[Richard] Previously on American Classic...
I got a terrible review from a third-rate critic.
I'm producing and directing the greatest production
of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town."
We lost the rain. We lost the soda fountain.
We lost the horse.
[Boyle] Good luck with your show now.
Or whatever's left of it.
Well, it's a moment of truth.
-I'm in. -[Miranda] Me too.
Still need a Mrs. Webb?
I lost Miranda's college fund at a casino.
-It's our opening night. -You and Richard--?
-Okay, Kenny, stop. -You and Richard what?
Do you mind telling me what is going on?
[Kristen] God, you don't see?
There's a very good chance you are Miranda's father.
[soft music]
Maybe we cancel.
I can't do that to the cast.
-I can't do that to me. -What'd we say to Jon?
There's probably a way you can tell him.
And say what?
That his wife got drunk and slept with his brother?
Oof, no, I wouldn't say that, no, no, no.
-I'll tell him. -How?
Man to man.
Men understand these things.
No, they don't.
No one understands these things.
No one on the planet understands these things.
Or... maybe neither of us has to tell him.
Maybe Miranda already has.
-Oh, God, do you think--? -Oh.
There you are.
[scoffs]
We need to talk.
Okay, okay.
I don't know where to start.
It would be better if Miranda were here.
No, it might not be.
Oh, I just--was hoping not to go through it twice.
Well, that's understandable.
Yes, but these--
These things can leave lasting scars.
You think so?
Oh, Jesus.
I guess I was trying not to see it as,
you know, such a betrayal.
[nervous chuckle] Oh, it's a massive betrayal.
It is. It's big!
Guess I was just trying
not to look at it that way, you know?
It's late, you've been drinking a lot.
Drinking is no excuse.
No, it's no excuse, and I accept that.
Yeah.
But how many chances do you get in life
to, you know, hit a home run?
I just want to say that I never once
thought of this as a home run.
-God, no. -Just let me get this out.
No, no, no. Let me go first.
No, I'll go-- I'll do it, I'll do it.
No, he's my husband. Let me say it first.
Wait--Say what?
Did--did you tell her what happened?
What? I didn't have to. She was there.
Stop. You're confusing me.
The night I spent with Boyle in Atlantic City,
after I made the big meal,
we went into the casino.
We were playing craps.
I was on a roll.
I was up like $60,000.
I thought I could solve all of our problems.
And then it was gone.
And then it was more than gone.
I lost Miranda's college fund.
You did what?
Kristen, Kristen,
we all make mistakes.
Don't we? [chuckles] I mean--
-Yes, yes, yes. -We were just discussing that.
[stammering]
Richard is right.
You're only human.
And people make mistakes.
-[Richard] All the time. -And--and--and then...
people forgive them.
Yeah.
It was the whole college fund. You heard that part, right?
Yep. Yep, Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep. I got it.
I got it. It's okay, really.
[laughing]
My God!
Honey! Thank you.
I started to think we weren't gonna come back from this.
You're amazing.
She's amazing.
How lucky am I?
You are so lucky.
Not at craps.
[laughing]
-Okay, no! -[all laughing]
No, no, no.
Oh...
Now, I just--
I need to talk to Miranda.
How could they do that to my dad?
It's just so selfish and disgusting and stupid.
Yes, my dear.
And I imagine they're feeling the same thing.
What do you think I should do?
It's not for me to say.
But he's full of ideas.
-Should I ask him? -Sure.
[chuckles]
William.
What is that?
-Ah. -Well, what did he say?
He said, "To thine own self be true,
"and then it must follow, as the night the day.
thou canst not then be false to any man."
Just have to figure out how to do that.
Hey, honey, come here.
I want you to see something.
I've decided to add a little lemon zest
to the pea and ham hock croustade.
-[chuckles] -What do you think?
-It's gorgeous. -Right? [chuckles]
I mean, are you okay? This is a lot.
Oh, no, no. This is all I got.
We were-- we're doing potluck, you know?
Like the old days.
Can I just say?
It--I still cannot believe
how amazing you were about everything that happened.
I mean, I have been carrying around that shame
for--for days.
Days.
We all make mistakes, right?
-Oh, my God. -[nervous chuckle]
Mm, mm! [laughing]
[sniffles and sighs]
I hope Miranda feels the same way.
-It's a big night for her. -Mm.
And, you know, you and Richard were right.
This--She doesn't need any distractions.
I can--I'll talk to her after the show.
This might excite some of you.
It doesn't excite me
in the least.
Uh, my agent just called me.
"The New York Times" chief drama critic is coming tonight.
-[gasps] -What? Here? Tonight?
-[Nadia] Oh, my God. -Are you crazy?
Sorry I'm late, guys, I was--
I just--Lot of party prep. [chuckles]
Where's Miranda?
She's--uh--
She needs some space.
Space? Wait, is she upset about something?
That's it. Yes, I think that's it.
-[mouthing] It's my fault. -That's possibly correct.
Yes, she's upset about something.
Something which nobody
in this company has any idea about.
She'll be here sooner or later.
And on the off chance that she's not...
Uh...
Jesus.
-Um... -[door opens]
-Hi. -[sigh in relief]
[upbeat soft music]
Sorry I'm late.
Hey, sweetie.
I was worried.
[sighs]
What did I miss?
[Randall] Are you okay?
[vocal warm-ups]
Are you all right?
Will you please talk to me?
You know what, Mom?
I'm gonna forget about what happened.
I'm gonna forget it for the show
so I can give Emily what she deserves.
And the second it is over,
I'll remember it all again.
And I'll tell Dad the truth.
I'll never speak to you...
or Uncle Richard again.
[vocal warm-up continues]
Break a leg.
[soft music]
-Friends of the wedding? -Thank you.
[man] Friends of the wedding?
[audience chattering]
MFT in its glory days.
Yes, sure is.
-[Richard] Kristen, Kristen... -[groans and moans] Mm-hm.
[chuckles]
You're in your old spot, right here,
opening night, having your... meltdown.
[chuckles]
Miranda's gonna tell Jon everything.
After the show.
She's never gonna talk to either of us ever again.
I have made such a shit show.
No, no, I--
I did my bit.
Mm!
It's not gonna get any better
if the show's not good, so let's--
-Cling to the work. -Cling to the work.
-[Hugo] Places, please. -Ooh, all right.
You're gonna be great.
-Mm-hm. -Trust that.
Mm-hm.
Oh, my.
Do you remember this?
Our old hideaway.
Just want to take a little peek.
[audience chattering]
Ah, yeah.
Already have a walkout.
They hate me.
-[Kristen] Richard. -Hm.
They're on your side.
-You always said that. -Mm-hm.
[soft piano music]
Before we go,
can I just say...
what a pleasure it's been,
what a joy to be on stage with you again.
No, just--just...
watching you.
You were always
the best of us.
Mm! Mm-mm.
I'm not better than you.
The best of us all.
Oh!
-Bonjour, mon ami! -Mm! Here we go.
[chattering]
Out for blood.
Whoa, woah, girl.
How's she doing, Dad?
Well, a little skittish.
She'll settle down.
How about you?
Ooh, uh...
about the same.
Happy to be here.
Me, too.
I'm happy to be anywhere.
[laughing]
Richard, your earpiece.
Should I do a quick check?
-What? -Earpiece.
[soft intriguing music]
[deep breath]
Go along, son.
[applause and cheering]
This play is called "Our Town."
It was written by Thornton Wilder.
The name of the town...
is Grover's Corners, New Hampshire.
Just across the Massachusetts line.
The date is May 7, 1901.
The time is just before dawn.
The sky is beginning to show some streaks of light
over in the east behind our mount'in.
The morning star gets wonderful bright.
Just before it has to go, doesn't it?
-Morning, Doc Gibbs! -Morning, Joe.
Some people been sick?
No, just some twins born over in Polish Town.
-That right? -Yeah.
Get up, missy.
[chuckles]
Here's Howie Newsome, delivering the milk.
What's the matter with you today?
[audience laughing]
[Richard] You know how it is.
You're 21 or 22 and you make some decisions,
and then whoosh!
You're 70.
You've been a lawyer for 50 years.
And that white-haired lady at your side
has had over 50,000 meals with you.
How do such things begin?
George and Emily are going to show you now
the conversation they had when they first knew that,
as the saying goes,
they were meant for one another.
I want you to try and remember
what it was like to have been very young.
And particularly the days
when you were first in love.
[whispering] Pat?
[Richard] When you were like a person sleepwalking
and you didn't quite see
the street you were in
and didn't quite hear everything
that was said to you.
Just a little bit crazy.
Will you remember that, please?
I always expected a man to be perfect,
and I think he should be.
[Randall] I don't think it's possible
for anyone to be perfect, Emily.
Well, my father is.
And as far as I can see, your father is.
There's no reason on earth why you shouldn't be, too.
I think it's the other way around.
That men aren't naturally good, but girls are.
Well, you should know right now that I'm not perfect.
It's not as easy for a girl to be perfect as a man,
because girls are more...
more nervous.
[audience laughing]
Emily?
Would you, um...
like to get an ice cream soda or something
before you go home?
[audience laughing]
[whispering] Richard.
Kristen...
That's your cue.
But--
Hello, George.
Hello, Emily.
What do you have?
Why, Emily Webb,
what have you been crying about?
[melodic bells tolling]
[bells continue, stop]
I don't know why on earth I should be crying.
I suppose there's nothing to cry about.
It came over me this morning at breakfast.
There was Emily, eating her breakfast,
as she has for 17 years,
and now she's going off to eat in someone else's house.
I suppose that's it.
And Emily, she suddenly said,
"I can't eat another mouthful."
And she put her head down on the table
and she cried.
Oh, I've got to say it.
You know, there's something downright cruel
about sending our girls into marriage like this.
I hope some of her girlfriends have told her a thing or two.
It's cruel, I know,
but I couldn't bring myself to say anything.
I went into it blind as a bat myself.
The whole world's wrong.
That's what's the matter.
[Miranda] I've never felt so alone in my whole life.
Why can't I stay for a while, just as I am?
-Let's go away. -No, no, Emily.
Now stop and think a minute.
[Miranda] Don't you remember
you used to say to me all the time,
you used to say all the time that I was your girl?
There are lots of places we could go to.
I'll work for you. I could keep house!
Shh. Shh, shh.
You mustn't think of such things.
Do you, George, take this woman, Emily,
as your wedded wife?
I do.
Do you, Emily, take this man, George,
to be your wedded husband?
I do.
I've married over 200 couples in my day.
Do I believe in it?
I don't know.
M marries N.
Millions of them.
The cottage, the go-cart.
Sunday afternoon drives in the Ford.
The first rheumatism, the grandchildren.
The second rheumatism,
the deathbed.
The reading of the will.
Once in a thousand times,
it's interesting.
[organ playing wedding march]
Aren't they a lovely couple?
I'm sure they'll be very happy.
I always say, "Happiness, that's the great thing."
The important thing is to be happy.
[cheering and applause]
Why are you here?
I just wanted to say I thought the love scene was great.
Thank you.
You know, especially the part about no one being perfect.
Because you're right, you know? People are flawed. All of us.
I need you to leave.
I want you to leave.
Promise me we'll discuss this before you talk to your father.
Which one?
[sighs]
[intriguing music]
[suspenseful music]
This here is the new part of the cemetery.
Here's your friend, Mrs. Gibbs.
And, uh, oh--
Mr. Stimson, the organist at the Congregational Church,
hanged himself in his attic.
Over there is Mr. Crowell and Mrs. Soames,
who enjoyed the wedding so.
You remember?
You know as well as I do that the dead
don't stay interested in us living people for very long.
Gradually--gradually, they get weaned away from earth.
That's the way I put it.
Weaned away.
And they stay here,
while the earth part of them burns away, burns out.
Aren't they waiting for the eternal part in them
to come out clear?
Oh, that's Joe Stoddard, our undertaker,
come to supervise a new-made grave.
Let me see now.
Do I know you?
[Jeff] I'm Sam Craig.
Great sakes alive!
I was in the East when I got news of my cousin's death.
Very sad our journey today, Samuel.
I always say I hate to supervise when a young person is taken.
Joe, what did she die of?
Oh, didn't you know?
Had trouble bringing a baby into the world.
'Twas her second, though.
There's a little boy about four years old.
[people in procession singing "Blest Be the Tie That Binds"]
If you'll excuse me.
I see they're coming.
♪ It gives us inward pain ♪
♪ But we shall still be joined in heart ♪
♪ And hope to meet again ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
-Hello. -Hello, Emily.
Hello, Mother Gibbs.
Emily.
It's raining.
Mother Gibbs, one can go back.
One can go back there again into living.
I feel it. I know it.
Why--Just then, for a moment, I was thinking about--
about the farm, and then for a minute,
I was there and my baby was on my lap
as plain as day.
Yes, of course you can.
I can go back there and live those days over again. Why not?
Some have tried, but they soon come back here.
I won't live over a sad day. I'll choose a happy one.
Why should that be painful?
You not only live it,
you watch yourself living it.
And, as you watch it,
you see the thing that they down there never know.
You see the future.
You know what's going to happen afterwards.
But it's something I must see for myself.
I'll choose a happy day.
I choose my 12th birthday.
Hm.
[Jon] Oh, good morning, Mother.
How'd it go, Charles?
Fine, I guess.
I, uh, told him a few things.
[chuckles]
Oh, Charles, don't forget.
Today is Emily's birthday.
Did you remember to get her something?
Oh, yes, I've got something, uh...
here. [chuckles]
Where's my girl?
Where's my birthday girl?
[Miranda] I can't bear it.
They're so young and beautiful.
Why did they ever have to get old?
Mama.
I'm here.
Good morning, Mama.
Well, now, dear,
a very happy birthday to you, my girl,
and many happy returns.
There are some surprises waiting for you on the kitchen table.
Mommy, you shouldn't have.
[crying] I can't--I can't.
Now, birthday or no birthday,
I want you to eat your breakfast good and slow.
I want you to grow up to be a good strong girl.
So you chew that bacon good and slow.
It'll keep you warm on a cold day.
Oh, Mama, just--
Look at me for one minute as though you really saw me.
Mama, 14 years have gone by.
I'm dead.
You're a grandmother, Mama.
I married George Gibbs.
Wally's dead, too.
We felt just terrible about it. Don't you remember?
But just for one moment, now we're together.
Mama, just for one moment, we're happy.
Let's look at one another.
Your father has a surprise for you, too.
But I don't know what it is myself.
Here he comes.
Where's my girl?
Where is my birthday girl?
[sniffles] I can't.
I can't go on. It goes too fast.
We don't have time to look at one another.
I didn't realize--
So while that was going on and we never noticed...
Take me back up the hill to my grave.
But first, wait.
One more look.
Goodbye, world.
Goodbye, Grover's Corners and...
Mama and Papa.
Goodbye to clocks ticking and...
Mama's sunflowers and...
food and coffee and
new ironed dresses and hot baths.
And sleeping and waking up.
Oh, Earth, you're too wonderful for anybody to realize you.
Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?
Every--Every minute?
The saints and poets, maybe.
They do some.
I'm ready to go back.
[whispering] I'm losing her.
[whispering] It's okay. She's okay.
It's the play.
[Tina] Were you happy?
Mother Gibbs, I should've listened to you.
That's all human beings are.
Just... blind people.
Mr. Stimson, I should have listened to them.
[Nadia] Yes. Now you know.
Now you know.
That's what it was to be alive.
To move about in the cloud of ignorance.
To go up and down,
trampling on the feelings of those about you.
To spend and waste time
as though you had a million years.
To be always at the mercy
of one self-centered passion or another.
Now you know.
That's the happy existence you wanted to return to.
Ignorance and blindness.
[whispering] She's a little scary.
She's friggin' amazing, that's what she is.
[Randall crying]
Mother Gibbs?
Yes, Emily?
They don't understand, do they?
-No, dear. -[Randall sniffles]
They don't understand.
Most everybody's asleep in Grover's Corners.
There are a few lights on.
Shorty Hawkins down at the depot...
[distant train horn blaring]
...has just watched the Albany train go by.
Over at the livery stable,
somebody setting up late and talking.
Yes.
It's clearing up.
Uh, the stars,
doing their old, old crisscross journeys in the sky.
Scholars haven't settled the matter yet,
but they seem to think that
there are no living beings up there.
Just chalk or fire.
Only this one
is straining away.
Straining away all the time
to make something of itself.
Strains so bad that every 16 hours
everybody has to lie down and get a rest.
Hm, eleven o'clock in Grover's Corners.
You all get a good rest, too.
Good night.
[applause]
[cheering]
[applause and whistling]
[cheering]
Whoo!
Bravo!
[cheering and applause]
[emotional music]
[cheering]
I'm gonna get a head start. I know these people.
When they stop clapping, they're gonna want a drink.
[cheering continues]
Uh, hold on--
[cheering and applause gets louder]
[woman] Yes! Yes!
[man] You're all set.
Where's my dad?
-Where's my dad? -[woman] The party.
[man] He's upstairs.
-[woman laughing] -[cork popping]
[jazz playing]
Oh, my voice! So--
[music continues]
-[cheering] -Thank you.
Thank you.
My son. My star.
-Yes. -[laughing]
-Have you seen Miranda? -No.
Tell your wife she stole the show.
I will. I will.
-Did you find her? -No.
-Did you find him? -No.
Can you get me a beer?
Good show, good show.
Oh, Richard, Richard, Richard.
Can you convince this young genius to sign with me?
Think of it! The two of you in my stable.
The three of us would be unstoppable.
The talent! It runs in the family.
-Well, apparently, yes-- -So nice to meet you.
[Richard] I really had-- Miranda.
-[Alvy] Just talk to her... -Miranda.
[Alvy] ...about how I built your career.
Miranda!
-Oh, darling, darling-- -Mwah, mwah.
[Alvy] And reconstructed it countless times
against impossible odds.
Richard Bean.
Sorry we didn't make the curtain call,
but he wanted to get his review in
for the Sunday Arts.
Can you give us a taste?
I really can't. I'm sorry.
-He said, "Run, don't walk, -Uh...
to Millersburg, Pennsylvania."
"I have seen the resurrection of Richard Bean."
-Wow. -Cheers.
Cheers. Indeed.
Well, you're alive again.
-What do you think of that? -That's fine.
I--I--I'm really looking for my niece.
Dad?
Sweetie. Oh, my God!
Oh, my God.
You...
You were fabulous.
[laughing]
-[chuckles] -No, you broke my heart.
I have never been so proud.
[laughing]
-I'm proud, too. -Oh. Oh.
I'm proud to be your daughter.
[Jon] Oh!
-Dad, I-- -Listen, listen.
Listen to me, sweetie, I--
I need to tell you something.
And you--you can be angry at me. It's okay.
I just--
I need you to listen.
♪ You look so good ♪
♪ You'll be begging beside ♪
Oh, Kristen!
I think Jon must be in the kitchen.
Did you find Miranda?
I had her in my clutches.
And then we got a rave in "The New York Times."
-What? -Yes.
There they are!
I've got the good stuff.
Alvy says "The Times" is raving.
-Yeah. -Yeah, and he said
that we should expect to sell a whole lot of tickets.
Hey. You may have just saved this town after all.
And I did not see that coming, eh?
No, because you're Philistine.
-Nadia. -But I forgive you
because you came tonight.
And I'm also man enough to say
it was fucking brilliant.
Come on, every one!
Raise your glasses!
[cheering]
♪ For he's a jolly good fellow♪
♪ For he's a jolly good fellow ♪
♪ For he's a jolly good fellow♪
♪ Which nobody can deny ♪
Yeah. What if she's already found him and told him?
It doesn't matter.
But we have to explain what happened.
We have to beg for forgiveness
and just say it was a stupid mistake.
Ah, but something beautiful came out of it.
Yes, but let's not say that.
Come on.
♪ Which nobody can deny ♪
[Richard] Oh.
You are not going to say a fucking word to Dad.
-Well, we were just-- -No, no, no, no, no.
Because I tried and I couldn't.
It will break his heart.
And that wonderful, sweet, caring man
should not have to pay for your stupidity.
So from now on, we are one happy family.
-Understand? -Okay.
-How, how, how-- -How? We're gonna act.
Cause we're all fucking actors here.
So act happy!
[exclaiming]
There they are!
My favorite people!
[crowd chanting] Jon, Jon, Jon!
Hey, let's take a family photo, huh? All of us together.
Hey, Dad! Dad! Come join us.
Family photo! [laughing]
[Randall] I can take it.
This is a big day for the Beans.
[Linus] It certainly is.
I've been aware of it all along.
-It's so fucking obvious. -What's that?
[Randall] Okay, everybody get close.
Miranda is Richard's daughter.
-What? -[camera clicks]
♪ Our happy place ♪
[music ends]
[mischievous music]