Original subtitles

[RADIO ANNOUNCER]:GOOD MORNING, WASHINGTON!

ONLY FOUR DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS, AND IT'S A COLD ONE OUT THERE!

BUT TO WARM US UP,

HERE ARE THE SOOTHING SOUNDS OF MR. MICHAEL BUBLE!

♪ SLEIGH BELLS RING

♪ ARE YOU LISTENIN'?

♪ IN THE LANE

♪ SNOW IS GLISTENIN'

♪ A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT

♪ WE'RE HAPPY TONIGHT

♪ WALKIN'IN A WINTER WONDERLAND ♪

♪ GONE AWAYIS THE BLUE BIRD ♪

♪ HERE TO STAYIS A NEW BIRD ♪

♪ TO SING A LOVE SONG

♪ WHILE WE STROLL ALONG

♪ WALKIN'IN A WINTER WONDERLAND ♪

♪ IN THE MEADOWWE CAN BUILD A SNOWMAN... ♪

-TOM.-HEY, HELEN.

CAN YOU TAKE US WITH YOU?

WITH A FAMILY LIKE YOURS,

I WOULD NEVERWANT TO GO ANYWHERE.

THESE GO UNDER THE TREE.

OH, YOUSHOULDN'T HAVE.

AND HERE'S THIS GUY.

MM-HMM.

WELL, WE'LL TAKEGOOD CARE OF HER FOR YOU.

YOU ALWAYS DO.

THANKS, HELEN.

I LOVED THAT ARTICLEON SOFAS YOU DID

IN THELADIES' WEEKLY.

OH, YOU'RE TOO KIND.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HELEN.

THANK YOU.

YOU TOO, TOM.

DO YOU REALLY NEEDALL THAT STUFF?

YOU KNOWI'M AN OVER-PACKER.

I KNOW YOU'REAN OVER-SPENDER.

UH, MR. POWERS?

YOU'RE MAX POWERS,THE MOVIE DIRECTOR, RIGHT?

GUILTY AS CHARGED.

WOW. I'VE SEENEVERY ONE OF YOUR FILMS.

CAN I GETA SELFIE?

SURE.

ARE YOU ANYONE?

NO.

[CLICK]

THANKS!

I STILL CANNOT BELIEVE

YOU TALKED ME INTO FLYINGALL THE WAY FROM L.A.

JUST TO RIDE THE TRAINBACK HOME WITH YOU.

HOW ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO WRITEA SCRIPT ABOUT A TRAIN?

LOOK, I REALLY APPRECIATETHE OPPORTUNITY,

BUT I THINK YOU SHOULDPROBABLY FIND SOMEBODY ELSE.

I MEAN,I'M A SCRIPT DOCTOR.

I HELP FIXOTHER PEOPLE'S MOVIES.

I DON'T THINK I'M READYTO WRITE ONE MYSELF.

ELEANOR...

YOU KNOW YOU'RE THE DAUGHTERTHAT I NEVER HAD.

YOU HAVE FOUR KIDS.

ALL BOYS,

AND SINCE YOU'RE LIKEA DAUGHTER TO ME,

I CAN TELL YOU,

YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE ISSUES.

MAX...

YOU'RE TOO GOOD

TO BE RE-WRITINGOTHER PEOPLE'S STORIES.

IT'S TIME YOU PUTYOUR NAME ON SOMETHING,

AND WHAT A BETTER WAYTO START

THAN ROMANCEON A TRAIN?

OKAY...

I FEEL SOMETHING MAGICALHAPPENING FOR YOU

THIS CHRISTMAS EVE.

THAT'S OUR WEDDING DAY!

IS IT?

-HOW DID YOU KNOW?-OH, MY GOODNESS!

[LAUGHING]

[♪♪]

LOOKS LIKE WE'LL BELEAVING RIGHT ON TIME.

THAT'S GOOD.

YES, CERTAINLY IS.

PEOPLE RELY ON US,YOU KNOW.

YOU WORKFOR THE TRAINS?

DID,

FOR MOST OF MY LIFE.

I'M JUST A PASSENGER NOW.

YOU RIDE OFTEN?

WELL, IT'S BEEN A WHILE...

10 YEARS.

OH, THATIS A WHILE.

YEAH.

ACTUALLY, I THOUGHTI'D NEVER GET ON ONE AGAIN.

AH. TOO MANY STOPS?

TOO MANY STOPS, YOU MIGHT SAY.

TOM LANGDON.

HERRICK HIGGINS.

MY FRIENDSCALL ME HIGGINS.

HIGGINS IT IS.

[PHONE RINGS]

-EXCUSE ME.-YEAH.

HIGGINS.

HI, LELIA.

I WAS JUST ABOUT TO CALL YOU.

PLEASE TELL MEYOU'RE NOT CANCELING.

NO, NO, I'LL BE THERE.

CHRISTMAS DAY,JUST LIKE WE PLANNED.

IN FACT, I'M LEAVING NOW...ON A TRAIN.

WHAT?

I'M TAKING THE TRAIN.

ALL THE WAY TO LOS ANGELES?

YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS.

IT'S FOR A STORY.

SO YOU NEED TO BE ON A TRAIN

TO WRITE A STORY?

YES, IT'S A STORYABOUT CHRISTMAS ON A TRAIN.

[SIGHS]

I'LL BE THERE. I PROMISE.

I HOPE SO.

RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS?

EXCUSE ME?

I'M SORRY, I JUST--

I COULDN'T HELPBUT OVERHEAR.

WAS THAT YOUR WIFE?

NO.

GIRLFRIEND, THEN.

HOW MUCH DID YOUACTUALLY OVERHEAR?

OH, YOU KNOW, JUST...LIKE, A TAD.

A TAD?

EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING.

BUT DON'T WORRY.

IT'LL ALL COME OUTON THE TRAIN.

IT ALWAYS DOES.

ALL ABOARD!

THERE'S A GUY DOWN THEREWRITING A STORY.

-ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN!-OH!

YES. OH, YES, SORRY.

WELCOME ABOARD.

WHAT'S THAT,A CHRISTMAS CAROL?

YES.

I HAVEN'T READ THAT ONEIN A LONG TIME.

IT'S MY WIFE'S.

I PROMISED HER THATI'D RE-READ THE CLASSICS.

A LOFTY GOAL.

AFRAID I HAVEN'TSTARTED YET.

WELCOME ABOARD, MR. KELLY.

WELCOME ABOARD,MR... LANGDON.

THANK YOU, AND IT'S TOM.

TOM. I HEARYOU'RE WRITING A STORY

ABOUT THECHRISTMAS TRAIN.

WORD TRAVELS FASTAROUND HERE.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA.

YOU'RE INCOMPARTMENT D.

GREAT.

YOU'RE RIGHT NEXT TO ME.

GOOD.

GREAT.

DON'T WORRY,YOU'LL GET TO KNOW AGNES,

WHETHER YOU WANT TOOR NOT.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

HEY.

DON'T TELL MEYOU ALREADY STARTED WRITING.

WELL, IF YOU CONSIDERSTARING AT A BLANK PAGE WRITING,

THEN YES.

I HOPEYOU'RE NOT PLANNING

TO DO THIS WHOLE THINGFROM YOUR ROOM.

THE INSPIRATION IS OUT THERE,NOT IN HERE.

MAX, WE HAVEN'T EVENLEFT THE STATION YET.

EXACTLY,

SO LIVE A LITTLE.

TAKE IT IN.

IS THIS HOW IT'S GOING TO BETHE WHOLE WAY?

I'VE BEEN MAKING MOVIESFOR A LONG TIME,

AND YOU KNOW THE ONE WORDTHAT STARTS EVERYTHING OFF?

"ACTION"?

NO.

"HELLO."

I'LL BE INTHE LOUNGE CAR,

CAVORTINGWITH MY FELLOW PASSENGERS.

[LAUGHS] OKAY.

HAVE FUN.

[CHUCKLES]

"AND SO IT BEGINS,

"A 3,000-MILE TREKACROSS AMERICA

"IN FOUR DAYS.

I HOPE THERE'S A STORY HERE."

DO I HAVE TO PAY A TOLLTO PASS THROUGH?

SORRY.

OH, DON'T BE.

IT'S NICE TO SEE

TWO YOUNG PEOPLE

WHO CAN'T LIVEWITHOUT EACH OTHER.

AND WE WON'T, WILL WE?

WE'RE GETTING MARRIEDON THE TRAIN.

CONGRATULATIONS!

IS THE WHOLE WEDDING PARTYON BOARD?

NO,

JUST US.

WELL, THAT'S ALL YOU NEED,RIGHT?

I'M STEVE, AND THAT'S JULIE.

TOM,

AND THIS IS AGNES.

CONGRATULATIONS!

YEAH, EXCUSE ME.

PARDON ME.

-HELLO.-HELLO.

HI.

YEP... AGNES.

AND REMEMBER,TUESDAY IS YOUR LUCKY DAY.

WHAT'S MY LUCKY DAY?

HAVE A SEAT AND I'LL TELL YOU.

YOU'RE A PSYCHIC?

I KNOW THINGS.

YOU COULD CALL IT INTUITION.

I'M KIND OFMORE OF A FACT GUY.

HMM.

THAT MIGHT CHANGEALONG THE WAY.

[BARTENDER]:WHAT ARE YOU DRINKING?

WHAT DO YOU GOT?

UH, WE GOT SANTA-TINI,

THE RED RUDOLPH,THE GRINCH...

WHAT'S IN THE GRINCH?

DRINK ONE

AND YOU'LL THINK EVERY DAYIS CHRISTMAS.

I'LL HAVE A GRINCH.

MAKE THAT TWO.

HEY, IS THAT THE ORIGINAL

P42 CAP ENGINE?

16 CYLINDERS,4,250 HORSEPOWER?

RIGHT YOU ARE.

WHAT THAT THINGCOULDN'T OUTRUN,

IT WOULD RUN RIGHT OVER.

YOU'RE A TRAIN MAN, HUH?

AH, WELL, MY DADHAD A THING FOR THE TRAINS.

MINE TOO.

HE PUT ME ON ONEWHEN I WAS 16

AND TOLD ME, "DON'T COME BACK

UNTIL YOU MAKE SOMETHINGOF YOURSELF."

MAX POWERS.

THE DIRECTOR?

GUILTY AS CHARGED.

I'M A BIG FAN.

TOM LANGDON.

TOM, WHEREARE YOU HEADING?

L.A.

I'M GUESSING

YOU'RE NOT IN ANY BIG HURRYTO GET THERE?

WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?

YOU ARE TAKING A TRAIN.

RIGHT.

WELL, I'M ACTUALLY ON BOARDLOOKING FOR A STORY.

YOU'RE A WRITER?

UM, A JOURNALIST,

OR AT LEAST I WAS.

I WAS A WAR CORRESPONDENT,WAY BACK WHEN.

NOW THE MOSTDANGEROUS THING I COVER

IS THE HAZARDOUS PITFALLSOF HOME BARBECUING.

WHO'S THIS ONE FOR?

THIS ONE'S FOR MY DAD...

HIS LAST WISH.

MM.

MARK TWAINIS A DISTANT RELATIVE,

AND APPARENTLY,

HE WANTED TO WRITE A STORYABOUT TRAIN TRAVEL

AND NEVER DID,

SO HOPEFULLY I CAN.

THERE'S SOMETHINGABOUT A TRAIN, RIGHT?

THERE IS.

MY NEXT MOVIE'SGOING TO TAKE PLACE ON ONE.

OH, WOW.

YOU KNOW,I JUST HAD A BRAINSTORM.

YOU AND MY WRITERSHOULD TEAM UP,

I MEAN, JUSTFOR THE RESEARCH PART--

SWAP NOTES,STORIES YOU'VE HEARD,

AND THE PULSE OF AMERICAON A TRAIN.

WELL, THANK YOUFOR THE OFFER,

BUT, UH...

I'M MORE ACCUSTOMEDTO WORKING ALONE.

OF COURSE,I'LL PAY YOU.

NO, NO, IT'S NOT THAT.

I DID HAVE A PARTNER ONCE,

AND, WELL, IT JUSTDIDN'T WORK OUT THAT WELL.

YEAH, I UNDERSTAND.

I HAD A FEW PARTNERS MYSELF,

BUT AT LEASTJOIN US FOR DINNER TONIGHT.

HOW COULD I SAY NOTO MAX POWERS?

TRUST ME. YOU CAN'T.

ALL RIGHT, MAX.

GOOD TO MEET YOU.

"I JUST WANT TO BEYOUR FRIEND."

[PHONE RINGS]

HOLD ON,I NEED TO TAKE THIS.

HELLO, TOM.

HEY. LISTEN, I FEEL BADABOUT OUR CONVERSATION BEFORE.

I DIDN'T THINKMY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION

WOULD UPSET YOU.

WELL, IT DID.

I MEAN, YOU HAVEFOUR DAYS TO SPEND

WITH YOUR COVERED WAGON,

BUT NO TIME FOR ME?

WE REALLY NEEDTO DISCUSS THIS RELATIONSHIP.

I WAS THINKINGTHE SAME THING.

I AM SO HAPPYYOU FEEL THE SAME WAY.

YEAH, I WAS HOPINGWE COULD TALK ABOUT IT

WHEN I GET THERE?

GREAT.

OKAY, GREAT,I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

BUT NOT TOO SOON, I GUESS.

[♪♪]

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

HEY, TOM!

HAVE A SEAT.

THANK YOU, MAX.

MY WRITER IS RUNNINGA BIT BEHIND.

A FEW HOURS ON THE TRAIN,

SHE'S ALREADYGOT WRITER'S BLOCK.

[CHUCKLING]

MERRY CHRISTMAS,GENTLEMEN.

THANK YOU, ROXANNE.

LET ME SEE...

FOR YOU.

OH, I NEEDED A PEN.

MINE'S GONE AWOL.

YEAH.

OH, HERE SHE IS.

THIS IS MY WRITER,ELEANOR CARTER.

YOU TWO KNOW EACH OTHER?

UH...

-YEAH.-A LITTLE. NO.

NOT REALLY.

IT WAS A LIFETIME AGO.

AND YET NOT LONG ENOUGH.

ELLIE...

NO ONE CALLS ME THATANYMORE.

-UM...-TAKE A SEAT.

DO I HAVE TO?

I'LL GO.

UH-UH, NOBODY'SGOING ANYWHERE.

WHATEVER WENT ON

BETWEEN YOU TWO

IN THIS "OTHER LIFETIME,"

THAT CAN BESETTLED HERE.

BESIDES,

IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS.

I SEE YOU STILL HAVETHAT OLD NOTEBOOK.

I SEE YOU'VE GIVEN YOURS UP.

NOBODY USES PAPERANYMORE.

AH, IT ALWAYS WORKED FOR ME.

[MAX]:IPADS, PAPER...

[CHUCKLES]

WHATEVER GETSTHE STORY OUT, RIGHT?

FUNNY,

I NEVER WOULD HAVE PICTURED YOUIN HOLLYWOOD.

AND I NEVER

PICTURED THE MAN WHO WASGOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD

WRITING ABOUT"HIS AND HER CLOSETS."

OH, SO YOU READ IT.

IN THE WAITING ROOMOF MY DENTIST'S, YEAH.

YOU KNOW,

THE INTERESTING THINGABOUT "HIS AND HER CLOSETS"

IS THE "HER"DOESN'T GET UP AND RUN OFF

WITHOUT EXPLANATION.

AND THE "HIS" ALWAYSSTAYS SHUT AND EMPTY.

YOU KNOW, I'M GOINGTO GET OFF AT THE NEXT STOP.

THERE YOU GO,RUNNING OFF AGAIN.

[MAX]: I'VE NEVERSEEN HER LIKE THAT.

I'M AFRAID I...I BRING OUT THE WORST IN HER.

I SHOULD GO AFTER HER...

UNLESS YOU WANT TO.

NO, I'M AFRAIDIT'S A LITTLE LATE FOR THAT.

[MAX]:CAN I COME IN?

SURE, MAX.

YOU OKAY?

YEAH.

JUST KIND OF CAUGHT MEOFF GUARD, YOU KNOW?

HMM.

HE'S THE ONEYOU TOLD ME ABOUT?

THE ONE THAT BROKE YOUR HEART.

I'M SORRY.

I HAD NO IDEA.

MAX...HOW COULD YOU?

ANYWAY, IT'S ANCIENT HISTORY.

HOW LONG WERE YOU TOGETHER?

SIX YEARS.

THAT'S A LONG TIME.

YEAH.

WE MET ON ASSIGNMENT,

TRAVELED THE GLOBE TOGETHER,

FROM ONE WAR-TORN COUNTRYTO THE NEXT,

TRYING TO CHANGE THE WORLD.

HMM.

ANYWAY, THAT KIND OF THINGTAKES ITS TOLL, YOU KNOW?

BEING IN LOVE?

I JUST COULDN'T LIVE LIKE THATANYMORE.

APPARENTLY, HE COULD.

HMM...

BUT HE'S NOT NOW.

THAT DOESN'T MATTER.

I LEFT ALL THAT BEHINDWHEN I CAME TO WORK FOR YOU.

SO WORKING FOR ME

WAS AN ESCAPEFROM YOUR FEELINGS.

HOLLYWOOD ISN'T REAL.

MOVIES HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.

[CHUCKLES]

WELL, MAYBE THIS IS FATE.

NO, IT'S NOT.

THIS IS BAD LUCK,THAT'S ALL.

TOM LANGDON

WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKEOF MY LIFE.

YOU, UH, SEEANYTHING OUT THERE?

JUST A DARK NIGHT.

MY WIFE USED TO SAY,

"THERE NEVER WAS A PROBLEM

THAT COULD DEFEAT SUNRISEOR CHRISTMAS."

I'LL REMEMBER THAT.

IS SHE TRAVELING WITH YOU?

NO.

SHE PASSEDA FEW MONTHS BACK.

I'M SO SORRY.

WE WOULD HAVEBEEN MARRIED 40 YEARS.

A LIFETIME.

MM.

I'M GUESSING

THAT YOU'RE HAVINGA PRETTY ROUGH NIGHT, TOO.

THE DINING CAR TABLESARE PRETTY CLOSE.

I SAW SOMEONEON THE TRAIN TONIGHT

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE AGAIN.

ELLIE.

"ELEANOR."

AND SHE HATES ME.

SHE DID SEEMA LITTLE UPSET.

YEAH.

WE DIDN'T HAVETHE YEARS TOGETHER YOU HAD,

BUT WE WERE HAPPY.

I THOUGHT WE WERE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

WE WERE IN JERUSALEM,COVERING A STORY,

AND OUT OF THE BLUE,

SHE SAYSSHE WANTS TO GO HOME.

SHE ASKED METO GO WITH HER.

SHE WOULDN'T EXPLAIN.

I WAS STUBBORN.

I WATCHED HERGET ON A TRAIN

AND DISAPPEAR FROM MY LIFE.

TOM LANGDON.

JOHN KELLY.

[♪♪]

[TOM]:CHUGGING DOWN THE TRACKS

IN 2,000 TONS OF PURE STEEL...

[ELEANOR]:TRAPPED IN A TIN CAN...

[TOM]:I ALWAYS HOPED I'D SEE HER AGAIN.

[ELEANOR]:WITH THE ONE PERSON

I NEVER WANTED TO SEE.

[TOM]:WHY DO I SUDDENLY FEEL

LIKE A WAR CORRESPONDENT AGAIN?

[ELEANOR]:I NEED TO GET OFF THIS TRAIN.

[P.A.]:TRAIN NUMBER 17 TO NEWARK

NOW LEAVING BAY 2.

A WINTER STORMIS PUSHING INTO THE ROCKIES.

I THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE ONAN EXTRA ENGINE

IN LA JUNTA.

I'LL PASS THAT ALONG.

THANKS, HIGGINS.

THAT HIGGINS...

ONCE A RAILROAD MAN,ALWAYS A RAILROAD MAN.

WELL, HE SHOULDSTILL BE ONE.

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED,

HE KNOWS MORE ABOUT TRAINSTHAN ANYONE I HAVE EVER MET.

WHY DID HE QUIT?

OH, HE DIDN'T QUIT.

THEY LET HIM GO.

HEY!

NORMAN! HOW'SYOUR MOM DOING?

HOW DOES SHE KNOW EVERYONE?

OH, SHE'S BEENRIDING THE TRAIN

JUST ABOUTAS LONG AS I HAVE,

AND I'VE HADA COURTSHIP WITH THIS ONE

FOR 20 YEARS.

ROXANNE?

I SEEM TO HAVE LOSTA CHARM BRACELET.

HAS ANYONE TURNED ONE IN?

WELL, NO, NOT YET,MISS LARSON,

BUT I'LL KEEPA LOOKOUT.

THANK YOU.

NO PROBLEM.

HAVE OTHER PASSENGERSREPORTED THINGS MISSING?

YOU TOO?

WELL, IT'S JUSTAN OLD PEN.

I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYONEWOULD TAKE IT.

IT'S NOT WORTH ANYTHING,

EXCEPT TO ME.

WELL, I'LL KEEPA LOOKOUT.

THANKS.

WE LEAVEIN AN HOUR.

DON'T MAKE MEHAVE TO COME FIND YOU.

OKAY.

["DECK THE HALLS" PLAYING,INSTRUMENTAL]

[♪♪]

EVERYTHING OKAY?

IT'S TERRIBLE.

IT'S JUSTA LITTLE SNAG.

OUR MINISTERWAS SUPPOSED TO BOARD HERE,

AND NOW HE'S NOT.

HE SLIPPED ON THE ICEAND HE BROKE HIS ARM.

IT'S A SIGN.

IT SOUNDS LIKE WINTERIN THE MIDWEST.

THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BETHE HAPPIEST TIME OF OUR LIVES.

[STEVE]:IT STILL CAN BE.

NOT IF YOUR PARENTSHAVE THEIR WAY.

YOUR PARENTS DON'T APPROVE?

STEVE'S FATHERDOESN'T THINK I'M GOOD ENOUGH.

THEY'RE HIGH-SOCIETYWASHINGTON,

AND I'M JUST SOME GIRLFROM SMALL-TOWN KENTUCKY.

I WORK AT HIS FIRM.

HE SAID IT WOULD BEA BAD CAREER MOVE

IF I DIDN'T STOPSEEING HER.

WELL, 20 YEARS FROM NOW,

YOU'LL BE MORE DISAPPOINTEDBY THE THINGS YOU DIDN'T DO

THAN THE THINGS YOU DID.

IS THAT FROMPERSONAL EXPERIENCE?

NO.

THAT'S FROM MARK TWAIN.

YOU KNOW,

MY GRANDMOTHERDID MARRY MY GRANDDAD

IN A TRAIN STATION.

[STEVE]: SEE, EVERYTHINGIS GOING TO BE JUST FINE.

DID YOU, UH,GET YOUR FLIGHT OUT?

I'M WORKING ON IT.

I HEARD SOMEWHEREYOU GOT MARRIED.

AND DIVORCED.

OH. SORRY.

IT'S OKAY.

AND I TAKE ITYOU NEVER GOT MARRIED?

NO, I'M SEEING SOMEONEOFF AND ON, IN L.A.

MM-HMM?

I GUESS

SINCE THE CHANCESOF US EVER SEEING EACH OTHER

AGAIN

ARE PRETTY SLIM,

CAN YOU TELL ME NOW?

TELL YOU WHAT?

WE WERE SO HAPPY.

YOU JUST...WALKED OUT ON ME.

IS THAT HOW YOU REMEMBER IT?

THAT'S HOW IT WAS.

I KNEW THIS WASGOING TO HAPPEN

AS SOON AS I SAW YOU.

I-- I KNEW--

NO, ELLIE,I'M NOT TRYING TO--

IT'S ELEANOR.

FORGIVE MEFOR LIVING IN THE PAST

WHEN YOU WERE JUST ELLIE.

WE DIDN'T EVEN FIGHT.

YOU JUST LEFT.

IT'S NOT LIKEI SUDDENLY CHANGED.

NO, TOM, YOU DIDN'T.

YOU NEVER CHANGED.

I GUESS I DID.

♪ DECK THE HALLSWITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY ♪

♪ FA-LA-LA-LA-LALA-LA-LA-LA ♪

♪ 'TIS THE SEASONTO BE JOLLY ♪

♪ FA-LA-LA-LA-LALA-LA-LA-LA... ♪

[♪♪]

[TRAIN CROSSING BELLS RINGING]

YOU'RE UP LATE.

YEAH. YOU TOO, AGNES.

OH, I--I NEVER SLEEP.

I WOULDN'T WANTTO MISS OUT ON ANYTHING.

AND I'M SURE YOU HAVEN'T.

I'M SORRY HOW THINGS WENTWITH ELEANOR,

IN THE DINING CAR.

NO SECRETSON A TRAIN,

ESPECIALLY THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN.

YEAH, I'M STARTING TO GET THAT.

I'VE SEEN ENOUGH TO KNOW

THAT TWO PEOPLE

WHO CAN MAKE EACH OTHERTHAT MISERABLE

MUST HAVE REALLY BEEN IN LOVE.

SO ARE YOU SPENDING SOME TIMEWITH FAMILY

FOR THE HOLIDAYS,

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE?

NOT NECESSARILY.

SO... YOU'RE JUSTRIDING THE TRAIN?

IS THAT A PROBLEM?

UH, NO. NO.

JUST MAKING CONVERSATION.

YOU HAVE A TREE.

WOULDN'T BE CHRISTMASWITHOUT ONE.

GOOD NIGHT, AGNES.

GOOD NIGHT.

THANKS.

[♪♪]

♪ CHRISTMAS IS ONLYA WEEK AND A FEW DAYS AWAY ♪

♪ AND YOU HAVEN'TSEEN YOUR FOLKS ♪

♪ SINCE THANKSGIVING DAY

[♪♪]

♪ I'LL SAY ITLOUD AND CLEAR ♪

♪ I'LL SAY IT PLAIN

♪ YOU WON'T WANTTO MISS THIS YEAR... ♪

GOOD MORNING, TOM!

[MAX]: GREAT NEWS.

ELEANOR CHANGED HER MIND.

SHE'S DECIDEDTO STAY ON

AND CARVE OUT THE STORYWITH YOU.

ACTUALLY,ALL THE FLIGHTS ARE BOOKED.

EVERYTHING'S BOOKED SOLIDFOR CHRISTMAS.

WELL, I LIKE TO SEE ITANOTHER WAY.

MAX POWERSALWAYS GETS WHAT HE WANTS.

[CHUCKLING]THAT'S RIGHT.

PLEASE.

SO YOU CAN CO-EXISTON THIS TRAIN

FOR A FEW DAYS.

ALTHOUGH IT DOES GETA LITTLE SMALLER

THE LONGERYOU'RE ON IT.

LIFE IS FULLOF FUNNY COINCIDENCES.

YEAH.

I WENT TO LUNCH

IN AN EXPENSIVE CAFEIN BEVERLY HILLS

A FEW MONTHS AGO,

AND WHO'S THERE?

NOT ONE, NOT TWO,BUT ALL THREE

OF MY EX-WIVES.

APPARENTLY,THEY MEET EVERY TUESDAY

TO TALK ABOUT HOW AWFULIT WAS TO BE MARRIED TO ME.

YEAH, SORT OF LIKEA BOOK CLUB.

SO, TELL ME,

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNEDON THE TRAIN SO FAR?

WELL...

AH.

THAT'S AGNES.

SHE SEEMS TO KNOW EVERYBODYAND HAVE NO DESTINATION.

SHE'S EITHER VERY NOSY,

OR THERE'S SOMETHINGELSE GOING ON.

MM.

AND, UH...

THAT'S MR. JOHN KELLY.

HE'S LOST HIS WIFEAND, I SUPPOSE, HIMSELF.

MISTY,

WHO OFFERS UPRANDOM INFORMATION

AND CALLS ITINTUITION.

OH, AND WE HAVEA LOVE STORY ON BOARD, YEAH.

STEVE AND JULIE.

THEY'RE ELOPING.

HE'S BIG-CITY SOCIETY,

SHE'S SMALL-TOWN KENTUCKY,

PARENTS DON'T APPROVE,

AND THEY'VE LOSTTHEIR MINISTER

AND THEY HAVE NO ONETO MARRY THEM.

ALL OF THAT IN ONE DAY?

HAS IT ONLY BEENONE DAY?

[CHUCKLES]

[WHISPERING] OH, AND...

WE MIGHT HAVEA THIEF ON BOARD.

I CAN'T FIND MY SUNGLASSES.

BECAUSE YOU LEAVE THEMEVERYWHERE.

OR BECAUSE

SOMEONE TOOK THEM.

OR YOU'RE CREATING A STORYWHEN THERE ISN'T ONE.

I GUESS WE'LL SEE.

GOOD MORNING, TOM.

OH, HEY, JULIE, STEVE.

MORNING.

HEY.THIS IS ELEANOR CARTER...

HI.

AND MR. MAX POWERS.

[JULIE]: MAX POWERS,

WE HEARDYOU WERE ON BOARD.

WE'VE SEEN ALL YOUR MOVIES.

I HOPE YOU SEE MY NEXT ONE.

ELEANOR'S WRITING IT.

[JULIE]:OH, HOW EXCITING.

YOU KNOW,IT SO HAPPENS

THAT I'M NOT JUSTA DIRECTOR.

I'M ALSO LICENSEDTO PERFORM WEDDINGS.

SINCE WHEN?

YOU DON'T KNOWEVERYTHING ABOUT ME.

[MAX CHUCKLES]

IF YOU'RE STILL LOOKINGFOR SOMEONE TO OFFICIATE,

I'D BE HONORED.

AND WHAT IF I THROWTHE WEDDING?

FOOD, FLOWERS, MUSIC...

IT COULD BEA MAX POWERS PRODUCTION.

[STEVE]: MR. POWERS,

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

WE'D SAY YES.

AND THANK YOU!

[JULIE]:THIS IS WONDERFUL.

MY PARENTSGOT MARRIED ON A TRAIN.

I THOUGHTYOU SAID GRANDPARENTS.

OH. YEAH.

THAT'S WHAT I MEANT.

I'M JUST SO EXCITED,I CAN BARELY TALK.

OH, I HOPE YOU REMEMBERHOW TO SAY "I DO".

SO YOU'RE FROM KENTUCKY?I DON'T HEAR AN ACCENT.

AH, WELL,WE MOVED AROUND A LOT

WHEN I WAS A KID.

[SIGHS]

ANYWAY, I FEEL LIKETHE LUCKIEST GIRL IN WORLD.

YOU AND STEVEMAKE A WONDERFUL COUPLE.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

I JUST WISH STEVE'S PARENTSFELT THAT WAY TOO.

YOU KNOW, TOM AND IWENT THROUGH SOMETHING SIMILAR.

CITY BOY, COUNTRY GIRL.

WE COULDN'T HAVE BEENMORE DIFFERENT,

BUT NONE OF THATMATTERED,

AND IT SHOULDN'TFOR YOU GUYS.

AND YOU'RE STILLTOGETHER.

OH, NO, WE'RE NOT,

BUT WE WEREFOR VERY A LONG TIME.

MY POINT IS,

IF YOU WANTTO MAKE IT WORK,

YOU CAN.

[MAX]:COME ON, YOU TWO.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS WEDDING...

ON CHRISTMAS EVE DAY,

WE'RE GOING TO BE

IN A LITTLE PLACECALLED LA JUNTA...

YOU BELIEVE ALL THAT?

I DID WHEN I WAS HER AGE.

I KIND OFSTILL REMEMBER IT DIFFERENTLY,

AND FOR THE RECORD,

I WANT YOU TO KNOW,

I ALWAYS LIKEDTHAT YOU WERE A COUNTRY GIRL.

TOM, WHY ARE YOUON THIS TRAIN, REALLY?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

YOU WERE ALWAYS THE GUY

WHO WANTED TO GET THEREAS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE,

EXCEPT I MADE A PROMISETO MY DAD.

OH.

HOW IS YOUR DAD?

HE DIED A WHILE BACK.

OH, NO.

I'M SORRY.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.THANKS.

HE ALWAYSREALLY LIKED YOU.

I LIKED HIM, TOO.

HEY, IS YOUR MOM OKAY?HOW'S SHE DOING?

OH, HEALTHY AS A HORSE,

AND STILL CRITICIZINGMY EVERY MOVE.

SHE NEVER REALLYLIKED ME, HUH?

NO,

BUT SHE DOESN'T LIKE ANYBODY,SO...

RIGHT.

[EXCITED CHEER FROM PASSENGERS]

YOUR MOVE.

IF YOU HAVE ONE.

[WHISPERS] WHO'S HE?

OH, HE'S REALLYFULL OF HIMSELF.

HE SAYS HE'S A GRANDCHESS MASTER.

LIKES TO RIDE THE RAILSAND PLAY AND STAY SHARP,

BUT IF YOU ASK ME,

HE JUST LIKESEMBARRASSING PEOPLE.

EXCUSE ME.

CHECKMATE.

WHAT WAS THAT, EIGHT MOVES?

WHAT DOES IT MATTER?

IT WAS EIGHT.

AND IN YOUR SCRIPT?

THE CHESS MASTERGETS ANNIHILATED

IN THE FIRST ACT.

[CHESS MASTER]:WHO'S NEXT?

STATE CHAMPIONFOUR YEARS RUNNING.

GOOD FOR YOU.

SO WHO'D YOUEND UP MARRYING?

OH, WELL,

HE WAS PRETTY MUCHTHE POLAR OPPOSITE OF YOU.

OH, I'LL TRY NOTTO TAKE THAT PERSONALLY.

IT DIDN'T LAST LONG.

AND WHAT ABOUTYOUR LONG-DISTANCE THING?

PROBABLY BETTERIF IT STAYS LONG DISTANCE.

WE SEE EACH OTHER

JUST A COUPLE OF TIMESA YEAR,

AND THAT SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH.

HMM.

CHECKMATE AGAIN!

[CHESS MASTER CHUCKLES]

ISN'T THERE ANYBODYOUT THERE

WHO CAN GIVE MEA GOOD GAME?

YEAH, SHE WILL.

WHAT? NO, NO, NO,I HAVEN'T PLAYED IN YEARS.

I CAN'T--I DON'T WANT TO--

I'M PRETTY SUREYOU'LL REMEMBER.

UH, YOU DO REALIZETHIS ISN'T CHECKERS.

OH.

LUCKY FOR ME,

I'M NOT ANY GOODAT CHECKERS.

[CHUCKLES]LADIES FIRST.

OH. THANK YOU.

LET'S SEE...

DID YOU JUST THROW HERINTO THE LION'S DEN?

NOPE.

[QUIETLY]SHE LEARNED THE GAME

FROM A RABBIIN TEL AVIV.

ONE STRATEGY.

SHE CAN TELLIN THREE MOVES

WHETHER HER OPPONENTHAS BITTEN.

IT USUALLY WORKS BESTON THE BEST PLAYERS,

BECAUSETHEY'RE OVERCONFIDENT.

MM.

CHECK.

AND THAT WOULD BECHECKMATE.

[SNAPPING]MERRY CHRISTMAS.

SPOIL SPORT.

-YEAH!-YEAH!

THAT WAS AWESOME.

THANK YOU.

YOU REALLY NAILEDTHAT GUY!

[LAUGHING] DID YOUSEE HIS FACE?

OH--

YOU SEE ANYTHINGOUT THERE?

JUST KEEPING AN EYEON THE WEATHER.

OLD HABIT.

[MAX]: TOM!

MISTY TELLS ME

MY NEXT MOVIE'SGOING TO BE A HIT.

WELL, AREN'T THEY ALL?

IT'S A LOVELY WATCH.

SOUVENIRFROM ONE OF YOUR MOVIES?

HOW DO YOU DO THIS, MISTY?

MAY I?

"TO MAXFROM YOUR DEVOTED CAST."

WELL,

I'VE GOT A WEDDING TO PLAN.

GIVE IT A SHOT.

YOU HAVE NOTHINGTO LOSE.

OKAY.

CAN I BORROW THATA MOMENT?

SURE.

THIS BOOKHAS BEEN A LOT OF PLACES.

HENCETHE CRACKED LEATHER COVER.

LAST TIMEYOU WERE ON A TRAIN,

YOU LOSTTHE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE.

GOOD GUESS.

THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE.

A SURPRISE IS COMING YOUR WAY.

I LIKE SURPRISES.

I'M NOT SUREYOU'LL LIKE THIS ONE.

WELL, OKAY.

THANKS.

WHAT ARE YOU DRINKING, TOM?

I'LL HAVE WHAT HE'S HAVING.

HOT CHOCOLATE COMING UP.

ONE CANDY CANE OR TWO?

YOU'D BETTER MAKE IT TWO.

ANY PROGRESS?

NO.

STILL ON PAGE ONE.

HOW ARE THINGSWITH YOU AND ELEANOR?

STILL ON PAGE ONE.

HERE YOU GO.

I ADDED SOME WHIPPED CREAMON THE HOUSE.

THE HOLIDAYS AND ALL...

WHAT HAPPENEDTO YOUR MODEL TRAIN?

OH...GOOD QUESTION.

IT WASN'T HERE

WHEN I CAME INTHIS MORNING.

I ASKED MAINTENANCE,

BUT THEY HAVEN'T SEEN ITEITHER.

A TOAST, THEN.

ALL RIGHT.

HERE'S TO FINDINGTHINGS THAT WE'VE LOST.

TO FINDING THINGS

WE'VE LOST.

OH, HI, ROXANNE.

TONIGHT'S MENU.

OH. THANK YOU.

[CLEARS THROAT]

HOW'S THE STORYGOING?

MM, ACTUALLY,I'M A LITTLE STUCK.

DO YOU MIND?

UH, NO. COME IN.

ONE OF THE LITTLE BENEFITSOF TRAIN TRAVEL

THAT YOU DON'T GETON A PLANE...

COME HERE.

OH, WOW.

THAT FEELS AMAZING.

YEAH.

I JUST LOVE LOOKING OUTAT THIS LAND

WITHOUT A PIECE OF GLASSOR ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WAY.

HOW'D YOU COME TO WORKON A TRAIN?

IT'S PRETTY MUCHIN MY BLOOD.

MOST EVERYONE I GREW UP WITHWORKS ON THE TRAIN,

BUT THIS ONEIS SPECIAL.

THERE'S SOMETHINGABOUT THIS CHRISTMAS TRAIN,

I DON'T KNOW

IF IT'S THE MAGICOF THE SEASON OR WHAT,

BUT IT HAS A WAY

OF TURNING STRANGERSINTO FAMILY.

I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ALL TRAINSWERE THE SAME.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

THIS ONE IS SPECIAL.

IT BROUGHT YOU AND TOMBACK TOGETHER AGAIN, AFTER ALL.

THAT'S RIGHT, HONEY,EVERYONE KNOWS.

ANCIENT HISTORY.

WELL, YOU KNOWWHAT THEY SAY ABOUT HISTORY...

IT HAS A WAYOF REPEATING ITSELF.

THEY ALSO SAY

NEVER MAKETHE SAME MISTAKE TWICE.

WELL, THEY ALSO SAYCHRISTMAS COMES ONCE A YEAR,

BUT TRUE LOVE MAY ONLY COMEONCE IN A LIFETIME.

WHO SAYS THAT?

ME.

I'M JUST NOT SUREI NEED LOVE TO BE HAPPY,

ROXANNE.

WELL...

DON'T BE SO SURETHAT YOU DON'T NEED IT, EITHER.

TOM?

YOU TRYINGTO SLIP BY ME?

I DIDN'T SEE YOU THERE, AGNES.

OH.

WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS

YOU'RE NOT SEEING.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

THINKOF A CHESS GAME.

YOU CAN EITHERMAKE YOUR FIRST MOVE,

OR YOU CAN WAITAND WAIT AND WAIT

UNTIL YOUR QUEEN IS GONE

AND YOU'RE OFF THE TABLE.

YOU'RE QUITE THE PHILOSOPHER.

WELL, THANK YOU.

I-- I TRY.

♪ SILENT NIGHT

♪ HOLY NIGHT

♪ ALL IS CALM

♪ ALL IS BRIGHT

♪ ROUND YON VIRGIN

♪ MOTHER AND CHILD

♪ HOLY INFANT

♪ SO TENDER AND MILD...

[ROXANNE]: THESE BOYSWILL BE JOINING US

FOR THE REST OF OUR TRIP.

♪ SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE

♪ SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE

WHOO!

[MAX CHUCKLES]

THAT'S JUSTWHAT CHRISTMAS MUSIC

IS SUPPOSEDTO SOUND LIKE.

THEY'RE PERFORMING

IN OUR SISTER CHURCH'SHOLIDAY SHOW.

YOU KNOW, I JUST MIGHTBE IN ATTENDANCE AT THAT.

WELL, YOU WOULDNOT REGRET IT.

[PHONE RINGS]

HOW LONGIS THE LAYOVER?

TWO HOURS AND 12 MINUTES.

DON'T BE LATE.

ALL RIGHT, WHO'S HUNGRY?

-YES!-YEAH.

OKAY, WELL,LET'S GO GET SOME FOOD.

SO ABOUT YOUR THIEFON BOARD,

IT TURNS OUTYOU MIGHT BE RIGHT.

"MY" THIEF?

I'M MISSINGSOME EARRINGS.

I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

ARE YOU?

I DO LIKE YOU SAYINGI'M RIGHT.

I SAID YOU "MIGHT" BE RIGHT.

EXPENSIVE EARRINGS?

ACTUALLY, THEY WERE FROM YOU.

IT WAS OUR FIRST CHRISTMASTOGETHER.

I'M SURPRISEDYOU KEPT THEM.

I KEEP A LOT OF THINGS.

[SOBBING]

JULIE.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

STEVE'S PARENTS CALLED.

THEY FOUND OUT WE WERE ELOPING

AND THEY THREATENEDTO DISOWN HIM

IF HE MARRIED ME,

AND HE DIDN'T SAYANYTHING!

HE DIDN'T STAND UP FOR ME.

WHERE IS HE?

I'M NOT EVEN SUREHE'S COMING BACK.

[SOBBING CONTINUES]

YOU GET IN ONE OF THOSE CABS,THERE'S NO COMING BACK.

MAYBE IT'S THE BESTFOR BOTH OF US.

DO YOU LOVE HER?

YES.

IT'S JUST, IT'S...IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE.

WELL, IT IS, ACTUALLY.

SHE MAY BE THE ONLY WOMANIN THE ENTIRE WORLD

WHO YOU'LL LOVEAND WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY.

YOU DON'T KNOW THAT NOW.

YOU THINK

THAT WHENIT GETS TOUGH,

YOU'LL JUST FIND SOMEBODY ELSE,

BUT MAYBE YOU WON'T.

IF YOU BLOW THIS,

YOU MIGHT LIVETHE REST OF YOUR LIFE

REGRETTING IT.

WHERE TO,

MISTER?

THANKS.

WE WON'T BE NEEDING YOUTONIGHT, BUDDY.

OKAY. HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

SAME TO YOU.

THAT WAS A NICE THINGYOU DID.

WELL, WHY STAND BY

AND LET SOMEONE ELSE

MESS UP HIS LIFE?

IT'S IRONIC...

YEAH.

THE TWO OF USGIVING THEM ADVICE.

OR TO ANYONE.

[CHUCKLES] YEAH.

HEY, GUYS.

WE WANT TO ASK YOU SOMETHING.

ELEANOR, WOULD YOU BEMY MAID OF HONOR?

OH...

AND WILL YOU BEMY BEST MAN?

WOW...

IF IT WASN'TFOR WHAT YOU SAID,

WE MIGHT NOT EVENHAVE A WEDDING.

WELL, I THINK

YOU'RE GIVING MEA LITTLE TOO MUCH CREDIT.

SO IS THAT A YES?

YES, OF COURSE.

YEAH.WE'D BE HONORED.

COME ON.

WELL, YOU MUST BEPRETTY NERVOUS,

BEING IN A WEDDING.

OH, NO, I'M OKAY

WITH OTHER PEOPLE'SWEDDINGS.

OH.

COME ON.

I WANTTO BUY SOMETHING.

CHESTNUTS ROASTINGON AN OPEN FIRE?

THAT TOO.

COME WITH ME.

♪ O CHRISTMAS TREEO CHRISTMAS TREE... ♪

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

[♪♪]

OH.

OKAY.

OH, HEY.

OH, YEAH.

FOR YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND THIS ONEIS FOR AGNES.

SHE HAS A LITTLE TREE.

YOU'RE STARTINGTO LIKE THIS AGNES.

I FIND AGNES

TO BE ONE OFTHE MOST IRRITATING PEOPLE

I'VE EVER MET,

AND YEAH, I LIKE HER.

HERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT, WE HAVEAN HOUR AND 47 MINUTES.

SHOULD WE GO BACKAND WRITE?

COME ON.

WHAT? WHERE?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

♪ IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOKA LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS... ♪

AND THIS IS ADVANCINGMY SCRIPT HOW?

MAYBE YOUR MAINCHARACTER'S A DANCER.

OH, OKAY,

AND WHY IS SHETAKING THE TRAIN?

GOT TO GET HOMEFOR CHRISTMAS.

SHE MEETS SOMEONE,

A STRANGERIN THE LOUNGE CAR...

OKAY...

OH, HOW ABOUT THE BARTENDER,DRESSED AS SANTA,

WHO, BENEATHTHE FAKE BEARD,

TURNS OUT HE'SHER LONG-LOST DANCE PARTNER.

AND SHE NEVERGOT OVER HIM.

OH, SHE GOT OVER HIM.

YEAH?

YEAH.

HMM. WELL, SHE NEVER DANCEDTHE SAME AGAIN.

WELL, SHE JUST...

MOVED ON TO OTHER THINGS.

CAN I ASK YOU SOMETHING?

MM-HMM.

YOU WEREA GREAT JOURNALIST.

WHY DID YOU ABANDON IT?

TURNS OUTI PREFER FICTION.

OVER REAL LIFE?

YEAH.

ISN'T THAT WHY YOU STARTEDWRITING FLUFF PIECES?

I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE BECAUSE I LOSTMY SENSE OF ADVENTURE.

I DOUBT THAT.

OR I USED IT ALL UP WITH YOU.

WHEN YOU LEFT,EVERYTHING WAS DIFFERENT.

I GUESS I REALIZED

I COULDN'T CHANGETHE WORLD AFTER ALL,

AT LEAST, NOT ALONE.

I DON'T KNOW

IF WE COULD HAVE CHANGED ITTOGETHER.

IT SURE FELT LIKE WE COULD.

OH.

THANKS.

[CLINK]

WHEN I FIRST STARTEDTHIS TRIP,

IT WAS FOR MY DAD,

BUT NOW IT FEELSLIKE MORE.

WHAT IF IT'S NOT COINCIDENCETHAT WE'RE BOTH HERE?

WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE?

I DON'T KNOW.

DO YOU BELIEVEIN SECOND CHANCES?

EXCUSE ME. HELLO.

MAY I HAVE YOUR NAMES,PLEASE?

CHEERS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

♪ IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOKA LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS... ♪

[LAUGHING]

MADE IT!

MADE ITWITH TWO MINUTES TO SPARE.

-TWO MINUTES?-YEAH.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DOWITH TWO MINUTES?

UM...

I DON'T KNOW.

UM...

MISTLETOE.

I'M PRETTY SURETHAT'S HOLLY.

MAYBE YOU DON'TKNOW THIS,

BUT THE TRADITION

OF KISSINGUNDER THE MISTLETOE

FIRST STARTED INA SMALL BAVARIAN TOWN...

OH, YEAH?

AND THE ORIGINAL PLANTWAS HOLLY.

ARE YOUMAKING THIS UP?

WELL,OVER THE DECADES,

HOLLY WAS GRADUALLYREPLACED BY MISTLETOE

BECAUSE MISTLETOE,LIKE LOVE,

BLOSSOMS EVENIN THE COLDEST WINTERS.

YOU'RE TOTALLYMAKING THIS UP.

I'M TOTALLY MAKING THIS UP.

[CHUCKLES]

[QUICK FOOTSTEPS APPROACH]

WHAT'S WRONG?

OH, UH, MY TIMINGIS SO BAD.

SURPRISE!

LELIA...

I'M RIDING THISCOVERED WAGON WITH YOU

ALL THE WAYTO CALIFORNIA!

UH... HI.

[LELIASQUEALS AFFECTIONATELY]

CAN YOU BELIEVE

IT'S MY FIRST TIMEON A TRAIN?

ISN'T THIS CHARMING?

WELL, WE'LL JUST HAVETO MAKE THE BEST OF IT.

YEAH...

THAT'S ALL I GET,AFTER TRAVELING ALL THIS WAY?

I COULDN'T EVEN GETA DIRECT FLIGHT.

I HAD TO FLY THROUGH DENVER.

SORRY.

I'M JUST...I'M SURPRISED TO SEE YOU,

ESPECIALLY AFTEROUR LAST FEW PHONE CALLS.

THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

I WANTED TO TALK IN PERSON.

I DIDN'T WANT TO WAITUNTIL CHRISTMAS.

OH.

I REALLY APPRECIATETHAT YOU CAME ALL THIS WAY.

I WAS GOINGTO SAY ALL THIS

WHEN I GOT THERE.

I JUSTWANT YOU TO KNOW,

DESPITE ANYOF OUR CONFLICTS

OR DISAPPOINTMENTS, I--

NO, NO.

THIS LONG-DISTANCE THINGHAS RUN ITS COURSE.

I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.

I WANT TO GET MARRIED.

TO WHO?

TO YOU, SILLY.

I'VE THOUGHTOF EVERYTHING.

YOU'LL MOVE TO L.A.,

BECAUSE YOUCAN WORK ANYWHERE,

AND... [UNZIPS BAG]

I KNOW MARRIAGEIS A LIFETIME,

EVERY DAY,

GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES,

SICKNESS, HEALTH,ET CETERA,

AND I AM READYFOR ALL OF THAT.

I'M TIREDOF BEING CASUAL.

I WANT THE WHOLE PACKAGE.

I CAN SEE THAT THISIS A LOT TO THROW AT YOU.

DON'T ANSWER ME NOW.

TAKE YOUR TIME

AND THINK ABOUT IT.

WE HAVE TWO DAYSTO L.A., RIGHT?

I THINK I'M GOINGTO GO TO THE BAR.

WHEN WILL YOU BE BACK?

TWO DAYS?

[LAUGHS]

[LAUGHS]

WELL,I GUESS I DODGED A BULLET.

[MAX]: SOMETHINGYOU'RE GOOD AT.

I'M JUST SAYING,

YOU'RE WAVINGTHAT WHITE FLAG

AWFULLY FAST.

WHY AM IEVEN SEEKING ADVICE

FROM SOMEONE WHO'S BEENMARRIED THREE TIMES?

[CHUCKLES]

FOUR.

WHAT?

[CHUCKLES]

MY ONE BIG LOVEWAS MY FIRST WIFE, PATTI.

MARRIEDOUT OF HIGH SCHOOL,

DIRT POOR,

COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.

I WAS JUST STARTINGTO MAKE IT

WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY.

I LOVED HER MORE THANI EVER LOVED ANYONE

OR ANYTHING.

I'LL ALWAYS LOVE HER.

MY THREE EX-WIVES?

IN A WAY, I LOVED THEM,

I GUESS,

BUT NOT LIKE PATTI.

IF SHE HAD LIVED,

I WOULD HAVE NEVERLOOKED AT ANOTHER WOMAN.

YOU NEVER TOLD ME.

WELL, ONE OF THE FEW THINGSI KEEP TO MYSELF.

I'M TELLING YOU NOW

BECAUSE I UNDERSTANDTHE URGE

TO CLOSE YOURSELF OFFWHEN YOUR HEART IS BROKEN.

I'M PRETTY SURE THAT TOMWAS YOUR ONE GREAT LOVE,

AND FROM WHAT I CAN TELL,YOU WERE HIS.

ARE YOU REALLY

GOING TO LET ITSLIP AWAY THIS TIME?

[SIGHS]

HAPPY ENDINGSARE FOR MOVIES, MAX.

[CHUCKLES]

LIFE CAN BE LIKE A MOVIE

SOMETIMES,

AND YOU AREA REALLY GOOD WRITER.

I ONLY SEEM TO KNOW

HOW TO FIX OTHER PEOPLE'SSTORIES.

WELL, THEN, MAYBE IT'S TIMEYOU RE-WRITE YOUR OWN.

YOU LOOK WORRIED.

A STORM IN THE ROCKIES.

YOU THINKIT'S TROUBLE?

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M PROBABLYINVENTING PROBLEMS

JUST SO I CANFEEL USEFUL AGAIN.

WHO KNOWS, IN 10 YEARS,

TRAINS COULD BE A THINGOF THE PAST.

AND WHAT WILL WE DO THEN?

WE'LL TELL PEOPLEHOW WONDERFUL THEY WERE TO RIDE.

TOM, THEREYOU ARE.

YOU WON'T BELIEVEWHAT'S HAPPENED.

OUR WEDDING BANDS ARE MISSING.

I THINK SOMEONE TOOK THEMWHEN WE GOT OFF IN CHICAGO.

IF THIS ISN'T A SIGN,I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.

THIS MIGHT BE MORE OF A THIEFTHAN A SIGN.

I WILL TIE A STRINGAROUND YOUR FINGER IF I HAVE TO.

AGNES?

[KNOCKS]

AGNES?

[JULIE GIGGLING]

-HEY.-HEY.

LOOK WHO WE FOUND--

OUR MAIDOF HONOR.

-HI.-HI.

A CHRISTMAS PRESENT.

TOM...

THEY WERE GIVEN TO MEMANY CHRISTMASES AGO,

IN KENYA.

THEY'RE GOOD LUCK.

[JULIE]:THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.

WELL,THEY GO WHEREVER I GO,

AND THEY'VEBROUGHT ME HERE.

WE CAN'T ACCEPT THESE.

WELL, THEY BELONGON SOMEONE'S HAND,

NOT IN A DUFFEL BAG.

[STEVE]:THANK YOU, TOM.

WE WON'T FORGET THIS.

-THANK YOU.-OF COURSE.

WOW. CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?

I CAN'T BELIEVEYOU KEPT THOSE RINGS.

I SUPPOSE I HAVE A HARD TIMEGIVING SOME THINGS UP.

NOT THAT HARD.

PLEASE,LET ME TRY TO EXPLAIN--

YOU DON'T NEED TO.

I WASN'T EXPECTING HER.

IT WASA TOTAL SURPRISE.

I WAS GOING TO L.A.

TO BREAK IT OFF.

I KNOW SHE FELT THE SAME WAY.

WELL, APPARENTLY,YOU WERE WRONG.

NO, I-- I'M NOT.

THERE'S SOMETHING OFFABOUT THIS.

JUST... IT DOESN'TMAKE ANY SENSE.

SHE WOULD NEVER FLYTO THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

I MEAN, NOT FOR ME, ANYWAY.

TOM, WE BOTH KNOW

THAT LOVE MAKES PEOPLEDO STRANGE THINGS.

IT'S NOT LOVE.

[SANTA]: HO, HO, HO!

[GROUP]: ♪ JINGLE BELLSJINGLE BELLS ♪

♪ JINGLE ALL THE WAY

♪ OH, WHAT FUNIT IS TO RIDE ♪

♪ IN A ONE-HORSE OPEN SLEIGH

[SANTA]: EVERYBODY!

[LARGER GROUP]: ♪ JINGLE BELLSJINGLE BELLS ♪

♪ JINGLE ALL THE WAY

♪ OH, WHAT FUNIT IS TO RIDE ♪

♪ IN A ONE-HORSE OPEN SLEIGH

♪ JINGLE BELLSJINGLE BELLS ♪

♪ JINGLE ALL THE WAY

♪ OH, WHAT FUNIT IS TO RIDE... ♪

[SINGERS RECEDE]

[SORROWFUL SCORE PLAYING]

LELIA?

[SING-SONGY VOICE]COME IN!

OH, WOW,YOU LOOK GREAT.

GORGEOUS, RIGHT?

THIS DRESS IS ONE-OF-A-KIND.

YOU'RE NOT GOINGTO BELIEVE

WHO I RAN INTOIN THE CLUB CAR.

OH, BEFORE WE GETINTO ALL OF THAT,

UH, CAN WE TALK?

MAX POWERS!

DID I EVER TELL YOU

THAT I AUDITIONEDFOR HIM ONCE?

I REALLY THOUGHTHE WAS GOING TO HIRE ME,

AND IF HE HAD,

MY CAREER

WOULD BE ON A WHOLEDIFFERENT TRAJECTORY.

I THOUGHTYOU LIKED YOUR CAREER.

OF COURSE I DON'T.

I'M A CARTOON RODENT.

[GASPS] HERE'STHE BEST PART--

HE'S INVITED USTO DINNER.

THIS COULD BEA HUGE BREAK FOR ME.

UH, LELIA, I-- I--

NO, WE CAN TALK LATER.

COME ON,WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE.

UH, OKAY...

I DO VOICE-OVERWORK NOW.

ACTUALLY,

I'M THE VOICEOF CUPPY THE BEAVER.

I WOULD LOVE TO GETBACK ON THE BIG SCREEN.

TOM SAYS

THAT YOU'RE WORKINGON A NEW SCRIPT.

ELEANOR IS.

TOM'S BEEN QUITE HELPFUL.

NOT THAT HELPFUL.

I AGREE.

I READ FOR YOU ONCE.

IT WAS FORBELLS OF CHRISTMAS.

I ALWAYS WONDEREDWHY I DIDN'T GET THE PART.

OBVIOUSLY,ONE OF MY BIGGEST MISTAKES.

[LELIA CHUCKLES]

[LELIA]: WELL, NOW YOU HAVEA CHANCE TO CORRECT IT.

I'M ALL FOR SECOND CHANCES.

[MAX]: THIS APPEARSTO BE QUITE A FORTUITOUS TRIP.

DID YOU KNOW TOM AND ELEANORUSED TO KNOW EACH OTHER?

NO!

WELL, IT WASA LONG TIME AGO.

WE WORKED TOGETHER.

YEAH.

YEAH,WAR CORRESPONDENTS.

WHAT A COINCIDENCE.

YEAH.

I FORGOTYOU DID ALL THAT.

[TOM]: UNDERSTANDABLE.

YOU'RE TOO MODEST, TOM.

YOU DID WINA MANCHESTER AWARD

FOR JOURNALISM.

THEY DON'T GIVE THOSE AWAYTO ANYBODY.

ACTUALLY, HE WON TWO.

I NEVER KNEW THAT.

YEAH.

YOU MUST MISS IT.

AH, SOMETIMES,

BUT NOW

I GET TO INVESTIGATETHE PROS AND CONS

OF MEMORY-FOAM PILLOWS.

[LELIA AND MAX CHUCKLE]

WELL,IT WAS SO NICE

OF YOU TO COME OUT HEREAND JOIN TOM.

WELL, I HAD A QUESTIONTO ASK HIM

THAT JUST COULDN'T WAIT.

OH. WHAT'S THAT?

TO MARRY ME.

[TOM CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY,LELIA CHUCKLES SINCERELY]

SO... ARE, UH...CONGRATULATIONS IN ORDER?

UH... NO, WE HAVEN'T,UM, REALLY...

[LELIA]: HE'S STILLMUSTERING UP THE COURAGE

TO SAY YES.

[TOM CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY]

[MAX]: WELL, I'M SURE

HE'LL MAKETHE RIGHT DECISION.

[LELIA]: SO, UM,

WHAT'S THISSCRIPT ABOUT?

AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY,

IS THERE A PART IN ITFOR ME?

I'M LEANING TOWARD

A CHRISTMAS LOVE STORY,

BUT I'M NOT SURE ELEANOR'SON THE SAME PAGE.

I'M HAPPY TO AUDITION

ON THE TRAIN.

WE'RE ALL STUCK HERETOGETHER, RIGHT?

[CHUCKLES]

[♪♪]

[MAX]:IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE,

ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

TOM!

THEY'RE SHOWING IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.

COME WITH US.

OH, UH, NO, THANKS.

THAT ONEMAKES ME CRY.

IT'S GOOD TO CRYEVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

YOU TWO GO.

I'M GOING TO WRITE.

OH, WE DON'T WANT

TO GET IN THE WAYOF INSPIRATION.

I'M GOING TO TURN IN.

GOOD NIGHT.

IT'S EARLY.

IT FEELS LATE.

LISTEN, I KNOWHOW AWFUL THIS SEEMS--

YOU KNOW WHAT,

TOMORROW'S CHRISTMAS EVE,

AND WE HAVE A WEDDING,

SOMEONE ELSE'S WEDDING,

SO... LET'S JUST GO

AND PERFORM OUR DUTIES

AND THENSAY GOODBYE FOR GOOD.

SO YOU'RE FINALLYREADING THAT BOOK?

UH-HUH. YEAH.

I FIGURED IT WAS ABOUT TIMEFOR ME TO TURN A PAGE OR TWO.

MAYBE YOU SHOULD DO THE SAME.

THANKS FOR THE ADVICE.

I'M ONLY SAYING

THAT YOU AND ELEANOROBVIOUSLY BELONG TOGETHER.

DON'T LET SOMETHINGFROM THE PAST

KEEP YOU APART.

THANKS, JOHN.

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

[MAX LAUGHS]

THANK YOU SO MUCHFOR WORKING ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

I'LL BE SURE TO USE YOU

ON ALLMY TRAIN STATION WEDDINGS.

YOU'RE WATCHINGTHE SKY A LOT.

CAN'T SEE MUCHTHROUGH THOSE STORM CLOUDS.

NORMALLY, PIKE'S PEAKIS VISIBLE ABOUT NOW.

YEAH, I NOTICEDTHE EXTRA DIESEL.

JUST A PRECAUTION.

HELP US MAKE ITOVER THE PASS.

EXCUSE ME.

THANK YOU FOR THE ORNAMENT.

IT WAS JUSTWHAT MY TREE NEEDED,

AND DON'T BOTHER ASKINGHOW I KNEW WHO IT WAS FROM.

NO, I KNOW BETTER THAN THAT.

OKAY.

I ASSUME YOU SAWTHE PHOTO OF MY SON?

OH, I DIDN'T MEAN TO SNOOP.

OH, WELL,OF COURSE YOU DID.

YOU'RE LOOKINGFOR A STORY, RIGHT?

WELL...

HE LOOKS A LOT LIKE YOU.

WELL, HE'S...HE'S ALL GROWN UP.

UH-HUH.

AND HE LIVESIN CALIFORNIA.

OH, IS THAT RIGHT?

YEP.

SO YOU'LL BE SPENDINGTHE HOLIDAYS WITH HIM?

WELL, WE HAVEN'T REALLYTALKED IN A FEW YEARS.

OH, I'M SORRY.

WELL, IT'S JUST...HOW IT IS.

NOT HAVING A FAMILY MYSELF,

I MAY NOT BETHE BEST TO GIVE ADVICE,

BUT I WILL SAY THIS--

DON'T LETTOO MUCH TIME PASS

BETWEEN YOU AND THE PEOPLEWHO ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU.

ALL RIGHT?

PERHAPS YOU'RE RIGHT.

PERHAPS YOU SHOULDTELL HER THAT.

I TRIED.

WELL, TRY HARDER.

BEAUTIFUL, ISN'T IT?

SURE IS.

CAN I BORROWYOUR SCARF?

OH, SURE.

YOU COLD?

NO, IT'S NOT THAT.

DID SOMETHING HAPPENIN ISRAEL?

WHAT?

YOU BOARDED A TRAIN.

YOU HAD EVERYTHING,AND YOU RAN AWAY.

DID I SAY TOO MUCH?

I DIDN'T HAVE EVERYTHING.

THAT'S FUNNY,BECAUSE I DID.

REALLY?

I THOUGHT SO.

DO YOU REALIZE

THAT WHILEWE WERE TOGETHER,

YOU WERE KIDNAPPED ONCE,IMPRISONED TWICE,

AND ALMOST KILLED?

YOU KEPT TAKINGCRAZY RISKS

FOR THE NEXT STORYAND THE NEXT STORY,

AND WHEN YOU LEFTOUT THE DOOR,

I DIDN'T KNOW

IF YOU WERE GOINGTO MAKE IT BACK.

I DIDN'T CAREABOUT REPORTING ANYMORE.

I CARED ABOUT YOU.

ELLIE...

I JUST WANTEDTO GO HOME.

I WANTED...

I WANTEDA WHITE PICKET FENCE

AND A HUSBAND WHO COMES HOMEAT THE END OF THE DAY,

ONLY YOU NEVER ASKED.

YOU GAVE ME JUST A FEW MINUTESTO MAKE A DECISION.

I HAD BEEN TELLING YOUFOR YEARS.

YOU JUST DIDN'T WANTTO HEAR IT.

IT TOOK ME MONTHSTO WORK UP THE NERVE

TO ASK YOUTO LEAVE WITH ME.

I GOT MY ANSWER.

[WEDDING MARCH PLAYS]

WELCOME, EVERYONE,

ON THIS WONDERFULCHRISTMAS EVE DAY.

I'M WORKINGWITHOUT A SCRIPT HERE,

BUT SOMETIMES THAT'S THE BEST.

WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOWWHERE LIFE WILL TAKE US,

ESPECIALLYWHEN LOVE'S INVOLVED.

WHAT I SEE BEFORE ME

ARE TWO PEOPLE

WHO, DESPITETHE TURNS AND TWISTS

ON THE TRACK,

ARE MEANT TO BE TOGETHER.

THAT'S WHAT TRUE LOVE IS,

FINDINGA WAY TO BE TOGETHER,

NO MATTER WHAT,

AND WHAT BETTER TIMETHAN CHRISTMAS

TO GIVE SOMEONE YOUR HEART?

STEVE,

DO YOU TAKE JULIEFOR YOUR WIFE?

I DO.

JULIE--

I DO!

[GIGGLING]

THERE YOU GO.

I NOW PRONOUNCE YOUHUSBAND AND WIFE.

YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE NOW.

[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]

[♪♪]

WOW.

♪ GO GETTHE OL' CHIMNEY SWEEPER ♪

♪ MAKE SURE THE CHIMNEYIS CLEAR ♪

♪ TIME TO GET HUMMIN'

♪ SANTA IS COMING

♪ I LOVETHIS TIME OF THE YEAR ♪

♪ I'LL SET THE TREEBY THE MANTEL ♪

♪ YOU WRAP THE PRESENTSMY DEAR ♪

♪ LET'S MAKE THE DISHESEVERYONE WISHES ♪

♪ I LOVETHIS TIME OF THE YEAR ♪

♪ THE SNOWFLAKES...

SO I GUESSIT'S JUST YOU AND ME.

HMM.

WOULD YOU CARETO DANCE?

WITH WHO?

JUST DON'T STEPON MY FEET.

ALL RIGHT.

♪ I CAN'T WAITTO JOIN IN THE CAROLS ♪

♪ RAISE UPA COUPLE GOOD CHEERS ♪

♪ I WOULDN'T MISS THISFABULOUS CHRISTMAS ♪

♪ I LOVETHIS TIME OF THE YEAR... ♪

[GIGGLING]

YOU'VE GOTSOME MOVES.

MM, I CAN SING, TOO.

BUT CAN YOU COOK?

YOU'LL FIND OUT.

SOUNDS LIKE THEY'REON THEIR FIRST DATE.

I DON'T THINKTHAT'S ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS.

OKAY, HERE WE GO.

ONE, TWO, THREE!

WHOO!

OH!

OH, SORRY.

THIS WAS PROBABLYMEANT FOR YOU.

NO, NO.YOU CAUGHT IT.

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

AREN'T YOU GOINGTO ASK ME TO DANCE?

MAYBE WE COULD JUST TALK.

DO YOU THINK MAXWOULD THROW OUR WEDDING?

ALTHOUGH I REFUSE

TO GET MARRIEDON A TRAIN.

A DESTINATION WEDDINGCOULD BE NICE, THOUGH.

MAYBE AN ISLAND?

THOUGH IF I GET A PARTIN THIS MOVIE,

THEN I'LL BE ON LOCATION,AND THAT MIGHT BE A TRAIN,

SO WE'LL JUSTKEEP THE OPTIONS OPEN.

OKAY, UH, LELIA--

AM I RAMBLING?

I'M JUST SO EXCITED.

THE THOUGHTOF NEVER HAVING TO BE

CUPPY THE BEAVERAGAIN...

DO YOU NEED MORE ROOM,TO GET DOWN ON ONE KNEE?

OR BOTH KNEESAND BEG YOUR FORGIVENESS.

YOU DON'T WANTTO MARRY ME, LELIA.

WHAT ARE YOUTALKING ABOUT?

WELL, I'M NOTTHE GUY FOR YOU.

I THINK YOU ALREADYKNOW THAT.

WE BOTH KNOWWHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE,

AND IT'S NOT US.

SO, WHAT HAVE WE BEEN DOINGALL THIS TIME, THEN?

I'M REALLY SORRY.

AND I'M SORRYI EVER GOT ON THIS TRAIN.

LOOKS LIKEYOU HAVE TWO WOMEN

WHO AREN'TTALKING TO YOU NOW.

ONE MOREAND YOU'RE IN MY LEAGUE.

THIS IS NOT THE STORYI WANTED TO WRITE.

SOMETIMES, THOSE ARE THE ONESTHAT END THE BEST.

[CLUNK]

-AH!-OH!

HIGGINS,WHAT'S GOING ON?

I'M NOT SURE.

WE'RE NOT SCHEDULED TO STOPANYWHERE AROUND HERE.

EVERYTHING'SGOING TO BE JUST FINE, FOLKS.

TROUBLE?

OH, I'D SAY.

CAN WE GOTHROUGH IT?

IT'S TOO RISKY.

WE DON'T KNOWWHAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE.

SO, WHATHAPPENS NOW?

CAN WE BACK UP?

NO, WE CAN'T DO THAT EITHER.

THERE WAS A REPORT OF A SLIDEA COUPLE MILES BACK,

AND THE RAIL LINE

HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN.

I'VE BEEN TRYINGTO REACH THE DISPATCHER,

BUT THERE'S NO SERVICE.

RADIOS AND CELL PHONESWON'T WORK.

I'VE GOT NOTHING.

YEAH. ME NEITHER.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

IT MEANS... WE'RE TRAPPED.

THE IMPORTANT THINGIS TO REMAIN CALM.

IN THE MEANTIME,

WE'LL DIVIDE EVERYONE

BETWEEN THIS CARAND THE DINING CAR

TO CONSERVE ENERGY.

THAT WAY, WE'RE ALL TOGETHER,

SO BRING YOUR COATS,SWEATERS, AND BLANKETS.

OUR PHONES DON'T WORK.

THAT'S JUSTTHE STORM, BABY.

HOW WILL ANYONEKNOW WE'RE HERE?

OKAY, WE'RE GOING TOMAKE THIS AN ADVENTURE,

ALL RIGHT?

LET'S GO BUILD A FORT.

I'VE SEEN THAT LOOKON YOUR FACE BEFORE.

THE ELECTRICITY

COMES FROM THE GENERATORSIN THE DIESEL ENGINES,

SO WHEN WE RUN OUT OF FUEL,WE'LL LOSE ALL POWER.

IT MEANS NO HEAT.

HOW LONG DO YOUTHINK WE HAVE?

I CAN'T SAY,

BUT IT COULDN'T BETOO MANY HOURS

BEFORE THEY FIND US HERE.

YEAH.

MIGHT BE A BITLONGER THAN THAT.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

THERE'S NO CELL SERVICEOUT HERE.

THE MOUNTAINSBLOCK THE SIGNAL.

ENGINEER HASN'T BEEN ABLE

TO LET CONTROLKNOW WE'RE STUCK,

LET ALONE WHERE WE ARE.

ANYWAY, I'D BETTERGO HELP THE PASSENGERS.

WELL, WE'VE BEENTHROUGH WORSE.

WE HAVE.

[♪♪]

♪ GO GETTHE OL' CHIMNEY SWEEPER ♪

♪ MAKE SURE THE CHIMNEYIS CLEAR ♪

♪ TIME TO GET HUMMIN'

♪ SANTA IS COMING

♪ I LOVETHIS TIME OF THE YEAR... ♪

-COCOA?-WE FOUND SOME MORE.

OOH, EXCELLENT.

THIS IS GOING TO BETHE STRONGEST PILLOW FORT

EVER BUILT ON A TRAIN.

THANKS, MR. KELLY!

WE'RE STILL GOINGTO HAVE CHRISTMAS EVE,

AREN'T WE?

OF COURSE WE ARE.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER.

YOU'RE REALLY GOODWITH KIDS.

DID YOUHAVE YOUR OWN?

NO, NO, NO.

MY WIFE WAS A TEACHER.

I LEARNED A FEW THINGS.

OH. WELL, SHETAUGHT YOU WELL.

[♪♪]

YOU KNOW,

YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKINGFOR A STORY.

HOW ABOUT THAT ONE?

"MR. KELLY FINDSHIS CHRISTMAS SPIRIT."

YEAH.

WELL, YOU KNOW,THE THING IS,

I SPENT SO MUCH TIME

CHASING STORIESALL OVER THE PLACE,

THAT I BARELY HAVE ONEOF MY OWN.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.

I LIVE WITH A HOUSEPLANT

THAT SPENDS MORE TIMEWITH MY NEIGHBORS

THAN WITH ME.

MM.

I HAVE FRIENDSALL OVER THE WORLD...

NEVER SEE 'EM.

MOST OF THE TIME,I'M COMPLETELY ALONE.

MAYBE YOU JUST GOT OFF-TRACK.

TRAINSPEAK, YEAH.

I BROKE IT OFF WITH LELIA.

OH.

IN CASEYOU WERE WONDERING.

I WASN'T.

SHE CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKESHE'S HANDLING IT ALL RIGHT.

[LAUGHING]

YEAH, SHE DOES.

IN FACT,

THAT'S THE HAPPIESTI THINK I'VE EVER SEEN HER.

REALLY?

YEAH.

YEAH, SHE'S ALL RIGHT.

SHE'S NO YOU.

[♪♪]

WHAT ARE THEY DOINGWITH THOSE PRESENTS?

WELL, THEY BROUGHT 'EMFOR THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

NOW THAT'S US.

THIS WAS RUTH'S.

THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

SHE ALWAYS KNEWTHE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND I THINK I KNOW EXACTLYWHAT SHE WOULD DO RIGHT NOW.

EXCUSE ME... EVERYONE.

I'M SURETHAT NONE OF US EXPECTED

TO SPEND CHRISTMAS EVELIKE THIS,

BUT IS IT A BAD THING

FOR US, STRANGERSUNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO,

TO SPEND THIS TIME TOGETHER?

IS IT A BAD THING

TO SPEND CHRISTMAS EVESHARING STORIES

AND GIVING AWAY PRESENTSBOUGHT FOR OUR OWN FAMILIES

TO OTHER PEOPLE?

NOW, IF YOUR MARRIAGECAN SURVIVE A START LIKE THIS,

IT WILL SURELYSURVIVE ANYTHING.

I THINKMAYBE ALL OF US ARE TOGETHER

FOR A REASON.

MY WIFE USED TO SAY,

"HOPE BEGINSWHEN YOU STAND IN THE DARK,

LOOKING OUTAT THE LIGHT."

CHRISTMASIS A TIME FOR MIRACLES,

AND I BELIEVETHAT ONE IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

HEAR, HEAR!

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

HO, HO, HO!

[KIDS]: SANTA!

OH, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

HO, HO!

[LAUGHING]

WHO'S BEEN NAUGHTY,AND WHO'S BEEN NICE?

[CHILD]:I'VE BEEN NICE!

I'VE BEEN NICE!

OH, HO, HO, YES!

YES, PLEASE.

I SUPPOSE I ALWAYS KNEWYOUR HEART WAS SOMEWHERE ELSE.

NOW I KNOW WHERE.

[TOM]:I'M SORRY, LELIA.

DON'T BE.

MAX JUST OFFERED ME A ROLEIN HIS NEXT MOVIE,

AND I'M GOINGTO TAKE IT.

EVEN IF IT SHOOTSON A TRAIN?

♪ DECK THE HALLSWITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY ♪

♪ FA-LA-LA-LA-LALA-LA-LA-LA ♪

♪ 'TIS THE SEASONTO BE JOLLY ♪

♪ FA-LA-LA-LA-LALA-LA-LA-LA ♪

♪ DON WE NOWOUR GAY APPAREL ♪

♪ FA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LALA-LA-LA ♪

♪ TROLL THE ANCIENTYULETIDE CAROL ♪

♪ FA-LA-LA-LALA-LA-LA-LA! ♪

[LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE]

[♪♪]

PERFECT.

HIGGINS?

THE TEMPERATURE'S DROPPEDANOTHER 10 DEGREES.

WE CAN'T JUST SIT HEREUNTIL SPRING THAW.

RAILWAYS HAVETHEIR SCHEDULES.

THEY'LL HAVE FIGUREDWE'RE MISSING BY NOW.

THEY'VE PROBABLY ALREADYGOT A SEARCH TEAM UNDERWAY.

IN THIS STORM?

THERE'S A LOT OF TRACKBETWEEN HERE AND L.A.

WAIT. HIGGINS?

-WHAT IS IT?-NO, THAT WOULDN'T WORK.

RIGHT NOW

I'LL TAKE THE CRAZIESTIDEA YOU'VE GOT.

LOOK, I KNOW

WHERE THERE AREA FEW RANCHES

SALTEDTHROUGH THE MOUNTAINS

OUT THIS WAY.

MOST OF THEM

HAVE GOT ELECTRICAND THEIR OWN PHONE LINES.

THAT'S GOOD.

WE CAN LETTHE DISPATCHER KNOW

EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE.

YEAH, BUT THE CHANCES

OF FINDING ONE OF THEMON FOOT, IN THIS WEATHER,

IS CLOSE TO IMPOSSIBLE.

-IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE ON SKIS.-TOM...

I'VE GOT SKIS,BOOTS, GOGGLES.

IT'S ROUGH TERRAINOUT THERE.

I CAN HANDLE IT.

I JUST NEED YOU

TO POINT MEIN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

HIGGINS SAIDI'D FIND YOU HERE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

WELL, YOU'RE NOT GOINGTO GET VERY FAR OUT THERE

ON DOWNHILL SKIS,

BUT WITH THESE...

ELEANOR...

I'M GOING WITH YOU.

NO, YOU'RE NOT.

YOU'D BE SMARTER

TEAMING UP WITH ME

THAN TRYING TO GO IT ALONE.

THAT'S NOTHING NEW.

ONE MORE ASSIGNMENT?

ONE MORE.

DON'T DO THIS.

MAX...

I DON'T WANTTO LOSE YOU, ELEANOR.

YOU'RE MY FAMILY.

I'LL BET YOU SAY THATTO ALL YOUR WRITERS.

NO, I DON'T.

DON'T WORRY.

I'LL KEEP HER SAFE, MAX.

ANY LAST-MINUTE PREDICTIONS?

I THOUGHTYOU WEREN'T A BELIEVER.

RIGHT NOWI BELIEVE IN ANYTHING.

I SEEAN AMAZING RESCUE.

WORKS FOR ME.

READY?

BE CAREFUL!

COME BACK SAFE.

BOTH OF YOU.

WHOA.

YOU ALL RIGHT?

YEAH.

NEVER BETTER.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHTWE'D FIND EACH OTHER

AFTER ALL THIS TIME

AND WIND UP IN A SNOWSTORMON A MOUNTAINTOP?

YEAH, WELL, IF IT WAS EASY,ANYONE COULD DO IT.

I MISSED THIS.

THIS?

YEAH, YOU AND ME...

TAKING ON THE WORLD.

LET'S GO.

WAIT UP.

[AS CUPPY]: 'TWASTHE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,

AND ALL THROUGH THE CARS,

NOT A CREATURE WAS STIRRING,

ON EARTH OR ON MARS.

THE RIVER WAS FILLEDWITH LOGS AND...

ROXANNE?

OH, NOW, WHEREDID THIS COME FROM?

NOT FROM MY SLEIGH.

OH?

YOU'VE GOTA SECRET ADMIRER HERE.

-OOH.-MM!

HEY, MY SUNGLASSES.

OH.

WHAT IS THIS STUFF?

[ITEMS JINGLE, CLINK]

OH, BOY.

I THINK THESE ARE THE THINGSTHAT WERE REPORTED MISSING.

I GUESS WHOEVER TOOK THEM

WAS TOUCHEDBY THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.

I THINK WE ALL WERE.

MM.

EXCUSE ME.

I THINK THESE...

[A GASP]

BELONG TO YOU?

[STEVE]: OUR RINGS.

THANK YOU!

IT'S A SIGN.

IT IS A SIGN.

ARE WE EVEN GOINGIN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

I DON'T KNOW, ELEANOR.

STILL NO SIGNAL.

WHAT HAPPENEDTO "ELLIE"?

WHAT DID HAPPEN TO HER?

I GUESS SHE LOST HER WAYFOR A LITTLE WHILE.

WELL, MAYBE WE BOTH DID.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW,

I HAD THOSE RINGS IN MY POCKETTHE DAY YOU LEFT ME.

I WANTED TO ASK YOUA MILLION TIMES,

BUT IT JUST...

JUST KEPTGETTING AWAY FROM ME.

THE TRUTH IS,I WAS SCARED,

AND I THOUGHTIF WE SETTLED DOWN,

WE'D LOSE EVERYTHINGTHAT WAS MAGIC.

NOW, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS,

IT'S MY BIGGEST REGRETTHAT I DIDN'T GO AFTER YOU.

YOU WERE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE.

YOU STILL ARE.

I GUESS

I NEVER STOPPEDLOVING YOU EITHER.

I REALLY TRIED.

[HORSE NEIGHS]

DID YOU HEAR THAT?

YEAH.

YEAH! YEAH!

[HIGGINS]: THEY SHOULDHAVE BEEN BACK BY NOW.

I NEVER SHOULDHAVE LET HER GO.

[HORSE NEIGHS]

WHAT ARE YOU DOINGOUT HERE?

WE'RE HOPING FORA CHRISTMAS MIRACLE.

LOOK!

YOU'VE GOT TO SEE THIS!

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

AN AMAZING RESCUE...I WAS RIGHT!

SAM. HEY.

HEY, WHERE'DTHE ENGINE GO?

I THOUGHT THE THIEFRETURNED EVERYTHING.

OH.

ALMOST EVERYTHING, I GUESS.

KENNY, WHAT'S YOUR BESTCHRISTMAS DRINK?

FOR YOU FOLKS,THE MISTLETOE FIZZ--

DRINK ONE

AND YOU'LL KISSTHE ONE YOU LOVE.

DRINKS FOR THE HOUSE ON ME.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

HEY-HEY!

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

HEY, WAIT.

YOU'RE INTHE FILM ACTOR'S UNION?

I THOUGHT YOU SAID

YOU WORKEDFOR YOUR FATHER'S FIRM.

UH, I DO.

UH, THISIS KIND OF EMBARRASSING.

I DID A COMMERCIAL ONCE.

OH, REALLY?FOR WHAT?

PUDDING.

PUDDING? HA!

MUST HAVE MISSEDTHAT ONE.

I'VE WORKED FOR MY DADLONG ENOUGH.

I GUESS I HAVE SOME DREAMS.

HEY, DON'T WE ALL?

'TIS THE SEASON.

TELL THEM, HIGGINS.

WELL, THE RAILWAY BRASSKIND OF HIRED ME BACK.

[GASPS] THAT'S GREAT!

CONGRATULATIONS!

OH, I WOULDN'T MAKETOO MUCH INTO IT.

IT'S PROBABLYTOO MUCH EGG NOG

AT THE OFFICE PARTY.

AW.

NOW, DON'T YOUDOWNPLAY YOURSELF.

THEY HIRED YOU BACKBECAUSE YOU'RE A HERO.

OH, NO.

I HAVE TO LIVE UPTO THAT NOW?

[LAUGHTER]

OH, HIGGINS!

AGNES?

ARE YOU THE THIEF?

TRAIN MARSHAL.

THAT...THAT I DIDN'T SEE COMING.

WELL, I WOULDN'T BEVERY GOOD AT MY JOB

IF YOU DID.

I FOUND THAT TRAININ JOHN KELLY'S COMPARTMENT.

WHAT?

YEAH.

JOHN RANDOLPH KELLY,TO BE PRECISE.

I RAN HIS PRINTS.

HE DOES HAVE A RECORD.

IT'S AN OLD ONE.

PETTY THEFT,40 YEARS AGO.

40 YEARS?

THAT'S A LIFETIME.

TURNS OUT,

HE MET HIS WIFE

AND HE GAVE UPHIS CRIMINAL LIFE.

HE GOT A JOB,HE GOT MARRIED,

AND, BY ALL ACCOUNTS,LED AN EXEMPLARY LIFE

FOR THE NEXT FOURDECADES...

HUH.

UNTIL NOW.

SHE DIED.

HE FELT LOST.

YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW,

MAYBE THE HOLIDAYSARE AFFECTING ME,

BUT I DON'T KNOWWHAT TO DO.

IT'S PROBABLY NOT MY CALL,

BUT WHAT IF THISIS ALL A CRY FOR HELP?

WHAT IFTHAT CONNECTION

WITH OTHER PEOPLE

IS WHAT HE'S ALWAYSBEEN LOOKING FOR?

AND BESIDES,

IS IT REALLY A CRIMEIF HE GAVE EVERYTHING BACK?

I GOT A SECOND CHANCEON THIS TRAIN.

MAYBEHE DESERVES ONE, TOO.

AW.

FADE IN.

TRAIN STATION.

THE CAMERA FOLLOWS A WOMAN.

HESITANT, SHE BOARDS THE TRAIN,

NOT YET KNOWING

THIS TRIP WOULD TAKE HER THROUGH THE RUGGED TERRAIN

OF HER OWN HEART...

YOU DON'T TAKE THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN

TO GET SOMEWHERE FAST.

YOU TAKE IT FOR THE JOURNEY...

AND WHAT A JOURNEY IT IS,

BECAUSE WITH EVERY STOP IT MAKES,

A LITTLE BIT OF AMERICA GETS ON AND SAYS "HELLO,"

AND SOMETIMES EVEN "MERRY CHRISTMAS."

PEOPLE DON'T RUSH,

BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT TRAINS ARE FOR.

THEY'RE NOT JUST ABOUT THE DESTINATION.

THEY'RE ABOUT THE JOY OF TAKING THE TRIP.

[♪♪]

I'M NOT SAYING

THAT RIDING A TRAIN WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE...

BUT IT CERTAINLY CHANGED MINE.

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

TOM?

LISTEN, I, UH...

I JUST WANTEDTO TELL YOU

HOW MUCH I APPRECIATEWHAT YOU'VE DONE.

OH, I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

OH, YOU DID,

YOU AND EVERYONEON THIS TRAIN,

AND I JUSTWANT YOU TO KNOW

THAT THIS JOURNEY HAS...IT'S CHANGED MY LIFE.

WHEN I LOST RUTH,

I THOUGHTTHAT I HAD NO PURPOSE

LEFT IN THE WORLD,

BUT I FOUND IT HERE AGAIN,ON THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN,

AND NOW I WANT TO SHAREWHAT SHE TAUGHT ME

WITH OTHERS.

HE'S GOINGTO CHICAGO,

TO WORKWITH THE BOYS' YOUTH CLUB.

I THINK I CANCONTRIBUTE SOMETHING.

OH, I KNOW YOU CAN.

THANK YOU, JOHN.

GOOD LUCK.

I WON'T FORGET YOU, AGNES.

AW.

WELL, YOU BET YOU WON'T.

RIGHT?

MOM!

MOM!

DAVEY?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

WELL, I HEARDON THE NEWS

THAT THE TRAINGOT STRANDED.

I WAS WORRIEDYOU WERE ON IT.

OH, SO YOU CAMEALL THE WAY JUST TO SEE ME?

OF COURSE, MOM.

IT'S CHRISTMAS.

YES.

YES, IT IS.

NOW, MOM, LOOK,

I KNOW WE HAVEN'T SPENTTHAT MUCH TIME TOGETHER

IN A WHILE, BUT...

IT'S OKAY. THAT'S OKAY.

I KNOW.I KNOW YOU'RE SO BUSY.

NO, MOM,IT'S NOT OKAY,

AND I'M SORRY.

I MISSED YOU A LOT.

YOU KNOW I MISSED YOU, TOO,

BUT I--I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND.

MOM, STOP, OKAY.

NO MORE EXCUSES.

FROM NOW ON,

I WANT US TO BEMORE LIKE A FAMILY AGAIN.

PLEASE?

I-- I'D LOVE THAT.

OKAY. GOOD.

THEN LET'S GET GOING.

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

OH, I MADECHRISTMAS DINNER

AT MY PLACE.

WOW.

AND THERE'S SOMEONEI'D LIKE YOU TO MEET.

I WOULD LOVE THAT.

MAX? YOU READY?

WHAT IS THAT?

APPARENTLY...

MAX WROTE A SCRIPT?

"MISTY:SOMETHING HAPPENED IN ISRAEL.

YOU HAD EVERYTHING,BUT YOU RAN AWAY."

"JULIE: HIS PARENTS

"THINK I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGHFOR HIM

BECAUSE I GREW UPIN SMALL-TOWN KENTUCKY"?!

WAIT...

"LELIA: I CAN SEETHIS IS A LOT TO THROW AT YOU.

"TAKE YOUR TIMEAND THINK ABOUT IT.

WE HAVE TWO DAYS TO L.A.,RIGHT?"

SO THIS ENTIRE TRIP

WAS A MAX POWERSPRODUCTION?

I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO BEA LOVE STORY ON A TRAIN,

BUT NOW I'M THINKING MURDER.

WAS EVERYONE ON THAT TRAINPART OF YOUR CAST?

YOU GIVE METOO MUCH CREDIT.

UH, NOT... NOT ALL OF THEM.

YOU ORCHESTRATEDTHIS WHOLE THING?

SOME.

THE REST WAS THE MAGICOF THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN.

I JUST PUT A FEW PIECESTOGETHER...

I KNEW YOU HADYOUR ONE BIG LOVE.

I DIDSOME DIGGING,

AND WHEN I FOUND OUT

THAT TOM WAS GOINGTO BE ON THE TRAIN,

I THOUGHT,WHAT BETTER SETTING?

A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE.

AND THEN I BROUGHTSTEVE AND JULIE IN

TO REMIND YOU TWO

OF WHAT YOU ONCE HAD.

WELL, THE TWO OF YOUMADE A VERY CONVINCING COUPLE.

TO BE HONEST,

AFTER THE FIRSTFIVE MINUTES,

WE WEREN'T REALLYACTING.

THANKS FORINTRODUCING US, MAX.

AND THEN I WANTED A CHARACTERLIKE MISTY

BECAUSE I THOUGHT

SHE MIGHT RESTOREYOUR BELIEF IN FATE.

SO YOU DON'T ACTUALLY KNOWWHAT MY LUCKY DAY IS?

I WOULD SAY THATTHAT'S TODAY.

I'D AGREE.

AND I BROUGHT LELIAON BOARD

TO FORCE YOU

TO MAKE A DECISION

YOU'VE BEEN PUTTING OFFTOO LONG.

HE'S RIGHT,YOU KNOW.

YOU TWO ARE SO GOODTOGETHER,

AND I'M NOT ACTING.

[GIGGLES]

-THANK YOU.-MM.

OH, DO ME A FAVOR?

WHAT?

WRITE ME A REALLY GOOD PARTIN THE MOVIE, OKAY?

MAKE ME A VILLAIN.

THEY'RE ALWAYSTHE MOST FUN TO PLAY.

MAX, WHY WOULD YOU DOALL OF THIS?

YOU KNOW ME.

I COULD NEVER RESISTA GOOD LOVE STORY.

MINE WAS PATTI,AND TOM IS YOURS,

AND THERE'S NO ONE

I WOULD WANTTO FIND LOVE

MORE THAN YOU, ELEANOR.

YOU'RE NOT TOO MAD AT ME,ARE YOU?

HOW COULD I BE?

YOU'RE NOTGOING TO ASK ME

IF I'M ANGRY?

WELL, BY THAT DUMB GRINON YOUR FACE,

I THINKIT'D BE SAFE TO SAY

THATYOU'VE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER.

THANKS, MAX.

THANKSFOR EVERYTHING.

OH, I ALMOST FORGOT...

I GUESS THEY DID BRING USGOOD LUCK AFTER ALL.

NOT JUST FOR YOU.

WON'T BE NEEDING THESEANY LONGER.

TOM?

I'VE BEEN SEARCHINGFOR SOMETHING

FOR A LONG TIME...

AND IT'S YOU, ELLIE.

I LOVE YOU.

I'LL DO ANYTHING I CANTO MAKE YOU HAPPY,

WHETHER WE'RE IN A FOXHOLEOR A SNOWSTORM

OR A LITTLE HOUSEWITH A WHITE PICKET FENCE.

WILL YOU TAKE ME

WITH MY FAULTS, WEAKNESSES,AND UTTER STUPIDITY?

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

YES!

I PREDICT THESE TWOARE GOING TO MAKE IT.

I THINK THERE'S A CHANCE.

[♪♪]

[MAX]: WHY DON'T ITAKE YOU TWO FOR DINNER

TO CELEBRATE?

I HAVE MY REGULAR TABLEAT MUSSO & FRANK.

UH, YOU KNOW WHAT, MAX,

I THINK WE'RE GOINGTO TAKE A RAIN CHECK.

WE'VE GOT A LOTOF CATCHING UP TO DO.

[ELEANOR]:THANK YOU SO MUCH

FOR EVERYTHING.

[CHUCKLES]

THANKS, MAX.

THERE'S SOMETHINGABOUT A TRAIN, RIGHT?

THERE'S SOMETHINGABOUT A TRAIN.

[LAUGHS]

SO...

SO...

WHAT ARE YOU DOINGNEW YEAR'S EVE?

[♪♪]

[RADIO ANNOUNCER]:COMING UP TO THE TOP OF THE HOUR,

LOOKS AS THOUGH THE WEATHERMAN WAS RIGHT,

IT REALLY IS SNOWING OUT THERE, FOLKS.

IT SEEMS LIKE LOS ANGELES

HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS.

[♪♪]

♪ AND SO...

♪ IT STARTED TO SNOW

♪ HE DECIDED TO GO

♪ AND THERE WENTANOTHER YULETIDE ♪