Rumpelstiltskin

Delightful fun with a surprising twist at the end that tells us that Rumplestiltskin and the Miller's Daughter have met before. The Miller does not mill. He is too busy dreaming. The Lady Mayor is distraught because there is no flour to make bread for the visiting King William. Does the Miller heed her warnings as to what will happen to him if he does not finish her order? No! Instead, he calls out to the King and his procession that his daughter, Mary Ann, can spin straw into gold. King William sets about to test this boast and promises serious consequences should Mary Ann fail. Rumpelstiltskin, more misunderstood than pernicious, and often singing a rhyme about his name, exacts a stiff price for his magical assistance in straw spinning. Throughout her ordeal, Mary Ann keeps a sensible head. She actually wins the King's love as her actions persuade him to abandon his greed and snobbishness in favor of humanity. Mary Ann and William marry and produce a fine daughter, Frances. Rumpelstiltskin claims his reward, kidnaps the baby, but shows signs of being more soft-hearted than expected when he agrees to return the child if Mary Ann can guess his name. After much excitement, when all hope is lost, Mary Ann remembers a rhyme and a childhood friend. She guesses the name, Frances is returned and Rumpelstiltskin predicts the Miller and the Lady Mayor will marry. As Rumpelstiltskin plans his exit, Mary and William have a special surprise for him.