Into the Woods Page #14

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EXT. ROAD TO KING’S CASTLE/KING’S CASTLE - A NEW DAY

GOLDEN ROSE PETALS fill the air, swirling across the screen.

PULLING BACK we see that the petals are being thrown by

CHEERING SUBJECTS who toss more into the air as they clamor

to catch a glimpse of CINDERELLA and her PRINCE on their

wedding day.

MUSIC. CINDERELLA’S carriage resplendent in gold drawn by

black stallions passes. She sits demurely smiling as her

PRINCE plays to the PASSERS-BY. This comes easily to him.

BAKER (V.O.)

And it came to pass, all that seemed

wrong was now right. The Witch

succeeded in reversing her mother’s

curse. Cinderella finally stopped

running from her Prince.

CINDERELLA’S POV on the crowd.

She sees JACK and his MOTHER waving; JACK’S MOTHER is over

dressed in brand new clothes including a ridiculous

“fascinator” hat.

BAKER (V.O.)

Jack was reunited with his beloved cow

and his mother could now dress in the

best a golden egg could buy.

Cinderella now sees the BAKER and his WIFE standing amongst

the crowd, the WIFE holding their new BABY BOY.

BAKER (V.O.)

And the Baker and his Wife were proud

parents of a strapping baby boy.

The WIFE shows her the BABY.

WIFE:

(calling to her)

Thanks for the slipper.

The carriage arrives at the entrance to the castle. As the

PRINCE and CINDERELLA step from their carriage they are met

by cheers.

The STEPFAMILY awaits the married couple. The beaming

STEPMOTHER with her DAUGHTERS who are now wearing dark

glasses, holding canes and looking rather glum.

RAPUNZEL stands with her PRINCE.

The CROWD ROARS as CINDERELLA and her PRINCE wave.

The STEWARD takes up a large speaking trumpet and the CROWD

quiets.

STEWARD:

Let us cheer the newlyweds as they

embark on their happy bliss today, and

ever after-

BAKER (V.O.)

And so with the kingdom filled with

joy, those who deserved to were

destined to live happily ever...

Suddenly the earth SHAKES with a mighty force, tossing

CINDERELLA and her PRINCE (mid-kiss), along with their

ATTENDANTS and the entire CROWD to the ground. A piece of the

CASTLE comes CRASHING DOWN. Chaos ensues.

JACK’S MOTHER stands up and looks around. No sign of JACK.

JACK’S MOTHER

Jack? Jack...?

ANGLE ON BAKER and his WIFE.

BAKER:

(stunned)

Are you alright?

WIFE:

I think so.

BAKER:

And the baby?

WIFE:

Yes, he’s fine.

There is another AFTERSHOCK.

ANGLE ON RAPUNZEL. She is spooked by the commotion and runs

off through the crowd and disappears.

STEWARD:

(speaking into the

horn)

Attention! Attention! Let there be no

panic. NO PANIC! The Royal Prince

wishes to address his loyal subjects.

Attention!

The R-PRINCE searches the crowd for RAPUNZEL. Those who

haven’t fled, quiet and gather around. The C-PRINCE takes the

horn.

C’S PRINCE

There’s no need for worry. It was an

earthquake in a far-off quadrant of

our kingdom. Nothing to fear at all.

As many of you know, we had another

little shaker just days ago. I will

personally investigate the

disturbance. Now everyone, back to

your villages, and on with your lives!

EXT. KINGDOM - DAY

A dense mist settles across the kingdom. In the distance a

beanstalk stretches up to the sky. C’S PRINCE and his RETINUE

gallop away from the destroyed castle into the woods.

BAKER (V.O.)

But as they made their way back into

the woods, their familiar paths were

nowhere to be found and their lives

were about to take an unexpected turn.

EXT. WOODS - FLOWERED PATH - DAY

The BAKER and his WIFE are walking down a path -- or the

remnants of a path.

WIFE:

What’s happened? Everything’s so

different.

They discover LRRH sitting on her suitcase in what was once a

lush area, now trampled and broken.

BAKER:

Hello, little one. Are you alright?

What are you doing here? With a

suitcase?

LRRH:

I’m moving in with Granny. Our whole

village collapsed. I couldn’t find my

mother anywhere. And now I can’t find

my Granny’s cottage.

BAKER:

What do you mean?

LRRH:

I went down the dell, and I didn’t

recognize anything. There was no path.

(getting worked up)

Where’s the stream? Where’s the

bridge? Where’s Granny?

WIFE:

Calm down.

BAKER:

We can help you find Granny’s without

the path.

WIFE:

Yes.

The WIFE is exhausted. She hands the BABY to the BAKER.

WIFE (CONT’D)

Please take him for a few moments.

The BAKER is clearly uncomfortable holding the BABY. They

continue walking. The BABY begins to cry.

BAKER:

Why does he always cry when I hold

him?

WIFE:

You needn’t hold him as if he was so

fragile.

The BABY wails. The BAKER hands the bundle back.

BAKER:

He doesn’t want me. He wants his

mother!

WIFE:

I can’t take care of him all of the

time.

BAKER:

I’ll take care of him -- when he’s

older...

They hear COMMOTION in the distance.

WIFE:

Who might that be?

BAKER:

It’s the Steward and the royal family.

EXT. WOODS - TALL TREES - DAY - CONTINUOUS

Through a thick haze, the BAKER sees the STEWARD, the

STEPFAMILY and a few SERVANTS carrying trunks and tending to

the blind, hobbling STEPSISTERS.

The BAKER makes his way to them with his WIFE and LRRH in

tow.

BAKER:

What brings you into the woods?

STEWARD:

The castle has been destroyed.

WIFE:

No!

STEPMOTHER:

The kingdom is under attack.

BAKER:

What is the Royal family going to do?

STEWARD:

I have no idea! I don’t make policy. I

just carry it out.

WIFE:

(to the Baker)

I think it best we get back to the

village. We’ll take the girl with us.

She holds out a hand for LRRH.

WIFE (CONT’D)

You come with us.

LRRH takes her hand.

But then the ground begins to shake. A frightening and

increasingly loud crunching noise. They fight for their

footing.

The STEPFAMILY drop their belongings and rush to each other.

The BAKER puts his arm around his WIFE.

Everyone’s faces fill with terror as a huge shadow engulfs

them.

WIFE (CONT’D)

It’s a giant!

BAKER:

A giant woman!

Through the trees we see the furious face of a female GIANT.

We never see her in her entirety -- but the volume of her

voice matches her size.

GIANT:

Where is the lad who killed my

husband?

STEWARD:

There is no lad here!

BAKER:

We haven’t seen him.

The WITCH, who has slipped in behind the group, comes forward

startling everyone and moves directly to the GIANT.

WITCH:

We’ll get him for you right away.

Don’t move!

LRRH races past the WITCH and brandishes her knife.

LRRH:

It was you who destroyed our house -

not an earthquake.

GIANT:

And who destroyed my house? I want

him!

A great bellow that makes the trees shake.

The WITCH moves towards the STEPSISTERS.

WITCH:

Would you like a blind girl instead?

FLORINDA and LUCINDA scream. The STEPMOTHER takes them in her

embrace.

STEPMOTHER:

How dare you? She wants the boy!

And then JACK’S MOTHER arrives. Innocently, she asks the

worst question possible.

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