Snow Must Go On, The (2025)

[bunniefuu]

I now declare to

my fellow bucks and does...

Nothing can stop me

Because I love, love, love

My nose

So send me off into the night

I'll get the job done

Do it right

I can lead all through the night

Front and centre shining bright

What you would call an eyesore

Is taking Christmas Eve

rides by storm

So get up off your high

Reindeer

And say what you want

You can take your best shot

Because nothing's getting

In my way

I'm done playing

Your reindeer

Games

W-Where are the dancing reindeer?

Thank you.

Elliot, Nolan, good to see you.

- Isaiah, hi.

- Hey!

Are you guys not a sight for sore eyes?

Hi! Aurora, look at you.

You are all grown up. What happened?

It happens.

You were so awesome,

Uncle Isaiah, seriously.

- Oh, thank you.

- Honestly, you've still got it,

- little brother.

- Ah, thanks. Thanks, Jess.

I just... I... It was a bonafide disaster.

- What? No, no, no, no.

- No. Come on.

Don't say that. You know what?

You just performed in a

one-man Christmas musical

all written, directed,

and produced by you.

Be proud of that.

Nobody showed up.

It was you two and one

other person, okay?

I don't know. I thought

a political reindeer message

would resonate. Right?

Like Hamilton, but Christmas.

Am I crazy? That sounds

commercial, right?

- For sure.

- Mm-hmm.

Yeah. Whatever.

It wasn't that much work.

I just wrote the script

for, uh... for a year,

and I designed all the costumes.

And I designed the choreography,

and I rented out the theatre.

And I sent letters to every

agent, casting director,

and director in the state of New York,

hoping that they would come.

Well, after three years of

not really seeing each other,

we thought it was

important for us to come.

Three years? It hasn't been three years.

Yeah. Three years

and six months, actually.

But we know how tough it

is to find time at Christmas

- because of your caroling gigs.

- Right. Yeah.

And well, maybe this is the Christmas

that you come upstate and stay with us?

What do you say? Oh, come on.

It'll give you time to relax, breathe.

Just take a break from

the concrete jungle.

Here. It's a little something

to celebrate your show tonight.

You did this, Aurora?

This... this is incredible!

It's... it's nothing, really.

What? This is not nothing! Look at that!

- I know.

- It's me with antlers.

Oh, my... You're amazing. Thank you.

She's amazing.

And you know what?

Offer's still on the table

for you to come

spend Christmas in Hancock.

It all depends on how this

audition goes tomorrow.

Audition? For... for what?

- Huge new Broadway musical.

- Okay.

They're casting it now. It's

called Glitter and Grace.

One the biggest

Broadway producers is behind it.

I'm telling you, it's

going to be a massive hit.

Okay. Here is to my talented brother.

May all your Christmas

wishes come true.

- You got this.

- Thank you, guys.

Asher, how you doing? Good to see you.

Oh, those were the days, huh?

Noah! Hey! What are you doing here?

Well...

You're the scenic designer on the show.

- Yep.

- Wow.

I didn't think you did cattle calls.

Uh, yeah, yeah. Normally, I don't.

Um, I don't have much of

a choice right now.

My agent dropped me.

- Oh, I'm sorry, man.

- No, no. It's okay.

- I...

- It's alright.

Well, it's, uh... it's a big turnout today.

Yeah. Man. It seems like the entire city

is auditioning for this one.

It's a Cindy Santos show.

What did you expect?

How did your show go last night?

- Yeah. Fulfilling.

- Ah.

With a side of disappointment.

Oh. I'm sorry we couldn't come.

- No.

- I mean, Catherine and I wanted

to support, and you know,

we were busy with the thing,

so we couldn't come, you know?

Wait. With what?

- We invited you to the...

- Oh, my goodness.

It was your engagement party, wasn't it?

- Yeah.

- Right.

I am so sorry I couldn't make it, man.

- It's fine.

- I did say that.

We were just so busy with...

Hey, Cindy. Goodnight.

Yeah.

Well, that can't be good.

Attention, everyone!

Auditions are done for the day.

You've got to be kidding.

Check back after the holidays.

Brutal. I'm so sorry, man. I mean...

You know what?

At least I still have my day job.

Fired? What do you mean, I'm fired?

This is a caroling group.

I can't have my tenor

coming in an hour late.

I had an audition across

town. Please, please, Burt.

I need this. This is the only

gig I have had in months.

I've already found your replacement.

- No.

- Were you trying to ruin

the soundtrack of the season?

Put your costume in a locker.

Look. I'm sorry.

You're talented.

You're bound to find something else.

Thanks, Burt.

Merry Christmas.

- Isaiah?

- Yeah?

Want to send in Tiny Tim?

Okay, Hancock.

Here I come.

Hey, thanks for picking me up

from the train station.

Yeah. Of course.

- What is it?

- It's so quiet.

Kind of miss the sounds of

the city, you know?

Who knew car horns could be so Zen?

Still Zen?

It's funny. It's funny, Jess.

It's cute.

- Oh, hey, Jess. Hiya.

- Oh! Hi.

- Hey, Jess.

- Hey, Hal.

Uh, hey. So, meaning to ask.

Um, when are you

planning on putting up

your Christmas lights?

You know, if you need a hand, I got two.

Well, actually, I have my

brother here now, so...

- Brother? Cool.

- Yeah.

Hey. I'm Isaiah.

Hey. Hal.

Whoa. Whoa. That's a...

That is a firm grip you have there, Hal.

That's a cute, uh... thing.

Yeah. It's, uh... It's

my Christmas sweat set.

Alright. Well, I'll just,

uh... I've leave you...

- Okay. Whoa!

- Whoa. Whoa.

Careful.

- I'm good.

- Okay.

You're good. Okay. Bye. See you later.

Bye, Hal.

See you, Hal.

Shall we?

Oh, your house always smells so

good around the holidays.

- What is all this stuff?

- Thank you.

Well, they're candles in teacups.

- Yeah. I can see that.

- Mm-hmm.

You think you're... You think

you're taking your hobby

- a little too far?

- It's not a hobby.

It's actually a business,

and are you really here for Christmas?

Uh, barring any last-minute auditions,

I am planning to stay.

Really? Well, that's great.

Uh, what time is it?

I have to pick Aurora

up from school right away.

How is she doing, anyway?

She's been going through a

lot since the divorce.

- Like what?

- You know,

she just spends a lot of time by herself.

She used to be so fun and so outgoing.

If you had been around more, you

would have noticed the change.

Uh, it's just,

we've missed you, is all.

I miss you, too.

How about this? How about

I go pick her up from school?

Okay. I mean, it would really, really help.

Yeah. Sure. Can I... I just need your car.

- Okay.

- And the keys.

- Yeah.

- And the name of the school

and the address, and I'm going

to take one more of these.

- And I'll get her. Okay.

- I can... Well...

What are you doing?

I'm just parking. I'll be a minute.

Got a name?

Isaiah Heyward.

Why are you here, Isaiah Heyward,

if that is your real name?

I am picking up my niece, Aurora Peralta.

How do I know she's your niece?

Do you do this to everybody?

I'm the one asking the questions here.

- Oh.

- Okay.

Sandra, is... is something wrong?

Friend-o says

he's here to pick up his niece

with no proof he even knows her.

Okay. Aurora is a Virgo.

She is wicked smart.

She sketches like a pro.

Her mother's my sister.

She called ahead.

I'm convinced.

I'm Isaiah Heyward, by the way.

Miss Brigente. Where

are you visiting from?

Uh, the city.

Oh. What do you do in the city?

Well, I'm on Broadway.

What show?

I'm not currently in a show.

In between things.

Code for unemployed. Got it.

Well...

Mrs. Bedford?

- That doesn't look good.

- Oh, dear.

Hey, hey, hey, hey!

Everybody, settle down!

Settle down. We're going

to figure this out.

- Uncle Isaiah?

- Hey.

What are you doing? Is everything okay?

Yeah, yeah. Your mom sent me to

pick you up. So, surprise!

Where did Mrs. Bedford go?

She just passed me in the hallway.

Apparently, the show's over.

The... the Christmas

show? What do you mean?

She's in love with some lumberjack.

Met him online.

I can assure you there's nothing

funny in this situation.

I'm sorry. It's, uh, lumberjacks.

- They're... they're funny.

- It's serious, okay?

No director means we have no show.

I... What are we supposed to do now?

Oh. This is a disaster.

Good luck with that, guys.

Okay. Let's go.

You can direct our show.

You could save our Christmas musical.

I'm sorry. What?

- Miss Brigente?

- No, no. What are you doing?

- Yes, Aurora?

- What are you doing? No, no.

Every year, this show makes

a lot of people happy,

including me, because it

reminds me of you.

Look. All we need is someone

to step up as director.

Uncle Isaiah, you're that someone.

I don't know anything about

directing high school musicals,

- Aurora!

- I'm sure you probably do.

Maybe my uncle can step in as director?

- He's very unemployed, so...

- Okay.

He has a lot of time on his hands and...

I'm... Well, that's... No.

I'm... I'm more in between

projects at the moment, okay?

Grab your things. We need to go.

Are you a director?

I wear a lot of hats.

Uh, actor, writer, producer.

Uh, just directed a

show off Broadway, actually.

Off-off-off Broadway.

What do you say, Mr. Heyward?

It wouldn't be Christmas

at Archer Academy

without our annual Christmas show.

Exactly. This can work, right?

- Yes.

- Uh, okay. Well, uh...

Maybe it'll make up for some lost time.

Wow. Look at all your faces. Um...

Please, Uncle Isaiah.

I suppose I am currently available.

Uh...

- Yes!

- Alright.

Well, there's just one

last hurdle to jump over,

and that is getting Principal Ott on board.

I should warn you now.

He's a really tough nut to crack.

I loved you in I See You.

You were wonderful in that musical.

You saw me in that?

Oh, my goodness. Thank you so much.

You know, it's funny. When

we were recording the OBCR, I...

Um, do you mind if we

move this? It's kind of...

Sure.

The, uh... the original

Broadway cast recording.

- Yes.

- There were budget issues,

and so what we decided to do...

Uh, sorry. Sorry to interrupt.

- These stories are fascinating.

- Yeah.

Uh, but do you mind if

we get back to business?

I have a college fair to get ready for.

Sure. Yes.

You are interested in

directing our Christmas show.

And he will need to complete

a background check,

pending your approval, of course.

Ah, a background check

is just a formality,

and how could I not give my approval?

We... we have a bona fide

Broadway star in our presence.

- Oh, stop. Stop it.

- Oh.

- Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop.

- Please, stop.

Uh, but Mr. Heyward

will need a staff supervisor.

I trust you're willing to help.

Uh, yeah. Yes. Of course.

- Great.

- Anything for the kids. Yep.

That's my motto.

Oh.

- I guess I got the gig.

- Yes, you do.

Yeah. I guess you can

call me the nutcracker.

Well, you know, what can I say?

I am good in a room.

Pajamas and all.

It's a sweat set.

You know, if you were able to

win over Principal Ott,

then maybe you do have what it takes

to create another miracle

and mount a Christmas show

in three weeks.

I will take that as a vote

of confidence, Miss Brigente.

Please, call me Lilly-Anne,

now that we're in this mess together.

Lilly-Anne it is.

Oh, I almost forgot.

Mrs. Bedford didn't finish

writing the second act.

Ah. Well, that makes sense.

Lumberjacks, they're so distracting.

Yes, what with all the... the plaid

and the lumberjack-ing.

- Right. Lumberjack-ing.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- Uh, do you think

you'll be able to finish writing the script

on top of directing?

Oh, yeah. Yeah. For s...

- Yeah?

- Easy.

- Great.

- Totally.

- Okay.

- No problem.

Wait. The show is called

Randolph the Christmas Elk?

- Randolph the Christmas Elk.

- Mm-hmm.

Yeah. It's catchy.

Um, when does the show open?

Oh, on Christmas Eve, of course,

which is three weeks away.

Okay. So, how did all

this candle stuff begin?

I started making candles

as a hobby after the divorce,

and they did so well

at the farmers' markets

that Aurora helped me build a website.

Yeah. So, these are

Christmas wish candles.

You make a wish when you

light the candle,

and when they're all gone,

you share a cup of tea with a friend.

And here, this one's for you.

Make your wish count.

Thank you.

I'm really proud of you.

Thanks.

Mmm.

Oh, my goodness.

What do we have here?

White chocolate Christmas eggnog

is what we got going on.

- Yep.

- It's very good.

It is a family-friendly

holiday eggnog recipe

that Hal introduced.

Hal, like, across

the street neighbour Hal?

- He's the one!

- He has the best hot cocoa cart

- at Christmastime.

- I am so thankful

he lives across the street. I'm

going to need a lot of sugar

to put this show on its feet.

Yeah. Seems like you have a lot to tackle

in the next 21 days.

No. It's just writing the end

of a musical and casting it

and directing it and putting

some reindeer choreo in there.

It sounds like you,

uh, might need an assistant.

Ah-ha-ha. Ah-ha-ha-ha. That's

a very good idea, Jess.

Yes. Someone to, uh, run

rehearsal when I'm not there.

- That's right.

- Someone who's reliable.

- Mm-hmm.

- And smart.

- To keep you grounded.

- Yeah. Calm under pressure.

Who? Me?

Mm-hmm.

- Oh, come on, honey.

- No.

Come on. You will be great.

If this is my first time

directing a high school show,

why can't this be your first time

being an assistant director?

- Okay.

- Alright!

- Yay!

- I'll try.

- What could go wrong?

- Yeah.

Time and time again

When I need

Someone to care

I find

You're always there

Much more

Than only friends

Much more than lovers

There will be a lucky star

Shining above us

Time and time again

When I need you

Close to me

So close we will be

Like one for always

And always

And time

And time again

Your background check said

that you graduated from NYU.

- How was it?

- Oh, it was amazing,

amazing, exciting, scary.

Best city in the world.

You know, Hancock

is pretty charming, too,

especially around Christmastime.

I've really enjoyed making it my home.

Yeah? How long have you been here?

Two years. I left Boston

to come to Archer Academy.

Boston? That's a leap. Why?

Well, I was dean of students

at a very expensive private school,

and I spent more time

wrangling the rich parents

than working with the kids.

And I missed the kids.

Do you have kids? Husband? Family?

No. No. I was serious

with someone once.

He loved the spotlight.

He was a law student,

life of the party type.

It was fun for a while, but...

But?

But his number one priority

was landing at a big law firm,

and, uh, I became less of

a priority, I guess.

Ah. Well, he sounds like

a fool, if you ask me.

Well, if he wasn't, I wouldn't be here,

showing you 40-year-old flats.

Forty? Yeah. More like, uh

more like 50, 60.

Wow. Wow. What is that?

This is

our homemade snow machine!

Homemade?

Yeah. It's never really worked.

I don't know. Using this thing

is like using a broken pencil.

- Huh.

- Pointless.

That is very pun-y, Miss Brigente.

Very pun-y.

Well, I appreciate you

showing me around.

- Yeah.

- Mm.

So, um, since this is your first rehearsal,

I've got to ask.

What's your plan?

- Plan?

- Mm.

Um, I haven't gotten that far yet.

Concept of a plan?

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Just haven't... haven't

fully fleshed it out yet,

but it's getting there.

Well, I know this isn't Broadway.

- Mm-hmm.

- But these kids do deserve

your very best.

They deserve our very best, right?

We are doing this together.

Yes, and the one thing

we don't have is time.

Or a set or a money or a

cast or a second act,

but I know theatre. We have me.

You know kids. We have you.

What could go wrong?

This script is brutal.

It doesn't even have a second act.

- I'm working on it.

- Well, I mean,

Coach says preparation

is the key to success, so...

Yeah? Okay. Well,

maybe Coach can direct

the next musical.

How are we going

to rehearse the show

- with no final act?

- Yeah.

And who's going to be playing piano?

And is Randolph the lead?

And also, who is this

ensemble character?

- I keep seeing them.

- Let's count the lines and see.

My name is Emma Fitzpatrick,

and I would make the perfect Randolph.

Alright, uh, Emma Fitzpatrick.

Thank you for your, uh...

for your confidence.

We're going to have auditions.

W-What if we just want ensemble?

- And what's your name?

- Miranda Santos.

Well, Miranda Santos,

I will take that into consideration.

- Are we going to wear hooves?

- Uh, probably. Yeah.

I don't know what the

costume budget is yet, but...

- Um, I want small hooves.

- I want big hooves.

- Sparkly hooves!

- Okay.

What are you?

There's no such thing as sparkly hooves.

- Yes, there is.

- Um, hey! Hey, guys!

Can we quiet

down and listen, please?

Oh!

- Whoa!

- Are we done?

The pages for the second act

will be finished in time

for the auditions, tomorrow,

so I suggest that you prepare

something from the first act, tonight.

Focus your energy on that.

Mr. Heyward and I look forward

to seeing what you come up with.

Yeah.

Good luck.

Break a leg.

Tomorrow.

Pages by

tomorrow. Are you crazy?

They could sense your fear.

I had to do something to reassure them.

I can't write an entire second

act in one night!

Well, it doesn't have to be the whole act,

but you need to do something.

You know, you really

should be more prepared.

You know what?

Maybe this was a mistake.

This was way more work than I...

They're having auditions

for the show soon.

Oh. Well, you're a good dancer.

Maybe they're looking for dancers.

That is Cindy Santos..

We got to get going. Let's go.

Yeah, that's Miranda's

mom. You know her?

Yep. I'll see you

tomorrow. Uh, Miss Santos!

Miss Santos! Hi. Hi.

- Hi.

- I'm Isaiah Heyward.

I'm the director of the Christmas show.

Oh. Nice to meet you.

- First of all, I'm a big fan.

- Great.

Yeah. I went to audition

for your show the other day.

I... I didn't get to. I got cut short.

Ah, yes. The open call.

Yeah.

Well, uh, I look forward to

seeing the Christmas production.

Yeah. Hey, hey, hey.

Um, this might be coming out of left field.

Maybe I could find a time

to audition for it. Callbacks?

Tell you what. Why don't

you contact my office?

And if you're in another production,

I will make sure to see it.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sure. Wonderful.

Okay. I got to get going. Let's go.

Oh. Nice to meet you!

Merry Christmas!

Hey. You ready to head home?

Yeah.

You know Miranda's mom?

Um, no, not personally.

She's just one of the top

producers on Broadway right now.

Are you done?

Uh-oh. I know that look.

- What... what look?

- That one right there.

It makes me as nervous as a snowflake

in a room full of space heaters.

What is going on inside

that head of yours?

I think I might have figured out

how to audition for

Cindy Santos after all.

Noah, my man. Hey, you said

they're still casting

Glitter and Grace, right?

Right.

Let's say I were to cast Miranda Santos

in the show that I'm directing.

Right.

And then let's also

say her mother, Cindy Santos,

were to come and watch

her daughter in the show

- on Christmas Eve.

- Right.

She would then see me crush it

as Randolph in the show.

Wait. You're casting yourself

in the lead role of a high school musical

to impress Cindy Santos?

Yeah. When you put it that

way, it sounds a little weird,

but come on, man.

Come on. This could be it.

It's my chance to audition for Cindy,

get her to cast me, get my

career back on track.

I thought you were taking a break

and just enjoying the holidays.

I am. I am. I am. But come on, man.

Sometimes you got to get creative

to get in front of the creatives.

How long you been rehearsing that line?

- A very long time now.

- Right.

What do you think?

It's a good idea.

This guy.

Noah? Noah, you there?

- Done!

- Done what?

The script, Randolph the Christmas Elk.

You finished so fast.

What, were you possessed by

the ghost of Stephen Sondheim?

I don't know what it was

you kids, the candles,

the Christmas spirit.

Uh, Uncle Isaiah, this

is stuff from your play.

I know. I know. It... It's a

completely different context.

I took out all the political allegories.

Works seamlessly.

You forgot to change the

character's name to Randolph.

Oh. That's okay. We'll figure it out.

Also, you know the walls

here are paper thin, right?

Um...

Oh, no. Did... did you hear my

conversation with Noah?

Yeah, the whole thing.

Okay. Listen. I...

As an assistant director,

it is my duty to help see

the director's vision through

and protect that vision,

no matter what.

Huh?

I've been researching a little.

Smart. Very smart.

I want you to be happy,

and if that means getting

you back on Broadway,

then I'm in.

And also, with you as our lead,

it'll only make our show way better.

Right? Yes! Exactly!

Thank you, Aurora. Thank

you. Hey, remember.

If you want something bad enough...

- Mm-hmm.

- If you want it

real, real bad,

you have to grab the reins and

do it yourself, okay?

Which means...

Means?

It means I have to make sure

this is the best Christmas show

that Cindy Santos has ever seen.

- Alright!

- It's going to be great.

Nothing's getting in my way, Aurora!

Keep studying, baby!

I'm headed back to

the school! Whoo-hoo!

Lilly-Anne, so happy I got you.

What's this?

It's an early Christmas present

the rehearsal schedule, set

build, show budget,

and a finished script.

Wow. Impressive.

Thank you. Yeah. It was hard.

It was... It was very hard. You were right,

but I am determined to

make this a phenomenal musical.

Oh, that's cute.

What's that? Reindeer or elk?

- Elk from now on!

- Uh-huh.

It's not Michelangelo,

but, well, he makes me happy.

Well, he will be our lucky charm.

Hey, enjoy that.

It's really good, like, really good.

Merry Merry

Maple Mocha for the win.

See? I told you Hal's the best.

Mm-hmm.

- Hey, can I ask you something?

- Mm-hmm.

What made you think I'd

be good at directing the show?

Remember when you used

to visit us every Christmas?

- Mm-hmm.

- And after dinner,

you'd act out those stories.

I can't believe you remember that.

How could I not? I mean,

they're only the best

Christmas memories ever.

I thought if you could make

me feel that way,

you could probably make the

others feel the same

by directing them.

I appreciate that.

I really do.

I'm really glad you're here, Uncle Isaiah.

Me too.

- Ready for these auditions?

- Oh, yeah.

Casting the right talent can

make or break a show.

It's just as important

as the script itself.

Uh, speaking of which,

I just read through the script.

- And?

- And I think it could use a...

- Little punch-up?

- No.

- Some tweaks?

- Not exactly.

A little massage?

- A total rewrite.

- That's harsh.

It's just that the second

act doesn't resolve

anything that was set up in the first.

It... It's almost like

two different scripts

were just jammed together.

- Really?

- Yeah.

- That's weird.

- Mm. Do you want some help?

I... I have some ideas that

I think might make it better.

I'm good. I'm good.

The script is great.

I... I think you might be

overthinking things.

As long as the kids crush it,

people will go crazy.

- Yeah.

- Know your audience.

Oh.

Twelve drummers drumming

Eleven pipers piping

Ten lords a-leaping

Nine ladies dancing

Eight maids a-milking

Seven swans a-swimming

So many days.

Six geese a-laying

Okay. Thank you, Emma. Thank

you so much. Thank you.

Jingle bell rock

Jingle bell ring

Sit by the tree and

see what Santa brings

Honey whether you're

nice or naughty

We could still chill like Frosty

So come over

Are those all the guys we have?

Yeah.

We're going to need more male vocals,

but we'll deal with that problem later.

Okay. Um, who's next?

Uh, Miranda Santos,

and remember, she only wants

to be considered for ensemble.

Got it. Wait. Why is that?

Hi. What are you,

uh... what are you singing?

I'll be singing "O Holy Night."

Alright.

O holy

N-night

The stars are brightly shi...

Hey, Miranda.

Hold on a sec.

Hey. You okay?

Sorry, Mr. H. I'm really nervous.

I get nervous all the time,

but you know what I do to help me?

I just take a really deep breath.

So, take a deep breath with me.

And just think about it

like a wave, alright?

And you're just riding that wave,

and the music is flowing

through you, okay?

Can I show you? Okay.

Fall on

Your knees

O hear

The angel

Voices

O night

Divine

O night

Yes!

When Christ was born

Keep going.

O night

Hold on one sec. Hold on.

Hold on. Hold on.

Hey, what's all that noise?

What's going on?

Hey! Hey, buddy! Hey!

What do you think you're doing?

Principal Ott busted me skateboarding

on school property. So,

this is my detention.

You got a problem with that,

take it up with him.

Nope. Nope. I'm going

to take it up with you.

We're having auditions, okay?

Please keep it down.

- Hey, who are you, anyway?

- Stephen. Stephen.

No. I got it. I got it.

I mean, you're not a teacher here.

All this theatre stuff

sounds like a waste of time

- if you ask me.

- What's your name?

- Stephen.

- Stephen what?

Fiorello.

Okay, Mr. Fiorello.

If you think it's so easy to

get up and sing your heart out,

why don't you do it yourself?

- Right now?

- Right now.

- Okay.

- Do it! Do it!

Sing your favourite Christmas song.

Let's hear it.

Whenever you're ready, Stephen.

Nah, man.

Have fun with your stupid play.

You know, Stephen has

a lot going on at home.

He doesn't have many friends.

He's constantly in trouble.

It's probably his way of getting attention.

Was I too hard on him? I might

have been too hard on him.

I feel awful.

Why did you react that way?

As a director, it is my job to

protect the performers,

even in an audition.

And everybody has a right to be heard.

Well, maybe we should invite Stephen

to audition for us.

- You mean put him in the show?

- Yeah.

I do not think that's a good idea.

Well, you just said that

everyone deserves to be heard.

Maybe being on a stage is

exactly what Stephen needs.

We don't even know if he can sing.

Let's see if he can. We

need more male vocalists.

Come on. Christmas is

all about second chances.

Okay. You may have a point.

He's probably crying out for

purpose in his life.

Well, theatre can give him that purpose

and a sense of community.

I'm sure that theatre

did that for you. Right?

Hey. Hey, buddy. Stephen.

Hey. Uh, just

just wanted to say sorry

about the other day.

Can I have five minutes?

- You got three.

- Oh, sweet, bro. I'll sit here.

Um...

You, uh... You like Christmas music?

- Best part of the holidays.

- Yeah. I agree. Yeah.

- Is that "We Three Kings"?

- Yep.

Yeah. Love that song. Great song.

Could you, uh...

Could you sing a little bit for us?

You're joking, right?

- No.

- No way.

You know, dude,

I love Christmas music.

You like to sing, too, don't you?

Yeah, but, uh, when I'm by myself.

We still need some guys

for the Christmas musical.

Come on, man. Just... just

sing a few bars for us.

What? Make a fool of myself?

You know what they say.

A fool is someone who

never takes a risk.

When's the last time

you took a chance, man?

Really expressed yourself?

Fine. One song.

Up top, baby.

O star of wonder

Star of night

Star with royal beauty bright

Westward leading

Still proceeding

Guide us to

Thy perfect light

Was that... Was that bad?

No. No!

That was perfect.

What are you doing Christmas Eve?

I saw the cast come

sailing in on Christmas Day

On Christmas Day

- Cast list!

- Alright!

Why is Stephen's name on the cast list?

He didn't even audition.

Stephen is going

to be in the show.

He is playing Elder Reindeer.

- Oh, no.

- What? He didn't even audition.

Guys? Guys, guys, guys.

Everybody, let's quiet down.

Everybody, quiet!

This show is about accepting everybody

for who they are, no matter what.

Stephen has every right to be here,

just like the rest of us.

He's a part of our team now,

and we are a team, right?

- Yeah.

- Right?

- Yeah.

- Okay. So let's start acting

like one. We can't do this show alone.

We need each other,

more than we know.

- Bravo.

- Hey, Mr. Heyward.

Why's your name on

the list as Randolph?

Yes. Very good question. So...

Yes, Mr. Heyward.

Why has our director

cast himself as Randolph,

in the lead role?

Well, Miss Brigente, a

very good explanation for that.

- I thought that...

- He thought that it would be

beneficial for young

performers like ourselves

to watch and learn how a

professional prepares.

I mean, Coach is always

telling us that at practice,

you know, like, to train like the pros.

- Right.

- I mean, you did sing the best

at the auditions.

Ah. Thank you, my good sir.

Uh, also, I have an understudy,

someone that I will work very closely with

so they'll get more

comfortable on the stage.

Miranda Santos.

I am so excited about the script.

I know it's not fully polished,

but I am open to any feedback

you guys might have.

It stinks.

Okay. Uh, let's stick with

constructive criticism.

It doesn't make any sense.

It's like two different

stories smashed together.

Yeah. Why does Randolph

start a filibuster

on the floor of Congress

in the second act?

Well, nothing says Christmas

like a good filibuster, right?

- Oh.

- No.

Okay. Maybe...

maybe there's no Congress,

and definitely no filibuster.

Maybe Randolph just wants the reindeer

to see his point of view on flying school.

It can be very difficult to fit in

when you're three

times everyone's size, right?

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

That's a different angle,

but it's kind of the

it's kind of the

same thing. You know what?

Let alone fly, right?

So, thank you.

The script does need a little love.

I admit that. So Miss

Brigente's going to help

iron out the kinks.

Oh. Would Mr. One-Man Show

like my help with writing the script?

Well, you have good ideas.

I clearly need the help.

I'd love to.

Thank you. Okay.

But first, we're going to get to work.

We're going to start

with an exercise, okay?

So, I want you to think of one word

that comes to mind when you

think of Christmas,

and I want you to sing it, okay?

We are going to connect

emotion to our voice.

So, without thinking,

when I point at you, go. Stephen.

Caroling

Beautiful. Gregory.

Baking

Yeah. Emma.

Smartphone

Because I want a new

one for Christmas.

Okay. Travis.

Football

Aurora.

Family

Miranda.

Love

Now, all together, yeah?

You see how good it feels when

we all sing together?

I want you to capture that

feeling. Remember that,

because through this process,

that is where the magic happens, yeah?

We have less than three weeks to

get the show on its feet.

Let's get to work.

Come on! Let's go!

Right.

We're going to keep the filibuster.

No, we're not.

Oh, and then... and then the reindeer,

they... they head off offstage

like they're soaring into the sky.

Uh-huh. We can do that with

a lighting effect. No problem.

And then Randolph,

he's left alone in the middle of the stage.

Single spotlight. Single spotlight,

and that's when he sings...

No one wants to be alone

At Christmas

So good!

Where were you when

I was writing my show?

Oh. Oh, I love that line you wrote,

"You may not fly like a reindeer,

but you, Randolph, have soared..."

"in your very own way."

That is so good!

- Thanks.

- So good.

Hey, you know what this means?

We have a complete script.

- We have a complete script.

- We have a complete script.

- Yes!

- Yes!

I could use some fresh air after

all that.

- Alright.

- I'll get my jacket.

Hancock is so charming at Christmas.

- Told you.

- What's with the blanket?

It's a surprise.

Come on.

Bit chilly for a picnic, huh?

Yeah. It's just one of my favourite spots.

You can enjoy all the

lights without the crowds.

Hmm. Thank you for sharing it with me.

You know, I thought

you were going to take the

easy route and wing it,

but you've really stepped up

to make this a great show for the kids.

What is it?

I don't know. Maybe this is

too personal, but

it's really hard for me to

believe someone like you

doesn't have a significant other.

Oh. Well, Mr. Broadway,

I could say the same about you.

Well, no. It's like you said.

What I did was what I was.

Auditions, workshop, gigs, lessons.

I didn't have time for anything but work.

Mm. And now that I actually

have time for a life,

I don't consider what I do to be work.

Okay. What you do,

it's nothing short of heroic.

I don't know if it's that dramatic.

You are a guidance counsellor.

You guide these kids.

You make a lifelong impression on them.

How is that not heroic?

Well, back at you.

You've opened these kids up

to a whole new world

of expression, confidence.

Like my dad always said,

heroes come in different

shapes and sizes.

Mm.

I always thought that maybe

one day I should open

an adults creative writing club in town.

You should do it.

Yeah?

Someday is the one day

that'll never come

until you make the time for it.

Are you ready for the best part?

How could it get any better than this?

Some people love the spotlight,

but I love these lights.

Yeah. This is pretty hard to beat.

Stephen, that looks fantastic!

Where did you learn to paint?

Well done, man.

- Mr. H?

- Yeah?

I need to know why you cast me

as your Randolph understudy.

Because you're very talented.

But what if something happens

to you and I have to go on

and then I mess up

or freeze up, or worse,

I embarrass myself in front

of my mom and everybody?

Hey, hey, hey. Your mom will

love to see you up there.

She doesn't know I love to sing.

She works with the best

professionals in the world,

and it makes me a little self-conscious.

Getting cast in

the ensemble is awesome.

It's amazing. It's a feat in itself.

But until you take that first step

out of your comfort zone,

you are going to miss out

on all the amazing things

you could discover.

You have so much potential, Miranda.

- You think so?

- Yes. Yes.

I know so,

but the question is, do you believe that?

At the end of the day, it

doesn't matter what I think.

Doesn't matter what

your mom thinks, okay?

It matters what you think and you alone.

Okay. I'll do it.

- Yeah?

- I'll be your understudy.

That's right. Put 'er there. Alright!

Miranda!

There you are. Come on.

We got to get going.

I was just talking to Mr. H

about my understudy role.

Right. You know,

there's a lot of pressure

if you have to go on as a lead.

We both know you don't like a

lot of attention on you.

I... I don't love this idea.

Isaiah, uh, how is the

show coming along?

"Five stars," says the New York Times.

Great. Uh, well, I really hope to make it,

but I have a conflict that week, so...

Okay. Come on. Let's go.

I'm sorry

your mom couldn't make it.

Yeah. Me too.

The divorce is pretty hard on her, huh?

Especially during this time of the year.

- Yeah.

- She stresses so much,

making sure that I'm happy,

making sure that her

business is doing well.

The only problem is, she

forgets about herself.

Oh, she always puts others first.

Yeah. I can't remember the last time

that she went all out for Christmas.

I mean, the house

has some decorations,

but it's not the same.

Oh, she used to be

the biggest Christmas fan.

I know.

Well, hey. I owe you guys an apology.

I'm really sorry I haven't

been there for you

when you needed me the most.

You have a life back in Manhattan.

It's not an excuse.

Well, you're here now.

That's what matters.

Yes, I am.

Miss Brigente!

- Oh, hi!

- Oh, hi.

We're about to watch the movie.

You should come sit with us.

Sure. Yeah. I'd love to.

Great. Uh, well, we need popcorn.

I'll get it.

We'll both get it.

Don't forget the extra butter.

- I'll get us some seats.

- Alright.

Shall we?

You were

quite the talk of the town.

You, you won't let me

down, will you, Rupert?

You'll do everything just

like I taught you, huh?

Do you love this movie?

Yeah. It's an underrated classic.

Ah.

I actually come here every year.

It's a Hancock holiday tradition.

Oh, okay.

Do you have any Christmas traditions?

Oh, yeah.

I used to act out, like, a Christmas story

in front of the tree every year.

It was... It was my first starring role.

Oh. Well, that's the great

thing about traditions.

You can revisit

them whenever you need to.

Mm-hmm. What about you?

You have any Brigente family

traditions I should know about?

Mm, yes.

Every year, we go to

the Christmas tree lot,

and we pick out the saddest,

most awkward-looking tree

and take it home.

Why?

Because they're always skipped over.

Yes, they're different than the others,

but they have character

and, when decorated right,

shine just as bright as the best.

You always root for the underdog.

Always root for the underdog. Yeah.

Mr. Amendola, we're so glad you

folks dropped in on us.

Katie, get Mr. Amendola a chair

and some coffee and some cake, Katie.

Where's the Christmas spirit?

That's right. Where

is the Christmas spirit?

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

O what fun it is to ride

in a one-horse open sleigh

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

O what fun it is to ride

in a one-horse open sleigh

Okay. So... so, the idea is,

they were brought together

because of the dancing squirrel.

One

Christmas Eve when I was a kid.

It's no weirder than a dancing elk.

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

O what fun it is to ride

in a one-horse open sleigh

This is wonderful.

- Morning.

- Hey.

Just working on the show again?

Oh, something better.

Okay. Lilly-Anne was right.

It is never too late to

revisit Christmas traditions,

so I was thinking,

let's help your mom find

that inner Christmas fan girl again.

How are we going to do that, exactly?

Watch and learn.

This is a huge mistake!

We'll never get this done.

I know who can help.

Hey. Uh, we're putting up decorations.

- Can you come help us?

- Yeah. Let me grab my coat.

Great.

Keep working on that one.

Oh.

Ah. Thank you.

It's for Noah and Catherine.

We giveth thee Project Illumination.

Ha-ha!

Good surprise?

Nod if it's a good surprise.

This is unbelievable.

Thank you.

Uh, I'll get the red popcorn.

Please do not eat

the decorations, Aurora.

Yeah, yeah.

You know, thank you. I... I needed this.

Of course.

And I'm going to say this one

last time because I love you.

You need to start dating again.

You mean Hal.

Of course I mean Hal, my new

favorite cocoa aficionado.

He has the biggest crush on you.

He just doesn't need my mess.

What mess?

I'm a single mother,

trying to keep her business

afloat, and every time

Christmas comes along, I just...

I reminisce about all the great

Christmases we used to have,

and it just... it feels so far away.

Well, then let's make something

e new Christmas memories,

with new people,

like we're doing right now.

Yeah?

Second acts happen with

the most unlikely of people,

in the most unlikely of places.

Second acts, huh?

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

The point is, you are beautiful,

you're brave,

you're kind, you're a wonderful

mother, an entrepreneur,

and you deserve a chance at happiness.

I'm just, um...

I'm afraid to put

my heart out there again.

Well, take it slow.

Take the pressure off.

Take it at your own pace, you know?

But most importantly, have fun.

What's the harm in that?

I mean, Hal's a good guy, right?

You have official brother approval.

Really?

- Go get him.

- What?

Go.

Like, now?

Now. Go.

I got this. Go.

I can't believe I'm doing this.

I'm... I'll be right back.

I mean, I don't know.

Go! Go!

All right, got it.

Where'd mom go?

To take a chance.

One, two...

Oh, Christmas Elk, oh, Christmas Elk

Smile.

How grateful are we for you

Come on, guys.

Okay, stop. Just stop. Stop.

Just... Guys, come on.

We have less than

two weeks till the show.

Maybe if we had a piano player,

we'd be able to hear the notes.

You said we'd have someone by now.

Yeah.

I know. I'm a singer, okay?

I'm doing the best I can.

- Group selfie.

- All right, guys.

We'll see you tomorrow.

Well, which one of you

would like to make your stage debut?

You know what? I'm thinking

something, uh, small,

awkward, maybe a little overlooked.

Hmm.

Maybe something like a typical

Brigente family tradition.

You remembered.

Well, how could I forget?

The way I see it,

our show is like this tree

an underdog with tons of potential.

I like that.

Wow. Things are getting real.

No pressure.

See? It just needed a little love.

Uh-huh.

Thank you for keeping this tradition alive.

I know it's silly, but it makes me happy.

Oh, it's not silly at all.

To be honest,

I can't remember the last time.

I... just let myself truly enjoy Christmas.

It's nice.

I've been caught up

in my own bubble and

haven't made any time for the

people that matter, you know?

Well, the people that matter understand.

Hmm. Maybe.

I wouldn't blame them

if they didn't, though.

My best friend from college, Noah,

I missed his engagement party

the other night.

I've just been, like,

so focused on my own career,

I forgot about one of the most

important nights of his life.

Well, it's never too late

to show someone you love them.

Be honest about what's in your heart.

That's right.

Yeah. It's never too late.

I have to show you something.

Check out this app, all right?

- Oh.

- Huh?

Thought we could use that for

the effect in the second act.

- I like it.

- And then, this for the solo.

It's perfect.

Not quite.

Will you dance with me, Miss Brigente?

Come here. Come here.

Can you handle it, Mr. Broadway?

Yeah, of course I can.

- Oh!

- Oh!

Beautiful.

- A little spin?

- Sure.

Oh.

Ooh, another spin.

Wonderful, Miss Brigente.

There's, um

there's something that

I've been meaning to tell you.

I know exactly what you're gonna say.

You do?

I feel the same way.

You okay?

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm great.

Come on.

Gah...

Uncle Isaiah?

Oh. This looks... promising.

Yeah,

I just have to fix this archaic

snow machine for our finale,

and I have five days left to figure it out.

Okay, well, while you're

arm-wrestling with this thing,

um, I just read the RSVP list

for Christmas Eve,

and Cindy Santos is confirmed.

- No way.

- Yeah.

- This is good.

- Okay, this is good.

This is really good. This is good.

I just have to give the

best performance of my life

and win her over. No pressure, right?

Very convincing.

Yeah, I know. Well,

the way things have been going,

this show could be a total disaster.

I could make a fool

of myself in front of Cindy.

You know, I only have

one shot to get it right.

It'll be great. Come on.

Miss Brigente believes

in the show, and so do I.

Well, as for Miss Brigente,

I'm starting to feel like I should

you know, come clean about

why I cast myself as Randolph.

I know you'll find the

right time to tell her.

You're right. You are so right.

You know what? I'm going to give

her the old Heyward touch.

I'll leave you to it.

I'm a jolly Christmas elk

- With my antlers high.

- What about this one?

I can't soar through the sky

No matter how I try

My hooves are stuck here

On the ground

A fact that is so true

I think this is what

they call a 'tech rehearsal'.

Our director and star is an

actually Broadway performer.

Oh...

So true...

What are they doing here?

True...

Uh...

I don't know, but it's throwing her off.

Uh-oh.

Hey. Why'd you stop? You're k*lling it.

Maybe you should do this run-through.

No, I have a million other

things I gotta work on, okay?

I need you to play Randolph right now.

Can we take a break?

Just giving

some Broadway advice.

Sure. Yeah. That's five, everybody.

That means

they're taking a break.

Well done.

Break lots of legs.

That's it.

Principal Ott didn't tell me he

was coming with the parents.

No, me neither.

I don't think Miranda

has ever sang a solo

in front of anybody in her entire life.

Well, come to think of it,

half of the cast hasn't

performed in over a year.

They're probably all a little rusty.

Mm-hmm. Okay, so, how do we give

them confidence before opening?

Christmas caroling.

Oh, my goodness.

Have the kids carol

at the Hancock Annual

Christmas Festival tonight,

shake the nerves out of their system.

It's not a bad idea.

Come on, Mr. H.

You can say no to

a little Christmas caroling.

Round yon Virgin

Mother and Child

Holy Infant

So tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in Heavenly peace

Ooh, ooh

Uh-oh.

You okay?

Silent night

Holy night

The shepherds quake

At the sight

Glories stream

From heaven afar

Heavenly hosts sing alleluia

Christ the Savior

Is born

Christ the Savior

Is born

Great job. I'm so proud of you.

Well, everybody, please

remember to come see this cast

in the premiere of

Randolph the Christmas Elk

on Christmas Eve at Archer Academy.

We'd love to see you there.

Whoo!

That was so good.

Yeah.

- Thank you.

- See you, guys.

- Thank you.

- Of course.

Well, I would say that Mission

Christmas Confidence Boost

was a success.

Mission accomplished, Agent Brigente.

Well done, Agent Heyward.

Thank you.

You know, I found videos

online of you on Broadway.

- Oh, no.

- I may have binged them all.

I was very impressed.

You binged them?

Oh, I didn't know I was binge able.

Honestly, it feels like a lifetime ago.

Before coming here, I thought my

my time in the theater

might be over, you know?

And now, I'm in a theater with you

and these kids, and it's just I'm there

in a way I never could have imagined.

Life is funny that way.

Yeah.

I took your advice.

I'm going to be teaching

an adults creative writing

course this spring.

Are you serious? You did it.

Your someday showed up.

I am so proud of you.

Thank you.

So, I asked Principal Ott

if we are still in need

of a music and drama teacher,

and he said that we were,

so I threw your name in.

I don't know if that's such a good idea.

Sure, it's not Broadway,

but these kids think of you as a star.

And more importantly,

they consider you their mentor,

which is one of

the best roles in the world.

I'm not a mentor. I'm not...

I'm someone they should look up to.

Of course you are. Of course you are.

You have a way with them,

more than you know.

I don't even know if I want to

be in Hancock, or on Broadway,

or what I'm doing with my life, you know?

Well, right now, maybe you're

supposed to just help these kids

put on the best play of their lives.

But what about the play of my life?

Yeah. Sorry that I brought it up.

No, no, no. I...

I appreciate you talking to Principal Ott.

One second.

Hello?

What? What? No, no, no.

What do you mean

the orders are delayed?

I'm sorry. I have to take this.

Can we talk later?

Yeah. Go.

I know.

I can't believe we got the last one.

Right?

Isaiah, what is it?

The supply orders for the show

are delayed due to a snowstorm.

So, what does that mean?

It means I don't know if we're

going to finish building

the show in time for opening night.

Maybe taking this job

was a huge mistake.

I don't even know what

I'm doing with my life anymore.

My show is going to be a disaster.

You mean our show.

Our show, right. That's what I meant.

What's all this?

Well, our group chat was nonstop

last night, and Hal knew a guy

who knew a guy, who got us all

the supplies we needed.

- Really?

- Yeah.

We're here to help you finish the set,

with mandatory Christmas

sweaters, of course.

This one's for you.

How apropos.

Thank you, guys.

It is so great to see us all

come together like this, yeah?

How could we not?

I mean, it is our show, right?

That's right, it is our show.

Let's get to work!

Yes!

Aah! You know what? Fine. You win.

- Hey.

- Hey. Nothing.

Are you in a fight with a snow machine?

Do you want me to try to

take a crack at fixing it?

I mean, it shouldn't be

too complicated, right?

Yeah, sure. Okay. Yeah. Have at it.

Well, I'll just look it up.

I mean, we aware

the internet exists, right?

I can't believe I didn't think of that.

Problem solved.

Except we have an even bigger one.

We don't have an accompanist.

- The show goes up in two days.

- I can help out with that.

I'm a classically trained pianist.

Wait, hold up. You play?

There's more to this gal

than looks and charm.

Okay, Sandra,

you never cease to amaze me,

jump scares and all.

I appreciate you very much.

Okay, all right, now all we

gotta do is finish the set.

Oh, I may have called in

some surprise

reinforcements of my own.

Noah, what are you doing here?

Well, Jess texted and

said you could use some help,

and I know a thing

or two about building sets.

Thanks for the

Christmas candle, by the way.

Catherine and I already made our wish.

- I can't believe you're here.

- Of course, buddy.

It's what friends do, we show up.

That's right. That is right,

we do. And hey, from now on,

I promise I'm going to be there

for you and Catherine.

- All right? No matter what.

- Thanks, buddy.

Who's ready to put on a show?

Let's go.

Maybe this side here?

We're all gonna need this.

Hey, bring that over here.

Actually, you know what? Let's take it off.

No, it doesn't fit here.

Oh, we can bring in and see if

we need these.

Oh, there's the lights.

Okay, yeah, perfect. Over here.

Okay, everybody, these trees gotta go.

These trees don't come in

until the second act.

All right, who's stressed?

I am. Let's sing a carol.

And go.

Perfect.

This is really fun.

I love that smile.

Great job, everybody!

This is looking fantastic.

- Hey.

- Hey.

It's all coming together, isn't it?

Some things just aren't

meant to be done alone.

Hmm. I'm beginning to see that.

Listen, I'm, um...

I'm really sorry about the other night.

I know you had

the best intentions for me,

wanting to stay at Archer.

I just believe in you.

You've inspired these kids

to achieve so much more

than they ever dreamed they could.

And more than I expected, too.

Look,

Lilly-Anne, the truth is...

I cast myself as Randolph

because I wanted

to impress Cindy Santos.

That's the truth.

And, uh, now, I realized how

much of a mistake that is

because of how much

I care about these kids

and how much I care about you.

- Hi.

- Hi. Hi. Hi.

Sorry. Are you going over your lines?

My lines? No. No, no, no. Not my lines.

I... no, I know my lines.

Yeah, what's up? Never mind. Hi.

I know it's our final dress rehearsal

before the actual show tomorrow,

but my mom's here to watch.

Cindy's... in the building? Tonight?

Wow.

Okay. That's, uh...

That's... that's great. That's exciting.

Yeah, she has a last-minute

work thing tomorrow,

so tonight's

the only time she can make it.

Oh.

It's good that

you're going on as Randolph

because there's no way I could do it.

Yeah... yeah... yeah,

it's good I'm going...

I'm going... um...

I don't know if I can do it.

But you have to.

We've all worked so hard.

Everyone's counting on you.

Right. Of course they are

because I'm the guy.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

Okay.

It's showtime, Randolph.

I'm a jolly Christmas elk

With my antlers high

I can't soar through the sky

No matter how I try

My hooves are stuck here

On the ground

A fact that is so true

I'll never be loved like they are

No matter what I do

No matter

What... I... do...

Thanks. Oh, thanks, guys. Thanks, guys.

Thank you, thank you.

Give me five, okay? Thanks.

You were amazing.

Oh, thank you. Thank you.

Go get dressed.

We're going out to celebrate.

All right.

You were outstanding.

Completely exceeded my expectations.

Oh, my... Thank you. Thank you.

Could you be in the city tomorrow?

We're doing the Glitter

and Grace callbacks,

then I could squeeze you in at the end.

I know it's Christmas Eve, but, uh,

is that gonna be a problem?

No, no, no. No. No. No, no.

This is what I've been wishing for.

Okay. 2 p.m., Madison Studios.

- I'll be there.

- Yep.

- Thank you! Thank you!

- Uh-huh.

- I should have known.

- Lilly-Anne...

You did all of this

to impress Cindy Santos.

You don't care about

anybody but yourself.

That's not true. That's not true.

You're a great actor, I'll give you that.

Had me convinced.

There's a lot more to the story.

- Just save it.

- Lilly-Anne...

And tell the kids or I will.

They deserve that much.

Lilly-Anne, please, please.

I know you're disappointed.

But the good news is

Miranda gets to go on

as Randolph tomorrow.

Come on, guys, come on.

She is going to be incredible.

We know that.

We just thought you'd be here for us,

at least to cheer us on.

But instead, you used our show

to audition for a bigger show.

I know that's what it feels like.

Yeah, but what about doing

everything together, huh?

Seeing it through

all the way until the end?

What happened there?

He's all talk.

Come on, guys. Let's go.

Well, wait.

Guys, we're going to be fine.

We're going to be fine,

but we do have some things

to figure out. Hold up.

Did you cast me just so you

could impress my mom?

No. No. I didn't.

Miranda. Miranda...

I'm sorry.

Isaiah?

They're ready.

Now, this is the guy I was

talking to you about.

He's gonna be great.

Well, I hope you're singing

a song from Randolph.

Uh, yeah. Yeah, I am.

Excellent.

Whenever you're ready.

All right. Okay.

All right, go ahead.

Uh...

Sorry. Sorry, guys.

Uh, yeah, can we take that back again?

Okay.

I'm sorry. Uh, sorry. Can we stop?

I can't do this.

Cindy, can we talk alone?

Please?

Give us the room.

Unbelievable. What are you doing?

You have to see Miranda as Randolph.

She is brilliant. She's

absolutely brilliant.

If we leave now and you drive,

I think we can make the curtain.

What about the audition that

you practically begged me for?

I don't care. I don't care.

Miranda's more important.

She is so good in this show, Cindy.

She has so much potential.

She'll never tell you this, but

she needs you to believe in her.

And if she sees you rooting for her,

believing in her, celebrating her wins,

who knows what she could accomplish?

Look at this.

Please come with me

to Hancock right now.

Please.

For Miranda.

We are sold out tonight.

Everyone is here to see you.

All of you.

How are we supposed

to do this without Mr. H?

The same way we did it with him.

You go out there and you do your best.

Come on, you know your lines,

your cues, your character.

All that's left is to trust

yourself and each other.

We can do this.

We can do this.

We can do this. We can do this.

We can do this!

I can't do this.

Oh, I know you can

because I believe in you.

I cannot wait to

see you shine on that stage.

You're going to be wonderful.

And if this is what you really

want to do, I'm behind you 100%.

Okay?

I promise to never miss one of

your performances ever again.

That goes for me, too.

You're back.

I'm back.

This is your moment.

My role is to support you, all of you.

I'm so sorry, guys.

I'm so sorry I wasn't up front with you.

It won't happen again, I promise.

These last few weeks,

they have been better

than anything I've experienced

in my whole career.

And it has reminded me

of what is important.

Broadway?

It's got nothing on you guys.

Well...

Now, get your hands in here.

All right, you go out there

and make my Christmas

wish come true, okay?

Yeah.

All right. "Randolph" on three.

One, two, three!

Randolph!

Let's go get 'em, guys.

All right.

Hey.

Do you remember when I told you,

if you want to get something done,

you just grab

the reins and do it yourself?

I was wrong. I was so wrong.

You have to share

the reins with those around you,

your friends, your family.

They help steer your

dreams in the right direction.

I love you, Aurora.

I love you, too, Uncle Isaiah.

Okay.

All right, that's places, everyone!

We three deer have a story to tell

A Christmas elk,

saved Santa's sleigh bells

Randolph's his name,

an elk not a deer.

Spreading Christmas cheer

My whole life, all

I've ever wanted was to fly.

Is that too much to ask?

We're reindeer standing side by side

Hopeful eyes all open wide

Running and leaping,

we're aiming high

Soon, we'll be racing through the sky

Yes!

Now, something went wrong,

and the sleigh went down,

crashing to earth

with a deafening sound.

The reindeer, they pulled,

they were trying to steer,

but they couldn't stop the

sleigh from crashing near.

You got this, all right?

You're right, Mr. H, I got this.

Thanks for giving me

the chance and for showing up.

Of course. Go get 'em.

Now, you may not fly like a reindeer,

but you, Randolph, have soared

in your very own way.

Though I can't fly, I still bring joy

To every girl and every boy

My role is special, here on land

Supporting friends is so grand

From Christmas Elk,

this Christmas Elk

A merry Christmas to you!

Oh, Christmas Elk, oh, Christmas Elk

A merry Christmas to you

Oh, Christmas Elk, oh, Christmas Elk

A merry Christmas

To you

Whoo! Whoo!

Yeah, Miranda!

That's my daughter! There!

That's my daughter!

We did it!

Come on, let's go.

Yeah! Yeah!

All right!

Should we bow? Ready? Ready?

This might be the best getting

an ovation I've ever had.

I knew you could do it.

Yes!

All right, great! Get outta here! Go!

- Go have fun!

- You guys were awesome.

- Wonderful. Wonderful.

- You were amazing.

- Good work.

- Wonderful.

Um, Mr. Heyward, I want to

say thank you for everything.

Go have fun.

That went well.

Yeah. Snow machine

missed its cue, but...

Oh, I don't think

a Tony Award voter even noticed.

By the way, how did your audition go?

I made a wish on one of Jess's

candles to get my life back.

My wish came true.

Oh, your... Your life on Broadway?

My life here

with you.

Is the drama and music director

position still open?

Because if it isn't, this is

about to get really awkward.

Principal Ott said

it's all yours, if you want it.

Of course I want it.

Guess our someday finally showed up.

Better late than never, huh?

You know what they say...

What's that.

"The snow must go on."

Now, one more question:

is there anything I can do

to make this a more perfect

Christmas for you?

I can think of one more thing.

"He sprang to his sleigh",

"to his team gave a whistle!"

"And away they all flew,"

"like the down of a thistle."

"But I heard him exclaim,"

"ere he drove out of sight..."

This is my favorite part.

"'Merry Christmas to all!

"'And to all, a good night!'"

Come here.

Merry Christmas...

Merry Christmas.