Hans Christian Andersen Page #7

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the audience being so excited.

It was the new ballet.

They were enchanted with it.

And it is enchanting. I love to dance it.

What a curious fellow he is.

- He never turned up at all.

- Who, madame?

Hans, the cobbler. You know?

I wonder if he was even there. Do you

suppose he was there and was too shy...

- Good heavens!

- I thought you were fast asleep.

- The cobbler's locked in the prop room!

- What are you talking about?

I locked him up last night,

just before the performance. I had to.

He insisted on giving you some shoes

five minutes before the ballet began.

He never saw the ballet?

You kept him locked up?

- I forgot, I tell you.

- You big fool!

I had other things to think about just then!

Quickly, Cline. Go to the theatre

and bring him back here.

That poor dear man!

And you, you monster,

you'd better stay under there.

Try popping your head out

and see what you get.

The lamp over it, I promise you!

Oh, Hans.

I shall call you Hans. What a dreadful

thing to have happened! Are you all right?

It's just like him to have done

such a thing. Come.

Sit down.

- Would you like a cup of chocolate?

- No, thank you.

You missed seeing the ballet.

We will do it again two nights from now,

and you will see it then.

- But I did see the ballet.

- You did?

- Yes.

- How?

- I thought you were...

- I was, but I could hear the music.

I knew the story the music was telling.

I didn't have to see you dance

with my eyes.

Oh, Hans, how very dear you are,

and how I love to dance it.

I don't know quite why. It's very strange.

Even when we rehearsed it,

I felt something sad and tender.

- I don't know why.

- I know why.

You do? Tell me.

- I think it was your answer.

- My answer?

I let my heart speak to you

with the story, and...

...last night, you answered me with yours.

Hans, tell me something. How did you

come to write that story for me?

How else could I tell you how I felt?

That I knew how miserable

you were with him?

Miserable? With my husband?

Yes, I don't think you knew I was there,

but I saw the way he treated you.

I saw him slap you.

I heard you cry.

Oh, Hans...

- How else could a cobbler speak to you?

- It's arrived, my darling. It's here!

Good morning, Andersen. Your present,

angel. My apologies for last night.

You must forgive me. It was your ballet

I was thinking of, not you.

Did you tell him what a great success

it was? For a great lady of the ballet.

Open it! We shall be poor for the next

year, but I had to have it for you.

The best part's on the other side.

Turn it over and read it.

Read it aloud. I'm not a poet like you,

Andersen,

but once in a while,

even a fool like me can speak of love.

Are you pleased, my darling?

Read it for me.

Not now, Niels. Later.

You're not shy suddenly? Never mind.

You can do anything you wish.

She danced like an angel.

I could cover you with kisses.

Please don't, Niels.

Haven't you forgiven me?

Andersen has, I'm sure.

She was furious at me for locking you up,

but no harm has been done.

It's even rather amusing.

Don't you look so stern, my dear.

You were laughing about it yourself.

Don't tell me I didn't hear you laughing -

I did. Even under the covers.

- Be quiet.

- What's the matter with you, Doro?

Hans, it doesn't matter

why you wrote the story for me.

It's a beautiful story, whatever the reason.

It's a lovely and tender story by itself,

but I shall remember what you told me

every time I dance it.

- Andersen, we haven't paid you for it.

- Niels, do be quiet.

We want to pay him, don't we?

We'd like you to write more for us.

- Have you any other stories we can use?

- No. That one was just an accident.

I don't think I'll be writing any more.

I guess it's all right to deliver these now.

Some shoes from the cobbler.

Thank you, Hans.

- But, Andersen, I...

- Niels, let him go. Goodbye, Hans.

Doro...

Doro, what is it, my darling?

Peter!

Peter! Peter!

Peter!

Hello, Peter.

Do you mind if I walk along beside you?

I don't see how I can help it.

We both seem to be going in the same

direction, and there's only one road.

Are you going back to the village?

I'm going back to the village, too.

Bread and butter!

And you know something, Peter?

I'm never telling another story -

not even to myself.

I've told my last story, Peter.

Especially to myself.

Cobbler, stick to your last.

If any man ever learned his lesson

and learned it good, it's me.

- I think you'll go on telling stories.

- No, I won't.

- Yes, you will.

- No, I won't.

Why do you keep on saying that?

Why? Because

you're Hans Christian Andersen.

That's why!

Peter!

You'll tell stories.

You'll write stories.

You'll even sing stories.

Over and over and over again.

I'm not such an ugly duckling

No feathers all stubby and brown

For, in fact, these birds,

in so many words

Said, "Tsk! The best in town!

"Tsk! The best! Tsk! Tsk! The best!"

Remember your trip

to Copenhagen? Tell us about it!

Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen

Friendly old girl of a town

'Neath her tavern light

On this merry night,

let us clink and drink one down

To wonderful, wonderful

Copenhagen...

- Tell us about the king! The king!

- Yes, the king!

The king is in the altogether,

but altogether, the altogether

He's altogether as naked

as the day that he was born

The king is in the altogether,

but altogether, the altogether

It's altogether the very least

the king has ever worn

Call the court physician,

call an intermission...

Hans! My favourite, huh?

Thumbelina!

Though you're no bigger

than my thumb

- Than my thumb

- Than my thumb

- Sweet Thumbelina, don't be glum

- Don't be glum

- Now, now, now

- Ah, ah, ah, come along

Everybody!

Thumbelina, Thumbelina, tiny little thing

Thumbelina dance, Thumbelina sing

Thumbelina, what's the difference

if you're very small?

When your heart is full of love,

you're nine feet tall!

Hans Christian Andersen!

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