Rumpelstiltskin Script FADE IN: EXT.

EARLY MORNING - GATES TO PALACE Poor and simple MILLER stares up with sad, weary eyes, at the mighty gates of the palace as they slowly open for him to enter. CUT TO: INT. SHORTLY AFTER - PALACE THRONE ROOM Before the throne of the KING, the frail old miller kneels, shaking slightly, head bowed. The King sits in his huge throne, looking stern. KING (Forcefully) Miller, what will you offer as payment for your tax debt? MILLER (Tentatively) Sire, I have a daughter who can spin straw into gold! KING (eyes narrowing) If this be true then bring her to me by morning and let me put her to the test. FADE TO:

INT. THRONE ROOM - NEXT MORN Miller and his beautiful DAUGHTER slowly approach the King and bow. King sits in his elaborate throne with a guard standing either side of him. He leans on one elbow as he bends toward the kneeling pair. KING (Eyes hard and cold on daughter) Your father boasts that you can spin straw into gold. This we shall see. If you have not proven this by tomorrow at sunrise, you must die! Daughter looks wildly at her father as he bows his head and backs up a few feet.

KING (motioning to guard on his left side) Take her to the cell Guard snatches at Daughter's arm as she starts to cry. KING (To the miller, softly) You may leave now. FADE TO: INT. SHORTLY AFTER - SMALL CELL

The beautiful miller's daughter, sits wheeping softly by the small window in the cell which is covered in straw. A spinning wheel sits in the center. Door opens and small, strange looking man walks in ans sits beside her. RUMPELSTILTSKIN (compassionatley)

Mistress Miller, why are you crying? DAUGHTER (Motioning with one hand around the room) I have been told to spin all this straw into gold by morning or I shall die. I don't know how! RUMPELSTILTSKIN (gently stroking his chin) If I can do this for you, what would you give me? MILLER'S DAUGHTER (Hopefully) My necklace, I will give you my necklace! RUMPELSTILTSKIN (Sweetly) Then let me help you.

He takes the necklace from around her slender neck and sets to work FADE TO:

INT. NEXT MORN Door to cell opens as in walks the King followed closely by a guard. King stands surveying the room, hands on hips. KING (Gleaming) Mistress Miller, I am well pleased with your work.

He looks down at her quizically as she cowers, head bowed and shaking. KING I will need further proof of your special talent. The King now motions to the guard KING Take her to the next cell

FADE TO: INT. SHORTLY AFTER - LARGER CELL Wall to wall straw, spinning wheel. Daughter sits crying pitifully by the wheel. Door opens, enters Rumpelstiltskin. RUMPELSTILTSKIN (Feignes concern) My, my young Mistress. Why so sad? DAUGHTER (pleading) The King will take my life if I do not spin this straw into gold by morning. Please can you help me? RUMPELSTILTSKIN

What would you give me to do this for you? DAUGHTER (Hands held out) This ring I will give you!

Rumpelstiltskin takes the ring gently from her finger and sets to work on the wheel. FADE TO: INT. MORNING - THE CELL KING (Greedily) Mistress Miller, your work pleases me greatly! (pauses) Guard, take her to the cell. (motions to the guard without taking his eyes from the gold)

MISTRESS MILLER (Pleasding and reaching out to the King) PLEASE, please, I have done all you asked? KING (Looking down on her unmoving) You will do this again and if you succeed you shall become my wife!

Guard takes mistress miller by the arm to an even larger cell with more straw and a wheel. She sinks to the floor crying. Enters Rumpelstiltskin. Sits beside her. RUMPELSTILTSKIN

(Lifts her head gently to look into her eyes) What will you give me to help you mistress? MISTRESS MILLER Good Sir, I have nothing left to give you. RUMPELSTILTSKIN (Looks away then back,smiling) Then promise me your first born child should you become queen! MISTRESS MILLER (Puzzled. Looks at her hands then back) Okay, this I will promise if you help me again.

Rumpelstiltskin smiles as he starts to spin FADE TO: INT. MORNING King enters with guard looking astonished and very pleased.

KING (Reaching to Mistress Miller and taking her hand, draws her to her feet) You shall be my wife for a richer wife I could not find. DISSOLVE TO: INT. NURSERY ONE YEAR LATER Mistress Miller, now a gracious Queen and new mother, smiling, leans over the crib where her precious baby girl lies sleeping peacfully. Rumpelstiltskin enters and stands close behind her with hands on hips. RUMPELSTILTSKIN (Agressive) I have come for the payment you promised me. QUEEN (startled, spins around, looks down into the sobre face of Rumpelstiltskin. A look of recognition slowly comes over her face) Please kind Sir, I shall pay you in gold and jewellry for I have plenty to offer! RUMPELSTILTSKIN (steps closer) Hand me the child now! QUEEN (Defiant) NO! Claim your prize in riches or leave me at once.

RUMPELSTILTSKIN No, no. Something alive is dearer to me than all the riches in the kingdom! Hand over the child QUEEN (Stares down at Rumpelstiltskin) I will not hand over my child. Go away!

RUMPELSTILTSKIN (Erupting in anger) Alright, make me this deal then. If you cannot tell me my name in 3 days, you will turn the child over to me. (He turns abruptly and storms from the room) QUEEN (Queen lays the baby gently in her crib) GUARD! (Guard enters room quickly) Send a messenger to the nearby villages to make a list of all the male names they can find. QUICKLY! GUARD Yes your majesty (Head bowed he backs away)

FADE TO MORNING INT: NURSERY QUEEN STANDS IN FRONT OF HER BABY IN THE CRIB. SHE HOLDS A LONG SHEET OF PAPER. ENTERS RUMPELSTILTSKIN AND STANDS SLIENTLY IN FRONT OF HER. QUEEN TURNS TO FACE HIM. QUEEN Is your name Casper? RUMPELSTILTSKIN No, that is not my name! QUEEN Melchoir? RUMPELSTILTSKIN No!

QUEEN (Shaking noticibly) Is your name Balthazar?

RUMPELSTILTSKIN (Looking smug) No, your majesty, that is not my name! QUEEN Calentian? RUMPELSTILTSKIN (Nods slowly and smiling) Noooooo! FADE OUT. NEXT MORNING - SAME SCENE QUEEN (Glares down at Rumpelstiltskin as she reads the first name) Drankus? RUMPELSTILTSKIN (Hands folded together in front of him, smirks up at her) No, that is not my name! QUEEN Valient? RUMPELSTILTSKIN No!

FADE OUT. NEXT MORNING VERY EARLY Enters guard to meet Queen in dining room where she sits for breakfast. He kneels before her. GUARD (excitedly) I found only a few more names for you to present this morning, but one of them you will find very interesting!

QUEEN (stands to face him eagerly) Go on then!

GUARD As I passed through the woods on my way back to the palace last night, I came across a little house in the woods and in the front of this house was a fire burning. Dancing around the flames was a small man laughing and chanting these words over and over: He, he he, Rumpelstiltskin dance for glee For in the morn the Queen I see The child be mine, I win the game The Queen cannot find my name. FADE TO:

Queen standing tall and regal, with her back to the crib, looks very smug. Enters Rumpelstiltskin smiling, he walks up to face her. RUMPELSTILTSKIN Now mistress, what is my name? QUEEN Is your name Harry? RUMPELSTILTSKIN (He skips in a circle then back to face her) No, that is not my name! QUEEN (Placing one finger on her chin as she looks to the ceiling) Is your name Beritis? RUMPELSTILTSKIN No, no, no (with glee) QUEEN (Now leaning close to his face with a shrewd smile) Is your name Rumpelstiltskin?

RUMPELSTILTSKIN (Steps back and stops his foot very hard and screams) The devil has told you that! The devil has told you that! With this he turns and runs from the room screaming all the way from the palace.