Stephen Sondheim
Careful My Toe
[NARRATOR, spoken]
As the Prince anxiously waited, the stepmother took matters
And Florinda's foot, into her own hands.
[FLORINDA]
Careful my toe!
[STEPMOTHER]
Darling I know
[FLORINDA]
What do we do?
[STEPMOTHER]
It'll have to go
But when you're his bride
You can sit or ride
You'll never need to walk!
[NARRATOR, spoken]
Minus one toe, Florinda mounted the Prince's horse, unaware of the blood dripping from the slipper. Lucinda was next.
[LUCINDA]
Why won't it fit?
[STEPMOTHER]
Darling be still
Cut off a bit
Of the heel and it will
And when you're his wife
You'll have such a life
You'll never need to walk!
[NARRATOR, spoken]
Minus a heel, Lucinda did her best to swallow the pain.
[STEPMOTHER, spoken]
It's a perfect fit, Your Highness.