CUT TO:
INT. THE RED QUEEN’S CASTLE – DAY
Stayn has just finished telling the Queen about Alice.
RED QUEEN
You let her escape?
KNAVE OF HEARTS
On the Bandersnatch.
RED QUEEN
She took my Bandersnatch? What
kind of power does this girl
possess?
KNAVE OF HEARTS
And the Vorpal Sword.
She’s so angry she slaps him.
RED QUEEN
How could you let this happen?
KNAVE OF HEARTS
(stinging from the slap)
I may have underestimated her. But
we have her conspirators. The
Hatter and a Dormouse.
RED QUEEN
(dark)
Let their heads roll.
INT. THE HATTER’S CELL – NIGHT
The Hatter awaits his execution at dawn. He glances at the
Dormouse asleep in the cell across from his. The Cheshire Cat
suddenly materializes on the other side of the bars.
CHESIRE CAT
I’ve always admired that hat.
MAD HATTER
Hello, Chessur.
CHESIRE CAT
Would you consider bequeathing
it to me, since you won’t be
needing it anymore?
MAD HATTER
Wither my head goes, that way
goes my hat.
CHESIRE CAT
Tell me, Tarrant, is worth it?
MAD HATTER
Alice holds the Vorpal Sword.
If she has the courage to use
it, then yes.
CHESIRE CAT
(musing)
One life lost for a world
set free.
He disappears and reappears in the cell with the Hatter.
CHESIRE CAT (cont.)
I’m serious about the Hat.
MAD HATTER
You want my hat.
CHESIRE CAT
It’s an excellant hat. I’ll wear
to all the finest occasions.
The Hatter considers his request.
INT. THE WHITE QUEEN’S PARLOR – LATER
The White Queen and Alice sit in the parlor. Alice looks out
the window, anxious and fretting.
WHITE QUEEN
You keep looking out the window.
What’s troubling you?
ALICE
I’m worried about the Hatter.
WHITE QUEEN
Tarrant Hightopp?
ALICE
I don’t know what’s become
of him. Your sister ordered
his execution.
The Queen can see the spark of love there.
WHITE QUEEN
Tarrant is very resourceful.
You must trust him. If there is
a way out, he will find it.
Alice nods and takes a deep breath. The Queen sneaks a look
out the window.
ALICE
Now you’re the one looking
out the window.
WHITE QUEEN
You caught me.
ALICE
Your champion will come.
WHITE QUEEN
Yes. I am certain of it.
EXT. THE RED QUEEN’S COURTYARD – THE FRABJOUS DAY – DAWN
The Courtiers look like they’ve been through a brawl.
Disheveled, clothes torn, out-sized body parts ripped off,
they’re bruised, battered and ready for someone’s blood.
The Hatter (wearing his Hat) and the Dormouse are forced to
walk though the angry mob to reach the executioner who
sharpens his sword. They keep their heads down as the people
jeer and throw rotten vegetables at them. The Tweedles and the
White Rabbit are present as well, blending in with the crowd.
The Queen and Stayn watch from the castle balcony.
KNAVE OF HEARTS
Brilliant, whoever conceived of
the dawn execution. It’s the
perfect way to start the day.
RED QUEEN
I love that we have so much
in common.
He shoots a dark glance her way, the memory of the slap still
stinging.
THE BEHEADING PLATFORM
Guards prod the Hatter and Dormouse up the steps.
EXECUTIONER
Who will be the first to die
on this fine morning?
The Hatter steps forward, pushing the Dormouse behind him.
THE DORMOUSE
Courage. I’ll be right behind you.
The Executioner attempts to take off his hat, but he mumbles.
THE HATTER
I want to keep it on.
EXECUTIONER
Suit yourself. As long as I
can get at your neck.
The Hatter places his neck on the beheading stone.
The Tweedles and the White Rabbit look on with pained
expressions.
The Executioner raises his sword. The crowd goes quiet.
The White Rabbit looks away.
WHITE RABBIT
I can’t bear to watch.
The Executioner’s sword comes down toward the neck of the
accused. But just as it’s about to make contact, the accused’s
body disappears. The crowd gasps. Sword hits the stone,
jarring the executioner who stares at the hovering head.
Everyone stares in disbelief.
TWEEDLEDEE
It’s gone.
The Rabbit still hasn’t looked.
WHITE RABBIT
He was such a fine fellow.
TWEEDLEDUM
Look!
The Rabbit looks to see the floating head with no body
attached.
EXECUTIONER
I can’t behead nobody if there’s
no body!
The Chesire Cat’s disembodied head floats upright and hovers
above the atonished crowd. He grins.
THE DORMOUSE
Chessur, you dog!
He winks at her. The Hatter (sans Hat) leaps up on to a
balustrade and shouts to the crowd.
MAD HATTER
To the abused and enslaved of
the Red Queen’s court, stand
and fight with us! Downa] wyth
Bluddy Behy Hid!
The Platypus holds a tray of tarts on his bound beak. He
tosses them away and pulls the rope off.
THE PLATYPUS
EGGSACUTALLY!
Other billed animals do the same. Footfrogs and the Fish
Butlers, Cat Maids and Human Floor Sweepers take up the
slogan.
VARIOUS SERVANT/SLAVES
Downa] wyth B]uddy Behy Hid!
ON THE QUEEN AND STAYN
RED QUEEN
What are they saying about me?
KNAVE OF HEARTS
I think it’s to do with the size
of your head.
The Queen’s face goes crimson with rage.
RED QUEEN
Loose the Jub-jub Bird!
