Peter Pan Version 1

SCENE ONE

THE DARLING’S NURSERY

There are three single beds, a chair, a large toybox and a practical window. Music cue 1: Chorus. After song ends…Exit Chorus [SL]

Enter Michael and John at a run [SR] playing at pirates, running around the room and hopping on and off the beds.

JOHN: Avast me hearties! Splice the mainbrace and hoist the jolly roger!

MICHAEL: I can’t, captain!

JOHN: Why not?

MICHAEL: Roger’s feelin’ a bit off.

JOHN: Pirates aren’t allowed to feel off, mister! Give him a taste of the cat!

MICHAEL: Aye-aye captain! [calling] Here puss, puss!

Enter Nana [SR] who jumps on the bed, causing Michael to fall off.

JOHN: Man overboard!

Enter Wendy [SR]

WENDY: What’s all the commotion, boys?

JOHN: [to Wendy] Cabin boy! Throw Black Dog a line and haul him aboard!

MICHAEL: [floundering on floor] Help! I’m going down for the fourth time!

WENDY: I thought drowning people only went down three times.

JOHN: Pirates are made of sterner stuff.

MICHAEL: Aren’t you going to help rescue me from a watery grave, shipmate?

WENDY: Sorry boys, I don’t have time to play pirates. Mum wants to know if you’ve taken your medicine yet.

JOHN: Oh yes, we’ve taken it. Haven’t we Black Dog?

MICHAEL: [standing] Aye, Captain!

WENDY: Have the boys had their castor oil, Nana?

NANA: [shaking head] Ruff! Ruff!

WENDY: Fetch the bottle and a spoon, Nana.

NANA: Ruff! [exits SL]

JOHN: You mutinous dog, Nana!

Enter Nana with a large medicine bottle and a spoon.

WENDY: It’s medicine time boys.

MICHAEL: We’re not taking that.

JOHN: It tastes horrible!

WENDY: Mother says it’s good for you.

MICHAEL: Then how come you don’t take it?

WENDY: Mother says I don’t need it because I’m a regular girl.

Enter Mrs Darling [SR]

MRS DARLING: Come along children, it’s time to settle down to sleep.

WENDY: They won’t take their medicine, mother.

MRS DARLING: It won’t hurt to miss one night. Take it away, Nana.

Exit Nana [SL] with the bottle and spoon.

JOHN & MICH: [cheer] Yeah!

MRS DARLING: They can have a double dose tomorrow instead.

JOHN & MICH: [groan] Urrrgh!

MRS DARLING: Now, into bed all of you.

Children climb into their beds and lie down.

SFX: Thunder crack and lightning flash.

Peter Pan appears at the window. Mrs Darling turns and glances at the window, but Peter quickly ducks down.

MRS DARLING: Who’s there? [looks out window] I thought I saw a young boy outside the window just now.

Enter Mr Darling [SR]

MR DARLING: Have you seen Nana anywhere, Mary?

MRS DARLING: She’s just putting the boy’s medicine away, George, dear.

Enter Nana [SL] knocking Mr Darling over as she runs to the window.

MR DARLING: [picking himself up] How did we end up with a dog for a nanny?

MRS DARLING: It was your idea, George.

MR DARLING: No, it wasn’t.

MRS DARLING: Yes, it was. When Nanny McVitie left, you asked me to go down the pound and pick up a replacement.

MR DARLING: No, dear. I said, go downtown and pick up a replacement.

MRS DARLING: Did you? Never mind, Nana’s as good as any nanny, and much cheaper.

Nana barks at window.

MR DARLING: Why is she barking at the window?

MRS DARLING: Maybe she saw what I saw earlier.

MR DARLING: And what did you see?

MRS DARLING: A young boy’s face at the window.

MR DARLING: You can’t have done, we’re three floors up.

MRS DARLING: You’re right – I must have imagined it.

MR DARLING: Be quiet Nana and come with me.

WENDY: Where are you taking Nana, father?

MR DARLING: Outside to her kennel.

JOHN: But she hasn’t tucked us up in bed yet.

MICHAEL: Or fluffed our pillows.

WENDY: Or sang us a song.

MRS DARLING: Nana’s a dog, children. She can’t tuck you in, fluff your pillows or sing a song.

CHILDREN: Oh yes, she can!

Nana nods in agreement.

MR DARLING: Okay Nana. If you’re so clever, then let’s see you in action.

Nana rushes over to the beds, fluffs all their pillows and tucks them in.

MRS DARLING: Nana’s obviously a very clever dog, George.