The Princess of Hearts is a story I've had for a long time but only just got around to actually writing. Since I've held onto this idea for a while, I have a very specific vision of this as a film(, so my plot is very detailed and long. I split it into two parts to make it easier to read. This story is based on two celebrity encounters I've had: one let me (and his other fans) down, the other went above and beyond for his fans. The story takes place in 1930s Hollywood, so the prince and princesses are not of royal blood but are called "Prince" and "Princess" because of their fame.

Characters:
Zebulon “Zeb” Zircon/The Prince of Hearts- a movie star for Al A. Baster productions, nicknamed “The Prince of Hearts” because of his popularity with the ladies both on-screen and off. He’s 25 years old, tall, dark-haired, light blue-eyed. His public persona is witty, charismatic, and maybe a bit snobbish, but the real Zeb Zircon is insecure and awkward.

Diamond- a 19 year old costume designer for a theater owned by Al A. Baster productions; one of six contestants in a contest to become Zeb’s new leading lady. She’s a short plus-sized blue-eyed brunette who dreams of a better life outside her small town and admires Zeb Zircon, not for his looks and money, but for the kind person she believes he is.
Pearl Strand- a 22 year old actress with Al A. Baster productions who has appeared in many films as Zeb Zircon’s leading lady; Diamond’s biggest rival in the contest. She tall, thin and pale with wavy platinum-blonde hair and violet eyes. She’s snobby, spiteful and materialistic, and she thinks she has the contest in the bag.
Ruby- another of the six contestants; a 20 year old Latina opera singer. Ruby is sassy and snarky’ She always speaks her mind and never sugar-coats anything she has to say.
Sapphire- the oldest of the contestants; a 23 year old African-American jazz singer. She’s driven, practical and matter-of-fact.
Jade- another contestant; an 18 year old Asian-American classical violinist. She’s shy and awkward and like Diamond, is considered an underdog in the contest.
Emerald- the youngest of the competitors and the first to befriend Diamond; a 16 year old ballerina. Emerald has strawberry-blonde hair that she wears in a bob and green eyes. She’s funny and easygoing, which makes some people believe she is dumb.
Gem- Diamond’s father, a sickly wheelchair-bound man of 50. He’s blue-eyed and brown-haired like his daughter, though his hair is streaked with gray. Gem is a loving father and tries to be supportive of Diamond, but sometimes underestimates her.
Jasper- Diamond’s cat, given to her by her father just before she left home. He is about 1 year old with ginger fur, gold eyes and chubby cheeks. He doesn’t have human speech, but he gets the message across by his expressions and various tones of meowing. He’s playful, rambunctious, and extremely devoted to his owner
Opal- Pearl’s poodle. She’s about 3 years old, white in color, with a pink bow on top of her head and a pink pearl collar. Her personality is the opposite of Jasper: cold, reserved, and haughty. Like her owner, she hates Diamond and Jasper.
Al A. Baster- owner and president of Al A. Baster productions; boss to Zeb Zircon and all entrants in the contest. He’s 60 years old with gray hair and a mustache and is always seen wearing a suit and tie. He is stern and pragmatic, though he has a heart deep down.
Sterling Silvers- Zeb’s manager, a chubby man of 45. He is sycophantic and extremely pompous.
Rose Gold- Diamond’s boss, who later plays a prominent part in the contest. She’s 32 years old with curly auburn hair and gray eyes and is never seen without a hat. Rose is prim, proper, and ladylike.

Plot:
In the opening scene, a dignified black car pulls up in front of Al A. Baster movie studios to a mob of reporters, photographers, and screaming fangirls. The door opens, and the crowd goes wild as a handsome dark-haired man, Zeb Zircon, better known to the media and fans as The Prince of Hearts, steps out. He is followed by his manager Sterling Silvers and a blonde woman with a poodle tucked under her arm, Pearl Strand. Cameras flash, and fans shout out. Zeb stops to sign autographs for his many female admirers until Silvers hurries him along. The trio is stopped just short of the door by a reporter who asks, “Mr. Zircon, are you and Miss Strand an item?” Zeb is caught off guard by the question, but Pearl replies by showing off a ring on her finger. She takes hold of Zeb’s arm as they brush past the reporter, and the three are greeted just inside the door by Al A. Baster, the owner of the production company. (Song: The Prince of Hearts)

Al ushers Zeb and Silvers into his office. He has found a hidden clause in Zeb’s contract that states Zeb must take a wife if he is to continue working for Al A. Baster productions. Silvers is frantic… He knows that if Zeb’s contract expires, he loses his cash cow. In a desperate attempt to save face, he comes up with the idea to hold a contest open to all female employees of Al A. Baster productions. The winner will become Zeb Zircon’s new leading lady, both onscreen and off. Zeb is torn. He’s indignant at the thought of being a prize, but he doesn’t want to lose his stardom either. In the end, Al agrees with Silvers, so Zeb’s hands are tied. Just outside, Pearl Strand stands with her ear pressed to the door, listening to the conversation. The doorknob rattles, and Pearl disappears down a nearby hall with a sinister smile.

At the same time in a small town halfway across the country, a young plus-sized woman named Diamond is late for work…again. The camera pans around her room as she rushes around, showing pictures covering the walls and magazine articles, all featuring Zeb Zircon. She gives her father, Gem, a quick kiss on the cheek before hurrying out the door, promising him the same thing she does every day: “I’m going to get us out of here.” On the walk to work, Diamond dreams of a glamorous life at Zeb Zircon’s side, far away from this small town, while the passers-by mock her. (Song: Diamond in the Rough)

Diamond sneaks into her office, which is really a cramped sewing room in the back of a theater decorated, like her room, with pictures of Zeb Zircon, to find her boss Rose Gold already waiting for her. Gold shakes her head disapprovingly at the photos cluttering Diamond’s workspace, scolding her for being late. Diamond sits at her sewing machine, putting the finishing touches on a dress when not even a moment later, the show’s lead actress bursts in complaining about her costume. Gold tires to smooth over the situation, but to no avail. The actress insults Diamond, calling her a “fat pig”. Diamond is angry, though she knows better than to say something back. Instead, she apologizes and offers to redo the costume. The actress replies by throwing the dress at Diamond before storming out. As she works on the changes, Diamond tries to calm herself down by imagining the life she’ll one day lead. (Song: A Better Life)

In the next scene, the lead actress barges back into Diamond’s sewing room, screaming hysterically. Diamond and Gold exchange a knowing look, expecting her to have more complaints about her costume. Instead, she switches on a nearby radio, and the voice of Al A. Baster himself announces: “Yes, you heard right, ladies and gentlemen. Zeb Zircon, the prince of hearts, is taking a wife.” He is momentarily drowned out by reporters clamoring for answers, to which he replies, “The lucky lady will be determined by a series of tests in beauty, talent, and above all compatibility. The winner will be crowned Princess of Hearts….” Others in Diamond’s theater troupe gather around to listen, and Diamond realizes this contest is finally her chance to win Zeb Zircon’s heart. As Al elaborates on the rules of the contest, a montage shows four other women listening to the broadcast: a Latina opera singer (Ruby), an African-American jazz singer (Sapphire), an Asian-American violinist (Jade), and a young ballerina (Emerald). The montage ends back at Al A. Baster studios where Pearl Strand announces to a mob of adoring fans that she will be entering the competition.

The scene cuts back to Diamond’s sewing room as the broadcast signs off. The others have been gossiping but are interrupted when Diamond announces her intentions to enter the contest. They all laugh in her face… the idea of a plus-sized girl like Diamond competing against a beauty like Pearl Strand is too much for them. When they tell her she doesn’t stand a chance, Diamond protests, “Zeb Zircon isn’t like that! He’s sweet and kind.” This only makes them laugh harder, and Gold reminds her, “Fairytale endings are only for pretty girls.”

Diamond, tired of being the object of ridicule, storms out, and the scene picks back up with Diamond and Gem eating dinner. Gem notices his daughter is being unusually quiet and asks if anything is bothering her. Diamond tells him about the contest, and Gem is conflicted. He wants to be supportive, but he doubts Zeb Zircon could ever see Diamond for anything but her size. He tries subtle ways to talk Diamond out of entering, but she sees through him. Her own father doesn’t believe in her! This is the last straw for Diamond; her mind is made up.

On the day Diamond leaves for Hollywood, Gem and Gold are at the train station to see her off. Gem gives her a going-away present, a ginger cat named Jasper, to keep her company on the trip. Jasper immediately rolls onto his back, greeting Diamond with a cheerful meow. The train whistle sounds, and Diamond hugs her father goodbye. “You’d better be waiting for me when I get back,” she says before boarding the train, but Gem knows deep down that won’t happen… he’s getting progressively sicker. He and Gold exchange a look; they are thinking the same thing: Diamond doesn’t stand a chance. Gem asks Gold to accompany Diamond to Hollywood, making her promise to keep Diamond from getting hurt. (Song: Diamond in the Rough [reprise])

Diamond arrives in Hollywood and meets the other five contestants: sassy Ruby, practical Sapphire, funny Emerald, shy Jade, and Pearl Strand herself, who Diamond immediately clashes with. Diamond tries to be friendly, telling Pearl what an honor it is to meet her, but Pearl makes a snide remark about her size while her poodle, Opal, growls at Diamond and Jasper, who hisses in reply. Before things can escalate further, Sterling Silvers and Al A. Baster appear. Silvers believes Diamond to be a fan who snuck past security, and tries to shoo her away. When she tells him she’s participating in the contest, he (and several of the other contestants) laugh. Ruby warns her to quit while she can, and Sapphire points out that Diamond’s size will keep her for gong far in the competition. Emerald is the only one to stand up for Diamond. She says she thinks it would be romantic if Zeb were to fall for Diamond, but the others dismiss her as being silly. Silvers tries to make up a rule that contestants must have a certain look and build, but Diamond calls his bluff, reminding him that the contest is open to all female employees of Al A. Baster productions. Al backs her up, so Silvers has no choice but to let her participate. (Song: The Next Big Thing)

A fit of screaming erupts as Zeb Zircon appears to greet the contestants. He comes to Diamond last and is repulsed by her size, but being the actor he is, he doesn’t let on. He smiles at her and kisses her hand, just as he did with the other five, before hurrying on his way. After he leaves, Silvers introduces the girls to their “den mother”, none other than Rose Gold. As she shows the girls to their room, Diamond asks her what she’s doing there, but Gold brushes her off as she gives the room assignments: Ruby with Jade, Sapphire with Emerald, and Diamond with Pearl.

As the contestants are settling in, Opal barks at Jasper, causing him to jump on Pearl’s bed, and Pearl reminds Diamond to keep “that mangy beast” on her side of the room. Before Diamond can say anything back, angry voices rise from the hall where Ruby is yelling at Jade. Ruby stalks away, leaving Jade in tears. Diamond tries to comfort her, advising her to stand up to Ruby.

Later, Zeb, Silvers, and Gold are discussing the contestants when Pearl Strand walks in. Zeb is worried what might happen if Diamond wins. A girl like her on his arm might cost him his fame! Silvers assures him that she won’t win, but he’s starting to have his doubts. If Diamond bested him once, there’s no telling what else she may be capable of! Finally Pearl suggests they rig the contest against Diamond. Silvers wholeheartedly agrees, but Zeb is conflicted. He knows that rigging the competition is wrong, but he’s too afraid of being the object of scandal to argue and reluctantly agrees. Pearl kisses Zeb’s cheek, promising him he’s made the right choice, before heading out the door. Silvers and Zeb continue to plot Diamond’s downfall in her absence, but Gold outright refuses to play any part in it. She leaves the room in protest but does not warn Diamond, believing this plot may be for Diamond’s own good in the long run. (Song: Not One of Us)