The Christmas Candle Page #4

You tell her, Reverend.

It's unnatural.

What'!

Ungodly.

Yes.

[DAVID] And the light

shineth in Gladbury,

and yet the people

comprehend it not.

[Emily laughs]

[EMILY] Make fun all you want,

you've decided to stay here.

Just long enough

to do some good.

I have a letter

to post for London.

Ruth Goodchild.

To a lady no less.

[DAVID]

Yes, she's a guest of the

Salvation Army in a

difficult situation.

She's just a girl really.

Stockings. Sweets.

May I help you?

I'm looking for, well, uh,

a lot of things actually.

[EMILY]

Sardines.

Thank you.

Soap.

String.

It's alphabetical.

I see.

[DAVID] Well, to do much,

one must be organized.

You really do want to

help these people, don't you'!

Of course I do.

[church organ]

[DAVID]

Welcome everyone.

We light the second candle

of Advent in the love of God.

During Advent,

God pierces the darkness

of the world with

divine light and love.

Because he loved us, he sent

his son to light the way.

Though we must wait

for Christmas day,

we must not wait to love

one another as Christ did.

Does your neighbor need

a miracle this Christmas?

Well why not be that miracle?

[mumbling in crowd]

[MR. COLLINS]

Reverend!

Hello Mr. Collins.

Thought maybe

you could use a hand.

You know, "be the miracle."

[DAVID] Ow.

Where did he come from?

[EDWARD]

Reverend.

[BEA]

Happy candle. Christmas!

[DAVID]

And to you.

[EDWARD]Why'd you

have to say that. Come on.

[BEA]

I'm so sorry.

[DAVID]The prodigal

goat has returned.

Thank you.

Oh, you won't believe it!

The neighbors are

building me a new wall.

[metal clanging]

Here he comes.

Shh.

[metal clanging]

[DAVID]

How does it feel?

Feels... it feels

a lot like seeing!

See Reverend, you

are a miracle worker.

[DAVID]

Hello.

That's a lot of food, Reverend.

Well, you have a

lot of mouths to feed.

That's beautiful.

Another visitor, I--

Hello everyone.

[DAVID] Um,Widow Leonard

just brought us a feast!

Please,join us Reverend.

[DAVID]

Why not?

[WIDOW LEONARD]

I know we fast during Advent

and save the feasting

for Christmas day,

but having company,

that's like Christmas to me.

Gladbury':
Christmas pudding.

[BEA]

Light this and pray.

[EDWARD]

Light this and pray.

[prayers spoken aloud,

fading in and out]

[VOICE]

Amen.

[VOICE]

Amen.

[GROUP]

Amen.

[DAVID] Rejoice,

for today we light

the third candle of Advent,

the candle of joy.

When Christ was born,

God used angels to proclaim

"good tidings of great joy."

To all mankind.

Now, we are the messengers

of this good news.

For with every good deed,

every act of kindness,

Christ is born again

and again in our lives.

Now let us go forth,

as joyful messengers,

doing the work of God.

Your work in this town is

impressive, Reverend Richmond.

Thank you, Lady Camdon.

Still there are limits

to what man can do.

[MRS. CHUMLEY]

Reverend. Reverend.

Mrs. Chumley.

Miss Chumley.

How lovely to see

a sister in the Lord.

Well go on my dear,

what have you to say?

I've already made my wishes

known to the Reverend.

And now I'm taking

a step of faith.

Thank you.

[DAVID] Another prayer that

will never be answered.

Well, I for one am

happy to see that

In spite of all your efforts,

you are still inspiring

hope for a miracle.

Come in.

[DAVID]

Mrs. Hopewell.

A friend of mine may be

coming to Gladbury for a while.

I wondered if she might

stay with you and Herbert.

[ELEANOR] She can stay

as long as she likes.

[DAVID] Thank you!

Her name's Ruth.

My colleague Abner

will bring her from London.

Oh, please, allow me.

[ELEANOR]

This is no job for a reverend.

[DAVID]

Nonsense.

[ELEANOR]

This is no job for a lady.

Mrs. Hopewell.

Whatever is the matter?

No, I won't do it.

[DOCTOR] Herbert, you're one

good shock away from the grave.

I'll get plenty of

rest in Heaven.

Herbert.

[DOCTOR] Which

may not be that far off.

You've got a weak heart.

I have a strong faith.

God will either cure me,

or He'll call me home.

[ELEANOR] Of course

he will, but you have to rest.

[DOCTOR] No more

carrying heavy boxes,

climbing ladders,

or chopping wood.

Do you hear me?

But that's my job!

I will chop the wood.

No. No m'lady, I won't have it.

Please. Pray for him, Reverend.

[DAVID]

Certainly.

Our Father in Heaven, please

grant your servant Herbert with

the good sense to follow the

doctor's orders and

get some rest.

[DAVID] I've had

enough of Herbert

hauling crates of candles.

Besides, it's high time

that Gladbury see the light.

[EMILY] Electricity...

In the church.

For too long the church has

stumbled about in the dark ages,

when it should

be lighting the way.

In fact, I believe that

the church should

be the first place to

embrace the future.

Indeed. Now this I have to see.

[DAVID] Miss Barstow,

does this mean that you'll

finally be coming to church?

[Emily laughs]

Twenty-nine prayers.

And only one can be answered.

You mean thirty, dear.

Thirty candles.

No, I'm certain

there were twenty-nine.

[EDWARD] Bea, there were

thirty candles hanging

the night of the angel's visit.

There're always thirty candles.

Twenty-nine!

Bea, a candle is--

Don't say it Edward,

please don't say it out loud.

We've lost the candle.

[hammering and voices]

I'm curious to know the maximum

number you've ever installed.

[ELECTRICIAN]

About twenty.

[DAVID]

Then I want thirty.

No, thirty-five bulbs.

I question the safety of it.

The circuit can only support

so many watts, Reverend.

[DAVID] Then install another

circuit. Install five circuits.

I want the light in

this church to surpass

the brightness of one

thousand candles.

[HERBERT] Reverend Richmond,

could you tell me why

there are men digging

in the church yard,

and fiddling in

our sanctuary walls.

You leave that. My grandfather

carved that altar.

[DAVID] Herbert! I ordered them

here to install electricity.

Electricity?

Electricity is the future.

And a more

practical one at that.

Practical you say'!

How will our treasury

stand this extravagance?

Don't trouble yourself,

Mr. Hopewell.

I've covered the

cost personally.

Consider it my contribution to a

brighter chapter of

Gladbury':
history.

I plan to unveil the electricity

at the coming nativity service.

Herbert, your heart.

Sit down, love.

Aye.

[DAVID] Please, think of

this with an open mind.

Think of Herbert. No cumbersome

candles or lanterns to change.

You of all people should

see the value in that.

[ELEANOR]

You could use a lighter load.

L...What'll I do with all

the Haddington candles?

Well, I... I imagine that

we can return them.

In fact, that's the

task that I'll gladly take on.

[BEA] Oh, it's got to

be here somewhere.

Edward!

I have a feeling Edward.

I have a feeling

this is the one.

The Christmas Candle.

What are you suggesting?

I'm not suggesting anything.

I'm... asking.

[knock at the door]

Mr. Haddington.

Reverend.

I regret to inform

you that St. Mark's

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote