- 2 hours ago
American Classic S01E04 (2026)
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00:00But I've been thinking, because the stage manager exists outside the story, and is essentially a device, what if he
00:11is a puppet?
00:14Confusing? Interesting? Both, I think it's, yeah.
00:19But, um, yeah, oh.
00:22Good morning, my favorite man.
00:24Ah, Kristen, my love.
00:27Sit, sit.
00:28No, thank you. I, actually, I need to talk to Richard.
00:32Okay. I'll leave you two lovebirds alone.
00:36Oh, boy, you're a lucky man.
00:41We'll see.
00:45I need you to understand something.
00:46I love the MFT. It's my home.
00:50I would never do anything to jeopardize its future.
00:52Well, that's interesting, because...
00:53Okay, just let me finish.
00:55I walked into that theater when I was a lost, unloved, extremely unhappy 15-year-old girl.
01:02Do you know what it's like to be unloved, Richard?
01:04I don't think you do, because you've been worshipped since you were in utero.
01:08I can't remember quite that far back.
01:10That place, it saved me.
01:12And I have given it everything I have.
01:14So, for you to call me an employee...
01:16I'm sorry about that. I'm sorry.
01:18Way out of line.
01:20I beg your pardon?
01:20I'm sorry.
01:22Wow.
01:23I was, you know, should have said that.
01:26That's stupid.
01:30Well, I can see how it might have been a bit of a shock to find out...
01:34That the family theater had been sold out from under our...
01:36I did not sell it.
01:38I refinanced it.
01:41And if I hadn't, we would have lost the theater.
01:43So, I guess, you know, actually, I didn't do anything wrong.
01:47Hmm.
01:48Interesting apology.
01:50Yes, I...
01:50I understand now why you went into politics.
01:54Look, I want to see the theater, too.
01:56I might have mentioned that.
01:57Oh, yes, we know.
01:57With your million-dollar hour town.
02:00Come on, Richard.
02:01You're never going to be able to raise that money.
02:03There's still some phone calls to be returned.
02:05There's some angels out there...
02:06Uh-huh.
02:08...flapping their wings, trying to take off.
02:10I don't know.
02:10Yeah, I haven't given up.
02:12You know what?
02:13That's great.
02:14Have at it.
02:15Have at it?
02:16What?
02:16Oh, you're saying what?
02:17I'm saying go for it.
02:19I mean, we tried it my way.
02:20Let's just try it your way.
02:23You know?
02:23And if those angels do come up with the money,
02:27you can do our town however you want.
02:30But if they don't,
02:32consider doing the play the way it was intended to be staged.
02:37I just can't see it.
02:39You can't see it?
02:41Sorry.
02:42Oh!
02:44Huh!
02:44Our Town.
02:45Imagine.
02:46By Thornton Wilder.
02:49Act One.
02:50No curtain.
02:52No scenery.
02:55Can you see it now?
02:57I've seen it 50 times like that.
03:00And every time someone does a bit of...
03:05...mime, I'm taken right out of the play.
03:07Give me a horse, you know?
03:09People are carrying umbrellas and there's no rain.
03:11And people are undoing these jars.
03:13Why?
03:14Such a strenuous suspension of disbelief.
03:19Suspended disbelief is all we can afford right now.
03:23And you can cast locals.
03:25The way you told everyone you would during your mother's eulogy.
03:28I may have overpromised.
03:30No.
03:31No.
03:32Richard.
03:33You're so good with actors.
03:38What is it you want me to do?
03:40You just read, Mr. Webb.
03:43Oh.
03:46George.
03:47I was remembering the other...
03:49Oh, Jesus.
03:50What is that?
03:51Night.
03:52George.
03:53I was remembering the other night.
03:55The advice...
03:57Oh, Jesus.
03:58H. Christ.
03:59What's that say?
04:00My figure?
04:01Father.
04:02Father.
04:03Couldn't you use a bigger font?
04:05It's like I'm reading a goddamn pill bottle.
04:08Would, uh...
04:09Would reading glasses help?
04:11Who are you?
04:11My wife?
04:13How many of these people have you seen so far?
04:16Eighteen.
04:17Nineteen, if you count the singing dog.
04:19I'm beginning to doubt that there is any acting talent at all in this town.
04:26What happened to Joe Stoffel, the guy who played Falstaff?
04:30Dead.
04:31Ten years ago now.
04:33What about Muriel Pritchard?
04:34She lost her job.
04:35She moved to Michigan to live with her daughter.
04:39I thought I'd find you both here.
04:42I've brought your mother.
04:44She...
04:45She's in there?
04:46In an urn, yes.
04:48The one you picked out.
04:49Yes.
04:50Cherrywood box.
04:52See, it's two birds.
04:53One representing you and one representing me.
04:55I'm guessing you're the eagle.
04:57Yes, and you're the reds.
05:01It's very nice of you, Kenny, to bring her here yourself.
05:04My pleasure.
05:05I love my work.
05:07It's sad, I know, but I get to meet people.
05:10Help them.
05:12It's difficult sometimes when a young person passes, but mostly people live long, happy lives.
05:21What did you just say a moment ago about young people?
05:26I was talking about how much I love my work.
05:28No, no, something else.
05:29Here, would you read something for me?
05:31I'll read with you.
05:33Here.
05:33Okay?
05:34And just be yourself.
05:36You look well.
05:37Yes, yes.
05:39Can't complain.
05:41Very sad, our journey today, Sam.
05:43Yes.
05:46Yes, I always say I hate to supervise when a young person is taken.
05:51Oh, he's the undertaker.
05:53Yes, we're not looking for actors.
05:56We're looking for...
05:57Real people who are real people.
05:59And you qualified.
06:03Congratulations, the part is yours if you want it.
06:06Richard Beam?
06:08It's Bean.
06:10With an N.
06:11B-E-A-N.
06:12Like the legume.
06:13Can I get your autograph?
06:15Sure.
06:15Well, of course.
06:16Yes, um, excuse me.
06:18Yes.
06:19How would you like me to make that out?
06:21Just sign your name.
06:22What exactly am I signing here?
06:27Oh, God!
06:28Where do you want them?
06:28Oh!
06:29Uh.
06:31But it's money we don't have, Phil.
06:34Yeah, and how many more local jobs do we lose?
06:36We can't even afford to pick up our own trash, Kristen.
06:39My God!
06:39Maybe we see if CONCAP is willing to hire a local.
06:43Now, I would really like to move on to the next agenda item, which is a very exciting proposal
06:49from our friend Connor Boyle.
06:51I'm going to let him walk you through it.
06:54So, Connor.
06:55Thank you, Mayor.
06:57Council men and women, I hear you talking about rising prices and unemployment, and let
07:02me tell you this, it breaks my Irish heart.
07:05Big problems require big solutions, which is why I would like to offer you this.
07:11It is an integrated entertainment complex, a hotel, casino, three restaurants, stores,
07:19and a theatre.
07:20It would sit at the site of the Morrison Hotel and surrounding land.
07:26It will employ 800 people and generate over $3 million in tax revenue annually.
07:33And, that does not include your cut from the table games and slots.
07:38This is the wonder you've been praying for.
07:41And I am a believer it'll help save this lovely town of yours.
07:46No, no, casino!
07:48No, no, casino!
07:50No, no, casino!
07:52No, no, casino!
07:54No, no, casino!
07:56No, no, casino!
07:58No, no, casino!
08:00I just want to make it clear, I'm not an actor.
08:03I'm an obstetrician.
08:04That's what I want.
08:06I don't want actors.
08:06I want real people.
08:08So, Dr. Gibbs, in this scene, it's the first time we meet him, and he's coming back from
08:12having delivered twins.
08:13My brother John's going to read Joe with you, and just relax whenever you're ready.
08:19All right.
08:24Morning, Doc!
08:25Morning, Joe!
08:28You want your paper now?
08:29Yes, I'll take it!
08:32Just...
08:33I feel like he's going to hit me.
08:36Yeah.
08:36Just, uh, that was very good, Derek, but for some reason you're coming across as slightly
08:42psychotic, and I'm wondering why you would make that choice for Dr. Gibbs.
08:47My dad was a GP.
08:48He was tired and stressed.
08:51I guess I'm doing my dad.
08:52Yeah, we all are in that way, but here's the thing.
08:56Try it again, will you?
08:57Just a simpler, a little less angry.
09:03Morning, Doc!
09:05Morning, Joe!
09:08Want your paper now?
09:09Yes!
09:09I'll take it!
09:11Wait.
09:12Oh, I'm doing it again, aren't I?
09:14Yeah, a little bit.
09:15I'm going to level with you.
09:16My dad was an angry guy.
09:19Honestly, he drank.
09:20I see the problem.
09:21Won't you forget about your dad, okay?
09:24This is you, okay?
09:27A doctor.
09:28A happy doctor.
09:30Just be yourself.
09:33Okay, uh, how do I do that exactly?
09:36It's, it's...
09:39I was just saying, which version of me do I...
09:42No, you...
09:42Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
09:44Oh, God!
09:44Oh, God!
09:45It's okay.
09:45You're okay.
09:46Just tell me how you feel, Richard.
09:47Hey, hey, hey, hey.
09:48Oh, shoot.
09:49Yeah, my arm.
09:49I'm going to set you up.
09:50Okay.
09:51Call 911.
09:53I'm going to take your pulse.
09:54Just relax.
09:55I'm sure it's nothing.
09:55Just stress.
09:56Breathe.
09:57Are you taking any medication?
09:59No, Dr. Gibbs, I am not.
10:01That was perfect.
10:03You got the part.
10:04But you just did.
10:05That's all I need.
10:05That was perfect.
10:07Welcome aboard, okay?
10:08Yeah, I was acting.
10:09I am, my heart is fine.
10:11Really.
10:11Jesus!
10:12You got the part.
10:13Yes.
10:13Well done.
10:19Do you have children?
10:20Mm, not that I'm aware of.
10:23Wow.
10:24Well, okay.
10:25If you had children that you were aware of,
10:28you would know that kids feel things passionately.
10:33I've raised her to have a point of view and to express it.
10:36What can you do?
10:37Yeah, what can you do?
10:39That's the question.
10:43We can show people our own opinion.
10:46We can show people that casinos are fun.
10:53Family, friendly, fun.
10:55I mean, I say we have a casino night at the theater with games and drinks and wonderful food prepared
11:02by my husband.
11:03People will come.
11:04And they'll have a really good time.
11:07What do you think?
11:09Get your brother-in-law to host.
11:11My, Richard, why?
11:13He's a celebrity.
11:14He'll be a draw, you know?
11:16Tell him the proceeds will go fund his play.
11:18Oh, well.
11:21I can't promise.
11:22Yes, you can.
11:23I can promise that I will see what I can do.
11:26One more thing.
11:28My girlfriend, Nadia?
11:30Yes?
11:30She's got to be in that play.
11:36You know, Myrtle, it's been dream of life to see Paris in France.
11:44Ah, it is sounding crazy, but for years I promised me this.
11:49I beat bush and tell Dr. Gibbs if I...
11:53The expression is, I beat around the bush.
11:57What did I say?
11:58You said beat bush.
12:00That's the same thing, no?
12:01No, not the same at all, in fact.
12:04Uh, do you want to use the script?
12:06No, no, no, no, I know it.
12:08I memorize it in head because, you know, I want the part.
12:11Mrs. Gibbs, I want to be on the stage and you to make me great
12:15because you are the greatest American actor.
12:17All right, yes.
12:18Direct me now.
12:19Go.
12:20Okay.
12:21Very well.
12:22Remember, you're talking to a friend.
12:23You're confessing a secret dream that you've had for years
12:27to your very good friend, all right?
12:29So, maybe a little bit, um, softer?
12:32Go ahead.
12:36I beat Chantel Dr. Gibbs.
12:39If I ever go to Legacy, I'd make him take me.
12:43He said no!
12:45No!
12:45No.
12:47Okay.
12:48Uh, well, the first part was definitely quieter,
12:50uh, but it was as if you were conspiring in some way.
12:55You were plotting a murder or something like that, you know?
12:57Good.
12:58No.
12:59Not good.
13:00Hmm.
13:00No.
13:01So, a bit louder there.
13:02And for the second part, uh, which was very loud,
13:05it seems like you're just yelling for no reason.
13:08Good.
13:08Listen, you just have to believe it.
13:11More important, you have to make us, the audience, believe it, you know?
13:15Oh, that is acting.
13:16That is acting.
13:17It is making people believe you are a thing,
13:19even when you are not.
13:21Oh, let's just keep going, okay?
13:23Make, make me believe.
13:31Oh, Marta.
13:32It is so sorry I mentioned anything,
13:37only it seems to me that once in life,
13:40you ought to see country where they don't talk English,
13:45and they don't want to even.
13:50Hmm.
13:52Hmm.
13:54Hmm.
13:55Listen, um, mm-hmm.
13:58Please, just give her something small.
14:00A child, an animal.
14:02No, there's a horse, but we already cast it.
14:04I thought you wanted to use the people of our town in our town.
14:08Yes.
14:08The local talent.
14:10She doesn't qualify for that.
14:12Can't you just, how bad can she be?
14:16Come here.
14:17She was the last audition of the day.
14:20So it's right here.
14:23Oh, Myrtle.
14:24It is dream of life to see Paris in France.
14:29Oh, it is sounding crazy.
14:32But for years, I promised me this.
14:36I beat both.
14:37Uh, but...
14:39Yeah, she's raw.
14:41My God, is she flirting with you?
14:42I wouldn't hold that against you.
14:44That's the least of her problems.
14:46Just, just please.
14:49Just think about it.
14:50I can't not think about it.
14:52You agreed to work with me
14:55to save the theater in the town, remember?
14:57Yes, of course.
14:58I'm organizing an event at the theater.
15:00A casino night.
15:01The proceeds will go to your play.
15:04Boyle would like you to emcee.
15:07Maybe sing a song.
15:09Everybody loves to hear you sing.
15:11I am not a performing monkey.
15:13Oh, just fuck off!
15:15I work so hard to keep this town alive.
15:19I have literally, I have unclogged sewers in the rain with my bare hands.
15:24That's all I'm asking you to do is just put on a tux and smile.
15:29Oh, God.
15:30God, just do it!
15:33Please, just do it for me.
15:37All right, I'm on condition.
15:39If I'm going to demean myself,
15:42you have to demean yourself right along with me.
15:45Okay, what does that mean?
15:46That means you have to sing a song.
15:48No, no, no.
15:48No, no.
15:49I do not sing.
15:50We'll sing a duet.
15:51Okay?
15:52Why?
15:52Why?
15:53Well, it'll prove to me that we are, in fact, working together.
16:00You and me.
16:02It'll be fun.
16:05I don't see why you have to decide not to go to agricultural school right now.
16:09It's a whole year away.
16:14Listen, Emily.
16:18I think that once you've found a person you're very fond of,
16:21I mean, a person who's fond of you, too,
16:25and likes you enough to be interested in your character,
16:28I think that's just as important as going to college.
16:32Even more so.
16:36That's what I think.
16:40How'd you do that?
16:44Emily is Miranda, right?
16:47So I pretended like I was talking to her.
16:51I mean, your uncle was crying.
16:53Like, I made him cry.
16:55I don't think I made an adult cry
16:56without, like, dropping something on them or something like that.
17:00That's good, right?
17:01I mean, we could be in the play together now.
17:04Yeah.
17:05Yeah, no, sorry.
17:07I'm really happy.
17:09It's just...
17:11Okay, don't freak out.
17:13Okay.
17:15It came today.
17:23Holy shit, you got into pen.
17:25You got in.
17:26I told you you were to get into...
17:27Shh!
17:27I'm not going.
17:29But I thought that we were...
17:30No, I said I'm not going.
17:32Do not tell my mom, okay?
17:35Yeah, sure.
17:45How can you get any work done here?
17:47What?
17:48How can you get any work done?
17:50Oh, I just...
17:52I like working in the theater.
17:54But nonsense?
17:58It's actually growing on me.
18:00I mean, it's sketchy.
18:01I mean, I like the blend of Jewish jokes and Catholic jokes.
18:05What's that guy's name?
18:07Heath.
18:08Heath?
18:09Yeah, I've hung out with him.
18:10Yeah?
18:11He's hot.
18:13Yeah, that he is, yes.
18:14And, I mean, he's good.
18:16He stands out.
18:17Yeah, he reminds me of a young me.
18:20He's got the charisma and the stage presence.
18:25Can you see him as a possible George?
18:28I thought you were thinking of Randall for George.
18:30I am, I am, but he, I mean, Randall's young and innocent and gangly and he's badly in love with
18:36you, clearly.
18:38This guy's got, I don't know, he's got a thing, you know?
18:41I've never known before.
18:42I've never known before.
18:45So many times I thought I knew.
18:57Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
19:03Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,
19:08hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,
19:08hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,
19:08hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,
19:08hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,
19:08hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
19:30This is going to be starring our town.
19:34So, remember, the more you lose,
19:37the better our production will look.
19:40That's in your role to our friend,
19:42our visionary, Mr. Connor Boyle.
19:46So, bet, bet, bet, roll, roll, roll,
19:52spin, spin, spin, and have fun!
20:00Are you enough for you?
20:02Well, it's a little passive-aggressive, but thank you.
20:05Do me a favor, pass these around.
20:06I want to hit the craps table before the dice get cold.
20:09Oh, thanks.
20:10He's excited, isn't he?
20:12What the hell?
20:12Okay, you look like you've never held a tray of
20:15hors d'oeuvres in your life.
20:16I haven't.
20:16All right, do that.
20:18What do I do with them?
20:18Leave them there.
20:19You give them to people.
20:21Oh!
20:24Pay the line, pay the line, I've made them dice dance!
20:29Richard.
20:31Hi.
20:32Johnny Depp is basing Edward Scissorhand on dog.
20:37I'm sorry, what?
20:39This Johnny Depp has a little dog,
20:41and he's saying he's basing Edward Scissorhand character
20:44on this dog.
20:45Now, I have cat, Chunky Luna.
20:47She has always a secret.
20:50She has only one eye.
20:52And I'm thinking to myself, what if my character,
20:55Miss Gibbs, what if she is based on cat?
21:00Wouldn't that be great?
21:02Mm-hmm.
21:02Now, listen, I haven't made any final decisions on casting.
21:06There's a lot involved in casting, more than just talent.
21:10There's sensibility and temperament and height, accent,
21:16and things like that.
21:18Oh!
21:19Hold on.
21:21I'm needed.
21:22I have to emcee.
21:23Excuse me.
21:23Yes.
21:37And now for a special treat, ladies and gentlemen.
21:40There's a certain lady in the house who is going to recreate a song
21:43she sang on this very stage many, many years ago,
21:46when she was just a girl in the chorus.
21:48Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mayor Kristen Bean.
22:02I thought this was supposed to be a duet.
22:05She's a little shy, ladies and gentlemen.
22:07She's a little shy, ladies and gentlemen.
22:07Let's show her a little love, shall we?
22:12I hate you.
22:13I know.
22:18The minute you walked in the joint, I could see you were a man of distinction, a real big
22:27spender, good-looking, so refined.
22:33Wouldn't you like to know what's going on in my mind?
22:37So let me get right to the point.
22:40I don't pop my cork for every guy I see.
22:47Hey, big spender!
22:50Woo!
22:53Spend a little time with me.
22:59Do you wanna have fun, fun, fun?
23:04How's about a few laughs, laughs, laughs?
23:09I can show you a good time!
23:15Hey, big spender!
23:18Hey, big spender!
23:20Hey, big spender!
23:22Hey, big spender!
23:26Spend a little time with me.
23:41I've said this before, you are an artist and you need your own restaurant.
23:45That's easier said than done.
23:46Hey, you come to see me and I will make this happen.
23:50Really?
23:51Really.
23:56There she is now.
23:57So, what happened to, I insist we be demeaned together?
24:02Oh.
24:03Did I say that?
24:05I don't know, in the moment it just, I don't know, I thought it would be better for you
24:09to be, you know, demeaned all by yourself.
24:12It's a kind of confidence builder.
24:13But you killed it, okay?
24:15You crushed it.
24:17So, hats off to you, Adam Mayer.
24:23Well, it didn't completely suck, did it?
24:26No.
24:28No.
24:30No.
24:31Richard, I do roulette.
24:32You be my bone, girl.
24:33Come this way.
24:34Yeah.
24:35No way.
24:36I need you good luck.
24:39Yes.
24:39Yes.
24:41Yes.
24:41Yes.
24:57Oh!
25:00What are you, what are you doing here?
25:03I spoke to Nadia.
25:05Listen.
25:07Nadia's interested in acting.
25:10She's not interested in me.
25:12She said you didn't cast her in our town.
25:14Why not?
25:15Well, she falls short in certain areas.
25:21We're looking for...
25:21Look.
25:23Do you understand how hard a man's life can be when his girlfriend is not happy?
25:27Yes, I do.
25:28Yeah, it's a special kind of hell.
25:31No.
25:32I know, I used to date Kristen.
25:34You did?
25:36Wow.
25:37Your brother's wife?
25:38Before they were married, obviously.
25:41So, yeah, she was very unhappy.
25:43But Kristen isn't Russian.
25:46Hmm?
25:47The Russians have a very profound understanding of misery and how to inflict it on other people.
25:54Just give her the fucking part.
25:56I mean, how bad can she be?
25:58Ah.
26:08Now, Myrtle, I've got to tell you something.
26:12Because if I don't tell somebody, I'll burst the...
26:15One of those second-hand furniture men from Boston came to see me last Friday.
26:20First I thought...
26:22How much?
26:23How much what?
26:24How much would it cost to, uh, put her into the show?
26:29Conor, this isn't a transaction.
26:32We're talking about an artistic endeavour.
26:33Well, you're two months behind in your loan payment, and you're currently on a payment holiday,
26:38which I'm willing to extend until after you open.
26:40And you're going to have to renovate and buy props and paint and other arty shite soap.
26:48Write down a number.
27:04Fuck me, that's a big number.
27:06You saw the video.
27:10Done.
27:13Really?
27:19Oh, uh, how do we deal with this?
27:22Just, uh, make out a cheque with that number on it, and everybody will be happy.
27:29Oh, and also you could help me out if...
27:31I need a place to store 200 theatre seats.
27:34Uh, I've got, uh, three empty spaces in Main Street.
27:37Yeah.
27:38It's a wee dawdle.
27:40Oh, and, uh, can we just keep this between the two of us?
27:45I'm so fucking little.
27:50Thanks.
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