Summary of The Fire Inside

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Summary of "The Fire Inside"

Act 1, song 1, “People In Power Abuse Their Power,” begins set in the future. We hear Diablo's voice. Diablo is in his late 40's or early 50's. The setting is placed in the woods. Diablo and their community of mystical children are gathering around a campfire for storytelling. There is a quick transition to 18 years before. Diablo is in his late 20's or early 30's. Diablo is forming a community within the woods. They speak of their youth growing up in the town in which they were exiled from by their own families and neighbors because of orders from the King. They were forced into the woods because of their magical forces and fantasy-like appearances. Collectively, they formed a community in the woods of outcasts and distinguished themselves as "the woods people" who became a chosen family. 

Song 2, “History Of The Woods,” Diablo tells the story of the woods and how it was formed. The woods people are gathering supplies and food to eat. 

Song 3, “Human,” we are introduced to Maleficent who is a friend of Diablo. We learn that she is going to the edge of the forest to meet with a human who lives in the town. Diablo warns her of the dangers of meeting with a human man. 

Song 4, “A Risk,” Maleficent decides to take a risk and continue to meet this man who she trusts and has grown a liking to. 

Song 5, “Just One Night,” Maleficent meets the man named Stefan at the forest wall at night. He coerces her to drink with him, then he poisons her. She falls to the ground. He cuts off her wings and sexually assaults her in her sleep. 

Song 6, “Wings,” Maleficent wakes up alone in pain and intense anxiety and fear. 

Song 7, “Where Did Her Wings Go?”, Maleficent runs into the forest to find comfort within her community. They turn away from her in disbelief that she chose not to listen to their warning. 

Song 8, “Love Is Not,” follows Maleficent running away. She prays to a God she doesn't know is there. Song 9, “Diablo’s Story,” Diablo finds Maleficent and tends to her wounds. He shares with her his past and his distrust with humans. He sings to her a song that his past lover used to sing. 

Song 10, “Time In Between,” one year later, Maleficent has a baby as a result of the assault. Baby Aurora is taken from her by knights. 

Song 11, “Three Gifts,” at the Castle, Stefan has become King due to following the past King’s order of attacking the woods people. He is married to Princess now Queen Leah. They are welcoming a baby girl and celebrating with members of the town. Maleficent attends the celebration and attempts to curse Stefan for what he has done to her. In retaliation, her sisters, The Three Fairies intervene to overpower her spell but the spell fails and lays upon King Stefan and Queen Leah’s baby. This is unknown to Maleficent and Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. 

Song 12, “Burning The Spinning Wheels,” follows the aftermath and panic about the spell. 

Song 13, “Beyond The Forest Wall,” baby Aurora is given to The Three Fairies by Stefan and tells them to keep her a secret from their sister Maleficent. 

Song 14, “Mine,” Maleficent sings of loss of choice in her life so young, a tremendous loss of innocence. 

Song 15, “Carnival,” is a one day festival in the town that the woods people are granted permission to join. 

Song 16, “The Woods Revolt,” the woods people meet secretly with their families in town to plan protests against the King and his dictatorship. 

Song 17, “Who You Are, Who You Want To Be,” Diablo and Maleficent argue over how to overthrow the King.

Song 18, “The Fire Inside,” Maleficent decides she is going to use her magic for violence and destruction. 

Song 19, “Now,” Diablo and the woods people arrive in the town and march to the castle. Maleficent watches from afar and wonders if going her own way was the right choice. 

Act Two begins with song 20, “Time In Between Reprise,” 18 years have passed, Aurora is nearly 18 years old, she does not know of her history or her parents. Diablo is a leader of the woods people, people are going missing at the forest wall each night. Maleficent after years past, questions a return to the woods community or to remain isolated in her pain. 

Song 21, “An Echo,” we meet Aurora and Phillip in the woods. 

Song 22, “What Is This Feeling?Aurora lives with The Three Fairies, distressed that she has not been able to leave the cottage. 

Song 23, “Death Is Coming,” The Three Fairies discuss the nearing death of Aurora. 

Song 24, “She’s Getting Older,” Maleficent and Diablo meet about their separate plans in achieving justice for the woods people. Diablo questions Maleficent about Aurora and how they believe she was cursed all those years ago. 

Song 25, “Making The Dress, The Three Fairies argue about the color of Aurora's birthday dress and how there is nothing they can do to change Aurora’s fate. Aurora listens in from up the stairs and hears her doom. 

Song 26, “A Meeting,” Aurora meets Phillip secretly in the woods and learns so much she never knew before, Phillip tells her that he was taken in by a neighboring town that was attacked. He lives with the woods people. 

Song 27, “No Such Thing,” Diablo tells Maleficent that Phillip has met Aurora and that Aurora would like  to visit their part of the woods to visit Phillip’s home. 

Song 28, “Group Therapy,” Diablo is growing older, he is losing hope as the leader of the woods. Phillip introduces Aurora to Diablo. 

Song 29, “Grow With You,” Aurora runs to meet Phillip to tell him quickly how she feels for him. She tells him that their friendship has begun for it to end with her death. 

Song 30, “Dark Fairy,” Maleficent is horrified with Aurora's upcoming birthday, never knowing her throughout her life. She grapples with intense shame that her plan of revenge on Stefan all those years ago fell on an innocent life. She does not know if she could ever forgive her sisters for how they protected the man who took so much from her. 

Song 31, “My Parents,” Aurora confronts The Three Fairies about what she heard them discuss. She knows the truth about her parents and roots in magic. 

Song 32, “Diablo’s Plan,” Diablo forms a coalition to overthrow the King once and for all. 

Song 33, “Follow The Lights,” Aurora questions how to make peace with death. 

Song 34, “Reunion and Revolt,” the woods people storm the castle to protest, meanwhile The Three Fairies bring Aurora to the castle to her death. Maleficent and Diablo are waiting at the castle when Maleficent decides to rejoin Diablo in his pursuit. 

Song 35, “The Fire Inside/It’s Too Late,” Maleficent sings through a door where she thinks Aurora is lying dead but we find Aurora is not in the room, the King and Queen's daughter was cursed and is lying in the room instead. This is still unknown to our main characters. 

Song 36, “Doubt,”  Phillip, Maleficent, Diablo, and The Three Fairies argue about who is at fault for Aurora being "dead." They collectively mourn together in front of the door. Phillip sings a song about the joint love they have for Aurora. The song is abruptly interrupted by a Prince from a far off kingdom. He wildly uses his sword to unlock the door and rushes in to awake the sleeping daughter of the King and Queen. Phillip, Maleficent, Diablo, and The Three Fairies realize Aurora was not cursed by the spell. Coming quickly around the corner Aurora is overcome with magic as she turns 18 years old. She runs into the arms of them all who are in shock that she is alive. They all embrace. Song 37, “The Fire Inside Reprise,” the musical ends with them singing of giving into love in tears as the woods people rejoice and cry of freedom at last.