In the forest, a man is hacking at a tree with an axe until he manages to topple it. Gretel and Hansel appear from behind another tree. “Ah! A fine specimen. The wood it provides will keep our family’s hearth warm this winter.” said their father.
“Can’t I have an axe?” Gretel questions
“Huh?”
“You did say you wanted me here so I could help.”
“That I did. So, here’s your task – take the cart, go fill it with kindling. The drier the better.”
“Okay.”
“And have your brother accompany you.”
“Okay.” Gretel picks up the end of the cart and goes to leave.
“Wait!” The Father removes the compass from around his neck and places it over Gretel’s head.
“Take this.”
“Your compass?”
“So you don’t get lost. A family always needs to be able to find one another.”
“Yeah.”
“Okay. Go. Be safe.” Hansel and Gretel take the cart and go deeper into the woods.
O.U.T
Hansel and Gretel are still collecting kindling for their father. Hansel has a slingshot and is shooting rocks into the forest.
“It’s getting late. We should go.” Gretel says. She takes his slingshot.
“Hey! Give it back. Come on, Gretel! Give it back.” Hansel yells.
“No, Hansel. We need to get back to Father.”
“Fine.”
“Follow me.” Gretel leads them to the area where their father was cutting down trees. However, there is no one there. “This is where we left him.”
“So why isn’t he here?”
“Father!”
“Father!” They hear a noise in the distance and start running in that direction.
“Father! Father! Father! ” They end up coming to a road that cuts through the woods. When they turn to head down it, they encounter several of the Evil Queen’s guards on horseback, as well as the Evil Queen’s carriage. Two of the guards drag Hansel and Gretel to the carriage. The Evil Queen steps out.
“What are you doing in my forest?”
O.U.T
Hansel, Gretel, and the Evil Queen are still on the road in the forest.
Please forgive us. We didn’t mean to bother you, we just… We just lost our father.” Gretel apoligizes.
“Two helpless children. Lost and alone. A family torn asunder. Such a sad and moving story. Guards – seize them!”
Gretel takes out Hansel’s slingshot. “Hansel, run!”
Hansel runs into the forest. Gretel flings a rock at the approaching guard, which disorientates him enough for her to get away. Gretel follows Hansel into the forest. The guard starts to chase after them, but the Evil Queen stops him. Hansel and Gretel are running up a hill, when the Evil Queen dissipates and appears in front of them. “Running from me is foolish.”
Hansel and Gretel attempt to get away, but the Evil Queen summons a group of vines to catch them. The vines wrap around them, leaving them immobilized on the ground. “Foolish, but also brave. And that bravery may just have saved you and your family’s lives.” The Evil Queen vanquishes the vines.
“You… You’re letting us go? ” Gretel asks.
“Oh, I’m doing so much more than that. I’m going to find your father. ”
“You are?” Hansel asks.
“Why?” Gretel questions.
“Because you two are going to do something for me.”
“And then, you’ll take us home?”
O.U.T
The Evil Queen, Hansel, and Gretel are walking through the woods. Gretel is fiddling with her compass. “What is that?”
“My father’s compass. He gave it to me so I could find him, but now it’s broken. When are you going to tell us where we’re going? ” Gretel explains.
“This is close enough.”
“Close enough to what?”
“The home of the Blind Witch.”
“That doesn’t sound good.” Hansel announces.
“She has something of mine. And I need you to get it back.”
“What is it?” Gretel asks
“Something I need to defeat a very wicked and powerful enemy. It’s kept in a black leather satchel inside her house. ”
“Well, why don’t you get it yourself? How come you need us? ”
“Because the house is protected by magic. I can’t enter. But, luckily, the spell doesn’t work on children. You’ll have to wait here until nightfall. And then, once the witch is asleep, you can sneak in.”
“And if we do this, you promise you’ll find our father? ”
“Oh, indeed, I will. But there’s one more thing – the witch’s house is…unique. And because of this, you have to take special precaution once you’re inside.”
“Like what?”
“No matter what you do, no matter how you’re tempted – don’t eat anything.” The Evil Queen pulls back a branch, revealing the Blind Witch’s gingerbread house.
O.U.T
Hansel and Gretel are outside the gingerbread house. Hansel goes to eat icing off the side of the house, but Gretel stops him. Gretel opens one of the windows, and the two enter. Inside, there is a table full of sweets. The two whisper to each other.
“How can you be sure she’s sleeping?” Hansel asks
“I can’t. And remember what the Queen said – not even a lick.” Gretel reminds him. They see the Blind Witch asleep by the fireplace, along with the leather satchel hanging on the wall.
“You’re right. Look.”
“And there’s the satchel.”
“What do you think’s inside it?”
“Does it matter? All that matters, is getting it to the Queen so she can find Father.”
Gretel goes to grab the bag. Hansel, who stays behind by the table of sweets, picks up a cupcake. Gretel removes the bag from its hook, but when she turns around, she sees Hansel take a bite of the cupcake. The Blind Witch awakens. There’s a pile of bones at her feet. Hansel and Gretel run for the exit, but the Blind Witch magically locks the door. They try the window, but they are locked, as well. “I smell dinner.”
O.U.T
The Blind Witch locks Hansel and Gretel in a cage. She sticks her arms through the bars and feels around for them. “Where are you?” The Blind Witch grabs Hansel’s arm. “Oh, yes. Nice and tender. A succulent roast, you’ll make.”
The Blind Witch walks away from the cage and walks over to the oven. She opens the oven’s door and sticks her hand inside to test the temperature. In the cage, Hansel and Gretel whisper to each other.
“Gretel, she’s going to cook me! We’ve got to do something – quick!”
“Stay calm. When she opens the cage to get you, don’t try to fight. And while she’s carrying you to the oven, grab the key that’s in her pocket and toss it to me through the bars.”
“She’s coming. She’s coming – I can’t do it! I’m going to die!” She approaches the cage.
“Gravy or butter? Which shall it be?” The Blind Witch sticks her hand through the bar and feels Gretel’s face. Gretel kicks Hansel and he yells out in pain, causing the Blind Witch to think Gretel is Hansel. The Blind Witch unlocks the cage door and pulls Gretel out.
“Come with me, little boy.” Gretel steals the key to the cage from the Blind Witch’s pocket and throws it to Hansel. Hansel unlocks the cage and frees himself. He runs up a short set of stairs and grabs a pole for a weapon. He ends up tripping on the stairs, which alerts the Blind Witch. “Gravy or butter? Gravy or butter? How shall I baste you?” Hansel raises the pole in his hands, but the Blind Witch magically whisks it away. She approaches Hansel. “Butter it is. Time to cook.”
The Blind Witch grabs Hansel and drags him towards the oven. However, Gretel manages to undo the rope on her wrists and pushes the Blind Witch onto the cooking tray. Hansel and Gretel slide the Blind Witch into the oven and shut the door.
“Quick, Gretel! Lock her in!” Hansel grabs the leather satchel from its hook and the two run towards the exit.
“Let me out!” Hansel and Gretel escape the gingerbread house. The Blind Witch continues to yell at them. “Let me out! You come back right now! Let me out! Let me out!”
The Evil Queen sees the Blind witch in the oven through her magic mirror. She casts a fireball through the mirror, burning the Blind Witch. “I would’ve gone gravy.”
O.U.T
A guard escorts Hansel and Gretel to the Evil Queen at her castle. “My dear children. Were you successful in your task?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Though, we were almost made into dinner.” Gretel says.
“Oh. How barbaric.” The Evil Queen summons the guard away. “Now, if I could have my satchel.” Gretel hands her the bag. “I’ve waited a very long time for this. Let’s hope you didn’t let me down.” The Evil Queen opens the bag and pulls out an apple. “You did it.”
“Yeah, we did.”
“You’ve got a strong heart, girl. You remind me of myself at your age.”
“We did all that for an apple?” Hansel asks.
“Oh, trust me, dear boy. This is not just an apple. It’s a weapon. A weapon for a very particular and devious enemy. One who’s still under the illusion that she’s safe.” The Evil Queen walks over to the vanity, where she puts the apple in a box.
“Whatever your plan is, we did what you asked. Now you have to keep your promise and find our father.” Gretel remind her.
“Of course. To reunite your family, so you can live happily ever after. You were left alone in the woods. You deserve better than a father who would abandon you.”
“But he’s all we have.”
“Perhaps, he doesn’t have to be.”
“What do you mean?”
“You and your brother have impressed me. You aren’t the first boy or girl that I’ve sent into that…sticky sweet house. But, you are the first to emerge. And as a reward, I’ve decided to invite the two of you to live with me. Here.”
“You mean that we get to live in a castle?” Hansel asks
“Yes. You would have your own rooms, of course. Personal carriages – valets, too. All of your dreams could come true.”
“No. We want our father back. He would never abandon us. And even if he did, we would never want to live with someone as terrible as you.” Gretel says.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. We’re going to find him, with or without your help. And when we do, we’re going to prove you wrong.”
“We’ll see about that.” The Evil Queen casts a spell, which creates a purple tornado around Hansel and Gretel.
“Gretel? What’s happening?” Hansel asks worriedly.
O.U.T
The Evil Queen watches Snow White through her magic mirror. She appears to be in the forest with several dwarves.
“Now she’s cavorting with dwarves? When did that happen?”
A guard enters the room. “Your Majesty. The prisoner you requested is here.”
‘Bring him in.” Two other guards drag in Hansel and Gretel’s father. He is shackled.
“I demand to be released. My children are in that forest that you took me from – alone. They could be in great danger.”
“Yes, I know all about your children. That compass you gave sweet, little Gretel… Well, I’m afraid it didn’t help her find you now, though, did it?”
“What have you done with them? You tell me where they are!”
“Gone. I told them you abandoned them, leaving nothing but a compass to find their way. But I didn’t bring you here to answer your questions. You’re here to answer mine. I offered your children everything – whatever their hearts desired – and they still chose uncertainty because of their blind faith in you. Tell me why. Hm? Why did your children refuse me?”
“Because we’re a family. And family always finds one another.”
“Release him.”
“You’re letting me go?”
“You can all be together, as a family, as soon as you all find one another.”
O.U.T
Hansel and Gretel are laying next to each other, unconscious, in the woods. Gretel wakes up first and shakes Hansel awake. “Hansel, wake up! Hansel!” The two stand up and look around.
“She let us go.”
“I’m scared.”
“Don’t be. Everything will be fine.” Gretel takes Hansel’s hand and the two start walking. Without knowing they are in the middle of nowhere in a huge forest.