Original subtitles

I didn't know you were coming this weekend.

What a great surprise. Isn't this a great surprise, Annie?

I would have picked you up at the airport if I'd known you were coming. I

but we didn't want to be a bother. Plus, we didn't know we were coming until a

couple days ago.

Mary got us passes, and luckily, because it's a week before the Thanksgiving

holiday, we were able to book a flight.

Well, whatever the reason, however you got here, we're just so happy to see you

guys. Right, Annie?

Mom, are you okay? I thought you and Sarah were coming next weekend for

Thanksgiving. We couldn't get out of working Thanksgiving, so we thought we'd

come this week instead.

But you promised that you'd be here for Thanksgiving. And we are so sorry about

messing up your plans, but it's... But being medical students, we don't get to

pick our schedules.

I mean, we have to do what they tell us and go where they tell us and work

whenever they need us.

Since all the doctors and senior staff want to spend Thanksgiving with their

families. We have to fill in.

Sure, sure.

We're just so happy that you made the effort to spend time with us.

Anytime.

We understand how busy you both are.

Don't we, Annie?

My parents are out of town all week, so Matt and I are all yours.

Well, isn't that great, Annie? They're all ours.

I haven't had the entire family together for Thanksgiving or any holiday for

years. I wanted this Thanksgiving to be different. This Thanksgiving, I wanted

everyone together under one roof.

I'm going to go check on the twins now.

I'm sorry. For some reason, it's become extremely important for her to have

everyone together this year.

She's been making plans for weeks.

Everyone? Yeah.

Why?

What do you know?

Mary and Carlos told us they're planning on taking Charles Miguel to Puerto Rico

to spend Thanksgiving with his family.

But Annie thinks they're coming here.

What else do you know?

Mary told us, Simon told her, he's working at the campus radio station and

get away for Thanksgiving.

We thought he was coming this weekend, but evidently he changed his mind at the

last minute. And by last minute, I mean we didn't find out from Mary until we

landed. So, no Matt, no Sarah.

No Simon.

No Mary.

No Carlos.

No baby. No out -of -town family here for Thanksgiving.

Would you two be willing to break that news to your mother for me?

No.

Hello.

Heaven, heaven, I know there's no greater feeling than the love of family.

Where can you go when the world don't treat

you right? The answer is home.

That's the one place that you'll find.

Heaven, heaven.

Heaven.

Heaven. Heaven.

What's cooking?

What?

It's almost lunchtime. Yes, it is. So maybe you ought to think about what

going to make for Sam and David. I'm busy with my Thanksgiving preparations.

I'm making special holiday gourd candles.

And then I'm going to stencil leaves onto a tablecloth. And then I have to go

out and gather seasonal berries and leaves so that I can garnish the buffet

table. I still haven't finalized my menu, and I cannot find those turkey

jello molds.

What's wrong?

Is it possible that you're going just a teensy bit overboard?

It's Thanksgiving.

I know, but I don't recall her ever making this big a deal out of

before. I mean, you're really going to a lot of trouble, and you don't have to.

I mean, you don't even have to cook this year. We could go out.

When have we ever gone out?

For Thanksgiving? I don't want to go out for Thanksgiving.

I like doing this. I like Thanksgiving.

Okay, it seems like you're doing just a little bit more than you usually do.

Well, of course I am.

It's Charlie's first Thanksgiving. It's our first Thanksgiving as grandparents.

It's a big one. All right, but... But what?

What about Matt and Sarah?

What about Matt and Sarah?

Well, I just think they might feel a little underappreciated after last

Why?

Well, after an all this way to visit us, you didn't seem too happy to see them.

Oh, I was just surprised.

Caught off guard, if you will.

They're not supposed to be here now. They're supposed to be here next week.

they need to be here next week when everyone else is here.

They don't.

need to be here. It would be nice if they were here. I mean, there's a

difference, don't you think?

We just want our family to be here, whatever family is able to be here,

I need you to get the turkey today.

Okay? A nice, big one.

Make sure it's free -range and fresh, not frozen. I think about a 20 -pounder

should do it. But Matt and Sarah said they can't be here.

And who knows? Maybe some of our other kids won't be able to make it.

But we can always have leftovers.

Turkey sandwiches.

I'll get the 20 -pound turkey.

Don't worry about Matt and Sarah.

They'll be here.

Well, not unless by some miracle their work schedule changes.

I took care of it.

She called the director of medical education.

What? She who?

Mom called the director of medical education. The director is in charge of

medical students. He's like my boss.

My mother called my boss and asked if my wife and I could have Thanksgiving

weekend off because I was needed at home. When the director told her he

make the schedules, she called the dean.

But it's Saturday, so the dean wasn't at work. So she got someone at the

hospital to give her the dean's home number, and then she called him.

She called the dean of my medical college at home and asked if I could

Thanksgiving weekend off.

So what do you say? Can you be here for Thanksgiving?

No! No, and Mom really needs to get a grip, because us not being here for

Thanksgiving is not a tragedy. There are bigger problems out there.

You don't look so good. Your mother's working very hard to have a big family

Thanksgiving, and half the family isn't going to be here.

I'm sorry, Dad.

Well, it's not your fault.

Well, yeah, it is.

Kind of.

Since I won't be here either, at least I hope I won't be here.

I was just coming down to ask you if I can spend Thanksgiving with Carlos and

Mary.

They're spending it with Carlos' parents in Puerto Rico.

I know. Matt told me. They got me a ticket and everything.

Plus, Carlos' parents have a huge house, so there's tons of room for all of us.

I won't need a hotel.

I mean, I think they only invited me because they need help with the baby,

hey, free trips, free tip, right?

You can't go.

Oh, no, I won't be flying alone if that's what you're worried about.

Carlos said he would fly here and then fly back with me to Puerto Rico.

You can't go.

But I promised Carlos and Mary.

And they need me, and I really want to go.

Your mother needs you to be here. I spent every Thanksgiving with you and

What's the big deal about me missing just one?

Come on, Dad.

I really want to go.

Please? Well, look, Mary and Carlos and baby are going to be here.

They are? Yeah, I don't know how I'm going to get them here, but I'll find a

so you don't need to go to Puerto Rico.

Hey, Reverend Camden.

We'll be back. We're just going to the batting cages.

Mac. Yes.

What are you doing for Thanksgiving?

It's just, I think we might have a few extra seats at our table, and I thought,

you know, after you have dinner with your family, you could come over here

have dinner with our family.

Wow, that's really nice.

But I won't be here. See, every year my dad goes up north for the holiday to

visit his sister.

Oh, so you're going to be out of town?

No. His sister hates me. Something I did with her Hummel collection when I was

three. Oh, and that accident with her cat when I was five.

And I set her kitchen on fire when I was six.

The more nervous she made me, the bigger the accident.

So up until last year, my dad was too afraid to take me, so he decided to let

stay back here and go camping with some friends. And it worked out so well for

everyone that he decided to let me do it again this year.

What about your mother?

She goes to her boyfriend's house.

I don't like her boyfriend.

Well, so if you've got nowhere to be... No offense, but I'd rather go camping.

It's nothing against you and your family, it's just...

It's Thanksgiving.

It's just a meal.

Everyone makes such a big deal out of it that no one ever seems to enjoy it.

Sorry. No, I just thought you and Martin might want to spend Thanksgiving

together. That's all.

We are. I'm going camping with Mac.

I told you about it last month.

I don't remember.

I'm sure I mentioned it. I'm sure you did, but I really need you here for

Thanksgiving. Is there any way you would reconsider the camping trip?

Look, my aunt and I celebrated last year, and it was the first Thanksgiving

celebrated in years, and it was horrible.

It's just such a family holiday that with my dad overseas and my mom gone,

celebrating just made both of us miss what little family we have even more

we already do.

Wow. If you two change your minds.

We're not going to change our minds.

We're going camping.

I need to run some errands for Mommy, and then we can all get lunch out.

Daddy, what's wrong?

You look sad.

Oh, I'm fine. Or I will be when I get all your brothers and sisters together

Thanksgiving this year. Mommy wants us all together.

But we're going to Lucy's for Thanksgiving.

She invited us.

Lucy?

Okay, get your jackets and shoes on. I'll be right back.

Where's Lucy?

She's up in the apartment thinking of new ways to torture me. She wants me to

collect acorns from people's yards and then help her glue gun them to string so

she can use them as Thanksgiving napkin ring holders.

She's making such a big deal over Thanksgiving.

Men use silverware, acorns.

Me, I just want to eat turkey until I can't eat anymore, and then I want to

watch football until I fall asleep, then wake up and do it all over again.

Celebrate Thanksgiving the way God intended.

But I'm married and my wife's pregnant, so I'm off to collect nuts from people's

yards. I don't even know what an acorn looks like.

But don't get me wrong, I'm glad she wants to do Thanksgiving dinner this

for everyone, but...

How does this sound?

Maple roast turkey, chestnut stuffing, sweet potato spoon bread, root

and sautéed butter, autumn succotash, cranberry orange relish, pumpkin mousse

pie, and apple pandoutie.

Pan dowdy? It's a classic American dessert from the 19th century. But

dowdied it up by cutting the dough into pieces instead of leaving it whole.

I think my theme is going to be classic colonial American, but I haven't

finalized the menu up yet.

Martha?

Martha Stewart, the queen of Thanksgiving entertaining.

I'm following all of her recipes and decorating ideas and crafts.

This is going to be the best Thanksgiving ever.

It's going to be my Thanksgiving. I can't wait to put my stamp on it and

it as my own. But I also want Mom to be proud of me, so everything's got to be

perfect. And, you know, she shouldn't be in jail, especially during the holiday

season. That's, like, cruel and unusual punishment.

Your mother isn't in jail.

Not Mom. Martha.

Martha Stewart shouldn't be in jail.

She's suffered enough, been punished enough.

Okay, well... I mean, last week, Kevin arrested this scummy drug dealer, and he

got off. But Martha's in jail. How is that helping anyone?

How is that justice?

Back to Thanksgiving?

You're planning on having it this year?

Yeah, I can't wait.

Have you spoken to your mother?

Why? I think she's thinking she's planning the family Thanksgiving dinner

she's always done it. Yeah, but she won't mind if I do it this year.

Besides, I want it to be my gift to her. Yeah, but your mother has always made

the dinner.

Always. Yeah, but now that I'm a wife and a soon -to -be mother, it's time for

her to retire.

Pass the spoon on to me.

This year, Thanksgiving is all mine.

Oh, good. I was looking for you. I got a question.

I bought these walnuts at the store. Do you think I can convince Lucy that

they're really big acorns?

We have a problem. Fine, I'll go find some stinking acorns. No, no, no, not a

problem with those nuts. It's a problem with our nuts, Lucy and Annie.

Annie's planning on hosting a huge family Thanksgiving.

But so is Lucy.

That's the problem.

You have to tell Lucy that she can't have Thanksgiving this year.

Yeah, me and what army?

Have you seen her? She's manic.

Why don't you tell Annie to take the year off? I'd rather eat glass.

besides annie's way more manic than lucy plus if i can't get mary carlos the

baby and simon here next week then i have to break that bad news to her

enough lucy thinks it's her wifely duty to do this she bought an apron and

everything what if you tell annie and i tell lucy

Then where will we eat? No, no, look, you tell Annie about Mary, Carlos, the

baby, and Simon, and I'll tell Lucy that she can't host Thanksgiving this year.

They'll go easier on us because we're not their husbands.

In theory, they'll go easier on us. All right, just let me see who I can get to

be here next week, and then we'll meet back here later and we'll figure out a

plan.

Meanwhile, keep Lucy away from Annie. I need a little time.

How much time?

I don't know. Just don't let Lucy leave the apartment.

Look at me. I'm making candles out of squash.

I shouldn't be complaining. If Annie could figure out a way to freeze

I'd be making pumpkin vases.

So you're having a good time.

Oh, yeah.

You know, not that we don't want to be here over Thanksgiving.

We just thought we'd be here this weekend instead. We thought if we were

and Simon was here, we'd be kind of, you know, a...

Pre -Thanksgiving.

Maybe your parents would like to join our family for Thanksgiving, help us

out the table a bit. I'm sure they'd love to if they weren't already going to

in New York with us.

You and Matt are having Thanksgiving with your parents?

I have some call to make.

And I have candles to make.

I got so carried away making the candles this morning, I forgot to make the bed.

Oh, I hope you don't mind. I talked to your dean. He is very understanding and

very nice.

And he is... Mom.

Yes? You shouldn't have done that. Oh, well, I didn't mind, really. And I know

you didn't want to ask.

Anyway, he said that you can have Thursday off as long as you're back

afternoon, which works for me. He said that because he thinks there's some

family emergency.

I already told him there was a family emergency this weekend.

Well, now, why did you do that?

Because it's better for us to have this weekend off than the actual holiday

weekend.

Do you have any idea how competitive medical school is? Do you know that we

judged from the word go?

That whatever emergency we have, if we take time off for it, we will pay for

Either in our grades or when it comes time for recommendation letters.

Or when and how we are assigned or what rotations we get. You can't just call

the dean.

Oh, Maddie, Maddie, Maddie, don't let the pressure get to you.

You and Sarah are going to be just fine.

It won't hurt for the two of you to take a couple of days off.

You know, it might even be good to get away and clear your head.

Okay, seriously, what's going on with you?

What do you mean?

Well, it's not like you to be so... So what?

So insistent about the holidays.

Well, you're right. You are.

So what's going on?

You want to know what happened when I didn't insist? I'll tell you what

happened. Nobody came. So now I'm insisting. I'm insisting that you and

here. And thanks to me, you got the time off, so I don't see the problem.

If you won't do it for yourself, Matt, please do it for me.

I want you here.

I need you here.

We've got a problem.

We do?

The walnuts aren't going to work.

Oh.

Maybe I should go ask my mom what nuts she would use.

No. Okay.

Yeah, you know what? You're right.

First, I've got to tell her that I'm doing dinner this year.

She's going to be so relieved.

I mean, it's a lot of trouble.

Uh -huh.

Where are you going?

To tell Mom. I think I got the menu all worked out in my head. So now I've got

to tell her my big surprise. I don't think she's home. I think she took the

twins somewhere.

Uh, okay.

I'll tell her later when I get the menu and the schedule all completely worked

out.

You know you can put me on the schedule. I'll do whatever you want me to do. And

if you need acorns, I will scour the neighborhood for some.

That's really sweet.

Thanks.

Something wrong?

No, why?

You're acting strange.

Am I?

Yeah.

Well, I was just thinking. Thinking about what?

Do you really want to take on Thanksgiving dinner this year? I mean,

still time to back out. You haven't told your mom yet.

It's just, with the baby coming and your school finals and your church work,

maybe you should let your mom host this year. And then next year, when you have

less on your plate, you can host.

Plus, we live above a garage with a small stove and no dishwasher.

How exactly are you planning on cooking and serving Thanksgiving dinner for your

entire family?

See, Next year we'll probably have a house, and it'll be our first

together in that house.

You, me, and the baby.

Next year will be much better for you to start hosting holidays and taking the

reins and stepping up.

I can handle Thanksgiving.

The baby, school, my church work.

Oh, okay, good.

Kevin?

Yeah? What's going on?

I'm going to go out and find some acorns. You really need acorns.

Free!

Start talking.

I can't keep this up.

We have to.

I know you want to be here when Simon gets home.

But now that he's not coming home, we're really here for no reason.

And we lied to get here.

The least Simon could have done is called us instead of calling Mary and

her tell us. What do you think your parents are going to say?

It's hard to tell. Poor Simon.

I don't feel sorry for him. I don't feel sorry for him.

He's an adult, and he's responsible for making a long list of bad decisions.

You think your mom senses something?

I think that's why she's acting so numb.

I don't know.

I just hope Simon changes his mind and comes home.

He has to talk to them.

In the meantime, considering they have no idea of what's in store for them, I

think we want to circle the wagons and make my mom and dad know we're all

and we're here for them if they need us.

You know, have the support system in place ready for when Simon drops the

Circling and supporting.

It's going to be difficult considering your mother wants nothing to do with us.

Can

we

stay here with you?

Sure. So if Mommy comes looking for us, would you hide us?

We're tired of doing Thanksgiving stuff.

I don't want to make turkey dongs with my hands. And I don't want to make

Pilgrim hats out of construction paper.

That's school work.

At home, we just want to play.

Slashy Mommy didn't make us do anything.

I should have just made turkey and stuffing and pie and we ate and ate.

And we didn't have to make drawings or hats.

Eating is fun.

This is not fun.

Let's go see what Matt and Sarah are doing.

Hello, you've reached Carlos and Mary and Charles Miguel. Please leave a

message.

Okay, you two. You can run, but you can't hide.

Well, considering this is the third message I've left, it seems you can both

and hide.

Call me back, please. I need you to reconsider your Thanksgiving plans.

I need you and Mary and the baby here this year. Call me.

Oh, good. You guys are just in time. Annie, I love you, but no more

crap. Oh, no, but this is something I thought we could all do together as a

family, you know, to get ready for the holidays, because Thanksgiving is all

about family, right?

What? Is something wrong?

Mom, isn't family meant to be celebrated every day whenever family gets

together, whenever family is together?

Not just during the holidays, right?

Yes, of course.

Because, Mom...

Sarah and I are family.

And even though we are in New York and we don't get to see you as often as we

like, we're here for you always.

And you can count on us always, no matter what. We love you, Annie. And

here for you.

Right now, as a matter of fact.

So come on, forget about the crafts and the candles.

Come with us for pizza and a movie.

Oh, no, no, no. I have too much to do besides. You know what? I can hang out

with you and Sarah when you're back for Thanksgiving.

For the last time, it doesn't matter.

Who you called at the school or the hospital.

Sarah and I cannot come home for Thanksgiving weekend. That's why we're

this weekend.

So are you going to come with us? I can't. I told you I have too much to do.

Fine.

I'll just take everybody else out and tomorrow Sarah and I will leave and you

will have wasted a chance to spend the entire weekend with us just because it

wasn't when you wanted to spend the weekend with us.

Matt!

Matt, you and Sarah, you're going to miss a great family holiday. I mean,

everybody's going to be here.

Won't you at least consider coming home for Thanksgiving?

Mom, wake up.

Everyone will not be here for Thanksgiving. And you know what?

It may not be a great holiday either. It might not even be a good holiday.

Simon isn't coming home for Thanksgiving. He has to work.

And Mary and Carlos are going to Puerto Rico, and they've asked Ruthie to go

with them.

And I want to go.

So can I go?

I won't be here either. I'm going camping with Mac.

So?

It'll just be you and I and Sam and David and Kevin and Lucy. But that's

It is.

It's plenty of family.

Mom, Kevin says that Dad says that you're going crazy over Thanksgiving

year, and I wanted to go crazy over Thanksgiving this year.

I wanted to do the dinner. I thought you knew that I was going to do it this

year. It is important for me to do it this year.

Okay, what's going on?

Mom? Mom?

Mommy? Annie?

Say something.

You are not my family.

What's up with you guys?

I'm not hungry.

Can we go?

We're finished.

You didn't eat much.

We're not hungry, too.

Yeah.

You really should eat.

I'm too upset to eat.

We're not her family.

How can you eat?

What? I'm hungry.

Hey, if I lost my appetite every single time that there was a domestic

disturbance in my house, I was never eaten.

My parents fought constantly when I was growing up. They were always yelling and

calling each other names. It was either Adapt or Stars, so I chose Adapt.

Can you pass the soda, please?

So what do we do?

I don't know what we can do, but I'm hoping there's something Dad can do.

We should tell our parents.

No. No, not yet.

Why? Because I'm not ready to tell them. Well, I want to tell my parents, or at

least my dad.

You know, I think that after the initial shock, I think they're going to be

happy for us.

I'm not ready to tell my parents.

And if your parents know, they'll tell my parents.

So we say nothing.

Matt and Sarah know.

I mean, they thought we were going to tell my family this weekend. They flew

the way in for support.

Well, that's not my fault.

I didn't want anyone to know.

Well, so the point, the point is they know. And they're with my parents.

Well, they better not say anything.

No, this is our news, not their news.

Well, I didn't want to surprise my parents with our news on Thanksgiving.

That's why I thought we'd tell them this weekend.

Maybe they'd get over it by Thanksgiving.

Your parents are not going to get over this in a week.

Okay, I just want to wait until the holidays are over altogether.

Okay? Thanksgiving, Christmas.

And New Year's before we say anything.

You should get that.

Don't let the machine get it.

I have to go.

Hey, no.

Just stay, please.

We'll talk tonight.

Hi, this is Simon. Leave a message. I'll call you back.

Simon, this is your dad. Again.

Please call me when you get this or when you get any of the ten other messages.

I've already left. I need to talk to you about... Hey, I'm here. I'm sorry.

I was at work all day in the library. What's up?

I need you to come home for Thanksgiving.

I'm sorry, Dad. I can't. I should have told you, but I... I know you have to

work. Matt told me, but... You need to find someone to fill in for you at the

radio station. You have time. You can do this. I need you to do this. Dad, I

can't. I tried, okay? Everyone who can work for me is going out of town.

Try harder.

God, what's the big deal? It's just one Thanksgiving.

Well, the big deal is that your mother wants us all together this year, and I

don't think I can get everyone. I'm going to try to get as many Camdens as I

can, but you're on my can -get list.

Does Mom really care if I miss one stupid holiday?

Yes. Stop wasting time asking questions. Hang up. Call everyone you know. Get

someone to work for you on Thanksgiving Day, okay?

Look, you can drive down and back on the same day, but I need you here, happy

and eating turkey.

I can't.

Simon, you sound funny. Are you okay?

I'm fine, Dad. I just can't come home.

Please do this for me.

I'm counting on you. I need you.

Find a way to be here.

Thanks for not putting too much pressure on me, Dad.

Bye, Simon.

and program hats if you want.

I'm sorry. I lost my temper and was a bit upset earlier.

Did you eat?

We couldn't eat. No one could.

Honest, do you like doing crafts?

No, you don't. We love you and if you love that other stuff, we'll do it.

I have a better idea.

Why don't you come around here and sit on my lap and look at these pictures

me and then we can go downstairs and I'll make you a snack, okay?

Look at it.

Hello. Hi, Carlos.

It's Ruthie.

Ruthie, it's late. Really late.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I hope I didn't wake Charlie.

If Charlie can sleep in New York City, he can sleep through a phone ringing.

Is everything all right?

Do you need to talk to Mary? Because she's on a trip.

No, I don't need Mary.

Okay.

But everything is not all right.

What do you mean?

I can't go to Puerto Rico with you and Mary for Thanksgiving.

I want to, but...

I can't.

Ruthie, what's going on?

Hey, we're hungry.

Then let me make you guys some sandwiches.

We'll help you. We're good at making sandwiches.

Okay.

Mom, I want to apologize.

Oh, no. Let me apologize. I'm the one who went holiday crazy. I'm sorry.

We really...

would be here if we could. I understand that. We just can't fly here and back in

one day, and the best we could hope to get off would just be the one day, so

that's why we came this weekend when we could stay all weekend.

But I was thinking, why don't you and Dad and everyone else fly to New York

spend Thanksgiving with us there?

That way we could all be together, not in Glen Oak, but together.

That's sweet, but totally unnecessary. You know, I plan to have Thanksgiving

right here in this house with whatever family can be here.

I really feel like I'm letting you down.

Well, don't. No, you and Sarah go to school and work. And, you know, someday

soon, when your schedule permits, you'll both be here. Hopefully next year. Your

words say you're okay, but you don't look okay. You look upset. Is there

something else going on besides Thanksgiving?

No, I'm fine.

Really, I am.

You're really okay with her not being here for Thanksgiving?

Yes, I am.

What are you doing?

Well, I can't host Thanksgiving now.

It would be like taking something away from my mother. Neither one of us would

enjoy it.

But you could hang on to that stuff. You never know. Your mother might change

your mind.

I don't think so.

You saw how upset she was.

And I can't get Matt and Sarah, Simon, Mary, Carlos, and Charlie here for

Thanksgiving, but I can step aside and let her make the meal and decorate and

what she's always done.

What she clearly wants to do.

I'm sorry. I know you're looking forward to this. What with the acorns and all.

Someday we'll have our own house and we'll have our own family.

And you can have your Thanksgiving and do whatever you want.

But I guess as long as we're living here with your parents, it's going to be

your mother's Thanksgiving.

When we have our own house and our own family, am I going to end up like my mom

all sad because our children ended up making other plans or living far away or

spending the holidays with friends?

It doesn't make you a bad son or daughter for not spending time with your

on the holidays.

I'm not going to be spending Thanksgiving or Christmas with my mother

my sister.

I'm going to be here with you.

Do you want to go home?

Not this year, but next year. I think it would be nice if we spent some holiday

time with my family, too.

Yeah, we should.

I love you.

I love you, too.

Thanks.

Thanks for staying here and not making me choose between my family and your

family.

Guess I went a little holiday nuts on you, didn't I?

I don't know how I didn't figure it out sooner.

Figure what out sooner?

With all this rush to get the family together.

You never mentioned Ginger.

Why is that?

I don't know. I just... Well, if I invited Ginger, if I...

If I invited Ginger, it would remind me

that my father's gone.

This is the first Thanksgiving since your dad passed away. I'm such a fool.

no, you're not the fool.

I'm the fool. I can't get over my father's death.

A death of a parent isn't something you get over. It's just something you learn

to live with.

I thought of...

we could have the whole family together here for Thanksgiving, then I might be

able to forget that my father's not here.

It's going to be okay.

You, Thanksgiving, everything.

Do you have a minute?

Oh, sure. Come in.

I'm glad you stopped by on your way to bed because I was thinking that if you

want to go camping with Mac over Thanksgiving weekend, you should go.

But you'd rather I stay here?

Yes, I'll miss you, but I'll understand.

I don't know if you do understand.

Oh, is this you?

Yeah, when I was about nine.

And that's my mother.

She's very beautiful.

Yeah, she was.

That picture was taken right before my mom was diagnosed with cancer.

And that Thanksgiving turned out to be the last one we had together.

All of us together and healthy.

I don't know if you guys are rubbing off on me or what, but I accidentally heard

you and Reverend Camden talking tonight.

About my father.

And that's why you're sharing this picture with me. Most people don't

what it's like to lose a parent.

And it's not something I would wish on anybody.

To not be able to see my mom or call my mom or hug her or just be with her.

Or spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with her.

It's not just difficult.

Sometimes it's downright painful.

She's gone.

And all I have left of her is a few photos and a lot of really good

Unfortunately, around the holidays, the memories never make me feel better.

They make me miss her more.

And then I start to miss my dad and my aunt.

But it all starts with missing my mom.

I don't know if I'll go camping or not.

Maybe I'll stay here this year.

Give Thanksgiving one more try.

But no matter what I do, I just want you to know that I know what it feels like

to lose a parent.

And even though I'm just a kid,

I'm available to talk.

If you ever feel like talking to someone who's going through what you're going

through.

Have I told you lately how very glad I am that you've come to live with us?

Not lately.

Well, I am.

I am too.

And I want my dad to come home soon, but when he does, I'm going to miss all of

you.

Mom. Mom.

Mom. Mom.

Okay, who was that?

That was my mother.

She's going to be fine.

Whenever she hears Simon's news, she's going to be fine.

Eventually.

I just wish he'd get it over with. I wish he'd come home.

Mom.

I called Carlos last night and told him it was all right with your father and me

if you want to go to Puerto Rico. He's on his way. I thought you wanted

home this year for Thanksgiving.

I do, but I also know that you miss Mary and you want to spend Thanksgiving with

your sister and your brother -in -law and nephew. So I'll miss you, but I'll

understand.

What happened to Mom?

I think...

Well, why ask why?

We'll wait for you two outside.

Your turkey apron?

I'm passing on the torch, or in this case, my Thanksgiving turkey apron.

Really? Really.

That's the good news. The bad news is I want to have Thanksgiving tonight while

everyone's here.

Okay. I accept.

But will you help me, please?

Oh, come on. Let's do it together. It'll be fun.

I would really like you to help me.

Okay. We'll do it together.

Shall we? I got a church full of parishioners and a sermon to give.

Oh, wait.

Matt, you were right.

I was? A family is meant to be celebrated every day, not just on

Whenever a family can get together, like now, this is a celebration.

And I just wanted to savor the moment a bit.

You are all my family.

And I love all of you so much.

Love you too, Ma.

Love you. Love you.

Happy week before Thanksgiving.

It sure is.

Hey, it's Scott Wolfe. You can catch a fresh episode of Everwood next.