<h2>THE RED SHOES</h2>
<h4>SCENE I</h4>
<p>TIME: <i>one morning</i>.<br/>
PLACE: <i>the Shoemaker's shop</i>.</p>
<hr>
<table width="30%" align="center">
<tr>
<td>GRANDMOTHER.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KAREN.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SHOEMAKER.</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr>
<p>[<i>The</i> GRANDMOTHER <i>and</i> KAREN <i>enter the shop of
the</i> SHOEMAKER.]</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. This is my little granddaughter Karen, Shoemaker.
Please to take her measure for a pair of shoes.</p>
<p>SHOEMAKER. What kind do you wish, madam?</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. Morocco, the finest you have, Karen is to wear
these shoes to church.</p>
<p>SHOEMAKER. What color do you wish, madam?</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. Black.</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>whispering to Shoemaker</i>). Red.</p>
<p>SHOEMAKER (<i>puzzled</i>). Eh?</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER (<i>louder</i>). Black.</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>whispering to Shoemaker</i>). Red.</p>
<p>SHOEMAKER. Of course, madam, if you say black, black they shall
be.</p>
<p>KAREN. The little princess wore red shoes, Grandmother.</p>
<p>SHOEMAKER (<i>nodding</i>). That is true; I saw them myself.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. Red shoes?</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>nodding</i>). Of beautiful red morocco. The queen let
the princess stand at a window so every one could see her new
shoes.</p>
<p>SHOEMAKER. It is all true, madam.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. No matter; Karen is to have black shoes.</p>
<p>(<i>Taking up a pair of shoes.</i>)</p>
<p>Here, this pair suits me exactly.</p>
<p>SHOEMAKER (<i>surprised</i>). But, madam, those shoes
are—</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>interrupting; whispering</i>). Hush, Shoemaker! Do not
tell her. She can't see very well.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER (<i>giving shoes to Karen</i>). Are they of polished
leather? They shine as if they were.</p>
<p>KAREN. Yes; they do shine.</p>
<p>(<i>Trying on the shoes.</i>)</p>
<p>And they just fit me, Grandmother.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. I will take them, Shoemaker.</p>
<p>SHOEMAKER. But, madam—</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>interrupting; whispering</i>). Hush, Shoemaker! She
will never know the difference.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. Here is the money, Shoemaker. Come, Karen.</p>
<p>SHOEMAKER. But, madam—</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>interrupting</i>). I am ready, Grandmother.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. Good day, Shoemaker.</p>
<p>SHOEMAKER. But, madam—</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>interrupting</i>). Good day, Shoemaker.</p>
<p>[<i>The Grandmother and Karen go.</i>]</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h4>SCENE II</h4>
<p>TIME: <i>the next Sunday, after church</i>.<br/>
PLACE: <i>the Grandmother's home</i>.</p>
<hr>
<table width="30%" align="center">
<tr>
<td>THE GRANDMOTHER.</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KAREN.</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td><i>First</i>.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td><i>Second</i>.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>THE NEIGHBORS</td>
<td><i>Third</i>.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td><i>Fourth</i>.</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr>
<p>[<i>The</i> NEIGHBORS <i>sit with the</i> GRANDMOTHER <i>in the
spare room because it is Sunday.</i>]</p>
<p>FIRST NEIGHBOR. I did not see you at church to-day,
Grandmother.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. I could not go, but I sent little Karen.</p>
<p>SECOND NEIGHBOR (<i>mysteriously</i>). Oh, yes; we saw her!
Everybody saw her!</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER (<i>proudly</i>). People do look at her; she is so
pretty.</p>
<p>THIRD NEIGHBOR. People didn't look at her face to-day.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER (<i>alarmed</i>). What do you mean?</p>
<p>THIRD NEIGHBOR. Ask Karen when she returns. We're not the ones
to carry tales.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER (<i>looking out window</i>). Here she comes now!</p>
<p>FOURTH NEIGHBOR. Just ask her about the sermon and the
hymns!</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER (<i>proudly</i>). She will tell me almost every word
the pastor said. She is a smart girl—that Karen.</p>
<p>[<i>Enter</i> KAREN.]</p>
<p>KAREN. Well, Grandmother, here I am! Good morning,
Neighbors.</p>
<p>NEIGHBORS (<i>coldly</i>). Good morning, Karen.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. Now tell me about the sermon, Karen. What was the
text?</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>with confusion; stammering</i>). The text? It
was—it was—Oh, I will tell you all about it by and by,
Grandmother. Our Neighbors want to talk with you now.</p>
<p>FIRST NEIGHBOR. Oh, no! We would rather hear you tell your
Grandmother about the sermon and the music.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. What hymns did they sing, Karen?</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>as before</i>). Hymns? They sang—let me
see—they sang—</p>
<p>[<i>She stops in confusion.</i>]</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. Why, Karen! Are you ill?</p>
<p>SECOND NEIGHBOR. No, Grandmother, Karen is not ill. She is
ashamed. She was not thinking of the beautiful music nor of the
sermon this morning. Is that not true, Karen?</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>ashamed</i>). Y-e-s—</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. What is this?</p>
<p>THIRD NEIGHBOR. Tell your Grandmother what you were thinking
about in church, Karen.</p>
<p>KAREN. I was thinking about—about—my new shoes.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. A great thing to think about in church—a pair
of plain black shoes!</p>
<p>FOURTH NEIGHBOR. She did not wear her black shoes; she wore
<i>red shoes!</i></p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER (<i>gasping</i>). Red shoes—to church?</p>
<p>FIRST NEIGHBOR (<i>nodding</i>). Every one was terribly
shocked!</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER (<i>still gasping</i>). Red shoes to church!</p>
<p>SECOND NEIGHBOR. Even the pastor looked at her shoes!</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER (<i>indignantly</i>). Red shoes to church!</p>
<p>THIRD NEIGHBOR. The choir looked! All fixed their eyes on
Karen's red shoes.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. It is the most shocking thing I ever heard! Do you
hear me, Karen?</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>hanging her head in shame</i>). Yes, Grandmother.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. You must never, never, so long as you live, wear
red shoes to church again. It is not at all proper. Do you hear me,
Karen?</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>as before</i>). Yes, Grandmother.</p>
<p>FOURTH NEIGHBOR. Do you think she should have her Sunday
dinner?</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. Not one bite! She shall stay in her room all day.
Do you hear me, Karen?</p>
<p>KAREN. Yes, Grandmother.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. Thank you for telling me, Neighbors. To think of
it! Red shoes to church!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h4>SCENE III</h4>
<p>TIME: <i>the following Sunday, after church</i>.<br/>
PLACE: <i>the churchyard</i>.</p>
<hr>
<table width="30%" align="center">
<tr>
<td>THE GRANDMOTHER.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KAREN.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>THE OLD SOLDIER.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>THE COACHMAN.</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr>
<p>[<i>The</i> GRANDMOTHER <i>and</i> KAREN <i>come from the
church. The</i> OLD SOLDIER <i>stands near the church door. He
tries to speak to the Grandmother, but she does not hear
him.</i>]</p>
<p>KAREN. Wait a moment, Grandmother! The Old Soldier wants to
speak with you.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER (<i>turning</i>). What do you want, Old Soldier?</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER. I want to dust your shoes, madam.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. That is very good of you.</p>
<p>(<i>Old Soldier dusts her shoes</i>).</p>
<p>Thank you; now I will go to my carriage while you dust Karen's
shoes.</p>
<p>[<i>She goes.</i>]</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER. Stretch out your foot, little Karen.</p>
<p>(<i>Karen thrusts out her foot.</i>)</p>
<p>What is this? Red shoes for church?</p>
<p>KAREN. I looked at my old black shoes—</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER (<i>interrupting</i>). And then at your new red
ones?</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>nodding</i>). Yes, and then at my black ones
again—</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER (<i>interrupting</i>). And then put on your red
ones!</p>
<p>KAREN. Sh-h! Grandmother must not know.</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER. She can't hear, for I am talking through my long
red beard.</p>
<p>KAREN. Why is your beard so red, Old Soldier?</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER. To make more light for my eyes—that I may see
without looking.</p>
<p>KAREN. See without looking?</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER (<i>nodding</i>). I was not in the church, yet I saw
you clearly when you knelt at the altar and raised the golden cup
to your lips.</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>surprised</i>). You saw that?</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER (<i>nodding</i>). And more—I saw your
thoughts.</p>
<p>KAREN. You saw my thoughts?</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER (<i>nodding</i>). It was to you as if your red shoes
passed before your eyes in the cup. Am I not right?</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>showing fear</i>). Y-e-s—</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER. And I saw by the light of my beard that you forgot
to sing the hymns; eh, Karen?</p>
<p>KAREN. Y-e-s—</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER. And that you forgot to say your prayers; eh,
Karen?</p>
<p>KAREN. Y-e-s—</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER. You were thinking of your red shoes all the
time.</p>
<p>KAREN. Y-e-s, Old Soldier.</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER (<i>holding Karen and stooping until his beard
covers her shoes</i>). Cover and touch and change, my beard! Cover
and touch and change!</p>
<p>KAREN. What are you doing? Let me go!</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER (<i>holding her firmly</i>). I am turning your red
shoes into dancing shoes!</p>
<p>KAREN. I am afraid of you! Let me go!</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER (<i>slapping soles of her shoes with hand</i>). Now
I have made them stick fast to your feet!</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>calling</i>). Grandmother! Grandmother!</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER. Now you may go! Ha, ha!</p>
<p>KAREN. Why! I am dancing! I can't stop! Grandmother!
Grandmother!</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. What is this? Mercy on me! She is dancing down the
street! Run after her, Coachman! Quick! Stop her!</p>
<p>COACHMAN (<i>running after Karen</i>). Stop, Mistress Karen! I'm
after you!</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER. Ha, ha, ha! You will never catch her!</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER (<i>calling after Coachman</i>). There she goes
around the corner!</p>
<p>COACHMAN (<i>calling off</i>). I'll get you, Mistress Karen!
Just stop a bit!</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER. Ha, ha, ha! You will never catch her!</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. My poor Karen! My poor Karen!</p>
<p>COACHMAN (<i>returning</i>). I couldn't catch her, madam! She
danced right out of the town gate!</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. Out of the town gate?</p>
<p>COACHMAN. Yes, madam, and straight for the dark wood.</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. We will drive after her!</p>
<p>[<i>Coachman jumps to his seat.</i>]</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER. Ha, ha, ha! You will never catch her!</p>
<p>GRANDMOTHER. Quick, Coachman, quick! We must catch her before
she gets to the dark wood. My poor Karen! My poor Karen!</p>
<p>[<i>The carriage dashes off.</i>]</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h4>SCENE IV</h4>
<p>TIME: <i>three days later; evening</i>.<br/>
PLACE: <i>the dark wood. A hut is seen among the vines</i>.</p>
<hr>
<table width="40%" align="center">
<tr>
<td>THE FORESTER.</td>
<td>THE EXECUTIONER.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HIS SON.</td>
<td>THE OLD SOLDIER.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KAREN.</td>
<td>THE FAIRY QUEEN.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" align="center">MOON.</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr>
<p>[<i>The</i> FORESTER <i>and his</i> SON <i>are felling a
tree.</i>]</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>heard calling off</i>). Stop me! Stop me!</p>
<p>SON. Heard you that cry?</p>
<p>FORESTER (<i>looking off</i>). Mercy on us! 'T is the dancing
girl I told you of!</p>
<p>[<i>Enter</i> KAREN, <i>dancing.</i>]</p>
<p>KAREN. Stop me, Forester!</p>
<p>FORESTER. No, no! I dare not!</p>
<p>KAREN (<i>to Son</i>). Stop me, I pray you! Three days have I
danced! I can endure it no longer!</p>
<p>SON (<i>to Forester</i>). Come, let us help her!</p>
<p>FORESTER. Do not touch her! She is bewitched!</p>
<p>KAREN. 'T is my shoes are bewitched—not I!</p>
<p>SON. I say, little maid, pull off your shoes!</p>
<p>KAREN. They will not come off. See!</p>
<p>[<i>She pulls at her shoes.</i>]</p>
<p>SON (<i>starting towards Karen</i>). I'll get them off,
bewitched or not bewitched!</p>
<p>FORESTER (<i>seizing Son</i>). Would you get yourself into
trouble? Come home with me!</p>
<p>[<i>Forester runs from wood with Son. The</i> MOON <i>arises
suddenly in a fir tree.</i>]</p>
<p>KAREN. O Moon, see how I dance below you! Pray tell me how to
break this spell!</p>
<p>MOON. Ha, ha, ha!</p>
<SPAN name="image-001"></SPAN>
<div class="figcenter"><SPAN href="images/001.png"><ANTIMG src= "images/001.png" alt="THE MOON CHANGES INTO THE RED BEARD OF THE OLD SOLDIER." width-obs="80%"></SPAN> <h3>"THE MOON CHANGES INTO THE RED BEARD OF THE OLD SOLDIER"</h3></div>
<p>[<i>The Moon changes into the red beard of the</i> OLD
SOLDIER.]</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER. My beard makes moonlight for me that I may watch
you dance.</p>
<p>KAREN. Mercy, Old Soldier! I pray you break your spell!</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER. You forgot to say the prayers! You thought only of
your red shoes!</p>
<p>KAREN. I will go barefoot to church!</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER. You whispered "red" to the Shoemaker!</p>
<p>KAREN. I will never deceive my dear Grandmother again! Have
pity!</p>
<p>OLD SOLDIER. You shall dance in your red shoes till you are pale
and cold! By night and by day you shall dance; in sunshine and in
rain; in snow and in sleet. Over highways and byways shall you
dance; in dark swamps and on mountain tops. You shall go on
dancing, dancing, dancing, forever and ever!</p>
<p>[<i>He disappears.</i>]</p>
<p>KAREN. I cannot dance on forever! I cannot! I cannot!</p>
<p>(<i>Weeping; pause.</i>)</p>
<p>Well, I know a way to break the spell, and I'll do it!</p>
<p>(<i>Crossing to hut of the</i> EXECUTIONER;
<i>knocking.</i>)</p>
<p>Come out! Come out!</p>
<p>EXECUTIONER (<i>from within the hut</i>). Come in!</p>
<p>KAREN. I cannot come in; I must dance.</p>
<p>EXECUTIONER. Then I will come out.</p>
<p>(<i>The Executioner comes out from hut.</i>)</p>
<p>Well, do you know me?</p>
<p>KAREN. You are the Executioner.</p>
<p>EXECUTIONER. I am the Executioner. I cut off the heads of wicked
people with this great ax.</p>
<p>KAREN. Do not strike off my head!</p>
<p>EXECUTIONER. And why not strike off your head, pray?</p>
<p>KAREN. I must have that to repent of my sin. So please to cut
off my feet.</p>
<p>EXECUTIONER. It shall be as you say. Thrust out your foot,
maid.</p>
<p>[<i>Enter</i> FAIRY QUEEN.]</p>
<p>FAIRY QUEEN. Stay, Executioner, stay! I've come to save you,
Karen!</p>
<p>KAREN. To save me?</p>
<p>FAIRY QUEEN. Whenever a child repents of a sin, lo, I am there
to save.</p>
<p>KAREN. Will you remove this spell from me?</p>
<p>FAIRY QUEEN. Will you give up your red shoes?</p>
<p>KAREN. Gladly! Gladly! I wish I might never see them again!</p>
<p>FAIRY QUEEN. Then dance to me that I may touch you with my
wand.</p>
<p>[<i>Fairy Queen touches Karen's shoes with her wand. The shoes
fall off.</i>]</p>
<p>KAREN. Dear Fairy Queen! Dear Fairy Queen! I thank you! I thank
you!</p>
<p>FAIRY QUEEN. Look, Karen, your shoes are dancing away! Soon they
will be lost to you forever. Shall I not bring them back?</p>
<p>KAREN. No, no! Let them go! Now I am free! Now I can rest!</p>
<p>FAIRY QUEEN. Then come, dear child, I will guide you to your
home.</p>
<SPAN name="2h11"></SPAN>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />
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