Scene 4: [We come back from commercials at a frenzied scene at Gazella's house. The whole 'family' is gathered in the Stepsisters' dressing room getting ready for the ball. Well, Gaz isn't getting ready, she's just picking up items of clothing that have been rejected and tossed on the floor. She's probably thinking of burning them. ^_^]

[Red is watching as Tak chases Purple around the vanity trying to get him to hold still long enough for her to tighten his corset.]

Tak: Purlina!! Stand still!! NOW!! [Purple sighs and stops running. Tak drags a chair over behind him and begins yanking on the strings. Purple winces with every tug.] You girls are going to be the envy of everyone at the ball! [tugs] I'll make sure of that! Oh, if only I had had the [tugs] opportunities that you girls have!! You don't know how [tugs] lucky you are! [She finally ties the strings tight and hops down from the chair, looking satisfied.]

Purple: [sits down on the bed, gingerly holding his stomach, which is as narrow as it is when he's wearing his Tallest robe] Yes, Mother.

Tak: [turns towards Red, who's slouching against the vanity mirror, not looking very lady-like at all] Redna!! Straighten up!!

[Red jumps to attention, startled. Tak hurries over to him, climbs up onto the vanity chair and then the vanity itself so she's nearly eye level with him. She takes his chin in her hand and shakes her head]

Tak: Look at you!! You're a mess!! Well, we'll soon fix that! [She reaches down and grabs something off the table. With one swift movement and a 'Wooshing' effect, she has Red's face covered with a sea green cream.] That'll help.

[Red sighs, staring at his reflection. Then his face stats smoking through the mask of cream. He screams and falls to the floor, writhing and flailing.]

Purple: [looking at Red uncertainly] Um…Mother? I think you're hurting him…her…

Tak: [hands on her hips] Beauty knows no pain, girls!

[Cut scene quickly. We see Red's face in the vanity mirror, the cream is gone and although his contact-covered eyes look blood-shot, his skin is beautiful. He sighs and the camera backs up, showing Purple's reflection standing next to him.]

[Camera pans around to show the actual Irkens and Tak steps up between them. She seems to be fully taking advantage of the casting and is enjoying ordering her leaders around.]

Tak: Now girls, before we go any farther, I want to know what you've come up with to win the Prince over. Purlina?

Purple: [both he & Red turn to face her] Um…well…you said to show him there's more to me than beauty [in the background, Gaz (who's still gathering clothes) snickers] I thought I'd recite a poem.

Red: [snorts in surprise] A poem…?

Purple: [indignantly] Yeah. What of it?

Tak: That's fine, Purlina. And what about you, Redna?

Red: Who, me? Oh well I, you know, I um… [he glances off screen, reads the cue card that the roadie is holding and his eyes bug out. He sighs and says] I'm going to flutter my eyelashes flirtingly, like this. [he puts his hands under his chin and bats his long fake eyelashes]

Purple: [never to be outdone] I'll do that too! [bats his fake eyelashes]

Red: [looking over at the cue card again] And I'll curtsey!

Purple: Me too!

[They both attempt ungraceful curtsies and knock their heads together, fall over in a heap on the floor. Off to one side, Gaz burst out laughing.]

Tak: [coldly, as red and Purple try to untangle themselves behind her] And what would you do to win the Prince, Gazella?

Gaz: [caught off guard] Oh, I dunno.

Tak: Of course you don't.

Gaz: But whatever I'd say – that is, if I wanted to say anything at all – it would be so perfect that we'd both know right away that we… [glances at the cue cards, grimaces and continues] …loved each other.

Purple: [claps his hands together] That sounds wonderful!

Red: [gives him a funny look] Yeah, real romantic.

Tak: 'Romantic'?? HA!! This isn't about romance! It's about marriage!! And money. And living in the lap of luxury! [puts a hand to her forehead] Have I taught you nothing??

"Love and Romance and the Like"

Tak: Love and romance and the like are things lost to yesterday.

Love and romance and the like aren't worth it – you'll see!

Caring for more than yourself is a misguided effort.

Give too much and you'll get hurt – take it from me.

I'd thought that I was in love and that someone loved me too.

I was a child with blind eyes and I couldn't see –

I fell in love with something that vanished last cen'try.

So Love gave up on…me!

[Tak leads Red and Purple out of the room, with Gaz following close behind. We cut quickly to another room upstairs, where Gaz is straightening the large wire hoops that are around Red & Purple's waists.]

Red & Purple: Love and romance and the like are things lost to yesterday.

Love and romance and the like aren't worth it – you'll see!

[Tak pulls a dress over Red's head and Gaz does the same for Purple, as Tak sings her next line.]

Tak: Caring for more than yourself is a misguided effort.

[Red and Purple poke their heads out of the tops of their dresses right one cue to sing their next line.]

Red & Purple: Give too much and you'll get hurt – take it from her.

[Cut to all four of them, heading out the front door and down the walk. Gaz is the only one not dressed up. She remains in her rags, carrying three bouquets of flowers with her.]

[As Tak sings, she and her daughters snatch their flowers from Gaz and board the carriage at the end of the walkway.]

Tak: I'd thought that I was in love and that someone loved me too.

I was a child with blind eyes and I couldn't see –

I fell in love with something that vanished last cen'try.

So Love gave up…on me!!

[Tak holds the last note as the carriage pulls away. In the seat across from her, Red and Purple notice they've grabbed the wrong bouquets and hurriedly switch. Gaz watches as the leave, standing at the gate. She sighs one they're gone, then shakes her head, disgusted with herself and heads back inside.] [Cut to Commercials.]