All language subtitles for Signed.Sealed.Delivered.S01E13-14.For.Christmas.720p.WEB-DL.DD5.1.h264-jAh

[♪]

[♪]

TEN!

NINE!

EIGHT!

SEVEN!

[OTHERS JOINING IN]:
SIX! FIVE!

FOUR! THREE!

TWO! ONE!

[CHEERING]

THAT'S IT, EVERYONE!

THE 57th ANNUAL "DEAR SANTA PROJECT"

IS DECLARED OFFICIALLY AND SUCCESSFULLY OVER!

[♪]

CONGRATULATIONS TO
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!

YOU'VE HELPED SANTA MAKE CHRISTMAS

A LITTLE MORE JOYFUL

FOR A LOT OF SPECIAL CHILDREN THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[ALL APPLAUDING, CALLING OUT]
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

WHERE'S OLIVER?

OH, HE'S MAKING A LAST-MINUTE DELIVERY.

IT'S HIS FAVOURITE PART EVERY YEAR.

OH, ME TOO.

I DELIVERED TWO TALKING
"TINY TEENA" DOLLS

TO 10-YEAR-OLD TAP-DANCING
TWINS FROM TELLURIDE

NAMED TAMMY AND RUTH.

WELL, RITA AND I WENT IN TOGETHER

ON A WHOLE COOKING SET

FOR A LITTLE GIRL FROM PARK HILL

WHO WANTS TO BE
A FAMOUS CHEF ONE DAY.

MM-HMM!

AND I THREW IN A BUNCH OF
MY CHRISTMAS COOKIE RECIPES.

YOU KNOW, JUST TO GET HER STARTED EARLY.

OH. ALL OF THEM?

EVEN
THE CHOCOLATE GINGERSNAP ONES

WITH THE BLUE CHEESE-AND-MUSTARD FROSTING?

OH, YEAH!

SHANE McINERNEY, RIGHT?

YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

-DEAD LETTER OFFICE?
-MM-HMM.

JORDAN MARLEY.

IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.

THIS IS MY COLLEAGUE, RITA HAYWITH.

HAYWITH, WITH AN "I."

WHOA. HA! WOW.

NOBODY EVER GETS IT RIGHT THE FIRST TRY.

AND YOU'RE NORMAN DORMAN.

THAT'S ME. YOU'RE THE GUY
THAT MADE HISTORY THIS YEAR.

WE PROCESSED 22% MORE
CHRISTMAS LISTS THANKS TO HIM.

THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

WELL, THE POWERS THAT BE
SENT ME TO TROUBLESHOOT

THE CHRISTMAS RUSH,

BUT THERE WASN'T ANY TROUBLE.

YOU GUYS GOING TO THE CHRISTMAS BALL TONIGHT?

THAT'S THE PLAN!

THAT IS, IF WE DON'T HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE ALL FINISHED.

NOT IF YOU'RE ON "TEAM O'TOOLE."

AH! THE FAMOUS OLIVER O'TOOLE.

IS IT TRUE THAT HE RUNS

SOME KIND OF SUPER-SECRET
DEAD LETTER TASK FORCE?

HE WOULDN'T EXACTLY SAY "SECRET,"

BUT WE DO HAVE A RATHER EXTENSIVE--

...LICENSE TO DELIVER.

AND TO OLIVER, THAT'S A SACRED TRUST.

SO WHERE IS THIS PARAGON OF POSTAL VIRTUE?

WELL, HE'S MEETING US AT THE PARTY.

OH! THAT REMINDS ME.

I CAN'T FIND MY CUMMERBUND.

IT IS HANGING ON THE BEAR,

UNDERNEATH MY TIARA IN THE D.L.O.

TIARAS AND CUMMERBUNDS AND BEARS...

RITA WAS JUST VOTED
"MISS SPECIAL DELIVERY" THIS PAST YEAR

AND WE KEEP HER CROWN
ON TOP OF THIS STUFFED BEAR

THAT'S AIRING OUT
NORMAN'S TUXEDO.

THE D.L.O. IS SORT OF LIKE
A SECOND HOME TO US.

DO YOU GUYS DO EVERYTHING TOGETHER?

OR WILL I GET A CHANCE
TO DANCE WITH YOU THIS EVENING?

[♪]

HI THERE.

I'M OLIVER O'TOOLE.

I'M FROM THE DEAD LETTER OFFICE

OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SYSTEM.

I LIKE THE NEW UNIFORM.

OH! UH, SORRY.

I HAVE A SPECIAL EVENT THIS EVENING.

DO YOU HAVE A SON NAMED DARRELL?

IS HE IN TROUBLE?

NO, NO, NOT AT ALL.

HE JUST WROTE A LETTER TO SANTA CLAUS,

AND SOMETIMES, THEY REQUIRE
A LITTLE "SPECIAL HANDLING."

SO, SANTA'S GOT ELVES
WORKING AT THE POST OFFICE, HUH?

OH, YES. SOME ARE VOLUNTEERS,
SOME ARE EMPLOYEES LIKE...

LIKE YOU?

[CHUCKLES]

DARRELL!

COME HERE, BABY.

WHAT ALL DID HE ASK FOR?

OH, WELL, I'M NOT ALLOWED

TO SHARE THE CONTENTS OF THE LETTER,

BUT I CAN SAY THAT HE PUT
A GREAT DEAL OF THOUGHT INTO IT.

YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO GET HIM

ONE OF THOSE ELECTRONIC BOOK THINGS.

HE HAD HIS HEART SET ON IT.

THEY ARE SO EXPENSIVE.

BABY.

THIS MAN IS FROM THE POST OFFICE

AND HE WANTS TO TALK TO YOU.

HI, DARRELL.

I WAS WONDERING, DID YOU SEND
YOUR CHRISTMAS WISH LIST

TO SANTA CLAUS THIS YEAR?

YEAH.

WELL, SANTA GETS SO MANY LETTERS

THIS TIME OF YEAR,

SOMETIMES, HE ASKS US TO HELP HIM.

THIS IS YOUR ANSWER RIGHT HERE,

SPECIAL DELIVERY.

RIGHT FROM THE NORTH POLE.

[MOM CHUCKLES]

WHAT DO YOU SAY, BABY?
TELL THE MAN THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YOU ARE SO WELCOME.

YOU WANT TO COME IN FOR A CUP OF COFFEE?

YOU KNOW WHAT, I'D LOVE TO,
BUT I DO HAVE TO GET BACK,

BECAUSE TOMORROW IS CHRISTMAS EVE.

WELL, THANK YOU.

AND THANK SANTA CLAUS.

GOOD NIGHT.

HEY, MISTER?

DID SANTA GET EVERYTHING?

UH, YES. THE SCARF AND THE GLOVES.

AND THE HAT.

THE HAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT,

BECAUSE YOUR EARS GET REALLY COLD.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL HAT, DARRELL.

YOUR MOTHER IS GOING TO BE...

VERY WARM THIS YEAR.

YOU HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

AH, I JUST LOVE CHRISTMAS.

IT MAKES ANYTHING SEEM POSSIBLE,

YOU KNOW?

[NORM]: WHEN I WAS LITTLE,

I USED TO SPEND CHRISTMAS

AT A DIFFERENT FOSTER HOME EVERY YEAR.

I WAS EIGHT BEFORE I HAD A CHRISTMAS STOCKING

THAT DIDN'T HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE'S NAME ON IT.

BUT SANTA ALWAYS FOUND YOU, RIGHT?

OH, YEAH.

[RELIEVED]: OKAY.

[SHANE]: OKAY!

20,000 CHILDREN IN THE GREATER DENVER METRO AREA

HAVE NOW HAD THEIR FAITH
IN SANTA CLAUS RESTORED,

SO IT'S NOW TIME TO PARTY.

♪ JINGLE BELLS

♪ JINGLE BELLS

♪ JINGLE ALL THE WAY

♪ YEAH--

OLIVER...

RALLYING THE TROOPS, MS. McINERNEY?

WELL, LOOK AT YOU.

THOUGHT WE WERE MEETING YOU AT THE BALL.

OH, JUST A LITTLE LAST-MINUTE INSPECTION

BEFORE THE FESTIVITIES.

MS. McINERNEY, THIS IS
YOUR FIRST CHRISTMAS WITH US.

YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE
OF OUR GOLDEN RULE. NORMAN?

"NO LETTER TO SANTA CLAUS SHALL BE UNANSWERED.

"ALL GIFTS AND RESPONSES

MUST BE DELIVERED BY CHRISTMAS EVE."

RITA? UPDATE, PLEASE.

AS OF TODAY, WE ARE ALL CAUGHT UP.

SO FAR, BUT ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN TOMORROW.

YES! WHICH IS EXACTLY

WHY WE SHOULD EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY TONIGHT.

MS. McINERNEY,

YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON I KNOW

WHO CAN RATIONALLY COMBINE FATALISM

WITH THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.

THIS ISN'T CHRISTMAS SPIRIT, MR. O'TOOLE.

THIS IS WHAT DESPERATION LOOKS LIKE

AFTER PROCESSING 20,000 DEAD LETTERS

IN 25 DAYS.

NO, I DON'T CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS ANYMORE,

BUT I DEFINITELY CELEBRATE GETTING OFF WORK EARLY

TO GO ON VACATION.

YOU DON'T CELEBRATE?

RITA! WE ONLY HAVE 15 MINUTES
TO GET TO THE SALON.

NORMAN? WHAT ARE THESE?

HOCKEY PUCKS?

THEY FALL OFF OF A SHIPMENT OF SPORTS EQUIPMENT?

RITA HAS BEEN BAKING AGAIN.

ALRIGHT, BOYS! WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.

OH, AND DON'T EAT ALL MY BROWNIES,

OR YOU WILL RUIN YOUR APPETITE.

PROMISE!

OKAY. BYE!

[♪]

WHAT ARE YOU WEARING TONIGHT?

OH, I WEAR THE SAME THING EVERY YEAR.

IT'S GREEN AND RED AND GOLD

AND... GREEN.

NOT THIS YEAR.

THERE IS A DRESS IN THE WINDOW NEXT DOOR

THAT WOULD CURL NORMAN'S CUMMERBUND.

WHY WOULD I WANT TO DO THAT?

RITA!

LOOK, I MIGHT NOT BE
A BIG FAN OF CHRISTMAS,

BUT IT DOES HAVE ITS BENEFITS--

SUCH AS CHRISTMAS PARTIES,

AND CHRISTMAS BONUSES AND CHRISTMAS...

MISTLETOE.

YOU MEAN... KISS NORMAN?

YES! I MEAN KISS NORMAN!

OH, COME ON.

DON'T TELL ME YOU HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

YOU CAN'T RUSH THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW?

I MEAN, WE'VE NEVER EVEN
BEEN OUT ON A REAL DATE.

BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M SAYING!

YOU'VE GOTTA JUMP-START THIS RELATIONSHIP.

YOU'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER... HOW LONG?

THREE YEARS, 11 MONTHS, AND 30 DAYS.

[SIGHS]

WE WERE BOTH WORKING
THE HOLIDAY NIGHTSHIFT,

AND I TIPPED OVER AN ENTIRE BOX

OF MISDIRECTED CHRISTMAS
FRUIT BASKET CATALOGUES...

WELL, NORMAN CAME OVER
TO HELP ME PICK THEM UP

AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT,
AND AS WE STOOD UP TOGETHER...

OUR HEADS BUMPED, AND...

BANG.

"BANG"?

BANG.

SO YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S BEEN
SOME PHYSICAL CONTACT, THEN?

OH, YEAH.

OF COURSE.

EVERY YEAR, THEY'VE ALWAYS
HAD THE SAME ENTERTAINMENT.

MARK THE MAGICIAN GUY,

WHO MAKES MRS. WOOLLARD FROM
CERTIFIED LETTERS DISAPPEAR.

AND THEN COMES THE GUY
FROM INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING

THAT DOES IMPRESSIONS.

IT'S TRUE,

OUR CHRISTMAS BALL TRADITIONS RARELY VARY.

AND NOW...

THEY'VE ADDED A BAND.

AND PEOPLE ARE DANCING.

AND THEY ARE

DANCING WITH EACH OTHER.

AND I DON'T DO THAT.

WELL, YOU SHOULD TRY IT, NORMAN.

IT IS CALLED A BALL, AFTER ALL.

IT SEEMS APPROPRIATE. NOT TO MENTION
IT'S ALSO VERY GOOD FOR YOUR...

[GASPS]

[♪]

...HEART.

[♪]

I BELIEVE OUR...

COLLEAGUES HAVE ARRIVED.

OH, I THINK I SEE
A CURLING CUMMERBUND.

OH, WHAT IF HE ASKS ME TO DANCE?

OH, WHAT IF SHE ASKS ME TO DANCE?

RITA, YOU CERTAINLY HAVE

EXPANDED YOUR WARDROBE THIS YEAR.

VERY... VERY FESTIVE.

[CHUCKLES]

WHERE'S YOUR RED AND GREEN AND GOLD ONE

THAT YOU ALWAYS WEAR?

SHANE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE

I SHOULD BRANCH OUT A LITTLE,

SINCE I'M MISS SPECIAL DELIVERY NOW.

THAT IS EXCELLENT ADVICE. WHERE IS MS. McINERNEY?

OH, SHE WAS JUST RIGHT HERE.

OH, THERE SHE IS.

[♪]

UH... [WORDS CATCHING]

[♪]

WOULD ANYONE LIKE, UH...

SOME PUNCH?

I HEAR THE PUNCH IS VERY GOOD THIS YEAR.

LET'S GET SOME PUNCH.

[♪]

I HEAR IT'S SURF-AND-TURF FOR DINNER.

"TURF". THAT'S SUCH A FUNNY WORD!

TURF? "TURF".

TURF-TURF!

"TURF".

AN OLD ENGLISH WORD DERIVED
FROM THE EARLY SAXON,

OF, OR PERTAINING TO, AN AREA
CONSIDERED ANOTHER'S TERRITORY.

[♪]

HOW CAN SOMEBODY NOT LIKE CHRISTMAS?

CHRISTMAS IS FOR KIDS.

AND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO FEEL LIKE KIDS AGAIN

FOR A LITTLE WHILE...

ALL HOPEFUL AND MAGICAL... PEACE ON EARTH.

YOU KNOW,

THERE'S A CHAMPAGNE FOUNTAIN OVER THERE,

IF YOU NEED SOMETHING A LITTLE STRONGER.

ONE NEVER CONSUMES ALCOHOL

WHEN ONE DANCES THE RUMBA.

BUT YOU'RE NOT DANCING.

NOT YET.

NOBODY GIVES UP CHRISTMAS,

BUT, SOMETIMES, IT GETS TAKEN FROM THEM,

AND THEY JUST NEED A LITTLE HELP GETTING IT BACK.

WHATEVER. IT'S NO BIG DEAL.

THAT'S TOO BAD.

WHERE I COME FROM, CHRISTMAS IS A VERY BIG DEAL.

OH. AND WHERE'S THAT?

AHEM. MAY I CUT IN?

OLIVER.

JORDAN, THIS IS MY BOSS, OLIVER O'TOOLE.

JORDAN MARLEY.
WHAT A PLEASURE.

HOW DO YOU DO?

PLEASE, DANCE.

HE'S THE GUY THEY BROUGHT IN

TO TROUBLESHOOT THE DEAR SANTA PROJECT.

MM. YOU AMAZE ME.

WHAT?
WHAT'S THE MATTER?

YOU WERE DANCING THE DANCE.

"THE DANCE?" WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

IF YOU RECALL, MS. McINERNEY,

LAST SUMMER, I WAS RECEIVED
DANCE LESSONS AS A GIFT

AND, TEMPORARILY REQUIRING A PARTNER,

I SHARED THEM WITH YOU,

SO, TECHNICALLY, YOU'RE USING MY STEPS

TO DANCE WITH SOMEONE ELSE

WHO HAS NOT EARNED THE RIGHT TO DANCE WITH...

WITH THE STEPS.

WELL, THAT MAKES ALL THE SENSE IN THE WORLD.

TEACHING ONE PERSON STEPS

LEARNED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF ANOTHER

IS TANTAMOUNT TO THEFT.

[LAUGHING]

I WAS TEACHING THE GUY A FEW STEPS.

I WASN'T SELLING STATE SECRETS.

DIP.

[♪]

OH. I LOVE THIS PART WITH THE FRUIT!

NORMAN.

ARE YOU GOING TO, UH, DANCE TONIGHT?

YEAH, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THAT...

GREAT!

I DON'T THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD IDEA.

[♪]

I'M GOING TO GO BACK UP TO THE BUFFET.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE SOME MORE... TURF?

NO. THANK YOU, RITA.

UH, NORMAN, DON'T YOU THINK YOU SHOULD...

NO.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!

MY NECKLACE. IT'S GONE!

OH...

IF IT'S HERE, WE'LL FIND IT.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!

DID YOU LOSE SOMETHING?

YES.

UH, MS. McINERNEY MISPLACED HER NECKLACE.

IT'S A SMALL GOLD DISK

WITH A PURPLE CRYSTAL BEAD.

YEAH.

WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE IT?

I WEAR IT ALL THE TIME. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME.

I'LL CHECK THE DANCE FLOOR.

I'M SURE WE'LL FIND IT, MS. McINERNEY.

NORMAN, WILL YOU AND RITA
PLEASE CHECK THE BUFFET?

I BELIEVE

WE NEED TO SEARCH IN SMALL CONCENTRIC CIRCLES.

I HAVE TO FIND IT. I CAN'T REPLACE IT.

I KNOW.

THAT WAS THE LAST GIFT
MY PARENTS GAVE ME BEFORE...

[JORDAN]: FOUND IT!

-[GASP]
-[THUD]

OH! THANK GOODNESS!

"TO C. WITH LOVE. MOM AND DAD."

TO "C"? NOT "S"?

IT WAS THE FAMILY JOKE.

WHEN WE STILL WERE A FAMILY.

[RELIEVED SIGH]

THANK YOU.

DID YOU FIND IT?

JORDAN DID!

OH!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN US?

I'D LOVE TO.

YOU KNOW, OLIVER WAS SAYING

SOMETHING REALLY INTERESTING

ABOUT THE WORD, UM, UH, "TURF".

[FORCED CHUCKLE]

WHAT WAS THAT AGAIN?

JUST THAT IT'S AN OLD ENGLISH WORD

DERIVED FROM THE EARLY SAXON.

THAT'S RIGHT.

BUT, ODDLY ENOUGH,

THE WORD "TURF" CAN BE TRACED TO THE LATIN

THROUGH A CORRESPONDING TRANSLATION

OF OLD FRISIAN AND NORSE.

NOT TO MENTION

THE PARALLEL TRANSLATION
FROM THE HIGH GERMAN "SURF",

ALSO DERIVING FROM--

-...INDO-EUROPEAN--
-...SANSKRIT.

[LAUGHING] OH. WOW.

TWO WORD-NERDS SITTING AT THE SAME TABLE

AT THE POSTAL BALL.

IT'S A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE.

THOUGHT YOU DIDN'T BELIEVE
IN CHRISTMAS MIRACLES,

MS. McINERNEY?

OR VALENTINE'S DAY MIRACLES,
LABOUR DAY MIRACLES...

GUESS YOU COULD SAY I'M JUST
YOUR BASIC BAH-HUMBUG.

WELL, THAT'S A SHAME.

I WAS TOLD THAT IF ANYONE COULD
PULL OFF A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE,

IT WOULD BE YOU

AND OLIVER O'TOOLE'S DEAD LETTER TEAM.

WE ACTUALLY CALL OURSELVES "THE POSTABLES."

MM.

I DO, ANYWAYS.

WAS THERE SOMETHING
THAT YOU NEEDED US TO DO?

ANOTHER LETTER ENTERED
THE SYSTEM TONIGHT

AS I WAS LEAVING.

IT WAS MAILED THIS MORNING
FROM A YOUNG GIRL IN WYOMING.

LAST-MINUTE LETTER TO SANTA CLAUS?

NO.

THIS ONE IS A LETTER TO GOD.

[JORDAN]:
FIVE "DARK OF NIGHT" AWARDS?

YES. ONE OF THEM WAS MY GRANDFATHER'S,

THE OTHER FOUR WE EARNED

ON AN PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT ASSIGNMENT.

HAPPY ENDING, I ASSUME.

VERY HAPPY.

WOULD IT BOTHER ANYONE
IF I TOOK MY CUMMERBUND OFF?

MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE, NORMAN.

WE MAY BE HERE AWHILE.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL BY CHARLES DICKENS.

NICE LEATHER-BOUND EDITION, TOO.

HAVEN'T READ IT SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.

EVERY YEAR, I PROMISE MYSELF I'LL READ IT AGAIN,

BUT I NEVER DO.

LOOKS LIKE I'LL HAVE TIME THIS CHRISTMAS.

[RITA]: ANYBODY HUNGRY?

THANK YOU.

DID YOU MAKE THESE?

MM-HMM.

WOW.

PRETTY AMAZING, HUH?

I'VE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THEM.

I LIKE THE CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS.

OH, RITA MADE THOSE.

SHE MAKES ALL KINDS OF THINGS AT CHRISTMAS.

YEAH, MY SPECIALTIES

ARE ADVENT WREATHS,

CHRISTMAS TACOS

AND BAYBERRY CANDLES.

CHRISTMAS TACOS?

IT'S JUST NAVAJO FRIED BREAD.

I GREW UP IN ALBUQUERQUE.

MY PARENTS ARE FLOWER CHILDREN.

CACTUS FLOWER CHILDREN, THEN?

[RITA LAUGHS]

OH, MY GOSH!
YOU'RE SO FUNNY!

AHEM.

MAYBE OLIVER SHOULD TAKE A LOOK
AT THAT LETTER NOW?

OH!

ACCORDING TO THE LETTER, SHE IS FROM WYOMING,

BUT IT WAS POSTMARKED HERE IN DENVER.

ENTERED THE SYSTEM THIS MORNING.

NOW, TECHNICALLY,

IT DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR THE "DEAR SANTA" PROGRAM, BUT--

BUT IT STILL DESERVES AN ANSWER.

SHE DIDN'T LEAVE MUCH TO GO ON.

WELL, OLIVER O'TOOLE CAN DELIVER
A LETTER TO ANYBODY, ANYWHERE.

ATYPICAL ENVELOPE, NOT BUSINESS SIZE.

DOUBLE-WEIGHT LINEN, COLOUR IS ECRU.

UH, THE PAPER INSIDE, I'M GUESSING,

IS THREE-HOLE, WIDE-RULE, SCHOOL-GRADE.

NORMAN?

HANDWRITING CONFIRMS THE WRITER IS A YOUNG FEMALE,

APPROXIMATELY EIGHT.

INSTRUMENT USED IS CRAYON.

OH, THAT'S NOT YOUR TYPICAL CHRISTMAS STAMP.

YEAH, IT COMES FROM

AN INDUSTRIAL-SIZED STAMP ROLL,

LIKE A BANK OR A LARGE COMPANY

MIGHT USE.

OR HOSPITALS AND CLINICS?

THIS IS A STAMP HONOURING AMERICAN NURSES.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

YOU'LL SEE WHEN YOU READ IT.

AH. THERE'S A DRAWING IN THIS ONE.

AH! VERY NICE
USE OF COLOUR.

"DEAR GOD,
MY MOMMY IS REALLY SICK.

"THE DOCTOR DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG,

"SO WE HAVE TO DRIVE TO DENVER, COLORADO,

"AND TAKE HER TO A BIG HOSPITAL.

"DADDY SAYS THERE'S A HOTEL NEXT DOOR

"WITH A SWIMMING POOL INSIDE.

"BUT HE SAYS IF MOMMY DOESN'T GET WELL,

"WE WON'T BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.

"PLEASE MAKE MY MOMMY GET WELL

"SO SHE CAN SEE ME BE A SHEPHERD.

"I PROMISED HER I'D BE ONE,

"AND I CAN'T BREAK MY PROMISE TO MY MOMMY.

"LOVE, HANNAH FROM WYOMING.

"P.S. MERRY CHRISTMAS,

AND SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JESUS."

POSTMARK IS TODAY, FROM DENVER.

MR. MARLEY, I BELIEVE YOU'RE RIGHT.

THIS WAS MAILED FROM A LOCAL HOSPITAL.

"PLEASE MAKE MY MOMMY GET WELL

SO SHE CAN SEE ME BE A SHEPHERD."

OH! I BET SHE WAS GONNA BE
IN A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

IN WYOMING.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SHEEP IN WYOMING.

I HOPE HER MOM IS OKAY.

SEE? THIS IS MY PROBLEM
WITH CHRISTMAS MIRACLES.

LITTLE KIDS ASK FOR THEM

AND WE CAN'T MAKE THEM HAPPEN.

HANNAH'S NOT ASKING US

TO PERFORM A MIRACLE,
SHE'S ASKING GOD TO.

WELL, THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD LET GOD

ANSWER THE LETTER.

WELL, I BELIEVE HE DID,
BY ENTRUSTING THE LETTER TO US.

AND WE ARE PROBABLY THE ONLY PEOPLE

IN THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SYSTEM

THAT COULD HELP
FIND HANNAH.

AND...

WHAT ABOUT WHEN WE DO?

WHAT DIFFERENCE WILL IT MAKE?

WELL, PERHAPS

IF WE IDENTIFY THE HOSPITAL,

WE CAN GO THERE AND FIND OUT.

THAT WILL TAKE ALL NIGHT.

RITA HAS A BUS TO CATCH IN THE MORNING.

THAT'S OKAY.

BUSES LEAVE TO ALBUQUERQUE ALL THE TIME.

I CAN TAKE A LATER ONE.
MY FOLKS WOULD UNDERSTAND.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING FOR CHRISTMAS?

I'M NOT GOING "FOR CHRISTMAS,"

I'M JUST GOING TO A SPA IN ARIZONA,

TO BE WARM FOR FIVE DAYS.

MS. McINERNEY, I BELIEVE
WE HAVE PLENTY OF HELP

IF YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO LEAVE.

RIGHT. LIKE I'M GONNA LET
ANY OF YOU TOUCH MY COMPUTER.

I'LL RUN A CHECK
ON HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS

FOR WOMEN FROM WYOMING
IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

OKAY, AND I WILL CHECK

ALL HOTELS WITH INDOOR SWIMMING POOLS

NEXT TO A HOSPITAL.

AND I WILL START...

CALLING AMBULANCE COMPANIES IN WYOMING.

I WILL PICK UP A NEW PHONE.

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?

[♪]

[RITA]: DO YOU HAVE
AN INDOOR SWIMMING POOL?

OLIVER.

HMM? HOW ARE YOU COMING?

WELL, I...

I ACCESSED THE ADMISSIONS RECORDS

OF THREE OUT OF THE FOUR
MAJOR DENVER HOSPITALS,

BUT THERE'S NO RECORD OF A WOMAN
BEING BROUGHT IN FROM WYOMING.

WHAT ABOUT DENVER MERCY?

I DON'T KNOW.

I CAN'T GET INTO THEIR SYSTEM.

I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING,

BUT THEY HAVE A FIREWALL
LIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN.

MAYBE IT'S A SIGN.

THAT WE SHOULD GIVE UP?

I THOUGHT YOU KNEW ME BETTER THAN THAT.

THEN AGAIN, I THOUGHT
I KNEW YOU BETTER THAN--

THAN WHAT?

JUST SAY IT.

I'M JUST A BIT MYSTIFIED.

YOU'VE BEEN CHEERFULLY WORKING WITHOUT COMPLAINT

FOR SIX WEEKS, DAY AND NIGHT,

ANSWERING THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN'S LETTERS

TO SANTA CLAUS,

SO WHY ARE YOU SO DISTURBED
BY ONE CHILD'S LETTER TO GOD?

BECAUSE.

WHEN A LETTER TO SANTA CLAUS GETS ANSWERED,

IT'S WRAPPED AROUND SOMETHING REAL--

A DOLL,

A BIKE,

A PUPPY.

BUT WITH GOD, WHO KNOWS WHAT THE ANSWER IS?

THERE'S NOTHING TO UNWRAP,

NOTHING TO HOLD,

NOTHING TO SEE.

AND THAT'S ASSUMING

HE'S EVEN BOTHERED TO ANSWER YOU AT ALL.

[♪]

OH, HELLO! YES. I'M CALLING

FROM THE DEAD LETTER OFFICE
OF THE U.S. POSTAL SYSTEM,

REGARDING A LITTLE GIRL'S LETTER--

OH, YEAH, OF COURSE, I'LL HOLD.

GREAT! THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

I THINK WE GOT SOMETHING!

COLORADO HOSPITAL TRANSFER WON'T GIVE ME A NAME,

BUT THEY DID TRANSFER A PATIENT

TO DENVER MERCY FROM SILVER BOW, WYOMING,

IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

OH! GREAT! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

OKAY. THE CHERRY CREEK WELCOME INN

HAS AN SWIMMING POOL,

AND IT'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER
FROM THE DENVER MERCY HOSPITAL.

I THINK WE HAVE OUR NEXT MOVE.

[RITA]:
OH, I'LL GET MY COAT!

I'LL GET MY FIELD KIT.

GIVING GOD A CHANCE, MS. McINERNEY?

GIVING YOU TECH SUPPORT, MR. O'TOOLE.

[INDISTINCT
SURGERY ANNOUNCEMENT CRACKLES]

[DESK NURSE]:
IF YOU'RE NOT

ON THE PATIENT'S APPROVED VISITOR LIST,

THEN WE DON'T LET YOU UPSTAIRS.

NO EXCEPTIONS.

THIS COULD BE TOUGH.

WE ARE DEFINITELY NOT ON ANYBODY'S VISITOR LIST.

WE MAY ACTUALLY QUALIFY

FOR SOMEBODY'S BEST-DRESSED LIST.

MR. MARLEY, YOU ARE A TROUBLESHOOTER, CORRECT?

THAT IS THE UNOFFICIAL TITLE.

NORMAN, DO HAVE ANYTHING
IN THERE THAT SPARKLES,

OR LIGHTS UP?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? IT'S CHRISTMAS.

THIS BABY'S FULLY-LOADED.

EXCUSE ME, MISS... HODGES?

NAME AND ROOM

OF THE PATIENT YOU'RE VISITING, PLEASE.

I'M NOT A VISITOR.

I'M LOOKING
FOR THE CHRISTMAS CAROLERS.

[SIGHS]
WHAT CHRISTMAS CAROLERS?

[OLIVER]: UH, THERE YOU ARE, MR. MARLEY?

THERE THEY ARE!

WE'RE HERE!
WE'RE HERE!

SORRY WE'RE LATE.

WE...

RAN INTO
A LOT OF LIGHTS.

[POSTABLES]:
♪ ...TO THE NEWBORN KING

♪ PEACE ON EARTH

♪ AND MERCY MILD

♪ GOD AND SINNERS RECONCILED

♪ JOYFUL ALL YE NATIONS RISE

♪ JOIN THE TRIUMPH

[DOG WHIMPERS]

♪ OF THE SKIES

♪ WITH ANGELIC HOSTS PROCLAIM

♪ CHRIST IS BORN IN BETHLEHEM ♪

[DOG WINING]

♪ HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING

♪ GLORY TO THE NEWBORN KING

UH, IS HE ALL RIGHT?

MM-HMM. HE LOVES MUSIC.

UH, THERE'S A LADY HERE FROM WYOMING?

SHE HAS A LITTLE GIRL?

NOT ON THIS FLOOR,

BUT THE ONLY OTHER PATIENTS
IN THE HOSPITAL AT CHRISTMAS

ARE HAVING BABIES.

MAYBE SHE'S ON MATERNITY.

[POOCH WHINING]

♪ LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING

♪ LET EVERY HEART

♪ PREPARE HIM ROOM

♪ AND HEAV'N AND NATURE SING ♪

♪ AND HEAV'N AND NATURE SING ♪

[NURSE JOINS IN]:
♪ LET HEAV'N AND HEAV'N

♪ AND NATURE SING

AMEN!

THAT IS JUST WHAT I NEEDED.

OH, MY GOODNESS. YOU'RE--

THE POST OFFICE GUY!

OH, LOOK AT YOU! YOU'RE ALL LIT UP.

WE ARE ACTUALLY TRYING

TO DELIVER OUR LAST CHRISTMAS LETTER.

THERE'S A LITTLE GIRL HANNAH, FROM WYOMING.

WE BELIEVE HER MOTHER WAS ADMITTED HERE TODAY.

THEY'RE HERE.

AMBULANCE BROUGHT 'EM IN LAST NIGHT.

SWEET LITTLE THING ASKED ME FOR A STAMP.

[READING QUIETLY]

A NURSE'S COMMEMORATIVE?

OH, THAT'S THE LETTER THAT CAME TO US.

POOR THING'S WRITING LETTERS TO SANTA CLAUS,

ASKING FOR HELP, I BET.

IT WAS A LETTER TO GOD, ACTUALLY.

GOOD. THEN SHE GOT HER ANSWER.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

WELL, HE SENT ALL OF YOU, DIDN'T HE?

[CHUCKLES WARMLY]

[MONITORS BEEPING RHYTHMICALLY]

HI, MOMMY.

MR. CASEY?

THERE ARE SOME FOLKS OUT HERE
I THINK YOU SHOULD MEET.

WE JUST MAILED THIS
LAST NIGHT.

WELL, LETTERS LIKE THIS TEND TO BE EXPEDITED,

ESPECIALLY AROUND CHRISTMAS.

WOULD YOU MIND IF WE ASK
YOUR DAUGHTER A QUESTION?

IT'S JUST A FORMALITY.

NO.

OF COURSE.

HI, HANNAH. MY NAME'S RITA.

I WORK AT THE POST OFFICE.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE

THAT YOU'RE THE ONE
THAT MAILED THIS LETTER.

YEAH.

YOU HAVE AN OWL ON YOUR PURSE.

OH! YEAH.

THAT'S BECAUSE I LOVE OWLS.
YOU WANNA SEE IT?

-YEAH.
-OH!

COME ON.

MR. CASEY, WE WERE VERY SORRY TO HEAR

YOUR WIFE WAS UNWELL.

WE THOUGHT
IT WAS THE FLU,

AND THEN SHE JUST GOT
WORSE AND WORSE,

AND NOBODY
COULD FIGURE IT OUT.

OUR DOCTOR FINALLY SAID

WE'D BETTER GET AMY
DOWN HERE

TO A BIG-CITY HOSPITAL.

DO YOU MIND IF I ASK ABOUT THE BABY?

IT'S A BOY.

HE'S NOT DUE FOR A MONTH, AND, UM...

THEY DON'T WANT TO DELIVER EARLY
IF THEY DON'T HAVE TO,

BECAUSE, THEY, UM...

[SNIFFLES]

MR. CASEY, DO YOU HAVE
ANY FAMILY HERE IN DENVER?

I WORK FOR A MINERAL COMPANY IN TEXAS

AND GOT TRANSFERRED TO WYOMING LAST MONTH.

FIRST THING WE DID WAS LOOK FOR A CHURCH.

IT'S A GOOD WAY TO MEET FOLKS.

AND WE FOUND ONE
THAT'S HAVING A NATIVITY PAGEANT

ON CHRISTMAS EVE...

AND HANNAH WAS GOING TO BE A SHEPHERD.

THAT'S ALL SHE'S EVER WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS.

WELL, THERE MUST BE A CHURCH PAGEANT NEARBY

THAT WOULD BE HAPPY TO INCLUDE HER.

I CAN LOOK ONE UP.

THANK YOU,

BUT THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING,

WE SHOULD PROBABLY STAY CLOSE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE

THAT HANNAH SPENDS AS MUCH TIME WITH HER MOM

AS SHE CAN...

JUST IN CASE.

OF COURSE.

THERE MUST BE A WAY

THAT WE COULD DO BOTH.

ONCE A CHILD LOSES HOPE AT CHRISTMAS,

IT'S HARD TO GET IT BACK.

WHAT IF...

WHAT IF WE BRING
THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT TO HANNAH?

[♪]

[RITA]: AND THEN, THE OWL
FLEW RIGHT OVER MY HEAD

AND IT SAID, "WHO? WHO?"

AND I SAID "ME! THAT'S WHO!"

[LAUGHS]

AND ALL THE OTHER KIDS IN THE SCHOOL

WERE PRETTY SHOCKED,

BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS REALLY QUIET IN SCHOOL,

BUT THERE I WAS, TALKING TO AN OWL,

AND IT WAS TALKING RIGHT BACK TO ME.

AND THEN MY TEACHER SAID

THAT, WELL, OWLS ARE SO WISE,

THEY ONLY TALK

TO INTERESTING PEOPLE WHO WEAR GLASSES.

DID YOU MAKE HIM YOUR PET?

NO. NO.

HE NEEDED TO FLY AWAY AND KEEP BEING AN OWL.

AND I NEVER SAW ANOTHER OWL AGAIN.

OH!

OH, THAT'S TOO BAD.

YEAH.

YEAH.

BUT...

THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS CARRY AROUND
SOMETHING TO REMIND ME

THAT, WELL, EVEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT,

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY
OUT THERE FLYING AROUND

THAT THINKS YOU'RE SPECIAL.

WHERE ARE WE GONNA GET CATTLE AND CAMELS

ON CHRISTMAS EVE?

WE DON'T NEED CAMELS.

WE JUST NEED THE BASICS.

YOU KNOW, MARY, JOSEPH,

ANGEL, WISE MEN, ET CETERA.

CAN I BE JOSEPH?

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE JOSEPH.

[OLIVER]: I SUGGEST
WE GO HOME, GET SOME SLEEP,

MEET AT THE MAILBOX GRILLE IN THE MORNING,

AND MAKE A PLAN.

HOW ABOUT 11:00?

I THOUGHT YOU HAD A PLANE AT NOON.

WHAT HAPPENED TO "BAH, HUMBUG"?

WELL...

HANNAH WROTE A LETTER TO GOD,

AND I KNOW WHO'S NOT GOING TO ANSWER IT,

SO IT'S UP TO US.

RITA, WHEN'S THE LAST PLANE
TO TUCSON ON CHRISTMAS EVE?

UM, ARIZONA AIRWAYS,

LEAVING AT 9:55, WITH A CONNECTION IN PHOENIX,

WHICH ARRIVES AT 2:00 A.M.

RITA HAS A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY.

OLIVER, IF YOU'RE HEADED BACK TO THE D.L.O. AFTER THIS,

THERE'S SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU.

IN PRIVATE.

[QUIET JAZZ PLAYS]

I HAVE NOT HAD ONE OF THESE IN DECADES.

I, UH...

FIND A CERTAIN COMFORT

IN THINGS OF THE PAST.

THINGS OF QUALITY.

SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR THAT.

HOW LONG HAVE
YOU BEEN MARRIED?

UM...

THE WEDDING WAS THREE YEARS AGO.

BEING MARRIED IS ANOTHER STORY.

ALWAYS IS.

WE WERE VISITING

THE NATIONAL POSTAL MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON.

SHE KNEW HOW MUCH THAT MEANT TO ME...

SO HER WALKING OUT ON ME THERE HAD, UH,

A CERTAIN...

STING TO IT.

WHERE IS SHE NOW?

PARIS.

I WROTE HER A LETTER A WHILE BACK...

NEVER GOT AN ANSWER.

NOTHING?

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GOT YOUR ANSWER.

I GUESS.

THAT FIRST

CHRISTMAS WAS HARD...

BUT THIS SECOND CHRISTMAS

MAKES IT...

REAL.

SO, IT'S JUST YOU AND CHARLES DICKENS

FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR, HMM?

[SIGHING]

TO THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST.

[CLINK]

SPEAKING OF WHICH,

THAT REMINDS ME OF WHAT
I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.

I'VE BEEN CARRYING
THIS LETTER FOR A LONG TIME.

IT'S ANOTHER LETTER TO GOD.

"DEAR GOD.

"I MISS MY DADDY.

"PLEASE MAKE HIM WANT TO...

"COME BACK HOME.

"I JUST WANT TO HAVE A HAPPY FAMILY AGAIN."

[INHALES DEEPLY]

THESE ARE THE HARD ONES.

BUT I'VE ENCLOSED THE ANSWER WITH IT.

I THINK YOU'RE THE ONE TO DELIVER IT.

WELL, THERE'S A SEVEN AND A ZERO

IN THE RETURN ADDRESS,

AND THE LAST THREE LETTERS OF THE STREET NAME

ARE "...O-M-A PLACE."

PERHAPS MS. McINERNEY'S
COMPUTER CAN LOOK FOR--

OH, NO. IT'S NO PROBLEM.

OKAY, LET'S SEE.

THERE ARE TWO STREETS IN THE ARVADA AREA

WITH NUMBERS HIGHER THAN 7,000

AND THE LAST THREE LETTERS OF "O-M-A..."

TACOMA AND ACOMA.

BUT ONE OF THEM'S A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT,

SO IT'S GOT TO BE TACOMA,

AND TACOMA PLACE IS A CUL-DE-SAC,

SO YOU'LL PROBABLY ONLY HAVE ABOUT...

OH, 10 HOUSES TO TRY.

HUH. YOU SEE? THAT WASN'T THAT HARD.

WELL, THE HARDEST PART WILL BE
RINGING THE RIGHT DOORBELL

AND SEEING THE LOOK ON
THAT LITTLE BOY OR GIRL'S FACE

WHEN THEY OPEN THE DOOR
AND REALIZE IT'S ONLY ME.

DO YOU WANT US TO COME WITH YOU?

OH, NO. NO. I CAN, UH,
I CAN TAKE IT FROM HERE.

BESIDES, YOU HAVE
A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT TO...

OH...

NORMAN, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
WITH THE SOURDOUGH?

OH. WELL, UH, LOOK. UM...

THIS IS MY "O, COME ALL YE FAITHFUL" POSE.

AND THIS...

IS MY...

"AWAY...

IN A MANGER."

SHOW HER YOUR "JOY TO THE WORLD".

[SNICKERS]

AW! THAT'S SO GREAT!

OKAY, WHAT? WHAT CAN I DO?

OKAY, SO MARY IS OVER HERE, HOLDING BABY...

UH, WELL, THIS,

AND I AM HERE.

UH, MANGER'LL BE IN THE MIDDLE. OLIVER...

YOU'LL NARRATE FROM STABLE RIGHT.

UH, THE WISE MEN ARE THERE,

THE SHEPHERD IS OVER THERE,

AND SHANE,

YOU WILL BE OVER HERE

ABOVE THE STABLE.

I'M SORRY, I'M WHAT?

YOU'RE THE ANGEL.

NO. NO.

NO!

I'M-I'M HELPING JORDAN DESIGN SET.

I'M NO ANGEL.

A PROVOCATIVE THOUGHT,

MS. McINERNEY, BUT WE MUST ALL DO OUR PART.

WHAT ABOUT HIM?

SORRY. HAVE BIG PLANS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE.

THEN IT FALLS ON YOU TO BE

OUR HEAVENLY MESSENGER, MS. McINERNEY,

UNLESS, OF COURSE, YOU FEEL YOU MAY BE

BETTER SUITED TO THE ROLE OF...

THE VIRGIN MARY?

OKAY. I'M AN ANGEL.

NO HALOS!

OKAY, SO NORMAN AND I WILL
WORK ON PROPS AND COSTUMES,

AND JORDAN, YOU CAN HELP
SHANE BUILD THE STABLE.

[♪]

HERE ARE YOUR SCRIPTS.

LET HEAVEN AND NATURE SING:
A PAGEANT OF CHRISTMAS,

BY OLIVER O'TOOLE?

IT'S THE BEST I COULD DO ON SHORT NOTICE.

OKAY, NOW ALL WE NEED TO DO IS,

EVERYONE NEEDS TO LEARN THEIR LINES.

OH, AND SHANE, YOU CAN REHEARSE WITH HANNAH.

OH, BUT SHE LIKES YOU AND YOUR-YOUR OWLS.

YEAH, BUT IT'S JUST THAT
NORMAN AND I STILL HAVE TO FIND

STARS, GOLD, FRANKINCENSE, MYRRH...

OKAY.

IT'S 11:53 NOW.

WE ALL MEET BACK AT THE D.L.O. AT 4:00.

SYNCHRONIZE YOUR WATCHES
FOR "OPERATION: BETHLEHEM."

UM, UM... HERE!

[OLIVER]: I HAVE A LAST
CHRISTMAS LETTER TO DELIVER,

BUT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK IN TIME.

NO REST FOR THE POSTAL, HMM?

ALRIGHT, EVERYONE... LET'S DECK THE HALLS.

[DREAMILY]: OH...
HE IS SO GOOD AT THIS.

[♪]

SO I WILL BE SEEING YOU

AND MS. McINERNEY LATER, THEN?

I HOPE SO.

I NOTICE THAT YOU CALL RITA "RITA,"

BUT YOU CALL SHANE "MS. McINERNEY?"

YES, WELL, UH...

IT STARTED AS AN OFFICE FORMALITY,

BUT, UH, IT JUST CONTINUED.

DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHY I DO THAT.

I THINK YOU DO.

SHE'S A VERY SPECIAL LADY.

YES, SHE IS.

WELL, IT'S ALMOST NOON.

I HAVE ONE LAST LETTER TO DELIVER.

THAT'S RIGHT.

NO LEFTOVERS ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

JORDAN, ARE YOU COMING?

[♪]

[♪]

[♪]

WHAT?

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

AND, WELL, SINCE IT IS CHRISTMAS,

I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU A CHOICE.

YOU CAN EITHER DO THE RIGHT THING...

OR YOU CAN TRY AND GET BY ME.

MA'AM, MAY I HELP YOU?

OH! THANK YOU.

I'M LOOKING FOR SOME SORT
OF POST OFFICE RESTAURANT?

OH! THE MAILBOX GRILLE.
YES, YOU'VE PASSED IT.

IT'S JUST BACK THERE.

OLIVER O'TOOLE?

-IS THAT YOU?
-YES.

OH! FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES.

IT'S ME, YOUR OLD SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER.

MRS. GENZINGER?

OH, MY GOODNESS!

OLIVER, DEAR, YOU'VE GROWN!

WELL, I GOT LOST,

AND THEY'RE GONNA BE HERE ANY MINUTE,

AND I HAVE TO ARRANGE THE TABLE CENTREPIECE.

AH! "RESERVED FOR ST. CLARISSA'S AUXILIARY."

WELL, WE ALWAYS HAVE OUR CHRISTMAS PARTY

EVERY YEAR AT THE CHURCH,

BUT THIS YEAR,

BETTY JENSEN INSISTED ON BEING FANCY.

SHE INSISTED ON HELPING
WITH THE DECORATIONS, TOO,

BUT WHERE IS SHE NOW?

I DON'T KNOW.

WELL, SHE'S DEAD, ACTUALLY.

KEELED OVER AT THANKSGIVING,

AND WE COULDN'T GET THE DEPOSIT BACK,

SO HERE WE ARE.

I HAVE A FEW MINUTES.

I CAN HELP YOU, IF YOU LIKE?

GOD LOVE YOU, OLIVER.

YOU ALWAYS WERE SUCH A GOOD LITTLE HELPER.

HELP ME OFF WITH MY COAT,

AND WE'LL JUST GET STARTED WITH ALL THIS.

OKAY. SANDALS, SHEETS, SCARVES...

WE CAN FIND ALL THAT

IN UNCLAIMED FABRICS AND MATERIALS.

OH, GREAT!

WE CAN GET HAY FROM THE FEED STORE.

I HAVE AN OLD PENCIL BOX
THAT I CAN MAKE INTO "GOLD."

NOW ALL WE NEED IS FRANKINCENSE AND MYRRH.

WAIT. WHAT'S MYRRH?

WAIT! WHAT'S FRANKINCENSE?

OH! FOUND IT.

COFFEE, ANYONE?

SURE.

[SHANE]: WELL, I'VE CALLED
EVERY CHURCH IN TOWN

AND EVERYBODY'S USING

THEIR OWN STABLES AND MANGERS
FOR THEIR OWN PAGEANTS.

WELL, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO IMPROVISE, THEN.

OLIVER WOULD KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I CANNOT BELIEVE

THAT HE IS OFF DELIVERING ANOTHER LETTER.

WELL, IT'S NOT "JUST ANOTHER LETTER."

THE CHILD THAT WROTE IT

WANTS THEIR DAD TO COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.

AND SOMEBODY ACTUALLY TRIED
TO ANSWER A LETTER LIKE THAT?

YOU SOUND ANGRY.

WELL, OF COURSE I AM!
BECAUSE I KNOW HOW...

MY...

FATHER LEFT US

THE SUNDAY NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

[CHUCKLES SADLY]

MY MOM NEVER SAW IT COMING.

I REMEMBER SITTING UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE...

AND LOOKING AT ALL THE PRESENTS
WITH HIS NAME ON THEM

AND REALIZING THAT...

THEY WERE NEVER GOING TO BE OPENED.

SO THAT'S WHERE THE JOY WENT?

RIGHT OUT THE DOOR WITH MY DAD.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOU?

HOW DO YOU GET ME TO TALK ABOUT THIS STUFF?

I DIDN'T.

I THINK YOU WERE JUST...

READY.

I'VE GOT TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL.

ARE THOSE WHAT I THINK THOSE ARE?

[OVERLAPPING]: NO.

NOW STICK THE CANDLE
INTO THE STYROFOAM,

LIKE SO, YEAH,

AND THEN WE'LL PUT SOME BERRIES IN THERE.

VERY NICE, OLIVER!

YOU WERE ALWAYS SO GOOD
AT FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS.

THANK YOU.

YOU WERE THE CUTEST THING IN SUNDAY SCHOOL.

[GIGGLES]

I REMEMBER HOW YOU LOVED
BEING THE NARRATOR

FOR THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVERY YEAR.

WELL, SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE.

BUT ONE YEAR,

YOU WERE OUT OF TOWN
AT CHRISTMAS, WEREN'T YOU?

WHEN YOU WERE ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN?

EIGHT.

MM. YOU WENT TO PORTLAND.

SEATTLE. AN ISLAND NEARBY, ACTUALLY.

AND YOU WERE VERY UPSET ABOUT SOMETHING.

UH...

I WAS AFRAID

THAT THERE WOULD BE NO CHRISTMAS TREES

IN WASHINGTON.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

BUT, YOU CAME BACK, ALL BUBBLY AND HAPPY,

IN JANUARY,

AND ANNOUNCED TO THE CLASS

THAT NOT ONLY WERE HERE CHRISTMAS TREES,

BUT THERE WERE ANGELS, TOO.

WE'D GONE UP TO SAY
GOODBYE TO MY GRANDFATHER.

IT WAS GOING TO BE HIS LAST CHRISTMAS.

ON, UH... CHRISTMAS EVE,

EVERYONE STARTED CRYING,

AND I WAS SO SCARED,

I JUST RAN OUT OF THE COTTAGE

AND DOWN TO THE BEACH,

AND THERE WAS A VERY NICE MAN THERE,

DECORATING A LITTLE TWISTED...

EVERGREEN GROWING OUT OF A ROCK, SOMEHOW,

RIGHT THERE BY THE SHORE.

HE SAW I WAS CRYING...

SO HE LET ME HELP HIM
DECORATE THE TREE.

WE DECORATED IT WITH LEAVES AND SHELLS,

ANYTHING WE COULD FIND.

I REMEMBER THINKING

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE TWISTED TREE THAT WAS.

AND YOU THOUGHT HE WAS AN ANGEL.

HE CERTAINLY SEEMED LIKE ONE THAT DAY.

[TAKES A BREATH, SIGHS]

OF COURSE, ANYTHING SEEMS
MIRACULOUS WHEN YOU'RE EIGHT.

A CHRISTMAS TREE GROWING OUT OF A ROCK...

THAT SOUNDS MIRACULOUS TO ME,

AND I'M 78.

FUNNY. I THINK ABOUT
THAT TREE FROM TIME TO TIME.

JUST OUT THERE...

ALONE IN THE WIND.

HOLDING ON TO THAT ROCK, JUST...

TRYING TO SURVIVE.

OR MAYBE THE ROCK
WAS HOLDING ON TO IT.

[♪]

[RITA CHATTING EXCITEDLY]

OH!

OH. HEY, OLIVER.

WHAT'RE YOU DOING HERE?

WELL, I GOT A BIT OF A LATE START.

HAS THERE BEEN

A SEA CHANGE IN THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS?

NO, UM, WE JUST REALIZED

WE WERE A LITTLE SHORT ON WISE MEN.

SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS PRUDENT

TO HAVE A BACKUP WISE... THING.

GUESS WHAT HIS NAME IS?

WOULDN'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN, NORMAN.

WELL, THERE'S, UH, MELCHIOR, CASPAR...

YES.

THIS IS "BEARTHAZAR."

[BOTH CRACKING UP]

I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING.

SO HOW ARE THINGS WITH THE PAGEANT?

UH, JORDAN IS WORKING ON THE STABLE,

AND, UH, SHANE IS REHEARSING WITH HANNAH.

OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? I MIGHT EVEN HAVE TIME

TO WHIP UP ANOTHER BATCH
OF COOKIES FOR REFRESHMENTS!

OH... YAY...

SO EVERYTHING'S UNDER CONTROL?

A-AB-ABSOLUTELY.

CARRY ON, I GUESS.

SEE YOU AT 4:00!

NOW, WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN,

I WILL NOD, AND YOU WILL SAY...

I CAN'T REMEMBER.

THAT'S OKAY.

"COME, LET US GO UNTO BETHLEHEM."

COME! LET US GO UNTO BETHLEHEM.

"AND SEE THAT OF WHICH THE ANGEL HAS TOLD US."

AND SEE WHICH OF THE ANGEL...

WHAT?

YOU JUST SAY IT YOUR WAY.

LET'S GO SEE THE BABY!

THAT'S GREAT.

UH, AND THEN YOU WILL
WALK DOWN THE AISLE

AND YOU'LL STAND NEXT TO MARY AND JOSEPH.

THAT'S WHEN YOU LOOK DOWN
AND YOU SEE THE BABY,

AND THEN YOU KNEEL.

LIKE THIS?

JUST LIKE THAT.

LOOK, MOMMY. I'M A SHEPHERD.

[WORDS CATCH]

UH, AND THEN, UH, AHEM,

THEN THEY'LL SING, AND YOU CAN SING, TOO,

BUT YOU STAY DOWN ON THE GROUN--

[QUIET GASP]

[ALERT STARTS BEEPING]

HANNAH, SWEETHEART, WHY DON'T
YOU GO OUTSIDE WITH SHANE?

MOMMY!
WHAT'S HAPPENING?

[ANNOUNCEMENT]:
CODE BLUE. MATERNITY.

-MOMMY!
-CODE BLUE.

♪ DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW IN A ONE-HORSE OPEN SLEIGH ♪

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

-EXCUSE ME.
-YES?

I KNOW YOU.

I'M SORRY. HAVE WE MET?

YOU DELIVERED A LETTER TO MY HOUSE LAST MONTH.

MR. SHANAHAN!

YES, I REMEMBER THAT LETTER.

YEAH, FROM MY GIRLFRIEND.

GOT LOST IN THE MAIL, AND YOU FOUND IT, LIKE,

SIX MONTHS LATER, AND--

WELL, THAT'S VERY GOOD.

WELL, NOT SO GOOD.

BY THE TIME HER LETTER SHOWED UP,

I'D GOTTEN MARRIED TO SOMEBODY ELSE,

AND MY WIFE WAS NOT SO HAPPY.

AH, WELL, I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

OR CONGRATULATIONS?

HEY, FORGET ABOUT IT!

IF IT WOULD'VE COME ANY EARLIER,

I COULD BE MARRIED
TO THE WRONG WOMAN RIGHT NOW.

-YES!
-SO, THANKS.

YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME.

HEY, COULD YOU DO ME A FAVOUR?

ACTUALLY, I WAS JUST ON MY WAY TO--

IT'LL JUST TAKE A SECOND.

I GOTTA STAND HERE
FOR ANOTHER COUPLE HOURS,

AND THE STORE THAT HAS

THE EARRINGS SHE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS

CLOSES IN A FEW MINUTES.

COULD YOU JUST...

UM, THE THING IS, I REALLY--

IT WOULD REALLY MEAN THE WORLD TO HER.

♪ CHRISTMAS DAY

OF COURSE. HAPPY TO HELP.

[OLIVER RINGING BELLS]

OH! THANK YOU. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[ANNOUNCEMENT];
DR. NICHOLS, ONCOLOGY.

DR. NICHOLS, REPORT TO ONCOLOGY.

CAN I SIT ON YOUR LAP?

[STAMMERS]

SURE.

YOU HAVE VERY PRETTY HAIR.

SO DO YOU.

I LIKE YOUR NECKLACE.

THANK YOU.

IT'S MY FAVUORITE THING
IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE THING?

MY MOMMY AND DADDY.

[♪]

HELLO?

[♪]

HELLO?

MS. McINERNEY,

I'M IN THE D.L.O.

OLIVER, THEY'VE TAKEN AMY TO SURGERY.

SHE'S LOSING THE BABY,

AND THEY'RE LOSING HER.

OLIVER, PLEASE, JUST...

JUST COME.

I'M ON MY WAY.

IT'S CALLED H.E.L.L.P. SYNDROME.

SOMETHING ABOUT ELEVATED LIVERS

AND LOW PLATELETS,

AND THEY DIDN'T CATCH IT AT FIRST,

BECAUSE HER BLOOD PRESSURE
SHOULD'VE BEEN UP, TOO,

BUT IT WASN'T.

SO THEY ARE TRYING TO STABILIZE HER

AND THEN THEY'LL DELIVER THE BABY.

IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE THEM NOW.

EVEN THEN, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE
THAT BOTH OF THEM WILL MAKE IT.

MR. CASEY...

I AM SO SORRY.

PERHAPS IT'S BEST

IF WE POSTPONE THE PAGEANT UNTIL...

NO.

IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER NOW.

HANNAH'S GONNA NEED SOMETHING HAPPY

TO REMEMBER ABOUT TODAY.

THEN WE WILL MAKE IT UNFORGETTABLE.

ANY NEWS?

STILL IN SURGERY.

FUNNY, ISN'T IT?

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THE DAY WILL BRING.

"FUNNY?"

I HAD TO DO SOMETHING
THAT REALLY MATTERED TODAY,

AND I COULDN'T GET A BLOCK
PAST THE MAILBOX GRILLE.

YOU KNOW THE LEGEND
OF THE FOURTH WISE MAN?

NO.

WELL, THE STORY GOES

THERE WERE ORIGINALLY FOUR, NOT THREE,

WISE MEN FROM THE EAST,

BUT THE FOURTH GUY GOT A LATE START

BECAUSE HE STOPPED
TO HELP A LOST TRAVELER

ON THE ROAD TO BETHLEHEM.

AND, WHEN HE GOT THERE,

MARY AND JOSEPH HAD TAKEN THE BABY TO EGYPT

TO FLEE KING HEROD.

SO THE FOURTH WISE MAN HEADED FOR EGYPT,

BUT HE STOPPED TO HELP
ANOTHER MAN ON THE ROAD

AND DIDN'T GET THERE

UNTIL THE FAMILY HAD LEFT FOR NAZARETH.

SEEMED HE WAS ALWAYS ONE STEP BEHIND

THIS MESSIAH HE WAS TRYING TO MEET

BECAUSE HE KEPT STOPPING
TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE.

DID HE EVER CATCH UP?

MM-HMM.

IN JERUSALEM.

AT THE CROSS.

ONLY TO REALIZE THAT HE HAD
ALREADY MET THE MASTER

IN THE FACES OF ALL THE PEOPLE

THAT HE HAD HELPED ALONG THE WAY.

[QUIET CHUCKLE]

"IF YOU HAVE DONE IT FOR THE LEAST OF THESE..."

"YOU HAVE DONE IT FOR ME."

YOU'LL DELIVER IT WHEN IT'S TIME.

BUT NOT BEFORE CHRISTMAS EVE.

YOU ARE SO KIND TO EVERYONE ELSE, OLIVER,

BUT YOU ARE AWFULLY HARD ON YOURSELF.

SO, YOU'VE HAD A TOUGH CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR,

BUT YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET THROUGH IT

BY DELIVERING EVERY LETTER
IN THE BIN BEFORE MIDNIGHT.

THAT LETTER WILL GET WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO.

AND IN THE MEANTIME,

STOP AND SMELL THE POINSETTIAS,

WHY DON'T YOU?

POINSETTIAS HAVE NO FRAGRANCE.

[CHUCKLES]

BUT, UH...

PLEASE, GO ON.

YOU MAY FEEL ALONE AGAIN THIS YEAR, OLIVER,

BUT YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT.

YOU NEVER ARE,

NO MATTER WHAT YOU'VE LOST.

CHRISTMAS IS

AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMEMBER

THAT LOVE CAME DOWN TO FIND YOU RIGHT HERE,

WHERE YOU ARE,

WITH OR WITHOUT A PERFECT DELIVERY RECORD,

OR A PERFECT MARRIAGE,

AND IT HAPPENS YEAR AFTER YEAR.

IN A HOSPITAL LOBBY,

OR A POST OFFICE,

IN THE WOODS, OR ON A MOUNTAINTOP...

OR ON A ROCK BY A TREE AT THE BEACH.

[♪]

YOU'RE NOT FROM THE POST OFFICE.

I NEVER SAID I WAS.

PAGEANT STARTS IN 15 MINUTES,

WE'VE ONLY GOT TWO WISE PEOPLE

AND SHANE STILL WON'T WEAR HER HALO.

[♪]

[EXHALES DEEPLY]

CHRISTMAS IS A GIFT, OLIVER,

BUT IT'S YOUR CHOICE TO ACCEPT IT.

BUT I HAVE TO GO NOW.

THEY'RE EXPECTING ME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.

YOU TAKE GOOD CARE OF
THAT LITTLE LETTER-WRITER.

[♪]

OKAY, NOW JUST REMEMBER
WHAT WE PRACTICED.

I THINK I'M SCARED.

WHY, SWEETHEART?

WE'RE GONNA HAVE SUCH A GOOD TIME.

I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A SHOW
WITHOUT MOMMY BEFORE.

HANNAH...

I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS

TO DO SOMETHING ALL BY YOURSELF
FOR THE FIRST TIME,

BUT YOU'RE NOT ALONE.

MAYBE YOUR MOMMY

WON'T BE OUT THERE
IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, BUT...

I PROMISE YOU,

SHE'LL BE RIGHT
WHERE YOU NEED HER TO BE.

RIGHT... HERE.

RIGHT WHERE SHE ALWAYS IS.

OKAY!

I FOUND A SHEPHERD'S CROOK!

I BORROWED IT FROM THE REHAB CENTER.

IT'S PERFECT!

IT IS, ISN'T IT?

NOW, WHERE'S THE SHEEP?

UM...

[♪]

SORRY!

OOH--

WHERE YOU GOING, ANGEL?

NOWHERE.
I HAVE A FAVOUR TO ASK YOU.

I NEED TO BORROW YOUR SHEEPSKIN
FOR ABOUT AN HOUR.

LOOK, IF YOU WANNA BUY IT,
YOU CAN BUY IT,

BUT I CAN'T WAIT AROUND FOR AN HOUR,

WAITING TO GET IT BACK
WHEN I COULD BE OUT ON A FARE.

HOW MUCH?

50 BUCKS.

AWW! COME ON!

[DISPATCH CRACKLES ON RADIO]

236, YOU OUT THERE
FOR A D.I.A. RUN FROM U-HILLS?

NOW, THAT'S A $60 FARE. PRICE JUST WENT UP.

[DISPATCH]: 236?

OKAY. I'LL GET MY PURSE.

HEY, NO, NO, NO.
NO. I'M SORRY.

I'M SORRY, IT'S NOW OR NEVER. I GOTTA GO.

OKAY, OKAY.

UH...

HOW ABOUT A TRADE?

MS. McINERNEY.

WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT YOU.

I JUST HAD A LAST-MINUTE
WARDROBE CHALLENGE.

AH. YES. WELL, YOU-- YOU LOOK VERY, UH...

CELESTIAL.

BUT, UM...

DID YOU LOSE YOUR NECKLACE AGAIN?

NO. NO, I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE IT IS,

AND I HAVE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES TO GET A SHEEP--

WHAT'S THAT?

OH.

THIS IS THE LETTER I TRIED TO DELIVER TODAY.

YOU DIDN'T?

BUT YOU-- YOU ALWAYS DO.

YES. WELL...

NOT THIS TIME.

WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW IS THAT,

SOMEWHERE OUT THERE TONIGHT,

THERE IS A FATHERLESS CHILD
WAITING FOR AN ANSWER TO THIS,

WHO'S THINKING THAT
MAYBE GOD DOESN'T CARE

OR THAT MAYBE GOD DOESN'T EXIST AT ALL.

BUT...

I HAVE THE ANSWER RIGHT HERE IN MY HAND.

I JUST...

RAN OUT OF TIME.

I'M SORRY, OLIVER.

IT JUST BREAKS MY HEART.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SPIRIT OF A CHILD

WHO'S BEEN HURT LIKE THAT?

WELL, I'LL TELL YOU.

SHE CRIES FOR... ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

AND THEN, AFTER ABOUT A YEAR,

SHE STOPS LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW
EVERY TIME A CAR PULLS UP.

THEN HER HEART KIND OF FREEZES,

AND IF SHE'S NOT CAREFUL...

SHE TURNS INTO KIND OF A SCROOGE

AND REJECTS GOD AND CHRISTMAS AND...

GOES AROUND

SAYING "BAH, HUMBUG"?

YEAH.

MS. McINERNEY,

WHEN YOU WERE A LITTLE GIRL,

WHERE DID YOU LIVE?

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA. WHY?

AND YOUR ADDRESS?

707 TERRACOMA PLACE. UH, LOOK--

I HAVE A SHEEP THAT I HAVE TO--

AND THE INSCRIPTION ON YOUR NECKLACE.

IT READS, "TO C. WITH LOVE, MOM & DAD."

IT DOESN'T SAY "TO S."

YES, BECAUSE MY FOLKS
ALWAYS CALLED ME "CRACKERS"

BECAUSE I LOVED TO EAT SALTINES.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

I-I'VE GOT TO GET--

[♪]

"DEAR GOD..."

"I MISS MY DADDY.

"PLEASE MAKE HIM WANT TO COME..."

[VOICE BREAKS]:
"...BACK HOME."

" I JUST..."

"I JUST WANT TO HAVE A HAPPY FAMILY AGAIN."

"LOVE, CRACKERS."

WHERE DID YOU GET THAT?

IT WAS LOST IN THE MAIL
FOR YEARS, APPARENTLY.

JORDAN HAS BEEN TRYING
TO DELIVER IT FOR AWHILE.

THIS IS SOME KIND OF JOKE.

NO.

I THINK THIS IS SOME KIND OF MIRACLE.

DON'T.

THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T CELEBRATE
CHRISTMAS ANYMORE, ISN'T IT?

YOU WROTE A LETTER TO GOD...

AND YOU NEVER GOT AN ANSWER.

AN ANSWER?

AND YOU THINK THAT IF
IT HADN'T BEEN LOST IN THE MAIL,

THAT I WOULD'VE GOTTEN
A LETTER BACK FROM HEAVEN,

EXPLAINING WHY MY FAMILY
HAD BEEN RIPPED APART,

AND MAKING EVERYTHING OKAY?

DO YOU THINK ANY LETTER

YOU WOULD'VE RECEIVED
FROM ANYONE BACK THEN

COULD HAVE MADE EVERYTHING OKAY?

MS. McINERNEY...

THE ANSWER IN HERE HAS FOUND YOU.

AND MAYBE

NOW YOU'RE READY TO READ IT.

MAYBE I'M THE ONE
WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO DELIVER IT.

TO MAKE SURE YOU DO.

IT'S TOO LATE.

I SHOULD'VE WRITTEN TO SANTA
AND ASKED FOR A PUPPY.

NO, NO, NO, NO, WAIT.

-[DRESS RIPS]
-[SHANE GASPS]

I'M SORRY. I'M SO SORRY.

FORGET IT.

[CALLS OUT]: SHANE!

WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?

MADE YOU STOP, DIDN'T IT?

LISTEN TO ME.

WE HAVE ALL LOST SOMETHING OR SOMEONE

THAT WE LOVE IN THIS WORLD.

AND SOMEONE ELSE'S HAPPY CHRISTMAS...

...CAN MAKE IT HURT ALL OVER AGAIN

IF WE DON'T LET CHRISTMAS
DO WHAT IT WAS MEANT TO DO.

YOU ASKED GOD FOR A HAPPY FAMILY?

YOU HAVE ONE! EMBRACE IT.

YOU HAVE A SWEET FRIEND FOR A SISTER,

WHO LOVES OWLS

AND-AND MAKES THE WORST COOKIES
THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN.

AND YOU HAVE A DEAR,
SHY LITTLE GUY FOR A BROTHER,

WHO THINKS THIS WORLD IS AMAZING

AND WOULD WALK ACROSS HOT COALS

TO FIND SOMETHING NEW
AND BEAUTIFUL IN IT,

IF YOU ASKED HIM TO DO IT.

AND THEN THERE'S ME...

THIS ODD FELLOW WHO LOVES WORDS AND BOOKS

AND THINGS FROM THE PAST,

AND HAS SPENT HIS LIFE

TRYING TO FIND A FUTURE

WITH SOMEONE IN IT
TO SHARE IT WITH.

I HAVEN'T BEEN
VERY SUCCESSFUL AT THAT YET.

I'M NOT PERFECT,

BUT THROUGH IT ALL,

I HAVE LEARNED

HOW TO HOLD FIRM IN A STORM,

NOT BY HOLDING ON
TO WHATEVER I CAN FIND

FOR AS LONG AS I CAN,

BUT BY TRUSTING

THAT THE ONE THING
THAT MATTERS IN THIS WORLD

WILL NEVER LET GO OF ME.

AND, SHANE...

THAT'S WHAT PERFECT LOVE IS.

PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT ALL THAT PAIN,

ALL THAT FEAR,

AND REPLACES IT WITH HOPE.

AND HOPE IS WHAT YOU WERE
ASKING FOR IN THAT LETTER.

AND EVERY CHRISTMAS SINCE,

HOPE IS WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN.

DON'T YOU SEE IT?

IT'S RIGHT HERE FOR YOU.

[♪]

[OLIVER SIGHS]

THINK YOU'RE, UH...

READY TO BE AN ANGEL NOW?

I HAVE TO WEAR THAT STUPID HALO
NOW, I GUESS.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

[SHE SNIFFLES]

DO YOU WANT TO READ THE LETTER?

TOSS IT.

I ALREADY GOT MY ANSWER.

[♪]

[♪]

FRESH COOKIES! RIGHT FROM THE OVEN.

OH... GOOD.

WITH CHEESE AND...

SPINACH.

[♪]

-NORMAN?
-MM...

NORMAN, THERE'S SOMETHING
I WANT YOU TO DO.

MAYBE AFTER ANOTHER COOKIE?

OVER HERE.

WAIT! NORMAN.

UH...

I-I WANT YOU TO, UM...

I WANT YOU TO TELL ME THE TRUTH.

YOU DON'T REALLY LIKE MY COOKIES, DO YOU?

[SIGHS]

WELL, UM...

NOT THE EATING PART.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR--
FOR JUST BEING HONEST WITH ME.

I WOULD RATHER YOU NEVER
ATE ANOTHER COOKIE AGAIN

THAN FELT YOU HAD TO LIE TO ME.

EVER!

[CHUCKLES] OH.

GOOD.

I WAS RUNNING OUT OF WAYS NOT TO LIE.

[LAUGHS]

WHEW! WELL, I FEEL BETTER. DON'T YOU?

YEAH.

WELL, I GUESS WE SHOULD GET READY.

-YEAH.
-OKAY.

[INSTRUMENTAL "O CHRISTMAS TREE" PLAYS]

[♪]

I COULDN'T FIND ANY FRANKINCENSE,

BUT THE GIFT SHOP HAD SOME VERY NICE BATH SALTS.

[LAUGHS] SO NICE OF YOU,

STEPPING IN LIKE THIS AT THE LAST MINUTE.

I AM THRILLED.

OH! FEELS SO GOOD TO BE
IN A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

WITH YOU AGAIN.

OKAY! UH, EVERYBODY? ARE WE READY?

[HANNAH]: YEAH, READY!

-WHERE'S SHANE?
-I'M HERE!

OKAY. UM... INNKEEPER?

HERE!

[NORM]: SHEPHERD?

HERE.

SHEEP? YEAH.

[DOG GRUMBLES]

SO I KNOW THAT WE ALL HAD TO DO

A LITTLE BIT OF IMPROVISING TODAY, BUT, UH,

I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING...

IS...

I'M SORRY, I, UH...

KEEP FEELING LIKE
WE'RE FORGETTING SOMETHING.

OH! OH, MY GOODNESS!

WHAT?

OH, MY GOODNESS.

OH! WE WERE SO BUSY, WE FORGOT!

WE FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

GOOD NEWS!

I'VE GOT GOOD NEWS!

[WHISPERS]

[SQUEALS]: REALLY?

[NURSE ODETTE LAUGHING]

WELL, I THINK WE'RE READY NOW.

[P.A.]: THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
WILL BEGIN IN THE MAIN LOBBY

IN FIVE MINUTES.

♪ JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD IS COME ♪

♪ LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING ♪

♪ LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM ♪

♪ AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING ♪

-[POOCH WAILS]
-♪ AND HEAVEN

♪ AND NATURE SING

AND AN ANGEL OF THE LORD
SUDDENLY STOOD BEFORE THEM

AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD
SHONE AROUND THEM,

AND THEY WERE TERRIBLY AFRAID.

FEAR NOT.

[♪]

FEAR NOT!

FOR I BRING YOU TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY!

FOR UNTO YOU THIS DAY
IS BORN IN THE CITY OF DAVID

A SAVIOUR,

AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED JESUS,

AND YOU WILL FIND THE BABY IN A STABLE,

WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHES
AND LYING IN A MANGER.

AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS WITH THE ANGEL

A MULTITUDE OF THE HEAVENLY HOSTS,

PRAISING GOD AND SINGING.

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!

AND ON EARTH,

PEACE AND GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN.

AND WOMEN.

AND CHILDREN.

AND EVERYONE!

[♪]

OH, COME! LET US GO TO BETHLEHEM

AND SEE BABY JESUS!

[♪]

[INFANT FUSSING]

[♪]

[♪]

[EXHALES DEEPLY]

[♪]

AND DON'T FORGET, STAY IN THE MIDDLE LANE,

AND DON'T LEAVE YOUR BRIGHTS ON,

OR YOU'LL GET PULLED OVER
BETWEEN HERE AND SANTA FE.

THERE'S PLENTY OF GAS,

AND YOU SHOULD BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER.

THANK YOU, OLIVER.

I PROMISE YOU, I'LL BE SO CAREFUL!

YOU SURE YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT?

FINE.

I WILL MAKE MY WAY HOME,

OR GET A RIDE WITH SOMEONE AFTER I CLEAN UP.

THE BEAR MAY HAVE TO
STAY A DAY OR TWO, THOUGH.

JUST MAKE SURE HE GETS HOME BEFORE NEW YEAR'S.

HE'S A PARTY ANIMAL.

THAT WAS A TERRIBLE JOKE.

[LAUGHS] I KNOW.

I WOULD HATE TO LOSE HIM, THOUGH.

HE'S FAMILY.

MM-HMM.

IT WAS A...

WONDERFUL DAY...

OLIVER.

THANK YOU.

IT WAS MY PLEASURE.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR SPA...

MS. McINERNEY.

I WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK...

MR. O'TOOLE.

BETTER PACK MY HALO.

[CHUCKLING]

[OWL HOOTING]

[HUSHED]: RITA! LOOK.

WHAT?

AN OWL!

WHERE?

IT'S, UM...

RIGHT THERE.

[RITA GASPS]

OH, MY GOSH!

I SEE IT!

OH, IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT IS PRETTY SPECIAL.

[RITA SIGHS]

OH, MY GOSH!

-OH! OW!
-OOH...

[LAUGHING]

DO YOU REALIZE WHAT JUST HAPPENED, NORMAN?

YEAH. WE BUMPED HEADS.

YEAH. JUST LIKE THAT DAY
FOUR YEARS AGO T--

...TODAY.

YOU REMEMBER?

I HAD A BRUISE ON MY FOREHEAD FOR DAYS.

ME TOO!

RIGHT HERE.

I NEVER WANTED IT TO GO AWAY.

ARE YOU OKAY?

I SHOULD, UM...

...FINISH PACKING UP THE CAR.

WHAT WAS THAT?

"BANG."

"BANG?"

[GASPS]

"BANG?"

[GIGGLES NERVOUSLY]

OH, AND IT WAS SO MUCH BETTER THAN MISTLETOE.

[WISTFUL SIGH]

MERRY CHRISTMAS, OLIVER.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, NORMAN, RITA.

MS. McINERNEY.

COME! LET US GO UNTO BETHLEHEM!

[♪]

[♪]

[♪]

[♪]

[♪]

[♪]

♪ I BROUGHT MY TREE DOWN TO THE SHORE ♪

♪ THE GARLAND AND THE SILVER STAR ♪

♪ TO FIND MY PEACE

♪ AND GRIEVE NO MORE

♪ TO HEAL THIS PLACE INSIDE MY HEART ♪

♪ ON EVERY BRANCH I LAID SOME BREAD ♪

♪ AND HUNGRY BIRDS FILLED UP THE SKY ♪

♪ THEY RANG LIKE BELLS AROUND MY HEAD ♪

♪ THEY SANG MY SPIRIT BACK TO LIFE ♪

♪ ONE TINY CHILD CAN CHANGE THE WORLD ♪

♪ ONE SHINING LIGHT CAN SHOW THE WAY ♪

♪ BEYOND THESE TEARS FOR WHAT I'VE LOST ♪

♪ THERE'S STILL MY JOY

♪ THERE'S STILL MY JOY FOR CHRISTMAS DAY ♪

♪ THERE'S STILL MY JOY

♪ FOR CHRISTMAS DAY

[FOOTSTEPS]

AHEM. DID YOU MISS THE PLANE?

WE MISSED YOU.

I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR THIS STORY.

FIRST THINGS FIRST, MS. McINERNEY.

RITA?

JUST FOLLOW ME, PLEASE.

[♪]

NORMAN?

PUT THAT YOO-HOO DOWN AND OBEY ME.

[THUMPS YOO-HOO DOWN]

OKAY.

HAND.

PUT YOUR HAND HERE.

YOU'RE GONNA LEAD WITH THIS FOOT.

ONE... TWO... THREE--

VERY NICE, RITA.

-NICE POSTURE.
-THANK YOU.

DON'T LOOK DOWN. LOOK RIGHT AT ME,

AND LET THE MUSIC TELL YOU WHERE TO GO.

I'D LIKE TO TELL THE MUSIC WHERE TO GO.

RELAX, NORMAN.

YOU'RE GONNA LIKE THIS.

THERE YOU GO!

YOU'RE DOING IT!

[♪]

[OLIVER]: AND...

[GASPS] WHOA!

HELLO.

[RITA]: HELLO.

[♪]

[RITA GIGGLING]

OH, NO, DON'T STOP.
YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

TSK.

I FINALLY HAVE MY VERY OWN.

HMM?

THANK YOU.

OH!

OH, I DIDN'T DO THAT, NORMAN.

WELL, AND I KNOW SHANE DIDN'T.

WELL, WHOEVER IT WAS,

I GUESS--

I GUESS THEY WANTED IT TO SEEM
LIKE A REAL FAMILY LIVED HERE.

A FAMILY DOES.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS, NORMAN.

I HAVE TO SAY,

I NEVER EXPECTED TO BE SPENDING
CHRISTMAS EVE LIKE THIS.

WELL, IT'S A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE.

OH, HO. I KNOW
YOU'RE JUST SAYING THAT.

YOU DON'T BELIEVE
IN THEM YET, DO YOU?

UH, NO. NO. NOT YET.

[BOTH CHUCKLING]

IS THAT...

[♪]

HOW DID YOU...

I TOOK A TAXI HOME.

[♪]

[♪]