Twas the Night Before Christmas (2022)

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Twas the Night Before Christmas (2022)

Post by bunniefuu »

'Twas the night

before Christmas,

and all through the house,

not a creature was stirring,

not even a...?

Mouse!

The stockings were hung

by the chimney with care,

in hopes that St. Nicholas

soon would be there.

The children were nestled

all snug in their beds

while visions of sugar plums

danced in their heads.

And Mama in her kerchief,

and I in my cap,

had just settled down

for a long winter's...?

Nap!

When out on the lawn,

there arose such a clatter.

I sprang from my bed

to see what was the matter.

Away to the window

I flew like a flash,

drew open the shutter

and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast

of the new-fallen snow

gave the lustre of midday

to objects below.

Hear ye, hear ye!

A charge of literary piracy

is to be tried on Christmas Eve

within the courts of

this fair city of Troy!

Wherein the descendants of

Major Henry Livingston Jr.

Charge Clement Clarke Moore

of falsely claiming

authorship of the poem

"'Twas the Night

Before Christmas"!

Jefferson's idea...

Build up hype for the play!

He's worried about hype?

He's a producer,

he's always worried.

It's actually

a pretty good idea, right?

Such thin,

translucent writing paper.

Remarkable!

Some people take this

Victorian Stroll so seriously.

I mean, I guess that's why

we're doing the play here.

Great googly!

Oh!

Hi, Edna!

When my niece heard that

you were staying at my B&B,

she just had to meet you.

So, this is Beth.

Hi, Beth.

You're Marly Wilkens!

Well, I played a character

named Marly on TV,

probably when I was about your

age, but my name is Madison.

Great googly!

Oh!

And this is Hayley,

Madison's friend.

They wrote the play together.

Hi, Beth. Hi.

We are thrilled

that Connor Avery is starring!

You two were so great together

in Christmastime Cupid.

Thank you.

Oh!

The kiss?

Right?

Anyway, let's go get

some warm mince tarts, alright?

Okay, bye!

Look at the horse!

Uh... it's a horse. Yeah...

That kiss?

Don't start.

Dad, the taxi's here!

We got a reindeer at 12 o'clock.

Do you have your toothbrush?

Check.

Do you have your lucky socks?

Hmm, checkity-check.

Snacks for the plane?

Double-check.

Wait... there's one more thing!

Got your toothbrush?

Go on, your car is outside.

I'm gonna land

tonight in New York,

I drive upstate,

and I'm gonna be staying

at the hotel in Troy.

And at this rate, you'll be

lucky if you make your flight.

What is this?

It's a gingerbread footprint

salt dough Rudolph head.

Om nom!

Dad, don't eat it!

It's a Christmas ornament.

Oh!

To hang on your tree

in New York.

Thank you.

You know,

we're gonna hang it up together

when you and Nana come visit me.

If you ever make it there.

Thank you, Ma!

Love you.

Alright, give me a hug, J-Bug.

Ahh!

I'm gonna miss you.

Break a leg, Daddy.

Ooh!

I'm sorry.

Mind the grease.

I beg your pardon?

Oh, you're part of

the Victorian...

Yes.

Um...

Well, this is a play about

who really wrote the poem

"'Twas the Night

Before Christmas."

"An Account of a Visit

from St. Nicholas"!

The poem was originally titled

"An Account of a Visit

from St. Nicholas."

Yes, it was!

Okay.

Merry Christmas.

Hey, Walter.

I've got a great

potential series

all lined up for you.

You are going to love it.

It's a reboot of...

We've already discussed this.

Directing is my focus now.

But we make so much

money from your acting.

But it's not about the money.

Why are you trying to hurt me?

Look, you know

I need to stretch my wings.

Isn't that what Icarus said,

right before...

Boom!

It's not about hubris, Walter.

Why not start

directing with a short

like every other actor?

Phone cameras

can do so much these days.

Why does it gotta be a play?

And in Upstate New York...

where it's cold?

Because the subject matter

means something to me.

A poem about Santa Claus?

Yes, a poem about Santa Claus.

Okay, okay.

I'm sure it'll be fine,

minus the lost revenue.

I mean, you've got such

a stellar rep in this biz.

Thanks.

I'm sure it'll be fine

if it flops.

I appreciate the support.

Goodbye, Walter.

Call if you need anything...

or change your mind.

Madison?

I got news. Ugh...

Hey, what's going on?

The Christmas movie I wrote,

"The Jolliest Holiday,"

tons of last-minute changes

coming in fast and furious,

and apparently both

the producers and director

want me on set.

What?!

Did I mention it's in LA?

'Cause... I have a flight

there this afternoon.

Ugh!

Well, what does

that mean for our play?

It means I won't

be here to help.

I'm so sorry.

No, I'm sorry you have

to deal with all of this.

It's okay.

At least I don't have to

worry about our script.

No, our script's

in really good shape.

We're good.

I am just a phone call away,

and I will be back in time

for the Christmas Eve premiere.

Great.

I think.

Hmm?

Um...

To what should

my wandering eyes appear?

Oh!

You made it!

Are you smiling?

He smiled!

You smiled first.

Stop!

We already talked about this.

I don't date actors.

Connor!

'Ello, ladies!

Okay...

Hi.

Hi, Connor. Hi.

It's cool, huh?

Makes me feel like John Steed

from The Avengers.

It's giving me

Dad from Mary Poppins.

Oh...

And now I can't unsee it!

Which is probably a good thing

because it's an American poem

and you're playing an American.

Is Lena here?

I'm super curious

to meet my co-star.

I kept trying to

look her up online

but I just found a bunch of

hand modelling credits.

Um, she is...

She is...

Here!

Oh!

How do you do,

fellow counsellor?

Heh...

Connor Avery.

I was watching "My Fair Lady"

to, um...

to get into character,

and I just love Audrey Hepburn.

So posh.

And I was thinking,

maybe that's how I should

do my voice for the show.

Yeah?

Actually, Lena... hi.

You play a modern prosecutor,

so no accents.

That goes for you, too.

Yeah.

Oh my gosh,

Madison Rush, my director.

I'm so honoured to meet you.

I'm such a big fan.

Oh, thank you!

Great googly!

Uh, yeah.

It's her catchphrase.

Mm, yes.

Yeah.

Actually, that was

a very long time ago.

Yeah, I was in kindergarten, so...

it was a really long time ago.

Great!

Um, okay, I'm gonna...

Yeah.

I am so excited to be here!

I could not believe it

when Jefferson told me

I got the part!

Amazing.

Everyone, if you

could just gather around...

Let's go listen to the director.

Hi.

I just wanted to thank you all

for being a part of this

unique theatrical experience

that's part play

and part mock-trial.

A jury, made up from

real audience members,

will listen to both sides:

Clement Clarke Moore,

represented by Connor Avery,

and Henry Livingston Jr.,

represented by Lena DeLorean.

And then during intermission,

we'll render a verdict

to determine once and for all

who really wrote "'Twas

the Night Before Christmas."

Which has a lot of

meaning for this audience

because the poem was

first published here in Troy

anonymously back in 1823.

So, let's do a read-through

and then we'll get

to blocking, yeah?

Alright.

Uh, so, um...

Where are the blocks?

You think that I don't know

that you only took this case...

so that you could see me...

again?

You wish.

That seems mean.

That's mean!

Right?

Uh, let's just keep reading.

We need to do something.

Maybe I could take

the time on the flight

to try to pare down

Lena's lines.

So, she seems very sweet,

but why was she cast?

I guess you could say

we couldn't do the play

without her.

How do you mean?

She's the producer's girlfriend.

Jefferson was the only producer

that would back the play,

as long as... Lena got the part.

Right.

But you know what?

I took this play

to give myself a challenge,

and Lena is, well, a challenge.

Yeah, she is!

I admire your affinity

for understatement.

Sorry.

Thanks again for doing this.

Yeah, of course.

Hey, how's Josie?

She's good.

And my mom's gonna

bring her out here

as soon as she gets off school

for winter break.

Oh... Connor.

You should have told me no.

She is gonna love the

Victorian Festival and the play.

I hope so.

I gotta go back to

Edna's B&B and grab my luggage.

Production just moved

my flight up by two hours.

What?

I feel like I'm abandoning you.

You're not.

Go do your job.

Okay.

Just 'cause they pay me.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

I love you.

I love you.

Bye.

Merry Christmas.

You only took this job...

so that you could see me again.

Madison!

Hey, Connor!

Two of my favourites.

Oh...

Hey, Jefferson.

Hey, thanks again

for casting Lena.

Girl just needs a chance,

you know?

Like you need with this play.

Oh.

Yeah.

I've actually been

thinking about the play.

It's a great concept.

Love the real jury part.

Okay...

The romance isn't working.

Not working?

Yeah, there's no chemistry.

These are two former lovers,

brought together in the court

of law over this debate.

Instead, it's kind of...

Eh.

"Eh"?

Uh...

I mean, don't worry

about the chemistry.

Connor will bring the chemistry.

Ah, I'm just saying

that maybe you can bump it up

with a little something.

And another thing, you gotta

up the good guy/bad guy angle.

Good guy/bad guy angle?

Yeah, audiences

want someone to root for,

and someone to root against.

But this town has been debating

who wrote this poem for years.

We might alienate

half our audience.

More like stir their passions.

Oh, Jefferson,

we open in ten days.

Yeah, that's plenty of time.

Hey, look, I don't

wanna step on any toes here,

but I think we should respect

Madison and Hayley's

original vision.

Mmm, yeah, we are, Connor.

It's already

built into the story.

Okay, look, on one side,

you got this Moore guy, right?

He's a rich

Manhattan property owner

who's against

all Christmas celebrations.

Then on the other side

we got Henry Livingston Jr.

He's a farmer.

He's a family man.

The man is a hero

of the Revolutionary w*r,

who wrote these poems

for his children

and then he had his

most beloved creation stolen

by a real-life Scrooge.

Well, we don't

know that for a fact.

I mean, we do and we don't.

Hey...

Hey, not like they're gonna

come back and dispute it.

Am I right?

My agent is so gonna gloat.

Are you gonna make the changes?

I mean, what if he's right?

What if the romance is "meh"

and the audience

does want someone to root for?

Should we pick a side?

I-I can't do that,

and direct the play,

and somehow teach Lena

how to act in ten days.

She doesn't need

to be Meryl Streep.

She just needs to say her lines

and not bump into the furniture.

Preferably

without an English accent.

Oh, I want it to be

better than that, though.

I want it to be good.

I want to be good.

You will be.

And I'm gonna help you...

if you want me to.

Yeah?

I happen to be

a whiz at research.

You are?

It's my secret superpower.

If you want,

we can go to the library

and get into the nitty-gritty

on Livingston and Moore,

see if we can find our

good guy/bad guy angle there.

I have already

asked so much of you.

I don't mind.

I am staying

in the smallest room

at that hotel downtown,

and I am going to go stir-crazy.

I'll meet you at the B&B...

10 am?

Okay, 10 am.

It's a date.

Well, not a date, of course.

Of course.

No, 'cause I don't date actors.

Yeah, me neither.

Thank you, Connor.

You're a really good friend.

How do I personify Livingston

as the hero in the courtroom?

Or Moore.

Well, Jefferson was

pretty adamant about making

the Livingston the protagonist.

So we're gonna

purposefully lead the jury?

Ugh, I don't know!

I'll let you know

what Connor and I find.

Are you seriously

decorating your hotel room?

Yeah!

I brought it from Production.

Helps get me in the mood.

What was that about Connor?

What?

You said you'd let me

know "what Connor and I find."

He's helping me do research.

Carry your books to class.

Aren't you too busy

for misguided innuendo?

One should never be

too busy for innuendo.

Misguided.

You have your version,

I have mine.

I'm hanging up now.

Good luck!

Let me

warm up that coffee for you.

Thank you, Edna.

Mm-hm!

You're here early.

Good morning, Edna.

Good morning.

Well, I insisted that Connor

come here for breakfast.

You know what?

The hotel where he's staying at,

it just has the worst buffets.

Right?

The waffles are perfect.

You're perfect.

Well, I see Charming Connor

is back in fine form.

Ah, two years post-divorce,

I'm really just trying to

put myself out there.

Hmm, alright.

Well, I'll let Edna know.

Oh, please do.

Listen to this.

"Many of Major Livingston's

poems were written

"for his children and published

in New York papers and magazines

"anonymously or under

quirky pseudonyms such as...

"Senor Whimsicalo Pomposo."

"Livingston's grandson, Sydney,

"claimed to have found

the original handwritten copy

"of the Christmas poem

in his father's desk

"with its original cross-outs,

"but the manuscript was lost in

a house fire later that year."

How convenient.

Hm.

I've never heard that before.

Where did you find this?

Up in the stacks.

Had to use the old

Dewey Decimal System.

And I'm pretty sure I haven't

said "Dewey Decimal System"

since I graduated law school.

Law school?

Wait, you're a lawyer?

Well, I never actually

passed the bar anywhere,

and that is a much longer story,

and yours truly has a date

with the unauthorized biography

of Clement Clarke Moore to find.

We're focusing on Livingston.

You are.

I'm playing the guy

defending Moore,

and I want to be prepared.

Oh, you really

are a research nerd.

Guilty!

Terribly sorry for

the disturbance, Miss.

I always was a bit of a foozler.

A what?

Foozler.

Or klutz,

in the parlance of your time.

Man, you take

this Victorian Stroll thing

so seriously!

My time is before

that of Queen Victoria.

A-ha.

Have we met somewhere?

I don't believe

I've had the pleasure.

Major Henry Livingston. Junior.

At your service.

Oh, you're one of

the Livingston cosplayers.

I beg your pardon?

I saw a few

Livingstons out there.

And Moores.

And at least two or three

Sherlock Holmes.

Rest assured, Miss...

I am the genuine article.

You really get into the spirit.

That's it!

Spirit, ghost!

Shh!

Sorry, sorry!

Livingston's ghost goes back

to testify at his own trial.

Boom, personification!

Do you know where

the Spark Street Theatre is?

I am acquainted with

the establishment, yes.

Connor's desk,

this whole half.

Right, we'll do that.

So many... pages.

I love it.

It's Law & Order meets

the Ghost of Christmas Past.

It's Dickens with a deposition.

Thanks, Jefferson!

So, who do you

got in mind for Livingston?

Um, I have found someone.

Someone inexpensive?

Yes.

Would I know them?

No, he's actually local.

Oh.

Even better!

Gotta take this. Okay.

Go for Jefferson.

So what's his name, the new guy?

Uh, he actually

likes to go by Livingston.

So he's a, uh, method actor!

I'm not sure.

He's a little difficult

to read, so...

Well, when do we

get to meet him?

He should be here any...

You know, actors aren't

the most punctual.

I am not an actor!

I'm a map-maker

and surveyor by trade,

and by avocation

an illustrator and poet.

He's here!

Everyone,

meet Major Henry Livingston Jr.

At your service.

I think you'll find

that he is well-versed

in all things Livingston

and able to ad lib when needed.

Ad lib?

Ad libbing, yeah?

Uh...

Uh, Sean, our stage manager,

will get you some new pages.

Yes, here you go.

Thank you.

Thank you, my good sir.

I assure you, these shall

receive my utmost attention.

Is this our Livingston?

Oh, welcome aboard, Major!

I am loving this costume.

Great detail.

Very lived-in.

Is this his or ours?

You know what?

Never mind.

Just send me the number

to your tailor, will ya?

You're a bit of butter

upon bacon, aren't you?

Well, don't tell

my cardiologist!

Oh, he's our good guy, yeah?

Maybe just lighten

him up a little bit.

Hmm.

Thanks.

Alright, let's get it

on its feet.

Yeah?

Major, would you mind

reading your pages?

Certainly.

Out loud?

Ah.

I was commissioned major

in 1775.

The fiddle

was a great distraction

when hostilities began.

Hmm, those were

trying days, indeed.

It seemed as though

everyone strove to find

some lighthearted distraction

to devote their attention

from the uncertainty

that surrounded us.

Though I do often point

to that time as the quiet spark

for my own creative endeavours

later in my life.

That was perfect!

Really, that was great.

Okay!

Something smells amazing.

Oh, you're here. Again.

I may have volunteered

to help Edna yesterday

for tomorrow night's

Victorian Stroll.

Well, Saturday night

is the most important night

of the festival, and Connor

just volunteered to help

make cookies to give out.

You bake?

Yeah, I have

a seven-year-old daughter.

I mean, baking cookies

is the easiest skill

I've learned along the way.

Tomorrow we could

assemble the gingerbread houses

and then we could frost them.

If my boss lets me out on time.

Are you staying here tonight?

Oh, he's staying

through the holidays!

I insisted.

A last-minute

cancellation, fortunately.

Yeah.

Well, I mean, that hotel

that he's staying at, I mean,

that's just like a shoebox and

it has about as much charm...

I'm so excited. Oh.

Wow.

Here.

Ooh!

Hello, Frosty.

You're really making

yourself at home, huh?

I could probably get you

a matching apron, if you like.

Are you flirting with me?

Do you want me to be?

Yes?

Sorry!

Aah!

I am having such a hard time

writing the romance

part of this play.

I mean, am I so out of practice

that I can't even write

banter anymore?

Can I help?

Tell me something romantic.

Our kiss

in "Christmastime Cupid"

was our favourite

on-screen kiss.

I meant, like,

tell me a romantic story.

Yeah!

Well, okay!

That's embarrassing.

No, no, it was a great kiss,

and a great...

Movie kiss.

Right, that's what I was saying.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Ah...

It's Josie.

Mm-hm.

West Coast, bedtime.

Hey, J-Bug!

Hope you're being

good for Grandma.

You look like an elf.

Like, not the ones

at the houses;

you look like the ones

that do, like, the jobs

and make the toys

and cook the food for Santa.

What do you want for Christmas?

Hmm.

I honestly don't know.

I want to be with you.

I want to be with you, too.

See you soon.

Goodnight!

Bye.

Court is in session.

Hmm.

Y-you tes... testified

that you wrote...

"'Twas the Night Before

Christmas" in 1823 as...

an entertainment.

Entertainment?

Yeah.

Uh, for...

your children and...

that you...

know it... it was never

your intention...

to see it...

published!

Uh...

Major?

That's your line.

Yes, that's correct.

A... lot of people...

have criticized your clams...

Claims!

"Claims," that makes more sense.

Because you never...

before...

declared author-ships.

Ship...

Sorry!

Uh...

What is your response?

I never wanted

a name put to it at all.

My poem is a celebration

of Christmas magic.

I wanted my children,

all children,

to experience that magic,

as if it might have come from

St. Nicholas himself.

When it comes to my poetry,

my family, and my heart,

I would not sell you a dog.

Sell a dog, sell...

Sell a dog?

That's...

That's not in my...

That's not in my script!

No, no, it's okay.

Just... just go with it.

Yeah.

I'm so sorry, I'm just...

I'm really nervous.

I really want to be good,

for you, for this.

But, um, my mind feels like

it's just going

a million miles a minute.

And I knew my lines, I did,

I knew all of my lines,

but now there are

way more lines!

And this new guy in here,

I mean,

he's just making up

all his own lines.

He's coming in with

his accent, his clothes...

I know.

I know, I know.

Are you gonna fire me?

No.

If Jefferson wasn't

the producer?

Lena...

I get it.

I really thought

I would be better.

But I can act.

I can, I promise.

It's just...

it's been a while.

How long?

Freshman year of college,

I was Ado Annie in Oklahoma!

Okay!

Should I...

I mean, should I maybe...

sing my lines?

No!

No, no, no.

No singing.

Please.

It's just I'm feeling

really self-conscious

because it feels like

they're all looking at me

like I don't know

what I'm doing,

and... and it just kind of makes

my brain shut off until I...

don't know what I'm doing.

You know, I used to

get like that, too.

You did?

Yeah.

How did you get over it?

Well, my dad had this...

this technique that...

You know what?

How do you feel

about gingerbread?

In what way?

Come with me.

Come on.

So, this is the overall vision

of what we want to accomplish.

Hmm.

Mm-hm.

I... I thought this

was an acting lesson.

It is.

So, do you have an overall

vision for your character?

I think so.

Can you tell me

some elements of her

that you think are important?

Um, I think that

she is someone who...

believes in the truth!

And is truth her cornerstone?

Yes.

Great.

Okay, so the gingerbread

is the cornerstone

of the gingerbread house, right?

At least for our purposes here.

Sure, yeah.

Okay, so if

truth is her cornerstone,

pointing her

in the right direction,

what is the element that

binds those truths together?

Sugar?

She couldn't have gone

very far in her search

for the truth without...?

Money!

Hmm.

Um...

Tenacity?

Yeah, that too. Yeah.

Alright, tenacity.

So we are gonna make

the royal icing our tenacity.

So if these two pieces

are the truth,

can you recall some lines

of the play that represent

your character's quest

for the truth?

'Twas the Night Before...

Wait, wait.

I want you to do that while

putting this together.

Okay?

Just trust me.

Oop!

Okay.

Uh...

"'Twas the Night

Before Christmas"

was published anonymously

in the Troy Sentinel in 1823.

It wasn't until 1844,

after the poem

had already become popular,

that Clement Clarke Moore

claimed authorship of it.

Why the wait?

Was he shy?

Or was it because

the poem's true author,

Henry Livingston Jr.,

had already passed away?

I am here to say

that it's the latter.

What?

That was line-by-line perfect.

I didn't get nervous!

No, because you were

concentrating on something

other than just the words,

you see?

Okay, so when you need

to remember that section

of the dialogue,

you think of these two pieces

and you remember

the lines that go with them.

What if someone ad libs again?

Then you think of

this gingerbread house

and you respond from

who your character is:

truth-seeking and tenacious.

She believes that Livingston

is the real author who wrote

"'Twas the Night

Before Christmas,"

not Moore, and she's

gonna prove that.

Respond from there.

Yeah?

Yeah.

Great!

Alright, next section.

Hello!

Two houses?

Three, actually.

Okay!

Lena went a little overboard.

I can see that.

Uh, but we won't say no!

Thank you.

All proceeds from the bake sale

go to planting more trees

in downtown Troy, so thank you

both, and thank you, Lena.

Absolutely.

Are you two

going to stick around,

or do you have more work

to do on the play?

I actually do have

one more scene to write,

but I honestly think I'm just

too exhausted to do it tonight.

Well, in that case,

you should take one little

stroll around the festival.

It's... it's

really quite special.

Mm!

I'm game.

Thank you.

Ooh!

Whoa!

Yes!

A-ha-ha!

Cheers.

Mmm!

Mmm, that is so good!

Pretty sure that's not

from the Victorian Era.

I am so fine not diving into

that time period right now.

This is delicious.

Mmm!

Mmm.

So, who do you think

our Livingston really is?

My money's on him being

a history teacher in real life.

Too obvious.

Yeah?

Yeah.

Who do you think he is?

A retired spy...

who still likes to put on

different personas.

What, like a

centuries-dead poet?

Perfect cover, yeah?

Yeah.

You know, that was

some seriously impressive

teaching technique

you used back there on Lena.

Hmm.

It was a trick my dad taught me

when I first started on

"Bet Your Bottom Dollar."

Association, chunking,

and visualization.

Break down large chunks

of content into smaller parts

to make it easier to remember,

and then associate those pieces

with a particular image.

Gingerbread?

Gingerbread.

And then when

it's time to recall,

you pull up that image

and the words will come.

Huh.

Yeah.

Was your dad an actor?

Mm...

No.

Uh, actually,

he was a cognitive psychologist.

And he loved the theatre,

and he took me to see

"The Nutcracker"

when I was barely four,

and that was it.

I loved it.

And he took me to voice,

ballet, stage combat.

Nice!

Yeah, I loved

everything about it.

The smell of the grease paint,

the imagination,

but mostly because it

was our thing, you know?

Mm-hm.

I was 11 when he passed away.

It was season two

of me playing Marly Wilkens,

and... I know

he was so proud of me,

but I always had this feeling

that he wanted me to go back

to the theatre.

Maybe even Broadway, someday.

He'd have loved that.

You're back doing theatre now.

Years later.

You could have kept doing TV,

a great career,

but you took a risk.

I admire that.

Yeah?

Yeah.

Thanks.

Reindeer, reindeer,

please, please.

Oh, perfect. Yeah.

Hello.

How are you?

Oh, I'm great.

Thank you for asking.

That's very sweet.

Thank you!

Thanks for letting me tag along.

I think I actually

started to blink in time

with the cursor this morning.

Well, anytime you need

a distraction, I'm your man.

Thanks.

And I'm your reindeer!

He is a charlatan!

I'm sorry?

You cannot allow this

mockery to go unchallenged.

I am so lost.

Livingston.

You are the one

to defend the truth

and end this fallacy for good.

You gonna get that for Josie?

Uh...

Uh...

Uh...

Yeah!

I think I will.

Okay.

You good?

Yeah!

Oh, there you are!

Good morning, Edna.

Well, I will have you know,

your gingerbread houses

were the talk of the table.

They raised three times

as much as expected.

That's great, Edna.

Something wrong, hun?

Uh, yeah, just...

champagne problems, as they say.

My agent sent me a project

with a direct offer.

Oh, no.

And it's the week

before Christmas,

and you can't

do the play and you...

No, I can do the play.

It starts in early January

and films in Lithuania.

Oh!

Well, that is

a beautiful country.

It is.

And I've always loved travelling

for work, it's just...

I don't want to be that far away

from my daughter anymore.

It's not like when

she was little and I could just

pack her up

and bring her with me.

I get it.

Priorities change, especially

when you become a parent.

You know, when I met my husband,

he was the pilot

and I was the flight attendant,

but once our

first child came along,

we made some changes.

The B&B?

My sister owns

the bakery in town,

so it just made sense

to settle here.

And, well, it was a big change

and it was

certainly challenging,

but it was the right choice

for our family.

Lives evolve, right?

Sometimes reinventing yourself

can be a really good thing.

Like what Madison's doing.

I mean, who knows.

Maybe you could become

a lawyer for real.

Hmm.

Gingerbread?

Three houses' worth.

I'm so gonna steal

that for my next movie.

Connor said you would say that.

Connor did, did he?

No, no, don't even start.

You brought up his name,

for the fifth time

in the last four minutes.

Hayley...

What?!

I'm not saying

you're going steady.

Are you?

I'm just teasing you.

I'll stop.

No more Connor jokes.

Thank you.

So, have you finished

those 14 pages of notes yet?

Yeah.

And now I have nine new ones.

The director and producers

have different visions.

Wow.

I reminded them last night

that this is a movie about

Santa Claus on vacation,

not Jake in Chinatown.

So no early return to Troy?

Sorry.

No, it's okay.

And that marks

the end of my 15-minute

human interaction break.

Knock 'em dead out there.

You too. Bye.

You think I don't know?

You only took this case because

you knew you would see me again.

Oh...

That was... that was good!

Yeah?

Really, you think so?

Oh, yeah!

Uh-huh!

Wait, what's with

the gingerbread?

I'm learning my lines.

Actors are weird.

You called me an actor.

Well, because you are.

No one's ever

called me an actor before.

Lena, my dear,

if I didn't believe in you,

I never would have backed

this poem trial story.

I mean, what do I know

about putting on plays?

I'm a film guy.

I did this

so you'd believe in you.

That might be the sweetest thing

you've ever said to me.

I can't wait for the world

to see you up on that stage.

And... you know

who could be the first?

Sophia Farentino.

Sophia Farentino,

the Broadway producer?!

No, you're kidding.

Are you kidding?

I'm working on it.

Oh, thank you!

You're the best!

I can't wait!

I'm so excited.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I've gotta finish

learning my lines.

Gingerbread!

Oh, wrapping Josie's presents?

You need help?

Sure.

"A Guide to Legal Research"...

"Great Debates

in Criminal Law"...

Wow, Josie is very advanced.

Those are mine.

Hmm!

What can I say,

I'm inspired

by Livingston's acting method.

Mm.

Hm.

So, the thing is,

I always wanted to be a lawyer.

Yeah, you mentioned

something about that.

My mom was a single mom.

We didn't grow up

with a lot of resources.

I did get some scholarships,

but it was still a stretch.

Ironically, law school was how

I wound up being an actor.

I don't understand.

A good lawyer

needs to be able to

think on his feet, right?

Change course

at the drop of a hat.

So I signed up for

an improv class.

I was the only law student

in the group.

And one night,

a casting agent comes in there

and she offers

to take me for a commercial.

And you got it?

I did.

I paid for that whole

next semester in cash.

It felt good.

And then what,

acting just took over?

Well, before I knew it,

I had met Regina

and Josie had come along,

and the fastest way for me

to support my family

was to just keep going forward.

On the road that

you accidentally chose.

Or the road that

accidentally chose me.

So then, what are

you doing with this?

I told you,

I'm researching my role

as Moore's defence counsel.

So, how's the romance polish?

Hmph!

It's much easier making

Livingston the good guy than...

writing that.

Yeah, I was gonna

ask you about that.

Have you given any thought

to having the ghost of Moore

give his testimony?

It seems only fair.

We open in three days!

Just pass me the tape.

Okay.

Please.

And a bow.

Thank you!

Checking in.

How's it going?

It's going.

And hopefully we're gonna get

through a full rehearsal today.

Hopefully?

We've had a few hiccups,

but I think everything

is smoothed out now.

I hope so!

Some of your fan sites

have already gotten wind

of your new phase.

Even some pics of you out there

in some English period setting?

It's the Victorian Stroll.

I told you, it happens

every year here in Troy.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Hey, did you get that email,

uh, about the producers?

Yes, Walter, I did.

And...?

And I'm concentrating

on directing.

We've discussed this.

A lot.

For how long?

Just let me get through

one production

and then we can

talk again, okay?

I'm worried, Maddy.

Why?

What if something goes wrong?

I mean, you've

bitten off a lot here.

Writing with Hayley

and directing

for a one-night-only play.

Theatre isn't exactly

your regular field, Maddy.

I can do this, Walter.

I can.

Uh, look, I have to go.

Hi!

There she is,

our fearless leader,

Madison Rush herself.

Uh-oh, now I'm nervous.

Ha, yes,

and she's hilarious, to boot.

Now, Madison Rush, I want

you to meet one of the finest

theatrical producers of the

21st century, Sophia Farentino.

That's a bit much, Jefferson.

Alright.

Well, than how about

a Broadway legend?

That'll do.

It's so nice to meet you.

Jefferson has said such

wonderful things about you

and this play.

Oh!

Well, that's fantastic.

Thank you.

I'm excited to see it.

Great, well, we'll see you

on Christmas Eve.

Hmm, yes, about that.

Uh...

Watch the rehearsal?

Have you lost your mind?

But she knows it's a rehearsal!

Our first full run-through,

provided we actually make it

all the way through this time.

Oh, well,

this is just semantics.

It is really, really,

really rough, Jefferson.

Did you tell her that?

Well, you know,

maybe not three reallys' worth

of rough, but she knows

that we're still

in the polishing phase.

No, not polishing.

We don't even know

where Livingston is.

Then text him!

Ugh!

Sean didn't get

his contact info.

He doesn't think

the guy has a phone.

He doesn't have a...

Do you think this guy

does cosplay all year round,

or is it like after Christmas

he just goes back

to being an assistant manager?

It doesn't matter.

He's not here now!

Okay, well, hopefully

he gets here soon.

Sophia Farentino is considering

taking our little production

to one of her Off-Broadway

farm team theatres.

Maybe eventually

the Great White Way itself.

I know, I'm not a theatre guy,

but even I know

that this is a big deal.

So she's here now?

Yes.

It's her only chance to see it

before she leaves for Vienna.

Well, then let's go for it.

It's not ready!

Madison,

you're a great director.

Trust your instinct.

Alright, everyone!

Okay, uh, so...

we have a special guest

of Jefferson's here

to watch our very first

full run-through,

so let's go for the goal of

smooth and professional, okay?

Alright, let's do this.

Woo!

Yes.

Curtain up in

two minutes, everyone.

Places.

Hey, you good?

You got this.

Alright?

Sophia, after you.

Thank you, Jefferson.

Best seats in the house, right?

There's still no sign

of Major Livingston.

Have you tried

his dressing room?

Yes, ma'am.

It's empty.

Well, we're gonna

have to wing it.

Okay.

"'Twas the Night

Before Christmas"

is one of the most famous poems

in American history.

It was published anonymously

in the Troy Sentinel newspaper

on December 23rd, 1823,

and it has gone on

to become something that

nearly everyone

can happily recite.

Yet the one question that...

That's her.

That's Lena!

No one can

successfully answer is,

who really wrote it?

Tonight, we're going

to answer that question.

Only...

it's not who you may think.

For though the poem

has been attributed

to Clement Clarke Moore,

it wasn't until nearly 20 years

after the poem was published

that Moore claimed it

by including it

in a book of his poems,

after it had already

become famous

and after its true author

had passed away.

Tonight, I intend to

set the record straight

and prove to you all

that the poem's rightful author

is Major Henry Livingston Jr.,

who will finally get his due.

Thank you.

You're up, counsellor.

Every time verses

of the beloved poem,

"'Twas the Night

Before Christmas,"

have been published,

they've been

under the authorship

of Clement Clarke Moore.

Mr. Evans, in your expert

opinion as Lead Historian

for the Troy Historical Society,

do you believe

that Clement Clarke Moore

is the true author of

Twas the Night Before Christmas?

I do have a hard time believing

Clement Moore wrote it.

And why is that?

Well, for one, the style,

and subject matter,

is not consistent

with Moore's work,

whereas it is very much

true to the poems

Major Livingston wrote

at the time.

Livingston's cue's

in four minutes.

Is there any other reason

you have a hard time believing

Moore wrote the poem?

Clement Clarke Moore

was known to be...

Ah, how should I say?

A bit of a curmudgeon.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the facts of this case

are centuries old,

so I have sent a subpoena back

in time to the great beyond,

requesting the very spirit

of Major Henry Livingston Jr. himself.

Your honour,

aside from my obvious objection

to calling witnesses

that aren't even alive,

I object to counsel's delusions

that they even have the ability.

Let's see where this goes.

Counsellor,

call your next witness.

Your honour, I call the spirit

of Major Henry Livingston Jr.

The spirit of

Major Henry Livingston Jr.!

Oh, nice effect.

Uh, thanks.

Sir, would you state

your name for the record?

Major Henry Beekman Livingston.

Junior.

Your honour, I object.

Grounds?

So many, I'm not even

really sure where to start.

Certainly a problem with calling

witnesses back from the dead

is that they have no incentive

to tell the truth.

Sit down, counsellor.

Major, would you

please tell the court,

how did you support

yourself after the w*r?

I farmed my land,

and we had a boat dock

through which

we supplied merchant sailors

travelling the Hudson.

You've led

quite a remarkable life.

Tell me, at any point

did you ever write poems

for your children?

I certainly did.

Were any of these poems

about Christmas, perhaps?

Oh, yes, there was

a particular favourite of mine.

Could you recite

a little of that for us?

Why, certainly.

"When what to my

wondering eyes should appear

"but a miniature sleigh

and eight tiny reindeer.

"With a little old driver,

so lively and quick,

"I knew in a moment

it must be St. Nick."

I cannot believe

what I am hearing.

What that man is saying

is a patent lie!

I cannot stand by and abide

this skulduggery any longer!

Who is that?

I know you.

Of course you know me!

I am your client,

Clement Clarke Moore.

Oh, great googly.

Your honour,

I call Clement Clarke Moore

to take the stand.

Should we stop this?

No, let's roll with it,

see what Connor does.

Mr. Moore.

Hmph!

Please, tell us

about the circumstances

surrounding

your writing the poem.

Certainly.

One Christmas Eve in 1822,

I was out shopping

for the Christmas turkey

in Greenwich Village.

While riding in my

one-horse open sleigh,

I looked at my driver.

He was a sort of

roly-poly merry fellow,

and it was the image

of him in the moonlight,

with the snow falling,

that inspired me

to hurry home and write.

What was it you wrote

when you returned home?

I wrote the 56 lines of poetry

known as

"A Visit from St. Nicholas."

Better known today as "'Twas

the Night Before Christmas."

Hmm.

Why didn't you sign your name

to it or claim credit

after it had been published?

Oh, it was just

a trifle that I'd written

for my children to read to them

on Christmas Day.

Ah, I certainly

didn't expect or want it

to be shared publicly!

Least of all with my name on it.

That would have been

an embarrassment

for a gentleman.

Then why did you claim

credit to it 20 years later?

Mostly at the behest

of my children.

I was about to publish

a book of poetry

and they requested

I include it, for them.

That doesn't sound

very curmudgeonly to me.

Good job.

Okay.

Your witness, counsellor.

Come on, Lena.

Just, um,

a few questions, Mr. Moore.

Have you heard people

describe you on the stand?

I have.

And how did...

How did that make you feel?

It does not represent who I am.

It is true that in my work,

I objected to writings

that glorified

irresponsible activities...

Tobacco, alcohol, dancing,

irresponsible practices.

But...

I believe a writer should be

careful with his words

not to romanticize wicked

and harmful pursuits.

Like smoking, perhaps?

Precisely like smoking!

Then why would you write about

St. Nicholas smoking a pipe?

Uh...

I-I did not think...

"The stump of a pipe

he held tight in his teeth,

"and the smoke, it encircled

his head like a wreath."

I was struggling to find

something that rhymed properly

with "wreath,"

so I set upon "teeth."

And as I thought more,

I remembered my driver

from that evening,

who had a short, stubby pipe.

But you didn't have

to include that, did you?

Unless, of course,

someone less bothered by smoking

actually wrote the poem.

A-ha!

This is not over!

Not yet it's not.

And that is where

we will end the rehearsal!

In the actual play,

the jury will deliberate

during intermission

and then render a verdict,

which will be as much

of a mystery to us

as it will be to the rest

of the audience.

Okay, great job, everyone!

Yeah!

Good, yeah, okay.

Ah!

I told you you could do it!

Well, thanks to you!

No!

The gingerbread thing

was really helpful

and the smoking thing

just kind of like

popped into my head!

That's good!

Who is the new guy?

I thought you knew him.

No, I've seen him around,

but I thought he was part of

the whole Victorian Stroll.

Victorian Stroll, right.

Like Livingston.

Yes!

Where is Livingston?

He better show up for

the Christmas Eve performance.

Yeah, and the Moore ghost, too.

Oh no, please!

Hey, Sean, did we get

the guy playing Moore's info?

No, ma'am.

When I went to look for him

and Livingston,

they were both gone.

Oh!

Those guys are really method.

Friends, colleagues...

Thespians!

That new ghost was genius!

Tell me you got him for free.

You know what?

It doesn't matter.

Unless you paid a lot,

then it does.

No, actually, I...

Doesn't matter.

You know what?

It's great.

Okay.

It's great.

And do you want to know

what else was great?

Sophia Farentino

loved what she saw.

There's nothing concrete but

it's looking really positive.

And you, my darling,

were incredible!

- Oh, stop.

You were so good!

I was pretty good.

Yeah!

I didn't know what

I was gonna do, either...

Mm-hm...

Josie and my mom

will be here tomorrow.

Is that what she looks like now?

She has grown up so fast.

I know every parent says that.

No, no, no, no...

She was such a little girl

when she used to

come to set two years ago.

I know. Wow.

And, you know, I've tried

to be there as much as I can

and I still feel like

I've missed out.

Hmm, so that's what

the law books are really about.

Maybe.

I mean, lawyers don't have to

travel as much for work.

Hmm, yeah.

You know one of the things

I admire about you the most?

You could have coasted

for a long time

being the "Great googly!"

girl...

but you reinvented yourself.

First with the movies,

now with this.

It's inspiring.

Inspiring?

Wow, I don't think anyone's

ever said that to me before.

I find that

impossible to believe.

Tell me something romantic.

Looking at you right now,

I feel like my heart is

gonna b*at out of my chest.

Same.

What do they say

about watched kettles?

Uh, that they miss their kids?

Oh, good!

Oh, hey!

Dad!

J-Bug!

Aww!

I missed you so much.

I missed you.

What's that?

Ah, a little surprise.

I figured we could do

a little decorating.

Josie...

I believe this should be

the first one on the tree.

Yes!

Okay.

Oh, Josie, Mom,

you remember Madison.

Of course we remember her!

Hi!

How are you, Madison?

Nice to see you again.

So nice to see you

again as well.

I'm glad you guys could make it.

We're excited to

see your Christmas play.

Thank you.

Are there reindeer?

Hello?

That's what we forgot...

The reindeer!

Dad, are we going to

the Christmas costume

festival thing?

We're absolutely

going to the Christmas

costume festival thing!

But we gotta finish

this tree first.

Well, I'm gonna...

It was good to see you.

No, join us.

Oh...

We could use your help.

Oh, no, it's a family thing.

I couldn't.

Come on...

Join us.

Oh, come on, join us!

Okay!

Good!

Ooh...

There's something

about Christmas

That makes me grin

from ear to ear

Listen close

and I'll tell you why

It's my favourite

time of year

Oh, yeah...

Candycanes and mistletoe

Time with friends

and all that snow

When it's done,

don't want it to go

It's my favourite

time of year!

But no Christmas feels right

without you by my side

Ooh, ooooh...

So, baby come home

for Christmas

So, baby come home

Don't you know

it's Christmas

Don't you know...

A roaring fire

and candlelight

And all I need

is you here tonight

Cheers!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

So baby, come home

Alright, honey!

I know, she's so excited.

Lena, hi!

Hey.

Oh, hi!

Are you okay?

Can we talk?

Sure.

Hey, I'll catch up with you all.

Sure...

Sure.

You know one of the reasons

I wanted to do the play

is that Jefferson told me

that you would be directing it.

Really?

I've been a fan of yours

for so long

and I really wanted

to learn from you.

Thank you.

But is something going on?

Jefferson filmed part of

my performance the other night

and he sent it to

a producer friend of his

who is filming a movie,

thinking that if he liked it,

maybe I would get a small part.

Yeah, that's a great idea.

And so I sh*t an audition

and I sent it in...

and...

I got the second lead role.

What?

Congratulations!

Well, I wouldn't have

gotten it without your help.

No, I bet that's not true.

I think we both know better!

The only thing

I ever helped you with

was your confidence.

Hmm.

Well, why don't

you seem happier?

Because it starts filming

on December 27th.

O... oh.

In New Zealand.

So I-I...

I have to leave today.

Well...

Wha...?

I'm sorry, I never

actually considered second lead.

And our play?

Whatever you want,

I'm gonna support.

You know, money's paid for.

Let the show go on...

if you like.

Without our lead actress?

Jefferson!

You have to understand,

I only agreed to support

this play because of Lena.

I love that girl so much.

Hey, my first priority

is to do right by her.

I get that, but what about

the rest of us, okay?

Everyone who has worked

so hard on this production.

And what about

Sophia Farentino, huh?

She's not gonna take a show

to Broadway that's never

even been performed once.

I'm truly sorry.

Good King Wenceslas

looked out,

on the Feast of Stephen.

When the snow lay round about,

deep and crisp and even.

Brightly shone

the moon that night,

though the frost was cruel...

So, she can't still do the play?

It's already

Christmas Eve in New Zealand

and she's gotta

fly to California,

pack, and then fly to Auckland,

and basically be situated

in three days.

So, no, she can't do the play.

No, she can't do the play.

However, she did offer to try,

which I appreciated.

You turned her down?

Of course.

This is way too good

of an opportunity

for somebody just starting out.

Well, what do we do then?

Nothing.

We don't have a lead actress

and we open in a day.

This is literally a disaster.

I'm sorry, Dad.

I tried.

Here you are.

Hayley?

How are you here?

I was already on the way back

when Jefferson called

to tell me.

My play is ruined, Hayley.

No, it isn't.

We don't have a lead actress.

Then we're gonna

have to use our understudy.

Understudy?

We don't have an understudy!

We couldn't afford

an understudy!

Madison, we have an understudy.

No.

No!

The whole reason

I chose to do this play

was so I could step away

from acting.

The whole reason you

chose to do this play

was so that you could reinvent

yourself as a director.

That doesn't mean

you can't act, too.

Bring a little part of

the old you into the new you.

Nothing comes from nothing.

Did you just quote

"Sound of Music" to me?

Yeah.

You weren't supposed to notice.

This is your baby, Mads!

The Christmas show

that meant so much to you.

These are the pulleys.

They help bring up the curtains,

which is the most

amazing feeling when

you're standing, like...

Oh...

Oh, hey.

Hey.

Just showing her the office.

I love it.

Ah!

We'll get out of your way.

No, stay.

It's a magical place.

Order in the court!

So...

What about the play?

Hey, Josie.

You know what my dad used to

tell me about being up here?

"Do it because you love it."

Climb every mountain.

Ford every steam.

No, no.

No.

Stop.

Follow the rainbow?

Nope, nope.

Walter?

I am here to support

my favourite client.

Really?

And who is that?

Oh, funny.

These are beautiful.

Thank you.

Sure, I'd rather you

be acting full-time, but...

Thank you, Walter.

I know that in your own way,

you mean well.

I also told the TV producers

that you weren't interested.

You did?

I haven't seen you

this passionate about something

in a long, long time.

You know, when Ben was sick,

he asked me to look out for you.

I know.

I suppose I just always

figured he meant financially,

you know, for security, but...

maybe I can do a better job

in a lot of other ways,

too, creatively.

Thank you, Walter.

Go make him proud.

I hope you have a great show!

Thank you, Comet.

I'm Prancer!

Yeah, of course you are.

Thank you, Prancer's friend.

You're welcome.

Oh, is that your script?

Mm-hm.

New York?

I'm exploring my options.

I always thought you'd

make an excellent lawyer.

I remember.

There's some really great

dance schools in New York.

Go, Prancer, let's go...

Hey.

Hey.

So, our jury's been panelled.

I went through our line

of ticketholders

and I selected nine volunteers.

And the tenth?

Mrs. Prescott

didn't give me a choice!

No chance

I'm gonna miss my chance

to be up close

and personal with this!

Okay, thank you.

Ooh!

Oh!

You look beautiful.

Thank you.

I can't find

Moore or Livingston.

Of course not.

Do you want to go forward

as if they're gonna

be called or just...

revert back to the original

version without them?

If they don't show,

we'll just...

We'll improv.

We'll improv.

Yeah, we'll improv!

Yeah?

Yeah...

Yeah, um... Okay.

Okay, Lena messengered

this over.

She wanted me to give it to you

before the show, okay?

Okay, thank you.

Okay, places, everyone!

Break a leg!

Oh, thank you.

You, too!

Okay...

Okay, curtain.

"'Twas the Night

Before Christmas"

is one of the most famous poems

in American history.

Published anonymously in

the Troy Sentinel newspaper

on December 23rd, 1823,

it has gone on

to become something

that nearly everyone

can happily recite.

Yet the one question

that no one can

successfully answer is:

who really wrote it?

Well, tonight, we're

going to answer that question,

and the truth may surprise you.

Counsellor?

Your turn.

Ladies and gentlemen

of the jury,

for almost two centuries

there's only been one name

on the front cover of the book,

"'Twas the Night

Before Christmas":

Clement C. Moore.

Never in all the years he was

alive did any publisher

ever dispute this fact.

It was only afterwards,

in the fog of time,

that questions arose.

For people who did not know

Mr. Moore but judged

his capabilities

based on pure speculation,

I say we end such speculation

and give back Mr. Moore

his good name by rendering

the right and true verdict:

that the author was

Clement Clarke Moore.

Our favourite time of year

There's miles of bright-light

diamonds all around

Ooh-oooh...

Like music to my ears,

there's laughter in the air

My heart beats to

the rhythm of the sound

Ooh-oooh...

Let's celebrate good times

Make a memory tonight

Dance for the Yuletide

Come on, everyone,

let's celebrate good times

You think I don't know?

The only reason

you took this case

was because you knew

you'd see me again.

Guilty as charged.

Yeah...

Your honour, I call to the stand

Major Henry Livingston.

Anything?

Nothing.

Did you do that?

Cool!

You're not Henry Livingston.

No, indeed.

Major Livingston

was unfortunately detained.

Anybody got anything?

Uh, counsellor?

Perhaps I could

speak with my client?

By all means, counsellor.

Good evening, sir.

Please introduce yourself

to the court.

I am Clement Clarke Moore,

scholar and author.

And you wrote poetry?

I wrote a great deal of poetry,

much of which was high-minded.

It is ironic that the poem

that I am best remembered for

is one I scratched out

one Christmas Eve.

Mr. Moore, please

tell us about the circumstances

surrounding

your writing the poem.

Certainly.

One Christmas Eve, while riding

in my one-horse open sleigh,

I looked to my driver.

He was a roly-poly,

merry fellow,

stubby pipe

clenched in his teeth,

and it was the image of him,

with the moon shining

and the snow falling,

that inspired me.

Upon arriving home,

I wrote out the verses

that we now discuss.

And yet...

it wasn't until 1837

that you took credit

for its authorship.

Why is that?

I had more scholarly ambitions.

It had been a source of teasing

among my more academic friends

that I had written

this children's poem,

but one of my friends seemed to

have let the cat out of the bag.

So I ultimately chose

to admit my authorship.

I'm gonna ask you directly,

as you are under oath,

who authored "'Twas the Night

Before Christmas"?

I did, sir.

No further questions.

Actually, your honour,

I have a few questions.

Questions that have bothered me

since my dad

used to read me this poem.

What exactly is a sugar plum

and how do they dance?

They were a favourite

treat of my children.

They only danced

in the imagination.

Huh.

You said you wrote the entirety

of the poem on Christmas Eve.

Exactly how long

did that take you?

Three hours.

Three hours?

And yet, sir,

unlike your other poems,

you wrote it in anapestic meter.

It fit the subject matter.

You wrote in an unfamiliar meter

in a matter of hours.

I find that

difficult to believe,

especially given the subject

matter as a children's verse,

which is also not your forte,

and it involves smoking,

which you admit to abhorring.

Have people not doubted you

before, Ms. Rush?

Placed you

in a well-defined perception

based on limited information

that you ultimately found

profoundly inaccurate?

Well...

Ms. Rush, you and others

have researched me

and Major Livingston

through books and articles

and presumed to know us.

You yourself are known

to a great many

through the written words

of people

who have never met you.

Would you say that

their depictions are accurate?

No.

Then in this, we are in accord.

Yes, I was a professor

of divinity, and yes,

I primarily wrote books

of an academic nature,

and yes, I could, at times,

be considered a curmudgeon.

But I am also a man

who loved his children

and loved to see

the joy of Christmas

through their wondrous eyes.

Loved it so deeply

that I was inspired

one snowy evening

many years ago.

Thank you.

I'm sure you,

like Mr. Avery,

must understand what it's like

to have more than one interest

in one's pursuits.

Is that not so?

Court is adjourned

while the jury deliberates.

Did you just throw your case?

I think I did.

But that's what felt like

the truth and, as you know,

my character is a truth-seeker.

Uh, nah, he got you with

the "more than one pursuit"

speech, didn't he?

Madison.

Sophia?

I thought you were

supposed to be in...

In Vienna?

I will be later tonight.

Ah!

But when Jefferson

called me to tell me

you were going to take over

the lead role, I had to be here.

Oh, wow!

Thank you.

It was wonderful.

I mean, Lena did

a terrific job in the role,

but you, my dear,

took it even further.

I especially loved

all the flirtation

between the two leads.

Yeah, well, me too.

It's new.

It's delightful.

Please keep it in

for future performances.

Future?

I want to sponsor

the play annually in Troy.

Thank you so much!

I don't...

And let's talk in the new year

about other possibilities.

I could use a director

of your skills.

Well, I look forward to it.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Ah!

Hear ye, hear ye!

The jury has returned

with a verdict!

So who do you think

it's gonna be?

I dunno, but my dad's

a good lawyer.

Oh, you're so sweet!

Okay, lights on one...

Curtain...

Thank you, darling.

Hmm...

It appears that the jury has

become hopelessly deadlocked

in our allotted time.

The verdict is 9 to 1...

for...

Clement Clarke Moore.

Well, I guess this means

you'll have to

come back next year.

What do you say, counsellor?

No objection.

Court is adjourned.

Thank you to everyone

for coming out tonight

and being a part of

our first performance

of "Trial Before Christmas."

And now, it's only fitting

that we say to you...

Merry Christmas to all...

And to all a good night!

There was no Christmas party

in Poughkeepsie.

Oh, it's tomorrow.

You cheated!

Prove it!

I will...

Next year.

I love

Christmastime in New York.

I know.

I can't wait to

be here full-time.

What do you mean?

Well, I thought

I'd move to New York

and pass the bar, so I... I know.

Would you just kiss me already?

I thought you didn't

date actors.

Good thing you're

a convincing lawyer, hm?

Merry Christmas.
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