Alice in Wonderland
It’s dim inside. A thin shaft of light shines down on the
Bandersnatch. He’s lays alone in his stall, the bones of a
recent meal scattered in the mud. The creature is filthy. It
lays its huge ugly head on its paws and moans. The socket with
the missing eye oozes puss and blood. Maybe it’s because Alice
is bigger now, but the Bandersnatch seem less intimidating.
The sight of the lonely, miserable creature is almost heart-
wrenching.
ALICE Where’s the Sword?
The Rabbit motions to the stall.
ALICE (cont.) In there with him?
Alice turns and goes back outside.
EXT. THE BANDERSNATCH STABLE – CONT.
The Rabbit runs out after her.
ALICE I can’t do it. It’s not possible!
WHITE RABBIT You haven’t even made an attempt.
ALICE That creature tried to kill me!
Look what he did to my arm!
She shows him the wound on her arm. It’s larger,
very swollen,
red streaks emanate from the still open wound. He gasps.
WHITE RABBIT The Bandersnatch did that?
He gets very nervous and twitchy.
WHITE RABBIT (cont.) Dear oh dear! Why haven’t you
mentioned this?
Even Alice is surprised at how bad it looks.
ALICE It wasn’t this bad before.
He starts breathing fast, flapping his paws.
WHITE RABBIT Dear oh dear…
ALICE What’s wrong with you?
WHITE RABBIT I’m a bit.. .squeamish.
His eyes roll back and he faints. She sighs and crouches down
to fan him.
INT. THE CASTLE KITCHEN – LATER
It’s chaos in the kitchen with squirrel cooks, cat scullery
maids, pig pastry chefs, et al. Alice finds a pot of boiling
water. She dips a cloth into it and slips out again.
INT. A CHAMBER – DAY – CONT.
She ducks into a small chamber to clean the wound on her arm.
The door opens as the Fish Butler and the Dormouse enter.
She’s dressed as a house maid.
FISH BUTLER You can start by dusting this
room. Leave not a speck.
The Dormouse curtsies awkwardly.
THE DORMOUSE
Not a speck, sir.
The Fish goes out.
ALICE Mal lymkun?
THE DORMOUSE
You again!
ALICE I’m glad you’ve come. You can
help me free the Hatter.
THE DORMOUSE
I come to free the Hatter on
my own. I don’t need help.
Looking at her, Alice has a sudden thought.
ALICE Do you still have the Bandersnatch
eye?
The Dormouse hikes up her maid’s skirt to reveal her breeches
beneath, the Bandersnatch eye still at her waist.
THE DORMOUSE
It’s my good luck charm. I
wouldn’t be without it.
ALICE I’ll be needing that.
The Dormouse’s hand goes to it possesively. Stayn looks in.
KNAVE OF HEARTS There you are, Uum. The Queen’s
looking for you.
(to the Dormouse)
Get out.
The Dormouse doesn’t move. He pushes her out forceably. In
his eagerness to be alone with Alice, he doesn’t notice the
door is left ajar. He turns to her with a sly lascivious
smile.
KNAVE OF HEARTS (cont.) You are very beautiful.
ALICE I should be going…
She tries to move past him, but he grabs her arm. She cries
out from the pain of the wound. He pushes her against the
wall, planting both hands on either side of her.
KNAVE OF HEARTS If you are nice to me, I can make
life very easy for you here.
Courtiers pass by the open door including Lady Long Ears.
Seeing them, she hangs back, her long ears attuned to every
whisper.
ALICE I can make my own way in the
Queen’s court, thank you.
KNAVE OF HEARTS You are so very…wonderfully
large.
He leans in for a kiss. Seeing this, Lady Long Ears hurries
off.
ALICE No!
