SCENE III b.
(While Wendy sleeps, the audience sees a visionary dream she is having. The setting changes to the Home Underground back in Neverland. There are four young boys in the room, all dressed in rags with messed up hair and dirty faces. The aura they are presenting is not a pleasant one. Scout, the obvious leader, is pacing the room. Cripes and Rouf, are seated at a small table thinking. Tag, the smallest of the group, is sitting in a corner on Peter's old bed cuddling a teddy bear with his thumb in his mouth. Tag does not seem to notice anything that is going on around him; he is in his own little world.)
SCOUT: Once Neville returns with Tiger Lily, maybe then we can think of a plan.
CRIPES: (excited) Of bringing Peter back home?
SCOUT: Cripes, Peter has been gone for too many moons. I do not know if he is ever coming back. We will have to defeat Hook alone.
ROUF: (rising and crossing to Scout) Fight Hook on our own?! Are you daft, Scout? We are only five! Hook has killed the others, and has already proved his power by burning down half the island. Without Peter, everything here is dead! We need a plan to bring Peter home!
CRIPES: Rouf is right. Peter is our captain, and---
SCOUT: It's obvious to me, I don't know why the rest of you don't see it! Peter by now has grown up and forgotten all about Neverland! If has been too long! Maybe it would be better if he never returned.
CRIPES: Don't say that! You'll frighten Tag. As if he isn't too scared to speak as it is. (pause. Scout is irritated. He crosses over to Tag, and gets right next to his face.)
SCOUT: (quietly) Afraid, eh? Is that why you won't speak to me, or any of us. (no response. Scout becomes more frustrated. yelling.) Peter isn't coming back, Tag, it's time you faced the truth!
TAG: (in tears and yelling back) You're lying! You're lying! Peter's coming back! He is, he is! (Rouf comes over very heatedly, and yanks Scout up and spins him around to face him.)
ROUF: You are wicked! That is enough Scout! (Scout looks down sheepishly.)
SCOUT: I-I'm sorry, Tag. I shouldn't have said that. I just wish-- (he looks up, there are tears in his eyes.) What are we to do without Peter? Hook will find us, and he will kill us all. (he crosses away from Rouf. yells.) Curse you, Peter Pan! Look at where you have left us! Without you we will disappear! Neverland will disappear! (coolly) Without this world, there will be no other. Listen to us talk. We are growing up. The effects of Neverland cease to exist without you. (Scout falls to his knees. His last line is directed out to the audience, crying.) Come home, Peter...please. (The other lost boys just stand there. They do not know what to do. Cripes crosses over to Tag, and sits next to him on the bed.)
CRIPES: Is that Peter's old teddy? (Tag slowly nods.) Nice that he left it here for us. Do you remember Mother Jane's story about the other lost boys who lived with Peter? The story about how Peter got that teddy? The stories about Wendy Mother, Marooner's Rock where Peter defeated Hook and rescued Tiger Lily, and Michael. Yes, that was his name. He gave this teddy to Peter. (Tag slowly nods again. Rouf sits down the floor.)
ROUF: Mother Jane was such a wonderful mother. (Scout has calmed down, but still remains staring off at the audience.)
SCOUT: I miss her cookies that would fill us with only one bite.
CRIPES: My favorites story was the one about Cinderella. Do you remember the story of Cinderella, Tag? Mother Jane said that Wendy Mother used to tell Peter that story all the time. It was his favorite as well. I do adore fairy tales. They remind me-- (he breaks off as if it hurts him to finish the sentence)
SCOUT: Of the Neverland we once knew?
CRIPES: (quietly) Yes, yes it does. (Scout arises, and now assumes his role.)
SCOUT: Have no fear, friends. peter will return. I can feel it in my heard. There is still a part of him that can remember. Someone must remind him though. Someone, somehow must remind him.
ROUF: (standing with excitement) We will think of something, Scout! And Tiger Lily can help us! We will bring him back!
CRIPES: Yes, we can do it if we stay together and think of a plan, What more has Peter taught us than to never be afraid. Then when Peter returns, all will be back to normal!
TAG: Peter still has to come back for his teddy. He can't sleep without his teddy. (All lost boys gleam at each other in amazement)
SCOUT: Yes, yes, Tag! You are right. But remember friends, there is a limit to Peter's age. He must return before he grows up completely in the other world, otherwise he will not be young enough to even try to return. Even though this is true, we will not let it discourage us! We just can't lose hope! WE Can't-- (he is interrupted by Neville crashing in, carrying a limp Tiger Lily over his shoulder. Blood covers them both.) NEVILLE!! (Scout, Rouf, and Cripes rush over to help. Scout and Rouf take Tiger Lily, and lay her gently on Peter's bed. They pick Tag up, and put him over on a bench as soon as they lay Tiger Lily down.)
ROUF: There is blood everywhere! (Scout puts his head on Tiger Lily's chest, then waves his hand over his mouth.)
SCOUT: She has no breath, and her heart doesn't push against my ear.
ROUF: You mean, she is--
NEVILLE: (weakly) Dead.
SCOUT: Oh, no!
CRIPES: Not Tiger Lily!
ROUF: What happened! Was this Hook's doing?!
NEVILLE: Aye, it was Hook. (he gets a look of pain on his face, then when it passes he continues) I was crossing over Blindman's Bluff, when I heard something like shouting and swords clashing. I ran towards the noise. When I arrived, I saw Hook was battling Tiger Lily atop a huge stone, while his pirates were slicing down indians one by one. Tiger Lily fought fiercely, but Hook got the upper hand, and fought with bad form. When Tiger Lily was dodging a flying dagger, Hook took her off guard, and plunged his hook into her.
TAG: Poor Tiger Lily! (Tag rushes over to Tiger Lily and lays down on top of her with his head on her chest. tears are streaming down his face)
SCOUT: (trying to fight back tears) Tag, come away from there. (he crosses to the sobbing Tag, and tries to pull him off Tiger Lily.) Tag, come now!
TAG: (refusing to budge) No, no, no, I won't! I won't! (Scout tries again, but to no avail. While this little scene does one, Cripes has been examining Neville. Removing his hand that is now drenched with blood, he calls out to the others.
CRIPES: Friends, not all of this blood belongs to Tiger Lily. (there is silence. Scout turns to Cripes)
SCOUT: What? (Neville lets out a sharp cry of agony. all the boys rush over to Neville, and help him to the ground.)
CRIPES: He is in weak condition, and we know no real medicine to help him!
ROUF: The indians. We will go to the chief, and find his medicine man to help him!
NEVILLE: (stammering) All the Pickanini tribe are dead. Killed by Hook's men.
CRIPES: (close to tears) Then, Neville.....you will surely die. (silence)
NEVILLE: Boys, do not worry about me. You must find a way to get back to London. I am sure that is where Peter is. Find Tinerkbell, and fly back to get him. If you do not, then all little children will suffer a fate far worse than Tiger Lily's...(grabs his side in pain)....or mine.
SCOUT: Hold on, my friend! I will go find Tinkerbell, and bring Peter back. We will find some way to cure you, just hang on! You can do it, just have some faith in make believe. Make believe you are getting better and you will. Maybe that portion of Neverland hasn't faded, the power that's in all of us to believe. I will return, and with Peter by my side. (Scout walks over to a pile of clothes and picks up a coat and hat. He puts his hat on, and then acknowledges the boys.) Things will be all right again, you have my word! (as Scout crosses to the door, Hook appears in the doorway, accompanied by Mr. Smee. Hook grabs the dumbfounded Scout, and turns him outwardly to the audience, while he is pressed against him. He glistens his hook in front of Scout's pale while face.
HOOK: (leering) Greetings boys! I'm back!
SCOUT: Run!!! (He stamps on Hooks foot, and Hook releases him, grabbing his hurt foot.)
HOOK: Smee, get those scurvy brats! (There is chaos while the boys try to run through the various exits in the holes in the walls. Seeing the struggle to get the wounded Neville out, Hook charges over to Cripes who is trying to lift Neville off the ground. Hook pushes Cripes out of the way, and lifts Neville up to him)
HOOK: Give yourselves up, or the weak one dies! (all stop. to show he is not lying, Hook flashes his hook down Neville's cheek, drawing blood. Scout tries to charge Hook, but Hook raises his hook again as a warning. Scout retreats.) Smee, tie the vermin up! (Smee complies to his captain's order.)
NEVILLE: (stammering angrily) Get....your hands....off me....you...stinking...codfish!
HOOK: (laughs wickedly) Bravery. I admire that. Too bad you're dying, little putrescence! You would have made one hell of a pirate! (Neville spits in his face. Hooks wipes his face angrily. fiercely) That was not wise boy! You are just making your friend's fate worse than the plunge I gave you when you tried to carry off that heathen princess! (He drops Neville back to the ground, while Neville groans in pain.)
SCOUT: Murderer! (Hook laughs)
HOOK: Without your captain, your threats and curses make for nothing, don't they? (Hook crosses to Peter's bed where Tiger Lily's body lies. He runs his Hook down her face.) She is very beautiful when she sleeps, isn't she boys?
ROUF: You keep away from her! (Hook chuckles wickedly. Then something catches his eye.)
HOOK: What is this? (Hook pulls an object out from under Tiger Lily. It is Peter's teddy bear, now soaked in blood.)
CRIPES: Leave that there, leave that alone!
HOOK: (crossing to the tied up lost boys) Does this bear hold some value to you? (There is silence as the boys tare up at him angrily) Ah, I see. It was Peter's. Well, then. I shall leave it back on his bed for him when he returns. (he crosses back to the bed, and acts as if he is going to lay it down.) ON second though....(Hook then takes the bear, and plunges his hook into it and rips it open.)
TAG: NO!!!!! (Hook laughs menacingly)
ROUF: You'll be really sorry you did that, Hook! You wait and see! When Peter comes back---
HOOK: (laughing) When Peter comes back? (continues to laugh) Did you hear that Mr. Smee? When Peter comes back. (Smee begins to chuckle. Suddenly Hook stops laughing and lashes out violently.) Peter is never coming back! He's gone! He has left all of you to waste away with age, and Neverland is here for me to control! Mates, come and take these boys back to the ship, where there, they will all walk the plank!
SMEE: Aye, aye, cap'n! (Pirates come and try to force the lost boys out the door.
SCOUT: What is going to happen to Neville and Tiger Lily? (Hook pulls out a match and lights it with a evil grin on his face.)
HOOK: We'll let nature take it's course. (Hook throws the match into the corner of the room. He laughs as the boy's blood chilling screams echo in protest. All exit, and the scene changes back to the Darling nursery. We hear the boys faded cries as the lights come back up on the nursery. Peter is shaking Wendy.)
PETER: Wendy mother, wake up! Wake up! (startled, Wendy opens her eyes looking extremely terrified.) What's wrong? Bad dream?
WENDY: I don't know, Peter. I fear it is something far worse than just a bad dream.
Blackout
(While Wendy sleeps, the audience sees a visionary dream she is having. The setting changes to the Home Underground back in Neverland. There are four young boys in the room, all dressed in rags with messed up hair and dirty faces. The aura they are presenting is not a pleasant one. Scout, the obvious leader, is pacing the room. Cripes and Rouf, are seated at a small table thinking. Tag, the smallest of the group, is sitting in a corner on Peter's old bed cuddling a teddy bear with his thumb in his mouth. Tag does not seem to notice anything that is going on around him; he is in his own little world.)
SCOUT: Once Neville returns with Tiger Lily, maybe then we can think of a plan.
CRIPES: (excited) Of bringing Peter back home?
SCOUT: Cripes, Peter has been gone for too many moons. I do not know if he is ever coming back. We will have to defeat Hook alone.
ROUF: (rising and crossing to Scout) Fight Hook on our own?! Are you daft, Scout? We are only five! Hook has killed the others, and has already proved his power by burning down half the island. Without Peter, everything here is dead! We need a plan to bring Peter home!
CRIPES: Rouf is right. Peter is our captain, and---
SCOUT: It's obvious to me, I don't know why the rest of you don't see it! Peter by now has grown up and forgotten all about Neverland! If has been too long! Maybe it would be better if he never returned.
CRIPES: Don't say that! You'll frighten Tag. As if he isn't too scared to speak as it is. (pause. Scout is irritated. He crosses over to Tag, and gets right next to his face.)
SCOUT: (quietly) Afraid, eh? Is that why you won't speak to me, or any of us. (no response. Scout becomes more frustrated. yelling.) Peter isn't coming back, Tag, it's time you faced the truth!
TAG: (in tears and yelling back) You're lying! You're lying! Peter's coming back! He is, he is! (Rouf comes over very heatedly, and yanks Scout up and spins him around to face him.)
ROUF: You are wicked! That is enough Scout! (Scout looks down sheepishly.)
SCOUT: I-I'm sorry, Tag. I shouldn't have said that. I just wish-- (he looks up, there are tears in his eyes.) What are we to do without Peter? Hook will find us, and he will kill us all. (he crosses away from Rouf. yells.) Curse you, Peter Pan! Look at where you have left us! Without you we will disappear! Neverland will disappear! (coolly) Without this world, there will be no other. Listen to us talk. We are growing up. The effects of Neverland cease to exist without you. (Scout falls to his knees. His last line is directed out to the audience, crying.) Come home, Peter...please. (The other lost boys just stand there. They do not know what to do. Cripes crosses over to Tag, and sits next to him on the bed.)
CRIPES: Is that Peter's old teddy? (Tag slowly nods.) Nice that he left it here for us. Do you remember Mother Jane's story about the other lost boys who lived with Peter? The story about how Peter got that teddy? The stories about Wendy Mother, Marooner's Rock where Peter defeated Hook and rescued Tiger Lily, and Michael. Yes, that was his name. He gave this teddy to Peter. (Tag slowly nods again. Rouf sits down the floor.)
ROUF: Mother Jane was such a wonderful mother. (Scout has calmed down, but still remains staring off at the audience.)
SCOUT: I miss her cookies that would fill us with only one bite.
CRIPES: My favorites story was the one about Cinderella. Do you remember the story of Cinderella, Tag? Mother Jane said that Wendy Mother used to tell Peter that story all the time. It was his favorite as well. I do adore fairy tales. They remind me-- (he breaks off as if it hurts him to finish the sentence)
SCOUT: Of the Neverland we once knew?
CRIPES: (quietly) Yes, yes it does. (Scout arises, and now assumes his role.)
SCOUT: Have no fear, friends. peter will return. I can feel it in my heard. There is still a part of him that can remember. Someone must remind him though. Someone, somehow must remind him.
ROUF: (standing with excitement) We will think of something, Scout! And Tiger Lily can help us! We will bring him back!
CRIPES: Yes, we can do it if we stay together and think of a plan, What more has Peter taught us than to never be afraid. Then when Peter returns, all will be back to normal!
TAG: Peter still has to come back for his teddy. He can't sleep without his teddy. (All lost boys gleam at each other in amazement)
SCOUT: Yes, yes, Tag! You are right. But remember friends, there is a limit to Peter's age. He must return before he grows up completely in the other world, otherwise he will not be young enough to even try to return. Even though this is true, we will not let it discourage us! We just can't lose hope! WE Can't-- (he is interrupted by Neville crashing in, carrying a limp Tiger Lily over his shoulder. Blood covers them both.) NEVILLE!! (Scout, Rouf, and Cripes rush over to help. Scout and Rouf take Tiger Lily, and lay her gently on Peter's bed. They pick Tag up, and put him over on a bench as soon as they lay Tiger Lily down.)
ROUF: There is blood everywhere! (Scout puts his head on Tiger Lily's chest, then waves his hand over his mouth.)
SCOUT: She has no breath, and her heart doesn't push against my ear.
ROUF: You mean, she is--
NEVILLE: (weakly) Dead.
SCOUT: Oh, no!
CRIPES: Not Tiger Lily!
ROUF: What happened! Was this Hook's doing?!
NEVILLE: Aye, it was Hook. (he gets a look of pain on his face, then when it passes he continues) I was crossing over Blindman's Bluff, when I heard something like shouting and swords clashing. I ran towards the noise. When I arrived, I saw Hook was battling Tiger Lily atop a huge stone, while his pirates were slicing down indians one by one. Tiger Lily fought fiercely, but Hook got the upper hand, and fought with bad form. When Tiger Lily was dodging a flying dagger, Hook took her off guard, and plunged his hook into her.
TAG: Poor Tiger Lily! (Tag rushes over to Tiger Lily and lays down on top of her with his head on her chest. tears are streaming down his face)
SCOUT: (trying to fight back tears) Tag, come away from there. (he crosses to the sobbing Tag, and tries to pull him off Tiger Lily.) Tag, come now!
TAG: (refusing to budge) No, no, no, I won't! I won't! (Scout tries again, but to no avail. While this little scene does one, Cripes has been examining Neville. Removing his hand that is now drenched with blood, he calls out to the others.
CRIPES: Friends, not all of this blood belongs to Tiger Lily. (there is silence. Scout turns to Cripes)
SCOUT: What? (Neville lets out a sharp cry of agony. all the boys rush over to Neville, and help him to the ground.)
CRIPES: He is in weak condition, and we know no real medicine to help him!
ROUF: The indians. We will go to the chief, and find his medicine man to help him!
NEVILLE: (stammering) All the Pickanini tribe are dead. Killed by Hook's men.
CRIPES: (close to tears) Then, Neville.....you will surely die. (silence)
NEVILLE: Boys, do not worry about me. You must find a way to get back to London. I am sure that is where Peter is. Find Tinerkbell, and fly back to get him. If you do not, then all little children will suffer a fate far worse than Tiger Lily's...(grabs his side in pain)....or mine.
SCOUT: Hold on, my friend! I will go find Tinkerbell, and bring Peter back. We will find some way to cure you, just hang on! You can do it, just have some faith in make believe. Make believe you are getting better and you will. Maybe that portion of Neverland hasn't faded, the power that's in all of us to believe. I will return, and with Peter by my side. (Scout walks over to a pile of clothes and picks up a coat and hat. He puts his hat on, and then acknowledges the boys.) Things will be all right again, you have my word! (as Scout crosses to the door, Hook appears in the doorway, accompanied by Mr. Smee. Hook grabs the dumbfounded Scout, and turns him outwardly to the audience, while he is pressed against him. He glistens his hook in front of Scout's pale while face.
HOOK: (leering) Greetings boys! I'm back!
SCOUT: Run!!! (He stamps on Hooks foot, and Hook releases him, grabbing his hurt foot.)
HOOK: Smee, get those scurvy brats! (There is chaos while the boys try to run through the various exits in the holes in the walls. Seeing the struggle to get the wounded Neville out, Hook charges over to Cripes who is trying to lift Neville off the ground. Hook pushes Cripes out of the way, and lifts Neville up to him)
HOOK: Give yourselves up, or the weak one dies! (all stop. to show he is not lying, Hook flashes his hook down Neville's cheek, drawing blood. Scout tries to charge Hook, but Hook raises his hook again as a warning. Scout retreats.) Smee, tie the vermin up! (Smee complies to his captain's order.)
NEVILLE: (stammering angrily) Get....your hands....off me....you...stinking...codfish!
HOOK: (laughs wickedly) Bravery. I admire that. Too bad you're dying, little putrescence! You would have made one hell of a pirate! (Neville spits in his face. Hooks wipes his face angrily. fiercely) That was not wise boy! You are just making your friend's fate worse than the plunge I gave you when you tried to carry off that heathen princess! (He drops Neville back to the ground, while Neville groans in pain.)
SCOUT: Murderer! (Hook laughs)
HOOK: Without your captain, your threats and curses make for nothing, don't they? (Hook crosses to Peter's bed where Tiger Lily's body lies. He runs his Hook down her face.) She is very beautiful when she sleeps, isn't she boys?
ROUF: You keep away from her! (Hook chuckles wickedly. Then something catches his eye.)
HOOK: What is this? (Hook pulls an object out from under Tiger Lily. It is Peter's teddy bear, now soaked in blood.)
CRIPES: Leave that there, leave that alone!
HOOK: (crossing to the tied up lost boys) Does this bear hold some value to you? (There is silence as the boys tare up at him angrily) Ah, I see. It was Peter's. Well, then. I shall leave it back on his bed for him when he returns. (he crosses back to the bed, and acts as if he is going to lay it down.) ON second though....(Hook then takes the bear, and plunges his hook into it and rips it open.)
TAG: NO!!!!! (Hook laughs menacingly)
ROUF: You'll be really sorry you did that, Hook! You wait and see! When Peter comes back---
HOOK: (laughing) When Peter comes back? (continues to laugh) Did you hear that Mr. Smee? When Peter comes back. (Smee begins to chuckle. Suddenly Hook stops laughing and lashes out violently.) Peter is never coming back! He's gone! He has left all of you to waste away with age, and Neverland is here for me to control! Mates, come and take these boys back to the ship, where there, they will all walk the plank!
SMEE: Aye, aye, cap'n! (Pirates come and try to force the lost boys out the door.
SCOUT: What is going to happen to Neville and Tiger Lily? (Hook pulls out a match and lights it with a evil grin on his face.)
HOOK: We'll let nature take it's course. (Hook throws the match into the corner of the room. He laughs as the boy's blood chilling screams echo in protest. All exit, and the scene changes back to the Darling nursery. We hear the boys faded cries as the lights come back up on the nursery. Peter is shaking Wendy.)
PETER: Wendy mother, wake up! Wake up! (startled, Wendy opens her eyes looking extremely terrified.) What's wrong? Bad dream?
WENDY: I don't know, Peter. I fear it is something far worse than just a bad dream.
Blackout
