Full Story

Upon once a time [Song: Upon Once A Time (Intro)] there was a Miller's Daughter imprisoned by a selfish greedy King. He heard that the she could spin straw into gold and ordered her to make him richer than he already was. If she did not obey she would die. If she succeeded, she would marry the King. The Miller's Daughter did not know which fate was worse!

Rumpelstiltskin, who really could spin straw into gold, magically appeared and offered to help, but there was a catch. He always wanted a child to love and care for and asked the Miller's Daughter for her first born. Rumpelstiltskin assured her he would be a good father to her child. He even promised to coach Little League! The young maiden, who would much rather marry Rumpelstiltskin than the selfish greedy King, decided to run away with the gold spinning fellow.

They marry and soon have a daughter of their own whom they hope has some of Rumpelstiltskin's magic. [Song: Magic (Intro)] Eighteen summers pass and Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter grows up to be a beautiful young lady. Everyone lives happily ever after. End of story. Blackout!

Out of the darkness comes a terrible scream... Lights up quickly again. In the Village of Wayfar there is mayhem as Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter's is taken away [Song: Shocking News!] and is brought to the Palace before the King.

A lavish fundraising party is in full swing to support the Poorly Peasant Pension Plan, a monthly event organized by the Queen Mother, who is also Minister of Charities. [Song: Upon Once A Time]. The King's Step Brother, the Duke of Bonfire, claims he overheard villagers say that Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter can spin straw into gold, just like the Miller's Daughter who escaped so many years ago!

The girl is defiant and tells the King of terrible poverty and suffering outside the protective walls of his palace. Why will he not help his people? The selfish and greedy King, suspicious of her familiarity, defends his actions and is giddy with power and the idea of more wealth. [Song: Goody, Goody, Goody!] The King locks Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter in the tower where she is told she must spin gold or die.

Unbeknownst to the King, he has troubles of his own. The dimwitted Duke and evil Queen Mother plot to take over the Kingdom. She is the King's Step Mother only because of a flawed War Treaty and the subsequent execution of her first husband, the Duke of Hazard. They want revenge and believe the throne should rightfully be theirs. Problem is that the Queen Mother and Duke of Bonfire, for all their noise and ambition, are incompetent fools and their plans keep failing miserably.

Alone in her cell Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter reflects on all the humanity that is in jeopardy. Of course she could have her Father rescue her, but such a greedy King would never be satisfied. He would keep her Father a prisoner, forever spinning gold. She comes up with a plan that could possibly change the King, as well as the entire kingdom. [Song: Secret Of Gold]

The next morning the King is apoplectic when he does not get his gold. As clever as can be, and to protect her Father, Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter suggests that it was her deceased Grandfather who made the gold. "But" she tells the King "He did not spin the gold. He grew it!"

The King is overwhelmed by this amazing prospect of endless wealth. Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter tells the King to go out and give each of the Farmers in the land a gold coin to plant in the soil. He will soon see some big changes around town.

At first the King is afraid of the Peasants who he knows hate him so much. However, with his entourage and Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter as a guide, he decides to venture out amongst the people to enact her plan. [Song: Nothing To Do But Grow Gold]

The King and Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter come across the cottage of Rumpelstiltskin and the Miller's Daughter who are disguised as Farmers with shawls and hats. Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter must pretend she does not know her own parents in front of the King for her and their own safety. She attempts to send hidden messages to her folks in her speech to let them know she is well and on an important mission. Urged on by Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter, the King begrudgingly hands a gold coin to the "Farmers" to plant in the ground and gives them one more "for their troubles".

For a moment, the King thinks that he recognizes the Miller's Daughter from somewhere, but Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter quickly comes up with a distraction for the King so he eventually gives up and they move on.

Once the group has left, an angry and worried Rumpelstiltskin wants to go after his daughter. The Miller's Daughter appeals to him. They raised their child well to be independent, to use wisdom and good judgment. Give her a chance to complete this quest and she will make them proud. [Song: I Beg You Let Her Go]

Back at the palace the Queen Mother is fed up and rants to the Duke. She is convinced the King has lost all reason, waiting for his "gold to be ripe." At the end of their rope the dastardly duo plot a way to get rid of the King once and for all. [Song: We'll Not Be Outdone!]

The King heads off with Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter to collect his gold. He is in awe when he sees miles and miles of gold across the horizon. But alas, Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter tells him "It is not gold your majesty. It's wheat...food for your people!" Furious, the King is ready to throttle Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter when all the Farmers and Peasants appear bearing baskets of food as gifts for him. They have reservations about the way the King treated them in the past, but now they celebrate his kindness and their chance at a wonderful future! [Song: A New Life Can Begin]

Later, the Queen Mother is furious that her plot to ambush the King failed. There were supposed to be trained soldiers on the attack, but the Duke lost the orders!

The King and Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter enter the palace. The King would have liked to have seen real gold, but is pleased. However, he is taunted by the Duke and Queen Mother and begins to question Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter about exactly how her Grandfather did make real gold. She admits she had the technique confused. That was how her Grandfather grew food.

Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter is concerned about the coming winter season. Although now better off with food, the people will suffer in the cold of winter. Her work is not yet finished — the people will need warm clothing. She comes up with a new idea and tells the King that her Grandfather knitted gold. He must give all the Grannies of the Kingdom gold yarn and knitting needles. His Majesty, still hungry for gold, immediately plans a new quest to go out once more and get the Grannies to knit gold. The Queen Mother and Duke don't buy this for a minute.

Back in the village, the King meets the first Granny to give her gold yarn and knitting needles. Needless to say, knowing how much the Farmers got, the Granny drives a hard bargain for gold coins as well!

For the first time, beginning to believe he is doing the right thing, the King thanks Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter for all that she has done.

Back at the Palace, desperately trying to push forward their own despicable plan, the Queen Mother and Duke confront the King. How could he fall for such a ridiculous story!? How could he waste all their money and where IS all the gold?

At first The King defends Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter, but the Queen Mother insists the only reason the girl helped the Peasants and Farmers was to make them strong so that they could take over the palace. The Queen Mother plays on the King's insecurities and convinces him that the girl is very dangerous. Against his better judgment, he has her taken to the Tower Cell.

The King is emotionally torn and confused. Who should he trust and believe? Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter? The Queen Mother? From a tower parapet against a night sky he calls out to his departed Father for an answer. The former King appears to his son as a vision and asks him to consider all the good that he has done with this amazing young woman's help. There is more to life than riches and "all that glitters is not always better". [Song: No, All That Glitters (is Not Always Better)]

Convinced that Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter was indeed being true, the King heads to the Tower to find and free her.

Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter tries to explain what happened to the King and warn him of the serious danger he is in when Rumpelstiltskin and the Miller's Daughter come crashing in to help save their daughter from the King. The Queen Mother and Duke follow. The King sees that the Miller's Daughter was, indeed, the woman who escaped so many years ago.

The Queen Mother will not allow any explanations and the King wrongly believes there is a conspiracy as the Queen Mother had warned. Angered, the King orders the Guards to capture Rumpelstiltskin and the Miller's Daughter, but the Guards do not move! The Queen Mother gives the word and her trained men grab the King!

Prompted by Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter, a huge fight breaks out. Seizing a moment, the Duke lunges at the King and impales him on his sword. The Queen and Duke try to make an escape, but are captured. Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter rushes to the King who has collapsed, mortally wounded. She cradles his head in her lap and sings to him. [Song: Magic] As she sings, her words, and even some real magic, brings the King back and makes him stronger. To everyone's amazement he is fine again. Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter truly knows the powers she inherited from her father.

Emotionally, the King asks Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter to be his Queen for all that she has done. She thanks him for his kind offer, but informs the King gently that she would much rather be Prime Minister! All are stunned, but the King agrees. He wants to introduce the new Prime Minister but realizes he never knew her name. Appropriately, Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter does have a name: it is Hope!

In Wayfar Village Square there is a grand ceremony as Hope is officially sworn-in as Prime Minister by the King. As the townspeople appear, they are stunningly dressed from head to toe in fine golden attire from the knitting! They present the King with his own splendid gold outfit!

One last time, the King asks Hope if she remembered how her Grandfather made gold. Alas, she cannot remember, but, as the King concedes, she did try!!

Everyone cheers and sings in celebration and they live Happily Ever After! [Song: No, All That Glitters/Magic Finale]