Angel Falls: A Novel Holiday (2019) Movie Script

- Well, of course I did.
- Hey, Hannah!
Hey. I love seeing you two
out celebrating.
Hey, listen. It's almost time
for the tree lighting.
You're gonna join us?
Ah, yeah, just give me one minute.
I'm making a few more notes
on a book I'm editing.
Okay. Well, don't work too hard.
'Tis the season to be jolly.
There's just a few weeks before Christmas.
Okay.
Welcome and good evening, everyone.
Welcome to tonight's
tree lighting ceremony.
Before we start tonight's celebrations,
this is just a reminder to check out
all the information
on this year's seasonal events,
including caroling,
the toy drive and, of course...
a chance to ride on Santa's sleigh!
And that's all happening right here.
Now, can I ask for a volunteer
to come up here
and help me light the tree?
Pick me, please. Pick me.
You, sir, in that snappy overcoat
and plaid scarf.
Come on up!
At your service.
You look familiar. What's your name, son?
Ryan MacDonald.
Ryan, of course.
- Do you remember Ryan?
- Of course I do.
Alright, on my count.
In three,
two, one!
Hannah Pressman.
It has been a while.
Ryan MacDonald. I can hardly believe it.
Are you here for Christmas?
Oh, no. Just a quick trip to sign
some papers for my family's estate.
You know, I still think of your folks
every time I go down your old street.
They were such lovely people.
Thank you. You know,
they were big fans of yours, too.
So, I see Angel Falls
hasn't changed a bit.
You know what? That is totally not true.
We have, uh...
a new multiplex movie theater.
Oh, wow! So I guess you get to watch
all the action movies
on the big screen now.
Oh no, I... I prefer dramas.
Less car chases,
more story and monologues.
I mean, not that I have
time to go, anyway.
Really? Not even time for movies
based on your favorite novels?
Fine. Yes, I make an exception for those.
Aha! I knew it. I knew it.
- Ha! Okay.
- Hey, wait! Where're you going?
Can I at least buy you a free
hot chocolate? We can catch up.
Come on, you don't know all my highlights?
- My mom keeps me up to date on yours.
- Is that so?
Mm-hmm. Let's see.
You went to college in New York,
and you're still there.
And you have an apartment
with a view of the park,
and apparently a terrible taste in movies.
Okay, Okay. Alright, my turn.
Um, you graduated top of your class,
came back to Angel Falls,
and your favorite color is... pink.
What? No. Come on. Green. All the way.
Ah...
Anyway, I really should get back to work,
so...
Some things never change.
What are you working on?
- A follow-up to The Bookworm.
- I heard about The Bookworm.
- That's really cute.
- It is thought-provoking, not cute.
How are the numbers?
They were... adequate.
Well, maybe it didn't have
enough of a marketing strategy.
See, if I was in charge,
I would have done a whole--
At The Press, we do things
a little differently
than you fancy New York publishers do.
I was just trying to help.
Okay. Well, I should go. Ah...
It was nice running into you
after so long.
Yeah, it was nice seeing you.
Okay.
See you around.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas. Oh, candy cane?
Merry Christmas!
Candy ca--
- Raffi!
- Anthony.
Welcome to Angel Falls, my friend.
- It has been too long.
- Indeed, it has.
You know, Michael said
you were the best choice
- for this assignment.
- Oh, he's too kind.
I am looking forward
to offering my guidance.
It won't be straightforward, though.
Oh, it never is,
even for us guardian angels.
Oh, when will they learn?
- Love is so simple and so pure.
- Yet so complicated.
Ha! Yes. Anything could happen.
Merry Christmas.
- What can I get you?
- Yeah, um, just a small coffee.
- And your name?
- Tina.
Are you interested
in joining our rewards program?
No, thanks. I don't know
how long I'll be in town.
Well... Merry Christmas!
Right. Same to you.
Hey, what's up?
- Ah!
So good to see you, buddy!
Oh, it's been so long.
- Yeah.
- Since what?
- Senior year of college?
- Yeah, I think, um...
since my parents' funeral.
It's been a while.
So, uh, your uncle has been managing
the estate and the house as the trustee,
but... you want to take things over.
He retired earlier this year,
and I want to take it off his plate.
Okay, yeah. Well, I can easily execute
that transfer into your name.
So what does that entail?
Mostly signing a lot of documents.
Ah, and if you're still considering
putting the house up for sale,
we'll have to list it.
In the meantime,
I found a new tenant.
Great! Great. Um...
Well, let's get started.
I was hoping to drive
back to New York tonight.
These documents will take
a lot of time to process,
- and there'll be more papers to sign.
- Wow!
Can we tackle these over email or courier?
I mean, Angel Falls is only
a couple of hours from New York.
We could, but it would be
a lot smoother with you here in person.
Aren't you headed to your aunt
and uncle's for Christmas?
No. They're on
a Christmas cruise this year.
Then why don't you stay for the holidays?
We could head up some
of the local activities.
Yeah, maybe.
Let me think about that.
Great! Okay. I have
a conference call this evening,
so if you could get the keys to Tina,
the new tenant,
that would really help me out.
Okay.
You've reached The Printed Press.
Sure, one moment.
Um... Hey, Mom.
Any luck on finding
a front-desk replacement?
I've been putting posters all over town.
Actually, I'm interviewing someone today. Hmm.
And... I have a surprise visitor
popping by this morning.
Hello!
Ryan! Hey! Twice in two days.
Told you I'd be seeing you around.
A trip to Angel Falls is not complete
without seeing my mother's closest friend.
I miss her every day, you know?
Your parents would be so proud
of the fine man you've become.
Thank you, Leslie. I hope that's true.
So, how have you been?
How's Lowell? How's the company?
The website looks great!
Lowell is good, thanks.
And the company is fine.
We've had some success
with Jason Davidson's memoir
and our history books are really
popular in academic circles.
Mm-hmm.
But now, we're looking
to expand our reach.
So Hannah has suggested that we tap
into another part of the market.
We're thinking of getting into
cookbooks and travel guides.
Oh, that's great. But have you thought
about expanding your fiction department?
Well, we release a few novels each year,
but never been our focus.
Well, I thought fiction
was your favorite thing.
- Well, as a reader, sure.
- But it's nearly impossible
to make a dent
in that side of the industry.
Yeah, that's why enhancing our
non-fiction catalogue is a safer bet.
Well, obviously,
and this is your decision,
but if you could land a marquee
talent to join your roster,
you could leverage that
for more publicity.
That may be too big a step for us.
But, hey... I have a thought.
Since you'll be here longer than expected,
would you consider coming in
and reviewing some of our ideas?
Oh, but I'm almost done with my proposal.
Ryan has years of experience
in book promotion.
We could use his insights.
Like a special consultant.
Oh! That is an impressive title,
I like the way that sounds.
Yeah, aren't you working
at Pages Publishing?
I mean, this seems like it
would be a conflict of interest.
I'm actually in between jobs, right now.
- Wait, you left Pages?
- Yeah, just recently.
Leslie, I would be more than
willing to help any way I can.
It's the least I can do after how kind
you've been to me over the years.
I just checked in on you
from time to time.
- Your mother would expect nothing less.
- Well, it's... it meant the world to me.
Why don't you look around?
Okay, I will.
Mom, Ryan as our consultant?
I know! I'm surprised he said yes too.
Look, you two are gonna have a great time
brainstorming together.
Okay, slow down.
So your mother asked an old friend...
No. We were friends when we were younger,
but when we to high school,
- I was always in his shadow.
- That must have been hard to handle.
It was. And you know what?
He was a model student.
He was top of our class,
captain of the basketball team.
Senior year, he beat me off
for class president.
Okay, that was so long ago.
Senior year of college,
I applied for my dream job
at Pages Publishing.
I thought you always wanted
to take over The Press.
Well, yes, but I wanted to start
at a bigger company first
and I had my heart set on Pages for years.
Okay, so you applied...
I mentioned it to Ryan.
Next thing I know, he applies,
charms the supervisor and
inevitably gets it for himself.
Ouch. No wonder you don't want him
around The Press, even temporarily.
- Exactly.
- Okay. Let's take your mind off of this.
Come on.
Humorous essays.
Okay, this is no laughing matter.
I mean, the guy is already
making lofty suggestions
about expanding our fiction department.
Okay... Inspirational self-help.
You know, you're a really good friend,
but I'm in no mood to be inspired.
Time to bring out the big guns.
- Some Tina Finnegan for you?
- Oh, Christmas romance. Yes!
Oh, I love her work.
I wonder when her next book is coming out.
I heard she left
her publisher a few months ago.
There's no word
on what she's releasing next.
Huh. It's too bad.
Is Ryan's idea really that terrible?
I mean, you are a literature expert,
and you wanted to have more experience
at a bigger company. You could create
a bigger company right here.
The idea of expanding our entire roster
of authors would be a huge undertaking.
What if I put the entire company
in jeopardy and it failed?
What if you were a total success?
Just think about it.
Where can I find a hero like this?
The guys in those books
are a total fantasy.
After three years of marriage,
sometimes, the most romantic thing
Tom does for me is empty the dishwasher.
And I wouldn't have it any other way.
Wow! Okay. Well, as for me,
I will be snuggled up
with this as my date.
Hi!
Tina, right?
I'm Ryan MacDonald.
This is my house. Nice to meet you.
Likewise.
Did you need to come inside
and take a look around?
Oh no, no. That's... that's not necessary.
I just wanted to come
introduce myself and give you the keys.
I'll be staying at Angel Inn
if you need me.
Okay. Here for the holidays?
- No, um, just some long overdue errands.
- Hmm.
Wait. This is your house,
but you're not staying here?
That's right.
- Do you have family in town?
- Um... No, I don't.
Oh. That doesn't make sense. I'm...
Is that garage a separate apartment?
- Yes, it is...
- Why don't you stay there?
I have not lived on my own
for a long time,
and it would actually make me
feel more comfortable,
- having someone around.
- Are you sure?
I insist.
Oh... Okay. Thank you.
Excuse me. Hi, can... can I help you?
Hi. I'm Anthony. I'm the new receptionist.
Oh! Welcome toThe Press. Hi, I'm Hannah.
Oh! Hannah. Delighted
to make your acquaintance.
Yeah. Um, do you have any messages for me?
Uh, no messages, but I do have
the latest bestseller chart.
Wow! That's really helpful info.
And on your first day, it's impressive.
"Tina Finnegan's Memories for Christmas
tops the charts again this year."
Huh. I mean, sales always skyrocket
this time of year,
but it's so funny
'cause I was actually reading
that same book last night.
Yeah, what's it about?
I mean, besides Christmas.
It's about a soldier
who gets amnesia during the war,
but then his memories return just in time
for him to come back home for the holidays
and reunite with his true love.
Oh, it's nice.
Yeah.
Morning.
Hey, I'm Ryan.
- Anthony, new receptionist.
- Nice to meet you.
Oh, Tina Finnegan. What a coincidence.
- You know her?
- She's actually renting my house.
She's in Angel Falls?
Yeah.
I wasn't expecting her, but there she was,
right at my front door.
You're familiar with her work as well?
Ah, no. Not really.
Just from the publishing world.
It's really not my cup of tea.
Yeah, you're more into sci-fi, aren't you?
I mean, as I recall, you were obsessed
with a certain fantasy series.
He even, uh, started a fan club.
Okay. The Dread Monarch Trilogy
was a literary masterpiece,
and I've moved on
to more sophisticated material, all right?
Oh! You should put one of Tina's books
on your reading list.
Yeah, maybe. Alright, I gotta go.
I got a meeting with Leslie.
I wish I could discover
an author of Tina's caliber.
Identifying your wish
is only the first step.
- Wait, what do you mean?
- Well...
a wish isn't gonna grant itself.
You have to figure out what action to take
to make it happen.
Huh. Yeah, but what if
your wish is unrealistic?
Well, you're an editor, Aren't you?
Make adjustments to your wish
until it sounds just right.
Hey, honey. Everything Okay?
Yeah. Uh, what do you think about
signing Tina Finnegan to our roster?
How? Isn't she with a big publisher
in the city?
Well, apparently, not anymore.
Plus, she's here in town.
I want to set up a meeting
and tell her about The Press.
Well, she would certainly be
a marquee talent,
but taking on someone at
her level would be a major leap.
Also, don't forget we're about
to confirm how to allocate
our resources for next year.
It's probably not realistic.
Oh! I'm so sorry, I...
Oh. Hey, Ryan. It's just you.
Oh, it's just me?
Does slamming into someone
you know rather than a stranger
- make it better or worse?
- Well, that depends. I mean...
a stranger might not try to
interfere with my business plan.
Ah, yes. Your mom told me
about your Tina plan.
I see you've finally decided
to take my suggestion.
I am considering your suggestion.
Actually looking up
Tina's contact information now.
Well, you do realize that
you have a direct line to her
- right in front of you.
- Yes, but I prefer
to go through proper
professional channels, so...
Okay. Then I guess I'll just
tell her that you're sorry
- you missed her at wreath making.
- You're going to that?
'Tis the season.
I'm on my way there right now.
Would you... would you like to...
Shall we?
Gosh!
- I'm not taking your elbow.
- Okay, Okay.
Oh, wow. Um...
Your wreath could use some more flair.
Now, who's interfering?
Look, I'm trying my best, here.
Well, you know,
I'd give you an A for effort.
I haven't done this in...
I don't know how long.
Well, it's not like
I'm exactly a pro either.
- I guess I'm pretty rusty myself.
- Yeah.
You know,
I just don't see the point
in going all out, anymore.
I live alone,
it's not like anybody's gonna see it.
Yeah, I'm in the same boat.
I don't decorate the same as I used to.
Hey, it's getting kinda late.
Didn't you say Tina was coming?
Yes, she said she would...
There she is.
- Tina... you made it!
- Oh, wow.
Um, I'd like to introduce you
to an old friend,
- Hannah Pressman.
- Hi, Ms. Finnegan.
Wow, um... It is such
an honor to meet you.
I was wondering, um...
You see, I'm... I'm a huge fan,
and, um... well, I was thinking
if I could talk to you about...
Hannah works for The Printed Press.
They're an amazing little
publishing company in town.
Oh, I see.
And we, uh... we have some great ideas
on how to make your next book huge.
I was hoping I could talk to
you about your writing future.
I don't have a writing future.
- What?
- I mean it doesn't matter
what you say or what company you're with.
The fact of the matter is, I've retired.
What? No! You can't retire.
The world needs more books like yours.
I... I think I'm gonna head home.
I'm not really feeling up to this.
Oh! You just got here.
This isn't for me.
It was nice meeting you, Hannah.
Oh, so nice meeting you too and...
Oh, wow.
I hope I didn't offend her.
She seems pretty upset.
I don't know what happened.
- Good morning, Hannah.
- Hey, good morning.
You know, I think I need
to tweak my wish again.
Sometimes, thing unfold in
ways you didn't first imagine.
That doesn't mean
your wish wasn't granted.
Hey! Do you need me for something?
No.
Yeah, no. I was gonna get coffee.
Wanted to know if you wanted anything.
Oh, yeah. That'd be great. Thank you.
What are you working on?
Oh, it's a statistical analysis of how
The Press could have a greater impact.
Oh.
Uh... These are all financial predictions.
You don't have anything
about creative impact.
Yeah. Numbers are the priority.
Well, not for me. I wanna be
inspired by my work, so...
I know, that's a nice sentiment but, um...
but in business, you have to be practical.
Well, I agree but, um... You know.
Things aren't always valued
by the bottom line.
Well, I can't really
calculate inspiration.
But if Tina sees how successful
she could be at The Press,
then she might reconsider her retirement.
Oh yeah. Hey, did you ask around?
Did you find out
why she left her publisher?
I asked around, but nobody knows anything
except for that it was sudden,
but I think it's worth approaching...
- Hold that thought.
- Again.
I think, um...
I think maybe you should be
familiar with her work.
Yeah. Okay, sure.
I'll give it a read if I have a chance.
And I'll email you a copy of this.
Great.
Morning!
- Hey.
- Did you see Ryan today?
Yeah, he settled right in.
Oh! You got anything in those bags for me?
No peeking!
You'll have to wait 'til
Christmas morning.
You know, I had a hard time
figuring out your present this year.
- Ryan's was no easier.
- Ryan's?
You know I always send him a gift.
This must be a difficult
time of year for him.
Yeah, you're right. Sorry.
Hey, um, do you think you're gonna
invite him to the office Christmas party?
Of course. Is that a problem?
No, no, shouldn't be.
You used to be so close.
I never understood why you lost touch.
Oh, well, you know.
We're not kids anymore, Mom, so...
It's just we see things
really differently.
Anyway, I'm gonna go get a coffee,
you want one?
- Uh, yeah, that'd be great! Thanks.
- Okay.
So, I've been studying
the list of activities.
What do you recommend?
Let's take a look.
Hi, Hannah. Candy cane?
Uh! No thanks. It's too early for sweets.
- It's never too early.
- My feelings exactly.
Oh look, here. Caroling tomorrow night.
Oh, I haven't been caroling in years.
Hmm. What about you?
Uh, no. I haven't been caroling
since I was a kid with my parents.
You remember your mom
used to always sing so loud?
I remember that.
Even though she could not carry a tune.
Well, if you ask me,
it's important to be
a part of one's community.
"No man's an island,"
isn't that the expression?
Yeah, I think so.
But I don't really know
anybody here anymore.
All the more reason.
If you want to get to know people,
you gotta get out there and
mingle and spend time with them.
Actually, back in the day,
we did pull off a pretty good
duet in choir.
Yeah, but you always sang over me.
It's all about the harmony.
- And, we could invite Tina!
- Like a festive do-over?
Exactly. What do you think? You game?
Great.
Was there an explosion in there?
Oh, this. I'm baking brownies.
I'll bring you over a batch.
Well, I will not say no to that.
Baked goods aren't why
you stopped by, though.
Did you wanna come inside?
Oh, um... Well, um, no thanks.
The reason I'm here
is 'cause I want to invite you
to go caroling with me tomorrow.
- That's not...
- Would it help
if I say, I would not take no
for an answer?
It's just that there's gonna be
a lot of people there
that I used to know before
my parents passed away and...
Well, the truth is it's... it's been
a little overwhelming being back here.
Yeah. I can understand that.
And since you're new to town,
I figured that we could be each other's...
holiday partners in crime.
That's not a real thing.
I figured you of all people
would appreciate
a little artistic liberty.
Okay, I'll see you tomorrow!
Bye.
According to his list,
Tyler wants his first bicycle.
My nephew's old enough to ride a bike.
A tricycle, it's a great idea.
Yeah, maybe I'll just
get him a motorcycle.
- Sounds fun.
- Hannah, okay!
- What is on your mind?
- I'm sorry.
I just keep thinking of Ryan's idea.
I wish he would have just
kept it to himself.
Why are you letting him get to you?
Because I had some clear plan,
and now I'm all confused.
You know, just because he worked
at some fancy company
doesn't mean he knows
what's best for The Press.
Meanwhile, my parents want me
to look at his marketing ideas.
How did they feel about him
getting the job at Pages over you?
They don't know about it.
I just... I was so embarrassed,
I didn't wanna bring it up.
I felt like such a failure.
Look, one rejection is not a failure.
I think I got the message loud and clear.
You know what?
I was gonna go back to The Press
after graduation anyway, so... whatever.
I'm sorry things didn't
work out with Tina,
but I am proud of you for trying.
That was a bold step.
Thank you.
You know what?
I'm gonna give it one more try.
She's supposed to go caroling
with Ryan, but it's a long shot.
Well, I don't know what
you'll do for The Printed Press,
but I do know what you're doing tonight.
What? No! Come on,
I have so much work to do.
You know, as your best friend,
it's my job to make sure
you have fun this season,
which is why I signed you up
for the toy drive next week.
And tonight, we skate.
Okay, fine. You know what?
We can indulge in some childlike wonder.
Hi, I'm gonna need
two pairs of skates, please.
- Thank you again for dinner.
- Yeah, of course.
Oh, I'm glad you decided to stick around.
- You can finally meet Ashley.
- Hey, I'm sorry again about the wedding.
I just couldn't get away.
You missed Hannah's killer speech.
Hannah was in the wedding party?
Yup. Yup. When Ash moved to town
after I graduated law school,
Hannah was her first friend.
She really kind of took her
under her wing.
Hey, since you're here,
you have to join us for Christmas.
That's really thoughtful,
but I think I'll do my own thing.
Which is?
I don't know,
probably something in New York.
You should be with your family.
Okay. Well, if you change your mind,
you're always welcome.
I appreciate that, but I'm looking forward
to meeting Ashley another time.
No, no time like the present.
The night is young.
To make up for the hockey game
you're missing this weekend.
Sort of.
Hey!
Hey! Hi.
Um, Ashley, this is Ryan.
So this is the famous Ryan
that I've been hearing all about.
Ah! I see my reputation precedes me.
I said an old classmate
was back in town, that's all.
Aha! Well, it's great to finally
meet you after all these years.
Tom says that you own the local bookshop.
I do! You should come by
and check out our Christmas sale.
- I'd love to.
- And you won't wanna miss
our "Storytime with Santa"
that we have next week.
Which is...
We do a reading
of classic Christmas stories for the kids.
The Press is actually one of the sponsors.
Hmm-mm.
- Wow!
I haven't seen anything on the website.
Because we don't do it for the publicity.
No, I wasn't implying...
- Do you need any more volunteers?
- The more, the merrier. Thanks, Ryan.
Okay, great.
So, where do we get some skates?
Ah! This way.
All right.
Come on.
You wanna race around
the rink for old times' sake.
What? I think I'm beyond that.
Oh, alright. I guess
I'll just remain undefeated.
Oh!
You okay?
Okay, I think we just call it a draw.
Yeah, it's probably for the best
for both of us.
Good morning.
Hey! Ready to face the music tonight?
- Literally?
- Yeah.
At least, it will be a lot
less perilous than ice skating.
Oh, come on, not for you.
Weren't you on the hockey team at Pages?
You really do know
my entire bio, don't you?
Well, your company profile
was very detailed on their website, so...
Oh, so you looked me up online.
Got it.
No, I was just curious about your work.
Hope I remember the lyrics.
Oh! Come on, it'll come back to you.
You just have to...
get back on the saddle.
- Are you referring to my legendary fall.
- Yeah.
When we took riding lessons?
You could never drop that.
That's because it was the only
thing I was better at than you.
It's not true. You were better than me
at lots of things and you still are.
Hey. Your partner in crime has arrived.
Though it looks like you're
all set with Hannah here.
Yeah, but I'm glad you made it.
Thank you for coming.
Thank you for inviting me. Hi, Hannah!
Hi.
Good evening, Angel Falls!
I hope you're all feeling
the Christmas spirit!
Yeah!
Well tonight,
we have a very special treat.
Without further ado,
the church choir is going to
lead us in our first carol.
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
'Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
Fa-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la
Ryan? It is you!
We heard you were back in town!
He doesn't remember us.
What?
- You don't remember us, do you?
- Yes, I do, Delores.
Gloria, how are you?
You were right. Nice to see you too.
Oh my goodness!
Ryan, you...
you look so much like your father
when he was your age.
So, does anyone know what song is next?
Uh! Gloria, Delores,
this is Tina Finnegan,
author of some of my favorite books.
- Oh, what a pleasure!
- Nice to meet you.
- What have you written?
- Oh, you would love her books.
So many of them are about
the magic of Christmas.
Well then,
maybe you can settle a debate for us.
Ribbons or popcorn strings?
Well, they're both worthy options.
Yeah!
You know, I say ribbons.
They're colorful and you can just
toss 'em right on the tree.
Wrong. It's popcorn strings.
They're delicious
and they look good on the tree.
It's a double threat. It's a no-brainer.
No, all that needle and
threading takes forever.
- I dare you to prove me wrong.
- Okay, and if I do?
Coffee on me until you leave.
Throw in a muffin,
you got yourself a deal.
- Hey, don't push it.
- You know, see?
They've always been like this.
They used to babysit my son.
They remind me of myself
and my husband Lawrence
when we were dating. It was all teasing.
Oh, no, no, no. It's not
like that. We're just...
Uh, will your husband be joining us?
I would love to meet him.
He won't.
It was very nice to meet you. I, um...
I think I'm gonna head home.
I'm just feeling a little tired.
Thank you for inviting me out.
- Hey, it's not over yet.
- Good to meet you too. Bye-bye.
So, how was caroling? Successful?
Ah! If by successful,
you mean not spilling hot
chocolate on myself, then yes.
You know, actually, Tina ran off
before we were able
to spend any time with her.
Really? Oh, I'm sure
you'll get another chance.
Yeah, I hope so. I feel like
I keep upsetting her, though.
How so?
Well, um, last night, she left right after
I asked her about her husband.
Oh. Look, relationships
are sensitive subjects.
Just let her share her
personal life in her own time.
Yeah, you're right. I shouldn't pry.
So, besides Tina leaving early,
did you at least enjoy yourself?
Yeah, yeah, I did.
But I didn't accomplish anything, so...
The most rewarding experiences occur
when you aren't trying
to achieve something specific.
- Meaning...?
- Meaning, uh...
enjoy the moment and don't worry
about the tangible stuff.
Do you charge for this wisdom?
I'll put it on your tab.
Hmm.
Oh, oh, by the way, I bought...
...way too many decorations.
Think you can use any of these?
I've already decorated,
but that's really generous.
Wait, you know what? Take 'em anyway.
You never know when
the mood's gonna strike.
Okay.
What are you doing out in the cold?
I don't know. Sometimes, I like
to let my ideas marinate in the fresh air.
I'm trying to figure out what
direction to takeThe Press.
- That's funny.
- Oh! You think it's silly don't you?
No. I was doing the same thing.
Oh, so you weren't just
talking to yourself back there?
No, I was preparing for a job interview.
Yeah, um, how come you left Pages?
I mean, it seems like
you were climbing the ladder.
I was, but then we got
taken over by a bigger company
- and everything just changed.
- Changed how so?
The... the culture became
a lot more corporate and...
What? Okay. Yes, I do care
about the bottom line,
but I felt my integrity slipping
and that's important to me.
Is this new job in publishing too?
No, it's in software,
but marketing is marketing, right?
Look, Ryan, what are you passionate about?
That's a good question.
I don't know. After school,
I started at Pages and...
you know the rest.
You know, it's kinda getting
a little chilly out, so,
I think I'm gonna head back to work.
But listen, good luck
with your job interview.
Thanks.
Sure.
Hey, I just came by to drop this off.
- What is happening in here?
- Come in.
Oh, I told you, we should have
just bought the cookies like last year.
This is a disaster.
I thought it would be more special
if we made them ourselves.
Oh, it's just a baking emergency.
Just? You know what?
These cookies are
for the "Storytime with Santa" event
this afternoon
and we have no cookies, and you...
...you can't have Santa without cookies.
Actually, I may be able to help.
- You know how to bake?
- Not me.
Hey, do you ladies think
you can help ice these?
Yeah.
- Is that good?
For sure. We are so grateful
to you and to Ryan
for bringing you to our rescue.
He seems like quite the gentleman.
Yeah. He did come through for us today.
Hannah always says she wishes
chivalry would make a comeback.
Well, considering my bad luck with dating,
I'm just not sure it exists anymore.
Is it possible that your ideal
match checklist is a bit unrealistic?
Okay, you know what? If it is unrealistic
to want a guy who's respectful,
who can make me laugh
and who supports my ambitions,
- then I will gladly stay single.
- What do you think, Ms. Finnegan?
Yeah, am I aiming too high?
Oh! Well, first of all,
call me Tina, please.
And no, not at all.
My Lawrence, he was exactly
like you described.
Was?
Um, he passed away six months ago.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
He sounds like a wonderful man.
Hmm-mm. We had a beautiful life together.
But you know, my advice
to you is don't settle.
Yes, ma'am. I agree.
You know, these are perfect.
You should come by to the party
- to see everybody enjoy your treats.
- Yeah!
I don't know. I was planning
on staying in tonight.
Oh. Well, you could read
one of your favorite stories.
I would be thrilled to put you
on the list of presenters.
I'll think about stopping by.
Okay.
- Yes. Okay.
- Oh, wow!
Right? They look so good!
I'm so happy with that.
Ryan MacDonald reporting for duty.
Great timing. I just finished
rewriting the story assignments.
That's great. And just so you know,
I've been practicing my Jack Frost voice
all night, so it's...
That may have been in vain.
Our friends Gabby and Jack
got called out of town last minute.
His aunt took ill.
I'm sorry to hear that.
But what does it have to do with me?
Oh, you and Hannah are gonna
take over for them.
You're doing
'Twas the Night Before Christmas.
And...
This is your costume!
I was not aware of the dress code.
How come you get off the hook?
- Oh, I'm not off the hook.
- Wow, that is...
Glorious.
- You look good.
I know, take it in.
I stand corrected.
Hey, by the way, how did it go with Tina?
Oh, well, you know.
She saved the day, but listen,
I learned that she lost
her husband recently.
- Did you know that?
- No.
Yeah.
- Oh, that's awful.
Yeah, so I'm hoping that
there's something we can do
- to maybe cheer her up a little.
- There she is. Hi, Tina!
Hey! We're just about to get started.
- Hi.
- These are great.
This looks fantastic.
"'Twas the night before Christmas..."
- "And all through the house...
- Not a creature was stirring..."
- "Not even a mouse."
- "The stockings were hung...
By the chimney with care."
"In hopes that...
Saint Nicholas...
Would soon be there."
Happy Christmas to all!
And to all a good night!
Ho! Ho! Ho!
Mr. Santa, can I give you a message?
Of course, little girl!
I'm going to my grandma's for Christmas
and I wanted you to have
my address so you could find me.
As long as you've been
a good little girl,
Santa will find you
no matter where you are.
I have been good, Santa. I promise.
He's so good with them.
Ah, then you'll be on my Nice List.
Now, don't forget to leave
some cookies out for Santa.
Okay, well, I think we have
one last story.
Actually, could I read something?
Sure, by all means.
Thank you. Hi, kids!
I'd like to share a story
that my husband and I always
enjoyed during the holidays.
A long time ago,
in a gingerbread land,
there were two elves...
How was the flight?
Merry Christmas.
- Hey, Anthony.
- Ryan!
What are you up to?
Oh, I am just exploring
and meeting new people.
Ah. Well, soon you'll know
everything about them,
they'll know everything about you.
- It's the nature of a small town.
- But does that bother you?
I don't know, it took me
a couple days to get acclimated,
but now I kinda look forward
to running into a familiar face.
Case in point, yourself.
You know, I haven't completely gotten
my bearings yet,
so if you think of any gems I should see,
please let me know.
Actually, I'm not fully reacquainted
with Angel Falls yet.
It's been a while since
I thought about all the details.
That's the complicated thing
about memories, isn't it?
Sometimes, it seems easier to avoid them
rather than face the pain
they could cause.
Yeah, I've certainly been guilty of that.
But when we do that,
we miss out on all the joy
those memories can also bring.
- Right?
- Yeah, it's true.
- Have a great day!
- Thank you.
I wanted to return this.
Oh. Finished it already?
- And enjoyed it no less.
- Yeah?
Now, you gotta let me recommend something.
- Okay, fine. Fair is fair.
- Oh, really? Okay.
In that case, I'll have
a pile of sci-fi books
and action movies on your desk,
by tomorrow.
- Okay, you can bring one thing.
- Fine.
Gosh, the... the Christmas celebrations
Tina describes in her book
are so elaborate.
Yeah, I know. Which is ironic,
seeing how we've had
to convince her to come
to any seasonal event.
You know, I have an idea.
What are you doing tomorrow?
No plans.
Alright. Should we get
this tree to the car?
- Yes. Okay. Um... Yup.
- You take the top.
You know what? I've never been an athlete.
Oh, yeah. I know.
I remember you in gym class.
I'm not gonna lie, a toddler could
catch better than you could.
You know what? I handed out
that water like a pro.
Come on. You're good at everything you do.
So, um, what are you into these days,
besides working for The Press?
Um, you know, museums, concerts, theater.
Actually, I go to New York a lot
to catch the new shows.
What? You go to New York,
you don't call me?
It's because I'm always
in and out so fast.
Next time, you should call me.
I'll go to a show with you.
I mean, unless you got somebody else
that you'd rather go with.
Are you asking me if I have a boyfriend?
No, I don't.
I've always been kind of unlucky in love.
I've actually kinda given up
looking for that special person, so...
Yeah. Yeah. I get that.
It's hard to find somebody
who really understands you, you can trust.
Have you? Found someone, I mean?
No. Maybe someday.
Yeah, we can't all be lucky like Tina.
Seems like Lawrence was her ideal match.
Yeah.
Well, shall we try this again?
Yeah, Okay. Alright.
Lift with the legs! I believe in you.
One of us does.
What is all this?
We're here to give the house
a Christmas makeover.
Yeah, we figured anyone who depicts
a perfect Christmas deserves one herself.
There's really no need to do this.
Oh yes, there is. You deserve
the full holiday experience.
Yeah, and we're gonna take
care of everything.
It's our way of saying thank you for
all the joy you brought us this season.
So I guess you're coming inside today.
I thought he was worried he'd get stuck
listening to all my stories.
Well, the truth is that... I thought
it would be hard to come into the house
after all this time, but...
- I think I'm ready.
- Okay.
Let's do this.
That's perfect.
- Yeah?
- Look at this.
- Nice.
- Adorable. Momma and baby.
- Are you Okay?
- Yeah, I'm fine.
Being in here brings back
a lot of memories.
Our family shared so many
happy times here over the years.
Well, feel free to look around.
Hey, you were right, by the way.
This popcorn string really makes
for some tasty dcor.
I tried to tell you.
Aww!
What a beautiful couple!
Hey, was that one taken in Angel Falls?
It was. Lawrence grew up here.
Is that why you came back to town?
Yeah. Being here
makes me feel closer to him.
I know what you mean.
Keeping in touch with Leslie...
It's Hannah's mom.
It's always been important to me.
Makes me feel closer to town.
I didn't realize that.
Angel Falls seems like
an idyllic place to grow up.
Lawrence loved it here.
And you? Do you think
you'll make it your permanent home?
I'm not sure anywhere is gonna
feel like home to me again.
Well, when it feels right,
you'll know you're home.
Yeah. Maybe you just need to
explore the town some more
and figure out why Lawrence
loved it so much.
It's like you said in
Memories for Christmas.
"Home isn't a place on the map,
it's a feeling in your heart."
You do have a way with words.
I used to anyway.
I'm afraid the proverbial ink has run dry.
Well then, maybe you'd like to read
something that Hannah's worked on.
- She's an amazing fiction editor.
- That doesn't surprise me.
You read novels from The Press?
Yeah! Your mom sends me copies.
You have a great instinct, I can tell.
Yeah, but... I mean,
we don't have any sci-fi.
I know, but I wanna support you.
Support The Press, I mean.
Oh. Well, um...
Thanks.
We should, uh...
finish decorating the tree.
- Yeah.
- I'll be right back.
Do you think that I said something
to upset her again?
I don't know.
- Wow!
- That's beautiful.
Lawrence's old family heirloom.
Who wants to put it on the tree?
Oh no, we couldn't.
- No, we couldn't.
- No, no.
Here, here. You do the honors.
Hi, Maxine! First off, I want to thank you
for the interview and the opportunity.
Well, your resume was
extremely impressive.
And the reference we received
from Pages was glowing.
Well, that's good to hear.
As for us, we have hundreds of employees
across multiple offices nationwide.
You'll be reporting to a team
of project managers,
marketing execs, creative directors.
And we'll have an excellent
support staff at your disposal
should you need them.
I'd like to discuss...
Good morning, Hannah.
You're looking chipper.
You were right, by the way.
Uh...
can you be more specific?
Well, Ryan and I spent some time with Tina
without any agenda,
and she really opened up.
So can we classify it
as a successful experience?
Yeah, I think we can.
And it was such an honor, you know,
learning more about her.
I mean, especially 'cause
I'm such a fan of her work.
Maybe you can apply this new
philosophy towards others.
You know, actually,
Ryan opened up too and...
He is surprisingly a skillful
tree trimmer, by the way.
Ha ha! It sounds like
you made a good team.
You know, joining forces to collaborate
can be an excellent idea.
Hmm.
Well, well...
- Hey.
- I would have thought
you would have finished all
your Christmas shopping by now.
Oh, mostly, but I want to get
the perfect gift for my parents,
so I had to buy and return a few times.
What about that whole
"It's the thought that counts" thing?
Oh, come on. That is something that people
with no gift-giving imagination say.
- Well, that is harsh, but true.
- Yeah, true.
I hope my aunt and uncle like
what I'm sending them.
I'll give you a consultation
on your parents' gift.
- On the house.
- Hmm.
On the gifts? Uh, no.
But, uh... Listen.
Um, would you be willing to walk me
through what you foresee
for the bigger financial department?
I thought you would never ask.
Okay, listen. I am not sure that
I'm willing to take the risk
on that kind of expansion,
but I would like the full picture.
What are you so worried about?
Rolling the dice and
putting the entire company
in financial jeopardy? No big deal.
Hannah.
You are so talented.
And you're passionate about your job.
There's no reason that you can't take it
to the next level and be successful.
Um, I don't know, I'm pretty content
with things the way they are.
Are you content or just afraid
to put yourself out there?
Because even if Tina doesn't come onboard,
there are other writers you can foster.
Anyone would be happy to work with you.
Well, that's...
It's really kind of you to say.
Um, listen, I...
I read that statistical thing
that you emailed me.
- Oh, yeah. And?
- Yeah.
And the numbers added up. Pun intended.
You know, you're really
savvy with numbers.
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Was that a compliment?
Oh! Consider it your
early Christmas gift, Okay?
Thank you, you're so kind.
You know, I think I might
overhaul the store after the holidays.
Change things up a bit.
You should ask Ryan for tips
on what to do with your display.
Okay. Interesting.
What? Why is that interesting?
You don't want any suggestions?
I'm just surprised that
you're suggesting Ryan to me.
Oh well, you know.
He's not so bad after all.
It's a Christmas miracle.
Thank you. What do I owe you?
Oh, hey. Uh, that's actually on me.
You did convince me about popcorn.
A woman of her word.
Yeah, and you know what?
- Two muffins as well.
- Wow, thank you!
Yeah.
- Would you excuse me for a sec?
- Yeah. Yeah, of course.
Hi!
Uh...
Hi, Maxine. Good to hear from you.
Ryan, congratulations.
We'd love to offer you the position.
That's amazing! Thank you so much.
Um...
- Can I let you know?
- Okay. But either way,
I'm gonna need an answer before Christmas.
Of course. I understand.
And thanks again.
- Hey, here you go.
- Thank you.
Yeah. You Okay?
Yeah. It was just the software company.
They had a few more questions.
- That's promising, right?
- I think so, yeah.
What do you think of this new development?
There's plenty of time before Christmas.
Everything is gonna work out
just as it should.
- I have some great news.
- Okay, well, don't leave me hanging.
- These are the last documents to go.
- Really?
I thought the process
was gonna take more time?
I knew you were anxious
to be done with it,
so I had a few things expedited.
Just sign these.
Alright. And then, um...
- what happens next?
- Now, the estate belongs to you.
So if you want to sell the house,
the decision is yours.
And, if you want,
you can head back to New York
for Christmas like you planned.
Well, this is...
this is great news.
Hey, honey. What's up?
Hi.
Well, two things.
First, I've decided to be more
welcoming of Ryan's feedback.
He and I are actually meeting later
to discuss the options for The Press,
and then I will be ready
to present my proposal
- for next year's slate.
- Terrific!
- What's the second thing?
- Ummm...
are you guys free to come over tomorrow?
Sure.
- What's the agenda?
- No agenda. Just family time.
- Sounds wonderful.
- Yeah.
Everything all right?
Actually... I'm not sure.
Between... Between you and me...
I got a job offer from a software company.
Oh! Uh...
Does this mean that you'll be
headed back to New York?
Yeah, I guess soon.
I, um... I got my apartment there.
I got this new job waiting for me.
It just... seems like
the most sensible thing to do.
The sensible thing isn't
always the right thing.
What do you want to do?
Um...
I... I don't know.
I've just been...
going through the motions for so long
I haven't really stopped
to think about it.
Well, sometimes, it helps to
bounce ideas off another person.
Yeah, that's not really my style.
Just... I've been relying
on myself for so long, I...
I don't even remember
to ask other people for advice.
Well, suit yourself.
But it can be refreshing
to put your guard down,
let someone else in.
Hello.
Welcome to my humble abode.
- Thank you.
- Hot chocolate?
Yeah, that would be great.
So just to confirm, you like books, right?
Yeah, like just my favorite thing.
Yeah, me too. They've always
given me a lot of comfort.
Is that why you applied to Pages?
Uh, well, every time I would visit
my aunt and uncle, my face
would always be in a book...
trying to keep my mind off things.
And then, um...
one day, my uncle suggested
that I turn it into something productive.
One day you're studying business and then,
all of a sudden, you get my dream job.
Your dream job?
I applied for everything in New York.
Any excuse not to return to Angel Falls
- and have to live in that house.
- Yeah, but...
Come on, Ryan, you know
how much that job meant to me.
Well, I asked the interviewer about you.
They said you were amazing,
but that all you could talk about
was returning to The Press.
I thought you'd turned it down.
Are you serious?
No, they never even offered it to me.
I didn't know that.
Wow! I though... I thought you just
dazzled them with your interview skills.
You know, I have actually, um...
been holding this against you
for a really long time.
I wish you would have said something.
Ah, I feel horrible.
No, I feel horrible.
I, I just... I don't know,
I was embarrassed. I always thought
like I was in second place.
I thought things came so easy to you.
No. Trust me, they did not.
But, in all fairness,
I should have talked to you
before I applied, so...
No. Hey, you got a lot going on back then,
and I completely understand how
overwhelmed you must have been.
Yeah, I was, but...
I would never do anything to hurt you.
I'm just sorry that you've had that
impression of me for so long.
No. I'm sorry I painted you
as a villain this whole time.
You know what?
You...
are just like the protagonist
from Poinsettia Lane.
Wait, wait. You've had time
to read more of Tina's books?
Yeah, I actually have
a confession to make.
- Um, I've read all her books.
- Are you serious?
Well, don't you remember
who introduced you to her work?
Oh, my gosh! I...
I completely forgot your mom gave me this.
I miss her.
Both of them.
Yeah.
So, Tina... why didn't you
just say you liked her books?
Ah, well, when I found out
that Tina was my tenant,
I didn't want to bring it up with her
'cause I didn't want
to embarrass her, so...
I just... I kind of played it cool and...
everything just sort of
spiraled out of control.
Wait, are you telling me that
Ryan MacDonald has insecurities?
Hannah, everyone does.
No, you never seemed insecure to me.
Well, then my efforts must have paid off.
Well, I...
I don't know what to say.
This is just... just a lot to take in.
Yeah. Do you wanna go for a walk?
Yeah. Sure.
With your creative vision
and my cost-effective strategy,
this could totally work.
You know, it does make a lot of sense.
Probably should have
consulted you a few days ago.
- Ah! Ah!
- Yeah.
Yeah. Hey, how are things going?
Did you settle things
with the software company?
Not yet, we're still in talks.
It's the job that you want though, right?
I don't even know. What do you think?
I don't know. I think you should do
whatever makes you feel
the most fulfilled and inspired.
- You make it sound so easy.
- Because it is!
I mean, do you think the software
company's gonna do that for you, or?
- Not sure, but probably not.
- You'll figure it out.
Just follow your heart.
Listen,um, can we...
can we pop in there really quick?
- Yeah, for sure.
- Great, I need to pick up
- some things for the toy drive.
- Oh, that's tonight?
- Yeah.
- Oh, I gotta get something too.
Thank you for reminding me.
- What would you do without me?
I'd like to say welcome, everyone,
to our annual toy drive.
If you've brought a contribution,
please take it to the donations table.
And if you're here to gift-wrap,
your station
will be adjacent to the donations table.
Here you go. That ought to keep you warm.
Okay, great. Hey, check it out.
Hey!
Tina!
Hey!
So good to see you out.
Well, Hannah gave me her number,
and I invited her to come along.
Did you know? It turns out
Delores and Gloria
knew Lawrence when they were growing up.
Oh yeah, and he conducted
the craziest experiments in science class.
I would have loved to have met him.
Those look great.
- Aren't they?
- Tina is a fastidious wrapper.
- Well, I'm...
- And...
quite the storyteller, as you can imagine.
We're going to do Poinsettia Lane
in our next book club.
Hey! Hey, you two,
why don't you two join us?
- Yes!
- Yeah, sure.
You wrap and I'll ribbon?
That sounds like a plan.
Pull up a chair. Get busy!
Let's get you set up. Okay.
Some cutting skills you got there.
Hey guys! Mind if I snap a pic of you two
for Angel Falls Gazette?
- Sure.
- Okay.
It's over there.
Have fun!
Okay.
That could be the cover of my next book.
I mean, if there was a next book.
Okay.
You too, and Merry Christmas.
Hannah!
Oh. Something troubling you?
Have you ever misread a situation
only to find out years later
that you were completely wrong?
As a matter of fact, yes,
on more than one occasion.
In this case, is the truth better or worse
than you first thought?
Better.
But also really surprising.
Well, if you're asking for my advice,
I think I'll need a few more details.
It's about Ryan.
Hmm.
You know we go way back, right?
Yeah, I gathered that. Yes.
Well, all this time, I've been
blaming him for something
that he has nothing to do with.
And... the insecurities
have been in my head,
I just never realized
how much it was affecting me.
Insecurities have a way
of making us afraid of taking risks.
But sometimes, the right risk
is worth it for the right reward.
I've just been so afraid of failure
that I've been holding myself back.
Yeah, but see, you have the awareness now,
so you can stop blaming Ryan
and face your self-doubts head on instead.
Hey!
- Hey.
Tina said you'd be dropping by.
Yeah. You know, Tina's
giving me a baking lesson.
Well, just so you know, I'm available
to sample anything you may need.
Noted.
Hey, you didn't respond
to my text, by the way.
I invited you over to my place tonight.
I'm having my parents over
- for a pre-
- Christmas dinner.
Yeah, I didn't want to impose.
What? Don't be ridiculous.
Come on, you're basically
an honorary Pressman.
Okay. Well, can I at least bring my famous
"I bought it at the grocery store"
Christmas ham?
You know, I was hoping you would.
Hey! Stop distracting my new student.
Okay. I'll leave you to it.
- I like shortbread.
- Okay! See you later.
Hey! I made us some tea.
- Oh.
- And I thought we would start
- with gingerbread today.
- Oh, perfect. That sounds good.
I mean, hopefully, I can impress Ryan
with my gingerbread-making skills.
You want to tell me
what's going on between you two?
What? There's nothing to tell.
Oh, honey. I may have quit the game,
but I've been a professional
romantic for over two decades.
I know flirtation when I sense it.
Okay, well, I regret to inform you
that your senses are way off.
Okay. Let's just say I'm not convinced.
Look, it is true, Okay?
I was hoping that I'd meet someone
like the leading men in your books,
but...
...I'm just not sure that the thoughtful,
generous heroes you describe
exist in real life.
Well, my leading men might be embellished
and they might be put
in extreme circumstances, but...
they were all rooted in reality.
Based on Lawrence?
A lot of the time, yes.
Well, I'm just saying that...
that I've never found a man
that measures up to your words.
There will never be another like him.
He was my everything.
He was my... beginning,
my middle...
Well...
You know, I tell you,
no one enjoys a good story more than I do,
but sometimes, you do have
to put down your book
so you can see
what's right in front of you.
Hey, what are you doing tomorrow?
My family's hosting a party for The Press.
- Isn't that an office event?
- Technically, yeah,
but we invite everyone
and we would love for you to be there.
You're very kind.
Wait, is that our guest?
Yeah.
Yeah, well, I told you
I'm not good at baking.
Mmm! Well, this was wonderful, honey!
I could not eat another bite.
Uh, listen, I know that I didn't want to
talk about business tonight,
but there is something I want to say.
I've been afraid of taking
a leap at The Press,
but after a lot of encouragement
and collaboration, I think I'm ready.
When Ryan first suggested that we expand
the fiction department,
I didn't think it was feasible.
Neither did we. What do you think now?
Well, after seeing the research,
I think that the company
is more than capable of
taking on the challenge.
"More than capable." So what's next?
Okay, if we put our resources together,
I think that we could expand
our fiction department
and sign new authors to our roster.
So no more cookbooks or travel guides?
It's a bigger risk,
but with a bigger reward.
And...
I think it's the right choice.
Creatively and financially.
So if you say you're sure...
- I say... let's do it!
- Really?
We can tell everybody
at the party tomorrow.
Thanks, Mom!
Okay!
That was fun, don't you think?
Why do you sound so surprised?
Your parents are great.
You're lucky to have 'em.
Yeah, well... I'm sorry
you haven't had the support that I've had.
Oh. Well, I know it's not the same,
but my aunt and uncle have
always been there for me
if I need somebody to talk to.
Yeah, well, so am I.
I mean, if you want to.
Well, I... I...
I just may take you up on that.
Well, I'll, um...
I'll leave you to it.
Oh, uh, hang on just a...
Right. It's here.
Oh no.
What?
- I didn't get you anything.
- No, it's Okay.
- It's just... You know, it's...
- Are you sure?
Yeah, it's just... Look, it's, um...
it's just a little something
for you to remember the town.
I just want you to know that...
you know, you can always
come home to Angel Falls if you want to.
Do you like it?
I love it.
You know it's early.
Do you wanna get a hot chocolate?
Yeah.
That sounds good.
Okay.
Look, there's Santa!
You know, you really should get the full
Angel Falls Christmas experience.
You alright?
Okay.
Thank you.
- Hark! The herald angels sing
- Oh, my goodness!
Glory to the newborn king
Okay.
Oh, thank you.
You're welcome.
You two lovebirds ready for a ride?
Oh!
We're not, uh...
Um...
Sure...
Join the triumph of the skies
Hark, the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king
You know,
if I end up at the software company,
I'm really gonna miss this town.
If?
Well, I realized that...
you're so passionate
about your job because...
you love it.
- Yeah.
- I want that for myself.
- Really?
- Yeah.
Why, I think that's great. I mean,
everyone should do
what they appreciate most.
I see that now.
I think that you have inspired me...
...to be inspired.
So, thank you for that.
Well, you know, you encouraged me
to get out of my comfort zone,
so... the thanks goes both ways.
Thanks for riding with us, folks.
Hey, you two!
- Hey.
How come you all look so serious?
- Just a little sad about Tina.
- Why? What happened?
- She left Angel Falls.
- No. We have to talk to her.
She's already booked
on a 9 p.m. bus to New York.
But... what are we gonna do?
I just think she's making a mistake.
- Anthony.
- Hello, my friends.
Oh. You both look quite upset.
- Is everything alright?
- Not really.
We just found out Tina's leaving town,
with only three days 'til Christmas.
She won't answer phone calls.
I mean, I don't know,
maybe we were being too pushy.
Do you think we drove her away?
Sometimes, an impulsive reaction
can really be a mask
for something underneath.
That's right. We know she was...
putting up walls because
she was heartbroken, but...
I don't think Tina retired
because she doesn't have
anything left to write.
It just hurt her too much.
Do you think we still have time
to catch her?
- It's worth a shot.
- Okay.
No! We missed it.
Oh, I just wish...
What?
I don't know,
I just really wish we could have,
been there for her,
you know, just a little more.
Are you two taking a trip?
You're not on the bus!
No. I decided to take the next one.
I was actually just coming to find you.
After all you've done for me,
I couldn't leave
- without saying a proper goodbye.
- Do you have to leave at all?
I'm sorry. Being here for Christmas
without Lawrence is just too painful.
Tina...
don't you think Christmas is
gonna be hard without Lawrence
no matter where you are?
Running isn't the answer.
It's taken me over a decade
to figure that out for myself.
We think that you should stay here
and be a part of this community.
I just... I don't know where I belong now.
You belong in Angel Falls.
Being in Lawrence's hometown
has just brought up
so many memories for me.
Now, you can face those memories...
and remember all the wonderful times
that you had together.
And we know you miss Lawrence, but...
Tina, you deserve to be surrounded
by people who care about you.
Well, you've rendered
this writer speechless.
No one should be alone for the holidays.
Lawrence would say the same thing.
Boy, when you two team up,
you're certainly persuasive.
Does that mean that you're gonna stay?
I should at least stay for a while.
Well then, first order of business
on the calendar is our party tomorrow.
I wouldn't miss it.
Thank you, Dad. Hi everybody!
I want to welcome you
to the Printed Press Christmas party!
We've had an exceptional year,
and our community
has grown closer than ever.
We've seen some new faces,
and some old friends returning.
At The Printed Press,
our team and our supporters
mean so much to us.
So on behalf of the Pressman Family
and everyone at The Printed Press,
here's to a happy holiday
and an exceptional new year!
Merry Christmas, everybody!
Thanks, Dad.
So that's the offer
from the software company?
Yes. It's...it's very generous,
and there's a potential for growth.
They must really want you on their team.
Not that I blame them.
Thank you.
And they want me to come in
and sort things out with HR immediately.
Can you believe that?
It's very difficult to walk away
from an opportunity like this.
Yes, it sure is.
So, I don't know, I gotta get of here soon
and sort things out.
Are you Okay? What's going on?
Doesn't matter.
Tonight's all about celebrating
The Press and holidays.
You've pulled off
a terrific party, Hannah.
- Yeah.
- Oh, thank you, Gloria.
My son wrote me the sweetest card.
- I think you should read it.
- Honestly, I think we may have
another budding writer
for you to check into.
Perfect.
- That's great.
- Sorry to interrupt.
- Can I steal Hannah for a second?
- She's all yours.
Thanks.
Hey... what is it?
I know you're busy,
but everybody's going to get
eggnog at the square later,
and I was wondering
if we could grab a drink.
Uh, it's been kind of a long day, so--
It's... it's kind of important.
I would really like to talk to you.
You know what? I think I already know
what you're gonna say.
- So, uh...
- You do?
Yeah. You didn't think I would find out
what you told my mother or...
Oh! Yeah, but I wanted to be
the one to tell you.
Well, it's disappointing.
I mean, I thought you'd really
changed your perspective.
Ah... What? What are you talking about?
When you told me that you
wanted to be inspired by what you did,
were you just mocking me or...?
No, I meant every word I said.
You've been an amazing inspiration to me.
Then why didn't you just tell me
that you've been offered
the job at the software company?
I mean, I thought we were really starting
to open up to each other.
Bec, I, I, I just... I wanted
to have it all sorted out
before I told you about it.
Oh. Well, it's all sorted out now.
I'm sure you can't wait
to get back to New York.
And you know what, it's completely fine.
I know why you couldn't turn it down.
I mean,
you love being practical in business.
I don't think that's fair.
Is everything alright?
Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. It's fine, um...
Actually, I have to go.
I'll see you around, Hannah.
Making another field call on me?
The clock is ticking.
Think you'll have this
all straightened out in time?
Christmas is still two days away.
Sometimes, you have to have vision.
Everyone's having a wonderful time,
don't you think?
Totally.
Wow, you sound the opposite of festive.
I just think Ryan made the wrong decision
about the new job.
You think he should have accepted it?
Wait, what?
I thought he had.
He was going on and on to Mom about it.
No, he wasn't. He asked my advice.
Ultimately, he decided it wasn't for him.
But he said he couldn't wait
to leave Angel Falls.
I thought he was just waiting
to wrap up on the paperwork.
We finished all that days ago.
He chose to stay in town.
With you.
No, I...
- Oh, no, I gotta go. I gotta find him.
- Hold on.
He's already left town.
- Hi!
- Hi.
Why aren't you at the party?
I'm just on my way there myself.
I have to go back to New York.
You're leaving now?
You don't want to be here for Christmas?
No, not anymore.
Um, if you see Hannah,
would you please give that to her for me?
I will, but you could
give it to her yourself.
No. I don't think she wants
anything from me. Hmm...
I should go. Yeah.
Ryan!
Are you the one that told me
running wasn't the answer?
Are you really gonna leave
without telling Hannah how you feel?
I should go.
Well, we should get cracking
on the list of writers for next year.
Actually,
I may have a few names for you...
including mine.
Tina, hiya. These are
my parents, Leslie and Lowell.
It's so lovely meeting you, Tina!
- Likewise.
- Pleasure.
I've heard all about
Hannah's vision for The Press,
and, well, if you'll have me,
I'd like to be a part of it.
Does this mean you're unretiring?
I am.
And I wanna stay in Angel Falls.
I was thinking about writing a romance
based on my relationship with Lawrence.
- I think that's a great idea.
- This is great news.
Enjoy the party, and we'll firm up
the details in the new year.
Great!
Alright.
Wow!
And this is for you.
- Oh.
It's a list of emerging writers?
Ryan really believes in you.
He just dropped that off at the house.
Wait, he hasn't left town yet?
No, I tried to convince him to stay,
but he wouldn't listen.
You're still here.
Yeah.
I was about to go, but...
there's something I have
to say before I do.
Me first, please.
I know you didn't take the job.
I misunderstood everything.
I'm sorry I didn't tell you
about the offer.
I didn't know if you'd react
the way I hoped.
What were you hoping I'd say?
That I... I should turn it down.
And that I...
belonged here, in Angel Falls.
Well, you do belong here, in Angel Falls,
and...
Ryan, I'm so sorry for what I said.
I... I was hurt because I thought
you were gonna leave
without saying anything, and...
I wouldn't do that.
I know.
Because you're right,
I do jump to conclusions.
Even after I laid into you so unfairly,
you still gave that list to Tina for me.
It's because...
I want to support you.
And I always have.
Well... what did you want to say to me?
That you are an extraordinary person...
and that all the inspiration
I've been looking for
is right here with you.
You're coming back?
As fast as I can.
Well...
then I'm really happy
that I got to know the real you
because that's the man
that I have fallen for.
Did... did you just say you...
you've fallen for me?
Yeah, I did. And you know what?
I think that I could say
the same thing for you.
Hmm.
Anthony, you did it.
Oh, I just provide
a little nudge here and there.
No. You, sir, are a master
in the arbitration of chance.
I'm just happy that Tina found her
Christmas spirit and her way home.
So Hannah and Ryan?
A happy accident?
Really?
Let's just say that while
orchestrating Tina's path,
I realized I needed to enlist
some extra help, and in return...
Love.
Simple and pure.
Yet so complicated.
Anything can happen.
You know, Raffi?
I am really gonna miss this place.
Let's go.
Merry Christmas, Ryan.
Merry Christmas, Hannah.
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
'Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol
Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Hey! Ho ho ho
See the blazing yule before us
Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la...