The Christmas Candle Page #3

[EDWARD] And so he gave the

first Christmas Candle to orphan

children with Gladbury':

most beloved instruction:

light this and pray.

[ELEANOR] Hid in every

heart is an answered prayer.

Like a candle':
flame,

hope will lead us there.

Yes, yes, I know the song.

But we won't

be singing it today.

It's the first Sunday in Advent,

we sing it every year.

But it's tradition.

Well, we'll just make

some new traditions, eh?

We're just grateful we've

got a reverend in the pulpit.

Well, I hope you

won't refuse my lady's

other favorite

Christmas tradition.

Gladbury':
very own

Christmas Chasuble.

Welcome.

The first candle of Advent

is the candle of hope.

But hope in what?

An answered prayer? A miracle?

A Christmas Candle?

I'm told that tonight

marks the return

of this remarkable tradition.

Isn't that right Mr. Haddington?

Yes, it is.

[DAVID] And I'm sure

that you know this,

But for my benefit, who here has

put in a request for the candle?

[DAVID]Well,

surely not everyone

can receive the

Christmas Candle.

And yet we all have needs.

So what hope do we have?

Will we abandon our faith?

Fall into despair?

Hm'! I hope not.

And I dare say

that we will not!

We light this candle to remind

us that our hope does not

come from earthly things,

but from above.

From the God who came to us

one starry night in Bethlehem,

and promises to

come again one day.

And that,

good people of Gladbury,

is miracle enough.

[93335]

God bless you.

[EDWARD]

Ignore him, dear.

Ah, Mr. Barstow. And if

it isn't the future reverend.

I understand that we'll be

hearing your sermons one day.

Do you have a

favorite scripture?

Uh--

Go on, don't be shy.

[WILLIAM] Charlie reads

his Bible every day.

[EMILY]

Charlie!

Poor boy would do

anything for that candle.

[WILLIAM] Hasn't

been able to say a

word since his parents died.

[chaotic chatter]

[WOMAN]

Mrs. Haddington!

[MAN]

Take my request!

[MAN]

Has he been yet, sir?

What are we going to do?

Wish the candle came

with a name attached.

What if we already know?

What?

The candle.What if we

already know who should get it?

But we can't!

It's going to take

a miracle, Bea.

I mean,Thomas has

been gone for ten years!

He's not going to

come home on his own.

Keeping the Christmas Candle

for ourselves is so selfish!

Is it?

I mean, think of the people.

For two hundred years,

our family has been

alight to Gladbury.

Does the flame go out with us?

Keep the Christmas Candle?

For the good of Gladbury.

Edward!

[dramatic ethereal music]

[blast]

Well don't look at me!

Get the candle!

[EDWARD]

Oh yes, yes of course!

[Edward trips]

[Bea cries out]

[BEA]

Why, Edward!

[EDWARD]

I couldn't see!

It must be here somewhere.

It must be.

Must be here.

Where is it?

Where is it?

Oh Edward!

Where is it?

Oh!

I've lost the Christmas Candle.

Oh surely this is

God punishing us.

[BEA] Oh don't talk

like that, Edward.

I was--I was foolish to

think that candle was ours.

Is it all clear?

[BEA]

Seems to be.

[BEA] Edward!

The reverend is here!

Hide the candles!

[DAVID] Mr. Haddington.

Mrs. Haddington.

[BEA] What a

pleasant surprise.

[DAVID] I imagine your

night was eventful.

So is it here?

The Christmas Candle?

Yes, yes it's here somewhere.

Bea, Bea.

Of course you're not

going to show it to me,

but that's not why I came.

The people's requests

for the candle...

...may I see them?

[BEA] What do you suppose he

intends to do with them'!

[EDWARD]

I don't know. Pray'!

That's what we should be doing.

We've got to

make it better, Bea.

Yes, but how?

[DAVID]

All done. Thank you.

You may have one candle

to give, but I hope to

give everyone a little

light this Christmas.

That's it!

What?

I mean... that's a lovely idea.

Well, you mustn't delay.

So much to be done

before Christmas.

Good day to you.

[BEA] Yes, yes, God speed

to you on your quest.

What's got into you?

We give them away. All of them.

And have the

entire village think

they've got the actual

Christmas Candle?

We won't tell them that.

We'll tell them what

this family has told

them for generations:

to light it and pray.

But this is Gladbury.

People talk.

Edward, somebody':

miracle is in this basket.

And we won't let it go to waste!

[WILLIAM] Charlie,

the reverend has offered

to give you Bible lessons.

[William coughs]

[DAVID]

Hello, Charlie.

Why don't we start with the

Gospel of John chapter one.

"In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

The same was in

the beginning with God.

All things were made by him;

and without him was not any

thing made that was made.

In him was life; and the

life was the light of men.

And the light

shineth in darkness;

and the darkness

comprehend it not."

"And the impediment

to his tongue was loosed,

and he spoke plainly."

Now Charlie, we are going

to loose that tongue of yours.

Open wide.

And...

[DAVID]

Very good.

And...

Louder.

[nonsensical sounds]

Louder.

[knock at window]

Light this and pray, Charlie.

Even if it's only in your heart.

God will hear you.

[DAVID]

Good morning, Mr. Finch.

What brings you to our home?

[DAVID] I understand you

have requested the candle.

I wondered if

I might be of service.

Reverend, meet my family.

My wife, Delilah.

Hello.

[PHINEAS]

Children.

This is my father, Oliver.

[OLIVER]

The new reverend!

[PHINEAS]

Over here, Dad.

Come on.

Don't suppose you

could help the old man

get his hands on the

Christmas Candle?

Maybe put in a word

to the Haddingtons.

[OLIVER]

Hogwash.

The next time I see,

I hope to be

looking at the Good

Lord himself.

In the meantime, I'll walk

by faith, right Reverend?

Right.

Oh thank you.Thank you so much!

It'll be a happy

Christmas after all!

Remember, children,

this is our little secret.

Reverend Richmond! Do come in.

I've been praying for

company, Reverend.

[DAVID] Why waste a prayer

when I can meet the need?

So you'll find me a

knitting companion?

I... shall.

[KIDS]

Coming!

Don't waste a candle

on an old man like me.

Oliver, there's no such

thing as a wasted prayer.

[MRS. BICKERTON] My stove

doesn't work, and my husband

ran off and left me all on my

own with a colicky baby.

Oh, and then yesterday

the wall fell down,

and my goat left me, too.

I shall keep an eye out...

for both of them.

The Reverend fixing our roof.

We so desperately need it.

Speaking of which, Agnes, my

dumpling, hadn't you a request?

[DAVID] Ah, yes,

Miss Agnes Chumley.

But I see it is

an unspoken request.

Well, go on.

A silent request

is no request at all.

I'm praying for a husband.

By Easter.

Mrs. Haddington.

What brings you here?

[BEA] I've come to

let you know that

your request has been heard.

Oh what a dear,

but I couldn't accept.

That handsome young

reverend has been helping me.

[BEA]

I see.

[BEA] Agnes, dear,

light this and pray.

Mother!

It's the devil's work!

[WIDOW LEONARD]

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