This is a fun tale about following instructions. The original story has the little girl in a red velvet cap which, over the years, somehow got morphed into a cape and hood. This on-line script matches what you hear. This is a great way to learn English and to learn how to read.
Little Red-Cap/Little Red Riding Hood eScript available – Go HERE
Grimmly Speaking: Volume 1: 12 Scripts for 12 Tales is available in both paperback and Kindle – Go HERE
Once upon a time, there was a little girl who wore a little red velvet cap that her grandmother had given her. She wore it all the time, so everyone called her Little Red-Cap. One morning her mother called to her.
MOTHER
Here, Little Red-Cap, your grandmother is weak and ill. Take this piece of cake and this bottle of wine. Carry them in your apron. Do not go off the path or you might fall and break the bottle.
RED-CAP
Yes, Mother.
NARRATOR
The grandmother lived in the forest, a half a league from the village. As Little Red-Cap entered the forest, a wolf appeared.
WOLF
Good day, Little Red-Cap. Where are you going?
RED-CAP
To my grandmother’s.
WOLF
And what have you got in your apron?
RED-CAP
Cake and wine.
WOLF
Where does your grandmother live?
RED-CAP
Further on in the wood. Three large oak trees surround her house. Don’t you know it?
WOLF
She’s nice and young. She’ll taste better than her grandmother, but I want to catch and eat them both.
NARRATOR
The wolf walked with her for a bit and then said —
WOLF
Listen to how sweet the birds sing and look at the pretty flowers. You walk as if you were going to school rather than through a merry wood.
NARRATOR
Little Red-Cap looked around and thought —
RED-CAP
I should pick some flowers for my grandmother. That would make her happy.
NARRATOR
She then ran from the path to get some. Meanwhile the wolf went straight to the grandmother’s house and knocked on her door.
(three knocks)
GRANDMOTHER
Who is there?
WOLF
Little Red-Cap. She has cake and wine. Open the door.
GRANDMOTHER
Lift the latch. I am too weak to get out of bed.
NARRATOR
The wolf opened the door, went inside, and devoured the grandmother. Then he dressed in her cap and climbed into her bed. Meanwhile, Little Red-Cap finally finished picking her flowers and soon arrived at her grandmother’s door. The door was wide open and she was suspicious. She went inside and called —
RED-CAP
Good Morning!
NARRATOR
The wolf had the grandmother’s cap pulled far down over his face.
RED-CAP
Grandmother, what big eyes you have.
WOLF
The better to see you with, my child.
RED-CAP
Oh grandmother, what big ears you have.
WOLF
The better to hear you with, my child.
RED-CAP
Oh but, grandmother, what big hands you have.
WOLF
The better to hug you with, my child.
RED-CAP
But grandmother, what a big, huge, terrible mouth you have!
WOLF
The better to eat you with!
NARRATOR
The wolf jumped out of bed and swallowed Little Red-Cap in one bite! Then he laid back down on the bed, fell asleep and began snoring loudly. A hunter was passing by.
HUNTER
Wow! She’s really snoring today. I wonder if she wants anything.
NARRATOR
So he went into the house and found the wolf asleep in the grandmother’s bed.
HUNTER
Ha! At last I’ve found you, you wicked wolf.
NARRATOR
But before he fired his rifle, it occurred to him that the wolf may have eaten the grandmother. So instead, he picked up some scissors and began to cut open the wolf’s stomach. First, Little Red-Cap popped out.
RED-CAP
Thank you. It’s very dark inside that wolf.
NARRATOR
Then the grandmother came out.
GRANDMOTHER
And stuffy, too.
NARRATOR
Little Red-Cap ran and gathered some stones. They filled the wolf’s belly with the stones and then sewed him back up. When he awoke and tried to run away, he collapsed and fell dead. The hunter skinned the wolf and went home. The grandmother ate the cake and drank the wine and felt much better. But Little Red-Cap was angry with herself.
RED-CAP
I shall never leave the path when my mother has forbidden it.
