Meg Cabot - Princess on the Brink

MEG CABOT

PrincessON THE BRINK

THE PRINCESS DIARIES, VOLUME VIII

For Abby, with love and thanks

I supposeto Sarathat you feel now that you are a princess again. I tried not to be anything else, she answered in a low voice. Even when I was coldest and hungriest. I triednotto be.

A LITTLE PRINCESS

Frances Hodgson Burnett

CONTENTS

EPIGRAPH

BEGIN READING

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

OTHER BOOKS BY MEG CABOT

CREDITS

COPYRIGHT

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

ME, A PRINCESS???? YEAH, RIGHT.

A Screenplay by Mia Thermopolis

(first draft)

Scene 12

INT/DAYThe Palm Court at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. A flat-chested girl with upside-down-yield-sign-shaped hair (fourteen-year-old MIA THERMOPOLIS) is sitting at an ornately set table across from a bald man (her father, PRINCE PHILLIPE). We can tell by MIAs expression that her father is telling her something upsetting.

PRINCE PHILLIPE

Youre not Mia Thermopolis anymore, honey.

MIA

(blinking with astonishment)

Im not? Then who am I?

PRINCE PHILLIPE

Youre Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, Princess of Genovia.

Tuesday, September 7, Intro to Creative Writing

Oh, she has GOT to be kidding. Describe a room?That is our first assignment? DESCRIBE A ROOM? Does she have any idea how long Ive been describing rooms creatively? I mean, Ive described rooms in SPACEfor instance, in myBattlestar Galactica fan fic about Starbuck and Apollo finally Doing It.

You know what I cant believe? I cant believe she stuck me in Intro to Creative Writing. I should be in Intermediate at least. I mean, with my practice PSAT scoreswhich, okay, were about as low as they could be in math, but were GREAT in verbalI should have tested into it.

And okay, the SATs dont measure creativity (unless were supposed to believe that those people grading the essay part really read them).

But my verbal score alone should prove that Im capable of describing a ROOM. Doesnt she know Ive moved on from describing roomsand even from writing novelsto writing whole screenplays?

Because Lilly is totally right, theres no other way Im ever going to get a true representation of the story of my life onto the silver screen unless I write it myself. And Lilly directs it. I know its going to be tricky finding financing and all, but J.P. said hed help. And he knows TONS of people in Hollywood. Just the other day he and his parents had dinner with Steven Spielbergs cousin.

Why cant Ms. Martinez see that by putting me in Intro to Creative Writing instead of Intermediate, where I belong, she is repressing my artistic growth? How is the blossom of my creativity ever going to be able to bloom if no one WATERS it?

Describe a room. Okay, heres a room for you, Ms. Martinez:

The four stone walls press narrowly against one another, glistening with moisture dripping from the low ceiling. The only light that filters in comes from the single tiny barred window near the ceiling. The only furnishings are a narrow cot with a thin mattress made of striped ticking, and a bucket. The purpose for the bucket is made obvious by the stench emanating from it. Is that what is attracting the rats that lurk in the shadowed corners, their pink noses quivering?

C

Mia, when I said describe a room, I meant describe a room you know well. While Im certain dungeons like the one youre describing do exist in your palace in Genovia, I highly doubt youve spent much time there. Furthermore, I happen to know from my membership in Amnesty International that Genovia is not on the watch list for inhuman treatment of prisoners, which leads to my next question: When is the last time the dungeons in your palace were even used? And I believe a man as forward thinking as your father would have installed a proper sewage system in the palace by now, making thee need for buckets for human waste obsolete.

C. Martinez

Tuesday, September 7, English

MIA!!!! Arent you EXCITED???? Its a whole new school year! Were JUNIORS!!! JUST ONE YEAR AWAY FROM RULING THE SCHOOL!!!! Oh, your hair looks great, by the way.T

Do you really think so, Tina? About my hair? Mom and I took Rocky to Astor Place Hairstylists yesterday for his first haircut, since it was the only place open, seeing as how it was Labor Day. He wouldnt stop screaming bloody murder about it, so I volunteered to let them trim mine first, to show him it didnt hurt. I have to admit, I was kind of startled when they got the clippers out!

I think its great. You look just like Audrey Hepburn inRoman Holiday! What did Michael say when he saw it????

I havent seen him since I got back from Genovia. Were meeting at Number One Noodle Son tonight though. I cant WAIT!!! He says he has something VERY IMPORTANT he needs to tell me, that he cant tell me over the phone or IM.

What do you think it is???? And Number One Noodle Son? Thats a little out of his neighborhood, isnt it? Isnt he moved into the dorm yet?

No, not yet. Something about his housing. I think thats what he wants to tell me. Maybe hes getting his own apartment or something.

OH MY GOD!!! Can you imagine if he had his own place???? No roommates to burst in on you. And his own kitchen!!! He could make you romantic dinners!!!!!

I dont KNOW if thats what it is. He was very vague about it on the phone.

Hebetter be getting his own place. What does he think, youre going to make out at his parents place, in front of Lillynot to mention his MOM????

Ha. Although Michaels mom probably wouldnt even notice, she spends so much time up at Michaels dads apartment.

Are the Drs. Moscovitz getting back together???

I hope so! Michael says theyve started dating. Each other!

Well, thats better than if they were dating other people, I guess. Still, they might as well just get back together, in that case. Save money on rent. God, Im glad my parents just ignore each other, like a normal couple.

Totally. Speaking of hair, what do you think of Lillys highlights?

She says J.P. prefers blondes. I dont know. I never thought LILLY would be someone whod change how she looks for a GUY. J.P. must be a total sexual dynamo.

TINA!!!! They havent Done It!!!!!

Oh. I just assumed.

OH MY GOD. WHY????

Well, he DID go to her place in Albany that weekend.

Whatever, that was just because his parents were checking out some summer stock companies upstate! If theyd Done It, shed have told us. I mean, dont you think shed have told us?

Shed have toldyou, maybe. Shed never tell ME. Lilly thinks Im a goody-two-shoes.

She does not!!!!

Yes, she does. But thats okay. I AM a goody-two-shoes. I dont even want to SEE It. Let alone Touch It. Could you imagine having one? Id die. Do you think Lillys touched J.P.s?

NO WAY!!!! Shed have told me. I mean, its true I havent seen her since I got back from Genovia for the summer. But still. Shed have told me if shedyou know. At least Ithink so

She touched Boriss.

WHAT????? Also AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! WHY DID YOU TELL ME THAT??????

Well, I didnt want to know either!!!! Boris told me!!!!

WHY DID HE TELLYOU THAT????

Because of that book my aunt gave meyou know,Your Precious Gift.

Oh, right. That one about how your virginity is a precious gift you should only give to the person you marry, because you can only give it once, and you dont want to give it to someone who wont value it.

Yeah. Only the book doesnt say anything about what youre supposed to do if after you marry the person you find out that hes gay, something you might have known before you went to all the expense of a wedding if you hadnt waited. But whatever. Boris saw thee book on my shelf and was worried I might be upset that Lilly had touched it before I did. Even though hes still, you know. A virgin. It was just touching.