Alice in Wonderland
since the Jabberwocky desecrated
the land.
EXT. AN ABANDONED VILLAGE – LATER
They move through the empty streets of a deserted village.
ALICE Where has everyone gone?
MAD HATTER Many have been taken as slaves for
the Queen’s court. Others has fled
to the Outlands. Ony a few strays
remain.
A female CAT appears in a doorway wearing a slinky dress
reminiscent of a French chanteuse. She leans against the
door.
THE CAT CHANTEUSE
Hello, Hatter.
MAD HATTER Cauol. It’s been a long time.
(to Alice)
She’ll know where we can find
Absolem. Wait here.
He takes off the Hat and puts it on a small café table.
He goes to speak to the cat. Alice hears LOUD PURRING and sees
a very thin, very hungry feral CAT looking up at her from
below.
ALICE Hello, kitty.
FERAL CAT #1 Hello, mouse.
ALICE I’m, actually, not a mouse.
The cat is joined by another equally hungry cat. Alice glances
over at the Hatter who’s conversing quietly in Outlandish with
his friend.
FERAL CAT #1 I saw it first.
The second cat leaps onto the table.
ALICE As you can see, I’m not a
mouse at all.
FERAL CAT #2 slinks toward her. Alice takes a step back as
FERAL CAT #1 leaps onto the table.
FERAL CAT #1 It’s mine.
Alice moves back to the edge of the table as a THIRD cat lands
on the table. Alice looks at the Hatter who has his back to
her.
WEAN! She’s hit by a FURRY PAW which knocks her sideways where
she’s hit by another FURRY PAW, knocking her the other way.
The CATS toy with her, amusing themselves as they bat her
between them. Alice stumbles to the edge of the table and
falls, landing on the chair. She tries to get the Hatter’s
attention.
AL I CE Hatter!
A cat lands on the chair. Alice jumps to the floor. She lands
hard with the cat right behind, followed by the
other two. She
turns to face them as they stalk her.
FERAL CAT #3 Run, mouse.
FERAL CAT #2 We like it when they run.
Alice runs. She dives behind table and chair legs.
The cats
enjoy the chase, catching her and batting her between them.
She finally breaks free and runs toward the Hatter.
ALICE Hatter I
But a paw lands on her dragging dress
tail, stopping her. She
struggles to pull free as another cat stalks her from the
front. And another from the side. She yells.
ALICE
TARRANT HIGHTOPPI She can’t get away. The cats move in for the kill, all
playfulness gone.
MAD HATTER
SSSSSSTT! The Hatter’s foot kicks a cat away. He stomps at the others.
They hiss and back off. He picks Tiny Alice up. She’s fuming.
ALICE There are starving cats here! I’m
the size of a mouse! What didyou
think would happen?
MAD HATTER I didn’t remember the feral ones.
Forgive me.
He puts her in the pocket of his coat and picks up his hat.
THE CAT CHANTEUSE
By the way, have you seen Chessur?
MAD HATTER Only briefly. You know how he comes
and goes.
THE CAT CHANTEUSE
If you see him, tell him he’s
slurking- urpal s]ackush scrum.
ALICE What does that mean?
MAD HATTER (embarrassed)
It means…be glad you don’t speak
Outlandish right now.
EXT. IPLAM – BEYOND THE DESERTED TOWN
Alice sits in the Hatter’s coat pocket as he walks across the
blackened plain dotted with shriveled stumps and trees.
MAD HATTER We’ve half a day’s walk to reach
Absolem.
The sky turns suddenly dark, tinged with red. He ducks under a
large tree with wide gnarled branches.
