This is Tattercoats.

She skips by herself.

"I'm all on my own
lonely on my own."

Her mother died when she was born.

Her Grandfather ignores her.

This is her Grandfather.

All he can think about is the death of his daughter - Tatercoats's mother.

He spends his time crying and singing sad songs.

He blames Tattercoats for his daughter's death.

One day an invitation arrives from the King.

He trims his long white beard and sets off for the Palace.

But he won't take Tattercoats with him.

These are the cooks.

They are cruel to Tattercoats.

They refuse to feed her.

They chase her out of the kitchen and out of the castle.

Later on they chase the old nurse out of the castle too.

This is the Old Nurse.

She is the only person in the castle who cares for Tattercoats.

After Tattercoats has been driven out of the castle, the old nurse brings her food and clothes.

She tries to persuade Grandfather to let Tattercoats go with him to the King's palace.

She persuades Tattercoats to let her son, the Bird-Scarer, carry her across the sea on his kite.

This is the Bird-Scarer.

He flies his kite to scare the birds.

He teaches Tattercoats how to fly a kite and, for the first time, she is happy.

When her Grandfather won't let her go to the Ball in the King's palace, the Bird-Scarer tells her to hold on tight. Then he flies her across the sea and leaves her in a new country where she meets the Prince.

This is the Prince.

He thinks Tattercoats is the most wonderful person he has ever met.

He persuades her to come to the Ball.

He presents Tattercoats to his father and announces that she will be his bride.

Despite his father's objections he insists.

He wants Tattercoats to teach him how to fly a kite and how to dance round and round in circles.

She tells him that it's hard work. But if he's ready to take it seriously then he can learn.

This is Tattercoats as an older woman, still flying her kite.

"I feel it alive
tugging at me

telling me there’s another game to play
somewhere else to explore

and as long as the wind blows
as long as I have strength to pull the string

my kite will lead the way"