ACT TWO
INT. HALLWAY
Covering her mouth, SNOW spins away from the front door, slamming her back up against the door frame. She's shaking.
SNOW
Oh my god.
JACK
(sad)
I told you.
BIGBY
Shut up.
BIGBY steps towards SNOW, blocking her view of the apartment.
BIGBY (CONT'D)
Are you gonna be alright?
SNOW WHITE
(her eyes shut)
There's so much blood.
BIGBY gently holds her shoulders.
BIGBY
Just breathe. We don't know
anything yet. Let me take a look
around.
BIGBY shrugs off his coat as he stares into the apartment.
BIGBY (CONT'D)
Hold these for me.
BIGBY hands her his lit cigarette and his coat. SNOW takes them without complaint, still processing. BIGBY shakes out his head and exhales quickly a few times, breathes out his nose harshly to clear the smoke out.
BIGBY
(to JACK)
Watch the door. No one comes in.
Especially her.
JACK nods and closes the door behind BIGBY. SNOW is trembling, glaring at JACK when he turns around.
CUT TO:
INT. ROSE'S APARTMENT
BIGBY stands motionless in the doorway for a beat.
CLOSE UP OF HIS NOSE. HE SNIFFS AGAIN.
CLOSE UP OF HIS HANDS. HIS FINGERS TWITCH AND CLENCH IN A FIST.
Silently, BIGBY steps around the puddles of blood in the room. CD's, food, appliances are strewn around the floor.
Almost every object in the apartment is splattered with blood.
He stares at the blood message smeared on the wall.
Crouching down, BIGBY lifts a knocked over lamp. Not shattered, but blood drips off it.
BIGBY kneels to study the rug. He sees an over-turned ashtray covered in blood. He takes a pen from his shirt pocket and lifts the ashtray up on its side. The floor is clean beneath the ash tray, a blood ring around it.
Against one of the walls, BIGBY finds a massive stereo system with a turntable and shelves of records. BIGBY kneels down and flips through the records. The stereo and the records are clean of blood.
BIGBY looks down at a shelf of CD's below the records. A handful of them have been torn off the shelf. He glances around and finds some of them crushed on the floor.
CUT TO:
INT. KITCHEN
BIGBY walks into the kitchen, which doesn't have any blood in it. It's still a pigsty, though: junk food, take-out containers, beer cans and bottles everywhere.
He studies the fridge, and finds the freezer has a set of four holes drilled into the door and the side of the fridge.
BIGBY starts opening drawers, finding one filled with junk/hardware: screwdrivers, nails, spray paint, tape, etc.
Rifling through the drawer, BIGBY finds a hinge lock and padlock. The padlock is locked with a key still sticking in it.
BIGBY steps to the fridge with the lock and is able to line up the holes perfectly with the ones drilled into the freezer door and side.
BIGBY growls lightly under his breath, unsure what to make of the discovery.
CUT TO:
INT. HALLWAY
SNOW corners JACK in the hallway.
SNOW WHITE
(angry)
How could you not know what happened?
JACK
I was out all night with friends.
When I got back, Rose was gone and
the place was destroyed. Blood on
everything.
SNOW drops BIGBY'S cigarette and coat. She steps forward and shoves JACK back into the wall.
SNOW WHITE
If you laid so much as a hand on her-
JACK
I didn't! I swear!
BIGBY ambles out of the apartment, hands shoved in his pockets. They both look at him, and JACK manages to pull away from SNOW while she is distracted.
JACK
Well?
BIGBY casually squats down to grab the cigarette off the ground. Blowing on it gently, he puts it back into his mouth.
BIGBY
I have a few tests to run.
SNOW WHITE
Tests? Doesn't your nose work anymore?
BIGBY
It's all Rose's blood.
SNOW shuts up at that, her breath catching at the thought of her sister's grisly demise. She looks back to the room.
BIGBY (CONT'D)
There's no body. I'm not jumping
to any conclusions yet.
SNOW turns to JACK with venom, steps towards him.
SNOW WHITE
(seething)
If she's dead, Jack, so help me,
I will throw you down the Witching
Well as you kick and scream.
JACK
I didn't do anything, Jesus!
BIGBY stands and holds SNOW back by the shoulder, gesturing her to stand aside.
BIGBY
Jack, do you have a key to the
apartment?
JACK
(searching his pockets)
Uh, yeah, here.
BIGBY takes the key from JACK, and locks the doorknob and deadbolt. He takes JACK by the arm.
BIGBY
Alright, let's go. I'm taking you in.
JACK
For what?
BIGBY
(shrugging)
I hadn't thought about it...Let's
just say 'resisting arrest'.
BIGBY pulls out a pair of handcuffs from his belt.
JACK
You're fucking crazy!
SNOW WHITE
(cautiously)
What did he do to Rose?
BIGBY
I'll get back to you.
JACK
I didn't do anything. I wouldn't
hurt her! I love her!
JACK shoves BIGBY away. BIGBY snatches JACK'S wrist and slams him into the wall face first.
JACK (CONT'D)
Get off me, you power-mad fuckshit!
BIGBY
(to SNOW, with feigned shocked)
Did you see that swing he just took
at me?
(puts cuffs on JACK)
Better add 'assault' to the charges.
BIGBY hauls JACK from the wall and leads him towards the stairs. SNOW follows somberly.
CUT TO:
EXT. NEW YORK CITY
The city is busy as it fades into night.
CUT TO:
INT. BRANSTOCK TAVERN
CLOSE UPS OF DRINKS, CIGARETTES, HANDS, AND THE BARTENDER SERVING DRAFT BEERS.
The tavern is dark, moody, but comfortable. All hard wood and tight quarters, the place is packed with patrons.
BLUE is playing trumpet on a tiny dingy stage at the end of the room with a jazz band following his lead. The song is mellow, but BLUE'S trumpet solo is played with virtuoso skill.
The bar is loud, with music and chatter. People are enjoying themselves.
CUT TO:
EXT. BULLFINCH STREET
The Branstock Tavern is noisy even from the street. The sounds leach out into the street, louder when people open the door to enter.
A few Fable citizens are wandering around the street, but it's mostly empty.
EXT. GLASS SLIPPER SHOE STORE
(THE MUSIC FROM THE BRANSTOCK TAVERN HAS BECOME NON-DIEGETIC
SOUND THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THESE SCENES)
The Glass Slipper shoe store is nestled among the shops of
Fabletown. Not a huge place.
CINDY leaves the shop for the night, locking the doors, throwing a casual wave back inside.
SHOT FROM OUTSIDE THE WINDOW.
Inside the dimly lit shop, CRISPIN – a middle aged man - is at a computer, doing accounting or inventory. He offers a half-hearted wave back.
CINDY turns, heading for the Woodlands Apartment Building.
CRISPIN glowers once her back is turned.
CUT TO:
EXT. BEAUTY AND BEAST'S APARTMENT BUILDING
A worn tenement building a block from Bullfinch street.
INT. LIVING ROOM
BEAUTY - dressed in a T-shirt and PJ's - is on the couch of their studio apartment, anxiously leafing through bills, balancing financial accounts. Trying to find extra room in their budget.
CUT TO:
INT. BATH
CLOSE UP OF BEAST'S HAND. IT'S VERY NEARLY HUMAN NOW.
BACK TO MEDIUM SHOT, A MIRROR REFLECTION.
BEAST - also undressed for bed - is studying himself in the mirror, touching his face. He looks noticeably more human.
His eyes are still beastly, but the horns have almost receded, and his teeth are a little smaller. The hair growth has gone down some.
CUT TO:
INT. LIVING ROOM
BEAST wanders out of the bathroom and sees BEAUTY, stressed on the couch.
They meet eyes. BEAST smiles at her quietly. BEAUTY studies his face and quietly returns the smile. BEAST steps to her and takes bills from her hands, dropping them onto the coffee table.
BEAST gets on the couch beside her and silently encourages her to come lay back against him. BEAUTY, exhausted and worried, snuggles up against him. He strokes her hair gently. They stare out at their apartment, neither looking particularly happy, despite BEAST'S appearance improving.
It's not a permanent fix.
CUT TO:
EXT. CLEARING IN THE WOODS - AFTERNOON
THE MUSIC FROM THE BRANSTOCK TAVERN FADES OUT INTO THE SOUNDS OF THE WILDERNESS)
THE FOLLOWING SCENES ARE HYPER-REAL.
Wearing a blue medieval peasant dress, SNOW WHITE - a little younger, a little happier - is rummaging through a bush, picking berries, emptying them into her hand. She tastes one and enjoys it.
Her younger sister, ROSE RED - pretty, fiery red hair - is a few steps away, kneeling in the grass as she plucks flowers. The girl is playful, energetic. She gathers a handful of the flowers and carries them to SNOW. She offers SNOW a small pink rose from the bundle.
SNOW takes the rose and admires it. Looking up to smile at her sister, she finds that ROSE'S attention has been drawn to the sky behind SNOW. She follows her sister's gaze upward.
CLOSE UPS:
SNOW'S HANDS FALLING TO HER SIDES, STILL CLUTCHING THE ROSE.
SHE DROPS THE BERRIES TO THE GROUND.
ROSE STARES AT THE SKY, CONCERNED AND FRIGHTENED.
SNOW'S HAND HOLDING THE ROSE BY THE STEM SQUEEZES INTO A FIST AND DRAWS BLOOD FROM THE ROSE'S THORNS.
SNOW STARES AT THE SKY. HER EYES NARROW DEFIANTLY.
SNOW'S HAND, NOW GRIPPING A BASTARD SWORD INSTEAD OF THE ROSE. BLOOD DRIPS DOWN HER HAND IN THE SAME WAY AS THE WOUND FROM THE THORNS.
EXT. RANSACKED VILLAGE
IN THE SAME RELATIVE POSITIONS, THE TWO SISTERS ARE NOW STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BURNING VILLAGE. PEOPLE ARE SHRIEKING AND RUNNING, COLLECTING THEIR BELONGINGS AND LOVED ONES.
The sky is on fire. Creatures in shadow sail through the smoke. On the hill in the distance, a demonic army is charging into the village.
SNOW reaches back for ROSE RED, shoving her away.
SNOW WHITE
Rose, go!
Her sister obeys and flees down the dirt street.
SNOW turns back to the flames and the army as a creature swoops down from the sky, breathing fire and shrieking. She stumbles and falls back into the dirt. Black smoke envelops her.
Screaming in the distance. The smoke slowly subsides. Snow is in the dirt, shielding her eyes. A man, off screen, offers her a hand.
MEDIUM SHOT LOOKING AT SNOW FROM THE SIDE. SHE NO LONGER HAS THE SWORD. A MAN'S HAND ENTERS THE FRAME.
BIGBY (O.S.)
My lady?
SNOW takes the hand and she pulls herself up and into the waiting arms of BIGBY. His hair is shaggy, and he's naked but draped in a fine navy blue cloak to cover himself.
BIGBY pulls her bleeding hand to his lips, gingerly kissing the back of her palm. His lips come back with her blood on them. He licks his lips. His eyes flash a golden orange, wolflike.
ROSE (O.S.)
(screaming)
SNOW!
SNOW darts around at the sound of her sister's panicked screaming in the distance. She is now alone in the burning village.
She runs through the village, ducking into a tavern. It's
roof is on fire.
CUT TO:
INT. TAVERN
The tavern is half ash. There are no bodies but all the furniture and bottles have been smashed. SNOW runs through to a back door...
CUT TO:
INT. PARTY ROSE'S APARTMENT – MODERN DAY
SNOW stumbles out into a rager of a party. Rose's apartment is dark, loud, packed with people. They're drinking, dancing, making out. SNOW pushes through the debauchery and into the kitchen doorway.
CUT TO:
INT. CASTLE HALLWAY
Through the doorway, SNOW hustles in a brisk walk down a massive corridor. The castle is lush and ornate, but dark.
The sounds of sex between a man and a woman can be heard at the end of the hallway, through a large imposing door.
SNOW gets to the end of the hallway and bursts through the door.
CUT TO:
INT. ROSE'S APARTMENT
She finds herself in the crime scene of ROSE'S apartment.
ROSE RED'S corpse is strung up on the wall, beside the blood message "NO MORE HAPPILY EVER AFTER". Her body is mutilated and mounted to the wall.
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. SNOW WHITE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
SNOW wakes up from her nightmare in a panic.
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. BIGBY'S BEDROOM
CLOSE UP OF BIGBY'S EYES SHOOTING OPEN.
CUT TO:
INT. SNOW WHITE'S BEDROOM
Struggling to calm down, SNOW hugs a pillow beside her, rolling over and staring out to the wall.
CUT TO:
INT. BIGBY'S BEDROOM
Less startled than she is, BIGBY futzes with his hair and sits up in bed.
He eyes a rotary phone on the nightstand. Reaching out, he instead grabs a pack of cigarettes and a lighter beside it.
He lights the cigarette in his teeth. Inhaling deep, he wafts the smoking end of it in the air around his nose.
Through the smoke, BIGBY sees a large fat pig - COLIN - standing on all fours in the doorway to his bedroom.
BIGBY
What happened to the truck, Colin.
COLIN
(slouching against the door)
Relax. I'm taking some 'me time'.
Just a couple more days and I'll be
outta your hair.
BIGBY
You're not dodging the Farm again.
COLIN watches BIGBY scratch absentmindedly at his hand as he breathes in his cigarette smoke.
COLIN
(smug)
That girl just will not let you get
a good night sleep.
BIGBY
(puffing away)
Fuck off.
COLIN
(wandering away)
'Night, Bigby.
BIGBY
(calling out to COLIN)
You're on that truck in the morning.
BIGBY throws his head back onto his pillow with a grunt. He glares up at the ceiling, continuing to smoke.
CUT TO A SHOT ABOVE BIGBY'S BED. BIGBY is ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MATTRESS.
FADE TO:
INT. SNOW WHITE'S BEDROOM
THE BED IN THE SAME SPOT, SNOW IS LAYING WHERE THE RIGHT
PILLOW IN BIGBY'S BED WAS SITUATED, STARING OUT AT WINDOW TO THE RIGHT OF HER BED. FOR A MOMENT IT SEEMS THAT THEY ARE LAYING NEXT TO EACHOTHER.
Fades to focus only on SNOW, alone.
FADE TO BLACK
FADE IN:
EXT. MOLLY'S APARTMENT - THE NEXT MORNING
Early morning, but the streets are busy with commuters.
INT. MOLLY'S APARTMENT
Cocooned in sheets, MOLLY wakes up sated and happy. She finds the other side of her cramped bed empty. There is a note on the pillow, with her name written on it in embellished calligraphy. She smiles and chews her lip as she reads it.
CHARMING (V.O.)
Sweet Molly: My heart bursts with a
fire I had nearly forgotten and a
deepest desire for a repeat performance
of the night we shared together. I
can scarce contain my yearning for
you. But alas, I must temper myself
and patiently wait for your exquisite
touch this evening.
INT. MOLLY'S APARTMENT - EARLIER THAT MORNING
Molly, unconscious in bed. Charming is at her bathroom mirror, checking his teeth as he puts on an undershirt.
CHARMING (V.O.)
You were a dear picking up the bill
for me like that yesterday. I am
absolutely mortified and eternally
grateful for your thoughtfulness.
INT. SNOW WHITE'S APARTMENT - THAT MORNING
SNOW sits at her vanity, assessing her face in the mirror. She's exhausted.
CHARMING (V.O.)
While you slept I dashed out to
retrieve my luggage from the Port
Authority baggage check. After
that I will be visiting with some
old friends in town.
INT. MOLLY'S APARTMENT - THAT MORNING
CLOSE UPS OF CHARMING OPENING HIS SUITCASE, CHARMING'S SUIT
AS HE BUTTONS UP HIS VEST, TIES HIS SHOES, SLIPS ON HIS
TAILORED SUIT THREADS A WAVE THROUGH HIS HAIR WITH A FINGER.
CHARMING admires himself in the mirror.
CHARMING (V.O.)
I dropped off a couple of suits
with the dry cleaners downstairs.
Be a dear and pick them up for me
this afternoon before you go to
work. Also, if you have a moment,
can you do a load of laundry for
me? Just the few items in my suitcase.
Make sure to carefully follow the
washing instructions on the labels.
INT. SNOW WHITE'S APARTMENT - THAT MORNING
SNOW, in her business suit, puts on earrings and a necklace, watching herself in the mirror.
CHARMING (V.O.)
I helped myself to your spare
apartment key and some money from
your purse. I didn't want to wake
you to ask, and knew you wouldn't mind.
INT. MOLLY'S APARTMENT - THAT MORNING
CHARMING kisses Molly on the forehead.
CHARMING (V.O.)
I'll be camping here with you for
a few days, if it doesn't put you
out too much.
INT. HALLWAY
He gingerly closes the door behind him, locking it.
CHARMING (V.O.)
See you tonight! Your handsome
prince du jour.
Another WOMAN, middle aged but pretty, is leaving her apartment around the same time as CHARMING. He meets her eyes and smiles seductively as he passes her. The WOMAN gets flustered and amorous at his attention.
CUT TO:
EXT. WOODLAND APARTMENT BUILDING
The early morning is pleasant outside.
INT. BIGBY'S APARTMENT – KITCHEN
BIGBY is at the stove, wearing boxers, frying up eggs, bacon, and sausage links for breakfast.
COLIN the pig wanders into the kitchen, dazed.
COLIN
What is that ungodly smell?
BIGBY
Hospitality.
(lifts up a sausage link with tongs)
You up for breakfast?
COLIN
(disgusted)
You are a goddamn monster, you
know that?
BIGBY smirks as COLIN marches out of the room in a huff. He flips bacon.
BIGBY
(calling out to Colin)
The truck upstate leaves in an
hour. You better be on it.
CUT TO:
INT. ROSE RED'S APARTMENT BUILDING HALLWAY
PINOCCHIO - a young man with the height of a child, grumpy, and exhausted from the early morning - wanders down the hall with a coffee and a paper bag of donuts.
He checks the back of his hand, where he scribbled an address and apartment number in sharpie.
Reaching the right apartment number, PINOCCHIO pounds on the door.
BOY BLUE opens the door open, anxious.
PINOCCHIO
(groggy)
Why am I up at the ass-crack of
the morning in Greenwich?
BLUE scans either end of the hall for anyone looking and hurries PINOCCHIO inside.
BLUE
Get inside, quick.
PINOCCHIO comes in and finds the apartment with sparse furniture, photographs tapes up all over the walls.
The walls are splattered in blood every few feet.
FLYCATCHER, in his janitor's uniform, has a leg propped up on an upended sofa. He cheerfully whistles to himself as he squirts a thin stream of blood onto the wall with a medical blood bag. Wearing latex gloves, he uses his fingers to paint letters on the wall in the blood. He's already spelled out "NO MORE
HAPPEN".
BLUE
Flycatcher, it's "happily". "No
More Happily Ever After".
FLYCATCHER stares at the letters for a moment, absorbing his mistake and trying to figure out how to fix it. He wipes at the "E" to turn it into an "I".
FLYCATCHER turns to PINOCCHIO, who is frozen at the doorway, speechless. There's a moment of awkward silence.
FLYCATCHER
(pleasantly)
Good morning, Pinocchio.
PINOCCHIO
What the shit is this?!
BLUE locks the apartment door behind PINOCCHIO, shushing him.
BLUE
(harsh whisper)
Quiet!
(takes the paper bag from him)
Sheriff Bigby has us recreating
the crime scene upstairs in ROSE
Red's apartment.
FLYCATCHER
(returns to splattering paint)
For research.
BLUE
We only have the day and we need
your help.
(studies inside of the paper bag)
No maple-glazed?
PINOCCHIO shakes his head absently at the question, his eyes glued to the half-assed recreation of Rose's living room. Bookshelves in the approximately correct place, the couch turned over in the same way. Boxes representing end tables.
FLYCATCHER
(glancing at bag with excitement)
Doughnuts? Thank you!
(glancing at BLUE)
Are there any powdered?
BLUE
(lifts out a powdered doughnut and points it at FLYCATCHER)
Finish that message first, then wash your hands a few times.
PINOCCHIO
What the hell kinda research?
BLUE takes a seat at a fold-out table and pulls out an alternative doughnut to eat. He nods at a bunch of photos strewn across the table.
FLYCATCHER continues splattering blood.
BLUE
Copy the furniture layout of Rose
Red's place and then try to recreate
the spatter patterns from these
photos. Bigby wants to see how much
blood it takes.
FLYCATCHER
Making the mess is a nice change
of pace.
There's a cooler beside the table. PINOCCHIO gently kicks at it.
PINOCCHIO
Who's blood is that?
FLYCATCHER
Didn't ask.
BLUE
(placating)
Sheriff got the bags from Dr.
Swineheart.
PINOCCHIO
This is too fuckin' weird, man.
BLUE
Miss White had a morning appointment,
but I have to get to work in an hour.
Just enough time for me to get you up
to speed on the process.
PINOCCHIO
You owe me.
BLUE
(narrowing his eyes)
Two weeks we've been covering
your chores at home.
PINOCCHIO
The job market's tricky when
you're under four feet.
BLUE glances back at the shelf FLYCATCHER is throwing blood onto, and then studies a photo on the table.
BLUE
(to FLYCATCHER)
You need to get more on the lower
shelves.
CUT TO:
INT. GLASS SLIPPER SHOE STORE
THE STORE IS SMALL, CRAMMED TO THE CEILING WITH SHOE BOXES AND MISC SHOE REPAIR EQUIPMENT. THE ROOM IS MOSTLY EMPTY, SAVE FOR ONE CUSTOMER, STICKING HER NOSE IN THE BOXES, CRISPIN, THE FAMED COBBLER FROM "THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER" TALE, AND BIGBY.
BIGBY is on a landline phone on the register counter while CRISPIN frustratingly stacking inventory behind the register.
BIGBY
(angry but hushed)
I asked you and Flycatcher to do
this for me. I did NOT ask you to
bring in the all your roommates.
INT. CLEAN APARTMENT – KITCHEN
BLUE is on the phone, watching FLYCATCHER and PINOCCHIO in the living room, judging the blood splatter job against photos.
BLUE
We needed another pair of hands,
Sheriff. Pinocchio's good for it.
I promise. He won't say anything.
INT. GLASS SLIPPER SHOE STORE
BIGBY growls under his breath. Eyeing CRISPIN to make sure he's not listening. CRISPIN seems absorbed in his work, and doesn't show any interest in the phone conversation.
BIGBY
If I get the slightest whiff of
anyone talking about you three,
I'm holding him responsible.
You tell him that.
INT. CLEAN APARTMENT – KITCHEN
BLUE
Of course. Goodbye, Sheriff.
BLUE hangs up the phone and heads back into the living room. Putting on his coat, he doles out orders to both FLYCATCHER and PINOCCHIO.
BLUE (CONT'D)
Rose's apartment is just upstairs.
If you absolutely have to, you can
go up to check out the scene. Don't
trample all over the evidence. Don't
let a mundy see anything. And don't
forget to lock up after.
(goes for the door)
I'll be back after work.
PINOCCHIO
(under his breath as he splashes
more blood on the wall)
This is so fucked.
BLUE
Have fun, boys.
CUT TO:
INT. GLASS SLIPPER SHOE STORE
BIGBY idly studies the shoe box stacks, leaning back against the register counter. CRISPIN is standing behind the register, venting at the back of BIGBY'S head.
CRISPIN
(in the middle of a rant)
She goes around dumping cash on
designer shoes from goodness knows
what ass-end of the black market,
when we can barely keep the doors
open. Some folks say she's got some
rich geezers on the line for it,
wrings them dry for all their worth
and drops them for the next cash
cow she finds. But I'm afraid it's
something illegal. We can't afford
the mundys looking in on our
business trying to crack some
smuggling ring or whatever it
is she's doing.
BIGBY
(bored)
Uh huh.
CRISPIN
Are you going to file my complaint?
CINDY wanders in, very large iced coffee in one hand, another large designer shopping bag in the other.
BIGBY
I'll look into it.
CINDY
(checking her phone)
Dammit, I'm sorry, Crispin. Lost
the time.
She brandishes the shopping bag. CRISPIN eyes BIGBY pointedly, as if to say "see what I mean?". BIGBY waves him off.
BIGBY
(to CINDY)
Long lunch break?
CINDY slows down her rushing when she notices BIGBY, and welcomes him with a coy smile.
CINDY
(playful)
Exceedingly.
BIGBY
(thin smile)
How you doin', Cindy?
CINDY
Been better. Bit of a morning.
CINDY glances down at Bigby's shows as she heads towards the back room.
CINDY
(glancing at his shoes)
Please tell you haven't worn out
those wingtips already. It's only
been twenty years, Big. When I said
they were one-of-a-kind, I meant it.
BIGBY
Not here about the shoes, Cindy.
CINDY
Wish you'd let me dress you, too.
There comes a time when vintage
becomes antique.
BIGBY
I wanna ask you about Rose Red.
CINDY goes a little serious.
CINDY
Geez, yeah. I just heard. Come
on back.
CRISPIN pulls one of the large shopping bags from behind the counter and starts rifling through it. CINDY snatches it from him before he can see anything.
CINDY
(quickly)
I got it.
Leaving CRISPIN fuming by himself. BIGBY follows CINDY through a curtain into the back.
CUT TO:
INT. GLASS SLIPPER BACK OFFICE
The back room is stuff with even more shoe boxes. CINDY inches her way back into a clear space with a table, and drops off the bags. BIGBY eyes them suspiciously.
BIGBY
Why don't you sell the kinds of
shoes you like to wear?
CINDY
Don't look at me like that. Most of
it's inventory. Custom orders.
(sheepish smirk)
And...I have particular tastes.
BIGBY
Taste you can afford?
CINDY
You sound like Crispin.
BIGBY
You've got your ear to the pipe most
days. When did you last see Rose?
CINDY pulls a few shoe boxes out of
the shopping bags, finds spots up on
high shelves to stash them.
CINDY
We don't run in the same circles.
Rose tends to crash with her mundy
friends, doesn't really hang around
Fabletown much anymore.
BIGBY
Anything would help.
CINDY
(trying to think)
God, the last time I saw her was...
around the last big break up with
Jack. About a year ago.
BIGBY
What happened?
CINDY
Huge blow up in the middle of
Bullfinch. Then a few months later
she shows up at the Remembrance
Day ball on Bluebeard's arm instead
of Jack's. They were macking on
each other all night.
BIGBY
Yeah, I heard about that.
CINDY
You actually gonna go this year?
BIGBY
I was there last year.
CINDY
Are you gonna do something other
than sit in a corner?
BIGBY
(shrug)
I don't have a tux.
CINDY
I could hook you up. There's an
elf on my floor, does a little
tailoring on the side.
BIGBY
We'll see. You were saying? ROSE
and Bluebeard?
CINDY
Is it true, what they're saying
about her apartment?
BIGBY
Not supposed to discuss an open
investigation.
CINDY
(flicker of a smirk)
But you're going to anyway.
BIGBY
(relenting)
What are they saying?
CINDY
(sober)
"No more happily ever after".
Written out in her blood. Folks
are freaking out, dropping the
A-word.
BIGBY
It's a little early to jump to
the Adversary.
CINDY
It's gotta be a prank, right? A
fucked up prank, but still.
(soft, direct)
You'd tell me? If you thought it
was Him.
BIGBY
He's pretty low on my list of suspects.
CINDY
(relaxing with a breath)
Maybe she told a mundy what she was
and they freaked out.
BIGBY
The crime scene was too theatrical.
This was violent, personal. More
likely this was from inside the
community.
CINDY
A Fable did this?
BIGBY
The writing on the wall was supposed
to cause a panic. Maybe trick us
into thinking that the Adversary
called a hit.
CINDY
I don't know, Bigby. I'm not sure
a Fable would do that to someone.
BIGBY
What about Bluebeard?
CINDY
What about him?
BIGBY
Word is you've gone out to dinner
with him a couple times recently.
You seeing him now?
CINDY
I don't make it a habit. Guy's not
exactly known for his dating skills.
BIGBY stares at the wall behind CINDY, where a copy of the
Fabletown Accords is framed.
BIGBY
(smirking)
"Fable shall not judge another
Fable for alleged actions before
the Amnesty."
CINDY glances back at the frame and huffs.
CINDY
I wouldn't call a house full of
mounted wives' heads 'alleged behavior'.
BIGBY
Why'd you go out with him, then?
CINDY
I'm not gonna move in with him or
anything. But if a handsome, CHARMING
rich guy wants to buy me dinner,
somewhere public, I'm allowed to
take him up on it. It's been...amicable.
CINDY pours more sugar into her extra-large cup of iced coffee.
BIGBY
You think Rose had the same
arrangement in mind?
CINDY
I think Rose was just looking to
piss off Jack.
BIGBY
When did Rose break it off with
Bluebeard?
CINDY
Not sure. Their relationship was a
little...vague. Didn't see them
together after the ball. Maybe it
was a one-time thing.
BIGBY
When did she and Jack get back
together?
CINDY
Who knows. They break up every other
decade. She always takes him back.
(she watches him think)
You think maybe Jack had enough?
Took it out on Rose?
BIGBY doesn't answer that.
CINDY (CONT'D)
(surprised)
And here I thought I gave you the
best gossip.
BIGBY
Thanks for the chat, Cindy.
(he taps the shopping bags with a
quiet smile)
Keep your nose clean.
CINDY smiles back at him, sipping her iced coffee.
CINDY
Yessir.
When BIGBY leaves, CINDY'S expression darkens.
CUT TO:
EXT. WOODLANDS GARDEN
The late morning is quiet, peaceful. Birdies tweeting, cars driving past Bullfinch Street in the distance but never turning onto the street.
THE CAMERA PANS DOWN THE FOUNTAIN SCULPTURE AT THE CENTER OF THE GARDEN COURTYARD. AT THE FOUNTAIN'S CENTER IS A STONE STATUE DEPICTING A NUMBER OF FICTIONAL/MYTHICAL CHARACTERS: ZEUS HOLDS A LIGHTNING BOLT IN THE AIR. HUMPTY DUMPTY BALANCES ON A BRICK WALL WITH A BIG GRIN ON HIS FACE. ALICE (IN WONDERLAND) SITS UPON A MUSHROOM, PETTING HER CAT DINAH. LADY GODIVA IS PROPPED ON A HORSE, HER HAIR FLOWING DOWN TO COVER THE PERTINENT AREAS OF HER NAKED BODY. ETC.
BIGBY is sitting on a bench, jotting down notes on a small pad of paper. A list of names, with notes beside them.
SNOW wanders over to him from one of the garden walkways.
SNOW WHITE
How's the investigation going?
BIGBY
Still compiling my list of suspects.
SNOW WHITE
You don't think Jack's guilty?
BIGBY
Jack's been a perpetual pain in my
ass since day one of The Exile.
He's a weasel, but he's never struck
me as a cold blooded killer.
(sigh)
I've been wrong before, though.
SNOW sits beside him on the bench.
SNOW WHITE
What are you going to do, then?
BIGBY
Go suspect trolling. I've got a
couple folks on my list still.
SNOW WHITE
I want to go with you.
BIGBY
(sighing)
You can't.
SNOW WHITE
I've helped you on cases before.
BIGBY
It would be a conflict of
interest, Snow.
SNOW WHITE
What's that supposed to mean?
She's my sister.
BIGBY avoids her eyes. There's a tense silence.
SNOW WHITE (CONT'D)
(genuinely hurt)
I'm a suspect?
BIGBY
You have motive.
SNOW WHITE
(exasperated scoff)
From a lifetime ago.
BIGBY
Still relevant.
SNOW WHITE
You might as well put me on the list
if Charming ever shows up dead.
BIGBY
(nodding)
You and the rest of the ex-wives.
SNOW WHITE
(quiet, strained)
I would never hurt her.
BIGBY
I wouldn't be doing my job if I
didn't consider everyone. You need
an alibi.
SNOW WHITE
For when?
BIGBY
Two nights ago. Around midnight,
probably.
SNOW WHITE
(scoffing)
Poetic.
(after a moment)
I was in my office till around 2.
BIGBY
Can anyone verify that?
SNOW WHITE
Bufkin.
BIGBY
(scoffs)
Anyone else?
SNOW WHITE
Boy Blue stays longer than I do
most nights. And I saw AmbROSE
mopping up on my way up to my
apartment. We spoke for a minute
or so.
BIGBY nods, pulling out a small notebook and jotting down.
BIGBY
That it?
SNOW WHITE
I got take-out that night. Trusty
John brought it up to me from the
front desk. That was around 9, I think.
BIGBY
Okay.
SNOW WHITE
Is that enough?
BIGBY
For now. We'll talk more later.
I'm sorry about all this. I'm just-
SNOW WHITE stands up from the bench, straightening out her
skirt.
SNOW WHITE
Just doing your job. I know.
BIGBY
I'll let you know when there's
something solid.
SNOW WHITE
If we're done here, I have to go
buy my ex-husband breakfast.
BIGBY
Watch your wallet.
BIGBY stays on the bench, dropping his notebook into his pocket as he watches SNOW WHITE leave the garden.
CUT TO:
EXT. "I AM THE EGGMAN" RESTAURANT
The diner on Bullfinch Street is busy with breakfast traffic.
INT. "I AM THE EGGMAN" RESTAURANT
SNOW is sitting at a booth, texting on her phone. CHARMING saunters up to the booth.
CHARMING
Good morning, Miss White. You look
impeccable.
SNOW WHITE
You're late.
CHARMING
(ignoring the comment, he sits
with a smile)
Thank you for coming on such short
notice.
SNOW WHITE
Wouldn't have missed it for the
world. I'm dying to know who you're
sponging off these days.
CHARMING
It's comforting to know you haven't
lost any of your venom over the
years, lovey.
CUT TO:
INT. "I AM THE EGGMAN" RESTAURANT
CLOSE UP OF THE TABLE AS A WAITRESS PUTS DOWN WAY TOO MUCH FOR TWO PEOPLE.
SNOW is eating eggs and toast as she watches plate after plate added to CHARMING'S side of the table.
CHARMING
(smiling at the waitress)
And a little more coffee please if
you don't mind. Thank you.
SNOW WHITE
Can we move this along? Unlike
you, I have responsibilities.
CHARMING
(happily digging into his meal)
Yes, I'd heard that you were running
the entire show over here now.
That's what I want to talk to you
about.
SNOW WHITE
Let me guess. You want me to use my
office to get you out of trouble. Or
manipulate someone with money.
CHARMING
No need. I've thought of a way to
replenish my lost fortune, without
cheating anyone.
SNOW WHITE
(glancing down at her phone,
uninterested)
Do tell.
CHARMING
I've decided to auction off my royal
title, along with my lands, estates;
the entire principality. All I need
from you is to spread the word
around the Fable community. Focus
your energies on the rich ones,
of course.
SNOW WHITE
(scornfully)
You've gone dotty, sweetheart. Why
would anyone pay good money to buy
lands under the Adversary's dominion?
Your royal title has no authority here.
CHARMING
That's the beauty of it. Remembrance
Day is in less than two weeks. This
is the one time of year when everyone
starts getting nostalgic for the
Homelands. If we act fast, someone
will buy all of it on nothing but
hope and the off-chance we actually
manage to win them back someday.
SNOW WHITE
Why would I help you?
CHARMING
Nostalgia? For the good old times?
SNOW WHITE
We had no good old times.
CHARMING
(seductively)
I don't think you're remembering
them clearly enough.
SNOW WHITE
(nursing an old wound)
You slept with my sister.
CHARMING
The minx seduced me.
SNOW WHITE
So thoroughly not the point.
The waitress brings their check, setting it on the table.
CHARMING pats his coat for show. He throws a sheepish smile at SNOW WHITE.
CHARMING
Would you mind? It seems I've
forgotten my wallet.
SNOW stares at the bill and then picks it up with a glare.
SNOW WHITE
Crawl back into the bed of
whatever poor unsuspecting mundy
girl you're shacking up with and
leave me alone.
SNOW pulls a wad of cash from her purse and starts counting bills.
SNOW WHITE (CONT'D)
By the way, Rose has gone missing.
Under some frightening circumstances
from what we can tell.
CHARMING
I'm sorry to hear that.
(just checking)
That is, you're upset about this,
correct?
SNOW WHITE
(spiteful)
It's just occurred to me that you
belong on the list of suspects.
She drops cash down on the table and begins to scoot out of the booth.
SNOW WHITE (CONT'D)
I assume you'll be staying in town
till your big payout?
CHARMING
That's my intention.
SNOW WHITE
Good. The Sheriff will be in touch.
SNOW leaves CHARMING at the table.
After a moment's flash of concern and frustration, CHARMING consoles himself by continuing to eat his meal.
CUT TO:
INT. WOODLANDS APARTMENTS – BASEMENT
Inside a dingy cell, JACK is sitting on a plain cot bed, staring bleary-eyed at Bigby.
BIGBY
Sleep well?
BIGBY is sitting on the edge of a table. He drops a bag of fast-food next to him. JACK stares at it.
BIGBY
Brought you some breakfast.
Hungry?
JACK
(deadpanned, bitter)
I've been locked in here since
yesterday.
BIGBY
Let's make this quick then.
JACK
Bigby, I want to help find out
what happened to Rosey. I'm not
the one who hurt her.
BIGBY
Then who did?
JACK
Bluebeard, maybe.
BIGBY
Because Rose started seeing you
again?
JACK
Maybe he fell off the wagon. You
know what he used to do to his
wives, right?
BIGBY
Those were pre-amnesty days, Jack.
You can't bring that up.
(starts lighting a cigarette)
You keep an apartment here in the
building, right?
JACK
Yeah.
BIGBY
But you had your own key to
Rose's place.
JACK
I stay over with her most nights.
BIGBY
Why not last night?
JACK
I don't know. I was out late wit
some friends and I guess I didn't
want to wake her so I crashed at
my place.
BIGBY
Funny, but Grimble doesn't remember
you coming in.
JACK
He was asleep behind the security
desk, like always.
JACK gets up to head for the breakfast bag.
BIGBY
(growling)
Sit.
JACK
(inching back onto the bed)
I'm innocent.
BIGBY
You may not have done anything this
time, but you were never innocent.
(slides the fast food aside to
bring attention to it)
You're always trying to beat the
system, Jack. That time you tried
to steal Seven-League Boots to win
the New York marathon?
JACK
(staring at the food)
Boston Marathon. I'm not an idiot.
I kept it out of state, away from
Fabletown.
BIGBY
What about the time you tried to
raffle off the map to your last
magic beans?
JACK
I have a right to make money off
my own property.
BIGBY
Except the map was a fake and you
lost the beans centuries ago, if
you ever had them at all.
JACK
None of this proves I'd hurt Rose.
I'm not violent.
BIGBY
Not lately, but you did go through
that remarkably bloody giant-killing
phase way back when.
JACK
(seething)
What happened to pre-amnesty? Or
does that protection only apply to
granny-guzzling wolves when they
wear human-suits and pretend to be
low-rent cops?
BIGBY stands from the table with another growl, low and from his chest. It sounds bigger than the last one. His eyes flicker gold as he steps closer. He suddenly feels a little bigger.
BIGBY
Watch your mouth, boy.
JACK stumbles back onto the bed, freaked out. BIGBY casts a tall shadow.
JACK
Easy, man!
BIGBY'S eyes return to human, but he's still an intimidating presence, stepping closer.
BIGBY
Is Rose dead? Did you kill her?
JACK
No! Of course not!
BIGBY
Did you put her body somewhere?
JACK
(getting angrier)
What? No!
BIGBY
So you don't mind if I take a look
inside your apartment?
JACK
Damn straight, I mind.
BIGBY
Tough shit, you live in the building.
I don't need your permission.
JACK
Well I got nothing to hide.
BIGBY
Good to hear.
BIGBY tosses the fast food bag at him. He heads for the big metal door.
BIGBY (CONT'D)
Cool your heels for a while. We'll
pick this up later. I expect a sunny
disposition when I get back.
BIGBY slams the door shut and turns an archaic iron door lock.
CUT TO:
INT. WOODLANDS APARTMENT BUILDING – LOBBY
TRUSTY JOHN holds the door open as SNOW wanders into the lobby in a malaise.
SNOW WHITE
(melancholy)
Thank you, John.
TRUSTY JOHN
Lovely mornin', isn't it, Miss White?
SNOW WHITE
(distracted)
Yes. Lovely.
CUT TO:
INT. SNOW WHITE'S OFFICE
SNOW WHITE studies papers on her desk, her hands resting on the desktop. Closing her eyes, she takes a long, shaky breath.
The distant door to her office bursts open as CINDY and BRIAR ROSE jointly barge in. BLUE is on their heels, struggling to stop them. He's still tying his bowtie on, having changed from his work that morning.
BLUE
Ladies, Miss White's only just arrived. You need an appointment!
BRIAR ROSE
Out of our way, Blue!
CINDY
(calling out to SNOW WHITE)
Why the hell is he back in town?!
BLUE reaches SNOW'S desk.
BLUE
(out of breath)
Lady Briar Rose and Miss
Cinderella to see you, ma'am.
(under his breath)
I'm sorry I'm late. Sheriff Bigby
had me and Flycatcher-
SNOW WHITE
It's fine, Blue.
BLUE
Do you need anything?
SNOW WHITE
(tired smile)
A coffee?
BLUE nods and shuffles to his desk in the far back distance.
There's a coffee maker on it.
BRIAR ROSE
Why didn't you tell us Charming
was back on the prowl?
SNOW slowly and calmly walks around her desk to take a seat.
SNOW WHITE
I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was
in charge of the ex-wives newsletter.
CINDY and BRIAR ROSE reach the desk. SNOW WHITE takes a
calming breath.
SNOW WHITE (CONT'D)
It's in hand, girls. Charming and I met for breakfast and I'm working to get rid of him as quickly as possible.
CINDY
(amused)
You mean he asked you for breakfast.
SNOW WHITE
I would have expected a little
more gratitude. Since he reached
out to me first, I can chase him
off before he gloms on to you two.
BRIAR and CINDY both scoff.
CINDY
(in a pitying tone)
Oh, sweetie...
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. BRIAR ROSE'S PENTHOUSE
The front door of BRIAR ROSE'S penthouse opens, revealing PRINCE CHARMING grinning in the hallway.
CHARMING
(with a gleaming smile)
Hello, darling.
BRIAR ROSE smiles disdainfully at him, and shuts the door in his face. CHARMING'S confident smile flickers as the door slams closed.
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY
Shot down a dingy, empty hallway. The door to CINDY's apartment is ajar.
CHARMING (O.S.)
Hello, sweetheart.
CHARMING is shoved out of the doorway and into the hall.
CINDY (O.S)
(firmly)
Out.
CHARMING straightens himself out just as his luggage bag is thrown out the doorway and into his face.
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. SNOW WHITE'S OFFICE
SNOW rubs at her eyes wearily.
SNOW WHITE
(quiet)
I can't deal with this right now.
BLUE brings SNOW her coffee.
SNOW WHITE (CONT'D)
Thank you, Blue.
She slowly takes a long drink of her coffee, leaving the two women standing there in awkward silence.
BRIAR ROSE
Are you alright?
CINDY
Is this about Rose?
SNOW and BRIAR both eyes CINDY. BLUE sneaks back towards his desk.
BRIAR ROSE
What about Rose?
CINDY
She's gone missing.
BRIAR ROSE
What?
SNOW WHITE
(suspicious)
Where did you hear that?
CINDY
(shrugging)
Around.
SNOW WHITE
From who?
CINDY
Everybody's talking about it.
Nobody in this town can keep a
secret but their own.
BRIAR ROSE
Is that why Bigby arrested Jack?
SNOW WHITE
The sheriff's barely started his
investigation. As of right now, we
are not prepared to release a
comment to the public.
CINDY
That's not a 'no'.
BIGBY enters the office carrying a desktop computer and a monitor, cables and plugs draped in his arms.
SNOW WHITE
We have a lot of business to deal
with right now, if you don't mind.
Please do not spread any rumors
about Rose's disappearance or
Jack's detention.
(shuffling papers)
The last thing we need is an
unfounded panic.
CINDY and BRIAR ROSE get the hint and head for the door.
BRIAR ROSE
I hope that you find her safe.
CINDY
Me too.
SNOW WHITE
Thank you.
BRIAR ROSE
(passing BIGBY with a nod)
Sheriff.
BIGBY nods back. CINDY passes him with a concerned smile.
She pats him on the arm, glancing between him and SNOW.
She's caught the somber tone in the room, and is worried.
CINDY
See ya, Big.
BRIAR ROSE and CINDY leave the office.
SNOW WHITE
Where did you get all that?
BIGBY
(straining with the PC)
From Jack's apartment. I just
finished tossing it. It was full
of setups like this.
BOY BLUE shuffles over to him to take some of the computer pieces from him.
BLUE
Here, let me help you, Sheriff.
BIGBY
Thanks, Blue.
(to SNOW)
I was hoping you could snoop through
this one and maybe figure out what
Jack's been doing with them.
SNOW WHITE
Why don't you do it?
BIGBY
Because the damned things hate me.
I can't operate anything more
complex than my toaster.
BIGBY drops the computer onto SNOW WHITE'S desk. BOY BLUE gently puts his pieces down. BUFKIN flies over and he and BLUE starts fiddling with wires.
SNOW WHITE
And what are you going to be doing
while I'm doing your job for you?
BIGBY
This and that. I still have a few
nagging details to figure out about
the case.
SNOW WHITE
(confused)
Implying that you've already solved
most of it?
BIGBY
I figured out the bulk of it within
the first hour. I pretty much know
what happened, and most of how, but
I'm still short on some of the who
and why.
SNOW WHITE
Are you planning to clue me in?
BIGBY
(quietly)
When you're off my list.
SNOW WHITE
(frustrated)
Does everyone think that I want to
kill my sister?
BIGBY starts lighting a cigarette, avoiding answering that.
SNOW WHITE (CONT'D)
At least tell me if she's dead or
alive.
BIGBY
We'll see.
SNOW WHITE
(glaring at the smoke he's
producing)
You can be one frustrating son of a
bitch.
BIGBY
True, but she was never less than
loving and nurturing. The best
mother a wolf could want.
SNOW watches BUFKIN untangling wires on the desk.
BIGBY (CONT'D)
When are you planning to see Prince
Charming again?
SNOW WHITE
Never would be nice. Why?
BIGBY
Because I want you to help him sell
his title. I've got a few
suggestions.
SNOW WHITE
Why would you care about that? What
are you up to?
BIGBY
A convoluted scheme to make
everything come out right in the
end, maybe avoid more bloodshed,
and keep the Fable community from
disintegrating in the process.
(puffs with a shrug)
Probably won't work, though.
CUT TO BLACK
END OF ACT TWO