Into the Woods Page #2

JACK:

NO, SQUEEZE, PAL ...

JACK’S MOTHER hears the loud squalling of birds and runs to

the window, sticking her head out.

JACK’S MOTHER’S POV

Birds flying en masse over their house.

EXT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - DAY

We see the BIRDS swarming and flying down the chimney.

INT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

CINDERELLA opens her eyes to greet the birds that now

surround her.

CINDERELLA:

QUICK, LITTLE BIRDS,/ FLICK THROUGH

THE ASHES./ PICK AND PECK, BUT

SWIFTLY,/ SIFT THROUGH THE ASHES./

INTO THE POT...

The BIRDS spread out and begin their task.

EXT. JACK’S FARMHOUSE - DAY

JACK sits atop MILKY-WHITE as if she were a horse, his arm

WHIRLING as he releases a sling and sends a STONE hurtling

towards a TIN CUP on top of the door frame. There is a loud

“CLANG”.

JACK:

Bullseye!

JACK’S MOTHER was just exiting the house. The CUP falls down,

narrowly missing her.

JACK’S MOTHER

What are you doing? Stop your

pretending!

She grabs JACK’S sling and pulls him away from the COW.

JACK’S MOTHER (CONT’D)

Now listen to me well, son.

Milky-White must be taken to market.

JACK:

Mother, no-- he’s the best cow in the

world--

JACK’S MOTHER

Was. She’s been dry for weeks. We’ve

no food or money and no choice but to

sell her.

JACK:

But Milky-White is my best friend!

JACK’S MOTHER

Look at her!

THERE ARE BUGS ON HER DUGS./ THERE ARE

FLIES IN HER EYES./ THERE’S A LUMP ON

HER RUMP/ BIG ENOUGH TO BE A HUMP!

JACK:

But-

JACK’S MOTHER

WE’VE NO TIME TO SIT AND DITHER/ WHILE

HER WITHERS WITHER WITH HER--/ AND NO

ONE KEEPS A COW FOR A FRIEND!

Sometimes I wonder what’s in that head

of yours.

INT. BAKER’S COTTAGE - DAY

LRRH gives the BAKER a coin as his WIFE looks on adoringly.

She loves having the little girl here. The Baker, not so

much.

LRRH:

INTO THE WOODS, IT’S TIME TO GO,/ I

HATE TO LEAVE, I HAVE TO, THOUGH./

INTO THE WOODS-- IT’S TIME, AND SO/ I

MUST BEGIN MY JOURNEY.

INTO THE WOODS AND THROUGH THE TREES/

TO WHERE I AM EXPECTED, MA’AM,/ INTO

THE WOODS TO GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE...

She shoves the entire bun into her mouth.

LRRH (CONT’D)

(with her mouth full)

INTO THE WOODS TO GRANDMOTHER’S

HOUSE...

WIFE:

You’re certain of your way?

As LRRH sings, she begins to help herself to all the buns she

can lay her hands on.

LRRH:

THE WAY IS CLEAR,/ THE LIGHT IS GOOD,/

I HAVE NO FEAR,/ NOR NO ONE SHOULD./

THE WOODS ARE JUST TREES,/ THE TREES

ARE JUST WOOD./

(to the Wife)

I SORT OF HATE TO ASK IT,/ BUT DO YOU

HAVE A BASKET?

The WIFE reaches for a basket, while the BAKER tries to wrest

away a bun or two from the girl.

BAKER:

I don’t suppose you’re planning on

buying any of these?

The WIFE gives the BAKER a look, then hands LRRH a basket.

WIFE:

Now, don’t stray and be late!

BAKER:

And you might save some of those

sweets for Granny.

EXT. THE VILLAGE - DAY - MOMENTS LATER

The BAKER, and his WIFE are in front of their shop, watching

as LRRH skips down the lane.

LRRH:

(to herself))

INTO THE WOODS AND DOWN THE DELL,/ THE

PATH IS STRAIGHT, I KNOW IT WELL./

INTO THE WOODS, AND WHO CAN TELL/

WHAT’S WAITING ON THE JOURNEY?/ INTO

THE WOODS TO BRING SOME BREAD/ TO

GRANNY WHO IS SICK IN BED./ NEVER CAN

TELL WHAT LIES AHEAD,/ FOR ALL THAT I

KNOW, SHE’S ALREADY DEAD.

Her path takes her through an ancient GRAVEYARD and on

towards the forest’s edge.

LRRH (CONT’D)

BUT INTO THE WOODS,/ INTO THE WOODS,/

INTO THE WOODS/ TO GRANDMOTHER’S

HOUSE/ AND HOME BEFORE DARK!

INT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

The BIRDS are dropping the last of the lentils into the pot.

LUCINDA (O.S.)

Cinderella!

FLORINDA (O.S.)

Get up here!

CINDERELLA:

FLY BIRDS,/ BACK TO THE SKY,/

The BIRDS begin to make their way out through the fireplace

and windows as CINDERELLA sings her incantation.

LUCINDA (O.S.)

We are waiting!

CINDERELLA:

BACK TO THE EAVES/ AND THE LEAVES/ AND

THE FIELDS/ AND THE-

INT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - DRESSING ROOM - DAY

A room of mirrors. LUCINDA and FLORINDA, dressed in their

ball gowns, study themselves side by side, reflected over and

over. CINDERELLA enters through a mirrored door, breaking the

image.

FLORINDA:

HURRY UP AND DO MY HAIR, CINDERELLA!

FLORINDA pulls at one of LUCINDA’S bows.

FLORINDA (CONT’D)

ARE YOU REALLY WEARING THAT?

LUCINDA grabs CINDERELLA.

LUCINDA:

(pointing to her

sleeve)

HERE, I FOUND A LITTLE TEAR,

CINDERELLA!

LUCINDA eyes FLORINDA’S hair.

LUCINDA (CONT’D)

CAN’T YOU HIDE IT WITH A HAT?

CINDERELLA grabs a stool and brings it next to FLORINDA.

CINDERELLA:

YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.

She stands on the stool and begins fixing FLORINDA’S hair.

FLORINDA:

I know.

LUCINDA:

She means me.

FLORINDA:

No, she didn’t!

The two STEPSISTERS bicker as CINDERELLA brushes and twists

their hair into tight curls:

CINDERELLA (V.O.)

(internal)

MOTHER SAID BE GOOD,/ FATHER SAID BE

NICE,/ THAT WAS ALWAYS THEIR ADVICE./

SO BE NICE, CINDERELLA,/ GOOD,

CINDERELLA,/ NICE GOOD GOOD NICE-FLORINDA

Tighter!

CINDERELLA obliges and becomes more aggressive with the hair

styling, her emotions building as she thinks to herself:

CINDERELLA (V.O.)

WHAT’S THE GOOD OF BEING GOOD/ IF

EVERYONE IS BLIND/ ALWAYS LEAVING YOU

BEHIND?/ NEVER MIND, CINDERELLA,/ KIND

CINDERELLA--/ NICE GOOD NICE KIND GOOD

NICE--

FLORINDA screams, bringing CINDERELLA back to reality.

FLORINDA:

Ow! Not that tight! Clod!

She reels around and smacks CINDERELLA who stands stunned.

The STEPSISTERS giggle and snort.

INT. BAKER’S COTTAGE - DAY - LATER

The BAKER and his WIFE are cleaning up after their day’s

work. There is an unexpected knock at the door. They stare at

one another momentarily.

BAKER:

Who might that be?

WIFE:

(calling out)

We’ve sold our last loaf of bread!

The BAKER opens the window a crack to see who is at the door.

BAKER:

(alarmed)

It’s the Witch from next door!

The DOOR pops off its frame and goes flying across the room

in a giant puff of smoke. The BAKER and his WIFE scream and

cower in a corner.

As the fog clears, we see the WITCH for the first time and

she’s not a pretty sight. MICE and other vermin drop from

beneath her cape and scatter through the cottage.

WIFE:

We have no bread.

WITCH:

I don’t want your bread.

BAKER:

Then what is it you wish?

WITCH:

It’s not what I wish. It’s what you

wish.

She moves towards the WIFE as the BAKER tries unsuccessfully

to protect her. She points her gross finger towards her

belly.

WITCH (CONT’D)

Nothing cooking in that belly now, is

there? And there will never be...

She looks away.

WITCH (CONT’D)

Unless you do exactly as I say. In

three days’ time, a Blue Moon will

appear. Only then can the curse be

undone.

WIFE:

What curse?

WITCH:

The one I placed on this house!

BAKER:

What are you talking about?

WITCH:

In the past, when you were no more

than a babe, your father brought his

Rate this script:3.4 / 13 votes