Scene 1
(Wotan and Brünnhilde on the Valkyrie's rock)

Wotan: Go! Get your horse, and be ready to ride! Today there'll be a mighty battle between Siegmund and Hunding, and you have to make sure Siegmund wins. Hunding will die, and he can go to Hell for all I care. I certainly don't need him in Valhalla with me. Get going! Ride to victory with Siegmund!

Brünnhilde: Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha! Hojotoho! Heiaha! I have to tell you, father, you need to get ready for your own battle. As we speak, there's a violent storm coming this way. It's Fricka, your wife! The rams are driving her chariot this way. (looking offstage) Gosh, she's beating them to death with her whip! The poor animals are terrified! Her wheels are smoking! She must really be mad this time. As much as I love to watch brave, strong men fight their battles, this one's probably going to be too much for me. I'm going to leave you to yourself; we'll see how well you do! Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha! Heiahaha! (exits)

Wotan: The same old storm; the same old problems. Well, I'll just need to stand my ground. It'll be all right - I guess.

(Fricka enters)

Fricka: You hid yourself far away in these mountains, hoping I wouldn't find you. But I knew where to look, and I've come here, all alone, to ask for your help.

Wotan: What's on your mind, Fricka?

Fricka: Hunding is in trouble. He's called on me, the guardian of marriage, to help him get his revenge. I promised him I'd punish those two insolent "lovers" for mocking his wedding vows.

Wotan: What did those two do that was so bad? They just got a little case of spring fever, and it got the better of them. I know the power that love has, and I don't see anything wrong with it.

Fricka: You can't possibly mean that! Are you telling me that a vow of marriage has no meaning to a God?

Wotan: A marriage without love is no marriage in a God's eyes. You know, this really isn't any of your business. Don't try to tell me that I'm shying away from using my power to stop them. I know very well how to use force, but I also know when to use it. This isn't one of those times.

Fricka: Since adultery is obviously OK with you, then just stand your ground, keep talking nonsense, and give your blessing to whatever children might come of their incest. It just makes my head spin to think of a brother and sister...having...sex!! Who ever heard of such a terrible thing?

Wotan: Well, today you have! You should learn from this that sometimes things can just happen, all by themselves. Even unprecedented things. You aren't blind; you have to see that these two are totally in love, so you might as well accept their relationship, and enjoy all the happiness that comes out of it. Give them your blessing along with me.

Fricka: Let me see if I understand this - you brought those two Wälsungs into the world for your own reasons, to do whatever business you have in store for them, and now you're willing to sacrifice everything - the honor and nobility of the Gods, everything you used to believe in - for them? You yourself made the rules that mortals have to live by, and now, you just laugh them off, as if they mean nothing? You're willing to give up your power that easily? Just for their pleasure? Of course, it shouldn't surprise me so much, since you committed adultery yourself to have them in the first place! (this surprises Wotan) Oh yes, I know! Everywhere you go, you look at anything and everything you think might please you, with never a thought for how it might hurt me, or how it might make you less of a God. I've put up with it every time you've gone into battle with those girls you fathered for...for who knows what reason. At least I'll admit you did make them respect me as your wife, but what consolation is that when I think of who you had them with, and what you could possibly be doing with them, traipsing around all over the place, all the time, leaving me alone at home for weeks on end? You've disgraced me enough already, but now, to take another name, to run around in the forest for years, to lower yourself to the level of a mortal, to have children with one, and to give up everything you know is right for those incestuous mortal brats - what are you trying to prove? Oh, why do I even waste my breath? Just go ahead and do it! Do whatever it is you have to do. See if I care. There's no feeling left in me now anyway.

Wotan: I've tried to tell you so many times, but you never listen. Sometimes you have to anticipate things, and act before it's too late. You only see the "rules", the way you think things should be, life by the book. Well, now we have a problem that isn't in your book, and we need to fix it - fast. The Gods are in trouble if it's not taken care of, but we're powerless to do anything about it. This time, we can't even help ourselves. We need a hero who doesn't need our protection, who isn't bound by our laws, who doesn't need us at all, to go in, throw away the book, and help us in our time of greatest need.

Fricka: You're trying to confuse me with all this so-called "planning". What can a man possibly hope to do without our help? How can mortals act on their own, especially to do things we can't?

Wotan: Haven't you ever heard of courage?

Fricka: Of course, but who is it that gives courage to men? Who opens their eyes and inspires them with it? They may look like they have strength and courage every once in a while, but they're only following the path we've shown them. This must be a new trick you're trying to pull. You've put a lot of things over on me before, but I've never seen anything like this. This hero of yours will fail, because he probably has too much of you in him!

Wotan: He's grown up all by himself; I've never helped him at all.

Fricka: Then don't help him now. Take away the sword you gave him.

Wotan: The sword?

Fricka: Yes, the sword. The magic, powerful sword that you gave to your son for protection.

Wotan: Siegmund won that for himself.

Fricka: You created his need for it, just like you put it in the tree for him. Oh, do you think I don't know what you're up to? You promised him you'd help him when he really needed you, and then, there was the sword, in the tree, right when he needed it. How convenient! Are you going to stand there and tell me you didn't set the whole thing up? No honorable man would fight next to a slave. Free men fight against injustice, and rebellious ones have to be punished! I'm every bit your equal, and I'll fight against your power, when it's being used for the wrong reasons. I see now that Siegmund is your slave, and with or without your help, I'm going to bring him down! Would you respect me if I didn't stand up to you? Would you make me stand by and be insulted while he fights as your pawn in this "battle"? Would you see me mocked by insolence, insulted by incest and lies? Would you treat your wife, a goddess, like that?

Wotan: (giving in) What is it you want?

Fricka: Leave him alone!

Wotan: (dejectedly) He can go his own way.

Fricka: But you can't protect him when Hunding comes for revenge.

Wotan: I won't protect him.

Fricka: Look me in the eyes; don't try to trick me. Keep Brünnhilde away from him, too!

Wotan: But she's always free to do as she pleases.

Fricka: I don't think so! She does whatever you want her to. Tell her to let Siegmund lose.

Wotan: I can't do anything about it. He has my sword!

Fricka: Take away it's magic. It'll break in his hands, and Hunding will have his revenge.

Brünnhilde: (entering) Heiaha, Heiaha, Hoyotoho!

Fricka: Here comes your little girl. She sounds happy, doesn't she?

Brünnhilde: Heiaha, Heiaha! Hoyotoho! Hoyotoho!

Wotan: I told her to ride into battle for Siegmund.

Fricka: Her shield will defend my honor today! I tell you, if she doesn't come through, we Gods are in trouble! Mortals will laugh at us, our power will mean nothing - we might as well just pack up and leave! She must let the Wälsung die! Do I have your word on it?

Wotan: (completely broken) You have my word.

Fricka: Your Father is waiting to talk to you. I'm sure he'll tell you how it'll all turn out! (exits, laughing)