(Scene cuts to a tower room. A spinning wheel and a bale of straw are in the middle and Ida is roughly pushed inside. The guards walk away and Soranus is seen standing in the doorway with a wicked expression)

Soranus: Just knock when you're all done. (winks at her, slams the door, and locks it)

(Ida looks at the straw and spinning wheel and facepalms)

Ida: Ugh, I can't believe it! I told dad his lies would get us into trouble! But does he listen? No, he doesn't! He never does! And now look where they landed me because I covered for him! (sits down on the stool next to the spinning wheel and sighs in frustration) What was I thinking? This is a disaster. (reluctantly picks up a handful of straw)

(Scene cuts to the King's bedroom. Gallus us seen talking with his father)

Gallus: What were you thinking, dad?! Are you out of your mind?!

King Chalcodon: Don't be so dramatic, Gallus!

Gallus: Do we even need the money? We're already rich!

King Chalcodon: (sighs) Son, I know how this looks. But I assure you it's not what you think.

Gallus: What do you mean?

King Chalcodon: (puts a hand on his son's shoulder) There's… something you should know. I recently learned that… fractions of the gold and precious stones in our treasury have gone missing.

Gallus: What?

King Chalcodon: I don't know how it happens or who keeps doing it and why. But every time I check the treasury, more of the money just seems to disappear. And I fear that if it keeps up, the kingdom will fall to ruin.

Gallus: But… why didn't you tell me this sooner?

King Chalcodon: I didn't want you to worry.

Gallus: But do you really think constantly collecting taxes from our subjects is the way to do it? It solves nothing.

King Chalcodon: That was Soranus' idea, not mine. I know it's wrong and I shouldn't have agreed to it in the first place, but he's been my most trusted advisor for years, long before you were even born. He must know what he's doing… right? (looks away awkwardly)

Gallus: You don't sound sure.

King Chalcodon: I understand your concern, Gallus. I really do.

Gallus: Then why did you have to do this to Ida? She's blameless, I know it.

King Chalcodon: Well I—

(A knock at the door is heard)

King Chalcodon: Come in.

Soranus: (opens the door and peeks his head inside) The girl's locked up, Sire. No one can get in or out.

King Chalcodon: Good. (turns to Gallus, who facepalms. The King relents) Gallus, please understand. I—

Gallus: I should probably go. See you in the morning. (heads towards the door, but stops before walking out) Oh. Dad, even if our money really is being stolen, I just want to say I would've expected a better solution from you. (walks away, closing the door behind him)

(The King sighs and sits down on his bed)

Soranus: Come now, Sire. Don't be so glum. The Prince is only a child, he doesn't know any better.

King Chalcodon: He may be young, but he does have a point, Soranus. Now that I think about it, this is kind of extreme. Maybe I should just apologize to that young lady and her family.

Soranus: Apologize? To commoners? You've got to be joking! You're not going soft are you, Your Majesty?

King Chalcodon: (sighs) I… I just need to think.

Soranus: (snarls under his breath, but keeps a straight face) Very well, Sire. (exits and closes the door behind him. He starts walking down the hall and he grumbles to himself) That old fool.

(Scene cuts to the tower room. Ida is seen sitting at the spinning wheel and trying and failing to spin the straw into gold)

Ida: Uh… Presto! No. Alakazam! No. Abracadabra? Ugh! No, no, no! (stops the spinning wheel and tosses her handful of straw to the side) This is hopeless! (buries her face in her hands and starts crying)

(As Ida is crying, a dark figure emerges from a dark corner of the room. The figure steps into the light, revealing a thin man with messy dark hair, skin that resembled gold, bright orange eyes, and sharp, crooked teeth. He walks over to Ida and gently brushes a strand of hair from her face)

Little man: Aw, poor child.

Ida: (gasps, sits up straight, and sees the little man. She yelps in surprise and tries to scoot away) Y-y-you scared me.

Little man: Oh! Sorry about that, little lady. I do have that effect on people. (snickers)

Ida (through her tears): Who are you?

Little man: …Let's just say I'm a friend. And you, my dear girl, look like you could use one. You must be the Miller's daughter. Ida, yes?

Ida (through her tears): Right. How did you…? (wipes her eye)

Little man: Oh, come now. (takes a red handkerchief from his belt and gently wipes her tears away with it) Please don't cry, dearie. What's wrong?

Ida: I'm sorry. My life's been turned completely upside down and I'm just so scared. The King locked me up in here.

Little man: The King, you say? (glances at the straw and spinning wheel as he puts away his handkerchief) Because he wants you to spin this straw into gold?

Ida: Yes, right again. And he says if I don't, then my family and I die. But I'm crying because I have no idea how to do it. It's impossible! No one can spin straw into gold!

Little man: (smirks) …I can.

Ida: (perks up) You can? You mean… it can be done?

Little man: Most certainly, as long as one has the right touch. Such a task may seem impossible to most, but not to me. And you're in luck. I would be more than happy to spin this for you, dearie.

Ida: (smiles excitedly) Really? You would?

Little man: Yes. But my services do NOT come cheap.

Ida: What do you mean?

Little man: Isn't it obvious? I require payment. Everything comes at a price. So, if I spin this straw into gold for you, what will you give me in return?

Ida: Oh, I… I'm willing to give you anything. But what do I have of any worth?

Little man: Everyone has something. (turns away so his back is facing Ida) Think.

(Ida scratches the side of her head in thought as the little man slyly smirks to himself)

Little man (singing): You could use a leg up

You can't afford a slip up

Dear, the way I see it

Your papa's a real nitwit

Ida: What?

Little man: Nothing.

Ida: But—

Little man (singing): You're on the brink of disaster

Cause daddy couldn't shut his mouth

The hands of time are ticking faster

And things are quickly going south

You can't spin gold, don't have the power

But, lucky for you, I've got a solution

I'll save you from your darkest hour

I'll save you from your execution

I'll spin this straw, just wait and see

But what have you to offer me?

I'll spin it to gold before your eyes

If you have something I can prize

Ida: But I—

Little man (singing): So Ida don't resign yourself

Align yourself

With a powerful guy of small size

Together we'll elevate and dominate

Ida: Huh?

Little man (singing): The finer points can wait

But first you gotta give me a prize

Go on and try spin but you'll end up failing

Have your head chopped off as you're wailing

I can help you shine so bright and rise

But first you got to give me a prize

Lass, just give me something I can use

And with my power I'll light the fuse

I was on Olympus, but the gods dropped me from the skies

All you gotta do is give me a prize

Ida: But what kind?

Little man: Like I said, everyone has something. If you don't have anything… (takes out a scroll and a pen and offers them to her with a smile) …I have other ways.

Ida (singing): Well, I'm poor and I don't have much

Spinning straw to gold needs a miracle

What could I have to give to you?

A creature with a magic touch

And an air kinda satirical

Ugh, I just don't have a clue

(Ida glances at her arms and her eyes brighten)

Ida: (takes her arm cuffs off her arms) What about these? My arm cuffs. They're just brass and they're not much, but right now they're all I have. They were a birthday gift. (offers her cuffs to the little man)

Little man: Bracelets?

Ida (singing): Please little stranger

These may not be enough

But will they get me out of danger?

If not, you can call my bluff

Little man: (leans in and inspects the cuffs curiously for a few moments. He turns back to her) Not bad, they'll do.

Ida: Really?

Little man: Yes… (under his breath) …which means I won't be needing this, for now. (grimaces in annoyance and makes the scroll and pen disappear)

Ida: (smiles and stands up) So you'll do it?

Little man (singing): I say this prize is decent enough

Now step aside and watch me do my stuff

But if I find your position is more dire

The price I ask for will be much higher

(Ida nods and moves out of the way as the little man sits down in front of the spinning wheel. She anxiously hands him a handful of straw, which he promptly takes. He closes his eyes and with a smile and a snap of his fingers, he spins the wheel and adds the straw. As the wheel spins, Ida's eyes widen in awe as the straw begins to turn to gold)

Ida: Oh my gosh! You can do it! You're really doing it! It's changing into gold!

Little man: I told you it takes the right touch. (continues to spin the straw into gold)

(Scene cuts to later in the night. Ida is seen kneeling in front of a pile of spun gold with a big smile and sparkling eyes)

Ida: It's beautiful! I had no idea it could be done. I can hardly believe it, but it's true.

Little man: Yes. Lovely, isn't it? Now may I have my prize?

Ida: Oh, yes. Of course. (gives her cuffs to the little man) Thank you so much.

Little man: Please, think nothing of it. You have your freedom and I have my due. But remember what I said if I should come back, dearie.

Ida: I hope I won't have to disturb you ever again.

Little man: …We'll see about that. (smirks wickedly and steps backwards into the shadows until he completely disappears)

Ida: Wait, what do you mean—? (looks around and realizes she's alone) Oh. Goodbye.

(The little man appears outside the castle with the cuffs in his hands. He sneaks away with an evil smile on his face)

Little man (singing): I trust I'll see you again, my dear

I sense a bigger test will draw near

Like that gold shimmering in your eyes

I'll demand a much bigger prize

(The little man chuckles and vanishes into the darkness)