1.01 “Cinderella”
A dark mini-series featuring six classic fairy tales. FBI Special Agent Freddy Charmant (Prince Charming), along with plucky reporter Dorothy Gale, uncover a malevolent hidden truth about six dangerous criminals.
INT. DIVE BAR - EVENING Conversations drift through the dim lighting, mixed with the clink of glasses. TVs play various sports games and news channels. Drunk friends LAUGH. Someone drops a glass. FBI SPECIAL AGENT FREDDY CHARMANT, mid-30s, places his drink down on the table and slides into the booth. Charming and handsome, he has an air of genuine decency that's out of place in this somewhat seedy locale. The girl sitting opposite him looks nervous. She's too young and far too naïve to be here. But she's got mettle. She's here for a reason. A purpose. DOROTHY GALE, 21, pushes up her glasses and opens a laptop. DOROTHY I wasn't sure you'd actually come. CHARMANT I'm still not sure I can help you. DOROTHY You weren't followed were you? CHARMANT (patronizing) No. DOROTHY Good. If I'm right, there are some very powerful people who won't want this exposed. Did you bring the case reports I asked about? Charmant places six case files on the table. Dorothy reaches a hand out to them, but Charmant places his hand on top. CHARMANT I'm not sure what you think you're going to find in these that we didn't. DOROTHY Answers. Let's get started, shall we? Which is the oldest file? CHARMANT That would be this one: Cynthia Perrault, the "Cinderella." INT. DRIZELLA TREMAINE'S MIAMI MANSION - NIGHT A female burglar, dressed in all black, slides in through an open window on the 2nd floor with a small black duffle bag. SUPERIMPOSE: CASE FILE 1697-21-510A CYNTHIA "CINDERELLA" PERRAULT GRAND THEFT, ATTEMPTED MURDER CYNTHIA PERRAULT, 24, daring and angry, a deadly combination, sneaks up to the open doorway and looks out into lit hallway. CYNTHIA (to herself) Tsk, tsk Driz. Security is child's play compared to your sister's. MOUSE (O.S.) (in Cynthia's earpiece) You can thank me for that. CYNTHIA (into wrist microphone) What would I do without you? She soundlessly glides out into the hallway and carefully peers over the railing to foyer below. A MAID walks past but never looks up. Cynthia smiles to herself and continues towards the master bedroom. She quietly picks the lock and opens the door. Stepping inside, she quietly closes the door behind her. BLUE JAY Took you long enough. A dashing man with bright blue eyes, & dressed in all black, sits in the open window. BLUE JAY, 26, smiles as she enters. CYNTHIA Again? MOUSE (O.S.) What happened? CYNTHIA Nothing. Just a bird in the window. BLUE JAY You love it. Peering past him out the window, she looks at the sheer drop to the ground and the view of the ocean beyond. She eyes him suspiciously. BLUE JAY What? It was open, I swear. Cross my heart and everything. The two begin searching the the room when Jay stops and stares at a painting on the wall. BLUE JAY Unique, thick brush strokes. Yet, there's a consistency that adds depth as well as evoking a sense of longing. CYNTHIA Pretty sure that's a print. (finding a key) Got it! Cynthia retrieves a key, hidden in the underwear drawer. Jay takes the painting off the wall, revealing a safe. BLUE JAY Need any-- CYNTHIA I got it. He puts his hands up surrendering and sits on the nearby bed. Cynthia pulls out her cell phone and attaches a stethoscope-like device near the safe's dial. The app on the phone shows a safe-cracking screen. BLUE JAY Just like old times. CYNTHIA Shh. As she slowly turns the dial, the phone's screen shows which pins drop. 3-74-9. A smile slips out. Putting the cell phone and stethoscope accessory away, she inserts the key and turns. CLICK. Cynthia twists the handle and opens the safe. Jay jumps up and looks over her shoulder. BLUE JAY Oo! Is that a Hublot Masterpiece Mp-01 Limited Edition? That's a ,000 watch! Can I keep it? He reaches in and grabs the expensive watch to admire it. Quickly, Cynthia starts tossing stacks of cash into her bag and then flips through the various documents stored within. Her eyes light up as she finds what she was looking for. CYNTHIA This is it! Jay helps her finish emptying the safe. Smiling, she grabs him and kisses him passionately. BLUE JAY Cyn...? CYNTHIA We're so close now. BLUE JAY And then all your dreams can come true. CYNTHIA If there’s any chance to set things right... MOUSE (O.S.) Might want to wrap it up. Big foot's coming. Cynthia closes up the safe and she puts the key back in its hiding place as Jay rehangs the painting. She pauses at the dresser & carefully places something on it. Turning, she sees Jay already in the open window, hand extended to her. She takes his hand and the two are out the window and up to the roof, just as DRIZELLA TREMAINE, 28 and Cynthia's older haughty step-sister, unlocks the door, and enters. Drizella sees the open window and looks out, but sees no one. Curious, she looks around the room until her eyes land on the light blue card carefully placed on her dresser. The card prominently features a single embossed golden shoe. INT. LOS ANGELES FBI OFFICE - MORNING Charmant sits in his office reading through reports when FBI SPECIAL AGENT JACOBS, 26, unconscious of the fact that she's a badass, drops a new case file on his desk. JACOBS New case, boss. Jacobs stands waiting with a slight grin on her face, but Charmant doesn't even look up. CHARMANT Thanks. Leave it on the pile. JACOBS (eagerly) Don't you want to look at it? CHARMANT Unless it's Lakers tickets and a night off... (finally looks up) What's so special about this one? JACOBS You're gonna love this. She opens the case file and puts it on the desk in front of him. He skims it and then looks up at Jacobs in surprise. JACOBS Told ya. CHARMANT (with a glint in his eye) Get the team together. JACOBS You got it, boss! INT. FBI CONFERENCE ROOM - LATER Charmant stands at the front of the room where several agents are seated around a table, including Jacobs. On the screen at the front of the room shows a mugshot of Cynthia Perrault aka "Cinderella". CHARMANT Two nights ago, someone broke into Drizella Tremaine's Miami mansion and stole half a million dollars in cash and jewelry, plus several sensitive documents. First Chicago, then New York, and now Miami. It's the third robbery targeting the Tremaine family. Our primary suspect is this woman, Cynthia Perrault, 24, and Lady Tremaine's step-daughter. Previously arrested for petty theft, she's been a suspect in several robberies. All wealthy families, all with connections to the Tremaine family. JACOBS She's good, too. Chicago was a work of art and we still don't know how she did New York. WILLIAMS, 28, his cool demeanor balances Jacobs' excited energy, raises his hand. WILLIAMS How do we know it's her? CHARMANT (smiling) Because she leaves a calling card. WILLIAMS Seriously? JACOBS Oh yeah. Charmant clicks a button and the screen display's Cynthia's "calling card". CHARMANT At each of the Tremaine robberies, she leaves behind a signature calling card: a gold embossed shoe. WILLIAMS Why a shoe? CHARMANT We don't know yet, but it's earned her the nickname "Cinderella." She only leaves them at the Tremaine robberies, so we can assume it's something personal to the family. (eyes the team) Lady Tremaine is hosting a gala right here in Los Angeles this Friday. She is worried that the thief will try and steal a family heirloom that is going to be on display and has requested our presence. WILLIAMS What is it? Charmant clicks the button again and shows a silver necklace dotted with diamonds and bright blue gems featuring one large pendant dangling from the center. CHARMANT A million necklace of Tanzanite stones totaling 185 carats. WILLIAMS (whoa) Nice heirloom. JACOBS The 185 total carats of bright blue Tanzanites, per carat, have a value that is ten times the price of diamonds. CHARMANT Not to mention the 28 carats of diamonds embellishing the necklace. Yeah, you could say it's a nice heirloom. Jacobs, I want you to look into all of Ms Perrault's aliases and find out when she gets into the city and where she's staying. Once you do, stay on her. Williams, I want you to lead the team in securing the gala. I want camera coverage, staff backgrounds, the works. Let's be ready on this one folks and finally catch our little Miss Cinderella. INT. CYNTHIA'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON Cynthia sits on the couch and reads through a file of stolen documents as Jay plops down next to her showcasing the new watch on his wrist. BLUE JAY What'dya think? Sexy, right? CYNTHIA You don't need a ,000 watch for me to see that. BLUE JAY Oh? Is that right? Jay leans in and kisses her neck. CYNTHIA (playfully) Stop it, I'm trying to work. BLUE JAY Tell me you love me. She stops and looks at him, wanting to say it, but can't. MOUSE, 23, the bookish queen of the hackers, walks in with her laptop and notices the tension. MOUSE Oh, I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something? I can go. I should go-- CYNTHIA No, no. You're fine. Just finishing up here. Were you able to trace all the accounts? MOUSE Of course! As if there were any doubts. She sits herself down right in between Jay and Cynthia to show the laptop screen. Jay gets up and puts the watch back in its case. CHIPMUNK, 26, a little rough around the edges but still a good man, walks in from the kitchen munching on a snack. CHIPMUNK No one doubts you're a nerd, Mouse. MOUSE No one asked you, Chip. CYNTHIA Mouse, what'd you find? MOUSE I identified a number of shell companies and managed to trace them back to Tremaine's accounts, including the ones in the Caymans. CYNTHIA She does love her tax havens. MOUSE It took a little extra doing, well, a lot really, but I finally cracked the last one this morning. CYNTHIA Perfect! MOUSE Some of these were just numbered accounts. No names! But I was able to trace them because of these wire transfers here and here. CYNTHIA Great job, Mouse! Chip, how're our friends outside? BLUE JAY You mean the Feds? CHIPMUNK Trying to awkwardly blend in. BLUE JAY I think that Agent Charmant has a crush on you. CYNTHIA Talk to me about the gala set-up. Chip grabs a blueprint of the gala's venue and opens it on the coffee table. CHIPMUNK The reception is in this room and the art displays will be circled around the fountain over here with the necklace here, facing center. CYNTHIA Access points? CHIPMUNK Guests are only allowed in these areas, while the catering staff also has access to the kitchen and back loading areas. Plus, with the feds crashing the party, there are sensors at the doors here, here, and here leaving only two options. CYNTHIA Those are? CHIPMUNK The roof and the front door. BLUE JAY Front door seems a little bold. MOUSE What's the security system like? CHIPMUNK You'll love this. The venue just upgraded to a fully-integrated smart system. MOUSE Is it my birthday? Just point me at the network and the place is ours. CHIPMUNK Not so fast. It's a closed system, so you'll have to be physically there and the central control panel is in this utility room. CYNTHIA What's that room next to the utility room? CHIPMUNK That would be the security room. Two guards at all times, plus you can expect one of those Feds, too. MOUSE And you want me in there? CHIPMUNK Don't worry, Ol' Chipmunk's got a plan for ya. BLUE JAY How's the security on the displays? CHIPMUNK Display cases have separate wireless sensors, not connected to the house. Tremaine's "extra insurance" policy. So unless you want to Temple of Doom it-- CYNTHIA Raiders. CHIPMUNK What? CYNTHIA Raiders of the Lost Ark. Statue swap was in the first one, not the second. BLUE JAY God, isn't she beautiful. CHIPMUNK Right. Since it's not an ancient booby trap, we're gonna need to deal with those separately. BLUE JAY I think I've got an idea. INT. BANQUET HALL - NIGHT The gala is in full swing. Patrons, waiters, a band. Agent Charmant stands in the thick of it all, keeping a sharp eye. He radios to his team. CHARMANT How we looking? INT. SECURITY OFFICE - CONTINUOUS Agent Jacobs leans over the two security guards and looks over the security screens. JACOBS (into radio) All clear here, boss. INT. BANQUET HALL - CONTINUOUS Agent Williams stands to one side of the room, holding a champagne flute, with a clear view of the displays and the necklace, observing everyone. WILLIAMS (discretely into radio) No unusual movement here. Charmant catches sight of LADY TREMAINE, 50s, refined and discerning, accompanied by her two daughters ANASTASIA, 26, vapid and spoiled, and Drizella. The sisters appear upset, but Lady Tremaine remains cold and collected. CHARMANT (into radio) Good. Let's keep it that way. Charmant approaches and greets the Tremaine family. CHARMANT Good evening, ladies. FBI Special Agent Frederick Charmant. ANASTASIA FBI? You called in the FBI? LADY TREMAINE Quiet, child. DRIZELLA Make sure you do your job and catch the bitch. CHARMANT That's the plan. We've got agents posted throughout-- ANASTASIA Ew. Really? CHARMANT They're here for your protection. DRIZELLA And when you do catch her, will we get back everything that she stole? CHARMANT We'll do our best to recover the stolen items, but there's no guarantees. Our objective is to apprehend the thief. DRIZELLA Do it fast and for the love of God, be discrete. If those camera goblins outside get wind of this, I'll have your badge. CHARMANT Yes, ma'am. We'll do our best. Drizella gives him a look of disgust at "ma'am" but grabs her sister's arm and leads her away. DRIZELLA Come on, Stase. Let's find more appropriate people to talk with. CHARMANT (to Lady Tremaine) Delightful daughters. LADY TREMAINE This has been a stressful time for my family. I do hope you know what you're doing, Agent Charmant. My family has been through enough embarrassment. I'd hate to have to call the Governor again because trust me when I say it would be a very different type of conversation this time. CHARMANT Yes, ma'am. LADY TREMAINE Now, if you'll excuse me. Lady Tremaine doesn't wait for a response and leaves to greet one of her guests. INT. SECURITY OFFICE - CONTINUOUS Jacobs watches Lady Tremaine walk away from Charmant. JACOBS Charming. Almost makes you root for the thief. One of the security guards looks at her. JACOBS What? I said "almost." CHARMANT (into radio) Anyone have eyes our guest yet? INT. BANQUET HALL - CONTINUOUS Chipmunk passes right behind Charmant dressed as a waiter and carrying a tray of champagne flutes. He passes by Jay who's dressed to the nines and mingling. Chip sees Agent Williams and offers him a drink. Williams refuses and Chip makes his way around the room before exiting to the kitchen to switch out trays. Just as even is about to leave with a new tray of appetizers, Mouse chimes in over his earpiece. MOUSE (O.S.) Wait, wait, wait. Bring me something? I'm starving! CHIPMUNK Then you should've brought a snack. INT. UTILITY ROOM - CONTINUOUS Mouse sits on a bucket with her laptop. The control panel behind her is open with wires hanging out and routed into a black box type device that plugs into the laptop. A ceiling tile sits on the floor, leaving an opening above. MOUSE But those are gruyere and apricot crostinis! (sees something on the laptop) Oh! So handsome. CHIPMUNK (O.S.) Thanks! Didn't think you'd-- MOUSE Not you, nerd. Cyn, got eyes on your Special Agent. INT. LIMOUSINE - CONTINUOUS Cynthia sits in the back of a limousine and finishes touching up her lipstick as the car slows to a stop. CYNTHIA He's not my Special Agent. BLUE JAY (O.S.) Okay everyone, nearly midnight. Time to make our dreams come true. CYNTHIA (remembering) A dream is a wish your heart makes when you’re fast asleep. She kisses her small silver locket necklace. A valet opens the car door letting in blinding light and offers a hand to Cynthia. EXT. GARDEN - DAY - 7 YEARS AGO Cynthia lays asleep on the green grass under a large tree. Jay plops down next to her and lays his head on her stomach. CYNTHIA I was dreaming, you know. BLUE JAY Of me? CYNTHIA No, weirdo. Of a beautiful life. BLUE JAY If it's so beautiful, why aren't I in it? CYNTHIA Serves you right for spoiling people’s best dreams. Jay can't help but grin as he holds a closed hand over her face. Opening his palm, he lets a necklace dangle. THE necklace. The blue Tanzanite and diamond necklace. Cynthia opens an eye to see what he's brought her. When she realizes what he's holding, she immediately pushes him off of her and sits up. CYNTHIA What did you do?! BLUE JAY What? I found it. CYNTHIA (panicked) Tell me you didn't! BLUE JAY You said you wanted it back, so I got it for you. Your mother wanted you to have it, didn't she? CYNTHIA If that witch finds out--! BLUE JAY Cyn, with this you can have that beautiful life you've always dreamed about. We can have that life. Together. Far away from here. CYNTHIA Did she see you? BLUE JAY Have a little faith in me. CYNTHIA You have to put it back. Right now! If she finds out-- I can't, I can't lose anyone else. Not after everything she's already taken-- She starts crying and Jay pulls her into an embrace. BLUE JAY Shh, it's okay. Hey, I'm not going anywhere without you, okay? Shh. I'm sorry. I'll put it back. Don't worry. CYNTHIA You will? BLUE JAY Just promise me that one day, you'll make that dream of yours come true? Remember: they can’t order you to stop dreaming. Jay stands up and offers his hand to her. EXT. BANQUET HALL - NIGHT Cynthia takes the hand offered by the valet and steps out of the limousine. She straightens her dress as she steps forward into the gala. INT. BANQUET HALL - MOMENTS LATER For just a moment, a stunned hush falls over the gala as the sea of patrons part and allow Cynthia to enter. Dressed in the most stunning, most beautiful light blue dress, she shimmers as the lights dance across her. She walks up to Lady Tremaine and curtseys. CYNTHIA Such a lovely party. LADY TREMAINE (without a second glance) Thank you, dear. Lady Tremaine continues talking to the guest in front of her, completely ignoring Cynthia. CYNTHIA Excuse me, ma'am. I was hoping I would be able to speak with you. LADY TREMAINE Another time, dear. CYNTHIA I wonder, what do you think my father would say if he knew how his only daughter was covered in cinders and ash all those years? Especially when she was the rightful heir to everything. If you please, ma'am, I just need a moment of your time. Tremaine stops and slowly turns to take a look at the girl. LADY TREMAINE Cinderella, so good of you to come. CYNTHIA My mother once told me: "No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true." Cynthia pulls a small gun from her purse and aims at Lady Tremaine. CYNTHIA Time to make my wishes come true. INT. SECURITY OFFICE - CONTINUOUS Agent Jacobs sees Cynthia pull a gun on Lady Tremaine on the security monitor. JACOBS Gun! CHARMANT (O.S.) What? Where? JACOBS Center ballroom. Perrault's got a weapon pointed at Tremaine. CHARMANT (O.S.) How'd she get that in past security? Everyone, hold position and wait for my cue! INT. BANQUET HALL - CONTINUOUS Charmant pushes his way through the confused crowd and reaches Cynthia. CHARMANT Cynthia. Put the gun down. This isn't-- CYNTHIA No! Not until she listens to me. LADY TREMAINE (somewhat unfazed) What is it you want now, child? Additional agents, including Agent Williams, now circle the scene. Charmant motions for them to lower their weapons as the crowd clears out of the area. CYNTHIA (to Charmant) I don't believe we've actually met yet. Agent...? CHARMANT FBI Special Agent Frederick Charmant. We actually met once. CYNTHIA Oh right, that little ball in Chicago. You almost caught me then. CHARMANT Put the gun down, Ms Perrault. You don't want to do this. CYNTHIA Actually, I really do. She reaches into her purse and pulls out a small tablet. On the screen are several bars with various titles above them. CYNTHIA Agent Charmant, would you be so kind as to tell me the time? CHARMANT What? CYNTHIA The time, please. CHARMANT (checking his watch) 11:58 pm. LADY TREMAINE Always so dramatic. I can see some things haven't changed. CYNTHIA Dramatic? I just want to make sure that I have your full, undivided attention because when the clock strikes twelve, I want you to know that it was me who destroyed you. LADY TREMAINE What ever are you going on about? CYNTHIA You narcissistic, manipulative, gas-lighting, holier-than-thou old hag. You stole everything from me. I questioned your authority once and you kicked me out of my home. You treated me less than the dirt and ashes you forced me to sleep in. But tonight, I'm taking it all back. You see this screen? At the stroke of midnight, all your assets, all your stocks, all your accounts-- yes, even the ones you thought you hid-- will belong to me, just as my father's original will stated. You know, the one your attorneys didn't alter. LADY TREMAINE You can't be serious. CYNTHIA I'm not your little cinder covered step-daughter anymore. Take a look. She shoves the tablet into Tremaine's hands. Suddenly, as the clock switches to 12:00 am, all the bars light up with the word "TRANSFERRING" and begin to scroll down to zero. LADY TREMAINE What is all this? You're mad! She throws the tablet to the ground. CYNTHIA By now everything you once owned, is now mine. Don't believe me? Go ahead, call your banker. (to Charmant) You can arrest me now for threatening the Lady. I never stole anything that wasn't mine to begin with. At least now the courts will see the truth. (to Tremaine) Good luck getting your lawyers to rewrite the story this time. Charmant approaches and takes the gun from her hand when he realizes-- CHARMANT It's a fake. CYNTHIA Yeah, I don't really like guns. She catches sight of Jay standing on the sidelines, looking relieved and smiling at her. Anastasia and Drizella quickly run over to their mother who is fuming. LADY TREMAINE You ungrateful little bitch! I gave you everything! I loved you like my own daughter! CYNTHIA Just stop, Tremaine. It's over. You're incapable of love. (and one more thing) You know, you took everything from me: my father, my life, even who I was as a person. But despite all that, despite all that hate you fed into my ear, one thing kept me from breaking. One person. Jay is suddenly standing there next to them. BLUE JAY (tortured) Cyn... CYNTHIA And you killed him! Cynthia lunges for Tremaine and the two tumble to the ground. Charmant grabs Cynthia and helps her up, restraining. Anastasia and Drizella help Tremaine stand up. Cynthia sees the tortured look on Jay's face and reaches in to grab Charmant's gun, taking aim at Tremaine once again. CYNTHIA NO! When he died, I broke. There was nothing left. I loved him! And you killed him! Over what? Some necklace that wasn't yours?! BLUE JAY^ Cynthia! Stop! LADY TREMAINE That fool? As I recall that idiot thief broke his neck falling out of a window. BLUE JAY Cyn, look at me! This isn't you! If you had been broken, I couldn’t be here. And look, here I am! I'm here. It's okay. Everything's okay. Jay tries to look happy as bruises begin to develop on his neck and a deathlike pallor begins to set in. LADY TREMAINE You really are a idiot, child. Don't blame me for the stupidity of that worthless-- BANG! Cynthia shoots Tremaine. Time pauses. Jay stands directly in front of Cynthia with a sad smile. He brushes away the hair from her face. BLUE JAY How did it come to this? CYNTHIA Because it's what I wished for. BLUE JAY What? Why didn't you ever tell me? CYNTHIA (smiling through tears) Because if you tell a wish, it won’t come true. BLUE JAY I love you, Cyn. Time restarts. Jay is gone. In a fog a movement, Charmant disarms Cynthia and agents arrest her. Agent Williams checks on Tremaine as Anastasia stands in horror & Drizella cries at her mother's expressionless face. Unseen by the crowd, Chipmunk exits the main hall and meets up with Mouse. The two keep walking and exit. Guests look on in horror at the scene. The center display stands empty, deprived of its necklace. INT. DIVE BAR - LATER Charmant sits back and finishes his 2nd glass as Dorothy looks up from her laptop waiting for him to finish. CHARMANT She's lucky that Lady Tremaine didn't die. DOROTHY What happened to her? CHARMANT She got 7 years for 2nd degree attempted murder plus 5 years for felony grand theft. DOROTHY What about the man she claimed Tremaine had killed? CHARMANT We looked into that. Jay Parrain, or as his friends called him, "Blue Jay," died at the Tremaine estate ten years ago. According to the reports, he broke in to steal the necklace, but Lady Tremaine caught him and he fell out of the second story window, breaking his neck. Jay's death looked like an accident during the course of a crime, so the police had no reason to look into it further, despite Cynthia's claims at the time. After that, Cynthia ran away and started taking back her life piece-by-piece. DOROTHY So what about you? Do you think Lady Tremaine pushed him? That it wasn't an accident and she had someone cover it up? CHARMANT It's nothing that I can prove, but my gut tells me that there's more to it than the official report. Why? DOROTHY If there’s any chance to set things right, we've simply got to try.