06x24 - A Clown's Prayer

[bunniefuu]

A long time ago, there
used to be a saying:

"Folks only want two
things: bread and circuses.

People and billy goats.

That wasn't a billy
goat, angel girl.

That was a unicorn.

There are no such thing.

Besides, aren't unicorns
supposed to have golden horns?

All it takes is some
cardboard, glitter, and glue.

This is the circus, Miss Wings.

It's all about illusion.

Look at me.

You better lay off that
cotton candy, angel girl.

But I do think you need a
little meat on your bones.

Mirror, mirror on the wall...

who is the funniest-looking
angel of all?

I'm glad you brought that up.

Because in our business

there is no funny-looking.

Tall and thin or
short and squat...

in God's eyes
we're all beautiful.

I know that. I was
just having fun.

Well, this is the funhouse,

and it's all right
to be funny-looking

and different in here
because it's safe.

But out there it's... BOY: Abe?

That's Davey.

He's lived in the
circus all his life.

Abe?

Abe, that's his goat.

He helps take
care of the animals.

Living in the circus,

that must be every
little boy's dream.

Well, people dream about
what they don't have, baby,

not what they
live with every day.

Davey...
- where are you?
- That's Leroy.

That's Davey's father.

He's a clown in the circus.

A clown? Oh, I love clowns.

How wonderful to
have a father who...

Davey!

People always stare at Leroy.

When they look at him,
often they don't see a man.

They just see something
they think is funny-looking.

So they stare at him,

and they laugh at him,

and they use hurtful
words like "midget"

and "Munchkin."

But, you know, he
can deal with that...

as long as he stands tall

in his son's eyes.

Davey.

And that's why we're here.

Because when it comes to love...

sometimes children and parents

can be very,
very... shortsighted.

♪ When you walk ♪

♪ Down the road ♪

♪ Heavy burden ♪

♪ Heavy load ♪

♪ I will rise ♪

♪ And I will walk with you ♪

♪ I'll walk with you ♪

♪ Till the sun
don't even shine ♪

♪ Walk with you ♪

♪ Every time, I tell you ♪

♪ I'll walk with you ♪

♪ Walk with you ♪

♪ Believe me, I'll
walk with you. ♪

So after you feed
Abe, don't forget

to give Scarlett her bath.

Then can I go
check out the town?

I saw some kids
there, and they were...

Didn't Dolores give
you homework?

I never get to have any fun.

What are you talking about?

You get to juggle,
walk on stilts,

swallow swords,
feed lions, tigers...

Yeah, but nobody's
my age this year.

I'm tired of this circus.

Son, do you know how
many kids would love...

Love to trade places
with me? I know.

So when do the rest
of the animals get here?

I guess as soon as
Wally gets the money.

Looks like Wally can't
even make payroll.

I'm not putting up
with this anymore.

Short rehearsal today, Dolores?

Last rehearsal. He
don't pay, we don't play.

Oh, come on.

You know that hurricane
really set us back.

And as soon as the insurance
money comes through...

Clowns got to eat too, Leroy.

And what about Davey?

Who's gonna be his
teacher if you leave?

I wish I could
stay. I really do.

I got no choice.

So long, Davey.

You work hard.

Practice your times tables.

Davey, come say
good-bye to Peaches.

Bye, Peaches.

I'll miss you.

The circus is
supposed to be family.

Family doesn't
walk out on family.

What?

Do you see it?

Yeah.

Yeah, I never noticed it
before, but it's definitely there.

What?

Well, some angels
don't have what it takes

to wear big red noses
and funny shoes,

and some of them do.

You do.

Honestly, Leroy...

I don't know what to do.

We still got a couple
of good acts left, Wally.

And the cannon.

Yeah, but no human cannonball.

Buster walked out, too?

Face it, Leroy. We
ain't got a prayer.

Says who?

Sometimes when
God closes a door,

He opens a tent flap.

I understand that you need

a ringmaster and a clown.

Allow me to introduce
you to Andrew

and Monica, and my name is Tess.

Don't tell me... you're
a human cannonball.

Do you want help or attitude?

I'm a very good talent scout

and I have great connections.

Oh, yeah? With who?

With the greatest
show on earth...

and elsewhere.

Well, glad to meet
you, Tess, and, uh,

thanks for helping out.

I'm Leroy, and,
uh, this is Wally.

He's got the right
look for a ringmaster...

But she don't look like
clown material to me.

Well, look closer.

You're no clown.

Not yet, but I could learn.

I'll work with her, Wally.

Here you go.

Good girl.

What's his name?

Hey, there's no
visitors during feeding.

I'm not visiting.
I'm researching.

So what's his name?

Her name is Scarlett.

"Scarlett O'Hara
was not beautiful.

"Men seldom realized it
when caught by her charms

as the two Tarleton twins were."

Huh?

That's the opening line
of Gone with the Wind.

My absolute favorite book.

No one understands me.

So I want to run
away, join the circus.

It's not as great as you think.

Oh, come on. I mean,
you get an elephant.

My parents won't
even let me have a dog.

My name's Mary Jane.

What's yours?

Davey!

Supper.

Whoa.

Is that Little Leroy?

Yeah.

He's my dad.

If I was you, I wouldn't
spread it around.

You guys see any place to grind?

They're mean.

They make up awful names.

Believe me, I would know.

Well, maybe they won't.

I won't tell a soul. I swear.

All right, thanks.

Bye.

Mmm. It smells delicious.

Yeah.

Dad's specialty. Circus goulash.

My grandpa taught
me how to cook.

He was Hungarian.
Joined Ringling Brothers

right after World w*r ♪♪.

That's him right over there.

Omar

- The Gentle Giant?
- Lot of folks don't know it,

but most little people are
born of average-sized parents

with no family
history of dwarfism.

My wife was
short-statured like me,

and look at Davey.

He's already a couple of
feet taller than his old man.

That's Mom.

She d*ed when I was two.

She was beautiful.

Yeah.

Well... time for the blessing.

Lord,

help me to create
more laughter than tears,

more happiness than gloom,

more cheer than despair.

Never let me fail to see
the wonder in a child's eyes.

Never let me forget
that I am... a clown.

- Amen.
- Amen.

Oh, and thanks for the food.

Clowns can't live
on laughter alone.

That was lovely.

It's called The Clown's Prayer.

Your first lesson,

the happiness that
we spread to others

doesn't start with us.

We're just passing it on.

Yes, I believe that.

Dad,

I was thinking, now that
Dolores is gone that...

I'll get you another
teacher. Don't worry.

No, but I want to go to
real school for a while.

I mean, even if it's just
for a couple of weeks.

I want to hang out
with kids my own age.

Please.

We'll see. Eat.

Hey... maybe this
isn't such a good idea.

I mean, you've never been
to public school or anything.

Dad, I don't want to be late.

Come on. There's a shortcut.

Man. It's hot.

You want some water?

Yeah.

Dad, I'm late.

I can make it if I run.

You got everything you need?

Paper, pencils, balloons?

Balloons? I'm not
a clown. I'm a kid.

You're a circus kid.

Here.

You might need them.

Okay, bye.

Hey, Davey, where's my hug?

The first thing a clown
has to figure out is his face.

Has to be just right.

Because his makeup,

what you see on the outside

tells you who he
is on the inside.

So every clown is unique?

That's right, and they all
have one thing in common.

No matter if they're
wearing a smile or a frown,

they're all
messengers of laughter.

You know, my wife used to say

that clowns were the closest
thing on earth to angels.

I wish I could've met her.

Loretta was an angel.

When she gave birth to
Davey, it was a miracle.

I guess all parents
feel that way.

We didn't know if he was
gonna be a little person or not.

We really didn't care.

All we knew is that we
were gonna love him

and give him the most
beautiful life we could.

I miss her every day.

Davey didn't say how she d*ed.

She was such a good mother.

Always fussing over Davey.

Oh, man.

I can't believe I forgot this.

If Loretta was here, she'd
never forget his lunch.

We have a new
student with us today.

His name is Davey Tucker.

- He lives at the circus, right?
- Yes, ma'am.

Yeah, well, at least
Davey's got manners.

Got any big, fat
elephants at your circus?

Eddie, you'll be
spending recess with me.

Ooh!

We do have a lot of animals.

We do love 'em all.

What is he doing?

Oh, hey.

Oh, my gosh.

Oh.

It's a poodle.

- -Can you make me one?
- Before

Davey is all out of
breath, I was hoping

that he might be
able to give us an idea

of what his life is like.

Now, your parents
are with the circus?

Well, my mom's
dead, but my dad...

Hi. Sorry. Davey
forgot his lunch.

Um... Monica and
your dad had to practice.

They asked me to drop this off.

Okay. See you.

- That was the ringmaster.
- Oh.

He looks cool.

Yeah.

He's my dad.

Someday I'm gonna
grow up to be just like him.

Oh.

- My dad in the circus.
- Yeah.

- Nice.
- Wouldn't be bad.

I don't think Davey
meant to hurt his father.

No, he loves his
father. I know he does.

That's what makes
this situation so human.

When love gets mixed up
with shame and guilt and fear,

and everything just
gets all distorted.

I don't like this place.

All these reflections, and
not one of them looks like me.

Hmm. That's what it feels
like to be 12 years old.

Davey is of an age when a
boy starts looking at the world,

and the world is
looking back at him,

and he's afraid of what
they're going to see.

The last thing he wants is

for the children to
be laughing at him.

That's why he lied about you.

What are you going to do?

She likes you.

Yeah? How can you tell?

She's smiling.

Elephants are way more
human than people think.

I mean, they even cry.

Scarlet lost her mom a
while back, just like me.

Yeah?

But you still got your dad.

Come on.

I, um, overheard what
you said at school...

about me being your dad.

You're not gonna
tell him, are you?

I'm just trying to make friends.

You don't understand
what it's like.

To have a father who loves you
more than anything in the world?

I love my dad.

It's just hard, you know?

He's not like other dads.

Can't play baseball.

Can't run very fast.

He can't even reach the
buttons on an elevator.

This one time he got
trapped, and I was so scared.

It's weird.

It's like I got to protect him,

but I can't always protect him.

And me, too.

From what?

No matter where we go,
people are always staring.

I'm just tired of it, okay?

I understand, but lying
is never the answer.

You can only juggle
the truth for so long.

Yeah, but I'm a good juggler.

- Whoa.
- Oh, cool.

I want to do that.

- Oh, that's cool.
- Cool.

- -Whoa.
- Oh, man.

Whoa!

- Whoa!
- Yeah.

Look at that.

Oh, yeah.

All right!

Oh, unbelievable.

Davey, that was most
incredible show-and-tell

we have had in ages.

Thank you.

All right, remember
the bake sale tomorrow.

Everybody please try
and bring something.

Thank you.

Mrs. Donovan?

I never baked anything before.

Would you like to learn?

Yeah.

Bowl or spoon?

Huh?

Do you want to lick
the bowl or the spoon?

You eat the dough?

It's like he's been living on
another planet or something.

Mary Jane!

No. It's okay.

You think so
different... and I like it.

This neighborhood,
kitchen, cookies.

These kids your students?

No. They're my foster children.

My husband d*ed before
we had any kids of our own.

Wow. You had a lot of 'em.

Yeah.

I've always loved kids.

Do you have any
brothers or sisters?

No. Just me and my dad.

Are you sure that he doesn't
mind you being over here?

- He's really busy.
- Oh.

Ringmasters have a lot to do.

Where could he be?

He should have
come straight home.

Calm down, Leroy.

I never should have
let him out there.

There?

The real world. You
know how people are.

Yes, I think I do.

There's so much goodness
in them, so much hope.

Isn't that why they love clowns?

They also love
human cannonballs.

Spectacle of a man
risking his life, terrified.

Stuffed in a small barrel.

People can be cruel, Monica.

I know what it's like to be
trapped in a small space.

When I was Davey's age,

the kids used to stuff
me in a trash can.

Oh, Leroy.

I still haven't gotten over it.

I'm still afraid of
locked doors, elevators.

When my wife
d*ed, I had her buried

in the biggest coffin they
had so she wouldn't be...

Oh, forget it.

How did she die, Leroy?

I can't talk about it.

Where the heck have you been?

Dad, I'm sorry. I was
with Mrs. Donovan.

Why? Did she make
you stay after school?

We were baking cookies.

See, these are for the
bake sale tomorrow.

You're out baking cookies

when you should be
feeding the animals?!

That's it. From now on,
you come straight home.

No Mrs. Donovan, no
bake sale, no nothing.

Now set the table for supper.

I don't want supper.

All I want is a normal life.

I want to be a kid just
like everybody else.

Dave. Davey?

Davey?!

I'm sorry, Monica.

You better go.

Kids are supposed to run away

to join the circus,
not run away from it.

Parents have arguments
with their children all the time.

It's my fault.

He was so excited,
and all I did was ruin it.

You heard what he said:
he just wants to be a kid.

And he can't do that
if he lives with me.

You're a good father, Leroy.

I'm not a father.

I'm a freak.

When Loretta and I used

to take the baby
out in the stroller,

people used to stare.

You could tell what
they were thinking.

How could two ugly midgets
have such a beautiful child?

Loretta was so scared they
were gonna take him away from us.

They used to do that, you know?

To give children a normal life.

But I guess that's
what Davey wants.

Wally just got a
call in his office.

Davey's okay.

Okay, thank God.

I better go get
him. Where is he?

At his teacher's, Mrs. Donovan.

The one who bakes cookies?

Yeah.

Well, is he... is he okay?

Uh, he's asleep on
her couch, and she said

it would be fine with her if
you want him to spend the night.

Yeah. Well, maybe
I should just...

let him sleep there.

You're... you're sure
he'll be okay there?

I, um, did some checking,

and, uh, Davey is in very
safe hands with Mrs. Donovan.

Well... thanks for...
for all your help.

Leroy, Mrs. Donovan also said

she'd be happy to
talk with you about this.

Are you free tomorrow at noon?

Yes.

Yes... sir.

So, what are you gonna do?

I don't know.

Mrs. Donovan says running
away isn't the answer.

She still think that
Andrew's your dad?

Yeah.

- Whoa.
- Heads up!

Hey, nice save.

Thanks.

- Coo| board.
- Want to try it?

Can't you see we're
eating our lunch?

Yeah, I see you're
real good at lunch.

And I'm real good
at skateboarding.

So, what's it gonna
be, circus boy?

Well...

I wasn't really very
hungry anyway.

Hey, guys, you remember Davey.

Mrs. Donovan...

I'm Leroy Tucker, Davey's dad.

Uh, please excuse
me, Mr. Tucker,

I don't mean to stare.

It's just that I
was expecting...

- Someone taller.
- Someone else.

The man who
brought Davey's lunch.

Andrew?

He's the ringmaster.

Yes, I know.

But Davey said...

Davey said Andrew
was his father?

I've had lots of
experience with children.

Believe me, they all
go through the phase

of being embarrassed
by their parents.

And then they grow out of it.

He won't... and I won't.

I've been a foster
parent for many years.

These... these are
some of my children.

And the one thing
they never grow out of

is their need to be loved.

Do you know what
it's like to love a child

who has to help you
get a drink of water?

You know...

someone once asked
Abraham Lincoln

how tall a man should be.

Do you know what he said?

Tall enough for his feet

to reach the ground.

You're a good
person, Mrs. Donovan.

I can see why Davey
likes you so much.

Davey's a remarkable boy.

You think so?

You kick it, you,
like, kick it right there

- to make it do a flip.
- Okay.

- Yeah, you got it?
- Thanks a lot.

Mrs. Donovan...

you love your
children, don't you?

They're my life.

Davey's my life.

But I want what's best for him.

That's all that matters.

Mr. Tucker... Could
you consider...

taking on another foster child?

♪ ♪

Hey! Check it out!
It's a munchkin!

♪ Follow the Yellow Brick Road ♪

♪ Follow the Yellow Brick Road ♪

♪ Follow the Yellow Brick Road ♪

♪ Follow the Yellow Brick Road ♪

♪ Follow the Yellow Brick Road ♪

♪ Follow the Yellow Brick Road ♪

♪ Follow the Yellow Brick Road ♪

♪ Follow the Yellow Brick Road ♪

♪ Follow the Yellow Brick Road ♪

♪ Follow the Yellow Brick Road ♪

♪ Follow the Yellow
Brick Road... ♪

Leroy... how can you do this?

- He's your son.
- Believe me, it's what he wants.

What he wants isn't as
important as what he needs.

That's what Mrs. Donovan said.

She tried to talk
me out of it, too.

Then why did she
agree to take him in?

It's just for a couple of weeks
until I can sort things out.

There's nothing to sort out.

Your son ran away; he
needs you to bring him home.

He needs a normal life.

And I love him enough
to try and get one for him.

What you're doing
now isn't normal.

Lady, don't talk to
me about normal!

He doesn't remember his mom...

but she loved him more
than he'll ever know.

That's why she d*ed.

For him.

For Davey?

She was so afraid they were
gonna take him away from us.

She was so afraid she
decided to have an operation.

There's a fancy name for it.

But what it does is...
lengthen the limbs.

It's very painful.

And it doesn't often work.

She didn't survive the surgery.

- Leroy...
- She d*ed

trying to give Davey
what he wants...

A chance for a normal life.

How can I deny
him the same thing?

- Hi, Davey. You want to have lunch today?
- Hey, Mary Jane.

No, dude, you should
ignore the freak.

Hey, come on, Davey, you
don't want to hang out with her.

She's whack.

Good morning, everybody.

Could you all take your seats,

quickly, please? And quietly?

I'd like you to meet Tess.

She's a volunteer at the circus.

Good morning.

Now, as we all know, the circus
is going to open tomorrow night,

and there's no such thing
as a circus without kids.

So I'm here with
complimentary tickets

for anyone who wants to go.

How many people want to go?

I do! I do!

Looks like everybody
wants to go.

We all do.

That is, except for Davey.

And I know why.

- His dad's in the circus.
- Duh.

We know that, Mary Jane.
His dad's the ringmaster.

Duh, Eddie, that's
what you think?

Go on, Davey. Tell 'em.

Tell them that your dad's
Little Leroy the Midget.

Your dad's the munchkin?

Oh, my God.

That's enough.

That's enough!

That's enough, I said!

Stop it!

It's too bad Davey
won't be at the circus.

Leroy hasn't come
out of his trailer all day.

Well, Davey misses his father,

but he can't face
him or his friends,

and they're all coming tonight.

He so wanted to be
a part of that world.

Well, it's a shame he thought

he had to give up
this one to do it.

Oh, ho-ho...

angel boy, that's
what I call flair.

Yeah, well, my
boots are k*lling me.

Ooh.

They're, uh, testing the cannon.

Have you seen Leroy?

Wally wants to talk to him.

What about?

What do you think?

Hey, circus boy!

Heh! Can't wait to
see your dad tonight.

I guess I'll have to bring
some really strong binoculars!

You mind if I sit?

Eddie's dad left home.

That's why he's so mean.

I'm really sorry, Mary Jane.

I mean, you and I
were friends, and...

Man!

I'm sorry, too.

You want some friendly advice?

Go back home to the circus.

I mean, you're lucky you
have a dad who loves you.

I can't.

Not after what I did.

Hurry, hurry, hurry!

Step right up, ladies
and gentlemen!

Get your peanuts,
popcorn, cotton candy!

See the greatest show
ever assembled on earth!

Sell-out crowd, Tess. Ha-ha!

I did it!

I think that "I" should
be spelled W-E.

Oh, Leroy, I wish
you didn't look so sad.

I told you, every
clown is different.

I'm not talking about the clown,

I'm talking about
the man inside.

Monica... did you ever
hear the expression,

"Send in the clowns"?

It's not just a song.

It's an old circus tradition.

In case anything goes wrong...

or if there's an accident...

They send in the clowns?

That's right.

To distract the audience.

Well, why are
you telling me this?

You're a clown.

You may need to know it.

Just in case.

You're going to be the
human cannonball, aren't you?

Yes.

He is.

It's not safe.

Leroy, please.

Wally walked me
through the entire stunt.

I'm a professional.

No stunt is safe if
the performer is afraid.

I've already lost my son.

What's left to be afraid of?

He won't survive this, Monica.

Are you sure you won't come?

Oh, don't worry about
me, Mrs. Donovan.

I'll just work on my essay.

Okay.

Don't stay up too late.

Ladies and gentlemen,
children of all ages,

welcome to the 53rd edition

of the Grazeldi Circus.

Hello, Davey.

I don't want to talk
about the circus, okay?

Well, that's fine with me.

May I come in?

Peanut?

Oh, that smell.

It's like... Smells like home,

and there's no place like home.

I hate The Wizard of Oz.

I never saw it.

It's got these
munchkins, little people.

Everybody laughs at them
just like they laugh at my dad.

No, no, no, not tonight.

I don't think so.

- Why not?
- Haven't you heard?

He's gonna be the
human cannonball.

No, he's afraid of that cannon.

Look, that-that thing will k*ll
him. Doesn't anybody care?

Now, that's a very
good question, Davey.

Hey, so where's the munchkin?

Shut up, Eddie.

Ladies and gentlemen,
for our grand finale,

may I direct
your attention to...

the golden curtain?

This circus
tradition is one that

never fails to test the bravery

of the human cannonball.

Hey, there he is.

The human cannonball

will now enter the small,

dark chamber from which there is

only one escape.

Soon, he will be a
speeding projectile

hurdling through the air
at over 60 miles an hour.

Join me, ladies and gentlemen,

as we pray for safe passage...

Get out of the way.

Dad!

What a loser.

Send in the clowns.

Send in the clowns. Come on.

Send in the clowns.

Come on. Let's go.

Everybody out. Come on.

Move, move, move.

Come on, move.

I need a human cannonball now.

I'm working on it!

What do I do?

They're going crazy out there.

- We need a human cannonball.
- In your dreams.

Well, well, you go out
there and keep them busy

till I figure this out.

You have got to be kidding.

Don't you mess with me.

Go!

No!

Dad.

Dad!

Dad, where are you?

Have you seen my dad?

Go back inside, Davey.

I'll bring him to you.

Go on now.

Leroy?

Leave me alone.

Get out of here.

You don't want
to be alone, Leroy.

You're just afraid.

I tried, and I couldn't do it.

I'm a coward.

A tiny, ugly coward.

- Oh, Leroy.
- I don't need
any more pity.

I haven't come
to bring you pity.

What-What's going on?

I'm an angel sent by God.

You're so beautiful,

it hurts to look at you.

To see the beauty
God can create.

Then to look at me.

I'm a reflection of God's love,

and so are you.

No.

That can't be true.

God doesn't make
mistakes, but you did.

You chose to believe
what mirrors tell you

and what the eyes
of others reflect

instead of finding
who you really are

from the one who made you.

You were made in God's image.

That's impossible.

It's true.

When you were patient,
when you were kind,

when you turn
your back on anger,

you reflect the character

of the one who made you.

The one who called you to
be a man after His own heart,

a good father, a kind soul,

a messenger of
great joy and laughter.

God laughs?

Yes.

You should know better
than most the healing

that laughter can
bring to this world.

I've seen so many sick children

forget their pain
for just a moment

when they look at me.

Yes, I know.

But my son's pain...
I can't change that.

He is so ashamed of me.

No, he's not ashamed of you.

He's just begun to see
you as the world sees you

because that is
how you see yourself,

but that is not
how God sees you.

In His eyes, you are not little.

You are precious,
and you are beautiful.

Beautiful?

Yes.

And you must believe that,

so that your son can
see you as you truly are.

And it begins by learning
from the Father in heaven

how to be a father
here on earth.

I thought I knew.

It was fear that made
you forget, Leroy,

but remember,

every little boy who runs away

is just counting the minutes

until his daddy comes
and brings him home.

God does that all the time.

He brought you home today.

Now, go and get your son.

Hey, circus boy.

Where's your dad?

Look... I know why
you're such a jerk,

and I'm sorry you
don't have a dad,

but that doesn't
give you the right

to call my dad names.

I shouldn't have lied
'cause I'm proud of him.

I don't care what
anybody thinks.

Davey.

Dad, I'm sorry.

Really sorry.

I did a terrible thing,

and I don't know how
you could ever forgive me.

That's what fathers do, son.

Besides, I'm sorry, too.

Look, I never should
have run away.

I should have came and got you.

You want to see the show?

Ladies and gentlemen,

thank you for your patience.

Our human cannonball
is now ready.

Cannonball? Who?

As we begin our countdown...

Ten... AUDIENCE: Ten!

- Nine!
- Nine!

- Eight!
- Eight!

- Seven!
- Seven!

- Six!
- Six!

- Five!
- Five!

- Four!
- Four!

- Three!
- Three!

- Two!
- Two!

- One!
- One!

That was amazing, Tess.

I didn't know you had it in you.

Well, who said an
angel had to have wings?

Thank you! Thank you!