Into the Woods Page #12

shoe on, one shoe off.

ANOTHER ANGLE. She hears someone close on her trail and looks

back to see the wide-eyed WIFE in pursuit.

CINDERELLA:

Don’t come any closer to me!

WIFE:

Please, stop! Just hear me out!

CINDERELLA:

You have attacked me once before.

WIFE:

I didn’t attack you. I attacked your

shoe. I need it. I have a magic bean

in exchange for it.

Breathless, CINDERELLA stops. Stands defensively. The WIFE

pulls out the bean from her pocket and hands it to her.

CINDERELLA:

Magic bean? Nonsense!

CINDERELLA tosses it over her shoulder, but they don’t see

the SPARKS it sets off when it hits the ground and sinks into

the earth.

She starts to leave.

WIFE:

Wait, please. I haven’t much time!

(desperate)

I need that shoe to have a child.

CINDERELLA:

That makes no sense!

WIFE:

Does it make sense that you’re running

from a prince?

The STEWARD approaches on HORSEBACK.

STEWARD (O.S.)

Stop! You there, stop!

CINDERELLA:

I must go!

WIFE:

(starts to take off a

shoe)

Take my shoes. You’ll run faster.

CINDERELLA:

Here-

CINDERELLA hands the WIFE her GOLDEN SLIPPER.

WIFE:

Thank you! Thank you!

CINDERELLA dashes off.

ON THE WIFE AND STEWARD.

STEWARD:

(suspicious)

Stop! What is that you have in your

hand?

The WIFE hides the slipper behind her back. The STEWARD

dismounts.

WIFE:

It’s mine.

STEWARD:

(gets off horse)

Lying will cost you your life!

The STEWARD snatches the shoe. The WIFE pushes the Steward

and grabs the slipper back.

WIFE:

(desperate)

I don’t care if this costs me my

life...

STEWARD:

You will pay for this!

The C-PRINCE rides in (with the other SLIPPER), followed by

his RETINUE. The STEWARD takes the opportunity to pull the

slipper from the WIFE’S hand as she curtsies.

STEWARD (CONT’D)

Sire! I have succeeded in obtaining

the other slipper.

He holds it up. The WIFE steps forward.

WIFE:

Please give me the slipper, kind

Prince, and all will come to a happy

end.

STEWARD:

(overlapping)

Step back, peon!

C’S PRINCE

Do as she says, Steward. We only need

one.

STEWARD:

Oh...

He hands the slipper back to the WIFE. The STEWARD gets onto

his horse.

WIFE:

(to C’S PRINCE)

Thank you. Thank you!

C’S PRINCE

(to STEWARD)

We must search immediately for the

maiden who fits this slipper.

STEWARD:

(surprised)

Tonight?

C’S PRINCE

This very night!

The PRINCE, STEWARD and RETINUE ride off, leaving the WIFE

alone. She looks up to the moon and hurries off.

We follow the WIFE’S feet as she scurries past the beginnings

of a BEANSTALK CURLING UPWARDS from the ground.

BAKER (V.O.)

And in her haste, the Baker’s Wife

took no notice of a second beanstalk

climbing skyward.

EXT. VILLAGE -NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

TRUMPETS sound. The C-PRINCE, the STEWARD and the RETINUE

ride through the town, as VILLAGERS open their windows and

rush out of their houses.

STEWARD:

Let it be known that his Royal

Highness the Crown Prince will be

visiting every house in this village

tonight.

INT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

CINDERELLA has only just got back. Grubby again, and wearing

her old clothes, she bundles her beautiful dress into a

chest.

STEWARD (O.S.)

All young maidens are hereby commanded

to remain in their home until they are

visited by the Royal Guard.

CINDERELLA goes to the window and looks out.

EXT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

CINDERELLA’S POV: The C-PRINCE and the royal RETINUE arrive

in the entry courtyard.

BACK ON CINDERELLA. She smiles to herself.

INT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT

The entire STEPFAMILY has assembled, in various stages of

undress. LUCINDA stands and watches as the STEPMOTHER tries

to force FLORINDA’S large foot into the tiny slipper.

BAKER (V.O.)

As the Prince anxiously waited, the

Stepmother took matters -- and

Florinda’s foot -- into her own hands.

FLORINDA:

CAREFUL, MY TOE--!

STEPMOTHER:

DARLING, I KNOW--

FLORINDA:

WHAT’LL WE DO?

STEPMOTHER:

IT’LL HAVE TO GO./ BUT WHEN YOU’RE HIS

BRIDE,/ YOU CAN SIT OR RIDE./ YOU’LL

NEVER NEED TO WALK!

The STEPMOTHER takes a handkerchief and stuffs it into the

girl’s mouth and then pulls a large kitchen knife from her

pocket and raises it over her foot-

EXT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - ENTRY COURTYARD - NIGHT

Standing lanterns have been set up outside the house, bathing

the area in light.

The STEPFAMILY watches as the STEWARD helps FLORINDA up on to

the back of the Prince’s horse. In pain, she grits her teeth

in a frozen smile.

BAKER (V.O.)

Minus one toe, Florinda mounted the

Prince’s horse, unaware of the blood

dripping from the slipper.

As the STEWARD steps back, he notices a tiny speck of blood

on his white glove. He looks up to the PRINCE to show him his

hand. The PRINCE looks back to FLORINDA who shrugs

sheepishly.

INT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT

This time the STEPMOTHER tries to force LUCINDA’S foot into

the slipper. FLORINDA looks on with a smirk.

BAKER (V.O.)

Lucinda was next.

LUCINDA:

WHY WON’T IT FIT?

STEPMOTHER:

DARLING, BE STILL./ CUT OFF A BIT/

OF THE HEEL AND IT WILL./

(she pulls out knife)

AND WHEN YOU’RE HIS WIFE/ YOU’LL HAVE

SUCH A LIFE,/ YOU’LL NEVER NEED TO

WALK!

QUICK SHOTS:

FLORINDA’S hand over LUCINDA’S mouth.

The KNIFE raised up by the mother.

LUCINDA’S eyes in fear as we hear a muffled scream and the

“WOOSH” of a knife-

EXT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - ENTRY COURTYARD - NIGHT

The PRINCE and STEWARD wait impatiently in the torchlight.

BAKER (V.O.)

Minus a heel, Lucinda did her best to

swallow the pain.

At last, LUCINDA appears, masking her pain with a smile, and

limps towards the PRINCE. She is followed by her MOTHER and

SISTER.

STEPMOTHER:

It’s a perfect fit, Your Highness!

LUCINDA winks at the PRINCE flirtatiously, then promptly

faints to the ground with a thud. The shoe falls from her

foot. The PRINCE nods to the STEWARD who walks over and

gingerly picks up the bloody slipper.

C’S PRINCE

Have you no other daughters?

STEPMOTHER:

Only a little stunted kitchen wench,

which her late father left behind but

she cannot present herself. She is too

dirty.

Out of the shadows, CINDERELLA appears.

The STEWARD hands the slipper to the Prince, who kneels down

in front of CINDERELLA and easily slips it on her foot.

C’S PRINCE

I would recognize these beautiful eyes

anywhere. This is the true bride!

The PRINCE sweeps CINDERELLA off her feet and leads her to

his horse. The two of them ride off.

FLORINDA and LUCINDA watch, not at all happy. Then they hear

a CAWING (the sound of birds) overhead. They look up,

alarmed.

BIRD’S POV. Far below, FLORINDA and LUCINDA cower together,

dreading what is to come as the CAMERA rushes towards them.

BAKER (V.O.)

As punishment for their cruelty,

Cinderella’s birds swooped down upon

the Stepsisters... and blinded them.

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