Last Ounce of Courage Page #4

for the veterans' home.

For Christmas decorations?

Yeah.

Now, Mayor, I know how you get

when you're backed

into a corner.

No, Randy,

you don't know how I get.

But I'll tell you

what you can do.

You put together

some sort of news conference

for this evening.

It's not just about

Christmas any more.

Okay.

Have you ever noticed

that the mere mention

of Jesus nowadays

seems to rub people

the wrong way?

Yeah.

Well, I'm very tired

of not standing up

for what I believe in.

So, why are you standing there?

[ Sighs ] Kari...

I love you so much.

I just want so badly

to hold you right now

and just be with you.

And, Christian [chuckles]

I saw your picture.

Thank goodness

you take after your mom.

KARI:
Chris, dinner.

What kind of changes are

you guys making to the play?

Oh, Christian...

just a little tweak

here and there.

And everywhere.

What about your teacher?

What's he going to say?

Ol' Mr. Boutwell?

Yeah.

Probably nothing.

And how do you figure?

'Cause.

He'll be in complete shock.

[ Crickets chirping,

camera shutters clicking ]

Mr. Mayor, your actions

have been described

as reckless and insensitive.

How do you respond?

Well, if trying to restore

a holiday

that the majority

of our citizens enjoy

but a few ol' soreheads don't

makes me reckless

and insensitive...

yeah, I'd say

that pretty much describes me.

If I may, the mayor's actions

are not reckless.

He is just trying

to be sensitive to all faiths

during this special time

of the year.

Mayor, you hung a banner

on the town's water tower

that reads "Christmas City."

Don't you think

that could be offensive?

December 25th is Christmas,

Jesus' birthday.

Christmas is also

a national holiday.

So, here in the city

of Mount Columbus,

this holiday season will be

a Christmas holiday,

not a winter holiday.

I mean,

Christmas is for everyone.

If you're a Muslim

and you want to pray to Allah

in the middle

of the town square,

by all means, please,

it's one of your rights.

If you're Jewish and you want

to display your menorah

and blow your shofar, go ahead,

and accept my admiration

for standing up

for what you believe in.

But don't tell me

and the majority of us

that believe in Jesus Christ

that we don't have the right

to celebrate

the day of his birth.

Because it's Christmas.

Mr. Mayor,

this state cannot in any way

promote a religious holiday.

[ Whispers ]

It's Warren Hammerschmidt.

We're not.

We're acknowledging

it's the Christmas season.

Excuse me.

If I could say something here.

At first it was

kind of hacking me off,

what Bob was doing

and everything,

but, you know, I get

where he's coming from.

I mean,

Bob's just trying to fix

what's already

a national holiday.

Bob, can't do that.

Yes, I can.

And we will.

As a matter of fact,

I'm going to lead by example.

You're all welcome

to come by my house

and see the Nativity scene

that I'm building.

Come on, people.

It's Christmas.

Peace on Earth,

good will toward men.

Mr. Mayor, it is our job

to protect all people,

regardless of their color,

creed, race,

or religious persuasion.

The people of Mount Columbus

deserve

fair and equal treatment.

Look, pal,

you don't have

any jurisdiction here,

and you will not intimidate me.

You are breaking the law.

Show me the law.

Well, then, you are violating

the Constitution.

Mr. Hammerschmidt,

that is a lie, and you know it.

You and your organization

have been putting fear

into every weak-kneed

school board and city council

in this country.

Most of the time

you're standing

on nothing more

than intimidation.

And I'm telling you,

Mr. Hammerschmidt,

that your intimidation tactics

will not work

here in Mount Columbus.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

You, too, Warren.

[ Camera shutter clicking ]

MADISON:

Let's go over the plan.

I've been doing

some serious research.

In the real Christmas story,

shepherds find the baby king,

not aliens.

Really?

Weird.

You can't be serious.

Well, I didn't know.

I never read the Bible.

It's okay. It's okay.

Let's just stay focused.

Okay, well, Lindsey and I

have been working really hard,

and we came up with the name

"Operation Christmas."

"Operation Christmas"?

Can't we come up

with a cooler name than that?

And what do you suggest?

Ooh, I got one.

Um, how about

"Operation Global Cooling"?

How about "Operation Aliens"?

"Operation Aliens"!

That's perfect! Yes!

How about

"Operation Super Shepherds"?

Yeah, how about not?

Something with the word "super"

in it always sounds good.

Or super bad.

Guys, guys.

It's "Operation Christmas."

How about "Operation Sabotage"?

How about if you're not

in on it, you can't name it?

Just because I'm not in the play

doesn't mean I'm not in on it.

[ All talking at once ]

Okay!

It's "Operation Christmas."

Christmas, okay?

Here's the stage.

We're going to need somebody

to be right here.

Maybe Chris?

Or maybe not.

They're going to have to put

a clamp on the ropes

so that nobody can close

the curtains during the play.

And then we're going to also

have somebody here...

I don't know, maybe Chris?

Or whoever...

is going to have to put a lock

on the light box.

What do I do?

Reagan...

you are the dancer.

You just keep on dancing.

What, Trudy?

Um, I just, uh,

I just wanted to say that,

you know,

this feels so wrong...

and yet so right.

Thank you for that, Trudy.

Okay.

This meeting is adjourned.

Let's go. Hurry.

We have a lot of work

to do guys.

Madison...

I'm sorry,

but your sabotage plan,

it's missing something.

Are you dumb?

There's no impact.

There is plenty of impact.

It just sounds lame.

Look, Chris,

it's a lie if we don't tell

the real Christmas story.

You want to talk about lame,

you won't even help us.

That's lame.

[ Sighs ]

ERNIE:
As president

of the city council,

I've got to know

what's going on.

Christmas is going on, Ernie.

I think Ernie and the council

just need clarification

about your intentions, Bob.

Well, it's really very simple.

We're taking our freedoms

for granted.

A couple of years ago,

my son mentioned the word "God"

in his valedictorian speech.

Well, today we would be sued

by some lone humanist.

Bob, we all miss

the good ol' days.

I'm not talking

about the good ol' days, Ernie.

We are not losing

some endangered species of fish.

Our freedoms are being taken

away from us one by one.

Well, that's how

we're taking them back...

one at a time.

We're going to start

with Christmas.

Now, if I want to put up

a Nativity scene

on my front yard,

I'm going to do it.

If we want to put

a Christmas tree

on the courthouse lawn...

like we used to...

then we're going to do it.

Gentlemen, it's been fun.

What do you mean

he's on the road?

Where's the mayor going?

Something about getting

a big Christmas tree

for the courthouse lawn.

Take care of that matter.

Now! Immediately! Do it!

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