Nativity

Synopsis: This Christmas, primary school teacher Paul Maddens is charged with producing the school's nativity play. Competing against the posh rival school for the honor of best reviewed show in town, the stakes are raised when Paul idly boasts that his ex-girlfriend Jennifer, a Hollywood Producer, is coming to see his show with a view to turning it into a film. The only trouble is - they haven't spoken in years. With eccentric assistant Mr Poppy fuelling his 'little white lie', Maddens suddenly finds himself a local celebrity and at the center of quarreling parents and over-excited children desperate in their bid for fame and fortune. Maddens' only hope is to get back in touch with Jennifer and lure Hollywood to town so that everybody's Christmas wishes come true.
Genre: Comedy, Family
Director(s): Debbie Isitt
Production: Freestyle Digital Media
 
IMDB:
6.5
Rotten Tomatoes:
46%
PG
Year:
2009
105 min
11,643 Views


(Here comes Santa Claus

Here comes Santa Claus...

'That's me, Paul Maddens,

back in drama school.

'Yes, l look like an idiot.

'And there's my girlfriend, Jennifer,

'with our best mate,

Gordon Shakespeare.

'We were the three amigos

with the world at our feet.'

(So jump in bed and cover your head

(Cos Santa Claus comes tonight... (

'Jennifer and her family

always loved Christmas.

'And it was Jennifer

who taught me to love it, too.

'Gordon always said

he loved Christmas,

'but the only thing

he truly loved was himself.'

l'm completely above this.

This is just pointless. Elf!

lt's my last elf.

l could at least be Father Christmas.

Look at her.

- l can't do this any more.

- You're really good, though.

There's no control being an actor.

You're doing other people's ideas.

- l agree.

- l'd rather be in control.

l don't know,

like directing, producing.

- l think you should consider that.

- l will.

That's why l'm going to train

as a primary school teacher.

Shh.

Give it three years and if you're

as bad as you are now, give up.

Try. Those who can't act, teach.

(Both) And those who can't teach,

teach primary.

- Who says that?

- lt's a truism.

A truism?

Five, six, seven, eight.

(Here comes Santa Claus

Here comes Santa Claus...

(Paul) 'And so that's what l did,

l became a teacher,

'and Jennifer

seemed really proud of me.

'As l was of her, when she went

to Hollywood and became a producer.

'Gordon became a teacher at

the best private school in the city.

'Every Christmas,

'his productions of the nativity won

the five-star review in the local paper.'

Gordon Shakespeare's

three-colour trilogy

has redefined nativity

with its rainbow of talent

that hangs over the city of Coventry

like a blessed beacon.

'Five stars.

'Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

What a performance!

'Paul Maddens' nativity was abysmal.'

Minus two stars.

(Paul) 'And that's when

l decided l hated Christmas.'

((JACKSON 5:

"Santa Claus ls Coming To Town")

(Santa Claus is coming to town

(You'd better watch out

You'd better not cry...

Sit down! Oli, that's you

in detention for the week.

TJ, that's you in detention

for the week,

and also, TJ, that's your parents

coming into school tomorrow.

(Santa Claus is coming to town... (

- Who is going to win the 5-star review?

- Us, us, us!

Us, us, us! Us, us, us!

Us, us, us! Yeah!

- Who can spell me Bethlehem? Go.

- B-E-L-E...

No, next. Oli.

B-E-L-T...

No! TJ?

- B-E-L-E...

- No!

Good morning, boys and girls.

Good morning, Mrs Bevan!

Here we are on the run-up to Christmas.

- Yes!

- lsn't that exciting?

Now, last year,

Mrs Spink did the nativity play,

and, if you remember,

she got a bit upset

and she started shouting and crying

and some of you, l remember,

were crying with her.

So, we are going to have to find

a new person,

and this year, to make the best

nativity play that has ever, ever been,

is Mr Maddens. Yes!

(We wish you a Merry Christmas

(We wish you a Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year

(We wish you a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas

(We wish you a Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year...

Ooh.

(We wish you a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas

(We wish you a Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year

(And a happy New Year

(Happy New Year... (

You have the talent,

you have the training.

Mrs Bevan, l did a three-year course

in drama many moons ago.

- l wasn't very good.

- Yes, l know. Let's move on from there.

When are you going

to start the casting?

These children are literally useless.

l am literally useless.

Please don't make me do this.

Think about Oakmoor. Think about

how they always steal all the reviews.

We agreed four years ago

that after my disastrous attempt to direct

the nativity, l wouldn't do it again.

Make this a good one, make this

a fabulous last nativity play for me,

and then l retire and you won't

have to put up with me any more.

Oh, and you've got a classroom

assistant starting today some time.

- Thank you.

- That will help with the stress.

- Hello.

- Hello.

Tell us, clearly, what happened at

Christmas, if you think you're so clever.

Joseph got together with Mary and then

Mary went to Bethlehem to have a baby.

She has a baby, Jesus.

A couple of years later, about 30 years

later, he dies on the cross and then...

Go and sit down. That was almost

blasphemy, what you've just done.

Here's to a five-star review

of the St Bernadette's nativity

directed by Paul Maddens.

- Cheers.

- Cheers!

(Laughter)

- (Rhythmic clapping)

- (When Susie was a child

(A child Susie was

(She said, "Miss! Miss! l can't get this!

l got my knickers in a right old twist!"

(When... (

- Who are you?

- Mr Poppy.

- What are you doing here, Mr Poppy?

- Oh, l'm your teaching assistant.

Please try and keep it neat.

Dan, are you having a bit of trouble?

- How are you getting on, Fraser?

- Fine, thanks.

Mm-hm. You don't have to put

your hand up to talk to me.

l thought we were supposed

to be doing a play.

- We are.

- Everyone's sitting around...

Yes, but this isn't

the rehearsal for the play.

This is still a creative writing class.

lt's a different thing.

- Who wants to do a play?

- (Paul) Excuse me, excuse me!

- Just move the tables to one side.

- No, keep the tables where you are!

Alfie! Alfie, TJ, just put the tables back.

The next person to move their table

Rate this script:3.8 / 4 votes

Debbie Isitt

Debbie Isitt (born 7 February 1966 in Birmingham, England) is a comic writer, film director and performer. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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