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1->''"Well, I don't think we've ever seen a finale quite like that -- and I do ''not'' in ''any way'' mean that in a positive sense."''
2-->-- '''Mike Francis''', ''Film/{{Magicians}}''
3
4Essentially, when the climax of the show/movie takes place around some big public event such as a concert, performance, sporting event, or similar such public gathering that the heroes, for whatever reason, have been brought to. If the concert begins after the climax or continues to the end credits, it's a DancePartyEnding. See also AtTheOperaTonight.
5
6This trope tends to come in one of two versions:
7
8'''Version A - The Action Movie'''
9
10A prominent public event is taking place; maybe a celebrated theatre troupe, or the National Philharmonic Orchestra, or the World Series. And what an honour - [[OurPresidentsAreDifferent U.S President Target]] will be there! And His Holiness UsefulNotes/ThePope! And [[UsefulNotes/TheBritishRoyalFamily Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II]]!
11
12So of course, it's now the perfect target for any evil terrorists or BigBad who wants to make a statement about how evil they are by blowing it - and any prominent public figures who happen to be there - sky high, or by assassinating the famous person at the climax of the production. And since the body count will start increasing at the end of the show, and the show's already started, that means Our Heroes will have to haul ass to the theatre in order to stop it...
13
14Essentially, the Action Movie ConcertClimax involves the BigDamnHeroes bursting in upon some huge public event to save the day and defeat the bad guys. As the numerous innocents who are also at this production unwittingly risking getting blown up or shot aren't enough, a public notable will also be in attendance at the performance to really up the ante - nine times out of ten, (s)he will be bored stiff with proceedings. Expect the bomb to be planted in the piano, primed to explode at the moment the pianist hits the climactic chord, or for the sniper to be hidden on a gantry above the stage.
15
16In some cases, the heroes may have to actually burst onto the stage and disrupt the performance in order to save the day, leading the confused audience to wonder whether this is AllPartOfTheShow (HilarityEnsues, naturally). Other times, the final confrontation will take place off-stage in the wings or behind the backdrop whilst the oblivious patrons enjoy a bit of culture or sport (except, nine times in ten, the celebrated public notable, who will usually be bored stiff), but in these cases don't expect the heroes to be able to slip away unnoticed without their moment in the limelight; usually, after they've saved the day and are exhaustedly gathering their breath, the curtain will choose that moment to rise, exposing the stunned heroes and the chaos that's just been occurring to the entire audience.
17
18In either case, there will be a moment's confused pause... and then a solitary figure will start clapping. It'll be the President, the Pope or the Queen, who is finding this to be the most interesting thing (s)he's seen in the whole damn production. And once everyone's joined in, usually - but not always, the heroes will figure 'what the hell', and give the audience what it really wants - a ConcertKiss between the smitten love interests.
19
20'''Version B - The Romantic Comedy'''
21
22The Hero and the LoveInterest have been separated, but the hero has managed to track the LoveInterest to a large public place. What's needed to bring the two back together is a Spontaneous Romantic Gesture - and what better GrandRomanticGesture than to [[SerenadeYourLover serenade them with a song]]?
23
24In this climax, the two lovers are brought together at a concert (or similar public place), usually thanks to the beauty of music (or, less frequently, some other form of artistic expression). It may be a song that the hero has written and is now performing for the love interest, or that the Love Interest's favourite artist - who is, deep down, a bit of a romantic - has been persuaded to sing. This version is almost certain to end in the ConcertKiss.
25
26'''See Also:'''
27
28SetBehindTheScenes, when our protagonists are the performers [[ShowWithInAShow putting on the concert in the first place]]. The stakes may be high because TheQueenWillBeWatching, or because of a TroubledProduction in which TheShowMustGoWrong. Or maybe they are raising money for SavingTheOrphanage or a similarly worthy cause, the climax coming when they say "HeyLetsPutOnAShow!"
29
30Of course, in every case, TheShowMustGoOn!
31
32----
33!!Examples:
34[[foldercontrol]]
35
36!!!'''Version A'''
37[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
38* ''Anime/M78LoveAndPeace'' (a short OVA based on the ''Franchise/UltraSeries'') ends with a massive concert where hundreds of Ultramen, monsters, aliens, robots and the like holds a concert to cheer up the giant-sized Seabozu.
39* The opera in ''Anime/CowboyBebop'', sort of: the mark was already dead when he was brought to the opera, but they still get a kidnapping in there, albeit not so publicly.
40* ''Anime/{{Basquash}}'' builds up [[IdolSinger Eclipse]]'s final concert, and Dan and company, taking Citron's hint, crash it. Like with most things in the show, a giant robot basketball match breaks out. [[spoiler:Rouge gets her memories back and something happens with the moon.]]
41* ''Anime/BloodPlus'' has elements of this trope, with [[spoiler: the final confrontation between Saya and Diva at NYC's Metropolitan Opera.]]
42* In the sorta climax of ''Manga/HayateTheCombatButler's'' arc just shy of chapter 300, Hayate is at the concert of an idol singer and a person after a picture Hayate has attacks behind the scenes. Hayate finally finds out what they're looking for, and willingly hands it over, but the robots they summoned to force his hand (which were entirely unnecessary as they find out) aren't listening, so Hayate still has to fight it, ending up breaking onto the stage before defeating it.
43* Pretty much every Macross has a concert during a massive space battle for the fate of the earth/colony/whatever.
44[[/folder]]
45
46[[folder:Comic Books]]
47* The climax of ''Red Menace'' comes during a huge Christmas parade in Los Angeles (with grand marshal Music/GeneAutry!). The Red Menace, an anti-Communist agitator trying to provoke a US-Soviet war, planted a stolen Soviet nuke under the parade route.
48[[/folder]]
49
50[[folder:Fan Works]]
51* In ''Fanfic/TheTaintedGrimoire'', The climax of the St. Galleria arc takes place at a major wedding.
52[[/folder]]
53
54[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
55* ''WesternAnimation/AGoofyMovie'''s big climax takes place when Max and Goofy finally make it to the Powerline concert and, as accidentally promised to Roxanne at the beginning of the road trip, perform on stage.
56* At the end of ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie'', the titular character performs a rock cover of the Goofy Goober anthem (to the tune of Twisted Sister's "I Wanna Rock") in order to break everyone out of Plankton's mind control.
57* ''WesternAnimation/TrollsBandTogether'' combines the concert climax with a ChaseScene: when Branch and Poppy show up at the Rage Dome to confront Velvet and Veneer over them literally stealing [=BroZone=]'s talent, the latter two [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere flee the area]] and Velvet announces that they are literally taking the show on the road, giving their performance as the heroes chase after them.
58* ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'': The girls have a fundraising drive to get tickets to the 4*Town concert. When they attend it, it culminates with [[spoiler:Ming destroying [=SkyDome=] in her Kaiju red panda form out of sheer rage over Mei leaving the red moon ritual early.]]
59* [[WhatCouldHaveBeen Early versions]] of ''WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}}'' would have climaxed in Nick and Judy trying to foil an attack on a Gazelle concert.
60[[/folder]]
61
62[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
63* The climax of ''Film/TheLastBoyScout'' takes place during a big American Football game (possibly the Super Bowl). A US Senator is the target; slight twist, in that he's a corrupt senator who the Big Bad is targeting because he asked for too much bribe money.
64* ''Film/FoulPlay'' takes place during a performance of The Mikado, and features UsefulNotes/ThePope as the assassination target.
65* The ''Film/GetSmart'' movie takes place during a performance of [[Music/LudwigVanBeethoven Beethoven]]. The target is the President of the United States, and in a little bit of overkill, the terrorists intend to detonate a nuclear device at the end of the performance. (And yes, the bomb is in the piano.)
66* Played for laughs in ''Film/TheNakedGun'' movies; the first movie takes place during a baseball game, where the target is Queen Elizabeth II, whereas the third takes place during the Oscars, where the target is a bunch of random celebrities.
67* ''Film/GalaxyQuest'' features the heroes arriving at a science fiction convention in a space ship, which crashes through the wall. And then Jason finally gets rid of the BigBad and kisses Gwen - much to the appreciation of the audience, who think it's AllPartOfTheShow.
68* Not quite an action movie, but the ending of ''Film/TheGodfather Part III'' takes place at an opera and involves an assassination attempt. [[spoiler:The target is a mob boss who survives, but his beloved daughter is killed.]]
69* The ending of ''Film/StrangeDays'' takes place during the Los Angeles New Year's Eve 2000 street celebrations.
70* ''Film/SisterAct'' ends with the choir performing for a packed church and, yes, UsefulNotes/ThePope.
71** And the sequel ends with the music class choir performing at the contest in order to impress the archdiocese and [[SavingTheOrphanage save their school]].
72* In ''Film/TheSoundOfMusic'', the von Trapp family ''acts'' as if the big concert is their farewell to their father (who is theoretically about to go join the German navy) and consequently the end of the movie, but then subverts it by escaping during the judging.
73* In ''Film/TheManWhoKnewTooMuch'', a murder is planned to take place during the high point of a musical piece to hide the gunshot.
74* The climax of the David Mitchell / Robert Webb comedy movie ''Film/{{Magicians}}'' takes place during the finale of a magic show; the tension, however, comes not from having to prevent a murder, but the worry about whether a murder will be ''committed'' - the trick involves a guillotine, and the magician ''in'' the guillotine (Webb) slept with the wife of the magician operating the guillotine (Mitchell), who later killed his wife (accidentally, he protests; deliberately, everyone else thinks) with the same guillotine. [[spoiler: He doesn't.]]
75* In ''Film/DeathToSmoochy'', the protagonist is a public figure, who is to be shot by a guy in the rafters, at an ice show arena full of children, at the height of the performance.
76* The finale of ''Film/MissCongeniality'' which takes place at a knockoff of the Miss America Pageant.
77* In a variant, the climax of ''Film/BillAndTedsExcellentAdventure'' turns an ordinary series of student presentations ''into'' a concert-like mega-production. The audience responds accordingly, clapping along on cue and raising their cigarette lighters as if it were a rock concert.
78* ''Film/BillAndTedsBogusJourney'', plays it straight, however, with the Battle of the Bands that will determine whether Wyld Stallyns will become the world-famous, peace-and-utopia-bringing band they are destined to be being hijacked by the "Evil Usses", then interrupted by the "Good Usses" and the facedown with [=DeNomelos=].
79* ''Film/TheBodyguard''
80* The ending of ''Film/RatRace'' has the contestants ending up on-stage with Smash Mouth, and then accidentally giving away all the money to charity.
81* This trope is the entire basis for the film ''Film/GetHimToTheGreek''.
82* The conclusion to ''Film/TheJewelOfTheNile'' takes place at a political rally, which is set up '''like''' a massive rock concert by an ego-tripping dictator.
83* In ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIITheSecretOfTheOoze'', the climax interrupts a Music/VanillaIce concert, who comes up with a fitting song and dance for the occasion on the spot.
84[[/folder]]
85
86[[folder:Literature]]
87* The AlternateHistory novel ''[[Literature/SmallChange Ha'penny]]'', by Creator/JoWalton, is about a plot to kill Hitler and the British Prime Minister while they're at a production of ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}''.
88* Of all things, ''Literature/TheIlluminatusTrilogy'' ends during a massive concert in Eastern Europe.
89* In the climax to ''Literature/QuoVadis'', the persecution of Christians by Nero leads to Ursus fighting a bull, on which Lygia is tied, as part of a gladiatorial event. Lygia's love interest, Vinicius, watches in horror, fearing for her. Ursus kills the bull, rescues Lygia, and Vinicius rushes down and appeals to the crowd and emperor for the thumbs up.
90* The latter half of ''Tomorrow's Starlight'' in ''TabletopGame/PsionicsTheNextStageInHumanEvolution'' largely takes place at one of these. Long story short: teens with psionic powers on drugs at a concert that's under assault by a shadowy government agency.
91* ''Literature/ElFilibusterismo'': The wedding reception of Paulita Gomez and Juanito Pelaez is this. Practically all the highest officials of the [[SinisterMinister Spanish]] [[CorruptChurch clergy]] and [[CorruptPolitician colonial]] [[CorruptBureaucrat government]] are in attendance. AntiHero Simoun wants to blow up the entire place and take out all the malcontents of the colonial-Philippine ruling regime, all at once—[[spoiler:sadly for him, Isagani sabotages the plan by dumping the detonator into a river, all because [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy he wanted Paulita to be happy]]]].
92* ''Literature/SkippyDies'': The climax involves Ruprecht, Dennis, Geoff, and Jeekers [[spoiler: using Ruprecht's invention combined with Lori's singing to try and get a message to Skippy]] at the school concert. This attempt ends up completely ruining the concert.
93* In the climax of ''Literature/SidStillsBluesThreeQuartersInTheBagInAlphabetCity'', Sid goes to Nathan's concert where they perform a duet of one of Sid's songs.
94[[/folder]]
95
96[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
97* An episode of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' features a more low-key version, where the MonsterOfTheWeek is revealed to have been taking part in the school's talent night, and the final fight takes place just before it opens. When the curtain is risen, revealing beheaded demon and all, there's no pause, just a slightly confused silence:
98-->'''Principal Snyder''':... I don't get it. What is this, avant-garde?
99* ''Series/MarriedWithChildren''. Target: the new scoreboard that was supposed to be dedicated to Al, and which Marcy managed to get renamed for Terry Bradshaw. Bud and Jefferson blew it up (and Al) at the designated signal (a cymbal crash); unfortunately, Mr. Bradshaw had already arranged for it to be named for Al again.
100* In the GrandFinale of ''{{Series/Chuck}}'', the BigBad needs to steal something from [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure General Beckman]], who is at a packed concert hall to see an orchestra perform. To keep Beckman from following, he plants [[IncrediblyObviousBomb a sound-and-pressure-sensitive bomb]] under her chair that will blow up if she stands and will blow up when the performance finishes. The heroes arrive, [[RaceAgainstTheClock but they need more time to disarm the bomb]] and the orchestra are moments from finishing. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quNdlFN3QlE Who can possibly save the day?]].
101-->'''Casey''': ...we're doomed.
102* Seen in ''Series/{{Spooks}}'' at the climax of series 3. Iraqi terrorists hold Fiona and Danny as hostages in order to force the Prime Minister to announce an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq at a dinner party that evening held in honour of the new Iraqi government. There is also a terrorist on her way to blow up the dinner party [[spoiler:whom Adam convinces to surrender, while special forces storm the building where the hostages were being kept and rescue Fiona. [[AnyoneCanDie Danny]] unfortunately does not survive.]]
103* The first season of ''Series/TheUmbrellaAcademy'' takes place [[spoiler: at Vanya's concert, with her siblings trying to stop her from using her music to bring on the Apocalypse.]]
104* ''[[Series/WonderWoman1975 Wonder Woman]]'': In "My Teenage Idol Is Missing", the episode ends with a concert headlined by Lane, played by Leif Garrett [[spoiler:and his identical twin brother Michael, also played by Leif Garrett.]]
105[[/folder]]
106
107[[folder:Video Games]]
108* ''VideoGame/TheForestQuartet'' have you playing as the ghost of a deceased singer out to unite your bandmates, who's struggling with grief, depression, and their personal worries in life. In the best ending, you managed to turn their lives around, allowing the game to end on a high note at the concert performs as usual, and you then passes to the afterlife.
109* The play in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX''.
110* The opera in ''VideoGame/GabrielKnight 2''.
111* The finale of Dark Carnival in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2'' takes place at an abandoned stadium, where the fictional band the Midnight Riders were scheduled to play. Intense pyrotechnics and pre-recorded songs included.
112[[/folder]]
113
114[[folder:Western Animation]]
115* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', Grodd and his [[LegionOfDoom Secret Society]] bring the imprisoned League to a football game in Gotham as a "stage" for publicly executing the team. Of course, they get free ([[spoiler:J'onn, disguised as Clayface,]] playing the part of BigDamnHeroes) leading to the best mass-fight sequence in the entire series. The only "notable" person is [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed "Shana Squires"]], who gets blown away by the Society's hovercraft before the fighting starts.
116* In the Finale of ''WesternAnimation/LeroyAndStitch'', it turns out Leroy's one weakness is a shut-down trigger induced by Jumba's keepsake record of "''Aloha Oe''". In order to magnify its effectiveness against an army of Leroy and his clones, the heroic cast put on a concert. Kicking it "Up to Evil Eleven", in Jumba's own words.
117* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': "Big Gay Al's Gay Boat Ride" gives us Jimbo and Ned rigging up a bomb on the rival school's mascot, set to blow when Richard Stamos hits the high F note in "Lovin' You". He hits it...eventually.
118[[/folder]]
119
120!!!'''Version B'''
121[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
122* ''[[Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya]]'': The anime episode "Live a Live" focuses on the SchoolFestival, and Kyon discovers to his surprise that Haruhi and Yuki are helping out a student rock band by filling in for two absent members. They then proceed to perform [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q4tQBAPRmo "God Knows..."]], which brings down the house and impresses Kyon (as much as he doesn't want to admit it).
123* ''Literature/HarukaNogizakasSecret Purezza'' has this split across two events. First, at [[IdolSinger Milan Himemiya]]'s concert, some music is played to get Yuuto to stop Haruka from being misled into a life she doesn't want. So he runs to another building where her audition is being held and then completes the trope from there.
124* Non-romantic version disguised as version A in ''Anime/RollingGirls''. A rock concert is being bombarded by a [[MacrossMissileMassacre Buddha statue shaped missile massacre]], all of which are harmlessly blown up by the concert hall's built-in anti-air defenses. The actual climax was when Misa and Mamechiyo apologized to each other and become friends again. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKRhG7yI28w Followed by an epic electric guitar and shamisen rock duet]].
125[[/folder]]
126
127[[folder:Films]]
128* The ending of ''Film/MusicAndLyrics'', where Alex pens a song he's written himself to Sophie as a gesture of love/reconciliation. In a mild subversion, the ConcertKiss takes place off-stage.
129* In ''Film/WhiteChristmas'', a performer walks out on a gig at a small-town hotel after a dispute with a man; he follows her to her new job singing at a New York City nightclub in order to convince her to come back.
130* The ending of ''Film/TheWeddingSinger''; slightly unusual, in that it takes place on a plane, but it still involves the romantic song and the [[ConcertKiss 'awww' kiss]] in front of everyone. Help is provided in the form of Billy Idol, who just happens to be on the same flight.
131* Non-romantic but no less touching example; the end of ''Film/AboutABoy'', when Marcus is performing 'Killing Me Softly' in the school talent show to the jeers of his classmates... until Will walks on stage with his guitar to join him, thus making it a comedic performance and diverting the bullies attention away from Marcus to himself.
132* The finale of ''Film/MoulinRouge'', when Satine serenades Christian with the first verse of "Come What May", causing the players to rebel in favour of the real ending, the enraged Duke to [[MurderTheHypotenuse attempt to shoot Christian himself]], and Harold Zidler to [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome subsequently punch him out.]] [[ConcertKiss They kiss]] just as the curtain closes. [[spoiler:However, in an unexpected ([[ForegoneConclusion not exactly]], but the ending of [[ShowWithinAShow Spectacular Spectacular!]] is so happy as to make you almost forget what's coming) and poignant twist, [[DownerEnding Satine dies]] shortly afterwards.]]
133* The ending (or one of them, anyway) of ''Film/LoveActually'' involves a romantic variation of the Action Movie version; the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom going to a school play to find the Downing Street tea girl, with whom he's fallen in love. They eventually find a spot backstage to watch the production, the PM not wanting to upstage the kids - and just as they're getting romantic, the curtain rises, revealing that they're actually in the middle of the stage. So much for keeping it low-key.
134* The entire film ''Film/AugustRush'' is essentially one long setup for this, a combined non-romantic (parent-child) and romantic (the two parents) version.
135* Jason Biggs sweeps Alyson Hannigan off her feet during her flute solo in ''Film/AmericanPie 2''
136-->Fan: "Let's hear it for Petey!"
137* ''Film/NickAndNorahsInfinitePlaylist'' [[spoiler:subverts it since the title characters reach the secret concert every hipster in NYC has been looking for at the end, but leave just as it (the concert) starts]].
138* Johnny Cash interrupts ''his own'' concert to propose to June Carter on stage in ''Film/{{Walk The Line}}''. Which is actually how he did it.
139* In ''Film/WhatsYourNumber?'', Ally interrupts Colin's band performing at a wedding in order to declare her love for him. She is able to sneak on stage by pretending to be another band member and banging a tambourine.
140[[/folder]]
141
142[[folder:Literature]]
143* Not exactly "romantic" love, but love of a sort...The climax of ''WhoIsBugsPotter''. [[GeniusDitz Genius Drummer]] Bugs is in town for a week playing with a group of high schoolers in an orchestra, but every night he's been sneaking out to clubs and playing with his favorite rock bands. The bands all show up to see Bugs's show.
144* Done somewhat in James Robert Baker's ''Tim and Pete'' in which, Pete performs "I Wanna Be Your Dog" However Tim had left the club by then. Later on Pete says that he performed the song to get them back together.
145[[/folder]]
146
147[[folder:Theatre]]
148* In the final scene of ''Theatre/WonderfulTown'', Ruth and Eileen are performing at the Village Vortex, and Eileen is reprising "It's Love" for an encore when Baker comes up to Ruth and embraces her. At first, she's inclined to push him away, but then does a DoubleTake and continues the song:
149-->What a way to feel,\
150I can touch the sky.\
151What a way to feel,\
152I have found my guy.
153[[/folder]]
154
155!!!'''Other'''
156[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
157* ''Manga/{{Doraemon}}'': Occurs in [[Recap/DoraemonV3C1AWorldWithoutSound "A World Without Sound"]]. As Noby continues to spend time in the world without sound, he begins to realize how difficult it is to live there. The entire story leads up to the climax at Big G's concert. Reading the lyrics to Big G's songs is enough to make Noby feel sick.
158[[/folder]]
159
160[[folder:Films]]
161* ''The Autocrats: Operation ESC'' (TheMovie, one of two and this time in English, for the Finnish animated political satire series ''The Autocrats'') is about an EvilPlan of some sort by UsefulNotes/TonyBlair and UsefulNotes/VladimirPutin that the Finnish politicians are trying to stop without knowing what exactly it is. The "ESC" in the name of the titular Operation turns out to stand for the Eurovision Song Contest, which Finland is famous for doing badly in (particularly before the time they won once). The climax takes places at said contest, with both the Finns and Blair and Putin accidentally ending up on stage and mistaken for performers -- [[ItMakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext with the loser being threatened with being launched into space forever.]]
162* ''WesternAnimation/{{Coco}}'': The climax takes place at Ernesto's "Sunrise Spectacular". It's something of a combination of both versions versions of this trope, as it involves a RaceAgainstTheClock, the villain being exposed to the world and the reunion of Héctor with his family.
163* The final scene in ''Film/TheConcert'' is this, and it's amazing.
164* The climax and ending of ''WesternAnimation/TrollsWorldTour'' happen at a concert led by Queen Barb after the Rock Trolls took the other Tribes' strings and members. It starts off as Version A, but switches to Version B when Branch and Poppy begin a relationship together.
165[[/folder]]
166
167[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
168* ''Series/WeAreLadyParts'': The sixth episode. The band has broken up in the wake of Zarina's explosive article, but Montaz decides to stage their own concert in an abandoned junkyard, before which the original members make up. Amina then has to rush to the venue and makes it just in time for a killer guitar part.
169[[/folder]]
170
171[[folder:Visual Novels]]
172* The last chapter of ''VisualNovel/{{Melody}}'' encompasses a concert [[spoiler:which (if you’ve made all the right choices) is the launch pad that propels Melody to superstardom.]]
173[[/folder]]

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