Originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine. Into the Woods is presented through special arrangement with Music. The plot of Into the Woods is novel indeed. Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine have intertwined the stories of various familiar fairy tales with an original story of a childless Baker and his Wife, who are the focus of the story by attempting to reverse a curse on their family in order to have a child. Thus creating a single, even bigger fairy tale.
FADE UP:
Grey clouds of an earlymorning sky.
BAKER (V.O.)
Once upon a time, in a far off
kingdom, there lay a smallvillage at
the edge of the woods...
Suddenly, the WELL-WORN BOOT of Cinderellasteps into the
frame and lands on what we thought was the sky, but in fact
is simply its reflection in a puddle of water. A strong CHORD
accents the splash and we begin a musical vamp.
EXT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - DAYBREAK
CLOSE-UP on CINDERELLA’S dirty hand as it reaches down to
gather kindling.
CINDERELLA (O.S.)
I WISH...
BAKER (V.O.)
And in this village...
CLOSE-UP on a bead of sweat as it trickles from her brow, the
same hand entering the frame to wipe it.
CINDERELLA (O.S.)
MORE THAN ANYTHING...
BAKER (V.O.)
... lived a young maiden...
ANGLE on CINDERELLA
A pretty (and filthy) young woman, who finishesmopping her
brow and trudgestowards the back of a large house, the
kindling under her arm.
CINDERELLA:
MORE THAN LIFE...
MORE THAN JEWELS...
EXT. JACK’S FARMHOUSE - DAY
CLOSE-UP on JACK’S callousedhands as he pulls on a rope.
BAKER (V.O.)
... a care-free young lad...
ANGLE ON JACK:
A spaced-out twelve year-old who is trying to pull his bony
cow MILKY-WHITE towards his dilapidated cottage.
JACK:
I WISH...
MORE THAN LIFE...
INT. BAKER’S COTTAGE - DAY
CLOSE-UP on a ball of dough. The BAKER’S thick hand pounds
it.
BAKER (V.O.)
... and a childless baker...
ANGLE ON THE BAKERANDHIS WIFE
Hard-working and honest, he is kneading the doughwhich she
then takes and puts in the oven.
BAKER/BAKER’S WIFE
I WISH...
BAKER (V.O.)
... with his Wife-- “
BAKER:
MORE THAN ANYTHING...
WIFE:
MORE THANTHE MOON...
BAKER/BAKER’S WIFE
I WISH...
INT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
CINDERELLA scrubs a huge pot.
CINDERELLA:
THE KING IS GIVING A FESTIVAL.
INT. BAKER’S COTTAGE - DAY
The WIFErolls the dough as the BAKERstokes the hot oven.
BAKER/WIFE
MORE THAN LIFE...
INT. JACK’S FARMHOUSE - DAY
Inside the tiny cottage, the COWstandsbewildered as JACK
tries to milk her without success.
JACK:
(to Milky-White)
I WISH...
INT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
CINDERELLA:
I WISHTOGOTOTHE FESTIVAL-
INT. BAKER’S COTTAGE - DAY
BAKER/WIFE
MORE THAN RICHES...
INT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
CINDERELLA:
-- ANDTHE BALL...
INT. JACK’S FARMHOUSE - DAY
JACK:
I WISH MY COWWOULDGIVEUSSOME MILK.
INT. BAKER’S COTTAGE - DAY
The WIFElifts a heavy sack of flour.
WIFE/CINDERELLA
MORE THAN ANYTHING...
The BAKERtakesbread from the oven.
BAKER:
I WISHWEHAD A CHILD.
INT. JACK’S FARMHOUSE - DAY
Now leaning his shoulderagainst the cow for more leverage as
he squeezes her udders.
JACK:
PLEASE, PAL.
INT. BAKER’S COTTAGE - DAY
WIFE:
I WANT A CHILD.
INT. JACK’S FARMHOUSE - DAY
JACK:
(frustrated)
SQUEEZE, PAL...
INT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE/JACK’S HOUSE/BAKER’S COTTAGE - DAY
She is now scrubbing the floor in front of a large fireplace.
CINDERELLA:
I WISHTOGOTOTHE FESTIVAL.
JACK BAKER/WIFE
I WISH YOU’D GIVE US SOME I WISH WE MIGHTHAVE A CHILD.
MILK/ OREVEN CHEESE...
ALL:
I WISH...
CINDERELLA’S STEPMOTHERmovestowards her threateningly.
INT. CINDERELLA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
CINDERELLA’S STEPMOTHERdressed in a robe, her blonde hair
rolled in rags, carriesherself with an air of disgust; like
a medievalOrangeCounty housewife.
STEPMOTHER:
YOU WISHTOGOTOTHE FESTIVAL?
BAKER (V.O)
The poor girl’s parents had died-
Her two daughters, also blonde, FLORINDA and LUCINDA, appear