GROUP I
INT. THE STUDY - NIGHT - CONT.
CHARLES KINGSLEY has just described his new venture to his friends,
including LORD ASCOT.
LORD
ASCOT
Charles,
you have finally lost your
senses.
A
COLLEAGUE
This
venture is impossible.
CHARLES
KINGSLEY
For
some. Gentlemen, the only way to
achieve
the impossible is to believe
it
is possible.
A
COLLEAGUE
That
kind of thinking could ruin you.
CHARLES
KINGSLEY
I’m
willing to take that chance.
Imagine
trading posts in Rangoon,
Bangkok,
Jakarta...
He stops. His nine year-old daughter ALICE stands at the
door in her nightgown, clearly frightened. He goes to her.
CHARLES
KINGSLEY
The
nightmare again?
She nods. He takes her hand and turns to his guests.
CHARLES
KINGSLEY
I
won’t be long.
GROUP II
INT. YOUNG ALICE’S BEDROOM - LATER
He sits on her bed, listening with utmost seriousness.
ALICE
I’m
falling down a dark hole, then I
see
strange creatures...
CHARLES
KINGSLEY
What
kind of creatures?
ALICE
Well,
there’s a dodo bird, a rabbit in
a
waistcoat, a smiling cat...
CHARLES
KINGSLEY
I
didn’t know cats could smile.
ALICE
Neither
did I. Oh, and there’s a blue
caterpillar.
CHARLES
KINGSLEY
Blue
caterpillar. Hmm.
ALICE
Do
you think I’ve gone round the bend?
He feels her forehead as if for a fever.
CHARLES
KINGSLEY
I’m
afraid so. You’re mad. Bonkers.
Off
your head. But I’ll tell you a
secret...all
the best people are.
She smiles and leans against him.
CHARLES
KINGSLEY
It’s
only a dream, Alice. Nothing can
harm
you there. But if you get too
frightened,
you can always wake up.
Like
this.
He
pinches her. She screams and pinches him back.