Finding Neverland
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 Du Maurier 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 Du Maurier 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 Du Maurier 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 Du Maurier 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 Du Maurier Is that so? And for how long after?
James Meaning what?
Mrs Du Maurier 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 Du Maurier 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.
