Cinderella Lines

CINDERELLA’S MOTHER: Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor and good fortune, like bad, can befall when least expected.

I wish…

BAKER’S WIFE: Are you all right, miss?

(breathless) Yes. I just need to catch my breath

BAKER’S WIFE: What a beautiful gown you’re wearing. Were you at the King’s festival?

(preoccupied) Yes.

BAKER’S WIFE: I’ve never lied to royalty before. I’ve never anything to royalty before!

Thank you.

BAKER’S WIFE: If a prince were looking for me, I certainly wouldn’t hide

(defensive) Well, what brings you here — and with a cow?

BAKER’S WIFE: Oh, my husband’s somewhere in the woods. He’s undoing a spell.

Oh?

BAKER’S WIFE: Are you to return to the Festival tomorrow eve?

Perhaps.

BAKER’S WIFE: What I wouldn’t give to be in your shoes.

Will you look over there? An enormous vine growing next to that little cottage.

BAKER’S WIFE: …I mean slippers.

It looks like a giant beanstalk rising into the sky.

BAKER’S WIFE: As pure as gold?

I must get home.

STEWARD: A servant is not just a dog, to a prince...

Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor

BAKER’S WIFE: You do take plenty of spills, don't you?

(recognizing the Baker’s Wife) Hello. It's these slippers. They're not suited for these surroundings. Actually, they're not much suited for dancing, either.

BAKER’S WIFE: I'd say those slippers were as pure as gold.

Yes. They are all you could wish for in beauty. (takes the slipper back)

BAKER’S WIFE: What I wouldn't give for just one.

One isn't likely to do you much good. (giggles)

BAKER’S WIFE: He must really have taken a liking to you.

I have no experience with Princes and castles and gowns.

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE: Yes, there she is! Move! Move! Move!

I must run.

BAKER’S WIFE: And I must have your shoe.

Stop that!

BAKER’S WIFE: I need it to have a child!

(through clenched teeth) And I need it to get out of here!

WITCH: Two midnights gone!

Wanting a ball is not wanting a prince...

(End of “On the Steps of the Palace”)

Don't come any closer to me!

BAKER’S WIFE: Please, just hear me out!

We have nothing to discuss! You have attacked me once before —

BAKER’S WIFE: I did not attack you! I attacked your shoe. I need it. Here. Here is a magic bean in exchange for it.

Magic bean? Nonsense!

BAKER’S WIFE: Don't do that!

I've already given up one shoe this evening. My feet cannot bear to give up another.

BAKER’S WIFE: I need that shoe to have a child!

That makes no sense!

BAKER’S WIFE: I see your Prince has found you.

Yes.

BAKER: Princess, I've come to report the appearance of a Giant in the land.

Where did you see a Giant?

STEWARD: That could have been caused by any number of things. I will show you to the door.

Wait.

BAKER: A Nearby household was visited by a Giant not long ago...descending from a beanstalk —

Yes, I remember.

BAKER: Yes.

I will take this news up with the Prince when he returns. Thank you.

LITTLE RED: So I salvaged what I could, and now I'm off.

Oh, good friends. What news have you?

(listens)

What of Mother's grave?

(listens)

What kind of trouble?!

(listens)

Oh, no. I can't investigate. A Princess is not suppose to go into the Woods unescorted.

(begins to cry. Birds chirp)

Good idea! I will disguise myself and go to see what's wrong. Thank you, birds.

BAKER: What's wrong, ma'am? May I be of some service?

The tree has fallen. Mother's grave, destroyed.

BAKER: Oh, I'm sorry.

My wishes have just been crushed.

BAKER: Don't say that.

It's true. You wouldn't understand.

BAKER: Well, you can't stay here. There is a Giant on the loose.

I'm certain the Prince will see to it that the Giant is rid from our land.

BAKER: There's been no sign of the Prince. No doubt he's off seducing some young maiden.

What?

BAKER: I understand that's what Princes do.

Not all Princes!

BAKER: You look just like the Princess - but dirty. You are the Princess.

Please. Get up. Get up!

(He does)

I'm not a Princess here.

BAKER: What are you to do?

I must be on my way back to the castle.

BAKER: You haven't heard? We came upon the royal family. The castle has been set upon by the Giant.

And the Prince?

LITTLE RED: She said she would only go a hundred paces.

I'm sure she'll return.

JACK: You're hurting me.

Let go of him!

WITCH: He was sobbing over her like she was his own mother!

How awful…

WITCH: Wake up! People are dying all around you. You're not the only one to suffer a loss. When you're dead, you're dead. Now it's time to get this boy to the Giant before we're all so much dead meat.

(Trying to free Jack)

Keep away from him!

LITTLE RED: Maybe I shouldn't have strayed from the path...

Maybe I shouldn't have attended the Ball...

BAKER: You don't understand. My wife was the one who really helped. I depended on her for everything.

You would leave your child?

BAKER: My child will be happier in the arms of a Princess...

But wait...

(Baker exits)

All right, all right. Come on.

(begin to exit)

Jack!

(all exit)

(End of “No More”)

I knew you wouldn't give up.

BAKER: Give me my son. He always cries when I -

Now what are we to do?

LITTLE RED: She's too tall to surprise (Birds descend)

Oh, good friends. I need your help now more than ever.

(listens)

What of the Prince?

(listens glancing at the Baker)

I don't care! What's important now is that we find a way to fell the Giant. How can you help

(listens)

You could do that?

(listens)

How can I ever thank you?

LITTLE RED: You can talk to birds?

The birds will help.

JACK: How?

When the Giant returns, they'll attack her and peck out her eyes till she's blind.

BAKER: What good will that do?

Then you can surprise her. Strike her — or whatever you do to kill a Giant.

LITTLE RED: And she'll crush us all.

(beat) Smear the ground with pitch. We'll lure her to an area smeared with pitch. Her shoes will stick, and she won't be able to move.

BAKER: All right. All right. We have to try something. Quick. It'll be dark soon.

Here.

BAKER: (Handing baby to Cinderella) Come on.

Oh no. Now, now. Don't cry, little one. I know. You want your mother.

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE: Hello.

The Giant went in that direction.

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE: My darling. I did not recognize you. What are you doing in those old clothes? And with a child? You must go back to the castle at once. There's a Giant on the loose.

The Giant has been to the castle.

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE: No! Are you all right? (Moves to her; Cinderella nods and walks away) My love. Why are you being so cold?

Maybe because I'm not your only love. Am I?

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE: I love you. I do. But yes, it's true.

Why, if you love me, would you have strayed?

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE: I thought if you were mine, that I would never wish for more. And part of me is content and as happy as I've ever been. But there remains a part of me that continually needs more.

I have, on occasion, wanted more. But that doesn't mean I went in search of it. If this is how you behave as a Prince, what kind of King will you be?

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE: I was raised to be charming, not sincere. I didn't ask to be born a King, and I am not perfect. I am only human.

I think you should go.

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE: Leave? But I do love you.

Consider that I have been lost. A victim of the Giant.

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE: Is that what you really wish?

My father's house was a nightmare. Your house was a dream. Now I want something in between. Please go.

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE: I shall always love the maiden who ran away.

And I, the faraway Prince.

LITTLE RED: I wanted to climb the tower, too.

I'm glad you're here to help me.

(LRR begins to cry)

What's wrong?

LITTLE RED: My granny's gone.

Oh, no. I'm so sorry.

LITTLE RED: I think my granny and my mother would be upset with me.

Why?

LITTLE RED: They said to always make them proud. And here I am about to kill somebody.

Not somebody. A Giant who has been doing harm.

LITTLE RED: Here she comes.

Remember. Don't let her know our plan.

LITTLE RED: We don't know.

Yes we do! We can't go on hiding him any longer. He must pay the price for his wrongs.

LITTLE RED: Over there.

See that tower where the birds are clustered? Jack is in that tower, hiding.

GIANT: Thank you. Now justice will be served and I shall leave your kingdom (sounds of birds attacking)

Good birds!

LITTLE RED: She doesn't look happy.

Ouch!

LITTLE RED: The club is stuck in her head!

But they've done it! She's swaying.

LITTLE RED: She's bleeding all over.

She's beginning to fall.

BAKER: You'll not return to the castle?

I'll gladly help you with your house. There are times when I actually enjoy cleaning.

(beat)

How proud your wife would have been of you.