A Nutcracker Christmas Page #4

---

to my apartment

and go to bed?

-

- You're right. It's late.

Yeah.

- (sigh)

- Nice job, Mark.

- (Christmas music playing)

- Hey. Any trees

that are, you know,

on the small side?

It's just for me. Thanks.

Wow! Now, that's what I call

a Christmas tree.

(laughing):
That's what I call

way too big!

- And way too expensive.

- No, come on, it's beautiful!

- Look at it!

- Sadie, you and I couldn't

- even carry that tree home.

- Ho! Ho! Ho!

Now, what would it take

for me to send you home

with this lovely

Douglas fir right here.

This year's model has all

the options you could ever want.

Yikes.

Are you following me?

I mean, seriously

what are the odds?

- Hey, we need to find a tree.

- Yeah, and a tree like this

might really, you know,

spruce up the place.

- Ugh!

- You're obviously

pining for a tree.

(Sadie giggling)

- Trying to branch out?

- You need to stop now.

- (Sadie):
Yeah.

- Trees like this don't just

- grow on trees, you know?

- We'll take it.

Sold!

If you like, I can give you

a hand, get it up to your place.

- OK!

- No thanks.

Unless of course,

"tree" is a crowd?

Ah...

OK, we almost

made it! Oh, Sadie,

good thing we didn't get

that 15-foot tree.

Oh, come on, that would have

been so much more awesome.

This one's going

to be perfect.

Alright, where

should we put it?

- Sorry.

- Alright, where's the stand?

I thought it was

on there.

Nope.

Oh no. Really, guys?

It must have fallen off.

I'm sorry, Sadie.

Hey, we'll get another one.

OK. See you later,

Mr. Anders.

See you, Sadie.

- Thanks for your help.

- Anytime.

Hey, is that...?

So you were in the military?

Because some of the other moms

were talking

- today and--

- I had fun today.

Good night, Lily.

(piano music)

(piano music playing)

- (The piano music stops.)

- OK. OK, good.

A little more pli

in the spin around,

but otherwise,

this section's really improving.

I think the tempo is

a little brisk. Just a moment.

When we're circling around,

I really need more resistance

or I'm gonna fall on my butt,

and that will be embarrassing--

Why do you keep trying

to direct everybody?!

- Uh, I was just suggesting.

- It's not your job.

- You're not the director.

- Stop being such a know-it-all!

Hey! How was it?

(Sadie sighs.)

Uh-oh!

(indistinct chatter)

I take it it didn't go so well?

- Sadie! What's wrong?

- I was just trying

to help another dancer

with the choreography.

Wasn't that

Mr. Anders' job?

Oh, great! So now

you're on their side? Wow!

Sadie!

You know that's not true.

(knocking)

- (music of The Nutcracker)

- Oh! Hey.

Hi. I was wondering...

What's that awful smell?

Uh, I was just burning

some popcorn. Come in.

- Ah.

- So to what do I owe

- the honor?

- Uh...

I'm worried about Sadie.

Apparently, she's been giving

some of the other kids advice,

and, uh, it's not going so well.

Hey, I get attitude

and I'm the director.

Do you think

she's coming down with a case

- of the Clara complex?

- Well, sure.

She's 14. Her first big role

at the company.

I guess her ego was bound

to get a little out of control.

Might be helpful if you were

around her in rehearsals.

- You think that would help?

- I do. And while you're there,

I could really use help with

this year's Sugar Plum Fairy.

- What?

- She's having some mechanical issues.

No. I...

I'm not a dancer anymore.

I haven't danced

for a really,

really long time.

Why would she even listen to me?

Lily, I'm not asking you

to dance, just give her

- some pointers.

- I-I don't know, Mark.

What's the issue?

Working with me?

Working with another dancer?

Getting involved

- in the whole ballet scene again?

- Uh, D, all of the above.

OK, I'm gonna let

you in on a little secret.

You're in way over your head?

No. You think

I'm in over my head?

Well, if you're asking,

I guess you must be.

I just like

having you around,

- that's all. You've good energy.

- Thanks, coach.

But since you think I'm in over my head,

then you have to help me.

- Oh, I "have" to help you?

- Uh-huh.

- Is that a rule?

- It's a preference.

- (Lily sighing)

- I know.

I know, I was supposed

to get a tree stand.

Why bother? It's not like

we have any ornaments.

Hey! I'll make you

a promise.

By this time tomorrow,

that tree will be

standing on its own,

and it will be lit up like a...

Like a Christmas tree.

(both laughing)

(jingling bells)

- It's the same problem.

- Listen, I don't care

what the problem is.

It's personal.

No, you don't.

Take a five and fix it.

You hear me?

It's so simple.

(indistinct chatter)

Sounds a little rough

in there.

Well, when your lead dancers

are also a couple on the rocks,

it can provoke

certain emotions.

Today apparently,

they're off again.

Sounds vaguely familiar.

(Mark sighs.)

Listen, I'd love it

if you could help her

with the big lift.

(Lily sighs.)

OK, but can we do it

in the small studio?

It's a little more private

back there.

Yes. Thank you.

(indistinct chatter)

OK, gang, I've brought in

another set of eyes to help us

with the big lift.

- This is Lily Jamison.

- Hi.

- Aren't you Clara's mom?

- Sadie. Her name is Sadie.

- Whatever.

- I'm her aunt.

- What is she doing here?

- OK. Let's just show her

what we've got, huh? Here we go.

And...

(Juliette grunts.)

- What's going on here?

- Uh,

Juliette, I think you need

to jump a little higher.

- He could bend a little lower.

- I still think you need

to jump a little higher. I just

don't want to see you get hurt.

Thank you.

That makes the two of us.

OK, let's try this

again, please.

Here we go.

And...

- Hm! Ah!

- Oh! Are you OK?

Juliette, wait!

I have been dancing

with this company

for seven years now;

you really expect me

to take instructions

from some dance mom?!

Dance aunt actually.

For your information,

Lily and I danced together

at the New York Ballet.

She's one of the most gifted

dancers I've ever worked with.

You should be grateful

that someone of her caliber

is willing to work with you.

(Juliette sighs.)

Uhhh, that just slipped out. I'm sorry.

I gotta get out of here.

- (indistinct chatter)

- I'm coming with you.

I have something

I have to do.

- Hot date?

- Yeah, with a tree stand.

It's all about personal taste.

You got your bucket tree stand.

You got your snowflake

tree stand.

You really don't care, do you?

(Christmas music playing)

No. No, I do. I...

I was just thinking

something a little more basic.

Put a tree in it.

It stands up.

- It's a tree stand.

- (chuckling):
OK.

-

- And then when Sadie gets home

from rehearsals,

she'll be really happy.

And you get points

for being a good aunt.

(man):
Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!

(girl):
Santa, I want

a puppy for Christmas.

I remember. I used to beg

my mom to take me see Santa

and then as soon

as I saw him, I'd freak out

- and wanna go home.

- Ha!

When I was a kid, I would

show up to see Santa with a list

and just hand it to him because

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes