Skip to playerSkip to main content
  • 5 hours ago

Category

People
Transcript
00:16Previously on American Classic
00:19I got a terrible review from a third-rate critic
00:22I'm producing and directing the greatest production
00:25Of Thornton Wilder's Our Town
00:28We lost the rain, we lost the soda fountain, we lost the horse
00:31Good luck with your show and I, or whatever's left of it
00:34Well, it's a moment of truth
00:36I'm in!
00:37Me too
00:38Still need a Mrs. Webb?
00:39I lost Miranda's college fund at a casino
00:42It's our opening night
00:43You and Richard
00:44Kenny?
00:45Stop
00:46You and Richard what?
00:47Do you mind telling me what is going on?
00:49God, you don't see!
00:50There's a very good chance you are Miranda's father
01:04Maybe we cancel
01:05I can't do that to the cast
01:07I can't do that to me
01:08What do we say to John?
01:09There's probably a way you can tell him
01:12And say what?
01:13But his wife got drunk and slept with his brother?
01:15No, I wouldn't say that
01:17No, no, no
01:17I'll tell him
01:19How?
01:20Man to man
01:21Men understand these things
01:23No, they don't
01:24No one understands these things
01:27No one on the planet understands these things
01:30Oh, maybe neither of us has to tell them
01:33Maybe Miranda already has
01:35Oh, God, do you think?
01:36There you are
01:39We need to talk
01:41Okay, okay
01:42I don't know where to start
01:45It would be better if Miranda were here
01:46No, it might not be
01:48Well, I just was hoping not to go through it twice
01:50Well, that's understandable, yes
01:52But these things can leave lasting scars
01:56You think so?
01:58Oh, Jesus
01:59I guess I was trying not to see it as, you know, such a betrayal
02:02Oh, it's a massive betrayal
02:05It is, it's big
02:06I guess I was just trying not to look at it that way, you know
02:09It's late, you've been drinking a lot
02:12Drinking is no excuse
02:13No, it's no excuse, and I accept that
02:16But how many chances do you get in life to, you know, hit a home run?
02:21I just want to say that I never once thought of this as a home run
02:25Oh, God, no
02:25Just let me get this out
02:27No, no, no, let me go first
02:28No, I'll go, I'll do it, I'll do it
02:29No, he's my husband, let me say it first
02:30Wait, no, say what?
02:32Did, did you tell her what happened?
02:34What?
02:34I didn't have to, she was there
02:35Stop, you're confusing me
02:37The night I spent with Boyle in Atlantic City
02:40After I made the big meal
02:41We went into the casino
02:43We were playing craps
02:44I was on a roll
02:45I was up like $60,000
02:48I thought I could solve all of our problems
02:52And then it was gone
02:55And then it was more than gone
02:58I lost Miranda's college fund
03:01You did what?
03:03Kristen, Kristen
03:04We all make mistakes, don't we?
03:07I mean, we were just discussing that
03:10Yes, yes, yes
03:12Richard is right
03:13You're all the human
03:14And people make mistakes
03:17All the time
03:17And, and then
03:20People forgive them
03:23It was a whole college fund
03:25You heard that, right?
03:25Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep
03:27I got it
03:27I got it
03:28It's okay, really
03:29Oh, my God
03:32Honey
03:33Thank you
03:34I started to think
03:37We weren't going to come back from this
03:38You're amazing
03:39She's amazing
03:41How lucky am I?
03:43You are so lucky
03:45Not a craps
03:51Now, I just
03:53I need to talk to Miranda
03:57How could they do that to my dad?
03:59It's just so selfish
04:00And disgusting
04:01And stupid
04:02Yes, my dear
04:04And I imagine they're
04:05Feeling the same thing
04:07What do you think I should do?
04:08It's not for me to say
04:11But he's full of ideas
04:14Should I ask him?
04:16Sure
04:19William?
04:23What is that?
04:25Well, what did he say?
04:27He said
04:28To thine own self be true
04:31And then it must follow
04:33As the night, the day
04:35Thou canst not then be false
04:37To any man
04:42I just have to figure out
04:43How to do that
04:51Hey, honey
04:52Come here
04:53I want you to see some
04:55I've decided to add
04:56A little lemon zest
04:58To the pea and ham hock
05:00Crustalle
05:01What do you think?
05:02It's gorgeous
05:03Yeah
05:04I mean, are you okay?
05:05This is a lot
05:06Oh, no, no
05:06This is all I got
05:07We're doing potluck
05:09You know, like the old days
05:13Can I just say
05:14I still cannot believe
05:16How amazing you were
05:18About everything that happened
05:19I mean, I ain't been carrying around
05:21That shame
05:21For days
05:23Days
05:25We all make mistakes
05:27Right?
05:36I hope Miranda feels the same way
05:39This is a big night for her
05:40And, you know, you and Richard were right
05:42This
05:42She doesn't need any distractions
05:44I can
05:44Talk to her after this show
05:46This might excite
05:47Some of you
05:49It doesn't excite me
05:51In the least
05:53Uh
05:54My agent just called me
05:56The New York Times
05:57Chief drama critic
05:58Is coming
05:59Are you here?
06:00Tonight
06:00Are you crazy?
06:02Sorry, I'm late, guys
06:03I'm just
06:04A lot of party prep
06:09Where's Miranda?
06:10She's
06:11Uh
06:11She needs some space
06:13Space?
06:14Is she upset about something?
06:16That's it
06:17Yes
06:17I think that's it
06:18Uh
06:18That's
06:19That's possibly correct
06:20Yes, she's upset about
06:21Something
06:22Something which
06:23Nobody
06:23Uh
06:24In this company
06:25Has any idea about
06:26She'll be here
06:28Sooner or later
06:29And
06:30On the off chance
06:31That she's
06:32Not
06:32Uh
06:36Jesus
06:36Um
06:37Hi
06:41Sorry I'm late
06:42Hey, sweetie
06:44I was worried
06:49What'd I miss?
06:50You okay?
06:59Are you all right?
07:01You please talk to me
07:02You know what, mom?
07:04You want to forget about what happened?
07:05I'm going to forget it for the show
07:06So I can give Emily
07:07What she deserves
07:08And the second
07:09It is over
07:10I'll remember it all again
07:12And I'll tell dad the truth
07:14I'll never speak to you
07:16Or Uncle Richard
07:18Again
07:21Break a leg
07:27Race for the wedding
07:28Race for the wedding
07:32That's amazing
07:34MFG
07:35It's glory days
07:36Yeah, it sure is
07:40Kristen?
07:42Huh?
07:42Kristen?
07:43Mm-hmm
07:48You're in your old spot
07:49Right here
07:49Opening night
07:50Having a
07:51Meltdown
07:53Miranda's going to tell John everything
07:55After the show
07:56And she's never going to talk
07:58To either of us ever again
07:59I have made such a shit show
08:01No
08:01No, I
08:02I did my bit
08:05It's not going to get any better
08:06If the show's not good
08:07So
08:08Let's
08:11Cling to the work
08:12Cling to the work
08:13Places, please
08:14Ooh
08:15All right
08:16You're going to be great
08:17Trust that
08:19Mm-hmm
08:21Oh, my
08:24Do you remember this?
08:27Our old hideaway
08:29Something
08:30Oh, yeah
08:34Already had a walkout
08:36They hate me
08:37Richard
08:38Mm-hmm
08:39They're on your side
08:43You've always said that
08:44Mm-hmm
08:48Before we go
08:50Can I just say
08:53What a pleasure it's been
08:54What a joy
08:56To be on stage with you again
08:57No, just
08:58Just
08:59Watching you
09:01You were always
09:03The best of us
09:06Not better than you
09:09Best
09:10Of us
09:11All
09:27Come for blood
09:32Whoa, whoa
09:36How's she doing, Dad?
09:38Well, a little skittish
09:39She'll settle down
09:42How about you?
09:44Oh, uh
09:46About the same
09:49Happy to be here
09:50Me, too
09:53I'm happy to be anywhere
09:55Richard, your earpiece
09:56Should we do a quick check?
09:58What?
09:59Earpiece
10:09Go along, son
10:11Go along, son
10:28This play
10:29Is called
10:31Our Town
10:31It was written by
10:33Thornton Wilder
10:35The name of the town
10:36Is Grover's Corners, New Hampshire
10:39Just across the Massachusetts line
10:43The date
10:44Is May 7th
10:471901
10:48The time
10:49Is just before dawn
10:52The sky is beginning
10:53To show some streaks of light
10:54Over in the east
10:56Behind our mountain
10:58The morning star
10:59Gets
11:00Wonderful bright
11:02Just before it has to go
11:04Doesn't it?
11:06Morning, Doc Gives
11:09Morning, Joe
11:10Some people been sick?
11:12No, just some twins
11:13Born over in Polish town
11:15That right
11:15Yeah
11:16Get up, messy
11:19Here's Howie Newsome
11:20Delivering the milk
11:21What's the matter with you today?
11:25You know how it is
11:27You're 21 or 22
11:29And you make
11:30Some decisions
11:31And then
11:32Whoosh
11:34You're 70
11:36You've been a lawyer
11:37For 50 years
11:38And that white-haired lady
11:40At your side
11:41Has had over 50,000 meals
11:43With you
11:44How do such things begin?
11:47George and Emily
11:48Are going to show you now
11:50About the conversation they had
11:51When they first knew that
11:54That as the saying goes
11:57They were meant
11:58For one another
12:00I want you to try and remember
12:02What it was like
12:03To have been very young
12:06And particularly
12:07The days
12:08When you were first in love
12:12That
12:13When you were like a person
12:15Sleepwalking
12:15And you didn't quite see
12:17The street you were in
12:19And didn't quite hear
12:20Everything
12:22That was said to you
12:24Just a little bit crazy
12:28Will you remember that, please?
12:31I always expected a man
12:33To be perfect
12:33And I think he should be
12:34I don't think it's possible
12:36For anyone to be perfect, Emily
12:37Well, my father is
12:39And as far as I can see
12:40Your father is
12:41There's no reason on earth
12:42Why you shouldn't be two
12:43I think it's the other way around
12:44That men aren't naturally good
12:45But girls are
12:46Well, you should know right now
12:47That I'm not perfect
12:49It's not as easy
12:50For a girl to be perfect as a man
12:51Because girls are more
12:54More nervous
12:57Emily
12:57Would you
13:03Like to get an ice cream soda
13:05Or something
13:06Before you go home?
13:14Richard
13:16Christian
13:18It's your cue
13:29Hello, George
13:31Hello, Emily
13:33What do you have?
13:38Why, Emily, where?
13:40What have you been crying about?
13:51I don't know why on earth
13:53I should be crying
13:53I mean, I suppose there's nothing
13:55To cry about
13:57It came over me this morning
13:59At breakfast
14:00There was Emily
14:01Eating her breakfast
14:02As she has for 17 years
14:04And now she's going off
14:05To eat in someone else's house
14:08I suppose that's it
14:10And Emily
14:12She suddenly said
14:13I can't eat another mouthful
14:15And she put her head
14:16Down on the table
14:18And she cried
14:22Oh, I've got to say it
14:23You know, there's something
14:24Downright cruel
14:25About sending our girls
14:27Into marriage like this
14:29I hope some of her girlfriends
14:31Have told her a thing or two
14:33It's cruel, I know
14:34But I couldn't bring myself
14:35To say anything
14:37I went into it
14:38Blind as a bat myself
14:43The whole world's wrong
14:46That's what's the matter
14:47I've never felt so alone
14:49In my whole life
14:50Why can't I stay for a while
14:51Just as I am
14:52Let's go away
14:52No, no, Emily
14:54Now stop
14:55And think a minute
14:57Don't you remember
14:58You used to say to me
14:59All the time
14:59You used to say
15:00All the time
15:01That I was your girl
15:03There are lots of places
15:04We could go to
15:05I'll work for you
15:06I could keep house
15:07Shh, shh, shh
15:08You mustn't think
15:09Of such things
15:13Do you, George
15:14Take this woman, Emily
15:17As your wedded wife
15:18I do
15:20Do you, Emily
15:21Take this man, George
15:23To be your wedded husband
15:26I do
15:43I've married over 200 couples
15:45In my day
15:47Do I believe in it?
15:50I don't know
15:51M marries N
15:54Millions of them
15:56The cottage
15:57The go-cart
15:58Sunday afternoon drives
16:01In the Ford
16:02The first rheumatism
16:04The grandchildren
16:05The second rheumatism
16:07The deathbed
16:09The reading of the will
16:11Once in a thousand times
16:15It's interesting
16:30Aren't they a lovely couple
16:32I'm sure they'll be very happy
16:34I always say
16:36Happiness
16:37That's the great thing
16:39The important thing
16:41Is to be happy
16:54Why are you here?
16:56I just wanted to say
16:57I thought the love scene
16:58Was great
16:58Thank you
17:00You know, especially
17:00The part about
17:01No one being perfect
17:04Because you're right
17:05You know
17:05People are flawed
17:07All of us
17:07I need you to leave
17:10I want you to leave
17:13Promise we'll discuss this
17:14Before you talk to your father
17:15Which one?
17:41This here is the new part
17:43Of the cemetery
17:47Here's your friend
17:48Mrs. Gibbs
17:49And
17:51Oh
17:52Mr. Stimson
17:53The organist
17:55At the Congregational Church
17:58Hanged himself
17:59In his attic
18:01Over there is Mr. Crowell
18:03And Mrs. Soames
18:05Who enjoyed the wedding
18:07So
18:07You remember?
18:10You know as well as I do
18:12That the dead
18:13Don't stay interested
18:14In us living people
18:15For very long
18:16Gradually
18:17Gradually
18:17They get weaned away
18:19From Earth
18:20That's the way I put it
18:23Weaned away
18:24And they stay here
18:26While the Earth part of them
18:28Burns away
18:29Burns out
18:32Aren't they waiting for the
18:33Eternal part
18:35In them
18:36To come out
18:37Clear
18:40Oh
18:41As Joe started
18:43Our undertaker
18:45Come to supervise
18:46A new made grave
18:49Let me see now
18:51Do I know you?
18:53I'm Sam Craig
18:55Great
18:55Sakes alive
18:57I was in the East
18:58When I got news
18:59Of my cousin's death
19:01Very sad
19:01Our journey today
19:02Samuel
19:03I always say
19:04I hate to supervise
19:06When a young person
19:06Is taken
19:08Joe
19:09What did she die of?
19:10Oh didn't you know
19:12Had trouble
19:13Bringing a baby
19:14Into the world
19:15It was her second though
19:17There's a little boy
19:18About four years old
19:19If you'll excuse me
19:23I see they're coming
19:25It gives us inward pain
19:31But we shall still be joined in heart
19:39And hope to meet the end
20:02Hello
20:03Hello Emily
20:05Hello Mother Gibbs
20:07Emily
20:10It's raining
20:16Mother Gibbs
20:17One can go back
20:19One can go back there again
20:20Into living
20:21I feel it
20:23I know it
20:24Why
20:25Just then for a moment
20:26I was thinking about
20:28About the farm
20:29And then for a minute
20:30I was there
20:31And my baby was on my lap
20:32As plain as day
20:33Yes of course you can
20:36I can go back there
20:37And live those days over again
20:38Why not?
20:39Some have tried
20:40But they soon come back here
20:42I won't live over a sad day
20:44I'll choose a happy one
20:45Why should that be painful?
20:47You
20:47Not only live it
20:50You watch yourself
20:52Living it
20:53And as you watch it
20:55You
20:56See the thing that they
20:57Down there
20:58Never know
20:59You see the future
21:02You know
21:03What's going to happen
21:05Afterwards
21:05But it's something
21:06I must see for myself
21:09I'll choose a happy day
21:10I choose my twelfth birthday
21:15Oh good morning mother
21:18How'd it go Charles?
21:20Oh fine I guess
21:21I uh
21:22Told him a few things
21:25Oh Charles don't forget
21:27Today is Emily's birthday
21:29Did you remember to get her something?
21:31Oh yes
21:31I've got something uh
21:33Here
21:36Where's my girl?
21:37Where's my birthday girl?
21:40I can't bear it
21:41They're so young and beautiful
21:44Why did they ever have to get old?
21:49Mama
21:52I'm here
21:55Good morning mama
21:58Well now dear
22:00A very happy birthday to you
22:02My girl
22:03And many happy returns
22:05There are some surprises
22:07Waiting for you on the kitchen table
22:08Mama you shouldn't have
22:15I can't I can't
22:16Now birthday or no birthday
22:19I want you to eat your breakfast
22:20Good and slow
22:21I want you to grow up
22:22To be a good strong girl
22:23So you chew that bacon
22:25Good and slow
22:27It'll keep you warm
22:29On a cold day
22:31Mama just
22:33Look at me for one minute
22:35As though you really saw me
22:37Mama 14 years have gone by
22:40I'm dead
22:43You're a grandmother mama
22:44I married George Gibbs
22:47Well he's dead too
22:48We felt just terrible about it
22:49Don't you remember?
22:51But just for one moment
22:53Now we're together
22:56Mama
22:56Just for one moment
22:58We're happy
22:59Let's look at one another
23:00Your father has a surprise
23:01For you too
23:02But I don't know
23:03What it is myself
23:05Here he comes
23:06Where's my girl?
23:08Where is my birthday girl?
23:11I can't
23:15I can't go on
23:16It goes too fast
23:20We don't have time
23:21To look at one another
23:25I didn't realize
23:29So all that was going on
23:31And we never noticed
23:37Take me back up the hill
23:38To my grave
23:42But first wait
23:45One more look
23:51Goodbye world
23:55Goodbye
23:56Grover's Corners
23:58And
23:59Mama and Papa
24:04Goodbye to clocks ticking
24:06And
24:08Mama's sunflowers
24:09And
24:10Food
24:11And coffee
24:12And
24:12New iron dresses
24:14And hot baths
24:17And sleeping
24:18And waking up
24:23Oh earth
24:24You're too wonderful
24:25For anybody
24:26To realize you
24:31Do any human beings
24:33Ever realize life
24:34While they live it
24:35Every
24:36Every minute
24:41The saints
24:42And poets
24:44Maybe
24:45They do
24:46Some
24:49I'm ready to go back
24:54I'm losing her
24:55It's okay
24:56She's okay
24:57It's the play
25:00Were you happy
25:03Mother Gibbs
25:04I should have listened to you
25:08That's all human beings are
25:12Just
25:13Blind people
25:17Mr. Stinson
25:18I should have listened to them
25:20Yes
25:20Now you know
25:23Now you know
25:24That's what it was
25:27To be alive
25:28To move about
25:29In the cloud of ignorance
25:30To go up and down
25:33Trampling on the feelings
25:35Of those about you
25:36To spend and waste time
25:40As though you had
25:41A million years
25:44To be always at the mercy
25:46Of one's self-centered passion
25:48Or another
25:49Now you know
25:51That's the happy existence
25:53You wanted to return to
25:55Ignorance
25:57And blindness
25:59She's a little scary
26:02She's freaking amazen
26:03That's what she is
26:14Mother Gibbs
26:15Yes
26:17Emily
26:20They don't understand
26:22Do they
26:24No dear
26:26They don't understand
26:38Most everybody's asleep
26:40In Groove's Corners
26:41There are a few lights on
26:45Shorty Hawkins
26:47Down at the depot
26:48Has just watched
26:49The Albany train
26:50Go by
26:51Over at the livery stable
26:53Somebody's setting up late
26:55And talking
26:57Yes
26:59It's clearing up
27:02The stars
27:03Doing their old
27:06Old
27:06Crisscross journeys
27:08In the sky
27:09Scholars haven't settled
27:11The matter
27:12Yet
27:12But they seem to think
27:14That there are no living
27:16Beings
27:17Up there
27:18Just
27:19Chalk
27:20Or fire
27:24Only this one
27:26Is straining away
27:27Straining away all the time
27:29To make something of itself
27:32Strained so bad
27:33That every 16 hours
27:34Everybody has to lie down
27:36And get a rest
27:44Hmm
27:45Eleven o'clock
27:46In Groove's Corners
27:50You all
27:51Get a good rest too
27:55Good night
28:23Good night
28:35I'm going to get a head start.
28:36I know these people, when they stop clacking, they're going to want to drink.
28:40They're going to move more.
28:59Where's my dad?
29:02Where's my dad?
29:03Upstairs.
29:08Oh, my boy.
29:20My son.
29:22My star.
29:23Yes.
29:25Have you seen Miranda?
29:26No.
29:28Tell your wife she stole the show.
29:31I will.
29:32I will.
29:33Did you find her?
29:34No.
29:34Did you find him?
29:35No.
29:36Can you get me up here?
29:37Oh, good show.
29:38Good show.
29:38Oh, Richard.
29:40Richard.
29:40Richard.
29:41Can you convince this young genius to sign with me?
29:45Think of it.
29:45The two of you in my stable.
29:47The three of us would be unstoppable.
29:49The talent.
29:49It runs in the family.
29:50Well, apparently.
29:51It's so nice to meet you.
29:52I really have friends.
29:53Miranda.
29:54Just talk to her about...
29:55Miranda.
29:56Build your career.
29:57Miranda.
29:58Come on, darling, darling.
29:59Come on.
30:00We constructed it countless times against impossible odds.
30:03Richard Bean.
30:05Sorry we didn't make the curtain call, but he wanted to get us reviewing for the Sunday
30:08Arts.
30:08Can you give us a taste?
30:09I really can.
30:10I'm sorry.
30:11He said, run.
30:12Don't walk to Millersburg, Pennsylvania.
30:14I have seen the resurrection of Richard Bean.
30:17Cheers.
30:18Cheers, indeed.
30:19Well, you're alive again.
30:20What do you think of that?
30:21That's fine.
30:22I'm really looking for my niece.
30:24Dad?
30:27Sweetie.
30:28Oh, my God.
30:29Oh, my God.
30:33You...
30:33You were fabulous.
30:38No, you broke my heart.
30:41I have never been so proud.
30:48I'm proud, too.
30:51I'm proud to be your daughter.
30:55Dad, I...
30:56Listen, listen to me, sweetie.
30:57I...
30:58I need to tell you something, and you...
31:00You can be angry at me.
31:01It's okay.
31:03I just...
31:04I need you to listen.
31:07You look so good.
31:09You'll be glad you decided to smile.
31:14Oh, Chris.
31:15I think John must be in the kitchen.
31:17Did you find Miranda?
31:18I had her in my clutches, and then we got a rave in the New York Times.
31:22What?
31:23Yes.
31:23There they are.
31:24I've got the good stuff.
31:25Oh, he says the Times is raving.
31:28Yeah.
31:28Yeah.
31:29Yeah.
31:29And he says that we should expect to sell a whole lot of tickets.
31:32Hey, you may have just saved this town, after all, and I did not see that coming, eh?
31:37No, because you're still a steen.
31:39Nadia.
31:39But I forgive you, because you came tonight.
31:41And I'm also mad enough to say, it was fucking brilliant.
31:45It was fucking brilliant.
31:49For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow.
31:59Which nobody can deny.
32:03Yeah, what if she's already found him and told him?
32:05It doesn't matter, but we have to explain what happened.
32:08We have to beg for forgiveness, and just say it was a stupid mistake.
32:11Ah, but something beautiful came out of it.
32:15Yes, but let's not say that.
32:17Come on.
32:19Oh.
32:22You are not going to say a fucking word to Dad.
32:25Well, we were just...
32:26No, no, no, no, no, no, because I tried and I couldn't.
32:28It will break his heart, and that wonderful, sweet, caring man should not have to pay for your stupidity.
32:35So from now on, we are one happy family.
32:39Understand?
32:40Okay.
32:40How, how, how, how?
32:41How?
32:42We're going to act.
32:42Because we're all fucking actors here, so act happy.
32:48There they are.
32:49My favorite people.
32:53Let's take a family photo, huh?
32:54All of us together.
32:55Hey, Dad, Dad, come join us.
32:57Family photo.
32:58I can take it.
33:00This is a big day for the beans.
33:03It certainly is.
33:05I've been aware of it all along.
33:08It's so fucking obvious.
33:10What's that?
33:10Okay, everybody get close.
33:13Miranda is Richard's daughter.
33:16What?
33:35We'll see you next time.
34:21We'll see you next time.
34:34We'll see you next time.
35:01We'll see you next time.
Comments

Recommended