The Wendy grew up speech

In Neverland Charley gives a fantastic speech about why she needs to go back and face the Time Lords. It’s known as the Wendy Grew Up speech. Transcribed below.

C=Charley, D=Doctor. Probably obvious, but just in case.

C: This is about me isn’t it? The break in the Web of Time caused by me surviving the crash of the R101. It’s nothing to do with the Nimon or the Daleks. It’s me and you know it.

D: I don’t know it Charley, but I’m very much afraid that that’s what the Time Lords might think.

C: You think they’ll put me back on the R101 don’t you?

D: I think that they might think that that was simplest option yes. But I won’t allow that to happen. I need to go to the Time Lords, talk to them, explain. I won’t let anyone hurt you Charley. Whatever it takes. Whatever the cost.

C: Happy Birthday he says. Happy Birthday Charley. Only it isn’t my birthday is it? It isn’t my birthday because I’m not supposed to have anymore birthdays. No more cake, no more candles, no more presents. Not now not ever. No more birthdays since–

D: Charley

C: Since I died. That’s right isn’t it Doctor? No more birthdays because I’m supposed to be dead. Dead and burned in the wreck of an airship. Born on the day the Titanic sank, died on the R101. Poor tragic little Charlotte Pollard. Her life snuffed out before it had even begun. That’s how it is isn’t it Doctor? And now you want to hide me away at some knees up at the end of the universe well you go and risk god knows what at the hands of the Time Lords on my behalf. Why’s that Doctor? Why? It’s not your problem. It’s me who wanted to see the world. It was me who stowed away on the R101. It was my choice Doctor. My own stupid fault. Should’ve stayed at home that day, but I didn’t and that’s that.

D: But-but what if it isn’t? What if it doesn’t have to be like that?

C: But it is like that. Oh you. You know who you remind me of? You’re Peter Pan. The little boy who never grew up. Who lived in Never Never Land and fought with pirates and pixes. Nana used to read me Peter Pan. I wanted to be Wendy. And now I am. Wendy Darling having adventures in fairy land with the boy who never grew old. But you see Wendy grew up in the end, that’s what so sad. And poor Peter, poor little Peter left all on his own.

D: He didn’t forget, Charley. He’d-he’d never forget. And he never left Wendy to face the crocodiles alone.

C: Your so sweet, so kind so caring. You’re too good to be true, like a dream. And all this is just a dream. These adventures had, these scrapes and japes in Neverland. With monsters and ray guns and magic. Oh they’ve been wonderful, better than my wildest dreams. But you can’t hide in dreams. Everyone wakes up in the end. It’s time to stop dreaming Doctor, time to grow up.

D: Charley I don’t know what. I-I-I won’t give up Charley. Not now, not after all this time. Please Charley, let me help you. Let me face this for you. Whatever it takes I’ll put it right and-

C: Doctor remember this switch? The one marked fast return. The one I used to get us out of the Nimon problem. If I remember your description correctly it sends the TARDIS back to it’s last spacio-tempral location.

D: Charley will you please just listen? Fast return? Don’t touch that. Charley no!

C: Sorry Doctor. It was my choice to get on board that airship. It’s been a fantastic ride, but now it’s time to get off. There is no alternative.

D: No! Can’t stop it! We’re going back!

C: (voice gradually slowing down) Back into the path of the time torpedoes. I’m gonna meet the Time Lords. Can’t wait to see Gallifrey.

D: (faint)NO.

Neverland

How much do I love this audio? I love it so much that I can’t even describe it. This is really the audio that made me sit up and go I LOVE CHARLEY!!!ELEVEN!!! in my head. Yes, there were capslock.

She just has these two amazing speeches, one at the beginning and one at the end. And they’re both about doing the right thing, even if the right thing isn’t what you necessarily personally want and will lead to her death.

The first one where she makes the decision to go back and face the Time Lords is just brilliant. I love that she calls the Doctor Peter Pan and refers to herself as Wendy. And how Wendy eventually had to leave Neverland and go back to the real world and grow up and leave Peter Pan behind. She knew she wasn’t supposed to be alive and that her being alive was causing problems to time and so she went back to face the Time Lords and accept her fate. Because she had all those months of life that she wasn’t supposed to have and they were wonderful but it was time to grow up and accept the consequences of what happened on the R101.

The second one is at the end when the NeverPeople are going to use her to get back to Gallifrey and destroy the Eye of Harmony and the Web of Time. She’s begging the Doctor to kill her because the thought of those things being destroyed is worse then her dying and if she died then they wouldn’t be destroyed. If she hadn’t been tied to that chair she would have done it herself. And her horror when the Doctor doesn’t kill her, because everything will cease to exist in any meaningful way. No past, no future.

And there are clearly other things I like about this audio, but I’m a bit stuckbatshit about Charley. And December will be here soon and The Girl Who Never Was will be release and she will be GONE! Gone! And the title of the audio just doesn’t make me in anyway happy about her exit. Hopefully it’s not as horrible as it sounds. Cause the matrix fixed the paradox of her existence so I’m really hoping that they write her out good. Give her a beautiful exit and don’t make me cry.

And and umm…CHARLEY!

Yeah, that was really just a bunch of squee about Charley. One day I will be able to write up stuff about Neverland without squeeing. Today is not that day.