Alice Returns Through The Looking-Glass: A Musical Vaudeville Screenplay

By Zizzi Bonah

THIS SCREENPLAY IS ADAPTED FROM ZIZZI'S ORIGINAL NOVEL –  "For children of all ages" – A story where every goodbye isn't gone and every eye closed isn't sleep, Alice must find the answer to the Looking-glass question; much to the rage of infamous book

• Language: English
• Publisher: She And The Cat's Mother
• Release date: Mar 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9780995747937

Zizzi Bonah

Zizzi Bonah is a 5ft 3" lass born of Yorkshire parents. She spent seven dedicated years; three busking her self-penned songs on Bridlington, Scarborough and York streets, to then gigging pubs and clubs in and around the North of England, gaining airplay on BBC Radio York and Humberside using her birth name, Ida Barker. A change is as good as a reply, (a line taken from one of Ida's eclectic-electric songs). With this in mind, she chose a new direction - to become a fiction author and create a new writing genre called Phem Phant Noir. In memory to her late grandparents, Ida and Tommy Hullah, who farmed in Nidderdale, the author's nom de plume - merging Bona and Hullah into Bonah.

Book preview

SCREENPLAY

CAPTION: Chapter 1 — Note—a—Rioty and the Looking—Glass Question

INT. ALICE’S DRAWING—ROOM — DAY

In the middle of a hurry, ALICE enters the drawing—room. She is a grown—up, with darkened hair, wearing bold colours. She is splendidly indiscreet and never let’s a thought go unsaid. She comes to a sweeping halt in front of the large Looking—glass hung above the fireplace.

ALICE

(speaks with celerity into the Looking—glass)

Do you know what this is?

We see ALICE waving an envelope and peering around the throw—back image of herself, searching for her other—self; who—goes—by—the—name—of, Miss Penopause.

ALICE

Oh, I really do wish you wouldn’t leave the Looking—glass room as soon as I enter my dear. It is a most bothersome habit you have acquired. Though I will not be deterred, for I am quite sure you can hear me if I raise my voice.

We see ALICE gazing at the envelope in her hand.

CLOSE ON THE ENVELOPE — ALICE’S POV

It is addressed to: ALICE IN AUTHORLAND.

The stamp mark reads: WORD—SPHERE.

ALICE (O.S.)

(excitedly)

Word—sphere. That’s where the notorious book reviewer, Paige Turner resides.

INT. ALICE’S DRAWING—ROOM — DAY — CONT.

We see ALICE thumb the envelope seal open with delicious excitement.

ALICE

I must tell, Miss Penopause, an envelope such as this contains one of two things. It is either a darling Letter—of—Recommendation, or a damning Note—a—Rioty against my debut novel.

We see ALICE unfold the piece of paper. See her eyes wash over the neatly typed words, but the words do not resonate to a meaning. We see bewilderment turn into revelation.

ALICE

Why, it is typed on Looking—glass paper, of course! And if I hold it up to the glass, the words on the paper will all read the right way around!

We see ALICE holding the piece of paper up to the Looking—glass. Instantly the words that were unobtainable, become obtainable.

CLOSE ON PIECE OF PAPER’S LOOKING—GLASS IMAGE — ALICE’S POV

We see the header, a neatly typed verse and signature at bottom.

ALICE (O.S.)

(reading aloud)

Note—a—Rioty!

Author arise to the reviewer Paige Turner,

Miss Penopause is unworthy to live,

Let us character jinx all writers with muses,

The reviewers from Word—sphere alone will survive.

Author arise and support the capital rules,

The oceans of rhyme will end words on ice,

Alice will receive excessive punctuation,

The success of a writer awaits the review.

We see the paper is angularly signed by Paige Turner.

INT. ALICE’S DRAWING—ROOM — DAY — CONT.

We see ALICE lower the Note—a—Rioty from the Looking—glass as though she is holding Verity Vermin by the tail.

ALICE

(ostentatiously)

Riotous! I find it impossible to find another word to supersede it, but I will … I must ask myself the Looking—glass question, and it is this:— Can I write without my muse, my inspiration, Miss Penopause? For this Note—a—Rioty states a character assassination on her. And without her, I may never have the luxury of writing creatively again!

We see ALICE lean close to the Looking—glass.

ALICE

(cries out)

Miss Penopause … Oh, Miss Penopause, you are my fair—haired writing muse. Knowing you cannot write due to an affliction of pausing too long, is what enables me to write without pause …

We see ALICE reflected onto the Looking—glass. It starts to cloud—over as her heated breath hits the cool reflective surface.

ALICE

Though I have never met you, Miss Penopause, I am strictly aware of you throughout my writing … in fact, I might even go as far to say the Looking—glass is the divide between myself, the author, and you, the story!

(thoughtfully)

And the more I think about things, the more I am quite certain … yes … through the Looking—glass is where stories and characters live. I know this to be true as I have a vivid memory of entering that place as a young girl.

We see ALICE raise a telling hand to her temple, while still holding Paige Turner’s dispiriting Note—a—Rioty in her other hand.

ALICE

No doubt the story has changed somewhat since I last visited. But I feel positively grand that if I was to return through the Looking—glass, I would make my acquaintance with you, Miss Penopause, and we could, together, set about finding the reviewer Paige Turner and stop her from unleashing a damning book review.

We see ALICE re—examining the Note—a—Rioty at arm’s length.

ALICE

And I am reminded of when I used to stretch my imagination on my sister, by saying: Sometimes I would prefer to see you through binoculars, then at least I’d know you’d be a long way off. To which my sister would often reply: Alice, when you start to argue that the grass should be blue, and the sky should be white—washed as a rule, I am certain you shall become a prominent fiction writer some day.

(refocusing on the misty Looking—glass)

But these impromptu reminders of a reminder, bring me back to me, hearing in my mind’s ear a song, when half asleep and thinking about my muse, her creative inspiration, Miss Penopause. And so, I’m going to think long and hard about the Looking—glass question …

We see the Note—a—Rioty slip unnoticed from her hand, while ALICE floats up and onto the mantle—piece, to press against the Looking—glass, hearing the rhythmical rhyme while pressing the palms of her hands against the glass, that begins to dissolve by degrees, like a shimmering mist.

ALICE

(singing the song It’s Only Polony)

She tells me,

She has what it takes,

Oh everybody needs,

A lucky break,

The right time,

The right place,

Well optimistics,

Have had their day,

If they believe a smile,

Carries social sway.

When they say people,

Who dream too much,

Have tendencies,

To end up,

Cleaning out,

Cuckoo clocks,

Well I’ll reserve,

My opinion,

On me and you,

Cuckoo koo,

Mm cuckoo koo …

INT. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LOOKING—GLASS — MOMENTS LATER — DAY

We see ALICE is through the Looking—glass and is floating down into Looking—glass room.

ALICE

(in wonder)

This room looks remarkably similar to the room I have just left. The only difference being, everything is the wrong way round to what I am use to.

(she sees the tick—tocking CLOCK on the mantle—piece)

I remember you.

(smiles)

For you look as different as different can be.

We see the CLOCK, with old man face, acknowledging ALICE with only his minute eyes.

CLOCK

(critically, to ALICE)

Watch out! The face she’s got on is enough to stop a chiming clock.

An