The Nutcracker

It is Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house
-- A large and grand house with the most beautiful tree imaginable. The party grows festive with music as godfather Drosselmeyer arrives. He presents two life-size dolls to the children, Clara and Fritz, They are the delight of the party, each taking a turn to dance.

But he has a special gift for Clara, a beautiful Nutcracker that becomes the hit of the party. Fritz becomes jealous and, having a bit more spunk than a boy should have, grabs the nutcracker from Clara and breaks it. Clara looks on as Drosselmeyer quickly repairs the Nutcracker with a handkerchief he magically draws from the air.

As the evening grows late, the Stahlbaum family retires for the evening. Clara, sneaks back to the tree to check on on her beloved Nutcracker, falling asleep with him in her arms.

As the clock strikes midnight strange things begin to happen. The toys around the tree come to life while the room fills with an army of mice, lead by the fierce Mouse King. As the Nutcracker awakens, he charges into battle, but he is no match
to the Mouse King and is captured by the mice and their King.
Clara makes a final daring charge throwing her slipper at the Mouse King, hitting him square on the head. The Mouse King drops to the floor and the mice run away, carrying off their leader's lifeless body.