The Star

Ooh! ( SHOUTING )

Don't think I don't see you, little one.

I think there's enough for both of us, though.

( ECHOING ) Mary. - ( GASPS )

Fear not,

for you have been favored by God to conceive and bear a son.

A... A son?

But how?

The Holy Spirit will overshadow you,

and the child will be called the Son of God.

For nothing is impossible with God.

Thank you.

Do I say thank you? I mean, yes.

Let it be done, just as you say.

Guys! Guys!

You're not gonna believe this!

Whoa!

Huh?

Whoa.

Whoa.

( IN HIGH-PITCHED VOICE ) Whoa.

- ( IN LOW-PITCHED VOICE ) Whoa. - ( ALL SHRIEKING )

Whoa! ( CHUCKLES )

Okay. You are not gonna believe this,

but I think a new star just appeared in the sky...

No, no, no.

What have I said about looking through that thing?

Come on. Wait.

This doesn't happen every day.

There's nothing out there for you, kid.

Things are changing.

That star means something.

And I'm not gonna be here forever.

Yeah-yeah! - ( LAUGHS ) Hoo!

I love the smell of freshly ground grain in the morning.

Hey, kid, your unemployed bird friend's here.

Dave! ( LAUGHS )

- Hey, pal. - What's new out there today?

Mmm. Oh, um, you know, not a whole lot.

I mean, it's Nazareth.

That rooster on Fifth Street overslept again.

And, uh, that horse, uh...

What is his name? Jeremiah? Hezekiah?

There's an "iah" in there. I know that.

He lost a shoe.

And then, well... ( CHUCKLES )

I mean, it's barely worth mentioning,

but the, um, royal caravan is rolling through town today.

What? The royal caravan?

- Are you kidding? - ( EXCITEDLY ) No, buddy! For real!

I spotted them outside of town

and had to come straight here to tell you.

Today's the day we've been waiting for.

Nazareth can kiss my gleaming white tail feathers good-bye.

See? I told you that star was a sign.

We're meant for something greater than this.

This is our job, and once you accept that,

you'll be a glowing picture of happiness.

Like me.

Uh, we're talking about the royal caravan here.

It's the ultimate job.

You get to go from town to town, see the world, visit important people,

and you get to march with the biggest, strongest,

greatest horses in the world.

Dave! Dave! Dave! Dave!

All the animals in every town watching us go by.

Dave! Dave! Dave!

And we'll finally be doing something important.

- ( OLD DONKEY SCOFFS ) - Huh?

A miniature donkey in the royal caravan?

- That'll be the day. - Don't listen to him.

And what's a dove gonna do, carry one grape at a time?

Hey, at least he's not locked up in a mill like us.

I'm telling you, folks in this town just don't get it.

And, I could carry two grapes,

- one in each talon, thank you very much. - ( BELLS JINGLING )

Bells.

- ( GASPS ) - Wait. Bells.

That's them.

It's time to activate Operation Prison Break.

Okay.

All I have to do is kick this sharp metal killer stick

towards my head and duck.

It'll cut your harness...

And I'll finally be free.

Oh, I love Operation Prison Break.

- Such a good idea. - Here we go.

Oh...

- ( EXCLAIMING ) - Okay, that's not good.

Oh, boy. ( GASPS )

See? I knew that would work.

Just like we planned. ( LAUGHS )

With a momentary near-death hiccup.

Well, old-timer, it's been real.

- Good luck to you. - Wait, Dave.

We can't just leave him.

Buddy, I get where you're coming from,

but it's the royal caravan, not the retirement caravan.

Look at him. He's like 300 years old.

All right. What's going on in...

- Oh... - Uh... ( LAUGHS NERVOUSLY )

Mmm. Now, this ought to keep you where you belong.

Hyah!

You're nothing but a great big, rotten...

Oh, boy.

...good-for-nothing bully!

Yeah, you better walk away.

Ah. Who needs the royal caravan?

There's plenty of excitement here in Nazareth.

I'm gonna be honest. I'm very upset right now.

I'm gonna go find someone to poop on.

If that miller thinks this yoke is gonna stop me...

Ooh, boy, do I have a surprise for him.

I'll be riding with kings any day now. You'll see.

Huh. Still no Mary.

Okay. Just a little late.

It's normal to be late to your wedding feast. Totally normal.

Just like it's normal to talk to yourself.

There he is!

- Hey. - Hi, Joseph.

Looking good!

Mary. You made it.

You look beautiful.

So do you.

Uh, well, handsome.

I've missed you.

You're a little late, you know. I was starting to worry.

Oh, sorry.

That's our fault. We're always late.

"We" who? You were driving.

She was such a big help to us these past several months.

- Wasn't she, John? - Sorry, big guy.

I know how great she is, but I'm taking her back.

Joseph?

There's something I want to talk to you about.

Of course.

And, just warning you, it might be a lot to take in.

Mary, it's our wedding feast.

Of course. You can tell me anything.

She's here!

Sorry, uh, what did you want to talk about?

Oh, it can wait.

Let's enjoy the party-

So, any new escape plans, kid?

What's the point?

I'm always gonna be stuck on the same old wheel with the same old view.

What's wrong with the view?

I know it feels like we're just going in circles.

- We are. - Look, kid.

We're mill donkeys.

We grind grain. We don't carry kings.

Yeah.

Should've listened to you and given up a long time ago.

- ( STRAINING ) - ( EXCLAIMS )

What is happening?

Kid, it's my leg. Go get help.

These good-for-nothing animals.

What is it now?

- ( OLD DONKEY MOANING ) - ( GROWLS )

- Just what I needed. - ( GROANING )

- Are the gates open? - What?

- Yeah. You!

What are you doing...

Kid, get out of here.

Wait, but I thought you said...

- What about you? - I'll be fine.

I just hope you find what you're looking for.

I don't know what to say.

You're welcome, kid.

Now, get going.

- Oh, no, you don't! - ( GROANS )

You're free, kid. Make it count.