Into the Woods Page #4

I WISH...

INT. BAKER’S COTTAGE - DAY

The BAKER is trying to clean up the mess when his WIFE races

downstairs holding his FATHER’S HUNTING JACKET. She hands it

to the BAKER.

WIFE:

Here. Take this...

BAKER:

I’m not wearing that.

WIFE:

Why?

BAKER:

It was my father’s. You heard what she

said. This is all his fault.

The BAKER throws the jacket to the ground.

BAKER (CONT’D)

I want nothing to do with him!

The WIFE sees that BEANS have spilled out of the pocket.

WIFE:

Look!

She picks them up.

WIFE (CONT’D)

Beans. The Witch’s beans! We’ll take

them with us.

BAKER:

(realizing)

We? Wait a minute! You’re not coming.

It’s not safe out there.

The BAKER puts a hunting knife in his belt.

WIFE:

I can help you.

BAKER:

No. I can do this on my own.

BAKER:

WIFE:

THE SPELL IS ON MY HOUSE./ NO, NO, THE SPELL IS ON OUR

ONLY I CAN LIFT THE SPELL,/ HOUSE./ WE MUST LIFT THE

THE SPELL IS ON MY HOUSE. SPELL TOGETHER,/ THE SPELL IS

ON OUR HOUSE.

BAKER (CONT’D)

Now tell me. What am I to return with?

WIFE:

You don’t remember?!

THE COW AS WHITE AS MILK,/ THE CAPE AS

RED AS BLOOD,/ THE HAIR AS YELLOW AS

CORN,/ THE SLIPPER AS PURE AS GOLD.

BAKER:

(memorizing)

THE COW AS WHITE AS MILK,/ THE CAPE AS

RED AS BLOOD,/ THE HAIR AS YELLOW AS

CORN,/ THE SLIPPER AS PURE AS GOLD...

EXT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - ENTRY COURTYARD - DAY

As CINDERELLA approaches the gate, an old GROUNDSKEEPER

closes and locks it.

CINDERELLA:

I STILL WISH TO GO TO THE FESTIVAL,/

BUT HOW AM I EVER TO GET TO THE

FESTIVAL?

EXT. THE VILLAGE/CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - DAY

With the cottage behind him, the BAKER appears dressed for

his journey. His WIFE hurries towards him with his satchel

and places it around his neck. He proceeds down the

cobblestone lane, his WIFE walking next to him.

CINDERELLA looks through the bars, watching the CARRIAGE

disappear down the road.

BAKER:

THE COW AS WHITE AS MILK,/ THE CAPE AS

RED AS BLOOD,/ THE HAIR AS YELLOW AS

CORN...

WIFE CINDERELLA:

(prompting him)I KNOW -- I’LL VISIT MOTHER’S

THE SLIPPER...

GRAVE,/ THE GRAVE AT THE

WILLOW TREE,/ AND TELL HER I

JUST WANT TO GO TO THE KING’S

FESTIVAL...

BAKER (CONT’D)WIFE

THE SLIPPER AS PURE AS THE HAIR!

GOLD.../ THE COW, THE CAPE/

THE SLIPPER AS PURE AS

GOLD...

EXT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE/EXT. VILLAGE - DAY - INTERCUT

CINDERELLA has thrown a shawl around herself and is heading

out the back of the house. She places a ladder against the

stone wall and begins to climb. The BAKER and his WIFE leave

the village and begin moving towards the woods.

CINDERELLA/BAKER

INTO THE WOODS, IT’S TIME TO GO,/ IT

MAY BE ALL IN VAIN, YOU (I) KNOW./

INTO THE WOODS-- BUT EVEN SO,/ I HAVE

TO TAKE THE JOURNEY.

WIFE:

INTO THE WOODS/ THE PATH IS STRAIGHT,/

YOU KNOW IT WELL,

BAKER:

BUT WHO CAN TELL--?

WIFE:

(giving him a little

push)

INTO THE WOODS TO LIFT THE SPELL-

EXT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - DAY

CINDERELLA climbs over the wall.

CINDERELLA:

INTO THE WOODS TO VISIT MOTHER-

EXT. DIRT ROAD BY JACK’S FARMHOUSE - DAY

JACK’S MOTHER watches from the distance as JACK leads MILKY

WHITE up the path.

JACK’S MOTHER

(calling after him)

INTO THE WOODS TO SELL THE COW-

JACK:

TO GET THE MONEY!-

EXT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL - DAY

CINDERELLA drops down from the wall and runs off.

CINDERELLA:

TO GO THE FESTIVAL-

EXT. WOODS - NATURAL ARCHWAY/STREAM - DAY

LRRH enters an archway that frames the entrance into the

woods.

LRRH:

INTO THE WOODS TO GRANDMOTHER’S

HOUSE.../ INTO THE WOODS TO

GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE...

INTERCUTTING:
THE BAKER entering the same archway; CINDERELLA

crossing a stream; and LRRH weaving her way down a gully.

CINDERELLA/BAKER/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./ NO NEED TO BE AFRAID

THERE-All

THREE of them stop with sudden trepidation.

BAKER:

THERE’S SOMETHING IN THE GLADE THERE.

The BAKER walks deeper into the woods.

EXT. DIRT ROAD BY JACK’S FARMHOUSE - DAY

The carriage carrying the STEPFAMILY crosses a small country

bridge, then passes JACK’S MOTHER. One of the wheels turns in

a puddle and splashes her with mud.

ALL:

INTO THE WOODS WITHOUT DELAY,/ BUT

CAREFUL NOT TO LOSE THE WAY./ INTO THE

WOODS, WHO KNOWS WHAT MAY/ BE LURKING

ON THE JOURNEY?

EXT. WOODS - NATURAL ARCHWAY - DAY

JACK enters the archway into the woods with his COW.

ALL:

INTO THE WOODS TO GET THE THING/

THAT MAKES IT WORTH THE JOURNEYING.

EXT. WOODS - DAY

VARIOUS ANGLES on each of our CHARACTERS in different

woodland surrounds.

STEPS:

INTO THE WOODS:

TO SEE THE KING-

JACK:

TO SELL THE COW-

BAKER:

TO MAKE THE POTION-

QUICK INTERCUTS between the characters:

ALL:

TO SEE--/ TO SELL--/ TO GET--/ TO

BRING/ TO MAKE--/ TO LIFT--/ TO GO TO

THE FESTIVAL--!

The CAMERA slowly rises through the trees as the vast forest

swallows up our intrepid travellers.

ALL (V.O.)

INTO THE WOODS!/ INTO THE WOODS!/ INTO

THE WOODS,/ THEN OUT OF THE WOODS,/

AND HOME BEFORE DARK!

EXT. CINDERELLA’S MOTHER’S GRAVE - DAY

A large willow tree stands tall.

BAKER (V.O.)

Deep within the woods, Cinderella had

planted a branch at the grave of her

mother. And she visited there so

often, and wept so much, that her

tears watered it until it had become a

magnificent tree.

CINDERELLA kneels in prayer.

CINDERELLA:

I WISH...

She begins to cry.

MUSIC.

In the reflection, CINDERELLA sees the tree slowly twist and

turn taking on the shape of her MOTHER, who looks down upon

her.

C’S MOTHER

What is it that you wish, child?

CINDERELLA looks up to see her MOTHER in the tree.

C’S MOTHER (CONT’D)

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WISH?/ ARE YOU

CERTAIN WHAT YOU WISH/ IS WHAT YOU

WANT?/ IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT,/

THEN MAKE A WISH--/ ASK THE TREE,/ AND

YOU SHALL HAVE YOUR WISH.

CINDERELLA closes her eyes and makes her wish.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The wind now blowing the willow tree, its LEAVES begin to

rain down on CINDERELLA, turning gold and silver as they

swirl around her, transforming her clothes into a beautiful

gown.

CINDERELLA looks down to see that she is now wearing a pair

of shoes literally made of gold leaf. When she looks back up,

the tree has now returned to its former shape.

CINDERELLA:

Thank you, Mother.

She dashes into the woods.

EXT. WOODS - FLOWERED PATH - DAY

LRRH walks along the path.

BAKER (V.O.)

On her path to Granny’s, the little

girl suddenly found herself in a very

unusual part of the wood.

WOLF’S POV

Branches and leaves rush by in a blur. Suddenly, the CAMERA

stops, and in the distance we see LRRH strolling down a path

of exotic flowers as she munches on a treat. We hear HEAVY

BREATHING. The CAMERA continues stalking its prey, moving

closer towards LRRH through the brush.

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