The Juniper Tree - The Jealous Stepmother

NARRATOR As time passed he began to feel better, but there were still days that he cried. At last he stopped, and after more suns and moons had gone, he found another wife. Together, he and his second wife had a daughter, while his child from his first wife was a little boy, who was as red as blood and as white as snow.

WIFE Whenever the woman looked at her daughter, her heart bloomed with love for her. But when she looked at the boy, the same heart jerked. She knew that he would always be there to get in the way of her daughter inheriting everything. Then the devil gripped her until she became very cruel.

( She jabs him from here to there, slaps, slippers, clips and cuffs him )

BROTHER When he came home after school, his life was hell.

MARLENE Mutter, will you give me an apple?

WIFE Ja, meine liebling (she chooses her the most gorgeous apple from the chest)

MARLENE Mutter, shouldn't Brother have one too?

WIFE The woman was annoyed at this.

Ja, when he gets back from school.

And when she looked out of the window and saw the boy coming, the devil tightened his hold on her. No apples until Brother is here. (Marlene leaves as her brother enters) Would you like a nice apple, mein liebling? (she gives him a murderous look.)