Original subtitles

Papa the camera.

Very good.

Okay, Merry Christmas.

Come right up here.

Number 19.

What is this?

This is silver snowflake paper. I asked for peace on Earth. I'm sorry, ma 'am.

I'll have it re -wrapped right away. No, never mind.

It's supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, Tess. Yet everyone

seems so angry.

Yes, they are, baby.

The bad news is there's still three weeks left for shopping before

I tell you, it's a long way from that little stable in Bethlehem to X

-mas wrap.

Okay, you guys.

Here are some quarters for the video games.

I'm going to be right here.

Cody? I want you to keep an eye on Travis and Cassie for me, will you,

Cody?

Okay, Mom.

We'll be fine, Mom.

Come on, come on.

Excuse me, may I speak with the manager?

Be back in five minutes.

Do you know if there's any openings left? Because I'm pretty creative with

the... Aren't you Joe Benson's wife?

Yeah, I thought I recognized you.

Hey, I don't want any trouble.

You've got a lot of guts even showing your face in this town.

Has everyone forgotten the spirit of Christmas?

Some people have forgotten, maybe, but...

Some people just plain old don't care about it anymore.

They get so caught up in buying and wrapping presents that they miss the

gift of life.

Is Cody one of those gifts?

Yeah.

But if we don't do our job this Christmas, he might be a gift that never

opened.

down the road heavy burden heavy

load I will ride and I

will walk with you I'll walk with you till the dawn

don't even shine walk with you every time

I tell you I'll walk with you

Are you the manager?

Yes, I am. I'm not qualified for much. And I know it's only temporary. And I've

just been having a really hard time finding work. I've got my three kids

there.

Do you know how to do this?

Yeah.

Do you know which side of this is sticky?

Yeah. You're hired.

That's it?

Oh, ma 'am, you don't know how much this means to me. You're welcome.

My name is Tess. Now, you'll work from 12 to 9, and the pay starts at $7

.25 an hour.

But those children of yours are going to need babysitting while you're here.

So I'll have to start you off at $8 .25 an hour.

$8 .25?

$8 .25? Okay.

I don't know what to say.

Well, start by saying your name.

I'm Kathy. Kathy.

I'm Kathy Benson.

Well, Kathy Benson, you start rapping tomorrow.

Hello? Hi. Are you the new babysitter?

Yes, I am.

Oh, come on in.

I'm Kathy.

This is Molly.

Oh, hello, Molly.

I'm Monica. Nice to meet you.

Hi, Monica. I'm Kathy.

Thanks for coming on such short notice. I'm happy to.

You've met Travis and Kathy and Cody.

Cody. Yeah. Why don't you come out here for a sec?

Cody, this is Monica. She's the new sitter.

Whatever. Is there anything else that you need to tell me?

Yeah. Well, Cody.

You know what?

He'll be fine. He'll pretty much stay in his room and watch TV the whole time.

Shouldn't be a problem.

We'll talk about it later tonight.

I'm sure we'll be fine. Yeah.

Travis, I want you to help Monica with Cody, will you?

Don't worry.

I will. Hey, you'll be good.

We'll be fine, Mom.

you, Mommy. Bye, Mom. Bye, guys.

Bye.

How do you like our tree?

Oh, it's beautiful.

I thought it was time to put some Christmas back in X -mas.

What are those angel ornaments?

Well, this is a project angel tree, and each one of these ornaments has the name

of a child whose mother or father is in prison and doesn't have any money to buy

them a Christmas gift.

And Good Samaritans volunteer to buy the gifts. And then on Christmas Eve, the

gifts are delivered. And each little boy and girl will have a gift from Mommy

and Daddy.

My husband Joe is in the Idaho Men's Prison.

Oh, I know that.

You do?

And you hired me? I'm a gift wrapper, not a judge.

I wonder if Joe knows about Project Angel Tree. Oh, I'm sure he'll hear

it.

So if you think you've got what it takes to do something about it, you bring it

on. I'll bring it on. Okay, okay, very, very good. Very, very real.

Almost felt like you weren't role -playing there for a while.

Okay, so what could these guys have done to keep the situation from getting out

of hand?

Joe. I wouldn't know.

Why don't you ask somebody who's got a problem?

Here we go again.

Maybe you can't manage your anger.

I don't belong here.

I don't belong here. Okay, guys.

Joe, with all due respect, if that were true, you wouldn't be in the class.

All right, guys. Now, some of you have not filled out your project angel tree

forms yet.

There you go.

There you go. Good job.

There you go. Here you are.

You're going to sign your kids up?

I'll need some strangers buying my kids presents.

You gotta take the miracles where you can find them.

I'll pass.

I can't find anything to keep him warm.

Oh, it's so cold tonight.

I wish we could have a party like they had in Bethlehem. With angels and kings

and animals and presents and stuff.

Yeah, but no sheep.

They stink.

I was at a party like that once.

It was a lot of fun.

Travis.

Travis, call Mom right now, okay? Call Mom right now, okay?

Right now!

Cody!

Cody?

Cody,

what's wrong?

Get out.

Okay, just get out!

My medicine?

Well, where is your medicine?

I ran out, so... Can you please just call my mom?

It's nine o 'clock. I'm sure she's already on her way home.

What can I do to help in the meantime?

No, no.

No, there's nothing you can do. Just...

Just leave me alone, okay?

It's all right, Cody.

You have Tourette's Syndrome, don't you?

Yeah, Sherlock.

What was your first clue, huh?

I just want you to know it's not something I'm frightened of.

And I'm happy to stay here with you until your mother gets home.

You don't have to.

I know.

But I'd like to... We can just talk.

Are you looking forward to Christmas?

No. No, I... I hate... I hate Christmas.

City Council on Monday.

In other news, we remember a shocking, senseless attack that left 17 -year -old

Matt McHale dead.

She's her manager. Joe Benson is serving five years for manslaughter in the

Idaho men's prison.

Sally McHale, the victim's mother, returned to the scene of the crime in

'Alene today to announce a scholarship in her son's name.

My son had been dreaming of playing college football.

It was in seventh grade, but Joe Benson took away that dream. I don't think this

is... Cody?

She's gone.

Just go away, okay? Please, I don't want to talk to you.

Cody, please.

No, just get out!

I'm so sorry, Monica.

I never expected it to get out of control.

He's finally asleep.

I thought he had enough pills for the next couple of days.

I have to get him through next week without them. The insurance company

cover any more this month.

Well, I'm here to help.

Oh, thanks.

Medicine's not a cure or anything. It just controls the symptoms.

He didn't even take them for years.

He'd have little bouts, but that was just who he was. Now he takes them every

day. He won't leave out without him. And he's just, he's not the Cody he used to

be. He just sits there staring like a zombie.

Do you think he takes it more often now because of what happened last Christmas?

Cody was there.

He won't talk about it with anybody.

And you, who do you talk to?

What about your feelings and your questions?

Oh, Monica.

I can't ask them.

It has been such a nightmare.

I keep, oh, I keep hoping one of these days I'm going to go to sleep and I'll

wake up and Joe won't have killed that boy.

Things will just be back the way they used to be.

Oh.

You know what?

Joe is a good man.

I'm sure that he is.

He has never laid a hand on me or my kids.

Never once.

Even when he was really upset.

Oh, you know what?

He punched a hole in the wall once.

That was just so he wouldn't hurt anybody.

Joey has a bit of a temper.

No, not really. He's just one of those guys who blows up and blows over.

Everything's fine.

Except there wasn't a wall to hit that night.

And now a boy's dead and Joe and Cody haven't spoken in a year.

They used to be so close.

Man, Cody used to worship his dad.

You know, when Cody was little, his dad, Joe, was the only

one who could calm his tics down.

Oh, this is just not the way it's supposed to be.

All right, then.

Visiting hour.

Hey, Joe.

Looking forward to seeing your family? Why wouldn't I?

I don't know.

What is it with you?

Hmm?

Why are you always trying to bait me? I'm not trying to bait you, Joe.

I'm saying hello.

Wait.

I've been thinking.

Is it too late to get into this angel tree thing?

No.

I was hoping you'd ask.

Hey, guys.

Dad! Daddy!

I missed you guys.

Hello, beautiful.

Hey, cowboy.

Cody didn't want to come again?

No, he wanted to stay with the sitter.

Prisoners must be seated at all times.

Hey, guys.

Let's all have a seat, huh?

Hey, listen, guys, I need to ask you something.

If you could have one thing for Christmas, what would it be?

We don't need anything, Dad.

Yeah. I want you to pick something that you really want.

Well, there is one thing.

Some of the kids at school are really into baseball.

And I was wondering, if I got a new mitt, then...

When you get out of here, I could sign up for baseball and you could be my

coach. What about you, huh, sweetie pie?

Well, I think Molly needs a new dress.

Come in.

Just came to say hi.

Good. I can say bye.

Did you know that Abbott and Costello are in the Baseball Hall of Fame?

For their, uh... Who's on first routine?

Right.

How do you know that?

I happen to be a big Abbott and Costello fan.

Prove it. Okay.

I'd say...

Who's on first, what's on second, I don't know, is on third.

Well, are you the manager of the baseball team?

Yes.

Then who's on first?

Yes. I mean the fellow's name.

Who? The first baseman. That's the man's name.

That's whose name?

Yes.

Wow.

It's pretty cool.

Listen.

I haven't seen Cody for almost a year. How am I supposed to know what to get

for Christmas?

You sign the other two kids up for this. You've got to do the same for Cody.

Just think about it, honey. You'll come up with something.

Hey, guys, come on, let's go.

Come on, darling.

See you later.

Love you, Dad.

Love you, too.

Everybody just, you know, they think that...

Who's on first is like the best routine, but I think that what they did in that

Frankenstein movie, that just totally rocked, you know?

I'm sorry.

Does that bother you?

Does that bother you?

You have a lovely laugh, Cody.

Thanks.

I like laughing, you know.

I like making people laugh even more, but... All the kids at school, you know,

they used to laugh at my jokes.

That's why I want to be a comedian.

You know, so when they laugh at me, they're laughing at my jokes, not my

That's a wonderful dream.

I know that you don't like Christmas anymore, but do you think you could give

a hand with a wee surprise for your family?

I guess so.

Usually, you know, we don't get a tree this early.

Normally wait till, like, Christmas Eve when they're only, like, five bucks.

Would you like to put the angel on top of the tree?

You do it.

What's wrong, Cody? Nothing.

I just... I just don't want to.

What is it like when you feel a tick coming on?

It's like, um... Like sneezing.

You know, you just have to or an itch.

You just got to scratch it.

It gets worse, you know.

People, when they stare at me, you know, it gets worse.

That's why I take the medicine now.

Can I let you in on a secret?

Yeah.

I like this, Cody.

Monica, you shouldn't have done this. I can't take all the credit. I had a very

talented assistant.

Oh, Cody, it is beautiful.

Thanks,

Mom. Cody, just wait.

Daddy's getting us Christmas presents.

No, he's not.

He's in prison.

He is, too.

He said so himself.

You guys, why don't you go get ready for bed?

Yeah, let's go.

Mom, did you, uh...

Did you get my prescription today?

Oh, yeah.

You feeling like you need them?

No.

No, I guess not.

Okay, great.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night.

Monica, I don't know how to thank you for... Being here when we needed you.

And for being there for Cody.

Everyone can use a friend now and then.

Would you like to join us on Christmas Eve?

I'd be honored.

That's not going to be very fancy.

Neither was the first one.

Look at that.

They're still there.

Don't worry.

Somebody will come along and take those two angels.

It's Christmas Eve.

I don't think people are going to be fighting over who gets to help Joe

kids.

You've already had a year of dealing with other people's attitudes.

I don't think that's what's really bothering you right now, is it?

No.

Joe didn't send one of those angels over for Cody.

I'm really worried, Tess. They keep getting farther and farther apart.

I can't figure out what to do about it. Well, maybe, baby, you're not the one

that's supposed to do the figuring.

Hey, Mom.

Hi, Mommy.

We've been doing a little window shopping. I'm glad to see you're out and

baby. Yeah, well, Monica talked me into it.

Mommy, can Tess come over for Christmas tonight?

I already asked her, sweetie.

And I'll be there with bells on.

Yay! Hey, yay.

Well? I guess we'll go play some video games.

I'll keep my eye on them. I know you will, sweetie.

Okay,

here's some coins for you guys. Have fun.

You want to know what these are?

It's some kind of a charity for prisoners' kids.

Want to know why those are still there?

Because everybody hates us.

At least there's not one with my name on it right now.

How do you know that someone had been taking it already?

Believe me, Monica.

My dad wouldn't send one for me.

Thank you very much.

May I help you?

Yes, I need a box of that, um...

It's you.

This is Mikhail. I am... I, uh... You what?

Do you know what it's like to lose a child?

I'm so... Oh, sorry. Don't try to apologize.

Sorry is not going to bring my son back.

What? Leave her alone. Just stay out of this, kid. Hey, don't yell at my boy.

You've got a problem? Talk to me.

Your husband killed my boy.

Stop it.

Just leave her alone. It's not her fault, all right?

It's not even my dad's fault.

It's my fault, okay?

Cody, no.

Yes, it is, because if it wasn't for me,

No. Nobody would be dead. Honey.

It

must

be tough having Christmas without your son.

You have no idea.

It's been a difficult year.

You never stop loving them.

You never stop missing them.

But that anger would go away if you would let it.

I can't. Oh, yes, you can.

Why should I?

Why would you want to carry that burden one more step?

It's all I have left.

Joe Benson took everything else.

Now you listen to me.

Joe Benson did a terrible thing.

And he's dealing with the consequences of his actions.

Now I know that doesn't stop you from hurting.

But there's something else you should be thinking about.

The Bensons are hurting too.

And not just because of what happened last Christmas.

And the only way...

Either of you is going to start to heal is that you stop lashing out in anger

and start reaching out in forgiveness.

I wouldn't know where to start.

Well, I can help you with that.

You throw love at hate, baby.

You throw love at hate.

That's the way it begins.

Cody, can we talk?

Go away.

Please, Cody.

No.

I thought we were friends.

Friends talk to each other when they're hurting.

Tell me about that night.

Tell me about what happened last Christmas.

It wasn't for me.

None of it would have happened.

Well, Cody, be careful.

Don't worry, Dad.

I got it.

Your brother and sister are going to be so excited when they wake up tomorrow

and see that tree.

For Pete's sake, I told you to be careful.

Come on.

Joe, come on.

I'm fine. I'm fine.

Dad, I'm sorry, Dad. It wasn't my tics, though. I mean, I just

lost my balance.

We'll just have to do without one this year. No, you won't. Not if my two

handsome men run out and get another one. Kathy, it's Christmas Eve.

Well, come on, cowboy. The drugstore's still open. You know, Dad, you don't

to go in. I could just...

Run in and get it.

Fine. Get your coat.

I'm going to have to check the price on this.

Tag on the shelf said $4 .99.

Hey, kid, you all right?

Hey. Hey, I'm talking to you. Leave him alone.

Chill out, mister. I was just trying to be friendly.

Hey, what's wrong with you?

Cody, don't make a scene.

Get off of me, you little retard.

He's not retarded.

Retard. I said get off.

Hey!

Oh, my God. What have I done?

What did I do?

Oh.

Don't move. I'm calling 911.

Dad, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, Dad.

Stop it.

Stop it. Stop it right now. Why couldn't you just be still?

I can't take it anymore.

You're a crime. I'm sorry.

Look what you made me do. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Dad. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

See, I'm the murderer.

I'm the murderer.

No, Cody, no.

He said so.

I mean, he told me I made him do it.

He was a pet.

When people lose control, they don't know what they're saying. Don't you get

My dad hates me.

He just hates me.

And that's why he gave me an angel for that tree, okay?

Cody, please, let me help. No!

I should have never been born.

Christmas Eve, Joe?

I know what day it is.

Yeah?

I guess you do.

Do you want to talk about it?

There's nothing to talk about.

Open 27.

Talk about why your son doesn't come visit you.

You'll have to ask him.

I'm asking you.

I don't care.

You don't care?

About your son?

Is that why he's mad at you? Just shut up about my kid.

Tell me something, Joe. Are you okay with having a kid with Tourette

I said shut up.

Doesn't it bug you?

I mean, when you're in public with Cody and he has an episode?

No.

You know, when he makes that noise and he starts poking people?

No. That doesn't embarrass you?

No.

What's wrong with a guy like you who has a retard for a kid?

That's what he used to call you, right, Joe?

Your dad.

When he got mad at you, he'd call you a retard.

I never laid a hand on anybody in my entire life. But you killed somebody.

No, he made me crazy.

Who? Who made you crazy? That kid. The kid? What kid? Cody? No.

No? Are you sure, Joe?

Are you sure he didn't frustrate you? He was taking making a scene. I mean, I

couldn't take that anymore.

Okay, so what did you do about it?

What'd you want to do about it?

Did you want to kill him?

No.

Really?

You're crazy.

But you killed somebody else.

That is why you're mad at him. Now, why is he mad at you?

Because I blamed him?

Yes.

Yes, Joe, you blamed him because you couldn't control your anger. It's the

way that your father used to blame you when he couldn't control his.

What?

Don't tell me you don't have a problem, Joe. You killed somebody.

And you're about to lose your son, and it's not because your son has Tourette's

syndrome. It's because of your anger.

God forgive me.

Son, what have I done?

Cody?

I'm okay, Monica.

It's okay.

Everything's okay.

Couldn't wait to be a father, Andrew.

Had no idea what I was supposed to do.

Figured I'd think of what my dad did.

Do the exact opposite.

Wanted me and Cody to be buddies, do everything together.

Then one day, shoot past me like a star.

So what changed?

I don't know.

I guess I let life get the best of me.

Maybe that's what happened with my dad, too.

I never forgave him for what he put me through. How can I expect Cody to

me?

You gotta remember, Joe, Christmas is the night of miracles.

Somebody's here.

Kale, why don't you guys go see how Cody and Monica are doing, huh?

I wanted to bring these by.

And to say I'm sorry for what I said in the store.

I know we both have a lot of pain over what happened.

And I want you to know that if my Matt had understood about Cody,

maybe that night wouldn't have ended the way it did.

I don't know what to say. Say what you always say on the most miraculous night

of the year.

Merry Christmas, Mrs. McHale.

Merry Christmas.

Yeah, I see that, sweetie.

Now Molly will look like a whole new dolly, Cassie.

No way!

He did it!

Dad got me the mitt!

That's a good one, too. You know, Babe Ruth had one exactly like that.

Can I go to my room now?

You haven't gotten your present yet, baby.

What present?

That one.

From the tree.

From your father.

He has a gift for you, too.

No, um... No, I... I don't want it.

Please, I don't deserve that.

Yes, you do, Cody.

And God has sent us here tonight to help you understand that.

Whoa!

What's going on here?

It's okay, Mommy.

They're angels, just like I wished for.

Angels? Yes.

We're here with you tonight as we were on that first Christmas night.

You have a father in prison who loves you very much.

And he wants you to have this gift tonight.

But you also have a father in heaven.

And he loves you, too.

Much more than you could ever imagine.

You mean God?

Yes.

The same God who brings glad tidings, not just on Christmas, but every day.

How could God love me?

I'm a mistake.

No, Cody.

God doesn't make mistakes.

What God sees as perfect is very, very different from what the world sees.

The world sees faces that are beautiful and ugly.

The world sees bodies that are strong and weak.

The world sees people who succeed or fail.

But God sees hearts.

He sees the love in your soul.

He sees the beauty in your spirit.

And that's the only thing that finally matters, Cody. That's the only thing

lasts.

The person that you are, not the body that you're in.

And I think that I just want to go up to heaven and live with God.

I don't like it here.

People... People laugh at me and they're mean.

I... I try so hard.

and I can't.

So please just take me with you so I can live up in heaven with God.

No, Cody.

God wants to come and live with you here.

There's so much that you have to do and so much that you can teach others.

And there are people here like your mother and your brother and your little

sister who want to love you all of your life, just the way you are.

You mean... God doesn't want me to take my medicine

anymore. Oh, yes, God wants you to take your medicine, but only when you need

it, not just to hide away from people.

And now it's time for you to open this gift from your father.

Son, I've spent a long time thinking about what I wanted to give you this

Christmas Eve.

It's been a year since we've talked.

I'm finally learning how to stop hurting people with the things I say and the

things I do.

I hope you'll forgive me.

And maybe someday you'll come and visit

me so I can give you what I wanted to give you last Christmas Eve.

A great big hug.

I love you.

Dad.

He said he loves me.

And that's just the card, the presents waiting to be opened. So you better get

move on, baby.

Star up in the sky.

We'll never know how lovely is the light.

That shines below.

It's always there.

It never fades without its magic light.

How would we find our way?

And you don't know how beautiful you

are. If your eyes could

the love that's in your heart, then you would know

what everybody sees.

That beautiful is

all that you could be.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry I started that fight.

I want you to forgive me.

Cody, no, son.

It's not your fault.

It was never your fault.

God gave me such a special friend.

He didn't just give me a son.

He gave me a shooting star.

I love you, Cody.

I love you, Dad.