Finding Neverland Voices Lights up. 5 minute call please. Places. Everyone to their places. Charles Opening nights? I love opening nights. How are you? Man 1 Good to see you. Man 2 Good evening, Charles, this is my wife. Charles Oh, Lydia, Herbert, may I give you a peck? Man 3 One of Mr Barrie's finest? Charles Oh, that genius Gusmann has done it again, it's the best thing I've produced in 25 years. Man 3 Really? Charles I already have investors interested back home in New York. Man 3 See you on Broadway. Voice 1st position, people. Standing by please, ladies and gentlemen, if you could take your opening positions please. Beginners please take your opening positions. Audience are coming in, standing by. Usher Good audience. James Sorry? Usher Good audience, tonight. James That's great. Thank you. How much longer? Usher 10 minutes. Charles I love opening nights. I want a dance with your wife at the after party. Oh, my goodness. John Good evening, sir. Charles How are you, John? John Very well. Charles It's the best thing that I've produced in 25 years. Hello, George, how are you? Man Healthy and wealthy I see. Charles You've rearranged a holiday for me. I won't forget. Man For you, Charles. Charles You won't regret it. Man I'm sure. Mrs Snow Have you got the tickets? Mr Snow Yes, they're in my pocket. Mrs Snow Oh, there's Mrs Barrie. Mary Barrie Mr & Mrs Snow. Mrs Snow We were so hoping to speak with your husband before the show. Mr Snow Have you seen him? Mary I'm not sure where he is actually. Mrs Snow We do miss seeing you on stage, you were so wonderful. Mary Yes? Well it's been some time now. Are you all right to find your seat? Mrs Snow Oh yes, yes. See you at the party then. Mary Excuse me. Would you find Mr Barrie and remind him that they're doing his play this evening. Usher Yes, Madam. Mary Thank you. Charles Let's close the doors. Actor 1 Really, I mustn't inconvenience you in this way. I can wait quite well in the shop. Actor 2 'Tis no inconvenience, the shop is chilly. Actor 1 And there is a fire here. Really, uncommonly good. Usher Sorry, sir, um, Mrs Barrie wanted me to remind you that the play's begun, though I imagine you know that. James They hate it. Usher Sir? James It's like a dentist's office out there, why? Usher I wouldn't say they hate it, sir. James What do you think? Do you like it? Usher I've just been hiding, sir. James Yes or no, I'm not bothered. Usher I'm not really qualified to. . . James Do you like it? Is it crap? Usher Crap, sir? James Go on, say it, just say it. Its shite isn't it? Go on, say it. Usher I don't know if I'm. . . James It's bulls' pizzle, Mr Barrie, go on, say it. Usher It's bulls' pizzle, Mr Barrie. James I knew it. Usher No, I haven't even seen it. James I knew it. Thank you. Thank you very much. Man 1 Absolute rubbish from start to finish. Man 2 Yes, I found it fearfully dull. Man 3 You can say goodbye to your investment, old boy. Charles Good to see you, my apologies. James We'll get them with the next one, Charles, I promise. Charles Of course we will, James. James I know you put a lot into this one. Charles A fortune James, but I'm fortunate because I can afford to lose a fortune. James Can you? Charles No, I can't. How are you? James Arthur Arthur James. You were sorely missed at the last club meeting. James Was I? Arthur We were beginning to wonder which is your hobby, writing or cricket. James You don't say. Mary You wanted to speak with Mr Barrie didn't you? Mrs Snow Well yes, but we shouldn't interrupt them, should we? Mary I don't see why not. Arthur If you ask me, the problem lies in our batting order. James You're absolutely right. Mary James. James Hello, darling. Mary You remember Mr & Mrs Snow, don't you? James Mrs Snow. Mrs Snow Mr Barrie. James Mr Snow. Mary So, the Snows have been waiting to meet with you all evening. Mrs Snow Oh, yes. James Is that right? Mrs Snow Your play this evening. . .it was remarkable, wasn't it? James Was it? Thank you, that's very kind of you. I'm glad you liked it. Mr Snow How did you feel it went? James I think I can do better. Mr Snow Really? James Mary, hello. Mary Yes, James? James I'm headed off to the park if you'd like to join me. It's a beautiful morning. Mary You'll be working, won't you? James Perhaps, yes. Mary I'll let you to your work then. Emma Morning, Mr Barrie. James Morning, Emma. Emma Have a good day, sir. James And you. That's it, go on boy. That's right. Good boy. Grab it. Sylvia Who do you belong to? Michael Excuse me, sir, you're standing on my sleeve. James Am I? So sorry. I might point out you're lying under my bench. Michael I have to I'm afraid. I've been put in the dungeon by the evil Prince George. I'm sorry if it bothers you. James Well if you're trapped in the dungeon there isn't much to be done, now is there? Perhaps I could slide a key to you through the bars? Michael I wouldn't risk it, sir. The evil Prince George has tortured many men. George I'm sorry, is he bothering you, sir? My brother can be an amazingly irritating sort of person. James Ah ha, Prince George I gather? I understand you are the horrible tyrant who imprisoned this unfortunate wretch. George Not horrible really, but a firm ruler yes, kind and tolerant. James And what precisely has, er. . . What did you say your name was? Michael Michael. James What precisely is Michael's crime? George He's my younger brother. James Ah! Fair enough. Sorry, lad, cannot free you. Michael That's all right. Jack Do you mind us playing with your dog? James No, go on. George This is Jack, second in line to the throne, and that one's Michael, he's only five. Michael And I'm in prison for it. Sylvia I'm so sorry. Are my boys bothering you? Michael We're not bothering him, Mum. James No. Sylvia Michael, darling, come out from under there. Michael I can't, I'm in prison. Sylvia Oh, I see. James J M Barrie, pleased to meet you. Sylvia J M Barrie the author? What a pleasure, Sylvia Llewellyn-Davies. Jack Are you a writer? James I am. Sylvia He's a playwright, Jack, quite a famous one at that. I apologise, I imagine you are writing. James No, not at all. Sylvia Where's Peter? George What have you written, Mr Barrie? James Well, currently, I make my living entertaining Princes and their courts with my trained bear, Porthos. If you command your brother Peter to join us, I am willing, Prince George, to give you just such a performance in exchange for the freedom of this prisoner of course. George Very well. James Very well. Now, I want you to pay particular attention to the teeth. Some unscrupulous trainers will show you a bear whose teeth have all been pulled, while other cowards will force the brute into a muzzle. Only a true master would attempt these tricks without either measure of safety. Peter What did you bring me over here for? Sylvia Peter. Peter Because this is absurd, it's just a dog. Sylvia Come on, darling. James Just a dog?! Porthos, don't listen to him. Porthos dreams of being a bear, and you want to dash those dreams by saying 'he's just a dog'. Tut tut. What a horrible candle-snuffing word. That's like saying 'he can't climb that mountain, he's just a man.' Or 'that's not a diamond, it's just a rock.' Just! Peter Fine then, turn him into a bear, if you can. Sylvia Peter, where are your manners. James With those eyes, my bonnie lad, I'm afraid you'd never see it. However, with just a wee bit of imagination - I can turn around right now, and see, the Great Bear, Porthos. Dance with me. Sylvia Thank you, I don't think I've ever seen a performance quite. . . quite like it. James We're here every day, and the bear is always more than happy to perform. Sylvia Perhaps we will see you tomorrow then. James Perhaps. Sylvia Peter, jump up, darling, quick. George Bye. Jack Bye. Michael Bye. James Bye. Sylvia Peter, didn't you enjoy that? Peter I've seen better. James Well, Michael wanted the bear kept prisoner with him, and Peter insisted that Michael was hardly prisoner and Porthos simply wasn't a bear at all. I do very much hope to see them tomorrow. Mary What's her name? James Sylvia, erm, Mrs Something-Davies. Mary Llewllyn Davies? James You know her? Mary I know who she is of course. Why she's of DuMaurier family see. Her father was the artist, her brother's the actor. And there's something. . . tragic that happened with her husband. Oh, yes, he died, cancer of the jaw I believe. James That's horrible. Mary Yes, apparently he left her with four boys and no income to speak of. Why, if it wasn't for her mother's help. . . James, we should have them to dinner. James Should we? Mary Absolutely, I've always wanted to meet Madam DuMaurier, why, she know practically everyone there is worth knowing. Peter What are you writing about? James Oh, nothing of any great consequence. Peter I can't write. James Have you ever kept a journal? Ever tried your hand at writing a play? Well then, how do you know? Peter I know, that's all. James I see. Where's your mother today and the rest of the boys? Peter Home. Mother's got a bit of a chest cold. I'm sure everyone would be happy to see you though, one afternoon. I should leave you to your writing. James Peter. I'll see you later then. Why didn't you tell me, Charles? You knew it wasn't any good. Charles Why didn't you tell me, James? You knew it wasn't any good. Huh? I took an extended lease on the theatre, keeping the actors on. James I don't have another play. Charles You will, won't you? James We'll see. Man Need you to sign for the storage, Mr Frohman. James It was never meant to be taken seriously. Charles You know what happened, James. They changed it. James Who changed what? Charles The critics, they made it important. Huh. What's it called? What's it called? James Play. Charles Play. Boys Bang, bang, bang, etc Jack Return the boy to us you nasty Indian. James Our people teach boy Indian ways, make him great warrior, our chief 'Running Nose' never let him go. Boys Bang, bang, bang, etc James Me wounded, Peter. Time's short. You go, spread wings and soar like eagle above enemy. Fly back to our chief, tell him of my brave defeat. Peter That's crazy, Indian's can't fly. James 'Course they can, go on, go on, go on. Jack Listen to us boy, this Indian kidnapped you. James Not true! Me kidnap no-one. You 'lost boy'. I teach you ways of the brave. I take you as my own son. Peter You are not my father. Boys Bang, bang, bang, etc Jack I've got him. Peter Let me go! George Stop it you two. Jack Ooh, we are awful, aren't we? Peter I'm warning you. Jack Ooh, I'm scared. Wants to have a bit of fun for a change. George Stop it you two. Sylvia Jack! Peter. James I'm terribly sorry. Sylvia Oh, it wasn't your fault. James Afraid it might have been. Sylvia To be honest, I'm just happy you got him to join in the game. James Oh yes, I was a tremendous success. Sylvia Mr Barrie, it's more than I've been able to achieve. Peter's a different boy since his father died. I don't think he's even had a good cry about it. James Well, grief affects us all in different ways, doesn't it? Sylvia Yes it does. James Oh, by the way, my wife would like to invite you and the boys over to dinner, erm, your mother as well. Sylvia Oh, how kind, that would be lovely. Mary Well, don't you all look lovely in your little suits? And Mrs DuMaurier, what a shame it is that we've not met until this evening. Mrs DuMaurier How kind of you to say so. Mary Not at all. I can't tell you how many times I've been to a charity, or a. . . social event, and seen your name listed among the Stagehands. It's the very thing I would love to do myself, if I could just find the time. Mrs DuMaurier My problem is in finding the time to do everything else. At the moment I'm running two households. Sylvia believes she can get by without a housekeeper. Sylvia Mother! Mrs DuMaurier My house is quite large enough for us all, but the idea of living with me seems. . . Sylvia Not now please mother. George We help her keep the house in order. Mrs DuMaurier Don't interrupt, George. Where did you get your manners? George Sorry, Grandmother. Sylvia Well. . . Mrs DuMaurier Mr Barrie, I understand you've become playmates with my grandchildren. James Oh, they indulge me really. Sylvia On the contrary. The other day we took to an exploration of Darkest Africa in our garden. Till Mr Barrie was taken ill by the bite of a. . . What was it? James Tsetse fly. Quite horrible. Jack Yes, and he swelled to the size of a hippopotamus. Michael Fingers like sausages! George And we had to float on him down the river, like he was a. . . a great bloated raft. Jack But the fishing was good, wasn't it? Mary James. Please. James Sorry. Bye. Mrs DuMaurier Thank you so much. Mary Bye. Mrs DuMaurier Pleasant. Mary A lovely evening. George Bye. James Thank you. Night. Mary Night. George Night. Mary Well, that was a disaster. Mrs DuMaurier Painful, utterly painful to see. Sylvia Don't know what you mean, I had a lovely time. Mary Oh, James, please, "My problem is in finding the time to do everything else." I've never felt so judged in my life. James Judged? What do you mean? Mrs DuMaurier A grown man, for heavens sake, playing all day long with children? Mary In any case, I hardly think they'll be the social contact we'd hoped for. James I hadn't really thought of them that way, just enjoy their company. Sylvia He's been a good friend to us, mother. Mrs DuMaurier Yes, but what does that mean? Mary Surely you don't intend to keep spending your afternoons with those children, do you? James So today, ladies and gentlemen, using only the wind and his own physical strength, George Llewellyn Davies will test the very limits of the atmosphere using his tethered craft. Go on, boy. Sylvia Go on, George. Jack You're gonna break it, George. Michael George, stop. George Just needs a bit more speed. Michael I want to do it. James Hold off a bit, George. I think it's in need of a tail. Sylvia Oh, wait. Here, James, this will do. James That's a good idea. George No, it's not heavy enough. Michael I want to do it. Jack Are you coming, Peter? James Porthos! Sylvia It'll work this time. James Porthos. Give us your bell, that's good. Here. Michael? Michael Yeah? James Now, would you like to give it a go? Michael Yes please. Jack Oh, he can't run fast enough. James 'Course he can. Sylvia Let him try, Jack. James George, you hold the kite. Sylvia George, come on boys lets go back up to the top. Michael. Come on, Peter. Right, George, hold it up. Darling, you've got to run now, ready? Ready? Run. Run, Michael. Jack Run. Oh, I told you this wasn't going to work. Peter I don't think he's fast enough. James It's not going to work if no-one believes in him. Sylvia Now give him a chance. James Michael, go back to your starting position. Sylvia Come on, darling, we'll try again. James George, you take the kite. George If it'll help. James Now, this time, I don't want a flea's breath of doubt. We must get that kite in the air. Sylvia Right, look I think I feel a bit more breeze. James Ready, Michael? Go on, go on. Jack You can do it, Michael. Sylvia You've got to run, Michael, run, run. James That's it! Boys Yeah. Jack You did it. Keep running. Peter What are you writing about now? James Oh, just making notes. I'm never really certain what they're about till I've read over later. Peter Something about the kite? James Now why do you ask that? Peter I don't know. If I were a writer, I think I could tell a whole story about flying the kite today. James Perhaps you should then, that's a fantastic idea. Why not give it a try? Jack I hope you haven't been talking about anything too serious with this one. Peter No, talking a bit of silliness really. Michael Can we have him for supper? Sylvia Have him to stay for supper, Michael, we're not cannibals. You are welcome, you know. Mrs DuMaurier Sylvia, Mr Barrie, where have you been? Sylvia Erm, flying a kite, mother, and having a wonderful time. I'm sorry, I didn't know you were coming this evening. Mrs DuMaurier No? Well apparently you forgot then. I've brought some supper along for us all. Sylvia You didn't need to do that. Mrs DuMaurier Well, there's no food in the house, is there? Really, you don't need to wait till the cupboard is bare! Sylvia Please, Mother. Come on, darling. Mrs DuMaurier Wipe feet. There's been enough tracking round here. George, I thought you said you were going to help your mother take care of the house? Coat, Michael, please. Yes. And. Coat hanger. Very good. Michael Will we see you tomorrow? Mrs DuMaurier No, you're going to be helping round the house tomorrow. Sylvia Mother, there is absolutely no need for this. Mrs DuMaurier You can't do everything yourself. Look at you, you're horribly flush. Wearing yourself out. Sylvia Thank you for a lovely day, James. Excuse me, mother. Mrs DuMaurier So, from tomorrow we're going to have some discipline around here. And not one of you will escape. Sarah Good evening, Mr Barrie. James Good evening, Sarah. Emma Good evening, Mr Barrie. James Evening, Emma. Mary You missed supper. James Perhaps I'll have something later, I've a bit of writing I want to do. Mary Are you sure? It was a lovely meal. Duck. Sarah let Emma cook this evening. James Is that right? Listen, what would you think of loaning Emma out to the Davies for the occasional evening? They don't actually have a cook. Mary I take it Mrs Davies enjoyed the meal she had here? James I imagine she could use an extra hand now and again, that's all. Mary Huh? That's very charitable of you. Perhaps we can send over some of the silver as well. And, what about linen? I wouldn't be surprised if some of hers was looking a bit shabby. James Please Mary, stop. Mary Maybe she can send over some of the things we've run short on. . . My husband for example. We rarely see him in this house. James That hasn't seemed to bother you for some time now. Lords and ladies, King Michael, the benevolent. Protector of the Realm. Peter That sceptre's made of wood. James Yes, well, we dream on a budget here, don't we? Peter No, I mean, everyone thinks it's made of gold, but it's just an old hunk of wood. James The means to an end, Peter. What we've done is taken an old hunk of wood, and transformed it for all the world to see, into the most magnificent gold. Here you go. Peter What's this? James All great writers, begin with a good leather binding, and a respectable title. Open it. Peter The Boy Castaways, being a record of the terrible adventures of the brothers Davies, faithfully set forth by Peter Llewellyn Davies. James Kipling would swallow is own ear for a title like that. Michael Stab him George, you can do it. Peter I still have no idea what to write. James Write about anything. Write about your family. Write about the talking whale. Peter What whale? James The one that's trapped in your imagination and desperate to get out. Come sit down. I have actually begun writing about the adventures of the Davies brothers myself. Peter A play? James A play indeed. Yes. And I would be extremely honoured if you would allow me the use of your name for one of the characters. Peter I don't know what to say. James Say yes. Good man. Peter I won't go to bed. I won't. I won't. Sylvia You should have been in bed half an hour ago young man. I'm afraid I've grown hopelessly lax in my discipline. James Nonsense, young boys should never be sent to bed, they always wake up a day older. And then before you know it, they're grown. Sylvia Their father would have been horrified, 'course he would never have allowed a dog in the house either. He'd've tied him up in the yard. Right, last one in bed's a hairy toad. You mean a lot to my boys, you know. Especially Peter. James It seems to me that Peter is trying to grow up too fast. I imagine he thinks that grown-ups don't hurt as deeply as children do when they. . . when they lose someone. I lost my elder brother David when I was just Peter's age. And it nearly destroyed my mother. Sylvia James, I'm so sorry. Your poor mother. I can't imagine losing a child. James Aye. She didn't get out of bed for months, she wouldn't eat. I tried everything to make her happy, but. . . she only wanted David. So, one day, I dressed myself in David's clothing, and went to her. Sylvia You must have frightened her to death. James I think it was the first time she ever, actually. . . looked at me. And that was the end of the boy James. I used to say to myself, he'd gone to Neverland. Sylvia Where? James Neverland. It's a wonderful place. I've not spoken about this before to anyone. Ever. Sylvia What's it like, Neverland? James One day I'll take you there. Charles Wait a minute, James, he's a fairy? James Er, no. He's the irrepressible spirit of youth. Tinkerbell's the fairy. Charles Tinkerbell's a woman? James She's not a woman, she's a fairy. He is a boy who stays young forever. Charles James, how does anyone stay young for ever? It doesn't work. James He just believes, Charles, he imagines life the way he wants it to be. And he believes in it long enough and hard enough that it all appears before him. Do you see? Charles James, I'm your friend. You're coming off a flop. You have a man who is a fairy. . . James No, boy. Charles Yes, okay. And this girl calls herself Tinker. And you have a pirate ship on stage, surrounded by tons and tons of water. That's a lot of water. James It's a lot of water. Charles Yes, and that's a lot of money. James It is, but we can, we can fake the water. Charles Oh well, if we can fake the water then I'm sure your play will be a hit. You know what I think I'll do? I think I'll imagine life the way I want it to be. . . James Long enough and hard enough. Charles Yes, and then the money for the play will appear magically before me. James That's right, that's it. Charles How does the clock wind up inside the crocodile? James He swallows it. Charles Ah, of course he does. Man How was he? Mary Well done. Woman Thank you. James Finally get the courage to invite the boys to a game and we have to suffer this grave humiliation. It's perfect actually. Arthur You spend a good deal of time with them don't you? James Every moment I can spare in fact. Arthur I'm glad for you. Mrs Davies'll be having a good time of it as well. Should be aware though, James, what some people have been saying. Now, mind you, I wouldn't bring it up if I thought it would pass. James Not surprised. What do they say? Arthur Very well, that you spend much more time with Mrs Davies than you do with your own wife. She is a widow. And, erm. James And a friend. That's it, nothing more. Arthur There have also been questions about, how you spend your time with those boys, and why. James That's outrageous. How could anyone think something so evil, they're children. They're innocent children. You find a glimmer of happiness in this world, there's always someone who wants to destroy it. No. Thank you, Arthur, but I don't think many will give credence to such nonsense. Arthur Then why is no-one sitting with them? Once you get a bit of notoriety James, people watch you, and they will look for ways to drag you down. Sylvia Are you sure your wife doesn't object to us taking over your cottage for the summer? James. James She doesn't go there any more. Sylvia Really? It's such a relief to get away. You'll come and visit I hope. James 'Course. Are we in? Sylvia Everyone in? Jack Can I drive Uncle Jim? James Er. . . No. Out of the way or I'll make haggis of you. Michael Get the sheep out the way. Jack Are we there yet? James Almost. Almost there. Jack I can see the cottage! Shall we explore, Michael? Sylvia If you're going outside don't tear your clothes, please. James Would you like to see the rest of it? Sylvia Yes. James Okay. Hello. Thought you could escape from Captain Swarthy, eh? Off to the ship with you then. Off to the ship son. So now you can either choose to become a pirate with the rest of us. . . Or, we'll toss you to the shark. Michael How marvellous. James Or maybe the crocodiles, eh? Sylvia No-one's escaped Captain. James Excellent work, matey. Now then, now is your only chance to speak. Who amongst you is ready to tie your hopes and dreams to the sea? Michael I am. James Not finished yet. And to enter into the most dangerous chapter in your young and soon to be wasted lives? What did you say? What are you doing, son? Are you giggling? On my ship? Giggling? What did you say? George I said I'm ready Captain. James What's your name boy? George I'm Curly, the oldest and wisest of the crew. James Cut him loose matey. Welcome aboard Curly. Your job will be to mop the deck. And who be you, young squire? Jack My name be Nibbs the Cut-Throat, feared by men and greatly desired by the ladies. Sylvia Jack! James Welcome aboard Nibbs, you shall polish all the wood surfaces. Sylvia Grab a hold of that rigging. James And you lad? Peter I'm Peter. James That's not a pirate name. What about Dastardly Jim, eh? Peter No, just Peter. I like my name. James Very well. In punishment for lack of an interesting pirate name, Peter shall walk the plank. Cut 'im loose. Mr Reilly Mr Barrie sir. There's been a mistake here sir. It says here I'm to play the nanny. Don't imagine I quite fit that part, eh? James You're not actually a nanny, you're a dog. Mr Reilly What? James A Newfoundland, we'll put you in a great big fluffy dog suit. Mr Reilly Oh right. Organiser Actually, we don't have a Tinkerbell cast do we? He could play Tinkerbell. James Oh heavens, no. Tinkerbell's a light that moves around the stage. Just a wee light that, that, that moves around the stage. Stagehand Bit worried about this. Charles Let's see, got John Darling, Michael Darling, Tiger-Lily, Smee, Skylines, it's a play for puppets. Tools, Nibbs, Curley. Oh these names are absurd when you see them all together. Captain Hook, Sergeant. . . Oh, hello James. You're out of your mind. Mary How were rehearsals? James Fine, great, they're going, quite well. Mary Good. James Yes, thank you. Sylvia Hello. James Hello. Sylvia How was your journey? James 'Twas quite long, I'm exhausted. Sylvia Let's get you some tea. James That'd be nice, thanks. Michael Can you come to the play-house. Sylvia In a moment Michael, he's just arrived. Michael But I said I'd get him. They always send Peter to do things. I said I'll do it. It will spoil the surprise. Sylvia What surprise darling? Michael It's a great surprise. We've taken most of the day preparing for it, everybody's waiting for you. James Then we mustn't keep them waiting. Michael Please don't tell them that I told you the surprise, I said I wouldn't. Sylvia Oh well, you didn't really tell us anything about it, did you? Michael Yes I did, it's a play. James It's a play! Peter The Lamentable Tale of Lady Ursula, a play in one act, by Peter Llewellyn Davies. This is just a bit of silliness really. James I should hope so. Go on. Peter I just wanted to take a stab at writing, you know, well, the others do a good job of it anyway. Sylvia Well, let's see it then. Peter The Lamentable Tale of Lady Ursula. One morning, just after sunrise, Lady Ursula, the most beautiful daughter of Lord and Lady DuBonne, made her way up the steps of the great cathedral to pray to her blessed saint. Suddenly, as she reached the cathedral doors, the gargoyle that guarded the sacred structure, came to life and swooped down upon her. The people of the village all ran to safety, but Lady Ursula slipped on the cathedral steps and the gargoyle descended upon her, wrapping her in its huge wings and taking her high up into the spires of the cathedral. Sylvia Go on Peter. Peter Not long after this sorrowful event, a young knight names J M Barnaby came into the city. James Sylvia, come on. Do you want some water? Sylvia No James. James Back to the house, go on. She won't discuss it with me at all. She claims it was nothing. I tell you doctor, she couldn't breathe. Doctor Well, I can't very well treat a patient who won't admit there's anything wrong. James You'll have to make her understand that something is. Doctor I'll try and do my best. James Okay, just here. Put your hand flat like that, okay? And. Ow. And then, like that. Sylvia Come in. James The good doctor didn't feel up to the challenge on this one. He thinks you need to go to hospital for further tests. Sylvia Nonsense, when would I have the time for that? Besides, this family's had enough of hospitals. James Perhaps they can help you. Sylvia I know what they can do for me. I saw what they did for my husband. No James, no interest in hospitals. Though I'm keenly interested in having some supper. Peter What did you and mother decide to tell us this time? It's only a chest cold?! James We hadn't decided anything. Peter Stop lying to me. I'm sick of grown-ups lying to me. James I'm not lying to you. I don't know what's wrong. Peter Father might take us fishing. That's what she said, in just a few weeks, and he dies the next morning. James That wasn't a lie Peter. That was your mother's hope. Peter He barely moved for a week, but I started planning our fishing trip. James I will never lie to you. I promise you that, Peter No, all you'll do is teach me to make up stupid stories and pretend that things aren't happening, until. . . I won't, I'm not blind. I won't be made a fool. Sylvia What's this? Peter? Your play. Darling, I wanted to see the rest of it. Magic's gone out of it a bit now, hasn't it? All because of a silly chest cold. Mary James. Well you remember Gilbert Cannan don't you? James Good evening. Mary Mr Cannan has been working on the committee to fight government censorship. Gilbert I know how involved you've been as well. Mary He wanted to speak to you. I did think you'd be home so much sooner. James It's been a long evening Mary. Mary Yes, well if I'd realised how late it was, of course. Gilbert I should perhaps talk to you at another time, not so late. James That'll be fine. Gilbert We'll talk then, eh. Thank you for your patience Mrs Barrie, Mr Barrie. Good night. Mary Well aren't you going to speak? James What would you like me to say? Curious how late Mr Cannan stayed I suppose. And let's see, what comes next? No later than you were out James. And how is Mrs Davies this evening? Oh yes, I would have a great answer to that one, wouldn't I? Mary How dare you! This isn't one of your plays. James I know that Mary. It's quite serious. But I'm not ready for this conversation, whatever it may be. Perhaps we can talk in the morning, yes? Good night then. Smee Er, Mr Barrie, don't you agree this is a little bit tight? James No, no, in fact I think it's quite. . . baggy. Smee Baggy? James Quite frumpy. I'd bring it right in just here. Smee That's very tight. James Hm, right there. And put maybe a plank of wood there to straighten him up. Tailor Oh yeah, yes Mr Barrie. Smee Plank of wood? James Some wood there, there in the shoulders. Otherwise it's marvellous. Tailor Right sir. Sylvia You'll be sick tomorrow. George I'll be sick tonight. Sylvia James, we're just having some tea. You remember my mother of course. James Yes, of course, how do you do? Sylvia May I take your hat? Mrs DuMaurier Don't laugh boys. Sylvia Boys, please don't run in the house, you'll break something, come away from that door, come on, come on, come on, come on. Mrs DuMaurier I'd like a word with you Mr Barrie before you go. We'll only be a few minutes. Sylvia Boys, why don't you go and play in the garden, go on. Michael Is he in trouble? Peter Sshh! Michael Because I've been alone with Grandmother and I know what it's like. Sylvia Shall we retire into the study? Mrs DuMaurier Why don't you join them dear? Sylvia Very well. James I do apologise for interrupting. Mrs DuMaurier Would you close the door please. James Certainly. Mrs DuMaurier Sylvia has told me you've offered her the services of your household staff. James Er, well, not exactly. Mrs DuMaurier That won't be necessary. James I'll leave that to Sylvie of course. Mrs DuMaurier You'll leave that to me Mr Barrie. You see I'm moving in here from now on. James You're moving in? Mrs DuMaurier I'm going where I'm most needed. And I can certainly see to it that this house is managed without resorting to your charity. James It isn't charity Mrs DuMaurier. I was only trying to help as a friend. Mrs DuMaurier Have you no idea how much your friendship has already cost my daughter? Or are you really that selfish? James I beg your pardon. Mrs DuMaurier Don't you see, what a visit to the summer cottage of a married man does for a widows future prospects? Sylvia needs to find someone, the boys need a father. And you are destroying any hope this family has of pulling itself together again. James I've only wanted good things for this family Mrs DuMaurier. Mrs DuMaurier I'll look after them. You have your own family to concern yourself with. James What are you suggesting? Mrs DuMaurier I'm suggesting you protect what you have Mr Barrie. That is precisely what I am doing. Mary I was so certain what I would find in this. Some little confession would leak out onto the page. James I don't write love notes in my journal. Mary No, still you knew who I meant didn't you? That's some comfort actually. Means I know you just a little after all. James You needn't steal my journal to get to know me Mary. Mrs DuMaurier No, I suppose I could just go see the plays. I was hopelessly naïve when I married you. I imagined that brilliant people disappeared to some secret place where good ideas floated around like leaves in Autumn, and I, hoped at least, once, you would take me there with you. James There is no such place. Mary Yes there is. Neverland. It's the best you've written James. And I'm sure that Davies will adore the world you've created for them. I only wish I were part of it. James I've wanted you to be. I've tried. Mary, I always imagined us going off on great adventures once we were together. But we moved into this house and you started, I don't know, re-arranging the furniture. Mary What was I supposed to do James? You were always gone. James I was right here. Mary Sitting in your parlour staring off into other worlds as though I didn't exist. James Look, just give me a bit more time to finish up the play. Mary To spend with your mews. No I'm tired of waiting James, I'm tired of looking like a fool. James Well I can't very well give up the play. Mary 'Course not. Just, come home to me at the end of the day. Rehearse and be home for dinner. No more trips to the country, no more long afternoons in the park. If you can't give us that much of a chance. . . then we must end this. And I will. Captain Hook Pitiful display. James Nana, Nana. Erm, first you get the pyjamas, then you make the bed. Nana With my paws? James You make the bed with your paws, the pyjamas you get with your teeth. Because, in fact, being a dog, you haven't any proper digits, have you? Nana Well I don't have any teeth either. I mean, I can't see, I can't breathe. All I've got is this rubbery snout. James Can we get him some teeth? Charles He can have mine. James We'll get you teeth. Let's have a wee break, shall we? Nana Okay. Smee I though you were wonderful. Captain Hook You were marvellous. Smee I think you're better on four legs that you are on two. Captain Hook Absolutely. Nana Oh give it a rest. Smee I do! James Just say it Charles, go on. Charles Well, you picture it James, opening night, doctors, lawyers, business men and their wives all dressed to the nines, they paid good money. They're expecting theatre, what we call theatre. The curtain opens and it's crocodiles and fairies and pirates and Indians, I don't even know what it is. James But you did know Charles, you're an absolute genius Charles, that's it. Charles Oh, don't patronise me James, you know how much money I've put into this show that I haven't even found yet? James Listen, listen, opening night, I want 25 seats set aside. Charles Set aside? James 25 seats. Charles Twenty-five? James Right, scattered throughout the theatre. Two here, two there, three up there. Charles Are they paid for? James They're filled. Charles NO, no, no, no. James The seats are filled Charles. Charles Madness. George Uncle Jim? James Hello boys. George Can I speak to you for a minute please? James Certainly. 25 seats Charles. Charles James. James You're great, it'll be fantastic. Charles 25 scattered seats, who's paying for them? James Throughout the theatre. Charles Er, yeah, who's paying for these 25 scattered. . . ? James They're filled up seats Charles. Stagehand Look Jack This is great, I'm flying. Stagehand We don't need to use much pull at all see, as long as we've got the balance there. George Mother asked me to take the boys out for the afternoon. She said, she only wanted a bit of quiet, but she was trembling so badly she couldn't even finish her tea. I'm not a fool Uncle James, I deserve to know the truth. James I don't know the truth, she won't talk about it. George But you think it's serious? James I could be. The doctor felt she should go and have some tests. George Then you'll have to convince her to go then. James I've tried, she won't listen to me. And lately, to be quite honest it seems that all my beast intentions for your family have come to nothing but harm. Apparently I've made quite a mess of things. George It's Grandmother, isn't it? She's run you off, hasn't she? James Oh, she's absolutely tried with great effort and. . . and perhaps with good reason. George It isn't you Uncle Jim. She just. . . she just doesn't want to see mother hurt anymore. James Look at that. How magnificent. They boy's gone. Somewhere during the last 30 seconds you've become grown up. Right then. I think you should be the one to talk to her George. George But I won't know what to say. James You'll do fine. You'll do just fine. Smee Mr Barrie sir, sorry to interrupt, it's Nana, he expired backstage. James What's happened? Smee I think his costume was too tight. James It's not possible, too ti. . . George give me a minute, I'll be back. Stagehand Put that one tight, and here, last one. Good. George Whoa. Jack Can I have a go? Stagehand Yeah, you can have a little go. Give that a tug. Go on. Michael Can I have a go? Stagehand In a minute. Michael Can I have a go Jack? Jack I have to concentrate. Stagehand Stop it now boys. Jack No Michael, Michael. Stagehand Stop it about boys. Jack No don't do that. George Ow. Voice What's happened? Stagehand Oh no, oh no, no, sorry, I'm so sorry. Jack George? Doctor Mr Barrie, Mrs Davies would like a word with you. No, just Mr Barrie. Sylvia Did you encourage this? James Encourage what? Sylvia James please. You know perfectly well what. George won't allow them to set his arm unless I submit to an examination. James I see, well I suppose you'll have to then, 'cos he's quite a stubborn young man when he sets his mind to it. Sylvia This is absurd. They won't tell me anything different. James Different? So you've already spoken to a doctor then. Sylvia That is not your concern. My understanding is that my condition may be quite serious. However, my wish is that life should go on as normal. So, I'll have the examination, and I'll take whatever medication they advise, but I don't want to know what they're for. And I don't want you enquiring into it any further. James Wouldn't dream of it. Mary, Mary? Sylvia Peter will you help George to fold a pocket handkerchief please, they're in the linen cupboard, darling. Peter Yes mother. Sylvia Jack, how do you manage to always come untucked? Would you check your shirt-tails in the intermission please? Jack Yes mother. Mrs DuMaurier You're not planning on attending any after theatre events are you? Sylvia Only for a short time if we do. The tickets! Mrs DuMaurier With the children? Sylvia George! Um, possibly. Would you see if George has the tickets please? Jack All right. Sylvia I'll just check my dressing table. Mrs DuMaurier Sylvia, those events are entirely. . . Michael Mum! Sylvia Mother, please see if George has the tickets. Michael, where are your socks? Erm, wait here, don't move. Mrs DuMaurier Take her feet George. We'll need some more blankets. Take Michael with you, would you? Michael She looks much worse than when we were at the cottage. George Sshh Michael. Charles Those 25 seats, has anyone shown up? Ticket Seller No sir, not yet. Charles Precisely. Have there been many people asking for seats? Ticket Seller Yes sir. James Charles. Charles I suggest you start selling them. James Charles. Charles Yes James? James Seen any of the Davies family yet this evening? Charles The 25 seats, are they filled? James It's taken care of. Charles Yes, yes. Who did you invite? Because obviously whoever you invited decided not to come. James The seats will be filled, I promise. Charles Yes, you've been promising me a. . . Man Charles. Charles Hello, Mr Stand. James Have you seen the Davies family this evening? Usher No sir. Mrs DuMaurier Jack has gone to get Dr Brighton. Sylvia Oh no mother, I don't need a doctor. Mrs DuMaurier Yes you do dear. I think I'll get some camomile to help you relax. Peter will be here if you need anything. Sylvia Peter. Peter. Peter Can I do anything mother? Sylvia NO darling. You must go to the play. Peter I can't do that. Sylvia Yes you can. I need you to. I need you to come back tonight and tell me every bit of it. Please. Peter It's only a play mother. It doesn't matter. What do you want? Sylvia Take it out. Open it. I've never been so proud of you. Usher Last call please ladies and gentlemen. Last call for the play. Charles Yes, yes, yes. We have time to sell those 25 seats. Play's starting. James Charles. Charles What? James They're here. Charles Who's here? James You'll forgive them being a bit late. Short legs, it's a long walk from the orphanage. Charles I'm not clear what they're doing here. James They've come to see the play. That's the 25 seats. Charles 25 seats given to orphans? Right, now my nightmare is complete. James You can start your play now. Charles Your play! Peter Thank you. Man Looks like we got one of the better dressed ones. Smee I just want you to know, I think you're a wonderful dog. Nana Thanks. Woof. Woof. Actress I won't go to bed, I won't. I won't. Nana Woof. Actress Nana it isn't six o'clock yet. Two minutes more? Please. One minute more? Nana I will not be barked. I tell you, I will not. . . be. . . barked. Nana Woof. Actress Eeeeh! Mrs Darling Who are you? No-one there, yet I feel sure I saw a face. My children! James How is she? Mrs DuMaurier She's resting. James May I see her? Mrs DuMaurier No Mr Barrie. I don't think we need to include you in everything that goes on in this household. George But she'd want to see him. Mrs DuMaurier Be quiet George. And since, as I've discovered, you've seen fit to conceal certain facts about my daughter's condition from me. I feel no remorse at excluding you from my home. George But you can't s. . . Mrs DuMaurier Go upstairs George now. George Stop ordering me about. This isn't your home! It's our home. Just 'cos mother's needed your help recently, doesn't give you the right to rule over her existence. She's not a child anymore, and neither am I. If she wants to see Uncle Jim, she can see Uncle Jim. There's nothing you can do about it. Mother? Sylvia Yes darling. James. No, your play! Look at all this. I'd have come tonight, it's just. . . George Mother you need to rest. Sylvia So many things to do here. Let's see, this needs mending. Four boys, no end of patches. Can't seem to keep up. I haven't the time for all this. Don't look at me like that James, you make me feel so utterly exposed. James Boys, would you give me a moment with your mother please? Thank you. They can see it you know. You can't go on just pretending. Sylvia Just pretending? You brought pretending into this family James. You showed us we can change things by simply believing them to be different. James But not all things Sylvia, not everything. Sylvia But the things that matter. We've pretended for some time now that. . . you're a part of this family haven't we? You've come to mean so much to us all that. . . now, it doesn't matter if it's true. And even if it isn't true, even if that can never be. . . I need to go on pretending. . . until the end. . . with you. Actor How do you do it? Peter Pan You just think lovely, wonderful thoughts, and they lift you up in the air. Actor You are so nippy at it, couldn't you do it very slowly once? Yes, I've got it now Wendy. Peter Pan I must blow fairy dust on you first. Now try, try from the bed. Just wriggle your shoulders like this and then let go. Actress 1 I flew. Actor How ripping. Actress 2 Lovely. Peter Pan Now join hands. Actor Look at me. Actress I do like it. Charles Genius. James Hold still, don't move. Sylvia Yes, I feel a little better. Oh, it's been a bad day, that's all. Now I want you to go back to the theatre. Find Peter. James Of course. Sylvia Thank you. James You're sure there's nothing else I can do for you? Sylvia No. Well. . . I have always wanted to go to Neverland. You did promise to tell me about it you know. James Aye, I did. Sylvia It's a bit late for it tonight though, I'm afraid. Perhaps sometime soon though. James Most definitely. Wendy Do you mean we shall both be drowned? Peter Pan Look how the water is rising. It must be the tail of the kite we made for Michael. You remember. It tore itself out of his hands and floated away. The kite! Why shouldn't it carry you? Wendy Both of us. Peter Pan It can't lift two, Michael and Curly tried. Wendy I won't go without you Peter. Let us draw lots to see who is to stay behind. Peter Pan And you a lady. Never. Ready Wendy? Wendy Peter! Peter Pan Don't let go Wendy! Wendy Peter, I'm frightened! Peter Pan Hold on Wendy! To die will be an awfully big adventure. James I'm glad you came. Mary Well, I've never missed an opening. So I. . . assume you've heard about Gilbert and I? James Yes. Quite the scandal, so I'm told. How are you? Mary I'm all right. How are you? James I'm sorry. Mary Don't be. Without that family you could never have written anything like this. You need them. Goodbye. Mrs Snow Mr Barrie. James Mrs Snow. Mrs Snow Why thank you, that was quite the nicest evening I've ever spent in the theatre. James Oh that's very kind of you to say. Thank you. Where's Mr Snow this evening? Mrs Snow Oh, I'm afraid he's left us. And he would so have loved this evening. The pirates and the Indians. He was really just a boy himself, you know. To the very end. James Terribly sorry. How're you doing? Mrs Snow I'm doing well enough now, thank you. I suppose it's all the work of the ticking crocodile isn't it? Time is chasing after all of us, isn't that right? James That's right Mrs Snow. Niece Aunt Rose, your drink. Mrs Snow Thank you. I mustn't keep you, you've a lot of friends here. James It's lovely to see you. Mrs Snow Thank you. James I'm terribly sorry once again. Niece Was that Mr Barrie? Mrs Snow That was Mr Barrie. James Pssst. What do you think? Peter It's about our summer together isn't it? James It is. Peter About all of us. James That's right. Do you like it? Peter It's magical. Thank you. James No, thank you. Thank you, Peter. Woman 1 This is Peter Pan, how wonderful. Man Really, you're Peter Pan? Why, you must be quite the little adventurer. Woman 2 Look it's true, he has no shadow. Peter But I'm not Peter Pan, he is. Doctor And there's been no improvement in that since my last visit? Sylvia No. Has James been by at all today mother? George Dr Brighton, may I have a word? Doctor Excuse me please. Sylvia You haven't been keeping him from me have you? Mrs DuMaurier As a matter of fact, I actually hoped he might come, it would have proved me wrong about him. Of course, with the success of his play, the whole of London must be knocking at his door. I'm sorry dear. What is it? Michael It's a secret. Jack Quiet Michael. Michael I didn't say anything. George Mother, could you come downstairs for a moment? Mrs DuMaurier 'Course she can't come downstairs, what are you thinking of George? Doctor Actually, I think a trip downstairs might do her good, Ma'am. Mrs DuMaurier Okay? Sylvia What have you been up to? George Just wait and see. Michael It's a play. James It's not just a play Michael, it's the play. 'Course we'll have to make do with a few compromises. Much of it will have to be imagined. Peter As it should be. James As it should be. Peter Michael come and sit here next to mum. James When you're ready. Nana Woof. Woof. Actress I won't go to bed, I won't, I won't. Nana Woof. Actress Nana, it isn't six o'clock yet, 2 minutes more, please. Nana Woof. Wendy You know fairies, Peter? Peter Pan Yes, but they're nearly all dead now. You see Wendy. When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about. And that was the beginning of fairies. And now when every new baby is born its first laugh becomes a fairy. So there ought to be one fairy for every boy and girl. Wendy Ought to be, isn't there? Peter Pan Oh no, children know such a lot now, soon they don't believe in fairies and every time a child says 'I don't believe in fairies', there's a fairy somewhere that falls down dead. Who is that? The Redskins were defeated? Wendy and the boys captured by the pirates? I'll rescue her. I'll rescue her. Oh that's just my medicine. Poisoned? Who could have poisoned it? Why Tink! You've drunk my medicine! I was poisoned. And you drank it to save my life? Tink. Are you dying? Her light is growing faint. If it goes out, that means she's dead. Her voice is so low I can scarcely hear what she's saying. She says she thinks she could get well again, if children believed in fairies. Do you believe in fairies? Say quick that you believe. If you believe, clap your hands. Clap louder. Thank you. Thank you. Mrs DuMaurier It's all right, you go. James That, is Neverland. So many perfect days. I really began to believe we'd go on like that for ever. Peter Oh stop it, she wasn't going to stay with you for ever. She had a husband, my father. She never cared for you the way she did for him. James I'm not trying to replace your father Peter. I could never do that. Mrs DuMaurier You'd best let him go. George, would you take the boys back to the house? I'll be with you in a moment. Go on dear. James I'm terribly sorry, I've ruined everything I've touched in this family. Mrs DuMaurier Stop giving yourself so much credit, Peter's grieving. It has nothing to do with you. James Perhaps, if I just had a bit more time with him. Mrs DuMaurier No Mr Barrie, that won't be good enough. If a bit more time is all you can provide, you'd better leave him alone. James I know you don't much care for me Mrs DuMaurier and I respect that, but, I loved your daughter very much. And I love those boys. And I think they need me right now. Mrs DuMaurier Is that so? And for how long after? James Meaning what? Mrs DuMaurier Sylvia has requested a co-guardianship for the boys in her will. You, Mr Barrie, and myself. James And what do you have to say about that? Mrs DuMaurier I shall respect my daughter's wishes, something I should have done more of while she was alive. But if you feel you're not ready for such a commitment, I assure you I can certainly look after the boys by myself. James Do you think I could abandon those boys? Sit down Peter. Peter Mother pasted it back together, after I ruined it. And when I saw the play, I just started writing, and I haven't been able to stop. James She would be very pleased to know that. Listen, I've just spoken with your Grandmother, and I'm staying, for good. Peter I'm sorry I was so horrible. James Don't worry. Peter It's just, I thought she'd always be here. James So did I. But in fact, she is. Because she's on every page of your imagination. You'll always have her there. Always. Peter But why did she have to die? James I don't know boy. When I think of your mother, I'll always remember how happy she looked, sitting there in the parlour, watching a play about her family, about her boys who never grew up. She went to Neverland. And you can visit her anytime you like. If you just go there yourself. Peter How? James By believing Peter, just believe. Peter I can see her. James Good boy.