Jack and the Beanstalk | A Journey Above the Clouds | Yuejia Fairy Tale Theater

Welcome to Yerjar Fairytale Theater. Settle in and enjoy Jack and the Beanstalk, a tale of a curious boy and a very tall beanstalk. Once upon a time, a poor widow lived with her only son, Jack. They had a cow named Milky White. Each morning, they took Milky White's milk to market and sold it. That was all they had to live on. Then one morning, the cow gave no milk at all. His mother wrung her hands. What shall we do? Jack tried to comfort her. Don't be upset, Mother. I'll go and find work. We have tried that before and no one would hire you, his mother said. We must sell Milky White and use the money to start a little shop or find some other way. All right, Mother. Today is market day, so I'll sell the cow and then we'll see what to do. Jack took Milky White by the halter and set off. He had not gone far when he met a strange-looking old man. Good morning, Jack, said the old man. Jack greeted him back, wondering how this stranger knew his name. The old man asked where he was headed. Jack told him he was taking the cow to market to sell her. You look like a fine young cow seller, said the man. Tell me, how can you make five beans? Two in each hand and one in my mouth, Jack answered at once. That's right, said the old man, pulling several strange-looking beans from his pocket. These are the very beans. Since you're so clever, I'll trade these beans for your cow You must be joking, said Jack He would not agree You don't know what these beans can do, the old man said Plant them tonight, and by morning they'll have grown all the way to the sky Really? You're not teasing me? Jack asked It's true, said the old man If they don't reach the sky, you may have your cow back Jack agreed He handed the cow's halter to the old man tucked the beans into his pocket, and headed home. He had not gone far, so he reached his door before dusk. Back already, Jack? his mother asked. Seeing that he had no cow with him, she thought he had sold her. How much did you get? You'll never guess, mother. What a good boy, five pounds, ten, fifteen, surely it wasn't twenty. I told you that you wouldn't guess. Jack opened his hand. Look, these are magic beans. If you plant them overnight, they'll- His mother was furious. You silly boy, you traded the best milking cow in the parish. Fine beef besides for a few worthless beans. She gave Jack several smacks, threw the beans out of the window, and sent him to bed without a sip to drink or a bite to eat that night. Jack climbed to his little attic room, sad for his mother and for the supper he had missed. At last he fell asleep. When Jack woke the next morning, sunlight fell on part of the room, while the rest lay in shadow. He dressed and went to the window. The beans his mother had thrown into the garden had grown overnight into a huge beanstalk, reaching all the way to the sky. The old man had told the truth. The beanstalk grew close beside Jack's window like a great green ladder. He opened the window, jumped onto it and climbed and climbed until he reached the sky. he found a long broad road straight as an arrow. He walked along it for a long while until he came to a very tall house. A very tall woman stood at the door. Jack was terribly hungry, but he spoke politely. Good morning, ma'am. Could you please give me a little breakfast? You want breakfast, do you? said the woman. If you don't move along quickly, you'll be breakfast yourself. My husband is an ogre, she warned him, and he loves nothing better than roasted boys on toast. He'll be home soon, so you'd better go. Please, ma'am, give me something to eat. I haven't had a bite since yesterday morning. I'd rather be roasted than starve, Jack begged. The ogre's wife was not so bad after all, and let him into the kitchen. She gave Jack a large piece of bread and cheese and a jug of milk. He had not eaten half of it when thump, thump, thump, heavy footsteps made the whole house tremble. Goodness, my husband is home. Quickly hide in here, cried the woman. She bundled Jack into the oven just as the ogre came in. The ogre was enormous. Three calves hung upside down from his belt. He unhooked them, tossed them onto the table, and called to his wife. Wife, roast me a couple of these for breakfast. Ah, what's that smell? Then he began his rhyme. Fee-fi-fo-fum. I smell the blood of an Englishman. Be he alive or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread. Nonsense, dear, said his wife. You're dreaming. Perhaps you smell the scraps of that little boy you enjoyed for dinner yesterday. She sent the ogre to wash and tidy himself, promising breakfast would be ready when he returned. Jack was about to jump out and run, but the woman stopped him. Wait until he's asleep, she whispered. He always dozes after breakfast. You can leave then. The ogre finished breakfast, went to a large chest, and took out two bags of gold. He sat down and began to count the coins. As he counted, the ogre's head began to nod. Soon he was asleep, snoring so loudly that the house shook. Jack crept out of the oven on tiptoe. As he passed the ogre, Jack tucked one bag of gold under his arm and hurried to the beanstalk. He dropped the bag down and it landed in his mother's garden. Then Jack climbed all the way down and hurried home. He told his mother what had happened and showed her the gold. Well, mother, wasn't I right about the beans? They really are magic, Jack said. For a while he and his mother lived on the gold, but at last the money was gone. Jack decided to try his luck once more at the top of the beanstalk. One fine morning, Jack rose early and climbed the beanstalk. He climbed and climbed until he reached the road again, then walked back to the tall house. Sure enough, the tall woman was standing at the door. Jack boldly greeted her. Good morning, ma'am. Would you please give me something to eat? No way, or my husband will eat you for breakfast, she said. Aren't you the boy who came here before? That very day, my husband lost one of his bags of gold. That's strange, ma'am. I might be able to tell you something about it, but I'm so hungry I can't speak until I've had something to eat. The woman was curious, so she took him inside and gave him food. Jack chewed as slowly as he could. He had barely taken a few bites when, thump, thump, thump, the ogre's footsteps sounded outside again. His wife hurriedly hid Jack in the oven. The ogre came in, recited his rhyme as before, and ate three roasted oxen for breakfast. After breakfast, he told his wife to bring him the hen that laid golden eggs. Lay, he commanded, and the hen laid an egg made of pure gold. Soon the ogre's head began to nod, and his snores shook the house. Jack crept out of the oven on tiptoe, seized the hen and ran. But the hen clucked, waking the ogre. Jack had just got outside when he heard the ogre shout Wife, wife, what have you done with my golden hen? Why dear? his wife replied That was all Jack heard before he had run too far away to hear more Jack raced to the beanstalk and climbed down as fast as he could He showed his mother the wonderful hen Whenever he said, lay, it laid a golden egg Still, Jack was not satisfied Before long, he had decided to try his luck once more in the sky. One fine morning, Jack climbed the beanstalk for the third time. But now he knew better than to go straight to the ogre's house. He hid behind a bush and waited until the ogre's wife came out with a bucket to fetch water. Then he slipped quietly into the house. This time, Jack did not hide in the oven. He climbed into a large copper pot with a lid. Before long, thump, thump, thump. The ogre and his wife came home together. Fee-fi-fo-fum. I smell the blood of an Englishman. Wife, I smell him, cried the ogre. Do you, dear, said his wife. If it's that little rascal who stole your gold and your golden egg hen, he'll be in the oven. They both rushed over. Luckily, Jack was not there. There you go with your fee-fi-fo-fum again, said the woman. Of course you smell the boy you caught last night. I just roasted him for your breakfast. After all these years, how can you still mistake the smell of the living for the dead? The ogre sat down to eat, but kept muttering. I could have sworn. Every so often he searched the pantry and cupboards. Luckily, he never thought to look in the copper pot. After breakfast, the ogre called for his golden harp. His wife brought it over and set it on the table in front of him. Sing, said the ogre. The harp began to play most beautifully. It sang on until the ogre fell asleep, snoring like thunder. Jack lifted the copper lid very gently and climbed out like a little mouse on his hands and knees. He crept toward the table. Jack climbed onto the table, grabbed the golden harp, and dashed for the door. Suddenly the harp cried aloud, Master! Master! The ogre woke just in time to see Jack running away with his harp. He sprang up and chased after him. Jack ran as fast as he could. He had a little head start, dodged from side to side, and knew the way. So the ogre did not catch him. When Jack reached the beanstalk, the ogre was no more than twenty yards behind him. Then, all at once, Jack disappeared from sight. When the ogre came to the end of the road and looked down, he saw Jack far below, climbing the beanstalk for dear life. The ogre did not like the thought of trusting himself to such a ladder, so he stood and waited. Jack climbed farther down. Then the harp cried, Master! Master! The ogre swung himself onto the beanstalk, which shook beneath his great weight, and started down after Jack. Jack climbed down and down with the ogre close behind him. At last, he was nearly home. Mother! Mother! Give me an axe! Quickly! Jack shouted. His mother heard him, picked up the axe and ran outside. When she reached the beanstalk, she froze with fright. The ogre's legs were just coming through the clouds above her. Jack jumped to the ground, took the axe from his mother's hand and swung at the beanstalk. His first chop cut halfway through it. The ogre felt the beanstalk shudder and shake, so he stopped to find out what was wrong. Jack struck a second time. The beanstalk split through and began to topple. The ogre fell and broke his crown, and the beanstalk came crashing down after him. Jack showed his mother the golden harp he had brought home. Between displaying the harp and selling the golden eggs, Jack and his mother grew very rich. Jack married a fine princess, and they all lived happily ever after. Thank you for listening to Year Jar Fairytale Theatre. Rest well and may your dreams carry you somewhere wonderful.