White Rabbit: Oh my ears and whiskers, how late it’s getting!

The White Rabbit exits. Alice finds herself in a long low hall filled with doors which are lit up by a row of lamps hanging from the roof. Alice walks along the doors and tries to open them all, but they are locked. After she tries them all, she walks sadly down center wondering how she can get out. Suddenly a little table appears there is nothing on it except a tiny golden key.

Alice: Look at this tiny golden key. But the locks are too large and the key is too small. It won’t open any of them. (A small door appears.) A door! (Alice tries the key in the door.) It fits!

Alice opens the door with the key & tries to go through it but she is too big.

Alice: Why isn’t this the loveliest garden you ever seen! But not even my head can go through. It would be of very little use without my shoulders. Oh, how I wish I could shut up like a telescope! I think I could, if I only know how to begin. For, so many out-of-the-way things have happened lately.

Alice walks back to the glass table hoping to find another key; however, this time she finds a little bottle with a paper label around the neck with the words ‘DRINK ME’ beautifully printed on it in large letters.

Alice: This certainly was not here before. It is all very well to say drink me, but, I’ll look first and see whether it’s marked “poison” or not. However, this bottle is NOT marked poison. (Alice tastes it). It is very nice, it has a sort of mixed flavour of cherry-tart, custard, pine-apple, roast turkey, toffee, and hot buttered toast. (Alice finishes off the potion.) What a curious feeling! I must be shutting up like a telescope. (Alice shrinks.) I feel a little nervous about this; for it might end, you know in my going out altogether, like a candle.

Alice walks over to the garden door which is now large.

Alice: I wonder what I should be like then? Oh dear, I forgot the key Come, there’s no use in crying like that! I advise you to leave off this minute!

Alice walks back to the glass table and sees a box with a cake saying ‘EAT ME.’

Alice: What is this? Well, I’ll eat it and if it makes me grow larger, I can reach the key; and if it makes me grow smaller, I can creep under the door; so either way I’ll get into the garden, and I don’t care which happens! (Alice eats it anxiously & talks with her mouth full.) Which way? Which way? (Alice finishes off the cake.)