Original subtitles

♪

-Okay. Watch Mommy.

Watch Mommy. Mommy.

It's so good. It's so good.

Yes.

Mama loves pureed spinach and

carrot.

Ooh, yeah.

Oh, it is, mmm, yummy, yum,

yum, yum.

[ Telephone ringing ]

Now you try it.

Come on.

You got to eat, boo-boo.

-Thank you for calling

Events by Liz and Marci.

-"Marci and Liz."

"Events by Marci and Liz."

-No, this is not

Dentures in One Hour or Less.

However, can I interest you

in our special?

If you book a Christmas party

with us, then you get a

New Year's Eve brunch for half

off.

Now, that's something you can

really sink your teeth into.

Mnh. Hello?

He--

-Here you go.

-Marci...

-Yeah?

-...I'm gonna have to land a

deal here soon.

-Relax, Elizabeth.

It's not a competition.

-I can't.

I mean, I haven't landed

one single client

since we opened the doors.

The anniversary parties --

yours.

The bar mitzvahs -- yours.

Even the charity fundraisers --

those are all yours.

-And let's not forget

about the New Year's Eve

engagement party, which will be

our biggest payday yet.

-I know.

The international rap icon

and your dentist.

Who knew goin' in for a root

canal could change your life?

-Well, it better

change my life,

especially after we had

to put down the money

on this building and then pay

for the marketing campaign

and get that van that you wanted

with all the bells and whistles.

-Well, Elizabeth, you have

to spend money to make money.

Speaking of which, I can finally

pull the trigger on Chandler's

first birthday gala.

I'm thinking a circus.

We'll have a petting zoo.

It'll be so great.

-Mmm. What is Blair thinking?

-You let me worry about Blair.

[ Sighs ]

My baby girl's going to have

the best birthday party ever.

Now, if I could just get her

to eat.

Come on, mama.

Come on, little mama.

-Lizzie.

-Hi.

-Hey!

-Hey, beautiful.

-How you doing?

Mwah!

-Good. Hey, lover.

-Yeah, she won't eat.

I don't think she's hungry.

-All right. Let me try.

-I mean...

-Let me try.

-It's no use.

If I couldn't get her to eat,

I'm sure you can't.

-Here we go, baby.

Oh, yeah.

That's a good girl.

-Oh, she just probably...

-Yummy for the tummy.

-...wanted to taste the --

I mean, she won't eat at all.

I'm telling you.

-That's Daddy's baby.

-Really? Really?

-Yummy for the tummy.

♪♪

-Hon, are you sure this is

the color you want for Dana's

room -- blushing blue instead of

peachy pink?

-Yes, honey.

Blushing blue it is.

[ Chuckles ] And I'm gonna get

new draperies to match.

This is so exciting.

Dana, Frankie, Bria and little

Frankie are finally coming home

for Christmas.

Oh, my God, seems like it's been

forever since they left for

Haiti.

-Mm, I know.

I can't wait to meet

my new grandson

and take Bria fishing.

-It's December, honey.

It's kind of cold for fishin'.

-Oh, well, then I can take her

ice skatin' or shoppin'.

We can go to that toy store

we went to last Christmas.

I'll buy out

the whole blasted place.

[ Both laugh ]

-Well, you know,

Denny is dyin' to meet Bria.

They're gonna be

best of friends.

-Mm.

-I didn't realize

how much I miss my babies.

-Oh, me, too, sweetheart.

[ Chuckles ] Look, come on.

Let's get painting.

-All right. You lead the way.

-No. After you, my dear.

-All righty.

-'Cause I'm lookin'.

-I know you are.

-Mm-hmm. [ Chuckles ]

-Come on, boy.

♪♪

[ Birds chirping ]

-[ Laughing ]

Oh, Larry, I really think I

finally found my niche.

I mean, what could be better

than me using my God-given

talents to put smiles on

people's faces?

I mean, really. What?

Oh, no, of course!

I think splinting a broken leg

is far more important

than anything -- Oh, all right.

All right. Sure. Okay.

Bye now. Mwah!

Boop!

[ To the tune of

"Deck the Halls" ]

♪ Doo-doo-doo, do-do-do-do-do ♪

♪ Do-do-do-do, do-do-do-doo ♪

♪ Boop-boo-boo-boo,

do-do-do-do ♪

♪ Dee-dee-dee-dee-dee,

dah-dah-dah-dee ♪

♪ Doo-doo-doo-doo,

doo-doo-doo-doo ♪

♪ Dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah... ♪

♪ Oh, come let us adore him ♪

♪ Ah ♪

♪ Chri-- ♪

Check, check, ch--.

You know what?

I don't need this.

Would you mind holding that.

Thank you.

All right, now, the trick to

singing, people, is the solar

plexus, the diaphragm.

You have to put your body and

sou-ou-ou-oul into it, okay?

Or your cane is fine.

All right?

Now, Singing with Stephanie,

right?

I am not only gonna help you

get over your stage fright.

I'm gonna help you hit the --

♪ High note ♪

♪ And the low notes ♪

♪ Oh, yes, I am ♪

♪ I am going to teach you

how to riff ♪

♪ And rhyme ♪

♪ And rap and flashback and

progress me if you will ♪

♪ Shush, pop the bubbly ♪

♪ Be cliffhanger still ♪

You know what I'm sayin'?

I'm gonna make you jazzy.

I'm gonna make you bluesy.

For instance --

♪ God rest ye merry gentlemen ♪

♪ Eh, eh, eh ♪

Who wants to join? Huh?

Who's gonna join?

[ Laughs ]

-You are the nuttiest person

I have ever met

in my entire life.

-Wow.

-And I have lived a loooong

time.

-Ma'am!

I -- What?

Where's everybody going?

Oh, please! Ple--

How about, first lesson is free?

Free on me!

Oh, you, too?

All right, sis. All right.

You don't know what's good.

♪♪

Oh!

I'm sorry. Sorry.

Lesson's over.

[ Humming "God Rest Ye Merry

Gentlemen" ]

♪♪

-Hey, hey.

-Hey, baby.

-[ Chuckles ]

So, Chandler's hanging out with

Aunt Lizzie.

Don't worry.

She gave up on tryin' to teach

her how to Whip and Nae Nae.

Mwah!

-Thank you for that.

-[ Chuckles ]

Oh, looks like you're gettin'

settled in.

-[ Sighs ] Sort of.

-You know, I'm really glad you

moved your office here, babe.

-Me too. Saves money.

-Mm-hmm.

-Cannot afford frivolous

spending.

-You know, speaking of

frivolous, have you spoken to

Preston?

Is he still salty about you not

wantin' to renew your contract?

-Yeah, but I don't care.

If I'm gonna be a role model for

our daughter, I have to be the

kind of man I want her to end up

with, right?

-Right.

-Honest, forthright,

hardworkin'...

a man of principles

that doesn't make decisions

based purely on money.

-Speaking of frivolous

and money...

-Mm-hmm.

-...I was able to get us

a discount

on Chandler's birthday party.

I was thinking a circus theme

with a petting zoo.

-Marci, that's gonna

cost a fortune.

-Yes, but that is where the

principles part comes in, you

see, because it is our duty as

good parents to make sure that

our daughter's first birthday

and first Christmas are a

memorable one.

Now, I can probably

nix the petting zoo.

But what about the circus?

There's a vacant parking lot

right down the street --

-Marci, I don't know

why you're so obsessed

with havin' this big old party

for Chandler.

She's just a baby.

-Yes, but she's my baby.

Our baby, okay?

And we love here.

At least, I do.

-I love her, too, but can't we

love her for $200 or less?

-Blair, no.

-Marci, we do not need

to spend $10,000 on Chandler's

Christmas/birthday party.

Did I ever tell you what

my mother did for my birthday?

-What?

-She got me a party hat,

a cupcake, and she sang

"Happy Birthday" and called

it a night.

And you want to know what the

icing on that cupcake was?

Hmm?

-Tell me. What?

-A big old fat --

-Check?

She wrote you a big fat check

for your birthday?

-No.

-No?

She got you a pinball machine?

-[ Chuckles ]

-A puppy? A pony?

-No.

-Tell me!

-A hug, Marci, a big, fat hug.

My mom's hugs were the best.

And if we can make Chandler feel

what I felt

when my mother hugged me,

we would never have to

throw another party or buy her

a gift the rest of her life.

-That's sweet, baby.

-Yeah.

-Really sweet.

Silly talk, but sweet.

-Silly talk?

[ Sighs ]

-Chandler, okay, now watch

your auntie.

I'm gonna show you how to dap.

You ready?

Unh!

[ Laughs ]

That's how you dap, boo.

[ Laughs ]

You ready?

I'm gonna show you what I got.

Mm! Ah!

-Hey, Elizabeth!

-Oh.

♪ A, B, C, D, E, F, G ♪

♪ H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P ♪

-No, don't be teachin' my

baby your sophistiratchet.

-I'm teachin' her how to

say her ABC's...

-No!

-...and started going "L, M,

N, O, P."

-Okay.

-You know that's kind of hood.

-Baby, don't listen to Auntie.

♪♪

-And then I got my

accountant's degree at

Kennesaw State University.

-[ Chuckles ]

-I went back for my master's,

but I ended up with the MRS

degree [laughs] had a baby girl,

stayed home, and became a

domestic engineer.

Hi!

-Great.

Well, you know, I would be

interested in havin' you come

back for a second interview.

-Oh, really?

-Yes.

-Oh, my gosh!

Now I really love the company.

-Oh, you do?

-I mean, look at all these

kids.

-Hi, honey.

I love how you support

the youth,

all these college interns.

Way to go.

-No, these aren't interns,

Ms. Jewel.

These are our senior

accountants.

-Are you serious?

-Yeah.

If we see fit to hire you, well,

one of them would be your boss.

-My boss?

-Yes.

-I...

Ah. Huh.

Mm. Okay. I'll see.

I'll, um -- Yeah, I'm gonna go

that way, and we'll -- we'll --

we'll just see where I'm goin'

here, if I can get outta here.

♪♪

-[ Chuckles ]

-I think that those new

draperies are gonna look great

with the blushing blue.

-Hmm.

-What's wrong?

-You know, I don't know

if the blushing blue

is the best choice.

-Oh.

-I think that peachy pink

was really pretty.

-Oh, woman!

[ Both laugh ]

[ Cellphone ringing ]

Oh, it's Dana.

-Oh, hey Dana.

-Hey, little girl.

-Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.

-Hi, honey.

We just finished painting

your room.

And we're gonna

install new carpeting

and replace the windows.

-Replace the windows?

It's December?

Ain't nobody replacin'

no windows in December.

-Anyway, I want everything

to be perfect when you get here.

Now, when are you coming?

Hopefully before Christmas Eve.

-Mom --

-You know, I'm gonna cook

the best, best meals for you,

all your favorite.

-Mom!

-How about that meatloaf and

that...

-Mom --

-...uh, chicken pot pie and

that yummy lemon pound cake?

Girls!

-We're not coming.

We're not gonna be able

to make it for Christmas.

And as it turns out,

our five-year stint in Haiti

might be extended indefinitely.

Frankie's a pastor, now.

-Frankie's a pastor?

-That's something else

that I was gonna tell you.

Frankie's a pastor.

And it is a beautiful thing.

They need him here.

I mean, they need all of us.

You know that saying

"it takes a village"?

Well, we just can't leave now.

They need us.

-I need you too, baby.

I miss you.

You're my only child.

And it's -- it's Christmas.

-What your mother's tryin'

to say, sweetheart,

is that we do miss you guys.

But what you all are doing,

it's a -- it's a good thing.

We're proud of you. And Frankie.

-Thanks, Daddy.

I think we really have

the opportunity here

to change some lives.

And it's so exciting.

And it's such a blessing.

Mom?

-We're very proud of you.

Tell Frankie congratulations.

And tell everyone that...

-Okay, I have to go lead

this group of women in prayer.

But I'll try you guys

again soon.

Okay. Love you. Bye.

[ Cellphone dings ]

-Love you, too.

-Bye-bye.

[ Cellphone dings ]

[ Sighs ]

-[ Inhales sharply ]

-Oh, come here. Come here.

-[ Sniffling ]

-[ Sighs ]

♪♪

-Yeah. I'm still tryin to

figure a few things out.

I just wanted to confirm that

there will be two area lists

available.

And I know what you're

thinking -- "She's only one.

She probably won't remember."

But I remember every--

What are you doing?

-Did you hear

about what happened?

The international rap icon --

he called off the engagement

to the local dentist.

-What?

-The engagement is off.

-What?

So, no engagement...

-No party.

-No way.

♪♪

-I think we should

do grab bags this Christmas.

I mean, I just can't afford

to get everyone a gift.

-I don't know when I'm gonna

see my Dana again.

I mean,

what they're doing is great.

But why did she have to go

and marry

such a decent, God-fearing man?

-All that painting,

blushing blue, peachy pink,

vineyard purple, new draperies.

For what? For nothing.

No daughter,

no grandkids, no fishing trip.

-You know, I thought about

callin' Preston back, and then I

thought, "Nah.

Stand strong, brother.

Stand strong."

-They all walked out on me.

Actually, they shuffled out

as if I wasn't a good

singing instructor.

And then there was

the accountant's interview.

As if I'm gonna let

a 10-year-old

who just learned her

multiplication tables train me.

I don't think so.

-If I use the parking lot

next to the office

instead of renting

the big one down the street,

that'll save me some money.

Right, babe?

You people need to perk up.

It's Christmas.

Oh, you leave me no choice.

Time to break out

my secret weapon.

Look who I found!

[ Laughter ]

Yeah. Wait. Wait a minute, now.

-Oh, she sure does love her

daddy.

-Yes, but she loves her mama,

too.

-Remember?

Dana was just like that.

-Yeah. She sure was.

She would follow you

everywhere, honey.

Daddy's little girl!

-Yeah, but she's also a mama's

girl like I was, right?

Right, mom?

-That's right, sweetheart.

-Come with Daddy. Yes.

-And you are still my

little -- Ohh.

♪♪

-She must have been exhausted.

[ Chuckles ]

Suckin' that thumb just like me.

[ Chuckles ]

My mom used to tease me all

the time about suckin' my thumb.

I think I might have sucked

my thumb till I was about 8.

-Yeah, well, did you notice

how she twirls her hair

when she's tired just like I do?

[ Chuckling ] It's so cute.

-Um, I haven't seen that yet.

-Yeah, well, it happens all

the time.

I see it all the time.

-Okay.

I'll take your word for it.

-I even think she's startin'

to look a lot like me.

-Look at her eyes.

Like, right?

-[ Chuckles ] Are you serious?

-Yes.

-Now, baby,

I don't mean to brag.

But this girl looks

so much like me,

if I didn't know any better,

I'd swear you wasn't even

in the delivery room.

-Well, I was

in the delivery room.

-You know what I'm sayin'?

-No, I don't.

I did all the work,

as a matter of fact.

Come on, Blair.

I really want to throw this

party for Chandler.

I mean, I know she's just a

baby, but when she looks back

on her life and all her

pictures, she's gonna be really

proud of how I -- of how we made

such a big deal over her.

You know, you only get one first

baby, and she only gets one

first birthday...

and one first Christmas.

-I hear you. Come here.

Come sit down. Come on.

[ Chuckles ]

Did I ever tell you

what my mother

used to do for me for Christmas?

-Mnh-mnh.

-She used to buy me two gifts,

one I would keep and one

I would give away.

It taught me a lot

about selflessness

and gave me an appreciation

for everything that much more.

-That's really sweet.

-Mm-hmm.

-You think we should buy her

all the American Girl dolls?

Or should we get her

one every year?

I think we should get her

one every year because that

way...

♪♪

-Right this way.

[ Telephone rings ]

All right, your official job

title is executive in charge

of community relations.

-Ooh, I like that.

And given my extensive

background in people, it fits.

-Well, here it is.

-Yeah.

Ooh, that computer looks really

complicated.

But you know what? Don't worry.

I'm a quick study.

I'll be routing

those calls in no time.

-Oh, no.

You don't have

to worry about that.

Our entire system

is completely automated.

-Oh, so then I'll be

directing people

to their destinations.

That's where I come in, right?

-Nope. Not quite.

Uh, see that

information board there?

When visitors come, they'll type

in the name of the person

they're here to see.

And it'll tell them where to go

and how to get there.

-Okay, so, what if the

visitors have a question?

That's where I come in.

-Not quite.

That same information

board has a FAQ section.

-Yeah. What's FAQ?

-Frequently asked questions.

-Oh.

Mm.

Well, I don't know exactly what

I'm supposed to be doing here.

Here. I'll show you.

Okay.

[ Clears throat ]

[ Footsteps approaching ]

♪♪

-That's it?

-That's it.

Easy peasy, right?

-Mm-hmm.

-It's great that

you've got a good smile.

-[ Chuckles ]

-All right.

I'll check on you after lunch.

-Okay.

Great smile. Easy peasy.

[ Scoffs ]

♪♪

[ Chuckles ]

[ Footsteps approaching ]

[ Chuckles ]

♪♪

-Liz, remember when we were

little girls and we used to sit

on this very porch and cuddle up

and drink hot cocoa?

-Oh, it's so good to be back

in the old neighborhood.

-Yes, but I don't understand

why you sold your beautiful

house and moved back here --

and next door to Myra.

-Elizabeth, if you saw

what I saw in Ghana,

you'd be downsizing, too.

No.

When I came back from Ghana with

Larry, I was inspired to

simplify my life,

get reconnected, get grounded.

It was about finding

meaning and purpose.

-How's that workin' for you?

-It's not.

People don't appreciate me.

They don't.

-You know what else people

don't do?

People don't keep their word.

Now, if you say

you're gonna marry your dentist,

I need you to marry

your dentist.

-I heard you lost

that account, sis.

I'm sorry.

-Yeah.

You know, I'm startin' to think

this event-planning business

wasn't such a good idea.

I think I'm gonna

call Wilhelmina

and ask her if I can have my job

back at Solstice.

-You will do no such thing.

-Well, I have to do something.

I mean, Elizabeth needs

to make a coin.

-I know, but you -- Girl, you

need to --

-Have you all seen my nails

lately?

I mean, no money, no mani,

no pedi, no --

-At least you have

something to do.

-Are we changing the subject?

-You know, all I do is sit

around watching

those doggone soap operas.

And trust -- the stories aren't

nearly as good as they used to

be.

-Well, find yourself

something to do, Stephanie.

-Are you not paying attention,

Elizabeth?

I mean, there was the senior

center, the accountancy job, the

digital thingy.

I mean, it all fell flat.

And it's not just

about keeping busy.

It's about being appreciated,

being, you know, needed.

-I need you, Steph.

-Me too.

You know what I'd appreciate?

-What?

-A girls' day.

-Oh.

-And I just think it should

be me and you

because I need some advice.

-Really?

-Yeah, really.

And then we could do lunch.

And after lunch,

we could go have massages

and manis and pedis,

and it could be your treat.

Doesn't that sound great?

-Yeah.

-Yeah. Okay.

So I'll see you

for lunch tomorrow.

Myra, I need dessert to go.

-Good night, Steph.

-Night!

Wait a minute.

Elizabeth Sofranya,

did you just bamboozle me?

Get back our here right now!

Elizabeth!

Oh!

[ Dog barking ]

-[ Squeals ]

[ Line ringing ]

-Solstice answering service.

-Hi --

[ Line beeping ]

-Marci?

-Hey. What you doin'?

-I'm not doin' anything.

Why would I be -- Why would I be

doin' something?

What are you doing?

-Nothing.

Just having some ice cream

before I turn in.

-You know, Elizabeth,

all I want is to have a nice

first Christmas for my daughter

and a nice first birthday.

Does that make me

such a horrible person?

I mean, what's wrong

with wanting nice things?

-Nothing.

I mean, I want nice things, too,

Marci.

I want a manicure and a

pedicure, a Swedish massage.

I mean, it's just what we

deserve.

-Exactly.

And so does Chandler.

-You're right.

I mean, she's a Chandler woman.

-Exactly.

You know what we're gonna do,

Elizabeth?

-Yeah.

I know what we're gonna do.

We're gonna call Wilhelmina.

We're gonna call Fiona.

And we're gonna beg

for our jobs back

so we can get back to shopping

and pampering ourselves

like we used to do.

-No.

Crazy.

-[ Chuckles ]

-We are going to beat every

bush and turn over every rock

until we finds someone who knows

how awesome we are.

We're gonna make so much money,

Elizabeth,

Chandler is going to be the envy

of every single

1-year-old in Atlanta -- no --

the world.

-Now you're talking.

-Let's do this, Elizabeth.

-Let's do it.

-Okay. So, tomorrow?

-No. Not tomorrow.

Now, I just talked your mom

into gettin' me a mani-pedi.

And she's gonna treat.

Honey, I can't seal deals

with my nails lookin' like this.

I barely want to seal envelopes.

-[ Chuckles ]

Okay.

Bye.

-I miss you so much, Ma.

Chandler looks so much like you.

She has your smile, Ma.

I wish you were here to see her,

to remind me to teach her

all the things

that you taught me.

I don't want her to have

to search for role models.

I'm gonna be her role model.

She's gonna be smart,

selfless, and humble,

just like you,

just like you, Ma.

-So, I just got off the phone

with Elizabeth.

-Mm-hmm.

-And Chandler's birthday

bash is in the bag.

It's on.

In the bag. Are you okay?

-I'm fine. How are you?

I see you're happy

about the party.

-No.

-I'm good, baby.

Trust me. I'm good.

-Are you sure?

-Yeah. I'm good. I'm good.

-Okay.

Mwah.

-Love you.

-I love you, too.

-You and this party.

[ Chuckles ]

-[ Breathes deeply ]

Stinks, doesn't it?

-Sure does.

Why do kids have to grow up

and leave home?

-Well, you know,

it could be worse.

Dana could be stayin' away

'cause she hates us or because

she's such a horrible person

we don't want her

to come home anyway.

[ Both laugh ]

But that's not the case.

Dana is the wonderful, caring,

giving young woman

we raised her to be.

And she was fortunate enough

to marry a man

who's just as amazing as she is.

We did good, honey.

We should be proud.

-You're right. We did good.

And we -- we should have

had more children.

-Mm.

-You know, it's not too late.

-Oh, now you're talkin'.

[ Both laugh ]

-It's definitely too late

for that, honey.

But it's not too late

to be great parents to someone

who doesn't have

parents of their own.

-Okay.

-Are you thinking

what I'm thinking?

-Uh, no, I have no idea

what you're thinking.

-Well, you remember

last Christmas

when I bonded with Denny

at Carrie Steele-Pitts.

I mean, the minute

I laid eyes on her...

-I remember.

-Yeah.

So, well, every time I visit

her and I have to leave,

I -- I just feel horrible.

-Okay.

-Um, I haven't said

anything about this.

But imagine what it would be

like if I didn't have to leave,

if she could come with me,

with -- with us to stay,

to live forever.

I want us to adopt her.

-Wait. Wait. You --

-I don't want you to -- You

don't have to say anything.

I want you to think about it.

We'll talk about it tomorrow.

Okay?

Thanks, babe.

Good night.

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

-Hey, sweetie.

-Morning, honey.

-Morning.

-Mwah!

I got your breakfast all ready.

I thought we'd get an early

start.

I have so much to do.

I have tons of shopping.

And then I have to go

and ship off Dana's, uh, gifts.

And then we got to go look

for the Christmas tree

for Stephanie's house.

Oh, my God.

I don't know when we're gonna

get a chance to do that.

Wow.

[ Sighs ]

Well?

-Well, I can't exactly say

I slept on anything last night.

I did think about it, though...

all night, as a matter of fact.

[ Both chuckle ]

Honey, I don't -- I don't think

adoptin' Denny is a good idea.

We just retired last year.

Our daughter's grown.

We're not gettin' any younger.

-But, honey, I-I feel that --

-We are finally at a point in

our lives where we don't have

to be responsible for anybody

but ourselves, no kids, no jobs.

Remember all the stuff we said

we were gonna --

-Yes, I-I --

-We were gonna do when we

retired?

-Yes, I remember, honey,

but --

-And starting over, raisin' a

child...

at our ages, sweetie?

Come on, honey.

I'm sorry, but I --

-Yeah.

You know, it's okay. It's okay.

I -- What was I thinking?

I don't know.

I guess I just got all caught up

in the moment.

Well, you know, besides,

why would Denny want to live

with two old folks

like us anyway, huh?

Right?

[ Sighs ]

Anyway, I've got lots to do,

so I got to go.

-Well, you know,

hold up a minute.

I'll -- I'll come with you.

-No. No. I'm fine.

♪♪

-Uh, yeah.

Well, I can't actually plan

the event on Christmas Eve.

See, we are celebrating

my daughter's

very first birthday

and very first Christmas.

And -- Oh, well, thank you.

Yeah.

So we're planning a very big

soiree for her, uh, so it's --

[ Sighs ]

-Hello.

Thank you for calling

Events by Liz and Marci.

This is Liz.

We'll be more than happy to help

you plan your Christmas Eve

event.

-Oh, really?

-What did you have in mind?

Oh.

Oh.

Night before Christmas zombie

masquerade ball.

Okay.

You know, let me double-check

our calendar, and we'll get back

to you, okay?

All right.

-Would you like to check

this calendar?

[ Chuckles ]

-How was I supposed to know?

-I knew.

-It doesn't matter.

You cannot be

turnin' down business

tryin' to plan Chandler's

imaginary birthday party

because it's gonna remain

imaginary if we don't replace

that engagement

event that we lost.

-You know what, ladies?

I want you all to come

over tonight because I have some

very exciting news to share.

-Oh, perfect. You know what?

We've been so busy, poor Blair

hasn't had a decent meal

since the last time

we were at your place,

so count us in.

-Yeah. Count me in, too.

Thank you so much

for my mani-pedi, sis.

-Oh, you're so welcome, sis.

-Now, time to make the

doughnuts.

-I've been meaning to talk to

you about

this whole mani-pedi business.

-Thank you for calling

Events by Liz and Marci.

-"Marci and Liz."

"Events by Marci and Liz."

-[ Laughs ]

Wow! You know what?

This grandbaby

is just such a bundle of joy.

-She's a handful.

-This place is really comin'

together here.

-Oh, thank you.

-Whee!

-Thank you.

So, what's the news

you got to share with us?

Are you leaving Laurence

for his salsa-dancing nephew?

-No, I am not.

Everything is fine with life.

-You were having a good time.

-I know, but we are just fine.

Yes, those are grandma's

earrings.

I'll tell you

all about it tonight.

What's back there?

-Oh, that's Blair's office.

-Oh.

-Enter at your own risk.

-All right. Yeah. Yeah.

-Come to mama. Come to mama.

Get -- Give it to me.

Give it to me.

-La-la?

-Yeah, grandma.

-Yes, my firm specializes

in personal injury.

Libel?

Oh, we specialize in libel.

No, sir, we're not offering

any discounts for Christmas.

Great.

Then I look forward to speaking

with you after the New Year.

Thank you.

And you have a merry Christmas,

as well.

Bye.

-Blair, look at this place!

[ Laughs ]

-I know, Ms. Stephanie.

It's a mess.

I've just been so busy.

I haven't had any time

to organize anything.

-Well, darling, how can you

do business like this?

-That's just it -- I can't.

And with Chandler's

first birthday comin' up --

don't even mention Christmas --

Marci and I postponed

our anniversary --

-What?!

-Yeah. I-I'm swamped.

-Yeah. Okay.

Well, where do these things go?

-Uh...

-Okay, put them behind there.

[ Cellphone ringing ]

Oh, I'll take care of it.

I got it. I got it. I got it.

-You're a jewel,

Ms. Stephanie.

-Mm-hmm.

-Yes, sir, Mr. Wallace.

Yes, I'm available

for a meeting.

Those documents you sent me?

Of course.

I have them right in front of

me.

[ Chuckles ]

So, I'll see you first thing in

the morning and we can move

forward?

No, thank you.

Bye.

-[ Giggles ]

Bah, bah.

[ Trills tongue ]

Ah.

-Okay, Ms. Ste--

-[ Laughs ]

-Man, I feel energized now.

Oh, man, I got to make some more

calls.

-♪ Doo-doo-doo-doo ♪

♪ Jingle bells ♪

-Do you mind, Ms. Stephanie?

-No, you go right ahead.

-All righty.

Oh, yeah, how you doin',

Mr. Boyd?

This is Blair Kirkland.

Yes, I'm just calling to follow

up on a few things that we

talked about the other day.

Yes, sir. Ready to roll.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

♪♪

-[ Chuckles ]

♪♪

Mmm.

Mmm. Mmm.

So good.

-Mm-hmm.

-When I was your age,

I used to eat ice cream

all the time in the winter.

[ Both laugh ]

-Ice cream's good at any time

of the year.

-Mm-hmm.

-In the winter, my grandma

and I would sit in front

of our little space heater

and eat ice cream every night.

-Wow.

You and your grandma shared

some very special memories,

didn't you?

-We sure did. [ Chuckles ]

Grandma Myra, did you know

that instead of doing

the Christmas pageant this year,

some of the kids

are spending Christmas Eve

with volunteer families?

-Really?

What a wonderful idea.

So, what about you?

Have you chosen the family

that you want to spend

Christmas Eve with?

-Well, I know this one family.

I really like them.

And I think it would be fun

to spend Christmas Eve with

them, but I...

-But?

So?

-So...

-Would you?

-Would you?

-I'd love for you to spend

Christmas Eve with us --

only if you want.

-Will there be

ice cream there?

-You better believe

there'll be ice cream there,

lots of it.

[ Both laugh ]

♪♪

-Yeah, I was thinkin'

of something for New Year's.

No, just the two of us,

no kids, no relatives,

just me and my bride.

Yeah. Miami?

Yeah, well, Miami sounds nice.

But how about something a little

more exotic...like Disney World?

[ Laughs ]

They don't call me Donald Duck

for nothin'.

[ Laughs ] You know me.

Or how about Des Moines?

Oh, yeah. Des Moines is jumpin'.

[ Laughs ]

♪♪

-Marci, when is your mother

gonna put her Christmas tree up

in this new little house?

-Shh.

She has been tryin' to get us to

go to that farm for weeks now.

-Honey, are you sure you don't

mind if, uh, Denny spends

Christmas Eve with us, just one

day?

-Sure. Fine.

Say, how would you feel about

a little trip after Christmas?

-What kind of getaway?

-[ Chuckles ]

-All right, all right.

Everybody, sit. Sit.

Gather around.

I have a big announcement to

make.

Now, I know you all have

been busy as of late.

But I just want to share

a little somethin' with you all.

-Okay.

Mother, is this gonna take long?

Because it's way

past Chandler's bedtime.

-Yeah.

Come on, girl, just hurry it up,

all this drama and fanfare.

-Well, all right.

I'm gonna take a mission trip

with Laurence.

-Didn't you do that already?

-Yeah, I mean, you just went

to Ghana last year.

-Okay, I'm going again, okay?

Maybe for longer.

-Well, how much longer?

-A year.

-A year? What?

-[ Laughs ]

-First Dana and now you.

Stephanie,

are you sure about this?

-I'm sure I need to be

of service, Myra.

I need to be needed.

-Okay. Well, we need you.

And your granddaughter

needs you.

-Oh, no, she doesn't.

-And her daddy needs you, too.

-No, she doesn't.

-The way you organized

my office,

Ms. Stephanie, was amazing.

-Well, she has two great

parents who are doing a

wonderful job with my Chandler.

Yeah!

-Yeah, well,

I was able to schedule meetings,

get back to clients.

-Yeah.

-I really need somebody like

you 24/7, Ms. Stephanie, so

think about it, okay?

-Really? Aw.

-Hey, I'm startin' the car.

See you guys.

Good night, everybody.

-[ Giggles ]

Yeah, but, you know, I got to do

more than organize files.

I need to be able to make

a difference.

So, no, my mind is made up.

I'm gonna do this.

-You know, I can't believe you

are trying

to go away for a whole year,

out of the country, no less.

Could you at least wait

until after Chandler's birthday?

-Well, yeah.

I'm not goin' now, duh.

You know, I will go the day

after New Year's Day.

-Give us time to change your

mind.

-No, Donald, my mind is made

up, like I said.

Now, listen, we can talk

about this another time.

What I want to know is, when

is everyone available to go

to the Christmas tree farm?

-Oh, no, no, no, no.

-Woo-hoo-hoo!

What?!

I am treeless here!

-Make a date, we'll be there.

Right, Myra?

-Yeah, yeah, okay.

-I hate Christmas.

[ "O Tannenbaum" plays ]

-Listen.

-Mm-hmm?

-I have a potential client.

Let me tell you,

this could be a big one.

-Yeah?

-So, Brent Heckman,

you remember Brent?

-Uh, from Solstice.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-The one who schmoozed me,

got all my client's secrets,

then used them against me

to make way more money

than I ever made at Solstice.

You know, I digress.

Anyway, he gave me a tip.

-Oh, threw you a bone, did he?

[ Chuckles ]

Go ahead. What?

-He told me that there

are several beauty supply chains

that are opening up here.

And you know what that means?

That means

several grand openings.

That means products and parties

for the products to launch them.

Who knows what else?

-Yeah. That's amazing.

Okay. Who do we call?

-[ Stammers ]

Now, that's the problem.

He says he doesn't know.

But I think he's just tryin'

to hold out for more secrets.

-Well, give him what he wants.

-No.

-Why not?

-Because I have connections.

I mean, I can make

my own phone calls

and find out some things.

But, anyway, what I think

we should do

is we should write up

a generic proposal.

And then we'll add the details

as we get more, right?

-Good idea.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Oh, Marci, I think

this could be 10 times bigger

than that engagement party.

-That's what I'm talkin'

about, Chandler -- big thinking.

-Yes. Big. Big thinkers.

Don't just sit there.

We need to get out.

We need to go beat some bushes

so we can find out who we need

to talk to about this account.

-Okay, but can't we just

beat the bushes over the phone?

-No, no, no, honey.

Big thinkers, face-to-face,

eye to eye, always better.

-All right. Fine.

But let me just get somebody to,

uh, watch Chandler.

Hey, Blair?

Blair?

-Hmm? What's up, babe?

-Babe, can you do me a favor

and watch the baby?

I have to, um -- I have to run

out.

-Whoa.

I got meet Mr. Wallace in two

hours, and then I got the

hearing.

-Yeah. I know.

I just got to go beat some

bushes.

I'll be back in about 20 --

well, hour tops.

-[ Sighs ]

-It's just me and you.

[ Groans ]

Say, "Bye, Mommy."

-Bye.

-Okay, I understand, babe, but

what -- how -- how far are you,

babe?

You want it?

Here, hold on to it, baby.

I know.

I already missed the meeting

with my client, and the hearing

starts in 30 minutes.

-Terrible accident on I-85

South, so we're just sittin'

here.

-Oh, baby.

I got to get out of here.

-Call my mom.

-No, I-I tried already.

She's not pickin' up.

-Listen, good news.

We're one step closer to

finding out who we need to meet

with to land that big account.

-Look, baby, that's good.

But I got to go.

-Wait. What about Chandler?

-Well, I don't know.

I'll work somethin' out.

♪♪

Your Honor, I would like to --

-Uh, uh, Mr. Kirkland,

is there a reason

that you have a baby

with you in the courtroom?

-Yes, sir.

It's my daughter, Chandler.

Say hi, baby.

-Baby.

-Hi, Chandler.

I gathered that this was your

daughter, but why is she here

with you right now?

-Oh, uh, my wife -- she went

to go beat some bushes and got

caught up in traffic and was not

able to come pick her up in

time, so...

[ Toy squeaking ]

[ Chuckles ] May I proceed?

-Uh...why not?

-Thank you, Your Honor.

As I was sayin', our motion

for a summary judgment

is based on the fact

that there clearly are no facts

that can reasonably be disputed

in this case.

Mr. Wallace and myself

firmly believe that.

And in light of these new facts,

I appeal to the court

to accept this motion.

-My judgment is based

on Chandler's appearance.

Motion granted.

-Thank you, Your Honor.

♪♪

[ Chandler cooing ]

-It's okay.

I got the judgment.

-You did? That's great.

-Yeah.

I think I'm gonna take Chandler

to court every time.

I think Judge Welch likes her.

-Yeah. How could he not?

-Right?

-Yeah.

-She's a little ball of energy

tonight, though.

-Yes, she is.

-How'd your meetin' go?

-You know, it went good.

It went good.

I think we're really close

to finding someone.

-Nice.

-I'm gonna get that account,

baby.

I promise.

Chandler's mommy's a winner.

Yes, I am.

-Well, I don't think you got

to prove that to Chandler or me,

okay?

-Yes, I am.

-Remember that.

-Okay.

I love you.

-I love you, too.

-And I love you.

I love you.

♪♪

-Hey, Ms. Stephanie.

What you doin' here?

-[ Chuckles ]

I just took my grandbaby

for a stroll.

And she's resting now.

And I thought

I'd check up on you, too.

I see everything

is still organized, sort of.

-Yup.

-I got a little bit of time

if you want me to finish.

-You don't have to do that,

Ms. Stephanie.

-All right.

-But if you really want to

and don't have anything else

to do --

-I'd love to.

-Great.

-Great.

[ Giggles ]

Boom! Boom!

-Boom!

-[ Laughs ]

All right, I'm gonna start over

here with these papers...

♪♪

-So, every year,

Ma made a homemade fruitcake.

-Aww.

-Now, you know nobody

likes fruitcake.

-Oh, I do.

-I do, too. [ Chuckles ]

But Mom would get teased

every year about this fruitcake.

-Mm-hmm.

-But she made it anyway

because she knew I liked it.

-Aww.

You know, I remember your

mother.

I wish I had known her better.

She was so gentle, so humble.

You're a lot like her.

-I try.

She and my dad were two

of the best people I knew.

-Mm.

I'm sure she'd be very proud

of you, Blair.

-I hope so.

-You're a good man.

-Thank you, Ms. Stephanie.

-Excellent father, husband...

a son any mother

would be proud of.

-Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Stephanie.

I just miss my family.

-Yeah.

-You know?

Even more so during

the holidays...

and especially now

that I have Chandler.

-Mm.

-I just wish

that I could talk to my mom,

you know?

Get that advice or that hug

when everything is goin' wrong.

Man, there's nothin'

like a mother's hug.

-Nothin' like a mother's hug.

You know, Blair, um...

I know I'm -- I'm just the

mother-in-law, yeah?

But if there's anything that

you want to talk to me about --

and I mean anything --

even if it's about Marci,

I'm here for you, okay?

I can't take the place of your

mother.

No one can.

But, um, I love you, Blair.

Come here.

I love you like my own.

I want you to know that.

Pick up. Pick up.

Pick up, Larry.

Larry, it's -- it's Stephanie.

Listen -- call me when you get

this message.

Um [sniffles] I don't know how

to say this, really, but I've

changed my mind about coming to

Ghana.

I'm so sorry.

But I can't leave right now.

I realized my mission

is here with my family.

Call me back.

♪♪

-Marci comes home the

other day with all this stuff

sayin' the house

didn't look Christmasy enough

for Chandler's first Christmas.

[ Sighs ]

-[ Chuckles ]

-I never thought Marci would

stoop to the level of buying an

inflatable Santa.

-Motherhood does some strange

things to a woman.

Two years ago,

we renovated this house.

And now she's got me

tearin' it all up

and wants it all finished

before Chandler's birthday.

-That's our little Marci.

And you know how the Chandlers

are about...well, everything.

-I mean, my mom

never went overboard

with this Christmas stuff.

She told me that Christmas

was about the birth of Jesus.

She ain't buy

into all this Santa stuff.

-Eh, smart woman.

So, uh, how's Daddy feelin'

about the big first birthday

and Christmas celebration

comin' up?

-Thinkin' about Chandler's

birthday

reminds me of one thing --

she's gettin' older.

-Mm, clearly.

-And the older she gets,

the more pressure I feel.

See, soon she's gonna

start payin' attention

to the people around her,

including me.

Marci wants to show her

what a strong,

confident woman looks like.

Me?

I just want show her what a good

man looks like.

My mom used to say,

"Baby, if you want

a stand-up son-in-law,

you're gonna have to be

a stand-up dad."

[ Chuckles ]

She said my grandfather

set the bar high

for what to look for in a man.

And now I got to do the same

thing.

I have to be the one

to show my daughter

how she should be treated.

Every father should do that

for their daughter.

That's life-changin'

right there.

Come on, man.

Let's blow up Santa.

♪♪

♪

[ Indistinct conversations ]

-I think we should have

brought Chandler, though.

This would have been her

first Chandler family

Christmas-tree hunt.

-Unh-unh, way too cold for

her.

Next year.

-It is cold. Whew.

[ Whistle blows ]

-Okay, everybody. All right.

So, we're gonna

split up into three teams.

-Oh!

-And whatever team finds

the best Christmas tree

will choose the family activity

for Christmas Eve.

-I'd rather have cash.

-Come on, girl.

Okay, Elizabeth and Marci,

you're Team A.

-No, wait a minute.

I want to be with my husband.

-You're always with him.

Just get over there.

And, Blair, you and Stephanie.

-Come on, son!

-You got to split up

sometimes.

Oh, my God.

And Donald and I will be Team C.

Let's get goin'.

We don't have all day.

Took you long enough.

-Denny!

-[ Gasps ] Oh, my God!

[ Laughter ]

-This is gonna be so fun!

-Okay, great. Come on.

Let's go.

-[ Smooches ]

I'm happy to see you.

Oh!

-[ Chuckles ]

Uh, can I talk to you for a

minute?

-How about we go get a

Christmas tree, honey?

-Um...I owe you an apology.

When you asked me

about adopting Denny,

I responded in a selfish

and fearful way

without givin' any thought

to what that little girl needs.

She needs a family,

a mother and a father.

She needs us, Myra.

And I'm willing to be there for

her for the rest of her life

if you are.

-Are you serious?

-100% serious.

We can be her village.

-[ Cries ]

Thank you. Thank you, honey.

Oh, thank you.

Okay, come on.

Let's go tell Denny.

-Tell me what?

-Tell you that --

-Tell you that we want you

on our team.

We got to beat Stephanie

and Blair.

-Okay.

-Yeah. Yeah.

Go on. Go and get 'em.

-Okay.

-What? What?

You can't just blurt something

like this out.

We got to practice.

All right, honey, you're right.

We'll tell her later.

-Okay. All right.

-Okay. All right.

[ Both laugh ]

-We have to have a big tree

for my granddaughter.

-Now, Ms. Stephanie,

it can't be too big,

You got a smaller house now.

Remember?

-Oh, that's right.

I need to downsize.

-Right.

-So, you know, um, I was,

uh -- I was thinkin', and, um,

I don't think I'm leaving.

-Really?

-[ Chuckles ] Yes.

-That's great.

Marci and I

didn't want to crush your

dreams, but we were really

stressin' when you were talkin'

about goin' away.

Imagine Chandler

without a grandma around.

-[ Sighs ]

You know, I don't know

what I was thinkin' about.

I did not think it through.

-She's not the only one

that'd miss you, too, you know?

-And I didn't think

that through, either.

I was wondering if you needed an

assistant, you know, with the

office, just a little...

-You?

-Yeah. Yeah.

I mean, if you need the help,

of course.

-Right. Of course.

I would love that,

Ms. Stephanie.

-Really?

-Really.

-[ Giggles ] Come here.

Oh, this is great.

Hey.

Are you all right, son?

-I'm okay now.

-Okay.

How about we get that Christmas

tree?

-How about we go win this

thing?

-How about it?

-Let's go.

-That's the spirit.

-Yeah.

-Whew!

Okay, Elizabeth, what did you

find out?

-Okay, listen, the owner of

the company -- apparently, he's

very hands-on, so he -- he wants

to personally meet and make

decisions, you know, with

whoever he does business with.

-Okay.

-So, Brent Heckman finally

gave me some information.

And what I did was I tweaked

our proposal.

And I sent it over to him.

-Nice. Nice.

-Yeah, so, I'm hoping that

we'll hear somethin' in, like,

a day or two.

-Awesome.

-Yeah.

-Very good.

[ Cellphone ringing ]

-Oh, goodness. Wait. Wait.

I had all the office calls

forwarded to my phone.

One second.

-Ooh!

Little scrawny tree.

-Hello?

-Who is it?

-Yes, thank you for calling

Events by Liz and Marci.

Yes, this is Elizabeth.

Hi. Yes.

Okay. Tomorrow?

No, that's not too soon.

Okay. Perfect.

See you tomorrow, 10:00 a.m.

-Who is it?

-Thank you. Have a nice day.

Oh, my God.

-Who was it?

-That was him. That was --

From Cortez Beauty Supply.

-Okay. What did he say?

-He wants to meet with us

tomorrow

in our office at 10:00 a.m.

-Are you serious?

-And he loved our proposal.

And listen.

He wants to make a decision

about who he's gonna use

for his events ASAP.

-Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh.

Yes, my baby's birthday

bash is on!

-Your baby's birthday bash!

-Yes, this is great.

-Okay.

-Let's go find a tree.

-Yes, partner.

Let's go find the winning tree.

-The winning tree.

-Okay.

-All right. Come on. Wait.

-Ohh!

-I saw some good ones over

there.

-Well, you go that way.

I'll go this way.

-Okay.

[ Giggles ]

Good work, Elizabeth.

-What about that one?

-It's kind of too tall.

-Too tall?

No, that's a nice one.

-These ones are nice.

-[ Chuckles ]

Over there lookin' at those

little trees.

[ Chuckles ]

[ Sighs ]

I changed my mind.

-Man, you better

stop playin' with my emotions.

-What?

-You need to stop.

I thought

you wanted to adopt her!

-Shh!

Not about adopting her --

about waiting to tell her.

-You want to tell her now?

-Yeah.

-Okay.

-Let's tell her now.

-[ Chuckles ]

-Come on. Come on.

-What about this one?

It's pretty.

-That's beautiful.

Denny, can we talk to you for a

minute?

-Mm-hmm.

-[ Sighs ]

You know we really like spending

time with you.

-I love spending time

with you guys, too.

-Most of the time

when I leave,

I -- it just breaks my heart

to say goodbye to you.

-Mine too.

-Sometimes, I wish we didn't

even have to say goodbye.

Uh, Denny, I-I know how much

you -- you loved your grandma,

um, and I -- No one will ever be

able to -- to take her place.

But I-I...

-Denny, how would you like it

if Grandma Myra and

Grandpa Donald became, uh,

Mama Myra and Daddy Donald?

We'd like to adopt you, Denny.

We -- We want you to be our

daughter.

-For how long?

-Forever, honey.

-Until you, you know, grow up

and get married and --

-Denny?

-Listen.

Go -- Go get the others.

I'll find her. Denny!

[ Breathing heavily ]

We didn't mean to upset you.

I know this is

a pretty big deal.

But whether you live with us

or not,

we'll always be here for you.

So if this isn't

something you want to do...

-No. I want to.

It's just that I never thought

I'd have a family again.

I prayed and prayed

that I would, but...

I thought God didn't hear me.

And then I met you guys.

And I imagined what it would be

like [voice breaking] to be

your kid...

to have a mom...

and a dad.

Now you guys want me, too?

-Honey, we want you

more than anything.

-Chandlers,

I have an announcement to make.

Myra and me

are gonna be parents.

-Are you serious?

-Oh!

[ Laughter ]

-Are you serious?

-Congratulations!

-Oh, that is wonderful.

-Oh, my gosh!

-Welcome to the family, kiddo.

-[ Giggles ]

♪♪

-♪ On the fifth day of

Christmas, my true love gave

to me ♪

♪ Five golden rings ♪

♪ Four calling birds ♪

♪ Three French hens ♪

♪ Two turtle doves ♪

♪ And a partridge in a pear

tree ♪

[ Laughter ]

-That was really good!

Yes!

-So, Blair, since you

and Stephanie found

the winning tree this year,

what cruel Christmas, uh, prank

do you guys have planned for us?

And can it involved eggnog?

-I'll let Ms. Stephanie handle

that.

-Well, thank you, Blair.

As a matter of fact,

I have something very special

in mind, something that you

all can sink your teeth into.

But it won't be my delicious

chocolate chip cookies.

-Aw!

-Oh, what a disappointment.

-All right.

It's that time, guys,

for Chandler

to hang her very first

Christmas tree ornament.

I know. It's exciting.

All right. Come on.

Hurry up, y'all.

You know she's fast. Come on.

One, two, three.

-Oh!

-Yay!

-High five!

-Yes!

You did not tear down the

Christmas tree, Chandler.

-Oh, hush your mouth.

-♪ On the sixth day of

Christmas, my true love gave

to me ♪

♪ Six geese a-laying ♪

♪ Five golden rings ♪

♪ Four calling birds ♪

♪ Three French hens ♪

♪ Two turtle doves ♪

♪ And a partridge in a pear

tree ♪

-Ooh, love that smile.

[ Both chuckle ]

-And I love you.

I'm curious.

What made you change your mind?

-Well, it wasn't a what.

It was a who.

Blair.

It took a young man

to remind this older man

what it means to be selfless,

to be a blessing in the lives

of others.

Little girls need fathers, Myra.

And Denny's gonna have one.

She's gonna have me.

-[ Chuckles ]

You know how badly I wanted

this, but I didn't want it

without you.

We're a team, honey,

and you know that.

-Oh, that we are, Mrs. Brooks.

-[ Chuckles ]

-That we are.

♪♪

-[ Sighs ]

Oh.

We better call Dana and let her

know that she's gonna be a big

sister.

-[ Laughs ]

I'd love to see the look on her

face when she hears that.

-Me too.

[ Both laugh ]

♪♪

-Merry Christmas, baby.

-[ Chuckles ]

Merry Christmas.

[ "O Holy Night" playing ]

-[ Chuckles ]

Mmm.

[ Sighs ]

-And so that's why we are

confident that

Events by Marci and Liz is the

perfect choice for all your

event-planning needs.

-Very impressive, ladies,

very impressive.

-Thank you.

-Very impressive, indeed.

Now, I'm not a man

who likes to waste time.

So, in anticipation of being

blown away,

which I am blown away,

I took the liberty of having

the contracts drawn up,

which I think you'll find

the terms

of agreements to your liking.

-Oh, wonderful.

Let me have a look at this.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Good.

-Sign it.

-Wait a minute, now.

Let's just look at this.

"Compensate --"

-It's good.

-Oh. You see that?

Wow. Okay.

Oh, my.

"Marci."

"Marci."

Thank you.

Mr. Cortez --

-Please call me Thomas.

-Oh, Thomas, Thomas,

thank you so much.

You will not regret this.

-Groovy.

I'll have my reps from ARC

contact you guys right away.

-ARC?

-ARC -- our ad agency.

You'll be workin' hand to hand

with them from this point

forward.

-Oh, okay.

-This is the last you'll see

of me.

-Oh, well...

-Perfect. Send them right in.

My man from ARC is here.

You're gonna love this guy.

-Oh.

-He's one of the most

remarkable marketers

I've ever had the pleasure

of working with.

He's cutting-edge.

He's bold. He's aggressive.

-Well, we like that.

-We do.

-He must be...

-Both: Adam Reid.

-Marci Chandler Jewel --

Kirkland.

It's good to see you.

-You guys know each other.

Even better.

Now I feel even more comfortable

handing over the reins.

Got to go. You good?

-We're good.

-Okay. Make me proud, guys.

-Hi, Adam.

-Elizabeth, have you -- Oh.

[ Chuckles ] You're strong.

This is custom.

-What are you doing here?

What is going on?

I'm just closing

a major deal here.

-With my client.

-No, he said ARC.

ARC, Incorporated, actually.

Adam Reid Consulting,

Incorporated.

And I'm Adam Reid.

And you just closed

a major deal with me.

You know, Thomas told me

that he'd signed a deal with

a, uh, hotshot

events-planning company.

I had no idea

it was you, though.

This is a really cute office

you have here.

Blair work here, too?

-Give me that.

-[ Laughs ]

You got married to him

and had a baby.

Wow.

You know, the Marci Jewel I

knew -- she would have never --

-You didn't know me.

And you still don't.

But now that I know

you are involved in all this,

I don't want any parts of it.

-Ah.

Well [chuckles] I hate to break

it to you, but you have a

contract signed, sealed, and

delivered.

-Well, I hate

to break it to you, but

I'll just have to break it.

-Not without facing

legal consequences, you won't.

See, Thomas Cortez,

he don't play that.

I don't see what the problem is.

You are a businesswoman.

You just signed a big contract.

In fact, I'm part of the reason

why you signed the big deal

in the first place.

I convinced Thomas to sign

such a lucrative deal

with the events-planning firm.

Don't ask me why I did it.

Must have been in the Christmas

spirit, I guess.

Ho, ho, ho.

So, Thomas wants us to go

over the details

for his first grand opening,

as well as, um, have the reports

ready for him in the morning.

Uh, Marci and I can go

over the details over...

-I am busy.

-...drinks.

-Um, I'm available, Adam.

-Uh, no, Elizabeth.

I'm gonna need you to pop in on

the stores

and check with the managers.

I want you to get

in their heads.

-I can do that.

-Great.

Your expertise in cosmetics

is really gonna

come in handy right now.

Can you do that for me?

-Of course.

-Great. Great.

Marci and I will huddle tonight.

Your number's still the same,

right, Marci?

Great. I'll text you.

-Thanks, Adam.

-Ugh.

-Marci, will you just calm

down?

-Calm down, Elizabeth? Really?

Have you met Adam Reid?

-Oh, now, see, there's really

nothing we can do about it.

I mean, we signed the contract.

-Yeah, thanks to you,

we signed the contract.

I don't know why I listen

to you.

I'm not real sure why I went

into business with you.

-Wait a minute.

Hold up. Hold up.

What happened to "We're a team,

Elizabeth?"

-That was before that snake

Adam Reid came in here.

-Well, that snake holds the

key to your daughter's petting

zoo.

So what I suggest is you put

on your big girl

stilettos and huddle up.

Blair's just gonna have

to understand.

-Blair.

You know, uh,

I can't even think straight.

I'm outta here. I'm goin' home.

-Myra. Guess what.

We just signed the deal.

[ Squeals ]

♪♪

-See, babe?

I kept telling you not to worry.

I knew you was gonna replace

that rapper guy.

-Thank you.

And, you know, the company

that's doin' the marketing --

they're the ones who suggested

that the event planners get

twice what we were expecting.

-Wow.

Now, that is a shot in the arm.

-Yeah.

-I tell you, we could use

the money right now, too.

-Exactly.

You know, sometimes you got to

do what you got to do.

-Mm-hmm.

-For instance, when you were

workin' with Preston, you had to

represent some clients that you

didn't necessarily want to

represent.

-Yeah, and I felt horrible

about it.

-Yes, but still and all, you

did it because you had to do it.

-Yep. That's why I quit.

My mom used to always say,

"The measure of a man

is his ability to do

what's right even

when he has a lot to lose."

-Well, Blair, what if I told

you that the agency that I'm

dealing with is run by a man who

has absolutely no scruples, who

will do anything for a dollar...

-[ Chuckles ]

-...someone who, had I known

he was behind this deal, I

would have taken three

Fiona Friendlies over him.

-Three Fiona -- [ Chuckles ]

This guy can't be that bad.

[ Chuckles ]

Unless he's Adam Reid.

Is he Adam Reid?

I don't know who's Adam Reid --

He's Adam Reid.

That little snake

just won't go away.

Okay. Just drop the account.

We'll get by.

-I cannot drop the account.

I signed a contract.

-Well, I'll go talk to him.

-Hey, what are you doing?

No. Blair, no.

Look, I know you left Preston

because you wanted to set

a good example

for Chandler, right?

-Exactly.

-Okay.

Well, I want to do the same

thing, but I need her to

understand that everything in

life is not gonna go her way.

She needs to know that Mommy

and Daddy are gonna be strong

no matter what

or who they have to deal with.

And in life, we don't always get

to choose our circumstances.

[ Sighs ]

-You right, baby.

And I trust you to do

what you have to do.

-Thank you.

-All right?

And if anybody can handle

Adam Reid, it's you.

-It's me.

-Right.

And if you can't, I will.

-Excuse me.

♪♪

I got this. Okay?

-Oh, you got this?

-I got this.

♪♪

-[ Chuckling ]

Oh, I love this.

-Mm-hmm.

-Oops, oops, oops.

[ Laughter ]

Thanks so much for coming and

helping us put the finishing

touches on this tree.

-It was so much fun.

-Yes, lots of fun.

But now it's time

to get you back to the home.

-But I don't want to go.

-I know, sweetie.

But hopefully in a few months,

you won't have to.

-Well, that's pretty exciting,

isn't it?

-Yeah.

I'm just gonna miss

all my friends there.

I hope they all find homes

someday soon.

-You know what I'm thinking?

Maybe we'll plan

some get-togethers with you

and your friends

at the home -- and Caroline.

And you know what?

They can come over here

and hang out

anytime they want to.

-Yeah, yeah, it can be their

little getaway.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-That would be amazing.

-Yeah.

-Thank you guys.

-Mwah!

[ Laughter ]

Well, I guess

we better get going.

-Yeah.

-Denny, before you, uh --

before you go...

-[ Giggles ] Oh, my gosh.

-Shall we?

-We shall. [ Chuckles ]

♪♪

-Right there.

We'll turn that up.

[ Laughter ]

-Thank you guys.

-Merry Christmas.

-Merry Christmas.

[ Laughs ]

♪♪

[ Indistinct conversations ]

-It's gonna be just like

old times.

You got to admit, Marci,

we were pretty great together.

-You know, Adam, I remember

how things ended between us.

I'm sure you have some

crazy plot to get back at me.

-I don't know

how Blair does it.

How does he put up with a woman

that thinks everything

is about her?

-Well, when it comes to you,

Adam, everything is about me.

But you know what?

I don't have a problem working

with you --

or anyone else for that matter.

I can hold my own.

But I'm sure you were

just chomping at the bit

to give me a hard time.

So I say, bring it on because

not only am I stuck with you.

You're stuck with me.

Just like old times.

Ho, ho, ho.

-All right, guys.

So, I got the paperwork to get

the adoption process started.

Look it over.

-How long will it take

before we can bring Denny home?

-It's hard to say.

But it's good that you

already know the child

that you want to adopt.

Plus, Denny's a ward of the

state and considered legally

free to be adopted, so...

-That's good, right?

-Absolutely.

Well, look,

we get all this paperwork done.

And I'm sure your cousin Gavin

will do everything

he can to help.

The state have to come in,

do home studies

and all that stuff.

But I'll be with you guys

every step of the way.

-That's great.

Thank you so much, Blair.

We appreciate you.

-Really?

[ Laughter ]

-Denny's a very lucky little

girl.

-I think we're the lucky ones.

-[ Inhales sharply ] Wow.

[ Laughs ]

♪♪

-Just a few more.

-Where's Mommy?

-Yes, honey. Yes.

-Babe?

-Hmm?

-You think you went overboard

with these gifts?

-Oh, no, no, no.

Now that we got that contract,

we are good.

Think I'll still have time

to rent that parking lot?

-Well, I --

-Or we could just do it

at mom's backyard.

It's big enough.

You think she'd mind

the petting zoo, though?

-Well, I don't know

if it's...

-Mama's baby's gonna have

the best birthday ever!

The best, the best, yes!

-Marci, Marci, Marci,

Marci, Marci.

-It's gonna be so fun.

Yeah. Yeah.

-Come on, baby. Sit down.

Sit down for a minute.

-I'm -- Blair, don't try to

change my mind.

I really want to do this.

I want to do it for Chandler.

Yes, I do.

-You want to do it

for Chandler.

What about what I want to do

for our daughter?

I already told you I don't

want Chandler growin' up spoiled

and consumed with stuff.

And you seem to be obsessed

about this big old party

and all these gifts.

-Okay, well, "obsessed"

is a little strong.

I'm not obsessed.

All right. Here.

-Okay. Okay. Let's --

Let's just agree that we'll keep

the gifts to a minimum, okay, so

our daughter doesn't grow up

spoiled and materialistic.

-That's fine.

I don't have

a problem with that.

Why would I have a problem

with that?

-Okay. Well, good.

Ready to go night-night?

-You know what?

Take her in there.

And then, I'll meet you guys.

-Okay. You sure?

-I'll be back, okay? Yeah.

-Okay.

-Okay. I love u.

Mwah!

-Yeah.

-[ Chuckles ]

Okay.

-[ Humming ]

-So, one over there, one over

there...

[ Door closes ]

♪♪

Oh...

Okay, just...

♪♪

-[ Laughs ]

-Are you listening to me?

-Yes, honey. I'm sorry.

-Okay, so, where was I? Um...

Oh, right.

So, he was trying to tell -- It

was all like he was in charge.

I got on up outta there.

I strutted out.

Ooh, I wish

I could have seen his face.

-[ Gasps ]

-That's my baby.

-Yeah.

-So you're stuck working

with Adam Reid again?

-Yeah. But you know what?

It's fine, mom. It really --

Oh, and get this.

He's moving to Atlanta so he can

keep his eye on his account.

-Yeah, well, I'm sure

that's not the only thing

he wants to keep his eye on.

-Elizabeth.

-I'm just sayin'.

-Look, guys.

Adam Reid has tried every trick

in the book to get Marci.

And where is he now?

In some hotel room on

Christmas Eve by himself?

Where am I?

With my beautiful wife,

my adorable daughter,

and the most fantastic family

a man could ever ask for.

-That's true.

-Speaking of, I want you guys

to know that this Christmas,

I have really been

missing my parents a lot,

especially Mom.

-Aw, baby.

-And you guys have

helped me deal with that,

especially you, Ms. Stephanie.

-Oh.

-Whether you know it or not,

you've been a mom to me.

And I appreciate that.

-Oh, Blair.

-And I really appreciate

you guys takin' me in.

-Me too.

It's not easy losing someone

that you love.

And it's not easy opening

your heart up to someone new

and loving them like your own.

Because of you guys, I'm gonna

have a real family again.

-Ooh, we have a Chandler woman

in the making.

♪♪

Now, I said that, um,

I was gonna select the

Christmas Eve activity.

So, look,

Christmas is about family.

And it's about love and

celebrating the birth of Jesus.

But it's also about remembering

those who are special,

who've made a difference

in our lives.

And so I thought tonight,

we each could light a candle

for someone special,

say a little something to,

for, about them,

no matter where they are.

Hmm?

-Hmm. I'll go first.

-Okay.

♪♪

-This Christmas Eve, I --

I want to light a candle

for all of the little girls

growing up without a father,

whether he's physically

or emotionally absent

from their lives.

My prayer is that the men

in their lives

will step up and step in

and be positive role models

in their little girls' lives.

[ Lighter flicks ]

-This Christmas Eve, I light

a candle for my daughter, Dana.

And I thank God for giving us

the tools to raise her

to be the phenomenal woman

that she is.

[ Lighter flicks ]

-I light a candle

for my ever-growing family

and for Lawrence's protection...

[ Lighter flicks ]

...and his servant's heart.

-For my father,

the first man I loved.

-And for our parents,

especially my mother...

[ Lighter flicks ]

...because I was always her

favorite.

-For my mother,

for teaching me...

[ Lighter flicks ]

...your wisdom, your

selflessness, and teaching me

how to be a man.

-For my grandmother,

for teaching me how to be strong

and how to dream.

-For always bein' there,

back then and now.

-For showering me

with so much love

that I always had enough

to give away,

for always being there for me

and still to this day.

♪♪

-All right, young man.

-Well, your daughter

is truly your daughter.

She's still knocked out.

-Ah!

-[ Chuckles ]

-You ladies mind if I join

you?

-Not at all.

[ Light laughter ]

I was just telling Denny about,

um, Dana and Bria

making homemade

Christmas stockings

for the kids at the church.

Each kids gets one small

stocking and one present

and one candy cane.

But you'd think that they had

just been on a shopping spree

at FAO Schwarz.

-Wow.

-Yeah.

-Hey, Denny, what's on your

Christmas list?

-Nothing.

I already have everything

I wanted for Christmas.

I have a family.

-I love you.

-I love you, too.

-You know, Mom, this was

really nice.

-Mm-hmm. Yeah.

-It's really nice.

-You all right?

-Yeah, I'm fine.

-Marci?

-[ Sighs ]

You know, Adam Reid said

something to me yesterday.

He said I make

everything about me.

And I-I don't.

Do I?

-Honestly?

Um...yeah.

But you know why that is?

Because I made everything

about you when you're little.

And now you're making

everything about Chandler...

and you.

-What -- What makes you say

that?

I don't...

-This whole first

birthday/first

Christmas bash --

baby, it's over the top.

Who needs all that stuff?

Chandler doesn't know

what's going on.

She doesn't even care.

Sweetheart, we know that you're

an amazing mother

and a amazing businesswoman

and a strong woman.

You don't have to prove that to

us.

We know that, and so will

Candler, okay?

Honestly, I think you're the

only one trying to convince

yourself.

-I know. I just --

I want to get it all right, you

know, the business, the

motherhood, the marriage,

just everything.

-Yeah, well, let's start

with Christmas, all right?

-And Chandler's

first birthday.

-How did you get so smart?

-[ Laughs ]

I take after my mother.

-Well, then I do, too.

-So, what are you gonna do

about all those presents?

-I have an idea.

-Good, because if Chandler's

anything like her mother,

she is going to skip

the presents

and spend all her time playing

with Christmas ribbon.

-You know, she's nothing

like her mother.

She's strictly a daddy's girl.

And I'm okay with that.

I'm okay with it, so...

-All right, well, I'm gonna

get out there and tell the rest

of the family about part two of

the Christmas activities.

-Part what?

-Yeah.

-Ma --

-♪ Doo-doo-do-do ♪

-I -- No.

Part what?

-♪ God rest ye merry

gentlemen ♪

♪ Let nothing you dismay ♪

-♪ Remember Christ our Savior

was born on Christmas Day ♪

♪ To save us all from... ♪

-♪ Fall on your knees ♪

♪ Oh, hear the angels' voices ♪

♪ Oh, night divine ♪

♪ Oh, night when Christ

was born ♪

♪ Oh, ni-i-ight divi-i-i-ne ♪

♪ Oh, night ♪

-♪ Dashing through the snow ♪

♪ In a one-horse open sleigh ♪

♪ O'er the fields we go ♪

♪ Laughing all the way ♪

♪ Ha, ha, ha, ha ♪

♪ Bells on bobtails ring ♪

♪ Making spirits bright ♪

♪ What fun it is to ride and

sing a sleighing song tonight ♪

♪ Oh, jingle bells, jingle

bells ♪

♪ Jingle all the way ♪

♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride

in a one-horse open sleigh ♪

♪ Hey ♪

♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪

♪ Jingle all the way ♪

♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride

in a one-horse open sle-e-eigh ♪

-Yay!

[ Laughter ]

-♪ What child is this who

laid to rest ♪

♪ On Mary's lap is sleeping ♪

♪ Whom angels greet with anthems

sweet ♪

♪ While shepherds watch our

keeping? ♪

-♪ This, this is Christ the

King ♪

♪ Whom shepherds guard and

angels sing ♪

♪ Haste, haste to bring him

laud ♪

♪ The babe, the son of Mary ♪

[ Laughter ]

[ Applause ]

-Aww.

-Wasn't that good?

♪♪

-Ah, who got me this?

-Mmm.

[ Light laughter ]

-So, I'm taking a page

from the original

Mrs. Kirkland's book

and only getting Chandler two

gifts for Christmas this year.

One she keeps for herself, and

the other one is for someone in

need.

-Whoa, now, wait a minute.

What about that big pile of

gifts in the corner?

-That was for Chandler, but I

decided to donate it to some

kids at the, uh,

Carrie Steele-Pitts Home.

-Thank you so much!

-You are so welcome,

little cuz.

And I cancelled the circus,

yes, and the petting zoo.

-Yay!

[ Laughter ]

-All right, baby, you ready to

open your first

Christmas/birthday present, huh?

-Do you see what I see?

Ooh, like mother, like daughter.

-Well, she is a mama's girl.

[ Laughter ]

-♪ We wish you a merry

Christmas ♪

♪ We wish you a merry

Christmas ♪

♪ We wish you a merry

Christmas ♪

-♪ And a happy New Year ♪

[ Laughter ]

-Merry Christmas, everybody!

Oh, my goodness.

-Merry Christmas.

-Actually...

-What?

[ Indistinct conversations ]

♪♪

♪

♪