- Narrator: [as the party guests enter, greeting Marie, Fritz, and their parents] Here they all came, the Christmas Eve guests: uncles and aunts, and cousins, *all* splendidly dressed for the party. Here they came, for the happiest night of the year.
- [first lines]
- Narrator: This is the Stahlbaums' house. These are their children, Marie and Fritz. It was Christmas Eve, when there was always a big family party. The children had been waiting and waiting for their guests to arrive. The house was full of rich, wonderful smells of baking, chocolate, and peppermint sticks.
- Narrator: It was such a tree and surrounded by the most *tantalizing* presents. But first, it was time for the games to begin and the Christmas dancing.
- Narrator: Then Marie knew it was her Godfather Drosselmeier. Magical things *always* happened when he came to the house. And, oh - it was Godfather Drosselmeier's nephew. She'd never met him before.
- Narrator: Marie slept that Christmas Eve, and she dreamed of Godfather Drosselmeier and his very special nephew. She dreamed of her own dear nutcracker and his sad fate. He was down there alone, in the living room, in the dark, all on his own.
- Narrator: After Godfather Drosselmeier put his magical dancing dolls back in their boxes, he brought out toys for the children. A hobby horse for Marie. Well, maybe not. But look, here's something better: a soldier with a strong jaw. He's a nutcracker; who shall have him?
- Narrator: News of the Prince and Marie was brought to the Land of the Sugar Plum Fairy by the Christmas tree angels.
- Narrator: In the snowy forest, in the enchanted land to which Marie and her prince had come, the snowflakes danced.
- Narrator: [in almost a whisper] Magical things always happened when Godfather Drosselmeier came to the house.
- Narrator: The Sugar Plum Fairy welcomed them, and asked the Prince to tell everyone about his adventures as the Nutcracker.
- Narrator: A wonderful throne and banquet were brought in for Marie and the Prince. And the Sugar Plum Fairy announced that in their honor, everyone in turn, would dance.
- Narrator: Into the Great Room the Sugar Plum Fairy herself came with her cavalier to dance for Marie and her Prince.
- [last lines]
- Narrator: Marie knew that it was time to leave the enchanted land, though everything she had seen like a wonderful dream would stay with her *always*.
- [the Sugar Plum Fairy gives Marie a kiss, and the Prince kisses her hand, then they exit to board a sleigh pulled by two reindeer as the fairy, her cavalier, and all the sweets wave farewell]
- Narrator: And her Nutcracker Prince would go with her on this magical Christmas Eve.
- Narrator: One by one, the Sugar Plum Fairy brought in all the delights of the land: hot chocolate from Spain, coffee from Arabia, Chinese tea, the candy canes, Marzipan and her shepherd girls, the little polichinelles like dolls, Dewdrop and her garlands of flowers.