SIDE 1

(CINDERELLA enters, as if pursued. CINDERELLA falls at the feet of BAKER'S WIFE, losing one slipper.)

CINDERELLA

(recognizing BAKER'S WIFE)

Hello. It's these slippers.

BAKER'S WIFE

I'd say those slippers were as pure as gold.

CINDERELLA

Yes. They are all you could wish for in beauty.

(CINDERELLA takes the slipper back.)

BAKER'S WIFE

What I wouldn't give for just one.

CINDERELLA

One is not likely to do you much good. I must run.

(BAKER'S WIFE grabs a shoe.)

BAKER'S WIFE

And I must have your shoe.

CINDERELLA

Stop that!

(The two engage in a tug-of-war over the shoe, and the dialogue overlaps.)

BAKER'S WIFE

I need it to have a baby!

CINDERELLA

(through clenched teeth)

And I need it to get out of here!

(CINDERELLA wins the battle over the shoe and desperately runs offstage; BAKER'S WIFE is embarrassed by her own behavior. BAKER'S WIFE straightens herself up as CINDERELLA'S PRINCE with STEWARD bound onstage, only to curtsey deeply again.)

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE

Where did she go?

BAKER'S WIFE

Who?

STEWARD

Don't play the fool, woman.

BAKER'S WIFE

Oh! You mean the beautiful young maiden in the ball gown? She went in that direction. I was trying to hold her here for you...

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE

I can capture my own damsel, thank you.

(CINDERELLA'S PRINCE and STEWARD dash offstage.)

SIDE 2

BAKER

Yes. I've the cow. We've two of the four.

(MILKY-WHITE continues to breathe heavily.)

BAKER'S WIFE

Three.

BAKER

Two!

BAKER'S WIFE

(pulls the hair from her pocket)

Three! Compare this to your corn.

(BAKER does so and smiles.)

BAKER

Where did you find it?

BAKER'S WIFE

(false modesty)

I pulled it from a maiden in a tower.

BAKER

(looking at hair)

Three!


BAKER'S WIFE

And I almost had the fourth, but she got away.

BAKER

We've one entire day left. Surely we can locate the slipper by then.

BAKER'S WIFE

We? You mean you'll allow me to stay?

BAKER

(embarrassed)

Well... perhaps it will take the two of us to get this child.

SIDE 3

BAKER

Yes. I've the cow. We've two of the four.

(MILKY-WHITE continues to breathe heavily.)

BAKER'S WIFE

Three.

BAKER

Two!

BAKER'S WIFE

(pulls the hair from her pocket)

Three! Compare this to your corn.

(BAKER does so and smiles.)

BAKER

Where did you find it?

BAKER'S WIFE

(false modesty)

I pulled it from a maiden in a tower.

BAKER

(looking at hair)

Three!


BAKER'S WIFE

And I almost had the fourth, but she got away.

BAKER

We've one entire day left. Surely we can locate the slipper by then.

BAKER'S WIFE

We? You mean you'll allow me to stay?

BAKER

(embarrassed)

Well... perhaps it will take the two of us to get this child.

SIDE 4

(BAKER'S WIFE drops to the ground and searches for the bean.)

CINDERELLA

I've already given up one shoe this evening. My feet cannot bear to give up another.

(CINDERELLA begins to leave.)

BAKER'S WIFE

(rising)

I need that shoe to have a child!

CINDERELLA

That makes no sense!

(We hear rumblings from the distance.)

BAKER'S WIFE

Does it make sense that you're running from a prince?

STEWARD

(offstage)

Stop!


BAKER'S WIFE

Here. Take my shoes. You'll run faster.

(BAKER'S WIFE gives CINDERELLA her shoes and takes the golden slipper. CINDERELLA puts on the shoes and exits quickly. STEWARD bounds onstage and looks about.)

STEWARD

Who was that woman?

BAKER'S WIFE

I do not know, sir.

STEWARD

Lying will cost you your life!

(BAKER enters with another cow.)

BAKER

I've the cow.

BAKER'S WIFE

(sees the cow; excited, to BAKER)

The slipper!

(holds up slipper)

We've all four!

(BAKER'S WIFE)

(BAKER'S WIFE runs to BAKER; STEWARD takes the slipper as she passes.)

STEWARD

I will give this to the Prince and we will search the kingdom tomorrow for the maiden who will fit this shoe.

BAKER'S WIFE

(grabs the slipper)

It's mine.

(BAKER'S WIFE and STEWARD begin to struggle. MYSTERIOUS MAN comes from around a tree.)

BAKER'S WIFE

(struggling)

I don't care if this costs me my life-

MYSTERIOUS MAN

(simultaneously)

Give her the slipper and all will-

(CINDERELLA'S PRINCE races onstage.)

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE

I've the maiden's slipper.

(CINDERELLA'S PRINCE produces another slipper.)

STEWARD

And sir, I have succeeded in obtaining the other slipper!

MYSTERIOUS MAN

(to STEWARD)

Give them the slipper, and all will come to a happy end.

STEWARD

Shut up!

SIDE 5

BAKER'S WIFE

(moving towards cow)

Oh, she is.

(petting cow)

She is!

(White powder flies about as BAKER'S WIFE pats the cow. BAKER pulls her away as WITCH approaches.)

WITCH

This cow has been covered with flour!

BAKER

Well, we did have a cow as white as milk. Honestly we did.

WITCH

Then where is she?

BAKER'S WIFE

She's dead.

BAKER

We thought you'd prefer a live cow.

WITCH

Of course I'd prefer a live cow! So bring me the dead cow and I'll bring her back to life!

BAKER

You could do that?

WITCH

Now!

SIDE 6

BAKER'S WIFE

Two princes, each more handsome than the other.

(BAKER'S WIFE begins to follow CINDERELLA'S PRINCE and RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE; she stops.)

No! Get the hair!

(BAKER'S WIFE heads in the other direction frantically.)

(JACK'S MOTHER enters.)

JACK'S MOTHER

Excuse me, young woman. Have you encountered a boy answering to the name of Jack?

BAKER'S WIFE

Not the one partial to a white cow?

JACK'S MOTHER

He's the one.

BAKER'S WIFE

Have you seen the cow?

JACK'S MOTHER

No, and I don't care to ever again.

BAKER'S WIFE

I've not seen your son today.

JACK'S MOTHER

(annoyed)

I hope he didn't go up that beanstalk again.

(JACK'S MOTHER begins to exit.)

Jack...! Jack...!

SIDE 7

BAKER

Hello there, young man.

JACK

(looks at BAKER, scared)

Hello, sir.

BAKER

What might you be doing with a cow in the middle of the forest?

JACK

(nervous)

I was heading toward market - but I seem to have lost my way.

BAKER'S WIFE

(coaching BAKER)

What are you planning to do there-?

BAKER

And what are you planning to do there?

JACK

Sell my cow, sir. No less than five pounds.

BAKER

Five pounds!

BAKER'S WIFE

And if you can't fetch that sum? Then what are you to do?

JACK

I suppose my mother and I will have no food to eat.

(BAKER has emptied his pocket; he has a few coins and the beans in hand.)

BAKER'S WIFE

(loudly)

Beans - we mustn't give up our beans! Well... if you feel we must.

BAKER

Huh?

BAKER'S WIFE

(to JACK)

Beans will bring you food, son.

JACK

Beans in exchange for my cow?

BAKER'S WIFE

Oh, these are no ordinary beans, son. These beans carry magic.

JACK

Magic? What kind of magic?

BAKER'S WIFE

(to BAKER)

Tell him.

BAKER

Magic that defies description.