Peter Pan returns to the Darling nursery while the children are asleep, partly to find his shadow (which he left there on his previous visit), but, more importantly, to find the girl who has a listening heart. While he's trying to glue his shadow back on, the girl awakens. This script excerpt picks up in the middle of their conversation.
Peter Pan, the story of the boy who never grew up, was written by Scottish author James M. Barrie, and published in 1904. In the story, Peter and Tinker Bell visit the nursery of the three Darling children—Wendy, John, and Michael—and take them on an adventure. In this excerpt, Peter Pan, having lost his shadow on a previous visit to the Darling nursery, is trying to glue his shadow back on when Wendy awakens. We pick up the dialogue in the middle of their conversation.
Ocean Grove Children’s Show - 2009
Peter Pan
(An adaptation of the story written by J. M. Barrie.)
"That’s the Way a Mother Loves”
Script Excerpt and Song
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Wendy
Boy without a shadow, I don’t know who you are,
but you’re one of the most interesting
people I’ve ever met.
Peter Pan
Thank you. I agree.
Wendy
Where are you from?
Peter Pan
A land you’ve never heard of.
Wendy
Never?
Peter Pan
Never-Never.
Wendy
Well... will you tell me then?
Peter Pan
I just did.
Wendy
When?
Peter Pan
Two answers ago.
Wendy
You said, “Never-Never.”
Peter Pan
That’s it. That’s the Land.
Wendy
Where is this Never-Never Land?
Peter Pan
Come to the window and you’ll see.
(Peter leads Wendy to the window.)
It’s way up there.
Wendy
(with wonder) In the stars?
Peter Pan
Second to the right, and then straight on till morning!
Wendy
(She looks at Peter. Her heart has been won over.)
Boy without a shadow... may I ask your name?
Peter Pan
(bowing)
I’m Peter... Peter Pan!
Wendy
It’s nice to meet you. My name is…
Peter Pan and Wendy
Wendy!
Wendy
You know my name?
Peter Pan
Yes, from your diary.
Wendy
You’ve been reading my diary?
Peter Pan
Only the first page.
Then your dog chased me out the window.
That’s how I lost my shadow.
Wendy
So you came back to get your shadow?
Peter Pan
No, actually... I came back... to find you.
Wendy
You did?
Peter Pan
Yes. Didn’t you say, “Something is calling
my heart, and my heart is listening...
but I don’t know what it is.”?
Wendy
How did you know that?
Peter Pan
Your words bounced off the stars,
and I heard them when I flew past.
Wendy
You can fly?
Peter Pan
Of course. How else do you get from
one adventure to another?
Wendy
(with longing) I don’t know anything about adventure.
I’m always here.
Peter Pan
But you have a family... and a home.
Wendy
Don’t you have a family and a home?
Peter Pan
(looking down) No. I don’t even have a shadow.
Wendy
Wait here. I have an idea.
(She gets the sewing box and returns.)
This may hurt a little, but only for a moment,
and then your shadow will be as good as new.
Peter Pan
(watching as Wendy works)
What are you doing?
Wendy
I’m sewing your shadow back on. See, it takes only a few stitches. Look, it’s already done.
Peter Pan
Sewing? Stitches? What is this?
Wendy
Didn’t your mother ever take a needle and thread,
and work with it to make clothing, or patch up a torn place?
Peter Pan
I don’t have a mother.
Wendy
Peter... you don’t have a mother?
Peter Pan
(looking down) No.
Song #5 - That’s the Way a Mother Loves
Wendy
Who picks you up when you trip and fall
Who’s right there when she hears you call
Who wipes your eyes when your tears
are slowly falling
Who wakes you up when the morning’s bright
Who tucks you in when it’s late at night
Peter Pan
I don’t know ‘cause I never had a mother
Wendy
Peter, I can’t even imagine what that’s like.
You never had anyone to care for you like that?
Peter Pan
Does a mother really do all those things?
Wendy
Yes.
Wendy
That’s what a mother does
That’s how she shows her love
That’s the way the world was meant to be
And every child in every land
Needs a gentle, loving, guiding hand
That’s the way a mother loves
Peter Pan
I admit what you say sounds convincing,
but I’ve done all right on my own.
Wendy
Oh, Peter... listen.
Wendy
Who held your hand when you learned to walk
Who still remembers the day you talked
Who read the stories you loved in early childhood
Who tied the shoes on your little feet
Who baked the cookies you love to eat
Peter Pan
I don’t know ‘cause I never had a mother
Wendy
No one read you stories? No homemade cookies?
No one tucked you into bed at night?
Peter Pan
No, Wendy... no one.
Wendy
That’s what a mother does
That’s how she shows her love
That’s the way the world was meant to be
And every child in every land
Needs a gentle, loving, guiding hand
That’s the way a mother loves
That’s the way a mother loves
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Ocean Grove Children’s Show - 2009
Peter Pan
(An adaptation of the story written by J. M. Barrie.)
Script - Copyright 2009, 2016 Stephen Mugglin
Song - Copyright 1990 Stephen Mugglin
Permission is given to make not-for-profit copies of these pages and the accompaniment tracks.
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ThatsTheWayAMotherLoves-Demo.mp3
This is the original demo track created in 1990 using synthesizers available at the time (Kawai K1m, Yamaha EMT-1, etc.) and an Akai 4-track cassette tape deck.
ThatsTheWayAMotherLoves-Track.mp3
Music Track (1990)
