- 7 hours ago
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00:01It was a nightmare.
00:02People were yelling for gravy and potatoes and more Brussels sprouts and peas and...
00:07They thought I was a waiter.
00:08I've never even played a waiter.
00:10Not staying for your mother's funeral because of a matinee of nonsense is overreacting.
00:15No, I'm not overreacting.
00:16Everything I loved is gone, you see?
00:18You just have to get through this.
00:20Do I?
00:20I don't think I do.
00:21I think you have to get me out of here and get me back on stage.
00:24I don't care how you do it.
00:25We've been over this.
00:27You are still a meme.
00:28Listen, I'm asking how he has a friend, okay?
00:31A what?
00:32A friend.
00:33You're my friend.
00:34All your friends get 10%?
00:36Look, I won't stay here.
00:37Just find me a path out of here.
00:42I'll call you back.
00:45What are you doing here?
00:47Dinner.
00:48Remember?
00:49We need to sit down.
00:51Hey, we need to sit down, have a nice meal, drink some wine, and talk about this.
00:56Like adults.
01:10Dinner theater.
01:11Do not start.
01:12I'm not starting.
01:15The Millersburg Festival Theater used to be a destination.
01:18You know absolutely nothing.
01:20Our parents acted on that stage.
01:21Dad should be there now doing Lear.
01:23Doing it?
01:23He's living it.
01:24No, he's not.
01:25He's okay.
01:27He's compromised in some ways, but he knows who he is.
01:30He confided in me something that, well, that I confided in, so I can't share it.
01:35He's gay?
01:37Hey, you know.
01:38Everybody knows.
01:39He came out the first time about a month ago.
01:41Now he comes out every day.
01:43And then he forgets he did, and he comes out again.
01:45It's sad and happy.
01:47It's weird.
01:48Well, I wish somebody had told me that our dad was in a coming out loop.
01:52Jesus, I mean, you could have called.
01:55I would have come and...
01:56And done what?
01:56Beat him up?
01:57Oh, honey, don't say that.
01:58Seriously, that's not cool.
01:59Sweetheart, don't you have something to do?
02:00I want to see who wins.
02:01He was doing Willie Loman for me.
02:02He did Out Out Brief Candle.
02:04He made me cry.
02:05It reminded me of how great we were in our dinner theater.
02:10You are such a pompous ass.
02:14If you'd climb down from your ivory tower for five minutes, maybe you'd see what's going
02:19on in this country.
02:21Do you have any idea how hard it is just to live?
02:24We had to close down for 15 months.
02:25Our subscriber base is gone.
02:27Miranda, why don't you take some duck up to your room, okay?
02:30Can I have some wine?
02:31No.
02:31No, you cannot.
02:32You cannot have any wine.
02:33It's a little glass is fine.
02:34You know, we can't afford to produce anything on our own, so yes, we are bringing in prepackaged
02:40touring musicals because we're just trying to make sure this theater survives.
02:44We are serving food.
02:45We are serving alcohol.
02:46And let me tell you something.
02:48Forever Planned and Nonsense saved our ass.
02:53You're gouging out the soul of this town.
02:55You do know that.
02:56What does the mayor have to say about this?
02:58She's the mayor.
02:59I'm the mayor.
03:00You're the mayor?
03:01Yep, I'm the mayor.
03:02Deal with it.
03:03Dark and Stormy's.
03:04I thought it was appropriate.
03:05It's usually ginger beer and rum, but I've added a little...
03:07Just give it to me.
03:08Make it more of an event.
03:09You've changed.
03:11Kristen, you have fundamentally changed as a human being.
03:14Oh, no, no, no.
03:15You don't get to tell me who I am.
03:17I'm not telling you who you are.
03:18I'm telling you who you were.
03:19You had very high ideals.
03:21You were an artist.
03:22You built a theater company with your bare hands in New York.
03:26I'm nothing.
03:27We built a theater company.
03:29You just stopped showing up.
03:31You still blame me because my career took off and yours didn't.
03:34Maybe that's because I was too busy taking care of you.
03:36Or maybe it was something else.
03:42No.
03:43No, I'm not going to.
03:44What?
03:45Say it.
03:46Do I need to say it?
03:47Yes, you do.
03:48Absolutely not.
03:49Do not say it.
03:50Do not say it.
03:50Say it.
03:51Do not say it.
03:52I will say it.
03:53Please.
03:54You weren't as good as I was.
03:56You are such a dick.
03:58Well, at the time, you weren't.
04:00You want to know why?
04:01I wasn't able to go to auditions because the entire time I was there, I was looking after you.
04:05Come on.
04:05Please.
04:06Please.
04:10You can use the front door, you know.
04:12Yeah, you always used to say that I was super romantic and stuff.
04:15Hi.
04:18Whoa, what is up with the yelling?
04:20My mom and uncle are having an epic shit fight.
04:22I used to date like 20 years ago.
04:25Your mom dated your uncle?
04:27Mm-hmm.
04:28Oh, there's duck on the bed if you want some.
04:34Oh, my God.
04:36So I finished our Miranda demo?
04:38Really?
04:38Mm-hmm.
04:39And?
04:40It's a total banger.
04:41And you slay the fucking kingdom, babe.
04:45Don't say slay.
04:54That's your voice.
04:55Jesus, smoke out the window.
04:58Sorry.
04:59You do sound pretty good.
05:04So I can get us gigs when you're at Penn.
05:07And I got a lead on an apartment in Brewery Town.
05:09It's $850 a month, which is sick.
05:12Could we chill for like five seconds?
05:14Yeah.
05:15Just know what we're doing?
05:16Yeah, it's just you're...
05:16I'm not accepted at Penn.
05:18I'm wait-listed at Penn.
05:19And you're talking about apartments.
05:20It's stressing me out.
05:21Penn would be crazy to not take you.
05:25I mean, you're the smartest, most talented, most wonderful person I've ever met.
05:28Thanks.
05:31Why am I even trying to go there?
05:34It's grade school.
05:37I know, that's what my mom says, but...
05:41I don't know.
05:44My Nana's gone.
05:47Might be moving away.
05:53Everything just happens so fast.
06:02Why?
06:05You're so hot.
06:09You called her a bad actress again.
06:12Why do you do that?
06:14She gets all self-righteous, you know, and just...
06:18It writes off my whole life.
06:21She gets in my head.
06:23To this day, when I'm trying to make a decision about something, I hear her voice judging me.
06:29You know, sometimes...
06:32When you talk about Kristen, it's like you think you're married to her.
06:36I just want to remind you, she's actually my wife.
06:39Oh, I know.
06:40Yeah.
06:40I know.
06:41And she was a terrific actress in New York.
06:43She just didn't want to be there.
06:46Not with me.
06:50Mom's dead.
06:52She was always there.
06:55And now...
06:58She's not.
07:00To Mom.
07:02To Mom.
07:08I want you to know...
07:10I've decided to stay for the funeral.
07:15You know, attending your mother's funeral is not a noble thing.
07:19You...
07:19You make it sound...
07:21Noble.
07:22It's my voice.
07:24I'm going to pay for the whole thing, every penny.
07:26Yes, you will.
07:28Yeah.
07:29I want to have it at the theater.
07:30The funeral?
07:31Yes.
07:31I want Mom on stage.
07:32One last time.
07:33In a coffin.
07:34Of course.
07:35Obviously.
07:38We'll invite the town.
07:40The theater will live.
07:42Again.
07:44If only briefly.
07:46Then...
07:47I'll be gone.
07:49It'll be my swan song.
07:53Isn't it Mom's swan song?
07:55Yes.
07:56Hers too.
08:00There's a restaurant.
08:02Mom's dead.
08:04I don't know if we can actually do that.
08:07Put a dead body in a restaurant.
08:09We're going to need to get a permit.
08:11I think you'll be able to make that happen.
08:13You know the mayor.
08:19It's a shitty apartment building.
08:21Where a lot of very lovely people live.
08:23And it's on a lot that is not zoned commercial.
08:25So, Rezona.
08:27Best Buy needs 5,000 square feet.
08:29And I can't get that within the mall footprint.
08:31Well, I'm sorry.
08:32But I can't keep going back to planning and zoning for you.
08:35People are not liking it.
08:36Best Buy.
08:37Best Buy.
08:38I mean, I'm bringing you a Best Buy tied up with a bow.
08:41I mean, look at me expanding your tax base.
08:44It's a gift.
08:46And I do not mean to sound ungrateful.
08:49But there are a lot of people in this town who are beginning to think that you're the...
08:53The devil.
08:54Yeah.
08:55Yeah, because the devil comes to town in the dark of night and replaces a vape shop.
09:00Flowers by Barbara and a shitty residential building with a Best Buy.
09:04Oh, it's the worst Stephen King novel I can imagine.
09:08Flowers by Beverly.
09:10Her name's Beverly.
09:11And I'm really sorry for Beverly, but I didn't kill her business.
09:14COVID did.
09:18Look, conversations like this are happening all over this country and they're not easy.
09:22But, you know, you can either cry for the florist or the vape shop or, uh, you take my money.
09:32And you take it and you rebuild this town.
09:36Or don't.
09:38You know, just hold a candlelight vigil for the whole friggin' thing.
09:42If I go to P&Z for you, then I need to be able to tell them that you've committed
09:47to building some low-rent residential.
09:49At least 12 units.
09:51And in a better location.
09:52Why not?
09:52And a $250,000 donation to the daycare center at the Y.
09:59Done.
10:05Oh, look at all, eh?
10:08Hey, you do cost me some money, but we're doing it.
10:13We're doing business.
10:16How's the theater?
10:17No, it's fine.
10:18Fine.
10:18But it's a lot right now.
10:20I don't know if you know, uh, my mother-in-law just died.
10:26Do you need help?
10:28Because, you know, if you help me with the taxes on 217, roll them all in.
10:32You need to go now.
10:34Should I, uh, cross the line?
10:37Hey, listen, you.
10:38We're doing good work here.
10:39You should be proud.
10:41Oh, and if I am the devil, then maybe the devil is what Millersburg needs.
10:53Hey, Dad.
10:55Look at this.
10:56If John let your cape touch the floor even for a moment, you'd chase him around the room and beat
11:02him with your stick.
11:02Oh, yeah, I remember that.
11:05Two funny boys.
11:06Yeah.
11:07Your mother and I had a great laugh about that this morning.
11:10Did you?
11:11That's good.
11:12Um, speaking of Mom, um, we're doing a thing for Mom tomorrow at the theater.
11:22A show?
11:23It's a, it's a kind of show.
11:25Um, it's, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's just, it's a thing for, for Mom, a celebration.
11:32Whoa, are you in it?
11:33Yeah, I have a part, but it's, it's, it's more of an ensemble kind of thing.
11:38Mom, in fact, is the star.
11:42Do you understand?
11:44I understand, but my sweet boy, it's not possible.
11:49It breaks my heart to say this, but she gave up her equity card years ago.
11:57I, I suppose if it's a one-off thing, the union would reinstate her.
12:03Let me look into it.
12:05Mind you, if, if it's a comedy, maybe I could take her place.
12:10Remember my lady, Brecknell?
12:12I had her rolling in the aisles.
12:14It's, it's more of a drama, Dan.
12:17Um, I'll call the equity people.
12:19I'll let you know what they say, okay?
12:21Okay, I'll see you later.
12:30I hope it's not inappropriate for me to say, but I'm a big fan of your work.
12:34Oh, no, never inappropriate.
12:37I followed your career.
12:38We actually worked together once, many years ago.
12:41Of course we did.
12:42Yes, yes.
12:45Yes, we did play together.
12:46You were, uh, oh, I remember, I know, I was somewhere with you.
12:49It was at the MFT.
12:50It was at the MFT, yes.
12:52Midsummer Night's Dream.
12:53Yes, of course.
12:54You were, you were Demetrius.
12:57I was Demetrius.
12:59You were Lysander.
13:00Kenny did the glitter makeup for the fairies.
13:03Oh.
13:04That's when the bug bit me.
13:06I still do all my clients myself.
13:09Oh.
13:09No more glitter, though.
13:11You know?
13:12No.
13:12That's good.
13:13I mean, it is an art.
13:14I mean, simulating the glow of tissue flushed with blood and concealing scars and sutures so
13:21that your loved one doesn't, you know, look like a mannequin.
13:25But the best moment that I've ever had in the theater is the two of you doing Our Town.
13:33Falling in love in the soda shop.
13:36You were so good together.
13:39So real.
13:42Now, shall we say hello to your mother?
13:44Yes.
13:46She's not finished, but I think you'll be pleased.
13:51Excuse me, Kenny, Kenny.
13:52When you say not finished, in what way not finished?
13:58Don't worry.
13:58She just looks like she's asleep.
14:00Like she could pop awake at any moment.
14:03Yeah.
14:04Could you?
14:05Could you just give me a moment?
14:07Certainly.
14:13Wait, John.
14:21John's not very good with death.
14:23I know, I know.
14:25I said I want to apologize for what I said at dinner last night.
14:28About my lack of talent?
14:31I was just...
14:33Kenny's right.
14:34You were good in our town.
14:36You were good in everything.
14:37I was good.
14:38Yeah.
14:43That was a long time ago.
14:53Richard.
14:54What is it?
14:58I'm sorry about Ethel.
15:02I really loved her.
15:04I know you did.
15:05She was like my mother, too.
15:09I know.
15:11I know.
15:12She wore this to your opening of Long Day's Journey.
15:14Oh, it's beautiful.
15:18We're going to put it on her.
15:19No one's even going to see it, right?
15:21Hmm.
15:22Yeah.
15:24Everything just feels so ridiculous and pointless.
15:28What do you mean?
15:29What do you mean by everything?
15:30Everything.
15:32They give birth astride of a grave.
15:34You're too young to quote Beckett.
15:37You've got your whole life ahead of you.
15:39What am I going to do with it?
15:40You're going to be an actor.
15:42Mom wants me to go to Penn.
15:44What do you want?
15:46I want to act.
15:48But I don't even know if I'm any good at it.
15:51Of course you're good.
15:52You're my niece.
15:53But maybe I only want to do it to piss Mom off because she doesn't want me to do it.
15:57I don't know.
15:58I have anxiety all the time and everything is just fucked up.
16:03Democracy is dying.
16:04People hate each other.
16:05The world is just falling apart.
16:07It's different than when you guys were young.
16:09We had the Cold War.
16:10We had the bomb.
16:10We had race riots.
16:11We had Richard Nixon.
16:14We had the Vietnam War.
16:16Did Papa or Nana ever tell you about the rock musical that they put on at MFT?
16:21No.
16:22Viet Rock it was called.
16:24Very controversial.
16:25They were picketing us.
16:26I had this song.
16:28Men Die Young was the name of the song.
16:31Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
16:34Baskets wear out and men die young.
16:37One night I was singing it and I came face to face with this woman that I knew whose son
16:42had just gotten his orders for Vietnam just two weeks before.
16:47And I'm singing this right in her face.
16:49What did she do?
16:50She threw her arms around me and hugged me tight.
16:55I just kept singing.
16:57What can I do?
17:01Every night after the play, the audience and the actors would gather together and talk.
17:07Anyway, we had our troubles.
17:13Yeah, we felt disenfranchised, angry as hell.
17:20But we had a place where we could commiserate and commune.
17:26Now that place is a dinner theater.
17:28Uh, yeah.
17:30But it's still a theater.
17:33So there's hope.
17:35Oh, yeah.
17:38Perfect.
17:41Good.
17:42Now the other one has to come in about three inches.
17:45How's it going?
17:46Oh, great.
17:48I'm glad you're here.
17:48You can help me with the music cues.
17:50I'm going to have underscoring.
17:51You know, between...
17:52That's transitional.
17:54Why are you there?
17:58That's me and Hamlet.
17:59That was Mom's favorite.
18:00You can't do that.
18:02Why not?
18:03Because it's not your funeral.
18:05I'm shocked I have to remind you of that.
18:08I know it's not my funeral, but Mom loved that performance.
18:12It was her favorite.
18:14And the town will recognize it.
18:15Ties in the whole theater.
18:18Mom, the graveyard, death, the whole tragedy.
18:24Okay, fine.
18:25Nina, let's lose the photograph stage right.
18:29Put it downstairs.
18:30And replace it with Mom in Salome.
18:33No.
18:34Okay, let's bring in the Mom in Salome.
18:36Hold that thought.
18:38Mom in South Pacific.
18:40It's in the green room.
18:42Happy?
18:42Yes.
18:43Let's run the sound cues for Ethel's entrance, shall we?
18:47Yeah.
18:47We're going to run cue 14.
18:49Her entrance?
18:50Yeah.
18:51Start with number one, please.
18:53Whenever you're ready.
18:54Number one.
19:17Yeah, I get it.
19:18I get it.
19:19You're transfixed.
19:20You don't like it.
19:20I know.
19:21It's too much.
19:22It was just an idea.
19:24Um, reset 14.
19:25Reset 14?
19:27This next one is going to be entirely different.
19:29Much more lighthearted.
19:30More carefree.
19:31More whimsical.
19:32You'll recognize it.
19:33It's one of Mom's favorites.
19:36Uh, number six.
19:37Number six.
19:39Going.
19:50Seriously?
19:52What?
19:53Too light?
19:53Send in the clowns.
19:55Isn't that totally disrespectful?
19:57Is it just me?
19:58Yeah, it's just you.
19:59I said the same thing.
20:01Thank you, Randall.
20:02You're welcome.
20:03Thank you, Randall.
20:04Yes, and how many Tony Awards have you won?
20:06Remind me, please.
20:07Yeah, okay.
20:07I don't know what I'm doing.
20:08I mean, how would I...
20:09Hey, hey, hey, take a breath.
20:10Take a breath.
20:11Hey, hey.
20:12Clearly I know nothing of...
20:13Listen, maybe, maybe, maybe...
20:16Don't have to cough and descend.
20:19Just have it on the stage at the beginning.
20:23Nope, nope.
20:24It's got to have an entrance.
20:25Sorry, sorry.
20:26This is the theater that Mom built with Dad,
20:28and it's her last entrance,
20:30and it's got to be a big entrance.
20:31Okay, cue three.
21:02I don't know what I was thinking.
21:04I'm sorry.
21:04I just am sacrificing everything for some cheap spectacle.
21:08I'm not trusting the material.
21:10It's a funeral.
21:12Everybody loved Mom.
21:13They're going to be sad.
21:14Yeah.
21:15Yeah, I just want it to be perfect.
21:16That's all.
21:18I know you do.
21:19I know you do.
21:20It's going to be great.
21:22Yeah.
21:22Hey, just the fact that it's here.
21:25In our theater.
21:26Of course, I know.
21:27You're right.
21:28It's your gift to her.
21:29Yeah.
21:30Thanks, John.
21:31You're right.
21:33Let's lose the fog machine, Randall.
21:36That's a mistake.
21:44I got it, too.
21:47Thanks for coming.
21:52You have the house.
21:55How's that?
22:05Richard.
22:06Richard.
22:08Here I am.
22:09How are you doing, Dad?
22:10Fine, fine.
22:11John's taking good care of me.
22:13Good.
22:14Your mother is so looking forward to this.
22:19We're good.
22:22Would you help, Granddad?
22:26Hi, sweetie.
22:29Huh?
22:31Hi.
22:40Hi, everyone.
22:44It means so much looking out and seeing you all here.
22:49And I want to thank you for coming here today to help us celebrate the life of my mother, Ethel
22:56B.
22:59A wife, an actress, and a friend.
23:04A friend to all of you.
23:10I'm sorry.
23:13I'm sorry.
23:15Are you okay?
23:16Yeah.
23:17I'm sorry.
23:21Where were you?
23:23Friend to all and Grandam of this, our family's theater.
23:29As some of you know, she was born in Dayton, and she worked her way through nursing school as an
23:35upholsterer's assistant.
23:36But the truth is, life for Ethel Harper Bean really didn't begin until she played Laura in the Glass Menagerie
23:44right here, on this stage.
23:49With Linus there as her gentleman caller.
23:55You know, my mother always dreamed of being an actress, but it took her a while to find a home.
24:06This place, this place was her home.
24:10The Millersburg Festival Theater.
24:12And it's her life in this place that she would want us to celebrate.
24:18Now, we have a video for you.
24:19It was put together by Miranda and Randall.
24:23So, please.
24:48Horace Vandegilder never tired of saying most people, people in the world, we're fools.
24:56And in a way, I think he's right, isn't he?
25:01But there comes a moment in everybody's life when he must decide whether to live with human beings or not.
25:08Be a fool among fools or a fool alone.
25:12Well, as for me, I've decided to live among them.
25:27Oh, here, excuse me.
25:29Is there a funeral happening in here?
25:30Yes, there is.
25:31Wait.
25:32What?
25:32You are he.
25:34What?
25:34You're from the movies, Connor.
25:36This is he.
25:37He's the one I tell you about.
25:39Oh, my God, what'd you say?
25:40What'd you sign?
25:41Just one thing I have.
25:42Maybe a little.
25:43I'm so sorry.
25:43This is totally inappropriate.
25:44I'm Connor Boyle.
25:46I'm working with the mayor.
25:48You're a sister-in-law.
25:49No, I mean, you are.
25:50No, he's Richard Dean, you idiot.
25:52He's huge.
25:53Oh, you know, she's huge.
25:54Come on, look.
25:55Would you sign something, please?
25:58Of course.
25:59Shh, just shut the thing off, guys.
26:00Come on.
26:01It's nice.
26:02Stop.
26:04All right.
26:04Put to Nadia.
26:07Nad?
26:08Nadia.
26:09Nadia.
26:10With great love and respect.
26:14And I.
26:16And don't ever, don't ever give up on dreams.
26:20I won't.
26:20And then put, your dreams will, your dreams will come true one day.
26:25Your dreams, I hope so.
26:27I promise.
26:28Oh, thanks.
26:29Love always.
26:30Love always.
26:30I carry you in my heart.
26:33I've run out of room.
26:34And then you just put, just put your name.
26:35Yeah, just, great.
26:36Really appreciate it.
26:37Thank you very much.
26:37You don't know how much this means to me.
26:40You don't know how the theater, it feeds me.
26:43I hope they haven't buried her yet.
26:45When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high.
26:53And don't be afraid of the dark.
26:58At the end of the storm, there's a golden sky.
27:05And the sweet silver song of a lark.
27:12Walk on through the wind.
27:17Walk on through the rain.
27:21Though your dreams be tossed and blown.
27:27Hello.
27:28It's your paid friend, Ali.
27:30Richard, are you there?
27:31Yes, I am.
27:32Here's the deal.
27:33They are willing to have you back at Liera.
27:35But you need to consent to a psychological evaluation and two weeks of anger management training.
27:41Yes.
27:43I'll have to think about it.
27:44I'll call you back.
27:46You'll never walk alone.
28:03I have to admit, I thought this would be a train wreck.
28:06Oh, I gave him a few notes.
28:08It's kind of great.
28:15We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded as a sleep.
28:24Shakespeare's Tempest, his last play, and his farewell to the theater.
28:31Fitting words today as we say goodbye to my mother, Ethel, the founder of this, this theater.
28:42It's difficult for me to explain what it was like growing up in an atmosphere of creativity and free expression,
28:48and the impact that it had on me, my brother John, on Kristen and Miranda, and this town.
28:59There's Mrs.
28:59There's Mrs. Wilkie, my favorite algebra teacher, and a brilliant Marsha in the seagull, Howard
29:05Frazier, who, when the lights went out on our Morning Becomes Electra, he ran out to his truck, hooked up
29:12our electrical system, and in five minutes, presto, the lights were back on.
29:16He knew how important it was to keep the lights on in this theater.
29:20At that moment, it was the most important thing in his life, and it still is important, because the Millersburg
29:26Festival Theater was not just my mother's home.
29:29It was and is the soul of this town.
29:35Sadly, I must report that because of financial pressures and misguided programming choices, this theater's in trouble.
29:48It might even close.
29:50That's right.
29:51But we are not going to let that happen, are we?
29:55No.
29:58I'm coming home to Millersburg.
30:02I'm coming home.
30:03And I swear to you that together I will restore the soul of this town.
30:12By producing and directing and maybe starring in the greatest production this country has ever seen, of a true American
30:21classic, Thornton Wilder's Our Town.
30:26My friends, come home!
30:38This is Mom's funeral, right?
30:41No, not anymore.
30:42It's the Richard Beam show.
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