A princess is born to the king and queen of a fairy-tale kingdom. The wicked witch, who resents not having been invited to the princess's birthday party, curses her: on the day the princess turns 16, she will be pricked by the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into eternal sleep. The king orders that all spinning wheels in the kingdom be destroyed and the number 16 be taken out of use. However, a young traveling prince arrives, bringing a curse with him.
