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Doris watches as Bruno, who is carrying two cups of coffee, walks over to a table where Holly is sat waiting for him. Resisting the urge to rush into the cafe bar and greet her friend Doris turns and heads off down the street. She pulls her coat tighter around her body in an attempt to keep out the biting December cold.
Bruno hands Holly a cup of coffee and sits down. Feeling awkward that he has to point out to Holly that they aren't a couple and that he doesn't want a relationship with her, he takes a deep breath: "Look Holly, I think we need to talk about last night."
Holly smiles and reaching over towards him she squeezes his hand reassuringly: "It's okay Bruno I know."
Bruno is puzzled: "You do?"
Holly's smile becomes wider: "Of course I do. How could I not know, when I feel the same?"
Bruno is hesitant: "Holly are we talking about the same thing here?"
Holly nods: "Yes, about last night and how important it was. I know it probably didn't start out that way but I guess when feelings are this strong it was inevitable."
Bruno feels uncomfortable as it's obvious that Holly has got the wrong end of the stick: "Look Holly, I don't want to hurt you..."
Holly interrupts: "Sssh, there's no need to explain, I know you prefer writing songs to talking about your feelings so we don't need to have this conversation if you're not comfortable with it."
Bruno shakes his head: "No it's not that it's just..."
Again Holly interrupts: "I wasn't going to say anything to you but you see I've been going through a pretty hard time recently. I haven't said anything to anyone, they just think I've been ill with some virus but the truth is I've been feeling really depressed. My parents are on the verge of getting a divorce and I don't know why but my whole life felt like it was out of control. I look at myself in the mirror and just feel dreadful. I feel fat and useless and unwanted..."
Now it's Bruno's turn to interrupt: "Holly, you're not fat, or useless or unwanted."
Holly smiles: "I know. Well I know that now. Now that you've come into my life and now that we are together. I was just saying how I had been feeling. How I didn't want to eat but that just left me feeling weak, with no energy and even more depressed."
Bruno is concerned: "Did you see a doctor?"
Holly shakes her head: "No! I felt like I was going mad or something and seeing a doctor would only make that feel even more real. I just hoped that at some point I would feel better and now I do. So you see you don't need to worry. I want the same things as you."
Bruno gives a weak smile: "We'll I'm glad that's the case."
Holly reaches over the table and kisses him: "Don't worry Bruno this is going to be the perfect Christmas for both of us."
Bruno feels even more uncomfortable. He wanted to end things with Holly and tell her that he just wanted to be friends but after what he's heard he just feels sorry for her. Thoughts race through his mind of how heartless he would feel if he broke off their relationship now. He didn't want to be responsible for Holly becoming ill again.
Bruno nods his head slowly: "Okay, here's to a great Christmas!"
He raises his coffee mug up as does Holly as they toast the perfect Christmas.
Bruno takes a sip of his coffee: "Look I've got to get back to work, I'll see you later.
A huge smile crosses Holly's face: "I'm really glad we had this talk Bruno and that you feel the same way I do. I was worried that you might want to end things!"
Bruno stands up: "Who me, end things? Erm...of course I don't!"
Bruno turns and heads towards the bar where Carsuo is standing, rubbing his mouth with his hand. Bruno begins to feel nauseous.
Caruso greets him: "Well did you let her down gently?"
Bruno grimaces: "Not exactly!"
Leroy stands at the counter in Lou's Lanes. Cleo is on stage about to perform a song: "Hey Lou I'm surprised you're letting Cleo perform."
Lou smirks: "It's a one off just because it's Christmas. She's not a bad kid and she's really been helping me out when you weren't around!"
Leroy grins: "The old Christmas spirit getting to you is it?"
Lou looks cautiously around to see if anyone can hear: "Hey don't spread it around or I'll have to give a shot to every kid at that school!"
Cleo performs a song about and the lyrics totally resonate with Leroy:
"I Believe in Christmas like it used to be , oooh,
Magic in the air, lights upon a tree.
Oh I Believe in Christmas, Like it used to be.
When I close my eyes, You are all I see.
Oh I Believe in Christmas, Like it used to be.
The fire all a glow, the music soft and low,
We held each other tight, beneath the mistletoe,
If Santa doesn't show it'll be alright.
Seems like yesterday, it's just a memory.
Oh Why can't it be Christmas like it used to be?
Oooh, I Believe in Christmas like it used to be , oooh,
I Believe in Christmas like it used to be , oooh
Winter snow will fall, I'll wait patiently
Oh Someday we'll have Christmas like it used to be.
Although you're far away, the feelings haven't changed.
I'm still in love with you.
And I have just one wish, on my Christmas list,
Come home soon.
Til that day I'll dream, that you are here with me.
Oh I Believe in Christmas. Why can't it be Christmas,
Oh I Believe in Christmas, Like it used to be.
I Believe in Christmas like it used to be , oooh,
I Believe in Christmas like it used to be , oooh."
Danny is sat at a nearby table with Chris, Jesse, Dwight and Nicole. He too is taken by the song: "I'd kill for that song to be in my Christmas show."
Chris agrees : "You'd kill to have any song in your show."
Danny throws Chris a dirty look and the other laugh.
Chris apologies: "Sorry man, it's too bad Lou is making Cleo work the night of the show."
As the song ends Doris wanders in and joins her friends. Nicole notices that Doris looks down: "Hey are you okay Doris?"
Doris nods: "I'll be fine."
Turning her attention to Danny she asks: "Did you know that Bruno was back in town?"
Danny feels awkward and hesitates.
Doris notices the pause: "You did know didn't you? Wait, is Bruno the friend you were talking about that needs your help?"
Danny nods slowly: "Yes on both counts. Yes I knew Bruno was back and yes he's the friend I want to help!"
Doris becomes annoyed: "So how come I'm the last to know and why didn't you tell me?"
Danny sighs: "Look, I told you earlier if I could tell you I would. I didn't know he was back either until Coco..."
Doris interrupts: "Coco, what has she got to do with this? Is she back too?"
Jesse is puzzled: "Who's Bruno and who's Coco?"
Nicole shrugs: "Beats me!"
Chris enlightens them: "They are some friends of ours who used to go to the school. Last I heard they were both working in LA."
Doris snaps at Danny: "You hear that. They are friends of ours! So you should have told me they were back."
Danny tries to clam Doris down: "Wait a minute will you listen, Coco is not back, she is still in LA. It's just that she phoned me the other day and mentioned Bruno. She told me he'd broken up with a girl and had come back to New York. She mentioned he'd said he was going to look up Caruso so I went over there."
Doris is still annoyed: "Didn't it ever occur to you to tell me?"
Danny apologises: "Look I'm sorry okay. I went round to Caruso's and Bruno asked me not to say anything to anyone else. So I was just doing what he asked."
Doris is outraged: "Bruno and I are very close. Obviously he didn't mean don’t tell me, did he?"
Danny doesn't like being blamed for something that isn't his fault and starts to fight back: "Actually he did mean you. Maybe you're not as close with him as you think you are!"
Doris feels hurt and on the verge of tears: "Well maybe you and I aren't as close as I thought either. Maybe, if I'm not important, you should count me out of your Christmas show and find someone else to do it with you. Or better still you can do it on your own!"
With that Doris storms out. Danny calls after her: "Hey Schwartz, I'm sorry. You know I can't do this show on my own. Doris please wait..."
Danny grabs his coat and rushes off after Doris but out in the snowy street there is no sign of her”.
Nicole comments: "I feel really sorry for Danny. He's not having much luck with this Christmas show. I feel guilty that none of us are able to help him!"
Chris shrugs: "It can't be helped, you've got your Mother's birthday and I'll be out of town at my sisters."
Jesse becomes irritated and snaps: "You're always going on about Danny these days. Are you sure you're not feeling more than sympathy for him?"
Nicole is shocked by Jesse's outburst: "What are you trying to say? That I want to go out with Danny now?"
Chris pulls a face: "If you two are going to have one of your fights then I'm out of here."
As Chris gets up and heads over to where Leroy is standing, Jesse scowls at Nicole.
Cleo comes off stage and Leroy smiles at her: "That was a really nice song Cleo."
Cleo is happy Leroy likes it: "Well family is important isn't it. There's nothing like being with people you love at Christmas time."
Leroy nods in agreement: "You're right! Hey Cleo I owe you an apology for the other night when Lou had you work my shift. I should never have taken it out on you."
Cleo gives a huge smile, she'd had a crush on Leroy since the beginning of the school year and realised that he would probably be spending Christmas alone: "Look I know it's not the same as being with your own family but if you want to spend Christmas with me and my family then we'd be happy to have you."
Leroy smiles: "That's really sweet Cleo, but if things go my way I won't need anyone else's family, I'll have my own."
Cleo exchanges puzzled looks with Chris.
The following day in the teacher's lounge, at the shool, Mrs Berg sits at the table counting some money: "50, 60, 80, erm.."
She is holding 10 dollars and can't remember if she's already counted it or not: "Oh my I'm not getting on very well with this. It looks as though I'll have to start again. 5, 10, 20..."
Elizabeth Sherwood is sat grading papers and not really paying much attention to Mrs Berg but feels like she has to respond. Without looking up she asks: "What is it that you are doing?"
Mrs Berg looks up at the teacher: "Why Miss Sherwood I'm counting the money I've collected for the poor starving children. People have been so kind."
Elizabeth asks: "How much have you collected?"
Mrs Berg pulls a face: "Why I don't know yet dear, I haven't finished counting it. Now where was I?"
Realising that she has lost count again she chastises herself: "Oh my what a silly old woman I am."
She starts counting again: "5, 10..."
At that moment Lydia and David enter the room. Lydia asks: "Have you heard anything about the show yet?"
David shakes his head: "I find out later today, if I can get out of this place early enough. Morloch wasn't happy when I asked to leave early?"
They both say good morning to Mr Berg, who greets them both, then lets out an annoyed statement: "Oh drat! I'm never going to get this done before the bell!"
Lydia and David turn to her in surprise and David asks: "What's wrong Mrs Berg?"
Mrs Berg sighs: "I'm trying to count this blessed money and keep losing count."
David offers to help: "Would you like me to count it for you?"
A big smile spreads across Mrs Berg's face: "Oh Mr Reardon, that's very kind of you!"
She passes the money over to David and he starts to count it for her. After a few minutes he tells her: "You raised $325".
Mrs Berg grins: "Oh that is good news and I've still got some collecting to do. Actually I don't think I've had any from you yet, have I?"
David digs into his wallet and pulls out $5 and adds it to the pile: "There you have $330 now."
Mrs Berg smiles again: "Oh Mr Reardon, how kind. Now I must go and put the money away safely. It doesn't do to leave that sort of money lying around."
She gets up and heads to the door. As she opens it David calls over to her:"Oh Mrs Berg.."
As she looks round she sees David is still holding the money. He stretches out his hand to give it to her and she wonders off muttering to herself: "Oh my I'd forget my head if it wasn't screwed on."
The three teacher laugh as the old woman closes the door. Lydia turns to David: "So Morloch wasn't pleased when you said you might be leaving?"
David sighs: "That is an understatement! He certainly has a way of making people feel guilty. He had me promising to help him find a replacement!"
Elizabeth laughs: "How do you intend to do that?"
David shrugs: "Well I did have one idea. Have you met Mrs Perskey?"
Elizabeth shakes her head: "No!"
David replies: "Well she's only been here a couple of weeks and she only does one day a week."
Lydia interrupts: "Oh wait a minute I think I met her the other day. Isn't she the new drama teaching assistant?"
David nods: "That's her. I was thinking of asking her if she be happy to take on more work and do more days. If nothing else it might bridge the gap until Morloch can find someone permanent."
Lydia puckers up her lips in contemplation: "I wish I had a teaching assistant. I could certainly use one right now with all this work I've got on. I don't know how the drama department got one in the first place. I think I'm going to have to work on Morloch. Talking of which have you managed to avoid inviting him for Christmas dinner Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth nods: "Just about but I don't know how much longer I can keep avoiding it."
As the school bell rings the teachers head out into the lobby to make their way to their classes.
Danny rushes past the teachers running up the main corridor after Doris. He calls after her: "Will you wait up and give me a chance to explain."
Doris keeps moving quickly. At the top of the corridor she turns right and heads quickly into the girls locker room, leaving the door to shut in a frustrated Danny's face.
Leroy is on a study period and sits in the library day dreaming. He imagines Christmas morning, hearing a noise in the street and music playing. He leaves his apartment and goes into the snowy street where people are dancing. In the distance he sees an older man dancing and singing with a woman. As the figures move nearer he realises it's his father twirling his mother around on the snowy street. Leroy runs to join them. He takes his Mother's hand and soon the three of them are dancing and singing together. They are then joined by Leroy's two brothers and his little niece Tina. Soon the whole family is dancing and singing a happy Christmas song together.
"Hang all the mistletoe
I'm gonna get to know you better, yeah
This Christmas
And as we trim the tree
How much fun it's gonna be together, yeah ha
This Christmas
Fireside is blazing bright
We're caroling through the night
And this Christmas, will be yeah
A very special Christmas, for me yeah
Presents and cards are here
My world is filled with cheer and you, ohh yeah
This Christmas
And as I look around
Your eyes outshine the town, they do
This Christmas
Fireside is blazing bright
We're caroling through the night
And this Christmas, will be
A very special Christmas, for me yeah
Alright, break it down, ha ha ha
Ooh yeah, yeah yeah, alright
Yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah
Alright now, right now, now
Fireside, oh, is blazing bright
We're caroling through the night, yeah
And this Christmas, will be, oh
A very special Christmas, for me yeah
And this Christmas, will be
A very special Christmas, for me oh oh
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Merry Christmas, ooh yeah
Gonna have a merry Christmas, ohh yeah, oh oh
Merry Christmas, oh it will be
Oh, a very very very special Christmas
A very special Christmas (this Christmas)
Alright now, right now, yeah oh
It will be now, oh (this Christmas)
Oh, this will be, this will be, baby
A very special
Have a merry merry Christmas (hey yeah)
And a happy New Year
Oh hey, alright, yeah yeah yeah
Merry Christmas
This Christmas
Oh this will be, this will be, baby"
Suddenly Leroy is distracted by Chris asking to borrow a pencil. Leroy is frustrated that his day dream had to end. He hands Chris a pencil and a huge smile spreads across his face as he knows in his heart what he has to do.
At lunch time in the cafeteria Doris sits alone rejecting attempts from her friends to incorporate her into the group. On the other side of the room Nicole sits with Danny: "How long do you think this will go on for?"
Danny shrugs: "I don't know but it can't go on for much longer, I need her."
Nicole places a reassuring hand on Danny's arm. Just at that moment Jesse approaches and his face turns to anger when he sees Nicole touching Danny.
Jesse turns and heads out of the cafeteria, quickly followed by Nicole: "Jesse, wait up, it's not what you're thinking!"
Lydia is in the dance rehearsal room alone practising some steps she wants to incorporate into the seniors new year show. Leroy stands watching her through the door window for a second and then enters the room. As Lydia comes to a natural break in the dance he asks: "Can I talk to you?"
Lydia nods as she grabs a towel to mop up the perspiration from her face and neck: "Sure what can I do for you?"
Leroy takes a deep breath: "Well, I've been thinking about what you said last night, about making a decision."
As Leroy pauses Lydia becomes impatient: "And? What did you decide?"
Leroy takes another deep breath and continues: "For the first time in my life I was able to see things from Vernon's point of view. Choosing between dancing and family is really hard, you know?"
Lydia nods: "Oh believe me I know. To come here to live and work in New York, to teach and maybe work as a dancer or an actress, I had to leave my family behind in Houston. Yes we see each other when we can and talk on the phone all the time but it's hard to be away from people I love. I guess that's why all you kids are so important to me, you're like a surrogate family to me."
Lydia pauses and thinks for a moment and then adds: "And to you I should think?"
Leroy gives a weak smile: "Yeah in a way they have, but it's not the same as being with your real family. You know I hated Vernon for so long for leaving us....."
Leroy pauses and then correct himself: "For leaving me.... I was just a little kid. His own flesh and blood and he left me Miss Grant. I could never understand how he could leave his wife and children behind for dreams of Fame."
Leroy coughs to clear his throat as a way to hold back the tears: "All I wanted was a proper family like most other people. And at Christmas I just wanted a proper family Christmas with all of us together. I mean that's not too much to ask for is it?"
Lydia can tell that Leroy is getting quite choked up, which makes her feel emotional too: "No baby, it's not too much to ask for. It wasn't then and it's certainly not now. I take it you've decided to drop out of the show and work on spending Christmas with as many of your family members as you can?"
Leroy turns to her with tears in his eyes: "Vernon hurt me Miss Grant. My father leaving hurt me so much. I guess in some ways you could say I was scarred by his decision. I may understand him a little more now but you know he was still wrong to leave and I would be wrong to choose a show over my family. I may be my Father's son and I maybe following in his footsteps as a dancer but I can't make the same mistakes that he did and look at myself in the mirror, I just can't."
A tear rolls down Leroy's cheek and Lydia can see what a struggle this decision has been for him. Leroy continues: "I know you've put a lot of work into me and particularly this show. I know it could be very important for me but I have to drop out of it. I'm sorry for letting you down..."
Lydia too now has tears rolling down her cheeks, she places her hand over Leroy's mouth to interrupt him: "Hush your mouth. I don't want to hear any of this letting me down trash! Do you hear me?"
Leroy nods and Lydia moves her hand from his mouth and taking the edge of the towel in her other hand she wipes the tears from Leroy's face and continues: "Leroy Johnson I want you to know that I'm proud of you. You're growing up and one day soon you'll leave this school and I will be able to look on in pride and be able to say that I did a good job. You came to this school as a cocky, uneducated child and you'll leave as a fully rounded, mature young man. No one could ever feel let down by your decision. They can only feel proud because you've not only made the right decision for you but you've made the right decision period. Your family are very lucky to have you be part of their family."
Leroy smiles and hugs his teacher: "Thanks Miss Grant you've really made me feel better. I was worried you'd think I'd made the wrong decision."
Lydia shakes her head slowly: "Choosing you family could never be the wrong decision. Now you need to get out of here I've got even more work to do now to rework the show without you!"
Leroy starts to walk towards the door: "You wait and see Miss Grant, I'll get the money. I don't know how but I'll get it and this will be the best Christmas ever!"
Leroy starts singing to himself: "This Christmas will be a very special Christmas for me......."
Lydia watches him go feeling a huge sense of pride as Leroy leaves the room.
Outside the make-up room Danny is on the phone to Bruno: "Look man, I'm sorry I don't know how she found out but Doris is really on the war path over you being back in town and no one telling her. I could really use your help here. I can't let my father down and I need Doris back on board. Can you come over and talk to her?"
At Caruso's Bruno is silent. He really didn't want to have to deal with anyone from the school but he can hear the desperation in his friends voice. Bruno reluctantly agrees: "Okay I'll talk to her."
Danny feels a huge sense of relief: "Thanks Man, you really don't know how much this means."
In the office Mrs Berg looks at an empty jar on the counter and worriedly bites down on her bottom lip. Mr Shorofsky is at the cubby holes looking at his mail and notices: "Are you all right Mrs Berg?"
Mrs Berg Looks at the old man: "Oh Mr Shorofsky, it's gone."
Shorofsky has no clue what the woman is talking about: "What's gone Mrs Berg?"
Mrs Berg rubs her head: "I don't understand it, it was right here in the jar!"
Shorofsky is still puzzled: "What was in the jar?"
Mrs Berg continues: "The Money Mr Shorofsky. The money I collected for the starving people. Someone has taken it.... who would do such a thing?"
Mr Shorofsky scratches his white beard: "Who indeed?"
To be continued.....
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