NARRATOR
Once upon a time

CINDERELLA
I wish...

NARRATOR
in a far-off kingdom

CINDERELLA
More than anything...

NARRATOR
lived a fair maiden,

CINDERELLA
More than jewels...

NARRATOR
a sad young lad

JACK
I wish...

NARRATOR
and a childless baker

JACK
More than life...

CINDERELLA AND BAKER
I wish...

NARRATOR
with his wife.

JACK
More than anything...

CINDERELLA, BAKER AND JACK
More than the moon...

BAKER'S WIFE
I wish...

CINDERELLA
The King is giving a Festival.

BAKER AND WIFE
More than life...

JACK
I wish...

CINDERELLA
I wish to go to the Festival.

BAKER AND WIFE
More than riches...

JACK
I wish my cow would give us some milk.

CINDERELLA
And the Ball...

BAKER'S WIFE
More than anything...

JACK
Please, pal-

BAKER
I wish we had a child.

BAKER'S WIFE
I want a child...

JACK
Squeeze, pal...

CINDERELLA
I wish to go to the Festival.

JACK
I wish you'd give us some milk or even cheese...

BAKER AND WIFE
I wish we might have a child.

CINDERELLA, JACK, BAKER AND WIFE
I wish...

CINDERELLA'S STEPMOTHER
You wish to go to the Festival?

NARRATOR
The poor girl's mother had died,

CINDERELLA'S STEPMOTHER
You, Cinderella, the Festival?
You wish to go to the Festival?

FLORINDA
What, you, Cinderella, the Festival?
The Festival?!

LUCINDA
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

CINDERELLA'S STEPMOTHER
The Festival...

NARRATOR
a woman with two daughters of her own.

FLORINDA
Look at your nails!

LUCINDA
Look at your dress!

CINDERELLA'S STEPMOTHER
People would laugh at you-

CINDERELLA
Nevertheless,
I still want to go to the Festival
And dance before the Prince.

CINDERELLA'S STEPMOTHER AND STEPSISTERS
She still wants to go to the Festival
And dance before the Prince?!

NARRATOR
All three were beautiful of face, but vile and black of heart. Jack, on the other hand, had no father, and his mother-

JACK'S MOTHER
I wish...

NARRATOR
Well, she was not quite beautiful-

JACK'S MOTHER
I wish my son were not a fool.
I wish my house was not a mess.
I wish the cow was full of milk.
I wish the house was full of gold-
I wish a lot of things...

(To Jack)

You foolish child! What in heaven's name are you doing with the cow inside the house?

JACK
A warm environment might be just what Milky White needs to produce his milk.

JACK'S MOTHER
It's a she! How many times do I have to tell you? Only "she's" can give milk.

BAKER'S WIFE
Why, come in, little girl.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
I wish...
It's not for me,
It's for my Granny in the woods.
A loaf of bread, please-
To bring my poor old hungry
Granny in the woods...
Just a loaf of bread, please...

NARRATOR
Cinderella's Stepmother had a surprise for her.

CINDERELLA'S STEPMOTHER
I have emptied a pot of lentils into the ashes for you. If you have picked them out again in two hours' time, you shall go to the ball with us.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
And perhaps a sticky bun?...
Or four?...

CINDERELLA
Birds in the sky,
Birds in the eaves,
In the leaves,
In the fields,
In the castles and ponds...

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
And a few of those pies... please...

CINDERELLA
Come, little birds,
Down from the eaves
And the leaves,
Over fields,
Out of castles and ponds...

JACK
No, squeeze, pal...

CINDERELLA
Ahhh...
Quick, little birds,
Flick through the ashes.
Pick and peck, but swiftly,
Sift through the ashes,
Into the pot...

JACK'S MOTHER
Listen well, son. Milky-White must be taken to market.

JACK
But, mother, no- she's the best cow-

JACK'S MOTHER
Look at her.
There are bugs on her dugs.
There are flies in her eyes.
There's a lump on her rump
Big enough to be a hump-

JACK
But-

JACK'S MOTHER
Son,
We've no time to sit and dither,
While her wither's wither with her-
And no one keeps a cow for a friend!
Sometimes I fear you're touched.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
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-
Into the woods
To Grandmother's house-

BAKER'S WIFE
You're certain of your way?

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
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?
Into the woods
And down the dell,
The path is 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
To Grandmother's house
And home before dark.

CINDERELLA
Fly, birds,
Back to the sky,
Back to the eaves
And the leaves
And the fields
And the-

FLORINDA
Hurry up and do my hair, Cinderella!
Are you really wearing that?

LUCINDA
Here, I found a little tear, Cinderella.
Can't you hide it with a hat?

CINDERELLA
You look beautiful.

FLORINDA
I know.

LUCINDA
She means me.

FLORINDA
Put it in a twist.

LUCINDA
Who will be there?...

CINDERELLA
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
And you're always left behind?
Never mind, Cinderella,
Kind Cinderella-
Nice good nice kind good nice-

FLORINDA
Not that tight!

CINDERELLA
Sorry.

FLORINDA
Clod.

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.

BAKER'S WIFE
Who might that be?

BAKER
It's the witch from next door.

NARRATOR
The old enchantress told the couple 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 she had developed an unusual appetite. She took one look at my beautiful garden, and told your father that 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-!
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
Ripping up my rampion
(My champion! My favorite!)-
I should have laid a spell on him right there,
Could have changed him into stone or a dog or a chair...
But I let him have the rampion-
I'd lots to spare.
In return, however,
I said, "Fair is fair:
You can let me have the baby
That your wife will bear.
And we'll call it square."

BAKER
I had a brother?

WITCH
No. But you had a sister.

NARRATOR
But the witch refused to tell him anymore of his sister. Not even that her name was Rapunzel. She went on:

WITCH
I thought I had been more than reasonable, and that we all might live happily ever after. But how was I to know what your father had also hid in his pocket?! You see, when I had inherited that garden, my mother had warned me that I would be punished if I ever were to lose any of the beans.

BAKER AND WIFE
Beans?

WITCH
The special beans.
I let him go,
I didn't know
He'd stolen my beans!
I was watching him crawl,
Back over the wall-!
Then bang! Crash!
And the lightning flash!
And- well, that's another story,
Never mind-
Anyway, at last
The big day came,
And I made my claim.
"Oh, don't take away the baby,"
They shrieked and screeched,
But I did,
And I hid her
Where she'll never be reached.
And your father cried,
And your mother died
When for extra measure-
I admit it was a pleasure-
I said, "Sorry,
I'm still not mollified."
And I laid little spell on them
You, too, son-
That your family tree
Would always be a barren one...
So there's no more fuss
And there's no more scenes
And my garden thrives-
You should see my nectarines!
But I'm telling you the same
I tell kings and queens:
Don't ever never ever
Mess around with my greens!
Especially the beans.

JACK'S MOTHER
Now listen to me, Jack. Lead Milky-White to market and fetch the best price you can. Take no less than five pounds. Are you listening to me?

JACK
Yes.

JACK'S MOTHER
Now how much are you to ask?

JACK
No more than five pounds.

JACK'S MOTHER
Less Than five!

JACK
Less than five!

JACK'S MOTHER
Jack Jack Jack,
Head in a sack,
The house is getting colder,
This is not the time for dreaming.
Chimney stack
Starting to crack,
The mice are getting bolder,
The floor's gone slack,
Your mother's getting older,
Your father's not back,
And you can't just sit here dreaming pretty dreams.
To wish and wait
From day to day
Will never keep
The wolves away.
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 to the woods
and don't delay-
You have to face
The marketplace.
Into the woods to journey's end-

JACK
Into the woods to sell a friend-

JACK'S MOTHER
Someday you'll have a real pet, Jack.

JACK
A piggy?

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 woods 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 day's time,
And you shall have,
I guarantee,
A child as perfect
As child can be.
Go to the wood!

CINDERELLA'S STEPMOTHER
Ladies.
Our carriage waits.

CINDERELLA
Now may I go to the Festival?

CINDERELLA'S STEPMOTHER
The Festival-!
Darling, those nails!
Darling, those clothes!
Lentils are one thing but
Darling, with those,
You'd make us the fools of the Festival
And mortify the Prince!

CINDERELLA'S FATHER
Our carriage is waiting.

CINDERELLA'S STEPMOTHER
We must be gone.

CINDERELLA
Good night, Father.
I wish...

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
No, no, the spell is on our house.
We must lift the spell together.
The spell is on our house.

BAKER
No. You are not to come and that is final. Now what am I to return with?

BAKER'S WIFE
You don't remember?
The cow as white as milk,
The cape as red as blood,
The hair as yellow as corn,
The slipper as pure as gold-

BAKER
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
And so the Baker, reluctantly, set off to meet the enchantress' demands. As for Cinderella:

CINDERELLA
I still wish to go to the Festival,
But how am I ever to get to the Festival?

BAKER
The cow as white as milk,
The cape as red as blood,
The hair as yellow as corn-

CINDERELLA
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 slipper as pure as gold...
The cow, the cape,
The slipper as pure as gold-

BAKER'S WIFE
The hair-!

CINDERELLA AND BAKER
Into the woods,
It's time to go,
It may be all
In vain, you/I know.
Into the woods-
But even so,
I have to take the journey.

CINDERELLA, BAKER AND WIFE
Into the woods,
The path is straight,
You know it well,
But who can tell-

BAKER AND 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-

CINDERELLA, JACK, JACK'S MOTHER, BAKER, WIFE
Into the woods
Without regret,
The choice is made,
The task is set.
Into the woods,
But not forgeting
Why I'm on the journey.

(Little Red Riding hood joins)

Into the woods
to get my wish,
I don't care how,
The time is now.

JACK'S MOTHER
Into the woods to sell the cow-

JACK
Into the woods to get the money-

BAKER'S WIFE
Into the woods to lift the spell-

BAKER
To make the potion-

CINDERELLA
To go to the Festival-

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
Into the woods to Grandmother's house...
Into the woods to Grandmother's house...

ALL
The way is clear,
The light is good,
I have no fear,
Nor no one should.
The woods are just trees,
The trees are just wood.
No need to be afraid there-

CINDERELLA AND BAKER
There's something in the glade there...

ALL
Into the woods,
Without delay,
But careful not
To lose the way.
Into the woods,
Who knows what may
Be lurking on the journey?
Into the woods
To get the thing
That makes it worth
The journeying.
Into the woods-

CINDERELLA'S STEMOTHER & STEPSISTERS
To see the King-

JACK AND JACK'S MOTHER
To sell the cow-

BAKER AND WIFE
To make the potion-

ALL
To see-
To sell-
To get-
To bring-
To make-
To lift-
To go to the Festival-!
Into the woods!
Into the woods!
Into the woods,
Then out of the woods,
And home before dark!

↑ Return to Top ↑

NARRATOR
Cinderella had planted a branch at the grave of her Mother, and her many tears had watered it until it had become a handsome tree.

CINDERELLA
I've been good and I've been kind, Mother,
Doing only what I learned from you.
Why then am I left behind, Mother,
Is there something more that I should do?
What is wrong with me, Mother?
Something must be wrong.
I wish-

CINDERELLA'S MOTHER
Do you know what you wish?
Are you certain what you wish
Is what you want?
if you know what you want,
Then make a wish.
Ask the tree,
And you shall have your wish.

CINDERELLA
Shiver and quiver, little tree,
Silver and gold throw down on me.
I'm off to get my wish...

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WOLF
Good day, young lady.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
Good day, Mr. Wolf.

WOLF
Mmmh...
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...
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 RIDING HOOD
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.
Grandmother first,
Then Miss Plump...
What a delectable couple:
Utter perfection-
One brittle, one supple-
One moment, my dear-!

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
Mother said,
"Come what may,
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...
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 RIDING HOOD
Mother said
Not to stray.
Still I suppose,
A small delay...
Granny might like
A fresh bouquet...
Goodbye, Mr. Wolf.

WOLF
Goodbye, little girl.
And hello...

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NARRATOR
And the Baker gave Jack five beans in exchange for his cow, keeping one for himself.

JACK
I guess this is goodbye, old pal,
You've been a perfect friend.
I hate to have to part, old pal,
Some day I'll buy you back.
I'll see you soon again.
I hope that when I do,
It won't be on a plate.

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BAKER
Magic beans!

BAKER'S WIFE
No one would have given him more for this creature.

BAKER
Are we to dispel this curse through deceit?

BAKER'S WIFE
If you know
What you want,
Then you go
And you find it
And you get it-

BAKER
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.
Amd 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
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.
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!

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LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
Mother said,
"Straight ahead,"
Not to delay
or be misled.
I should have heeded
Her advice...
But he seemed so nice.
And he showed me things
Many beautiful things,
That I hadn't thought to explore.
They were off my path,
So I never had dared.
I had been so careful,
I never had cared.
And he made me feel excited-
Well, excited and scared.
When he said, "Come in!"
With that sickening grin,
How could I know what was in store?
Once his teeth were bared,
Though, I really got scared-
Well, excited and scared-
But he drew me close
And he swallowed me down,
Down a dark slimy path
Where lie secrets that I never want to know,
And when everything familiar
Seemed to disappear forever,
At the end of the path
Was Granny once again.
So we wait in the dark
Until someone sets us free,
And we're brought into the light,
And we're back at the start.
And I know things now,
Many valuable things,
That I hadn't known before:
Do not put your faith
In a cape and a hood,
They will not protect you
The way that they should.
And take extra care with strangers,
Even flowers have their dangers.
And though scary is exciting,
Nice is different than good.
Now I know:
Don't be scared.
Granny is right,
Just be prepared.
Isn't it nice to know a lot!
And a little bit not...

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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?

CINDERELLA
I don't meet a wide range.

BAKER'S WIFE
Did he bow?
Was he cold and polite?

CINDERELLA
And it's all very strange.

BAKER'S WIFE
Did he speak? Did he flirt?
Could you tell right away he was royalty?
Is he sensitive,
Clever,
Well-mannered,
Considerate,
Passionate,
Charming,
As kind as he's handsome,
As wise as he's rich,
Is he everything you've ever wanted?

CINDERELLA
Would I know?

BAKER'S WIFE
Well, I know.

CINDERELLA
But how can you know what you want
Till you get what you want
And you see if you like it?

BAKER'S WIFE
Would I know?

CINDERELLA
All I know is-

BAKER'S WIFE
I never wish-

CINDERELLA
What I want most of all-

BAKER'S WIFE
Just within reason.

CINDERELLA
Is to know what I want.

BAKER'S WIFE
When you know you can't have what you want,
Where's the profit in wishing?

BOTH
He's a very nice Prince...

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

CINDERELLA
Will you look over there, an enormous beanstalk growing next to that little cottage.

BAKER'S WIFE
Are those slippers as pure as gold?

CINDERELLA
I must get home.

BAKER'S WIFE
I need your shoes! Wait!

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BAKER
One midnight gone...

MYSTERIOUS MAN
No knot unties itself...

WITCH
Sometimes the things you most wish for
Are not to be touched...

PRINCES
The harder to get, the better to have...

FLORINDA
Never wear mauve at a ball...

LUCINDA
Or pink...

CINDERELLA'S STEPMOTHER
Or open your mouth...

JACK
The difference between a cow and a bean
Is a bean can begin an adventure...

JACK'S MOTHER
Slotted spoons don't hold much soup...

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
The prettier the flower, the farther from the path...

CINDERELLA'S FATHER
The closer to the family, the closer to the wine...

RAPUNZEL
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah...

WITCH
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.
BAKER
One midnight gone...

WITCH
Sometimes the things you most wish for
Are not to be touched...

PRINCES
The harder to get,
The better to have...
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 keep what you...

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
The prettier the flower...

ALL
One midnight gone...
Into the woods,
Into the woods,
Into the woods, then out of the woods
And home before-

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JACK
There are Giants in the sky!
There are big tall terrible Giants in the sky!
When you're way up high
And you look below
At the world you left
And the things you know,
Little more than a glance
Is enough to show
You just how small you are.
When you're way up high
And you're on your own
In a world like none
That you've ever known,
Where the sky is lead
And the earth is stone,
You're free, to do
Whatever pleases you,
Exploring things you'd never dare
'Cause you don't care,
When suddenly there's
A big tall terrible Giant at the door,
A big tall terrible lady Giant sweeping the floor.
And she gives you food
And she gives you rest
And she draws you close
To her Giant breast,
And you know things now
that you never knew before,
Not till the sky.
Only just when you've made
A friend and all,
And you know she's big
But you don't feel small,
Someone bigger than her
Comes along the hall
To swallow you for lunch.
And your heart is lead
And your stomach stone
And you're really scared
Being all alone...
And it's then that you miss
All the things you've known
And the world you've left
And the little you own-
The fun is done.
You steal what you can and run.
And you scramble down
And you look below,
And the world you know
Begins to grow:
The roof, the house, and your Mother at the door.
The roof, the house and the world you never thought to explore.
And you think of all of the things you've seen,
And you wish that you could live in between,
And you're back again,
Only different than before,
After the sky.
There are Giants in the sky!
There are big tall terrible awesome scary wonderful giants in the sky!

↑ Return to Top ↑

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
Did I abuse her or show her disdain?
Why does she run from me?
If I should lose her, 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:
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.

BOTH
Agony!
Oh, the torture they teach!

RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE
What's as intriguing-

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
Or half so fatiguing-

BOTH
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
Till you're climbing her hair
And you see her up there
As you're nearing her,
All the while hearing her:
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-

BOTH
Agony!

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
Misery!

RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE
Woe!

BOTH
Though it's different for each.

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
Always ten steps behind-

RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE
Always ten feet below-

BOTH
And she's just out of reach.
Agony
That can cut like a knife!
I must have her to wife.

↑ Return to Top ↑

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.

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'd fear
We'd stay 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.

BOTH
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,
Lets' hope the changes last
Beyond woods,
Beyond witches and slippers and hoods,
Just the two of us-
Beyond lies,
Safe at home with out beautiful prize,
Just the 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.

↑ Return to Top ↑

WITCH
What did I clearly say?
Children must listen.

RAPUNZEL
No, no, please!

WITCH
What were you not to do? Children must see-

RAPUNZEL
No!

WITCH
And learn.
Why could you not obey?
Children should listen.
What have I been to you?
What would you have me be?
Handsome like a Prince?
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.

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
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.
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.

↑ Return to Top ↑

CINDERELLA
He's a very smart 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?
And whichever you pick,
Do it quick,
'Cause you're starting to stick
To the steps of the palace.
It's your first big decision,
The choice isn't easy to make.
To arrive at a ball
Is exciting and all-
Once you're there, though, it's scary.
And it's fun to deceive
When you know you can leave,
But you have to be wary.
There's a lot that's at stake,
But you've stalled long enough,
'Cause you're still standing stuck
In the stuff on the steps...
Better run along home
And avoid the collision.
Even though they don't care,
You'll be better off there
Where there's nothing to choose,
So there's nothing to lose.
So you pry up your shoes.
Then from out of the blue,
And without any guide,
You know what your decision is,
Which is not to decide.
You'll leave him a clue:
For example, a shoe.
And then see what he'll do.
Now it's he and not you
Who is stuck with a shoe,
In a stew,
In the goo,
And you've learned something, too,
Something you never knew,
On the steps of the palace.

↑ Return to Top ↑

NARRATOR
And it came to pass, all that seemed wrong was now right, and those who deserved to were certain to live a long and happy life. Ever after...

COMPANY
Ever after!

NARRATOR
Journey over, all is mended,
And it's not just for today,
But tomorrow, and extended
Ever after!

COMPANY
Ever after!

NARRATOR
All the curses have been ended,
The reverses wiped away.
All is tenderness and laughter
For forever after!

COMPANY
Happy now and happy hence
And happy ever after!

NARRATOR
There were dangers-

COMPANY
We were frightened-

NARRATOR
And confusions-

COMPANY
But we hid it-

NARRATOR
And the paths would often swerve.

COMPANY
We did not.

NARRATOR
There were constant-

COMPANY
It's amazing-

NARRATOR
Disillusions-

COMPANY
That we did it.

NARRATOR
But they never lost they're nerve.

COMPANY
Not a lot.

NARRATOR AND COMPANY
And they/we reached the right conclusions
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
I was greedy.

LUCINDA
I was vain.

FLORINDA
I was haughty.

LUCINDA
I was smug.

BOTH
We were happy.

LUCINDA
It was fun.

FLORINDA
But we were blind.

BOTH
Then we went into the woods
To get our wish,
And now we're really blind.

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
We're unworthy.

FLORINDA, LUCINDA, WITCH
We're/I'm unhappy now, unhappy hence,
As well as ever after.
Had we used our common sense,
Been worthy of our discontents,
We'd be happy.

WOMEN
To be happy, and forever,
You must see your wish come true.

WOMEN
Don't be careful, don't be clever.
When you see your wish, pursue.

ALL
It's a dangerous endeavor,
But the only thing to do-
Though it's fearful,
Though it's deep, though it's dark,
And though you may lose your 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,-
No, to get your wish
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.
Into the woods
And down the dell,
In vain, perhaps,
But who can tell?
Into the woods to lift the spell,
Into the woods to lose the longing,
Into the woods to have the child,
To wed the Prince,
To get the money,
to save the house,
To kill the Wolf,
To find the father,
To conquer the kingdom,
To have, to wed,
To get, to save,
To kill, to keep,
To go to the festival!
Into the woods,
Into the woods,
Into the woods,
Then out of the woods
And happy ever after!

↑ Return to Top ↑

NARRATOR
Once upon a time-
Later-

CINDERELLA
I wish...

NARRATOR
In that same far-off kingdom

CINDERELLA
More than anything...

NARRATOR
Lived a young princess,

CINDERELLA
More than life...

NARRATOR
The lad Jack,

CINDERELLA
More than footmen...

JACK
I wish...

NARRATOR
And the Baker with his family

BABY
Waaah!

JACK
No, I miss...

CINDERELLA AND BAKER
I wish...

BABY
Waaah!

JACK
More then anything...

CINDERELLA, JACK, BAKER
More than the moon...

BAKER'S WIFE
There, there...

CINDERELLA
I wish to sponsor a Festival

BABY
Waaah!

BAKER
More then life...

JACK
I miss...

CINDERELLA
The time has come for a Festival...

BABY
Waaah!

BAKER'S WIFE
Shh...

BAKER
More than riches...

CINDERELLA
And a ball...

JACK
I miss my kingdom up in the sky

CINDERELLA AND BAKER
More than anything...

BAKER'S WIFE
I wish we had more room...

BAKER
Another room...

NARRATOR
But despite some minor inconveniences, they were all quite content...

CINDERELLA
I never thought I'd wed a Prince...

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
I never thought I'd find perfection...

BOTH
I never thought I would be so happy!

CINDERELLA
Not an unhappy moment since...

JACK AND MOTHER
I didn't think we'd be this rich...

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
Not a conceivable objection...

BAKER AND WIFE
I never thought we'd have a baby...

CINDERELLA, PRINCE, JACK, MOTHER
I didn't know I could be so happy!

BAKER & WIFE
I'm so happy!

CINDERELLA'S STEPMOTHER
Happy now, Happy hence, Happy ever after-

FLORINDA, LUCINDA, STEPMOTHER
We're so happy you're so happy! Just as long as you stay happy, We'll stay happy!...

CINDERELLA AND PRINCE
Not one row...

JACK'S MOTHER
Pots of pence...

JACK
With my cow...

BAKER AND WIFE
Little gurgles....

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
Darling, I must go now...

JACK'S MOTHER
We should really sell it

BAKER
Where's the cheesecloth?

ALL

(except Baker)

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
I'm going to be a perfect son!

BAKER'S WIFE AND 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, MOTHER, BAKER'S WIFE
I'm going to see that he/she Is so happy!

ALL
I never though I'd love my life! I would have settled for another!

CINDERELLA
Then to become a wife...

JACK AND MOTHER
Then to be set for life...

BAKER AND WIFE
Then to beget a child...

ALL
That fortune smiled... I'm so hap-!

(A loud rumbling noise is followed by an enormous crash. The Baker's house caves in. He is caught underneath the rubble as his Wife runs forward with their baby. The Witch enters.)

BAKER
Have you done this to our house?

WITCH
Always thinking of yourself! Look at my garden.

BAKER
Destroyed!

BAKER'S WIFE
Who could do such a thing?

WITCH
Anything that leaves a footprint that large is no 'who.'

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
Dragon?

WITCH
No scorch marks, Usually they're linked

BAKER
Manticore?

WITCH
Imaginary

BAKER AND WIFE
Griffin?

WITCH
Extinct

BAKER
Giant?

WITCH
Possible. Very, very, possible...

NARRATOR
More than possible. Their fears would prove to be well founded.

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

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 RIDING HOOD
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 too 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
Into the woods-
To slay the giant!

BAKER'S WIFE
Into the woods-
To shield the child...

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
To flee the winds...

BAKER
To find a future...

BAKER'S WIFE
To shield...

JACK
To slay...

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
To flee...

BAKER
To find...

CINDERELLA
To fix...

BAKER'S WIFE
To hide...

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
To move...

JACK
To battle...

CINDERELLA
To see what the trouble is...

↑ Return to Top ↑

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 mor keen,
When the one thing you want
Is a thing that you've not even seen.

RAPUNZEL'S'S PRINCE
I found a casket
Entirely of glass-
No, it's unbreakable.
Inside- don't ask it-
A maiden, alas,
Just as unwakable-

BOTH
What unmistakable agony!
Is the way always barred?

RAPUNZEL'S'S PRINCE
She has skin white as snow-

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
Did you learn her name?

RAPUNZEL'S'S PRINCE
No,
There's a dwarf standing guard.

BOTH
Agony!
Such that Princes must weep!
Always in thrall most
To anything almost,
Or something asleep.

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
If it were not for the thicket-

RAPUNZEL'S'S PRINCE
A thicket's no trick.
Is it thick?

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
It's the thickest.

RAPUNZEL'S'S PRINCE
The quickest
Is pick it
Apart with a stick-

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
Yes, but even one prick-
It's my thing about blood.

RAPUNZEL'S'S PRINCE
Well, it's sick!

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
It's no sicker
Than your thing with dwarves.

RAPUNZEL'S'S PRINCE
Dwarfs.

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
Dwarfs...

RAPUNZEL'S'S PRINCE
Dwarfs are every upsetting.

BOTH
Not forgetting
The tasks unacheivable,
Mountains unscalable-
If it's conceivable
But unavailable,
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-
Agony!

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
Misery!

BOTH
Not to know what you miss.

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
While they lie there for years-

RAPUNZEL'S'S PRINCE
And you cry on their biers-

BOTH
What unbearable bliss!
Agony
That can cut like a knife!
Ah, well, back to my wife...

↑ Return to Top ↑

WITCH
This is the world I meant.
Couldn't you listen?
Couldn't you stay content,
Safe behind walls,
As I could not?
Now you know what's out there in the world.
No one can prepare you for the world,
Even I.
How could I, who loved you as you were?
How could I have shielded you from her
Or them...
No matter what you say,
Children won't listen.
No matter what you know,
Children refuse to learn.
Guide them along the way,
Still they won't listen.
Children can only grow
From something you love
To something you lose...

↑ Return to Top ↑

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
Anything can happen in the woods.
May I kiss you-?
Any moment we could be crushed.

BAKER'S WIFE
uh-

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
Don't feel rushed.

BAKER'S WIFE
This is ridiculous,
What am I doing here?
I'm in the wrong story.
Wait one moment, please! We can't do this! You have a princess.

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
That's true.

BAKER'S WIFE
And I have a...a baker.

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
Of course, you're right. How foolish.
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.
Days are made of moments,
All are worth exploring.
Many kinds of moments-
None is worth ignoring.
All we have are moments,
Memories for storing.
One would be so boring...

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.
I must leave you.

BAKER'S WIFE
Why?

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
The Giant.

BAKER'S WIFE
Will we find each other in the woods again?

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE
This was just a moment in the woods.
Our moment,
Shimmering and lovely and sad.
Leave the moment, just be glad
For the moment that we had.
Every moment is of moment
When you're in the woods...
Goodbye.

↑ Return to Top ↑

BAKER'S WIFE
What was that?
Was that me?
Was that him?
Did a Prince really kiss me?
And kiss me?
And kiss me?
And did I kiss him back?
Was it wrong?
Am I mad?
Is that all?
Does he miss me?
Was he suddenly
Getting bored with me?
Wake up! Stop dreaming.
Stop prancing about the woods.
It's not beseeming.
What is it about the woods?
Back to life, back to sense,
Back to child, back to husband,
You can't live in the woods.
There are vows, there are ties,
There are needs, there are standards,
There are shouldn'ts and shoulds.
Why not both instead?
There's the answer, if you're clever:
have a child for warmth,
And a Baker for bread,
And a Prince for whatever-
Never!
It's these woods.
Face the facts, find the boy,
Join the group, stop the Giant-
Just get out of these woods.
Was that him? yes it was.
Was that me? No it wasn't,
Just a trick of the woods.
Just a moment,
One peculiar passing moment...
Must it all be either less or more,
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 had and "and",
When you're back to "or",
Makes the "or" mean more
Than it did before.
Now I understand-
And it's time to leave the woods.

↑ Return to Top ↑

BAKER

(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!
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 Giants
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 oversold?
Oh, and tell us who
Persuaded you
To steal that gold.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

(To Jack)

See, it's your fault.

JACK
No!

BAKER
So it's your fault...

JACK
No!

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
Yes, it is!

JACK
It's not!

BAKER
It's true.

JACK
Wait a minute-
But I only stole the gold
To get my
Cow back from you!

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

(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.
She made us get the cow to get
The curse reversed!

WITCH
It's you father's fault
That the curse got placed
And the place got cursed
In the first place!

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
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 how did the second Giant get down here
In the first place?
Second place...

CINDERELLA
Yes!

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
How?

BAKER
Hmmm...

JACK
Well,
Who had the other bean?

BAKER
The other bean?

CINDERELLA
The other bean?

JACK

(To Baker)

You pocketed the other bean.

BAKER
I didn't!
Yes I did.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
So it's your-!

BAKER
No, it isn't,
'Cause I gave it to my Wife!

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
So it's her-!

BAKER
No, it isn't!

CINDERELLA
Then whose is it?

BAKER

(To Cinderella)

Wait a minute!
She exchanged that bean
To obtain your shoe,
So the one who knows what happened
To the bean is you!

CINDERELLA
You mean that old bean-
That your Wife-? Oh, dear-
But I never knew,
And so I threw-
Well, don't look here!

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
So it's your fault!

CINDERELLA
But-

JACK
See, it's her fault-

CINDERELLA
But-

JACK
And it isn't mine at all!

BAKER

(To Cinderella)

But what?

CINDERELLA

(To Jack)

Well, if you hadn't gone
Back up again-

JACK
We were needy-

CINDERELLA
You were greedy!
Did you need that hen?

JACK
But I got it for my Mother-!

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
So it's her fault then!

CINDERELLA
Yes? And what the harp
In the third place?

BAKER
The harp - yes!

JACK
She went and dared me to!

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
I dared you to?

JACK
You dared me to!
She said that I was scared-

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
Me?

JACK
To.
She dared me!

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
No, I didn't!

BAKER, CINDERELLA, JACK
So it's your fault!

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
Wait a minute-!

CINDERELLA
If you hadn't dared him to-

BAKER

(To Jack)

And you had left the harp alone,
We wouldn't be in trouble
In the first place!

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

(To Cinderella)

Well, if you hadn't thrown away the bean
In the first place-!

CINDERELLA
Well, if she hadn't raised them in the first place-!

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

(To Cinderella)

It was your fault!

JACK

(to Witch)

Yes, if you hadn't raised them in the first place-!

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD AND BAKER

(To Witch)

Right! It's you raised them in the first place-!

CINDERELLA
You raised the beans in the first place!

JACK
It's your fault!

CINDERELLA, JACK, BAKER, LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
You're responsible!
You're the one to blame!
It's your fault!

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WITCH
Shhhhhhhhhhhhh!
It's the last midnight.
It's the last wish.
It's the last midnight,
Soon it will be boom-
Squish!
Told a little lie,
Stole a little gold,
Broke a little vow,
Did you?
Had to get your Prince,
Had to get your cow,
Had to get your wish,
Doesn't matter how-
Anyway, it doesn't matter now.
It's the last midnight,
It's the boom-
Splat!
Nothing but a vast midnight.
Everybody smashed flat!
Nothing we can do.
Not exactly true:
We can always give her the boy...
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.

THE OTHERS
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,
I'm just right.
I'm the Witch.
You're the world.
I'm the hitch.
I'm what no one believes,
I'm the Witch.
You're all liars and theives,
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, midight-
Soon you'll see the sky fall.
Here, you want a 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.
All right, 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
Cruuunch!

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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...

BAKER
No more riddles.
No more jests.
No more curses you can't undo,
Left by fathers you never knew.
No more quests.
No more feelings.
Time to shut the door
Just- no more.

MYSTERIOUS MAN
Running away- let's do it,
Free from the ties that bind.
No more depair
Or burdens to bear
Out there in the yonder.
Running away- go to it.
Where did you have in mind?
Have to take care:
Unless there's a "where,"
You'll only be wandering blind.
Just more questions.
Different kind.
Where are we to go?
Where are we ever to go?
Running away- we'll do it.
Why sit around, resigned?
Trouble is, son,
The farther you run,
The more you feel undefined
For what you've left undone
And, more, what you've left behind.
We disappoint,
We leave a mess,
We die but we don't...

BAKER
We disappoint
In turn, I guess.
Forget, though, we won't...

BOTH
Like father, like son.

BAKER
No more giants
Waging war.
Can't we just pursue out lives
With our children and our wives?
'Till that happy day arrives,
How do you ignore
All the witches,
All the curses,
All the wolves, all the lies,
The false hopes, the goodbyes,
The reverses,
All the wondering what even worse is
Still in store?
All the children...
All the giants...
No more.

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CINDERELLA
Mother cannot guide you.
Now you're on your own.
Only me beside you.
Still, you're not alone.
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 RIDING HOOD
I wish...

CINDERELLA
I know...
Mother isn't here now.

BAKER
Wrong things, right things...

CINDERELLA
Who knows what she'd say?

BAKER
Who can say what's true?

CINDERELLA
Nothing's quite so clear now-

BAKER
Do things, fight things...

CINDERELLA
Feel you've lost your way?

BAKER
You decide, but

CINDERELLA
You are not alone,
Believe me.
No one is alone.

BAKER
No one is alone,
Believe me.

CINDERELLA
Truly...

BOTH
You move just a finger,
Say the slightest word,
Something's bound to linger,
Be heard.

BAKER
No one acts alone. Careful, no one is alone.

BOTH
People make mistakes.

BAKER
Fathers,

CINDERELLA
Mothers,

BOTH
People make mistakes,
Holding to their own,
Thinking they're alone.

CINDERELLA
Honor their mistakes...

BAKER
Fight for their mistakes-

CINDERELLA
Everybody makes-

BOTH
One another's
Terrible mistakes.
Witches can be right,
Giants can be good.
You decide what's right,
You decide what's good.

CINDERELLA
Just remember:

BAKER
Just remember:

BOTH
Someone is on your side.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD AND JACK
Our side.

CINDERELLA AND BAKER
Our side-
Someone else is not.
While we're seeing our side-

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD AND JACK
Our side...

CINDERELLA AND BAKER
Our side-

ALL
Maybe we forgot:
They are not alone.
No one is alone.

CINDERELLA
Hard to see the light now.

BAKER
Just don't let it go.

BOTH
Things will come out tight now.
We can make it so.
Someone is on you side,
No one is alone.

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JACK'S MOTHER
The slotted spoon can catch the potato-

MYSTERIOUS MAN
Every knot was once straight rope.

PRINCES
The harder to wake, the better to have.

STEWARD
The greater the good, the harder the blow...

CINDERELLA'S STEPMOTHER
When going to hide, know how to get there.

CINDERELLA'S FATHER
And how to get back...

FLORINDA AND LUCINDA
And eat first...

GRANNY
The knife that is sharp today may be dull by tomorrow...

RAPUNZEL
Ah- ah- ah ah- ah-...

BABY
Waaah!

BAKER
Maybe I just wasn't meant to have children...

BAKER'S WIFE
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
Waaah!

BAKER'S WIFE
Just calm the child.

BAKER
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 all right now.
Tell him what you know...

BABY
Waaah!

BAKER
Shhh. Once upon a time... in a far-off kingdom...
there lived a young maiden... a sad young lad...
amd a childless baker... with his wife...

WITCH
Careful the things you say,
Children will listen.
Careful the things you do,
Children will see.
And learn.
Children may not obey,
But 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.

ALL
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...

ALL

(In 3 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.
Though it's dark,
There are always wolves,
There are always spells,
There are always beans,
Or a Giant dwells there.
So it's
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,
Or tempt the Wolf or steal from the Giant-
The way is dark,
The light is dim,
But now there's you,
Me, her and him.
The chances look small,
The choices look grim,
But everything you learn there
Will help when you return there.

BAKER, CINDERELLA, LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD, JACK
The light is getting dimmer-

BAKER
I think I see a glimmer-

ALL
Into the woods-
You have to grope,
But that's the way
You learn to cope.
Into the woods
To find there's hope
Of getting through the journey.
Into the woods-
Each time you go,
There's more to learn
Of what you know.
Into the woods, but not too slow-
Into the woods, it's nearing midnight-
Into the woods to mind the Wolf,
To heed the Witch,
To honor the Giant,
To mind,
To heed,
To find,
To think,
To teach,
To join,
To go to the Festival!
Into the woods,
Into the woods,
Into the woods,
Then out of the woods
And happy ever after!

CINDERELLA
... I wish...

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