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00:02It was a nightmare.
00:03People were yelling for gravy and potatoes and more Brussels sprouts and peas and they thought I was a waiter.
00:09I'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. Everything I loved is gone, you see?
00:19You just have to get through this.
00:20Do I? I don't think I do.
00:22I think you have to get me out of here and get me back on stage. I don't care how
00:25you do it.
00:26We've been over this. You are still a meme.
00:29Listen, I'm asking how he has a friend, okay?
00:32A what?
00:33A friend. You're my friend.
00:35All your friends get 10%?
00:37Look, I won't stay here.
00:38Just find me a path out of here.
00:43I'll call you back.
00:46What are you doing here?
00:48Dinner.
00:49Remember?
00:50We need to sit down.
00:51Hey, we need to sit down, have a nice meal, drink some wine, and talk about this.
00:57Like adults.
01:10Dinner theater.
01:12Do not start.
01:13I'm not starting.
01:15The Millersburg Festival Theater used to be a destination.
01:18You have absolutely nothing.
01:20Our parents acted on that stage.
01:22Dad should be there now doing Lear.
01:24Doing it?
01:24He's living it.
01:25No, he's not.
01:26He's okay.
01:27He's compromised in some ways, but he knows who he is.
01:31He confided in me something that, well, that I confided in, so I can't share it.
01:36He's gay?
01:38You know.
01:39Everybody knows.
01:40He came out the first time about a month ago.
01:42Now he comes out every day.
01:43And then he forgets he did, and he comes out again.
01:46It's sad and happy.
01:48It's weird.
01:49Well, I wish somebody had told me that our dad was in a coming out loop.
01:53Jesus, I mean, you could have called.
01:56I would have come and...
01:56And done what?
01:57Beat him up?
01:58Oh, honey, don't say that.
01:59Seriously, that's not cool.
01:59Sweetheart, don't you have something to do?
02:01I want to see who wins.
02:02He was doing Willie Loman for me.
02:03He did Out Out Brief Candle.
02:05He made me cry.
02:06It reminded me of how great we were in our dinner theater.
02:10You are such a pompous ass.
02:15If you'd climb down from your ivory tower for five minutes, maybe you'd see what's going
02:20on 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.
02:26Our subscriber base is gone.
02:28Miranda, why don't you take some ducca to your room, okay?
02:31Can I have some wine?
02:32No, no, you cannot.
02:33I cannot have any wine.
02:34It's a little glass, it's fine.
02:34You know, we can't afford to produce anything on our own.
02:37And so, yes, we are bringing in pre-packaged touring musicals because we're just trying
02:42to make sure this theater survives.
02:44We are serving food, we are serving alcohol, and let me tell you something, forever plaid
02:49and nonsense saved our ass.
02:54You're gouging out the soul of this town.
02:56You do know that.
02:57What does the mayor have to say about this?
02:59She's the mayor.
03:00I'm the mayor.
03:00You're the mayor?
03:01Yep, I'm the mayor.
03:03Deal with it.
03:03Dark and Stormy's, I thought it was appropriate.
03:05It's usually ginger beer and rum, but I've added a little power in it.
03:08Just give it to me.
03:09Make it more of an event.
03:10You've changed.
03:12Kristen, you have fundamentally changed as a human being.
03:15Oh, no, no, no.
03:16You 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.
03:20You had very high ideals.
03:22You were an artist.
03:23You built a theater company with your bare hands in New York.
03:27No, we.
03:27I did nothing.
03:28We built a theater company.
03:30You just stopped showing up.
03:31You still blame me because my career took off and others didn't.
03:34Maybe that's because I was too busy taking care of you.
03:37Or maybe it was something else.
03:42No.
03:43No, I'm not going to.
03:45What?
03:46Say it.
03:47Do I need to say it?
03:48Yes, you do.
03:49Absolutely not.
03:50Do not say it.
03:50Do not say it.
03:51Say it.
03:52Do not say it.
03:53I will say it.
03:53Please.
03:55You weren't as good as I was.
03:57You are such a dick.
03:59Well, 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.
04:06Please.
04:06Please.
04:11You can use the front door, you know.
04:13Yeah, you always used to say that I was super romantic and stuff.
04:18Whoa, what is up with the yelling?
04:20My mom and uncle are having an epic shit fight.
04:23I used to date like 20 years ago.
04:26Your mom dated your uncle?
04:27Mm-hmm.
04:28Oh, they're stuck on the bed if you want some.
04:35Oh, my God.
04:36So I finished our Miranda demo?
04:38Really?
04:39Mm-hmm.
04:40And?
04:41It's a total banger.
04:42And you slay the fucking kingdom, babe.
04:45Don't say slay.
04:54That's your voice.
04:56She says smoke out the window.
04:58Sorry.
05:00You do sound pretty good.
05:05So I can get us gigs when you're at Penn.
05:07And I got a lead on an apartment in Brewery Town.
05:10It's $850 a month, which is sick.
05:13Could we chill for like five seconds?
05:15Yeah.
05:16Just know what we're doing?
05:16Yeah, it's just you're...
05:17I'm not accepted at Penn.
05:18I'm waitlisted at Penn.
05:19And you're talking about apartments.
05:20It's stressing me out.
05:22Penn would be crazy to not take you.
05:25I mean, you're the smartest, most talented, most wonderful person I've ever met.
05:29Thanks.
05:32Why am I even trying to go there?
05:35It's grade school.
05:37I know, that's what my mom says, but...
05:41I don't know.
05:45My Nana's gone.
05:48Might be moving away.
05:54Everything just happens so fast.
06:06You'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, it bites off my whole life.
06:22She gets in my head.
06:24To this day, when I'm trying to make a decision about something, I hear her voice judging me.
06:29You know, sometimes, when 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, I know.
06:42And she was a terrific actress in New York.
06:44She just didn't want to be there.
06:47Not with me.
06:51Mom's dead.
06:53She was always there.
06:56And now,
06:59she's not.
07:01To Mom.
07:03To Mom.
07:09I want you to know,
07:12I've decided to stay for the funeral.
07:15You know, attending your mother's funeral is not a noble thing.
07:19You make it sound noble.
07:23It's my voice.
07:25I'm going to pay for the whole thing, every penny.
07:27Yes, you will.
07:29I want to have it at the theater.
07:31The funeral?
07:31Yes.
07:32I want Mom on stage, one last time.
07:34In a coffin, of course.
07:36Obviously.
07:39I'll invite the town.
07:41The theater will live again.
07:44If only briefly.
07:46Then I'll be gone.
07:50It'll be my swan song.
07:53Isn't it Mom's, swan song?
07:56Yes.
07:57Hers, too.
08:00There's a restaurant.
08:02Mom's dead.
08:05I don't know if we can actually do that.
08:08Put a dead body in a restaurant.
08:10We're going to need to get a permit.
08:12I think you'll be able to make that happen.
08:14You know the mayor.
08:20It's a shitty apartment building.
08:22Where a lot of very lovely people live.
08:24And it's on a lot that is not zoned commercial.
08:26So, rezone it.
08:28Best Buy needs 5,000 square feet.
08:29And I can't get that within the mall footprint.
08:31Well, I'm sorry.
08:33But I can't keep going back to planning and zoning for you.
08:36People are not liking it.
08:36Best Buy.
08:38Best Buy.
08:38I mean, I'm bringing you a Best Buy title with a bow.
08:42I mean, look at me expanding your tax base.
08:45It'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...
08:54The devil.
08:55Yeah.
08:56Yeah, 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.
09:05It's the worst Stephen King novel I can imagine.
09:09Flowers by Beverly.
09:11Her name's Beverly.
09:12And I'm really sorry for Beverly, but I didn't kill her business.
09:15As COVID did.
09:18Look, conversations like this are happening all over this country.
09:21And they're not easy.
09:23But, you know, you can either cry for the florist or the vape shop or...
09:30You take my money.
09:32And you take it and you rebuild this town.
09:37Or 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
09:48to building some low-rent residential.
09:50At least 12 units.
09:51And in a better location.
09:52Why not?
09:53And a $250,000 donation to the daycare center at the Y.
09:59Done.
10:09You do cost me some money, but we're doing it.
10:13We're doing business.
10:16How's the theater?
10:18It's fine.
10:18Fine.
10:19But it's a lot right now.
10:21I don't know if you know...
10:24My mother-in-law just died.
10:27Do you need help?
10:29Because, you know, if you help me with the taxes on 217, roll them all in...
10:33You need to go now.
10:34Should I, uh, cross the line?
10:37Hey, listen, you.
10:39We're doing good work here.
10:40You should be proud.
10:42Oh, and if I am the devil, then maybe the devil is what Millersburg needs.
10:53Hey, Dad.
10:55Look at this.
10:57If 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.
11:03Oh, yeah, I remember that.
11:05Two funny boys.
11:07Yeah.
11:08Your mother and I had a great laugh about that this morning.
11:11You too.
11:12That's good.
11:12But, um, speaking of mom, um, we're doing a thing for mom tomorrow at the theater.
11:23A show?
11:24It's a kind of show.
11:26Um, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's just, it's a thing for mom, a celebration.
11:33Whoa-ho, are you in it?
11:34Yeah, I have a part, but it's more of an ensemble kind of thing.
11:39Mom, in fact, is the star.
11:43Do 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.
11:58I suppose if it's a one-off thing, the union would reinstate her.
12:03Let me look into it.
12:06Mind you, if, if it's a comedy, maybe I could take her place.
12:10Remember my lady, Blacknell?
12:13I had her rolling in the aisles.
12:15It's more of a drama, Ben.
12:17Um, I'll call the equity people.
12:20I'll let you know what they say, okay?
12:22Okay.
12:22I'll see you later.
12:30I hope it's not inappropriate for me to say, but I'm a big fan of your work.
12:35Oh, no, never inappropriate.
12:37I followed your career.
12:39We actually worked together once, many years ago.
12:42Of course we did.
12:43Yes, yes.
12:45Yes, we did a play together.
12:47You were, uh, oh, I remember, I know, I was somewhere with you.
12:50It was at the MFT.
12:51It was at the MFT, yes.
12:52What?
12:53Midsummer Night's Dream.
12:54Yes!
12:54Of course.
12:55You were, you were Demetrius.
12:58I was Demetrius.
13:00You were Lysander.
13:01Kenny did the glitter makeup for the fairies.
13:04Oh.
13:05That's when the bug bit me.
13:07I still do all my clients myself.
13:09Oh.
13:10No more glitter, though.
13:11You know?
13:12No.
13:13That's good.
13:13I mean, it is an art.
13:15I mean, simulating the glow of tissue flushed with blood and concealing scars and sutures
13:21so your loved one doesn't, you know, look like a mannequin.
13:26But 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.
13:43Now, shall we say hello to your mother?
13:45Yes.
13:47She's not finished, but I think you'll be pleased.
13:51Excuse me, Kenny?
13:53Kenny?
13:53When you say not finished, in what way not finished?
13:58Don't worry.
13:59She just looks like she's asleep.
14:01Like she could pop awake at any moment.
14:03No.
14:04Could you?
14:06Could you just give me a moment?
14:08Certainly.
14:12What?
14:14John.
14:21John's not very good with death.
14:23I know, I know.
14:25Yeah.
14:26So I'm going to apologize for what I said at dinner last night.
14:29About my lack of talent?
14:32I was just...
14:33Kenny's right.
14:34You were good in Our Town.
14:37You were good in everything.
14:38I was good.
14:39Yeah.
14:43That was a long time ago.
14:54Richard.
14:55What 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.
15:12She wore this to your opening of Long Day's Journey.
15:15Oh, it's beautiful.
15:18We're going to put it on her.
15:19No one's even going to see it, right?
15:22Hmm.
15:23Yeah.
15:25Everything just feels so ridiculous and pointless.
15:29What do you mean?
15:30What do you mean by everything?
15:31Everything.
15:33They give birth a stride of a grave.
15:35You're too young to quote Beckett.
15:38You've got your whole life ahead of you.
15:40What am I going to do with it?
15:41You're going to be an actor.
15:43Mom wants me to go to Penn.
15:45What do you want?
15:46I want to act.
15:49But I don't even know if I'm any good at it.
15:52Of course you're good.
15:53You're my niece.
15:54But maybe I only want to do it to piss Mom off
15:56because she doesn't want me to do it.
15:58I don't know.
15:59I have anxiety all the time
16:01and everything is just fucked up.
16:03Democracy is dying.
16:05People hate each other.
16:06The world is just falling apart.
16:08It's different than when you guys were young.
16:09We had the Cold War.
16:10We had the bomb.
16:11We had race riots.
16:12We had Richard Nixon.
16:14We had the Vietnam War.
16:17Did Papa or Nana ever tell you
16:19about 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.
16:26And I had this song.
16:28Men Die Young was the name of the song.
16:31Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
16:35Baskets wear out and men die young.
16:38One night I was singing it.
16:39And I came face to face with this woman that I knew
16:43whose son had just gotten his orders for Vietnam
16:46just two weeks before.
16:47And I'm singing this right in her face.
16:50What did she do?
16:51She 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,
17:03the audience and the actors would gather together
17:06and talk.
17:07Anyway, we had our...
17:11troubles.
17:13Yeah, we felt disenfranchised,
17:18angry as hell.
17:20But we had a place where we could commiserate
17:24and commune.
17:26Now that place is a dinner theater.
17:29Uh, yeah.
17:30But it's still a theater.
17:33So there's hope.
17:36Oh, yeah.
17:38Perfect.
17:41Good.
17:42Now the other one has to come in about three inches.
17:45How's it going?
17:47Oh.
17:47Great.
17:48Yo, I'm glad you're here.
17:49You can help me with the music cues.
17:50I'm going to have underscoring.
17:52You know?
17:53Between...
17:53That's transitional.
17:55Why are you there?
17:59That's me and Hamlet.
18:00That was Mom's favorite.
18:01You can't do that.
18:02Why not?
18:03Because it's not your funeral.
18:06I'm shocked I have to remind you of that.
18:08I know it's not my funeral,
18:09but Mom loved that performance.
18:12It was her favorite.
18:14And the town will recognize it.
18:16It ties in the whole theater, Mom,
18:20the graveyard,
18:21death,
18:22the whole tragedy.
18:25Okay, fine.
18:26Nina,
18:27let's lose the photograph stage right,
18:29put it downstairs,
18:30and replace it with Mom in Salome.
18:33No.
18:35Okay, let's bring in the Mom in Salome.
18:37Hold that thought.
18:38Mom in South Pacific.
18:41It's in the green room.
18:42Happy?
18:43Yes.
18:43Let's run the sound cues for Ethel's entrance,
18:47shall we?
18:47Yeah, we're going to run cue 14.
18:49Her entrance?
18:51Yeah.
18:52Start with number one, please,
18:54whenever you're ready.
18:55Number one.
19:18Yeah, I get it.
19:19I get it.
19:20You're transfixed.
19:20You don't like it.
19:21I know.
19:22It's too much.
19:23It was just an idea.
19:23Um, reset 14.
19:26Reset 14?
19:27This next one is going to be entirely different.
19:29Much more lighthearted,
19:31more carefree,
19:31more whimsical.
19:32You'll recognize it.
19:34It's one of Mom's favorites.
19:36Uh, number six.
19:38Number six.
19:40Going.
19:51Seriously?
19:53What?
19:53Too light?
19:54Send in the clowns.
19:56Isn't that totally disrespectful?
19:57Is it just me?
19:59Yeah, it's just you.
20:00I said the same thing.
20:02Thank you, Randall.
20:03You're welcome.
20:04Thank you, Randall.
20:04Yes, and how many Tony Awards have you won?
20:06Remind me, please.
20:07Yeah, okay, I don't know what I'm doing.
20:09I mean, how would I...
20:09Hey, hey, hey, take a breath.
20:10Take a breath.
20:11Hey, hey.
20:12Clearly I know nothing about...
20:14Listen, maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe...
20:16Don't have to cough and descend.
20:19Just have it on the stage at the beginning.
20:23Nope.
20:24Nope.
20:25It's got to have an entrance.
20:25Sorry.
20:26Sorry.
20:26This is the theater that Mom built with Dad,
20:29and it's her last entrance,
20:30and it's got to be a big entrance.
20:32Okay?
20:32Q3.
20:56What the fuck?
21:00Okay.
21:01Go, go, go, go!
21:03I don't know what I was thinking.
21:04I'm sorry.
21:05I just am sacrificing everything
21:07for some cheap spectacle.
21:09I'm not trusting the material.
21:11It's a funeral.
21:13Everybody loved Mom.
21:14They're going to be sad.
21:14Yeah.
21:15Yeah.
21:16I just want it to be perfect.
21:17That's all.
21:18I...
21:18I know you do.
21:19I know you do.
21:21It's going to be great.
21:22Yeah.
21:23Hey, just the fact that it's here.
21:26In our theater.
21:27Of course, I know.
21:28You're right.
21:28It's your gift to her.
21:29Yeah.
21:31Thanks, Don.
21:31You're right.
21:33Um...
21:34Let's lose the fog machine, Randall.
21:36That's a mistake.
21:44I got it.
21:47Thanks for coming.
21:52You have the house.
21:55House up.
22:05Richard.
22:07Richard.
22:08Here I am.
22:10How are you doing, Dad?
22:11Fine.
22:11Fine.
22:12John's taking good care of me.
22:14Good.
22:15Your mother is so looking forward to this.
22:20We're good.
22:22Would you help, Granddad?
22:26Hi, sweetie.
22:29Huh?
22:31Oh.
22:32Hi.
22:40Hi.
22:41Hi, everyone.
22:45It means so much looking out and seeing you all here.
22:50And I want to thank you for coming here today to help us celebrate the life of my mother,
22:56Ethel B.
22:57me, a wife, an actress, and a friend.
23:05A friend to all of you.
23:10I'm sorry.
23:13I'm sorry.
23:16I'm sorry.
23:21Where were you?
23:23Friend to all and grandam of this, our family's theater.
23:30As some of you know, she was born in Dayton, and she worked her way through nursing school
23:35as an upholsterer's assistant.
23:37But the truth is, life for Ethel Harper Bean really didn't begin until she played Laura
23:43in the Glass Menagerie right here, on this stage, with Linus there as her gentleman caller.
23:54Okay.
23:55I think I've got it.
23:55I'm good.
23:56I think I've got it.
23:59You know, my mother always dreamed of being an actress.
24:04But it took her a while to find a home.
24:07This place.
24:09This place was her home.
24:11The Millersburg Festival Theater.
24:13And it's her life in this place that she would want us to celebrate.
24:19Now, we have a video for you.
24:20It was put together by Miranda and Randall.
24:24So, please.
24:49Horace Vandegilder never tired of saying most people, people in the world, we're fools.
24:57And in a way, I think he's right, isn't he?
25:02But there comes a moment in everybody's life when he must decide whether to live with human
25:07beings or not.
25:09Be a fool among fools or a fool alone.
25:13As for me, I've decided to live among them.
25:28Oh, here.
25:29Excuse me.
25:29Is there a funeral happening in here?
25:31Yes, there is.
25:32Wait.
25:32What?
25:33You are he.
25:34What?
25:35You're from the movies, Connor.
25:36This is he.
25:38He's the one I tell you about.
25:39Oh, my God.
25:40What's your sign?
25:41What's your sign?
25:42Just one thing I have.
25:43I'm so sorry.
25:44This is totally inappropriate.
25:45I'm Connor Boyle.
25:46I'm working with the mayor.
25:48You're a sister-in-law?
25:50No, I mean, you are.
25:51No, he's Richard Dean, you idiot.
25:53He's huge.
25:54Oh, well, you know, she's huge.
25:55Come on, love.
25:55Would you sign something, please?
25:58Of course not.
25:59Shh, shut the door.
26:01Come on.
26:02It's nice.
26:02Stop.
26:04All right.
26:05Put to Nadia.
26:08Nad?
26:09Nadia.
26:10Nadia.
26:11With great love and respect.
26:15And I, and don't ever, don't ever give up on dreams.
26:21I won't.
26:21And then put, your dreams will, your dreams will come through one day.
26:25Your dreams, I hope so.
26:27I promise.
26:28Oh, okay.
26:29Love always.
26:31Love always.
26:31I carry you in my heart.
26:34I've been out of room.
26:35And then you just put, just put your name.
26:36Yeah, just, great, really appreciate it.
26:38Thank you very much.
26:38You don't know how much this means to me.
26:41You don't know how the theater, it feeds me.
26:43I hope they haven't buried you yet.
26:46When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high.
26:53And don't be afraid of the dark.
26:59At the end of the storm is a golden sky and the sweet silver song of a lark.
27:12Walk on through the wind.
27:18Walk on through the rain.
27:21Though your dreams be tossed and blown.
27:28Hello.
27:28It's your paid friend, Ollie.
27:30Richard, are you there?
27:32Yes, I am.
27:33Here's the deal.
27:34They are willing to have you back at Liera, but you need to consent to a psychological evaluation
27:39and two weeks of anger management training.
27:41Of God.
27:42Yes.
27:43I'll have to think about it.
27:45I'll call you back.
27:47You'll never walk alone.
28:04I have to admit, I thought this would be a train wreck.
28:07Oh, I gave him a few notes.
28:09It's kind of great.
28:15We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.
28:25Shakespeare's Tempest, his last play, and his farewell to the theater.
28:32Fitting 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,
28:49and the impact that it had on me, my brother John, on Kristen and Miranda, and this town.
28:59There's Mrs. Wilkie, my favorite algebra teacher, and a brilliant Marsha in the seagull, Howard Frazier,
29:07who, when the lights went out on our Morning Becomes Electra, he ran out to his truck, hooked up our
29:12electrical system,
29:13and in five minutes, presto, the lights were back on.
29:17He knew how important it was to keep the lights on in this theater.
29:21At that moment, it was the most important thing in his life, and it still is important,
29:26because the Millersburg Festival 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,
29:45this theater's in trouble.
29:48It might even close.
29:50That's right.
29:52But we are not going to let that happen, are we?
29:56No.
29:59I'm coming home, to Millersburg.
30:02I'm coming home.
30:04And I swear to you that together, I will restore the soul of this town
30:13by producing and directing and maybe starring in the greatest production this country has ever seen
30:20of a true American classic, Thornton Wilder's Our Town.
30:27Those sons come home!
30:39This is Mom's funeral, right?
30:41No, not anymore.
30:43It's the Richard Bean Show.
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