All language subtitles for The.Christmas.Pageant.2011.1080p.WEBRip.x264-RARBG

- IT WAS THE FOLLY OF OUR SUMMER
THAT LEAD US TO THIS PLACE.

TO BE AS ONE
IN THIS WORLD WHERE--

WHERE CHAOS
AND VIOLENCE ENSUES, WE MUST...

THIS OPPORTUNITY--
UH, THIS OPPORTUNITY--

WE MUST...

WHEN IT PRESENTS ITSELF.

AND, UH, WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE
THIS OPPORTUNITY

AS A GATEWAY TO--

- I NEED A NEW PENCIL.

WHAT IS THAT?
WHAT IS SHE DOING?

- I THINK SHE FORGOT
HER LINES AGAIN.

- MINDI,
IS THERE A PROBLEM?

- I'M SORRY, VERA.

I KNOW THE LINE.
I JUST LOST MY PLACE.

- WELL, MAYBE YOU SHOULD SPEND
A LITTLE LESS TIME

DOING INTERVIEWS
WITH TEEN MAGAZINES

AND A LITTLE
MORE TIME REHEARSING.

- I'M SORRY.

- "SORRY"
DOESN'T MAKE IT BETTER.

- EVERYBODY KEEP WORKING!

- UM...

- VERA?

VERA...
- UGH.

- WE HAVE TO TALK.
- NOT NOW, ALAN.

NO, NO, RIGHT NOW,
WE NEED TO TALK,

YOU SEE, BECAUSE
I WAS WATCHING THE REHEARSAL,

AND YOU TOOK OUT
KEY PARTS OF MY DIALOGUE.

- I TOOK OUT PARTS
THAT WEREN'T WORKING.

- NOW, LOOK HERE, I WRITE
MY PLAYS VERY SPECIFICALLY.

EVERY WORD HAS A MEANING.

- LIKE WHAT?

- WELL, LIKE PAGE EIGHT.

THE CHARACTER
IS SUPPOSED TO SAY,

"WE MAY NOT GET THERE,
BUT AT THE VERY LEAST,

THEY'LL KNOW WE TRIED."

AND YOU CHANGED IT
TO "AT LEAST."

"AT LEAST--AT LEAST
THEY'LL KNOW WE TRIED."

- YOU'RE JOKING.

- NO.
NO, I'M NOT.

- UGH, I DON'T HAVE TIME
FOR THIS, ALAN.

- NO, YOU WILL MAKE TIME!
- ALAN, PLEASE.

- THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT--
- OH!

- AAH! AAH!
- OH!

- UNH!
- OH, GOSH.

- YOU STRUCK ME.
SHE STRUCK ME. YOU ALL SAW IT.

- NO, I DIDN'T,
BUT IF YOU SAY IT AGAIN, I WILL.

- SHE'S THREATENING ME.

- I'M FIRED?

LEO...

- I'M SORRY, VERA, BUT
IF I DON'T GIVE YOU THE BOOT,

I'LL HAVE THE UNION
ON MY BACK.

NOW, ALAN HAS AGREED
NOT TO FILE A LEGAL ACTION

IF I LET YOU GO.

- I SEE. SO YOU'RE CAVING IN
TO THREATS.

- VERA, YOU'VE BEEN UNHAPPY
SINCE WE CAST MINDI IN THE PLAY.

- BECAUSE SHE CAN'T ACT.

- BE THAT AS IT MAY,

I PLAN TO SELL
A COUPLE THOUSAND

MINDI BRACE T-SHIRTS
IN THE LOBBY

BY JANUARY 1.

AND THAT MORE THAN MAKES UP
FOR THE TENDER REGRET

I FEEL
ABOUT HER ACTING TALENT.

I HAVE NO CHOICE.

- VERA, THIS
IS THE THIRD JOB

YOU'VE BEEN FIRED FROM
THIS YEAR.

- WELL, YOU MAKE IT
SOUND LIKE FOUR.

- GOOD. THAT'S GOOD.
MAKE JOKES.

- CAN'T YOU JUST GET ME
ANOTHER JOB?

- JUST LIKE THAT?

- YOU SAID, "VERA,
I AM VERY GOOD AT MY JOB.

"LEAVE IT TO ME.

THINK OF ME
AS YOUR OLDER BROTHER."

OR DID YOU SAY "UNCLE"?

- I'LL LINE UP SOME JOBS
FOR YOU TOMORROW.

BYE.

- THANK YOU, CARMEN.
I'LL LOOK AT IT LATER.

- THANKS FOR MEETING
WITH ME, REBECCA.

- OH, VERA, WE HAD
SUCH A BLAST THE LAST TIME

WE WORKED TOGETHER.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE
THAT WAS OVER TWO YEARS AGO.

- WELL, I AM VERY EXCITED
ABOUT YOUR NEW SEASON.

- UH, VERA, ABOUT THAT...

I CAN'T HIRE YOU.
- I-I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

- AS A FRIEND, I WANTED
TO TELL YOU THIS IN PERSON.

PEOPLE ARE SAYING
TERRIBLE THINGS ABOUT YOU.

- WHAT HAVE I DONE
THAT IS SO WRONG?

- IT'S NOT WHAT
YOU'VE DONE, DEAR.

IT'S HOW YOU'VE DONE IT.

- OKAY, SO I CAN BE
A LITTLE ABRASIVE.

- DICTATORIAL.

- OPINIONATED.
- INSULTING.

- EVERY SHIP NEEDS
A STRONG CAPTAIN.

- UNLESS THAT CAPTAIN STEERS
THAT SHIP INTO SHARP ROCKS.

- UGH.

- YOU'RE A SMART GIRL.
YOU'LL FIND YOUR WAY BACK.

- YES, ALAN, I HAVE
THE CONTRACT RIGHT HERE.

I WILL--I WILL MENTION
THE OFFER TO MY CLIENT,

AND AS SOON AS I GET AN ANSWER,
I'LL GET BACK TO YOU.

OKAY.

TALK TO YOU LATER.
BYE.

GOOD MORNING, VERA.
- WHY AM I HERE?

- JUST SIT DOWN.
- I DON'T WANT TO SIT DOWN.

I WANT A JOB.
- AND YOU GOT ONE.

AND IT'S
A PRETTY SOLID OFFER.

THE BALL'S IN YOUR COURT.

- SHUT UP.

- YEAH, IT'S--I MEAN,
IT'S AN UNUSUAL JOB.

- DETAILS?

- WELL, IT'S A VERY SMALL
THEATER COMPANY UPSTATE,

AND THEY'RE PUTTING ON
A PLAY.

AND THEY NEED A DIRECTOR.

AND IT'S
A SUBSTANTIAL CHECK.

- WELL, I'LL TAKE IT.

- WAIT A MINUTE.
WAIT A MINUTE. THERE'S MORE.

- A JOB IS A JOB.
WHEN DO I START?

- RIGHT AWAY, IF YOU WANT TO,
BUT HEAR ME OUT.

LISTEN TO ME, OKAY?

IT'S A SMALL COMMUNITY COMPANY
OF PLAYERS

AND THEY WANT TO PUT ON,
UH, AN ANNUAL...

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT.

- CHRISTMAS PAGEANT?

- CHRISTMAS PAGEANT.
- NO, NO, NO.

I-I HAVE DIRECTED BROADWAY.

I HAVE DIRECTED OFF-BROADWAY.

I HAVE DIRECTED
OFF-OFF-OFF-OFF-BROADWAY.

BUT THIS IS CRAZY.

VERA, IT'S A GOOD JOB.

THE MONEY IS GOOD.

AND BESIDES, NOBODY ELSE
IS INTERESTED IN YOU.

CALL IT CAREER THERAPY,

PERFORMANCE GESTALT,

CHAPTER TEN OF YOUR INEVITABLE
BEST-SELLING AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

BUT FOR THE LOVE OF MARY MARTIN,
TAKE THE JOB.

IT'S JUST A FEW WEEKS.

- ALL RIGHT, I'LL DO IT.

- THERE WAS ANOTHER
CAB COMPANY IN TOWN.

THEY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS.
NOW IT'S ONLY ME.

TOWN'S GEARING UP

FOR THE ANNUAL
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT.

- SO I'VE HEARD.

- THIS YEAR WE'RE DOING
SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL,

BRINGING IN A REAL DIRECTOR
FROM NEW YORK CITY.

- IS THAT RIGHT?

- GOOD AFTERNOON.

- GOOD AFTERNOON.
- HELLO, THERE.

LOVELY DAY.

HEAR YE, HEAR YE,

CITY COUNCIL MEET-UP
THIS EVENING.

- WHAT IS THIS--
PERKY MCHAPPY TOWN?

UH, I CAN'T STAY HERE.

- OOH!

YOU MUST BE VERA.
WELCOME!

- WELL, YOU PICKED A HONEY
OF A DAY TO COME SEE US.

LOOK AT THAT SUNSHINE.

- MY GOODNESS!
- OH.

- WHAT A SMART OUTFIT.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT
TO USE ALL THOSE COLORS

ALL AT THE SAME TIME?

UNIQUE.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS, UNIQUE.

- ISN'T SHE
A BUNCH OF PEACHES?

- I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT.

- WELL, YOU WILL. YOU WILL.

- OH, COME ON,
LET'S GET YOU INTO THE KITCHEN.

YOU MUST BE HUNGRY...
- WELL--

- AND CRAVING FOOD.

- ACTUALLY, I ATE ON THE TRAIN,
SO I CAN--

- NO, NOW SIT YOURSELF DOWN.

WOULD YOU LIKE
A SNICKERDOODLE?

- NO, NO, I DON'T--
THANK YOU.

- YOU'RE
A CHAMOMILE GIRL, RIGHT?

- ACTUALLY, I'M A PEPP--

- YOU SURE
ABOUT THE SNICKERDOODLE?

- NO, I DON'T WANT IT.

- SO, TELL US
ALL ABOUT NEW YORK CITY.

- MM.

- I'M GONNA JUST CHECK ON
MY ROOM AND MAYBE FRESHEN UP.

- OH, IT'S THE TOP
OF THE STAIRS,

ROOM AT THE END
OF THE HALL.

- I'LL GET YOUR LUGGAGE.
- OH, NO, I'LL MANAGE.

- I'LL SAVE YOU
A SNICKERDOODLE.

- THANKS.

ALL RIGHT, TO START,
WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME YOUR NAMES

AND A LITTLE SOMETHING
ABOUT YOURSELVES?

- WELL, UH, MAYOR NOAH HUMPHREY,
AND I'M ALSO PRESIDENT

OF THE ASHTON FALLS
CITY PLAYERS.

- PLEASURE TO MEET YOU, MAYOR.

- BEVERLY SIMMONS,
I LOVE TRADITIONAL CHRISTMASES.

I DON'T SEE WHY A CHRISTMAS TREE
HAS TO BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN

TRADITIONAL GREEN
WITH TRADITIONAL WHITE LIGHTS.

- THAT'S VERY INFORMATIVE.

- EDDIE FLEMING.
I'M ASHTON FALLS' MAIL CARRIER.

- WELL, THERE'S ONLY ONE?

- WHY USE TWO
WHEN ONE WILL DO?

- WELL, I HAVE AN ASSISTANT.
- AH.

- SHERRY GUMM,
AS IN BUBBLE GUM.

BUT WITH TWO "M"s.

I'M ACTUALLY A POET.

BUT MOST PEOPLE THINK OF ME
AS AN ARTS-AND-CRAFTS DEALER.

- YOU WRITE POETRY?

ARE YOU PUBLISHED?

- OH, HEAVENS, YES!
I OWN MY OWN BUSINESS.

IT'S CALLED
"IT COULD BE VERSE."

- MY GOODNESS.

- WELL, YOU LET ME KNOW
IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO

TO HELP YOU.
- I WILL.

- BECAUSE MY TIME IS YOUR TIME.
- YES, THANK YOU...

SHERRY.

- UH, ZACH WILSON--

I'M THE EDITOR
OF THE ASHTON FALLS DISPATCH.

UM, PERHAPS, MS. PARKS,
IF YOU HAVE TIME,

MAYBE WE COULD SIT DOWN
FOR AN INTERVIEW.

I PROMISE A FRONT-PAGE STORY.

- THERE'S ONLY ONE PAGE.

- AND YOU ARE?

- UH, ANITA...CORNING.

I HAVE TO GO SOMEPLACE.

SHE'S, UM...

SHE'S A LITTLE SHY.

- YEAH, YOU THINK?
- YEAH.

- YOU KNOW, I'LL GET TO KNOW
THE REST OF YOU AS WE GO ALONG,

BUT WE REALLY SHOULD START
REHEARSING, SO...

WHERE IS THE THEATER?

- THIS IS THE THEATER.

- UM, I KNOW
WE'RE REHEARSING HERE,

BUT REALLY,
WHERE IS THE THEATER?

- OH, THOSE FOLDING CHAIRS
ARE THE SEATS,

AND THAT PLATFORM WILL BECOME
THE STAGE RIGHT THERE.

- PROPS, COSTUMES--
ARE THERE...

ANY?

- OF COURSE!
RIGHT THIS WAY.

- YEARS WORTH.
COME ALONG. WE'LL SHOW YOU.

- TA-DA!

- OH.

WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME WHAT
YOU HAVE IN MIND FOR THE SHOW?

- UM, ASHTON FALLS' PAGEANT
DATES BACK TO 1893,

WHEN PRESIDENT GROVER CLEVELAND

WAS SCHEDULED TO PASS THROUGH
ASHTON FALLS

THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

THE TOWNSFOLK PUT TOGETHER
A HOLIDAY PAGEANT FOR HIM.

- IT WAS A SHAME, THOUGH.

UH, HE RAN BEHIND SCHEDULE,

SO HIS TRAIN
DIDN'T ACTUALLY STOP.

- ALTHOUGH THEY SAY HE DID WAVE
TO THE GOOD PEOPLE

OF ASHTON FALLS
FROM THE WINDOW.

- AND SINCE
THE SHOW MUST GO ON,

THEY PERFORMED
THE PAGEANT ANYWAY,

AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING
THE SAME SHOW EVER SINCE.

- THE--THE SAME...

PAGEANT SINCE...

1893.

- OH, DOWN
TO THE LAST DETAIL.

- OH, UH, SO BASICALLY
IT'S THE NATIVITY.

- IS THAT A PROBLEM?

- NOTHING THAT
CAN'T BE SOLVED.

- "SOLVED"?

- WELL, I'M THE DIRECTOR
THAT YOU HIRED.

I'M GONNA DIRECT
THE PAGEANT.

- WELL, I AM SURE
THERE'S BUSINESS

THAT WE CAN ALL ATTEND TO.

IN WHICH CASE,
SHALL WE CALL IT A DAY

AND, UH, WHAT, START FRESH
TOMORROW MORNING?

- I'M GONNA TAKE THIS HOME AND--
AND, UH, STUDY IT IN DETAIL,

AND I THINK WE SHOULD GET
BACK TOGETHER

TOMORROW MORNING
AT, UM, SAY, 9:00.

- 9:00.

- OKAY.

IF I DIDN'T NEED
THE MONEY SO BAD,

I WOULD BE
ON A TRAIN SO FAST,

IT WOULD MAKE
THEIR HEADS SPIN.

- I'M NOT SURE
THIS WAS SUCH A GREAT IDEA.

- NOW, BEVERLY,
GIVE HER A CHANCE.

- WELL, IF SHE THINKS
SHE'S GONNA COME HERE

AND START
CHANGING EVERYTHING,

SHE'LL HAVE ME
TO DEAL WITH.

- I'M HUNGRY.

- WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BET

THEY HAVEN'T EVEN HEARD
OF PEPPERMINT TEA?

HI, THERE.

YOU WOULDN'T
BY ANY CHANCE--

- SAM, THAT'LL BE ONE
PEPPERMINT TEA WITH HONEY.

- JACK?

JACK HARMON.

- SURPRISE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

- THIS IS HOME
FOR TEN YEARS NOW.

PLEASE HAVE A SEAT.
- RIGHT.

OOH.

- SORRY.
THERE'S A...

- UH, WOW.
I-I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S YOU.

UH, HOW ARE YOU?

- I'M GOOD.
OH, THANKS, SAM.

UM, SO I WAS RIGHT,
PEPPERMINT TEA WITH HONEY.

- YEAH. YEP.
GOOD MEMORY.

- THANKS.

- I AM SORRY.
I CAN'T, UH, PUT THIS TOGETHER.

JACK HARMON,
TITAN OF INDUSTRY...

WORKING IN A COFFEE SHOP.

- WELL,
I'M ACTUALLY THE OWNER.

AND I ALSO BAKE.

UM, YOU LOOK GREAT.
I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU SINCE...

- SINCE YOU BROKE UP
WITH ME.

- SO I HEAR YOU'RE IN TOWN
TO DIRECT THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT.

- IT'S NOT GOING VERY WELL.

- WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?

- THEY JUST WANT TO DO
THE SAME SHOW

THEY'VE BEEN DOING FOR YEARS.

I DON'T KNOW
WHY THEY HIRED ME.

- OH, UM, THE GUY USED
TO DIRECT THE PAGEANT--

HE SOLD HIS HARDWARE STORE,
AND HE MOVED DOWN SOUTH.

- WELL, I HAVE NO IDEA
HOW THEY FOUND ME.

- WELL,
I KIND OF RECOMMENDED YOU.

- I'M SORRY.
WHAT?

- I-I-I KIND OF
RECOMMENDED YOU.

- YOU KIND OF RECOMMENDED ME.

- UH, I WAS THINKING
MAYBE WE COULD GO OVER THERE.

- HELLO?
- I'M IN DOILY HELL, PETER.

- WELL, IF IT
ISN'T MISS SUZY SUNSHINE.

- I DON'T THINK THIS JOB
IS GOING TO WORK OUT AFTER ALL.

- SO YOU JUST, UH,
WANT TO THROW AWAY

A PERFECTLY GOOD PAYCHECK.

LISTEN, VERA,
YOU'RE THERE ALREADY.

DO THE JOB,
AND YOU COME BACK TO THE CITY.

WE'LL KICK SOME BUTT, OKAY?

- THINGS HAVE GOTTEN
A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED.

- WHEN HASN'T
ANYTHING YOU'VE EVER DONE

BECOME MORE COMPLICATED?

- TRUE.
- OKAY, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT--

YOU JUST DON'T MAKE
ANY RASH DECISIONS,

AND TOMORROW MORNING
YOU MIGHT WAKE UP

WITH A WHOLE NEW
LEASE ON LIFE, OKAY?

- I DOUBT THAT.

- OKAY, BABY.
BYE.

- NOW, PLEASE, I'VE ASKED
YOU ALL HERE THIS MORNING--

THANK YOU FOR COMING--

SO THAT WE CAN HASH
THIS THING OUT

BEFORE OUR NEW DIRECTOR
JOINS US.

- I DON'T LIKE HER.

- SHE'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE
THE PAGEANT, BEVERLY.

- THEN WHY DO WE NEED HER?

- PLEASE.

- WELL, ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN DOWN
THE LAST FEW YEARS.

MAYBE WE NEED SOMETHING NEW.

- I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL
HAVING SOMEONE FROM BROADWAY

DIRECT US.

WHO KNOWS
WHERE THIS COULD LEAD?

WHY, THIS COULD SPREAD THE WORD
ABOUT OUR PAGEANT.

WE MAY END UP ON THE PAGES
OF PEOPLE MAGAZINE.

- THE POINT IS,

ARE WE PREPARED
TO LET THIS NEW YORKER

SWOOP DOWN
AND RUIN EVERYTHING?

- BEVERLY, SHE'S NOT GOING
TO RUIN EVERYTHING.

- HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?

- HOW DO YOU KNOW
THAT SHE--

- JUST GIVE HER
A CHANCE, BEVERLY.

- MAYBE NONE OF YOU CARE, BUT
I AM GONNA MAKE IT MY BUSINESS

TO KEEP AN EYE
ON MS. BIG CITY DIRECTOR.

- WHAT'S UP WITH HER?
- I DON'T KNOW.

- HI, IS THIS GEORGE?

I NEED A TAXI CAB FROM THE B&B
TO THE TRAIN STATION, PLEASE.

RIGHT NOW.
I'LL BE WAITING OUT FRONT.

OKAY.

- ARE YOU THE LADY
FROM NEW YORK?

- YES, I AM.

- THIS IS FOR YOU.

DAISIES ARE HARD TO COME BY
THIS TIME OF YEAR.

- WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
- YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

I'M KRISTEN.

- DID YOU COME HERE JUST
TO GIVE ME THIS FLOWER, KRISTEN?

- ACTUALLY,
I HAVE A QUESTION.

- ALL RIGHT,
SO WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION?

- WELL, I THOUGHT SINCE
YOU COME FROM NEW YORK CITY,

WHICH IS A BIG CITY
WITH LOTS OF PEOPLE,

YOU MUST KNOW LOTS OF THINGS.

- I GUESS SO.

- AND YOU PROBABLY KNOW
IF THERE'S A REAL SANTA CLAUS

OR NOT, RIGHT?

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN TELLING ME THE TRUTH.

I DON'T THINK SANTA IS SOMETHING
PEOPLE SHOULD JOKE ABOUT.

DO YOU?

- NO, I DON'T THINK
PEOPLE SHOULD JOKE

ABOUT ANYTHING THAT SERIOUS.

- SO IS THERE A SANTA CLAUS?

- WELL...

HERE'S THE WAY I SEE IT.

AT CHRISTMASTIME,

BELIEVING IN THINGS
MAKES THEM REAL.

THAT'S HOW CHRISTMAS WISHES
COME TRUE.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

- OH, THAT'S
THE PERFECT ANSWER!

- OH!
OH, GOODNESS.

- I KNEW YOU'D KNOW
THE ANSWER.

THANK YOU.
- SURE.

- OH, AND DON'T FORGET
TO PUT YOUR DAISY IN SOME WATER.

- NO, I-I-I WON'T.
THANK YOU, KRISTEN.

- OH, HELLO, VERA.

I'M JUST, UH,
TAKING THIS, UH, PACKAGE

TO SEND IT
TO ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS--

LIVES OUT IN NEW MEXICO.

THAT'S WAY OUT WEST
FROM HERE.

YOU GOING SOMEWHERE?

- UM, WELL, ACTUALLY, I--

- OH, YEAH, I UNDERSTAND.
- YOU DO?

- NO, NO, I...

BELIEVE ME, I UNDERSTAND.
I CAN SEE IT IN YOUR EYES.

OH, I CAN--

DON'T DENY IT.
I CAN SEE IT IN YOUR EYES.

YOU KNOW,
WHENEVER I'M SCARED,

I DO SOMETHING
THAT CALMS ME DOWN.

YOU SEE?

YOU CAN'T BE SCARED
IF YOU'RE--IF YOU'RE WHISTLING.

TRY IT.

- OH, GARRETT,
I DON'T FEEL LIKE WHISTLING--

- OH, NO, NO,
I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU LEAVE

UNLESS YOU TRY IT.

GO ON NOW.

PLEASE?
- YES.

- YOU SEE?

SEE, NOW DON'T
YOU FEEL BETTER?

- ACTUALLY, IT DOES.

- YEAH, WELL,
NOW, THERE YOU GO.

- ALL ABOARD
FOR THE TRAIN STATION.

- WELL,
AM I GONNA SAY GOOD-BYE,

OR ARE YOU GONNA STAY
AND FACE YOUR FEAR?

- THERE WILL BE OTHER TRAINS.

- WHAT EXPLODED?

- OH, NO, HONEY,
THAT WAS JUST GARRETT

GREETING THE DAWN.

- GREETING THE WHAT?

- AHH, WELL, YOU TWO MISSED
A HONEY OF A SUNRISE.

- YEAH. GARRETT LEANS OUT
A WINDOW EVERY MORNING

AND BANGS THOSE CYMBALS TOGETHER
WHEN THE SUN RISES.

- WHY?

- WELL, TO CELEBRATE.

- FINE.
GOING BACK TO SLEEP.

- AW, SHE'S...

- GOT IT?
- YEAH, MAN.

EASY.

HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

- SO I THOUGHT
WE SHOULD HAVE A TABLE READ,

SO I CAN GET AN IDEA
OF HOW THE WORDS FLOW.

- WE ALREADY KNOW
HOW THE WORDS FLOW.

- HOW NICE FOR YOU, BEVERLY.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S
START THE TABLE READ.

UH, EDDIE, IT SAYS HERE
YOU USUALLY PLAY

ONE OF
THE THREE WISE MEN.

- YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

- GREAT, LET'S START
WITH THE MONOLOGUE

ON THE TOP
OF, UH, PAGE THREE.

- IN THE NIGHT...

IN THE NIGHT SKY...

UH...

THERE CAME--

IN THE NIGHT SKY,
THERE CAME A BRILLIANT LIGHT...

THE LIGHT FROM A STAR...

- I'M GONNA STOP YOU
RIGHT THERE.

YOU'VE PLAYED
THIS ROLE BEFORE?

- UH, FOUR YEARS NOW.

- I THINK WE'RE GONNA GO
A DIFFERENT WAY THIS YEAR.

- I DON'T--
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

- I THINK WE NEED TO GO
WITH A SMOOTHER PRESENTATION.

- I-I CAN'T BE A WISE MAN?

- I THINK YOU
SHOULD MAYBE JUST SKIP IT,

JUST FOR THIS YEAR.

- DID SHE JUST FIRE ME?

- I THINK SO.

- IT'S ALL RIGHT, EDDIE.

- WE'LL FIGURE OUT
CASTING LATER.

LET'S JUST BEGIN
WITH THE NARRATOR FOR SPEECH,

PAGE FOUR, NOAH.

- AH.
OF COURSE.

MARY'S TIME WAS NEAR.

- I'M SORRY, BUT THERE
ARE NO ROOMS AVAILABLE!

IF YOU LIKE,
YOU CAN STAY IN THE STABLE

WITH THE COWS
AND THE SHEEP!

I CAN BE BETTER.

I CAN BE LESS MEAN.

- LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS SCENE
FOR A MINUTE.

ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE
A VERY PREGNANT WOMAN

AND HER LOVING HUSBAND,

WHO IS TRYING TO FIND THEM
A PLACE TO SPEND THE NIGHT.

INSTEAD OF DOING IT
THE SAME OLD WAY IT'S BEEN DONE,

LET'S DO IT IN SILHOUETTE,
WITH SHADOWS.

WE'LL CAST GIANT IMAGES
ACROSS THIS BACKDROP, RIGHT?

MARY AND JOSEPH
ARE GOING FROM PLACE TO PLACE.

AND THEY'RE GETTING
TURNED AWAY SILENTLY.

THE ONLY SOUND THE AUDIENCE
HEARS IS THEIR SAD FOOTSTEPS

ECHOING THROUGHOUT THE THEATER.

- WHAT DO YOU HAVE
AGAINST THE BABY JESUS?

- WHAT?

- WELL, YOU JUST SEEM TO BE
STEPPING ALL OVER HIS HOLIDAY.

- I'M JUST TRYING
TO THROW OUT IDEAS

TO FRESHEN UP THIS PAGEANT.

I MEAN, LOOK,
LOOK AT THIS THING, RIGHT?

- NO, NO, NO, NO.

- WE DON'T NEED
A TIN-FOIL STAR.

WE CAN USE A LIGHT TO SYMBOLIZE
THE LIGHT FROM THE STAR

AND HAVE IT SPILL OUT
OVER THE ENTIRE AUDIENCE.

- YOU DON'T WANT TO USE
OUR STAR?

- OH, WELL, I MEAN,
LOOK, IT IS KIND OF OLD,

DON'T YOU THINK?

- MY MOTHER TOLD ME
THAT DURING WORLD WAR II,

THERE WAS A METAL SHORTAGE,

AND WE HAD TO MAKE DO
WITH A CONSTRUCTION-PAPER STAR.

AFTER V.E. DAY,
THE VERY FIRST ROLL

OF ALUMINUM FOIL WAS DELIVERED
TO THE GROCERY STORE

AND CARRIED HERE
TO THIS THEATER,

SO WE COULD HAVE

THE FIRST TRULY SHINY STAR
IN FIVE YEARS.

- THERE WAS A FLOOD IN '88.
OH, WHAT A MESS THAT WAS.

IT LEFT MOLD ON ALMOST
EVERYTHING EXCEPT THIS STAR.

IT KIND OF MAKES YOU THINK,
DOESN'T IT?

- I'M NOT--I'M NOT TRYING
TO CHANGE THINGS

JUST TO CHANGE THEM.

I MEAN, I HAVE YEARS
OF THEATER EXPERIENCE.

- LET ME SAVE YOU
A LOT OF TIME, MISSY.

- NOW, YOU'RE FREE
TO LIE IN BED AT NIGHT

AND IMAGINE ANY SHOW
YOUR LITTLE HEART DESIRES.

BUT ON THIS STAGE,
IN THIS AUDITORIUM,

ALL WE WANT

IS AN ASHTON FALLS PLAYERS'
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT!

- HI, VERA.
REMEMBER ME?

- OF COURSE I DO.

WE'RE HERE TO BE FITTED
TO PLAY ANGELS.

- THAT--THAT'S NICE.

- YOU LOOK SAD.

- NO, I'M--

- ARE THEY GIVING YOU
A HARD TIME IN THERE?

- AS A MATTER OF FACT,
THEY ARE.

- WHEN KIDS ARE MISBEHAVING,
MY TEACHER ALWAYS LET'S US DO

THE CHORES WE LIKE BEST.

THAT WAY,
EVERYBODY FEELS IMPORTANT.

- YOU KNOW,
I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

I CAN DO THAT.

- OF COURSE.

AND YOU'RE WELCOME.

- ALL RIGHT, GIRLS.

I'M READY FOR YOUR FITTING.

- GOT TO GO.

- THANKS AGAIN.

- GOOD LUCK
WITH THE PAGEANT, VERA.

- EDDIE...

DON'T TAKE ANOTHER STEP.
- DID I DO SOMETHING WRONG?

- SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE
GREATNESS THRUST UPON THEM.

TODAY YOU ARE THE "THRUSTEE."

- I AM?

- HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE
MY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR?

- OH, YOU BET.

- GREAT.

I'LL NEED TEN COPIES OF THAT,
COLLATED AND STAPLED,

FIVE SHARPENED
NUMBER-TWO PENCILS,

AND A CUP OF HOT PEPPERMINT TEA
WITH HONEY.

- I'M ON IT.

- I CAN DO THIS.

- THE DIRECTOR'S HERE.

- EDDIE!

- WE'RE STARTING
WITH THE WISE MEN SCENE.

GOT THE NEW SCRIPT
RIGHT HERE.

- WELCOME BACK.
- GREAT TO BE BACK.

- THANKS, EDDIE.
- YOU'RE WELCOME.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

- THANKS.
- NO "PROBLEMO."

- NOAH...
- OH.

- GO.

- AND LO, THE THREE WISE MEN

GAZED UP AT THE NIGHT SKY

AND BEHELD
A MOST GLORIOUS SIGHT.

- WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
HOLD ON A SECOND.

- TOO FAST?

- NO, NO, NO, NO.
- IT WAS TOO SLOW.

- NO, NO,
NOTHING LIKE THAT.

IT SAYS IN THE SCRIPT
THAT YOU DO THIS NARRATION

FROM OFFSTAGE?

- NO, RIGHT.

I MEAN, I ALWAYS READ
THIS PART, UH, FROM BACKSTAGE.

MAYOR, YOU'RE
A PUBLIC FIGURE.

YOU'RE USED TO SPEAKING

IN FRONT OF LARGE GROUPS
OF PEOPLE, RIGHT?

- WELL, YES, OF COURSE.

I MEAN, I MAKE
SEVERAL SPEECHES A YEAR.

- WHY DON'T YOU DO THE NARRATION
FROM RIGHT THERE,

JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER
ON THE STAGE,

IN FRONT OF THE AUDIENCE?

- REALLY?

LIKE MY OWN SPECIAL PLACE?

- YEAH, YEAH, AND MAYBE EVEN
YOUR OWN BABY SPOTLIGHT

AND A LITTLE SOFT PIANO MUSIC
IN THE BACKGROUND.

- COULD I WEAR A TUXEDO?

- I DON'T SEE WHY NOT.

- OH, I THINK I JUST HAD
A CHILL DOWN MY LEG.

- NOW, HANG ON.

THE NARRATOR IS NEVER SEEN
BY THE AUDIENCE.

- OH, BEVERLY, IT'S REALLY
SUCH A SMALL CHANGE,

AND IT FEELS
SO RIGHT TO ME.

- I NEVER MET A POLITICIAN
THAT DIDN'T MIND

BEING ON A MICROPHONE.

- I DON'T KNOW, BEVERLY.
I KIND OF LIKE IT.

- YEAH.
- ME TOO.

IT FEELS FRESH AND NEW.
- GOOD.

- THAT'S TWO-TO-ONE FOR.

- THEN LET'S
TRY IT THIS WAY.

- YES.
- THANK YOU.

- STAGE RIGHT A LITTLE.

THAT WAY, THAT WAY, OKAY.

- AND LO, THE THREE WISE MEN
GAZED UP AT THE NIGHT SKY

AND BEHELD
A MOST GLORIOUS SIGHT.

- MORE PIE, DEAR?

- OH, NO. NO, NO, NO, NO.
NO MORE ROOM.

- I'M SO SORRY.

- YOU'RE WELCOME, DEAR.

- HEY, WE BETTER GET MOVING.
IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR THE BAKE.

- OH, YES.

- I HOPE YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT GETTING A SUNTAN.

- OH, GOODNESS, NO.

HE MEANS THE ANNUAL
CHRISTMAS CAKE AND COOKIE BAKE.

EVERYONE IN ASHTON FALLS
PITCHES IN

TO MAKE THE--
OH, THE MOST DELICIOUS GOODIES

FOR TREE-LIGHTING NIGHT
ON WEDNESDAY.

- THAT'S THE FIRST OFFICIAL DAY
OF CHRISTMAS SEASON.

- OH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME?
OH, WOULDN'T YOU, DEAR?

I'M SURE YOU'D LIKE
TO SHOW OFF YOUR BAKING SKILLS.

WOULDN'T YOU, DEAR?

- MAYBE NEXT TIME.

- WELL, THERE WON'T BE
ANOTHER TIME

UNTIL NEXT YEAR, YOUNG LADY.

- AND IT'S GOOD
FOR THE PUBLIC RELATIONS

FOR THE PAGEANT...

AND THAT CREW
YOU'RE WORKING WITH.

- HMM?

- HMM?

- UGH.

- IT SMELLS JUST LIKE
LA PATISSERIE.

- HONEY...

WE'RE IN A CHURCH.
WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE.

- OH, NO, NO.

THAT'S THE NAME
OF MY FAVORITE BAKERY IN PARIS.

I-I...

I'LL JUST WATCH MY LANGUAGE.

- GARRETT, ETHEL!

- WELL, HELLO.
HELLO, NOAH.

NOW, YOU JUST
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME.

- HAPPIEST OF HAPPYS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
- GREETINGS, GREETINGS.

- HI, VERA.
PUNCH?

- OH, NO, THANKS.

- OH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

- OH, HEY, BOSS.

- HI.

- HI.
- HI, KRISTEN.

- ARE YOU GONNA HELP US
BAKE A CAKE?

- WELL, DON'T TELL ANYBODY,

BUT I'M NOT VERY GOOD
AT THIS SORT OF THING.

- DON'T WORRY.
I'LL TEACH YOU.

- OKAY.

- JUST TAKE THE FLOUR
AND PUT IT IN HERE.

- PUT THIS THING--
- YES.

- OKAY.

IN THERE.
- YES.

- LIKE THAT, OKAY.
- PERFECT.

- ANOTHER?
- JUST ONE MORE.

- JUST ONE MORE, OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, NOW--

- NOW, TAKE THE MIXER...
- MM-HMM.

- AND MIX IT UP.

- OH, HEY.

THIS IS NOT AS HARD
AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

- AND YOU'RE NOT SO BAD.

- WELL, THANK YOU,
YOUNG LADY.

- YOU'RE WELCOME.

- HEY.

- LOOK, DADDY,
WE'RE MAKING A CAKE.

- "DADDY"?

- OH, OH!

- OOH, CAREFUL.

- I'M GONNA GO GET CLEANED UP
RIGHT NOW.

AAH!

- OOH.

- I AM SO SORRY.
OH, MY GOSH.

- YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?

- YOU LOOK LIKE
A MELTING CANDLE.

- YES, I DO.

- YOU LOOK, UM--WE SHOULD GO
AND FIND THE KITCHEN

AND GET YOU CLEANED UP.

- OKAY.
- AW.

THEY MAKE SUCH
A SNAZZY COUPLE.

- OH, NOW, ETHEL,
DON'T START.

- AW, IT'S SO CUTE.

- AND WHEN DO
I GET TO MEET HER MOTHER?

- HEY, KRISTEN,
WHY DON'T YOU GO SEE

IF THEY NEED HELP
DECORATING?

- BUT--
- GO.

- UGH.

WHENEVER I GET
SENT OUT OF THE ROOM,

I MISS ALL
THE GOOD STUFF.

- I HEARD THAT
YOU HAD GOTTEN MARRIED.

- YEAH, AFTER YOU AND I ENDED
OUR ENGAGEMENT,

I KIND OF DRIFTED
FOR A WHILE.

THEN I GOT MARRIED TO LIZ.

SHE WAS A BROKER
AT THE FIRM.

- YOU JUMPED INTO THAT
RELATIONSHIP RATHER QUICKLY,

DIDN'T YOU?

- VERA...

YOU AND I WERE ALWAYS SO
CONSUMED WITH OUR CAREERS THAT--

- ISN'T THAT WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE
IN NEW YORK ARE SUPPOSED TO DO?

- SOMETIMES I THINK WE FORGOT
WHAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

- LIKE?
- LIKE US, FOR EXAMPLE.

- WELL, I DON'T KNOW--I THOUGHT
WE WERE PRETTY GOOD TOGETHER,

RIGHT UP
UNTIL YOU LEFT ME.

WHY DID YOU LEAVE?

- WELL, I...

REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE SUPPOSED
TO GO TO PARIS ON VACATION?

- WE TALKED ABOUT THAT,
LIKE, A THOUSAND TIMES.

- YOU KNEW HOW IMPORTANT
THAT JOB WAS TO MY CAREER.

- I KNOW THAT,
BUT WE PLANNED THAT TRIP

FOR OVER A YEAR.

AND AFTER
ALL THE MISSED DINNERS

AND THE ARGUMENTS
OVER SCHEDULES, I...

IT WAS KIND OF
THE LAST STRAW FOR ME.

- WELL, I HOPE
YOU AND LIZ ARE HAPPY.

- VERA...

LIZ PASSED AWAY
A FEW YEARS AGO.

- I AM SO SORRY.

- NO, IT'S ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT ABOUT,
UM, SELLING THE PLACE

AND GOING BACK TO THE CITY,
BUT YOU KNOW HOW IT IS.

YOU GET A LITTLE BIT OLDER,
AND IT'S HARD TO LEAVE

A PLACE THAT STARTS
TO FEEL LIKE HOME.

- MM, YEAH, T-THAT'S A FEELING
THAT I CAN'T QUITE RELATE TO.

- WELL, YOU'RE TOO BUSY
SLAYING DRAGONS ALL THE TIME.

- SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YEAH.

- OH, VERA, I AM...

- I HAVE TO
HIT THE HAY EARLY.

I HAVE A REALLY BIG DAY TOMORROW
WITH MY CAST AND CREW.

- OH, RIGHT.
WELL, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT--

OR BREAK A LEG.
- MM.

- WELL, LISTEN, UM,

YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS IN THIS TOWN
THEY KIND OF COME ACROSS

A LITTLE OLD-FASHIONED,
BUT THEY'RE REALLY GREAT PEOPLE.

THEY'D GIVE YOU
THE SHIRT OFF THEIR BACK.

- WELL, I'LL REMEMBER THAT
IN CASE I NEED A SHIRT.

WELL, MAYBE I'LL, UM--

I'LL JUST
COME BY THE COFFEE SHOP

FOR ANOTHER CUP OF TEA.

- I'D LIKE THAT.

OH, THESE ALWAYS GO OVER
REAL BIG WITH THE AUDIENCE.

- I DON'T KNOW, EDDIE.
IT'S KIND OF OLD AND DATED.

- I THOUGHT THEY WERE
SUPPOSED TO BE OLD AND DATED.

- YOU KNOW,
THEY CAN BE CORRECT

FOR THE PERIOD
AND STILL BE FRESH,

WITH DIFFERENT PATTERNS,
NEW FABRICS, COLORS.

I'M GONNA MEET
WITH ANITA ABOUT THAT.

REMIND ME, WILL YOU?

NOW, SHOW ME THE NEXT...

OKAY, AND BRING IT DOWNSTAGE,
DOWNSTAGE, DOWN...

AND STAGE RIGHT.

- OKAY, RIGHT HERE?

- A LITTLE BIT MORE...

OKAY, PUT IT THERE.

- UNH...

- WHAT DO YOU THINK?

- UH...

IT--IT'S DIFFERENT
FROM LAST YEAR?

- GOOD JOB.

JUST MARK IT AND JUST TAKE IT
OFF THE STAGE.

LIGHTING.

MM...

MM-MM. MM-MM.
NO, THAT'S TOO BOLD.

LET'S TRY THE OTHER ONE.

OH, I LIKE THAT.

YEAH, ALL RIGHT,
SO IT'S THE BLUE

FOR THE OVERHEAD,

THE GOLDEN YELLOW FOR
THE BABY SPOT ON THE MANGER,

AND THE MELLOW RED
FOR THE WISE MEN'S ENTRANCE.

AM I GOING TOO FAST, EDDIE?

- NO, I'M GETTING IT ALL.

- YOU KNOW, I'M STILL THINKING

ABOUT DOING THAT ONE SCENE
IN HARSH SILHOUETTE.

- OH...

THAT'LL REALLY RAISE
A HACKLE ON BEVERLY.

- THERE'S ONLY ONE DIRECTOR
ON THIS SHOW.

- ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE,

THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL
FOR AGREEING TO BE JUDGES

IN THE HOLIDAY LIGHTS
DISPLAY CONTEST.

AND A SPECIAL THANK-YOU

TO OUR VISITING
PAGEANT DIRECTOR,

VERA PARKS, FOR GRACIOUSLY
GIVING US HER TIME.

- OH, HONEY, YOU'RE GONNA CATCH
COLD WITHOUT A HAT.

- OH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
I'M NOT REALLY MUCH OF A HAT--

- OH, HERE,
I BROUGHT AN EXTRA.

I KNITTED IT MYSELF.
ISN'T IT A BEAUT?

- IT--
- AW.

- I'M SPEECHLESS.

- I HAVE MATCHING MITTENS HERE.

- NO, THAT'S FINE--
I'LL JUST PUT MY HANDS

IN MY POCKETS
BUT THANK--THANK YOU.

- AW, YOU'RE WELCOME.

- NOW, YOU ALL HAVE A LIST
OF PARTICIPATING HOMES.

JUST BE SURE TO STROLL
THROUGH TOWN AT YOUR LEISURE

AND BE SURE TO BE BACK HERE,
SHALL WE SAY...

YES, 8:00.

AND THERE WILL BE HOT COCOA
WAITING FOR EVERYONE

IN THE CITY HALL LOBBY.

- YOU DID IT LAST YEAR.
- NO, I DIDN'T.

- YES, YOU DID.
- NO, I DIDN'T.

I'VE NEVER DONE IT,
I'VE NEVER DONE IT.

- ARE YOU LOST?

NO.

BUT I AM CONFUSED.

I'M SUPPOSED TO BE JUDGING
THIS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS CONTEST,

BUT THIS HOUSE HAS JUST
ONE CANDLE IN A WINDOW.

- OH.
THAT'S BEVERLY'S HOUSE.

I'M SURPRISED--SHE USUALLY
GOES ALL-OUT FOR THE CONTEST.

- THAT IS BEVERLY'S HOUSE.

- YEAH. I'M SURPRISED
TO SEE IT SO BARE.

MAYBE SHE'S BUSY THIS YEAR.

- YEAH, SHE'S BUSY
GIVING ME A HARD TIME.

- OOH.

AH, SHE'S ALL BARK
AND NO BITE.

YOU KNOW, SHE HASN'T
BEEN HERSELF LATELY.

CAN I WALK YOU
TO THE NEXT HOUSE?

- I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

- YEAH?
- MM-HMM.

- ALL RIGHT.

- OKAY, HERE'S THE PAGEANT
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE.

I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE
TO LOOK IT OVER

AND CHECK FOR MISTAKES.

- I AM SURE
THERE ARE NO MISTAKES.

YOU ARE DOING
A VERY GOOD JOB, EDDIE.

- OH, THANK YOU.
- MM-HMM.

- I GOT TO GO CHECK ON THE
MANGER AND LET EVERYONE KNOW

WHAT TIME
TO BE HERE TOMORROW.

- GREAT.
- OH-HO! GREAT OUTFIT, NOAH.

RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION?
- THANK YOU. TA-DA!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- I LIKE IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW,
I THINK THE HAT

MIGHT BE A BIT TOO MUCH.

- DO YOU?

- MM-HMM.

- OH, REALLY?
YOU THINK SO?

- YEAH.

BUT...

A RED ROSE ON THE LAPEL
WOULD BE PERFECT.

- WELL, THEN...

A RED ROSE
ON THE LAPEL IT IS.

I DIDN'T KNOW
ANYONE WAS HERE.

- DON'T STOP SINGING.

- I WASN'T REALLY SINGING.

- NO, YOU WERE.

AND IT WAS WONDERFUL.

- UM...

I HAVE TO FINISH
SEWING THESE COSTUMES.

- ANITA, YOUR VOICE--

IT'S SO PURE.

WOULDN'T IT BE NICE
TO JUST SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE?

- UH, I...

I REALLY CAN'T DO THAT.

- I KNOW HOW SCARY
IT CAN BE TO GET UP AND SING

IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.

BUT WE REALLY COULD USE
YOUR VOICE IN THE PAGEANT.

- EXCUSE ME.

I HAVE TO FINISH THIS WORK.

- DADDY, DO YOU MISS MOMMY?

- YES, I DO.

- ME TOO.

- I KNOW YOU DO, SWEETIE.

- I THINK ABOUT HER
AT BREAKFAST AND AT NIGHT

AND ON THE PLAYGROUND.

- YOU KNOW THAT'S OKAY.

WHEN WE MISS SOMEONE
WHO'S NOT HERE,

WE KEEP THEIR MEMORY ALIVE
IN OUR HEARTS.

- THAT'S RIGHT.

BUT WHAT IF YOU
MEET A LADY SOMEDAY

AND YOU LIKE HER A LOT?

WOULD THAT BE A BAD THING?

- NO.

IT'S NATURAL
TO WANT TO BE WITH SOMEONE.

- AND IF YOU LIKE SOMEONE

THAT DOESN'T MEAN
YOU STOP LOVING MOMMY?

- OF COURSE NOT.

SHE'LL ALWAYS BE YOUR MOMMY.

AND I'LL ALWAYS LOVE HER.

THOSE THINGS DON'T END
JUST BECAUSE SHE'S NOT HERE.

- THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

- WELL, YOU THOUGHT RIGHT.

I LOVE YOU.
- I LOVE YOU.

WANT TO HOPSCOTCH
ALL THE WAY HOME?

- WELL, I DON'T KNOW
ABOUT ALL THE WAY HOME.

WANT TO SEE HOW FAR WE CAN GET?
- OKAY.

- OKAY.

OH, I'M TOO OLD FOR THIS.

- YOU HAVE A VISITOR, VERA.

I HAVE SOME CHORES
TO DO UPSTAIRS.

- THIS IS FOR YOU.

BYE.

I HOPE YOU CAN COME.

"DEAR VERA, CAN YOU PLEASE
COME TO MY HOUSE FOR TEA?

"THERE WILL BE FOOD, TOO.

"ALSO, HONEY
WILL BE AVAILABLE.

"GIVE ME TEN MINUTES
TO SET THE TABLE

"AND THEN COME
TO MY HOUSE FOR TEA.

"I HOPE YOU LIKE TEA.

"SINCERELY, KRISTEN.

P.S., I HOPE YOU ARE
HAVING A NICE DAY."

YOU CAME!
- OF COURSE.

- COME IN.

MAY I TAKE YOUR COAT?

- YES, YOU MAY.

- BEAUTIFUL WEATHER,
DON'T YOU THINK?

- YES, IT IS.

- WE HAVEN'T FINISHED
DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS YET.

YOU CAN SIT HERE.

- ALL RIGHT.

WHA--KRISTEN,
AREN'T YOU GONNA JOIN ME?

- OH.

- APPARENTLY THAT'S MY CHAIR.

- I SEE.

- I PROMISE YOU
I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.

- AND YET YOU'VE MANAGED
TO GET DRESSED...

OR SOME SEMBLANCE THEREOF.

- OH, WELL, KRISTEN
PICKED OUT MY ENSEMBLE.

- WELL, SHE HAS
A UNIQUE EYE.

- UH-HUH.

SHE DOES.

- WHO WANTS APPETIZERS?

- MM.
- AND YOUR TEA.

I WILL BE IN THE KITCHEN
MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS.

OH, I ALMOST FORGOT.

- CHRISTMAS MUSIC.

- OH.
- VERY NICE.

- NICE.

MY DAUGHTER HAS BIG IDEAS.

- WELL, I THINK
IT'S ADORABLE.

- HMM, YOU MUST REALLY RATE
HIGHLY WITH HER,

BECAUSE I USUALLY GET
PLAIN OYSTER CRACKERS

AND YOU GOT
HER PEANUT BUTTER ONES.

- DAD, I'M SURE GLAD
YOU BROUGHT VERA TO TOWN.

- DID...

DID SHE JUST SAY "BROUGHT,"

BECAUSE YOU TOLD ME THAT YOU
KIND OF RECOMMENDED ME.

- YEAH, WELL...

DON'T BE ANGRY WITH ME.

- NO.

I'M CONFUSED.

I'M GONNA--I'M GONNA SAVE ANGRY
FOR LATER, THOUGH.

- OKAY.

WELL, THE THEATER COMPANY
NEEDED A DIRECTOR,

AND THEY COULDN'T AFFORD
TO BRING ONE IN.

AND I'VE BEEN
KIND OF FOLLOWING YOUR CAREER.

BOY...

AND I, UM, KNEW
THAT YOU NEEDED A JOB,

SO I SORT OF OFFERED TO PAY
FOR YOUR SALARY.

- I DON'T NEED CHARITY.
- I KNOW.

I'M SORRY.

IT WASN'T HONEST.
I DON'T--YOU KNOW, UH...

THE TRUTH IS, I JUST REALLY
WANTED TO SEE YOU.

- PFFT.

WELL, NOW I DON'T KNOW WHETHER
TO BE ANGRY OR FLATTERED.

- YOU KNOW, I WAS AFRAID
IF I JUST PICKED UP THE PHONE

AND CALLED YOU
THAT YOU'D JUST SAY NO.

- SO YOU TRICKED ME.

- NO, I DIDN'T.
- YES, YOU DID.

- YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M SORRY. IT WAS DUMB.

IT WAS REALLY STUPID.

AND, UM...

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

- IT'S OKAY.

TRUTH IS,
I NEEDED THE JOB.

AND THOUGH THE PAGEANT
IS NO RESUME BOOSTER...

THIS IS A NICE PLACE
TO SPEND DECEMBER.

- SO YOU'RE NOT
ANGRY WITH ME?

- WHA--ANGER?

WHAT ANGER?

- ANGER.
- NO ANGER.

ANGER JUST
BREEDS REVENGE, YOU KNOW?

AND REVENGE SORT OF--
- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

- IT JUST REARS ITS...

- WHAT ARE YOU DOING
WITH THE CRACKER?

- UGLY HEAD.

- PUT THE--PUT THE CRACKER--
VERA, DON'T THROW THAT.

- AND SOMETIMES...
- NO, YOU'RE NOT--

- YOU JUST FIND REVENGE
STARING YOU RIGHT IN THE FACE!

OH, DO YOU SURRENDER?

- OH, ABSOLUTELY.

MY DAUGHTER
IS PROBABLY WATCHING US.

- OH...
- UM...

THIS IS GOOD.

- OH, HELLO, DEAR.
DID YOU HAVE A NICE DAY?

- I DID.

ETHEL, MAY I ASK YOU
FOR SOME ADVICE?

- OF COURSE.

- IT'S ABOUT--
- IS IT ABOUT A BOY?

- WELL, A MAN.

I MEAN--
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

- COME HERE.

- YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE HARD
TO KNOW WHAT TO FEEL

WHEN YOU HAVEN'T FELT
ANYTHING IN A WHILE.

- OH, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
HOW DID YOU KNOW?

- RAISE FOUR GIRLS,

STAY MARRIED FOR 43 YEARS...

YOU PICK UP
A THING OR TWO.

- I JUST--I DON'T WANT TO LET
MY GUARD DOWN.

I'M ONLY HERE
FOR A FEW WEEKS.

I REALLY DON'T WANT
A RELATIONSHIP.

- YOU CAN'T THINK
YOUR WAY OUT OF IT, VERA.

YOU HAVE TO FEEL
YOUR WAY THROUGH.

YOU MAY BE UPSET
BECAUSE YOUR HEART'S TELLING YOU

SOMETHING YOUR MIND
DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR.

- YOU AND GARRETT
SEEM SO HAPPY.

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

- OH, WE HAVE OUR MOMENTS.

EVERY COUPLE DOES.

BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT
WE'RE NOT WORKING ON SOMETHING

ON THE OUTSIDE,

WE AGREED TO DO THIS TOGETHER,
COME WHAT MAY.

AND I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING.

IT MAY BE FUN TO CLIMB
A MOUNTAIN ALL BY YOURSELF.

BUT WHEN YOU
GET TO THE TOP...

IT'S SO MUCH NICER
TO SHARE THAT VIEW

WITH SOMEONE YOU LOVE.

- THANK YOU.

- ANYTIME, DEAR.

GOOD EVENING, LADIES!

WHAT ARE YOU TWO
CONSPIRING ABOUT?

- UH...

MOUNTAIN CLIMBING.

- MOUNTAIN...?

- CLIMBING.
- MM.

- HUH?

- VERA, CAN I TALK TO YOU?

- HI, BEVERLY.

- WHAT IS GOING ON?
- WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

- WELL, THIS ANGEL COSTUME
HAS NO HALO.

- OH, YEAH, THAT, WELL--
- ANGELS NEED HALOS--

WINGS AND HALOS,
HALOS AND WINGS.

THEY GO TOGETHER
LIKE BREAD AND BUTTER.

- YES, I KNOW THAT,
BUT WE TRIED USING THE HALOS,

AND THEY KEPT DROOPING DOWN,
SO I DECIDED TO USE

A REALLY NICE
LIGHTING EFFECT--

- NO!

- EXCUSE ME?

- ANGELS HAVE HALOS!

WHY DID YOU HAVE TO COME HERE
AND CHANGE EVERYTHING?

- I'M NOT TRYING
TO CHANGE EVERYTHING.

I'M JUST THROWING OUT IDEAS
TO FRESHEN THINGS UP.

THAT'S ALL.

- OKAY, FIRST YOU TRIED
TO GET RID OF THE ALUMINUM STAR.

THEN YOU TRIED
TO FIRE EDDIE.

AND THEN YOU SAID, "LET'S DO
THE SCENE AT THE INN IN SHADOW."

NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO TELL ME
THAT ANGELS DON'T NEED HALOS.

WELL, LET ME
TELL YOU SOMETHING.

ANGELS NEED HALOS,

OR ELSE THEY'RE JUST
A BUNCH OF TODDLERS IN CHIFFON.

- LISTEN, BEVERLY,

IT'S OBVIOUS THAT
YOU DON'T WANT ME HERE,

BUT I AM HERE,

AND I AM THE DIRECTOR,
AND IN MY JOB AS THE DIRECTOR,

I WILL MAKE WHATEVER DECISIONS
I HAVE TO MAKE

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER
YOU LIKE THEM OR NOT.

GOT IT?

NOW, IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME,
I HAVE A JOB TO DO.

- WELCOME, WELCOME ALL
TO THE ANNUAL ASHTON FALLS

TREE-LIGHTING CEREMONY.

MM, AND AFTERWARDS WE CAN ALL
TASTE THOSE CAKES AND COOKIES

AT CITY HALL.

- YUM!

- AW!

- NOW, BEFORE WE BEGIN
AND THROW THE SWITCH,

I WOULD LIKE
TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

- OH? WELL, THERE'S
NOTHING SURPRISING ABOUT THAT.

- IT'S TRUE!

- NO LONG-WINDED SPEECHES,
I PROMISE, IT'S JUST...

WELL, THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
WE HAVE WITH US

A VERY SPECIAL GUEST, AND
I WONDER IF YOU ALL WOULD MIND

IF WE LET VERA PARKS
THROW THE SWITCH.

- OH, WHAT A GOOD IDEA.
- OH, THAT'S NICE.

- NO. NO, NO, NO.
IT'S YOUR CEREMONY.

- NONSENSE, VERA, PLEASE.

YOU'RE ONE OF US NOW.

- GO ON NOW.
- COME ON.

- ALL RIGHT.
- MS. GUMM?

- BUT--KRISTEN,
WILL YOU HELP ME?

- YES, PLEASE.
- AW.

- OKAY, LET'S DO IT.
- ALL RIGHT.

- THREE, TWO, ONE...

GO!

- LET THE SEASON
OF GOODWILL BEGIN.

- I LOVE CHRISTMASTIME.

EVERYBODY'S
SO NICE TO EACH OTHER.

I WISH IT CAN ALWAYS BE
LIKE THAT.

- HEAR, HEAR.

all:

- MORNING, VERA.

- MORNING, BOSS.

- I JUST LOVE POINSETTIAS...

REAL OR NOT.

- WHERE IS BEVERLY?

- OH, SHE CALLED.

UH, WON'T BE COMING.

SHE SOUNDED OUT OF SORTS.

- OH, BEVERLY...

I THOUGHT MAYBE WE COULD TALK
TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY--

- VERA...

- WHAT'S WRONG?

- THEY DID SOME TESTS.

- WHAT DO YOU--
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

- A FEW WEEKS AGO,
I HAD MY ANNUAL PHYSICAL,

AND THEY FOUND SOMETHING,

AND, UH, I HAD TO GO IN
FOR A BIOPSY.

- OH, NO.

- AND NOW I'M
IN THE WAITING GAME,

AND IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY.

- OH, I AM SO SORRY YOU
HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS.

- HELLO.
- HI.

- PEPPERMINT TEA
WITH HONEY COMING UP.

- ACTUALLY, I WAS HOPING YOU
MIGHT BE ABLE TO COME WITH ME.

- YEAH, IS EVERYTHING OKAY?

- YEAH, I JUST NEED
YOUR OPINION ABOUT SOMETHING.

- SURE, NO PROBLEM.

HEY, SAM, WILL
YOU MIND THE STORE?

COOL.

WHAT'S UP?

- OH, YOU'RE GONNA
HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

- OOH, SOUNDS MYSTERIOUS.

NOW, NO PEEKING.

OH, WAIT.
OKAY.

- IF YOU'RE GOING TO MUG ME,

I DON'T CARRY
MUCH CASH, SO...

- WELL, THAT
IS A GOOD THING,

BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED MONEY
HERE IN PARIS.

- PARIS?

- YOU CAN LOOK NOW.
- YOU SURE?

- MM-HMM.

VOILA.

- I FIGURED I OWED YOU
A PICNIC IN PARIS,

AT THE VERY LEAST.

- DID YOU MAKE ALL THIS?

- WELL, ETHEL PUT IT TOGETHER,
BUT I WAS STANDING THERE

THE WHOLE TIME OFFERING
LOTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

- OOH. WELL, HERE'S
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.

- MM.

- A VOTRE SANTE.

- I WILL DRINK TO THAT.

- MMM.
- MMM.

ACTUALLY, I AM.

AND YOU WERE RIGHT.

THE PEOPLE HERE
ARE REALLY NICE,

AND THEY'VE BEEN
SO SUPPORTIVE,

AND I AM HAVING FUN
DIRECTING THE PAGEANT.

I'M HAVING A BLAST.

- WOW. YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK
I'VE EVER HEARD YOU TALK

ABOUT A JOB LIKE THAT,
EVEN BACK IN THE DAY, NEVER.

- WELL, I LOVE DIRECTING.

I JUST THINK I'VE BEEN DOING IT
FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS.

- WELL, MAYBE
YOU NEED A CHANGE.

- YOU MEAN...

MOVE HERE?

- WHY NOT?

YOU'D BE GUARANTEED A JOB
EVERY DECEMBER,

AND YOU ALREADY KNOW THE GUY

THAT MAKES THE BEST POT OF TEA
IN TOWN...

ME.

- BEVERLY...
- THANK YOU FOR COMING.

I'M SORRY TO BOTHER YOU,

BUT THE DOCTOR IS SUPPOSED
TO CALL ANY MINUTE.

- YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER THAT?

- NO, I'LL DO IT.

- BEVERLY, THE PHONE.

- HELLO?

YES.

I SEE.

FINE.

SEE YOU THEN.

- SO?
- I'M FINE.

- WHA--WHAT?
- THE BIOPSY WAS NEGATIVE.

I'M AS HEALTHY AS A HORSE.

WHOO!

- I AM GONNA DECORATE
THIS WHOLE PLACE

UNTIL I PASS OUT!

WHOO!

- GOOD AFTERNOON.
BEAUTIFUL DAY.

- HI, VERA.
- HELLO.

HAPPY ALMOST CHRISTMAS.
- MERRY CHRISTMAS.

- NOW, REMEMBER,
A KRIS KRINGLE GIFT

ISN'T ABOUT THE MONEY
YOU SPEND.

IT'S ABOUT THE THOUGHT
THAT GOES BEHIND IT.

I HAVE CREATED THIS HANDY LIST
ALPHABETIZED AND BY CATEGORY

OF SOME GIFTS
YOU MIGHT LIKE TO CONSIDER.

- ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY,

WE ARE GETTING VERY CLOSE
TO THE BIG NIGHT.

SO, FIRST THING TOMORROW,

WE'RE GONNA RUN THROUGH
THE ENTIRE SHOW

FROM BEGINNING TO END
TO GET A SENSE OF THE TIMING.

- HEY!

YOU HEARD OUR DIRECTOR.

THIS IS GONNA BE
THE BEST PAGEANT EVER.

- IT'S TRUE.

- OKAY, CREW, MAKE SURE
YOU GO OVER THAT CHECKLIST

THAT I GAVE YOU
FOR TOMORROW, OKAY?

HEY, I GOT NOAH!

- BUT, I...

- KNOCK, KNOCK.
- OH.

HI, VERA.

- CAN I BOTHER YOU
FOR A MINUTE?

WOW.

OH, THAT IS REALLY NICE.

- IT'S NOTHING, REALLY.

- OH, THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK.

YOU KNOW, IN NEW YORK,
YOU COULD CHARGE

AN ARM AND A LEG
FOR THAT KIND OF WORK.

- REALLY?
- OH, YEAH.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA.

PEOPLE THINK
IT'S JUST STITCH WORK.

THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT TAKES
TO PULL IT ALL TOGETHER.

- ACTUALLY, THAT'S TRUE.

YOU HAVE TO THINK
OF THE FEEL OF THE FABRIC

AND THE SWAY
OF THE CLOTH.

- COULD YOU TEACH ME?

- YOU WANT ME
TO TEACH YOU?

- HOW COULD I GO WRONG
LEARNING FROM AN EXPERT?

- I...

YES, THAT WOULD BE FINE.

- GREAT.
- IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY EASY.

- ABOUT THE PAGEANT...

ANITA, I--
- I'LL DO IT.

- EXCUSE ME?
- I'LL SING!

- ALL RIGHT, KEEP BREATHING.

KEEP BREATHING.

THERE.

IT'S VERY BRAVE OF YOU TO GET UP
ON THE STAGE LIKE THIS.

- I CAN'T DO THIS.

MY NERVES ARE KILLING ME.
- USE THEM.

NERVES ARE GOOD.
EVERYBODY GETS STAGE FRIGHT.

- EVEN YOU?

- I HAD A TEACHER
WHO ONCE SAID THAT THE DAY

YOU STOP HAVING
STAGE FRIGHT, QUIT.

- BUT ALL THE PEOPLE
WILL BE OUT THERE.

- DON'T SEE THEM.

- HOW?

- CLOSE YOUR EYES.

OKAY.

AND TELL ME
WHAT YOU SEE.

- NOTHING.

- NOW JUST IMAGINE
THAT YOU'RE AT HOME,

ALL ALONE,
AND YOU'RE SINGING.

I DID IT.

- YEP, YOU DID IT.

- THANK YOU.

- HELLO?
- HELLO.

ARE YOU SITTING DOWN?
- OH, BETTER THAN THAT.

I AM LAYING DOWN.

- WELL, I HAVE NEWS.

I HAVE BIG NEWS.

I HAVE LIFE-CHANGING NEWS.

- ALL RIGHT, PETER,
STOP PACING IN YOUR OFFICE

AND TELL ME.

- I JUST BOOKED YOU A GIG.

YOU'RE GOING TO DIRECT
A NEW, HOT OFF-BROADWAY SHOW.

- SAY THAT AGAIN.

- THE PLAY THAT YOU
WERE FIRED FROM FOLDED.

SO A NEW PRODUCER
CAME IN TO THAT SAME THEATER

WITH A NEW PLAY.

I PITCHED YOU
AND HE BOUGHT IT.

- UH, WAIT,
AND NOBODY CRINGED?

- YEAH, AND GET THIS.

THEY'VE ALREADY
CAST FRANK BALDWIN.

- WHA--OSCAR-WINNER
FRANK BALDWIN?

WHO HASN'T DONE
A PLAY IN 30 YEARS.

THAT'S HUGE.
- I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW.

- OH, MY GOD,
THIS IS AMAZING.

- I KNOW,
AND THIS THING

IS ALREADY GOING
100 MILES AN HOUR

AND THEY WANT TO SEE YOU THERE
FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING.

- WAIT, MONDAY--
IN TWO DAYS?

- YUP, THAT'S OKAY.

YOU JUST GET YOUR BUTT ON
THE FIRST TRAIN OUT OF MAYBERRY

AND I'LL MEET YOU FOR LUNCH
AT THE DINER ON 58TH STREET,

OKAY?

I GOT TO RUN, BYE-BYE.

I CAN DO THIS.

AHEM.

I'LL JUST TELL THEM
STRAIGHT OUT.

THEY'LL WISH ME LUCK,
I'LL LEAVE FOR NEW YORK,

SIMPLE.

- BUT YOU CAN'T GO.

- WE NEED YOU.

- THE PAGEANT
IS IN GREAT SHAPE.

YOU ALL HAVE
WORKED SO HARD.

IT'S ALL YOU.
IT'S NOT ME.

- NO, IT'S YOUR PAGEANT TOO.
YOU'VE WORKED SO HARD.

- AND YOU SHOULD BE THERE
TO SHARE IT WITH US.

- WE WANT YOU TO STAY.

I WANT YOU TO STAY.

- VERA, I CAN'T
DO IT WITHOUT YOU.

- UH...

IT BREAKS MY HEART TO LEAVE.
IT DOES.

BUT OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS
DON'T JUST COME ALONG

FOR A DIRECTOR.

I MEAN, THIS IS A
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME--

- HI.

WHAT'S GOING ON?
WHY IS EVERYBODY SO GLUM?

- VERA IS GOING TO NEW YORK.

- WHAT?

- I WAS GONNA TALK TO YOU--

- YOU'RE LEAVING?

BEFORE CHRISTMAS?

- HONEY...

WHEN YOU'RE A GROWN-UP,
YOU'LL UNDERSTAND.

- NO, I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND.

- UH...JACK?

ALL RIGHT,
I HAVE TO GO PACK.

AND THE PAGEANT
IS GONNA BE REALLY GOOD

BECAUSE YOU'VE
WORKED REALLY HARD.

AND I WISH I COULD STAY
BUT I HAVE TO GO.

- THEY LOOK BEAUTIFUL.
- THANK YOU.

- WELL, WE'RE
GONNA MISS YOU, VERA.

- I'LL MISS YOU TOO.

- UH, I WAS GONNA
GIVE YOU THIS FOR CHRISTMAS

BUT, UH, SINCE
YOU'RE LEAVING AND ALL,

UM...

UH, THIS WAS ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND
AND, UH, I SAW IT WAS WILTING

SO I PRESSED IT
AND HAD IT FRAMED.

IT'S JUST
A LITTLE SOMETHIN', YOU KNOW.

- THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA
HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO ME.

- WELL,
YOU MEAN A...

YOU MEAN A LOT
TO, UH, ALL OF US.

AHEM.

UH, WELL, NOW I BETTER
GET AFTER THAT HOT WATER HEATER.

- AREN'T YOU
GONNA SAY GOODBYE?

NOT EVEN
A "SEE YOU LATER?"

KRISTEN, HONEY...

I LOVE...

DIRECTING.

AND THIS JOB
IS GONNA GIVE ME A CHANCE

TO DO
WHAT I LOVE.

- I THOUGHT THAT'S
WHAT YOU WERE DOING HERE.

- WELL, IT IS.

- THEN WHY DO YOU
NEED AN EVEN BIGGER JOB?

SO YOU CAN
LOVE IT EVEN MORE?

- NO.

- THEN YOU'RE
NOT MAKING ANY SENSE

AND I DON'T WANT TO
TALK TO YOU ANYMORE.

- KRISTEN, PLEASE
DON'T LEAVE LIKE THIS.

I'M NOT HUGGING YOU GOOD-BYE.

I'M JUST HUGGING YOU
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT.

- JACK, I'M TORN.

I MEAN, THIS REALLY
IS A VERY IMPORTANT JOB.

BUT I--
- I KNOW.

YOU HAVE ANOTHER
DRAGON TO SLAY IN NEW YORK.

GOOD LUCK.

COME ON, HONEY.

ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD
TO SCHOOL AFTER THE NEW YEAR?

- YEAH, I GUESS.

SORT OF.

- WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "SORT OF?"
I THOUGHT YOU LIKED SCHOOL.

- YOU THINK
I'LL EVER SEE VERA AGAIN?

- I DON'T KNOW, HONEY.

- I HOPE SO.

- WELL, SOMETIMES
OUR HOPES LET US DOWN.

- THEN I WISH--
I MAKE IT MY BIG CHRISTMAS WISH.

- YOU REALLY LIKED THE SHOW?

I DON'T KNOW.
- YEAH.

- COME ON, EVERYBODY,
DON'T BE SO DOWN.

- I DON'T THINK
I CAN SING WITHOUT VERA.

- SURE YOU CAN.

- I FEEL THE SAME,
SHE GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE

TO BE A GREAT
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.

AND WITHOUT HER,
I FEEL LIKE

I CAN ONLY BE
A MEDIOCRE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.

- EDDIE, PEOPLE!

WE'VE BEEN THROUGH FLOODS
AND WARS AND DEPRESSIONS--

- IT'S JUST NOT THE SAME.
- I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

- I KNOW WHAT
I'M GONNA DO.

- ALL RIGHT,
THAT WAS GREAT,

BUT I WANTED
TO DO IT AGAIN.

I WANT YOU TO KEEP
THE INTENSITY,

BUT DO IT
A LITTLE SLOWER.

ESPECIALLY AFTER
THE PHONE CALL.

- NO, WE CANNOT
TRY THAT SCENE AGAIN!

JUST TELL ME
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR

AND I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU,
BUT THIS ENDLESS NITPICKING

HAS GOT TO STOP!

- LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.

YOU...

LOOK...

WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO
IS JUST TO HELP YOU

FIND AN EASIER PATHWAY
FOR YOUR CHARACTER

THROUGH THE SCENE.

- DON'T LECTURE ME, YOUNG LADY.

IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED,
I'M THE BIG FISH IN THIS POND.

- WHA--?

OH.

I'M SORRY.

EVERYBODY TAKE TEN.

- WHAT'D I MISS?

- UGH!

- WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

- WE'RE HERE TO ASK
YOU TO COME BACK WITH US.

- WE NEED YOU, VERA.
- PLEASE COME BACK.

- I CAN'T DO IT
BY MYSELF, VERA.

- OH...

- YOU SAID AT CHRISTMASTIME
BELIEVING IN THINGS

MAKES THEM REAL.

REMEMBER?

- I REMEMBER.

- I BELIEVE YOU'RE
GONNA COME BACK AND SHARE

THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT WITH US.

- HONEY,
IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

- YOU SAID IT DID.

- I KNOW.

- AND I BELIEVED YOU.

- SOMETIMES,
GROWN-UPS DON'T--

- CAN WE PLEASE
GET RID OF THESE TOURISTS

AND GET ON
WITH THE REHEARSAL?

- THEY ARE NOT TOURISTS!

THEY HAPPEN
TO BE FRIENDS OF MINE!

- WE DON'T HAVE TIME
FOR YOU TO MAKE CHIT-CHAT

WITH AUNT JOAN
FROM ST. LOUIS!

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

ARE YOU GOING
TO DIRECT THIS PLAY OR NOT?

- NOT.

I QUIT.

- AH!
- YES!

- I KNEW SHE WOULD!

- YAAY!

- SHE QUIT.

NO ONE QUITS ON ME.

- HEY, ETHEL.
- HIYA.

- IS MY DATE READY?
- OH, I BELIEVE SO.

VERA!

YOUR GENTLEMAN CALLER IS HERE.

- WOW, YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.

- THANK YOU.

- CAN I ESCORT YOU
TO THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT?

- I THOUGHT YOU'D NEVER ASK.

- GARRETT?

WE'RE GONNA BE LATE.

- COMING.
I AM COMING.

AH, EXCUSE ME.

MADAME.
- YES, DEAR.

THANK YOU.

- READY TO GO.

NOW.
- I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT.

HM.

- WELCOME TO
THE ASHTON FALLS

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT.

DIRECTED BY VERA PARKS.

AND ASSISTED BY EDDIE FLEMING.

- ALL RIGHT, EDDIE!

- LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...

SHERRY GUMM.

- AHEM.

SING ME A SONG
OF CHRISTMAS PAST.

OF GOLDEN MEMORIES THAT LAST,

OF SHINING STARS
THAT LIT THE WAY.

OF LOVE WE SHARED
ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

GRANT EVERY CHILD'S WISH
WITHOUT DELAY.

CHRISTMAS COMES
BUT ONCE A YEAR.

IT IS OUR JOB
TO CONTINUE THE JOY AND CHEER.

- I'M SORRY, BUT
THERE ARE NO ROOMS AVAILABLE.

IF YOU'D LIKE YOU CAN

STAY IN THE STABLE
WITH THE COWS AND THE SHEEP.

- WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

THAT WASN'T
IN THE SCRIPT.

- SHH, JUST WATCH.
- ALL RIGHT.

- OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

- EDDIE CAME UP
WITH THAT IDEA.

- HE DID?

- YEAH, HE SAID
HE LEARNED IT FROM YOU.

- THAT'S GREAT!
THAT WAS GREAT!

- AND NOW, IN HER
VERY FIRST PUBLIC PERFORMANCE,

MISS ANITA CORNING.

- VERA...

THIS SONG'S FOR YOU.

- OH, YOU MAKE
A BEAUTIFUL ANGEL, KRISTEN.

- THANKS.

AND I WISH I COULD
SING LIKE YOU, MISS ANITA.

- OH, THANK YOU, KRISTEN.

- COME ON, LET'S GO.

- YOU WERE SO GOOD.

- I WAS SO NERVOUS
BUT I JUST USED MY NERVES,

JUST LIKE YOU TOLD ME.

- WELL, THE PERFORMANCES
WERE ALL JUST SPECTACULAR.

SHERRY,
YOUR POEM WAS AMAZING.

AND EDDIE, OH,
THAT SCENE, IT WAS WONDERFUL.

- WELL, YOU TAUGHT ME
EVERYTHING I KNOW, VERA.

- WELL, I COULDN'T
BE MORE PROUD.

THE WHOLE PAGEANT
WAS JUST--IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

- I PICKED YOUR NAME
OUT OF THE BASKET.

- OH!

- OH.
- OH.

- OH, I LOVE IT.

- I HAVE A BONE
TO PICK WITH YOU.

- OH.

- WHAT NOW?

- WHERE'S MY CHRISTMAS HUG?

- JACK...

I PICKED YOUR NAME
BUT I FORGOT TO GET YOU A GIFT.

- THAT'S OKAY.

JACK HARMON...

I LOVE YOU.

- I LOVE YOU TOO.

- IT LOOKS LIKE
CHRISTMAS WISHES DO COME TRUE.

- I KNEW IT WOULD WORK OUT.

- OH, NOW, ETHEL.