THAT NIGHT
The Hudson-Fabray's black car, steered by Caleb, rolls into view from a side path. Rachel, Noah, and James push it from behind. Rachel wears a green wool jacket and hat. Following on foot, Quinn and the children wear wool, button-collared capes and hats or scarves. Noah turns to Rachel.
"It not only strains my back, it breaks my heart when I think of a certain singing group that will not appear at the festival tonight." Noah says quietly.
"By the time you've made the announcement, we'll be out of the state." Rachel said.
"I hope you appreciate the sacrifice I'm making."
"You have no choice."
"I know. That's why I'm making it."
"Why doesn't Mother turn the motor on?" Janelle asked.
"Because she doesn't want anyone to hear us!" James answered to loudly.
"Sh!"
Rachel scowls at James. Sarah looks at Quinn.
"What will Cedes say when she discovers we're gone?" Sarah asked.
"She'll be able to answer truthfully she didn't know anything about it if anyone asks her." Quinn answered.
"Will we be coming back here?"
"Someday, Lea. I do hope someday."
"Are Mother and Uncle Noah going to push the car all the way to the airport?"
"Shh!"
James runs ahead and opens the gate, then runs back to continue pushing. Mercedes, the housekeeper, watches them from the window wearing a dour expression.
As the Hudson-Fabray's pass through the gate, they scurry to climb into the car. Bright lights flash on. They all freeze and turn to see that the lights are the headlights of two automobiles beside which stands Mr. Evans and a squad of Canadian soldiers.
"Something wrong with your car?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, we couldn't get it started."
"Karl!"
Canadian soldier Karl steps forward.
"Fix Mrs. Hudson-Fabray's car so that it will start."
Karl marches over to the car - Rachel steps aside with a cordial smile- and Karl gets in. Of course, the engine starts up on the first try. Rachel smiles and shakes her head as if amazed. She gives Karl a friendly pat on the shoulder and shrugs at Evans. The stiff, unsmiling Karl rejoins Evans.
"Excellent, Karl. (to Rachel) I've not asked you where you and your family are going ... nor have you asked me why I'm here."
"Well, apparently, we're both suffering from a deplorable lack of curiosity."
"You were sent a message which you did not answer. A message from Chief William Blair of the Toronto police department."
"I was under the impression, Mr. Evans, that the contents of messages in America are private - at least, the America I know."
"I have my orders - and they are to take you personally to Toronto tonight where you will accept your commission."
"I'm afraid that's going to be quite impossible. You see we, uh, um, all of us, the entire family, will be ... singing in the festival tonight. As a matter of fact, that's where we were going now. Couldn't possibly let them down now."
"I just hope we're not too late." Quinn said.
"Yes." Rachel said.
"And you ask me to believe this - that you, Rachel Hudson-Fabray, are singing in a concert?" Evans asked.
"Believe me, it will be a performance beyond anything even I've dreamt of." Noah said.
"Like you, Mr. Evans, I, too, am a woman of hidden talents."
"Yes, um, here. Program."
Noah walks over and hands Evans the program. Evans studies it skeptically.
"It says here only the names of the children."
"It says the Hudson-Fabray Family Singers. And I'm the head of the Hudson-Fabray family, am I not?"
"And these, um, these travel clothes that you're all wearing?" Evans asked.
"Our costumes, naturally. Mr. Evans, this night air is not good for the children's voices."
Quinn and Rachel exchange conspiratorial glances. Evans looks thoughtful.
"Well, a slight delay in my orders will not be serious ... therefore, you will sing. You will all sing. But only because that's the way I want it to be. It will demonstrate that nothing in America has changed. And when you are finished singing, you, Rachel Hudson-Fabray, will be taken to Toronto. Now, if you will all get into your car, we will escort the Hudson-Fabray Family Singers to the festival."
"No escort will be necessary, Mr. Evans."
"Necessary? A pleasure, Rachel! After all, we would not want you to get lost in the crowds, would we?"
"No." Rachel whispered.
Evans grins smugly and returns to his car. The children pile into the Hudson-Fabray car. Rachel crosses her fingers, nods to Quinn, and gets in the car.
The huge festival audience, a full house, watches the family who stand center stage in a large spotlight singing a complex arrangement of "Do Re Mi" ...
From one side of the stage, Noah eyes Canadian sentries posted around the theater.
Rachel spots Evans in the front row, then gives Quinn a reassuring nod.
The song comes to an end and there is a tremendous storm of applause from the audience. In the front row, a judge marks his ballot. Karl sits scowling beside Evans who forces himself to clap. As Quinn and the children bow, Rachel steps forward to a microphone. She glances at Noah who holds up a guitar and raises his eyebrows questioningly. Rachel nods to him, then speaks into the mike.
"My fellow ... Americans, I shall not be seeing you again, perhaps for a very long time. I would like to sing, for you now, a love song."
Noah hands her the guitar.
"I know you share this love. I pray that you will never let it die."
The spotlight follows her to center stage. In the shadows, Quinn and the children move offstage. Rachel strums the guitar and sings.
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow, may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever
Looking out over the audience, Rachel's smile wavers.
"Edelweiss, edel..." Rachel tries to sing. She blinks, choked with emotion. Quinn steps in from the wings, followed by the children.
Small and white, clean...
... and bright ...
You look happy to meet me
Rachel waves to the audience, urging them to join in.
Blossom of snow, may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever
There is a moment of silence, charged with emotion, and then the audience gives a large round of applause. Evans shifts uncomfortably. Noah comes out on stage and whispers to the family.
"I think it'll work. I shall miss all of you. I shall miss the money I could've made with you." Noah says.
He carries the Captain's guitar to the microphone.
"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, thank you. The festival competition has come to its conclusion, except of course we don't know yet what that conclusion will be. And while the judges are arriving at their decision I have been given permission to offer you an encore. This will be the last opportunity the Hudson-Fabray will have of singing together for a long, long time. Even now officials are waiting in this auditorium to escort Rachel Hudson-Fabray to her new command in the police forces of Toronto."
The crowd murmurs and grumbles at this.
"And so, ladies and gentlemen, the family Hudson-Fabray again ... to bid you farewell."
The audience applauds. Noah blows a kiss to the family. The children line up behind Quinn and Rachel. Music begins.
There's a sad sort of clanging from the clock in the hall
And the bells in the steeple too
And up in the nursery an absurd little bird
Is popping out to say "cuckoo"
Cuckoo, cuckoo
Regretfully they tell us
Cuckoo, cuckoo
But firmly they compel us
Cuckoo, cuckoo
To say goodbye ...
... to you
Rachel salutes and they all form a line across the stage.
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night
We hate to go and miss this pretty sight
James and Kayla walk off stage and into a shadowy hallway. The rest of the family waves.
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu
Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu
Caleb and Lea bow, then exit into the hallway. They glance back at the family nervously.
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye
We flit, we float, we fleetly flee, we fly
Janelle and Sarah kick their legs back, then dance hurriedly offstage.
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye
The sun has gone to bed and so must I
Goodbye!
Quinn gives a gentle push to Kim who exits.
Goodbye!
Rachel puts her arm around Maria.
Goodbye!
Goodbye!
Quinn and Rachel exit hand in hand as the music comes to an end and the audience applauds. A woman in a green, feathered hat slips a paper into an envelope. She hands it to a man who hands it to Noah on stage. Noah opens it and walks slowly to the microphone. He picks up the mike and carries it to center stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have here the decision of our distinguished judges. We will start with the award for third prize. For this honor, the judges have named the first soloist of the choir of St. Agathe's church in Murbach, Germany, Fraulein Schweiger."
A trumpet fanfare. The audience applauds. A spotlight picks up Fraulein Schweiger walking onto the stage from the shadowy hallway. Grinning and bowing all the while, she runs up to Noah who hands her a bouquet of flowers. He bows to her then claps. She keeps on grinning and bowing. Noah bows awkwardly again. The audience laughs at all this bowing. Noah beckons an usher who steps out of the shadows and escorts her offstage. More applause. She keeps grinning and bowing.
"Second prize to - the Toby Reiser Quintet."
A trumpet fanfare. Applause. The spotlight reveals the quintet as they come out onto the stage. They bow to the audience, shake hands with Noah, and then exit.
"And the first prize, the highest honor in all America, to the Hudson-Fabray Family Singers!"
Noah flourishes a hand toward the hallway. A trumpet fanfare. A large round of applause. The spotlight searches for the Hudson-Fabray family, but they don't appear. Evans peers up at Noah. As the applause dies out, Noah tries again to summon the family.
"The family Hudson-Fabray!"
Trumpet fanfare. Applause. But no family Hudson-Fabray appears. Evans scowls at Noah. Suddenly, Karl comes running into the spotlight and shouts.
"They're gone!" Karl said.
Evans leaps up. Noah clenches his jaw in suppressed triumph and relief.
Well? I know the plot and lines are from the movie but I'm somewhat changing the ending of this from the movie.