I Wish… – Into the Woods

PROLOGUE: INTO THE WOODS

NARRATOR

Once upon a time

CINDERELLA

I wish…

NARRATOR

in a far-off kingdom

CINDERELLA

More than anything…

NARRATOR

lived a fair maiden,

CINDERELLA

More than jewels…

NARRATOR

a sad young lad

JACK

I wish…

NARRATOR

and a childless baker

JACK

More than life…

CINDERELLA & BAKER

I wish…

NARRATOR

with his wife.

JACK

More than anything…

CINDERELLA, BAKER & JACK

More than the moon…

BAKER’S WIFE

I wish…

CINDERELLA

The King is giving a Festival.

BAKER & WIFE

More than life…

JACK

I wish…

CINDERELLA

I wish to go to the Festival.

BAKER & WIFE

More than riches…

JACK

I wish my cow would

give us some milk.

CINDERELLA

And the Ball…

BAKER’S WIFE

More than anything…

JACK

Please, pal-

BAKER

I wish we had a child.

BAKER’S WIFE

I want a child…

JACK
Squeeze, pal…

CINDERELLA

I wish to go to the Festival.

JACK

I wish you’d give us some

milk or even cheese…

BAKER & WIFE

I wish we might have a child.

CINDERELLA, JACK, BAKER & WIFE

I wish…

STEPMOTHER

You wish to go to the Festival?

NARRATOR

The poor girl’s mother had died,

STEPMOTHER

You, Cinderella, the Festival?

You wish to go to the Festival?

FLORINDA

What, you, Cinderella, the Festival?

The Festival?!

LUCINDA

What, you wish to go to the Festival?

ALL THREE

The Festival?

The King’s Festival?

NARRATOR
And her father had taken for his new wife

STEPMOTHER

The Festival…

NARRATOR
a woman with two daughters of her own.

FLORINDA

Look at your nails!

LUCINDA

Look at your dress!

STEPMOTHER

People would laugh at you-

CINDERELLA

Nevertheless,

I still want to go to the Festival

And dance before the Prince.

STEPMOTHER & STEPSISTERS

She still wants to go to the Festival

And dance before the Prince?!

NARRATOR

All three were beautiful of face, but vile and black of heart.

Jack, on the other hand, had no father, and his mother-

JACK’S MOTHER

I wish…

NARRATOR

Well, she was not quite beautiful-

JACK’S MOTHER

I wish my son were not a fool.

I wish my house was not a mess.

I wish the cow was full of milk.

I wish the house was full of gold-

I wish a lot of things…

BAKER’S WIFE

Why, come in, little girl.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

I wish…

It’s not for me,

It’s for my Granny in the woods.

A loaf of bread, please-

To bring my poor old hungry

Granny in the woods…

Just a loaf of bread, please…

NARRATOR

Cinderella’s Stepmother had a surprise for her.

STEPMOTHER

I have emptied a pot of lentils into the ashes for you.

If you have picked them out again in two hours’ time,

you shall go to the ball with us.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

And perhaps a sticky bun?…

Or four?…

CINDERELLA

Birds in the sky,

Birds in the eaves,

I the leaves,

In the fields,

In the castles and ponds…

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

And a few of those pies… please…

CINDERELLA

Come, little birds,

Down from the eaves

And the leaves,

Over fields,

Out of castles and ponds…

JACK

No, squeeze, pal…

CINDERELLA

Ahhh…

Quick, little birds,

Flick through the ashes.

Pick and peck, but swiftly,

Sift through the ashes,

Into the pot…

JACK’S MOTHER

Listen well, son. Milky-White must be taken to market.

JACK

But, mother, no- she’s the best cow-

JACK’S MOTHER

Look at her.

There are bugs on her dugs.

There are flies in her eyes.

There’s a lump on her rump

Big enough to be a hump-

JACK

But-

JACK’S MOTHER

Son,

We’ve no time to sit and dither,

While her wither’s wither with her-

And no one keeps a cow for a friend!

Sometimes I fear you’re touched.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

Into the woods,

It’s time to go,

I hate to leave,

I have to, though.

Into the woods-

It’s time, and so

I must begin my journey.

Into the woods

And through the trees

To where I am

Expected ma’am,

Into the woods

To Grandmother’s house-

Into the woods

To Grandmother’s house-

BAKER’S WIFE

You’re certain of your way?

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

The way is clear,

The light is good,

I have no fear,

Nor no one should.

The woods are just trees,

The trees are just wood.

I sort of hate to ask it,

But do you have a basket?

Into the woods

And down the dell,

The path is straight,

I know it well.

Into the woods,

And who can tell

What’s waiting on the journey?

Into the woods

To bring some bread

To Granny who

Is sick in bed.

Never can tell

What lies ahead.

For all that I know,

She’s already dead.

But into the woods,

Into the woods,

Into the woods

To Grandmother’s house

And home before dark.

CINDERELLA

Fly, birds,

Back to the sky,

Back to the eaves

And the leaves

And the fields

And the-

FLORINDA

Hurry up and do my hair, Cinderella!

Are you really wearing that?

LUCINDA

Here, I found a little tear, Cinderella.

Can’t you hide it with a hat?

CINDERELLA

You look beautiful.

FLORINDA

I know.

LUCINDA

She means me.

FLORINDA

Put it in a twist.

LUCINDA

Who will be there?…

CINDERELLA

Mother said be good,

Father said be nice,

That was always their advice.

So be nice, Cinderella,

Good, Cinderella,

Nice good good nice-

FLORINDA

Tighter!

CINDERELLA

What’s the good of being good

If everyone is blind

And you’re always left behind?

Never mind, Cinderella,

Kind Cinderella-

Nice good nice kind good nice-

FLORINDA

Not that tight!

CINDERELLA

Sorry.

FLORINDA

Clod.

BAKER’S WIFE

Who might that be?

BAKER

It’s the witch from next door.

NARRATOR

The old enchantress told the couple she had

placed a spell on their house.

BAKER

What spell?

WITCH

In the past, when your mother was with child, she developed

an unusual appetite. She took one look at my beautiful garden

and told your father that what she wanted more than

anything in the world was

Greens, greens and nothing but greens:

Parsley, peppers, cabbages and celery,

Asparagus and watercress and

Fiddleferns and lettuce-!

He said, “All right,”

But it wasn’t, quite,

‘Cause I caught him in the autumn

In my garden one night!

He was robbing me,

Raping me,

Rooting through my rutabaga,

Raiding my arugula and

Ripping up my rampion

(My champion! My favorite!)-

I should have laid a spell on him

Right there,

Could have changed him into stone

Or a dog or a chair…

But I let him have the rampion-

I’d lots to spare.

In return, however,

I said, “Fair is fair:

You can let me have the baby

That your wife will bear.

And we’ll call it square.”

BAKER

I had a brother?

WITCH

No. But you had a sister.

NARRATOR

But the witch refused to tell him anymore of his sister.

Not even that her name was Rapunzel.

WITCH

I thought I had been more than reasonable.

But how was I to know what your father

had also hidden in his pocket?!

BAKER

What?

WITCH

Beans.

BAKER & WIFE

Beans?

WITCH

The special beans.

I let him go,

I didn’t know

He’d stolen my beans!

I was watching him crawl,

Back over the wall-!

Then bang! Crash!

And the lightning flash!

And- well, that’s another story,

Never mind-

Anyway, at last

The big day came,

And I made my claim.

“Oh, don’t take away the baby,”

They shrieked and screeched,

But I did,

And I hid her

Where she’ll never be reached.

And your father cried,

And your mother died

When for extra measure-

I admit it was a pleasure-

I said, “Sorry,

I’m still not mollified.”

And I laid little spell on them

You, too, son-

That your family tree

Would always be a barren one…

So there’s no more fuss

And there’s no more scenes

And my garden thrives-

You should see my nectarines!

But I’m telling you the same

I tell kings and queens:

Don’t ever never ever

Mess around with my greens!

Especially the beans.

JACK’S MOTHER

Now closely to me, Jack. Lead Milky-White to market and

fetch the best price you can. Are you listening to me?

Jack Jack Jack,

Head in a sack,

The house is getting colder,

This is not the time for dreaming.

Chimney stack

Starting to crack,

The mice are getting bolder,

The floor’s gone slack,

Your mother’s getting older,

Your father’s not back,

And you can’t just sit here dreaming pretty dreams.

To wish and wait

From day to day

Will never keep

The wolves away.

So into the woods

The time is now.

We have to live,

I don’t care how.

Into the woods

To sell the cow,

You must begin the journey.

Straight to the woods

and don’t delay-

You have to face

The marketplace.

Into the woods to journey’s end-

JACK

Into the woods to sell a friend-

NARRATOR

Meanwhile, the Witch, for purposes of her own,

explained how the Baker might lift the spell;

WITCH

You wish to have

The curse reversed?

I’ll need a certain

Potion first.

Go to the woods and bring me back

One: the cow as white as milk,

Two: the cape as red as blood,

Three: the hair as yellow as corn,

Four: the slipper as pure as gold.

Bring me these

Before the chime

Of midnight,

In three day’s time,

And you shall have,

I guarantee,

A child as perfect

As child can be.

Go to the wood!

STEPMOTHER

Ladies.

Our carriage waits.

CINDERELLA

Now may I go to the Festival?

STEPMOTHER

The Festival-!

Darling, those nails!

Darling, those clothes!

Lentils are one thing but

Darling, with those,

You’d make us the fools of the Festival

And mortify the Prince!

CINDERELLA’S FATHER

Our carriage is waiting.

STEPMOTHER

We must be gone.

CINDERELLA

Good night, Father.

I wish…

BAKER

Look what I found in father’s hunting jacket.

BAKER’S WIFE

Six beans. We’ll take them with us.

BAKER

No!

The spell is on my house.

Only I can lift the spell,

The spell is on my house.

BAKER’S WIFE

No, no, the spell is on our house.

We must lift the spell.

BAKER

No. You are not to come and that is final.

Now what am I to return with?

BAKER’S WIFE

You don’t remember?

The cow as white as milk,

The cape as red as blood,

The hair as yellow as corn,

The slipper as pure as gold-

BAKER

The cow as white as milk,

The cape as red as blood,

The hair as yellow as corn,

The slipper as pure as gold…

NARRATOR

And so the Baker, reluctantly, set off to meet the

enchantress’ demands.

As for Cinderella:

CINDERELLA

I still wish to go to the Festival,

But how am I ever to get to the Festival?

BAKER

The cow as white as milk,

The cape as red as blood,

The hair as yellow as corn-

CINDERELLA

I know!

I’ll visit Mother’s grave,

The grave at the hazel tree,

And tell her I just want to

Go to the King’s Festival…

BAKER

The slipper as pure as gold…

The cow, the cape,

The slipper as pure as gold-

BAKER’S WIFE

The hair-!

CINDERELLA & BAKER

Into the woods,

It’s time to go,

It may be all

In vain, you/I know.

Into the woods-

But even so,

I have to take the journey.

CINDERELLA, BAKER & WIFE

Into the woods,

The path is straight,

You know it well,

But who can tell-

BAKER & WIFE

Into the woods to lift the spell-

CINDERELLA

Into the woods to visit Mother-

BAKER’S WIFE

Into the woods to fetch the things-

BAKER

To make the potion-

CINDERELLA

To go to the Festival-

CINDERELLA, JACK, JACK’S MOTHER, BAKER, WIFE

Into the woods

Without regret,

The choice is made,

The task is set.

Into the woods,

But not forgeting

Why I’m on the journey.

(Little Red Riding hood joins)

Into the woods

to get my wish,

I don’t care how,

The time is now.

JACK’S MOTHER

Into the woods to sell the cow-

JACK

Into the woods to get the money-

BAKER’S WIFE

Into the woods to lift the spell-

BAKER

To make the potion-

CINDERELLA

To go to the Festival-

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

Into the woods to Grandmother’s house…

Into the woods to Grandmother’s house…

ALL

The way is clear,

The light is good,

I have no fear,

Nor no one should.

The woods are just trees,

The trees are just wood.

No need to be afraid there-

CINDERELLA & BAKER

There’s something in the glade there…

ALL

Into the woods,

Without delay,

But careful no

To lose the way.

Into the woods,

Who knows what may

Be lurking on the journey?

Into the woods

To get the thing

That makes it worth

The journeying.

Into the woods-

STEMOTHER & STEPSISTERS

To see the King-

JACK & MOTHER

To sell the cow-

BAKER & WIFE

To make the potion-

ALL

To see-

To sell-

To get-

To bring-

To make-

To lift-

To go to the Festival-!

Into the woods!

Into the woods!

Into the woods,

Then out of the woods,

And home before dark!

CINDERELLA AT THE GRAVE

NARRATOR

Cinderella had planted a branch at the grave of her Mother,

and her many tears had watered it until it had become

a handsome tree.

CINDERELLA

I’ve been good and I’ve been kind, Mother,

Doing only what I learned from you.

Why then am I left behind, Mother,

Is there something more that I should do?

What is wrong with me, Mother?

Something must be wrong.

I wish-

CINDERELLA’S MOTHER

Do you know what you wish?

Are you certain what you wish

Is what you want?

if you know what you want,

Then make a wish.

Ask the tree,

And you shall have your wish.

CINDERELLA

Shiver and quiver, little tree,

Silver and gold throw down on me.

I’m off to get my wish…

HELLO LITTLE GIRL

WOLF

Good day, young lady.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

Good day, Mr. Wolf.

WOLF

Mmmh…

Unhh…

Look at that flesh,

Pink and plump.

Hello, little girl…

Tender and fresh,

Not one lump.

Hello, little girl…

This one’s especially lush,

Delicious…

Mmmh…

Hello, little girl,

What’s your rush?

You’re missing all the flowers.

The sun won’t set for hours,

Take your time.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

Mother said,

“Straight ahead,”

Not to delay or be misled.

WOLF

But slow, little girl,

Hark and hush-

The birds are singing sweetly.

You’ll miss the birds completely,

You’re traveling so fleetly.

Grandmother first,

Then Miss Plump…

What a delectable couple:

Utter perfection-

One brittle, one supple-

One moment, my dear-!

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

Mother said,

“Come what may,

Follow the path

And never stray.”

WOLF

Just so, little girl-

Any path.

So many worth exploring.

Just one would be so boring.

And look what you’re ignoring…

Think of those crisp,

Aging bones,

Then something fresh on the palate,

Think of that scrumptious carnality

Twice in one day-!

There’s no possible way

To describe what you feel

When you’re talking to your meal.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

Mother said

Not to stray.

Still I suppose,

A small delay…

Granny might like

A fresh bouquet…

Goodbye, Mr. Wolf.

WOLF

Goodbye, little girl.

And hello…

I GUESS THIS IS GOODBYE

NARRATOR

And the Baker gave Jack five beans in exchange for his cow,

keeping one for himself.

JACK

I guess this is goodbye, old pal,

You’ve been a perfect friend.

I hate to have to part, old pal,

Some day I’ll buy you back.

I’ll see you soon again.

I hope that when I do,

It won’t be on a plate.

MAYBE THEY’RE MAGIC

BAKER

Magic beans!

BAKER’S WIFE

No one would have given him more for this creature.

BAKER

Are we to dispel this curse through deceit?

BAKER’S WIFE

If you know

What you want,

Then you go

And you find it

And you get it-

BAKER

Home.

BAKER’S WIFE

Do we want a child or not?

And you give

And you take

And you bid

And you bargain

Or you live

To regret it.

BAKER

Will you please go home?

BAKER’S WIFE

There are rights and wrongs

And in-betweens-

No one waits

When fortune intervenes.

Amd maybe they’re really magic,

Who knows?

Why you do

What you do,

That’s the point:

All the rest of it

Is chatter.

BAKER

Look at her. She’s crying.

BAKER’S WIFE

If the thing you do

Is pure in intent,

If it’s meant,

And it’s just a little bent,

Does it matter?

BAKER

Yes.

BAKER’S WIFE

No, what matters is that

Everyone tells tiny lies.

What’s important, really is, the size.

Only three more tries and we’ll have our prize.

When the end’s in sight,

You’ll realize:

If the end is right,

It justifies

The beans!

I KNOW THINGS NOW

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

Mother said,

“Straight ahead,”

Not to delay

or be misled.

I should have heeded

Her advice…

But he seemed so nice.

And he showed me things

Many beautiful things,

That I hadn’t thought to explore.

They were off my path,

So I never had dared.

I had been so careful,

I never had cared.

And he made me feel excited-

Well, excited and scared.

When he said, “Come in!”

With that sickening grin,

How could I know what was in store?

Once his teeth were bared,

Though, I really got scared-

Well, excited and scared-

But he drew me close

And he swallowed me down,

Down a dark slimy path

Where lie secrets that I never want to know,

And when everything familiar

Seemed to disappear forever,

At the end of the path

Was Granny once again.

So we wait in the dark

Until someone sets us free,

And we’re brought into the light,

And we’re back at the start.

And I know things now,

Many valuable things,

That I hadn’t known before:

Do not put your faith

In a cape and a hood,

They will not protect you

The way that they should.

And take extra care with strangers,

Even flowers have their dangers.

And though scary is exciting,

Nice is different than good.

Now I know:

Don’t be scared.

Granny is right,

Just be prepared.

Isn’t it nice to know a lot!

And a little bit not…

A VERY NICE PRINCE

CINDERELLA

He’s a very nice Prince.

BAKER’S WIFE

And-?

CINDERELLA

And-

It’s a very nice ball.

BAKER’S WIFE

And-?

CINDERELLA

And-

When I entered they trumpeted.

BAKER’S WIFE

And-?

The Prince-?

CINDERELLA

Oh, the Prince…

BAKER’S WIFE

Yes, the Prince!

CINDERELLA

Well, he’s tall.

BAKER’S WIFE

Is that all?

Did you dance?

Is he charming?

They say that he’s charming.

CINDERELLA

We did nothing but dance.

BAKER’S WIFE

Yes-? And-?

CINDERELLA

And it made a nice change.

BAKER’S WIFE

No, the Prince!

CINDERELLA

Oh, the Prince…

BAKER’S WIFE

Yes, the Prince.

CINDERELLA

He has charm for a Prince, I guess…

BAKER’S WIFE

Guess?

CINDERELLA

I don’t mean to wide range.

BAKER’S WIFE

Did he bow?

Was he cold and polite?

CINDERELLA

And it’s all very strange.

BAKER’S WIFE

Did he speak? Did he flirt?

Could you tell right away he was royalty?

Is he sensitive,

Clever,

Well-mannered,

Considerate,

Passionate,

Charming,

As kind as he’s handsome,

As wise as he’s rich,

Is he everything you’ve ever wanted?

CINDERELLA

Would I know?

BAKER’S WIFE

Well, I know.

CINDERELLA

But how can you know what you want

Till you get what you want

And you see if you like it?

BAKER’S WIFE

Would I know?

CINDERELLA

All I know is-

BAKER’S WIFE

I never wish-

CINDERELLA

What I want most of all-

BAKER’S WIFE

Just within reason.

CINDERELLA

Is to know what I want.

BAKER’S WIFE

When you know you can’t have what you want,

Where’s the profit in wishing?

BOTH

He’s a very nice Prince…

BAKER’S WIFE

What I wouldn’t give to be in your shoes.

CINDERELLA

Will you look over there, an enormous beanstalk

growing next to that little cottage.

BAKER’S WIFE

Are those slippers as pure as gold?

CINDERELLA

I must get home.

BAKER’S WIFE

I need your shoes!

Wait!

FIRST MIDNIGHT

BAKER

One midnight gone…

MYSTERIOUS MAN

No knot unties itself…

WITCH

Sometimes the things you most wish for are not

to be touched…

PRINCES

The harder to get, the better to have…

FLORINDA

Never wear mauve at a ball…

LUCINDA

Or pink…

STEPMOTHER

Or open your mouth…

JACK

The difference between a cow and a bean

Is a bean can begin an adventure…

JACK’S MOTHER

Slotted spoons don’t hold much soup…

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

The prettier the flower, the farther from the path…

CINDERELLA’S FATHER

The closer to the family, the closer to the wine…

RAPUNZEL

Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah…

WITCH

One midnight gone!…

GRANNY

The mouth of a wolf’s not the end of the world…

STEWARD

A servant is not just a dog, to a Prince…

CINDERELLA

Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor…

BAKER’S WIFE

You may know what you need,

But to get what you want,

Better see that you keep what you have.

BAKER

One midnight gone…

WITCH

Sometimes the things you most wish for are not

to be touched…

PRINCES

The harder to get,

The better to have…

Agreed.

BAKER

One midnight gone… one midnight gone…

FLORINDA

Never wear mauve at a ball…

LUCINDA

Or pink…

JACK’S MOTHER

Slotted spoons don’t hold much soup…

BAKER’S WIFE

To get what you want,

Better keep what you…

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

The prettier the flower…

ALL

One midnight gone…

Into the woods,

Into the woods,

Into the woods, then out of the woods

And home before-

GIANTS IN THE SKY

JACK

There are Giants in the sky!

There are big tall terrible Giants

in the sky!

When you’re way up high

And you look below

At the world you left

And the things you know,

Little more than a glance

Is enough to show

You just how small you are.

When you’re way up high

And you’re own your own

In a world like none

That you’ve ever known,

Where the sky is lead

And the earth is stone,

You’re free, to do

Whatever pleases you,

Exploring things you’d never dare

‘Cause you don’t care,

When suddenly there’s

A big tall terrible Giant at the door,

A big tall terrible lady Giant

sweeping the floor.

And she gives you food

And she gives you rest

And she draws you close

To her Giant breast,

And you know things now

that you never knew before,

Not till the sky.

Only just when you’ve made

A friend and all,

And you know she’s big

But you don’t feel small,

Someone bigger than her

Comes along the hall

To swallow you for lunch.

And your heart is lead

And your stomach stone

And you’re really scared

Being all alone…

And it’s then that you miss

All the things you’ve known

And the world you’ve left

And the little you own-

The fun is done.

You steal what you can and run.

And you scramble down

And you look below,

And the world you know

Begins to grow:

The roof, the house, and your Mother at the door.

The roof, the house and the world you never thought to explore.

And you think of all of the things you’ve seen,

And you wish that you could live in between,

And you’re back again,

Only different than before,

After the sky.

There are Giants in the sky!

There are big tall terrible awesome scary wonderful

Giants in the sky!

AGONY

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE

Did I abuse her

Or show her disdain?

Why does she run from me?

If I should lose her,

How shall I regain

The heart she has won from me?

Agony!

Beyond power of speech,

When the one thing you want

Is the only thing out of your reach.

RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE

High in her tower,

She sits by the hour,

Maintaining her hair.

Blithe and becoming and frequently humming

A lighthearted air:

Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-

Agony!

Far more painful than yours,

When you know she would go with you

If there only were doors.

BOTH

Agony!

Oh, the torture they teach!

RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE

What’s as intriguing-

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE

Or half so fatiguing-

BOTH

As what’s out of reach?

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE

Am I not sensitive,

Clever,

Well-mannered,

Considerate,

Passionate,

Charming,

As kind as I’m handsome

And heir to a throne?

RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE

You are everything maidens could wish for!

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE

Then why no-?

RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE

Do I know?

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE

The girl must be mad!

RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE

You know nothing of madness

Till you’re climbing her hair

And you see her up there

AS you’re nearing her,

All the while hearing her:

Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-

BOTH

Agony!

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE

Misery!

RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE

Woe!

BOTH

Though it’s different for each.

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE

Always ten steps behind-

RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE

Always ten feet below-

BOTH

And she’s just out of reach.

Agony

That can cut like a knife!

I must have her to wife.

IT TAKES TWO

BAKER’S WIFE

You’ve changed.

You’re daring.

You’re different in the woods.

More sure.

More sharing.

You’re getting us through the woods.

If you could see-

You’re not the man who started,

And much more openhearted

Than I knew

You to be.

BAKER

It takes two.

I thought one was enough,

It’s not true:

It takes two of us

You came through

When the journey was rough.

It took you.

It took two of us.

It takes care.

It takes patience and fear and despair

To change.

Though you swear

To change,

Who can tell if you do?

It takes two.

BAKER’S WIFE

You’ve changed.

You’re thriving.

There’s something about the woods.

Not just

Surviving.

You’re blossoming in the woods.

At home I’d fear

We’d stay the same forever.

And then out here-

You’re passionate

Charming,

Considerate,

Clever-

BAKER

It takes one

To begin, but then once

You’ve begun,

It takes two of you.

It’s no fun,

But what needs to be done

You can do

When there’s two of you.

If I dare,

It’s because I’m becoming

Aware of us

As a pair of us,

Each accepting a share

Of what’s there.

BOTH

We’ve changed.

We’re strangers.

I’m meeting you in the woods.

Who minds

What dangers?

I know we’ll get past the woods.

And once we’re past,

Lets’ hope the changes last

Beyond woods,

Beyond witches and slippers and hoods,

Just the two of us-

Beyond lies,

Safe at home with out beautiful prize,

Just the few of us.

It takes trust.

It takes just

A bit more

And we’re done.

We want four,

We had none.

We’ve got three.

We need one.

It takes two.

STAY WITH ME

WITCH

What did I clearly say?

Children must listen.

RAPUNZEL

No, no, please!

WITCH

What were you not to do?

Children must see-

RAPUNZEL

No!

WITCH

And learn.

Why could you not obey?

Children should listen.

What have I been to you?

What would you have me be?

Handsome like a Prince?

Ah, but I am old.

I am ugly.

I embarrass you.

RAPUNZEL

No!

WITCH

You are ashamed of me.

RAPUNZEL

No!

WITCH

You are ashamed.

You don’t understand.

RAPUNZEL

It was lonely atop that tower.

WITCH

I was not company enough?

RAPUNZEL

I am no longer a child. I wish to see the world.

WITCH

Don’t you know what’s out there in the world?

Someone has to shield you from the world.

Stay with me.

Princes wait there in the world, it’s true.

Princes, yes, but wolves and humans, too.

Stay at home.

I am home.

Who out there could love you more than I?

What out there that I cannot supply?

Stay with me.

Stay with me,

The world is dark and wild.

Stay a child while you can be a child.

With me.

CINDERELLA

He’s a very smart Prince,

He’s a Prince who prepares.

Knowing this time I’d run from him,

He spread pitch on the stairs.

I was caught unawares.

And I thought: well, he cares-

This is more than just malice.

Better stop and take stock

While you’re standing here stuck

On the steps of the palace.

You think, what do you want?

You think, make a decision.

Why not stay and be caught?

You think, well, it’s a thought,

What would be his response?

But then what if he knew

Who you were when you know

That you’re not what he thinks

That he wants?

And then what if you are?

What a Prince would envision?

Although how can you know

Who you are till you know

What you want, which you don’t?

So then which do you pick:

Where you’re safe, out of sight,

And yourself, but where everything’s wrong?

Or where everything’s right

And you know that you’ll never belong?

And whichever you pick,

Do it quick,

‘Cause you’re starting to stick

To the steps of the palace.

It’s your first big decision,

The choice isn’t easy to make.

To arrive at a ball

Is exciting and all-

Once you’re there, though, it’s scary.

And it’s fun to deceive

When you know you can leave,

But you have to be wary.

There’s a lot that’s at stake,

But you’ve stalled long enough,

‘Cause you’re still standing stuck

In the stuff on the steps…

Better run along home

And avoid the collision.

Even though they don’t care,

You’ll be better of there

Where there’s nothing to choose,

So there’s nothing to lose.

So you pry up your shoes.

Then from out of the blue,

And without any guide,

You know what your decision is,

Which is not to decide.

You’ll leave him a clue:

For example, a shoe.

And then see what he’ll do.

Now it’s he and not you

Who is stuck with a shoe,

In a stew,

in the goo,

And you’ve learned something, too,

Something you never knew,

On the steps of the palace.

EVER AFTER

NARRATOR

And it came to pass, all that seemed wrong

was now right, and those who deserved to

were certain to live a long and happy life.

Ever after…

COMPANY

Ever after!

NARRATOR

Journey over, all is mended,

And it’s not just for today,

But tomorrow, and extended

Ever after!

COMPANY

Ever after!

NARRATOR

All the curses have been ended,

The reverses wiped away.

All is tenderness and laughter

For forever after!

COMPANY

Happy now and happy hence

And happy ever after!

NARRATOR

There were dangers-

COMPANY

We were frightened-

NARRATOR

And confusions-

COMPANY

But we hid it-

NARRATOR

And the paths would often swerve.

COMPANY

We did not.

NARRATOR

There were constant-

COMPANY

It’s amazing-

NARRATOR

Disillusions-

COMPANY

That we did it.

NARRATOR

But they never lost they’re nerve.

COMPANY

Not a lot.

NARRATOR AND COMPANY

And they/we reached the right conclusions

And they/we got what they/we deserved!

ALL

Not a sigh and not a sorrow,

Tenderness and laughter.

Joy today and bliss tomorrow,

And forever after!

FLORINDA

I was greedy.

LUCINDA

I was vain.

FLORINDA

I was haughty.

LUCINDA

I was smug.

BOTH

We were happy.

LUCINDA

It was fun.

FLORINDA

But we were blind.

BOTH

Then we went into the woods

To get our wish,

And now we’re really blind.

WITCH

I was perfect.

I had everything but beauty.

I had power,

And a daughter like a flower,

In a tower.

Then I went into the woods

To get my wish,

And now I’m ordinary.

Lost my power and my flower.

FLORINDA AND LUCINDA

We’re unworthy.

FLORINDA, LUCINDA, WITCH

We’re/I’m unhappy now, unhappy hence,

As well as ever after.

Had we used our common sense,

Been worthy of our discontents,

We’d be happy.

ALL

To be happy, and forever,

You must see your wish come true.

Don’t be careful, don’t be clever.

When you see your wish, pursue.

It’s a dangerous endeavor,

But the only thing to do-

Though it’s fearful,

Though it’s deep, though it’s dark,

And though you may lose your path,

Though you may encounter wolves,

You mustn’t stop,

You mustn’t swerve,

You mustn’t ponder,

You have to act!

When you know your wish,

If you want your wish,

You can have your wish,-

No, to get your wish

You go into the woods,

Where nothing’s clear,

Where witches, ghosts

And wolves appear.

Into the woods

And through the fear,

You have to take the journey.

Into the woods

And down the dell,

In vain, perhaps,

But who can tell?

Into the woods to lift the spell,

Into the woods to lose the longing,

Into the woods to have the child,

To wed the Prince,

To get the money,

to save the house,

To kill the Wolf,

To find the father,

To conquer the kingdom,

To have, to wed,

To get, to save,

To kill, to keep,

To go to the festival!

Into the woods,

Into the woods,

Into the woods,

Then out of the woods

And happy ever after!

Act Two   |   Into the Woods Index