Epilogue

(about 2 years later)

The same old house, the same setting. A shadow of a leaves-clad boyish figure is lingering around the window, accompanied by a small light. Both of them are staring (unseen) at our old merry company, who are , as usual, at the table in the Stuarts' sitting- room.

Wendy: How nice of you to keep company to old friends!

Alice (smiling): Not too old, I hope! One should always remain young at heart!

Hatter (grinning): Yes indeed, just like me!

James (in a courteous manner): Mistress Alice, you, like my Wendy, is the one to remain always young! (Alice and Wendy chuckle)

Wendy: Who would like another hot cup of tea? Alice, Tarrant? (smiling at the Hatter)

Hatter : I say, Mother Wendy! Who cares whether the cup is hot or not? It's only the tea that matters! (Taking the teapot from her)

Alice (disapprovingly) : Tarrant! Shame on you! Among old friends, it's sympathy that matters most of all!

Hatter (with a full mouth, taking the last tart from under Hook's nose) : Of course, I forgot, my dears! Tea AND sympathy! (continues to chew)

James (annoyed): Really , Hightopp, I never expected anything better of you! As if you couldn't just have your precious tea at your own abode! If you had but the smallest notion of Good form…

Wendy (with reproach):James! You don't really mean it, do you?

Hatter (with a smirk):No, of course he doesn't, Mother Wendy, don't scold him! Jimmy in fact likes me very much, but deep in the interior of his heart (James snorts)…very deep, for sure! Besides, if we just stayed at home having each his or her own tea, how dull life would be! (Wants to take a sweet, but finds t it gone, as Hook has just taken it from the plate, and now is looking from across the table with a wicked, victorious smirk) .Very dull AND predictable, indeed!

(A sudden loud sound from the parlor, as if something was broken)

Wendy: Uh-oh, perhaps Not very predictable…Who can that be?

James: Brimstone and gall! (The old couple of turtles show up) Hide away, you old foolish reptiles, lest the newcomers tread upon you! (To the others) I cannot imagine who can make such a dramatic entrance, except for…(changing face expression and voice, as he sees mme Mina float into the room)…Madame Mina! (kisses her hand)

Mina : Good-evening, my dears!

Wendy and Alice: How do you do , Madam Mina!

Hatter: Why, hello, Excellency! Have you come by yourself?

Mina: How do you do, dear girls!Of course not, dear Tarrant! I never walk alone now, especially to parties!

Wendy: How nice of you to….Oh, Mr. Stayne, watch your…..(Stayne hits his head at the doorway for the second time)….head!

Stayne (confused, testing his head for bumps): Easier said than done, Mistress Wendy! (Bows to the hostess) Have you ever tried to watch your head? It is no less complicated than to try to bite your own teeth, you know!

(Comes up to the table and nods a bit stiffly to the other people, than sits down next to his wife)

James: (to Hatter) One may think we were rich enough to adjust our doors to every guest's size!

Hatter (in a matter-of-fact whisper): Let's go on eating and drinking as if nothing has happened, Jimmy! After all, he is a newcomer here, not we! (Takes another sweet)

James: (with a frown, glancingat Stayne taking the first tart from a fresh plate):Another dessert-loving villain in my house! As if there was a lack of them at this table!

Hatter: One might think, Jim, that you have cooked those tarts yourself!

James (Proudly) : And what if I have?

Hatter: I'd rather die from hunger than eat them, then!

James (snorts): Do as you wish , Hightopp! Only don't expect me to mourn you , should it be the case!

Hatter (grinning): Oh, but you would wear mourning for your old friend, Jimmy!

James: No, I wouldn't

Hatter: Yes, you would!

James: NO, I wouldn't!

Hatter: YES, you would

(Having both received warning glances from their wives, continue arguing in a lower tone)

Alice (to Stayne, who is now busy eating, in an open, friendly manner): Hello, Ilosovic!

Stayne (somewhat embarrassed): Hello, Champion!

Alice (in the same manner): I see you have regained your muchness at last?

Stayne (a little uneasy): It's up to you to judge, Alice.

Alice (with merry mischief): And while Madam Mina cannot be called a large person…(looks at Mina, who is talking with enthusiasm to the Stuarts)

Stayne: (with emotion, looking in the same direction)…it's evident that muchness has nothing to do with largness or smallness! Yes, I have finally understood this!

Alice: Well, I am glad for both of you, then! (Stayne sends her a grateful glance)

Hatter: (to Mina): Well, Excellency , perhaps, after all, that overgrown brat whom you married is starting to lose his knavery!

Mina : I believe he has almost lost it, Tarrant. Don't be too hard on him. For my sake, if not for his!

Hatter (nonchalantly): Okay, okay, Excellency! As if I could deny anything a lady who makes such delicious cakes! (points to the chocolate cake that the Staynes have brought for tea)I take it you are now spending more time in the kitchen than in your study, eh, Madam?

Mina (smiling): You are right as always, Tarrant!But I by no means regret it! I have spent too many years in my study so far! Besides, to learn to cook cakes was quite a challenge – and you all do know how I love challenges!

Stayne ( in a concerned manner): Yes, my lady, how can we ever forget! (kisses her hand)

Wendy (chuckles): Yes, Madam Mina, and another of those challenges, who is now living next door, is sure to never forget it either!

(At the other end of the stage the light is up, and we see Mary Anne and Tom. The former has grown more woman-like, and is wearing a nice home dress. The latter , a hat and portfolio in hands, is going to leave.)

Marianne: Cheri, don't be too late, if you can help it!

Tom: Stuart,do you really believe I have taken these evening courses just to annoy you? Or perhaps you think I am going to sit for a couple of lectures just for fun, because I've nothing else to do after a day's work?

Marianne: (in a soft voice): Thomas, you must have really been overworking lately, or else you wouldn't forgot that my last name is Riddle. I changed it six months ago, n'est-ce pas?

Tom (calming down): No, May, I have forgotten nothing. But we do need a house of our own, don't we? Besides, (dreamily), I am determined to get into the government one day…and if I don't become a Prime minister in about ten , or at most fifteen years…

Marianne: (chortles):…then you take my place at the kitchen! Okay, go now, my lord, or you'll be late for your classes!

Tom (smirks): No way, Mrs. Riddle! Knowledge is power! Until soon, wife! (kisses her, then goes out)

Marianne (giggling): Au revoir, monseigneur ! (Goes back indoors)

Back in the Stuarts' sitting-room, Hook is discussing the aforesaid couple with Mina, rather put out

James:….and, you see,they have done it allbehind my back!

Hatter (getting back into the dialogue): Would you prefer them to do it in front of your back, Jimmy?

(Hook is at loss for words, nearly choking at his tea)

Wendy: And now let us sing anything together! (Starts singing)

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are….

Everyone (joining her): Up and high above the world so high

Like a dimond in the sky

The boyinsh shadow at the window flinches, eager to fly away

Boy: Come on, Tink, let's go back! (The tiny light at his side is jingling, as if wishes to contradict)

If these crazy old folks are their grandparents, we have nothing to do in the nursery upstairs!

(They both fly away into the night)

Our merry old company continues the song:

..And your bright and tiny spark

Lights the traveller in the dark

Though I know not what you are,

Twinkle, twinkle, little star!

Finis

(Curtain call)