Finding Neverland

James I beg your pardon.

Mrs Du Maurier 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 Du Maurier I’ll look after them. You have your own family to concern yourself with.

James What are you suggesting?

Mrs Du Maurier 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 Du Maurier 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.