Alice in Wonderland
F I ONA A case of nerves, no doubt.
People fall silent as Alice wanders back onto the lawn,
looking like she’s been through a war.
HAN I SN Alice?
LORD ASCOT Good Lord. Are you all right?
ALICE’S MOTHER What happened to you?
ALICE I think I fell down a hole and
hit my head.
LADY ASCOT You look a frightful mess.
Alice turns to Hamish. Her adventure, although unremembered,
has given Alice unwavering confidence and self-awareness.
ALICE I’m sorry Hamish, I can’t
marry you. You’re not the
right man for me.
(to her sister)
You shouldn’t act so smug,
Margaret. Your life may not
be as perfect as you think
it is.
She whispers the truth about her husband in Margaret’s ear.
Margaret gasps and glares at the suddenly sheepish Lowell.
ALICE (gently to Aunt Imogene)
There is no prince, Aunt Imogene.
You need to talk to someone
about these delusions.
(to Lady Ascot)
I happen to love white roses,
Lady Ascot, as well as rabbits.
She turns to her mother.
ALICE (cont.) Don’t worry, Mother. I won’t be
a burden. I’ll find something
useful to do with my life.
(to the Chatterly’s mother)
Your daughters swim naked in
the Havershim’s pond.
(to the sisters)
Sorry, girls.
She looks around.
ALICE (cont.) Is that everyone?
Lord Ascot lifts a finger.
LORD ASCOT You’ve left me out.
ALICE No, I haven’t. You and I have
business to discuss, sir.
They’re all surprised to hear the word coming out of a young
woman’s mouth.
LADY ASCOT Impertience!
LORD ASCOT I’d like to hear what she
has to say.
ALICE May we speak in the study?
INT. ASCOT MANSION – THE STUDY
A map of the world is been laid out on the table. Alice
studies it carefully.
ALICE My father told me he planned to
expand his trade route to
include Bombay.
LORD ASCOT Bombay.
ALICE But I don’t think he was looking
far enough.
LORD ASCOT You don’t?
ALICE No. Why stop in India? Why not
expand the company’s trade route
all the way to China? It’s vast,
the culture is rich and we have a
ALICE (CONT.) foothold in Hong Kong. Imagine
the possibilities.
Lord Ascot sees the spark of genius in her eye, the same spark
he saw in Charles Kingsley’s.
LORD ASCOT I’m very sorry you’re not going
to marry my son, Alice. But I
may have a way to keep you in
the family.
She’s intrigued.
ALICE Go on.
CUT TO:
EXT. A SAILING SHIP – SEVERAL MONTHS LATER
A crowd has gathered to see the China Trading Company’s maiden
ship off to distant lands. Alice stands on the deck, waving
to her mother, sister and Lord Ascot. As the ship pulls away
from the dock, a beautiful Monarch butterly with blue tinged
wings lands on Alice’s shoulder. She smiles.
ALICE Hello, Absolem.
The butterly takes wing. As Alice watches it soar skyward we:
FADE OUT.
THE END.
