Into the Woods

FADE UP:

Grey clouds of an early morning sky.

BAKER (V.O.)

Once upon a time, in a far off

kingdom, there lay a small village at

the edge of the woods...

Suddenly, the WELL-WORN BOOT of Cinderella steps into the

frame and lands on what we thought was the sky, but in fact

is simply its reflection in a puddle of water. A strong CHORD

accents the splash and we begin a musical vamp.

EXT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - DAYBREAK

CLOSE-UP on CINDERELLA’S dirty hand as it reaches down to

gather kindling.

CINDERELLA (O.S.)

I WISH...

BAKER (V.O.)

And in this village...

CLOSE-UP on a bead of sweat as it trickles from her brow, the

same hand entering the frame to wipe it.

CINDERELLA (O.S.)

MORE THAN ANYTHING...

BAKER (V.O.)

... lived a young maiden...

ANGLE on CINDERELLA

A pretty (and filthy) young woman, who finishes mopping her

brow and trudges towards the back of a large house, the

kindling under her arm.

CINDERELLA:

MORE THAN LIFE...

MORE THAN JEWELS...

EXT. JACK’S FARMHOUSE - DAY

CLOSE-UP on JACK’S calloused hands as he pulls on a rope.

BAKER (V.O.)

... a care-free young lad...

ANGLE ON JACK:

A spaced-out twelve year-old who is trying to pull his bony

cow MILKY-WHITE towards his dilapidated cottage.

JACK:

I WISH...

MORE THAN LIFE...

INT. BAKER’S COTTAGE - DAY

CLOSE-UP on a ball of dough. The BAKER’S thick hand pounds

it.

BAKER (V.O.)

... and a childless baker...

ANGLE ON THE BAKER AND HIS WIFE

Hard-working and honest, he is kneading the dough which she

then takes and puts in the oven.

BAKER/BAKER’S WIFE

I WISH...

BAKER (V.O.)

... with his Wife-- “

BAKER:

MORE THAN ANYTHING...

WIFE:

MORE THAN THE MOON...

BAKER/BAKER’S WIFE

I WISH...

INT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

CINDERELLA scrubs a huge pot.

CINDERELLA:

THE KING IS GIVING A FESTIVAL.

INT. BAKER’S COTTAGE - DAY

The WIFE rolls the dough as the BAKER stokes the hot oven.

BAKER/WIFE

MORE THAN LIFE...

INT. JACK’S FARMHOUSE - DAY

Inside the tiny cottage, the COW stands bewildered as JACK

tries to milk her without success.

JACK:

(to Milky-White)

I WISH...

INT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

CINDERELLA:

I WISH TO GO TO THE FESTIVAL-

INT. BAKER’S COTTAGE - DAY

BAKER/WIFE

MORE THAN RICHES...

INT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

CINDERELLA:

-- AND THE BALL...

INT. JACK’S FARMHOUSE - DAY

JACK:

I WISH MY COW WOULD GIVE US SOME MILK.

INT. BAKER’S COTTAGE - DAY

The WIFE lifts a heavy sack of flour.

WIFE/CINDERELLA

MORE THAN ANYTHING...

The BAKER takes bread from the oven.

BAKER:

I WISH WE HAD A CHILD.

INT. JACK’S FARMHOUSE - DAY

Now leaning his shoulder against the cow for more leverage as

he squeezes her udders.

JACK:

PLEASE, PAL.

INT. BAKER’S COTTAGE - DAY

WIFE:

I WANT A CHILD.

INT. JACK’S FARMHOUSE - DAY

JACK:

(frustrated)

SQUEEZE, PAL...

INT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE/JACK’S HOUSE/BAKER’S COTTAGE - DAY

She is now scrubbing the floor in front of a large fireplace.

CINDERELLA:

I WISH TO GO TO THE FESTIVAL.

JACK BAKER/WIFE

I WISH YOU’D GIVE US SOME I WISH WE MIGHT HAVE A CHILD.

MILK/ OR EVEN CHEESE...

ALL:

I WISH...

CINDERELLA’S STEPMOTHER moves towards her threateningly.

INT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

CINDERELLA’S STEPMOTHER dressed in a robe, her blonde hair

rolled in rags, carries herself with an air of disgust; like

a medieval Orange County housewife.

STEPMOTHER:

YOU WISH TO GO TO THE FESTIVAL?

BAKER (V.O)

The poor girl’s parents had died-

Her two daughters, also blonde, FLORINDA and LUCINDA, appear

on the stairwell. They’re junior versions of Mom.

STEPMOTHER:

YOU, CINDERELLA, THE FESTIVAL?/ YOU

WISH TO GO TO THE FESTIVAL?

FLORINDA and LUCINDA move to join their MOTHER.

FLORINDA LUCINDA

(overlapping)WHAT, YOU WISH TO GO TO THE

WHAT, YOU, CINDERELLA? THE FESTIVAL?

FESTIVAL? THE FESTIVAL?

STEPMOTHER/STEPSISTERS

THE FESTIVAL?!/ THE KING’S FESTIVAL!??

BAKER (V.O.)

And now she lived with her

stepmother...

STEPMOTHER:

THE FESTIVAL?!!!

BAKER (V.O.)

...who had two daughters of her own.

CINDERELLA rises and shyly retreats, but the STEPSISTERS

sweep around her menacingly.

FLORINDA:

(grabbing her hand)

LOOK AT YOUR NAILS!

LUCINDA:

(pulling on her)

LOOK AT YOUR DRESS!

STEPMOTHER:

PEOPLE WOULD LAUGH AT YOU!

CINDERELLA:

NEVERTHELESS-

STEPMOTHER/STEPSISTERS/CINDERELLA

SHE/YOU/I STILL WANT(S)/ WISH TO GO

THE FESTIVAL--/ AND DANCE BEFORE THE

PRINCE?!

They roar in derision.

BAKER (V.O.)

All three were beautiful of face, but

vile and black of heart.

EXT. JACK’S FARMHOUSE - DAY

JACK’S MOTHER, bedraggled, takes in the laundry.

BAKER (V.O.)

The young lad had no father, and his

mother-

JACK’S MOTHER

I WISH...

BAKER (V.O.)

Well, she was at her wit’s end-

JACK’S MOTHER

I WISH MY SON WERE NOT A FOOL./ I WISH

MY HOUSE WAS NOT A MESS./ I WISH THE

COW WAS FULL OF MILK./ I WISH THE

WALLS WERE FULL OF GOLD--/ I WISH A

LOT OF THINGS.

INT. JACK’S FARMHOUSE - DAY - CONTINUOUS

JACK’S MOTHER enters the house and stops dead in her tracks

when she sees the cow.

JACK’S MOTHER

What in heaven’s name are you doing

with the cow inside the house?

JACK:

I thought if he was nice and warm he

might produce some milk.

JACK’S MOTHER

It’s a she! How many times must I tell

you? Only shes can give milk!

INT. BAKER’S COTTAGE - DAY

The BAKER and his WIFE are scurrying about the kitchen.

BAKER (V.O.)

And then there was a hungry little

girl who always wore a red cape...

The BAKER turns to see a small hand rise up and snatch one of

the BUNS off the counter.

BAKER:

Hey!

The BAKER swiftly comes around the counter where a small,

plump young girl in a red cape, LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

studies the goodies.

LRRH:

I WISH./ IT’S NOT FOR ME,/ IT’S FOR MY

GRANNY IN THE WOODS./ A LOAF OF BREAD,

PLEASE,/ TO BRING MY POOR OLD HUNGRY/

GRANNY IN THE WOODS.../ JUST A LOAF OF

BREAD, PLEASE.

INT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

The STEPSISTERS are still laughing at CINDERELLA. The

STEPMOTHER looks around the room and sees a large bowl of

lentils. She walks over, picks it up and violently flings the

bowl towards CINDERELLA strewing the beans across the room

and into the fireplace.

STEPMOTHER:

(cheery)

Cinderella, if you can pick up these

lentils, and finish your chores in

time, then you may go to the ball with

us.

(to her DAUGHTERS)

Come along, ladies...

STEPSISTERS:

Yes, Mother.

They sweep out of the room giggling.

BACK ON CINDERELLA. She stands forlornly, studying the mess

that awaits her. She closes her eyes and begins to gently

sway as if going into a trance.

CINDERELLA:

COME LITTLE BIRDS,/ DOWN FROM THE

EAVES/ AND THE LEAVES,/ OVER FIELDS,/

OUT OF CASTLES AND PONDS.../ AHHHHH...

INT. JACK’S FARMHOUSE - DAY

JACK is trying to milk the COW as his MOTHER looks on

dubiously.

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