Cinderella

Once upon a time there lived an unhappy young girl. Her mother was dead and her father had married a widow with two daughters. Her stepmother didn't like her one little bit. All her kind thoughts and loving touches were for her own daughters. Nothing was too good for them – dresses, shoes, delicious food, soft beds, and every home comfort. But, for the poor unhappy girl, there was nothing at all. No dresses, only her stepsisters' hand-me-downs. No lovely dishes, nothing but scraps. No rest and no comfort. She had to work hard all day. When evening came was she allowed to sit for a while by the fire, near the cinders. Hence her name, Cinderella.

Buttons the footman, who also worked in the house was kind to Cinderella
"Cheer up! You have something neither of your stepsisters has and that is beauty."
Buttons was right. Cinderella, even dressed in old rags, was a lovely girl. While her stepsisters, no matter how splendid and elegant their clothes, were still clumsy, lumpy and ugly and always would be.

One day Buttons came into kitchen to collect the breakfast trays. Today he had some important news: an envelope with a royal seal had arrived and in it was an invitation for all three sisters to attend. Buttons tried to cheer Cinderella up by telling her what a wonderful time she would have at the ball, of how the prince would fall in love with her and help her to escape from the clutches of her sisters.

The next day two beautiful new dresses arrived at the house. This meant that the stepsisters were getting ready to go. Cinderella didn't even dare ask if she could go too. She knew very well what the answer would be: "You? You're staying at home to wash the dishes, scrub the floors and turn down the beds for your stepsisters." They will come home tired and very sleepy.

As soon as she was on her own, Cinderella sat by the fireside and wept. Suddenly something very strange happened. As Cinderella was sitting all alone, there was a burst of light and a woman surrounded in swathe of light appeared.

"Who are you?" asked an alarmed Cinderella.

"Don't be frightened, Cinderella," said the woman. "I am your fairy godmother. I know you would love to go to the ball. And so you shall!" "How can I, dressed in rags?" Cinderella replied. "The servants will turn me away!"

Her fairy godmother smiled. With a flick of her magic wand Cinderella found herself wearing the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. "Now for your coach," said her fairy godmother ; "A real lady would never go to a ball on foot! Quick! Get me a pumpkin!"
"Of course," said Cinderella, rushing away.
" And seven mice" yelled the fairy after her
Cinderella soon returned with the pumpkin and the cat with seven mice he had caught in the cellar. With a flick of the magic wand the pumpkin turned into a sparkling coach and the mice became six white horses, while the seventh mouse turned into a coachman in a smart uniform and carrying a whip. Cinderella could hardly believe her eyes.

"You shall go to the ball Cinderella. But remember! You must leave at midnight. That is when my spell ends. Your coach will turn back into a pumpkin and the horses will become mice again. You will be dressed in rags and wearing clogs instead of these glass slippers! Do you understand?"
Cinderella smiled and said, "Yes, I understand!"
Cinderella had a wonderful time at the ball until she heard the first stroke of midnight! She remembered what the fairy had said, and without a word of goodbye she slipped from the Prince's arms and ran down the steps. As she ran she lost one of her slippers, but not for a moment did she dream of stopping to pick it up! If the last stroke of midnight were to sound... oh... what a disaster that would be! Out she fled and vanished into the night.

The Prince, who was now madly in love with her, picked up the slipper and said to his ministers, "Go and search everywhere for the girl whose foot this slipper fits. I will never be content until I find her!" So the ministers tried the slipper on the foot of every girl in the land until only Cinderella was left.

"That awful untidy girl simply cannot have been at the ball," snapped the stepmother. "Tell the Prince he ought to marry one of my two daughters! Can't you see how ugly Cinderella is?"

But, to everyone's amazement, the shoe fitted perfectly.

Suddenly the fairy appeared and waved her magic wand. In a flash, Cinderella appeared in a splendid dress, shining with youth and beauty. Her stepmother and stepsisters gaped at her in amazement, and the ministers said, "Come with us Cinderella! The Prince is waiting for you."

So Cinderella married the Prince and lived happily ever. Buttons could only brush away a tear as they rode away.

source: http://www.irishinlondontheatre.co.uk/free-playwriting-course-the-story-of-cinderella