Learn Danish: Hvad sker der i den næste scene? - What happens in the next scene?

In Danish, when you talk about something happening, existing, or appearing, you usually need to include the dummy subject der (similar to "there" in English). Verbs like ske (to happen) almost always pair with der in questions like this. Saying Hvad sker without it sounds incomplete to native speakers.

Why does the sentence use den næste scene instead of just adding a definite ending to make it næste scenen?

When you describe a definite noun with an adjective in standard Danish, you do not use the noun's definite suffix (which would be scenen). Instead, you use a freestanding front article (den or det), the adjective, and the base form of the noun. Since scene is an en-word, the phrase becomes den næste scene.

Does the adjective næste change its ending if it describes an et-word or a plural noun?

No, næste is an exception to the normal adjective rules. Because it already ends in an -e, it never changes its form. It stays exactly the same regardless of the noun's gender or whether it is singular or plural.