1 BEVERLEY STAUNTON'S 'CHRISTMAS HERE WITH ME' # OOH-OOH-OOH. # IF I COULD HAVE ONE WISH THIS CHRISTMAS, # I'D ONLY ASK TO BE WITH YOU. # SO TELL ME THAT YOU'LL BE WITH ME WHEN CHRISTMAS EVE COMES ROUND. # LOOK, IT'S TIME WE GET SERIOUS. I NEED TO KNOW HOW COMMITTED YOU ARE. YOU HAVE TO DECIDE IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WANT TO PURSUE. AND I DESERVE TO KNOW WHERE WE STAND. IT'S TRADING AT 40, MARTIE. YOU AND I BOTH KNOW IT'S WORTH AT LEAST TWICE THAT. NEXT WEEK WE COULD BE TALKING DOUBLE DIGITS. WE GOTTA GO ALL IN ON THIS ONE. THERE'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. WE'RE TALKING MINIMAL RISK, HIGH REWARD. I PROMISE YOU, IF YOU WANNA DIVERSIFY, HONG KONG IS WHERE YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING. DOORBELL RINGS YOU MADE THE RIGHT DECISION AND, IF YOU STICK IT OUT, A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. ABSOLUTELY. I'LL CALL YOU FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. BYE. POIGNANT PIANO MUSIC HI, JEN. EMOTIONALLY UNAVAILABLE. (CHUCKLES) HOW COULD HE SAY THAT? LOOK, MAYBE YOU JUST NEED A CHANGE OF PACE. YOU KNOW? WHY DON'T YOU GO BACK HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS? MP, NO, NO, I HAVE WAY TOO MUCH ON MY PLATE. CLIENTS ARE COMING IN FROM HONG KONG, AND I HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED THE PITCH BOOK YET. LOOK, YOU'RE JUST THROWING YOURSELF INTO YOUR WORK SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO FACE THE REAL PROBLEM. SOME GIRLS EAT ICE CREAM; I DISSECT COMPANIES. JUST AS LONG AS I DON'T NEED TO STAGE AN INTERVENTION. MONEY NEVER SLEEPS. NEITHER DO I. PROMISE ME YOU WILL AT LEAST TRY TO SMILE. BETTER. PHONE RINGS JENNIFER MOORE. YOU'RE A HARD WOMAN TO REACH. OH, HI, ABBY. LOOK, IT'S JUST` IT'S BEEN A ROUGH MORNING. WASSUP? ACTUALLY, (SIGHS) IT'S YOUR DAD. HE'S FALLEN. SOLEMN PIANO MUSIC UPBEAT MUSIC # MY BABY'S OH # SO FAR AWAY. # AND NOW THAT IT'S CHRISTMASTIME, # I JUST WANNA SAY, # 'WON'T YOU COME HOME? # 'COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR, # 'AND SPEND IT WITH ME.' # SIREN BLARES CURIOUS MUSIC SIREN CONTINUES BLARING CURIOUS MUSIC CONTINUES INDISTINCT POLICE RADIO CHATTER GLOVEBOX SQUEAKS CURIOUS MUSIC CONTINUES (EXHALES HEAVILY) LICENCE AND REGI` SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! JENNIE MOORE. IT'S ME, BENNETT ` FISK. WE WERE IN CHURCH CHOIR TOGETHER. OH! BENNETT! CHUCKLES: YEAH. YOU STILL LOOK GOOD. I WAS 275 POUNDS WITH HEAD GEAR. NAH, I'M JUST MESSIN' WITH YOU. BOTH LAUGH YEAH, RIGHT. WOW. JENNIE MOORE. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE THE DAY. WHAT BRINGS YOU BACK? MY DAD. I, UH` I HAVE TO MAKE SURE HE'S OK. OK. WELL, ANY CHANCE YOU MIGHT BE COMIN' BY THE CHURCH? SURE. I'M SURE PASTOR AVERY WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU. HE MAY EVEN LET YOU SING. NO, NO, NO. I HAVEN'T DONE THAT IN 15 YEARS. OK, WELL, PROMISE ME YOU'LL AT LEAST THINK ABOUT IT. SURE. AND DO ME A FAVOUR ` TRY TO SLOW DOWN. I MEAN, I'D HATE TO HAVE TO WRITE YOU UP ONE OF THESE. WE WOULD NOT WANT THAT. ALL RIGHT. HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. BYE. BYE. GENTLE MUSIC CAR ENGINE RUMBLES, TURNS OFF GENTLE MUSIC CONTINUES DOORBELL RINGS DAD! (SIGHS) DAD! ALARMING MUSIC DAD! DAD! ENERGETIC MUSIC DAD! DAD! DAD! DOOR HANDLE RATTLES DAD! ENERGETIC MUSIC CONTINUES DADDY! DADDY! DAD! OH! HEY, BUD. WHERE'S DAD? OH GOD. (COUGHS) (COUGHS) WATER RUNS (TURNS TAP OFF) I THOUGHT YOU WERE A BURGLAR. DAD! I HAVE BEEN CALLING AND CALLING YOU! I WAS COOKING! AND I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWERING MACHINE. (SIGHS) WHY ARE YOU HERE? BECAUSE ABBY TOLD ME WHAT HAPPENED. WELL, YOU TELL HER THAT THE OLD MAN IS NOT AN INVALID. IT WAS JUST A SPRAIN. WHAT WERE YOU DOING ON A LADDER ANYWAY?! YOU KNOW I ALWAYS DECORATE FOR CHRISTMAS. YOUR MOTHER LOVED IT. SHE IS NOT HERE ANY MORE. I THINK YOU CAN LET IT GO. DON'T TALK LIKE THAT ABOUT YOUR MOTHER. IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HER. I'M PRETTY SURE SHE WOULD LIKE IT IF YOU DIDN'T FALL AND BREAK YOUR NECK! JUST ONE ACCIDENT AND YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST DRIVE UP HERE AND TELL ME WHAT TO DO. YES, I CAN IF YOU CAN'T TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! KNOCK-KNOCK. BOTH: WHAT?! WHOA. BAD TIME? NO, BRAD. COME ON IN. HI, JEN. WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? WHAT IS HE DOING HERE? HE'S MY DOCTOR. WOW, UM, YOU LOOK GREAT. UH, YOU'D BETTER LEAVE SOON, OR YOU'LL BE STUCK IN TRAFFIC ALL THE WAY. I DROVE 300 MILES TO KEEP AN EYE ON YOU. I'M NOT LEAVING. BUDDY. COME ON AND HELP ME GET THE REST OF MY THINGS. WELL, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, JEN. OK. LET'S CHECK ON THAT LEG, MR M. (SIGHS) GENTLE MUSIC WOW. MUSIC CONTINUES MUSIC SWELLS MUSIC SOFTENS OUT OF ALL THE DOCTORS IN THE WORLD, YOU HAD TO PICK THE HIGH-SCHOOL BOYFRIEND WHO CHEATED ON ME. HE MAY HAVE BEEN A LOUSY BOYFRIEND, BUT HE'S A GOOD DOCTOR. DID HE TELL YOU TO STAY OFF THAT LEG? IT'S MY LEG. THINK I KNOW IT BETTER THAN HE DOES. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S STILL EMPTY AFTER THREE YEARS. THEY TRIED TO SELL IT, BUT THEY COULDN'T LET IT GO AFTER JACK'S ACCIDENT. THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT, UH, YOU WERE GONNA VISIT FOR NEW YEAR'S. REMEMBER? BUT, UH, SOME BIG DEAL OR SOMETHING CAME ALONG, AND YOU JUST HAD TO WORK. DAD. LOOK, I CAN, UH, UNDERSTAND YOU BEING TOO BUSY FOR YOUR OLD MAN, BUT YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE MISSED JACK'S FUNERAL. HE WAS YOUR BEST FRIEND. JACK AND I HADN'T TALKED IN YEARS. SO THAT MAKES IT OK? (SIGHS) GUESS I'LL GET MYSELF READY TO RETIRE. (SIGHS) WISTFUL MUSIC NIGHT, DAD. NIGHT! DRUMBEAT CHRISTMASSY MUSIC DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP AND WE USED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF JOBS WE WOULD HAVE, WHAT KIND OF GUYS WE WOULD MARRY. (CHUCKLES) I WAS GONNA BE AN ASTRONAUT AND MARRY LANCE BASS. (SCOFFS) THERE'S STILL TIME YOU KNOW. (CHUCKLES MOCKINGLY) YOU THINK THE REASON WHY YOU DATED GUYS LIKE BRAD OR PORTER` PRESTON. WHATEVER. ...IS BECAUSE YOU'RE ACTUALLY AFRAID OF BEING ATTACHED TO SOMEONE? I'M NOT AFRAID OF BEING ATTACHED TO ANYONE. HMM. HOW'S HE DOING, ANYWAY? I DON'T KNOW. HE'S PROBABLY LIVING IT UP IN LA. I MEAN YOUR FATHER. ASIDE FROM ALMOST BURNING THE HOUSE DOWN... WHAT? WHEN I GOT HOME, THE HOUSE WAS FULL OF SMOKE. I'M SURPRISED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DIDN'T SHOW UP. WOW. IT'S STRANGE. HE USED TO BE SO STRONG. I'M WORRIED ABOUT HIM. ALONE IN THAT BIG HOUSE. I MEAN, WHAT IF I WASN'T THERE? WHAT IF SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? HE NEEDS TO BE SOMEPLACE COMFORTABLE, WHERE SOMEONE CAN KEEP AN EYE ON HIM. HE IS NOT GONNA LIKE THAT. NO, PROBABLY NOT, BUT I HAVE TO MAKE SURE HE'S SAFE. I CAN TALK TO DAVID, HAVE HIM FILE SOME PAPERWORK AND HAVE YOU DECLARED AS LEGAL GUARDIAN. THANKS. WHAT ABOUT THE HOUSE? I COULD QUIT MY JOB AND RUN A BED AND BREAKFAST. OH, OK. WELL, HOW ABOUT ` I HAVE THIS COUPLE MOVING UP FROM SAN DIEGO. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A PLACE JUST LIKE IT. THEY MIGHT EVEN PAY ABOVE MARKET. WHY DO WE HAVE TO GET OLD? DON'T WORRY. YOU'LL FIND SOMEONE. AND, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, THINGS WILL WORK OUT WITH YOUR DAD. YOU'LL SEE. SOFT, PENSIVE MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUES 'I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S STILL EMPTY AFTER THREE YEARS.' 'THEY TRIED TO SELL IT, BUT THEY COULDN'T LET IT GO AFTER JACK'S ACCIDENT.' MUSIC CONTINUES YOU KNOW, IF YOU THROW IN A COIN AND MAKE A WISH, IT'LL COME TRUE. MOM. IT'S TRUE. LOOK, IT'S BEEN HERE A LONG TIME, AND IT HAS GRANTED A LOT OF WISHES. IS IT OLDER THAN THE HOUSE? IT'S VERY OLD AND VERY MAGICAL. I REMEMBER THE FIRST WISH I EVER MADE IN IT. DID IT COME TRUE? INDEED IT DID. GO AHEAD. MAKE A WISH, AND YOUR DREAMS WILL COME TRUE. HOPEFUL MUSIC COIN CHINKS SPLASH! MUSIC BRIGHTENS HOPEFUL MUSIC CONTINUES HEY, BUDDY. MM. WHAT SHOULD I WISH FOR? I KNOW. I WILL WISH FOR... TRUE LOVE FOR CHRISTMAS. COIN CHINKS WHOOSHING MUSIC SWELLS SPLASH! (SIGHS) (BARKS) I GUESS I SHOULD'VE BEEN MORE SPECIFIC. (SMOOCHES) COME ON. LET'S GO INSIDE. BRIGHT, LIVELY MUSIC DON'T FORGET TO MAIL MY LETTERS! YES, DAD! MUSIC CONTINUES HMM. WHAT'S THIS? INTRIGUING MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUES INAUDIBLE CONVERSATION WARM MUSIC PLAYS # IT'S A WINTER WONDERLAND. # SO MERRY... SORRY. # ...CHRISTMAS, BABY. # MAN: DEAREST JENNIFER. I HEARD YOU WERE COMING HOME, SO I THOUGHT I'D SEND YOU A CARD WELCOMING YOU. DO YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF LISTENING TO A SONG THAT TAKES YOU BACK IN TIME? THIS ONE MADE ME THINK OF YOU. I HOPE YOU LIKE IT. FONDLY,... READS: '...YOUR SECRET SANTA.' SERIOUSLY? (SCOFFS) (CHUCKLES) JENNIE MOORE? CHRIS? (LAUGHS) YOU STILL WORK HERE? UH, ACTUALLY, MR ARSENAL RETIRED, AND I BOUGHT THE PLACE. WOW. LOOK AT YOU. MR ENTREPRENEUR. YEAH, YEAH. YOU G... OH MY GOD. YOU'VE GOT TO CHECK THIS OUT. OUR EMPLOYEE HALL OF FAME. OOH! THOSE WERE THE DAYS. MM. MM? IT'S UNFORTUNATE. (LAUGHS) SO, UH, YOUR DAD SAID THAT YOU'RE DOWN IN LA. I AM. WOW. I` I JUST CAN'T GET OVER HOW STUNNING YOU` YOU LOOK. HEY, CHRIS! YEAH? IT'S NOT TAKING THE GIFT CARD. OH, OK. UH, SO, DUTY CALLS. UM, BUT PROMISE ME THAT YOU WILL STOP BACK IN BEFORE YOU LEAVE. YOU BET. GOOD SEEING YOU. UPBEAT MUSIC # YOU GOTTA SHAKE IT LIKE SANTA. # OOH, OOH, OOH, OOH. # YOU GOTTA SHAKE IT LIKE SANTA. # OH YEAH. # THERE SHE IS. (GASPS) (CHUCKLES) IS THAT...? MM-HM. CHUCKLING YOU ARE TOO BIG TO BE PARKER. OH, I KNOW. TIME IS FLYING. HEY, JEN. HI, DAVID. OK, MOMMY'S GONNA TALK TO HER FRIEND, SO WHY DON'T YOU AND DADDY GO TO THE CEREAL AISLE. OK? OK. NOTHING SUGARY! HOW'S EVERYTHING TODAY? WELL, NO FIRES YET ` KNOCK ON WOOD. THAT'S GOOD, I GUESS. (LAUGHS) YEAH. DID YOU TALK TO DAVID? YEAH. UM, HE'S DOING THE PAPERWORK. AND, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, I HAVE SOME BOOKLETS IN THE CAR FROM WHEN I HAD TO FIND A PLACE FOR MY GRANDMA. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU. WHAT'S THIS? OH. READS: TO JENNIFER. OOH, A LOVE NOTE? ABBY. WARM MUSIC PLAYS # IT'S A WINTER WONDERLAND... # (CHUCKLES) READS: FONDLY, YOUR SECRET SANTA. MM, HOW MYSTERIOUS. I FOUND IT IN MY MAILBOX. WHAT DO YOU THINK? HMM, IT'S A CUTE CARD, CATCHY SONG, NICE HANDWRITING. LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE GOT YOURSELF A CLASSY STALKER. YOU'RE NOT FUNNY. OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, I'M SORRY. LET'S GO FIND SOMETHING YOUR DAD CAN'T SET ON FIRE, OK? COME ON. LIGHT MUSIC CAR ENGINE RUMBLES, TURNS OFF MUSIC CONTINUES DAD? WHOSE CAR'S PARKED OUTSIDE? JENNIE. PASTOR AVERY. I JUST STOPPED BY TO SEE HOW YOUR DAD WAS DOING. I HEARD YOU WERE IN TOWN. ANY CHANCE WE MIGHT SEE YOU AT CHURCH WHILE YOU'RE HERE? WELL, I TOLD BENNETT THAT I'D THINK ABOUT IT. MM. (LAUGHS) YOU HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF SEEING ELVIS. (CHUCKLES) WELL, I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU'RE FEELING BETTER. WE'LL CONTINUE TO MENTION YOU IN OUR PRAYERS. THANK YOU, PASTOR. IT'S VERY NICE OF YOU TO HELP HIM OUT. HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON. FOOTSTEPS RECEDE I AM PRETTY SURE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO STAY OFF THAT LEG. SKIM MILK. EGG WHITES. AM I SUPPOSED TO EAT THIS STUFF? SOMEBODY'S GOTTA TAKE CARE OF YOU. WHERE'S MY CHIPS? WHAT CHIPS? MY CHIPS. YOU CAN'T THE GAME WITHOUT CHIPS. THESE CHIPS? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY PUT IN THESE THINGS? ARTIFICIAL PRESERVATIVES, HORMONES, GMOs. GAMOS? GMO ` GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS. WHAT IS THIS? STAR TREK? HERE. HAVE AN APPLE. I'M GONNA GET MYSELF SOME REAL FOOD WITH ALL THE GMCs I WANT. GMO. AND THE ONLY PLACE YOU'RE GOING IS THE LIVING ROOM, BECAUSE I'M GONNA MAKE YOU SOMETHING TO EAT. THIS IS ELDER ABUSE. WHIMSICAL MUSIC KEEP YOUR LEG ELEVATED! WARM MUSIC (SIGHS) TWINKLING MUSIC (CHUCKLES SOFTLY) (CHUCKLES) MAN: DEAREST JENNIFER, I HOPE YOU'RE GETTING MY CARDS. TO BE HONEST, I WASN'T SURE IF YOU WERE EVER COMING BACK, AND I WAS EXCITED TO HEAR THAT YOU WERE. AS FOR WHY I'M WRITING, WELL, I GUESS THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT CHRISTMAS THAT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT THE LONELINESS I FEEL. TOO OFTEN I THINK WE GET SO WOUND UP IN OUR OWN LIVES AND OUR OWN WORK IT BECOMES HARD TO LET ANYONE ELSE IN. I KNOW YOU WORK HARD. I'VE ALWAYS ADMIRED THAT ABOUT YOU. BUT DON'T YOU EVER FEEL LIKE YOU MISSED OUT ON ANYTHING? LATELY I'VE BEEN FEELING THAT I HAVE. FONDLY, YOUR SECRET SANTA. SOFT MUSIC WHO ARE YOU? CAR ENGINE RUMBLES THE MAILMAN. HEY! DOOR RATTLES # ...A-WANDERING AMONG THE LEAVES SO GREEN. SCUSE ME! # HERE WE COME A-WANDERING, SO FAIR TO BE SEEN. SCUSE ME! # LOVE AND JOY COME TO YOU, EXCUSE ME! # AND A MERRY` # SCUSE ME! MY NAME IS JENNIFER. I LIVE AT 14730 WINDS` LOOK, IF YOU'RE MISSING ANY MAIL, GO DOWN TO THE POST OFFICE AND FILL OUT A CLAIM FORM. OH, NO, NO, NO, NO. SEE, THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, I'VE BEEN GETTING THESE CARDS ` CHRISTMAS CARDS. OH! YOU DON'T SAY (!) AND THIS TIME OF YEAR TOO (!) NO, NO. I` (SIGHS) I` SCUSE ME. I` I WANNA KNOW WHERE THEY COME FROM. NO STAMP, NO POSTMARK. SORRY. DIDN'T COME FROM ME. WELL, I WAS WONDERING. I MEAN, MAYBE YOU SAW SOMEBODY PUT IT IN. NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE. LOOK, I JUST GOT THIS. OK? IT MUST HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN YOU DELIVERED THE MAIL TODAY. MA'AM, ARE YOU AWARE OF ARTICLE 313 OF THE POSTAL CODE? (SCOFFS) NO PART OF A MAIL RECEPTACLE MAY BE USED TO DELIVER ANY MATTER NOT BEARING POSTAGE. NOW, IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME, I HAVE ABOUT 722 CHRISTMAS CARDS TO DELIVER BEFORE 5 O'CLOCK, AND THEN I'D LIKE TO ENJOY MY GLASS OF EGGNOG. DO YOU MIND? MM. # LOVE AND JOY COME TO YOU, AND A MERRY CHRISTMAS TOO... # CURIOUS MUSIC WHERE DID THIS COME FROM? . ANOTHER ONE? DID THIS GUY EVER HEAR OF EMAIL? DO I HAVE A STALKER? AND SHOULD I CALL THE POLICE? AND SAY WHAT? SOMEONE'S BEEN SENDING YOU CHRISTMAS CARDS? (CHUCKLES) BUT WHO IS IT? WELL, WHO KNOWS YOU'RE HERE? WELL, THERE'S CHRIS, MY EX-COWORKER FROM THE COFFEE SHOP. HE KEPT SAYING HOW PRETTY HE THOUGHT I WAS. WHAT ABOUT BRAD? OH, DON'T EVEN SAY HIS NAME. HE'S BEEN SPENDING TIME WITH YOUR DAD. MAYBE THEY TALKED ABOUT YOU. HE DOES NOT HAVE A ROMANTIC BONE IN HIS BODY. CAN'T DENY LOVE, JEN. YOU CAN IF IT CHEATED ON YOU WITH A CHEERLEADER FROM HOLY NAME. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? IT'S THE COP. WHAT COP? THE ONE WHO PULLED ME OVER. THE ONE WHO WAS IN CHOIR PRACTICE WITH US. YOU MEAN BENNETT? CAR ENGINE STARTS I'M GONNA FOLLOW HIM. I GOTTA GO. WAIT, JEN. NO, DON'T. I... THIS SHOULD BE GOOD. CURIOUS MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUES MUSIC CONTINUES WHISPERS: IT'S GOTTA BE HIM. TINS RATTLE OH! JENNIE! HI. UH, JENNIE, YOU OK? NO, BENNETT, I'M FINE. I'M FINE. I JUST` I JUST TRIPPED. OK. UH, YOU SHOULD BE MORE CAREFUL. I KNOW. (CHUCKLES) PA: CLEAN-UP ON AISLE ONE. CLEAN-UP ON AISLE ONE. SO, ARE YOU, UH, SENDING OUT A LOT OF CARDS FOR THE HOLIDAYS? NAH, BUT THERE IS SOMEONE SPECIAL I NEED TO FIND A CARD FOR. OH. YEAH, I MEAN, YOU KNOW HOW IT IS. YOU DON'T WANT IT TO SOUND TOO CORNY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU DON'T WANNA COME OFF AS A STALKER, YOU KNOW? IT MUST BE, UH, A REALLY IMPORTANT PERSON. YEAH. VERY IMPORTANT. HEY, JENNIFER! HEY, GUYS. DID YOU GUYS SEE THAT SOME IDIOT KNOCKED OVER THE DISPLAY OVER THERE? (CHUCKLES) UH... UH, NO, NO. I DIDN'T. DID YOU? NO, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. OH, OK. ALL CHUCKLE SO, HOW DO YOU GUYS KNOW EACH OTHER? UH, WE WERE IN CHOIR BACK IN THE DAY. SHE HAD THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VOICE. SO, UH, HOW DO YOU KNOW MY BOYFRIEND? YOUR B...? YOUR BOYFRIEND? YOUR BOYFRIEND. OH. YEAH, WE` WE WORKED TOGETHER AT THE COFFEE SHOP YEARS AGO. (CHUCKLES) OH, RIGHT. OK. RIGHT. (CHUCKLES) YOU TWO... YOU'RE A COUPLE. ALL LAUGH YOU'RE A COUPLE. OH. OH, IS`? IS THAT A CARD? OK. I THOUGHT WE AGREED THAT WE WEREN'T EXCHANGING GIFTS THIS YEAR. FIRST OF ALL, YES, IT'S A CARD, BUT WHO SAYS IT'S FOR YOU? WELL, WHO ELSE WOULD IT BE FOR? OH, YOU GUYS, YOU'RE SO CUTE TOGETHER. ALL CHUCKLE I KNOW. RIGHT? BOTH CHUCKLE YES! (LAUGHS) I'D BETTER BE GOING. BOTH CHUCKLE IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE YOU. ALL RIGHT. YOU TOO. LIKEWISE. LAUGHS: OK. SEE YOU. SHE HASN'T CHANGED A BIT. CHUCKLES: NOT AT ALL. INTRIGUING MUSIC (TYPES) BRIGHT MUSIC (MOUTHS) MUSIC BUILDS, FADES WHISPERS: DID YOU HEAR THAT? (BARKS) INTRIGUING MUSIC I THINK SOMEBODY WENT FOR THE MAILBOX. (BARKS) ENERGETIC MUSIC BUILDS GOTCHA! # DECK THE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY. FA-LA-LA-LA-LA, LA-LA-LA-LA. # 'TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY. FA-LA-LA-LA-LA, LA-LA-LA-LA. LA-LA-LA` # OK, OK, I GET IT. LET'S GO. OK, WHATEVER. SCROOGE. FOOTSTEPS RECEDE (SIGHS) YOU CAN SKIP THAT HOUSE TOO. CAROLLERS: YEAH. WHATEVER. WHIMSICAL MUSIC OH NO. NO, NO, NO. NO, NO, NO. DOOR HANDLE RATTLES DAD! DAD. WHIMSICAL MUSIC CONTINUES DAD? DADDY, PLEASE. BUDDY. MUSIC CONTINUES DOOR HANDLE RATTLES (SIGHS) NOT AGAIN. (SIGHS) (BARKS) (SCREAMS) (GRUNTS, GASPS) (SIGHS) BAH HUMBUG! BRIGHT MUSIC # OOH, OOH, OOH... # SO, YOU FELL OFF THE PORCH? I GOT LOCKED OUT OF THE HOUSE. I WAS TRYING TO GET IN. WHERE EXACTLY DOES IT HURT? MY BACK. CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYS THAT'S, UH,... # THERE IS MAGIC IN OUR HEARTS... ...QUITE A COLLECTION OF CHRISTMAS CARDS YOU'VE GOT THERE. CHUCKLES: YEAH. YOU TREAT SOMEONE LONG ENOUGH AND YOU START TO FEEL LIKE A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. DO YOU EVER SEND THEM YOURSELF? NO. MY SECRETARY HANDLES THAT. MM. # IT'S A WINTER WONDERLAND,... IS IT TENDER HERE? A LITTLE. # ...SO MERRY CHRISTMAS. THAT SONG. # IT'S A WINTER WONDERLAND. YOU KNOW THIS ONE? # ...WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS. UH, DO YOU EVER... FIND YOURSELF LISTENING TO A SONG THAT TAKES YOU BACK IN TIME? # MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY. # OH YEAH. LOOK, JEN, I DON'T BLAME YOU. ALL RIGHT? YOU HAVE EVERY REASON IN THE WORLD TO HATE ME. YOU'RE A BEAUTIFUL, SMART WOMAN. I BLEW IT. # GINGERBREAD AND BLUEBERRY... WAIT. WAIT. WAIT. WAIT. WAIT. WAIT. WAIT. WAIT. IS THAT IT? WELL, I'D LIKE AN X-RAY, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE YOU SPRAINED YOUR LOWER BACK. UH, IS THERE ANYTHING I SHOULD DO TO TAKE CARE OF IT? YOU COULD TRY NOT BREAKING INTO YOUR HOUSE. THAT ALWAYS HELPS. RIGHT. # ...A WINTER WONDERLAND. I WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS. (CHUCKLES) AFTER YOU'RE FINISHED GETTING DRESSED, YOU CAN SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT OUT FRONT WITH MARILYN. OK. AND... IF YOU COULD EVER FIND IT IN YOUR HEART TO FORGIVE ME,... # I WISH YOU PEACE AND LOVE... # ...GIMME A CALL. YOU ALWAYS WERE ONE IN A MILLION. INTRIGUING MUSIC MONITOR BEEPS STEADILY DOOR CREAKS INTRIGUING MUSIC CONTINUES COME ON, BABE. YOU KNOW YOU'RE MORE THAN THAT TO ME. YOU'RE ONE IN A MILLION. SAME OLD BRAD. DOOR CREAKS MUSIC BUILDS (GASPS) OH! WHIMSICAL MUSIC SOFT MUSIC CAR CRUNCHES ON GRAVEL ENGINE TURNS OFF KEYS JINGLE SOFT MUSIC CONTINUES ANYTHING YOU WANNA SAY TO AUNT MILLIE? UM... YOU OK? NO, I` I MUST'VE JUST SLEPT ON IT WRONG. NO, I MEAN IN GENERAL. YOU LOOK A LITTLE DISTRACTED. WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND? UH,... WHEN YOU FIRST MET MOM, HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT SHE WAS THE ONE? I DIDN'T. REALLY? ALL THAT, UH, LIGHTNING BOLT, LOVE-AT-FIRST-SIGHT CRAP, THAT'S JUST MEANT TO SELL CARDS. THE TRICK IS GETTING TO KNOW THEM. TRUST ME, WHEN THE RIGHT ONE COMES ALONG, YOU'LL KNOW. YOU KNOW, THIS, UH` (CHUCKLES) THIS, UH, ORGANIC STUFF'S NOT TOO BAD. THANKS FOR THE CHAT. OH, THE MAIL CAME, AND, UH, THE MAILMAN LEFT A NOTE IN THE BOX. HE SAID TO STOP STALKING HIM, WHATEVER THAT MEANS. ANYTHING ELSE? YOU MEAN, UM, THIS? GET TO KNOW HIM. I INTEND TO. SOFT PIANO MUSIC MAN: DEAREST JENNIFER, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED THE OTHER DAY WHEN I BROUGHT HOME OUR CHRISTMAS TREE. SUDDENLY I REMEMBERED WHAT IT WAS LIKE WATCHING YOU DECORATE YOUR HOUSE. I STILL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT EVERY YEAR, AND I REALISE I SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS EARLIER ` YEARS AGO, EVEN. I WISH I HAD THE STRENGTH TO JUST PICK UP THE PHONE OR MARCH OVER TO THE HOUSE AND TELL YOU HOW I FEEL PERSONALLY, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD THINK. SCUSE ME. YOU DONE WITH THIS? UH, SURE. THANKS. OK. I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY. YOU HAVE YOUR OWN LIFE IN THE CITY AND A GREAT JOB. TRUTH IS I'VE FELT YOU SLIPPING AWAY FOR SOME TIME. I GUESS I DIDN'T WANNA LOSE MY CHANCE BEFORE YOU FINALLY STOPPED COMING BACK HERE FOR GOOD. FONDLY, YOUR SECRET SANTA. POIGNANT MUSIC DO YOU HAVE ANY EXTRA CHRISTMAS CARDS? SURE. WHY? BUSY MUSIC DEAR... SECRET SANTA. (SIGHS) DEAR SECRET SANTA, I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY FOR US TO HIDE BEHIND OUR WORDS. (GRUMBLES) NO. I THINK THE TIME HAS COME... FOR US TO REVEAL OURSELVES. WHISPERS: THAT'S SO CORNY. LIGHT MUSIC (TUTS) WHO ARE YOU REALLY, SECRET SANTA? (SIGHS) YOU WRITE MILLION-DOLLAR PROPOSALS FOR BUSINESS DEALS FOR A LIVING, AND YOU CAN'T HANDLE A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS CARD. (SIGHS) JUST DO IT. JUST PICK UP THE PEN AND DO IT. 'DEAR SECRET SANTA, 'FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN GETTING YOUR CARDS.' YOU SEEM TO KNOW A LOT ABOUT ME, AND I HAVE TO ADMIT YOU HAVE A GOOD POINT; I THINK WE DO GET SO WRAPPED UP IN OUR OWN LIVES THAT IT'S EASY TO FORGET THE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT US. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT THE REASON I CAME BACK WAS TO HELP OUT MY DAD. HE HAD A NASTY FALL WHILE HE WAS PUTTING UP THE LIGHTS, AND, I'LL BE HONEST, I'M WORRIED ABOUT HIM. I'VE COME TO REALISE THAT THIS HOUSE ISN'T THE BEST THING FOR HIM RIGHT NOW, AND, AS HARD AS IT MAY BE, I UNDERSTAND WHAT I HAVE TO DO TO HELP HIM. I DON'T MEAN TO GO ON. IT'S JUST THAT I GUESS I'M GLAD TO HAVE SOMEONE TO TALK TO ` SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS ME. I KNOW IT'S SCARY TO OPEN UP TO SOMEONE PERSONALLY. WHAT IF THEY DON'T FEEL THE SAME WAY? WHAT IF YOU'RE WASTING YOUR TIME? BUT, WHOEVER YOU ARE, I DON'T WANNA LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND THE PERSON BEHIND THE WORDS AND GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER. TELL ME WHO YOU ARE. XOXO. JENNIFER. (DIALS NUMBER) RINGING TONE BENNETT: HELLO? HI. IT'S JENNIE. HEY. LISTEN, UM, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD HELP ME WITH SOMETHING. BRIGHT CHRISTMAS MUSIC # SO MERRY CHRISTMAS # AROUND THE WORLD. # MERRY CHRISTMAS... # SO SOME GUY'S BEEN WRITING YOU THREE LETTERS? IS THIS FOR REAL? HOW ROMANTIC. I WISH SOMEONE WOULD DO THAT FOR ME. OH, K. SEE, NOW YOU WANT A CHRISTMAS CARD. IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE APPRECIATED EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. NO, SEE` SEE, THE THING IS` GUYS, GUYS, GUYS, COME ON. LEAVE THE DRAMA FOR ME. OK. (CHUCKLES) IT'S ALL SET. SO NOW, IF CYRANO DECIDES TO WRITE YOU ANOTHER LETTER, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHO HE IS. CHRISTMAS MUSIC CONTINUES LOOK, IT'S GONNA BE OK. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. DON'T STRESS. (EXHALES HEAVILY) MM. MUSIC LINGERS, FADES (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) BOTH CHUCKLE HOPEFUL MUSIC WHAT ARE YOU KIDS DOING OUT HERE? OH, HEY. JUST TALKING ABOUT YOU, MR M. (CHUCKLES) HOW ABOUT SOME HOME-MADE EGGNOG? AH, I'LL BE RIGHT ON THAT. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. WARM MUSIC (CLEARS THROAT) LOOK, THOSE ARE NICE GUYS, BUT IF YOU LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MORE ROMANTIC, YOU MIGHT BE RUNNING YOUR FLAG UP THE WRONG POLE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. (LAUGHS) COME ON. LET'S GO INSIDE. SO YOU DO KNOW? YEAH. YEAH, I KNOW. OH. WARM MUSIC CONTINUES BRIGHT MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUES GOTCHA. (TUTS) NOBODY'S GOING TO THE BOX. THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE. HOW DID IT GET THERE? SOFT, PENSIVE MUSIC (CHUCKLES) 'DEAREST JENNIFER, WOW, I JUST GOT YOUR CHRISTMAS CARD. 'I MUST ADMIT IT'S EXCITING AND EVEN A LITTLE SCARY TO KNOW THAT THIS IS FINALLY A TWO-WAY STREET. 'I'M SORRY TO HEAR YOUR DAD ISN'T DOING SO WELL. 'I REALISE HOW BUSY YOU MUST BE, BUT I THINK SOMETIMES HE FEELS LEFT OUT OF YOUR LIFE, 'ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU WERE ALWAYS SO CLOSE TO YOUR MOM. 'I CAN TELL HE DOESN'T WANT ANYONE TO KNOW HE TAKES IT PERSONALLY, BUT HE REALLY DOES. 'HE DOESN'T ALWAYS SHOW IT, BUT HE LOVES YOU VERY MUCH. 'I KNOW WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I FEEL CLOSER TO YOU THAN EVER. 'BEING ABLE TO GET MY FEELINGS FOR YOU OFF MY CHEST MEANS A LOT TO ME. 'AND WHETHER YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY OR NOT, 'SEEING YOU AGAIN AT CHRISTMAS WOULD BE THE BEST PRESENT EVER. 'AS MY MOTHER OFTEN SAID, IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO GET IT RIGHT. 'FONDLY, 'JACK.' NO WAY. BRIGHT MUSIC SWELLS MUSIC QUICKENS DAD! DO YOU KNOW WHERE MY HIGH-SCHOOL YEARBOOKS ARE? IN THE GARAGE, I THINK. WHY? WHAT IS IT? COMPELLING MUSIC OH MY GOSH. COMPELLING MUSIC I KNOW IT'S A BIT CHILLY NOW, BUT COME SUMMER, I PROMISE THE POOL WILL BE A HUGE HIT WITH THE KIDS. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. I` I NEED TO TALK TO YOU. UH, MT AND MRS ELLIS, THIS IS JENNIFER. SHE LIKES TO BARGE IN SOMETIMES (GRITS TEETH) WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT. 'I'LL CALL YOU LATER.' I KNOW WHO SENT THE CARDS. QUIETLY: I'M CLOSING A SALE. IT'S JACK. THE CARDS CAME FROM JACK. AND THESE CARDS ARE, WHAT, COMING FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE? TRAVELLING THROUGH TIME? WHAT? I DON'T KNOW. JACK WAS KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON CHRISTMAS DAY THREE YEARS AGO. YEAH, I KNOW. I WENT` (SIGHS) I WENT TO HIS FUNERAL. I... DO YOU THINK I'M TAKING THIS LIGHTLY? YOU WANT MY HONEST OPINION? SOMEONE IS MESSING WITH YOU. THEY GOT HIS HANDWRITING, AND THEY ARE MANIPULATING YOU. YEAH, BUT EVEN IF THEY DID, I HAD THE CAMERA ON THAT MAILBOX ALL NIGHT, AND NO ONE EVER CAME NEAR IT. IT'S LIKE THESE CARDS... JUST APPEARED. I SAW DAVID COPPERFIELD WALK THROUGH THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA, AND I CAN'T EXPLAIN THAT EITHER. BOOK THUDS SHUT LOOK, THERE'S A VERY SIMPLE WAY TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. OK. WHAT? WE'RE GONNA NEED ANOTHER CARD. LIGHT MUSIC OK, NOW WHAT? HOW DO YOU USUALLY START ONE OF THESE? UH... YOU HAVE TO SOUND DELIGHTED. TELL HIM THAT YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY... '...ABSOLUTELY EXCITED TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE MY SECRET SANTA 'HOWEVER, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S REALLY YOU,' I WAS HOPING YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO TELL ME SOMETHING SECRET ` SOMETHING NO ONE ELSE WOULD KNOW. XOXO. JENNIFER. LIGHT MUSIC CONTINUES DEAREST JENNIFER, SURE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING YOU DON'T KNOW. DO YOU REMEMBER YOU GOLDFISH, LOUIS? THE ONE WE CALLED SUPERFISH, BECAUSE HE LIVED... READS: ...BECAUSE HE LIVED FOR NINE YEARS. 'DO YOU REMEMBER THE TIME HE LOST WEIGHT AND YOUR DAD SAID HE WENT ON A DIET? 'WELL, THE TRUTH IS YOUR MOM AND DAD FOUND LOUIS FLOATING IN THE TANK WHILE YOU WERE AT SCHOOL 'AND REPLACED HIM WITH A SIMILAR-LOOKING ONE FROM THE STORE.' OH, LOUIS. 'ASK YOUR DAD. HE'LL TELL YOU. 'FONDLY, JACK.' YOU THINK HE'S TELLING THE TRUTH? WELL, THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT. GOLDFISH? ARE YOU SERIOUS? IT'S IMPORTANT, MR M. DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING? OF COURSE I REMEMBER. THE THING WOULDN'T DIE. YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT WAS TO GET SOMEBODY TO COME OVER AND FEED THAT THING EVERY TIME WE WENT ON VACATION? DID YOU EVER REPLACE HIM WITH ANOTHER FISH? DO YOU REALLY THINK I WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO YOU? DID YOU? FINE. ONE DAY, WHEN YOU WERE ABOUT 8, YOU WERE AT SCHOOL, AND I FOUND LOUIS FLOATING UPSIDE DOWN IN THE TANK. OH MY GOSH. I KNEW HOW MUCH YOU LOVED THAT THING, SO YOUR MOTHER AND I WENT TO THE STORE AND BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE THAT LOOKED JUST LIKE IT. DID YOU AND MOM EVER TELL ANYBODY ABOUT IT? NO, JUST THE GUYS AT THE STORE, I GUESS. WAIT A MINUTE. UH, YOUR MOM DID MENTION IT TO JACK ONCE. HE THOUGHT IT WAS HILARIOUS. WHY? INTRIGUING MUSIC (CHUCKLES) MUSIC DEEPENS 1901. TWO TEACHERS FROM ST HUGH IN OXFORD GOT LOST WHILE VISITING THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES. DURING THIS TIME, THE WOMEN REPORTED ENCOUNTERING MEN WITH THREE-CORNERED HATS AND A FAIR-HAIRED WOMAN WEARING A LIGHT SUMMER DRESS AND A SHADY, WHITE HAT. NOW, THE ODD THING IS THAT THE DETAILS OF THE WOMAN'S EXPERIENCE WERE FOUND TO BE COMPLETELY INCONSISTENT WITH THE PALACE'S APPEARANCE IN 1901. RATHER THE WORLD THAT THE WOMEN DESCRIBED WAS REMARKABLY ACCURATE FOR 1789. AND THE DESCRIPTION OF THE WOMAN MIGHT VERY WELL HAVE BEEN MARIE ANTOINETTE HERSELF. 'NOW, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?' YOU ASK. WELL, I BELIEVE THAT AT SOME POINT THE TWO WOMEN HAD UNKNOWINGLY PASSED THROUGH A TIME SLIP OR WORMHOLE. THEY TRAVELLED 112 YEARS INTO THE PAST AND UPON RETRACING THEIR STEPS, FOUND THEIR WAY BACK TO THE PRESENT. SOFT, INTRIGUING MUSIC THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WHO SHOULD I MAKE IT OUT TO? NO, WELL, ACTUALLY, I WAS WONDERING IF I COULD HAVE A MOMENT. WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU? I WANTED TO KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO COMMUNICATE THROUGH TIME. WHY DO YOU ASK THAT? BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO'S BEEN SENDING ME THESE IS... HAS BEEN DEAD FOR THREE YEARS. WELL, I'D SEND A LETTER OF COMPLAINT TO THE POST OFFICE IF I WERE YOU. I WOULD, (CHUCKLES) BUT, YOU SEE, THESE HAVE JUST BEEN APPEARING IN MY MAILBOX, AND, UM, WELL, WE'VE BEEN WRITING BACK AND FORTH. YOU'VE BEEN CORRESPONDING TO AND FROM THIS INDIVIDUAL? IS THAT POSSIBLE? WELL, THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED NON-LOCAL QUANTUM COMMUNICATION. IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, IT'S A WAY TO SEND A MESSAGE FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF LIGHT. RIGHT. THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY. WELL, WHAT ABOUT... THE TIME SLIPS? LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE OTHER WOMEN. LOOK, NOW, NOBODY REALLY KNOWS FOR SURE WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM. IT COULD'VE BEEN A TIME SLIP. IT COULD ALSO HAVE BEEN A SHARED DELUSION. SOME SUGGEST THEY MERELY STUMBLED UPON A HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENT. BUT WHEN YOU WERE SPEAKING EARLIER` THEORETICALLY, I SUPPOSE IT'S POSSIBLE. IF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS RIGHT, I-IF THAT'S HAPPENING, ISN'T IT POSSIBLE TO USE THIS TO... CHANGE THE PAST? YOU MEAN PREVENT HIS DEATH? WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YEAR HE'S WRITING FROM. HE COULD HAVE TWO YEARS LEFT OR THREE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FORCES WE CANNOT BEGIN TO EXPLAIN. THE TINIEST ALTERATION OR RIPPLE COULD SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL IN WAYS THAT WE COULDN'T BEGIN TO COMPREHEND. YOU WANT MY ADVICE? IF THIS IS REAL, IF THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING, ENJOY IT, BUT DO NOT TAMPER WITH IT. LOOK, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. WAIT. JUST A MINUTE. JUST A MINUTE. JUST A MINUTE. HERE. ON THE HOUSE. ON THE HOUSE. REFLECTIVE MUSIC CURIOUS MUSIC THIS IS NUTS. TIME SLIP. MUSIC BUILDS (GASPS) WHOA. WHOA. IT'S REAL. THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING. BRIGHT MUSIC . BUSY MUSIC DEAR JACK, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW SURPRISED I WAS TO FIND OUT YOU ARE MY SECRET SANTA. BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THESE CARDS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. THE NIGHT BEFORE I GOT YOUR FIRST CARD, I MADE A WISH AT THE OLD WISHING WELL. YOU AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME PLAYING NEAR THAT WELL, AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S A LOT OF NONSENSE, BUT THIS TIME I BELIEVE MY WISH CAME TRUE. YOU SEE, THESE CARDS THAT YOU'VE BEEN SENDING ARE ACTUALLY ARRIVING IN THE FUTURE. I AM SITTING IN MY ROOM RIGHT NOW, LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW, AND YOUR ROOM ` YOUR WHOLE HOUSE ` IS EMPTY. (CHUCKLES) WHAT? YOU DON'T LIVE THERE ANY MORE. AND YET EVERY DAY I GET CARDS HAND-DELIVERED FROM YOU. THE IRONIC THING ABOUT ALL THIS IS THAT JUST WHEN WE'VE CONNECTED, OR RECONNECTED, WE'RE STILL SEPARATED. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS IS GOING TO LAST, BUT I'M ENJOYING THE RIDE. XOXO. JENNIFER. P.S. I'M CURIOUS ` HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INTERESTED IN ME? POIGNANT MUSIC BIRDS CHIRP SOFTLY TWINKLING MUSIC WARM MUSIC ALL RIGHT, WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR? K. READ THIS. READS: DEAREST JENNIFER. DO I REALLY HAVE TO READ THIS? MM-HM. FINE. 'GETTING YOUR CARD THIS MORNING HAS MADE THIS THE STRANGEST WEDNESDAY I'VE HAD SINCE I CAN REMEMBER. 'AFTER I READ IT, I WENT OVER...' ...I WENT OVER TO TALK TO YOUR FATHER, AND HE SAID THAT YOU HADN'T EVEN COME HOME YET. HE SAID YOU'RE STILL 300 MILES AWAY IN LA. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING, BUT IT SEEMS THAT YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU SAID I'VE MOVED. PLEASE, WHEREVER I'VE GONE, FIND ME. I KNOW I'VE GOT A COUPLE YEARS TO WAIT, BUT I'VE WAITED THIS LONG. WHAT'S ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO? IF WE CAN'T BE TOGETHER ON MY CHRISTMAS, THEN WE CAN BE TOGETHER ON YOURS. IT'S BEEN TOO LONG, AND WE DON'T NEED TO BE ALONE ANY MORE. BY THE WAY, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ` HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN INTERESTED IN YOU? READS: ALL MY LIFE. 'LOVE, 'JACK.' SOFT PIANO MUSIC WHAT DO YOU MEAN JACK? JACK. YOU MEAN JACK? BUT HE'S... I KNOW. IT` APPARENTLY IT'S, UM` IT'S A TIME SLIP OR A WORMHOLE OR SOMETHING. I DON'T KNOW. BUT IT'S JACK. LOOK, I` I MADE A WISH IN THE WELL THE FIRST NIGHT I GOT HOME, AND I ASKED FOR TRUE LOVE. I GOT JACK. (CHUCKLES) WARM MUSIC TOLD YOU IT WAS WILD. CURIOUS MUSIC GENTLE MUSIC I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M BREAKING INTO JACK'S HOUSE. HMM. CLATTERING LOCK CLICKS DOOR SHUTS POIGNANT MUSIC TV CHATTER TV: GOOD BOY. BOTH LAUGH MUSIC CONTINUES MUSIC CONTINUES MUSIC CONTINUES FLOORBOARD CREAKS CREAKING CONTINUES INTRIGUING MUSIC BOARDS THUD SOFTLY (GASPS SOFTLY) MUSIC SOFTENS MUSIC CONTINUES MUSIC SWELLS GO AHEAD. MAKE A WISH. I THINK I'LL SAVE IT FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL. HEY, UH, YOU MAKE ONE. YOU OK? (SIGHS) WISTFUL MUSIC I NEVER TOLD YOU... WHY I DIDN'T MAKE IT BACK FOR JACK'S FUNERAL. OH. (CHUCKLES) I, UH, KNOW HOW HARD YOU WORK. WASN'T FAIR OF ME TO GO OFF ON YOU LIKE THAT. NO, YOU WERE RIGHT. I SHOULD'VE BEEN HERE. EVERYBODY THINKS THAT I'M THIS STRONG BUSINESSWOMAN. THE TRUTH IS I'M A COWARD. I COULDN'T HANDLE IT. WISTFUL MUSIC CONTINUES I LOST MOM, AND YOU AND I HADN'T EVER REALLY BEEN THAT CLOSE. AND NOW JACK. YOU KNOW WHAT MY EX CALLED ME? EMOTIONALLY UNAVAILABLE. JEN. NO, HE'S RIGHT. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS MY FEELINGS. SO I RAN. I CHICKENED OUT. I STAYED IN LA. VOICE BREAKS: AND NOW IT'S TOO LATE. YOU KNOW, I'M JUST A SIMPLE GUY, SO I CAN'T, UH, PRETEND TO UNDERSTAND, BUT I DO KNOW SOMEHOW, SOME WAY, YOU AND JACK HAVE BEEN GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE. AND THAT CHANCE HAS ALLOWED YOU TO REALISE THAT YOU'VE HAD FEELINGS FOR ONE ANOTHER FOR ALL THESE YEARS. AND THAT IS A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE. IF I COULD EVER WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR MOTHER, SPEAK TO HER FOR JUST A MINUTE, THAT'D BE A GIFT FROM GOD. (SNIFFLES) AH? COME ON. COME ON. YOU GOT A LETTER TO WRITE. (CHUCKLES) RIGHT. (CHUCKLES) DEAR JACK, A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, ABBY SAID I WAS AFRAID OF BEING ATTACHED. AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT IT WAS RIDICULOUS, BUT THE MORE I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT, THE MORE TRUE IT IS. IF ONLY YOU KNEW HOW MUCH THESE CARDS HAVE MEANT TO ME THESE PAST FEW DAYS OR HOW CLOSE I'VE COME TO FEEL TO THE MYSTERIOUS SECRET SANTA BEHIND THE MESSAGE ` THE MAN WHO KNEW ME BETTER THAN I KNEW MYSELF, THE MAN WHO, LITTLE DID I KNOW, I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR MY WHOLE LIFE. AND TO THINK THIS WHOLE TIME HE WAS RIGHT NEXT DOOR. AS YOUR MOTHER WOULD SAY, 'IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO GET IT RIGHT.' LOVE, JENNIFER. SOFT MUSIC P.S. I WENT OVER TO YOUR HOUSE TODAY, AND I FOUND YOUR SKETCHBOOK UNDER THE FLOORBOARD. I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND, BUT I TOOK IT. I'LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT FOR YOU. SOFT MUSIC CONTINUES MAGICAL MUSIC . GENTLE MUSIC HI, MOM. IT FEELS SO STRANGE NOT HAVING YOU AROUND. WHEN THINGS ARE GOING GOOD, I WISH I COULD JUST PICK UP THE PHONE AND TELL YOU. WHEN THINGS ARE BAD, I WISH YOU WERE THERE TO TELL ME EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE OK. (SNIFFLES) POIGNANT PIANO MUSIC I FEEL SO ALONE WITHOUT YOU. I LOVE YOU. (SNIFFLES) YOU REMIND ME A LOT OF HER. NOT THE QUIET GIRL I REMEMBER FROM THE CHOIR ANY MORE. (CHUCKLES) I KNOW YOUR MOTHER WOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOU. SOFT MUSIC IT DOESN'T ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THAT. OH, SHE USED TO TALK ABOUT YOU ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW. WHEN SHE WAS SICK, I'D VISIT HER IN THE HOSPITAL. SHE'D BE BRAGGING ABOUT HER LITTLE GIRL, LIVING HER DREAM DOWN IN LA, HOW SHE'D NEVER LET ANYTHING KNOCK HER DOWN. OH YEAH. SHE WAS PROUD OF YOU. ONLY THING ABOUT YOU BEING SO FAR AWAY WAS THAT SHE SAID SHE MISSED HEARING YOU SING. SHE SAID THAT? SHE ALWAYS LOVED LISTENING TO YOU IN CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNING. 'LIKE AN ANGEL,' SHE SAID. AND WHETHER YOU REALISE IT OR NOT, YOU CAME BACK EXACTLY WHEN YOU WERE NEEDED. GOD KNOWS IT, YOUR FATHER KNOWS IT, AND YOUR MOTHER KNOWS IT. DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES? WHY? JUST THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING, AND, HECK, I WOULD THINK I'M CRAZY. I` I DON'T KNOW. I THINK I'M STARTING TO BELIEVE. I BELIEVE MIRACLES HAPPEN EVERY DAY. PEOPLE JUST HAVE TO STOP AND NOTICE. CAR ENGINE HUMS UPBEAT MUSIC # OOH, OOH, OOH, OOH. # TICK-TOCK-TICK. IT'S COMIN' UP QUICK. YEAH, SANTA CLAUS IS ON HIS WAY, # LOADING LOTS OF TOYS FOR GIRLS AND BOYS ON THE TRUSTY CHRISTMAS SLEIGH. # OOH, OOH-EE. # CHRISTMAS IS COMING FAST. # OOH, OOH-EE. # CHRISTMAS IS COMING FAST. # YEAH, DECK THE HALLS WITH LIGHTS AND ALL. THIS CHRISTMAS IS GONNA BE BRIGHT. # WITH STOCKINGS HUNG AND CAROLS SUNG, # WE'LL GET THIS HOLIDAY RIGHT. # OOH, OOH-EE. # CHRISTMAS IS COMING FAST. # OOH, OOH-EE. # CHRISTMAS IS COMING FAST. UPBEAT MUSIC CONTINUES WHOO! WHOO-HOO! # OOOOOOOH. # TICK-TOCK-TICK. IT'S COMIN' UP QUICK. YEAH, SANTA CLAUS IS ON HIS WAY, # LOADING LOTS OF TOYS FOR GIRLS AND BOYS ON THE TRUSTY CHRISTMAS SLEIGH. # OOH, OOH-EE. (BARKS) # OOH, OOH-EE. # CHRISTMAS IS COMING FAST. # YOU THINK MOM WOULD LIKE IT? SHE WOULD LOVE IT. MUSIC LINGERS, FADES SOFT MUSIC BLEEPING RINGING TONE HEY. THIS IS ABBY. I CAN'T GET TO THE PHONE RIGHT NOW. PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE. BYE. BLEEP! ABBY. LISTEN, IT'S ME. LOOK, I'VE CHANGED MY MIND. I DON'T THINK THAT` CLICK! AUTOMATED VOICE: MAILBOX FULL. SOFT MUSIC CONTINUES (HANGS UP PHONE) YOU KNOW, NOT LONG AGO, I WENT TO VISIT A MAN IN HIS HOUSE. THE MAN HAD HURT HIMSELF, AND THE DOCTOR SAID HE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO MOVE TOO MUCH. I SAID TO HIM, 'CHRISTMAS IS COMING. HAVE YOU GIVEN ANY THOUGHT AS TO WHAT YOU MIGHT WANT?' THE MAN THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR A MINUTE, AND HE TOLD ME THAT HIS WIFE HAD PASSED AWAY AND THEIR ONLY CHILD HAD MOVED OUT. HE SAID, 'THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO CELEBRATE.' WELL, I TOLD HIM THAT AS LONG AS THERE WAS LIFE ON THIS EARTH THAT THERE IS ALWAYS PLENTY TO CELEBRATE. NOT LONG AFTER WE SPOKE, THE MAN'S DAUGHTER RETURNED HOME TO HELP TAKE CARE OF HIM. YOU SEE, GOD HAD NOT ONLY GIVEN HIM WHAT HE WANTED, BUT GOD HAD GIVEN HIM WHAT HE NEEDED! AND TODAY SHE'S HERE WITH US. PRAISE GOD. JENNIFER MOORE, WELCOME HOME. YOU KNOW, I WAS HOPING WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PERSUADE HER TO SING US A LITTLE SONG. MURMURING, APPLAUSE QUIETLY: NO, NO. (CHUCKLES) FOR YOUR MOTHER. FINE. FINE. JENNIFER, PLEASE. SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYS # JOY TO THE WORLD. # THE LORD HAS COME. # LET EARTH # RECEIVE # HER KING. # LET EVERY HEART # PREPARE HIM ROOM # AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING # AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING # AND HEAVEN AND HEAVEN # AND NATURE PIANO MUSIC BRIGHTENS # SING. # JOY TO THE WORLD. # THE SAVIOUR REIGNS. # LET MEN THEIR SONGS EMPLOY. # WHILE FIELDS AND FLOODS, # ROCKS, HILLS AND PLAINS # REPEAT THE SOUNDING JOY, # REPEAT THE SOUNDING JOY, # REPEAT THE SOUNDING JOY. # HE RULES THE WORLD # WITH TRUTH AND GRACE # AND MAKES THE NATIONS PROVE # THE GLORIES OF # HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS... # ...AND WONDERS OF HIS LOVE # AND WONDERS OF HIS LOVE... # ...AND WONDERS # OF HIS LOVE. # JOY TO THE WORLD. # THE LORD IS COME. # LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING. # LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING. # LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA. # LET EVERY HEART # PREPARE HIM ROOM # AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING, # OH, AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING # AND HEAVEN # AND HEAVEN # AND NATURE SING! # CHEERING, WHOOPING I LOVE YOU, MOM. GENTLE MUSIC (GRUNTS) (CHUCKLES) YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ALONE SO LONG, I, UH, NEVER REALISED HOW MUCH I ENJOY SPENDING TIME WITH YOU. DAD, (SIGHS) I KNOW THAT ALL THIS TIME YOU THINK I'VE BEEN AVOIDING YOU OR TOO BUSY. THE TRUTH IS AFTER MUM DIED I SHOULD'VE BEEN HERE FOR YOU, AND I WASN'T. I'M SORRY. YOU'RE HOME NOW ` JUST THE WAY YOUR MOTHER WANTED IT. WHAT DO YOU MEAN? THE HOUSE, SHE WANTED YOU TO TAKE IT. WHAT? YEAH. FOR YOUR FAMILY. SHE WANTED IT FOR YOU. THAT'S WHY I COULD NEVER SELL IT, NO MATTER HOW OLD AND DECREPIT I GET. IT'S YOURS, JUST THE WAY SHE WANTED. I HAD NO IDEA. (CHUCKLES) COME ON. LET'S GO HOME. YEAH. WATCH YOUR LEG. SOFT MUSIC CAR ENGINE RUMBLES, TURNS OFF RIGHT THIS WAY. YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT. OH NO. WHAT'S ABBY DOING? SO, AS YOU CAN SEE,... WAIT HERE, DAD. ...THE KERB APPEAL IS QUITE TREMENDOUS. WHAT ABOUT THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR? YEAH, IT'S KIND OF AN EYESORE. I HEARD THAT THE OWNER IS THINKING ABOUT TEARING IT DOWN, YOU KNOW, STARTING OVER. ABBY! I NEED TO TALK TO YOU. HEY. I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE DOING THE CHRISTMAS THING. IT LOOKS GREAT. CAR DOOR SHUTS YOU GOTTA GO. ABBY, WHAT'S GOING ON? YES. HI, MR M. YOU MUST BE THE OWNER. YES, THIS IS MY HOUSE. WHY? WHO ARE YOU? YOU NEVER TOLD HIM? TOLD ME WHAT? DAD` WHAT AM I MISSING? I SORT OF... I ASKED ABBY IF SHE WOULD SELL THE HOUSE. WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'SELL THE HOUSE'? OK, YOU WEREN'T DOING THAT WELL, AND, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY I KNEW I'D HAVE TO LEAVE. I TOLD YOU YOUR MOTHER WANTED YOU TO HAVE IT. BUT I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. WELL, YOU SHOULD'VE SAID SOMETHING! YOU SHOULD'VE TALKED TO ME! I KNOW I SHOULD'VE! I KNOW! I THINK YOU SHOULD GO. MR M, JENNIFER IS JUST TRYING TO HELP YOU. I DON'T WANT ANYONE TRYING TO HELP ME, AND I'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU'D ALL GET OFF MY LAWN. SIR, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE MEAN ABOUT IT. FINE! MERRY CHRISTMAS! NOW GO! DAD. IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE ME A SECOND TO T` WE'RE NOT INTERESTED. NO. GOODBYE. IT'S JUST A MISUNDERSTANDING. I'M S` I'M SORRY. LOOK... (SIGHS) DAD. DAD. IS THAT WHY YOU CAME BACK ` TO SELL MY HOUSE OUT FROM UNDER ME? NO. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE OK, THAT YOU WERE SOMEPLACE SAFE. YOU MEAN IN A NURSING HOME. THEY'RE CALLED... THEY'RE CALLED ASSISTED CARE FACILITIES. THEY'RE CALLED NURSING HOMES. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN THESE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS? THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PUT EVERYTHING BEHIND US, THAT WE'VE HAD THIS SECOND CHANCE. LOOK, I WAS GONNA CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF. I JUST DIDN'T GET A CHANCE. YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE. STIRRING PIANO MUSIC DAD, I KNOW I SHOULD'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT. I JUST... JUST GO. DOOR OPENS PLEASE, DAD! MUSIC LINGERS POIGNANT MUSIC (SIGHS) DEAR JACK, THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST LETTER YOU GET FROM ME FOR A WHILE. I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA STICK AROUND, BUT THE TRUTH IS I MADE A MISTAKE, AND I'VE HURT SOMEONE'S FEELINGS VERY BADLY. I THINK THE BEST THING FOR ME IS TO GO AWAY FOR A WHILE UNTIL THINGS CALM DOWN. I HOPE TO COME BACK SOON, AND I HOPE THAT YOU'LL STILL BE GETTING MY LETTERS WHEN I DO. UNTIL THEN, I WILL MISS YOU. LOVE, JENNIFER. POIGNANT MUSIC CONTINUES MUSIC CONTINUES CAR DOOR SHUTS, ENGINE TURNS ON SOFT MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUES INDISTINCT BACKGROUND CHATTER AND THIS IS JENNIFER MOORE. JENNIFER, THESE ARE SOME OF THE EXECUTIVES FROM HONG KONG. WELCOME. THANK YOU. UH, JENNIFER JUST GOT BACK LATE LAST NIGHT. UNFORTUNATELY HER FATHER WASN'T DOING TOO WELL. I'M SO SORRY TO HEAR THAT. IS HE FEELING BETTER NOW? YES, HE IS. THANK YOU. I'M GLAD. WILL HE BE JOINING YOU FOR CHRISTMAS? I DON'T THINK SO. NOT THIS YEAR. UM, SHE WAS JUST FINISHING UP A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION, WHICH WILL PITCH YOUR COMPANY TO OUR INVESTORS. GREAT. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. WONDERFUL. (CHUCKLES) OK, WELL, I THINK, UM, WE'RE GONNA BE MOVING ON. UM, WE'RE GONNA GRAB LUNCH AT AVENUE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN US. OH, I` YOU KNOW, I HAVE SO MUCH TO CATCH UP ON, BUT YOU GENTLEMEN HAVE FUN. ALWAYS WORKING HARD. OK. UM, RIGHT THIS WAY, GENTLEMEN. IF YOU NEED TO BE WITH YOUR FATHER, WHY DON'T YOU GO? IT'S NOT THAT EASY. THERE IS AN OLD CHINESE PROVERB ` 'WHEN THE WINDS OF CHANGE BLOW, 'SOME BUILD WALLS, WHILE OTHERS BUILD WINDMILLS.' IN LIFE, IT IS BETTER TO BE FLEXIBLE THAN STUBBORN. THANK YOU. SHENG DAN KUAI LE. MERRY CHRISTMAS. MERRY CHRISTMAS. THE STRANGEST WEDNESDAY. FOR HIM, DECEMBER 22ND WAS A WEDNESDAY. (TYPES) THAT WAS THREE YEARS AGO. OH NO. TENSE MUSIC HEY! YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT LUNCH? CAN YOU TAKE OVER THE PITCH BOOK FOR ME? UM` PLEASE. SURE. DEAR JACK, WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULDN'T TELL YOU, THAT THERE COULD BE CONSEQUENCES. BUT I'M TIRED OF PLAYING EVERYTHING SAFE. THERE'S SOMETHING YOU NEED TO KNOW. THE REASON YOU'RE NO LONGER LIVING IN YOUR HOUSE, THE REASON YOUR PARENTS MOVED AWAY AND THE REASON I CAN'T SEE YOU FOR THIS OR ANY OTHER CHRISTMAS IS THAT YOU WERE KILLED CHRISTMAS DAY IN A CAR ACCIDENT THREE YEARS AGO. THAT'S TOMORROW. PLEASE DO NOT GO ANYWHERE ON CHRISTMAS DAY. STAY HOME, WORK ON YOUR PAINTINGS. I LOVE YOU, JACK, AND I'M SORRY IT'S TAKEN ME SO LONG TO REALISE THAT, BUT PLEASE. I CANNOT LOSE YOU AGAIN. WAIT FOR ME. WE CAN BE TOGETHER SOON. LOVE, JENNIFER. SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC (SIGHS SOFTLY) (SIGHS) COME ON. COME ON! MUSIC FADES INTRIGUING MUSIC WHISPERS: WAIT. OK. YOU CAN DO THIS. STIRRING MUSIC I WISH... I WISH I COULD SAVE HIM. COIN CHINKS SPLASH! HOPEFUL MUSIC (CRIES) JACK! WISTFUL MUSIC (SOBS) JACK, I'M SO SORRY! (SOBS, EXHALES SHAKILY) MUSIC CONTINUES (SOBS SOFTLY) MUSIC CONTINUES (DIALS NUMBER, SNIFFLES) PHONE RINGS PHONE RINGS, BLEEP! JENNIFER. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO CALL YOU. ARE YOU OK? DID YOU GO BACK TO LA? HE'S GONE. I TRIED TO WRITE ANOTHER CARD. I TRIED TO WARN HIM, BUT HE'S GONE. W-WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? JACK! HE WAS WRITING THOSE CARDS FROM THREE YEARS AGO, ABBY ` THE YEAR HE DIED. I TRIED TO WRITE HIM BEFORE CHRISTMAS, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. (SNIFFLES) (CRIES) AND NOW MY DAD WON'T TALK TO ME. ABBY, I LOST EVERYTHING. WHERE ARE YOU NOW? I'M HERE. I'M IN BERKELEY. WHY DON'T YOU COME OVER? YOU CAN SPEND THE NIGHT. ARE YOU SURE IT'S OK? COME ON OVER, AND I'M SURE WE'LL FIGURE SOMETHING OUT. OK? OK. OK, I-I'LL BE THERE. PHONE BEEPS CAR HORN BLARES, CRASH! MONITOR BEEPS STEADILY HEY. RISE AND SHINE. ABBY. WHAT DAY IS IT? IT'S CHRISTMAS, SILLY. I DIDN'T MISS IT? NO, YOU DIDN'T. (SIGHS) (SIGHS) ARE YOU HERE FOR MY LAST RITES? (LAUGHS) NO, JUST MAKING SURE YOU'RE OK. HOW'S SHE LOOKING, DOC? UH, SURPRISINGLY NOT BAD. UH, YOUR VITALS LOOK GOOD, AND THE X-RAY CAME BACK. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYTHING MAJOR WAS BROKEN. THANKS, BRAD. THERE. YOU TAKE CARE. FOOTSTEPS RECEDE UH, I'LL BE RIGHT BACK. GENTLE MUSIC HEY, KIDDO. DAD. HOW YOU DOING? I'M FINE. I` I'M FINE. LOOK, I JUST` I WANNA SAY I'M SORRY. I'M SO SORRY. SORRY ABOUT WHAT? ABBY, LOOK, I CHANGED MY MIND. I DON'T WANNA SELL THE HOUSE. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? I'M GONNA STAY HERE. I'M GONNA TAKE CARE OF YOU. BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU-KNOW-WHO? WHO? YOU KNOW. SHE'S AWAKE. WARM MUSIC SWELLS BUT YOU'RE... THEY SAID YOU MAY HAVE HIT YOUR HEAD. YOU'RE HERE. YOU KNOW WHAT? I BROUGHT A FRIEND TOO. (CHUCKLES) LOOK, I'M SORRY I WASN'T HERE WHEN YOU AWOKE, BUT YOUR DAD NEEDED A RIDE, AND PARKING AROUND HERE WAS A REAL BEAR. (GASPS) YOU GOT THE CARD? I'M JUST GLAD YOU'RE OK. MONITOR BEEPS STEADILY BEEPING QUICKENS HEY, IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT? YOUR` EVERYTHING'S OK, THANK YOU. SHE'S FINE. JUST THEY'RE HAVING A MOMENT. OH. MERRY CHRISTMAS. (LAUGHS) I'M SO HAPPY YOU'RE HERE. YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S LIKE MY MOM ALWAYS SAID ` 'IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO GET IT RIGHT.' I LOVE YOU. OH MY GOD, I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW GOOD IT FEELS TO SAY THAT. I LOVE YOU TOO. WARM MUSIC CONTINUES WARM MUSIC CONTINUES LOOKING GOOD. (SQUEALS) CHUCKLING (LAUGHS) IS THAT FOR ME? IT'S FOR YOU. (LAUGHS) POIGNANT MUSIC THIS IS AMAZING. WELL, I SPENT QUITE A FEW YEARS WORKING ON IT, WAITING UNTIL I COULD FINALLY HAVE THE REAL THING. MERRY CHRISTMAS. MERRY CHRISTMAS. (CHUCKLES) GENTLE MUSIC # O HOLY NIGHT. # THE STARS ARE BRIGHTLY SHINING # IT IS THE NIGHT # OF OUR DEAR... # ...SAVIOUR'S BIRTH # LONG LAY THE WORLD # IN SIN AND ERROR PINING # TILL HE APPEARED # AND THE SOUL FELT ITS WORTH, # A THRILL OF HOPE. # THE WEARY WORLD REJOICES,... # ...FOR YONDER BREAKS # A NEW AND GLORIOUS MORN # FALL ON YOUR KNEES # O HEAR # THE ANGEL VOICES # O NIGHT # DIVINE # O NIGHT # WHEN CHRIST WAS BORN. # O NIGHT... # DIVINE # O NIGHT # O NIGHT DIVINE. CAPTIONS BY IMOGEN STAINES. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2016.