CREDITS - Establishing shots of Christmas in London in December, 1958 SCENE 0.1: Graveyard [Susan and her five-year-old daughter Jenny are standing in a snowy graveyard. Pictures of the graves of Edmond, Peter, mother, and father. Then pictures of Susan Wolsey nee Pevensie visiting the graves with her 5-year-old daughter Jenny.] SCENE 0.2: Flashback to December 24, 1947 in the Pevensie parlor [Susan and Lucy are seated on the couch in front of a cozy fire.] Lucy: Thanks for staying home with us tonight, Susan. It wouldn't be Christmas Eve without you. Susan: Of course, Lucy. It's good to spend some time with my favorite sister. Lucy: [Giggles] Your only sister! Remember how excited we used to be on Christmas Eve, and how we would want to stay up and wait for Father Christmas. Susan: You could never stay up past ten. And when you were fast asleep, dad would carry you up to your bed in our room, and he would make me go to bed as well. Lucy: Sorry I shattered all your hopes and dreams. I hope I didn't scar you for life. Susan: I got over it. Lucy: I'm glad. [pause] Lucy: We are lucky that we did get to see the real Father Christmas in Narnia, aren't we? [Flashback to the Father Christmas scene from LWW.] Susan: Really, Lucy. Do you still believe in all that nonsense? Why don't you grow up? Lucy: It's not nonsense. I was there. So were you. You know it happened. Susan: It was a fun game we used to play, and I enjoyed it then. But I've grown up... whereas you just have to talk about Narnia all of the time, and I'm sick of it. [Susan gets up] Susan: I'm going to bed now. Lucy: Wait... I'm sorry. I really am. [She grabs Susan's hand.] [Close-up of Lucy clutching Susan's hand.] [Scene transitions to] SCENE 0.3: Graveyard [Jenny tugs on her mother's hand.] Jenny: [Trying to get her mother's attention] Mummy, Mummy... I'm cold. Can we go home? [Susan has been brought back to the present. They are standing beside the grave of Lucy.] Susan: Yes, let's go. [They leave.] SCENE 1: Jenny's bedroom [Five-year-old Jenny Wolsey looks thoughtful as her mother tucks her in to bed.] Jenny: Mummy, is Father Christmas going to come and give us presents? Susan: [Surprised] Who told you about Father Christmas? Jenny: Mandy. Susan: Mandy? You mean the Mandy who lives next door? I thought she was away at school. Jenny: She's on Holiday. I saw her in the back common. Susan: What did she tell you? Jenny: She said that if I'm a good girl, then Father Christmas will come in his sledge and bring me a present. Susan: Don't count on it. Sledges only work in the snow. No one would be able to come in a sledge if it doesn't snow. Jenny: But Mandy said that reindeer make the sledge fly in the sky. Susan: Have you ever seen reindeer that can fly? Jenny: No. I haven't seen any reindeer at all. I don't even know what a reindeer is. Susan: Well, it's too late to talk about that tonight honey. Ask me tomorrow. SCENE 2.1: The Wolsey kitchen [Susan is cooking breakfast. Jenny walks into the scene in pajamas.] Jenny: Mummy, will you tell me about reindeer now? Susan: They are like deer, only a little different. They are bigger. Maybe furrier... I know. How would you like to go to the zoo and see for yourself? Jenny: [Jumping up and down] Yay! Susan: That's settled then. We'll go after lunch. SCENE 2.2: Bus trip [Susan and Jenny board the bus. After a short ride, they arrive at Tilson Park Zoo.] SCENE 2.3: Reindeer Exhibit [Susan and Jenny approach the reindeer exhibit. Jenny is a bit intimidated by the size of the reindeer, and hangs back behind her mother a little.] Susan: They're pretty big, aren't they. Jenny: Yes. Susan: And they look to be quite heavy. I bet it would be pretty hard to lift one of them into the air. Do they have wings like a bird? [awkward pause] Susan: They don't, do they. Jenny: No. Susan: Then I don't think they can fly. And if reindeer can't fly, do you think that what Mandy told you about Father Christmas is true? Jenny: [with an uncertain voice] No? [She raises her voice at the end, questioning her own answer.] Susan: That's very sensible. Father Christmas and flying reindeer aren't real, so we'll have no more talk about them, will we. Now, let's go see more of the animals. SCENE 2.4: White Stag Exhibit [Susan and Jenny walk up to a pen with sign telling us it is a "White Stag". They stop to see a magnificent specimen with a shaggy white coat and a large rack of antlers.] Susan: Take a look at this, Jenny. Jenny: What is it? Susan: It's a stag. A daddy deer. Only it's white. Jenny: Oh. I've never seen a white deer before. Susan: White deer are very rare. Jenny: Have you ever seen one before? Susan: I thought I did once, but that was a long time ago. [The stag freezes, looking right at Susan. Camera zooms into his eyeball, with Susan's image reflected in it. The background morphs into the Narnian woods. The camera zooms back out into a flashback of Susan hunting the stag at the end of LWW.] Then we transition back to reality, and the stag turns his attention back to a bale of hay.] Jenny: Why did he look at us like that? Susan: I don't know, but let's move on. SCENE 2.4: Zookeeper [Susan spots a zookeeper, and stops to ask a question] Susan: Mr. Zookeeper. Excuse me sir. Zookeeper: Yes? Susan: Can you tell me the story about the white stag. Where did he come from? Zookeeper: The white stag? Funny story 'bout that one. Came from the countryside almost 10 years ago. Blamed if I know how a, beast like that could a' gotten there. That species ain't native to English soil. They found it in a fine old house; an' I don't mean at the house. I mean in it. It was wand'rin' the halls on the second floor, believe it or not. They called critter control who took it away an' brung it to us, an' its been here ever since. SCENE 3.1: Christmas Morning in the Wolsey parlor - December 25, 1958 [Jenny opens presents. The doorbell rings. Susan opens the door, and finds it is Mandy. She has a wrapped package in her hand.] Susan: Come in. Mandy: This is for Jenny. Susan: Jenny, Mandy is here to see you. [Jenny comes running.] Mandy: This is for you from Father Christmas. Jenny: Oh! I knew he would come. [Jenny tears open the paper to reveal a nice hardback picture book.] Susan: Jenny, What do you say? Jenny: Thank you to Father Christmas. [Laughter] Mandy: Well, I'd better be going. [She exits. Susan follows her out the door.] SCENE 3.2: The street in front of the Wolsey house Susan: That was very sweet. Who do we thank for the book? Was it from you, or your mother? Mandy: Neither of us. We all wondered why a present with Jenny's name on it was left under our tree, but I noticed you didn't have any stockings up. Father Christmas doesn't visit your house, does he. Susan: No, he doesn't. All of Jenny's presents came from Mummy and Daddy. Mandy: All but one! Well, Merry Christmas... [Susan stares after her, dumbfounded that she still believes in Father Christmas. Finally, she walks back inside.] SCENE 3.3: The Wolsey parlor [Jenny is sitting on the couch, looking through her new book.] Jenny: Read it to me. Read it to me. Susan: Alright. [Susan settles into the couch beside Jenny and begins to read.] Susan: "A is for Aardvark. An aardvark eats ants. Wouldn't it be funny if aunts ate ants?" [In a few minutes, Susan came to the letter L.] Susan: "L is for Lion. The lion is king of all the beasts. This lion is not tame, but don't worry. He is very good." [Susan stops short. The lion in the page morphs into a flashback of her on the back of Aslan with Lucy]. Jenny: Mummy? Why did you stop? Susan: [Regaining her composure] Oh, I was just remembering. I used to pretend that I played with a lion just like that. [Susan reads again, and arrives at the letter S.] Susan: S is for Stag. Stags are noble beasts. This one is white, which is very rare. He is hard to catch." [Susan's voice trails off at this point. The faun illustration on the next page morphs to a flashback of Mr. Tumnus informing them that the white stag has been seen in these parts. Susan does not read the page.] Jenny: Read it Mummy. Susan: Oh, it's nothing. Just a silly little faun carrying parcels. [Susan shuts the book.] Susan: That's all we have time for now, dear. I need to get lunch on the table. SCENE 3.4 The Wolsey kitchen [Susan's husband Roger follows her into the kitchen. She is standing at the sink and staring out the window, as if lost in thought.] Roger: Is everything alright? Susan: Fine. Roger: Are you sure? Susan: It's just book Mandy gave Jenny? Have you ever seen that book before? Roger: No, I don't think so. Why? Was there something wrong with it? Susan: No, it's nothing like that. It was cute, actually. And I can't remember it either, but some of the pages seemed familiar somehow. Roger: Maybe your family had the same book when you were young? Susan: Maybe. It was weird. It brought back... memories. Roger: Sue, I know that you are still hurting about your family... But surely your memories aren't all bad, are they? Susan: No, but I still don't want to talk about them now, OK? How about setting the table? SCENE 3.5: The Wolsey parlor [Jenny is sprawled out on the carpet, fast asleep.] Susan: Looks like Jenny has had it. Would you mind carrying her up to bed. Roger: Sure, honey. [He picks her up. She stirs a little, then settles back to sleep in his arms.] Roger: I think she has the right idea. I'll hit the hay myself as soon as I get her settled. Susan: I'll be up in a minute. [Susan picks up a few toys, finishing with the ABC book. She sits back down and opens it to the Stag's page and reads "If you ever do catch him, ask him for a present."] Susan's inner voice: I never believed that legend about the stag granting wishes, not even in Narnia. But where did that stag we saw today come from? I guess I'll have to check it out. [Susan shuts the book, places it on the coffee table, and walks out of the scene.] Dec 29, 1958 SCENE 4.1 - The Wolsey kitchen [The family is finishing breakfast. Roger get's up.] Roger: Thank you, honey. I'm off. Jenny: Are you going to work again? Roger: Yes. The holiday is over, and somebody has to pay for all that food you just ate. Susan: Have a good day dear. [She kisses him goodbye, and he walks out.] Susan: Now, we need to get you ready to go. We are going out too. Jenny: We are? Susan: Yes, to the library. Jenny: Oh, Good! SCENE 4.2 The Library [Jenny is seated at a table with a pile of colorful children's books.] Susan: I'll be right back. [Susan walks to the nearby periodicals counter and talks to the librarian.] Susan: Can you tell me where I can find back issues of the Weekly Chronicle? [Transition to Susan sitting at the table next to Jenny with a stack of newspapers. She starts scanning headlines.] [Time lapse of the stack of papers quickly disappearing.] Susan's inner voice: Bother! This is the last paper, and still nothing. Wait. I do see something. [Close up of an advertisement for Pleasant Hill Inn.] Susan's inner voice: That address looks familiar. Yes, that's professor Digory Kirke's address alright, but that certainly isn't his house. Oh, I remember now. Peter told me the old manor was being torn down for a development. The old wardrobe won't be there anymore. [Susan returns to the counter] Librarian: Yes? Susan: Do you have back issues of the "Daily Record". Librarian: We do. They are on microfilm. Susan: Microfilm? Librarian: Yes. Don't worry. They tell me it's easy to use. [The librarian picks up a phone and punches a button.] Librarian [into the phone]: Sally, can you come up and show someone how to use that darned microfilm machine? SCENE 4.3 The Library, continued [Susan is sitting at a microfilm machine. She peers into the lens. Daily Record pages whiz past. Susan pauses when she sees the headline "Railway Collision Kills Twenty-eight".] [After more scrolling, she find a short article with the headline "White Stag Found in Manor House". It confirms what the zoo keeper had said. It also told her that the house was called Eddington Manor. Susan write down the name Eddington Manor on a slip of paper. She looks it up in a phone directory, and writes down the number.] SCENE 4.4 The Wolsey home [Susan dials the number she had written down, and gets through. The screen splits, showing Susan talking on a phone in her house, and a maid on the other end of the line.] Maid: Hallo Susan [sheepishly]: Hello miss. Um... I was wondering... Do you have a wardrobe in the house on the second floor? Maid: Well, yes. There are several ma'am. Susan: Oh! Well, have you had them all for a long time. Or is one, perhaps, a more recent acquisition? Maid: I don't know ma'am. I've only been workin' here two years. You'd be wantin' to speak to the caretaker mister Wiccough you would; Hold on. I'll call him. [The caretaker Mr. Wiccough replaces the maid on the line/] Mr. Wiccough: Hullo. Susan: Hello. I was wondering sir. Did you obtain one of your wardrobes 10 or 15 years ago? Perhaps from the Kirke estate? Mr. Wiccough: That's right. Now see here. What do you want with our warrobe? We won it at the sale good and proper we did. And had a heck of a time gettin it up the apples, miss, so we won't be lettin it go cheap. Susan: Sorry I bothered you then. [Susan hangs up.] Susan's inner voice: This still doesn’t necessarily mean the stag came from Narnia. Maybe it was imported into England by someone who loved exotic animals. And maybe it got loose. It could have wandered the countryside for days, months, or even years before entering Eddington House through a door that had accidentally been left open and unattended. It could have managed to climb the stairs and reach the second floor somehow. And maybe it's just a coincidence that the wardrobe that we used to play with when we were children ended up in the same house. Oh, who am I kidding. That much coincidence would be darn near impossible. I may as well just believe in Narnia again. Is it possible that Narnia could really be real? Dec 30, 1958 SCENE 5.1 - The Wolsey kitchen [The Wolsey family is finishing up breakfast. Susan speaks to Jenny.] Susan: Hurry up dear, eat your eggs. Roger: What's the rush. Susan: Well, Mr. Wolsey, you aren't the only one going out today. We're going out too. To the zoo. Roger: Oh... Wish I could go with you, but you know that Mr. Carrington would have a fit if I wasn't there up at 8:00 sharp. Susan: I know. SCENE 5.2 - The Stag Exhibit [Susan and Jenny arrive at the stag exhibit. The stag ignores them.] Susan (to herself more than to Jenny): Looks like we're alone, thank goodness. Susan (to Jenny): Let's play a game. Let's pretend that the white stag will give us whatever we wish for. I'll start. Susan (to the Stag): Mister Stag, you've been caught, and you know you must grant me my wish. I want you to send me my horn. You know the one. The one I had Narnia when us kings and queens spotted you by Lantern Waste. [Susan watches the stag closely as she talks, but it never acknowledges her in any way.] [Other visitors start to arrive, and Susan feels a bit self-conscious, but she goes on.] Susan: I'll be expecting it! [After a brief pause, Susan remembers Jenny.] Susan (to Jenny): Do you want to make a wish too? Jenny: [Nods her head.] Susan: OK. Go ahead and make a wish. [Jenny closes her eyes for a few seconds.] Susan: Go ahead and say it. Jenny: It's a secret. SCENE 6.1 - The Wolsey parlor ESTABLISHING SHOT - Calendar reads Jan 3, 1958 [Susan peeks out of the window, as her daughter Jenny look on.] Jenny: Why do you keep looking out of the window, Mummy? Susan: It's almost 10 o'clock. The postman should be here any minute. [She looks out the window again.] Susan: See! Here he is now. [Susan and Jenny open the front door to meet the postman.] Postman: Good day, Mrs. Wolsey. Here you go. [He hands her a few envelopes.] Susan: No packages for me? Postman: I'm afraid not. You're expecting something? Susan: Oh, not really. Just hoping. Postman: I see. Well, I'll keep an eye out for it. SCENE 6.2 - The Wolsey home ESTABLISHING SHOT - Calendar reads Jan 7, 1958 [Susan meets the postman on the porch.] Postman: Package! [He hands her a parcel.] Susan: It's for my husband. Must be the bowling shoes he ordered. SCENE 6.3 - The Wolsey home ESTABLISHING SHOT - Calendar reads Jan 23, 1958 [The bell rings. Susan opens the door to find a package on the porch, and retrieves it.] Jenny: Is that for you, Mummy? Susan: No, it's for Daddy. Must be his golf tees. SCENE 6.3 - The Wolsey home ESTABLISHING SHOT - Calendar reads Feb 26, 1958 [The bell rings. Susan goes to the door, and Jenny follows her. They find the postman waiting.] Postman: I have a very special package here, for a very special lady. [He hands the parcel to Jenny.] Jenny: Really! It's for me! [Susan looks at the label.] Susan: It sure is. I think it's that secret decoder ring you ordered from the back of the cereal box. That will be fun. Jenny: Yeah. [They go inside. Jenny notices Susan looks a little disappointed.] Jenny: I'm sorry it wasn't for you, Mummy. Susan: Don't be. I'm not even expecting anything anymore. You just enjoy your ring, OK. Jenny: OK! SCENE 6.4 - Wolsey Kitchen ESTABLISHING SHOTS - Winter turns to spring, Calendar reads Apr 6, 1958 [Susan is busy making dinner.] Roger: My co-worker Tom invited me to go to church with him and his wife Liz on Easter Sunday. Would you like to go? Susan: Are you actually thinking of going? I thought you didn't believe in all of that nonsense. Roger: I don't. At least I don't think I do, but I've been reading this book that Tom gave me. It's called "Mere Christianity", and I have to admit, it has started to make me think. Susan: Think what? Roger: Think that I may have been a little too quick to dismiss everything that religious people have to say. Some of it may make sense. Susan: Like what? Roger: Like the existence of right and wrong. We all know the difference. We know that we ought to do right instead of wrong. But if the world has no meaning, why is what's right any better than what's wrong? Susan: I don't know. But we live in an age of science. We know that life evolved. We came from monkeys for Pete's sake. There's just no reason that there needs to be a God. Why believe in some imaginary little genie that we can't see when there are perfectly logical scientific reasons for everything? Roger: Well, maybe. But if you put it that way, it sounds like you have just as much faith as all of the religious nuts. They believe in God. You believe in scientists. [pause] Roger: Anyways, I told Tom I would get back with him about whether or not we would go. What should I tell him? Susan: Can we bring Jenny along? Roger: I don't see why not. Susan: Well, if your in, I'm in. Tell him we'll see him there. SCENE 7.1 - Church [The Wolsey family arrives and the smallish church slightly late. The congregation is standing, and has already begun singing, to a slightly out-of tune piano. They walk in and claim the first unoccupied pew, which is behind a family of six. The father notices they have arrived, and shows them which hymn is being sung. Roger doesn't know the song, but Susan is able to sing along. When the song is done, the preacher steps up to the podium.] Preacher: Open your bibles to Matthew, chapter 27... [Whispering begins] Jenny: What is he doing. Susan: He is preaching. You are supposed to be quiet and listen. Jenny: When will he be done? Susan: I don't know. Just be quiet! [The mother in front of them turns around.] Mother: Would your little girl like some paper and crayons? Susan: Yes, that would be wonderful. [She hands them over, and Jenny quiets down.] Preacher: ... 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, ... and mocked him, ... 30 And they spit upon him, ... and smote him on the head. 31 ... and led him away to crucify him. [As the preacher reads, the scene transitions to Aslan on the stone table, as Jadis and her minions mock and jeer and cut off his mane.] Preacher: ... 55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children. [Scenes of Susan and Lucy watching from a distance.] ... [John 19:34] One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. [Scene of Jadis plunging the knife into Aslan.] Preacher: ... [Mat 28:1] Then came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven... [Scene of the table cracked.] 9 ... And Jesus Himself met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. [Aslan returns and plays with the children.] Preacher: May the Lord bless the reading of His word. Was not you heart stirred within you as we read once again the stroy of our Savior's death, and of His glorious ressurrection? Susan's inner voice: Yes, my heart was stirred. I have vivid memories of something just like that. But they aren't real, of course. They can't be. My brothers and sister went to church fairly often when we were groing up, and we knew all about Jesus. We might not have understood it at the time, but we used those themes when we made up our own stories about Aslan and Narnia. I'm amazed at our resourcefulness as children, but I'm grown up now. I don't believe those silly stories anymore. [The service, comes to an end, and several people stop to chat, including an older couple, the Robinsons.] Mrs. Robinson: Good to have you with us this morning! Wasn't that a wonderful message? Susan [awkwardly]: Thank you, I was stirred! [Tom and Liz join them.] Tom: Roger, good to see you here. Meet my wife Liz. Roger: Nice to meet you Liz. And this is my wife, Susan, and our daughter Jenny. Tom: Good to meet you... And I see you've met the Robinsons as well. They host a bible study in their home. It's a great place to learn about Christianity and ask questions. It's been a real help to Liz and I. Mr. Robinson: You would be more than welcome to join us. We meet on Monday nights at seven. Roger: Thanks for the invitation. We'll think about it. SCENE 7.2 - Back of Taxi cab [Roger and Susan are sitting in the back of a taxi, with Jenny sitting between them.] Susan: Well, what did you think of the service. Roger: Oh, it was alright, I guess. They really believe that Jesus died and rose again, which is OK, but I didn't hear why they believe that. Susan: Do you think that you want to go back? Roger: Not really. I think I would rather go that bible study where I can ask questions. Susan: Well, I don't want to go. Jenny would hate it. But that's your bowling night. If you want to go to a bible study instead of bowling, go ahead. SCENE 7.3 - The Wolsey kitchen, on Monday evening Susan: How was the bible study? Roger: It was good. We read from one of the books in the bible called John. They called it First John, even though it isn't first in the bible called John. Anyway we talked about how it says that God loves us. Susan: Oh I know that they say God loves the world, but he sure has a funny way of showing it. If God loves us, why does he let so many bad things happen to us? Roger: Somebody asked a question along those lines. No one really had a good answer. Even Mr. Robinson said that he didn't know why there is so much pain and suffering in the world. But he said it helped him to know that even God had troubles. He suffered too, when Jesus died. SCENE 7.4 - The Wolsey home, Tuesday evening [Jenny hears footsteps outside and rushes to the door] Jenny: Daddy's home! [She flings the door open and runs into his arms. Roger hugs her, then sets her down and kisses Susan.] Susan: How was your day. Roger: Nothing new, execept that Tom gave me this. [He produces a book entitled "The Problem of Pain". Susan skims at the covers.] Susan: Looks interesting. Do you mind if I read it too? Roger: Not at all. I'll put it in the bookshelf right here, next to the other one Tom gave me. [He places the title next to "Mere Christianity".] SCENE 8.1 - ESTABLISHING SHOTS - Time lapse showing new books appearing in the bookshelf. [Roger places one more book on the shelf. Susan: Another book from Tom? Roger: No, I bought this one myself. Mr, Robinson recommended it. Susan: Are you actually reading these? Roger: Yes. Parts of them anyway. They help me to understand why people like Tom and Mr. Robinson believe what they do. Susan: Do you believe it? Roger: Yes, honey, I do. I still don't know all of the answers, but I have decided that believing in God is actually more rational than denying that He exists. So I've made up my mind that I'm going to believe it. Susan: So, does that mean your religious now? Roger: Well, Mr. Robinson said it means I'm saved. He said that if I really believed, then I would go to heaven when I die. Susan: I'm happy for you. I really am. Sometimes I wish that I could believe too, but I just can't. I've had too many disappointments in life. Roger: What do you mean? Susan: Well, first there was Father Christmas. I still remember how upset I was when my brother Peter told me he wasn't real. That was when I was eight. Roger: I remember when I found out about that too. But you can't let a story that everyone over the age of ten knows is just a fantasy influence whether you believe in God. Susan: But it's not just something I believed until I was eight. I believed in him again in my teens. I believed in a whole other world, with Father Christmas, and nymphs, and elves, and talking animals, and all sorts of other nonsense. It was just a game that I played with my brothers and sister, but it seemed real at the time. It seemed more real than England. It was so real to my brothers and sister and cousin that they believed in it until the day that they all died. I think they even convinced Professor Kirk and Aunt Poly that it was real, although they may have just been playing along. Anyway, that's what I think that Christianity is. It's a bunch of wishful thinking. When Jesus was crucified, those who believed in him couldn't face reality. In their grief, they imagined that he had risen again. It didn't really happen, but it was real to them. They convinced themselves of it so well that they were able to convince others too. And that's still happening today. Roger: I can see why you may be hesitant to believe after everything that has happened to you. But there is evidence for Christianity. There is fulfilled prophecy. There was an empty tomb. Susan: I thought there was evidence for my world of Narnia too. I had half convinced myself that it was real again at the end of last year. I went to the zoo with Jenny and we saw a white stag, just like the one we pretended to see in Narnia. I asked where it came from, and I found out that they found it on the second story of some old house. It's true. I looked it up in the newspaper. Well, we used to pretend we entered Narnia through a wardrobe. I called and found out that the wardrobe we used to play in had been sold, and it was in the house where they found that stag. Then I saw in Jenny's picture book that if you catch the white stag, he is supposed to give you what you wish for. So I tried it. I actually went back to the zoo, and asked that stag to send me my horn, which was a present I received from Father Christmas in Narnia. But of course, I didn't get anything -- Because Narnia isn't real, just like the stories in the bible are not real. Roger: That's incredible! Susan: I know. It's incredible that I could almost believe in Narnia again. Roger: No. I mean it's incredible that your story checked out. It's strange enough that they found a white stag on the second floor of an old house. But if your wardrobe was also there, that can't just be coincidence. There has to be something strange about that wardrobe, and I'm starting to think that at least parts of your story must be true. Susan: Are you serious? Roger: Absolutely! Susan: But if that stag was real, why didn't my wish come true? I didn't get anthing in the post at all. Roger: Why should you have? Look, you wanted proof of the existence of Narnia, didn't you? Well I think you got it. The stag being here is proof in and of itself. And what if you had gotten your horn in the post? Do you really think that would have convinced you? Susan: Of course it would have. Roger: Maybe for a few days, or a few weeks. But you would have started doubting again. Your mind would eventiually make up some excuse for why that horn must have come from somewhere here in merry old England. SCENE 8.2 - Roger and Susan's Bedroom [Susan is in her nightgown, seated in front of her mirror, deep in thought. Roger walks into the room in pajamas?] Roger: [Standing next to the light switch.] Are you ready for lights out? Susan: Yes, go ahead. I'll join you in a minute. [Roger flicks the switch and goes to bed, but Susan remains where she is in the dark.] Susan's inner voice: Roger was right. That horn wouldn’t have really convinced me. Not for long. Narnia was magic, and a I can't explain magic - but I can't explain the wonder of this world either. I can go on convincing myself that it's not true, but why should I deny it? Is it really that I can't believe, or is it just plain stubbornness? O Aslan – or rather Lord Jesus, for I know that is your name in this world – please forgive me. Help me to trust in you. I believe, help my unbelief. SCENE 9.1 - Church / Taxi [It's Fall. Susan is obviously pregnant. The Wolsey family emerges from church. A taxi driver opens the door for them, and they climb in.] Roger: Thanks, Harold. Harold: No, thank you sir. Nice to have a regular fare on Sundays. Are you going straight home? Roger: No, we're on a special outing this afternoon. [He winks and grins and Susan] We're going to visit one of my wife's old acquaintances. Susan: [Sheepishly] Take us to the Tilson Park zoo. Harold: Tilson Park. Righto! [They drive off] SCENE 9.2 - Stag Exhibit [A few ordinary fallow deer now occupied the enclosure.] Roger: Are you sure this the right place? Susan: Yes, I know the white stag was in here. He's certainly not here now. Let's see if we can find the keeper I talked with. Roger: OK, but sit first. Don't overdo it. SCENE 9.3 - Elsewhere at the Tilson Park Zoo [Susan spots her man.] Susan: Excuse me. Can you tell us what happened to the white stag that used to be here. Keeper: I don't rightly know ma'am. 'E flew the coop a few months back. Don't know how 'e got out o' the pen, but 'e managed somehow. 'E was pretty old though. May 'av injured 'imself doin' it. I doubt 'e got far. My guess is that 'e just crawled away some where an' died. Susan: That's too bad. He was a magnificent creature. [The Wolseys walk on.] Susan: I'm sure he was old. But I don't know if I believe that part about him dying. According to the legends, the white stag was supposed to be immortal. At least he was supposed to live as long as Narnia itself lasted. Roger: But the stag wasn't in Narnia anymore. Susan: True enough! [Susan remembers what Jenny had done the last time they saw the stag.] Susan: Do you remember asking the white stag for a wish? Jenny: Uh-huh Susan: What did you wish for? Jenny: A baby brother. [Susan exchanges glances with Roger and squeezes his hand.] Susan: Well, you may still get your wish.