81 INT. LEINSTER CORNER - STUDY. 1909. DAY
Mary Barrie stands by the window, talking to Cannan on the
telephone. In foreground, Barrie sits in his armchair,
gazing blankly ahead of him.
MARY BARRIE
(into phone)
... no, not until after lunch.
No, just the two of us - we're
going round to see Sir George at
eleven.
(pause)
Yes... yes, alright, I'll tell
him. No, of course not. Bye.
Mary hangs up.
MARY BARRIE
(to Barrie)
Gilbert says he'll have the
Committee report finished by this
afternoon, so I'll bring it back
with me. He also wanted me to
thank you.
BARRIE
(vacantly)
Thank me? For what?
MARY BARRIE
Well... for being so
understanding.
Mary Barrie gathers up her papers, then goes to the door
BARRIE
(flatly)
Give up Cannan.
MARY BARRIE
What?
BARRIE
I said, give up Cannan.
MARY BARRIE
But Jim - I mean I thought we'd
agreed...
BARRIE
We agreed nothing.
(imploringly)
Please Mary - I can't stand the
loneliness if you leave me.
MARY BARRIE
You won't be lonely. You've got
plenty of friends. You've got
Sylvia.
BARRIE
(bemused)
What's Sylvia to do with it?
MARY BARRIE
Well, she's always meant far more
to you than I ever have. You'll
still have her, and if we get
divorced, then I don't see why
you and she can't... well -
BARRIE
But Sylvia's a married woman.
MARY BARRIE
Jim - Arthur's been dead for over
two years!
BARRIE
That makes no difference
whatsoever! Sylvia is devoted to
Arthur, and I am devoted to her
devotion. I would no more think
of coming between Sylvia and
Arthur than I'd contemplate
Cannan coming between us!
MARY BARRIE
(floundering)
But Jim, I... we've... I mean
we...
BARRIE
Mary, I beg of you. Promise that
you'll never see Cannan again,
and I'll forgive you for
everything.
MARY takes a grip on her position.
MARY BARRIE
Haven't you understood, Jim? I
don't want forgiveness. I want to
marry Gilbert, and nothing less
than a divorce will do.
BARRIE
(shouting)
I will not allow it!
(contemptuously)
Alright, run away with him, be
his mistress, do what you like.
But I will not grant you a
divorce.
MARY BARRIE
(bracing herself)
I do not intend to be his
mistress. I shall be his wife,
and there's nothing you can do to
stop me.
A pause, then Barrie suddenly lurches forward, almost
grovelling before MARY.
BARRIE
(desperately)
Please, Mary - please...
MARY BARRIE
(pulling away)
I'm sorry Jim, but I've made up
my mind. If you won't grant me a
divorce, then I shall apply to
the court for an annulment.
BARRIE
(confused)
But... but you can't.
MARY BARRIE
(with quiet finality)
I can always say that our
marriage has never been
consummated.
Barrie looks at her, stunned, at last comprehending his
defeat.
82 EXT. KENSINGTON GARDENS. 1910. DAY
LONG SHOT: Barrie and Michael wander through Kensington
Gardens towards the oak tree where Barrie first met George.
BARRIE
... I thought we might put the
Peter Pan statue about here
somewhere. I gave Mr Frampton
some of those old photographs I
took of you dressed up as Peter
Pan, so it should bear a striking
resemblance to the Devil in you.
MICHAEL
(flattered)
Is the Devil in me?
BARRIE
Especially when you smile.
Barrie and Michael approach the base of the tree.
MICHAEL
Do you mind awfully, being
dwarfed?
BARRIE
(indignantly)
I'm not a dwarf.
MICHAEL
No, I don't mean that, I mean
divorced.
A pause.
BARRIE
Perhaps over there would be
better, by that cave where I used
to hide things for George.
MICHAEL
Don't you love her any more?
BARRIE
(coughing)
I don't want to talk about her.
Michael slaps Barrie on the back to stop him coughing.
MICHAEL
You shouldn't smoke so much, it's
very addictive.
BARRIE
So are you.
Barrie sits on the gnarled roots of the oak tree while
Michael saunters about.
MICHAEL
(teasing him)
Not for always I shan't be. One
day I shall grow up - quite soon,
I daresay - and then I shall be
just like everyone else, and then
you'll get bored of me and find
another boy to love.
BARRIE
Did I get bored of George?
MICHAEL
You found me.
(pause)
Perhaps... Perhaps if I got bored
of you first? That would be
amusing, wouldn't it.
BARRIE
Hilarious.
MICHAEL
Did Mrs Barrie get bored of you?
BARRIE
(sharply)
I told you, I do not wish to talk
about her.
MICHAEL
Oh, alright. But don't go and
sulk.
BARRIE
I'm not sulking.
MICHAEL
Yes you are. I can always tell.
You go all moody, and that's
really boring. If you don't snap
out of it, I shall go home...
(imitating Mary
Hodgson's northern
accent)
So you can please yourself.
BARRIE
Yes, nurse.
A pause.
MICHAEL
Anyway, what cave?
BARRIE
Hmm?
MICHAEL
You were saying - about a cave
where you used to hide things for
George...
BARRIE
Oh, that. Yes, Old Solomon's
Cave, leading to the fairies'
Winter Palace
Barrie points to the rabbit holes where George found the
Pan pipes. Michael takes a look.
MICHAEL
All I can see are a lot of rabbit
holes.
Michael walks away from the tree, leaving Barrie alone.
BARRIE
(a sigh)
Heigh-ho.
MICHAEL
(calling, O.S.)
Come on, old crock - let's see if
we can't get you out for a duck.
Barrie pulls himself to his feet, plods after Michael's
leadership.
83 INT. 23 CAMPDEN HILL SQUARE - DRAWING-ROOM. 1910. DAY
Sylvia lies on the sofa, dressed in a black gown and
wrapped in her travelling-rug. Mary Hodgson is in
attendance; so too is Sylvia's mother, Emma du Maurier.
SYLVIA
(to Emma)
I'm sorry, Mummy, but I've made
up my mind.
EMMA DU MAURIER
I suppose we have Jimmy Barrie to
thank for this little brainwave?
SYLVIA
It was my decision, not his, and
I'm doing it for my sake as well
as the boys. London gets so
stuffy in August, and I wouldn't
dream of letting a little thing
like this stand in my way.
EMMA DU MAURIER
But dear child, you're ill,
you...
Mary Hodgson shoots EMMA a warning glance, but too late.
SYLVIA
Ah, so I'm ill, am I? At last!
And yet you've all been insisting
that there's nothing to be
worried about.
The door opens and Barrie enters.
EMMA DU MAURIER
(hurriedly)
Jimmy, would you please persuade
Sylvia to abandon this absurd
notion of going off into the
wilds of Devon for the summer?
SYLVIA
Mummy, I'm the one who decides
what I do, not Jimmy or anyone
else, and that is that.
Sylvia turns to Barrie and changes the subject -
SYLVIA
(brightening)
Jimmy...
I had the sweetest letter from
George this morning, saying you'd
sent him some "topping phizzes"
of Dorothy Dix and Lily Langtry.
He also said to tell you that...
(looks for letter)
Now where is it, I had it a
moment ago...
EMMA DU MAURIER
Sylvia dear, can we not resolve
one thing at a time?
SYLVIA
There's nothing more to resolve,
Mummy.
(finds letter)
Ah, here we are -
(reading to Barrie)
"Tell Uncle Jim I played for the
2nd XI today and got three
wickets, so am consequently
feeling rather bucked." Then he
says, oh yes - can you send him a
new pair of army boots, size 8½,
as he's grown out of his old pair
and needs new ones for his Field
Day. Also could you take him a
few tins of ham when you go down
to Eton on Sunday as he claims to
be on the verge of starvation -
apparently you know the sort he
likes...
EMMA DU MAURIER
Sylvia?
SYLVIA
Yes, Mummy?
(to Barrie)
Oh, and do listen to this next
bit -
(reading from letter)
"My newest pair of socks are an
absolute poem, such an exquisite
shade of blue, dontcherknow, and
very à la mode. Taken all in all,
I think I'm rather a coming chap,
so tell Uncle Jim to beware on
Sunday. I'm absolutely burning
for the...
Emma du Maurier loses patience and leaves the room,
followed by Mary Hodgson. Sylvia's buoyant mood evaporates.
SYLVIA
(tailing off)
...for the holidays."
(long pause)
Have you talked to Doctor Rendel
again?
BARRIE
(vaguely)
Uh-huh.
SYLVIA
What did he say?
BARRIE
He said, if Sylvia wishes to go
to the country, then Sylvia must
have what she wishes.
SYLVIA
But what did the x-ray
photographs show?
BARRIE
(evasively)
Oh, you don't want to take any
notice of x-rays. I remember I
once had my throat x-rayed... I
think it's now selling as a
picture postcard of the Swiss
Alps.
Barrie sits on the corner of the sofa, pats her knee
reassuringly.
SYLVIA
Jimmy, you're the only one I
trust. What did Doctor Rendel
say?
BARRIE
I've just told you, he...
SYLVIA
(interrupting)
It's cancer, isn't it.
BARRIE
Of course it's not cancer...
SYLVIA
(overlapping)
Then why is everyone being so
secretive? Why is dear Mummy
making such a fuss about my
leaving London? Why have I got to
have a nurse? Why... oh, why
can't someone just once, Jimmy,
just for once treat me as an
adult and tell me what's wrong?
BARRIE
(quietly)
Because, dearest Sylvia, they
don't know what's wrong.
SYLVIA
Of course they know. Rendel
knows, Mummy knows, Mary knows.
(smiles)
You know.
(laughs)
It seems that I'm surrounded by
loving friends who are all
desperately trying to avoid the
one word I long to hear.
(pause)
I sat by Arthur's grave the other
day and I whispered it, again and
again, until it sang through my
mind. Do you think I'm frightened
of dying?
Nico calls out from the garden Square outside.
NICO
(O.S., calling)
Uncle Jim!
BARRIE
(quietly, to Sylvia)
No. Not for yourself.
NICO
(O.S., calling)
Hurry up, Uncle Jim! Michael says
we need you to be a fielder.
BARRIE
(calling from the
window)
Don't I have any choice in the
matter?
NICO
(O.S., calling)
Oh, no - Michael's already
decided for you. Come on!
Barrie looks at Sylvia, shrugs helplessly.
SYLVIA
(smiling)
Go on.
BARRIE
Heigh-ho.
Barrie leaves the room. A pause, then Sylvia gets up slowly
from the sofa, walks across to the window, and watches as
Barrie joins the boys for a game of cricket in the Square.
SYLVIA (V.O.)
As I may die now at any time, I
should like to set down a few of
my wishes. I hope this house will
be kept up for the boys, with
Mary Hodgson - whom I trust with
all my heart - looking after
them. J.M.B. I know will do
everything in his power to help
them, to advise, to comfort, and
to sympathize in all their joys
and sorrows....
84 EXT. ASHTON FARM - APPROACH ROAD - DEVON. 1910. DAY
A horse-drawn Landau rumbles along through a pine forest.
Seated in the open carriage are Barrie, Mary Hodgson,
Sylvia, and her five boys: George, Jack, Peter, Michael and
Nico.
SYLVIA (V.O.)
I do not want my Michael to be
pressed at all at work. He is not
very strong, and his nightmares
worry me, but he is sensitive and
very intelligent. Great care must
be taken with him. Mary Hodgson
understands, and of course J.M.B.
knows and will be careful and
watch him. I believe that all my
boys will become good and brave
men, seeing that they are
Arthur's sons, and understand how
very much they were beloved by
him and Sylvia, his altogether
faithful and loving wife....
85 EXT. ASHTON FARM - DEVON. 1910. DAY
The Landau draws up outside an old, secluded farmhouse to
be met by the CARETAKER. Sylvia is lifted down from the
Landau by George and Jack, and transferred into a bath
chair.
SYLVIA (V.O.)
I hope from my soul that they
will all marry, and be tender
husbands, and have children, and
live long and happily, and be
content to be poor if it should
be so. I do not wish any of my
boys to look at me when I am
dead.
Let them remember me at my best,
when I could look at them. That
must have been the best time
always, because I love them so
utterly....
George and Jack wheel Sylvia inside the farmhouse, followed
by Peter, Michael, Nico, Barrie, Mary Hodgson and the
CARETAKER.
86 INT. ASHTON FARM - SYLVIA'S BEDROOM. 1910. DAY
Sylvia lies in bed, reading over her Will. Barrie keeps
vigil in a chair by the window, making notes.
SYLVIA (V.O.)
I should like all my dear one's
love letters to be cremated with
me, and lie with me and Arthur in
the Hampstead churchyard next to
beloved Papa. I do not want any
of my boys to go to my funeral,
nor do I want it to be made into
a long and gloomy day for them.
(pause)
Of one thing I am certain: that
J M Barrie will always... That
J M Barrie, the best friend in
the whole world, will always be
ready to advise my boys, out of
his love for......
BARRIE (V.O.)
Death. Strange how everyone fears
it except the dying. Perhaps this
is the secret of the Mona Lisa's
smile? Release from the dungeon
world, return to freedom not
known since childhood.
(pause)
Child being born as mother dies?
Could work this into my ghost
mother story. They pass each
other in their different voyages,
the one landing, the other
setting sail. And which voyages
with the most confidence, the
dying or the child? We are never
so confident between times...
It all seems so easy at the
beginning and the end.
The door opens and George and Peter enter the room, dressed
for a fishing expedition. Michael follows behind them, but
hovers uneasily in the doorway.
GEORGE
(breezily)
Hello, mother.
SYLVIA
(brightening)
Well! What a pair of dashing
young rakes!
GEORGE
Oh, tosh! We thought we'd go off
and do a spot of fishing down by
the mill... see if we can't catch
that old bull-trout we saw
yesterday.
SYLVIA
Aren't Nico and Jack going with
you?
PETER
No, Nico's out playing with the
farmer's son...
GEORGE
(smirking)
And Jack's out playing with the
farmer's daughter.
SYLVIA
(laughing)
Well I always knew Jack had an
adventurous spirit - something
they obviously don't encourage at
Eton.
GEORGE
Oh, indeed they do, mother - but
they also teach us good taste.
Have you seen her? I'd rather
catch trout any day.
While George and Sylvia talk, Peter surreptitiously
snaffles a handful of Sylvia's Nestor Egyptian cigarettes
from a pink box lying on the dressing table. Barrie's
attention remains on Michael, standing apprehensively in
the doorway.
BARRIE (V.O.)
I remember how Michael once
danced to chapel bell tolling the
funeral of another child.
George leans forward and kisses Sylvia goodbye -
GEORGE
Bye, mother.
SYLVIA
Goodbye, darling. Bye, Peter have
a good day's fishing.
GEORGE
Bye, Uncle Jim.
George and Peter walk to the door, where Michael is still
standing.
SYLVIA
Michael? Aren't you going to kiss
me goodbye?
Michael moves hesitantly towards her.
SYLVIA
(cont' d)
What's the matter?
Michael hovers by the bed, then suddenly puts his arms
round her. From Barrie's POV it is reminiscent of the scene
from his own childhood with his mother.
SYLVIA
(to Michael)
What is it, darling?
A pause, then Michael whispers to her.
SYLVIA
Oh, my Michael, there's nothing
to be frightened of. I'll be well
soon.
MICHAEL
Do you promise?
SYLVIA
I promise.
Michael turns away to hide his tears.
MICHAEL
Bye, mother.
SYLVIA
Oh, don't say goodbye like that.
Let me see my Michael smile.
Michael smiles weakly.
SYLVIA
That's more like it. Now off you
go
with the others.
Michael still hovers, not wishing to leave her sight.
SYLVIA
(firmly)
Off you go.
As Michael leaves, Barrie sees what Sylvia cannot: the
tears running down his face. He closes the door behind him.
A long pause.
SYLVIA
(quietly, to Barrie)
Jimmy, can you pass my mirror.
Barrie passes the mirror to her. She holds it up to her
face, tries to brighten her complexion, straighten her
hair, then realizes the futility. She lays the mirror by
her side.
SYLVIA
(with calm finality)
Don't let my boys see me again.