Peter Pan Version 1 (Perusal)

Scene One

The Darling’s Nursery

There are three children’s beds a chair, and an open window. Items, such as toys and a play-tent may be added. Music cue 1: Michael and John are playing pirates around the room. Occasionally hopping on and off the beds.

John
Avast me hearties! Splice the mainbrace and hoist the jolly roger!

Michael
No can do, captain!

John
Why not?

Michael
Roger’s feelin’ a bit off today.

John
Pirates aren’t allowed to feel ‘off’! Give him a taste of the cat!

Michael
Aye, aye captain! (calling around the room) Here puss, puss!

Nana, bounds onstage. She jumps onto the bed causing Michael to fall off.

John
Man overboard!

Wendy enters.

Wendy
What’s all the commotion, boys?

John
(to Wendy) You! Cabin-boy! Throw Black Dog a line and haul him aboard!

Michael
(floundering on the 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. Now, are you going to rescue him from a watery-grave or not?

Wendy
Sorry boys, I haven’t got time to take part in your pirate games. Mum’s asked me to find out if you’ve taken your medicine yet.

John
Oh yes, we’ve taken it. (to Michael) Haven’t we Black Dog?

Michael
(standing) Yes, Captain!

Wendy
(to Nana) Have the boys had their medicine, Nana?

Nana
(shaking head) Ruff! Ruff!

John
(to Nana) So it’s mutiny, is it?

Wendy
Fetch the medicine bottle and a spoon, Nana.

Nana
Ruff! Ruff! (exits and returns with a large medicine bottle and a spoon)

John
We’re not taking that! It’s horrible!

Wendy
But mum says it’s good for you.

Michael
Then how come you don’t take it?

Wendy
Because mum says I’m a regular girl and don’t need to take it.

Mrs Darling enters.

Mrs Darling
Come along children, it’s time to settle down to sleep.

Wendy
They won’t take their medicine, mum.

Mrs Darling
Oh well, it won’t hurt to miss one night. (to Nana) Take the medicine away, Nana.

Nana exits with the bottle and spoon.

John & Michael
(cheer) Yeah!

Mrs Darling
(to Boys) You can have a double-dose tomorrow instead.

John & Michael
(groan) Aaahh!

Mrs Darling
Now into bed all of you.

All three 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 ducks down quickly.

Mrs Darling
Who’s there? (approaches the window and looks out and then turns to audience) I thought I saw a young boy’s face.

Mr Darling enters calling.

Mr Darling
Nana! Nana!

Mrs Darling
Hello George, dear.

Mr Darling
Have you seen Nana anywhere?

Mrs Darling
Yes, she’s just taken the boys medicine away.

Nana runs in, knocks Mr Darling over and then barks at the window.

Mr Darling
(picking himself up) How on earth did we end up with a dog for a nanny?

Mrs Darling
Don’t ask me, it was your idea.

Mr Darling
Oh no, it wasn’t!

Mrs Darling
Oh 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 ‘town’ not ‘pound’!

Mrs Darling
Did you? Oh well, Nana’s as good as any nanny. And much cheaper.

Nana barks at the window.

Mr Darling
Why does she keep 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. We’re three stories up.

Mrs Darling
You’re right. It must’ve been my imagination.

Nana continues barking at the window.

Mr Darling
Quiet Nana, and come with me.

The Children all sit up.

Wendy
Where are you taking Nana, father?

Mr Darling
I’m taking her outside to her kennel.

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

Michael
Or fluffed up our pillows.

Wendy
Or sung us a song.

Mrs Darling
Listen children, Nana’s a dog. She can’t tuck you in, fluff up your pillows or sing you a song.

Children
Oh yes, she can!

Nana nods in agreement with the Children.

Mr Darling
(to Nana) Okay Nana. If you’re so clever then let’s see you in action.

Nana rushes over to the beds, fluffs up each of their pillows and then pushes the Children down flat and tucks them in.

Mrs Darling
(to Mr Darling) Nana’s obviously a very clever dog,

Mr Darling
Yes, but there’s no way she can manage to sing to them.

Nana signals to band or wing. Music cue 2: Nana. After song ends…

Mr Darling
She really is clever! Not even Pudsey…(or other clever dog)…could manage that.

Nana
(nodding) Ruff-Ruff! (bows several times to audience)

Mrs Darling
That’ll do, Nana. (to Children) Goodnight children.

Children
Goodnight mother! Goodnight father!

Mr and Mrs Darling exit with Nana and lights dim.

Music cue 3: Tinkerbell pulls the window open and enters the room. She starts searching around looking in the drawers and toy-box, lifting toys, etc.

Peter
(appears at the window and hisses) Tink! Tink! Have you found it yet?

Tinkerbell
(whispers) No, Peter! Are you sure you lost it here?

Peter
(entering the room) Yes! It was separated from me by a big shaggy dog.

They both continue searching.

Tinkerbell
Maybe the dog carried it away.

Peter
Don’t say that Tink. I feel lost without my shadow. Have you looked under the beds?

Tinkerbell
Not yet.

Peter
(impatient) Then look now!

Tinkerbell
(annoyed) All right, keep your hair on!

Peter
Sssshh! Not so loud, or you might wake them up.

Tinkerbell
(snaps) Oh, shush yourself!

Peter looks under Michael’s bed and Tinkerbell looks under John’s bed.

Peter
Anything under yours?

Tinkerbell
Nope. Yours?

Peter
No. Let’s hope it’s third time lucky. (reaches under Wendy’s bed) I can feel something! (Wendy turns in her sleep, startling him. Wendy settles down again and Peter reaches under the bed again. He pulls out a material ‘shadow’) I have it, Tink!

Tinkerbell
Hurry up and put it on and then we can leave.

Peter
(drapes shadow over his back in an attempt to re-attach it, but it falls to the floor. He wails loudly) It’s hopeless Tink, it won’t re-attach! (bends to pick it up)

Wendy
(wakes and sits bolt upright) What’s going on?

Peter
Oh! (jumps up startled and contrives to knock into Tink, who falls backwards into the toybox and the lid slams shut)

Wendy
(sees Peter) Who are you?

Peter
(heroic pose) I’m Peter Pan! What’s your name?

Wendy
Wendy Darling.

Peter
Hello, sweetheart.

Wendy
No, no, you misunderstood me. My name is ‘Wendy Darling.’

Peter
That’s twice you’ve called me ‘darling’ and we’ve only just met. Not that I mind.

Wendy
No, my first name is ‘Wendy’ and my surname name is ‘Darling’.

Peter
Oh, I see.

Wendy
What are you doing in our room?

Peter
I was searching for my shadow. (shows his shadow)

Wendy
I didn’t think you could be separated from your shadow.

Peter
Things are very different where I come from.

Wendy
And where’s that?

Peter
Neverland.

Wendy
I’ve never heard of ‘Neverland’. Where exactly is it?

Peter
(points towards the window) Second star to the right and straight on ‘til morning!

Wendy
That’s a strange location. And do your parents know you go around breaking into other people’s homes?

Peter
I didn’t break in; the window was open. And I don’t have parents.

Wendy
You mean, you’re an orphan?

Peter
I don’t know. Do orphans have parents?

Wendy
No. That’s why they’re called ‘orphans’.

Peter
Then I must be an orphan.

Wendy
You poor thing. It must be very upsetting for you.

Peter
I don’t ever remember having parents, so I can’t get upset about not having them, now can I?

Wendy
I suppose not. But don’t you ever get lonely?

Peter
Not really. I always have my shadow for company. (holds up the shadow again) Well I did. But last night, that big soppy dog of yours caught me on the windowsill as I was about to leave. I managed to escape, but my shadow was too slow.

Wendy
You’ve been here before?

Peter
Lots of times. I sit outside your window and listen to the stories your parents read to you. Then I return to Neverland and tell them to the Lost Boys.

Wendy
‘Lost Boys’?

Peter
Yes. I don’t want to go back without my shadow, but I can’t get it to re-attach.

Wendy
Would you like me to sew it back on for you?

Peter
Would you do that for me?

Wendy
Of course. (takes the shadow off Peter and ‘sews’ it back on) There, all finished.

Peter
(walks around in a spotlight which shows off his shadow) That’s better. (to Wendy) Thanks Wendy.

Wendy
You’re welcome. I’d hate to be separated from my shadow. Going out on sunny days just wouldn’t be the same without it tagging along. Music cue 4: Peter and Wendy. After song ends…

Peter
Thanks again, Wendy. One girl is worth twenty boys.

Wendy
I don’t know about that, but I’ll give you a kiss just for saying it.

Peter
What’s a kiss?

Wendy
Don’t you know what a kiss is?

Peter
Well not until you give it to me, I don’t.

Wendy
In that case, close your eyes and hold out your hand. (gives him a thimble) There. Now open your eyes.

Peter
(looks at the thimble) That’s a very nice kiss.

Wendy
(giggles) I’m glad you like it.

Peter
Now let me give you one. (Wendy holds her cheek for a kiss, but he takes an acorn necklace from his neck and places over her head) There. What do you think of that kiss?

Wendy
How old are you, Peter?

Peter
I don’t know.

Wendy
(laughs) But you must know how old you are.

Peter
(petulant) Well I don’t, so there! (sticks his tongue out at her)

Wendy
It’s rude to stick your tongue out at people.

Peter
Oh no, it isn’t!

Wendy
Oh yes, it is!

Peter
Isn’t! Isn’t! Isn’t! (stamps his feet)

Wendy
(firmly) Stop behaving like a child and grow up!

Peter
But that’s just it. I never want to grow up. That’s why I ran away to live with the fairies.

Wendy
I don’t believe in fairies.

Peter
That’s a terrible thing to say! Every time somebody says ‘I don’t believe in fairies’ another fairy dies. (exclaims) Tinkerbell!

Wendy
Who’s Tinkerbell?

Peter
She’s a fairy who came here with me. Listen! Can you hear anything?

SFX: Tinkling bells.

Wendy
I can hear bells!

Peter
It’s coming from the toybox! (opens toybox and a groggy Tinkerbell climbs out)

Wendy
Gosh! A real fairy, in my bedroom!

Peter
(introducing them) This is Tinkerbell. Say hello to Wendy, Tink.

Tink
(grumpy) Hello ‘Windy’!

Peter
No Tink, it’s ‘Wendy’.

Tink
That’s what I said. ‘Windy’.

Wendy
Is she from Neverland, too?

Peter
Yes. Tink lives with me and the Lost Boys.

Wendy
Who are the Lost Boys?

Peter
They’re children who fell out of their prams when nobody was looking. And because no one claimed them within seven days, they were sent to live in Neverland, where they get to fight Indians and Pirates every day.

Wendy
My two brothers would love it there.

Peter
Then why don’t you all come back with us?

Wendy
I don’t know if we should.

Peter
Please Wendy. There aren’t any normal girls like you in Neverland.

Tink
Excuse me…hello!

Wendy
You’re a fairy Tink, and fairies aren’t ‘normal’ girls.

Tink
Charming! (folds arms and half-turns away in a huff)

Wendy
But if there are Lost Boys, then surely there must be lost girls.

Peter
No. Girls are much too clever to fall out of their prams.

Wendy
What a sweet thing to say. Just for that, I’m going to give you a great big kiss.

Peter
But you’ve already given me a kiss.

Wendy
That was just a joke. This is a real kiss. (leans forward to give him a kiss but Tinkerbell pulls her hair preventing it) Owah! (to Tink) You pulled my hair!

Tink
Yes, and I’ll do it again if you try to kiss Peter.

Wendy
(to Tink) You obviously know what a kiss is.

Tink
Yes. So just watch it.

Peter moves between them.

Peter
Come with us, Wendy. Then you can tell stories to the Lost Boys just like a mother would. You see, they’ve never had parents to read stories to them.

Wendy
That’s so sad.

Peter
They love the one about the girl who lost her glass slipper.

Wendy
You mean, Cinderella?

Peter
Yes, that’s the one.

Tinkerbell
(interested) Whatever happened to Cinderella? I didn’t hear how it ended.

Wendy
She married Prince Charming and they lived happily ever after.

Tinkerbell puts her hands over her heart and sighs.

Peter
Come back to Neverland with us, Wendy.

Wendy
(unsure) Well I…I don’t know if I should.

Peter
(beaming) It will be a great adventure, I promise!

Tinkerbell
(dragging him away) Let’s go Peter. Can’t you see she doesn’t want to come.

Wendy
I didn’t say that, now did I? (to Peter) But how will we get there?

Peter
We’ll fly there of course! (flies upwards)

Wendy
Gosh! You can fly!

Tink
Yes, Wendy!

Wendy
But I can’t fly!

Tinkerbell
Well of course you can’t. (to Peter) One to us girl fairies, I think.

Peter
I’ll teach you to fly, Wendy.

Wendy
You can’t teach me to fly?

Peter
I sure can. We’ll jump on a passing moonbeam and be in Neverland by morning.

Wendy
(excited) I’ll come! (rousing the boys) John! Michael! Wake up!

John and Michael wake up and rub their eyes.

Michael
(waking and rubbing his eyes) What is it, Wendy?

Wendy
There’s a boy here who’s going to teach us to fly!

John
Don’t be silly, Wendy. You must’ve dreamt it.

Michael
Yes, go back to sleep.

The boys turn over and pull the blankets over their heads.

Wendy
(pulls blankets back) I didn’t dream it! (indicating Peter and Tink) Look! They’re real! Pinch yourselves if you don’t believe me.

John & Michael
(pinch themselves on the arm) Ouch! (they get out of bed)

John
They’re real, Michael!

Michael
(to Wendy) But what are they doing here, Wendy?

Wendy
They’ve come to take us to a place called ‘Neverland’.

John
And what’s so special about Neverland, that we’d want to go there?

Peter
Do you like fighting Pirates and Indians?

John & Michael
(eager) Yes!

Peter
Well in Neverland, you can fight them all day, every day.

Michael
And how do we get there?

Peter
We fly there of course!

Michael
I hope we’re not using Ryan Air.

John
Last time we did that, we landed in Paris and our luggage didn’t.

Michael
You could say our luggage ‘Neverlanded’. (laughs)

Wendy
We’re going to fly ourselves there, boys.

Michael
(laughs) Don’t be silly Wendy, we can’t fly!

Wendy
Peter said he can teach us to fly. (to Peter) Isn’t that so, Peter?

Peter
Easy-peasy. (to Tink) Tink, sprinkle them with fairy dust please.

Tinkerbell
Sorry Peter, I’m all out of fairy dust.

Peter
Nonsense, Tink. (pointing) I can see your dust pouch is full. Now get on with it.

Tinkerbell
(reluctantly) Fine! (she reaches into her pouch and produces a handful of glitter dust and sprinkles it over Wendy and the Boys)

Peter
Now let’s climb out the window and get ready to fly!

They start climbing out of the window as lights dim.