The Preacher's Wife Page #5

Oh, yes, uh, uh...

Hanley's, 1:
00. 1:00?

Spell Hakim for me, baby.

M-l-K-A-H.

Dudley's teaching me to spell backwards.

[Julia] Maybe he can teach Daddy

how to be on time.

These are perfect. Beverly never

typed a perfect letter in her life.

Yes, I did those myself,

once I figured out that fish typewriter.

Let's get this straight, Dud.

I do not appreciate some stranger

coming into my office...

Angels are hardly strangers, Henry.

And don't call me "Dud."

[Marguerite]

Julia, hold on! Wait for me!

Excuse me, Mother, not now. I'm having

a little meeting. You understand.

- Bye, Marguerite!

- Bye, Dudley!

- [Julia] Mama, come on!

- Start that rehearsal!

You are not going around telling

my family this ridiculous story...

No, of course not.

They think the church council sent me.

The church council!

Why don't we continue this on our way

to the meeting with Joe Hamilton?

[Gasps]

The meeting.

- [Dudley] So, which floor is he on?

- [Henry] I'm not telling.

- Henry, what's the floor?

- Go away.

- You asked for help.

- Not from you. I don't need you

in here, out there or anywhere.

You didn't have to let the doors close

on me downstairs, Henry. That was cold.

Well, I figured

you'd just fly up.

You know, if you're really

a you-know-what, where are your wings?

You're caught up in stereotypes, Henry.

That's your problem.

Hello, Reverend.

That's a beautiful dress you have on.

Just magnificent.

Why, thank you.

- You're very welcome.

- [Laughing]

Is Mr. Hamilton inside?

Oh, he's taping another TV commercial,

but you can wait in his office.

- Thank you.

- You're very welcome.

[Phone Ringing]

Hamilton Realty.

Hi, Amy.

You know that old dress

from Mom's closet? It's back in style.

"That's a lovely dress!"

It was a lovely dress. I mean,

you gotta admit, it was a lovely dress.

What kind of angel talks like that?

The kind of angel

that has good taste.

Well, you're still

not going in here.

Henry, I'm like this with the creator

of the entire universe.

- Now, you don't think a little door's

gonna stop me, do you?

- Yes.

How? How?

Rule Number Two.

All right, fine, Henry. Can't make you

do anything you don't wanna do.

That's right! That's right!

I always liked that rule!

Did you like that smile?

I tilted my head to the side.

I loved it.

- Henry Biggs.

- Joe Hamilton.

- How are you doing? Julia's good?

- She's very good.

- [Clears Throat]

- Uh, Henry, this is Debbie Page.

- Hi.

- She's the station manager over at WRKO.

They're televising your Christmas sermon

this year.

We need to get your text

for the TelePrompTer, Reverend.

- I'm working on it.

- Later, Debbie. Come on.

Let's see the guys.

- Wait 'til you see where

you're gonna move to, Henry.

- What?

A planned community.

Your son could ride his bike to school.

[Men Chattering]

- Mary?

- Henry!

Osbert?

What are you doing here?

Well, I, we, um... We came to check out,

the same as you, Henry!

Saul.

Uh, listen to the man, Henry.

We think it makes sense.

Well, of course

it makes sense.

That's what it's gonna look like

when it's finished.

- What do you think, Henry?

- Isn't that nice?

It's a new city landmark.

It's a whole new neighborhood.

A different clientele, so to speak.

I'm hoping, with everyone here,

we can once and for all...

persuade you to move

into the new world, Henry.

Well, all we need is

a boiler that works...

and we'll be fine

in the world that we're in.

[Laughter]

New boiler. Henry, look at this.

Day care facilities.

[Mary]

We need that.

[Osbert]

We could sure use that.

Senior citizens' club.

- That's much better than ours.

- Mm-hmm.

- What I'm offering you here, Henry...

- Well, it is.

TV cameras and lighting

built right in.

- [Saul] Look at that!

- It's a pulpit to preach to the world!

[Mary]

It's beautiful!

All you have to say is,

"I'll do it."

[Whispering]

Say yeah. Say yeah.

All right.

Look, say yes,

and I'll throw in that new boiler.

I'll stop St. Matt's

from freezing over Christmas...

if that's the price

I have to pay to get you.

And if I accept,

what price am I paying?

Henry, what you see there is

the answer to all your problems.

[Osbert] Amen.

Isn't it?

- % % [Children Singing]

- I need my Magi. The Magi's entrance.

- What does the sheep say in this play?

- Baaaa!

Ah. Mmm.

Does everybody know their parts?

You know your parts?

- What's my part?

- What's your part? You're a camel.

- I need my shepherds.

- I'm a shepherd.

- Come here. You two, over here.

- I'm the angel.

- In there. Come on.

- [Children Chattering]

[Julia] Kick it, Mrs. Havergal.

Let's do this.

Jeremiah, get in your place, please.

% Mommies and Daddies%

% Always believe%

% That their little angels%

- % Are special indeed%

- Smile, Michael.

- % And you could grow up%

- % Ooooh%

- % Oooh%

- % To be anything%

% But who would imagine%

% A king%

Everybody.

% It was so clear%

% When the Wise Men arrived%

- Wait. Donkeys on this side.

- % And the angels%

- Sorry.

- % Were singing%

% Your name%

% That the world

would be different%

% 'Cause you were alive%

% That's when heaven

stood still%

% To proclaim%

[Whispering]

Jessica.

- % One day an angel%

- Take your baby. Smile.

% Said quietly%

% That soon he would bring%

% Something special to me%

- % Oooh%

- % And of all of the wonderful%

- % Oooh%

- % Gifts he could bring%

% Who would imagine%

% A king% %

- Sweet.

- Yeah.

- [Jeremiah] Again.

- All right.

You take this one solo, okay?

- Okay?

- Comet's swingin'!

- Ooh, look at that.

- Beautiful, isn't it?

Uh-huh.

Sure is.

Go in and try it on.

We're supposed to be shopping

for Henry, remember?

You with that nightgown on is

all the gift Henry would want.

- Trust me.

- A gift from Jeremiah.

- Oh. Ho, ho.

- Mmm.

So how long do you think

he's gonna be with that snake?

He'll be along soon.

How'd you two meet, anyway?

Hmm. We were in adjoining

strollers, and, uh...

and one day I took his pacifier,

and he made a really big noise about it.

Who wouldn't?

You know, when he was about ten,

he started wearing suits to school.

- What?

- Trying to impress me.

[Laughing]

Obviously, it worked.

He'd walk me home...

and I always thought he was cuter

without his glasses, so...

one day he took them off for me.

[Laughing] And he slipped on the ice,

and fell right on his fanny.

Sounds like love to me.

Daddy said we were born friends.

He did a lot for Henry,

your father.

He was the best.

Mommy.

Enough!

% % ["Deck The Halls"]

- Is it good, Dudley?

- Mm-hmm. Great.

How is your food, Jeremiah?

Mmmmm.

- Julia.

- Henry.

Ah, Jeremiah.

Dudley!

- Henry.

- Okay, Jer. Let's go shopping.

- Wait, honey. What happened?

- I'll tell you later.

- Come on. Come on.

- Henry, it is later.

It's about an hour later

than when you were supposed to be here.

- Now, what happened?

- It's a long story.

You know, you and Julia need to talk.

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