The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella Page #4

the library, your majesty.

Well, of course,

of course.

I knew that !

What volume

do you suggest?

There is only one,

your majesty, the Bible.

Bible?! Well, let's keep

religion out of it.

No, sire. I should

say in this case,

the Bible is forms

and addresses

for royal occasions

b'! De Lyon.

Ah.

Now then,

let me see, sire...

Abdications,

dismissal of ministers,

garden parties,

investitures...

Judicial beheadings"

yes, skip all that.

Your majesty, questions

of precedent pertaining

to the seating

of crowned heads

in difficult situations.

Ahh! We should rehearse it!

Uh, you can be

the princess esmerelda,

ever willing to serve,

your majesty.

And you the duchess

of rambouillet,

and you the daughter of

the emperor of bratislava,

and, uh... oh, the rest of you can

sort it out amongst yourselves.

What an inspired idea,

your majesty.

If the daughter of

the duchess of snarden

were to be seated by

the countess of snead

for this breach

of decorum to snarden

the invasion

of snead would proceed qi

and seat the heiress

to the barony of neuburg

by the side of her

hated cousin gwenn

oh, how quickly

the armies of neuburg

would deploy

to destroy us again

So we must be

protocoligorically correct

good form must never suffer

from neglect

the rules and regulations

we respect

t must be treated circumspect

else the kingdom

will be wrecked

we've a system to protect

checked and double-checked

and protocoligorically

correct

so we must be

protocoligorically correct

good form must never suffer

from neglect

the rules and regulations

we respect

t must be treated circumspect

else the kingdom

will be wrecked

we've a system to protect

checked and double-checked

and protocoligorically

correct

protocol

protocol

protocol

protocol

above all

above all

above all

makes a kingdom

rise or fall

so we must be

protocoligorically correct

good form must never suffer

from neglect

the rules and regulations

we respect

t must be treated circumspect

else the kingdom

will be wrecked

we've a system to protect

checked and double-checked

and protocoligorically

correct

protocoligorically correct

well, now!

Were you expecting me?

No. I wasn't

expecting anybody.

Funny. You should

have felt something.

I'm losing my touch.

Could I come in and rest

by your fire, please?

I've been traveling

a long way.

Well... I'm not supposed to

talk to anybody or see anybody,

but...

Yes, of course.

You're welcome

to share my fire...

Such as it is,

but I'd be obliged

if you didn't stay too long.

Please excuse me

if I carry on working,

but I have to finish

these, and I'm very slow.

Yes! Well, there are more ways

than one of peeling potatoes.

The fire seems

to have cheered up.

I could warm you a little

broth if you like.

No, thank you.

But thank you for the thought.

Live down here

on your own, no you?

I do now.

Yes.

Things have changed.

But that doesn't mean to say

they won't change again.

I get around quite a bit,

you know.

Must be nice to travel.

Yes and no.

I sometimes wish

I could settle in one place,

but there's never enough time.

I'd like somewhere cozy,

with a dog to keep me company.

I expect your dog is

a great comfort to you.

My dog?

I haven't got a dog.

Isn't he yours?

Where did he come from?

He came in when I came in.

Oh! Oh, what am I going

to do with him?

Well, why don't

you keep him?

He'll take care

of himself.

He's an old hand at that.

Ohh!

He seems to like you.

Oh, I love him!

I'm just so afraid of what

my stepmother will say.

Cinderella!

There she is,

and I haven't finished!

I've got to hide you.

Well, I'll be off.

I've seen what I want to see.

You just take care of him.

Cinderella!

I know! I'll hide

you under here.

Promise not

to make a sound.

Have you been

struck dumb, girl?

Oh!

Oh!

Answer me when I call.

You know I hate having

to raise m'! Voice.

Now, I hope you have

been hard at work. I...

I see.

Well, uh...

Uh, I see.

I see I shall have to give

you more to do next time.

What do you make of all that?

I will not have

my authority flouted

in this fashion.

It has always been the custom

for the heir to the throne

to take a wife in good time.

And you show a strange reluctance

to comply with tradition.

Father,

I emphatically disagree.

And I totally refuse to take part

in such an embarrassing charade.

But I've decreed it!

Then you must

undecree it.

Impossible !

You talk to him.

Dearest boy--

oh, mother,

it's no use trying

to get round me

that way.

The very idea

of giving a ball

and inviting a selection

of titled wallflowers

to vie for my hand

is utterly repulsive!

Degrading

to all concerned.

In my day,

I never had the choice!

Not that I would have chosen

any differently, of course.

You take a decision

without consulting me.

Well I am your father,

and I am the king!

It's like some

sordid beauty contest

with me

as the grand prize.

Since you won't go to mecca,

mecca must come to you!

You have to get

married someday, dear.

But not in this way.

Well, it seems perfectly

reasonable to me.

We've invited every eligible

princess in the almanac.

And it's a question of duty!

Father, I have never questioned

that it is my bounden duty

to take a wife and ensure

the royal succession.

But that does not mean I have to be

party to and judge a cattle show!

Whoever heard

of such a thing?

Cap-cattle show!

A bride-finding ball si

a bride-finding ball si

where every maiden's

bound to laugh at me

the royal

fatted calf

a bride-finding ball si

a bride-finding ball si

though I'm the one

who does the choosing

I'm the one

who does the losing

it's nauseating,

nauseating!

Can't you

just imagine it?

Hope Springs in all

short, fat, or tall

as they primp

and preen and pray

that this will be

their lucky day

there is no affair

of which I'm aware

more galling to bear

than a bride-finding ball

I just heard the news!

Oh,

who let him in?

Is it true, dear Uncle?

The tattle is that you're going

to invite a whole nursery

of nubile delicacies

to a ball.

Some other time, nephew.

We're busy now.

Oh, but you can't

keep me in suspense.

You just can't, Uncle.

I mean, I realize that

I won't have first pick,

but that doesn't matter to me

because I'm not proud.

I'm just desperate.

We're all desperate!

So it's true, then!

Oh, how exciting!

Now, I must decide

what to wear.

High heels, I think, to

give me added stature.

The moment you've

made your choice,

I shall unleash myself.

I've already made

my choice, cousin.

As far as I'm concerned,

you can have your

pick of the lot.

Oh, but you can't do that!

You can't be such

a spoilsport! I mean...

A bride-finding ball si

a bride-finding ball si

where luscious lovelies

from each land

will vie to win

the royal hand

a bride-finding ball si

a bride-finding ball si

with frills on tresses,

party dresses

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