"please!" "sir." " Places." "Places." "Everyone to their places." "everyone." "Opening nights?" "I love opening nights." "Charles." "how are you?" " This is my wife." "Lady Herbert." " How do you do?" "May I give you a peck?" "One of Mr Barrie's finest?" "that genius Scotsman has done it again." "It's the best thing I've produced in 25 years." "I already have investors interested back home in New York." "See you on Broadway!" "people." "ladies and gentlemen." "please." "please take your opening positions." "Audience are coming in." "Standing by." " Good audience." " Sorry?" "Good audience tonight." "thank you." "How much longer?" "sir." "I love opening nights." "I want to dance with your wife at the after-party." "Mr Frohman." "John?" " Very well." "It's the best thing that I've produced in 25 years." "I see." "You've rearranged a holiday for me and I won't forget it." "anything." " You won't regret it." "I'm sure." " Have you got the tickets?" " They're in my pocket." "Mr and Mrs Snow." "We were so hoping to speak with your husband before the show." "actually." "We do miss seeing you on stage." "You were so wonderful." "it's been some time now." "Are you right to find your seat?" "yes." "then." "Excuse me." "Could you find Mr Barrie and remind him that they're doing his play this evening." "ma'am." " Thank you." "Let's close the doors." "I mustn't inconvenience you in this way." "I can wait quite well in the shop." "'Tis no inconvenience." "The shop is chilly." "And there is a fire here." "you are uncommonly good." "sir." "Mrs Barrie wanted me to remind you that the play's begun." " Though I imagine you know that." " They hate it." " Sir?" " It's like a dentist's office out there." "Why?" "sir." " What do you think?" "Do you like it?" "sir." " Yes or no?" "I'm not bothered." " I'm not really qualified to..." " Do you like it?" "Is it crap?" "say it." "Just say it." "isn't it?" "Go on." "Say it." "say it." "Mr Barrie." " I knew it." "I haven't even seen it." " I knew it." "Thank you." "Thank you very much." "for a moment?" "I'm an old man and I've seen few of the sights." "Absolute rubbish from start to finish." "I found it fearfully dull." "old boy." "Good to see you." "My apologies." "I promise." "James." " I know you put a lot into this one." "but I am fortunate because I can afford to lose a fortune." "I can't." "How are you?" " Arthur." " James." "You were sorely missed at the last club meeting." "Was I?" "writing or cricket." "didn't you?" "should we?" "I don't see why not." "the problem lies in our batting order." "darling." "don't you?" " Mrs Snow." " Mr Barrie." "Mr Snow." "The Snows have been waiting to meet with you all evening." "yes." " Is that right?" "wasn't it?" "Was it?" "thank you." "That's very kind of you." "I'm glad you liked it." "How did you feel it went?" " I think I can do better." " Really?" "James?" "I'm headed off for the park if you'd like to join me." "It's a beautiful morning." "won't you?" "yes." "I'll let you to your work then." "Emma." "sir." " And you." "boy." "That's right." "Good boy." "Grab it." "Good." "boy." "Come on." "you're standing on my sleeve." "Am I?" "So sorry." "I might point out you're lying under my bench." "I'm afraid." "I've been put in a dungeon by the evil Prince George." "I'm sorry if it bothers you." "is there?" "Perhaps I could slide a key to you through the bars." "sir." "The evil Prince George has tortured many men." "sir?" "My brother can be an extremely irritating sort of person." "I gather." "I understand you are the horrible tyrant who imprisoned this unfortunate wretch." "yes." "Kind and tolerant." "And what precisely is..." "What did you say your name was?" " Michael." " What precisely is Michael's crime?" " He's my younger brother." " Ah." "lad." "Cannot free you." " That's all right." " Do you mind us playing with your dog?" " No." "Go on." "second in line to the throne and that one's Michael." "He's only five." "And I'm in prison for it." "Mum." "come out from under there." "I can't." "I'm in prison." "I see." "JM Barrie." "Pleased to meet you." "the author?" "A pleasure." "Sylvia Llewelyn Davies." " Are you a writer?" " I am." "at that." " I apologize." "I imagine you're writing." " No." "Not at all." "Mr Barrie?" "I make my living entertaining princes and their courts" "Porthos. to give you just such a performance of course." " Very well." " Very well." "Now..." "I want you to pay particular attention to the teeth. while other cowards will force the brute into a muzzle." "Only the true master would attempt these tricks without either measure of safety." " What did you bring me over here for?" " Peter." "This is absurd." "It's just a dog." "darling." "Just a dog"? "Just"?" "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"?" "candle-snuffing word." "he's just a man." "it's just a rock." "Just." "Fine then." "Turn him into a bear." "If you can." "where are your manners?" "I'm afraid you'd never see it." "I can turn around right now and see..." "Porthos." "Dance with me." "Thank you." "I don't think I've ever seen a performance quite like it." "and the bear is always more than happy to perform." "perhaps we'll see you here tomorrow then." "Perhaps." "darling." "Quick." " Bye." "Bye." "didn't you enjoy that?" " I've seen better. and Peter insisted that Michael was hardly a prisoner and Porthos simply wasn't a bear at all." "I do very much hope to see them tomorrow." " What's her name?" " Sylvia." "Um..." "Mrs... something Davies." "Llewelyn Davies?" "of course." "for heaven's sake." "Her father was the artist." "Her brother's the actor." "And there was something... tragic that happened with her husband." "yes." "He died." "I believe." "That's horrible." "he left her with four boys and no income to speak of." "If it wasn't for her mother's help..." "James." " We should have them to dinner." " Should we?" "Absolutely." "I've always wanted to meet Madam du Maurier." "she knows practically everyone there is worth knowing." " What are you writing about?" " Oh." "Nothing of any great consequence." "I can't write." "Have you ever kept a journal?" "Ever tried your hand at writing a play?" "then how do you know?" "I know." "That's all." "I see." "Where's your mother today and the rest of the boys?" "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." "Peter." "I'll see you later then." "Charles?" "You knew it wasn't any good." "James?" "You knew it wasn't any good." "Hm?" "keeping the actors on." " I don't have another play." " I'm sure you will." " Won't you?" " We'll see." "Mr Frohman." " Lower." " Easy does it." "Take your time." "It was never meant to be taken seriously." "James?" "They changed it." " They changed what?" " The critics." "They made it important." "Hm?" "What's it called?" "What's it called?" " "Play." - "Play." "bang!" "Bang!" "you nasty Injun." "make him great warrior." "never let him go." "bang!" "Peter." "Time's short." "You go." "Spread wings and soar like eagle above enemy." "Fly back to our chief." "Tell her of my brave defeat." "That's crazy." "Indians can't fly." "go on." "boy." "This Injun kidnapped you." "Not true." "We kidnap no one." "You lost boy." "I teach you ways of the brave." "I take you as my own son." "You are not my father." "bang!" " I've got him!" " Let me go!" "aren't we?" "I'm scared." "you had a bit of fun for a change." "you two." "Get off!" " Don't." " Jack!" " Stop it!" "George!" " Peter." "it wasn't your fault." "I'm afraid it might have been." "I'm just happy you got him to join in the game." "I was a tremendous success." "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." "doesn't it?" "it does." "my wife would like to invite you and the boys over to dinner." "Your mother as well." "Oh." "How kind." "That would be lovely." "Well..." "Don't you all look lovely in your little suits?" "what a shame it is that we've not met until this evening." "How kind of you to say so." "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 organizers." "It's the very thing I would love to do myself if I could just find the time." "My problem is in finding the time to do everything else." "At the moment I am running two households." "Sylvia believes she can get by without a housekeeper." "Mother. mother." "George." "Grandmother." "I understand you've become playmates of my grandchildren." "really." " On the contrary." "The other day we took to an exploration of darkest Africa in our garden." "But Mr Barrie was taken ill by the bite of a..." "What was it?" "Tsetse fly." "Quite horrible." "and he swelled to the size of a hippopotamus." "Fingers like sausages." "And we had to float in him down the river like he was a great bloated raft." "wasn't it?" "James." "Please." " Bye." " Thank you so much." " Lovely evening." " Thank you." "Bye." " Good night." " Good night." "that was a disaster." "Painful." "Utterly painful to see." "I don't know what you mean." "I had a lovely time." "please." "My problem is in finding the time to do everything else." " I never felt so judged in my life." " Judged?" "How do you mean? playing all day long with children?" "I hardly think they'll be the social contact we'd hoped for." "I hadn't really thought of them that way." "I just enjoy their company." "Mother." "Yes." "But what does that mean?" "Hm?" "Surely you don't intend... do you? George Llewelyn Davies shall test the very limits of the atmosphere boy." "George." "stop!" " I just need a bit more speed." "I want to do it." "George." "I think it's in need of a tail." "wait." "this will do." " That's a good idea." "it's not heavy enough." " I want to do it." "Peter?" " Porthos!" "It'll work this time." "give us your bell." "That's good." " Michael?" " Yeah?" "please." "he can't run fast enough." " Of course he can." "you hold the kite." "George." "Peter." "you've got to run now." "Ready?" "Ready?" "Michael!" " Run!" "I told you this wasn't going to work." " I don't think he's fast enough." "It's not going to work if no one believes in him." "go back to your starting position." "you take the kite." "I don't want a flea's breath of doubt." "We must get that kite in the air." "Michael?" "run." " Run!" " That's it!" "Yes!" "He did it!" "Keep running!" "Keep running!" "What are you writing about now?" "just making notes." "I'm never really certain what they're about until I've read them over later." "Something about the kite?" "why do you ask that?" "I don't know." "If I were a writer I think I could tell a whole story about flying the kite today." "Perhaps you should then." "That's a fantastic idea." "Why not give it a try?" "I hope you haven't been talking about anything too serious with this one." "No." "Talking a bit of silliness really." "Can we have him for supper?" "Michael." "We're not cannibals." "you know." "Sylvia." "Mr Barrie." "Where have you been?" "and having a wonderful time." "I'm sorry." "I didn't know you were coming this evening." "apparently you forgot then." " I brought some supper along for us all." " You didn't need to do that." "is there?" "Really." "You don't need to wait till the cupboard is bare." "darlings." "Wipe feet." "There's been enough tracking round here." "I thought you said you were going to help your mother take care of the house." "please." "Yes." " And... coat hanger." "Good." " Will we see you tomorrow?" "No." "You're going to be helping round the house tomorrow." "there is absolutely no need for this." "You can't do everything yourself." "Look at you." "You're horribly flush." "You're wearing yourself out." "Mother." "we're going to have some discipline around here." "And not one of you will escape." "Sarah." "Emma." "You missed supper." "Perhaps I'll have something later." "I have a bit of writing I wanted to do." "Are you sure?" "It was a lovely meal." "Duck." "Sarah let Emma cook this evening." "what would you think of loaning Emma out to the Davies for the occasional evening?" "They don't actually have a cook." "I take it Mrs Davies enjoyed the meal that she had here?" "I imagine she could use an extra hand now and again." "That's all." "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." "stop." "Maybe she can send over some of the things we've run short on." "for example." "We rarely see him in this house." "That hasn't seemed to bother you for some time now. protector of the realm." "That scepter's made of wood." "don't we?" "but it's just an old hunk of wood." "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." " There you go." " What's this?" "All great writers begin with a good leather binding and a respectable title." "Open it." "The Boy Castaways. faithfully set forth by..." "Peter Llewelyn Davies." "Kipling would swallow his own ear for a title like that." "George." "You can do it." "I still have no idea what to write." "Write about anything." "Write about your family." " Write about the talking whale." " What whale?" "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." "yes." "And I would be extremely honored if you would allow me the use of your name for one of the characters." "I don't know what to say." "Say yes." "Good man." "Porthos!" "That's mine." "Let go." "I won't." "young man." "I'm afraid I've grown hopelessly lax in my discipline." "Nonsense." "Young boys should never be sent to bed." "They always wake up a day older." "they're grown." "Their father would have been horrified." "he never would have allowed a dog in the house either." "He'd have tied him up in the yard." "Right!" "Last one in bed's a hairy toad." "you know." "Especially Peter." "It seems to me that Peter's 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." "when I was just Peter's age." "And it nearly destroyed my mother." "I'm so sorry." "Your poor mother." "I can't imagine losing a child." "Aye." "She didn't get out of bed for months." "She wouldn't eat." "but... she only wanted David." "So... one day..." "I dressed myself in David's clothing and I went to her." "You must have frightened her to death." "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." "Where?" "Neverland." "It's a wonderful place." "I've not spoken about this before to anyone." "Ever." "What's it like..." "Neverland?" "One day I'll take you there." "James." "He's a fairy?" "no." "He's the irrepressible spirit of youth." "Tinker Bell is the fairy." " Tinker Bell is a woman?" " She's not a woman." "She's a fairy." "He is a boy who stays young forever." "how does anyone stay young forever?" "It doesn't work. see?" "I'm your friend." "You're coming off a flop." "a boy who has a fairy." "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." " It's a lot of water." "but we can fake the water." "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..." "Long enough and hard enough?" "and then the money for the play will appear magically before me." " That's right." "That's it." " Yes." "How does the clock wind up inside the crocodile?" "of course he does." "Out!" "How was he?" " Well done." " Good show!" "I finally get the courage to invite the boys to a game and we have to suffer this grave humiliation." "It's perfect actually." "don't you?" "in fact." "I'm glad for you." "And Mrs Davies seems to be having a good time of it as well." "what some people have been saying." "I wouldn't bring it up if I thought the rumors would pass." "I'm not surprised." "What are they saying?" "Very well." "That you spend much more time with Mrs Davies than you do with your own wife." "She's a widow." "And..." "And a friend." "That's it." "Nothing more." "There have also been questions about how you spend your time with those boys." "And why." "That's outrageous." "How could anyone think something so evil?" "They're children." "They're innocent children. there's always someone who wants to destroy it." "but I don't think many will give credence to such nonsense." "Then why is no one sitting with them? people watch you and they will look for ways to drag you down." "Are you sure your wife doesn't object to us taking over your cottage" "James?" " She doesn't go there anymore." " Really?" "I hope?" " Of course." "Are we in?" " Everyone in?" "no." "Out of the way or I'll make haggis out of you." "Get the sheep out the way." " Are we there yet?" " Almost." "Almost there." "I can see the cottage!" "please." " Come on." "Follow me." " Be careful of stinging nettles." "everyone." " Would you like to see the rest of it?" " Mm." "Yes." "'Ello!" "eh?" "son! or we'll toss you to the sharks." "eh?" "matey." "Now then." "Now is your only chance to speak." "Who amongst you is ready to tie your hopes and dreams to the sea?" " I am!" " Not finished yet." "To enter upon the most dangerous chapter in your young and soon-to-be-wasted lives?" "son?" "Are you giggling?" "On my ship?" "Giggling?" "What did you say?" "boy?" "the oldest and wisest of the crew." "matey." "Curly." "Your job will be to mop the deck." "young squire?" "My name be Nibs the Cut-throat." "Feared by men and greatly desired by the ladies." "Jack!" "Nibs." "You shall polish all wood surfaces." "Grab a hold of that rigging." "lad?" " I'm Peter." "eh?" "No." "Just Peter." "I like my name." "Very well." "Peter shall walk the plank." "Cut him loose." " What are you playing again?" " The boy." "What have you got...?" "Excuse me." "sir?" "sir." "It says here I'm to play the nanny." "eh?" " You're not actually the nanny." "You're a dog." " What?" " A Newfound land." "We'll put you in a great big fluffy dog suit." "Rrr." "right." "do we?" "He could play Tinker Bell." "no." "Tinker Bell's a light." "It moves around the stage." "Just a wee light that moves around the stage." "Bit worried about this." "Skylights." "Curly." "All these names are absurd when you see them all together." "S..." "James." "You're out of your mind." "How were rehearsals?" "Fine." "Great." "They're going... quite well." " Good." " Yes." "Thank you." " Hello." " Hello." " How was your journey?" " It was quite long." "I'm exhausted." " Let's get you some tea." " That'd be nice." "Thanks." "Michael." "He's just arrived." "But I said I'd get him." "They always send Peter to do things." "I said I'll do it." "darling?" "It's a great surprise." "We've taken most of the day preparing for it." " Everybody's waiting for you." " Then we mustn't keep them waiting." "Please don't tell them that I told you the surprise." "I said I wouldn't." "did you?" " Yes I did." "It's a play." " It's a play?" "The Lamentable Tale of Lady Ursula." "A play in one act by Peter Llewelyn Davies." "really." " I should hope so." "Go on." "you know." "the others do a good job with it anyway." "let's see it then." "The Lamentable Tale of Lady Ursula. made her way up the steps of the great cathedral to pray to her blessed saint. the gargoyle that guarded the sacred structure came to life and swooped down upon her. but Lady Ursula slipped on the cathedral steps" "wrapping her in its huge wings and taking her high up into the spires of the cathedral. a young knight named JM Barnaby came into the city." "Sylvia." " Do you want some water?" " Mother?" "James." " Let's get her back to the house." "Go on." "She won't discuss it with me at all." "She claims it was nothing." "she couldn't breathe." "You can't very well treat a patient who won't admit there's anything wrong." "you'll have to make her understand that something is." " I'll try and do my best." " Great." "Just there." "Get your hand flat like that." "Ow." "Then..." "Like that." "Come in." "The good doctor didn't feel up to the challenge on this one." "He thinks you need to go to hospital for further tests." "Nonsense." "When would I have time for that?" "this family's had enough of hospitals." " Perhaps they can help you." " I know what they can do for me." "I saw what they did for my husband." "James." "I've no interest in hospitals." "I'm keenly interested in having some supper." "What did you and Mother decide to tell us this time? "It's only a chest cold"?" " We hadn't decided anything." " Stop lying to me!" "I'm sick of grown-ups lying to me." "I'm not lying to you." "I don't know what's wrong." "that's what she said. "In just a few weeks." "And he died the next morning." "Peter." "That was your mother's hope." "but I started planning our fishing trip." "I will never lie to you." "I promise you that." "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." "What's this?" "Peter." "The play." "I wanted to see the rest of it." "hasn't it?" "All because of a silly chest cold." "James." "don't you?" "Good evening." "Mr Cannan has been working on the committee to fight government censorship." "I know how involved you've been as well." "He wanted to speak to you." "I did think you'd be home so much sooner." "Mary." "Yes." "of course." "I should perhaps talk to you at another time?" "Not so late?" "That will be fine." "We'll talk then." "Mrs Barrie." "Mr Barrie." " Good night." " Night." "aren't you going to speak?" "What would you like me to say?" "I suppose." "let's see." "What comes next?" "James." "And how is Mrs Davies this evening?" "wouldn't I?" "How dare you." "This isn't one of your plays." "Mary." "It's quite serious." "wherever it may lead." "yes?" "Good night then." "Mr Barrie." "Don't you agree this is a little bit tight?" "in fact I think it's quite... baggy." " Baggy?" "Quite frumpy." "I'd bring it right in just there." "That's very tight." "And put maybe a plank of wood there to straighten him up." "Mr Barrie." " Plank of wood?" "Some wood there on the shoulders as well." "sir." " You'll be sick tomorrow." " I'll be sick tonight." "James." "of course." "Yes." "Of course." "How do you do?" "boys." "please don't run in the house." "You'll break something." "come on." "before you go." "We'll only be a few minutes." "why don't you go and play in the garden?" "Go on." " Is he in trouble?" " Sh." "Because I've been alone with Grandmother and I know what it's like." "dear?" "Very well." "please?" "Certainly." "Sylvia has told me you have offered her the services of your household staff." "not exactly." " That won't be necessary." "of course." "Mr Barrie." "I'm moving in here from now on." " You're moving in?" " 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." "as a friend." "Have you no idea how much your friendship has already cost my daughter?" "Or are you really that selfish?" "I beg your pardon?" "Don't you see what a visit to the summer cottage of a married man does for a widow's 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." "Mrs du Maurier." "I'll look after them." "You have your own family to concern yourself with." "What are you suggesting?" "Mr Barrie." "That is precisely what I am doing." "I was so certain what I would find in this." "Some little confession would leak out onto the page." "I don't write love notes in my journal." "No." "didn't you?" "actually." "It means I know you just a little after all." "Mary." "No." "I suppose I could just go see the plays." "I was hopelessly naive when I married you." "I imagined that brilliant people disappeared to some secret place where good ideas floated around like leaves in autumn." "at least once... you would take me there with you." "There is no such place." "there is." "Neverland." "James." "And I'm sure the Davies will adore the world you've created for them." "I only wish I were part of it." "I've wanted you to be." "I've tried." "Mary." "I always imagined us going off on great adventures once we were together." "James?" "You were always gone." "I was right here." "staring off into other worlds as though I didn't exist." "Look." "Just give me bit more time to finish up the play." "To spend with your muse?" "James." "I'm tired of looking like a fool." "I can't very well give up the play." "Of course not." "Just come home to me at the end of the day." "Rehearse and be home for dinner." "no more long afternoons in the park. then we must end this." "And I will." "Pitiful display." "Nanny." "Nanny." "What?" "then you make the bed." "With my paws?" "You make the bed with your paws." "The pajamas you get with your teeth." "have you?" "either." "I can't see." "I can't breathe." "All I've got is this rubbery snout." " Can we get him some teeth?" " He can have mine." "We'll get you teeth." "shall we?" " Right." " I thought you were wonderful." " You were marvelous." "I think you're better on four legs than you are on two." "give it a rest." " I do." "James. all dressed to the nines." "what we call theater." "The curtain opens and it's crocodiles and fairies and pirates and Indians." "I don't even know what it is." "Charles." "That's it." "James." "You know how much money I put into this show that I haven't even found yet?" "I want 25 seats set aside." " Set aside?" "25?" " 25 seats." "three up there." " Are they paying for it?" " They're filled." "no." "I'm asking..." " The seats are filled." "boys." "please?" "Certainly." "Charles." "It'll be great." "It'll be fantastic." "25 scattered seats?" "Who's paying for them?" "Throughout the theater." "Charles." "Whoa." "Look." "This is great." "I'm flying." "see?" "As long as we've got the balance down." "Mother asked me to take the boys out for the afternoon. but she was trembling so badly she couldn't even finish her tea." "Uncle James." "I deserve to know the truth." "I don't know the truth." "She won't talk about it." "But you think it's serious?" "It could be." "The doctor felt she should go and have some tests." "Then you'll have to convince her to go then." "I've tried." "She won't listen to me. it seems that all my best intentions for your family have come to nothing but harm." "Apparently I've made quite a mess of things." "hasn't she?" "she's absolutely tried with great effort." "And perhaps with good reason." "Uncle Jim." "She just..." "She just doesn't want to see Mother hurt anymore." "Look at that." "How magnificent." "The boy's gone." "you've become a grown-up." "George." " But I wouldn't know what to say." " You'll do fine." "You'll do just fine." "sir." "Sorry to interrupt." "he's expired backstage." " What's happened?" "I think his costume is too tight." "I'll be back." "last one." "OK." "Flap those wings." " There you go." " Whoa!" "you can have a little go if you want." "Give that a tug." "Go on." " Just give it a little pull." " Can I have a go?" " In a minute." "In a minute." " Can I have a go?" " Jack." "Pull me higher." " I have to concentrate." "Michael." "boys." "Come on now." "don't go down there." "What are you...?" "Ow!" "I'm sorry." " I'm so sorry." " George?" "Mr Barrie?" "Mrs Davies would like a word with you." "just Mr Barrie." " Did you encourage this?" " Encourage what?" "please." "You know perfectly well what." "George won't allow them to set his arm unless I submit to an examination. because he's quite a stubborn young man when he sets his mind to it." "This is absurd." "They won't tell me anything different." "Different?" "So you've already spoken to a doctor then?" "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. and I'll take whatever medications they advise." "But I don't want to know what they're for." "And I don't want you inquiring into it any further." "Wouldn't dream of it." "Mary?" "Mary?" "please?" "Mother." "how do you manage to always come untucked?" "please?" "Mother." "are you?" "Only for a short time if we do." "The tickets!" " With the children?" " George!" "please?" "there's a... where are your socks?" "don't move." "George." "We'll need some more blankets." "would you?" "She looks much worse than when we were at the cottage." "Michael." "sir." "Not yet." "Precisely." "Have there been many people asking for seats?" "sir." " Charles." "James?" "Have you seen any of the Davies family yet this evening?" "are they filled?" " It's taken care of." " Yes." "Yes." "Who did you invite?" "Because obviously whoever you invited decided not to come." "I promise." " Yes." "You've been promising me all..." "Mr Stanley." "Have you seen the Davies family this evening?" "sir." "Mother." "I don't need a doctor." "dear." "I think I'll get some camomile to help you relax." "Peter will be here if you need anything." "Peter." "Peter." "Mother?" "darling." "You must go to the play." "you can." "I need you to." "I need you to come back tonight and tell me every bit of it." "Please." "Mother." "It doesn't matter." "What do you want?" "Take it out." "Open it." "I've never been so proud of you." "ladies and gentlemen." "Last call." "yes." "It's all right." "They know." "We had time to sell those 25 seats." "The play's starting." " Charles." " What?" " They're here." " Who's here?" "long walk from the orphanage." "I'm not clear what they're doing here." " They've come to see the play." " Mm-hm." " That's the 25 seats." " Mm." "25 seats given to orphans." "Right." "Now my nightmare is complete." "You can start your play now." "Your play." "Get them in the scattered seats." "boys." "sir." "This way." "Thank you." "Looks like we got one of the better-dressed ones." "I think you're a wonderful dog." "Thanks." "I won't go to bed." "I won't." "I won't." "it isn't six o'clock yet." "Two minutes more." "Please." "One minute more." "I will not be bathed." "Who are you?" "No one there." "Yet I feel sure I saw a face." "My children." " How is she?" " She's resting." "Mr Barrie." "I don't think we need to include you in everything that goes on in this household." "George." "I feel no remorse at excluding you from my home." "But you can't... now." " 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." "and neither am I." "she can see Uncle Jim." "There's nothing you can do about it." "darling?" "James." "No." "Your play." "Look at all this." "it's just... you need to rest." " I still have things to do here." "See?" "This needs mending." "no end of patches." "Can't seem to keep up." "I haven't the time for all this." "James." "You make me feel so utterly exposed." "please?" "Thank you." "you know." "You can't go on just pretending." "Just pretending"?" "James." "You showed us we can change things by simply believing them to be different." "not everything." "But the things that matter." "haven't we?" "You've come to mean so much to us all that now it doesn't matter if it's true. even if that can never be..." "I need to go on pretending." "Until the end." "With you." "I am sweet." " How do you do it?" "wonderful thoughts and they lift you up in the air." "You are so nippy at it." "Couldn't you do it very slowly once?" "Wendy." "I must blow fairy dust on you first." "Now try." "Try it from the beds." "Just wriggle your shoulders like this and then let go." " I flew!" " How ripping!" "Now join hands." " Look at me!" " I do like it!" " Bravo!" " Let's go out." "Second on the right and straight on till morning." "Genius." "don't move." " I feel a little better." "that's all." "Now I want you to go back to the theater." "Find Peter." " Of course." " Thank you." "Are you sure there's nothing else I can do for you?" "No." "I have always wanted to go to Neverland." "you know." "Aye." "That I did." "I'm afraid." "Perhaps some time soon though?" "Most definitely." " D'you mean we shall both be drowned?" " 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?" " Both of us." "It can't lift two." "Michael and Curly tried." "Peter." "Let us draw lots which is to stay behind." "And you a lady?" "Never." "Wendy?" "Peter!" "Wendy." "I'm frightened." "Wendy!" "Peter!" "To die will be an awfully big adventure." " I'm glad you came." " Well..." "I've never missed an opening." "So I... assume you heard about Gilbert and I." "Yes." "so I'm told." "How are you?" "I'm all right." "How are you?" "I'm sorry." "Don't be." "you could never have written anything like this." "You need them." "Goodbye." " Mr Barrie." " Mrs Snow." "Thank you." "That was quite the nicest evening I've ever spent in the theater." "Very kind of you to say." "Thank you." "Where's Mr Snow this evening?" "Oh." "I'm afraid he's left us." "And he would so have loved this evening." "The pirates and the Indians." "you know." "To the very end." "I'm terribly sorry." "How are you doing?" "thank you." "isn't it?" "Time is chasing after all of us." "Isn't that right?" "your drink." "Thank you." "I mustn't keep you." "You've a lot of friends here." "once again." " Was that Mr Barrie?" " That was Mr Barrie." "Mr Barrie." " Good show." " Well done." "Psst." "What did you think?" "isn't it?" " It is." " About all of us." " That's right." "Did you like it?" "It's magical." "Thank you." "thank you." "Peter." " This is Peter Pan!" "How wonderful." " Really?" "you must be quite the little adventurer." "it's true." "He has no shadow." "But I'm not Peter Pan." "He is." "And there's been no improvement since my last visit?" "No." "Mother?" "Dr Brighton." "May I have a word?" "Excuse me a moment." "have you?" "I actually hoped he might come." "Would have proved me wrong about him. the whole of London must be knocking at his door." "dear." " What is it?" " It's a secret." "Michael." " I didn't say anything." "could you come downstairs for a moment?" "George?" "ma'am." " What have you been up to?" " Just wait and see." "It's a play." "Michael." "It's the play." "we'll have to make do with a few compromises." "Much of it will have to be imagined." "that's right." "next to Mum." "When you're ready." "I won't go to bed." "I won't." "I won't." "it isn't six o'clock yet." "Two minutes more." "Please." "Peter?" " Yes." "But they're nearly all dead now. the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about and that was the beginning of fairies." "its first laugh becomes a fairy." "So there ought to be one fairy for every boy and girl." "no." "they 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!" "that's just my medicine." "Poisoned?" "Who could have poisoned it?" "Tink." "You've drunk my medicine." "It was poisoned." "And you drank it to save my life?" "Tink." "Are you dying?" "Her light is growing faint." "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." "clap your hands." "Clap louder." "Thank you." "Thank you." "That is Neverland." "So many perfect days." "I really began to believe we'd go on like that forever." "stop it." "She wasn't going to stay with you forever." "She had a husband." "My father." "She never cared for you the way she did for him." "Peter." "I could never do that." "You'd best let him go." "would you take the boys back to the house?" "I'll be with you in a moment." "dear." "I'm terribly sorry." "I've ruined everything I've touched in this family." "Stop giving yourself so much credit." "Peter's grieving." "It has nothing to do with you." "Perhaps if I just had a bit more time with him." "Mr Barrie." "That won't be good enough." "you'd better leave him alone. but I loved your daughter very much." "And I love those boys." "And I think they need me right now." "Is that so?" "And for how long after?" "Meaning what?" "Sylvia has requested a co-guardianship for the boys in her will." "and myself." " And what do you have to say about that?" " I shall respect my daughter's wishes." "Something I should have done more of while she was alive." "I assure you I can certainly look after the boys by myself." "Do you think I could abandon those boys?" "Peter." "Mother pasted it back together after I ruined it." "And then I saw the play." "I just started writing and I haven't been able to stop." "She would be very pleased to know that." "Listen." "I've just spoken with your grandmother and I'm staying." "For good." "I'm sorry I was so horrible." "Don't worry." "It's just..." "I thought she'd always be here." "So did I." "in fact... she is." "Because she's on every page of your imagination." "You'll always have her there." "Always." "But why did she have to die?" "boy." "When I think of your mother..." "I will always remember how happy she looked watching a play about her family." "About her boys that never grew up." "She went to Neverland." "And you can visit her any time you like if you just go there yourself." "How?" "Peter." "Just believe." "I can see her."