I know the Depression's depressing
The carols are stilled, the stores aren't filled
And windows are minus their dressing
The children don't grin, the Santa's are thin
And I've heard a terrible rumour
No goodwill, no cheer
But, we'll get a new deal for Christmas
This year
The snowflakes are frightened of falling
And, oh what a fix, no peppermint sticks
And all through the land folks are bawling
And filled with despair, cause cupboards are bare
But Santa's got brand new assistants
There's nothing to fear
They're bringing a new deal for Christmas
This year
On Farley and Perkins
On Ickes and Wallace
On Morganthau and Cummings
Fill our pockets with dollars
On Roper and Swanson
Get along Cordell Hull
Get along, giddy up
Call your committee up
Build every city up
Cheer every kiddy up
Fill every stocking with laughter
We haven't got room for any more gloom
Let's ring every bell from it's rafter
And chime cross the land
Tomorrow's at hand
Those happy days that we were promised
Are finally here
We're getting a new deal for Christmas
We're getting a new deal for Christmas
We're getting a new deal for Christmas
We're getting a new deal for Christmas
Christmas
This year
As everyone finished singing their song, Daddy Warbucks grabbed Grace Farrell around her slim waist, pulled her towards him, and kissed her passionately on the lips. Everyone stopped to turn around and watch their boss and his secretary sharing their first very special moment together. Annie was so excited she ran up to her new father and soon-to-be (hopefully) mother and hugged them both together.
"Grace," she began to ask, "Are you going to be my new mother?"
Grace and Oliver looked into eachother's eyes, a slight chuckle escaping from their mouths.
"I don't know, Annie," Oliver said to his new daughter, "What do you think, Grace, will you marry me?"
The crowd of people surrounding them, all the servants from the mansion, Drake, Mrs Pugh, Mrs Greer, Cecille, Annette, Annie's friends from the orphanage, Molly, Duffy, Pepper, July, Kate, Tessie, as well as the President, Franklin D Roosevelt, and his wife, Eleanore, stared at Oliver Warbucks with looks on their faces that said 'About time'!
"Oliver, of course I will marry you! And, Annie, I would love to be your new mother!"
"Oh, boy! Now I'm gonna have a mother and a father, just like everyone else!" Annie looked lovingly up at her new parents. "This is the best day ever!"
In the mansion, three hours later, just after Grace and Oliver had put Annie to bed, they walked into the main bedroom, Oliver's bedroom. Grace immediately felt uncomfortable, she had never been in Oliver's bedroom before. Oliver sensed her discomfort, and put his arm around her shoulders protectively.
"It's OK, Grace. This bed is about to become yours, too. Why don't we spend tonight together in it?"
"I don't know, Oliver," Grace started. "We've only just got engaged, should we really be sleeping together now?"
Oliver hesitated for a moment, then said to his beloved "Grace, why don't we get married tomorrow? Then it won't matter if we sleep in the same bed."
"Oliver, I would love to, getting married tomorrow would be a dream come true, but I don't have anything to wear."
"Grace, honey, you wouldn't need to worry about that!" Oliver walked out from behind the screen, dressed in his pyjamas, then made to get into his – no their – bed. "Now, stop worrying about that and come to bed. When you wake up in the morning, and NOT at 6 am, everything will be ready for you."
"OK, fine then, you win. Let's go to sleep."
And with that, Grace snuggled into the king size bed next to her new fiance and fell asleep peacefully in his arms, snuggled up against his chest.
A lovely woman walked down the aisle, wearing a lovely wedding dress, two bridesmaids and a flower girl walking ahead of her. As she reached the altar and stared into the eyes of her soon-to-be husband, and saw the glowing love and pride in them. She was finally home, with the man of her dreams, she now had a family. A lovely daughter, a new husband, and a houseful of staff who truly loved and appreciated her. There was only one thing missing, and her empty hand moved to her belly. So that was it, she thought, a baby.
Grace Farrell woke up the next morning, remembering her dream, wondering where she was and what was going on. Then she realised, and remembered the events of the previous night. She was in Oliver's bed, with an engagement ring on her finger. She was to become Mrs Oliver Warbucks. Then Grace looked at the clock on the bedside table. It was already half past 8!
Just then, the door opened and Annette walked in to the room.
"Oh, Miss Farrell, I'm sorry. I'll come back later." The embarrassed maid moved to leave the room, but was quickly stopped by the secretary.
"Annette, it's OK, you don't need to leave." G\race sat up uncomfortably in the big bed, looking out of place.
"Yes, Miss Grace. By the way, there has been a rumour flowing around the household this morning, that you and Mr Warbucks are getting married today. Is that true?"
Grace blushed nervously, smiled and nodded at the housemaid.
"You might want to tell the staff that it is not a rumour, Annette, and Oliver and I will be married today, at noon."
"Well then, ma'am, you might want to get up and go to the dressing room, because there are a few dresses waiting for you, and you can't get married without a pretty dress now, can you?"
Grace looked at her subordinate, wondering how she knew this much already.
"Mr Warbucks has been up since the crack of dawn preparing things for your wedding today, miss, so I hope everything works out for you."
"Thank you, Annette, you may return
to work now. I will see you at the wedding."
"Yes, miss. Right
away, miss," was the response the confused secretary heard as the
maid rushed out of the door, closing it behind her. It was going to
be a busy day, a very busy day.
It was nine o'clock and Annie still hadn't woken up from the events of the night before.
The door opened to reveal Grace, who had poked her head in to check on her new daughter, who still appeared fast asleep.
Annie heard the door open, and turned over to see her beloved Grace looking in on her.
"Good morning, sunshine," she heard her new mother say. "Did you sleep well?"
"I slept fine, Grace, why are you so happy?" Grace smiled at the 11 year old child, the smile so bright it reached her eyes.
"Honey, Daddy Warbucks and I are getting married today, and I want you to be my flower girl, please."
Grace looked hopefully into the eyes of the sleepy child, and smiled again when Annie said, "Yes, Grace, of course I will be there for you and Daddy Warbucks!"
The happy pair skipped out of Annie's room together after she had dressed, ready to spend the morning together picking out dresses.
Boxing day, 1933, was the happiest day of Oliver Warbucks' life. Today he was finally getting married to the woman of his dreams, his new adoptive daughter would be there with him. Everything was working out great.
12 noon came, and everyone in the mansion, as well as the orphanage occupants, the president and even Bert Healy and the Boylan sisters!
The main hall and stairway of the mansion were decorated with wedding whites, and all invited guests were gathered around the bottom.
Suddenly, at the top of the stairs, Annie appeared, in a lovely white dress, holding a basket of flowers. Behind her, in a stunning wedding dress, came Grace. The crowd gasped at the sight of the two women, and Oliver just smiled at the pair.
Within half an hour, Miss Grace Farrell had become Mrs Grace Warbucks, and Annie Warbucks officially had a new mother and father, just like all the normal kids.
The ecstatic Annie looked happily at all of her friends from the orphanage, who all looked sadly back at their old friend, wishing they could have a new family too.
"Mr President, since the Great Depression is going to be over soon, how about we find families for my friends. Since I got a new deal for Christmas, shouldn't they?"
Annie looked deeply into the eyes of President Franklin D Roosevelt, wanting a happy life not only for her, Grace and Daddy Warbucks, but for Molly, Duffy, Tessie, Kate, Pepper and July as well.
"Certainly, Annie. All of your friends will have families by the end of today."
"Mr Warbucks, sir, would you like to advertise on WEAF radio again, we could announce your wedding and host the show here if you would like."
"Certainly, Mr Healy, how much time do you need to set up?"
"No time at all, sir, Mr McCracken, the microphones, please."
Fred McCracken and Wacky moved the stations microphones in front of the congregation.
Bert Healy and the Boylan sisters stepped forward, then began to sing:
Hey, Hober Man, hey Dapper Dan
You both got your style
But brother you're never fully dressed without a smile
Your clothes may be Beau Brommelly
They stand out a mile
But brother you're never fully dressed without a smile
Who cares what they're wearing on Main Street or Saville Row
It's what they wear from ear to ear
And not from head to toe
That matters
So, so senator, so, so janitor
So long for a while
Remember you're never fully dressed without a smile
Ah the lovely Boylan sisters
Do dolo do do dolo do do do do do
Your clothes may be Beau Brommelly
They stand out a mile
But brother you're never fully dressed without an -
S – M – I – L – E
Smile darn ya
Who cares what they're wearing on Main Street or Saville Row
It's what they wear from ear to ear
And not from head to toe
That matters
So senator, so janitor
So long for a while
Remember you're never fully dressed
Though you may wear the best
You're never fully dressed without a smile
Smile, smile
Smile darn ya smile
Bert Healy and the Boylan sisters finished their infamous song, broadcasting it over the radio across New York, for an impromptu Hour of Smiles.
