Winter's Garden

Dream Storyboards · Art Nouveau poster (Alphonse Mucha)
Winter's Garden

0:00 / 1:30
Spring will not let the garden rest, so Winter waits outside the gate — and Jan's bulb, the one his mother left him, never flowers.
style
Art Nouveau poster (Alphonse Mucha)
frames
18 key frames + 5 in-betweens
narration
1:30
Storyboard
  1. A clay pot on a sunny windowsill; in it, one fat golden bulb that has never sprouted.

    01 A clay pot on a sunny windowsill; in it, one fat golden bulb that has never sprouted.

  2. The walled garden in full bloom and hot gold light; Spring, crowned with blossom, stands in the middle with her arms flung wide. Beyond the wall the fields are white with snow.

    02 The walled garden in full bloom and hot gold light; Spring, crowned with blossom, stands in the middle with her arms flung wide. Beyond the wall the fields are white with snow.

  3. Jan, the young gardener, waters the dry bulb on the windowsill.

    03 Jan, the young gardener, waters the dry bulb on the windowsill.

  4. At the iron gate: beyond the bars, outside the garden, Winter waits in the cold, crowned with icicles, looking away.

    04 At the iron gate: beyond the bars, outside the garden, Winter waits in the cold, crowned with icicles, looking away.

  5. Thorny briars have grown over the gate and through its bars; Spring stands beside it. Winter is barely visible behind the thorns.

    05 Thorny briars have grown over the gate and through its bars; Spring stands beside it. Winter is barely visible behind the thorns.

  6. The whole garden is sick: brown drooping flowers, the gate barred with briars, the pond thick with green scum.

    06 The whole garden is sick: brown drooping flowers, the gate barred with briars, the pond thick with green scum.

  7. Jan has set his watering can down on the sill and turns to Spring with his hands held out, asking for her help.

    07 Jan has set his watering can down on the sill and turns to Spring with his hands held out, asking for her help.

  8. Spring laughs and holds her hand over the pot; golden sunlight pours from her palm onto the bulb.

    08 Spring laughs and holds her hand over the pot; golden sunlight pours from her palm onto the bulb.

  9. The windowsill again: the bulb has shrivelled, small and dark and bent.

    09 The windowsill again: the bulb has shrivelled, small and dark and bent.

  10. At the gate, Jan tears the thorny briars away with both hands; Winter waits behind them.

    10 At the gate, Jan tears the thorny briars away with both hands; Winter waits behind them.

  11. The gate stands open, the torn briars hanging from it. Winter waits in the gateway; Jan stands back by the pillar.

    11 The gate stands open, the torn briars hanging from it. Winter waits in the gateway; Jan stands back by the pillar.

  12. In the open gateway Winter turns to Jan with a tired smile and holds out her hand.

    12 In the open gateway Winter turns to Jan with a tired smile and holds out her hand.

  13. Winter steps into the sick garden, arms spread; Spring storms away across the lawn, glaring back at her; Jan watches from the cottage door.

    13 Winter steps into the sick garden, arms spread; Spring storms away across the lawn, glaring back at her; Jan watches from the cottage door.

  14. Frost and snow over the whole garden; everything is white and asleep. Winter stands with her arms spread; Jan watches from the lawn.

    14 Frost and snow over the whole garden; everything is white and asleep. Winter stands with her arms spread; Jan watches from the lawn.

  15. All winter, at the window: Jan, in a coat and scarf, sits by the sill watching the shrivelled bulb.

    15 All winter, at the window: Jan, in a coat and scarf, sits by the sill watching the shrivelled bulb.

  16. A single white snowdrop has flowered from the bulb, in the snow.

    16 A single white snowdrop has flowered from the bulb, in the snow.

  17. Spring comes home in soft spring light: Winter holds the open gate, and the two smile at each other.

    17 Spring comes home in soft spring light: Winter holds the open gate, and the two smile at each other.

  18. The same windowsill as the beginning, in soft spring light: the snowdrop in flower in the clay pot.

    18 The same windowsill as the beginning, in soft spring light: the snowdrop in flower in the clay pot.