Neverwas Page #3

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to say to the group.

Jake?

I wanted to say...

I have a fiance.

She's coming up this weekend

for a visit.

And I don't want her

to see me like this.

Jake, maybe if you plan out

what you're gonna say to her,

you would feel

a little less frustrated.

I'm not frustrated.

I'm just tired.

I'm-I'm tired.

"A truth that's told

with bad intent

"beats all the lies

you can invent.

(snaps fingers rhythmically)

"It is right it should be so;

"Man was made for joy and woe;

"And when this

we rightly know,

"Through the world

we safely go.

"Joy and woe are woven fine,

A clothing

for the soul divine."

(Zach's father) "Man was made

for joy and woe;

"Joy and woe are woven fine,

A clothing

for his soul divine."

(Zach's mom) Thomas,

don't let Zach hear.

Where's my joy, Katherine?

Thomas--

That's what the hell

I wanna know, huh?

Please don't let Zachary

hear you.

He's just a little boy.

It doesn't matter!

He knows I'm numb!

Zach doesn't judge me, Kate.

He doesn't judge me at all!

There's no judgment!

(Thomas mumbles and cries)

Oh, Dad.

Gabriel?

I mean, don't ever

creep up on me

when I'm making an entry.

I'm sorry.

I thought you saw me come in.

Did others see you?

I don't know. Would that

be a problem if they did?

You sound like a complete

and utter fool.

Actually, I was wondering

where you heard that poem

that you recited earlier.

Your gods have completely

disappeared.

Let's focus on the poem.

This is not about me.

It has always been about you,

especially now

at this moment of crisis,

with just four days left.

Your bravery, I've seen it

with my own eyes.

Let's save this

for our session.

Oh, it's such a shame!

Everything you ever were

has been replaced

by total fear.

And your skin - you wear

your skin as if it's

three sizes too small

and barely stretched

over your pointed bones.

Gabriel, please!

You have to find

what you love, Zachary!

For both our sakes!

( soft piano)

Zachary, look who's here.

Hi.

Well, don't just stand there

like a bump on a log.

Come in.

Hello, Mother.

Hello, hello, hello.

Maggie stopped by earlier.

She wanted your phone number,

and it seems--

I said I was going

to call you,

and then I realized that I

didn't have your number, so...

I just told her to come back

and ask you herself.

Um...

Well, you two catch up,

and, uh, I'll go make sure

that everything is perfect.

(Maggie) Thank you.

I have always wished that

they made a movie of Neverwas.

Oh.

Thomas would never give up

the rights, ever.

No. He hated himself

for approving that merchandising

that they did for a while.

I used to collect

that stuff, all of it.

Maggie is Dad's

biggest fan, Mom.

Oh, isn't that nice?

And what about a boyfriend?

No, I'm too busy for that.

I'm a bit of a workaholic.

Ohh.

Do you know that,

when I met Thomas,

I was studying

to be an actress?

Mom has a flair

for the dramatic.

And then of course,

Zachary was born.

Maggie doesn't wanna

hear this, Mom.

Sure, I do.

Sure, she does.

I had never seen Thomas

so happy.

Uh, I do believe,

from that moment on,

Zachary was his only reason

for living.

This torture can stop

any time you want.

Why does that story

upset you, honey?

Because it's not true.

And lies upset me.

Zachary has

conveniently blocked out

all happy childhood memories,

which make it almost impossible

to reminisce.

Reminisce about what, Mom?

About the good times we had.

Oh, OK, the good times.

Let's see. Um...

You after Dad died.

I remember that.

I did the best I could,

Zachary.

With what I had.

I did the best.

Why don't you have

some more wine, Mom?

Stop it!

It's working at Millwood

that's doing this to you,

isn't it?

We can't possibly be

having this much fun.

Honey.

Why don't you help me

with the dessert?

I haven't seen you like this

since before you left

for college.

Look, let's just stop.

I was out of line.

I assume you haven't

been sleeping.

I can deal with it.

But you were doing so well

for so long.

Don't jeopardize everything

that you've accomplished.

Just tell me how you want me

to act, and I will.

I want whatever...

this is...

whatever we are...

to be all right.

Well, then... (chuckles)

let's have our cake.

(door opens)

(door closes)

(man, on TV) Mr. T.L. Pierson,

what an honor this is

to have you as my guest.

(Thomas) Oh, thank you.

(applause)

First, why don't you tell

my audience that poem

about Neverwas?

Neverwas, oh.

Neverwas on the surface

is really quite simple.

In essence, it's the story

of a little boy

whose mother has died

and who lives with his father

Daniel, a janitor.

And although Zachary feels

embarrassed about his father

- he thinks

he's embarrassingly average -

it turns out that Daniel is

the king of a once great land

called Neverwas...

which lies on

the other side of a mountain

not far from where they live.

And...

Well... you should

read the book.

Mr. Pierson, critics have

speculated on the symbolism

held within

your often bleak images.

You care to comment?

No.

As far as I'm concerned,

the work speaks for itself.

That's it.

I don't believe it.

I'd like to talk about this

in today's session,

if you don't mind.

Neverwas.

Does that mean anything

to you, Gabriel?

You remember.

I figured it out.

I noticed that

the symbol you drew...

Yes.

...is the reverse image

of the royal crest...

Yes, yes.

Yes, yes, yes.

So it was my little clue

that triggered your memory.

I knew it would.

Amazingly simple,

but it removed

Ghastly's spell.

I can see your strength

returning.

You've come so far, Zachary.

But there's no time

for celebration.

We need to discuss our plan.

OK, let's begin with what

Neverwas means to you.

Have you lost your--

Then again, it could be

an elaborate trick.

Can't be too careful.

You say you know

about Neverwas?

Right.

What does the fruit of

the dribblebush taste like?

I wouldn't know.

They're poisonous.

How long is

the Twisted Neck River?

It runs from

the Tourmaline Mountains

down to the Sea

of Sleepless City.

And what's a Dralock?

A lazy giant.

Ghastly Lapeer,

how did he come?

He cast a spell on Zachary,

which backfired,

blowing him up.

He was pieced back together

by the Starling minions.

Oh, my God! You remember!

The spell is lifted.

You've got to act quickly.

Let me explain.

Gabriel, please.

I need you to listen.

Yes, just listen. Right.

Absolutely correct.

A good plan needs

a thoughtful discourse.

Proceed.

This might be hard

for you to hear.

Could there have been,

is it a possibility

that there was a book

called Neverwas?

You have to stop this.

You're refusing

to understand me.

I have so little patience left.

I need help.

And I really wanna

help you.

No, you don't!

I'm the only one taking

the action, taking the risk.

It was me who blew up

the Razor shops

on the edge

of the Nightmare.

But it was a trap.

Ghastly and his minions

were waiting.

And they brought me back

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