Alice in Wonderland

FADE IN:

1 EXT. LONDON - 1855 - NIGHT 1

Warm light shines from the study of the gracious Kingsley

home. A man, silhouetted in the window, speaks with ardor.

2 INT. THE STUDY - NIGHT - CONT. 2

CHARLES KINGSLEY has just described his new venture to his

friends, including LORD ASCOT.

LORD ASCOT:

Charles, you have finally lost your

senses.

A COLLEAGUE:

This venture is impossible.

CHARLES KINGSLEY

For some. Gentlemen, the only way to

achieve the impossible is to believe

it is possible.

A COLLEAGUE:

That kind of thinking could ruin you.

CHARLES KINGSLEY

I’m willing to take that chance.

Imagine trading posts in Rangoon,

Bangkok, Jakarta...

He stops. His nine year-old daughter ALICE stands at the

door in her nightgown, clearly frightened. He goes to her.

CHARLES KINGSLEY (CONT’D)

The nightmare again?

She nods. He takes her hand and turns to his guests.

CHARLES KINGSLEY (CONT’D)

I won’t be long.

3 INT. YOUNG ALICE’S BEDROOM - LATER 3

He sits on her bed, listening with utmost seriousness.

ALICE:

I’m falling down a dark hole, then I

see strange creatures...

CHARLES KINGSLEY

What kind of creatures?

(CONTINUED)

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3 CONTINUED:
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ALICE:

Well, there’s a dodo bird, a rabbit in

a waistcoat, a smiling cat...

CHARLES KINGSLEY

I didn’t know cats could smile.

ALICE:

Neither did I. Oh, and there’s a blue

caterpillar.

CHARLES KINGSLEY

Blue caterpillar. Hmm.

ALICE:

Do you think I’ve gone round the bend?

He feels her forehead as if for a fever.

CHARLES KINGSLEY

I’m afraid so. You’re mad. Bonkers.

Off your head. But I’ll tell you a

secret...all the best people are.

She smiles and leans against him.

CHARLES KINGSLEY (CONT’D)

It’s only a dream, Alice. Nothing can

harm you there. But if you get too

frightened, you can always wake up.

Like this.

He pinches her. She screams and pinches him back.

CUT TO:

4 EXT. THE OUTSKIRTS OF LONDON - TEN YEARS LATER 4

A horse-drawn carriage careens down the road at a full

gallop.

5 INT. THE CARRIAGE - DAY - CONT. 5

ALICE KINGSLEY is on the verge of womanhood, beautiful, but

slightly off-kilter. She sees the world with different eyes

than other people her age. Presently, she’s tired and grumpy

as her mother fusses with her wild mane of blonde hair.

ALICE:

Must we go? I doubt they’ll notice if

we never arrive.

(CONTINUED)

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5 CONTINUED:
5

HELEN KINGSLEY:

They will notice.

She re-ties her waist sash, feeling for her corset.

HELEN KINGSLEY (CONT’D)

Where’s your corset?

She pulls back her dress to see bare legs.

HELEN KINGSLEY (CONT’D)

And no stockings!

ALICE:

I’m against them.

HELEN KINGSLEY:

But you’re not properly dressed.

ALICE:

Who’s to say what is proper? What if

it was agreed that “proper” was

wearing a codfish on your head? Would

you wear it?

HELEN KINGSLEY:

Alice.

ALICE:

To me a corset is like a codfish.

HELEN KINGSLEY:

Please. Not today.

Frustrated, Alice looks out the window and mutters.

ALICE:

Father would have laughed.

She sees the hurt on her mother’s face and instantly regrets

her words.

ALICE (CONT’D)

I’m sorry. I’m tired. I didn’t sleep

well last night.

Her mother pats her hand in a forgiving gesture.

HELEN KINGSLEY:

Did you have bad dreams again?

(CONTINUED)

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5 CONTINUED:
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ALICE:

Only one. It’s always the same ever

since I can remember. Do you think

that’s normal? Don’t most people have

different dreams?

Alice’s mother removes her own jewelry and puts it on her.

HELEN KINGSLEY:

I don’t know. There! You’re

beautiful. Now, can you manage a

smile?

6 EXT. THE ASCOT ESTATE - THE GARDENS - DAY 6

The garden party is in full swing. Everyone has turned out

in their summer finery. Guests play croquet on the great

lawn. Skiffs drift lazily on a meandering river.

Alice approaches LORD and LADY ASCOT with a fixed unnatural

smile. Lord Ascot is a stately, aristocratic man. Lady

Ascot is red-faced with annoyance.

LADY ASCOT:

At last! We thought you’d never

arrive. Alice, Hamish is waiting to

dance with you. Go!

She pushes Alice off and turns on Helen.

LADY ASCOT (CONT’D)

You do realize it’s well past four!

Now everything will have to be rushed

through!

HELEN KINGSLEY:

I am sorry. We...

LADY ASCOT:

Never mind!

She rushes off.

LORD ASCOT:

Forgive my wife. She’s been planning

this affair for the last twenty years.

HELEN KINGSLEY:

If only Charles were here...

(CONTINUED)

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LORD ASCOT:

My condolences, madame. I think of

your husband often. He was truly a

man of vision.

HELEN KINGSLEY:

Thank you.

LORD ASCOT:

I hope you don’t think I have taken

advantage of your misfortune.

HELEN KINGSLEY:

Of course not. I’m pleased that

you’ve purchased the company.

LORD ASCOT:

I was a fool for not investing in his

mad venture when I had the chance.

She smiles.

HELEN KINGSLEY:

Charles thought so too.

7 EXT. THE GARDEN - A QUADRILLE 7

Alice does a line dance with HAMISH who takes after his

mother, refined and immaculate with aristocratic arrogance.

ALICE:

Hamish, do you ever tire of the

Quadrille?

HAMISH:

On the contrary. I find it

invigorating.

He struts like a peacock. Alice laughs.

HAMISH (CONT’D)

Do I amuse you?

ALICE:

No. I had a sudden vision of all the

ladies in top hats and the men wearing

bonnets.

He doesn’t even crack a smile.

(CONTINUED)

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7 CONTINUED:
7

HAMISH:

It would be best to keep your visions

to yourself. When in doubt, remain

silent.

Alice’s smile fades. Without her father, she feels there’s

no one like her in the whole world. They dance on. Alice

sees a flock of geese overhead. Distracted, she bumps into

the dancers in front of them.

HAMISH (CONT’D)

Pardon us! Miss Kingsley is

distracted today.

(to Alice)

Where is your head?

ALICE:

I was wondering what it would be like

to fly.

HAMISH:

Why would you waste your time thinking

about such an impossible thing?

ALICE:

Why wouldn’t I? My father said he

sometimes believed in six impossible

things before breakfast.

She laughs at the memory. Hamish looks pained. He sees his

mother nearby. She waves him on impatiently.

HAMISH:

Meet me under the gazebo in precisely

ten minutes.

He goes off. Suddenly two giggling girls appear in front of

Alice. It’s the Chattaways.

FAITH:

We have a secret to tell you.

ALICE:

If you’re telling me, then it’s not

much of a secret.

FIONA:

Perhaps we shouldn’t.

FAITH:

We decided we should!

(CONTINUED)

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7 CONTINUED:
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FIONA:

If we tell her, she won’t be

surprised.

FAITH:

Will you be surprised?

ALICE:

Not if you tell me. But now you’ve

brought it up, you have to.

FAITH:

No we don’t.

FIONA:

In fact, we won’t.

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