PROLOGUE

A SHADOWPLAY

OPEN ON: ICE. Thick, opaque, and subtly illuminated by warm light. At first we see just the glistening texture of fine crystals. Then the light grows brighter, until our whole view is filled with a rosy glow.

INT. GLACIER - NIGHT

The gentle firelight is broken up by dancing shadows that are too abstract to impose meaning, but have enough form so we might make our own, as with clouds or swaying leaves.

The shadows change as the firelight flickers and we see clearer, though still fleeting, glimpses of waves, ship masts, and sea birds. We hear gulls' cries and the soft rush of water as if from far away.

Narration begins in sweet feminine tones.

NARRATOR: (V.O.) In the southern isles of the northern seas, there once lived a king and queen.

We have our first unambiguous silhouettes on the ice; two people wearing crowns, one in a dress and one in trousers. They look to each other and smile.

NARRATOR (CONT'D): (V.O.) And they were happy. For though their kingdom was humble, they were blessed with a bounty of sons. Twelve princes, all born with warm, open hearts, who filled the castle halls with joy.

A parade of children, all in trousers, gambol across the ice in descending order; the tallest first, and then each shorter than the last. One brandishes a toy sword, another clutches a stuffed bear, one has tousled hair - all are smiling. We hear their laughter from the same far off place as the bird calls and the waves.

NARRATOR (CONT'D): (V.O.) Then the King and Queen had a thirteenth child -

The last and smallest child walks out after the others. Their face is unsmiling and they carry no plaything. The sound of laughter fades.

NARRATOR (CONT'D): (V.O.) - who they named Hans. Hans was different from the rest of his brothers. He was born with a cold heart, closed off to happiness and love.

The fire flickers, and the shadow scene changes. The smallest child sits alone while the others play together. Some of his brothers try to rope him into their games, but nothing works. Hans scowls and gestures for them to leave him alone.

The King and Queen silhouettes enter the scene as the older boys leave, and go to speak with Hans in turn. First, the King approaches him.

NARRATOR (CONT'D): (V.O. affecting the stern tones of the King) It upset the King to see something wrong with one of his sons. He told Hans that he ought to go play, be joyful, that there was no reason he shouldn't be like his brothers!

The King towers over Hans, and Hans just bows his head. The King turns away, expressing frustration and sadness to his wife, who comforts him. The King leaves. Then the Queen comes forward, bending down to Hans' level.

NARRATOR (CONT'D): (V.O. affecting the gentle tones of the Queen) The Queen wasn't angry at Hans. She told him that happiness doesn't come so easily for some people, and that's alright. All it meant was that he had to try a bit harder. If Hans played his part - was a good prince, the same as his brothers - then he would be happy like them too.

She takes his hands.

NARRATOR (CONT'D): (as the Queen) You see, Hans? You just have to put on a show!

Hans nods and smiles at her. She hugs him.

The fire flickers, the shadow scene changes, and we see little Hans observing the parade of his smiling brothers.

NARRATOR (CONT'D): (V.O.) Hans watched as his older brothers grew up in turn, each more dashing and fair than the last. One by one, the good princes all left the kingdom to find their places in the world.

The other princes leave on ships, one after the other.

NARRATOR (CONT'D): (V.O) Hans listened closely to tales they brought back. They told of how they rescued bright-eyed maidens and slayed witches, and dragons, and witches who turned into dragons. How they found true love and won the thrones of distant lands.

One after another, we see the brothers performing feats of heroism and then being crowned as kings, each with a smiling figure in a dress at his side.

NARRATOR (CONT'D): (V.O.) Hans saw how happy all his brothers were as kings, husbands, and heroes. Hans was sure he had to do all that too, to be happy.

Hans mimics his brothers' gestures and demeanor. Poorly at first, but as he grows he gets better and better until he takes center stage as the ideal figure of a charming prince.

NARRATOR (CONT'D): (V.O.) And so, Hans learned how to be a perfect hero. He practiced how to fight, how to stand, how to smile, how to recognize a fair maiden in need and the treacherous villain to save her from.

When Hans at last achieves perfection, he freezes in place and we are pulled out from the ice wall. We see that the shadow of Hans is being cast on the wall by something that hazily fills the foreground.

REVEAL: A finely cut ice sculpture of Hans. He appears as we first met him - standing straight with his shoulders back, with a charming smile and a gloved hand held out invitingly.

NARRATOR (CONT'D): (V.O.) Hans grew into the image of an impeccable prince, dashing and fair as any of his brothers. His parents were so pleased. Hans felt ready to go to a new land, find his own tale to tell, and become the man he was meant to be.

We hear little plinks of water dripping in the cave, and a few droplets cross our view.

NARRATOR (CONT'D): (V.O.) In the lands to the north, Hans thought he found a place of his own. A princess to save, a witch to slay, and a kingdom to win.

The gentle rosy glow in the cave shifts to a harsh gold heat. Rivulets begin to run down the length of the statue.

NARRATOR (CONT'D): (V.O.) But, somehow, nothing happened the way he thought it would. He failed to kill the witch, he failed to love the princess, and, worst of all, he realized that a life as this kingdom's perfect prince held no joy for him. Hans's heart was as cold as ever.

The statue is coming apart as it melts in earnest. The outstretched hand breaks off. All around, we hear ice creaking.

NARRATOR (CONT'D): (V.O. affecting a bitter, relishing tone) Hans decided then that he wasn't a hero, after all. He found a different part that he could play - one that didn't need love or happiness, one that fit him just right.

The statue brutally cracks down the middle, and the halves crash to the floor.

NARRATOR (CONT'D): (V.O.) Or so he told himself — but was it true?

The camera turns down to follow rivulets of melted ice running across the floor of the cave.

Titles appear.

FROZEN III