Wish Upon A Christmas Star Part 1
It’s Christmas 1984 and the students of the High School for Performing Arts, in New York City, are in the dance class led by Lydia Grant. To get everyone into the Christmas spirit Lydia has Jesse Velasquez perform a feel good Christmas song.
“Christmas is the time of year, filled with expectations.
Christmas is the time of year, decked with decorations.
Presents underneath the tree, carolling in harmony,
You can hear it in the church bells as they chime.
Telling everyone its Christmas time.
Christmas is the time of year, time for celebration.
Tiny children up at night in high expectation.
Candy canes and sugar plums, soldiers with their marching drums.
When you feel the spirit in you start to climb, then you know for sure it’s Christmas time.
So sing a Merry Christmas song.
Fill your heart with laughter.
Joy will be yours the whole year long.
Happy ever after.
Christmas is the time of year, for loving one another.
Everyone you meet and greet is a sister and a brother.
So show the World how much you care.
Shine your love light everywhere.
And the World you see will be in perfect rhyme.
When you feel the spirit in you start to climb, everyone will know its Christmas time.
Christmas is the time of year, for loving one another.
Everyone you meet and greet is a sister and a brother.
So show the World how much you care.
Shine your love light everywhere.
And the World you see will be in perfect rhyme.
When you feel the spirit in you start to climb, everyone will know its Christmas time.”
David Reardon walks down the corridor towards the lobby. He can hear the festive music coming from the dance class and sees Mrs Berg standing watching through one of the windows in the classroom door. She has a big smile on her face.
Mrs Berg: “Oh Mr Reardon don’t you just love this time of year? The Carols; the music; the decorations; the food; the eggnog; Oh, I do really love the eggnog! And it’s already snowing outside making the whole city look beautiful. It’s all just so magical!”
David hasn’t had the best days and is now in a hurry to get to an audition so the thought of being delayed by the weather doesn’t fill him with much Christmas spirit: “You forgot to mention all the crowds, the expense, getting presents you’ll never use, the delays the weather causes and having to spend time with relatives you don’t even like. Put like that, It doesn’t sound so magical, does it?”
Mrs Berg fixes him with a stern grin: “My aren’t we a sour puss this afternoon? Still you won’t spoil my happy mood.”
David forces a smile: “Well I have an audition to get to so if you’ll excuse me.”
Mrs Berg: “Oh, Break a leg!”
David mutters to himself: “We’ll with the day I’ve been having and with this weather, I more than likely will break a leg!”
As the song comes to an end Lydia claps her hands and laughs.
Lydia: “I don’t know about y’all but that certainly has put me in the mood for Christmas”.
Everyone in the room nods and cheers in agreement.
Lydia: “Okay let’s get back to some serious work. Repeat the combination we learnt....”
She is interrupted by the school bell sounding out the end of the school day and the students start to hurry towards the door.
Lydia is shocked that the end of the lesson has come so quickly. She taps her cane on the floor loudly to get everyone’s attention: “I know y’all in a hurry to get out of here, but seniors don’t forget there is rehearsal for the New Year showcase in the auditorium in half an hour, so don’t be late! We’ve got a lot of work to do people and we’re running out of time”.
Leroy Johnson can’t believe he’d forgotten about the rehearsal: “Miss Grant, is that tonight, I’ve got to be somewhere.”
Lydia: “No excuses Leroy, I told you about it a week ago.”
Leroy: “But...”
Lydia sternly cuts him off before he can say any more: “I said no excuses! This is your final year and this showcase is probably the most important of your High School career. Honey, there will be agents and talent scouts there looking to see what this year’s graduates can do. I’m sure if you can’t make rehearsal then Michael will be more than happy to dance the lead.”
Michael overhears his name and Leroy sees him nodding eagerly in agreement with Lydia’s statement.
Leroy gives Michael an indignant look and slowly nods his head: “Okay, No problem, I’ll be there.”
Jesse and Chris Donlon have been listening intently to the conversation.
Chris: “You know Miss Grant, I’m also happy to step into the lead role if you need me?”
Jesse excitedly agrees: “Me too!”
Leroy glares at his two so called friends before storming out of the room slamming the door behind him.
Lydia watches him go and shakes her head: “Oh my, Do either of you know what his problem is?”
Chris and Jesse shake their heads and answer at the same time “No!”
Doris Schwartz notices Leroy’s bad mood: “Are you okay?”
Leroy either doesn’t hear or doesn’t want to answer and just keeps heading on down the corridor. Doris shrugs to herself.
Lydia ponders for a moment what could be wrong with Leroy until Chris interrupts her train of thought.
Chris: “Well Miss Grant do you need me or not?”
Lydia clears her throat slowly: “Chris honey, it’s a senior’s showcase and you’re not a senior!”
Lydia then turns to Jesse: “And as for you. You’ve only been in this school five minutes. The time will come for both of you but for the moment get out of my hair; I’ve got enough on my plate without you two making things worse.”
Feeling slightly dejected the two head towards the door when Lydia calls them back.
Lydia ponders: “Wait, wait a minute, maybe you can help me!”
They both turn and excitedly walk back over to Lydia hoping that she’s somehow changed her mind.
Lydia sees the expectation in their eyes: “No you still can’t perform but you can help behind the scenes with the stage managing. I’ve got so many things I’m juggling that it would be a great relief and help if someone could sort out all the props.”
Neither Chris nor Jesse are too thrilled by the idea and remain silent.
Lydia becomes a little impatient: “Well? What do you say are you going to help me or not?”
Reluctantly they agree and Lydia smiles.
Lydia: “Good, well there’s no time like the present. If you go down to the basement there are some boxes of props that need bringing up to the auditorium ready for today’s rehearsal."
Chris looks at his watch: “But that’s in less than 25 minutes!”
Lydia smirks: “Then you’d better get started hadn’t you?”
Frustrated, they both hurry out of the room at full speed.
In the girls’ locker room Doris, Nicole Chapman and Cleo Hewitt are drying themselves off and changing after their shower, while harmonising on a holiday song:
“Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening.
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight.
Walking in a winter wonderland.
Over the hill lies a mantle of white,
A heaven of diamonds in the lovely night.
In the meadow we can build a snowman,
Then give him a name and call him Parson Brown
He'll say: Are you married?
We'll say: No man,But you can do the job whenever you're
When you're in town.
Later on, we'll conspire,
As we dream by the fire.
To face unafraid, The plans that we've made,
Walking in a winter wonderland.
“Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening.
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight.
Walking in a winter wonderland, Walking,
Walking in a winter wonderland”.
Nicole notices that Holly Laird isn’t joining in: “Hey Holly, do you want to come Christmas shopping with me at Bloomingdales on Saturday?”
Holly sighs: “I’m going to be busy Nicole.”
Nicole is surprised: “Wait are you telling me Holly Laird is turning down an invitation to go shopping? Are you still feeling ill?”
Holly had been out of School for a couple of weeks and had told everyone she had the flu. Holly is frustrated by the question: “I told you I’m busy okay? Can’t we just leave it at that? Does everything have to turn into an interrogation?”
Nicole is again surprised, this time by Holly’s outburst: “Okay, I’m sorry. But I wasn’t interrogating you I was just asking.”
Holly grabs her coat and bag and turns to leave: “I’ve gotta go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As she hurries out of the locker room, Nicole and Doris watch her go and exchange puzzled looks.
Nicole: “What’s her problem?”
Doris Shrugs: “I’m not sure but with Holly and Leroy both acting strange there isn’t much of that Christmas spirit, Miss Grant was talking about, around here.”
As Holly hurries down the school corridor she passes Morloch and Sherwood in the lobby.
Morloch calls out: “Oh, Miss Sherwood, you never answered my question about whether I could join you and your family for Christmas day, like I did for Thanksgiving.”
Elizabeth Sherwood grimaces and turns to the vice principal giving a weak smile. She remembers all too well the disaster that Thanksgiving had been and has no desire to repeat it at Christmas: “Well, ermm I’m...”
At that moment there is a loud banging noise at the end of the corridor as in their haste, Jesse and Chris drop some of the boxes they are carrying onto the floor.
Morloch looks up and calls to them: “Velasquez! Donlon! What on earth are you two doing?”
Chris replies: “We’re helping Miss Grant.”
Morloch shakes his head in despair: “I somehow doubt Miss Grant has asked you to throw all those boxes on to the floor like that.”
Jesse explains: “No they are props for the seniors show and Miss Grant has put us in charge of them.”
Morloch rolls his eyes: “God help us all. Well just be careful will you. Any damages you’re paying for them.”
While this has been going on Sherwood sees her escape and quickly rushes off towards the exit. She catches up with Holly at the stairwell.
Morloch turns back to where Sherwood had been standing: “Now Miss...”
His voice trails off when he notices Miss Sherwood has gone.
Sherwood: “Holly I’m glad I’ve seen you. We were worried as you’d not been in school for awhile. I heard you had the flu.”
Holly feels awkward and hesitates: “Er, yes that’s right Miss Sherwood, it was really bad. I felt dreadful, so I thought it best to stay away and get over it. I didn’t want to spread my germs around.”
Sherwood nods slowly not 100% sure that Holly is telling the truth: “Well are you okay now?”
Holly nods: “Yes Miss I’m fine now.”
Sherwood: “Okay then, but come and see me first period tomorrow to collect the assignments you’ve missed.
Holly smiles: “Okay thank you. Goodnight Miss Sherwood.”
Sherwood: “Goodnight and button up that coat, it’s freezing out here and we don’t want you ill again.”
Mrs Berg follows her down the steps: “Oh Miss Sherwood, Mr Morloch is looking for you.”
Miss Sherwood smiles at the older woman: “You know, I think I’ll catch up with him tomorrow. I’ve got to get home now.”
Mrs Berg laughs: Okay dear I won’t tell him I’ve seen you. I know how you feel. There are lots of times when I want to escape from him too, particularly when he’s in a bad mood. Which is usually all the time! He particularly doesn’t like Christmas you know?”
By this time Morloch isn’t far behind and Sherwood hears him call her name. She smiles at Mrs Berg and hurries off down the street to catch her bus.
Danny Amatullo steps out of the subway station and pulls his coat tighter around him. When he’d left for school that day there had been no signs of any snow but during the day a layer had fallen making the city glow white. The cold air penetrated his light coat and he gave a shiver. Thankfully he’s home was only a few minutes from the subway and he was soon feeling the warmth of the apartment building. As he comes out of the elevator and walks towards his parent’s apartment he can hear raised voices. Arguments were a frequent thing in the Amatullo household but in the couple of weeks since Thanksgiving his parents had been on their best behaviour.
Things had kicked off at Thanksgiving when Danny’s father had once again raised his concerns about Danny wanting a career in the arts. Carmine Amatullo had thought a career in his brother’s Aluminium Sidings business would be more suitable for Danny. Thankfully Danny’s mother had backed her son and laid down the law to her husband but it now appeared things were returning to normal. For awhile Danny stands outside the door not wanting to enter.
At Lou’s Lanes Doris and Nicole are discussing Christmas songs they could perform at Lou’s.
Nicole: “Well I like all the old songs like:
“Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire, jack frost nipping at your nose. Although it’s been said many times many ways. Merry Christmas to You.”
Doris sighs: “Yes but everyone sings those and it gets a little repetitive. What about something new like:
“Last Christmas, I gave you my heart but the very next day you gave it away. This years to save me from tears I’ll give it to someone special.”
Nicole: “I don’t know Doris I’m sure in 30 years people will be saying the same about that song too; that everyone sings it.”
Lou Mackie, the owner of Lou’s Lanes, interrupts: “Have either of you seen Leroy? He was supposed to be working here tonight. Desperate for the money he said.”
Nicole: “He had to stay after school for rehearsal.”
Lou grimaces: “Damn him it’s getting awfully busy in here.”
At that moment he sees Cleo coming out of the restroom and he calls over to her: “Hey Kid, how about waiting some tables for me tonight?”
Cleo smiles: “Okay Lou, no problem. I’ll just get changed.”
Doris is puzzled: “I wonder what Leroy needs the money for?”
Nicole shrugs: “Well at this time of year we could all probably use some extra cash.”
Doris ponders it for a moment not convinced by what Nicole said: “Hmmm Maybe!”
After awhile Danny finally enters the family apartment and instantly the arguing stops and the room falls silent. He looks from one parent to the other: “There’s no need to pretend on my account. I could hear you arguing in the hallway. I’ve been out there for awhile.”
Gina Amatullo turns to her son: “We weren’t arguing. It was just a discussion that’s all.”
Danny: “Ma, I heard you.”
Gina sighs: “It’s just that your Father is feeling a little stressed. He’s been left in the lurch having to arrange the Knights of St Anthony’s Christmas concert. It was all planned but someone dropped out. He’s got less than two weeks before the show.”
Suddenly an idea crosses Danny’s mind as a way that he can prove to his Father that he’s making the right career choice: “Pop why don’t you let me do it for you. I’ll get some of the kids from School together and we’ll put on a show like you won’t believe?"
Carmine hetitates: “I, I don’t know Danny, I mean it’s a lot of work and you’ve got your studies to think of. You’re already being held back a year because of the leukaemia I don’t want anything else to disrupt you’re education.”
Danny: “Pop I’m fine the leukaemia is in remission and I’ll catch up the work at school.”
Carmine is still hesitant: “No Danny I think it’s best if I sort out the problem myself.”
Danny feels angry at his fathers lack of faith in him: “Don’t you think I can do it? Is that the problem? You don’t think I can pull this off and I’ll leave you embarrassed; that’s it, isn’t it?”
Danny heads off to his room and slams the door.
Gina gives her husband a harsh glare: “Carmine, can’t you see he’s trying to help? Stop making more trouble all the time. He’s your son and he’s reaching out to try and please you here.”
Carmine reluctantly nods his head.
At “Lou’s Lanes” Cleo stands watching a news report on the TV. The sound is off but the pictures tell their own story. A tear wells up in Cleo’s eye as she watches the dreadful pictures from Ethiopia of people starving.
Lou calls over to her: “Hey I’m not paying you to watch TV there are tables that need waiting upon.”
Cleo pulls a handkerchief from her pocket and wipes her eyes: “I’m sorry Lou but have you seen the news report, it’s dreadful. People are dying from lack of food. It makes it a little difficult to go and serve some of these people pizza!"
Lou: “Hey Kid take some advice. Don’t watch the news it’ll only depress you and serving people pizza is what is paying your wages so get a move on.
Carmine Amatullo knocks on his son’s bedroom door and enters. Danny is lying on the bed watching TV. For a moment Carmine is struck by the horrific pictures of famine on the news but quickly turns his attention to his son.
Danny turns the TV off as his father perches on the edge of his bed.
Carmine: “Look Danny it’s not that I don’t think you can organise the Christmas show it’s just it’s a lot of responsibility and there’s not very much time available. But hey if you think you can do it then I’m willing to give it a go.”
Danny smiles and is determined not to let his father down: “Thanks Pop, you won’t regret this I promise you.”
Father and son hug.
Danny whispers: “I’m sorry for what I said.”
Carmine smiles: “Don’t worry about it, just make me proud.”
After rehearsal is over Leroy goes to Lou’s Lanes, where he was supposed to be working. He sees Cleo waitressing and when she sees him she seems a little embarrassed.
Cleo: “Leroy, I need to talk to you.”
Before Cleo can say anymore Lou spots Leroy and calls over to him.
Lou: “Hey Leroy, where have you been? I thought you were working tonight. I thought you needed the money?”
Leroy: “I do need the money, and I’m sorry I’m late but I’m here now.”
Lou: “Sorry Kid but I need someone reliable so I’ve had to bring in Cleo here. We don’t need you tonight.”
Leroy glares at a sheepish looking Cleo: “But Lou this is important to me. I’m trying to raise the money to buy my Mom a plane ticket so she can visit for Christmas. I got held up with rehearsals. I’m sorry; I’ll make up the hours I swear.”
Lou: “Sorry Kid, but if you want the work you need to be here on time. I guess you need to make a choice as to what is important in life.”
With that Lou walks away leaving Leroy feeling very frustrated. He glares again at Cleo: “Thanks a lot! I got people trying to take my place in the show at school and you trying to take my place here!”
Cleo is annoyed by the comment: “When Lou asked me I didn’t know it was your shift, he just told me he needed some help. You can’t blame me for that.”
Leroy knows she’s making sense but is to too angry to admit it so quickly leaves.
Cleo calls after him: “Leroy”.
She watches as he goes, her words falling on deaf ears.
Lydia yawns as she leaves the locker room. All the students had showered and left but she’d got caught up with some last minute technical details for the show so she's the last to leave. The hallway is virtually in darkness and she walks slowly feeling drained by the day’s events. As she turns into the main corridor and heads towards the exit, she hears piano music coming from the music class room. The music catches her attention and she turns round and heads back to the music class to see who is at the school so late.
Stood in the music classroom doorway she smiles as she watches the music teacher Benjamin Shorofsky gently playing the piano.
Lydia interrupts him: “That’s nice but what are you doing here so late?”
Shorofsky looks at her and smiles: “I was just grading some papers and thought I’d relax awhile before I heard off home. You look tired, why are you here so late?”
Lydia sighs: “Oh this senior’s show case I’m putting together. I got caught behind after rehearsals. I guess I should head off home to try and relax before another hectic day tomorrow.”
Shorofsky pats the seat next to him and smile: Why don’t you join me for a while?”
Lydia nods and sits beside him while he starts to play a familiar Christmas song. Lydia smiles and begins to sing.
“Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee,
I wrote to you,
With childhood fantasies.
Well, I'm all grown up now.
Can still need help somehow?
I'm not a child,
But my heart still can dream.
So here's my lifelong wish,
My grown up Christmas list.
Not for myself,
But for a world in need.
No more lives torn apart.
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts
Everyone would have a friend,
That right would always win.
And love would never end.
This is my grown up Christmas list.
What is this illusion called the innocence of youth.
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth
There'd be:
No more lives torn apart.
That wars would never start,.
And time would heal all hearts.
Everyone would have a friend.
And right would always win.
And love would never end.
This is my grown up Christmas list.
This is my only lifelong wish.
This is my grown up Christmas list”
As the music ends Lydia gives Shorofsky a big hug and gently kisses his cheek: “Thank you that was really nice. Now I better get home.”
The two say their goodbyes and Lydia leaves Shorofsky alone.
Holly had been walking in circles around the streets of New York for what seemed like hours. She’d not wanted to go home as she’d spent the last few weeks huddled up at home and that hadn’t helped. She'd been feeling depressed recently, worrying that her family was falling apart and her parents were going to get a divorce. Her emotions and feelings felt confusing and she’d struggled to talk to anyone about them. She’d also been struggling with food. It seemed to be the only thing in her life that she could control and not eating made her feel stronger. She was dreading the forthcoming holidays and having to spend time with her family. At least in the City when she was away from them she could pretend that things weren’t as bad as they were.
Feeling tired she found herself outside “Caruso’s”. Last year Bruno Martelli had worked there and the kids from the school had used it as a place to hang out and perform; much to the frustration of its owner. However, after Bruno had moved to L.A. during the summer the kids had found a new hang out in the shape of Lou’s Lanes. Lou was happy for the kids to perform there particularly as he got them to do it for free.
Holly decides to go into “Caruso’s” for a drink to warm herself up. Her hands and feet felt like ice. As she enters the place seems really busy and she doesn’t think she’ll find anywhere to sit but just then spies a small empty table in the corner so makes her way down the stairs, to the table and sits down. For a moment Holly is lost in her thoughts listening to the light jazz Christmas tune playing.
Suddenly a voice startles her: “What Can I get for you?”
As she looks up in the direction the voice came from she sees a familiar figure in front of her. At first she is surprised to see someone she knows but then a huge smile lights up her face. She stands up and hugs her friend tightly, kissing him tenderly on the lips.
After a moment the two move apart and Holly Smiles: “Bruno! It’s so good to see you”.
To be continued......