Into the woods, el musical de DISNEY, Traducciones de Principios de Diseño de Teatro

¡Descarga Into the woods, el musical de DISNEY y más Traducciones en PDF de Principios de Diseño de Teatro solo en Docsity! 1 Into the Woods Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book by James Lapine Please Note: This script is provided for educational purposes ONLY. By reading this, you have in no way acquired the right to perform “Into the Woods” in any form or fashion. If you wish to put on your own production of “Into the Woods”, please contact Musical Theatre International (http://www.mtishows.com), who holds the rights to “Into the Woods”. By reading this script, you are in no way giving any money to Stephen Sondheim and/or James Lapine. If you like this show and/or script, please purchase the published script in the store so that you can help support Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, without who, there would be no “Into the Woods”. Act One, Scene 1 (Downstage, three structures: Far left, the home of Cinderella. She is in the kitchen, cleaning. Center, the cottage where Jack lives. He is inside, milking his pathetic-looking cow, Milky-White. Far right, the home/workplace of the Baker and his Wife. They are preparing tomorrow’s bread. Behind these homes, a drop depicts a large forest which separates them from the rest of the kingdom. A Narrator steps forward.) Narrator: Once upon a time-- (Music, sharp and steady. Light on Cinderella) Cinderella (singing to us): I WISH Narrator: --in a far-off kingdom-- Cinderella: MORE THAN ANYTHING Narrator: --lived a young maiden-- Cinderella: MORE THAN LIFE Narrator: --a sad young lad-- (Light on Jack and the cow) Cinderella: MORE THAN JEWELS Jack: (to us) I WISH Narrator: --and a childless Baker-- (Light on the Baker and his Wife) Jack: MORE THAN LIFE Cinderella, Baker: I WISH Narrator: --with his wife. Jack: MORE THAN ANYTHING Cinderella, Baker, Jack: MORE THAN THE MOON Baker’s Wife: I WISH Cinderella: THE KING IS GIVING A FESTIVAL. 2 Baker, Baker’s Wife: MORE THAN LIFE Jack: I WISH Cinderella: I WISH TO GO TO THE FESTIVAL- Baker, Baker’s Wife: MORE THAN RICHES Cinderella: --AND THE BALL Jack: I WISH MY COW WOULD GIVE US SOME MILK. Cinderella, Baker’s Wife: MORE THAN ANYTHING Baker: I WISH WE HAD A CHILD. Jack: (to cow) PLEASE, PAL-- Baker’s Wife: I WANT A CHILD Jack: SQUEEZE, PAL Cinderella: I WISH TO GO TO THE FESTIVAL. Jack: (overlapping) I WISH YOU’D GIVE US SOME MILK OR EVEN CHEESE Baker, Baker’s Wife (overlapping): I WISH WE MIGHT HAVE A CHILD. All Four: I WISH... (Cinderella’s STEPMOTHER and stepsisters, FLORINDA and LUCINDA, enter.) Stepmother (To CINDERELLA): You wish to go to the festival? Narrator: The poor girl’s mother had died-- Stepmother: You, Cinderella, the festival? You wish to go to the festival? Florinda (overlapping): What, you, Cinderella, the festival? The festival?! Lucinda (overlapping): What, you wish to go to the festival?! All Three: The festival?! The king’s festival!!!??? Narrator: --and her father had taken for his new wife-- Stepmother: The festival!!!??? Narrator: --a woman with two daughters of her own. Florinda (To CINDERELLA): LOOK AT YOUR NAILS! Lucinda: LOOK AT YOUR DRESS! Stepmother: PEOPLE WOULD LAUGH AT YOU-- 5 Little Red Ridinghood: 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- (Mouth full) INTO THE WOODS TO GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE— Baker’s Wife: You’re certain of your way? Little Red Ridinghood: 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. I SORT OF HATE TO ASK IT, BUT DO YOU HAVE A BASKET? Baker: Don’t stray and be late. Baker’s Wife: And save some of those sweets for granny! Little Red Ridinghood: INTO THE WOODS AND DOWN THE DELL, THE PATH IT 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. BUT INTO THE WOODS, INTO THE WOODS, INTO THE WOODS, 6 TO GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE AND HOME BEFORE DARK. (The birds have helped CINDERELLA with her task and are flying off.) Cinderella: FLY, BIRDS BACK TO THE SKY, BACK TO THE EAVES AND THE LEAVES AND THE FIELDS AND THE— (FLORINDA and LUCINDA enter, dressed for the Ball.) Florinda: HURRY UP AND DO MY HAIR, CINDERELLA! (To LUCINDA, and CINDERELLA fusses with her hair.) ARE YOU REALLY WEARING THAT? Lucinda (pointing to her sleeve): Here, I found a little tear, Cinderella! (To FLORINDA, eyeing her hair) CAN’T YOU HIDE IT WITH A HAT? Cinderella: YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL. Florinda: I know. Lucinda: She means me. Florinda (to CINDERELLA): Put it in a twist. Lucinda: Who will be there? (LUCINDA and FLORINDA continue babbling underneath.) Cinderella (To herself): 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: WHAT’S THE GOOD OF BEING GOOD IF EVERYONE IS BLIND ALWAYS LEAVING YOU BEHIND? NEVER MIND, CINDERELLA KIND CINDERELLA-- (Accenting each word with a twist of a strand of hair) NICE GOOD NICE KIND GOOD NICE— Florinda: (Screams and slaps CINDERELLA) Not that tight! Cinderella (Backing away): Sorry. 7 Florinda: Clod. (A beat) Lucinda: Hee hee hee- (Florinda glares at her.) Hee hee-- (She stops. Music continues under.) Narrator: Because the Baker had lost his mother and father in a baking accident--well, at least that is what he believed--he was eager to have a family of his own, and concerned that all efforts until now had failed. (A knock on the BAKER’s door) Baker: Who might that be? (He looks off to see) Baker’s Wife: We have sold our last loaf of bread. Baker: It’s the witch from next door. (The WITCH enters; music resumes) Baker’s Wife, Baker: We have no bread. Witch: Of course you have no bread! Baker: What do you wish? Witch: It’s not what I wish. It’s what you wish. (points to WIFE’s belly) Nothing cooking in there now, is there? Narrator: The old enchantress went on to tell the couple that she had placed a spell on their house. Baker: What spell? Witch: In the past, when you were no more than a babe, your father brought his young wife and you to this cottage. They were a handsome couple, but not handsome neighbors. You see, your mother was with child and had developed an unusual appetite. She took one look at my beautiful garden and told your father what she wanted more than anything in the world was Greens, greens, and nothing but greens: Parsley, peppers, cabbages, and celery, Asparagus and watercress and Fiddleferns and lettuce--! (Falling into “rap” style) He said, “All right,” But it wasn’t, quite, ‘Cause I caught him in the autumn In my garden one night! He was robbing me, Raping me, Rooting through my rutabaga, Raiding my arugula and My champion! My favorite!-- I should have laid a spell on him (“Spell” chord) Right there, Could have turned him into a stone Or a dog or a chair 10 SO INTO THE WOODS, THE TIME IS NOW. WE HAVE TO LIVE, I DON’T CARE HOW. INTO THE WOODS TO SELL THE COW, YOU MUST BEGIN THE JOURNEY. STRAIGHT THROUGH THE WOODS AND DON’T DELAY-- WE HAVE TO FACE THE MARKETPLACE. INTO THE WOODS TO JOURNEY’S END— Jack: INTO THE WOODS TO SELL A FRIEND-- (Music continues under.) Jack’s Mother: Someday you’ll have a real pet, Jack. Jack: A piggy? (JACK’S MOTHER shakes her head in disbelief) Narrator: Meanwhile, the witch, for purposes of her own, explained how the baker might lift the spell: Witch: You wish to have The curse reversed? I’ll need a certain Potion first. Go to the wood and bring me back: One: the cow as white as milk, Two: The cape as red as blood, Three: The hair as yellow as corn, Four: The slipper as pure as gold. Bring me these Before the chime Of midnight In three days’ time, And you shall have, I guarantee, A child as perfect As child can be. Go to the wood! (disappears after throwing spell at BAKER’s groin BAKER and BAKER’S WIFE double over. fanfare. STEPMOTHER enters) Stepmother: Ladies, (fanfare) our carriage waits. (CINDERELLA shows her the plate of lentils.) Cinderella: NOW MAY I GO TO THE FESTIVAL? 11 Stepmother: The festival? DARLING, THOSE NAILS! DARLING, THOSE CLOTHES! LENTILS ARE ON THING BUT DARLING, WITH THOSE, YOU’D MAKE US THE FOOLS OF THE FESTIVAL AND MORTIFY THE PRINCE! (CINDERELLA’S FATHER enters) Cinderella’s Father: The carriage is waiting. Stepmother: We must be gone. (They exit with a flourish.) Cinderella: Goodnight, father. (He grunts and exits.) I WISH (CINDERELLA sits dejected, crying. music continues under. The BAKER, having gone off, returns in hunting gear.) Baker: Look what I found in Father’s hunting jacket. Baker’s Wife: Six beans. Baker: I wonder if they are the-- Baker’s Wife: Witch’s beans? We’ll take them with us. Baker: No, you are not coming. Baker’s Wife: I know you are fearful of the woods at night. Baker: THE SPELL IS ON MY HOUSE. ONLY I CAN LIFT THE SPELL, THE SPELL IS ON MY HOUSE. Baker’s Wife (overlapping): NO, NO, THE SPELL IS ON OUR HOUSE. WE MUST LIFT THE SPELL TOGETHER, THE SPELL IS ON OUR HOUSE. Baker (overlapping): No. You are not to come and that is final. Now what am I to return with? Baker’s Wife (annoyed): 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 Narrator (overlapping): And so the baker, reluctantly, set off to meet the enchantress’s demands. As for Cinderella: 12 Cinderella: I STILL WISH TO GO TO THE FESTIVAL. BUT HOW AM I EVER TO GET TO THE FESTIVAL? Baker (simultaneously, muttering as he gets ready to leave): THE COW AS WHITE AS MILK, THE CAPE AS RED AS BLOOD, THE HAIR AS YELLOW AS CORN— Baker’s Wife (prompting): The slipper-- Baker: THE SLIPPER AS PURE AS GOLD Cinderella (overlapping): I KNOW! I’LL VISIT MOTHER’S GRAVE, THE GRAVE AT THE HAZEL TREE, AND TELL HER I JUST WANT TO GO TO THE KING’S FESTIVAL. Baker: THE COW, THE CAPE, THE SLIPPER AS PURE AS GOLD-- Baker’s Wife: THE HAIR-! Baker, Cinderella: 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. Baker, Cinderella, Baker’s Wife: INTO THE WOODS, THE PATH IS STRAIGHT, YOU (I) KNOW IT WELL, BUT WHO CAN TELL--? Baker, Baker’s Wife: INTO THE WOODS TO LIFT THE SPELL-- Cinderella: INTO THE WOODS TO VISIT MOTHER-- Baker’s Wife: INTO THE WOODS TO FETCH THE THINGS-- Baker: TO MAKE THE POTION-- Cinderella: TO GO TO THE FESTIVAL-- Baker, Baker’s Wife, Cinderella, Jack, Jack’s Mother: INTO THE WOODS WITHOUT REGRET, THE CHOICE IS MADE, THE TASK IS SET. INTO THE WOODS, BUT NOT FORGET-- TING WHY I’M/YOU’RE ON THE JOURNEY. 15 (pause) Mysterious Man: (stepping from behind a tree) Hello, Jack. Jack: (frightened) How did you know my name? Mysterious Man: When first I appear, I seem mysterious. But when explained, I am nothing serious. Jack: Say that again. Mysterious Man: On your way to market? You might have been there long time ago. Taking your time, Jack? Jack: No, sir. Mysterious Man: Is that the truth? Jack: Well, you see now I’m resting-- Mysterious Man: How much are you asking for the animal? Jack: No less than five pounds, sir. Mysterious Man: Oh now, Jack. Why such a sum? Jack: My mother told me-- Mysterious Man: Your mother? A boy your age? Why you’d be lucky to exchange her for a sack of beans. Jack: Well, I-- (before JACK can respond, the MYSTERIOUS MAN has disappeared) Jack: Come along, Milky-White. There are spirits here... (exits. another part of the woods. LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD, skipping to the accompaniment of “Into the Woods,” is surprised by the WOLF. MUSIC stops) Wolf: Good day, young lady. Little Red Ridinghood: Good day, Mr. Wolf. (MUSIC resumes. LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD continues. WOLF stops her again. MUSIC stops) Wolf: Whither away so hurriedly? Little Red Ridinghood: To my Grandmother’s. (MUSIC resumes. LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD continues briefly. WOLF stops her once more) Wolf: And what might be in your basket? (sniffs basket, then her torso) Little Red Ridinghood: Bread and wine, so Grandmother will have something good to make her strong. Wolf: And where might your grandmother live? 16 (BAKER appears behind a tree and eavesdrops) Little Red Ridinghood: A good quarter of a league further in the woods; her house stands under three large oak trees. (WOLF grunts lasciviously to himself as he watches LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD skip off) Wolf: MMMH... (rubbing his thighs) UNHH... LOOK AT THAT FLESH, PINK AND PLUMP. HELLO LITTLE GIRL... TENDER AND FRESH, NOT ONE LUMP. HELLO LITTLE GIRL... THIS ONE’S ESPECIALLY LUSH, DELICIOUS... MMMH... (smacks his lips, then runs over and pops up in front of LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD, holds her as for a tango. he begins moving like Fred Astaire. LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD leans with him, but doesn’t move her feet) HELLO, LITTLE GIRL, WHAT’S YOUR RUSH? YOU’RE MISSING ALL THE FLOWERS. THE SUN WON’T SET FOR HOURS, TAKE YOUR TIME. Little Red Ridinghood: (breaking away) MOTHER SAID, “STRAIGHT AHEAD,” NOT TO DELAY OR BE MISLED. Wolf: BUT SLOW, LITTLE GIRL, HARK! AND HUSH--- THE BIRDS ARE SINGING SWEETLY. YOU’LL MISS THE BIRDS COMPLETELY, YOU’RE TRAVELING SO FLEETLY. (LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD stops to listen; WOLF devours her with his eyes, mutters to himself) GRANDMOTHER FIRST, THEN MISS PLUMP... WHAT A DELECTABLE COUPLE: UTTER PERFECTION-- ONE BRITTLE, ONE SUPPLE-- (sees LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD start to move off again) ONE MOMENT, MY DEAR---! (LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD stops again) Little Red Ridinghood: MOTHER SAID, “COME WHAT MAY, 17 FOLLOW THE PATH AND NEVER STRAY.” Wolf: JUST SO, LITTLE GIRL--- ANY PATH. SO MANY WORTH EXPLORING. JUST ONE WOULD BE SO BORING. AND LOOK WHAT YOU’RE IGNORING... (gestures to the trees and flowers. LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD looks around) (to himself): THINK OF THOSE CRISP, AGING BONES, THEN SOMETHING FRESH ON THE PALATE, THINK OF THAT SCRUMPTIOUS CARNALITY TWICE IN ONE DAY--! THERE’S NO POSSIBLE WAY TO DESCRIBE WHAT YOU FEEL, WHEN YOU’RE TALKING TO YOUR MEAL. Little Red Ridinghood: MOTHER SAID NOT TO STRAY. STILL, I SUPPOSE A SMALL DELAY. GRANNY MIGHT LIKE A FRESH BOUQUET... GOODBYE MR. WOLF. (she crosses to flowers, starts to pick them, then exits) Wolf: GOODBYE, LITTLE GIRL. (starts off) AND HELLO... (he howls and exits) Baker: (entering, horrified) Is harm to come to that little girl...in the red cape? (WITCH appears, MUSIC under) Witch: Forget the little girl and get the cape! Baker: (clutching his chest) You frightened me. Witch: That’s the cape. Get it. Get it. Get it! Baker: How am I supposed to get it? Witch: You go up to the little thing and you take it. Baker: I can’t just take a cloak from a little girl. Why don’t you take it! Witch: If I could, I would! But I... (we hear RAPUNZEL singing in the distance, sweetly. WITCH listens entranced) Ahhh, my Rapunzel...listen to her beautiful music... (yelling) Get me what I need. Get me what I need! (she disappears back up into the tree) Baker: (distraught) This is ridiculous. I’ll never get that red cape, nor find a golden cow, or a yellow slipper--or was it a golden slipper and a yellow cow? Oh, no... 20 Baker’s Wife: IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT, THEN YOU GO AND YOU FIND IT AND YOU GET IT— Baker: (pointing off) HOME. Baker’s Wife: Do we want a child or not? --AND YOU GIVE AND YOU TAKE AND YOU BID AND YOU BARGAIN OR YOU LIVE TO REGRET IT. Baker: Will you please go home. Baker’s Wife: THERE ARE RIGHTS AND WRONGS AND IN-BETWEENS-- NO ONE WAITS WHEN FORTUNE INTERVENES. AND MAYBE THEY’RE REALLY MAGIC. WHO KNOWS? WHY YOU DO WHAT YOU DO. THAT’S THE POINT; ALL THE REST OF IT IS CHATTER. Baker: (looking over at MILKY-WHITE) Look at her she’s crying. Baker’s Wife: IF THE THING YOU DO IS PURE IN INTENT, IF IT’S MEANT, AND IT’S JUST A LITTLE BENT, DOES IT MATTER? Baker: YES. Baker’s Wife: NO, WHAT MATTERS IS THAT EVERYONE TELLS TINY LIES. WHAT’S IMPORTANT, REALLY, IS THE SIZE. (pause: no response) ONLY THREE MORE TRIES AND WE’LL HAVE OUR PRIZE. WHEN THE END’S IN SIGHT, YOU’LL REALIZE: IF THE END IS RIGHT, IT JUSTIFIES THE BEANS! Baker: Take the cow and go home. I will carry this out in my own fashion! (BAKER and BAKER’S WIFE exit in different directions. NARRATOR enters, RAPUNZEL singing off in the distance. RAPUNZEL’S tower appears) Narrator: And so the Baker continued his search for the cape as red as blood. (WITCH enters) As for Rapunzel, the Witch was careful not to lose this beauty to the outside world and so shut her up within a doorless tower that lay deep within the forest. And when the old enchantress paid a visit, she called forth: (NARRATOR exits as WITCH crosses to tower, RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE enters, kneels to hide from WITCH) Witch: Rapunzel. Rapunzel. Let down your to me. (RAPUNZEL stops singing and her hair descends. The WITCH climbs up struggling as RAPUNZEL leans forward in pain. RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE comes from around a tree) Rapunzel’s Prince: (to himself) Rapunzel, Rapunzel. What a strange name. Strange but beautiful and fit for a prince! Tomorrow, before that horrible witch arrives, I will stand before her window and ask her to let down her hair to me. (Baker steps into LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD’s path; the girl is eating a sweet as she enters) 21 Baker: Hello there, little one. Little Red Ridinghood: Hello. Baker: Have you saved some of those sweets for Granny? (he holds on to the edge of LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD’S cape) Little Red Ridinghood: I ate all of the sweets, and half the loaf of bread. Baker: Where did you get that beautiful cape? I so admire it. Little Red Ridinghood: My Granny made it for me. Baker: Is that right? I would love a red cloak like that. (examines the cape) Little Red Ridinghood: You’d look pretty foolish. (Baker goes to her and takes her cape) Baker: May I take a look at it? Little Red Ridinghood: I don’t like to be without my cape. Please give it back! Baker: (frustrated) I want it badly. Little Red Ridinghood: Give it back please. Witch’s Voice: Forget the little girl and get the cape! (BAKER suddenly dashes away with the cape under his arm. LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD stands numb for a moment, then lets out a blood-curdling scream, followed by hysterical weeping) Baker: (returning with the cape and placing it on LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD’S shoulders) I just wanted to make certain that you really loved this cape. Now you go to your Granny’s--and you be careful that no wolf comes your way. Little Red Ridinghood: I’d rather a wolf than you, any day. (she stomps on BAKER’s foot and exits) Baker: (in pain) IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED, THEN YOU GO AND YOU FIND IT AND YOU TAKE IT. DO I WANT A CHILD OR NOT? IT’S A CLOAK, WHAT’S A CLOAK? ITS A JOKE, IT’S A STUPID LITTLE CLOAK, AND A CLOAK IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT. (nods, convincing himself) SO YOU TAKE IT. (with resolve) THINGS ARE ONLY WHAT YOU NEED THEM FOR, WHAT’S IMPORTANT IS WHO NEEDS THEM MORE— (MUSIC continues under as BAKER exits. NARRATOR enters) 22 Narrator: And so the Baker, with new-found determination, went after the red cape. As for the little girl, she was surprised to find her grandmother’s cottage door standing open. (we see GRANNY’s cottage with WOLF, dressed as GRANNY, in bed, covers up and hands near his mouth. the walls of the cottage are made of scrim. LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD enters) Little Red Ridinghood: (to herself) Oh dear. How uneasy I feel. Perhaps it’s all the sweets. (towards the bed) Good day, Grandmother. (moves to the bed) My, Grandmother, you’re looking very strange. What big ears you have! Wolf: The better to hear you with, my dear. Little Red Ridinghood: But Grandmother, what big eyes you have! Wolf: The better to see you with, my dear. Little Red Ridinghood: But Grandmother, what large hands you have! Wolf: The better to hug you with, my dear. Little Red Ridinghood: Oh, Grandmother. What a terrible, big, wet mouth you have! Wolf: The better to eat you with! (bloodcurdling scream from LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD who disappears) Narrator: And scarcely had the wolf said this, then with a single bound he was devouring the little girl. Well, it was a full day of eating for the both. And with his appetite appeased, the Wolf took to bed for a nice long nap. (WOLF snoring, BAKER is outside cottage. Narrator exits) Baker: That Grandmother has a mighty snore. (goes up to the window and looks in) Odd. Where is the little one? Eating no doubt. (turns to walk away. WOLF belches. BAKER suddenly stops) Or eaten! (enters the house and timidly goes over to the bed, his knife stretched before him. he lets out a yelp when he sees the WOLF) Grandmother, ha! (BAKER draws the knife back, then stops) What is that red cloth in the corner of your mouth? Looks to me to be a piece of...ah ha! I’ll get that cape from within your stomach. (he slits the WOLF’s stomach, then recoils in disgust) Little Red Ridinghood: (stepping out of the WOLF, bloodied) What a fright! How dark and dank it was inside that wolf. (GRANNY emerges from WOLF, also bloodied) Granny: (wheezing, tries to strangle WOLF, who reacts in pain) Kill the devil. Take that knife and cut his evil head off. Let’s see the demon sliced into a thousand bits. Better yet, let the animal die a painful, agonizing, hideous death. Little Red Ridinghood: (Shocked) GRANNY! Granny: Quiet, child. This evil must be destroyed. Fetch me some great stones! We’ll fill his belly with them, then we’ll watch him try to run away! Baker: (faint) Well, I will leave you to your task. Granny: Don’t ya want the skins? Baker: No. No. You keep them. 25 Cinderella’s Prince: Have you seen a beautiful young woman in a ball gown pass through? Baker’s Wife: I don’t think so, sir. Steward: I think I see her over there. (CINDERELLA’S PRINCE signals STEWARD off in that direction; then takes another look at BAKER’S WIFE before following. music continues under) Baker’s Wife: I’ve never lied to royalty before. I’ve never anything to royalty before. Cinderella: (comes out) Thank you. Baker’s Wife: If a prince were looking for me, I certainly wouldn’t hide. Cinderella: What brings you here--and with a cow? Baker’s Wife: Oh, my husband’s somewhere in the woods. (proud) He is undoing a spell. Cinderella: (impressed) Oh? Baker’s Wife: Oh, yes. Now, the Prince, what was he like? Cinderella: HE’S A VERY NICE PRINCE. Baker’s Wife: And--? Cinderella: And-- IT’S A VERY NICE BALL. Baker’s Wife: And--? Cinderella: And-- WHEN I ENTERED, THEY TRUMPETED. Baker’s Wife: And--? The Prince--? Cinderella: Oh, the Prince... Baker’s Wife: Yes, the Prince! Cinderella: WELL, HE’S TALL. Baker’s Wife: IS THAT ALL? Did you dance? Is he charming? They say that he’s charming. Cinderella: WE DID NOTHING BUT DANCE. Baker’s Wife: Yes--? And--? Cinderella: AND IT MADE A NICE CHANGE. Baker’s Wife: No, the Prince! Cinderella: Oh, the Prince... Baker’s Wife: Yes, the Prince. Cinderella: HE HAS CHARM FOR A PRINCE, I GUESS... Baker’s Wife: Guess? 26 Cinderella: I DON’T MEET A WIDE RANGE. AND IT’S ALL VERY STRANGE. Baker’s Wife: Are you to return to the festival tomorrow eve? Cinderella: Perhaps. Baker’s Wife: Perhaps? Oh, to be pursued by a Prince. All that pursues me is tomorrow’s bread. (we here the first chime of midnight) What I wouldn’t give to be in your shoes. (a second chime, chimes continue under) Cinderella: Will you look over there. (MILKY-WHITE stands and looks) An enormous vine growing next to that little cottage. Baker’s Wife: (looking down at Cinderella’s feet) ...I mean slippers. Cinderella: It looks like a giant beanstalk rising into the sky. Baker’s Wife: As pure as gold? Cinderella: I must get home. (she begins to leave) Baker’s Wife: Wait! (CINDERELLA exits) I need your shoes! (BAKER’S WIFE starts off after CINDERELLA; MILKY-WHITE lets out a “MOO!” and takes off in the other direction; BAKER’S WIFE stops, torn between MILKY-WHITE and CINDERELLA. to CINDERELLA) Hey! (to MILKY-WHITE) Come back here! (takes off after MILKY-WHITE. final chime of midnight. music continues under. One by one each of the characters appears moving through the woods, darting in and out of trees and paths, pursuing their errands, mostly oblivious to the others. The night turns gradually into dawn. the following lines are spoken rhythmically as each character appears and disappears) Baker: One midnight gone... Mysterious Man: No knot unties itself. Witch: Sometimes the things you most wish for Are not to be touched. Cinderella’s Prince, Rapunzel’s Prince: The harder to get, the better to have... Cinderella’s Prince: Agreed? Rapunzel’s Prince: Agreed. Florinda: Never wear mauve at a ball... Lucinda: Or pink... Stepmother: (to FLORINDA and LUCINDA) Or open your mouth... 27 Jack: (looking up and off at the beanstalk) The difference between a cow and a bean Is a bean can begin an adventure... Jack’s Mother: (looking off in JACK’s direction) Slotted spoons don’t hold much soup... Little Red Ridinghood: The prettier the flower, the farther from the path... Cinderella’s Father: The closer to the family, the closer to the wine... Rapunzel: (offstage) AHHH... Witch: (reappearing suddenly) One midnight gone! Granny: The mouth of a wolf’s not the end of the world... Steward: A servant is not just a dog, to a Prince... Cinderella: Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor... Baker’s Wife: You may know what you need, But to get what you want, Better see that you keep what you have... (all singing overlapping) Baker: One midnight gone... Witch: Sometimes the things you most wish for Are not to be touched... Cinderella’s Prince, Rapunzel’s Prince: The harder to get, the better to have... Cinderella’s Prince: Agreed? Rapunzel’s Prince: Agreed... Baker: One midnight gone...one midnight gone... Florinda: Never wear mauve at a ball... Lucinda: Or pink... Jack’s Mother: Slotted spoons don’t hold much soup... Baker’s Wife: To get what you want Better see that you keep what you have... Little Red Ridinghood: The prettier the flower... All: One midnight, one midnight, one midnight gone! INTO THE WOODS, INTO THE WOODS, INTO THE WOODS, THEN OUT OF THE WOODS AND HOME BEFORE— (blackout) END OF SCENE TWO 30 Mysterious Man: When first I appear I seem delirious, but when explained I am nothing serious. Would you buy yourself a child? Baker: I don’t understand. Mysterious Man: How badly do you want a child? Five gold pieces? Ten? Twenty? Baker: I’ve not thought to put a price on it. Mysterious Man: Exactly. (He walks over and takes the gold away) You’ve not thought about many things, have you, son? Baker: Give me back the money. It’s not yours-- Mysterious Man: Nor is it Jack’s. The money is not what’s important. What’s important is that your wish be honored. (MYSTERIOUS MAN goes around a tree and disappears; BAKER begins darting around looking for him) Baker: Come back here! Damn! Give me back-- (He sees BAKER’S WIFE who comes from around another tree) What are you doing here now? Baker’s Wife: (quickly switching gears) I see you’ve the red cape. Baker: Yes. I’ve the cape. Only two items left to locate. Baker’s Wife: Three. Baker: Two. I’ve the cape and the cow. Baker’s Wife: You’ve the cape! Baker: What have you done with the cow? Baker’s Wife: She ran away, I never reached home. I’ve been looking for her all night. Baker: I should have known better than to have entrusted her to you. Baker’s Wife: She might just as easily have run from you! Baker: But she didn’t. Baker’s Wife: But she might have! Baker: BUT SHE DIDN’T!!! (WITCH drops from tree) Witch: WHO CARES! THE COW IS GONE! GET IT BACK! GET IT BACK!!! (all three settle down) Baker: (walks over to her) We were just going to do that. Here, I can give you this-- Witch: DON’T GIVE ME THAT, FOOL! I don’t want to touch that. Have you no sense? (hears RAPUNZEL in the background) My sweetness calls. (tough) By tomorrow midnight--deliver the items or you’ll wish you never thought to have a child! (WITCH puts a spell on them, they double over in pain as WITCH leaves) 31 Baker: I don’t like that woman. Baker’s Wife: (contrite) I’m sorry I lost the cow. Baker: I shouldn’t have yelled. (beat) Now please, go back to the village. (BAKER’S WIFE annoyed, turns her back and begins to walk away) I will make things right! And then we can just go about our life. No more hunting about in the woods for strange objects. No more witches and dim- witted boys and hungry little girls. (SHE begins to move back towards him) Go! (THEY exit in opposite directions -- TWO FANFARES -- another part of the forest. CINDERELLA’S PRINCE, somewhat bedraggled, crosses the stage. he is met by RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE) Rapunzel’s Prince: Ah, there you are, good brother. Father and I had wondered where you had gone. Cinderella’s Prince: I have been looking all night for her. (BAKER’S WIFE appears behind a tree and eavesdrops) Rapunzel’s Prince: Her? Cinderella’s Prince: The beautiful one I danced the evening with. Rapunzel’s Prince: Where did she go? Cinderella’s Prince: Disappeared, like the fine morning mist. Rapunzel’s Prince: She was lovely. Cinderella’s Prince: The loveliest. Rapunzel’s Prince: I am not certain of that! I must confess, I too have found a lovely maiden. She lives here in the woods. Cinderella’s Prince: The woods? Rapunzel’s Prince: Yes. In the top of a tall tower that has no door or stairs. Cinderella’s Prince: Where? Rapunzel’s Prince: Two leagues from here, due east just beyond the mossy knoll. Cinderella’s Prince: And how do you manage a visit? Rapunzel’s Prince: I stand beneath her tower and say “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair to me.” And she lowers the longest, most beautiful head of hair - yellow as corn - which I climb to her. (BAKER’S WIFE reacts) Cinderella’s Prince: (starts laughing hysterically) Rapunzel, Rapunzel! What kind of name is that? You jest! I have never heard of such a thing. Rapunzel’s Prince: (defensive) I speak the truth. She is as true as your maiden. A maiden running from a prince? None would run from us. Cinderella’s Prince: (sober) Yet one has. DID I ABUSE HER OR SHOW HER DISDAIN? WHY DOES SHE RUN FROM ME? IF I SHOULD LOSE HER 32 HOW SHALL I REGAIN THE HEART SHE HAS WON FROM ME? AGONY! BEYOND POWER OF SPEECH WHEN THE ONE THING YOU WANT IS THE ONLY THING OUT OF YOUR REACH. Rapunzel’s Prince: HIGH IN HER TOWER SHE SITS BY THE HOUR MAINTAINING HER HAIR BLITHE AND BECOMING, AND FREQUENTLY HUMMING A LIGHTHEARTED AIR: (hums RAPUNZEL’s theme) AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-- AGONY! FAR MORE PAINFUL THAN YOURS, WHEN YOU KNOW SHE WOULD GO WITH YOU IF THERE ONLY WERE DOORS. Cinderella’s Prince, Rapunzel’s Prince: AGONY! OH, THE TORTURE THEY TEACH! Rapunzel’s Prince: WHAT’S AS INTRIGUING... Cinderella’s Prince: OR HALF SO FATIGUING... Cinderella’s Prince, Rapunzel’s Prince: AS WHAT’S OUT OF REACH? Cinderella’s Prince: AM I NOT SENSITIVE, CLEVER, WELL-MANNERED, CONSIDERATE, PASSIONATE, CHARMING AS KIND AS I’M HANDSOME, AND HEIR TO A THRONE? Rapunzel’s Prince: YOU ARE EVERYTHING MAIDENS COULD WISH FOR! Cinderella’s Prince: THEN WHY NO... Rapunzel’s Prince: DO I KNOW? Cinderella’s Prince: THE GIRL MUST BE MAD! Rapunzel’s Prince: YOU KNOW NOTHING OF MADNESS ‘TIL YOU’RE CLIMBING HER HAIR AND YOU SEE HER UP THERE AND YOU’RE NEARING HER ALL THE WHILE HEARING HER AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-- Cinderella’s Prince, Rapunzel’s Prince: AGONY Cinderella’s Prince: MISERY! Rapunzel’s Prince: WOE! 35 Cinderella: I have no experience with Princes and castles and gowns. Baker’s Wife: Nonsense, every girl dreams... Steward: Look, sir. Look! Cinderella’s Prince: Yes. There she is. Move. Move. Move. Cinderella: I must run! (BAKER’S WIFE grabs a shoe) Baker’s Wife: And I must have your shoe! Cinderella: Stop that! (The two engage in a tug-of-war over the shoe as dialogue elapses) Baker’s Wife: I need it to have a baby! Cinderella: And I need it to get out of here! (CINDERELLA wins the battle over the shoe, and desperately runs off; BAKER’S WIFE is embarrassed by her own behavior. SHE straightens herself up as CINDERELLA’S PRINCE with STEWARD bound onstage, only to curtsey again) Steward: Where did she go? Baker’s Wife: Who? Steward: Don’t play the fool, woman! Baker’s Wife: Oh, you mean the beautiful young maiden in the ball gown? She went in that direction. I was trying to hold her here for you... Cinderella’s Prince: I can capture my own damsel, thank you. (CINDERELLA’S PRINCE begins to go of towards CINDERELLA) Baker’s Wife: Yes, sir. (PRINCE and STEWARD dash off-stage. We hear STEPSISTERS and STEPMOTHER. They enter, first looking behind them then looking towards CINDERELLA’S PRINCE) Stepmother: (to BAKER’S WIFE) Where did he go? Baker’s Wife: Who? Lucinda: The Prince, of course! Baker’s Wife: That direction. But you’ll never reach them! Florinda: We would have if that mongrel with the cow hadn’t molested us. Baker’s Wife: Cow? (STEPSISTERS giggle. BAKER runs onstage with MILKY-WHITE. They are both out of breath) Baker: (holding up an ear of corn) Please, let me just compare this color with that of your own. (THEY chortle as they exit. there is a long moment of silence. BAKER’S WIFE and BAKER stare at each other) 36 Baker: (Dejected) I thought you were returning home. (angry) I’ve had no luck. Baker’s Wife: You’ve the cow! Baker: Yes. I’ve the cow. We’ve only two of the four. (MILKY-WHITE continues to breathe heavily) Baker’s Wife: Three. Baker: Two! Baker’s Wife: (Pulls the hair from her pocket) Three. Compare this to your corn. (BAKER does so and smiles) Baker: Where did you find it? Baker’s Wife: (false modesty) I pulled it from a maiden in a tower. Baker: (looking at hair) Three! Baker’s Wife: And I almost had the fourth, but she got away. Baker: We’ve one entire day left. Surely we can locate the slipper by then. Baker’s Wife: We? You mean you’ll allow me to stay? Baker: Well...perhaps it will take the two of us to get this child. Baker’s Wife: YOU’VE CHANGED, YOU’RE DARING YOU’RE DIFFERENT IN THE WOODS MORE SURE MORE SHARING YOU’RE GETTING US THROUGH THE WOODS IF YOU COULD SEE... YOU’RE NOT THE MAN WHO STARTED, AND MUCH MORE OPENHEARTED THAN I KNEW YOU TO BE. Baker: IT TAKES TWO I THOUGHT ONE WAS ENOUGH, IT’S NOT TRUE: IT TAKES TWO OF US. YOU CAME THROUGH WHEN THE JOURNEY WAS ROUGH IT TOOK YOU IT TOOK TWO OF US. IT TAKES CARE, IT TAKES PATIENCE AND FEAR AND DESPAIR TO CHANGE THOUGH YOU SWEAR TO CHANGE WHO CAN TELL IF YOU DO? IT TAKES TWO. 37 Baker’s Wife: YOU’VE CHANGED. YOU’RE THRIVING. THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT THE WOODS. NOT JUST SURVIVING YOU’RE BLOSSOMING IN THE WOODS AT HOME I FEAR WE’D BE THE SAME FOREVER, AND THEN OUT HERE... YOU’RE PASSIONATE, CHARMING, CONSIDERATE, CLEVER... Baker: IT TAKES ONE TO BEGIN, BUT THEN ONCE YOU’VE BEGUN IT TAKES TWO OF YOU. IT’S NO FUN BUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE YOU CAN DO WHEN THERE’S TWO OF YOU. IF I DARE IT’S BECAUSE I’M BECOMING AWARE OF US AS A PAIR OF US, EACH ACCEPTING A SHARE OF WHAT’S THERE. Baker, Baker’s Wife: WE’VE CHANGED WE’RE STRANGERS I’M MEETING YOU IN THE WOODS WHO MINDS WHAT DANGERS? I KNOW WE’LL GET PAST THE WOODS. AND ONCE WE’RE PAST LET’S HOPE THE CHANGES LAST BEYOND WOODS BEYOND WITCHES AND SLIPPERS AND HOODS, JUST THE TWO OF US BEYOND LIES, SAFE AT HOME WITH OUR BEAUTIFUL PRIZE, JUST A FEW OF US IT TAKES TRUST. IT TAKES JUST A BIT MORE AND WE’RE DONE. WE WANT FOUR WE HAD NONE WE’VE GOT THREE WE NEED ONE IT TAKES TWO. (we hear the slow chimes of midnight begin; a hen dashes onstage, closely followed by JACK) 40 Rapunzel: (offstage) No! Narrator: --the witch discovered her affections for the Prince before he could spirit her away. (WITCH drags RAPUNZEL on. music) Witch: WHAT DID I CLEARLY SAY? CHILDREN MUST LISTEN. (grabs RAPUNZEL’s hair, takes out scissors) Rapunzel: No, no, please! Witch: WHAT WERE YOU NOT TO DO? CHILDREN MUST SEE-- Rapunzel: No! Witch: AND LEARN. (RAPUNZEL screams in protest) WHY COULD YOU NOT OBEY? CHILDREN SHOULD LISTEN. WHAT HAVE I BEEN TO YOU? WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE ME BE? HANDSOME LIKE A PRINCE? (RAPUNZEL whimpers) AH, BUT I AM OLD. I AM UGLY. I EMBARRASS YOU. Rapunzel: No! Witch: YOU ARE ASHAMED OF ME. Rapunzel: No! Witch: YOU ARE ASHAMED. YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND. (music continues under) Rapunzel: It was lonely atop that tower. Witch: I was not company enough? Rapunzel: I am no longer a child. I wish to see the world. Witch: (tender, but intense) DON’T YOU KNOW WHAT’S OUT THERE IN THE WORLD? SOMEONE HAS TO SHIELD YOU FROM THE WORLD. STAY WITH ME. PRINCES WAIT THERE IN THE WORLD, IT’S TRUE. PRINCES, YES, BUT WOLVES AND HUMANS, TOO. STAY AT HOME. I AM HOME. 41 WHO OUT THERE COULD LOVE YOU MORE THAN I? WHAT OUT THERE THAT I CANNOT SUPPLY? STAY WITH ME. STAY WITH ME. THE WORLD IS DARK AND WILD. STAY A CHILD WHILE YOU CAN BE A CHILD. WITH ME. (RAPUNZEL just whimpers; music continues under) I gave you protection and yet you disobeyed me. Rapunzel: No! Witch: Why didn’t you tell me you had a visitor? (RAPUNZEL keeps whimpering; music crescendos) I will not share you, but I will show you a world you’ve never seen. (she cuts RAPUNZEL’S hair) Rapunzel: No! NO! (WITCH drags RAPUNZEL off. BAKER enters, followed by MYSTERIOUS MAN) Mysterious Man: When is a white cow not a white cow? Baker: I don’t know! Leave me alone? Mysterious Man: Haven’t I left you alone long enough? Baker: Your questions make no sense, old man! Go away! MYSTERIOUS MAN: In need of another cow? (he drops sack of gold; BAKER turns around at the sound of the falling coins; MYSTERIOUS MAN exits as BAKER picks up the money and exits. JACK comes upon LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD, who wears a cape made of wolf skins. She walks with a certain bravado) Jack: What a beautiful cape! (LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD swerves around, brandishing a knife) Little Red Ridinghood: Stay away from my cape or I’ll slice you into a thousand bits! Jack: (stepping back) I don’t want it! I was just admiring it! Little Red Ridinghood: (proud) My granny made it for me from a wolf that attacked us. And I got to skin the animal--and best of all, she gave me this beautiful knife for protection. Jack: (competitive) Well, look what I have. A hen that lays golden eggs. Little Red Ridinghood: (suspicious) I don’t believe that egg came from that hen. Where did you get that egg? Jack: I stole this from the kingdom of the giant--up there. And if you think this is something, you should see the golden harp the giant has. It plays the most beautiful tunes without your even having to touch it. Little Red Ridinghood: (smirking) Of course it does. Why don’t you go up to the kingdom right now and bring it back and show me? Jack: I could. Little Red Ridinghood: You could not! 42 Jack: I could! Little Red Ridinghood: You could not, Mr. Liar! (she makes a hasty exit) Jack: I am not a liar. I’ll get that harp. You’ll see! (he exits) Narrator: After having cast out Rapunzel to a remote desert, the witch returned to take the Prince by surprise. (Rapunzel’s tower. RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE climbs Rapunzel’s hair, when suddenly the WITCH pops out from the tower) Witch: You would fetch your dearest, but the bird no longer sits in her cage. (the WITCH pushes RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE from the tower. He falls and screams, grabbing his eyes. The WITCH laughs with delight) Narrator: And unfortunately, the Prince fell into a patch of thorns which pierced his eyes and blinded him. (RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE stumbles helplessly offstage) As for Cinderella, she returned from her final visit to the Festival. (lights dim. CINDERELLA hobbles onstage, wearing but one shoe) Cinderella: HE’S A VERY NICE PRINCE, HE’S A PRINCE WHO PREPARES. KNOWING THIS TIME I’D RUN FROM HIM, HE SPREAD PITCH ON THE STAIRS. I WAS CAUGHT UNAWARES. AND I THOUGHT: WELL, HE CARES-- THIS IS MORE THAN JUST MALICE. BETTER STOP AND TAKE STOCK WHILE YOU’RE STANDING HERE STUCK ON THE STEPS OF THE PALACE. YOU THINK, WHAT DO YOU WANT? YOU THINK, MAKE A DECISION. WHY NOT STAY AND BE CAUGHT? YOU THINK, WELL, IT’S A THOUGHT, WHAT WOULD BE HIS RESPONSE? BUT THEN WHAT IF HE KNEW WHO YOU WERE WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU’RE NOT WHAT HE THINKS THAT HE WANTS? AND THEN WHAT IF YOU ARE WHAT A PRINCE WOULD ENVISION? ALTHOUGH HOW CAN YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE TILL YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT, WHICH YOU DON’T? SO THEN WHICH DO YOU PICK: WHERE YOU’RE SAFE, OUT OF SIGHT, AND YOURSELF, BUT WHERE EVERYTHING’S WRONG? OR WHERE EVERYTHING’S RIGHT AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU’LL NEVER BELONG? 45 Steward: My apologies, sir. I thought that I might-- Cinderella’s Prince: Enough of what you thought! I employed a ruse and had the entire staircase smeared with pitch. And there when she ran down, remained the maiden’s slipper. (he produces the slipper) Steward: Brilliant! Cinderella’s Prince: I thought so. It did create quite a mess when the other guests left. Steward: And sir, I have succeeded in obtaining the other slipper! Mysterious Man: (to STEWARD) Give them the slipper, and all will come to a happy end. Steward: Who are you, old man? Mysterious Man: When first I appear, I seem deleterious-- Steward: Shut up! Cinderella’s Prince: Do as he says. He’s obviously a spirit of some sort, and we only need one. Steward: Oh... (he hands slipper to BAKER’S WIFE. loud scream. JACK’S MOTHER comes running onstage, still screaming) Jack’s Mother: (hysterical; she bows) There’s a dead giant in my backyard! (CINDERELLA’S PRINCE shoots STEWARD a look) (more hysterical) I heard Jack coming down the beanstalk, calling for his axe. And when he raced to the bottom, he took it and began hacking down the stalk. Suddenly, with a crash, the beanstalk fell, but there was no Jack. For all I know, he’s been crushed by the ogre. (she cries; long pause; CINDERELLA’S PRINCE goes to her) Cinderella’s Prince: Worrying will do you no good. If he’s safe, then he’s safe. If he’s been crushed, well, then there’s nothing any of us can do about that, now is there? (to STEWARD) We must be off. I need my rest before tomorrow’s search is to commence. (CINDERELLA’S PRINCE and STEWARD begin to exit) Jack’s Mother: Doesn’t anyone care a giant has fallen from the sky? Cinderella’s Prince: (stops) He is dead, isn’t he? Jack’s Mother: With such a thud, I would suppose. (CINDERELLA’S PRINCE nods, and exits with STEWARD. WITCH appears, frantic; looks up to the sky) Witch: (unpleasant) The third midnight is near. I see a cow. I see a slipper. Baker: (pulling items from his bag) And the cape as red as blood. Baker’s Wife: And the hair as yellow as corn. Witch: (amazed) You’ve all the objects? Baker’s Wife: Yes. (she brings the cow forth) Witch: That cow doesn’t look as white as milk to me. Baker’s Wife: (moving towards cow) Oh, she is. (patting cow) She is! 46 (white powder flies about as BAKER’S WIFE pats the cow. BAKER pulls her away as WITCH approaches) Witch: This cow has been covered with flour! Baker: We had a cow as white as milk. Honestly we did. Witch: Then where is she? Baker’s Wife: She’s dead. Baker: We thought you’d prefer a live cow. Witch: Of course I’d prefer a live cow! So bring me the dead cow and I’ll bring her back to life! Baker: You could do that? Witch: Now! (WITCH zaps BAKER with lightning; WITCH, BAKER’S WIFE and BAKER scamper upstage towards MILKY-WHITE’S grave and we see dirt flying into the air as they dig into the grave; JACK comes running onstage with a golden harp that sings) Jack’s Mother: (relieved) There you are! (she hits him) I’ve been worried sick. Jack: Mother, look. The most beautiful harp. (he hands harp to her) Jack’s Mother: You’ve stolen too much! You could have been killed coming down that plant. Baker: (offstage) She’s too heavy. Jack: What’s happening? Jack’s Mother: Milky-White is dead, but don’t worry. They’re going to bring her back to life! (WITCH waves her hand, causing a puff of smoke. MILKY-WHITE suddenly stands, restored to life. BAKER and BAKER’S WIFE bring cow forward.) Jack: Milky-White! Now I have two friends. A cow and a harp. Witch: Quiet! Feed the objects to the cow! Jack, Baker’s Wife, Baker: What? Witch: You heard me. Feed them to the cow. (music; the BAKER begins to feed MILKY-WHITE the objects. With great effort, the cow chews them, and with greater effort, swallows. We hear the first chime of midnight. The remaining eleven sound through the rest of the scene. All stare intently at the cow. The WITCH pulls a silver goblet from her cloak and gives it to the BAKER) Fill this! Jack: (going to MILKY-WHITE) I’ll do it. She’ll milk only for me. Squeeze, pal. (Jack milks her feverishly. Nothing. WITCH goes and takes the goblet back; she turns it upside down) Witch: Wrong ingredients. Forget about a child. Baker’s Wife: Wait! We followed your instructions. One, the cow is as white as milk, correct? Witch: Yes. Baker’s Wife: And two, the cape was certainly as red as blood. Witch: Yes. 47 Baker’s Wife: And three, the slipper-- Witch: Yes. Baker: And four, I compared the hair with this ear of corn. Baker’s Wife: I pulled it from a maiden in a tower and-- Witch: YOU WHAT?! What were you doing there? Baker’s Wife: Well, I happened to be passing by-- Witch: I touched that hair! Don’t you understand? I cannot have touched any of the ingredients! Baker, Baker’s Wife: (moaning) Nooooo... (MYSTERIOUS MAN comes from around a tree) Mysterious Man: The corn! The corn! Baker: What? Mysterious Man: The silky hair of the corn. Pull it from the ear and feed it to the cow. Quickly! (BAKER does so, hurriedly) Witch: This had better work, old man, before the last stroke of midnight, or your son will be the last of your flesh and blood. Baker: Son? Mysterious Man: (to WITCH) Please. Not now. Witch: Yes. Meet your father. (she moves to cow) Baker: FATHER? Could that be you? I thought you died in a baking accident. Mysterious Man: I didn’t want to run away from you, son, but-- (MILKY-WHITE lets out a bloodcurdling moan and begins to shake feverishly) Baker’s Wife: It’s working! (COW squeals) Jack: She’s milking! Baker: (to MYSTERIOUS MAN) I don’t understand. Mysterious Man: Not now! (to BAKER’S WIFE) Into the cup! (BAKER’S WIFE holds goblet under MILKY-WHITE’s udder as JACK milks; all eyes are on the cow. BAKER’S WIFE hands the filled goblet to the WITCH; BAKER and BAKER’S WIFE dance with joy as WITCH drinks potion. They go to her) Baker: We’ve given you what you wish. Baker’s Wife: Now when can we expect a child? (WITCH begins to shake and move away) 50 Witch: Surely you remember. Rapunzel: Mother? Witch: This is who I truly am. Come with me, child. We can be happy as we once were. (offers RAPUNZEL her hand) Rapunzel’s Prince: (pulling RAPUNZEL back) She will not go with you! Witch: Let her speak for herself! (RAPUNZEL shakes her head “no”) You are the only family I know. (holds out her hand) Come with me. Please. (RAPUNZEL shakes her head “no”) You give me no choice! (WITCH attempts to put a spell on them, but only a pathetic puff of smoke comes out her cane. she tries again, and again nothing. RAPUNZEL and RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE shrug and exit) Narrator: As is often the way in these tales, in exchange for her youth and beauty, the Witch lost her power over others. (WITCH, frustrated, breaks her cane and exits) When the wedding with the Prince was celebrated, Florinda and Lucinda attended, wishing to win favor with Cinderella and share in her good fortune. (CINDERELLA, in her wedding gown, and CINDERELLA’S PRINCE enter with LUCINDA and FLORINDA at their sides) But as the sisters stood by the blessed couple, pigeons swooped down upon them and poked out their eyes and punished themmwith blindness. (FLORINDA and LUCINDA are blinded by pigeons descending and stagger offstage, screaming. BAKER’S WIFE enters, very pregnant) Baker’s Wife: I see your Prince has found you. Cinderella: Yes. Baker’s Wife: (patting her belly) Thank you for the slipper. (BAKER enters) Cinderella: I DIDN’T THINK I’D WED A PRINCE. Cinderella’s Prince: I DIDN’T THINK I’D EVER FIND YOU. Cinderella, Cinderella’s Prince, Baker, Baker’s Wife: I DIDN’T THINK I COULD BE SO HAPPY!... (ALL come onstage) Narrator: And it came to pass, all that seemed wrong was now right, the kingdoms were filled with joy, and those who deserved to were certain to live a long and happy life. Ever after... All Except Narrator: EVER AFTER! Narrator: JOURNEY OVER, ALL IS MENDED, AND IT’S NOT JUST FOR TODAY, BUT TOMORROW, AND EXTENDED, EVER AFTER! All Except Narrator: EVER AFTER! 51 Narrator: ALL THE CURSES HAVE BEEN ENDED, THE REVERSES WIPED AWAY. ALL IS TENDERNESS AND LAUGHTER FOR FOREVER AFTER! All Except Narrator: HAPPY NOW AND HAPPY HENCE AND HAPPY EVER AFTER! Narrator: THEY WERE DANGERS-- All Except Narrator: WE WERE FRIGHTENED-- Narrator: AND CONFUSIONS-- All Except Narrator: BUT WE HID IT-- Narrator: AND THE PATHS WOULD OFTEN SWERVE. All Except Narrator: WE DID NOT. Narrator: THERE WERE CONSTANT-- All Except Narrator: IT’S AMAZING-- Narrator: DISILLUSIONS-- All Except Narrator: THAT WE DID IT. Narrator: BUT THEY NEVER LOST THEIR NERVE. All Except Narrator: NOT A LOT. Narrator and Men: AND THEY/WE REACHED THE RIGHT CONCLUSIONS Narrator and Women: AND THEY/WE GOT WHAT THEY/WE DESERVED! All: NOT A SIGH AND NOT A SORROW, TENDERNESS AND LAUGHTER. JOY TODAY AND BLISS TOMORROW, AND FOREVER AFTER! (FLORINDA and LUCINDA enter, blind and limping, and make their way to the front of the stage) Florinda: I WAS GREEDY. Lucinda: I WAS VAIN. Florinda: I WAS HAUGHTY. Lucinda: I WAS SMUG. Florinda and Lucinda: WE WERE HAPPY. Lucinda: IT WAS FUN. Florinda: BUT WE WERE BLIND. 52 Florinda and Lucinda: THEN WE WENT INTO THE WOODS TO GET OUR WISH, AND NOW WE’RE REALLY BLIND. (WITCH enters) Witch: I WAS PERFECT. I HAD EVERYTHING BUT BEAUTY. I HAD POWER, AND A DAUGHTER LIKE A FLOWER, IN A TOWER. THEN I WENT INTO THE WOODS TO GET MY WISH, AND NOW I’M ORDINARY. LOST MY POWER AND MY FLOWER. Florinda and Lucinda: (overlapping) WE’RE UNWORTHY. Witch, Florinda, and Lucinda: WE’RE/I’M UNHAPPY NOW, UNHAPPY HENCE, AS WELL AS EVER AFTER. HAD WE USED OUR COMMON SENSE, BEEN WORTHY OF OUR DISCONTENTS-- Company: TO BE HAPPY, AND FOREVER, YOU MUST SEE YOUR WISH COME TRUE. DON’T BE CAREFUL, DON’T BE CLEVER, WHEN YOU SEE YOUR WISH, PURSUE. IT’S A DANGEROUS ENDEAVOR, BUT THE ONLY THING TO DO-- (in three groups) THOUGH IT’S FEARFUL, THOUGH IT’S DEEP, THOUGH IT’S DARK, AND THOUGH YOU MAY LOSE THE PATH, THOUGH YOU MAY ENCOUNTER WOLVES, YOU MUSTN’T STOP, YOU MUSTN’T SWERVE, YOU MUSTN’T PONDER, YOU HAVE TO ACT! WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR WISH, IF YOU WANT YOUR WISH, YOU CAN HAVE YOUR WISH, BUT YOU CAN’T JUST WISH-- NO, TO GET YOUR WISH (in unison) YOU GO INTO THE WOODS, WHERE NOTHING’S CLEAR, WHERE WITCHES, GHOSTS, AND WOLVES APPEAR. INTO THE WOODS AND THROUGH THE FEAR, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE JOURNEY. 55 Cinderella, Cinderella’s Prince: I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD BE SO HAPPY! Cinderella: NOT AN UNHAPPY MOMENT SINCE... Jack, Jack’s Mother: I DIDN’T THINK WE’D BE THIS RICH... Cinderella’s Prince: NOT A CONCEIVABLE OBJECTION... Baker, Baker’s Wife: I NEVER THOUGHT WE’D HAVE A BABY... Cinderella, Cinderella’s Prince, Jack, Jack’s Mother: I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD BE SO HAPPY! Baker, Baker’s Wife: (overlapping) I’M SO HAPPY! Stepmother: HAPPY NOW, HAPPY HENCE, HAPPY EVER AFTER-- Stepmother, Stepsisters: (to CINDERELLA) WE’RE SO HAPPY YOU’RE SO HAPPY, JUST AS LONG AS YOU STAY HAPPY, WE’LL STAY HAPPY... Cinderella, Cinderella’s Prince: NOT ONE ROW... Jack’s Mother: POTS OF PENCE... Jack: WITH MY COW... Baker, Baker’s Wife: LITTLE GURGLES... Cinderella’s Prince: (to CINDERELLA) DARLING, I MUST GO NOW... (exits) Jack’s Mother: (to JACK) WE SHOULD REALLY SELL IT. Baker: (to Baker’s Wife) WHERE’S THE CHEESECLOTH? All others: WISHES MAY BRING PROBLEMS, SUCH THAT YOU REGRET THEM. All: BETTER THAT, THOUGH, THAN TO NEVER GET THEM... Cinderella: I’M GOING TO BE A PERFECT WIFE! Jack: (overlapping) I’M GOING TO BE A PERFECT SON! Baker’s Wife, Jack’s Mother: I’M GOING TO BE A PERFECT MOTHER! Baker: I’M GOING TO BE A PERFECT FATHER! I’M SO HAPPY! Cinderella, Jack, Jack’s Mother, Baker’s Wife: (overlapping) I’M GOING TO SEE THAT HE (SHE) IS SO HAPPY! All: I NEVER THOUGHT I’D LOVE MY LIFE! I WOULD HAVE SETTLED FOR ANOTHER! 56 Cinderella: THEN TO BECOME A WIFE... Jack, Jack’s Mother: THEN TO BE SET FOR LIFE... Baker, Baker’s Wife: THEN TO BEGET A CHILD... All: THAT FORTUNE SMILED... I’M SO HAPPY! Wife: (hands the baby to BAKER, who is very awkward in holding the child) If only this cottage were a little larger. Baker: I will expand our quarters in due time. Baker’s Wife: Why expand when we can simply move to another cottage? (BABY cries) Baker: We will not move. This was my father’s house, and now it will be my son’s. Baker’s Wife: You would raise your child alongside a witch? Baker: (edgy) Why does he always cry when I hold him? Baker’s Wife: Babies cry. He’s fine. You needn’t hold him as if he were so fragile. Baker: He wants his mother. Here. (Baker carefully passes BABY back to BAKER’S WIFE. BABY stops crying) Baker’s Wife: I can’t take care of him all the time! Baker: I’ll take care of him when he’s older. Baker, Baker’s Wife, Jack, Jack’s Mother: WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THICK AND THIN. Stepmother, Florinda, Lucinda: WE HAD TO LOSE A LOT TO WIN. Cinderella: I VENTURED OUT AND SAW WITHIN. All: I NEVER THOUGHT I’D BE SO MUCH I HADN’T BEEN! I’M SO HAPPY... (The song is suddenly interrupted by a loud rumbling noise followed by an enormous crash. the BAKER’s house caves in. HE is caught underneath the rubble as the BAKER’S WIFE runs forward with their BABY. Action stops. JACK and JACK’S MOTHER look concerned. CINDERELLA sends her STEPMOTHER out to investigate. we should be momentarily uncertain as to whether there has truly been an accident onstage) Baker’s Wife: Oh, my goodness. Baker: (stunned) Are you all right? Baker’s Wife: I think so. Baker: And the baby? Baker’s Wife: Yes, he’s fine. Are you all right? (BAKER nods; WITCH enters) Baker: (to WITCH) You! Have you done this to our house? 57 Witch: Always thinking of yourself? Look at my garden. Baker’s Wife: What of your garden? Witch: Look! (BAKER and BAKER’S WIFE move to window) Baker: Destroyed. Baker’s Wife: What has happened? Witch: I was thrown to the ground. I saw nothing. Baker’s Wife: What could do such a thing? Baker: An earthquake. Witch: No earthquake! My garden has been trampled. Those are footprints! Baker’s Wife: Who could do such a thing. Witch: Anything that leaves a footprint that big is no “who.” (the following spoken in rhythm) Baker: Do you think it was a bear? Witch: A bear? Bears are sweet. Besides, you ever see a bear with forty-foot feet? Baker’s Wife: A dragon? Witch: (shaking her head) No scorch marks-- Usually they’re linked. Baker: Manticore? Witch: Imaginary. Baker, Baker’s Wife: Griffin? Witch: Extinct. Baker: Giant? Witch: Possible. Very, very possible... (music fades under) Baker: A Giant... Baker’s Wife: Maybe we should tell someone. Witch: Who are you going to tell? Baker: The royal family, of course. 60 Baker: (whispers back) You can’t frighten her. Little Red Ridinghood: Well, I guess Granny will have to do without the bread and sweets. Besides, I have all I can carry. (drops suitcase) Baker’s Wife: (trying to lift suitcase) Why such a load? Little Red Ridinghood: Oh. I’m moving in with Granny. We had an accident, too. I came home to find our house collapsed. As if a big wind blew it in. I couldn’t find my mother anywhere. Baker’s Wife: Oh, no. Little Red Ridinghood: So I salvaged what I could, and now I’m off. (music continues under. Birds descend, chirp to CINDERELLA) Cinderella: 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 supposed to go into the woods unescorted. (CINDERELLA begins to cry birds chirp) Good idea! I will disguise myself and go to see what’s wrong. Thank you, birds. (birds ascend. CINDERELLA exits) Baker’s Wife: We’ll take you to Granny’s. Baker: What?! Baker’s Wife: (whispers) We’re not going to let her go alone! Baker: All right. I will take you. Little Red Ridinghood: I don’t need anyone to take me. I’ve gone many times before. Baker: But not when there have been such winds blowing. Baker’s Wife: That’s right. We’ll all take you. Baker: No! Baker’s Wife: I’m not about to stay here with the baby when a “wind” might return to this house, too. Jack: I know Mother made me promise, but I’m going to find that Giant anyway! (CINDERELLA, JACK, BAKER, BAKER’S WIFE, LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD all make their way into the woods) Baker: INTO THE WOODS, IT’S ALWAYS WHEN YOU THINK AT LAST YOU’RE THROUGH, AND THEN INTO THE WOODS YOU GO AGAIN TO TAKE ANOTHER JOURNEY. 61 Baker’s Wife: INTO THE WOODS, THE WEATHER’S CLEAR, WE’VE BEEN BEFORE, WE’VE NAUGHT TO FEAR... INTO THE WOODS, AWAY FROM HERE-- Jack: INTO THE WOODS, TO FIND A GIANT--! Little Red Ridinghood: INTO THE WOODS TO GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE... Baker: INTO THE WOODS, THE PATH IS STRAIGHT, NO REASON THEN TO HESITATE-- Baker’s Wife: INTO THE WOODS, IT’S NOT SO LATE, IT’S JUST ANOTHER JOURNEY... Cinderella: INTO THE WOODS, BUT NOT TOO LONG: THE SKIES ARE STRANGE, THE WINDS ARE STRONG. INTO THE WOODS TO SEE WHAT’S WRONG... Jack: (picking up a huge pair of broken eyeglasses) INTO THE WOODS TO SLAY THE GIANT! Baker’s Wife: INTO THE WOODS TO SHIELD THE CHILD... Little Red Ridinghood: TO FLEE THE WINDS... Baker: TO FIND A FUTURE... Baker’s Wife: TO SHIELD... Jack: TO SLAY... Little Red Ridinghood: TO FLEE... Baker: TO FIND... Cinderella: TO FIX... Baker’s Wife: TO HIDE... Little Red Ridinghood: TO MOVE... Jack: TO BATTLE... Cinderella: TO SEE WHAT THE TROUBLE IS... (music fades) END OF SCENE ONE 62 Act Two, Scene 2 (RAPUNZEL enters, sees BAKER, BAKER’S WIFE, BABY, LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD and CINDERELLA; she screams. they scream and exit. RAPUNZEL sees JACK; she screams. he screams and exits. RAPUNZEL sits, weeping. WITCH enters) Witch: (urgent) Rapunzel! What are you doing here? (RAPUNZEL whimpers) What’s the matter? Rapunzel: Oh, nothing! You just locked me in a tower without company for fourteen years, then you blinded my Prince and banished me to a desert where I had little to eat, and again no company, and then bore twins! Because of the way you treated me, I’ll never, never be happy! (she cries) Witch: (defensive, yet sincere) I was just trying to be a good mother. Stay with me. There’s a giant running about. (RAPUNZEL runs off; WITCH follows her; PRINCES enter) Rapunzel’s Prince: Good brother! What a surprise! Cinderella’s Prince: Brother. How good to see you. Rapunzel’s Prince: What brings you into the wood today? Cinderella’s Prince: I am investigating news of a giant. Rapunzel’s Prince: You? Investigating news of a giant? Father would not even do that! That is the business of your Steward...or less. Cinderella’s Prince: (defensive) Well what brings you into the wood? Rapunzel’s Prince: My Rapunzel has run off. Cinderella’s Prince: Run off? Rapunzel’s Prince: She’s a changed woman. She has been subject to hysterical fits of crying. Moods that no soul can predict. I know not what to do. Cinderella’s Prince: What a pity. Rapunzel’s Prince: And Cinderella? Cinderella’s Prince: She remains well. Rapunzel’s Prince: (conspiratorial) Does she? Now, brother, do tell what you’re really doing here. Cinderella’s Prince: HIGH IN A TOWER LIKE YOURS WAS, BUT HIGHER... A BEAUTY ASLEEP. ALL ROUND THE TOWER A THICKET OF BRIAR A HUNDRED FEET DEEP AGONY! NO FRUSTRATION MORE KEEN. WHEN THE ONE THING YOU WANT IS A THING THAT YOU’VE NOT EVEN SEEN. Rapunzel’s Prince: I FOUND A CASKET ENTIRELY OF GLASS... (as CINDERELLA’S PRINCE starts to shrug) 65 Baker: (to STEWARD) I warned you! Why didn’t you do something? Steward: I do not make policy, I just carry it out! (WITCH appears) Witch: (to BAKER) And I warned you that you can’t rely on the Royal Family to solve your problems. Baker’s Wife: I think it best we go back to the village. Witch: (bitter) I wouldn’t be in such a rush if I were you. Guess which path the giant took to the castle? Baker’s Wife: Oh no... Baker: What? Witch: All that was left of my garden was a sack of beans...and there’s not much left of your house either. Baker: But I heard giants never strike the same house twice. Baker’s Wife: Shhh. (suddenly the ground begins to shake. frightening and loud crunching noises approach. the huge shadow of the GIANT envelopes the stage. The earth stops shaking and they look up in amazement 2nd step: ALL make a sudden head move 3rd step: ALL look up 4th step: ALL start to chatter and feel movement in knees 5th step: ALL bounce, see first tree fall. STEWARD yells “There” and points up in the air. 6th step: ALL bounce bigger, start to lose balance. ALL see something in the trees 7th step: ALL, except WITCH, bounce into a clump, losing balance. STEPMOTHER points and yells as she sees the full height of the GIANT. LUCINDA and FLORINDA scream with STEPMOTHER) Witch: (total amazement) The giant’s a woman! Baker: That size! Giant: (amplified from a specific spot) Where is the lad who killed my husband? (ALL lean back as GIANT speaks) Steward: There is no lad here. Baker: We haven’t seen him. Giant: I want the lad who climbed the beanstalk. Witch: We’ll get him for you right away. Don’t move! (LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD pulls a knife from beneath her cape and runs towards the GIANT; BAKER restrains her, but she threatens the GIANT anyway) 66 Little Red Ridinghood: It was you who destroyed our house...not a great wind! It’s because of you I’ve no mother! Giant: And who destroyed my house? That boy asked for shelter, and then he stole our gold, our hen, and our harp. Then he killed my husband. I must avenge the wrongdoings. Baker’s Wife: We are not responsible for him. Witch: You are wasting your breath. Steward: She’s right. You can’t reason with a dumb giant. (the ground gives a mighty shake; leaves and twigs fall down) Giant: Not all giants are dumb. Give me the boy! Little Red Ridinghood: We told you, he’s not here. Cinderella’s Father: The girl is telling the truth! (NARRATOR enters) Giant: I know he’s there. And I’m going to wait right here until he’s delivered to me. Narrator: The giant, who was nearsighted, remained convinced that she had found the lad. There was no consensus among them as to which course of action to take. Baker’s Wife: (to WITCH) Put a spell on her. Witch: I no longer have my powers. If I did, you think I’d be standing here with all of you? (indicates group; getting down to business) Now, we’ll have to give her someone. All Except Witch: Who? Witch: The Steward. It’s in his line of duty to sacrifice his life... Steward: Don’t be ridiculous! I’m not giving up my life for anyone! Giant: I’m waiting! Narrator: You must understand, these were not people familiar with making choices...their past experiences in the woods had in no way prepared them to deal with a force this great. Witch: Excuse me, but would you like a blind girl instead? (FLORINDA and LUCINDA scream) Stepmother: How dare you! Witch: Put them out of their misery. Florinda, Lucinda: We’re not that miserable! Baker: What are you talking about? Baker’s Wife: She doesn’t want a woman. Witch: Fine. Then what do you suggest we do? 67 Giant: I’m still waiting! Narrator: It is interesting to examine the moral issues at question here. The finality of stories such as these dictates... (NARRATOR turns upstage and notices EVERYONE looking at him. THEY move towards him, as a group) Sorry, I tell the story, I’m not part of it. Little Red Ridinghood: That’s right. (pulls out knife) Witch: Not one of us! Baker: You’re always on the outside. Narrator: (nervous) That’s my role. You must understand, there must always be someone on the outside. Steward: You are going to be on the inside now. Narrator: You are making a big mistake. Stepmother: Nonsense. Narrator: You need an objective observer to pass the story along. Witch: Some of us don’t like the way you’ve been telling it. (THEY grab him and begin to pull him upstage) Narrator: If you drag me into this mess, you’ll never know how your story ends. You’ll be lost. Baker: (to GROUP) Wait. He’s the only one who knows the story. Narrator: Do you think it will be fun when you have to tell it yourselves? Think of your baby. Baker’s Wife: Stop! He’s right! Let him go! (THEY let go of him; to LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD) Put that away! (LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD does) Narrator: Now that’s better. You don’t want to live in a world of chaos. (calms down; begins to inch away from them) There must always be an outside observ-- Witch: (screaming; racing towards the NARRATOR) Here’s the lad! (she suddenly pushes the NARRATOR across the stage in the direction of the GIANT; there is a sudden earth tremor; all eyes swoop upwards as if to suggest the NARRATOR has been picked up by the GIANT. we hear the NARRATOR yell from the distance) Narrator: I’m not the lad! Giant: This is not the lad. Baker: Don’t drop... (their eyes swing from the GIANT to the ground, and we hear a thud. they recoil in horror as we hear the NARRATOR splat) Baker: (to WITCH) Why did you push him into her arms? Witch: You wanted to get rid of him, too. Baker’s Wife: We might have thought of something else. Witch: If it was up to you, a decision would never be made. 70 Steward: We must be gone if we’re to arrive before nightfall. Baker: Where are you going? Lucinda: We’re off to a hidden kingdom. Stepmother: Shhh. We can’t take everyone. Witch: Fools! There is nowhere to hide! Baker: You’ll never get there. We have to stay and find our way out of this together. Stepmother: (sincere) Some people are cut out to battle giants, and others are not. I don’t have the constitution. And as long as I can be of no help, I’m going to hide. Everything will work out fine in the end. Baker: Not always. (STEPMOTHER, CINDERELLA’S FATHER, FLORINDA, LUCINDA, and STEWARD exit) Little Red Ridinghood: I hope the giant steps on them all. Baker’s Wife: You shouldn’t say that! (WITCH, who has been quietly standing off to the side, turns around) Witch: You were thinking the same thing. Little Red Ridinghood: This is terrible. We just saw three people die! Witch: (bitter) Since when are you so squeamish? How many wolves have you carved up? Little Red Ridinghood: A wolf’s not the same. Witch: Ask a wolf’s mother! Baker: Stop it! Witch: I suggest that we find that boy now and give her what she wants. Little Red Ridinghood: If we give her the boy, she will kill him too. Witch: And if we don’t, she’ll kill half the kingdom! Baker’s Wife: One step at a time. Maybe if he apologizes. Makes amends. Baker: Yes! He’ll return the stolen goods. Little Red Ridinghood: Yes! Baker’s Wife: He’s really a sweet boy at heart. She’ll see that. Witch: You people are so blind! It’s because of that boy that there’s a giant in our land. While you continue talking about this problem, I’ll find the lad and I’ll serve him to the giant for lunch. (WITCH exits) Little Red Ridinghood: Are we going to let her feed the boy to the giant? Baker’s Wife: No! 71 Baker: I’ll have to find him first. Baker’s Wife: I’ll go too. Baker: No! Stay here with the baby. Baker’s Wife: We’ll fan out. It will increase our chances of finding him. Baker: What if one of us gets lost? Baker’s Wife: We’ll count our steps from right here. (LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD comes over) No. You stay here with the baby. I do not want you roaming about the Woods. Baker: You would leave our child with her? Baker’s Wife: Yes. The baby is asleep. He will be safe with the girl. Baker: But what if the giant were to return here...! Baker’s Wife: The giant will not harm them. I know. Baker: How do you know? Baker’s Wife: I know! Baker: But what if... Baker’s Wife: But what if! BUT WHAT IF! Will only a giant’s foot stop your arguing. One hundred paces...GO! (pause -- The BAKER and the BAKER’S WIFE march off in opposite directions, counting to themselves, leaving LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD and the BABY; we follow the BAKER’S WIFE as she crosses paths with CINDERELLA’S PRINCE; SHE is nervous and excited in his presence) Baker’s Wife: 81...82...83...84 (she see CINDERELLA’S PRINCE and bows) Hello, Sir. Cinderella’s Prince: (continuing to walk) Hello. Baker’s Wife: You must be here to slay the giant. Cinderella’s Prince: Yes. Baker’s Wife: Have you come upon the giant yet? Cinderella’s Prince: No. Baker’s Wife: I have. Cinderella’s Prince: (stops walking) You have? Baker’s Wife: Yes. Cinderella’s Prince: And why are you alone in the woods? Baker’s Wife: I came with my husband. We were...well, it’s a long story. Cinderella’s Prince: He would let you roam alone in the woods? 72 Baker’s Wife: No, actually, it was my choice. I’m looking for the lad. Cinderella’s Prince: (moves closer) Your choice? How brave. Baker’s Wife: Brave? Cinderella’s Prince: (next to her) Yes. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN THE WOODS MAY I KISS YOU? (BAKER’S WIFE blinks) ANY MOMENT WE COULD BE CRUSHED Baker’s Wife: Uh... Cinderella’s Prince: DON’T FEEL RUSHED (he kisses her. she is stunned, turns to audience) Baker’s Wife: THIS IS RIDICULOUS, WHAT AM I DOING HERE? I’M IN THE WRONG STORY. (resumes the kiss, then pulls away; music stops) Wait one moment! We can’t do this. You have a princess. Cinderella’s Prince: Well, yes, I do. Baker’s Wife: And I have a baker... Cinderella’s Prince: Of course, you’re right. How foolish. (Music resumes) FOOLISHNESS CAN HAPPEN IN THE WOODS. ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE... LET YOUR HESITATIONS BE HUSHED. ANY MOMENT, BIG OR SMALL, IS A MOMENT AFTER ALL. SEIZE THE MOMENT, SKIES MAY FALL ANY MOMENT. (kisses her again) Baker’s Wife: But this is not right! Cinderella’s Prince: RIGHT AND WRONG DON’T MATTER IN THE WOODS. ONLY FEELINGS. LET US MEET THE MOMENT UNBLUSHED. LIFE IS OFTEN SO UNPLEASANT... YOU MUST KNOW THAT AS A PEASANT... BEST TO TAKE THE MOMENT PRESENT AS A PRESENT FOR THE MOMENT. (As CINDERELLA’S PRINCE takes the BAKER’S WIFE into the glade, the BAKER encounters CINDERELLA at her Mother’s grave; the tree is shattered. she is weeping) Baker: (offstage, then entering) Jack! Jack! 81...82...83... (he sees CINDERELLA) What’s wrong Ma’am? May I be of some service? Cinderella: The tree has fallen. Mother’s grave, destroyed. 75 EITHER PLAIN OR GRAND? IS IT ALWAYS “OR”? IS IT NEVER “AND”? THAT’S WHAT WOODS ARE FOR; FOR THOSE MOMENTS IN THE WOODS... OH, IF LIFE WERE MADE OF MOMENTS, EVEN NOW AND THEN A BAD ONE... BUT IF LIFE WERE ONLY MOMENTS, THEN YOU’D NEVER KNOW YOU HAD ONE. FIRST A WITCH, THEN A CHILD, THEN A PRINCE, THEN A MOMENT... WHO CAN LIVE IN THE WOODS? AND TO GET WHAT YOU WISH, ONLY JUST FOR A MOMENT... THESE ARE DANGEROUS WOODS... LET THE MOMENT GO... DON’T FORGET IT FOR A MOMENT THOUGH. JUST REMEMBERING YOU’VE AN “AND” WHEN YOU’RE BACK TO “OR” MAKES THE “OR” MEAN MORE THAN IT DID BEFORE NOW I UNDERSTAND... (sighs, starts walking faster) AND IT’S TIME TO LEAVE THE WOODS. (BAKER’S WIFE finishes song and begins counting her steps offstage. she stops and retraces her steps, and begins exiting in another direction. she realizes she is lost. she begins to go in yet another direction, when we hear the approach of the giant in the distance. in panic, she backs up. loud noise and dramatic light change as BAKER’S WIFE falls backwards. Blackout -- set change. We see BAKER, CINDERELLA and LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD) Baker: She should be back by now. Little Red Ridinghood: She wouldn’t get lost. Cinderella: I’m sure she’ll return. Baker: No. I must go in search of her. Little Red Ridinghood: We’ll come too. Baker: No. You stay here. I will count 100 paces. I shall return soon. 1...2...3... (WITCH makes a noisy entrance with JACK in tow; SHE keeps a firm grip on him. JACK drops BAKER’S WIFE’s scarf as he enters) Witch: Look who I found! Jack: Please don’t let her give me to the giant! Witch: It’s not our fault the giant wants you! (BAKER notices scarf and picks it up) Cinderella: Let go of him! 76 Little Red Ridinghood: Leave him alone! Baker: Where did you find this? (WITCH lets go of JACK) Where is my wife? Witch: She’s dead. Baker: (he stops) What? Jack: (he breaks loose from the WITCH) I’m sorry sir. I came upon her. She was under a tree... Witch: He was sobbing over her like she was his own mother! Cinderella: How awful... Baker: How could this happen? I should never have let her wander off alone. Jack: I buried her in a footprint. Baker: I should have insisted she stay at home. Witch: Remorse will get you nowhere. Baker: (angry) My wife is dead! Witch: Wake up! People are dying all around you. You are 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. (SHE grabs JACK; HE struggles) Cinderella: (trying to free JACK) Keep away from him! Little Red Ridinghood: (joining CINDERELLA) No! Witch: This is no time to be soft-hearted! He’s going to the giant and I’m taking him... Baker: (advancing, distraught) Yes. He’s the one to blame. (to JACK) It’s because of you there’s a giant in our midst and my wife is dead. Jack: BUT IT ISN’T MY FAULT, I WAS GIVEN THOSE BEANS! (referring to BAKER) YOU PERSUADED ME TO TRADE AWAY MY COW FOR BEANS! AND WITHOUT THOSE BEANS THERE’D HAVE BEEN NO STALK TO GET UP TO THE GIANT’S IN THE FIRST PLACE! Baker: WAIT A MINUTE, MAGIC BEANS FOR A COW SO OLD THAT YOU HAD TO TELL A LIE TO SELL IT WHICH YOU TOLD! WERE THEY WORTHLESS BEANS? WERE THEY OVER SOLD OH AND TELL US WHO 77 PERSUADED YOU TO STEAL THAT GOLD? Little Red Ridinghood: (to JACK) SEE, IT’S YOUR FAULT Jack: NO! Baker: SO IT’S YOUR FAULT Jack: NO! Little Red Ridinghood: YES, IT IS! Jack: IT’S NOT! Baker: IT’S TRUE Jack: (to BAKER) WAIT A MINUTE... THOUGH I ONLY STOLE THE GOLD TO GET MY COW BACK FROM YOU! Little Red Ridinghood: (to BAKER) SO IT’S YOUR FAULT! Jack: YES! Baker: NO, IT ISN’T! I’D HAVE KEPT THOSE BEANS, BUT OUR HOUSE WAS CURSED (referring to WITCH) SHE MADE US GET A COW TO GET THE CURSE REVERSED! Witch: IT’S HIS FATHER’S FAULT THAT THE CURSE GOT PLACED AND THE PLACE GOT CURSED IN THE FIRST PLACE! Little Red Ridinghood: OH, THEN IT’S HIS FAULT! Witch: SO? Cinderella: IT WAS HIS FAULT... Jack: NO. Baker: YES, IT IS. IT’S HIS Cinderella: I GUESS... Jack: WAIT A MINUTE, THOUGH... I CHOPPED DOWN THE BEANSTALK... RIGHT, THAT’S CLEAR BUT WITHOUT ANY BEANSTALK THEN WHAT’S QUEER IS 80 (WITCH stops them in their tracks) Witch: IT’S THE LAST MIDNIGHT. IT’S THE LAST WISH IT’S THE LAST MIDNIGHT. SOON IT WILL BE BOOM... (stamps her foot; drum) SQUISH! (squishes; squish sound. confronting each in turn) TOLD A LITTLE LIE, STOLE A LITTLE GOLD, BROKE A LITTLE VOW DID YOU? HAD TO GET YOUR PRINCE, HAD TO GET YOUR COW, HAVE TO GET YOUR WISH, DOESN’T MATTER HOW, ANYWAY, IT DOESN’T MATTER NOW! IT’S THE LAST MIDNIGHT. IT’S THE BOOM... (drum) SPLAT! (splat sound) NOTHING BUT A VAST MIDNIGHT EVERYBODY SMASHED FLAT! NOTHING WE CAN DO. NOT EXACTLY TRUE; WE CAN ALWAYS GIVE HER THE BOY! (they protect JACK as she reaches for him) NO? NO, OF COURSE WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS THE BLAME, SOMEBODY TO BLAME. FINE IF THAT’S THE THING YOU ENJOY PLACING THE BLAME IF THAT’S THE AIM, GIVE ME THE BLAME... JUST GIVE ME THE BOY! Little Red Ridinghood, Cinderella: No! Witch: NO... YOU’RE SO NICE YOU’RE NOT GOOD, YOU’RE NOT BAD, YOU’RE JUST NICE. I’M NOT GOOD I’M NOT NICE 81 I’M JUST RIGHT! I’M THE WITCH YOU’RE THE WORLD. I’M THE HITCH, I’M WHAT NO ONE BELIEVES, I’M A WITCH. YOU’RE ALL LIARS AND THIEVES LIKE HIS FATHER, LIKE HIS SON WILL BE TOO... OH, WHY BOTHER? YOU’LL JUST DO WHAT YOU DO. IT’S THE LAST MIDNIGHT. SO, GOODBYE ALL. COMING AT YOU FAST, MIDNIGHT... SOON YOU’LL SEE THE SKY FALL. (during the following verse the WITCH scatters beans as the others scramble to pick them up) HERE, YOU WANT ANOTHER BEAN? HAVE ANOTHER BEAN. BEANS WERE MADE FOR MAKING YOU RICH! PLANT THEM AND THEY SOAR... HERE, YOU WANT SOME MORE? LISTEN TO THE ROAR; GIANTS BY THE SCORE...! OH WELL, YOU CAN BLAME ANOTHER WITCH. IT’S THE LAST MIDNIGHT, IT’S THE LAST VERSE. NOW, BEFORE IT’S PAST MIDNIGHT, I’M LEAVING YOU MY LAST CURSE; I’M LEAVING YOU ALONE. YOU CAN TEND THE GARDEN, IT’S YOURS. SEPARATE AND ALONE, EVERYBODY DOWN ON ALL FOURS. ALRIGHT MOTHER, WHEN? LOST THE BEANS AGAIN! PUNISH ME THE WAY YOU DID THEN! GIVE ME CLAWS AND A HUNCH JUST AWAY FROM THIS BUNCH AND THE GLOOM AND THE DOOM AND THE BOOM CRUNNNCH! (she disappears) Jack: Maybe I shouldn’t have stolen from the Giant. Little Red Ridinghood: Maybe I shouldn’t have strayed from the path... 82 Cinderella: Maybe I shouldn’t have attended the ball... Baker: Yes, maybe you shouldn’t have. (BAKER begins to exit) Jack: Where are you going? Baker: Away from here. Little Red Ridinghood: But you said we had to find our way out of this together. Baker: It doesn’t matter whether we’re together or apart. Jack: We need your help. Baker: You don’t understand. My wife was the only one who really helped. I depended on her for everything. (moves further) Cinderella: You would leave your child? Baker: (sad) My child will be happier in the arms of a princess. (BAKER exits) Cinderella: But wait... (CINDERELLA, JACK, LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD exit -- (set change MYSTERIOUS MAN appears and startles the BAKER) Baker: I thought you were dead. Mysterious Man: Not completely. Are we ever? Baker: As far as I’m concerned you are. Mysterious Man: Is that true? Baker: It’s because of you all this has happened. Mysterious Man: I strayed into the garden to give your mother a gift. And I thoughtlessly took some of those beans for myself. How was I to know? How are we ever to know? And when she died, I ran away from my guilt. And now, aren’t you making the same mistake? Baker: No. Mysterious Man: Aren’t you running away? Baker: NO MORE QUESTIONS. PLEASE. NO MORE TESTS. COMES THE DAY YOU SAY “WHAT FOR?” PLEASE...NO MORE. Mysterious Man: THEY DISAPPOINT, THEY DISAPPEAR, THEY DIE BUT THEY DON’T... Baker: What? Mysterious Man: THEY DISAPPOINT, IN TURN, I FEAR. FORGIVE, THOUGH, THEY WON’T... 85 Cinderella: Then you can surprise her. Strike her...or whatever you do to kill a giant. Baker: Once she’s blinded she’ll stagger about. Jack: She’ll get angry. Little Red Ridinghood: And she’ll crush us. (beat) Baker: Smear the ground with pitch. Cinderella: What? Baker: We’ll lure her to an area smeared with pitch. Cinderella: Her shoes will stick, and she won’t be able to move. Jack: And I will climb a tree and strike her from behind. Baker: I will climb a tree too. It will take two mighty blows. Little Red Ridinghood: I’m excited. Jack: I’m going to kill another giant. Baker: Quick. It will be dark soon. We must find the pitch. Little Red Ridinghood: There’s some at Granny’s. Baker: (hands the BABY to CINDERELLA) The baby will be safe here with you. This will take no time. (BAKER, JACK and LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD exit. BABY begins to cry) Cinderella: Oh no. Now, now, don’t cry little one. I know you want your mother. (BABY begins to calm down. CINDERELLA’S PRINCE bounds onstage; he doesn’t recognize CINDERELLA) Cinderella’s Prince: Hello. (he begins to cross the stage to exit) Cinderella: The Giant went in that direction. Cinderella’s Prince: (realizing it is CINDERELLA) 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. Cinderella: The Giant has been to the castle. Cinderella’s Prince: No! Are you alright? (CINDERELLA nods and walks away) My love, why so cold? Cinderella: Maybe it’s because I am not your only love. Am I? Cinderella’s Prince: (beat) I love you. I do. (pause) But yes, it’s true. 86 Cinderella: Why, if you love me, would you have strayed? Cinderella’s Prince: I thought if you were mine, that I could not wish for more. And part of me is content and as happy as I have ever been. But there remains a part that continually needs more. Cinderella: 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’m not perfect. I am only human. Cinderella: (after a pause) I think you should go. Cinderella’s Prince: Leave? But I do love you. Cinderella: Consider that I have been lost. A victim of the giant. Cinderella’s Prince: Is that what you really wish? Cinderella: My father’s house was a nightmare. Your house was a dream. Now I want something in between. Please go. (CINDERELLA’S PRINCE begins to exit) Cinderella’s Prince: I shall always love the maiden that ran away. Cinderella: And I the faraway prince. (CINDERELLA’S PRINCE exits. another moment for CINDERELLA with the BABY. LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD enters) Little Red Ridinghood: They’re almost finished. You see over there between those two trees? When the giant comes, we are to send her over there. Cinderella: Good. Little Red Ridinghood: I wanted to climb the tree too. Cinderella: I am glad that you are here to help me. (LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD begins to cry; music begins) What’s wrong? Little Red Ridinghood: My granny’s gone. Cinderella: Oh no. I’m so sorry. Little Red Ridinghood: I think my granny and my mother would be very angry with me. Cinderella: Why? Little Red Ridinghood: They said to always make them proud. And here I am about to kill somebody. Cinderella: Not somebody. A giant that has been doing harm. Little Red Ridinghood: But the giant’s a person. Aren’t we to show forgiveness? Mother would be very unhappy with these circumstances. Cinderella: MOTHER CANNOT GUIDE YOU. NOW YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN. ONLY ME BESIDE YOU, STILL, YOU’RE NOT ALONE. 87 NO-ONE IS ALONE, TRULY. NO-ONE IS ALONE. SOMETIMES PEOPLE LEAVE YOU, HALFWAY THROUGH THE WOOD OTHERS MAY DECEIVE YOU, YOU DECIDE WHAT’S GOOD. YOU DECIDE ALONE. BUT NO-ONE IS ALONE. Little Red Ridinghood: I WISH... Cinderella: I KNOW... (LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD moves close to CINDERELLA who comforts her. JACK and the BAKER appear sitting in a branch, clubs in hand) Jack: Wait until my Mother hears I’ve slain the giant. Baker: Jack. Your mother is dead. Jack: (stunned) Dead? Was she killed by the giant? Baker: She was arguing with the giant...trying to protect you...and she was struck a deadly blow by the prince’s steward. Jack: Oh no. Why would he do that? Baker: He was afraid she was provoking the giant. Jack: Can no one bring her back? Baker: No one. Jack: That steward will pay for this. After we slay the giant, I will slay him. Baker: You will do nothing of the kind! Jack: But he shouldn’t have killed my mother. Right? Baker: I guess not. Jack: Then he must die. Baker: Well, no. Jack: (getting worked up) Why not? Baker: Because that would be wrong. Jack: But what he did was wrong. He should be punished. Baker: He will be, somehow. Jack: How? Baker: I don’t know! (angry) Stop asking me questions I can’t answer. Jack: I’m going to kill him. 90 Little Red Ridinghood: (disgusted) The club is stuck in her head! Cinderella: But they’ve done it. She’s swaying. Little Red Ridinghood: She’s bleeding all over! Cinderella: She’s beginning to fall! Little Red Ridinghood: (panicked) She’s beginning to fall this way! (they back off the stage quickly, as the loudest noise of all resounds. the GIANT’S head and mane of hair fall from the wing.the following enter and give their moral and exit. those killed appear as ghosts) Jack’s Mother: The slotted spoon can catch the potato... Mysterious Man: Every knot was once straight rope... (PRINCES enter with SNOW WHITE and SLEEPING BEAUTY) Cinderella’s Prince, Rapunzel’s Prince: The harder to wake, the better to have. Snow White, Sleeping Beauty: (yawn) Excuse me. Steward: The greater the good, the harder the blow... Stepmother: When going to hide, know how to get there. Cinderella’s Father: And how to get back... Florinda/Lucinda: And eat first... Granny: The knife that is sharp today may be dull by tomorrow... Rapunzel: AH-AH-AH-AH-AH... (JACK, BAKER, CINDERELLA and LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD enter from upstage of GIANT’S head) Baker: Now we can return home and let us hope there will be no more killing. Jack: Where am I to go? I have no-one to take care of me. Baker: You’ll have to take care of yourself now Jack. It’s time. Little Red Ridinghood: No, it’s not. I’ll take care of him. Jack: You will? Little Red Ridinghood: Yes. I’ll be your mother now. Jack: I don’t want another mother. I want a friend. And a pet. Little Red Ridinghood: Of course, we have nowhere to go, so we’ll move in with you. Baker: Oh no. Little Red Ridinghood: It’ll be fun! 91 Baker: My house is a shambles and there is hardly room for-- (he stops mid-sentence) Of course you can come home with us. Jack: (to CINDERELLA) And you shall join us too. Baker: You’ll not return to the castle? Cinderella: I’ll gladly help you with your house. There are times when I actually enjoy cleaning. (beat) Baker: How proud my wife would have been of us. And how sad it is that my son will never know her. Maybe I just wasn’t meant to have children— Baker’s Wife: (enters as ghost) Don’t say that! Of course you were meant to have children! Baker: But how will I go about being a father With no one to mother my child? (BABY cries) Baker’s Wife: JUST CALM THE CHILD. Baker: (attempting to do so) YES. CALM THE CHILD. Baker’s Wife: LOOK, TELL HIM THE STORY OF HOW IT ALL HAPPENED BE FATHER AND MOTHER YOU’LL KNOW WHAT TO DO. Baker: ALONE...? Baker’s Wife: SOMETIMES PEOPLE LEAVE YOU HALFWAY THROUGH THE WOOD. DO NOT LET IT GRIEVE YOU NO ONE LEAVES FOR GOOD. YOU ARE NOT ALONE NO ONE IS ALONE. HOLD HIM TO THE LIGHT NOW, LET HIM SEE THE GLOW. THINGS WILL BE ALRIGHT NOW. TELL HIM WHAT YOU KNOW... (BABY cries) Baker: Shhh...Once upon a time...in a far off Kingdom...lived a young maiden...a sad young lad...and a childless baker...with his wife. (WITCH enters) Witch: (simultaneously with BAKER, to AUDIENCE) CAREFUL THE THINGS YOU SAY, CHILDREN WILL LISTEN. CAREFUL THE THINGS YOU DO CHILDREN WILL SEE AND LEARN. 92 GUIDE THEM ALONG THE WAY CHILDREN WILL LISTEN CHILDREN WILL LOOK TO YOU FOR WHICH WAY TO TURN TO LEARN WHAT TO BE CAREFUL BEFORE YOU SAY “LISTEN TO ME!” CHILDREN WILL LISTEN. Company: (during the following verse, the remainder of the COMPANY enters) CAREFUL THE WISH YOU MAKE, WISHES ARE CHILDREN. CAREFUL THE PATH THEY TAKE... WISHES COME TRUE, NOT FREE. CAREFUL THE SPELL YOU CAST, NOT JUST ON CHILDREN. SOMETIMES THE SPELL MAY LAST PAST WHAT YOU CAN SEE AND TURN AGAINST YOU... Witch: CAREFUL THE TALE YOU TELL. THAT IS THE SPELL CHILDREN WILL LISTEN... Company: (in three groups) THOUGH IT’S FEARFUL, THOUGH IT’S DEEP, THOUGH IT’S DARK AND THOUGH YOU MAY LOSE THE PATH, THOUGH YOU MAY ENCOUNTER WOLVES, YOU CAN’T JUST ACT, YOU HAVE TO LISTEN. YOU CAN’T JUST ACT, YOU HAVE TO THINK. THERE ARE ALWAYS WOLVES, THERE ARE ALWAYS SPELLS, THERE ARE ALWAYS BEANS OR A GIANT DWELLS THERE. SO INTO THE WOODS YOU GO AGAIN... YOU HAVE TO EVERY NOW AND THEN INTO THE WOODS, NO TELLING WHEN, BE READY FOR THE JOURNEY. INTO THE WOODS, BUT NOT TOO FAST OR WHAT YOU WISH YOU LOSE AT LAST. INTO THE WOODS, BUT MIND THE PAST. INTO THE WOODS, BUT MIND THE FUTURE. INTO THE WOODS, BUT NOT TO STRAY