Snow White: A Tale of Terror

1

[Wolves growling]

Whoa! Easy.

We'll be home soon, Lilliana.

Lilliana.

I can't breathe.

Dear God!

Karl!

[Karl screaming]

The baby.

You must save the baby.

She's coming.

Forgive me.

Forgive me.

[Baby crying]

Lilli.

Lilli.

Where is that child?

Oh, dear.

Lilli?

Don't play with me today, child.

I'm too old

and my backside is too easy a target.

There you are.

Your father has been asking for you.

You'll be the death of me.

Tell me the story, Nannau.

Put your two feet next to mine and we'll see.

Tell me, Nannau, please.

All right then.

Let me catch my breath.

One day, not so long ago...

your mother was sitting in the window...

looking out on the snow

that covered the land.

-She was sewing a cap.

-A winter cap?

A winter cap, yes.

And wishing for a child

to grow inside her belly.

Suddenly, she pricked her finger

with the needle...

and her blood fell into the snow.

And she looked and thought to herself,

"I would like a baby boy."

A little girl, Nannau.

[Laughing] Go on with you.

You know it better than I do.

A little girl with hair

as black as the ebony window frame...

and skin as pale as the snow...

and lips as red as blood.

[Nannau laughing]

Slow down, child.

Careful. Careful!

Good day.

-Good day.

-Good day.

Good day, Thomas.

Papa?

Papa?

What kind of mischief

have you been up to today?

I picked roses and irises from the garden

with Greta and Ilsa.

And I helped in the kitchen.

Did you read the scripture?

-Yes.

-Good.

Papa, why does God give us wings

when we die?

[Frederick clearing throat]

God gives us wings so we can...

fly out from paradise

and look down upon the world.

-Does Mama look down on me?

-Yes...

and she smiles when she hears your prayers.

Do you still love Mama?

Always.

Then why is she coming?

Come here, little bird.

Papa.

What?

What if she doesn't like me?

She will adore you.

Just as I do.

There she is! She's coming!

Hurry!

Where is Lilli?

Lilli.

My lady.

-You're welcome in my house.

-Thank you, Frederick.

Welcome, my lady.

Lady.

Lilliana, where have you been?

Look what I found.

It'll be a butterfly someday.

Lilli, I want you to meet Lady Claudia.

Can I put her in a box?

-Who?

-The caterpillar.

Let me see.

What will you do with her

when she grows wings?

I'll let her go.

I have a box with a special surprise inside.

Just for you.

Treat him well and he will always be faithful.

-Look, Nannau.

-Come along now, child.

It's beautiful.

Now it is yours as well.

This is my brother, Gustav.

God did not bless him

with a graceful tongue...

but he more than compensates

with the wit of his hands.

Now, I will leave you to unpack.

-What a lovely view.

-Yes, milady.

It was Lady Hoffman's favorite.

Was it?

Please be careful. It was my mother's.

Thank you. All of you.

Out. Out.

[Humming]

Tomorrow I will be a wife.

A Hoffman.

What would mother say

if she could see me now?

Here.

Would she be happy for me?

Would she smile?

Or would she be angry...

knowing that the world,

which so despised her...

has embraced me?

I do love him, Gustav.

And he will love me.

I just wanted to be sure

that you have everything you need.

Thank you, my lord.

But I am not well provided for at all.

How's that?

I have everything I need.

Your company.

You are very beautiful, Claudia.

I love to hear the sound of my name

on your lips.

-Your hands are cold.

-Warm them for me.

[Claudia singing]

[Children clapping]

[Chanting]

Amen.

Go on, child.

FREDERICK:
Lilli!

Lilli!

Odo?

Odo?

[Clanging]

[Cawing]

NANNAU:
Lilli?

[Shushing]

Lilli?

I saw you come in here, child.

Now show yourself.

[Screaming]

Nannau!

May she rest in peace.

[Sobbing]

Do you remember my mother, Ilsa?

I was young. But I remember her.

-Is my face like hers?

-Yes.

Especially when you smile.

My father worshipped her, didn't he?

It's not for me to say, milady.

[Odo growling]

What is it, Odo?

[Odo barking]

-It's Peter.

-What? Back so soon from Paris?

Hold on now. You can't go running off

in your shift. You'll catch your death.

Don't you ever wonder what's out there,

Ilsa, beyond the fields and walls?

The beasts of the forest, I imagine.

There must be more to the world

than the forest.

Why would you want to leave

your good home?

Because it's not the same home anymore.

It hasn't been for a long time.

Nine years of casting the runes.

Nine long years of waiting for you to come.

And now you move inside of me.

Your blood mingles with mine.

You grow stronger

with every beat of my heart.

And I seem to grow more beautiful

with each beat of yours.

Father in heaven...

in thy mercy I pray.

Grant me a son.

It was round, like a ball.

And on it was a picture

of all the lands in the world.

-It sounds fantastic.

-It was.

Tell me about Paris.

Tell me how the ladies spend their days.

-Lady Hoffman.

-Dr. Gutenberg, how was your trip?

Much too long, I'm afraid.

It doesn't show on you at all.

-You're looking radiant as always.

-Thank you.

Lilli, shouldn't you be getting ready

for tonight?

I wanted to speak with Peter for a moment.

But your dress is not appropriate

for such a conversation.

Ladies, if you'll excuse me.

Lilli.

Lilli, I have a dress

for you to try on for tonight.

I'll try it on later.

I think if you are going to wear it tonight

you should try it on now.

-Ilsa will you help Lilli into it? And cover--

-I don't know if I am going to wear it.

Why not? It's very pretty.

See? It's lovely.

It's just like all my other dresses.

I want to wear something special for tonight.

This is special.

I wore it myself when I was a girl.

I'm not a girl anymore.

Lilli, why must we struggle so?

-See that it fits.

-Yes, my lady.

[Lively instrumental music playing]

Frederick, you have said nothing

about my gown tonight.

MAN:
A blessing on your child,

Lady Hoffman.

You look lovely as always.

WOMAN:
To a healthy son, my lord.

You make "always"

sound quite monotonous.

Where's Lilli?

-It's her habit to be late.

-How could she be late tonight of all nights?

Must we spend all of our time

worrying about Lilli?

WOMAN:
To a healthy child, milady.

[Claudia singingLullay, Lullay]

Lilli, why are you wearing

your mother's gown?

I wanted you to be proud of me.

You look so like her.

Play.

[Playing lively instrumental music]

Frederick.

[Claudia screaming]

Well?

Your silence is no comfort to me, Peter.

Frederick, the boy was stillborn.

And what of my wife?

She is in no danger.

But she will never bear another child.

Father.

No, leave me alone.

Don't let them throw him away.

He's mine.

God bless his soul.

Why is this happening to me?

Why is this happening to me?

[Whispering]Claudia.

Claudia.

Is someone there?

Claudia.

Claudia.

There.

You are beautiful.

Yes.

Your face is perfection.

Is it?

I will always tell you the truth.

-Yes.

-There is so much to envy.

Yes.

They have always envied you.

"They"?

Your enemies.

Who?

Come in, Lilliana.

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