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EXT. THE HOMELANDS
ZOOMING IN ON A MOUNTAIN RANGE, WE FLY OVER CASTLES AND FORESTS AND ISLANDS.
KING COLE (V.O.)
Once upon a time, we were a thousand disparate kingdoms, spread over a hundred worlds.
CAMERA ZOOMS TO EACH LOCATION:
INT. King Cole's Court
A feast with mythological creatures. KING COLE - jolly and round, full of food and drink.
KING COLE (V.O.)
We were kings and cobblers.
CUT TO:
INT. WORKSHOP
Elderly GEPETTO is in the middle of carving a young face from a block of wood.
KING COLE (V.O.)
Wizards and woodcarvers.
CUT TO:
EXT. WOODS
The Big Bad Wolf stalks a RED RIDING HOOD from the underbrush.
KING COLE (V.O.)
We had our sinners, our saints...
CUT TO:
EXT. BEANSTALK
Young blonde man, JACK, is climbing up a beanstalk with a determined grin.
KING COLE (V.O.)
...and our blatant social climbers.
CUT TO:
EXT. WOODS
PRINCE CHARMING - tall, dark-haired, debonair - appears in a clearing, where a tall stone tower rises above him.
KING COLE (V.O.)
And from the grandest lord to the lowliest peasant girl, we were, for the most part, strangers to one another.
EXT. OVER CONTINENTS
THE CAMERA FLIES OVER CONTINENTS AND OCEANS. THERE ARE SO MANY COUNTRIES AND KINGDOMS IN THIS REALM. SLOWLY FADING TO BLACK.
KING COLE (V.O.)
It took an invasion to unite us.
FADE TO BLACK
FADE TO:
EXT. NEVER NEVER LAND
Pirates and mermaids at a lagoon on the beach. Dark skies grow in the distance, inching towards the beach.
EXT. SHADOWY FORTRESS
CAMERA FLIES TOWARDS THE DARK CLOUDS AND HALTS AT A DARK FOREBODING FORTRESS. HEAT AND DARK MAGIC SEEM TO RIPPLE OFF IT.
Hints of images of a dark creature.
KING COLE (V.O.)
Beyond the farthest shores of Never, a dark thing of infinite hunger grew in strength and ambition.
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. RUINS OF A KINGDOM
An army of orcs, trolls, and monsters in armor raze and destroy a village. Chain gains are whipped and driven across plains. Forests burn.
KING COLE (V.O.)
One by one, our scattered kingdoms fell to The Adversary's unquenchable appetite. Our homelands burned. Too few of us survived.
CUT TO:
EXT. A KINGDOM UNDER SIEGE
A castle burns in the distance, as a mob of people are fleeing and evacuating.
CINDERELLA - mid to late twenties, blonde and pretty - and the same PRINCE CHARMING are disguised in less ornate clothing, hoods, his arm over her shoulder as they travel in the crowd.
KING COLE (V.O.)
Over years - over lifetimes - we hid and ran.
CUT TO:
INT. BESIEGED CASTLE
BOY BLUE - a young man in a blue mask and cape - sneaks up behind an inhuman guard, and slits his throat.
KING COLE (V.O.)
We lived as outlaws and phantoms.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE WOODS
A group of humans and fairy-tale creatures flee in the woods, and find a portal. With a watchful eye on the dangerous lands around them, they step into the portal.
KING COLE (V.O.)
We made our way here...
EXT. NEW AMSTERDAM
THE CAMERA FLIES INTO THE PORTAL, AND APPEARS ON THE OTHER SIDE: WHERE THE CITY OF NEW YORK IS A SMALL TOWN BEING BUILT UP BY EUROPEAN COLONISTS.
KING COLE (V.O.)
...to this dreary, mundane place: the one world the Adversary seemed to take no interest in.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREETS - NEW AMSTERDAM
In a swirl of smoke like glamour magic, MR. TOAD - a three foot tall toad - and his son, a smaller toad, magically shape-shift into a small squat human shapes. MR. TOAD leads his son by the hand out into the crowded streets of New York.
CUT TO:
INT. TAVERN - NEW AMSTERDAM
SOMEONE is sullenly drinking in a tavern, listening to a few drunkards telling stories.
CUT TO:
INT. COTTAGE - NEW AMSTERDAM
At a fire, an old woman is telling a crowd of children a story, gesturing animatedly as the children watch in awe.
KING COLE (V.O.)
The people here knew of us as merely legends, fictions, myths. But we Fables are of flesh and bone. Their belief in our tales allowed us to live on.
CUT TO:
EXT. BULLFINCH STREET - NEW YORK CITY - 18TH CENTURY
New York-1700's
The camera travels through the dirty, loud streets of colonial New York City. Turning a corner, we see a crowd of people building and bustling in a small street neighborhood. A townhall-esque building is being erected.
KING COLE (V.O.)
Years turned to centuries, and we learned to set aside old grudges, united by our common enemy.
CUT TO:
INT. AT A DESK
A hand is signing a parchment document titled "Fabletown General Amnesty Accords" in a flourished hand as "Lord Mayor Cole".
KING COLE (V.O.)
We forgave our many grievances and made covenant with one another.
FADE TO:
INT. BALLROOM
What appears to be the Victorian era, a group of people in formal gowns and suits, ranging from nearly to very human-looking, are raising glasses in a quiet, somber toast. Outside, is Victorian-era New York.
KING COLE (V.O.)
And now, predator and prey, prince and pauper, are all of a single community.
EXT. THE HOMELANDS - PRESENT DAY
A shadowy castle. Orcs and demons work and toil around its craggy surface.
KING COLE
Allied in our undying memory of the Homelands, and the unshakable determination that one day we will return, and free our lands of the hated one.
The Camera zooms away from the castle.
EXT. NEW YORK CITY - PRESENT DAY
In a blur, the camera travels through aNOTHER portal, arriving hovering over the modern landscape of New York City.
CUT TO:
INTRO - SHOT FROM ABOVE
An ancient leather-bound storybook is resting on an asphalt city street. The cover of the book reads:
"FABLES"
A car roars as it drives over the book, and the cover is blown open. Pages flip furiously.
The sounds of traffic - horns blaring, engines revving, radios blaring, people shouting - can be heard at the book rests on a page that 'created by' credit.
Another car roars by, and the pages turn in the wind to another page:
"Based on the graphic novels by Bill Willingham"
Cut to Black
ACT I
ON THE BLACK, A TITLE READS:
"Chapter One: Legends in Exile"
CUT TO:
EXT. PARK - NEW YORK CITY
SUBTITLE: Present Day.
CINDY - aka Cinderella - is sipping an iced coffee on a park bench. Watching little boys and girls play pirates. She smirks as she watches them, pushing her sunglasses to the top of her head.
A STRANGER - nondescript man in a track suit - takes a seat beside her on the park bench, leaving a large high-end shopping bag on the floor beside their feet. They sit silently next to each other, watching the kids.
CINDY and the STRANGER hands subtly move near each other on the bench. Between hands, CINDY passes him a stack of cash wrapped in a plastic bag.
After a moment, the STRANGER stands up and leaves. CINDY slides the shopping bag closer, and reaches down inside. Shuffling around, she smirks at the bag's contents.
CINDY
(almost turned on)
Hello, beautiful.
CINDY tosses her coffee in the trash and drops her sunglasses back onto her face. Picking up the bag, she stands from the bench and casually leaves the park.
CUT TO:
INT. BRIAR ROSE'S PENTHOUSE
BRIAR ROSE - aka Sleeping Beauty, early to mid thirties, redhead, fierce and gorgeous - lies delicately on a large decadent king sized bed.
Yawning awake, the no-longer sleeping beauty leisurely gets out of bed, and begins to wander across the expanse of her penthouse suite.
CUT TO:
INT. PITCH DARK CLOSET
BRIAR ROSE flicks on the lights to her incomprehensibly large closet. Wall of shoes, rows full of thousands of dresses and outfits in fashions ranging from all over the last 100 years.
She smiles dreamily as she runs her tapered, impeccably manicured fingers along the edges of her hangers.
CUT TO:
INT. DEPUTY MAYOR'S OFFICE
SNOW WHITE, her face not seen, is filling a pen with an ink well, her nails immaculately clean and trimmed, but simple.
She straightens the name block on her desk, which reads: "DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS"
CUT TO:
EXT. STREETS OF NEW YORK
Dashing out of a taxi, we follow the young man, JACK - of Frost, Be Nimble, O'Lantern, and Beanstalk fame. He appears in his early 20s, with shaggy blond hair. He's clinging to a crumpled paper bag
JACK runs through the street, plowing through a pizza delivery boy without a word. He almost trips but keeps on moving as the delivery boy drops his boxes.
CUT TO:
INT. RESTAURANT
MOLLY - a young pretty waitress - runs a credit card repeatedly through the cash register in front of her. It keeps beeping and rejecting the card.
Irritated, she flips the card over, staring at the signature.
PRINCE CHARMING is seated at a large table by himself, surrounded by plates of half-eaten food.
MOLLY marches over to him through the crowded diner, trying to mask her irritation with the apologetic smile that will hopefully get her tips.
MOLLY
I'm sorry, Mister...
(checks the card)
…Jones, but it looks like your card's been rejected. Do you maybe have another one?
The handsome man casually pulls out a checkbook and pen and begins to write.
CHARMING
Terribly sorry about that, let me just write you a check.
He quickly jots down on the checkbook.
MOLLY
(flustered)
Well, I can't really...
Ripping off the check, CHARMING hands it to her. She looks at it. He has signed the check in flourishing cursive:
"Prince Charming."
MOLLY
(incredulous)
Funny.
CHARMING flashes her the most disarmingly handsome and coy smile she has ever seen. It doesn't take much effort on his part to charm her.
CHARMING
Has anyone told you what stunning eyes you have?
MOLLY'S demeanor warms, and she bites her lip with a smirk.
CUT TO:
INT. RESTAURANT - MOMENTS LATER
CHARMING rests his hand on MOLLY'S lower back to usher her out the front door of the restaurant.
Another WAITRESS wanders to CHARMING'S table, lifting up a huge stack of ones and fives on the receipt. MOLLY'S apron is on the table. Scribbled in pen on the bill is written:
"Bill's on me. -Molly"
CUT TO:
EXT. BULLFINCH STREET
A single block of New York City, Bullfinch Street bustles with people.
JACK, still running, bumps into CINDY on his way towards the large hotel at the center of the plaza. She clings her shopping bag, glaring at him with venom.
CINDY
(yelling)
Watch it, spaz!
EXT. THE WOODLANDS HOTEL
The camera turns to the right, revealing a multistory hotel at one end of the square, the wall beside it reading "Woodland Luxury Apartments." The massive apartment building is the secret city hall of Fabletown.
Jack shoves through a revolving door and into the building's lobby.
INT. LOBBY - WOODLAND APARTMENTS
JACK bounds into the lobby.
TRUSTY JOHN - a brick of a man in his late 40s to early 50s - seems surprised that JACK didn't take the door he was holding open.
TRUSTY JOHN
Morning!
GRIMBLE - a large gruff looking man in a security uniform - snores at his desk.
Janitor AMBROSE FLYCATCHER - ambiguous age, lanky and shaggy, in orange workman's jumpsuit - is mopping the floor as JACK stumbles on the wet spots on his way to the elevator.
FLYCATCHER
Woah ho, easy there, Jack!
CUT TO:
EXT. SNOW WHITE'S OFFICE
We pan down a wood paneled hallway containing the doors to the offices of SNOW WHITE and Sheriff BIGBY WOLF.
Citizens of Fabletown are standing and crowded on a bench along the wall. Many look human and lower-middle class, others have an array of inhuman characteristics like horns, eyes in strange colors, and various others.
The doors read:
BUSINESS OFFICE, S. White
SHERIFF, B. WOLF.
CUT TO:
INT. STAIRWELL - WOODLAND APARTMENTS
Jack scrambles up the stairwell, sweating and gasping for air. He grips the paper bag in a death grip. It seems to have a dark stain on the side and bottom of it.
INT. BIGBY'S OFFICE
CLOSE UP OF BIGBY WOLF'S FACE, FOCUSING ON HIS NOSE. HE SNIFFS INVOLUNTARILY.
CUT TO:
INT. SNOW WHITE'S OFFICE
The Deputy Mayor of Fabletown, SNOW WHITE, is exactly what you'd envision: a beautiful young woman appearing to be in her late twenties to early thirties, with porcelain skin and jet black hair. Her eyes, a vivid blue, are fierce but weary from her tedious appointments.
SNOW WHITE
(across her desk at someone)
I'm sorry if that isn't what you wanted to hear, but once again, the only problem that directly concerns this office is how...beastly you've been looking lately.
Across from the Deputy Mayor sit her latest appointment, LADY BEAUTY and LORD BEAST - a couple seemingly in their mid to late thirties. BEAUTY is a pretty blonde with a short fuse. She wears women's skirt suits in the vein of Jackie Kennedy, as if she is always vying for political office.
Her husband, LORD BEAST, is in the transitional stages of becoming a seven foot plus chimera of a creature. The hair on his head has grown out of control to line his face in fur, with the initial stubs of horns peaking out from his forehead. His suit is straining at the stitches over his hulking muscles.
BEAUTY
Was that supposed to be funny?
SNOW WHITE
Of course not. But do you know what else isn't?
Pulling a tabloid magazine out of a folder in front of her, she slides it across her table towards her guests. The cover page is covered in fuzzy pictures of a hairy, horned beast draped in clothing as it ducks into dark alleyways. The headline reads: MONSTERS IN NEW YORK CITY?
BEAUTY glances down at the tabloid, her irritation flaring up.
BEAUTY
We didn't come here for a lecture, Miss White. We came here for help with my husband's condition.
SNOW WHITE
No you didn't. You came here for a handout.
BEAST'S teeth are half-evolved into fangs, leaving him speaking for the entirety of this scene with a debilitating speech impediment.
BEAST
(barely understandable)
It's not my fault! My curse disappeared when my wife agreed to marry me way back when, but now it comes and goes.
BEAUTY
See? I told you he blamed me.
BEAST
(barely understandable)
I'm not blaming you, darling, but I seem to turn back to a beast to the extent that you're mad at me.
SNOW WHITE
This would be easier, Lord Beast, if I could understand you better.
BEAUTY
(irritated)
He said that his curse reasserts itself to extent that I become mad at him.
SNOW WHITE
Thank you. And leading me back to my point. I cannot justify funding treatment for a preventable condition. Our budget is tight enough as it is.
BEAUTY
(insulted)
Preventable?
SNOW WHITE
In my opinion, your efforts would be better spent towards finding some marriage counseling.
BEAUTY
You can't expect someone to be married for a thousand years and be perfectly, blissfully happy every second.
BEAST
(fingers fiddling with his teeth inside his mouth)
It's this transitional period that's the problem. My fangs grow in before my mouth can get big enough to fit them. So I speak funny.
SNOW rubs at her temples in weariness.
SNOW WHITE
The mundanes may look to their government to solve their problems, but in the fable community, we expect you to be able to run your own lives.
CUT TO:
INT. FABLETOWN OFFICE OF OPERATIONS
JACK bounds into the hallway, and tears open the door that reads: "SECURITY OFFICE, B. WOLF"
Citizens who've been waiting patiently start making a fuss at Jack cutting the line.
INT. BIGBY'S OFFICE
JACK slams the door behind him, leaning his back against the door. He sinks to the floor, his breath heaving furiously.
The office has a thin cloud of cigarette smoke in it.
JACK
(coughing)
Bigby! Bigby...you gotta help!
BIGBY WOLF - middle aged, dark-haired, gruff, and weary - keeps his eyes on a stack of paperwork on his desk as the young man struggles to breathe.
BIGBY
Out, Jack. Back of the line.
JACK
(eyes darting around)
There's nobody in here.
BIGBY
That's because I don't like people. You might be waiting for a while.
JACK
Something's happened! Something... something terrible's happened!
BIGBY
(deadpanned)
Been climbing beanstalks again?
Jack shoots daggers at the sheriff with his glare, struggling to stand up.
JACK
(out of breath)
Blown down any houses lately?
MEDIUM SHOT FROM BEHIND JACK, UNDER HIS ARMS.
JACK pulls the paper bag out from under his jacket and drops it onto the desk.
CLOSE UP OF BIGBY'S NOSE AGAIN. HIS SNIFF IS A LOT STRONGER.
BACK TO MEDIUM SHOT
BIGBY stares weary-eyed at the bag from his seat.
The paper bag is seeping blood onto the desk.
CUT TO:
INT. SNOW WHITE'S OFFICE
MEDIUM SHOT OF BOY BLUE'S DESK.
BOY BLUE, personal assistant to the Deputy Mayor - young man in his late teens to early twenties - is sitting at his desk in the business office. He has a quiet strength, his light blue eyes old and soulful under youthful sandy blonde hair. He is neck deep in large accounting and inventory tomes.
SNOW WHITE (O.S.)
There are only a handful of government positions. We get by on donations, not taxes mind you, and half of our time is spent bowing, scraping, and kissing ass to get what we can manage to bring in each year. We can't afford to subsidize concealing magics or marital counseling, and to be perfectly honest, I wouldn't allow it if we could.
PULL OUT TO WIDE SHOT OF THE ROOM. SNOW'S VOICE ECHOES THROUGH THE ROOM.
We get a view of how absurdly large the Business Office is. It is palatial, far larger than the Woodlands building is on the outside. Peppered around the office is a museum of legendary memorabilia: Fairy-tale relics and statues (The sword in the stone, etc...), rows of bookshelves reaching up several stories and stretching out into the far off dark. A pirate galleon is in the distance.
BLUE'S desk is smaller, simpler than SNOW WHITE'S, and several yards behind her. He jots notes down in the ledger in front of him.
With a flap of wings, BUFKIN, a flying monkey, lands on the desk with a handful of books. BLUE smiles at him, and they exchange a few books with each other. BLUE opens one and glances through a few pages, nodding. BUFKIN takes off again, leaving the boy to continue with his work.
BLUE glances up, still writing as he listens to SNOW'S argument with BEAUTY and BEAST continue.
SNOW WHITE
Lord Beast, if you can't maintain a human appearance or purchase a glamour from one of our witches, you will be relocated upstate to the Farm.
BEAUTY
This is outrageous!
SNOW WHITE
You are more than welcome to remain here in Fabletown, My Lady. Maybe a little time apart would do you some good.
BEAST
(barely understandable)
That's not fair! This isn't our fault!
SNOW WHITE
You are in direct violation of your civic duty. Our most vital law, My Lord: "No Fable shall, by action or inaction, cause our magical nature to become known to the mundane world."
BEAUTY
(nodding behind SNOW'S head)
Don't give me that. What about him?
A MEDIUM SHOT OF SNOW WHITE AT HER DESK, CAMERA AIMED AT HER RIGHT SIDE.
THE CAMERA SHIFTS QUICKLY TO A DEEP FOCUS TO LOOK PAST SNOW'S FACE. BLUE AND BUFKIN SPEAK QUIETLY AT BLUE'S DESK.
BLUE and BUFKIN glance up at the attention. The flying monkey glares back and screeches.
SNOW WHITE
Bufkin remains here as our archivist under the expressed orders of Mayor Cole. He's given his oath that he will never leave this office. I can't expect you would do the same.
BEAUTY
We didn't escape from the Homelands with our fortune intact! We can't afford a glamour powerful enough to hide the curse; we barely make enough between us to make rent.
BEAST
(barely understandable)
And it's those same money troubles that exacerbates our marital problems and makes the curse come back.
SNOW WHITE
Most of us lost our lands, titles, and fortunes when we fled the Adversary. We've all had to make do.
BEAUTY looks up at the office around them.
BEAUTY
(deadpanned)
I can see that.
SNOW WHITE
(thinly)
Mayor Cole's..ostentatious choice of decor aside, the Fable government is overworked and underpaid and we are doing everything in our power to keep the exile community together. So please believe me when I say that I can't help you sort out your problem.
BEAST
(barely understandable)
But you aren't really the Mayor.
BEAUTY is shocked that her husband has spoken up like that.
SNOW WHITE
(prepared for the claim)
If you want to go directly to the Mayor, that's your prerogative. But I'll tell you exactly what will happen. He'll listen to your problem and make all the right noises about how sorry he is for your plight - and his sympathy will be genuine because he's a wonderful, empathetic man.
SNOW WHITE's stone cold, confident gaze locks onto BEAST.
SNOW WHITE (CONT'D)
And then the moment you're out the door, he'll ask me what I want to do about it.
SNOW WHITE slips the tabloid into a folder and closes it with finality.
SNOW WHITE (CONT'D)
For better or worse, you've just had your appeal to city hall.
BEAUTY
You have no idea how hard it is to keep a marriage going for so long.
BEAST
(barely understandable)
No reason to get personal, dearest.
BEAUTY
She openly criticized our relationship!
SNOW WHITE
I did no such thing.
BEAUTY
And who are you to criticize anyone's personal life? After your tawdry little adventure with those dwarves.
SNOW WHITE narrows her eyes at BEAUTY.
BLUE peeks his head out to the side from his desk and peers around SNOW'S shoulder.
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. SNOW WHITE'S OFFICE
BLUE hurriedly ushers BEAUTY and BEAST out of the Deputy Mayor's office. The line of people in the hallway shuffle at the disturbance.
BLUE
(loud and overly formal)
Thank you both for coming, our door's always open. But we need to move things along to Ms. White's next appointment, so-
BEAUTY
But we weren't finished!
BLUE leans his back into the door and slams it closed. He begins to busy himself getting their coats.
BLUE
(in a sober, low voice)
Take my advice, ma'am, some topics are best never brought up. Never discuss personal hygiene with a bridge troll. Never trade casserole recipes with a black forest witch. But above all, when talking to the Deputy Mayor...
(shoves the coats at them)
Never mention the dwarves.
BEAST extends the crook of his arm to his wife, who refuses it and storms out down the hallway. BEAST follows her out.
BIGBY exits his office from down the hallway. BLUE adopts his usual formal and overly friendly tone.
BLUE (CONT'D)
Goodbye, Lady Beauty. Lord Beast. Take care, now.
(turning to the crowd)
Thank you all for your patience. We will call for the next appointment soon.
BIGBY steps towards SNOW'S office, smoking.
BIGBY
Hey, Blue.
BLUE
(with a sigh and a smile)
Morning, Sheriff Bigby.
BIGBY
Is her ex-Highness in?
BLUE
Yes, but she's in a foul mood.
Beside SNOW'S door is a sign that reads:
"THANK YOU FOR NOT SMOKING"
Paying absolutely no attention to it, BIGBY takes a long drag of his cigarette before grabbing the doorknob handle.
BIGBY
(opening her door)
Great. I get to make it worse.
CUT TO:
INT. SNOW WHITE'S OFFICE
BIGBY enters SNOW'S office.
BIGBY
Morning, Snow.
She is standing at her desk, hovering over a stack of files in front of her.
SNOW WHITE
I'm a little busy at the moment, Sheriff. What can I do for you?
BIGBY
Can you sit? We need to talk.
SNOW WHITE
About?
BIGBY
Bad news.
She steps from her seat and passes him on her way to the file cabinet oddly close to her desk in the massive hall.
SNOW WHITE
I'm well aware that Charming's back in town, thank you. Apparently he's even worn out his welcome with the inbred European royalty. He's already asked for an audience. Says he wants to 'talk business'.
BIGBY
(deadpanned)
Meaning he's out of money.
BIGBY flips through a file on her desk, lifting a page or two and peeking.
BIGBY (CONT'D)
But it's not about your ex. When was the last time you spoke with your sister?
SNOW slides open an eye level file drawer, slightly irritated, but not looking up at him.
SNOW WHITE
What's Rose done this time?
BIGBY
Gone missing.
SNOW WHITE
(distracted)
How's that?
BIGBY
I have it on unconfirmed authority that something might've happened to her.
SNOW WHITE
(weary)
Do you think you could be a little less opaque?
BIGBY
Got a visit from Jack just now.
SNOW WHITE
(scoffing laugh)
I'm sure that was enlightening.
BIGBY
Told me that he went over this morning and found her placed trashed.
SNOW WHITE
(exhaling with relief)
Is that it? From what I hear, Rose Red's apartment is "trashed" with alarming regularity.
BIGBY
Must've been a hell of a party.
BIGBY plops a plastic evidence bag onto her desk. It has a T-shirt soaked in blood inside. The inside of the bag is flecked with blood as well.
As she looks up and sees the bag, SNOW'S expression grows dark.
SNOW WHITE
Are you insane?! What is that?
BIGBY lifts a necklace from the pile, a golden chain with an ornate rose charm on the end.
BIGBY
Recognize it?
SNOW WHITE
(flustered)
Yes. It's Rose's.
BIGBY
Found at the scene.
SNOW WHITE
What happened? Where is she?
BIGBY
Not sure. I'm going over to her apartment now to check it out.
SNOW WHITE
You haven't been there yet? I'm coming with you.
BIGBY
I don't think that's such a good idea. Let me take a look around first...
SNOW WHITE
She's my sister, and I'm your boss. I'm going.
BIGBY
I told you as a courtesy, Snow.
SNOW continues to pack her things with little consideration to BIGBY.
SNOW WHITE
How about a compromise? I go with you, or you can clean out your office and get the hell out of the building. Deal?
CUT TO:
INT. MOLLY'S APARTMENT
MOLLY the waitress' apartment is a cramped studio, filled with cheap furniture and plenty of stuff. Exactly the kind of ratty place that a waitress would be able to afford in New York.
PRINCE CHARMING is having sex with MOLLY. Moans, giggles, and a characteristic thudding of a mattress against the wall fill the single room apartment.
MOLLY
(in the throes of passion)
Oh! Oh, wow. Yes! Just like that. Do more of that!
Sheets tangled around them, MOLLY wordlessly shouts as CHARMING continues thrusting into her, waiting for her to come back down from her orgasm.
He slows down, breathing heavily, pleased with himself. Still moving inside her.
MOLLY
(entranced)
Wow, that was-
CHARMING
(grinning)
Bracing.
MOLLY
You're amazing.
CHARMING
(leaning forward)
I know.
CHARMING kisses her. Their faces stay close as they breathe together for a long minute, basking. Slowly, he starts thrusting into her again.
MOLLY
(grinning)
Again?
CHARMING
I've always believed a truly accomplished nobleman should hone his cocksmanship every bit as much as his swordsmanship.
MOLLY squirms underneath him, chuckling.
CHARMING (CONT'D)
In each case one should know when it's better to thrust or parry or bind. When it's time to withdraw or riposte.
MOLLY
I don't know what riposte means, but don't you dare withdraw yet!
CHARMING starts to thrust harder.
CHARMING
And of course, when it's time to finally commit all to the... deep...lunge.
MOLLY'S bare legs wrap around his middle as he starts kissing her neck.
MOLLY
(breathless)
My hero.
CUT TO:
INT. TAXI
SNOW and BIGBY piled into a taxicab. The driver glares back at BIGBY as he puffs away on a cigarette. SNOW is clearly upset by the aroma of the smoke.
TAXI DRIVER
Can't smoke that in here, buddy.
BIGBY hands him some extra bills and ignores the warning.
BIGBY
I sent Jack on ahead to keep an eye on the apartment. He's waiting for us.
SNOW WHITE
A little like letting the fox guard the hen house, don't you think?
BIGBY
If he'd messed with the crime scene at all, he would have done it before came to me.
SNOW WHITE
Jack's a scam artist. I don't understand what Rose sees in him.
BIGBY
I always got the impression that your disapproval was what she found most attractive about him.
SNOW WHITE
You're getting a bit nosy, Mister Wolf.
There's a moment of tense pause as SNOW taps her fingernails against the cab's seat.
SNOW WHITE
Her sole goal in life seems to be mortifying me.
(muttering)
Can this goddamn cab go any faster?
CUT TO:
EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING
They walk up the stairs and enter the apartment building.
CUT TO:
INT. APARTMENT BUILDING
SNOW and BIGBY walk up the inside stairs and down a hallway.
JACK sits on the ground, quietly waiting for them, his eyes red and teary from crying.
He glances up and sees SNOW.
JACK
Ms. White? What are you doing here?
SNOW WHITE
(lifting a finger)
Not. A word.
They walk up to the doorway. SNOW takes point, stepping to the door and grasping the doorknob.
SNOW WHITE
(calling into the apartment)
Rose?
BIGBY catches a whiff of something and reaches out for her hand.
BIGBY
Snow, wait.
She slips away from his grasp and opens the door. She peers inside and one glance at the scene sends her reeling back into the hallway.
SNOW WHITE
Oh my god.
BIGBY steps into the doorway and looks inside.
CUT TO:
INT. ROSE'S APARTMENT
The apartment is trashed, furniture and broken glass all over. The walls, floors and personal items, are all splattered with blood.
BIGBY focuses on a message written on the wall above the flipped couch, cushions ripped apart.
In blood, splattered with streaks, reads the warning:
"NO MORE HAPPILY EVER AFTER"
CUT TO BLACK
END OF ACT ONE
Thanks for reading! (to download the pdf of this script in proper script format, follow the URL (no spaces): "goo . gl / 8jhRPO"
Even if you download, please R&R!