Alice in Wonderland
TWEEDLEDEE It’s not being the same.
The Dungeon Keeper looks utterly bewildered.
WHITE RABBIT I’ll leave you to your work.
INT. THE DUNGEON – DAY – CONT.
Alice moves through the dark tunnels lined with prison cells.
Inside, prisoners, both human and animal, huddle together in
the cold or pace, driven half-mad by the darkness and
solitude. Alice is overwhelmed by the cruelty and deprivation.
An imprisoned courtier reaches out for her as she passes.
IMPRISONED COURTIER Help me, sister. I’ve done nothing
wrong. All I did was mention the
size of her head.
ALICE I’m sorry. I’ll do what I can.
She moves on, passing a Bloodhound pacing her cell. Alice
stops.
ALICE (cont.) Do you know if there is a Hatter
imprisoned here?
FEMALE BLOODHOUND Just up there. He’s a strong one.
They’ve put him through hell.
Alice notices her pups shivering in the corner.
ALICE I believe I met your husband.
The bloodhound’s ears perk up. Life fills her face.
FEMALE BLOODHOUND Bayard? Where is he?
ALICE (gently)
Very near. He’s very near.
The Bloodhound sighs, comforted by the thought.
FEMALE BLOODHOUND Thank you for telling me.
Alice moves on past more cells with more pitiable creatures,
then comes upon the Hatter
THE HATTER’S CELL – CONT.
He’s slumped on the floor. His clothes torn and bloodied.
ALICE Tarrant?
He looks up. His face is bruised and marked with lacerations.
Confusion, then recognition cross his face followed by
surprise at her new size.
MAD HATTER You’ve grown.
ALICE Blame it on an overindulgence
of upelkuchen.
He smiles, but the effort is painful.
ALICE (cont.) I’ve brought you something.
She passes the Hat to him through the bars. He puts it on.
ALICE (cont.) There you are. You look yourself
again.
MAD HATTER Should I wear it to my execution,
do you think?
ALICE We’re going to get you out
before that!
MAD HATTER You must not worry about me.
The Vorpal sword is here in the
castle. Retrieve it and…
ALICE I came here to help you.
MAD HATTER You will be helping me and
everyone in Underland.
ALICE Tarrant, they’re going to execute
you! Don’t you want to live?
MAD HATTER Not in a world of her making!
ALICE But this world would not be
the same without you in it.
His eyes soften. He reaches through the bars and gently
touches her cheek.
MAD HATTER You could almost make me forget
what I have sworn to do.
The White Rabbit arrives, breaking their private moment.
The Hatter nods to him, all business once again.
MAD HATTER (cont.) Retrieve the Sword, Alice. Return
it to the White Queen in Marmoreal.
It’s the only chance we have.
ALICE Where do they keep it?
MAD HATTER Nivens will take you.
ALICE When I come back, we’ll all
go to Marmoreal together.
He adjusts his hat to a daring angle.
MAD HATTER Thank you for my hat.
With a last look at him, she allows the Rabbit to lead her
off.
INT. THE RED QUEEN’S CASTLE – LATER
Big Alice follows the Rabbit. The courtiers nod to her with
reluctant respect. Courtier Long-Ears smiles stiffly as she
passes.
EXT. THE RED QUEEN’S CASTLE – NIGHT
The White Rabbit leads her out of the back of the castle
toward an extremely large barnlike structure in the distance.
EXT. THE STABLES- NIGHT
They reach the out-building. The Rabbit attempts to lift the
heavy bar across the door. She has to help him. As the door
swings open, they both react to the horrific stench which
emanates from inside…a smell that Alice recognizes.
ALICE The Bandersnatch!
WHITE RABBIT Shh! Come in.
INT. THE BANDERSNATCH STABLE – DAY – CONT.
