Original subtitles

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thank you

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foreign

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thank you

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foreign

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you wake Dad

I am now

I agree he plays his music much too

loudly boarding

hi kiddo hey Dad I'll just guess what

I'm doing today what a field trip

stars and stuff great I love studying

that stuff when I was a kid yes this is

Warren I know I know it's a problem

I had the feeling 309 is acting up again

well I'll talk

I'll talk to crazy neighbors I have some

great news for you it's going to be a

great Christmas season at the store and

we'll be out of this place by the

beginning of next year did I already

tell you that that's what you told me

last year when I

know that but this time I'm absolutely

my laptop never mind I got it right here

what

elderly lady with large home in the

Avenues seeks live in couple No Way

Cherry living couple for meal

preparation light housekeeping and yard

care this is the answer to our prayers

that sounds like a nightmare living in a

house with some old lady it's in the

Avenues look it says we'd have our own

private fully furnished quarters who

knows what that means well let's go find

out meet the woman this is absolutely

the worst time of year to make a move oh

no time is a good time for you besides I

do all the packing moving would take

part of an afternoon tops

Richard you spend all of your time at

the store I'm here every day all day you

have no idea how depressing it can be

okay forget about me it's Jenna I'm most

concerned about this place is too small

it cramps her spirit

okay I'll think about it I promise I was

hoping you'd say that because we have an

appointment at noon what

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is that the one

that's 150 Grand Avenue we're looking

for 141.

I like all these houses

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that's it

foreign

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this place is gorgeous this place is

like a prison

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thank you

foreign

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you must be the Evans Family yes I'm

Richard Evans this is my wife Carrie

it's our daughter Jenna

hello

my name is Stephen Hoover I'm Mrs

Parkin's lawyer please come in

Mrs Perkins never had live in hell but

she's in her 70s now and to be frank

with you I think she's more

self-sufficient than she really is I

said I worked for Mr Parkin for many

years since his death 14 years ago I've

continued to give Mrs Parkin advice

legal and otherwise it took a while but

I convinced her this was in her best

interest so it wasn't Mrs Parkin's idea

to have somebody come live with her

not all together

tell me how did Mr Parkin make his

fortune hard work Mrs Parkin the Evans

is right here

please sit down

thank you

would you care for some peppermint tea

yes thank you

none for me thanks I don't care for tea

Evans

you have any idea how many species of

tea there are

no I'm afraid I'm not up on that

100 placed in about 30 Genera

interesting

thank you

are you from this area we moved here

from Seattle two years ago we

immediately fell in love with it in such

a wonderful place to raise a family

this is your only child yes

I'm in kindergarten

before we begin the interview I would

like to discuss the nature of the

arrangement

as the ad stated I need someone to

prepare meals I don't eat breakfast but

I would expect brunch to be served at 11

o'clock and dinner at six o'clock my

laundry is done twice a week on Tuesday

and Friday and the bedding changed at

least once a week

as for the outdoors Mr

Ed yes ma'am you will need to take care

of the leaves in the Autumn and all the

pathways must be kept clear in the

winter all other household maintenance I

hire out

that's doable

in exchange for this service you would

have the entire South wing is this

overall Arrangement agreeable with you

yes absolutely

very well

now I would like to ask you some very

important questions

do either of you smoke no good

I don't permit smoking in the house

also I do not permit loud music

well I left all that behind in college

but to Jenna here now she plays those

Mother Goose records so loud that the

neighbors have to call the cops dad

yeah kids will be kids do you have any

children Mrs Parkin

no I do not

I was just kidding we're really very

quiet aren't we honey

yes

are you currently employed Mr Evans no

I'm an employer I have my own business

it's called the ski company maybe you've

heard of it

no I haven't

have you ever skied

Mrs Parkin is the one asking the

questions Richard

quite all right

I have never skied Mr Evans

thought of flying down a Mountainside on

two narrow pieces of wood has never

appealed to me so

do you have any references yes

I am the apartment manager for our

building

it allows me to stay home and spend more

time with our daughter

but we're ready for a change aren't we

Richard yes very much so

as I have told all of my applicants

there will be a trial period of one

month

thank you all for coming

yes Mrs Park and I was an architectural

history major in college and this home

it's truly beautiful

I will let you know as soon as possible

oh am I glad to get out of there that

was a disaster wasn't it thanks to you

what do you mean thanks to me I can't

believe you said that about me dad I was

joking why why do you always have to do

jokes Richard come on Carrie it's a

beautiful house but I mean why on Earth

would you want to live with that woman

she has no sense of humor there's no way

she could relate to Jenna she's never

had kids herself well I can tell you

this I know people and she's not as

tough as she seems well I know people

too and she needs to strap on two narrow

pieces of wood and fly down the side of

a mountain something anything

don't worry Mom we'll find another place

to move

Richard you got to hear this and

unseasonably early Canadian cold front

continues to move Eastward over the

northern part of the country the front

could trigger snowstorms and higher

elevations throughout the Rocky Mountain

States all right I'm telling you partner

this winter is going to be gangbusters

for us well if it's not I'm going to be

in a lot of trouble because I promised

my wife this morning we were going to

turn the corner at Christmas and we're

going to well we better for one thing

it's the only way I'm gonna get out of

going any more of these interviews oh

yeah how'd it go the old lady did not

like me at all I come to think of it she

wasn't too Charming either excellent

your apartment may be small but it's

still your Castle yeah last thing a man

wants to do is live in someone else's

Castle

that's right

what are you doing up so late we're

celebrating

what are we celebrating

we're moving

in you gotta be kidding

yes we stood out from all the other

applicants

thanks for going along with this

the crossroads for us I can feel it

foreign

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to tell me this woman lives here all by

herself not anymore

with you

[Music]

Shut Up Walk Don't Run I can't I mean it

I love our new house

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just as long as she doesn't ask us to

take off our shoes where are we going

with this thing anyway the Attic

good thing you don't own a piano

[Music]

after you've settled in today we'll need

to discuss brunch and dinner menus yes

ma'am

you never discuss the branch and dinner

menus with me

thanks so much George okay okay just

don't ask me again I've done my good

deed for the year

well I leave you with brunhilda oh here

and him oh thank you

see you guys tomorrow thanks

okay let's finish up see that didn't

take so long

come on

oh what have you got in here

[Music]

can you see what's up here where are we

going unbelievable this attic is as big

as most people's houses for better or

worse we're here it's dusty up here look

at all this stuff hey Dad look what

is this

look at this

this is exquisite look it's a Christmas

Box there's a wind-up key on the bottom

there must be a music box play it Mom

can it's locked I'm hungry how about

takeout we have no romance no that I

have a lot of romance let's get pizza

Chinese Pizza Chinese Pizza Chinese

cheese

foreign

[Music]

this is such a great place you'll get

used to it before long all this will be

music to your ears yeah what kind of

music is that classical

that's what this house is like to me

a piece of beautiful classical music

[Music]

good morning Mrs Parkin good morning how

are you feeling today fine thank you

good

Mrs Park and I noticed some beautiful

Italian China in the kitchen cupboard I

was wondering would it be all right if I

used it sometime

for you not us

I prefer this China

is this beef bouillon and mushroom yes

ma'am is that all right well this is a

cream of soup spoon and I will need a

clear soup spoon oh I'm sorry

I've never used formal silverware but I

would love to learn about it if you

wouldn't mind teaching me

very well

there's no doubt that for a beginner

that's the right brand but I'll tell you

sir if your son's friends are going to

be here companies chances are they're

going to be on these snowboards here and

he's going to want one of those Richard

phone call for you excuse me just a

moment George would you take care of

that gentleman for me thank you so we're

looking at Snopes hello

yes sir sir how are you well fine it's

good to hear from you what can I do for

you

really

well you bet I will I will of course

I'll check my schedule and as soon as I

can nail down a date I'll call you

well this is great

thanks for calling bye

who was it oh that was just our man in

Park City

yeah so what did he want no nothing he

just wants to know how soon I could get

there to meet his partners

back to work

foreign

is it a secret

I don't think so Jenna come on

let's try new tutu

hey

there we go oh it's perfect is Dad

coming home for dinner tonight not

tonight why

let's see tonight he has inventory

it's inventory inventory is where your

father tries to figure out if he has

enough merchandise for the season

I don't like inventory

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foreign

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[Applause]

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I'd love to stay in chat but it is

getting a little bit late and of course

you know work begins early tomorrow

foreign

s you entered by the north gate when you

came home tonight the north yes I did I

would prefer you to use the East Gate

the north gate is directly under my

bedroom and I'm a light sleeper oh of

course I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake

you he's gay no problem

and please park your vehicle by the

garage

I noticed that you left it

by the front door

parked by the garage use the East Gate

anything else

will you be coming home this late every

evening

well more than likely yes I will we're

getting towards the busy season I hope

that isn't a problem I hope it isn't

either

honey do you remember that investor I've

been talking to the one who's thinking

about putting up money for a second

store

yeah well he called me today he wants me

to get up to Park City as soon as I can

to discuss the details there let's see

what kind of a noise you make tonight

you know how I feel about that second

store idea Richard honey I know but you

got to trust me on this this is a

tremendous opportunity and this guy's

talking about fully funding the

operation George and I wouldn't have to

put up a cent all he wants is our

expertise and time no doubt we hardly

see you now as it is you only have

dinner with us once a week with a second

store more than two hours away I'm sure

we can kiss that goodbye you don't

understand an offer like this doesn't

come along every day I don't think you

understand how much Jenna misses you or

how much I miss you for that matter

Carrie that first store it's just a way

to make a living but this Second Story

that's what's going to get us where we

want to be where is that

here are the Avenues

we are here no we're not we're guests

that's not good enough

I love you and Jenna so much I want you

to have everything

I already have everything I want

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foreign

good morning

I've been using the East Gate Mrs Parkin

Richard

I love it when the leaves start to turn

don't you

uh-huh oh by the way

do you know the Latin for Maple

no I don't

Echo rubrum the red nabel Acker

saccharum the sugar maple

it's the name two

they really are quite beautiful this

time of year

so instead of saying would you please

rate the leaves she says do you know the

Latin for Maple that's just her way it's

a very strange way if you ask me I gotta

tell you she's given me the willies

every time I turn around I'm running

into her

foreign

what's that Mary rings the bell if she

needs something excuse me

so how's our new landlady treating you

she's never talked

how do you know

sometimes she gets in the taxi and is

gone for hours

and she takes her umbrella whether it's

raining or not I hope you're writing all

this down

would you care for some dessert Mrs

Parkin no thank you I'll just have my

tea yes ma'am

I like this setup the lady of the man

are on that side the servants on this

side

Mary is a lonely woman who from what I

can tell doesn't have anybody in her

life

I don't mind putting up with

radiosyncrasy it certainly has a few

that's for sure

it's sad actually nobody ever calls

nobody ever visits I can't imagine why

and I've noticed another thing

there are no pictures in the house no

family photos nothing

it's as though she doesn't have a past

mom says Mary just needs friends and

we're it lucky us

sorry

thank you

can you read me a story daddy not

tonight honey please nope it's already

past your bedtime just a short cut no

come on

no no no no oh okay Jenna all right all

right just one just one that's all

okay scoot over let's go

okay the million dollar bear Richard

George is on the phone I'll be right

there honey I'll be right back

dad

oh you got to be kidding me we gotta

have that shipment by the 20th

well no wait wait give me his number

I'll talk to him and I'll call you right

back okay what is it

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foreign

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foreign

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foreign

I think it's really interesting actually

I'm jealous I've never had a recurring

dream I'll tell you what you can have

mine so does the angel say anything to

you other than Richard no she's just

waving

waving

yeah you know

beckoning beckoning oh that's good I

hate to spoil your fun Carrie but it is

just a dream

you haven't given this enough time

I've given it long enough to know that I

prefer living alone

maybe it's this particular family that's

the problem oh the family is nice enough

although the husband is a bit of a an

odd duck

Mary you need someone here with you

if you're not feeling well someone's

here if you need something in the middle

of the night someone's here

of course there is an alternative don't

even bring it up I'm not sure why you

want to stay in such a large house

because it is my home there are some

very fine retirement facilities

I don't like old ladies and bingo

then my suggestion is you try to make

this Arrangement work as well as

possible

you owe the Evans Family 30 days

at that point if they're not working out

we can try someone else

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foreign

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thanks for coming in thanks George I'm

sorry I'm late

whoa buddy you look terrible thanks a

lot what are you sick or something no

it's that stupid house what what

happened when they discover bodies in

the basement the whole place is weird

the old lady is weird the whole thing is

making me weird

so move

George

have you ever had a recurring dream

yeah

Karen estock

business 201 I'm serious

what are you having dreams now I know

this sounds silly but I've never had

dreams like this they're so real I'm

waking up with a cold sweat

what are they about

nah You're gonna laugh at me no no I

won't laugh

it's the same thing every night

an angel is beckoning to me

it's all partner that place really is I

never should have let Terry talk me into

moving there in the first place yeah but

you did it's not working out and we're

getting out of there and the sooner the

better

you're serious aren't you you really

want to leave yes I do I hate to break

it to you but we can't why not I have an

obligation to Mrs Parker obligation what

obligation it's my job I'm sure that's

something you can understand yes it is

and I'll tell you what your job is

affecting my job are you saying your

work is more important than mine no I'm

not saying that I simply would like us

to move to a place that we all feel good

about I'm sorry Richard the only way

we're going to move is if Mrs Parkin

kicks us out

foreign

it is not polite to spy on people child

I'm not spying I'm just waiting for my

dad it's drafty downstairs here in the

hall you should wait upstairs I like it

here

foreign

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foreign

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foreign

obviously your wife would have told me

if it had happened while she was

cleaning

I don't have a cat

it is the only possible explanation

isn't it what about a ghost I'm just

kidding

this part I'll speak to Jenna

I would appreciate that thank you

she's old-fashioned the man's the head

of the household

Carrie

I know this isn't really a good time but

I got to go to Park City tomorrow

you're kind of letting me know about

this at the last minute I told you I was

gonna have to go but it's just for one

night I'll be back on Friday no go go if

you have to go it's really important

just don't forget Jenna has a dance

recital Friday evening I haven't

forgotten I'll be back for that I

promise

Mrs Parkin

are you busy I mean do you have a moment

yes

I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am

about the broken vase and of course how

sorry Jenna is

this is a little something for you

Jenna worked very hard on it she knows

how much you love books

she would have liked to have given it to

you herself but I'm sure you understand

she's a little afraid because of you

know the broken vase yes exactly

anyway she hopes you enjoy it

once upon a time there was a nice old

lady who lived in a red house

foreign

things until a little five-year-old girl

came to live with her

but the little girl really wanted the

lady to like her

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foreign

[Music]

oh everything's fine thank you

I've come to see Jenna

only take a minute

[Music]

hello Jenna

I came to thank you for your very

thoughtful gift

foreign

[Music]

you'll think about it won't you

in the meantime I'd like to invite you

and your mother to tea this afternoon

Jen it's all right

truth is I never liked that vase anyway

hideous old thing

now

what about that tea

we accept

Mary

Carrie

[Music]

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foreign

[Music]

[Music]

Carrie

Jenna

[Music]

come on you two better not be goofing on

me

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foreign

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foreign

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how cold the Christmas snow seen this

year without you

even the warmth of the fire does little

but remind me of how I wish you were

here with me

I love you

how I love you

I had a wonderful time with the best

ballerina I had a lovely time

for inviting you really made the English

special hi Dad hi kiddo we thought you

were going to be back this afternoon

well one meeting turned into a whole

bunch of meetings it's okay Mary came

really we made up we had tea with her in

every you missed a wonderful evening

we're gonna go get some hot chocolate

we can have marshmallows too

you can join us if you like

[Music]

Richard

it's so early what are you doing out

here I couldn't sleep

what's wrong

if it's about last night I'm sorry I

gave you the cold there's nothing to do

with that

Carrie there was something very strange

that happened here last night before you

got back do you remember that music box

you found in the Attic sure

well I heard it

you mean it still works

you could say that I was downstairs

looking for you before you got home

and I heard music playing and I followed

it up to the attic and it was coming

from that box

and as soon as I got up to the Box the

music stopped did you move it yeah

somebody must have moved it

but the strangest thing about it

is that the music that's coming from the

Christmas Box

and the music in my dreams

it's the same

no I know I know that that makes me

sound like I'm crazy but either I am

going crazy or there's something very

weird going on in this house

maybe you shouldn't think of it as weird

well that's easy for you to say you're

not the one who's been having the dreams

and hearing music

Richard what if all of this isn't a

coincidence

hey what do you mean by that well

what if we were meant to come to this

house I know you don't want to hear that

I know you'd like to get as far away

from here as you could you got that

right but think about it

maybe there's a reason we're here

foreign

this is for you

thank you

[Applause]

a new bear well actually he's a very old

bear

where'd you get him Jenna you never ask

anybody where your prism came from

I'm gonna name him Henry

perhaps you'd like to bring your new

friend down to the den

it's warmer down there

stay here

well we could finish that book we

started

I have a better idea

perhaps your father could read it to you

when he comes home

Mary

yes

did you know my dad's gonna teach me how

to ski

oh is that so yep he promised well then

I'm sure he will

he's promised things before and they

didn't happen

Jenna

you must understand

starting a new business needs a lot of

hard work

and a lot of time

is work better than here

no place is better than home

then why does he want to be there

instead of here

I suppose

sometimes we forget

you let me know if you need anything

won't you

[Music]

all right

Richard

[Music]

what is it Mrs Parkin there's a bit of a

chill this evening would you start a

fire for me

certainly

Richard

do you know who the Greek god of fire

was

no but I have a feeling you're going to

tell me

Hephaestus

son of Zeus and Hera

there

will that be all right

yes thank you

Richard

by the way Jenna and I started a book

but we were interrupted I told her that

I was sure you'd be happy to finish it

when you got home

I wish Mrs Parkin had considered that I

might have something to do before she

volunteered me

what I didn't say anything

I'm sure your mom would be happy to read

the book to you

[Applause]

foreign

[Music]

foreign

good morning Richard

good morning

I have an appointment in town I believe

it's on your way to work well maybe

Carrie could drop you off no I've given

her the day off she's been working too

hard lately

Edgewood Plaza do you know it

Mrs Park and I've lived in this town

over two years I think I know where

Edgewood Plaza is

very good shall we

[Music]

[Music]

foreign

I've lived here all of my life when I

was young these decorations went up a

couple of weeks before Christmas and

they started putting them up just after

Thanksgiving and now we don't even get

to enjoy Thanksgiving they're so busy

selling Christmas

you can pull over here

foreign

do you know what the first gift of

Christmas was

a tie

you mean you're not going to tell me

maybe you should give it some thought

the door

foreign

I want you to know I am I'm pleased as

punch but you've become close to my wife

and daughter but we got to come clean

here what is it that you don't like

about me I don't dislike you Richard

quite the contrary I think you have a

lot of potential well then what exactly

is it that you want from me a ride home

what be here at two o'clock two o'clock

I can't

watch your chauffeur

we stopped at the church on the way home

and then she wanted to go to the grocery

store and then the pharmacy that's when

I put my foot down what is it with this

woman she knows I've got a business to

run I think she just does it because she

knows it gets on my nerves Richard

you're overreacting I'm not overreacting

it was really annoying she kept talking

about how store owners are greedy and

she asked me another one of her weird

questions

so she's always doing that

what was the question what was the first

gift of Christmas I told her a tie see

it's funny I thought it was funny too

did she think it was funny oh no she

said I should give it some thought I

think she's just trying to connect with

you oh really well she is I got news it

ain't working

Richard

I'd really like to ask Mary to have

Thanksgiving dinner with us

no no we can't we're already set to have

dinner with George and his family they

won't miss us they have a large family

to share Thanksgiving with Mary only as

us Carrie

this is an excellent dinner Carrie thank

you yes it's terrific

so Mrs Parkin uh how many years have you

lived in this house

well let's see

almost 50 years wow

thank you

ah

we used to live in a nice little house

back in Seattle before we moved here why

did you move Richard had an opportunity

to start a business with his old college

roommate so we sold our house and

moved here and started a new life and

has it been worth it absolutely

what about your husband didn't he have

his own business

yes he did

looks like it was worth it

he traveled quite a bit

when are we going to get a Christmas

tree

this dinner conversation is boring you

isn't it

Anna I think Jenna is right it's time to

start thinking about a Christmas tree

what do you say we go next Wednesday at

three o'clock

how will that be for you Richard

well I'll have to check my schedule

I don't know what you're so upset about

I put in a full day's work and made it

home in time for dinner barely well I

made polite dinner conversations right

it was polite that's all it was well I'm

sorry I wasn't more lively

you know what I think the problem is

here I think you're disappointed because

we weren't some big happy family is it

so wrong to want that no but it might

never happen Mrs parking lot I do not

Mary is not the problem you are all

you're concerned about is your business

Richard you couldn't even take off

Thanksgiving I'm glad I didn't because

we had a lot of customers today

it seems to me you can't wait to start

up the second store make a lot of money

and move out of here as soon as possible

then Mary will be by yourself again why

am I being criticized for working so

hard I have knocked myself out to get

this business off the ground and I

succeeded now where I come from that's

something to be applauded not put down I

have supported you 100 for the past two

years and you know it but I have to tell

you something you've changed lately you

really have even when you're here you're

not here half the time sometimes I think

you'd rather be at the store than with

us that's ridiculous is it I've seen how

you are you and George you're such a

tight team no one else can get on it you

love it at that place you love it so

much you want another one okay would you

be happier if I were miserable because

I'll go back and work for somebody else

again it's not fair you know I'd never

want that then what am I supposed to do

you tell me I'm confused so am I because

I do know I don't want to spend the rest

of my life with an absentee husband and

father

come on

[Music]

oh yeah

[Music]

foreign

[Music]

[Music]

Carrie do you hear that

[Music]

Carrie do you hear that music

honey

tell me you don't hear that

what

[Music]

the music

my music

[Music]

[Music]

foreign

another Christmas season has come the

time of joy and peace

yet how great a void still remains in my

heart

they say that time heals all wounds

but even as wounds heal they leave scars

token reminders of the pain

remember me my love

Richard it's 3am what on Earth are you

doing

I can't believe you were reading Mary's

personal letters I didn't go up to the

attic in order to read her letters and

the letters aren't the issue here what's

important is that I'm hearing music and

you're not Mom oh did we wake you honey

I woke up just one second Jenna it's the

end of the line for me Carrie we got to

get out of here this house is definitely

not good for me yeah honey we're in the

middle of something here since we moved

here I haven't had a decent night's

sleep I feel like I'm sleepwalking all

the time Mom what baby I just had a

dream about an angel

you must have told her about your dream

and and that's why she dreamed it you

and Carrie are the only people who knew

about that dream until last night so so

the dream that Jenna described exactly

the same dream I've been having night

after night

I gotta tell you buddy that is out there

this is something that can't just be

explained away

so what are you gonna do

I don't know

yeah

[Music]

excuse me

pardon me yes I was wondering do you

have any books on Angels oh let me think

where are they

I just started here it's okay I'll find

it no hang on just a second

Janet Angel books

[Music]

I heard it

thank you

[Music]

foreign

[Applause]

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Angels Heavenly Spirits with wings which

signify travel between Heaven and Earth

from the Greek

Angelos

messenger

[Music]

okay all right let's pretend and I'm not

saying I believe this but just for the

heck of it let's say there is some

reason that I'm having these dreams what

could it possibly be and what about the

Christmas Box and what about those

letters I can't decide if she wrote them

or if they were written to her I don't

think you should read any more of those

letters well I don't intend to but you

want to know what I think

I think that they were either written to

a lover or by a lover Richard really

this feels too private listen listen

there are no pictures of her and her

husband anywhere in the house that

suggests they didn't have the best

relationship and what about you you're

always wondering why she never had kids

she's so great with Jenna maybe she

couldn't have kids

maybe her husband didn't want to have

kids that would be enough right there to

drive a wedge between them see this all

makes sense unrequited love her

inability to come to terms with

something really important what do you

think

ah I know you'll work it out

good morning Richard hello Mrs Parkin

how was your walk this morning well I'm

a little tired today so I decided to

come back early

oh by the way

we'll see you at 3 o'clock this

afternoon three o'clock

we're going to get a Christmas tree

remember I'm sorry I'll have to pass but

you promised your daughter

no I never promised or I said I checked

my schedule

well perhaps four o'clock would be

better that would give you more time to

do

whatever it is you do Mrs Parkin I

promised Jenna that I would go

and I am going

four o'clock it is

wonderful

he's so sneaky you know so I don't

appreciate that the way she puts me on

the spot well I never could have gotten

you to take off work to come here

besides I've really grown to love her

and she's become like a grandma to

Jenner well she does have a style of her

own I'll hand her that you know Richard

I'm concerned about her she hasn't been

feeling well lately she's in her 70s you

know you can't exactly expect her to be

full of pep all the time I know she did

go out yesterday same as usual every

Tuesday rain or shine I offered a driver

but she didn't want me to do you have

any idea where she goes I don't know but

I don't dare ask Mary's given me a few

glimpses into her past but most of it's

a closed book

what I found the best absolutely best

Christmas tree come on

you did

I want this one oh

no that's terrible

well sure it is look at the top of it

you'd never get a star to sit on the top

of that thing I like it anyway and I

like it too come on Carrie help me out

here

it's growing on me thanks a lot

you know Richard

with your help it will be beautiful

right there for one oh yeah

there we go that's great I still think

you're all crazy oh it looks wonderful

turn on the lights

[Music]

oh it's beautiful

[Music]

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foreign

Richard I could use a little help here

be there I'll be there Carrie I don't

see what the big deal is she's never

done this before she's going out all the

time that's every Tuesday this is

Thursday and she's been gone longer than

she ever has I've looked every

okay so tell me what is it you want me

to do

[Music]

thank you

Mrs Parkin

Mrs Parkin

Carrie's been worried about you she had

no idea what happened to you

if you let me get the car I'd be happy

to give you a ride home

I'd like to sit a moment

if you don't mind

you okay

fine thank you and you oh I had to go

all over town looking for you

sorry if I troubled you

Mrs Parkin

uh I can't help but Wonder of all the

people who applied for this position how

come you picked us you and I aren't

exactly birds of a feather

you remind me of my husband

excuse me for asking is that good or bad

depends upon which year we're talking

about

a portrait in your attic is that him

that was a bad year

I never liked that portrait it always

struck me as being so

so pompous it does make him look like a

stuffed shirt

he wasn't always like that

when David and I were first married we

were like any other young couple full of

plans and excitement for the future but

unfortunately people can change

David did

he started to travel more and more made

lots of money

and the more success he had

the more he wanted

Richard

have you given any further thought to my

question the first gift of Christmas I'm

working on it it is not a trivial

question

I'll give it some more thought

I promise

hi honey oh that was an interesting

afternoon I'll tell you one thing it

accomplished now we know where she goes

all the time

she and her husband may not have had the

best relationship in the world but she

must have loved him she visits his grave

every week I'm surprised I never saw her

there though I passed that Cemetery

every day on my way to work

Richard

Mary's really not well

what do you mean

she asked me to take her to her doctor

after you brought her home

it's wrong

it's her heart

she's been on medication for years but

the latest tests show the medication

won't be much help anymore

what's she gonna do

apparently it Mary's age there's nothing

else they can do

her doctor said her heart's just giving

out

I don't know how I'm gonna tell Jenna

foreign

now don't start feeling sorry for me

I just want you to know

if there's anything we can do

I take comfort in knowing that Carrie

and Jenna are here

good night Mrs Parkin

good night Richard

[Music]

yeah it starts running Tuesday

ski boots are in but uh Richard we have

got to order more snowboards Pronto

those things are flying out of here I

think we're down to about a dozen or so

even the purists are starting to convert

did you take care of that order

hello

Richard huh what

you didn't hear a word I said did you I

just missed the first part

snowboards

yeah right okay

thank you

what is wrong

[Music]

thank you

[Music]

why isn't Mary eating dinner with us

anymore

she doesn't feel up to it honey

may I be excused please

Mary's getting worse isn't she

I've been eating up in a room most of

the week

you know I can't help but think that

it's more than the illness that's

keeping her up there I just feel so

helpless there's nothing I can do

I just I just feel guilty all those

nasty things I said about her

no I'm serious

whatever it is she wants from me I just

can't seem to give it to her

foreign

[Music]

do you mind if I come in not at all

I've been given some thought to your

question

the first gift of Christmas

I know what it was

it was love

the first gift of Christmas

was love

that's a beginning Richard

this is Parkin

why is it so important to you that I get

this thing

[Music]

I suppose

foreign

it's so cold today Mary I've made us a

nice pot of vegetable stew

yes that will be on the third floor

absolutely

Miss Aaron telephone room 400 second

door on the left thank you

doctor surgery

foreign

[Music]

is Mary going to be home for Christmas

no honey Mary's very sick

is she going to die

yes

Jenna I'm afraid she is

I want to give Mary our Christmas

present early

I think that's a nice idea

[Music]

dad do you believe in angels

I've never seen one not a real one

anyway

does that mean anything you don't see

isn't real

no well that's what faith is what

faith

believing in something that you can't

really see like angels

yeah

yeah like angels

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

Dr Kaufman telephone please Dr

shh

sorry

you look exhausted it was a long night

the doctors are keeping her as

comfortable as they can she's been

sleeping off and on

no I want to

I just have to go for a little while but

please call me if there's any change

okay of course

I brought you something Mary it's your

Christmas present

oh it's beautiful

thank you

and you too my dear for your friendship

it has meant so much to me

[Music]

hey pal I know you don't feel like

celebrating but once you close it down

come out say hello to some of the people

I gotta go back to the hospital after I

finish here

George

let me ask you a question

do you remember the last time we went

skiing

skiing yeah skiing you know that thing

that we used to love to do a long time

ago

we just haven't had the time that's all

strange isn't it

I mean here we are surrounded by ski

equipment now we don't even have time to

do the thing that got us into this

business in the first place I'd love to

discuss the subtle ironies and situation

further but if you remember

we decided that once the store turned

the corner we were going to hire an

assistant manager

you know kick back spend a little more

time with the family

whatever happened to that idea the idea

is still there it just got postponed

that's all yeah well I don't want to

postpone it

what do you mean

George

I don't want to do the second store

I don't want to postpone my family

anymore

foreign

I know you've been under a lot of stress

lately and

I'm really sorry about Mrs Parkin

why don't we just put all this aside for

now we'll talk about the second story

after the holidays

George what do you think the first gift

of Christmas was

a tie

there's a smile I know and love come on

angle down

[Music]

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foreign

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foreign

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foreign

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foreign

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foreign

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foreign

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foreign

[Music]

my dear Andrea

how I wish that I might say these things

to your gentle face

I know this cannot be for now and this

causes me such pain

having to give you up has made me

finally understand how Limitless the

love of God truly is

that he could give his only son

as my faith has grown so has my hope

hope that one day I will hold you in my

arms again

until then

I love you my little angel

[Music]

mother

[Music]

Mr Hoover

Carrie Mrs Parkin had a daughter Andrea

she was only five years old when she

died the same age as Jenna

you wrote the letters to Andrea she's

been living with this grave for all

these years honey the doctor said she

doesn't have much longer

Mary

oh Richard

Mary I'm so sorry

I wish you'd told us about Andrea

I understand now Mary

first gift of Christmas

it was a child

for God so loved the world

that he gave his only begotten son

take good care of your family Richard

[Music]

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foreign

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foreign

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foreign

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[Applause]

[Music]

Mary's generous wish that we call her

home our own

we treasure the house and look forward

to raising our family within its loving

embrace

but the greatest gift Mary gave me

were the lessons she taught me

about how precious our time is here

about love

and family

the lessons that came

with the Christmas Box

[Music]