Story by J.M. Barrie

Home , Peter and Wendy, Peter Pank, Peter Pan (1950 musical), Peter Pan (1954 musical), Peter Pan (1976 musical), Tiger Lily (Peter Pan)

Peter Pan

Cast List:

• Wendy

• John • Michael 

• Mr. Darling  • Mrs. Darling 

• Peter Pan  • Slightly 

• Tootles  • Curley 

• Nibs  • Twin #1

• Twin #2 • Hook  Possible doubling option: • Smee  Actor 1: Peter Pan • Starkey  Actor 2: Wendy • Bill Jukes  Actor 3: Mr. Darling/Hook/Slightly Actor 4: Jane/Tootles/Starkey • Cecco  Actor 5: Michael/Twins/Nibs • Mullins  Actor 6: Mrs. Darling/Smee/Twins Actor 7: John/Lost Boy/Pirate • Noodler 

• (Alfie) Other characters are portrayed only as shadow puppets. • Tiger Lily • Jane 

Prologue

(Darkness, with stars. The actors play like children to bring the world alive. The following narration is spoken by various individual members of the ENSEMBLE, as Wendy and Mrs. Darling enact the little scene in the garden.)

ENSEMBLE All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this: One day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden, and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother. I suppose she must have looked rather delightful, for Mrs. Darling put her hand to her heart and cried:

MRS. DARLING Oh, why can't you stay like this forever!

ENSEMBLE This was all that passed between them on the subject, but henceforth Wendy knew that she must grow up. You always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end.

Scene 1 – The Shadow Goes Missing

The Nursery of the Darling Home. Nana, the dog and nursemaid, is carrying Michael on her back, and attempting to carry him out to have a bath. John and Wendy are pretending to be their own parents, as Mrs. Darling watches.

MICHAEL I won't go to bed! I won't, I won't! Nana, it isn't six o'clock yet. Oh dear, oh dear, I shan't love you any more, Nana. I tell you I won't be bathed! I won't, I won't!

JOHN A little less noise there…

WENDY Oh John, you sound just like father!

JOHN I am happy to inform you, Mrs. Darling, that you are now a mother.

WENDY Oh, happy day! I shall call her Wendy. 3

JOHN I say, I am even happier to inform you, Mrs. Darling, that you are now the mother of a male child, as well.

WENDY Sweet little John!

MICHAEL May I be born also?

JOHN No! We don't want any more.

MICHAEL Nobody wants me.

MRS. DARLING I do. I so want a third child.

MICHAEL Boy or girl?

MRS. DARLING Boy.

(Michael leaps into Mrs. Darling's arms, as Mr. Darling rushes in like a tornado.)

MR. DARLING Mother! Mother!

MRS. DARLING Why what is the matter, father dear?

MR. DARLING Matter? This tie, it will not tie. Not round my neck! Round the bedpost! Oh yes, twenty times have I made it up round the bedpost, but round my neck, no! Oh dear no! Begs to be excused!

MRS. DARLING Now, George…

MR. DARLING I warn you of this, mother, that unless this tie is round my neck we don't go out to dinner tonight, and if I don't go out to dinner tonight, I never go to the office again, and if I don't go to the office again, you and I starve, and our children will be flung into the streets.

MRS. DARLING Let me try, dear.

(As their children watch their fate being decided, Mrs. Darling ties the tie.)

MR. DARLING Thank you, love. Now where is my littlest boy?

(Mr. Darling dances round the room with Michael on his back, only to collide with Nana.)

MR. DARLING Oh, dash it all Nana - you have covered my trousers with hair.

WENDY I'm sure she didn't mean to, father!

MR. DARLING And these are not only new trousers, but they are the first I have ever had with braid on them!

(He bites his lip to prevent the tears from coming.)

MRS. DARLING There, there, George - just hold still.

(Mrs. Darling brushes off the hairs.)

MR. DARLING Sometimes I think it was a mistake to have a dog as a nurse. 5

MRS. DARLING George, Nana is a treasure.

MR. DARLING No doubt, but I have an uneasy feeling at times that she looks upon the children as puppies.

MRS. DARLING Oh no, dear one, I'm sure she knows that they have souls.

MR. DARLING I wonder, I wonder.

MRS. DARLING George, dear, never mind that - I have been wanting to show you something peculiar. I believe that while they sleep, our children have been receiving an uninvited visitor.

MR. DARLING What nonsense you talk, precious. No one can get into the house without knocking.

MRS. DARLING I know, George. But last week, Nana had just returned from her evening out, and sprang at a strange boy, who simply leapt through the window. Nana closed it quickly, too late to catch him, but his shadow had no time to get out - slam went the window and snapped it off.

MR. DARLING Let us have a look, then.

MRS. DARLING You may be sure that I examined the shadow carefully, but it is quite the ordinary kind.

(Mr. and Mrs. Darling unroll the shadow and examine it together.)

MR. DARLING 6

It is nobody I know, but it does look a scoundrel…

(During this time, Nana has brought in a bottle of medicine for Michael, who cries out:)

MICHAEL I don't want any medicine, Nana!

MR. DARLING Be a man, Michael.

MICHAEL Won't; won't!

MRS. DARLING Here, my dear - let me fetch you a chocolate.

(Mrs. Darling and Nana exit together)

MR. DARLING Mother, don't pamper him. Michael, when I was your age I took medicine without a murmur. I said, "Thank you, kind parents, for giving me bottles to make me well."

WENDY That medicine you sometimes take, father, is much nastier, isn't it?

MR. DARLING Ever so much nastier, and I would take it now as an example to you, Michael, if I hadn't lost the bottle.

WENDY I know where it is, father! I'll bring it…

MR. DARLING John, it's the most beastly stuff. It's that nasty, sticky, sweet kind.

JOHN It will soon be over, father.

(Wendy enters with the bottle.)

WENDY I have been as quick as I could…

MR. DARLING You have been wonderfully quick. Michael first.

MICHAEL Father first.

MR. DARLING I shall be sick, you know.

JOHN Come on, father.

MR. DARLING Hold your tongue, John.

WENDY I thought you took it quite easily, father.

MR. DARLING That is not the point. The point is, that there is more in my glass than in Michael's spoon. And it isn't fair: I would say it though it were with my last breath; it isn't fair.

MICHAEL Father's a cowardly custard.

MR. DARLING So are you a cowardly custard.

MICHAEL I'm not frightened.

MR. DARLING Neither am I frightened. 8

MICHAEL Well, then take it.

MR. DARLING Well, then, you take it.

WENDY Why not both take it at the same time?

MR. DARLING Certainly. Are you ready, Michael?

WENDY One, two, three!

(Michael takes his medicine, but Mr. Darling slips his behind his back.)

MICHAEL Not fair!

JOHN Bad form!

WENDY O, father!

MR. DARLING What do you mean 'O father'? Stop that row, Michael. I meant to take mine, but I - I missed it.

(The three children give him a dreadful look - just as if they did not admire him.)

MR. DARLING Look here, all of you, I have just thought of a splendid joke. I shall pour my medicine into Nana's bowl, and she will drink it, thinking it is milk!

(The children look at him reproachfully as he pours the medicine into Nana's bowl.)

MR. DARLING What fun!

(Mrs. Darling and Nana enter.)

MR. DARLING Nana, good dog. I have put a little milk into your bowl, Nana.

(Nana wags her tail, runs to the medicine, and begins lapping it. Then she gives Mr. Darling such a look, not an angry look: she shows him the great red tear that makes us so sorry for noble dogs, and creeps into her kennel.)

MRS. DARLING O George, it's your medicine!

MR. DARLING It was only a joke!

(Mrs. Darling comforts her boys, while Wendy hugs Nana.)

MR. DARLING Much good, my wearing myself to the bone trying to be funny in this house. That's right, coddle her! Nobody coddles me. Oh dear no! I am only the breadwinner, why should I be coddled - -why, why, why!

MRS. DARLING George, not so loud; the servants will hear you.

MR. DARLING Let them! Bring in the whole world. But I refuse to allow that dog to lord it in my nursery for an hour longer.

CHILDREN Father, no!

MR. DARLING In vain, in vain! The proper place for you is the yard, and there you go to be tied up this instant.

MRS. DARLING George, remember what I told you about that boy.

MR. DARLING My mind is made up! There can be only one master in this house!

(Mr. Darling seizes Nana, and drags her from the nursery. We can hear Nana barking as Mrs. Darling puts the children to bed.)

MICHAEL Nana is unhappy! Listen to her bark…

JOHN It is because he is chaining her up in the yard…

WENDY That is not Nana's unhappy bark - that is her bark when she smells danger.

MRS. DARLING Are you sure, Wendy?

WENDY Oh, yes.

(Mrs. Darling checks the window to make sure that it is securely fastened.)

MRS. DARLING Oh, how I wish I wasn't going out to dinner tonight.

MICHAEL Can anything harm us, mother, after the night-lights are lit?

MRS. DARLING Nothing, precious - they are the eyes a mother leaves behind to guard her children.

MICHAEL Mother, I'm glad of you.

(Mrs. Darling kisses her children and gives a last look round the room - her hand 11

on the light switch.)

MRS DARLING Dear night lights that protect my sleeping babes, burn clear and steadfast tonight.

(Mrs. Darling turns the lights off and exits, leaving the night-lights twinkling over the sleeping children).

SCENE 2 – Peter Looks for his Shadow

Three night lights are burning. Slowly they go out. There is an odd atmosphere in the room. Then a light appears – very bright and very small. It darts and flits around the nursery- searching for something. It goes in drawers, in the wardrobe, inside pockets of dressing gowns etc. Suddenly the curtains billow and Peter Pan drops into the room.

PETER (Whispers) Tinker Bell! Tink! Where are you? (The light darts around the room again) Come out of that jug. Now where have they put it? (There’s a tinkle) Which box? (Another tinkle) That big box over there? (He goes to the chest of drawers) Got you!

(He takes out his shadow but he has to wrestle with it and tame it. He succeeds and sits on the floor trying to attach it to himself. He tries to make it stick by using a bar of soap. But it won’t fix. He starts to cry. Wendy wakes up and sits up in her bed and sees him.)

WENDY Boy, why are you crying?

(Peter quickly stands up and courteously bows to her.)

PETER What’s your name?

WENDY Wendy Moira Angela Darling. What’s yours?

PETER Peter Pan.

WENDY Is that all?

PETER Yes.

WENDY I’m so sorry.

PETER It doesn’t matter.

WENDY Where do you live?

PETER Second to the right and straight on till morning.

WENDY What a funny address.

PETER No it isn’t.

WENDY I mean is that what they put on your letters?

PETER (contemptuously) Don’t get any letters.

WENDY But your Mother gets letters?

PETER Don’t have a mother.

WENDY No wonder you were crying.

PETER I wasn’t crying about mothers. I was crying because I can’t get my shadow to stick on. Besides, I wasn't crying.

WENDY It’s come off?

PETER Yes.

WENDY That’s awful! Did you try to stick it on with soap? How exactly like a boy! It must be sewn back on.

PETER What’s sewn?

WENDY I’ll do it for you. (She fetches a sewing kit) But it might hurt a little.

PETER I never cry.

(Wendy sews the shadow on to Peter. Peter leaps to his feet and jumps about in the wildest glee.)

PETER How clever I am!

WENDY Of course, I did nothing.

PETER You did a little.

WENDY A little!

(Wendy jumps into bed and covers her face with the sheet. Peter follows her.)

PETER Wendy, don’t go away. I can’t help crowing when I’m pleased with myself. Wendy? Wendy, one girl is more useful than twenty boys.

Wendy peeps out of the bed

WENDY Do you really think so, Peter?

PETER I do.

WENDY That’s perfectly sweet of you. I’ll get up again.

(Wendy gets up. She and Peter are sitting side by side on the bed.)

WENDY I'll give you a kiss, if you like.

PETER What’s that?

WENDY Surely you know what a kiss is?

PETER I’ll know it when you give it to me.

(She goes to kiss him and sees his innocence and so gives Peter a thimble instead.)

PETER Now will I give you a kiss?

WENDY Yes please.

(Wendy leans primly forward to him. Peter removes an acorn button from his jacket and drops it in her hand. She slowly leans back.)

WENDY I shall wear this kiss around my neck (She places it on her chain) Peter, how old are you?

PETER (Uneasily) I don’t know. But I’m quite young. I ran away the day I was born.

WENDY You ran away?

PETER I heard my parents talking about what I was to be when I became a man. (Passionately) I want to be a little boy forever and have fun. So I ran away from home and lived a long time among the fairies.

WENDY (With admiration) Oh, Peter, tell me everything about fairies.

PETER You see, Wendy, when the first baby laughed for the first time, its laugh broke into a thousand pieces, and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies. So there ought to be one fairy for every boy and girl.

WENDY Ought to be? Isn't there?

PETER No. You see, children know such a lot now, they soon 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. (He gets up quickly) I can’t think where’s she’s gone to. (Calling) Tinker Bell! Come out you naughty fairy.

WENDY (Thrilled) Peter, are you saying there’s one in my room?

PETER She was here just now. You don’t hear her do you?

(They both listen and hear a faint sound)

WENDY All I can hear is a tinkle of bells.

PETER That’s Tink. That's the fairy language. I think I hear her, too. Tink!

(Peter tries to find the source of the noise. He comes to the chest of drawers. He starts to laugh.)

PETER Wendy, I’ve shut her in the drawer.

(Peter opens the drawer and a light flies about in a fury making all sorts of ugly noises.)

PETER Of course I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were in there.

WENDY Oh Peter, can you get her to stand still? I’d love to see her.

PETER They hardly ever stand still.

WENDY Where is she?

PETER Look. There.

(Tinker Bell rests for a moment and Wendy looks closely at her.)

WENDY Oh how lovely!

PETER Tink, this lady wishes you were her fairy.

(Tinker Bell answers)

WENDY What did she say?

PETER She's not very polite. She says you are a great ugly girl, and that she’s my fairy. (To Tink) Tink, I’m a gentleman and you’re a lady so you can’t be my fairy.

(Tinker Bell responds.)

WENDY What did she say now?

PETER You silly ass.

(Tinker Bell flies off.)

PETER She’s quite common. (Apologizing) She’s called Tinker Bell because she mends the pots and kettles.

WENDY So where do you live now?

PETER With the Lost Boys.

WENDY And who are they?

PETER They are the children who fall out of their carriages when no one’s looking. If they’re not claimed in seven days, they find themselves in Neverland. I’m Captain. 18

WENDY You must have so much fun.

PETER Yes - it’s great fun. But we’re so lonely. You see, we have no female companionship.

WENDY No girls?

PETER Oh no – girls are far too clever to fall out of their carriages.

WENDY It’s so sweet the way you talk about girls, Peter. John there hates us.

(Peter goes to John asleep in his bed, looks at him then tips him out onto the floor. He remains asleep.)

WENDY Hey! You might be captain in Neverland but not in this house.

(Wendy sees that John is still asleep.)

WENDY I know you meant to be kind, so I’ll let you give me a kiss.

PETER I thought you’d want it back (He gives her the thimble)

WENDY Oh dear. I don’t mean a kiss, I mean a thimble.

PETER What’s that?

WENDY It’s like this. 19

(Wendy goes to give Peter a kiss. Suddenly Wendy screams.)

PETER What is it?

WENDY Someone pulled my hair.

PETER Tink! I’ve never seen her so badly behaved before.

(Tinker Bell is darting around furiously.)

PETER What? She says she’s going to do that to you every time I give you a thimble.

WENDY But why?

PETER Why, Tink?

(Tinker Bell answers.)

PETER She says ‘You silly ass’.

WENDY She’s very rude. Peter, why did you come to our nursery window?

PETER To listen to the stories. We don’t know any.

WENDY How perfectly awful!

PETER Do you know why swallows build in the eaves of houses? It is to listen to the 20

stories. Oh, Wendy, your mother was telling you such a lovely story.

WENDY Which one?

PETER About the prince who couldn’t find the lady who wore the glass slipper.

WENDY Peter, that was Cinderella.

PETER What happened?

WENDY He found her, and they lived happily ever after.

(Peter gets up and rushes to the window.)

WENDY Where are you going?

PETER To tell the other boys.

WENDY Don’t go Peter. I know lots of other stories. I could tell you and the boys so many of them.

(Peter grabs her.)

WENDY What are you doing?

PETER Wendy, come and fly with me.

WENDY Fly? 21

PETER Fly with me and tell the other boys.

WENDY Oh dear. I can’t. What about mother. Besides I can’t fly.

PETER I’ll teach you.

WENDY To fly?

PETER I’ll teach you to jump on the wind’s back and away we’ll go.

WENDY Oh!

PETER Wendy, just think - when you’re sleeping in your bed, you could be out flying with me instead, touching the stars.

WENDY Oh!

PETER And Wendy - there are mermaids.

WENDY Mermaids? I’ve never seen a mermaid.

PETER Wendy, how we would all respect you. You could tuck us in at night. None of us have ever been tucked in at night. And tell us stories.

WENDY Peter, would you teach John and Michael to fly, too?

PETER If you like.

WENDY (To Michael and John) Wake up! Wake up. Peter Pan is here and he’s going to teach us to fly.

JOHN What? Is he? Then I’ll get up. Oh I am up.

The storyteller playing Nana barks – it is very urgent - scared.

PETER PAN Quickly!

WENDY It's all right. She's chained up in the yard.

JOHN Can you really fly?

PETER Of course I can. (He flies.)

WENDY How sweet!

PETER Yes, I am sweet!

JOHN So how do you do it?

PETER You just think lovely wonderful thoughts and they lift you up into the air. But first you need some fairy dust. (He sprinkles some dust on the children). Now let your minds go free - see those wonderful things and let go…

Michael flies. 23

MICHAEL I flewed! I flewed!

JOHN It’s so exciting!

PETER Now quickly, come to the window. (They do) Look at the stars – they’re calling to us, the moon will guide us to the fairies and mermaids…

JOHN Fairies? I don’t think we should go.

PETER PAN And pirates.

JOHN Pirates? Wendy, let’s go now!

WENDY Yes, let’s go Peter.

PETER Then come!

(Wendy, Peter, John and Michael are at the window and suddenly they fly away into the night. Mrs. Darling comes running into the nursery – out of breath.)

MRS DARLING My children!

(The storytellers run into the space. During the following, the storytellers change the space quickly. The large window curtains disappear and the sheets of the bed fly into the air. Peter, Wendy, John and Michael travel to Neverland. They slowly approach it – it is a land of shadow.)

ENSEMBLE Of all delectable islands, the Neverland is the snuggest and most compact, not large and sprawly, you know, with tedious distances between one 24

adventure and another, but nicely crammed. When you play at it by day with chairs and tablecloth, it is not in the least alarming, but in the two minutes before you go to sleep it becomes very real. That is why there are night-lights. On these magic shores, children at play are for ever beaching their little boats. We too have been there; we can still hear the sound of the surf, though we shall land no more.

Scene 3 – The Pirates Arrive and the Boys Shoot Wendy.

The actors start singing - they are playing at being pirates.

PIRATES Yo-ho, yo-ho, the pirate life The flag o’ skull and bones, a merry hour, a hempen rope And hey for Davy Jones.

Avast belay, you-ho, heave to

A-pirating we go, And if we’re parted by a shot We’re sure to meet below!

(Their playing and singing seems to conjure up shadow silhouettes of pirates - a motley crew of dastardly villains: Cecco, Bill Jukes, Gentleman Starkey, Noodler, Mullins, Alfie and Smee. We suddenly see a large silhouette of an iron hook – very close. This scatters the pirates. At the end of the hook is revealed an arm and its owner Captain James Hook. His hair is black and curly, his face handsome, threatening and his eyes - pure evil. One at a time, the pirates return. Alfie clumsily bumps into Captain Hook.)

ALFIE Sorry Captain.

(The crew takes a sharp intake of breath. Captain Hook says nothing. His hook shoots forth. There is a tearing sound and one screech. Two red spots appear in Capt Hook’s eyes. Alfie falls to the floor and his body is kicked aside.

A new face is seen – it is a Lost Boy. Gentleman Starkey sees him and quickly draws a pistol and aims. Capt Hook swiftly grips his shoulder with his hook.)

STARKEY Captain, let go.

HOOK (Threateningly) Put back that pistol.

STARKEY But it was one of those lost boys you hate. I could have shot him dead.

HOOK Aye, and the sound would have brought Tiger Lily and her redskins upon us. Do you want to lose your scalp?

SMEE Shall I after him Captain and tickle him with Johnny Corkscrew (he brandishes his cutlass and wriggles it around) Johnny’s a silent fellow.

HOOK Not now, Smee. He is only one, and I want to mischief them all. Look for them – scatter!

(Suddenly the Pirates have scattered among the trees. Smee and Hook are alone.)

HOOK (A heavy sigh) Most of all, I want their captain, Peter Pan. ‘Twas he who cut off my arm. (Presenting the hook) I’ve waited long to shake his hand with this. Oh, I’ll tear him to shreds.

SMEE And yet I’ve often heard you say that your hook is worth a score of hands - for combing your hair, and for chores around the house.

HOOK (Looking at his hook and hand) Aye, if I was a mother I would pray to have my children born with this instead of that. That boy Pan flung my arm to a crocodile. 26

SMEE Yes, I have often noticed your strange dread of crocodiles.

HOOK Not of crocodiles but of that one crocodile. It liked my arm so much Smee, that it has followed me ever since, licking its lips for the rest of me.

SMEE I guess in a way, it’s a sort of compliment.

HOOK I want no such compliments. I want Peter Pan, who first gave this brute its taste for me.

(There is a large mushroom on the forest floor. Capt Hook sits on it.)

HOOK Smee. That crocodile would have had me before this, but by a lucky chance it swallowed a clock that goes tick tick inside it and so before it can reach me I hear the tick and bolt for it. Someday, Smee, the clock will run down.

SMEE And then he’ll get you.

HOOK Aye that’s the fear that haunts me. (Aware his bottom is getting hot) Smee, this seat is hot. Odds, bobs, hammer and tongs, I’m burning.

(They examine the mushroom. They pull at it and it comes away in their hands. Smoke begins to rise from it.)

SMEE A chimney!

(We hear children’s voices – chattering. Hook and Smee quietly replace the mushroom.)

HOOK 27

I do believe we’ve stumbled upon a jolly jackpot!

SMEE The boy’s home. (Excited) And did you hear them say Peter Pan’s away.

(Silence. Hook nods. Then a smile comes across his face.)

SMEE Unrip your plan, captain.

HOOK (Through gritted, smiling teeth) Did you hear a mother’s voice down there? No. Of course, why didn’t I think of this before. We will return to the ship and cook a large rich cake of jolly thickness with green sugar on it. We will leave the cake on the shore of the mermaids’ lagoon. These boys are always swimming about there, playing with the mermaids. They will find the cake and they will gobble it up, because, having no mother, they don’t know how dangerous ‘tis to eat rich damp cake. (He laughs) Aha, they will die.

SMEE It’s the wickedest, prettiest policy ever I heard of.

(They dance and sing)

SMEE/HOOK Avast, belay, when I appear By fear they’re overtook: Naught’s left upon your bones when you Have shaken claws with Hook.

(Their celebration is interrupted. A quiet sound is heard - tick, tick, tick, tick. Hook stands shuddering, one foot in the air mid dance.)

HOOK The crocodile!

(Hook and Smee run for it. We then see a huge, oversized silhouette of a crocodile ooze into view which follows them off.

Then from a hole in a tree a Lost Boy emerges. It is Slightly. He looks around to see if it is safe. Another boy emerges – Tootles. Then another – Curly. Then more – The Twins.)

TOOTLES Any pirates?

SLIGHTLY No. It’s all safe.

TOOTLES Any sign of Peter?

SLIGHTLY No, Tootles.

TOOTLES I do wish he’d come back

SLIGHTLY Yes. I wish he’d come back and tell us whether he has heard anything more about Cinderella.

CURLY I’m sure my mother must have been like her.

TOOTLES All I remember about my mother is that she often said to father, ‘Oh how I wish I had a cheque-book of my own.’ I don’t know what a cheque-book is but I would love to be able to give my mother one.

(Nibs – another Lost Boy enters running.)

NIBS (Breathless) Save me! Save me! Wolves are coming after me!

TOOTLES (Panicking) What can we do?

CURLY What would Peter do?

SLIGHTLY Peter would look at them through his legs

TOOTLES Then let us do what Peter would do.

(The boys look through their legs and with a whimper the wolves run away.)

SLIGHTLY Aye. That’s the way to deal with wolves.

(The boys continue as if nothing happened.)

NIBS But I have seen a wonderfuller thing. A great white bird – flying this way.

CURLY What kind of bird?

NIBS I don’t know but it looks so tired, and as it flies it moans, ‘Poor Wendy’.

TOOTLES Poor Wendy?

SLIGHTLY I remember. There are birds called Wendys.

CURLY (Pointing) See it comes.

(Wendy appears. She is calm and peaceful. Suddenly Tink enters.)

TOOTLES Hello Tink. (Tinker bell speaks) You want us to shoot the Wendy. Peter says to shoot it? 30

SLIGHTLY Then let us do what Peter wants.

NIBS Quick Tootles, quick. You’re bow and arrow.

TOOTLES Out of the way, Tink.

(Tootles fits the arrow to his bow. He fires and hits Wendy, as she flutters to the ground with an arrow in her heart.)

TOOTLES I have shot the Wendy. Peter will be so pleased with me.

(Tinker bell starts to laugh and says, ‘Silly Ass’ and quickly hides. The boys crowd around Wendy to look.)

SLIGHTLY This isn’t a bird. I think it’s a lady.

TOOTLES A lady?

NIBS And we’ve killed her.

CURLY Now I see. Peter was bringing her to us.

TWINS At last a lady to take care of us and you’ve killed her.

(Tootles step towards the boys but they shun him.)

TOOTLES I did it. Friends, in all these years I have thought of ladies with loving respect and when they came to me in dreams I said ‘Pretty Mother’. But when at last 31

a lady came, I shot her. Oh, now may my mother never again come to me, even in my dreams, lest in her heart I see an arrow which I have fired. Friends, goodbye. (He goes to leave)

CURLY Don’t go.

TOOTLES I must. I am so afraid of Peter.

(Suddenly there is a crowing sound – it is Peter.)

BOYS Peter!

CURLY Hide her.

(All the boys gather around Wendy – except Tootles. Peter enters.)

PETER

Greetings, boys! (The boys salute) I am back. Why don’t you cheer?

(The boys open their mouths but nothing comes out.)

PETER Great news, boys. At last, I’ve brought a mother for you all. Have you seen her? She flew this way.

NIBS Oh dear.

TOOTLES Peter. Let me show her to you. Stand back – let Peter see.

(The boys stand back Peters stares. Silence.)

PETER 32

She’s dead. Perhaps she’s frightened at being dead. (He plucks the arrow from her. Then sternly) Whose arrow is this?

TOOTLES Mine Peter.

(Peter raises the arrow to strike Tootles as if it were a dagger.)

TOOTLES Strike, Peter. Strike true.

(Peter struggles with striking Tootles. Before he backs down, Wendy gently stirs, grabbing Peter’s arm, preventing him from striking.)

NIBS Look! The Wendy lady – see her arm. (He kneels over her - listening) She said something. I think she said, ‘Poor Tootles’

PETER She lives.

NIBS The Wendy lady lives.

(Peter examines Wendy and the chain around her neck.)

PETER See. The arrow struck against this. It’s the kiss I gave her. It’s saved her life.

SLIGHTLY I remember kisses. Let me see it. Aye, that’s a kiss.

(Tinker Bell has returned and is now crying)

CURLY Listen to Tink. She’s crying because the Wendy lives.

PETER 33

Crying because she lives?

CURLY It was Tink who told us to shoot the Wendy.

TWINS She said it was your orders.

PETER Tinker Bell, is this true?

(Tinker Bell confesses.)

PETER Then I am your friend no more. Begone from me forever.

(Tinker Bell flies to Peter’s shoulder and pleads with him. Wendy again raises her arm, and Peter relents.)

PETER Well, not forever, but for a whole week.

(Tinker Bell retreats unhappily.)

TWINS So what do we do with the Wendy lady?

CURLY Let us carry her down into the house.

SLIGHTLY Indeed. That is what you do with ladies.

PETER No. You must not touch her. It would not be very respectful.

SLIGHTLY Exactly. That’s what I was thinking.

TOOTLES But if she lies here, she will die.

SLIGHTLY Aye, she will die. There’s no way out.

PETER Yes there is. Let us build a little house around her. (The boys are pleased with this idea) Quick. Each of you bring me the best of what you can find. Be sharp.

(John and Michael enter - both a little confused and bedraggled.)

JOHN We’re here. There you are, Peter - We thought we’d lost you. Is this the place?

PETER PAN (As if he’s forgotten all about him) Mmm…. Yes.

MICHAEL Where’s Wendy? (Peter points) Is she sleeping?

PETER Curly. See that this boy helps with the building of the house.

CURLY Aye, aye, Sir.

JOHN Build a house?

CURLY For the Wendy.

JOHN But she’s only a girl.

CURLY And that is why we are her servants.

JOHN You? Wendy’s servants?

PETER PAN Yes, and you too.

(Curly leads John and Michael to work with the other boys building a house. They measure Wendy to see that she’ll fit in the house.)

SLIGHTLY Ah yes, this is how a house is built – it’s all coming back to me.

PETER Slightly – fetch a doctor.

SLIGHTLY Aye aye (He walks away, takes John's hat, then returns after a moment)

PETER Please sir, are you a doctor?

SLIGHTLY Yes, my man.

PETER A lady lies very ill.

SLIGHTLY (Standing over Wendy) Tut, tut, tut. Where does she lie?

PETER In yonder glade.

SLIGHTLY I will put a glass thing in her mouth.

(He does so and there’s an anxious moment of waiting for the result.)

PETER 36

How is she?

SLIGHTLY Tut, tut, tut. This has cured her.

PETER I’m so glad.

SLIGHTLY I’ll call again in the evening. Give her beef tea out of a cup with a spout.

(He returns the hat to John and immediately hyperventilates with fear and relief.)

CURLY If only we knew the kind of house she likes best.

PETER Look! She’s moving in her sleep.

NIBS Her mouth’s opening.

PETER Sing the kind of house you would like to have.

WENDY (Singing) I wish I had a pretty house The littlest ever seen, With funny little red walls And a roof of mossy green.

BOYS (Singing) We’ve built the walls and roof And made a lovely door So tell us mother 37

Wendy, What are you wanting more?

WENDY Oh, really, next I think I’ll have Gay windows all about With roses peeping in, you know And babies peeping out

(The Boys quickly make the windows and curtains.)

PETER (Sternly) Roses!

(The boys make-believe the loveliest roses growing up the wall.)

TOOTLES Babies?

BOYS (Singing) We’ve made the roses peeping out The babies are at the door, We cannot make ourselves, you know, Cos we’ve been made before.

(The house is nearly completed around about Wendy. Peter examines the nearly- finished product.)

PETER There’s no knocker at the door.

(Tootles gives the sole of his shoe)

PETER And there’s no chimney. We must have a chimney.

(Peter takes John's hat and punches a hole through its top and puts it on the roof. 38

Smoke immediately comes out.)

PETER Now look your best everybody. First impressions are very important.

(Peter politely knocks on the door of the house. Pause. The door opens and Wendy comes out. The boys take off their hats.)

WENDY Where am I?

SLIGHTLY Wendy lady, for you we built this house.

NIBS Oh say you’re pleased.

WENDY What a lovely, darling house

TWINS And we are your children.

BOYS Oh Wendy lady, please be our mother.

WENDY My goodness! Oh... But I’m only a little girl. I have no real experience.

PETER That doesn’t matter. What we need is a nice motherly person.

WENDY Oh dear! You see I fear that is exactly what I am.

SLIGHTLY It is!

NIBS 39

It is!

BOYS We saw it at once.

WENDY Very well, I’ll do my best. (in a motherly manner) Get inside at once, you naughty children. I am sure your feet are damp. And before I put you to bed I have just enough time to finish the story of Cinderella.

(The boys all enter the house. We see inside the house – a bright light shining through the window and the chimney smoking beautifully. Meanwhile outside, Peter keeps watch, sword drawn. We see in the woods around the house – wolves eyes, we hear pirates carousing far away.)

Scene 4 - The Mermaids Lagoon

ENSEMBLE Shut your eyes, and if you are a lucky one, you may see at times a shapeless pool of lovely pale colors suspended in the darkness; then if you squeeze your eyes tighter, the pool begins to take shape, and the colors become so vivid that with another squeeze they must go on fire. But just before they go on fire you see the lagoon. This is the nearest you ever get to it on the mainland, just one heavenly moment; if there could be two moments you might see the surf and hear the mermaids singing.

The moon is in the sky and strange wailing cries can be heard. We see a large rock in the middle of the lagoon – Marooner’s Rock. It is not much larger than a great bed. Wendy, Peter, John, Michael and The Boys are on it. The boys are playing follow the leader. Wendy is leaning into the water. Suddenly a mermaid glides out of the water and with a flick of her tail splashes Wendy.

WENDY There’s one. She’s so beautiful. I nearly touched her.

PETER It’s very famous here you know. Marooner’s Rock. It’s where sailors are left by their evil captains. They’re tied up, and as the sea rises, the rock gets covered in water and then they drown – slowly and painfully. 40

SLIGHTLY Dear mother, may I please have another swim?

WENDY Now Slightly, you know it is my duty as your mother to ensure that you rest for half an hour after your mid-day meal.

MICHAEL You never let us swim when we want to, Mother.

WENDY Michael, surely you know that I'm not your real mother?

MICHAEL Then who is?

JOHN I daresay I once knew your real mother, Michael.

WENDY Oh, dear. John. Michael. I do think it is time for another examination.

NIBS Oh, this awfully interesting.

WENDY Question 1: What was the color of Mother's eyes? Question 2: Which was taller, Father or Mother? Question 3: Was Mother blonde or brunette? Answer all three questions if possible.

JOHN What do I do if I can't answer one the questions?

WENDY If you must, just make a cross. Now, for the essay question: Write an essay of not less than 40 words on How I Spent my Last Holidays, or the Characters of Father and Mother compared. Only one of these to be attempted.

(Peter quickly stands alert. Motionless. One hand to his ear. He looks across the lagoon.)

PETER Pirates!

(They all quickly hide but watching. A boat draws near – it is a dinghy with Smee, Starkey and Tiger Lily. Though Tiger Lily is tied up – her face is impassive. They haven’t seen the rock and crash into it.)

SMEE Luff, you lubber, here’s the rock. Now then, what we have to do is to hoist the redskin on to it, and leave her here to drown.

STARKEY This is your prize Tiger Lily – for sneaking around our ship with a knife in your mouth.

TIGER LILY I am the daughter of Great Big Little Panther. I live the life of a Chief’s Daughter. I die the life of a Chief’s Daughter.

SMEE (Pause) Fair enough. Put her on the rock, Mr. Starkey. (He lifts her from the boat)

STARKEY Not so rough, Smee. Roughish. But not so rough. We must never forget our manners.

SMEE But the captain ordered it.

WENDY (Out loud) Poor Tiger Lily!

STARKEY Did you hear something?

PETER (Imitating Hook) Ahoy there you lubbers!

SMEE The captain.

STARKEY He must be swimming out to us.

SMEE (Calling out to sea) We’re just putting the Indian girl on the rock as you commanded.

PETER Set her free.

SMEE Free!?

PETER Yes, cut the ropes and let her go.

SMEE But captain...

PETER At once, do you hear me? Or I’ll plunge my hook in you.

SMEE This is queer.

STARKEY (Nervously) Better do what the captain says.

SMEE Aye, aye.

(He cuts the ropes and Tiger Lily slips into the water. Wendy and Peter are delighted 43

with this plan. Peter begins to crow with pride. Wendy quickly covers his mouth. Another voice is heard in the lagoon – it is Hook.)

HOOK Boat ahoy! Boat ahoy!

Captain Hook arrives on Marooners’ Rock.

SMEE Captain, is everything alright?

(Hook moans.)

SMEE He sighs.

(Hook moans.)

STARKEY He sighs again.

(Hook moans.)

SMEE And now a third time he sighs. What’s up, captain?

HOOK The game’s up. Those boys have found a mother.

STARKEY Oh evil day!

HOOK I placed the poisoned cake in one cunning spot after another; but always the mother snatches it from the hands of her children, so that in time it has lost its succulence, and has become as hard as a stone.

SMEE What’s a mother? 44

WENDY He doesn’t know!

(Peter quickly pulls her down and covers her mouth.)

HOOK What was that?

(The pirates peer into the gloom with their lanterns.)

STARKEY I heard nothing.

(There floating across the water is a nest with a Never Bird sitting on it.)

HOOK Look, Smee – that is a mother. See that nest - it must have fallen into the water but would the mother desert her eggs? No! (He looks sad for a moment and brushes it away with his hook)

SMEE Captain, could we not kidnap the boys’ mother and make her our mother?

HOOK What a princely scheme! We will seize the children and carry them to the boat. The boys we will make walk the plank and Wendy shall be our mother.

WENDY Never!

HOOK What was that?

(They look again out to the lagoon but see nothing.)

SMEE Must have been a leaf in the wind.

HOOK Do you agree, my bullies?

SMEE There is my hand on it.

STARKEY And mine.

HOOK And there is my hook. Swear.

SMEE/STARKEY (Frightened) We swear.

HOOK Good. Now where is the redskin?

SMEE It’s alright captain, we let her go.

HOOK Let her go!

SMEE ‘Twas your own orders.

STARKEY You called over the water to us to let her go.

HOOK Brimstone and gall, what cozening is here? Lads, I gave no such orders.

SMEE It is passing queer.

HOOK Spirit that haunts this dark lagoon tonight, do you hear me?

PETER (Mimicking Hook) Odds, bobs, hammer and tongs, I hear you.

(Smee and Starkey cling to each other in terror. Hook stands stoically.)

HOOK

Who are you, stranger? Speak.

PETER I am James Hook, captain of the Jolly Roger

HOOK You are not!

PETER Brimstone and gall! Say that again and I’ll cast anchor in you.

HOOK (Almost humbly) If you are Hook, come tell me, who am I?

PETER A codfish. Only a codfish.

HOOK A codfish!

SMEE Have we been captained all this time by a codfish?

STARKEY It is lowering to the pride.

HOOK (Whispering) Don’t desert me bullies. Have you another voice?

PETER I have. 47

HOOK And another name?

PETER Aye.

HOOK Vegetable?

PETER No.

HOOK Mineral?

PETER No.

HOOK Animal?

PETER Yes.

HOOK Man?

PETER No!

HOOK Boy?

PETER Yes.

HOOK Ordinary boy? 48

PETER No!

HOOK Wonderful boy?

PETER Yes!

HOOK Are you in England?

PETER No.

HOOK Are you here?

PETER Yes.

(Hook is puzzled and under pressure.)

HOOK (To Smee) You ask him some questions.

SMEE I can’t think of anything.

PETER Do you give up?

HOOK Yes, yes.

PETER I am Peter Pan.

HOOK Pan! Now we have him. Into the water Smee. Starkey, mind the boat. Take him dead or alive.

PETER Are you ready boys? Charge!

(Suddenly the Lost Boys appear from all about the lagoon. There is a fight with the pirates. Peter fights with Hook. Hook slips down the rock. Peter gives Hook a helping hand but Hook bites him. In the confusion of the fight, Wendy and Peter get separated from the boys. Then there is a tick, tick and Hook, in terror, stops in is his tracks. The crocodile appears and Hook runs for it, pursued by the beast, the pirates following after their captain. The Boys cheer then they notice that Peter and Wendy are missing.)

NIBS (Calling) Peter! Wendy!

(There is no reply.)

SLIGHTLY They must have swam back.

CURLY Or flew. Come on, let’s go home.

(They climb into the dinghy boat left by the pirates and sail off. Their voices are heard going into the distance.

The boys laugh more as they disappear. Two figures suddenly drag themselves into view. They are both exhausted. The water is rising around the rock.)

PETER Wendy, the tide is coming in. Soon the water will be over the rock.

WENDY Then we have to go.

PETER Yes. 50

WENDY Shall we swim or fly Peter?

PETER Do you think you could swim or fly as far as the island, without my help?

WENDY I’m too tired Peter.

(Peter moans.)

WENDY What is it?

PETER Hook has wounded me. I can neither fly nor swim. Wendy, I can’t help you.

WENDY Do you mean we’re going to drown?

PETER Look at the water rising.

(The two watch the water level increase. They look at each other unsure of their fate. A kite, flying high comes slowly into view.)

WENDY What are we going to do Peter? Look – Michael’s kite!

PETER It lifted him off the ground, it could also lift you.

WENDY Both of us.

PETER It’ll never lift two – Curly and Nibs tried.

(Peter quickly ties the tail of the kite around Wendy.)

WENDY Stop Peter. This isn’t fair. Let’s draw straws to see who goes.

PETER And you a lady? Never.

WENDY (Clinging to him) But Peter....

PETER (Pushing her from the rock) Goodbye Wendy.

(The kite lifts Wendy into the air and carries her off out of the lagoon. Peter is alone. The water continues to rise up the rock. The mermaids start calling to the moon. Peter is afraid at last. He seems unsure what to do. He climbs further up the rock. Then a smile goes across his face.)

PETER To die will be an awfully big adventure.

***(Possible break for intermission.)***

The Never Bird appears, striving with difficulty to paddle her nest over to the rock. Peter and the Bird cannot understand each other's language.

BIRD Peter!

PETER Hullo, Never Bird!

BIRD I want you to get into the nest -

PETER I'm sorry; I don't speak bird.

BIRD (as slowly and distinctly as possible:) I - want - you - to - get - into - the - nest - and - then - you - can - drift - ashore, - but - I - am - too - tired - to - bring - it - any - nearer - so - you - must - try - to - swim - to - it.

PETER What are you quacking about? Why don't you let the nest drift as usual?

BIRD (rolls her eyes and repeats herself) I - want - you - to - get - into - the - nest -

PETER (as slowly and distinctly as possible) What - are - you - quacking - about?

BIRD You dunderheaded little jay! Why don't you do as I tell you?

PETER So are you!

PETER / BIRD Shut up!

(Nevertheless the bird is determined to save Peter if she can, and by one last mighty effort she propels the nest against the rock. Then up she flies; deserting her eggs, so as to make her meaning clear. Peter finally understands.)

PETER Thank you, Never Bird!

(Peter lifts up two large white eggs, and reflects on them. He finds Starkey's hat on a stave of the rock, removes the hat, puts the eggs into the hat, and sets it on the lagoon. It floats beautifully. Peter then gets into the nest, rears the stave in it as a mast, and hangs up his shirt for a sail. The Never Bird flutters down upon the hat and once more sits snugly on her eggs. She drifts in one direction, and Peter in another, both crowing.)

ENSEMBLE Of course Peter beached his new vessel in a place where the Never Bird would easily find it; but the hat was such a great success that she abandoned the nest. It 53

drifted about till it went to pieces, and often the pirate Starkey came to the shore of the lagoon, and with many bitter feelings, watched the bird sitting on his hat.

STARKEY Accurséd bird!

ENSEMBLE It might be worth mentioning here that all Never Birds now build their nests in that shape, with a broad from on which youngsters take an airing.

Scene 5 - The Home Under the Ground

The boys are recounting their recent exploits at Marooner's Rock, still unaware of the perils endured by Peter and Wendy.

NIBS Did you see me in the thick of the fight?

TWIN 1 No.

TWIN 2 We were quite busy fighting ourselves.

TWIN 1 Fighting valiantly.

JOHN I should like to point out that I was first to draw blood, having bravely boarded the pirate dinghy to struggle fiercely with the dread Starkey.

TOOTLES I got a taste of Johnny Corkscrew, right here! And I didn't cry!

CURLY I pinked that Bo'sun Smee right back for you!

SLIGHTLY 54

I wish mother and father would hurry and get back here so we can tell them everything.

(Wendy enters, exhausted and tied up in the kite string.)

BOYS Mother!

WENDY Oh, my dear children. How I worry for your father!

(The boys are thoroughly unaccustomed to worrying about Peter's welfare. And before they can wrap their heads around such a concern, Peter makes a triumphal entrance.)

PETER Greetings, boys!

(The boys give three cheers for Peter.)

WENDY Oh, Peter - how did you escape?

PETER Escape from what?

WENDY Why, certain death!

PETER Who can remember that far back? Especially when I have such important news: Tiger Lily has declared that since I saved her from some dreadful fate, her tribe is now our friend and ally.

(The boys give another three cheers for Peter.)

WENDY Peter, do you even remember what you did for Tiger Lily?

PETER I'm sure I was terribly clever.

(The sound of the tom-tom.)

MICHAEL What's that sound?

PETER The Indians are on guard up above the house and want me to smoke the pipe of peace.

WENDY It's nearly suppertime…

PETER Don't wait for me!

(It is time for the evening meal and they all gather around the table. The meal is a make-believe meal. There is a lot of noise and squabbling.)

WENDY Silence! Slightly, is your calabash empty?

SLIGHTLY Not quite empty, Mummy.

NIBS He hasn’t even begun to drink his milk.

SLIGHTLY (Puts his arm in the air) I want to complain about Nibs.

(John raises his hand.)

WENDY Yes, John?

JOHN 56

May I sit in Peter’s chair?

WENDY Sit in father’s chair? Certainly not.

JOHN He’s not really our father. He didn’t even know what a father does till I showed him.

TWINS (Puts their arms in the air) We want to complain about John.

TOOTLES I don’t suppose I could be father?

ALL BOYS No

TOOTLES If you won’t let me be father, Michael can I be the baby?

MICHAEL No that’s my job.

TOOTLES Well, if you won’t let me be the baby do you think I could be a twin?

TWINS It’s too difficult to be a twin.

TOOTLES Would anyone like to see me do a trick?

ALL BOYS No!

TOOTLES There’s no hope for me.

CURLY Slightly’s coughing at the table.

SLIGHTLY The twins are eating the mamee-apples.

TWINS Nibs is speaking with his mouth full.

WENDY You know, sometimes I think spinsters are to be envied. Now tidy these things away. Supper is over.

(The boys are set free and Wendy gets her sewing basket out.)

CURLY Can we play bandages?

NIBS Yes, can we play at limping about?

TWINS And then put our arms in slings.

CURLY Owwww!!! My arms falling off.

NIBS (Walking with a limp) Quick someone fix me.

MICHAEL Wendy, I’m too big to go in the cradle.

WENDY Somebody has to be in the cradle – and you’re the littlest.

NIBS Why won’t anyone operate on me?

WENDY Children, I hear your father’s footsteps. Come on, you know he likes to meet you at the door.

PETER Hello boys!

BOYS Hello Father!

PETER Look, I have brought nuts for you all (He throws nuts around the room– the boys chase after them and eat them)

WENDY Peter, you spoil them.

PETER Ah, old lady.

JOHN It was me who told him mothers are called old lady.

CURLY Father, we want to dance.

PETER (Good humored) Dance away then little man.

CURLY But we want you to dance.

PETER (Pretending) Me! My old bones would rattle.

NIBS And mummy too.

WENDY 59

What? The mother of such an armful, dance?

SLIGHTLY But it’s Saturday night.

WENDY That’s true Peter.

PETER Come on then, my lady.

(Peter and Wendy start to dance. The boys are delighted and start to cheer. They then too join in, dancing around them. Suddenly Peter stops.)

WENDY Peter, what is it?

PETER (A little scared) Wendy. It is only make believe, this, that I’m their father, isn’t it?

WENDY But they are ours, Peter, yours and mine.

PETER But not really?

WENDY Not if you don’t wish it.

(Peter seems relieved.)

WENDY Peter, what are your exact feelings for me?

PETER Those of a devoted son, Wendy.

WENDY 60

I thought so.

(Wendy goes and sits at the other side of the room.)

PETER (Puzzled) You’re so strange - and Tiger Lily is just the same. There is something she wants to be to me, but she says it’s not my mother.

WENDY No it’s not.

PETER Then what is it?

(Wendy doesn’t reply)

PETER Very well. Perhaps Tinker Bell will tell me. Do you want to be my mother, Tink?

(Tinker Bell replies with a ‘Silly Ass’.)

WENDY (Almost snapping) I almost agree with her. Come on boys, it is time for bed now.

SLIGHTLY Bed time?

NIBS Now for the story you promised us.

WENDY Well you’re not in bed yet, so there’s no story.

SLIGHTLY I think you’ll find that I’m in bed.

CURLY I want to complain about Slightly. 61

WENDY

Quickly now settle down.

(The boys have all settled.)

WENDY Listen then. There was once a gentleman...

TOOTLES I wish it had been a lady.

NIBS I wish it had been a white rat.

WENDY Quiet. There was also a lady, and...

TWINS She’s not dead is she?

WENDY Oh no.

TOOTLES I’m glad she’s not dead.

WENDY The gentleman’s name was Mr. Darling, and her name was Mrs. Darling.

MICHAEL I think I knew them.

WENDY They were married you know. And what do you think they had?

NIBS White rats? 62

WENDY No. They had three children. And these three children had a faithful dog called Nana. But Mr. and Mrs. Darling went out for the evening and so the children flew away.

NIBS It’s a really good story.

WENDY They flew away to the Neverland, where the lost boys are.

SLIGHTLY I knew they did. I don’t know how but I just knew they did.

TOOTLES Wendy, was one of the lost children called Tootles?

WENDY Yes he was.

TOOTLES I’m in a story. Nibs, I’m in story.

WENDY Hush. Now I want you to think about the feelings of the parents with their children flown away. Think of the empty beds.

TWINS (Cheerfully) It’s terribly sad.

NIBS I'm frightfully anxious.

WENDY If you knew how great is a mother's love, you would have no fear.

TOOTLES I do like a mother's love! 63

WENDY You see, our heroine knew that the mother would always leave the window open for her children to fly back. So they stayed away for years and had a lovely time.

TOOTLES Did they ever go back?

WENDY Let us now take a peep into the future… Years have rolled by, and who is this elegant lady of uncertain age alighting at London Station. Can it be - yes - no - it is - the fair Wendy!

BOYS Oh!

WENDY And who are the two noble portly figures accompanying her, now grown to man's estate? Can they be John and Michael? They are!

BOYS Oh!

WENDY 'See, dear brothers,' says Wendy pointing upwards, 'there is the window still standing open. Ah, now we are rewarded for our sublime faith in a mother's love.' So up they flew to their mummy and daddy, and pen cannot describe the happy scene, over which we draw a veil.

(Peter groans.)

WENDY What is it, Peter? Is it sore? Where does it hurt?

PETER It isn’t that kind of pain.

WENDY 64

Then what kind is it?

PETER You are wrong about mothers.

(They all gather round him.)

PETER Long ago I thought like you that my mother would always keep the window open for me, so I stayed away for moons and moons and moons, and then flew back. But the window was barred for mother had forgotten all about me and there was another little boy sleeping in my bed.

WENDY Mothers aren’t like that.

PETER Yes they are.

MICHAEL Let’s go home Wendy.

WENDY Yes. Peter will you make the necessary arrangements?

PETER (Coolly) If you wish.

(Peter exits to speak to the Indian tribe.)

SLIGHTLY You can’t leave tonight.

WENDY At once.

TWINS We won’t let you go.

NIBS You’ll be our prisoner.

CURLY Quick, chain her up.

WENDY Tootles. Please.

TOOTLES I am only Tootles and nobody listens to me. But the first person who does not behave like a gentleman with Wendy will have me to deal with. (He draws his dagger)

PETER (re-entering) Wendy, I’ve asked the braves to guide you through the wood.

WENDY Thank you, Peter. Dear ones, if you will all come with me I could persuade my father and mother to adopt you.

TOOTLES Can we go Peter, can we?

PETER All right.

WENDY And now Peter, I’m going to give you your medicine before you go.

PETER I am not going with you Wendy.

WENDY Get your things Peter.

PETER No.

WENDY But Peter....

PETER No. (He skips off and plays his pipes)

SLIGHTLY Peter isn’t coming.

TOOTLES But Peter, why won’t you come.

PETER Because I want to stay here. I want to always be a little boy and have fun.

(The boys are uncertain as to what to do.)

PETER (Cynically) If you do find your mothers I hope you like them.

(The boys are very doubtful)

PETER Now then, no fuss and certainly no blubbering. Goodbye Wendy

(Peter puts out his hand. Wendy takes it. They shake hands.)

WENDY Now you will take your medicine?

PETER I’ll remember. Now off you go. The boys will look after you.

(Suddenly there is a huge battle sound. The Pirates have launched an attack on the Indians who have been guarding the underground home.)

WENDY What is that?

PETER It’s a pirate attack.

WENDY On Tiger Lily and her tribe?

PETER They’ll fight bravely.

(The battle sounds bloody and gruesome. Finally it is over and we see Hook smiling.)

PETER It’s finished.

WENDY But who won?

(Hook and Smee take the Indians’ tom-tom and slowly beat it.)

TOOTLES The tom-tom!

PETER The Indians have won. It’s their victory signal. They’ve won!

(The boys cheer.)

PETER Wendy, you’re safe to leave now. Good-bye Boys. Good-bye Wendy.

WENDY Good-bye Peter.

(The boys, Michael, John and Wendy leave the house, not knowing that Hook and the Pirates lie in wait for them. One by one they are captured and trussed up. Except Wendy. She comes face to face with Hook, who raises his hat and offers his arm. She takes it and is then escorted by Hook. He signals to his crew and they all exit. Hook doesn’t leave.)

Scene 6 - Hook Enters the Underground Home

Pan is playing his pipes – proving to himself that he doesn’t care. He goes to his medicine – looks at it, then disdainfully walks away from it. He climbs into bed. He looks at the covers. He tucks himself in. Then untucks himself. He nearly cries. Stops himself and begins to laugh. As he laughs he falls asleep.

Hook stealthily entered the underground home. It is dim and dark. In the darkness he can make out Peter Pan lying on the bed fast asleep. Peter has an angelic smile on his face.

HOOK (Regretfully) Look at that smile...that infernal smile. (He looks away then steeling himself) That cockiness. (He then removes a vial from around his neck) Poison. (He turns to Peter) A delightful remedy - reserved to seal my fate in times of trouble. And now a gift to you. (He pours five drops into Peter’s medicine) Now drink, Peter Pan. Drink and die.

Hook tips his hat to Peter then exits into the black of night, muttering strangely to himself. Peter sleeps on. Suddenly Tinkerbell enters and is flying around the room. She immediately flies to Peter and wakes him with a start.

PETER Who is it? What? (Tink tells her urgent story) What? The Indians beaten? Wendy captured? By the pirates? Wendy! (He leaps for his dagger) I’ll rescue her! (Tink has landed on his medicine). What? Oh, that’s just my medicine. (He goes to take some. Tink gives a warning cry) Poisoned? Who could have poisoned it? (Tink answers) Hook? Don’t be silly, Hook couldn’t have got in here. No, Wendy gave it to me and I promised I’d take it. (He goes to drink and as he does Tink drinks it quickly instead) Tink! How dare you! (He sees she is quickly growing faint) Tink? Tinkerbell? It was poisoned. And you drank it. To save me? Why Tink? Why? (She replies ‘you silly ass’) Oh Tink, are you dying? Your light – it’s growing faint and if it goes out then... (Tink speaks very quietly – Peter listens closely, he then turns to the audience) She says...she says...that she could get well again if children believed in fairies. Oh, children! All who might be dreaming of the Neverland - do you believe in fairies? Say quick that you believe. If you believe then clap your hands. (Peter waits for the audience response – as they clap, Tink’s light becomes stronger, suddenly she is flying around the room). Thank you. Thank 69

you everyone. (He pulls out his dagger) And now to rescue Wendy. It’s Hook or me this time. Hook or me.

Scene 7 – On the Pirate Ship

ENSEMBLE Behold the pirate brig The Jolly Roger - a rakish-looking craft, foul to the hull, every beam in her detestable. Hook trod the deck in thought. It was as if Peter's terrible oath had boarded the ship.

(It is night. The Jolly Roger lays low in the water. The crew are playing cards and dice - some are drinking, some asleep. Smee is working at a sewing machine. Hook is pacing the deck of the ship – he is talking with himself.)

HOOK How still the night; nothing sounds alive. Now is the hour when children in their homes are a-bed; their lips bright-browned with the good-night chocolate, and their tongues drowsily searching for belated crumbs housed insecurely on their shining cheeks. Compare them with the children on this boat about to walk the plank. Split my infinitives, but ‘tis my hour of triumph! And yet some disky spirit compels me now to make my dying speech, lest when dying there may be no time for it. All mortals envy me, yet better perhaps for Hook to have had less ambition! O fame, fame, thou glittering bauble, what if the very....

(Smee tears a piece of calico, making a ripping sound which Hook thinks is a sound made by his garments.)

HOOK No little children love me. I am told they play at Peter Pan, and that the strongest always chooses to be Peter. They force the baby to be Hook. The baby! That is where the canker gnaws. ‘Tis said they find Smee lovable. Pathetic Smee, the Nonconformist pirate, a happy smile upon his face because he thinks they fear him. How can I break the news to him that they find him lovable….

The crew make some carousing, drunken noise of laughter.

HOOK Quiet you scugs or I’ll cast anchor in you! Bring up the prisoners. 70

Wendy, Michael, John and the boys are brought up from below deck

HOOK (to Wendy) Now then, my beauty, you are to see your children walk the plank.

WENDY Are they to die?

HOOK They are. Unless of course you were to agree to become our mother.

WENDY A pirate’s mother? Never.

HOOK You’ll be our mother, or by the shine on my hook, you’ll walk the plank.

WENDY I’d rather have no children at all. (She turns her back to him)

HOOK Tie her up! Get the plank ready!

(Wendy is tied to the mast and the plank is put in place over the side of the ship. Hook approaches Wendy menacingly – sneering through his clenched teeth. The pirate crew begin to sing as they work.)

PIRATES (Singing) Yo ho, yo ho the frisky plank, You walks along it so, Till it goes down and you goes down To Davy Jones below!

(Suddenly, the sound of Tick Tock is heard. It is quite close. Everybody on the ship hears it. They all look to where the sound is coming from, then they all look to Hook. Hook stops in his tracks – quivering, he falls into a heap. Hook scrabbles on all fours 71

along the deck trying to escape.)

HOOK Hide me!

(The crew gathers round Hook, not looking at the approaching crocodile. Then, suddenly Peter Pan leaps on deck – it is he who is making the Tick Tock – there is no crocodile. He Ticks, then Tocks, then makes a sign to Wendy and the Boys to be quiet. He Ticks some more, then quickly hides in a cabin.)

SMEE It’s gone Captain. All is still again.

(Hook slowly emerges from the group surrounding him. He listens intently. Then raises to full height.)

HOOK Then here’s to Johnny Plank

PIRATES (Singing) Yo ho, yo ho the frisky plank, You walks along it so, Till it goes down and you goes down To Davy Jones below!

(Hook dances along an imaginary plank. He stops.)

HOOK (To the Prisoners) Do you want a touch of the cat before you walk?

BOYS No, no....

HOOK Fetch that whip Jukes, it’s in the cabin.

JUKES 72

Aye, aye Cap’n.

(Wendy and the Lost Boys are horrified – looking to each other. Jukes enters the cabin.)

PIRATES Yo ho, yo ho, the scratching cat, Its tails are nine, you know, And when they’re writ upon your back....

(There is a dreadful screech from inside the cabin. Then a crowing sound.)

SLIGHTLY That’s one.

HOOK What was that?

(Cecco enters the cabin. Then quickly comes out again.)

HOOK What’s the matter with Bill Jukes, you dog?

CECCO The matter with him is he’s dead, stabbed.

STARKEY Bill Jukes dead!

HOOK Stow that Starkey.

CECCO The cabin’s as black as a pit but there is something terrible in there – the thing you heard a crowing.

HOOK Cecco – go back in there and fetch me out that doodle-do.

CECCO Please Captain. No, no...

HOOK Did you say you would go?

(Cecco reluctantly enters the cabin. Everyone watches, listening. Suddenly there is a blood-curdling scream. Then a crowing again.)

SLIGHTLY Two.

HOOK ‘Sdeath and odds fish, who is to bring out that doodle-do?

STARKEY (Under his breath) Not the fish that leads us.

HOOK I think I heard you volunteer, Starkey

STARKEY No by thunder!

HOOK My hook thinks you did. I wonder if it would not be advisable, Starkey, to humor the hook?

STARKEY I’ll swing before I go in there.

HOOK Is it mutiny? Starkey’s the ring-leader.

STARKEY (Shaking) Captain, mercy!

HOOK 74

Shake hands, Starkey. Shake hands with the hook.

Starkey jumps overboard with a long scream.

SLIGHTLY Three.

HOOK And now did any other gentleman say mutiny? I’ll bring out that doodle-do myself.

Seizing a lantern, Hook speeds into the cabin. He comes out again.

HOOK Something blew out my light.

MULLINS Something?

NOODLER What of Cecco?

HOOK He’s as dead as Jukes.

NOODLER The doodle-doo has killed them. The ship’s bewitched.

HOOK Steady lads! I’ve had a notion. Open the cabin door and drive them in. Let them fight the doodle-do for their lives. If they kill it, we’re so much the better; if it kills them we’re none the worse.

PIRATES (With huge relief) Aye, aye Cap’n!

(The pirates take the Lost Boys and push them towards the cabin. Wendy is left tied to the mast. The Boys pretend to struggle and then are pushed inside. The door is closed on them.) 75

HOOK Now listen. (They all place their ears to the door)

NOODLER I can’t hear nothing Captain.

HOOK Hold it.

NOODLER Maybe the doodle-do has crowed its last.

HOOK Steady lads – hold it steady.

(Meanwhile Peter sneaks out another way from the cabin. He approaches Wendy and signals her to be quiet. Unties her – and sends her to hide. Peter takes her place under her cloak at the mast – hidden. He crows.)

MULLINS The doodle-do again. It’s killed them all.

HOOK (Trying to retain control) Lads, I’ve thought it out. There’s a Jonah aboard.

NOODLER Aye, a man with a hook.

HOOK No lads, it’s the girl. Never was luck on a pirate ship with a woman on board. We’ll right the ship when she’s gone.

MULLINS It’s worth a try.

HOOK Fling the girl overboard.

(They rush to surround Wendy at the mast.)

MULLINS There’s none can save you now, missy.

PETER There is one.

HOOK And who is that?

PETER (Uncloaking himself) Peter Pan!

HOOK Pan!!? Cleave him to the brisket.

PETER Now boys, now!

(The boys charge and an almighty sword fight ensues between the pirates and the lost boys and Wendy. The fight is hard and slowly the boys begin to win through trickery and swiftness. Peter and Hook are facing each other.)

HOOK So Pan, this is all your doing?

PETER Aye, James Hook, it is all my doing.

HOOK Proud and insolent youth, prepare to meet thy doom.

PETER Dark and sinister man, have at thee.

(They fight. Peter is a superb swordsman and parries with dazzling rapidity but a short reach. Hook is not quite so nimble on the wrist play and forces Peter back but to no avail. He tries to thrust his hook at Peter, but Peter doubles under it and lunging 77

fiercely, pierces Hook in the ribs. Hook drops his sword.)

BOYS Now Peter. Now.

(Instead of following through and ending the battle, Peter invites his foe to pick up his sword. Hook does so.)

HOOK What fiend is fighting me? Pan, who and what are you?

PETER I’m youth, I’m joy. I’m the little bird that has broken out of the egg.

(Peter rises into the air. Hook is in awe.)

HOOK To it again.

(Their swords clash again. They go all over the ship – Peter flying at times, Hook doing the most daring of stunts. But still Peter jags and pricks Hook.)

HOOK Pan! You.... Infernal youth! I’ll fetch the powder keg.

(Hook quickly goes below deck to return with a smoking bomb and fuse. The boys advance on Hook.)

HOOK In one minute, the ship will be blown to pieces.

BOYS Peter – quick.

HOOK Back, back you pewling spawn! I’ll show you the road to dusty death. A holocaust of children - there is something grand in the idea.

(Somehow, Hook is distracted and Peter and the Boys wrestle the bomb away from 78

Hook. It is neutralized in some way. Hook desperately charges at the boys but they easily evade him. He is breathing heavily – like an old man. We see him struggling for breath. Then Tick Tock is heard. Hook looks to Peter. He knows he is defeated. The ticking gets closer and we see the crocodile opening its mouth. Resigned, Hook steps onto the bulwark. Peter raises slowly into the air. Hook slowly lowers himself into the water and contently into the mouth of the waiting crocodile. The children cheer.)

MICHAEL Wendy – it was here I killed a pirate.

WENDY Oh my poor little brother. I’m sorry.

MICHAEL No...it was great!

(We see the ship sail off into the distance – with Peter as Captain, pretending to be Captain Hook with his own pretend claw.)

Scene 8 – The Return Home

Back home - the nursery. Mrs. Darling is asleep in a chair near the open window. Her head moves restlessly. Her hand goes to her breast as if there’s a pain there.

ENSEMBLE We must now return to that desolate home from which three of our characters took heartless flight so long ago. If we had returned sooner to look with sorrowful sympathy at Mrs. Darling, she would probably have cried:

MRS. DARLING Don't be silly; what do I matter? Do go back and keep an eye on the children.

ENSEMBLE So long as mothers are like this their children will take advantage of them… Look at Mrs. Darling in her chair, where she has fallen asleep. Some like Peter best, and some like Wendy best, but I like her best. Suppose, to make her happy, we whisper to her in her sleep that the brats are coming back. They are really within two miles of the window now, and flying strong, but all we 79

need whisper is that they are on the way. Let's!

She wakes with a start.

MRS. DARLING Wendy? Michael? John? (She looks around) No one. Night after night I dream of seeing them but when I open my eyes – they’re never here. If only we hadn’t accepted the invitation to go out that night. I miss them so much.

(Mrs. Darling looks out of the window. She then sits back on her chair and starts to cry. She slips into sleep. Suddenly we see Peter and Tinkerbell come in through the window.)

PETER Quick Tink, close the window, bar it. That’s right. When Wendy comes she’ll think her mother has barred her out, and she’ll have to go back with me.

(Peter dances round the room celebrating the brilliance of his own plan – Tink joins him. They look at Mrs. Darling asleep.)

PETER It’s Wendy’s mother. She’s a pretty lady but not so pretty as my mother. Her mouth is full of thimbles but not so full as my mother’s. What are you thinking Wendy's mother? ‘Come home Wendy’? You’ll never see Wendy again, lady, for the window is barred. What is that in her eyes – those wet things? And now more replace the ones that just came? She wants me to unbar the window. But I won’t. More wet...She’s awfully fond of Wendy. Well, I’m fond of her too. We can’t both have her, lady. Oh all right. (He opens the window) Come on Tink, we don’t want any silly mothers. (He and Tink exit)

Mrs. Darling stirs. She stands, looks out the window and sadly shakes her head. She lights the night lights then exits [& plays the day nursery piano - Home, Sweet Home]. Suddenly Wendy, Michael, and John arrive at the window. They enter their nursery.

MICHAEL I’m sure we’ve been here before.

WENDY Of course you have. There’s your old bed.

MICHAEL (Remembering) So it is.

JOHN It's very careless of mother not to be here when we come back.

WENDY I’m sure she’ll be here any second. Let us slip into our beds and be there when she comes in, just as if we’ve never been away.

(They jump into their beds.)

MICHAEL Wendy - then you’re not really our mother?

WENDY No, Michael. Now let’s snuggle down.

(Mrs. Darling enters.)

MRS. DARLING I see them in their beds - so often - in my dreams - that I still seem to see them when I am awake, and all the time I know they are not there. I'll not look again. (sits) So often in my dreams their silver voices call me. My little children whom I'll see no more.

WENDY Mother.

MRS. DARLING That’s Wendy.

JOHN Mother.

MRS. DARLING Now it's John.

MICHAEL 81

Mother.

MRS. DARLING Now little Michael. (As they speak they sit up with outstretched arms but she is not looking at them.) And when they call I stretch out my arms to them. (Does so, brings arms together, drops them.) But they never come. They never come. (Again her arms are outstretched. The children have risen and stolen towards her. Wendy slips into the space between her arms, then John, then Michael, so that her arms close on the three of them. Rapture.)

MRS DARLING Wendy! Michael! John!

(They hold on to each other for life itself. As they hug, a figure appears at the window looking on – it is Peter Pan. Wendy sees him.)

WENDY Peter! (She rushes to the window)

MRS DARLING Wendy! Where are you going. Stop!

WENDY It’s alright, Mother. Come in Peter. Come and live with us. He can come and stay with us can’t he? Mother, can’t he?

MRS DARLING Of course. Peter, you can stay here if you’d like to.

PETER Would you send me to school?

MRS DARLING Yes.

PETER And then to an office?

MRS DARLING 82

I suppose so.

PETER Soon I should be a man.

MRS DARLING Very soon.

PETER I don’t want to go to school and learn serious things. I don’t want to have a beard. I want always to be a little boy and to always have fun.

MRS DARLING But where will you live?

PETER I'm to live with Tinker Bell in a little house we built for Wendy. She is to put it high up among the tree-tops where the fairies sleep at nights.

MRS. DARLING But I thought all fairies were dead.

WENDY There are always a lot of young ones because, you see, when a new baby laughs for the first time, a new fairy is born, and as there are always new babies there are always new fairies. They live in birds' nests on the tops of trees, and the mauve ones are boys and the white ones are girls.

MRS. DARLING The sweets!

PETER I'll have such fun.

WENDY But won’t it be lonely in the evening?

PETER I’ll have Tink. 83

WENDY Can I go with him Mother?

MRS. DARLING Absolutely not. I’ve got you safe at home and I’ve no intention of letting you go again.

WENDY But he so needs a mother.

MRS. DARLING So do you my love.

WENDY Please.

MRS. DARLING If you promise me you’ll stay, I’ll leave you for a moment with Peter. Do you promise?

WENDY I promise.

MRS. DARLING Goodbye, Peter.

(Mrs. Darling and the children leave. Peter and Wendy are left looking at each other.)

WENDY Will you come and see me again?

PETER (Casually) Of course I will.

WENDY Thank you, Peter. It was great fun.

PETER 84

That’s alright.

WENDY I won’t ever forget you. I’ll always remember you, the Lost Boys, Captain Hook...

PETER (Genuinely not knowing) Who’s Captain Hook?

WENDY Don’t you remember, how you killed him and saved our lives?

PETER I forget them after I kill them.

WENDY (Sadly) Oh dear, I guess there’s just so many of them. But you won’t forget me, Peter, will you? I mean, if you were to meet another little girl... Never mind. Goodnight, Peter. Take care. Don’t forget me. Don’t...

PETER Goodnight Wendy. (He has climbed onto the windowsill)

WENDY Goodnight.

(Peter has gone without a care in the world, leaving Wendy alone. She closes the window behind him.)

Scene 9 - The Finale

Wendy changes into being a grown woman again. Jane enters and is running round her bed.

WENDY (Lovingly) Come on you. It’s bedtime.

JANE 85

I’m not going to bed. I’m not, I’m not.

WENDY Quickly - I can see a crocodile coming.

JANE (Excited) Crocodile?

(Jane pulls the sheet over her and Wendy’s head like a tent.)

JANE Quick hide.

WENDY Now snuggle down.

JANE Tell me about Peter Pan.

WENDY That story again! Aren’t you fed up of it?

JANE Uncle Michael always tells me it.

WENDY Uncle Michael...my little brother, and now a big man with a beard in an office.

JANE What’s your favorite part?

WENDY Oh I think I liked the home under the ground best of all.

JANE I like that bit too. What was the last thing that Peter ever said to you?

WENDY The last thing he said? - ‘Goodnight’. And now it’s time to say ‘goodnight’ to 86

you.

JANE And what did his crow sound like?

WENDY It was a bit like this (She gently imitates Peter’s crowing)

JANE No it isn’t. It’s like this (She does it - sleepily)

WENDY My darling, how do you know that?

JANE I often hear it when I’m sleeping. Is everything going to be alright, Mother?

WENDY Nothing can harm you when the night lights are on.

JANE I love you Mum.

WENDY And I love you too.

(Wendy tucks Jane in and just as she’s about to leave the sound of crowing is heard. She stops in her tracks. It is Peter. The window blows open and he comes in and drops into the nursery.)

PETER Hello Wendy.

WENDY Hello Peter. Where have you been? It’s been so long since you last came.

PETER It was just yesterday. Where’s Michael?

WENDY Michael doesn’t sleep here anymore.

PETER That’s him (Looking at Jane) It’s a new one.

WENDY Yes.

PETER Boy or girl?

WENDY Girl.

PETER Do you like it?

WENDY Yes. (She wipes her eyes)

PETER What are those things in your eyes? The wet things? I know - you’re glad I came.

WENDY Peter, that’s my little girl.

PETER (Pause) Come on – let’s go to the Neverland – you and me, there so many things to be done.

WENDY I can’t come – I’ve forgotten how to fly.

PETER I’ll teach you again.

WENDY 88

Come here Peter. Look at me. I’m a married woman now and that little girl is my daughter.

PETER (Resentfully) What does she call you?

WENDY (Gently) Mother. (Pause) Peter I grew up long ago.

PETER You promised not to!

WENDY I couldn’t help it.

PETER No!

(Peter draws his dagger and makes a lunge for Jane sleeping in the bed. His dagger upraised – he struggles. He stops and hangs his head. He starts to cry and falls to the floor. He sits there sobbing. Wendy doesn’t know how to comfort him)

JANE (Waking up) Boy, why are you crying?

(Peter stops crying. He quickly stands and courteously bows to her.)

PETER Hello.

JANE What’s your name?

PETER My name is Peter Pan.

JANE Yes, I know.

PETER I came back for my mother, to take her to Neverland.

JANE Yes, I know, I’ve been waiting for you.

PETER Then come.

JANE Mother? Please can I go?

WENDY But you so need a mother.

JANE Please?

WENDY (Through tears) Yes my darling, you can go… of course you can go…

(Peter crows and sprinkles fairy dust on Jane. Wendy watches crying with both joy and sorrow, as Peter and Jane climb onto the window sill and prepare to take off. The scenes fades away, leaving Wendy alone.)

ENSEMBLE As you look at Wendy, you can see her hair becoming white, and her figure little again, for all this happened long ago. Jane is now a grown-up with a daughter called Margaret, and every year, except when he forgets, Peter comes for Margaret and takes her to Neverland, where she tells him stories about himself, to which he listens eagerly. When Margaret grows up she will have a daughter, who is to be Peter’s mother in turn; and thus it will go on and on, so long as children are carefree and innocent and heartless.

The End