Come Away 2020

In the soft glow of the evening, a mother’s calming voice resonates as she reads aloud the poignant lines of William Butler Yeats’ “The Stolen Child” to her three children—two lively boys and a gentle girl. The enchanting narrative revolves around David, Peter, and Alice, who live with their parents, Jack and Rose Littleton, in a quaint home nestled near a lush forest just outside London. As the children’s imaginations flourish, they find solace in the woodland realm, where Alice exhibits a unique maturity that contrasts with Peter’s spirited nature as he immerses himself in various roles, darting through the trees like a wild boy.

The Littleton family is blessed with a clever and talented son, David. Eleanor, Rose’s sister, recognizes his remarkable intellect and offers to support his educational pursuits. Together, they explore the forest, unearthing an eagle feather and a stranded boat, igniting their curiosity about the possibilities of repair.

Their idyllic life is shattered when David, caught in a whirlwind of imagination while pretending to engage in a sword fight against pirates during a violent storm, falls into the river and is tragically struck by lightning. The family’s dynamic shifts as they cope with their overwhelming grief in various ways. Jack, a skilled model maker, spirals back into his compulsive gambling habits, while Rose becomes fixated on creating a green felt hat for David’s upcoming birthday, a purpose that proves elusive amid the mounting turmoil of a rejected boat model Jack crafted.

Meanwhile, Eleanor redirects her attention towards Alice, determined to mold her into the epitome of a refined lady, hoping this will elevate their family’s social standing given her mixed heritage. In search of financial stability, Peter and Alice venture into London to sell their family heirloom—a silver pocket watch. Their journey leads them to cross paths with a group of scrappy street urchins who have encountered an intimidating criminal in the bustling cityscape.

As fate unfolds, the siblings meet an eccentric shopkeeper named Hatter, who assists them in locating a moneylender and a low-tier crime boss, Captain James, also known as CJ. Unbeknownst to Peter and Alice, CJ is their long-lost uncle. Later, Peter encounters the scrappy street urchins again, only to discover they are part of the notorious Lost Boys. They share thrilling tales about a magical place known only to children: Neverland. The enchanting pull of this otherworldly realm becomes irresistible for Peter, leading him to accept an invitation to join the Lost Boys on their fantastical escapades.

In parallel, Jack’s mounting debt catches up to him, leading him to seek out his estranged brother to settle his financial woes. However, CJ’s loyalty to his criminal associates comes into question, resulting in a horrifying act of vengeance against Jack, leaving him with a vivid reminder of his financial struggles—a severed hand.

As Peter grows increasingly resentful of James’s wealth, he hatches a daring plan to infiltrate the underground crime scene of London, seeking the fabled Lost Boys. With intentions of stealing the gold coins James safeguards for various nefarious factions, Peter aims to finance his adventures. However, when James confronts him during the heist, a fierce duel ensues, culminating in Peter severing James’s hand and narrowly escaping with James and his band in hot pursuit. The incident forces Peter to abandon his previous identity and don the green attire of his deceased brother, complete with the distinctive eagle feather hat.

As Peter flees, Alice becomes entangled in his world once more, catching sight of him sailing away on an enigmatic vessel manned by the Lost Boys. This time, their destination is Neverland, with the ship magically lifting off the ground, aided by a playful fairy. Although Peter briefly returns to drop off some of his stolen goods to help support his family, he soon vanishes into the night.

Years later, Alice recounts her own adventures to her children, Wendy and her brothers John and Michael. As her story unfolds, it is evident that she has blossomed into an independent woman, long separated from her husband, George Darling. Upon returning home from an outing, she is taken aback to find the bedroom windows wide open, with an eagle feather lying just beneath. Her thoughts drift back to her brothers and their childhood mimicry of the birds they adored. Gazing up at the starlit sky, she dares to hope that it might be one of them, come to whisk her niece and nephews away to the enchanting land of Neverland, where they would surely be embraced by Peter himself.