All language subtitles for A.Holiday.Romance.1999.480p.DVDRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]

♪ Sleigh bells ring
are you listening? ♪

Downloaded from
YTS.MX

♪ In the lane snow
is glistening ♪

Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX

♪ It's a beautiful sight,
we're happy tonight ♪

♪ Walking in a
winter wonderland ♪

♪ Gone away is the bluebird

♪ Here to stay is the new bird

♪ He sings a love
song as we go along. ♪

♪ Walking in a
winter wonderland ♪

♪ In the meadow we
can build a snowman ♪

♪ And pretend that
he is Parson Brown ♪

♪ He'll say are you
married, we'll say no man ♪

♪ But you can do the job
while you're in town ♪

♪ Later on we'll conspire
as we dream by the fire ♪

♪ To face unafraid the
plans that we've made ♪

♪ Walking in a
winter wonderland ♪

♪ Sleigh bells ring
are you listening? ♪

♪ In the lane snow
is glistening ♪

♪ It's a beautiful sight
we're happy tonight ♪

Walking in a winter wonderland

♪ Later on we'll conspire
as we dream by the fire ♪

♪ To face unafraid the
plans that we've made ♪

♪ Walking in a
winter wonderland ♪

♪ To face unafraid the
plans that we've made ♪

♪ Walking in a
winter wonderland ♪

- Well, congratulations.

We've been driving for
four and a half hours,

and you have not said one word.

- I don't wanna be here.

- Duly noted. You had no choice.

- Bethlehem, Kentucky.

- [Cal] Just remember
it's temporary.

[voices vocalizing]

♪ Walking in a
winter wonderland ♪

- I thought you were gonna get
outta the hatchet business?

- I am.

Got a desperate situation here.

They close the school,
they're gonna be busing kids

40 minutes every day.

And I've been promised
a teaching position
when this is over

anywhere I want.

- I don't understand
why we had to leave now.

- I just wanted to torture you.

- You did. We could have
waited until after Christmas.

- I gotta rework the budget
by the first of the year.

They need a report in two weeks.

- And I just get dragged along.

- Hey, listen,

you and I are the
only family we have

and we are sticking together.

Now, when this is all over,

we will move anywhere
you want, I promise.

- There's nothing to do here.

- You get to visit your Grandpa.

[Fern scoffs]

- Even you think
Grandpa's weird.

That's why you always scurry
home after a day or two.

Whenever I see him, I
feel like I'm in the Army.

- Air Force.

- Whatever, I have
to make my bed,

but I can't make my
bed anyway I want to.

I have to square the
corners, like perfect.

- Perfectly.

- Whatever.

And whenever mom
and I used to visit,

I'd always mess up his
schedule cause I don't get up

at five o'clock and I don't
know when to go to bed,

cause I can't remember
what time 2200 hours is.

- Ten hut! Welcome
to Camp Peterson.

All new recruits up the steps,

double time and
hug your Grandpa.

- Hi Grandpa.

- What happened to your eyes?

Why didn't you
tell me about this?

Did you see a decent doctor?
Why doesn't anybody call.

- Nothing wrong with
her eyes, Daddy.

- What?

- They're just
sunglasses, Grandpa.

You know, fashion?

- In December?

- Daddy.

- Excuse me.

- Is she gonna be all right?

- If we leave her alone.

- Didn't your uncle
ever tell you sunglasses

will run you blind?

- Good to see you too, Daddy.

[voices vocalizing]

♪ Walking in a
winter wonderland ♪

♪ Walking in a
winter wonderland ♪

[voices chattering]

- Mr. Peterson?

- Yes.

- Oh, thank God you're
here at last. We're saved.

- Mrs. Buskins?

- Yes.

Come on into the office.

Hi, you must be Fern. Well,
come on in, come on in.

[bell dings]

[Jake gasps]

- Stop that somebody will see.

- I don't care.

- I do. Daggone.

[Margie laughs]

- So what do you
want for Christmas?

- I got everything I need.

- How about a new radio?

So you can listen to those
old programs of yours

on something that's
got all its knobs.

- I like my old radio.
I know how it works.

And besides it was made
about the same time

my programs were.

- Ha! The ice age.

- Yeah.

George and Gracie, "The
Shadow," Jack Benny.

They wouldn't sound
right on a new radio.

They need that tinny quality.

- Well, there's gotta
be something you want.

- See this?

Its a Christmas card from
a wife of an old Air Force

buddy of mine, Clark Kelso,
he was our navigator.

We flew 22 missions
together. He was a great guy.

Always laughing.

Always making jokes.

- What'd she say?

- Clark passed
away last November.

- Aw.

- First I knew of it.

Now that's what I
want for Christmas,

to see my old crew again,

what's left of them.

That would really be
something special.

- You don't know where they are?

- Not a one.

We used to exchange
Christmas cards,

but I guess we all got too busy.

Far as I know, I'm
the only one left.

We went through an
awful lot together.

If it weren't for them,
I wouldn't be here.

- So, what do you
want for Christmas?

- A ring.

- Oh Margie, you know
I'm too old to reenlist.

- Well now what's
that supposed to mean?

- Well, I've been through
so much losing Mary,

losing my daughter.

- Mary was a fine person,
Jake, but I got news for you.

We've been dating four
years come August.

It's too late, we're
already attached.

If it's commitment
you're afraid of Jake,

maybe you should
just get over it,

or maybe I should just get
myself another dance partner.

- Hi, Lily.

- Hey Donna. Is Dale practicing?

- Did you have to
get Dale that tuba?

- Well, it could've
been the drums.

[Donna laughs]

Mind if I join you?

- Sit down.

- Sit down here.

- What's wrong, honey?

- Nothing.

Hey, I hear that band
you used to be with

is gonna be in Lexington.

Are you gonna go?

- No, I'm too busy.

Way behind trying to put
together the Christmas concert.

- Can't fool me, kiddo.

I know you keep track
of what they're doing.

Don't you miss it?

- Well, remember when I
was singing with them,

they weren't famous.

It was just a whole
lot of hard work.

- Yeah, I always wonder what
would've happened to you

though if you hadn't come
back here to help out your ma.

- I don't think about it much.

- Well, I do.

You were just as
good as any of them.

You could've been
rich and famous too.

We are lucky to have you.

- Oh, look who's here.

- Hey, Daddy.

- What? What?

- Oh, Cal, you remember
Margie, friend of your mother.

- Oh, it's nice to see you.

- Likewise.

- Have you met Lily Waite yet?

She teaches music over
at the high school.

- [Cal] How do you do?

- I'm fine, thanks.

Jake's told me an
awful lot about you.

- I'm sure he has.

- And this...

Oh, that's Fern.

- Hey.

- She's adjusting
to a few things.

- I see.

- Daddy, would you
take Fern home?

I got a PTA meeting tonight.

- Yeah.

- What's Fern interested in?

- Her hobbies appear
to be mumbling,

staying in her room, wearing
black and being impolite.

- She's a teenager.

- Can't you get her outta that?

- Ah, come on.

It's a great age.
I wouldn't want to.

- Lily loves a challenge.

- Caleb Peterson comes to us
most recently from district 42,

where in one year he went and
turned the deficit of $52,000

into a surplus...

- He's gonna cut the
computer program.

- He's gonna cut the arts. He
always cuts the arts first.

- Please give him a
big, warm welcome.

- I'll make this brief.

This school is in imminent
danger of being closed

due to lack of funds.

- I'm gonna have
to sell the house.

I'm gonna have to
move to Seattle.

- Seattle?

- Everyone's moving to Seattle.

- I don't believe there's a
single one of you here tonight

who wants to see
this school closed.

You need your children nearby
so that you can be a part

of their lives at a
very difficult age.

But it isn't gonna
be easy folks.

These cuts are gonna hurt.

I will attempt not
to retrench job wise,

and I entreat each and every
one of you here tonight

to support me in my efforts.

I look forward to meeting
all of you. Thank you.

- I should've taught shop.

- You should've
taught social studies.

They never get rid
of social studies.

- Goodnight, Charlie.

- Goodnight, Ms. Waite.

[gentle piano music]

- The key to all this you
see is to think laterally.

Joseph, I can hear you back
there talking to Elizabeth.

Please stop.

["Silent Night"]

- Yikes, stop.

Stop!

Oh, that was painful.

That was really,
really, really bad.

Clarissa, honey,

your French horn bleat
cause you didn't warm it up.

- But I did.

- No, you guys look,

I want you to merge
with your instruments.

Don't make fun, what I'm
talking about is becoming one

with your instrument, okay?

I want you to bond
with your instrument.

Yes Dale, hug that tuba.

I mean, this is an
extension of who you are.

Get it?

Now I know you guys are tired,

but we have less than
two weeks remember,

before the big
Christmas concert.

So I'm gonna let
you go early today,

so that you can practice.

- [All] Aw.

- [Student] Come on, let's go.

- Autumn, was that
you practicing piano

in the auditorium last night?

- No, ma'am.

- Didn't think so.

[dog whines]
[gentle music]

["Nocturne Op.9: No.2
in E Flat Major"]

[bell rings]

- Test tomorrow.

[bright piano music]

♪ What child is this
who lay to rest ♪

♪ On Mary's lap is sleeping

♪ Whom angels greet
with anthems sweet ♪

♪ While shepherds
watch are keeping ♪

♪ This, this is
Christ the King ♪

♪ Whom shepherds worship
and angels sing ♪

♪ Haste, haste to
bring him laud ♪

♪ The Babe, the Son of Mary

- Who taught you
to play like that?

- My mom.

- Oh.

Was she a musician?

- No, she just liked
playing the piano.

We used to do duets
and stuff all the time.

- Does your Uncle Cal know
you can play like that?

- No. Don't tell him.

- Why not?

- It's not for him or anybody.

It was just something
between me and my mom.

It was our secret.

- Hungry, soldier?

- Nope.

- [Jake] How come?

- My math homework.
I just don't get it.

- Well, take a break,

try something else for a while
and then come back to it.

It's a trick I learned
in the Air Force.

How about trying a little KP?

- All right.

- Here you go.

- What program is this?

- Old time radio hour.

That's the programs I used to
listen to when I was your age.

- Why?

- Well, that's all we
had. It was before TV.

When dinosaurs roamed the
earth we'd huddle in our caves

and try to keep warm,
listening to Jack Benny.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

During the war,

my buddies and me we'd
huddle around that radio

like it was a campfire.

Listened to those programs
and reminded us of home.

Kept us going.

Okay, at ease, good job.

Now, set the table.

Four places, with enthusiasm.

- We having a guest?

- Yeah, yeah.

I invited Margie over so you
could get to know her better.

She might be spending
a lot more time here

in the not too
distant future, maybe.

- That mean what
I think it means?

- Oh, I don't know.

I'm not sure. I'm just not sure.

- What are you not sure of?

- I'm not sure I wanna
return to active duty.

I still miss your mother.

- Well, of course you do,

but that's not a good
reason for shying away

from relationships.

- Relationships, that's what
you have, relationships.

That's why they
never go anywhere.

- I've had quite a few
really fine relationships.

They just...

They don't work out I
move around too much.

- I'm not talking
relationships with you.

I'm talking marriage.

- How do you like school Fern?

- It's okay.

- Have you gotten
to know Ms. Waite?

- A little.

- Let me tell you
something about her.

She had it all and
she gave it all up

to stay right here and teach.

She doesn't toot her
own horn. Pardon my pun.

But there's nobody like
her. You get to know her.

She'll help you.

- She's single too.

Of course, she
stays in one place,

commits herself to people.

Not your type.

- Cheap shot, Daddy.

- May I please be excused?

- I made dessert.

- I'm on a diet.

- Well, I made it.

So the polite
thing is to eat it.

- I don't want to.

- Well, you can just
sit here with us

till we're all through.

- Yes, you may be excused.

- Thank you.

- Why'd you let her go?

- I'll handle her,
Daddy. Thank you.

- You should have made
her finish her plate.

She wasted a good meal.

If you don't teach her
responsibility, who will?

- I'll get the dishes.

- You better start
acting like a father,

before it's too late.

- You ever hear
of the word tact?

There's something I need
to talk to you about.

- [Jake] Dessert will be
ready in a minute, sit tight.

- Take your time.

I know what I wanna
get Jake for Christmas,

but it's really big
and I need your help.

- Well, I'm not feeling
too generous right now.

- I know he's a pain in
the rear, but I love him.

And you do too.

He doesn't know
he's giving orders.

You take it too seriously.

- Well, sometimes
it's hard not to.

- I know.

- What do you need?

- I need any
information you can find

on the crew of his old B17.

- Like what?

- Well pictures, letters, names.

Can you do it?

- Well, what for?

- Ten hut!

- Holy doodle, look at
the size of that thing.

["Away in a Manger"]

- Hold it.

Good grief, people.

Where are you
getting these notes?

Come on now. I'm at
my wits' end here.

Somebody tell me
what's the matter?

- Well, this is the same old
stuff we play every year.

- Well, it is called tradition.

- I call it boring.

- Sure is.

- Okay.

Let's examine this.

Are you guys bored with
the tunes or are you bored

with the way the
tunes are played?

- Yeah.

- All righty.

How about...

[bright jazzy music]

["Away in a Manger"]

- Excellent.

- Something like that?

Or what about
something like this?

["Jingle Bells"]

But you can't improvise on
a theme unless you know how

to play the theme correctly
to begin with, right?

Can you?

- [All] No.

- Okay, let's compromise here.

If I come up with something
new and interesting,

will you please promise to
learn the traditional carols?

- [All] Yeah.

- But can you do that?

- Well, I'll sure try.

- None of us wanna screw up

in front of our
parents, Ms. Waite.

- Well, have we got
ourselves a deal then?

[students murmuring]

Great.

[bright music]

- What song is that?

- Trying to come
up with a new one

for our Christmas concert,

so the kids don't mutiny on me.

- Might be better
if it were faster.

- Really?

- Oh, it doesn't work.

Maybe something more, pop.

- Ooh, loving that.

Do you think it needs a bridge?

- What about
something like this?

- Hey, I really
need help with this.

Would you consider working
on it with me, please?

- You can't tell anybody,
not even Uncle Cal.

- Okay.

- Maybe you could
help me out too.

We could make like a trade.

- What do you need?

- I'm failing math and science,
everybody says you tutor.

- Well, I can't keep that
from your uncle though.

- Okay, ask him if
you can come over.

- Well, we could
do it right here.

- I don't want the other
kids to know how stupid I am.

- You're not stupid.

- You'll see.

- May I speak with
you just a minute?

- I'm very busy.

- It's about Fern.

She wants me to tutor
her after school,

something I do for the kids,

and I told her I'd check
with you first though.

- She thinks she's in trouble?

- Well, she's not
yet, but soon maybe.

- Oh, I've done
everything I can.

She's just like my sister.

Same voice, same smile, same...

- Oh, I haven't
seen that smile yet.

- No.

- She wants me to come
over to your house,

so the rest of the kids
here don't know about it.

- Look, Ms. Waite, I...

- Lily, call me Lily.

- I would do anything for Fern,

but I have to remain
objective here

and I can't very well hire you

while I'm evaluating your
program at the same time.

- Well, then how are
you gonna help her?

- Well, I guess I'll just
have to do it myself.

It'll be a lot easier when
I'm finished working here.

I intend to settle
down in one place,

reasonable schedule.

- I understand.

Well, good luck to both of you.

- Okay.

The first rule of
successful studying

is to do it in natural light.

That means take off sunglasses.

This geometry book here
and the old theorem.

Here you go, now
let's get ready.

What seems to be
your problem here?

- I don't get it.

- Yeah, yeah.

But what don't you get?

- Any of it.

- Okay, that's a
good place to start.

I'll tell you what, let's
turn over here to page 77.

Now take a look at
problem number one.

And why don't you see
if you can prove it

using the rules on
the previous page?

- What if I don't
understand the rules?

- Well, they're obvious, Fern.

- Not to me.

- [Cal] Written down right here.

- Proving what I knew
all along, I'm stupid.

- No, no. Now that
doesn't prove anything.

Let's just start all over again.

Now the deal is you
don't understand the
rules, is that it?

- Look, Uncle Cal, this is real
nice of you and everything.

But if you really wanna help
me, you'll get me a real tutor.

- Honey, your mama
was the best friend

I had in this world.

And she could do anything
she set her heart on,

and you're just like her.

- No I'm not, I'm alive.

- You're too soft on her.

- As I recall, when I
first went into teaching,

you said that that was
soft, maybe I'm just soft.

- I just don't like
watching you fail.

Kids equate
discipline with love.

They know if you're hard on
'em you must care for them.

- Yes, I know.

I believe I'm the product
of your philosophy.

- It would've been
a lot easier on me

if I'd let you do
what you wanted to,

even though I have no idea
what you wanted to do.

At least you knew I loved you.

[Cal sighs]

- Hey.

I sure hope it
snows around here.

If I'd wanted sunshine,

I would've moved to Florida
with everybody else.

What's that?

- I was only
partially successful.

- Ooh.

Well that's a place
to start anyway.

- May I ask what you're
gonna do with this?

- I'm gonna try and find
these guys and invite them

to come to Bethlehem.

- His crew?

- That's all he
wants for Christmas.

And I really wanna
give it to him.

It'd be a big surprise.

Now that'd be
something, wouldn't it?

- You don't have much time.

They're probably scattered
all over the country.

- Oh yeah, I know.

But if you don't try
impossible things,

you don't get impossible things.

Besides which I'm retired,
I got nothing good time.

- You know Margie,
your generosity is...

Well, it's astounding.

- Oh.

- You obviously love my daddy.

I mean, you can handle him.

You ought to get
a medal for that.

But I feel that I
oughta warn you.

No matter how much
you do for him,

he's not gonna tell you
how much he appreciates it.

- Oh, I know how he is.

Now remember, this
is a big surprise,

so don't you go and blow it.

- I won't.

- It's a secret.

- [Cal] Lips are sealed.
- Okay, thanks.

[gentle music]

- Spying again?

- I don't spy.

I observe. I heard
you were good.

I had no idea how good.

- May I help you Mr. Peterson?

- Well, as it turns
out, I'm a lousy tutor.

- Oh, who says?

- [Cal] My student.

- Oh, her.

- Mm-hmm.

So if you're still willing,

I'd like for you to
come over to the house.

This afternoon okay to start?

- Sure.

- Good.

Thanks.

- Very good work.

- It's almost 1800 hours.

Supper's drying out. Should
we invite her to stay?

- No, no, no, no.

That'd be inappropriate.

So you all done, huh?

- We're finished
and I'll be leaving.

- See you, Ms. Waite.

- Hey, would you like to come

to the Christmas
dance tomorrow night?

- I don't know.

- It'd be okay with
you, wouldn't it?

I'm one of the chaperones.

- Matter of fact,

I think it'd be a good idea
for you to get out socially.

I'm gonna be
working late anyhow.

- Can I think about it?

- Sure.

- Oh, here.

- So can I give you some advice?

- Sure.

- Stop hovering.

- I wasn't hovering.

- You two have
been eavesdropping

the whole time I've been here.

Try and let the girl learn
things in her own time.

- That's what I've been doing.

- She's not disciplined enough.

- Back off you two.

I'm telling you,

she's picking up on all this
and I think it's scaring her.

- Well, it's hard.

- Well, maybe she can come
over and learn at my place.

- Well, I'll take that
into consideration.

Thank you.

- You're quite
welcome. Good night.

- Bye.

- I like her, don't you?

- Huh?

Oh yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

You decided about
the dance tonight?

- I don't dance.

- Fern, you're gonna have to
try and make some friends here.

You gotta get out and
see people. You gotta...

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

You do whatever it
is you want to do.

I don't care, you'll be fine.

You'll be just fine.

- Can you hold these a minute?

Do you really think so?

- I do think so.

Yes I do.

[bell rings]

- All right.

[bright music]

- I took your advice.

I gave her a little room.

She decided to come on her own.

- I'm surprised
you listened to me.

Most people just
shrug off good advice.

- I like advice.

- Oh Todd, have you met
Superintendent Peterson?

- How do you do?

- Not formally.

Are you going to claim
the computer program?

Because it's the
future, you know,

and you can't claim the future.

- I haven't made any
recommendations yet.

Everybody says you cut
computers and the arts.

- I'm sorry they think that.

- Ah, excuse me I,

I gotta go chase some
future computer illiterates

in the boys' room.

I see smoke coming
from under the door.

- And yeah, I guess I
better get back work.

- Why don't you ask her
to dance, Uncle Cal?

- Oh honey, I got a deadline.

- I love to dance.

- It really, it
wouldn't be appropriate.

- It might be good
for people to know

that you're actually
human, Uncle Cal.

But you know, do what
you want. No pressure.

- Uh-huh. I'm sorry.
I really shouldn't.

All right, maybe just one.

- Good, we like to see
the old folks cut loose.

- Watch it, I'll demote
you to the triangle.

[gentle music]

♪ Nobody calls you up

[Fern laughs]

♪ No one could ever fill it up

♪ Could I try to fill you up?

♪ Top you off wrap around
or cross the line ♪

♪ Cause this round's mine

♪ Oh yeah this round's mine

[students clapping]
[students cheering]

- I better get back to work.

- Morning, Rae.

Morning, Margie.

- Mm.

- Something wrong? You
seem a little down.

- Oh, well I've been trying to
find your father's Air Force

buddies all morning.

They're either dead or moved
with no forwarding address.

There's not one I've
been able to track down.

- I heard you were dancing
with Ms. Lily the other night.

She's a catch,
broke many a heart.

She might break yours
too, you don't look out.

[Cal scoffs]

- I assure you it
was only a dance.

- None of my beeswax.

- [Fern] I like your house.

- [Lily] This essay is
the best you've done yet.

- Is this you and the band?

- Oh, yeah.

The structure here
is so much improved,

and it sounds like you, not
what you think I wanna hear.

- I've been thinking of
this for the introduction.

[gentle music]

- I like it.

How about if you change up
the rhythm, just a little bit.

Good.

[Fern laughs]

- Do you like Uncle Cal?

- Of course I do.

- I meant like, like.

- Oh...

Well.

- He's too nerdy, isn't he?

- Not at all.

- I keep wanting to tell
him, you know, to loosen up,

but I'm afraid of
hurting his feelings.

He's so inhibited.

- Well, he doesn't
dance like a nerd.

[doorbell rings]

Come in.

- You too about
done for the day?

- We just finished.

- I got a B+ on
my geometry test.

- [Cal] Atta girl.

- And she did a terrific essay.

- May I read it?

- No, not yet.

I'm still working on it.

- Well, maybe later
when you're finished.

- Bye.
- Bye.

- She is just so improved.
I am very grateful to you.

- Fern's a great student,

and she's not satisfied with
answers she doesn't understand.

I love that about her.

- Listen, I need to talk to
you about the other night.

Well, evidently there
a number of people

who are talking about us.

- Well, it's a small town.

You have to remember, there's
not much to talk about.

- Well, anyway, I
wanted you to know

that I enjoyed myself immensely.

- Oh, I did too.

- And of course
that's a problem.

- Hmm?

- Yeah, well, I mean
under normal circumstances

now I'd probably ask
you out to a movie

and maybe coffee afterwards.

But I can't, you understand?

- Yeah, I understand.

- Just for the record,

if I had asked you, would
you have said, "Yes?"

[Lily laughs]

- Uh-huh.

[gentle music]

- Morning, can I get
to school early today?

Is something wrong?

- You're outta uniform.

- Daddy.

- Pancakes coming up.

- Hi.

Sit down.

- No, I've gotta get to work.

- Oh, you got five
minutes, sit down.

Anyway, I'm not getting
anywhere on this search of mine.

Is there a way you can
find out if Jake knows

where any of these guys are?

Can you check his Christmas
card file or something?

I'm running out of time.

- I've already done that.

All the addresses
were crossed off.

- I'm gonna have
to buy him socks.

- Well, what about that
old time radio hour?

- What about it?

- You know, it's
broadcast nationally,

but it's done right
over here in Louisville.

Maybe you could do one
of the old timer minutes.

They interview people
live on the air,

and Daddy said that
he and his friends

always used to listen
that kind of radio,

maybe some of 'em still do.

- Well, that's brilliant.

- I'm glad I could
solve your problem.

I guess I better go
tackle some of my own.

- Well, I'll let you
know what they say.

Thanks.

- Yeah.

Bye.

- One, two, three.

["O Little Town of Bethlehem"]

Yes.

Much better.

That's it people.

Keep together.

Excellent.

Violins, stretch
back to the B flat.

Keep together.

Watch the tuning.

♪ O little town of Bethlehem

♪ How still we see thee lie

♪ Above thy deep and
dreamless sleep ♪

♪ The silent stars go by

- Oh, Cal, stop right there.

[Margie laughs]

- Oh, hi.

- I called the radio station
and they said, "Yes."

- Oh, good. That's great.

- But the only thing is I can't
go Louisville Sunday night.

- Why not?

- Well, Jake will suspect.

Besides which I gotta stay
home and distract him,

so he misses his show.

I really want this
to be a surprise.

Cal, you're the only
one who can do it.

I know. I know.

And you're gonna have to come
up with a darn good excuse.

But don't worry, you'll
think of something.

- But I...

- Oh, excuse me. Thanks.
Excuse me. Betty!

Betty, hang on just one minute.

[gentle music]

- Oh.

- [Lily] Hey, there.
- Hi.

- Did you have a
successful afternoon?

- Yes actually, very successful.

- Good, good.

Is Daddy at home?

- No, not yet.

Well...

Bye.

- Lily, wait up just a second.

I need to ask you another favor.

- All right.

- Well, Margie wants me
to go over to Louisville

and be on that radio show and
Daddy can't know about it.

So anyhow, I need an excuse
for going out on Sunday.

- Oh, an excuse?

- Yeah, and I'm really stuck.

I can't come up with any
viable reason to go over there

except maybe...

Well, a date.

- A date.

- Yeah, I think he might
actually believe that.

- You want me to go to
Louisville with you?

- Yeah and naturally I'd buy
you supper for your time.

- Well, Cal don't
we have a little bit

of an awkward situation?

- Oh no, no, no, no.

I thought about that. See,
we'll be in another town.

Nobody will see us.

- Aha.

- Unless of course you
just don't wanna go.

- No, no, no.

Anything for Jake.

- That's great, thanks.

- Well, be seeing you.

[tense music]

- Well, I couldn't wait
to hear your final report,

so I came down to see
how you're progressing.

- Come in.

- Why, thank you.

Cozy.

Nothing wasted on frills I see.

- Nothing wasted as
a matter of fact.

- Oh dear.

- This school's been running
on empty for 10 years.

I'm surprised the
building's still standing.

Bea has done amazing
things with nothing.

- Can we save it, is
what I wanna know.

- I'm still working on that.

- Really? You're
usually so quick.

- Yeah, well, this
school's different.

- What makes it different?

- The teachers.

It's an incredible group.

- Cal, what's wrong with you?

You haven't gotten personally
involved here now, have you?

- Not at all.

- Good, because
that's not like you.

- The data's not in, that's all.

- Well, what's taking so long?

- Well, my computer was
down for a few days.

Naturally, there wasn't money
in the budget to get it fixed.

- Well, I see it's
up and running now.

- Yeah.

- Getting down to
the wire you know.

- I know.

- Cal what we have to
remember here is that there is

something more important
than just a few individuals.

This entire school is at risk.

- Yeah.

["Deck the Halls"]

Well, we're kinda,
extremely early.

I guess I must have
miscalculated the distance

in relation to speed.

- Why don't we go
Christmas shopping?

- Now?

- Come on.

- Why'd you give up performing?

- Everyone asks me that.

- Cause you're so good at it.

- When Mama got sick,

I dropped out of my band to
come home and take care of her.

Meantime, I discovered
I also love teaching.

Lately, I admit I
have been wondering

what would've happened if
I'd gone back to singing,

when Mama died.

[horn honks]

[Lily laughs]

How in the world did you
get into bureaucratting?

- Oh, well my downfall
began with social studies.

I was a teacher once and
I had this crazy notion

that every kid in
the richest country

on the face of the earth,

ought to have the best
education for free.

And then I saw that
that wasn't happening.

I saw the waste and corruption
and the mismanagement

and I realized my best effort

was not gonna be in a classroom.

- And all this time, I
thought you were a suit.

- I am a suit.

- [Margie] Hello? It's me.

- Yeah.

- Ooh.

- What's all that?

- Well, I've decided we all
ought to go on a picnic.

- In December?

- Well, that's why they
invented thermal underwear.

- I got to finish
trimming this tree,

besides my program's almost on.

- Oh, you're too set in
your ways, Jake Peterson.

You gotta learn how
to live a little.

Come on.

- I've lived enough. Now
I wanna take it easy.

- She's right, Grandpa.

Maybe we should try
something different today.

- After my program.

- They're just reruns anyway.

- Not to me.

I listen to that program
every Sunday afternoon

and I look forward
to it all week.

You're not depriving
me pf my program.

That's all there is to it.

You can keep that
chicken warm in the oven.

- [Margie] Mm-hmm.

[clock chiming]

- That's a nice tree.

What's wrong?

- The radio won't work.

- Aw.

- I got a transistor.

- Transistor?

- Batteries.

- Ah.

- It's out of batteries.

- Oh, isn't that a shame?

- Truck.

- Aw.

[engine stutters]

Poor thing.

I sure wish it would
snow, don't you?

- [Fern] I sure do.

- Mm, this chicken's good.

- And they flew 22
missions over Germany

before they were shot down.

- Well, how did they escape?

- They didn't.

Daddy might've been able to,

his parachute drifted
and when he landed,

he hid in some woods
that were nearby.

But the rest of his
crew were captured.

Daddy came outta
hiding to be with them.

They were put in a
prisoner of war camp,

for 13 months till
the war was over.

- Was it difficult growing
up with a man who had

been through an
ordeal like that?

- I don't know if I can
answer that question.

He's the only father I ever had.

Maybe that is the answer.

- I don't get you.

- He never abandoned his crew.

He had the guts to stick it
out no matter how hard it got.

And even when he
didn't understand what
I was all about...

I always knew that he loved me.

He learned the value
of life during the war.

And he taught that to me.

I guess what I'm saying
is he's a great father.

He's one of the great ones.

- Now, Cal, would you
tell our listeners

why you came here today
to talk about your dad?

- We're trying to find
the crew of his plane,

"The Crazy Dame."

Of course we know about the
ones who've already passed on,

but we're having trouble
locating the others

and we kind of wanna
surprise Daddy for Christmas.

- Well, there you have it.

Anyone out there who
knows the whereabouts

of the crew of "The
Crazy Dame," B17,

that flew missions over Germany

during the last year of
World War II can contact

this station and we'll convey
the message to his son.

- It's a surprise.

- Oh, and remember, it's
supposed to be a surprise.

So if you're listening
out there, don't let on.

- And on that note,

I'd like to dedicate
tonight's broadcast

of "The Burns and Allen Show,"

to the crew of "The Crazy Dame,"

wherever you may have landed.

- Well, thank you.

- I had a good time.

- Lily, there's
something very important

I have to say.

- You know, as I
was listening to you

tell the radio announcer
about your dad,

I realized what a kind and
thoughtful man you are.

I've known a lot
of guys in my time,

but nobody quite like you.

I just wish our
circumstances were different.

- [Cal] Not here.

- Goodnight, Cal.

[gentle music]

[phone ringing]

- Hello?

Yes, this is she.

Yes.

Where are you? In Tacoma? Oh,
I thought you were in Texas.

I called the whole state.

Do you know where any of the
others are by any chance?

Oh, great.

Go ahead, I got a piece
of paper right here.

[phone ringing]

- Hello?

Oh hi, Anne.

Yeah, I was just
finishing that up.

No, no surprises.

Make the coaching
staff voluntary,

no extramural sports and...

cut the music program.

Uh-huh.

No, don't...Don't thank me.

It'll just make this
that much harder.

Yeah.

Listen, can you do me a favor?

Can you hold off sending
out the official notices

for a few days?

I'd like to talk to
the people here first.

Yeah.

Thanks.

Bye.

[Cal sighs]

- Hey, Irwin.

- I'm still here.

- I never knew you two
were such good dancers.

Of course, asking him to dance

wasn't an option for me.

He's gonna fire all the
men. That's his strategy.

- You'll be fine, Todd.

- Fire, retire.

I have always enjoyed major
life changes that rhyme.

- How could you do this to me?

Don't you think I
deserve to be told

about something
like this in person?

- They weren't supposed
to send that out.

- How could you, Cal?

I thought we were friends.

- We are.

- I can't believe I
didn't see this coming.

- Lily, you're a good teacher.

This has nothing to do with you.

- Yeah, right.

If you really thought so,

you'd have found a
way to save my job.

- I did everything I could,

but it was shut down one
department or this whole school.

Now what would you do?

- Will you just do me a favor?

Don't you tell my
kids about this

so that they can
concentrate and enjoy

their Christmas concert.

- I won't.

I'm sorry this happened.

So, how'd it go
in geometry today?

Think it'll snow?

Is something wrong?

Uh-huh.

- May I please be excused?

- If that's what you want.

- Why is she so depressed again?

- I have no idea.

- Don't you think you out
to go up and talk to her?

- No, not right now.

I'd just screw it up.
I'm too distracted.

- By what?

- Well, this is a secret,
but I had to fire Lily Waite.

- Oh, for heaven's sake.

- Daddy, now I had to do it.

- Of all the stupid...

- I don't need you to make
me feel any worse about it.

[doorbell ringing]

I'll get it.

- You the superintendent
we've all been hearing about?

- Uh, yes ma'am.

- Hit it, Dale.

[bright music]

Do you hear that,
Mister? That's my son.

He can't play baseball.
He can't play basketball.

He can't play football, but
he can sure play this baby.

- Yes, ma'am.

- He lives for orchestra.

All right? Do you hear me?

He could go to college on a
scholarship for orchestra.

He could be the first
one in our family.

Now, if you fire Lily Waite...

- Whoa, whoa. How did you
know Ms. Waite's being fired?

- Oh, everybody knows.

- Oh, Lord.

- Play it, son.

♪ We wish you a
Merry Christmas ♪

♪ I said we wish you
a Merry Christmas ♪

♪ We wish you a
Merry Christmas ♪

♪ We wish you a
Merry Christmas ♪

♪ We wish you a
Merry Christmas ♪

♪ And a happy New Year

♪ Good tidings we bring
to you and your kin ♪

♪ Good tidings for Christmas
and a Happy New Year ♪

♪ We wish you a
Merry Christmas ♪

♪ We wish you a
Merry Christmas ♪

♪ We wish you a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year ♪

♪ We wish you a
Merry Christmas ♪

♪ We wish you a
Merry Christmas ♪

♪ We wish you a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year ♪

♪ And a Happy New Year

♪ Oh Merry Christmas

- Y'all are very good.

- Thanks.

Ms. Waite always taught
us to express our emotions

through our music.

- Excuse me.

- All right, ladies
and gentlemen,

we have a lot to do today

and I have some
very exciting news.

With the help of a friend,

we've actually come
up with a new song.

- What for?

- Nobody cares about us.

- [Student] How could
they do this to us?

- What am I missing here?

- You don't have to
pretend, Ms. Waite.

We all know they deleted
the music program.

- [All] Yeah.

- Hey guys, come on.

Whatever's going on with
me is not your problem.

Your job is to get out
there and show this town

what music means to you.

Okay?

Right? Okay? Okay?

[students laughing]

- I am sorry. I am
really, very sorry.

- You promised not
to tell anybody.

- I have no idea
how this happened.

- I knew they'd be upset, but
they're absolutely hysterical.

Why did you tell them?

- I'm telling you it wasn't me.

- Now they're having
even more trouble

playing their instruments.

I was afraid this would happen
and it's all your fault.

Hi, Todd, Irwin.

Can I sit with you?

- Oh, yes.

- I'd have willingly
retired earlier.

- We're so sorry.

- Devastated, actually.

- God, I'm gonna miss you guys.

- Grandpa go to bed?

- Mm-hmm.

- How's the homework going?

[Fern mumbles]

Why won't you talk to me?

- Cause I don't
like you right now.

- What have I've done?

- You fired my friend.

- No, I didn't, the state did.

- You told them to.

- No, I did not.

- I heard you do it.

- You what?

- It was an accident.

I was outside your office
when she was inside.

You had the door open.

I heard.

- Are you the one who
told the whole town?

- I told Clarissa, that's all.

- Well, I promised Lily that
I wouldn't tell anybody.

Didn't you overhear
that as well?

- I was upset.

She said she wouldn't
tell anybody else.

- Look, I don't want
to fire Ms. Waite.

I've done everything I can
think of to do, to avoid this.

- Look, you've been really
good to me, Uncle Cal,

but you have absolutely no idea

how much Ms. Waite
has done for me.

- Well, pretty soon
we'll be outta here,

off to bigger and better things.

- What? We're leaving again?

- Yeah, I thought you
understood that when the job...

- But I don't wanna leave.

Grandpa needs us and I
will never be able to find

anybody like Ms. Waite, ever.

- Where are you going?

- I'm gonna show
you what I can do.

- [Cal] Hey.

[gentle music]

♪ Silent night holy night

♪ All is calm all is bright

♪ Round yon virgin
mother and child ♪

♪ Holy infant so
tender and mild ♪

♪ Sleep in heavenly peace

♪ Sleep in heavenly peace

♪ Silent night holy night

♪ Shepherds quake at the sight

♪ Glories stream
from heaven afar ♪

♪ Heavenly hosts
sing hallelujah ♪

♪ Christ the savior is born

♪ Christ the savior is born

[Cal sighs]

- Isn't there
anything you can do?

- Right.

Yes, well, we've got a lot
of nice motels in town.

Well, if you can't get in there,

you can always come
and stay with me.

Great.

Okay, thank you very much.

Oh, and you will
call Dwight Varney.

That's great. I can't
thank you enough.

Okay, bye bye.

Sorry, can't talk.

I got a fax coming
in on the other line.

- What's going on?

- I would've called you,
but I'm not talking to you.

- I just wanted to know
how things were going.

- Well, ever since you
went on that program,

I've been getting
calls left and right.

I found half the crew already
and they're all coming.

And they're helping
me find the other ones

who are still alive.

- Wonderful.

- If I were still talking to
you I'd thank you for this.

- I guess you heard about Lily?

- Who hasn't?

- Nothing I could do and
I feel very bad about it.

I'm worried about her.

- She'll land on her feet.
She has a lot of connections.

- I guess she does.

- She's down about it,

but the ones who are hurt
the most in all of this

are our kids because
she's gonna leave.

- What can I do?

- Well, barring
getting her job back,

I guess the only thing you
can do is make her feel

that it was all worthwhile.

And you can bring some people
to that concert of hers.

[fax machine whirring]

I have to get that. You
can let yourself out.

[bell rings]

- You're like the ghost
of Christmas future.

- Do you have access
to the school files?

- Does Santa say, "Ho, ho, ho?"

- I don't suppose anybody
has put the alumni

in the computer?

- How else do you
think we plan reunions?

- How many students do you have?

What are they
doing after school?

You don't have to pack just yet.

- I don't wanna
have to come back

during the Christmas break.

- Lily, um...

- Could we not talk about
this right now please?

- It's my fault.

Fern overheard us
talking in the office.

I should have closed the door.

She played a song for me
last night on the piano.

- She's good, isn't she?

She's got something special
and wherever you move next,

please put her in
a music program.

Don't you let anybody tell you
that music isn't important.

It's everything.

- There's a private
school, over in Lexington,

I can get you an interview
over there if you want.

Give you a glowing
recommendation.

You're the best.

You know that.

- I know I've tried.

- I did everything I could.

- Is this your shirt of mine?

- It's mine, I think.

- Looks like something
Margie might have bought me.

- Well, why don't you
borrow it for tonight?

What else you going to wear?

- Just my old blue suit.

- Sounds good.

[gentle music]

[Lily sighs]

[horn honking]

- Where is she?
We're gonna be late.

- No, no. As a matter of
fact, Daddy, we're early.

- Come on, come on, come
on, come on, come on!

- Maybe you better just
go in there and get her.

- All right.

- [Margie] Hi.

- What's taking you so long?

- Oh, come on in for a
minute, why don't you?

- We're late enough as it is.

- Yeah, we're all always
a half hour early.

Just come on in for
one minute, okay?

- I just like to
be on time is all.

- I know. I know.

- [Man] Hold it!

[bright music]

Ten hut!

Present, up.

- My God.

My God.

My God.

Oh, Frank.

Joseph.

Pete.

Oh, Ben.

Harlan.

Oh, Bud.

I don't believe it.

I don't believe this.

I never thought I'd
see you guys again.

Oh my.

[Margie laughs]

You did this.

- Merry Christmas.

- Daddy, you consider
wearing this?

- Where'd you find that?

- Up in the attic. I
had it dry cleaned.

- Oh, it probably won't
fit after all these years.

- Well, I had it altered
just a little bit too.

There you go.

- Oh.

- Yeah.

- Who do I think I am?

Those days are over.

- Don't take it off, Jake.

- Wear it, you earned it.

- All these years I
thought you guys were dead.

- We never should have
gotten so out of touch.

- I got the internet.

You got the internet?

- I got it.

- You know what, Daddy?

They're right.

You deserve to wear that.

- You mean that?

- Yes, sir, I sure do.

Merry Christmas, Daddy.

- Merry Christmas.

- I just want you all to know
what a privilege it's been

teaching each and
every one of you,

and how much more
you've given me

than I could have
ever given you.

Tonight is a real special night.

This is the last time
I'll be conducting

the Bethlehem Christmas concert.

So I'm gonna ask one last
gift from each one of you.

I'm gonna ask that you
guys play with your hearts

as well as with your fingers.

And I want you to play
as if your instruments

are really part of who you are.

And I want you to play,

because you love to play.

I love you guys.

- Autumn, are you ready?

- Yeah.

- Are you set?

- I'm ready.
- Okay.

Are you nervous?

- No.

- Oh honey, your mama
would be so proud.

So proud.

[voices chattering]

- Lieutenant, no one has
ever given me a finer gift.

- Oh.

- Why have I been
so afraid to admit

how much you mean to me?

- Shell shock?

- I'd consider it an
honor, if you'd marry me.

- Oh.

- Hi.

- Hey.

- Bea asked me to
introduce you tonight.

- You don't need to do that.

- Well, truth is I
asked for the job.

- Really?

So you'll be leaving Bethlehem
after Christmas, huh?

- No, no. As a matter of
fact, I've decided to stay.

- Really?

- Yeah.

This is gonna be my
last job as hatchet man.

Gonna be a teacher again.

I'm taking over Irwin's
position, teaching
social studies.

- I'm happy for you.

- [Cal] Thank you.

- But you do still have to
find a music program for Fern.

- Yeah.

- And even if you and
Jake have to drive her

all the way to
Louisville, you find one.

- I believe I got
that taken care of.

- If it's all right with you,

I'd like to go out alone and
just pretend that tonight is

like any other
Christmas concert.

- That's fine.

[audience applauding]

[audience cheering]

Well, I think it's safe to say

that Ms. Waite is surprised.

[audience laughs]

I think she expect about
30 of y'all to be here.

Lily, all these people
have come here tonight

to pay tribute to you because
they admire your talent

and your drive and
your ability to inspire

even the shyest of
people to risk performing

and to give it their best.

The members of this audience
have also very generously

donated their money
to the newly begun,

Bethlehem High
School music fund.

In addition to which,

the members of your old
band who are with us

here tonight too,
right down here.

They have endowed a
scholarship in your name

for any of your students
who might wanna pursue

a career in music.

Now with this money,
we will be able to keep

the music program going here
for another couple of years.

- Yes!

- And that ought to give
us time to figure out

how to do that permanently.

And now, before I
do what I do best,

which is to shut up
and get out of the way,

I would like to officially
commend a truly great teacher.

A lady whose generosity
of spirit has touched

and changed the lives of
every person in this room.

Thank you, Lily Waite,

Bethlehem's a better place
to live because of you.

[gentle music]

♪ I'm holding back
a flood of tears ♪

♪ Just thinking 'bout
those happy years ♪

♪ Like all the good
times that are no more ♪

♪ My love is gone, gone,
gone forever more ♪

♪ Silence so deep only
my soul can hear ♪

♪ Says now the past
is what I fear ♪

♪ The future isn't
what it used to be ♪

♪ Only today is all
that's promised me ♪

♪ In the dark of winter
I still can sing ♪

♪ Cause God has
sent the Baby King ♪

♪ Whatever troubles this
old world may bring ♪

♪ Christmas reminds me that
love can change everything ♪

♪ Changes everything

♪ We're all driven by
the winds of change ♪

♪ Seems like nothing
ever stays the same ♪

♪ It's fate that guides
me around the bend ♪

♪ Life's forever beginning,
beginning again ♪

♪ In the dark of winter
I still can sing ♪

♪ Cause God has
sent the Baby King ♪

♪ Whatever trouble this
old world may bring ♪

♪ Christmas reminds me that
love can change everything ♪

♪ Love can change everything

[audience cheering]

[gentle music]