FOREWARD

2. FOREWARD “Maybe… I am not always who I am.” -- The Little Red Riding Hood (Act I) We have chosen to re-appropriate the old classical fairytale of the Little Red Riding Hood for a new re-script as part of our creative project for the course of Postmodernism. This classical story is about a girl called Little Red Riding Hood walking through the forest to deliver food to her grandmother who is sick. A wolf, wanting to eat her, locked up grandmother in the closet and disguised as grandmother. Upon arrival at grandmother’s house, Little Red Riding Hood got suspicious of the “bigger” eyes, hands and mouth of her “grandmother”. Eventually a lumberjack came to rescue and save Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother from the wolf. The origins of the Little Red Riding Hood story is said to trace back prior to the 17th century, although the most popular version would be the Grimms-inspired version. Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

3. FOREWARD In our postmodern rewriting of the Little Red Riding Hood, we have attempted to legitimize; and subvert, the static, popularized and conventional characterization of the fairytale. We provide a more complex depiction of the little red riding hood through the use of first person narration, which shortens the distance between the character and the reader as in classical fairytale. The script is heavily filled with self-conscious and self-reflexive moments of the little red riding hood, which encourages reader identification with her experience of events; her motivation and agency. We also challenge a number of predetermined roles of the fairytale characters such as the wolf that, as you will see, has had to fight against his fairytale reflection as the “bad guy” - not to be trusted. We have added in the character of Snow White, a staple of the popular fairytale tradition, and perhaps the most famous icon for beauty, purity and innocence, only to dismantle it. In terms of narrative structure, we have created a story within story, and along with it, challenged a singular and stable concept of identity/ “self”. There is, for example, assumption of doubles for the little red riding hood and the wolf, as well as a play of distortion of identities. It helps to expose contradictions, instill a sense of hybridity and demonstrate a concept of moral relativity- that there is no absolute “truth”- “good” or “evil”- everyone has a good and bad side of it. Coupled with a postmodern re-script of characterization, all these seek to question assumptions and stereotypes and disturb the authority of popular fairytale Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

4. FOREWARD narrative patterns. It denaturalizes; and “de-doxify” the system of meaning and representation by which we understand the world and ourselves- and perhaps more importantly, its powers and limits. By providing an alternative route to the end of the classical fairytale, we aim to demonstrate that these conventions and representations can be contested. They are not the inevitable. There are many other possibilities. There is always room to play. It is also interesting to note that the authority of the fairytale convention does not come from within. It originates from the reader who assumes them to be authoritative. Indeed, in order for us to subvert the conventional narratives, we have assumed our reader/audience’s familiarity with such conventions and their cultural knowledge of all the characters and images we presented to them. For example, the Pinocchio whose nose becomes long after he tells a lie and George Washington who admits to chopping off the cherry tree thereby becoming an icon for honesty. However, the reader is left free to understand the little red riding hood, the wolf and Snow White in a new light. He or she can construct his or her own interpretation of the story of The Little Red Riding Hood. A more detailed analysis of the theoretical underpinnings of our project is stated in our written report. We would like to thank our daughters Gwyneth and Gaia for their participation in daddy and mummy’s project; and our friend Gary Tyson for editing our video presentation. Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

5. SCRIPT • Prologue- The Question • Act I- The Little Red Riding Hood • Act II- Into The Forest • Act III- At Grandma’s House • Act IV- The Wolf • Act V- The “Truth”? • Act VI- Is There A “Truth”? Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

6. PrologueThe Question (Gwyneth sitting on the sofa reading. Daddy join in) • Dad: “hey Gwyneth what book are you reading?” • Gwyneth: “I am reading my favorite book “THE REAL STORY OF THE CINDERELLA AND THE UGLY SISTERS”- do you want to see Daddy?” (Show the book of the Real Story of Cinderella) • Dad: “hmm…What’s so interesting about that?” • Gwyneth: “It talks about Cinderella being a very naughty girl and later on turns into a pumpkin. The two sisters- because they are good and nice to everyone –they live happily ever after with the prince they love….so funny!” Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

7. PrologueThe Question • Dad: “seriously? Shouldn’t it be the other way round!” • Gwyneth: “No, daddy, I don’t like that one. Daddy, I have a question for you: why princesses are always beautiful and living happily ever after? Why ugly persons are always bad and ending up so sad in the story?” • Dad: “That’s a difficult one- Maybe you should ask your teacher on Monday!” • Mum: “Hey Gwyneth, do you remember the story about the little red riding hood- you know, the little girl with a red hood going to see grandma with a basket of apples and later on bumped into the big bad wolf?” (Show the book of Little Red Riding Hood) • Gwyneth: “yes yes I know that one!” • Mum: “Daddy and mummy are going to make a short video about a new version of the little red riding hood for our class project. Do you want to be our little red riding hood?” • Gwyneth: “YES YES! I wonder who will be the big bad wolf! ROAR!” (excitedly) Fade out. Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

8. ACT I The Little Red Riding Hood (Gwyneth’s voiceover) • Once upon a time, there is a little red riding hood. That’s me. • I am the little red riding hood. • Do you know about my story? Yes, you do? • No you don’t! • I always tried to hide the real story from everybody- I don’t want anyone to know what I have done- what I might have become– what I have once become. • Maybe…I am not always who I am. • This is the “real” story about the little red riding hood. • The story about me. Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

9. ACT IThe Little Red Riding Hood • One day, Mummy asked me to go and visit grandma after school because grandma is sick. • Oh man, I am so tired already after school! • Didn’t you know how much I have done at school today, Mummy? • I really want to just lie down on the sofa and watch TV. Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

10. ACT I The Little Red Riding Hood • But for the chocolate bars! • Mummy said if I will be a good girl and take the basket of apples to grandma and cheer her up, I will have a chocolate bar when I return home. • “Be careful walking through the wood. • There may be wolves”, Mummy said. • Silly mummy- there are no wolves in this world. • And even if there is, • why would anyone trust a wolf? • An ugly horrible-looking wolf! • I am not so silly. • I am 5 years old already! • I can think! Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

11. ACT II Into The Forest (Gwyneth holding a basket of apples in the forest, walking) (Gwyneth’s voiceover) • So I took a basket of apples and went on my way to grandma’s house. • Why grandma lives so far away? • Cant she just live nearer to us? • Why would anyone like to live in the forest – • oh my dear grandma! • As I skipped through the forest, • a big wolf jumped out in front of me. (Wolf jumped out) • Gwyneth: “Don’t come near me. Go away, you big bad wolf!” • Wolf: “I only wondered where you were going. Maybe you want some music along the way” (Wolf started to play guitar) Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

12. ACT II Into The Forest • Gwyneth: “No you can’t come, big bad wolf- • go away! • I am going to see my grandmother. • I don’t need your company. • I will ask my daddy to throw you down the chimney if you follow me….” • Wolf: “ok then. I just want to be your friend.” • Gwyneth: “Off you go, you big bad wolf!” (Gwyneth kicked the wolf. Wolf went away) Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

13. ACT II Into The Forest (Gwyneth continued skipping through the forest) • So I kicked the wolf away and continued my trip in the forest. • Can you believe who I bumped into? (Snow White joined in) SNOW WHITE! • The most beautiful girl in the world! • The most good-hearted person! • I like her very much! How I adore her! Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

14. ACT II Into The Forest • Gwyneth: “Hello beautiful Snow White! • I like your dress. • I only wish I could have beautiful hair like you!” • Snow White: “Hello little sweetheart! I wonder where you are going.” • Gwyneth: “I am just going to see my grandma because she is sick” Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

15. ACT IIInto The Forest • Snow White: “oh how nice! What’s inside your basket?” (Snow White peeping at the basket. Gwyneth showing the apples) • Gwyneth: “They are apples. • I got some apples for my grandma. • You know, an apple a day keeps the doctor away! You like apples too? • Grandma too has some shiny good Washington apples at her house! • I was told that they are the best apples in the world! • Grandma called them the WASHINGTON apples.” • Snow White: “Can you give some apples to me? I am hungry!” • Gwyneth: “But those are for grandma! No! • Why don’t you just go home and ask your mummy to cook something for you?” Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

16. ACT II Into The Forest • Snow White: “What about I give you a chocolate bar? (show chocolate bar) In exchange for the whole basket of apples! I love apples! I only want apples!” • Gwyneth: “hmmm….I really want the chocolate bars! • I only want the chocolate bars! • But what about grandma? • What if she scolds me? Mummy will not be happy too! And I have always been a good girl. In and out. In and out. I am always who I am- THE good little red riding hood.” • Snow White: “Its okay, little red riding hood. Just tell grandma that a big bad wolf come by to take your apples away. Its going to be fine. It’s going to be fine” • Gwyneth: “I trust you, Snow White. You have always been a good-hearted Snow White. In and out. In and out. You are always who you are- THE good Snow White…..and I really want my chocolate bar!” • Snow White: “I really want my apples!” Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

17. ACT II Into The Forest (Gwyneth’s voiceover) • And so …..we swapped. (Snow White eating apples; Gwyneth eating chocolate bar) (shots of forest) • When I finish my chocolate bar- it was very super-duper delicious!- I realize Snow White has already disappeared into the forest. Nowhere to be seen. • I thought. • But someone was watching me. • Someone I remember still. • Someone I will never forget. (Shots of Gaia joining in – Snow White and Gaia dancing) (Black out) Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

18. ACT IIIAt Grandma’s House (Gwyneth holding empty basket- walking- arriving at grandma’s house) (Gwyneth’s voiceover) • It was already late when I arrived at grandma’s house. • Grandma was lying down on the bed when I went in. (Grandma lying down on sick bed. Gwyneth went into house) • Gwyneth: “Hello Grandma” • Grandma: “Hello who is this?” • Gwyneth: :” I am little red riding hood, grandma.” • Grandma: “oh little red riding hood. My little red riding hood. Do you bring some apples for me?” • Gwyneth: “oh yessssss…..grandma…mummy gave me a basket of apples, but a big bad wolf has jumped out to eat them all.” • Grandma: “really?”(trying to get up from bed) (Gwyneth turned to having long nose and long ears) Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

19. ACT IIIAt Grandma’s House • Grandma: “Let me see you, little red riding hood.” • Grandma: “No you are not little red riding hood. You are not MY little red riding hood. MY little red riding hood is the most beautiful girl in the world. • Look at your long nose! Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

20. ACT IIIAt Grandma’s House • Look at your long ears!” • Gwyneth: “No no grandma! • I really am your little red riding hood! • I really am!” (Gaia knocked on door and went into house– as a little red riding hood double and also holding a basket of apples) Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

21. ACT IIIAt Grandma’s House • Gaia: “Hello grandma. I am little red riding hood!” • Gwyneth: “No you are not!” • Gaia: “Yes I am!” • Gwyneth: “NO YOU ARE NOT! • I AM THE REAL LITTLE RIDING HOOD!”Grandma: “Let me see.” (Grandma seeing Gaia carefully) • “You are beautiful. You must be my little red riding hood!” (Grandma giving Gaia a hug) (Flickering images of Snow White/Gaia) Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

22. ACT IIIAt Grandma’s House • Gwyneth: “NO SHE IS NOT! • GRANDMA, I am your little red riding hood” (Gwyneth started crying) • Gaia: “Grandma- since I am a good girl- the good little red riding hood- can you give me your shiny WASHINGTON APPLE?” (Flickering images of Snow White/Gaia) Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

23. ACT IVThe Wolf (Gwyneth’s voiceover) • When I was crying and didn’t know what to do, (Wolf jumped out. Gwyneth standing, looking puzzled) the wolf suddenly jumped out to give me a hug. • Wolf: “Don’t worry, Little Red Riding Hood, you only need to tell grandma what really happens. Don’t lie to her. Grandma only wants to know the truth. So tell her the truth.” • Gwyneth: “But what if she will get upset because I gave away all her apples to Snow White for a chocolate bar?” • Wolf: “No she won’t. She wants the truth.” • Gwyneth: “Why should I believe in you? • You are the big bad wolf!” • Wolf: “Are you sure I am the big bad wolf? How sure are you? Maybe I am not always who I am…” (Flickering images of good wolf playing guitar/bad wolf) Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

24. ACT IVThe Wolf (Gwyneth’s voiceover) • I didn’t know what to do. • This is not real. This is an illusion. • The other little red riding hood is an illusion. • Should I listen to the wolf? • He is a wolf! • He is the big bad wolf! • Why would anyone trust a wolf? • The big bad wolf? • I am not so silly. • I am 5 years old already! • I can think! • Let me think! Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

25. ACT IVThe Wolf • Suddenly I remember what mummy and daddy told me about the story of Washington and the cherry tree. Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

26. ACT VThe “Truth”? (Gwyneth went next to grandma and whispered to her ears) (Gwyneth’s voiceover) • So I went to grandma’s bed and told her everything that happened. • About Snow White. • About the apples. • About the chocolate bar. • Everything. • Suddenly, my long nose was no longer long. • My long ears were no longer long. • I become little red riding hood again. • I • am the little red riding hood. (Flickering images of Gaia/Snow White- Gaia screaming: “I WANT MY WASHINGTON APPLES!!!!- fade out) Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

27. ACT VThe “Truth”? • Grandma: “oh my dear little red riding hood! My dear sweetheart! Here you are! (Grandma hugging Gwyneth) • Why don't we sit down and eat some Washington apples together? They are the yummiest apples in the world- for those who are honest. For those we trust.” (Grandma taking out a basket of Washington apples with spiders) Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

28. ACT VThe “Truth”? (Flickering images of: Good Wolf, Grandma, and Gwyneth, singing and dancing to the song of the incy winsy spider, with a basket of Washington apples (with spiders) in the middle; and Bad Wolf, Snow White and Gaia repeating the same.) Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

29. ACT VIIs There A “Truth”? (In Gwyneth and Gaia’s bedroom. Alarm clock rang. Mummy waking up Gwyneth and Gaia from bed) Mum: “Time for breakfast! Time for breakfast! Please wake up girls- it’s time for school! Dad: “Here’s your apple, Gwyneth! And here’s your apple, Gaia!” (Dad gave apples to girls) Gwyneth (funny and wicked face): “Why apples again! I hate apples! They made my teeth fall off!” (Close-up on Gwyneth’s teeth hole) Fade out. Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project

30. Jenkin Suen/Anny Leung CLIT 7013 Creative Project