EverAfter

The Brothers Grimm, Your Majesty.

Good day, gentlemen.

Thank you so much for coming.

I suppose you're wondering why anyone my age would request an audience...

with the authors of children's stories.

Your letter was most intriguing, madam.

I find your collection of folk tales quite brilliant actually.

Thank you.

But I must say I was terribly disturbed...

when I read your version of The Little Cinder Girl.

There are those who swear Perrault's telling...

with its fairy godmother and magic pumpkins...

would be closer to the truth.

Some claim the shoe was made of fur.

Others insist it was glass.

Well, I guess we'll never know.

Forgive me, Your Majesty.

Might I enquire about the painting?

She's really quite er...

extraordinary.

Her name was Danielle...

de Barbarac.

And this...

was her glass slipper.

Perhaps you will allow me to set the record straight?

Then it's true... the story?

Yes. Quite.

Now, then.

What is that phrase you use?

Oh, yes.

Once upon a time...

there lived a young girl...

who loved her father very much.

Oh, Paulette, it feels just like Christmas!

I get a mother and sisters all in one day!

Yes, it's going to be very exciting here, what with the Baroness and all...

Oh, hold still!

The master deserves some happiness after all this time...

bringing up the child on his own.

She must be lovely.

I hope she likes me.

She'll love you.

Just be the little angel I know is in there somewhere.

And don't chew on the bones at dinner and give yourself away.

Child, your father arrives any moment!

Gustave, I told you!

Not today!

You look like a girl!

That's what I am, half wit!

Yeah, but today you look it!

Boy or girl, I can still whip you.

Hah!

Look lively, it's the master.

Welcome home, Monsieur le seigneur.

I see you have brought us a baroness.

I have brought you an entire household, Maurice.

But I seem to be missing a daughter.

Oh... Auguste.

It's absolutely charming, really.

Papa!

Oh ho ho!

Oh, look at you, just as I left.

I'll wager your friend Gustave is around here.

No, sir! I slaughtered him.

He's...

Well, so you did.

I had hoped to present a little lady.

I suppose you'll have to do.

Danielle...

may I present the Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent...

and her daughters, Marguerite and Jacqueline.

Hello, Danielle. At last we meet.

Your father speaks of nothing else.

Ladies, say hello to your new stepsister.

Mademoiselle.

Utopia.

It means paradise.

This may be a bit thick for an eight-year-old.

But we could add it to our library.

Will you read some?

It's been a very long day.

And you're a husband now.

Yes, I'm a husband.

But a father first and for ever.

We've been two peas in a pod, you and I, for a long time.

I suppose this will take some getting used to.

Did you see the way they ate their supper?

It was perfect!

Like a dance!

- Do you like them? - Very much.

Good, good.

Because I have to go to Avignon in a fortnight.

- But you just got back! - I know.

- For how long? - Only... three weeks.

- One. - Two.

- One! - T... two.

All right, one.

Come on, go to sleep.

Kiss.

Sleep tight.

I've never seen so many gloomy faces around here.

I shall be back in a week.

Then go. The sooner you leave, the sooner we can celebrate your return.

Perhaps by then, the three of you will know each other better.

I'm counting on you to teach them the ropes around here.

The Baroness isn't used to getting her hands dirty.

Thank you, Maurice.

Safe journey, master.

Come along, ladies. Back to your lessons.

Wait! It's tradition.

He always waves at the gate.

Papa!

Papa!

Papa!

Auguste!

I-I love you.

I love you.

No.

Papa!

Auguste.

You cannot leave me here.

You cannot leave me here!

Leave me, leave me!

Papa, please come back!

It would be ten years before another man would enter her life.

A man who was still a boy...

in many, many ways.

I signed a marriage treaty with the King of Spain...

and that boy will obey me, or there will be hell to pay!

But he does not love her, my lord.

- It's not about love! - Perhaps it should be.

If he is to become King, he must accept his responsibilities.

A sapling cannot grow in the shadow of a mighty oak, Francis.

- He needs sunlight. - He needs a good whipping.

Really, Francis!

Can't this wait till morning?

If I can't sleep, neither shall he.

Henry, wake up!

Oh, no.

Not again.

Call out the guard! Bring him back!

Yah!

Come on, you stupid beast!

Come on! Yah!

Oh, no, you don't.

Thief! This will teach you to steal my father's horse!

Mine slipped his shoe. I have no choice.

- And our choice is what? To let you? - I was borrowing it.

Get out, or I'll wake the house.

Forgive me, Your Highness. I did not see you.

Your aim would suggest otherwise.

And for that I know I must die.

Then er...

speak of this to no-one and er...

I shall be lenient.

We have other horses, Highness.

Younger, if that is your wish.

I wish for nothing more than to be free of my gilded cage.

For your silence.

I asked for four-minute eggs, not four one-minute eggs.

And where in God's name is our bread?!

It's just coming out of the oven, my lady.

Marguerite, precious...

what do I always say about tone?

A lady of breeding ought never to raise her voice...

Above the gentle hum of a whispering wind.

Jacqueline, dear. Do not speak unless you can improve the silence.

I was not shrill, I was resonant.

A courtier knows the difference.

I doubt your style of resonance would be permitted in the Royal Court.

I'm not going to the Royal Court, am I, Mother?

No-one is. Except some Spanish pig they have the nerve to call a princess.

Darling, nothing is final until you're dead.

And even then I'm sure God negotiates.

Why is there no salt on this table?

Danielle!

Coming!

She's in one of her moods!

Did the sun rise in the east?

Yes, Louise, it did.

And it is going to be a beautiful day!

Look at all those feathers!

Child, where did you get this?

From an angel of mercy.

I know what to do with them.

Maurice?

If the Baroness can sell your husband to pay her taxes...

then these can bring him home.

The Court will have to let him go.

But the King has sold him to Cartier. He's bound for the Americas.

This is our home, and I will not see it fall apart.

We are waiting!

Take heed, mistress...

or these coins are as good as hers.

Morning, Madame...

Marguerite, Jacqueline.

I trust you slept well.

What kept you?

I fell off the ladder in the orchard, but I am better now.

Someone's been reading in the fireplace again.