Original subtitles

[cash register beeping]

[woman] Put it back.

[truck beeping]

Stop!

- [man] Joe! Cut it! - [alarm buzzing]

Excuse me. Passing through.

Ho, ho, ho. Excuse me.

You owe me one, Nick.

Yeah?

Why didn't you call?

Look!

Mom!

- Hi, Jess. - Hi, Steph.

[man] Merry Christmas to you. Bye.

[laughter]

So, Slocum, how's life as a coon?

How's life as an idiot?

Ah, what are you doing here by yourself all the time?

She's waiting for the shoppers' special.

- [laughter] - [girl] Nice dress, Jessica.

You, too, Laura.

I must have told a hundred girls how good they look in that outfit.

- Oh, I think she's waiting for Chip. - Oh, leave it alone.

Oh, come on. She's a dweeb.

Why do you bother with Chip Wright?

I don't. He's not like those other jerks.

- Does he know about this crush? - Don't be dumb.

- What are you and your mom buying? - Sweaters.

You're lucky. You get to pick out all your own clothes.

- I wouldn't mind. - What?

Does your mom ever talk to you about stuff like that?

- Sweaters? - Crushes.

Oh, yeah, like when she had them back then during the Industrial Revolution.

Whoa, what do you think about that?

[Steph] A wishing well.

Can we get away with it without looking too dorky?

Well, it's a freebie.

I heard you were in the Christmas play.

I'm not sure yet. It's kind of hokey.

You should do it, really.

Half the kids think you're stuck up and the other half think you're weird.

Do you think I care about what they think? I mean, look it. Am I caring?

So which half for you? Do you think I'm stuck up or weird?

Weird. [laughs]

- [Steph] What's yours? - [Jess] "One free wish," it says.

- A gift certificate? - I guess.

- Who's Phil...? - [woman] Stephanie!

- Bye. - Bye.

- Am I supposed to turn this in to you? - Turn what in, dear?

This box.

This wish.

There's nothing there.

But there was...

Oh, this.

Oh, yes. This entitles you to a free wish.

It certainly does.

Did I drop this card?

Well, I pick up litter everywhere.

I suggest we all do.

- I can only suggest. - Oh, that's not mine.

Well, I know it, but it's still there.

What's the value of this wish I'm supposed to make?

- I mean, like, a dollar, $5? - Oh, no, it's much less than that.

See, it says one free wish.

What do you want the most for holiday season?

- That. - What?

- It's what I want. - These clothes?

- No. - The dog?

- No, never mind. - Oh, no, please, Jessica.

- Please tell me. - How'd you know my name?

The mom.

To be with, shop with,

all the holiday things.

Like other kids.

I never told that to anybody.

Your mom moved away when you were only three years old.

No, when I was three, she died.

Well, that's what I meant.

People are always travelling somewhere.

Some trips we plan for, and some trips just take us by surprise.

All right. You want a mom for the holidays.

Starting tonight at midnight

to midnight Christmas Eve, right?

But first, put that on.

What?

- It's pretty. - Uh-huh.

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

How'd you know my name? And about my mother?

Oh, honey.

You are an ocean of feelings.

I heard you before you spoke.

I hear wishing.

[horn honking]

[computer beeps]

[phone rings]

Yeah?

Guess how much I paid for this brand-new...

Dad?

Hi, Jess. I get a fax?

- Comin' in now. Mail? - Thanks.

Good, bad, medium day?

Low to medium for me. You?

Same.

- The guest home. I tried... - For your information, Miss Smarty,

I have already purchased one of your Christmas presents.

- Give me a small hint. - [chuckles]

Oh, several shares of an up-and-coming electronics firm

- that I've been watching. - Dad...

- So, uh, what was I supposed to get? - [sighs] Nothing.

The new housekeeper had to leave. She can't come everyday.

Great. Well, it looks like it's just you and me, kid.

Yeah.

[father typing on computer]

What do you think, Mr. Morelli?

I guess, if you buy into that kind of thing.

- What do you buy into? - Experience.

Live and learn.

The school of hard knocks.

- You know, the glass is half empty. - Oh...

These boxes, they are empty, too.

This little smile is painted on.

And two weeks from tomorrow, it will just be another Tuesday.

There's an empty cup on the counter behind you.

Yeah? Ain't mine.

I know. But there it is.

[thunder rumbles]

[thunder rumbling, rain falling]

Sounds like this storm is right on our roof.

- Want some milk or something? - No, thanks.

Company?

Know any good stories?

- Know any clean jokes? - [chuckles]

- Tell me about the three of us. - Oh, Jess.

- We've been all over that already. - Oh, just one thing?

Give me something.

Well, one thing.

Your mother had the knack for finding things.

It didn't matter what was lost. She had a...

- [both] Sixth sense. - Especially about you.

I remember, one day,

we hadn't heard you playing or laughing

or singing for a long time.

She suddenly sat up and I said, "What?"

- She said... - [both] "Jessica's under the bed."

We went into your room and there you were,

fast asleep under your bed.

Now, other parents

might have gotten into a panic and gone looking for you...

- [both] But she knew. - [thunder cracks]

Can you believe this storm?

- Hey, what is that? - Oh.

That's my free wish.

- [door bell rings] - [mutters]

Who could that be? It's midnight.

Midnight?

Midnight!

- Dad! Dad! - [doorbell rings]

Just a minute.

Hi. Sorry I'm so late. But the storm...

- I'm here about the ad. - Ad?

Yeah, room and board in exchange for afternoon and evening childcare.

This must be the child. Hi.

Nice pyjamas. I've seen those on sale.

Uh, I'm Jim. And this is Jessica.

I thought about placing an ad, but I never... Did you, Jess?

Nice house. No Muzak.

Oh, maybe you did put the ad in and forgot.

I'll take that coat.

Oh, I've never been rained on before.

I was once stuck on a loading dock for three days in the snow. May I sit?

- Oh, of course. - [sighs]

Oh! Look at that. When you sit down, everything wrinkles.

I'm not sure I like that.

Jessica, don't stare, honey.

Uh, so your car broke down, Miss...?

Amy. Amy, um, Miller.

No, I walked here from the store. I mean, the bus.

I, uh... I have a name of a motel here, in case the position is filled.

Uh, Dad, I'll hold that.

So you have no friends or family here in town?

No. I'm just starting out. Job hunting, that is, as of tomorrow.

For something part-time. I just need a place to stay.

I could work an early shift and still be here for Jessica and, uh,

maybe do some cooking. As long as you have an empty bed.

Well, Dad, there is some room over the garage.

I hate to cause trouble, but it's very late and I...

No, no, no trouble.

Well, we haven't used the place in...

I just need a warm, dry place before I dissolve.

Well, why not?

- I'll be right back. - [laughing] Oh, I'm so grateful.

He's nice. Isn't he nice?

I said I came here from the store.

Amy, how do you feel?

- Excited. - Me, too.

It'll just be our secret, won't it?

Yes, and Phil's.

Oh, Philomena, yeah.

- And my friends at the store. - Your friends?

- You mean there are others? - So, uh,

what kind of a job will you be looking for?

Oh, selling clothes at Milliman's Department Store.

I hear they need holiday help. Oh!

Is this my hair? How do you keep it in place without tape?

[laughing]

[Jim] Uh, selling clothes. I would have thought that you would have been more...

- I don't know. - [Amy] Well, I have done some modelling.

[Jim] See, I knew it. I knew it.

A lot of people think that there's not very much to modelling,

other than being beautiful and being able to pose well.

But I'm sure there's a lot more to it than that.

Hm? Like what?

Uh... Why don't we go take a look at that room?

Oops! Sorry. I'm always just pinned together.

[crickets chirping]

Right up here.

Oh! It's perfect.

- You like her? - Yeah.

Me, too. After all of five minutes.

Hey, the rain stopped.

It's gonna clear up.

Yeah. It's gonna be beautiful.

[Jess] Dad, Amy made breakfast.

She has?

Well, uh, you didn't have to do that.

Oh, it's my pleasure.

I didn't know I'd enjoy sleep so much. I mean, you just lie there.

Chicken noodle.

Uh, is there any coffee?

Coffee? No. But I can cook some.

No, no, no. I'll just...

Jess, you look different. You look great.

Thanks. Amy helped me get ready.

[both] Ta-da! [laughing]

I swear, Jess is more grown-up every time I look at her.

Oh? How often do you look at her?

- Well, you know, I... - How's your breakfast?

Mm! Great!

I see it all the time.

Fathers coming into the store exchanging clothes they bought for their daughters.

"She's bigger than I thought," they say. "She's older than I realized."

I wonder if they're really looking.

The mothers are, though. The women. They're always measuring and watching.

- Men are too busy, I guess. - [phone ringing]

- Hello? Yes. - You better be going.

Yes, I'll hold. You two have fun.

We'll clean up later.

[gasps] Oh, look at me.

No touch. Skin is so hard to deal with.

It just bunches and wrinkles and makes you want to iron it.

- Come on, Jess. Bye. - Bye, Dad.

So you've got a missing dummy.

Mannequin, Mr. Morelli, in an expensive outfit right down to the shoes.

Other things unaccounted for are a suitcase, underclothes,

several missing books.

But it's the mannequin itself that bothers me.

Don't worry, Milliman. I'm on vacation from the force.

- So they've got my full attention. - Who?

The shoplifters, purse snatchers.

All the punks who come out of the woodwork on Christmas.

We'll take care of it.

So who would steal a dummy, huh?

Is that why you moonlight these security jobs, sarge? The rise in crime?

Right, kid. That and the alimony.

Oh, isn't it great to be outside?

- Is my makeup OK? - Yeah. Yeah.

Oh, you know, that scarf really is just too much with that outfit.

- What? I beg your pardon. - I was just trying to help.

Philomena says we should always do what we can.

Amy!

- Do you know her? - No. We haven't met.

The window people kind of stick together, though.

At least, inside, we get to move around a little.

- You do? - Yeah!

Two hours at a time when we're alone.

- Hi, Bill. - Is he one of your friends?

Well, I know him. [whispering] He's a bit stuck up.

Hi, Betty.

- Looks better on me, don't you think? - [both laugh]

She's scatterbrained, but she's got a good heart.

Now, Wilkins... Wilkins is a joy.

But all he talks about is cars, cars, cars.

This is Wilkins. Hi.

[laughing]

Do these...?

[Amy] No.

There's not a spark there.

Gives me the chills.

Come on, let's go.

- What about...? Yeah. - Mindy and Squirt? They're fine.

The girls are taking care of them.

Hi, girls. This is Jessica.

Oh, relax. This is definitely the best store in town.

What?

There are a lot of cute guys out there, but they all come in, eventually.

Oh. How old are you, Jess?

...11.

I've got to go to personnel. Are you OK?

- Yeah. Good luck. - All right. Thanks.

Amy Miller.

Hi, Linda. Hey, Squirt.

I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for borrowing your friend, Amy.

But the girls will take good care of you.

Oh, my name's Jessica.

- Hi, little doggy. Hi, Squirt. - [laughing]

Talking to mannequins, huh, Jessica?

Mm. Baby, maybe we can go out sometime.

You can just walk off the earth! You can just...

- Thank you. - One moment.

You didn't fill in your age.

Oh, I'm eight.

I mean 28.

- I meant eight years experience. - Yes.

And mostly in lingerie. And how did you find that experience?

Chilly.

Well, I'm sorry that you can only join us during the holidays.

Me, too. But my time is limited.

Hey, doll. What's her name?

Amy Miller, honey.

- Ever worked in the shoe department? - For 12 years.

If you had to judge the size of those pretty...

- Oh, eight or nine. - Thanks, doll.

What's it all about?

If the shoe fits.

Oh, this is the funniest food in the world.

You can't eat it one at a time. Just put a whole bunch in your mouth.

- Oh. - Tonight will be great.

We'll surprise Dad with a tree when he gets home.

- And tomorrow, we'll... - [phone rings]

Hello? Hm...

Hello? Hi, Steph.

Bad news. My mom has a virus or something.

So she won't be able to take us tree shopping.

Oh, no. We don't have another way to get there.

Sorry.

I'm kind of taking care of her. Fixing dinner.

- Maybe you could take a cab. - Yeah.

I hope she's better.

Steph's mom can't make it.

We can charge the Christmas tree,

but I don't have enough money for the cab.

- Maybe you could... - I'm sorry, Jess. I only have 89 cents.

- Eight-nine cents? - My first pay check's gone already.

I'm secretly paying back Milliman's for my clothes and makeup.

It isn't supposed to be this way.

Got an idea.

Thanks, Ted.

Oh, look.

More and more of them. Less of us.

- But what do you mean? - Replacements.

- What happens to the...? - Come on.

[whispering] Wilkins? Wilkins?

- Amy? - [laughs]

Wilkins, we need you to drive us somewhere.

The loading bay is open, and don't worry.

We'll get you back on time.

They've put displays in the way since they parked me here.

Oh, you can do it. Oh, this is Jessica.

Hello, there. Purrs like a cat, drives like a dream.

- [tires screech] - [gasps]

Sorry.

- [Amy] Wilkins! [screams] - No!

- Sorry. - [Amy] He knows what he's doing!

- Oh, Jessie! - [both] Whoa!

[Amy] Not the makeup!

Sorry.

[Amy] Not my station!

Sorry.

[screaming]

[Amy] Sorry, Betty.

Sorry.

[Amy] Look out! Boxes!

[Jess] What about the mess?

[Amy] Don't worry. Philomena will fix it.

[horns honking]

Wilkins, quiet.

Original horn.

[engine knocking]

- Wilkins, is something wrong? - Original wire spoke wheels.

- [car stalls] - What is it?

Ha! No gas.

[panting]

- [Amy] Phew! - [honking]

Some car.

1961 Jaguar. Drives like a dream.

Can you charge the gas to Mr. Sloclum, my dad?

- Not without his card. - Original wire spoke wheels.

- Look, just $5. - [man] Sorry.

Excuse me. This is kind of an emergency and we don't have any cash.

But I do have a bracelet here worth well over $5.

And I got this bracelet that you could have as well.

- Here. For packing things. - No, thank you.

- Twin overhead cam shaft. - Wilkins.

All right. It's my treat.

Thank you.

Original gas tank.

Twenty-four miles to the gallon.

Purrs like a cat, drives like a dream.

- Wilkins, watch where you're going. - Oh, sorry.

How much further is it to the Christmas tree lot?

- Wilkins doesn't have a lot of time. - Not far.

We'll get a small tree. Dad says they're less fuss.

Why not fuss? It's Christmas.

- Original valve radio. - Wilkins!

- Sorry. - [horn honking]

Oh, I think I broke a nail.

- Thank you, Wilkins. - Quite welcome. Cheerio.

Can you make it back all right?

- Dreams like a cat, purrs like a drive. - Uh-oh.

- His fingers felt hard. - Hurry, Wilkins.

[engine starts]

Now, all we have to do is get it inside.

- OK. - Got it?

- Are you ready? - Yeah.

Here we go!

- [laughs] Got it? - Yeah. Yeah.

One, two, three!

Here we go. Watch behind you.

OK.

- I have it. You OK? - Yeah.

Lift it up. OK. Oh, get it?

Yeah. Careful.

Here we go.

Oh, no.

Dad will be real mad.

Oh...

[Amy] She's very pretty. Like you.

Her name was Vicki.

[sighs] I wish I could remember her.

Jess? Where are all the photos of you?

Well, that's me. And I'm in those.

Yes, but they are all when you are a baby.

There's none of you since you grew up.

What do we tell Dad about this picture?

The truth. Always, the truth.

Now, decorations. Look at this.

- Where did you get this? - Milliman's.

I get all my books at Milliman's. [laughs]

You get everything out of a book?

Isn't this a beautiful tree?

[Jess] We don't have a lot of this stuff.

We'll improvise.

[Jim] Hey, guys, I'm home!

[Jess] Close your eyes.

No peeking.

- OK. - Now.

- Happy holidays. - Wow!

Oh! And now, eggnog. Jessica made it.

Wait. A toast.

You first, Dad.

Um, to a great tree, and...

...to a beautiful holiday guest.

To wishing.

[sighs] To a Christmas we'll never forget.

- [machine beeping] - Oh, fax coming in.

- No, wait. My turn. - Leave it.

- Oh, no! - Oh, yes.

Fire extinguisher!

Get Jess and get out!

Jessica! Where are you?

Well, you're lucky. It was only the one room.

Only the one room?

There was a lifetime in this room.

There was...

Are you sure you don't want me to call the store and stay home and help?

- No. - I'll help him.

I don't have to go to school today, anyways. It's just class days.

No.

I want to be alone with this.

Dad, I thought I could stay home and help you out with this.

No. Go to school.

- How about I make breakfast? - I'm not hungry!

Well, you're going to school. Let me fix your hair.

My hair is fine!

We can pull it back into that nice braid that you like.

My hair is fine!

Well, then let's practice your part for the play. We can go in there.

- Why? - So that you'll be ready.

Why do you want to help me do things for me? Because it's in your books?

No, Jess. Because I care.

You care how I look. You care how you look.

What do you do since your books are burned?

Are you sure you don't want some gazpacho?

- No! - Oh, OK.

Hi, Jim!

Hi.

I don't think you realize what's been lost.

I never hear you talk about your past.

Past? Past is gone, isn't it?

The future is unpredictable. All we really have is this minute.

Oops, it's gone. Now, all we have is this minute.

I really need to make the most of them.

And your family?

Truth is I don't have any family.

Not one living soul.

Except now I have Jessica.

I like to do what I can for her. She really needs somebody.

She has somebody. She has her father.

Why did he stop taking pictures of her eight years ago?

Eight years ago...

- Her mother died eight years ago. - I know that.

That when you stopped listening to your daughter and looking at her?

You have no right to say that to me.

I'm sorry. I'm very fuzzy on what my rights are.

I had very little orientation.

Waited for you at school.

I left early. Sorry, Dad.

Mrs. Garcia tells me you come here a lot.

- Why, Jess? - Just to...

I don't know.

Come on, honey. You can tell me.

I come here and I watch the people shopping.

The girls with their families.

Their mothers.

- Jess? - I'm OK, Dad.

I know you are,

but I've been away for along, long time.

I've got a surprise for you, Jess. Go on in.

I hope this cheers her up.

Hi.

- Hi. - Hi.

- Chip Wright's in there! - I invited him.

A little accident, huh?

No. It just got a little cold in here last night, so...

Amy said you wanted to ask me over, but you were too shy.

Tell him I'm sick. Tell him I ran away to South America.

Why did you call him?

Because of the way you feel about him. I thought you'd be thrilled.

- How do you know? - I read it.

- Where? - In your diary.

- Where is she going? - Argentina, I think.

I think I better go.

- Things aren't always this weird here. - Well, they are at my house.

- [knocking] - [Amy] Jess?

Go away.

Doesn't anything keep you out?

This is my room. This is my diary.

Not even my dad would think of reading it. Go away!

Jess, I read your diary to find a way to make things up to you.

- I didn't know what else to do. - Don't you understand anything?

You embarrassed me.

I can never talk to Chip again.

You spoiled everything.

You made me feel like a geek, like everyone thinks I am.

Oh, Jess.

Don't you get it?

When you feel that way about someone, those feelings are private.

Feel what way?

You really don't understand. You don't.

How could you be anybody's mom? You're not even human.

I should have wished for a sweater and you should have stayed in your store.

[theme song plays]

This hurts too much.

I can't do it.

I'm not good at it.

[sobbing] I want to go back.

[thunder crashes]

Take it back.

I take the wish back.

[thunder crashes]

Amy! Amy!

Amy!

Amy!

Amy!

Amy!

Amy!

Come here. It's OK. It's OK.

Everybody, your attention please.

Bad... bad...

Bad news. Santa Claus can't make it.

I'm afraid the Santa statue we had on order

got lost in the Christmas rush.

But the show must go on. OK?

So, instead of doing your poems and skits around the statue,

we'll dress one of you as Santa.

Ted O'Neil. Come up here, please.

[boy] Now's your chance.

See you on stage, Sloclum.

He's gonna sabotage me up there.

Do you want to back out?

[sighs]

No.

Well, I don't think it's fair.

I don't think he's gonna make a very good Santa.

And I think if you want a real statue Santa,

you should have one.

What else are you thinking?

Something dangerous and possibly impossible.

I'm going to love this.

[man on PA] May I have your attention, shoppers.

We will be closing our doors in five minutes.

Happy holidays and thank you for shopping at Milliman's.

Well, this is the un-merriest Christmas I ever spent.

At least it's good to have some company here.

- I bet it is. - [laughing]

Um... it's nice to be here with you.

Oh, it's nice to be here with you.

Nick, when the store is closed,

the three of us are gonna sneak out of here.

- OK with you? - Oh, jail break, right?

- Right. - [laughing]

What day is it? Did I miss Christmas?

No, three days left.

No, three days left.

- Kenny. - Thank you.

I think we're gonna bag perpetrators tonight. My palms are chilled.

- Oh, yes, sir. Mine, too. - Yeah?

- What? - Look at camera three.

What is it?

Is that a dummy?

Camera must have slipped.

- I'll go and check. - Yeah.

Tindell, perpetrators on four. Down escalator.

[walkie] Yes, sir.

Stop!

Come back!

[Jess] Just four more blocks to school.

[Amy] Leave you outside, they'll bring you in in the morning.

- [Nick] Of course. - [Amy gasps] Look at that.

[Nick] This is more like it. Ho, ho!

Oh, this is very Christmasy here!

[laughing]

- He likes being outside. - Very Christmasy!

- You'll enjoy being in the play. - What part do I play?

- The part of Santa Claus. - Santa Claus.

I say. [laughs] That's fine, isn't it?

- You'll have to wear a new beard. - A beard.

Ooh! [laughs] Beard!

He's wonderful. Thanks, Amy.

Excellent. Oh, merry Christmas. [laughs]

- Merry Christmas! - Oh! Jessie, look.

[Jess] Oh, look at the carollers.

And they have elves, too.

Peace on Earth.

[Amy] That's my wish.

Yeah, me, too.

[Jess] Look! Oh!

They have a real sleigh!

- [laughing] - [horn honks]

[tires screech]

- Nick! - No!

[man] He just walked out in front of me. He just...

- Nick! Nick! - Oh, my Lord.

- It's a statue. - I could have sworn... Thank God.

Jess, I'll be back, OK?

Amy, no! Amy!

Nick! Come on now, Nick.

I'm sorry about your statue.

But you had him right in the street.

[Jess] Oh, Nick, you've got to be OK.

Nick! Please, Nick! Please!

No, Nick, please!

Looks pretty bad.

He was hit pretty hard.

[elf] What are we gonna do?

[elves chattering]

- Get him out of the street? - [all chattering]

Grab his...

- Do we have all his pieces? - All that were there.

I think we do.

- [elf 1] Well, we've done our part. - [elf 2] Come on.

- [elf 3] This way. - [elf 4] Yeah.

[Jess] Goodbye.

- Did I miss Christmas? - No.

Good. [laughs]

I rather like this. [laughs]

- [elves chattering] - Better get back to the wood pile.

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

- Anytime. Merry Christmas. - Bye.

[applause]

So when Christmas comes and you make a wish,

don't settle for a turkey dish.

Peace on Earth is what you should

wish for the planet while wishing it good.

- [applause] - Food for the hungry,

clothes for the poor, no more traffic and no more bore.

[applause]

Ready, Jess? Go.

Wait a minute, have a heart.

Santa doesn't...

Santa doesn't...

[laughter]

[whispering] Doesn't know where to start.

Santa doesn't know where to start.

[sighs]

Solving problems is not his line.

That's up to families, like yours, like mine.

So if it's the world you want to save,

you have to be a lot more brave.

So don't put it off on Santa or some little elves,

this is something you do yourself.

[applause]

- Way to go. - Thanks.

[Jess] Night, Dad. Night, Amy.

Good night, Jess.

I know how she feels. I don't want the night to end either.

Me, too. It's wonderful.

- What is? - Life.

It's scary.

Messy.

Absolutely unbeatable.

I better be going.

- Good night. - Good night.

Good night.

This is, um... confusing.

It is. It's also the simplest thing in the world.

Not for me.

I haven't felt this way since...

- For many years. - Me either.

Not in a lifetime.

- Oh, I better go. - Go think?

- Yes. - Would you, uh...

Would you think... about this?

Yes.

And about this.

[knocking]

- Jess? - Come in.

- Jess? - Come in.

What's the matter?

- I have some questions I need to ask. - Shoot.

I remember you were talking about Chip Wright.

And you said when you feel that way about someone...

- It's private. - Yes.

Feel that way.

Does feeling that way about someone mean that...

...when you're near them, your chest hurts...

...your brain falls out and you don't know what to say.

Yes!

It's my dad, isn't it?

- Oh, Jessie, what am I gonna do? - What am I gonna do?

You have your whole life to explore those feelings.

I have two days.

Oh, no.

- Amy, I am... - Well,

even if it's only for two days, it's worth it.

Thanks for the talk.

[Jess] Philomena, there has to be something we can do.

- Don't you understand? - You did get your wish.

Please.

Those are the rules. A mom for the holidays.

- Wasn't chopped liver. - I know.

And I'm grateful. [sobbing] But it can't stop now.

She's just too real.

She's what I've always wanted.

Not for Christmas, but for always. For all the things.

It's the talks we have

and holding her hand when we walk sometimes.

I never got to do that, Phil.

My first mom left so long ago, and now Amy, too.

Oh, honey. It's times like these that are supposed to be the happiest

that can be the hardest of all.

She wants to stay.

And my dad wants her to stay. I know it.

OK.

We'll try to hold onto her.

- But there isn't much hope. - But there's a chance?

When the time comes,

we will hold onto her with our hands and our hearts,

and we might be able to keep her with us.

I'll come to her a half an hour before midnight. Remember, 11:30.

And we will hold onto her.

It's the best we can do.

What will happen to Amy if she does become a mannequin again?

Oh, honey, I try to save as many as I can.

But I can't save them all.

Hey, kid, what's your name?

Jess. Jessica Slocum.

Dan Morelli.

Come with me, kid.

Excuse me. Are you Amy Miller?

- Yes. - This bracelet yours?

- No, Amy. - Yes.

No. No. She didn't steal anything. I stole everything. Not her.

Jess, always the truth, remember?

All right. You two come with me. Call my partner at the station.

Tell him to get down here.

All the fun and games are over.

The cards are on the table, kid.

You admitted to theft.

I just said that so you wouldn't take Amy.

We didn't steal anything. And you have to let her go.

By 11:30 tonight, she has to be home.

Why?

- She has to be home, so... - The truth, kid.

So we can keep her from turning back into a statue.

Then she'll be replaced by the ones with no face.

She'll be recycled.

Don't mess with me, kid.

So, the kid crack?

Two sweaters stolen, a skirt, blouse, underwear, boots.

- Morelli? - A suitcase, costume jewellery.

Dan!

I've heard talk at the store about extra money turning up in cash registers.

Haven't these missing items been paid for?

[man] Is this true, Dan?

We can't be sure what the extra money is for.

There's still the missing mannequin.

Why don't we have any record on this broad?

Broad?

Who were you before you turned up at Milliman's

at the beginning of the holidays, huh? Don't play dummy with me.

- I was nobody at all. - Do you think this is a joke?

You drove the store's Jaguar out, didn't you?

No. The chauffeur did. You can ask him.

Did you ask him, Dan?

- The chauffeur is a mannequin. - Yeah, but did you ask him?

Are you having fun?

You and the little girl drove the car out, didn't you?

- Yes. - You admit it.

Yes, but the chauffeur drove. His name is Wilkins.

He can come alive for two hours at a time.

He's a mannequin. I'm a mannequin, too.

- You're a comedian, huh? - No, a mannequin.

- Dan, you have to let them go. - Why?

I've been in touch with legal. We don't have enough to make it stick.

Anyway, it's Christmas Eve.

I'll be watching you.

- Merry Christmas. - We'll see about that.

Hope so.

It's beautiful, Dad.

So are you.

It's beautiful.

And now...

- ...your turn. - Oh!

[humming]

Oh.

I think I know what to put in this. Thank you.

And...

Bah!

Speech. Speech.

For everything that you've brought into our home.

Excitement, laughter...

- ...firemen. - [laughs]

Merry Christmas.

Oh!

Oh! It's so wonderful.

It's so smart, and expensive.

It's $75.99 on sale. You shouldn't have done that.

Read the card.

- A ticket? - Three tickets.

I want us to celebrate the New Year

in Hawaii.

I have five days off, and please say you'll come. You can bunk with Jessica.

Amy, don't run away from this.

Amy, please!

You've changed my life.

You woke me up and gave me back the minutes like this one.

Don't just let it go.

I'm all out of minutes.

OK, OK, listen. Listen.

We don't have to go anywhere.

I want to be with you on New Year's Day when the sun comes up.

Because, for me, it's more than a new year.

It's a whole...

- I'm sorry. - What?

I'm so sorry.

She's just tired, Dad.

And so am I.

I'm going to bed now. Good night.

Merry Christmas.

Why?

Why did you get ready to...?

Just hold me, Jess.

- Where's Phil? - She'll be here.

- [sirens wailing] - [man] What's going on up there?

Isn't there some way...? [sighs]

I feel it pulling me, Jess.

No, Amy. She'll be here.

Could you move back?

- [Amy] I have to go, - No, Amy!

- I have to. - No, you don't.

- Amy, you can't. - I feel it.

I can't help it.

You want to leave, Amy, you want to.

It's ending.

It's ending.

It's over.

Amy!

- Dad! Dad! - What is it?

- Dad! Dad! - What is it?

- You have to stop her, please! - Stop who?

- Amy's leaving! - Why? Where is she?

- You have to help me stop her! Hurry! - Where is she?

Welcome back, Amy.

- [Jim] Why is she going to Milliman's? - She's going back.

- Back where? - Just help me hold onto her, Dad.

- Please. She'll be gone forever. - I will. I will.

Gotcha.

Come on!

[ticking]

This way, Dad!

Go home, Mr. Morelli.

[ticking]

Amy!

Oh, no, Amy. No.

- [Jim] Jess? - Amy.

- Jess, honey... - Hold onto her, Dad.

- Honey, it's just a mannequin. - This is Amy.

Dad, it's Amy. Please help me.

- Please. Hold onto her. - Jess.

- Honey, what's...? - Just look at her, Dad.

Look at her. Please hurry.

The time is almost over. Please. Please!

[ticking]

Honey, it's just a mannequin.

Take her hand, Daddy, please.

We can't lose her, too. We can't lose her, too.

Do you really want me?

Can we go home now?

Come on, Mr. Morelli. Let me take you home.

[Wilkins laughing]

[Betty] Bye, Amy. Have a nice life.

- [mannequin] Come back and see us. - [Wilkins] Goodbye, Amy.