Jack's mother told him to take the cow to the market and sell it. The family really needed the money. On the way to the market, a colorfully-dressed man stopped Jack. He offered Jack a bag of magic beans for the cow.
Jack comes back home with no money but he does have the magic beans. His mother is furious at Jack and angrily tosses the beans out the window. "How will we eat?" she asks.
The next morning, a giant beanstalk has grown up next to the house. The beans were magical.
Jack starts climbing the beanstalk. It takes hours because it goes up into the clouds. Eventually, he gets to the top, above the clouds and sees a wonderful castle. Jack decides to see what's inside.
Inside, Jack finds a large room with a table full of delicious food. Next to the table is a large cabinet
While enjoying the delicious food, the owner of the castle, an angry giant, enters the room. "You think you can just eat my food? No!" The giant picks up Jack and throws him out a window. Jack falls all the way to the ground and dies.
Jack finds a pair of fine looking boots, a harp, and a sharp dagger. He no sooner puts on the boots then a giant enters the room. "Fee, figh, fo, fum. I smell the blood of an Englishman!" But the giant looks around and doesn't see Jack. The boots are magical!
Jack decides to play the harp. The harp produces such lovely music that the giant calms down and eventually goes to sleep. Jack waits and then sneaks up on the giant and stabs him dead!
Jack gathers up as many fine things as he can carry and heads back down the beanstalk. His mother was worried when Jack was gone but welcomes him back with open arms. "My, what wonderful items you brought home. We can sell these and live grandly, I'm sure."
Jack's mother is glad that Jack didn't make another foolish choice. The family decides to sell tickets to people who want to climb the beanstalk. Most go part way up, admire the view and come back down. A few climb into the clouds and are never heard of again.
Jack returns home with the money that his mother was hoping for. The family hopes to make it through the tough months ahead but Jack wonders what would have happened if he traded for the magic beans.