Tempting Crimson Fruit of Neverland
Towards eternal night without waking…
Cast
Wendy: Koyomi Senju
Peter Pan: Ramona Wolf
Act I
A series of child disappearances strikes London suburbs.
A girl named Wendy is looking for her two younger brothers who also have suddenly gone missing. Wendy feels cornered, being blamed by her strict parents for failing to keep an eye on her siblings. Desperately she continues her search, yet they are nowhere to be found.
Just as Wendy is about to lose hope, a strange visitor appears. In the middle of the night he suddenly enters Wendy’s room, nonchalantly introducing himself as Peter Pan and inviting Wendy to Neverland where, according to him, her brothers now live.
“…Okay, please, take me to Neverland with you.”
Thus, Wendy heads towards Neverland to bring her brothers back, even though she senses a tinge of danger in Peter Pan’s unfathomable behavior.
Act II
As Wendy arrives to Neverland, she discovers it to be a mysterious world with no adults where only children live. She finds that strange, but is happy to be reunited with her brothers.
“I’m so glad you’re okay! You made me worry so much! Let’s return to London together?”
Wendy tries to persuade the boys, but they refuse to go back and start crying. To them the world only for children is much more fun than the one where they have to live with their strict parents.
Peter Pan gently offers Wendy, who is at a loss, to stay at his home until her brothers calm down. Despite being the cause of disappearances, he takes care of the children and protects them from beasts and pirates running rampant in Neverland.
Wendy reluctantly accepts his offer, but soon learns of a cruel rule…
Act III
Wendy slowly gets accustomed to her new life in Neverland and becomes a mother figure for the children.
One day, when she feels that living here without her parents isn’t all that bad, she sees Peter Pan taking a child to a cabin on the outskirts of the forest. She follows them out of curiosity and witnesses a terrifying scene of Peter Pan “liquidating” the child.
Realizing that the reason there are no adults in Neverland is that Peter Pan erases children who have grown too old, Wendy once again tries to persuade her brothers to flee. However, they don’t believe her and refuse to leave.
Dismayed, Wendy confronts Peter Pan and fearfully asks him why he killed that child.
“Letting him live would have been a violation of the rule. If adults were to appear here, they would ruin this world.”
But Peter Pan continues. He smiles eerily and offers Wendy a red fruit. If a person eats this fruit, they won’t be able to ever leave Neverland, but they will also stop aging, so there will be no need for them to die.
“You are my favorite, so I want to offer you something special.”
But Wendy pushes his hand away.
That night, she leaves Peter Pan’s home to return to London, forcibly taking her brothers with her. As she follows the path she vaguely remembers from the time Peter Pan led her to Neverland, a pursuer comes after her…
Act IV
The one chasing Wendy and her brothers is none other than Peter Pan himself. He looks at her sadly, as she hides the boys who don’t understand what’s going on behind her back trying to protect them.
Peter Pan says he likes Wendy and doesn’t want her to leave, so he’ll offer her the red fruit again. He won’t allow them to escape, but if Wendy stays, he’ll take her brothers safely back to London.
With a heavy heart, Wendy agrees and takes the fruit.
“I will eat this fruit and stay with you if I have to.”
Later, the two Darling boys are found alive in London. Their parents overcome with grief after the children disappeared cry with joy seeing the boys being home again. However, their older sister Wendy is nowhere to be seen. As the parents ask them of Wendy’s whereabouts, the two point at the sky.
“Big sis is in Neverland…”
Aftertalk
Ramona Wolf:
“Peter Pan is so scary in this play…”
Koyomi Senju:
“Ah, that’s a famous urban legend. He was simply trying to protect his utopia. No being is as pure and innocent as a child.”
Ramona Wolf:
“So, because of his purity he abides by a twisted rule and ends up toying with people’s lives?”
Koyomi Senju:
“As I’m aware, both of your parents served in the military, so you must be familiar with the importance of discipline.”
Ramona Wolf:
“Yeah. However, I think it’s also necessary not to have a blind faith in the rules and duties that have been imposed on you and sometimes pay attention to your surroundings as well as reflect on your actions.”
Koyomi Senju:
“…”
Ramona Wolf:
“You haven’t been feeling well since morning, am I right? That didn’t escape my Sense. You shouldn’t push yourself too hard. Maybe, skip today’s rehearsal?”
Koyomi Senju:
“I’m afraid, I have no idea what you are talking about. Now, please, excuse me.”
Ramona Wolf:
“…And she’s gone. Guess, being an older sister means having a lot on your plate.”