Original subtitles

A long time ago, there used to be a saying, folks only want two things,

and circuses.

People and billy goats.

That wasn't a billy goat, Angel Girl. That was a unicorn.

There are no such things.

Besides, aren't unicorns supposed to have golden horns? All it takes is some

cardboard, glitter, and glue.

This is the circus, Miss Waze. It's all about illusion.

You better lay off that cotton candy, angel girl.

But I do think you need a little meat on your bones. Mirror, mirror on the wall.

Who is the funniest looking angel of all?

I'm glad you brought that up.

Because in our business, there is no funny looking.

Tall and thin or short and what?

In God's eyes, we're all beautiful.

I know that. I was just having fun. Well, this is a fun house. And it's all

right to be funny looking and different in here.

Because it's safe.

But out there, it's... Abe!

That's Davey. He's lived in the circus all his life.

Abe!

Abe, that's his goat. He helps take care of the animals.

Living in the circus.

That must be every little boy's dream.

Well, people dream about what they don't have, baby. Not what they live with

every day.

Davey! That's Leroy, Davy's father. He's a clown in the circus. A clown.

Oh, I love clowns. How wonderful to have a father who's... Davy!

People always stare at Leroy.

When they look at him, often they don't see a man. They just see something they

think is funny looking.

So they stare at him and they laugh at him and they use hurtful words like

midget and munchkin.

But you know he can deal with that as long as he stands tall in his son's

And that's why we're here.

Because when it comes to love, sometimes children and parents can be very,

very short -sighted.

When you walk down the road,

heavy burden, heavy load, I

will ride and I will walk with you.

I'll walk with you till the sun don't even shine.

Walk with you.

Every time I tell you I'll walk with you.

Walk with you.

Believe me, I'll walk with you.

Go after your feet, Abe. Don't forget to give Scarlett her bath.

Hey, can I go check out the town? I saw some kids there. Didn't Dolores give you

homework?

I never get to have any fun.

What are you talking about?

Get to juggle, walk on stilts, swallow swords, feed lions, tigers?

Yeah, but nobody's my age this year. I'm tired of the circus.

Son, do you know how many kids would love to trade places with me? I know.

It's one of the worst animals to get here.

I guess as soon as Wally gets the money.

Looks like Wally can't even make payroll.

Short rehearsal today, Dolores?

Last rehearsal.

He don't pay, we don't play.

Oh, come on.

You know that hurricane really set us back.

And as soon as the insurance money comes through... Clowns gotta eat too, Leroy.

And what about Davey?

Who's gonna be his teacher if you leave?

I wish I could stay. I really do.

I got no choice.

So long, Davey.

You work hard.

Practice your timetable.

Davey, come say goodbye to Peaches.

Bye, Peaches.

Circus.

Circus. Supposed to be family.

Family doesn't walk out on family.

What?

Do you see it?

Yeah. Yeah, I never noticed it before, but it's definitely there.

What? Well, some angels don't have what it takes to wear big red noses and funny

shoes. And some of them do.

You do.

Hi, Leroy.

I don't know what to do.

We've still got a couple of good acts left, Wally. And the cannon. Yeah, but

human cannonball.

Buster walked out too?

Basically, Leroy, we ain't got a prayer.

Says who?

Sometimes.

When God closes a door, he opens a tent flap.

I understand that you need a ringmaster and a clown.

Allow me to introduce you to Andrew and Monica, and my name is Ted.

Don't tell me you're a human cannibal.

Do you want help or attitude?

I'm a very good talent scout, and I have great connections.

Oh, yeah? With who?

With the greatest show on Earth.

And elsewhere.

Well, glad to meet you, Tess. And thanks for helping out. I'm Leroy, and this is

Wally. He's got the right look for a ringmaster.

But she don't look like clown material to me.

Look closer.

You're no clown.

Not yet, but I could learn.

I'll work with her, Wally.

Here you go.

Good girl.

What's his name?

Hey, there's no visitors during feeding.

I'm not visiting. I'm researching.

So what's his name?

Her name is Scarlet.

Scarlet O 'Hara was not beautiful.

Men seldom realize it when caught by a charm as the two Tarleton twins were.

Huh?

That's the opening line of Gone with the Wind, my absolute favorite book.

No one understands me, so I want to run away, join the circus.

Not as great as you think.

Oh, come on. I mean, you get an elephant.

My parents won't even let me have a dog.

My name's Mary Jane. Which way?

Baby!

Supper!

Whoa.

Is that little Leroy?

Yeah, he's my dad.

If I was you, I wouldn't spread it around.

They're mean. They make up awful names. Believe me, I would know.

Well, maybe they won't. I won't also, I swear.

All right, thanks. Bye.

Mmm, it smells delicious.

Yeah, especially for this goulash.

My grandpa taught me how to cook.

He was Hungarian.

Joined Ringling Brothers right after World War II.

That's him right over there.

Omar, the gentle giant.

A lot of folks don't know it, but most little people are born of average -sized

parents with no family history of dwarfism.

My wife was short -statured like me.

And look at Davey.

He's already a couple of feet taller than his old man.

It's Mom.

She died when I was two.

It was beautiful.

Yeah.

Well, time for the blessing.

Lord, help me to create more laughter than tears, more happiness than gloom,

more cheer than despair.

Never let me fail to see the wonder in a child's eyes.

Never let me forget that I am a clown.

Amen. Amen.

Oh, and thanks for the food.

Clowns can't live on laughter alone.

That was lovely.

It's called The Clown's Prayer.

Your first lesson?

The happiness that we spread to others doesn't start with us.

We're just passing it on.

Yes, I believe that.

Dad, I was thinking, now that Dolores is gone, that... I'll get you another

teacher. Don't worry.

No, but... I want to go to real school for a while. Even if it's just for a

couple weeks.

I want to hang out with kids my own age.

Please?

Please. Please.

Hey, maybe this isn't such a good idea.

I mean, you've never been to another school or anything.

Dad, I don't want to be late.

Come on, there's no shortcut.

Man, the cop!

You want water?

Yeah.

Dad,

I'm late.

I can make it if I run.

You got everything you need?

Paper, pencils, balloon?

Balloon? I'm not a clown, I'm a kid.

You're a circuit kid.

Here. You might need them.

Hey, bye.

Hey, Davey, where's my hug?

First thing a clown has to

figure out, in my face, has to be just right.

Because his makeup, what you see on the outside, tells you who he is.

On the inside.

So every clown is unique.

That's right. And they all have one thing in common.

No matter if they're wearing a smile or a frown, they're all messages of

laughter.

You know, my wife used to say that clowns were the closest thing on earth

angels.

I wish I could have met her.

Loretta was an angel.

She gave birth to Davy.

It's a miracle.

I guess all parents feel that way.

We didn't know if he was going to be a little person or not. We really didn't

care. All we knew is that we were going to love him and give him the most

beautiful life we could.

I miss her every day.

Davy didn't say how she died.

She was such a good mother.

Always fussing over Davy.

Oh, man.

I can't believe I forgot this.

If Lorraine was here, she'd never forget his lunch.

We have a new student with us today. His name is Davey Tucker.

He lives at the circus, right?

Yes, ma 'am.

Yeah, well, at least Davey's got manners.

Got any big, fat elephants at your circus?

Eddie, you'll be spending recess with me.

We do have a lot of animals.

We do love them all.

It's a poodle.

Before Davey is all out of breath, I was hoping that he might be able to give us

an idea of what his life is like.

Now, your parents are with the circus?

Well, my mom's dead, but my dad... Hi. Sorry.

Davey got his lunch.

Um, Monica and your dad had to practice. They asked me to drop this off.

That was the ringmaster.

He looks cool.

Yeah.

He's my dad someday. I'm gonna grow up to be just like him

She

likes

you yeah, how can you tell she's smiling?

Elephants are way more human than people think. I mean, they even cry.

Scarlet lost her mom a while back, like me.

Yeah?

Still got your dad?

I, um, overheard what you said at school about me being your dad.

You're not going to tell him, are you?

I'm just trying to make friends.

You don't understand what it's like.

To have a father who loves you more than anything in the world?

I love my dad.

He's just hard, you know?

He's not like other dads.

Can't play baseball.

Can't run very fast.

He can't even reach the buttons on an elevator.

There was one time he got trapped in one. He was so scared.

I mean, it's weird.

It's like I gotta protect him.

But... I can't always protect them.

And me too.

From what?

No matter where we go, people are always staring.

I'm just tired of it, okay?

I understand.

But lying is never the answer.

You can only juggle the truth for so long.

Yeah, but I'm a good juggler.

That was the most incredible show and tell we have had in ages.

Thank you.

All right, remember the bake sale tomorrow. Everybody please try and bring

something. Thank you.

Donovan, I never baked anything before.

Would you like to learn?

Yeah.

Bowl or spoon?

Huh?

Do you want to lick the bowl or the spoon?

Do you eat the dough?

It's like he's been living on another planet or something.

Mary Jane.

No, it's okay.

You think so different.

I like it.

Neighborhood, kitchen, cookies.

These kids your students?

No, they're my foster children.

My husband died before we had any kids of our own.

You had a lot of them.

Yeah.

I've always loved kids.

Do you have any brothers or sisters?

No. Just me and my dad.

Are you sure that he doesn't mind you being over here?

He's really busy.

Ringmasters have a lot to do.

Where could he be?

He should have come straight home.

Calm down, Leroy.

I never should have let him out there.

There? The real world.

You know how people are.

Yes, I think I do.

There's so much goodness in them. So much hope.

Isn't that why they love clowns? They also love human cannonballs.

The spectacle of a man risking his life.

Terrified.

Stuffed in a small barrel.

People can be cruel, Monica.

I know what it's like to be trapped in a small space.

When I was Davy's age, the kids used to stuff me in a trash can.

Oh, Leroy. I still haven't gotten over it.

I'm still afraid of locked doors, elevators.

When my wife died, I had her buried in the biggest coffin they had so she

wouldn't be... Oh, forget it.

How did she die, Leroy?

I can't talk about it.

Where the heck have you been?

Dad, sorry. It was Mrs. Donovan. Why?

Did she make you stay after school?

We were baking cookies.

These are for the bake sale tomorrow.

You're not baking cookies when you should be feeding the animals?

That's it. From now on, you come straight home.

No Mrs. Donovan, no bake sale, no nothing.

Now set the table for supper.

I don't want supper.

All I want is a normal life.

I want to be a kid just like everybody else.

Davey! Davey!

Davey!

Sorry, Monica.

You better go.

Parents have arguments with their children all the time.

It's my fault.

He was so excited, and all I did was ruin it.

You heard what he said. He just wants to be a kid, and he can't do that if he

lives with me.

You're a good father, Leroy.

I'm not a father.

I'm a freak.

Leroy and I used to take the baby out in the stroller.

People used to stare.

You could tell what they were thinking.

How could two ugly midgets have such a beautiful child?

Loretta was so scared they were going to take him away from us.

They used to do that, you know, to give children a normal life.

But I guess that's what he wants.

Wally just got a call in his office.

Davey's okay.

Oh, thank God.

I better go get him.

Where is he? At his teacher's.

Mrs. Donovan.

The one who... Yeah.

Oh.

Is he okay?

He's asleep on her couch, and she said it would be fine with her if you want

to spend the night.

Yeah. Well, maybe I should just...

Let him sleep there.

You're sure he'll be okay there? I did some checking, and Davey is in very safe

hands with Mrs. Donovan.

Well, thanks for all your help.

Leroy, Mrs. Donovan also said she'd be happy to talk with you about this.

Are you free tomorrow at noon?

Yes.

Sure.

So what are you going to do?

I don't know.

Mr. Donovan says running away isn't the answer.

Is that something that answers your dad?

Yeah. Whoa.

Heads up!

Hey, nice day.

Thanks.

Cool board.

Want to try it? Can't you see we're eating our lunch?

Yeah, I see you're real good at lunch.

And I'm real good at skateboarding.

So what's it going to be, circus boy?

Well...

Wasn't really very hungry anyway.

Hey, uh, guys, remember Davey?

This is Donovan.

I'm Leroy Tucker, Davey's dad.

Please excuse me, Mr. Tucker.

I don't mean to stare.

It's just that I was expecting... Someone taller.

Someone else. The man who brought Davy's lunch.

Andrew? He's a ringmaster.

Yes, I know. But Davy said...

Davy said Andrew was his

father?

I've had lots of experience with children.

Believe me, they all go through the phase of being embarrassed by their

And then they grow out of it.

He won't. And I won't.

I've been a foster parent for many years.

These are some of my children.

And the one thing they never grow out of is their need to be loved.

Do you know what it's like to love a child who has to help you get a drink of

water?

You know, someone once asked Abraham Lincoln how tall a man should be.

Do you know what he said?

Tall enough for his feet to reach the ground.

You're a good person, Mrs. Donovan.

I can see why Davey likes you so much.

Davey's a remarkable boy.

You think so?

Okay, you got it?

Mr.

Donovan, you love your children, don't you?

They're my life.

Davey's my life.

But I want what's best for him.

That's all that matters.

Mr. Tucker, could you consider...

Taking on another foster child.

Hey, stick it out! It's a mudskit!

Follow the alpacrow! Follow the alpacrow!

Follow the alpacrow!

Leroy, how can you do this? He's your son.

Believe me, it's what he wants.

What he wants isn't as important as what he needs.

That's what Miss Donovan said. She tried to talk me out of it, too. Then why did

she agree to take him in? It's just for a couple of weeks, until I can sort

things out. There's nothing to sort out.

Your son ran away. He needs you to bring him home.

He needs a normal life.

And I love him enough to try and get one for him. What you're doing now isn't

normal. Lady, don't talk to me about normal.

He doesn't remember his mom.

But she loved him more than he'll ever know.

That's why she died.

For him.

For Davey?

She was so afraid they were going to take him away from us.

She was so afraid she decided to have an operation.

It's a fancy name for it.

But what it does is lengthen the limb.

It's very painful.

And it doesn't often work.

She didn't survive the surgery.

Leroy.

She died trying to give Davy what he wants.

A chance for a normal life.

How can I deny him the same thing?

Have lunch today? Hey, Mary Jane.

No, dude.

Ignore the police.

Come on, Davey. You want to hang out with her? She's wet.

Good morning, everybody. Could you all take your seats quickly, please?

And quietly.

I'd like you to meet Tess.

She's a volunteer at the circus.

Good morning.

Now, as we all know, the circus is going to open tomorrow night, and there's no

such thing as a circus without kids.

So I'm here with complimentary tickets for anyone who wants to go. How many

people want to go?

Looks like everybody wants to go.

We all do. That is except for Davey.

And I know why.

His dad's in the circus.

Duh. We know that, Mary Jane. His dad's a ringmaster.

Duh, Eddie. That's what you think.

Go on, Davey. Tell him.

Tell him that your dad's a little Leroy the Midget.

Your dad's a munchkin?

Oh, my God.

That's enough.

That's enough.

That's enough, I said.

that tonight.

I guess I'll have to bring some really strong binoculars.

Mind if I sit?

Eddie's dad left home.

That's what he told me.

I'm really sorry, Mary Jane.

I mean, you and I were friends and... Man!

I'm sorry, too.

You want some friendly advice?

Go back home to the circus.

I mean, you're lucky you have a dad who loves you.

I can't.

Not after what I did.

Hurry, hurry, hurry!

Step right up, ladies and gentlemen!

Get your peanuts, popcorn, cotton candy!

See the greatest show ever assembled on Earth.

Sellout crowd, Jeff.

I did it.

I think that I should be spelled W -E.

Leroy, I wish he didn't look through that.

I told you, every clown is different.

I'm not talking about the clown. I'm talking about the man inside.

Monica, do you ever hear the expression, send in the clowns?

It's not just a song.

It's an old circus tradition.

In case anything goes wrong, or if there's an accident.

They send in the clowns?

That's right.

To distract the audience.

Why are you telling me this?

You're a clown.

You may need to know it.

Just in case.

You're going to be the human cannonball, aren't you?

Yes, he is.

It's not safe.

Leroy, please.

Wally walked me through the entire stunt.

I'm a professional.

No stunt is safe if the performer is afraid.

I've already lost my son.

What's left to be afraid of?

You won't survive this, Monica.

Are you sure you won't come?

Don't worry about me, Mrs. Donovan.

I'll just work on my essay.

Don't stay up too late.

Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, welcome

to the 53rd edition of the Griselda...

Hello, baby.

I don't want to talk about the circus, okay?

Well, that's fine with me. May I come in?

Peanut?

Oh, the smell.

It's like... It smells like home.

And there's no place like home.

I hate the Wizard of Oz.

I never saw it.

You've got these munchkins. Little people. Everybody laughs at them. Just

they laugh at my dad.

No, no, no, not tonight. I don't think so. Why not?

Haven't you heard? He's going to be the human cannonball.

No, he's afraid of that cannon.

The thing will kill him. Does anybody care?

Now, that's a very good question, Davey.

Ladies and gentlemen, for our grand finale, may I direct your attention to

Golden Curtain.

tradition is one that never fails to test the bravery of the human

cannonball.

from which there is only one escape.

Soon he will be a speeding projectile hurtling through the air at over 60

an hour. Join me, ladies and gentlemen, as we pray for a safe landing on the...

Security!

Have you seen my dad?

Go back inside, Davy.

I'll bring him to you.

Go on.

Leroy? Leave me alone.

Get out of here.

You don't want to be alone, Leroy. You're just afraid.

I tried.

And I couldn't do it.

I'm a coward.

A tiny, ugly coward.

Oh, Leroy.

I don't need any more pity.

I haven't come to bring you pity.

What's going on?

I'm an angel.

Sent by God.

You're so beautiful.

It hurts to look at you.

To see the beauty God can create.

And then to look at me.

I'm a reflection of God's love, and so are you.

No. That can't be true.

God doesn't make mistakes.

But you did.

You chose to believe what mirrors tell you and what the eyes of others reflect

instead of finding who you really are from the one who made you.

You were made in God's image.

That's impossible.

It's true.

When you are patient, when you are kind, when you turn your back on

anger, you reflect the character.

Of the one who made you.

The one who called you to be a man after his own heart.

A good father.

A kind soul.

A messenger of great joy and laughter.

God laughs.

Yes.

You should know better than most the healing that laughter can bring to this

world.

I've seen so many children.

Forget their pain for just a moment when they look at me.

Yes, I know.

But my son's pain, I can't change that.

He is so ashamed of me.

No, he's not ashamed of you.

He's just begun to see you as the world sees you because that is how you see

yourself.

But that is not how God sees you.

In his eyes you are not little. You are precious and you are beautiful.

Beautiful?

Yes.

And you must believe that so that your son can see you as you truly are.

And it begins by learning from the Father in heaven how to be a father here

earth.

That's all I knew.

It was fear that made you forget, Leroy.

But remember, every little boy who runs away is just counting the minutes until

his daddy comes and brings him home.

God does that all the time.

He brought you home today.

Now go and get your son.

Hey, circus boy.

Where's your dad?

Look.

I don't know why you're such a jerk, but I'm sorry you don't have a dad, but

that doesn't give you the right to call my dad names.

I shouldn't have lied.

I was that proud of him.

I don't care what anybody thinks.

Davey.

Dad.

I'm sorry.

Really sorry.

I did a terrible thing, and I don't know how you could ever forgive me.

That's what fathers do, son.

Besides, I'm sorry, too.

I never should have run away.

I should have came and got you.

You want to see the show?

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience.

Our human cannonball is now ready.

Cannonball? As we begin our countdown.

Ten. Nine.

Eight.

Seven.

Six. Five.

Four. Three.

Two. One.

But who said an angel had to have wings? Thank you.