Music Of The Heart- The Final chapter
Arriving at Carnegie Hall Meryl kissed Don and kissed the top of Louisa and Gracie's head.
“Good luck baby” Don said pulling Meryl to him and kissed the top of her head
Meryl took a nervous breath in “Thanks!”
“See you on stage, Mommy” Louisa said taking Don's hand
“Yes you will” Meryl said with a smile
Mary smiled at her daughter and Meryl smile back at her “I'm so very proud of you Meryl.” She hugged her daughter
“Thank you, Mamma” Meryl turned to Harry and hugged him tight.
“I'll see you up there. Make me proud”
“I will” Meryl said with a smile
“Come on Mom we gotta go” Henry said
“Oh okay” Meryl starred nervously back at her family and smiled. Grace walked up to Meryl and hugged her waist
“You'll do great”
Meryl smiled and kissed her “Thank you Gracie.”
Mamie ran out “Mom!” She said sternly
Meryl through her hands up “Okay okay.” She turned and started running back stage “Love you guys” She said
“Love you too” They all said
Meryl walked back stage and the kids and parents were boiling over with excitement. Last minute kisses, Violin tunings, and clothing adjustments took place throughout the room. Everyone smiled at Meryl when she walked in.
All the boys are either in suits or tuxes, the girls in velvet or flowered dresses, some with bows in their hair, and some with buns. Meryl tried to do a head count but all the kids kept moving around making it difficult for her, Dorothea was talking with a stage manager, Henry was fixing some of the boys ties, Patricia helped one girl with her hair, stopping in the middle to button the back of another girls dress.
Meryl suddenly realized Vanessa wasn't there and started to panic. She put her hands in her hair “Where's Vanessa? Has anybody seen Vanessa?” She asked going around to everyone.
Patricia looked at her concerned “I'll call her house”
Meryl nodded “Oh god” Meryl took a deep breath in
Mamie walked up to her Mom and touched her shoulder “Everything will be okay”
“I sure hope so” Meryl saw Mrs.Adisa enter the room with Shawn. They walked towards each other and hugged each other. As they start to chat, Meryl suddenly sees someone and excuses herself: Nick walks towards her, wearing a tux. They smile at each other. Henry looks over at them and frowns. He started to walk towards them but Mamie stopped him.
“Don't” She warned him
“Why is he even here? After five years he suddenly wants to show up? She has Dad now”
“I know but there's nothing we can do. Just let them talk”
Henry sighed and walked away. Mamie looked back at her mother and Nick. Meryl was a bit shaken up to see him. They're not quite sure how to greet each other. He took her hand and kissed her on the cheek taking Meryl by surprise.
“Congratulations” He finally said
“Thank you” Meryl pulled her hand away
“I knew you'd get here sooner or later. I'm glad I'm here to see it”
Meryl smiled slightly “Me too”
“I can't believe how big Henry and Mamie look”
“I know! It's crazy”
“How's Louisa?” He asked
“She's good. Looks just like her father.” She hesitated to tell him Don was alive but she continued “She adores him”
Nick had a confused look “What?”
“He was never dead. He was stuck on an island and lost his memory. He's home” Meryl said with watery eyes. She wasn't crying because she used to love him no she was crying because the love of her life was home.
Nick nodded “That's great” He forced a smile. Mamie watched as Nick was suddenly uncomfortable. She must of told him Dad was alive. She watched as he excused himself and quickly left. Meryl quickly wiped away the tears and turned to see Mamie staring at her. Mamie forced a smile and walked away. Henry noticed his mother was alone and stalked up to her. “Why the hell was he here?”
Meryl starred at him in alarm “He was just here to Congratulate me. Calm down”
“Did you tell him Dad was alive?”
“Yes, Henry I did”
“Good”
~~~~~~
Meryl talked to Patricia with a worried expression
“You called Vanessa's father and mother?”
Patricia shook her head “No answer at either”
“This is just great”
A Carnegie Hall staff person in a suit enters “Half hour call! It's now half hour call! So pace yourself accordingly. Don't get more than thirty minutes worth of nervous”
The entire room fills with nerves. Meryl took a deep breath in. Suddenly Vanessa rushed into the room with her father. She's out of breath, her stocking has a big run in it, and she's in tears. Meryl's eyes widened and suddenly her fear was gone.
“What happened?” Meryl asked
“They stole the car!” Vanessa said with tears
“With the Violin in it” Her father said
“Oh my god” Meryl said. She looked towards Henry and Mamie “Guys..”
“Done” Henry said. They both rush over to the extra violins to find the right size for her.
“And then when we were getting a taxi, I fell down” Vanessa said in tears. Meryl comforted her then Patricia stepped in.
“Come on Honey, let's get you cleaned up” She took Vanessa and disappeared.
~~~~~~
The hall started to fill up very quick. The room was buzzing with voices. The Carnegie person enters back stage “FIVE MINUTE CALL. WE NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES!” The tension in the room shoots through the roof.
“Relax, Mom” Mamie said
Meryl took a nervous breath in “I'm trying”
Patricia walks over to Meryl “You ready?”
Meryl looks at her with terrified eyes “I guess so”
“You'll do great” Patricia said with a smile and walked out on stage and addressed the audience.
“I hope so” Meryl said to herself
Everyone in the hall applauded her and the she began to speak “When I became the Principal of Central Park East Elementary, I envisioned a school where children could fulfill their highest potential, despite the challenges of poverty and racism. Ten years ago, Meryl Streep walked into my office because she needed a job, and because she had a vision that any child could learn the violin. We put our dreams together and created The East Harlem Violin Program which has helped more than a thousand students expand their of what's possible in their lives. When a program like this is cut, our children's future is compromised. I want to thank you for your support. Enjoy the concert”
Meryl could hear the audience applauding Patricia, She held up her hands to quiet down the anxious students.
“Everyone...Attention please” They become quiet and look at her “I want you all to to take a second just to breath, Okay? Deep breath” All the kids breathe including Meryl. She looked at all her students “I would like you all to play with your heart, all right? Play like I know you can play. You'll be wonderful. Watch me, don't look out in the audience you don't need to be afraid. It's going to be really wonderful. So play” She paused for a second and tried to hold pack her tears “Play from here” She patted her heart.
Meryl walked with the kids towards the stage. “Okay! Go on” All the students walked out on stage with an instant applause. Everyone was in their spots. Some of the children were awestruck by the audience, one waved to her family in the audience. Meryl walked out with a big applause. She smiled and bowed to the audience, turned to the kids, Signaled them with a slight nod and the Bach Minute One began. They all sounded so beautiful. Meryl smiled at them with pride. Everyone back stage was blown away by their playing. The students finished Minute One. There was an exquisite moment of silence, then applause. All the kids and Meryl smiled. Meryl looked out into the audience looking at her family with huge smile's on their faces.
~~~~
Country Fiddler Mark O'Connor played Orange Blossom Special with the kids. He improvised, surprising them as his Violin made the sound of a Train moving through a tunnel. Ramon smiled, he was awed by this but he remained calm and professional.
~~~~
As the guest Violinists head for the stage, A person is announcing their names over a mic, mixed with applause:
“Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, Arnold Steinhardt, Diane Monroe, Micheal Tree, Mark O'Connor, and Karen Briggs.” The guy announced.
All six violinists were on stage for the Grand Finale, each one sharing a music stand with a student. Meryl nodded, and they began the Bach Double Concerto. She turned to face the audience as she joined them. Oh please let this go right, Meryl thought.
Shawn shares a stand with Arnold Steinhardt; Isaac Stern stands and plays with Guadalupe, sitting beside him; Itzhak Perlman sat and played next to Carlos, standing beside him; Micheal Tree played beside Micheal; Diane Monroe played beside Lucy; Karen Briggs played beside Thomas, and Mark O'Connor played beside Stephanie. Henry played Cello, Mamie played the piano behind them; and playing with her own solo music stand, Meryl.
Their expressions were serious and passionate, broken by occasional smiles lighting on their faces. Meryl was so very proud of her students. Just a few more notes and they were done.
The song finished and the applause began. The other Fiddlefest players came out from backstage. There was even more applause. Everyone was on their feet. Meryl fought hard to hold her tears back. She looked at her family who were on their feet smiling and cheering. She smiled at them and the looked back at her students and smiled.
Meryl finally walked up the the podium. She let out a deep breath. “We're all here tonight because we have a bigger mission: to take the magical spirit of tonight's concert with us out into the world, and to fight for music and art to be a part of every child's education. Thank you!” The applause Meryl got after that was deafening. Both Henry and Mamie ran up to her on stage and hugged her. Meryl wiped away tears that were falling down her cheeks.
~~~~~
Louisa ran up to Meryl after everything and hugged her.
“You did great, Mommy”
Meryl smiled “Thank you” She kissed the top of her head and hugged the rest of her family.
“You were amazing” Don said and gave her a kiss
“Thank you” She put her arm around him. She couldn't believe how well her students did. She was unbelievably lucky. She couldn't of done this without her family.
Nick watched Meryl with her family. He took one last look at her and turned around to leave. Meryl ended up looking in his direction when he left. She smiled and looked back at Don with a bigger grin. “I love you” She said and kissed him
“I love you too”
Meryl ended up raising enough money to keep her program going for another three years. She does fundraisers to keep her program going. She now teaches kids of all ages. Henry is a professional Cellist now, Mamie went on to do Piano, Grace is in fashion, and Louisa is still in school. Meryl and Don are still happily in love.
THE END
Finally the last chapter is done =). Hope you girls liked it. The ending is shit. I couldn't think of anything so I just went with this blah. Thank you all for the lovely comments. I am going to start a new story about Kenzie. If you hav no clue what I'm talking about go read The Missing Streep and then you'll know. All the others on here are about her but this one will be about Olivia pretty much.
“Good luck baby” Don said pulling Meryl to him and kissed the top of her head
Meryl took a nervous breath in “Thanks!”
“See you on stage, Mommy” Louisa said taking Don's hand
“Yes you will” Meryl said with a smile
Mary smiled at her daughter and Meryl smile back at her “I'm so very proud of you Meryl.” She hugged her daughter
“Thank you, Mamma” Meryl turned to Harry and hugged him tight.
“I'll see you up there. Make me proud”
“I will” Meryl said with a smile
“Come on Mom we gotta go” Henry said
“Oh okay” Meryl starred nervously back at her family and smiled. Grace walked up to Meryl and hugged her waist
“You'll do great”
Meryl smiled and kissed her “Thank you Gracie.”
Mamie ran out “Mom!” She said sternly
Meryl through her hands up “Okay okay.” She turned and started running back stage “Love you guys” She said
“Love you too” They all said
Meryl walked back stage and the kids and parents were boiling over with excitement. Last minute kisses, Violin tunings, and clothing adjustments took place throughout the room. Everyone smiled at Meryl when she walked in.
All the boys are either in suits or tuxes, the girls in velvet or flowered dresses, some with bows in their hair, and some with buns. Meryl tried to do a head count but all the kids kept moving around making it difficult for her, Dorothea was talking with a stage manager, Henry was fixing some of the boys ties, Patricia helped one girl with her hair, stopping in the middle to button the back of another girls dress.
Meryl suddenly realized Vanessa wasn't there and started to panic. She put her hands in her hair “Where's Vanessa? Has anybody seen Vanessa?” She asked going around to everyone.
Patricia looked at her concerned “I'll call her house”
Meryl nodded “Oh god” Meryl took a deep breath in
Mamie walked up to her Mom and touched her shoulder “Everything will be okay”
“I sure hope so” Meryl saw Mrs.Adisa enter the room with Shawn. They walked towards each other and hugged each other. As they start to chat, Meryl suddenly sees someone and excuses herself: Nick walks towards her, wearing a tux. They smile at each other. Henry looks over at them and frowns. He started to walk towards them but Mamie stopped him.
“Don't” She warned him
“Why is he even here? After five years he suddenly wants to show up? She has Dad now”
“I know but there's nothing we can do. Just let them talk”
Henry sighed and walked away. Mamie looked back at her mother and Nick. Meryl was a bit shaken up to see him. They're not quite sure how to greet each other. He took her hand and kissed her on the cheek taking Meryl by surprise.
“Congratulations” He finally said
“Thank you” Meryl pulled her hand away
“I knew you'd get here sooner or later. I'm glad I'm here to see it”
Meryl smiled slightly “Me too”
“I can't believe how big Henry and Mamie look”
“I know! It's crazy”
“How's Louisa?” He asked
“She's good. Looks just like her father.” She hesitated to tell him Don was alive but she continued “She adores him”
Nick had a confused look “What?”
“He was never dead. He was stuck on an island and lost his memory. He's home” Meryl said with watery eyes. She wasn't crying because she used to love him no she was crying because the love of her life was home.
Nick nodded “That's great” He forced a smile. Mamie watched as Nick was suddenly uncomfortable. She must of told him Dad was alive. She watched as he excused himself and quickly left. Meryl quickly wiped away the tears and turned to see Mamie staring at her. Mamie forced a smile and walked away. Henry noticed his mother was alone and stalked up to her. “Why the hell was he here?”
Meryl starred at him in alarm “He was just here to Congratulate me. Calm down”
“Did you tell him Dad was alive?”
“Yes, Henry I did”
“Good”
~~~~~~
Meryl talked to Patricia with a worried expression
“You called Vanessa's father and mother?”
Patricia shook her head “No answer at either”
“This is just great”
A Carnegie Hall staff person in a suit enters “Half hour call! It's now half hour call! So pace yourself accordingly. Don't get more than thirty minutes worth of nervous”
The entire room fills with nerves. Meryl took a deep breath in. Suddenly Vanessa rushed into the room with her father. She's out of breath, her stocking has a big run in it, and she's in tears. Meryl's eyes widened and suddenly her fear was gone.
“What happened?” Meryl asked
“They stole the car!” Vanessa said with tears
“With the Violin in it” Her father said
“Oh my god” Meryl said. She looked towards Henry and Mamie “Guys..”
“Done” Henry said. They both rush over to the extra violins to find the right size for her.
“And then when we were getting a taxi, I fell down” Vanessa said in tears. Meryl comforted her then Patricia stepped in.
“Come on Honey, let's get you cleaned up” She took Vanessa and disappeared.
~~~~~~
The hall started to fill up very quick. The room was buzzing with voices. The Carnegie person enters back stage “FIVE MINUTE CALL. WE NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES!” The tension in the room shoots through the roof.
“Relax, Mom” Mamie said
Meryl took a nervous breath in “I'm trying”
Patricia walks over to Meryl “You ready?”
Meryl looks at her with terrified eyes “I guess so”
“You'll do great” Patricia said with a smile and walked out on stage and addressed the audience.
“I hope so” Meryl said to herself
Everyone in the hall applauded her and the she began to speak “When I became the Principal of Central Park East Elementary, I envisioned a school where children could fulfill their highest potential, despite the challenges of poverty and racism. Ten years ago, Meryl Streep walked into my office because she needed a job, and because she had a vision that any child could learn the violin. We put our dreams together and created The East Harlem Violin Program which has helped more than a thousand students expand their of what's possible in their lives. When a program like this is cut, our children's future is compromised. I want to thank you for your support. Enjoy the concert”
Meryl could hear the audience applauding Patricia, She held up her hands to quiet down the anxious students.
“Everyone...Attention please” They become quiet and look at her “I want you all to to take a second just to breath, Okay? Deep breath” All the kids breathe including Meryl. She looked at all her students “I would like you all to play with your heart, all right? Play like I know you can play. You'll be wonderful. Watch me, don't look out in the audience you don't need to be afraid. It's going to be really wonderful. So play” She paused for a second and tried to hold pack her tears “Play from here” She patted her heart.
Meryl walked with the kids towards the stage. “Okay! Go on” All the students walked out on stage with an instant applause. Everyone was in their spots. Some of the children were awestruck by the audience, one waved to her family in the audience. Meryl walked out with a big applause. She smiled and bowed to the audience, turned to the kids, Signaled them with a slight nod and the Bach Minute One began. They all sounded so beautiful. Meryl smiled at them with pride. Everyone back stage was blown away by their playing. The students finished Minute One. There was an exquisite moment of silence, then applause. All the kids and Meryl smiled. Meryl looked out into the audience looking at her family with huge smile's on their faces.
~~~~
Country Fiddler Mark O'Connor played Orange Blossom Special with the kids. He improvised, surprising them as his Violin made the sound of a Train moving through a tunnel. Ramon smiled, he was awed by this but he remained calm and professional.
~~~~
As the guest Violinists head for the stage, A person is announcing their names over a mic, mixed with applause:
“Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, Arnold Steinhardt, Diane Monroe, Micheal Tree, Mark O'Connor, and Karen Briggs.” The guy announced.
All six violinists were on stage for the Grand Finale, each one sharing a music stand with a student. Meryl nodded, and they began the Bach Double Concerto. She turned to face the audience as she joined them. Oh please let this go right, Meryl thought.
Shawn shares a stand with Arnold Steinhardt; Isaac Stern stands and plays with Guadalupe, sitting beside him; Itzhak Perlman sat and played next to Carlos, standing beside him; Micheal Tree played beside Micheal; Diane Monroe played beside Lucy; Karen Briggs played beside Thomas, and Mark O'Connor played beside Stephanie. Henry played Cello, Mamie played the piano behind them; and playing with her own solo music stand, Meryl.
Their expressions were serious and passionate, broken by occasional smiles lighting on their faces. Meryl was so very proud of her students. Just a few more notes and they were done.
The song finished and the applause began. The other Fiddlefest players came out from backstage. There was even more applause. Everyone was on their feet. Meryl fought hard to hold her tears back. She looked at her family who were on their feet smiling and cheering. She smiled at them and the looked back at her students and smiled.
Meryl finally walked up the the podium. She let out a deep breath. “We're all here tonight because we have a bigger mission: to take the magical spirit of tonight's concert with us out into the world, and to fight for music and art to be a part of every child's education. Thank you!” The applause Meryl got after that was deafening. Both Henry and Mamie ran up to her on stage and hugged her. Meryl wiped away tears that were falling down her cheeks.
~~~~~
Louisa ran up to Meryl after everything and hugged her.
“You did great, Mommy”
Meryl smiled “Thank you” She kissed the top of her head and hugged the rest of her family.
“You were amazing” Don said and gave her a kiss
“Thank you” She put her arm around him. She couldn't believe how well her students did. She was unbelievably lucky. She couldn't of done this without her family.
Nick watched Meryl with her family. He took one last look at her and turned around to leave. Meryl ended up looking in his direction when he left. She smiled and looked back at Don with a bigger grin. “I love you” She said and kissed him
“I love you too”
Meryl ended up raising enough money to keep her program going for another three years. She does fundraisers to keep her program going. She now teaches kids of all ages. Henry is a professional Cellist now, Mamie went on to do Piano, Grace is in fashion, and Louisa is still in school. Meryl and Don are still happily in love.
THE END
Finally the last chapter is done =). Hope you girls liked it. The ending is shit. I couldn't think of anything so I just went with this blah. Thank you all for the lovely comments. I am going to start a new story about Kenzie. If you hav no clue what I'm talking about go read The Missing Streep and then you'll know. All the others on here are about her but this one will be about Olivia pretty much.