PETER PAN YMT Musical Theatre Library script extract

SCENE 1 - KENSINGTON (THE CHILDRENS NURSERY IN A RESPECTABLE UPPER MIDDLE-CLASS HOUSE IN KENSINGTON, LONDON, IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE 20th CENTURY. IT IS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. JAYNE, WENDYS DAUGHTER LIES ASLEEP. WENDY ENTERS, FLINGS OPENS THE BEDROOM WINDOWS. MUSIC.) MUSIC 1. ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS COMPANY: IN THE DANCING STARLIGHT, IN THE SWIRLING MILKY WAY, IN THE MAGIC MOONLIGHT, WHERE MOONBEAMS PLAY ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS, WHEN THE STARS WERE GLEAMING, ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS, WHEN THE MOON WAS DREAMING, ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS, YOU FLEW INTO MY LIFE ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS. (JAYNE WAKES AND SITS UP IN BED. THEN AS WENDY SINGS) ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS, WITHOUT A WHATSOEVER, ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS MY LIFE WAS CHANGED FOREVER, ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS, YOU FLEW INTO MY LIFE, (COMPANY SING) COMPANY: WENDY: ALL YOUR DREAMS ARE WAITING, WHERE HAPPINESS LIES, ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS. (MUSIC 1 OUT.) JAYNE: WENDY: JAYNE: Mums, kindly close the bedroom window. It is freezing and I am liable to catch double pneumonia and probably die. Sorry Jayne darling, terribly thoughtless of me. But you do it every night, Mums

WENDY:

WENDY: JAYNE: WENDY: JAYNE: WENDY: JAYNE: WENDY: JAYNE: WENDY: JAYNE: WENDY: JAYNE: WENDY: JAYNE: WENDY: JAYNE: WENDY:

The night air is good for you Jayne Mums you come into my room, open the window and sing to the moon. Have you gone stark raving mad? No, dear. I was remembering the night when I flew off to Neverland with Peter Pan. Oh, Mums. a boy who never grew up. Spiffing. Would you close the window before you go? I must have been about your age I suppose. Little slip of a thing I was. Cant imagine you as little slip of a thing, Mums. (ANNOYED) Do you want to hear the story of Peter Pan, or not? Id rather you shut the window if thats all right with you. One night (MUSIC STARTS) Ive already heard that bit Mums. Well, you can hear it again. Listen and be quiet. But could you just tell me. ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS

I was staring out of this very window when the strangest thing happened Oh Mums The curtains billowed and then (NURSERY TRANSFORMS. WENDY IS A LITTLE GIRL AGAIN. PETER PAN EXPERTLY JUMPS IN THROUGH THE WINDOW FOLLOWED BY TINKERBELL WHO STUMBLES AND TRIPS.)

TINKERBELL: WENDY: TINKERBELL: WENDY: TINKERBELL: WENDY: TINKERBELL: PETER:

(ANGRY) Stupid, silly, daft windows... too small for any self-respecting fairy... (OFFERING HER HAND TO PETER) Hello, Im Wendy Darliing. (INTERPOSING HERSELF) Dont push it, girly. But I am Im Wendy Darling and I live here. And Im Tinkerbell, and Im a fairy. You want to make something of it? (TO THE WATCHING JAYNE) Just her funny little ways. (TO TINK) Thats not very nice. Im not nice! Im a fairy with a substantial chip on her wing. Im Peter Pan.

WENDY: PETER: WENDY: JOHN: JOHN: WENDY:

Gosh. Are you really? Do you have any brothers? Were looking for children to help us fight! (CALLING) John, Michael (MICHAEL AND JOHN RUSH IN.) These are my two younger brothers Hes Michael And Im John. This is Peter Pan. (MUSIC 2)

TINKERBELL: PETER: TINKERBELL: PETER: WENDY: TINKERBELL: WENDY: PETER: TINKERBELL: PETER: JAYNE: WENDY: TINKERBELL: PETER: WENDY: TINKERBELL: WENDY: PETER:

Take the boys but leave her. Shes a girl. Whats wrong with girls? Youre one. Yeah, but Im different. I think youre right Tink, well take the boys but leave her. Shell never cope in Neverland. Thats not fair Who said anything about fair? (SHE PREPARES TO LEAVE) So long! Peter, I could be your mother! (FAR AWAY) My mother. Shes a nutter, Peter! You promise? Did you promise to be their mother? Of course I did, dear. (GUSHING) I mean, who could refuse Peter Pan. Give me strength. (GLANCES OUT OF THE WINDOW)... lets get a move on the stars are starting to fade... Where are we going? She must be really stupid. Ill have you know I came top of my class in Arithmetic and Algebra. Were going to Neverland. MUSIC 2. A PLACE CALLED NEVERLAND

MICHAEL: JOHN:

Thats super! Thats Duper!

WENDY: PETER: TINKERBELL: PETER: TINKERBELL: PETER: TINKERBELL: PETER:

Whats Neverland? WHEN YOU FALL ASLEEP YOU DREAM ABOUT A PLACE CALLED NEVERLAND, THERE ARE PIRATES AND RED INDIANS AND SEA AND GOLDEN SAND, BUT YOU THINK ITS JUST A SILLY DREAM THAT WILL FADE WHEN MORNING BREAKS, BUT FOR A CHILD TO FLY TO NEVERLAND A DREAM IS ALL IT TAKES, SO YOU DREAM YOUR DREAM AND YOU SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND DO THE BEST YOU CAN, AND YOU WANT TO BE THE ONE WHO WONT GROW OLD... LIKE PETER PAN... (MUSIC 2 CONTINUES UNDER.)

WENDY: TINKERBELL: JOHN: PETER:

Yes, but how do we get there? We go by train! How do you think? We fly, stupid! But we cant fly. Then well teach you. (MUSIC 2 UP. WENDY, JOHN AND MICHAEL TRY TO OBEY PETER AND TINKERBELL'S INSTRUCTIONS.)

PETER: TINKERBELL: PETER: TINKERBELL: PETER: TINKERBELL: PETER: WENDY: PETER:

JUST A TOUCH OF MAGIC CLOSE YOUR EYES, LET YOUR MIND GO BLANK, IMAGINE THAT YOURE LAUGHING LOUD OR PLAYING A SILLY PRANK NOW LEAN AGAINST THE SOLID AIR, ITS A BIT LIKE A FEATHER DOWN, NOW OPEN YOUR EYES AND FLAP YOUR HANDS BUT FOR SAKE DONT LOOK DOWN, SO YOU TAKE A BREATH AND YOU PUSH AWAY JUST AS HARD AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN, AND YOU SOAR UP TO THE ENDLESS TOWERING SKY... LIKE PETER PAN... (CRESTFALLEN) Im sorry. Its not working. Just believe. GODS

(WENDY FINALLY BEGINS TO GET THE HANG OF IT, SO THAT BY THE CHORUS SHE IS READY TO FLY AWAY.) PETER & TINKERBELL: YOURE NEVER GOING HOME AGAIN, YOURE NEVER GROWING OLD, YOURE NEVER LEARNING LESSONS AND YOURE NEVER BEING TOLD, YOURE NEVER EATING UP YOUR GREENS OR RUNNER BEANS OR TINNED SARDINES COS WE ARE FLYING OFF TO NEVERLAND! (WENDY FINALLY BEGINS TO GET THE HANG OF IT, SO THAT BY THE END OF THE SONG SHE IS READY TO FLY AWAY.) PETER & TINKERBELL: WHEN YOU FLY AWAY TO NEVERLAND THEN THERES NO COMING HOME, ITS NOT IN ANY ATLASES AND ITS NOT IN ANY TOME, ITS A MAGIC PLACE WHERE WE CAN GO AND CHILDHOOD NEVER ENDS, ITS A WONDER WORLD WHERE CHILDREN RULE AND YOU LIVE AMONG YOUR FRIENDS, SO ITS GOODBYE TO THE PARENTS THEY HAVE DONE THE BEST THEY CAN... AND ITS TIME TO TOUCH THE STARS UP IN THE SKY LIKE PETER PAN. (DEAD SEGUE TO MUSIC 3 NEVERLAND REPRISE). JOHN: MICHAEL: BOTH: PETER: PETER: Look at me Wendy Look at me Wendy Were flying! There you go, told you it was easy! Come on, lets go! (DURING THE REPRISE THE LIGHTS CHANGE, THE NURSERY DISAPPEARS AND TIME SPINS BACK TWENTY-FIVE YEARS TO NEVERLAND.) COMPANY: WHEN YOU FLY AWAY TO NEVERLAND THEN THERES NO COMING HOME... ITS NOT IN ANY ATLASES AND ITS NOT IN ANY TOME, TS A MAGIC PLACE WHERE WE CAN GO WHERE CHILDHOOD NEVER ENDS... TS A WONDER WORLD WHERE CHILDREN RULE AND YOU LIVE AMONG YOUR FRIENDS, SO ITS GOODBYE TO THE PARENTS THEY HAVE DONE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN... AND ITS TIME TO TOUCH THE STARS UP IN THE SKY LIKE PETER PAN... (THEY FLY AWAY.)