Original subtitles

[Music] thank you

[Music]

foreign

[Music]

thank you [Music] foreign [Music]

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

[Music] is that the one that's 150 Grand Avenue we're looking for 141.

I like all these houses [Music]

that's it

foreign [Music] this place is gorgeous this place is like a prison

[Music] thank you foreign [Music]

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

[Music]

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 [Music]

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

[Music]

foreign [Music]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

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

[Music]

[Music]

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

[Music] foreign

[Music]

[Music]

foreign

[Music]

[Music]

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

[Music]

foreign

[Music]

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

[Music] foreign [Music] 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

[Music]

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]

[Music]

foreign [Music]

[Music] Carrie Jenna [Music] come on you two better not be goofing on me

[Music]

foreign

[Music]

foreign

[Music]

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]

[Music]

[Music]

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]

[Music] 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

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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

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thank you

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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[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]