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30 INT. BLACK LAKE COTTAGE - VERANDAH. 1901. NIGHT
Barrie sits alone at the table on the verandah, working by
the light of an oil-lamp. He is evidently stuck, as if
pondering a reply to George's question, and doodles with his
pencil on the blank paper before him.
31 INT. BLACK LAKE COTTAGE - SITTING-ROOM. 1901. NIGHT
Sylvia, Arthur and Mary Barrie sit quietly, reading
newspapers and magazines, the silence broken only by the
rustling of pages and Barrie's cough from the verandah
outside.
Presently the mantelpiece clock chimes midnight. Arthur looks
up, catches Sylvia's eye, signals that he wants to go to bed.
Sylvia nods, resumes her reading a moment, then gives a
polite yawn.
SYLVIA
(glancing at watch)
Oh, look at the time. I hadn't
realised it was that late.
(to Mary Barrie)
Well if you'll excuse me, I think
I'll be going to bed.
ARTHUR
Yes, I think I'll be doing the
same.
Arthur gets up, ready to follow Sylvia from the room.
SYLVIA
(to Mary Barrie)
We won't disturb Jimmy - do you
think you could say goodnight for
us?
MARY BARRIE
Of course. Sleep well you too.
ARTHUR
(a little stilted)
Good night.
As they leave the room, Arthur puts his arm tenderly around
Sylvia's shoulder. Mary Barrie watches them from the corner
of her eye, but pretends to go on reading. The door closes
softly. She carries on reading a moment, then puts down her
magazine, turns and looks towards the open verandah doors.
32 INT. BLACK LAKE COTTAGE - VERANDAH. 1901. NIGHT
Barrie still searches for an idea, doodling the while on a
piece of paper. Then something comes to him. He screws up the
page and starts afresh.
BARRIE
(mumbling to himself)
"The Little White Bird", Chapter
19.
(pause)
When George was eight we had ...
When David was eight we..... No,
six - When David was six we had a
tremendous adventure together. It
was this:
(into voice-over)
He passed the night with me. We
had often talked of it as a
possible thing, and at last his
mother consented to our having
it. For a while we played with my
two medals; then, at twenty-five
past six, I placed my hand
carelessly on his shoulder, like
one a trifle bored by the dull
routine of putting my boys to
bed, and conducted him to my
private chamber. There was an
extra bed in it tonight, very
near my own, and on the mantel
piece a tumbler of milk. David
offered me his foot, as if he had
no longer use for it, and I knew
by intuition that he expected me
to take off his boots.
While Barrie continues writing, Mary Barrie emerges from the
sitting room onto the verandah. She puts her arm tenderly
around Barrie's shoulders, as Arthur did to Sylvia, but
Barrie makes no response to her. A pause, then she kisses him
on his hair, as of habit, and leaves as silently as she came.
BARRIE
(V.O., cont'd)
I took them off with all the
coolness of an old hand, then I
placed him on my knee and removed
his blouse.
This was a delightful experience,
but I think I remained wonderfully
calm until I came somewhat too
suddenly to his wee braces, which
agitated me profoundly.
(pause)
I do not think it wise to proceed
any further with the public
disrobing of David.
(pause)
Soon the night-nursery was in
darkness, but presently I heard a
brave little voice squeaking at
me ...
Barrie pauses a long moment ...
DISSOLVING INTO:
33 INT. BLACK LAKE COTTAGE - BEDROOM. 1901. NIGHT
Barrie sits on the edge of his bed, half undressed, holding
his notebook in his hand. Instead of writing, he gazes in
resigned anguish OFF CAMERA. As his thoughts continue, the
CAMERA PULLS slowly back to reveal the object of his gaze:
Mary Barrie, asleep in her own single bed.
GEORGE
(V.O., sleepily)
Is it going on now?
BARRIE (V.O.)
Is what?
GEORGE (V.O.)
The adventure.
BARRIE (V.O.)
Yes, David.
(pause )
You're not frightened, are you?
GEORGE(V.O.)
Am I not, father?
BARRIE (V.O.)
I don't know.
A pause.
GEORGE (V.O.)
I don't take up very much room.
BARRIE (V.O.)
Why David, do you want to come
into my bed?
GEORGE (V.O.)
Mother said I wasn't to want it
unless you wanted it first.
A long pause.
BARRIE
(V.O., softly)
It's what I've been wanting all the
time ...
DISSOLVE INTO:
34 BLACK LAKE. 1901. DAY
Barrie sits with Sylvia on the shore of Black Lake, reading
to her from his manuscript of "The Little White Bird" -
BARRIE
(brightly)
"It's what I've been wanting all
the time," said I, and then without
more ado David flung himself at me.
For the rest of the night he lay
next tome ..."
(to Sylvia)
Or "on me and across me"?
SYLVIA
When George sleeps with me, he
usually ends up at the bottom of
the bed with his feet on the
pillow, but Jack's much easier -
BARRIE
(interrupting) )
No, no - that's fine.
Barrie alters his manuscript -
BARRIE
(mumbling)
"Sometimes his feet were at the
bottom of the bed, and sometimes on
the pillow.".
SYLVIA
Why are you so fond of George?
BARRIE
Aren't you?
SYLVIA
Of course, but I'm his mother.
BARRIE
I never would have guessed you're
not the mothering type.
SYLVIA
I'm glad to hear it.
BARRIE
You wear your children like a
necklace ... and George is your
brightest pearl. He's so
deliciously depraved, so
delightfully heartless, just like
his mother.
George, Jack and Peter are playing on the far side of the
lake.
GEORGE
(calling)
Come on, Mr Barrie! Peter's all
tied up and ready to walk the
plank. Father doesn't want to be a
pirate, so it's got to be you!
BARRIE
(to Sylvia)
Heigh-ho.
Sylvia smiles, watching Barrie as he gets up and prepares to
do battle with the boys.
CAPTION:
CHAPTER XIII:
THE PIRATE CAPTAIN SWARTHY CAPTURES Peter.
[Music over] Captain Swarthy, alias Barrie in a pirate's
pom-pom, his face blackavized with burnt cork, creeps up on
Peter, who is sitting like a lamb ready for the slaughter
in the punt, bound and gagged, awaiting his fate with a
bemused expression.
BARRIE
(over-acting)
Ah-ha, me little beauty- I've
caught you alone at last!
Barrie prods him with a wooden sword -
BARRIE
(cont'd)
Best prime steak of boy - what more
could a crocodile want?
Suddenly George and Jack spring out from the bushes, armed
with wooden swords.
CAPTION:
CHAPTER XIV:
TIMELY ARRIVAL OF George AND Jack
George and Jack engage Barrie in a swordfight, while Sylvia
stands behind Barrie's camera mounted on its tripod, ready to
take a photograph.
The ensuing skirmish is also watched by Arthur and Mary
Barrie, who stand on the far side of the lake.
ARTHUR
(causally)
I must say if I were you I'd live
here all the time.
MARY BARRIE
Oh, if it were up to me I would.
But Jim gets restless after a few
days and can't wait to get back
to London.
ARTHUR
(watching the wordfight)
He seems quite at home to me.
MARY BARRIE
Ah, but he has the boys.
A pause. In the background, George and Jack overpower Barrie
and bring him to his knees.
ARTHUR
You don't mind, do you? I mean
about the boys?
MARY BARRIE
(a nervous laugh)
No, not really. At least they
take his mind off his
depressions. I try to help him,
but there's nothing I can do.
(beat)
I've been married to Jim seven
years now, and not once have I even
come close to finding the key to
him. And yet they seem to have
found it without even having had to
look.
(smiles)
I don't know. Perhaps I try too
hard.
Mary Hodgson approaches, wheeling Michael in his pram, and
Mary Barrie discontinues the conversation.
On the far side of the lake, George passes sentence on the
defeated Captain Swarthy.
GEORGE
(to Barrie)
Captain Swarthy, you have been
sentenced to walk the pa-lonk. The
sentence will now be...
BARRIE
(protesting)
My dear boy, I...
GEORGE
(interrupting)
Silence! The Great White Father
has, spoken.
George and Jack prod Barrie onto the plank, which has been
rigged up over the punt, then George turns round to make sure
Sylvia is ready to take the photograph -
GEORGE
Mother, have you cocked it?
SYLVIA
Oh, I'm sorry,...
Sylvia cocks the camera's shutter.
BARRIE
(to Sylvia)
Right, are we ready now? I'm not
doing this thing twice.
SYLVIA
Yes, ready.
Barrie turns on the boys, who are prodding him with their
swords.
BARRIE
(over-acting)
Back, back, you pewling spawn!
I'll show you now the road to dusty
death!
Barrie walks along the plank.
BARRIE
(dramatically)
0 fame, fame, thou glittering
bauble - farewell!
Barrie hovers on the edge of the plank, looks at the murky
water.
BARRIE
(no longer acting)
On second thoughts, I'm not even
doing it once ...
Barrie coughs apologetically, then steps off the plank and
sits in the punt.
GEORGE
Cowardy cowardy custard!
JACK
(furious)
That's not fair ... it's not
cricket!
35 EXT. BLACK LAKE - PATH. 1901. DAY
Arthur and Mary Barrie walk along the path back towards Black
Lake Cottage.
ARTHUR
Did Sylvia mention that we're
thinking of moving from London?
MARY BARRIE
(apprehensively) )
No ... Where to?
ARTHUR
Well nothing's been decided yet -
we're still in two minds about it -
but I've got my eye on a house in
Berkhamsted. It's not too far from
London, and there's a good school
for the boys.
A pause.
MARY BARRIE
This has nothing to do with Jim,
has it?
ARTHUR
Good heavens no. No, no, I've been
thinking about it for a long time,
and with the boys growing up I
think it'll be much better for
them. Taken all in all.
36 EXT. BLACK LAKE. 1901. DAY
CAPTION:
CHAPTER XV:
"AN END TO CAPTAIN SWARTHY AS
WE STRING HIM UP"
[Music over] George, Jack and Peter lynch a stuffed dummy of
Captain Swarthy from a gallows-tree overhanging the lake. The
dummy is made from one of Barrie's old suits, stuffed with
straw, and his old fishing hat.
GEORGE
Let's hope the vultures get him!
The boys celebrate the death of Captain Swarthy with Three
Cheers, endorsed by Sylvia, who stands with Barrie to one
side. Only Barrie remains silent, as if aware of the ironic
significance of his own effigy hanged before him.
DISSOLVE INTO:
Black Lake at twilight, silent, deserted, still.
FADE OUT.
38 INT. LEINSTER CORNER - BARRIE'S STUDY. 1903. DAY
A thin drizzle obscures the Kensington Gardens beyond the
window of Barrie's study.
Barrie sits alone at his desk, sorting through his morning
mail. He spots an envelope in a familiar hand and knowingly
opens it. It is from George, though the sound of his VOICE
OVER indicates that his voice has now broken.
GEORGE (V.O.)
Dear Mr Barrie,
How are you, old crock? We are
having a very jolly time, and we
wish you were here, though I've
got a shocking cold. I hope you
enjoyed yourself at BLACK LAKE
COTTAGE. Is the new motor-car
finished yet? I've put Black Lake
Cottage in capital letters
because wherever you live must be
a very capital place. You must
come down soon to Berkhamsted and
see us. Our new baby brother is
called Nicholas, but we call him
Nik-o. He is very jolly and
squeaks at Michael's canary. He
is also very fat.
Mother says I was as fat as him
when I was a baby - I don't
think! Michael has drawn you a
picture of a pirate. It is not
very like one.
Barrie pauses to look at the picture.
GEORGE (V.O.)
How is the play about Peter Pan?
Have you-finished it yet? I hope
you haven't spoilt it with any
soppy stuff about girls.
From your story-listener,
George Llewelyn Davies.
P.S. I expect a letter.
Barrie folds the letter carefully, regretful at having
finished it. He opens a drawer in his desk to add it to a
pile of similar letters, then changes his mind and reopens
the envelope.
GEORGE
(identical V.O.)
Dear Mr Barrie,
How are you, old crock? We are
having a very jolly time, and we
wish you were here...
Barrie breaks off, clutching the letter to him.
39 EXT. KENSINGTON GARDENS & SERPENTINE. 1903. DAY
Barrie wanders through Kensington Gardens with PORTHOS,
passing the familiar spots previously enjoyed in the company
of George.
BARRIE (V.O.)
My dear George,
All hail to the five! I am still
an old crock - not so bad in the
daytime, but my confounded cough
is a demon o' nights, and I
wonder you don't hear it in
Berkhamsted.
(pause)
You are so right, if I don't see
you soon, you will have outgrown
me in body as well as in mind.
Barrie sits on a bench by the Serpentine, watching some boys
sailing their stick-boats in the water.
BARRIE
(V.O., cont'd)
Sometimes when I'm walking in the
Kensington Gardens I see a vision,
and I cry Hooray! There's George!
And then Porthos barks joyously and
we run to the vision, and then it
turns out not to be George but just
another boy, and I cry like a
watercart, and Porthos hangs his
sorrowful tail.
Barrie walks with PORTHOS along the Broad Walk near the old
oak tree.
BARRIE
(V.O., cont'd)
As for the play about Peter,
methinketh it no great shakes,
but it awaits your inspection
nonetheless. I fear the odd girl
or two has crept in while I had
my back turned, but I assure you
that she will meet with a cruel
fate - unless the devil in Peter
steers my pen on a wayward
course. I shall be showing it to
Mr Frohman next month, so wish me
luck. Your humble servant,
J.M.B.
P.S. Dear George, I am very fond
of you, but don't tell anybody.
Barrie looks round for PORTHOS, who is snuffling at the
rabbit hole where George once found the Pan pipes.
BARRIE
Come on, old boy. Come on. No, you
won't find anything there.
PORTHOS pads reluctantly back to Barrie, and the two set off
for home, the CAMERA holding them in LONG SHOT as they walk
away across the Gardens.
SYLVIA (V.O.)
My dear Jimmy,
Poor darling Porthos - it's like
having lost one of the family.
George and Jack were heart-broken
at the news, but Peter and
Michael are very jealous as they
think he's gone to the Never
Never Land to live with Peter
Pan. ...
40 INT. SAVOY GRILL - FROHMAN'S CORNER. 1904. DAY
Barrie's American producer, CHARLES Frohman, sits at his
regular corner table in the Savoy Hotel's Grill Room, reading
a manuscript entitled "The Great White Father".
Frohman, known to some as "the Beaming Buddha of Broadway",
is, at 44, the most successful theatrical manager of the day.
"This Niagara of a man", wrote Barrie of him later, "was like
a force of Nature: they could have lit a city with him.
Because we were the two shyest men in the world, we got on so
well and understood each other so perfectly." This shyness,
like Barrie's, is often concealed beneath a veneer of
extroversion, and his balding head, Jewish nose, corpulent
body, and thick lips permanently astride a cigar place him in
further danger of being portrayed as a caricature of the
archetypal impresario he undoubtedly was.
While Frohman waits for Barrie, Sylvia's VOICE-OVER continues
from the previous scene -
SYLVIA
(V.O., cont'd)
All the boys are keeping their
fingers crossed for your meeting
with Mr Frohman, except for my
doodle Nico, who prefers to cross
his toes. But as Mr Frohman is such
a boy after your own heart, I'm
sure he will love the play.
Barrie comes into the Grill Room, dressed in his huge
overcoat and a muffler wound about his neck - a somewhat
incongruous spectacle in the present setting. He stands
behind Frohman a moment, reading over his shoulder, then
coughs loudly.
FROHMAN
(expansively)
Jimmy! How good to see you again
Barrie sits down, putting another manuscript on the table
beside him.
FROHMAN
(cont'd)
Sorry I haven't been able to see
you earlier, but I've had constant
meetings ever since I arrived.
How've you been keeping?
BARRIE
Oh, pretty much my usual self -
though I wish I were a lot of other
people. I've been a bit under the
weather lately with some ailment
that only sheep seem to have had
before. Mind you, I've always been
haunted by the sneaking suspicion
that I am a sheep.
The HEAD WAITER comes over.
FROHMAN
What'll you have?
BARRIE
(to the waiter)
Oh, whisky and soda please,
Edward -
(to Frohman)
"Know thyself", as Descartes used
to say.
Frohman laughs, produces a cable from his breast-pocket.
FROHMAN
Well here's a tonic that might
cheer you up. Just came in from New
York. You've broken your own
record, Jimmy: Opening week for
Crichton 18% up on Quality Street,
22% up on Little Minister.
Congratulations.
Barrie nods without enthusiasm. He points to the manuscript
Frohman has been reading.
BARRIE
Well yes, but I showed him the
script ... it had a most
unfortunate effect on him.
FROHMAN
Really? What happened?
BARRIE
(dourly)
He died. Listen, if you'll put it
on, I'll give you this other play
for nothing to cover your losses -
"Alice Sit-by-the-Fire"...
Barrie indicates the second manuscript, but Frohman
interrupts him.
FROHMAN
Jimmy, Jimmy ... if I like a play,
I'll put it on. If you like a play,
I'll put it on whether I like it or
not. But why are you so anxious to
see it produced?
Barrie shrugs.
BARRIE
I don't know, Charles. It's just
become a sort of dream child of
mine, that's all I know. I didn't
plan it, it just wrote itself.
(pause)
Oh, you don't like it, I can tell.
Frohman maintains his business-like approach a moment longer,
then presses the manuscript to his chest, patting it with
delight.
FROHMAN
(the Beaming Buddha)
Sheer madness!
(beat)
Of course we couldn't use real
children, I mean Peter will have
to be played by a girl -
BARRIE
No, no - I don't want it turned
into a pantomime.
FROHMAN
Jimmy, if I thought it was a
pantomime, I wouldn't be
interested. Don't forget, we
Americans don't understand English
pantomimes. No, they're your laws,
not ours, and the law here is that
no child under twelve can act on a
public stage after 9pm. Besides,
having a girl play
Peter might give the show an extra
little - utz?
BARRIE
(a knowing smile)
You mean 'utz' Maude Adams?
FROHMAN
(nodding)
I'm thinking Broadway, not just
London.
(pause)
Oh, there is one thing I don't
like. This title, "The Great White
Father". Can't we just call it
"Peter Pan"?
BARRIE
Yes, fine. "Peter Pan ...
(musing)
... Or the Boy Who Couldn't Grow
Up".
FROHMAN
Couldn't? Or Wouldn't?
BARRIE
(shrugging)
Don't ask me, I'm only the author.
FROHMAN
Yes, but isn't it the point that
Peter doesn't want to grow up, not
that he can't? Why that's what's so
appealing about him.
BARRIE
(smiling)
Alright, wouldn't.
Frohman crosses out "The Great White Father" and substitutes
"Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up" on the front of
the manuscript.
FROHMAN
(while writing)
And how's Mary keeping these days?
The HEAD WAITER brings Barrie's whisky.
BARRIE
(abstractly)
Oh, she jogs along -
(to waiter)
Thank you, Edward -
(to Frohman)
But she rather misses Porthos. He
was my wedding present to her.
(sighs to himself)
But heigh-ho, thus wags the
world.
(raises glass)
Well ... here's how.
Barrie and Frohman toast each other, then set down to the
business of going through the script together. The remainder
of Sylvia's letter LAPS OVER their conversation -
SYLVIA (V.O.)
George is going to his new school
next week, so you will think of
me when I have to cut his curls.
How he's longing and longing for
the moment. My Michael grows more
beautiful every day, which will
delight you, I know. He also has
appalling dreams, which will
please you even more.
(pause)
Oh Jimmy, we must surely be the
happiest family in the world!
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