Once Upon His Dream

What if it were the princess who had to awaken her true love with a kiss? (About 1,800 words)

This script is part of the Someday My Princess Will Come series.

If you perform one of my scripts, please let me know so I can add the video to my channel!

Whoooooof.

[breathing heavily, but joyful] Now that . . . was exhilarating!

Wow!

Not to mention exhausting!

But now I get . . . why knights go into the dragon-killing business!

What a thrill!

[a few more heavy breaths]

I’m not sure I need any more dragons in my life . . . but I may have to take up fencing!

I wonder if it’s any different without the enchanted weapons.

[a few more breaths]

[serious] All right . . . enough stalling.

Time to face my final test.

[worried] I hope I’m up to it.

[a final breath in and out for confidence]

Okay.

Now to find the bedchamber.

And face my fate.

[pause]

Where is his bedchamber?

It must be around here somewhere.

I sure hope that sorceress . . . specialized in . . . “turn myself into a dragon” spells . . . and not “hide your true love’s bedchamber” spells.

[suddenly worried] He is my true love.

He is.

I know it.

And my love for him is true.

[even more worried] I hope!

[trying to convince herself] How could it not be?

He’s loyal and true-hearted.

He’s brave.

He’s compassionate.

And gentle.

[sigh] And so handsome!

And I felt this way . . . before I knew he was a prince.

[pause]

When we met . . . I took him for a common woodsman.

I mean, he lived in a dingy little cottage in the woods . . . and everything.

And he didn’t know I was a princess, either.

[pause]

[growing confidence] I came home that very night . . . and told my father right to his face . . . that I was going to marry for love.

That I was going to find the right man.

Not some . . . politically convenient prince.

Someone they picked out for me . . . on the day I was born.

[annoyed] After all, this is the fourteenth century.

[startled] Oh!

[relieved] Sorry, sorry!

You startled me, is all. Sorry.

Wow, you fairies just . . . [nervous laugh] pop up out of nowhere, don’t you?

[pause]

Well . . . hello again!

Thanks for the enchanted weapons!

I mean it . . . they were a lifesaver!

Here’s your shield back.

[nervous] I’m afraid the sword . . . kind of ended up . . . stuck in the dragon’s heart.

[pause]

[relieved] Oh! Well, that’s okay, then.

Glad it worked out!

Hey, listen . . . not that I’m not completely grateful for your help . . . but . . . just some feedback, for next time?

As long as you’re enchanting the weapons . . . maybe . . . add a spell to make them lighter?

I mean . . . they didn’t feel that heavy when I just had to carry them.

But when life and death depended on swinging them as hard as I could?

I’m telling you . . . I’m sore . . . in places I didn’t know I had!

[pause]

WHAT?

The enchantment makes them heavier?

[pause]

Well then . . . no wonder!

Maybe next time . . . try an enchanted crossbow, or something.

[pause]

Really?

Huh.

Well, I suppose you know your business.

Speaking of which . . . right now, this princess . . . is in the smooching business.

So if you could please point me to . . . 

[pause]

Ah. I see.

No wonder I couldn’t find it.

[pause]

Okay.

Well . . . thank you!

[pause]

[trying to get rid of them] Thank you . . . very much!

[she waits for them to take the hint, but they don’t]

Ummm . . . again, not that I’m not completely grateful, but . . . 

[they still don’t take the hint]

[awkward] Handsome prince . . . under a sleeping curse . . . triumphant princess . . . arriving to wake him up . . . 

[they still don’t take the hint]

[exaggerated nervous laugh] Intimate moment, and all . . . you know . . . 

[they still don’t take the hint]

[miffed] A little privacy, please?

This is a true love’s kiss, not a juggling act in the town square!

Make with the wings!

Get into the flying away business!

[pause]

[calling out after them] And thanks again! Couldn’t have done it without you!

[pause]

Okay.

[calming breath]

Okay.

[nervous] My love is true.

[more nervous] My love . . . is true.

[awkward] One true love’s kiss coming right up!

Oh, boy.

[pause]

Okay.

Here we go.

[sound of door opening]

[softly] Oh, my.

[quiet, but intense] Oh, my love.

How you take my breath away.

Has there ever been anything so beautiful?

Your face is so peaceful.

I can see all your kindness and warmth.

I can see your good humor . . . the joy you find in things. 

Even little things.

[pause]

[giggle] Remember that time . . . with the dandelions?

[pause]

And yet . . . I can also see your bravery.

I see the unbreakable steel . . . behind the softness.

Even this terrible curse couldn’t break you.

It can’t change your kindness and joy.

Your spirit has so much delight . . . and so much power.

[pause]

[suddenly anguished] How can my love ever measure up to you?

How can I ever love you . . . the way you deserve?

[sigh]

I think back to that first day we spent together.

When I came across your cottage in the woods.

How kind and good you were.

I didn’t have anything like that . . . in my world.

That’s why I rode so far from the castle.

My father had just told me . . . that I had been promised in marriage . . . on the day I was born.

[disgusted] Betrothed . . . to some prince I had never met!

So our parents could solve their political problems.

Using us as their pawns.

[pause]

[angry] When I’m a queen, I’ll never use people that way.

[pause]

[tenderly] And you won’t either . . . when you’re my king.

That’s why I fell so hard for you.

That’s why I kept riding back out to the woods.

To see you again and again.

I couldn’t stay away from you.

I think you may be . . . the first good man I’ve ever met.

[pause]

How ironic . . . that the prince I was bound to . . . turned out to be you.

Beautiful, brave, amazing you.

Even in your cottage in the woods . . . you were more truly royal . . . than any of the fools and scoundrels in my father’s court.

And look at you now.

A lord of beauty and glory.

Just waiting . . . for a true love’s kiss . . . to set you free.

[sigh]

And to think . . . you don’t even know yet . . . that I’m your princess.

The fairies who raised you . . .

You have a really interesting family, by the way!

They told you on your birthday . . .

On our birthday . . . the same day my parents told me . . .

That you were betrothed.

That you had already been promised . . . on the day you were born.

[jokingly pretends to be disgusted] To some . . . princess.

[delighted] Just think of it!

We met . . . and fell in love . . . both of us knowing . . . we were already betrothed.

And neither of us knowing . . . it was to each other!

[pause]

I’m actually glad my father was so heartless about it . . . when he told me.

I was so upset.

That’s why I rode so far from the castle . . . and found you.

And I’m really glad the fairies told me who you really are.

[tenderly] That you’re not just my love . . . you’re my prince.

Because let me tell you, prince . . . 

I don’t go around slaying evil sorceress-dragons for just . . . any guy I meet in the woods!

But for you?

[serious, defiant] For you I could do anything.

[suddenly anxious] Here’s hoping I can do a true love’s kiss!

[long breath in and out]

You know something?

I realize now . . . what I’m really afraid of.

I don’t doubt my love for you.

Not for a second.

What I doubt is . . . whether I’m worthy of you.

Just look at you.

[anguish] How can I possibly deserve . . . 

[chokes on emotion, takes a moment to calm herself]

But you know what else I’m realizing?

That kind of love?

That’s how my parents love me.

They love me . . . if I deserve it.

They love me . . . if I’m good enough for them.

They love me . . . if I am what they think I should be.

They love me . . . if.

But you don’t love me that way.

Your love doesn’t know the word “if.”

Your love doesn’t measure me . . . or evaluate me.

Your love doesn’t demand anything.

Your love . . . just wants . . . me.

You . . . just . . . love me.

You just love the person I am.

I don’t have to worry about whether I’m good enough.

I don’t have to earn your love.

[pause]

[quietly] Your love . . . is true.

[firm] Your love is true.

[completely calm and sure] And so is mine.

[kiss]

[serious] Awaken, my love.

[pause]

[lighthearted] Hi, there, handsome!

Welcome back to the waking world.

[pause]

Yes! It’s me!

Remember?

[wistful] You used to walk in the woods with me.

Once upon a dream.

[pause]

[playful] Hello!

[giggle] Welcome back!

Everybody has been waiting for you.

I mean . . . of all the days to oversleep . . . you pick your wedding day?

[pause]

[big, joyous laugh]

That’s right, sleepyhead.

[pause]

Uh-huh.

[pause]

I guess princess whatshername . . . is all out of luck.

[pause]

Don’t feel bad for her. 

She’s a princess. 

She’s got a castle, and servants, and everything.

She’ll live!

I’m the one who killed the sorceress.

[pause]

That’s right!

And it was my kiss that broke the spell.

And every day of our life together . . . starting today . . . I am going to hold it over your head!

[big, joyous laugh]

Don’t ever forget our anniversary!

Or leave your dirty clothes on the floor!

I’ll just say: “Maybe I should have left you asleep!”

“I should have let you wait . . . for your precious princess to save you!”

[big, joyous laugh]

[romantic] And then you’ll have to remind me . . . the reason I woke you up.

[kissing]

Mmmmmmmmm.

[kissing]

Yeah, I think we’re going to do just fine.

Why should you marry a princess, anyway?

[happy] After all . . . this is the fourteenth century!