ELLA

(feeling the barb)

What's that supposed to mean?!

SUNNY

Just that kindness comes more naturally to some... and with all your butlers and servants and dresses and stuff, it's probably hard to find the time!

Ella pulls up short and turns on Sunny, who holds her ground. Bertie and Chip share a resigned look, and tiptoe out of there.

A couple of rain drops hit the Piazza.

ELLA

I'll have you know, miss know-it-all, that part of my burden, as PRINCESS, is to reach out to ALL layers of the community! I am a PROFESSIONAL kindness... (um...)giver.

It's raining for real, now. The 2 girls speedily head off the Piazza. Dinsmore, still holding the folded umbrella has to hurry to catch up.

SUNNY

(running off)

Prove it! I bet you can't!

ELLA

(yelling after her)

I bet I can! My act of kindness will be THE kindest act anyone has EVER seen -
AUGH, my HAIR is getting wet! Dinsmore! DINSMORE!!

Dinsmore steps up smartly and holds the open umbrella over Ella's head. She fussily pats her hair, oblivious to the butler getting soaked.

A few plaintive notes sing out over the deserted Piazza.

RAGGY MUFFIN (O.S.)

(sings)

Nowhere to go And the rain's falling down...

Ella looks around. The singing stops. Another chord sounds.

Ella follows the sounds and finds RAGGY MUFFIN, sheltering in a stairway, with a couple of sacks and a tattered coat folded up for a cushion. He's bent over his guitar.

RAGGY

Feet getting wet But the sky is my crow-how-hown...

Ella looks at the little tableau, clearly touched. Then, she grins slyly.

INT. CASTLe, THRONE ROOM - DAY

KING KLUMP and QUEEN KLUMPETTA sit on their thrones, looking surprised.

REVERSE ANGLE on Ella, proud.

Behind her stands a befuddled Raggy, clutching his instrument, surrounded by his bits and bobs. He's flanked by GUARDS #1 and #2, with CAPTAIN BANG bringing up the rear, looking sternly at Raggy.

KING KLUMP

Um... dear? Why did you have Raggy arrested?

ELLA

I didn't have him ARRESTED. I SAVED him!

KING KLUMP

(alarmed)

SAVED him?! From what? Were you in any danger?

ELLA

Nooo, daddy! I saved him from his misery!

RAGGY

(hesitantly)

Uh, miss Princess, it was only a song, you know?

ELLA

(dismissively)

Shush! You were CLEARLY in desperate straits! And out of the KINDNESS of my heart I saw that it was my civic DUTY to RESCUE you!

RAGGY

But--

ELLA

(regally)

No need to thank me...

QUEEN KLUMPETTA

Yes, yes, very... charitable. But now that you've saved him, dear, what do you propose to do next?

ELLA

Why, it's obvious, mother! He has no place of his own, and we've got ever so many rooms! From now on, he will stay here!

QUEEN KLUMPETTA

(dismayed)

WHAT?!

KING KLUMP

Oh, eh, hahah, dear... I don't know if that is the BEST option--

ELLA

(insistent)

It's our civic DUTY!

KING KLUMP

Ah, ahem, duty... yes.

The king falls silent, while Ella beams proudly at her parents. Queen Klumpetta eyes Raggy uncomfortably. Raggy stares at the floor, red-faced.

MONTAGE

The following happens in a series of rapid vignettes, with muted dialogue.

INT. CASTLE, GUEST ROOM - NIGHT

Raggy tunes his guitar, then goes into full jam session mode.

INT. CASTLE, ROYAL BEDROOM - NIGHT

King Klump and Queen Klumpetta sit up in bed, bleary-eyed, while Raggy's 'wall of sound' makes the room reverberate.

INT. CASTLE, GUEST ROOM - DAY

Dawn. A sudden terrific BLAST on a horn makes Raggy jump from his bed in utter terror.

EXT. CASTLE, WATCHTOWER #1 - DAY

Guard #1 stands on the tower, playing the Royal Fanfare on his bugle. Badly.

INT. CASTLE, THRONE ROOM - DAY

A big table stands in the centre of the room. King Klump, Queen Klumpetta and Ella are seated. Dinsmore is serving them from a long, food laden table against the wall.

He goes to pick up a dish and finds Raggy there, ladling stuff onto his plate like he's at a self service buffet.

Dinsmore's so shocked he nearly drops his tray.

CUT TO:

Later. Raggy sits at the table. Before him, a tasty dish, and every conceivable piece of cutlery is laid out.

He goes for a fork. Queen Klumpetta clears her throat. She's glaring at him.

He puts down the fork, and goes for a spoon, hesitantly. She shakes her head.

He sags, the treat before him unattainable.

EXT. CASTLE - DAY

Queen Klumpetta steps out of the main gates, ready for another glorious day.

She turns around to look at her glamorous home... and is horrified to see the bunting by Raggy's room has been replaced by his tattered clothes, hanging out to dry!

INT. CASTLE, CORRIDOR - DAY

Raggy is dragging his feet. He looks up dejectedly, starts, and runs towards MINNIE BLINK, who's about to throw his raggedy clothes into a dustbin.

Raggy snatches away his belongings and flees into his room.

MONTAGE ENDS

INT. CASTLE, CORRIDOR - DAY

Chip, Bertie and Sunny are sauntering towards Raggy's new digs, led by Dinsmore.

BERTIE

So, um, how's Raggy been doing?

DINSMORE

Master Muffin has elected to stay in his room, of late.

SUNNY

Oh, really? Ella said you've all been having a "grand time of it"?!

DINSMORE

Humhum. If her highness says so.

Dinsmore knocks at the door. They hear a stumble inside.

RAGGY (O.S.)

I'm sorry! Whatever I'm supposed to have done, I didn't mean to!

INT. CASTLE, GUEST ROOM - DAY

Bertie, Sunny and Chip take in the view. Raggy's standing in a corner, surrounded by all his bits and bobs, like a little defensive wall.

BERTIE

So Raggy... what were you sorry about?

RAGGY

(eyeing Dinsmore)

Oh, yeah, uh. Nothing. Yeah...

Dinsmore leaves. Raggy sags in relief.

RAGGY

Phew, man, it's good to see you guys.

BERTIE

What's the matter, Raggy? I thought you were settling in fine?

RAGGY

Oh, yeah, princess Ella has been so nice to me... saving me from my miserable plight and all that... And everyone's been really patient with me and all... yeah.

Raggy falls silent, and morosely plucks a few sad notes from his guitar. Bertie and Chip look at each other and shrug their shoulders.

KING KLUMP (O.S.)

Oh, I see you have visitors!

Raggy jumps up, all nerves again, as the King enters the room.

RAGGY

Oh, yeah, sorry! I hope it's all right! I mean, if it's not, it's not a problem, you know?!

KING KLUMP

Yes, yes, that's quite all right, dear fellow! Hum-hum. Um, Bertie, a word?

INT. CASTLE, CORRIDOR - DAY

Bertie follows King Klump out of the room. Unbidden, Chip joins them.

KING KLUMP

(to Bertie)

You might have noticed that mister Muffin is... less happy than usual?

CHIP

(butts in)

He looks miserable!

KING KLUMP

Ah. Yes. He does, doesn't he?

CHIP

If he doesn't like it here, why doesn't he just go?

KING KLUMP

Well, you see, Princess Ella has been so proud of her achievement... An act of kindness beyond measure... He may not want to disappoint her.

During this, Bertie's listening and thinking in his usual fashion. Then he looks up, eyes aglow.

INT. CASTLE, GUEST ROOM - DAY

Raggy sees Bertie whisper to King Klump in the doorway. The King straightens up, all smiles, and taps Bertie on his shoulder. Bertie runs into the room.

BERTIE

Come on, Raggy! Let's get out of here!

RAGGY

Oh, what? Oh, no, I can't just leave! Miss Ella will be so disappointed, and she's been trying so hard!

BERTIE

Don't worry! I have the perfect solution for that!

EXT. PIAZZA - DAY

Bertie, Chip and a glowering Sunny follow Ella, who holds a letter in her hand.

ELLA

When I first saw Raggy's room was empty, I was, of course, devastated! But then I found this wonderful letter he had left me! Listen to this:

ELLA (cont.)

(melodramatically)

... and I thank you, dearest princess Ella, for taking me in. Your SHINING example has shown me there IS a place for me in the Pipple Tree. So, it is with a heavy heart, but full of hope, that I now set out to FIND that place.

(presses the letter to her chest)

Such beautiful words! And so well written!

SUNNY

(glaring at Bertie)

Yes. Very well written.

ELLA

Oh, Sunny, don't be mean! Be kind! If you act kindly, the whole world will marvel at you! Just as they do with me!

Bertie looks away, then signals urgently to Chip.

CHIP

Wha... Oh! Oh, eh... Is that a new dress I see in the window?

ELLA

(snaps her head around)

What?! Where, where?

As the kids pass the stairs, Ella utterly fails to notice Raggy, back in his usual spot, happy as a clam. He and Bertie share a conspiratorial wink.

FADE OUT.