PETER

(Despairingly.) Stuck again! Wendy, pull it up.
(She seems to pull shadow up wall.) -Done it! done it!
Look at it! Look! (Dances) I'm clever! Oh, the
cleverness of me! (He crows like a rooster once -
it seems to come out of him without his knowing.)

WENDY

You conceit! Of course I did nothing!

PETER

You did a little.

WENDY

A little! If I am no use I can at least withdraw.
(Bows and with dignity gets into bed and retires beneath
the blankets, head and all.)

PETER

Wendy! (He sits on end of bed and cajoles.) Wendy,
don't withdraw. I can't help crowing, Wendy, when I'm
very pleased with myself. Wendy, one girl is more use
than twenty boys.

WENDY

(Looking out gratified.) Do you really think so,
Peter?

PETER

(Stoutly.) Yes, I do.

WENDY

I think it's perfectly sweet of you - and I'll get
up again! (They sit together on side of bed, legs
dangling.) I shall give you a kiss, Peter, if you like.

PETER

Thank you. (Holds out hand.)

WENDY

(Aghast) Don't you know what a kiss is?

PETER

I shall know when you give it to me. (Not to hurt
his feelings, she gives him thimble off her finger.) (He
gravely puts it on his finger.) Now shall I give you
a kiss?

WENDY

If you please. (He gives her button off his clothes.)
Peter, I shall wear it on this chain round my neck. (She
puts it on chain. (Sorry for him) But, Peter, how
old are you?

PETER

I don't know - but quite young, Wendy. I ran away
the day I was born!

43

20.

WENDY
Ran away! Why?

PETER
(Violently agitated.) Because I heard father and mother talking about what I was to be when I became a man. I don't want ever to be a man - I want always to be a little boy and to have fun. So I ran away, and I lived a long, long time among the fairies.

WENDY
(Delirious with admiration.) Oh Peter! You know fairies! (and also to Peter)

PETER
Yes, but they are nearly all dead now. You see, Wendy, whenever a baby laughs for the first time, a fairy is born, and so there ought to be one fairy for every boy and girl?

WENDY
Ought to be? Isn't there?

PETER
(Shakes head) You see children know such a lot now. They soon don't believe in fairies, and every time a child says "I don't believe in fairies," there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead.

WENDY
Poor things!

PETER
There's only one fairy left now. (Pero, XXO.)

WENDY
Only one!

PETER
(Restless) I can't think where she has gone to.
(Calls) Tinkerbell! Tink!

WENDY
(Continuing) Peter, you don't mean to tell me that there is a fairy in this room!

PETER
She was here. You don't hear her, do you?

WENDY
No, the only sound I hear is - like a tinkle of bells.

PETER
That's Tink - that's the fairy language - I hear it too! Tink!

WENDY
It seems to come from over there! (Pointing to drawers L. down stage.)

23.

(He kisses her - pause - then TINK darts at WENDY and vanishes. WENDY jumps up screaming.)

WENDY

What is it?

WENDY

It was exactly as if somebody was pulling my hair.

PETER

That must have been Tink. I never knew her so naughty. (Bells speak.) Oh, is that it?

WENDY

What does she say?

PETER

She says she'll do that to you every time I give you a thimble.

WENDY

But why?

PETER

Why, Tink?

(Bells.)

She says "you silly ass" again.

WENDY

She's very impertinent. (Goes farther off.) Peter, why did you come to our nursery window?

PETER

To try to hear stories. I don't know any stories. None of the lost boys know any stories.

WENDY

How perfectly awful?!

PETER

Do you know why swallows build in houses? It is to listen to the stories. Oh, Wendy, your mother was telling you such a lovely story.

WENDY

Which story is it?

PETER

The prince couldn't find the lady who wore the glass slipper.

WENDY

That's Cinderella! Peter, he found her, and they were happy ever after!

PETER

(Immensely relieved.) Oh I am glad... (He is going.)

WENDY

Where are you going, Peter?

PETER

To tell the other boys.

JOHN

Out with the light. (He turns it off.) Hige - drick.

BETER

Hay! Someone's coming!

Nans doesn't want na to learn.

Atricker.)

(NAMA begins to park again. WENDY is conscience.

WENDY

Alexander, this pol is to teach na to fly.

ou floor.) I say, I am nb.

Is there? Then I shall get nb. (Finge that he is

JOHN

who is to teach na how to fly.

(Making JOHN) John, wake up. There is a pol here

WENDY

(Indifferent.) If you like.

BETER

All you teach John and Alexander to fly sjao?

(Heating.) Of course it's awfully fascinating.

WENDY

in at night. And you could earn our clothes.

Jack na in at night; not one of na has ever been tripped
Oh, Wendy, how we should all _respect_ you. You must go

BETER

Go away with you.

How lovely to fly! But though I learn, wing, I won't
Wendy, I'll teach you.

WENDY

BETER

Wendy, I'll teach you.

fly.

Oh, dear, I can't. Think of mummy. Beiges I can't

WENDY

BETER

Wendy, come with me and tell them.

WENDY

The stories I could tell to the pols!

(His hands begin to claw her.)

BETER

(Breathless) Do you!

WENDY

Don't go, Peter, I know all lots and lots of stories.

M.W.

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

THE
JAMES M. BARRIE COLLECTION
OF
WALTER BEINECKE, JR.