03x12 - Part 1 - A Christmas Carol I'm Dreaming of a Galactic Christmas

[bunniefuu]

♪ Tell me a story

♪ Read me a poem ♪

♪ Wrap it in melody ♪

♪ Sing me the song ♪

♪ Then let me hold it ♪

♪ Deep in my heart ♪

♪ Where it can speak to me ♪

♪ All the day long ♪

♪ The adventure of virtue ♪

♪ The adventure of truth ♪

♪ The thrill of knowing ♪

♪ That it's up to you ♪

♪ Building a new day shining in the sun ♪

♪ This is my story ♪

♪ The adventure has ♪

♪ Begun. ♪

Wow! It's like we just packed

all this stuff away yesterday.

So is it me, or does Christmas seem

to come sooner and sooner each year?

Not soon enough, if you ask me.

Get to work, you groveling good-for-nothings!

Scrooge is in the house.

Please to be begging your pardon, Ebenezer.

Excuse us, Mr. Scrooge.

At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge

it is more than usually desirable

that we should make some provisions

for the poor and destitute.

Many thousands are in want of common necessaries, sir.

I say humbug, gentlemen!

I don't make merry myself at Christmas

and I can't afford to make idle people merry.

Annie: Speaking of idle, front and center

everyone!

All: Please to be begging your pardon, Annie.

Cute. Very cute.

I'm very excited about our first meeting.

Now, as newly elected president

of the Drama Club

I've just finished setting the schedule

for the upcoming annual Christmas performance.

Ever since the Drama Club

was first established at Spring Valley

it has always lost money

during the Christmas season.

Well, that's because we always give half of our profits

to the Spring Valley Orphanage.

Perhaps...

but this year will be different.

As long as I'm president

I'm going to run our club like a business.

We need more money

so we can put on even more plays in the upcoming year.

All right!

Great idea!

Good idea!

So I'm making one little change.

Hey, that will be great.

Cool!

Unlike years past

we will not be performing A Christmas Carol.

Huh?

But, Annie, we've always done that play.

Zach, I'm sorry.

I know it's a favorite of yours.

Yeah, but it's not about me.

Doing that play is, like, a tradition.

Not anymore it isn't.

Oh, no.

Too bad.

To bring in a larger audience

we're going to put away

all those moth-eaten coats and scarves.

We had so much fun.

Out with merry old England, plum pudding and Tiny Tim.

This year, we're going to start a new tradition.

Huh?

What?

We're going to perform

a newly written gymnastic dance musical called...

We had so much fun.

The story

about alien civilizations

that come together on Christmas Day

for universal

tranquillity.

So? What do you think?

Well, uh...

I don't know.

Well, I think it stinks.

It does not stink.

Annie, I am not going to stand here

and play a little green moon man.

All: Yeah.

I'm not going to wear tights either.

The club elected me as president

so what I say goes, right?

Well...

so what I say goes, right?

Come on. You'll thank me.

Wait and see.

Hey, I could have used

a little support with this idea, you know.

But, Annie, you're making a mistake.

Like it or not

I'm Dreaming of a Galactic Christmas!

is going to be this year's holiday spectacular.

Wait a minute.

She's not going to get away with this.

Uh, hold up, Annie.

What is it, Zach?

I'm going to talk you out of this dumb idea.

I know you're upset with my little change.

It is not a little change.

Maybe if you read the story again

it would change your mind.

Zach, Zach, Zach.

You're just mad

because you won't be playing a leading role this year.

Annie, that has...

uh, nothing to do with it.

( grunting )

Are you done yet?

( straining )

Just a little bit higher, Socrates.

There.

Ah.

That's got to be our best Christmas tree ever.

Absolutely.

I can't wait till Plato and Aurora see it.

Now all that's left is hanging the old Christmas stockings.

Uh...

where's your stocking, Ari?

Have you already hung it up?

Uh... yeah.

Where?

I don't see it anywhere.

Uh, well, it's, uh...

basically, it's in uh, Plato's cave.

No way.

Above his fireplace?

It was supposed to be my turn this year.

First come, first served

when it comes to Christmas stockings.

Oh, yeah?

Now, Sock.

I was here first.

Oh, is that so, Ari?

Well, if I'm not being fair

you're being selfish.

( grunts )

I get to put my stocking over Plato's fireplace.

( squeaking )

You, you, you, put that right back.

Well, I've had that ever since I was a prairie pup.

Oh, no.

( sighs happily )

See, it looks much more festive than yours, doesn't it?

( groaning )

( mumbling )

Plato: Please, please, you two.

I can't believe you're treating each other so poorly

especially this time of year.

Uh... sorry, Plato.

Uh, yeah, sorry about that.

Remember...

♪ 'Tis the season ♪

♪ To be jolly... ♪

Annie: Back off

and stop trying to change my mind, Zach.

First you stand in one place so we can talk.

( Plato clearing throat )

Merry Christmas, you two.

And today's crisis is?

Both: A Christmas Carol!

Ah, yes, by Charles Dickens.

First published in December .

Well, it's been performed in our school every Christmas

and now Annie wants to cancel it.

Because we need a new play

to make more money for the Drama Club.

But Annie, there's no better story to tell

than A Christmas Carol.

Look, if Charles Dickens himself were alive today

he could have written

I'm Dreaming of a Galactic Christmas.

It's that good.

Sock, Ari

what do you guys think?

Zach, where's the best place to put a Christmas stocking?

Oh, brother.

One thing at a time, please.

Annie, I have to agree with Zach on this one.

You can't go wrong with A Christmas Carol.

It's always been a favorite holiday story of mine.

The way Scrooge learns compassion for his fellow...

Sorry, Plato

I'll have to hear this some other time.

I've got too much to prepare back at the theater.

Ah, she's probably planning to give away candy cane ray g*ns

to the first paying customers.

Bye, Plato.

Sock. Ari.

So I have every right to hang my stocking

above the fireplace.

But it's my turn, my turn this year!

( snarls )

Annie's making such a big mistake, Plato.

And she doesn't even know it.

Give her time, Zach.

Remember, it is Christmas

and miracles have been known to happen.

( sighing ): I hope you're right.

Zach: Slow down, Annie.

We've got plenty of time

before school starts.

I've got to check on the set construction for the play.

Hey, maybe I was wrong

about what I said yesterday.

Wrong about what?

Well, you are president

and we should at least try your idea

about this new play.

Hmm.

I just want to be a really good president.

And I just want to do whatever I can

to help the school and the orphanage.

( chuckles ): I guess I did lose it yesterday, didn't I?

Yeah, you were kind of rude.

Did you see Plato's face drop

when you walked away from him?

Hey!

when you walked away from him?

Uh-oh.

What do you think you're doing?

You know, I have half a mind to report you.

Uh, come on, Annie

he was just having a little fun.

Fun?!

Bah!

Now the world would be a much better place

without a lot of kids in it.

Hey, uh, don't worry about it, pal.

She's got Martians on the brain.

Huh?

Aah!

Oh... oh.

Hey, Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Zach: Okay, people, there are only two

count them-- two weeks left to get this right.

So let's get busy.

Everything's ready for the dress rehearsal, Madame President.

Go ahead, don't wait for me.

Go, go, go!

Hey, the performance is up on the stage.

I've got bigger problems on my mind.

Just start it.

Hey, watch what you're doing!

Swing those back on stage.

Annie: Stop!

Stop!

Everybody stop!

Don't move!

I don't care if we have to rehearse

straight through until opening night!

As drama club President

I can promise you this Christmas show will go on.

Even if I have to run all the equipment

and say all the lines myself.

Is everyone absolutely clear on that?

All right, then.

Lights, fog machine and actors...

places!

Hey, ease up, Annie.

When has the first dress rehearsal ever gone smoothly?

Zach, we're in trouble.

Advance ticket sales

for I'm Dreaming of a Galactic Christmas

are so bad...

I'm having to reduce the number of evening performances.

Will that affect the money we're donating to the orphanage?

I'm Dreaming of a Galactic Christmas

than we did last year.

So...

we're not going to be able to

give the orphanage anything.

What?

That's not right.

It's not your decision.

As President...

Yeah, yeah. I've heard it.

You make all the decisions.

And I want to see a run-through

without any problems, do you hear me?

Places, people...

places!

Let's see...

If we added weekend matinees...

No, still not enough money.

I just don't get it.

People should be lining up to see this play.

It's got such a great...

( yawns )

...title.

Wha...?

( gasps )

You...

You there... who are you?

Your faithful friend and servant

Charles Dickens, my lady.

Well, you just keep cleaning up if you want to.

I'll go get a broom.

Why do you do so dislike my chronicle?

Huh?

My story, A Christmas Carol.

It's quite good, you know.

Many people have told me that.

Ah, yes, a holiday story to raise the ghost of an idea

which shall not put your patrons out of humor with themselves

with each other or the season.

May it haunt their hearts pleasantly.

Please reconsider your decision.

( panting )

Oh, thank goodness.

It was only a dream.

And stay in there!

♪ God rest ye merry gentlemen

♪ Let nothing you dismay ♪

♪ Remember Christ our savior ♪

♪ Was born on Christmas day... ♪

A Merry Christmas, ma'am.

Bah, humbug!

Christmas, a humbug, ma'am?

You don't mean that, I'm sure.

I do.

Merry Christmas--

what right have you to be merry?

You're poor enough.

( laughs )

What right have you to be so cross?

You're rich enough.

Humbug!

You seem so miserable, ma'am.

What else can I be

when I live in such a world of fools as this?

What's Christmas time

but a time for paying bills without money?

A time for finding yourself a year older...

but not an hour richer.

If I had my way, every idiot who went around with

"Merry Christmas" on his lips

should be boiled with his own pudding

and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.

You're joking, aren't you, ma'am?

Child, keep Christmas in your own way

and let me keep it in mine.

Keep it?

( laughs )

But you don't keep it.

Let me leave it alone, then.

But it's such a generous time of year.

A time when everyone opens their hearts freely

and are kind to one another.

Good afternoon.

Well, be that way-- but, a very happy...

Good afternoon, I said.

...New Year.

♪ God rest ye merry gentlemen

♪ Let nothing you dismay ♪

♪ Remember Christ our savior ♪

♪ Was born on Christmas day... ♪

Bah, humbug!

Whoa, stop!

Humbug.

I can't steer!

Daaa!

Ugh! Oh!

I do hope you're not injured.

I'm going to summon a constable and have that hooligan arrested.

The very idea.

Here, you dropped this.

Mr. Cratchet, I am perfectly capable

of taking care of myself.

And shut that door!

There's a draft!

It's the tiniest bit cool in here.

May I please put on a little more coal?

Mr. Cratchet, you earn shillings a week.

I'll heat the office

after you've put in an honest day's work.

Uh, Miss Scrooge, I was wondering

if you would be so kind...

Be so kind to do what?

Well, ma'am...

tomorrow is Christmas...

I know how to read a calendar.

And I also know you're going to ask me for the whole day off.

If it would be convenient.

It's most inconvenient, and it's unfair.

It's nothing more than an excuse

for picking a person's pocket every th of December.

A day's worth of income lost.

That's all it is.

But I suppose I'll have to give it to you.

Oh, Miss Scrooge, thank you so very much.

Wouldn't get a decent day's work out of you anyway.

Uh, yes, ma'am. I-I mean, no ma'am.

In return, I'll expect you here

the following day all the earlier.

And you'll work several hours overtime

and not expect an extra shilling for it.

Anything you say, ma'am.

Bah, I'll tell you what I say...

Humbug!

Good evening, Miss Scrooge.

Oh, and a Merry Christmas.

Christmas... humbug!

( gasps )

Plato: Just a little to the right.

Ah, perfection.

Plato?

I'm in real trouble

and I don't know who else to go to.

I'm listening.

I'm so worried about this Christmas play.

I can't get any sleep.

I'm having weird dreams about Charles Dickens.

Don't give up, Annie.

We don't always succeed on our first attempts.

As Sock and Ari are demonstrating right now.

They've been trying to hang that wreath all morning

but they haven't given up.

Whoa!

Hey, come back here, you!

They'll keep at it until they do succeed--

as will you with your play.

Everyone wants it to go well.

I know Zach is helping all he can.

Yeah, but he doesn't want to work on Christmas Day.

I beg your pardon?

Oh, nothing.

Just sort of a daydream I had.

You just keep in mind that all of us want

nothing but the best for you and your play.

Why, I only wish we could come to a performance.

Thanks, Plato.

As always, you know the right thing to say.

Mmm.

Now, go make that play of yours a smash.

In the theater, you're supposed to say, "break a leg."

Well, break both legs, then.

Ari: Ah! You did that on purpose!

Sock: Don't be silly.

That's the very last time I'm ever going to trust you!

Ugh!

No!

( sighs )

A buffalo's work is never done.

And something tells me, Annie hasn't seen the last

of Charles Dickens, or A Christmas Carol.