Ella Enchanted

Fairy tales tell,

as their labels imply,

stories of magic, of creatures that fly.

With giants and dragons

and ogres and elves,

and inanimate objects

that speak for themselves.

There's romance and danger

and plotting of schemes.

There's good guys and bad guys

and some guys in between.

A fairy tale also reveals some sort of truth,

the perils of choices we face in our youth.

But our story today is different in theme,

for our hero had no choice,

or so it would seem.

It starts with a fairy bestowing a spell.

This one's for a baby named Ella of Frell.

Now, now, Ella. Mother's here.

There, now. Oh, dear Ella.

Oh, it's nothing a little burping won't cure.

- Up.

- There, now.

Come on. All the way.

I gotta work on that.

Whoa!

Hello, ladies!

Lucinda!

- She gives the worst gifts.

- Not if she can't find the baby.

Whoa!

Ah!

Lucinda here. Fairy par excellence.

Now, where's the baby?

- Out walking.

- At her grandmother's.

- At her grandmother's.

- Out for a walk.

- She's walking, at her grandmother's.

- Either way, as you see, she's not here.

Oh, look. She's back.

All right.

What shall we give

this beautiful little child today?

- What's her name again?

- Ella.

Ah.

Ella of Frell.

Not a very well-behaved

little stinker, is she?

Quiet, please. I can't concentrate here.

Ella of Frell,

I give you the gift of obedience.

Now, go to sleep.

Now, wake up.

- lsn't it wonderful?

- No, it's terrible.

It's a terrible gift to have to do

what you're told. Take it back.

I have a no-return policy.

And if you're going to be ungrateful, I can

always turn her into a squirrel instead.

- A squirrel?

- No, obedience is a lovely gift.

Besides, you should thank me.

I've just given you the perfect child.

In spite of the spell,

Ella grew up strong of mind.

Her gift made her obedient,

but her heart made her kind.

Why don't you go back

to where you came from?

- Yeah.

- Areida. What a stupid name.

- Nobody wants you here.

- I do.

Bite me.

Did you just see what Ella did?

I made your favorite,

so dig in and stuff your face.

I'm gonna get forks.

Sweetie, stop.

I always knew

something was wrong with me.

Can't you take the spell back?

You're a fairy.

I'm only a household fairy, honey.

Besides, according to fairy guidelines,

only the fairy who gave you the gift

can take it back, and we've begged her.

Not only that, but she said

she'd turn your mother into a squirrel

and take away my eternal youth

if we ever asked her again.

It's not fair.

I know, darling. I know.

So Ella now knew

why she'd always obeyed.

But she never stopped fighting

to have things her way.

Ella! Come practice your mandolin.

Fine, but I'll take

my own sweet time doing it.

Hurry up, now.

As she struggled

to find a way out of her gift,

she had no way of knowing

something worse was adrift.

Please get well, Mother.

Listen to me.

Only Mandy and I know about the gift.

We've never even told your father.

And you must never tell anyone else.

- I don't want anyone using it against you.

- Mother, please.

Remember, no matter

what anyone says or tells you to do,

Look to yourself, Ella.

What's inside you

is stronger than any spell.

Take this, then I'll always be with you.

Ella.

Your father would like to speak to you.

- You're married?

- She has money, Ella.

And she's very fond of my title.

It was either get married or sell the house.

You'll adore Dame Olga,

and her two daughters.

She'll make a wonderful mother.

Well, a motherlike figure.

Look, I'm sure

you'll all be the best of friends.

Whoa!

Is this the right address?

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