Part XX: It's Never Too Late

The cast of The New Muppet Revue slowly meandered into the rehearsal room, chatting and laughing. The Electric Mayhem were already there, engaged in a jazzy jam session in a far corner. Everyone else gathered around Rowlf, seated at his trusty old piano, and continued their conversations there. "I can't believe we're going to win an Oscar," said Beauregard, beaming happily.

Rizzo cleared his throat. "Um, Beau? We're not winning an Oscar. We're going to perform on the Oscars."

Beauregard scratched his head. "But the statues are so small! How will we all fit?"

Gonzo exchanged looks with Rizzo, while Miss Piggy sighed in frustration. Pepe tugged on Beau's shirtsleeve to get his attention. "Beauregard, I do not think you understand, okay. Let Pepe explain … "

Then all attention shifted to the doorway, as Kermit strode purposefully into the room carrying a large stack of papers. Even the Mayhem stopped, mid-jam. "Hi ho," he said, smiling at everyone. "Is everyone here?"

Fozzie did a quick look over the room. "Seems like it, Kermit."

"So Kerm," said Clifford, "what song we gonna be doing? 'Rainbow Connection'?"

"Yeah, that one's a classic. Good choice, Cliff."

"Ooh! How about something from Manhattan Melodies?"

"What about 'Hey, A Movie'? What could be more appropriate for the Academy Awards then that?"

Kermit shook his head and grinned. "Nope. We're going to do an entirely new song." He started handed out papers from the stack. "Here, everybody take one and look over the lyrics." He handed one to Rowlf, who was sitting at his piano. "Think you can play this?"

Rowlf glanced at it. "Can I play this? Was Beethoven German?"

"Beethoven was German?" asked Zoot sleepily, cradling his saxophone as a baby would a pillow. "Aw, man, someone should have told me!"

Once everyone had a copy, Kermit gave them a few minutes to look over the music and warm up their voices. Then he asked everyone to gather around the piano. Rowlf played the opening notes with gusto, and Kermit sang,

It's never too late

To set a forgotten wrong right

Piggy sang the next lines,

It's never too late

To make your first solo flight

Then Fozzie and Gonzo, singing harmony:

Just jump out of the nest

And soon you'll take wing

Just taking a try is everything

Then everyone joined in, their voices filling the rehearsal studio:

It's never too late

To reunite with a lost friend

It's never too late

To try to make amends

Because love is something

Stronger than even fate

Don't ever believe it's too late.