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♪ It's snowing, it's blowing, this storm has got me goin' ♪

♪ It's howlin', I'm prowlin' ♪

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX

♪ For something warm and glowing ♪

♪ Oh, that Old Man Winter

♪ Can be vicious

♪ But we don't have to be cold ♪

♪ This Christmas

♪ It's gusty

♪ It's blustery, it's freezing when it's just me ♪

♪ It's chilly, I really

♪ Think we should stay in, trust me ♪

♪ Oh, that Old Man Winter

♪ Is malicious

♪ But we don't have to be cold ♪

♪ This Christmas

All right, Max, today's your big day.

You're going to be great.

Thank you.

Max, head in.

Good boy.

All right, we'll be back in about an hour.

Got it covered.

- Okay. - Good luck today, Max.

Max, forward.

Max, find curb.

Find curb. That's it. Good boy.

Max, forward.

♪ But we don't have to be cold ♪

♪ This Christmas

Hi, Dad.

Hey, kiddo, how was your day?

Shall we?

You don't need that when I'm with you.

Okay.

So, how was your math quiz?

I'm still confused on the fractions,

and we have a big test right before Christmas break.

Maybe I can help you.

You stink at math.

That is true, but don't worry, we'll figure it out.

Hey, Dad.

There's a woman over there with a seeing-eye dog.

You should get one of them.

A Dog? No, no.

Why not?

Are you kidding me?

I have a hard enough time getting through the day

without making a mess of things;

a dog would just make it worse.

So, what sounds good for dinner?

We ordering takeout?

What do you think?

Forward, Max.

♪ But we don't have to be cold, no ♪

♪ We don't have to be cold ♪

♪ This Christmas

Honestly, I don't even know how he did it,

but he managed to get us tee times for Friday,

Saturday and Sunday.

All the boys are coming - PJ, Chainsaw, Thurp,

Dudash is flying in.

What's the matter?

Nothing.

You're mad Chainsaw's coming, that's what it is.

No, I'm not.

Well, something's the matter. Tell me, please.

That's the weekend of our company Christmas party, Jeff.

I totally forgot.

My dad's gonna be there.

He was really excited to meet you.

And all the employees are gonna be there, clients, friends.

I have a litter of puppies for the kids to play with.

I'm sorry.

I should-- should I cancel? I'll cancel.

- I will cancel. - No, no.

You go with your friends, okay?

You sure?

Yeah. Just...

You can meet my dad when you're back.

- Okay? - Yeah, totally.

- Yeah. - All right.

Oh, and I'll be all yours for the rest of the holidays.

Okay, good,

because I have something special planned for you -

an early Christmas present.

Yay! Whatever it is, I can't wait.

Synthetic voice: White.

Light blue.

Black.

Dark gray.

...And then, we can access the top of the column.

See? That's the important thing.

Oh!

Hey!

Pal, you all right?

Yeah...

I don't know.

Uh, am I bleeding?

No blood, but that is definitely gonna leave a mark.

This is part of the campus construction, I'm assuming?

Yeah.

And are you the owner of the construction company?

Me? No, I'm the foreman.

Okay, is the owner around?

Not today. Why?

Oh no, I'm just wondering if he's well-insured.

You wouldn't sue, would you?

I-I marked everything. I put cones out! Look!

Sorry.

Obviously, you didn't put enough because, somehow,

I managed to walk right past them and knock myself senseless

on-on whatever this is.

Whoa, whoa, take it easy, pal.

I'm really sorry.

I'd tell you to use the side entrance

on the other side of the building, but...

it's pretty torn up over there, too.

Thanks for the consideration. You are too accommodating.

Look, I'll try to do a better job

of blocking the area off, all right?

Please do.

You want an ice pack for your head?

- I can run and get you one. - No.

Just please make sure this can't happen again.

Okay.

I will.

This-- this way.

Careful. All right.

Okay, thank you. Thank you.

Okay. You sure?

I don't need time off, Dr. Shaw.

I know it's been an adjustment,

and I appreciate your understanding, but...

truth is, I could teach this class with my eyes closed.

Poor attempt at a joke.

It wasn't.

I just wasn't sure if I should laugh.

Another drawback of having a disability,

I can't even be self-deprecating anymore.

Look, it's not your teaching, Dr. Donovan.

I'm just starting my lessons on Dickens,

and they continue into the spring.

It's my favorite part of the class.

Don't make me give that up.

I'm not making you do anything. I'm just saying, consider it.

They're just getting started on construction

and this place is only gonna get more torn up.

Might be good to take a break.

Come back next fall, when the renovation is done.

I know it's been hard.

I'm just trying to help you out.

We've got a fill-in professor ready to go.

All you have to do is say the word.

Thank you, Dr. Shaw.

All right, kiddo,

you all set?

Yeah.

What happened to your head?

Oh, nothing. I just bumped it.

On what?

I don't know exactly.

There's a big construction project

going on at the university.

Does it hurt?

A little.

Dad, I want to make sure you're safe;

that's why I really, really think we should get a guide dog.

I should have known that was coming.

If you had a dog, you wouldn't have hit your head.

All right, that's enough. Time to get some sleep, kiddo.

Fine, but I'm not giving up on this.

Goodnight.

I don't really understand the fractions; it's really hard.

Whoops, I didn't see you there.

Let's go.

Hi there.

My name is Peyton Lewis. I'm a guide dog trainer.

The other day, I saw a man out front with a mobility cane.

He was picking up a girl, probably 11 or 12.

Yes, she's a student here.

Her father lost his eyesight not too long ago.

I'm hoping I can leave some information for them.

It's just about guide dogs and what they can do to help.

Sure, I'll pass it along.

- Thank you. - Okay.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens,

narrated by Nathan Jenkins.

Chapter 1. "It was the best of times.

"It was the worst of times."

Dad, where are you?

Here.

Get up.

What's going on? Is there a fire?

No, everything's fine.

Then, what are you doing?

Making sure you're always safe.

Good girl. Good.

Good. That's it.

Good girl.

Where are we?

Oh, here.

Um...

Katie, do you mind, um...

holding onto her for a moment?

Sure.

Hi.

Can I help you?

Hi.

You wouldn't happen to be the person who left some information

on guide dogs at my daughter's school, would you?

Yes, that was me.

I was out training one of our dogs, and I saw you,

and thought maybe we could help.

Oh, thank you for being so presumptuous.

Because of that,

my daughter insisted that we come here today.

That's because my dad needs a guide dog... bad.

Look at the bump on his head.

He walked right into a pole or something at work.

Annie...

I'm sorry.

This is all just a little impulsive,

which is not my nature.

No, I completely understand.

Maybe we should start over.

I'm Trevor, and this is Annie.

Peyton. Hi.

I'm the founder of Best Friend Guide Dogs Training Center.

Have you ever had a guide dog before?

We've never had a dog,

even though I've always wanted one.

Yeah, that's my fault.

I've just never felt like I had the time to take one on.

Well, that's understandable.

But a well-trained guide dog

will make your life more efficient,

keep you safe, and in no time at all,

be one of the most loyal friends you've ever had.

Sort of like another member of the family.

If you like,

you can come to my office and I can ask you some questions

and find out if this is right for you.

Okay. Thank you.

Right this way.

So, you're legally blind?

Yeah.

And what's the cause?

It's a form of retinitis pigmentosa.

Which came on over how long?

Well, the real change

was over the last two years.

That's fast.

Early on,

my symptoms were mild, so I didn't pay much attention to it.

And then, there was a rather...

dramatic change over a short period of time.

Do you still see shapes?

Or how is your light perception?

I can detect some things -

brighter lights,

windows in the daytime, that kind of thing.

It's all...

fuzzy and pixelated.

What's your profession?

I'm a professor at the university.

Really? What do you teach?

Classic literature.

Interesting subject.

Well, you know what Mark Twain said,

"A classic is a book nobody reads."

My dad used to read me A Christmas Carol every year.

I still love that book.

I do, too.

Maybe there's hope for literature after all.

But to be honest, I'd rather watch Elf, Dad. No offense.

Me, too.

None taken, kiddo.

I get it. I mean, who doesn't love Elf?

That's great storytelling right there.

I think I have a dog in mind for you.

Would you like to meet him?

Sure.

Thank you, Katie.

- Here, this is Max. - Hi, Max.

Hey, there.

You're a good boy, huh?

Uh, Peyton, are you sure about this?

I am. I knew that Max would be perfect for you and Annie,

and he seems to agree.

Okay, so, what's the next step?

Well, that's up to you and your schedule,

but we can start training as early as tomorrow.

Max needs more training?

No, you do.

I'm not jumping to conclusions.

Well, I think you are.

He chose a golf trip

to Florida with his friends instead of meeting your dad.

He'll meet him when he gets back.

He's also missing the Christmas party.

I know, but...

But what?

It's just there's more to it than that.

To make a relationship work, you need to be

each other's first priority.

In my experience,

when a guy starts prioritizing his friends over you,

you're on a slippery slope.

You two have been dating for how long?

Almost ten months.

Look, I'm not saying that you need to jump ship or anything,

just...

you know, don't be dismissive of these things.

Yeah. I know. That's good advice.

You should probably have your own column, you know.

Like, give Dear Abby a run for her money.

Dear Katie.

Good, right?

It is good. I like the sound of that.

What do you think, Max?

Oh, oh, there was a smile.

How am I supposed to get a feel for it without Max?

Well, I'm going to guide you.

What, you're gonna...

pull me around my neighborhood while I hold onto a harness?

Pretty much, yes.

No.

- Why? - No, that's embarrassing.

As embarrassing as falling off a curb or hitting your head?

My-my-my neighbors are going to see me.

Trevor, I understand that this is a pride thing,

but it's also about something so much more.

This is about your safety

and for being there for Annie.

Listen, my training works.

I have proved it time and time again.

And I'm not about to skip any steps with you.

So, what do you say? Want to give it a try?

Guess so.

Okay, let's go for a walk.

Okay...

Yeah.

Okay.

As Max approaches a doorway,

he'll turn in front of you, just so that you know to stop.

Got it. So, we're... Door... Okay.

- Just like that. - Welcome to my spot.

I-I still have reservations about all of this.

I mean, taking care of a dog?

I can barely take care of myself and my daughter.

Hey, Max has been trained to be patient and obedient,

but more importantly, he's trained to be there for you.

Yeah, I know.

You said he'd turn my life around, but will he really?

I'm worried he's more likely to turn my life upside-down.

I don't need that again.

Listen, Peyton, can I be honest with you?

Yeah, of course.

Sometimes, I feel like I'm barely hanging on;

like I'm on a tightrope

and the smallest thing could knock me off.

Listen, I'm not going to pretend

like I know what you're going through.

But I can say this with confidence:

Max is going to be good for you,

he's going to be good for Annie.

And I'm going to make sure of it.

Okay?

Do you have any extra toys down there?

Yeah.

Get out here!

I got to show you something!

Early Christmas present! Come on!

Come on!

Ah...

I don't know...

Why are you so slow?

I'm coming!

Are you ready?

What do you think?

Oh.

New clubs for your golf trip?

Not just new clubs.

These...

are the best they make.

These are the ones Rory McIlroy uses.

What?

I just feel stupid.

I thought you meant that you got a new present for me,

and I... I mean,

you were banging on the window, yelling at me to come out.

Yeah, I get it.

- I get it. - Yeah?

I do. I can see how you would have interpreted it that way.

I'm sorry. I just get too excited.

You know, these clubs are just so hard to find,

especially just before Christmas.

I just happened to be at the pro shop today

just as the delivery truck showed up.

And you know that feeling, Christmas morning,

when you get that one thing

you really wanted more than anything else?

Mm-hmm.

That's how I feel about those clubs.

But don't worry,

I got something really special in mind for you, too.

Do you?

Mm-hmm. Just you wait.

This is gonna be a Christmas to remember.

Okay, so, let's pretend it's early morning

and you're just starting your day.

What you're going to do is take the harness,

one hand on one side, one on the other,

and you're going to put it right at his level.

Okay.

And you're going to say, "Max, head in." Okay?

Max, head in.

Good.

Good boy.

Okay?

And then, there should be a clasp

that goes around his belly.

Can you feel that?

Yeah.

Just like that.

You ready to walk around the neighborhood?

Sure.

Do you remember the command?

Max, forward.

There's an intersection coming up.

Right. Max, find curb.

Good boy.

Now, this is a tricky intersection.

There's no beeping pedestrian signal.

I had a close call here once with an electric car.

They're so quiet.

I swear they're going to be the death of me.

Not if you're with Max.

Okay. So, how does he know when it's safe to cross?

Max won't cross if there's traffic,

even if you ask him to.

It's called intelligent disobedience.

If you say go and there's vehicles there, he won't.

But if it's clear, he'll lead you across.

Okay, I think it's safe to go.

Max, forward.

Yeah, okay, I think I could get used to this.

No, you're right.

I'm really starting to feel like Max has kind of got my back.

I'm serious. He does, okay?

In no time, you two will be best buds.

So, listen. Don't take us the wrong way--

Oh, intriguing lead-in for this.

It's just...

you smell very nice.

Um... Thank you.

Okay. That sounds weird, doesn't it?

Oh, no, no.

- It sounds weird to me. - It doesn't.

It doesn't sound weird. It was a nice thing to say.

Thank you.

If you don't mind me asking, what perfume do you wear?

It's called Soleil du Matin, I think. I think that's it, yeah.

"Soleil du Matin." Okay.

Not that I know anything about perfume, but that is a nice one.

It's very subtle.

That's what I like about it, too.

It's like a faint whiff of flowers

in a summer's breeze.

Oh, wow. You're really diving into this.

Yes, that's... was what I was going for.

And actually, I'm...

I'm almost out of it.

But I think you have convinced me to invest in another bottle.

Definitely. You should. I mean, that's your scent.

Okay, we'll get off the topic of scents.

Thanks.

Unless you want to compliment me on how I smell.

Really?

Feel free. I'll take it.

Okay, I'm sorry.

You smell very nice.

- Is that what you want? - Thank you.

Yes, please. Thank you.

Goodnight, Max.

Thanks for everything you're doing for my dad.

Got a call earlier. Guess what's on its way?

- What? - Our Christmas tree.

It's coming this weekend.

Oh, my gosh! I can't wait to decorate it.

Can you help me with the top part?

Of course.

I'm going to make it

the prettiest tree we've ever had.

I don't doubt it, kiddo.

Pop the trunk.

- Babe... - Yay.

Whoo. Thank you for driving me to the airport.

Yeah, of course.

I cannot believe this time tomorrow

I'm going to be on the first tee with the boys.

Yeah, so exciting.

Hey, Chad, um... my dad was thinking, you know,

because you're gonna miss the Christmas party,

maybe we could grab dinner the night after you're back.

That should work.

Okay. So, like, Angelino's?

Love it.

Okay, I'll make reservations, then.

Listen,

I really appreciate you being so cool about this trip.

Yeah.

And don't forget,

I've got something special in the works for us

for Christmas when your back.

- Yay! - Let's get you in the air.

This is the part of my routine

that's been giving me the most trouble.

Well, that's understandable.

Construction can be one of the most dangerous obstacles

to navigate.

Yeah, it always seems to be changing,

that's the biggest problem.

I can't visualize the route because it's always different.

Well, and that's where Max really proves his worth.

He's a professional obstacle-avoider.

Okay, so, how do we do this?

Why don't you start by explaining where we're going?

That way I can lead us there,

and Max will learn the destination.

Yes, it's the English building, in there is my office

and my classroom.

All right, and is there a break room

or somewhere you have lunch?

- Yeah, there is. - Okay.

We'll go there and everywhere else you need to go inside.

Bathroom too, I guess, nearest my office.

Of course.

And once Max knows all the routes,

he'll be able to navigate safely through the construction,

even if it's different every time.

Find steps, Max.

My office is right down this hall.

Perfect.

Hey, Professor Donovan.

Nathan, how's it going today?

Good, good. Are you giving a tour?

Yeah, something like that.

This is my new guide dog, Max.

And this is Peyton Lewis -

seeing eye dog trainer extraordinaire.

Hi.

Hello.

Nathan here is one of my brightest students.

Oh, come on, you're giving me too much credit.

Professor Donovan has a lot of bright students.

He's too humble, so don't tell him I told you this,

but he's one of the best professors I've ever had,

and that's no exaggeration.

Oh, please,

he's trying to pad his grade.

Well, I got to get to class. It was nice meeting you.

Yeah, you, too.

Until next time, Professor Donovan.

Until next time.

Awesome. Bye, Max.

Nathan came up with that as an alternative to "See you later."

- I like it. - Shall we?

- Yeah. - Forward, Max.

Mmm...

Smells like a library in here.

Yeah. Don't you love it?

I do.

Cute stuffed animal.

Oh, that's from Annie.

She wanted me to keep it in my office,

so I could reach out and touch it and think of her.

Oh, she's so sweet.

You want me to take him?

- Oh, thanks. - Hey, buddy. Hi.

There's a good spot in the corner for a day bed,

for Max to rest while you're working.

Yeah. I was thinking I'd take him to the classroom each day.

That's entirely up to you.

Max will be perfectly fine waiting here for you

or he can lie at your feet during your class.

I just wonder if he's going to be a distraction

for the students.

Well, I'm sure there will be some initial excitement,

for sure, but during your lectures,

Max will be as quiet as a mouse.

So, it's entirely your call.

Maybe I'll try it out a couple times, see how it goes.

Yeah, for sure.

Should we go see the classroom? It's nearby.

Of course.

- Okay. - Here.

- I'll take this. - Max, go with.

Go with. Good boy.

All right. Forward, Max.

Is this where you teach all your classes?

This is it.

Used to be a few different classrooms,

but the administration shifted things around to accommodate me.

That's good. That'll make it easier for both you and Max.

Yeah.

Sit.

Good boy.

Listen, I hope this doesn't sound vain at all,

it's just... in losing my eyesight,

I've also lost some of my confidence.

Not really in what I teach,

just in how I'm perceived by the students.

You think they view you differently?

How could they not?

It's not like they've had

a bunch of blind professors before.

I'm the only one in the English department

and one of two in the entire university.

So... Stay.

If you wouldn't mind just telling me...

how I look.

Dignified.

Scholarly.

And handsome.

That's all very kind of you to say.

Professor Donovan,

from everything I have seen here today, one thing is very clear:

your students are so lucky to have you.

I'm doing fine in all my other subjects,

but math is getting confusing.

Your dad might have mentioned something about that.

You know, when I was in college, I used to tutor kids in math.

I could help you out, if you want.

- You'd do that for me? - Yeah, of course.

Why don't we pick a day

and we'll go over some problems together?

That'd be great. Thank you.

Are you okay in there?

Yeah, yeah, all good. I just got the water on.

Peyton, you sure I can't make you a tea

or a hot chocolate, too?

I'm okay. Thank you.

But I have to head out in a minute.

Okay.

Annie, can I ask you something?

Sure.

Can you think of anything that your dad used to love to do

before he lost his eyesight that he doesn't really do anymore?

Okay.

Sandra's just brought Betsy back; said that she passed

her eight weeks of socialization with flying colors.

Good.

I'm going to get this one started on the obstacle course

and then some clicker training.

All right...

What you looking at there?

A friend of Chad's posted some pictures of their trip.

You wanna see?

Tell me what you think... honestly.

I'm trying not to jump to conclusions,

but Chad makes that hard sometimes.

I shouldn't even be looking at this stuff.

That's also true.

But when it comes to a boyfriend

that you're getting serious with,

Dear Katie says the more you know, the better.

Come on.

This is a place

that you're going to want to come often, all right?

It's completely enclosed and Max can just run around,

have fun, socialize.

I just let him go?

Yeah. Well, you're going to give him the cue, "Max, run."

Okay.

Okay, but first, you want to make sure

that you unclip his handle here,

so you he can run and have a good time.

And then, when you're ready,

take off his leash and give him the cue.

And he's got a vest on with all your information,

so that should be on him at all times, just to be safe.

Okay.

Max, run!

Would you like to sit?

- Sure. - Okay.

Hi! Good boy!

Good boy. Go have fun!

There's a bench right behind you.

Oh.

Is Max okay?

Oh, he's having a blast.

Okay, this is going to take some getting used to.

Hi. Yeah, it'll get easier with each time you come,

and this would be a great place to bring Annie, as well.

Not only that, but I'm here almost every day

with one or more of my dogs.

So, if you want to schedule a time,

I would be happy to meet you here.

And when you're here alone, just...

just know that Max isn't going to leave you.

I think I have attachment issues.

Anything that's important to me,

I have a hard time letting go of.

I just said yes to Annie's first sleepover in...

I don't know how long.

She's going to stay at a friend's house

one night over the break.

It gives me anxiety just thinking about it.

Well, that's good. It's... It's progress.

Yeah.

My wife and I divorced a few years ago.

She quickly fell in love with this guy

and moved away with him.

It just made me realize that

the things you assume are permanent fixtures in your life,

they may not be.

And then, I lost my eyesight.

I could hardly leave Annie at school.

I just-- I wanted her by my side all the time.

Her voice, her touch, her presence,

just knowing she was there, that's what sustained me.

Yeah, I'm not out of the woods yet,

but Annie, she's gotten me this far.

She's a pretty amazing girl.

- Hi, Max. - Is that Max?

- Yeah. - Hey.

You're a good boy. Always reinforce good behavior.

Good boy, Max. Good boy.

You can go play still. Go on, go, run.

Hey, girl.

Trevor.

- Hey. - Hey.

I'd like you to meet my dad.

Oh, I'd love that.

Okay, he's right up here.

Dad, I would like you to meet Trevor.

He's a friend and client.

Oh, yes, the professor you were telling me about.

Dr. Lewis. It's a pleasure.

Your daughter is a very special person.

It's amazing what she does with this place.

Yes. I'm very proud of her.

Do you know,

when she was just five, I got her a lab pup for Christmas?

Bella.

It was the year her mom passed,

so I knew we'd both do well with a dog around.

By the end of the day, she had Bella sitting,

shaking hands, lying down, rolling over.

When I put Peyton to bed that night, she said, "Dad, one day,

"I'm going to be a dog trainer."

She sure did follow through.

Peyton mentioned that you have a daughter, too.

Is she around?

Yes, Annie.

She's right there, having another cookie.

Oh, I gave her a three-cookie limit,

but I'm not sure she always listens when it comes to sweets.

So, maybe you guys can help me keep an eye on her.

Will do.

So, Peyton tells me

you are a cardiothoracic surgeon in Chicago.

That's right.

So, do you have any advice on how I can avoid

ever needing your services?

Well, maybe avoid the cookies.

Okay, got it.

Hi, everyone.

Can I have your attention, please?

First of all, I just want to thank all of you for being here.

The dogs we train, they change lives,

and each and every one of you

has played an important role in our success.

Now, this work starts far before the dogs are even born.

Guide dog parents are specifically chosen

based on a number of things,

including their breed and ancestry,

and what that does is produces puppies

that are literally born to be guide dogs.

With that said, I would like to introduce

our newest litter of future guide dogs.

Oh, my goodness.

Hi!

Come on!

Good job!

Come on, Winter!

Dad...

Aren't they cute?

Now, a few of our seasoned volunteers

have already signed up to adopt one of these adorable pups,

but if any of you have interest,

please talk to me or Katie.

We will be there every step of the way,

and we will walk you through the whole process.

Thank you, guys. Cheers.

That was really fun.

It was, wasn't it?

Hey, Peyton,

I'm just gonna drop this off on the way to my car.

Thank you so much for all your help tonight.

Of course.

Peyton, even though we have Max,

can we still adopt one of your guide dog puppies?

Oh, Annie, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

I'm still getting used to Max.

But once we really know what we're doing, can we?

Oh, of course.

Okay,

if everything's sorted out here, we should be getting home.

Mr. Donovan,

Annie, I've really enjoyed meeting you both.

Likewise, Dr. Lewis.

Oh, and thanks for the reading list.

I'm going to pick one and get started right away.

Maybe East of Eden.

Great choice. Steinbeck's magnum opus.

Hey, when you dive in,

give me a call, we'll chat about it.

Dr. Lewis: I'd really enjoy that.

Your mother would be so proud of you.

Thanks, Dad.

I'll see you at dinner.

- Okay. - Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Ask her, Dad.

Um...

- I-- well... - We were wondering...

We were wondering

if you'd like to come over tomorrow night

to help us decorate our Christmas tree.

Are you kidding? I would love to.

Are you sure?

If you've got better things to do...

You and Annie are great company,

and I love decorating Christmas trees.

Honestly, I couldn't think of a better way to spend my evening.

Great. All right. Let's go.

See ya.

The whole thing here. There we go.

Okay, where-- what do we got?

- Go, yeah, up. - Trevor and Peyton: Up?

Yeah, there you go.

Okay. All right.

Christmas spirit.

Okay.

Right there.

Oh...

Tell me where to go. Okay. Slow.

Thank you. There we go.

Did you do it? - Yeah. Okay.

Okay. Here we go.

Wow. It's beautiful.

It really is.

Hey, babe. Good to hear your voice.

Yeah. How's your big golf weekend going?

Great. New clubs took my game to the next level.

That's good.

I saw some pictures that Chainsaw posted.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah. Um, who were those-- those girls?

What girls?

The ones that weren't wearing a whole lot,

that you had your arms around?

Oh, yeah, them.

Um, they worked for the drink cart,

and we were just stopping by to grab some cold ones.

Chainsaw said, "Why not get some pictures?"

Just some benign fun.

Nothing for you to worry about.

Yeah, okay.

Um... remember to send me your flight info, please,

because I have to pick you up.

Yeah, here's the thing, we're thinking of extending the trip.

How long?

Just... two or three days.

Four tops.

Ah. So, four.

Dolphins are playing the Bills Monday night.

We hooked into some tickets, we figured,

while we're in the area, why not play Jupiter Hills?

Is that, like, a golf course or something?

Only one of the best in Florida.

And the weather's looking great all week.

It's 80 degrees here all the time.

What's the problem?

It's just my dad's in town, Chad,

and we were gonna go out for dinner.

And not only that,

but I have something planned for us on Wednesday.

Oh, yeah, I, um, totally spaced.

I'm sorry. Um...

If you want me to, I can come home.

No, no. We've been through this before, and...

it's fine.

You're with your friends and just make the most of it.

We can go out with my dad the next time he's in town.

Bank on it.

And listen, babe, you're the best,

I mean that.

Thanks.

We're at the harbor.

Where's that bench?

There it is.

This is the bench with a view of the bay, right near Bennie's.

It is.

The Port Authority is down left a ways.

Right behind me is Jellybean Row,

and on top of the hill, St. John's Basilica.

You see it perfectly.

Annie and I used to order French fries from Bennie's.

They'd give us a big bag, and we'd sit right here,

watching the fishing boats, sharing fries, and just talk.

She'd tell me everything.

We'd make these big plans about things we wanted to do together.

Things like what?

Oh, she had a thing for Paris.

She still does.

And I told her, one day,

I would take her to see the Eiffel Tower

all lit up at night.

That's going to be a great trip.

Come on.

I can't do something like that with her now.

Navigate a foreign city? It'd be a disaster.

Trevor, you can do anything that you could before.

If you want to take Annie to Paris, I think you should.

I don't know.

You know, when I started losing my sight,

my worst fear wasn't that I wouldn't be able to see,

as terrifying as that was;

it was that I was going to let down my daughter,

that I wouldn't be able to deliver as a dad.

Think about where we are.

You know, this was one of your favorite places to bring Annie,

and you just described it perfectly.

You know, anything that you did together before,

you can still do.

And things that you dreamed of doing, you can do those, too.

I hope so.

Annie told me about a place you also loved to go to.

Yeah, where's that?

Well, you and Max are gonna have to follow me.

Come on.

Forward, Max.

Okay, now there's a stair coming up in front of you.

Hey, Max, find stair.

Good.

Wait a minute.

Is this the Bull and Barrel?

You got it.

Wow. Yeah, I used to come to this place all the time.

It's the best music venue in town.

Well, that's why we're here.

What?

♪ What you feel is what you see... ♪

I think I got this.

Okay.

The bar is right over here.

Yeah.

The stage is in front of me.

There's some games in the back corner, if you're feeling lucky.

There's a step here. There it is.

Yes.

I always used to sit right up close to the stage.

There's a little bench over here.

It's still there.

- I reserved it for us. - You did?

Yeah, I called the manager, Eddie,

and he said that you were one of the biggest

local music fans around.

He also said that, if you hadn't have taught literature,

you might have been a pretty good music critic.

Might be my second act one day.

Max, here.

There's a musician who's just about to go on.

Eddie said he thinks you'll like him.

Peyton, you planned all this?

Well, it was your daughter's suggestion.

♪ Take those pictures down off the shelf ♪

♪ Faded photographs, faded looks ♪

♪ File this life away, let it drop ♪

♪ Tainted memories, time to stop ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm not going anywhere ♪

Well, I better get going.

I'm meeting my dad for dinner.

Oh, please tell him I said hello.

Yeah, I will.

What a great time, Peyton. I just can't thank you enough.

Yeah, it was my pleasure.

Hey, I don't want to come across as presumptuous again,

but tomorrow night,

I got this cooking class for my boyfriend Chad--

well, for the two of us,

but he extended his golf trip,

so I have an open spot,

and I thought maybe you'd be interested.

Did Annie put you up to this?

She's got to be sick and tired of takeout by now.

No, no. This was actually my idea.

The chef comes to your house.

I'm excited about it. And I thought--

I thought you might enjoy it.

I mean, I was going to do it at my house,

but we could do it here just as easily.

Yeah, that actually sounds really fun.

Okay. Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Max, find stairs.

There's just a real comfort level between us, you know?

I-I love the way he perceives the world.

It's made me look at things differently.

You gonna make me state the obvious?

What?

He's also extremely attractive.

Sure, there's that, but there's more to it.

But he's also a really nice guy?

He is,

and watching him with his daughter,

it's pretty adorable.

He's just such a good dad.

I can tell you...

you really like this guy.

Stop.

No, I've seen the two of you together;

there's something there.

Okay, he's a client and I'm in a relationship.

Yeah, maybe under different circumstances...

Hey, when it comes to relationships,

you follow your heart.

And if this situation complicates that...

...you change it.

Okay...

How's it looking?

Oh, fantastic. You're a natural.

That's amazing. Okay.

Okay, so, let's move on. Um, let's put some oil in the pan.

Where were we here? Uh...

There, perfect. Good.

Yeah.

Okay. Okay.

Pan.

About how much?

I do about three swirls.

Okay, try starting with the size of a pancake.

And then, just get smaller as you go.

Okay. Swirling, swirling.

Yeah, nice. There you go. Perfect.

Okay.

Okay, and now, we're gonna sauté the onions.

Okay.

So... There you go.

- I'm touching the food. - That's okay.

You think chefs don't touch your food?

It's all good.

Okay. So...

Perfect.

I'm finding the pan.

There you go.

Got it. Okay, I'm... Perfect.

...going for it. Oh, look at that.

Amazing. Oh, good.

Yes, perfect.

And you'll be able to know when they're sautéed;

the smell goes from this, like,

raw and bitter sort of taste to almost sweet.

Mmm. Oh, it's smelling good already.

Hey! I'm a cook!

Thank you. Go ahead.

I gotta say, you guys just make the most adorable couple.

- Oh. - Oh.

Uh, no, we're not-- we're not a couple.

But I thought you said that this cooking class

was for your boyfriend.

Yes, but I am not him.

He's still out of town.

Oh...

Oh, did that sound bad? That sounded bad.

I didn't mean it like that.

- I just-- - Hey, I'm staying out of it.

Okay, uh...

We should save a plate of this for Annie.

She's gonna be hungry when she gets home from ballet.

She is going to be impressed.

Impressed? She's gonna be shocked.

"What? Dad? No takeout tonight?"

Well, cheers.

Cheers.

Cheers to... new friends.

To new friends.

Mmm... Moment of truth.

Mmm... Hey, I'm a good cook.

- Are you? - Yeah.

This tree reminds me of the ones we used to have

when I was a kid.

My mom, she had quite the collection of ornaments.

Peyton, you were so young when she passed.

Do you still have memories of her?

Yeah, I have a few.

There's one I really hold onto,

especially this time of year.

It was late Christmas Eve, and I was still up,

running around like crazy, jumping everywhere.

My mom, she-- she kneeled down,

and she grabbed my hands,

and with all of this child-like wonder in her eyes,

she said, "Okay, sweetheart,

"you need to go to bed, so Santa can do his thing."

That's a really special memory.

Yeah, it shows you that the ones we love,

even if we can't see them anymore,

they still live on within us.

Oh...

Max...

Look, five more minutes.

Okay, okay.

I'm up. I'm up, buddy.

You're a good boy, aren't you?

Hey, we're here.

Oh, my gosh, I can't believe I fell asleep.

- I'm so sorry. - No.

- Thank you for picking me up. - Of course.

Oh... Can you pop the trunk?

Hey, Chad, um,

I was thinking maybe we could grab dinner tonight.

I know you have a bunch of things to do,

but I'd love to hear about your trip,

and you kind of slept the whole way.

Yeah, I would love to, but I gotta be at the office

first thing tomorrow morning.

Just got, like, a ton of work to do.

Yeah.

But let's do it soon-ish.

Okay.

Oh.

Uh, your dad, he have a good time?

Yeah, yeah, he did.

That's good, that's good. It's good to see you.

I missed you.

"Missed you too, Chad."

Okay.

Yeah. All right. Thanks again.

Bye.

So, they just did a ranking of the world's best hot chocolate.

This one was 12th.

- In the world? - On the entire planet.

Interesting,

they have a world's best rankings for hot chocolate.

Oh, they have a world's best ranking

for everything these days.

Oh, that's definitely better than 12th.

Thanks so much for taking us here, Peyton.

It was my pleasure.

You know, I thought we should celebrate our progress with Max.

Uh, Dad, you spilled some on your shirt.

Oh, did I?

Thanks, kiddo.

I just smeared it.

Who cares? You know what?

This is way too good to worry about a little chocolate

on your shirt.

So, let's just enjoy it.

Man on phone: Has she mentioned anything she needs?

I'm sure she has. I can't remember.

Man on phone: How about a sweater?

Too generic.

I already told her it was going to be something special.

Man on phone: Okay, does she carry a purse?

Yes, sometimes... I think.

Man on phone: Okay, well, you could get her a new one.

They can be expensive though.

Yeah, see, that's another issue.

Budget's a little tight since our boys' trip.

Man on phone: Hmm...

Here's something I've done when I've been in a bind:

tell her you're taking her somewhere.

- Where? - Anywhere, like to go skiing

or for a romantic weekend at the beach or something.

Tell her it's all booked for the spring or summer,

flexible days to be sure it works with her schedule.

That way, you kick the expenses down the road.

I can get behind this.

Man on phone: But you also gotta write her a heartfelt letter,

saying how all you care about is getting to spend time with her.

Then print up a bunch of info on the place and wrap it in a box,

and make it look all Christmassy.

Chainsaw...

...you're a genius.

Say hi to your mom.

Thanks, buddy. See ya.

That's right, now multiply that by two.

Yeah, you got this.

I was confused in class,

but I actually understand it the way you teach me.

That's good.

You do a few more of those practice sheets

and you will be good to go for your test.

Thanks, Peyton.

I'm going to go out and do some Christmas shopping,

but if you have any questions at all, just call me.

You're a lifesaver.

It's my pleasure.

- I'll walk you out. - Okay.

"Merry Christmas, Peyton.

"Pack your bikinis...

"because...

"you are... going

"to...

"Mexico...

"this summer.

"A special trip...

"for a special girl."

"Can't wait...

"to spend...

"this time with you.

"Love...

"your guy,

"Chad."

Genius.

The man... is a genius.

Thank you, Chainsaw.

What you got there, Chad?

Hey, just a little something for under Peyton's Christmas tree.

Hmm.

Hey, is, uh...

is that the guy that Peyton's been working with every day?

Yup.

Okay.

What's the matter?

Nothing.

Merry Christmas.

Okay, so, just square up your shoulders,

and then ask him to, and he should respond.

Hey, Peyton.

Hey, Chad.

What're you guys doing?

I was just showing Trevor how to back Max up.

Cool. Hey.

I'm Chad. Peyton's boyfriend.

I'm Trevor.

A client of Peyton's.

Sorry. I wasn't thinking.

What?

I went in for a handshake. Force of habit.

Oh, no. It's fine.

Over here, buddy. There you go. Now we got it.

It's nice to meet you.

Yeah. Yeah. You, too.

I should get going.

Yeah, I'll drive you.

No, no, no. It's okay.

Come on.

I got Max. I'm good.

You sure?

He's got Max. He's good.

Okay, well, same time.

Okay. Sounds good.

Forward, Max.

Hey, I'd like to take you to dinner.

You choose the place.

I never said you were immature.

But you're implying it.

No, I'm just trying to understand

what your priorities are right now.

Come on, our relationship has changed

over the last little while, and you can't deny that.

How?!

I don't know. We're not--

We're not connecting like we used to.

Early on you doted on me.

I'm not saying I expect that to be a constant thing,

but I just-- You seem so distant lately,

and I don't like that.

Great.

Brand new shirt.

Ruined.

Oh, help. I can't see!

What's this? I can't see it.

Oh, and how about this thing?

Don't forget your cake.

Trevor!

Is that Chad?

It is.

Nice dog.

He's working.

Hey, listen, there's a couple of things

I felt like I needed to say.

Okay?

I don't know if Peyton's told you about me.

Not much.

Yeah, well, we've been dating for about a year,

and we're about to take our relationship to the next step.

So, that's between you and me.

So, don't say anything. It's a surprise.

No, of course.

And I don't know if you noticed,

but Peyton puts a lot of herself into her work.

Yeah, she's amazing.

She is, and she's beautiful. You should see her.

I imagine.

I bet you do.

I just want to make sure you understand something.

Although it might seem to you that you have this

close relationship, something special even,

Peyton treats everybody she works with the same way.

And, so, though you might think there's something going on here,

you're just another client to her.

I just want to make sure you didn't

get the wrong idea is all.

Yeah. Got it.

That's great.

You know...

...when you lose your sight,

you start to pick up on certain things.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah.

I may be blind,

but I can see pretty clearly that Peyton deserves better.

Forward, Max.

Answer.

Hello, this is Trevor Donovan.

Mr. Donovan, it's Principal Harris.

You can see she has no record of behavioral issues.

She's a great student.

I understand that, but it doesn't excuse

her actions in the cafeteria.

Okay, let's be honest, this is a case of,

and excuse me for saying this,

but a little punk pushing a kid past her breaking point.

I mean, what was she supposed to do?

Walk away.

That's easier said than done.

Engaging only makes it worse.

The next time anyone gives Annie any trouble,

she's been told to come to me and I'll deal with it.

Great, so then she gets labelled a snitch,

and the bullying just gets worse.

In the meantime, I want to make sure

there's no more lashing out.

You know, this has been going on for a while.

In the playground, at lunch, in the halls,

and not once has a teacher

or anyone from the administration intervened.

This kid has had free reign to torment my daughter,

and you have done nothing about it.

Look, I'm just telling you, Annie does something

like this again, and it will result in a suspension.

We cannot tolerate physical aggression.

So, let's just make sure she keeps her anger in check.

Her anger?

Give me a break.

This happens again, she's coming to me,

and we'll handle it on our own. Come on.

Find stair, Max.

Dr. Donovan.

Dr. Shaw.

I heard you almost had another mishap

at the construction site this morning.

No, no. Max helped me navigate that just fine.

Dr. Shaw: Look, we're trying to make it work,

but the construction crew is worried about you.

The whole faculty's worried about you.

I'm worried about you.

There's really no need to worry now that I have Max.

Dr. Shaw: We both know a dog

can't just suddenly fix everything.

So, I'm telling you this as a friend,

I want you to seriously consider taking leave.

Hm?

I think it's the right decision.

Forward, Max.

Synthetic voice: Message from Peyton Stevens.

Listen to voicemail.

Peyton on recording: Hey, good morning, Trevor.

I'm still waiting on a delivery I have to sign for,

so I'll be there a little late.

Sorry about that.

Maybe while we're out we could grab a coffee at Victoria's?

It's on me. Anyway, I'll see you soon.

Max, come.

Trevor.

Hey. I thought we were meeting at your house.

Actually, I'm here to return Max.

I thought it would be best to do it

before Annie gets too attached.

I think that Annie was attached to Max the moment she met him.

What's going on?

I just-- I don't need him anymore.

I'm confused.

I'm not going to be teaching next semester or in the summer.

I let my students know.

Okay, why?

I just need a break.

The construction was my biggest obstacle.

But not your only obstacle.

I can use my mobility cane.

Your cane is a hazard detector.

Max is a hazard avoider.

Not to mention he's a companion for you and Annie.

I just need to simplify my life and reassess some things,

so please, take Max.

He's a good dog.

He'll be better off with someone who really needs him.

Trevor--

I know you put a lot of effort into this,

and I appreciate that.

I'm sorry.

Oh...

I forgot.

We got you a gift.

Merry Christmas, Peyton.

Peyton, there's something you gotta see.

Trevor She's amazing.

She is. She's beautiful.

You should see her.

I imagine.

I know it might seem to you that you have this

close relationship, something special even,

but Peyton treats everybody she works with the same way.

You needed more proof that Chad was a jerk.

Now you have it.

Gee.

Sometimes we all need a little help

seeing what's right in front of us.

Yeah, I may be blind,

but I can see pretty clearly that Peyton deserves better.

Yeah.

Sometimes we do.

Yeah. Yeah, I see that one there,

but I'm not really looking for a full-fledged engagement ring.

Just something to lock it down.

Something that says,

"We're together, and we're serious."

Like a promise ring. Do you sell those?

Hang on one sec. There's somebody at my door.

Hey, babe.

What a nice surprise.

You remember that special Christmas present

I told you about? Just finalizing the details.

Well, you can give it to someone else,

because we're through.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

What'd I do?

You had me fooled early on, Chad,

but you are not a thoughtful person,

and you need to work on that.

What are you talking about?

I am not going to waste any more time with someone

who treats people the way you do.

I should have done this a while ago,

but I'll make it easy.

We're done for good.

Babe.

Come on. Come back!

See, that's the power of literature.

It analyses and lays bare,

more deeply than any other art form,

the heart and soul of the human condition.

Literature can inspire us to overcome our obstacles,

and reach for new heights.

As Ralph Ellison did in his novel, Invisible Man,

when he wrote,

"The world is a possibility.

If only you will discover it."

It can instill virtue.

Like Harper Lee did in To Kill a Mockingbird,

when she wrote,

"Real courage is knowing that you're licked before you begin,

but you begin anyway,

and see it through no matter what."

It can help us think more deeply about our expectations,

our true purpose,

and the ways we interact with others.

Like Dickens did in Doctor Marigold,

when he wrote...

When he wrote...

"No one is useless in this world

who lightens the burdens of another."

To close, uh...

...I just want to thank every one of you for your attention

these past few months.

You're an amazing group of students.

So, as you enjoy the holidays

and set a course for the new year,

I'll rely again on Dickens,

and I'm paraphrasing here,

"May we honor Christmas in our hearts...

"...and try to keep it there all the year."

Until next time, everybody.

Thanks.

Afraid you'll get pummeled again?

Hey! Only cowards pick on kids smaller than them.

Why don't you butt out?

This is between me and this doofus over here.

Leave him alone, or I'll tell everyone your big secret.

What big secret?

That you still wet your bed.

Who told you that?

We go to the same doctor,

and I heard your mom in the hallway asking him

what she should do about it.

Fine, but if either of you tell anyone about that,

you're dead, you hear me?

Why'd you do that?

I figured if I could stop him from being mean to you,

maybe you'd stop being mean to me.

I guess I'll have to wait and see if it works.

Oh, and one more thing.

My dad's a pretty amazing guy,

and if you knew him, I think you'd like him.

Come in.

Yes, Nathan.

What can I do for you?

We've each written a letter stating our feelings

about Dr. Donovan as an educator and a mentor.

In these letters I think you'll find a unanimous sentiment.

And what would that be?

Well, if Dr. Donovan isn't teaching in the spring,

we don't want to take the class.

We don't see any reason why he shouldn't come back.

Do you?

Is that so?

He's one of the best professors at the university.

We're lucky to have him and I think, so are you.

It'd be wise for you to just take a look at these.

We appreciate your time, Dr. Shaw.

Hey, computer. Read my emails.

Synthetic voice: Dr. Donovan, about our last conversation,

look, I think I owe you an apology. I--

Who is it?

It's Peyton.

And Max.

He was missing you.

You were at my lecture this morning.

I had a feeling you knew I was there.

It's why I'm here with Max.

What you said to your students, they were moved by it.

I was moved by it,

but I could tell you weren't just talking to them.

You were talking to yourself, too.

Trevor, someone who understands how beautiful

and challenging and full of wonder life can be.

That's not someone who gives up.

That's not you.

Do you want to come in?

I'd like that.

Yes!

Peyton!

Hi, Dad.

Hey, kiddo.

Hi, Max. Oh, it's so good to see you.

Guess what? I got a 98% on my math test!

No way, that's amazing!

Bye, Annie!

Bye, Sean.

Hey, Mr. Donovan. Merry Christmas.

Thank you. Merry Christmas to you, too.

Peyton, who was that?

Remember the boy who wasn't being very nice

so I smashed a cake in his face?

Uh, how could I forget?

That was him.

What?

It's all right, Dad. We're all good now.

Great. Okay. Max, forward.

Welcome home, Max.

All right, kiddo, it's getting late.

We should get to bed so Santa can do his thing.

Oh, I meant to tell you,

I invited Peyton over for tomorrow.

Is that okay?

You kidding? I love Peyton.

I really like her, too.

I think you more than like her, Dad.

And I think she likes you, too.

Like, more than a friend.

Yeah? What makes you say that?

The way she looks at you.

All right.

Goodnight.

I think I'm doing this wrong.

I think it's like, you have to put all of them together,

and then one over.

That makes more sense. So it stays.

Oh, boy.

I really gotta figure out

which button is high-speed on this mixer.

Would you like some help?

I took a cooking class. I got this.

Oh, no.

Okay, pancake batter explosion. We're coming to the rescue.

Oh, boy.

It's snowing out

It's magical.

Peyton.

Thank you...

...for everything.

You've made this Christmas as special as any we've ever had.

You and Annie have done the same for me.

I've never known a woman who,

inside and out,

was as beautiful as you.