The Princess and the Frog

***The Princess and the Frog*** is an upcoming live action animated musical adventure fantasy film based on E.D. Baker's novel *The Frog Princess*, which was in turn inspired by the Brothers Grimm's fairy tale *The Frog Prince*. It will be producing by Disney Studios and Walt Disney Pictures. It is the same name in 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog.

## Plot

The movie begins with a bright star shining in the Louisiana sky. We hear the voice of Tiana singing, telling us that anything is possible if you wish upon the evening star. We are then taken to the very pink and frilly bedroom of young Charlotte La Bouff, who is sitting beside a young Tiana as they listen to Tiana's seamstress mother, Eudora tells the tale of the Frog Prince as she puts the finishing touches on a dress for Charlotte. Charlotte is entranced by the story while Tiana is clearly disgusted and vows never to kiss a frog. Charlotte then puts a frog mask on her white kitten and starts pushing it in Tiana's face. But when Charlotte starts kissing the white kitten, it jumps up and gets stuck on the ceiling. Eudora then gets it off the ceiling and takes the mask off the horrified white kitten. Charlotte's father, "Big Daddy" La Bouff arrives home with a new puppy for his spoiled daughter while Eudora and Tiana head home.

We quickly learn that Tiana and her friend Charlotte are definitely from two different worlds as the young girl and her mother head home to their tiny shack where Tiana's father, James, waits for them. Tiana and her father laugh together as they whip up a batch of his famous gumbo and talk about their shared dream of one day opening a restaurant. Tiana makes a wish on the evening star that their dream will one day come true. Tiana's father reminds her that wishing can only take you so far, and you have to get the rest of the way yourself through hard work. He makes her promise that she'll never lose sight of what's really important in life.

Several years later, Tiana is now a beautiful young woman all grown up, working two waitressing jobs and saving up all her tips in a bedroom drawer, hoping to earn enough money to open the restaurant she and her father had always dreamed of. Before heading off to her second job, she plants a quick kiss on a photo of her father (it is implied that he was killed in WWI), telling him that they're "almost there".

As Tiana heads off to work, we get a quick glimpse of the hustle and bustle of New Orleans as it was in the 1920s - full of life and culture (the newspaper seen when Naveen gets off the boat says April 1926). However, it soon becomes apparent that Tiana is much too focused on her job to really take part in any of it. She's seen turning down invitations to social events from her friends in favor of working extra shifts. She's a determined and hard-working young woman that will sacrifice her own happiness to reach her dream.

While waiting tables, her best friend Charlotte (who became all grown up like Tiana) arrives with exciting news - Prince Naveen from the faraway country of Maldonia has arrived in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. He will be staying with the La Bouffs, and "Big Daddy" hopes that Naveen and Charlotte will hit it off so the two can wed. Charlotte is thrilled at the thought of marrying a Prince and pays Tiana an immense quantity of money to whip up some "man-catching beignets" for the Prince's welcome party in order to impress him. After accepting the payment, Tiana finally has enough money for a down payment on the run-down sugarmill she plans on turning into her restaurant.

Meanwhile, Prince Naveen and his butler, Lawrence, arrive in New Orleans. Naveen is entranced by the New Orleans music and culture (and women). He definitely lives a playboy lifestyle. We quickly learn that, though he is royalty, Naveen's parents have cut him off financially and that his only choice is to marry a rich woman or get a job. Of course, Naveen would never dream of lifting a finger himself and instead hopes to marry Charlotte and inherit some of her fortunes.

As Naveen and Lawrence wander the streets, they run into the shady Dr. Facilier also known as the Shadow Man, who invites them to his voodoo shop, where they learn about his powers and his "friends on the other side". Jealous of the La Bouff fortune and power, the Shadow Man takes advantage of the Prince's gullibility and Lawrence's resentment of his master to help in his plot to take over New Orleans. He turns Naveen into a frog and, using a magical talisman, turns Lawrence into an exact copy of Prince Naveen (though his eye color and voice do not change into Naveen's). The plan is for Lawrence (as Naveen) to marry Charlotte, get her money, and share it with the Shadow Man (who plans on killing Charlotte's father and using his fortune to control the city).

That night, at the masquerade party, Naveen (Lawrence in disguise) arrives and immediately sweeps Charlotte off her feet. She is clearly enraptured by the idea of marrying a prince. Meanwhile, Tiana discovers that someone has outbid her on the old building. If she can't get the money in three days, she'll lose any hope of achieving her and her father's dream. Feeling hopeless, Tiana goes out onto the balcony and makes another wish upon the evening star. It is here, under the stars, that a talking frog comes to her, who turns out to be the real Prince Naveen.

Naveen mistakes her for a princess (due to her masquerade costume) and tells her that, if she kisses him, he will become human again, and then he will give her anything she wants in return. Thinking of her beloved restaurant, Tiana reluctantly kisses Naveen creating a big flash of magic. Naveen then looks at himself, only to sigh in disappointment upon seeing that he's still a frog then looks down and sees the dress Tiana was wearing on the floor. Tiana comes out of the dress and looks up at Naveen, saying he doesn’t look much different and wonders how he got way up there. While looking at the dress she was wearing, she sees her green hand then looks at herself in a mirror and sees that she has been turned into a frog too. In great panic and anger, she jumps onto the table to Naveen and attacks him resulting in them getting launched out of the room and landing in the party. Chaos ensues as they end up in Charlotte's dress and are chased away by her dog, Stella, and several disgruntled party guests. During Tiana and Naveen's runaway they are spotted by Lawrence and the Shadow Man who then head back to the guesthouse where they left Naveen and see that he really has escaped.

Tiana and Naveen have a rough first night as frogs, as they are nearly eaten by a group of alligators and forced into hiding in an old tree trunk (arguing the entire time, of course). Her hardworking, no-nonsense personality and his lazy and carefree nature do not mesh well. The next day, Tiana builds a tiny raft, throws an acorn at Naveen to wake him up, and tells him that they must get back to New Orleans, track down the Shadow Man, and break the curse.

On the way, they run into another enormous gator named Louis. At first, they fear he will eat them, but soon learn that Louis is a gentle giant who loves jazz music and dreams of playing the trumpet in a jazz band, but it's never worked out for him (cue hysterical flashback of Louis jumping onto a paddle boat and joining in the band before being screamed and shot at by the terrified humans). When they explain their situation to Louis, he tells them they should visit Mama Odie, the voodoo queen of the bayou. At first, he’s reluctant to show them the way, but Naveen cleverly convinces him to come, implying that Mama Odie may be able to turn Louis human and help his dreams come true.

As they journey through the bayou, the three meet up with Raymond, also known as Ray, a Cajun firefly, who helps save Naveen and Tiana when they are captured by Reggie, Darnell, and Two Fingers, who are looking for a frog-leg dinner. As they eat some "swamp gumbo" whipped up by Tiana and celebrate their escape from the human hunters, Ray reveals that he is in love with a beautiful firefly named Evangeline, who shines brightly in the sky every night. The others quickly realize that Evangeline is actually not a firefly but is really the "evening star" that shines in the sky. However, none of them have the heart to tell Ray the truth as he sings a beautiful love song for his Evangeline. As Ray serenades the star, Naveen convinces Tiana to dance with him which ends with the two nearly kissing, and it quickly becomes clear that the two are starting to fall for one another.

Back in New Orleans, the impostor Naveen (Lawrence) has finally proposed to Charlotte, who is positively delighted. She proclaims that the two will be married that night at the big Mardi Gras parade and runs off to make wedding plans. While she is gone, the spell that makes Lawrence look like Naveen finishes wearing off. The Shadow Man then shows up and sees that the magic talisman is out of Naveen’s blood. They need to bring him back and get more of his blood for the talisman to start working again. The Shadow Man has no choice but to call on his "friends on the other side" (who, it turns out, are shadow demons). He sends them out into the bayou to find Naveen and bring him back alive and healthy.

Early that morning, back in the bayou, Naveen, Tiana, Ray, and Louis finally find the very old and very blind Mama Odie. Though she seems to be somewhat senile at first, she gives them all good advice – they must "dig a little deeper" to find out what's really important. They explain that they want to be human again, but she insists that it's not what they want; it’s what they need that matters. Naveen sees that what he needs is to be with Tiana. On the other hand, Tiana is too blinded by her desire to live out her dream to see that there is something more important right in front of her.

Mama Odie explains that the only way for the two of them to become human again is for Naveen to kiss a princess. They quickly realize that this means Charlotte (whose father had been crowned as King of Mardi Gras, making her the "princess"). The plan is for Naveen to kiss Charlotte before midnight (while she is still a princess) in order to turn himself and Tiana human again, marry her, and buy Tiana her restaurant, just as he promised her when she first gave him a kiss.

Thanking Mama Odie profusely, the four friends head out to the river to find their way back to New Orleans. They hitch a ride aboard a paddleboat (everyone thinks Louis is wearing a very realistic alligator costume for Mardi Gras and invite him to join the band), and Naveen quickly confides in Ray his plan to propose to Tiana that very night, before the Mardi Gras parade. He proudly proclaims that he’ll give up his lazy lifestyle and get "two jobs, maybe three" to help keep his promise to Tiana and get her restaurant.

He sets up a beautiful candle-lit dinner (one giant candle, since they're still frog-sized) and makes several feeble attempts to express his feelings for her but is clearly nervous and flustered. Before he can get the words out, the boat passes the old factory Tiana plans to turn into her restaurant, distracting her. She starts talking once again about her dream, and Naveen feels that she really cares more about her restaurant than about him. He knows that he will never be able to give her the money for her restaurant unless he marries Charlotte, so he gives up his plan to propose and instead sets his mind on getting back to Charlotte, so he can help make Tiana’s dream come true.

Before they arrive in New Orleans, Naveen is captured by the Shadow Man's voodoo "friends", unbeknownst to his companions. After he is gone, when they finally arrive at Mardi Gras, Ray reveals to Tiana that Naveen truly loves her and plans on proposing. Tiana realizes that this is what she truly wants and rushes off into the crowd to find him. However, when she reaches the parade, she sees Charlotte standing beside the fake Naveen (wearing the newly-replenished talisman), preparing to marry him. Tiana misunderstands, thinking he has already kissed her, becoming human, and running off to the cemetery alone.

Ray follows her and tries to console her, but Tiana angrily snaps and hurts Ray by calling Evangeline nothing more than a star, millions of miles away from him, and that he needs to open his eyes to the truth before he gets hurt as she did. Still not convinced, Ray rushes back to the parade and frees frog-Naveen, who stops the wedding by jumping onto the impostor and knocking him off the float. Lawrence loses the talisman and is returned to his true form. Now that he has been revealed as a fraud, the bumbling Lawrence is quickly carted away by the police. Realizing its significance, Ray steals the voodoo talisman and flies away with it. Furious, the Shadow Man chases Ray all the way to the cemetery.

Ray finally meets up with Tiana and gives her the talisman, making her promise to keep it out of the Shadow Man's possession. She hops away with it, while Ray stays behind to destroy as many shadows as possible. With his light, he kills a few of them. The Shadow Man knocks Ray to the ground and coldly crushes him without a second thought before wearing a disgusted expression and casually walks off. A few seconds later, Louis comes running, calling for Ray, but finds the firefly lying on the ground mortally wounded and makes off for Tiana and Naveen.

The shadows and the Shadow Man continue chasing Tiana before finally cornering her, but when she threatens to break the talisman into a million pieces, the Shadow Man casts an enchantment on her, causing her to look human again, and changes the setting to her dream restaurant with the Shadow Man offering to make her a deal. She thinks she sees Naveen playing the ukulele in the corner of the room, but when the man turns around, she sees it isn't and is disappointed. The Shadow Man, meanwhile, tries to convince Tiana to hand over the talisman, promising the restaurant and becoming a human again. When she refuses to, he brings up memories of her sacrifices and people doubting her abilities. Finally, her father works hard but fails to get enough money for a restaurant. He tells her that if she gives him the talisman, he’ll turn her back into a human and give her everything she's ever dreamed of — everything she and her father always wanted. Tiana hesitates a moment, but her eyes light up in realization, and she explains that while it’s true her father never got what he wanted, he had what he needed; he had love, and he never lost sight of what was really important, and that's what she needs too. Tiana throws the talisman to the ground, but it's snatched up by the Shadow Man's own shadow, and the illusion immediately disappears.

The Shadow Man cackles, transforms Tiana back into a frog, and tells her that she should have taken his deal, but Tiana takes the talisman back and shatters it into pieces using her tongue. This greatly angers the voodoo spirits, who come out of the talisman. The Shadow Man is horrified and frets how he won't be able to pay back his debt. Totem heads come out of the stone heads, asking if he's ready, which he replies that he isn't. Voodoo dolls climb out of the ground, and in terror, he says that he has lots more plans, revealing that he has the prince locked away, making Tiana realize that Ray was telling the truth. An enormous totem head drags in the Shadow Man's own shadow, which in turn brings along the hysterical witch doctor himself into the voodoo world to sacrifice his soul as punishment for his unpaid debts, much to Tiana’s horror.

After the Shadow Man's fate is sealed Tiana heads back to the parade, where she sees Naveen talking to Charlotte while Lawrence was arrested and sent to prison. He explains to Charlotte what has happened and that if she kisses him by midnight (which is mere minutes away), he will become human again, and he will marry her. Naveen's only condition is that Charlotte promises to give Tiana the money she needs for her restaurant. "She is my Evangeline," he explains. Deeply touched, Tiana hops out of the shadows and confesses her love for Naveen, telling him she’d rather be a frog forever and stay with him than have her restaurant without him. Naveen confesses that he loves her too, and the two embrace. Charlotte is moved to tears that her friend is finally living out the fairy tale she has always dreamed of, and agrees to kiss Naveen for Tiana, so they can both be human again and marry each other.

She holds Naveen in her hand and leans in for the kiss — but it’s too late. Midnight has come and, though she kisses him again and again, nothing happens as Charlotte is no longer a princess. Before anything else can be said, Louis rushes in, holding a dying Ray in his hand. He lays Ray on the ground, and he turns to Tiana and Naveen, asking them why they're still frogs, and they tearfully reply to him that everything is alright and the two of them will stay that way and stay together — thanks, in part, to him. Ray gives a weak smile, saying that makes him very happy, and it makes Evangeline happy too. His eyes slowly close, and his light slowly flickers out as he peacefully passes away.

His three friends tearfully bring him back to the bayou for a funeral with the rest of his firefly family. As they place his tiny body in a leaf with two flowers and push it out across the water, everyone starts to gasp and look up at the sky as a bright, white light shines down from above. Another star has appeared beside Evangeline, shining just as brightly. Everyone starts to cheer because they can see that Ray finally got his wish to be with Evangeline at last.

The funeral then fades away to a celebration as animals from the entire bayou gather together to see Mama Odie perform Naveen and Tiana’s wedding ceremony. As she pronounces them "frog and wife", they share a kiss and turn back into humans. Mama Odie laughs as the two figure out that, in becoming Naveen's wife, Tiana became a princess and thus, kissing each other broke the spell.

The two return to New Orleans where they have a second wedding ceremony, then buy the old sugar mill from the Real Estate agents with some help from Louis and work together, fixing it up and eventually turning it into "Tiana's Palace", a very successful, upscale restaurant. We see Tiana and Naveen happily serving tables as Louis the gator entertains the guests onstage with his trumpet. Tiana and Naveen go up to the roof, where they dance together and share a kiss beneath the stars. Tiana sings, "Dreams do come true in New Orleans!", while Ray and Evangeline continue to shine brightly together in the night sky above as the movie closes.

## Cast

* To-be-announced Actress as Tiana
* To-be-announced Actor as Prince Naveen
* To-be-announced Actor as Dr. Facilier
* To-be-announced Actress as Charlotte La Bouff
* To-be-announced Actress as Mama Odie
* To-be-announced Actor as Ray
* To-be-announced Actor as Louis
* To-be-announced Actor as Lawrence