Wish Upon A Christmas Star Part 9
Danny lies wide awake in bed a situation he’d been in all night. He turns over and looks at the clock: “6:00AM. The argument with his Father left him crushed and he hadn’t been able to sleep for worrying about it. He’d always known deep inside that his Father didn’t understand his career choice and he’d always hoped he be able to prove his Father wrong and somehow make him proud. Now that doesn't seems as if it can ever be possible.
Lydia Grant climbs the steps of the school and yarns. The lobby is in darkness and she moves to the wall to turn on the light switches. As the light fills the corridor she wonders aloud: “I must be crazy to be here so early in the morning!”
Lydia makes her way to the dance rehearsal room and opens the door but is startled by a noise at the end of the corridor. A noise like someone had dropped something or knocked something over. She thinks it must be one of the school caretakers but is puzzled as to why they would be working in the dark.
Cautiously Lydia makes her way to the end of the corridor and nervously calls out: “Is anybody there?”
No one replies to her question so she calls out again: “Hello?”
As she turns the corner she sees a figure hunched over picking up some items from the floor of a store cupboard. She looks for a moment until she recognises the figure: “David is that you?”
David turns and grins: “Yes it’s me I just knocked files over!”
Lydia breathes a sigh of relief: “Well thank goodness, you nearly gave me a heart attack! What are you doing here so early any way?”
David becomes a little evasive: “Oh I’m just sorting some stuff out.”
Lydia is puzzled: “This early in the morning? You're certainly keen."
David grins: "Well, I couldn't sleep."
Lydia nods: "Okay, well I’ll leave you to it, I’ve got a busy day ahead.”
She begins to walk back to her room when she stops and calls out: “Oh, have you heard anything about the part in that show yet?”
A smile breaks out over David’s face: “Yes, I got the part.”
An excited Lydia walks back towards him: “Oh David that’s great news, congratulations, I’m so excited for you. Why didn't you say?”
She then notices David is putting things into a large bag: “David what are you doing?”
David stands up and picks up two large backs: “I’m packing up my stuff. That's why I'm here so early. I thought it would be easier if no one else was around!”
The excited smile falls from Lydia’s face to be replaced with a look of concern: “You’re leaving now?”
David nods: “We both knew that if I got the part I’d have to leave.”
Lydia eyes open widely: “Yes that’s true but I didn’t expect you to sneak off like this. Weren’t you going to say goodbye?”
David pulls a face: “I was going to phone. Look Lydia, I’m not one for big emotional send offs. It’s hard enough leaving a place like this and I just thought if I had to do it in person then I might just bottle out of it and give up the part. I mean it’s not like I’m leaving New York, I’ll still see the people that matter, you, Elizabeth, Ben...”
Lydia interrupts: “But what about the kids? They’ve come to love you, they are going to miss you. We are all going to miss you!”
David stops and ponders her words for a moment: “Look, I’ll drop by and visit them too. Who knows once this show is over I’ll probably be back begging Morloch for my job back.”
Lydia gives a weak smile, knowing that David probably wouldn’t be back: “Okay, well I guess I’ll see you around then?”
David looks emotionally at her as she reaches up and tenderly kisses him on the cheek. Then quietly returns to the dance rehearsal room.
David finishes putting the last few things in his bag, takes one last look around and slowly heads towards the exit. As he passes by the dance room he creates a shadow on the door window which Lydia notices. After a few seconds she opens the door and watches him walk to the lobby and disappear down the steps. A single tear rolls down her check, which she quickly wipes away. She takes a deep breath, pulls herself together and heads back into the classroom.
Danny looks at the clock again at 7.00AM. He can hear his parents arguing in the Kitchen and knows he’s to blame, which makes him feel worse. They had been on their best behaviour since the family row at Thanksgiving and now that is all spoilt too. Danny can’t hear everything that is being said but can guess that his Mother is taking his side, whilst his Father remains stubborn and refuses to listen. He turns over trying to block out the noise knowing he’s going to be late for School.
Doris Schwartz arrives at the English classroom to find Elizabeth Sherwood already there: “Morning Miss Sherwood, Are you ready to work?”
Sherwood is hesitant: “I don’t know Doris. I was thinking last night that maybe I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. Maybe I should do a poetry reading after all?”
Doris is horrified by the suggestion and takes a sip of coffee from the cup she is carrying: “Miss Sherwood you can’t do that. I was up most of last night working on this and I’ve come up with the perfect song. So you can’t drop out now!”
Doris is talking quite quickly and Sherwood becomes concerned: “Are you okay? You seem a little hyper!”
Doris nods enthusiastically: “I’m fine, this is my 4th cup of coffee this morning so I’m firing on pure caffeine!”
As Doris takes another sip, Sherwood becomes more concerned: “Do you think you should drink anymore?”
Doris brushes her concern aside: “I’m fine, don’t worry about it. Now do you want to know what song I’ve chosen?”
Sherwood takes a deep breath: “Okay, what is it?”
Doris pulls some sheet music out of her bag and passes it over to the English teacher. Sherwood gasps: “I can’t possibly do this. Are you sure there isn’t something more suitable?”
Doris pulls a face: “Come on Miss Sherwood. I know you’ve got something to prove to Morloch and this will really show him. With the right costume this will be perfect. You can talk some of the lines and we’ll get a backup singer to help you out with any tricky parts. All you’ve got to do is act sexy and this will be great. What do you say?”
Sherwood looks at the music again and pulls a face: “Act sexy, Oh Doris I don't know..."
Doris interrupts: "Miss Sherwood trust me, please I know what I'm doing."
Sherwood pauses and ponders for a moment: "You really think this could work?”
Doris nods enthusiastically: “I sure do. It’ll be sensational!”
Sherwood rubs her head for a moment: “Okay then but I think I need some of the coffee you’ve been drinking!”
8.00AM and there is silence in the Amatullo household as both Danny’s parents have gone out. Danny gets up and gets dressed. He feels shattered from his lack of sleep but knows he won’t actually sleep now so makes some breakfast instead.
Holly kisses Bruno on the cheek as she says goodbye: “I’ve got to go or I’ll be late for school.”
As she goes Bruno calls after her: “Holly, can we meet for lunch? I think we need to talk.”
Holly’s heart sinks as she reluctantly agrees. She knows that Bruno is going to end things. She grabs her bag and rushes out of the door, tears welling up in her eyes.
In the teacher’s lounge Lydia is telling Sherwood and Shorofsky about David leaving earlier that morning “And then he was gone. Just like he’d never been here!”
Sherwood sighs: “Do you think we’ll see him again?”
Lydia shrugs: “Well he said he’d keep in touch but I don’t know. I was thinking that when his play opens a few of us could go and support him. Maybe go backstage and see him so he knows we haven’t forgotten about him. Maybe that will make him more inclined to keep in touch.”
Sherwood agrees: “That sounds like a good idea to me.”
At that moment Mrs Berg enters wearing her Santa costume. The three teachers exchange amused glances.
Shorofsky breaks the silence: “Mrs Berg is there a reason why you’re dressed like that?”
Mrs Berg nods: “Why Mr Shorofsky there most certainly is!”
The three teachers wait in expectation of a further explanation but none is forth coming. Again Shorofsky is the first to say anything: “Do you want to share it with us?”
Mrs Berg smiles: “It’s for the show silly. As soon as I see Danny Amatullo that is. I was thinking Miss Sherwood as you’re singing too, if you got a matching costume we could do a duet!”
Shorofsky turns to Elizabeth and asks: “You’re singing?”
Sherwood snaps at Mrs Berg: “Mrs Berg I told you that in confidence!”
Shorofsky comments: “You shared a confidence with Mrs Berg?”
Sherwood pulls a face at Shorofsky.
Mrs Berg turns to Mr Shorofsky and asks: “And how’s your costume going?”
Lydia is intrigued: “Costume? What Costume?”
Shorofsky shushes Mrs Berg: “Mrs Berg I told you it was a secret!”
Sherwood is amused and flashes the music teacher a sarcastic grin: “Touché!”
Mrs Berg suddenly has an idea: “Miss Grant you could get a costume too and join us. We could be a trio like those young girls in the pop charts!”
Lydia is confused: “Who Bananarama?”
Mrs Berg pulls a confused face: “No dear I don’t think that’s them. It’s the...Oh dear it’s on the tip of my tongue. Now what is it. Erm...Oh yes The Beverly Sisters, that’s it.”
Shorofsky laughs and Elizabeth and Lydia exchanged puzzled looks. Sherwood comments: “Well I don’t think I can as Doris has already found the perfect song for me. Well she tells me it’s the perfect song anyway!”
Shorofsky poses the question that the others want the answer for too: “What’s the song?”
Elizabeth purses her lips and looks around at the three expectant faces. In the end she shakes her head: “No I can’t say as Doris will kill me.”
Lydia is surprised: “Since when have you been scared of Doris Schwartz?”
Elizabeth shakes her head: “I’m not but I think it’s better if it’s a surprise!”
Lydia tuts: “Girl you know I don’t like secrets!”
There is a brief moment of silence until Shorofsky asks: “Did you hear about Leroy?”
Lydia is concerned: “Hear what about Leroy?”
Sherwood and Mrs Berg shrug as Shorofsky explains: “Well rumour has it that he lost all the money he’d collected for his mother’s plane ticket on a bet!”
Lydia shakes her head in frustration: “No! You’re kidding right?”
Shorofsky shakes his head: “Sorry I’m just repeating what I heard from Jesse Velasquez who said he was there!”
Lydia sighs: “I can’t believe it. I knew he was a little short on the air fare money and I was going to give him the rest as an early Christmas present but I can’t afford the whole fare.”
Sherwood interjects sharply: “And it wouldn’t be appropriate for a teacher to give a student that much money anyway!”
Lydia nods her agreement: “But we’ve got to do something.”
Suddenly an idea pops into Lydia’s head: “Wait a minute!”
The other three look at Lydia expectantly as she grabs her bag and rushes out of the room: “I’ve gotta make a phone call!”
Sherwood is concerned: “Lydia? What are you up to? LYDIA!”
Her words fall on deaf ears as Miss Grant Has already left the room.
10:00AM Danny decide to go out for a walk in the hope of clearing his head.
Doris enters the make-up room and is surprised to see Holly, Chris, Leroy, Cleo, Jesse, Nicole and Dwight all waiting there. As she looks from face to face she enquires: “What are you all doing here? Isn’t this the meeting for Danny’s Benefit? Talking of which where is he?”
Holly comments that he wasn’t in her first period class.”
Chris starts to enlighten Doris: “Well you see Schwartz, I managed to get my old man to delay our flight to my sisters so I’ll now be able to do the show. I also asked Lou if Danny could hold the show and Lou’s Lanes, he said no but did agree that Cleo could have the night off so she can be part of the show too.”
Jesse then takes on the story: “Yeah and Nicole’s Mom got sick so we don’t have to go to her party so we are both able to take part too.”
Leroy sighs as he glares at Chris: “Well as for me, as I’ve lost all the money I’ve saved and have no time to replace it I thought I might as well help out my friend.”
Doris feels a little overwhelmed as she looks at each of her friends: “Well the more the merrier. I’m sure Danny will be really pleased. Rehearsal is after school in the auditorium. Hopefully Danny will be here by then!”
Chris interrupts: “Here I have an idea!”
Leroy groans: “Oh no, whatever it is I vote we ignore it. It’ll only make things worse!”
Chris snaps frustratedly: “Come on Man, I’ve said I’m sorry. It wasn’t my fault about the bet, when are you going to accept that?”
Leroy raises an eyebrow as he continues to glare at Chris: “Doris darling, I want to be a part of this show so let me know any ideas that you come up with but at the moment I can’t stand being in this room, there’s a bad smell.”
As he leaves Nicole calls out after him: “Come on Leroy, this is about Danny not your disagreements with Chris!”
However Leroy has left the room. Chris continues: “All I was going to say was why don’t we keep things a secret from Amatullo. We set up some routines, without telling him and then surprise him on the night?”
The kids muse over Chris’ suggestion. Doris quips: “Well as he’s not here it won’t be too difficult keeping things a secret from him!”
Dwight has been watching Holly and whispers too her: “Are you okay? You look a little down.”
Holly gives a weak smile: “Yes Dwight I’m fine, I’ve just got things on my mind, that’s all.”
Dwight gives a comforting smile: “Well if you want to talk about it, I’m here.”
Holly is a little taken aback by the statement but smiles at Dwight anyway.
12:00 PM Danny walks through Central Park and sings a melancholy Christmas Song
"Talk about the heart of Christmas
Talk about the reason and the rhyme
Talk about the sentimental feelings
Talk about the candlelight and wine
Talk about the children
Listen to the voices singing
Listen to the laughter as they play
But listen to the whisper of a heartbeat
Whose loneliness is never far away
In some hearts it's never Christmas
But it's winter all the time
All our lives spent waiting for the sun
Children of tomorrow
How they need a star to follow
In some hearts it's always winter
For some hearts it seems
That Christmas never comes
Don't forget the winter's children
Shadows on a star that never shines
Looking for the love that never happened
Looking for the Chris in Christmas time
The lonely voice that can't rejoice, that has no choice
In some hearts it's never Christmas
But it's winter all the time
All our lives spent waiting for the sun
Children of tomorrow
How they need a star to follow
In some hearts it's always winter
For some hearts it seems
That Christmas never comes
In some hearts it's never Christmas
But it's winter all the time
All our lives spent waiting for the sun
Children of tomorrow
How they need a star to follow
In some hearts it's always winter
For some hearts it seems
That Christmas never comes"
Bruno waits for Holly outside the school and nervously looks at his watch. When she arrives he gives a weak smile and the two walk off towards the river. Initially they just chat about the events of the day but eventually Bruno attempts to get to the point: “Look Holly...”
Fearing what Bruno is going to say Holly interrupts: “I know what you’re going to say.”
Bruno attempts to talk again: “Holly..”
But again she interrupt: “It’s okay Bruno, I know things....”
Not wanting Holly to take over the conversation like she did the other night and leaving him unable to say how he really feels, Bruno snaps: “HOLLY please stop interrupting. I need to say how I feel, not have you tell me what you think I’m going to say.”
Holly falls silent and bites her lip as Bruno continues: “Yesterday when you told Julie you were my girlfriend, things didn’t seem right. Then you were acting all kinds of weird around Julie. I can only assume you were jealous.”
Holly attempts to speak but Bruno cuts her off: “No I haven’t finished yet! I came here to escape the problems of my love life and the last thing I wanted to do was get involved with someone else on the rebound. I’m happy to be your friend and to hang out with you but I don’t want a girlfriend right now. I know you’ve got problems and I don’t want to hurt you even more. I’m sorry I let things go too far but I don’t want to feel trapped into a relationship.”
Holly nods in agreement: “I know Bruno, I know. That’s what I was going to say. I realised I pushed you into something you weren’t ready for and I’m sorry.”
Bruno is relieved that Holly feels the same “Well that’s a relief. I was imagining all kind of awful scenes when I told you.”
Holly wants to hold on to some kind of relationship and asks: “Can we still be friends and see each other?”
Bruno smiles: “Of course and if you ever need to talk then I’m here for you. I just need to take things slow.”
Holly asks: “Are you staying in New York?”
Bruno shrugs: “I guess so for the time being.”
Holly smiles: “Well call me if you do want to start a relationship. We can take things as slow as you want. I just want to know there’s still some kind of chance. Oh and if you aren’t doing anything on Christmas day then you are still very welcome to come round to mine.”
Suddenly Bruno feels uncomfortable again, worried that Holly hasn’t really understood what he was saying. For a long moment he remains silent.
Holly breaks the silence: “It’s okay I’m only talking about friendship. I wouldn’t want to see anyone on their own at Christmas.”
Bruno nods but doesn’t commit himself to anything: “I guess I’ll see you around then?”
Holly smiles: “At Danny’s benefit maybe? I still want to see you in your elf costume!”
Bruno rolls his eyes and pulls a face at the thought of having to dress up: “Sure you’ll see me at the benefit.”
Holly smiles and places a gentle kiss on his cheek: “Great, that’s a date then.”
With that she quickly hurries off down the busy street. Bruno watches her go still a little concerned. As Holly hurries along she dabs the tears from her eyes. She takes a deep breath and vows to herself that she’ll do anything and everything to get Bruno back!
4:00PM Danny has been walking around the streets of New York for hours and is feeling tired and cold. He looks at his watch realising that Doris and Dwight will be rehearsing for the show. He decides that he should be there to talk to them and tell them what’s happened. Zipping his coat up as high as it can go he changes direction and heads to the school.
In the auditorium the kids are working together on an ensemble uptempo Christmas song. After a few tweeks to the staging Doris mutters to herself: “This could just work and we might just be able to pull this off.”
Leroy is frustrated and pointing at Chris ask: “Doris do I have to stand so close to him? He’s crowding me. I need space to work here.”
Doris sighs and mutters to herself: “Then again, maybe it won’t!”
She takes a deep breath: “Okay in order to keep the peace, why don’t you swap places with Jesse.”
Leroy smirks at Chris as he moves places.
Doris claps her hands: “Okay let’s run through the number.”
The kids burst into a wonderful Christmas song and dance routine. Miss Sherwood is standing in the wings half going through the words to her song and half watching the performance.
"When the snowman brings the snow
Well he just might like to know
He's put a great big smile on somebody's face
If you jump into your bed
Quickly cover up your head
Don't you lock the doors
You know that sweet Santa Claus in on the way
Well I wish it could be Christmas every day
When the kids start singing and the band begins to play
Oh I wish it could be Christmas every day
So let the bells ring out for Christmas
When we're skating in the park
If the snow cloud makes it dark
Then your rosy cheek's gonna light my merry way
Now the frosty paws appear
And they've frozen up my ear
So we'll lie by the fire
'Til the sleet simply knocks 'em all away
Well I wish it could be Christmas every day
When the kids start singing and the band begins to play
Oh I wish it could be Christmas every day
So let the bells ring out for Christmas
When the snowman brings the snow (snowman brings the snow)
Well he just might like to know (just might like to know)
He's put a great big smile on somebody's face
So if Santa brings that sleigh (Santa brings that sleigh)
All along the Milky Way (along the Milky Way)
I'll sign my name on the rooftop in the snow
Then he may decide to stay
Well I wish it could be Christmas every day
When the kids start singing and the band begins to play
Oh I wish it could be Christmas every day
So let the bells ring out for Christmas
Why don't you give your love for Christmas?"
Danny arrives at the auditorium and takes a seat in the stalls. He’s a little confused why so many people are on stage but he likes the number.
As the song comes to an end the kids clap themselves. Doris gushes how wonderful it was: “That’s great I can’t wait for Danny to see it.”
Danny stands up and clears his throat and calls out: “He just did!”
The kids all turn to face him and Doris calls out: “Danny there you are, where have you been all day. We’ve got some great stuff to show you!”
Chris mutters: “So much for keeping it a secret!”
Danny is silent and stands there with his head hanging down. Doris is puzzled: “Come on what’s wrong with you, come up here so we can show you.”
Danny suddenly snaps: “There’s no point Schwartz!”
Doris turns to face him: “What do you mean there’s no point? We’ve been working real hard at least you could have a little gratitude!”
Danny sighs: “I am grateful, to all of you, but there’s no point because their ain’t gonna be no show!”
Confused mutterings emit from the group and Doris voices their questions: “Of course there’s going to be a show, what are you talking about?”
Danny snaps: “It’s over Schwartz. I let my father down and when Morloch told him the truth, he doesn’t want anything to do with this show and never wants to step foot in this school again. So that’s what I mean when I say there’s no point. I was doing this to impress my old man and for the first time in my life be able to make him proud of me. Without him there’s no point in a show so you may as well all just go home."
With that Danny turns and storms out of the Auditorium, glaring at Morloch as he passes him at the door.
The kids stand looking in disbelief as the door to the auditorium closed behind an angry Danny!
To be continued......