Twas the Night Before Christmas (2022) - full transcript

'Twas the night
before Christmas,

and all through the house,
not a creature was stirring,

not even a...?
Mouse!

The stockings were hung
by the chimney with care,

in hopes that St. Nicholas
soon would be there.

The children were nestled
all snug in their beds

while visions of sugar plums
danced in their heads.

And Mama in her kerchief,
and I in my cap,

had just settled down
for a long winter's...?

Nap!

When out on the lawn,
there arose such a clatter.



I sprang from my bed
to see what was the matter.

Away to the window
I flew like a flash,

drew open the shutter
and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast
of the new-fallen snow

gave the lustre of midday
to objects below.

Hear ye, hear ye!

A charge of literary piracy

is to be tried on Christmas Eve

within the courts of
this fair city of Troy!

Wherein the descendants of
Major Henry Livingston Jr.

Charge Clement Clarke Moore

of falsely claiming
authorship of the poem

"'Twas the Night
Before Christmas"!

Jefferson's idea...
Build up hype for the play!



He's worried about hype?

He's a producer,
he's always worried.

It's actually
a pretty good idea, right?

Such thin,
translucent writing paper.

Remarkable!

Some people take this
Victorian Stroll so seriously.

I mean, I guess that's why
we're doing the play here.

Great googly!

Oh!

Hi, Edna!

When my niece heard that
you were staying at my B&B,

she just had to meet you.

So, this is Beth.

Hi, Beth.

You're Marly Wilkens!

Well, I played a character
named Marly on TV,

probably when I was about your
age, but my name is Madison.

Great googly!
Oh!

And this is Hayley,
Madison's friend.

They wrote the play together.

Hi, Beth. Hi.

We are thrilled
that Connor Avery is starring!

You two were so great together
in Christmastime Cupid.

Thank you.
Oh!

The kiss?
Right?

Anyway, let's go get
some warm mince tarts, alright?

Okay, bye!
Look at the horse!

Uh... it's a horse. Yeah...

That kiss?

Don't start.

Dad, the taxi's here!

We got a reindeer at 12 o'clock.

Do you have your toothbrush?

Check.

Do you have your lucky socks?

Hmm, checkity-check.

Snacks for the plane?

Double-check.

Wait... there's one more thing!

Got your toothbrush?

Go on, your car is outside.

I'm gonna land
tonight in New York,

I drive upstate,

and I'm gonna be staying
at the hotel in Troy.

And at this rate, you'll be
lucky if you make your flight.

What is this?

It's a gingerbread footprint
salt dough Rudolph head.

Om nom!
Dad, don't eat it!

It's a Christmas ornament.

Oh!

To hang on your tree
in New York.

Thank you.

You know,
we're gonna hang it up together

when you and Nana come visit me.

If you ever make it there.

Thank you, Ma!

Love you.

Alright, give me a hug, J-Bug.

Ahh!

I'm gonna miss you.

Break a leg, Daddy.

Ooh!

I'm sorry.
Mind the grease.

I beg your pardon?

Oh, you're part of
the Victorian...

Yes.
Um...

Well, this is a play about
who really wrote the poem

"'Twas the Night
Before Christmas."

"An Account of a Visit
from St. Nicholas"!

The poem was originally titled

"An Account of a Visit
from St. Nicholas."

Yes, it was!

Okay.

Merry Christmas.

Hey, Walter.

I've got a great
potential series

all lined up for you.

You are going to love it.
It's a reboot of...

We've already discussed this.

Directing is my focus now.

But we make so much
money from your acting.

But it's not about the money.

Why are you trying to hurt me?

Look, you know
I need to stretch my wings.

Isn't that what Icarus said,
right before...

Boom!

It's not about hubris, Walter.

Why not start
directing with a short

like every other actor?

Phone cameras
can do so much these days.

Why does it gotta be a play?

And in Upstate New York...

where it's cold?

Because the subject matter
means something to me.

A poem about Santa Claus?

Yes, a poem about Santa Claus.

Okay, okay.

I'm sure it'll be fine,
minus the lost revenue.

I mean, you've got such
a stellar rep in this biz.

Thanks.

I'm sure it'll be fine
if it flops.

I appreciate the support.
Goodbye, Walter.

Call if you need anything...

or change your mind.

Madison?

I got news. Ugh...

Hey, what's going on?

The Christmas movie I wrote,
"The Jolliest Holiday,"

tons of last-minute changes
coming in fast and furious,

and apparently both
the producers and director

want me on set.

What?!

Did I mention it's in LA?

'Cause... I have a flight
there this afternoon.

Ugh!

Well, what does
that mean for our play?

It means I won't
be here to help.

I'm so sorry.

No, I'm sorry you have
to deal with all of this.

It's okay.

At least I don't have to
worry about our script.

No, our script's
in really good shape.

We're good.

I am just a phone call away,

and I will be back in time
for the Christmas Eve premiere.

Great.
I think.

Hmm?

Um...

To what should
my wandering eyes appear?

Oh!

You made it!

Are you smiling?
He smiled!

You smiled first.

Stop!
We already talked about this.

I don't date actors.

Connor!

'Ello, ladies!

Okay...

Hi.

Hi, Connor. Hi.

It's cool, huh?

Makes me feel like John Steed
from The Avengers.

It's giving me
Dad from Mary Poppins.

Oh...

And now I can't unsee it!

Which is probably a good thing

because it's an American poem
and you're playing an American.

Is Lena here?

I'm super curious
to meet my co-star.

I kept trying to
look her up online

but I just found a bunch of
hand modelling credits.

Um, she is...

She is...
Here!

Oh!

How do you do,

fellow counsellor?

Heh...

Connor Avery.

I was watching "My Fair Lady"
to, um...

to get into character,

and I just love Audrey Hepburn.
So posh.

And I was thinking,
maybe that's how I should

do my voice for the show.

Yeah?

Actually, Lena... hi.

You play a modern prosecutor,

so no accents.

That goes for you, too.

Yeah.

Oh my gosh,
Madison Rush, my director.

I'm so honoured to meet you.
I'm such a big fan.

Oh, thank you!

Great googly!
Uh, yeah.

It's her catchphrase.
Mm, yes.

Yeah.

Actually, that was
a very long time ago.

Yeah, I was in kindergarten, so...

it was a really long time ago.

Great!
Um, okay, I'm gonna...

Yeah.

I am so excited to be here!

I could not believe it
when Jefferson told me

I got the part!

Amazing.

Everyone, if you
could just gather around...

Let's go listen to the director.

Hi.

I just wanted to thank you all
for being a part of this

unique theatrical experience

that's part play
and part mock-trial.

A jury, made up from
real audience members,

will listen to both sides:

Clement Clarke Moore,
represented by Connor Avery,

and Henry Livingston Jr.,
represented by Lena DeLorean.

And then during intermission,

we'll render a verdict
to determine once and for all

who really wrote "'Twas
the Night Before Christmas."

Which has a lot of
meaning for this audience

because the poem was
first published here in Troy

anonymously back in 1823.

So, let's do a read-through

and then we'll get
to blocking, yeah?

Alright.

Uh, so, um...

Where are the blocks?

You think that I don't know

that you only took this case...

so that you could see me...

again?

You wish.

That seems mean.
That's mean!

Right?

Uh, let's just keep reading.

We need to do something.

Maybe I could take
the time on the flight

to try to pare down
Lena's lines.

So, she seems very sweet,

but why was she cast?

I guess you could say
we couldn't do the play

without her.

How do you mean?

She's the producer's girlfriend.

Jefferson was the only producer
that would back the play,

as long as... Lena got the part.

Right.
But you know what?

I took this play
to give myself a challenge,

and Lena is, well, a challenge.

Yeah, she is!

I admire your affinity
for understatement.

Sorry.

Thanks again for doing this.

Yeah, of course.

Hey, how's Josie?

She's good.

And my mom's gonna
bring her out here

as soon as she gets off school
for winter break.

Oh... Connor.

You should have told me no.

She is gonna love the
Victorian Festival and the play.

I hope so.

I gotta go back to
Edna's B&B and grab my luggage.

Production just moved
my flight up by two hours.

What?

I feel like I'm abandoning you.

You're not.
Go do your job.

Okay.
Just 'cause they pay me.

Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.

I love you.
I love you.

Bye.

Merry Christmas.

You only took this job...

so that you could see me again.

Madison!
Hey, Connor!

Two of my favourites.

Oh...

Hey, Jefferson.

Hey, thanks again
for casting Lena.

Girl just needs a chance,
you know?

Like you need with this play.

Oh.

Yeah.

I've actually been
thinking about the play.

It's a great concept.

Love the real jury part.

Okay...

The romance isn't working.

Not working?

Yeah, there's no chemistry.

These are two former lovers,

brought together in the court
of law over this debate.

Instead, it's kind of...

Eh.

"Eh"?
Uh...

I mean, don't worry
about the chemistry.

Connor will bring the chemistry.

Ah, I'm just saying

that maybe you can bump it up
with a little something.

And another thing, you gotta
up the good guy/bad guy angle.

Good guy/bad guy angle?

Yeah, audiences
want someone to root for,

and someone to root against.

But this town has been debating

who wrote this poem for years.

We might alienate
half our audience.

More like stir their passions.

Oh, Jefferson,
we open in ten days.

Yeah, that's plenty of time.

Hey, look, I don't
wanna step on any toes here,

but I think we should respect

Madison and Hayley's
original vision.

Mmm, yeah, we are, Connor.

It's already
built into the story.

Okay, look, on one side,
you got this Moore guy, right?

He's a rich
Manhattan property owner

who's against
all Christmas celebrations.

Then on the other side
we got Henry Livingston Jr.

He's a farmer.

He's a family man.

The man is a hero
of the Revolutionary War,

who wrote these poems
for his children

and then he had his
most beloved creation stolen

by a real-life Scrooge.

Well, we don't
know that for a fact.

I mean, we do and we don't.

Hey...

Hey, not like they're gonna
come back and dispute it.

Am I right?

My agent is so gonna gloat.

Are you gonna make the changes?

I mean, what if he's right?

What if the romance is "meh"

and the audience
does want someone to root for?

Should we pick a side?

I-I can't do that,
and direct the play,

and somehow teach Lena
how to act in ten days.

She doesn't need
to be Meryl Streep.

She just needs to say her lines
and not bump into the furniture.

Preferably
without an English accent.

Oh, I want it to be
better than that, though.

I want it to be good.

I want to be good.

You will be.

And I'm gonna help you...
if you want me to.

Yeah?

I happen to be
a whiz at research.

You are?

It's my secret superpower.

If you want,
we can go to the library

and get into the nitty-gritty
on Livingston and Moore,

see if we can find our
good guy/bad guy angle there.

I have already
asked so much of you.

I don't mind.

I am staying
in the smallest room

at that hotel downtown,
and I am going to go stir-crazy.

I'll meet you at the B&B...

10 am?

Okay, 10 am.

It's a date.

Well, not a date, of course.
Of course.

No, 'cause I don't date actors.

Yeah, me neither.

Thank you, Connor.

You're a really good friend.

How do I personify Livingston

as the hero in the courtroom?

Or Moore.

Well, Jefferson was
pretty adamant about making

the Livingston the protagonist.

So we're gonna
purposefully lead the jury?

Ugh, I don't know!

I'll let you know
what Connor and I find.

Are you seriously
decorating your hotel room?

Yeah!
I brought it from Production.

Helps get me in the mood.

What was that about Connor?
What?

You said you'd let me
know "what Connor and I find."

He's helping me do research.

Carry your books to class.

Aren't you too busy
for misguided innuendo?

One should never be
too busy for innuendo.

Misguided.

You have your version,
I have mine.

I'm hanging up now.

Good luck!

Let me
warm up that coffee for you.

Thank you, Edna.
Mm-hm!

You're here early.

Good morning, Edna.

Good morning.

Well, I insisted that Connor
come here for breakfast.

You know what?

The hotel where he's staying at,
it just has the worst buffets.

Right?

The waffles are perfect.
You're perfect.

Well, I see Charming Connor
is back in fine form.

Ah, two years post-divorce,

I'm really just trying to
put myself out there.

Hmm, alright.
Well, I'll let Edna know.

Oh, please do.

Listen to this.

"Many of Major Livingston's
poems were written

"for his children and published
in New York papers and magazines

"anonymously or under
quirky pseudonyms such as...

"Senor Whimsicalo Pomposo."

"Livingston's grandson, Sydney,

"claimed to have found
the original handwritten copy

"of the Christmas poem
in his father's desk

"with its original cross-outs,

"but the manuscript was lost in
a house fire later that year."

How convenient.

Hm.

I've never heard that before.

Where did you find this?

Up in the stacks.

Had to use the old
Dewey Decimal System.

And I'm pretty sure I haven't
said "Dewey Decimal System"

since I graduated law school.

Law school?

Wait, you're a lawyer?

Well, I never actually
passed the bar anywhere,

and that is a much longer story,

and yours truly has a date
with the unauthorized biography

of Clement Clarke Moore to find.

We're focusing on Livingston.

You are.

I'm playing the guy
defending Moore,

and I want to be prepared.

Oh, you really
are a research nerd.

Guilty!

Terribly sorry for
the disturbance, Miss.

I always was a bit of a foozler.

A what?

Foozler.

Or klutz,
in the parlance of your time.

Man, you take
this Victorian Stroll thing

so seriously!

My time is before
that of Queen Victoria.

A-ha.

Have we met somewhere?

I don't believe
I've had the pleasure.

Major Henry Livingston. Junior.

At your service.

Oh, you're one of
the Livingston cosplayers.

I beg your pardon?

I saw a few
Livingstons out there.

And Moores.

And at least two or three
Sherlock Holmes.

Rest assured, Miss...

I am the genuine article.

You really get into the spirit.

That's it!

Spirit, ghost!
Shh!

Sorry, sorry!

Livingston's ghost goes back
to testify at his own trial.

Boom, personification!

Do you know where
the Spark Street Theatre is?

I am acquainted with
the establishment, yes.

Connor's desk,
this whole half.

Right, we'll do that.

So many... pages.

I love it.

It's Law & Order meets
the Ghost of Christmas Past.

It's Dickens with a deposition.

Thanks, Jefferson!

So, who do you
got in mind for Livingston?

Um, I have found someone.

Someone inexpensive?

Yes.
Would I know them?

No, he's actually local.

Oh.
Even better!

Gotta take this. Okay.

Go for Jefferson.

So what's his name, the new guy?

Uh, he actually
likes to go by Livingston.

So he's a, uh, method actor!

I'm not sure.

He's a little difficult
to read, so...

Well, when do we
get to meet him?

He should be here any...

You know, actors aren't
the most punctual.

I am not an actor!

I'm a map-maker
and surveyor by trade,

and by avocation
an illustrator and poet.

He's here!

Everyone,
meet Major Henry Livingston Jr.

At your service.

I think you'll find
that he is well-versed

in all things Livingston
and able to ad lib when needed.

Ad lib?

Ad libbing, yeah?
Uh...

Uh, Sean, our stage manager,

will get you some new pages.

Yes, here you go.
Thank you.

Thank you, my good sir.

I assure you, these shall
receive my utmost attention.

Is this our Livingston?

Oh, welcome aboard, Major!

I am loving this costume.

Great detail.
Very lived-in.

Is this his or ours?

You know what?
Never mind.

Just send me the number
to your tailor, will ya?

You're a bit of butter
upon bacon, aren't you?

Well, don't tell
my cardiologist!

Oh, he's our good guy, yeah?

Maybe just lighten
him up a little bit.

Hmm.
Thanks.

Alright, let's get it
on its feet.

Yeah?

Major, would you mind
reading your pages?

Certainly.

Out loud?

Ah.

I was commissioned major
in 1775.

The fiddle
was a great distraction

when hostilities began.

Hmm, those were
trying days, indeed.

It seemed as though
everyone strove to find

some lighthearted distraction
to devote their attention

from the uncertainty
that surrounded us.

Though I do often point
to that time as the quiet spark

for my own creative endeavours
later in my life.

That was perfect!

Really, that was great.

Okay!

Something smells amazing.

Oh, you're here. Again.

I may have volunteered
to help Edna yesterday

for tomorrow night's
Victorian Stroll.

Well, Saturday night
is the most important night

of the festival, and Connor
just volunteered to help

make cookies to give out.

You bake?

Yeah, I have
a seven-year-old daughter.

I mean, baking cookies
is the easiest skill

I've learned along the way.

Tomorrow we could
assemble the gingerbread houses

and then we could frost them.

If my boss lets me out on time.

Are you staying here tonight?

Oh, he's staying
through the holidays!

I insisted.

A last-minute
cancellation, fortunately.

Yeah.
Well, I mean, that hotel

that he's staying at, I mean,

that's just like a shoebox and
it has about as much charm...

I'm so excited. Oh.

Wow.

Here.
Ooh!

Hello, Frosty.

You're really making
yourself at home, huh?

I could probably get you
a matching apron, if you like.

Are you flirting with me?

Do you want me to be?

Yes?

Sorry!

Aah!

I am having such a hard time

writing the romance
part of this play.

I mean, am I so out of practice

that I can't even write
banter anymore?

Can I help?

Tell me something romantic.

Our kiss
in "Christmastime Cupid"

was our favourite
on-screen kiss.

I meant, like,
tell me a romantic story.

Yeah!
Well, okay!

That's embarrassing.

No, no, it was a great kiss,
and a great...

Movie kiss.

Right, that's what I was saying.

Yeah.
Yeah.

Ah...

It's Josie.
Mm-hm.

West Coast, bedtime.

Hey, J-Bug!

Hope you're being
good for Grandma.

You look like an elf.

Like, not the ones
at the houses;

you look like the ones
that do, like, the jobs

and make the toys
and cook the food for Santa.

What do you want for Christmas?

Hmm.

I honestly don't know.

I want to be with you.

I want to be with you, too.

See you soon.

Goodnight!
Bye.

Court is in session.

Hmm.

Y-you tes... testified
that you wrote...

"'Twas the Night Before
Christmas" in 1823 as...

an entertainment.

Entertainment?

Yeah.

Uh, for...

your children and...
that you...

know it... it was never
your intention...

to see it...

published!

Uh...
Major?

That's your line.

Yes, that's correct.

A... lot of people...

have criticized your clams...

Claims!

"Claims," that makes more sense.

Because you never...

before...

declared author-ships.

Ship...

Sorry!
Uh...

What is your response?

I never wanted
a name put to it at all.

My poem is a celebration
of Christmas magic.

I wanted my children,
all children,

to experience that magic,

as if it might have come from
St. Nicholas himself.

When it comes to my poetry,
my family, and my heart,

I would not sell you a dog.

Sell a dog, sell...

Sell a dog?
That's...

That's not in my...
That's not in my script!

No, no, it's okay.
Just... just go with it.

Yeah.

I'm so sorry, I'm just...
I'm really nervous.

I really want to be good,
for you, for this.

But, um, my mind feels like

it's just going
a million miles a minute.

And I knew my lines, I did,
I knew all of my lines,

but now there are
way more lines!

And this new guy in here,
I mean,

he's just making up
all his own lines.

He's coming in with
his accent, his clothes...

I know.
I know, I know.

Are you gonna fire me?

No.

If Jefferson wasn't
the producer?

Lena...
I get it.

I really thought
I would be better.

But I can act.
I can, I promise.

It's just...
it's been a while.

How long?

Freshman year of college,
I was Ado Annie in Oklahoma!

Okay!

Should I...
I mean, should I maybe...

sing my lines?
No!

No, no, no.
No singing.

Please.

It's just I'm feeling
really self-conscious

because it feels like
they're all looking at me

like I don't know
what I'm doing,

and... and it just kind of makes
my brain shut off until I...

don't know what I'm doing.

You know, I used to
get like that, too.

You did?
Yeah.

How did you get over it?

Well, my dad had this...

this technique that...

You know what?

How do you feel
about gingerbread?

In what way?

Come with me.
Come on.

So, this is the overall vision
of what we want to accomplish.

Hmm.

Mm-hm.

I... I thought this
was an acting lesson.

It is.

So, do you have an overall
vision for your character?

I think so.

Can you tell me
some elements of her

that you think are important?

Um, I think that
she is someone who...

believes in the truth!

And is truth her cornerstone?

Yes.
Great.

Okay, so the gingerbread
is the cornerstone

of the gingerbread house, right?

At least for our purposes here.

Sure, yeah.

Okay, so if
truth is her cornerstone,

pointing her
in the right direction,

what is the element that
binds those truths together?

Sugar?

She couldn't have gone
very far in her search

for the truth without...?

Money!

Hmm.
Um...

Tenacity?

Yeah, that too. Yeah.

Alright, tenacity.

So we are gonna make
the royal icing our tenacity.

So if these two pieces
are the truth,

can you recall some lines
of the play that represent

your character's quest
for the truth?

'Twas the Night Before...
Wait, wait.

I want you to do that while
putting this together.

Okay?
Just trust me.

Oop!

Okay.

Uh...

"'Twas the Night
Before Christmas"

was published anonymously
in the Troy Sentinel in 1823.

It wasn't until 1844,

after the poem
had already become popular,

that Clement Clarke Moore
claimed authorship of it.

Why the wait?
Was he shy?

Or was it because
the poem's true author,

Henry Livingston Jr.,
had already passed away?

I am here to say
that it's the latter.

What?

That was line-by-line perfect.

I didn't get nervous!

No, because you were
concentrating on something

other than just the words,
you see?

Okay, so when you need
to remember that section

of the dialogue,
you think of these two pieces

and you remember
the lines that go with them.

What if someone ad libs again?

Then you think of
this gingerbread house

and you respond from
who your character is:

truth-seeking and tenacious.

She believes that Livingston
is the real author who wrote

"'Twas the Night
Before Christmas,"

not Moore, and she's
gonna prove that.

Respond from there.

Yeah?
Yeah.

Great!

Alright, next section.

Hello!

Two houses?

Three, actually.

Okay!

Lena went a little overboard.

I can see that.

Uh, but we won't say no!

Thank you.

All proceeds from the bake sale
go to planting more trees

in downtown Troy, so thank you
both, and thank you, Lena.

Absolutely.

Are you two
going to stick around,

or do you have more work
to do on the play?

I actually do have
one more scene to write,

but I honestly think I'm just
too exhausted to do it tonight.

Well, in that case,

you should take one little
stroll around the festival.

It's... it's
really quite special.

Mm!
I'm game.

Thank you.
Ooh!

Whoa!

Yes!
A-ha-ha!

Cheers.

Mmm!
Mmm, that is so good!

Pretty sure that's not
from the Victorian Era.

I am so fine not diving into
that time period right now.

This is delicious.

Mmm!

Mmm.

So, who do you think
our Livingston really is?

My money's on him being
a history teacher in real life.

Too obvious.
Yeah?

Yeah.

Who do you think he is?

A retired spy...

who still likes to put on
different personas.

What, like a
centuries-dead poet?

Perfect cover, yeah?

Yeah.

You know, that was
some seriously impressive

teaching technique
you used back there on Lena.

Hmm.

It was a trick my dad taught me

when I first started on
"Bet Your Bottom Dollar."

Association, chunking,
and visualization.

Break down large chunks
of content into smaller parts

to make it easier to remember,

and then associate those pieces
with a particular image.

Gingerbread?
Gingerbread.

And then when
it's time to recall,

you pull up that image
and the words will come.

Huh.
Yeah.

Was your dad an actor?

Mm...

No.

Uh, actually,
he was a cognitive psychologist.

And he loved the theatre,

and he took me to see
"The Nutcracker"

when I was barely four,
and that was it.

I loved it.

And he took me to voice,
ballet, stage combat.

Nice!

Yeah, I loved
everything about it.

The smell of the grease paint,
the imagination,

but mostly because it
was our thing, you know?

Mm-hm.

I was 11 when he passed away.

It was season two
of me playing Marly Wilkens,

and... I know
he was so proud of me,

but I always had this feeling
that he wanted me to go back

to the theatre.

Maybe even Broadway, someday.

He'd have loved that.

You're back doing theatre now.

Years later.

You could have kept doing TV,
a great career,

but you took a risk.

I admire that.

Yeah?
Yeah.

Thanks.

Reindeer, reindeer,
please, please.

Oh, perfect. Yeah.

Hello.

How are you?

Oh, I'm great.
Thank you for asking.

That's very sweet.

Thank you!

Thanks for letting me tag along.

I think I actually
started to blink in time

with the cursor this morning.

Well, anytime you need
a distraction, I'm your man.

Thanks.

And I'm your reindeer!

He is a charlatan!

I'm sorry?

You cannot allow this
mockery to go unchallenged.

I am so lost.

Livingston.

You are the one
to defend the truth

and end this fallacy for good.

You gonna get that for Josie?

Uh...

Uh...

Uh...

Yeah!
I think I will.

Okay.

You good?

Yeah!

Oh, there you are!

Good morning, Edna.

Well, I will have you know,

your gingerbread houses
were the talk of the table.

They raised three times
as much as expected.

That's great, Edna.

Something wrong, hun?

Uh, yeah, just...

champagne problems, as they say.

My agent sent me a project
with a direct offer.

Oh, no.

And it's the week
before Christmas,

and you can't
do the play and you...

No, I can do the play.

It starts in early January
and films in Lithuania.

Oh!

Well, that is
a beautiful country.

It is.

And I've always loved travelling
for work, it's just...

I don't want to be that far away
from my daughter anymore.

It's not like when
she was little and I could just

pack her up
and bring her with me.

I get it.

Priorities change, especially
when you become a parent.

You know, when I met my husband,

he was the pilot
and I was the flight attendant,

but once our
first child came along,

we made some changes.

The B&B?

My sister owns
the bakery in town,

so it just made sense
to settle here.

And, well, it was a big change

and it was
certainly challenging,

but it was the right choice
for our family.

Lives evolve, right?

Sometimes reinventing yourself
can be a really good thing.

Like what Madison's doing.

I mean, who knows.

Maybe you could become
a lawyer for real.

Hmm.

Gingerbread?

Three houses' worth.

I'm so gonna steal
that for my next movie.

Connor said you would say that.

Connor did, did he?

No, no, don't even start.

You brought up his name,

for the fifth time
in the last four minutes.

Hayley...
What?!

I'm not saying
you're going steady.

Are you?

I'm just teasing you.

I'll stop.
No more Connor jokes.

Thank you.

So, have you finished
those 14 pages of notes yet?

Yeah.

And now I have nine new ones.

The director and producers
have different visions.

Wow.

I reminded them last night

that this is a movie about
Santa Claus on vacation,

not Jake in Chinatown.

So no early return to Troy?

Sorry.
No, it's okay.

And that marks
the end of my 15-minute

human interaction break.
Knock 'em dead out there.

You too. Bye.

You think I don't know?

You only took this case because
you knew you would see me again.

Oh...
That was... that was good!

Yeah?
Really, you think so?

Oh, yeah!

Uh-huh!

Wait, what's with
the gingerbread?

I'm learning my lines.

Actors are weird.

You called me an actor.

Well, because you are.

No one's ever
called me an actor before.

Lena, my dear,
if I didn't believe in you,

I never would have backed
this poem trial story.

I mean, what do I know
about putting on plays?

I'm a film guy.

I did this
so you'd believe in you.

That might be the sweetest thing
you've ever said to me.

I can't wait for the world

to see you up on that stage.

And... you know
who could be the first?

Sophia Farentino.

Sophia Farentino,
the Broadway producer?!

No, you're kidding.
Are you kidding?

I'm working on it.

Oh, thank you!
You're the best!

I can't wait!
I'm so excited.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I've gotta finish
learning my lines.

Gingerbread!

Oh, wrapping Josie's presents?

You need help?

Sure.

"A Guide to Legal Research"...

"Great Debates
in Criminal Law"...

Wow, Josie is very advanced.

Those are mine.
Hmm!

What can I say,

I'm inspired
by Livingston's acting method.

Mm.

Hm.

So, the thing is,

I always wanted to be a lawyer.

Yeah, you mentioned
something about that.

My mom was a single mom.

We didn't grow up
with a lot of resources.

I did get some scholarships,
but it was still a stretch.

Ironically, law school was how
I wound up being an actor.

I don't understand.

A good lawyer
needs to be able to

think on his feet, right?

Change course
at the drop of a hat.

So I signed up for
an improv class.

I was the only law student
in the group.

And one night,
a casting agent comes in there

and she offers
to take me for a commercial.

And you got it?

I did.

I paid for that whole
next semester in cash.

It felt good.

And then what,
acting just took over?

Well, before I knew it,
I had met Regina

and Josie had come along,
and the fastest way for me

to support my family
was to just keep going forward.

On the road that
you accidentally chose.

Or the road that
accidentally chose me.

So then, what are
you doing with this?

I told you,
I'm researching my role

as Moore's defence counsel.

So, how's the romance polish?

Hmph!

It's much easier making
Livingston the good guy than...

writing that.

Yeah, I was gonna
ask you about that.

Have you given any thought
to having the ghost of Moore

give his testimony?

It seems only fair.

We open in three days!

Just pass me the tape.

Okay.
Please.

And a bow.
Thank you!

Checking in.
How's it going?

It's going.

And hopefully we're gonna get
through a full rehearsal today.

Hopefully?

We've had a few hiccups,

but I think everything
is smoothed out now.

I hope so!

Some of your fan sites
have already gotten wind

of your new phase.

Even some pics of you out there
in some English period setting?

It's the Victorian Stroll.

I told you, it happens
every year here in Troy.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Hey, did you get that email,
uh, about the producers?

Yes, Walter, I did.
And...?

And I'm concentrating
on directing.

We've discussed this.
A lot.

For how long?

Just let me get through
one production

and then we can
talk again, okay?

I'm worried, Maddy.

Why?

What if something goes wrong?

I mean, you've
bitten off a lot here.

Writing with Hayley
and directing

for a one-night-only play.

Theatre isn't exactly
your regular field, Maddy.

I can do this, Walter.

I can.

Uh, look, I have to go.

Hi!

There she is,
our fearless leader,

Madison Rush herself.

Uh-oh, now I'm nervous.

Ha, yes,
and she's hilarious, to boot.

Now, Madison Rush, I want
you to meet one of the finest

theatrical producers of the
21st century, Sophia Farentino.

That's a bit much, Jefferson.

Alright.
Well, than how about

a Broadway legend?

That'll do.

It's so nice to meet you.

Jefferson has said such
wonderful things about you

and this play.
Oh!

Well, that's fantastic.
Thank you.

I'm excited to see it.

Great, well, we'll see you
on Christmas Eve.

Hmm, yes, about that.

Uh...

Watch the rehearsal?

Have you lost your mind?

But she knows it's a rehearsal!

Our first full run-through,

provided we actually make it
all the way through this time.

Oh, well,
this is just semantics.

It is really, really,
really rough, Jefferson.

Did you tell her that?

Well, you know,
maybe not three reallys' worth

of rough, but she knows
that we're still

in the polishing phase.

No, not polishing.

We don't even know
where Livingston is.

Then text him!

Ugh!

Sean didn't get
his contact info.

He doesn't think
the guy has a phone.

He doesn't have a...

Do you think this guy
does cosplay all year round,

or is it like after Christmas
he just goes back

to being an assistant manager?

It doesn't matter.
He's not here now!

Okay, well, hopefully
he gets here soon.

Sophia Farentino is considering
taking our little production

to one of her Off-Broadway
farm team theatres.

Maybe eventually
the Great White Way itself.

I know, I'm not a theatre guy,

but even I know
that this is a big deal.

So she's here now?
Yes.

It's her only chance to see it
before she leaves for Vienna.

Well, then let's go for it.

It's not ready!

Madison,
you're a great director.

Trust your instinct.

Alright, everyone!

Okay, uh, so...

we have a special guest
of Jefferson's here

to watch our very first
full run-through,

so let's go for the goal of
smooth and professional, okay?

Alright, let's do this.

Woo!
Yes.

Curtain up in
two minutes, everyone.

Places.

Hey, you good?

You got this.

Alright?

Sophia, after you.

Thank you, Jefferson.

Best seats in the house, right?

There's still no sign
of Major Livingston.

Have you tried
his dressing room?

Yes, ma'am.
It's empty.

Well, we're gonna
have to wing it.

Okay.

"'Twas the Night
Before Christmas"

is one of the most famous poems
in American history.

It was published anonymously
in the Troy Sentinel newspaper

on December 23rd, 1823,

and it has gone on
to become something that

nearly everyone
can happily recite.

Yet the one question that...

That's her.
That's Lena!

No one can
successfully answer is,

who really wrote it?

Tonight, we're going
to answer that question.

Only...
it's not who you may think.

For though the poem
has been attributed

to Clement Clarke Moore,

it wasn't until nearly 20 years
after the poem was published

that Moore claimed it
by including it

in a book of his poems,

after it had already
become famous

and after its true author
had passed away.

Tonight, I intend to
set the record straight

and prove to you all
that the poem's rightful author

is Major Henry Livingston Jr.,

who will finally get his due.

Thank you.

You're up, counsellor.

Every time verses
of the beloved poem,

"'Twas the Night
Before Christmas,"

have been published,

they've been
under the authorship

of Clement Clarke Moore.

Mr. Evans, in your expert
opinion as Lead Historian

for the Troy Historical Society,

do you believe
that Clement Clarke Moore

is the true author of
Twas the Night Before Christmas?

I do have a hard time believing
Clement Moore wrote it.

And why is that?

Well, for one, the style,

and subject matter,

is not consistent
with Moore's work,

whereas it is very much
true to the poems

Major Livingston wrote
at the time.

Livingston's cue's
in four minutes.

Is there any other reason

you have a hard time believing
Moore wrote the poem?

Clement Clarke Moore
was known to be...

Ah, how should I say?

A bit of a curmudgeon.

Ladies and gentlemen,
the facts of this case

are centuries old,

so I have sent a subpoena back
in time to the great beyond,

requesting the very spirit

of Major Henry Livingston Jr. himself.

Your honour,
aside from my obvious objection

to calling witnesses
that aren't even alive,

I object to counsel's delusions
that they even have the ability.

Let's see where this goes.

Counsellor,
call your next witness.

Your honour, I call the spirit

of Major Henry Livingston Jr.

The spirit of
Major Henry Livingston Jr.!

Oh, nice effect.

Uh, thanks.

Sir, would you state
your name for the record?

Major Henry Beekman Livingston.

Junior.

Your honour, I object.

Grounds?

So many, I'm not even
really sure where to start.

Certainly a problem with calling
witnesses back from the dead

is that they have no incentive
to tell the truth.

Sit down, counsellor.

Major, would you
please tell the court,

how did you support
yourself after the war?

I farmed my land,
and we had a boat dock

through which
we supplied merchant sailors

travelling the Hudson.

You've led
quite a remarkable life.

Tell me, at any point
did you ever write poems

for your children?

I certainly did.

Were any of these poems
about Christmas, perhaps?

Oh, yes, there was
a particular favourite of mine.

Could you recite
a little of that for us?

Why, certainly.

"When what to my
wondering eyes should appear

"but a miniature sleigh
and eight tiny reindeer.

"With a little old driver,
so lively and quick,

"I knew in a moment
it must be St. Nick."

I cannot believe
what I am hearing.

What that man is saying
is a patent lie!

I cannot stand by and abide
this skulduggery any longer!

Who is that?

I know you.

Of course you know me!

I am your client,
Clement Clarke Moore.

Oh, great googly.

Your honour,
I call Clement Clarke Moore

to take the stand.

Should we stop this?

No, let's roll with it,
see what Connor does.

Mr. Moore.
Hmph!

Please, tell us
about the circumstances

surrounding
your writing the poem.

Certainly.

One Christmas Eve in 1822,

I was out shopping
for the Christmas turkey

in Greenwich Village.

While riding in my
one-horse open sleigh,

I looked at my driver.

He was a sort of
roly-poly merry fellow,

and it was the image
of him in the moonlight,

with the snow falling,

that inspired me
to hurry home and write.

What was it you wrote
when you returned home?

I wrote the 56 lines of poetry

known as
"A Visit from St. Nicholas."

Better known today as "'Twas
the Night Before Christmas."

Hmm.

Why didn't you sign your name
to it or claim credit

after it had been published?

Oh, it was just
a trifle that I'd written

for my children to read to them
on Christmas Day.

Ah, I certainly
didn't expect or want it

to be shared publicly!

Least of all with my name on it.

That would have been
an embarrassment

for a gentleman.

Then why did you claim
credit to it 20 years later?

Mostly at the behest
of my children.

I was about to publish
a book of poetry

and they requested
I include it, for them.

That doesn't sound
very curmudgeonly to me.

Good job.

Okay.

Your witness, counsellor.

Come on, Lena.

Just, um,
a few questions, Mr. Moore.

Have you heard people
describe you on the stand?

I have.

And how did...

How did that make you feel?

It does not represent who I am.

It is true that in my work,
I objected to writings

that glorified
irresponsible activities...

Tobacco, alcohol, dancing,
irresponsible practices.

But...

I believe a writer should be
careful with his words

not to romanticize wicked

and harmful pursuits.

Like smoking, perhaps?

Precisely like smoking!

Then why would you write about
St. Nicholas smoking a pipe?

Uh...

I-I did not think...

"The stump of a pipe
he held tight in his teeth,

"and the smoke, it encircled
his head like a wreath."

I was struggling to find
something that rhymed properly

with "wreath,"
so I set upon "teeth."

And as I thought more,
I remembered my driver

from that evening,
who had a short, stubby pipe.

But you didn't have
to include that, did you?

Unless, of course,
someone less bothered by smoking

actually wrote the poem.

A-ha!

This is not over!

Not yet it's not.

And that is where
we will end the rehearsal!

In the actual play,
the jury will deliberate

during intermission
and then render a verdict,

which will be as much
of a mystery to us

as it will be to the rest
of the audience.

Okay, great job, everyone!

Yeah!
Good, yeah, okay.

Ah!

I told you you could do it!

Well, thanks to you!
No!

The gingerbread thing
was really helpful

and the smoking thing
just kind of like

popped into my head!
That's good!

Who is the new guy?

I thought you knew him.

No, I've seen him around,

but I thought he was part of
the whole Victorian Stroll.

Victorian Stroll, right.

Like Livingston.
Yes!

Where is Livingston?

He better show up for
the Christmas Eve performance.

Yeah, and the Moore ghost, too.

Oh no, please!

Hey, Sean, did we get
the guy playing Moore's info?

No, ma'am.
When I went to look for him

and Livingston,
they were both gone.

Oh!

Those guys are really method.

Friends, colleagues...

Thespians!

That new ghost was genius!
Tell me you got him for free.

You know what?
It doesn't matter.

Unless you paid a lot,
then it does.

No, actually, I...
Doesn't matter.

You know what?
It's great.

Okay.
It's great.

And do you want to know
what else was great?

Sophia Farentino
loved what she saw.

There's nothing concrete but
it's looking really positive.

And you, my darling,

were incredible!
- Oh, stop.

You were so good!
I was pretty good.

Yeah!

I didn't know what
I was gonna do, either...

Mm-hm...

Josie and my mom
will be here tomorrow.

Is that what she looks like now?

She has grown up so fast.

I know every parent says that.

No, no, no, no...

She was such a little girl

when she used to
come to set two years ago.

I know. Wow.

And, you know, I've tried
to be there as much as I can

and I still feel like
I've missed out.

Hmm, so that's what
the law books are really about.

Maybe.

I mean, lawyers don't have to
travel as much for work.

Hmm, yeah.

You know one of the things
I admire about you the most?

You could have coasted
for a long time

being the "Great googly!"
girl...

but you reinvented yourself.

First with the movies,
now with this.

It's inspiring.

Inspiring?

Wow, I don't think anyone's
ever said that to me before.

I find that
impossible to believe.

Tell me something romantic.

Looking at you right now,

I feel like my heart is
gonna beat out of my chest.

Same.

What do they say
about watched kettles?

Uh, that they miss their kids?

Oh, good!

Oh, hey!
Dad!

J-Bug!
Aww!

I missed you so much.

I missed you.

What's that?

Ah, a little surprise.

I figured we could do
a little decorating.

Josie...

I believe this should be
the first one on the tree.

Yes!
Okay.

Oh, Josie, Mom,
you remember Madison.

Of course we remember her!
Hi!

How are you, Madison?
Nice to see you again.

So nice to see you
again as well.

I'm glad you guys could make it.

We're excited to
see your Christmas play.

Thank you.
Are there reindeer?

Hello?

That's what we forgot...
The reindeer!

Dad, are we going to
the Christmas costume

festival thing?

We're absolutely
going to the Christmas

costume festival thing!

But we gotta finish
this tree first.

Well, I'm gonna...
It was good to see you.

No, join us.

Oh...

We could use your help.

Oh, no, it's a family thing.

I couldn't.

Come on...

Join us.

Oh, come on, join us!

Okay!
Good!

♪ Ooh... ♪

♪ There's something
about Christmas ♪

♪ That makes me grin
from ear to ear ♪

♪ Listen close
and I'll tell you why ♪

♪ It's my favourite
time of year ♪

♪ Oh, yeah...
Candycanes and mistletoe ♪

♪ Time with friends
and all that snow ♪

♪ When it's done,
don't want it to go ♪

♪ It's my favourite
time of year! ♪

♪ But no Christmas feels right
without you by my side ♪

♪ Ooh, ooooh... ♪

♪ So, baby come home
for Christmas ♪

♪ So, baby come home ♪

♪ Don't you know
it's Christmas ♪

♪ Don't you know... ♪

♪ A roaring fire
and candlelight ♪

♪ And all I need
is you here tonight ♪

Cheers!

Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!

♪ So baby, come home ♪

Alright, honey!

I know, she's so excited.

Lena, hi!

Hey.

Oh, hi!

Are you okay?

Can we talk?

Sure.
Hey, I'll catch up with you all.

Sure...
Sure.

You know one of the reasons

I wanted to do the play
is that Jefferson told me

that you would be directing it.
Really?

I've been a fan of yours
for so long

and I really wanted
to learn from you.

Thank you.

But is something going on?

Jefferson filmed part of
my performance the other night

and he sent it to
a producer friend of his

who is filming a movie,
thinking that if he liked it,

maybe I would get a small part.

Yeah, that's a great idea.

And so I shot an audition
and I sent it in...

and...

I got the second lead role.

What?
Congratulations!

Well, I wouldn't have
gotten it without your help.

No, I bet that's not true.

I think we both know better!

The only thing
I ever helped you with

was your confidence.

Hmm.

Well, why don't
you seem happier?

Because it starts filming
on December 27th.

O... oh.

In New Zealand.

So I-I...

I have to leave today.

Well...

Wha...?

I'm sorry, I never
actually considered second lead.

And our play?

Whatever you want,
I'm gonna support.

You know, money's paid for.

Let the show go on...
if you like.

Without our lead actress?

Jefferson!

You have to understand,

I only agreed to support
this play because of Lena.

I love that girl so much.

Hey, my first priority
is to do right by her.

I get that, but what about
the rest of us, okay?

Everyone who has worked
so hard on this production.

And what about
Sophia Farentino, huh?

She's not gonna take a show
to Broadway that's never

even been performed once.

I'm truly sorry.

♪ Good King Wenceslas
looked out,

on the Feast of Stephen. ♪

♪ When the snow lay round about,
deep and crisp and even. ♪

♪ Brightly shone
the moon that night,

though the frost was cruel... ♪

So, she can't still do the play?

It's already
Christmas Eve in New Zealand

and she's gotta
fly to California,

pack, and then fly to Auckland,

and basically be situated
in three days.

So, no, she can't do the play.

No, she can't do the play.

However, she did offer to try,
which I appreciated.

You turned her down?
Of course.

This is way too good
of an opportunity

for somebody just starting out.

Well, what do we do then?

Nothing.

We don't have a lead actress
and we open in a day.

This is literally a disaster.

I'm sorry, Dad.

I tried.

Here you are.

Hayley?

How are you here?

I was already on the way back

when Jefferson called
to tell me.

My play is ruined, Hayley.

No, it isn't.

We don't have a lead actress.

Then we're gonna
have to use our understudy.

Understudy?
We don't have an understudy!

We couldn't afford
an understudy!

Madison, we have an understudy.

No.

No!

The whole reason
I chose to do this play

was so I could step away
from acting.

The whole reason you
chose to do this play

was so that you could reinvent
yourself as a director.

That doesn't mean
you can't act, too.

Bring a little part of
the old you into the new you.

Nothing comes from nothing.

Did you just quote
"Sound of Music" to me?

Yeah.
You weren't supposed to notice.

This is your baby, Mads!

The Christmas show
that meant so much to you.

These are the pulleys.

They help bring up the curtains,
which is the most

amazing feeling when
you're standing, like...

Oh...
Oh, hey.

Hey.

Just showing her the office.

I love it.

Ah!

We'll get out of your way.

No, stay.

It's a magical place.

Order in the court!

So...

What about the play?

Hey, Josie.

You know what my dad used to
tell me about being up here?

"Do it because you love it."

Climb every mountain.

Ford every steam.
No, no.

No.
Stop.

Follow the rainbow?

Nope, nope.

Walter?

I am here to support
my favourite client.

Really?
And who is that?

Oh, funny.

These are beautiful.
Thank you.

Sure, I'd rather you
be acting full-time, but...

Thank you, Walter.

I know that in your own way,
you mean well.

I also told the TV producers

that you weren't interested.

You did?

I haven't seen you
this passionate about something

in a long, long time.

You know, when Ben was sick,

he asked me to look out for you.

I know.

I suppose I just always
figured he meant financially,

you know, for security, but...

maybe I can do a better job

in a lot of other ways,
too, creatively.

Thank you, Walter.

Go make him proud.

I hope you have a great show!

Thank you, Comet.

I'm Prancer!

Yeah, of course you are.

Thank you, Prancer's friend.

You're welcome.

Oh, is that your script?

Mm-hm.

New York?

I'm exploring my options.

I always thought you'd
make an excellent lawyer.

I remember.

There's some really great
dance schools in New York.

Go, Prancer, let's go...

Hey.
Hey.

So, our jury's been panelled.

I went through our line
of ticketholders

and I selected nine volunteers.

And the tenth?

Mrs. Prescott
didn't give me a choice!

No chance
I'm gonna miss my chance

to be up close
and personal with this!

Okay, thank you.

Ooh!
Oh!

You look beautiful.

Thank you.

I can't find
Moore or Livingston.

Of course not.

Do you want to go forward

as if they're gonna
be called or just...

revert back to the original
version without them?

If they don't show,
we'll just...

We'll improv.
We'll improv.

Yeah, we'll improv!

Yeah?
Yeah...

Yeah, um... Okay.

Okay, Lena messengered
this over.

She wanted me to give it to you
before the show, okay?

Okay, thank you.

Okay, places, everyone!

Break a leg!

Oh, thank you.

You, too!

Okay...

Okay, curtain.

"'Twas the Night
Before Christmas"

is one of the most famous poems
in American history.

Published anonymously in
the Troy Sentinel newspaper

on December 23rd, 1823,

it has gone on
to become something

that nearly everyone
can happily recite.

Yet the one question

that no one can
successfully answer is:

who really wrote it?

Well, tonight, we're
going to answer that question,

and the truth may surprise you.

Counsellor?

Your turn.

Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,

for almost two centuries
there's only been one name

on the front cover of the book,

"'Twas the Night
Before Christmas":

Clement C. Moore.

Never in all the years he was
alive did any publisher

ever dispute this fact.

It was only afterwards,
in the fog of time,

that questions arose.

For people who did not know
Mr. Moore but judged

his capabilities
based on pure speculation,

I say we end such speculation
and give back Mr. Moore

his good name by rendering
the right and true verdict:

that the author was
Clement Clarke Moore.

♪ Our favourite time of year ♪

♪ There's miles of bright-light
diamonds all around ♪

♪ Ooh-oooh... ♪

♪ Like music to my ears,
there's laughter in the air ♪

♪ My heart beats to
the rhythm of the sound ♪

♪ Ooh-oooh... ♪

♪ Let's celebrate good times ♪

♪ Make a memory tonight ♪

♪ Dance for the Yuletide ♪

♪ Come on, everyone,
let's celebrate good times ♪

You think I don't know?

The only reason
you took this case

was because you knew
you'd see me again.

Guilty as charged.

Yeah...

Your honour, I call to the stand

Major Henry Livingston.

Anything?
Nothing.

Did you do that?

Cool!

You're not Henry Livingston.

No, indeed.

Major Livingston
was unfortunately detained.

Anybody got anything?

Uh, counsellor?

Perhaps I could
speak with my client?

By all means, counsellor.

Good evening, sir.

Please introduce yourself
to the court.

I am Clement Clarke Moore,

scholar and author.

And you wrote poetry?

I wrote a great deal of poetry,

much of which was high-minded.

It is ironic that the poem
that I am best remembered for

is one I scratched out
one Christmas Eve.

Mr. Moore, please
tell us about the circumstances

surrounding
your writing the poem.

Certainly.

One Christmas Eve, while riding
in my one-horse open sleigh,

I looked to my driver.

He was a roly-poly,
merry fellow,

stubby pipe
clenched in his teeth,

and it was the image of him,

with the moon shining
and the snow falling,

that inspired me.

Upon arriving home,

I wrote out the verses
that we now discuss.

And yet...
it wasn't until 1837

that you took credit
for its authorship.

Why is that?

I had more scholarly ambitions.

It had been a source of teasing
among my more academic friends

that I had written
this children's poem,

but one of my friends seemed to
have let the cat out of the bag.

So I ultimately chose
to admit my authorship.

I'm gonna ask you directly,

as you are under oath,

who authored "'Twas the Night
Before Christmas"?

I did, sir.

No further questions.

Actually, your honour,
I have a few questions.

Questions that have bothered me

since my dad
used to read me this poem.

What exactly is a sugar plum
and how do they dance?

They were a favourite
treat of my children.

They only danced
in the imagination.

Huh.

You said you wrote the entirety
of the poem on Christmas Eve.

Exactly how long
did that take you?

Three hours.
Three hours?

And yet, sir,
unlike your other poems,

you wrote it in anapestic meter.

It fit the subject matter.

You wrote in an unfamiliar meter
in a matter of hours.

I find that
difficult to believe,

especially given the subject
matter as a children's verse,

which is also not your forte,
and it involves smoking,

which you admit to abhorring.

Have people not doubted you
before, Ms. Rush?

Placed you
in a well-defined perception

based on limited information

that you ultimately found
profoundly inaccurate?

Well...

Ms. Rush, you and others
have researched me

and Major Livingston
through books and articles

and presumed to know us.

You yourself are known
to a great many

through the written words
of people

who have never met you.

Would you say that
their depictions are accurate?

No.

Then in this, we are in accord.

Yes, I was a professor
of divinity, and yes,

I primarily wrote books
of an academic nature,

and yes, I could, at times,
be considered a curmudgeon.

But I am also a man
who loved his children

and loved to see
the joy of Christmas

through their wondrous eyes.

Loved it so deeply
that I was inspired

one snowy evening
many years ago.

Thank you.

I'm sure you,
like Mr. Avery,

must understand what it's like
to have more than one interest

in one's pursuits.

Is that not so?

Court is adjourned
while the jury deliberates.

Did you just throw your case?

I think I did.

But that's what felt like
the truth and, as you know,

my character is a truth-seeker.

Uh, nah, he got you with
the "more than one pursuit"

speech, didn't he?

Madison.

Sophia?

I thought you were
supposed to be in...

In Vienna?
I will be later tonight.

Ah!

But when Jefferson
called me to tell me

you were going to take over
the lead role, I had to be here.

Oh, wow!

Thank you.
It was wonderful.

I mean, Lena did
a terrific job in the role,

but you, my dear,
took it even further.

I especially loved

all the flirtation
between the two leads.

Yeah, well, me too.

It's new.

It's delightful.

Please keep it in
for future performances.

Future?

I want to sponsor
the play annually in Troy.

Thank you so much!
I don't...

And let's talk in the new year

about other possibilities.

I could use a director
of your skills.

Well, I look forward to it.

Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.

Ah!

Hear ye, hear ye!

The jury has returned
with a verdict!

So who do you think
it's gonna be?

I dunno, but my dad's
a good lawyer.

Oh, you're so sweet!

Okay, lights on one...

Curtain...

Thank you, darling.

Hmm...

It appears that the jury has
become hopelessly deadlocked

in our allotted time.

The verdict is 9 to 1...

for...

Clement Clarke Moore.

Well, I guess this means

you'll have to
come back next year.

What do you say, counsellor?

No objection.

Court is adjourned.

Thank you to everyone
for coming out tonight

and being a part of
our first performance

of "Trial Before Christmas."

And now, it's only fitting
that we say to you...

Merry Christmas to all...

And to all a good night!

There was no Christmas party
in Poughkeepsie.

Oh, it's tomorrow.

You cheated!

Prove it!

I will...

Next year.

I love
Christmastime in New York.

I know.

I can't wait to
be here full-time.

What do you mean?

Well, I thought
I'd move to New York

and pass the bar, so I... I know.

Would you just kiss me already?

I thought you didn't
date actors.

Good thing you're
a convincing lawyer, hm?

Merry Christmas.