process is finished. The Song of Innocence is mine and now that I have all the talents I desire, I am Mistress of the Globe and all creativity!!
Reynard: Mon Dieu! We are too late. (On one knee beside Sophie) The Mirror Fragment – it has frozen her ‘eart.
Miss Severity: Never! We cannot fail. Not when we’ve got this far! (Musing) Though this is just what happened in the story the last time.
Felicity: Oh, no. You mean we’ve come all this way for nuffink?
Wolf: It’s the Power of Evil, Sister. (Laughs) I win, I think!
Possum: No you don’t! Don’t give up, Sophie. We haven’t come all this way for nothing.
Numbat: (Running to Sophie) We won’t give up. Not yet. Not EVER!
Sophie: (Weakly) I tried to hold on to my Song, but she was just too strong for me. I couldn’t do it anymore.
Wombat: (To the Queen) Like, it’s so not cool what you’re doing here…
Scratch: (A little self-absorbed) If you take her song, hey, what about ours?
Stretch: Yeah. What about ours? Will ours be next?
Snow Queen: I have all I need, thank you! (Power has gone to her head).The skills of Dingo Dog! The artistry of Fifi the Poodle and, most importantly, the Song of Innocence!
Sophie: (Gives a little cry.) I’m so sorry. But I did try.
Fifi: How could you? Just look what you’ve done!
Dingo Dog: She had the greatest talent of us all.
Everyone gathers round in consternation round Sophie who appears to be in a very bad way
Wolf: Now Sister – admit! You’ve lost. And the nastier half of the Unity has won! (Howls and laughs evilly)
Thylacine: (To the younger animals) You are forgetting something, though! Something very important!
Possum: (Remembering) That’s right! We don’t have to do this alone.
Numbat: (Dawning on her, too).No, if all of us - all the Children of the Globe band together –
Wombat: Like , you mean we can get back her Song –
Belladonna: (Aligning with Wolf and her Queen) Don’t be silly! You haven’t a chance against us!
Dingo Dog: (Ignoring her) And save our world from Global Cooling. Remember the story of the Selfish Giant?
Fifi: His world was saved with the help of the children of the village (To the children in the audience) And you promised they’d help us. Will you?
Scratch: Will you help us get back Sophie’s Song?
Scratch: You will? I told you – you rock!
Possum: Come on, before it’s too late –
Together: Sing, Sophie, sing us your song.
Sophie: (Pulling away from her chains and captors) Bark.
Together: Sing, Sophie, sing us your song!
Sophie: I’m trying, but it just isn’t working. Bark. See?
Snow Queen: How utterly ridiculous – this will never work!
Together: SING Sophie, sing us your song.
Slowly, from the faintest of sounds, Sophie’s Song is heard, and as it gets stronger, the Snow Queen’s grip gets weaker till eventually, with a cry, she lets her go and Sophie stands up.
Musical crescendo marks this ‘resurrection’.
Felicity: Three cheers for the children!
All: Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray!
As they’re cheering Dingo Dog is thrown the juggling balls by the Snow Faeries and can juggle beautifully. Fifi’s texta produces a lovely sketch and both the Wolf and the Queen subside.
Thylacine: It’s over, Brother. Come let’s be friends!
The Snow Queen and Wolf seem reluctant but with a bit of prodding, they eventually agree.
Wolf: Oh, all right! Come, my Queen, and you, Sister, come and join us. (To the Snow Queen) We have been defeated by a greater power, you must admit.
Snow Queen: My lovely plan! Foiled! Oh, Belladonna.
Belladonna: (Soothing her) Dry your eyes, Your Majesty, we can’t have tears if there’s to be a happy ending!
Felicity: And that’s just what this is! Isn’t it?
Agreement all round.
Bloodhound: Not quite, my dear Felicity. Look who we have here!
Inspector Bloodhound and PC Beagle with the Mountie should appear struggling over the ramp (or coming from behind it) accompanied by Hemlock with a large plaster cast on his leg and a huge bandage round his head. He will hobble in with the aid of a stick.
PC Beagle: This helpful member of the Canadian Mounted Police found him at the bottom of the ice cliff. Assumed he was the victim of a serious assault.
Hemlock: I was indeed – he will pay for this!
Bloodhound: (Ignoring him) And what do I always say to you, Constable? Assume nothing! Suspect everything!
Mountie: (Affirmatively) You can always rely on Scotland Yard to get it right.
Miss Severity: Suspect everything. Exactly, Inspector. He is the Evil Hemlock, master-mind behind the Plan for Global Cooling!
Bloodhound: And, for your information, the infamous Fur Corporation.
Possum: Oh, that’s horrible. How could you?
The Jumbuck children are all appalled. They turn – verbally – on Hemlock.
Hemlock: I’m the victim, here, I tell you!
Mountie: (Calmly) He will be tried as the felon he is under Canadian Law.
PC Beagle: And that’s not all – here’s another pair of villains, Sir, which I found lurking in the dungeon – no ‘happy ending’ for them.
He ushers in Captain Bludgeon and Wally, who look miserable.
Bludgeon: Weren’t ‘lurking’ – we were held there against our will.
Wally: (To Sophie) I was against it from the start, y’know.
Hemlock: Traitors to the Corporation – my lovely Plan destroyed.(Bleakly) You would have been rich!
Bloodhound: No ‘happy ending’ for them, then?
Mountie: I’ll take them off your hands, Inspector. Come along with me, all of you.
Thylacine: (Intervening) Oh, I’m sure that they’ve seen the error of their ways like my brother, Wolf, and the Snow Queen –
Music and LFX should signal a change in state.
Thylacine: This must be a sign - oh, look, the Northern Lights are shining once again --
LFX Aurora Borealis !!!
Reynard: It ‘as stopped snowing, too, at last. Mesdames, M’sieurs, I think we should celebrate – everyone together!
Miss Severity: What a jolly good idea, Reynard. A ‘knees-up’ – just what we need after all the stresses of this Mission.
Snow Queen: (Resigned to her new role as Hostess) Well, given that you’re all here, at the Ice Palace, and we seem destined for a Happy Ending, let’s begin the celebrations. Jack and Jill, Faeries – prepare the banquet!
Musician enters with his violin and begins the Finale with a few bars from Sophie’s Song.
Fifi: Come on Sophie. You and the Atomic Kittens, let’s get this party started –
Kittens: Right. Let’s do it!
The soundscape then segues into a cheerful dance number which should have a contemporary flavour.
Everyone joins in as the Aurora Borealis plays across the set. Sleigh bells jingle (Jack and Jill and Frosty), the Children dance and the Thylacine and Wolf join hands. Good and Evil once again are joined together in harmony.
FINIS.
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This page last updated: 4th April 2007