The White Snake

Bright, ambitious farm boy Endres is literally thrown out by his petty father for learning to write and dreaming of riches and a luxurious future. He heads for the royal castle, and gets noticed by reputedly wise king Konrad for returning, rather then stealing, his majesty's accidentally fallen key on a gold chain. Interviewed and found smart but honest, he's engaged to replace the aged royal personal lackey. He faithfully executes his duties without asking question, including the strange procedure to unlock and serve after the royal meal to the king, alone, a mysterious golden bowl. However he has a mutual crush on the naughty princess Leonora, who inspires him impertinent curiosity, while aristocratic, ambitious courtier confident Arnold whom the king denied his heir's hand is jealous enough to plot to incriminate Endres for his own theft of the queen's golden ring. Endres now must risk everything, finding the secret magically enables speaking to animals, as the king does but abuses to spy on his subjects, and getting drown into a bitter finale starring the king's lost uncle and the magical reason for Conrad locking him up in a solitary cell.