Rapunzel by Stephen Jacobs © 2000
A tale of love, revenge, and very long hair.

Log line: An innocent girl and a myopic Prince fight to foil a witch’s evil plans.

Synopsis: At the 6th birthday for bored Prince James a variety of entertainers perform. After a rather unfortunate JESTER is attacked by a bear, the resident witch, GOTHEL is called to the stage. Gothel is not happy about having to do parlour tricks and takes out her frustration on her assistant GILBERT. While Gothel is on stage James wanders off and is seriously injured for which Gothel and Gilbert are blamed. As punishment KING FREDERICK exiles them both. Gilbert tries to go his own way but Gothel turns him into a toad and he is forced to accompany her back to her cabin in the woods.  This cabin is guarded by an enchanted Door which only opens on Gothel’s command and her loyal but stupid bat named RAMONE is glad of Gothel’s return, despite the abuse she heaps upon him.

Castle servant JONATHAN and his wife RACHEL have been trying to have a baby without success. Jonathan realises that Gothel has herbs that could enable Rachel to conceive, but when he asks the witch for help she rudely refuses. He tries to steal the herbs, but is caught. In exchange for his life, Gothel makes him promise that he will give her whatever she demands. Without knowing what that might be, he agrees and takes the herbs.

After Rachel gives birth Gothel arrives and takes the child. Back in her cellar she tells Ramone that sacrificing the child when she is 18 and never having known the kiss of true love will give Gothel infinite power.

Will Gothel's plan come to fruition, or will Rapunzel be saved?

Writer's comments:

I started writing this in the 1990s after seeing the Walter Crane illustration (above left) in a book of fairy tales. When I put pen to paper the story had yet to be turned into an animated movie. Since writing there has been the video release Barbie Rapunzel and now there is a Disney version of the tale due out in 2009. Ah, c'est la vie!

Jack the Giant Killer by Stephen Jacobs & Mark Williams ©2000

Log line: A young farm boy and a knight of the Crusades join forces to stop a ruthless warlock named Pendragon from taking over the Kingdom.

Synopsis: In Medieval England we see a vicious and evil looking prisoner PENDRAGON be dragged defiantly before the KING and a hall full of townsfolk. The King sentences Pendragon to death for trying to woo the Prince into his service in order to betray the King and win the kingdom for himself. Pendragon remains defiant until the end, cursing the town and promising pain and misery for all.

At a nearby farm we meet JACK, a “young farm-boy,” his father WILL, his beautiful neighbour CATHERINE and her father, THOMAS. They’re trying to lead a normal life amidst the rumours of coming evil and the mysterious murders of livestock that has begun to plague the countryside. Sure enough, on a nearby island, black magic causes a goat to turn into the blood thirsty giant, CORMORAN, who wades across the ocean, to the main land where he indiscriminately begins to kill people and livestock. On one raid the Giant attacks Thomas’ farmhouse, killing him and leaving Catherine homeless. Will and Jack take her in but it is short lived as the Giant returns, killing Jack’s father. Enraged, Jack sets out after the Giant, building a trap for it and luring it to the mainland with the sound of an irritating horn. The Giant comes and with a great show of bravery and vengeance, Jack slays it, becoming the toast of the town. This victory is short lived however, as Pendragon gets word and sends a “Devil” into town to snatch Jack’s love Catherine.

With no choice but to act, Jack sets out to find Catherine, knowing he’ll have to face Pendragon himself. A short way into his journey he saves an elderly Knight from certain death in a fight with two young men and earns the Knight’s loyalty. We soon learn that the Knight is actually a Crusader who was cursed by Pendragon for slaying another Giant, BLUNDERBORE. The curse was administered by his love, LILITH who works for Pendragon. The curse makes him age rapidly and he fears he hasn’t much longer to live. When Jack tells him of his mission, the Knight decides to go along...

And so begins the quest.

Writer's comments:

Stephen: I've always been a fan of Nathan Juran's 1962 fantasy picture Jack the Giant Killer starring Kerwin Mathews, Judi Meredith and Torin Thatcher. In the late 1990s Mark and I agreed Jack was crying out to be remade - or 'reimagined'. We went back to the old Cornish legends of Jack The Giant Killer and used this for inspiration. We also added other elements from English folklore.