Scene 8 - Grotto Flashcards
(Perched on a rocky ledge above the water, a grand dame of a mermaid looks down at Peter.)
Teacher -
Well, well…nice of you to drop in. I’m Teacher - that’s what I’m called. And yes, I speak English. I know your name is Peter. I know a lot of things.
Peter -
Where am I?
Teacher -
In a hurry.
Peter -
That’s right…I was running away from -
Teacher -
The Mollusk natives.
Peter -
They’re trying to kill us! And we just wanna get home!
Teacher -
Yeah, life is complicated.
Peter -
I was gonna build a raft to get to the Wasp, but Molly’s father is -
Teacher -
You don’t need a raft to get home, and you don’t need the Wasp. All you need is starstuff.
Peter -
How’d you know about - ?
Teacher -
Listen to Teacher. When you rode the trunk to this island, seawater seeped inside. Then the starstuff in the trunk enchanted the water. Then the water enchanted the fish in the wake of the trunk. Then the waves -
Peter -
But how’d you know about - ?
Teacher -
I’m not finished. Then the waves washed the water right into this grotto, where I was swimmin’.
Peter -
So you used to be a fish?
Teacher -
Scotch salmon. This is way cooler, FYI. The starstuff’ll change you, too. It makes you what you want to be.
Peter -
But I just wanna be a boy for a while. Couldn’t I just be a boy?
Teacher -
Well, I suppose…once you sit in the starstuff -
Peter -
Yeah, then what?
Teacher -
Sky’s the limit. You could even fly yourself home maybe, just like you dreamed.
Peter -
And find a family.
Teacher -
In which case, you’re going to need something. A name.
Peter -
Instead of Peter?
Teacher -
In addition to. A family name. (calling to the grotto) And we’ve come up with a good one, haven’t we?
Narrator Alf -
And in the grotto, or in the water, or both - an acho, or a voice or both, seemed to answer:
Narrators -
PAN.
Teacher -
What are you, boy?
Peter -
I’m Peter.
Narrators -
PAN.
Peter -
Pan? You mean like in the kitchen?
Teacher -
You are just too cute. I mean two things, actually. First is fun and frolic - anarchy, mischief, all of the things a boy likes to -
Peter -
Fun! Okay! I’m Peter Pan.
Teacher -
There. You’re changing already.