Legend Page #3

With Nell's back turned, Lili steals another tart, hiding it among

the flowers in her bouquet.

LILI:
Neither country provebs nor king's command can keep me

out of the woods today.

WIFE:
Then it's common sense ought. These woods be thick

with spriggen and banshee!

LILI:
Is that why you've hung a bell over the door?

WIFE:
Aye, and spread the floor with flax and salt. My babe

won't be stole by faeries.

The Princess starts merrily for the sun-bright doorway.

LILI(laughing):
More salt, Nell. . . .! You'll worry

yourself to death if you're not careful.

Lili runs out like a naughty child. The Woodcarver's Wife

leans against the door jamb and calls after her:

WIFE:
Beware of toadstool rings and willow trees. . . . !

Stay away from old oaks!

17 EXTERIOR FOREST PATH TO GLADE DAY

Hiding behind a moss-coverd log, Blix, Pox, and Blunder watch

Princess Lili run SINGING through the woods, oblivous to any sign of

danger.

BLIX(scowling):
May be innocent. . . . May be sweet. . . .

Ain't half as nice as rotten meat. . . . !

18 EXTERIOR JACK'S FOREST GLADE DAY

A lovely glade surrounded by tall trees, Breathlessly, Lili runs in

from the woods. She is familair with this spot. It is her trysting

place

LILI(calling):
Jack. . . . ! I know you're here. . . . Jack!

Lili looks around in exasperation. Behind her, something wild and

mysterious swings through the trees like an animal.

LILI(cont):
Jack? Where are you. . . . ? Answer me!

Lili is apprehensive at getting no reply. She hears the RUSTLE of

the leaves but does not see the sun-dappled figure leaping from limb

to limb overhead.

LILI(frightened)(cont): Oh, Jack. . . . please say something if

you're here. . . .

JACK O' THE GREEN, a legendry "Green Man" who lives the free life of

a hermit in the woods, drops down from a tree behind the Princess,

landing without a sound. He is barefoot, about sixteen, and wears

woven ivy leaves and skins.

Startled, Lili SCREAMS.

LILI(cont):
Jack! You scared the life out of me.

Jack says nothing, staring at her shyly. Lili hands him the flowers.

A JAY flies down out of the greenery and lands RASPING on Jack's

shoulder. He imitates the bird expertedly, The Jay answers him in

English:

JAY:
She brings a gift as fair as herself.

Lili LAUGHS, It all seems magic to her.

LILI:
You're so clever, Jack. . . . See what you can find in

the flowers.

Jack pokes in the bouquet and discovers the stolen tart. He stuffs

it immediately into his mouth.

JACK:
Mmmmmmm. . . .

LILI:
Sweet?

JAY:
Sweets from the sweet.

JACK:
I know someone sweeter.

Lili blushes.

19 EXTERIOR ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST DAY

Concealed behind the trees, Blix, Pox and Blunder watch the Green

Man and the Princess wander down a meandering path.

Pox picks a spider from his web, pops it in his mouth, and crunches

it down with a happy smile.

19A EXTERIOR MEANDERING PATH DAY

Several birds perch on Jack's head and shoulders. Squirrels, rabbits

and hedgehogs play about his feet. Jack feeds them nuts and berries

from his pouch, answering their chatter expertedly. Jack understands

the language of all wild creatures.

When a frisky wren flies warbling overhead, Lili hesitantly returns

its call.

JACK:
That was very good. . . .just right.

LILI:
Teach me rabbit like you promised.

JACK:
Rabbit is much harder than wren.

LILI:
Let me try. I'm a very good student. . . . My father

thinks I'm brilliant. . .

Lili toys with the silver madallion pendant she wears, causing

reflected sunlight to shine in Jack's eyes.

LILI(cont):
See how brilliant I am!

JACK(laughing):
Stop it. . . . ! I can't see!

LILI:
Don't I dazzle you with my wisdom?

Lili seems to glow with sunlight. Jack stares at her, rapt with

love.

JACK:
Much more than wisdom dazzles me.

Lili LAUGHS and hangs her madallion around his neck.

LILI:
Then teach me rabbit.

JACK:
Not today. . . . There's something really special I

promised to show you.

LILI(delighted):
Oh, Jack. Do you mean it?

JACK:
If it pleases you.

LILI:
More than anything!

JACK:
This is their season. They won't pass here again

for a long, long time. . . . If you want to see them, you

must do everything I tell you.

LILI:
I swear. . . on my honour!

JACK:
I'm taking you to a very special place. . . it's

sort of sacred. Nobody but me knows where it is, and,

well. . . .

LILI(impatient):
What? Tell me!

Jack unwraps the lace napkin from Lili's bouquet.

JACK:
You'll have to wear a blindfold.

LILI(coyly):
Don't you trust me, Jack?

JACK:
I'll always trust you, Lili. . . .

20 EXTERIOR FOREST PATH, GLADE TO STREAM DAY

Jack holds Lili's hand, leading her blindfolded along a path through

the woods. Distant thunder RUMBLES.

JACK:
Storm's coming. . . .

LILI:
Who cares? Haven't you a cosy place to hide?

JACK:
Many places. . . .None fit for a princess. . . .

LILI:
In these woods you are the prince, Jack. . . .

I am only a pauper here. . . .

Jack turns to face a radiantly smiling Lili. He bends towards her,

closer and closer, and, for a moment, seems about to steal a kiss.

She waits, smiling, sensing what is about to happen. In the end,

Jack's innoncence and timidity get the best of him and he turns

away. Without his knowledge Lili lifts a corner of the blindfold and

mischievously peeks.

20A EXTERIOR BEHIND A TREE NEAR THE PATH DAY

The three goblin peer around a mossy trunk.

BLUNDER:
Yuck! Did you see what he was gonna do?

Makes me want to puke!

BLIX:
I swear by all the bats above,

Nothing's quite so foul as love!

21 EXTERIOR UNICORN STREAM AND GLADE DAY

A sun-glided amphithtre within the darker confines of the forest.

Sparkling like a ribbon of diamonds, a stream flows down the middle.

Jack leads Lili out of the woods and unties the napkin from around

her eyes.

LILI(aewstruck):
Oh, Jack. . . .! It's magic!

21A EXTERIOR STREAMSIDE SHUBBERY DAY

Some time has passed. Lili is uncomfortable and restless.

LILI:
How much longer?

JACK:
Be patient!

Lili kneels by the bank of the streem, cupping water into her hands.

Jack stops her from drinking.

LILI:
I'm thristy!

Jack points at a huge viper moving sinously along the bank.

JACK:
It's poisened the brook.

No animal will drink here now.

LILI(indignant):
I want some water.

JACK:
Shhh!

LILI:
Don't tell me to be quiet. . . .!

I'm a princess!

Jack pulls Lili back into hiding.

JACK(very softly): Just watch! True royalty

approaches. . . .

22 EXTERIOR THE STREAM (JACK & LILI'S POV) DAY

The radiant LIGHT BEAMS GLEAM through the trees. A moment later, a

splendid white unicorn moves down the hillside to the edge of the

stream. This is a stallion. He holds his head proudly. His mate

stands at the edge of the woods.

LILI(OS):
Ohh....They're so beautiful....

The unicorn dips his horns into the stream.

JACK(OS):
The alicorn purifies the water. . . .

The stallion watches his mare approach to drink. She is slighter and

more delicate, but every inch as mignificent.

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