Flashback Friday - The True Story of Hansel and Gretel - Scene 5

Here is the last scene. If you haven't read the first scenes, check them out here by selecting 1, 2, 3, or 4.

Scene 5

(Hansel and Gretel return to center stage as the curtain closes behind them.)

HANSEL
See?

GRETEL
We told you that wasn’t the story of Hansel and Gretel you knew.

HANSEL
There was no wicked witch.

GRETEL
And we weren’t going to be eaten!

HANSEL
Frau Koch’s grandson, Luther, came to stay with her in the summers and he became one of my best friends.

GRETEL
I spent many afternoons with Frau Koch and she taught me how to make her famous cupcakes.

HANSEL
(Slyly.) And what about Oskar you may ask?

GRETEL
(Teasing.) Don’t worry! We had help getting him back.

(Hansel exits. Gretel steps back.) 

GRETEL
(To herself.) Okay, how are we going to do this? Do I stand next to Frau Koch and encourage Oskar to believe? Or should I just watch what Hansel is doing and copy him? (Pauses, thinking.) Ooh, maybe I should hide. (Satisfied.) Yes, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll hide somewhere in the kitchen where I can still hear what is going on. Then I’ll jump out of my hiding place and yell, “Gotcha!” Yeah, I think that’ll be best. Ooh, I hope this works! Hopefully, he will fall for the trap. (Looking at her watch.) I better hurry!

(She exits. Curtain opens up to see Frau Koch’s house. Gretel is in the kitchen with Frau Koch.)

FRAU KOCH
Now, remember, you must keep quiet or you’ll give the surprise away when your brother gets here with his friend.

GRETEL
(Giggling.) I can’t help it. I can’t wait to see the look on his face.

FRAU KOCH
(Looks out the window.) It’s getting dark now. They should be here any minute. Go hide behind that chair in the corner. (Gretel goes to the chair. Hansel and Oskar come on stage.) I can see them. Quick! Be quiet!

HANSEL
(To Oskar.) We’re almost there.

OSKAR
(Annoyed.) Seriously, Hansel. Why are you dragging me in here? There’s nothing here but trees. You know it was just a story I told the other day, right?

HANSEL
(Pointing to the cottage.) Does this look like just a story?

OSKAR
(Taken aback.) Whoa, there’s actually a place out here?

HANSEL
(Pretending to be surprised.) Yeah, I found it the other day while I was out gathering wood for my father. I would have explored it, but I heard my mother call me in for dinner. (Building suspense.) Do you think that someone could actually live in here?

OSKAR
(Trying to shake off the nerves.) Nah, that can’t be possible. It’s probably just abandoned.

HANSEL
(Challenging.) Well, there’s only one way to find out. (He gestures to the door.) 

OSKAR
What? You want me to do it? (Pretending to be brave.) I’m not scared. Besides, there’s no way anyone could live way out here. (He knocks on the door.)

HANSEL
(Pauses. Matter-of-fact.) Huh, maybe you’re right. No one lives here.

(The door creeks open and Frau Koch answers.)

FRAU KOCH
(Cackling.) Come in, my pretty! It’s time for dinner! 

(Oskar is rooted to the spot.)

HANSEL
(Whispering.) Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s go in!

OSKAR
(To Hansel.) Are you kidding me? She’s going to eat us!

HANSEL
(Pretending to be taken aback.) What? There’s no way this little old woman is going to eat us. Everyone knows that only witches eat people. (He pushes Oskar into the house.)

OSKAR
(Scared.) Seriously, Hansel, I’m not kidding. I thought the story was just a joke, but I was wrong. It’s real. And now we’re going to die!

FRAU KOCH
(Turns to them.) Come on, now my sweet little boys. It’s time to warm up in the stew I have ready. You’ll be just the ticket!

OSKAR
(Whimpering.) Hansel, get me out of this! I can’t be eaten!

FRAU KOCH
(Walking up to Oskar.) You will make a fine meal. So nice and plump. (Looks at Hansel.) You are too small. Go sit over there on the chair. (Points to the chair in the corner that Gretel is hiding behind. Hansel walks over obediently.)

OSKAR
Hansel, don’t leave me here to die alone!

FRAU KOCH
Come on, dearie! It’s time for a swim!

OSKAR
(Panicking.) No! No! Please! I’ll do anything you want. Please! Don’t eat me!

FRAU KOCH
You will do anything I ask?

OSKAR
(Pleading.) Yes, please, I’ll do anything. Just don’t eat me!

FRAU KOCH
(Thinking.) I might not eat you. But, promise me you will never tell stories again.

OSKAR
I promise! I promise!

FRAU KOCH
Promise to be a good little boy?

OSKAR
I promise! Please! I promise!

FRAU KOCH
(Thinking.) Hmm, I could release you. But then we would have a problem on our hands, wouldn’t we? I couldn’t have it known by the town that I let a little boy go free when he wandered into my house now, could I?

OSKAR
I won’t tell! I promise! I’ll be good! I’ll never tell a lie! I’ll never pull another prank! I promise! Please!

HANSEL AND GRETEL
(Jumping up from their hiding spots. Yelling.) Gotcha!

OSKAR
(Looking around, stunned.) Uh, what?

GRETEL
We got you good!

OSKAR
(Really confused.) What are you talking about?

HANSEL
That'll teach you not to tell scary stories anymore.

OSKAR
Wait, this wasn’t real?

GRETEL
Nope.

OSKAR
(Looks at Frau Koch.) Well, then, who are you?

FRAU KOCH
I am Frau Koch. But I’m not a witch.

HANSEL
She’s actually really nice.

GRETEL
She’s Luther’s grandmother. (Giving him a hard time.) You know, the one you said went missing.

OSKAR
(Taking it all in.) So you guys did this just to teach me a lesson?

FRAU KOCH
Did you learn your lesson?

OSKAR
(Pauses for a moment, still in shock.) Absolutely. (Walks up to Hansel and gives him a high-five.) You got me good!

HANSEL
Hey, don’t look at me! It was Frau Koch’s idea.

FRAU KOCH
(Turns around and grabs a plate of cupcakes.) Would you children like some cupcakes? (They all grab a cupcake. Hansel and Gretel come forward to the audience.)

GRETEL
(To the audience.) After we met Frau Koch, we visited her often, just like we said before.

HANSEL
We told Frau Koch the story that Oskar told us and she suggested we act out the story for him. After school one day, I convinced him to come with me to her house.

GRETEL
Who knew how great of an actress Frau Koch was? Oskar was really scared!

HANSEL
He thought it was a good prank. (Laughing.) Once he stopped shaking.

GRETEL
What about you? Do you think that was a good prank?

AUDIENCE
(Cheers.) Yes!

HANSEL
Well, that’s our story. Was it the story that you thought it would be?

AUDIENCE
No.

GRETEL
Was it even better?

AUDIENCE
(Cheers.) Yes!

HANSEL
Excellent! Thank you for being such a wonderful audience!

GRETEL
Remember to drive home safely!

HANSEL
Watch out for the “evil witch’s” house!

GRETEL
And remember, every story may not be what it seems.

(Lights.)

END

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