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The Grimm Brothers, Jacob Ludwig Carl Grimm (1785–1863) and Wilhelm Carl Grimm (1786–1859) were German scholars, linguists, philologists, and folklorists renowned for their collection and preservation of traditional folktales. Born in Hanau, Germany, the brothers are best known for their compilation of “Grimm’s Fairy Tales,” a collection of timeless stories that have captivated generations around the world. Their work in collecting, studying, and publishing these tales was instrumental in preserving the rich oral traditions of Germany and other European regions. Beyond their contributions to folklore, the Grimms also made significant contributions to linguistics and the study of the German language.

FRAU TRUDE

There was once a little girl who was obstinate and inquisitive, and when her parents told her to do something, she did not obey them. So, how could she fare well? One day she said to her parents, “I have heard so much of Frau Trude; I will go to her and see how it looks inside her house.”

And her parents forbade her but did not succeed in dissuading her. The Frau Trude lived far away in the forest and never came into the village, and she had made a pact with the devil. When the girl came to her door, Frau Trude asked, “Why are you so pale?”

“Ah,” she replied, trembling all over, “I have been so frightened at what I have seen.”

“And what did you see?” asked Frau Trude.

“I saw a black man on your steps.”

“That was a collier.”

“Then I saw a green man.”

“That was a huntsman.”

“And then I saw a red man.”

“That was a butcher.”

“Ah, Frau Trude, I was further frightened when I peeped through your window and did not see you, but instead someone with a head of fire.”

“Aha!” she said, “you have seen the witch in her proper dress. I have been waiting for you, and wanting you for a long time. You shall give me some light.”

Then she changed the girl into a block of wood and threw it into the fire, and when it was thoroughly alight, she sat down before it and warmed herself, saying, “That gives a bright light.”

**  “Frau Trude” was written by the Grimm Brothers. It’s a cautionary tale about the consequences of disobedience and curiosity.

WITCH’S VEIL OF SECRETS

As the moon hung low in the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the land, a young girl named Claire felt an irresistible urge to explore the secrets hidden within the depths of the woods. Her heart raced with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, for tales of the enigmatic Frau Trude had ignited her curiosity. Whispers of magical wonders and sinister mysteries had woven a spell around her, drawing her ever closer to the edge of the unknown. Little did Claire know that her journey into the darkness would unlock the door to a world far beyond her imagination, where reality and nightmares danced hand in hand.

CHARACTERS:

MOTHER: Overprotective Yet Caring.

FATHER: Stern and Concerned.

CLAIRE: Curious and Adventurous Young Girl.

FRAU TRUDE: Mysterious and Powerful Enchantress.

APPARITIONS: Black Man, Green Man, Red Man – (Intriguing, Silent Entities)

SCRIPT:

Scene 1: The Urge to Explore

(Claire’s mother tends to the garden while Claire approaches)

CLAIRE: (Excitedly) Mother, have you seen my coat?

MOTHER: It’s in your closet. Where are you off to?

CLAIRE: (Eagerly) I’m going to visit Frau Trude.

MOTHER: (Worried) What? Are you sure about that?

CLAIRE: (Determined) Absolutely!

MOTHER: (Firmly) Claire, come inside the house now.

CLAIRE: (Playfully) Oh, come on! I’ll be fine.

MOTHER: (Serious) Listen to me, Claire. That woman is not who you think she is.

CLAIRE: (Curious) I’ve heard stories about her, and I want to meet her.

FATHER: (Enters) What’s the commotion about?

MOTHER: She wants to visit Frau Trude!

FATHER: No, you’re not going.

CLAIRE: (Defiant) I’ve heard she’s remarkable and has magical treasures!

FATHER: (Commanding) Go to your room now!

CLAIRE: (Resolute) No!

(Claire storms off into the woods)

MOTHER: Claire, come back!

FATHER: It’s too late. Let’s hope she’s safe.

(They leave. Claire looks back at her home before setting off.)

CLAIRE: Well, here goes nothing.

Scene 2: Into the Enchanted Woods

(Claire stumbles upon mysterious apparitions, but continues)

CLAIRE: (To herself) Maybe I’m just imagining things. I should hurry before it gets dark.

(Claire encounters Frau Trude’s old, eerie house)

CLAIRE: (Whispering) This must be the place.

(She spots the green man, who hides behind a tree)

CLAIRE: (Nervously) What was that? No time to lose.

(She reaches the door and hears a sweet voice)

FRAU TRUDE: (From inside) Come in, Claire. I’ve been expecting you.

(Claire enters)

Scene 3: The Encounter with Frau Trude

(Frau Trude sits by the fire, her true intentions hidden)

CLAIRE: (Curious) How did you know I was coming?

FRAU TRUDE: (Cryptic) Never mind that. Close the door.

CLAIRE: (Nervously) Okay.

FRAU TRUDE: (Warmly) Don’t just stand there. Have a seat, dear.

(Claire sits)

CLAIRE: (Nervous) You seem to know me well.

FRAU TRUDE: (Smiling) Let’s just say I’m well-informed.

CLAIRE: (Anxiously) I saw strange figures on the way here.

FRAU TRUDE: (Chuckling) Oh, those? They’re just ordinary folks, my dear.

(Frau Trude’s demeanor changes)

FRAU TRUDE: (Sinisterly) But what else did you see?

CLAIRE: (Hesitant) I saw something terrible through the window before knocking.

FRAU TRUDE: (Amused) And what was that?

CLAIRE: (Nervously) A monstrous creature, right where I’m standing.

(Frau Trude transforms, revealing her true nature)

CLAIRE: (Terrified) No, no!

FRAU TRUDE: (Chilling) Don’t be afraid, Claire. That creature was me all along.

CLAIRE: (Panicking) Let me go!

(Frau Trude reveals her dark magic)

FRAU TRUDE: (Evil) You sought me out, and now you’ll provide me with power.

(Claire’s fate is sealed)

Scene 4: Transformation and Dark Power

(Frau Trude casts a spell, turning Claire into wood)

FRAU TRUDE: (Casting) Avramare Clock Hood! Transform Claire into a block of wood!

(Claire becomes a wooden block, thrown into the fire)

FRAU TRUDE: (Triumphant) How brightly the fire burns now! My powers are growing stronger.

And so, the tale of Claire and Frau Trude comes to an ominous end, a reminder that curiosity can lead to both enlightenment and peril. The woods hold secrets that defy the light of day, and the choices we make can tip the balance between the enchanting and the terrifying. Claire’s courage and folly shall forever be a lesson etched into the hearts of those who dare to tread where shadows lie. As the winds whisper through the trees, the haunting memory of Claire’s encounter lingers, a reminder that not all that glimmers is gold, and not all that beckons is benevolent. The echoes of her story continue to weave their way through the fabric of time, a cautionary tale of the enchantments that lie just beyond the threshold of the ordinary world.

THE END

AUTHOR: GRIMM BROTHERS

ADAPTED BY: K I D S I N C O

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