Finding Neverland
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.
