Finding Neverland Page #5

He barely moved for a week,

but I started planning our fishing trip.

I will never lie to you. I promise you that.

No, all you'll do is teach me

to make up stupid stories

and pretend that things

aren't happening until...

I won't ! I'm not blind.

I won't be made a fool.

What's this ? Peter.

The play.

Darling, I wanted to see the rest of it.

Magic's gone out of it a bit now,

hasn't it ?

All because of a silly chest cold.

James.

Well, you remember Gilbert Cannan,

don't you ?

Good evening.

Mr Cannan has been working on the

committee to fight government censorship.

I know how involved you've been as well.

He wanted to speak to you.

I did think you'd be home so much sooner.

It's been a long evening, Mary.

Yes.

Well, if I'd realized how late it was,

of course.

I should perhaps talk to you

at another time ? Not so late ?

That will be fine.

We'll talk then.

Thank you for your patience, Mrs Barrie.

Mr Barrie.

- Good night.

- Night.

Well, aren't you going to speak ?

What would you like me to say ?

"Curious how late Mr Cannan stayed,"

I suppose.

And then, let's see. What comes next ?

"No later than you were out, James."

"And how is Mrs Davies this evening ?"

Oh, yes, I would have a great answer

for that one, wouldn't I ?

How dare you.

This isn't one of your plays.

I know that, Mary. It's quite serious.

But I'm not ready for this conversation,

wherever it may lead.

Perhaps we can talk in the morning, yes ?

Good night then.

Mr Barrie. Don't you agree

this is a little bit tight ?

- No. No, in fact I think it's quite... baggy.

- Baggy ?

Quite frumpy. I'd bring it right in just there.

That's very tight.

And put maybe a plank of wood there

to straighten him up.

- Oh, aye. Yes, Mr Barrie.

- Plank of wood ?

Some wood there on the shoulders as well.

- Otherwise, it's marvelous.

- Right, sir.

- You'll be sick tomorrow.

- I'll be sick tonight.

James.

We're just having some tea.

You remember my mother, of course.

Yes. Of course. How do you do ?

- May I take your hat ?

- That's enough, boys.

Boys, please don't run in the house.

You'll break something.

Come away from that door.

Come on, come on.

- I'd like a word with you,

Mr Barrie, before you go.

We'll only be a few minutes.

Boys, why don't you go

and play in the garden ? Go on.

- Is he in trouble ?

- Sh.

Because I've been alone with Grandmother

and I know what it's like.

- Should we retire into the study ?

- Why don't you join them, dear ?

Very well.

- I do apologize for interrupting.

- Would you close the door, please ?

Certainly.

Sylvia has told me you have offered her

the services of your household staff.

- Well, not exactly.

- That won't be necessary.

I'll leave that to Sylvia, of course.

You'll leave that to me, Mr Barrie.

You see, I'm moving in here from now on.

- You're moving in ?

- I'm going where I'm most needed.

And I can certainly see to it

that this house is managed

without resorting to your charity.

It isn't charity, Mrs du Maurier.

I was only trying to help, as a friend.

Have you no idea how much your

friendship has already cost my daughter ?

Or are you really that selfish ?

I beg your pardon ?

Don't you see what a visit

to the summer cottage of a married man

does for a widow's future prospects ?

Sylvia needs to find someone.

The boys need a father.

And you are destroying any hope this

family has of pulling itself together again.

I have only wanted good things

for this family, Mrs du Maurier.

I'll look after them.

You have your own family

to concern yourself with.

What are you suggesting ?

I'm suggesting that you protect

what you have, Mr Barrie.

That is precisely what I am doing.

I was so certain what I would find in this.

Some little confession

would leak out onto the page.

I don't write love notes in my journal.

No.

Still, you knew who I meant, didn't you ?

That's some comfort, actually.

It means I know you just a little after all.

You needn't steal my journal

to get to know me, Mary.

No. I suppose I could just go see the plays.

I was hopelessly naive when I married you.

I imagined that brilliant people

disappeared to some secret place

where good ideas floated around

like leaves in autumn.

And I hoped, at least once...

you would take me there with you.

There is no such place.

Yes, there is.

Neverland.

It's the best you've written, James.

And I'm sure the Davies will adore

the world you've created for them.

I only wish I were part of it.

I've wanted you to be. I've tried.

Mary.

I always imagined us going off on

great adventures once we were together.

But we moved into this house

and you started, I don't know,

- you started rearranging the furniture.

- What was I supposed to do, James ?

You were always gone.

I was right here.

Sitting in your parlor, staring off

into other worlds as though I didn't exist.

Look. Just give me bit more time

to finish up the play.

To spend with your muse ?

No, I'm tired of waiting, James.

I'm tired of looking like a fool.

Well, I can't very well give up the play.

Of course not.

Just come home to me at the end of

the day. Rehearse and be home for dinner.

No more trips to the country,

no more long afternoons in the park.

If you can't give us that much of a chance,

then we must end this.

And I will.

Pitiful display.

Nanny. Nanny.

What ?

First you get the pajamas,

then you make the bed.

With my paws ?

You make the bed with your paws.

The pajamas you get with your teeth.

Because in fact, being a dog,

you haven't any proper digits, have you ?

Well, I don't have any teeth, either.

I mean, I can't see. I can't breathe.

All I've got is this rubbery snout.

- Can we get him some teeth ?

- He can have mine.

We'll get you teeth.

- Let's have a wee break, shall we ?

- Right.

- I thought you were wonderful.

- You were marvelous.

I think you're better on four legs

than you are on two.

- Oh, give it a rest.

- I do.

- Just say it, Charles, go on.

- Well, you picture it, James.

Opening night, doctors, lawyers,

businessmen and their wives,

all dressed to the nines.

They've paid good money, they're

expecting theater, what we call theater.

The curtain opens and it's crocodiles

and fairies and pirates and lndians.

I don't even know what it is.

But you did know, Charles. You're

an absolute genius, Charles. That's it.

Oh, don't patronize me, James.

You know how much money I put into

this show that I haven't even found yet ?

Listen, listen. Opening night,

I want 25 seats set aside.

- Set aside ? 25 ?

- 25 seats.

Scattered throughout the theater.

Two here, two there, three up there.

- Are they paying for it ?

- They're filled.

- No, no, no. I'm asking...

- The seats are filled.

- Uncle Jim ?

- Hello, boys.

Could I speak to you for a moment,

please ?

Certainly.

It'll be fantastic.

Who's paying for them ?

Throughout the theater.

- Who's paying for these 25 seats ?

- They're filled-up seats, Charles.

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