Teleplay Rapunzel
Story by Dave Hall & Tim Sulka
Teleplay by Tim Sulka
Lyrics by Dave Hall & Tim Sulka
Music by Dave Hall
EPISODE FIVE: RAPUNZEL or ROCK THAT WEAVE!
Our story so far... Alonzo Green, barber and aspiring hairdresser to the rich and famous, has found his true love and muse - a girl named Rapunzel whose long locks are his inspiration. Unfortunately, Rapunzel has been locked away in her tenth story apartment, virtually cut off from Alonzo.
EXT. RAPUNZEL’S APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT
ALONZO stands at the base of an apartment building. Over his clothes, he wears a short apron which holds his hairdressing supplies, scissors, etc. His hair and beard are sculpted and shimmer. As he gazes up, girls from various apartments in the building lean out of their windows on this hot summer night. From high above, RAPUNZEL’s soprano is heard singing a haunting melody.
Song: Ten Stories Away
RAPUNZEL (O.S.)
MMMMMMM.... OOOOOOH....
AAAAHHHH.... YEAH.... etc.
A steady beat begins and Alonzo raps his story.
ALONZO
THERE’S A GIRL I LOVE
BUT SHE’S LOCKED UP IN A TOWER.
SITTIN’ HOUR AFTER HOUR,
WILTIN’ LIKE A FLOWER.
PUT THERE BY NO OTHER
THAN HER EVIL-LOVIN’ MOTHER!
ANOTHER ANGLE - WINDOWS
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
NOT HER BROTHER, BUT HER MOTHER?
WHO COULD DO THAT TO ANOTHER?
BACK TO SCENE
ALONZO
MAYBE SHE'S PROTECTING HER?
MAYBE SHE'S CORRECTING HER?
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
MAYBE SHE'S PERFECTING HER!
ALONZO
NAH!
PROB’LY WHAT’D SHE’D SAY:
IT’S HER MOTHERLY DUTY
BUT I JUST THINK SHE’S JEALOUS
OF HER 'CREDIBLE BEAUTY
BUT IT AIN’T ABOUT HER LOOKS
OR THE WAY SHE DRESSES
WHAT’S MUSIC TO MY EYES
ARE THOSE LONG CRAZY TRESSES!
ANOTHER ANGLE - WINDOWS
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
LOCKING UP HER KID!
THAT’S KINDA WHACK!
HOPE YOU’RE PLANNING
ON A SNEAK ATTACK!
BACK TO SCENE
ALONZO
(mutters, thinking)
SNEAK ATTACK, SNEAK ATTACK!
(sings)
FROM WHERE I’M STANDING, GIRL
CAN’T REACH A SINGLE CURL
CUZ YOU’RE TEN STORIES AWAY
TEN STORIES AWAY!
INT. SOUNDSTAGE - DAY/EXT. STREET
During the chorus, the scene intercuts between a soundstage, music video style, and the reality of the street and neighborhood. Several of the girls in the windows serve as backup in the “music video” imagined by Alonzo.
The scene is an elaborate hair salon with stylized salon chairs, a chandelier, large mirrors, etc., over the top, brightly lighted, the girls and Alonzo in fun costumes.
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
RAPUNZEL, RAPUNZEL
ALONZO
GIRL, LET DOWN YOUR HAIR
YOU’RE LOCKED UP IN THAT CASTLE
SO HIGH UP IN THE AIR
ALONZO/GIRLS IN WINDOW
RAPUNZEL, RAPUNZEL
ALONZO
DROP THAT WEAVE FROM SKY SO BLUE
AND I'LL CLIMB IT LIKE A LADDER
RIGHT ON UP TO YOU.
ALONZO/GIRLS IN WINDOWS
I’LL/HE’LL CLIMB IT LIKE A LADDER
RIGHT ON UP TO YOU!
EXT. RAPUNZEL’S APARTMENT BUILDING - THE SAME
The action reverts back to reality, Alonzo on the street.
ALONZO
IT’S NO SURPRISE THAT HER LOCKS ARE
SO WILD
HAIR THAT LONG? SHE’S BEEN LOCKED UP
SINCE A CHILD
ALL THIS TIME WITH NO WAY TO PRIMP
AND PREEN
JUST ACHING TO BE STYLED
BY THE KING OF SHEEN
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
BY WHO?
During the following, three of the girls exit the building, join Alonzo.
ALONZO
BY ME! A HUMBLE BARBER
SEE, MY NAME’S ALONZO GREEN
BUT THEY CALL ME “THE KING OF SHEEN”
SEE, MY STYLES ARE THE BADDEST, THE
MADDEST
THIS TOWN’S EVER SEEN
FROM BED STUY TO CONEY I
YOU KNOW WHAT I’M SAYIN’?
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
The girls surround Alonzo, fawning over him.
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
OH! ALONZO GREEN! ALONZO GREEN!
THE KING OF SHEEN! ALONZO GREEN!
WHATCHA GONNA DO IF YOU GET
THE CHANCE
FOR MORE THAN JUST A
STOLEN GLANCE?
Alonzo takes out his scissors, pretends to give a quick trim to the girls, who dance around him.
ALONZO
I’M GONNA TAKE ALL THOSE SPLIT ENDS
AND GIVE ‘EM A GOOD SNIP!
I’M GONNA SQUEEZE ‘EM, GONNA TEASE
‘EM,
FROM EACH ROOT TO THE TIP
I’M GONNA BRAID IT, SERENADE IT
BLOW DRY IT, TIE-DYE IT
RE-FORM IT AND RESHAPE IT
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
YOU’LL EVEN LANDSCAPE IT!
ALONZO
FROM WHERE I’M STANDING, GIRL
CAN’T REACH A SINGLE CURL
CUZ YOU’RE TEN STORIES AWAY
TEN STORIES AWAY.
INT. SOUNDSTAGE - DAY/EXT. STREET
Once again the action intercuts between the music video on the salon soundstage and the street.
GIRLS IN WINDOW
RAPUNZEL, RAPUNZEL
ALONZO
GIRL, LET DOWN YOUR HAIR
YOU’RE LOCKED UP IN THAT CASTLE
SO HIGH UP IN THE AIR
ALONZO/GIRLS IN WINDOWS
RAPUNZEL, RAPUNZEL
ALONZO
DROP THAT WEAVE FROM SKY SO BLUE
AND I’LL CLIMB IT LIKE A LADDER
RIGHT ON UP TO YOU.
ALONZO/GIRLS IN WINDOWS
I’LL/HE’LL CLIMB IT LIKE A LADDER
RIGHT ON UP TO YOU!
EXT. RAPUNZEL’S APARTMENT BUILDING - THE SAME
During Alonzo’s speech, Rapunzel’s shadow can be seen in the window ten stories up. She vocalizes again, drawing Alonzo to her like a siren from the sea. Other people from the neighborhood are also drawn by Rapunzel’s singing. They stop in the street, stare at Alonzo, gaze upwards.
ALONZO
(speaks)
My sweet Rapunzel, right now I can
only dream
Of that day when we're all together
You, me, my styling cream
And my perfect fusion flat iron,too.
But you're ten stories away, girl
How I’m s’posed to get to you when
you’re ten storiies away?
From high above him Rapunzel's haiir cascades down the side of the building past the stunned girls in the windows.
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
LOOK, LOOK, SHE'S LETTING DOWN HER
HAIR
ALONZO
TEN STOREIS AWAY
Alonzo tugs on the thick hair-rope and psyches himself up to make the trek and climbs up the side of the building.
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
LOOK, LOOK, HE’S CLIMBING
UP HER HAIR!
The girls lean out their windows combing, brushing, crimping their hair, etc. As Alonzo makes his way up, people in other apartments slam their windows shut, look incredulously at him as he climbs up their wall.
More people gather on the street stare, point at Alonzo climbing up the building. Rapunzel keens through the following.
GIRLS IN WINDOWS (CONT'D)
FIRST FLOOR!
ALONZO
AND I’M ON MY WAY!
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
SECOND FLOOR!
ALONZO
THIS IS CHILD’S PLAY!
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
THIRD FLOOR!
ALONZO
I’M STILL FEELIN’ OKAY!
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
FOURTH FLOOR!
ALONZO
IF I’M CAUGHT, THERE’S HELL TO PAY!
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
FIFTH FLOOR!
ALONZO
HEY! I MADE IT HALFWAY!
Alonzo has attracted quite a crowd on the street. He looks down, gulps seeing the distance between him and the ground.
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
SIXTH FLOOR!
ALONZO
GETTIN’ CLOSER TO MY BAYE!
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
SEVENTH FLOOR!
ALONZO
TIME TO THINK WHAT I’M GONNA SAY!
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
EIGHTH FLOOR
As Alonzo passes the eighth floor, a man sticks his head out of a window, shouts at him.
MAN IN WINDOW
Hey, man!
You gonna do this ev’ry day?
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
NINTH FLOOR!
ALONZO
OH, NO! DID I FORGET MY HAIRSPRAY?
A girl in the window nearest to Alonzo slips a can of hairspray into his apron pocket.
GIRLS IN WINDOWS
TENTH FLOOR!
ALONZO
TIME TO MAKE RAPUNZEL MY FIANCE!!
The people in the street, church ladies, the postman, office workers, etc. dance as a unit, their movements choreographed in a joyful routine.
GIRLS/ALONZO/PEOPLE IN STREET
RAPUNZEL, RAPUNZEL
GIRL, LET DOWN YOUR HAIR
YOU’RE LOCKED IN THAT CASTLE
SO HIGH UP IN THE AIR
RAPUNZEL, RAPUNZEL
DROP THAT WEAVE FROM SKY SO BLUE
AND I’LL CLIMB IT LIKE A LADDER
RIGHT ON UP TO YOU. AAAAHHHHHH!!!
Alonzo reaches the tenth story window where Rapunzel waits.
ALONZO
RAPUNZEL!!!
They gaze adoringly at each other, kiss, and he tumbles into the room.
The girls sigh and go back into their apartments. Inspired by Alonzo and Rapunzel’s love, everyone on the streets goes back about their business with a lightness in their heart.
(END SONG)
