Cinderella Page #6

And she was doomed to look

every day upon his beloved child.

She had hoped to marry off

one of her beautiful,

stupid daughters to the prince.

But his head was turned

by a girl with glass slippers.

And so,

I lived unhappily ever after.

My story would appear to be ended.

Now, tell me yours.

Did you steal it?

No.

It was given to me.

Given to you?

Given to you. Nothing is ever given.

For everything, we must pay and pay.

That's not true.

Kindness is free. Love is free.

Love is not free.

Now, here is how you will pay me,

if you are to have what you desire.

No one will believe you,

a dirty servant girl without a family,

if you lay claim to the prince's heart.

But with a respectable gentlewoman

to put you forward,

you will not be ignored.

When you are married,

you will make me

the head of the royal household.

Anastasia and Drisella

we will pair off with wealthy lords.

And I shall manage that boy.

But he's not a boy.

And who are you?

How would you rule a kingdom?

Best to leave it to me.

That way we all get what we want.

No.

No?

I was not able to protect

my father from you,

but I will protect the prince

and the kingdom,

no matter what becomes of me.

Well, that is a mistake.

No!

Why?

Why are you so cruel?

I don't understand it.

I've tried to be kind to you.

You? Kind to me?

Yes.

And though no one

deserves to be treated

as you have treated me.

Why do you do it?

Why?

Because you are young,

and innocent, and good.

And I...

No!

May I ask where you got this?

From a ragged servant girl

in my household.

The mystery princess is a commoner.

You could imagine when I discovered

her subterfuge how horrified I was.

You told no one else?

Not even my own daughters.

No one need ever know the truth.

You've spared the kingdom

a great deal of embarrassment.

And I should like to keep it that way.

Are you threatening me?

Yes.

So what do you want?

I should like to be a countess.

And I require advantageous marriages

for my two daughters.

Done.

And the girl?

Do with her what you will.

She's nothing to me.

- Where?

- Abandoned on the side of the road.

- And have you found her?

- The girl?

No, she's disappeared.

There must be some reason

she vanished.

Perhaps she has been prevented

from speaking.

Do not lose heart, Kit.

On the contrary,

lose heart and gain wisdom.

The people need to know

that the kingdom is secure.

That the king has a queen,

and the land may have an heir.

They want to face the future

with certainty!

Agreed! Then let us be certain.

I am king.

I say we shall seek out

the mystery princess,

even if she does not want to be found.

I have to see her again.

But if she's not found,

then for the good of the kingdom,

you must marry the Princess Chelina.

For the good of the kingdom.

Very well, agreed.

But Your Highness...

But you will spare no effort.

Your Majesty, of course.

You have my word.

Next.

The slipper traveled

the length and breadth of the kingdom,

visiting every maiden

both high and low,

and every sort in between.

Oh, Lord!

You first, madam.

Well, I'll give it a go.

Right. I say. Where do you want me?

Up! Up I go.

Careful, my foot's a bit swollen.

I've been...

It's the yeast.

The Grand Duke was true to his word.

He spared no effort

to demonstrate to the prince

that the mystery princess

was not to be found.

It fits!

- It doesn't fit you.

- It does fit!

- It doesn't fit.

- It's mine!

- I am the mystery princess!

- Give back the shoe.

Take the shoe away from her!

Don't take the shoe away from me,

please, please!

Please, it's my shoe!

Make way for the slipper!

Can I try the other foot?

I don't think so.

But whatever they tried,

the magical slipper refused to fit

even the most eligible of maidens.

We found the mystery princess for ya!

What's wrong, Captain?

We haven't found the girl.

I'm disappointed for our king.

Come on, now! Don't lose heart.

There's one more house.

We must leave no stone unturned.

- Horses!

- Horses!

Mother, it's our chance!

Let them in!

Gentlemen! What a wonderful surprise.

A moment of your time, good lady.

Of course, Your Grace.

Please. This way.

Ella did not know who was downstairs.

Nor did she care.

For surely no one had come to see her.

Jacqueline, stop it!

It shrunk.

Try again.

Enough!

You must love me...

Though Ella was sad,

her spirit was not broken.

She knew that the ball,

and her time with the prince,

would become

beautiful, distant memories,

like those of her father and mother,

and her golden childhood.

It fits me!

Bad luck, miss.

Lavender's green

dilly, dilly

Lavender's blue

You must love me

dilly, dilly

For I love you

Very well.

Our task is done, Captain.

But fate may yet be kind to us, girls.

Indeed, madam!

When I am king

dilly, dilly

You shall be queen

Lavender's green

dilly, dilly

Lavender's blue

If you love me

Dilly, dilly

I will love you

Let the birds sing

dilly, dilly

And the lambs play

We shall be safe

dilly, dilly...

Do you hear that, Your Grace?

Let's be off, Captain.

Just a moment.

Madam,

there is no other maiden in your house?

None.

Then has your cat learned to sing?

There's been enough play-acting today,

Captain. Let's be off.

But she's lying, Your Grace.

Nonsense! I trust the lady.

We're leaving.

Grand Duke!

Your Majesty.

What sweet singing.

Makes me want to tarryjust a little.

Your Majesty, I did not know...

Captain, would you be so kind

as to investigate?

It would be my pleasure, Your Majesty.

If you love me

dilly, dilly

I will love you

There! You see?

I told you

it was no one of any importance.

We'll see about that.

Miss.

You are requested and required

to present yourself to your king.

I forbid you to do this!

And I forbid you to forbid her!

Who are you to stop

an officer of the king?

Are you an empress?

A saint?

A deity?

I am her mother.

You have never been

and you never will be my mother.

Come now, miss.

Just remember who you are,

you wretch!

Would who she was,

who she really was, be enough?

There was no magic

to help her this time.

This is perhaps the greatest risk

that any of us will take.

To be seen as we truly are.

Have courage, and be kind.

Who are you?

I am Cinderella.

Your Majesty,

I'm no princess.

I have no carriage,

no parents,

and no dowry.

I do not even know

if that beautiful slipper will fit.

But

if it does,

will you take me as I am?

An honest country girl who loves you.

Of course I will.

But only if you will take me as I am.

An apprentice still learning his trade.

Please.

Cinderella!

Ella!

My dear sister! I'm sorry.

So very sorry.

Shall we?

I forgive you.

Forgiven or not,

Cinderella's stepmother

and her daughters

would soon leave with the Grand Duke,

and never set foot

in the kingdom again.

They would have loved each other.

We must have a portrait of you painted.

No. I do hate myself in paintings.

Be kind.

And have courage.

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