Alice's Return to Wonderland

Scene I: A Rude Awakenimg

SCENE I: A RUDE AWAKENING

(Our story begins with a young boy, THOMAS aged 11 sitting at his desk, writing a letter to his parents far away. There is a knock at the door, it is his aunt, and ALICE'S mother, MARTHA.)

THOMAS:
Come in.

MARTHA:
Thomas, have you seen your cousin, Alice?

THOMAS:
Why no, Aunt Martha, I haven't.

MARTHA:
Where do you suppose that girl could be? Have you finished your schoolwork?

THOMAS:
Yes, Aunt Martha.

MARTHA:
And your chores?

THOMAS:
They are done.

MARTHA:
Good. Help me look for Alice, will you?

THOMAS:
Yes Aunt Martha.

MARTHA:
I tell you, I cannot turn my back, without her running off. Check the riverbank. You know as well as I do, she spends her time there, nose pressed into those books of hers.

(We jump over to the riverbank. As MARTHA said, we find ALICE, leaning against a tree, a book in her lap. Her Cat DINAH is curled up in a ball next to her, purring while ALICE strokes her gently.)

ALICE:
Oh Dinah, it's truly days like these, that make life a bit more beautiful. The day is warm and bright, and it's the perfect day to go on an adventure, just anywhere in the world. Well our world I should say. We won't mention that bizarre place.
(DINAH meows in agreement.)

ALICE:
Of course, it was rather interesting, if I do say so myself. It was definitely a change from the normal, every day life here.

(DINAH puts her paw over her face, knowing that she is about to hear the same story all over again, for the hundredth time.)

ALICE:
I think the person I miss most of all, is the Mad Hatter. He's so misunderstood, much like myself. No one understands, Dinah. In fact, nowadays if you were to speak your mind, most would consider you to be mad! Then of course there was the Cheshire Cat. But I can't say I miss him too much, you're the only cat I'll ever need.
(DINAH jumps around with joy in ALICE'S lap, making ALICE giggle.)

ALICE:
You know, Dinah? There are some days that I dare say I would rather live there, then I would here. Just to have a change of pace. But then again, one cannot dabble in dreams because if they did, they would lose touch with reality! Oh listen to me! Giving myself good advice again. Perhaps I'll learn one day. (She begins to sing)

I dreamt of a place of total nonsense
Another world that's beyond
Any sort of comments
In a world all of my own

The Mad Hatter can riddle on for hours
And I've never met any
More disrespectful flowers
In the world all of my own

Tweedledum and Tweedledee
Were certainly not the best of company
In the place where White Rabbits run free
In a world all of my own

The Queen is so obscene
If you'd only been there
You would know
Exactly what I mean

She dresses in red
But her heart is black as can be
It's off with your head
If you paint her Roses believe you me

(ALICE fades off to sleep. She wakes up in alone in a field, away from the river bank, and away from DINAH.)

ALICE:
Oh! I must have dozed off! I wonder how long I've been asleep? Where am I? Where's Dinah? Dinah! Why, this all looks oddly familiar. (She finds a poster with her name and a hand drawn portrait of herself posted on it.) What's this now? Why, that's me! Wanted for treason by her Majesty the Queen? (Silently) The Queen. Oh, no! Not again!