Jessica becomes overprotective as a result, much to the consternation of her husband Franklin (Richard E. Grant). Her fears are confirmed when a tabloid reporter named Lemon (Peter Dinklage) begins stalking the family to get a photograph of the infant Penelope, resulting in Jessica blinding his right eye after he breaks into their house. Fearing the worst, Jessica decides to fake her daughter's death and shuts her away in their mansion where Penelope spends her life immersing herself in intellectual pursuits such as literature, horticulture and music. When Penelope turns 18, her parents interpret the curse's counter as the love of a man of noble birth, and subsequently attempt to introduce Penelope to possible suitors with the help of a matchmaker named Wanda (Ronni Ancona). For the next 7 years, however, every man who lays eyes on her flees in terror, though the Wilhern butler Jake manages to catch them before they leave in order to force them to sign an agreement that they will not discuss Penelope's appearance. Unfortunately, the spoiled and arrogant Edward Humphrey Vanderman III (Simon Woods), escapes before signing the agreement.