The Christmas Candle

[match ignition]

[NARRATOR]

There's a story that has been

passed down for centuries,

from father to son.

Legend has it a

certain man came

to live in the

village of Gladbury.

He was a good-hearted man,

devoted to his

family and his craft.

The candle maker brought

light to the entire village.

But he longed to give them more.

Life was hard in Gladbury,

and the people had

become disheartened.

[NARRATOR] Night and day,

the candle maker worked,

pouring his heart and

his prayers into each candle.

But on the first

Sunday of Advent,

all he had left to give...

was a single prayer,

not for himself, but for

Gladbury, for his son,

and for all the sons

and daughters to come.

Silence was the only answer

he would receive that night.

Or so it seemed.

[NARRATOR] An angel

blessed a single candle.

The heavenly gift was given

to the ones who needed it most,

with the simple instruction:

Light this and pray.

[NARRATOR] The children

hoped for an answered prayer.

But what they

received was a miracle.

On Christmas Eve,

the village rejoiced

upon hearing of

their change of fortune,

for such things do happen.

And from them, legends are born.

As the tale is told,

every twenty-five years,

the angel visits

The Haddington Chandlery,

and every time

a prayer is answered.

But even the greatest

stories must come to an end.

Much has changed

in two hundred years.

In a world illuminated

by modern marvels,

who needs the

light of a simple candle?

[bustling about and voices]

[YOUNG BOY]

I'm starving.

[ABNER]

How are you'! Hello.

[ABNER]

How we doing'! Alright?

[DAVID]

Yeah, very good, yeah.

Hope they'll be bringing

some more soon.

[ABNER]

Bless you little lady.

[GIRL]

ls it soup again'!

[ABNER]

God bless you, sir.

[MISS FOSTER] There's no

longer a place for you here!

[RUTH]

Please!

[MISS FOSTER] I'm sorry,

but there's nothing I can do.

Orders came straight

from the top.

[MISS FOSTER]

You should learn to keep your

affections to yourself,

Ruth Goodchild!

[MISS FOSTER] And don't even

think about coming back!

[WOMAN PASSERBY]

Serves you right.

[Ruth begins to weep]

Abner, will you take

over for a second?

Yes. God bless you, sir.

[Ruth weeping]

Hello, miss.

Miss.

What do you want'!

I only mean to help.

[DAVID] It's no Buckingham

Palace, Miss Goodchild.

But you'll be safe here.

And with three meals

a day, you won't go hungry.

When the baby comes, what then'!

Well, perhaps there's someone...

No.There's nobody.

Or rather there was,

but he found someone else

and dismissed me

from work today.

[DAVID]

Don't lose hope, miss.

We'll find a place

for you and your baby.

[ABNER]

God bless you, sir.

[LADY CAMDON]

Reverend Richmond?

Friend of yours?

I have no idea.

God bless you.

Reverend David Richmond.

So you really

have left the pulpit.

Nonsense.This is my pulpit now.

Soup, soap, and salvation.

And please,

I'm only known as David here.

Have we met?

We might have, had you not

rejected my last three letters.

Ah, yes, Lady Camdon

of Gladbury, in the flesh.

But I'm sorry that you've

traveled so far only

to hear me decline your

offer once again.

My place is here,

helping the needy.

You, sir, have you

heard this man preach?

Can't say that I have.

[LADY CAMDON] Villagers

flocked to London to hear him.

I once sat by a fisherman

who rode his boat

twelve miles for one sermon.

It was along time ago.

But I'll never forget.

David Richmond, miracle man.

In the midst of

my own great loss,

it was your words

that revived my faith.

Any able bodied man

can serve a bowl of soup,

but few men have

a gift like yours.

My only hope is that

you choose to serve

where your gift is needed most.

God bless you.

[BOY] Thank you very much, sir.

[ABNER] Perhaps you

should think about it, David.

[ABNER]

God bless you.Well done, sir.

[ABNER]

That's it, take a bowl.

Sorry.

[DAVID] Dear Lady Camdon,

your recent visit was a

timely reminder of

the life I left behind.

Though tragedy has

altered my course,

I can no longer stray from

my calling in the pulpit.

I humbly accept the offer

to serve your parish in the

place of the late

Reverend Pillington.

I shall arrive in Gladbury

the Friday before Advent.

Yours truly, David Richmond.

[EMILY]

Come on, boy!

Come on! Move on!

You silly old thing. Come on!

Move on!

Come on!

Might I offer you

some assistance?

Thank you, I'm quite capable!

Well, if it wouldn't be too

forward of me, I could--

[EMILY]

No!

I'm not a sack of potatoes.

Come on!

[EMILY]

Come on, boy. Come on!

[EMILY]

I don't need your help.

[DAVID]

Come on. Come on.

Come on.

[DAVID] And where are

you headed, miss'!

Miss Barstow.

I'm headed to London

by way of Gladbury.

And the people of Gladbury,

they allow a lady to

venture on her own'!

It's the Christmas season.

The whole town's in a fuss.

[DAVID] But Christmas

isn't for weeks.

[EMILY] I take it you've

never been to Gladbury.

Is it really so bad?

It is.

[DAVID]Whoa,

steady boy. Come on!

Come on, come on, come on!

Whoa.Whoa.

[EMILY] Especially

this Christmas

with the new minister

set to arrive.

Reverend High and

Mighty from London.

I hope they dislike

him very much.

Thank you. I hate to be indebted

to anyone, much less a stranger.

It's an easy debt to forgive.

"Reverend High and

Mighty" at your service.

Reverend. How providential.

Oh, we shall see.

Might you have

any words of advice?

Yes.

Retreat.

Walk on.

Very well then.

I look forward to

seeing you at

church on Sunday!

[Emily laughs]

Walk on.

[EDWARD]

Thank you Ebenezer.

REM Hurry up, Edward.

We don't want the new

minister thinking the

Haddingtons are a pair

of village bumpkins.

Codswallop my dear,

you look lovely.

I come from a long line of

bumpkins, and I'm proud of it.

Who wouldn't love

Gladbury at Christmas?

[MAN]

He's here!

[GIRLS]

There he is!

[villagers greet David]

[crowd gasps]

Hello.

[HERBERT] Alright gentlefolk,

make some space.

Oh here, allow me.

Herbert Hopewell,

at your service.

Me and the Missus'll

be looking after you.

[DAVID] Oh.Thank you,

but I can manage.

Not while I'm still breathing.

Reverend Richmond,

welcome to Gladbury.

I'm Bea Haddington,

and this is my Edward.

Edward Haddington.

Of Haddington Chandlery.

Home of the Christmas Candle...'!

Um.

Oh, you haven't heard of us.

That's alright,

you'll have a chance

to meet the reverend

soon enough.

Lovely to see you.

All of you!

Let's see the church, eh?

[church bells ring]

[organ playing]

[ELEANOR] On a starry

night in Bethlehem,

A child was born

to bring light to men.

And our faith waned,

our eyes grew dim

In a candle's light

we found hope again.

There are miracles

all around,

Are you alright?

[HERBERT] There she is,

a special soul.

Miracles yet to be found.

Sometimes I think

I'm hearing an angel.

Hid in every heart is

an answered prayer.

That's my lady...

Eleanor.

Like a candle':
flame,

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