Bayard:
[after Alice falls from the sky and into a flower bed, her Underland friends surround and greet her]
Alice.
White Rabbit:
[hops up to Alice and hugs her arm]
Alice! Thank goodness you're finally here!
March Hare:
It's that girl again!
Tweedledee:
Alice! You're back!
[the Bandersnatch roars his greeting and pants, smiling at Alice]
Mallymkun:
[to the Bandersnatch]
Don't be nice to her. She's late.
Alice Kingsleigh:
Have I come at a bad time?
White Queen:
On the contrary. We were afraid you weren't coming at all.
Alice Kingsleigh:
What's the matter?
White Rabbit:
The Hatter's the matter.
Tweedledee:
Or the matter of the Hatter.
Tweedledum:
The former.
Tweedledee:
No, the latter.
White Queen:
[rolls her eyes]
Tweedles.
[gives them a look as if to say, "Get to the point, please."]
Tweedledee:
[in unison with Tweedledum]
He's mad.
Alice Kingsleigh:
The Hatter?
[the Tweedles nod]
Alice Kingsleigh:
Yes, I know.
[climbs out of the flower bed and pulls her hair back in a half-up style]
Alice Kingsleigh:
That's his muchness. That's what makes him so... him.
Tweedledee:
But he's grown darker. Less dafter.
Tweedledum:
Denies himself laughter.
Cheshire Cat:
[appears in the tree above them]
And no scheme of ours can raise any sort of smile. We rather hoped YOU might help us save him.
