Act II scene i

CINDERELLA is standing at the buffet table at the King's Ball, eating heartily while everyone else is dancing, her ladder propped against her leg.  PRINCEs DASHING and charming see her and starts to walk toward her.

DASHING:                  I've never seen such a beautiful woman before, CHARMING!  Who is she?

CHARMING:              How should I know, DASHING?  I've never seen her before tonight.  Who brings a stepladder to a Ball?

DASHING:                  Obviously a woman who wants to get noticed.

CHARMING:              Well, she's succeeded.  No one wants to dance with her.

DASHING:                  Till now.

CHARMING:              You're going to ask her to dance?  What will you do with the ladder?

DASHING:                  Details, details.  The first step is getting her to the dance floor.  (approaches CINDERELLA)  Hello.

CINDERELLA:           Uh, hi.

DASHING:                  Enjoying yourself?

CINDERELLA:           The food's great but the party itself is dull.  I haven't even seen any signs of either of the PRINCES!

DASHING:                  Oh no?

CINDERELLA:           Nope.  And the music's kind of lame, too.  Are all Kings' Balls this boring?

DASHING:                  You've never been to one?  That must be why I don't recognize you.

CINDERELLA:           You attend these shindigs often?

DASHING:                  Quite often, actually.  What's your name?

CINDERELLA:           CINDERELLA.

DASHING:                  What an interesting name.  How did you come by it?

CINDERELLA:           Playing too close to the fireplace as a kid, I guess.  I got covered in the ashes all the time.

DASHING:                  Is it cold where you're from?

CINDERELLA:           Nah, just have an unusual obsession with fire.

DASHING:                  I… see.  Well, I'm DASHING.

CINDERELLA:           That's very egotistical of you!

DASHING:                  No, no, no.  That's my name.  I'm PRINCE DASHING.

CINDERELLA:           The PRINCE!  And I just… called the Ball boring?!  I'm so sorry; I had no idea—

DASHING:                  No need to apologize.  Your honesty was refreshing.  These parties are pretty dull.  But… um, how about we keep each other company?  We can be bored together.

CINDERELLA:           I'd love to.  So… wanna dance?

DASHING:                  That's my line.

CINDERELLA:           Oh.  Must've been a typo in my script.  I guess this is where I say, "I'd love to" huh?

DASHING:                  Great.  (they dance into the crowd, both holding the ladder.  CHARMING watches nearby)

CHARMING:              What about the ladder?

DASHING:                  Ix-nay on the adder-lay!

The WITCH and CINDERELLA's STEPSISTERS arrive after that.  CINDERELLA spots them and backs away from DASHING quickly.

DASHING:                  Hey, where are you going?

CINDERELLA:           I… uh, just remembered… it's way past my bedtime… I've got to go! (runs away, forgetting the ladder)

DASHING:                  But it's only midnight!  Come back!  You forgot your ladder!  Hey!  Um, I like fire, too!  You can call me CINDER-DASHING!

CHARMING:              Where'd she go?

DASHING:                  I don't know.  But we've got to find her!  She left me her ladder as a clue to find her again, I know it!  We'll search the kingdom for the maiden who fits this ladder!

CHARMING:              Shouldn't we just look for a woman with a strange name?

DASHING:                  That would defeat the purpose of her leaving the ladder of the clue, wouldn't it?  Let's go!  (both run off the stage)

WITCH:                       CINDER-DASHING?  Drat, he must've met CINDERELLA!

STEPSISTER 1:           What makes you say that?

STEPSISTER 2:           Duh, because she had the ladder!  Don't be a dummy!

WITCH:                       Never mind that!  Come on, we have to find your sister!

STEPSISTERS:           STEPsister! (all run off stage)