A Christmas Tree Miracle (2013) Movie Script
[girl]
Everyone says that Christmas is a time for giving.
But my family
had nothing left to give.
No tree...
no cards...
no gifts.
But that didn't matter.
Because this was going to be
the best Christmas ever.
[woman]
Kids, the photographer is here!
[boy]
How long is this going to take?
As long as it takes.
Come here.
Stand next to your sister.
Ew, gross.
Please stop texting.
I'm not.
Okay, what are
we doing here?
All right, you're here.
And I'll stand here.
Okay.
Okay, is this everyone?
Yes.
(small girl) Mom!
Nina, hurry up!
Come--what are you--
Can this be
in the picture?
It was my favorite present
last year,
and I really want Santa
to see that I still like it.
Santa just called.
He doesn't care.
Nick.
Yes, honey, come on.
[cell phone chimes]
David, please.
Honey, it's Tom from work.
I think we have a lead
on a property,
and I, uh--
I can tell him to wait.
All right.
Got it.
Most families do this
in front of the tree.
Well, we're getting ours
this weekend.
If we don't get ours soon,
all the good ones
will be gone.
I hate going.
It's always so cold.
Molly and I
have plans.
Yeah, I'm working
on Sunday.
Hey, enough.
Everyone is going
to stop texting,
stop complaining,
and stop whining
for the three seconds it will take
to snap this
Christmas card picture
from this photographer
who overcharges by the hour.
No offense.
None taken.
Okay, everyone.
I want "Merry Christmas"
on three.
One...
two...
three.
Merry Christmas!
Natalie, put
that phone away.
I'm texting you
my Christmas list. Oh, good.
I need final lists
by the weekend. All right, Tom.
That means
you, too, mister.
Golf clubs,
green fees,
and a new satellite radio
for the car.
What about you?
What do you want?
Canned goods!
Thank you.
That's easy.
No, I forgot canned goods
for the parent food drive.
I brought them.
Whoa, whoa.
Honey, those are the good peas.
You will get
a Christmas miracle?
Who wrote on this?
I did.
Miss Webb said to.
She said to write
something nice on the top of the can
for the poor.
(Natalie)
Nerd. Hey, enough.
Can we pretend
to like one another?
It's Christmas.
[David]
Let's just go.
[Julie]
We should have left earlier.
I was ready.
I always--
Could we leave
on time once? Just one time?
[woman]
Merry Christmas!
[whispers]
Great...
Oh, joy.
Missed you.
Hey, I missed you, too.
Hi, Mr. and Mrs. George!
Hello, Molly.
[giggles]
I am so sorry.
I know I said
I'd help you guys out,
but it's just been
so crazy with the holidays.
Here, I brought these.
Oh, Liz, could you please
go put these
over with the cases
we brought?
Wow, the good ones.
I'd love to stay
and help,
but I have to go
get Nina ready.
Next time, I promise.
Bye.
Too busy?
Who isn't busy
this time of year?
[man]
Stop signs are the backbone of our society.
All right, ladies.
Thank you very much.
I appreciate you
taking the time to talk to me.
Thank you
for your support.
John Cutter,
State Senate.
A cut above the rest.
Thank you, ladies.
[sighs]
Senator Cutter.
Dave.
You ever stop politicking?
Oh, never stop, Dave.
This is the place
to be seen, right?
Of course. That's why
we're here.
Exactly. Alicia is doing
the canned food drive.
I'm the happy family man.
It's a win-win
on all parts,
especially
for our state, right? Exactly.
Yeah. So your kid
in this?
Oh, yeah. She's actually
playing the cello.
Cello?
Believe it or not, she's actually pretty good.
Really?
I bet she is.
You know, mine's
pretty good, too. He plays the sax.
Sounds like an asthmatic
marathon runner
but he plays, right?
Listen, before I go,
I want to let you know
that we're closing in
on a property
for those music
warehouses.
Really?
Yes, sir.
That is amazing.
Fantastic to hear.
All those jobs.
That's going to be fantastic for this area.
And it's not
going to hurt my re-election either.
Well, you got to do
what you have to do, right?
Which is
everything, Dave.
But I'm going
to get out of here.
I see someone
I got to talk to. Have a good day.
Thank you.
Take care. All right.
Tony...
[saxophone music]
Thank you, Deuce.
Wonderful.
Next we have
Nina George,
who will be playing
"T'is a Gift to be Simple"
on her cello.
Nina.
[crowd murmuring]
I don't feel
like playing anymore.
Okay, then.
Let's hear it anyway
for Nina George.
There you are.
Now what was that
all about?
No one wanted
to hear my play.
Honey, that's not true.
[whimpering
in stall]
Go get your cello
and wait with your father in the hall.
I'll be right out.
Is everybody
mad at me now?
Of course not.
Nobody cares.
[whimpering
inside stall]
You okay in there?
I'm fine.
Tell me
what's wrong.
It's just-- It's just
so hard keeping everything
all together
for him all the time.
Who, Cutter?
He couldn't even sit with me
during Deuce's performance.
He was too busy
working the crowd.
Sometimes I wish
he wouldn't even win the re-election.
What kind
of politician's wife says that?
An honest one.
I can't go
back out there.
Look at me, Alicia.
You are strong.
You are smart.
You can do this.
You can, okay?
Okay...
Oh, no.
Look at me. I'm a mess.
And I left
my purse outside.
Oh, here.
Let me help.
Thank you very much.
I really appreciate your support.
You ladies have
a nice day.
My lovely wife
is coming, so...
I have to get going.
All right.
Cutter, State Senate.
Thank you.
How do I look?
Good?
Okay, come on.
[cell phone rings]
Yeah, I'll have
a regular with soymilk.
Hey, man.
Yeah, I'm across the street getting some coffee.
You want something?
Why? What?
No, I didn't know
anything about this.
No, what was
the last thing he said?
No, the last thing
he said.
Excuse me, sir.
Can I get you
anything?
What? We're all
on the same team here.
I'm fine.
Okay, listen.
I just needed to come in
from the cold and... think.
Look, you're going
to have to order something.
What's your name?
Oliver. I'm Henry.
How old are you, Oliver?
I'm 18.
18 years old.
How about that?
You know,
when I was 18,
I was ready
to take on the world,
and nothing was going
to stop me.
Look, mister, you've
been sitting here a really long time.
If you don't order something,
you're going to have to leave.
[whispers]
I know, I know, I know. Yeah?
But see,
that's the problem.
Wait, what was that?
I can't order anything.
I don't have my wallet.
I just want
to think.
And thinking
is still free, isn't it?
Listen, I know
what he's going to do.
Look, order something
or leave. Shh.
Yeah, I'm coming over
right now to help you out.
You want a coffee?
It has soy milk.
If he has coffee,
can he stay, huh?
I guess so.
Great. Merry Christmas.
Bob, I said
I'm on my way.
I can't hear you.
You got to speak up.
Merry Christmas, Oliver!
Merry--
[laughing]
[knocking]
David.
Hey.
Thanks for stopping in.
I've already been thinking
how we can split up Bob's accounts.
Bob. He, uh--
He didn't take it very well.
Well, I think the poor guy
is just still in shock.
I hated to do it,
but, uh...
we've all seen the company's
fourth quarter projections
and they are not good.
It's a temporary setback.
I actually ran
into Senator Cutter the other day,
and he wants us
to move forward
on the King's Music
warehouse deal.
That account
in on hold indefinitely.
I just got word
this morning
that Mr. King's wife
passed away.
Oh.
Okay, well I'll call Cutter
and clue him in,
and regarding Bob's accounts,
I can take the big ones.
David.
I can actually take them all if you need me to.
David.
Don't say it, Tom.
Don't say it.
This is very difficult
for me.
Tom, I been with you
20 years.
I have been with you,
right here,
for 20 years.
We can't afford
you anymore.
I carry this company.
I want you to know
right now
that you're making
a big mistake.
We prepared a very fair
severance package for you.
HR and security
will take over from here.
Yeah...
I'm sorry, David.
I mean, I can't
even believe it.
So you're out,
just like that.
You didn't try
to negotiate?
I'm not going
to beg him, okay?
I singlehandedly
held that place together
for 20 years, Julie.
He'll see.
So what do we do
about Christmas?
Everything is bought.
And more importantly, wrapped.
We pick Nick's car up
on Thursday.
Then we have
the Vail trip in February
and the Vineyard
in June.
Stop, stop.
We continue
with Christmas the trips,
everything.
Honey, I'm going to get
another job, okay?
I've already got a call
into Steve.
He thinks there's an opening
after the first of the year. [door closes]
Listen, let's not freak
the kids out.
Just, I don't know,
tell them I'm switching jobs or something.
What are you
doing home?
Your father
is switching jobs.
Cool.
I need the credit card
for college applications.
I'll get it.
Hey, don't run off.
We are getting
the tree tonight,
so Nina doesn't run away
from home.
Let her.
She's afraid there won't be
any big trees left.
[cell phone chimes]
[cell phone chimes]
It's Natalie.
She's changing the color
of that designer jacket
she wants
for Christmas, again.
Of course she is.
She's driving me crazy.
Look, I will get a job
after the holidays, I promise.
Okay.
(Nina)
It turns out all the good trees
were already taken.
But even though it wasn't
the biggest or the best tree,
It was ours.
And Christmas
was finally here.
Yay!
(Nina)
Everybody got expensive present s
and seemed happy.
(Natalie)
It's so cold .
(David)
It's all yours, buddy!
(Julie)
Well?
[honks horn]
(Nina)
Well, almost everybody.
What is this?
It's the jacket
you wanted.
No, it's not.
This is hideous.
[phone rings]
I'll check it.
You texted me
and said you wanted that color.
I would never.
Ew, just give it away.
(Nina)
It's Aunt Cindy !
Let it go
to voicemail.
She's calling
to ask us to church. Oh, come on.
Why don't we want
to go to church?
It's Christmas.
I just sent them $500
for all those new pews.
With all the checks
I've written these last couple of years,
I feel like I practically
own that church.
I guess Christmas is over.
(Nina)
I was happy Daddy got to spend more time with us.
He kept getting dressed up
in his nice suit
to go out and look
for a new job.
But when he came home,
he always seemed so sad.
Even though it was nice
to have Daddy home,
I could tell he was worried.
And remember,
keep that bow level.
Ready, Nina?
We need to pick your sister up at the mall.
Okay.
Here you go.
I, uh-- I need to speak
with you about this.
(Julie)
He said the last few checks have bounced.
Bounced.
Well, that's not right.
I've been transferring money
into that account.
Well, they did.
And it was embarrassing.
You know how people
at that school talk.
It's the kids' tuition
that's killing us.
Is there anything left
from selling the lake house?
No. The stocks
are all cashed in,
and the only thing
we have in savings
is the kids'
college fund.
No, we can't.
Call the bank again.
We have zero equity
on this house
because of the double
mortgage.
No one is going
to buy this house
for what we have
in it.
Not the house.
I love this house.
Remember when
we moved here?
We'd drive around
and look at all the neighborhoods
and dream about
where we'd live
and how
our lives would be?
Yeah.
You heard anything
from Steve?
Nope, I've called him
a few times,
and he's yet
to return my call.
So oh, well.
I could always take
that tutoring job
that was in the paper.
It's not a lot,
but it would be something coming in.
Absolutely not. No.
It's your job
to take care
of the house
and the kids.
Besides, it's like taking
a water gun
and shooting
into roaring fire.
Listen, once I get
a job,
I'll take care
of the credit cards,
the past due bills.
This is
my responsibility.
And I'm going
to get us out of it.
I was going to wait
to tell you this,
but I'm having lunch
with Cindy.
I wish you wouldn't tell her
our business.
She's family.
No, she's your family.
Yeah, she is.
She and Kurt have money.
Maybe they can help.
Just a loan or something
until you get work.
All right, you do
whatever you want to do,
but I'm not going down
to Beckley.
I know.
I know.
Get some sleep.
(Nina)
I wanted to go with Mommy to see my Aunt Cindy,
but seems the only time
I ever get to see my Aunt Cindy
is when she's on television.
Thank you.
You know, we do stories
all the time
about struggling families
on the news.
I just had no idea
that things were so bad
with you guys.
It's been a struggle
since David lost his job last year.
Really?
What?
Well, it's just--
I just see your pictures
on the internet, Julie.
The ski trips, the Vineyard.
Nick's new car.
Well, we're trying to live
as normal as possible.
For the kids.
Things will be back
to normal as soon as David finds work.
Until then...
we could use
some help.
Well, what about the money
Mom left you?
We used that
to buy the lake house.
Which we had to sell.
Well, Kurt and I
used that money
to offset the expenses
we incurred
when Mom
was living with us.
The ramp we put in,
the bedroom we had
to renovate downstairs,
the constant, 24-hour,
round the clock care.
I'm sorry David and I
didn't help out more.
It's not important.
Today is about helping you
solve your problem.
There was just something.
What about--
Never mind.
Not going to ask.
What about what?
Well, what about Mom's
canary diamonds?
I couldn't pawn those.
Those pieces
mean everything to me.
Well, I'm certainly
not suggesting that you pawn them.
They should stay
in the family.
Just.. what if
somebody were to buy them?
Like me.
It is a sin that Mom
separated that set between us.
You don't even
wear yours.
I was saving mine
for Natalie and Nina.
For their weddings.
Of course.
And maybe someday...
you can buy them back?
Never mind.
Forget I said anything.
Just trying to help.
I mean, how desperate
are you?
Thank you.
I got this.
[David]
I could pay something.
Thank you.
How about I make
a partial payment?
Tomorrow.
Thank you.
[Nina playing
"T'is a Gift" on the cello]
Spaghetti again? Ew.
I love spaghetti.
You would.
Mom, my phone
is broken.
Make Nick drive me
to the mall to get a new one. Nick!
They said they'd give us
to the end of the week.
David?
Why is everyone screaming?
Not spaghetti.
Drive me to the mall
to get a new phone.
As long as we
can pick up a pizza.
No one is going
anywhere. David!
Where is your father?
Hey, what's
going on?
Spaghetti.
Daddy, my phone is broken.
I need money
to get a new one.
And a pizza.
No.
No one is going
to the mall,
and no one
is ordering a pizza.
and absolutely no one
is going to complain about eating spaghetti again.
You understand me?
What the heck
is your problem?
Hey, don't talk
to your mother like that.
I can't take it
anymore, David. I can't.
Is there something
wrong, Mommy?
No, nothing is wrong.
No, David,
something is wrong,
and they need
to know!
Natalie, your phone
is not broken.
It's been turned off.
All phones have been turned off.
Great, how am I
supposed to order our pizza?
You're not going
to order a pizza.
Because we
can't afford a pizza.
Sure we can.
They're like two bucks.
No, we can't.
And when was the last time
you ordered a pizza for two dollars?
Things are just
a little tight right now.
They're more
than a little tight. Not now.
Then when, David?
School starts
in a few weeks.
Tell them.
You two have to go
to public school.
Go to public school?
No way!
This is my senior year.
(Julie)
Tuition is just too much.
Now we can't afford
school or pizza?
And Nick?
Your car.
Are you serious?
It was
a Christmas present.
If you don't,
they're just going to take it.
Your mother and I
already traded our in.
You said that was
for the environment.
How stupid are you?
We're all going to have
to start selling things for extra money.
Electronics, computers,
clothes.
Sell my clothes?
This is a nightmare.
I'm not giving up
my senior year with Molly.
Take the money
from my college fund if you have to.
There is no college fund.
Where did it go?
Where did it go?
Double mortgage,
credit cards,
gas, utilities,
music lessons,
cell phone bills.
Well, a whole lot of good that did.
That money was mine.
You had
no right, Dad.
I had no right?
Your mother and I put
that money in that account for you.
You contributed nothing.
Mommy, are we poor?
No, we're just having
a little financial trouble
since your Daddy
got fired.
Fired.
You said you quit.
It doesn't matter.
No, it does matter.
You're ruining
my future
and I'm just going
to become a jobless failure.
Like you.
Nick!
Hey, hey!
How am I supposed
to talk to my friends?
Hey, the house phone
still works.
For now.
A land line?
Gross.
Mommy, Daddy...
you can sell
my cello if you want.
(Nina)
When it was time for us to start our new schools,
I saw that stuff started
disappearing from our lives.
Including some people we knew.
I'm sure some girl
at your new school
would love living
in a trailer park.
Not me.
Hi, I'm Nina George.
I am six years old.
I play the cello.
And I love Christmas trees.
Oh, and my family
is going through a tough financial time
since my dad got fired.
Thank you very much.
She's such
a snot.
[boys]
What are you going to do about it?
What, are you
going to keep crying?
Look at this.
He's crying.
[shouting, taunting]
Leave him alone.
What's it to you?
You touch him
like that again,
I'll call my dad.
He's a cop.
Oo, I'm shaking.
No, it's not worth it.
Not over this.
We were just messing
with Kell.
Isn't that right, Kell?
Come on.
Let's get out of here. [bell rings]
You all right?
Come on.
They do that?
This is the third one.
I hate going to my dad
and telling him what happened.
Again.
Here, take mine.
No.
No, seriously.
It doesn't even have service.
I don't know
why I'm carrying it around.
Your dad
really a cop?
No.
No, my dad
doesn't do anything.
No, my dad
doesn't do anything.
Yeah.
David George?
Yes.
Please sign here.
Thank you.
Uh-huh.
Jule...
Jule, come here,
sweetie.
Hey. What is it?
David?
It's the bank.
They're--
They're giving us
20 days to get out.
They're taking
the house.
What are we
going to do?
You think there's
enough gas
to get down
to Beckley and back?
(Nina)
I never met my Pappy in person.
But every Christmas,
he'd send me
a pretty card
with five dollars in it.
Well, well, well,
look who it is.
Hey, Pop.
What do you want?
You'll want coffee,
at least.
You always did like
my coffee.
Hey, Dodge.
Come here, buddy.
You're a good boy.
Thank you.
So you find yourself
in a situation.
Yes, sir.
And you drove
all the way across the state
just to tell me this.
You could have saved
yourself some time and used the phone.
That's why they
invented Ma Bell.
I thought I should
tell you this in person.
I think you came here
to ask me for help.
And by that,
I mean my money.
I just don't know how
it got so bad, so fast.
I can tell you how.
You've been living
way beyond your means
and it finally
caught up with you.
That house
up on the hill,
which I've only seen
in pictures,
and the big, fancy cars
and the running
here and there and the trips.
At least, that's what
that wife of yours
tells me in that mimeographed
Christmas letter she sends every year.
Now you can't afford it.
I lost my job.
Find another one.
I've tried.
You've tried to find
a job you want.
Not the job you need.
You don't understand...
how hard it is for me
to be sitting right here
at this table doing this.
Oh, I'll just
bet you it is.
After we scrimped
and saved,
your mother and I,
at this table.
We saved every dime
we had to send you to school.
And what
did you say?
As soon as I get
that agricultural degree, Pop,
I'll be back to help you
with the farm.
I promise.
I promise.
Well, you changed
your studies,
and you got married,
and you never looked back.
I should have known
you wouldn't help me out.
You want my money?
Right there it is.
If you want it,
take it.
What good is it
going to do you?
Because it will last you
two, maybe three months,
then you'll find
yourself right back in the same situation,
because you won't
have learned a thing.
I'm about
to lose everything.
Maybe that wouldn't be
such a bad thing for any of you.
Because this life
that you're trying to keep
maybe it's not
worth keeping.
Wow...
Thanks for the coffee.
[door slams]
You always did like
my coffee.
You always did like
my coffee.
We'll move
into a smaller place for a couple of weeks
until we can get
an apartment.
So we're asking
that you only take
what you absolutely need.
How did this happen?
(Nick)
I know exactly how this happened.
Why won't anybody
help us?
[crying]
You okay?
It's a lot
of grown-up stuff.
We'll all still be
together, right?
Of course.
Then we'll
all be okay.
Then we'll
all be okay.
Then we'll
all be okay.
[plays "Tis a Gift
to be Simple"]
[plays "Tis a Gift
to be Simple"]
[plays "Tis a Gift
to be Simple"]
Come on, sweetheart.
Come on, sweetheart.
Go with Mommy.
Go with Mommy.
Go with Mommy.
Why did she have
to bring the cello?
It takes up
the whole place.
It's the only thing
she wanted.
Is there anything to eat?
Nina and your father
are out getting something,
then I'll figure out
where to get food.
Who are we...
waiting to eat...
living in a motel...
sleeping on stupid cots.
We'll trade off
who sleeps on the cot.
This is just temporary
until your father finds a job.
He's not even really trying.
He could be working anywhere.
Why do you keep defending him?
Because he's my husband
and your father.
And you will
show him respect.
Well, he didn't
really respect us
when he put us
in this situation, did he?
Pretending that everything
was okay when it wasn't.
And spending
my college fund.
You know, I could be doing
a lot better on my own.
You guys are just
holding me back.
Really?
You think so?
I know so.
Then maybe you should!
Go.
Go find a job.
Find a better place
to live. Go!
I wouldn't want
to hold you back.
I wouldn't want
to hold you back.
Go put the cello
in the tub.
Go put the cello
in the tub.
[whispers]
So how does this work?
I guess we
just get in line.
They have computers here.
Can I check my email?
No, I don't think
we should split up.
Come on, please.
It's just right there.
Okay, real quick.
Okay.
Okay, real quick.
Okay.
The computers
are for people to find work.
They blocked
all the fun sites.
I didn't know.
I'm sorry.
Why are you
running off?
I'm not running off.
My mom is waiting for me.
That line takes forever.
I'm Tessa.
Now you tell me
your name.
That's how it works.
I'm Natalie.
I had a fish
named Natalie.
We had to flush her.
You don't look like
you should be here.
It's our first time.
We've been here
every Thursday...
for the past like...
six months...
since the fire, yeah.
The fire?
Yeah, it took
everything we had.
My clothes,
my computer,
all the pictures
of my friends.
Everyone keeps saying
that it's just stuff,
like that is supposed
to make it better, you know?
But it--
it was my stuff.
What happened
to you guys?
It's nothing.
My dad lost his job
about a year ago.
And it just kept
getting worse.
We live in a motel now.
My mom and me are at
the homeless shelter downtown.
There aren't very many kids
that are my age, but you know...
you get used
to not having any friends, I guess.
[Natalie crying]
Oh, God, I didn't--
I didn't mean to make you cry.
It will be okay.
Like I said, you get used to it.
Maybe I don't want
to get used to it.
Sometimes we don't
have a choice.
Oh, stop crying.
I can't!
Okay, how about
I tell you a joke?
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Why are you asking me?
I don't have a door.
I'm homeless.
Okay, that was dumb.
Yeah, but...
you're laughing, right?
Julie?
I thought that was you.
My goodness.
How have you been?
I heard you moved.
Well, with David being
out of work,
we thought it best
to downsize.
What are you
doing here?
Didn't I tell you?
Julie is a volunteer here.
Oh.
I saw her last time I made a drop off.
What a relief.
Can I take those
from you?
Oh, this is
so nice of you.
Volunteering for others
when your family is struggling.
Let me help you.
Thank you.
Well, it was nice
to see you.
Don't be a stranger.
This is
my email address
and this is
the phone number at the shelter.
Keep in touch.
Hey, Mom,
I want you to meet someone.
This is Tessa.
Hi.
Hello.
Natalie, that jacket.
It's pretty,
isn't it?
Thanks.
See you later, Nat.
See you.
Are you tired of the same
good old boy politics?
I know I am.
My name is John Cutter,
and I'm running
for re-election.
Smoking and non-smoking
rooms available.
Handicapped accessibility
in four rooms.
Check out daily
at 11:00 A.M.
Food!
It's about time.
Food!
It's about time.
Food!
It's about time.
You okay?
[sighs]
I saw Alicia Cutter
and Colleen and Liz
at the food pantry.
Did you speak
to them?
Yeah. Alicia
covered for me
and said I was
volunteering there,
but I don't know
if they believed her.
You know, frankly,
I don't care.
Because I know
why I was there.
I was there to get food
for my family
that is living
in a motel.
It kills me.
I never
in a million years
dreamed my life
would be like this. Ever.
This is temporary.
Oh, until when,
David? When?
You know, while
you're looking through the want ads
and calling contacts
that never call you back,
life is happening
around you.
You blame me.
No, I don't.
Yes, yes, you do.
You blame me
for all of this.
I mean, if you just
weren't so proud.
I mean, you didn't
even try to get your job back
when Boling fired you.
And you waited
until we were thrown
out of our house
before you would even
go to your father for help.
And when I offered
to work, you shut me down.
Come on, like that job
was really going to help us.
Still...
It's like you're waiting
for everything to magically restore itself.
Well, honey,
it's not going to.
Fine, why don't you
handle it yourself for awhile.
David, don't.
Where are you going?
David!
Are you sure
I can't get you anything?
Sir...
No, I'm fine for now.
[man]
I told you I could be there by 6:30.
Not 6:00.
Okay. All right.
Bye.
Dave. Man, I have
missed you.
How you been?
You look awful.
Can I get
you anything?
Yes, I'll take
a regular coffee, please.
And anything?
My treat.
I'll have the same.
Mine is
with soy milk, please.
Thanks.
Where are you
working these days?
I'm sort of
in between jobs.
Yeah, well I wish
you were still at Boling.
They've really been dragging
their feet on this land development deal that--
That's the King's--
That was my account.
Was it?
So you know how anxious
Mr. King is
to move on that property
in the next couple of weeks?
Because I need this.
I really need this for my re-election.
Oh, thank you.
I always get mine to go, so...
You know, if you happen
to know about a free 200 acres anywhere out there,
just please let me know.
I'll even hire you to develop it.
Thank you.
Really, thank you.
All right.
Hey, get some rest,
all right?
And change
that shirt.
Looks like
you slept in it.
There you are.
I was worried sick.
Where are the kids?
Oh, they're inside,
getting something to eat.
Hey, don't ever
leave us.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, too.
Excuse me, folks.
The card you gave me
to cover your balance for the week.
Yeah, what
about it?
It declined.
Got any cash?
Um, no.
I mean,
not at the moment.
But hey, I can get
you some tomorrow, maybe?
Yeah, uh... no.
You have
to get out right now.
Now?
Yeah.
You got 20 minutes
to get your things
or I'm calling
the cops.
[television]
Oh.
[gasps]
Mommy! Mommy!
Mommy, look!
I wrote that
on the top
like Miss Webb said.
And it all came
back to me.
We're going to get
a Christmas miracle.
It's all going
to be okay.
That's so nice,
sweetheart.
But right now,
we need to figure out a place to stay.
I know where
we can go.
I know where
we can go.
(Nina)
We could stay here.
I'm not staying
at a church at night.
It's too creepy.
Let's just sit here
a little while.
[singing]
La, la, la, la.
Nina, stop.
This isn't a game.
It's going
to be okay.
We're going to get
a Christmas miracle.
It's not Christmas.
Let's all just say
a little prayer
and be thankful
we have a place to be.
Hey, come on, Nina.
Let's have a seat.
Let's have a seat.
Let's have a seat.
Santa!
Oh, no, no, no.
Please, please. I'm sorry.
I didn't--
I didn't mean to disturb your sleep.
I was just
dropping off this tree.
You see
the pastor here, he-- well, he likes to...
decorate early.
I love Christmas trees.
So do I.
I must have dozed off.
This is embarrassing.
Oh, please, ma'am.
Don't be embarrassed.
If you can't visit
God's house in the middle of the night,
who can you visit?
My dad says
with all the checks
he's written over the years,
he practically owns
this church.
Oh, Nina, let's gather
our things and get out of here.
Please, please,
don't hurry off.
As a matter of fact,
I could use some help.
Now who would like
to help me set up this tree?
I would!
You would?
Good!
And you, ma'am.
What is your name?
Nina.
Nina!
That is a beautiful name.
It's nice
to meet you, Nina.
I'm Henry.
And maybe when
we're done with the tree,
your daddy will let me
buy him a coffee with... soy milk.
It was... soy milk,
wasn't it?
I'm sorry.
Do I know you?
Not at all.
[David]
Where do we know each other from?
About a year ago,
I was in a coffee shop
in town,
And I was politely asked
to leave the premises.
But your husband...
you, sir...
came along and graciously
gave me your cup of coffee
so I could stay.
That was nice
of you, Daddy.
(Henry)
Yes, it was .
It was very nice,
very kind.
I'm afraid I don't
remember that.
This is all
an amazing coincidence.
Oh, no, no,
no, no, no.
You see, I don't believe
in coincidences.
Only miracles.
Me, too.
I was just promised
a miracle on the can.
What?
A can of peas.
It's a long story.
Mommy got the can
of peas at the food pantry
and brought them
to the motel
where we were living,
because we got kicked
out of our house,
because my dad
got fired,
and then we got kicked out
of the motel last night.
That's quite a story.
Nina, you don't
have to, uh,
bother this man
with all of our problems.
No, no, no, no.
It's no bother at all.
Everybody ready?
All right.
This is a really good tree.
Good, good, tree.
All right, nice and neat.
There we go.
Nice.
[sings trumpet fanfare]
It looks beautiful.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you all.
And I'll let you
go now.
Unless-- unless you all
would like to come out
to my tree farm.
Or maybe you have
some place you have to be.
A tree farm?
Daddy, can we go?
How many acres you have
on that tree farm?
[Henry laughs]
[Henry laughs]
Well, well!
This is it.
What have we here?
(Nina)
How many trees do you have?
How many trees.
Um... guess.
Hmmm.
A million.
A million two.
Do you want
to look around? Come on, come on.
No, no, no.
She can't get lost.
Okay.
Hey, not too far!
Let me show you
the house.
Come on, come on.
Come on, come on.
Please, please, please.
Come on in. Come on in. Come on in.
Make yourself
at home.
This is--
This is my home.
So you've
already decorated?
This? No, no, no.
I keep this up
year round.
I never take it down.
It's lovely.
It's really--
I mean, it's Rosie, my wife.
She loved Christmas.
And so I just try
to keep it exactly the way she liked it.
Oh, but where
are my manners?
Isn't everybody hungry?
Roberta Strauss,
she always gets a Virginia pine,
and she brought over
this beautiful plate of cold cuts.
And Jenny Rable,
she always gets a blue spruce,
and she brought over
these fresh rolls,
so you can make sandwiches,
do anything you want.
and they're all in the kitchen
or the pantry, right around the corner.
Help yourself, please.
Thanks.
Anything you see.
Come on in, please.
I'm so excited
that I have you here.
The whole family.
(David)
This is beautiful.
Thank you,
thank you.
So how long
you been selling trees?
Oh, I don't sell them.
I give them away.
Excuse me?
Well, they don't
belong to me.
Only God
can make a tree.
But how
do you do that?
Well, people come,
they pick out a tree,
they cut it down,
and they leave.
Um, you misunderstood
what she said.
How do you support
yourself financially?
Oh, oh, oh,
I see, I see, I see.
I get a pretty good pension
from working on the railroad.
And Rosie,
she comes from money.
This was her dream.
She said to me, "Hank...
She was the only one
who ever called me Hank.
She said, "Hank,
I want to make sure
"that everyone has
a Christmas tree,
"whether they
can afford it or not."
So we just started
planting trees
and giving them away
to anyone who needs one.
That's amazing.
Oh, yeah, yeah,
that's incredible, actually.
Well... it's...
a pretty incredible place.
Well... it's...
a pretty incredible place.
Well... it's...
a pretty incredible place.
Wow!
So David George...
the man
with two first names.
That little story
back at the church,
the firing,
and the house, the motel,
all true?
It's been
a rough year.
Hmm.
Well, if you
need a job,
I could always use
an extra pair of hands.
Or five.
So you're offering us
jobs to work here on the farm.
Yeah, I mean
why not?
In exchange
for room and board.
I got the room.
I have too much room, actually.
It will allow me...
to return that gift
of kindness
that your husband gave me
that day at the coffee shop.
That was a simple
cup of coffee.
No...
That came to me
on a day when
I needed it the most.
[door opens]
Mom, Mom, Mom!
There's a barn out there
with the biggest
Christmas tree I ever saw!
Bigger than the one
in town square.
It's Christmas
all the time here!
What's going on?
Mr. Henry has asked us
to stay and help out on the farm.
What do we know
about a tree farm?
I can teach you anything
you need to know.
[Henry laughs]
What do you say?
Yeah, we'll stay.
Oh!
Yay!
Oh!
(Nina)
Over the next few weeks,
Mr. Henry taught us
all about his tree farm.
Mr. Henry taught us
all about his tree farm.
We all worked together
to get ready for Christmas.
[no audible dialog]
[no audible dialog]
[no audible dialog]
And planned for the future.
[no audible dialog]
[no audible dialog]
[no audible dialog]
[no audible dialog]
David George...
the man
with two first names.
It's another
incredible morning, isn't it?
Yes, it is.
You certainly know
your way around the farm.
Well, I grew up
on one down south.
You know, my Pop
has always said
it's just a good, clean,
honest living.
That's-- That's a lot
of property you have out there.
I don't know how you managed
to handle it by yourself all these years.
Well... we've had help
off and on.
Farm hands, people passing
through the area that needed work.
Mostly just Rosie and me
tending the land.
You've never attempted
to sell it?
Make a profit
and just be content?
I am content now.
With just giving
away trees?
It's just not
giving away trees.
It's giving away
Christmas.
Think about that.
But if you're
giving away-- Shh, shh, shh.
But if you're
giving away-- Shh, shh, shh.
But if you're
giving away-- Shh, shh, shh.
But if you're
giving away-- Shh, shh, shh.
(Henry)
Well, well, well, well, well.
There's a hard working
young man there.
Did you get
some breakfast this morning?
Yeah, those eggs
are awesome.
It's a weekly gift
from Terrence Metcalf,
who lives down
the road.
Yep, yep, yep.
He gets a white pine.
Tell me something,
will you? Yeah.
You having a good time?
Yeah.
It's hard work,
and getting up
this early stinks.
But you know,
it's kind of cool to see
how much you can
accomplish in a day.
So ready to tackle
those Douglas firs on the north end?
Yeah, let's go.
[stutters]
Why don't you
drive the tractor?
R-r-really?
Yeah.
Really?
Sweet.
All right,
I'll see you out there.
I'll be there
in a minute.
Clean...
honest... living.
Clean...
honest... living.
That's it.
Okay, control
the stitch. Good.
Good.
How do you
know so much?
Well, your grandmother
actually used to make
your Aunt Cindy and my
Christmas dresses every year.
Bet you loved that.
Oh, are you kidding?
We hated it.
Your Aunt Cindy and I
would cry
until your grandmother
took us downtown
and bought
us something off the rack.
Are we going
to spend Christmas here?
You know,
I don't know.
Why? You starting
your list?
I don't really
want anything,
except maybe
this fabulous dress.
Fabulous, huh?
Okay, what do
I do next?
Okay, let's get
another fabric here.
How about the pink one
that Henry gave us from the hope chest.
All right.
Natalie,
someone's here to see you.
Tessa!
Do you know how many buses I had to take to get here?
Oh, gosh.
I finally had to hitch a ride...
on an Amish
horse and buggy.
Oh, my gosh.
How did you know I was here?
Your mom
called the shelter and invited me out.
Thought you could use
an afternoon with a friend.
Thanks...
What the heck
is this?
It's a dress.
With three arms.
No, no, no.
[laughing]
This is the skirt.
And then you fold
this over.
but it's going
to be bigger,
and we're working
on the belt.
But it's going to be
more like this.
It's pretty, isn't it?
Mm-hmm.
You can pick
them up, if you want.
I'm afraid
I'll drop it.
No, no, no.
You can't hurt them.
Those pieces have been
dropped hundreds of times
by the little girl
who first owned this set.
Go on, go on, go on.
Who was she?
Her name is Lucy.
She was my daughter.
And she liked
to decorate trees, just like you.
In fact, it was her dream
to get a million lights
and decorate every tree
out on that hill.
[gasps]Wow.
Wow!
Did she ever do it?
No, she didn't.
She couldn't.
Because she was
a very sick little girl.
She didn't see
many Christmases.
That's sad.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I can't lie to you.
It was. I mean, it is.
But she's
not far away.
Because I believe
when people...
when they die...
or leave us...
they still watch over us.
And they tell us
in little ways, like...
in little miracles.
Especially at Christmas.
Maybe someday
we can get those lights
and decorate those trees
for your daughter.
Wouldn't that be something?
I cannot
for the life of me
understand how
the current owner
has held on to this place
as long as he has
just doing
what he does.
I mean, you said
he doesn't sell the trees.
He gives them away?
He wants everyone to have a tree.
That's admirable,
but I'm going to tell you what, Dave.
I don't think
he's going to be able to do it much longer,
because even
in the dark, I can see...
this place is perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
We're close
to the highway.
As soon as you get
all these trees out,
we're going to have room
for four, five warehouses minimum.
I guarantee
there's room for expansion.
Well, he's stuck
in his ways.
I might need
a little more time to convince him to sell.
Well, King wants a property
within the next couple of weeks.
He-he wants something
by Thanksgiving.
So if you're really
having trouble with this guy,
just let me know,
and I can-- I can handle it.
There are other ways
we can take it.
All right.
This will make
a nice one, don't you think?
Yeah, I think it will.
Where's Henry?
He had an appointment
in town.
He'll be back
in a few minutes.
Listen, I uh--
I just want
to say thank you.
I mean, you've really
stepped up the last couple of weeks,
and it hasn't gone
unnoticed.
And I just want to say
I appreciate it.
You know,
you probably won't believe this, but...
I don't like it
when we fight.
Somehow, here,
things have been okay between us.
Yeah, well I guess
you and I need
to work harder
just keeping it that way.
[honking]
Someone here
to pick up a tree?
Henry says
they come earlier every year.
Let's go
check it out.
Okay.
Hey, good afternoon!
Hey, you guys open
for the season yet?
We're actually
heading out of town for the holidays.
We're going to do
kind of an early Christmas this year.
Well, you've come
to the right place.
We have Colorado
blue spruces,
Douglass
and Frasier firs,
Scotch and white pines.
Heck, I don't know
what we usually get.
Kell, what kind of tree
does your mom usually get? What?
What kind of tree
does your mom get?
Frasier fir.
Frasier fir.
Hey.
How's it going?
It's going okay.
Glad to hear it.
Looks like
they know each other.
Here, come on,
follow us.
We'll show you
what we have.
Hey, where did you guys
say you came in from?
Just north of Wheeling.
Oh, okay.
It's not too bad of a drive.
No, not bad
at all.
I haven't seen you
around school.
Those guys
leaving you alone?
For the most part.
They haven't
smashed my phone.
Well, your phone.
Did you
want it back?
No, I don't
need it here.
All tied up
and ready to go.
Take care, man.
All right.
Well, it looks like
you got a tree you like, huh.
Well, I'm just hoping
that my wife likes it.
Hey, so how much
do I owe you?
Nothing.
What do you
mean, nothing?
I got to give
you something for it.
No, that's just
what we do.
Enjoy that tree
with your family.
We're going
to do that.
Thanks.
Merry Christmas to you.
Merry Christmas
to you, too.
Excuse me.
When we were up
on that hill up there,
I asked Kell
how he knew you.
And he told me
what you did for him at school.
It's no big deal.
You know,
those guys were just being jerks.
Still, he's had a bit
of a rough time lately.
I really-- I really
appreciate you sticking up for him like that.
Yeah.
Look, here's my card.
If there's anything
I can do for you,
ever, just let
me know, okay?
Thank you.
You, too.
Merry Christmas to you.
Merry Christmas.
Maybe they
have scholarships
or financial aid
that I can apply for.
Well, your parents
definitely didn't make too much money.
And I saw online that
they have a really good ecology program.
Excellent choice.
(Natalie)
Okay, I'm ready.
Yeah.
What's this?
Okay, Natalie
just finished her first dress
all by herself.
Ta-da!
What do you think?
(Henry)
Well, will yo u look at that?
It's beautiful.
(Julie)
Very smart .
Yeah, smart.
Shut up.
No, it's really
cute, right?
I think I have
a real gift for this.
I'm going to be making
all of my own clothes from now on.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Natalie, it's very--
It's very you.
Thanks.
Where you going?
To clear
my plate. Why?
Never mind.
Carry on.
Who are
those children?
I don't know,
but there's no way
we're letting her
out of the house wearing that thing.
She might hear you.
Quiet.
You've really done
a good job with them.
Well, leading your children
into poverty
doesn't exactly make one
the parent of the year.
They have good hearts.
I can see it.
Nina told us
about the daughter that you and Rosie lost.
I'm so sorry.
I can't imagine.
And I wouldn't
want you to.
But Rosie was
the eternal optimist.
She kept reminding me
to celebrate...
the joy of our child
instead of what we lost.
Rosie sounds like
an incredible woman.
How did you meet her?
I was a foreman
on the railroad.
And we were running
this passenger line
that went to Chicago
and New York.
And groups of people
used to go to the city
especially at the holidays
to see the lights
and buy presents
and things like that.
And Rosie was
at the station with one of these groups.
And all of her friends
started to get on the train,
except Rosie.
And she stopped
and she saw this...
this homeless man
sleeping on a bench.
And she reached
into her purse and...
and gave him money.
The train started
to pull out.
She started running
after that train.
And I thought right there,
I said...
I really have to meet this--
this beautiful woman...
who almost gave up her trip...
to stop and help out
a perfect stranger.
And so I started going
from car to car.
I finally found her.
We started talking .
And we exchanged numbers
and everything.
And when that train
pulled up at her stop,
we were
never apart again.
Ever.
Until she passed away
two years ago.
She loved people.
She would have loved
all of you.
(Natalie)
Nick, stop it !
Mom, he's making fun
of my dress.
Ah, there are
my little angels.
I knew they'd be back.
So how are you
holding up, David George?
Well, I--
I have to admit,
I enjoyed giving away
that tree today.
[Henry laughs]
Let's talk
about the farm.
You know, your future,
and what's going
to happen to you
when we leave here.
Why?
Are you leaving?
Can't stay here
forever.
Why can't you?
I want to give
more to my family.
And I can't think
about just staying here
and having to live--
Shh, shh, shh.
[kids laughing
in next room]
(Nina)
Ew, that looks like you .
(Natalie)
No, you have to show Dad.
You have to show Dad
and Henry.
Look, Daddy.
I'm Natalie.
(Natalie)
Mom, make him stop!
Oh, great.
Did you do this?
She made me.
I'm going
to go wash her hair now.
Good.
Knock it off .
What did I do?
[Henry laughing]
Well, it seems to me
they really have
everything they need.
I'd better go supervise.
It's no coincidence
that you came here, David George,
the man with two
first names.
We both know it.
Well, well, well, well...
They're kind people, Rosie.
Very kind, indeed.
Cutter, David George.
We need to talk.
Dave, not
a good time, buddy.
I'm giving a speech
to the Kiwanis.
I don't even know
who they are, what they do,
or what I'm
about to say,
so whatever you're--
The farm.
It's just not right
for your project.
I'll find another property.
It's too late.
I talked to King's people this morning
and they're going
to be here next week to see the farm.
No, you don't understand.
Things have changed.
My feelings about
this whole place have changed.
That's too bad, Dave.
That's too bad.
I'm sorry.
Look, I really am.
But I'm not allowing
your feelings to interfere with my election, okay?
It's over, Dave.
Done.
(announcer)
Ladies and gentlemen...
please help me welcome
Senator John Cutter.
[applause]
You feelings have changed
about what?
Let's go in here.
I don't want Henry
or anyone else hearing us.
What is it, David.
Just tell me.
That day I left
the motel,
I ran into Senator Cuter
He asked me if I knew
of any property
where they could build
some warehouses
to bring in some jobs
for the area.
What does it
have to do with us?
After we got here,
I recommended
the tree farm.
You could do that
to Henry?
Cutter promised me
I could be the developer of the project...
if I could get
Henry to sell.
He's never
going to sell.
This is his world.
Well, apparently
the government could come through and...
take this
as eminent domain
if they can prove
the land can be used
for the greater good
of the community.
Henry is still
going to get a fair share.
They'd just
run him out?
Poor Henry.
I'm trying so hard...
to get back to the lives
that we once had.
But I like who
we've become here.
I don't want
to go back.
Do you?
[sighs]
(David)
Well, it looks like you beat us out here.
We're going to go tackle
those Scotch pines if you want to go.
Hey...
All right, man,
wake up. Let's go.
Henry.
Nick, call
your mother.
Nick, call your
mother now.
Go!
Mom!
Henry.
Mom!
Henry...
Oh, no...
[David]
Bind them around your neck.. .
write them on a tablet
of your heart...
and you will win favor
and a good name in the sight of God
and man.
Trust in the Lord
with all your heart,
and lean not
on your own understanding.
In all your ways,
submit to him.
He will make
your paths straight.
[Nina plays "Tis a Gift
to be Simple"]
[Nina plays "Tis a Gift
to be Simple"]
[Nina plays "Tis a Gift
to be Simple"]
Hey, kids.
Please go upstairs
and change your clothes
before you get them dirty.
Maybe we
can return them to the store.
I miss Mr. Henry.
We all do, honey.
He was a wonderful man.
Are we going to have
to move again?
(David)
Yes. Who will take care of the trees?
Son, there won't be
anymore trees.
All that property out there
is going to be developed
and they're all
going to be gone.
We worked so hard.
Let's not think
about that right now.
Come on, go change.
You, too, Nina.
Mr. Henry never got to see
his daughter's wish come true.
Oh, David.
What a nice man.
He opened up his home,
and he fed us.
He was wonderful
to our children.
And I hate myself
that this lovely man
is gone,
and all I'm thinking about
is what's going to happen to us.
I know.
[knocking]
I'll get it.
Mr. George?
Yes?
Hello,
I'm Arlene Saunders.
May I come in?
Yes, yes, come on in.
Thank you.
This is my wife,
Julie George.
I'm Arlene Saunders.
I was Mr. Banks'
attorney.
Oh.
I hate to drop by today
with the services and all,
but I'm afraid
you're going to have to move quickly.
We figured
we'd have to.
What's our deadline?
Well, the sooner
the better.
Today, if possible.
Today?
Those are-- we...
We thought
we'd have more time.
I did, too,
but I'm--
these things happen.
Where are we
going to go?
Do you think
we could just stay one more night
so the kids
could say goodbye to this place?
Um, what are you
talking about?
What are you
talking about?
You're going
to have to move
on settling this property.
I'm sorry.
I think you misunderstood.
We don't have
enough money to buy this place.
You don't have to buy it.
It's yours.
Mr. Banks
willed it to you.
As well as the sizable savings
he and his wife had to operate it.
Didn't he tell you?
No, no, ma'am.
He didn't
say anything.
Oh...
As soon as you
moved in with him,
he came by my office
and changed
his will.
Since he had
no living relatives.
He said he had
just been blessed
with the perfect family
to take over the farm
and continue the kindness
he and Rosie built.
I thought he shared
his plans with you.
No. No, he didn't.
But unfortunately,
his heart condition caught up with him.
What heart condition?
About a year ago,
before Christmas,
Mr. Banks found out
he had a congenital heart defect.
That's why he
invited you to stay
and trained you
on the farm.
He probably didn't want
to burden you all.
That's just like
Mr. Banks.
David...
The state
is taking the property
by eminent domain.
It's unfortunate,
but it's legal.
If we complete
the paperwork,
you will get
the purchase price.
What if we don't
want to sell?
Well, Senator Cutter
has made a pretty strong case.
On paper, the warehouses
will bring new jobs to the area,
and be more
lucrative than...
a farm that gives
its trees away.
Of course it is.
If I were you,
I'd sign.
Take the money...
and start your life
over somewhere.
Why can't we stay?
Well, Sweetie,
Senator Cutter and the State,
they want to buy this place
and put warehouses on it.
They're coming
for a tour tomorrow.
That's not fair.
They can't just take
someone's land, can they?
There has to be
some way we can fight them.
There isn't.
And to be honest...
I'm to blame.
I'm the one who told
Senator Cutter about this place,
and he's so determined
to win re-election,
and he's so worried
about his public image,
I think he'll do anything
to protect it.
Wait a second.
If that's true,
I think I know someone
who might be able to help us.
I think I know someone
who might be able to help us.
I think I know someone
who might be able to help us.
Dave.
Cutter.
Now I don't want
to sound over-confident or anything,
but King
is right behind me.
We had lunch
at the sushi place.
And I think our holiday
is about to get a lot happier.
You're on private
property now.
Cutter, you're trespassing.
Well, in that case,
I'm here to buy a tree.
I could actually use
your assistance,
so I get
my money's worth,
but the thought just
occurred to me that...
you don't sell the trees,
do you, Dave?
You give them away?
How is that
working out for you?
We just lost
a dear friend.
Why don't you leave
us alone so we can mourn, okay?
Dear friend.
Dear friend.
So instead of working
my deal,
you were secretly working
that old man to get his farm?
Good move, Dave.
You know,
I didn't know you had that in you.
Hello, John.
Julie, kids.
You guys anxious
to get out of Green Acres
and get back
to the city life?
We're fine here.
What the heck
is she wearing?
It's an original design.
That it is.
Look, I get it.
For you guys,
this farm life is fine and dandy.
But look, this--
this is a business transaction.
You're going
to be compensated for the sale.
We don't need your money.
I can sell
my original designs. Honey, no.
[horn honking]
I'm sorry, Dave.
But it has
to go down like this.
So if you'll
please move aside, this is my show now.
So if you'll
please move aside, this is my show now.
So if you'll
please move aside, this is my show now.
Mr. King.
Cutter.
Don't ever make me
eat raw fish again.
Duly noted, sir.
I'll remember that
for next time.
This is the property
we're looking at
to build your warehouses.
What do you think?
Close to the highway.
I like that.
He likes that.
Mr. King.
I'm David George.
I used to work
for Boling and Associates.
Do you
remember me?
David George.
No, not at all.
Of course he doesn't.
He's a busy man.
This is the current owner
of the property.
He's had it
for about 20 minutes now,
and I'm hoping
not for much longer.
Christmas tree farm, huh?
Yes, sir.
We-- we give
them away.
Ever hear anything
so ridiculous?
I love Christmas trees.
(Nina)
Me, too .
(King)
Who said that?
I know you.
You play the cello.
You've heard of me?
My first fan.
You were that little girl
on the Christmas card.
Standing right
in the middle...
holding that cello
with that big smile.
Everyone else
looked so unhappy.
But there you were
just smiling,
holding your cello.
He's hallucinating.
Could be mercury poisoning
from the sushi.
{David]
Yes, sir.
That was me that sent
that card of me and my family...
on my last day
of work.
You did.
With condolences.
When my Margaret passed...
everybody was sending me
these sad sympathy cards.
Then I get
this funny picture
with this little girl
and her big smile.
I was tickled.
[sighs]
And Margaret loved
the cello.
How did you know?
Would you like me
to play my cello for you?
I would love that.
I'll go get it.
I'll go get it.
I'll go get it.
I'll go get it.
I'll go get it.
That was wonderful.
Bravo!
Thank you.
Yes, bravo, little lady.
Well done.
Dave, she actually is
pretty good. I got to tell you.
But Mr. King, now that
Pee-Wee's recital is over,
would you like to see
the rest of the farm?
I've seen enough.
Fantastic,
let's get to signing then.
I don't want it.
Excuse me?
I can't take
this kind family's home.
They sent me
a Christmas card, for pete's sake.
Mr. King, thank you.
I like the way
you do business, young man.
You ever need a job,
you come see me, Daniel.
David.
David George.
The, um-- the man
with two first names.
I'll remember that.
Nice to meet
all of you.
Merry Christmas.
And Merry Christmas
to you, young lady.
She's ruthless, Dave.
She's absolutely
ruthless.
Those cheeks,
that smile.
She should run
for office someday.
Yeah, she should.
But now it's time
for you to get off my property, Cutter.
Okay.
Let's go.
You know you're only
delaying the inevitable, Dave.
Someone is going
to want this land. All 200 acres of it.
King was just
one business.
I'll find
someone else.
You know, I can hear
the chainsaws now, Dave.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Senator Cutter,
Cindy Caruthers, Action News.
Is it true you
were trying to take this farm
from a family for your own
personal political gain
in the next election?
Excuse me.
What?
Excuse me.
No, no.
No. No more questions.
Wow.
Okay.
Who wants a tree?
Who wants a tree?
(Nina)
We gave away a lot of Mr. Henry's
a million and two
trees that day.
And the days after.
All the way up
till Christmas.
And instead of big
and expensive presents that year,
Santa brought us the gift
of family and friends.
Nick is going to visit
a college after Christmas.
And Natalie made everyone's
presents all by herself.
And Natalie made everyone's
presents all by herself.
Aunt Cindy was there.
Mommy was happy
to have her sister with us.
They just hugged
and hugged each other
and cried all night.
[no audible dialog]
And I finally got
to meet my Pappy,
who loved the tree farm
as much as we do.
who loved the tree farm
as much as we do.
We were all happy
to be together.
We were finally given
the Christmas miracle we were promised.
Okay, family photo time.
Come on, come on.
Let's go, let's go.
Okay, time for-- oops.
Everyone smile.
Nina, where's Nina?
Okay, smile.
Oh, wait!
Hurry, baby.
Come on.
Come on.
Hurry, hurry.
The timer is going
to go off. Hurry!
Everyone smile!
(Nina)
But there was one person missing.
The one who taught us
that the best gifts are the simple ones.
And not just at Christmas,
but all year long.
I wish Mr. Henry
could be here with us.
(Henry)
Because I believe when people die or leave us,
they still watch over us.
And they tell us
in little ways like little miracles.
Especially at Christmas.
Wow.
Merry Christmas, Mr. Henry.
Everyone says that Christmas is a time for giving.
But my family
had nothing left to give.
No tree...
no cards...
no gifts.
But that didn't matter.
Because this was going to be
the best Christmas ever.
[woman]
Kids, the photographer is here!
[boy]
How long is this going to take?
As long as it takes.
Come here.
Stand next to your sister.
Ew, gross.
Please stop texting.
I'm not.
Okay, what are
we doing here?
All right, you're here.
And I'll stand here.
Okay.
Okay, is this everyone?
Yes.
(small girl) Mom!
Nina, hurry up!
Come--what are you--
Can this be
in the picture?
It was my favorite present
last year,
and I really want Santa
to see that I still like it.
Santa just called.
He doesn't care.
Nick.
Yes, honey, come on.
[cell phone chimes]
David, please.
Honey, it's Tom from work.
I think we have a lead
on a property,
and I, uh--
I can tell him to wait.
All right.
Got it.
Most families do this
in front of the tree.
Well, we're getting ours
this weekend.
If we don't get ours soon,
all the good ones
will be gone.
I hate going.
It's always so cold.
Molly and I
have plans.
Yeah, I'm working
on Sunday.
Hey, enough.
Everyone is going
to stop texting,
stop complaining,
and stop whining
for the three seconds it will take
to snap this
Christmas card picture
from this photographer
who overcharges by the hour.
No offense.
None taken.
Okay, everyone.
I want "Merry Christmas"
on three.
One...
two...
three.
Merry Christmas!
Natalie, put
that phone away.
I'm texting you
my Christmas list. Oh, good.
I need final lists
by the weekend. All right, Tom.
That means
you, too, mister.
Golf clubs,
green fees,
and a new satellite radio
for the car.
What about you?
What do you want?
Canned goods!
Thank you.
That's easy.
No, I forgot canned goods
for the parent food drive.
I brought them.
Whoa, whoa.
Honey, those are the good peas.
You will get
a Christmas miracle?
Who wrote on this?
I did.
Miss Webb said to.
She said to write
something nice on the top of the can
for the poor.
(Natalie)
Nerd. Hey, enough.
Can we pretend
to like one another?
It's Christmas.
[David]
Let's just go.
[Julie]
We should have left earlier.
I was ready.
I always--
Could we leave
on time once? Just one time?
[woman]
Merry Christmas!
[whispers]
Great...
Oh, joy.
Missed you.
Hey, I missed you, too.
Hi, Mr. and Mrs. George!
Hello, Molly.
[giggles]
I am so sorry.
I know I said
I'd help you guys out,
but it's just been
so crazy with the holidays.
Here, I brought these.
Oh, Liz, could you please
go put these
over with the cases
we brought?
Wow, the good ones.
I'd love to stay
and help,
but I have to go
get Nina ready.
Next time, I promise.
Bye.
Too busy?
Who isn't busy
this time of year?
[man]
Stop signs are the backbone of our society.
All right, ladies.
Thank you very much.
I appreciate you
taking the time to talk to me.
Thank you
for your support.
John Cutter,
State Senate.
A cut above the rest.
Thank you, ladies.
[sighs]
Senator Cutter.
Dave.
You ever stop politicking?
Oh, never stop, Dave.
This is the place
to be seen, right?
Of course. That's why
we're here.
Exactly. Alicia is doing
the canned food drive.
I'm the happy family man.
It's a win-win
on all parts,
especially
for our state, right? Exactly.
Yeah. So your kid
in this?
Oh, yeah. She's actually
playing the cello.
Cello?
Believe it or not, she's actually pretty good.
Really?
I bet she is.
You know, mine's
pretty good, too. He plays the sax.
Sounds like an asthmatic
marathon runner
but he plays, right?
Listen, before I go,
I want to let you know
that we're closing in
on a property
for those music
warehouses.
Really?
Yes, sir.
That is amazing.
Fantastic to hear.
All those jobs.
That's going to be fantastic for this area.
And it's not
going to hurt my re-election either.
Well, you got to do
what you have to do, right?
Which is
everything, Dave.
But I'm going
to get out of here.
I see someone
I got to talk to. Have a good day.
Thank you.
Take care. All right.
Tony...
[saxophone music]
Thank you, Deuce.
Wonderful.
Next we have
Nina George,
who will be playing
"T'is a Gift to be Simple"
on her cello.
Nina.
[crowd murmuring]
I don't feel
like playing anymore.
Okay, then.
Let's hear it anyway
for Nina George.
There you are.
Now what was that
all about?
No one wanted
to hear my play.
Honey, that's not true.
[whimpering
in stall]
Go get your cello
and wait with your father in the hall.
I'll be right out.
Is everybody
mad at me now?
Of course not.
Nobody cares.
[whimpering
inside stall]
You okay in there?
I'm fine.
Tell me
what's wrong.
It's just-- It's just
so hard keeping everything
all together
for him all the time.
Who, Cutter?
He couldn't even sit with me
during Deuce's performance.
He was too busy
working the crowd.
Sometimes I wish
he wouldn't even win the re-election.
What kind
of politician's wife says that?
An honest one.
I can't go
back out there.
Look at me, Alicia.
You are strong.
You are smart.
You can do this.
You can, okay?
Okay...
Oh, no.
Look at me. I'm a mess.
And I left
my purse outside.
Oh, here.
Let me help.
Thank you very much.
I really appreciate your support.
You ladies have
a nice day.
My lovely wife
is coming, so...
I have to get going.
All right.
Cutter, State Senate.
Thank you.
How do I look?
Good?
Okay, come on.
[cell phone rings]
Yeah, I'll have
a regular with soymilk.
Hey, man.
Yeah, I'm across the street getting some coffee.
You want something?
Why? What?
No, I didn't know
anything about this.
No, what was
the last thing he said?
No, the last thing
he said.
Excuse me, sir.
Can I get you
anything?
What? We're all
on the same team here.
I'm fine.
Okay, listen.
I just needed to come in
from the cold and... think.
Look, you're going
to have to order something.
What's your name?
Oliver. I'm Henry.
How old are you, Oliver?
I'm 18.
18 years old.
How about that?
You know,
when I was 18,
I was ready
to take on the world,
and nothing was going
to stop me.
Look, mister, you've
been sitting here a really long time.
If you don't order something,
you're going to have to leave.
[whispers]
I know, I know, I know. Yeah?
But see,
that's the problem.
Wait, what was that?
I can't order anything.
I don't have my wallet.
I just want
to think.
And thinking
is still free, isn't it?
Listen, I know
what he's going to do.
Look, order something
or leave. Shh.
Yeah, I'm coming over
right now to help you out.
You want a coffee?
It has soy milk.
If he has coffee,
can he stay, huh?
I guess so.
Great. Merry Christmas.
Bob, I said
I'm on my way.
I can't hear you.
You got to speak up.
Merry Christmas, Oliver!
Merry--
[laughing]
[knocking]
David.
Hey.
Thanks for stopping in.
I've already been thinking
how we can split up Bob's accounts.
Bob. He, uh--
He didn't take it very well.
Well, I think the poor guy
is just still in shock.
I hated to do it,
but, uh...
we've all seen the company's
fourth quarter projections
and they are not good.
It's a temporary setback.
I actually ran
into Senator Cutter the other day,
and he wants us
to move forward
on the King's Music
warehouse deal.
That account
in on hold indefinitely.
I just got word
this morning
that Mr. King's wife
passed away.
Oh.
Okay, well I'll call Cutter
and clue him in,
and regarding Bob's accounts,
I can take the big ones.
David.
I can actually take them all if you need me to.
David.
Don't say it, Tom.
Don't say it.
This is very difficult
for me.
Tom, I been with you
20 years.
I have been with you,
right here,
for 20 years.
We can't afford
you anymore.
I carry this company.
I want you to know
right now
that you're making
a big mistake.
We prepared a very fair
severance package for you.
HR and security
will take over from here.
Yeah...
I'm sorry, David.
I mean, I can't
even believe it.
So you're out,
just like that.
You didn't try
to negotiate?
I'm not going
to beg him, okay?
I singlehandedly
held that place together
for 20 years, Julie.
He'll see.
So what do we do
about Christmas?
Everything is bought.
And more importantly, wrapped.
We pick Nick's car up
on Thursday.
Then we have
the Vail trip in February
and the Vineyard
in June.
Stop, stop.
We continue
with Christmas the trips,
everything.
Honey, I'm going to get
another job, okay?
I've already got a call
into Steve.
He thinks there's an opening
after the first of the year. [door closes]
Listen, let's not freak
the kids out.
Just, I don't know,
tell them I'm switching jobs or something.
What are you
doing home?
Your father
is switching jobs.
Cool.
I need the credit card
for college applications.
I'll get it.
Hey, don't run off.
We are getting
the tree tonight,
so Nina doesn't run away
from home.
Let her.
She's afraid there won't be
any big trees left.
[cell phone chimes]
[cell phone chimes]
It's Natalie.
She's changing the color
of that designer jacket
she wants
for Christmas, again.
Of course she is.
She's driving me crazy.
Look, I will get a job
after the holidays, I promise.
Okay.
(Nina)
It turns out all the good trees
were already taken.
But even though it wasn't
the biggest or the best tree,
It was ours.
And Christmas
was finally here.
Yay!
(Nina)
Everybody got expensive present s
and seemed happy.
(Natalie)
It's so cold .
(David)
It's all yours, buddy!
(Julie)
Well?
[honks horn]
(Nina)
Well, almost everybody.
What is this?
It's the jacket
you wanted.
No, it's not.
This is hideous.
[phone rings]
I'll check it.
You texted me
and said you wanted that color.
I would never.
Ew, just give it away.
(Nina)
It's Aunt Cindy !
Let it go
to voicemail.
She's calling
to ask us to church. Oh, come on.
Why don't we want
to go to church?
It's Christmas.
I just sent them $500
for all those new pews.
With all the checks
I've written these last couple of years,
I feel like I practically
own that church.
I guess Christmas is over.
(Nina)
I was happy Daddy got to spend more time with us.
He kept getting dressed up
in his nice suit
to go out and look
for a new job.
But when he came home,
he always seemed so sad.
Even though it was nice
to have Daddy home,
I could tell he was worried.
And remember,
keep that bow level.
Ready, Nina?
We need to pick your sister up at the mall.
Okay.
Here you go.
I, uh-- I need to speak
with you about this.
(Julie)
He said the last few checks have bounced.
Bounced.
Well, that's not right.
I've been transferring money
into that account.
Well, they did.
And it was embarrassing.
You know how people
at that school talk.
It's the kids' tuition
that's killing us.
Is there anything left
from selling the lake house?
No. The stocks
are all cashed in,
and the only thing
we have in savings
is the kids'
college fund.
No, we can't.
Call the bank again.
We have zero equity
on this house
because of the double
mortgage.
No one is going
to buy this house
for what we have
in it.
Not the house.
I love this house.
Remember when
we moved here?
We'd drive around
and look at all the neighborhoods
and dream about
where we'd live
and how
our lives would be?
Yeah.
You heard anything
from Steve?
Nope, I've called him
a few times,
and he's yet
to return my call.
So oh, well.
I could always take
that tutoring job
that was in the paper.
It's not a lot,
but it would be something coming in.
Absolutely not. No.
It's your job
to take care
of the house
and the kids.
Besides, it's like taking
a water gun
and shooting
into roaring fire.
Listen, once I get
a job,
I'll take care
of the credit cards,
the past due bills.
This is
my responsibility.
And I'm going
to get us out of it.
I was going to wait
to tell you this,
but I'm having lunch
with Cindy.
I wish you wouldn't tell her
our business.
She's family.
No, she's your family.
Yeah, she is.
She and Kurt have money.
Maybe they can help.
Just a loan or something
until you get work.
All right, you do
whatever you want to do,
but I'm not going down
to Beckley.
I know.
I know.
Get some sleep.
(Nina)
I wanted to go with Mommy to see my Aunt Cindy,
but seems the only time
I ever get to see my Aunt Cindy
is when she's on television.
Thank you.
You know, we do stories
all the time
about struggling families
on the news.
I just had no idea
that things were so bad
with you guys.
It's been a struggle
since David lost his job last year.
Really?
What?
Well, it's just--
I just see your pictures
on the internet, Julie.
The ski trips, the Vineyard.
Nick's new car.
Well, we're trying to live
as normal as possible.
For the kids.
Things will be back
to normal as soon as David finds work.
Until then...
we could use
some help.
Well, what about the money
Mom left you?
We used that
to buy the lake house.
Which we had to sell.
Well, Kurt and I
used that money
to offset the expenses
we incurred
when Mom
was living with us.
The ramp we put in,
the bedroom we had
to renovate downstairs,
the constant, 24-hour,
round the clock care.
I'm sorry David and I
didn't help out more.
It's not important.
Today is about helping you
solve your problem.
There was just something.
What about--
Never mind.
Not going to ask.
What about what?
Well, what about Mom's
canary diamonds?
I couldn't pawn those.
Those pieces
mean everything to me.
Well, I'm certainly
not suggesting that you pawn them.
They should stay
in the family.
Just.. what if
somebody were to buy them?
Like me.
It is a sin that Mom
separated that set between us.
You don't even
wear yours.
I was saving mine
for Natalie and Nina.
For their weddings.
Of course.
And maybe someday...
you can buy them back?
Never mind.
Forget I said anything.
Just trying to help.
I mean, how desperate
are you?
Thank you.
I got this.
[David]
I could pay something.
Thank you.
How about I make
a partial payment?
Tomorrow.
Thank you.
[Nina playing
"T'is a Gift" on the cello]
Spaghetti again? Ew.
I love spaghetti.
You would.
Mom, my phone
is broken.
Make Nick drive me
to the mall to get a new one. Nick!
They said they'd give us
to the end of the week.
David?
Why is everyone screaming?
Not spaghetti.
Drive me to the mall
to get a new phone.
As long as we
can pick up a pizza.
No one is going
anywhere. David!
Where is your father?
Hey, what's
going on?
Spaghetti.
Daddy, my phone is broken.
I need money
to get a new one.
And a pizza.
No.
No one is going
to the mall,
and no one
is ordering a pizza.
and absolutely no one
is going to complain about eating spaghetti again.
You understand me?
What the heck
is your problem?
Hey, don't talk
to your mother like that.
I can't take it
anymore, David. I can't.
Is there something
wrong, Mommy?
No, nothing is wrong.
No, David,
something is wrong,
and they need
to know!
Natalie, your phone
is not broken.
It's been turned off.
All phones have been turned off.
Great, how am I
supposed to order our pizza?
You're not going
to order a pizza.
Because we
can't afford a pizza.
Sure we can.
They're like two bucks.
No, we can't.
And when was the last time
you ordered a pizza for two dollars?
Things are just
a little tight right now.
They're more
than a little tight. Not now.
Then when, David?
School starts
in a few weeks.
Tell them.
You two have to go
to public school.
Go to public school?
No way!
This is my senior year.
(Julie)
Tuition is just too much.
Now we can't afford
school or pizza?
And Nick?
Your car.
Are you serious?
It was
a Christmas present.
If you don't,
they're just going to take it.
Your mother and I
already traded our in.
You said that was
for the environment.
How stupid are you?
We're all going to have
to start selling things for extra money.
Electronics, computers,
clothes.
Sell my clothes?
This is a nightmare.
I'm not giving up
my senior year with Molly.
Take the money
from my college fund if you have to.
There is no college fund.
Where did it go?
Where did it go?
Double mortgage,
credit cards,
gas, utilities,
music lessons,
cell phone bills.
Well, a whole lot of good that did.
That money was mine.
You had
no right, Dad.
I had no right?
Your mother and I put
that money in that account for you.
You contributed nothing.
Mommy, are we poor?
No, we're just having
a little financial trouble
since your Daddy
got fired.
Fired.
You said you quit.
It doesn't matter.
No, it does matter.
You're ruining
my future
and I'm just going
to become a jobless failure.
Like you.
Nick!
Hey, hey!
How am I supposed
to talk to my friends?
Hey, the house phone
still works.
For now.
A land line?
Gross.
Mommy, Daddy...
you can sell
my cello if you want.
(Nina)
When it was time for us to start our new schools,
I saw that stuff started
disappearing from our lives.
Including some people we knew.
I'm sure some girl
at your new school
would love living
in a trailer park.
Not me.
Hi, I'm Nina George.
I am six years old.
I play the cello.
And I love Christmas trees.
Oh, and my family
is going through a tough financial time
since my dad got fired.
Thank you very much.
She's such
a snot.
[boys]
What are you going to do about it?
What, are you
going to keep crying?
Look at this.
He's crying.
[shouting, taunting]
Leave him alone.
What's it to you?
You touch him
like that again,
I'll call my dad.
He's a cop.
Oo, I'm shaking.
No, it's not worth it.
Not over this.
We were just messing
with Kell.
Isn't that right, Kell?
Come on.
Let's get out of here. [bell rings]
You all right?
Come on.
They do that?
This is the third one.
I hate going to my dad
and telling him what happened.
Again.
Here, take mine.
No.
No, seriously.
It doesn't even have service.
I don't know
why I'm carrying it around.
Your dad
really a cop?
No.
No, my dad
doesn't do anything.
No, my dad
doesn't do anything.
Yeah.
David George?
Yes.
Please sign here.
Thank you.
Uh-huh.
Jule...
Jule, come here,
sweetie.
Hey. What is it?
David?
It's the bank.
They're--
They're giving us
20 days to get out.
They're taking
the house.
What are we
going to do?
You think there's
enough gas
to get down
to Beckley and back?
(Nina)
I never met my Pappy in person.
But every Christmas,
he'd send me
a pretty card
with five dollars in it.
Well, well, well,
look who it is.
Hey, Pop.
What do you want?
You'll want coffee,
at least.
You always did like
my coffee.
Hey, Dodge.
Come here, buddy.
You're a good boy.
Thank you.
So you find yourself
in a situation.
Yes, sir.
And you drove
all the way across the state
just to tell me this.
You could have saved
yourself some time and used the phone.
That's why they
invented Ma Bell.
I thought I should
tell you this in person.
I think you came here
to ask me for help.
And by that,
I mean my money.
I just don't know how
it got so bad, so fast.
I can tell you how.
You've been living
way beyond your means
and it finally
caught up with you.
That house
up on the hill,
which I've only seen
in pictures,
and the big, fancy cars
and the running
here and there and the trips.
At least, that's what
that wife of yours
tells me in that mimeographed
Christmas letter she sends every year.
Now you can't afford it.
I lost my job.
Find another one.
I've tried.
You've tried to find
a job you want.
Not the job you need.
You don't understand...
how hard it is for me
to be sitting right here
at this table doing this.
Oh, I'll just
bet you it is.
After we scrimped
and saved,
your mother and I,
at this table.
We saved every dime
we had to send you to school.
And what
did you say?
As soon as I get
that agricultural degree, Pop,
I'll be back to help you
with the farm.
I promise.
I promise.
Well, you changed
your studies,
and you got married,
and you never looked back.
I should have known
you wouldn't help me out.
You want my money?
Right there it is.
If you want it,
take it.
What good is it
going to do you?
Because it will last you
two, maybe three months,
then you'll find
yourself right back in the same situation,
because you won't
have learned a thing.
I'm about
to lose everything.
Maybe that wouldn't be
such a bad thing for any of you.
Because this life
that you're trying to keep
maybe it's not
worth keeping.
Wow...
Thanks for the coffee.
[door slams]
You always did like
my coffee.
You always did like
my coffee.
We'll move
into a smaller place for a couple of weeks
until we can get
an apartment.
So we're asking
that you only take
what you absolutely need.
How did this happen?
(Nick)
I know exactly how this happened.
Why won't anybody
help us?
[crying]
You okay?
It's a lot
of grown-up stuff.
We'll all still be
together, right?
Of course.
Then we'll
all be okay.
Then we'll
all be okay.
Then we'll
all be okay.
[plays "Tis a Gift
to be Simple"]
[plays "Tis a Gift
to be Simple"]
[plays "Tis a Gift
to be Simple"]
Come on, sweetheart.
Come on, sweetheart.
Go with Mommy.
Go with Mommy.
Go with Mommy.
Why did she have
to bring the cello?
It takes up
the whole place.
It's the only thing
she wanted.
Is there anything to eat?
Nina and your father
are out getting something,
then I'll figure out
where to get food.
Who are we...
waiting to eat...
living in a motel...
sleeping on stupid cots.
We'll trade off
who sleeps on the cot.
This is just temporary
until your father finds a job.
He's not even really trying.
He could be working anywhere.
Why do you keep defending him?
Because he's my husband
and your father.
And you will
show him respect.
Well, he didn't
really respect us
when he put us
in this situation, did he?
Pretending that everything
was okay when it wasn't.
And spending
my college fund.
You know, I could be doing
a lot better on my own.
You guys are just
holding me back.
Really?
You think so?
I know so.
Then maybe you should!
Go.
Go find a job.
Find a better place
to live. Go!
I wouldn't want
to hold you back.
I wouldn't want
to hold you back.
Go put the cello
in the tub.
Go put the cello
in the tub.
[whispers]
So how does this work?
I guess we
just get in line.
They have computers here.
Can I check my email?
No, I don't think
we should split up.
Come on, please.
It's just right there.
Okay, real quick.
Okay.
Okay, real quick.
Okay.
The computers
are for people to find work.
They blocked
all the fun sites.
I didn't know.
I'm sorry.
Why are you
running off?
I'm not running off.
My mom is waiting for me.
That line takes forever.
I'm Tessa.
Now you tell me
your name.
That's how it works.
I'm Natalie.
I had a fish
named Natalie.
We had to flush her.
You don't look like
you should be here.
It's our first time.
We've been here
every Thursday...
for the past like...
six months...
since the fire, yeah.
The fire?
Yeah, it took
everything we had.
My clothes,
my computer,
all the pictures
of my friends.
Everyone keeps saying
that it's just stuff,
like that is supposed
to make it better, you know?
But it--
it was my stuff.
What happened
to you guys?
It's nothing.
My dad lost his job
about a year ago.
And it just kept
getting worse.
We live in a motel now.
My mom and me are at
the homeless shelter downtown.
There aren't very many kids
that are my age, but you know...
you get used
to not having any friends, I guess.
[Natalie crying]
Oh, God, I didn't--
I didn't mean to make you cry.
It will be okay.
Like I said, you get used to it.
Maybe I don't want
to get used to it.
Sometimes we don't
have a choice.
Oh, stop crying.
I can't!
Okay, how about
I tell you a joke?
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Why are you asking me?
I don't have a door.
I'm homeless.
Okay, that was dumb.
Yeah, but...
you're laughing, right?
Julie?
I thought that was you.
My goodness.
How have you been?
I heard you moved.
Well, with David being
out of work,
we thought it best
to downsize.
What are you
doing here?
Didn't I tell you?
Julie is a volunteer here.
Oh.
I saw her last time I made a drop off.
What a relief.
Can I take those
from you?
Oh, this is
so nice of you.
Volunteering for others
when your family is struggling.
Let me help you.
Thank you.
Well, it was nice
to see you.
Don't be a stranger.
This is
my email address
and this is
the phone number at the shelter.
Keep in touch.
Hey, Mom,
I want you to meet someone.
This is Tessa.
Hi.
Hello.
Natalie, that jacket.
It's pretty,
isn't it?
Thanks.
See you later, Nat.
See you.
Are you tired of the same
good old boy politics?
I know I am.
My name is John Cutter,
and I'm running
for re-election.
Smoking and non-smoking
rooms available.
Handicapped accessibility
in four rooms.
Check out daily
at 11:00 A.M.
Food!
It's about time.
Food!
It's about time.
Food!
It's about time.
You okay?
[sighs]
I saw Alicia Cutter
and Colleen and Liz
at the food pantry.
Did you speak
to them?
Yeah. Alicia
covered for me
and said I was
volunteering there,
but I don't know
if they believed her.
You know, frankly,
I don't care.
Because I know
why I was there.
I was there to get food
for my family
that is living
in a motel.
It kills me.
I never
in a million years
dreamed my life
would be like this. Ever.
This is temporary.
Oh, until when,
David? When?
You know, while
you're looking through the want ads
and calling contacts
that never call you back,
life is happening
around you.
You blame me.
No, I don't.
Yes, yes, you do.
You blame me
for all of this.
I mean, if you just
weren't so proud.
I mean, you didn't
even try to get your job back
when Boling fired you.
And you waited
until we were thrown
out of our house
before you would even
go to your father for help.
And when I offered
to work, you shut me down.
Come on, like that job
was really going to help us.
Still...
It's like you're waiting
for everything to magically restore itself.
Well, honey,
it's not going to.
Fine, why don't you
handle it yourself for awhile.
David, don't.
Where are you going?
David!
Are you sure
I can't get you anything?
Sir...
No, I'm fine for now.
[man]
I told you I could be there by 6:30.
Not 6:00.
Okay. All right.
Bye.
Dave. Man, I have
missed you.
How you been?
You look awful.
Can I get
you anything?
Yes, I'll take
a regular coffee, please.
And anything?
My treat.
I'll have the same.
Mine is
with soy milk, please.
Thanks.
Where are you
working these days?
I'm sort of
in between jobs.
Yeah, well I wish
you were still at Boling.
They've really been dragging
their feet on this land development deal that--
That's the King's--
That was my account.
Was it?
So you know how anxious
Mr. King is
to move on that property
in the next couple of weeks?
Because I need this.
I really need this for my re-election.
Oh, thank you.
I always get mine to go, so...
You know, if you happen
to know about a free 200 acres anywhere out there,
just please let me know.
I'll even hire you to develop it.
Thank you.
Really, thank you.
All right.
Hey, get some rest,
all right?
And change
that shirt.
Looks like
you slept in it.
There you are.
I was worried sick.
Where are the kids?
Oh, they're inside,
getting something to eat.
Hey, don't ever
leave us.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, too.
Excuse me, folks.
The card you gave me
to cover your balance for the week.
Yeah, what
about it?
It declined.
Got any cash?
Um, no.
I mean,
not at the moment.
But hey, I can get
you some tomorrow, maybe?
Yeah, uh... no.
You have
to get out right now.
Now?
Yeah.
You got 20 minutes
to get your things
or I'm calling
the cops.
[television]
Oh.
[gasps]
Mommy! Mommy!
Mommy, look!
I wrote that
on the top
like Miss Webb said.
And it all came
back to me.
We're going to get
a Christmas miracle.
It's all going
to be okay.
That's so nice,
sweetheart.
But right now,
we need to figure out a place to stay.
I know where
we can go.
I know where
we can go.
(Nina)
We could stay here.
I'm not staying
at a church at night.
It's too creepy.
Let's just sit here
a little while.
[singing]
La, la, la, la.
Nina, stop.
This isn't a game.
It's going
to be okay.
We're going to get
a Christmas miracle.
It's not Christmas.
Let's all just say
a little prayer
and be thankful
we have a place to be.
Hey, come on, Nina.
Let's have a seat.
Let's have a seat.
Let's have a seat.
Santa!
Oh, no, no, no.
Please, please. I'm sorry.
I didn't--
I didn't mean to disturb your sleep.
I was just
dropping off this tree.
You see
the pastor here, he-- well, he likes to...
decorate early.
I love Christmas trees.
So do I.
I must have dozed off.
This is embarrassing.
Oh, please, ma'am.
Don't be embarrassed.
If you can't visit
God's house in the middle of the night,
who can you visit?
My dad says
with all the checks
he's written over the years,
he practically owns
this church.
Oh, Nina, let's gather
our things and get out of here.
Please, please,
don't hurry off.
As a matter of fact,
I could use some help.
Now who would like
to help me set up this tree?
I would!
You would?
Good!
And you, ma'am.
What is your name?
Nina.
Nina!
That is a beautiful name.
It's nice
to meet you, Nina.
I'm Henry.
And maybe when
we're done with the tree,
your daddy will let me
buy him a coffee with... soy milk.
It was... soy milk,
wasn't it?
I'm sorry.
Do I know you?
Not at all.
[David]
Where do we know each other from?
About a year ago,
I was in a coffee shop
in town,
And I was politely asked
to leave the premises.
But your husband...
you, sir...
came along and graciously
gave me your cup of coffee
so I could stay.
That was nice
of you, Daddy.
(Henry)
Yes, it was .
It was very nice,
very kind.
I'm afraid I don't
remember that.
This is all
an amazing coincidence.
Oh, no, no,
no, no, no.
You see, I don't believe
in coincidences.
Only miracles.
Me, too.
I was just promised
a miracle on the can.
What?
A can of peas.
It's a long story.
Mommy got the can
of peas at the food pantry
and brought them
to the motel
where we were living,
because we got kicked
out of our house,
because my dad
got fired,
and then we got kicked out
of the motel last night.
That's quite a story.
Nina, you don't
have to, uh,
bother this man
with all of our problems.
No, no, no, no.
It's no bother at all.
Everybody ready?
All right.
This is a really good tree.
Good, good, tree.
All right, nice and neat.
There we go.
Nice.
[sings trumpet fanfare]
It looks beautiful.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you all.
And I'll let you
go now.
Unless-- unless you all
would like to come out
to my tree farm.
Or maybe you have
some place you have to be.
A tree farm?
Daddy, can we go?
How many acres you have
on that tree farm?
[Henry laughs]
[Henry laughs]
Well, well!
This is it.
What have we here?
(Nina)
How many trees do you have?
How many trees.
Um... guess.
Hmmm.
A million.
A million two.
Do you want
to look around? Come on, come on.
No, no, no.
She can't get lost.
Okay.
Hey, not too far!
Let me show you
the house.
Come on, come on.
Come on, come on.
Please, please, please.
Come on in. Come on in. Come on in.
Make yourself
at home.
This is--
This is my home.
So you've
already decorated?
This? No, no, no.
I keep this up
year round.
I never take it down.
It's lovely.
It's really--
I mean, it's Rosie, my wife.
She loved Christmas.
And so I just try
to keep it exactly the way she liked it.
Oh, but where
are my manners?
Isn't everybody hungry?
Roberta Strauss,
she always gets a Virginia pine,
and she brought over
this beautiful plate of cold cuts.
And Jenny Rable,
she always gets a blue spruce,
and she brought over
these fresh rolls,
so you can make sandwiches,
do anything you want.
and they're all in the kitchen
or the pantry, right around the corner.
Help yourself, please.
Thanks.
Anything you see.
Come on in, please.
I'm so excited
that I have you here.
The whole family.
(David)
This is beautiful.
Thank you,
thank you.
So how long
you been selling trees?
Oh, I don't sell them.
I give them away.
Excuse me?
Well, they don't
belong to me.
Only God
can make a tree.
But how
do you do that?
Well, people come,
they pick out a tree,
they cut it down,
and they leave.
Um, you misunderstood
what she said.
How do you support
yourself financially?
Oh, oh, oh,
I see, I see, I see.
I get a pretty good pension
from working on the railroad.
And Rosie,
she comes from money.
This was her dream.
She said to me, "Hank...
She was the only one
who ever called me Hank.
She said, "Hank,
I want to make sure
"that everyone has
a Christmas tree,
"whether they
can afford it or not."
So we just started
planting trees
and giving them away
to anyone who needs one.
That's amazing.
Oh, yeah, yeah,
that's incredible, actually.
Well... it's...
a pretty incredible place.
Well... it's...
a pretty incredible place.
Well... it's...
a pretty incredible place.
Wow!
So David George...
the man
with two first names.
That little story
back at the church,
the firing,
and the house, the motel,
all true?
It's been
a rough year.
Hmm.
Well, if you
need a job,
I could always use
an extra pair of hands.
Or five.
So you're offering us
jobs to work here on the farm.
Yeah, I mean
why not?
In exchange
for room and board.
I got the room.
I have too much room, actually.
It will allow me...
to return that gift
of kindness
that your husband gave me
that day at the coffee shop.
That was a simple
cup of coffee.
No...
That came to me
on a day when
I needed it the most.
[door opens]
Mom, Mom, Mom!
There's a barn out there
with the biggest
Christmas tree I ever saw!
Bigger than the one
in town square.
It's Christmas
all the time here!
What's going on?
Mr. Henry has asked us
to stay and help out on the farm.
What do we know
about a tree farm?
I can teach you anything
you need to know.
[Henry laughs]
What do you say?
Yeah, we'll stay.
Oh!
Yay!
Oh!
(Nina)
Over the next few weeks,
Mr. Henry taught us
all about his tree farm.
Mr. Henry taught us
all about his tree farm.
We all worked together
to get ready for Christmas.
[no audible dialog]
[no audible dialog]
[no audible dialog]
And planned for the future.
[no audible dialog]
[no audible dialog]
[no audible dialog]
[no audible dialog]
David George...
the man
with two first names.
It's another
incredible morning, isn't it?
Yes, it is.
You certainly know
your way around the farm.
Well, I grew up
on one down south.
You know, my Pop
has always said
it's just a good, clean,
honest living.
That's-- That's a lot
of property you have out there.
I don't know how you managed
to handle it by yourself all these years.
Well... we've had help
off and on.
Farm hands, people passing
through the area that needed work.
Mostly just Rosie and me
tending the land.
You've never attempted
to sell it?
Make a profit
and just be content?
I am content now.
With just giving
away trees?
It's just not
giving away trees.
It's giving away
Christmas.
Think about that.
But if you're
giving away-- Shh, shh, shh.
But if you're
giving away-- Shh, shh, shh.
But if you're
giving away-- Shh, shh, shh.
But if you're
giving away-- Shh, shh, shh.
(Henry)
Well, well, well, well, well.
There's a hard working
young man there.
Did you get
some breakfast this morning?
Yeah, those eggs
are awesome.
It's a weekly gift
from Terrence Metcalf,
who lives down
the road.
Yep, yep, yep.
He gets a white pine.
Tell me something,
will you? Yeah.
You having a good time?
Yeah.
It's hard work,
and getting up
this early stinks.
But you know,
it's kind of cool to see
how much you can
accomplish in a day.
So ready to tackle
those Douglas firs on the north end?
Yeah, let's go.
[stutters]
Why don't you
drive the tractor?
R-r-really?
Yeah.
Really?
Sweet.
All right,
I'll see you out there.
I'll be there
in a minute.
Clean...
honest... living.
Clean...
honest... living.
That's it.
Okay, control
the stitch. Good.
Good.
How do you
know so much?
Well, your grandmother
actually used to make
your Aunt Cindy and my
Christmas dresses every year.
Bet you loved that.
Oh, are you kidding?
We hated it.
Your Aunt Cindy and I
would cry
until your grandmother
took us downtown
and bought
us something off the rack.
Are we going
to spend Christmas here?
You know,
I don't know.
Why? You starting
your list?
I don't really
want anything,
except maybe
this fabulous dress.
Fabulous, huh?
Okay, what do
I do next?
Okay, let's get
another fabric here.
How about the pink one
that Henry gave us from the hope chest.
All right.
Natalie,
someone's here to see you.
Tessa!
Do you know how many buses I had to take to get here?
Oh, gosh.
I finally had to hitch a ride...
on an Amish
horse and buggy.
Oh, my gosh.
How did you know I was here?
Your mom
called the shelter and invited me out.
Thought you could use
an afternoon with a friend.
Thanks...
What the heck
is this?
It's a dress.
With three arms.
No, no, no.
[laughing]
This is the skirt.
And then you fold
this over.
but it's going
to be bigger,
and we're working
on the belt.
But it's going to be
more like this.
It's pretty, isn't it?
Mm-hmm.
You can pick
them up, if you want.
I'm afraid
I'll drop it.
No, no, no.
You can't hurt them.
Those pieces have been
dropped hundreds of times
by the little girl
who first owned this set.
Go on, go on, go on.
Who was she?
Her name is Lucy.
She was my daughter.
And she liked
to decorate trees, just like you.
In fact, it was her dream
to get a million lights
and decorate every tree
out on that hill.
[gasps]Wow.
Wow!
Did she ever do it?
No, she didn't.
She couldn't.
Because she was
a very sick little girl.
She didn't see
many Christmases.
That's sad.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I can't lie to you.
It was. I mean, it is.
But she's
not far away.
Because I believe
when people...
when they die...
or leave us...
they still watch over us.
And they tell us
in little ways, like...
in little miracles.
Especially at Christmas.
Maybe someday
we can get those lights
and decorate those trees
for your daughter.
Wouldn't that be something?
I cannot
for the life of me
understand how
the current owner
has held on to this place
as long as he has
just doing
what he does.
I mean, you said
he doesn't sell the trees.
He gives them away?
He wants everyone to have a tree.
That's admirable,
but I'm going to tell you what, Dave.
I don't think
he's going to be able to do it much longer,
because even
in the dark, I can see...
this place is perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
We're close
to the highway.
As soon as you get
all these trees out,
we're going to have room
for four, five warehouses minimum.
I guarantee
there's room for expansion.
Well, he's stuck
in his ways.
I might need
a little more time to convince him to sell.
Well, King wants a property
within the next couple of weeks.
He-he wants something
by Thanksgiving.
So if you're really
having trouble with this guy,
just let me know,
and I can-- I can handle it.
There are other ways
we can take it.
All right.
This will make
a nice one, don't you think?
Yeah, I think it will.
Where's Henry?
He had an appointment
in town.
He'll be back
in a few minutes.
Listen, I uh--
I just want
to say thank you.
I mean, you've really
stepped up the last couple of weeks,
and it hasn't gone
unnoticed.
And I just want to say
I appreciate it.
You know,
you probably won't believe this, but...
I don't like it
when we fight.
Somehow, here,
things have been okay between us.
Yeah, well I guess
you and I need
to work harder
just keeping it that way.
[honking]
Someone here
to pick up a tree?
Henry says
they come earlier every year.
Let's go
check it out.
Okay.
Hey, good afternoon!
Hey, you guys open
for the season yet?
We're actually
heading out of town for the holidays.
We're going to do
kind of an early Christmas this year.
Well, you've come
to the right place.
We have Colorado
blue spruces,
Douglass
and Frasier firs,
Scotch and white pines.
Heck, I don't know
what we usually get.
Kell, what kind of tree
does your mom usually get? What?
What kind of tree
does your mom get?
Frasier fir.
Frasier fir.
Hey.
How's it going?
It's going okay.
Glad to hear it.
Looks like
they know each other.
Here, come on,
follow us.
We'll show you
what we have.
Hey, where did you guys
say you came in from?
Just north of Wheeling.
Oh, okay.
It's not too bad of a drive.
No, not bad
at all.
I haven't seen you
around school.
Those guys
leaving you alone?
For the most part.
They haven't
smashed my phone.
Well, your phone.
Did you
want it back?
No, I don't
need it here.
All tied up
and ready to go.
Take care, man.
All right.
Well, it looks like
you got a tree you like, huh.
Well, I'm just hoping
that my wife likes it.
Hey, so how much
do I owe you?
Nothing.
What do you
mean, nothing?
I got to give
you something for it.
No, that's just
what we do.
Enjoy that tree
with your family.
We're going
to do that.
Thanks.
Merry Christmas to you.
Merry Christmas
to you, too.
Excuse me.
When we were up
on that hill up there,
I asked Kell
how he knew you.
And he told me
what you did for him at school.
It's no big deal.
You know,
those guys were just being jerks.
Still, he's had a bit
of a rough time lately.
I really-- I really
appreciate you sticking up for him like that.
Yeah.
Look, here's my card.
If there's anything
I can do for you,
ever, just let
me know, okay?
Thank you.
You, too.
Merry Christmas to you.
Merry Christmas.
Maybe they
have scholarships
or financial aid
that I can apply for.
Well, your parents
definitely didn't make too much money.
And I saw online that
they have a really good ecology program.
Excellent choice.
(Natalie)
Okay, I'm ready.
Yeah.
What's this?
Okay, Natalie
just finished her first dress
all by herself.
Ta-da!
What do you think?
(Henry)
Well, will yo u look at that?
It's beautiful.
(Julie)
Very smart .
Yeah, smart.
Shut up.
No, it's really
cute, right?
I think I have
a real gift for this.
I'm going to be making
all of my own clothes from now on.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Natalie, it's very--
It's very you.
Thanks.
Where you going?
To clear
my plate. Why?
Never mind.
Carry on.
Who are
those children?
I don't know,
but there's no way
we're letting her
out of the house wearing that thing.
She might hear you.
Quiet.
You've really done
a good job with them.
Well, leading your children
into poverty
doesn't exactly make one
the parent of the year.
They have good hearts.
I can see it.
Nina told us
about the daughter that you and Rosie lost.
I'm so sorry.
I can't imagine.
And I wouldn't
want you to.
But Rosie was
the eternal optimist.
She kept reminding me
to celebrate...
the joy of our child
instead of what we lost.
Rosie sounds like
an incredible woman.
How did you meet her?
I was a foreman
on the railroad.
And we were running
this passenger line
that went to Chicago
and New York.
And groups of people
used to go to the city
especially at the holidays
to see the lights
and buy presents
and things like that.
And Rosie was
at the station with one of these groups.
And all of her friends
started to get on the train,
except Rosie.
And she stopped
and she saw this...
this homeless man
sleeping on a bench.
And she reached
into her purse and...
and gave him money.
The train started
to pull out.
She started running
after that train.
And I thought right there,
I said...
I really have to meet this--
this beautiful woman...
who almost gave up her trip...
to stop and help out
a perfect stranger.
And so I started going
from car to car.
I finally found her.
We started talking .
And we exchanged numbers
and everything.
And when that train
pulled up at her stop,
we were
never apart again.
Ever.
Until she passed away
two years ago.
She loved people.
She would have loved
all of you.
(Natalie)
Nick, stop it !
Mom, he's making fun
of my dress.
Ah, there are
my little angels.
I knew they'd be back.
So how are you
holding up, David George?
Well, I--
I have to admit,
I enjoyed giving away
that tree today.
[Henry laughs]
Let's talk
about the farm.
You know, your future,
and what's going
to happen to you
when we leave here.
Why?
Are you leaving?
Can't stay here
forever.
Why can't you?
I want to give
more to my family.
And I can't think
about just staying here
and having to live--
Shh, shh, shh.
[kids laughing
in next room]
(Nina)
Ew, that looks like you .
(Natalie)
No, you have to show Dad.
You have to show Dad
and Henry.
Look, Daddy.
I'm Natalie.
(Natalie)
Mom, make him stop!
Oh, great.
Did you do this?
She made me.
I'm going
to go wash her hair now.
Good.
Knock it off .
What did I do?
[Henry laughing]
Well, it seems to me
they really have
everything they need.
I'd better go supervise.
It's no coincidence
that you came here, David George,
the man with two
first names.
We both know it.
Well, well, well, well...
They're kind people, Rosie.
Very kind, indeed.
Cutter, David George.
We need to talk.
Dave, not
a good time, buddy.
I'm giving a speech
to the Kiwanis.
I don't even know
who they are, what they do,
or what I'm
about to say,
so whatever you're--
The farm.
It's just not right
for your project.
I'll find another property.
It's too late.
I talked to King's people this morning
and they're going
to be here next week to see the farm.
No, you don't understand.
Things have changed.
My feelings about
this whole place have changed.
That's too bad, Dave.
That's too bad.
I'm sorry.
Look, I really am.
But I'm not allowing
your feelings to interfere with my election, okay?
It's over, Dave.
Done.
(announcer)
Ladies and gentlemen...
please help me welcome
Senator John Cutter.
[applause]
You feelings have changed
about what?
Let's go in here.
I don't want Henry
or anyone else hearing us.
What is it, David.
Just tell me.
That day I left
the motel,
I ran into Senator Cuter
He asked me if I knew
of any property
where they could build
some warehouses
to bring in some jobs
for the area.
What does it
have to do with us?
After we got here,
I recommended
the tree farm.
You could do that
to Henry?
Cutter promised me
I could be the developer of the project...
if I could get
Henry to sell.
He's never
going to sell.
This is his world.
Well, apparently
the government could come through and...
take this
as eminent domain
if they can prove
the land can be used
for the greater good
of the community.
Henry is still
going to get a fair share.
They'd just
run him out?
Poor Henry.
I'm trying so hard...
to get back to the lives
that we once had.
But I like who
we've become here.
I don't want
to go back.
Do you?
[sighs]
(David)
Well, it looks like you beat us out here.
We're going to go tackle
those Scotch pines if you want to go.
Hey...
All right, man,
wake up. Let's go.
Henry.
Nick, call
your mother.
Nick, call your
mother now.
Go!
Mom!
Henry.
Mom!
Henry...
Oh, no...
[David]
Bind them around your neck.. .
write them on a tablet
of your heart...
and you will win favor
and a good name in the sight of God
and man.
Trust in the Lord
with all your heart,
and lean not
on your own understanding.
In all your ways,
submit to him.
He will make
your paths straight.
[Nina plays "Tis a Gift
to be Simple"]
[Nina plays "Tis a Gift
to be Simple"]
[Nina plays "Tis a Gift
to be Simple"]
Hey, kids.
Please go upstairs
and change your clothes
before you get them dirty.
Maybe we
can return them to the store.
I miss Mr. Henry.
We all do, honey.
He was a wonderful man.
Are we going to have
to move again?
(David)
Yes. Who will take care of the trees?
Son, there won't be
anymore trees.
All that property out there
is going to be developed
and they're all
going to be gone.
We worked so hard.
Let's not think
about that right now.
Come on, go change.
You, too, Nina.
Mr. Henry never got to see
his daughter's wish come true.
Oh, David.
What a nice man.
He opened up his home,
and he fed us.
He was wonderful
to our children.
And I hate myself
that this lovely man
is gone,
and all I'm thinking about
is what's going to happen to us.
I know.
[knocking]
I'll get it.
Mr. George?
Yes?
Hello,
I'm Arlene Saunders.
May I come in?
Yes, yes, come on in.
Thank you.
This is my wife,
Julie George.
I'm Arlene Saunders.
I was Mr. Banks'
attorney.
Oh.
I hate to drop by today
with the services and all,
but I'm afraid
you're going to have to move quickly.
We figured
we'd have to.
What's our deadline?
Well, the sooner
the better.
Today, if possible.
Today?
Those are-- we...
We thought
we'd have more time.
I did, too,
but I'm--
these things happen.
Where are we
going to go?
Do you think
we could just stay one more night
so the kids
could say goodbye to this place?
Um, what are you
talking about?
What are you
talking about?
You're going
to have to move
on settling this property.
I'm sorry.
I think you misunderstood.
We don't have
enough money to buy this place.
You don't have to buy it.
It's yours.
Mr. Banks
willed it to you.
As well as the sizable savings
he and his wife had to operate it.
Didn't he tell you?
No, no, ma'am.
He didn't
say anything.
Oh...
As soon as you
moved in with him,
he came by my office
and changed
his will.
Since he had
no living relatives.
He said he had
just been blessed
with the perfect family
to take over the farm
and continue the kindness
he and Rosie built.
I thought he shared
his plans with you.
No. No, he didn't.
But unfortunately,
his heart condition caught up with him.
What heart condition?
About a year ago,
before Christmas,
Mr. Banks found out
he had a congenital heart defect.
That's why he
invited you to stay
and trained you
on the farm.
He probably didn't want
to burden you all.
That's just like
Mr. Banks.
David...
The state
is taking the property
by eminent domain.
It's unfortunate,
but it's legal.
If we complete
the paperwork,
you will get
the purchase price.
What if we don't
want to sell?
Well, Senator Cutter
has made a pretty strong case.
On paper, the warehouses
will bring new jobs to the area,
and be more
lucrative than...
a farm that gives
its trees away.
Of course it is.
If I were you,
I'd sign.
Take the money...
and start your life
over somewhere.
Why can't we stay?
Well, Sweetie,
Senator Cutter and the State,
they want to buy this place
and put warehouses on it.
They're coming
for a tour tomorrow.
That's not fair.
They can't just take
someone's land, can they?
There has to be
some way we can fight them.
There isn't.
And to be honest...
I'm to blame.
I'm the one who told
Senator Cutter about this place,
and he's so determined
to win re-election,
and he's so worried
about his public image,
I think he'll do anything
to protect it.
Wait a second.
If that's true,
I think I know someone
who might be able to help us.
I think I know someone
who might be able to help us.
I think I know someone
who might be able to help us.
Dave.
Cutter.
Now I don't want
to sound over-confident or anything,
but King
is right behind me.
We had lunch
at the sushi place.
And I think our holiday
is about to get a lot happier.
You're on private
property now.
Cutter, you're trespassing.
Well, in that case,
I'm here to buy a tree.
I could actually use
your assistance,
so I get
my money's worth,
but the thought just
occurred to me that...
you don't sell the trees,
do you, Dave?
You give them away?
How is that
working out for you?
We just lost
a dear friend.
Why don't you leave
us alone so we can mourn, okay?
Dear friend.
Dear friend.
So instead of working
my deal,
you were secretly working
that old man to get his farm?
Good move, Dave.
You know,
I didn't know you had that in you.
Hello, John.
Julie, kids.
You guys anxious
to get out of Green Acres
and get back
to the city life?
We're fine here.
What the heck
is she wearing?
It's an original design.
That it is.
Look, I get it.
For you guys,
this farm life is fine and dandy.
But look, this--
this is a business transaction.
You're going
to be compensated for the sale.
We don't need your money.
I can sell
my original designs. Honey, no.
[horn honking]
I'm sorry, Dave.
But it has
to go down like this.
So if you'll
please move aside, this is my show now.
So if you'll
please move aside, this is my show now.
So if you'll
please move aside, this is my show now.
Mr. King.
Cutter.
Don't ever make me
eat raw fish again.
Duly noted, sir.
I'll remember that
for next time.
This is the property
we're looking at
to build your warehouses.
What do you think?
Close to the highway.
I like that.
He likes that.
Mr. King.
I'm David George.
I used to work
for Boling and Associates.
Do you
remember me?
David George.
No, not at all.
Of course he doesn't.
He's a busy man.
This is the current owner
of the property.
He's had it
for about 20 minutes now,
and I'm hoping
not for much longer.
Christmas tree farm, huh?
Yes, sir.
We-- we give
them away.
Ever hear anything
so ridiculous?
I love Christmas trees.
(Nina)
Me, too .
(King)
Who said that?
I know you.
You play the cello.
You've heard of me?
My first fan.
You were that little girl
on the Christmas card.
Standing right
in the middle...
holding that cello
with that big smile.
Everyone else
looked so unhappy.
But there you were
just smiling,
holding your cello.
He's hallucinating.
Could be mercury poisoning
from the sushi.
{David]
Yes, sir.
That was me that sent
that card of me and my family...
on my last day
of work.
You did.
With condolences.
When my Margaret passed...
everybody was sending me
these sad sympathy cards.
Then I get
this funny picture
with this little girl
and her big smile.
I was tickled.
[sighs]
And Margaret loved
the cello.
How did you know?
Would you like me
to play my cello for you?
I would love that.
I'll go get it.
I'll go get it.
I'll go get it.
I'll go get it.
I'll go get it.
That was wonderful.
Bravo!
Thank you.
Yes, bravo, little lady.
Well done.
Dave, she actually is
pretty good. I got to tell you.
But Mr. King, now that
Pee-Wee's recital is over,
would you like to see
the rest of the farm?
I've seen enough.
Fantastic,
let's get to signing then.
I don't want it.
Excuse me?
I can't take
this kind family's home.
They sent me
a Christmas card, for pete's sake.
Mr. King, thank you.
I like the way
you do business, young man.
You ever need a job,
you come see me, Daniel.
David.
David George.
The, um-- the man
with two first names.
I'll remember that.
Nice to meet
all of you.
Merry Christmas.
And Merry Christmas
to you, young lady.
She's ruthless, Dave.
She's absolutely
ruthless.
Those cheeks,
that smile.
She should run
for office someday.
Yeah, she should.
But now it's time
for you to get off my property, Cutter.
Okay.
Let's go.
You know you're only
delaying the inevitable, Dave.
Someone is going
to want this land. All 200 acres of it.
King was just
one business.
I'll find
someone else.
You know, I can hear
the chainsaws now, Dave.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Senator Cutter,
Cindy Caruthers, Action News.
Is it true you
were trying to take this farm
from a family for your own
personal political gain
in the next election?
Excuse me.
What?
Excuse me.
No, no.
No. No more questions.
Wow.
Okay.
Who wants a tree?
Who wants a tree?
(Nina)
We gave away a lot of Mr. Henry's
a million and two
trees that day.
And the days after.
All the way up
till Christmas.
And instead of big
and expensive presents that year,
Santa brought us the gift
of family and friends.
Nick is going to visit
a college after Christmas.
And Natalie made everyone's
presents all by herself.
And Natalie made everyone's
presents all by herself.
Aunt Cindy was there.
Mommy was happy
to have her sister with us.
They just hugged
and hugged each other
and cried all night.
[no audible dialog]
And I finally got
to meet my Pappy,
who loved the tree farm
as much as we do.
who loved the tree farm
as much as we do.
We were all happy
to be together.
We were finally given
the Christmas miracle we were promised.
Okay, family photo time.
Come on, come on.
Let's go, let's go.
Okay, time for-- oops.
Everyone smile.
Nina, where's Nina?
Okay, smile.
Oh, wait!
Hurry, baby.
Come on.
Come on.
Hurry, hurry.
The timer is going
to go off. Hurry!
Everyone smile!
(Nina)
But there was one person missing.
The one who taught us
that the best gifts are the simple ones.
And not just at Christmas,
but all year long.
I wish Mr. Henry
could be here with us.
(Henry)
Because I believe when people die or leave us,
they still watch over us.
And they tell us
in little ways like little miracles.
Especially at Christmas.
Wow.
Merry Christmas, Mr. Henry.