WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2016 EXPECTANT, CHRISTMASSY MUSIC (SIGHS) CHATTER HEY. HI. I GRABBED YOU A COUPLE OF THINGS AT THE NEWS STAND. I FIGURED FOR YOUR FIRST DAY, YOU MIGHT WANNA BRUSH UP ON YOUR CURRENT EVENTS. BEN, THAT IS SO SWEET. (CHUCKLES) I GOT YOU 'THE TIMES', 'THE JOURNAL', 'USA TODAY', 'ATLANTIC', A COUPLE OF FAN MAGAZINES I KNOW YOU HATE, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GONNA WANT YOU TO WRITE. IT'S AN INTERNSHIP; I'LL PROBABLY BE MAKING COFFEE AND ANSWERING PHONES. ARE YOU KIDDING? HANNAH, THEY'RE NOT BRINGING YOU TO SAN FRANCISCO TO MAKE COFFEE. THEY'RE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU. OH, I GOT YOU A LITTLE SOMETHING. BEN. (CHUCKLES SOFTLY) OPEN IT. IT'S A KEY... TO MY HEART. OK, THAT SOUNDED A LOT BETTER WHEN I WAS PRACTISING. BOTH CHUCKLE OH, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. PA: ALL PASSENGERS, PLEASE PROCEED TO THE GATE. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU TOO. I HAVE TO GO. YEAH. HERE, I'LL HOLD THESE. OH, THANK YOU. SURE YOU GOT EVERYTHING? YEAH, I'M ALL SET. DON'T FORGET TO CALL ME AS SOON AS YOU LAND. I` I PROMISE. THE SHUTTLE'S GONNA BE WAITING RIGHT OUTSIDE OF BAGGAGE CLAIM. IF IT'S NOT THERE... I'M NOT EVEN GONNA SAY IT, BEN. I'M JUST GONNA GET ON THE PLANE AND PRETEND THAT I'M GONNA SEE YOU TOMORROW. GOOD PLAN. YOU KNOW, IT'S SIX MONTHS; WE CAN DO THIS. ABSOLUTELY. (CHUCKLES DRILY) RIGHT? OK. THIS'LL BE GREAT. I MEAN, THIS IS WHAT WE WANTED, RIGHT? I MEAN, THIS IS FOR BOTH OF US, SO YOU CAN HAVE TIME TO FINISH YOUR NOVEL AND... THANK GOD YOU'RE LEAVING ` CAN FINALLY GET SOME WORK DONE (!) BOTH CHUCKLE I'LL GET BACK; IT'LL BE LIKE I WAS NEVER GONE. WE'LL BE TOGETHER, AND IT'LL BE SO GREAT. IT'S ALREADY PRETTY GREAT. POIGNANT MUSIC CHATTER I LOVE YOU, BEN. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE THAT. BEEP! BYE. BEEP! (SIGHS) CHEERFUL, CHRISTMASSY MUSIC # GIMME BACK THE CHRISTMAS THAT I KNOW. CHUCKLES: 'MERRY CHRISTMAS. MAN: THAT'S GREAT. THERE YOU GO. 'MERRY CHRISTMAS.' THANK YOU. MERRY CHRISTMAS. (RINGS BELL) THANK YOU. MERRY CHRISTMAS. WOMAN: MERRY CHRISTMAS. # SWEEP OFF THE DUST FROM OLD SAINT NICK. # HE'S GOT THE LIST. LA, LA, LA-LA, LA, LA, LA-LA. # ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS ` # ALL MY PEOPLE COMIN' HOME... HANNAH: THIS IS INCREDIBLE. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH INFORMATION THERE IS ON THIS GUY. MAN: THAT'S GREAT, HANNAH, AND AS MUCH AS I LIKE THESE STAKE-OUTS, I AM FREEZING. (INHALES DEEPLY) LOOK AT THIS. RAY CAMPBELL WAS RUN OUT OF MIAMI, TULSA, LAS VEGAS ` SAME SCAM, ALWAYS DURING THE HOLIDAYS. UH, CAN I TURN ON THE HEATER? I-I CAN'T FEEL MY FINGERS. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE BEEN THROUGH THIS? OH, THANKS. (BREATHES DEEPLY) CELL PHONE BEEPS WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR CHRISTMAS? GOT A LOTTA WORK TO CATCH UP ON. I'M GONNA GO VISIT MY FOLKS IN WISCONSIN. THEY LOVE CHRISTMAS ` ALWAYS MAKE A BIG DEAL. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP` CARL. GO. CAR ENGINE STARTS ENGINE REVS, BRAKES SQUEAL FUNKY, INVESTIGATIVE MUSIC EXCUSE ME, RAY CAMPBELL? HANNAH DUNBAR, CHANNEL 8 NEWS. WOULD YOU CARE TO RESPOND TO ALLEGATIONS THAT YOUR CHARITY IS ACTUALLY A SHAM AND THAT YOU POCKET THE DONATIONS YOURSELF? CHARITY? WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN' ABOUT? YOU SOLICIT FOR SOMETHING CALLED THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING FUND. UH, YOU GOT THE WRONG GUY, LADY. I'M IN THE CATERING BUSINESS. UH, MY INVESTIGATION SHOWS THAT PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS HAVE ALL BEEN TRACED BACK TO THIS WAREHOUSE, WHICH IS LEASED IN YOUR NAME. WAIT A MINUTE, I KNOW YOU. YOU'RE ON ALL THE BUSES. I GOT NOTHIN' TO SAY. MR CAMPBELL, DOESN'T IT BOTHER YOU TO EXPLOIT THE GENEROSITY OF SO MANY GOOD-HEARTED PEOPLE? I SAID WE'RE DONE HERE. TURN OFF THE CAMERA. PHONES RING WOMAN: THANK YOU FOR CALLING THE STOCKING FUND. HEY! HEY, YOU CAN'T COME IN HERE! SHUT IT DOWN. SHUT IT DOWN. YOU GETTING THIS? SHUT IT DOWN. CHATTER WHILE MOST PEOPLE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AS A TIME OF GIVING, OTHERS EXPLOIT THAT GENEROSITY FOR THEIR OWN GAIN. WITH SO MANY PEOPLE IN NEED, IT'S IMPORTANT WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP OTHERS, BUT IT'S ALSO JUST AS IMPORTANT WE REMAIN VIGILANT ABOUT WHERE OUR DONATIONS GO. SO IF SOMEONE CALLS YOU FROM THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING FUND, MAKE THE DONATION THAT WILL SAY THE MOST ` A LUMP OF COAL. THIS IS HANNAH DUNBAR REPORTING, CHANNEL 8 NEWS. CELL PHONE BEEPS, PHONE RINGS DISTANTLY IS IT TRUE? WHAT? I WAS TALKIN' TO CARL; HE SAID YOU WERE WINGIN' IT. THAT WRAP-UP WAS OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD? OH, HOW'D IT PLAY? ARE YOU KIDDING? THROUGH THE ROOF. PEOPLE ARE CALLING, TEXTING, TWEETING ` EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW THE RIGHT PLACE TO DONATE. OK, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE DO FOR A FOLLOW-UP ` SHOW 'EM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, SHOW 'EM THE PLACES THEY CAN TRUST ` UH, DONATIONS, VOLUNTEER WORK. I LIKE IT. LET'S DO IT. OK. KEYPAD CLICKS, BEEPS IN THE MEANTIME, HOW 'BOUT WE CELEBRATE OVER DINNER TONIGHT? I CAN'T. WHAT ABOUT TOMORROW NIGHT? UH, IT'S THE OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY TOMORROW NIGHT, REMEMBER? REMIND ME WHY WE HAVE A PARTY WITH THE SAME PEOPLE WE WORK WITH EVERY DAY. BECAUSE IT'S CHRISTMAS, HANNAH, AND BECAUSE THE CORPORATE HOTSHOTS LIKE HANGIN' OUT WITH THEIR STAR REPORTER. OF COURSE, THAT'S JUST YOUR NEWS DIRECTOR TALKING. (GIGGLES) OH, REALLY? WELL, WHAT DOES MY, UH, HANDSOME AND CHARMING BOYFRIEND HAVE TO SAY? I SAY WE CUT OUT EARLY AND HAVE A LITTLE ROMANTIC DINNER AT MARTELLO'S. AND THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR. MM-HM. AND LET'S PULL THAT LIST OF CHARITIES TOGETHER RIGHT AWAY, CARRIE, COS GRANT'S ON BOARD. I THINK WE COULD THE FOLLOW-UP ON AIR BY TOMORROW. I'VE ALREADY STARTED VETTING A FEW PLACES ` GOOD PEOPLE THAT COULD USE THE PLUG. OK, GOOD. YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANNA PLAY UP THE WHOLE CHRISTMAS THING ` DOGS AND KIDS AND BAKE SALES AND REINDEERS AND ROOFTOPS ` WHATEVER THEY'VE GOT. ALL THAT WARM AND FUZZY STUFF YOU LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR (?) HEY, I'VE GOT NOTHING AGAINST CHRISTMAS AS LONG AS IT LOOKS GOOD ON CAMERA. (CHUCKLES) I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO. GREAT, ANYTHING ELSE? EXPECTANT MUSIC THERE WAS ONE QUICK THING. WHAT'S UP? I HAD THIS IDEA FOR A CHRISTMAS STORY. THERE IS A FAMILY SHELTER DOWNTOWN. (SIGHS) THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR, LIKE, 20 YEARS, AND` CARRIE, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ALL ABOUT IT, BUT I JUST DON'T HAVE TIME TO GIVE IT MY FULL ATTENTION RIGHT NOW. OH. OH, SURE. IN THE MEANTIME, WHY DON'T YOU PUT YOUR PITCH IN AN EMAIL, AND I'LL LOOK AT IT AS SOON AS I CAN, OK? THANKS. (CHUCKLES) I WILL BE OUT HERE WHEN YOU NEED ME. YOU ALWAYS ARE. (RINGS BELL) MERRY CHRISTMAS. COINS JINGLE THANK YOU, SIR. MERRY CHRISTMAS. GENTLE 'THE FIRST NOEL' INSTRUMENTAL I JUST FEEL IT'S TIME, HAROLD. I MEAN, I LOVE THIS PLACE, BUT WE BOTH KNOW I'M READY FOR THIS. (SIGHS) WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS DANCE FOR WEEKS NOW, HAROLD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN SAY TO CONVINCE YOU. YOU DON'T HAVE TO. WHAT? I JUST WANTED TO SEE YOUR FACE WHEN I TOLD YOU THAT THE BOARD HAS AGREED TO YOUR REQUEST. THEY HAVE? (CHUCKLES GENTLY) CONGRATULATIONS. AS OF THE NEW YEAR, YOU'LL BE OUR SPECIAL-NEWS CORRESPONDENT FOR THE NEW YORK BUREAU. THANK YOU. THIS IS... I JUST... (SIGHS) THANK YOU SO MUCH. BOTH CHUCKLE (RINGS BELL) MERRY CHRISTMAS. LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE'S ALL FULL OF CHRISTMAS SPIRIT. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT'S BEEN A PRETTY GOOD DAY. WELL, YOU DESERVE IT. THAT WAS A WONDERFUL STORY YOU REPORTED ON THE NEWS EARLIER TODAY. OH, TH` THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, CAN`? CAN I ASK YOU SOMETHING? ACTUALLY, I REALLY NEED TO` NO, NO, NO, I-IT'S JUST... HOW DO YOU KNOW WHICH STORIES ARE REAL AND WHICH ONES AREN'T? YOU JUST HAVE TO TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. IT'S REALLY THE BEST WAY TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE. INSTINCTS. HMM. LOW, INTRIGUING MUSIC CHUCKLES: MERRY CHRISTMAS. (RINGS BELL) GENTLE, CHRISTMASSY MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUES NICE IDEA, CARRIE. HMM. CHATTER ALL RIGHT, LET'S SETTLE, EVERYONE. I KNOW WE'RE ALL IN HOLIDAY MODE, BUT WE STILL HAVE THE NEWS TO DO. FIRST UP, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE OUR OWN INTREPID HANNAH DUNBAR FOR ONCE AGAIN GOING FOR THE JUGULAR. APPLAUSE COME ON, YOU GUYS, IT WAS FISH IN A BARREL. NOW, HANNAH IS WORKIN' ON A FOLLOW-UP TO LET OUR AUDIENCE KNOW THE RIGHT PLACES FOR THEM TO MAKE THEIR DONATIONS. ACTUALLY, THERE'S A DIFFERENT IDEA I WANNA RUN BY YOU. OK. AND CARRIE DESERVES SOME CREDIT ON THIS. SHE WAS A BIG HELP PULLING IT TOGETHER. I LIKE HOW YOU'RE BRINGING HER ALONG. LET'S HEAR IT. THERE'S A FAMILY SHELTER DOWNTOWN. IT'S BEEN THERE FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS. THE WOMAN WHO RUNS IT, HELEN SANDER, WAS ACTUALLY LIVING ON THE STREETS HERSELF FOR A TIME, AND THAT'S WHERE SHE WAS CHRISTMAS EVE NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO. CELL PHONE KEYPAD CLICKS, BEEPS (INHALES DEEPLY) (SQUEALS) I JUST HEARD THE GREAT NEWS! WE GOT THE GREEN LIGHT FOR THE SHELTER STORY. GRANT LOVED THE IDEA. OH, THAT IS SO COOL. OK, SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW? I MEAN, HOW DO WE DO THIS? LET'S GET AN INTERVIEW SET UP WITH HELEN SANDER RIGHT AWAY. I WANNA DO IT AT THE SHELTER, BUT FIND OUT IF SHE HAS AN OFFICE ` SOME PLACE QUIET WHERE I CAN REALLY TALK TO HER. OH, UM, I THOUGHT... WHAT'S WRONG? NO, I-I MEAN, I JUST, UM, I THOUGHT WHEN I PITCHED YOU THE STORY` AND YOU DID A FINE JOB, BUT I HAD TO PUT MY OWN SPIN ON IT. THAT'S WHAT SOLD GRANT ON THE STORY. RIGHT. (CHUCKLES GENTLY) CARRIE, LISTEN, I KNOW IT'S HARD, BUT YOU'RE NOT READY TO STEP IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA ` NOT YET, BUT YOU'LL GET THERE. TRUST ME; DON'T WORRY. YOU JUST HAVE TO BE PATIENT. YOU'RE RIGHT. (CHUCKLES GENTLY) AND IN THE MEANTIME, I THINK WE MAKE A GREAT TEAM. SO I'M COUNTING ON YOU TO KEEP DOING ALL OF THE GREAT THINGS YOU DO HERE SO I CAN DO WHAT I DO, AND TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE THIS STORY ANOTHER WIN FOR THE TEAM. THAT SOUND GOOD? ABSOLUTELY. I'LL GET THAT INTERVIEW SET UP RIGHT AWAY. THANK YOU, CARRIE. FOOTSTEPS RECEDE GENTLE 'HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING' INSTRUMENTAL PHONE RINGS BEEP! HELLO? OH, THANK YOU, STUART. UH, LEMME KNOW WHEN THE CAR GETS HERE. BEEP! LAPTOP CHIMES (SIGHS, TYPES) WARM, GENTLE MUSIC (EXHALES SHARPLY) SOFTLY: BEN. (SCRAPES MOUSE PAD, CLICKS) (CHUCKLES GENTLY) PHONE RINGS PHONE CONTINUES RINGING, BEEP! YES? UH, OK, I'LL BE RIGHT DOWN. BEEP! WARM, GENTLE MUSIC CONTINUES (TAPS GENTLY) PHONE CLATTERS LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS I, UH, CAUGHT YOUR STORY YESTERDAY, MISS DUNBAR. THAT WAS REALLY NICE WORK. THANK YOU, STUART. CLATTERING YOU HAVE FUN TONIGHT. YOU DESERVE IT. I'LL TRY. CHUCKLES: OK. # DON'T WANT NOTHIN' MELANCHOLY, JUST A LITTLE EGGNOG AND HOLLY # ON THIS HOLIDAY WITH YOU. JONNY BLU'S 'HOLIDAY FOR TWO' CONTINUES PLAYING # SO HURRY UP. DON'T KEEP ME WAITIN'. I'M IN THE MOOD FOR CELEBRATIN' JUST ONE HOLIDAY... SO, HAVE YOU BEEN A GOOD GIRL THIS YEAR? WELL, IF BEING AT THIS PARTY COUNTS. IF I DIDN'T KNOW BETTER, I'D SAY YOU'RE HAVIN' A GOOD TIME. BOTH CHUCKLE CHATTER TELL ME SOMETHIN', GRANT ` IF... IF SOMEONE FROM YOUR PAST CONTACTS YOU ON THE INTERNET AND IT'S REALLY OUTTA THE BLUE, WHADDAYA DO? WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT WE'RE TALKIN' ABOUT HERE. IS THIS SOMEONE WHO OWES YOU MONEY OR AN OLD FLAME? UH, WELL, HE DOESN'T OWE ME MONEY. EASY ` BLOCK HIM. REALLY? OH, YEAH ` BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. I MEAN, NOT EVERYONE'S A STALKER. OK. (CHUCKLES) LET ME ASK YOU THIS ` YOU'RE FAMOUS JOURNALIST; YOU HAVE AN AMAZING PLACE, AND YOU MAKE GREAT MONEY. WHAT POSSIBLE ULTERIOR MOTIVE COULD HE HAVE, RIGHT? WOMAN LAUGHS, CHATTER, FEEDBACK WHINES GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. IF I COULD HAVE YOUR ATTENTION FOR A MOMENT. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO OFFER SEASON'S GREETINGS AND TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ANOTHER GREAT YEAR AT CHANNEL 8. APPLAUSE, LIGHT CHEERING I ALSO HAVE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT FALLS IN THE CATEGORY OF BITTERSWEET. I'M PLEASED TO TELL YOU THAT OUR GOOD FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE HANNAH DUNBAR HAS ACCEPTED THE POSITION OF SPECIAL-NEWS CORRESPONDENT IN OUR NEW YORK BUREAU. APPLAUSE I, UH... I'M SURE YOU'LL ALL AGREE WHEN I SAY... OUR LOSS IS NEW YORK'S GAIN. APPLAUSE THANK YOU. NEW YORK? I'M SO SORRY. I-I` I DIDN'T KNOW HAROLD WAS GONNA DO THAT. I WANTED TO TELL YOU OVER DINNER. I-I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT. HANNAH, CONGRATULATIONS. YOU'RE NOT UPSET? ARE YOU KIDDING? IT'S KILLING ME. I'D LOVE TO WORK IN NEW YORK. (CHUCKLES GENTLY) I MEAN ABOUT` ABOUT US. OH. UH, YEAH. YEAH, OF COURSE. I MEAN, THIS HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT. I'M` I'M` I'M REALLY GONNA MISS YOU, BUT WE BOTH KNEW ONE OF US WAS GONNA MOVE ON SOONER OR LATER. YEAH, NO, OF COURSE, IT'S` I MEAN, THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, BUT... (SIGHS) LET'S FACE IT, HANNAH ` PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND I, THE ONLY THING WE'RE EVER REALLY IN LOVE WITH IS OUR CAREER. (CHUCKLES GENTLY) THAT'S WHY WE'RE SO GOOD. CONGRATULATIONS. CLINK! POIGNANT MUSIC WARM, GENTLE MUSIC DOOR OPENS (CHUCKLES) OH, THIS IS NOT THE LUNCH ROOM. UH, BACK THE WAY YOU CAME, TWO LEFTS AND A RIGHT. HEY, LOOK WHO. OH. YOU WERE ON THE CORNER. CHUCKLES: AND YOU'RE HAVIN' ANOTHER GREAT DAY. NEW YORK, HUH? CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. (CHUCKLES GENTLY) UH, WHY AREN'T YOU CELEBRATING? I'M NOT EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD CALL A CHRISTMAS PERSON. OH, I DON'T KNOW. LOOKS TO ME LIKE YOU MIGHT HAVE A CHRISTMAS WISH ON YOUR MIND. I'VE GOT EVERYTHING I NEED, THANKS. OH, NO, A CHRISTMAS WISH ISN'T ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED; IT'S ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT. AND I HAVE EVERYTHING I WANT,... AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, I DIDN'T GET IT BY WISHING. I'VE WORKED VERY HARD TO GET WHERE I AM. AND BY TRUSTING YOUR INSTINCTS TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES? POIGNANT MUSIC (CHUCKLES SELF-CONSCIOUSLY) UM,... THIS IS, UH... I'M NOT` I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU. SURE YA DO. DING! LOW, CURIOUS MUSIC (CHUCKLES GENTLY) GENTLE, PENSIVE MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUES MUSIC FILLS OUT GENTLE CLINKING RUSTLING OH, NO, A CHRISTMAS WISH ISN'T ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED; IT'S ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT. MAGICAL MUSIC TINKLING DOG PANTS (PANTS) CLINKING, FOOTSTEPS APPROACH RAPIDLY GIRLS: WAKE UP, MOMMY. MOMMY, WAKE UP. CHUCKLING UH... WAKE UP, MOMMY, MOMMY, WAKE UP. (CONTINUES PANTING) DADDY, MOMMY'S AWAKE. (BARKS) GIGGLING UH... (BARKS) CHANTING: MOMMY'S AWAKE, AND WE WANT PANCAKES. MOMMY'S AWAKE, AND WE WANT PANCAKES. MAN: PANCAKES ARE READY. YAY, PANCAKES! I WANT PANCAKES! YAY! PANCAKES! (CHUCKLES) YAY! YAY! COME ON, TOBY. (BARKS) (CHUCKLES) SOFTLY: WHAT IS HAPPENING?! WHAT? WHERE ARE MY CLOTHES? WHAT? (GASPS) BEN?! BEN: HANNAH, PANCAKES ARE GETTING COLD. SOFTLY: OH NO. INTRIGUING MUSIC SOFTLY: THE SUBURBS?! HANNAH? (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) HERE YOU GO. CHUCKLING OH, YEAH, PERFECT. YEAH. YES. CLATTERING, SIZZLING SCRAPING THESE ARE GONNA BE DELICIOUS. YEAH. CHOW DOWN. BON APPETIT. INTRIGUING MUSIC PERFECT. SCRAPING HOPEFULLY MOMMY'LL LIKE THEM. MM-HM. OH, YEAH, SHE'S GONNA LOVE 'EM. MARRIED?! I'M MARRIED. SIZZLING, SCRAPING MORNING, HONEY. I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT'VE GONE BACK TO BED. GIRLS: HI, MOMMY. SORRY, I ASKED THEM TO WAKE YOU GENTLY, BUT IT'S PANCAKE SUNDAY, AND WE JUST GO CRAZY! BABBLING WHOO! (BABBLES) THEY LAUGH HEY, ARE YOU OK? EXCUSE ME. CUTLERY CLINKS HANNAH? UNSETTLED MUSIC (GASPS) BRR! SO COLD! YOU HAVE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME. (GASPS) COLD! HONEY? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? CAN I BORROW THESE? THEY'RE YOUR BOOTS. AND, (CLAPS) UH,... THIS IS MINE TOO. YEAH. UH-HUH. INTRIGUING MUSIC KEYS JINGLE MINIVAN? HANNAH, W-WHAT'S GOIN' ON? I'LL BRING IT BACK. (EXHALES HEAVILY) HANNAH. HANNAH. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ENGINE STARTS, REVS (CHUCKLES) COME ON. HANNAH. COME O GEARSTICK CLICKS, ENGINE REVS INTRIGUING MUSIC CONTINUES BRAKES SQUEAL ENGINE TURNS OFF KEYS CLICK (SIGHS) STUART, YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE THE MORNING I'M HAVING. UH, EXCUSE ME? VISITORS HAVE TO CHECK IN. I HAVE TO CALL YOU UP. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, STUART? IT'S ME. LOOK, UM, I DUNNO HOW YOU KNOW MY NAME, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE UNLESS I CALL YOU UP FIRST. WH`? (STAMMERS) I LIVE HERE. IT'S HANNAH DUNBAR, 8B. LADY, I'VE NEVER LAID EYES ON YOU BEFORE IN MY LIFE, AND I'M PRETTY SURE I'D REMEMBER THOSE PYJAMAS. I... INTRIGUING MUSIC HI. I LEFT MY KEY CARD. I NEED TO GET INTO MY OFFICE. YOU WORK HERE? OF COURSE ` HANNAH DUNBAR. (TYPES) BEEP! SORRY. WHAT? HANNAH DUNBAR,... NEWS DIVISION. THERE'S NO HANNAH DUNBAR. HAVE A NICE DAY. IS GRANT WALKER IN HIS OFFICE? HE'S NOT HERE; IT'S SUNDAY. RIGHT. OK, WELL, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL HIM AT HOME? TELL HIM IT'S ME AND HE NEEDS TO GET DOWN HERE RIGHT AWAY. YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME. NO, IT'S ALL RIGHT; I PROMISE. ARE YOU WEARING PYJAMAS? LOW, AMUSING MUSIC LISTEN, I REALLY DON'T WANNA BE THAT PERSON, BUT I HAVE WON A NUMBER OF NATIONAL AWARDS, INCLUDING THREE EMMYS FOR MY REPORTING. MY RATINGS ARE THE HIGHEST IN THE STATION'S HISTORY. CLICK! YOU KNOW WHAT? WAIT, CALL MY ASSISTANT. ASK HER TO COME DOWN. HER NAME'S CARRIE GARRETT. YOUR ASSISTANT IS CARRIE GARRETT? YES. PLEASE CALL HER. THAT CARRIE GARRETT? DEFLATED MUSIC DOOR HINGES SQUEAK, KEYS JINGLE NO. NO, NO, NO, THIS IS MY JOB. THIS IS` THIS IS MY JOB! 'JOY TO THE WORLD' INSTRUMENTAL RATTLING BELL RINGS GENTLE MUSIC MERRY CHRISTMAS. COINS JINGLE THANK YOU. (RINGS BELL) HI. HI. UH,... DO YOU KNOW ME? I THINK WHAT YOU'RE REALLY ASKING, HANNAH, IS DO I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. (SIGHS) YOU DO KNOW ME. (SIGHS) THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I` I THOUGHT WAS LOSING MY MIND. YOU'RE NOT LOSING YOUR MIND. I DON'T UNDERSTAND, THOUGH. WHAT`? WHAT IS GOIN' ON? WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME? I HAVE NO IDEA. WHAT? CHUCKLES: SORRY, A CLUE. WHAT ARE`? WHAT ARE YOU TAKING ABOUT? THIS CAN'T JUST HAPPEN. I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND MY LIFE WAS GONE. YEAH, I KNOW! WEIRD, RIGHT? NO, NOT WEIRD, IMPOSSIBLE! PEOPLE DON'T JUST WAKE UP (STAMMERS) AND FIND THEMSELVES LEADING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LIVES. AND YET HERE WE STAND. (RINGS BELL) BUT` COULD YOU JUST STOP THAT, PLEASE? THANKS. LISTEN, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, OK? I'M STARTING A GREAT NEW JOB, AND I JUST WANT MY LIFE BACK. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I AM SUPPOSED TO DO. HOW SHOULD I KNOW? THIS IS YOUR WISH. WISH? WHAT? WHAT WISH? REMEMBER? AT THE PARTY, I SAID IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE IN HERE MIGHT HAVE A CHRISTMAS WISH ON THEIR MIND. AND I SAID NO. YOU SURE? WELL... (SIGHS) ARE`? ARE YOU SAYING THAT I` I DID THIS? ALL I KNOW IS THAT, EVENTUALLY, WE ALL HAVE A MOMENT IN OUR LIVES WHERE WE WONDER 'WHAT IF?' WHAT IF I'D GONE LEFT INSTEAD OF RIGHT? WHAT IF I'D SAY YES INSTEAD OF NO? WHAT IF I'D WAITED JUST FIVE MORE MINUTES? WHAT IF? BUT HOW COULD THAT CHANGE EVERYTHING? WELL, NOW AND THEN, SOMEBODY WONDERS SO HARD THAT THEY TURN IT INTO A WISH WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT, AND TRUST ME, A CHRISTMAS WISH CAN BE A VERY POWERFUL THING. OK, SO WHAT AM I S'POSED TO DO NOW? HMM? MY ADVICE ` JUST GO EASY,... ONE STEP AT A TIME. IT'LL SORT ITSELF OUT. AND HOW LONG IS THAT GONNA TAKE? GOOD QUESTION. PROBABLY AS LONG AS IT TAKES FOR YOU TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. (RINGS BELL) (SIGHS) THAT'S... THAT'S GREAT, THANKS (!) POIGNANT MUSIC GPS: IN 50 YARDS, TAKE A LEFT ON SMITH ST. INDICATOR TICKS CURIOUS 'JOY TO THE WORLD' INSTRUMENTAL BRAKES SQUEAL ENGINE TURNS OFF (EXHALES HEAVILY) LOW, AMUSING MUSIC (SIGHS) SOFTLY: PLEASE KEEP WALKING. JUST KEEP WALKING. JUST KEEP WALKING. HANNAH! (KNOCKS) HANNAH! HEY! I WAS GONNA CALL YOU WHEN I GOT HOME. DOOR HANDLE RATTLES DOOR'S LOCKED. CLICK! (EXHALES HEAVILY) PANTS GENTLY: 'IT'S TIME FOR A COOL-DOWN ANYWAY. OH. 'I'M UP TO THREE MILES A DAY. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?' OH. (CHUCKLES DRILY) I MEAN, IT'S KILLING ME, BUT IT'S WORTH IT, AND LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S NOT A SPRINT; IT'S A MARATHON. UH... WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE? OH, YOU KNOW... YEAH, I KNOW. THIS TIME OF YEAR, IT NEVER STOPS. NEED TO TAKE A LITTLE DOWNTIME. I'M JUST SURPRISED, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WITH TONIGHT AND EVERYTHING. TONIGHT? WELL, THAT'S WHY I WAS GONNA CALL YOU. I WAS PLANNING TO MAKE MY SWEET-POTATO PIE LIKE I DO EVERY YEAR. SUDDENLY, ROB'S LIKE, (MOCKINGLY) 'TAMMY, MAKE SOMETHING ELSE FOR A CHANGE,' AND (SIGHS) I WAS WONDERING ` WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO YOU THINK EVERYONE'S SICK OF THE SAME OL' THING? BECAUSE WE'RE FRIENDS, TAMMY, RIGHT? THAT'S WHY` THAT'S WHY YOU'RE ASKING? WELL, (CHUCKLES) YEAH. BECAUSE YOU COME TO ME, AND I CAN COME TO YOU. SO YOU THINK ROB'S RIGHT. NO. NO, I'M JUST SAYING THAT` THAT, UH, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, WE CAN` WE CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING. WELL, I GUESS. SURE. AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW YOU'RE MARRIED TO... ROB AND HOW I'M... I'M MARRIED TO BEN (CHUCKLES) AND LIVE IN THIS HOUSE WITH TWO DAUGHTERS. AW, CAITLIN AND HALLIE ARE SUCH GREAT GIRLS. CAITLIN AND HALLIE. YES, THEY ARE GREAT KIDS. THEY'RE WONDERFUL KIDS, CAITLIN AND HALLIE. THEY'RE WONDERFUL KIDS WITH NAMES THAT JUST REALLY STICK WITH YOU WHEN YOU SAY THEM ENOUGH. SOFTLY: 'CAITLIN AND HALLIE. CAITLIN AND HALLIE.' (INHALES DEEPLY) YOU KNOW WHAT? AND THEN THERE'S MY JOB. WHEN DID YOU GET A JOB?! NOT A JOB. NOT A JOB JOB. (STAMMERS) I'M A STAY-AT-HOME MOM? MY FAMILY IS MY JOB? RIGHT? (CHUCKLES) YEAH, LIKE YOU'D HAVE TIME FOR ANYTHING ELSE WITH THE PTA AND BOOSTER CLUB AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH AND RUNNING AFTER THE GIRLS EVERY WHICH WAY. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU KEEP UP AS IT IS. REALLY MAKES YOU WONDER HOW I GOT HERE. HONEY, ARE YOU OK? UM, I'M JUST KIND OF HAVING AN OFF DAY. OH. I-I READ SOMEWHERE ALMOST HALF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY DREAD THE HOLIDAYS. NO, THAT IS THE LEAST OF MY PROBLEMS. (SIGHS) IS EVERYTHING OK AT HOME? I'M NOT SURE. DID YOU AND BEN HAVE A FIGHT? NO, I'VE NEVER HAD A FIGHT WITH BEN. THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. IF YOU TWO CAN'T GET ALONG, WHAT HOPE IS THERE FOR THE REST OF US? (CHUCKLES) BUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE` PEOPLE CHANGE. NOT YOU TWO. BEEPING OH! I GOTTA SCOOT. SEE YA TONIGHT. YOU KNOW WHAT? (SIGHS) YOU'RE RIGHT. IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE. BIRDS CHIRP THANKS, HANNAH. GENTLE MUSIC (SIGHS) DOOR HINGES SQUEAK BEN: NO. NO, UH, SHE HASN'T BEEN GONE THAT LONG. I WAS JUST WONDERING IF SHE` MAYBE SHE WENT OVER TO YOUR PLACE TO WORK ON THE PAGEANT OR SOMETHING. NO, NO, I-I'M SURE SHE'S FINE. POIGNANT MUSIC HI. HI. NEVER MIND, SHE'S HERE. THANKS. BEEP! PHONE CLATTERS FOOTSTEPS APPROACH YOU LOOK GREAT, BY THE WAY. ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD BETTER DAYS. YOU LEFT WITHOUT YOUR PHONE AND YOUR PURSE. I HAD NO IDEA WHERE YOU WERE, AND THE WAY YOU RAN OUTTA HERE... YEAH, SORRY ABOUT THAT. (SIGHS) I'VE BEEN CALLING EVERYBODY. WHAT'S GOIN' ON? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? I WENT INTO THE CITY. THE CITY. THAT'S... WHERE I LIVE. COME ON, HANNAH, THIS ISN'T FUNNY. I WAS REALLY WORRIED. HOW DO YOU THINK I FEEL? I-I WENT TO BED AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW, I WAKE UP IN THE` THE SUBURBS WITH TWO KIDS AND A DOG? WHOA, WHOA. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WHEN WE GOT MARRIED AND I GOT THE JOB OFFER IN SAN FRANCISCO. WE DECIDED TO MOVE HERE AND RAISE OUR FAMILY, AND I, FOR ONE, HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. WOW. UM,... OK, (STAMMERS) I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO SAY THIS, BEN, BUT THERE'S` THERE REALLY BEEN SOME SORT OF, LIKE, COSMIC MASH-UP. I DIDN'T WISH FOR THIS. I KNOW IT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT WE PLANNED. BEN, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU. I AM NOT YOUR WIFE, AND THIS IS NOT MY HOUSE, AND I AM NOT ANYBODY'S MOMMY, BUT THEY SEEM LIKE NICE KIDS. (SIGHS) (SIGHS) LOOK, I` I DUNNO WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM, BUT YOU AND ME, WE COULD ALWAYS TALK. WHEN YOU'RE READY TO TELL ME WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. OK. GENTLE MUSIC YOU LOOK LIKE I HAVEN'T KISSED YOU IN YEARS. UH... CAN I TAKE A SHOWER? (CHUCKLES) YOU DON'T NEED PERMISSION. RIGHT. 'COURSE, COS I... YEAH, I... I LIVE HERE. RUSTLING WATER TRICKLES (SIGHS) THIS IS HANNAH DUNBAR REPORTING, CHANNEL 8 NEWS. DON'T. UH, WHAT ARE`? WHAT`? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? CHUCKLES: I WAS JUST GETTING A BAND-AID FOR HALLIE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? SINCE WHEN ARE YOU SO SHY? I'M NOT SHY; JUST A LITTLE ME TIME WOULD BE NICE. ME TIME ` I REMEMBER THAT, BACK BEFORE WE HAD KIDS. (CHUCKLES GENTLY) DO YOU NEED ANYTHING FROM THE STORE? WAIT, YOU'RE LEAVING? YEAH, WE NEED ICE FOR THE PARTY. PARTY? (INHALES DEEPLY) OH, NO, NO, I-I CAN'T GO TO A PARTY. THEN I GUESS IT'S A GOOD THING WE'RE HAVING IT HERE. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE MUSHROOMS. (CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY) SOFTLY: 'MUSHROOMS. (SIGHS) FRIDGE DOOR OPENS (TAPS) FRIDGE HUMS RUSTLING, GENTLE THUD HA! (CHUCKLES GENTLY) CLINKING, FRIDGE DOOR SHUTS RATTLING (BLOWS) BOWL CLATTERS LOW, CURIOUS MUSIC CONTINUES MUSHROOMS. (CLEARS THROAT) OH. THANK YOU, C-CAITLIN. WOW, WE CERTAINLY DO A LOTTA COOKING. OOH, LOOK AT THIS ` MUSHROOMS NEPTUNE,... AND WOULD YOU JUST LOOK AT ALL THOSE INGREDIENTS. (SIGHS) WOW, THIS LOOKS SO` SO COMPLICATED. (INHALES DEEPLY) IT'S DADDY'S FAVOURITE. I KNOW. LOW, CURIOUS MUSIC CONTINUES DO YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD REALLY SURPRISE DADDY? HI, GUYS. I'M BACK. DO I SMELL MUSHROOMS? GIRLS: SURPRISE! (GIGGLES) THEY WANTED TO MAKE IT THEMSELVES. GIRLS GIGGLE YUM. NOW, WHO'S GONNA CLEAN THIS MESS UP? YOU. SOFTLY: WHEW. 'WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS' INSTRUMENTAL CHATTER HI. HI THERE. MERRY` MERRY CHRISTMAS. THANKS. CHATTER CONTINUES HANNAH? UH... DID YOU SEE THAT EMAIL THAT CAITLIN'S COACH SENT OUT? SLOWLY: OH, YEAH. NEXT SEASON HE WANTS THE GIRLS TO TRY OUT FOR THEIR POSITIONS TO HAVE THE BEST STARTING LINE-UP SO THEY CAN WIN A FEW GAMES. OH, BEATS LOSING. OUR GIRLS AREN'T THERE TO WIN; THEY JUST WANNA HAVE FUN. AND COMPETING AGAINST YOUR FRIENDS ` I THINK THAT SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE TO THE GIRLS, DON'T YOU? NO, I THINK HE HAS A POINT. WHAT? YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE OUT THERE. EVERYBODY'S SCRAMBLING AROUND TO GET THEIR PIECE OF THE PIE. A LITTLE COMPETITION AT THEIR AGE ` I DON'T THINK THAT'S A BAD THING. HMM. BUT... THEY JUST LOOK SO CUTE IN THOSE LITTLE UNIFORMS, DON'T THEY? JUST SO ADORABLE. CHUCKLING, DOOR BELL RINGS (INHALES) EXCUSE ME. DOOR OPENS OH, TAMMY. LOOKS WHO'S HERE. HI, HI! EVERYBODY, TAMMY'S HERE. OK, NO RUNNING IN THE HOUSE. SORRY, WE'RE LATE. HI. DON'T, UH, TRY A NEW RECIPE WHEN YOU'RE IN A HURRY. (CHUCKLES) NO, NO, IT'S OK. SO HAPPY TO SEE A FAMILIAR FACE. YOU MUST BE ROB. (CHUCKLES) HAS IT BEEN THAT LONG? ALL CHUCKLE HEY, HAN. WHERE'S BEN? UH, HE'S IN THE KITCHEN WITH... THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE KITCHEN. CHUCKLES: OK. (SIGHS) SO, WHADDAYA THINK? THAT LOOKS GREAT. CHATTER SMOOTH-JAZZ CHRISTMAS MUSIC WOMAN LAUGHS CHUCKLES: I MEAN, THAT GUY OWNS THE COMPANY. HE'S PAYING ME TO COME UP WITH AN AD CAMPAIGN TO SELL MORE HOT TUBS. CHUCKLING (CHUCKLES) THING IS ` NOT ONLY DOES HE WANNA BE SOME SPOKES` YOU WRITE ADVERTISING. (CHUCKLES GENTLY) IT'S WHAT I KEEP TELLIN' MYSELF. NINE YEARS I'VE BEEN DOING THIS. NINE YEARS ` WOW. CHATTER SO, UH, ANYWAY, I-I CALLED THE GUY. I SAID, 'LISTEN, (CHUCKLES) I MEAN, THIS JOB IS THE WHOLE REASON WE MOVED HERE.' SPEECH FADES UNDER GENTLE 'HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING' INSTRUMENTAL CHATTER POIGNANT MUSIC BE RIGHT BACK. YOU'RE LEAVING? HE'S SMART, BUT HE HASN'T LEARNT TO WALK HIMSELF. COME ON. COME ON, TOBY. COME ON, LET'S GO. (PANTS) GOOD JOB. DOOR OPENS (SIGHS GENTLY) CLATTERING DOOR, HINGES SQUEAK (SIGHS) SO THIS IS HOW IT'S GONNA BE,... AND YOU JUST HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID, RIGHT? FIGURE OUT WHY IT HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE BEFORE YOU CAN CHANGE ANYTHING BACK. I CAN DO THIS. POIGNANT, CHRISTMASSY MUSIC SOFTLY: I HOPE. (SIGHS) GENTLE MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUES MUSIC BECOMES WARM AND POIGNANT (SIGHS) INSECTS CHIRP BIRDS CHIRP (INHALES DEEPLY) DISTANT THUD (SIGHS) FOOTSTEPS APPROACH (SIGHS) CEREAL CLINKS, RUSTLES CEREAL CLINKS, RUSTLES WHAT? YOU LEFT IN THE THINGS. WHAT THINGS? WELL, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE FRUIT, WHY DID YOU PICK THE CEREAL? I LIKE THE CEREAL. I LIKE THE FRUIT. SO YOU LIKE THE FRUIT BUT NOT THE CEREAL? AND YOU LIKE THE CEREAL BUT NOT THE FRUIT? ARE YOU GUYS MESSING WITH ME? MORNING. HUH. YOU LEFT IN THE THINGS. I LOST MY HEAD. CLATTERING, SCRAPING UH, WAIT. I WILL SEE EVERYBODY TONIGHT. WAIT, YOU'RE LEAVING? I KNOW IT'S EARLY, BUT I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE A BREAKFAST MEETING WITH THOSE DRUG-STORE GUYS. COULD BE A BIG ACCOUNT FOR US. CALL YOU LATER. YOU GUYS, HAVE A GREAT DAY AT SCHOOL, OK? OK. BYE. GIRLS: BYE. FOOTSTEPS RECEDE SCHOOL. DOOR OPENS I MEAN, HOW HARD COULD IT BE TO FIGURE OUT HER PASSWORD? OH. OH, HI. HI THERE. OK, GREAT, ALL SET. UM, LISTEN, DO YOU GUYS HAPPEN TO KNOW IF I KEEP THE SCHOOL'S ADDRESS ON MY PHONE? WHY ARE YOU ACTING SO WEIRD? WEIRD? WHAT? ARE YOU OK? OH, YEAH, NO, YES. NO, I'M` I'M FINE. (CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY) I'M JUST A` A LITTLE NOT MYSELF THESE DAYS. MY TEACHER SAYS CHRISTMAS DOES THAT TO PEOPLE. CHRISTMAS ` EXACTLY. CHRISTMAS ` IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR, BUT` BUT IT DEFINITELY DOES THAT TO PEOPLE. SO ARE YOU GONNA BE OK? ABSOLUTELY, AND I DON'T WANT YOU GUYS TO WORRY, OK? COS THIS IS STRICTLY TEMPORARY, AND AS SOON AS I GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT, EVERYTHING GOES BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS. IN THE MEANTIME, THOUGH, YOU TWO CAN HELP ME. WHAT DO YOU MEAN? I MEAN, YOU CAN HELP KEEP ME ON THE BALL, KEEP ME FOCUSED, YOU KNOW ` HELP REMIND ME OF STUFF IF I GET TOO WEIRD OR DISTRACTED OR, I DON'T KNOW, LOST. SO YOU CAN THINK MORE ABOUT CHRISTMAS? EXACTLY. YES, YOU HANDLE THE DETAILS, AND I'LL THINK ABOUT CHRISTMAS. HOW DOES THAT SOUND? WE KNOW HOW TO GET TO SCHOOL. YOU GUYS EVER NOTICE HOW ALL THE STREETS LOOK THE SAME? TURN HERE. SEE, THAT WAS A TEST, AND THAT WAS GOOD. INDICATOR TICKS NOW, WHO REMEMBERS WHAT WE DO AFTER SCHOOL? YOU HAVE TO PICK US UP RIGHT AFTER SCHOOL, OR I'LL BE LATE FOR BALLET. THEN YOU TAKE HALLIE TO GYMNASTICS. DON'T FORGET TO BRING US A SNACK. OK, SO BALLET, GYMNASTICS, SNACK ` GOT IT. YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOMETHING FOR OUR CLASS CHRISTMAS PARTIES TOO. WHAT, LIKE STUFFED MUSHROOMS? GIRLS GIGGLE NO, COOKIES. (CHUCKLES DRILY) 'GOOD KING WENCESLAS' INSTRUMENTAL PLAYS WE SAW A RACCOON. OK, HONEY, THAT'S A LITTLE OFF-TOPIC. NO, SHE MEANS THAT'S WHERE YOU TURN. W` WHERE YOU SAW A RACCOON IS WHERE YOU TURN? WHAT? YEAH, HERE. JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE HEADS-UP NEXT TIME, OK? YOU HAVE TO PICK ME UP FIRST, THEN YOU GO BACK FOR HALLIE. WE USUALLY HAVE DINNER RIGHT WHEN DAD GETS HOME. DINNER, OK. AND WE STILL NEED TO HELP GET READY FOR THE PAGEANT. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, PAGEANT? THERE IT IS. (GASPS SOFTLY) MAN: DON'T FORGET YOUR BACKPACK. (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) ENGINE TURNS OFF COME ON, GUYS, YOU DON'T WANNA BE LATE. K, THERE YOU GO. GOT YOUR BACKPACK? GREAT. ALL RIGHT, WELL,... GROUP HUG? OK? YEAH? (CHUCKLES GENTLY) OK, YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT DAY. OK. BYE. BYE. 'WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS' INSTRUMENTAL VAN DOOR SHUTS 'FAMILY!' ALL UPPER CASE, EXCLAMATION POINT. WHAT? THE PASSWORD ON YOUR PHONE. THANK YOU. CHATTER K. KEYS JINGLE (GROANS) THIS PLACE IS A MESS. TOBY PANTS (WHINES) (BARKS) DREAM ON, DOG. (BARKS, PANTS) (BARKS, WHINES) OK, HOLD ON. (GRUNTS) OK. OK, COME HERE. COME HERE. (SIGHS) ALL RIGHT. LISTEN TO ME, YOU GOT FIVE MINUTES, OK? LEASH CLICKS (WHINES) DEAL? (PANTS) (SIGHS) WHEW. I MEAN, TECHNICALLY, IT'S MINE. KEYPAD CLICKS (SIGHS) READS: 'DOCTOR. 'SCHOOL, DOCTOR, BALLET, VETERINARIAN, BEN, SCHOOL, BEN'S OFFICE, GYMNASTICS, POISON CONTROL.' WOW. YOU HAVE GOTTA GET OUT MORE. BIRDS CHIRP GENTLE MUSIC BIRDS CHIRP (SIGHS) FOOTSTEPS APPROACH, SQUEAKING OH, YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT'S BEEN. PUT THAT DOWN, AND NOT ON ME THAT IS DISGUSTING. UGH. (PANTS) EW. NO, NO, NO. NO, NO, NO. WHAT A SWEETIE. (CHUCKLES) YOU JUST WANNA PLAY, DON'T YOU, BOY? YEAH. (CHUCKLES) AW, WHAT'S HIS NAME? HMM? HIS NAME? WHAT DO YOU CALL HIM? YEAH. OH, I WAS JUST, YOU KNOW` WE JUST` HE DOES HAVE A NAME? OF COURSE. 'COURSE HE HAS A NAME. I MEAN, (CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY) WHY WOULDN'T HE HAVE A NAME? THAT WOULD JUST BE CRAZY. (CHUCKLES) I MEAN, WHO WOULDN'T NAME THEIR DOG? UM, YOU KNOW, UH, WHAT WOULD YOU CALL HIM IF YOU DIDN'T NAME YOUR DOG? I` IT WOULD JUST BE LIKE, 'DOG. DOG. DOG.' OH, TOBY! TOBY! YOUR NAME IS TOBY. HIS NAME'S TOBY. AH. WE CALL HIM TOBY. YEAH, JUST TOBY, TOBY, TOBY. GOOD OL' TOBY, THAT'S RIGHT. (CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY) WE ARE NOT TAKING THAT BALL HOME; THAT IS DISGUSTING. CLEARLY, TOBY, WE HAVE TO BE MORE CAREFUL AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE SO IT DOESN'T TIP OVER. SO I SUGGEST WE WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN AND START OVER. (PANTS) THAT SOUND GOOD TO YOU? (BARKS, PANTS) RUSTLING WAS THAT SO HARD? GENTLE, SENTIMENTAL MUSIC (TYPES) (TYPES) GENTLE, SENTIMENTAL MUSIC CONTINUES (TYPES) GENTLE, INTRIGUING MUSIC I NEVER GOT ON THE PLANE. (TYPES) (CLICKS) IN HIS STATEMENT, THE GOVERNOR DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S ACTIONS AND PROMISED A FULL INVESTIGATION. THAT'S MY STORY. THIS IS CARRIE GARRETT REPORTING, CHANNEL 8 NEWS. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS. APPLAUSE THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THIS IS SUCH AN HONOUR. I-I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY! (GASPS) I KNOW WHAT TO SAY. IT'S MY AWARD. IT'S MY LIFE. OH NO. AMUSING 'WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS' INSTRUMENTAL I'M SORRY. ENGINE IDLES (SIGHS) I'M REALLY SORRY, YOU GUYS. I LOST TRACK OF TIME, AND THEN I` I COULDN'T FIND THE PLACE WHERE WE SAW THE RACCOON, SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN. WHOEVER'S LATE FOR BALLET HAS TO BE LAST IN LINE. (TUTS) WELL, THAT SEEMS HARSH. I PROMISE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN, OK? OH, AND THE GOOD NEWS IS I GOT ALL KINDS OF COOKIES FOR YOUR CLASS PARTIES. AT THE STORE?! WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT KIND YOUR CLASS LIKES, SO I GOT A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. YOU WERE S'POSED TO BAKE COOKIES. POIGNANT MUSIC UH, (SIGHS). POIGNANT MUSIC (SIGHS) YOU'RE KINDA QUIET TONIGHT. DISH SCRAPES EVERYTHING OK? WE HAD KINDA A ROCKY DAY. AH, THAT EXPLAINS THE PIZZA. WHAT? SINCE WE ONLY HAVE PIZZA ON BIRTHDAYS AND FAMILY MOVIE NIGHTS, I FIGURED SOMETHIN' WAS UP. OH. CLATTERING, WATER DRIPS HOW WAS, UH, YOUR DAY? NOT BAD. WHAT? (CHUCKLES GENTLY) WE GOT THE DRUG-STORE ACCOUNT. OH, GOOD. YEAH, THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH THE CONSENSUS AT THE OFFICE. LANDING OUR BIGGEST ACCOUNT EVER IS DEFINITELY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I'M SORRY. THAT'S` (SIGHS) CONGRATULATIONS. POIGNANT MUSIC CONTINUES DO YOU LIKE WORKING THERE? AT THE AD AGENCY? YEAH, I DO. I MEAN, IT'S A SMALL SHOP, BUT WE'RE GETTIN' THERE. YOU KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKIN' ABOUT TODAY? YOUR NOVEL. WHAT? YOU'RE SUCH A TALENTED WRITER, BEN. I... UH,... I WAS JUST THINKIN' ABOUT IT. I'M SORRY. NO, YOU'RE RIGHT, ONE OF THESE DAYS, DEFINITELY. YEAH. I'M GONNA GO CHECK ON THE GIRLS. WATER DRIPS, DISH SCRAPES ALARM RINGS LIGHT, AMUSING MUSIC (SIGHS) (SIGHS) CEREAL RUSTLES THERE. CEREAL RUSTLES LIGHT, AMUSING MUSIC CONTINUES MORNING. MORNING. HI. IS THAT OATMEAL? JUST THE WAY YOU LIKE IT. I HAVEN'T HAD THAT SINCE COLLEGE. OH, WELL, IT'S STILL GOOD FOR YOU? (CRUNCHES) HMM, THANKS. MM, I GOTTA GO. I'M SORRY. IT'S ALL RIGHT. NO PROBLEM. MM. BYE. HAVE A GREAT DAY AT SCHOOL, GUYS. K. OK. SEE YOU TONIGHT, OK? GIRLS: BYE. BYE. FOOTSTEPS RECEDE BEN. DO YOU WANNA HAVE LUNCH? WHAT? YOU KNOW, LUNCH ` WE USED TO DO IT ALL THE TIME. WE ALSO USED TO HAVE THE TIME. WHAT'S GOIN' ON? I JUST FEEL LIKE I HAVEN'T TALKED TO YOU IN A REALLY LONG TIME. SURE. SWING BY THE OFFICE. WE'LL GRAB A SANDWICH. GENTLE MUSIC BYE. BYE. DOOR OPENS DOOR HINGES SQUEAK, DOOR SHUTS OK, HOP OUT. LOW, AMUSING MUSIC YOU GUYS, HOW LONG ARE YOU GONNA GIVE ME THE SILENT TREATMENT? HOW LONG ARE YOU GONNA KEEP ACTING LIKE THIS? COME ON, YOU GUYS, I'M TRYING. YOU HAVE TO TRY HARDER. BEING A MOM IS AN IMPORTANT JOB. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? HANNAH. (PANTS) HEY. BREATHLESSLY: 'HI. MARY BETH'S GONNA BE LATE TONIGHT, 'SO SHEILA SAID SHE COULD PICK UP THE PAINT IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING EARLY AND OPENING UP.' THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT? WE NEED TO HELP DECORATE. HOW COULD YOU FORGET THAT? I'VE GOT A LOT ON MY MIND, REMEMBER? YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD THINK MORE ABOUT CHRISTMAS. THAT WAS THE DEAL. YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE SWAMPED. I'LL` I'LL GET IT. SEE YA SOON. ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ALL TAKEN CARE OF. SEE? YOU'RE REALLY NOT GONNA HELP? YOU GUYS, PLEASE GIMME A BREAK. I DON'T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT CHRISTMAS PAGEANTS. YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ANYTHING IMPORTANT. COME ON. COME ON. WOMAN: HAVE FUN. THIS ISN'T EVEN MY REAL LIFE. THIS IS JUST A` A 'WHAT IF?' YEAH, STRICTLY HYPOTHETICAL AND TEMPORARY. (SCOFFS) I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. LIKE I CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE ` PLEASE. I CAN FEEL THE DIFFERENCE, AND IT FEELS... IT FEELS... I MEAN, IT'S JUST COOKIES. (PANTS) (SIGHS) EXPECTANT, CHRISTMASSY MUSIC TAPPING CRACKING EXPECTANT, CHRISTMASSY MUSIC CONTINUES MUSIC BECOMES WARM GENTLE, WARM MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUES (SIGHS) ALARM BEEPS (BARKS) (BARKS) (SIGHS) CRACKLING ALARM CONTINUES BEEPING (BARKS) BEN: THIS IS NICE. CHUCKLING IT'S LIKE WE'RE ON A DATE. MMM. YOU SMELL LIKE COOKIES. I SMELL LIKE BURNT COOKIES. I FORGOT TO SET THE TIMER. YOU? YOU SAY THAT LIKE I'VE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE. YOU HAVEN'T. OH. WELL, IT'S JUST THE HOLIDAYS. WHADDAYA MEAN? NOT A BIG FAN OF CHRISTMAS. WHAT? YOU LOVE CHRISTMAS, HANNAH; YOU ALWAYS HAVE. YOU CAN'T WAIT TO PUT THE TREE UP. YOU FINISHED YOUR SHOPPING WEEKS AGO. WELL, YEAH, I KNOW. I JUST` SOMETIMES YOU JUST... YOU LOOK AROUND AND CAN'T HELP THINKING... (SIGHS) ARE WE IN SOME KINDA TROUBLE HERE? IS THAT WHAT THIS WHOLE LUNCH IS ABOUT? WHAT? NO. COS THE LAST FEW DAYS, IT'S LIKE YOU HAVEN'T BEEN YOURSELF, AND I'M STARTING TO GET WORRIED. I'M SORRY. I'VE HAD A LOT ON MY MIND LATELY. LIKE MY BOOK. YOU'RE A GREAT WRITER, BEN. YEAH, WELL, WRITING COPY MAY NOT BE GREAT LITERATURE, BUT AT LEAST IT PAYS THE BILLS. (CHUCKLES DRILY) BUT HAVEN'T YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT IF? WHAT IF YOU KEPT WRITING? WHAT IF YOU FINISHED THE BOOK? WHAT IF? 'WHAT IF WE NEVER HAD CAITLIN? WHAT IF WE NEVER HAD HALLIE?' NO, THERE IS NO 'WHAT IFS'. I LOVE YOU; I LOVE THE GIRLS. I LOVE EVERY SLEEPLESS NIGHT, EVERY LEAKY FAUCET, EVERY MONTH WE JUST SCRAPE BY. I WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING. YOU REALLY MEAN THAT? GENTLE 'THE FIRST NOEL' INSTRUMENTAL WHAT ABOUT YOU? YOU EVER WONDER WHAT IF? WHAT IF YOU'D GOTTEN ON THAT PLANE? I ALREADY KNOW WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED. YOU SEEM PRETTY SURE. YOU TURN LEFT INSTEAD OF RIGHT; YOU SAY YES INSTEAD OF NO. IT CHANGES EVERYTHING. NOT EVERYTHING. # ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME... # ...A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE. # ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME... # ...TWO TURTLE DOVES. HEY. HI. I'M, UH` I'M JUST GONNA RUN OVER TO THE SCHOOL TO HELP WITH THE DECORATIONS, OK? SO I'LL BE BACK IN A COUPLE OF HOURS. FOOTSTEPS RECEDE DID`? DID YOU GUYS WANNA GO? GIRLS: YAY! (CHUCKLES) PACHELBEL'S 'CANON' CHATTER PACHELBEL'S 'CANON' CONTINUES OH, THERE'S ROB. HEY, HANNAH! OVER HERE. MUSIC BECOMES CHRISTMASSY (SIGHS) MUSIC BECOMES WARM ALL CHUCKLE (SPEAKS INAUDIBLY) THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. GOOD JOB. HALLIE: WOW. CHUCKLING LET'S SEE THIS ONE. I'M SURE IT'S PERFECT. HOW DID YOU DO THAT? LIKE ALWAYS. (CHUCKLES) LIGHT SWITCHES CLICK, PEOPLE EXCLAIM, LIGHT SWITCH THUDS, APPLAUSE GENTLE, WARM MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUES LOW, AMUSING MUSIC (GASPS SOFTLY) (CHUCKLES SOFTLY) THAT WAS REALLY FUN LAST NIGHT. MM-HM. IT WAS REALLY FUN LAST NIGHT. (CHUCKLES) GLAD YOU GUYS ENJOYED IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY AWESOME. MORNING. ME TOO. GOOD MORNING. LOW, AMUSING MUSIC CONTINUES OH. THANKS. SURE. HAVE A GREAT DAY AT SCHOOL, GUYS. I'LL SEE YA TONIGHT. BYE. BYE. BYE. BYE. BYE. BETTER. MORNING. GENTLE, WARM MUSIC BYE. BYE. K. (CHUCKLES) JAZZY 'JOY TO THE WORLD' INSTRUMENTAL CHATTER CHUCKLES: MERRY CHRISTMAS. GIRLS: THERE HE IS! THERE'S SANTA! GET IN LINE. ALL RIGHT, GUYS. MERRY CHRISTMAS. ALL RIGHT, WHO'S NEXT? ALL RIGHT, YOU GIRLS LOOK BEAUTIFUL. GO AHEAD. HAVE FUN, GUYS. OH, COME HERE. (CHUCKLES) (GRUNTS, CHUCKLES) AND WHAT ARE YOUR NAMES? CAITLIN. HALLIE. (CHUCKLES) AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE FOR CHRISTMAS? A PONY. A BIKE. (CHUCKLES MERRILY) LOOK OVER HERE. CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK (CHUCKLES) YOU KNOW, A CHRISTMAS WISH IS A POWERFUL THING,... AND SOMETIMES IT CAN COME TRUE RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES. DING! (CHUCKLES MERRILY) MERRY CHRISTMAS. OFF YOU GO. (CHUCKLES MERRILY) BYE. CHUCKLES: BYE. BYE. GOOD JOB. (CHUCKLES) HE WAS FUN. WHO'S NEXT? GENTLE MUSIC LOW, CURIOUS NOTE DID YOU SEE THAT? SEE WHAT? SANTA WINKED AT YOU. CHUCKLES: WHAT? LIKE HE KNEW YOU. THAT'S JUST BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A REALLY GOOD GIRL THIS YEAR. BOTH CHUCKLE 'DECK THE HALLS' INSTRUMENTAL CHATTER MAN: HEY, GUYS, LOOK. WHAT'S GOIN' ON UP THERE? WHAT?! THANK YOU. GRANT HIRES MAKE-UP FOR A REMOTE NOW?! ARE WE GETTING A GLARE OFF THIS? HMM? REALLY?! MAN: UH, NAH, WE'RE GOOD. CARL? LET'S DO THIS. AND ROLLING. IT'S A LONG WAY FROM LIVING ON THE STREETS ON OF SAN FRANCISCO TO THE` CREAKING SCREAMING, THUD! PEOPLE EXCLAIM OH MY GOSH. SCUSE ME. EXCUSE ME. CARRIE, ARE YOU OK? (GASPS) ARE YOU OK? YOU OK? HMM? YEAH. I'M FINE, I'M FINE. JUST HELP ME UP. CURIOUS MUSIC KEEP ROLLING, CARL. CHATTER WHAT? (EXHALES HEAVILY) IT'S A LONG WAY FROM LIVING ON THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO TO THE CHRISTMAS FAIR IN THE HEART OF SUBURBIA BUT NOT TOO FAR FOR HELEN SANDER TO FIND HER WAY HERE, WHERE, BRICK BY BRICK, SHE WOULD BUILD THE FOUNDATION FOR A FAMILY SHELTER THAT IS A TRUE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE. THIS IS HANNAH MATTHEWS REPORTING, CHANNEL 8 NEWS. WHISPERING GENTLE, WARM MUSIC ALARM RINGS (SIGHS) SOFTLY: 'THIS IS HANNAH MATTHEWS REPORTING, CHANNEL 8 NEWS.' IT'S A LONG WAY FROM LIVING ON THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO... CREAKING ...TO THE CHRISTMAS` (SCREAMS) GIRLS GIGGLE, VIDEO CONTINUES PLAYING WHAT ARE YOU GIRLS WATCHING? (CLICKS) ALL RIGHT, OK, LET'S SEE IT. (CLICKS) IT'S A LONG WAY FROM THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO TO THE CHRISTMAS FAIR IN THE HEART OF SUBURBIA BUT NOT TOO FAR FOR HELEN SANDER TO FIND HER WAY HERE.... YOU LOOK. GOOD. THANKS. ...THAT IS A TRUE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE. VAN DOOR CLICKS GENTLE MUSIC DOOR SCRAPES, CLICKS YOU GUYS HAVE THE BEST DAY, OK? THANKS. GIRLS: THANKS, MOM. CHUCKLING BYE. FOOTSTEPS RECEDE (TUTS) CHILDREN SQUEAL CELL PHONE RINGS, VIBRATES, SEAT BELT CLICKS OH. BEEP! HELLO? WOMAN: I'M CALL FOR HANNAH MATTHEW SPEAKING. PLEASE HOLD FOR MR WALKER. MRS MATTHEWS, HELLO, GRANT WALKER. I'M THE NEWS DIRECTOR AT CHANNEL 8 NEWS. (CHUCKLES) GRANT?! HI, HOW ARE YOU? SLOWLY: I'M FINE, THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU? OH, I'M` I'M GREAT. I'M` YEAH, I'M DOING GREAT. WELL, GREAT. LISTEN, THE REASON I CALLED` OH, LIKE I DON'T KNOW YOU'RE A BIG FAN OF THOSE 'FISH OUTTA WATER' STORIES. (CHUCKLES) EXCUSE ME? YOU WANNA INTERVIEW ME, RIGHT? ABOUT MY STAND-UP AT THE MALL LAST NIGHT? MRS MATTHEWS, HAVE WE MET? UH, NO. NO, NO. I-I JUST... I WATCH YOUR CHANNEL ALL THE TIME. (CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY) WELL, THANK YOU. AS A MATTER OF FACT, YES, I-I-I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO ABOUT AN INTERVIEW. THE HITS ON YOUR YOUTUBE VIDEO JUST KEEP CLIMBING. I SAW THAT. SO WHADDAYA SAY? CAN YOU GET AWAY FOR LUNCH IN THE CITY TOMORROW? UH, I` YEAH, YEAH. I CAN` I CAN GET AWAY. WONDERFUL. I'LL GET MY ASSISTANT TO CALL YOU BACK WITH ALL THE DETAILS. I'M LOOKIN' FORWARD TO IT. ME TOO. THANK YOU. KEYPAD BEEPS (CHUCKLES GENTLY) HORN TOOTS OH. (SOFTLY) SORRY. (CHUCKLES) SORRY. EXPECTANT MUSIC I'LL HAVE THE ATLANTIC SALMON WITH THE LEEK-AND-APPLE SAUTE, BUT INSTEAD OF POTATO, COULD I HAVE THE CAPRESE SALAD? VERY LITTLE OLIVE OIL, PLEASE. 'COURSE. THANK YOU. THAT SOUNDS AMAZING. MAKE IT TWO. THANKS, JEFFERY. THANKS. WELL, SO MUCH FOR MY ATTEMPT AT IMPRESSING YOU. WHAT? (CHUCKLES) WELL, YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE. YOU DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE MENU. OH. (CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY) I JUST, UM` I LOOKED AT IT BEFORE ONLINE, BECAUSE I-I WANTED TO IMPRESS YOU. BOTH CHUCKLE GENTLY I HAVE TO SAY, MRS MATTHEWS, YOU ARE NOT WHAT I EXPECTED. UH, YOU CAN CALL ME HANNAH, BUT WHAT WERE YOU EXPECTING? A HIGH-ENERGY, OVER-SCHEDULED SOCCER MOM WHO TOOK ONE COMMUNICATION COURSE IN COLLEGE AND JUST HAPPENED TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. WHICH IS A PERFECT LOCAL STORY TO WRAP UP THE 5 O'CLOCK HOUR AND LEAD STRONG INTO THE NATIONAL NEWS. WOW. YOU REALLY DO WATCH OUR SHOW. CHATTER, CLINKING CAN I BE COMPLETELY FRANK? PLEASE. WE COULD DO THE INTERVIEW YOU BROUGHT ME HERE TO DISCUSS, AND I'M SURE YOUR AUDIENCE WOULD GET A GOOD CHUCKLE OUT OF MY ANTICS BEFORE HEARING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD. (CHUCKLES) THAT'S USUALLY THE IDEA. OR YOU AND HAROLD COULD TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE NUMBERS ON MY VIDEO. HOW DO YOU KNOW HAROLD? CHANNEL 8 HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN ANYONE'S TRIED BEFORE. WHICH IS? TO GET THAT YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHIC INTERESTED IN THE LOCAL NEWS. (CHUCKLES) NOT IN THIS LIFETIME. NO, NOT IF WE DO IT THE SAME WAY EVERYONE ELSE DOES, THE SAME WAY WE ALWAYS DID. 'WE'? THINK OF IT AS A DIFFERENT SIDE OF THE NEWS, A-A-A` A BETTER SIDE. FOR 90 SECONDS EACH NIGHT, PEOPLE GET TO FEEL BETTER ABOUT THEMSELVES. AND HOW DO WE DO THAT? YOU HIRE ME AS SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. K. YOU USE THE MALL VIDEO AS A WAY TO INTRODUCE A NEW SEGMENT. WE COULD CALL IT, I-I DUNNO, UH, 'YOU GOTTA SEE THIS', AND WE` AND WE GET ONLINE, AND WE TRACK THE VIDEOS THAT ARE POPULAR, THAT HAVE THAT LOCAL CONNECTION, AND WE BROADCAST THEM, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT THE VIDEOS. BECAUSE WE COULD SEE THOSE ONLINE ANYTIME. EXACTLY. IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE. (CHUCKLES) IT'S ABOUT THE` THE GRANDMAS AND THE KIDS AND THE PROUD NEW PARENTS AND ALL OF THE WONDERFUL MOMENTS THAT THEY WANNA SHARE. I-IT'S ABOUT THE LIVES THEY LEAD AND HOW ALL OF THESE SAME THINGS MATTER TO ALL OF US. I KNOW THESE PEOPLE. THEY'RE MY FRIENDS; THEY'RE MY NEIGHBOURS, AND I JUST NEVER REALISED BEFORE... (CHUCKLES) I NEVER REALISED HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE, HOW IMPORTANT FAMILY IS. I MEAN, THAT'S... THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. WHO WOULDN'T WANNA WATCH THAT? WHO WOULDN'T WANNA WATCH A PART OF THE NEWS THAT JUST MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOURSELF? KEYS JINGLE, DOOR HINGES SQUEAK HI, I'M HOME. IN HERE. HOW'D IT GO? GREAT. (CHUCKLES GENTLY) WOW. LOOK AT YOU. OH, THANKS. I NEEDED SOMETHING TO WEAR TO THE CITY. THAT'S SOMETHIN' ALL RIGHT. (CHUCKLES) WHERE ARE THE GIRLS? DRESS REHEARSAL, REMEMBER? PAGEANT'S TOMORROW NIGHT. I'M JUST TAKING THEM SOME DINNER. WELL, I WANTED TO TELL EVERYONE THE BIG NEWS TOGETHER, BUT I CAN'T WAIT. YOU GOT THE INTERVIEW. HE OFFERED ME A JOB. A` A JOB? (CHUCKLES) I MEAN, IT'S NOT OFFICIAL YET, COS I STILL HAVE TO MEET WITH HIS BOSS. WHOA, WHOA, HANNAH, UH, A JOB IN THE CITY? YOU SHOULD'VE SEEN ME, BEN. IT WAS LIKE, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I COULD SEE IT. IT WAS JUST RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF ME, AND ALL I HAD TO WAS REACH OUT AND GRAB IT, AND I DIDN'T LET GO UNTIL HE SAID YES. I WAS ON FIRE. WOW, I... I'VE NEVER HEARD YOU SOUND LIKE THIS BEFORE. I KNOW. I'M SO EXCITED. ISN'T THIS EXCITING? YEAH. YEAH, NO, I-I MEAN, IT'S GREAT, BUT, UM, D-DON'T YOU THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS? OH, ABSOLUTELY, OF COURSE. I KNOW THIS IS A LOT TO TAKE IN AT ONCE. YOU COULD SAY THAT. (CHUCKLES DRILY) I JUST HAVE SUCH A GOOD FEELING ABOUT THIS JOB. I THINK THIS IS A... LIKE A WHOLE NEW BEGINNING FOR US. I DIDN'T KNOW WE NEEDED A NEW BEGINNING. OH, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. WHAT ABOUT THE GIRLS? WHADDAYA MEAN? WORKING IN THE CITY ` WITH TRAFFIC, IT'S OVER AN HOUR EACH WAY. WHEN ARE YOU GONNA SEE THEM? I'LL SEE THEM ALL THE TIME. YOU'D LEAVE BEFORE THEY WAKE UP, GET HOME AFTER THEY'RE IN BED. NO, IT'S NOT GONNA BE LIKE THAT, AND I'M GONNA BE HOME ON THE WEEKENDS. THE WEEKENDS ` YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT, HANNAH, AND IT` IT'S LIKE I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU. UM, YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU'RE RIGHT. I'M SORRY. IT'S` IT'S` OK, FINE, YOU KNOW WHAT? I WON'T DO THE COMMUTE. I WON'T DO THE COMMUTE, AND WE'LL JUST` WE'LL MOVE. MOVE ` WOW. WHAT? WHY NOT? SAN FRANCISCO IS AN AMAZING CITY. I MEAN, THERE'S SO MUCH FOR THE GIRLS TO SEE AND DO, AND THERE'S BETTER SCHOOLS, AND THERE'S SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES. JUST LIKE THAT, TAKE THEM OUTTA THEIR SCHOOL, ASK THEM TO LEAVE ALL THEIR FRIENDS, SAY GOODBYE TO THE ONLY HOME THEY'VE EVER KNOWN, THE HOME WHERE WE HAVE BECOME A FAMILY, AND THAT SOUNDS OK TO YOU? WE'LL STILL BE A FAMILY. THIS IS... THIS COULD BE SO GREAT FOR US. IT'S ALREADY PRETTY GREAT, OR SO I THOUGHT. THE GIRLS ARE GONNA BE HUNGRY. CLATTERING CHUCKLING CHUCKLES: AW. IS THAT ME? YEAH, ON YOUR FIRST CHRISTMAS. BUT NOT MINE. NO, YOU'RE RIGHT. IT WOULD'VE BEEN YOUR... THIRD CHRISTMAS. RIGHT? (CHUCKLES GENTLY) DO YOU REMEMBER ALL THE CHRISTMASES WE EVER HAD? I KNOW I'LL REMEMBER THIS ONE BEST OF ALL. GENTLE, SENTIMENTAL MUSIC (CHUCKLES GENTLY) AW. CHUCKLING CHUCKLES: LOOK HOW CUTE. AW, I LOVE THAT ONE. WOW. LOOK HOW TINY YOU GUYS WERE. CHUCKLING DOOR HINGES SQUEAK THEY'RE ASLEEP. INSECTS CHIRP GENTLE MUSIC (SIGHS) I HAD THIS CRAZY IDEA THAT WE'D RAISE OUR FAMILY IN THIS HOUSE, GROW OLD TOGETHER, SHARE A LIFETIME OF MEMORIES. BEN... I LOVE YOU, HANNAH. NOTHING'S EVER GONNA CHANGE THAT. IT'S A LOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE ADDRESS ON OUR DOOR. SO IF YOU NEED THIS ` REALLY NEED IT ` WE'LL FIGURE OUT A WAY. GENTLE MUSIC CONTINUES INSECTS CONTINUE CHIRPING HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW TO DO THAT THING ON TV? I WAS ACTUALLY A BROADCASTING MAJOR IN COLLEGE. YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING A TV REPORTER. YOU WOULD'VE BEEN GOOD. (TUTS) AW, THANKS. ALL RIGHT, THAT SHOULD DO IT. LET'S HAVE A LOOK. OKEY-DOKEY. OK, EVERYBODY, TWIRL. GIRLS GIGGLE YOU CALL THAT TWIRLING? THAT'S NOT TWIRLING. LIKE THIS, THIS IS TWIRLING. LAUGHTER AND THIS IS TWIRLING! LAUGHTER LAUGHTER CONTINUES PHONE LINE RINGS PHONE: HI, IT'S HANNAH. LEAVE A MESSAGE. BEEPING PHONE: HANNAH, HI, GRANT WALKER. GREAT NEWS ` I RAN YOUR IDEA BY HAROLD, AND HE LOVES IT. HE WANTS THE THREE OF US TO TALK OVER DINNER, BUT IT HAS TO BE TONIGHT. HE'S ON A PLANE IN THE MORNING, AND HE'LL BE IN MONTANA FOR THE HOLIDAYS FOR THREE WEEKS. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PITCH HIM THE WAY YOU DID ME, AND THE JOB IS YOURS. THIS COULD BE THE START OF SOMETHING GREAT. I'VE GOT A FEELING ABOUT YOU AND ME. I THINK WE'RE GONNA MAKE AN AMAZING TEAM. JUST ONE WORD OF ADVICE ` IN THIS BUSINESS, THE ONLY THING YOU CAN REALLY LOVE IS YOUR CAREER. POIGNANT MUSIC (PLAYS 'O HOLY NIGHT') (CONTINUES PLAYING) SOFTLY: SORRY. HI. HOW'D IT GO? I TOLD HIM I WASN'T INTERESTED. (CONTINUES PLAYING) WHISPERING DID YOU LIKE IT? I LOVED IT. OH, YOU WERE BOTH SO WONDERFUL. (KISSES) I'M GLAD YOU CAME. WOULDN'T HAVE MISSED IT FOR THE WORLD. NOW GO TO SLEEP. LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. 'O HOLY NIGHT' INSTRUMENTAL I LOVE YOU TOO. THANK YOU. (SLURPS) INSECTS CHIRP WHAT? GENTLE, SENTIMENTAL MUSIC LET'S REMEMBER THIS, OK? OK. NO, I MEAN REALLY REMEMBER. ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? JUST PROMISE ME, OK,... THAT YOU'LL REMEMBER. GENTLE, SENTIMENTAL MUSIC CONTINUES I PROMISE. MUSIC COMES POIGNANT LOW, MAGICAL MUSIC TINKLING (INHALES DEEPLY, GRUNTS) GOOD MORNING. SIREN WAILS DISTANTLY SOFTLY: OH NO. HORN TOOTS DISTANTLY SOFTLY: 'OH NO. 'OH NO.' SOLEMN MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUES (SIGHS) POIGNANT MUSIC HELLO? CAN I HELP YOU? WAIT, IS`? IS BEN HERE? WHO? BEN MATTHEWS ` THIS IS HIS HOUSE. THIS IS MY HOUSE. THERE'S NO BEN HERE. (SIGHS) CAITLIN? HEY, HEY, COME ON. NO, NO, NO. HALLIE? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THIS IS MY HOUSE. NO, NO, NO, THIS IS` THIS IS THE HOUSE. THEY` THEY HAVE TO BE HERE. W...? UH... ARE YOU OK? NO. NO, I'M NOT. BRAKES SQUEAL ENGINE REVS ENGINE REVS BRAKES SQUEAL CALLS: HEY, TAMMY. TAMMY, IT'S ME; IT'S HANNAH. WHAT? IT'S HANNAH. UH,... TAMMY, LOOK AT ME. PLEASE TELL ME YOU KNOW ME. (CHUCKLES GENTLY) I'M SORRY. Y-YOU` YOU POWER-WALK 3 MILES A DAY. (STAMMERS) YOU MAKE SWEET-POTATO PIE FOR CHRISTMAS EVERY YEAR. HOW DO YOU KNOW ALL THAT? BECAUSE WE'RE FRIENDS, AND WE` WE TELL EACH OTHER EVERYTHING. I, UH` I HAVE TO GO. WAIT, TAMMY, IT'S ME. IT'S` IT'S HANNAH. IT'S` IT'S HANNAH. (EXHALES HEAVILY) POIGNANT MUSIC CELL PHONE RINGS UH... BEEP! HELLO? MAN: YOU ARE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS. GRANT? THAT STORY ABOUT RAY CAMPBELL AND THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING FUND? IT'S GOT PEOPLE SO RILED UP THERE'S A CROWD OUTSIDE THE WAREHOUSE. THEY SAY THEY WON'T LET HIM OUT UNTIL HE GIVES ALL THE MONEY BACK. WAIT, WHAT? CARL AND CARRIE ARE ON THEIR WAY. WE'RE GONNA GO LIVE. HOW FAST CAN YOU GET THERE? GIVE IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WE COULDN'T HAVE WRITTEN A BETTER FOLLOW-UP. HAROLD'S DANCING AROUND LIKE A SCHOOL GIRL. MY ADVICE ` IF I HAD A JOB WAITING FOR ME IN NEW YORK, I'D GET OVER THERE PRONTO. (SCOFFS) BEEP! POIGNANT MUSIC CONTINUES CLATTERING (SIGHS) ALL: # DON WE NOW OUR GAY APPAREL, FA, LA-LA, LA-LA-LA, LA, LA, LA. # TROLL THE ANCIENT YULETIDE CAROL, FA, LA-LA-LA-LA, LA-LA, LA, LA. # SEE THE BLAZING... GREAT, YOU'RE HERE. OK, CAMPBELL'S INSIDE. THE POLICE ARE STAYING OUT OF IT AS LONG AS THE CROWD STAYS PEACEFUL. THEY DON'T WANNA COME OFF LOOKING LIKE SCROOGE EITHER. HERE'S YOUR MIKE, HANNAH. OK, AND I'VE GOT HIS CELL PHONE NUMBER, SO I'M GOING TO GET ON THE LINE WHILE WE'RE LIVE. SINGING CONTINUES, BELL RINGS HANNAH? HANNAH, ARE YOU LISTENING? YEAH, I'LL BE RIGHT BACK. WHAT? NO, HANNAH! WHAT? BELL CONTINUES RINGING OH THANK GOODNESS. (BREATHES HEAVILY) PLEASE, I WANNA GO BACK. HANNAH. I UNDERSTAND NOW WHAT YOU WERE TELLING ME; I-I-I GET IT. IT'S NOT ABOUT TRUSTING YOUR INSTINCTS. SOMETIMES THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW WHAT'S REAL IS JUST TO TRUST YOUR HEART. MERRY CHRISTMAS. (RINGS BELL) MERRY CHRISTMAS. (CHUCKLES GENTLY) RINGING STOPS I WANT MY OLD LIFE BACK. I WANNA GO BACK TO MY OTHER LIFE. THAT'S MY WISH; THAT'S WHAT I WANT, PLEASE ` THE GIRLS. I-I'M SORRY, HANNAH. I CAN'T BRING THAT LIFE BACK. SINGING CONTINUES DISTANTLY WHAT? I CAN'T CHANGE THE CHOICES YOU'VE MADE IN THE PAST. THEN WHAT WAS THE POINT? I MEAN, WHY LET ME SEE THAT? WHY? WHY PUT ME THROUGH THIS IF I` IF I CAN'T CHANGE ANYTHING? NO, I-IT WAS NEVER ABOUT CHANGING THE PAST. IT'S ABOUT CHANGING THE FUTURE. THE FUTURE. GENTLE, WARM MUSIC (CHUCKLES GENTLY) YEAH. THANK YOU. (CHUCKLES MERRILY) THANK YOU. FOOTSTEPS RECEDE (RINGS BELL, CHUCKLES MERRILY) # ...LAUGHING ALL THE WAY. HA HA HA! # BELLS ON BOBTAIL RING... CARRIE, IT'S OK. HANNAH, HANNAH, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WE ARE LIVE IN 30 SECONDS. YOU DO IT. WHAT? NO. TRUST ME; YOU'VE BEEN READY FOR THIS FOR A LONG TIME, AND THE SHELTER STORY, THAT'S YOURS TOO. OH, BUT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE ` WATCH OUT FOR FALLING CANDY CANES. SINGING CONTINUES (CHUCKLES GENTLY) FOOTSTEPS RECEDE QUICKLY CANDY CANES? GENTLE, WARM MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUES INAUDIBLE SINGING MUSIC BECOMES POIGNANT POIGNANT MUSIC CONTINUES (SIGHS) (CHUCKLES GENTLY) LOOK AT YOU. BOTH CHUCKLE I, UH` I HOPE THIS WASN'T TOO WEIRD. NO, NOT AT ALL. UH, I HAD TO BE IN THE CITY, AND, UH, I KNEW YOU LIVED HERE. I-I CAN'T REALLY EXPLAIN IT. YOU'VE BEEN ON MY MIND A LOT LATELY. I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU A LOT TOO. (CHUCKLES GENTLY) I, UH` I WAS SURE YOU'D BE BUSY CHRISTMAS EVE. HERE I AM. BOTH CHUCKLE THEN AGAIN, THE HOLIDAYS WERE NEVER YOUR FAVOURITE TIME OF YEAR. ACTUALLY, I LIKE CHRISTMAS. DO YOU, UM, WANNA GET A CUP OF COFFEE? YEAH. I'D LOVE THAT. GENTLE, WARM MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUES TINKLING BELL RINGS MERRY CHRISTMAS. GENTLE 'HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING' INSTRUMENTAL CAPTIONS BY SHRUTIKA GUNANAYAGAM. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2016 GENTLE, POIGNANT MUSIC AMUSING 'WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS' INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC SOFTENS GRAND MUSIC