The Christmas Spirit (2013) Movie Script
1
Charlotte:
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE
THAT LIFE OFTEN PRESENTS US
WITH CHALLENGES.
BUT SOMEHOW, AT CHRISTMASTIME,
AS LOVED ONES GATHER AROUND
AND LIGHTS TWINKLE BRIGHTER...
HI.
...THE WORLD FEELS...
HERE YOU GO.
...WELL, MORE MAGICAL.
PEOPLE SEEM KINDER,
MORE FORGIVING, JOYFUL.
IT'S A TIME WHEN
WE'RE ENCOURAGED TO HOPE
AND ALLOWED TO HAVE FAITH,
FAITH IN WHAT WE BELIEVE AND
IN THE THINGS WE CANNOT SEE.
THE TREE'S SO PRETTY,
DADDY.
BUT WHAT IF,
DESPITE ALL THE OBSTACLES,
WE CONTINUE TO BE OUR BES SELVES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR?
GOOD MORNING, GWEN.
GOOD MORNING.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY,
ISN'T IT?
[ CHUCKLES ]
WOULDN'T THAT BE NICE?
[ KEYBOARD CLACKING ]
PERHAPS THIS YEAR WE CAN TRY
AND HOLD ON TO IT.
PERHAPS THIS YEAR
WE CAN TRY AND HOLD ON
TO THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.
AND THAT...
IS...THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
[ SMOOCHES ]
YOU'RE A GOOD BOY.
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
Alan:
THESE NUMBERS ARE AWFUL.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO
TO SELL NEWSPAPERS A THIS TIME OF THE YEAR?
ARE YOU GONNA GET THAT,
OR DO YOU WANT ME TO?
[ SIGHS ]
WHO IS THIS
AND WHAT'S THE STORY?
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, ALAN.
Charlotte!
YOU PROMISED ME A COFFEE
ONE DAY.
WHERE ARE YOU?
I NEED IT.
I'M STILL IN LAUREL SPRINGS
WITH MY BROTHER'S FAMILY.
AND I'M EDITING
THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER.
HOW IS HE, YOUR BROTHER?
He's wrapping up
his deployment.
LOOKS LIKE HE'S GONNA BE BACK
FOR GOOD AT CHRISTMAS.
OH, FANTASTIC.
WHICH MEANS THAT I COULD COME
BACK TO WORK IN THE NEW YEAR.
[ SIGHS ]
CHARLOTTE --
IT'LL BE DIFFEREN THIS TIME.
YOU DON'T KNOW DIFFERENT.
I WILL PULL BACK.
I WILL JUST REPORT.
THAT'S NOT YOU.
LOOK, WE BOTH KNOW IF I SEND YOU
OUT TO COVER A BURNING BUILDING,
YOU'RE GONNA TRY
TO PUT THE FIRE OUT YOURSELF.
BUT --
You get too close
to your stories.
YOU ALWAYS DO!
LIKE THE LAST ONE.
MISSING DEADLINES
WHILE YOU CHASED A GHOST.
ALAN --
Charlotte...
[Sighs] I care about you
like a daughter.
BUT I HAVE A NEWSPAPER
TO RUN.
JUST THINK ABOUT IT,
OKAY?
[ SIGHS ]
SURE THING.
ANYWAY, YOU'RE NOT MISSING
ANYTHING AROUND HERE.
IT'S QUIET --
TOO QUIET.
I GOT TO RUN.
MISS YOU.
Of course you do.
[ SIGHS ]
Christopher:
I'VE GOT THE SHOWER FIRST.
Morgan: DON'T USE
ALL THE HOT WATER.
HMM. THEY'RE UP.
WE GOT TO GO.
SOMETHING SMELLS GOOD.
I'M STARVING.
[ HUMMING ]
OH, THERE YOU ARE.
GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING.
WAFFLES!
SCRAMBLED EGGS
AND SAUSAGE?
AND DO YOU KNOW WHY I MADE YOU
YOUR FAVORITE BREAKFAST?
UM...
BECAUSE I PROMISED YOU I WOULD
LAST NIGHT.
NOT SO FAST, MISTER.
AND DO YOU TWO REMEMBER
WHAT YOU PROMISED ME?
TO SET THE TABLE.
AND FOLD THE LAUNDRY.
Charlotte:
THAT'S RIGHT.
AND WHEN WE SAY WE'RE GONNA
DO SOMETHING, WE DO IT, RIGHT?
I'M SORRY, AUNT CHARLOTTE.
YEAH, IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
I PROMISE.
COME ON. EAT.
NOW, WHERE IS
YOUR MOTHER?
I'M HERE!
GOOD MORNING!
HI.
HI.
MWAH.
[ GASPS ]
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HI. MWAH.
OH, MY GOSH.
WHAT DAY IS IT, YOU GUYS?
I'VE BEEN WORKING DOUBLE SHIFTS
AT THE HOSPITAL.
I CAN'T KEEP TRACK ANYMORE.
IS IT CHRISTMAS?
I THINK IT'S CHRISTMAS, RIGHT?
NO.
NO?
I CAN'T WAIT FOR DAD
TO BE HOME.
I KNOW. ME, TOO.
[ COMPUTER RINGING ]
[ GASPS ] THAT'S HIM.
OKAY, GUYS, LET'S GO. QUICK.
ALL RIGHT!
FINALLY!
HI, DAD!
HI!
HI!
HEY, GUYS.
HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING?
GOOD! WE'LL BE EVEN BETTER
WHEN YOU'RE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.
;
YEAH, THAT'S, UH...
THAT'S WHY I'M CALLING.
I'M SORRY, BU THE SITUATION HERE IS SHIFTING,
AND, WELL, I NEED TO STAY ON.
SO YOU'RE NOT COMING?
I'M SO SORRY
TO MISS EVERYTHING.
JERRY, WHENEVER YOU COME HOME,
THAT'LL BE CHRISTMAS.
HEY, SON, YOU BETTER
STOP GROWING UNTIL I
GET HOME. YOU HEAR ME?
ROGER THAT.
HONEY, I LOVE YOU MORE
THAN YOU THINK I DO.
I LOVE YOU, TOO.
OKAY. I'M GONNA TAKE THE KIDS
TO SCHOOL. COME ON.
AND WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU TWO
SOME ALONE TIME, ALL RIGHT?
COME ON.
WHAT HAPPENED?
[ SIGHS ]
DO YOU HAVE EVERYTHING?
YEP.
[ MUFFLED TALKING ]
[ SIGHS ]
WAIT.
u
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
HI, GWEN!
IF YOU DON'T HAVE
YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE YET,
I'D BE HAPPY
TO GET IT FOR YOU.
Morgan: WHY DO YOU ALWAYS TRY
TO DO STUFF FOR HER?
SHE'S SO ODD, AND SHE DOESN' EVEN SAY HI BACK OR ANYTHING.
SHE WASN'T ALWAYS
LIKE THIS.
Christopher: YEAH, AND SHE'S
ALWAYS TALKING TO HERSELF.
SHE WAS VERY GOOD TO ME
WHEN I WAS LITTLE,
AND I LIKE TO DO
WHATEVER I CAN FOR HER.
I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED.
MISS HER.
COME ON.
RACE YOU!
t
[ WIND CHIME TINKLING ]
OH, YOU THINK
YOU'RE PRETTY FUNNY, DON'T YOU?
NO, NO, NO.
[ LAUGHS ]
SOMETIMES.
JUST A LITTLE.
HEY, AUNT CHARLOTTE, DO I
HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL TODAY?
UM, I HAVE
A STOMACHACHE.
WELL, THAT DIDN'T SEEM
TO BOTHER YOU
WHEN YOU ATE ALL OF THA BREAKFAST THIS MORNING.
WELL, YEAH.
I MEAN...
I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, CAN'T I JUST STAY HOME
TODAY?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
IS THIS ABOU YOUR FATHER?
NO, I MEAN...
WELL, WHAT IS IT?
THERE'S JUST THIS KID
AT SCHOOL,
AND HE KEEPS PICKING ON ME
AND PUSHING ME AROUND, AND...
I JUST WANT TO PUNCH HIM
OR SOMETHING.
WELL, FIGHTING ISN'T THE WAY
TO HANDLE A PROBLEM.
I KNEW YOU'D SAY THAT.
OKAY.
IF HE DOES IT AGAIN,
I WANT YOU TO LOOK HIM IN THE
EYE AND TELL HIM TO BACK OFF.
A BULLY EXPECTS YOU
TO BE AFRAID.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT,
YOU TAKE AWAY HIS POWER.
OKAY.
I'LL TRY IT.
GOOD.
BOYS ARE SO CONFUSING.
OH, GOD.
CAN YOU GET HER TO STOP,
AUNT CHARLOTTE?
SHE'S GONNA STAR TALKING ABOUT DYLAN AGAIN.
WHO?
HER BOYFRIEND.
HER ALMOST-BOYFRIEND.
JUST SHUT IT, OKAY?
HMM.
DYLAN TURNER?
YEAH.
ISN'T HE TWO YEARS
OLDER THAN YOU ARE?
YEAH. SO?
[ TIRES SCREECH, HORNS HONK ]
YOU KNOW, ONE DAY
SOMEBODY'S GONNA GET HUR AT THIS INTERSECTION.
[ SIGHS ] THAT LIGH HAS BEEN BROKEN FOREVER.
WHY DON'T THEY JUST FIX IT?
Man: I'M SORRY, AL.
Al: DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT!
UNFORTUNATELY, WE CAN' AFFORD TO RIGHT NOW.
[ SIGHS ]
HEY, MORGAN.
I THINK WE JUST FOCUS
ON YOUR STUDIES RIGHT NOW,
AND EVERYTHING ELSE
WILL HAPPEN THE WAY
IT'S SUPPOSED TO, OKAY?
FINE. I GOT TO GO.
I'LL BE LATE FOR SCHOOL.
WAIT FOR ME!
BYE!
BYE, AUNT CHARLIE.
LOVE YOU!
[ SHIVERS ]
[ BELLS JINGLE ]
[ TIRES SCREECHING,
ENGINE REVVING ]
Daniel: COME ON.
[ REVVING CONTINUES ]
[ GROANS ]
DO YOU NEED SOME HELP?
NO, THANKS.
I GOT IT.
[ GRUNTS ]
ARE YOU SURE?
YEP! THANK YOU!
ALL UNDER CONTROL.
[ GRUNTING ]
[ GRUNTING ]
OKAY. GET IN THE CAR.
EXCUSE ME?
GET IN THE CAR.
EXCUSE ME. HI.
I GO...THIS WAY.
OKAY, TURN IT ON
AND STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR
SLOWLY.
OKAY.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER, REVS ]
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
THAT WAS PERFECT!
WOW!
THAT WAS -- HEY.
JOB WELL DONE. [ CHUCKLES ]
THANK YOU.
DANIEL.
CHARLOTTE.
YOU LIVE AROUND HERE?
I DO.
YES, BUT I HAVE TO RUN.
UH, HAVE A NICE DAY.
I WILL NOW.
[ CELLPHONE RINGING ]
YEAH?
I-I'M SORRY. WHAT?
CAN YOU START OVER?
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
[ CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE ]
HEY, CHARLOTTE!
GOOD MORNING.
WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE,
COME BY THE STORE.
I MADE SOME NEW SCARVES,
AND I'VE GO ALL YOUR FAVORITE COLORS.
I WILL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
GOOD MORNING, JOE.
MORNING!
OLIVIA.
GOOD MORNING.
ANY IDEA WHA THIS MEETING'S ABOUT?
UH, NO IDEA.
BUT A COUPLE OF SUITS
FROM THE CITY
JUST BOOKED OUR HOTEL
UNTIL CHRISTMAS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
HMM.
GOOD MORNING, CHARLOTTE.
GOOD MORNING, REVEREND.
IT SEEMS AS THOUGH
WE'VE BOTH BEEN PREACHING TODAY.
YOUR COLUMN WAS
RIGHT ON THE MARK.
[ CHUCKLES ] THANK YOU.
THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME.
NOW, PLEASE TELL ME
THAT WE'RE GONNA BE BLESSED
WITH YOUR AMAZING
CHRISTMAS COOKIES THIS SUNDAY.
OF COURSE YOU ARE.
HELLO, EVERYONE.
THANKS FOR COMING
ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT THESE
PAST FEW YEARS FOR ALL OF US,
BUT SOME GENTLEMEN
FROM HUNTSLAR & ASSOCIATES,
A PROPERTY-DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
RESPONSIBLE
FOR SOME OF THE LARGES RETAIL COMPLEXES IN THE COUNTRY,
HAVE COME TO DISCUSS
A PROPOSITION
WHICH MAY BEAR GOOD TIDINGS
AND PERHAPS EVEN A LITTLE CHEER.
SO, WILL YOU PLEASE
WELCOME --
He's not here,
so I'll be taking the floor.
OH, SURE.
UH, PLEASE WELCOME
RICK BUCKNER.
[ APPLAUSE ]
HEY, THERE.
HI.
MY BOSS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE
TODAY, BUT HE WAS --
[ DOOR OPENS ]
Daniel: I'M HERE!
I'M HERE! HI!
HUH?
SORRY I'M LATE.
HI. HI.
MR. TIRE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
MR. HUNTSLAR.
HOW ARE YOU, MAYOR?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
WELCOME.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I'M DANIEL HUNTSLAR,
C.E.O. OF HUNTSLAR & ASSOCIATES,
AND I HAVE ONE QUESTION
I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU.
HOW MUCH IS
YOUR PLACE OF BUSINESS WORTH?
OOH.
I'LL ASK YOU AGAIN.
HOW MUCH IS YOUR BUSINESS
REALLY WORTH?
Carmen: NOT MUCH.
A LOT LESS
THAN I PAID FOR IT.
HOW COME YOU WANT TO KNOW?
WELL, WHAT IF I WERE TO TELL YOU
THAT MY FIRM IS PREPARED
TO OFFER YOU TWICE THE VALUE
OF YOUR PROPERTY RIGHT NOW?
Carmen:
WAIT. ALL OF US?
WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU WANT,
MR. HUNTSLAR?
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I WANT TO REBUILD THE ENTIRE
MAIN STREET OF LAUREL SPRINGS.
[ UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS ]
Man: INTRODUCING
THE NEW LAUREL SPRINGS,
A PROUD COMMUNITY
FOR OVER 150 YEARS.
WHETHER YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE
AND WORK HERE OR JUST VISIT...
Woman: THAT'S NICE!
...LAUREL SPRINGS
WILL HAVE IT ALL.
AND IT WILL START WITH
A REVITALIZED MAIN STREE THAT WILL BE THE ENVY
OF EVERY SMALL TOWN IN AMERICA.
THAT'S GREAT!
Man: THAT'S ACTUALLY HOW I'VE
ALWAYS PICTURED IT, YOU KNOW?
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
THANK YOU, MAYOR.
ALL RIGHT.
TAKE CARE OF IT, RICK. THANKS.
[ CLEARS THROAT ]
HEY.
IT'S CHARLOTTE, RIGHT?
WHY DO YOU WANT TO BUILD
A NEW BUSINESS DISTRICT HERE?
WELL, BECAUSE I WAN TO TRANSFORM
YOUR SLEEPY, LITTLE TOWN
INTO A DESTINATION.
YOU DO REALIZE
THAT WE'RE AT LEAST 30 MILES
FROM THE NEAREST INTERSTATE?
OH, AND -- AND HERE IT SAYS
THAT WE HAVE ONLY FIVE DAYS
TO COME TO A DECISION
BEFORE YOU PUT IT TO A VOTE.
ARE YOU AWARE
THAT IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS?
I HEARD THAT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
UH, WE BELIEVE
THAT YOUR NEIGHBORS,
THEY COULD USE THIS GIFT,
AND THEY COULD USE IT NOW.
WHAT WE COULD USE
ARE SOME CHOIR ROBES.
IS THAT SO?
YES.
AND MAYBE WE COULD FIX
A FEW THINGS HERE AND THERE.
NOW, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
BUT, MOST IMPORTANTLY,
WE NEED TIME TO GE OUR BUSINESSES BACK TO NORMAL.
BY OURSELVES.
WE DON'T NEED YOU
TO RESCUE US.
I'M SORRY.
WHAT WAS YOUR LAST NAME?
HART.
CHARLOTTE HART.
I'M THE EDITOR OF
THE LAUREL SPRINGS POST.
HUH.
YOU KNOW, I USED TO READ
SOME PRETTY IN-DEPTH ARTICLES
IN THE NEW YORK CHRONICLER
WRITTEN BY A CHARLOTTE HART.
IS THAT --
[ CHUCKLES ]
WOW.
WOW.
HOW'D YOU END UP HERE?
EXCUSE ME.
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
WHO IS THIS
AND WHAT'S THE STORY?
CHARLOTTE:
Alan, it's me.
CHARLOTTE,
I ALREADY TOLD YOU
I can't give you
your old job back.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT.
DO ME A FAVOR.
I-I NEED YOU TO FIND OU EVERYTHING YOU CAN
on Huntslar & Associates.
IS THIS A BIG ONE?
IT IS TO ME.
HEY.
HOW WAS SCHOOL TODAY?
[ SIGHS ]
NOT SO GOOD.
UH-OH.
I DIDN'T DO
WHAT YOU TOLD ME.
AND, UM...NOW HE WANTS ME
TO DO HIS HOMEWORK
BY LUNCH TOMORROW.
HMM.
NOW, NOBODY CAN MAKE YOU DO
SOMETHING YOU DON'T WANT TO DO,
ESPECIALLY IF IT'S WRONG.
HMM?
YOU REMEMBER THAT.
HURRY UP
AND FINISH YOUR HOMEWORK.
[ SMOOCHES ]
AND SWEET DREAMS.
OKAY.
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
[ DOOR OPENS ]
"A CHRISTMAS CAROL"?
IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITES.
SO, WHERE ARE YOU UP TO?
WHICH GHOST IS VISITING
OLD SCROOGE?
IT'S THE GHOS OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
OH.
[ Ominously ]
EBENEZER'S ABOUT TO LEARN
THE ERROR OF HIS WAYS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
THANKS. THANKS.
SORRY.
[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]
DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS?
I BELIEVE
THAT THERE ARE SPIRITS
OR GUARDIAN ANGELS
THAT WATCH OVER US.
I LIKE THAT.
HMM.
HEY, AUNT CHARLOTTE.
I DON'T WANT LAUREL SPRINGS
TO CHANGE.
[ Sighing ]
NEITHER DO I.
SO, WHAT IF EVERYONE SELLS
THEIR BUSINESSES?
WHERE ARE THEY GONNA GO?
AND ARE WE EVER GONNA
SEE THEM AGAIN?
WHAT IF I DON'T LIKE THE WAY
THAT THINGS ARE
WHEN THEY CHANGE?
I MEAN, I-I LOVE LAUREL SPRINGS
JUST THE WAY THAT IT IS.
I FEEL THE SAME WAY.
I'M GONNA DO EVERYTHING I CAN
TO STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING.
BUT RIGHT NOW, IT'S LATE.
TIME FOR YOU
TO GO TO BED.
OKAY.
GOOD NIGHT.
MWAH.
[ SIGHS ]
Alan:
"CHARLOTTE, NOTHING INTERESTING
ON HUNTSLAR & ASSOCIATES.
"PRIVATE COMPANY.
TIGHT AS A DRUM.
"NO BOMBSHELLS, SCANDALS,
OR INFO.
SORRY. BEST, ALAN."
"DEAR, MR. BANKS,
"JUST A REPORTER
IN LAUREL SPRINGS.
"CURIOUS ABOUT HOW
YOU'RE ALL MANAGING
"AFTER HUNTSLAR & ASSOCIATES
REVITALIZED YOUR TOWN.
"THE SAME THING
COULD HAPPEN HERE.
"PLEASE RESPOND
AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE.
SINCERELY, CHARLOTTE HART,
THE LAUREL SPRINGS POST."
GOOD. YOU'RE HOME.
HI.
I CANNOT BELIEVE I MISSED SAYING
GOOD NIGHT TO THE KIDS AGAIN.
WOULD YOU STOP BEING SO HARD
ON YOURSELF?
YOU CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE.
UM, HAVE YOU SEEN
MY OTHER GLOVE?
NO.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
TO THE HOTEL.
GOT TO, UH,
SPEAK TO THOSE BUSINESSMEN
ABOUT THIS TOWN PROPOSAL.
THERE'S MORE TO THIS
THAN THEY'RE LETTING ON.
HEY, CHARLOTTE.
I'M SORRY
JERRY'S NOT COMING HOME.
I KNOW.
SO AM I.
NO.
WHAT I MEAN IS,
I HATE THE THOUGHT OF US KEEPING
YOU FROM WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.
I-I NEVER THOUGHT OUR LIVES
WOULD BE LIKE THIS.
AND IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK
TO THE CITY AND THE PAPER AND --
PAM, I'M EXACTLY WHERE
I WANT TO BE -- HERE WITH YOU.
YOU'RE NOT GETTING RID OF ME.
UNDERSTOOD?
[ SMOOCHES ] I'VE GOT TO TALK
TO THIS HUNTSLAR GUY.
CAN'T YOU JUST CALL HIM
IN THE MORNING?
HE WON'T BE SURPRISED
TO SEE ME.
SURE HE WON'T.
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
[ CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYING ]
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
[ CRASH ]
[ RADIO CHATTER ]
Dr. Franklin:
CHARLOTTE?
IT'S DR. FRANKLIN.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
MMM, YEAH.
I-I HEAR YOU.
[ SIGHS ]
YOU WERE IN A CAR ACCIDENT,
CHARLOTTE.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
YES.
YES, I-I UNDERSTAND.
AM I OKAY?
,
PAM.
HEY.
ANY CHANGE IN HER STATUS?
SAME AS WHEN YOU LEFT.
HOW ARE THE KIDS?
I-I JUST DROPPED THEM OFF
AT SCHOOL.
THEY KNOW IT'S BAD, BUT, UM...
WHERE'S DR. FRANKLIN?
HE'S IN WITH CHARLOTTE NOW.
[ GROANS ]
WAS IT A BAD ACCIDENT?
I DON'T REMEMBER.
IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THAT BAD,
RIGHT?
I FEEL --
I FEEL PRETTY GOOD.
WHAT ON EARTH?
DO YOU --
[ GASPS ]
DOCTOR, PLEASE DON'T --
DON'T...GO.
Pam:
DR. FRANKLIN, HOW IS SHE?
Dr. Franklin: PAM, I'M SORRY.
IT WAS A BAD ACCIDENT.
SHE'S IN A COMA RIGHT NOW,
AND YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I DO,
WE HAVE NO WAY TO DETERMINE
WHEN SHE MIGHT WAKE UP.
THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGE?
NO.
WE'RE MONITORING HER
VERY CLOSELY,
AND SHE'S NOT IN PAIN.
THERE WAS ANOTHER PATIEN BROUGHT IN
FROM THE SAME ACCIDENT,
UH, ACROSS THE HALL,
ALSO IN A COMA.
OTHER PATIENT?
NO.
HOW DID...THIS HAPPEN?
I WAS DRIVING OVER
TO TALK TO YOU.
WELL, I'M RIGHT HERE.
[ GASPS ]
AND I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
WELL, I-I THINK THAT YOU...
AND I
WERE IN A CAR ACCIDENT.
I SHOULD HAVE STAYED
IN THE CITY,
HAVE RICK HANDLE
THIS PROJECT.
YOU CAN SEE ME?
YEAH. YEAH.
NO ONE ELSE CAN.
THAT'S GREAT.
I GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE,
UH, NOW.
I'LL HAVE MY ASSISTANT CALL ME
A TOWN CAR.
YEAH.
UH, DANIEL, I-I THINK...
I THINK YOU'RE IN SHOCK.
WHY ISN'T THIS WORKING?
BECAUSE
WE'RE NOT REALLY HERE.
I KNOW.
I-I'M AS CONFUSED AS YOU ARE.
AND I'M REALLY SORRY
ABOUT THE ACCIDENT.
THE ACCIDENT.
DID YOU...
DID YOU HIT ME?
I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE YOU HIT ME.
THERE IS
A BROKEN TRAFFIC LIGHT.
OH.
YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME?
HEY, I NEVER SAID THAT.
WELL, THERE IS
A BROKEN TRAFFIC LIGHT IN TOWN.
AND -- AND IF WE HAD
AN ACCIDENT,
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN
THAT IT'S MY FAULT.
I BELIEVE YOU.
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
I DON'T KNOW.
I THOUGHT ABOUT THE ACCIDENT,
AND HERE WE ARE.
YEAH, I'VE GOT A PLANE,
AND THIS WAS SO MUCH COOLER.
WE'RE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.
WHAT'S YOUR DEFINITION
OF "ALIVE"?
[ WHIRRING ]
WELL, HOW BAD IS IT?
PRETTY BAD.
THE LAMP'S DAMAGED
BEYOND REPAIR,
BUT THE REAL PROBLEM IS
THE TOWN'S ELECTRICAL GRID
NEEDS TO BE UPDATED.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO FIX IT?
MONEY. OR A MIRACLE.
WE'RE A LITTLE SHORT ON BOTH
RIGHT NOW.
POOR CHARLOTTE.
[ WHIRRING ]
MAYOR, WAS IT CHARLOTTE?
TOLD YOU.
YOU REALIZE THERE WOULDN'T BE
A BROKEN LIGH IF MY COMPANY DEVELOPED
THIS SITE.
THIS "SITE"?
MY HOMETOWN
IS NOT A "SITE."
HEY, LOOK, NORMALLY
I COULDN'T GET OU OF A PLACE LIKE THIS
FAST ENOUGH.
CHARMING.
BUT SEEING HOW I'M --
I'M STUCK HERE WITH YOU,
I MEAN, DON'T YOU THINK
WE SHOULD STICK TOGETHER?
[ CROW SQUAWKING ]
GWEN?
CAN YOU SEE ME?
NO, NO, NO.
NO.
NOT THIS ONE, TOO.
NO.
WHO'S THIS?
CAN YOU SEE ME?
STOP. PLEASE, GWEN.
TALK TO ME.
I PROMISED MYSELF I'D NEVER
GET INVOLVED WITH SPIRITS AGAIN.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
FOLLOW ME.
[ WIND CHIME TINKLING ]
[ SWALLOWS ]
SO...
LIKE I SAID, I STOPPED
HELPING SPIRITS A LONG TIME AGO.
HOW CAN YOU EVEN SEE US?
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO SEE
WHAT OTHERS CANNOT.
SOME PEOPLE SAY
IT'S A GIFT.
[ SIGHS ]
I'D SAY IT'S MORE LIKE
A CURSE.
WHY?
BECAUSE WHEN SOMEONE
IN THE SPIRIT WORLD
KNOWS YOU CAN SEE THEM,
THEY NEVER LEAVE YOU ALONE.
[ VOICES WHISPERING ]
[ GASPS ]
WHOA.
YEAH, I COULD SEE
HOW THAT COULD BE --
UN-UNBEARABLE.
I TRIED TO HELP FOR --
FOR AS LONG AS I COULD.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
NO ONE KNOWS BETTER THAN I
HOW HARD IT WILL BE
FOR YOU TO RETURN
TO THE LIFE
THAT YOU ONCE KNEW.
I'M SO SORRY.
I...
I, UH...
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
WHAT IS IT THAT YOU KNOW
EXACTLY, UH, MISS...?
HALLINGER.
AND YOU'RE...?
DANIEL.
UH, DANIEL HUNTSLAR.
OH, YOU'RE THAT MAN.
I'VE HEARD ABOUT YOU.
I DON'T THINK
SHE LIKES ME.
DON'T LIKE YOUR AGENDA,
MR. HUNTSLAR.
FIVE GENERATIONS OF HALLINGERS
HAVE LIVED HERE
WITHOUT ANY OUTSIDE HELP.
ISN'T THAT RIGHT,
CHARLOTTE?
IT CERTAINLY IS.
Gwen: I STILL REMEMBER
WHEN YOU WERE JUST A CHILD.
ALWAYS SUSPECTED THERE WAS
SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT YOU.
THE LIGHT IN YOU
IS SO STRONG.
MAKES ME WONDER
WHERE YOU'RE REALLY FROM.
WHAT IN THE --
HAVE YOU PASSED THROUGH YET?
PASSED THROUGH?
UM...I-I DON'T KNOW.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
IT'S WHEN PEOPLE IN THE SPIRI WORLD WANT TO RETURN SO BADLY,
THEY'RE ABLE TO MANIPULATE
EVENTS IN THE REAL WORLD.
AND THE MORE YOU DO IT,
THE EASIER IT GETS.
DOES -- DOES THAT MEAN I CAN
CALL MY BROKER AND TRADE STOCK?
YOU WANT TO COME BACK,
RIGHT?
YEAH.
THEN THE ANSWER IS NO,
MR. HUNTSLAR.
WHAT YOU DO IN THE SPIRIT WORLD
WILL DETERMINE
WHETHER YOU EVER COME BACK.
[ SIGHS ]
LOOK...
COMPLETING
UNFINISHED BUSINESS,
WHAT WAS GOING ON IN HERE
AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT...
...DOING GOOD --
THAT'S THE BEST WAY
TO MANIFEST YOUR RETURN
AND WAKE UP AGAIN.
ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME, MY DEAR.
Gwen:
USE THIS TIME WISELY.
WELL,
THAT WAS INTERESTING.
SO...ARE YOU, LIKE,
A FAIRY OR SOMETHING?
WHAT?
"I ALWAYS SUSPECTED
THERE WAS SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL
ABOUT YOU, MY DEAR."
GWEN IS LIKE A GRANDMOTHER
TO ME,
AND SHE'S REALLY PUTTING
HERSELF OUT FOR US.
AND DID YOU NOT HEAR
ANYTHING THAT SHE SAID?
YEAH.
YEAH, UNFINISHED BUSINESS,
THINGS YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT.
ANY IDEA WHAT WAS ON YOUR MIND
BEFORE THE ACCIDENT?
OF COURSE.
I WAS WORRIED ABOUT MY HOME,
MY FAMILY, DEALING WITH YOU.
[ DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE ]
WHAT WERE YOU
THINKING ABOUT?
I'M PRETTY SURE
I WAS THINKING ABOU HOW QUICK
I CAN GET OUT OF THIS PLACE.
OH, AND, UH...
UH, NOTHING.
COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.
WELL, I WAS THINKING...
ABOUT WHAT IT MIGHT BE LIKE
TO KISS YOU.
I BEG YOUR PARDON?
HEY, YOU ASKED.
SO...WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO
FIRST?
NOT THAT.
[ BELLS TOLLING ]
CHURCH BELLS. WOW.
IT'S 12:00.
COME WITH ME.
[ SCHOOL BELL RINGS ]
I WAS THINKING PARIS.
YOU WERE THINKING MIDDLE SCHOOL.
[ CHUCKLES ] GREAT.
I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEONE.
SO, YOU GOT A KID HERE?
NO.
MY NEPHEW, CHRISTOPHER.
THAT'S BETTER.
I, UH, NEED TO SEE SOMETHING
FOR MYSELF.
THERE HE IS.
WHERE'S MY MATH HOMEWORK,
TWERP?
I DON'T HAVE IT.
I KNOW YOU DIDN' JUST SAY THAT.
Boy: WHAT?!
WHY DON'T YOU
DO IT YOURSELF?
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
CLOCK HIM, CHRISTOPHER!
DON'T YOU DARE!
THIS GUY'S A JERK!
COME ON, CHRISTOPHER.
JUST DO WHAT I TOLD YOU.
I KNOW YOU CAN.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU
ONE MORE CHANCE.
ARE YOU GONNA DO MY HOMEWORK
OR WHAT?!
NO.
[ STUDENTS MURMURING ]
BACK OFF,
AND DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK!
I SAID BACK OFF!
GOOD JOB.
Daniel:
AND HERE WE GO.
OH!
WHOA.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Boy: WHAT WAS THAT?!
OH!
YES!
[ LAUGHTER ]
OH!
I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!
NEITHER DID I.
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT WAS AWESOME.
THANKS, MAN.
LET'S GO TO CLASS,
YOU GUYS.
THAT IS WHAT I THINK GWEN MEAN BY PASSING THROUGH.
YEAH.
[ CHUCKLES ]
HEY.
HEY,
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
YEAH.
[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]
WHERE ARE THEY GOING?
WHO?
[ CHUCKLES ]
LET'S GO.
YOU SURE?
YEAH.
COME ON.
OKAY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE'S
GOT A BOYFRIEND.
ALMOST-BOYFRIEND.
OH, COME ON.
THEY'RE JUST KIDS HAVING
SOME FUN. DIDN'T YOU EVER --
LEAVE SCHOOL?
ME?
[ CHUCKLES ]
NO.
NO, I WAS STUDYING,
WORKING.
THAT'S WHAT I DID.
THAT'S WHAT I DO.
WERE YOU ALWAYS THIS,
UH, DETERMINED?
YES.
[ LAUGHS ]
Woman: YOU'RE GONNA JOIN US
ON SATURDAY.
Boy: WHAT'S WRONG WITH
THESE ORNAMENTS?
Man: THEY'LL BE READY
CHRISTMAS EVE, I PROMISE.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
WELL, SEE THAT?
THEY'RE JUST GETTING
SOMETHING TO EAT.
Charlotte:
I STILL DON'T LIKE IT.
THEY SHOULDN'T BE HERE.
Carmen: I CAN'T BELIEVE
CHARLOTTE'S IN A COMA.
I KNOW.
I'M JUST...DEVASTATED.
AND THAT MAN.
TRAGIC.
YEAH, WELL, HIS ASSOCIATE
DOESN'T SEEM TO MIND.
NO, THIS IS A WIN/WIN FOR
EVERYBODY IN THE WHOLE TOWN.
CAN YOU BELIEVE
THEY'RE STILL GOING AHEAD
WITH THAT VOTE NEXT WEEK?
AH. [ CHUCKLES ]
THAT'S GREAT NEWS!
NOT FOR THIS TOWN,
IT ISN'T.
MAYBE IT'S FOR THE BEST,
YOU KNOW?
WE COULD REALLY USE
THE MONEY.
I KNOW.
ME, TOO.
I CAN'T BELIEVE
THEY'RE THINKING OF SELLING.
Daniel:
OF COURSE THEY ARE.
THIS IS A GREAT DEAL FOR THEM.
NO.
WHAT'S GREAT IS THAT CARMEN
COULD HAVE WORKED
FOR ANY OF THE BIG DESIGNERS.
BUT INSTEAD, SHE CAME HERE,
AND SHE OPENED UP HER OWN STORE.
AND OLIVIA'S HUSBAND, JOE,
WAS A JAZZ MUSICIAN.
WHEN HE RETIRED,
HIS DREAM WAS TO HAVE A HOTEL,
AND THERE IT IS.
UH-HUH.
AND NEXT YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME
THAT THIS CAF...
WAS OWNED
BY TOMMY'S GRANDFATHER.
TOMMY GROWS
ALL OF HIS OWN PRODUCE
RIGHT HERE IN LAUREL SPRINGS.
HE MUST NOT BE ABLE TO FEED MORE
THAN, WHAT, 60 PEOPLE A DAY?
EXACTLY.
THIS TOWN IS TOO SPECIAL
FOR WHAT YOU WANT.
YOU -- YOU WANT THIS TOWN
TO HAVE A FUTURE, RIGHT?
OH, NO.
NOW WHAT?
GUESS WE'RE LEAVING.
I FEEL KIND OF WEIRD
NOT BEING IN SCHOOL.
LOOK, I UNDERSTAND YOU WAN TO KEEP TABS ON EVERYBODY
WHILE WE'RE LIKE THIS,
BUT NOW THAT I KNOW
THE VOTE'S GOING THROUGH,
I GOT TO STAY FOCUSED...
LET'S GO INSIDE, HANG OUT.
...AND FOCUS ON
GETTING HOME.
YEAH, I DON'T REALLY THINK
THAT THIS A GOOD IDEA.
GET BACK TO MY LIFE. I MEAN,
IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR?
COULD YOU JUST, FOR A MOMENT,
STOP TALKING ABOUT YOURSELF?
IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.
NOTHING'S GONNA HAPPEN.
NO. STOP! DYLAN!
HEY! HEY!
PLEASE, DYLAN!
I-I GOT TO GO, OKAY?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
MORGAN, WAIT!
HEY!
WEIRD.
THAT WAS...NICE.
YEAH, WELL, A FIRST KISS
SHOULD BE EARNED.
IT SHOULD.
AND LOOK WHO
JUST PASSED THROUGH.
[ CHUCKLES ]
HA-HA.
WOW!
WOW!
THANKS!
YOU'RE WELCOME.
EAT UP.
OKAY.
HELP YOURSELVES.
[ SIGHS ]
SO, UM,
I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR COMING TO THE HOSPITAL
THIS AFTERNOON TO SEE CHARLOTTE.
I KNOW IT WASN'T EASY.
DO YOU THINK
SHE'S GONNA BE OKAY?
I CAN'T IMAGINE I ANY OTHER WAY.
MOM, DON'T YOU THINK
THAT WE SHOULD TELL DAD?
I MEAN, DON'T YOU THINK
THAT HE DESERVES TO KNOW?
YEAH, I MEAN,
IT'S HIS SISTER.
NO.
I-I THINK THAT, UM,
WE SHOULD JUST LET HIM FOCUS
WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY.
AND TIMES ARE HARD ENOUGH
RIGHT NOW.
AND I'M SURE CHARLOTTE
WOULDN'T WANT TO UPSET HIM.
YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, UM...
THIS THING HAPPENED
AT SCHOOL TODAY.
UM...THERE'S THIS KID
THAT'S BEEN BOTHERING ME,
OR WAS BOTHERING ME.
YEAH?
I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO EXPLAIN IT.
I MEAN, I JUST FEEL LIKE
AUNT CHARLOTTE...
WHAT IS IT?
I MEAN, SHE WAS RIGHT.
SHE TOLD ME WHAT TO DO,
AND SHE WAS RIGHT.
AND...I FEEL LIKE
SHE WAS THERE
WHEN -- WHEN I GOT HIM TO STOP.
I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.
I MEAN, I FEEL --
I FEEL IT, TOO.
ISN'T THAT WEIRD?
NO.
NO, I THINK IT'S REALLY SWEE OF YOU TWO.
GO ON.
EAT YOUR FOOD. COME ON.
[ CHUCKLES ]
IT'S OKAY.
[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ]
EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE GOT OFF
TO THE WRONG START, CHARLOTTE.
Todd: "DEAR, MS. HART, I'M
SO GLAD SOMEONE FINALLY ASKED.
"THE THING OF IT IS,
THINGS HERE ARE WORSE NOW --
"AT LEAST FOR MY FAMILY.
"AFTER HUNTSLAR TOOK
WHAT THEY NEEDED AND REBUILT,
RENTS WERE RAISED..."
YOU KNOW,
I'M NOT THE ENEMY HERE.
YOU KNOW, MY PROPOSAL COULD
REALLY HELP YOUR COMMUNITY.
YOU WANT TO HELP
YOUR FRIENDS, RIGHT?
OF COURSE I DO.
DOES EVERYONE AROUND HERE
REALLY CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS
LIKE THIS?
PRETTY MUCH.
WHERE DO YOU HIDE
THE REINDEER?
[ CHUCKLES ]
WHERE'S
YOUR CHRISTMAS SPIRIT?
WHAT IS THAT?
BEING KIND
AND THOUGHTFUL,
SPENDING TIME
WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
THAT'S NOT REALLY
MY THING.
NOT YOUR THING?
WE JUST DIDN'T...
EVER DO THAT.
MY DAD WAS
USUALLY WORKING.
JUST LIKE YOU.
HE WAS JUST...BUSY.
YOU CAN'T HAVE IT ALL,
RIGHT?
[ SIGHS ]
YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY.
THE OLDER HE GETS,
THE MORE HE JUST WANTS
TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER.
I THINK
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY,
HE REALIZED HE MISSED THE BOA ON BEING A DAD.
!A
AND NOW THAT'S ALL
HE WANTS TO DO.
BUT, YOU KNOW...
IT'S TOO LATE.
IS IT EVER
REALLY TOO LATE?
YEAH.
I THINK IT IS.
IT'S OKAY.
I TURNED OUT PRETTY WELL.
THAT'S ENOUGH FOR YOU?
IT MADE ME WHO I AM.
HAVE YOU EVER
CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS?
[ CHUCKLES ]
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
CELEBRATE IT?
SONGS, FAMILY DINNERS.
[ CHUCKLES ] NO.
CHURCH, CIDER?
NO, NEVER.
A TREE?
TREE? NO.
[ Laughing ] NO.
NOT A TREE.
HMM.
[ SIGHS ]
THERE'S SOMETHING
THAT WE SHOULD DO.
PICK ONE.
WHAT?
PICK ONE.
IT'S TIME YOU DECORATED
YOUR FIRST TREE.
[ CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYING ]
[ MUSIC CONTINUES ]
THERE IT IS.
[ MUSIC CONTINUES ]
OKAY.
NOW IT'S TIME TO LIGHT THE TREE.
[ SIGHS ]
[ GASPS ]
HOW'D YOU DO THAT?
[ LAUGHS ]
I DON'T KNOW!
BUT I LIKE IT.
SO DO I.
[ CHUCKLES ]
CROWN THE TREE!
ALL RIGHT.
Morgan: "AND THE GHOS OF CHRISTMAS PRESEN AND EBENEZER SCROOGE GAZED IN
WONDER AT THE CHRISTMAS TREE."
IT'S AUNT CHARLOTTE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ WIND WHISTLING, DOG BARKING ]
Man: WHAT THE...
$200?
HMM.
I CAN'T BELIEVE
ALL THIS MONEY
WAS STILL IN MY PANTS POCKE BACK AT THE HOSPITAL.
THAT'S LAUREL SPRINGS
FOR YOU.
I'M JUST SURPRISED
YOU WANT TO GIVE IT AWAY.
HEY, I CAN BE GENEROUS
WHEN I WANT TO BE.
JUST CALL ME SECRET SANTA.
YOU KNOW,
YOU BETTER PUT THAT AWAY
BEFORE SOMEBODY SEES A STACK
OF BILLS FLOATING AROUND
AND EITHER HAS A HEART ATTACK
OR CHASES YOU DOWN THE STREET.
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ BELL JINGLES ]
HO, HO, HO!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
HO, HO, HO!
HO, HO, HO!
[ GASPS ]
MOM, CAN WE GET IT, HUH?
NO, HONEY.
[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]
LOOK!
OKAY, LET'S GO INSIDE.
LET'S GO.
NOT AGAIN.
[ BELLS RING ]
UGH.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
HAVE YOU BEEN LEAVING
YOUR BUSINESS CARDS
EVERYWHERE WE'VE BEEN?
LOOK, PART OF
MY UNFINISHED BUSINESS
IS GET YOUR FRIENDS TO TRUS THAT I KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM
IN THIS DEAL.
THAT SHOULD MAKE ME A LITTLE
MORE POPULAR AROUND HERE,
DON'T YOU THINK?
HEY, EVERYONE, LISTEN UP.
I-I CAN'T BELIEVE
I'M SAYING THIS, BUT, UM...
I THINK CHARLOTTE SENT US
AN E-MAIL.
WAIT. CHARLOTTE?
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?
AND PART OF
MY UNFINISHED BUSINESS
IS TO CONVINCE
ALL OF MY FRIENDS
THAT YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
Todd: "AFTER HUNTSLAR TOOK
WHAT THEY NEEDED AND REBUILT,
"RENTS WERE RAISED, OUR FRIENDS
WERE FORCED TO LEAVE,
"SELL THEIR LAND, THEIR HOMES.
A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST CAN' AFFORD TO LIVE HERE ANYMORE."
I DON'T THINK I LIKE THIS DEAL
ANYMORE.
IT SOUNDS FISHY TO ME.
THIS TIME,
YOU'RE COMING WITH ME.
THE CHURCH?
WAIT FOR IT.
AND, YEAH.
WHAT HAVE WE HERE?
Ronnie: HEY, REVEREND.
THANKS, RONNIE.
SURE.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
YOU?
THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL.
THEY'RE NICE, RIGHT?
WELL, IF ANYBODY ELSE HAD SEN THEM, I WOULD SAY THANK YOU.
WHEN YOU TOLD ME
THE CHOIR NEEDED THEM,
I HAD MY ASSISTANT PLACE
THE ORDER.
REVEREND!
I THINK WE HAVE A MIRACLE!
THAT BROKEN TRAFFIC LIGHT --
IT'S WORKING AGAIN!
GOOD AS NEW!
YOU GOT TO COME SEE!
DID YOU...
DON'T SEE ME
LEAVING ANY CARDS.
Man: LOOK, IT'S FIXED!
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
THERE'S NO WAY.
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Kevin: "DO YOU REALLY THINK
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT CHARLOTTE
SENT THAT E-MAIL?"
Sarah: "NO, SHE'S IN A COMA...
BUT HER SPIRIT COULD HAVE."
"WHAT'S A SPIRIT?
YOU MEAN LIKE A GHOST?"
Jenn:
"I DON'T KNOW, BUT I SLIPPED
ON SOME ICE THIS MORNING,
"AND SOMEONE -- OR SOMETHING --
CAUGHT ME JUST IN TIME.
BUT WHEN I TURNED AROUND,
NO ONE WAS THERE."
HEY, MOM! MOM, YOU SHOULD
REALLY COME CHECK THIS OUT!
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
GWEN.
HI.
HOW -- HOW ARE YOU?
FINE.
UH, FINE.
I JUST THOUGHT THA WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON
THAT, WELL, YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE
TIME TO COOK, SO...
OH, THANK YOU.
THAT'S -- THAT'S SO THOUGHTFUL
OF YOU.
UM, COME IN.
OH, NO, NO.
YES.
COME IN, PLEASE.
KIDS?
KIDS, COME OUT HERE.
YOU REMEMBER GWEN,
RIGHT?
UH, MAKE HER FEEL AT HOME.
I'M GONNA GO GET SOME CIDER
FOR EVERYBODY.
[ SIGHS ]
UM...YOU WANT TO HAVE
A SEAT?
OH, THANKS.
[ SIGHS ]
SO...[ CHUCKLES ]
HI.
I'M SO SORRY
ABOUT YOUR AUNT CHARLOTTE.
I KNOW THIS SOUNDS
REALLY CRAZY, BUT...
SOME PEOPLE THINK
THAT IT'S HER SPIRI THAT'S DOING ALL THE THINGS
AROUND TOWN.
I HEARD THAT.
YEAH, UM...
DO YOU --
DO YOU BELIEVE IT?
I BELIEVE THAT SHE IS
A VERY STRONG WOMAN...
...THAT SHE'S DOING EVERYTHING
SHE CAN TO GET BACK TO YOU.
Pam:
WHO WANTS CIDER?
OH, GOOD.
I'M SO GLAD YOU CAME OVER.
THANK YOU.
(
Reverend: GOOD MORNING.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
Charlotte:
THESE SHOULD BE DONE.
I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND
THE POINT OF MAKING COOKIES
IF WE CAN'T EAT THEM.
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE
EXPECTING THEM.
AND THIS IS WHA THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.
TA-DA!
WOW.
WELL,
DON'T JUST STAND THERE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
ONE OF THE REASONS
MANY OF YOU CAME HERE TODAY
WAS TO HEAR MY SERMON,
TO HEAR SOMETHING NEW,
PERHAPS SOMETHING PROFOUND.
NOTHING THAT I COULD SAY TODAY,
HOWEVER,
COULD BE MORE IMPORTAN THAN WHAT OUR NEIGHBOR,
OUR FRIEND, OUR LOVED ONE,
CHARLOTTE HART,
HAS ALREADY TOLD US.
IN THIS,
HER MOST RECENT ARTICLE,
CHARLOTTE REMINDED US
OF THE IMPORTANCE OF LIVING
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT --
AND NO JUST UNTIL DECEMBER 25th,
BUT EACH AND EVERY DAY.
CERTAINLY ACTS OF KINDNESS,
FORGIVENESS, AND JOY
KNOW NO CALENDAR.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THE VERY BES WAY TO HONOR CHARLOTTE,
WHO IS FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE
RIGHT NOW...
IS TO DEDICATE OURSELVES
TO CARRYING OUT HER WISHES.
LET US BOW OUR HEADS AND PRAY
FOR HER SWIF AND SPEEDY RECOVERY,
AS WELL FOR MR. DANIEL HUNTSLAR.
I CAN'T BELIEVE
HE MENTIONED ME.
THAT'S THE KIND OF PLACE
THIS IS.
[ BELLS TOLLING ]
ALL RIGHT. COOKIES.
HEY, MOM, AREN'T --
ARE THESE AUNT CHARLOTTE--
CHARLOTTE'S
CHRISTMAS COOKIES.
[ CHUCKLES ]
DON'T QUESTION IT.
THESE COULD ONLY COME FROM HER.
RICK:
No, it's not looking good.
We're in trouble.
This woman,
she put it into their heads
that they'll be run out of town
or something.
And then people
keep coming up to me,
asking why Daniel's business
card is everywhere. It's crazy.
I don't know.
The vote's tomorrow,
and I can't figure out
how we'll get a majority.
I don't know what the boss
would want me to do.
What in the world?
"3X."
I think I was just told
what to do.
[ CHUCKLES ]
OOH!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
N-NOTHING.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
HEY, UH, YOU KNOW,
I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT WE'RE STILL DOING HERE.
I MEAN,
WHY AREN'T WE WAKING UP YET?
HAVE WE DONE EVERYTHING
THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO?
I'M CONFUSED.
ARE YOU A LITTLE --
ARE YOU CONFUSED?
GWEN, I THINK
WE NEED TO TALK.
THEY ALWAYS DO.
Gwen: YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY YOU'RE HERE,
AND YOU WANT SOME ANSWERS,
RIGHT?
PRETTY MUCH.
WELL, THE TRUTH IS,
I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY,
BUT I DO KNOW THAT YOUR FATES
ARE INTERTWINED,
AND IF YOU DON'T START HELPING
EACH OTHER,
YOU'LL NEVER COME BACK.
YOU SEE? WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER
WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT.
OKAY, SO WE'RE ON
THE SAME TEAM.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT ELSE
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
WELL,
IT'S REALLY QUITE SIMPLE.
FINALLY.
YOU MUST LOOK WITHIN.
EXCUSE ME?
WHY YOU COLLIDED
THE OTHER NIGHT, THE REASON.
SEE, WHAT WAS GOING ON
IN HERE --
THAT'S
YOUR UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
FIND WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED
IN YOURSELVES AND EACH OTHER,
AND THEN MAYBE --
MAYBE YOU'LL COME BACK
EVEN BETTER THAN BEFORE.
YOU KNOW WHAT SHE MEAN BY LOOKING WITHIN, RIGHT?
I MEAN, THERE'S --
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT US
THAT WE NEED TO FIX.
IS THAT SO?
YEAH.
AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD
HELP ONE ANOTHER
TRY TO FIGURE OU WHAT THAT IS.
YEAH, I-I GOT THAT.
HERE'S THE THING.
UH...
I DON'T HAVE
ANY, UH, FLAWS, SO...
YOU THINK
YOU'RE FLAWLESS?
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
100%.
OH.
YOU KNOW,
I-I GOT SOMETHING.
I AM A TERRIBLE LIAR.
YOUR PROBLEM IS THAT YOU COULD
IMPROVE YOUR ABILITY TO LIE?
[ CHUCKLES ]
WOW.
IT MUST BE HARD BEING YOU.
IMPOSSIBLE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ SIGHS ]
LOOK, WE -- WE ALL CAN'T BE
AS RIGHTEOUS AS YOU, CHARLOTTE.
WHAT IS THA SUPPOSED TO MEAN?
OH, PLEASE.
ANYONE THAT CAN LEAVE THE JOB
THAT YOU HAD
TO GO TAKE CARE OF
HER BROTHER'S FAMILY, THAT'S...
THAT'S PRETTY RIGHTEOUS.
WELL, THAT'S, UH,
NOT THE WHOLE STORY.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
WELL, I DIDN'T LEAVE MY JOB.
I...WAS ASKED TO LEAVE.
I WAS DOING THIS STORY
ON A MISSING CHILD,
AND I'D BEEN COVERING I FOR YEARS.
AND THEN NOBODY ELSE
SEEMED TO CARE ANYMORE.
THEY WERE ON
TO THE NEXT THING.
CASE WENT COLD.
AND MY EDITOR INSISTED
THAT I DROP IT,
SAID THAT I WAS TOO CLOSE
TO THE STORY.
BUT I JUST KNEW THA THIS LITTLE GIRL WAS OUT THERE
AND SHE WAS STILL ALIVE.
S
I THINK I-I LOST SIGH OF MY PURPOSE.
THERE WAS NO ARTICLE
THAT I COULD EVER WRITE THAT --
THAT COULD HAVE ENOUGH
OF AN IMPACT TO TRULY HELP.
OR SO I THOUGHT.
AND MY EDITOR SAID THA I SHOULD TAKE SOME TIME OFF.
HE -- HE MADE ME...
TAKE SOME TIME OFF.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE?
YEAH.
MY, UH -- MY BROTHER'S REGIMEN WAS RE-DEPLOYED OVERSEAS,
AND I THOUGH IF I COME HOME,
AT LEAST I COULD HELP HIM OU AND HIS FAMILY, AND...
[CHUCKLES]
SOMETIMES I DON'T KNOW
WHO'S HELPING WHOM.
[ CHUCKLES ]
BUT EVERYTHING HAPPENS
FOR A REASON.
DOES THAT INCLUDE
YOU AND ME?
LOOKS THAT WAY.
I HAVE BEEN THINKING.
OH, NO.
[ Chuckling ]
OKAY. SORRY.
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?
I WAS THINKING THAT YOU COULD
FORGIVE YOUR FATHER
AND STILL KNOW THAT WHAT HE DID
WAS WRONG.
WHY WOULD I DO THAT?
BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT HE WANTS.
AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD
MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER.
YOU THINK THIS IS
WHAT I NEED TO FIX?
FORGIVING
LETS YOU BOTH WIN.
NO, I CAN'T DO THAT.
ANYTHING ELSE?
AS A MATTER OF FACT,
THERE IS.
HERE WE GO.
YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD CHANGE
ABOUT YOU, MR. HUNTSLAR?
WHAT'S THAT, MISS HART?
YOUR SUIT.
WH-WHAT'S WRONG
WITH MY SUIT?
DO YOU KNOW MUCH I PAID
FOR THIS?
I DON'T CARE
HOW MUCH YOU PAID FOR IT.
I HAVE BEEN STARING AT I FOR DAYS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
FINE.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE
TO SEE ME IN?
THESE ARE PRETTY.
Daniel:
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS.
OH, COME ON.
IT CAN'T BE THAT BAD.
[ SIGHS ]
ALL RIGHT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
[ SIGHS ]
IT'S THAT BAD?
YOU LOOK GOOD.
YEAH?
MMM.
[ CHUCKLES ]
REALLY GOOD.
WELL, JUST SO YOU KNOW,
WHENEVER I MAKE A TRANSACTION,
I LIKE TO SWEETEN THE DEAL.
YOU'RE NEXT.
ME?
YEAH.
[ LAUGHS ]
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
OH, YEAH.
YOU ARE NEXT.
I AM NOT PUTTING
ANYTHING ON.
OH, YEAH.
I'LL PICK IT OUT.
ANOTHER PIECE OF BERRY PIE,
MAYOR?
OH, I SHOULDN'T, BUT, UH
[CHUCKLES] IT IS CHRISTMAS.
[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.
OH.
HAVE A MINUTE?
SURE, SON.
SIT DOWN.
UH, ANY NEWS
OF MR. HUNTSLAR'S CONDITION?
I'M AFRAID NOT.
BUT I KNOW HE'D BE THRILLED
TO KNOW
THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD
WITH OUR PROPOSAL
AND THE VOTE TOMORROW.
AH, YES.
THE VOTE.
I HAVE TO SAY,
I DON'T THINK THIS TOWN'S
GONNA GO FOR IT, SON.
CALL IT BAD KARMA, TIMING.
I REALLY CAN'T SAY.
BUT...FOLKS DON'T KNOW YOU
VERY WELL.
AND THEY DO KNOW
CHARLOTTE.
AND STRANGE AS IT MAY SOUND,
PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE FEELING
SHE THINKS IT'S A BAD IDEA.
THAT'S PRECISELY WHAT I WANTED
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
[ FORK CLINKS ]
YOU'RE LOOKING GOOD,
BIG GUY.
Charlotte: OH, I CAN'T REMEMBER
THE LAST TIME I WAS IN A DRESS.
I'M SURE
IT'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
HERE IT IS.
OH, YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL,
CHARLOTTE.
THANK YOU.
I JUST FOUND A FLAW.
NO, IN MYSELF.
I...
I SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID
TO LET PEOPLE IN.
WHAT'S THE WORST THING
THAT COULD HAPPEN?
YOU MAKE ME THINK ABOUT THINGS
I DON'T THINK ABOUT.
AND YOU MAKE ME FEEL THINGS
THAT I DON'T USUALLY FEEL.
YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T EVEN BE
TALKING TO YOU
IF WE WEREN'T STUCK
IN THIS TOGETHER.
IT'S A PRETTY LOUSY SITUATION,
HUH?
AWFUL.
BUT I THINK
THAT WE BETTER GET GOING
IF WE WANT TO FIND OUR WAY BACK
INTO OUR BODIES.
YEAH.
I'M ALL YOURS.
CHRIST THE SAVIOR IS BORN
CHRIST THE SAVIOR IS BORN
CAROLERS.
WHY AM I NOT SURPRISED?
[ CHUCKLES ]
SILENT NIGHT
HOLY NIGHT
ALL IS CALM
ALL IS BRIGHT
'ROUND YON VIRGIN MOTHER
AND CHILD
HOLY INFANT,
SO TENDER AND MILD
COMING THROUGH!
I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE!
Carmen:
IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?
I'LL LET YOU BE
THE JUDGE OF THAT, CARMEN.
AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S
AN IMPORTANT VOTE TOMORROW
CONCERNING THE FATE
OF LAUREL SPRINGS.
AND I KNOW IT WON'T BE
AN EASY ONE.
Woman:
THAT'S FOR SURE.
Woman #2: IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGH WITHOUT CHARLOTTE HERE.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
WHATEVER
YOUR DECISION MAY BE,
IT SEEMS THE CHRISTMAS SPIRI MUST BE SPREADING,
BECAUSE THAT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
IS NOW PREPARED
TO OFFER THREE TIMES THE WORTH
OF EVERYONE'S BUSINESS.
OH, MY GOD!
REALLY?
THAT'S AMAZING!
YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THAT IS?
THAT'S FANTASTIC!
Daniel: CHARLOTTE.
CHARLOTTE,
HANG ON A MINUTE.
YOU KNOW, I KNEW IT.
I KNEW YOU WERE UP TO SOMETHING
AT THAT RECEPTION.
I DON'T KNOW
WHY YOU'RE SO MAD.
SELLING IS ONLY GONNA HELP
LAUREL SPRINGS.
IF WE SELL!
GWEN SAID OUR FATES
ARE INTERTWINED,
AND IF WE DON'T STAR WORKING TOGETHER,
WE'RE NEVER GONNA GET BACK.
HELP ME STOP THIS
FROM HAPPENING.
WELL, MAYBE YOU
SHOULD HELP ME.
[ SIGHS ]
WHAT IF EVERYTHING IS DIFFEREN BY THE TIME YOU GET BACK HOME?
YEAH, I MEAN,
WE LOVE LAUREL SPRINGS,
AND I DON'T WANT TO MOVE.
IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
LAUREL SPRINGS HAS ENDURED
AND SURVIVED FOR YEARS.
I MEAN,
JUST ASK AUNT CHARLOTTE.
WHERE IS SHE?
WHAT IS IT?
WHAT'S WRONG?
WE HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING,
JERRY.
CHARLOTTE...
CHARLOTTE'S
BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.
[ MONITOR BEEPING ]
[ SIGHS ]
Daniel: AND I BOUGHT THA FOR MYSELF.
HEY.
YOU OKAY?
I'M JUST...
FEELING FAR AWAY.
YOU?
YEAH.
I NOW OFFICIALLY KNOW
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE
TO BE LONELY FOR CHRISTMAS.
WHICH IS IRONIC BECAUSE
I'M ALWAYS ALONE AT CHRISTMAS.
I JUST DIDN'T SEEM TO MIND
SO MUCH UNTIL...
UNTIL I MET YOU.
HELP ME UNDERSTAND.
WHY DO YOU THINK
THAT LAUREL SPRINGS
WILL BE BETTER OFF
YOUR WAY?
Nurse: SHOOT!
LET'S JUST HOPE
SHE DOESN'T ACCIDENTALLY
KNOCK OVER
THE LIFE-SUPPORT SYSTEM.
NO WONDER YOU WANT US
TO SELL OUR BUSINESSES TO YOU
BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
THEY'VE REOPENED TALKS
TO BUILD A NEW INTERSTATE
HIGHWAY, HAVEN'T THEY?
AND YOU KNOW SOMEBODY
ON THE INSIDE.
NO, THOSE ARE JUST SPECULATIVE,
CHARLOTTE.
NOBODY'S
SUPPOSED TO SEE THESE.
WHY? BECAUSE ONCE
THIS INFORMATION IS ANNOUNCED,
THEN -- THEN EVERYONE'S
GONNA KNOW WHAT THEIR
PROPERTY IS WORTH?
YOU ARE TRYING TO DECEIVE
EVERYONE!
NO, I'M --
I'M TRYING TO DO BUSINESS.
REALLY? IS THAT THE WORD
THAT YOU USE TO HIDE BEHIND?
UH-HUH.
SO THAT YOU DON'T RISK
FEELING BADLY ABOUT WHAT IT IS
THAT YOU DO.
NO.
IT'S THE WORD
THAT I HIDE BEHIND
SO I DON'T HAVE TO FEEL
ANYTHING.
AND IF THAT'S MY PROBLEM,
THEN FINE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU KNOW WHA YOUR PROBLEM IS,
IS THAT YOU GOT ME INTO
THIS MESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
YOU SAID YOUR BOSS
THINKS YOU GET TOO CLOSE
TO THE STORIES THAT YOU COVER?
WELL, GUESS WHAT.
YOU COULDN'T BE ANY CLOSER
TO THIS STORY IF YOU TRIED.
IN FACT, EVER SINCE YOU RAN
INTO ME, YOU BECAME THE STORY.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE MAY
NEVER GET BACK TO OUR OWN LIVES.
YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT.
BUT I WILL NEVER
STOP TRYING.
AND DON'T WORRY.
YOU'RE A TERRIFIC LIAR.
[ KEYBOARD CLACKING ]
"WE SHOULDN'T SELL."
OH, I HOPE THIS WORKS.
Mayor: GOOD MORNING.
IN A MINUTE, AS YOU WILL SEE,
ALL BUSINESS OWNERS WILL GE A VOTE FORM TO FILL OUT,
AND AFTER A SHORT DELIBERATION,
WE WILL VOTE AT 12:00 NOON
WHEN THE CHURCH BELLS RING.
NOW, I KNOW
I DON'T HAVE TO REMIND YOU
THIS IS A VOTE FOR OUR FUTURE,
WHATEVER YOUR DECISION WILL BE.
SO, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD
SOMETHING BEFORE WE CONTINUE?
[ SIGHS ]
WISH ME LUCK.
[ DOG WHIMPERS ]
OKAY. IF NOBODY HAS
ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD...
YES, I DO!
[ PEOPLE MURMURING ]
WHAT?
WHAT IS THIS?
HEY.
PASS ME ONE.
WHAT DOES IT SAY?
WHAT IN THE WORLD?
WHERE DID ALL THIS
COME FROM?
WHAT IS THIS?
Morgan: AUNT CHARLOTTE.
EVERYBODY, READ THIS!
THEY'RE STARTING UP TALKS AGAIN
ABOUT A NEW INTERSTATE?
WHICH WILL RUN
RIGHT BY LAUREL SPRINGS?
THIS IS A BIG DEAL
IF IT'S TRUE.
THAT OR THE FAC THAT CHARLOTTE WROTE THIS?
SHE'S DOING IT AGAIN!
YOU TRIED TO CHEAT US.
CHARLOTTE CARES ABOUT US!
YOU DON'T!
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, I'M SORRY.
DO YOU REALLY EXPECT ME
OR ANYONE ELSE TO BELIEVE THIS?
THIS WOMAN WHO'S IN A COMA
HAS SOMEHOW MANAGED TO WRITE A
SLANDEROUS ARTICLE ABOUT MY FIRM
WITH NO BASIS IN FACT,
I MIGHT ADD,
OR ANY EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER?
I'D THINK ABOUT THAT BEFORE I
CAST SUCH AN IMPORTANT DECISION.
[ CHURCH BELL TOLLS ]
WELL, IT'S TIME.
[ SIGHS ]
YOU'RE ALL MAKING
A MISTAKE.
PERHAPS.
BUT I'M NOT.
DANIEL.
YOU REMEMBER LAST NIGH WHEN I SAID
I'M A BUSINESSMAN
AND THAT'S WHO I AM?
WELL, WHAT I MEANT IS...
THAT'S WHO I WAS.
I'VE CHANGED BECAUSE OF YOU.
I DIDN'T KNOW I AT FIRST, BUT...
IT'S TRUE.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED
IS ON THIS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
LOOK!
Carmen: THERE'S THE HIGHWAY
RIGHT THERE!
Man: AND THAT'S
AN OFFICIAL HUNTSLAR DOCUMENT.
[ PEOPLE MURMURING ]
MORGAN, LOOK.
SHE'S HERE.
SON, I THINK YOU HAVE
SOME EXPLAINING TO DO.
COME ON, EVERYBODY.
LET'S GO.
HE'S RIGHT. LET'S GO.
THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
BUT NOW I'M GONNA NEED
YOUR HELP.
[ CRICKETS CHIRPING ]
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
[ PIANO MUSIC PLAYING ]
O HOLY NIGHT
THE STARS
ARE BRIGHTLY SHINING
IT IS THE NIGHT
OF OUR DEAR SAVIOR'S BIRTH
LONG LAY...
DO YOU THINK THAT AUNT CHARLIE'S
HERE RIGHT NOW?
I DO.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
JUST LETTING THE WHOLE WORLD
KNOW WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON HERE.
TILL HE APPEARED
AND THE SOUL FELT ITS WORTH
[ DANIEL EXHALES DEEPLY ]
A THRILL OF HOPE
I CAN'T SEEM TO DO MUCH
WITH THIS.
THERE'S NO BATTERY.
CAN YOU DO YOUR THING?
IT'S TIME.
YOU KNOW, I WISH THAT DAD
WAS COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.
YEAH.
ME, TOO, BUT...
WE JUST HAVE TO REMEMBER
WHAT AUNT CHARLOTTE SAID.
I MEAN, WHEN DAD GETS HOME,
IT WILL BE CHRISTMAS.
AND, I MEAN,
THAT'S NOT SO BAD.
THAT WAY WE'LL BE ABLE TO
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS TWICE,
RIGHT?
YEAH.
SHE ALSO SAID
THAT WE CAN'T EVER GIVE UP HOPE,
SO THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Reverend:
LET US BOW OUR HEADS IN PRAYER.
[ SIGHS ]
[ Ringing ]
MAN: Hello?
Daniel?
Is that you?
I can see that it's you calling.
Hello?
DAD?
I can't hear you, son.
Are you there?
YEAH.
I don't know
if you can hear me,
but I just want you to know
that I love you.
DAD, I...
DAD, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN EVER
SEE YOU AGAIN, BUT...
Daniel?
[ CHUCKLES ]
Daniel?
...I WANT YOU TO KNOW
I LOVE YOU, TOO.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
I'M REALLY PROUD OF YOU,
DANIEL.
I COULDN'T HAVE DONE I WITHOUT YOU.
LOOK, THAT THING I SAID
LAST NIGHT AT THE HOSPITAL,
I-I DIDN'T MEAN --
YES, YOU DID.
THAT'S OKAY.
I'M A BETTER PERSON FOR HAVING
GONE ON THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU.
YOU KNOW,
THERE'S STILL ONE THING
I WAS THINKING OF
THAT NIGHT.
I REMEMBER.
MERRY CHRISTMAS,
HART FAMILY.
THANK YOU.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
THANKS FOR KEEPING AN EYE
ON CHARLOTTE.
OH, THANK YOU.
[ CHUCKLES ]
OH, NO, NO, NO.
OLIVER, OLIVER.
[ WHIMPERS ]
OLIVER!
[ MORGAN LAUGHS ]
YOU'RE NO SUPPOSED TO BE IN HERE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
IT'S OKAY, BOY.
WE MISS HER, TOO.
MOM. LOOK.
[ CHUCKLES ]
AUNT CHARLOTTE!
AM I ALIVE?
[ LAUGHTER ]
YES.
YES,
AND IT'S CHRISTMAS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS,
AUNT CHARLOTTE!
[ CHUCKLES TEARFULLY ]
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
OH! I LOVE YOU ALL
SO MUCH.
[ BARKS ]
[ Voice breaking ]
WE LOVE YOU, TOO.
[ SOBBING ]
YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.
IS HE OKAY?
WHO?
[ WATER RUNNING ]
CHARLOTTE.
DANIEL!
[ GASPS ]
WHAT'S GOING ON?
I HAVE NO IDEA.
THIS IS FANTASTIC.
A PRETTY LOUSY SITUATION,
HUH?
AWFUL.
I STILL CAN'T GET DAD
ON THE VIDEO CHAT.
OH.
WELL, I LOOK FORWARD TO
TELLING HIM EVERYTHING'S OKAY.
Pam:
NOTHING WILL MAKE HIM HAPPIER.
UH, I'M GONNA CHECK THE TURKEY.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
SO, WE HAVE A QUESTION
FOR YOU.
WHEN YOU GUYS WERE
IN THE HOSPITAL,
A LOT OF WEIRD THINGS
WERE HAPPENING.
NO, NO.
WHAT HE MEANS IS WONDERFUL
THINGS WERE HAPPENING, AND...
WERE YOU GUYS RESPONSIBLE
FOR ANY OF IT?
YEAH.
A LOT OF US THINK IT WAS YOU.
IS THAT SO?
IT IS CHRISTMAS, AND YOU CAN
BELIEVE WHATEVER YOU WANT.
[ CHUCKLES ] WELL,
I'M GONNA GO GET DAD AGAIN.
ME, TOO.
WE'LL NEVER TELL.
NEVER.
OH, CHARLOTTE, I FORGOT TO TURN
THE LIGHTS ON ON THE TREE.
COULD YOU DO IT?
YES.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
CAN SOMEBODY GET THAT?
Morgan:
YEAH, I WILL, MOM.
DAD? DAD!
DAD!
Christopher: DAD!
DAD!
[ CHUCKLES ]
Pam: OH, MY GOSH. JERRY!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!
Jerry:
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED,
BUT THEY SURPRISED US
AND TOLD US WE COULD COME HOME.
FOR GOOD.
AND I DIDN'T ARGUE.
DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO DO
WITH THIS?
[ SOBBING ]
I'M GONNA CALL MY DAD.
WELCOME HOME.
[ LAUGHS ]
OH!
Daniel:
HEY, DAD. IT'S ME -- DANIEL.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
CHARLOTTE: Alan.
CHARLOTTE, IS THAT YOU?
YOU HAD ME REALLY WORRIED,
AS USUAL.
HOW DID YOU HEAR?
YOUR SISTER-IN-LAW TOLD US
THE WHOLE STORY YESTERDAY
AND CALLED A MINUTE AGO
TO SAY YOU WERE OKAY.
HAVE YOU SEEN OUR FRONT PAGE?
IT'S FLYING OFF THE STANDS!
OUR WEBSITE
JUST CRASHED, TOO.
PEOPLE CAN'T GET ENOUGH
OF THIS STORY!
THEY'RE CALLING I "THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT."
AND, UH,
THEY THINK IT'S YOU.
Off the record,
is it true?
NO COMMENT.
UH, WELL, WE'LL WORK ON THAT.
LOOK, UM...
I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT,
CHARLOTTE,
AND [SIGHS] I WANT YOU BACK.
The paper needs you.
ALAN, I ADORE YOU.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.
I PUT OUT FIRES.
IT'S JUST WHAT I DO.
Charlotte!
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I'M NOT GONNA STOP
CALLING YOU!
HMM.
MAY I HAVE A WORD, DEAR?
OF COURSE.
THERE'S SOMETHING
YOU NEED TO KNOW.
REMEMBER WHEN I SAID
THE LIGHT IN YOU WAS SO STRONG?
IT'S TRUE.
AND NOW YOU NEED TO OWN IT,
BECAUSE YOU'RE NEEDED.
YOU'VE TAKEN POWER FROM
THE SPIRIT WORLD, CHARLOTTE.
I HAVE?
LOOK AT THE TREE
AND THE LIGHTS.
[ SIGHS ]
YOU NEVER ACTUALLY
PLUGGED THEM IN.
[ CHUCKLES ]
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
[ LAUGHS ]
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
OKAY.
OOH, THIS ONE'S PRETTY.
[ GASPS ]
THIS ONE'S FOR ME!
WHAT ABOUT ME?
AND THIS ONE SAYS
"CHRISTOPHER."
WHOO. FINALLY.
THIS ONE'S FROM SANTA.
[ SIGHS ]
HEY, I GOT SOMETHING
OF YOURS.
[ Chuckling ] OH.
[ CHUCKLES ]
THIS IS
MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS.
MINE, TOO.
HMM.
Charlotte:
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE
THAT LIFE OFTEN PRESENTS US
WITH CHALLENGES.
BUT SOMEHOW, AT CHRISTMASTIME,
AS LOVED ONES GATHER AROUND
AND LIGHTS TWINKLE BRIGHTER...
HI.
...THE WORLD FEELS...
HERE YOU GO.
...WELL, MORE MAGICAL.
PEOPLE SEEM KINDER,
MORE FORGIVING, JOYFUL.
IT'S A TIME WHEN
WE'RE ENCOURAGED TO HOPE
AND ALLOWED TO HAVE FAITH,
FAITH IN WHAT WE BELIEVE AND
IN THE THINGS WE CANNOT SEE.
THE TREE'S SO PRETTY,
DADDY.
BUT WHAT IF,
DESPITE ALL THE OBSTACLES,
WE CONTINUE TO BE OUR BES SELVES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR?
GOOD MORNING, GWEN.
GOOD MORNING.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY,
ISN'T IT?
[ CHUCKLES ]
WOULDN'T THAT BE NICE?
[ KEYBOARD CLACKING ]
PERHAPS THIS YEAR WE CAN TRY
AND HOLD ON TO IT.
PERHAPS THIS YEAR
WE CAN TRY AND HOLD ON
TO THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.
AND THAT...
IS...THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
[ SMOOCHES ]
YOU'RE A GOOD BOY.
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
Alan:
THESE NUMBERS ARE AWFUL.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO
TO SELL NEWSPAPERS A THIS TIME OF THE YEAR?
ARE YOU GONNA GET THAT,
OR DO YOU WANT ME TO?
[ SIGHS ]
WHO IS THIS
AND WHAT'S THE STORY?
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, ALAN.
Charlotte!
YOU PROMISED ME A COFFEE
ONE DAY.
WHERE ARE YOU?
I NEED IT.
I'M STILL IN LAUREL SPRINGS
WITH MY BROTHER'S FAMILY.
AND I'M EDITING
THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER.
HOW IS HE, YOUR BROTHER?
He's wrapping up
his deployment.
LOOKS LIKE HE'S GONNA BE BACK
FOR GOOD AT CHRISTMAS.
OH, FANTASTIC.
WHICH MEANS THAT I COULD COME
BACK TO WORK IN THE NEW YEAR.
[ SIGHS ]
CHARLOTTE --
IT'LL BE DIFFEREN THIS TIME.
YOU DON'T KNOW DIFFERENT.
I WILL PULL BACK.
I WILL JUST REPORT.
THAT'S NOT YOU.
LOOK, WE BOTH KNOW IF I SEND YOU
OUT TO COVER A BURNING BUILDING,
YOU'RE GONNA TRY
TO PUT THE FIRE OUT YOURSELF.
BUT --
You get too close
to your stories.
YOU ALWAYS DO!
LIKE THE LAST ONE.
MISSING DEADLINES
WHILE YOU CHASED A GHOST.
ALAN --
Charlotte...
[Sighs] I care about you
like a daughter.
BUT I HAVE A NEWSPAPER
TO RUN.
JUST THINK ABOUT IT,
OKAY?
[ SIGHS ]
SURE THING.
ANYWAY, YOU'RE NOT MISSING
ANYTHING AROUND HERE.
IT'S QUIET --
TOO QUIET.
I GOT TO RUN.
MISS YOU.
Of course you do.
[ SIGHS ]
Christopher:
I'VE GOT THE SHOWER FIRST.
Morgan: DON'T USE
ALL THE HOT WATER.
HMM. THEY'RE UP.
WE GOT TO GO.
SOMETHING SMELLS GOOD.
I'M STARVING.
[ HUMMING ]
OH, THERE YOU ARE.
GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING.
WAFFLES!
SCRAMBLED EGGS
AND SAUSAGE?
AND DO YOU KNOW WHY I MADE YOU
YOUR FAVORITE BREAKFAST?
UM...
BECAUSE I PROMISED YOU I WOULD
LAST NIGHT.
NOT SO FAST, MISTER.
AND DO YOU TWO REMEMBER
WHAT YOU PROMISED ME?
TO SET THE TABLE.
AND FOLD THE LAUNDRY.
Charlotte:
THAT'S RIGHT.
AND WHEN WE SAY WE'RE GONNA
DO SOMETHING, WE DO IT, RIGHT?
I'M SORRY, AUNT CHARLOTTE.
YEAH, IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
I PROMISE.
COME ON. EAT.
NOW, WHERE IS
YOUR MOTHER?
I'M HERE!
GOOD MORNING!
HI.
HI.
MWAH.
[ GASPS ]
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HI. MWAH.
OH, MY GOSH.
WHAT DAY IS IT, YOU GUYS?
I'VE BEEN WORKING DOUBLE SHIFTS
AT THE HOSPITAL.
I CAN'T KEEP TRACK ANYMORE.
IS IT CHRISTMAS?
I THINK IT'S CHRISTMAS, RIGHT?
NO.
NO?
I CAN'T WAIT FOR DAD
TO BE HOME.
I KNOW. ME, TOO.
[ COMPUTER RINGING ]
[ GASPS ] THAT'S HIM.
OKAY, GUYS, LET'S GO. QUICK.
ALL RIGHT!
FINALLY!
HI, DAD!
HI!
HI!
HEY, GUYS.
HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING?
GOOD! WE'LL BE EVEN BETTER
WHEN YOU'RE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.
;
YEAH, THAT'S, UH...
THAT'S WHY I'M CALLING.
I'M SORRY, BU THE SITUATION HERE IS SHIFTING,
AND, WELL, I NEED TO STAY ON.
SO YOU'RE NOT COMING?
I'M SO SORRY
TO MISS EVERYTHING.
JERRY, WHENEVER YOU COME HOME,
THAT'LL BE CHRISTMAS.
HEY, SON, YOU BETTER
STOP GROWING UNTIL I
GET HOME. YOU HEAR ME?
ROGER THAT.
HONEY, I LOVE YOU MORE
THAN YOU THINK I DO.
I LOVE YOU, TOO.
OKAY. I'M GONNA TAKE THE KIDS
TO SCHOOL. COME ON.
AND WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU TWO
SOME ALONE TIME, ALL RIGHT?
COME ON.
WHAT HAPPENED?
[ SIGHS ]
DO YOU HAVE EVERYTHING?
YEP.
[ MUFFLED TALKING ]
[ SIGHS ]
WAIT.
u
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
HI, GWEN!
IF YOU DON'T HAVE
YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE YET,
I'D BE HAPPY
TO GET IT FOR YOU.
Morgan: WHY DO YOU ALWAYS TRY
TO DO STUFF FOR HER?
SHE'S SO ODD, AND SHE DOESN' EVEN SAY HI BACK OR ANYTHING.
SHE WASN'T ALWAYS
LIKE THIS.
Christopher: YEAH, AND SHE'S
ALWAYS TALKING TO HERSELF.
SHE WAS VERY GOOD TO ME
WHEN I WAS LITTLE,
AND I LIKE TO DO
WHATEVER I CAN FOR HER.
I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED.
MISS HER.
COME ON.
RACE YOU!
t
[ WIND CHIME TINKLING ]
OH, YOU THINK
YOU'RE PRETTY FUNNY, DON'T YOU?
NO, NO, NO.
[ LAUGHS ]
SOMETIMES.
JUST A LITTLE.
HEY, AUNT CHARLOTTE, DO I
HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL TODAY?
UM, I HAVE
A STOMACHACHE.
WELL, THAT DIDN'T SEEM
TO BOTHER YOU
WHEN YOU ATE ALL OF THA BREAKFAST THIS MORNING.
WELL, YEAH.
I MEAN...
I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, CAN'T I JUST STAY HOME
TODAY?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
IS THIS ABOU YOUR FATHER?
NO, I MEAN...
WELL, WHAT IS IT?
THERE'S JUST THIS KID
AT SCHOOL,
AND HE KEEPS PICKING ON ME
AND PUSHING ME AROUND, AND...
I JUST WANT TO PUNCH HIM
OR SOMETHING.
WELL, FIGHTING ISN'T THE WAY
TO HANDLE A PROBLEM.
I KNEW YOU'D SAY THAT.
OKAY.
IF HE DOES IT AGAIN,
I WANT YOU TO LOOK HIM IN THE
EYE AND TELL HIM TO BACK OFF.
A BULLY EXPECTS YOU
TO BE AFRAID.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT,
YOU TAKE AWAY HIS POWER.
OKAY.
I'LL TRY IT.
GOOD.
BOYS ARE SO CONFUSING.
OH, GOD.
CAN YOU GET HER TO STOP,
AUNT CHARLOTTE?
SHE'S GONNA STAR TALKING ABOUT DYLAN AGAIN.
WHO?
HER BOYFRIEND.
HER ALMOST-BOYFRIEND.
JUST SHUT IT, OKAY?
HMM.
DYLAN TURNER?
YEAH.
ISN'T HE TWO YEARS
OLDER THAN YOU ARE?
YEAH. SO?
[ TIRES SCREECH, HORNS HONK ]
YOU KNOW, ONE DAY
SOMEBODY'S GONNA GET HUR AT THIS INTERSECTION.
[ SIGHS ] THAT LIGH HAS BEEN BROKEN FOREVER.
WHY DON'T THEY JUST FIX IT?
Man: I'M SORRY, AL.
Al: DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT!
UNFORTUNATELY, WE CAN' AFFORD TO RIGHT NOW.
[ SIGHS ]
HEY, MORGAN.
I THINK WE JUST FOCUS
ON YOUR STUDIES RIGHT NOW,
AND EVERYTHING ELSE
WILL HAPPEN THE WAY
IT'S SUPPOSED TO, OKAY?
FINE. I GOT TO GO.
I'LL BE LATE FOR SCHOOL.
WAIT FOR ME!
BYE!
BYE, AUNT CHARLIE.
LOVE YOU!
[ SHIVERS ]
[ BELLS JINGLE ]
[ TIRES SCREECHING,
ENGINE REVVING ]
Daniel: COME ON.
[ REVVING CONTINUES ]
[ GROANS ]
DO YOU NEED SOME HELP?
NO, THANKS.
I GOT IT.
[ GRUNTS ]
ARE YOU SURE?
YEP! THANK YOU!
ALL UNDER CONTROL.
[ GRUNTING ]
[ GRUNTING ]
OKAY. GET IN THE CAR.
EXCUSE ME?
GET IN THE CAR.
EXCUSE ME. HI.
I GO...THIS WAY.
OKAY, TURN IT ON
AND STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR
SLOWLY.
OKAY.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER, REVS ]
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
THAT WAS PERFECT!
WOW!
THAT WAS -- HEY.
JOB WELL DONE. [ CHUCKLES ]
THANK YOU.
DANIEL.
CHARLOTTE.
YOU LIVE AROUND HERE?
I DO.
YES, BUT I HAVE TO RUN.
UH, HAVE A NICE DAY.
I WILL NOW.
[ CELLPHONE RINGING ]
YEAH?
I-I'M SORRY. WHAT?
CAN YOU START OVER?
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
[ CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE ]
HEY, CHARLOTTE!
GOOD MORNING.
WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE,
COME BY THE STORE.
I MADE SOME NEW SCARVES,
AND I'VE GO ALL YOUR FAVORITE COLORS.
I WILL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
GOOD MORNING, JOE.
MORNING!
OLIVIA.
GOOD MORNING.
ANY IDEA WHA THIS MEETING'S ABOUT?
UH, NO IDEA.
BUT A COUPLE OF SUITS
FROM THE CITY
JUST BOOKED OUR HOTEL
UNTIL CHRISTMAS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
HMM.
GOOD MORNING, CHARLOTTE.
GOOD MORNING, REVEREND.
IT SEEMS AS THOUGH
WE'VE BOTH BEEN PREACHING TODAY.
YOUR COLUMN WAS
RIGHT ON THE MARK.
[ CHUCKLES ] THANK YOU.
THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME.
NOW, PLEASE TELL ME
THAT WE'RE GONNA BE BLESSED
WITH YOUR AMAZING
CHRISTMAS COOKIES THIS SUNDAY.
OF COURSE YOU ARE.
HELLO, EVERYONE.
THANKS FOR COMING
ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT THESE
PAST FEW YEARS FOR ALL OF US,
BUT SOME GENTLEMEN
FROM HUNTSLAR & ASSOCIATES,
A PROPERTY-DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
RESPONSIBLE
FOR SOME OF THE LARGES RETAIL COMPLEXES IN THE COUNTRY,
HAVE COME TO DISCUSS
A PROPOSITION
WHICH MAY BEAR GOOD TIDINGS
AND PERHAPS EVEN A LITTLE CHEER.
SO, WILL YOU PLEASE
WELCOME --
He's not here,
so I'll be taking the floor.
OH, SURE.
UH, PLEASE WELCOME
RICK BUCKNER.
[ APPLAUSE ]
HEY, THERE.
HI.
MY BOSS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE
TODAY, BUT HE WAS --
[ DOOR OPENS ]
Daniel: I'M HERE!
I'M HERE! HI!
HUH?
SORRY I'M LATE.
HI. HI.
MR. TIRE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
MR. HUNTSLAR.
HOW ARE YOU, MAYOR?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
WELCOME.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I'M DANIEL HUNTSLAR,
C.E.O. OF HUNTSLAR & ASSOCIATES,
AND I HAVE ONE QUESTION
I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU.
HOW MUCH IS
YOUR PLACE OF BUSINESS WORTH?
OOH.
I'LL ASK YOU AGAIN.
HOW MUCH IS YOUR BUSINESS
REALLY WORTH?
Carmen: NOT MUCH.
A LOT LESS
THAN I PAID FOR IT.
HOW COME YOU WANT TO KNOW?
WELL, WHAT IF I WERE TO TELL YOU
THAT MY FIRM IS PREPARED
TO OFFER YOU TWICE THE VALUE
OF YOUR PROPERTY RIGHT NOW?
Carmen:
WAIT. ALL OF US?
WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU WANT,
MR. HUNTSLAR?
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I WANT TO REBUILD THE ENTIRE
MAIN STREET OF LAUREL SPRINGS.
[ UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS ]
Man: INTRODUCING
THE NEW LAUREL SPRINGS,
A PROUD COMMUNITY
FOR OVER 150 YEARS.
WHETHER YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE
AND WORK HERE OR JUST VISIT...
Woman: THAT'S NICE!
...LAUREL SPRINGS
WILL HAVE IT ALL.
AND IT WILL START WITH
A REVITALIZED MAIN STREE THAT WILL BE THE ENVY
OF EVERY SMALL TOWN IN AMERICA.
THAT'S GREAT!
Man: THAT'S ACTUALLY HOW I'VE
ALWAYS PICTURED IT, YOU KNOW?
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
THANK YOU, MAYOR.
ALL RIGHT.
TAKE CARE OF IT, RICK. THANKS.
[ CLEARS THROAT ]
HEY.
IT'S CHARLOTTE, RIGHT?
WHY DO YOU WANT TO BUILD
A NEW BUSINESS DISTRICT HERE?
WELL, BECAUSE I WAN TO TRANSFORM
YOUR SLEEPY, LITTLE TOWN
INTO A DESTINATION.
YOU DO REALIZE
THAT WE'RE AT LEAST 30 MILES
FROM THE NEAREST INTERSTATE?
OH, AND -- AND HERE IT SAYS
THAT WE HAVE ONLY FIVE DAYS
TO COME TO A DECISION
BEFORE YOU PUT IT TO A VOTE.
ARE YOU AWARE
THAT IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS?
I HEARD THAT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
UH, WE BELIEVE
THAT YOUR NEIGHBORS,
THEY COULD USE THIS GIFT,
AND THEY COULD USE IT NOW.
WHAT WE COULD USE
ARE SOME CHOIR ROBES.
IS THAT SO?
YES.
AND MAYBE WE COULD FIX
A FEW THINGS HERE AND THERE.
NOW, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
BUT, MOST IMPORTANTLY,
WE NEED TIME TO GE OUR BUSINESSES BACK TO NORMAL.
BY OURSELVES.
WE DON'T NEED YOU
TO RESCUE US.
I'M SORRY.
WHAT WAS YOUR LAST NAME?
HART.
CHARLOTTE HART.
I'M THE EDITOR OF
THE LAUREL SPRINGS POST.
HUH.
YOU KNOW, I USED TO READ
SOME PRETTY IN-DEPTH ARTICLES
IN THE NEW YORK CHRONICLER
WRITTEN BY A CHARLOTTE HART.
IS THAT --
[ CHUCKLES ]
WOW.
WOW.
HOW'D YOU END UP HERE?
EXCUSE ME.
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
WHO IS THIS
AND WHAT'S THE STORY?
CHARLOTTE:
Alan, it's me.
CHARLOTTE,
I ALREADY TOLD YOU
I can't give you
your old job back.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT.
DO ME A FAVOR.
I-I NEED YOU TO FIND OU EVERYTHING YOU CAN
on Huntslar & Associates.
IS THIS A BIG ONE?
IT IS TO ME.
HEY.
HOW WAS SCHOOL TODAY?
[ SIGHS ]
NOT SO GOOD.
UH-OH.
I DIDN'T DO
WHAT YOU TOLD ME.
AND, UM...NOW HE WANTS ME
TO DO HIS HOMEWORK
BY LUNCH TOMORROW.
HMM.
NOW, NOBODY CAN MAKE YOU DO
SOMETHING YOU DON'T WANT TO DO,
ESPECIALLY IF IT'S WRONG.
HMM?
YOU REMEMBER THAT.
HURRY UP
AND FINISH YOUR HOMEWORK.
[ SMOOCHES ]
AND SWEET DREAMS.
OKAY.
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
[ DOOR OPENS ]
"A CHRISTMAS CAROL"?
IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITES.
SO, WHERE ARE YOU UP TO?
WHICH GHOST IS VISITING
OLD SCROOGE?
IT'S THE GHOS OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
OH.
[ Ominously ]
EBENEZER'S ABOUT TO LEARN
THE ERROR OF HIS WAYS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
THANKS. THANKS.
SORRY.
[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]
DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS?
I BELIEVE
THAT THERE ARE SPIRITS
OR GUARDIAN ANGELS
THAT WATCH OVER US.
I LIKE THAT.
HMM.
HEY, AUNT CHARLOTTE.
I DON'T WANT LAUREL SPRINGS
TO CHANGE.
[ Sighing ]
NEITHER DO I.
SO, WHAT IF EVERYONE SELLS
THEIR BUSINESSES?
WHERE ARE THEY GONNA GO?
AND ARE WE EVER GONNA
SEE THEM AGAIN?
WHAT IF I DON'T LIKE THE WAY
THAT THINGS ARE
WHEN THEY CHANGE?
I MEAN, I-I LOVE LAUREL SPRINGS
JUST THE WAY THAT IT IS.
I FEEL THE SAME WAY.
I'M GONNA DO EVERYTHING I CAN
TO STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING.
BUT RIGHT NOW, IT'S LATE.
TIME FOR YOU
TO GO TO BED.
OKAY.
GOOD NIGHT.
MWAH.
[ SIGHS ]
Alan:
"CHARLOTTE, NOTHING INTERESTING
ON HUNTSLAR & ASSOCIATES.
"PRIVATE COMPANY.
TIGHT AS A DRUM.
"NO BOMBSHELLS, SCANDALS,
OR INFO.
SORRY. BEST, ALAN."
"DEAR, MR. BANKS,
"JUST A REPORTER
IN LAUREL SPRINGS.
"CURIOUS ABOUT HOW
YOU'RE ALL MANAGING
"AFTER HUNTSLAR & ASSOCIATES
REVITALIZED YOUR TOWN.
"THE SAME THING
COULD HAPPEN HERE.
"PLEASE RESPOND
AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE.
SINCERELY, CHARLOTTE HART,
THE LAUREL SPRINGS POST."
GOOD. YOU'RE HOME.
HI.
I CANNOT BELIEVE I MISSED SAYING
GOOD NIGHT TO THE KIDS AGAIN.
WOULD YOU STOP BEING SO HARD
ON YOURSELF?
YOU CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE.
UM, HAVE YOU SEEN
MY OTHER GLOVE?
NO.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
TO THE HOTEL.
GOT TO, UH,
SPEAK TO THOSE BUSINESSMEN
ABOUT THIS TOWN PROPOSAL.
THERE'S MORE TO THIS
THAN THEY'RE LETTING ON.
HEY, CHARLOTTE.
I'M SORRY
JERRY'S NOT COMING HOME.
I KNOW.
SO AM I.
NO.
WHAT I MEAN IS,
I HATE THE THOUGHT OF US KEEPING
YOU FROM WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.
I-I NEVER THOUGHT OUR LIVES
WOULD BE LIKE THIS.
AND IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK
TO THE CITY AND THE PAPER AND --
PAM, I'M EXACTLY WHERE
I WANT TO BE -- HERE WITH YOU.
YOU'RE NOT GETTING RID OF ME.
UNDERSTOOD?
[ SMOOCHES ] I'VE GOT TO TALK
TO THIS HUNTSLAR GUY.
CAN'T YOU JUST CALL HIM
IN THE MORNING?
HE WON'T BE SURPRISED
TO SEE ME.
SURE HE WON'T.
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
[ CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYING ]
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
[ CRASH ]
[ RADIO CHATTER ]
Dr. Franklin:
CHARLOTTE?
IT'S DR. FRANKLIN.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
MMM, YEAH.
I-I HEAR YOU.
[ SIGHS ]
YOU WERE IN A CAR ACCIDENT,
CHARLOTTE.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
YES.
YES, I-I UNDERSTAND.
AM I OKAY?
,
PAM.
HEY.
ANY CHANGE IN HER STATUS?
SAME AS WHEN YOU LEFT.
HOW ARE THE KIDS?
I-I JUST DROPPED THEM OFF
AT SCHOOL.
THEY KNOW IT'S BAD, BUT, UM...
WHERE'S DR. FRANKLIN?
HE'S IN WITH CHARLOTTE NOW.
[ GROANS ]
WAS IT A BAD ACCIDENT?
I DON'T REMEMBER.
IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THAT BAD,
RIGHT?
I FEEL --
I FEEL PRETTY GOOD.
WHAT ON EARTH?
DO YOU --
[ GASPS ]
DOCTOR, PLEASE DON'T --
DON'T...GO.
Pam:
DR. FRANKLIN, HOW IS SHE?
Dr. Franklin: PAM, I'M SORRY.
IT WAS A BAD ACCIDENT.
SHE'S IN A COMA RIGHT NOW,
AND YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I DO,
WE HAVE NO WAY TO DETERMINE
WHEN SHE MIGHT WAKE UP.
THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGE?
NO.
WE'RE MONITORING HER
VERY CLOSELY,
AND SHE'S NOT IN PAIN.
THERE WAS ANOTHER PATIEN BROUGHT IN
FROM THE SAME ACCIDENT,
UH, ACROSS THE HALL,
ALSO IN A COMA.
OTHER PATIENT?
NO.
HOW DID...THIS HAPPEN?
I WAS DRIVING OVER
TO TALK TO YOU.
WELL, I'M RIGHT HERE.
[ GASPS ]
AND I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
WELL, I-I THINK THAT YOU...
AND I
WERE IN A CAR ACCIDENT.
I SHOULD HAVE STAYED
IN THE CITY,
HAVE RICK HANDLE
THIS PROJECT.
YOU CAN SEE ME?
YEAH. YEAH.
NO ONE ELSE CAN.
THAT'S GREAT.
I GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE,
UH, NOW.
I'LL HAVE MY ASSISTANT CALL ME
A TOWN CAR.
YEAH.
UH, DANIEL, I-I THINK...
I THINK YOU'RE IN SHOCK.
WHY ISN'T THIS WORKING?
BECAUSE
WE'RE NOT REALLY HERE.
I KNOW.
I-I'M AS CONFUSED AS YOU ARE.
AND I'M REALLY SORRY
ABOUT THE ACCIDENT.
THE ACCIDENT.
DID YOU...
DID YOU HIT ME?
I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE YOU HIT ME.
THERE IS
A BROKEN TRAFFIC LIGHT.
OH.
YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME?
HEY, I NEVER SAID THAT.
WELL, THERE IS
A BROKEN TRAFFIC LIGHT IN TOWN.
AND -- AND IF WE HAD
AN ACCIDENT,
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN
THAT IT'S MY FAULT.
I BELIEVE YOU.
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
I DON'T KNOW.
I THOUGHT ABOUT THE ACCIDENT,
AND HERE WE ARE.
YEAH, I'VE GOT A PLANE,
AND THIS WAS SO MUCH COOLER.
WE'RE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.
WHAT'S YOUR DEFINITION
OF "ALIVE"?
[ WHIRRING ]
WELL, HOW BAD IS IT?
PRETTY BAD.
THE LAMP'S DAMAGED
BEYOND REPAIR,
BUT THE REAL PROBLEM IS
THE TOWN'S ELECTRICAL GRID
NEEDS TO BE UPDATED.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO FIX IT?
MONEY. OR A MIRACLE.
WE'RE A LITTLE SHORT ON BOTH
RIGHT NOW.
POOR CHARLOTTE.
[ WHIRRING ]
MAYOR, WAS IT CHARLOTTE?
TOLD YOU.
YOU REALIZE THERE WOULDN'T BE
A BROKEN LIGH IF MY COMPANY DEVELOPED
THIS SITE.
THIS "SITE"?
MY HOMETOWN
IS NOT A "SITE."
HEY, LOOK, NORMALLY
I COULDN'T GET OU OF A PLACE LIKE THIS
FAST ENOUGH.
CHARMING.
BUT SEEING HOW I'M --
I'M STUCK HERE WITH YOU,
I MEAN, DON'T YOU THINK
WE SHOULD STICK TOGETHER?
[ CROW SQUAWKING ]
GWEN?
CAN YOU SEE ME?
NO, NO, NO.
NO.
NOT THIS ONE, TOO.
NO.
WHO'S THIS?
CAN YOU SEE ME?
STOP. PLEASE, GWEN.
TALK TO ME.
I PROMISED MYSELF I'D NEVER
GET INVOLVED WITH SPIRITS AGAIN.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
FOLLOW ME.
[ WIND CHIME TINKLING ]
[ SWALLOWS ]
SO...
LIKE I SAID, I STOPPED
HELPING SPIRITS A LONG TIME AGO.
HOW CAN YOU EVEN SEE US?
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO SEE
WHAT OTHERS CANNOT.
SOME PEOPLE SAY
IT'S A GIFT.
[ SIGHS ]
I'D SAY IT'S MORE LIKE
A CURSE.
WHY?
BECAUSE WHEN SOMEONE
IN THE SPIRIT WORLD
KNOWS YOU CAN SEE THEM,
THEY NEVER LEAVE YOU ALONE.
[ VOICES WHISPERING ]
[ GASPS ]
WHOA.
YEAH, I COULD SEE
HOW THAT COULD BE --
UN-UNBEARABLE.
I TRIED TO HELP FOR --
FOR AS LONG AS I COULD.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
NO ONE KNOWS BETTER THAN I
HOW HARD IT WILL BE
FOR YOU TO RETURN
TO THE LIFE
THAT YOU ONCE KNEW.
I'M SO SORRY.
I...
I, UH...
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
WHAT IS IT THAT YOU KNOW
EXACTLY, UH, MISS...?
HALLINGER.
AND YOU'RE...?
DANIEL.
UH, DANIEL HUNTSLAR.
OH, YOU'RE THAT MAN.
I'VE HEARD ABOUT YOU.
I DON'T THINK
SHE LIKES ME.
DON'T LIKE YOUR AGENDA,
MR. HUNTSLAR.
FIVE GENERATIONS OF HALLINGERS
HAVE LIVED HERE
WITHOUT ANY OUTSIDE HELP.
ISN'T THAT RIGHT,
CHARLOTTE?
IT CERTAINLY IS.
Gwen: I STILL REMEMBER
WHEN YOU WERE JUST A CHILD.
ALWAYS SUSPECTED THERE WAS
SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT YOU.
THE LIGHT IN YOU
IS SO STRONG.
MAKES ME WONDER
WHERE YOU'RE REALLY FROM.
WHAT IN THE --
HAVE YOU PASSED THROUGH YET?
PASSED THROUGH?
UM...I-I DON'T KNOW.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
IT'S WHEN PEOPLE IN THE SPIRI WORLD WANT TO RETURN SO BADLY,
THEY'RE ABLE TO MANIPULATE
EVENTS IN THE REAL WORLD.
AND THE MORE YOU DO IT,
THE EASIER IT GETS.
DOES -- DOES THAT MEAN I CAN
CALL MY BROKER AND TRADE STOCK?
YOU WANT TO COME BACK,
RIGHT?
YEAH.
THEN THE ANSWER IS NO,
MR. HUNTSLAR.
WHAT YOU DO IN THE SPIRIT WORLD
WILL DETERMINE
WHETHER YOU EVER COME BACK.
[ SIGHS ]
LOOK...
COMPLETING
UNFINISHED BUSINESS,
WHAT WAS GOING ON IN HERE
AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT...
...DOING GOOD --
THAT'S THE BEST WAY
TO MANIFEST YOUR RETURN
AND WAKE UP AGAIN.
ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME, MY DEAR.
Gwen:
USE THIS TIME WISELY.
WELL,
THAT WAS INTERESTING.
SO...ARE YOU, LIKE,
A FAIRY OR SOMETHING?
WHAT?
"I ALWAYS SUSPECTED
THERE WAS SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL
ABOUT YOU, MY DEAR."
GWEN IS LIKE A GRANDMOTHER
TO ME,
AND SHE'S REALLY PUTTING
HERSELF OUT FOR US.
AND DID YOU NOT HEAR
ANYTHING THAT SHE SAID?
YEAH.
YEAH, UNFINISHED BUSINESS,
THINGS YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT.
ANY IDEA WHAT WAS ON YOUR MIND
BEFORE THE ACCIDENT?
OF COURSE.
I WAS WORRIED ABOUT MY HOME,
MY FAMILY, DEALING WITH YOU.
[ DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE ]
WHAT WERE YOU
THINKING ABOUT?
I'M PRETTY SURE
I WAS THINKING ABOU HOW QUICK
I CAN GET OUT OF THIS PLACE.
OH, AND, UH...
UH, NOTHING.
COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.
WELL, I WAS THINKING...
ABOUT WHAT IT MIGHT BE LIKE
TO KISS YOU.
I BEG YOUR PARDON?
HEY, YOU ASKED.
SO...WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO
FIRST?
NOT THAT.
[ BELLS TOLLING ]
CHURCH BELLS. WOW.
IT'S 12:00.
COME WITH ME.
[ SCHOOL BELL RINGS ]
I WAS THINKING PARIS.
YOU WERE THINKING MIDDLE SCHOOL.
[ CHUCKLES ] GREAT.
I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEONE.
SO, YOU GOT A KID HERE?
NO.
MY NEPHEW, CHRISTOPHER.
THAT'S BETTER.
I, UH, NEED TO SEE SOMETHING
FOR MYSELF.
THERE HE IS.
WHERE'S MY MATH HOMEWORK,
TWERP?
I DON'T HAVE IT.
I KNOW YOU DIDN' JUST SAY THAT.
Boy: WHAT?!
WHY DON'T YOU
DO IT YOURSELF?
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
CLOCK HIM, CHRISTOPHER!
DON'T YOU DARE!
THIS GUY'S A JERK!
COME ON, CHRISTOPHER.
JUST DO WHAT I TOLD YOU.
I KNOW YOU CAN.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU
ONE MORE CHANCE.
ARE YOU GONNA DO MY HOMEWORK
OR WHAT?!
NO.
[ STUDENTS MURMURING ]
BACK OFF,
AND DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK!
I SAID BACK OFF!
GOOD JOB.
Daniel:
AND HERE WE GO.
OH!
WHOA.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Boy: WHAT WAS THAT?!
OH!
YES!
[ LAUGHTER ]
OH!
I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!
NEITHER DID I.
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT WAS AWESOME.
THANKS, MAN.
LET'S GO TO CLASS,
YOU GUYS.
THAT IS WHAT I THINK GWEN MEAN BY PASSING THROUGH.
YEAH.
[ CHUCKLES ]
HEY.
HEY,
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
YEAH.
[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]
WHERE ARE THEY GOING?
WHO?
[ CHUCKLES ]
LET'S GO.
YOU SURE?
YEAH.
COME ON.
OKAY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE'S
GOT A BOYFRIEND.
ALMOST-BOYFRIEND.
OH, COME ON.
THEY'RE JUST KIDS HAVING
SOME FUN. DIDN'T YOU EVER --
LEAVE SCHOOL?
ME?
[ CHUCKLES ]
NO.
NO, I WAS STUDYING,
WORKING.
THAT'S WHAT I DID.
THAT'S WHAT I DO.
WERE YOU ALWAYS THIS,
UH, DETERMINED?
YES.
[ LAUGHS ]
Woman: YOU'RE GONNA JOIN US
ON SATURDAY.
Boy: WHAT'S WRONG WITH
THESE ORNAMENTS?
Man: THEY'LL BE READY
CHRISTMAS EVE, I PROMISE.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
WELL, SEE THAT?
THEY'RE JUST GETTING
SOMETHING TO EAT.
Charlotte:
I STILL DON'T LIKE IT.
THEY SHOULDN'T BE HERE.
Carmen: I CAN'T BELIEVE
CHARLOTTE'S IN A COMA.
I KNOW.
I'M JUST...DEVASTATED.
AND THAT MAN.
TRAGIC.
YEAH, WELL, HIS ASSOCIATE
DOESN'T SEEM TO MIND.
NO, THIS IS A WIN/WIN FOR
EVERYBODY IN THE WHOLE TOWN.
CAN YOU BELIEVE
THEY'RE STILL GOING AHEAD
WITH THAT VOTE NEXT WEEK?
AH. [ CHUCKLES ]
THAT'S GREAT NEWS!
NOT FOR THIS TOWN,
IT ISN'T.
MAYBE IT'S FOR THE BEST,
YOU KNOW?
WE COULD REALLY USE
THE MONEY.
I KNOW.
ME, TOO.
I CAN'T BELIEVE
THEY'RE THINKING OF SELLING.
Daniel:
OF COURSE THEY ARE.
THIS IS A GREAT DEAL FOR THEM.
NO.
WHAT'S GREAT IS THAT CARMEN
COULD HAVE WORKED
FOR ANY OF THE BIG DESIGNERS.
BUT INSTEAD, SHE CAME HERE,
AND SHE OPENED UP HER OWN STORE.
AND OLIVIA'S HUSBAND, JOE,
WAS A JAZZ MUSICIAN.
WHEN HE RETIRED,
HIS DREAM WAS TO HAVE A HOTEL,
AND THERE IT IS.
UH-HUH.
AND NEXT YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME
THAT THIS CAF...
WAS OWNED
BY TOMMY'S GRANDFATHER.
TOMMY GROWS
ALL OF HIS OWN PRODUCE
RIGHT HERE IN LAUREL SPRINGS.
HE MUST NOT BE ABLE TO FEED MORE
THAN, WHAT, 60 PEOPLE A DAY?
EXACTLY.
THIS TOWN IS TOO SPECIAL
FOR WHAT YOU WANT.
YOU -- YOU WANT THIS TOWN
TO HAVE A FUTURE, RIGHT?
OH, NO.
NOW WHAT?
GUESS WE'RE LEAVING.
I FEEL KIND OF WEIRD
NOT BEING IN SCHOOL.
LOOK, I UNDERSTAND YOU WAN TO KEEP TABS ON EVERYBODY
WHILE WE'RE LIKE THIS,
BUT NOW THAT I KNOW
THE VOTE'S GOING THROUGH,
I GOT TO STAY FOCUSED...
LET'S GO INSIDE, HANG OUT.
...AND FOCUS ON
GETTING HOME.
YEAH, I DON'T REALLY THINK
THAT THIS A GOOD IDEA.
GET BACK TO MY LIFE. I MEAN,
IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR?
COULD YOU JUST, FOR A MOMENT,
STOP TALKING ABOUT YOURSELF?
IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.
NOTHING'S GONNA HAPPEN.
NO. STOP! DYLAN!
HEY! HEY!
PLEASE, DYLAN!
I-I GOT TO GO, OKAY?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
MORGAN, WAIT!
HEY!
WEIRD.
THAT WAS...NICE.
YEAH, WELL, A FIRST KISS
SHOULD BE EARNED.
IT SHOULD.
AND LOOK WHO
JUST PASSED THROUGH.
[ CHUCKLES ]
HA-HA.
WOW!
WOW!
THANKS!
YOU'RE WELCOME.
EAT UP.
OKAY.
HELP YOURSELVES.
[ SIGHS ]
SO, UM,
I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR COMING TO THE HOSPITAL
THIS AFTERNOON TO SEE CHARLOTTE.
I KNOW IT WASN'T EASY.
DO YOU THINK
SHE'S GONNA BE OKAY?
I CAN'T IMAGINE I ANY OTHER WAY.
MOM, DON'T YOU THINK
THAT WE SHOULD TELL DAD?
I MEAN, DON'T YOU THINK
THAT HE DESERVES TO KNOW?
YEAH, I MEAN,
IT'S HIS SISTER.
NO.
I-I THINK THAT, UM,
WE SHOULD JUST LET HIM FOCUS
WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY.
AND TIMES ARE HARD ENOUGH
RIGHT NOW.
AND I'M SURE CHARLOTTE
WOULDN'T WANT TO UPSET HIM.
YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, UM...
THIS THING HAPPENED
AT SCHOOL TODAY.
UM...THERE'S THIS KID
THAT'S BEEN BOTHERING ME,
OR WAS BOTHERING ME.
YEAH?
I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO EXPLAIN IT.
I MEAN, I JUST FEEL LIKE
AUNT CHARLOTTE...
WHAT IS IT?
I MEAN, SHE WAS RIGHT.
SHE TOLD ME WHAT TO DO,
AND SHE WAS RIGHT.
AND...I FEEL LIKE
SHE WAS THERE
WHEN -- WHEN I GOT HIM TO STOP.
I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.
I MEAN, I FEEL --
I FEEL IT, TOO.
ISN'T THAT WEIRD?
NO.
NO, I THINK IT'S REALLY SWEE OF YOU TWO.
GO ON.
EAT YOUR FOOD. COME ON.
[ CHUCKLES ]
IT'S OKAY.
[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ]
EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE GOT OFF
TO THE WRONG START, CHARLOTTE.
Todd: "DEAR, MS. HART, I'M
SO GLAD SOMEONE FINALLY ASKED.
"THE THING OF IT IS,
THINGS HERE ARE WORSE NOW --
"AT LEAST FOR MY FAMILY.
"AFTER HUNTSLAR TOOK
WHAT THEY NEEDED AND REBUILT,
RENTS WERE RAISED..."
YOU KNOW,
I'M NOT THE ENEMY HERE.
YOU KNOW, MY PROPOSAL COULD
REALLY HELP YOUR COMMUNITY.
YOU WANT TO HELP
YOUR FRIENDS, RIGHT?
OF COURSE I DO.
DOES EVERYONE AROUND HERE
REALLY CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS
LIKE THIS?
PRETTY MUCH.
WHERE DO YOU HIDE
THE REINDEER?
[ CHUCKLES ]
WHERE'S
YOUR CHRISTMAS SPIRIT?
WHAT IS THAT?
BEING KIND
AND THOUGHTFUL,
SPENDING TIME
WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
THAT'S NOT REALLY
MY THING.
NOT YOUR THING?
WE JUST DIDN'T...
EVER DO THAT.
MY DAD WAS
USUALLY WORKING.
JUST LIKE YOU.
HE WAS JUST...BUSY.
YOU CAN'T HAVE IT ALL,
RIGHT?
[ SIGHS ]
YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY.
THE OLDER HE GETS,
THE MORE HE JUST WANTS
TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER.
I THINK
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY,
HE REALIZED HE MISSED THE BOA ON BEING A DAD.
!A
AND NOW THAT'S ALL
HE WANTS TO DO.
BUT, YOU KNOW...
IT'S TOO LATE.
IS IT EVER
REALLY TOO LATE?
YEAH.
I THINK IT IS.
IT'S OKAY.
I TURNED OUT PRETTY WELL.
THAT'S ENOUGH FOR YOU?
IT MADE ME WHO I AM.
HAVE YOU EVER
CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS?
[ CHUCKLES ]
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
CELEBRATE IT?
SONGS, FAMILY DINNERS.
[ CHUCKLES ] NO.
CHURCH, CIDER?
NO, NEVER.
A TREE?
TREE? NO.
[ Laughing ] NO.
NOT A TREE.
HMM.
[ SIGHS ]
THERE'S SOMETHING
THAT WE SHOULD DO.
PICK ONE.
WHAT?
PICK ONE.
IT'S TIME YOU DECORATED
YOUR FIRST TREE.
[ CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYING ]
[ MUSIC CONTINUES ]
THERE IT IS.
[ MUSIC CONTINUES ]
OKAY.
NOW IT'S TIME TO LIGHT THE TREE.
[ SIGHS ]
[ GASPS ]
HOW'D YOU DO THAT?
[ LAUGHS ]
I DON'T KNOW!
BUT I LIKE IT.
SO DO I.
[ CHUCKLES ]
CROWN THE TREE!
ALL RIGHT.
Morgan: "AND THE GHOS OF CHRISTMAS PRESEN AND EBENEZER SCROOGE GAZED IN
WONDER AT THE CHRISTMAS TREE."
IT'S AUNT CHARLOTTE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ WIND WHISTLING, DOG BARKING ]
Man: WHAT THE...
$200?
HMM.
I CAN'T BELIEVE
ALL THIS MONEY
WAS STILL IN MY PANTS POCKE BACK AT THE HOSPITAL.
THAT'S LAUREL SPRINGS
FOR YOU.
I'M JUST SURPRISED
YOU WANT TO GIVE IT AWAY.
HEY, I CAN BE GENEROUS
WHEN I WANT TO BE.
JUST CALL ME SECRET SANTA.
YOU KNOW,
YOU BETTER PUT THAT AWAY
BEFORE SOMEBODY SEES A STACK
OF BILLS FLOATING AROUND
AND EITHER HAS A HEART ATTACK
OR CHASES YOU DOWN THE STREET.
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ BELL JINGLES ]
HO, HO, HO!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
HO, HO, HO!
HO, HO, HO!
[ GASPS ]
MOM, CAN WE GET IT, HUH?
NO, HONEY.
[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]
LOOK!
OKAY, LET'S GO INSIDE.
LET'S GO.
NOT AGAIN.
[ BELLS RING ]
UGH.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
HAVE YOU BEEN LEAVING
YOUR BUSINESS CARDS
EVERYWHERE WE'VE BEEN?
LOOK, PART OF
MY UNFINISHED BUSINESS
IS GET YOUR FRIENDS TO TRUS THAT I KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM
IN THIS DEAL.
THAT SHOULD MAKE ME A LITTLE
MORE POPULAR AROUND HERE,
DON'T YOU THINK?
HEY, EVERYONE, LISTEN UP.
I-I CAN'T BELIEVE
I'M SAYING THIS, BUT, UM...
I THINK CHARLOTTE SENT US
AN E-MAIL.
WAIT. CHARLOTTE?
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?
AND PART OF
MY UNFINISHED BUSINESS
IS TO CONVINCE
ALL OF MY FRIENDS
THAT YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
Todd: "AFTER HUNTSLAR TOOK
WHAT THEY NEEDED AND REBUILT,
"RENTS WERE RAISED, OUR FRIENDS
WERE FORCED TO LEAVE,
"SELL THEIR LAND, THEIR HOMES.
A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST CAN' AFFORD TO LIVE HERE ANYMORE."
I DON'T THINK I LIKE THIS DEAL
ANYMORE.
IT SOUNDS FISHY TO ME.
THIS TIME,
YOU'RE COMING WITH ME.
THE CHURCH?
WAIT FOR IT.
AND, YEAH.
WHAT HAVE WE HERE?
Ronnie: HEY, REVEREND.
THANKS, RONNIE.
SURE.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
YOU?
THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL.
THEY'RE NICE, RIGHT?
WELL, IF ANYBODY ELSE HAD SEN THEM, I WOULD SAY THANK YOU.
WHEN YOU TOLD ME
THE CHOIR NEEDED THEM,
I HAD MY ASSISTANT PLACE
THE ORDER.
REVEREND!
I THINK WE HAVE A MIRACLE!
THAT BROKEN TRAFFIC LIGHT --
IT'S WORKING AGAIN!
GOOD AS NEW!
YOU GOT TO COME SEE!
DID YOU...
DON'T SEE ME
LEAVING ANY CARDS.
Man: LOOK, IT'S FIXED!
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
THERE'S NO WAY.
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Kevin: "DO YOU REALLY THINK
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT CHARLOTTE
SENT THAT E-MAIL?"
Sarah: "NO, SHE'S IN A COMA...
BUT HER SPIRIT COULD HAVE."
"WHAT'S A SPIRIT?
YOU MEAN LIKE A GHOST?"
Jenn:
"I DON'T KNOW, BUT I SLIPPED
ON SOME ICE THIS MORNING,
"AND SOMEONE -- OR SOMETHING --
CAUGHT ME JUST IN TIME.
BUT WHEN I TURNED AROUND,
NO ONE WAS THERE."
HEY, MOM! MOM, YOU SHOULD
REALLY COME CHECK THIS OUT!
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
GWEN.
HI.
HOW -- HOW ARE YOU?
FINE.
UH, FINE.
I JUST THOUGHT THA WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON
THAT, WELL, YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE
TIME TO COOK, SO...
OH, THANK YOU.
THAT'S -- THAT'S SO THOUGHTFUL
OF YOU.
UM, COME IN.
OH, NO, NO.
YES.
COME IN, PLEASE.
KIDS?
KIDS, COME OUT HERE.
YOU REMEMBER GWEN,
RIGHT?
UH, MAKE HER FEEL AT HOME.
I'M GONNA GO GET SOME CIDER
FOR EVERYBODY.
[ SIGHS ]
UM...YOU WANT TO HAVE
A SEAT?
OH, THANKS.
[ SIGHS ]
SO...[ CHUCKLES ]
HI.
I'M SO SORRY
ABOUT YOUR AUNT CHARLOTTE.
I KNOW THIS SOUNDS
REALLY CRAZY, BUT...
SOME PEOPLE THINK
THAT IT'S HER SPIRI THAT'S DOING ALL THE THINGS
AROUND TOWN.
I HEARD THAT.
YEAH, UM...
DO YOU --
DO YOU BELIEVE IT?
I BELIEVE THAT SHE IS
A VERY STRONG WOMAN...
...THAT SHE'S DOING EVERYTHING
SHE CAN TO GET BACK TO YOU.
Pam:
WHO WANTS CIDER?
OH, GOOD.
I'M SO GLAD YOU CAME OVER.
THANK YOU.
(
Reverend: GOOD MORNING.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
Charlotte:
THESE SHOULD BE DONE.
I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND
THE POINT OF MAKING COOKIES
IF WE CAN'T EAT THEM.
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE
EXPECTING THEM.
AND THIS IS WHA THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.
TA-DA!
WOW.
WELL,
DON'T JUST STAND THERE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
ONE OF THE REASONS
MANY OF YOU CAME HERE TODAY
WAS TO HEAR MY SERMON,
TO HEAR SOMETHING NEW,
PERHAPS SOMETHING PROFOUND.
NOTHING THAT I COULD SAY TODAY,
HOWEVER,
COULD BE MORE IMPORTAN THAN WHAT OUR NEIGHBOR,
OUR FRIEND, OUR LOVED ONE,
CHARLOTTE HART,
HAS ALREADY TOLD US.
IN THIS,
HER MOST RECENT ARTICLE,
CHARLOTTE REMINDED US
OF THE IMPORTANCE OF LIVING
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT --
AND NO JUST UNTIL DECEMBER 25th,
BUT EACH AND EVERY DAY.
CERTAINLY ACTS OF KINDNESS,
FORGIVENESS, AND JOY
KNOW NO CALENDAR.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THE VERY BES WAY TO HONOR CHARLOTTE,
WHO IS FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE
RIGHT NOW...
IS TO DEDICATE OURSELVES
TO CARRYING OUT HER WISHES.
LET US BOW OUR HEADS AND PRAY
FOR HER SWIF AND SPEEDY RECOVERY,
AS WELL FOR MR. DANIEL HUNTSLAR.
I CAN'T BELIEVE
HE MENTIONED ME.
THAT'S THE KIND OF PLACE
THIS IS.
[ BELLS TOLLING ]
ALL RIGHT. COOKIES.
HEY, MOM, AREN'T --
ARE THESE AUNT CHARLOTTE--
CHARLOTTE'S
CHRISTMAS COOKIES.
[ CHUCKLES ]
DON'T QUESTION IT.
THESE COULD ONLY COME FROM HER.
RICK:
No, it's not looking good.
We're in trouble.
This woman,
she put it into their heads
that they'll be run out of town
or something.
And then people
keep coming up to me,
asking why Daniel's business
card is everywhere. It's crazy.
I don't know.
The vote's tomorrow,
and I can't figure out
how we'll get a majority.
I don't know what the boss
would want me to do.
What in the world?
"3X."
I think I was just told
what to do.
[ CHUCKLES ]
OOH!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
N-NOTHING.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
HEY, UH, YOU KNOW,
I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT WE'RE STILL DOING HERE.
I MEAN,
WHY AREN'T WE WAKING UP YET?
HAVE WE DONE EVERYTHING
THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO?
I'M CONFUSED.
ARE YOU A LITTLE --
ARE YOU CONFUSED?
GWEN, I THINK
WE NEED TO TALK.
THEY ALWAYS DO.
Gwen: YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY YOU'RE HERE,
AND YOU WANT SOME ANSWERS,
RIGHT?
PRETTY MUCH.
WELL, THE TRUTH IS,
I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY,
BUT I DO KNOW THAT YOUR FATES
ARE INTERTWINED,
AND IF YOU DON'T START HELPING
EACH OTHER,
YOU'LL NEVER COME BACK.
YOU SEE? WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER
WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT.
OKAY, SO WE'RE ON
THE SAME TEAM.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT ELSE
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
WELL,
IT'S REALLY QUITE SIMPLE.
FINALLY.
YOU MUST LOOK WITHIN.
EXCUSE ME?
WHY YOU COLLIDED
THE OTHER NIGHT, THE REASON.
SEE, WHAT WAS GOING ON
IN HERE --
THAT'S
YOUR UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
FIND WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED
IN YOURSELVES AND EACH OTHER,
AND THEN MAYBE --
MAYBE YOU'LL COME BACK
EVEN BETTER THAN BEFORE.
YOU KNOW WHAT SHE MEAN BY LOOKING WITHIN, RIGHT?
I MEAN, THERE'S --
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT US
THAT WE NEED TO FIX.
IS THAT SO?
YEAH.
AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD
HELP ONE ANOTHER
TRY TO FIGURE OU WHAT THAT IS.
YEAH, I-I GOT THAT.
HERE'S THE THING.
UH...
I DON'T HAVE
ANY, UH, FLAWS, SO...
YOU THINK
YOU'RE FLAWLESS?
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
100%.
OH.
YOU KNOW,
I-I GOT SOMETHING.
I AM A TERRIBLE LIAR.
YOUR PROBLEM IS THAT YOU COULD
IMPROVE YOUR ABILITY TO LIE?
[ CHUCKLES ]
WOW.
IT MUST BE HARD BEING YOU.
IMPOSSIBLE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ SIGHS ]
LOOK, WE -- WE ALL CAN'T BE
AS RIGHTEOUS AS YOU, CHARLOTTE.
WHAT IS THA SUPPOSED TO MEAN?
OH, PLEASE.
ANYONE THAT CAN LEAVE THE JOB
THAT YOU HAD
TO GO TAKE CARE OF
HER BROTHER'S FAMILY, THAT'S...
THAT'S PRETTY RIGHTEOUS.
WELL, THAT'S, UH,
NOT THE WHOLE STORY.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
WELL, I DIDN'T LEAVE MY JOB.
I...WAS ASKED TO LEAVE.
I WAS DOING THIS STORY
ON A MISSING CHILD,
AND I'D BEEN COVERING I FOR YEARS.
AND THEN NOBODY ELSE
SEEMED TO CARE ANYMORE.
THEY WERE ON
TO THE NEXT THING.
CASE WENT COLD.
AND MY EDITOR INSISTED
THAT I DROP IT,
SAID THAT I WAS TOO CLOSE
TO THE STORY.
BUT I JUST KNEW THA THIS LITTLE GIRL WAS OUT THERE
AND SHE WAS STILL ALIVE.
S
I THINK I-I LOST SIGH OF MY PURPOSE.
THERE WAS NO ARTICLE
THAT I COULD EVER WRITE THAT --
THAT COULD HAVE ENOUGH
OF AN IMPACT TO TRULY HELP.
OR SO I THOUGHT.
AND MY EDITOR SAID THA I SHOULD TAKE SOME TIME OFF.
HE -- HE MADE ME...
TAKE SOME TIME OFF.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE?
YEAH.
MY, UH -- MY BROTHER'S REGIMEN WAS RE-DEPLOYED OVERSEAS,
AND I THOUGH IF I COME HOME,
AT LEAST I COULD HELP HIM OU AND HIS FAMILY, AND...
[CHUCKLES]
SOMETIMES I DON'T KNOW
WHO'S HELPING WHOM.
[ CHUCKLES ]
BUT EVERYTHING HAPPENS
FOR A REASON.
DOES THAT INCLUDE
YOU AND ME?
LOOKS THAT WAY.
I HAVE BEEN THINKING.
OH, NO.
[ Chuckling ]
OKAY. SORRY.
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?
I WAS THINKING THAT YOU COULD
FORGIVE YOUR FATHER
AND STILL KNOW THAT WHAT HE DID
WAS WRONG.
WHY WOULD I DO THAT?
BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT HE WANTS.
AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD
MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER.
YOU THINK THIS IS
WHAT I NEED TO FIX?
FORGIVING
LETS YOU BOTH WIN.
NO, I CAN'T DO THAT.
ANYTHING ELSE?
AS A MATTER OF FACT,
THERE IS.
HERE WE GO.
YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD CHANGE
ABOUT YOU, MR. HUNTSLAR?
WHAT'S THAT, MISS HART?
YOUR SUIT.
WH-WHAT'S WRONG
WITH MY SUIT?
DO YOU KNOW MUCH I PAID
FOR THIS?
I DON'T CARE
HOW MUCH YOU PAID FOR IT.
I HAVE BEEN STARING AT I FOR DAYS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
FINE.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE
TO SEE ME IN?
THESE ARE PRETTY.
Daniel:
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS.
OH, COME ON.
IT CAN'T BE THAT BAD.
[ SIGHS ]
ALL RIGHT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
[ SIGHS ]
IT'S THAT BAD?
YOU LOOK GOOD.
YEAH?
MMM.
[ CHUCKLES ]
REALLY GOOD.
WELL, JUST SO YOU KNOW,
WHENEVER I MAKE A TRANSACTION,
I LIKE TO SWEETEN THE DEAL.
YOU'RE NEXT.
ME?
YEAH.
[ LAUGHS ]
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
OH, YEAH.
YOU ARE NEXT.
I AM NOT PUTTING
ANYTHING ON.
OH, YEAH.
I'LL PICK IT OUT.
ANOTHER PIECE OF BERRY PIE,
MAYOR?
OH, I SHOULDN'T, BUT, UH
[CHUCKLES] IT IS CHRISTMAS.
[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.
OH.
HAVE A MINUTE?
SURE, SON.
SIT DOWN.
UH, ANY NEWS
OF MR. HUNTSLAR'S CONDITION?
I'M AFRAID NOT.
BUT I KNOW HE'D BE THRILLED
TO KNOW
THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD
WITH OUR PROPOSAL
AND THE VOTE TOMORROW.
AH, YES.
THE VOTE.
I HAVE TO SAY,
I DON'T THINK THIS TOWN'S
GONNA GO FOR IT, SON.
CALL IT BAD KARMA, TIMING.
I REALLY CAN'T SAY.
BUT...FOLKS DON'T KNOW YOU
VERY WELL.
AND THEY DO KNOW
CHARLOTTE.
AND STRANGE AS IT MAY SOUND,
PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE FEELING
SHE THINKS IT'S A BAD IDEA.
THAT'S PRECISELY WHAT I WANTED
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
[ FORK CLINKS ]
YOU'RE LOOKING GOOD,
BIG GUY.
Charlotte: OH, I CAN'T REMEMBER
THE LAST TIME I WAS IN A DRESS.
I'M SURE
IT'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
HERE IT IS.
OH, YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL,
CHARLOTTE.
THANK YOU.
I JUST FOUND A FLAW.
NO, IN MYSELF.
I...
I SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID
TO LET PEOPLE IN.
WHAT'S THE WORST THING
THAT COULD HAPPEN?
YOU MAKE ME THINK ABOUT THINGS
I DON'T THINK ABOUT.
AND YOU MAKE ME FEEL THINGS
THAT I DON'T USUALLY FEEL.
YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T EVEN BE
TALKING TO YOU
IF WE WEREN'T STUCK
IN THIS TOGETHER.
IT'S A PRETTY LOUSY SITUATION,
HUH?
AWFUL.
BUT I THINK
THAT WE BETTER GET GOING
IF WE WANT TO FIND OUR WAY BACK
INTO OUR BODIES.
YEAH.
I'M ALL YOURS.
CHRIST THE SAVIOR IS BORN
CHRIST THE SAVIOR IS BORN
CAROLERS.
WHY AM I NOT SURPRISED?
[ CHUCKLES ]
SILENT NIGHT
HOLY NIGHT
ALL IS CALM
ALL IS BRIGHT
'ROUND YON VIRGIN MOTHER
AND CHILD
HOLY INFANT,
SO TENDER AND MILD
COMING THROUGH!
I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE!
Carmen:
IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?
I'LL LET YOU BE
THE JUDGE OF THAT, CARMEN.
AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S
AN IMPORTANT VOTE TOMORROW
CONCERNING THE FATE
OF LAUREL SPRINGS.
AND I KNOW IT WON'T BE
AN EASY ONE.
Woman:
THAT'S FOR SURE.
Woman #2: IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGH WITHOUT CHARLOTTE HERE.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
WHATEVER
YOUR DECISION MAY BE,
IT SEEMS THE CHRISTMAS SPIRI MUST BE SPREADING,
BECAUSE THAT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
IS NOW PREPARED
TO OFFER THREE TIMES THE WORTH
OF EVERYONE'S BUSINESS.
OH, MY GOD!
REALLY?
THAT'S AMAZING!
YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THAT IS?
THAT'S FANTASTIC!
Daniel: CHARLOTTE.
CHARLOTTE,
HANG ON A MINUTE.
YOU KNOW, I KNEW IT.
I KNEW YOU WERE UP TO SOMETHING
AT THAT RECEPTION.
I DON'T KNOW
WHY YOU'RE SO MAD.
SELLING IS ONLY GONNA HELP
LAUREL SPRINGS.
IF WE SELL!
GWEN SAID OUR FATES
ARE INTERTWINED,
AND IF WE DON'T STAR WORKING TOGETHER,
WE'RE NEVER GONNA GET BACK.
HELP ME STOP THIS
FROM HAPPENING.
WELL, MAYBE YOU
SHOULD HELP ME.
[ SIGHS ]
WHAT IF EVERYTHING IS DIFFEREN BY THE TIME YOU GET BACK HOME?
YEAH, I MEAN,
WE LOVE LAUREL SPRINGS,
AND I DON'T WANT TO MOVE.
IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
LAUREL SPRINGS HAS ENDURED
AND SURVIVED FOR YEARS.
I MEAN,
JUST ASK AUNT CHARLOTTE.
WHERE IS SHE?
WHAT IS IT?
WHAT'S WRONG?
WE HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING,
JERRY.
CHARLOTTE...
CHARLOTTE'S
BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.
[ MONITOR BEEPING ]
[ SIGHS ]
Daniel: AND I BOUGHT THA FOR MYSELF.
HEY.
YOU OKAY?
I'M JUST...
FEELING FAR AWAY.
YOU?
YEAH.
I NOW OFFICIALLY KNOW
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE
TO BE LONELY FOR CHRISTMAS.
WHICH IS IRONIC BECAUSE
I'M ALWAYS ALONE AT CHRISTMAS.
I JUST DIDN'T SEEM TO MIND
SO MUCH UNTIL...
UNTIL I MET YOU.
HELP ME UNDERSTAND.
WHY DO YOU THINK
THAT LAUREL SPRINGS
WILL BE BETTER OFF
YOUR WAY?
Nurse: SHOOT!
LET'S JUST HOPE
SHE DOESN'T ACCIDENTALLY
KNOCK OVER
THE LIFE-SUPPORT SYSTEM.
NO WONDER YOU WANT US
TO SELL OUR BUSINESSES TO YOU
BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
THEY'VE REOPENED TALKS
TO BUILD A NEW INTERSTATE
HIGHWAY, HAVEN'T THEY?
AND YOU KNOW SOMEBODY
ON THE INSIDE.
NO, THOSE ARE JUST SPECULATIVE,
CHARLOTTE.
NOBODY'S
SUPPOSED TO SEE THESE.
WHY? BECAUSE ONCE
THIS INFORMATION IS ANNOUNCED,
THEN -- THEN EVERYONE'S
GONNA KNOW WHAT THEIR
PROPERTY IS WORTH?
YOU ARE TRYING TO DECEIVE
EVERYONE!
NO, I'M --
I'M TRYING TO DO BUSINESS.
REALLY? IS THAT THE WORD
THAT YOU USE TO HIDE BEHIND?
UH-HUH.
SO THAT YOU DON'T RISK
FEELING BADLY ABOUT WHAT IT IS
THAT YOU DO.
NO.
IT'S THE WORD
THAT I HIDE BEHIND
SO I DON'T HAVE TO FEEL
ANYTHING.
AND IF THAT'S MY PROBLEM,
THEN FINE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU KNOW WHA YOUR PROBLEM IS,
IS THAT YOU GOT ME INTO
THIS MESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
YOU SAID YOUR BOSS
THINKS YOU GET TOO CLOSE
TO THE STORIES THAT YOU COVER?
WELL, GUESS WHAT.
YOU COULDN'T BE ANY CLOSER
TO THIS STORY IF YOU TRIED.
IN FACT, EVER SINCE YOU RAN
INTO ME, YOU BECAME THE STORY.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE MAY
NEVER GET BACK TO OUR OWN LIVES.
YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT.
BUT I WILL NEVER
STOP TRYING.
AND DON'T WORRY.
YOU'RE A TERRIFIC LIAR.
[ KEYBOARD CLACKING ]
"WE SHOULDN'T SELL."
OH, I HOPE THIS WORKS.
Mayor: GOOD MORNING.
IN A MINUTE, AS YOU WILL SEE,
ALL BUSINESS OWNERS WILL GE A VOTE FORM TO FILL OUT,
AND AFTER A SHORT DELIBERATION,
WE WILL VOTE AT 12:00 NOON
WHEN THE CHURCH BELLS RING.
NOW, I KNOW
I DON'T HAVE TO REMIND YOU
THIS IS A VOTE FOR OUR FUTURE,
WHATEVER YOUR DECISION WILL BE.
SO, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD
SOMETHING BEFORE WE CONTINUE?
[ SIGHS ]
WISH ME LUCK.
[ DOG WHIMPERS ]
OKAY. IF NOBODY HAS
ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD...
YES, I DO!
[ PEOPLE MURMURING ]
WHAT?
WHAT IS THIS?
HEY.
PASS ME ONE.
WHAT DOES IT SAY?
WHAT IN THE WORLD?
WHERE DID ALL THIS
COME FROM?
WHAT IS THIS?
Morgan: AUNT CHARLOTTE.
EVERYBODY, READ THIS!
THEY'RE STARTING UP TALKS AGAIN
ABOUT A NEW INTERSTATE?
WHICH WILL RUN
RIGHT BY LAUREL SPRINGS?
THIS IS A BIG DEAL
IF IT'S TRUE.
THAT OR THE FAC THAT CHARLOTTE WROTE THIS?
SHE'S DOING IT AGAIN!
YOU TRIED TO CHEAT US.
CHARLOTTE CARES ABOUT US!
YOU DON'T!
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, I'M SORRY.
DO YOU REALLY EXPECT ME
OR ANYONE ELSE TO BELIEVE THIS?
THIS WOMAN WHO'S IN A COMA
HAS SOMEHOW MANAGED TO WRITE A
SLANDEROUS ARTICLE ABOUT MY FIRM
WITH NO BASIS IN FACT,
I MIGHT ADD,
OR ANY EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER?
I'D THINK ABOUT THAT BEFORE I
CAST SUCH AN IMPORTANT DECISION.
[ CHURCH BELL TOLLS ]
WELL, IT'S TIME.
[ SIGHS ]
YOU'RE ALL MAKING
A MISTAKE.
PERHAPS.
BUT I'M NOT.
DANIEL.
YOU REMEMBER LAST NIGH WHEN I SAID
I'M A BUSINESSMAN
AND THAT'S WHO I AM?
WELL, WHAT I MEANT IS...
THAT'S WHO I WAS.
I'VE CHANGED BECAUSE OF YOU.
I DIDN'T KNOW I AT FIRST, BUT...
IT'S TRUE.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED
IS ON THIS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
LOOK!
Carmen: THERE'S THE HIGHWAY
RIGHT THERE!
Man: AND THAT'S
AN OFFICIAL HUNTSLAR DOCUMENT.
[ PEOPLE MURMURING ]
MORGAN, LOOK.
SHE'S HERE.
SON, I THINK YOU HAVE
SOME EXPLAINING TO DO.
COME ON, EVERYBODY.
LET'S GO.
HE'S RIGHT. LET'S GO.
THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
BUT NOW I'M GONNA NEED
YOUR HELP.
[ CRICKETS CHIRPING ]
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
[ PIANO MUSIC PLAYING ]
O HOLY NIGHT
THE STARS
ARE BRIGHTLY SHINING
IT IS THE NIGHT
OF OUR DEAR SAVIOR'S BIRTH
LONG LAY...
DO YOU THINK THAT AUNT CHARLIE'S
HERE RIGHT NOW?
I DO.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
JUST LETTING THE WHOLE WORLD
KNOW WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON HERE.
TILL HE APPEARED
AND THE SOUL FELT ITS WORTH
[ DANIEL EXHALES DEEPLY ]
A THRILL OF HOPE
I CAN'T SEEM TO DO MUCH
WITH THIS.
THERE'S NO BATTERY.
CAN YOU DO YOUR THING?
IT'S TIME.
YOU KNOW, I WISH THAT DAD
WAS COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.
YEAH.
ME, TOO, BUT...
WE JUST HAVE TO REMEMBER
WHAT AUNT CHARLOTTE SAID.
I MEAN, WHEN DAD GETS HOME,
IT WILL BE CHRISTMAS.
AND, I MEAN,
THAT'S NOT SO BAD.
THAT WAY WE'LL BE ABLE TO
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS TWICE,
RIGHT?
YEAH.
SHE ALSO SAID
THAT WE CAN'T EVER GIVE UP HOPE,
SO THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Reverend:
LET US BOW OUR HEADS IN PRAYER.
[ SIGHS ]
[ Ringing ]
MAN: Hello?
Daniel?
Is that you?
I can see that it's you calling.
Hello?
DAD?
I can't hear you, son.
Are you there?
YEAH.
I don't know
if you can hear me,
but I just want you to know
that I love you.
DAD, I...
DAD, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN EVER
SEE YOU AGAIN, BUT...
Daniel?
[ CHUCKLES ]
Daniel?
...I WANT YOU TO KNOW
I LOVE YOU, TOO.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
I'M REALLY PROUD OF YOU,
DANIEL.
I COULDN'T HAVE DONE I WITHOUT YOU.
LOOK, THAT THING I SAID
LAST NIGHT AT THE HOSPITAL,
I-I DIDN'T MEAN --
YES, YOU DID.
THAT'S OKAY.
I'M A BETTER PERSON FOR HAVING
GONE ON THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU.
YOU KNOW,
THERE'S STILL ONE THING
I WAS THINKING OF
THAT NIGHT.
I REMEMBER.
MERRY CHRISTMAS,
HART FAMILY.
THANK YOU.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
THANKS FOR KEEPING AN EYE
ON CHARLOTTE.
OH, THANK YOU.
[ CHUCKLES ]
OH, NO, NO, NO.
OLIVER, OLIVER.
[ WHIMPERS ]
OLIVER!
[ MORGAN LAUGHS ]
YOU'RE NO SUPPOSED TO BE IN HERE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
IT'S OKAY, BOY.
WE MISS HER, TOO.
MOM. LOOK.
[ CHUCKLES ]
AUNT CHARLOTTE!
AM I ALIVE?
[ LAUGHTER ]
YES.
YES,
AND IT'S CHRISTMAS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS,
AUNT CHARLOTTE!
[ CHUCKLES TEARFULLY ]
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
OH! I LOVE YOU ALL
SO MUCH.
[ BARKS ]
[ Voice breaking ]
WE LOVE YOU, TOO.
[ SOBBING ]
YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.
IS HE OKAY?
WHO?
[ WATER RUNNING ]
CHARLOTTE.
DANIEL!
[ GASPS ]
WHAT'S GOING ON?
I HAVE NO IDEA.
THIS IS FANTASTIC.
A PRETTY LOUSY SITUATION,
HUH?
AWFUL.
I STILL CAN'T GET DAD
ON THE VIDEO CHAT.
OH.
WELL, I LOOK FORWARD TO
TELLING HIM EVERYTHING'S OKAY.
Pam:
NOTHING WILL MAKE HIM HAPPIER.
UH, I'M GONNA CHECK THE TURKEY.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
SO, WE HAVE A QUESTION
FOR YOU.
WHEN YOU GUYS WERE
IN THE HOSPITAL,
A LOT OF WEIRD THINGS
WERE HAPPENING.
NO, NO.
WHAT HE MEANS IS WONDERFUL
THINGS WERE HAPPENING, AND...
WERE YOU GUYS RESPONSIBLE
FOR ANY OF IT?
YEAH.
A LOT OF US THINK IT WAS YOU.
IS THAT SO?
IT IS CHRISTMAS, AND YOU CAN
BELIEVE WHATEVER YOU WANT.
[ CHUCKLES ] WELL,
I'M GONNA GO GET DAD AGAIN.
ME, TOO.
WE'LL NEVER TELL.
NEVER.
OH, CHARLOTTE, I FORGOT TO TURN
THE LIGHTS ON ON THE TREE.
COULD YOU DO IT?
YES.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
CAN SOMEBODY GET THAT?
Morgan:
YEAH, I WILL, MOM.
DAD? DAD!
DAD!
Christopher: DAD!
DAD!
[ CHUCKLES ]
Pam: OH, MY GOSH. JERRY!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!
Jerry:
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED,
BUT THEY SURPRISED US
AND TOLD US WE COULD COME HOME.
FOR GOOD.
AND I DIDN'T ARGUE.
DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO DO
WITH THIS?
[ SOBBING ]
I'M GONNA CALL MY DAD.
WELCOME HOME.
[ LAUGHS ]
OH!
Daniel:
HEY, DAD. IT'S ME -- DANIEL.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
CHARLOTTE: Alan.
CHARLOTTE, IS THAT YOU?
YOU HAD ME REALLY WORRIED,
AS USUAL.
HOW DID YOU HEAR?
YOUR SISTER-IN-LAW TOLD US
THE WHOLE STORY YESTERDAY
AND CALLED A MINUTE AGO
TO SAY YOU WERE OKAY.
HAVE YOU SEEN OUR FRONT PAGE?
IT'S FLYING OFF THE STANDS!
OUR WEBSITE
JUST CRASHED, TOO.
PEOPLE CAN'T GET ENOUGH
OF THIS STORY!
THEY'RE CALLING I "THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT."
AND, UH,
THEY THINK IT'S YOU.
Off the record,
is it true?
NO COMMENT.
UH, WELL, WE'LL WORK ON THAT.
LOOK, UM...
I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT,
CHARLOTTE,
AND [SIGHS] I WANT YOU BACK.
The paper needs you.
ALAN, I ADORE YOU.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.
I PUT OUT FIRES.
IT'S JUST WHAT I DO.
Charlotte!
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I'M NOT GONNA STOP
CALLING YOU!
HMM.
MAY I HAVE A WORD, DEAR?
OF COURSE.
THERE'S SOMETHING
YOU NEED TO KNOW.
REMEMBER WHEN I SAID
THE LIGHT IN YOU WAS SO STRONG?
IT'S TRUE.
AND NOW YOU NEED TO OWN IT,
BECAUSE YOU'RE NEEDED.
YOU'VE TAKEN POWER FROM
THE SPIRIT WORLD, CHARLOTTE.
I HAVE?
LOOK AT THE TREE
AND THE LIGHTS.
[ SIGHS ]
YOU NEVER ACTUALLY
PLUGGED THEM IN.
[ CHUCKLES ]
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
[ LAUGHS ]
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
OKAY.
OOH, THIS ONE'S PRETTY.
[ GASPS ]
THIS ONE'S FOR ME!
WHAT ABOUT ME?
AND THIS ONE SAYS
"CHRISTOPHER."
WHOO. FINALLY.
THIS ONE'S FROM SANTA.
[ SIGHS ]
HEY, I GOT SOMETHING
OF YOURS.
[ Chuckling ] OH.
[ CHUCKLES ]
THIS IS
MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS.
MINE, TOO.
HMM.